City of West Melbourne 2021 Mayor's State of the City - Mayor Hal J. Rose West Melbourne City Council Meeting
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City of West Melbourne
2021 Mayor’s State of the City
Mayor Hal J. Rose
West Melbourne City Council Meeting
January 18, 2022
Mayor’s 2021 State of the City Despite the second year of the global pandemic and development slowing, the City of West Melbourne enjoyed much success in 2021 and we have some big plans for 2022. This presentation is to review some of the past year’s milestones and to look ahead a bit over the next year.
Investments in the Police Department In support of the City’s accredited Police Department, a $3.2 million expansion and renovation of the police station was completed not long ago, and is serving the City well. West Melbourne started 2017 with an authorized total of forty sworn officer positions, and five years later ended 2021 with an authorized force of fifty-two sworn officer positions, an increase of 30%. A collective bargaining agreement with police officers is in place, and West Melbourne’s police officers received a scheduled $1,500 pay increase January 1.
Sewer Collection System Improvements In 2021, the City completed construction on a $2.3 million grant-funded septic-to-sewer project for the Sylvan Estates neighborhood. The City also completed a $975,000 construction contract that replaced a significant reach of sewer force main serving northwest West Melbourne. In addition, three sewer lift stations were rehabilitated, cured in place pipe lining was performed on several gravity mains, and numerous manholes were also rehabilitated during the year. These rehabilitations and replacements improve the safety, reliability and long-term performance of the City’s sewer collection system.
Water Distribution System Improvements At the close of 2021, the City neared completion of construction of a $2.3 million new sixteen inch backbone water main along the M-1 Canal. The City also started construction on a new eight inch water main in Fell Road west of Minton to provide looped water service to that area of the City. In addition, engineering is underway on three other water distribution improvements that prepare the distribution system for the new water plant.
Flood Risk Reduction In 2021, the City continued its multi-year effort to maintain and upgrade a number of our drainage canals and culverts. Construction work progressed considerably on a grant-funded drainage retention basin on City-owned property at the end of Park Hill Boulevard that will provide both environmental benefit and flood risk reduction benefit for several older upstream neighborhoods.
Road Maintenance Work Last year, the City of West Melbourne again completed a significant amount of local roadway maintenance work, with the City’s road maintenance expenditures at just over five hundred fifty thousand dollars. The City has an adopted five year street resurfacing plan, and has sufficient budget capacity to undertake the annual improvements on schedule.
City Financial Position On March 2, 2021, the City Council received management’s audited Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Among other improvements, the City’s water and sewer enterprise fund experienced a positive operating income of more than $1.4 million and the market value of Police Pension Fund assets increased by $1.8 million to $17.5 million. The City received an award for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association.
City Tax Rate Goes Lower
On September 22, 2021, the City Council adopted the City’s 2021-2022 budget and
tax rate. West Melbourne’s tax rate was reduced to 2.4228 mills. West Melbourne
taxpayers continue to enjoy owning property in a municipality with one of the lowest
tax rates in Brevard County and among similar sized cities in Florida.
10.0000 9.8103
9.0000 8.6312
8.2461
7.8378
8.0000
7.0519
7.0000
6.4532
5.9544 5.9900 6.0923
6.0000 5.6401
5.0000 4.7173
4.0000 3.5755
3.0000
2.4228 2.4999
2.0000
1.3038
1.0000
0.0000
Salary Increases for City Employees Given the City’s enviable financial position, in recognition of the most significant inflation in almost four decades, and to honor good work, on October 1, 2021, non-represented City employees received the largest salary increases in years, averaging 5.9%.
Police Pension Plan
Remains Near Fully 110.0%
110.0%
Funded 100.0%
West Melbourne Police Pension Plan
West Melbourne Police Pension Plan Percent Funded
100.7% 100.7%
98.8%
Percent Funded
100.0%
On January 27, 2021, the 90.5%
87.5% 97.0% 96.2% 97.0%
90.0% 90.5%
Police Pension Board 90.0% 82.8%
87.5%
received its annual 80.0%
80.0%
82.8%
85.4%
85.4%
actuarial evaluation. The 70.0% 65.2%
70.2%
70.2%
pension plan has 70.0%
59.4%
65.2%
60.0%
improved its funded 59.4%
percentage significantly
60.0%
50.0% 53.6%
over the last decade – 50.0%
40.0%
53.6%
from 53.6% funded at
October 1, 2009 to 30.0%
40.0%
98.8% funded at 30.0%
October 1, 2020.
10/1/2009 10/1/2010 10/1/2011 10/1/2012 10/1/2013 10/1/2014 10/1/2015 10/1/2016 10/1/2017 10/1/2018 10/1/2019 10/1/2020Citizens Leadership
Academy
Last year, the City of West
Melbourne conducted
our sixth annual Citizens
Leadership Academy, and
the 2022 class started up
last week. The goal of the
program is to help CITY OF WEST MELBOURNE
citizens learn about their CITIZENS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
City government and to
encourage good citizens
completing the seven-
week course to apply to
serve on one of the City’s
volunteer citizen boards.Employee Appreciation Luncheon On December 17, 2021, the City held its annual recognition luncheon, expressing sincere appreciation to the City’s highly valued employees.
Mayor’s Fitness Challenge West Melbourne is an active participant in Health First’s “Mayor’s Fitness Challenge”, where West Melbourne citizens compete against citizens from other municipalities throughout Brevard County to accumulate physical activity time. West Melbourne has always performed well, and we look forward to competing again in 2022. Sign up now to join West Melbourne’s awesome team!
Property Values Grow Briskly West Melbourne property values again grew markedly, with taxable valuation growing by 11.5% from 1-1-2020 to 1-1-2021.
City Population Growth
In August, the Planning and Economic Development Department submitted
certification of the April 1, 2021, City of West Melbourne population
estimate to the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the
University of Florida. West Melbourne’s April 1, 2021, population was
estimated at 28,127. This is an increase of 2,203 persons, or 8.5%, over the
April 1, 2020, estimate. While growth is now slowing, West Melbourne
continues to be, by percentage, the fastest growing city in Brevard County.
City Population Growth
37,500 35,200
34,200 34,700
35,000 33,250
31,450
32,500 30,300
29,050 29,700 30,000
30,000 28,127
27,500 25,924
25,000 23,607
21,360 21,990
22,500 19,834 20,250 20,640
20,000 18,712 19,118 19,464
18,355
16,570
17,500
15,000
12,500
10,000
7,500
5,000
2,500
-New Neighborhoods In 2021, some of West Melbourne’s newest single-family subdivisions neared completion and others became completely build out. The new neighborhoods are Heritage Pointe, Eber Cove, Cypress Landings, Palm Garden Lakes, Johns Landing, Wesley Groves and Sawgrass Lakes.
Building Permit Valuations The City of West Melbourne Building Department finished calendar year 2021 having issued 3,747 building permits with an aggregate permit valuation of $91.7 million. This represents a large reduction compared to the calendar year 2020 valuation of $174.8 million.
What’s Ahead for 2022? Each September, the City Council adopts a list of priority City projects and programs to be implemented over the near term. In addition, there are a few private projects coming to fruition in 2022. Some of the more meaningful items to look for in 2022 are shown in the following slides.
West Melbourne will develop our own water plant. West Melbourne currently has a long-term contract with the City of Melbourne to purchase potable water that West Melbourne distributes through West Melbourne’s own distribution system to West Melbourne citizens and businesses. On October 1, 2019, the City Council formally determined to start work toward the development of our own water plant. On July 14, 2021, property was purchased for the water plant, and on December 14, 2021, the City secured a Consumptive Use Permit from the St. Johns River Water Management District for an approved supply of ground water. The new plant will open before the end of 2026.
West Melbourne will study the feasibility of establishing our own fire department. On August 31, 2021, the City issued a Request for Proposals soliciting expert consulting services to assist the City in considering the feasibility of potentially establishing our own fire department. On November 21, 2021, the City Council selected the national firm Center for Public Safety Management, and the feasibility study is scheduled to be completed this summer.
West Melbourne will continue to prioritize flood risk reduction projects. In 2022, construction of one flood risk reduction project serving older neighborhoods lacking modern drainage will be completed and a second, fully grant-funded project serving the Melbourne Estates neighborhood that flooded so badly during Hurricane Irma, will get underway.
West Melbourne will continue to perform both major maintenance and preventative maintenance on the best sanitary sewer collection system in the County. Just before, during, and just after Hurricane Irma, West Melbourne received more than twenty inches of rainfall in just a few days. West Melbourne’s was the only local government sanitary sewer system in Brevard County that experienced zero sanitary sewer system overflows. To insure that West Melbourne’s sanitary sewer collection system remains the best maintained in the County, utilizing federal American Rescue Plan Act funding the City has received, the third and final phase of a multi-year effort to replace a major sanitary sewer force main that serves the entire northwest West Melbourne area, will be constructed. Lining of several gravity sewer mains, rehabbing several sewer manholes, and rehabilitating a sewer lift station will also all be accomplished in 2022.
West Melbourne will continue to enjoy well-maintained local streets and continue to encourage Brevard County to maintain County roadways within West Melbourne . West Melbourne’s strong financial position and several consecutive years of significant road maintenance work allows the City to enjoy well-maintained roads. Four years ago, the City entered into an agreement with Brevard County that directs certain County funding that would have otherwise been obligated to certain redevelopment activities in West Melbourne to maintenance of County-owned roadways within the West Melbourne city limits.
West Melbourne will begin updating its Comprehensive Plan in 2022. The City’s current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2010 with a horizon year of 2030. With 80% of the City currently built out, a new Comprehensive Plan will be developed in 2022. The update will envision ultimate built out before 2040 and an ultimate City of West Melbourne population of somewhere around 41,000. The Comprehensive Plan update process will involve significant stakeholder input.
West Melbourne will maintain and improve several City parks in 2022. Among several budgeted park improvements, this year, the City will be replacing the well-loved splash pad in West Melbourne Community Park while adding a new large shade structure over the splash pad.
The West Melbourne City Council will select a new City Manager in 2022. West Melbourne City Manager Scott Morgan, the longest-tenured City Manager in Brevard County, will retire August 31, 2022. Mr. Morgan will have been West Melbourne’s City Manager for more than 13 years, and in local government service more than 43 years. To insure a smooth transition, later this Spring, the City Council will need to select its next City Manager.
Housing starts will slow. In 2021, construction was completed on only 187 new single family homes in West Melbourne, a level not seen since the great recession. The slowing of residential housing growth will continue in 2022, as the City currently has a only a tiny inventory of finished lots available for single-family home construction. In early 2022, one 24-unit senor living complex will open, and a new 300-unit apartment complex in the Space Coast Town Center, Integra, will open. Construction is underway on a 300-unit apartment complex off of Minton and Hield, Ascend at Hammock Landing, and it is likely to open late in the year. While two new single family subdivisions and two new multifamily developments were approved last year, construction has not yet started and first occupancy will not be until 2023.
Commercial development will still be fairly active. In 2022, among other commercial developments, a new 131-student private preschool will open in the West Melbourne Interchange Center, a new Zaxby’s Restaurant will open on U.S. 192 near Sam’s Club, a new florist shop will open on Minton, Aldi will redevelop the old Office Depot on U.S. 192, and a new 7-11 gas station will start construction at the southeast corner of NASA and Wickham. Currently, interest surprisingly remains fairly brisk for potential infill commercial development, particularly along Wickham.
The City will improve City-owned properties. While the most significant improvement will be the construction of a new building north of City Hall to house our Building Department, freeing up room in City Hall and improving customer service, other improvements are scheduled that include a new monument sign for the Police Building and City Hall, and lighting and air conditioning improvements in the City Council Chamber.
In conclusion, we thank everyone who
contributed to a good 2021 for West
Melbourne and we look forward to a
prosperous 2022!
City’s web site:
www.westmelbourne.orgYou can also read
