[The Mayor’s State of the City’s Address on May 21, 2026.]
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OKAY, IT IS 1730. WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS SPECIAL MEETING GOING.
THE STATE OF THE CITY. SO GOOD. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
I'M PROUD THAT TO SHARE THIS, SOMETHING THAT REFLECTS NOT JUST HERE AS A CITY OF PALM BAY, BUT NOT ONLY WHO WE ARE, BUT WHERE WE'RE ALSO GOING.
PURSUANT TO OUR CITY CHARTER CHARTER, THE MAYOR IS REQUIRED TO PRESENT THIS ANNUAL MESSAGE NOT JUST AS A MATTER OF DUTY, BUT AS A MATTER OF OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON WHERE WE'VE BEEN, TO RECOGNIZE HOW FAR WE'VE COME, AND TO CHART A PATH FORWARD FOR OUR GREAT CITY, THE GREATEST CITY ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
IT'S A CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK HAPPENING ACROSS EVERY DEPARTMENT, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE MAKE AND THE COMMUNITY THAT CONTINUES TO MOVE PALM BAY FORWARD. THIS TEAM UP HERE IS DOING EXACTLY THAT.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE MADE MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OVERALL OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE'VE STRENGTHENED OUR FOUNDATION WHILE CONTINUING TO PLAN THE FUTURE OF A GROWING CITY.
AND THROUGH IT ALL, OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, TRANSPARENCY AND DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR RESIDENTS HAS REMAINED THE CENTER OF EVERY DECISION. THIS VIDEO CAPTURES OUR EFFORTS. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE MOMENTUM WE'VE BUILT TOGETHER AND THE DIRECTION WE'RE HEADING AS ONE CITY. I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE, AND I'M EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD.
I WILL SAY THIS THE DAY AND THE ONLY DAY THAT I WAS CHALLENGED TO TAKE THIS THIS VIDEO, MY FAMILY HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND MY MIND WAS LITERALLY IN THE HOSPITAL WITH MY MOTHER IN LAW AND MY DEAR WIFE.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY WIFE FOR STANDING UP WHEN I HAD TO BE HERE.
SHE STOOD ALL BY HERSELF AND I COMMEND HER FOR THAT.
THAT'S HER PART OF SERVICE. SO THANK YOU, HONEY.
THE PRESENCE OF GOD WAS FILLED THAT ROOM WITH ASSURANCE.
EVEN THOUGH SHE CODED THREE TIMES. I KNEW TODAY SHE'S OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND I THANK GOD FOR HER LIFE AND BEING THE MOTHER IN LAW THAT SHE IS. AND I THANK YOU, HONEY, FOR STEPPING UP AND ALLOWING ME TO SERVE THIS CITY.
WITH THAT, IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT THE ANNUAL STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.
AS I REFLECT ON WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND THE PROGRESS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE TOGETHER, I CAN TRULY SAY I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE PALM BAY PROUD TO SERVE AS MAYOR OF THE GREATEST CITY ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
THIS PAST YEAR, WE'VE MADE STRATEGIC AND MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT IN OUR PEOPLE, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OUR FUTURE. FROM PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOUSING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
PALM BAY IS BUILDING MOMENTUM IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS.
OUR VALUES REMAIN UNCHANGED COMMITMENT, INTEGRITY, SERVICE BEFORE SELF, TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST. THESE VALUES GUIDE EVERY DECISION WE MAKE AND EVERY INVESTMENT WE PRIORITIZE AS A CITY.
ONE OF MY PRIORITIES AS MAYOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN ENSURING PALM BAY IS A CITY THAT TAKES CARE OF ITS PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE FACING DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
LAST YEAR, THE CITY EXPANDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES AND STRENGTHEN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA FLORIDA. THE SPACE COAST COMMONS PROJECT DELIVERED A NEW 31 UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORTED BY A CITY INVESTMENT OF MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN ARPA AND SCHIP FUNDING.
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A GRAND OPENING WAS HELD NOVEMBER 2025, AND THIS DEVELOPMENT IS ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.IN ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT, THE CITY SUPPORTED THE MACEDONIA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TRIPLEX WITH OVER $435,000 INVESTMENT IN HOUSING REHABILITATION FUNDS.
THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN APRIL 2025 AND IS NOW FULLY OCCUPIED.
STRONG COMMUNITIES ARE BUILT ON STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE AND A COMMITMENT TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
IN JANUARY OF 2026, THE CITY OFFICIALLY OPENED BUILDING E ON THE CITY HALL CAMPUS.
THE NEW CUSTOMER SERVICE HUB BRINGS TOGETHER OUR UTILITIES AND BUILDING CODE DEPARTMENTS, IMPROVING SERVICE AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES BY CONSOLIDATING SERVICES IN ONE MODERN, PURPOSE BUILT FACILITY.
BUILDING E WAS ALSO DESIGNED WITH RESILIENCY IN MIND, AND WILL SERVE AS A CRITICAL ROLE IN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, ENSURING THE CITY CAN CONTINUE SERVING THE PUBLIC WHEN IT MATTERS MOST.
JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THIS FACILITY WAS BUILT WITH FUTURE GROWTH IN MIND, GIVING PALM BAY THE FLEXIBILITY AND CAPACITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A GROWING COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME. PUBLIC SAFETY REMAINS ONE OF MY HIGHEST PRIORITIES.
IN JANUARY OF 2026, THE CITY OPENED TEMPORARY FIRE STATION NUMBER NINE AT THE INTERSECTION OF BABCOCK STREET AND MERALOMA BOULEVARD TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SOUTHEAST PALM BAY. THIS MODERN TRANSFERABLE FACILITY IS FULLY EQUIPPED AND READY TO SERVE OUR GROWING COMMUNITY.
FIRE STATION SEVEN MARKS ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE FOR PALM BAY.
WE OFFICIALLY CUT THE RIBBON ON APRIL 18TH, AND THE TURNOUT FROM OUR COMMUNITY WAS TREMENDOUS.
THIS NEW STATION STRENGTHENS EMERGENCY RESPONSE ALONG ONE OF OUR BUSIEST CORRIDORS, AND HELPS SUPPORT CONTINUED GROWTH OF OUR CENTRAL PALM BAY. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, FIRE STATION SEVEN SERVES AS A PROTOTYPE FOR FUTURE STATIONS.
ITS DESIGN ALLOWS TO REPLICATE SUCCESS, CONTROL COSTS AND IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES.
AS NEW AREAS OF OUR CITY CONTINUE TO GROW, THE DEMAND FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES IN PALM BAY CONTINUES TO GROW ALONGSIDE OUR POPULATION. IN 2025 ALONE, PALM BAY FIRE RESCUE RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 20,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE, INCLUDING NEARLY 13000 EMS CALLS, 79 STRUCTURE FIRES AND MORE THAN 250 WILDLAND FIRE RESPONSES.
THESE NUMBERS REFLECT NOT ONLY THE GROWTH OF OUR CITY, BUT THE INCREASING RESPONSIBILITY PLACED ON OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THIS YEAR, WE ALSO INVESTED IN CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING A HIGH WATER AND BRUSH TRUCKS, A WATER TENDER, ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SQUADS AND NEW HEART MONITORING AND DEFIB UNITS TO SUPPORT OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS. I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE ADDITION OF OUR NEW ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SQUAD UNITS.
IMPACT FEES ARE INTENDED TO SUPPORT GROWTH, AND THESE UNITS ARE HELPING US DO EXACTLY THAT BY KEEPING PACE WITH THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
EACH UNIT IS FULLY STAFFED BY PARAMEDICS AND EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME LIFE SAVING EMS TOOLS FOUND ON OUR TRADITIONAL FIRE ENGINE, INCLUDING CARDIAC MONITORS, ADVANCED AIRWAY EQUIPMENT, MEDICATIONS, RESCUE TOOLS AND EXTRICATION EQUIPMENT.
BECAUSE THESE SQUADS ARE SMALLER AND MORE MANEUVERABLE THAN A FULL SIZED FIRE ENGINE.
CREWS ARE ABLE TO NAVIGATE NEIGHBORHOODS, PARKING AREAS AND CONGESTED SCENES MORE EFFICIENTLY.
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IMPROVING OUR OVERALL SYSTEM READINESS WHILE DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY SERVICE IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER.PALM BAY FIRE RESCUE IS ALSO MAKING MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT.
IN 2025, THE DEPARTMENT GRADUATED 17 PARAMEDICS THROUGH A CITY SUPPORTED SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT PROVIDERS. IN 2026, 14 ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE PARAMEDIC SCHOOL AND ARE ENTERING THE FINAL PHASE OF THEIR TRAINING, WITH NATIONAL CERTIFICATION TESTING EXPECTED THIS COMING FALL.
THIS SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM REFLECTS A LONG TERM INVESTMENT IN BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY AND INPATIENT CARE, IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING PERSONNEL. THE DEPARTMENT IS ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING NEW ADVANCED EMS PROGRAMS THAT WILL FURTHER IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES AND EXPAND THE LEVEL OF CARE PROVIDED IN THE FIELD.
THE STATION IS PLANNED TO HOUSE AN ENGINE SQUAD, HIGH WATER VEHICLE, EXPANDING EMERGENCY RESPONSE COVERAGE AND ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS IN OUR CITY. PLANNING ALSO CONTINUES FOR THE PERMANENT FIRE STATION NUMBER NINE, WHICH WILL SUPPORT FUTURE GROWTH ASSOCIATED WITH EMERALD LAKES DEVELOPMENT AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THE FUTURE STATION IS EXPECTED TO HOUSE A HEAVY RESCUE BATTALION, CHIEF TRUCK SQUAD ENGINE AND TENDER, ENSURING THE DEPARTMENT IS PREPARED TO MEET THE INCREASING SERVICE DEMANDS IN SOUTHEAST PALM BAY FOR YEARS TO COME.
PALM BAY CONTINUES TO INVEST IN THE PLACES THAT BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
WE MAINTAIN MORE THAN 40 PARKS AND 15 SPECIALIZED FACILITIES ACROSS OUR CITY.
LIBERTY PARK'S BALLFIELD COMPLEX RECEIVED MAJOR UPGRADES, INCLUDING NEW INFIELDS, RENOVATED RESTROOMS, AND IMPROVED SIDEWALKS. SACRIFICE PARK SAW MEANINGFUL ENHANCEMENTS WITH THE ADDITION OF A MEMORIAL WALL, OBELISK AND AMPHITHEATER HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES.
THE ENHANCEMENTS TO SACRIFICE PART ARE MORE THAN PHYSICAL ADDITIONS.
THEIR LEGACY WILL LIVE ON FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS AND HERE IN PALM BAY AT SACRIFICE PARK.
WE ALSO COMPLETED SHORELINE AND PIER IMPROVEMENTS AT CASTAWAYS POINT AND STEARNS POINT, OPENED A SECOND CITY DOG PARK AND RENOVATED TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL COURTS AT KEN GREEN PARK. OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCED A YEAR OF TRANSITION AND FORWARD PLANNING, WITH A FOCUS ON MAKING SMART, DATA DRIVEN INFRASTRUCTURE DECISIONS AT THE DIRECTION OF CITY COUNCIL.
THE GOOD ROADS PROGRAM WAS PAUSED TO ALLOW FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REEVALUATION OF ROADWAY CONDITIONS.
ONCE COMPLETE, A PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN WILL BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
SEVERAL MAJOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE WIDENING OF SAINT JOHN'S HERITAGE PARKWAY FROM MALABAR ROAD NORTH TO THE CITY LIMITS IS IN DESIGN PHASE, WITH STAFF ACTIVELY PURSUING GRANT FUNDING TO HELP OFFSET FUTURE CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
TWO IN A LOCAL AGREEMENTS ARE IN PLACE TO SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES, INCLUDING THE DESIGN OF A NEW SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION AT EL GRANDE BOULEVARD AND RESURFACING BETWEEN MERALOMA BOULEVARD AND WILLOWBROOK STREET.
PROGRESS ALSO CONTINUES ON THE MALABAR ROAD WIDENING PROJECT.
THE P.D.A. STUDY WAS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER 2025, AND DESIGN IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN SPRING OF 2026.
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THESE EFFORTS FOCUS ON IMPROVING SAFETY, TRAFFIC FLOW AND POSITIONING PALM BAY FOR FUTURE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.PALM BAY CONTINUES TO GROW, AND OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT IS DELIVERING THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THAT GROWTH IN A RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE WAY. AFTER YEARS OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION, THE NEW SOUTH REGIONAL WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY IS SCHEDULED TO COME ONLINE SUMMER OF 2026. THIS STATE OF THE ART FACILITY WILL INITIALLY TREAT 1 MILLION GALLONS OF WASTEWATER PER DAY, SERVING SOUTHEAST PALM BAY, INCLUDING THE BABCOCK STREET AND SAINT JOHNS HERITAGE PARKWAY CORRIDOR.
PLANNING IS ALREADY UNDERWAY TO EXPAND CAPACITY TO 2 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
THIS PROACTIVE APPROACH ENSURES WE STAY AHEAD OF GROWTH WHILE MAINTAINING SYSTEM STABILITY.
AT SOUTH REGIONAL WATER TREATMENT. PLANT CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY TO INCREASE CAPACITY FROM 6 MILLION TO 8 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY, STRENGTHENING OUR ABILITY TO MEET CURRENT AND NEAR-TERM DEMAND.
WE ARE ALSO ADVANCING THE FIRST PHASE OF THE NORTH REGIONAL REVERSE OSMOSIS PLANT.
THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW US TO BEGIN PHASING OUT THE AGING NORTH REGIONAL LIME SOFTENING PLANT AND MODERNIZE OUR WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM WHILE WE BUILD FOR PALM BAY FUTURE. OUR UTILITIES TEAM CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN AND PROTECT SYSTEMS THAT SERVES RESIDENTS EVERY DAY.
TODAY, PALM BAY UTILITIES MAINTAINS MORE THAN 700 MILES OF WATER MAINS, OVER 250 MILES OF GRAVITY SEWER MAINS AND 111 MILES OF WASTEWATER FORCE MAINTENANCE.
THE TEAM OPERATES 138 LIFT STATIONS, MAINTAINS MORE THAN 3300 FIRE HYDRANTS, AND CONDUCTS OVER 1400 ROUTINE WATER QUALITY TESTS EACH YEAR. BEHIND EVERY GLASS OF WATER, EVERY FLUSH TOILET AND EVERY FIRE HYDRANT READY FOR USE.
THERE IS A DEDICATED TEAM ENSURING RELIABILITY, SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE.
THESE ARE GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS NOT JUST IN INFRASTRUCTURE BUT IN PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THE LONG TERM STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN NOVEMBER 2024, THE PALM BAY POLICE DEPARTMENT'S MAJOR CASE UNIT ACHIEVED A HISTORIC MILESTONE WITH THE FIRST INDICTMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT'S HISTORY FOR FIRST DEGREE FELONY MURDER IN CONNECTION WITH AN OVERDOSE DEATH.
THESE CASES REQUIRE EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION, COMMITMENT AND PERSISTENCE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE JUSTICE WITH THAT SAME RESOLVE. THOSE EFFORTS, COMBINED WITH PROACTIVE POLICING, STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND OUTSTANDING WORK ACROSS EVERY DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT, HELP DRIVE MEANINGFUL REDUCTIONS IN CRIME THROUGHOUT PALM BAY.
IN 2025, COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR, MURDERS DECREASED BY MORE THAN 13%, ROBBERIES DROPPED BY OVER 36%, AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS DECLINED NEARLY 23%, AND BURGLARIES FELL MORE THAN 15%. MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS DECREASED BY OVER 15%.
THESE ARE NOT JUST STATISTICS. THEY REPRESENT SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS, PROTECTED FAMILIES, AND THE LIVES POSITIVELY IMPACTED THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. BEHIND EVERY ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS IS THE WORK OF OUR OFFICERS, DETECTIVES, DISPATCHERS, CIVILIAN STAFF, AND SUPERVISORS WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY COMMITTED TO SERVING THIS CITY WITH PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY AND CARE. IN 2026, WE ALSO MARKED AN IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP TRANSITION WITH THE PALM BAY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE THANK CHIEF MARIO AJELLO FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP, PARTICULARLY HIS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR OFFICERS.
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WE ALSO PROBABLY WELCOME CHIEF JEFF SPEARS AS THE NEW LEADER OF OUR DEPARTMENT.I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE DEPARTMENT'S LEGACY OF PROFESSIONALISM, SERVICE AND EXCELLENCE THAT. CONTINUED SUCCESS DEPENDS ON MAINTAINING.
WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CALLS FORCE AND READINESS, ENSURING THE DEPARTMENT REMAINS PROPERLY STAFFED, TRAINED, EQUIPPED AND PREPARED TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF OUR GROWING CITY FORCE READINESS BEGINS LONG BEFORE AN OFFICER EVER ANSWERS THE CALL.
IT STARTS WITH HOW EFFECTIVELY WE RECRUIT, SELECT AND PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF OFFICERS.
THE PALM BAY POLICE DEPARTMENT REMAINS FOCUSED NOT SIMPLY ON FILLING VACANCIES, BUT ON ATTRACTING HIGH QUALITY CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM AND A COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
MAINTAINING THOSE STANDARDS REQUIRES A RIGOROUS AND COMPETITIVE HIRING PROCESS, WHICH IS WHY INVESTING IN RECRUITMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT REMAINS SUCH A HIGH, IMPORTANT PRIORITY. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO CONTINUES TO SEE STRONG RESULTS THROUGH THE USE OF MODERN INVESTIGATIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING FLOCK LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION SYSTEMS. THESE TOOLS STRENGTHEN THE WORK OUR OFFICERS AND INVESTIGATORS ALREADY DO BY HELPING IDENTIFY LEADS MORE QUICKLY, SHORTEN CASE CLOSURE TIMES AND GENERATE CRITICAL INFORMATION THAT MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE SURFACED DURING AN INVESTIGATION.
A RECENT TRAGIC HIT AND RUN INVOLVING A DEATH DEMONSTRATES THIS IMPACT CLEARLY.
FLOCK DATA PROVIDED INVESTIGATORS WITH A SUSPECT VEHICLE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, ALLOWING THEM TO IDENTIFY THE RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUAL AND RECOVER THE VEHICLE FOR FORENSIC PROCESSING. TIMELY INSIGHTS LIKE THIS PRESERVE CRITICAL EVIDENCE AND PREVENT CASES FROM STALLING.
EARLY ON. AS THE DEPARTMENT HAS EXPANDED ITS USE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY, THEY'VE SEEN CONSISTENT IMPROVEMENTS IN IDENTIFYING SUSPECTS MORE EFFICIENTLY, LOCATING MISSING PEOPLE OR STOLEN VEHICLES QUICKER, AND RECEIVING REAL TIME INTEL THAT SUPPORTS AWARENESS DURING ACTIVE INCIDENTS. THIS TIMELY INFORMATION ALLOWS OFFICERS TO QUICKLY CREATE A SAFE APPROACH, PLAN AND LOCATE PERSONS OF INTEREST MUCH FASTER, HELPING THEM RESPOND EFFECTIVELY AS THE SITUATIONS UNFOLD.
BY PAIRING RESPONSIBLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATIVE WORK, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY, AND DELIVER BETTER OUTCOMES FOR THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE.
IN 2025, L3 HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES COMPLETED A $100 MILLION EXPANSION OF ITS PALM BAY SATELLITE MANUFACTURING FACILITY, ADDING APPROXIMATELY 4000FT² OF ADVANCED PRODUCTION SPACE IN CREATING ROUGHLY 100 HIGH WAGE PAYING JOBS, WITH AN AVERAGE SALARY OF NEAR $100,000 ANNUALLY.
THIS SINGLE EXPANSION STRENGTHENS PALM BAY POSITION IN THE AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE SECTOR, AN INDUSTRY CLUSTER THAT GENERATES SOME OF THE HIGHEST WAGES IN BREVARD COUNTY AND PRODUCES STRONG MULTIPLIER EFFECTS THROUGHOUT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
PALM BAY HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF FLORIDA'S FASTEST GROWING CITIES AND A TOP DESTINATION FOR ENTREPRENEURS, BUSINESSES AND INNOVATION THROUGHOUT 2025. PALM BAY HAS EARNED NUMEROUS RANKINGS.
PALM BAY WAS ALSO NAMED ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN FLORIDA FOR 2025 2026, ACCORDING TO U.S.
NEWS. FROM 2019 TO 2024. JOBS INCREASED BY 13.2%, OUTPACING THE NATIONAL GROWTH BY NEARLY 9% IN 2025 ALONE. THE CITY WELCOMED OVER 400 NEW BUSINESSES THROUGH THE MAYOR'S BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT PROGRAM. WE HIGHLIGHTED BUSINESSES THAT EXEMPLIFY GROWTH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, INCLUDING GARY YEOMANS FORD OF PALM BAY JAMROCK GRILL, THE SHACK RIVERFRONT RESTAURANT AND TIKI BAR AND GI WORKS. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM PARTNERED WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF THE FLORIDA SPACE COAST TO HOST REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR A TOUR OF SEVERAL PALM BAY MANUFACTURING COMPANIES.
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THAT SAME MONTH, CITY LEADERSHIP WELCOMED THE CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL DIRECTOR FROM CENTER ASHLEY MOODY'S OFFICE FOR A TOUR OF PALM BAY.THE VISIT HIGHLIGHTED THE CITY'S STRATEGIC ASSETS, KEY DEVELOPMENT CORRIDORS AND THE GROWING NETWORK OF MANUFACTURING, ENGINEERING AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
U.S. SPACE COMMAND AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES FOCUSED ON SPACE AND DEFENSE TECHNOLOGIES.
PALM BAY TALENT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROWING INDUSTRY BASE POSITION OUR COMMUNITY AS A STRONG CANDIDATE FOR FUTURE INVESTMENT AND CONTINUED ECONOMIC EXPANSION. WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN.
PALM BAY. OVER THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD WITH PURPOSE AND PRIDE.
WE INVESTED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, STRENGTHEN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, SUPPORTED ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND PLAN RESPONSIBLY FOR OUR FUTURE. THIS PROGRESS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR DEDICATED CITY STAFF, STRONG LEADERSHIP, AND A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
DURING MY LAST STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, I SPOKE ABOUT MY COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A CITY THAT IS SAFE, THAT IS PROSPEROUS AND FULL OF OPPORTUNITY. THAT COMMITMENT STILL REMAINS.
I WILL CONTINUE WORKING EVERY DAY TO ENSURE PALM BAY IS A CITY WE ARE ALL PROUD TO CALL HOME.
IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE YOU AS YOUR MAYOR AND STAND ALONGSIDE OF YOU AS WE SHAPE OUR FUTURE TOGETHER.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU. MAY GOD KEEP YOU AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR GREAT CITY.
PALM BAY. HURRAH! SO THANK YOU THAT THAT CONCLUDES OUR STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. AND THEN WE'RE JUST GOING TO RECESS FOR A FEW
MINUTES, AND WE'LL START WITH OUR REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.