There are events that have helped us prepare. Having Harvey hit Texas put everyone on edge, and the size of this storm as it approached Cuba, with several possible paths, got everyone’s attention, so plans were made, houses boarded up, supplies bought and many moved to safe areas early, taking the storm seriously, and doing…
DetailsOver the next few weeks, I will endeavor to send out updates on Irma’s effect on Vero Beach, and our progress getting back to normal. If you have any specific concerns, suggestions or questions, I will try to address them. There are varying news reports about the rain, storm surge, and winds that will affect…
Details
Vero Beach’s down town has a pair of one-way streets going through it locally referred to as the twin pairs, and their design is somewhat controversial, as the speed limit is higher, and they have more lanes than some residents feel are necessary. This is a state road, an evacuation route from the beach, and…
Details
Recently, there was a special call City Council meeting to discuss the update to the Comprehensive Plan Policy Document, which describes in policy, on maps and technically, the goals of the city’s land use. Each City and County is required by law to adopt a comprehensive plan that “shall provide the principles, guidelines, standards, strategies…
Details
Convenient parking places are hard to find during the season along Ocean Boulevard. There is too little parking for the number of visitors we have, and even if you think it is not a problem now, it will become one. Vero is attracting more people, as tourist traffic and beach use grows, parking issues become…
Details
I wrote an article entitled “Update on The Sale of Vero Electric” that came out in the last couple of days and it said “Vero has proven that it cannot run a utility” and I meant that the complicated task of running a $100 million utility business was too complicated for a City Council that…
Details
Short version: aiming to be signed by September 5th 2017, final FMPA approval by January 2018. Longer Version: at Tuesday’s City Council meeting both Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) and Florida Municipal Power Agency’s (FMPA) representatives together with Vero Beach’s lawyer brought the Council up to date on the progress of the sale. The numbers…
Details
Politics add a new dimension to the budget process and while there is no way to exclude agendas, I think there is a better way to expose the consequences. Generally, City Council members do not look at the city’s finances with the same practical mindset that they use with their household or business. I think…
DetailsThe City Council held their annual budget workshop last week. This is an important part of the City’s budget process. For three days, the City Council sits, informally, around a table, listening to City management and staff discuss their departments. This is a great way to discuss plans, needs, successes, and disappointments. As you can…
Details
On Friday, July 7th, the Finance Commission met to discuss the City budget for the upcoming 2017-2018 year. Figuring out the budget begins in the early spring, as department heads determine needs for the upcoming year. Then, the City Council adds parameters to the exercise, and the City Manager and the Finance Manager compile a…
Details