Indian Harbour Beach meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Indian Harbour Beach City Council weighs $21.17M budget, $90 stormwater fee; insurance contract up Aug. 25

Indian Harbour Beach's City Council is reviewing a proposed $21.17 million budget for fiscal year 2027, including a slight decrease in the property tax rate, and is set to award a nearly $943,000 employee insurance contract at its next meeting.

Budget workshop: $21.17M plan, $9.26M in capital projects

At an Aug. 11 budget workshop, the council reviewed the proposed FY27 all-funds budget of $21,165,068, up 9.19% from FY26. The General Fund budget is $20,150,138. The proposed millage rate is 5.5077, a slight decrease from the current year but 2.72% above the roll-back rate, which would generate $247,831 in additional revenue.

The plan includes a 3.25% salary increase for all employees and no new positions. Capital projects total $9,265,026, including $6,346,174 for muck removal and $1,250,000 for a Fire Station Annex. The Stormwater Utility Assessment rate is proposed to remain unchanged. This was a discussion and direction-setting meeting, not a final adoption.

Stormwater fee set at $90 per unit

Also on Aug. 11, the Council held a public hearing on Resolution No. 26-06, which sets the annual stormwater utility assessment rate at $90 per equivalent residential unit for FY27, unchanged from the current year. The rate is expected to generate about $427,081 for drainage maintenance and water quality projects. The agenda also included a proclamation declaring August 2026 as Florida Water Professionals Month and a city manager report on the Algonquin Sports Complex expansion, including completed turf installation and sewer line work on North Osceola Drive. The City Hall Baffle Box project is ahead of schedule, with substantial completion expected in August. Five firms were short-listed for an engineering and stormwater consulting RFQ, with interviews scheduled for Aug. 18-19.

RFQ committee hears presentations, ranks firms

The evaluation committee for RFQ #2026-01 met twice. On Aug. 18, it heard 30-minute presentations from HR Green, Bowman, and Haley Ward. On Aug. 19, it heard presentations from Applied Ecology and LJA, and committee members provided rankings. The minutes do not record the specific rankings or the contract award decision. Prior meeting minutes were approved 3-0 at both meetings.

Tree board reviews tall grass ordinance

The Tree Preservation Board met Aug. 19 to review draft Ordinance No. 2026-04, which addresses tall grass and wildflowers, and consider sending it to the City Council for adoption. The board also selected a Champion Tree for September/October and discussed public outreach materials. Minutes from the June 10 and Aug. 6 meetings were on the agenda.

Coming up

• **City Council meeting, Aug. 25:** The Council will consider awarding the FY27 employee insurance contract, with a staff recommendation to renew Florida Blue health plans at an estimated cost of $942,788. It will also rank firms for engineering and stormwater consulting services, reappoint Planning and Zoning Board members, approve disposal of fixed assets, and set a date and time for a property tax reform town hall meeting.

Indian Harbour Beach council hears stormwater fee, reviews $21M budget

Indian Harbour Beach city officials this week held a public hearing on a stormwater utility fee and reviewed a proposed $21.17 million budget for the coming fiscal year. The City Council also received updates on capital projects, while a tree board continued work on a wildflower ordinance and an evaluation committee moved forward with selecting engineering firms.

Stormwater fee hearing

At its Aug. 11 meeting, the City Council held a public hearing on Resolution No. 26-06, which would set the annual stormwater utility assessment at $90 per equivalent residential unit for fiscal year 2026-27. The rate is unchanged from the current year and is expected to generate about $427,081 for drainage maintenance and water quality projects. The outcome of the vote is not yet available because minutes have not been published.

The same meeting included a proclamation declaring August 2026 as Florida Water Professionals Month. The city manager reported that turf installation at the Algonquin Sports Complex is complete, sewer line work on North Osceola Drive is finished, and the City Hall Baffle Box project is ahead of schedule, with substantial completion expected in August.

Budget workshop

Also on Aug. 11, the council held a budget workshop to review the proposed FY27 budget of $21,165,068 for all funds, up 9.19% from FY26. The General Fund budget is $20,150,138. The proposed millage rate is 5.5077, which is 2.72% above the roll-back rate and would yield $247,831 in additional revenue. The budget includes a 3.25% salary increase for all employees and no new positions.

Capital projects total $9,265,026, including $6,346,174 for muck removal and $1,250,000 for a Fire Station Annex. The stormwater budget is $1,011,884, with the assessment rate unchanged. This was a discussion and direction-setting session, not a final adoption.

Tree ordinance revisions

The Tree Preservation Board met Aug. 6 to discuss revisions to Ordinance 2026-04, which governs native plant and wildflower areas on improved properties. The board previously recommended changes addressing permitting, enforcement, and definitions after concerns about vagueness. The revisions include a permit requirement for designated native plant/wildflower areas, with permits valid for three years and renewable. Failure to maintain the majority of the area weed-free could result in revocation. The board's motion to recommend revisions passed 3-0 at its Feb. 18 meeting. Minutes from the Aug. 6 meeting are not yet published.

Engineering firm selection

An evaluation committee met Aug. 4 to review qualification statements from eight firms for RFQ #2026-01, covering engineering and stormwater consulting services. The firms were Gale Associates, BSC, HR Green, Applied Ecology, Bowman, Haley Ward, Baxter and Woodman, and Dredging and Marine Consultants. The committee is scheduled to interview five firms on Aug. 18 and 19.

Coming up

• **Aug. 18, 1:45–3:45 p.m.** — Evaluation Committee interviews HR Green, Bowman, and Haley Ward for RFQ #2026-01 at the Police Department Training Room, 1835 South Patrick Drive.
• **Aug. 19** — Evaluation Committee interviews Applied Ecology and LJA Engineering, then ranks qualification statements. Also on Aug. 19, the Tree Preservation Board will review draft Ordinance No. 2026-04 (Tall Grass and Wildflower) and consider sending it to the City Council, select a Champion Tree for September/October, and discuss public outreach materials.

Indian Harbour Beach Council to set tentative tax rate; boards review permits, wildflower rules

This week's meetings in Indian Harbour Beach were largely procedural, with no final decisions recorded yet. The City Council is set to establish a tentative property tax rate, and several boards reviewed permit appeals and ordinance changes. All meetings were agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published.

City Council sets tentative millage rate

On July 28, the City Council will establish a tentative operating millage rate of 5.5077 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Also on the agenda: the purchase of two laptops and materials for Fire Department vehicles costing $17,157, change orders for the Yuma Sidewalk Capacity Improvement Project totaling $12,474, and updates on the Algonquin Sports Complex expansion and the City Hall Baffle Box Project. The council will also determine the date and time for a Property Tax Reform Townhall Meeting.

Zoning Board to hear driveway appeal

Also on July 28, the Zoning Board of Appeals will consider an appeal from resident Maria Diegnan regarding a denied after-the-fact driveway extension permit at 139 Terry Street. The Building Official denied the permit because the driveway's impervious surface exceeded the 35% limit for required front yards.

Evaluation Committee reviews RFQ 2026-01

The Evaluation Committee met twice this week to move forward on RFQ 2026-01. On July 27, the committee opened qualification statements, elected a chairman, and set a next meeting date. On August 4, it short-listed firms for oral interviews after reviewing submissions from eight firms: Gale Associates, BSC, HR Green, Applied Ecology, Bowman, Haley Ward, Baxter and Woodman, and Dredging and Marine Consultants. No contract amounts were discussed.

Tree Preservation Board reviews wildflower ordinance

On August 6, the Tree Preservation Board discussed revisions to Ordinance 2026-04, which governs native plant and wildflower areas on improved properties. The board previously recommended changes addressing permitting, enforcement, and definitions after concerns about vagueness and potential impacts on native yards. That recommendation passed 3-0 at a February 18, 2026 meeting. Under the draft revisions, designated native plant/wildflower areas would require a permit valid for three years and renewable; failure to maintain the area majority weed-free could result in revocation.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

Indian Harbour Beach Sets Tentative FY27 Tax Rate; Zoning Appeal and RFQ Process Advance

Indian Harbour Beach officials moved through a busy week of meetings covering the tentative property tax rate, a driveway permit appeal, and the opening of qualifications for a city contracting process. Because minutes have not yet been published for the recent meetings, outcomes of individual agenda items are not yet confirmed.

City Council — Tentative FY27 Millage Rate and Spending Items

The City Council's July 28 agenda included establishing a tentative operating millage rate of 5.5077 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The council was also scheduled to determine the date and time for a Property Tax Reform Townhall Meeting.

Other agenda items involved city spending:

• Purchase of two laptops and materials for Fire Department vehicles, costing $17,157.
• Yuma Sidewalk Capacity Improvement Project change orders totaling $12,474.
• An update on the Algonquin Sports Complex expansion project.
• An update on the City Hall Baffle Box Project.

Minutes for this meeting have not been published, so final votes and any amendments are not yet part of the public record.

Zoning Board of Appeals — Driveway Permit Appeal at 139 Terry Street

Also on July 28, the Zoning Board of Appeals was scheduled to hear an appeal from resident Maria Diegnan regarding a denied after-the-fact driveway extension permit at 139 Terry Street.

According to the agenda summary, the Building Official denied the permit because the driveway's impervious surface exceeded the 35% limit for required front yards. The board's decision is not yet available in published minutes.

Evaluation Committee — RFQ 2026-01 Qualifications Opened

On July 27, the Evaluation Committee met to open and discuss qualification statements submitted in response to RFQ 2026-01. The agenda described this as a procedural meeting with no decisions or specific contract amounts under consideration. The committee was also scheduled to elect a chairman and set a next meeting date.

Coming Up

August 4 — Evaluation Committee (RFP): The committee will determine which firms will be invited for oral interviews following the opening of qualifications from eight firms: Gale Associates, BSC, HR Green, Applied Ecology, Bowman, Haley Ward, Baxter and Woodman, and Dredging and Marine Consultants.

August 6 — Tree Preservation Board: The board will discuss revisions to Ordinance 2026-04, which governs native plant and wildflower areas on improved properties. The board previously recommended changes addressing permitting, enforcement, and definitions, with that motion passing 3-0 at its February 18, 2026 meeting. Under the proposed framework, permits for designated native plant/wildflower areas would be valid for 3 years and renewable, with revocation possible if a majority of the area is not maintained weed-free.

Indian Harbour Beach City Council takes up zoning, watercraft storage, and fee proposals

The Indian Harbour Beach City Council on June 23 considered a slate of proposed ordinances and resolutions, including new rules for storing watercraft and trailers, a zoning code amendment, and an updated fee schedule. Because official minutes have not yet been published, the meeting’s outcomes — votes, amendments, or approvals — are not yet available.

Watercraft storage ordinance

The council held a public hearing and considered Ordinance 2026-07, which would create a new chapter on the storage of watercraft and watercraft trailers within the city. The text of the proposed ordinance was set for discussion, but no vote tally or final action has been recorded.

P-2 zoning amendment

Also up for a public hearing was Ordinance 2026-06, an amendment to the city’s P-2 zoning code. The specific nature of the proposed changes was not detailed in the meeting agenda.

Fee schedule update

Resolution 26-05 would adopt a revised fee schedule for various city services and permits. The council took up the resolution for consideration.

10-year water plan

Ordinance 2026-10 concerns the Water Supply Facilities Work Plan for 2026 through 2036. The plan outlines expected infrastructure needs over the next decade.

Algonquin Sports Complex door replacement

The agenda listed a proposed $14,150 expenditure to replace a roll-up door at the Algonquin Sports Complex. No contract award or approval was noted.

No upcoming meetings scheduled

As of July 5, 2026, no City Council meetings or other city board meetings have been publicly posted for the next two weeks. Residents should check the city’s official calendar for future dates.