Message From the City Manager

On October 10, the City will celebrate a huge milestone when we officially dedicate our new police station, the Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center. This event represents the culmination of more than six years of work by the City Council and employees from almost every City department. Most importantly, the project would not have been possible without the support of our residents who voted to finance the estimated $35 million facility with general obligation bonds in 2018. 

More information about the Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center and the dedication ceremony is available at www.melbourneflorida.org/joseph-pellicano-law-enforcement-center. All employees are welcome to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony. If you would like to attend, please coordinate with your supervisor. 

Though our area did not experience major impacts from Hurricane Helene, the storm’s rapid development and arrival last week was a sobering reminder that we are in the midst of peak hurricane season — and that a major hurricane can quickly develop and hit Florida at any time. We must always have plans and supplies in place so that we are prepared to move quickly in case the next storm does head for Brevard County.

Cybersecurity is another area in which we must be ever vigilant. Every day there hundreds of attempts to infiltrate our systems. I encourage everyone to complete the required annual cybersecurity training as quickly as possible and to take advantage of other learning opportunities and resources shared by the IT Department during Cybersecurity Month in October. 

I am grateful to the City Council and the employees who worked so hard on the FY25 budget that Council approved last week. The post-pandemic economy will continue to challenge us, but we have developed a road map that will enable us to continue to provide residents their current level of service while still making steps toward achieving long-term goals. 

Jenni

Volunteers Clean Up 815 pounds of Trash from Ballard Park

On Saturday, September 21, volunteers cleaned up 1,726 pieces of trash totaling 815 pounds at Ballard Park in Melbourne. Twenty-five volunteers worked tirelessly all morning picking up every bit of trash they could find in the park and in the water along the park. The top five items were 368 cigarette butts, 164 food wrappers, 115 plastic bottle caps, 36 straws, and 489 tiny pieces of plastic and foam. The clean-up event was part of International Coastal Cleanup, a worldwide effort to help eliminate trash from beaches and waterways.

City Completes Safety Improvements Project Around Melbourne High School

A project to install new sidewalks and make other pedestrian safety improvements around Melbourne High School was completed just in time for the start of the new school year.

The goal of the project was to help keep students safe as they walk to and from the school and between the school and the Publix shopping center. Since the start of the new school year, students have been taking advantage of the new crosswalk, and drivers have been complying with the 15 MPH flashing beacon school zone signs.

Other improvements included construction of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant crosswalk and curb ramps for the main school crossing on Bulldog Boulevard, Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons, and on-street parallel parking. New sidewalks were also constructed next to the school on the west side of Apollo Boulevard between Bulldog Boulevard and NASA Boulevard.

The project also included the installation of approximately 400 feet of drainage pipe and inlets, concrete curb and gutter and valley gutter to improve drainage on Bulldog Boulevard.

Security Cameras, Additional Police Patrols Added to Downtown Melbourne

City staff and Melbourne Police officers have been working with Melbourne Main Street and downtown businesses and property owners to find ways to help visitors to downtown feel safer.

As part of this effort, 12 high-definition video security cameras were recently installed along New Haven Avenue in the downtown area. This technology will allow the Melbourne Police Department to monitor incidents in real-time and capture recordings for investigations and evidence.

Additional security cameras were installed in the City Hall parking garage last year. The parking garage is also staffed by a security guard on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. The security guard is stationed at the booth at the vehicle entrance to the garage and performs periodic walk-throughs of stairwells and will patrol each level of the garage and the immediate area surrounding the garage.

Melbourne Police officers are also doing additional bike, foot and vehicular patrols in the Downtown area.

Promotions

• Carlos Bracetty to Meter Service Worker, Customer Service
• Marie Cardace to Chief Accounts Clerk, Financial Services
• Eric Crawford to Police Support Services Manager, Police Support Services
• Kyle McBride to Firefighter EMT-I, Fire Operations
• Larry Phipps to Wastewater Operator B, Water Reclamation

Service Award

During the August 27 City Council Meeting, council members congratulated and thanked Silas Scott, Sr., Streets and Stormwater Management, for his 35 years of service to the City of Melbourne. Pictured left to right are Council Member Mark LaRusso, Council Member Tim Thomas, City Manager Jenni Lamb, Silas Scott and his wife, Vice Mayor Yvonne Minus, Pastor Nathaniel Harris and his wife, Council Member Julie Kennedy, Council Member Rachael Bassett, and Council Member Mimi Hanley.

Retirements

• Mark Lucas, Building Inspector III/Fire, retired on September 27 after 42 years of service.
• Maribeth Van Zandt, Associate Buyer/Procurement, retired on September 27 after 10 years of service.
• Roger Van Kramer, Fire Lieutenant Medic (Solo), retired on September 30 after 27 years of service.