Gulf Breeze meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Gulf Breeze City Council agenda includes $210M bond, lot-split ordinance; budgets reviewed

Gulf Breeze city officials met Aug. 3 for a regular council meeting and budget workshops. The most consequential item on the agenda was a resolution authorizing up to $210 million in tax-exempt bonds for behavioral health facilities. The council also held a second reading of an ordinance to streamline lot splits for single-family homes. Minutes from these meetings have not yet been published, so outcomes are not known.

City Council regular meeting

The Aug. 3 regular meeting agenda included:

• Second reading of Ordinance 02-2026 to create an administrative lot-split process for single-family homes in R-1-A and R-1-AA districts.
• Resolution 19-2026 approving up to $210,000,000 in tax-exempt revenue bonds for multiple behavioral health entities.
• Emergency purchase of a control panel for the Double Duplex Stormwater Pump Station at $79,595.62.
• First reading of Ordinance 03-2026 to vacate bicycle/pedestrian and utility easements at 409 Gulf Breeze Parkway.
• Approval to mill and resurface portions of Norwich Drive, Florida Avenue, and Camelia Street as part of the FY2026 paving plan.

Budget workshops and Capital Trust Authority

The council also held a joint workshop with the Capital Trust Authority and Capital Trust Agency to review FY2027 budgets. Proposed items included a combined $1,000,000 payment to the city, CTA2.0 income of $1,219,002.00, CTA1.0 income of $910,328.68, and reported combined net income of $824,020.25 for FY2026 through May 31. The workshop also noted the closing of $41.89 million in Marie Selby Botanical Gardens financing.

A separate budget workshop for Tourist Development Tax (TDT) and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funds discussed the FY2027 millage rate maintained at 1.9723 mills, a proposed CPI increase of 3.6%, and a stormwater adjustment of $2.95 per ERU.

Tourist Development Advisory Committee

On Aug. 4, the Tourist Development Advisory Committee reviewed a proposed $839,680 FY2027 budget, including $400,000 for Mariners Landing hurricane restoration, $100,000 for synthetic turf replacement, $20,000 for Spring Fest (up from $12,000), $10,000 for beach nourishment and fishing pier maintenance, and $40,000 for partial sidewalk replacement at Shoreline Park North.

Staff Selection Committee

The Staff Selection Committee met Aug. 11 and Aug. 13 to rank proposals and hear presentations for directional boring, trenching, and underground utility services. The Aug. 13 meeting included final rankings and a contractor recommendation, with closed deliberations pursuant to F.S. 286.0113(2)(1)(B).

Coming up

The City Council will hold a regular meeting Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Agenda items include a resolution supporting the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program, authorizing a fire rescue assessment study with Raftelis Financial Consultants, a change order of $44,181.00 for the Thomas Lambert Water Reclamation Facility, a piggyback agreement with Security Engineering, Inc. for $70,510.43 for security cameras, and an amended utility easement for storm water facilities at 700 Bay Cliffs Road.

The council will also convene as the Community Redevelopment Agency board at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 17.

The Gulf Breeze Fire Board meets Aug. 19 at 3:00 p.m. at City Hall.

Gulf Breeze boards weigh $210M bond, lot-split rules, tourism budget; no votes reported

Gulf Breeze city boards and committees met over the past two weeks to consider a range of items, from a $210 million bond package for behavioral health facilities to a streamlined lot-split process for single-family homes. No minutes have been published for these meetings, so official votes and outcomes are not yet available.

City Council regular meeting (Aug. 3)

The City Council's agenda included:

• **Second reading of Ordinance 02-2026** – creating an administrative lot-split process for single-family homes in R-1-A and R-1-AA zoning districts, without requiring a formal subdivision plat.
• **Resolution 19-2026** – approving up to $210,000,000 in tax-exempt revenue bonds for multiple behavioral health entities.
• **Emergency purchase** – one control panel for the Double Duplex Stormwater Pump Station at $79,595.62.
• **First reading of Ordinance 03-2026** – to vacate bicycle/pedestrian and utility easements at 409 Gulf Breeze Parkway.
• **Approval to mill and resurface** portions of Norwich Drive, Florida Avenue, and Camelia Street as part of the FY2026 paving plan.

Budget workshops (Aug. 3)

The council held a joint workshop with the Capital Trust Authority and Capital Trust Agency to review FY2027 budgets. Proposed items included a combined $1,000,000 payment to the City of Gulf Breeze, CTA2.0 total income of $1,219,002.00, CTA1.0 total income of $910,328.68, and reported combined net income of $824,020.25 for FY2026 through May 31. The agenda also noted the closing of $41.89 million in Marie Selby Botanical Gardens financing.

A separate budget workshop covered the Tourist Development Tax (TDT) and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funds. The millage rate was proposed to remain at 1.9723 mills, with a Consumer Price Index increase of 3.6% and a stormwater adjustment of $2.95 per equivalent residential unit.

Tourist Development Advisory Committee (Aug. 4)

The committee reviewed a proposed $839,680 FY2027 tourism budget, including:

• $400,000 annual repayment for Mariners Landing hurricane restoration
• $100,000 set aside for synthetic turf replacement
• $20,000 for Spring Fest (up from $12,000)
• $10,000 for beach nourishment and fishing pier facilities maintenance
• $40,000 for partial sidewalk replacement at Shoreline Park North

Board of Adjustment (July 28)

The board considered a variance request from Keith and June Biggs to reconstruct a dock at 418 N. Sunset Blvd. The proposed dock would extend 25.5 feet beyond the 25-foot maximum permissible length.

Coming up

• **Aug. 11** – Staff Selection Committee: initial rankings for directional boring, trenching, and underground utility services RFP.
• **Aug. 13** – Staff Selection Committee: proposer presentations (9:00–10:50 a.m.) and final rankings/recommendation (11:00 a.m.), with closed deliberations.
• **Aug. 17** – City Council regular meeting and Community Redevelopment Agency meeting (procedural notices only).
• **Aug. 19** – Gulf Breeze Fire Board meeting at 3:00 p.m. at City Hall.

All recent meeting minutes remain unpublished; the items above reflect agendas only.

Gulf Breeze Council Considered $6M Bond, $950K Pathway Contract, and FY2027 Budget at July 20 Meetings

Gulf Breeze's City Council and related boards held a packed July 20 schedule, with agendas calling for votes on a $6 million industrial development bond, a $950,609.83 pathway construction contract, and a $199,706.79 water line replacement. Minutes from all recent meetings have not yet been published, so outcomes listed below reflect what boards were scheduled to consider, not confirmed decisions.

City Council: Bond, Water Line, and Legal Services on the Agenda

The July 20 City Council regular meeting agenda included Resolution No. 20-2026, which would authorize up to $6,000,000 in Capital Trust Authority Industrial Development Revenue Bonds for A2Z Builders Depot LLC.

The council was also scheduled to vote on awarding a $199,706.79 contract to Utility Services Co. for the Multi-Use Pathway Phase II water line replacement, and on a Fourth Amendment extending the legal services agreement with Phelps Dunbar LLP for an additional two-year term.

A special event application for the Buggy Worx Sleigh Ride Golf Cart Parade on December 13, 2026, was also on the agenda, along with the establishment of FY2027 proposed millage rate and budget public hearing dates.

Budget Workshop: FY 2026–27 Draft Shows 17.3% Decline, No Tax Increase

The council's budget workshop reviewed a draft FY 2026–27 General Fund budget projecting $12,179,478 in revenue and $9,349,095 in operating spending — both down 17.3% from FY 2025–26. The millage rate would remain at 1.9723 mills, with no rollback or new tax increase proposed.

Capital Improvement Plan spending was listed at $1,609,935, including $548,000 for City Hall HVAC replacement, $484,390 for Parks & Recreation, $333,045 for law-enforcement vehicles, and $229,500 for Community Center upgrades.

The workshop agenda noted that all Enterprise Funds covered their operating costs in FY 2025–26, ending General Fund subsidies to those funds. It also highlighted that residents save approximately $621 annually on property tax for a $300,000 home due to the city's municipal police service.

CRA Board: $950,609.83 Pathway Contract Considered

The Community Redevelopment Agency Board, meeting as the City Council, was scheduled to approve June 15, 2026 meeting minutes and consider awarding an ITB to EcoGardens Landscaping, LLC for $950,609.83 for Multi-Use Pathway Phase II construction at Gulf Breeze City Hall, 1070 Shoreline Drive.

Police Pension Board Reviews FY 2026–27 Budget

On July 22, the Police Pension Board of Trustees was scheduled to discuss a proposed FY 2026–2027 budget totaling $50,460.00. The agenda included ratification of FMPTF quarterly fees of $5,158.78, an FMPTF board administration fee of $750.00, a KT Share Plan distribution of $19,893.22, and a KT DROP Plan distribution of $187,371.61.

Board of Adjustment: Dock Variance at 418 N. Sunset Boulevard

On July 28, the Board of Adjustment was scheduled to review Project JVBL1-26-0006, a request from Keith and June Biggs to reconstruct a dock at 418 N. Sunset Boulevard that would extend approximately 25.5 feet beyond the 25-foot maximum permissible length.

Coming Up

• **Aug. 3, 2:30+ p.m.** — City Council Budget Workshop #2 reviewing FY2027 TDT and CRA Fund budgets, followed by a joint workshop with the Capital Trust Authority and Capital Trust Agency boards. Agendas include a proposed $1,000,000 combined payment to the City, CTA2.0 proposed FY2027 income of $1,219,002.00, CTA1.0 proposed income of $910,328.68, and discussion of a 3.6% CPI increase and a $2.95 per ERU stormwater adjustment. A regular City Council meeting follows at 5:30 p.m.
• **Aug. 4** — Tourist Development Advisory Committee reviews a proposed $839,680 FY2027 tourism budget, including $400,000 for Mariners Landing hurricane restoration repayment and $100,000 for synthetic turf replacement.
• **Aug. 11 and Aug. 13** — Staff Selection Committee meetings to rank proposals and hear presentations for directional boring, trenching, and underground utility services.
• **Aug. 17, 5:30 p.m.** — City Council regular meeting and CRA Board meeting at City Hall.

Gulf Breeze Weekly Roundup: Council Agenda Listed $190M in Housing Bonds; Park Board, DRB Items Pending Minutes

Gulf Breeze's recent government meetings were light on confirmed outcomes — several were canceled, and the rest have agendas posted but minutes not yet published, meaning no decisions can be verified. The most consequential items appeared on the July 6 City Council agenda, including up to $190 million in tax-exempt bonds for two multifamily housing projects and a $6 million sewer grant agreement with Santa Rosa County.

City Council — July 6

The regular City Council meeting agenda listed several action items, but minutes have not been published, so outcomes are not confirmed. Agenda items included:

• **Resolution 16-2026**: up to $80,000,000 in bonds for Langston Hughes Lake Como housing.
• **Resolution 17-2026**: up to $110,000,000 in bonds for Aura at Silver Lake housing.
• **First reading** of an ordinance creating an administrative process for single-family residential lot splits.
• A **five-year agreement** with NovoaGlobal for red-light and school zone camera enforcement.
• A **sub-recipient grant of $6,002,948** with Santa Rosa County for the West Bayshore STS sewer project.

Residents should watch for published minutes to confirm which items passed, were amended, or were deferred.

Canceled Meetings

Three meetings in the past two weeks were canceled:

• The **Community Redevelopment Agency Board** meeting on July 6 was canceled. No agenda items were considered.
• A second **CRA public notice** for July 6 was also canceled.
• The **Gulf Breeze Regional Water System Board** meeting on July 13 was canceled.

The City Clerk's Office can be reached at 850-934-5115 or [email protected] for questions.

Advisory Park Board — July 14

The Park Board agenda included several items, but minutes are not yet published, so approvals cannot be confirmed. The agenda listed:

• A recommendation to submit **eight historical marker concepts** to the State of Florida.
• Authorization for staff to begin **preliminary design and site evaluation** for the Frontier Land concept.
• An update on the Upward Intuition / Skate Park planning, with an estimated cost of **$65 per square foot**.
• A status update on the **Woodland Park** project involving contractor Empire Builders.
• Discussion of a food truck initiative targeting a June 1 implementation.

Development Review Board — July 16

The DRB held a special meeting to consider Project JCRL2-26-0002, submitted by Soundview Boardwalk LLC. The project proposes construction of three attached townhouses at 229 English Cove Court in The Proper at Soundview Subdivision. Each unit would have 1,991 square feet of living area across three stories, with a maximum building height of 35 feet per LDC §21-248. Parking would include 2 spaces per unit under each townhouse plus 6 additional spaces on site. Staff recommended approval, finding the design architecturally identical to prior phases and not requiring Architectural Review Board review. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming Up

Several meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks:

• **July 20, 2:30 p.m.** — City Council budget workshops on the proposed FY2027 General Fund and Enterprise Funds budgets, followed by a 5:30 p.m. regular meeting. The draft budget projects General Fund revenue of $12,179,478 and operating spending of $9,349,095 — a 17.3% decrease from FY2025-26 — with the millage rate holding at 1.9723. The regular meeting agenda includes Resolution No. 20-2026 for up to $6,000,000 in industrial development revenue bonds for A2Z Builders Depot LLC, a $199,706.79 contract to Utility Services Co. for Multi-Use Pathway Phase II water line replacement, and a special event application for the Buggy Worx Sleigh Ride Golf Cart Parade on December 13, 2026.
• **July 20, 5:30 p.m.** — CRA Board will consider awarding a $950,609.83 construction contract to EcoGardens Landscaping, LLC for the Multi-Use Pathway Phase II project at City Hall, 1070 Shoreline Drive.
• **July 22, 5:30 p.m.** — Police Pension Board quarterly meeting.
• **July 28, 5:30 p.m.** — Board of Adjustment will review a request from Keith and June Biggs to reconstruct a dock at 418 N Sunset Blvd extending 25.5 feet beyond the 25-foot maximum length.
• **August 3** — City Council regular meeting, CRA Board meeting, and Capital Trust Authority Board meeting (3:30 p.m. at 315 Fairpoint Drive).

Gulf Breeze Council to weigh $190M in housing bonds; Board of Adjustment hears garage variance

The Gulf Breeze City Council meets Monday, July 6, and will consider resolutions authorizing up to $190 million in tax-exempt bonds for two multifamily housing projects, along with a new five-year contract for red-light and school zone cameras and a $6 million sewer grant agreement with Santa Rosa County.

Recent meeting: Board of Adjustment, June 23

The Board of Adjustment held a public hearing on a variance request from Laura and Christian Savoie to build a garage addition at 52 Highpoint Drive. The proposed roof eaves would encroach about 1.6 feet into the side yard setback and 2.7 feet into the front yard setback. Staff recommended approval, finding the encroachment minimal and due to site-specific constraints. The minutes of that meeting have not yet been published, so the board’s decision is not available at this time.

Upcoming City Council meeting, July 6

Housing bonds

Two resolutions (16-2026 and 17-2026) would authorize the city to issue up to $80 million in tax-exempt bonds for Langston Hughes Lake Como housing and up to $110 million for Aura at Silver Lake housing. The bonds are typically used to finance affordable or workforce housing developments. The council will take a first reading of the ordinances.

Lot splits

The council will also hold a first reading of an ordinance that would create an administrative process allowing lot splits for single-family residential properties. Currently, such splits may require a more involved review.

Camera enforcement contract

A five-year agreement with NovoaGlobal would continue or establish red-light and school zone camera enforcement in the city. The contract terms are on the agenda for action.

Sewer grant

The city is set to accept a sub-recipient grant of $6,002,948 from Santa Rosa County for the West Bayshore STS (sewer) project.

Other items

Several change orders for utility projects are also listed on the consent agenda.

Coming up

• **City Council Regular Meeting** — Monday, July 6, 2026. The meeting will cover the bond resolutions, lot split ordinance, camera contract, and grants. Check the city’s website for the time and location.
• **Future Board of Adjustment meetings** — not yet scheduled; July 23 meeting minutes are pending.