Palm Bay City Council Consent Item 5: Zone A Septic to Sewer Design Contract for Highland Shores Estates on November 5

The Palm Bay City Council will consider a design contract for the Zone A septic to sewer conversion at its regular meeting on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The item is Task Order 2026-1-KH with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for $398,800. Per the city's legislative memo, the project would move about 99 homes from private septic systems to city sewer. The task order places the work in the Highland Shores Estates subdivision. The contract is item 5 on the consent agenda for Regular Meeting 2026-29.

What the Council Is Being Asked to Approve

The staff recommendation is a motion to authorize the execution of Task Order 2026-1-KH for the Zone A Septic to Sewer Conversion, in the amount of $398,800, against Master Agreement 22-RFQ-25.

The task order covers engineering design, permitting help and bidding services. Construction phase services are listed as outside its scope.

Where the Work Would Happen

The task order calls for about 1.5 miles of low-pressure force main. It would run within these City of Palm Bay rights-of-way:

• River Drive

• Delmar Terrace

• Glenham Drive NE

• Lemon Street NE

• Treebark Ave NE

• Sunswept Road NE

• Sunkist Street NE

• Triumph Street NE

The new main would end at city-owned gravity sewer manholes inside Highland Shores Estates. The task order states that the main will be installed within the existing city right-of-way only. It also states that the city wants to keep the main out of the pavement where feasible.

What Changes at Lift Station 56

Lift Station 56 now serves the part of the subdivision already on gravity sewer. Under the task order, the station would be replaced and moved to an adjacent undeveloped parcel of 0.24 acres, Parcel ID 28-37-26-06-C-37.

A new force main of about 750 linear feet would run from the new station along Mandarin Drive NE. It would connect to an existing 20-inch PVC force main in the Clearmont Street right-of-way. The task order states that this line connects to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility. The memo states that the 20-inch line has enough capacity for the redirected flow and the added Zone A flow.

The task order states that the existing 4-inch force main from Lift Station 56 will be abandoned in place. The city is responsible for acquiring the 0.24-acre parcel.

Why the City Is Pursuing the Project

The memo states that the Indian River Lagoon is part of the National Estuary Program. It states that the Brevard County Save Our Indian River Lagoon Project Plan identifies projects to reduce nutrient contributions to the lagoon. Zone A is one of the areas identified in that plan.

Per the memo, the conversion would reduce reliance on septic systems. It would also reduce the potential movement of nutrients through groundwater to the lagoon.

How the Project Is Funded

The memo states that the city will receive $3,721,422 in cost-share grant funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Of that amount, $2,747,373 is designated for preconstruction and construction work. Construction must be completed by October 31, 2030. Funding for the $398,800 task order is listed in the Utilities Department's Project Fund under 26WS12.

The task order splits the fee into lump sum tasks. The largest are listed below.

• Survey services, $120,400

• 60% design, $77,000

• Preliminary design, $39,100

• 90% design, $38,300

• Electrical design services, $35,200

Two optional tasks are not part of the $398,800. They are federal surface water permitting for $9,000 and public outreach at town hall meetings, not to exceed $5,848. Either can start only at the city's request.

How the Engineer Was Chosen

The memo states that the city followed Section 287.055, Florida Statutes, known as the Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act. That law governs how public agencies, including cities, buy professional engineering and surveying services. The city sought qualification-based submittals under RFQ No. 22-RFQ-25 for continuing water and wastewater engineering services. Council approved the award to several firms on May 1, 2025. The memo states that Task Order 2026-1-KH follows the master agreement with Kimley-Horn.

Design Steps and Permits

The task order lists eleven paid tasks. They include data collection, a hydraulic model, design at 60, 90 and 100 percent, permitting, environmental review, electrical design, survey, geotechnical work and bidding. The hydraulic model is to be based on the grinder pump maker's recommended number of pumps running at the same time.

The survey scope includes a tree survey and up to 30 soft excavation test holes to locate buried utilities. The geotechnical scope includes up to 15 soil borings along the route. The task order assumes one permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and one city right-of-way permit. It assumes the work will likely qualify for a general Environmental Resource Permit. The schedule is to be mutually agreed upon. No completion date for the design is given.

Who May Be Affected and What It May Mean for Them

Owners of the 99 homes in Zone A may be the most directly affected. The task order states that each of the 99 connections will be stubbed out for future connection to the private property. The connection on private property is not part of this project. The task order states that homeowners will be responsible for connecting to the low-pressure system. It also states that they will be responsible for permitting with the Florida Department of Health for septic tank abandonment.

The city is responsible for public outreach under the task order. That includes town hall meetings and mailers asking residents where their septic tanks are and where they would like future stubs placed. The city will also coordinate with homeowners on landscaping, trees or mailboxes in the right-of-way that may be affected or removed.

State law also applies. Under Section 381.00655(1)(a), Florida Statutes, the owner of a properly functioning septic system generally must connect to an available public sewer system within 365 days after written notice that the system is available. The statute states that the sewer provider must give notice of anticipated availability at least one year before service becomes available. The memo and task order do not state when service would become available in Zone A.

The item is not final until Council votes. It concerns design work only.

How the Consent Agenda Works

The agenda states that consent items are enacted by one motion with no separate discussion. If Council wants to discuss an item, it may remove the item and take it up later under Consideration of Items Removed from Consent Agenda.

The agenda states that public comments are heard on non-agenda issues only. Speakers complete one Public Comment Card and are limited to three minutes. Persons who need special accommodations should contact the Office of the City Clerk at (321) 952-3414 or the Florida Relay System at 711 at least 48 hours before the meeting. The meeting is broadcast live on the city's website and on the Space Coast Government TV channel.

Staff recommends a motion to authorize the execution of Task Order 2026-1-KH for $398,800. The City Council meets on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 120 Malabar Road SE, Palm Bay.