[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6587415,"mediaKeyId","5601395-2ef3a4e53c5b69d4e41e36291009a594","parentId",5601395,"title","Riviera Beach outlines $553 million five-year utility capital plan; water plant, intercoastal crossings and well work prioritized","audioSeconds",2274,"startMs",1927000,"endMs",4201000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601395-2ef3a4e53c5b69d4e41e36291009a594&start=1927&end=4201","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5601395-2ef3a4e53c5b69d4e41e36291009a594/thumbnail_1927000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6587415/Riviera-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Riviera-Beach-outlines-553-million-five-year-utility-capital-plan-water-plant-intercoastal-crossings-and-well-work-prioritized","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587415-bee4af9cdc56f74ca27a2852a0217191/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158580&Signature=UEW-ZY6tfFNMOK6xK6QMsKD9z07SWINjdQPJl6dzfLBP~5SKSbZTne1SA6J2YGUctrenEND24KJ9E4EryjOGZgYQ1V-PMRjfBh3JrzccuRZ977a~E454ictTLM6mr0DWsxMufEj7FasYPXs60popvUqbB-yCo3gmbP5rkcrXEH5bO9pFBzWWRSoBiephaUVYc8-PyZS9Wi12hglnUj7y9Jt8YnUZdd2qPByMnVu2RmBI3s9gx0eguTUklywsv55DvqFE1VaTAsceSUSVF6SGBGKVrY3rpgLW2MjTjlJ-IlPhszG64jA8kVxO7we7Yl~b66Omppovuq9IQ76f48wYlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Riviera Beach","date","2025-08-20T00:11:10.217Z","article","Randy Sherman, the city’s chief financial officer, and Joshua Neiman, executive utility director for the Riviera Beach Utility Special District, presented a consolidated five‑year capital improvement plan that staffs said will prioritize the new water treatment plant, major conveyance crossings and a program of well‑field rehabilitation.

Sherman told the council the city’s general government capital program includes about $142.2 million in projects already in progress and roughly $186 million recommended across the five‑year plan. On the utility side, Neiman said projects in progress total about $472 million and the recommended five‑year portfolio is roughly $553 million, including previously approved financing for the new water treatment plant.

The plan’s largest items discussed at the meeting included:

- The new water treatment plant: staff reiterated the project remains on the utility program and that the joint venture contractor will deliver a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) package to the city this fall, with additional review and possible adjustments anticipated through December or January. Suzanne Mechler, part of the CDM Smith/Haskell joint venture, said the GMP submissions are due in September and that a period of review with the owner’s representative and city staff will follow.

- Well field rehabilitation and controls: Neiman described a program to assess, rehabilitate and in some cases relocate or modify the city’s 28 surficial wells (several already under work). Staff said the work is intended to improve raw water quality and production; Neiman recommended running the well‑rehab program in parallel with the new plant rather than delaying the plant to wait for the wells to be improved.

- Pretreatment (microfiltration) debate: Brown & Caldwell owner’s representative Nigel Grace told the council the most recent estimate for prefiltration equipment added to the plant was about $28 million. Staff described this as an expensive but time‑certain mitigation given remaining uncertainty about raw water quality; they also said aggressive well rehabilitation and raw water transmission maintenance could reduce or eliminate the need for the microfiltration system over a longer time horizon, but that outcome was not guaranteed within the plant schedule.

- Intercoastal water main and force main crossing: Neiman said the combined water main and wastewater force main augmentation and replacement project is under design with a projected cost of about $14.5 million and an anticipated construction completion in December 2027. The alignment discussed would land near Phil Foster Park and include a seawall replacement at Lakeview Park when work is complete.

- Lift Station 47 rehabilitation and emergency power: staff described Lift Station 47 (near Haverhill) as a critical, older station needing rehabilitation and emergency generators. Project estimates for the station and generators were presented (roughly $16.2 million for the station rehabilitation and about $6.2 million for emergency power capacity).

Funding and schedule notes: Sherman reviewed the mix of funding sources (penny sales tax, pay‑as‑you‑go, gas tax, CRA contributions, bonds and grant awards). He said the utility has bond capacity and that about $457 million in bond funding was included in the five‑year utility forecasts. Neiman provided a tentative procurement and delivery timeline: solicitation for the intercoastal and force main in May 2026, Lift Station 47 construction procurement in April 2026 (design or design‑build to be determined), a well‑field rehabilitation contract targeted for January 2026, and the final GMP for the plant expected by late 2025 to early 2026.

Why it matters: The utility program contains the city’s largest capital commitments and includes projects that staff said are essential to delivering reliable water and wastewater service, hardening infrastructure against coastal and operational risks, and meeting regulatory requirements.

What staff flagged as next steps: staff recommended (1) moving forward with the GMP review and finalization process; (2) beginning a comprehensive well‑field master plan via the city’s professional services agreements; and (3) advancing the intercoastal crossing and Lift Station 47 procurements to keep the five‑year schedule on track.

Provenance:
Topic introduction excerpt: \"Good evening, everyone. Again, Randy Sherman, chief financial officer for the city. Each year, the city is required to adopt a 5 year capital improvement program.\" (transcript timestamp ~1927)

Topic finish excerpt: \"Our guaranteed maximum, GMP number 5, for our water treatment plant is, expected to be sometime in December, or early January. And that is the final GMP that will actually be, the 1 that will build the brand new water treatment plant.\" (transcript timestamp ~3991)

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Budget Workshop August 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City and utility staff presented a consolidated five‑year utility capital plan totaling roughly $553 million, emphasizing the new water treatment plant, intercoastal water and force main crossings, a large lift‑station rehabilitation and a multi‑year program to rehabilitate the city’s raw water wells.","taxTitle","Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida","taxId",68132,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587405,"Riviera Beach council questions fire department reorganizing amid ongoing investigation into deputy chief role",306,824000,1130000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601395-2ef3a4e53c5b69d4e41e36291009a594&start=824&end=1130","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5601395-2ef3a4e53c5b69d4e41e36291009a594/thumbnail_824000.jpg","/articles/6587405/Riviera-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Riviera-Beach-council-questions-fire-department-reorganizing-amid-ongoing-investigation-into-deputy-chief-role","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587405-37710fd82f781ffdbb57292472604ff8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158580&Signature=HRDFnI~t8fPRoaI~6vO66AXwUCzW5Z9U-Sq~DIjzxtVSLIazu2wMmgcWZpTReSQiq75K-nqjJVZZyogZ8gdZsH1Pv34sWimhOtAKAIe0oWixv2qnnKatIgU7fG~i48bpg9dy-L6y25tIfZ0GrWMTnHxkiehNcjUsUUo3En4Yzg5ShETkIeQzljOkxgjA~VZvuNuTNZhQmpdkPTyoAIC0ljhVJw4~wLyChZVhbDXpf6YF--9Rvo383r4UWhX0AZ4a9BWnDExrkOEuqtcam4BEc-w~oTQbk26uaTRH-kp78Mka1KVoyxgF-AaWATDAJsihrr1i8Tc5BuazhqlKV8YZCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members raised concerns about proposed changes to the Riviera Beach Fire Rescue leadership structure and how an ongoing personnel investigation affects promotion and recruitment.

City Manager Jonathan Evans explained the question before the council: whether to adopt a lineal command (chief → deputy chief → assistant chief) or a structure with two assistant chiefs at equal parity. Evans said the council must decide the structural preference and cautioned against discussing personnel specifics in public while an investigation is ongoing.

Fire Chief John Curt told the council he could not speak to the investigation’s details but said allegations were “very serious” and needed to be examined before promotions or permanent appointments could proceed. Curt noted the department historically had a chief and deputy chief; the assistant chief position was more recently added. He said the deputy chief had retired and the position had been vacant for more than a year.

Council members asked how a parity model (two assistant chiefs) would affect operations and interoperability with police. Staff replied the two systems are not identical, and the police deputy chief role currently holds more day‑to‑day operational responsibility while the assistant chief focuses more on administrative and finance functions. Evans and staff said that if the council changed the structure to two peer assistant chiefs, recruitment and the promotion process would need to start over because the positions would be of equal rank rather than a hierarchical sequence.

Why it matters: Council members said consistent leadership structures across emergency services are important for interoperability and public trust. Multiple council members pressed staff for consistency and to avoid personnel decisions that could be perceived as influenced by external campaigns or politics.

Provenance:
Topic introduction excerpt: \"Before we move to the capital improvement, there were, there's a couple of issues I just wanted some quick clarification on from yesterday... The restructure of the fire department.\" (transcript timestamp ~696–832)

Topic finish excerpt: \"The discussion before you is do you agree with the structure of 2 assistant chiefs or the more linear structure that's chief, deputy chief, assistant chief?\" (transcript timestamp ~1130–1142)

","Council members questioned a proposed reorganization of the Riviera Beach Fire Rescue leadership after staff said an ongoing investigation has delayed filling the deputy chief post and that a move to two peer assistant chiefs would require restarting recruitment and selection processes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587410,"Riviera Beach debate over new police headquarters centers on Barracuda Bay agreement and possible $1.5M buyout",599,4767000,5366000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601395-2ef3a4e53c5b69d4e41e36291009a594&start=4767&end=5366","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5601395-2ef3a4e53c5b69d4e41e36291009a594/thumbnail_4767000.jpg","/articles/6587410/Riviera-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Riviera-Beach-debate-over-new-police-headquarters-centers-on-Barracuda-Bay-agreement-and-possible-15M-buyout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587410-953bc15faa1da5954a5fe9cd44c18300/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158580&Signature=fxAyWPn-cwV8iU6QZ8Xs9We0TKraa5rU-8U~Y8BtukVLk21eu61fBXvi5bF~PbwRZdtLB5w9d6Ur~ewyBRx2m-5INqh229oT4YGxh8p0zXKj3TVinb-AzPvyCHt17W1Ey7Zd3Z9FEmYQpZhu89F4NGSivGaCy0c9lKxVroVDrlVobfPuQ47ZcQXU8FJ1BM8XX8S8ZSnuA~R~00iBBNea3os~Zw2kpRZp2tlAFsQED8jYWq5nS-cXYaQPgPO086652HVhk~ojAWuC1ncHA-THlKsrWbBzDTNLd6Z0elomyRFnoz1SVua4PZCqg~uRw1PB1rV4KogoVT3~QWUrmrUJng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager Jonathan Evans and capital projects staff described a City Hall campus plan that would include a new police headquarters on the Barracuda Bay site, and they told council members the Barracuda Bay interlocal agreement with Palm Beach County contains bond proceeds of about $1.5 million that the county says would be repayable if the city exits the agreement.

Evans told the council county staff had described two possible pathways staff had seen with other municipalities: (1) pay the full bond amount (county staff said $1.5 million) to terminate or exit the Barracuda Bay agreement, or (2) obtain a county‑approved arrangement in which the county holds the agreement in abeyance while the city constructs a new pool, after which the remaining term would be tacked onto the new facility’s operating term. The city manager said staff had discussed both approaches with county staff and with Commissioner Powell and that Commissioner Powell asked for a community meeting to hear residents’ views.

Capital Projects Administrator Terrence Bailey presented site plan images and the history of the Barracuda Bay discussion (including earlier council resolutions cited as Resolution 55‑23 and Resolution 56). Evans told the council staff planned to return the item for formal consideration on September 17 and that, in parallel, staff would work to schedule a community meeting with Commissioner Powell.

Council responses were mixed in the discussion recorded on the transcript. Some members urged caution and said the city should resolve the county agreement before moving forward, noting the city’s large utility commitments and other capital priorities. Other members said the Barracuda Bay site provides an affordable site for a new police headquarters and that moving ahead would avoid acquiring much more expensive land elsewhere.

Staff and several council members discussed mitigation options: negotiate a prorated or developer‑funded buyout (staff said county staff described prior examples in which a municipality or developer paid the full amount), construct a temporary pool to maintain aquatic services during transition, or pursue the abeyance approach and design a new pool to be built within a county‑approved timeframe. County staff had told the city that in past cases the county required repayment of the bond proceeds rather than a prorated credit, but staff said the county had at times allowed abeyance arrangements.

Why it matters: The decision affects the siting and timing of the new police headquarters, the City Hall campus financing strategy, aquatic services for residents and the city’s near‑term capital cash needs. Evans said the item would return for council action on September 17.

Provenance:
Topic introduction excerpt: \"To brief the board with regards to the conversation we've had with the county. We have had conversations with county staff, and we've had, conversations with, commissioner Powell as well.\" (transcript timestamp ~4767)

Topic finish excerpt: \"We look to bring this item to you all for consideration at your September 17 meeting.\" (transcript timestamp ~5246)

","City staff told the Riviera Beach City Council that the proposed police headquarters at the Barracuda Bay/City Hall campus site is entangled with a Palm Beach County interlocal agreement that county staff says could require repayment of about $1.5 million if the city exits the agreement.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587401,"Council asks staff to draft flex‑time policy after budget workshop question",136,711000,847000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601395-2ef3a4e53c5b69d4e41e36291009a594&start=711&end=847","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5601395-2ef3a4e53c5b69d4e41e36291009a594/thumbnail_711000.jpg","/articles/6587401/Riviera-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Council-asks-staff-to-draft-flextime-policy-after-budget-workshop-question","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587401-7770c2da93c242368d347d163f9dff9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158580&Signature=a8EYsQ3mldV9-3gpB0l9FWPk2kbS0NyWI6GFVdezu1g23vUuDLEi~9cT4Twyk6NZOps6z5pZo2NdpxikM-39y2H19Fcvu1toPVE6Q4dPYttBo3FOvrN6UAMrKzJfiHo9YIr-~Ww12iaa4cPk0oVwXzAIejZi6pPMKpqRVT7RtHheJXXgzlL75071qRxAd4e1EK3k4dy7ukNik8dPRWSsx9OVBViZ0BlD8qx2VT6AxwJkmLcI4F3A2bUvfyswtryTt~KDUp3EMEyKD3M9bTUWLCsblThdz0GLb9x1Z~01ya~6BP--CJeeF~XScVjA7wbMueDqmJbgZav-ZHh830xs-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During preliminary items at the start of the budget workshop, a councilmember asked that staff prepare a written flex‑time policy clarifying how salaried and hourly employees may take compensatory time when they work beyond scheduled hours.

The councilmember said the city has been exposed by inconsistent practices and asked staff to bring back guidelines (for example, time limits on using flex time). City Manager Jonathan Evans responded that, if it is the pleasure of the council, staff would facilitate drafting such a policy. Several councilmembers expressed no opposition to staff preparing the policy for future review.

Why it matters: Council members said consistent written rules would reduce ambiguity for staff and managers and help with payroll and scheduling clarity.

Provenance:
Topic introduction excerpt: \"The first 1 is we talked about or we spoke briefly about how the employees would be compensated when they worked over their 40 hours... I would like to see a policy created, a flex time policy so that everybody would be on the same page.\" (transcript timestamp ~711)

Topic finish excerpt: \"If it's the pleasure of the board, we can facilitate crafting said policy.\" (transcript timestamp ~767)

","At the budget workshop a councilmember asked staff to draft a flex‑time policy so employees have consistent guidance on overtime/flex scheduling; city manager said staff would facilitate crafting the policy.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Riviera Beach outlines $553 million five-year utility capital plan; water plant, intercoastal crossings and well work prioritized

Riviera Beach council questions fire department reorganizing amid ongoing investigation into deputy chief role

Riviera Beach debate over new police headquarters centers on Barracuda Bay agreement and possible $1.5M buyout

Council asks staff to draft flex‑time policy after budget workshop question