Palm Bay City Council on Thursday tabled a decision to reissue a request for applications (RFA) for operation of the Evans Center after multiple applicants raised procedural concerns about an earlier award and asked for additional review.

City manager Morton presented two options: an expedited RFA (Option 1) with a brief response window and an accelerated award schedule or a longer, more public process (Option 2) with community outreach and vendor walkthroughs. Staff recommended the expedited approach so the facility could return to service quickly; staff also listed terms staff would include in any new lease such as responsibility for utilities, a $1,000 deductible for major repairs and options for one‑year renewable leases.

Representatives from multiple community organizations — including Club Esteem, CREA, MECA and a local nonprofit called Little Growers — told council they had been working with staff since February and that a previously announced award had been retracted, leaving their coalition with outstanding contracts and a waiting list of program participants. Little Growers’ scientific adviser, Dr. Steven Lazarus of Florida Institute of Technology, described recent community resilience and flood‑mapping work tied to the nonprofit and asked the council to give community groups sufficient time to prepare applications and to consider community benefits.

Council members debated the options and ultimately moved to table the RFA item and allow the procurement‑protest process and administrative review to run its course. City manager Morton and mayor said staff had investigated but members asking for time to ensure fairness and to allow applicants to pursue protests under procurement rules. The motion to table passed on a council vote.

Ending: The Evans Center RFA will not be issued immediately. Council directed staff to address procurement questions and return the matter to a future council meeting after applicants and procurement staff have had an opportunity to resolve outstanding issues.