A staff member told the Sebastian City Council on Oct. 22 that the city had received a Land and Water Conservation Grant agreement for Riverview Park and asked the council to add the grant to the meeting agenda so staff could review and act before the funder’s deadline.

The staff member said the grant agreement arrived from DEP on Monday, Oct. 20, and that the grant agreement had to be signed and returned by Oct. 31. Staff said it had asked for an extension but had not yet received a response and therefore requested the council add the Land and Water Conservation Grant in the amount of $1,500,000 to the agenda as item 13e. The council voted to add the item by voice vote.

Why it matters: The Land and Water Conservation Fund provides money for parks and recreation projects; a missed deadline could forfeit the award or delay work on Riverview Park. Staff asked the council specifically to allow the agreement to be considered at a future agenda so the city could meet the funder’s deadline.

Details: The staff presentation stated the agreement came from DEP and requested authority to review, sign and return the document by Oct. 31. Staff also reported it had attempted to secure an extension but had not received one as of Oct. 20.

Next steps: The item was added to the agenda as item 13e; council will consider the grant agreement at that later agenda item. The transcript does not show the council taking final action on the grant agreement itself on Oct. 22.

Public comment and context: The agenda modification was procedural and drew no public comment at the time it was added. The staff request and the council’s vote to add the item were recorded in the meeting minutes.