The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners took a series of formal actions at its Jan. 28, 2025 regular meeting, ranging from quasi‑judicial land‑use decisions to financial commitments and administrative approvals. Major outcomes included upholding a Planning & Zoning denial of a rezoning request, formal appointments to the Value Adjustment Board, a unanimous resolution supporting hands‑free cell phone laws, and a $400,000 county commitment for the Humiston Beach boardwalk project (motion carried 4‑1).

The board conducted a mix of public hearings and routine business. Several items were continued or advanced only to a second hearing, as noted below. Votes recorded by the clerk appear under each action. The list below is a compact reference for the meeting’s formal decisions.

1) Approve amended meeting agenda
Motion: Approve agenda as amended (added public hearing 11A3 developer’s agreement; moved item 9E to 12B; other changes).
Mover: Commissioner Moss. Second: Commissioner Adams.
Outcome: Approved unanimously.
Notes: Chair noted a 10:00 a.m. closed litigation session (Michael & Jeanne Soule) advertised pursuant to Florida Statute 286.011(8).

2) Value Adjustment Board — commissioner appointments and officers
Motion (informal action then formal vote): Appoint two commissioners to serve on the Value Adjustment Board (statutory requirement) and appoint chair/vice chair of the Value Adjustment Board.
Details: By statute the Board of County Commissioners selects two commissioners to serve on the Value Adjustment Board. Commissioners named to serve were Chairman Joseph E. Fletcher and Commissioner Joseph Ehrman. The commission then nominated and unanimously approved Commissioner Joseph Ehrman as chair of the Value Adjustment Board and Commissioner Fleischer (Fleischer listed in minutes as nominee) as vice chair.
Outcome: Appointments and officer elections carried unanimously.

3) Resolution: Support legislation requiring hands‑free cell phone use while driving
Motion: Adopt resolution supporting legislation to require hands‑free cell phone use while driving (filed by Commissioner Moss after public comment by Hal Lambert of Bike Walk).
Mover: Commissioner Moss. Second: Commissioner Adams.
Outcome: Approved unanimously.
Notes: Supporters cited national and state distracted‑driving statistics and asked the commission to add its resolution to a coalition of municipalities and organizations sending support to state legislators. The item was time‑sensitive for committee hearings in mid‑February.

4) Consent agenda and item pulls
Motion: Approve consent agenda as presented (with item 9H pulled for discussion and later action).
Outcome: Approved unanimously.
Notes: Item 9H (Children’s Services Advisory Committee guidebook) was pulled for discussion.

5) Children's Services Advisory Committee (CSAC) guidebook & ordinance amendment
a) Guidebook (informational / administrative guide update)
Motion: Approve revised CSAC guidebook (as presented) and schedule additional review of subcommittee appointments at the Feb. board meeting.
Outcome: Motion carried 4‑1 (Commissioner Moss dissenting).
Notes: Commissioners discussed transparency and whether subcommittee appointments should come to the Commission for ratification; staff and counsel advised changes to procedures would require ordinance amendment.

b) Ordinance amendment to County Code §103.22 (public hearing 11A1)
Motion: Open public hearing and adopt an amendment to section 103.22 of the County Code to make an appointee non‑voting, add one additional voting member, and clarify committee chair appointment process (as recommended by CSAC).
Outcome: Amendment adopted unanimously after public hearing and no public comment.

6) Quasi‑judicial appeal — Red Jasmine Land Company LLC rezoning request (11A2)
Action: The Board conducted a de novo quasi‑judicial hearing on an appeal of the Planning & Zoning Commission’s denial of a request to rezone approximately 4.20 acres from CL (Limited Commercial) to CH (Heavy Commercial). Staff recommended denial based on comprehensive‑plan policy 1.43 locational criteria and compatibility concerns. After applicant presentation and public comment, the board voted to deny the rezoning request and to uphold the Planning & Zoning Commission decision.
Motion: Deny the rezoning application and uphold staff/P&Z recommendation.
Mover: Commissioner Adams. Second: Commissioner Airman.
Outcome: Motion carried unanimously.
Notes: The hearing included sworn testimony from planning staff and the applicant’s representatives and lengthy public comment from nearby residents and property owners; the board’s decision cites compatibility and plan policy.

7) Developer’s agreement for Harmony Isle (first required public hearing under Fla. Stat. §163.3225)
Action: The board opened the statutorily required first public hearing on a developer’s agreement between Riverfront Groves Inc. (applicant) and Indian River County for the proposed Harmony Isle residential project (237 single‑family lots and 147 townhomes). Staff presented the proposed agreement’s provisions (off‑site utility improvements, right‑of‑way dedications, developer proportionate share payments) and noted a second required public hearing will be held Feb. 11, 2025 to consider final acceptance.
Motion: Continue to second public hearing (set Feb. 11, 2025).
Outcome: Motion carried unanimously.
Notes: Staff and the applicant indicated a traffic study and utility improvements will be required and that the developer will pay a stated per‑unit fair share (example figure in the draft: $800 per unit, total shown $307,200) for off‑site utility work.

8) Humiston Beach Boardwalk — county funding commitment
Motion: County will contribute up to $400,000 toward the Humiston Beach boardwalk project; county contribution not to exceed amounts provided by the City of Vero Beach and excluding any federal or state grants or appropriations awarded to the project. Direct county attorney to draft a project participation agreement.
Mover: Vice Chairman Law. Second: Commissioner Adams (second by record).
Outcome: Motion carried 4‑1 (Commissioner Adams recorded as dissenting on the roll call in the minutes; Commissioner Adams explained opposition was due to wanting the traffic/other documentation before finalizing language).
Notes: The city rescinded an earlier sidewalk selection in favor of a boardwalk; private pledges and foundation fundraising were noted. Commissioners discussed maintenance, FEMA reimbursement risk, and timing of county disbursement; the board required an interlocal/project participation agreement to lock commitments and avoid penalizing private donations.

9) Lobbying services agreement
Motion: Authorize the county administrator to execute a six‑month agreement with The Aero Group (Gunster/Ansfield affiliation) for state lobbying services, not to exceed $60,000.
Outcome: Approved unanimously.
Notes: The action updates a prior vendor relationship following a reorganization of the county’s long‑time firm and authorizes six months of service for the 2025 legislative session.

10) Utilities: corrective rate adjustments
Motion: Approve technical corrections to customer billing rates (corrections to volume charges and inflow/infiltration tiers) to align the CIS billing with the previously adopted 2024 rate study (corrections were described as calculation errors discovered during CIS implementation).
Outcome: Approved unanimously.
Notes: Corrections adjust several volumetric charges effective Jan. 1 and Oct. 1 per the original rate study percentages.

11) Supervisor of Elections: reimbursement of municipal election fees
Motion: Accept and roll reimbursement funds from three municipal elections into the Supervisor of Elections current budget year (municipal reimbursements retained in SOE budget to cover costs).
Outcome: Approved unanimously.

12) Solid Waste and SWD items / work orders
Actions: Board approved several administrative work orders and the SWD meeting minutes and requested routine record keeping actions.
Outcome: Approved unanimously.

How to read this summary
This ‘‘Votes at a glance’’ is drawn from the meeting transcript and clerk minutes of Jan. 28, 2025. Where the clerk recorded roll‑call tallies those appear above. For quasi‑judicial items, the board’s standard (competent substantial evidence) was stated publicly; for matters taken under initial public hearing the board scheduled the statutorily required second hearing before final acceptance.

If you want a detailed story on any single action above — the boardwalk funding debate, the Red Jasmine appeal, the hands‑free resolution, or the Harmony Isle developer’s agreement — each is covered in separate articles published alongside this summary.