The Town Council will hold its September meetings, which include the tentative and final budget hearings, at Orchid's new Town Hall located on the island at 9301 Highway A1a, Suite 201, Vero Beach, FL 32963 (across from Wabasso Beach). Passage of House Bill 191 in the 2024 Florida Legislative Session has made it possible for meetings of the Town to be held outside of the boundaries of the Town as long as the location is within 5 miles. The September 16 meeting will be the Town's very first public meeting in the new Council Chambers. Meetings of the Town Council, as well as its advisory boards, are open to the public and participation is encouraged.
Both September meetings (16 and 23) will start at 4 p.m. or shortly thereafter, with the budget portion of the agenda starting at 5:05 p.m. The timing of these meetings at the tail end of the summer appears a little strange in the very seasonal Orchid, but it is Florida Statute that requires that these meetings take place this time of year in advance of the October 1 start of the new fiscal year. All five Councilmembers are expected to attend - four of five will be traveling back to Orchid especially! The agendas for each meeting will be posted on the Town's website in advance of the meetings and are also available upon request from the Town Clerk.
Although the Council Chambers at Town Hall are not as spacious as the Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club's Sandpiper Room, they will accommodate the average number of interested parties. For meetings where a larger number of participants is anticipated, the Town will coordinate with the Club for facilities as it has in the past. Otherwise, holding most of the Town's meetings at Town Hall will alleviate some of the pressure on the Club's Sandpiper Room, which is a wonderfully popular amenity.