MARCH 2026
Welcome to the March 2026 edition of the Pelican Newsletter!
Edition Highlights
Sebastian Police Department announces 2025 Employee and Officer of the Year — learn more on page 6.
Sebastian Public Works Department completes baffle box maintenance read more on page 11. Upgrades are underway at Sebastian Municipal Airport see details on page 14.
Meet your city council members
Chamber of Commerce
Concert in the Park at Riverview Park
March 15 | 10am - 3pm Craft Club of Sebastian at Riverview Park
March 21 | 10am - 8pm Shrimpfest at Riverview Park
March 22 | 10am - 5pm Shrimpfest at Riverview Park
March 27 | 5:30 - 8pm Chamber of Commerce
Concert in the Park at Riverview Park
In February, the City of Sebastian held several property tax workshops to share with residents how their property tax funds are used. City Manager Brian Benton explained what the impacts within the city could look like if property taxes were eliminated. If you missed the workshops, you can find the livestreams on the city’s Facebook or YouTube pages. You can also find videos on our social media pages that dive deeper into how each department utilizes property tax funds and how those funds go directly back into the community.
Every city has a department that works quietly behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly. In Sebastian that role belongs to the City Clerk’s Office.
Often described as the city’s “memory vault,” the Clerk’s Office maintains the official record of our community’s government. From ordinances and resolutions to meeting minutes and important legal documents, the office ensures records are carefully preserved, organized, and easy to access. When residents or staff need information from years past, the Clerk’s Office makes sure it can be found quickly and accurately.
The office also plays a critical role in keeping local government transparent and accountable. The Clerk prepares City Council agendas, records official minutes, and ensures meetings, public notices, and elections are conducted in accordance with the law. Their attention to detail helps keep meetings legal, legitimate, and properly documented.
Beyond recordkeeping, the City Clerk’s Office serves as a vital connection between City staff, the City Council, and the public. Whether answering questions, guiding residents through processes, or directing people to the right department, the Clerk’s team is committed to making city government accessible and responsive.
NOV 2023
Without the City Clerk’s Office, there would be fewer records, less transparency, and far more confusion. Instead, thanks to their dedication and organization, our city remains open, orderly, and accountable.
ISSUE NO 6
AY2023-24
March 2 | 6pm
Charter Review Meeting in Council Chambers
March 3 | 6pm
Natural Resources Board Meeting in Council Chambers
March 9 | 6pm
Charter Review Meeting in Council Chambers
March 16 | 6pm
Charter Review Meeting in Council Chambers
March 17| 2pm
Special Magistrate Code
Enforcement Hearing in Council Chambers
March 23 | 6pm
Parks and Recreation Advisory
Committee Meeting in Council Chambers
March 25 | 6pm
Regular City Council Meeting in Council Chambers
March 30 | 6pm
Charter Review Committee Meeting in Council Chambers
Richard Iachini 2025 Employee of the Year
Code Enforcement Officer Richard Iachini was selected as the 2025 Employee of the Year for his unmatched work ethic, pride in his work across the City of Sebastian, and dedication to keeping Sebastian a great place to live are evident every day. His commitment to the community, deep knowledge of city ordinances, and tireless selfinitiated activity exemplify professionalism and service.
Eric Antosia 2025 Officer of the Year
Officer Eric Antosia was selected as the 2025 Officer of the Year for his consistent reliability, leadership, and willingness to step up for this department and our community truly sets him apart. His service on the Special Response Team (SRT), support of MIS functions, mentoring of others, and steady leadership on shift sets the standard for service within our department.
March 4 | IRCSO Annual Barbecue
March 11 | Fraud Seminar at Inlet of Sebastian
March 16 | Fraud Seminar at Collier Club
March 27 | United Against Poverty Resource Fair
Playground
A new playground at Hardee Park has been installed and is now open to the public!
Easter Egg Hunt & Movie Night
Join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt and Movie Night! Friday, April 3 in Riverview Park
5:30 Pictures with the Easter Bunny
6:45 Egg Hunt | 7:15 Movie begins Bring your own bag or basket for the egg hunt. Music will be provided by DJ-SHHH-OP, and food and drinks will be available for purchase throughout the event.
This Valentine’s Day, the City’s Natural Resources Board (NRB) partnered with the Pelican Island Audubon Society (PIAS) to host the 2nd Great Air Potato Round-up at Stormwater Park. Additionally, we were joined by the Police Dept.’s C.O.P.E. Unit, which kept the volunteers hydrated with snow cones and popcorn.
Taking place just after this year’s big frost, many of the air potato vines had died back in the main project area. Despite being trickier to find, volunteers collected 59.74 lbs of air potatoes! When they couldn’t find any, participants got to work removing several other invasive plant species, including Scheffleras (a.k.a. Octopus or Umbrella Trees!), rosary pea vines, carrotwood trees (a.k.a. tuckeroo), and the well-known Brazilian Pepper.
A huge thank you to our partners at PIAS, the C.O.P.E. Unit, our sponsors, and all the folks who joined us to show a little love for Stormwater Park. Stay tuned for more volunteer opportunities to remove invasive species!
Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration April 18 in Riverview Park. This annual event is a community celebration of all things environmental, featuring live entertainment, food & retail vendors, family-friendly activities, environmental organizations, and much, much more!
Phase 4 road work, including milling, resurfacing, and full roadway reconstruction has commenced and will be completed no later than the first week of April. Crews continue to address potholes throughout the City.
Sidewalk repairs and replacements have been completed for the fiscal year, with the exception of emergency repairs.
Periwinkle, Barber Street, and Hardy Park pedestrian bridges are being resurfaced.
Ditch dredging continues, and the Stormwater Division has cleared a five‐year backlog within the last 12 months, improving drainage citywide.
Swale grading associated with Phase 4 roadway paving has been completed.
Maintenance of the Indian River Drive baffle boxes has begun and will be completed this month, supporting improved water quality in the IRL.
The Riviera and Gardenia ditch project is expected to commence this month.
The City of Sebastian has a citizen request line and online request center. 772-581-0111
Citizen Request Center
We have a database of interactive maps available online, created by our GIS Technician. We offer maps showing active roadwork, paving schedules, virtual history tours, and more. Check out our maps by clicking here.
The city’s baffle boxes recently had their Media Filters replaced. These filters trap pollutants before water is discharged into the Indian River Lagoon. Baffle boxes play a critical role in protecting water quality and are essential to keeping our lagoon healthy and free from pollutants.
The City of Sebastian is proud to announce the promotion of Keith Vormittag from Public Works Supervisor to Assistant Superintendent. Keith has played a vital role in the Roads and Stormwater Division, providing skilled expertise and unwavering dedication to the City and its residents. His commitment to excellence and public service has not gone unnoticed. Throughout his tenure, Keith has trained several new team members in the Roads and Stormwater Division, helping to strengthen the department and support strong succession planning for the future of Sebastian Public Works. On multiple occasions, Keith has successfully mitigated complex challenges while implementing cost-effective solutions that have been recognized and appreciated by both residents and city officials. Please join us in congratulating Keith on this well-deserved promotion and in thanking him for his continued service to our community.
Camila Zamora | Police Recruit
Matthew Acosta | Police Recruit
Gerard Sullivan | GIS Intern
Alyssa Metivier | GIS Intern
Charles Felvus | Stormwater Maintenance I
Joseph Rubino | Stormwater Maintenance I
Police Officer
Police Volunteer
Principal Planner
Traffic Tech I
Human Resources/Risk Management Director
Code Enforcement Officer
The City offers a competitive benefits package including things such as:
Pension through the City of Sebastian and Police Officer Pension Plans
Sick, Vacation, Personal and Holiday Pay
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Affordable health, dental, and vision care
For more information on our benefits plan click here. Apply today click here or scan the qr code!
Procurement professionals are the backbone of our organization. They source goods and services, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier relationships to ensure we receive the best value while maintaining quality and compliance standards. This month, we’re celebrating the vital role of procurement in advancing our mission and helping us achieve our organizational goals.
Starting April 1, 2026, the City of Sebastian will exclusively post solicitations to Euna Procurement. The City encourages all interested vendors, bidders, and proposers to subscribe to Euna Procurement to receive notifications when new content is posted. Please visit the City of Sebastian's Euna Portal to register.
Below is a list of bids the City anticipates issuing this fiscal year. If your business is interested in bidding, please ensure you are registered with VendorLink. All bid documents are posted on
Sebastian Cemetery Administrative Building Construction
Sebastian Municipal Airport Terminal Apron Expansion https://www myvendorlink com/
If you have any questions about the procurement process or submitting a bid, please contact our Procurement Manager, Jessica Graham, CPPB, FCCM, at procurement@cityofsebastian.org or 772-388-8231.
The Sebastian Municipal Golf Course recorded 5,495 rounds in February, generating $223,185.
The Michael Nichols Memorial tournament benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will be held on March 14th, with an 8 am shotgun start, followed by lunch at the Pelican Diner. Entry cost is $80 per person.
On February 18, during play in the Sebastian Men’s Golf Association, Richard Gillmor fired an impressive 4‐under par 68. Rappy Perez also reached a remarkable milestone by bettering his age by two shots, carding an 86. Bettering one’s age in golf on a regulation‐length 18‐hole course is an achievement that very few golfers ever attain. Congratulations to both players on their outstanding performances.
The Sebastian Municipal Golf Course offers clinics for veterans through PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere). PGA HOPE is the South Florida PGA Foundation’s flagship military program, designed to introduce Veterans to golf to enhance their mental, social, physical, and emotional well-being. The classes are free for all Veterans!
The next clinic will be held from March 4 through April 15. Clinics are every Wednesday from 2 to 4 pm. To register, any active or retired member of the US Military can go to the South Florida PGA website: Click here
The Taxiway Golf project is scheduled to be completed this month, with asphalt and sod now in place. The main paved area is approximately 2,200 ft long by 35 ft wide, with an adjacent area of approximately 500 ft paved to stabilize the existing surface and prevent wind, sand, and runoff from damaging the new taxiway. Final paint and markings, planned for the first week of March, are the last steps before punch-list items and final acceptance. Dickerson Infrastructure is the general contractor for this FDOT grant-backed project.
I’d like to once again recognize 3 employees: Patrick Winne, Ron Wells, and Keith Perkins for their extra efforts resulting in another successful FDOT Airport Inspection. We passed the annual visit with no discrepancies noted and a compliment from the FDOT inspector for our preparedness. These gentlemen put in extra attention to the runways and taxiways, along with overall field conditions, to ensure we are in compliance with all the state mandates. This resulted in our regular license renewal for continued operations. Well done!
- Jeff Sabo, Sebastian Municipal Airport Director