Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina Releases February 2026 Mayor's Message

Last month, we officially celebrated the opening of Building E with a ribbon-cutting and open house at Palm Bay City Hall. This new facility represents thoughtful planning and a strong focus on improving how we serve our residents. Building E brings key customer service operations together in one location and is designed to support both daily services and emergency operations when needed. I am grateful to our past and present City Council, staff, contractors, and partners whose hard work brought this project from concept to completion. This project is about assuring our focus is considering others more than ourselves as we deliver City services to the community. In case you missed it, take a look at our recap video.

Councilman Hammer, Deputy City Manager Jason DeLorenzo, and I were recently in Tallahassee to participate in Legislative Action Days and advocate on behalf of our community. We had several successful days at the Capitol meeting with our State Delegation to discuss various Palm Bay projects.

At the last City Council meeting, Council voted unanimously to move forward with the creation of a Citizens Accountability Task Force. This task force is intended to provide informed community input on the development of the City's annual budget and to strengthen transparency, trust, and public engagement in the budgeting process. The task force will consist of seven members, with one appointment from each council member and two at-large members selected by a majority vote of the Council. This item will return to Council for a second reading on February 5. I appreciate Council's support of this effort and look forward to continued collaboration with our residents as we work to ensure openness and accountability in how City resources are planned and used.

I am proud to share that the City of Palm Bay will recognize several members of Palm Bay Fire Rescue for their outstanding service and life-saving actions during a special ceremony on Thursday, February 5, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers at Palm Bay City Hall, prior to our regular City Council meeting. The community is invited to attend and help us celebrate these accomplishments, with a cake reception to follow. During the ceremony, we will formally recognize Firefighter of the Year Kolter Klasek, Chief Officer of the Year Brian Miller, and Inspector of the Year Valerie Baptiste, who were recently honored by the Space Coast Fire Chiefs' Association. We will also recognize Lieutenants Cam Drake and Chris Childs for their life-saving actions during the Jingle Bell 2 Mile race in Satellite Beach, where they stopped to assist a runner who had gone into cardiac arrest. Their quick response, even while off duty, helped support critical care efforts and contributed to a successful outcome. I invite our residents to join City leadership in congratulating these individuals and thanking them for their dedication to keeping others safe.

Recently, the Palm Bay Police Department recognized the promotion of two officers to the rank of Sergeant. I want to congratulate Sergeant Riesen and Sergeant Neely. I am #PalmBayProud of you both! Thank you for your continued dedication and all you do for your community.

I would also like to recognize and congratulate Master Police Officer David Morales on his retirement after 27 years of dedicated service to the City of Palm Bay. MPO Morales began his service to our nation in the United States Marine Corps and joined the Palm Bay Police Department in 1998. Throughout his career, he served in a wide range of roles, including patrol officer, SWAT operator, detective, field training officer, corporal, and most recently as the department's training officer. He also served as a lead firearms instructor, armorer, emergency vehicle operations instructor, defensive tactics instructor, and master Taser instructor, earning numerous state and national certifications focused on officer safety and readiness. Over the years, he trained and mentored hundreds of officers and recruits within the Central Florida area, leaving a lasting impact on the profession and our community. His leadership, expertise, and positive attitude will be greatly missed. On behalf of the City of Palm Bay, I thank David for his service to our community and our country and wish him all the best in a well-deserved retirement.

This month, we proudly recognize Black History Month as a time to honor the lasting contributions of African Americans and their vital role in shaping our nation's history. Frederick Douglass, born into slavery, defied the law and the odds by teaching himself to read, an act that became the foundation of his lifelong fight for freedom and equality. He later reminded us that "it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." His words underscore the importance of mentoring our youth, teaching them our shared history, and instilling integrity and character that will guide future generations.

On Presidents Day, we honor the leaders who have served our nation and reflect on the principles that guide our democracy. This day also marks the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, two presidents whose leadership helped shape the foundation and future of our country. Their commitment to service, unity, and integrity continues to serve as an example of what it means to lead with purpose. As we look back on their legacy, we are reminded that strong leadership begins with responsibility to the people and a dedication to something greater than ourselves. In Palm Bay, we remain focused on those same values as we work together to build a strong future for all.

On Valentine's Day, let's celebrate the love that brings us together. Love shows up in many ways, through kindness, patience, service, and looking out for one another. In Palm Bay, we see it every day in the people who step up for their community and in the relationships that make our city a great place to call home. I want to take a moment and wish my beautiful wife, Lissette, and everyone a very happy Valentine's Day!

In closing, I want to remind everyone to save the date of April 18, 2026, for the annual Mayor's Ball charity fundraiser. As Mayor of the greatest city on the face of the Earth, I feel it is my duty to give back to the community, and I have chosen a very special recipient: Essential Pregnancy Center.

Founded on compassion, privacy, and respect, Essential Pregnancy Center is a nonprofit community service organization based in Palm Bay that provides free and confidential pregnancy services to women and families. Their mission is to offer care, education, and support to those experiencing unplanned pregnancies or healing from past experiences, while promoting dignity, hope, and informed decision-making.

Under the guidance of a licensed physician and certified OB sonographer, Essential Pregnancy Center provides a range of no-cost services, including pregnancy testing, limited ultrasounds, options education, virtual parenting/life lessons, and post-abortion healing. The center is staffed by five team members, including three registered nurses, one OB registered diagnostic medical sonographer, and one client services director. Additionally, services are provided by over a dozen dedicated volunteers, seven of whom are also registered nurses. A significant portion of donations goes directly toward supporting client services.

Essential Pregnancy Center is committed to serving all clients with kindness and confidentiality, regardless of background or circumstance. The organization strives to empower individuals through accurate information, compassionate care, and a message of hope.

The Mayor's Ball has a long history of championing local causes. Past beneficiaries have included Serene Harbor, Space Coast Discovery, and Sacrifice Park, a project that holds special meaning for the Palm Bay community. Donations from the Mayor's Ball led the way in making improvements to Sacrifice Park possible, honoring the memory of fallen heroes and creating a space of reflection and remembrance.

For more information about Essential Pregnancy Center, visit brevardepc.com for client services and supportbrevardepc.com for donors and supporters.

Tickets and sponsorship information are available now at https://www.palmbayfl.gov/mayorsball or by emailing [email protected].