FELLSMERE — Gathered around the dais in the Fellsmere City Council Chambers, members of both Fellsmere’s and Sebastian’s councils sat together to discuss ways they can support each other in various endeavors to improve both their cities.
It was more than four years ago when the two cities’ councils held a joint meeting. And by the end of Thursday night’s gathering, the councils agreed that they should meet at least twice a year.
Fellsmere Mayor Susan Adams said it was good to hear about what Sebastian is working on and the issues it is facing because often she, in Fellsmere, sometimes gets so wrapped up in what is going on in Fellsmere she loses track.
“A lot of things have changed,” Adams said, adding that there are plenty of opportunities to work together.
One such issue the two cities plan to tackle is GoLine bus service in the north region of Indian River County.
The Sebastian City Council met earlier in the week to discuss proposed changes to bus service in their area. At their request, the Senior Resource Association – which operates GoLine – has agreed to hold off on changes until public input is taken.
“We’re pretty much in wait-and-see mode,” said Sebastian City Manager Al Minner.
Adams said that many residents in Fellsmere have come to depend on the bus service.
Both council agreed that they need to be more involved in the planning processes for establishing the modified routes.
Fellsmere City Manager Jason Nunemaker recommended that they pack the various committee meetings that oversee transportation issues, such as the Metropolitan Planning Organizations’ Citizens Advisory Committee and the MPO’s Technical Advisory Committee, along with the MPO itself.
Another area the councils expect to find some common ground is with their respective recreational opportunities. Recently, a 2-mile stretch of trail was completed that connects the St. Sebastian River near the County Roads 510 and 512 intersection to the North County Aquatics Center. The next phase is to run the trail out from the pool to Interstate 95 and eventually into Fellsmere.
Fellsmere Mayor Susan Adams told the Sebastian council that her city has been quite successful in getting grants to help fund their projects and asked about Sebastian’s efforts.
“One of the things that makes North County better,” she said, then quickly amended to say “different” instead of “better”, is all the recreational opportunities.”
Sebastian’s Parks and Recreation Committee is currently working on mapping out the city’s sidewalks and trails, identifying loops and paths bicyclists, joggers and walkers could utilize.
Adams said her city could help collaborate on the Sebastian map, tying in the trails from the Buffer Preserve and the Rails to Trails project.
Sebastian City Councilwoman Andrea Coy joked that the cities could host a multi-sport competition – The Iron Pelican – where competitors could paddle the lagoon, jog to Sebastian City Hall, ride a horse through the preserve behind City Hall and other activities.
Adams joined in, offering up shooting targets at the gun range and turning the event into a decathlon.
What started out as a joke might one day become a reality if the interest were there.
Both cities discussed the efforts they’ve made to entice businesses to come into town.
Fellsmere is focusing some efforts on attracting foreign investment, while Sebastian is promoting its municipal airport complex.
“The door is always open” on collaborating, Adams said.
They also discussed the natural gas pipeline being laid in the north part of the county and the opportunities there are to expand into both Fellsmere and Sebastian.
The two cities are discussing the possibility of converting their vehicle fleets to natural gas and working with other governments in Indian River County to join in to reach critical mass.
Sebastian City Manager Al Minner said he hopes to present to the Sebastian City Council in 2013 a franchise agreement with Florida City Gas, which is in discussions with the Sebastian River Medical Center and restaurants along Indian River Drive, among others to provide natural gas.
The Fellsmere and Sebastian city councils also agreed to partner in providing a resolution regarding nurturing the health of the Indian River Lagoon and raising awareness.
“Education is going to be key,” said newly elected Sebastian City Councilman Jerome Adams.
