Caroline, a city representative, explained that the board’s authority would be temporarily delegated to expedite repairs needed due to substantial flooding and wind damage. This would enable residents to more swiftly address urgent repairs without waiting for full board approval in cases where non-original materials are needed. However, the delegation is limited to storm-related repairs only and excludes pending or unrelated projects.

City attorney Andrew Dickman clarified that any delegation of authority must be tied to the local state of emergency, as mandated by state statutes. Once the state of emergency is lifted, the normal procedures would resume unless the board decides otherwise. Dickman suggested periodic reviews of the delegation to ensure it remains relevant and effective, given the ongoing nature of storm recovery.

Public comments were also heard, with local resident Cindy Trapani supporting the board’s initiative to streamline the approval process but emphasizing the need for safeguards. She was concerned about the delegation lasting too long and urged for clear boundaries to ensure it applies strictly to storm-related damage.

The board voted unanimously to approve the temporary delegation of authority for storm damage repairs, tied to the duration of the state of emergency declared by the state of Florida. They agreed to revisit the decision once the emergency status changes, allowing for possible adjustments based on recovery progress and future needs.