The Mexico Beach Beachcomber Weekly Newspaper

12/21/2025

COMMUNITY ALERT / REMINDER: CITY SANITATION PICKUP SCHEDULE FOR CHRISTMAS WEEK (DEC. 22-26)

Monday, December 22nd - Normal Pickup Day
Tuesday, December 23rd - Normal Pickup Day
Wednesday, December 24th - No Pickup
Thursday, December 25th - No Pickup
Friday, December 26th - Pickup for both Thursday and Friday Routes
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12/16/2025

COMMUNITY NEWS: RECAP OF TODAY’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING –TUEDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2025

At the 9 am city council meeting, the following business was conducted:

1) The meeting started 10 minutes late because city staff had difficulty with the link to livestream the meeting. The meeting was recorded for later broadcast.

2) A beach vending permit was approved (5-0) for Forgotten Coast Beach Company for the 2026 season.

3) The bid for the new pier construction was approved 5-0, awarded to RJ Gorman, LLC, for a total cost of $8,638,967.26. The work will not begin for several more months. Once work begins, tentatively set for sometime in April, South 37th Street will undergo major changes because half of the street will be used as a laydown yard and closed to traffic.

4) The task orders for Dewberry Engineers and DAG Architects to proceed with concept design for the police/fire/ESU portion of the new municipal complex were both tabled (5-0), because of confusion, disagreement and questions over FEMA’s most recent proclamations on the project. FEMA just declared the city could not build the new complex on the 25 acres that the St. Joe Company donated to the city for that express purpose because, according to FEMA just last week, the roads accessing the new complex would be in a flood plain. None of the council members nor the public were happy with the new situation. There will be a WORKSHOP on the issue at 5:00 pm CST January 7, 2026. All citizens are urged to attend, as the municipal complex affects every property owner in Mexico Beach. The workshop will be attended by citizens, the council, the architect, the engineer and Atkins, the company that shepherds the city through the FEMA process.

5) The council approved, 5-0, the contract to hire the grant writing company North Florida Professional Services.

6) The council approved, 5-0, the task order for Mainline Construction to handle the building of the cul-de-sac at the beach end of Canal Parkway, for a cost of $35,852.60. Mainline is currently working on the repairs on 4th Street and therefore will not need to add a hefty mobilization fee to the cost. The council had approved a maximum of $150,000 in this year’s budget for the work. The remainder of the funds may be used to pay for the cost of debris removal from the late October tornado.

7) The council agreed (voice consensus) to change the name of the Parks and Rec supervisor position to Public Works supervisor, at the request of Public Works Director Mark Steele, who is trying to reorganize the department under the previous three supervisor positions.

8) Finance Director Mike Snyder gave the council the summary monthly financial report for October, and recommended he continue to provide that, plus a more detailed quarterly financial report. The council agreed.

9) The council and staff discussed the need to fund a study to determine costs for replacing the force main wastewater lines from the city into Tyndall Air Force Base, and to re-locate the MX-1 lift station away from Canal Parkway, and the costs to fund Mexico Beach’s own wastewater treatment plant. The council and staff agreed unanimously that the city’s most pressing goals had to be the replacement of the sewer pipes into Tyndall and the relocation of MX-1.

10) Council member Steve Cox asked to have the issue of boat houses as primary structures placed on the first January agenda for further discussion, and proposed an option to be considered. The topic will be added to the January 13 meeting agenda.

NOTE: The discussion on the location of the new municipal complex is of major importance to all citizens. One of the options now proposed is to build the ESU/fire/police portion within the current city complex, where the pickleball courts and municipal playground currently are. Major questions abound on parking and extent of land available. But the discussion did not include where the city might relocate the other portion of the municipal complex, which is the new community center/council meeting room, which will also need room and parking. This needs to be discussed at the Jan. 7 workshop, as well.
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12/13/2025

COMMUNITY ALERT / REMINDER: 2ND CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR DECEMBER – TUESDAY, DEC. 16, 2025 – 9:00 AM CST

*NOTE: The next regularly scheduled city council meeting will be Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 9:00 am CST

CONSENT AGENDA: NONE
REGULAR AGENDA:
1) Beach vending permit, Forgotten Coast (Mell Smigielsky, city administrator) – public discussion / council discussion / motion to approve or deny
2) Pier bid award (Smigielski) - public discussion / council discussion / motion to award
3) Task order with Dewberry for police / fire station (Smigielski) - public discussion / council discussion / motion to approve or deny
4) Task order with DAG Architects for police/fire station (Smigielski) - public discussion / council discussion / motion to approve or deny
5) Cul-de-sac extension at Canal Parkway (Smigielski) - public discussion / council discussion / motion to approve or deny
6) Public Works organizational chart (Mark Steele, Public Works Director)
7) October finance report (Mike Snyder, Finance Director)
8) Citizen comments
9) Staff comments – city administrator / city attorney / department heads
10) Council comments
11) Mayor comments

*NOTE: #2 Pier bid award – Of interest to many people, the initial pier bid award was handled at the Sept. 9, 2025 city council meeting. All bids were ultimately thrown out and the project rebid. Go to the meeting minutes for the Sept. 9 meeting on the city’s website to read what transpired. Then go to the information packet for the Dec. 16 city council meeting for further information on the pier project.

*NOTE: #3-4 police/fire station – Read the information in the meeting packet for details on where this municipal complex project currently stands.
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12/08/2025

COMMUNITY ALERT / REMINDER: CITY COUNCIL MEETING TOMORROW – TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2025 – 9:00 AM CST

AGENDA:
Consent agenda: city council meeting minutes Nov. 12, 2025 / Nov. 18, 2025
REGULAR AGENDA:
1) Setback variance 113 Circle Drive (P&Z approve by 3-2 vote on 12/1/25) (Allara Gutcher) – public discussion / council discussion / motion to approve or deny
2) Ordinance 877, 2nd reading: Hybrid food establishments (Mell Smigielski, city administrator) - public discussion / council discussion / motion to approve or deny
3) Ordinance 878, 2nd reading: Mobile food operations (Smigielski) - public discussion / council discussion / motion to approve or deny
4) Ordinance 875, 1st reading: Mexico Beach Shopping Center overlay district (Gutcher) - public discussion / council discussion
5) Ordinance 876, 1st reading: Amend LDC to include water dependent uses as a primary structure - public discussion / council discussion
6) Ordinance 879, 1st reading: 5 year CIP (Capital Improvements Projects) (Gutcher) - public discussion / council discussion
7) Ordinance 880, 1st reading: Amend Future Land Use Element to allow at least a single-family dwelling to be constructed on any certain non-conforming legally recorded lot without being limited to existing density (Gutcher) - public discussion / council discussion
8) 500 15th Street lot split discussion (Smigielski)
9) Expiring Planning & Zoning terms to be re-appointed (Smigielski) – Post 2 - Lee Ellzey / Post 4 – Rock Kries
10) Citizen comments
11) Staff comments
13) Council comments

NOTE: #5 – Discussion on whether or not to allow piers, docks, boat slips, anything “water dependent” to be reclassified as a “primary structure” so it can be built before a house is built on a lot. Since the LDR was enacted, all lots had to have the primary structure – which is considered the house on residential lots – built before adding a pier, dock, boat slip, boat house, which have always been classified as accessory structures on a lot.

NOTE: #8 – Owners of the 10-acre lot on the corner of 15th Street and CR386 (the old church property) have applied to split the lot into a 3-acre lot and a 7-acre lot, in order to sell the 7-acre parcel. The lot is zoned Residential-Low Density, and can potentially have 42 houses on the 7-acre parcel (6 dwelling per acre).

As always, complete information on the above agenda is on the city website, in the meeting information packet.

REMEMBER: THIS MONTH, THE 2ND CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE HELD NEXT WEEK, ON TUESDAY, DEC. 16, AT 9:00 AM CST.
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12/03/2025

COMMUNITY ALERT / REMINDER: ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MOVIE IN THE PARK!!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 – 6:00 PM CST
UNDER THE PALMS PARK (7th STREET PARK)

Sponsored by the BAY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

FREE AND OPEN TO MEXICO BEACHERS OF ALL AGES!!

* Hot dogs / drinks / popcorn / candy
* Don’t forget to bring LAWN CHAIRS AND BLANKETS

Movie = RED ONE

12/03/2025

COMMUNITY ALERT / REMINDER: MEXICO BEACH TOY DRIVE - PLEASE DONATE!!

Once again, the Mexico Beach Fire Department is gathering toys for Mexico Beach children.

While you shop for Christmas, please remember to pick up one or more new toys for the toy drive.

Toys can be dropped off at the Christmas Tree Lightning in Parker Park on Dec. 7 (starting at 6 PM CST) OR at City Hall until later in the month.

Please remember, all toys should be NEW and UNWRAPPED.

12/03/2025

COMMUNITY ALERT / REMINDER: CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING!!!
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 – 6:00 PM CST - PARKER PARK

Live music / Golf cart parade / Hot cocoa / Visit with Santa

• The Mexico Beach Fire Dept will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for Mexico Beach children
• Visit MEXICOBEACH.COM for details and golf cart parade registration

12/01/2025

COMMUNITY ALERT / REMINDER: P&Z MEETING TONIGHT – MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2025 – 6:00 PM CST

AGENDA:
Consent agenda: meeting minutes Nov. 3, 2025 meeting
1. Swearing in of new board members: Nearing Adams Alternate 1 / Adrian Welle Alternate 2
2. Setback VARIANCE, 113 Circle Drive (quasi-judicial decision) (Allara Gutcher) – public discussion / PZ board discussion / recommendation to approve or deny to city council
3. Address BOAT HOUSES as Accessory Use in LDR (Gutcher) - public discussion / PZ board discussion / recommendation to approve or deny to city council
4. Request to consider AMENDMENT to the COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Future Land Use Element policy 1.8.8 (legislative decision) (Gutcher) - public discussion / PZ board discussion / recommendation to approve or deny to city council
5. Request to consider changes to SIGNS section of the LDC, Article 5 (begin at Section 5.05.00) - public discussion / PZ board discussion / recommendation to approve or deny to city council

#2 – Request for a setback VARIANCE for a pool structure located at 113 Circle Drive – approval of a variance from the required 10 feet to 9 feet 2 inches. The request is to allow a pool structure within the allowed 10 foot setback. The request is to allow a 9’ 2” setback to the rim of the pool. The special situation on this parcel is a cleanout line which bisects the parcel and was installed after original permitting, but prior to installation of the pre-formed pool.

#3 - This is a request to amend Article II, Section 2.00.02, by creating a definition for "boat house", and to include the term "boat house" in all relevant parts of Section 2.02.02. This item is to address boat houses as an accessory use in the LDC, how those are defined, and to include the term "boat house" as part of the listed structures in the principle uses column (Part 3) of the zoning districts listed in Parts A – H and Part J. Because Section 2.04.00 lists "or other similar water-dependent structure" as a principal structure, the term is not deemed necessary to be included in this section.

Boat House: A detached overwater covered structure used to moor, store, shelter, or protect a boat or boats and related equipment such as a boat lift. Any structure containing a dwelling unit as defined by the Florida Building Code does not qualify as a boat house.

2.04.00 ACCESSORY STRUCTURES: It is the purpose of this Article to regulate the installation, configuration, and use of accessory structures in order to ensure that they are not harmful to residents and cause safety issues to surrounding areas.
Definitions:
Principal structure: the main building or other structure on a lot that is utilized for the property's principal use. For the purpose of implementation, the City hereby considers a boat dock, pier, wharf, or similar water-dependent structure to be defined as a primary structure within any zoning district.
Accessory structure: A structure of a nature incidental and subordinate to the principal structure. Accessory structures shall be located on the same lot as the principal structure to which they are accessory.

2.02.07 Setbacks
E. Any water-related structure such as a boat dock or pier is not required to adhere to the setback requirements in Section 2.02.02 except that the structure must be at minimum five (5) feet from an adjacent owner's property line.

#4 - This item is to address the creation of unplatted lots prior to the original date of the Land Development Code; to address lots created outside of a platted subdivision and to allow said lots to construct one dwelling unit per lot, regardless of the minimum requirements pursuant to applicable density.

This policy change was originally considered by the P&Z at their November 3, 2025 hearing and only pertained to legally created platted lots (not lots of metes and bounds descriptions). A unanimous decision to deny this amendment was made. The policy has been amended, and will further the buildable allowance to those lots created prior to May 21, 1991, to allow at minimum one single family dwelling per lot whether it had been platted or simply recorded at the Clerk of Courts.

#5 – The proposed requirements for SIGNS are in the information packet found on the city website. There are 8 pages covered in this issue, so please go to the meeting packet on the city website for all information. This references all signage in the city.
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11/24/2025

COMMUNITY ALERT / BURN BAN NOW IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF BAY COUNTY

Bay Alert just sent this message to unincorporated Bay County, but people in Mexico Beach should heed the warning, because Mexico Beach is just as dry:

"EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY DUE TO DRY CONDITIONS, BAY COUNTY IS UNDER A BURN BAN.

THE ORDER PROHIBITS OPEN BURNING, FIREWORKS, LAWN OR TRASH BURNING, AND ANY OUTDOOR ACTIVITY THAT COULD CAUSE SPARKS OR FLAMES.

CHARCOAL AND GAS GRILLS ARE ALLOWED FOR COOKING.

VIOLATIONS MAY RESULT IN FINES OF UP TO $500, JAIL TIME UP TO 60 DAYS, OR BOTH.

THIS ORDER APPLIES TO UNIMCORPORATED BAY COUNTY UNTIL RESCINDED."

Please be very cognizant of your outdoor activities while we are in such a dry state.
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11/24/2025

COMMUNITY ALERT / REMINDER: THANKSGIVING WEEK SANITATION PICKUP SCHEDULE

From the City:
MONDAY, NOV. 24 = normal route
TUESDAY, NOV. 25 = normal route
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 26 = CITY WIDE PICKUP!!!

This will enable our Sanitation workers to spend Thanksgiving Day with their families, and enjoy Friday off along with the rest of the city employees.

Normal pickup schedule will resume on Monday, Dec. 1

If you have any questions, contact City Hall at 850-648-5700.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!!!
The BEACHCOMBER
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11/18/2025

COMMUNITY NOTICE: YOUR ENERGY BILLS

This was posted on the City’s page on Nov. 14. I do not have any more information. If you have questions, contact Duke Energy.

City of Mexico Beach Government
November 14 at 9:08 AM ·

Important update from Duke Energy regarding next year’s rates.

The Florida Public Service Commission approved Duke Energy Florida’s request to lower customer bills beginning in March 2026. As a result, residential customers can anticipate an approximately $44 decrease for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity they use when compared to February 2026.

Commercial and industrial customers can also expect to see lower bills in March 2026, with decreases ranging from 9.6% to 15.8% when compared to February 2026, though the specific impact will vary depending on several factors.

This considerable bill reduction is largely due to the removal of the storm cost recovery charge associated with Duke Energy Florida’s response to hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton at the end of February 2026.

In January and February 2026 (prior to the removal of the storm cost recovery charge), bills will temporarily increase by $7.54 for typical residential customers using 1,000 kWh of electricity, and commercial and industrial customers’ bills will increase between 4.3% and 8.2% during those two months, when compared to December 2025.

Duke Energy Florida remains committed to supporting customers with flexible payment plans, tools to help manage energy use and various assistance programs. More information can be found at duke-energy.com/HereToHelp and duke-energy.com/SeasonalSavings.
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Need helping paying your bill, or know someone who does? Duke Energy has assistance programs and resources to help get you back on your feet.

11/18/2025

COMMUNITY NOTICE: 15TH STREET PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE UPDATE

This was posted on the City’s page Nov. 13:

City of Mexico Beach Government
November 13 at 11:22 AM ·

Now that construction is underway for the 15th St pedestrian bridge, here is a quick update the project. The picture below shows how the bridge will look once in place. It will connect with the sidewalks already in place on the north and west sides of 15th St.

Construction will cause the road to be closed on and off during the project dependent on equipment needed to be onsite. Concrete abutments on each side of the canal and pilings are currently being installed. Please be patient with the construction workers while this much needed project is in progress. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact City Hall. Thank you