City of Titusville, Florida Press Releases

January 2023 Talking Points Click to read (14 pages). ARCHIVES

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Titusville Talking Points VIDEO JANUARY 2023 Click to view this video. Titusville Talking Points BOOKLET January, 2023 Click to read, print & share (14 pages). Titusville Talking Points VIDEO OCTOBER 2022 Click to view this video. COVID19 EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Due to the response to our COVID19 Emergency Assistance Program (provides assistance with delinquent rent and utilities) since opening June 1st, and the fact that the City has not officially received its grant to support this program as of today, we have temporarily closed our application cycle to new applicants effective July 8, 2020. We hope to be able to reopen the application cycle come the first of August when we anticipate the grant funds to come through from HUD. July 6, 2020: Richard Corcoran, Commissioner of Education EMERGENCY ORDERS: reopening brick and mortar schools with the full panoply of services for the benefit of Florida students and families... DETAILS July 14, 2020 Titusville Chlorine Dosing Completed CLICK for details. Setting a Higher Standard for Water Quality CLICK to read. June 25, 2020 CITY FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER PROGRAM Want to remind everyone that the City of Titusville still has an active program to help with the purchase of a first home (have not owned a home within the last 3 years, or currently live in a mobile home) in Titusville. Funds are still available. Please share! For more information go to www.chibrevard.org Terrie Franklin, Neighborhood Services Director Neighborhood Services Department Harry T. Moore Social Service Center City of Titusville, PO Box 2806 Titusville, FL 32781-2806 ph: 321-567-3783 5/22/20 Brevard County Emergency Management Update CLICK to enlarge, print & share. www.titusvilletomorrow.com RESTORING THE INDIAN RIVER The City of Titusville's Efforts to Save Our Lagoon Click to open this report. (6 pages) June 28, 2018 Titusville Designated as Florida's Second Trail Town The City of Titusville was designated as a Trail Town at the June 27, 2018 Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Office of Greenways and Trails Council meeting held in Tallahassee, Florida. A Florida Trail Town is a community close to a long-distance non-motorized recreational trail and welcomes hikers, bicyclists, skaters and joggers with restaurants, shops and lodging. Titusville is the second Trail Town designation given in the State of Florida. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAIL Bike Safe Titusville! City of Titusville and Titusville Police Department present a Public Service Announcement about bike safety, to inform our bicycling public about the "rules of the road" as they pertain to the city's bike and pedestrian trails. Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Announce the Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Proposed Space Coast Trail CLICK for a printable, shareable PDF with details & map. Titusville, Florida Fiscal Year 2020 PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET Click to print & share (205 page PDF). Renovated Indian River Lagoon Park Washington Ave. & Coquina Ave. Opioid Crisis Flyer

Celebrate Titusville’s Efforts to Restore the Indian River Lagoon’s Health Osprey Nutrient Removal Upgrade Project Completion Join us as we celebrate the completion of the Osprey Nutrient Removal Upgrade Project—A project environmentally focused on restoring the health of the Indian River Lagoon. According to Kevin Cook, P.E., Titusville’s Public Works Director, “The Osprey Water Reclamation Plant is our older water reclamation facility, and it has been upgraded and improved over the years. However, this upgrade is different because it focuses on upgrading the processes in order to reduce the amount of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in the reclaimed water it produces.” The reduced nutrient content of the reclaimed water will reduce the amount of nutrient loading to the Indian River Lagoon by an estimated 26,475 pounds/year. The upgrade project is anticipated to reduce the effluent concentrations of TN to 3 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and TP to 1 mg/L. “This celebration is a great way to highlight Titusville’s efforts and all of the funding government agencies’ efforts to improve the health of our Indian River Lagoon,” explained Cook. Funding for the Osprey upgrade was provided through grants and cost-share agreements from several agencies including $500,000 from the State of Florida; $1,300,000 from St. Johns River Water Management District, and $9,100,000 from Brevard County Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) Plan. Costs for the project (including design and construction) were budgeted at an estimated $13.5 million dollars. The Osprey Water Reclamation Facility is one of two water reclamation plants in the City of Titusville. The advanced wastewater treatment at these facilities provides effluent that can be reused (or reclaimed) for uses such as irrigation. The Osprey has a permitted capacity of 2.75 million gallons per day. Restoring the health of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is dependent upon reducing the amount of pollutants that enter it. Excess irrigation with reclaimed water negatively impacts the health of the IRL because it causes runoff that transports pollutants into stormwater systems and then into local water bodies. Moreover, since reclaimed water, itself, contains both nitrogen and phosphorus, it contributes to algal growth in water bodies. In the lagoon, the debris from runoff can smother sea grass and the contaminants can overload the lagoon with nutrients. This overload leads to algae blooms and their subsequent decay that rob the water of oxygen, killing plants, fish, and wildlife. Excess reclaimed water irrigation can also pass both nitrogen and phosphorus into groundwater, which ultimately passes these nutrients to surface water bodies. The public is invited to attend the Osprey Nutrient Removal Upgrade Project Completion Celebration on Thursday, March 16, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. in the Council Chamber (2nd floor) at the City of Titusville City Hall located at 555 S. Washington Avenue, Titusville, FL 32796. Tours and transportation to the Osprey facility will be provided. Light refreshments will be served. In order to ensure bus seating is available, anyone wishing to attend the tour must respond by scanning the QR code on Titusville’s website or entering the following in their browser: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=vuwifuebb&oeidk=a07ejn91tg4aca695cf. You can also call (321) 567-3865, Option 4. Space is limited. The Osprey is an operating water reclamation plant. For security and safety, tours will only be provided to bus riders. Tour attendees may encounter uneven walking surfaces, steps, etc. Certain areas of the plant may have a strong odor. February 28, 2023 It’s Springtime! Time to Reset Your Clock and Your Controller sprinkler shooting out water The days are getting longer and warmer, that means it’s almost spring and Daylight Saving Time is starting. It is also time to reset your irrigation controller. Before going to bed on March 11, set your clocks forward one hour and set your irrigation controller to a no more than a twice-a-week irrigation schedule. On Sunday, March 12, Daylight Saving Time marks the start of the spring/summer irrigation schedule. During Daylight Saving Time, March 12 through November 5, the irrigation restrictions change to allow outside irrigation no more than twice a week. Homes with even-numbered addresses may irrigate on Thursdays and Sundays. Homes with odd-numbered addresses may irrigate on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Businesses may irrigate on Tuesdays and Fridays. The irrigation restrictions apply to reclaimed water, well water, and city water use. Following the irrigation restrictions can help prevent over watering. Excess irrigation negatively impacts the health of the Indian River Lagoon because it causes runoff. Water running off of yards transports pollutants such as fertilizers, grass clippings, and pet waste. Runoff flows into the storm water system and ultimately into the Indian River Lagoon. The irrigation schedule changes each fall and spring, the perfect times to give your sprinkler system a check-up. According to Maureen Phillips, Titusville Water Conservation & Public Outreach Manager, giving your sprinkler system a semi-annual checkup can save you water and help your lawn to be healthy because keeping your irrigation system operating correctly increases its efficiency. For plants and turf to be healthy water has to get to where they can use it, not running off your property or evaporating into the air. Learn more about the irrigation restrictions and creating a sustainable, water-saving yard at www.titusville.com/irrigation. December 23, 2022 City of Titusville, Florida - Gateway to Nature and Space How informed do you feel about the local environment? TAKE OUR SURVEY How informed do you feel about the local environment? The City of Titusville wants to hear from you! TAKE OUR SURVEY about local threats and vulnerabilities to the natural and built environment and strategies and techniques to create local resiliency. They survey should take approximately 5 – 10 minutes to complete and results will inform future community education and training events. All answers are anonymous. To take the survey please click the following link: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bkAW34CCfSXh6gm This survey is being conducted by the City of Titusville, the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, and the University of Florida Brevard County IFAS Extension Office. UF/IFAS Extension / University of Florida: The City of Titusville is a coastal community along the Indian River Lagoon. The unique geography of the city and lagoon requires specialized understanding of coastal resource protection, local climate, and strategies to address current and future vulnerabilities. The goal of this survey is to better understand the community's knowledge of local threats (climate change, natural hazards, storm surge, nuisance flooding, etc.) and techniques to create resiliency (low impact development, adaptation action areas, living shorelines, etc.). The survey consists of 15 questions and should take approximately 5 - 10 minutes. You are not required to answer any question and many questions will include "I don't know" as an option. If you are unsure about an answer to any question, you are strongly encouraged to respond “I don't know” instead of guessing. The results will inform future training efforts. Thank you for taking part in local resiliency education. This survey was funded in part, through a grant agreement from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Coastal Management Program, by a grant provided by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No CZ517. The views, statements, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the State of Florida, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or any of their subagencies. UPDATE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER City of Titusville’s Raw Well Water Tested Positive for Fecal Indicator This is an update for City of Titusville water consumers regarding the fecal indicator, E. coli, found in one of our raw water wells in one of our three wellfields. On December 9, 2022, we issued a notice that our water system had detected a fecal indicator, E. coli, in one of our raw water wells. On December 9, 2022, we learned that a well assessment sample taken on December 8, 2022 was E. coli positive for one well. As required by EPA’s Ground Water Rule, one of our follow up steps was to collect additional samples from this well within 24 hours to determine the extent of the problem. Five samples from the affected well were taken on December 9, 2022. All five samples have tested negative for E. coli. WHAT SHOULD I DO? You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. Samples collected from treated water in the distribution system on December 9, 2022 show no E. coli present. The treated drinking water in the distribution system continues to be safe to drink and meets all regulatory standards. If you have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult a health care professional. Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. These symptoms are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking this water. WHAT IS BEING DONE? The well that tested positive for E. coli has been taken offline and will remain offline until all follow-up sampling shows the well is absent of contamination. The City of Titusville will continue to assess the situation, including reviewing its sampling processes and procedures. You will be kept informed of the steps we are taking to protect you and your drinking water. For more information, please contact Sean Stauffer, City of Titusville Water Resources Director, at (321) 567-3855 or write to City of Titusville, 2836 Garden Street, Titusville, FL 32796. Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. This notice is being sent to you by City of Titusville, FL State Water System ID# 3051367 Date Sent: 12/12/2022 December 9, 2022 IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER City of Titusville’s Raw Well Water Tested Positive for Fecal Indicator Our water system recently detected a fecal indicator, E. coli, in one of our raw water wells. As our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation. On December 9, 2022, we learned that our well assessment sample taken on December 8, 2022 was E. coli positive for one well. As required by EPA’s Ground Water Rule, one of our follow up steps is to collect additional samples from this well within 24 hours to determine the extent of the problem. This sampling has already occurred on December 9, 2022. What should I do? You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor. Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking this water. What is being done? The well that tested positive for E. coli has been taken offline and will remain offline until follow-up sampling shows the well is absent of contamination. Samples collected from treated water in the distribution system were absent for E. coli. We will keep you informed of the steps we are taking to protect your drinking water and will provide information on any steps you should be taking, until this problem is corrected. For more information, please contact Sean Stauffer, Water Resources Director, at (321) 567-3855 or write to City of Titusville, 2836 Garden Street, Titusville, FL 32796. Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. This notice is being sent to you by City of Titusville, FL State Water System ID# 3051367 Date Sent: 12/09/2022 Don’t Forget – Time to Reset TITUSVILLE, FL - (October 26, 2022) – Don’t forget to reset your irrigation controller on November 6, when we return to Eastern Standard Time. Fall and winter not only means we need to turn back our clocks, but also that we need to turn back our irrigation. During Eastern Standard Time (November 6 through March 12), outside irrigation is reduced to one day a week. Odd-numbered residential addresses may irrigate on Saturdays; even-numbered residential addresses may irrigate on Sundays; and commercial and non-residential properties may irrigate on Tuesdays. Whether they are watering with well water, city water, or reclaimed water, all Titusville residents must follow the restrictions. Plants and turf have different needs during the fall and winter than they do in the spring and summer. According to Maureen Phillips, City of Titusville Water Resources’ Water Conservation & Public Outreach Manager, the reduced sunlight and rainfall, combined with the drop in temperature, reduces plant growth. Reduced growth means plants do not need to produce as much food, so less water is needed to keep them healthy. Watering your landscape when it is not needed encourages fungal growth, as well as disturbs the normal growth cycle. A plant with new growth is more susceptible to damage during a cold snap. New growth also increases the plant’s need to produce more food, which is tied to the amount of sunlight, water, and nutrients available. Without any one of these elements, the plant becomes stressed and more susceptible to disease. Less unnecessary irrigation also means less runoff polluting waterways, such as the Indian River Lagoon. To learn more about the irrigation restrictions and Florida-Friendly landscaping visit the Water Resources Conservation Program’s pages at www.titusville.com/irrigation. 10/6/2022 District 1 Commissioner Seeks Advisory Board Applicants BREVARD COUNTY, FL. -- District 1 Commissioner Rita Pritchett is seeking applicants to fill openings on a variety of Brevard County citizen advisory boards. Applications for all boards listed below are available on the Brevard County website, www.brevardfl.gov, and by clicking on Advisory Boards listed under Frequent Searches. Contractor’s Licensing Board – 1 space available (a plumbing contractor is being sought). For more information on this board visit: https://brevardfl.granicus.com/boards/w/cbe4088b3c65a780/boards Historical Commission – 1 space available. For more information on this board visit: https://brevardfl.granicus.com/boards/w/cbe4088b3c65a780/boards Marine Advisory Council – 1 space available. For more information on this board visit: https://brevardfl.granicus.com/boards/w/cbe4088b3c65a780/boards North Brevard Commission on Parks & Recreation – 2 spaces available. For more information on this board, visit: https://brevardfl.granicus.com/boards/w/cbe4088b3c65a780/boards Planning & Zoning Board - 1 space available. For more information on this board visit: https://brevardfl.granicus.com/boards/w/cbe4088b3c65a780/boards Titusville Public Library Advisory Board – 1 space available. For more information on this board visit: https://brevardfl.granicus.com/boards/w/cbe4088b3c65a780/boards Transportation Planning Organization Citizens Advisory Committee – 1 space available for alternate. For more information on this board visit: https://brevardfl.granicus.com/boards/w/cbe4088b3c65a780/boards Titusville Chlorine Dosing Update TITUSVILLE, FL - (October 4, 2022) – Titusville’s chlorine dosing of its water distribution system has been extended to November 4. Although originally anticipated to be completed by October 21, the dosing will continue for an additional two weeks. The extension was necessary as the flushing of mains, which is normally performed in conjunction with the dosing, could not take place due to Hurricane Ian and the resulting flooding. The dosing, now scheduled to last through November 4, is performed to ensure that Titusville maintains its high-quality drinking water standards. During the dosing, Titusville drinking water may have a chlorine taste and smell, which is normal. Titusville’s water remains safe for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other everyday uses during the dosing and water quality is constantly monitored to ensure it meets regulated safety standards. Titusville’s drinking water treatment process normally includes chloramines (a combination of ammonia and chlorine). During the dosing or free chlorine treatment, the City stops adding ammonia but does not increase the amount of chlorine. After the chlorine dosing is completed, the City will return to its normal treatment process. Dosing Reminders: Reduce the taste or smell of chlorine in your drinking water during a dosing by boiling it or letting it stand in an open container, such as a pitcher, for several hours. Consult your health care provider if you are currently undergoing dialysis or have a compromised immune system to determine whether the change in disinfection will affect your treatment. Contact a pet or aquarium professional if you own a fish tank or pond that uses City water to determine if any adjustments to your aquarium treatment is needed during a chlorine dosing. Check Water Resources’ pages at www.titusville.com for information on current chlorine dosings. If you have questions or concerns during the dosing, call the Chlorine Dosing Hotline at (321) 567-3878. August 22, 2022 Titusville Water System Maintenance to Begin September 9 TITUSVILLE, FL - (August 22, 2022) – Titusville water customers may notice a change in their drinking water beginning on September 9 as the city begins a chlorine dosing of its water distribution system. The dosing is scheduled to last through October 21 and is performed to ensure that Titusville maintains its high-quality drinking water standards. The dosing is scheduled to be completed over a six-week period (from September 9 through October 21) and will include the flushing of mains throughout the water system. During the dosing, Titusville drinking water may have a chlorine taste and smell, which is normal. Titusville’s water remains safe for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other everyday uses during the dosing and water quality is constantly monitored to ensure it meets regulated safety standards. Titusville’s drinking water treatment process normally includes chloramines (a combination of ammonia and chlorine). During the dosing or free chlorine treatment, the City stops adding ammonia but does not increase the amount of chlorine. After the chlorine dosing is completed, the City will return to its normal treatment process. Dosing Reminders: Reduce the taste or smell of chlorine in your drinking water during a dosing by boiling it or letting it stand in an open container, such as a pitcher, for several hours. Consult your health care provider if you are currently undergoing dialysis or have a compromised immune system to determine whether the change in disinfection will affect your treatment. Contact a pet or aquarium professional if you own a fish tank or pond that uses City water to determine if any adjustments to your aquarium treatment is needed during a chlorine dosing. Check Water Resources’ pages at www.titusville.com for information on current chlorine dosings. If you have questions or concerns during the dosing, call the Chlorine Dosing Hotline at (321) 567-3878. May 31, 2022 Preparing your business for hurricane season Tomorrow starts the first day of hurricane season. I am forwarding the email below from the North Brevard Economic Development Zone and the attachments regarding steps to prepare your business in the event of a major storm. Hopefully it is helpful to you. Troy Post, North Brevard Economic Development Zone (NBEDZ) We are interested in your opinion. The Community Development Department Customer Service Survey can be found at: https://www.titusville.com/FormCenter/Community-Development-7/Customer-Satisfaction-Survey-55 With the 2022 hurricane season about to begin, it’s time to take steps to prepare your business for a speedy recovery and re-opening, in the event of a major storm. Attached are two guidebooks published by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, which identify what a business should consider before a disaster strikes; the guides also provide useful checklists on information that you should store, on: key customers, service industry contacts, suppliers/vendors, operating systems, and finances. As you may know, statistics show that one in four businesses forced to close because of a natural disaster never re-open; this is particularly true for small businesses, which form the backbone of our local economy. Take steps now to prepare. CLICK below for PDFs with details. The easy way to prepare your business for the unexpected. SEVERE WEATHER: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLANNING It’s Time for A Change – An Irrigation Schedule Change TITUSVILLE, FL - (March 7, 2022) – It’s that time. What time? Springtime. Time for turning our clocks forward. Time for changing the days on our irrigation controllers. On March 13, when we change to Daylight Saving Time, we also change to the Spring/Summer irrigation schedule. During Daylight Saving Time, March 13 through November 6, the irrigation restrictions change to allow outside irrigation no more than twice a week. Homes with even-numbered addresses may irrigate on Thursdays and Sundays. Homes with odd-numbered addresses may irrigate on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Businesses may irrigate on Tuesdays and Fridays. The irrigation restrictions apply whether you are irrigating with reclaimed water, well water, or city water. The irrigation schedule changes twice each year to reflect Florida’s normal weather cycle. Our rainy season starts in April and continues into fall. Allowing two days to irrigate recognizes that during this time of year, plants are exposed to more sunlight and are in a growth cycle, so they may need more water. If you use native plants and follow the rule of planting the right plant in the right place, you may not need any supplemental irrigation—normal rainfall should provide enough water for your plants’ needs. More information on the irrigation restrictions and how to create an attractive water-saving yard is available by contacting the Titusville Conservation Office at 321-567-3865 or by visiting the Water Resources Department’s Conservation Program pages at www.titusville.com. March Mulch Madness Begins March 18 TITUSVILLE, FL - (March 4, 2022) – This March, Titusville's Water Conservation Program wants to help you increase your mulch footprint with March Mulch Madness. Using mulch in your home landscape will help to retain moisture, control weeds, and reduce erosion and runoff from your yard. What is March Mulch Madness? For every 4 bags of plain pine bark mulch you buy from March 18 through March 31, you can receive a $5 credit on your City of Titusville water bill. The maximum credit you can receive is $15 for 12 bags. The rules for March Mulch Madness are available at www.titusville.com/mulch. This is a limited time program and is only open to City of Titusville single-family residential water customers. To participate, water customers must buy at least 4 bags of plain pine bark mulch any time from March 18 through March 31 at the store of their choice. Participants submit dated receipts that state "pine bark" or "bark" for the items purchased along with an application form. The rules and application form are all online and must be submitted by April 4. Participants unable to upload receipts must print out the form, attach their receipts and mail everything to: Mulch Madness, City of Titusville Conservation, 2836 Garden Street, Titusville, FL 32796. All paperwork must be postmarked or received by April 4, 2022. According to Maureen Phillips, Titusville’s Water Conservation & Public Outreach Manager, this is the first time Titusville has offered March Mulch Madness. “It’s almost spring and we wanted to do something that would help our residents as they were out planting and working in their yards, while still promoting water conservation,” explained Ms. Phillips. “Mulch is a great way to retain water in your plant beds and reduce weeds.” Plain pine bark mulch is long lasting, does not leach chemicals like some other mulches, and is made from the part of a tree that would normally be discarded. March Mulch Madness is only available for a limited time. For more information on the program go to www.titusville.com/mulch, or visit Water Resources Conservation pages on the City of Titusville website, or call 321-567-3865, option 5. Water Tower to be Demolished TITUSVILLE, FL - (February 25, 2022) –The City of Titusville elevated water tower located near South Street (S.R. 405), adjacent to Brevard County School Board property, is scheduled to be dismantled. Demolition of the tank is scheduled to commence on Monday, February 28 and will take place over a two-week period. Metal from the tower will be recycled by the demolition contractor. The demolition is not expected to impact traffic. Titusville water customers will not experience any change in their water service. According to Water Resources Director, Sean Stauffer the tower is no longer needed for the water system and has been offline for over two years. “Because of the improvements we have made at the Armstrong Pumping Station, our consultant has confirmed that the tower is no longer needed to provide pressure to our distribution system.” The tower, which is approximately 60 years old, has been offline for over two years. Costs to repair the tower are greater than demolition and were considered an unnecessary expense due to system improvements.c “Explore Historic Titusville” Booklet, Interactive Website & Mobile App Booklet, Interactive Website & Mobile App Explores Titusville's Historic Downtown Click for links on the official City website Celebrate Florida’s Fall with Smart Irrigation TITUSVILLE, FL - (October 21, 2021) –Yes, Florida does have a fall and a winter and during these seasons we experience reduced sunlight, cooler temperatures, and reduced rainfall. Fall is also when we return to Eastern Standard Time. When you turn back your clock on November 7, you also need to turn your irrigation controller to its fall and winter irrigation schedule. The fall and winter schedule (November 7 through March 13) restricts outside irrigation to one day a week. Odd-numbered residential addresses may irrigate on Saturdays; even-numbered residential addresses may irrigate on Sundays; and commercial and non-residential properties may irrigate on Tuesdays. In Titusville, well water, city water, and reclaimed water all fall under the irrigation restrictions. Irrigation is reduced during the fall and winter because the growth of both plants and grasses slows down, reducing their need for food; which then reduces their need for irrigation. Watering your yard more than is needed encourages fungal growth, disturbs the plant’s normal growth cycle causing stress and increasing susceptibility to disease and pests, and leads to increased runoff. So celebrate Florida’s fall weather and the beginning of the holiday season by giving your lawn the gift of smart irrigation. Don’t turn on the sprinklers unless your lawn tells you it is ready for water: leaf blades are folded in half, color turns a bluish-gray, and footprints stay visible. And remember, established trees and shrubs need less water than turf. To learn more about the irrigation restrictions and Florida-Friendly landscaping contact Titusville’s Water Resources Conservation Office at 321-567-3865 or visit the Water Resources Conservation Program’s pages at www.titusville.com/irrigation. 7/9/2021 Space View Park Reopens in Titusville TITUSVILLE, FL. – Space View Park, a popular viewing spot for rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center, has reopened following completion of repairs stemming from damages caused by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. The park, located on the shore of the Indian River Lagoon in Titusville, reopened Friday and will be open daily from dusk to dawn. Repairs, at a cost of $2 million, included replacement of observation docks, seawall repair and replacement, sidewalks, repair and replacement of the rock revetment, new lighting and landscaping upgrades. The contractor was Rush Construction Inc. The park is not only great for launches, but also includes a fishing area and boat dock, picnic areas, mission logos carved in granite and a walkthrough history of manned space exploration. The Water We Drink 2020 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2021 Edition Click to print & share (16 page PDF). Titusville Water System Maintenance to Begin April 12 TITUSVILLE, FL - (April 1, 2021) – Titusville water customers may notice a change in their drinking water beginning on April 12 as the city begins a chlorine dosing of its water distribution system. The dosing is scheduled to last through May 9 and is performed to ensure that Titusville maintains its high quality drinking water standards. The dosing is scheduled to be completed over a four-week period (from April 12 through May 9) and will include the flushing of mains throughout the water system. During the dosing, Titusville drinking water may have a chlorine taste and smell, which is normal. Titusville’s water remains safe for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other everyday uses during the dosing and water quality is constantly monitored to ensure it meets regulated safety standards. Titusville normally treats its drinking water using chloramines (a combination of ammonia and chlorine). During the dosing or free chlorine treatment, the City stops adding ammonia but does not increase the amount of chlorine. After the chlorine dosing is completed, the City will return to its normal treatment process. Dosing Reminders: Reduce the taste or smell of chlorine in your drinking water during a dosing by boiling it or letting it stand in an open container, such as a pitcher, for several hours. Consult your health care provider if you are currently undergoing dialysis or have a compromised immune system to determine whether the change in disinfection will affect your treatment. Contact a pet or aquarium professional if you own a fish tank or pond that uses City water to determine if any adjustments to your aquarium treatment is needed during a chlorine dosing. Check Water Resources’ pages at www.titusville.com for information on current chlorine dosings. If you have questions or concerns during the dosing, call the Chlorine Dosing Hotline at (321) 567-3878. Set Your Clock, Set Your Irrigation Controller Irrigation Schedule Changes to No More Than Twice A Week TITUSVILLE, FL - (March 04, 2021) – Spring has sprung and the dog days of summer are nipping at our heels. When you set your clocks forward one hour for Daylight Saving Time, set your irrigation controllers to the Spring/Summer schedule. Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 14 and starts the spring/summer irrigation schedule. During Daylight Saving Time, March 14 through November 7, the irrigation restrictions change to allow outside irrigation no more than twice a week. Homes with even-numbered addresses may irrigate on Thursdays and Sundays. Homes with odd-numbered addresses may irrigate on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Businesses may irrigate on Tuesdays and Fridays. The irrigation restrictions apply to reclaimed water, well water, and city water use. Florida’s rainy season starts in April. Check to see how to manually over-ride your controller settings so that during thunderstorms and heavy rain you can turn off your irrigation system. All automatic irrigation should be equipped with a rain sensor so that sprinklers cannot operate during rain events. “Just because you can irrigate twice a week, doesn’t mean you have to irrigate twice a week,” explained Maureen Phillips, Water Resources’ Water Conservation & Public Outreach Manager. “The change in schedule simply recognizes that during this time of year plants are exposed to more sunlight and are in a growth cycle, so they may need more water. If you use native plants and follow the rule of planting the right plant in the right place, you may not need any supplemental irrigation—normal rainfall should provide enough water for your plants’ needs.” To choose the right plant for the right place, just look at the conditions present in your yard. Does that area of the yard get sun all day long? Is it shaded by a neighboring tree? Does the area remain wet for a long period after a rain? All of these are factors that influence what you should plant and how much irrigation that plant needs. More information on the irrigation restrictions and how to create an attractive water-saving yard is available by contacting the Titusville Conservation Office at 321-567-3865 or by visiting the Water Resources Department’s Conservation Program pages at www.titusville.com. 9/25/2020 Food Assistance Available for Residents Financially Impacted by COVID-19 BREVARD COUNTY, FL. -- Opportunities are available today and Saturday for food assistance for residents financially impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. The UF/Brevard Extension Service is hosting farmer’s markets in which individuals can obtain $50 in CARES Act dollars, in the form of tokens, for the purchase of fruits, vegetables, honey, coffee, eggs, herbs and other items available. The markets will be held at these locations: Today, Friday Sept. 25, Titusville Visitor Center, 419 South Hopkins Ave., Titusville, from 3-6 p.m. On Saturday, Sept.26, Paddling Paradise, 4220 Dixie Highway NE, Palm Bay, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The markets are open to all residents. Those who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 will be eligible for the CARES Act tokens upon completion of a self-declaration form that will be available on site. A photo ID will be required with matching address as that on the self-declaration form. Also, at both sites there will be Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) available. July 7, 2020 Resolution 21-20 Encouraging Face Coverings at all Indoor Locations Throughout the City of Titusville Click to read the resolution. June 24, 2020 A Fourth Open Letter from Mayor Walt Johnson to the Citizens of Titusville - CLICK North Brevard is ready to "reboot" responsibly. New Opportunities • New Rules • New Normal City • EDZ • Chamber We are ready to work together to reopen safely, effectively and sustainably for everyone in our community. To help you "reboot" your business, we curated this toolbox to offer some of the best advice, direction, guidance and practices in one place. CLICK here for details on the City of Titusville "reboot" website. Do You Over-Water? Fall & Winter Irrigation Guide TITUSVILLE, FL - (October 20, 2020) – An estimated 50 percent of all homeowners over-water their yards. Are you one of them? One way to keep from over-watering is to follow the irrigation restrictions. On November 1 we return to Eastern Standard Time. During Eastern Standard Time (November 1 through March 14), outside irrigation is reduced to one day a week. Odd-numbered residential addresses may irrigate on Saturdays; even-numbered residential addresses may irrigate on Sundays; and commercial and non-residential properties may irrigate on Tuesdays during this period. In Titusville, well water, city water, and reclaimed water all fall under the irrigation restrictions. Most homes and businesses have automated, in-ground irrigation systems. These systems use 47 percent more water than non-automated, above ground systems. These systems frequently suffer from Set It and Forget It Syndrome. Systems need to be adjusted for weather and seasons. Florida’s irrigation schedules mimic nature. In the fall and winter there is less rain, less sunlight, and cooler weather. Your irrigation needs are also less during this time of year. Follow the steps below to reduce your irrigation and increase your irrigation efficiency. Follow the irrigation schedule. Do not irrigate if your yard does not need it or if it has rained. Group plants by watering needs and put them in the same zone. Plants and plant beds should be in different zones from turf. Match all the sprinklers heads in each zone. Mismatched and inappropriate sprinkler heads lead to dead spots and overspray. Check spray angles. Misdirected sprinklers irrigate the street and sidewalk, not your lawn. Large arcs gets lost to evaporation and never reach your lawn. Use micro-irrigation heads or drip irrigation for plant beds. The City has announced its phased reopening plan, which is available at: https://www.titusville.com/News.asp?NewsID=1518 City Hall Re-Opening - Modified Hours & By Appointment Public Access Effective 6 May 2020, City Hall will re-open to the public on a by appointment basis until further notice. Hours will be 9:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 4:0 pm daily Monday - Friday Titusville Fire Department personnel will be on hand to conduct temperature screening for those desiring to conduct business within City Hall. Persons with temperatures at or above 100.4 deg F will be denied entry in accordance with CDC guidelines. Face Masks are required for entry. One-Time use masks will be provided based on availability for those citizens without their own masks. For Appointments please call: Customer Service (Utility Billing): (321) 383 5791 Community Development: (321) 567 3756       Building, Site Review, Business Tax Receipts, Planning Human Resources: (321) 567 3728 All Others/Information: (321) 567 3702 April 15, 2020 All Playgrounds are closed. Brevard County Parks & Recreation Department Abiding by CDC guidelines, all Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department playgrounds are closed until further notice to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Setting a Higher Standard for Water Quality TITUSVILLE, FL - (June 26, 2020) -- Since late 2016, when it initiated a regular schedule of chlorine dosings for its water system, the City of Titusville has focused on maintaining the quality of its drinking water. A chlorine dosing is a common and approved maintenance practice used by water utilities, including Vero Beach, Palm Bay, Port St. Lucie, Fort Lauderdale, Brevard County, Broward County, Pinellas County, and Pasco County, to ensure the quality of drinking water throughout a distribution system. "Water chemistry is a lot more complex than people realize," said Sean Stauffer, City of Titusville's Water Resources Director. Mr. Stauffer explained that water in nature, whether in a lake or underground contains contaminants both from nature, itself, and from human activity. Microorganisms and bacteria are also naturally present or a result of human activity. Drinking water treatment includes not only filtering out contaminants but also disinfecting it to make it safe for consumption. Moreover, the water from the tap of the person who lives twenty minutes away from the treatment plant, needs to be just as safe as the water received by the person who lives next door to a treatment plant. To ensure that all its water consumers receive the highest quality drinking water possible is the reason Titusville began its series of chlorine dosings. Titusville's usual water treatment process includes the use of chloramines (a combination of ammonia and chlorine). During a dosing, only chlorine is used. While using chloramines can improve the taste and odor of drinking water, its use can lead to nitrification in a water distribution system. Nitrification can cause the disinfectant residual to degrade, making a system vulnerable to undesirable biological growth. Periodic, temporary use of free chlorine (a chlorine dosing) is one way to ensure Titusville's drinking water remains safe for all its consumers. Chlorine is a common drinking water disinfectant that some utilities use year around. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, chlorine has been used as a disinfectant in public water supplies for over one hundred years. Chloramines did not become popular until the late 1990's as a way to improve taste and odor, increase the stability of a disinfectant residual, and decrease the production of disinfection byproducts. Titusville's current dosing began June 8 and is scheduled to be completed by July 6. The dosing is performed in compliance with all applicable Florida Department of Environmental Protection regulations. During the dosing, water quality is constantly monitored to ensure it meets regulated safety standards, and your water remains safe for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other everyday uses. Titusville water customers who have questions or concerns about the dosing, can visit the Water Resources pages at www.titusville.com or call the Chlorine Dosing Hotline at (321) 567-3878. April 10, 2020 Update on the City of Titusville's New Utility Bill Pay System. The City is aware of citizens' concerns and questions regarding the new Utility Bill Pay System. We take your concerns seriously and want you to know we are here to serve you. Account Search: Citizens will temporarily be able to access their account/accounts by address until such time that new account numbers are established. During this time no sensitive, private data will viewable by the general public. Once the new account numbers are established the address search will be disabled; this should occur sometime over the next 30 days. During this time, it is recommended that customers create a login with the bill pay service so that you can go directly to your account. With regards to multiple names being associated with the address searched, this shows any outstanding accounts from previous owners/occupants who had a water account at the property, and is not the responsibility of the new account holder. You will not be billed that amount. Convenience Fees: There is a convenience fee of $2.75 for credit/debit card when making a onetime ACH payment. If you set up a recurring or automatic payment the cost is substantially reduced to $0.35 per transaction. Please be aware that the convenience fee is charged and retained by the service provider for processing the transactions, and not by the City of Titusville. Customer Service Phone Number: Please be advised that we are operating under modified working conditions as a result of the COVID-19 situation. As a result, we are receiving a very high volume of calls and emails and are returning them in the order received. We apologize for any inconveniences this has caused, but please be aware we are still working to serve you. If you have any questions you can call 321-383-5791 or email us at customerservice@titusville.com. We will respond as quickly as possible and thank you for your understanding and patience. St. Johns River 3 Sea Bike Loop Summit Webinar Series April 9 - 28, 2020 Titusville Police HQ Closures Effective immediately, we will be closing our lobby services to the public in order to help reduce the potential spread of COVID-19. We encourage our citizens who need to make a police report to stay home and contact the police department by calling 321-264-7800 for all non-emergency services. In the event of an emergency do not hesitate to call 911. Any citizen who comes to the police department who wishes to make a police report can utilize their cell phones to call 321-264-7800 or the phone next to the lobby doors and contact dispatch who will be able to have an officer respond. To make arrangements to pick up property please call 321-567-3938. To obtain a copy of a police report please call 321-567-3907 For all code enforcement related matters please call 321-567-3770 For all deliveries please contact records at 321-567-3907 All requirements pursuant to Florida Statute 119.071 still apply for receiving copies of reports via email. A copy of ID via email, may be required for certain reports. Thank you for your cooperation. Lt. Matt Demmon Titusville Police Department Police Office: (321) 567-3937 Brevard County PR: March 31, 2020 COVID-19 Testing Options Increase in Brevard County BREVARD COUNTY, FL. -- Following new guidelines from the Florida Department of Health, the options for receiving a COVID-19 test in Brevard County have increased. While hospitalized patients and healthcare facility workers with symptoms rank as the highest priority for testing, COVID-19 tests are now increasingly available for those with symptoms who did not meet previous Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County is providing appointment-only drive-through COVID-19 tests to symptomatic individuals meeting the following criteria: Those age 65 and older Those with underlying health conditions First responders Anyone who does not meet the above criteria, but has symptoms and a prescription from a medical doctor Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever of 100.4 or higher, cough, and shortness of breath. Those experiencing emergency warning signs such as difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face, should immediately seek medical attention. Appointments must be scheduled ahead of time by calling 321-454-7141 for screening and registration. In addition, several urgent care clinics and some private medical facilities are also providing COVID-19 tests. Anyone who believes they may have COVID-19 should call their health care provider before going to the facility. Starting at 5 p.m. on March 20, City Hall will be closed to the public. In Order to safely and efficiently continue providing services, city hall and all city facilities are closed to public access due to the #COVID19 outbreak, until further notice. Many municipal services such as utility bill-pay, building permits and others can still be accomplished via electronic means on the city's website or by calling city hall. Contact Numbers: City Hall Main Number/Information: 321-567-3775 City Manager's Office: 321-567-3702 Customer Service/Utility Billing: 321-383-5791 Human Resources: 321-567-3728 Fire Department: 321-567-3800 Police (non-emergency): 321-264-7800 Solid Waste: 321-383-5775 Water Resources Operations: 321-567-3883 Community Relations: 321-567-3689 City Website www.titusville.com The city will continue to provide Public Safety, Solid Waste, Water Resources and all other Municipal Services without interruption during the #coronavirus outbreak. In addition, the following services will be available while city buildings are closed to the public: Electronic submittal of applications for Business Tax Receipts, building permits, site permits, rezoning, conditional use permits, variances, etc. Electronic issuance of BTRs, building permits and site permits Schedule and conduct building inspections Conduct site inspections Respond to phone calls and emails inquiries regarding all activities conducted by Community Development Building Dept: 321-567-3760 Development Services: 321-567-3756 Economic Development: 321-567-3774 Neighborhood Services: 321-567-3987 Planning and Zoning: 321-567-3782 We apologize for any inconvenience. We hope everyone stays safe and healthy so we can all get through this ordeal as quickly as possible. Thank you. Titusville Fire Department: COVID-19 In an effort to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19, Titusville Fire Department Headquarters will be keeping the entrance locked. For any NON-EMERGENCY services, please call (321) 567-3800. There will be someone on this line to assist you during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL 911! March 30, 2020 All wipes, whether they are labeled as flushable or not, and paper towels should be placed in the trash, not the toilet. The only paper product that should ever be flushed is toilet tissue City of Titusville Press Release Brevard County Government Closes Facilities to Public; Services Continue