News Release Highlights Mayor Goode Serves Florida League of Mayors Citizens Are Recruited for Training ‘V-COP’ Duty  Space Coast League of Cities Scholarship Community Contributions Fund Independence Day Fireworks, Parade Mayors of Three Cities Compare Census Notes Police Ask for Location Information with 9-1-1 Cell Phone Calls  DCA Notice of Intent - Comprehensive Plan Amendment 

Mayor Harry Goode to Help Guide the Florida League of Mayors

The Florida League of Mayors has announced the reappointment of Mayor Harry Goode to serve on the statewide organization's board of directors for a two-year term.   

Established in 2005, the Florida League of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of mayors in Florida.  The organization provides the mayors of Florida with the ability to explore and advocate for areas of mutual concern and opportunity.  Collectively, the Florida League of Mayors forms an effective network of strong, resourceful, and prominent leaders working together to champion issues of urgent interest to citizens of cities, towns, and villages in the state.

The Florida League of Mayors is governed by a 21-member board of directors.  Ten members serve one-year terms and 11 serve two-year terms.  The organization is staffed by the Florida League of Cities. 

“I am honored to have been selected for this position,” Mayor Goode said.  “I look forward to continuing this leadership opportunity and having another way to serve the citizens of our community and Florida.”

Mayor Harry Goode was elected to a four-year term in November of 2004.  He previously served as mayor from 1979 to 1986, and then served in the Florida House of Representatives for 14 years.  He was appointed to the board of directors of the Florida League of Mayors in November 2005.

Citizens Are Recruited for ‘V-COP’ Training

The Melbourne Police Department is currently recruiting citizens who would like to be a part of the Volunteer Citizens Observance Patrol.  Citizens who participate in the ‘V-COP’ program are trained to assist the police patrol division.   

Applications are now being accepted for a 40-hour V-COP training class that is to begin on Oct. 5.  Volunteer Coordinator Jane Meier explained that the training process includes instruction on observation techniques, police procedures, traffic control, safe driving techniques, and basic law enforcement rules and regulations. 

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, must have valid Florida driver’s licenses, and must undergo background checks.  Each participant must be willing to volunteer at least 12 hours a month. Meier said most V-COP participants are retired seniors.  

Interested citizens should contact Meier at 409-3362 or by e-mail to jmeier@melbourneflorida.org. 

Applications are available at www.melbourneflorida.org/police and can be picked up at the police headquarters building at 650 N. Apollo Blvd. and at the Community Relations Office located in Melbourne Square Mall (across from Macy’s).

Community Contributions Funded Independence Day Fireworks, Parade

Community contributions provided the $15,000 cost of Melbourne's Independence Day events, including a parade on July 3, the traditional fireworks display on July 4, and a July Fourth shuttle bus service between the Melbourne Auditorium and Claude Edge Front Street Park, where most spectators gather.

"The community has been very generous in supporting Melbourne's Independence Day activities, and that allows us to continue traditional events to celebrate our freedoms," said Amy Elliott, Acting City Manager.

Community support includes $1,350 from Reiss Engineering to fund the shuttle bus service, and $1,000 co-sponsorships from Brevard County Parks & Recreation; Gray-Robinson Law Firm; Harris Sanitation Inc. - a Waste Management Company; Health First Health Plans; and Melbourne Greyhound Park & Club 52.

Co-sponsorships of $500 are being provided by Able Air, Inc.; Baskerville-Dononvan, Inc.; Bright House Networks; BRPH Architects-Engineers, Inc.; Certified General Contractors; Dr. Cedric C. Chenet, DDS; Coastal Mitsubishi Hyundai; Dean, Ringers, Morgan & Lawton, P.A.; Embraer; Florida Business Bank; Florida Today Newspaper; Frazier Engineering; Hazen & Sawyer Environmental Engineers and Scientists; ICC Capital Management, Inc.; Off the Traxx; and Sutton Properties of Melbourne.

Other contributors include the Town of Malabar, which is providing $400.  Bolton Partners, Inc.; the Town of Melbourne Beach; and Morse Communications are contributing $250 each.  Hoyman Dobson, CPA;  Land Design Innovations, Inc.; Meehan Brothers; and Melbourne Main Street are contributing $200 each.

Other contributors include Ascension Catholic Church; delaParte & Gilbert, P.A.; Cunningham, Ingram, and Anderson, Inc.; Glover Oil; Henderson Southeast Corporation; Heritage Consultants/Professional Administrators; Modus Operandi, Inc.; PFM Asset Management; Wuesthoff Health Systems; Michael Kahn, P.A.; Sorenson Moving & Storage; Gallo and Russell Certified Professional Planners; and Joyal Construction..

Other contributors include Ira & Dorothy Adams; Jackie Burns; Mike & Chris Crotty; Amy Elliott; James B. Fletcher; Catey, Carly & Nate Hemmer; Paul Gougelman; Eric & Alice Griggs; Charles & LaVerne Frost;  Ann McDougall; Gerald Oliver; Evelyn & Dale Pasonski; Pat & Bill Poole; Lorraine M. Proulx; Edward & Barbara Reilly; Ralph & Patricia Scannelli; William & Debora Palmer; James & Patricia Thompson; and Pat W. Swatek in memory of Enid Swatek.

Steve Mimbs Named as Acting Police Chief

Steve Mimbs, a veteran command officer of the Melbourne Police Department, has been named as acting police chief.  City Manager Jack Schluckebier made the appointment after former chief Don Carey confirmed plans to remain on leave until an official retirement early next year.

Mimbs, 49, joined the department in 1980 and has earned promotions through the ranks to the command staff.  He was promoted to the rank of commander in 2001 and has served as a deputy chief since 2004.  Mimbs is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and completed Florida Department of Law Enforcement senior leadership training. He has earned several commendations as a police officer.  He holds a bachelor's degree from Barry University.

Carey is currently on a medical leave that began in March.  Schluckebier said that Carey is to use available leave time as well as unpaid leave to extend his absence.  "The City appreciates the service that Don Carey has provided since 2003 as Melbourne's chief of police," Schluckebier said.  "He indicated that he felt it was in the best interests of the City to be placed on leave and allow for an orderly change in department leadership."
Schluckebier said he anticipates that a search for a permanent police chief will be conducted later in 2010.  Mimbs will not be a candidate, as he will also be retiring near the end of 2010.

"Chief Mimbs is an experienced leader who enjoys the respect of the officers of the Melbourne Police Department as well as the other employees of the department," Schluckebier said.  "In guiding the department, Chief Mimbs will also have the support of an excellent command staff."

Mimbs said he looks forward to the assignment. "An important part of my job will be to bolster the leadership that allows our employees to maintain the high level of service that is now provided by the Melbourne Police Department," Mimbs said.  "My goal will be to increase the level of confidence and stability in the department, so that everyone can focus on the principle task of public safety.  I recognize that in Melbourne right now, a tremendous amount of good work is done by our group day in and day out."

Mayors of Three Cities Compare Census Notes

The mayors of Melbourne, Palm Bay, and West Melbourne met on Census Day (Thursday, April 1) at a point where the borders of the three cities touch to compare notes on how much progress has been made to encourage residents to promptly return their Census 2010 surveys.

Participating were Melbourne Mayor Harry Goode (pictured at left), West Melbourne Mayor Hal Rose (pictured at center), and Palm Bay Mayor John Mazziotti (pictured at right).  The meeting took place on the north side of Palm Bay Road at a point east of Hollywood Boulevard.  A location on a service road adjacent to the Bob Evans Restaurant has been identified as a spot where the three cities meet.  Each city has been actively encouraging residents to return Census surveys.  The number of people counted in the Census will impact the level of federal assistance that is provided to each city over the next ten years.  The surveys were mailed to area residents earlier in March.  During April, census takers are to begin going to homes where residents have not responded in an effort to complete the surveys. The U.S. Census Bureau has established information centers throughout the South Brevard County area.  In Melbourne, the locations include Melbourne City Hall, 900 E. Strawbridge Ave.; the Melbourne Regional Chamber of  East Central Florida; the Melbourne Library,  540 E. Fee Ave.;  the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 955 University Blvd.; the Lipscomb Park Community Center, 3316 Monroe St.; and the City's Housing & Community Development Office, 695 E. University Blvd.

Police Ask for Location Information with 9-1-1 Cell Phone Calls

The use of cell phones to replace traditional telephones at homes and businesses may cause location information to be inaccurate or incomplete when emergency 9-1-1 calls are made.  The Melbourne Police Department is recommending that all callers using cell phones recognize that they must report a location to ensure that a response will target the right address. 

Commander Jim Gibbens explained that location information that is electronically reported to emergency call centers may not be completely accurate.  “Even when the person using a cell phone is inside a structure, the mapping system that is used for 9-1-1 calls may be off by one or two houses.”  The Melbourne Police Department has experienced calls that indicated an apartment complex but not the unit from which the call was made. 

“Many citizens who buy or receive cell phones as gifts may believe that their phone will always reveal their exact location if 9-1-1 is called.  We would like people to be aware that the phones may not really do that,” Gibbens said. 

Police make these recommendations to help citizens utilize 9-1-1 emergency call services: 

-- If you use a cellular phone and you can only provide one piece of information, it should always be the location of the incident. 

-- If a residence has a phone but service is not connected, it still should allow you to dial 9-1-1 as long as there was phone service in the residence at some time. 

-- Cellular phones that do not have service still may have the capability of dialing 9-1-1.  Many people give their old cellular phones to children to play with and don’t realize that they still have the capability to make emergency calls. 

-- If you dial 9-1-1 by accident, do not hang up.  Stay on the line with the call-taker so they can verify your information and confirm that it was a misdial.  If you hang up, the call-taker will need to call back to verify information or send an officer out to make sure there is no emergency.

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