Subject:
Title
2026 Susan B. Connolly Speak Up Brevard Workshop for commissioners to hear citizen effectiveness and efficiency recommendations
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Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Dept/Office:
District 1 Commission Office
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners host a 2026 Susan B. Connolly Speak Up Brevard Workshop to hear from citizens regarding their recommendation submissions.
Proposed workshop dates are March 2, 3, 4, 23, 24 and 30th.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
On November 2, 2010, Brevard County voters approved a referendum initiated through the Charter Review Commission authorizing a process for citizens to submit recommendations to the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners to improve government efficiency and effectiveness.
Brevard County hosted the inaugural Speak Up Brevard workshop on March 3, 2025. The workshop received positive feedback from both participating residents and members of the Board. During that cycle, 77 recommendations were submitted, with 13 participants presenting through an RSVP-based process and an additional seven residents addressing the Board during public comment.
The Board discussed hosting a 2026 Speak Up Brevard workshop during its January 13, 2026 meeting. At that time, the Board deferred action on the workshop pending clarification regarding the number of submitters and confirmation that any out-of-jurisdiction submissions would be properly reviewed and allocated by staff prior to consideration.
For the 2026 Citizen Efficiency and Effectiveness Recommendations (CEER) cycle, the Speak Up Brevard website was open from January 1 through January 31, 2026. A total of 61 recommendations were received prior to the submission deadline.
The proposed workshop would provide commissioners with a dedicated forum to hear in-person presentations from residents who submitted recommendations through the county’s website and who wish to present their ideas directly to the Board, allowing for focused discussion and clarification outside of a regular meeting setting.
Consistent with prior Board action, the 2026 workshop is proposed to be held under the Susan B. Connolly name, in alignment with the program’s renaming. Ms. Connolly, a Palm Bay resident who passed away in November 2025, was a dedicated citizen advocate and a strong supporter of civic engagement and the Speak Up Brevard program.
Hosting the 2026 workshop would fulfill the voter-approved intent of the CEER process while providing the Board with a structured and efficient opportunity to hear directly from residents regarding their recommendations.
Citizens can learn more about the program at the following link: <https://sites.brevardcounty.us/SpeakUpBrevard/>
Submissions from past cycles are available at this link:
<https://sites.brevardcounty.us/SpeakUpBrevard/Search>
One of Susan Conolly’s last public comments to the commission about the Speak Up Brevard program is available here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/McDr39OxOQo?si=RieV4t8j0yQwJygr&t=1909
Clerk to the Board Instructions: