You Choose: What Should We Ask City Manager Morton?

Palm Bay, FL – City Manager Matthew Morton will face residents at Palm Bay City Hall on Tuesday, February 24, and The Palm Bayer is handing you the microphone. From fire assessments to police staffing to the “dig once” strategy for Malabar Road, five major policy questions are on the table. Vote below to decide which one we ask.The session comes as Palm Bay navigates critical decisions on growth management, budget modeling, and infrastructure investment. Morton’s quarterly “Coffee with the City Manager” series offers residents direct access to the city’s top administrator, and this time, you control the agenda.Event DetailsDate: Tuesday, February 24, 2026Time: 7:30 AM to 8:30 AMLocation: Palm Bay City Hall, 120 Malabar Road, Palm Bay, FL 32907No registration required. Coffee provided. Bring your questions and join the conversation.The Poll: Five Questions, One VoiceEach question below connects to recent Palm Bayer reporting on critical city issues. The winning question will be asked during the February 24 session, with Morton’s full response published in our follow-up coverage.Poll closes Monday, February 23 at 6:00 PM ET.🔘 The “Fair Share” Question“How will the new fire assessment ensure that ‘growth pays for growth,’ allowing us to improve response times citywide without placing the financial burden on long-time homeowners?”🔗 Read more: Making Growth Pay: Inside Palm Bay’s New Fire Assessment Strategy🔘 The “Real Influence” Question“What is your vision for making the Citizens Accountability Task Force a true financial ‘early warning system’ that shapes budget priorities before they are set, rather than just reviewing them later?”🔗 Read more: Palm Bay’s New Financial Watchdog: Can Citizens Really Hold Power?🔘 The “Resilience” Question“Is the request for departments to model 20% budget cuts part of a larger strategy for long-term financial resilience, and how will you use this data to protect essential services while eliminating waste?”🔗 Read more: Palm Bay Asks: What If We Cut 20%?🔘 The “Future-Proofing” Question“How will the new staffing study help create a master plan that ties police officer levels directly to our growth map, ensuring that public safety capacity expands before it becomes an emergency?”🔗 Read more: Can Impact Fees Fund Police? Palm Bay Explores New Revenue Path🔘 The “Dig Once” Question“As we enter the utility planning phase for Malabar Road, what is your strategy to ensure we ‘dig once’—coordinating drainage, utilities, and roadwork to minimize construction timelines and costs?”🔗 Read more: Malabar Road’s $80M Question: Can Palm Bay Avoid the “Dig Twice” Trap?Why These Questions MatterEach question represents a critical policy intersection where resident input shapes outcomes. The fire assessment determines whether new development subsidizes existing homeowners or vice versa. The Citizens Accountability Task Force tests whether participatory budgeting can move beyond rhetoric. The 20% budget modeling exercise could reveal structural inefficiencies or trigger service reductions. The police staffing study addresses whether impact fees can legally fund operations. The Malabar Road coordination challenge determines whether Palm Bay spends $80 million efficiently or wastefully.Together, these issues frame the central question facing Palm Bay in 2026: Can growth be managed proactively, or will the city remain reactive to crisis after crisis?What Happens NextThe Palm Bayer will publish poll results on February 24, along with Morton’s response to the winning question. Losing questions won’t go to waste. We’ll hold them for future reporting and public records requests.Vote now. Shape the conversation. Hold power accountable.Poll closes Monday, February 23 at 6:00 PM ET.Can’t attend the February 24 session? Submit questions directly to the City Manager’s office at [email protected] or call (321) 952-3400. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepalmbayer.com