Major Legal Victory for Everglades Restoration
The City of Stuart is celebrating a major legal victory for Everglades restoration, as the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' approval of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area Project. This ruling, which rejects the sugar industry’s attempts to delay the project, ensures that the reservoir will store and clean excess water from Lake Okeechobee, sending it south to the Everglades and Florida Bay. This means reduced harmful discharges to local estuaries like the St. Lucie River, ultimately protecting our ecosystems, coastal communities, and economies from damaging algal blooms.
"The EAA Reservoir is a critical step in addressing the environmental challenges facing the Everglades, and this decision supports the City of Stuart's ongoing commitment to protecting our environment and resources. With this ruling, the project will move forward as planned, fulfilling its intended purpose of restoring essential water flows to the Everglades and safeguarding Florida's coastal communities for generations to come. The court’s decision reaffirms that Everglades restoration remains a priority, providing a positive outlook for the future of our region," stated City Manager Michael J. Mortell.
More Good News -- Lake Discharges to Stop
Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie River will stop on Saturday, March 29. Ending discharges will help improve the river's water quality, reduce the possibility of algal blooms, and benefit seagrass, oysters and marine life, including fish, manatees and other wildlife that rely on healthy estuarine conditions.
Since discharges began in early December, nearly 84 billion gallons of water from Lake Okeechobee have been released into the St. Lucie River. Releases lowered the lake level from 16 feet to 12.72 feet as of this week.
At this week's Rivers Coalition meeting, Col. Brandon Bowman from the Army Corps expressed the winter discharges could mean no summer discharges, or less voluminous ones, unless summer rains, tropical storms and hurricanes bring more water than expected. |
|
|
|
|
|
Stuart Police Department
❝Citizens Policy Academy: Week Six❞
The Fur-ensic Files: K-9s in Action
This week, Citizen’s Police Academy participants had a paws-itively exciting session with K-9 Officer Hall, Officer Heitfeld, and Sergeant Bovee, along with their skilled four-legged partners Bak, Jery, and Bady.
K-9 Jery wowed the crowd with his tracking skills, sniffing out bolts planted for the exercise with pinpoint precision. K-9 Bak took the challenge up a notch, successfully tracking a "hidden suspect" before demonstrating how K-9s are trained to grab and hold during an apprehension.
Keeping these canine crimefighters safe is a top priority, especially in Florida’s heat. Officers shared life-saving vehicle safety measures, including specialized cooling systems and remote door releases, which allow handlers to deploy their K-9 partners in an instant.
Not to be outdone, retired K-9 Bady joined the group for a meet-and-greet, proving that even in retirement, he’s still got the moves!
Tasers, Tools of the Trade & Special Response
The action continued with Corporal Martin, who gave participants a hands-on look at the tools officers rely on in the field. From tasers and stop sticks to ballistic shields, vests, and helmets, attendees got a firsthand feel for the gear that helps keep officers safe. They even witnessed a taser demonstration, learning when and why these devices are deployed.
Officer Briglia, a dedicated member of the department’s Special Response Team (SRT)—sometimes known as SWAT—gave a behind-the-scenes tour of the SRT vehicle. He broke down the team’s various roles, skill sets, and specialized equipment, giving attendees a deeper understanding of how officers train for high-risk situations.
What’s Next?
Next week, participants will tackle active shooter response training, get an insider’s look at police dispatch, and celebrate their graduation from the Academy!
Want to be part of next year’s class? Applications for the 2026 Citizens Police Academy open soon! Contact Corporal Amy Duran at (772) 287-1122 to learn more. |
|
|
|
|
|
❝Department Hosts Exclusive Jiu-Jitsu Training Event❞
This week, the Stuart Police Department hosted a specialized Jiu-Jitsu training event at the Flagler Center, bringing together local and out-of-state officers for expert instruction. The training focused on de-escalation techniques that help reduce the need for force while improving officer and public safety.
By refining these skills, officers can approach conflicts with greater confidence and control, strengthening trust within the communities they serve. This event provided a valuable opportunity for law enforcement to adopt modern, effective strategies for safer policing. |
|
|
|
Jiu-Jitsu Training at The Flagler Center. City Manager Michael Mortell was a good sport and experienced a de-escalation hold first-hand. (Right column, center photo.) |
|
|
|
Backyard Composting:
Easy as 1-2-3!
Did you know that City of Stuart residents can earn a FREE compost tumbler when they sign up and attend a 60-minute composting workshop?
Trash to treasure.... compost your veggie and yard scraps and apply the compost to your lawn or garden to enrich the soil with nutrients, which (1) reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides (2) significantly cuts down on the amount of trash in a landfill and (3) reduces the costs and carbon emissions it takes to haul and process those materials.
The next Backyard Composting workshop will be held April 22, 2025, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m., and it's a "lunch and learn." To pre-register for this program and for workshop locations contact Anne Hawkins, Program Manager at (772) 600-1206 or by email AEllig@ci.stuart.fl.us. |
|
|
|
|
|
City Awarded Excellence in Budgeting Award
The Government Finance Officers Association has awarded the City of Stuart the GFOA Excellence in Budgeting award for the city's 2025 budget.
GFOA's Awards for Excellence in Government Finance recognize innovative programs - contributions to the practice of government finance that exemplify outstanding financial management. The awards stress practical, documented work that offers leadership to the profession and promotes improved public finance.
A panel of experienced government finance professionals and GFOA staff review budgets and judge on the following evaluation criteria:
- local significance/value
- originality
- implementation
- overall contribution to the government finance profession.
Awards for Excellence winners showcase work that goes above and beyond in terms of overcoming challenges, implementing best practices, and developing innovative solutions to improve the state of public financial management. Additionally, they clearly document all the benefits the submission provides to the organization, its financial management outcomes, and overall long term-fiscal sustainability.
Please join us in congratulating our Finance Director Louis J. Boglioli and his team for this prestigious recognition! |
|
|
|
Recognizing Our Workforce: A Special Week of Gratitude Ahead
The City of Stuart is gearing up to celebrate our incredible team April 7-11, 2025, and we invite our residents, businesses and visitors to help us shine a spotlight on those employees who may have made a difference for you.
How? Visit one of the City's "Kudos Corner" and drop a compliment card into the Kudos Box! Blank cards will be available for you at one of the following locations beginning, Monday, April 7:
10th Street Community Center
724 S.E. 10th Street
City Hall
121 S.W. Flagler Avenue
City Annex
101 S.W. Flagler Avenue
Public Safety Building
830 S.E. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Public Works Administration
916 S.E. 10th Street
Wells Fargo, 2nd Floor
201 S.E. Ocean Blvd.
Thank you in advance for adding to the celebration.
Questions? Please reach out to Roz Strong, Human Resources Director, (772) 283-5107 or rjohnson@ci.stuart.fl.us. |
|
|
|
|
|
Traffic Advisories & Alerts
(1) Intermittent lane shifts/closures, detours, S.E. Lonita Street and S.E. Casa Avenue from S.E. Isla Street February 10th, 2025 - July 25, 2025, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the installation of new drainage infrastructure.
(2) Intermittent lane shifts/closures, S.W. Dyer Drive from S.W. Manor and S.W. Palm City Road, February 10, 2025 - July 25, 2025, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the installation of new drainage infrastructure. |
|
|
|
|
|
FDOT US 1 Project Virtual Public Meeting & In-Person Construction Open House
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will host a Virtual Public Meeting on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, regarding the upcoming State Road (SR) 5/US 1 Resurfacing, Restoration, and Rehabilitation (RRR) Project from north of Southeast Fischer Street to north of Southeast Decker Avenue in the City of Stuart, Martin County.
A brief presentation will be held at both 5:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. to review the scope of work and construction schedule. Immediately following, questions and comments may be submitted via the 'question feature' for the project team to address directly.
Presentation and Questions & Answers:
• 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The In-Person Construction Open House will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce, First Floor Conference Room, located at 1650 South Kanner Highway, Stuart, FL 34994. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Samantha Kayser at 772-579-5479.
The project will begin in April 2025. The project improvements consist of milling and resurfacing the existing roadway within the project limits to enhance safety and long-term resiliency, widening the bicycle lane by restriping it from 4 feet to 5 feet to increase safety, constructing 25 new light poles with LED fixtures at signalized intersections to boost nighttime visibility, reconstructing existing sidewalk curb ramps throughout the project limits to enhance safety and connectivity for pedestrians, upgrading existing pedestrian signals at signalized intersections to improve push button accessibility, and upgrading signage and pavement markings to enhance safety, functionality, and traffic operations.
Register for the Virtual Public Meeting HERE. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| City of Stuart Commission meetings, conducted in the City Hall Chambers, are streamed live. (View HERE). City Hall Chambers are open to the public during the meetings. |
|
|
|
(L-R): City Manager Michael Mortell, City Clerk Mary Kindel, Vice Mayor Christopher Collins, Commissioner Eula Clarke, Mayor Campbell Rich, Commissioner Laura Giobbi, Commissioner Sean Reed, City Attorney Lee Baggett. |
|
|
|
|
|
Future City of Stuart Meetings
Community Redevelopment Board
Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
Local Planning Agency / Planning Advisory Board
Thursday, April 10, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
City Commission Meeting
Monday, April 14, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
Magistrate Hearing
Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
Joint Community Redevelopment Agency / Community Redevelopment Board / City Commission Meeting
Monday, April 28, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
City Commission Meeting
Monday, April 28, 2025, 5:30 p.m. |
|
|
|
Calendar of Events
Market on Main
Every Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Flagler Park, 201 SW Flagler Avenue
Produced by Stuart Main Street
More Information: (772) 286-2848
Rock'n Riverwalk
Every Sunday, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Riverwalk Stage, 300 St. Lucie Avenue
Produced by Stuart Main Street and DBA
More information: (772) 286-2848 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
