St. Lucie West Builds on a Renewed Commitment to Service.

Published on January 06, 2026

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The St. Lucie West Services District (SLWSD), a Community Development District (CDD) overseeing St. Lucie West, is entering 2026 with confidence and a renewed focus on service, planning, and community care. This year, the District is shaping the years ahead by unveiling its first-ever extended Strategic Operations Plan. As part of a comprehensive brand refresh, the District recently introduced a new logo and website and established a Public Information Officer position. Looking ahead, the District will incorporate Reserve CDD and PGA Village residents into the St. Lucie West customer base, adding approximately 2,600 customers, while also finalizing construction of a second deep injection well as part of the ongoing Water Treatment Plant Redundancy Improvement Project. 

“These initiatives position St. Lucie West for the next five years and beyond,” said Joshua C. Miller, District Manager. “Our focus is not only on fiscal and operational responsibility, but also on sustainability in both areas. I believe that forms the core of our day-to-day decisions.”

SLWSD’s strategic efforts center on three core goals: enhancing service and communication with residents and customers, building a skilled and engaged workforce, and strengthening operational readiness. St. Lucie West is widely regarded as one of the top communities in Port St. Lucie. The well-planned neighborhood offers a mix of housing options and convenient access to shops, restaurants, and services along St. Lucie West Boulevard. It is also close to major roadways, including I‑95 and the Florida Turnpike. The community is largely comprised of property owners and homeowners associations, featuring both gated and non-gated areas that appeal to retirees and families alike. Its location near schools, shopping, recreation, and entertainment contributes to its popularity among Port St. Lucie residents and visitors. The City of Port St. Lucie is also investing in improvements along St. Lucie West Boulevard, which has experienced increased traffic in recent years due to the community’s growing popularity.

As a CDD, SLWSD provides locally controlled and funded utility and public works services, including water treatment, wastewater management, irrigation, stormwater management, and the care of natural preserves. Established under Florida law, a CDD is a local, special-purpose government created to plan, build, and maintain essential infrastructure for a defined community. All budget and operational decisions are made locally by a five-member elected Board of Supervisors, ensuring services are tailored to the community and that investments remain within St. Lucie West.

Building Identity and Improving Customer Services and Communication

SLWSD has historically faced challenges in clearly communicating its role, with some residents confusing its services with those of the City of Port St. Lucie utilities and public works. To address this, the District created a PIO position to strengthen its identity and improve communications.

“The first thing I noticed when I arrived at the District at the end of 2024 was that our messaging lacked consistency and that very little digital communication was being shared,” said Anderson Bomjardim, the District’s PIO. “These are core issues limiting brand awareness and identity. My priority is to address this over the next several years and ensure residents clearly understand who we are and what we do.”

In early 2025, SLWSD unveiled a new logo featuring its traditional green and brown colors, symbolizing the District’s preserves, stormwater management, and wastewater treatment, alongside the swallow-tailed kite, an iconic emblem long associated with St. Lucie West. The new logo also introduced a new blue color to represent water utilities. Later that year, the District launched a new website to provide clearer information about its services and streamline service requests. Fully digital forms allow residents to submit requests directly from mobile devices, and the site includes tools for sharing feedback, further enhancing communication and public engagement.

SLWSD is also improving internal records management to boost efficiency and organization. Centralized procedures allow staff to quickly access information and complete requests, while regular reviews ensure outdated or duplicate records are properly maintained or removed in compliance with Florida statutes. “These efforts reflect our commitment to transparent, responsive, and reliable operations that prioritize both resident needs and operational excellence,” Miller said.

Building a Skilled and Engaged Workforce

Behind the services provided to St. Lucie West residents is a team of professionals with extensive experience in public service. SLWSD is committed to developing and training its employees to maintain high standards of service excellence.

Developing and retaining a skilled, engaged workforce is a top priority in the District’s long-range strategic plan. Employees have access to relevant training and skill-building opportunities, along with clear paths for career growth and leadership development. Progress is measured through skill application, expanded responsibilities, participation in initiatives, and feedback confirming readiness for evolving technologies and changing community needs.

“Our workforce is our greatest asset,” Miller said. “By investing in training and recognizing achievements, we ensure our team remains confident, capable, and prepared to deliver exceptional service.”

SLWSD Board Chairman Dominick Graci added, “Our employees are the backbone of St. Lucie West. Recognizing their achievements and providing opportunities to grow ensures the District can continue delivering the high-quality services our residents expect and deserve. The Board is committed to making conservative budgetary and operational decisions that support the District’s healthy growth, and we also recognize that much of the work cannot be accomplished without a well-developed workforce.”

SLWSD also emphasizes employee recognition, wellness, and morale by aligning tasks with individual skills and strengths. Achievements are acknowledged through formal programs and manager recognition, while wellness initiatives encourage staff to take personal time off and maintain work-life balance. Regular evaluations and ongoing feedback ensure employees are successfully applying their abilities and growing in their roles. These efforts foster a motivated, engaged, and resilient team dedicated to serving the residents and businesses of St. Lucie West.

Strengthening Operational Readiness

SLWSD is advancing its long-term strategy to modernize essential infrastructure and respond to rapid population growth. Construction began in June 2025 on a second deep injection well as part of the Water Treatment Plant Redundancy Improvement Project. This project adds redundancy to the water treatment process, ensuring that if one system requires maintenance, repair, or unexpectedly goes offline, a backup system can instantly take over. These upgrades help prevent service interruptions and ensure residents continue to receive clean, safe water even as demand grows.

Additional upgrades to the Water Treatment Plant are in the design-criteria phase and will move into the Design-Build bidding process in spring 2026. The total investment is estimated at approximately $36 million and is a key factor in recent rate adjustments. The District is also preparing to incorporate the Reserve CDD, which includes PGA Village residents, into its utility system by 2027. The costs of this incorporation are not part of the District’s recent rate increases, so current residents will not pay for it. The Reserve CDD residents are covering the costs as their infrastructure must be upgraded to meet St. Lucie West standards before service can begin.

Beyond water treatment, the District maintains reliable wastewater, irrigation, stormwater systems, wetlands, preserves, and retention ponds. Critical monitoring systems, including Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Smart Water Meters, and Geographic Information System (GIS), provide real-time oversight of system performance. Routine maintenance, regular upgrades, and a continuous state of preparedness ensure the District can respond quickly during storms or emergencies. Together, these initiatives protect essential services, support sustainable growth, and safeguard the community’s water and utility infrastructure for the future.

Looking Ahead

SLWSD stands at a pivotal moment, guided by growth, innovation, and an updated vision of service, reliability, vigilance, and excellence. The District is committed to investing in its people, modernizing infrastructure, protecting the environment, and strengthening connections with residents and businesses while increasing its customer base to generate additional revenue and in turn help reduce future rate increases.

“This strategic plan positions us to serve the community with transparency and reliability while preparing for future growth,” Miller said. “Our mission is ongoing, and our vision is clear: to be a model Community Development District that sets the standard for excellence in public service.”

Access our Strategic Plan here.