Demand for a forensic audit of city finances by an outside firm; allegations of improper rezoning, misuse of the utility enterprise fund, a 30% add-on to contracted trash collection, and the city's reliance on an Orlando law firm with alleged conflicts of interest.
Caller for city employees to come forward as whistleblowers.
Concern about the capacity of the stormwater system as hurricane season peaks, noting standing water throughout the city, red-light PEP tank alarms indicating full tanks, and asking for a public statement on the system's excess capacity percentage.
Rising water bills and additional fees; a speeding vehicle observed in the C-section; and a comment to the mayor that council members should not have past criminal records.
Questions about the street improvement special revenue fund (gas tax fund): whether the $8 million in revenues reduces the $52 million repaving deficit, and whether Flagler County could increase the local option fuel tax from 6 cents to a higher rate to generate additional paving revenue.
Introduction of PACE Center for Girls of Volusia-Flagler, a free day program serving middle and high school girls with academic and counseling services; announced that transportation for Flagler County girls is now available year-round.
Request for a trash receptacle on Florida Park Drive near the Fern Canal; concern about vacant lot owners not paying for right-of-way maintenance while homesteaded residents bear the cost; high water bills for two elderly residents who do not water their lawn.
Thanks to Vice Mayor Danko; opposition to a proposed $25 million beltway from Matanzas to Palm Coast Parkway, arguing builders who benefit should fund it; road conditions including missing lane markings on Wellington Drive and repeated pothole repairs in the same locations; misappropriation of paving budget funds.
Ongoing code enforcement concerns: garbage pails stored visibly in front of garages, commercial vehicles parked on swales, lack of information for new residents about city restrictions, insufficient code enforcement staffing — alleged one officer per section going out only twice a month.
Economic hardship caused by inflation; concern that rising city fees and taxes may force elderly residents to sell their homes and prevent families from buying healthy food; questioned whether the city tracks how many residents are at financial risk from fee increases.
Invited council members to ride through his neighborhood to see road conditions firsthand; proposed council members each take one or two community problems, develop solutions, prioritize them, and report back — arguing visible progress would generate public support rather than complaints.
Advocacy for a backyard chicken pilot program ordinance; thanks to council members who met with advocates; discussion of benefits including therapy for veterans with PTSD, educational value for children, food independence, and organic pest control; pilot program was negotiated to 4-6 hens with code enforcement input.
Additional advocacy for backyard chicken ordinance; argued many families already keep chickens undetected; framed as a personal freedom and property rights issue; noted the proposed pilot limit of 20 families should be expanded periodically if successful.
Discussion of the historical significance of an 'Appeal to Heaven' flag commissioned by George Washington; called on council to reconsider allowing prayer at meetings; offered an on-the-spot prayer for the council and city.
Concerns about the Coquina Shores development and lack of archaeological study on the property; cited prehistoric sand dunes, items exhibited at Flagler Beach Historical Museum, historical land grant owners including Francisco Pedro Peducer, and questioned the buffer near a Masonic Cemetery and impacts on the Old Kings Road remnant.
Additional support for backyard chicken ordinance; emphasized desire for an independent food source for family amid economic uncertainty.
Additional advocacy for backyard chicken pilot program from a group called Party Foul; expressed anticipation of a yes vote at the upcoming August business meeting.
Advocacy for the backyard chicken pilot program on behalf of three local groups (Broncos Chicken Alliance, Palm Coast Backyard Chickens, Party Foul); quoted Rocky Balboa; thanked council for meeting with advocates; clarified the vote timeline, noting the mayor indicated the ordinance would go to a workshop before a business meeting vote.
Criticized the practice of scheduling votes on sensitive issues at daytime meetings (specifically citing the franchise fee vote and prior vehicle signage vote); expressed frustration with council voting patterns; raised a safety concern about the turn lane at Palm Coast Parkway and the hospital entrance not extending to Bridgehaven Road; opposition to multi-family housing development; support for forensic audit and more commercial development on the west side of town.
Opposition to development on the wetlands parcel at Palm Coast Parkway and Colbert Lane; stated the 4.4-acre site contains over 1,000 trees and three streams; argued remediation would be too costly and destructive; suggested the existing nearby fire station could be expanded instead.
Flooding and stormwater drainage damage in the W-section caused by a neighboring new home built two feet above the existing grade; lost five mature fruit trees and grapevines; concern that two additional homes to be built behind her property will worsen flooding; questioned city responsibility for changing elevation codes.
Prior attendance to advocate for prayer at meetings; cited 20 of 25 attendees at an earlier meeting supporting prayer but council rejecting the motion; called on council to make righteous decisions, referenced biblical scripture Proverbs 29:2; argued franchise fees and other tax increases violate conservative principles.
Support for storage space for small business owners operating vehicles and trailers; stated current storage costs exceed $600/month forcing small business owners to overcharge customers; alleged some council members are partners in storage facilities.
Referenced a Flagler Weekly article in which the mayor allegedly described frequent public meeting attendees as a 'loudmouth minority'; stated his social media posts draw on information from city staff and council sources; criticized the franchise fee process as being pushed without adequate public awareness; called for no utility franchise fee.
Called for a forensic audit; argued residents should not have to beg for basic rights including chickens in their yard or work vehicles in their driveways; accused city of 'legalized larceny' through fee increases; challenged city manager to find 10% budget cuts; praised council members who scrutinize the budget.
Confronted the mayor about an alleged social media post calling public meeting attendees a 'loudmouth minority'; reviewed the mayor's opposition in 2021 to increasing educational impact fees charged to builders while serving as president of the Ed Foundation; argued the mayor's past position was inconsistent with his prior education advocacy role.
Reported contacting the Florida Attorney General about how to request an operational audit; shared the AG's response citing Florida Statute 11.451 and the JLAC process; shared the Florida Commission on Ethics contact information; expressed concern about moving from New York expecting a better-governed community and finding similar issues.
Concern that the franchise fee effort having failed should lead to finding alternatives rather than trying a utility franchise fee; criticized lack of schools, pediatricians, teachers, and street lights for the volume of new homes and children being brought in; described her street as a drag racing zone with speeding vehicles.
Asked how the city can require new franchise fees and additional costs given increased tax revenues from new construction, rising property values, multi-family development, and impact fees already collected.
Argued the FPL franchise fee likely violates the U.S.
Commerce Clause as a discriminatory monopolistic burden; warned it disincentivizes energy efficiency since lower consumption means lower franchise revenue; advocated for allowing residents to choose their power suppliers through free market competition.
Council Member Pontieri reported that FPL declined to agree to the condition attached to the prior motion — that any future franchise fee rate changes be subject to a non-binding public referendum — so the motion was formally withdrawn.
Pontieri provided a detailed explanation of the 80/20 commercial-to-residential revenue split that made the franchise fee attractive versus millage collection.
Vice Mayor Danko moved that any future attempt to enter into an electrical franchise fee agreement must first go to a public referendum, council reached consensus, and the city attorney was directed to bring back an ordinance to that effect.
Three candidates — Daniel Hackney (11-year firefighter and union vice president with pension plan experience), Donna Stancil (retired Federal Reserve programmer/analyst and business professional, new resident), and incumbent Robert McDonald (board vice chairman with two years of service) — each presented to council.
By secret ballot, Hackney received three votes to McDonald's two and was appointed to the Volunteer Firefighter Pension Board.
Council held the second reading of the ordinance establishing the Coquina Shores Community Development District.
Staff noted no changes since first reading and clarified the project was downzoned from 2,411 to approximately 750 units.
Two public speakers raised concerns about archaeological resources, the Old Kings Road remnant on the property, and the buffer near a historic Masonic Cemetery; staff addressed each and the city manager committed to follow-up with concerned residents.
Council approved the ordinance unanimously.
Council heard the first reading of an ordinance annexing about 330.8 acres south of Flagler County Airport for the Cascades (application 5108), requested by Byrndog PCP, LLC.
Senior Planner Phong Nguyen said the land meets the statutory tests for voluntary annexation, and that city ordinances and a settlement agreement require land in the city's utility service area to annex before it can receive city utilities.
Council Member Pontieri asked whether annexation is required when utilities are requested and whether the owner could instead pay the outside-city surcharge; staff said the settlement agreement and ordinances do not allow that, and she said "the wiggle room is very small." Resident Celia Pugliese asked about utility capacity and raised flight-school noise near the airport; resident Steve Carr asked what annexation would cost the city, and Ray Tyner said infrastructure is at the developer's cost.
Mayor Alfin got consensus for staff to ask the county about changes in airport use.
The first reading passed on a voice vote.
During I.7 public comment: expressed support for the Cascades annexation but raised concern about utility system capacity to serve both Coquina Shores and the new 330-acre annexation; expressed specific concern about proximity to the Flagler County Airport and the noise nuisance from flight school touch-and-go traffic affecting Quail Hollow and Seminole Woods residents; called for the city to create an oversight committee for airport noise complaints.
During I.7 public comment: asked how much the annexation process costs the city including legal, survey, zoning, and planning expenses.
Council approved a resolution authorizing a contract with Diamond Communications, LLC for management of the Ralph Carter Park cell tower, intended to facilitate co-location of carriers to improve cell phone coverage.
The Palm Coast Flagler Regional Chamber president spoke in support, calling it a meaningful step toward addressing the county's poor cell signal infrastructure.
During K consent agenda public comment: praised the cell tower management contract as an important step toward improving Flagler County's poor cell phone coverage, noting the chamber considers it a safety and business infrastructure issue; credited city staff with identifying the co-location opportunity.
During L public comment: clarified the Flagler homebuilders association's role in the 2021 educational impact fee process; stated the association presented facts and data from the school board itself and that the city was not involved until the interlocal agreement stage; defended the association's advocacy as opposing government overreach rather than opposing education.
During L public comment: invited the council and public to an International Overdose Awareness Day event on August 31 — a walk from Wadsworth Park over the bridge to Flagler Beach followed by a ceremony at Veterans Park; cited statistics that Flagler County ranks between 5th and 10th highest in overdose deaths among Florida's 67 counties and over 90% occur in Palm Coast.
During L public comment: thanked Council Member Klufas for his educational comments during the meeting; praised Matanzas Woods Parkway repaving; suggested the city pursue state or federal grants to fund road infrastructure repair; challenged council to build road maintenance into the annual budget.
During L public comment: described attending meetings to understand how city government works; noted the city received state and DOT funding for Matanzas Woods Parkway, White View, and Old Kings Road widening; expressed support for law enforcement and First Responders; cited specific budget figures showing 13-14% annual increases in the sheriff's contract approaching $7.4 million.
During L public comment: reported Flagler County unemployment rose from 3.3% to 3.6% but nearly 500 more people were employed than the prior month, eclipsing 51,000 employed residents; announced a Business Connections Expo at Daytona State College on September 15; praised Matanzas Woods Parkway repaving; agreed with the homebuilders association executive on the impact fee issue.
During H.6 public comment: expressed general support for CDDs like Coquina Shores but raised concern about road access and traffic capacity for surrounding roads as new development adds thousands of homes; asked where impact fees go if roads are not being widened.
During H.6 public comment: asked three specific questions about the Coquina Shores site — what archaeological study has been done, what happens to the Old Kings Road remnant on the property, and how large a buffer will be provided next to the Masonic Cemetery.