The meeting was called to order on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Community Wing of City Hall by Mayor David Alfin.
Mayor Alfin led the Pledge of Allegiance and invited attendees to remain standing for a moment of silence to reflect, meditate, or pray.
Roll call was conducted by the City Clerk.
Mayor Alfin, Vice Mayor Danko, Council Member Klufas, and Council Member Pontieri were present.
Council Member Heighter was absent.
Two proclamations were presented.
The first designated July 2024 as Parks and Recreation Month, with Acting City Manager Johnston reading the proclamation and Parks and Recreation Director James Hurst acknowledging staff and announcing upcoming July events including a Patriotic Party in the Park, fireworks at the Flagler Airport, Food Truck Tuesdays, a BMX trickster show, and a Pedal in the Park ride.
The second designated July 2024 as Christmas Come True Month, recognizing the nonprofit's 15 years of service to Flagler County families in poverty; founder Nadine King thanked the council and announced a July 12th comedy dinner fundraiser at the Elks Club.
Public participation drew a large number of speakers, nearly all focused on short-term rental (STR) concerns in Palm Coast's residential neighborhoods, particularly the C-section canal areas.
Before opening public comment, City Attorney Duffy briefed the council on the city's legal options following Governor DeSantis's veto of a state short-term rental preemption bill, noting the city can now draft an ordinance provided it does not prohibit STRs or regulate their duration or frequency.
Council members expressed strong consensus to direct staff to draft an STR ordinance.
One speaker addressed field lighting at Ralph Carter Park, one raised concerns about the city's lobbying priorities and the Matanzas Loop Road appropriation, and one speaker — a representative of Smart Animal Rescue — requested council approval to place a Rainbow Bridge pet memorial at Holland Park.
The mayor closed public comment and the council formally directed staff to develop a proposed STR ordinance framework, with an August 13th workshop tentatively scheduled.
Speaker expressed strong support for Mayor Alfin, describing personal interactions in which the mayor showed up at a fire, during school threats, and visited the speaker in the hospital, pushing back against what the speaker characterized as political attacks in an election year.
Speaker, representing the Canal Community Coalition (approximately 60 households), raised concerns about short-term rentals operating without the same licensing, inspection, and regulatory requirements as other businesses, and expressed support for the council drafting an ordinance.
Speaker, a homeowner in Palm Coast since 2010, presented six proposed ordinance elements for short-term rental regulation including posting community rules in homes and on advertisements, additional code enforcement staffing funded by STR fees, periodic fire and safety inspections, an integrated violation tracking system across agencies, and a temporary moratorium on new STRs pending ordinance development.
Speaker also described personal experience with two adjacent STRs and ongoing code violations at 51 Christopher Court.
Speaker described living within half a mile of five short-term rentals and experiencing boat trailers, noise, and trash issues.
Speaker called for immediate code enforcement response (rather than 48-hour windows), 24/7 staffing, additional decibel meters at the Palm Coast sheriff's precinct, investigation of homesteaded properties being used as STRs, a short-term moratorium, and improved communication between code enforcement and the tax assessor.
Speaker expressed support for the short-term rental speakers and then raised a separate concern about city lobbying priorities, questioning why the Matanzas Loop Road extension received approximately $80 million in state funding while other needs such as drainage, roads, sheriff's facilities, recreation fields, and an aquatic center were not funded, and suggesting this came at a cost that may require a tax increase.
Speaker, a resident since 2004, described living adjacent to seven short-term rentals including two immediately bordering their property, detailing noise, lights, drug use, alcohol, garbage, multiple vehicles, and constant guest turnover.
Speaker expressed concern about property devaluation if they attempt to sell.
Speaker, a C-section resident, discussed short-term rental problems on their canal street including trespassing, trailer parking violations, noise, and guest misconduct.
Speaker suggested requiring all guests over 18 to register by name, allowing overtime for code enforcement during peak periods such as holidays, and having the sheriff patrol canals in addition to the Intracoastal.
Speaker, a Palm Coast resident for over 20 years, described how short-term rentals near their home have disrupted a backyard garden retreat with screaming, loud music, foul language, and late-night food delivery knocking at the wrong address.
Speaker expressed concern about property devaluation with five STRs within walking distance.
Speaker, a Palm Coast resident on Simaron Drive since 2005, described the concentration of five short-term rentals within less than half a mile on Simaron Drive and adjacent streets, including one immediately adjacent to their property.
Speaker raised quality-of-life concerns including noise from simultaneous parties, difficulty using outdoor spaces, and reluctance to call authorities due to concern about emergency responders being diverted from more serious incidents.
Speaker, director of Smart Animal Rescue, requested council approval to establish a Rainbow Bridge pet memorial project at Holland Park, describing the organization's work with abused and neglected animals in coordination with City Animal Control.
Speaker stated the rescue would cover all expenses, provide liability insurance, and ensure the memorial is wheelchair accessible, and noted she had sent emails to council with a contractor-drawn plan.
Speaker, a clinical psychologist who recently moved to Palm Coast, spoke on behalf of the Canal Community Coalition about the psychological impacts of short-term rental disruptions on residents, including stress, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness.
Speaker cited research on the importance of peaceful community living, noted that noise is amplified across canal water, raised anonymity concerns about not knowing who occupies STRs, and referenced Arizona law barring booking of registered sex offenders through property management platforms.
Speaker, a Claremont Court resident, described an experience attempting to resolve STR noise directly with the property owner, who told the speaker to soundproof their own home.
Speaker also shared that a recently deceased neighbor — a U.S.
Marine lieutenant colonel and two-tour Vietnam veteran who also served in Desert Storm — spent his final days being disturbed by STR noise.
Speaker called for licensing, noise ordinances, limits on party lighting, and regulation of guest numbers.
Speaker, a U.S.
History teacher and C-section resident, requested that the council consider the financial investments homeowners have made when crafting STR regulations, argued that STR owners and renters operate outside the ordinances that homeowners agreed to, and called for immediate significant economic sanctions on owners and management companies that violate regulations, with a portion of those funds returned to host communities.
Speaker described a personal account of a prospective buyer being deterred from purchasing a neighboring property due to active STR activity across the canal.
Speaker, a C-section resident since 2010 with an adjacent STR, described the next-door STR as mostly well-managed and recounted a specific incident where a renter came door-to-door to apologize for noise.
Speaker noted that 280,000 Florida real estate agents oppose STRs because they hurt home sales, and expressed support for a dedicated STR code enforcement unit.
Speaker also noted that Barcelona, Spain has passed an ordinance to phase out STRs by 2029.
Speaker, a native Floridian and 10-to-11-year Palm Coast resident on Clarendon Court South, described three STRs on their road, difficulties with code enforcement not maintaining records of reported complaints, and a boat trailer left on a property for days that code enforcement said was not technically in violation under the three-day rule.
Speaker supported a dedicated STR code enforcement unit funded by STR registration fees and described one owner in the neighborhood who holds multiple STR properties.
Speaker, a C-section resident, argued the city has ignored the STR issue until now and called for immediate action rather than waiting.
Speaker described receiving a code enforcement notice for swale parking at 4:22 AM on the same day a roofing permit was active for an $188,000 roof project, arguing code enforcement is targeting homeowners making improvements rather than STR operators.
Speaker also called for a fee structure where STR owners fund their own code enforcement.
Speaker, identified as a neighborhood watch leader and spokesperson for R-section residents for 13 years, disputed statements made by Parks and Recreation Director James Hurst at a June 4 presentation that field light modifications at Ralph Carter Park were complete and no longer shining into the R-section neighborhood.
Speaker alleged lights were turned off for an April 17 site visit with the mayor, that Hurst refused to turn them back on via his phone app, that a sports league operator acknowledged at the June 4 meeting that he uses Ralph Carter Park because he does not want to pay fees at other fields, and that the park has effectively been converted into a sports complex without regard for adjacent residents.
Speaker, a C-section resident who said she had not planned to speak, commented generally that community discussions around STRs have become very negative and suggested that residents try to frame their suggestions around Palm Coast's core community values rather than anger.
Minutes from the June 18, 2024 Business Meeting were approved unanimously on a motion by Vice Mayor Danko, seconded by Council Member Klufas.
Minutes from the June 25, 2024 Special Workshop were then approved unanimously on a separate motion by Vice Mayor Danko, seconded by Council Member Klufas.
The council considered Ordinance 2024-XX on first read, a proposed charter amendment to delete Article VI, Section 3E, which limits the council's contracting authority to agreements under $15 million or 36 months without a voter referendum — a provision unchanged since the city's 1999 charter.
Staff and bond counsel explained the provision hinders public-private partnerships, emergency response, and the ability to borrow against future non-ad valorem revenues such as impact fees.
After discussion about ballot language clarity, Council Member Pontieri moved to approve the ordinance with amended ballot language specifying 'provision 3E' and inserting the word 'fiscal' before 'Contracting Authority.' The motion passed unanimously 4-0, with the second reading scheduled for the July 16 business meeting to meet the August 5 deadline for transmittal to the Supervisor of Elections for the November general election ballot.
Staff and bond counsel presented Ordinance 2024-XX on first read, a proposed charter amendment to remove Article VI, Section 3E, which since 1999 has prohibited the city from entering into unfunded multi-year contracts exceeding $15 million or 36 months without a voter referendum.
Staff argued the provision constrains public-private partnerships, emergency responses, and the ability to borrow against future non-ad valorem revenues.
Bond counsel Helena confirmed the amendment would allow pledging non-ad valorem revenues such as impact fees as debt service, while ad valorem tax borrowing would still require a referendum.
One public speaker opposed the measure, arguing it removes an important financial safeguard.
After discussion on ballot language clarity, Council Member Pontieri moved to approve the ordinance with ballot language amended to reference 'provision 3E' specifically and to insert the word 'fiscal' before 'Contracting Authority.' The motion passed unanimously; the second reading is set for the July 16 business meeting to meet the August 5 deadline for transmittal to the Supervisor of Elections for the November ballot.
Speaker opposed the proposed charter amendment to remove the $15 million contracting limit, arguing the original charter language was deliberately placed as a safeguard against putting the city in debt, questioned what the new borrowing limit would be (characterizing it as unlimited), disputed whether impact fees can legally service debt, and suggested the amendment is intended to fund a large sports facility through a public-private partnership.
Speaker announced he would use personal campaign funds to oppose the measure at the ballot.
No resolutions were on the agenda; this section was skipped.
The consent agenda, comprising two items — a master price agreement with Wastewater Solutions, Inc. for variable speed turbine pumps (I.5) and a master price agreement with SPIRAC (USA), Inc. for a dewatered sludge shaftless spiral conveyor system (I.6) — was approved unanimously without discussion after no members of the public came forward to comment.
Resolution approving a master price agreement with Wastewater Solutions, Inc. for variable speed turbine pumps was included in the consent agenda, which was approved unanimously without separate discussion.
City Attorney Duffy announced a shade meeting on pending litigation scheduled for July 10 at 12:00 PM, with attendance by council, the city manager, relevant staff, and litigation attorney from Gray Robinson.
Council members offered brief closing remarks thanking the public for the productive meeting, wishing residents a safe Fourth of July, recognizing Employee of the Month Monica Diaz, and expressing support for the Rainbow Bridge pet memorial concept raised during public comment.
Council Member Pontieri asked staff to find an appropriate agenda slot for the Rainbow Bridge item.
Acting City Manager Johnston reminded council that city offices would be closed July 4th and 5th, noted that upcoming agendas would be lengthy due to the budget and comprehensive plan processes, and sought and received consensus to cancel the August 20 meeting (primary election day) and instead hold a special business meeting on August 27 to meet comprehensive plan obligations.
Vice Mayor Danko moved to adjourn; Council Member Pontieri seconded.
The meeting was adjourned.