Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Britney McDermit and Community Recreation Supervisor Gina Calano presented plans for the city's 25th anniversary celebration, a free festival at Central Park on October 26, 2024 from 4–8 p.m. featuring food trucks, a kids' zone, a live band, themed displays, a time capsule ceremony, and a birthday cake.
Mayor Alfin challenged public officials to volunteer for a dunk tank and issued a challenge to break prior event attendance records.
Developer clear-cutting all trees in the buffer zone along Seminole Woods Road that was promised as part of the agreement to build single-family homes instead of apartments; speaker asked the city to investigate permits and require the buffer to be restored.
City tax millage rate discussion; speaker proposed a compromise millage rate of 4.1078 between the rollback rate proposed by Vice Mayor Danko and the staff-proposed rate, and identified city departments with over-20% budget increases that should be reduced.
Reiterated concern about tree clearing in Seminole Woods buffer zone; also raised that political campaign signs were being stolen before the 15-day post-election removal deadline.
Traffic management problems caused by the Pine Lakes road repaving contractor, who was routing vehicles in confusing loops; police received multiple calls about near-accidents and the speaker asked the city to direct the contractor on proper traffic control.
City charged a fee to place Childhood Cancer Awareness (Flagler Warriors) signs in city parks; speaker demanded to know who made that decision and expressed strong objection given that the organization donates all proceeds to Live Like Cameron and other children's cancer causes.
District 4 vacancy appointment process; asked for review of whether option two — placing the appointment on the November 22 council meeting after the general election — falls within the 90-day statutory window, which would allow the newly elected council to make the selection.
Road striping on Wide View Parkway is faded and difficult to see at night; cited as a safety hazard and contrasted it with the city's social media post about a golf course bridge, asking the council to reconsider priorities.
Charter amendment on the November ballot removing the $15 million cap and 36-month repayment limit; asked council to remove it, warning that eliminating section 3E leaves borrowing authority open-ended and removes the public's right to vote on bonds.
Read the current charter language of section 3E and the proposed ballot language side by side, arguing the proposed language eliminates the $15 million cap, the 36-month repayment limit, and the public's right to vote.
Directed criticism at Councilwoman Pontieri for her involvement in drafting the language.
Charter bond amendment language; said it was unclear and confusing, that long-term bonds would outlast current council members' terms, and asked Councilwoman Pontieri to rewrite the language before it goes to ballot.
Also warned that once a tax is added it is never removed.
Requested the charter bond amendment be removed from the ballot entirely as it is confusing and was drafted by a council mostly leaving office.
Also raised ongoing airplane noise from Flagler Executive Airport flight schools affecting residents' quality of life, health, and property values.
District 4 vacancy and bond charter amendment; argued that too much damage could be done before the end of current terms, that the bond language was intentionally misleading, and that large decisions including western expansion and multi-family housing should not be voted on by the lame-duck council.
Loss of senior swimming access after the school district took over Bel-Air Swim and Racket Club, reducing available pools from three to one; asked the city to do more for swimmers, particularly seniors.
Echoed concerns about Bel-Air pool closure affecting nearly 1,700 members including elderly and disabled residents; also raised Flagler Executive Airport noise and touch-and-go flight school operations affecting Quail Hollow and Seminole Woods residents; asked for the bond referendum to be pulled or for any appointment to District 4 to be only until a March special election.
Thanked outgoing Councilwoman Heider for her service; expressed disappointment that the council dismissed a special election option for District 4; encouraged public participation in the appointment process and quoted Thomas Jefferson on majority participation in government.
Western expansion and city plans; referenced a conversation with city staff about recentering the city along US1 as a rationale for westward expansion; asked for transparency about what is actually planned for the western area.
Charter bond language; characterized the wording as intentionally confusing and possibly illegal; also asked how much the 25th anniversary event will cost.
Charter bond amendment; said the bond thing needs to be passed on to the new council; acknowledged the need for infrastructure funding but said the current language is scaring residents unnecessarily.
Bond referendum motion; asked what the existing bonding authority actually is and why the city needs more, expressing that existing infrastructure needs like water and roads should come first and that the sports complex should be dropped.
Bond referendum motion; questioned the council's finances saying it was heavy during salary increase discussions but now they want to borrow; asked whether the council had been truthful about the city's finances.
Bond referendum motion; asked council to pass the issue to the new council and let them rewrite the language; acknowledged the need for infrastructure like water treatment capacity.
Bond referendum motion; argued the current council should not be making this decision days before leaving office, citing the Bings Landing precedent of a lame-duck commission creating lasting damage.
Asked the remaining council members not to 'stick us with another Bings Landing.'
Bond referendum motion; said the language was appalling and misleading; argued procurement and city spending priorities need reform; criticized communications staff and overpaid underqualified employees.
Bond referendum motion; questioned what part of being voted out the council does not understand; raised the Enterprise Fund history of funds being moved improperly and said the council is in a bad situation that cannot be fixed by this action.
Bond referendum motion; asked how council members' pensions work and suggested limiting pensions to the years actually worked as a cost-saving measure.
Bond referendum motion; said they had no additional arguments to add but asked for clarification on what a super-majority means in terms of vote count.
Bond referendum motion; suggested that if the bond language is pulled from the ballot, councilwoman Pontieri's proposed new language be kept on record so the next council can build on it rather than starting over; agreed on infrastructure need but not a sports stadium.
Bond referendum motion; asked whether the utility Enterprise Fund can obtain its own bonds independently, suggesting that might address some of the infrastructure concerns without a charter change.
Bond referendum motion; asked what is happening with the Quail Hollow airport noise plan that Councilwoman Pontieri mentioned earlier, but was redirected by the mayor to address only the motion.
Bond referendum motion; said the proposed language is still confusing and that removing the provision would be cleaner than adding a resolution; accused the council of trying to 'song and dance' around the same content in a different wrapper.
Old Bel Road; church construction brought tractor-trailers and school buses parking on the grass easement, destroying the turf and leaving the area unmowed; asked for more enforcement presence and better no-parking signage in the area.
City employees; gave positive shout-outs to Sandy Gromberg and Aaron Rimestad for a Flagler Tiger Bay wine event at the community center, and to traffic control officers Matthew Johnson, Derek Conlin, Daniel Caulkins, Steven Costello, and Mark Nardone for the concert in the park; announced a Flagler Tiger Bay candidate forum on September 25 at the community center.
Staff presented a first reading of a proposed short-term vacation rental (STR) ordinance creating a licensing and regulatory framework including occupancy limits, safety requirements, parking rules, solid waste standards, and enforcement procedures.
Council provided policy direction — settling on a maximum occupancy of 10, fees to be benchmarked against comparable cities, recreational trailer exclusions consistent with existing code, and expanded responsible-party designations — and then voted unanimously to table the ordinance until after a September 24 workshop.
Public comment drew both STR operators, who raised concerns about over-regulation and background check practicality, and neighboring residents, who pressed for stricter enforcement, lower occupancy caps, and dedicated code enforcement resources.
Staff presented the 2050 Comprehensive Plan text and map series for first reading transmittal to the state.
Councilwoman Pontieri delivered extended remarks revealing that the current Neoga Lakes DRI — which the western expansion landowner intends to replace with a new MPD — requires the developer to build roads (including the Palm Coast Parkway extension/loop road), a junior Olympic pool, and other infrastructure that instead has been funded with $105 million in state appropriations.
She said she would not vote to adopt the new MPD unless the developer provides comparable infrastructure commitments.
Vice Mayor Danko voted no as an additional warning shot; the motion to transmit passed 3-1.
STR ordinance; raised the existing code provision allowing recreational vehicles to park for up to three days in any consecutive seven; argued for a dedicated code enforcement officer for the roughly 275 STR units funded by registration fees; raised concerns about complainants' identities being exposed under Florida law.
STR ordinance; asked why short-term rental is not defined in the ordinance; argued that hardwired emergency lighting requires full rewiring of a home and is unnecessarily burdensome; questioned why the ordinance is being rushed through in three weeks.
STR ordinance; argued there is no need to rush; said decisions were not made this morning and noted the lame-duck nature of the council; questioned who will pay for inspections and whether this makes rental homes into regulated businesses subject to building and fire code inspections.
STR ordinance; identified as an Airbnb operator with a 4.9 rating and super-host status for nine years; said the ordinance affects their livelihood and raised concerns about the two-per-room limit when families bring children who sleep in the same room as parents.
STR ordinance; said as a 10-year super host, the legitimate concerns raised online are about absentee out-of-state corporate owners, not owner-occupied or locally managed rentals; asked for different rules for local homeowners versus out-of-state investors; said Airbnb already performs background checks; raised that Bike Week guests bring motorcycle trailers that should be allowed.
STR ordinance; as a local Airbnb host, raised the same background-check and occupancy concerns; said Airbnb does not provide guest personal information (driver's license, SSN) to hosts, making independent background checks impossible; also said families with children should not be forced to separate in different rooms.
STR ordinance; spoke in support of the ordinance as a neighbor affected by absentee-owned rentals; said occupancy of 10 is reasonable and cited weekly trash overload and multiple trailers as chronic problems; suggested registration fees should be $1,000 initial and $500 annual to cover enforcement costs.
STR ordinance; said the issues are most acute with absentee investors; asked if there is a way to set a cap per street or square mile and whether the city could implement a permit fee for trailers in driveways to generate enforcement funding.
STR ordinance; pointed to the sign on Palm Coast's entrance that prohibits commercial trailers, boats, and RVs in residential areas; said vacation renters should not be allowed to park what residents cannot; suggested a fee to park trailers in a driveway as a possible solution.
STR ordinance; as a C-section resident, spoke in support of excluding owner-occupied properties from the full ordinance requirements; advocated for sleeping-room-based occupancy definition; said a 24/7 hotline is critical so complaints can be handled immediately without police involvement; also called for background checks on all adults over 18.
STR ordinance; thanked the council and staff for working on the issue; said three of four nearby STRs in the C-section have been a nightmare with multiple boats, noise, and property damage; commended the council for creating hope for residents; asked that fees be sufficient to cover enforcement.
STR ordinance; as a C-section resident, raised issues with multiple boats tied to canal-adjacent STRs, FWC regulation violations, and asked that fines have enough teeth to allow suspension of certification between annual renewals.
STR ordinance; asked for the definition of a home versus a business and supported requiring exit signs and emergency lighting as business safety requirements; said owner-occupants should be treated differently.
STR ordinance; said there is one STR on a short residential street and two more houses about to go for sale; expressed fear of becoming surrounded by short-term rentals; supported regulations but noted that 10–12 people across three neighboring STRs means 36 people and many vehicles.
STR ordinance; neighbor to an Airbnb with five cars and garbage blocking her driveway; asked for something to be done.
STR ordinance; moved to Palm Coast in 2018 because of what it was; lives behind an absentee-owned canal STR with multiple boats causing damage; supports trailer elimination and suggested fees be self-funding for enforcement.
STR ordinance; said there is a fine line between enough and too much regulation; objected to weekly monitoring requirements as invasive; asked whether garage parking should count; supported allowing driveway parking up to driveway capacity; raised concern about background checks for international renters.
STR ordinance; as a property rights advocate and candidate, sympathized with compliant STR operators; said the number-one resident issues are noise, too many cars, and parties; asked about violation thresholds for permit revocation and fee research; also suggested marketing city tourism opportunities through STRs.
STR ordinance; asked for consideration of density — nearly five STRs within three doors of her home — and said the C-section has unique problems with clusters of rentals operating like class reunions with 36 or more guests across neighboring properties.
Comprehensive plan transmittal; spoke as a Quail Hollow resident about airport noise management and urged that the comp plan's transportation element be strengthened to protect residents rather than support aviation growth; cited policy 2.1.8.1 supporting jet aircraft capability expansion as concerning; said over 4,400 complaints have been filed on the noise portal with no remedy.
Comprehensive plan transmittal; said she spent her weekend reading the 204-page comp plan and found it reads as if scripted by developers; quoted the airport transportation policy and expressed alarm at the language supporting jet aircraft capability expansion; said she measures over 65 dB from aircraft in her yard five miles from the airport; asked council not to transmit the plan.
Comprehensive plan transmittal; said she had not read the full documents but thanked Councilwoman Pontieri for finding the red flag in the DRI obligations; asked where the documents can be found online; supported slowing down rather than pushing forward.
Comprehensive plan transmittal; said hell is about to freeze over because he agrees with Vice Mayor Danko; asked why staff did not catch the DRI obligation oversight given it is their job; called western expansion with zero planning on taxpayer backs 'reckless and irresponsible'; asked council to delay and redo the comp plan from scratch.
Comprehensive plan transmittal; thanked Councilwoman Pontieri for her dedication in reading the DRI; expressed serious doubts about the comp plan's hidden provisions and questioned whether transmitting to a developer-friendly state agency could obligate the city; reiterated concerns about airport noise from flight schools that began worsening after $69 million in FAA funding in 2018.
Comprehensive plan transmittal; questioned whether the city has any enforceable mechanism to measure and enforce decibel-level noise violations, arguing that rules without enforcement mechanisms are meaningless; urged council to keep the comp plan in Palm Coast and work on it more before sending it to the state.
Comprehensive plan transmittal; said she was appalled at what she learned about the DRI obligations; noted that her and her husband's participation in the comp plan engagement process did not reflect support for western expansion; expressed frustration that basic city needs — water, police, fire, code enforcement — are unmet while growth continues.
Staff presented a resolution certifying the 2024 primary election results in accordance with the city charter.
There was no discussion.
The motion to approve was made by Vice Mayor Danko, seconded by Councilwoman Pontieri, and passed unanimously.
Staff presented the annual Old Kings Road Special Assessment Roll for approval and transmission to the Flagler County Tax Collector.
The assessment, first levied in 2013, repays phase-one road improvement costs and runs through 2043.
One public speaker raised concerns about the Enterprise Fund origins of the initial $6 million.
The motion passed unanimously.
Staff presented the Final Nuisance Abatement Assessment resolution for approximately $115,590 remaining after some property owners paid their bills following the initial July 16 assessment.
The remainder will be placed on the tax roll.
Councilwoman Pontieri moved, Vice Mayor Danko seconded, and the resolution passed unanimously.
Staff presented the 2024 FIND Grant for the Intracoastal Waterway Cleanup before other D-section items; FIND Commissioner Randy Stapleford presented a $5,000 check, noting the 17-year partnership totaling $85,000.
The cleanup event is set for September 21 at 8 a.m. at the Community Center.
A formal vote accepting the grant was taken later in the meeting and passed unanimously.
Staff presented a construction contract for the Old Kings Road Force Main Improvements project — a 1.7-mile, 24-inch trunk line mostly installed via horizontal directional drill, costing approximately $5.2 million (partially funded by $2.5 million in ARPA funds).
The project will improve pumping capacity at three master pump stations.
One public speaker asked about the funding source; staff explained the ARPA and capital funding mix.
The motion passed unanimously.
Old Kings Road Special Assessment Roll; noted the $6 million for Old Kings Road originally came from the sewer and water Enterprise Fund around 2010 and described how those funds have compounded in lost value over the 30-year repayment term.
Old Kings Road Force Main construction contract; asked about the total cost and funding source for the project.
Consent item — Master Services Agreement with Palmetto Electric, Inc. for citywide electrical installation and repair services.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
Consent item — Master Services Agreement with TRP Construction Group, LLC for roadway striping maintenance services on an as-needed basis.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
Consent item — Contract with Blackwater Construction Services for the City Hall Data Center Project.
Councilwoman Pontieri noted before the vote that procurement staff deserved credit for going back and obtaining a more complete and protective contract after an earlier version was found lacking.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
Consent agenda; asked that all government contracts continue to go through at minimum three competitive bids to ensure the best use of taxpayer money.
Second public comment period; challenged the validity of the earlier 2-2 vote on the bond amendment removal motion, arguing that the city charter's 'in attendance' language means Councilman Klufas's virtual vote should not count, making the result 2-1 against the motion rather than a tie.