Minutes of the May 4, 2026 Special Workshop, May 5, 2026 Business Meeting, and May 12, 2026 Workshop Meeting were presented with no corrections and approved unanimously.
Resolution approving Facility Use Agreement with Palm Coast Baseball, LLC was included in the consent agenda approved unanimously. Vice Mayor Pontieri noted that conflicts with Palm Coast Little League regarding the wooden bat league had been resolved.
Council pulled this item to allow traffic engineer Michael Hansen (Planning Manager Fong) to answer questions. The city is acquiring a 12-foot-wide, approximately 862-foot-long strip of right-of-way on the west side of Bellair Boulevard south of SR-100 from JRB-PC LLC for up to $410,000 in roadway impact fee credits (not cash), to enable a future additional southbound receiving lane. The developer is concurrently required to construct turn lanes for its project. Council expressed concern that the city was in a time-pressured negotiation and directed staff to engage earlier in future development cycles. Approved unanimously after separate discussion.
Resolution approving a drainage easement from Flagler County School District was included in the consent agenda approved unanimously. No separate discussion was recorded.
Resolution approving a budget amendment for the 2025-2026 budget relating to Fleet Management Fund appropriations was included in the consent agenda approved unanimously. A public commenter raised concerns about fleet spending levels in recent years.
Resolution approving piggybacking Florida Sheriff's Association Contract #FSA23-EQU21.1 with Ring Power for purchase of a pontoon excavator for stormwater operations was included in the consent agenda approved unanimously.
Resolution approving $100,000 in additional contingency funds for the Pine Grove Waterway Dredging Project was discussed at length. The project is approximately 50% complete on a $1.4M contract and has encountered unexpected unsuitable soils (silty, mucky material) along the canal bank, requiring extra removal work beyond what was bid. Deputy Director Lynn Stevens and engineer Carlos Dominguez explained that soil testing did not reveal the full extent of bank unsuitables; the amount was negotiated down from what the contractor originally sought. Vice Mayor Pontieri expressed concern about the overrun size relative to the contract and urged staff to hold the contractor to the approved amount. Included in the consent agenda and approved unanimously.
Resolution approving a TDC Capital Project Funding Program Agreement with Flagler County for Indian Trails Sports Complex field lighting (fields 6–8) was included in the consent agenda. Vice Mayor Pontieri highlighted this as a significant community benefit, noting lights will be installed by end of August, enabling later games and larger tournaments.
Resolution approving a work order and expenses for Indian Trails Sports Complex field lighting for fields 6–8 was approved as part of the consent agenda.
Resolution approving the Fiscal Sustainability Plan for Wastewater Treatment Facility 2 Expansion was included in the consent agenda. Councilman Sullivan clarified for the record that the expansion is already complete and this resolution covers future maintenance and sustainability planning, not new construction.
Resolution approving an Interlocal Agreement with the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections was included in the consent agenda approved unanimously with no separate discussion.
Vote: 5-0
Speaker
Expressed concern about excessive fleet management fund spending in recent years; asked whether suction-based removal methods could be used instead of excavation for the silty dredging soils.
City Attorney Marcus Duffy presented three proposed charter amendments on first reading: (1) Amendment to Article 4 Section 7 adding ethics violations, attendance requirements, and a three-censure-to-governor-petition pathway for forfeiture/suspension of elected officials; (2) Amendment to Article 4 Section 7E revising vacancy procedures to require a special election within 90 days when more than 18 months remain in a term, with a separate provision for vacancies occurring within 60 days of a general election; (3) Amendment to Article 6 Section 3E increasing the unfunded contracting authority cap from $15M to $30M over 30 years with annual CPI adjustment. Council discussed ensuring ballot language is clear and requested community informational workshops. Approved unanimously on first reading.
Second reading of the ordinance approving the First Amendment to the Fifth Amendment of the Palm Coast Park MPD Agreement (App. #6431). The amendment reduces density from 320 townhomes to 244 single-family homes on lots as small as 2,550 sq ft with one-car garages allowed under 1,550 sq ft of living area, and adds a landscaping break every 12 lots and a small amenity area. The word 'may' was changed to 'shall' regarding amenity features at council direction, to which the applicant agreed. Council debated whether smaller lots without affordability covenants represent a missed opportunity for workforce housing. Councilman Sullivan voted no citing concerns about small lot sizes becoming a blighted rental district; Vice Mayor Pontieri voted no citing the absence of any workforce housing set-aside requirement. The ordinance passed 3–2.
Staff presented the triennial Municipal Property (Public Lands) List. Properties on the list included 17 drop lots donated as parkland in Seminole Woods, four stormwater-use lots in the Z-section, and two single-family lots (20 Woodstone and 79 Rolling Sands) acquired through code enforcement. Council voted unanimously to remove the Seminole Woods parkland lots and the Z-section stormwater lots from the public lands list, directing staff to pursue a program land asset designation or easement to prevent recurrence on future lists. The two single-family lots and any remaining parcels were retained on the list.
Vote: 5-0
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Public Comments
Speaker
Asked during final public comment whether a construction bond was required before clearing began on the Palm Coast Park MPD development phases adjacent to the Hewitt Sawmill historic site, and whether a policy exists or should exist requiring such bonds to cover damage to adjacent properties; stated intent to raise the question with the county as well.
Speaker
Suggested the city consider adding a senior fitness park with outdoor exercise equipment designed for older adults to address senior loneliness and mobility; expressed concern that venture capital and hedge funds are buying up new housing stock and pricing out workforce buyers; suggested the city look into measures to restrict such purchases.
Speaker
Pointed out that the city owns numerous duplex and single-family lots on streets including Furness, Fulton, Farnsworth, Fanshaw, and Bradmore that were not included on the public lands list presented; urged staff to review the full 68-page city property inventory for additional affordable housing opportunities; noted Habitat for Humanity Flagler could utilize such lots.
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Discussion By City Council Of Matters Not On The Agenda
M
Discussion By City Attorney Of Matters Not On The Agenda
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Discussion By City Manager Of Matters Not On The Agenda
Concerns about decisions being driven by consultants, developers, and administrative agendas rather than residents; questions about authorization for the data center, toilet-to-tap water program, and charter rewrites; criticism of the loop road project continuing despite council concerns; call for resignation of the District 4 council seat and firing of the city attorney.
Loop Road
Speaker
Stated he submitted a complaint to the Florida Bar Association requesting investigation of the city attorney for allegedly targeting a citizen who is running for city council; described frustration among multiple community groups with the city attorney's conduct.
Speaker
Praised the city's tree division for responding quickly and safely to a lightning-struck tree on city property; renewed request for no-through-truck signs on Bellair Boulevard due to tractor-trailers and hazardous materials vehicles using it as a cut-through; raised concerns about data centers based on 60 Minutes and CNN reporting regarding water use, noise, and electricity rate impacts on communities.
Speaker
Raised concern about water reserve depletion using Lake Jackson near Tallahassee draining to a dry sinkhole as an example; argued that the local cable landing station described as a data center raises similar water concerns; discussed affordable housing stating that contractual deed obligations are necessary to preserve affordability over time; warned that Rayonier is a very large international corporation and the city needs better legal representation in dealings with them.
Speaker
Expressed concern about the Pine Grove dredging project's sequencing, specifically that the project is still waiting for shop drawings on the weir while dredging is ongoing, characterizing the project as disjointed.
Speaker
Provided local context about the Bellair Boulevard and SR-100 intersection, describing traffic backing up to the senior center during midday peak hours; stated all development access appears to be through Bellair Boulevard rather than SR-100; expressed concern that additional development will create a traffic nightmare and urged the city to acquire as much land as possible.
Tony Amaral Jr. Candidate
Provided dimensional calculations for the right-of-way parcel (approximately 10,344 sq ft); noted the acquisition price of $410,000 in impact fee credits seems steep for the parcel size; pointed out that partial credits rather than full credits are permissible.
Jeanie Duarte Candidate
Argued that under the original charter language, the District 4 appointment should never have occurred because the vacancy fell within six months of a regularly scheduled election; stated the original unaltered charter is the only legally enforceable charter and that current and proposed language carries forward ambiguity.
Speaker
Speaking as vice chair of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, argued the MPD amendment creates substantial economic value for the developer through smaller lots, reduced setbacks, and one-car garages, but includes no affordability requirements, affordability periods, workforce housing set-asides, or AMI targets; cited city's own housing needs assessment showing nearly half of Palm Coast households earn at or below AMI while median home prices exceed $350,000; asked why the city would not require some percentage of homes to remain attainable for workforce.
Speaker
Urged council to require that garages in the development be used for vehicle parking rather than storage or living space, given reduced lot sizes and density concerns about parking spillover; asked why the adjacent Hewitt Sawmill historical site did not have a construction bond in place to cover damage from adjacent development clearing; argued the impervious surface design of the retention pond is functionally equivalent to a parking lot in terms of runoff coefficient.
Speaker
Stated the development situation is a mixed outcome; reiterated prior requests for developers to provide tiny homes (800–1,000 sq ft) as true workforce housing; raised concern that venture capital and hedge funds are purchasing new homes at scale and pricing out workforce buyers.
Speaker
Expressed general opposition to continuous residential building, stated quality of life has declined in Palm Coast over the past 10 years, and asked that growth be slowed and planned more carefully.
Speaker
Came from swimming laps and noted limited public pool hours; objected to continuous residential development approvals; asked when the city will build community facilities for youth, citing lack of a community center comparable to St. Johns or Volusia counties; noted roads and swales are deteriorating while thousands of homes continue to be approved.
Advisory Notes
— (public_comment, E)
A speaker called for the immediate resignation of the District 4 council seat held by Charles Gambaro, characterizing it as an 'expired appointed' seat being 'held hostage,' and called for the immediate firing of City Attorney Marcus Duffy and his firm. A second speaker stated he had submitted a complaint to the Florida Bar Association requesting an investigation into the city attorney for allegedly targeting a citizen.
— (public_comment, I.1)
The vice chair of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee spoke formally during public comment on Item I.1, arguing the MPD amendment represented a missed opportunity to require workforce housing set-asides in exchange for development flexibility (smaller lots, reduced setbacks, one-car garages). Her remarks directly influenced Vice Mayor Pontieri's stated rationale for voting no.
— (context, I.1)
Multiple council members and a public speaker (Dennis McDonald) raised questions about whether a construction bond was required before clearing began on adjacent Palm Coast Park MPD phases, in connection with reported runoff damage to the Hewitt Sawmill historic site. The developer's representative stated in writing that the specific tract under consideration caused no damage to the sawmill site; Councilman Sullivan and Vice Mayor Pontieri stated they personally observed damage attributable to other clearing activity in the same development series.
— (public_comment, H.1)
A speaker challenged the legal validity of the proposed charter vacancy language, arguing that under the existing charter the Gambaro appointment should never have occurred because the vacancy fell within six months of a general election, and stated that the original unaltered charter remains the only legally enforceable charter.
— (context, G.2)
The right-of-way acquisition involves a development at Bellair Boulevard and SR-100 that council members confirmed they had no prior opportunity to review, as it was approved administratively. A neighboring resident (George Mayo) described existing traffic backing up to the senior center during peak hours and expressed concern that the new development would worsen conditions significantly.