Charter compliance concerns regarding Seats 3 and 4; argument that seat vacated 79 days before the 2024 election should have appeared on that ballot; challenge to legitimacy of council compensation increases made without elector approval; general claims of city bypassing voter approval for charter changes.
Request for flashing pedestrian crosswalks on Royal Palms near Point Pleasant and near Stable Preserve due to traffic volume and difficulty crossing to access trails; safety concerns for children and pedestrians in the area; suggestion to use impact fees or existing funds for crosswalk signage; noted similar need near Imagine School and new apartments.
Mosquito control complaint in a flooded area; concerns about flooding in streets; criticism of a new residential development with water drainage problems; raised a prior traffic safety device removal issue from a Ormond Beach council meeting; and alleged that council members who received developer money should not have voted on an east section development item.
Presented information on innovative animal shelter and adoption concepts including cat cafes in Kissimmee and Ocala, dog adoption sessions where dogs choose humans, puppy spa daycare events, and the Big Dog Rescue Ranch in Loxahatchee as potential models for Flagler County.
Invited residents to attend Parks and Recreation Advisory Board monthly meetings, held the fourth Wednesday of each month at 4:30 PM at the Palm Coast Community Center; described the board's role in recommending on parks, recreation, open spaces, arts, and culture; cited example of helping a resident secure a lacrosse field.
Alleged that Vice Mayor Pontieri's grant program (FC3) awarded funds improperly over two years, including amounts exceeding the stated maximum and covering 100% of project costs rather than 30%; cited the Josh Cruz writing program as an example; called for a city audit of the grant program for the past two years and termination of the FC3 contract for 2027.
Requested that the city develop written policies requiring documented findings for stormwater engineering reviews, preservation of review records and audit history, disclosure of approved deviations from adopted standards, and public reporting of those findings; framed as an accountability and transparency measure rather than an accusation.
Referenced the June 29 Supreme Court ruling on geofencing in a case involving the Czech Republic and the United States, and its implications for Flock camera license plate reader systems and Fourth Amendment rights; also raised concerns about data center development and community impacts.
Described a drainage and grading dispute with a neighbor who built a new home approximately 12 inches higher than existing grade, installed a pool that altered a drainage swale, causing erosion on the speaker's property; noted the city told him it was a civil matter between neighbors after the engineer stamped the final as-built; requested an ordinance requiring new home builders in existing subdivisions to demonstrate water drainage to the street without adversely affecting neighbors.
Resolution approving the donation of two city-owned residential parcels to Flagler Habitat for Humanity.
Staff clarified both parcels were acquired through code enforcement actions on fire-damaged homes and had been previously designated for affordable housing.
One public speaker opposed the donation on fiscal responsibility grounds, arguing Habitat for Humanity has sufficient funds to purchase the lots.
Another speaker echoed that concern.
Council members defended the action, noting the parcels were not purchased with tax dollars, were already costing the city to maintain, and would address affordable housing needs.
Habitat for Humanity is paying closing costs.
Resolution approving master price agreements with Hawkins, Inc. and Carmeuse Lime & Stone, Inc. for purchase of chemicals.
No separate discussion was recorded in the transcript beyond its inclusion in the consent agenda motion.
Resolution approving a work order with PBM Constructors, Inc. for demolition and removal of existing mechanical rotor aerators.
No separate discussion was recorded in the transcript beyond its inclusion in the consent agenda motion.
Resolution approving a contract for 19 Central Place pipe replacement.
Council Member Gambaro highlighted this as a long-needed project.
Mayor Norris asked staff about the wide disparity in bids; staff explained that one bidder (Clon) came in around $100,000, two others around $200,000, and a fourth over $1 million, with staff attributing the outlier to a likely misunderstanding of the project scope.
The low bid was described as a reasonable price for the work.
Asked whether comments about a consent agenda item (Habitat for Humanity land donation) could be made during opening public comment; was advised to wait for that item's public comment period.
Briefly addressed concerns about fiscal responsibility of donating city-owned property, as a preview of comments made later.
Opposed the donation of two city parcels to Flagler Habitat for Humanity on fiscal responsibility grounds; stated Habitat for Humanity of Flagler has over $4.8 million available and could pay at least a reduced purchase price; suggested proceeds could fund other city needs such as an animal shelter; estimated lot values at $70,000-$80,000.
Agreed with the prior speaker's opposition to donating city-owned parcels to Habitat for Humanity without compensation.
Resolution approving GMP-2 for ground improvements (stone columns to improve soil conditions) at Wastewater Treatment Facility No.
1 expansion project, valued at approximately $6.83 million out of an overall ~$100 million expansion.
Staff explained this is one element of a DEP consent order requirement, with earlier phases including $1.1 million pre-construction services and $5.7 million for electrical work.
Funding is primarily from bond proceeds.
One public speaker raised concerns about the utility enterprise fund never being audited and questioned the rate increases.
Council approved unanimously.
Resolution approving a $4.7 million (not-to-exceed, time and materials) master services agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group for wastewater system program management and engineering services covering six active tasks over 36 months: system-wide optimization, wastewater and effluent master planning, DEP consent order technical support, construction management/owner's rep for the WTF1 expansion, a preliminary engineering report for a potential future plant, and inflow and infiltration mitigation.
Jacobs was selected competitively over two other firms.
Council discussion addressed funding sources (capacity fees, R&R funds, some bond money), the consent order context, I&I reduction potential, and the relationship between WTF1 and WTF2 capacity.
Public comments questioned use of time-and-materials contracting, bond debt burden on residents, terminology transparency, and absence of performance-based contracting.
Council approved unanimously.
Stated that the city council paid $5.5 million to an outside utility consultant who had not audited the enterprise fund in 27 years, and that the rate increases resulting from that process were unfair to residents; was redirected by the Mayor to stay on the specific agenda item.
Asked whether, once the wastewater system improvements are complete, residents should expect emergency pump trucks used after rain events to no longer be necessary.
Attempted to comment on the wastewater master services agreement agenda item by raising the topic of boil water notices and what the speaker described as a July 1 rule; also questioned where the program manager lives; was redirected by the Mayor to stay on the agenda item or hold related comments for the general public comment period.
Asked for more transparency and plain-language explanation of wastewater topics, noting that terms like CUP and I&I are not familiar to most residents; questioned whether the project is primarily for future growth and why current residents are bearing the cost through bonds rather than grants or other alternatives.
Asked how a three-year time-and-materials contract was arrived at and why the city does not use performance-based contracting, which she argued would protect taxpayers by allowing recoupment if contractors underperform; stated she has 26 years of governmental procurement experience and that finance should not oversee purchasing.
Referenced over 20 boil water notices since the beginning of the year; cited the city's annual water quality report as listing microbacteria potentially linked to wastewater systems and sewer systems; raised concerns about chloramine use and its corrosive properties; described the situation as potential contamination and questioned water safety.
Raised concerns about water utility rates being among the highest in the state and called for a financial assistance program for elderly residents living alone who cannot afford water bills; referenced prior council statements about the water department's management history; suggested alternatives to bond financing.
Argued the city's infrastructure — water, wastewater, and utilities — is insufficient to support the 19,000 lots already in the development pipeline, let alone additional density; stated the bond does not cover the full cost; criticized approval of data centers, accessory dwelling units, and the Promenade development as inconsistent with what existing residents expected when they moved to Palm Coast.
Raised concerns about how public comment is managed, arguing that when council members discuss off-agenda topics from the dais it opens the floor to public comment on those topics; suggested the current approach creates legal exposure for the city; recommended the council revisit its public comment procedures.
Stated she has 26 years of governmental procurement experience; argued that having finance oversee purchasing is improper; contended that time-and-materials contracts are not appropriate for construction or engineering (only for unknown-scope work like automotive repair); and reiterated the benefits of performance-based contracting for taxpayer protection.
Thanked the city for paving work and hoped Pine Grove would be scheduled soon; expressed appreciation for the new red arrow traffic signal at Cypress Point and Bel-Terre; raised concerns about the three-way stop at Royal Palms and Town Center Boulevard potentially creating traffic backups under the I-95 underpass; described an emergency situation where traffic signal timing on Bel-Terre during construction caused being stuck through multiple red light cycles; asked for an emergency contact pathway for urgent traffic issues beyond filing a standard service case.
Thanked the stormwater division for coming out and widening a culvert catch basin near his driveway to resolve a drainage blockage; praised the crew's work ethic; raised a concern that stormwater field workers lack adequate restroom access and asked the city to look into improving their working conditions.
Thanked the city for providing ASL interpreters at the meeting, stating she is partially deaf and finds the interpreters extremely helpful; noted a deaf guest had been expected to attend.