Tuesday January 9th, 2024 at 9am, the Palm Coast City Council held their morning workshop meeting. This workshop covered presentations by FDOT, the strategic plan update as well as resolutions to review regarding Redefined Food Co’s lease for the Southern Rec Center, a contract with Kimley-Horn for a residential speed study, and a State Fire Marshal Grant agreement.
Public comments opened with residents speaking on multiple issues including the developments, flooding, and new build heights. City Manager Denise Bevan interjected to update the public and City Council on the revisions to the technical manual. Carl Cody, Director of Stormwater and Engineering, updated the public with the case loads, which are now 148, up from last weeks 125. Alfin stated his concern is about residents making connections with the city, but he keeps hearing from residents that cases are being closed out before they are completed. Cody stated that there are multiple steps to a case and that they close very few cases, usually only closing duplicate cases.
Danko asked if they had been able to solve any of their problems. Cody stated that they don’t design a fix for existing homes, but they work with the contractor to fix the issues that will keep water off neighboring homes. Cody stated they work with existing home owners to determine the issue that is causing it. Danko asked council and staff to keep in mind the people who have been effected by these issues, because “we will have to take care of them one way or another.” Pontieri stated that she doesn’t want to have to make a motion to stop building in order to get momentum on fixing issues that effect residents. Heighter asked to the effectiveness of the changes to the technical manual. Cody stated that there has been positive changes since they have started imposing these new requirements and changes to the technical manual. Klufas echoed the sentiments of all the other council members.
With that public comment resumed, with residents commenting on duplexes, as well residents who were showing support of Redefined Food Co. being approved for the lease in the new Southern Recreation Center. Kandi Stevens came up to speak on the flooding issues, asking who approves the heights of the new builds, stating the solutions her group Flooded in Flagler has come up with and her request to receive a copy of the City Manager’s letter. Other residents brought up code enforcement issues that have not handled, even after they have been heard by the code enforcement board, speeding on Florida Park Drive, the banning of developers burning their wood, conflicts of interest, disagreement of the moratorium and stressing the enforcement of the technical manual.
Council heard a presentation on the FDOT District Five work program for Fiscal Year 24/25 through Fiscal Year 28/29. Some of the key facts that will influence this program are price adjustments due to inflation and other economic factors. For example, resurfacing costs have increased over 26% since last year.
Looking at the five year outlook, Flagler is set to get upwards of $47 million dollars for safety, capacity, preservation, multi-modal, operations, bike/pedestrian and other needs for roadways in our county. Key projects for Flagler County, include about 6 miles of US 1 up to St. John’s County Line, Bike paths and trail projects from Lehigh Trails to Graham Swamp Preserve. Alfin stated on record that Flagler has not had a “loud” representative in the TPO until recently, causing Flagler to not have the funding that other counties like Volusia receive. Klufas asked if there was a way for the public to make comments on the five year plan; the presenter, Katherine Alexander-Corbin, stated they can go to this website here, to leave comments. Pontieri commented that she was surprised to see such a difference between Flagler and Volusia’s difference in funding, especially with the county’s growth. Alexander-Corbin explained that it did come back to what Mayor Alfin brought up, the previous lack of representation.
