[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6262076,"mediaKeyId","3116135-19989bb3419f756aabed0a9e762560f8","parentId",3116135,"title","Fire chief warns of rising wildfire risk; county burn ban expected","audioSeconds",236,"startMs",12988000,"endMs",13224000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3116135-19989bb3419f756aabed0a9e762560f8&start=12988&end=13224","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3116135-19989bb3419f756aabed0a9e762560f8/thumbnail_12988000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262076/Palm-Coast-City/Flagler-County/Florida/Fire-chief-warns-of-rising-wildfire-risk-county-burn-ban-expected","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262076-4ea16a7f87f2484a8026ddc10b89c382/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169466&Signature=l8EX1-yTkHt0Ys1Aq8OeQc2qDd2NnHn9SDvSVv~O7oJF3JRn0j8PliO1R~P6~h5lVMuAYdmQM0cdaTwJbyDeWU9XI~FwoND2pjD5giWbu3YP1DNHvkktB4fh9tp2ALui2E~4W6UnVLqIhiJueMLQ4XGu7Cy7yZQYQS5EEhi0Vss6WbrCzfiPGQqfS8YaOK-8LW5BTxLVXpXqSR2Q7s1DG5yIGFuHKd6MmG4z2i5cMJJcoywE7wGnQaGcx2JPdeVV~qp88jY0gSOA3gdPBTohazogthY054Toyj3kryhNa~5e0i8sBtJ6fB9LU0P9sYFL4TBA78Xh6w9WmKG~-Mgb-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Palm Coast, FL","date","2025-04-22T21:12:06Z","article","The Palm Coast fire chief warned council that wildfire risk in Flagler County is increasing and that the county is expected to adopt a burn ban as early as the following day.

Chief Kyle Berryhill told council the Keetch‑Byram Drought Index (KBDI) — a measure of soil moisture that indicates wildfire susceptibility — was near 489 on the day of the workshop, placing the county in a heightened risk category. Chief Berryhill said the Florida Forest Service has elevated readiness statewide and that Flagler County will likely announce a countywide burn ban to limit open burning, fireworks and other outdoor ignition sources.

The fire chief asked residents to take immediate steps to reduce risk: clear flammable pine straw and debris from gutters, maintain defensible space around structures, avoid outdoor burning and practice safe grill and equipment use. The department said it will publish best‑practice guidance through city social media channels and urged homeowners and homeowners associations to act now to reduce ignition sources.

City staff also noted operational steps. The utilities department is monitoring water demand and called some high‑use customers to reduce watering schedules so distribution pressure is preserved during peak demand, staff said. Chief Berryhill added that partner agencies (Flagler County, Florida Forest Service) are coordinating readiness and that the fire department stands prepared to increase staffing and mutual‑aid resources if wildfire activity escalates.

Ending: Staff and the fire department asked council to publicize the expected burn ban, to share wildfire‑prevention tips with neighborhoods, and to expect additional briefings if conditions worsen.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Business Workshop - April 22, 2025 - PT. 2","oneSentenceSummary","Palm Coast Fire Chief briefed council on increasing wildfire risk, rising drought indices and near‑term preparedness steps; staff said a countywide burn ban is expected and urged residents to create defensible space and reduce outdoor ignition risks.","taxTitle","Palm Coast City, Flagler County, Florida","taxId",3807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6262081,"Council votes unanimously to censure mayor, refer malfeasance finding to state Ethics Commission",3819,9176000,12995000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3116135-19989bb3419f756aabed0a9e762560f8&start=9176&end=12995","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3116135-19989bb3419f756aabed0a9e762560f8/thumbnail_9176000.jpg","/articles/6262081/Palm-Coast-City/Flagler-County/Florida/Council-votes-unanimously-to-censure-mayor-refer-malfeasance-finding-to-state-Ethics-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262081-b4c48aea053315ed3ae483df8cab0fc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169466&Signature=jEVMgPbrtwg1o6Zlqa3dMyeyLv1LccEDNTXe5nU4T0Ogy~gXEL3ufUVJi3OhrDPxHvSiD8hJV6E6HCyrPEC587IOex3j0HudUY3t4Gnr7D0G1k6iIl8HkV5eBflYn9asrXjquKPA~0lijr3PzA9bhRPtt7UOLOkZqKYHWH2nFVUgq~0HOpHtzYZ5bK17OKqni3otcoApjTF-ItxG0YyDLcSKhh8sgNoRrXQca0TV9G-c8IUN2BOIcDAYaPvTk3mmNcRpkCg3aISWWYSLgYYF06EiumvHlxYXglI9aWIk2rpFk3m0s~1rrDn77x8mNxX~egw08iOWBZ8Qt~aJEiGrvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Palm Coast City Council voted unanimously at a workshop to issue a vote of no confidence and censure of the mayor and to refer an ethics complaint over alleged malfeasance to the Florida Commission on Ethics.

Councilmember (Gambaro) moved for a formal vote of no confidence and censure; the motion received a second and passed on a unanimous roll call. Council discussed the independent investigator’s findings, which staff said had substantiated repeated violations of the city charter, including actions the report characterized as interference and other conduct the investigator described as rising to the level of malfeasance.

Following the censure vote, the council voted — again unanimously — to file a formal ethics complaint with the state commission and to ask that the investigator present his full findings and recommended next steps to the council. The council discussed several procedural steps: the immediate referral to the state ethics body, staff review of internal policy gaps and recommended charter clarifications, and scheduling the investigator to appear to answer questions and propose follow‑up options.

Council members said the steps were necessary to restore public trust and to put an independent body between the city and any disciplinary determinations. Council also directed staff to ask the investigator to present at the earliest available date; staff reported the investigator's next available dates for a presentation were April 30 and May 1, with May 6 as a fallback business meeting date.

Votes at a glance
- Motion 1: Motion of no confidence and censure of the mayor (mover: Councilmember Gambaro). Outcome: approved unanimously (4‑0). Vote record (roll call): Gambaro — yes; Miller — yes; Sullivan — yes; Vice Mayor Panieri — yes.
- Motion 2: File formal ethics complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics for alleged malfeasance and refer investigation findings for review (mover: Vice Mayor). Outcome: approved unanimously (4‑0). Vote record (roll call): Gambaro — yes; Miller — yes; Sullivan — yes; Vice Mayor Panieri — yes.

Ending: Council instructed the city attorney and manager to forward the complaint to state authorities and to return with proposed charter and policy revisions so the council has clearer disciplinary options available in future cases.","After an independent investigation concluded repeated charter violations and malfeasance by the mayor, City Council voted unanimously to record a formal censure and to refer a malfeasance complaint to the Florida Commission on Ethics; staff will also schedule the investigator to present findings to council.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6262086,"Council narrows strategic action plan priorities; staff to return with ranked list and apps/tactics",3947,4989000,8936000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3116135-19989bb3419f756aabed0a9e762560f8&start=4989&end=8936","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3116135-19989bb3419f756aabed0a9e762560f8/thumbnail_4989000.jpg","/articles/6262086/Palm-Coast-City/Flagler-County/Florida/Council-narrows-strategic-action-plan-priorities-staff-to-return-with-ranked-list-and-appstactics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262086-391c08df00111ff7f0a317dc803f3a2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169466&Signature=oKYimAy5SvCUh9cFFyPa3b5lGNSRdNJn-HMFdjG3TS1Ow3hGXMPsOH-FgZDKfWVXId6CbQZpw~kXlkdg6wHdkcg-iNk2fWyiAsEC4xW~3X9j9zGd73AvcZaMaEmjA8AKqcYtPSPClA4V2NOKC6gQ3cVMjGs8JR8XmWHxpljzze7WJxvbYaGZY97Bb6K9mENpMK4n8BH-z5IQkTdH3Pq7xLCtgEgykvYQ~BYKFEE~g0wgxHLsVidyKwnY4nl3p00VDQOCQrbWqWju7QE6WhWijruHVvTNN912cX9EoXBlkJj7Zj6Ggb~K7BxuR0pJNV0UQqpugC6fpBBWM3tEGk2Zfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff and a consultant team presented the council’s Strategic Action Plan check‑in, and councilors provided direction to refine and reprioritize the list of objectives the city will carry into the next budget cycle.

Lauren (staff) and SAP representatives summarized a community survey and one‑on‑one interviews with council members. The survey showed high resident importance for utilities, stormwater and mobility and lower satisfaction scores in those same areas. Staff said those gaps informed the 13 proposed objectives framed under four pillars: strong resilient economy; safe, reliable services; sustainable infrastructure; and civic engagement.

Council reviewed each objective in turn. Members generally agreed that routine fiscal practices (identify savings and seek a property‑tax rollback) and ongoing operational items (hiring a utility director, routine outreach) are part of normal city operations and should not occupy top SAP slots. Council instructed staff to fold operational items into regular practice rather than keep them as standalone strategic priorities.

Council kept infrastructure and stormwater maintenance high on the strategic list. Members asked staff to deliver more specific, actionable tactics under those headings: a prioritized list of stormwater projects (including swale and culvert maintenance), options and costs to accelerate catch‑up maintenance, and a clearer split between operational needs and capital projects for parks and recreation priorities. Staff said they would return with cost estimates and the list of stormwater projects that had been deferred when the last rate increase option was reduced.

On technology and civic engagement, council asked that the mobile civic‑engagement app be completed and that its functionality be folded into the SAP tactical list; staff said the app will include survey links and service‑request tools. Councilors also asked staff to survey departments to identify technologies that could streamline operations (traffic signal timing, real‑time monitoring, administrative efficiencies) and to work with Smart Northeast Florida on pilot ideas.

For economic development, members asked for clearer performance metrics and a scorecard to measure whether actions attract the types of jobs the city wants (health care, manufacturing). For parks, council asked staff to separate operational maintenance needs from capital expansions and to present the top two or three park priorities in the five‑year plan (for example rectangular fields, neighborhood parks or stage/facility upgrades) so council can decide where to focus limited dollars.

Ending: Staff will return with a refined SAP that ranks objectives and spells out tactics, costs and timelines; several impact‑fee updates and CIP items will be integrated into the coming budget cycle and return as proposed priorities at a future meeting.","Council reviewed the Strategic Action Plan (SAP) objectives, removed several items judged operational, kept infrastructure and stormwater priorities high, and asked staff to return with a prioritized, ranked SAP and tactical items including the mobile app and technology evaluations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6262091,"Council hears 10-year CIP update focused on parks, impact-fee strategy and major infrastructure projects",4927,128000,5055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3116135-19989bb3419f756aabed0a9e762560f8&start=128&end=5055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3116135-19989bb3419f756aabed0a9e762560f8/thumbnail_128000.jpg","/articles/6262091/Palm-Coast-City/Flagler-County/Florida/Council-hears-10-year-CIP-update-focused-on-parks-impact-fee-strategy-and-major-infrastructure-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262091-cba3605ffb3ee4d81206120d7268bb8a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169466&Signature=ixptGYlGYbvICAi3CRDpwH9yk-y6zIdSiOxxYvzySrtqa7NONbzkpI~VJ146gkSaW8EMML5IVtdGaeK~UGhBNsZrZ6BX4PYWsOzyxJftq4Ph4YFhMP45jyG69m4hvIkNhYW5IcGRoRWeHf0cY5yiFDBmwzGm4c8VkviNpg2vDnSe6Ai1jA6LzSh-R0cB7Io0zsTYwDkfeTF8W11ZcLCqYqP84Hyrwk9mJUIbXp5eiziVWoiH4p6qjMaTMh-rzE0AX5RNXtp3vd81Z4Vck0WRoZMHc3eAYJgo9mD~zY75j0P6CIIdapnqwlCC5zL~wx5KXphKzjr1gFeGw47nZesrEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff on the Palm Coast City Council workshop presented an updated 10-year capital improvement plan that spans multiple funds and emphasizes maintenance and phased work on the city’s largest projects. Carl Cody, director of stormwater engineering, led the session and walked council through fund-specific restrictions, grant-backed projects and the timing of major work such as the city’s maintenance and operations center and trail and park improvements.

The presentation explained limits on several revenue sources. Cody said the county “small surtax,” a half‑percent of local sales tax collected by Flagler County, is committed to construction and improvement of public facilities and is distributed by a state formula; the city receives roughly half of that revenue. Cody told council the surtax began Jan. 1, 2013, and the revenue is constrained by the county ordinance that created it. He also reviewed multiple impact‑fee funds (recreation, transportation, fire) and said each is restricted to growth‑related capacity projects and cannot be used for existing system deficiencies.

That restriction shapes how staff propose to use fees. For recreation impact fees Cody said the current rate is about $18.28 per unit and that impact fees typically cover roughly 69% of growth‑related project costs with a remaining share required from other funding sources; he said the share may change when the city’s impact‑fee update is completed. Staff said they expect an impact‑fee update to return to council next month and that the study will reflect large cost increases in construction and could change recommended shares and timing.

Cody reviewed grant‑funded park and trail work already in motion, including a $325,000 grant for Long Creek Nature Preserve, a $300,000 grant for additional waterfront‑park access, and other DOT and USTA awards for trail and courts work. He said the Grama Swamp/Grama Trail design received a $615,000 DOT grant and staff are negotiating scope and fee; DOT is expected to move part of the funding from federal to state sources to reduce restrictions. For the waterfront and Long Creek projects, staff listed city match requirements and contingency plans to pursue additional grants.

On transportation and town‑center impact fees, staff told council the town‑center DRI (development of regional impact) contains language tying town‑center impact fees to regionally significant road improvements. Councilors asked whether the trigger language and trip thresholds are met; staff said average daily traffic counts for some segments are approaching but not conclusively over DRI thresholds and that further traffic and stormwater modeling is underway to clarify responsibilities and potential upsize of culverts and bridges.

On fire‑related infrastructure, Cody summarized the fire impact fee fund (current residential fee about $4.34 per dwelling unit) and the ongoing construction of Fire Stations 22 and 26; staff said last year’s general‑fund balance helped cover shortfalls for Station 22 and 26 and that some fund transfers are expected to be repaid as impact fees are collected.

Council questions focused on priorities and sequencing. Several councilors pressed staff for more breakdowns in the five‑year plan — for example how transfers earmarked for the maintenance and operations center (MOC) versus fire and park projects are allocated — and requested a clearer tie between the city’s parks master plan priorities (additional rectangular fields, neighborhood parks, expanded access) and the capital‑funding strategy. Cody said detailed backup worksheets with project‑level funding are in the meeting packet and staff can provide a project‑by‑project breakdown and a five‑year slice when council asks.

Staff last framed next steps: the impact‑fee updates for recreation, transportation and fire are on an adjacent schedule (staff said they hope to take the package to a May 27 workshop), and the council will be asked to adopt a formal five‑year CIP in August. Council members asked staff to return with more detailed worksheets, the history of impact‑fee changes, and a clear list of projects deferred due to prior budget choices so members can weigh catch‑up versus new priorities.

Ending: Staff committed to provide the requested breakdowns in the packet and to return with the impact‑fee study and a prioritized five‑year CIP during the coming budget cycle.","City staff presented a 10-year capital improvement program that prioritizes maintenance and phased construction of major projects — including the maintenance and operations center, waterfront and trail grants, and deferred park and street rehab — while flagging constraints on how impact fee and surtax dollars may be used.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fire chief warns of rising wildfire risk; county burn ban expected

Council votes unanimously to censure mayor, refer malfeasance finding to state Ethics Commission

Council narrows strategic action plan priorities; staff to return with ranked list and apps/tactics

Council hears 10-year CIP update focused on parks, impact-fee strategy and major infrastructure projects