Daytona Beach commission tables cybersecurity policy for elected officials after legal, insurance debate

The Daytona Beach City Commission on Feb. 19 tabled a second‑reading ordinance that would establish a cybersecurity policy for elected officials, voting 7-0 to send the proposal back to staff for revision and additional information.

City Attorney review and IT staff recommendations were central to the discussion. The draft ordinance would attach an IT policy to the city code, set an initial stipend for elected officials to cover devices and data service at $30 (changed from $25 in the draft), and give a designated administrator authority to temporarily suspend access “if the violation makes it reasonably necessary for the manager to take action to protect network resources from cybersecurity threats, an imminent threat, or to comply with cybersecurity best practices,” language that prompted objections from at least one commissioner.

The debate focused on two legal and operational questions: whether the commission may lawfully delegate temporary suspension authority to the city manager (or…