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Flagler officials plan unified legislative asks focused on infrastructure and storm resiliency
Summary
County and municipal leaders agreed to compile a unified legislative package for the September 19 delegation meeting emphasizing infrastructure and storm-resiliency projects, with deadlines and staff assignments set for submissions and follow-up.
Local leaders at a joint workshop on Aug. 27 agreed to assemble a unified list of legislative priorities for the county’s legislative delegation, with infrastructure and storm resiliency named as the top themes.
County staff urged municipalities to submit project requests to the county by Sept. 5 so the county can compile a single packet for the Sept. 19 legislative delegation meeting. County officials said Representative Greco and Senator Leake have signaled they will prioritize infrastructure and storm-hardening projects; representatives recommended framing requests to show how proposals tie to hurricane resilience, evacuation routes or state priorities, and suggested phasing large projects so individual requests stay near or below $5 million where possible.
Officials discussed wastewater treatment capacity and water-quality framing. Several speakers raised the need to move wastewater discharges away from the Intracoastal and increase treatment capacity. Attendees said Congressman Randy Fine acknowledged those concerns while describing the projects as largely local responsibilities; staff reported Fine said framing projects as water‑quality and discharge mitigation improves their chances of federal support. A municipal official said some DEP grant programs have eligibility rules that exclude local projects, so staff will help jurisdictions identify grant programs that fit.
The group also discussed policy-level asks. One proposed priority was giving 9‑1‑1 dispatchers potential first‑responder status for retirement/benefit purposes; Representative Greco was reported to be receptive and county staff said the idea has failed in prior sessions but may return. Another policy topic raised was expanding statutory provisions on beach easements statewide and revising qualification criteria to allow more counties to use the sixth penny for tourist development tax for beach nourishment.
Regional technical work was highlighted as well. Public comments and staff referenced a compound‑flooding study being completed by the Northeast Florida Regional Council; that study will be presented to the group in mid‑September and was identified as supporting evidence for grant applications and state appropriations.
No binding votes were taken; staff set deadlines and asked administrators to coordinate requests for the county’s unified package.
