Committee and public raise transparency concerns after motocross added to direct county expenditures

Public commenters and several members of the ECHO Advisory Committee said they were not given opportunity to review a motocross project before county council added it to the Direct County Expenditure plan.

Connie Colby, a resident who addressed the committee during public participation, said she was concerned about how county funds are spent: "I would I'd like to think that the direct county expenditure fund is not being like, the cookie jar." She and others said projects that use county funds—particularly those connected to ECHO and Volusia Forever—should be subject to committee review before council action.

Staff clarified the process: Daniel, ECHO program staff, said county council approved $3,500,000 for the project into the ECHO capital improvement plan on June 4 and then the council added the project to the DCE plan. He told the committee the motocross effort was a split acquisition cost shared between Volusia Forever and another funding source and that the motocross design had not yet been funded: "We don't have an update yet. It went to council for the land to be purchased... I believe it goes to council on July 22."

Why it matters: Committee members expected DCE items that use ECHO-related funds to be brought for review and recommendation. Committee members and the public said they were told this motocross project was presented to the committee for information only after council action. Several members said the presentation did not allow meaningful review or recommendation.

Key details

- Committee role: Staff and counsel repeatedly described the committee's review of DCE items as informational rather than a decision-making approval. As one staff member said, the review "is, in fact, for information only." The committee may record a non-recommendation, but it does not have authority to approve or deny DCE projects funded by county council.

- Project status and funding: According to staff, the motocross project had been added to the county's capital improvement plan with $3.5 million committed by council. Design work had not been completed and a project site had not been finalized at the time of the committee meeting. Staff said the motocross "has nothing to do with Volusia Forever" in terms of design funding, though Volusia Forever was listed as a source of funds for the acquisition.

- Committee record: At the meeting the committee asked for its position to be placed on record that it did not recommend the project; committee member Pat Northey noted she had moved to put a non-recommendation on the record during the earlier presentation.

What was decided and what was not

- Decided: The committee placed a non-recommendation on the record and requested the full five-year plan and related documents so members can review them.

- Not decided: No approval or denial of the motocross project was made by the committee; county council retains decision authority for direct county expenditures.

Context and follow-up

Committee members said they will receive the full five-year plan and earlier meeting materials for review before council considers the purchase. Committee members asked staff to circulate documentation and design plans when available. Several committee members expressed support for acquiring additional public lands for recreation generally, but said they were concerned about the timing and transparency of this project's addition to the DCE plan.