Daytona Beach Shores adopts charter amendment and appoints Stefan Debinski to vacant commission seat

The Daytona Beach Shores City Commission on April 22, 2025 adopted Ordinance 2025-06, a charter amendment changing election dates and the timing of interim appointments to fill vacated commission seats, and voted to appoint Stefan Debinski to fill the vacant Seat No. 3.

The ordinance was read aloud as a second reading, described by the city attorney as: “An ordinance of the city of Daytona Beach, Florida relating to the dates of the elections to replace a commission member for a vacated city commission seat, providing for an amendment to the city of Daytona Beach Shores City Charter with regard to the filling of vacancies in office and establishing election dates, providing for legislative and administrative findings, revising the timing of interim appointments of city commission members to provide for the orderly transition of the office… and providing for an effective date.” The commission voted 4-0 to adopt the ordinance, according to the clerk.

After adopting the ordinance, commissioners moved to fill the commission vacancy created earlier. A commissioner offered the motion “to appoint Stefan Debinski to Seat number 3 to fill the vacancy for the city commission,” which was seconded. The commission approved the appointment by voice vote; the clerk recorded affirmative responses from Rosanna Poulades, Commissioner Thomas, Commissioner Howard and Mayor Miller. Following the vote, Stefan Debinski was sworn in. Debinski recited the oath: “I, Stefan Deminski, do hereby solemnly swear or affirm that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Government of the United States and of the State of Florida against all enemies, domestic or foreign, and I will bear true faith, loyalty, and allegiance to the same. And I will, in all respects, observe the provisions of the Charter and ordinances of the city of Daytona Beach Shores, and will faithfully discharge the duties as commissioner for the city of Daytona Beach Shores on which I am about to enter. Oh, help me God.”

There was no recorded debate on substantive changes in the ordinance during the meeting; the clerk noted four members present when the ordinance passed 4-0. Commissioners identified themselves during roll call and the meeting moved promptly from the ordinance to the appointment and the swearing-in. The special session adjourned to a workshop scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m.

The ordinance amends the city charter’s vacancy and election timing provisions to provide procedures for interim appointments and to establish election dates for filling vacated seats. The commission did not record additional details or an extended public discussion during this meeting.