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Flagler Beach adopts utility rate increases, vows clearer project timelines for stormwater work
Summary
The Flagler Beach City Commission on Feb. 13 approved Resolution 2025-08 to raise water, sewer, stormwater and sanitation fees to keep utilities financially self-supporting, and commissioners pressed staff for clearer completion dates on stormwater projects tied to the increases.
The Flagler Beach City Commission on Feb. 13 approved Resolution 2025-08, adopting increases to water, sewer, stormwater and sanitation fees intended to make the city's utilities financially self-supporting.
Commissioners approved the measure 4-0 following discussion about sequencing utility-rate decisions into the budget cycle and requests for better public communications about sanitation and stormwater projects.
City Manager (unnamed) told the commission the city will change its annual schedule so utility rates are presented for consideration in August before adoption of the fiscal-year budget, removing a recurring timing mismatch that had left rate-setting and budget adoption out of step. "Going forward, the utility rates will be presented to you for consideration in August before you adopt the budget," the city manager said during debate.
Why it matters: The increases are intended to ensure the enterprise funds that pay for water, sewer, stormwater and sanitation can cover operating and capital costs without continual transfers from the general fund. Commissioners said they want residents to understand what the new fees will pay for and to see tangible progress on stormwater work tied to the increases.
Details and debate - Process change: Commissioners pressed for a re-sequenced budget process so rate proposals accompany the tentative budget. The city manager described a tentative agreement to present rate recommendations earlier and to engage a consultant (Florida Rural Water is planned) on future water and sewer rate analyses.
- Sanitation policy and communication: Several commissioners and the manager discussed recent sanitation-enforcement steps (for example, new charges for mattress pickup and more consistent enforcement). The city manager said staff will publish clearer public messaging about sanitation policy and any new fees.
- Stormwater work and accountability: Commissioners repeatedly requested estimated completion dates for specific stormwater projects listed in the staff packet. City Manager and staff described the list as "low-hanging fruit" projects already in progress and said some items have start dates that may also be completion targets. Staff noted constraints including permitting (some projects require review by the St. Johns River Water Management District), equipment and a small stormwater crew.
City Manager (unnamed) reported completed items: "We did install all the backflow preventers. That was a key direction from the city commission. So those have been completed. There were 19 of those installed. We did install 20 new manholes, and there's 50 more to be addressed." Commissioners said they want staff to publish a schedule showing estimated completion dates so residents can track the projects funded by the fee increases.
Vote and next steps The commission approved Resolution 2025-08 by roll call vote 4-0 (Bellheimer: yes; Meeley: yes; Cooley: yes; Sherman: yes). Staff said the new process will bring rate proposals earlier in the fiscal calendar and that a consultant's presentation on rates is planned for March or April.
The commission took no separate action on individual stormwater projects at the Feb. 13 meeting; the fee resolution itself was the formal action adopted that night.
