Council confirms revised legislative priorities, directs staff to submit appropriation requests

Palm Coast City Council on Feb. 11 reviewed a revised list of legislative priorities and gave staff consensus to proceed with submitting appropriations requests to the state, focusing on water and stormwater projects as the highest priorities.

City staff presented two buckets of priorities. The “yellow” (highest) priorities recommended for direct appropriations were an equalization (EQ) tank for wastewater collection, Seminole Woods Dry Lake Weir flood-risk reduction and design/permitting funding for the Woodlands Community stormwater capacity project. A second “blue” bucket included projects that might be advanced through the legislature’s member-project process or committee review, including Wastewater Treatment Facility 1, the YMCA and Historic Fire Station 22 (the latter had not been funded previously because a project submission did not make the budget).

The city manager and chief of staff explained the legislature appears likely to reduce the member-project funding pool compared with pandemic-era levels and that staff had adjusted requests and rankings accordingly. Staff said Representative Greco and Senator Leake had been contacted and that the city’s lobbyist, the Southern Group, is working to re-lobby vetoed projects from the prior year.

A councilmember stated agreement with the manager’s ranking and suggested retaining some large projects on the list to preserve packaging options. Council consensus was recorded to proceed and staff said the final submission must be completed by Friday.

Staff will check the original resolution authorizing the priorities and will return the item to a future consent agenda if council wishes to confirm final language.