Deltona commissioners told county is forming stormwater authority; local control and standards raised

During the Jan. 13 workshop Mayor Villa told commissioners that the Volusia County Roundtable of Elected Officials had voted to create a stormwater authority to set minimum stormwater standards, maintenance expectations for multi-jurisdiction infrastructure, flood-mitigation and resiliency programs. Mayor Villa said staff would participate on a county-level subcommittee and asked staff to circulate the county materials to commissioners and the public.

Commissioners generally welcomed regional collaboration but several warned the commission must retain authority over Deltona’s local stormwater standards. Vice Mayor Harriot asked whether the new authority would simply expand the county’s local mitigation strategy; Mayor Villa and staff said the county expects to strengthen regional coordination and include agencies such as the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Army Corps of Engineers as advisors. "I want to caution us about supporting anything that would take those storm water decisions away from this commission," Vice Mayor Harriot said, adding the city may need stricter local standards than those set regionally.

Mayor Villa said he would provide the county material to city staff for distribution and that the item will be shared with commissioners and the public once more information is available.

No formal action was taken; commissioners requested staff keep the commission informed and report back as the county process advances.