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City of DeLand engineering highlights stormwater standards, GIS expansion and new right‑of‑way permitting
Summary
Engineering staff told commissioners the department is fully staffed for the first time in years, is updating stormwater requirements for new development and is implementing a formal right‑of‑way permitting process tied to GIS and automation work.
Engineering staff member Ray presented the engineering department’s budget and workload to the City of DeLand commission, emphasizing staffing, permit review volume, drainage work and an upgrade to right‑of‑way permitting. “This is the first time in the past 4 years that engineering department is fully staffed,” Ray said at the start of the presentation.
Why it matters: the engineering group oversees plan review, field inspection and stormwater standards that affect private development, infrastructure maintenance and flood risk. Staff said recent and pending regulatory changes will affect how the city reviews new projects and enforces pond maintenance.
Key points from the presentation
- Workload and staff: Ray reported the department completed 119 plan reviews in the previous nine months, 13 infrastructure site‑improvement reviews and approximately 1,005 building permit reviews. Engineering inspections included roughly 741 residential inspections over that span.
- Stormwater policy and capacity: Ray said the city now requires new developments to retain the 100‑year, 24‑hour storm event on site. He called the requirement important because DeLand sits in a landlocked basin with limited positive outflow. He also flagged Senate Bill 180 as a possible constraint on local standards and said St. Johns River Water Management District changes (effective December 1 for new projects, per staff) will emphasize water quality and low‑impact development.
- HOA maintenance and ponds: City staff added that Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) often fail to maintain stormwater infrastructure; the city is exploring consultants to assess pond conditions and may coordinate with St. Johns on enforcement. A commissioner clarified that the new pond maintenance enforcement will apply to new projects, not existing ponds.
- GIS and right‑of‑way permitting: Ray said the engineering group has completed substantial GIS data updates (potable water at 99.52% completion pending county responses) and that the city purchased software modules to automate right‑of‑way permitting. Planning staff member Nelson Mendez is assisting with automation and Darren is drafting an ordinance to set fees and inspection charges consistent with Volusia County peers.
- Drainage basin studies and capital projects: Ray gave updates on five drainage basin study areas: four are proceeding with consultants (kickoff in June, design/study work underway with an anticipated completion around May of next year) while one (Victoria Park DRI) was still pending county scheduling. He also listed recently completed projects (Green Bay Trail, downtown parking lot, Georgia Avenue energy improvement) and near‑term work (Fire Station 83 expansion CEI, Jackson Lane Park restroom and pavilion).
Ending
The commission asked clarifying questions about which basin efforts are design versus study; staff responded that some are designs and some are basin studies. No formal policy actions were taken during the presentation, and staff said they will return with the ordinance and an electronic right‑of‑way permitting workflow for commission consideration.
