The Volusia Forever Advisory Committee voted to recommend that the county adopt an open-ended goal for land conservation and to record that position in the committee’s work plan.

The motion, introduced and later amended during committee discussion, directs that the advisory committee affirm that the voter-approved Volusia Forever program does not end at a specified percentage of county acreage and that the committee supports continuing purchase of eligible, environmentally sensitive properties without a numerical cap. The motion passed with one recorded opposing vote.

Why it matters: Committee members said the direction is intended to make the advisory board’s position clear to county council and to state partners as the county seeks matching funds for conservation purchases. Members raised concerns that naming a specific percentage could be interpreted as a cap; supporters said a clear, public position helps counter statements by individual council members questioning future bonding or further purchases.

Discussion and public comment: Tim Telfer, program staff with the Bush Forever program, summarized the committee’s procedural role and the difference between an advisory recommendation and the county council’s authority. Several committee members emphasized that the Volusia Forever program purchases must continue to meet the program’s eligibility criteria.

Public speakers urged the committee to adopt a firm, pro-conservation stance. Mike Poniatowski, who identified himself as “Mike Poniatowski of the Tomoka Farms Village,” said preservation should be the committee’s priority: “Forever is a finite word. It means forever in perpetuity. So it means that you are here to recommend properties for preservation forever.” David Haig, a DeLand resident, urged the committee to mirror the high level of voter support for land-buying programs and avoid a public contest over a single percent target.

The committee debated how to frame the recommendation. Some members said a specific numerical target could be misread as a hard cap, while others said an explicit target (previously referenced in council-level conversation as 50 percent) would be useful. The adopted language—moved, amended and approved by the committee—directs staff to treat the advisory body’s intent as part of the committee’s annual goals and to present that position to the county council and update the committee work plan accordingly.

Next steps: Staff said the direction will be added to the committee’s annual goals and shared with county council as part of the program’s work-plan materials. Committee members also discussed using the upcoming state legislative session to press for additional Florida Forever funding.

Ending: The advisory committee’s action is advisory only; county council retains final authority over bonding and budget decisions. Committee members said they want the county to present a unified, public case for continued conservation funding as state and federal grant streams shift.