Volusia County Charter Review Commission sends 11 staff cleanup items for drafting

The Volusia County Charter Review Commission voted Nov. 10 to send 11 staff-recommended cleanup items from exhibit B to county staff for preparation of draft charter amendments. The motion, made by Commissioner Ben Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Jim Clayton, passed on a voice vote after a brief discussion of whether to remove one item from the list.

Chair Ben Watts said the process would bring back draft text for each item so commissioners could vote on them individually later. Commissioners asked staff to include projected costs for implementation when they return with draft language; the chair instructed staff to consolidate items where appropriate and to provide separate drafts for each discrete amendment.

The move follows staff advice that several items are technical or nomenclature changes and would be handled as separate ballot propositions if the commission ultimately advances them. County attorney staff and John Booker, representing staff, said the drafts will clarify legal effects and implementation steps.

What’s next: Staff will produce draft amendment language and cost estimates for items 1–11 and the commission will consider each draft in a future meeting before deciding whether to place them on the ballot.