Several members of the Volusia Forever advisory committee expressed concern about recent comments by Volusia County Council members suggesting possible changes to the land‑conservation program, and they asked staff to prepare materials documenting program accomplishments.

“There's been discussion concerning wanting less than 50% of land conservation…not wanting land kept in perpetuity…and most recently, discussion on, whether to bond or not,” a committee member said during advisory‑committee comments. The member asked staff to identify where those council remarks occurred so committee members could respond and coordinate outreach.

Staff responded that the committee’s annual report and program accomplishments are already being prepared and offered to share the information with committee members before the January council meeting. “We were already preparing this information for the annual report that's gonna be coming in January, but we can get you that information if you would like to share it with your council members,” a staff member said.

Other advisory members urged colleagues to attend council meetings when large Volusia Forever projects are on the agenda and to voice support. One member urged continued emphasis on perpetual protection, citing strong voter approval: “I thought it was pretty clear when the taxpayers voted for this, that it was perpetuity,” the member said, and another committee member cited the actual vote figure: “It's the actual number was 75.6% of the voting population voted for this.”

Committee members said staff engagement and external partnerships are critical to sustain the program during election cycles and council turnover. Staff accepted the request to compile and distribute explanatory materials and suggested the committee can show up at council meetings when larger projects reach the agenda.

The committee did not take a formal vote on policy changes at this meeting; members requested more information and committed to outreach to council members.