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Daytona Beach commissioners press staff and seek legal review after questions about marina vehicles and fund use
Summary
Commissioner Stacy Cantu presented agenda materials alleging Permits & Licensing vehicles marked 'marine unit' were paid from a Permits & Licensing special revenue fund and parked/operated from the marina, raising concerns about enterprise fund mixing and public perception. Staff said the vehicles support waterway inspections, drone and emergency operations and that purchases followed budgetary procedures; the commission asked the city attorney to research legal issues and return with findings.
Commissioner Stacy Cantu put a series of documents and photos on the meeting screen and told the City Commission she had found what she described as evidence that vehicles and equipment labeled “marine unit” were procured through the Permits & Licensing (P&L) special revenue fund and were being used at the marina, an enterprise fund property. Cantu said residents had mistaken P&L staff for law enforcement and asked the commission to direct the city attorney to research whether enterprise fund rules were being violated and to report back.
City staff, including Deputy City Manager Jim Morris and other department leaders, answered that P&L operates a marine unit that does waterway inspections, seawall and dock enforcement, and emergency response tasks not accessible from land. Morris said the unit also supports drone operations for roof and structure inspections and that the vehicles and boat are used to conduct inspections and remove hazards in the Halifax River and other waterways.
Staff acknowledged the trucks display both “marine unit” and “permits and licensing” markings but said the procurement and sufficiency‑of‑funds procedures were followed and that the expenditures trace to the permits and licensing budget lines identified in the agenda backups. They described shared use during storms and emergencies and said only trained personnel operate the boat and marine equipment.
Cantu pressed for a legal review, citing concerns about the perception that non‑sworn employees might be presented as law enforcement and about mixing of enterprise funds and special revenue accounts. City Attorney Ben (last name on file) and other staff said they would research the statutory and accounting questions Cantu raised and return with findings. Several commissioners asked staff to prepare documentation and to provide clearer public explanations of the units’ roles and funding sources.
Commissioners did not take formal punitive action at the meeting; they asked for staff follow‑up and legal analysis. The mayor and other commissioners also urged that staff be given the opportunity to prepare detailed explanations and supporting documentation before further public discussion.
Next steps: staff will compile procurement and fund‑use documentation and the city attorney will research whether state law or accounting rules prohibit the current practice or require different disclosure. The commission indicated it would expect a report at a future meeting.
