Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Palm Coast Council Advances Three Charter Amendments to Ballot and Narrows Public Lands List
Summary
Council approved language for three charter amendments (removal/forfeiture standards, vacancy procedures, and higher multiyear contracting authority indexed to CPI) to be submitted to voters, and removed several small 'drop lots' and Seminole Woods parcels from the municipal public‑lands list for preservation or stormwater use.
At the May 19 meeting the Palm Coast City Council voted unanimously to submit three proposed charter amendments for placement on the ballot and took action to remove selected parcels from the municipal public‑lands list.
City Attorney Mark Asuffey summarized the three charter amendments: one would revise Article 4, Section 7 to expand and clarify grounds for forfeiture or suspension of the mayor or council members—defining certain ethics violations and adding attendance standards and the option for the council to petition the governor after three formal censures; a second revises vacancy procedures to require special elections when a vacancy leaves more than 18 months in a term; the third raises the council’s unfunded multiyear contracting authority from $15 million to $30 million, extends the term limit and indexes the threshold to CPI adjusted annually.
"Shall article 4 section 7 of the city charter be amended to expand and clarify standards for forfeiture suspension of the mayor and city council members..." Asuffey read, describing the proposed ballot language.
Council members praised the voter‑facing summary language and asked staff to hold informational workshops so residents can understand what they will see on the ballot. "The summaries that the residents will see on the ballot are very well done," Vice Mayor Pontieri said and asked for public workshops to explain the language.
On the municipal public lands list (required every three years under Florida Statute 166.0451), staff presented an inventory of city‑owned parcels that might qualify for affordable housing or other public uses. Council members expressed interest in removing wetlands‑adjacent "drop lots" and several parcels adjacent to Seminole Woods Park from the list so they can remain for stormwater or park use. The council reached consensus and voted unanimously to remove those parcels from the public lands list; staff said they will pursue perpetual easements or retain the parcels in the city's land‑assets program to avoid repeated re‑listing.
Next steps: the charter amendment questions will be finalized for placement on the ballot subject to the usual certification processes. Staff will update the municipal lands list on the city website and work with the city attorney to document perpetual easements or land‑asset designations where appropriate.
The council also discussed, and asked legal staff to research, whether local rules could restrict purchases of single‑family homes by large investment funds, and agreed by consensus to direct city legal staff to draft an ordinance requiring a super‑majority vote to send any dissolution of the Palm Coast Fire Department to referendum.
