Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Conservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Edgewater council on a 1949 deed and back Volusia Forever conservation; council asks staff to research options
Summary
Speakers urged council to restore the Alvarez Grant deed to public trust status and to support Volusia Forever; council asked the city attorney and manager to research the deed and agreed to draft a letter supporting Volusia Forever.
Several residents used the citizens'comment portion of the Feb. 2 meeting to press the council on land and conservation matters. Kim Long presented a copy of a 1949 deed she called the Alvarez Grant and asked the council to direct the city attorney to restore the deed's original language, which she said held park, boat-ramp and library property in trust for residents and forbade sale in perpetuity.
Other commenters urged the council to support Volusia Forever, a county land-conservation program established by voter approval. Ken Cardesano reviewed the program's history and asked the council to send a consensus letter supporting perpetuity and partnerships for land conservation.
Council members responded by asking staff and the city attorney to research the Alvarez Grant deed history and by giving consensus to draft a letter supporting Volusia Forever. The mayor and manager noted that county officials advised the voter-approved Volusia Forever initiative remains in effect and "forever is forever," but council members asked legal staff to confirm options for deed restoration.
Councilman Thomas asked for a resolution to reinstate the original deed language and the council asked staff to return with research at a future meeting.
