City Council - Regular Meeting

Please rise for an invocation by Reverend C.

Thank you very much. And now, Pledge of Allegiance by the Volusia Young Marines. Come on up.

Thank you. And young Marines, if you guys could just hang tight for just one second. I'm going to have you come up here to the mic. Come on up here to the mic. Before you take off, introduce yourself. Tell us a little bit about you. What school do you go to?

Do you have any idea what you want to do after high school? Thank you very much for being here. Yes, sir. How about you, my friend?

Sixth grade. All right. You got a job yet?

You have any interest in what you might want to do once you get out of high school?

Outstanding. Very well. Well, thank you for being here as well.

Thank you. Let's give him a hand, guys. All right. the clerk called a role councilman foley councilman getford here councilman green here vice mayor here mayor still here thank you guys for being in attendance i always love it when we have uh young people here in our in our chambers especially those who like get a chance to get them to come up and have to do a little public speaking i think being able to speak in public is is a great gift and it can also be a skill set that can be learned early Speaking of public speakers who have no problem speaking in public, moves us to item number four, th

Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Don't run off quite just yet. If you would, for just a moment, I'll give all these guys up here a chance to make some comments as well. I just want to start off with elected official for quite some time and i've gotten to know most all of our municipal and our county level elected officials from oak hill all the way to ormond beach much like you have and then even in the west side of the county there may be somebody who works as equally hard as you do but i can assure you there's nobody that outworks you thank you and and uh sometimes you know when i'm talking to t

But many times, as we have learned and we have seen all over the country, acting too quickly creates more problems and sometimes a bigger problem. And so there is a process to that. And the biggest process of that is the funding. We've got to raise the money. The money's got to come somewhere. And I appreciate you mentioning our staff because you're right. Our staff has worked diligently. They can tell you that we are constantly asking them, where else can we find money? Where else can we find money? Because the reality of it is, is cities like you know, Ormond Beach and Port Orange and New Sm

So all that to say that I truly appreciate the relationships, the time and the effort that you put in behind the scenes. And you're right. There is so much residents never see. And I totally appreciate the residents' concerns and interest and fears to have it done yesterday. We are all on the same sheet of music with that. The reality of it is things have got to be engineered. They've got to be funded. They've got to go through that process. And we are making them all happen as fast as possible throughout all of Volusia County. So I truly appreciate that. I just want to say thank you for all y

I think our mayor covered a lot of it, Nancy, and again, I do know who the second most busiest person behind you is, and it's the guy sitting behind you, your husband. You're working that poor man to death, you know. I see him everywhere, and I see you everywhere. Clearly, no is not in his book. No. Yesterday morning, it was dark and early. I see him taking the corner with the signs on the car, and I was like, man, Nancy's working that poor man to death. but appreciate everything you do. You are one busy lady for being retired. Thank you.

Thank you, Nancy. Thank you. Uh, the collaboration is so important as when we go to Tallahassee and they can see that we're working all together. I think that helps us a lot. I think, uh, in the education, I think the greatest thing we need to focus on is educating the public on, on how, why things flood and what we're doing. And the video and everything that this coalition is doing, we'll provide that. So we need that. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Tracy? Nancy, I have to give you credit where credit's due. Mayor Stillner has said it a lot, and I'm going to extend it even more. When I came on to council three and a half years ago, you're one of the first mayors that came up to me, extended your hand, said, hello, do you need anything? And I appreciate that. And knowledge is power. It is what allows us to do our jobs. And what you have done... with the coalition is letting that knowledge flow out. And that's what people need. Sean's right. You know, it's the informational side and the educational side to our citizens is so important that

Correct. So it's, uh, it's amazing how long it does take though, you know, and, uh, I was sitting in a different country this past week and flash flood hit and we are very blessed compared to other places. But then I see on the news while I'm in that country that Hawaii took 43 inches of rain in a 48 hour period.

That one perfect storm hit there. The smallest wake was 29 inches on the lower banks, but 43 inches in a 48 hour period. And that just terrifies me to hear those numbers. So thank you for what you're doing and the coalition and what they're doing. Staff, keep doing what you guys are doing, the brainstorming coming about and taking it to the other cities so that we can all collaborate to make the money that we do get works the best. So thank you.

so watch me and that's what i wanted to do to get all the funding and the attention we could on volusia county so thank you all thank you mayor burnett thank you mayor i appreciate it thank you nancy you're welcome take a few days off would you all right agenda item number five public comments on consent agenda items only six through nine any comments on consent agenda item six through nine Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion and a second to approve consent agenda item 6-9.

Do you have a motion to approve consent agenda item 6-9? Second.

I have a motion and a second. Will the court call the roll?

4-0. Mr. Robert Reinhegan, you would make your way to the front of the class, my friend, in your public participation. And I know you've got two topics you'd like to talk about, so go right ahead. The mic's yours. Welcome.

I know you're prepared. Three will do it. Go ahead.

Go ahead and wrap up. I know you had a couple technical difficulties there.

Thank you, Robert. Good to see you. Adam Dobie and then after Adam we'll have Gary Kelly Welcome, sir.

Thank you, guys. Thanks, Adam. Gary Kelly. And then we'll hear from Don Burnett, whoever that is. Welcome, sir.

Thank you sir for coming out. Mr. Don Burnett. Welcome my friend.

Thank you, John. Thank you, Don. Thank you. John, listen, you've got to give him a chance to talk.

Item number 10, council member comments. Lance, we'll start with you.

I don't have much tonight, but I do just want to go back on record saying I still feel we need a non-emergency line at the police department.

No, I just want to say I had a fantastic opportunity to attend the League of Cities convention down in Hollywood, Florida, and learned a lot and thought wow that's a great idea I'm gonna bring that back to Port Orange and to find out that we already do it and that's uh it was just amazing it really is you know and it was all around our budget because it's budget season and they were sharing how The cities were sharing how they share the budget and where the money's spent, and all in a simple four-page form, sometimes a single form. Some cities are smaller than others, but, you know, shot on ou

only got one thing tonight uh this weekend coming up uh is spouses uh backing the blue golf tournament it's out at crane lakes so saturday august 22nd 8 a.m there's a few team spots left so if you got a team and you want to come out and play golf it's early morning so it won't be as hot and then get cooled off with libations afterwards that's it yeah that's one i just i feel like you just

I don't know if I knew about it previously or just forgot. It just came out of nowhere. It snuck up on us. And they sent us out that email. I'm like, it's in two weeks. Pretty close. But I hope they fare well with that. It's a great organization. They do some amazing stuff in our community.

They may not ask us back after we tear the greens off. I'm just saying. We're going to be out there.

No, it all works out pretty good. Just a few comments tonight. You know, we just went through a primary election cycle and exercise here in the state of Florida in Volusia County. And I just want to say thank you. to everybody that sticks their neck out there and puts their names out and qualifies and goes through that process. It's a learning experience for sure. Whether they win their seats that they're vying for or they don't, they see a side of campaigning that most people never ever see. I think inherently as human beings you want to be liked by everybody and you want to feel like your id

Yeah, you say go ahead and say you got a whole big list.

All right. Well, welcome. We're glad to see you sitting up here with us tonight.

I'm sorry, I want to interject for everybody on the council. So with regards to Riverwalk, we've had a pretty good vision and refined that vision over the last few years and launched staff to say, hey, this is the vision, this is the path we kind of want you guys to go down. As you guys travel around the state or the country or Texas or wherever, and you guys see things that you... You're like, man, that's kind of unique. We don't have that in Florida. And you feel like, hey, that might fit in. A business concept or whatever. Please share that with staff. Wayne loves to look at that stuff. He

And I would just comment, my comment on that, Wayne, would be that I completely appreciate And I do support the conceptual idea that they want to take some of that three transform three, eight, six, same. Yeah. 365 and, and, and, and kind of earmark that for larger scale regional projects. Problem I think though, is a lot of times that money, because that came from the federal government, there are timelines on that. Correct. It's got to get used. And so what I don't want to do is not be putting in for more stuff that we know we can use that money for. I'd rather be putting it in for it and th

And I think that concept even applies with some of the state funds. I know a different topic, but the state's the same way. A lot of times when they're releasing funds, you better be ready to go and use those within those timelines or the state is going to want them back too.

So Wayne, do we know for a fact that the Spruce Creek Basin Study has started?

Well, cause last year it got delayed. It got delayed a little bit.

Speaking of parks, our Causeway Park boat ramp project is near completion, and man, I really appreciate everybody staying on top of that. Looks like, knock on wood, that's going to come in just a little bit ahead of schedule. I didn't say that. Amanda, delete that from the record.

We look forward to that, and I know we're going to have a a bit of a ribbon cutting and a celebration at some point uh my my and i'm gonna touch base i think with uh her staff later this week my my my preference would be let's not let a ribbon cutting or a ceremonial thing hold up getting it open so when it can be open i want to get it open i think we all agree with that and but we'll still get down there to have a ribbon cutting and and Talk to our construction workers down there and let them know how much we love and appreciate the job they've done. Looks pretty neat. Went down there last we

bobby before you before you get started you know i we thank you a lot and uh we appreciate you and we really do appreciate and want to thank you for everything you do and the way you serve our community in so many ways because you've also got a family it turns out uh and you have a son who's a pretty hell of an accomplished golfer yeah i gotta brag on for just a moment if that's okay, but Bobby, for those of you guys that don't know, Bobby Sutton, Ian, qualified for the U.S. Amateur Tournament, and Dad got to carry the bag. How cool is that, right? Can you tell us anything about that, man, bef

You didn't fall down in the bunker, did you?

Well, please pass along from us how proud we are of him. It's very special whenever the young people in Port Orange end up on a stage like that. We know they're homegrown and they're from here and they beat up on all the courses in Port Orange. And so that's pretty awesome. So congratulations on that.

I was watching online and, you know, I had a scoreboard up there and it says Port Orange.

I know, right? Hey, listen, one of the most proud moments I had was when I saw that and I'm like, oh, He said Port Orange. He didn't do the whole, I'm from Daytona Beach. I'm from Port Orange, right? And he did. He represented, man. I love it.

There will be soon, I'm sure. Yeah. No doubt. Thank you, Bobby.

Appreciate it. Bobby, are they going to pay Williamson from Madeline North anytime soon? I thought they were doing that.

Thank you, Bobby. Brings us to the public hearing portion of the meeting. Second reading ordinance, item 14, second reading ordinance number 2026-7.

I'll entertain a motion and a second on second reading to approve ordinance number 2026-7.

Motion to approve ordinance number 2026-7. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Council, any other discussion here on this one?

Second reading. I would just comment that, you know, the amount of of residents and people who reach out uh that are just absolutely sick and tired of seeing these derelict vessels because they abandoned the sunk they destroy property they're hazard they're navigational hazard and and man i really hope that this is a of us being able to keep our waterways looking nice, cleaned up, and well-respected. And for those that want to come and anchor and moor, there's a way to do that. And keep your vessels ship-shaped and able to move them out of hazards and storms and do it appropriately, and you're

Yeah, it's just you got people, you talk about property taxes and tax values, and here you think you might have a nice place on the river, and you're looking at a derelict boat in the backyard for years.

And it's crazy where these things end up washed up, and people walk away from them. They scrape bin numbers off.

And in most cases, it becomes a residence problem just to haul away.

Yep, absolutely. All right, court call the roll.

I'll entertain a motion and a second on second reading for Ordinance No. 2026-12.

And motion to approve ordinance number 2026-12. Second. We have a motion and a second.

Council, any discussion? No. Public, any discussion? Robert, no? Nothing, okay. All right, back to council. Nothing here. Clerk, call the roll.

Yes, for nothing. All right, that brings us to Council Committee Reports Item 16, First Step Shelter.

Yes, we had our meeting with our new Executive Director last month, and she is, obviously it was her first week, but she has already sent out an email highlighting some things. I've shared that with you all, not to discuss with me, but just for your records. I'll have to look through there, just a couple key items. Since the shelter has actually been open, 2,591 people have been sheltered. 415,588 meals have been served. They have housed 1,331 residents, 51%, 91% of those housed at least two years ago are still in housing. So First Step Shelter is serving its purpose and working for our commun

All right. Um, I had a great report from our chamber executive director tonight. They're doing a fantastic job. Just had their annual fundraiser, probably their largest fundraiser, their golf tournament. I hope to see that back in the city next year as they were at Venetian Bay, which they did a good job and had a good turnout. And tomorrow night they have their business after hours. Help me out with the Jewelers. Masterpiece Jewelers has been a long-standing member. They do a lot for us, for businesses to come together and network. That's tomorrow night. And then they have something open to t

That's all I got. Lance, tell us about the Police Pension Board.

Alright, so last meeting I told you guys we had missed a quarterly meeting back in March, but As of Monday, the pension fund was at $85,971,900. It was up just under 2 million from the last quarter. Again, everything seems to be very healthy in that. We discussed a couple of, you know, about their trends and how investing into AI companies is kind of a trend. and less real estate kind of thing, but these money managers that they have are doing a great job. And then, you know, one other thing that I guess we discussed is, you know, some ongoing, you know, the new disability that's coming up, an

Sounds good. All right. Anything else coming before us tonight? Yes.

Go right ahead. I just opened up an email, and someone had just sent this to all of us, actually, to recognize Scott in code enforcement. Apparently, Scott is doing an absolute fantastic job. They're recommending that we recognize Scott as a fabulous employee of the City of Port Orange since our initial complaint about the ducks next door. Scott has communicated and has been a total professional with his knowledge and assistance. Scott is someone the City of Port Orange should be proud of, and Scott has proven his knowledge of city code and other factors with our complaint. He was a pleasure t