Sept.-Oct. 2009 - League of Women Voters of Volusia County

The League of Women Voters of Volusia County, Florida
Sept/Oct 2009
THE
Visit our Web site at www.LWVVC.org
League of Women Voters of Volusia County
Celebrates 60 Years & Women’s Equality Day
Presenting
Women Who Advocate in Volusia County
Candace Lankford……. Education
Pat Northey……… Environment
Deanna Schaeffer….. Women & Children
September 26, 2009
9:30 AM –11:30 AM
Brunch--$15
Grant Bly House
842 E. New York Ave., DeLand 32724
RSVP by September 22, 2009 to Maritza Patterson
[email protected]
Cancellations after September 22nd will be invoiced.
Check in @ 9:15 AM, Brunch @ 9:30 AM
Program to follow
LWVVC/AAUW Joint Meeting
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know
About the 2000 Presidential Election Recount
by Judge Michael Roy McDermott
October 17, 2009
9-11 AM
Breakfast $15
SunSet Harbor Yacht Club
861 Ballough Rd, Daytona Beach
RSVP by October 13, 2009 to Ann Smith
(386) 677-4188 or [email protected]
Check in @ 9 AM, Breakfast @ 9:30 AM, Speaker @ 10 AM
Dear Leaguers,
I hope you are having a wonderful summer! Our June meeting featuring Volusia
County Council Vice-Chair Joie Alexander was a hit! Ms. Alexander spoke on how the
County works with the State and the municipalities in Volusia County. We met at the
beautiful Grant Bly House in DeLand.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!! We are proud to be celebrating our 60th year of serving
the citizens of Volusia County! We will be celebrating our anniversary together with
Women Equality Day (August 26) on Septembe r 26, 2009 at our brunch meeting. We
Ms. Alexander
are recognizing three women in Volusia County who have made a positive difference
over the last decade. This was a difficult choice to make since there are so many in the area that work so hard
for their causes and are so deserving of recognition. Come celebrate with us on September 26 and recognize
Candace Lankford (Education), Pat Northey (Environment) and Deanna Schaeffer (Children & Women) for
their exemplary work to make Volusia County a better community.
Also look forward to our annual joint meeting with AAUW in October at the lovely SunSet Harbor Yacht Club.
The Honorable Michael Roy McDermott will be speaking about his role on the Volusia County Canvassing
Board at the 2000 election.
In November we will have a Pros and Cons presentation on Hometown Democracy. Let’s get educated on this
topic so we can make a smart decision on Amendment 4 in 2010. We have lined up representatives from
Hometown Democracy and a Florida League of Cities to inform us about this amendment.
Finally, I have two reminders for you. Renew your memberships if you haven’t done so already. We want to
show strong support for LWV in Volusia County. Also, sign and submit your petitions for redistricting if you
haven’t done so already. We will have the petitions at our meetings or you may go to
www.FairDistrictsFlorida.org to download the petitions. Invite your friends and family to sign the petitions too!
I look forward to another superb year working with all of you. Thank you for your dedication and support for
our mission.
In League,
Sandy Horikami
Mark your Calendar!
Plan to Attend!
November 14, 2009
The Pros and Cons on Amendment 4:
Hometown Democracy Debate
Barb Herrin…….Hometown Democracy
Rebecca O’Hara…..Florida League of Cities
LWVVC Advocacy Recognition Awardees
Candace Lankford: Education
Candace Lankford has been an advocate for children and families even before venturing into
the political arena, but since taking the plunge she has gone full steam ahead pushing for
programs and services for youth and families. Candace Lankford's first venture into elective
office was with the West Volusia Hospital Authority; an independent health care taxing district
whose mission is to fund health care for the uninsured within certain income limits. During her
tenure as a Commissioner on the Authority, Ms. Lankford advocated for increased access to
health care, with primary emphasis on preventive care. Also in this role, she became an advocate for the
Healthy Kids and Kidcare programs --programs that provide comprehensive, affordable, and quality health care
coverage for children, birth through age 18. She then took her advocacy to her next elected office with the
Volusia County School Board, and she continues to be an active supporter for children having access to
affordable health care and a quality education. Ms. Lankford has never shied away from educating the public in
regard to the issues and concerns related to her areas of advocacy or to the need for the public's involvement
in those areas. She actively participates on Boards and committees on the State, County and local levels
ensuring that Volusia County and it's citizens, have a voice in the decision-making and funding of programs
and services for education and healthcare. Her advocacy spans more than three decades of service.
Pat Northey: Environment
During her first stint on the Volusia County Council, Pat Northey guided the Council to develop
a countywide trails system and dedicate annual funds to make it happen. While off the council
in 2004 and 2006, she continued working on the trails behind the scenes and a number of other
environmental projects. Once on council again in 2007, Ms. Northey renewed her official efforts
and continued her behind-the-scenes work. She is currently part of a project “St. Johns River to
the Sea Loop” that could make Volusia County a top tourism spot for recreational bicyclists and
multi-use trail users. Ms. Northey has worked to preserve lands in Volusia County, including the
Thornby property in Deltona, the conservation core (including part of the Ford property and properties within
the Osteen area), Gemini Springs, Wilbur by the Sea boathouse and more. She also helped to keep the
commuter rail project on track and wholeheartedly supported the county’s “green initiative” to create more
green buildings, landscapes and environmentally friendly practices. Says Northey about water conservation:
“We have to get really serious about conservation, and we have to get information about conserving rainwater.
We've had two major (flooding) events in less than a year, and all we've done is send the water to the St.
Johns River and the ocean.”
Deanna Schaeffer: Children and Women
After working for the department of Children and Families in many areas of child protection
and mental Health, Dee Schaeffer went to work at Halifax Health. She is now the C.E.O. of
Healthy Communities, which is responsible for the administration of the Healthy Kids program.
Healthy Kids aids and advocates for 7,936 children who are enrolled in Volusia and Flagler
counties. Over more than 30 years, Ms. Schaeffer has worked for the protection of children –
first in her role as child-and-family welfare worker in Seminole County and then moving to
Volusia County, where she continued her work in child protection and mental health. She serves on many
committees dealing with children's issues as well as problems of homelessness, mental health, substance
abuse, poverty. More importantly, leaders of the social service agencies in the county value
her suggestions. Ms. Schaeffer spends days and hours in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., following health
issues and exploring the ramifications of those issues. It is her steady, year-in, year-out work with and
for children and their families that merits recognition by the League for her contributions to the people of
Volusia County. She has continuously worked above expectations of her job.
Ms. Schaeffer’s work as head of Healthy Communities has led her to engagement in the Flagler/Volusia
Behavioral Health Consortium, the United Way Public Policy Council, the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation
Board, the Homeless Coalition for Volusia and Flagler Counties and the Workforce Development Board.
Through it all, she has never lost her focus on advocating for children – locally and in seemingly millions of
hours in Tallahassee legislative committees and hearings.
October Meeting Speaker
The Honorable Michael Roy McDermott graduated from Stetson University College of Law
in 1970 and was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Florida in that year. He
practiced law as a trial attorney in Volusia County until January of 1977, when he became
a County Court Judge of Volusia County, a position in which he served for 24 years until he
retired at the end of 2000.
In November 2000, Judge McDermott served as the Chair of the Volusia County
Canvassing Board for the General Election. Judge McDermott will speak about how a
canvassing board does its job and what problems arose after the polls closed on Election
Day that led the Canvassing Board to conduct a re-count by hand of all votes cast in
Volusia County for President of the United States. He will also address some of the
problems that arose during the re-count itself that were resolved so that Volusia County
successfully concluded its re-count within the time allowed by Florida law.
FairDistrictsFlorida.org
P.O. Box 350188, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33335
League of Women Voters of Florida endorses
Florida State Constitutional Amendment Petitions for the 2010 ballot.
The petitions provide
1.
Standards for the Legislature to follow in Congressional Redistricting, &
2. Standards for the Legislature to follow in Legislative Redistricting
These standards include no biases regarding political parties or incumbents,
racial or language minorities; and that the districts be contiguous and compact,
as equal in population numbers as feasible and
make use of existing city, county and geographical boundaries.
 Go to www.FairDistric tsFlorida.org to obtain the two petitions
 Complete both petitions,
 Send them to the FairDistrictsFlorida.org address above.
 Get your friends and family members to complete the petitions.
www.LWVVC.org
 See what’s “NEW” on our Website,
including Health Reform information
 See candidate responses to our
questionnaires starting September 7
 Get links to LWVF and LWVUS articles
 Lost your VOTER?
Find it at www.LWVVC.org
 And much more!! Check it out!
Welcome New Members!!
Linda Burgher, DeLand—came as a visitor to our June meeting and left
as a member!!
Dale Ann Clark, Daytona Beach—is interested in children and families,
health care reform and the environment.
Joan Lonergan, New Smyrna Beach—cares about public education,
health care and Florida’s water sources.
Judy Provost, New Smyrna Beach—is interested in mental health care,
the environment and just about anything!
Valerie Roch, Daytona Beach—is concerned about the environment,
climate change, Florida’s waters and voting issues.
Don’t Forget to Renew Your Membership!
Your membership and support
is important to the work of the LWV!
Thank you!!
We appreciate your contributions to LWVVC
Mary & Vernon Derr
Pat & Arnie Drago
Carol & Peter Grigas
Carolyn Lawrence
Lynn & Len Lempel
Eleanor Montgomery
Larry Moore
Claudia & Stephen Roth
Gay Shepard
Demise of the Volusia Water Authority
When the District required the CUP holders (water suppliers) to start working towards an alternative water
source, they joined other CUP holders in developing major projects to meet the District demands. WAV sat at
the table during one such development: Phase I of the Coquina Coast Seawater Desalination Project. However,
WAV has now withdrawn from participation.
WAV has distributed to the cities a completed WAV model irrigation enforcement ordinance with amendments
as requested by the County Council. This will facilitate member governments working collaboratively with the
county on conservation and enforcement. For WAV to continue its work in water conservation they had hoped
to attract non member governments back into WAV for support in funding. But such was not to be, and in the
end with prevailing economic conditions and the absence of additional support, it was decided the time had
come to consider dissolution of WAV effective September 30, 2009.
At the August 19, 2009, WAV board meeting it was recommended that VCOG be contracted to function for
WAV during its wind-down period. According to the Interlocal Agreement, termination requires a vote of not
less than three-quarters of the number of member governments. A confirmation acknowledging receipt is
requested from each government —electronic notice is acceptable. There is a host of administrative details to be
handled. Included is the dispersal of funds in two parts to be distributed at dissolution. The initial distribution of
$150,000 will be on September 29th followed by the final dispersal on December 31, 2009.
It was suggested by Mayor Apgar that VCOG should be the vehicle to keep the regional water discussion alive.
It is clear that in the near term, an alternative water supply will be needed, but WAV is not the vehicle to deliver
it. He suggested that the WAV Board ask VCOG to take on the water issue and create a committee to serve as
the regional forum for dialogue. The West Volusia member governments are working together to come up with
a plan and they can pursue discussion with the East Volusia cities where interests coincide. Rosemarie Gore
Quiz answer key: 1 – d; 2 – d; 3 – c; 4 – d; 5 – b; 6 – a; 7 – a; 8 – c. ; 9 – c; 10 – d
Fall 2009 Election Information
Special Election for State Senate, District 8
 Primary Election on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 (book closing deadline August 17, 2009)
 Early Primary Voting
o Monday, September 7, 2009 – Saturday, September 12, 2009
o Ormond Beach Regional Library & Supervisor of Elections Office in DeLand
 General Election on October 6, 2009 (book closing deadline September 8, 2009)
 Early General Voting
o Monday, September 28, 2009- Saturday, October 3, 2009)
o Ormond Beach Regional Library & Supervisor of Elections Office in DeLand
Municipal Elections (Lake Helen, New Smyrna Beach, Orange City, Pierson & Ponce Inlet)
 Primary Election for New Smyrna Beach and Orange City on September 22, 2009 (book closing deadline
August 24, 2009)
 Early Primary Voting
o Monday, September 14, 2009 – Saturday, September 19, 2009
o New Smyrna Beach Regional Library & Supervisor of Elections Office in DeLand
 General/Runoff Elections for New Smyrna Beach, Orange City, Lake Helen, Pierson, & Ponce Inlet on
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 (book closing deadline October 5, 2009)
 Early General Voting
o Monday, October 26, 2009 – Saturday, October 31, 2009
 GO TO www.LWVVC.org
 FOR ELECTION 2009 CANDIDATE
INFORMATION
 State Senate District 8—9/7/09
 New Smyrna Beach, Orange City—9/8/09
 Lake Helen, Pierson, Ponce Inlet—
10/12/09
Ann Smith
Voter Service
Constitution Quiz—How do you score?
By Carol Grigas
(See answer key on page 6)
1. James Madison’s passion for political philosophy
a. made him “too intellectual” and he was barred from hammering out a new federal constitution.
b. made him sickly and enervated and therefore ill suited for the rigorous debates on the drafting of the
Constitution.
c. led him to oppose the ratification of the Constitution on ideological grounds.
d. served him well as one of the main architects of the U.S. Constitution
2. Why did most states require some property ownership to qualify for voting or holding political office?
a. concentrating political power in the hands of the wealthy would encourage economic development.
b. such qualifications would encourage the poorer classes to work hard and save money.
c. a single list of property owners to regulate the collection of taxes and to keep track of voters was
more efficient than maintaining separate lists for each.
d. only property owners possessed the necessary independence to make wise political decisions.
3. How was sectionalism created during the critical period?
a. The eastern states imposed high taxes to retire their war debts; the western states, were without war
debts & sold their public-domain lands.
b. The northern states traded with England; the southern states traded with the Caribbean.
c. The northern states mandated eventual emancipation of slaves; southern states did not.
d. The eastern states consciously built large cities; the western states did not.
4. What made Antifederalists oppose the Constitution?
a. fear that it would cause class warfare because the Federalists were all wealthy
b. fear that it would prove weak and ineffective
c. fear that sectional loyalties would eventually cause a civil war
d. fear that a distant government would infringe on people’s liberty
5. How did the federal guarantee of religious liberty differ from religious freedoms of the states?
a. State government guarantees of religious toleration applied only to Christian denominations
b. The federal guarantee went beyond toleration of religion and made civil status independent of
religious beliefs.
c. State government guarantees of religious liberty were based on a positive guarantee of political
participation for all, despite religious differences; the federal government’s sense of toleration was a
negative guarantee, prohibiting Congress from interfering with the individual’s right to pray.
d. All state governments prohibited Catholics or non-Christians from voting or holding office.
6. Which of the following statements best represents Thomas Jefferson’s views on emancipation?
a. He favored emancipation but did not believe it was possible.
b. He favored emancipation and supported the bill for immediately freeing all the slaves of Virginia.
c. His racism prevented him from seeing the injustice of slavery.
d. His paternalism made him believe that slavery benefited both master and slave alike.
7. Identify the correct sequence of events.
a. Virginia Bill of Rights, Articles of Confederation ratified, Shays’s Rebellion, Constitution ratified.
b. Treaty of Paris, Virginia Bill of Rights, Constitution
ratified, Northwest Ordinance
c. Articles of Confederation ratified, state constitutions written, The Federalist, Annapolis convention
d. Shays’s Rebellion, Treaty of Paris, Bank of North America chartered, state constitutions chartered
8. The first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution are known as:
a. The Bill of Necessities
b. The Declaration of Civil Rights
c. The Bill of Rights
d. The Bill of Natural Causes
9. The first president of the U.S.A. was:
a. Andrew Jackson
b. Abraham Lincoln
c. George Washington
d. Thomas Jefferson
10. The document that the English colonists signed that severed their ties with Britain was:
a. The Magna Carta
b. The Bill of Rights
c. The U.S. Constitution
d. The Declaration of Independence
Observer Corps
June, July, August 2009
During budget times the effect high property values
have on the overall sustainability of the services
provided becomes clear. Cities like Deltona and
Daytona Beach struggle mightily to provide services
with their overall lower housing values, while towns
like Daytona Beach Shores and Ponce Inlet with their
higher overall housing values coupled with larger
percentages of non-homesteaded property are able to
weather this fiscal crisis with less pain. Comparing
the struggles of the different cities and towns in
Volusia County brings into focus the disparities
involved when revenues for municipalities and
schools are tied almost exclusively to property values.
Another member of our Observer Corps is serving on
a municipal committee. Bob Green has been asked to
serve on the Sustainable Water Committee for Orange
City. Congratulations Bob!
Volusia Growth Management Commission
(VGMC)
Municipalities have a right to adopt a comprehensive
plan. The county must determine that comprehensive
plans are consistent between neighboring
municipalities, hence VGMC.
The VGMC recently stirred up the citizenry when
they decided to revise the rules under which they
work. They proposed eliminating citizens’ implied
right to a hearing before the commission when the
citizens believe that their property is adversely
affected by a decision to change a comprehensive
plan effecting 2 or more charter agreement
municipalities. They further proposed allowing the
right of the government entity appointing a
member(s) to remove that member without cause and
appointing a successor member(s) at any time.
Attorney Paul Chipok also noted that there is a
presumption in the amendment which places the
burden of
proof on the party who is preventing the changes
rather than the one asking for the amendment.
Claudia Roth
Volusia County School Board Budget
The Florida Constitution reads in part
Section 1 (a) The education of children is a
fundamental value of the people of the State of
Florida It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state
to make adequate provision for the education of all
children residing within its borders. Adequate
provision shall be made by law for a uniform,
efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free
public schools that allows students to obtain a high
quality education and for the establishment,
maintenance, and operation of institutions of higher
learning and other public education programs that
the needs of the people may require.
SECTION 6. State school fund
The income derived from the state school fund shall,
and the principal of the fund may, be appropriated,
but only to the support and maintenance of free
public schools.
SECTION 4. School districts; school boards
(b) The school board shall operate, control and
supervise all free public schools within the school
district and determine the rate of school district taxes
within the limits prescribed herein. Two or more
school districts may operate and finance joint
educational programs.
The $19.1 million Volusia County school shortfall is
being offset by the transfer of $5.1 million in salaries
previously covered in the operating budget to federal
stimulus funding; the utilization of $1.5 million in
instructional materials; and saving $1.7 million by
cutting central office positions by 5 percent. That
leaves a net shortfall of $10.8 million to be addressed
later.
DeLand City Commission
The City Commission members voted to table a
resolution repealing emergency services response fees
charged to nonresidents of DeLand when they are
involved in accidents within the city limits. $17,000
in fees has been collected from insurance companies
to date. No more fees will be collected, but by tabling
the resolution rather than repealing it, DeLand does
not have to go through a first and second reading if
they want to collect fees in the future. State
legislation outlawing cities being able to collect fees
from non-residents is pending signing by the
Governor. It is possible that this legislation was
initiated by insurance companies who have been
charged fees when their clients were involved in
accidents.
The City Council voted not to participate in the
Yankee Lake Regional Water treatment Plant Project.
Yankee Lake wants to charge DeLand $1,000 just to
stay in the process, and another $100,000 of nonrefundable money without a guarantee of
consumptive use permit.
The St. Johns Water District has mandated that the
West Volusia Cities reduce the amount of ground
water they pull from the aquifer. Even if they are able
to conserve 20%, they still will not be able to meet
requirements of the mandate. West Volusia is bearing
the entire responsibility for preserving Blue Springs.
East Volusia, the County and the State of Florida are
not sharing any of the responsibility.
The County Health Department grants permits for
wells. East Volusia cities are being allowed to drill
wells at will even into West Volusia. The East
Volusia cities and the residents of non- incorporated
areas will not see water rate increases, but they will
occur in West Volusia as they seek alternate sources
of water. The Coquina Project and the Yankee Lake
Project are projected to cost $100 to $200 million to
build. If West Volusia has to use either of these then
Seminole County or Flagler County would control
West Volusia water. West Volusia water rates may
rise 3 or 4 times what they are now. It will be difficult
to attract business to West Volusia if this happens.
Staff is already communicating with other West
Volusia cities to try to find solutions.
Confusion about the interpretation of SB 360
continues to be a problem. For instance
Representative Hukill says Transportation
Concurrency Exception Areas (TCEA) creation is
automatic but Secretary Pelham says it is not
automatic. Cities won’t amend their comprehensive
plans because they don’t have concurrency or
mobility fees. Mayor Apgar explained that Volusia
County is exempt from the law because we do not
meet the density requirements with respect to
transportation concurrency. Dale Arrington explained
that it still affects us because the law requires DeLand
to issue a certificate of capacity if we do have
capacity to support the project. If we don’t have
capacity we don’t have to enforce state transportation
concurrency. However, DeLand is required to
develop an alternative mobility strategy for that
project which is not defined. If DeLand doesn’t
develop an alternative mobility strategy she can be
sued. Fifteen cities have filed lawsuits against SB 360
over this problem. DeLand does not plan to join the
lawsuit.
A long discussion ensued regarding the placement of
Waverly advertising benches throughout the city to
give relief to the DeLand small businesses from
restrictions against non-conforming signs during a
bad economy. In the end, the commissioners voted
against the placement.
The city council gave suggestions to the parties
involved in building a wall between the Miller
property and the Cascades subdivision. The Cascades
Homeowners Association argued that there are 97
vacant commercial buildings and properties in
DeLand and we do not need another one. Staff
acknowledged they were unaware of vacant
properties and had not been directed by the City to
count them. The DeLand City attorney instructed the
Council that since they had already voted to change
the land use designation, legally they have to give the
Miller property a commercial zoning.
Claudia Roth
DeBary City Council
The map revision of flood plains of Debary is now
more accurate, because residents who were flooded in
2008 were not on the flood plain map and therefore
did not purchase flood insurance which left them with
no way to recoup their losses. FEMA named the May
09 rains a Severe Event (DR 1840FL) which allows
the city to ask for public assistance. Nine (9) homes
can be bought out because $1.4 million was received
from FEMA for 2008 Hurricane Fay flooding. Debary
will pump into St. Johns River as needed.
Council members agreed to give out of area city
manager applicant’s airfare, 2 hotel nights and rental
car. They also approved negotiations to buy 300
Alexandra Woods Drive. Melissa Borghorst
New Smyrna Beach City Commission
The Commission approved giving the Police
Department teeth in ordinances for public behavior.
They passed Resolution(R) 20-09 supporting, rail
service Amtrak Jacksonville to Miami and R21-09
supporting Central Florida Commuter Rail.
Edgewater City Council
Edgewater is now up-to-date on its maps and
comprehensive plan changes. They passed an
amendment to the comprehensive plan’s future land
use map to include 29.67 acres of land located east of
US 1 and north of Godfrey Road as commercial with
conservation overlay and low density residential with
conservation overlay, owners James C and Rosemary
Carder.
The Department of Children and Families received
authorization from the city to use space available in
the Criminal Investigations Building.
In other business they passed R 2009-07 requesting
St. Johns River Water Management to reduce permit
application fees and R 2009-08 modifying schedule
of fines, penalties, costs and various administrative
fees. Council approved purchase of property next to
the Police Department with Police impact fees for
future expansion.
A problem has arisen with people cleaning fish on the
picnic tables in the recently reopened Kennedy Park
by the boat launch facilities. Signs will be posted, this
is not allowed by present code.
The city approved a local agreement, FPN 42652158-01, with the Federal Department of Transportation
to facilitate the US 1 Sidewalk Project.
Oak Hill City Commission
R 2009-18 endorses inter-city rail component of the
FEC from Jacksonville to Miami, via the Federal
Economic Stimulus Package.
School property appraised at $350,000, no final
decision by the commission at this time as to whether
they should purchase. A group has formed to pull the
city charter and go back under Volusia Count’s
jurisdiction if they get enough signatures to put their
referendum on the ballot.
The tentative millage was set at 5.799 after much
cutting and discussion, Police Force to remain as is
by a 4/1 vote, rather than use County sheriffs. The
final budget will be set in September. There were
many de-annexation threats. They increased solid
waste fees to citizens 28 cents per pickup because
auditors said they were in red on costs this item.
In other business VIA Hall completed except for
ramp with the grand re-opening set for September 12,
10 a.m. They approved 5K Run for Jan 20th, off US
1; turned down the Waste Pro increase request that
died for lack of a motion; and approved Phase one,
River Oaks Subdivision off Gaines Avenue, by
Danny Johns. NoraJane Gillespie
Ormond Beach City Commission
They discussed approving a low flow toilet rebate
similar to ones offered by other municipalities giving
$50 rebate for each of two replacement toilets per
household.
Audience Remarks:
Two citizens came forth regarding a neighbor with
continuous extensions to his building permits causing
an eyesore. A speaker for the Airport Noise
Abatement task force brought forth two concerns
regarding this committee. 1st: when established there
was a ratio of citizens to people currently involved
with or working at the Airport. When the task force
convened, however, the composition of the group
changed to have a larger representation of Airport
personnel. 2nd issue had to do with “Sunshine Law
concerns” however; the Mayor interrupted and asked
that he call the City Attorney (Hayes) regarding this
issue. At the conclusion of the meeting I approached
Mr. Hayes who indicated that the speakers’ 3 minutes
were up. I expressed my concern that this is a task
force appointed by the Commission and as such
consideration should have been given to waive the
time allotted. This was to me especially important
since there were no other citizens waiting to speak
and the Task Force was concerned enough to want to
speak to this. Mr. Hayes indicated that he would
speak to the chair of the Task force.
Reports/Suggestions etc.
Commissioner Kent indicated that three approaches to
the beach had been closed curtailing access. The
discussion that followed with comments from the
Mayor, Commissioner Kelly and Commissioner Kent
alluded to the City “taking the beach back” as they
were not necessarily in agreement with the County
regarding the conservation zones or the Turtle
protection areas. The Commission will take a wait
and see approach to the possibility of ECHO funding
for off beach parking.
Mr. Coleman of FPL devoted approximately 15
minutes justifying the rate increase to the Base Rate
paid by customers. Mayor Costello invited Mr.
Coleman, and I paraphrase: “because the League of
Cities has scheduled a vote opposing this rate increase
and he felt the people of Ormond Beach deserved to
hear both sides.”
A Building Code variance was approved with one
(dissenting vote) for a gas station to have additional
signage and striping around the canopy of the
building.
(Gillooly)Farmer’s Market approved to start October
1 and every Thursday thereafter.
Two items were pulled from the Consent Agenda and
discussed. The items included a work authorization of
$49,600 for a study of storm water flooding in the
city and a second payment of $48,000 for a
preparation of a grant for FEMA funding. This study
will use modeling available through a computer
program (public domain). This passed with two
dissenting votes due the fact that the computer
program is a public domain program and the city had
completed a similar simulation in 1997. If the Grant
application to FEMA is granted it will generate 7.5
million dollars for storm water flooding abatement.
Another item on the consent agenda approved without
discussion included a new agreement with the Flagler
Humane Society. It was pointed out that a 3-day fee
to house an animal costs $85 at Halifax Humane
Society and $45 at the Flagler Shelter.
A contract with Brown and Brown for Employee
benefits generated a series of “for the record
disclosures” from all commissioners regarding their
conversations with Brown and Brown representatives
prior to the meeting. The contract with Brown and
Brown passed, and they will also become the Agent
of Record for the city.
A suit was settle for almost $100,000 to compensate
Harold Layman and River Bend (golf course)
Management Group for revenue losses and other
problems relating to recent rains.
The city will apply for a grant through the US
Department of Homeland Security for the
construction of a new fire station.
Maritza
Patterson
Port Orange -Citizen Groups Speak-Budget
Workshops
Last year started the downward spiral of revenues
received by the city from property and sales taxes,
causing the need for the city to cut expenses and
possibly raise the millage rate on property taxes. As a
part of the process, the city invited employees,
business people, and citizen groups to participate in a
total of 11 budget workshops. As a member of the
charter review committee, I was invited to attend one
of the workshops where we were asked for our input.
The city manager, Ken Parker, explained that 60% of
the budget is designated to personnel cost. Of that,
58% goes to public safety, police and fire services.
The city is currently in contract negotiations with
public safety unions in an effort to reduce expenses
through strategies such as changing the retirement
structure from 20 years of employment and then
retirement regardless of age to 25 years of
employment and must be at least 52 years old before
the employee can collect a pension. State
requirements, such as an annual 3% cost of living
raise for public safety employees and 5 firemen on a
fire truck every time it leaves the firehouse are areas
that cannot be changed.
Some of the 181 suggestions collected from the
citizens attending one of the 11 meetings were:
1. No raises.
2. Have garbage collected one day a week
instead of two.
3. Instead of hiring consultants to prepare the
Planned Community Annual Report, prepared
by staff.
4. Have more communications through email in
lieu of mailing.
5. Explore e-bills for all utility bills.
6. Extend current life of existing computers.
7. Replace incandescent lights with more energy
efficient lights.
8. Explore with other local governments about
combining warehouse operations.
9. Review total number of cell phones being
used by city employees.
10. Bar-code all city vehicles.
During the July council budget workshop, the council
voted to retain a $4.60 per thousand tax rate even
though property values have dropped 17 percent.
Ken Parker explained that personnel cuts may hurt the
city’s ability to respond to emergencies. Public
hearings on the budget proposal will be held in
September.
Port Orange City Council
The council chamber was filled a recent night with
giggling female softball players from elementary
through high school. The city has provided fields and
support for 5 teams of the Blazer Nation and they
came to give their thanks. It was good to see
enthusiastic, young girls involved with community
sports activities. 2,500 people recently came to the
city for a major softball tournament.
The council voted to support legislation to require all
elected officials, boards, commissions, and other
governing bodies of state and local governmental
agencies to operate under the same Sunshine Laws.
Many cities are advocating this requirement for all
levels of government. Currently, state agencies
operate under different requirements.
The city is applying for a $600,000 American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant that would
allow it to capture storm water from the Halifax
Canal. The canal currently drains approximately 6 to
8 million gallons of fresh water each day into the
Atlantic Ocean. This would give the city an
alternative water source. The benefits include
adopting “green” infrastructure practices, utilizing the
resource to recharge the aquifer, reclaimed water
irrigation, and possible future use to convert to
potable water.
The New Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program
requires $75,000 for an individual and $150,000 for a
couple. While the mayor is concerned about
extending the SHIP program to the point where the
community begins to reduce property values, all
council members want to continue to support the
housing assistance program for low-income and firsttime homebuyers.
Summer
Clayton
Daytona Beach Shores City Council
Like most other cities, the economy and budgets
occupy much of agenda. Steve Whitmer, Finance
Director received considerable praise, at a recent
meeting, as did the Grants Administrator, Lili
Morgese for their work in keeping the budget under
control. Whitmer was cited for his leadership in
moving town employees to a self- insurance health
and retirement plans creating in large part the
$166,000 drop in the personnel budget. Morgese was
cited for her help in obtaining grant monies for parks.
Despite the 23.6 % drop in home values, taking them
back to 2005 level, the city has weathered most of the
recession in reasonably good shape.
Ponce Inlet Town Council
At the June meeting a major controversial issue
concerned short term rentals which have apparently
always been in place at Eastwinds and the Ponce Inlet
Club and never legal. Owners asked to be allowed to
continue with short term rentals in the current fiscal
environment. Others stated that exceptions to zoning
rules sometimes come back to haunt you.
The investment committee was named to research
investment possibilities after it was determined earlier
that the town needed to invest surplus money they
have on hand in contingency funds. McCormick
recommended they give the surplus back to the
citizens, but that was rejected.
The capture and neutering of feral cats moved
forward following an excellent presentation by
Ormond Beach Animal Control Officer Suzanne Holy
and Pat Mihalic from Concerned Citizens for Animal
Welfare on the implementation of a trap-neuterrelease program.
Apparently many in the audience in June were taken
aback by the revelation that legal and severance pay
to the former Town Clerk exceeded $94,000.
There was an interesting and informative presentation
by a member of Range Riders, a group of retired city
and county managers, who offer their services
(knowledge) to municipalities looking for a city
manager. Their service is free but their expenses are
not.
Patricia Gadbaw
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
Aug 25, 2009
Design and build changes will now be two years.
Edgewater lost out on US-1 sidewalk because they
used 1954 outdated FDOT aerials and the city could
not afford to re-do and complete by March first
deadline. The dollars will be converted to the next
project(s), possibly RT 40 duel project(s) which
Mayor Costello said were shovel ready. MPO may
change its name to Volusia-Flagler transportation
planning organization. They will meet August 31
meeting with all of Flager county though only
Bunnell and Beverly Beach taking part to date. Palm
Coast has been talking to St. Augustine about forming
the Upper East Coast Group. Volusia concurrency
data management tool was accepted. In. Sept. they
will vote possible change of budget year to calendar
year as well as election of MPO
officers.
NoraJane Gillespie
LWVVC 2009 Calendar
This calendar schedule is tentative and is subject to change
Date
Event
Tuesday
September 8, 2009
Wednesday
September 9, 2009
Thursday
September 10, 2009
Candidate Information on Web
for NSB & OC candidates
LWVVC Board Meeting
Wednesday
September 23, 2009
Coquina Coast Desalinization
Water Project-Public Meeting
Wednesday
September 23, 2009
VGMC Meeting
Saturday
September 26, 2009
General Meeting: Celebrate
LWVVC 60th Anniversary &
Women’s Equality Day—
Women Advocacy Awards to
Candace Lankford, Pat Northey
& Deanna Schaeffer
Candidate Info Project:
Responses on Web for Lake
Helen, Pierson & Ponce Inlet
LWVVC Board Meeting
Monday
October 12, 2009
Wednesday
October 14, 2009
Saturday
October 17, 2009
Wednesday
November 11, 2009
Saturday
November 14, 2009
Wednesday
December 9, 2008
Orange City Candidate Forum
Joint Meeting with AAUW:
Everything You Ever Wanted to
Know About the 2000
Presidential Election Recount, by
Judge Michael Roy McDermott
LWVVC Board Meeting
General Meeting: Pros & Cons of
Hometown Democracy: Barb
Herrin, Deputy Treasurer of
Home Town Democracy,
Rebecca O’Hara, Legislative
Director of Florida League of
Cities, Inc.
Holiday Party
Where
Time
Comments
www.LWVVC.org
Indigo Profess. Ctr.
2570 W. ISB, DB
Orange City Library
148 Albertus Way, OC
32763
Whitney Labs
9505 Ocean Shore Blvd.,
St. Augustine
Daytona Beach City
Council Chamber, 301 S.
Ridgewood, DB
Grant Bly House,
DeLand, 842 E. New
York Ave, DeLand
5:30–
7:30PM
7 PM
All members welcome!
6-9 PM
7 PM
Discussion on citizens’
standing
Brunch,
9:30 AM
RSVP Maritza Patterson,
[email protected],
deadline: Sept. 22, 2009, $15
Indigo Profess. Ctr.
2570 W. ISB, DB
5:30–
7:30PM
All members welcome!
Sunset Harbor Yacht
Club, 861 Ballough Rd,
Daytona Beach
Breakfast,
9 AM
RSVP Ann Smith,
[email protected],
deadline: October 13, 2009,
$15
Indigo Profess. Ctr.
2570 W. ISB, DB
TBA
5:30–
7:30PM
TBA
All members welcome!
Chris & John Moseley
6 PM
More details later
www.LWVVC.org
TBA
Pat Gadbaw