>> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Good morning everybody, it is good to see a full house. We will call the March 3, 2026 Wuxi County Council meeting to order at 9:01 AM. Just to give you an idea of how we will start in just a second, just one minute I will ask you to stand up for the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance and you can stand if you care to. The invitation is open to all faith groups in Volusia County. If you are a member of a faith group that would like to participate in the future, please just send an email to KGreen @Volusia .org and Karissa will get you all set up. Take, you have this morning we have the smack of the.[Listing Names] Presbyterian Church in Ormond Beach we are pleased of the pastor here today there he is. If you would stand for the invocation. >> Our father in heaven we thank you for the privilege where we live, thank you Lord, for all things, are particular homes and families Lord, here today the governing bodies of Volusia County. He prays for you and thank you for where we live. The freedoms we enjoy. All the citizens here, father we thank you as this group gathers here today in his place and we are enjoying and benefiting from great privileges of living in the United States of America, where our government is accountable to our people and the people are accountable to our government, the privilege we give wisdom and great patience and love and kindness in the room for each other, and you give us in that wisdom, a way of speaking clearly, and in all things desiring only that we do it the right thing. In this hour these several hours give the people who we elected to represent us wisdom and patience with us, and with everyone in this room who wants something to today, Lord help us to yield to one another be clear in what we say, loving and how we do it, and bless us we thank you for Volusia County, and calls the privilege of being here, in Jesus name I pray, amen. >> "I Pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." [Unclear Audio]. Walk the plank. Thank you. [Unclear Audio]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Karissa, would you call the roll please. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Here. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Here. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: Here. >> DANNY ROBINS,DISTRICT 3: Here. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: Here. >> DON DEMPSEY,DISTRICT 1: Here. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Here we have a full dais and a full house. Do we have any public comments to begin the meeting with? As she brings them over I will call your name. In the morning participation you are free to speak to any Item not on the agenda but we might deal with it in the future. You have 30 minutes to speak. Just come up to the podium there is a button on the left-hand side that makes the podium go up and down the would like to have microphone right in front of your mouth so people listening in online can hear and we can all hear, there will be a timer on the screen over my head and on the monitor in front of you. Please, stick to the three minutes we have a lot of people that would like to speak. You are welcome here to speak this morning. The first up, is Mary Dickinson and please when you come up please tell us what area of the county you are from you don't have to give your full address for safety reasons. But your representative would like to know that you live on Marsh Road. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Yes I do, you will be seeing a lot of me until you all decide to take care of Marsh Road and all of us old people over there. Because our subdivision is a elderly subdivision we are being very well mistreated by this commission, this County and the city. There is an ordinance in this state, a quiet time. From 10 PM at night until 8 AM in the morning. These are pictures of dump trucks coming through our neighborhood at 6:39 AM. We have had them coming through our neighborhood 24/7. This is from 7:14 AM - 11:10 AM. 24 jump trucks within that short period of time. This one is from 1112 a.m. - 4:31 PM another 24 dump trucks. Allen plumbing, CFP outdoors, and Eddie V are major offenders. We have now gotten our sidewalks cracking up from the road movement. Our roads are cracking with 2 inch holes through them. They are running down the road and it's becoming grated. You cannot even sit in your front yard in peace, of any kind of peace and not be stressed out. We are sick and tired of it. They are now cutting down the roads that are running in our subdivision and tearing them up. At 6:39 AM in the morning they are waking up people on both sides of the road. Marsh Road had weight limit signs and so did Carter Road and Daltrey Rd., Fred Witt limit is 10,500 pounds. Those dump trucks weigh 25 tons. They are moving the road base. The road is cracked up. The bridge at Sperling sports stadium had a weight limit on it. But those sand haul been pulled out. Because when you all decide to divert traffic from Highway 11 down Carter Road Daltrey Rd. in Marsh Road Marsh Road is a road that has a long ride and people think they can go 60 mph. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you very much we will be in touch. Thank you. your time is up. Catherine.[Listing Names]. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Give it to the clerk and distribute it. His Catherine.[Listing Names] in the room? Suzanne Scheiber? Nobody is ready. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: [Listing Names] Daytona Beach address Good Morning council and respect this council lease Volusia County charter amendment the mirrors Alachua County reduction for public conservation lands specifically Alachua County 1.7 amendment that requires countywide voter approval before protective public lands can be sold or converted for incompatible uses. Alachua County adapted to safeguard in 2008 it protects irreplaceable public lands while preserving accountability and flexibility matters. At its core at this moment municipal land that was acquired for conservation, recreation or cultural purposes should not be disposed of or degraded without the consent of the people who paid for it preserved emboli on it. The Alachua County model does reasonable things. First create a public registry of protected places adopted the open at a public hearing with clear explanations of why each properties matters transparency is good government second says it once Clement is placed on the registry can be sold it cannot be sold or converted in a way that destroys it conservation value unless the voters agree that is not been the change it puts irreversible decisions in the hands of the people it allows for necessary exceptions like state or federal eminent domain service not interfere with higher levels of government I've given each a copy of the two Sarasota amendments that were overturned because they were not compliant with Florida statute 125.35 with respect neither is an apples to apples comparison, in 2018 Sarasota voters passed an amendment that said in plain English the county shall not sell or giveaway any County owned parks or preserves. No exceptions will process. It was an absolute prohibition to take away the county commissioners statutory power under Florida law to manage County property that is nothing like the Alachua County provision for we are asking you to support Alachua County section 1.7 does not been anything it creates a registry of protected public places with specific conservation recreation or cultural properties that deserve the highest protection. Only those chosen properties require a countywide referendum before they can be sold or converted under 25-35 simply adds one extra safeguard for the Lancet will cherish the most. Sarasota tried to handcuff the commission Alachua County of the board of tools protect what matters will keep in full legal flexibility this amendment is essential our request is doomed council to support it to safeguard our fishing reprimand conservation ramp respectfully ask that you place a replica of the Alachua County amendment on the dollar to clearly demonstrate your full support for the land conservation program that 75.6% of voters approved thank you for your time and consideration. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Suzanne Scheiber. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning Suzanne Scheiber group cream green blue showman which has been discussion Volusia County Council meetings about Volusia Forever specifically concerning opportunity and why we have partners in 2020 75.6% of voters strongly supported the land conservation program surpassing the approval ratings of any current or past County elected officials. In the 2000 initiative a strong 61.6% approval this suggests that many of you in this chamber and online listening right now supported faxing yourselves for land conservation. There is a 25 year precedent in Volusia County and never selling land acquired through the program. Coupled with a proven track record of establishing strong partnerships to the ablutions in this chamber and online we all know that what we voted for green green closures launching a County wide movement to defend our land conservation program Volusia Forever infective productivity and utilizing partnerships so what does this mean? We have updated our website with information in order yard signs that will be in stock with them in the region working vigorously behind the scenes attending letters of support for the program thank you to the cities of Ormond Beach Daytona Beach and Edgewater 1000 friends of Florida and the Indian River Lagoon council we are just getting started. If your city organization or business is not named, ask them to send a letter of support ASAP. Our organization can lead this movement but fellow counties you are the movement we are all collectively no strangers to flooding water pollution trout habitat loss biodiversity loss and loss of agricultural lands and conservation transcends division. More than anything. For whatever reason you support land conservation this is called unity. But we need all of you to hold elected officials in this chamber in your cities and for state-level accountable to what we voted to tax ourselves corporate you can start by emailing County Council stating clearly wants opportunity for ships and bonding upheld hundreds of emails have been communion to their inboxes for information yard signs and the consult email addresses. What do cream green foolishly .com it is paid for all volunteers yard signs are first, first served. Lastly we can lead but you must act this is not the pitchfork movement when sending your emails be respectful but make no mistake this is not our first rodeo and politics will not intimidate us we expect that we voted for opportunity partnerships and bonding of Volusia forever lands that meet the established criteria stand up for what you voted for Volusia that you cancel your time. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you.[Applause]. [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Here today to ask for your help, I own a piece of land 10 acres in Ocala Florida is as beautiful as it is classified as I'm sorry I'm nervous it's classified as prime agricultural. As such I'm allowed to put one residence there to make my land. I've been a teacher for 30 years in Florida. At the beginning of 2025 I took a position in Volusia County, now a Volusia County teacher. Happy to be here until the day off from the kids to be here with you fine people today so thank you. My problem is when it took the job and moved my life here I applied for a septic tank application. It was kicked back because my property is in the Mosquito Lagoon area where there is a septic tank moratorium. For my research it means that it can be solved between tomorrow and never. Which is an unacceptable answer to me. Because I understand that when I purchased my raw land I wanted to make a farm and get ready to retire. The youngest is grown and I'm still going to teach. I will make a farm and do organic gardening. I bought this land because it is beautiful and it is protected and is gorgeous. I will not use fertilizer. I'm going to continue the rescue efforts and am happy to put in a septic tank that is an aerobic one that doesn't have a septic down that way it's not going to happen. I understand that the problem again I love manatees I teach in our middle sized I understand the problem. I get it I'm not the problem it appears there is no variance that I can apply for the better. There's nothing I can do it like I have this piece of property I bought again in 2022 now I'm ready to live on it and farm on it and do my thing I cannot do anything and it is matzos value anytime I find anything online which is not much it's like a black hole of information, it's very difficult to find anything there was always no warning I missed the deadline for five weeks when I applied for it was kicked out it was no warning no grandfathering. Now I have this piece of property and am losing money again. I'm a teacher and a lot of the children are not there for the money. I don't have a lot of money. Keep sending in these articles against these million dollar corporations. I understand that Deland… I bought this prime real estate and you guys made it work. That is not it cannot be made for that it is protected I cannot just go in and put up a whole bunch of septic tanks and you know it is very strict will regret what you can do with Atlanta. I want to follow that and put in the upgraded septic systems and everything. I cannot find anybody to help me even though I cannot get my councilperson to contact me. Any help you can give me my information is on the paper thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: You very much. Gary Singleton. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: [Applause]. Mr. Chairman, you do a good job of informing the audience we cannot communicate. I wanted you with a full house. The staff is eating with a lady if you can let people know that would be great. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay thank you. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: My name is.[Listing Names] I'm a citizen of Volusia County, the government is not supposed to work like this. We the people of the citizens of Volusia County elected a future council to serve us to act in our best interest. And to give us what we want. Instead you ignore our requests, turn their backs on our complaints or simply take from us something we've already had. Those of us who are weakly engaged must routinely prepare ourselves for disappointment. The safety performance of this council is disappointing is a great understatement. But you helped pick up more citizens with each taking. Each attempt to gaslight the people and believe that you are taking something away from us for our own good opens more eyes to who and what you really are. You show us who you really represent. Which is worse, those of you who are exempt from special interests or those of you who represent yourselves? Either way, we the people are left out of the process. [Applause] >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you. That concludes the opening Public Participation you will have a chance to speak on Items and council men Santiago is correct for those of you that are new here it might seem as if we ignore the people to come and speak, our rules say that we cannot we don't converse with every speaker that comes up just because of a matter of time and want to have as many of you the care to speak be able to speak. And have the time to. What often happens after someone speaks is if you can see the back of the room you see a County staff person go to that person and handle whatever the situation was great in this case council member Robbins asked for the corridor for the lady with the septic tank issue. Things do get handled just want to take the time to tell you that we really appreciate that you come here you need to speak up you need to speak to your local governments. You are not being ignored. That takes us to the first Item of the day approval of the agenda and I get a motion to approve as written. Can I get a motion? >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: I make a motion to approve the agenda. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: I second the motion. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: All in favor signify by saying,aye? >> Board Voting: Aye. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Opposed the agenda is approved 7/0. That takes us to the consent agenda. Does anybody have an Adam would like to pull for a vote? Anybody have an Item they would like to pull to discuss after the vote? >> I make a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: I second the motion. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Any comments. >> KARISSA GREEN: Share power you have two individuals that want to speak on the consent agenda. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Just handed those to me. Connie Colby would like to speak on Item E. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: That is the ECHO advisory committee work plan. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Morning council Connie Colby Ormond Beach this morning to be nasty except the ECHO 2025 annual report and the work plan and goals resolution 2013-202 states the Council will present direct County expenditures on ECHO Funds to the ECHO advisory committee for review on page 2 of this Consent Agenda the description of the advisory committee duties failed to include this direction from the resolution which needs to be amended the duties of the advisory committee need to be amended to reflect that resolution. Why was this resolution excluded from the wife? It was excluded to start with and many earlier resolutions were included. On June 4 council approved the transfer of ECHO Funds into a direct County expenditure program for the cross project. However the public record does not reflect the completed DCE application recommendation or advisory objections. The advisory committee minutes reflect concerns and clarifications that the committee did not recommend that the project objected to its location, in the middle of the Florida wildlife corridor. These concerns were not communicated to the Council even though the committee specifically asked the staff that their comments and objections be transported to or transferred. Despite that the RFP was announced on January 30, 2026, the RFP has been inserted between two advisory committee meetings and contains tons of details that the advisory committee has not been asking for and were told they were not available yet. Four days later on February 3, the Council Meeting staff acknowledged on record that the DCE projects were reviewed by the advisory committee. Additionally the issue RFP states selected operators will enter a market with demonstrated demand. Get the public reflected that the Council was urged on October 17, 2023, to agree there is a need. The Council agreed to a study with no public input. Formal needs assessment was never done and was specifically excluded from the Hunden Partners visibility study as per the respect or request of the consult with no explanation. Why was this project treated the family? If and when the Council decides to put motocross on the agenda for a vote motocross must not be given a free pass but will submit an application for the Echols procedures where it will be evaluated in the same manner as other applications and will be presented to the advisory committee. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you very much for your comments. Next we had.[Listing Names] would like to speak on Item letter I which is the septic system upgrade grant. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: I notice your Consent Agenda. I just want to take time to think.[Listing Names] and the environmental management team for going to bat for our community and Deleon Springs. She wanted that way back to get us $1.1 million so would have to transfer citizens to convert to nitrogen producing septic systems. >> Chairman point of order if this is not only Consent Agenda why is this happening right now?! It is not on the Consent Agenda I think she is thinking. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: It is Item I. I said I realize this is on your Consent Agenda and you don't normally take, however, sorry it's an opportunity to thank Ginger for going to bat for us because she got $1.1 billion in grants for citizens who are required by state law to convert to nitrogen producing systems. That give us $7000 per citizen and that helped but then she went back and got another one $1.1 million got it up to $10,000 per citizen eventually up to $14,000 citizen people really start engaging and taken advantage of the money disappeared because 139 citizens got the money and used it to convert now she's gone back to that class again for $375,000 we just want to take time to thank ginger I apologize if I was not clear there. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: [Applause] Thank you Mr. Chair here is planning for me to speak thank you. Thank you for bringing attention to that matter as far as the septic tank conversions or replacements because it is a major issue. I spoke about this last time too. I'm very appreciative of the grant in efforts our staff is prettier but we have to do some in the blue spring basin we have to go after clients in the blue spring basin I'm getting calls from people almost in tears when septic tanks are failing and separate bank happening comes in there because of the new law is 20 -$25,000 septic replacement because of the state law the past I just want to unless there's objections literature as her staff to aggressively find more money for the blue Springs basin they are not eligible for this grant thank you Mr. Chair. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you without objection from the Council I think that was committed successfully. Any other comments from the Council after hearing from the public? >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Thank you for your comments. After Mr. Santiago mentioned we are going to put pretzels for the blue Springs area which I'm totally for, I don't want to leave out the north and island of Ormond by the sea as well. We've got the Halifax River) defeats up to the dispatch and heads down to Ponce Inlet. Let's add that to the list also. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you. Okay-if there are no other comments I will call for a vote on the Consent Agenda which was to pass each Item all in favor signify by saying,aye? >> Board Voting: Aye. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: And he opposed the consent agenda is approved 7/0. Which brings us to Item number three. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Resolution - ECHO Advisory Committee implementation of term limits as requested by the County Council during the review of the strategic plan. Strategic Goals: Efficient and Effective Government Operations there are three options here I am not sure what the motion to approve would be? Who was going to speak to the spread tell us what the options are. >> BRAD BURBAUGH : There are three options we've given you to return with it. One, is it allows individuals to cross on the years that start now. It would be individuals who are presently serving the clock for eight year limit start. The next one is allowing the individuals to complete their term and if they have more than eight years they would be gone. Then the last option is essentially giving individuals more years after their term is complete because it will help us stagger now that we are aligning with the Council terms. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: The way it is presented in our information here is option A is a clean break. Option B is grandfather transition, option C is a phased sunset. Vice Chair Rienhart. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: I'm actually in favor of option C. This is what I put up at home to talk about it before it does stagger and sit with our we are the ones that appoint these individuals. Put it in line with our cycle. Curious help the rest of my colleagues feel but I like option C >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Are you making that a motion. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: I will make that a motion for option C. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Is there a second for option C? Without a second we will move to. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Dr Burbaugh Baylie I'm not hearing clearly today what you said was a different option I think Tiffany what I'm reading from option a BNC it was different. Make sure I'm not losing my mind. That being said, council since there was no second and option C all make a motion to approve option A, the claimant break all prayer service to worded the year CIP members will be ineligible for deployment beginning March 2027 this approach ensures immediate turnover may result in the simultaneous departure of multiple experienced member. Option A. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Is there a second for option A. >> DON DEMPSEY,DISTRICT 1: I second the motion. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Any questions for the staff, any comments. Troy I agree with you we all serve under term limits.?, For your terms I think it's a good reason for that it encourages leadership and innovation. It also will prevent one really strong member from leading the vote on any Item. I don't note the havoc that I think we have in people that have really served well and honorably, I think there is a good reason for the term mix. I also think that the public refers to term limits paper for us to have term limits. Fortunately the state does not and the federal government does not but the County Council does. I appreciate you bringing up option A. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: I do have a quick question. One of the statements in option A says we will lose some multiple members with experience. We have a lot of people with 4-6 years or 2-6 years of experience. Three people will come off. There are a lot of people that went through the rework that remain. Of the plan you guys are interested in, thank you that's all I have. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Any other comments motion on the floor is for option A, which is titled here clean break. If there are no other comments all in favor signify by saying,aye? >> Board Voting: Aye. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Any opposed? Option A is adopted 7/0. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: I just want to take a moment of personal privilege. I want to recognize one of the former County Council numbers Dwight Lewis will come back certain to see you out there thank you for your service sir. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: He didn't even fill out a card to speak. [Laughter] Mr. Baylie that moves us to Item number four Reconsideration of the 2025-2026 Community Cultural Grant Program Awards. Award amounts: $571,926. >> TIM BAYLIE: Good morning Mr. Chair Honorable County Council numbers I'm Tim Baylie today before you is there for consideration of the 25/26 committee cultural grant program awards there were two applicants that have been true since the last time you heard this. Shoestring theater and Athens/ Sand theater were removed from the recommendations and all of the recommended grants are as previously recommended. I'm here to answer any questions. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay. Thank you for any questions for the staff. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: No questions, just a comment. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Comments only right now. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: If there are no questions for the staff we will hear from the public. There are about two hours of comments.[Laughter] [Applause]. Okay. Order in the house. Need to do this orderly and in the order that you signed up. We will hear from the public and then the Council will debate and comment. First up, we have the mayor of the bearing.[Listing Names]. Thank you mayor for coming. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: I'm short. [Listing Names] DeBerry Florida. My re marks will be brief thank you for the opportunity. For legal and moral reasons you should approve the disbursement of the recommended cultural grant for the 2025 / 2026 budget year you took an oath the Comprehensive Plan requires funding cultural arts annually. You can find the Comprehensive Plan for following a public process to do so. But this has not been done. Not only refusing to follow the Comprehensive Plan is at odds with your oath. Morally, you provided more rigorous vetting for proposed grants for the current budget year, and fully funded grants requests complying with the new standards and ratings in the approved budget. Your words and formal decision to approve the 2025/ 2026 program last spring and through the budget must mean something. I see that there is no moral choice to take the money for something else like infrastructure. No matter your views on core governmental services. Your views can be accommodated if they prevail in proper procedural action for new fiscal years. That's the end of my comments. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you Jennifer Marano. [Applause] Everyone does have three minutes if you can take less then more people get to speak. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning New Smyrna Beach Jennifer Marano thank you for putting this back on the agenda. I do appreciate it. You heard from me a lot and my neighbor said you market keystroke wanted to chime in who cannot be here to give me a letter to meet you. I write today? Just a neighbor but as a taxpayer and a business owner the right to maintain full funding for the arts and cultural organizations. While we often talk about the arts in terms of inspiration or culture I want to talk about economic infrastructure. In a world of small business we rely on anchors to drive traffic for Canal Street hub is that anchor to host an event or gallery openings restaurant sees an uptick in diners. These are not just art lovers, they're consumers of the parking lots and walk our streets and they spend their disposable income at my table in the shops nearby. The government later on tables are full. The hub creates economies that would not exist without them. Please try to town for a meal but they will drive into town for an event in the state for that meal and a glass of wine. Beyond the big event hub staff dozens of their volunteers and artists are being regulars they don't let us begin in week out providing the kind of study reliable revenue that small businesses need to survive the slow season spread beyond the hub of the downtown is new to the New Smyrna Beach Museum of history artist workshop and arts on Douglas all these organizations traffic by establish hub harassment to provide with further events a few times you are unable to donate food to them in return I received advertising and other marketing opportunities that help to bring to customers to my restaurant. It's a win-win. If you cut funding to the hub are not just cutting a nonprofit's budget your cutting the marketing apartments for every small business and our street you're removing one of the reasons people choose to eat in this historic district public funding for the arts is often treated as laundry or gift through from where I stand it looks like a strategic investment please don't pull the rug out from under the small businesses that rely on the gravity of the hub keep our district vibrant keep it busy and please keep funding the hub along with all the other arts and will cultural organizations thank you Scott Krause's owner of city market bistro. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Boyd Bowers. [Applause] Lloyd, you usually go last. I don't know what happened today. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Luck of the draw. Lloyd hours Daytona. Chairman Brower Council members neighbors and friends. On February 18, 2025, you made a promise to her community. The fund cultural arts programs for this year. That promise is not just about dollars, it was about dignity. It was about telling our children our artists are educators and our neighbors that their creativity matters. Their voices matter. And their stories matter. Today you have a chance to keep that promise. When we talk about cultural arts we are not talking about something extra, something nice to have. We are talking about the heartbeat of their community. It's the after school art class that keeps a teenager engaged in off the streets. It's the local theater production that brings neighbors together who may never meet. Its mural determines the blank wall into a source of pride. February 18, his council committed to funding those programs that commitment inspired hope people leave you when you said you would act. But here's the truth if you walk away from that promise now we lose more than programs we lose trust. Once trust is broken it's far harder to rebuild and to maintain. Right now across the country people are asking themselves, can we trust our leaders? Do their words mean anything? You have the power to answer yes today. Right here, right now. Approving these funds is not just about supporting the arts it's about proving that when this council makes a commitment he follows through. When you keep your word to send a message that echoes far beyond this chamber, that message is this is a government that listens, that acts and honors its commitments. Council members today to do more-approve a budget Item you can reform the bond with the people and the government. You can say to every resident we see you, we value you, we keep our word. I ask you, not just as a speaker at this podium who's been here spoken at every meeting since October 8, 2025 but as a member of this community keep the promise you made. Approve the funds. Restore faith in government. Show us your words matter. Because when leaders keep their promises, communities thrive. When communities thrive we all win. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Angela.[Listing Names]. [Applause]. Is Angela.[Listing Names] still in the room. Angelo. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: You may not remember me, you may remember the yellow jacket you've seen it a number of times. I'm a playwright with reductions around the country and around Canada on the teacher instructor performing arts study painting at the artist workshop in New Smyrna Beach a member of the Museum of arts of Deland the member of the little theater of New Smyrna Beach all by way of saying the arts is not some head in the closet thing for me is an important part of my life as they are for most of the people find me. The monies that we are talking about are valuable and crucial for the support of organizations that offer services to the county's children, the senior citizens, to those for whom the arts are therapy, and of course to your family and constituents. These organizations involved seven music voices and organization, six art centers and festivals . six Museums spread four theaters, four historical and cultural societies. Two film societies. More than 30 in all. Not to mention the tourism and business that is generated as was just mentioned. To be brief, I for one congratulate you for having the perceptions to revisit the funding question. I hope you'll do the right things by a few arts organizations and by your constituents. Thank you. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you Patricia Miles. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: After Patricia will be Craig.[Listing Names]. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning Chairman Brower and esteemed Councilman I'm pretty sure Miles lived in Port Orange Florida I am a retired teacher and supervisor. 10,000 people turning 65 each day is the fastest growing age group and in the United States pretty women 85 years of age or older are in that group. By 2050 the US population over 65 will more than double. 86.7 million people and the global average lifespan is expected to extend by 10 years or more. This increase in an aging population, will weigh heavily on the already stressed social services and medical sectors. As always on the caregivers of these older adults. Getting older can be both a joy and a challenge, it is a new time of celebration, freedom for many from daily work. Any opportunity to learn new skills, explore new places, and enjoy life. It can also be a time of loneliness, declining health, and grappling with the end of life. The arts are there for all of it. Arts participation can improve health, decrease depression and loneliness and increase participation in other kinds of activities. It also has been known to decrease anxiety which affects cognitive performance and decision-making and lower the risk of dementia. Using the arts to engage with aging effectively divides lifelong learning, increases social engagement, increases in loneliness and isolation and improves braille health and memory loss at home or in care facilities 43.3 million will be saved from doctor visits because of the arts. 63% will have a reduced risk of dementia. And these statistics are from art for the Americas for 2025. Engaging in or viewing art and cultural performances can act as a natural antidepressant. Fostering joy and emotional resilience is a shared heritage I just looked at in my time. All right, how many of you guys in the next 20 years will hit that where you will be looking for. Folks thank you for your consideration. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] Craig smacked you will be followed by Becky Odessa. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning gentlemen.[Listing Names] president for the Volusia County cultural alliance I also have the good fortune to be one of the arts administrators in our public school district. It is so nice to be with you this morning to spirit Shirley is alive in this room wouldn't you agree? It is great! Just wanted to gently remind you that the Council approved when you approved your current budget arts and culture funding was included. Based upon that action, a formal process began. Many arts and cultural organizations that were eligible throughout our county invested a significant amount of time and effort to apply in good faith. Along the way this Council voted to transition from the funding model of operational support to more of a project they support. That changed the required weeks of additional work by your county staff, your appointed volunteer arts Council and numerous community stakeholders. To redesign the process and to bring forward a new structure, that revised process was presented to you, discussed publicly and ultimately approved by the Council. All eligible organizations - reapplied. After applications were reviewed and funding recommendations were approved, the final step was a procedural vote on the consent agenda, the Items was pulled due to a concern involving a facility rental connected to one organization. Since that time, still in many conversations and public input but today, thank you for revisiting this consideration for arts and culture funding. This is about honoring the budget that you all previously adopted. Respecting the process established and recognizing the work completed by the staff, volunteers and applicants. It is also about honoring your constituents. Over 3000 residents of Volusia County have signed a petition demonstrating strong community support for arts and culture funding. So today I respectfully urge you to approve the funding for the current fiscal year as planned, then as adjustments are needed for the future please let us work together thoughtfully and transparently, to strengthen the program moving forward. Please thank you so much for serving and for your time. I appreciate you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Becky Adessa. Becky will be followed by Heather MacLean. . >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good afternoon everybody my name is Becky Adesso I did not really write a whole lot to talk to you guys about. I don't have any statistics, high-growth and foster care systems. My mother was in the welfare system. Had a lot of kids are young her mother was also in the buffer system, had a lot of kids very young. My point is that according to statistics I should also be an abuser of drugs and alcohol, and have children be reliant on government assistance. But I am not. I am a strong advocate in the community. I'm a dedicated parent and foster parents, and I'm a business owner and a business owner for 20 years. I feel I owe a lot of that to the arts. Because going through the foster care system the one thing that was always there was the arts. In the 80s, there was a huge expansion of funding and cultural arts programs, if you look back, it had not been there in the 60s and 70s. It was becoming a little bit more niche to support the arts in education. Because of that I was able to find a release in arts that I did not have to find in the streets. Which means that I had other outlets for my anger and my loneliness other than drugs and casual relationships. That means sources are pretty simple, we can give kids a chance to find expression and release in arts, or they can find it in the streets. I hope that we will support the arts and give these kids another place to put their emotions and to lease their … Just to show themselves because they need that. If we don't give them a place then you will find a place. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you for your comments. Heather MacLean. Heather, you will be followed by Cameron Vincent. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning my name is Heather MacLean present on Deland and the vice president of Volusia pride to say thank you to Council members Reinhart has Johansson Council member Santiago and Councilman Dempsey for putting this back on the agenda. During the meeting in October Council member Robbins will make the company arts funding from the consent agenda because he believed the rental agreement with Volusia pride does not fit the definition of art. That is despite being mental and not paid for by taxpayers dollars. The Athens and shoestring figures with Luther application for the cultural arts grant, why are the other organizations grants not yet approved? To the public to these organizations to me, it seems like the Volusia pride was an excuse not to support your spread the complexity of the mental gymnastics Bob say that renting out a space the way these leaders support themselves as this Council has encouraged them to do is directly tied to the county funding that can deserve a gold medal but it's not the Summer Olympics set. You run a supportive program, you're preventing actual economic dollars from supporting this community on the basis of discrimination. I love the arts and I love this county. It makes me furious that two organizations have been hurt because they were doing what we at Volusia pride, which is making a safe space for everyone but these elected officials were people supposed to represent all of us. While there is certainly room for debate about how the county tax dollars are spent it's evident to me likely all of you and all the people in this room that the arts are invaluable to our community. These continue to fund these arts grants and please be careful to not discriminate. Thank you. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Cameron Vincent you will be followed by Carmen. [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning Chair Council and the staff Cameron Vincent Port Orange Florida art-house Executive Director Vice President VCCA I want to thank you all of you for bringing this backup and for consideration you guys have seen more of my face and most of my board members. I believe in the process that we're seeing here today. I believe open COMMUNICATION between the public and elected officials is so valuable and I'm proud to be a part of this. I have been up here so many times, I come up and share facts about the return on investment and I share how impactful our programming is for children. You guys know it by heart in fact I will send out invites to join the board for some of you guys. This time I would like to read a letter of endorsement that was given to us by a[Listing Names]. I believe Patrick sent it to you via email. I would like to read it for the credit today. Members of Volusia County Council, as you consider restoring community cultural grants I like to share an example of how a single program can influence the long-term safety and security of Volusia County art-house is one of the organization standing before Cupid met all the requirements and take the necessary steps to obtain cultural grant funding. The support that request today is not a handout, it is an investment that will pay dividends for years. I often hear questions across the community about what we can do to address youth crime and the mental health and behavioral challenges impacting our kids. One of the answers is art-house. This organization runs programs serving rock Volusia County including underprivileged at risk and those with special needs. It is on therapy programs that build self-esteem, inspire confidence and help give our skids a sense of purpose and direction. Its afterschool programs and outcomes over school breaks help kids engage actively and out of trouble; these are exactly the kind of initiatives that transform our kids into well-adjusted young adults. Law enforcement leaders across America supports programs like this because studies show they keep kids out of the juvenile justice system today and practicing the Sheriff’s Office support art-house with $7500 contribution that's and in addition to $1.3 million in drug forfeiture funds we've already donated to youth programs around our community since 2021. Art-house and 30 organ each followed the application vetting process met the standard set activities grant into their budgets by restoring these grants the County Council will be fulfilling his promise and allowing the rate work of organizations like art-house to continue for another year. Thank you. [Applause] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Thank you Chairman Council on the city manager of Deberry Florida as you know one of the highest quality of life communities in Volusia County being on the first Council he built from scratch one of the most fiscally responsible business oriented governments in the state of Florida we have the lowest ad valorem tax rate in Volusia County for all of our 32 year history. We operate a full service city with just 48 employees. Our operational philosophy is to eliminate duplication in government. Utilizing contract for services for law enforcement fire and building department and recreational and art programming. We contract with West Volusia Art athletic club for baseball and softball programs for thousands of kids with no additional employees. We contract with Gateway Center for the arts for cultural programming for thousands of kids without additional employees. If you know me, I don't have an artistic bone in my body. But in 1999 after being elected as the mayor I met with Sandra Paulson as she started a nonprofit organization to inspire our services. In a file was 1/4% sports minded only mayor our relationship could've ended after the first meeting. But it was my responsibility to build a quality small-town community with the lifestyle that serves all of the residents of DeBerry my leadership and the city's partnership with Sandra Paulson and the Gateway Center for the arts team which included the County we've built the first class arts Center and a family oriented agreement for adults and children. Too often the government invests millions of dollars in building opportunities course sports facilities and programming, but overlook family oriented cultural arts. Just like sports there is a return on investment for cultural arts. Let me explain. DeBerry has been named Orlando's hottest suburb. It is one of the most desirable places. I live in central Florida mostly because of our quality of life. Our family wanted lifestyle recreational and cultural arts collectively this creates a desire and demand increases property values and sponsor economic growth. You see it right now in DeBerry this very moment DeBerry's committed I will use the word committed commercial investment in the next three having four years will exceed one billion dollars in market value. With process and being built right now. The return on investment are enormous we ask you to follow the DeBerry model and best practices. Physical responsible conservative governments can and should support cultural arts in their community. Thank you very much. [Applause] >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Lee Dunkel. You will be followed by Ellen Wintermute. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Hello thank you for having us here. 1972 I and my family, my two sons and my husband moved to Ormond Beach. It took until 1991, for a cinema or theater to come. It was a theater that was behind the mall in Daytona Beach and it was there for many many years. It was such a joy to be able to go and see. To see art movies. We all seem to crash and bang there's plenty of those. But films that are made as an artistic thought process are rare. Anyway, in our little theater cinema.[Listing Names] which is on the street was started in 2005. The art leader has been there and is providing us with films of note fun interesting and some are works of art the most not seen at the other local theaters. My? You may ask and I replied because our mission is to provide films to our audience which are unique works of art just a bit different than the films in the other theaters. Also I might add our theater is a bit different in the layout. We also provide live comedy, live music people may rent the theater for a party or special showing of the film of their choice. With the money you provided in the past, we have been able to continue our mission but without it, we are not sure. Beat Street is proven to be a great location for us and for Daytona Beach. We continue to provide something unique to Beat Street and to Daytona and I hope you will continue to want us it is not a lot, it was only 17,000 and a few hundred dollars praise that is not what it cost her. But for us, it means a lot. Thank you very much. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you. Ellen Wintermute is approaching you will be followed by Julia.[Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning councilmembers I am Ellen Wintermute I live currently and wonder city and make the commute to.[Listing Names] on a very regular basis. I'm here to ask you to restore $100,000 that was removed from the arts and culture grants placed into the general fund for sidewalk repairs. Let me begin by saying this clearly: sidewalks matter, infrastructure matters. Public safety centers but so does the cultural infrastructure community. The $600,000 was not any request, it was budgeted it was approved it was designated for distribution. $100,000 Of it nearly 17% was pulled away after the fact that reduction is not just a line Item shift it's a real immediate loss to working nonprofits educators performers local businesses and thousands of residents that they serve. Arts and culture and not decorative extras, they are economic drivers and generate tourism. They support restaurants and small businesses. They create jobs that provide educational programming for children and seniors and offer veterans families and young people safe and meaningful places together. Every dollar granted through arts and culture multiplies in the community. You know that it does not sit idle, it is spent locally on printing performers, technicians renting supplies, and circulating within our communities. Sidewalk repairs are an ongoing responsibility of the government. But arts and cultural grants are not a pothole to tentatively wait another year. Programming is scheduled now contracts are signed now. Educational research is happening now. When you remove funding streams you destabilize organizations that operate on tight margins and careful planning. Let's be honest, in the context of the budget, your budget of $100,000 is modest in the context of small nonprofit arts organizations. It is transformative. It may be a difference between a season happening or being cut, a difference between children's programs continuing or being canceled. Between access and absence, this is not an either or decision between sidewalks and the arts; a thriving community does both. We maintain our physical pathways and we invest in the pathways of creativity, education and civic life. We want a community that attracts families and witnesses retirees visitors. We must signal that we value that more than asphalt. We value imagination, I respectfully ask you to restore $100,000 to the purpose it was budgeted and proved to show the community what you commit to is supporting the arts and that that commitment stands. We can chip away at the culture to fix concrete he risked creating a County that is still paved unless alive. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Julia Joel you will be followed by Millicent.[Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning gentlemen, my name is.[Listing Names] and from Daytona Beach. I'm actually from Daytona Beach which not a lot of people can say. I represent the Volusia County cultural alliance. Come to think of Councilmember Reinhart bringing cultural grants back before this body. I want to thank the other members of this body who voted to allow the agenda item to go forward. But most importantly I want to thank more than 3000 people who signed a petition to restore cultural funding and even more important than them for people who are here today to support the cultural funding that is so important to the life and vibrancy of this county. Will you all stand and be recognized? [Applause]. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: As Melissa comes down following Melissa will be Tracy Grubbs. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning my name is.[Listing Names] I live in Deleon Springs. I live in District 1. I'm speaking in favor of funding for the cultural arts. I grew up in rural Volusia County, my exposure to culture was through school, church and home. We have seen tremendous growth in our area and I do not want us to regress. One tenant that has guided me my whole life, is that once I gave my word that I would do something I would do it well, you gave your word that you would fund the arts now you have decided not to honor that promise. Keep your word! Do not make the Volusia County Council motto the promises made, promises not kept. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Tracy Grubbs you will be followed by Marilyn Goldsmith. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning council Tracy Grubbs mirror Port Orange as a stand here before you again and look back and look at a chamber wall of individuals. As I sit in Port Orange council and a chamber fills there has to be something pretty important. This has been important because your chambers have been false for the last four months. I have to listen to my constituents. I hope that you will listen to your constituents. The money that comes in off the $500,000, is exponential. To all of the cities. In my city of Port Orange, we have DeBerry, South Daytona Mayor here Daytona Beach Shores. DeBerry. Also represented inside the chamber. A look at that and go well, something has been missing. The missing part is understanding that in defendant beach we have the Museum of Art in science, beech Street. Arts cultural area Port Orange art house. Some rural projects that were due underneath the bridge. New Smyrna Beach Canal Street the mural project underneath the bridges. Almond Beach defacements all the art festivals that happen. On Granada then again, as I drive here, welcome to Deland the cultural and arts district signage as we come to this building. It amazes me that we have the cultural grant under the auspices of parks and recreation. But what they have to go through is the reason for that is every park that we have in every city and county park has art displayed. When you think it's not as big a deal it is. All I'm doing is asking for all of these people standing behind me sitting behind me. look at you, tell him you would do, we are not asking for anything different. Just find what has been budgeted and been paid by the taxpayers thank you. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Marilyn Goldsmith will be followed by Kathy Thompson. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning my name is Marilyn Goldsmith I'm from Port Orange Florida, thank you all for attending today and allowing us to speak with you this is a very important issue. That is why it keeps coming up plus promises made should be kept. If you take the time to look at ending the Volusia County cultural grant you must understand the effect it can have on our community studies have been done on the subject five familial clinic American Academy of neurology the America for the arts and many others the availability of arts within our community generate more income than the grant provides it allows these nonprofit organizations who are servants of this community, for sure! To continue to use the money to provide much-needed community services. These studies all seem to say the same thing, the arts are necessary to help stabilize and refresh our community. That should be what all this is about. Positive impact the arts provide spaces for connection and engagement to occur organically within the community. This happens by promoting self-expression, transforming public spaces and creating collaboration through the community project. The arts increase grade of intelligence that allow for critical thinking, problem solving and emotional expression. Overall, our youth to better academically and tend to go on to higher education because of the spray things like neighborhoods projects builds trust and social capital civic engagement and has been shown that art which communities have a 25% increase in safety and cultural precipitants are 50% more likely to be involved in it for community activities. It can also be effective in decreasing violent crime abuse and neglect. Negative impacts on the arts decline or disappear in a community- there is increased stress anxiety and depression emotional outlets are decreased neurochemical efforts disappear that means your brain changes. Neural synapses slow coping mechanisms can be produced and social and communal fragmentation can occur. I'm sorry I've got something empathy can be produced to reduce civic engagement loss of identity and weaken cultural identity and fewer opportunities for self-discovery. There are also increased public health concerns research shows high art engaged engagement will reduce levels of obesity and higher overall mental and physical well-being. Thank you for listening. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you for your comments. Kathy Thompson and Kathy you will be followed by Lori ring. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Kathy Thompson Ormond Beach. I came into Volusia County in 2007 because of the flourishing arts here that is the reason we chose this county. I hope you will honor what you committed to last year and allow the young actors company to flourish and continue to flourish. They will perform for over 1500 of the children in this county this summer. And our travel to our senior troubleshooters travels to retirement centers, churches, libraries and entertains residents for free. But he also will cover the expenses of 60 shows that we produce per year. That brings people to restaurants and entertains our tourists and causes them to come back to this area every year. During the winter. We did everything you asked and I ask you to honor that please. Thank you for your time. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] you will be followed by.[Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning I want to thank Matt Rienhart for bringing this back to the agenda and the other members of the Council that supported this. [Applause] As it my name is.[Listing Names] I was given Volusia County since I was three years old I really really have enjoyed and honored and been very proud of paying my taxes every year for two houses and in that taxpayer money I want you to know, the best way to spend that 600 thousand or less now, is invest in this program. It is really you who does more with that little bit of money than I can do alone. Seriously! The organizations would not get anywhere near the support if it was just me riding checks to each one of them. So please understand this is rational. This is logical. This is the way you support your community. Because you are spending money just like when I was 30 four years as an art teacher I had to be so frugal with that money art supplies. So every child could get something. You are doing the same by supporting so many realizations that building as executive director with our house for 11 years this grant money was saving us every time. Not because we were not working our butts off all year round to raise money not because we didn't have supporters but because it is very difficult as nonprofits to raise enough money to continue in this world we are in a beautiful new building we are proud to be there through the ECHO grants which is been great. But realize that as a taxpayer and a boater and I vote in every election I want you to know that the way you support this cultural grant is very important. This is the honorable choice. Approve the disbursement. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Martha under minor you will be followed by Kristin Gandy. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning councilmembers thank you for the opportunity to speak today I am.[Listing Names] a live in Deland I serve as executive director of the Museum of Art land back I'm urging you to release the cultural arts grant funding and funding is sometimes seen as an announcement something that is nice to have but in communities like ours the arts are essential and infrastructure for education economic vitality and community well-being. Across this County cultural organizations provide direct services to presidents every day a lot of them free of charge, at the Museum of Art DeLand programs serve hundreds of children in head start classrooms which are our families living below the federal poverty line through storytelling and creative exploration young learners build language skills competence and kindergarten readiness at a critical stage of development are creative compass program supports students by providing mentorship graded skills and a sense of belonging. Angela teacher Institute we invest in educators Volusia County area educators providing a free program that equips teachers with creative strategies that reach thousands of students long after the workshop and spread cultural arts funding also shapes how our community is experienced programs like the Scripture block activate public spaces and make our county a vibrant and desirable place to live and where people want to work raise families and spend their money. Kathy support is not only funding we receive but it is a catalyst that allows these programs to exist and remain accessible. When funding is delayed or removed organizations must raise costs or reduce reprogramming and tax felt mostly by children, seniors and low-income residents. The museum has felt this reality since the loss of funding. We have already started raising our cost and are making difficult decisions about what is next. Losing these funds is an investment that was already promised to the community, one that returns the value in education, economic activity and quality of life. We are only strong as a County when we support all people regardless of income in our community when all voices are heard. The arts help define who we are as a County and I respectfully ask you to release the cultural arts grant funding and keep grants in place for the future so organizations like ours can continue serving our residents. Thank you. [Applause] >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Christine Gandy you'll be followed by.[Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning council, Kristin Gandy landed back Florida on the events director for the verbal minor settlement on extending my energy and my sweetness to all of you your job is not easy you frequently sign up to get pies thrown in your face I feel that would harden anyone and from noon I know that throwing the pie also hardens us so am very cautious of that. Today I'm hoping to convince you of hard cold facts and a little bit of cuteness. [Laughter] I'm here with so many others to advocate for the approval of this year's funding for the County cultural grant to understand how the government works. If you make a rule but they can be broken your commitment from where you sit is to future generations not necessarily to the wants and wins now. In the real world we see things that we have to take back if it is for the greater good. How does this rescinding these funds impact the greater good? If the goal is for these programs to sustain themselves bootstrap style we wean off government dependence on the person who then transferred to your constituents. The public and what if your constituents cannot afford it if they have to choose between sustaining their business to keep food on the table and supporting programs that enrich their children while they are at work does that mean they don't value those programs? My observation very humbly is that if we want less government over which is forced upon our people then we use these people all your time to pick up the slack in the gaps in government support, frequently filled by programs like these. In closing, this is.[Listing Names] she had my job as the events coordinator at Barberville she passed away at the young age of 44 and 2023 less than two weeks after running the biggest event of the year the fall country debris lying down sick she gave orders for walkie-talkie to ensure our organization and the public never lacked despite her illness she gave the last of the energy of her life to the arts and to the community just so no one could give just as no one can give you one dollar amount to shorten their own lives this funding pales in comparison to the life these severance will give in exchange for the support I'm asking for one last time today. On what happens to be today Mandy's birthday. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Jason and summer as you come down you will be followed by.[Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning members of the Council my name is.[Listing Names] last time I stated before you I was 11 years old I'm here today for the very same reason 13 years old I've been a part of Athens theater for nearly 4 years. I have truly loved every moment of it during that time I had the opportunity to participate in several performances including reductions at the Halifax repertory theater through these experiences I learned my true passion lies in the arts. I take classes in musical theater, voice acting and dance. Being involved in the theaters not only strengthens important life skills like conference teamwork and discipline but it also makes lasting friendships. Everyone involved shares a genuine love for the arts and if the passion creates a supported inspiring community. The arts are within performances on stage. They are opportunities for young people like myself to express ourselves and build the future with creativity and confidence. I kindly urge you to continue supporting and funding the arts so others can experience the same group and joy. I thank you for your time and consideration. [Applause] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: I'm not sure what the first action letter will be first.[Listing Names] On summer we are here from Deland for a visit. I was not aware of Athens. The application I will stand here and support of the arts is Lord knows where my daughter is. Almost 2 years ago in March 2014 only on the day of summer and I stayed here to speak against the chamber's decision to move funding for the arts over Volusia County unfortunately we are here again today for the same reason I do sincerely want to thank all of you that have continued to support the arts. You can see by her how important it is for our children. I'm not sure what changed from February 18 felt there was 6/1 this decision suggests sidewalks are being valued more highly than our children's development. I believe funding for the infrastructure can be found elsewhere without taking opportunities away from our youth. Not every child is interested in traditional sports I played football basketball and baseball to see what my daughter does my son that shoots archery does not do anything I've done my wife was a swarmer and horseback rider again you see the difference from many children's the arts are there passion as a community we have an obligation to support and encourage our youth no matter where their interests lie this funding assist in keeping the room cost down and provide scholarships for families who otherwise could not afford participation also supports students want to learn the technical side of theater opening doors to couriers behind the scenes as well as on the stage. I urge you to do what is right. Ponderously arts this year and every year moving forward. We appreciate your time. [Applause]. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Hello.[Listing Names] [Listing Names] thank you for always trying. I think this is so amazing with the up-and-down podium. This awesome technology is so cool. I'm sorry I'm just the microphone. Thank you so much for having us here today. I've seen you before on behalf of ACA images Festival of the arts. I now represent the artist workshop in New Smyrna Beach. I just want to say thank you for letting us come back here. Thank you. I am loving what the pioneers' settlement just said about pie in the face. This does take so much out of you a lot of bandwidth. I just want to – gratitude for having us here and honestly putting us all together in this moment to stand together as a unit leader in our credit community New Smyrna Beach gone to meet so many passionate individuals of all ages and all walks of life. The arts really to bring us together and are such an indemnity point Volusia County including part of why I moved here and bought the family property because I knew New Smyrna Beach was not center and Art Deco safe space to be creative and expressive you guys represent that to me and I love that we have this opportunity to do the right thing invest in culture and arts and community because it speaks volumes to not only our local population but everyone will need this investment in the community. So thank you so much for your time and thank you to everyone in this room if you notice some of us are wearing green and want to remind you of that investment. You want to see us as part of the future. Thank you guys, happy Tuesday I look forward to the next time you talk about.[Listing Names] it is kind of like.[Listing Names] I really appreciate that so thank you so much. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] you will be followed by.[Listing Names] who will be followed by.[Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning to seven of you. It was the will of the people who reported back to me we didn't like you to be the village moral authority to tell us what we should or should not watch, visit or experience. We do ask you to spend our tax money wisely if we see waste should let you know what the waste is. Loud and clear the elimination of this funding was done I believe without any input from your constituents in fact Councilman Robins said he was waiting at the airport putting a flight to Montana going over some budget issues he had a personal epiphany about what should be funded in regards to the arts. The next Council meeting Councilman Robins asked that Item H 25 /26 funding for the community cultural grants people from the consent agenda for discussion and discussion devolved into a confusing ninth-inning pitching change that ended the game being thrown in all the funding being pulled back the proverbial pulling the rug out from 32 organizations since 2012 have qualified for this funding for hundreds of very valuable community arts programs these are valuable endeavors to bring thousands of visitors and residents out to visit and spend money all year long. I know my family has visited many of these items. If we wanted to cut the spending we would have vastly but, we didn't ask. Granted it is the scuffle prerogative to change the program requirements or even eliminate them. But for future time. Not after the budget has been set the money awarded in these programs are ready to roll. I'm sure most of you pay for cable TV or some remember movies up there programs that don't sit right with you and your personal beliefs. So don't watch them to switch the channel to turn the TV off. That is what we need to be able to do. Don't expect the government to tell me what to watch and what not to watch again where we live.[Applause] We live in a Democratic Republic. That decision is up to me and every other individual in this room. I will agree arts funding is not a core responsibility of the government but neither is the construction of a government-funded progress track I firmly believe more.[Applause] That many people will be positively effective by restoring this cultural funding money. Because more people will visit them-the other place in Volusia County. Thank you God bless and please do direct today in support of community status cannot en masse for the past several months to get this funding for storage. [Applause] . >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning, thank you for taking up this matter once again. I really do appreciate it as you heard from all the eloquent speakers thus far, the role of the arts in our community is vital. It may not be as tangible as fixing the sidewalks but the intrinsic value that it provides to someone who was a lifelong educator, I taught theater for 43 years. Primarily, 30 years in Seminole County where I retired as a team Dean of the fine and performing arts. I have been a resident of Volusia County in Deland since 1988. I can tell you from personal experience when they talk about the value of the community, of working together, continuity of effort, unity of purpose, it can be seen in the arts projects that our committee participates in. The positive impact it has on the citizens of our community cannot be stressed enough. I sincerely hope that you will consider this when it comes time to decide whether you will restore the funding which is a modest amount and has a tremendous return for that investment. I was just struck by the thoughts it has been said these scientists remind us of how insignificant we are. I'm thinking of you Carl Sagan, but the artist reminds us that we do have value. We are significant. The arts are humanizing, they are vital to the mental health of our community. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay Judith Stein Judith Newell you will be followed by Terri Hoag. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning, my name is Judith Stein. I live in Ormond Beach. When I moved here in 2007 from Washington DC, the local art scene was not the first thing on my mind. Being an art lover I took advantage of all the theaters, galleries and museums and so much more if DC had to offer though there were many fewer offerings in Volusia County I was delighted to find a growing art scene supported by both the public and the local government. Over the years a truly vibrant art scene has flourished locally. Personally I was founder of the Ormond Beach district in 2017 and currently serve as Vice President. We include representatives from local museums and galleries on our Board of Directors who are active in contributing to and supporting the arts in our area. The arts contribute to our well-being and enrich our lives. The public supports the arts. We are your voters. Please do your part to continue funding the arts in our county. Thank you. [Applause] >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning.[Listing Names] from Volusia County Deberry on the executive director of Gateway Center for the arts first the tube that previously spoke of the mayor and city manager they are hard act to follow I appreciate you both being here it doesn't show the strength of the arts in the very I will just give you a few statistics are passed fiscal year we had 200 27 events at Gateway Center for the arts building over 17,000 patrons our strongest programs, actually Eric youth programs our summer camps we have over 300. Those youth and continuing even in high school but there are eight features coming to Gateway Center for the arts and doing that with her summer rehab number two we have them become teachers in our program. Gateway has 1.5 pages staff time at the executive director and rehab. When administrators we do all of this with the help of volunteers and I just want you all to know how important the arts are and please support this. Thank you so much. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Alexa Baldwin.[Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning everyone my name is Alexa Baldwin I am a Deland resident have the honor of being the executive director for the Athens theater. I would like to thank each and every one of you for being here today especially thank you Councilman Rienhart and Councilman Dempsey Councilman Santigo for your support yesterday. I'm here today to ask you to please move forward and best in these arts and cultural organizations. Each one of these nonprofits invested a vast amount of time, effort and in most cases money because staff members and grant riders cost money time is money. They made this investment of time and money because of a promise made by each of you. They budgeted for 30 years based upon the promise of these funds. Of this investment. The decisions you make today will not affect me or the Athens theater. The Athens theater withdrew our application so the focus can remain where it should be. How important the success of each one of these nonprofit organizations is to our local towns and our great Volusia County. Today you are not voting to fund the future grants you are voting to sign off on this money that was already earmarked for this current fiscal year. Money that these nonprofits budgeted for jobs depend upon. Please, show mercy for organizations and the staff and volunteers that work so very hard often seven days a week 24 hours a day, so very hard to offer education, entertainment and enrichment for local children and for your voters. Please vote to move forward and stand behind the promises that you made to these organizations months ago and give them a chance to prepare for next year. I thank you all for your time and for your consideration. Thank you. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Hello everyone my name is.[Listing Names] of Deltona with Volusia pride I'm here to speak on restoring the cultural grant program to help keep the arts and culture funded in our county. As a teenager I was trying to find a safe space to blossom my creativity. I was blessed to find the shoestring theater and do countless shows with them. The theater saved my life. I went to serve in Colorado and returned home. I felt lost in the world. I was told by peers to do additions and so I did at Athens theater, and I returned to love the arts once more. Theater saved my life once again. 30 years ago I competed and won the title of Mr. Deland pride and was able to tell my story on the Athens stage. I took the time and I also took the name of a theater guy who showed the world how art can heal positive change in art. It is unfortunate, both Athens and shoestring directive withdrew through applications because they didn't want their participation to deputize others from getting this grant. So Volusia County residents I want you to remember to please show up to their shows that are coming out show long to shoestring Athens theaters and go sell out their shows please. The arts have the power to make an impact overall in places like Gateway Center of the arts. To allow minds to be open at.[Listing Names] to have talent be explored and opened at the Museum of arts and science. Give residents a voice year in Volusia County let's not forget the parents who will be thankful to get a break from their kids with an art program. This money may not be a lot to all of you but it means a lot to them. Make a positive change you don't know whose life you will change because you help the art to thrive in our community. Thank you very much. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning my name is.[Listing Names] I speak to you as a Deland resident I live on Mercer's primary road I come to speak to you as just a local Christian conservative mom I do not work outside of my home my husband and I own a successfully contracting business we are unable to work within my home. Other moms other church groups things like that. I want to tell you we don't all feel the same as you guys and for you to say that needed the decisions to protect our children I take issue with that. I do. As a mother. That is not and as a Christian I take issue with that. I want to give you some statistics since we're talking about kids. Students enrolled in our programs have a better attendance rate than students who do not enroll in our programs. That is from the American Academy of arts and sciences in 2021. Expanding art education program corresponds with 3.6% reduction in disciplinary action and improvement in standardized riding scores. This was Rice University 2023. I think we all know the elephant in the room. I will ask respectfully if you guys can show me any other single Item budget that simultaneously improves academic scores, produces behavioral issues, dropout rates, and improves attendance? And that social emotional skills that we want for our children to protect our communities when we raise a strong and healthy kids . it's okay to change your mind it is. I want to remind you it is okay. The same we look at more facts and we had a change that is human nature you can do that you can change your mind. I just want to remind you of that. Thank you.[Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: I went up again with the name many should recommend: Patricia Miles she was an art teacher in Volusia County and has been an advocate for the arts since before I was born. If you were not fortunate to have her as a teacher she was a kind of teacher students never forgot. When I was a little girl she would visit us in Kentucky. We would work on projects together and sit beside her for weeks after school selling and painting and drawing and gluing. But what I remember most was not how we felt while making it. It was quiet hours giving space to talk, work through hard things to laugh and to dream to learn patience. I felt safe, felt seen, and loved. That is what the grant you have withheld have provided in the past grants providing for an opportunity for connection. Last night I attended a junior league meeting. A few teachers shared comments that were having students I feel loved and supported. You're my favorite teacher and did this because of you. These are not statements about projects, they are statements about impact. When grants are withheld what is taken away such as funding it is moments like the ones I had with my grandmother moments that shape confidence, character and direction. We cannot afford to take away from programs that were already operating with so little. Children deserve better than just enough and not for us than for them thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names]. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: My name is Dorothy Featherstone I'm in Ormond Beach. We often hear about prioritizing the structure over the arts but I kind of want to ask you, what is the value of the beautiful Road if it does not take you anywhere you truly want to go? What's the value of the city building that does not display the beauty of our community? What's the value of clean water if it never nourishes your soul. I know Volusia County has serious infrastructure issues, that must be addressed. Floods and drainage and Public Utilities matter. But I'm here to respectfully ask that you do not solve those challenges by stopping investment in the arts. My name is Dorothy Featherstone I'm an art educator in Volusia County and the treasurer of the Volusia County Volusia arts education Association I rely on the Museum of Art and the art-house to do my job Volusia County is not Nashville or New York City, where art and music exist on every corner we must be intentional about committing art in our culture here. When I visited Washington DC last summer, I did not go there to admire the roads or to drink the water, I went to visit our national art museums and to learn from the art all around the nation's capital. Art is what draws people in; they are what create identity and meaning, the arts and not a charity. They're part of our civic infrastructure that this community wants to build. There is a song by.[Listing Names] called the city on a hill that captured this idea of it's the rhythm of the dancers that gave the poet's life, it was the spirit of the poets that gave the soldiers strength to fight. Art inspires courage and tells the story of our community. Infrastructure builds the framework of the city but art builds the heart. Art builds bridges art paved roads of understanding art feeds the soul of our community. I respectfully ask you to release those funds and recognize that investment in art is not separate from the infrastructure that makes Volusia County worth building. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Thank you all for being here. What a delight to live in such a vibrant community. Good morning council members thank you for being so attentive and being willing to take up this issue once again. And what I am going to ask you to do is I want you to honor the vision of the founder of our city Mr. Henry Deland when wanted to create out of the wilderness and Athens of Florida embracing the arts culture and education and so we have this here today, that we want to make sure that vision continues to be realized. I feel that very strongly. I looked at the number up there of the money that is going to support the arts, I was shocked I was really shocked. What a small small portion it is. Because of how much the support of the arts goes to building a community. I also want to put in a good word for both shoestring theater and Athens and I know they pulled back so they would not have the part of your consideration because they were dealing with more edgy subjects. I would like to ask you to continue in a separate endorsement to restore their funding and to make this a consent agenda Item for years to come so we don't have to take all of your time how many times a year to take all of your time to listen and listen and listen and you know our whole story but you know the support of this community,. Thank you so much and I know you will do the right thing. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: I'd like to ask Anthony Ehrlich to come up with me if that works for you? My name is Kate Muldoon, I'm a resident here in Volusia County. I am a semi retired biologist who also heavily values the arts and to that end I'm on the board of an organization called creative happiness Institute. Tony Ehrlich is the president. We both have some things we want to say so Thank You. >> I live in Berkshire live Barbaraville in neutral Volusia County on the present of creative happiness Institute the state recognized not-for-profit organization Cape is the head of our grant riding committee successfully submitted a grant to your councils revised requirements last year. I just want to say quickly, I think the consent agenda is shortsighted it presents a false binary choice for the arts versus sidewalk maintenance. We think that both are important and both should be done. The arts not only benefit the public, it has been heard a big revenue multiplier stopping support for the arts would actually lower revenue for local businesses and a small County resources. The result would be that next year, the County Council would have less money or repair sidewalks so please restore financial support for the arts. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: I would like to say I do remember that approximately 3.5 million dollars had been set aside sidewalks this year previously believed that was stated this $600,000 which would go to fund something so much more meaningful than the sidewalks, please do the right thing as you promised. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names]. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: [Unclear Audio] >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Is Stony in the room? [Unclear Audio] [Unclear Audio] >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Your riding resembles mine, you're forgiven. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: You are in good company Sydney Johnston Deland you to think our council person San Diego Johansson and Rienhart: returning this important issue before us. I also am so proud of our arts culture of community in Volusia County and Deland beach Port Orange Daytona Beach and beyond. Thank you all for being here today and thank you for the courage that it takes to withdraw your applications from consideration and it still takes time to speak for the Council. About how important it is I mean that for the shoestring theater and the Athens theater. Both of which my family has attended for decades. As you will not I may fifth generation native Deland we supported arts and culture for a long time the historic society whole an upper house in the Bushnell building the Deland opera house in the.[Listing Names] building the Athens theater herein Deland all standing proudly within one block of our site where we are meeting today. That is how important arts and culture have been to Deland and still is. Today the Volusia County Council political war on art and culture positions continues to go well. Today's agenda bears yet another attempt at funding the reduced list of arts and cultural organizations against the reallocation of those financial resources for use in building concrete sidewalks across Volusia County. That's an incredibly blatant political calculation that insults the arts and culture community. Congratulations on another ugly chapter in the political war on Volusia County's art culture community. Hopefully there is this, another round of elections draw near in November 2026 and beyond. I encourage you to make that part of your political calculation today, as you vote to fund our arts and culture organizations. And again supposed to express my deep appreciation to those of you on the Council we support financially our arts and culture community. Thank you for your service. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning my name is.[Listing Names] I'm a student of Volusia County schools I'm pretty sure most of you guys are probably parents when your children come home from school the first question is probably how was your day? After that you ask them what their favorite thing about school was. I know I always say I love art and I also always say music. I love music so much that once I got into middle school I started a band. I've been in band ever since I'm a senior now in high school. My band program made advanced performing arts programs anything and if you get rid of the art programs the advanced performing arts also God is very important to all of us inside the school we made it grow so much since my sophomore year. I'm hoping that hopefully you guys can consider that a little bit for something we really love. Thank you for your time. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] are you Jessica. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Jessica stepped out for second and Christine.[Listing Names] I'm a mother of three. I'm just here because each of my children has been shaped by the arts in our community. We are from Port Orange and it has really been an honor to have these schools in Volusia County have such a strong arts program. I'm originally from Queens New York and we are a really strong arts program where I grew up. When I moved here I was really impressed with the programs, the performances and the creative opportunities that help the kids and their confidence expressions and connections. The arts are not extra; it means so much to the students to continue with all the programming. Not every child excels in science or mathematics, some of them really bloom in the arts programs. The arts programs teach discipline, problem-solving, collaboration, creativity skills, it is not just for school but it is for real life. Without the arts programs he risked raising students or academically trained but creatively underdeveloped. The arts give our children a voice to give them a sense of belonging and the courage to think differently. Please continue to consider the funding of that program thank you. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Did Jessica come back in the room? [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: You will be followed by.[Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: My name is Eric Nielsen I'm an associate director at the Barboursville pioneer settlement and also a Florida native homeowner, taxpayer and a voter. Cutting this funding really hurts. I want to share with you what I did yesterday. I ripped out copper from an 18 26-year-old vote at the Museum. I did that because we have cut hours to our five employees because we cannot afford it without this. Without the funding. He also did it because it is a form of fund raising it is a form of fund raising for drug addicts, but it's a form of fund raising. We're going to need about 250 pounds of copper to offset what you guys have taken from us. I really appreciate Matt's decision to put this back on the D agenda. Hope you guys will do the right thing in honor of your promise. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: [Listing Names] theater administrator for shoestring theater I went to everybody's thank you for this back to the Council for a vote. Unfortunately then he set out. I also want to thank Councilman Robins because he started something I don't think he really intended to step in. Because of that it strengthened the resolve and the communication between all of us that support the arts here in Volusia County. We will continue to be collective spaces that are open to everyone where people get to grow. I understand that we have a lot of financial constraints here in our country right now. But one of those constraints is we are also very divided. In my experience being a part of these arts groups there are places where everybody is welcome when everybody is welcome and important conversations get to be had. They support each other, learn about each other and develop empathy for one another. So thank you for bringing this back. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for being here today. Please you guys do the right thing. You changed the grant and we rewrote it. I'm not a professional grant rider when I first came to you I was a kid out of college it was one of the saddest days that experienced but had to remove Volusia County Florida from our advertising and website posters I was so proud of the partnership with the County that we had developed that I lived in a place that supported all of its citizens. So thank you for bringing this back today you have another opportunity to show that you really do support all of your citizens. Thank you. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Homo County Council members my name is Samuel quickly I'm from Ormond Beach. Last time I was here I spoke in support of reinstating the funding or local arts groups. I'm here today to say the same thing because it bears repeating. We are a County with the rich history in the arts because we as a County have generally supported artists and through the support of our local arts groups help to expand the horizons of our residents it is easier to claim that arts groups should be able to stand on their own and not rely on outside funding. This is an admirable goal when I know many of our local arts groups would love to achieve. However idealism is subservient to reality. The reality is many of our local groups require support to keep their organizations running. Even now with the delay in funding many of these groups have been forced to make significant sacrifices in order to maintain their organizations. I'll provide a quick example of one group. This past weekend the Ormond Beach Historical Society featured a speaker series discussing the history of racing in Ormond Beach and how we became known as the birthplace of speed. However, unlike previous years these speaker series events were free for the public to come into, they are now restricted to a $10 admission fee for members of the society. I just cannot believe that we've taken something that was so open to the community and so inviting and essentially we blocked it off with a price tag. Now we are left wondering for somebody in our communities has missed the chance to experience our community's past. I'm left wondering whether that person will be less prone to reflect in our community's future because they cannot see where we came from. It is always important but it is especially important in Volusia County. These restored funding for local arts groups help them make Volusia County the best it can be, thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Hello everyone thank you again? My heart for getting this issue back on the agenda for today. My pain was back lives in South Daytona and the culture of Volusia DSA I come to you today to echo the concerns from our community to restore these culture and arts grants I'm a graduate of the music production technology program here at Daytona State College, a muscle the head sound technician at punk rock pizza luckily we had punk rock pizza don't have to rely on the whims of a partisan County Council in order to stay open. But I'm here to support held playhouses and other music venues and artistic centers that do rely on this funding. The arts are not only important to me, they are an essential part of our community that bring people together and let us express ourselves. They enrich our culture and our economy and provide vital spaces to our community. In our team, arts rely on the funding provided by these grants. While I regret that artists have to depend on getting the whims of a partisan County Council that is not supposed to be partisan but it is. That is the reality. I'm also concerned that the counselor is not clear either with no justification for revoking these grants. Councilman Brower as well as Robinson have claimed that they will redirect these funds for roads and sidewalks and other instructor objects. To be clear a support funding vital infrastructure of course as we all should, I believe those is that this set false dichotomy we can find both and truthfully I'm skeptical of this truly being the justification but this seems more to me is a political retaliation against the Athens theater and the shoestring theater or a perceived agenda that is nonexistent and to revoke response for these reasons is a violation of the free speech of those places their attendees and their performance and it is quite frankly a disgrace to this community. Again, his council is supposed to be nonpartisan, you are supposed be focused on local issues that affect our community and instead you are waging culture wars and demonizing the queer community in order to advance national right-wing talking points that demonize our neighbors Matthew to talk about that today I'm here to ask you to restore these grants and stop waging partisan culture wars. Thank you very much. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Gary Singleton.[Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: The citizens of Volusia County want to review our representatives to fund the arts. You gave us what we wanted and funded the arts. It was not a lot of funding but it was funding. Then came the taking. Personal decisions made by this council for individual reasons to take away that which have already been given. Then came the reasons. Some were very sincere and some not so much. But there is always hope because there's always a chance for redemption. I hope you choose redemption. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Tommy Toby.[Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Thank you again for reconsidering the grant Tommy Toby was moved here in 2014 as an artist. Inertia is positive moving forward only when issues like declining the grants stop the forward movement of us being able to proceed as artists when you give it back to us again get that started again once again we have to get that started again. I think Henry will take the arts for granted. It is just there. It is not. Just try to imagine going home tonight, close your eyes, I'm assuming everybody here is a quirk in our house on their walls. Take it all away. The blank walls, take the artwork in your offices away. Take it away in the restaurants. It is all gone. You never know what you have until it is contemplated stop this! [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: You can do it. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning councilmembers my name is Cameron Hewitt I am 10 years old I went to Tony White art-house means so much to me. Our calls are not just a place where I draw or paint, it is where I get to be creative and feel proud of what holds on. Of what I accomplished. I learned new skills and tried things I did not think I could do. I'm going as an artist every week. Art helps me express things I cannot always say with words when I'm creating something I feel like my best self. If I could live in art-house I would. Programs like art-house give kids like me a safe place to learn to grow and build real skills for my future. Please keep supporting culture funding so we can continue to thrive and also if I make a promise unexpectedly to keep it. You guys should do that also. Please keep your promise Volusia County thank you guys for your time. [Applause]. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: It's a tough act to follow but I will do my best. I had a chat GPT screeched but I will toss it out I'm just going to speak from the heart. I see this roomful of people. What really stuck with me was the daughter and the father team came up and spoke about several years ago they were here fighting for the same thing. How many more times do we have to do this? We have to play this game and show you every single year. You guys this is important to us as Volusia County residents and taxpayers and voters. We want the arts that are important to our families and to our communities. And also I just want to say really quick as a homeschool mother for the last six years these programs are vital for our children that are not going to public school and are not getting the opportunity to have art on their own every day. We love art-house. We are in a Port Orange residence and we are there three or four times a week. As my son said, the wood live there if he could was 100%. For everybody who could possibly think that there is something more important to do with this money, I just think all of us are here to show it cute that that is incorrect. We want the cultural grant program to stay and lady said if you guys made it his promise let's keep it. Thank you. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Michael Nunn- are you still here? Donna Craig? Followed by edIT Tobin. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning I'm Donna Craig I live in Ormond by the scene by the beautiful sea. Last summer I had a medical condition come up and had to go see my doctor. She recommended me to see a specialist that set me down a rabbit hole. It took hours and many phone calls before I found a doctor who could see me in this millennium. I was really lucky I was able to get into see my specialist within two months of I've talked to people since then and says it takes six months to get into see a specialist we obviously have a doctor shortage in Volusia County I spoke to my primary care physician when I went for a follow-up, about this very issue, and she suggested that one of the reasons we have a doctor shortage here is because of the lack of support for the arts believe it or not. She said she goes to the Orlando area for entertainment, the place for an intelligent professional. It means she is obviously missing out on what I'm hearing about the local arts and perhaps it's a matter of advertising and public relations. But the lack of cultural entertainment as perceived by these people, there appears to be no incentive for these professionals to move here. This is a quality of life issue. This is what I get up here and speak about almost every single time. It's the quality of life we live here because we want to be here, we want good things to do and take money to do this. For you to withhold .04% of your entire budget what seemed like pocket change is very shortsighted. The money should be used as an investment that serves not just cool things to do but as a magnet for professionals who want exciting and interesting quality of life and I'll keep them engaged in dedicated to Volusia County to favor do yourself a favor and do Volusia County favor throat that pocket change to the arts it will be an investment with a huge return on it. Thank you very much. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Ed Tobin you will be followed by.[Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning Ed Tobin Daytona Beach thank you for reconsidering this issue. I am a guitar teacher. I work with a chapter of guitars for veterans. We teach guitar and music to veterans suffering from PTSD. Our chapter is hosted by the hub in New Smyrna Beach, that is where I was over there yesterday teaching because of cutbacks, Jennifer had to give me a key to the building because they are closed on Mondays. I have two to go and let my students in. That is just one of the impacts that happens when you cut back on your funding. Three years ago myself and some fellow musicians formed a bluegrass band out in Port Orange, who played our first performance out at Arborville and your settlement. Over the last three years we performed out there many times. I made the mistake one day of making suggestions to the young lady Kristin who was here speaking previously. Next thing I know I volunteered for the board now I'm the treasurer out at Barboursville. What I learned from you was a place to play music from you for two years. What I've learned in the year I've been on the board, is that we are more than just a bunch of old buildings, we are a living museum who touched the lives of 8-10,000 students every year through field trips. As a matter fact I even help with field trips when I have to. Yes I feed the goats and teach candlemaking. We have 8-10,000 people gathered and about 20,000 visitors who run on very thin margins commit half the staff. I would ask you to really help us out and reconsider these grants. Last thing I would like to say is that I would like to invite everybody here including the Council and everybody in attendance to come out to our spring.[Listing Names] the last weekend of the month will have nine stages over 100 musicians performing it would be a big boost for us financially because we operate on very thin margin as a matter fact the margin we were in the black unless the amount of this grant that we requested. Thank you very much. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Mark Carstens. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Hello, how are you doing? You have to be careful. I am the chair of the historic preservation board of Volusia County. However I'm speaking as a citizen and I have to be very careful way to phrase that I'm speaking as a citizen. The thing is we are approaching our 250th anniversary as a nation. As a historic preservation Officer and as a citizen of the Old Republic I don't know if the cultural arts have anything to do with this but. Years ago I knew Bill Drager and I've been part of the community for quite a while. Also there's been a lot of issues with vandalism to historic operators like in Orlando there was things that were vandalism and things like that. We need money for keeping our historic resources protected and also the county has a responsibility to maintain historical resources that are in its custody. There are buildings, there are museums, there are things like that that are in the custody and in the control of the county and that the county has responsibility to maintain those historical resources. My role in the community culture grants program is it be preserved in order to so that these historical resources are maintained because we are going into the 250 each year as a nation the founding fathers would want these resources to be preserved and maintained in perpetuity forever to maintain these resources for our children and our grandchildren because it's important we cannot forget history. History is important to our nation and our country. We need to make America great again, thank you. [Laughter] [Applause] >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: I was not going to speak today. The folks at Barboursville have inspired me to say something. I was Mandy's brother. I lost my sister a couple of years ago. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Can you hold the microphone closer. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: My name is Nicholas Levy, longtime raised in Deltona I've been a Deland resident for years my sister Mandy Levy who worked at Barboursville could not have been prouder of the work up there the fine folks at Barboursville inspired me to speak today it would not condescend and think I'm a business owner in a Deland lost my sister a few years ago I'm still dealing with that obviously. No one will pay to see sidewalks. They will kiss you simply take money out someplace else where there is something fun to do. I am shocked to see the low number that is on the screen. It is pitiful. I don't understand. I did not even realize that the Athens theater and a shoestring theater pulled back their big floors clean. That is enraging. That they had to do that for this. I beg you please don't take this pitiful amount of money away that would turn us into a culturalist backwater. This is a huge County filled with very interesting fund people that need something to hold onto the cannot sit in the house all day long with nothing to do and watch it all be over developed. I don't know if I speak for everybody else. My wife and I run a business out of her house. We are in survival mode. We cannot get out to do anything. My daughter is LGBTQ just watching her watch what's going on around here and being afraid all the time. It is too much. This amount of money will help so many people this investment in this if you understand investments and you know that a pitiful amount of money will turn into more money and bring people in. I don't know what else to say. [Applause]. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you that concludes the public comment for this Item I will give the Council I think almost everybody appear wants to speak to this. I will give everybody an opportunity to ask the staff a question after hearing from the public if you care to. I will start I want to ask our legal staff I think we started the public comment by hearing that this is not a legal vote if we vote on this I did not see that in the background material I did not hear it when the first time it came Tuesday Council on the consent agenda I do not hear it today and I will tell you our attorneys are very careful they are not shy about telling us if we are doing something that should not be done. Can you clears that up is this illegal 's. >> Assistant County Attorney. >> COUNTY STAFF: Good Morning Mr. Chair my understanding is the comments were directed to your comprehensive plan for conference of plan has an optional element is called the cultural facilities element there is a statement about cultural funding in that element. What is a Comprehensive Plan is essentially your Constitution for growth is your Constitution for development. It can find and restrict council's actions when it pertains to growth and development. When you issue development orders development permits and you do the land development regulations . Your Comprehensive plan is your setting your goals objectives and your policies for future growth. The issue is you have this cultural facility element that has statements that are not related to growth. It is just a funding statement. It is in the comprehensive plan for the way it works. It is aspirational it does not find the county when you are setting independent budget decisions because you do not issue development order for not issuing a land development regulation. You are not doing anything related to growth when you're making a decision on funding cultural facilities. All cultural groups. So no, our opinion is that when you're making this type of budget decision, you are not in violation of your Comprehensive Plan. A comprehensive plan in this sense is only aspirational. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you. We are free to continue? Thank you Paolo. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: Thank you chair, gentlemen thank you for the opportunity to bring this back. I'm not a person that likes to repeat myself. I got ridiculed for that of previous meetings because everything had already been said. I think in the words of a gentleman who came up a little while ago you said it bears repeating. I think this bears repeating. When I ran for office a couple of years ago not knowing what I was getting until I was a jail guy for 30 years. I pointed out specific incidents that related to cultural arts. I pointed out how the arts affected just one individual. I gave that one individual as an example of the inmate being extremely combative that we turned around giving a blank canvas wall at an institution that started a mural that still exists today. That is expanded. I shared a picture of a little while ago with some rents of mine in the arts community of how we have allowed inmates to continue the process out there. We've kind of evolved that into the second chance initiative that I came up with in prior meetings. The ROI is important; it does bring a return on investment of $1 billion market value thank you for that. I appreciate that I took out several things. One thing I cannot be today. I will break it up with a little levity. I cannot be cute. Let's just face it I cannot be I have no hair to go back to. I cannot be cute about this. I have to give you how I feel from my heart. I said during my original campaign. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: Second on that and third. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: Thank you it's true I will take it with a smile thank you I said it during my original campaign that we are renowned and known for NASCAR for the world's most famous beach, for use manner for several of our teachers and stuff we are renowned for that we are known for that if you can ask anybody what he lived on a beach estate the beach I know that you can ask anybody in the country probably anybody in the world. One of the things I do is live in an area of Nova Road and we did a lot of things with FDOT or FDOT did it to enhance the welcoming to our community in Daytona Beach. I noticed a sign that said Museum so many miles and it was a small coincide the FDOT sign and I said wow if we had a sign like the Speedway had or beaches how much more emphasis without bringing on the arts. I said that's what I want to be known for. This is God they cannot draw a stick figure but my daughter has the ability my father had in his career in arts. It skipped overtly along with his height. But none the less I see the value and its importance it brings. We have arts in all of our structures. It's in this very thing that you walked into today. We emphasized the importance of making sure that we visit our airport and fly out of our airport. There is art in our airport. We are talking about putting more there. There is an art center that is our venue. I'm very proud of that being in the district to thank you. We are talking about putting even more art in due to the reconstruction capital facility off Nova Road called the Brown. We exist in our community for a reason. People came to it. There was a person that spoke earlier about how the doctors that are true of shaking my head. That is true the doctors don't come here because the bigger cities have bigger complexes and bigger art museums. Remember those museums did not start big, we have a lot of fine and great art that is here in this community that is small but it is mighty. Here is an example: today you are here. So, I will leave it with this, I do value you, I do see you. I do hear you. That is why it was important to me to bring this up. It failed for lack of a second that is okay. Another motion was made with modification and I seconded that motion. It failed, so I decided to try one more time and I hope that we can get this through by ourselves knowing that several of my colleagues I only have 15 seconds left and never take five minutes by the way. I will leave it unless I know several colleagues say I will make the motion to approve the funding for the cultural arts grants. $572,000 2026 cultural arts and funding. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Vice Chair Rienhart makes the motion for $572,000 for the arts. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: I second the motion. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: We will debate. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Thank you chairman thank you all for showing up again today if there's something we can certainly say about the arts group if you all are consistent and tenacious. I would add passion as well. Thank you for showing up. It's one of the reasons I love local government because you have an opportunity to show up, individuals represent you and we see you at the grocery stores etc. I want to begin by saying I value the arts. The arts organizations they certainly can do in a community. They provide cultural experiences. My comments today is not about the arts. They are about priorities. And responsible use of taxpayer dollars. County government exists to provide essential services its primary responsibility include public safety, emergency response, infrastructure public health and maintaining core County operations. These services affect every resident every day. When we talk about allocating public funds especially in tight budget environments we have to ask a basic question, is this a core government function? Private arts organizations by definition are private entities. They are not County departments; they operate independently, set their own programming and charge admission or membership fees. While they may provide cultural value they do not serve all taxpayers equally. Many residents in our county are struggling with rising property taxes, higher insurance costs managing their increased living expenses of just day-to-day life. It is difficult. I did not interrupt you. I will ask you to please not yell out for me. It is difficult to justify requiring all taxpayers including those who may never attend these events to subsidize private organizations. We also do not provide ongoing operational funding to other private entities such as fitness centers, entertainment venues, restaurants providing funding to one type of private organizations raises questions of fairness and precedent. Another important consideration is fiscal discipline: every dollar allocated to discretionary funding is one dollar that cannot go towards fire services road maintenance drainage and storm preparedness. Public health initiatives reserves for emergencies. Before expanding funding beyond course possibilities we should make sure these essential services are fully funding sustainable for the long-term. Finally, Arts have alternative funding sources ticket sales membership programs corporate sponsorships audit donations foundations and grants. If there is a strong community demand monetary support will follow. In closing I perspective the role of the arts organizations and what they play in our community Flagler County government plus focus first on essential services that benefit all residents equally private organizations should primarily rely on private support. I will use the term possibly out of touch. Some of you may think my comments are out of touch. Hello Councilmember Santiago, the state legislature just approved the question to go to all Florida voters about limiting property taxes, not all property taxes. You'll still be on the hook for those school taxes which are the states Funding priority every year you get right the schools. With a huge reduction of money for local communities possibly coming, helping me think about spending any General Fund General Fund money on anything other than core government responsibilities. I heard 3000 signatures to restore arts funding. There are 550,000 local Volusia County residents that did not sign the petition. It is really easy to give away $600,000 when it is not your own personal money. Let's compare apples to apples. Soundbites are just that. I've heard the motocross facility brought up several times today. Let's make sure we are talking about the same thing. All the motocross money, all of it. If we decided to go forward with it, all of that money will come from ECHO Funding and Volusia Forever, not from the General Fund cultural Council money, all of it would come from the General Fund. I think Ronald Reagan said I agree it's time for the government to stop making charitable donations for us. Thank you very much. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you Volusia County has a very strong arts program. You are the reason why. We have tremendous artists in the county. I don't understand my friend that spoke today that said someone has to go to Orlando to see real art because there's nothing here that's an insult to everybody in this room. We have tremendous arts programs here and I'm going to not like this part but I don't think it is dependent on whether $611,000 or $572,000 is dependent on you. The programs and the policies that you put on what we do with the money I want to start off having said that to speak especially to the young people and most of the speakers they came up and said basically we lied to you. We pulled the rug out from under you. You made a promise and then reneged on the promise. We talk a lot about the process. On this council what you're saying is part of the process. We have a lot of money in the budget and every Consent Agenda and every meeting that we have here we are voting on some of that money whether it should go forward or not. It is the process. Have a thought process that the County Council can respond to changing environments. That we are all confronted with. So the process is yes the money is in the budget it goes on the Consent Agenda or on the as a regular agenda item, then it is voted on by the Council and once it is voted on to approve it, that is the promise. Then you get that money but we have to have an opportunity to vote on whether or not that money should go because, as Mr. Kent said, things have certainly changed in Florida. The Florida legislature is going to put some kind of a property tax reform on the ballot and they say that it will pass because none of us like property taxes. However, it funds everything that we do here, almost everything that we do. We have to face the current realities that if we are stripped 50% of the money that now funds us how do we find anything else? The first responsibility of this council is the safety and the security of every person in Volusia County. Yes that means fire services, that means lifeguards. That means EMS. That means law enforcement. It means corrections to all of those things are extremely important and we have to find them. Now we've defunded with extremely limited amounts of money coming in. I would say that voting to terminate this money is not a vote against you it's not a vote against the arts it's a vote that says we respect you and we think that you are talented enough, maybe you are not praying that you are talented enough and you can manager programs and put out the kind of programs that people want to go and see and they do now and that this will not stop it. The best way for this County Council to support the arts is to support the things that support every witness in Volusia County. If you don't have a loader to get your business you are out of business. If you don't have fire service and police protection all of those things are supporting the arts and every other business. You've told us the last few weeks we are not a charity, quit calling this a charity. That happens to be what a nonprofit is. But your business I agree with you. There would be not a single vote on this council if you are voting to give money to Chick-fil-A or to Costco or to the best restaurants in Volusia County because it is not the government's responsibility to give taxpayer dollars to private businesses. That is what you are you on it you are in a capitalist system that thrives on the free enterprise system and you will succeed or fail by how you put forth your programs not by relying on government money which is easy, what we are asking you to do is harder I agree, but you will be successful because your good artists. Because we have enough people in Volusia County who can do this well. So Troy, maybe you and I will be the only ones. I will not even vote to extend this for one more year because politicians and this is not a political view. I have never once mentioned the content of any arts. I have from the beginning said this is not the role of the government to take money from people who are barely keeping their head above water and give it to any other private business. I would not with any other business and they cannot do it for you. I want you to succeed. I will help you to succeed. But I will not give you taxpayer money to do it. It is not yours to ask for, it is not mine to give. Thank you. You will be removed from the auditorium if you interrupt the meeting again. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: I'm sorry I'm not as passionate but I hope my words are received. Arts to me are important. Most of you know my history of traveling around the world. I've seen some phenomenal things. I stood in Abraham's house in Iraq. It is just amazing. It is deeply important to me as a Christian. I am very moved by the arts. I'm an artist myself. Of sorts. I will not show you the picture but I've dabbled in oil and acrylic paints as a way to manage and not collect PTSD but the stress of military life. I've spent time in Port Orange specifically with art-house making sure Lori and Cameron got out of that crappy office where you moved them into the recreational facility. I think that is where that needed to go or did when I was in Port Orange. There is no denying that the arts help everybody, specifically our children. And the elderly cannot wait to be 65. I'm a veteran so I will go for my guitar lessons next week. Apparently on Monday when the doors are closed. But I want you folks to realize that sitting up here we have a balanced responsibility. I have a responsibility to you all to defund the arts, I also have a responsibility to the people that don't want their tax dollars to go to anything other than core services. That is why back in October that we said change the way the program is done we will give you three years. I'm a man of my word. I never want to go back on my word for it unless some emergency exists. When we passed the budget that budget was a budget to say we agree to tax our taxpayers this much money. $611,000 Of which will probably go to the arts unless there is an emergency. Is there something looming on the horizon? You bet there is! If property taxes go away, arts is not the only thing that will suffer. But right now we've already taxed you for that money between that and giving you my word and you all compromising to say okay we said that three years but give us one year as an opportunity to figure this out. Which I want to be part of. I think it's important that we pass this today. I will caution you that we listen to a lot of great comments. It has to be apparent to everybody that everything that we do for our children, everything we do for the elderly everything we do for everybody benefits our community. Anything that happens that keeps a kid off the street is beneficial. My kids may be in photography, maybe painting, maybe time on the stage. Maybe time on a motorcycle. I cannot complain about one thing and say you are the only one helping the community. We are one of many things. I think that every stinking thing we do in our parks, baseball, football, our arts and culture, everything that we do for everybody in this community makes it a better community. When you start comparing the have and have not and where the money should go that's when you run into a problem with the elected officials. You cannot do that. You know you have my vote. You had it for just one year, let's make a plan, thank you. >> DANNY ROBINS,DISTRICT 3: Thank you chairman it's been sometime since our last meeting I just want to thank the arts groups that I met with especially in my district I'm a firm believer that, cool minds prevail and we should be working towards a compromise if that is achievable, I am all ears. Also on the flipside, there was a lot of negativity especially in the week or the wake of an assassination by somebody in our nation with political views or views on whatever. That I'm getting that kind of Savior afterwards by a large group of folks in the arts community is not acceptable. I don't believe that there is any place but that no matter what you are on an issue and some of us experience some of that up there I will put that on record. That is not acceptable in any form or fashion. I just want to go through a couple of things, we heard some talk about duplication of sources I just want folks to know all the funding sources taxpayers including myself pay for or pay into that support the arts programs I just did some quick research Daytona Beach General Fund Daytona the CRA Deland General Fund Deland CRA Ormond Beach General Fund NSP General Fund has a little bit and it Volusia County General Fund Volusia County ECHO Funds Volusia Sheriff's Office did a great job as donating $1.3 million out of asset forfeiture: understand the couple hundred thousand dollars every year the last few years Volusia County schools Volusia County advertising authority both east and west which are tourism tax dollars they come from to help advertise for nonprofits and other businesses. There are several state programs that are taxed in several federal programs where the public is taxed. We have art budget and all the County holding Center report that the minimum of 12-14 different funding sources that we're all taxed wartime text for to say that we don't care about funding the art simply to me is not true. I supported the arts for last five years fully funded. Times are changing and we are facing new obstacles. In my opinion. I think that some of the citizens are getting tapped six and eight times for arts and culture and so we cannot figure and say that we all don't care no matter if we vote in favor or not that we don't care about the arts. That is not true based on our Texan system. I know I left some out as well. I pay for 1234 five different taxing authorities or ways to tax. I'm okay with that. We are also some of these people who are not facing what we are up against. I went through 6-8 hours of tapes from the last couple of meetings that we had on this. We heard discussions from Mr. Johansson looks for a win-win scenario that merits discussion. I will not use tax dollars for, I will work with our groups to look for outside funding. I would like to meet with a lot of groups and we are exploring outside funding as well as meeting quarterly to discuss some of our hurdles. The NSP advertising Eastside advertising authority she is really stepped up and her team to offer additional support through the calendars and help them and help Southeast Volusia County arts community really be more efficient and effective in target because there's a lot of issues that surfaced at our breakfast at Ruthie's that were valid and I don't think there was any palms about that. Then we heard three motions all which failed to motions by Mr. Rienhart to prove the funding as is with all the groups then there was one another one to remove the two groups that had failed then to prove the funding for this year and get cut off that field as well. This question is for the Council just for the respective time do you know what or get off the pot so we don't throw stuff up against the wall is there another approach that emotion maker of the motions or Council member that brought it up that is different from this that has been proposed you have another angle that we can look at this? Any suggestions on whether that makes sense. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: We will have to discuss the motion on the floor-and deal with that then we can go into something else. That does bring up a good question that you made the motion to approve the funding for just this year's and not every year to follow. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: It is just this year we in the middle of budget workshops right now will be discussed in every entity of the government were talking about what ending I think we wanted to move on this I think that was a direction that we were the question that was asked from some others I put my name up initially and he took it off because Mr. Johansson had it on the head we are talking about this year. I will leave it at that. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Was the maker of the motion be amenable to change his motions to say just this year and to add will not support this going forward after this year that my get support for others. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: I can say just for this year I want that discussion for later. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Sold this comes back every year. >> DANNY ROBINS,DISTRICT 3: Matt I feel similar to Troy I think you said it in several others that this was the final year in order for us to do that it would have to cancel the cultural council I may be I could possibly support you on that. Those were statements made by you or several others. If we will do this, let's do it. Band-Aid is already off. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: May I answer, I will stick with the original motion but if somebody wants to make a motion after this vote and that is fine adult with the cloud for yourself if you want to make it one motion I'm simply basing that on the fact I think Mr. Johansson said it better when we trust this back to the cultural council told him three years. Things do change and I understand that the top in the legislature right now about the property tax we are talking about this year that has already been funded has been approved. That is what I'm talking about is this budget this Item for this year's budget. If somebody wants to make a motion after this vote whichever way it goes then so be it. >> DANNY ROBINS,DISTRICT 3: Matt is trying to gain consensus but everybody is to Tony about it to get clean hands I get this political stuff now. I'm open for a compromise but I'm not open for dragging the stuff out putting these folks through it playing the political dance. I just don't want to keep going through it. Hopefully I respect your standpoint. We need to make a decision one way or the other. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: The motion on the floor to severity wants to speak after the motion on the floor as stated by the Vice Chair Reinhart is to approve the funding for this year only which means we will take it up every year after that. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: Unless somebody makes a motion afterwards. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Which relates free to do. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: Wholeheartedly. >> DON DEMPSEY,DISTRICT 1: I think Danny you are dancing around whatever goes last time nine make my motion to fund it for this year-no more funding after that now future castles can address it again if the desire to it was made it that way is because of the property tax issues we will have coming up it's almost assuredly going to happen like put these people through the application process again make them go through all the hurdles again when more than likely if this property tax measure coaster it will pull the rug out from under them very likely the next time around will have a lot of mess on our hands with the budgeting I mentioned just before our mission again I'm in favor of the cultural arts I heard I noticed you had this I was very active in the arts as a child as an adult as a kid I used to take painting lessons Southwestern PA legal in basement I would do oil painting I also rode their bikes at the same time. I had my toes in both areas. What was impactful to me I've been maintaining for so long is father and daughter who came up here and said we the father said support youth no matter what their interest is sports or the arts. Mr. Johansson said, Mr. Kent said I really appreciate you guys doing that. We have to focus on the youth. I've been doing criminal law for 36 years now. We have the former juvenile chief church year I think you can probably attest to this is kids need an outlet to do stuff especially now with video games I was around when Palm first came out I got addicted to Pong as a kid now they have everything at their disposal spread their basement vegetables just playing video games we have to get them out and doing stop if it is painting like a 10-year-old boy said that he enjoys or riding dirt bikes or Little League I've leave consistent my whole time on this dais from day one I said we have to have more football practice fields on the west side because we are short. We are very active in trying to create more Little League fields. Football practice fields. Editor bike riding facility for all of these youth kids to get out and do stuff. I'm supporting the arts and also had a comedy club in town that lost money. I thought it was good for the community and a big fan of wordsmithing. That's what caused me to become a litigator because I had to take English lit. As a kid I learned about Robert Frost snowy night in the woods. That poem really hit me. I did not want to take it because I had a real appreciation for the arts. I've learned even Pink Floyd lyrics if you listen to them there impactful or if you listen to comedians and what they do with the wording they can make you laugh that is why I opened the club I've always been a fan of wordsmithing and people who really know how to write lyrics and poetry and stuff like that. I know arts add a lot to the community. I'm a huge fan of the arts that do so much for our community. I am in support of helping the cultural arts. I did less time look at the tax returns for some of these organizations. Some of them really are in dire need of financial help. Some of them not so much, some of them I think are profitable to be do not need the help of the taxpayer money but other ones definitely do. I do believe we kind of gave the impression at least that they should go through with the application process and make their applications there was a good chance of them being funded. I am in favor of finding them this year but with all the future stuff coming on, and next year I'd rather not set them up for disappointment by having them go through the application process again only to be told no at a later date. I'm kind of in favor of that. Thank you guys. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: Thank you Mr. Chairman, a lot of good bait on both sides. Thank you to everybody that spoke. As you can see no matter which way we vote there is a segment of the population that does not like the result. That is why we get the big bucks up here. I often tell that to people that are considering running for office you know what you'll never get 100%. You will have people out there that will hate you and love you, maybe hate you one day and use the next. As long as you can do that then use your moral compass and try to do what you think is best for the greater good. The art situation made some statements. It can mean not having heard commentary from you. My wife and I travel a lot when we travel abroad. We see the show live shows just some of the things we love we go out and experience. I know it starts with the youth. No one just automatically becomes, maybe some have talent that is hidden. I embrace it as an individual, my wife and I. We spend our money on it. There I stand with this is you probably again does that have followed me from the past. I was critical of this my first two years. Some of you are probably sitting here speaking against it. It was from the perspective of the school decisions on what government priorities are like some of my colleagues said but we went along with it for a couple of years and supported it at that point. The comments were being shared. I also feel compelled Eissler led the charge to reform the programming. Some of you that were here I came down to the same: we can compromise let's reform the program. And allow folks to apply under this new program if that is what the consensus is, that is what we passed and that is what you did. I feel obligated to do that. That I don't criticize any of my colleagues for their decision on this is not a jab at them. Since I led the charge to reform the program I feel obligated I said that publicly to fund this year's program. Met at the same damn thing Don has expressed Don has allergies. Don has expressed bring this back I think based on your commentary over the last maybe and have is why we are here today Matt you made the motion and we are here officially you can see that some of our colleagues are struggling with the continuance of this program because of the fiscal issues we will be facing some deep legislative perspective and the vote. That being said I want to add to what Danny said it's important the public discourse not you all may be some. It's a tough one; he and I both did receive threats over this topic. Just so you know it was a real thing. I don't blame you all for that, I am just saying it's a tough thing. Then we also have those on the fiscal side. You have to stay strong, stay strong on this. That being said I think it will be best positioned for this dais to amend that motion you can still stick with it my friend I appreciate that but think as Don said I will vote no on the motion that sits I think Don will also I rather not put us on the board for a no vote I'd rather amend motion and say we will fulfill our commitment to this year we fund it we tax the people for it we will go through it. But because of the looming issues on the fiscal side from the legislature we cannot at this time continues to allow this program to move forward because the application process like Donna said will open up they will apply and will be in the same vote don't want to do that to you all give some very difficult decisions to make of that amendment passes you will not be the only one sitting there. No one ever wants their program touched. It can be something on animals. We will fill the room with animal advocates. Rightfully so, what I just know I don't take the decision lightly but my commitment I take very important that I made it to all. Matt I appeal to you to accept the motion. I think it's the best thing for this council that we don't down focus and have another motion. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Real quick before Matt considers the new motion one of the things I think is important as we are going through budget compositions right now. It doesn't matter to me but we can when we go through these budget discussions, we can say $611,000 taken out. We don't want it in the budget next year. That is virtually the same as what you are asking Matt to do. If we don't put it in the budget it will not be funded. That would be our stop right there if we did not want to put it in this motion and Matt wants to stick with his. That goes with any other program we take seriously, look at that based on what we are seeing in Tallahassee. I think that is the mechanism for saying it will only be one year and we can vote on that when we go through the budget or at least gain consensus. The other thing is I mentioned to Jennifer that the ACA and the smack from VCCA that I want to be a proactive member of finding the result that works here. That does not involve government money. But I will not wait to vote or not vote on that I want to immerse and engage and come up with a plan. I want to be part of that solution not for any other reason then I love you guys I want to be part of the solution. I think the cultural council and The Alliance in some formality can help with that. I am cautious in making the cultural council go away. They will know they don't have the money when you don't put it in the budget at that point. I think we all have to get together a solution if they go away and we will just keep them ad hoc I guess and work with The Alliance. You will come up with a solution either way. That's all I have, thank you. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Thank You Chairman I appreciate the inside for my fellow councilmembers, Councilman Johansson thank you for your thoughts on it. I like games. I play them at my house with my family often. That sounds like a game to me like you will find it then we will take $611,000 out of the budget then she will know. I don't want to play that game. Don and David I appreciated hearing your ability to adapt to the situation and same if the motion said this your only and it was definitely coming out after that and also for me it would have to be I'm not sure I would still get on board with it I'm definitely going to vote Mr. Rienhart's motion down if his motion gets voted down if nobody else does I would at least make a motion to provide the funding for this year only and with disbanding the cultural council immediately and stating in the motion that there is not more funding for this. I would do that to help its members here if they want to make the motion they can do it. I will still vote no on that one also. But I will make a motion to help group out here for this year if for other people want that some of you flex why would you make a motion and vote against it because this first motion it is bad business I think it sets these people up for failure next year when you don't deserve failure yet another year they need to know we will not be they came like it is over now. Thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: Couple things I want to say. It is a very controversial issue. You can see the division up here all right that's why you have several numbers if we all voted the same health setting for that be. Nonetheless even if we don't agree at least the way I act in the way I am somewhat made me successful in my career prior to this I still respect their opinions. It bothered me when you made the comment about the hate emails or the threatening remarks. That bothers me and that troubles me. I come from a world that was just all violence. I don't think that is right, that is not a society I want to live in. That being said, please understand I still respect their opinion. I am a gentleman, I really do. We don't have to agree but at the end of the day we walk out of here and that is that. Going back to what was said about the motion. Nowhere in what I just said that I say it would be in perpetuity. No where did I say my motion would go on and on. I just said specifically this year. Now, that keeps a clean if somebody wants to make a motion after saying okay it did pass or did not let's say for argument sake passes if somebody wants to make a motion to say passes even though I voted against it but I want to make a motion no more. Let that entertain that that's a separate issue as far as I'm concerned it's the same but a separate issue. I'm sticking with whatever concepts in my heart that is where I stayed for how many months? I think for me to change it was against my fiber. Thank you. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5:: Thank you Mr. Chair. Jake, I just want to absorb your comments about the budget process. I tend to agree with the budget process when we speak of what we want to support where we want to find things. I want to agree with you on that perspective. But with a twist because of how this has developed over the last three years. It is kind of sort of been the tone - I cannot insert a better word than that. These folks are going to go out there to get the funding they will prepare because I don't remember when the cycle starts. They will start preparing for the grants, some of them higher outside and spending money with grant writers will get ready for something that may or may not be there. For the next funding cycle. Because you had this dialogue probably four times if I can remember to convert this four times at least. It is time for us to give them these assumptions. Is this something we want to have is a core government process going forward? That is why I think you and Matt it is better I think to tell them that message now not to be mean but have clarity so they can prepare for it if the Council approves it. And to Matt, the reason I suggested riding the amendment is a deal making. That is part of this process. Sometimes you bring other votes on board 50 strike a deal I'm stubborn to my friend. Many can attest to that. But I think for the good of the body, the deal making is better right now not only for us but to the individuals out there and then you can prepare for next year. I don't think the vote is going to go the way you think but strike the deal send the message I get it you will not like the message but the next year but you get your money this year. That has been consistent for me. I can speak for myself. I've been very consistent with that. I'm standing behind the program that I led the charge to reform. I'm sticking true to that. Make the deal Matt that is my ask I will leave you alone. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Vice Chair Reinhart I will let you go first whatever you say will affect what I will say. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: Understood. It goes against my fiber. I had to say that didn't I. I can read the tea leaves. I see all these people out here and see the people that are taking the time out of their day of schedules to ask for this. I want to see them survive. I know if I keep with this motion it will probably fail. You guys will walk out of here very disappointed I will then therefore amended by motion for this year only and do and it just keep in mind the cultural council is under things like the license plate thing we have to give the staff direction on that and don't want to do away with cultural council that that is why they do a lot of functions they don't just handle this grant. This. >> TIM BAYLIE: You also have the art in public places program that is in place can you hear me they are involved with that cultural council is involved with that you also have license plate program which is a part of the local arts agency that we represent those to any of the echo gallery there are three things the cultural council feel that is outside of the cultural grant. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: That's why I will and this this year and amend the cultural grant after the show I don't want to put the cultural council and not the reason Mr. something different to say somebody can have something more to add I think that's as far as I will go on this I will call the question. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: I will amend the second. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: You are good with the second. That was most of what I wanted to say. I see other people. I was going to ask Troy what she could support and again I'm going to take a beating on this. I know. From all of you a lot of you people here I support the arts I live in a house full of artists. One of their favorite places to go is the hub and to the Pioneer art settlement which is 2 miles from my home. But for me, the government does not have the moral authority to take appropriate money from our residents from the County and hand it to another business. It is just immoral to me and I cannot vote for it. I will support this amendment if that is how it goes. To improve this for this year I will change my mind on this. I want to be done. I want a clean break on this. I don't want to hold these people hostage. I hope you will support that you said you would not support either one. I'm not sure what you would support Troy. >> DANNY ROBINS,DISTRICT 3: Thank you chairman I need some clarification Mr. Dyer? The last couple of weeks and now we talk about this stuff with the cultural council. I'm getting conflicting kind of message. Do we have when it comes to the future arts funding do we have to keep the cultural council in what direction clear concise direction you need that we can put a correct motion together I'm confused. >> MICHAEL DYER,COUNTY ATTORNEY: My understanding of the motion as defined in this year and the cultural grant funding. We can bring back information on the Cultural Arts Council to you about other roles in the cultural council. That is my understanding you would end the cultural grant program after the funding of this year. Unless you direct otherwise. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: That makes sense. I have ADD. Okay I understand. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Only because you asked me about it. For three years I voted yes on this I expressed concerns Mr. Santiago is the one that got my mind thinking about this more in depth read $1.8 million I said yes and approved those that know me those that will beat me up will beat me up chairman nothing is changed as far as core governmental responsibilities nothing is changed other than just an appeasement on I will go ahead and do this and next year will be next year. It won't happen again after that. I'm going to hold true with what I came out of the gate talking about today. If I'm alone no I'm alone no. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Karissa, will you call the roll the motion is to approve funding this year only and then end the cultural grants . Not the cultural council, just the cultural grants . >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: No. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: Yes. >> DANNY ROBINS,DISTRICT 3: No. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: Yes. >> DON DEMPSEY,DISTRICT 1: Yes. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Yes. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Yes the motion passes the funding is restored for this year only about a 5/2.[Applause]. It is 12:30 PM and we will take a break until 1:15 PM. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: The next Item was Item number five but it was contingent on Item her for not being closed. The extra sidewalk money goes unallocated. Item number six is a quasijudicial hearing Resolution - A rezoning of 16.5 acres in Prime Agriculture, A-1, zoning to the St. Johns River RV Storage Business Planned Unit Development (PUD) does anybody have any contacts with anybody to declare. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Yes sir, the applicant's lawyers. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Same here. >> Motion to approve. Didn't you say that. >> DANNY ROBINS,DISTRICT 3: Second. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: I have to recuse myself and withdraw my motion. >> MICHAEL DYER,COUNTY ATTORNEY: Do you have a property interest or in a property nearby it? >> DANNY ROBINS,DISTRICT 3: I second the motion. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: I make a motion to approve. >> DANNY ROBINS,DISTRICT 3: I second the motion. >> COUNTY STAFF: This is a resolution from rezoning from agricultural to PUD to see the property highlighted off New York Ave. Is in red that you have burial to the right there is on the right-hand side of the property is already zoned RPUD there is an existing storage facility there and outside party for RV parking the previous owner did some work on the east side of the property a new owner purchased the property and work with the staff to resolve some of the compliance issues on the east side of the property in doing so they created another master plan which I will show you here. They did it to continue the development of a storage facility mINI-warehouse to the east of the property. The property is divided by a wetland. You can kind of sit on the left-hand side of the screen. They are preserving that wetland will not be impacted to the west of the property. There is a large printed 100 foot easement, Duke energy has an easement that will buffer it from the west. It is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan staff provided the technical analysis as part of your agenda package it meets all of the criteria for a rezoning. The PLDRC public hearing was held on December 18 there was no one from the public that had any opposition to PLDRC voted unanimously for the Council and recommended the Council to approve this PUD amendment the applicant representative is here they may have a few words as well. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Question for you and from anybody else in the Council this is currently zoned A-1 which is one house per 10 acres. Once we rezone it, anything could happen on this property as far as development unless there is restrictive language in the agreement. Is there any such language? >> COUNTY STAFF: Yes sir the developer agreement which I showed before has specific uses that are permitted such as mini-warehouse storage covered canopy spaces the development agreement would run with the land even if they sold it to somebody else they would have to comply with those uses that are specifically spelled out in this development agreement residential is not permitted. If they were going to make a change he would have to go through a major modification of course the Council would have that decision. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR:This would come back to the council. Any other questions? Staff we have public participation. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: Does Mike want to talk himself out of it? >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: You didn't have a beard when you got here this morning. >> APPLICANT: Michael Woods this is a project I'm here on behalf of the owner Mr. Hagan and his entity who bought the property about two years ago this was developed initially on the east side of the property storage facility if you drive there you can see what's out there what it looks like. We will kind of continue on the theme on that website initially when it was constructed many moons ago it was a larger plan for that east side of the property ahead of financial issues. If you saw the staff-report there are some modifications or updates being done on the east side of the property that is just to drop with this new proposed master plan so you can be finished off it is finishing landscaping on the northeast corner and whether or planned goings on east side dishes surface parking. The main charge of this proximity is blessed with two separate driveway entrances so we don't cut through the wetlands were boarding the wetlands entirely the only other design element I want you to be aware of we had 2000 pound gorilla on the west boundary which the powerline easement that runs north and south along Paradise Drive it's one of the older easements held by the power company looking to just having a drive I'll access point to their it just became logistical nightmare to try to get any kind of sign off on it. What you see with our project and stay entirely and of that 100 foot area there is access available for the Duke powerline easement from them they come off of paradise otherwise there is a 6 inch or 1 foot non- equal access easement along Paradise Paradise is one of the old roadways on that subdivision that was the eastern edge of that platted subdivision is directly nonconforming. He needs additional right-of-way but where it is located right now there is a swale on the east side of the roadway there is no additional right-of-way being conveyed over to them still provide buffering on the east side of the hundred feet because we did not want to get into the plantings because Duke can do whatever they want to. We outline the type of facility stay within the nature of the underlying land use. Everything will be done for stormwater capacity. We have no issues out there right now we only going to the site plan you can see it on the concept plan that we have adequate provisions for that you Mr. MC we are pretty good with the visual quarter after that will tell us what the turn things have to be if you go out there we are servicing the same type of council member 's been working out pretty well this basically just gives a lot more space for the RV and the votes we think with the proximity with the river it makes a lot of sense. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have or if there is anybody that has questions from the audience as well? >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Any questions? It does not look like it. Are you the only speaker? >>.[Unclear Audio] yes. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: There is no question from staff we have a motion and a second to approve any other comments? All in favor signify by saying,aye? >> Board Voting: Aye. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Any opposed is approved 6/0. With one person abstaining. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: Was guilty of another minute I was going to withdraw my second.[Laughter]. And now, we have Item number seven Item 07 Beach Related Services Mini-Budget Workshop Presentation. >> RYAN OSSOWSKI,STAFF: This is the second of five of these Mini-Budget workshops where we go over the use of the property taxes or other unrestricted General Fund or other taxing fund revenues. This presentation is a little bit different it's not a single department this is all speech related services since there is now a beach management fund every year we do a subsidy from the general fund to the beach management fund equal to the amount that is necessary to fund at the beach in excess of what the revenues are the cover at the beach totally off city is 17.391 million dollars there is a $200,000 amount that is on this slide I will eat up for when Jessica takes over that I would like to do a little bit further explaining on. The $200,000 Pacific Capital subsidy transfer was in the budget however it is no longer required with the recent change since the budget was adopted with the recent change to the beach management code. In that code is required four dollars from every pass which we also interpreted to mean whenever there was a subsidy to be sent to the beach capital fund the beach code modification four dollars still exists there still a four dollar allocation to the beach capital fund however that recent code modification was approved by the Council we no longer have to contribute four dollars from the general fund whenever a resident passes granted. That $200,000 capital subsidy is no longer required; it will now be sent to the beach management fund instead of the beach capital fund; however, you may remember there R-2 different subsidies go into the beach management fund there is the hundred $150 per president pass that is required under the charter for uniformity. Then even when we contribute $150 per pass there is an additional subsidy that is required because even $150 per pass is not enough defunded it is because we will transfer more of that $150 piece that other subsidy will come down that was a whole lot worse to say this 200 thousand dollars is budgeted but you will see an amendment in the future that we won't need that $200,000 with that being said I will turn it over to the first part of this presentation to our coastal director Jessica. >> COUNTY STAFF: Good afternoon.[Listing Names] Volusia County coastal director what we have right here is an overview of our beach management fund revenue expenses as you remember from last Council session my division is funded by two funding sources deposit daily on port in the district which we talked about last meeting than the other side of this is the beach management fund I have of my organization in four different sections beach maintenance contract, is pummeling the operation of the beach ramp rating until collections your trash pickup parks are your park facilities. Sun splash Park Frank Granite Park public access is if your particular ramps and your single one of do not walk over so we have may not be connected to an overlying Park coastal operations covers all three of the bottom sections you'll see that our budget is heavy on operating grants and aid on capital it is mostly for your continuing design and then perk planning. Major signs that may not be eligible for the grant opportunities. Ultimately we have just about 13.5 million dollars in expenses in his budget fund and do bring in about $10 million in revenue. We are drafting approximately $4.3 million from the general fund. Our revenue consists of beach access fees off beach parking fees and the other separation in the concessionaire contract with the beach concessionaire provides us with an annual fee so they can then sell exclusive rights to provide services in our beaches and we get $22,000 per year from our Park Pavilion rentals. In total you get $10 million of revenue under this funding source. Again in my division I'm 32 full-time positions three of them are primarily port funded so they are either administration or they are connected directly to those two inlet parks, [Listing Names] there funded from their entrance fees. The remaining 22 are funded fully from the beach management fund that is your maintenance of your trades in your supervisor crews, directing your parks, your walkover is pristine and helping to recover and rebuild after storms. We do have seven positions that are split funded between both funding sources; those are the more constructed manager and your administration will receive maintenance workers and the construction projects. Summary of operations we maintain in the coastal division maintain and operate the beaches. That is all you beach access that is your beach towels ramp grading contract your trash collection your portal ask the genders cutting the grass everything for making sure those whole toilet paper in the bathroom to keeping the lights on literally I do have a little error QC public showers is written twice I have a 70 total showers on the beach in parks. Overall view of the most accessible beach in the nation with 61 million visitors day trips per year summary of operations if you remember our beach maintenance contract carried about $8.4 million that is all you beach maintenance contracts and what that includes is your toll contractor janitorial so cleaning the public bathrooms opening and closing them every single day 365 days a year and holidays along with the portal that we have on the beach in various locations and then we have been skipping contracts irrigation whole bunch of various other contracts for our top five expenses coming at the beach toll contract for million $400,000 followed by the beach maintenance contract that is rent grading permit or collection and major debris removal $3.7 million paid to parking contracts just under 1.5 million and grounds maintenance which include janitorial landscaping painting facilities prepare portal or come in at $889,000 and we spent about $236,000 just keeping the lights on keeping the showers running keeping the toilets flushing Fred across 31 other object codes with $870,000 of other expenses. In total in the upcoming years the CFB maintenance contract that is rent grading and trash collection does expire on September 30 of this year we will have a new contract in place effective October 1, 2026 that should make it to you well in advance of October 1, 2026 or your review and consideration we just have not realized what those costs are going to be until we get further the evaluation period. We are working through a long-term beach resiliency and projects in our management plan funding of those projects in future years for the next five- 50 years we will have to figure that out and then everybody's heard rumors about the changing the organizational structure we take a lot of damages on the beach anything that happens to famous the changes reimbursement structures also something we want to monitor closely financially. With that I'm available for any questions you may have. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Great presentation skills thank you you flowed through that like you read it. 50 times before thank you, here's my question in Ormond Beach by the sea for the new Cantwell has been put in by FDOT FDOT has been beat up quite a bit actually from local governments. Maybe deserving for some of the things they've done on a1a and Granada and other drugs have gone back and made changes. I cannot complement them enough for the secant while in the expeditious manner that they installed it they listen to me when I talk to them about the importance of having vegetation on top of the wall they planted Sabal Palm's they have seed oats and other grasses that are growing there now it looks great here's the question. Loose, did the states pay for it? I don't know if it is 15 or 30 beach walkover's that are uniformed and beautiful and that they work like all of those streets have gone beach walkover and many of them were complaining to me about being able to get a permit they wanted funding. All of a sudden I felt the semi sweet father who lives out there. I like all of these beach walkover's are complete and look uniform. They look amazing. Did the state pay for that special estate using emergency funding on Hurricane Ian and Nicole DEP over sees that? It kind of expedited the review. It was one design by one contractor that is why it looks so great. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: I have to give Governor Ron Desantis and all state regulators a huge kudos from Troy Kent for helping this entire council that is a huge undertaking if you have not been up that way you need to head up maybe you want to go take a look at what they're doing to the Flagler pier take a look where that wall cannot tell there's a wall there by the way you have no idea when you see palm trees on the east side of A 1A that is where the ball is buried 20 feet down into the ground with pumped concrete into their circular fiberglass design that they have and look at those walkover's please file George please play FDOT masterful job. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: That was back in the legislature it started then. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: Thank you chair Jessica you mentioned we are very reliant on grants and whatnot that we get. If that goes away that obviously changes significantly. Correct? >> COUNTY STAFF: Yes sir. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: Has there been a leaning towards that we are hearing cuts all over I didn't know, we've been very good and aggressive as grants and applying for them I commend you for I guess am always leery of that we hear locally in the state of Florida we saw house resolution passed today goes to the Senate now for the property tax issue. Again, anything on the federal level and now leave the light on that as well. >> COUNTY STAFF: We are always pursuing our feasibility study with the federal government which provides a smaller local share for resilience projects long-term. I think we're all nervous about how they are proposing to reorganize for parks and recreation. Items may not necessarily qualify and the beach would fall under that category. We will have some strategy in the upcoming budget working very closely with Ryan and how we can kind of just position ourselves over the next couple of years. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: I know we are always coming up with innovative ways. We don't have the lifeguards shine sure that is coming up later with what we said in our love that idea by the way but that's for later day I'm sure. I get puzzled looks. There is something that's in the works. Anyway hopefully we can get to it later. I thank you for that and I thank you for the aggressiveness in looking for those grants and I guess we're all just a little nervous when you know what's happening at the state and what will happen at the federal level as well with respect to FEMA. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Just got back on slide number five probably I can just tell you what it says. The beach toll contract is for about $4.4 million that is a contract for personnel booths and administration processing the permit for everybody that wants to drive on the beach. >> COUNTY STAFF: Yes sir. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Revenue is about $6.5 million from beach access fees and $3 million for beach parking fees which means we are netting about $5 million. >> COUNTY STAFF: Yes the way our budget works is you cannot put money in our budget as a dedicated revenue stream if it is still in Accounts Payable status. The money does not count until it crosses Ryan's deposit box. We have additional revenue that is kind of in Accounts Payable waiting for people to pay their bills waiting for them to catch up with the appeal processes. We have realized revenue that we cannot just conservatively work into a budget until it is actualized. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay and he plans to phase out beach tolls with technology. How can we reduce that $4.4 million it cost us to process the beach. >> COUNTY STAFF: That is contract we approved we are never going to be fully automated in our beach is the volume of people that we receive in our shorelines and the varying users that we have they need a little of the personal care and personal touch ISP will always have a person on it Flagler will have at least one person added. We have found that the best way to get people on the beach is to be flexible with conditions and volume. We have two ways to basically use the exit lane on Flagler on third and the done button will not lose that that will still be here. The one volume and condition demands it. We have 15 people that we get after full automation is completed. We still have 15 educated people on the beach at a minimum. We have the flexibility to ramp up as we need based on conditions. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay. We are probably stuck with it for some time. >> COUNTY STAFF: Yes sir, it's in line with the contract that was approved. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: I understand that. Okay. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Thank you sir. I'm on slide three but the one that says use of property taxes or unrestricted revenue. Beach maintenance contract it is pretty bulky there prints what is the level of service that maintenance contract? >> COUNTY STAFF: It is not just one contract, it is all of the beach maintenance contracts. A level of service varies and conditions and shows leadership. Below December 3 which I'm assuming might be a Tuesday we are pretty low rolling emptying the trash twice a day you're probably not on the portal service given in service and out service portal at level we also have your minimum on the beach goals is because the people are not coming to the beach simply nothing for the services only ramp in the peak season or the holiday level service Memorial day on July 4 Labor Day Mother's Day weekend even we can emptied the trash cans on the beach up to six times will have all the bodies at the tollbooth as many people as they can give us we will take just so we can take that massive volume input them on the sand efficiently properly we even have the ability to have on site janitors dedicated to some splash park the entire Memorial day weekend we had the ability to have additional enforcement services at some of the parks fully paid for additional we ring additional portals out to some of our facilities like Mary MacLeod Park we bring additional portals because the park itself can move up to 2000 people at one time. We are. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Is that we don't want people waiting in line or it fills up and I'm looking if the property tax-goes away, how will we cut it? We don't want people to wait. People sometimes might have to wait. Is that an area beach maintenance contract not an area where we can take a look at lowering the level of service for conveniences may be overcome by budgetary restraint? >> COUNTY STAFF: Yes sir, we can always scale back based on budget. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: If we move on to another one. If we go to slide page 8 or slide number eight or nine of the coastal division operating expenses, I noticed ground maintenance and it says janitorial landscaping portals which we kind of just talked about. Angelo deputies utilities showers and restrooms electricity. Aren't those two separate contracts or did you break them out that way and I suppose that is actually the same thing I just talked about just broken up. >> COUNTY STAFF: The utility section is truly paying the water bill. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Got it. Okay thanks. How hard would it be to look at those you consent to in an email complementing the directions you sent me to Ryan. I'd like to look at the object codes for $870,000 and see help that is. >> COUNTY STAFF: I'm happy to give it to you. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Spent three hundred.[Unclear Audio] >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: I apologize because I published this question ahead of time. Just sitting here looking at each maintenance contract three planet $710,770 a more assuming the answer will be cheaper to do it this way to farm it out to have our own crew to grade have I don't know how many you would need to grade our ramps and probably do it the way you wanted. Picking up our litter is going to get our own trash cans. I'm sure you'll probably tell me you will help crunched the numbers and this is the cheaper way to do it if that's the case you can just say yes and I will be done with this. >> GEORGE RECTENWALD,COUNTY MANAGER: Yes I would say that we do check that all the time. We have that ability to weigh it against our own horses. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: This is not the public George Recktenwald fest but one of your strengths is I truly believe unless I'm probably wrong about this also I was going same everything for putting out a fire but you probably and that also with our firefighters their ego cannot even say that I truly believe one of the best strengths and assets about you is that you done every single job that there is to work your way up. You are a schoolteacher before this. It's a wonderful thing that we have you in that position to make those decisions. I believe that you do check that because when you start looking at $4 billion per year maybe it's something we can look at with their own people with their salary. We can do it better and save some money just something to think about. >> GEORGE RECTENWALD,COUNTY MANAGER: You are correct we do we watch the cycle of what goes on in industry it's interesting maybe a little bit more applicable in Public Works but what's interesting about that is the legislature two years ago started limiting how much we can do with our people. We've had to battle that. Because we want that flexibility. To be able to do that for you do have our organization have the same beach creating fails I can borrow from Public Works and other places to make sure that we take care of that on Memorial Day weekend and things like that we do work together. It is good to have a hybrid approach that we have. We do weight things all the time and do certain things when you can have a mass repetition like this, it usually comes out better in the contract, but the one off is usually better to do it ourselves. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Tongue-in-cheek I am being serious. Make sure you keep the grading scales of the part, maybe teach Suzanne as well in case any we need, both of you or one of you to run out there and with the handhelds. >> GEORGE RECTENWALD,COUNTY MANAGER: I don't think you want me loose on a tractor with people around.[Laughter] We can give it a try. >> COUNTY STAFF: If I can make a quick comment on the beach toll contract and the beach maintenance contract, especially on the beach toll that includes the equipment, correct Jessica. As part of that negotiation all of the toll arms and equipment we are required to be intact as part of that just wanted to make sure that that was clear for you. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Correct me if I'm wrong, they are also responsible for any damage due to wind water and sand and you make sure it is back up and running in an expeditious manner. >> COUNTY STAFF: Yes or the beach means contract along the labor portion of what you can train need to grade beach I'm up for the challenge the equipment on the beach is one of the big ticket Items that I presume a part of that contract cost because as all of the teams in the in the room would verify our beach equipment is an equipment replacement cycle that salt water and the air really is hard on our trucks and other equipment. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: This is a workshop. We have some questions about this. Suzanne you are right when I met with Ben on this I believe just because well that was kind of my question was this equipment they understand it is going to get chewed up by that ocean and that salt and that air in the water. That was the whole response I got was they are aware that they believe they have equipment they can handle. They are on the hook for it. I'm not happy with the amount of money we spend but they are on the hook for that and they have to live up to their end of the bargain thanks. >> COUNTY STAFF: If I may take a second your efficiencies didn't have the opportunity for an efficiency slide I do want to highlight the kind of full-time employees we have listed here since the 22 hurricanes have gone above and beyond the response level we have found that we in-house can rebuild our beach dune popovers quicker and faster with zero questions from FEMA if we cut the stringers it is FEMA. It completely reimburse County staff labor in time because of this this fiscal year because of the FEMA eligibility coming back we realize it's cheaper for us to borrow on tractors so we can put on poles in the ground to mechanically eliminate the need for a contractor to do any work on our walkover's that it's one of the efficiency measures instead of spending hundred $25,000 for a single set of stairs we can get it done with a tractor to get the pole in the ground for probably $15,000 as including all the materials. We are identifying deficiencies. We also look at reimbursement from commit or try to get as much money for our residents as possible. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: That's music to my ears it sounds like you're living common sense rule the day is exactly what we need to have happen in local government I'm pleased to hear you say that especially when you attach some numbers to it over $100,000 and $15,000 in our guys and girls are doing it more efficiently and more effectively and more expeditiously and also zero questions from FEMA because they know what the questions will be so they do it right the first time good >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: I don't see any more questions from you. >> COUNTY STAFF: Back in 2002 the Marine Science Center first opened up here in Volusia County. One of the primary reasons is that the federal government requires that we take a permit for driving under the beach. As you drive on the beach the federal government requires you to go through a process it's called a federal incidental take permit. Part of that permit requirement they attach on different requirements responsibilities of what we would be responsible for. The idea is that you are mitigating the potential loss of threatening endangered species by doing these things. They call that an incidental take permit. Part of the take permit of course requires the rehabilitation of sick and injured sea turtles. Sea turtle monitoring and also shorebirds as well. Part of the performance was also to provide for educational opportunities in educating our community about these threatened endangered species. The Marine science Center our total expenses is $2.397 million per year. 1 million of that is proximally and 1.2 million is operating cost. One of the things that we do is half of that is we collect a little over $1 million in revenue. For the center. Here is the revenue. There are gift shops that bring in $381,000 per year. The summer camps are very very popular; they are bringing about $30,000 per year. Our school field trips throughout the year bring $35,000 per year. Our entrance fees also bring in some money with a total of over one million dollars that offset the expenses for the requirement we have from the federal government and the state. The organization status here is one of the leaders of the Marine Science Center. We have approximately 11 full-time employees with three part-time employees if you notice the divisions are set out in those requirements of the take permit and being in compliance with that we have a group of sea turtle rehab. We haven't avian rehab for birds, we have an educational component. Life-support and debt services. Some of the compliments are, you know we did a large renovation at the Marine Science Center and we reopened it to the public this June. After the capital improvements were done, a beautiful facility since we opened we've had almost 30,000 visitors. On an annual average rate, the average for the last three years is about 80,000 visitors that come in and out of that facility. We have treated 958 birds this past year. On the average we treat about 1000 or a little over 1000 of shorebirds within the facility. This past year we treated a record-breaking 335 sea turtles and 202 other reptiles this past year. We are I think the second in the state of Florida for turtle rehab facilities in the state. We have delivered over 5000 educational opportunities for children and students. We hosted eight weeks of summer camp with 178 campers. My understanding when this thing goes online it is sold out within the date there is such a need for more camps is also Canadian some revenues for us. Our temporary personnel, we have temporary seasonal personnel over 400 hours per week. We do have contracted services we have to veterinarians there for turtles. And for our shorebirds to take care of them. Our gift shop merchandise pays about hundred $58,000 then again we get revenue from that as well. The rest of our operating expenses is covered with utilities and medical and surgical supplies as you can imagine a lot of the equipment that is being utilized there is very very specialized. We had to replace that every once in a while. The efficiency I will talk about is the amazing volunteer program that they have there. They have had volunteers that donated over 13,000 hours equivalent to about 459,000 dollars which equates to over six full-time employees. They continue to get volunteers to help support the program. Staff itself there when you go in and look at the artwork a lot of that artwork a lot about the demonstration things that you see is done by the staff itself. They have talented individuals and gentlemen named Kristin who spent working there for a couple of years now I think a few years, so talented, instead of something else he dives he cleans out all of the tanks. On a regular basis he is with the filters and replacing filters so we tried to use the in-house folks as much as we possibly can. Future challenges are inflation admissions equipment that is very specialized for some of the capital equipment and also the food it is really specialized food that you have defeated to the animals. Also you never know, they increase the number of sea turtles and medical costs year-to-year. Last year we were kind of maxed out on the budget because we had a record-breaking sea turtle here. It's not on here but some of the opportunities of looking at grants and I know Chad and them are always looking for different opportunities getting volunteers and looking for grants to support this program. We are here if you have any other details or questions you might have? >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Great presentation as well thank you. You talked about the specialized food for the animals. I'm thinking of all the animals and thinking what else would they need other than little fish? I saw some pallets in the background while the volunteers out there with 12 foot castanets catching some small mullets and feeding them to the sick turtles. >> COUNTY STAFF: It depends on the animal the sea turtles have a variety of they eat a lot of produce the havoc throughout human quality produce we operate under state and federal permits there are quality requirements the birds eat things like dead rats. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Can I interrupt you for a moment? I was just bragging about common sense ruling today. And now we have two feed turtles human level quality produce. >> COUNTY STAFF: Yes sir. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Who is making the decision. >> COUNTY STAFF: The state of Florida requires. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: I don't want to recall everything I said about not letting common sense rule the day. we can talk to our friends in Flagler County. I'm going down a rabbit hole. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Why don't you like turtles? >> COUNTY STAFF: One of our contracts is with a company called the Gourmet rodent gifted by rocks to feed the birds. We do have a contract with a produce company. Some of the animals requires seafood so seafood prices have increased with inflation more significantly than some other things. Again the amount of food we have to buy depends on the number of animals we have in house. In addition to medications and medical supplies. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: I am not trying to get Peta stirred up. the amount of river rats that we have from Halifax River on the beach side I will use Armand which is an example you will have a field day collecting those and feeding them. I don't have more people for that last comment I have about this. I want to complement the facility last time I was there with my family. I might get people fired up about this. I went shopping there. It was my favorite honey which is an invasive species called Brazilian Pepper honey which you never had. Let me just tell you it is a beautiful dark amber color and the spice in it when it hits your gels is my absolute favorite. I cannot find it anywhere except for our location. Whoever is providing the Brazilian Pepper honey: please keep it coming. >> COUNTY STAFF: Will do. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay. Thank you for answering those questions. Just a question out of curiosity, but so little. Looking at the gift shop, $158,000 is what we spent. The return is 381,000. That is a pretty strong return on investment. In that business is a lot of honey. He provides gift shop items to retailers. He gets about 85% markup. He teaches his teachers to do 50% this is a 50% or better markup who is buying the stuff? They are doing a good job, is what I want to say. >> COUNTY STAFF: You look fabulous. The gift shop manager's name is Stephanie Harris. She is really good at looking for projects that meet our mission. As much as possible environmentally friendly projects or have a statement about the mission of the marine science center. She is really good working with our procurement analyst in the county to find really good prices then marking them up appropriately and we have in her gift shop things all the way from little kid comes in with a couple of dollars and is led with something to things that are frankly more pricey. She does a really good job) and real Friday the new renovated gift shop in case you have not been since the grand reopening is beautiful. Stephanie and the staff do an amazing job. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: The whole facility is beautiful. I'm not surprised it is popular. It is a well respected facility in the state of Florida for the reason that you said but the amount of birds and turtles that are healed and can go back into the wild. It is really something we can be proud of if you have not seen it yet you need to go and spend some time there. And some money. I don't see any other questions. I was going to end the council member service. That they have at the shop is amazing. You almost want to buy something from them when you were there. It is fantastic. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay. >> COUNTY STAFF: Next as. >> RYAN OSSOWSKI: As part of the incidental take permit grievous eternal conservation program is also implemented by federal law should be contract for its eternal monitoring equipment sea turtle lighting ordinance, we also review the coastal construction on any projects on the coast to make sure that they are in compliance with habitat management plan. It is a total expense of $723,000 per year personal expenses $258,000 per year cooperating is 435 thousand dollars per year we did receive some revenues about $11,000 through a Department of revenue sea turtle license plate where we did get some revenues through that program. Jennifer Winters is the manager of this division. It's relatively small. We have one of our specialists, and another in our specialist so a total of four people in that division. The monitor 943 sea turtles this past year. We ensure that our plans are in compliance like said during construction projects. We conduct sea turtle lighting inspections and we also coordinate the annual international coastal cleanup. Our top operating expenses are contracted services approximately $224,000. This is pretty unique: the state requirement requires us to contract out the actual permit holders for the take permit or the management plans. We have one contractor that is north of the inlet. And one contractor at the inlet himself. That is a requirement that we are obligated to do. We do have temporary personnel during the sea turtle season. At about $85,000 per year. We have vehicle replacement. We talked about vehicles and being on the sand and the salt. That replacement is pretty high there. Minutes of our different equipment we have about $20,000. We did have after the hurricane we had an employee that was a protected species specialist. We did absorb that in-house. We also created a data system that used to be done by paper. Now we can collect it electronically to help us. Again I want to emphasize to the volunteers that we get all the different turtle groups that are helping with the team with a small Department of three, we cannot accommodate this without all of the volunteers that are helping out with this program. One of the future challenges is that the incidental take permit expires in 2030. See that as a challenge, but I also see that as an opportunity. When different requirements may arise as we go through this permit in the future, maybe we can do things a little bit more efficiently, maybe negotiate a little bit more on those requirements. I know we are monitoring St. Johns County right now and they are going through that process. We will be monitoring them and looking forward to some good opportunities that may have as this permit gets close to expiration. We are here for any questions you might have. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: I was curious to St. Johns County when does that expire? >> RAY TYNER: They started early didn't they? >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: Same time they are just a little more into it. >> RAY TYNER: They are starting to get into it. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: How far they into it. >> RAY TYNER: We are monitoring we are not into it yet we are constantly into it because we always have to click data every year for suitable program that is all part of the application as far as being into it that is kind of what we're doing is the data collection at this point. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: I don't mean to make it about them a month's comparison especially if it's something to compare to how much driving they have? They don't have any do they? >> COUNTY STAFF: Yes they do about one dozen miles out of the give you that statistic a little bit of historical perspective and then Ginger can complement this. The mind knowledge Volusia County went first during the original incidental take permit efforts about then they watched us and came second some of their medications are less than ours. In fact I think Volusia County has some questions about what they can do up there versus the permit. There may be some theory to let them go first at this time so hopefully we can see what we need to do to match their program. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: Thank you. >> RAY TYNER: Yes sir. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: For my own knowledge and also those listening online, if the paper wants to write about how you will get most of your turtles that are in need of two people to bring them to you, should they call you? Is it a mixture of both? >> COUNTY STAFF: Environmental management director, are you asking the ones that end up saving the science center? Like was mentioned thereto permitted permit holders north of the inlet and south of the inlet they are responsible for recovering any sort of injured turtles or turtles in need of support and they come to the marine science center that is a partnership that we have with the permit holder us and the beach safety because a lot of times we delete those little wash rack turtles become in one week they have a storm may wash back onto the beach we have a program beach safety to grab those little guys get them to the science center and we will volunteer program in the areas where beach safety is not as heavily staffed in the natural areas will volunteer program called wash backwaters where folks will go out and look for those wash backs and transport them to the science center and ones that end up on the beach that is how we get them sometimes we get turtles from other facilities or FWC directs people to bring them to us and sometimes we get turtles entangled and in a fishing line or not and they usually come through those permit holders. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Thank you not to beat a dead horse but back onto the human food grade quality vegetables, does the state say we have the buyer from Publix or can we use all the special they don't tell us who we have to do we have to go through the procurement process we bid that out. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Other than the rats in the bugs because I understand not to open up the door to a whole new conversation but corrections are clean we don't have bugs and rats there but they are growing farm produce. Could that be provided? >> COUNTY STAFF: Potentially we have to talk about what the quantities are if it is year-round availability and those sorts of things. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Your result that was it. Thank you. >> RAY TYNER: >> COUNTY STAFF: Good afternoon.[Listing Names] director of public protection will start with animal control wheel one position that is staffed with the success of the Ormond Beach pilot on program he had the addition of one animal control officer who did not add anything with the expansion then intubate Daytona Do Beach who did kind of incorporate those two areas into the zone so we have an ACL that is funded through the beach fund that is the only portion of animal control that is funded through the beach one most of it is through AMS D it is on here as part of the fun is not the primary focus really what we are focused on his beach safety. Beach safety is the user of the beach management fund as you can see most of our budget is personnel with about $1.9 million in operating. We do have some revenue that we bring in about $109,000 in revenue most of that is from degenerate lifeguard programs. One of the things we like to highlight degenerate lifeguard program quickly to have 42 people were employed with beach safety right now who are part dispense in the General Electric program. Either which are all-time ocean rescue lifeguards. A junior lifeguard program not only provides a revenue source of revenue it also provides a recruiting tool that we have tried to fish for any other form part-timers lifeguards particularly. Don't I jump back to that in a little bit. We are responsible for a lot of the permits and special event permits and JetSki permits and things like that on the beach but also bring in some revenue for beach safety as well for a total of almost $110,000. You see it's a little confusing for total FTE count of 117.67 what you see on the side it does hundred 96 part-timers lifeguards they are not counted as 4.5 FTE generally speaking what we have is kind of an administrative side which is largely not ocean rescue lifeguards were not lifeguards that we have our operational side our operational side is close but by two shifts the captain on each shift and we have a full-time ocean rescue lifeguards in addition-to those part-timers lifeguards my apologies I left out the captains and our surgeons I don't want to sell them short. Early postpartum lifeguards are intended to supplement our faith, lifeguards when needed. That might be that usually is and always is really during the peak season during the summer season which seems to get earlier and earlier every year. As for instance this Christmas, you might recall we had a gorgeous couple of days around Christmas Christmas eve and Christmas that we also provide some part-time guards to supplement some of our staff. That is really what we utilize comfort in the special workers we have put into place some special workers for parking assistance. That can help with getting people to park in the correct place and correct things if the parking gets out of hand. Our summary of operations. It's actually been really interesting conversation I appreciate going at the end because exactly what he said Mr. Kent with regard to common sense approach and do we pick things up here and there. Beach operations might become obvious today; it is a total team effort to make sure that the beaches are operated and run smoothly. A lot of that beach safety actually kind of picks up some of these so other folks don't have to hire additional staff Vincent felt the care of the wash back turtles beach safety takers of that beach safety participates in putting into conservation poles and making sure that other kind of wildlife you see this giant bird not an animal might animal knowledge about the best I don't know what that is looks like a pelican.[Laughter] We help with those kind of wildlife preservation in addition to that we are responsible for boots on the ground with the council member facing speech management portion. Opening and closing beaches, taking care of traffic and traffic lanes make sure that we have the signs placed and wait there supposed to be again at a special event permitting then our main focus really is that lifesaving. We have on average about 2400 rescues each year in addition to that we have thousands upon thousands of preventive actions that would take care of the empty month medical care every single one of the full-time lifeguards are certified lifeguards and EMTs. We are able to provide BLS care there on the beach then those preventive actions. One of the things that's interesting about the EMS for the BLS care we are able to provide future started a BLS program will be of responding to upland calls for BLS services as a supplement into the EMS system we understand you have at times of the year that are less busy for beach safety so we are able to assist the County in other ways. Heading into the operating expenses as Suzanne mentioned earlier, the equipment on the beach can be a challenge that sand in those conditions. Our primary expense really about quarter the budget is spent with fecal placement that $500,000 for the Netgear liability insurance we have maintenance or more vehicles and equipment to kind of rent out a lot of our top expenses and the remaining is not listed here are for utilities and other types of equipment that we need and EMS supplies with us throughout the year. For total budget of $1.9 million some assertions that we had in recent years the first is the fact restructured we have been since the transition away from law enforcement, beach safety is done a really good job of really zeroing in and focusing on the tasks that we can really highlight and reassessing kind of our needs in the context of using that life was a law enforcement aside from we reevaluated our administrative side led to a reduction into positions overall. We were able to save that we are continuing to evaluate any kind of efficiencies that we can realize. For many of our staffing additionally last year we reassessed the need to have a couple of permanent control towers in our budget. Which is those larger structures we just finished one over at beach safety headquarters, we realize the use of those control towers probably does not justify $450,000 per we removed two of those from a request from last year we are reassessing the potential for bringing in is a more mobile it's not a redneck tower but a more mobile control tower so as needs shift we are able to move those. We've also since the transition away from law enforcement since we don't need to carry people in the back of the trucks anymore we have recessed the trucks were able to save about one point four 1500 -$2000 per truck and not having the full size packet cabinet that provides-for longer beds so variable to transport patients by the longer bed so that's a better operational and again we expanded those services to supplement BLS units it is really a service- and a supplement to the EMS system. For us to again respond to those BLS calls in upland areas. We found that was successful that we were able to really make a difference in those BLS calls it is not impacted any kind of response then on the beach so the pilot program that we are testing out books to be successful and our future challenges we will always have seven challenges adult literacy always have staffing challenges with part-time part-time for a 16 -17-year-old we don't have it is not necessarily pay we pay people really well to come and do we have a lot of incentives. It is finding people that are physically fit to be able to do the job of a lifeguard. As I have gotten into this role they let me kind of training is done occasionally that is a job. Finding people or physically fit enough to do the job of a lifeguard is difficult. Some things were done to improve that we've expanded the number of recruit classes that we have in addition to holding swim workshops. And to help people gain the skills then as seen in public with the other complied with some of the other groups here just changing to beach conditions and environment in the seasonality of what it is we are always looking at how we can write to size our response on the beach. That right size really does sometimes be very dated day or hour by hour based on what the conditions and the weather is on the beach. Service expectations kind of pose a challenge because if we look at covering the entire beach with lifeguards, because we've done everything we can we actually were able to expand the number of red towers by an average of about 10 towers last summer compared to the summer before. We expanded the number of red towers but even with that to be able to cover the entire beach and according to US LA covered or guarded beach includes 300 feet on the other side of a red tower to do that for 37 miles of beach we don't really count Canaveral seashore that would call for almost 300 Reddit towers we don't have that our expectation would be safety has that we cover the entire beach is a complex five year Reddit structure seem rubbing the beach and checking on conditions and things like that. And I think in short we are able to respond as people are on the beach all over because as Jessica said, we have one of the most accessible beaches in Florida if not the world. To beach safety we want to be sure to cover as much of that is you can and understanding that it is difficult to do with those Reddit towers because I think even in the heyday when you are out there is a lifeguard Mr. Brower I don't think we had 300+ red towers to be able to officially say we have a guarded beach for the entire county. Those are some of the challenges that we see going forward. What are the service expectations when you're actively assessing that looking at different models that we might be able to again literally right size with the keeping in mind kind of financial efficiencies. With that I will answer any questions. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Thank you very much for the presentation. I was all about dogs on the beach and I still am. I would like to know why I didn't want to spend extra money on an animal control officer if it is not needed. We find that there are a lot of dog bites in the area and that an animal control officer is required or do we have one just to give peace of mind? >> COUNTY STAFF: What we've done is we looped those areas into a larger zone. We don't step that 100% of the time it is looped into the larger zone so we don't have dog bite issues. We do have issues with people following the leash laws. It is our most common violation of their debt that can lead to bites that we have not had the kind of bite issues that we have but really that time we are able to better cover than that side of the county. And then those songs into the larger patrol and response areas specifically we have not had any bites. >> COUNTY STAFF: I think we've had one bite. I don't have the data off the top of my head. I think I heard of one. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: [Unclear Audio] there is not an animal control officer out there. It seems to work fine. I'm not saying we have to entertain Ingrid of one but lately I'm looking at ways to save $74,000 in this case. I know Mr. Kent is going to talk about or Mr. Brower about more lifeguards and more lifeguards. Is there any technology out there that can help alleviate some of those gaps? The first thing I thought of was a campus phone. I'm at phone number 42 and there is somebody out there. Saltwater that lasts about one day I guess. >> COUNTY STAFF: Think Mr. Rienhart refer to we did just recently see a demo for some camera systems they offer the ability to room AIT condo look at what's going on on the beach to be able to assess the conditions to assess the waves to count the number of people on the beach to count the number of people in the water. Tuesday campus phones are very familiar with what you are talking about to be able to alert somebody everybody has a phone and beach. Acting there is some potential that we are exploring as far as how we can utilize the technology. I would argue it is not a replacement for a lifeguard on a tower. Somebody's calling 911. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Just filling the gaps. >> COUNTY STAFF: For the unguarded areas that we are not in all the time I think there is some potential to utilize some technology and we are exploring those options. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: I guess my next question may be to you may be to Ginger or somebody to be even Jessica. I know you have cameras on our beaches. I get complaints from people whether the servers want to look at the surf or the guy down the street wants to look at his house. We wanted to look at the ramp. We have what it takes. Are they doing what you want? >> COUNTY STAFF: The camera situation is always tricky. We have some cameras that were set up initially by beach safety as a kind of a wise reason. Therefore beach safety we were able to put it onto YouTube so the public could take a look at them. They kept failing so we thought we would transition to a different kind of view that is different from that so we are getting a lot of complaints. Things with this company he just recently saw the demo forward to some of these other components is their cameras are a bit better and better positioned as well. I think some of it currently only has cameras in our control towers and so there is only certain so much you can say. Yes you are right we opened it up to kind of a wider view to be able to cover more of the beach I think that got a response from some of the servers that wanted to zero in on what's happening in the water a little bit more she thought maybe this special for parking. We are looking at some options for cameras. It might be this or it might be something else just depending on the costs. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Thank you chairman because Councilman Johansson correctly predicted one of the things I was going to talk about after the meeting unless you tell the six winning lottery numbers at the next pool) ball the left and put aside how long have you been in this new position. >> COUNTY STAFF: Officially since last March. Interments in September before that. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Who put you in that position was it George or Suzanne. >> COUNTY STAFF: Georgia points. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: George yet again do so just making decisions left and right about how you choose because it could be because a large portion of my district is on the beach but I find you to be incredibly professional and efficient likable by the constituents and resident of Volusia County. You respond quickly. Thank you. George, thank you for putting her in this position. That dog issue in Ormond by sea this Department Head after a situation I thought was over and done with she shows up not just her step she shows up to check on the individuals involved to make sure that everything is going okay above and beyond the call of duty I cannot say enough positive things about your leadership just the way I think it feels down there at the beach because of your leadership. I publicly want to say that about you. I just wanted to say thank you. My questions, there is a little bit of revenue shown to us through the junior lifeguard program. I challenge you to think of other ways that you are part of the beach that you run that you are in control of and can make more revenue. I don't know if it is swim lessons, I don't know if it is infant swim lessons. I know what I pay for my grandchildren to have infant swim lessons. These 10 and a pop paper lined up for it. I don't know, I am not trying to get us into that business clear order in the business with the general lifeguards. I'm looking at our expenses and revenue and thinking I challenge you without an answer. It could be in three months I cannot think of anything and that could be okay. If anybody cannot think that you can. I'm glad you mentioned the elephant in the room, the lifeguards we need. That many of them are not physically fit enough to do the job. You have to do X, Y, and Z within a certain amount of time limit if you cannot do it will not put you on the beach to save people. >> COUNTY STAFF: Nobody wants that. >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: I'm appreciative you mentioned it and it was there I want to touch on what Mr. Johansson said I want you to help come up with the focus of more lifeguards. My constituents are screaming for it. George is tired of hearing me talk about it to him. He privately wants you to come up with a way for me again. I think you mentioned this. He said that I wrote it down for looking at models with the right size. I thought you were the right person at the right time for this job and I have faith in you that you can help come up with a solution to Ormond by the seeming lack of a lifeguards prayers we have a tremendous about of people the state can input all these beautiful walkover is more people will be using the beach up there. there wonderful taxpayers as well. They are asking for this. I'm asking for it. I charge you through George's direction of course to brainstorm and come up with ways that can be done I had not thought of what Mr. Johansson said but it could be through videos it could be for a phone. I don't know that is not my wheelhouse. That is your specialty, the beach is my wheelhouse. Your specialty is in that area. That is what I'm hoping for other ideas that you can come up with for revenue and how we can better patrol Ormond with lifeguards. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Let's start with an easy question on the beach safety program generated revenue, I feel like I will play Jeopardy outside detail or 8150 dollars please schedule any outside detail is when somebody has an event and then you lifeguard to staff it that would be included not so we charged the special event when you apply for a special event it's $100 if it is extra space and additional charge for that if you need staff for this additional charge for that better detail would be something along those lines soon have you jumped off the pier yet to Max. >> COUNTY STAFF: No, I was just asking Tammy if I could. They let me do anything I want. It is great.[Laughter] For I get to go swim with them. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Careful they might want to push you off. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: If you do jump jump with other people in that half of them go first and jump in the middle and the sharks are all distracted. >> COUNTY STAFF: Noted. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Technology on the beach I've also heard good things Suzanne and I were just talking with us about the program. Look at the waves and ocean conditions. I'm looking forward to hearing more about that. I'm glad that you're pursuing it. It won't take the place of lifeguards but it will give them maybe it can anticipate where the next accident the further and further towers get apart you cannot see all the runout that red tower as you say you can see the runout you can see them informing you can see how they're pulling. There is nothing that will take the place of adequate towers. Glad to see that technology is using drones. >> COUNTY STAFF: We have drones we don't use them for active monitoring frequently but you do use drones to see what the crowd is especially during the holidays and things like that we have a couple of drone pilots, of course can SS- and help with any kind of assessments pre-and post hurricanes and things like that. It is not if there is a response that is necessary that somebody is out a ways out we do put the drone off to be able to identify people read don't believe we use it we will bring Tammy up. >> COUNTY STAFF: [Listing Names] beach safety director we use drones load times for mutual aid rescues in the ICW and the river. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay. >> COUNTY STAFF: Do want to comment on the camera situation as you said it's not really a replacement for a teller jumping in the water I think one thing to pay attention to and something we as part of the consideration all of these other things commission at beach safety for instance when there is a traffic disaster . adults with the same disaster and traffic is bad and there moving traffic lanes back and forth. We want to be able to maintain that level of service to be able to get people on the beach and make it safe when people are driving on the beach. Maybe utilize those cameras to be able to expand what our look is pretty. It's a line we have to walk but we are definitely interested in digging into it. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Good Mr. Kent is right we need more lifeguards we need more lifeguards in Ormond it's interesting he said that that is where I started because I was under age and undersized I should not have said that because somebody broke the law. You had to be 16. I think I was 15 and 135 pounds so they hit me up there and there were enough of us. We were about half a mile apart and there were only six or eight towers. You could see from tower to tower with the good care of binoculars that we need more. There is just nothing to take the place. However I understand the challenge. I've tried to work some of the X lifeguards in the current lifeguards. It was a lot easier to find people then. Now you are dealing with you can go to parties and earn more money. You're also dealing with people and people that are addicted to cell phones. We cannot let people sit on a red tower and stare at a cell phone. People have left when they found out I cannot have a cell phone at my tower Prince. >> COUNTY STAFF: I want to assure you in the midst of this it is difficult it is difficult to be able to recruit folks beach safety I'm sure you know you remember from your time it is an experience it is a family when they get there. One of the things that while it is difficult it is difficult to find these people that are capable. We are making every effort we can. I guess it Tammy has expanded the recruitment classes we started these swim workshops to be able to get people that they may not be over the hump for the time cannot be might be able to get them there were two things we have not done in the past for the people that work for us in summers before our sergeants are reaching out to personally to them to make sure that they are coming back. We are doing everything we can the people that are capable of doing the job we are enticing to do it and that some of that is even a social media campaign will see a lot in our social media about look this is somebody from ocean rescue lifeguards some of that is catered toward having parents feel comfortable sending their kids to come work with us for the summer. We are doing a lot we are seeing some benefit from that hour fall recruitment) since that was the second one we've done it was even larger than the year before. Right now we're sitting at 30 four who have passed the swim portion that is even before we started what would regularly be our recruitment class for the spring. We are not throwing her hands up that it's impossible to do. In addition to that the people that we have on staff are finding ways to entice them to work more hours. It's one thing to hire them to get them on the payroll it's another thing to make sure that they are working and utilizing them in maximizing their temperate all those things are things that you're doing to make sure that even in the midst of potential problems with recruiting are still able to get some more towers help to and including making sure that to the degree we can we have our full timers in the control tower is to be able to put more towers on the beaches as well we are really maximizing and squeezing every ounce of that out that we can. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: You have a pretty large number of part-time guards that we saw here utilizing them now or is that just for summer. >> COUNTY STAFF: It is occasionally if there is a nice day not this summer but the summer before if there is nice day out there and a ton of people on the beach will put some part timers out there during the off-season we really do focus on making sure that those towers are even staffed by full timers because we don't want another 30° and windy day we will not bring in a part timer to put a red tower up that is unnecessary. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Yes it is. Lastly, I want to touch on something. I'm sure your head is probably short now from Troy patting it. I went to Pat Tamra on the head a little bit and the senior staff that she brought with them. Life guarding it is the best job you can have. In Volusia County it sure beats packing groceries at Publix or Winn-Dixie. Nothing wrong with that work is good solid work. But it is a family. It's a lot of fun and in an instant your life can be in danger. It takes a really special kind of person. You all have all my respect. I appreciate what you do and what I want to say is Tamra recruiting is a problem. We just had a little minireunion on local lifeguards. I think all three of you came from the senior guys and Tamra. It was really important that there were current lifeguards, mostly all of us washed up old-timers. They just love seeing each other because it is a family and you never lose that you make friends for the rest of your life. It was really important the three of them showed up and made himself accessible because you get hard questions. Why am I not getting enough hours? Why is this person anymore? Thank you for doing that, having the guts to come. I think he probably enjoyed himself because you are the essential part of our family right now. I just appreciate the hard work that you do and the good work that you do. We will continue to do what we can as old-timers to help with that recruitment because you cannot beat it for a summer job even if you earn more money. You want to go to the beach and will keep working on improving the pay for lifeguards. >> COUNTY STAFF: Thank you for that Mr. Kent was saying. I am not, I just work with them. They do a really great job with the great jobs out there on the beach like I was saying before our love that we are structuring this presentation in terms of everything that goes on at the beach because it truly is a team effort. Beach safety cleanup will be as good as they are with our coast without them when science center and everything like that in court and resource management and everybody and vice versa . actually is just one big team that is out there working towards the same goal. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Tamra I will have to take back my word. I used a bunch of washed out old lifeguards because Jack Driscoll was there and he is not washed out, he is still working hard for him, Councilman Santiago. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: Thank you Mr. Chairman, good presentation with lots of details. I'm just sitting here listening to Troy he was putting on deep do we have video of smack morning out without a leash. >> COUNTY STAFF: Not that I know of. >> DANNY ROBINS,DISTRICT 3: You have something on him. >> COUNTY STAFF: Miss Daisy was at Daytona beach. She was absolutely on a leash. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: I'm trying to figure out if we have a dog video or if we have the lifeguard thank you ready for the next one Mr. Chair. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: I just want to point out when they alluded to the coastal technology demo if you get a chance Troy, I would watch it is service yes there are some questions we still had what the technology offers out there with the AI, they use green boxes for people that are lying down the use orange boxes for the people playing on a surfboard is the type of technology become accepting of an area of the beach that is not a lifeguard say you had a park all the sudden a school bus cannot say don't tell us they will go to the beach. That alerts us to the fact we need to put a lifeguard on their little things like that. It measures risk assessment right now they are using it in the UK and Australia. They also measure erosion slopes of the beaches. I love technology that will measure how much sand we lost when I signed up for the demo. I said I wanted to see if I met them at the seminar Jessica introduced me to the gentleman Paul met them at the seminar on the coastal erosion stuff. We set up a demo and I was blown away. I wrote two or three pages of notes. >> COUNTY STAFF: Vendors will try to sell you their products. We will be looking at the procurement process now. When we presented this we did it following our budget structure in that case coastal gets to take claim all of the revenue for beach goals and off beach parking it shows up in the coastal budget it could have showed up in it beach safety budget it is really the entire offset of our revenues having said that you will continue to look for revenues from beach safety and every other division that operates to try to make up the 17+ million dollars subsidy. That would do carry with managing the beach to that end it's just one less point I think only because it was not built to mention it we are trying to raise money everywhere including for animal safety and May 31 Mark your calendars, there is going to be a dog surfing event and it Daytona Doug beach area it has been held in Flagler Beach from a number years they really outgrown Flagler Beach they grew up was to come to Daytona were hoping that that will be one of the fund raising recipients for animal services. It should be a great event. I think it will be well attended at least that is what I observe in the Flagler area. That I will turn in to Ryan. >> RYAN OSSOWSKI: I just wanted at the beginning of the presentation I forgot to reiterate through these presentations will looking for any potential direction if there is any level of service here that you have question about you want to see any costing of this is the direction this is the input that will go into the preparation of the next budget that you are seeing. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay standby. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: Thank you for that Mr. Chairman I will be the bad guy. Thank you for that reminder Ryan I think we need that because we've been all over the place on all of these Items instead of really getting into the fiscal side of it the purpose of it was to talk about is where is the fiscal side of it and what we want to trim or have them go back and look at opportunities. I think it can be said that some of the comments and the questions could point to that. From an efficiency standpoint I think we were all over the place. I just want us to self govern. Thank you for the presentation. I like all of your budget items from my perspective. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: I indicated I will make this for Brian as well. I would like to see the other budget items that almost equal the cost just to take a look. A lot of times some of the level of service is where you guys let… where we can trim if we need to trim if you cannot see it you don't know. I would imagine George, on a bigger scale, that during COVID we did everything we could to make sure the lights turned off automatically and instant hot water. I know you have that everywhere I go. All of those little budget trimming techniques we probably ever took care of with ARPA? >> GEORGE RECTENWALD,COUNTY MANAGER: That or we are working on them. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: We are still chipping into that. If I can see that I will provide guidance according to their leadership and we can talk about it at another thing. That is really what I wanted to have. I want to have this discussion about level of service. There is an assumption that your level of service is where we wanted. But moving forward maybe not maybe we will ship it down in some areas and should it up in some areas depending. I don't know if I want things for the sake of wanting them to talk a little about animal control if we don't need animal control on the beach but that zone is important in its entirety I got it. We hired that person to be part time on the beach. If we don't need them on the beach then let's not have them. There is other areas like that. You'll just have to talk about the level of service, thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: >> TROY KENT,DISTRICT 4: Jake I'm glad you brought that up if my memory is right in order to get the first dog friendly session on the beach across the finish line that was one of the caveats for some councilmembers we want to make sure that we have someone there. I'm more than okay not having that person there. If that is something that we don't have it to have I always want to say I'm ready to help you with the deposit. Let's save $74,000 right there. It helps take away $74,000 by asking her to come up with ways to fund. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: I would like some more information on that. There are things that come out of the woodwork when you are trying to take away an FTE or two. I think every department ought to be looking at that. But you are right we hired that particular one if you remember that speech there will be tons of people that are going to the hospital because we are wallowing in dog feces and all the things that did not come to fruition all those failsafes we put in to make sure that that didn't happen that ship assailed let's pull the bandage off and any other program we do not just the Council time but throughout history. So thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: I agree with that. I think we need to look at that. And determine how necessary it is. I also think that the level of service for the beach is going to have to increase. We need more lifeguards. We will have to pay them more to get some we worked on that the staff has increased pay. The years I've done here. The beach is an economic driver for Volusia County it tracks a lot of people who don't want people traveling because we don't want people drowning but we don't want them drowning also because it is a bad sign that goes out on the news all over the US don't go to such and such beach because it is dangerous. The beach is a lot of fun and can also be dangerous. We need a level of service of lifeguards whether the tower or the station. I'm interested in looking at technology that will help us with our level of service but don't think we're ever going to get away from having the physical bodies in those towers in the busy time of years. That's what I said earlier in the arts discussion: our first priority is keeping the residents of Volusia County safe. >> COUNTY STAFF: Thank you chairman just a concluding comment I will focus on animal control which is the small number on the screen when we added the 1.6 1.7 miles in Daytona Beach and we kept the same level of service at the Council's request I do want to remind you I know I received a number of complaints on a fairly regular basis from citizens about compliance with the rules on the beach we are able to get on top of that keep it I hope away from this dais. And other places. By having that team person who rotates from time to time on the beach when you think about that, that is 40 hours over a seven day / 12 hour open beach time. We can take it off but I don't have any other team members who can enforce those rules. I don't control law enforcement and will not be interested in forcing those rules. Just food for thought for future conversation. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: I'd like clarification on what the majority of the complaints are off the leash? Maybe we get rid of that also. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay. Thank you all. For your presentation. So save lives. We had a 45 minute lunch break. This takes us to Item number eight Discussion of placement of charter amendment question regarding elements of a rural growth boundary. >> Special senior assistant county attorney and no we don't have a lot of time I will be quick on my part you've seen the first portion before this is the last presentation from the last time you took it out will jump straight to the point under the current law you cannot do the same old laundry as orange county or Seminole County. What is left you after the analysis of the current state of the law and for the future of bill that have been filed you can still do is call exclusive method of voluntary annexation is where children County has the authority to basically describe the method of voluntary annexation that applies when a property owner must voluntarily annex into a city. That is the majority of any 9% of our annexation. You can describe the process and how that procedure goes. At the end of the date we could be County Council makes the physician the County Council exhibition by the majority +1 vote County Council makes the decision but excludes certain aspects such as if you are in an interlocal service boundary agreement if your annexation property is below a certain threshold. Except the notice requirements to describe the process and procedure but all steps must be done in a charter amendment that goes to referendum must be voted on by the entire Volusia County. Last time we did this the County Council wanted additional information that is where Ray and his team collected the annexation information and recommendations and historic information so you can make an informed decision if you would like to proceed to basically provide us the directions so you can start drafting a proposed resolution. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay if you have any questions for Paolo? I will just say you want to say something. >> RAY TYNER: The second half I was going to present. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: No questions. >> RAY TYNER: As was mentioned at last meeting when we had this discussion the Council asked us to go back and collect data or money growth data annexation data. Our staff went back and provided a series of slides that is in your package that we will go over. Volusia County has population growth about 18% from 2014 up to 2024. This is an average annual growth rate of 1.8% the estimated population in 2025 was 611,741. We fall right into the middle of the county. We are 12th of the most populated counties in the state of Florida. This breaks down the population from 2025 in looking at the projections up and two 2050 of looking at all of our cities you can see for example Daytona Beach 2025 had a population of 81,000 you can see where most of our cities all of our cities are going to grow at a steady steady pace. I will say if you look at unincorporated areas knowing they give us the data it was the city data annuity County publishing was, which is subtracted mainly for slideshows is that most of our growth is in the city and the unincorporated county relatively it stays flat. This is the last several years from density increases or decreases within the unincorporated county, as you can see these are some of our projects that are approved by the Council. Basically what this shows is that some of the rezoning that were taking place with the Council some of them were decreased some of them were increased as far as entitlements. As we see the total is about 543 residential units within the last several years will they be built? We don't know but that is the entire or the entitlement currently. This is a breakdown of the slide that shows from 2020 -2024 of new residential permits you can see in Daytona Beach if you look at our city Deland for example all the different cities of the different single-family permits that they've had throughout the year unincorporated is there at the bottom hundred 20 unincorporated area. Staff went and researched the different cities that showed the different entitlements and approvals that they have had of over 100 units from 2022 until the present. This slide is pretty self-explanatory work. You look at some of the growth that is happening within our cities. Total city total you can see on the right-hand side, single-family residential units are about 25 thousand multifamily residential is about 13,000, townhome 808, within the Volusia County unincorporated area, had about 1695 residential units, zero multifamily, and about 100 townhomes. No surprise this really illustrates that most of our growth is within the city. This is an interesting slide. On the left-hand side is from 1990, this shows the cities within Volusia County. The middle slide is 2006. You can really tell the difference from 1990 -2006 you actually have the new town of Deltone -who have some other areas of growth within the cities. If you look at 2006, -2025 we had to rush to highlight in the circle some of those changes because it is really with some of the city boundaries it really did not go out or roll West. Some of those areas that has a crone in the circles are in the interlocal boundaries. This is requested by the Council as well to show how many annexation we have had since 2015 -2025 we really wanted twilight and kind of show with the annexation's are happening in area number one on the left-hand side of the screen you can see in Deland, Lake Helen, Deltona had 64 annexation totaling about 1023 acres area number two is in to the right there where you have Ormond Beach Daytona Beach South Daytona in those areas we had 80 nine annexation Sprint and area number three on the right-hand side we had 264 annexation's if you can really look at the map especially in New Smyrna Beach, Three on the right of the map you can see that the areas that are in white are in unincorporated county you can see a lot of the annexations are infill within those areas. In total, all of the cities we have had 7655 annexations since 2015. 449 of those acres are through the ISPA interlocal service boundary agreement which I will talk about a bit in the future. On another slide. Next series of slides, talk about the cities and talk about the growth. These next series of slides really will focus on the land east mechanism of what is actually within the unincorporated county. Some terms I think we all know but for the public say, utility service area what are utility service areas those are specific areas determined by utility service provider that indicates where utilities may be provided. They will typically work with Saint Johns River water management District when they get a copy of the capital plan of a specific area where those utilities will be provided then that state law allows a Boundary to expand I think as five miles from the initial boundary. They may provide or will provide we also have interlocal service boundary agreements we have followed them in the county with these ISBA's are there specific areas for the County and the cities had agreed and had an agreement determine how to provide services to residents in the most efficient and effective manner. Balancing the needs of the community it spells out the areas that they may annex such as enclaves. We already had that agreement with these ISBA where they are able to annex also most importantly about these ISBA's They are very beneficial it really spells out services. Who will provide those services? For example if you annex this area in the unincorporated county while maintaining third weight then you will now take on that responsibility. Because it is in your cities you should be taking those responsibility, maintaining your road or other utility services. It would be very beneficial on emergency services as well. They are very beneficial documents. You can see where when you take interlocal service boundary areas because they are agreed-upon on the annexations. The remains in the ring, is the unincorporated county which is about 490,268 acres. The next thing that we have in the unincorporated and the incorporated area is these growth areas where these activity centers. They are scattered throughout the unincorporated county and some of them have been portions of an experience such as the.[Listing Names] right there some growth centers in their Southwest activity centers the sun will Deland activity center where we see potential for economic development and development within those areas. We also have unincorporated areas and local plans. These are regulatory in nature, these local plans are actually adopted as part of our comprehensive plan that spells out in city form how you will develop where you will develop and go separate things. They really control some of the growth within those areas. We also have thousands of acres of conservation land within the unincorporated county. Some of these lands are owned by a St. John's River water management District, other areas they have easements some of them have different agreements but we have lots of conservation lands as well within the unincorporated county. Then of course we have our county public institutional lands. Our airport, our landfill, the Public Works facility and different facilities throughout the unincorporated county. This is what I was? Utility service areas you can see in the colors the different municipalities we are the utility service areas are. You can look at Altona to see 5 miles from where they are providing water and sewer. Then you see areas that encompass a lot of the unincorporated county. This is the natural resource management area within the Comprehensive Plan Deland is within this area area density dependent on the zoning it can range between one unit per acre up to five units per acre. 1/25. Yes. In summary these are possible I guess if you are going to come up with a boundary of areas of consideration, the first one is areas outside of the cities and outside of the interlocal service boundary. Which totals about 498,000 acres then you have maybe consider if you move forward with this looking at the utility conservation lands, and easements that overlay the conservation areas for consideration. Those are about 236,000 acres. Then areas for consideration not overlaid by conservation lands, and other areas that are 261,000 acres. I really wanted to provide to you what those mechanisms are in the unincorporated county that you consider with your discussion. >> COUNTY STAFF: Putting everything we presented together three of potential procedures for the County Council to discover we provided you data historically how annexation work what's in the unincorporated area theory you can affect which is basically all the unincorporated area except for the ISBA those are covered by Interlocal Agreement. The question is if you want to have an exclusive method of voluntary annexation they are really asking what procedures does the Council want to impose on any type of voluntary annexation? These are procedures that I picked from other charter counties that have done this. Orange County and a seminal report there County Commissioner approval for all of that annexation. They keep the legislative discretionary review criteria so your decision if you choose to take it remains a legislative decision. Orange County provides a notice requirement depending upon the size of annexation so they reach out further all of them kind of exempt certain areas, obviously we would recommend exempting ISBA you have to accept what is called the greater Deland area that is an old law from the 70s that basically draws a small square around downtown Deland and says only Deland can annexes this area can be allowed to annex. It is something we are building in if you choose to proceed will build as an exemption also you can exempt annexations below a certain acreage. Ray presented a lot of annexation requests. We get a lot of them per year. A lot of them are less than 1 acre less than half an acre. You have the authority to determine how you would like to process an annexation request if it comes from a property owner. Additionally, you put in your procedures if any one city disagrees with a planning person disagrees on appeal provision. Of a decision limited to what legislative discretion on whether or not you agree a property should be annexed. There R-2 fundamental choices gems sub choices your options are to not proceed it then we de-scope process as usual will try to turn two different ISBA or you can direct the staff to proceed with their charter amendment and provide us a vague direction or general direction what procedures would like to apply and what procedures you would like to see will draft a resolution and bring it back for further discussion and eventually a boat. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you who got limited time we have until 3:45 PM we have four people from the public that is 12 minutes to speak of like to hear from the public and then I'd like to ask the Council for what I'm hoping to see from much of what Paolo just reiterated. For people when I called your name you can come up in three minutes. First one is.[Listing Names]. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good morning Council.[Listing Names] Daytona Beach I'm here to support the proposed rule boundary charter amendment this amendment is not about stopping progress it is about getting responsibly for generations of rural areas of Deland New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange defined the character of our county performs wetland floors to springs and open spaces are not empty land waiting to be built on their working landscapes was 11/4 flood protection systems are part of the heritage that mixes county special. Florida continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the country without clear boundaries development pushes outward intramural and agricultural areas that kind of sprawl cost taxpayers more in the long run it requires new roads and restore lines in schools and fire stations and more enforcement coverage all scraped across greater distances studies across Florida have shown the compact growth is more fiscally responsible and scattered development rule boundary charter can provide certainty does and orders residents and developers were groceries intended were conservation and agricultural remainder priority to protect property rights also protecting the public interest. It encourages investment where infrastructure already exists. An amendment also safeguards are for mental resilience rural plants absorb stormwater recharge aquifers and buffer communities during hurricane Chris is losing business from Susan's natural systems are not luxuries bear critical infrastructure importantly amendment does not eliminate economic opportunity it encourages smarter opportunity it promotes redevelopment infill and mixed-use planning and corporate areas helps preserve tourism agriculture and ocular immigration economies that the pen in open space and abominable quality most of all specs the will of the people we charter level country ensures a major change require public involvement and transparency in places decisions of long-term consequences in the hands of voters where they belong to future generations to leave them a county that is little more resilient and financially stable at 100 and by unmanaged sprawl and repetitive flooding ask your support general under charter member for Volusia County but splenic growth more thoughtfully interest to protect what makes our community unique thank you. I don't know. I know I cannot direct this question to you. I will direct it to the staff why couldn't we implement rules boundary charter amendment is effective if SB 180 gets amended? >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay.[Listing Names] >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Good afternoon.[Listing Names] Deleon Springs community Association and amendment similar to this was brought before the public in 2006 it was defeated since 2006 in the last 20 years only 10,000 acres have been annexed only 10,000 acres in 20 years and almost 7000 of those acres have been done by corporative agreement. Between the County and the municipalities. I think that dispels the myth that these big bad municipalities are gobbling all of us up. It is just not happening. In our opinion this comes down to property rights rules property rights because individuals sometimes they want to be annexed and if they are contiguous to a municipalities. It is getting more and more difficult to maintain your bowels you cannot just pull well water out intricate anymore like you used to. It is animal feces and it has petroleum and has all sorts of things in there. All of us who have wells need to put treatment systems on them ever expensive to maintain their very time-consuming as well. Septic systems are not just once and done enough to maintain those as well. For these small property owners that are contiguous to a municipality, they can voluntarily annex in the area right next to a municipality and they can take advantage of water and wastewater services. It is wrote a check and pay your bill every month and be done. We've heard from a lot of the businesses that have connected to municipal water and sewer in Deleon Springs they've been told you don't want that you don't want that keep your autonomy. Now they're saying we love this. We pay a bill every month and that is it. It is less expensive than what we were doing with weekly testing for a while. This really comes down to a property rights issue and we respectfully request that you decline at this thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: [Listing Names]. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: First of James Clayton from Deland Florida I lived in Volusia County for 72 years I must disclose I personally would benefit from neural growth boundary I have 144 acres nearly adjacent to the city of Deland falls within the boundary of a rural hold boundary always proposal it was an urban growth boundary against this I will tell you why all of my friends live in the rural area they asked me to speak. Let me just from the common sense standpoint think about why we are here. You're proposing this because of Senate Bill 180. The body hates it. When Washington dictates to them what they should do when they can best consult a state issue. You all don't like it when the state tells you what to do. Which is why we are having this conversation with the issues that you can resolve a lot better than the Tallahassee people. Now you are basically doing to the cities to 16 municipalities what Tallahassee has done to you. You're telling them how to control their property. And of course your rural landowners out there this will definitely impact them it will add an additional layer of bureaucracy to them if they want to do anything but their property. The Volusia County Association of responsible development I think I've written you a letter against it. I think the Volusia County Farm Bureau has also written a letter against it. Maybe some others I don't know. Just think about the rural people I respect and I completely understand trying to slow down development. I'm so smart that I said I would benefit from this. I told Don this the other day that I'm planning on talking gossip that personally would benefit from it. Then lastly, I'm not sure I agree with your staff about June and in running Senate Bill 180 about having charter provisions I don't think I would stay in constitutional muster. However the charter of your Constitution is the foundational framework of our laws. It is but base your events on this something that should be addressed with an administrative I can't help it at 180 stop you but you should not manage your charter so willingly in an effort to go around Senate Bill community the charter is your competition don't amend it. Lastly I have to ask you all a question, when you talked about the cultural grant, did I hear Donald Dempsey say to you to read poetry while he was riding a dirt bike. That will be spread thank you so much please vote against it. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Gary Singleton. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Rural boundaries or something to citizens of Volusia County want their something that will benefit residents by protecting the quality of life. They are tools used to manage growth responsibly by placing a boundary between the greater good and commercial avarice of the state legislature intent on removing our constitutional rights to govern ourselves. They passed legislation to undermine home rule. We the people have an opportunity to counteract the state's infringement on our home rule bypassing commitments to the County charter. It is your duty as elected reps and lives to make this happen. I will not drop your hands about crying about how much there's nothing you can do if you're not allowed to create rural boundaries now and you must create a general nonspecific legal atomism that will enable you to create them later. When the legislature and the special interest to control them longer have their boots on our necks. Rural boundaries or something the citizens of Volusia County want because they serve our best interest is your duty as elected representatives to make it happen. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Suzanne Scheiber. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: Hello council Suzanne Scheiber cream green Volusia I did not prepare a statement for this I had not planned on speaking to listen to the speakers navigating this minefield is something so difficult for someone like me who was extremely opinionated. I will do my best here. This morning I spoke about Volusia Forever. It's been quite painful to listen for the last few months for some of the things that have been said about the program that's been in effect for 25 years. To think that we had to navigate this for a few months now, and we are at this point where we talk about a rural boundary where Volusia Forever could impact the areas . will not speak against the rural boundary obviously about one I spoke about before. How we reach a rural boundary when we cannot even get what we voted for for 25 years. I'm just being honest. I'm struggling here. I know you guys get angry and I'm trying really hard to be respectful. I want what I voted for. I know a lot of people, most of the county when you talk about 75% they want what they voted for. And now we are in a position of the discussions on drinking water and broad arguments I might to be honest even I received backlash recently. When I stood up here and spoke. It is not going to stop me, it is not it is quite difficult to navigate somebody who is angry all the time. You're planning her future and it is in your hands. If you're planning the future and you want to protect our water and you want to do right by the residents, I want you to consider the rural boundary but I want you to give us as voters what we voted for. I want you to honor that. And I think that's about all I can say thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Thank you that existed 3:29 PM we have until 3:45 PM this might be a good time to score a motion and a second to add to 15 minutes or half hour or we can just try to plow through this not have time for closing comments? Go through it let me tell the Council what I'm hoping for here it's not going to please anybody in this room. I think the County Attorney is correct when they tell us we cannot legally do a rural boundary to hold things we discussed before, since that discussion on this council also doesn't believe I would have the votes for it. But I do think we may have the votes for what we can legally do which is to solve an issue with annexations with voluntary annexations because Mr. Clayton who said you're telling the cities what to do, absolutely not written out the cities are telling us what we can do. When they come in unincorporated Volusia County land probably has a rural designation of one house per 5 acres or 10, 25. The city and exquisite changes for zoning changes the land-use impacts in 24 houses per acre; whatever they can fit their thinking it will be a property tax nirvana. I want to give the people in unincorporated Volusia County a voice at the table when they don't have one else when it comes to annexation. It is about copyrights I agree with that it is not just the property rights of the person who wants their property to be annexed in the city so they can destroy the long-term historic integrity of that camera that used to be rural now it is going to be 24 houses per acre high density neighborhood it is not respectful of the neighbors around them they deserve a voice at the table. I'm proposing a simple thing. That and send back to the county staff to come to us with a charter amendment that only deals with the annexation: how many votes it takes could be a majority can be a super majority. Let's see what they come back with. We can hash it out then and talk but let's give it to the residents of Volusia County in the rural unincorporated Volusia County all over Volusia County let's give them a voice at the table right now. They don't have one. Their neighborhood can be completely turned upside down; they don't have a voice; they can go to the city of Deland or the city of Port Orange or wherever the annexation is taking place and talk to elected officials who don't care. The uncooperative people don't vote for them. I would like to give our constituents in unincorporated Volusia County a place at the table to vote for our elected representatives, sold the annexation does not just go through because the city says we want it and you have to listen to us. And yield to what we want. Let's give our residence assay. Let's really have property rights. We have people who live in rural Volusia County who have bought and invested there and raised families there for a reason. They wanted that kind of a rural neighborhood where they have farms, they raise horses, they raise children. Their property values are high right now. Then they can all be destroyed because of what somebody else wants to do so they can maximize the financial potential of the sale of their property. Let's just give everybody an equal voice in the spring and it's what I'm asking for. I hope somebody will make that motion and a second to send it to the county staff legal can bring it back in two weeks. Then we can hash it out. >> DON DEMPSEY,DISTRICT 1: [Laughter] I cannot support this. I think the rural boundary is exactly what Judge Clayton said it is as tempting the cities. He gave a wonderful speech about the state of becoming addressed talking about preemption and local rule and home rule and why the locals should take care all that their own business and the cities these are public hearings. You guys make them sound like they are evil villains. That tie women to railroad tracks and takes property into all this evil stuff. Those are public hearings. If you don't want your neighbor to change, you can go to the city and argue and bring everybody with you to object to it. I don't see why we somehow think that these county residents cannot go to these city annexation hearings and object there. They are getting a voice to voice before a different commission. I'd like to court George Washington who said property rights are inseparable. You cannot have one without the other. There is a value to judge Clayton's property being on the border because he can either choose to reside in the county or you can choose to reside in the city. That makes his property more valuable. Anybody you impose a rural boundary on when they currently enjoy a municipality they will lose their value in the property. Because I for one would love to sit next to him and his polysilicon have a choice of whether I would live under the county's rules or the municipal rules. To take away the rural boundary proposal like you are setting up is just taking away the value of the property. It takes away a person's choice to live either under the city's jurisdiction or under the county's jurisdiction. Understand people don't like growth and development. I've been here 36 years even longer than that as a child coming back and forth between here and a small town in southwestern PA. You're either growing or dying; it's the oldest basic rule of life. Having seen my hometown dying it is now part of the Rust Belt and the population has almost declined in half over the last 30 something years versus Deland which has tripled in size over the last 30 years. I hate to say it it's a good problem to have Karen our economy even through COVID thrived because we are destination state and we have to accommodate these people will we cannot lose focus that responsible growth is the best way to do it and I don't think just these arbitrary rural boundary lines are the way to go I think maybe restricting some rezoning might be the way to go just tell some of these people looking to rezone the property no. I don't think setting an arbitrary line is going to resolve the issue. I think the world is the reason everybody else has said against it. I agree that they just cannot do that to these people. We have to give them the benefit of their property rights and their individual rights. Thanks. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: I concur with Alan I think that the cities are taking into account the unincorporated citizens' thoughts on annexations. I know Brad, help me. But Port Orange just said no tool and annexation to unincorporated areas across the street from Airport Boulevard. I think they're correct for the right reasons. I do feel safe preemption from the county to the cities to limit them . It is restricting the rights of landowners to make that decision. Two and ask if they would like. And by and large the urban sprawl is an issue I think smart development is important. But cities are not growing up, they don't want to grow up, almost every city has limitations on the height of their buildings. Until they're willing to grow up not out we would be in a position to preempt them I don't think that is right I think we ought like the chairman said listen to the unincorporated people I think we've heard from a bunch today in the letters we got from the farmers and ranchers they state the same. They don't want us to pick winners and losers and they want their opportunities to exercise their property rights. I cannot support it either at this time. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: I am not sure what you guys heard me say that you're not supporting I just removed all of the hard stuff off this all the rural boundary all of the drawing of the lines of the maps I'm asking for one focused thing that is to give all of the residents that are involved in annexation about the table a voice at the table to where no city can just annex County property and it always results in changing of the zoning changing of the land use red Dawn he said do not vote for rezoning. That is what I'm offering here. When a city wants to annex they get to vote on it and let the rest of the people in that neighborhood vote on it as well. I bring it to the County Council cities. Can the citizens speak directly to elected people if you want your neighborhood changed? Do you want this annexation to take place then have it follow with a rezoning and land use. That is all I'm asking to allow the people of Volusia County to vote on do you want a voice do you want to have a vote by your elected officials before properties in the neighborhood are rezoned I understand it's a property owner who says yes I want to be annexed, my property will be worth a lot more. Instead of selling it for $2 million I can sell it for $10 million. In the process destroying everybody around them who wanted a rural lifestyle just people vote. Let's do a charter amendment, let the people put it on and see if they agree with it but ultimately the people of unincorporated Volusia County wherever the annexations are occurring allowed them to have a vote on that one narrow thing. Do you want this annexation? You all can vote for it or against it. I cannot tell you how to vote but at least it gives those people a voice at the table that is all I'm asking. Annexation one narrow focus. The county attorney said we cannot do anything else. >> DON DEMPSEY,DISTRICT 1: To respond to that, I supported putting the toilet to tap for lack of a better word on the ballot. Because I believe that is something of great importance because of the health of our drinking water. I still maintain my position on that. That goodwill effect is countywide in the health of our families. You have to remember we are a Republic. We are a representative form of government if we are going to start with setting precedent that is a hot issue is going to be on the ballot Belvedere should we put other hot topic issues on the ballot whatever these other issues we've had in the past, their very controversial they pack the chambers we cannot put everything on the ballot. You said it, because you know it will pass the property tax thing with the governor. You know it's going to pass if nobody likes to pay property tax. The problem is we have a lot of people voting in middle of the benefit of staff reports and studies to sit down and have debate like this and really mull it over before they make their vote, a lot of these votes will be just soundbite votes this is not of that magnitude in my opinion because this is not talking about drinking water this is just talking about development. Again we live in a growing area. I'm sure people in Miami that have been there for generations have the same issues with growth and overdevelopment. We live in a destination state and we keep advertising Howell Deland is the most livable city in Volusia County. We promote Volusia County so well. The people will want to move here. That is just something we have to deal with just arbitrarily drawing lines and affecting property owners and the rights. I don't think that's the way to handle it. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Okay thank you again I'm not suggesting we draw any lines I'm suggesting that we give people a vote that the Republic allows for us to vote on annexation when it happens to our constituents. >> DON DEMPSEY,DISTRICT 1: You mean the people vote. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: To change the charter is asked to go to the people you want to give the County Council the ability to vote on and annexation and property is being annexed out of the county into the city? Then we vote on it? Right now the cities vote on it because we want your land. We don't have a say. >> DON DEMPSEY,DISTRICT 1: That's potentially more expensive than boundary lines. You are saying that this could go way out beyond even 06 boundary lines. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: I am sitting anywhere in unincorporated Volusia County. I want our residents and our constituents to have a say in it and they don't. >> DON DEMPSEY,DISTRICT 1: As we said before whose rights do you want to protect the neighbor's property rights or the individual's property rights. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Everybody they all have an equal chance. >> DON DEMPSEY,DISTRICT 1: George Washington said your individual, the biggest minority to have in this country is one. Jim Clinton is one you can practice rooms with people or against urban girls in all of the stuff but he is the only person who is affected. It is the individual rights of property owners right to use the property for what they want not what their neighbors want them to do. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: He is not the only one affected. >> DON DEMPSEY,DISTRICT 1: When you can't use your lens back was against everything this country was for you should be able to use your property for what you wanted for muscular burning tires on Saturday and smoking at your neighbors you should be able to use your property for what you want it for. That is kind of where I am. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Until your property rights that cross that boundary can affect the rights of your next-door neighbor. >> DON DEMPSEY,DISTRICT 1: How was that affecting your neighbors not only house on their property spirit it affects their neighborhood and their property value. Okay. >> DANNY ROBINS,DISTRICT 3: There is no motion or second on the floor. We are in deep discussion. I will make the motion to extend this five minutes if we don't get a second or a motion and it dies just like any other agenda item. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: We probably don't need five minutes for that. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: We also have this time sensitive we need five minutes. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: That's all you want is five minutes. Is there a motion to extend the meeting by five minutes? . >> Motion to extend. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: All in favor signify by saying,aye? >> Board Voting: Aye. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Any opposed is there a motion for an annexation for the county staff to bring back an annexation charter ballot amendment? There is none so it dies. That is we have an appointment to the Historic Preservation Board. There is only one applicant. >> JAKE JOHANSSON,AT-LARGE: Motion to approve. >> I second the motion. >> MATT REINHART,VICE CHAIR: I second the motion. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: All in favor signify by saying,aye? >> Board Voting: Aye. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Any opposed? It is approved. [Listing Names]is nominated, his nomination is approved 7/0. Okay. That takes us to the staff comments so that you can deal with this time sensitive issue. >> GEORGE RECTENWALD,COUNTY MANAGER: We just have one thing. If you recall who accepted a local law enforcement immigration grant. Back at the every 17th meeting, the requirement of the grant is someone to be named to do the monitoring of the grant, the chief operator of the grant. So it is before you is just a request for the Council to designate what allows you as the chair to sign a letter designating me as the grantor. >> DAVID SANTIAGO,DISTRICT 5: So moved. >> I second the motion. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Any questions all in favor signify by saying,aye? >> Board Voting: Aye. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Any opposed you have permission. Anything else from the County Attorney? >> MICHAEL DYER,COUNTY ATTORNEY: No sir thank you. >> JEFFREY S. BROWER,CHAIR: Any we have two members of the public who want to speak we have one minute doesn't look like that's going to happen. Is there anything missing from any council members today enclosing comments before we go? Nobody. Okay. We have less than one minute. I'm sorry Mark and Terri Singleton we are out of time please come back to the next meeting and this meeting is adjourned at 3:49 PM.