Tuesday Briefing: Palm Coast Manager's Contract, Exonerated After 30 Years on Death Row, Parental Consent and Abortions

Construction in full swing on A1A in Flagler Beach. (© FlaglerLive)

Today: Breezy. Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain. Highs in the mid 60s. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Tonight: Breezy. Mostly cloudy with chance of showers in the evening, then partly cloudy with slight chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 50s. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent. Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Drought Index: 238
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: parabolic.
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.

Today’s Briefing: Quick Links

First Light
In Flagler and Palm Coast
Flagler Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours of Incident Reports
Flagler Beach A1A Construction Updates
US 1-Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates
Announcements
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Cultural Coda

“The press was more than an art: it was a necessary element like air and water. Air is good, it’s bad, healthy here, unhealthy there. No matter. It’s the supreme condition of existence. We don’t eliminate breathing, nor can we the press.”

–From Jules Michelet’s “History of France: The Reformation“

Previously:

In Flagler and Palm Coast:

Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Many can be heard or seen live through each agency’s website.

The Sheriff’s daily incident reports and jail bookings are posted here.

The Palm Coast City Council meets at 9 a.m. at City Hall in Town Center. The council is expected to approve its contract with Matthew Morton, the new city manager set to begin work in early April. See a profile of Matthew Morton here.

The Flagler County Economic Opportunity Advisory Council meets at 9 a.m. in board chambers at the Government Services Building, Bunnell. Aundra Wallace, President of JaxUSA Partnership is the expected speaker.

The The Flagler County School Board meets in workshop at 1 p.m. in training room 3 on the third floor of the Government Services Building, Bunnell, and at 6 p.m. in a meeting in board chambers at the GSB.

The Bunnell Planning and Zoning Board meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 201 West Moody Boulevard, Bunnell. The board holds a hearing on a Special Exception request by property owner Penny Buckles to allow construction of a metal building to be used for the commercial storage of vehicles, trucks, trailers and a dump truck on a property with Single Family residential zoning at Eighth Street and Franz Court.

Flagler Beach’s Beach Management Plan Ad-Hoc Committee meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall.

The Daytona State College Foundation’s Wisdom in Senior Education (WISE) program: Advanced Technology College (ATC), 1770 Technology Blvd, Daytona Beach, Multipurpose Room (Rm. 109). Invasive Plants and Animals Come to Florida. People who are unaware of the environmental damage they can cause bring invasive plants and animals to Florida. Some invasive species, however, have altered Florida beyond recognition or recovery, driven out native plants and animals, and introduced new diseases to our population. Dr. Kenneth Nusbaum, vice chair of the Marine Discovery Center Board of Directors, will speak about what steps are being taken to control the problem.The Foundation created the WISE program to provide continuing education and cultural enrichment activities to senior members of the community. WISE is open to anyone age 50 or older, for $30 for an individual or $50 per couple per year. Find a complete list of spring presenters at DaytonaState.edu/wise. For more information, contact Suzette Cameron (386) 506-4506, or [email protected].

The River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Citizens Advisory and Technical Coordinating committees meet at 1:15 and 3 p.m. respectively at the River to Sea TPO Conference Room 2570 W. International Speedway Blvd., Suite 100 Daytona Beach.

Social Justice Lecture Series: “Surviving Criminal Justice in America” by Alabama death row exoneree Anthony Ray Hinton, 7-8:30 p.m., Stetson Room. Anthony Ray Hinton spent 30 years on Alabama’s death row for crimes he did not commit. He was released from prison in April 2015 with the help of the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted of crimes. Hinton is the 152nd person since 1973 to be exonerated from death row in the United States and the sixth in the State of Alabama. Hinton will share his experiences with justice and incarceration during a presentation on Tuesday, March 19, 7 p.m. at Stetson University as part of Stetson’s Many Voices, One Stetson initiative. The event will be held in the Carlton Union Building’s Stetson Room (second floor), 131 E. Minnesota Ave., DeLand, 32723. The event is free and open to the public.Stetson University Community Education Project (CEP) is launching Rethinking Incarceration, an initiative designed to promote dialogue on mass incarceration, prison reform, human rights, political engagement and systemic oppression.

Halifax Hospital: The House Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 523), filed by Rep. David Santiago, R-Deltona, that stems from a legal battle over a decision by the public Halifax Hospital Medical Center to build a hospital in Deltona. A circuit judge said the Halifax taxing district did not have authority to issue bonds for the project. The taxing district is based in Daytona Beach, and the Deltona hospital is in western Volusia County, outside the district boundaries. The bill would allow Halifax to build and operate facilities outside its boundaries. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

Great Pianists at Stetson series: Boris Berman, Grammy nominee and professor, Yale School of Music. Don’t miss Boris Berman’s performance for Great Pianists at Stetson! This world-renowned pianist and pedagogue regularly performs around the globe and has chaired Yale University’s piano department for several decades. His program features Haydn’s final three English piano sonatas and Schubert’s A-Major Sonata. 7:30 p.m., Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand. Call 386-822-8950.

Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week (schedule your donation by going to the website and entering a Palm Coast zip code, then locating one of the venues below):

Tuesday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: MPower Fitness, Atlantic Fitness, 160 Cypress Point parkway (City Marketplace), 8:30 a.m. to noon.
Wednesday: Epic Theaters, 1185 Central Avenue, Palm Coast, 1 to 4 p.m.
Thursday: Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday: Sandvik Kanthal Palm Coast, 1 Commerce Boulevard, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday: Coastal Cloud, One Hammock Beach Parkway, Palm Coast, 2 to 5 p.m.
Friday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours' Incidents in Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell


Jail Bookings, June 19-22 Sheriff's night shift incident reports, June 21 Sheriff's day shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's night shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's day shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's night shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's day shift incident reports, June 21
Previous and archived reports

Sources: Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Flagler Beach Police Department, Bunnell Police Department. This is Flagler County's only comprehensive, one-stop compilation of all local law enforcement's daily day and night shift commanders' reports.

Flagler Beach Is Open For Business: A1A Construction Update:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to year-long construction on and near State Road A1A in Flagler Beach as the Florida Department of Transportation rebuilds a 1.5-mile segment from South 9th Street to South 22nd Street, and builds a sea wall at the north end of town. These updates are provided through DOT or local officials. If you have any relevant information or images, you’re welcome to email them to the editor here.

Segment 2 (South 22nd Street to South 9th Street):

The contractor has begun installing the new water main along the west side of S.R. A1A. The work began at the south end of the project and is moving north. Sidewalk has been removed to accommodate the water main installation. Temporary pedestrian walkways have been created, and pedestrians are asked to use the walkways for safety.

Construction activities will continue during daylight hours Monday through Saturday. Please obey the posted speed limit through the work area and detour, and be alert to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Segment 3 (North 18th Street to Osprey Drive) Project Update:

The contractor has drilled and set reinforcing fiberglass cages in more than two dozen shafts to create the buried seawall. Work is continuing northward to clear and place additional sand within the project corridor.

Construction activities will continue during daylight hours Monday through Saturday. The contractor is requesting that spectators stay off the shoulders and out of the work zone for safety. Drivers need to obey the 25-mph speed limit and there is no parking on the shoulder.

Caution! Flagler Beach police and and Sherriff’s deputies are actively monitoring speed and writing tickets. “I got a warning on north section of A1A before construction actually began so I keep to the 25 limit, but still getting tailgated by cars wanting to go faster,” a reader tells us.

See Also:

The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county's most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view. (DOT) — The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county’s most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view.
(DOT)

U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to the planned 15-month, $4.1 million construction of a roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway. The project started in late January and is scheduled for completion by spring 2020.

The Florida Department of Transportation will be closing Old Dixie Highway and C.R. 325 at U.S. 1 on Monday night, March 4, from about 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The closure is needed to allow the contractor to make improvements to the crossover at the temporary intersection. U.S. 1 will remain open in both directions.

More details here.

See Also:

Announcements:

Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool is now Palm Coast Aquatics Center? Not quite: The City pool facility is now called the Palm Coast Aquatics Center. Just to clarify, the pool itself will retain its dedicated name of Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool. Since the facility is much more than a pool – with fitness classes, special events, classroom for rentals and more aquatics programming than ever – it was important to find an overall facility name that better captured what is offered there. The new name more closely matches other Parks & Recreation facilities: Palm Coast Community Center, Palm Coast Tennis Center, and Palm Harbor Golf Club. “As we continue to offer more activities and training outside of the pool, we are more than just a swimming pool,” said James Hirst, Aquatics Supervisor of Parks & Recreation. “Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool is not going away; rather, it is becoming part of the overall Palm Coast Aquatics Center and everything it encompasses.” The Palm Coast Aquatics Center will open for the season on Monday, April 1, and registration is now open for Aqua Zumba, Water Aerobics, a new class called Fitness on the Water, swim lessons and much more. The municipal pool, which is heated, will introduce new hours this year. It will be open 8 a.m. to noon and then 3 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday from April 1 through Memorial Day Weekend, when it will be open seven days a week for the summer. For a complete list of pool hours and fees, please visit www.palmcoastgov.com/pool. The Palm Coast Aquatics Center is located at 339 Parkview Drive, Palm Coast. At the pool, there are three pavilions on the pool deck currently available for reservation, and the entire facility can be rented for birthday parties and other after-hours events. More information can be found at www.palmcoastgov.com/pool. Daily admission is $4 for adults; $3 for seniors (65 and older) and youth (ages 2-17); and free for children under 2. Monthly, seasonal and quarterly passes are available for families, limited families (two people in the same household) and individuals. The full schedule of activities, including swim lessons, for both spring and summer seasons can be found at www.parksandrec.fun/aquatics. For more information, call the pool at 386-986-4741. The Parks & Recreation Activity Guide is available online at www.palmcoastgov.com/recreation.

Flagler Executive Airport wins regional FAA Safety Award: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Southern Region Airports Division has named Flagler Executive Airport the winner of the 2018 General Aviation Airport Safety Award. The award recognizes Flagler Executive Airport specifically for the Runway 11-29 Relocation and Extension Project, an accomplishment the FAA Airports Division selection committee felt clearly and significantly enhanced airport safety. “This was the single largest project undertaken since the airport was originally constructed in 1942,” said Airport Director Roy Sieger. “This special recognition is quite an honor as the FAA Southern Region Airports Division oversees airport development, certification and safety for all of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Puerto Rica and the U.S. Virgin Islands.” The Runway 11-29 Project began in February 2017 and closed in January of 2018, relocating the runway 400 feet to the south, 800 feet to the east, and lengthening it by 501 feet to the east. These changes increased the size of runway safety areas, increased the separation between the runway and parallel taxiway, and improved safety grading and intersection safety.

Residents reminded Rebuild Florida deadline is March 29: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity reminds residents the application deadline, March 29, for its “Rebuild Florida” is fast approaching. To date, 214 Flagler County residents have registered for assistance. The department established the program in September 2018 to provide $616 million to help families repair or rebuild homes significantly damaged by Hurricane Irma – including communities within Flagler County. “I understand the registration process only takes between 15 and 30 minutes, so it is worthwhile to take the time to do it,” said Emergency Management Chief Jonathan Lord. “We want to encourage everyone who is looking for assistance throughout Flagler County to review the requirements and apply.” The funds are available through the Department of Economic Opportunity’s Rebuild Florida initiative, which will “repair and rebuild homes for low-income families, construct additional affordable housing units, assist businesses in disaster recovery and update local infrastructure to better withstand future storms.” Rebuild Florida is a partnership of DEO and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Though restrictive, some money will be made available to mobile and manufactured homes less than 5 years old and with repair costs up to $5,000. Replacement mobile homes may be made available to those not meeting the initial criteria. For more information, go to www.rebuildflorida.gov, or call 844-833-1010. Eligible Florida residents now have until March 29 to register for the Rebuild Florida Housing Repair and Replacement Program.

Flagler Executive Airport will receive a plaque from the FAA commemorating this award during the 2019 Southern Region Airports Conference, which takes place in Atlanta, GA in April.

In Florida and in State Government:

Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel. Most legislative proceedings can be followed through the Senate or House websites.

FELONS’ RIGHTS ON AGENDA: The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee will take up a bill (PCB CRJ 19-03), which would carry out a constitutional amendment that requires automatic restoration of voting rights for most felons who have fulfilled their sentences. Voters approved the constitutional amendment in November. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PARENTAL CONSENT CONSIDERED: The House Health Quality Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 1335), filed by Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, that would require parental consent before minors could have abortions. The proposal would be stronger than a current requirement that parents be notified before minors have abortions. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES EYED: The House Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 311), filed by Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, that would take steps that could help bolster the use of autonomous vehicles in Florida. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES AT ISSUE: The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (PCB ANR 19-01) that would transfer law-enforcement responsibilities from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to the Department of Environmental Protection. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

COMMUNICATIONS TAXES, FEES CONSIDERED: The House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 693), filed by Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, that would reduce the state’s communications-services tax and restrict the ability of local governments to collect fees from communications providers that use public roads or rights of way. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS AT ISSUE: The Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a bill (SB 782), filed by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, that would make more people eligible to be sentenced as youthful offenders. The bill would allow people to be sentenced as youthful offenders if they commit felonies before age 21. Current law requires them to be sentenced while they are under 21. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SCHOOL VOUCHERS DEBATED: The Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a proposal (SB 7070) that would expand the use of school vouchers, including creating a new voucher program known as the Family Empowerment Scholarship program. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

DEREGULATION SOUGHT: The House Business & Professions Subcommittee will consider a bill (HB 27), filed by Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, that would remove or revamp regulations on numerous types of professions. (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RECYCLING ON AGENDA: The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee will take up a proposal (HB 771), filed by Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Palm City, that would require cities and counties to address the issue of non-hazardous contamination of recyclable materials. The local governments would have to address the issue in contracts with recycling collectors and processing facilities. (Tuesday, noon, 12 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SCHOOL CHOICE CONSIDERED: The House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee will take up a proposal (PCB PKI 19-02) that would make a series of changes in school-choice programs. That would include changes to the Schools of Hope program, which is designed to lead to charter schools serving students who have been in low-performing traditional public schools. (Tuesday, noon, 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

CHARTER SCHOOLS CONSIDERED: The Senate Education Committee is scheduled to take up numerous bills, including a proposal (SB 934), filed by Chairman Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, that would change requirements related to “high-performing” charter schools. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS: The State Board of Education will meet and take up issues such as a rule dealing with teacher-certification exams. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

In Coming Days in Palm Coast, Flagler and the Occasional Beyond:

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A Twitter List by PierreTristam

Keep Up with Donald Trump’s attacks on the press through the ACLU’s running tab here.

Keep Up with mass shootings in a running database here.

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

Here’s a summary of the latest city developments as of March 1, 2019, with a link to the full week in review here.

Click to access week-in-review-march-15-2019-developments.pdf

Cultural Coda

J.S. Bach’s Double Violin Concerto in D minor BWV 1043 Krakowska Młoda Filharmonia