The Palms at Town Center is one of two apartment complexes that will total more than 300 units in what Palm Coast is touting as its new “Innovation District.” The developments are getting tax breaks.
Palm Coast City Council
Palm Coast’s Disappearing Canopy
Development in Palm Coast is back at a pace not seen since before the Great Recession. Lots are getting leveled, canopies lost. New homes are great., but must 11,000 square foot lots be entirely leveled to make room for 2,000 square foot homes? It’s not either or.
Palm Coast Mayor Hails ‘Striking’ 10-Ft. Sculpture as Inaugural Symbol of Town Center’s Creative Future
Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland dedicated the first of five sculptures that will form a sculpture garden in Central Park, all privately paid for and donated to the city as a cultural component of Palm Coast’s emerging Innovation District.
Stepping Over a Blurring Red Line, Palm Coast Councilman Klufas Wants To Hire a New Broadband Director
Though it’s not ina council member’s authority, the Palm Coast Council’s Nick Klufas is eager to hire Donald Kewley, a finalist for city manager, to be in charge of the city’s Broadband, or FiberNet, system, which he sees as a potentially money-making utility.
Landon-Shy, Palm Coast Readies to Approve City Manager Contract at Base Pay of $145,000
Matt Morton, Palm Coast’s new manager, would start at a salary $30,000 smaller than predecessor Jim Landon’s, but would be in line to tag his annual raises to those of other employees, a potential conflict of interest.
Palm Coast Poised To Make the Arts Central To Its Innovation District as New Sculpture Garden Redefines Central Park
The Gargiulo Arts Foundation is making possible a new sculpture garden in Palm Coast’s Central Park and helping to redefine the city’s innovation district, with the arts playing a central role. More funding may be next.
The Live Profile:
Palm Coast’s New City Manager Matt Morton
Matt Morton’s recent history as a city administrator in a small, rich city in Washington suggests his enthusiasm and jargon-and-joy-filled language about managing is not an affectation but a genuine part of an inclusive, ingenuous workaholic.
Push For Swift Homeless ‘Solutions’ Clashes With Individual, On-the-Ground Realities
Flagler County Commissioner Joe Mullins and Palm Coast City Council member Jack Howell want solutions to what they call a homeless crisis, but others are reminding them that efforts are in place. The resources and focus to pull them off in concert may not be.
Palm Coast Council Picks Matthew Morton as Its City Manager in Sharp Turn ‘From This Nice Little Box’
The Palm Coast City Council chose Matthew Morton in a 3-2 vote, bypassing Interim Manager Beau Falgout, in what council members described as the city’s desire for a “game-changer.”
Palm Coast’s Illusion of Affordable Housing
Simply put, the housing stock in Flagler County and Palm Coast is inadequate to suit the needs of the bottom half of the earnings ladder, and that bottom half has nothing to do with “Section 8,” argues Toby Tobin.
Interviews For Palm Coast Manager Sharpen Choices for Council as Styles, Strengths And Flaws Emerge
Three candidates–Robin Hayes, Donald Kewley, and Matthew Morton–made their case to unseat Beau Falgout as they interviewed for Palm Coast City manager, mostly behind closed doors, today. A full report on how they did.
Mayor Welcomes Public, But 3 Palm Coast Councilmen Will Hold Closed-Door Interviews With Manager Candidates
Mayor Milissa Holland is leaving her door open to press and public during her one-on-one interviews with manager candidates Thursday, Eddie Branquinho, Bob Cuff and Nick Klufas are closing their doors. Jack Howell isn’t holding interviews.
This Is Russell Landing: Flagler County’s Idea of a Homeless Camp
An examination of Russell Landing, the extremely isolated site Flagler County would move homeless people to, is not as healthy, safe or desirable a location as the county is making it out to be.
Waste Pro Starts New, Shorter Routes In Attempt To Improve Service, But Bins Must Be Curbside By 6 AM
Customers are reminded that garbage and recyclables collection in Palm Coast runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Garbage must be placed at the curb no later than 6 a.m., or the evening before scheduled pickup.
That Homeless Camp Behind the Public Library: A Palm Coast Problem Requiring Immediate Action
After taking a walk through the homeless camp near the library and speaking with its residents, Palm Coast Council member Jack Howell calls for creating a committee to address the issue from various angles.
Jack Howell Excoriated Over ‘Lock and Load’ Analogy as Palm Coast Council Fixes Manager Shortlisting Error
A resident criticized Palm Coast Council member Jack Howell for using what he perceived as aggressive military terminology in proposing to hire Interim Manager Beau Falgout. Howell said he’d be more careful.
It’s Increasingly ‘The Beau Show’ as Palm Coast Council Strains To Project Fair Manager Interview Process
Interim Palm Coast Manager Beau Falgout continues to solidify his place atop the list of five or six candidates for the permanent manager spot, leaving it to the council to convince other candidates that they still have a chance.
Florida Park Drive May See Changes, from Traffic Islands to Roundabouts to Air Sensors
Addressing Florida Park Drive problems as its predecessors have every few years, the Palm Coast City Council is opting for some additional studies and potentially adding traffic-calming devices to the road.
W-Section Drainage Improvements Launch Aggressive Ditch-Upkeep in Palm Coast
Palm Coast’s just-launched ditch-maintenance targets overgrowth of aquatic vegetation and plans are being developed to address localized drainage issues in the W, E, F and R sections.
Responding to Complaints, Waste Pro Adding 2 Trucks and Shortening Palm Coast Routes To Improve Service
Complaints about Waste Pro in Palm Coast were especially severe around the holidays with missed pick-ups for days at a time, but the company is shortening routes and adding staff to improve service.
Gargantuan Egos Gone, 3 Cities’ Managers And County Get Down to Unusual Business
Flagler County’s three city managers and its commission chairman led a Common Ground panel presentation reflecting the vast change-overs at the top of local government and anticipating a new way of doing business ahead.
Ramping Up Surveillance, Sheriff Will Have Access to Live Video and Data From 44 Palm Coast Traffic Intersections
Palm Coast government and the Flagler Sheriff’s Office are teaming up to use a “traffic-optimization” camera network at intersection as a surveillance mechanism as well.
Palm Coast Zaps Electric Tax in Favor of Existing and ‘Creative’ Revenue to Rebuild Public Works
Palm Coast put to rest further talk of an electric service tax but is still hunting for $21 million to rebuild its decrepit public works facility, and will look for existing and creative sources.
Electric Service Tax Is Back As Part of Proposed Options to Rebuild Palm Coast’s Public Works
The Palm Coast City Council backed down from instituting electric taxes last fall in the face of staunch public opposition, but those options are back as part of a new round of discussions on rebuilding the public works facility and improving roads.
First of 3 New Cell Towers in 9 Years Going up off Palm Coast Parkway, With AT&T On Board
A new 150-foot cell tower is going up behind Heroes Park on Palm Coast Parkway, with AT&T leasing space, and will be followed by two more on Palm Harbor Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway.
Interim Beau Falgout Clear Favorite as Palm Coast Council Draws Up Manager Shortlist
Palm Coast Interim Manager Beau Falgout garnered the most support from council members shortlisting 16 candidates out of more than 50, as their search for a manager continues.
Sheriff’s Cmdr. David Williams Appointed Palm Coast Liaison, Replacing Mark Carman
Cmdr. David Williams, who’s been with the agency since 2001, was named the liaison to Palm Coast, replacing Mark Carman, who’s to be the police chief in Crescent City.
Survey Time: Palm Coast Government Wants To Hear Your Views About the City
Palm Coast residents have two more weeks to take the 2018-2019 Palm Coast Citizen Survey. The survey is ongoing now through Saturday, Feb. 2.
Palm Coast Is Concerned: Not Enough Sports Fields For Tournaments, Local Teams and Growth
Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland wants broader planning for additional sports fields in the city that ensure local sports organizations and residents aren’t sidelined by money-generating tournaments.
Mark Carman, Affable Face of Policing in Palm Coast For 20 Years, Is Leaving To Be Crescent City Chief
Mark Carman, 57, spent 31 years at the Flagler Sheriff’s Office and 20 heading the Palm Coast precinct and as liaison. He’ll be taking the Crescent City Police Chief’s job come February.
A Special Taxing District To Repair Palm Coast’s Privately Owned Sea Walls? Not Exactly.
Is Palm Coast looking to create a taxing district to pay for privately owned seawall repairs on the city’s 26 miles of saltwater canals? Not exactly. Certainly not yet. But it’s not off the table.
Holland and Cuff Put Their Differences To Work in Search for New Palm Coast Manager
Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland and Council member Bob Cuff disagreed on key search parameters for a new manager, but the disagreements only shaped a more synthesized process that may yield a new manager by late winter.
Flagler’s Legislative Delegation Is Taking Requests: Hutson and Renner Hear Wish Lists Dec. 7
House Rep. Paul Renner and Sen. Travis Hutson, who represent Flagler in Tallahassee, are holding their annual legislative meeting for Flagler governments and residents on Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. in Bunnell.
Judge Rules Palm Coast Has No Choice But To Execute Dangerous Dog Cooper, Ending Notorious Case
A circuit judge ruled that Palm Coast animal control was right to condemn Cooper, a dangerous dog, to death, and the Palm Coast City Council was right to stay out of it. The dog will soon be killed.
Ambition and Pledges of Openness Frame Swearings-In at County Commission and Palm Coast Council
Joe Mullins was sworn-in as a county commissioner and Donald O’Brien elected chairman while Jack Howell and Eddie Branquinho took their seats on the Palm Coast council today.
Palm Coast Streetlights: $860,000 Plan Would Light Up 23 Miles Of Roads Over Next 5 Years
Two-thirds of the cost would be one-time capital and one third would be recurring, and in addition to the $700,000 a year the city spends now on lighting the city.
Palm Coast and County Resolve Sour Development Conflict, Signaling Falgout’s More Cooperative ‘Playbook’
The Airport Commons development opposite the future Wawa had led Palm Coast to threaten to sue the county, until the city’s Beau Falgout replaced Jim Landon. Then it became all about resolving issues.
Palm Coast Council Explores More Underground Power Lines, But FPL
Makes It Expensive
FPL is inviting Palm Coast government to “convert” more overhead power lines to underground lines, but the city would have to assume most of the cost. Council members are cool to the idea.
Death For Dangerous Dog Cooper Likely as Judge Sees Scant ‘Legal Basis’ to Stop It
A circuit judge gave supporters of Cooper, the dangerous dog condemned to death, little hope today after a one-hour hearing in an appeal designed to commute the dog’s death sentence.
Palm Coast Approves Cultural Grants. Just Don’t Call It “Religious Outreach.”
The Palm Coast City Council this week approved grants for 13 cultural events by local non-profits, totaling $34,500. The Palm Coast United Methodist Church’s description of its mission as “religious outreach” drew an objection in the context of cultural grants.
As Palm Coast Looks to Rewrite Feral Cat Rules, Advocates Plead For More Accommodation
The Palm Coast council is again wrestling with the often divisive matter of feral cats, with advocates asking for tolerance and opponents asking for more containment of what they consider nuisances.
Palm Coast Council Gets Primer on Dangerous Dog Rules: ‘You Don’t Have a Role in Process’
The presentation was a more formal way of assuring the council that it had immunity in dangerous-dog decisions–as long as it remained on the sidelines.
Among Qualities Sought in Next Palm Coast Manager: Many of Those Not Found in Former One
Only 13 people turned up at the first of two meetings designed to give the public a voice in Palm Coast’s choice for its next city manager, but those 13 had an outsize voice.
Court Hearing in Notorious Case of Dangerous Dog Cooper Scheduled for Day Before Election
The owner of Cooper the dog wants a judge to overrule a Palm Coast hearing officer’s death sentence so the dog can be exiled to a refuge for dangerous dogs on Florida’s west coast.
Jack Howell, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Jack Howell is a candidate for Palm Coast City Council. All registered voters in the city may cast a ballot in that non-partisan election regardless of party affiliation or location in Palm Coast.
Facing Staunch Opposition, Palm Coast Council Retreats From Electric Tax To Seek Alternatives
The Palm Coast Council this morning voted unanimously to indefinitely delay further discussions of new electric taxes to pay for city roads and a new public works facility.
Palm Coast’s Shocking Electric Tax Scheme
Out of nowhere the Palm Coast City Council is about to ram through a large tax increase on residents and businesses with hardly any discussion, no hearings, no public education. No wonder we have tea parties.
Jon Netts, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Jon Netts is a candidate for Palm Coast City Council, District 2. All registered voters in the city may cast a ballot in that non-partisan election regardless of party affiliation or location in Palm Coast.
Palm Coast Government Will Fly 3 Drones For Civil Uses, Excluding Code Enforcement And Private Property
Palm Coast government will use drones in IT, planning, PR. utilities, construction and with its fire department, but officials stress that private property is excluded, as is surveillance of any sort.
Palm Coast Again Considering 2 New Electric Taxes That Drew Bitter Opposition 6 Years Ago
The Palm Coast City Council is considering a public service electric tax and an electric franchise fee to diversify revenue, build a new, $20 million public works facility and repave city streets.