Last Updated: 2:54 p.m.
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Flagler Beach government has invited the county and cities to a joint meeting on June 21 where Flagler Beach will make a plea for more money to manage visitors’ impacts on its beaches and infrastructure. But the city’s invitation got a cold and at times nearly derisive reception when the Flagler County Commission discussed the invitation on Monday.
One of the commissioners suggested the county could take over the city’s library. Another suggested consolidation of fire and police services. Another said the city could raise its own taxes. Yet another said it should take advantage of available grants before seeking help this way. And the county administrator enumerated a long list of in-kind and financial support the city is already getting.
“They have to increase their income through” taxes, County Commissioner Dave Sullivan said, trailing off at the word taxes the way people sometimes do when they refer to cancer. “They just have to face that. They’ve raised taxes, they’ve lowered taxes, they’ve tried some things, but they don’t seem to want to increase their taxable properties.”
“I don’t know that I understand their requests for us of what what do they want,” Commissioner Andy Dance said.
“They’d like money,” County Administrator Heidi Petito said.
“I don’t think we should make any suggestions along that particular line,” Sullivan said.
[Flagler Beach’s commission chairman subsequently denied that the ask was for money: see: “No, Flagler Beach Isn’t Asking for Money. It’s Asking for Cooperation from County and Cities.”]
City Commission Chairman Eric Cooley Tuesday afternoon disputed the county’s interpretation: “The assumptions county manager presented to the county body was not what we discussed here in Flagler Beach. We never discussed money as the purpose for this meeting,” he said.
In terms of mechanics, the city is asking that each local government appoint two elected representatives to participate in the committee, and to provide one agenda item of discussion. Both the county and Bunnell have declined to provide discussion items. But they have appointed representatives to attend. The Palm Coast City Council will discuss the invitation at its meeting this evening. Flagler Beach appointed its two representatives almost two weeks ago.
“They feel that people come into Flagler Beach and use their city and are impacting their city but the city of Flagler Beach isn’t getting a direct benefit of having them come there,” Petito told the County Commission. “It’s actually degrading their infrastructure and they would like to ask us all to pay into helping them support their infrastructure. So that’s the conversation I had with their interim city manager.”
The most pressing issue is the beach, but county held is already generous, Petito said, from the county engineering office to the county attorney’s office to the emergency management’s office to subsidizing the city’s emergency radio system and city law enforcement’s computer assisted dispatching. “So it’s not that we’re not providing assistance. I mean, I could go through a list of county staff that provide assistance on a regular basis, but they’re looking for financial commitment to them,” Petito said. “There’s definitely a value that the county is providing that maybe they’re they’re not aware of. Maybe they are I don’t know.”
She also cited a local match the county is paying for a $16.78 million Florida Department of Transportation road project. “It’s funding that we’re getting from FDOT that could be applied elsewhere in the county.” Similarly, she said, the county provided Federal Emergency Management Administration match funding on behalf of the city.
There’s been some crossed signals along the way. ” I did hear from the city manager in Bunnell that Bunnell is not attending,” Petito said.
“That’s not true,” Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson said this morning: the commission appointed Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson and Commissioner Tina-Marie Schultz to the committee, while other commissioners intend to attend as non-participants, Jackson said.
“The mayor of Palm Coast is not happy to even participate, but will,” Sullivan said.
That, too, was not true, Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin said this morning. “I certainly made no reference to my attendance to anyone,” he said. “That may be an assumption on their part, but I have had no conversation with any member of the county commission.” He said he is a “a big proponent of collaboration,” but the decision on who will attend has not yet been made, since it hasn’t gone before the council.
He said that the committee could be something better suited for launch after Flagler Beach hires its permanent city manager later this year, but he understood that the city might want to have its financial requests submitted and dealt with ahead of budgeting season, which has begun. Alfin was also concerned about having representation on the committee that also serves on the countywide Tourist Development Council, which could raise issues of conflict. At least two individuals appointed to the committee–Sullivan and Flagler Beach Commission Chairman Eric Cooley–both serve on the TDC. Bunnell doesn’t have representation on the TDC.
As for Palm Coast’s participation, he said it’ll be discussed this evening, “and we’ll come up with the best solution to our City of Palm Coast.”
Flagler Beach appointed Cooley and Commissioner Scott Spradley to the committee, which will be chaired by Cooley. Commissioner Leann Pennington and Sullivan will attend on behalf of the county, two individuals Commissioner Donald O’Brien referred to as “good cop, bad cop.”
The invitation was made by way of a letter by Flagler Beach mayor Suzie Johnston that circulated among local government heads.
“In our strategic planning process the City of Flagler Beach has identified that future growth could have a significant impact on our city,” Johnston wrote. “We also recognize the impact of this growth as well as many other issues affecting the future cannot be adequately addressed solely by our individual governments. Instead, we believe they must be addressed collectively by all governments within Flagler County.”
The letter contains no reference to money.
Rather than take an agenda item to discuss, the county will, at Pennington’s request, carry a document showing “the manpower and dollars contributed by the county to Flagler Beach.” Commissioners had their own proposals for Flagler Beach, none of which are likely to get a warm reception from the city.
“We could save them some money by taking over the library. Holly and I, we’ve discussed that at length,” Commission Chairman Greg Hansen said, referring to Holly Albanese, the director of the county’s library system. “I think it’s a pride thing with them.” Flagler Beach’s library budget is $171,000 this year.
Dance said the city should take advantage of tourism grants. “I don’t know if you can go asking for other assistance until you’ve exhausted all possible sources of income that are at your discretion,” he said.
“For instance, last year when the they didn’t even make a submission and they’ve got another chance right now,” Commissioner Dave Sullivan said. Last year the city notoriously failed to meet a deadline for TDC grant money in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, all of which went to a project in Palm Coast. (See: “Flagler Beach Misses Deadline on $739,000 Tourism Grant. It had 18 Months to Apply. And an Extension.”)
“There’s taboo subjects like consolidation of fire and police,” O’Brien said.
“They’ll throw us out,” Hansen said.
“If you want to look for the big dollars, it’s the same kind of discussion, you know, that the federal government doesn’t want to have about entitlement spending,” O’Brien said. “I mean, it’s like sacred cow. But, I mean, if you want to look at where you could really save money, that’s it.”
“We’re already doing the beach,” Hansen said, a reference to ongoing projects to rebuild dunes.
Questions were raised about the county’s support for Flagler Beach’s lifeguards. Currently the county pays $96,000 of the city’s cost for lifeguards, up from $84,000 last year and $72,000 in 2020. The city’s budget doesn’t detail its overall cost for lifeguards, which is folded into total salaries and benefits for the beach department. The beach department’s total budget this year is $365,000, of which $246,000 is for salaries and benefits.
Sullivan threw in county support of Flagler Beach’s IT operations. “Last year they were going to get rid of our IT support,” he said, recalling a debate within Flagler Beach over whether to abandon its partnership with the county for IT services. “They thought they could make you know money doing that. Well, when they checked it out and everything, they ended up back with us. Now, we increased the amount of money we’re charging, but it was still a better deal that they could get elsewhere is what they found. So they’ve gone down that road a couple of times.”
Then, drawing on his chairmanship of the TDC, he said: “They get more money back than they pay into the TDC.”
“There are other folks in the city who feel like maybe the promotion of their community is not what they want,” Petito said. “And it’s now creating an impact infrastructure. So I guess it’s trying to find that happy balance or that middle of the road.”
Pennington summed up: “Happy to attend. Not sure we can add to anything. But I’m happy to listen.”
Jim G says
Maybe the city should reconsider paid parking for non-residents. 75%+ of beach goers are Palm Coast people or not COFB residents. Hundreds of cars every day, other communities do it successfully. Things have changed over the past few years where as there are many more visitors everyday then in the past. You would think this could be a nice long term revenue generating project.
I believe there are companies out there that would handle the entire system and give the city a percentage.
Laurel says
So, Flagler County Commissioners, City of Palm Coast and other FC cities, why don’t you take your beach balls and go home? These cities, and county, are growing at an astronomical rate. “Westward Ho” states Alfin. Multi-unit apartments. Cramming in houses on tiny lots. You know damn well all these masses are headed to Flagler Beach, yet you don’t want to be bothered. “Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches.” What a load of crap! Instead, you try to figure out what you can take over. What a group!
Flagler Beach, I think you should figure out a way to charge people to go to the beach and/or parking stickers paid by non-residents. Instead of a hotel, you should build a two story parking structure that collects a really nice sum for parking. Close off A1A parking if you can figure out how. Add parking meters.
We were just in Tybee Island, and there are paid parking kiosks everywhere, and I mean everywhere! You pay with an app. The city charges $4.00 an hour. The reason they did that, to my understanding, was because tourists were overwhelming the city. They still are, but at least the city is making money off it. Check it out. Call the city.
Jimbo99 says
Too funny, they want to get paid for things they already know. Tourists litter, they park on the East side of A1A. If they boat, well there’s pollution from that. Recent photo on Facebook, Matanzas Inlet had a boat that the tide drained the water on the sandbar. So now there’s a boat that was high & dry on the sandbar awaiting the next tidal level to float it off. Let’s see, what else could there possibly be from the rentals, overutilization of dwellings = more traffic & cars parked there for driveways & swales. They may have parties & be noisier for those that actually are residents ? Increased tourism & there’s going to be more folks getting drinks at the local taverns & eating at restaurants. That’s back to litter, garbage & waste collection, water & sewage demands on that city system. Since the pier will be demolished & rebuilt, take that impact out of the equation for any issues. So Flagler Beach wants more money for the tides to change, the erosion that the State & Federal Government keep funding dune renourishment & repairs to A1A ?
Had they not fired their last city manager they would’ve been locked into the salary level he was costing the community. Now they need to hire the next one for a higher payscale. I’ll bet the one’s that fired that manager want raises for their mediocre & poorer performances ? Did I miss anything here ?
The dude says
Yes, you forgot to blame it on President Biden.
Sherry says
@The Dude LOL! Thanks for my morning laugh! Don’t worry, ole’ jimbo99 will fill out “Biden” on his MAGA bingo card in his next comment. LOL!
Laurel says
Dude: LMAO!
Deborah Coffey says
Republicans don’t raise taxes. They want everyone else to pay for “their stuff” after their ridiculous “trickle down economics” philosophy and deregulation. Just look at all the federal dollars that have gone to Flagler Beach…and to Florida in general. And, now, Ashley Moody is suing the federal government over its changes to flood insurance program. Republicans bite the hand that feeds them…a lesson in how NOT to govern.
https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230117/hurricane-ian-federal-assistance-climbs-past-5-billion-thousands-floridians#:~:text=FEMA%20has%20provided%20%24896%20million,billion%20in%20claims%20to%20Hurricane
Wow says
I like the Flagler Beach library. They people are kind and the selection is okay.
But honestly it wouldn’t hurt to bring it up to speed. Inter library loans, library subscriptions to websites …. An upgrade.
Mister Bailey says
What about all the sales tax Flagler County is collecting in Flagler Beach???
The State Sales Tax rate is 6% and Flagler County has added an extra 1% to all sales in there jurisdiction for a total of 7%
So the County is getting 1% of EVERY taxed dollar in the Flagler Beach jurisdiction… Where is it going? And WHY is supporting Tourism ever an issue in Florida???????????
IF hypothetically Flagler Beach shit down due to bankruptcy how many people would flee Palm Coast and Bunnell and what would the value of all of the property they are taxing be worth if the closest Beach was Ormond or Marine Land?
If the people running the County we smart at all they would realize the value Flagler Beach and their Tourist offers to them realistically
palmcoaster says
When it comes to this issue we need to look at the reality of how much the Flagler Beach real estate ad valorem taxes contribute to the county. Example a 455 sq ft 1 bedroom one bath condo (not water front) located in South Central Avenue pays in ad valorem taxes to the county a year $1,000 while pays to the city of Flagler Beach only $660 when Flagler Beach has its own Police and Fire Department!. And we are talking here on a 455ft one bedroom condo…Can we imagine how much is the county collecting from each single family home and specially for those millionaire ocean front houses? Sure the county is benefitting greatly from Flagler Beach ocean front and as such should contribute accordingly. What will be Flagler County without Flagler Beach or even Palm Coast that generate the lions share of the county taxes? A two bedroom condo in the same Central Ave S 800 sq ft pays the county 4.800 a year and City of Flagler Beach $3,000 never mind the schools as that is something we all have to pay. Can we imagine those ocean front properties way over one to two million how much taxes pay to the county? Always keeping over 31 plus percent more than the City of Flagler Beach. I am just looking at the reality and I see that with this outrageous growth to tear and wear their infrastructure as all and their brother going to Flagler Beach front, they may need more funding from the potato county coffers whether the FCBOCC approves it or not.
palmcoaster says
By the way how come the pricey ocean front properties on A1A and it extension on Ocean Shore Blvd are not shown in the Flagler County Property Appraisers website, Flaglerpa.com?
Laurel says
Palmcoaster: Every property appraiser site in Florida shows all properties and their tax rate. That includes ocean front. Don’t worry about ocean fronts, they pay big bucks in taxes every year. Try searching again.
BigPapa says
Two words, “Toll Bridge”.
Sherry says
Right On BigPapa! I’ve suggested this before, also. A toll on the bridge, using modern technology to exempt Flagler Beach residents, would be simplest, most equitable, most economic the way to go.
Laurel says
Big Papa and Sherry: Yeppers! When I lived in Boca Raton, up until 1995, Red Reef Park entrance fee was $10. Actually, all three beach parks were $10 for the day. Residents could get an annual sticker, placed on the rear view mirror (can’t remember price, $20 I think) and that $10 trip could be applied to that annual sticker. Today, entrance fee is $35 for the day, and $75 annual sticker. I will say that Boca Raton has beautiful beach parks. People would come up from as far away as Miami.
Delray Beach had pay meters on A1A when I was there last. Now, they too have kiosks, and there’s an app for that too! Delray Beach has many different pay rates, depending on where and when you park. That ranges from $1.50 to $2.00 per hour. The first 20 minutes are free if you are just running an errand. Certain times are free, and handicap is also free determined by time and place. Many, many different rates. Now, keep in mind that Delray Beach is a lot bigger than Flagler Beach, and has four story parking buildings.
Flagler Beach should figure out something similar. I’m still thinking kiosks, but add annual, resident stickers. It’s time. Flagler County, Palm Coast and the other towns are taking advantage of Flagler Beach, and hemming and hawing about chipping in. Okay, no problem. Flagler Beach, take the reins!
James says
“Don’t make me cross the bridge…until we need money, resources, fireworks, etc.” Cooley is a joke. They have their own library, police force, all these duplicated services for no reason other than to be special. Good for Flagler County for standing up to Flagler Beach. Raise your own taxes or get rid of a few of those mobile homes on the barrier island and raise some real tax dollars. The residents of Flagler Beach need to see what years of mismanagement by their wacky City Commission gets them. Solve your own problems, Flagler Beach.
BigPapa says
Here’s an idea. We can start by not letting people like you come here without paying.
Hmmm says
Fair enough. And you can start paying an out of towner fee everytime you go to palm coast for walmart, target, bjs when it opens, doctors appointments, home depot, any restaurant, etc.
Sherry says
@hmmm Completely ridiculous comparison!
All the things you list in Palm Coast are PRIVATE businesses that are not financially supported by the local government/public taxes. Those businesses are already charging customers and raking in record breaking profits. Perhaps Palm Coast needs to raise taxes on those businesses if that city government needs to increase revenues.
BigPapa says
Lol 😆, not a problem…
John Stove says
Hey Flagler Beach
Raise your own damn taxes and fees just like we have to suffer here in Palm Coast for our infrastructure shortfalls. You have to be out of your mind to think that our city should “chip in” because people might come down and use your beach or drive on your roads? Really?….
Add an “infrastructure fee” to your utility bills, increase your ad valorem taxes to your property owners, do a better job budgeting your town because no one wants to throw money in your tin cup as you rattle it!
Sherry says
@john stove. . . Why should those who have a home in Flagler Beach be TOTALLY responsible for the cost of the impact of tourists who benefit from the “public services” of one of the last authentic beach towns on Florida’s East coast? ” Day Trippers ” should most certainly chip in for the cost of things like picking up/collecting the garbage they leave behind, police and fire services, parking. . . etc. etc. etc.
If not ALL, certainly the vast majority of all other Florida tourist destinations have toll bridges and parking fees to help defray the costs of those tourist public services. It’s time for Flagler Beach to do the same.
John, if you prefer not to chip in. . . no problem.. . you can just stay home. Your attitude will not be missed in Flagler Beach.
Laurel says
John S.: You are certainly not taking into consideration that Palm Coast is building many, many residential units on highway 100. Those people are going to Flagler Beach, but the tax dollars are going to Palm Coast. Yet, you want Flagler Beach residents to pay for it all. Not reasonable.
Flagler Beach, start charging for parking! All of Flagler County wants to use your beach, they just want Flagler Beach residents to pay for it.
Mare says
It’s about time for Flagler Beach to consider the impact of Palm Coast’s expansion on the town overall. No way can the streets handle the traffic and parking in the pier area. It’s is going to be a mess everyday not just weekends and holidays. To not charge for parking at least along the boardwalk and in public lots is so foolish. People will pay for the convenience and it will not stop them from coming to the beach. What was once the quiet beach town reputation is coming quickly to an end. Nice while it lasted.
Tony says
Time to start to charge for parking for everyone along the beach. Also, a garage for paring with shops on the first floor should be considered. Increase enforcement of parking on the dunes.
Crusty Old Salt says
Honorable Mayor and Commissioners,
Why beg for money or resources which appears will fall on deaf ears? You have a guaranteed revenue stream of paid parking which will only increase with time. With technology today, people can pay with their cell phones by downloading a simple app. This can has been kicked down the road for years. Everywhere we visit while traveling, paid parking is a given. Time to put on your big boy pants or skirts and move forward. The influx of the masses will only continue, wherever they are from. You cannot continue to burden Flagler Beach residents because your lack of fortitude to make tough decisions.
Understand no one likes to make the tough decisions in the political arena. However, you are elected by the residents of Flagler Beach. You are not elected by voters or tourists outside of Flagler Beach. To make the decision more palatable, have free parking stickers for residents of Flagler Beach. For residents of municipalities in Flagler County or Flagler County residents, they could be offered an annual pass at a discount.
Please do not form another parking committee to go through the motions. Then when you do not like their suggestions after spending hundreds of hours of volunteer time, shelve their ideas. We have seen that movie before. Also, don’t buy into the social media threats from people outside of the City, they will go elsewhere. Would someone really spend $5 or $10 in gas to drive to Marineland or Ormond to avoid a few dollars in a parking fee to go to the beach. When we visit St. Augustine, it is $10 a pop to park in the parking garage on our visit.
If you do not have the backbone to make the hard decision regarding paid parking, then at the very least, put it to the voters of Flagler Beach who elect you. I think you would see overwhelming support for paid parking by the voting residents of Flagler Beach, as long as it was free for Flagler Beach residents. Sone Commissioners may not want Flagler Beach voters to weigh in because they may not like the results and may force that tough decision. We understand it is much easier to do nothing and avoid controversy. However, that time on this issue is well past.
The Villa Beach Walker says
Paid beach parking is a great idea. The only issue will be does the City of Flagler Beach own enough parking spaces? Offer daily parking $12 for 12 hours. At the end of the day (2 hours after sunset) if a vehicle doesn’t move it gets towed at the owners expense. No overnight parking. Offer Palm Coast residents a yearly pass and charge $120. Charge Flagler County residents $150-180. Make sure that the pass is attached to the front passenger window of each vehicle and can’t be shared.
Jim G says
I stuttered this conversation stating we need paid parking, not simple but easy enough. Will need to put “Resident Only Parking” signs in certain off streets and avenues near down town FB as well as the busy beach areas.
Skibum says
I hope Flagler Beach city officials, especially the police chief, are some of FlaglerLive’s frequent readers because there is an issue near and dear to my heart that they need to pay much closer attention to, and that is the lack of available disabled parking as well as the many, many times I have witnessed cars with no disabled license plate or handicap placard taking up one of the few handicap parking spaces available in Flagler Beach. Although I live in Palm Coast, we have some favorite restaurants over at the beach but trying to find a parking space when you have a wheelchair bound disabled family member who needs that access is extremely difficult to find in Flagler Beach!!! The law (and handicap parking signs) says each violation can cost $250 a pop. How about Flagler Beach city officials allocating additional handicap parking spaces in the business district, not just those rare and insufficient number at private businesses, and then ENFORCE THE LAW and cite the violators! I see so many handicap parking violations not only in Flagler Beach but also Palm Coast that fees would add up and bring in much needed revenue, and at the same time help those who really need and depend on handicap parking access so we could actually go to the beach and enjoy the restaurants and frequent other local businesses. Without this critical access, others like me don’t go as often as Flagler Beach city officials would like for us to visit.
jake says
Not only put a toll on the bridge, put a toll on AIA, at the southern and northern border of FB. Get rid of duplicate services, such as the library, and the fire and police departments. It’s much less expensive to consolidate these services. You can also streamline garbage and trash services, by reducing pick-up to once a week. Utility bills are now $100 a month before you even open your door, that’s an additional $1200 per year tax. All of these things can be easily modified or accomplished, by the city. The biggest problem is that regardless of what occurs, FB is already overtaxed, and poorly run. However, with that being said, the county is obligated to participate monetarily on some level, and FB needs to put on their big boy pants, apply for grants, and find better solutions.