- March 5, 2025
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The city says it will grant a 96% reduction of the stormwater utility fee for vacant parcels larger than one acre located within the Town Center Community Development District, according to a June 13 letter to the district. But it won't grant a 100% reduction.
For years, the city has sought a fair way to charge landowners for the costs of maintaining the city's aging stormwater system, which conveys rain water away from developed land. In July 2012, the reduced-service credit for Town Center properties was set to be changed to 68.83%.
The Town Center CDD board of directors formally appealed its stormwater fee in December 2012, requesting a 100% reduced service credit for properties within Town Center, saying that the CDD "already maintains the stormwater infrastructure throughout Town Center and assesses its property owners annually for this service. The city provides little to no maintenance benefitting the Town Center project.”
The letter initiated the conflict resolution process, which is the first step before a potential lawsuit.
Landon sent a response last week, saying he was surprised to receive the letter. He notes the City Council recently took legislative action to further reduce the stormwater credits.
“It was my understanding that representatives for the CDD were following our progress in addressing some of the perceived or real inequities in our stormwater fee methodology prior to this recent amendment,” Landon wrote.
Landon's letter states that the total reduction for the eligible properties will now be about 96% of the city’s standard fee, with a minimum fee of one equivalent residential unit per parcel, according to the letter.
The stormwater utility fees for the affected properties will be recalculated, and the new charges will be applied retroactively to April 2008.
The city will also use a third-party expert consultant to determine the reduced-service-level credit for properties with structures within the Town Center boundaries.
City Manager Jim Landon estimates that process will take about 60 days.
Palm Coast budget is ‘distinguished’
The city of Palm Coast was presented a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its annual budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2012. Christopher Quinn, finance director for the city, received the award letter May 20 for his budget document.
The Government Finance Officers Association gives the award, and it is valid for one year. In order to receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan, and as a communications device.
— Elizabeth Brown contributed to this report.
