- October 13, 2024
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Palm Coast will not pay $102,465 to replace “decorative” concrete sidewalks under the State Road 100/Interstate 95 overpass or $29,500 to paint traffic signal mast arms black, City Council members decided at a March 7 meeting.
Council members balked at the two proposed projects when staff presented them during a discussion of Florida Department of Transportation roadwork expected to begin later this year on S.R. 100. Altogether, proposed cosmetic changes would have cost $150,000.
The council voted 4-0 to reject them. Council member Nick Klufas was absent from the meeting.
Mayor David Aflin said that as the council begins its Strategic Action Planning budget process, he is concerned about balancing the city’s wants and needs.
“I’m not at all interested in setting a precedent that we are a budget that looks for bells and whistles or add-ons or anything else,” Alfin said.
City traffic engineer Mike Grunewald had told the council that city staff was seeking approval to have FDOT paint six mast arm traffic signals that were being installed black to match the ones already within city limits and replace the existing decorative sidewalks underneath the S.R. 100/I-95 overpass with new ones.
I'm not at all interested in setting a precedent that we are a budget that looks for bells and whistles or add-ons or anything else — David Alfin, Palm Coast Mayor
The FDOT initiatives for S.R. 100 were initially proposed as a simple resurfacing project, Grunewald said, but after discussions with city of Palm Coast staff, FDOT had agreed to add several safety items at the city’s request.
The project is set to go from the Flagler County courthouse to the entrance of the Popeye’s on the other side of I-95 — about 4.5 miles. FDOT is now planning to replace wire-held traffic signals with mast arm traffic signals, add in right turn lanes at the Seminole Woods and Town Center intersection, and place a sidewalk along the south side of S.R. 100 for the whole 4.5-mile stretch.
The project is set to go from Flagler County Courthouse to the entrance of the Popeye’s on the other side over I-95, about 4.5 miles. FDOT is now planning to replace wire-held traffic signals with mast arm traffic signals, add in right turn lanes at the Seminole Woods and Town Center intersection and place a sidewalk along the south side of S.R. 100 for the whole 4.5-mile stretch.
The city, Grunewald said, regularly requests cosmetic additions when work is already being done, as a way to maintain aesthetic cohesion. Carl Cote, Palm Coast director of Stormwater and Engineering, pointed out that the traffic signal mast arms city staff had proposed painting would be the only ones in Palm Coast that don’t match the others.
The aesthetic concerns failed to move council members past the associated price tags.
Alfin said that the cosmetic issues are secondary to safety.
“I think that my personal opinion is that if DOT claims it’s safe, [I] would be satisfied without those two additions,” Alfin said.
I think that we really need, at this point in time, to cut back on these nice bells and whistles. We just simply can't afford it. — Ed Danko, Palm Coast Vice Mayor
Council member Theresa Carli Pontieri confirmed with Grunwald that FDOT would replace the sidewalks under the I-95 overpass even if the city doesn’t choose the more expensive “decorative” concrete option.
Vice Mayor Ed Danko asked Grunewald if painting the mast arms extends their life or has any other practical benefit. It does not, Grunewald said: The mast arms are made of galvanized steel and have an estimated lifespan of 50 years, with or without paint.
Danko said that if the paint had some use beyond the cosmetic, he would consider it. As it was, he said, he couldn’t justify the cost.
“I think that we really need, at this point in time, to cut back on these nice bells and whistles,” Danko said. “We just simply can’t afford it.”
