Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The City of Deltona Special City Commission convened on Monday, June 30, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Deltona Commission Chambers. The meeting, which adjourned at 7:06 PM, centered on a controversial vote to pass a temporary residential development moratorium (Ordinance 29-2025) on second reading despite the City Attorney's confirmation that Senate Bill 180, signed into law on June 26, 2025 and effective immediately, prohibits such actions and could render the ordinance null and void while exposing the city to litigation costs. The commission also unanimously approved a procedural resolution for administrative plat approvals (Resolution 2025-71) in line with Senate Bill 784 and voted to explore collaborative legal challenges to Senate Bill 180.
Five residents addressed the commission during the public hearing on the moratorium:
1. Ordinance No. 29-2025 – Temporary Residential Moratorium (Second Reading) The City Attorney read the ordinance title and updated the commission that Senate Bill 180 had been signed into law on June 26, 2025 and was effective immediately. She stated the moratorium is "not permitted" under the new law and would "very likely be considered null and void upon passage," warning that a successful challenge could result in the city being responsible for attorney's fees and costs. Commissioner Avila-Vazquez defended the measure, framing it as a necessary "pause to slow down and let the city heal" from flooding, and criticized the state for "tying our hands" and overriding the will of residents. Mayor Avila commented on the city's limited remaining developable land (approximately 300 acres, less than 1% of total), urging the commission to stop the "dramatics," focus on the ROI of impact fees, and "get to work" on courting state grants for infrastructure improvements.
2. Resolution No. 2025-71 – Administrative Plat Approvals The City Attorney explained the resolution complies with Senate Bill 784, designating the Planning and Development Services Director as the official for plat and replat approvals. Commissioner Lulli confirmed with the City Attorney that this administrative role could not be assigned to a commission member.
3. Legal Updates and Senate Bill 180 Compliance The City Attorney discussed a memorandum of law on SB 180, recommending compliance actions including revising emergency procedures and auditing existing ordinances. Commissioner Lulli requested, and the commission discussed, a motion for the City Attorney to reach out to other municipalities to assess potential joint actions regarding Senate Bill 180. The City Attorney informed the commission of a pre-suit notice received on June 27, 2025 from Howland Station Condo Developers, LLC challenging a previous city "Live Local" ordinance under SB 180, adding to an existing lawsuit. The commission consented to a request for a 30-minute shade meeting on the case, with outside counsel appearing remotely.
Commissioner Biele Vasquez. Still here. Commissioner Calwell? Here. Commissioner Howen? Here. Commissioner Lelly? Here. Commissioner Santiago. Here. Vice Mayor Harriet? Here. Mayor Baylor. Here. This time we're going to stand for the pledge, and I'll ask Commissioner Cobell to lead us in the pledge. All right. We're going to go ahead and jump right into this. We're going to go into action items A, if I can please have the city attorney read the ordinance. Yes, Mr. Mayor. This is ordinance number twenty-nine-twenty twenty-five. An ordinance of the City of Deltona, Florida providing for imposition of a temporary moratorium on issuance of development orders and permits and on the processing of development applications. I'll make a motion. So that has been added to this ordinance on second reading. SB one eighty has been signed into law. What I do take exception to, however, is the dramatics surrounding this because it takes away from the seriousness of what we're trying to do. And I mean online especially. The fear porn that's being thrown out instead of factual representation is something that I take exception to because we are a serious city and we're getting that's getting negated by all of the fear porn tactics that are being thrown out and things that are being talked about. So I'm gonna ask us as we talk about this to move forward with this information. Okay, and we only have um about 300 acres of that left for development in parcels and and what we can collect impact fees on. So that's less than one percent of what we have here to build on. Nine or 12 uh 12 available land, commercial land properties at 107.83 acres and residential 19 at 104. So I want us to think about the ROI on this and our impact fees and move progressively through the impact fee. And the community should know about this when you're talking about this, be genuine about what we're talking about. Because the things that are thrown out here paints us in a bad light, and the narrative is that we're chasing money as opposed to creating more revenue streams. We should be courting the state and the counties right now about grants to take care of what we're looking for, the capital improvements and stormwater. Uh, that's what it's at heart here, flooding. So as you move through, please stop with the dramatics on the online BS and get to work with doing what we actually need done. I am at the head of the org chart, so I am telling you that's what the job is here. Thank you. Stephanie Cox, please. Good evening, everybody. It's great to be here. Thank you for thank you for listening to me tonight. We need to think about our future and our children's future and everybody else's future, because we are digging ourselves a hole that we are not gonna get out of.