Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
On Monday, October 13, 2025, at 5:30 PM, the Deltona City Commission held a workshop to discuss two major items: a citywide analysis of sidewalk, street lighting, and lake spraying installations, and a potential non-ad valorem assessment for roadway and stormwater repairs in the private, gated Twin Lakes subdivision. The meeting, held in the Deltona Commission Chambers, concluded at 6:58 PM. All seven commissioners were present: Mayor Avila, Vice Mayor Heriot, Commissioner Avila-Vazquez, Commissioner Colwell, Commissioner Howington, Commissioner Nabicht, and Commissioner Santiago.
Phyllis Wallace, Deputy Public Works Director, presented a district-by-district cost analysis for extending 5-foot sidewalks on both sides of roads where missing, adding streetlights (40-watt LEDs on side streets; higher wattage on boulevards), and managing aquatic vegetation in lakes. Key costs presented:
Commissioner Avila-Vazquez questioned why lake spraying was being reconsidered after being removed from the budget and expressed concern about costs for older districts like District 3. Vice Mayor Heriot advocated for a focused approach: prioritize sidewalks within a half-mile of schools, one side of the road only, and pair them with streetlights on the same side; he supported a resident-led municipal service benefit unit (MSBU) for streetlights. Commissioner Santiago supported returning to the earlier school-focused sidewalk program and opposed a new citywide streetlight tax, preferring the existing program where residents can petition for districts. Commissioner Howington noted that the sidewalk fund (about $250,000 annually) does not guarantee sidewalks for those who paid; she supported education on existing streetlight and lake spraying district programs. Commissioner Nabicht argued against using city funds for lake spraying, stating it benefits only lakefront property values and should remain resident-driven via special districts; he supported completing streetlight gaps on boulevards and integrating sidewalks into a master transportation plan. He also proposed a potential ballot initiative to fund stormwater projects, including lake spraying if tied to stormwater.
Public Comment: Tim Blodgett criticized the cost estimates and potential tax increases, noting the stormwater fee had been raised twice already. He opposed spending on sidewalks in areas where residents do not want them and warned against using magnesium sulfate for algae treatment.
Outcome: The commission reached a consensus to prioritize sidewalk installation near schools for safety, work with law enforcement on crash-data-driven streetlight improvements on boulevards, and rely on existing resident-petition programs for streetlights and lake spraying. The consensus also included having staff refine and promote education about those programs. Additionally, Vice Mayor Heriot requested and received consensus to fill gaps in streetlights on Haulover Boulevard; Commissioner Nabicht extended this to all boulevards, and the commission concurred.
Phyllis Wallace explained that Twin Lakes, a private gated subdivision, sought city partnership to front $582,505 for road milling/resurfacing and stormwater repairs, with repayment via a 10-year non-ad valorem assessment (about $479.60 annually per lot). Staff recommended a 5-year or 10-year payback including lost interest revenue.
Commissioner Avila-Vazquez (in whose district Twin Lakes lies) expressed concern about setting a precedent for other HOAs, noting at least five HOAs in her district. Mayor Avila stated he would not support it. Commissioner Howington agreed, worrying about precedent and the risk that poorly maintained private stormwater systems could affect city systems; she noted that Twin Lakes had recently received a Transform 386 grant for stormwater work. Commissioner Nabicht was firmly opposed, arguing that HOAs are responsible for their own infrastructure and that the city should not bail them out; he suggested updating the Land Development Code (LDC) to require future HOAs to cede stormwater management to the city. Vice Mayor Heriot proposed requiring residents to petition (51% support) and collect money upfront without using general funds. Commissioner Colwell also opposed.
Public Comment: Lori Warnicke observed that no one from Twin Lakes attended the meeting, questioning the level of community interest.
Outcome: The consensus was not to proceed with the non-ad valorem assessment. Staff will explore LDC changes regarding private stormwater systems.
Okay, so we're gonna go ahead and we're gonna go ahead and get started. If we can please uh have the city clerk do the roll call, please. Commissioner Bilavasquez present commissioner Calwell, here Commissioner Howington? Here Commissioner Nobick? Here. Commissioner Santiago? Here. Vice Mayor Harriet? Here. Mayor Abella. Here. This time, if we can please stand for the pledge, and I'll ask Commissioner Howington to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America. One nation. Individual liberty and justice. Thank you. All right, we're gonna go ahead and enter into discussion items. If I can please have, I was gonna say Commissioner. If I can please have Miss Wallace do her presentation. So to bring everybody kind of up to speed of what this presentation is on. Back in May, Commissioner Harriet had asked during the workshop during the budget about extending sidewalks to district one and street lighting to district one. So we started that evaluation, we pulled that all together. We decided it might be more prudent to present all the districts, what the cost would be to do all of that, both individually by district, and then also we added in there was some interest in Lake Spring, so we kind of put that all together. So that's what the start of this is. This is just meant to bring to the commission some information for thought process. Where would they like to go with this? Um, what is the the will of the commission as far as wanting to proceed with any and all or part of this? So we evaluated the let's see if I can do this right. Street lighting, streetlights by district, and the streetlighting was only calculated using these type of streetlights, which are typically called a cobra head on existing poles that we have throughout the city. We didn't evaluate decorative lights and poles, we didn't put that into consideration at all. We also could not at this point pull together any costs relative to those streets where we have power in the rear of the properties. So if you drive down Deltona through it at Del Tony, you will find there are certain streets, quite a few of them, that there is nothing out at the right of way. That would require pulling power to the front, establishing a pole, installing a pole, and a light fixture. So we did not consider that, and there generally speaking, it's been my experience over the last many years to do polls like that is typically about $2,000 a pole. So I just wanted to keep that on everybody's schedule. For the sidewalks, we looked at and calculated out adding five foot wide sidewalks throughout every district where sidewalks are missing on both sides of the roadway. So if it's the will of the commission that they do want to consider this, maybe we start with one side of the roadways and not both sides. It also does not include if the city were to undertake this citywide. In all likelihood, we would have to provide stormwater maintenance somewhere along the line. The net new impervious runoff from citywide installation of sidewalks could create an issue with the district for permitting. So we've talked a little bit about street lighting. Most of the streetlights that you see throughout Del Tona on our residential roads are 40 watt LEDs, and those are sufficient for residential side streets.