Deltona City Commission Regular Meeting – May 4, 2026

The Deltona City Commission held its regular meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026, in the Deltona Commission Chambers. The agenda scheduled public forum from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., and Mayor Avila called the business meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The Commission approved routine consent items, adopted the first reading of a small wireless facilities ordinance, discussed the FY2025 audit, and handled appointments and administrative matters. The meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m.

Invocation, Oath, and Recognitions

• District #3 Commissioner Nick Pizza delivered the invocation and recognized veterans Deputy Eban Prado, a combat medic with the Florida Army National Guard, and Deputy Wes Brough, a former U.S. Army corporal.
• Mayor Avila swore in new Fire Chief Stephen Cousins before the invocation; Chief Cousins expressed gratitude to the department and community.
• The Commission agreed to future recognitions and presentations requested by Vice Mayor Avila-Vazquez and Commissioner Heriot, including Florida Health Source, a Deltona Pride Month proclamation, certificates of appreciation for Unidos Super Market and El Coqui Bakery, and a YMCA presentation.

Consent Calendar

• The Commission approved Items A, B, E, G, H, I, and K by a single 7-0 vote. These included: minutes of the April 6, 2026 regular meeting; appointments to the Opioid Funding Advisory Board (EMS Assistant Chief Clatterbuck as primary and Training Assistant Chief Viccaro as alternate); Resolution 2026-36 for citywide park improvements, including the Manny Rodriguez playground replacement at $328,875.84 and a 5% contingency; Resolution 2026-39 and FDEM/FEMA grant agreement H1302 for acquisition and demolition of 3101 Riverhead Drive, with total estimated cost of $405,103; Resolution 2026-40 with Pegasus Engineering for grant management services at $19,895; Resolution 2026-41 with Tetra Tech for Pond GC-4 engineering services at $75,938; and proclamations for the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association and the National Day of Prayer.
• Item 7-C, pulled by Commissioner Howington, passed 7-0. It approves Resolution 2026-33 and Amendment 1 to the FDEP Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment agreement, extending the period of performance to March 31, 2027, with no additional city funding.
• Item 7-D, also pulled by Commissioner Howington, passed 7-0. It approves Resolution 2026-34 and a $776,551.54 Task Authorization with Corradino Group for Phase I engineering, design, and permitting of the Elkcam Boulevard roadway elevation project. Staff explained that two solicitations received no bids and FDEM authorized a noncompetitive procurement from four pre-qualified on-call engineering firms.
• Item 7-F, pulled by Vice Mayor Avila-Vazquez, passed 7-0. It approves Resolution 2026-38 selecting Gehring Group as broker/agent for insurance programs. Gehring received a 500/500 Selection Committee score. The contract runs from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2029, with two optional one-year renewals, and total cost will not exceed $237,000 over the initial term.
• Item 7-J, pulled by Vice Mayor Avila-Vazquez, passed 6-0 with one abstention. It adopts Resolution 2026-32, the FY2025-2026 Mid-Year Budget Amendment. Finance staff said the CDBG allocation for relocating Fire Station 62 had to be reduced because less CDBG funding was available; no final station relocation site has been determined. Commissioner Howington abstained after declaring a potential conflict pending the ethics opinion request.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The Mayor opened and closed public comment with no speakers during the FY2025 audit discussion, the consent agenda, and the small wireless facilities public hearing.
• During the Planning and Zoning Board alternate appointment, one resident addressed the Commission; the minutes do not record the substance or the speaker's position.

Presentations and Reports

• Economic Development Manager John Cox reported during National Small Business Week that the retail strategies project is on schedule; Amazon’s two Deltona facilities employ about 1,500 people, with about 50% of employees living in Deltona, up from about 39%; the second million-square-foot Amazon facility opened in January. The CRA grant program attracted 4–5 interested businesses, and one completed project will receive a $6,900 check equal to half the project cost. Team Volusia sourced Project Cora, a physical therapy facility with 8–10 jobs, and a foreign direct investment space-industry project. Commissioner Nabicht moved to remove Commissioner Howington as Deltona’s Team Volusia representative, saying she had disseminated misinformation about economic projects; Commissioner Howington resigned from the role and the motion passed 7-0.
• Tim Westgate and Lori Walker of Purvis Gray presented the FY2025 audit for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. The audit reports were dated April 30, 2026. The city received a clean/unmodified opinion, with no material weaknesses and no compliance findings. Recommendations addressed the financial close/reporting timeline and an overly complex capital asset reporting model. Staff changes included moving fleet management, information technology, and building into separate funds and reclassifying solid waste and stormwater as business-type/enterprise funds. The audit note disclosed a related party: a city commissioner also serves in a key position with another governmental entity with which the city may conduct business; no material transactions occurred.

Discussion Items

• Commissioner Santiago moved to direct the City Attorney to seek an opinion from the Florida Commission on Ethics or the State Attorney on whether Commissioner Howington’s employment with the Volusia County Clerk of Court, an office involved in review/approval of city financial submissions, creates a conflict. After discussion of related-party disclosures, 501(c)(3) organizations, piggyback contracts, and Seminole County, the motion passed 6-1, with Commissioner Colwell opposed.
• Ordinance No. 06-2026, at first reading, would add a new Article 3 to Chapter 82 to regulate small wireless facilities in compliance with Florida Statutes and federal law. Staff explained state law prohibits the city from denying compliant facilities, requiring separation distances, or requiring use of existing poles. The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval 7-0 on April 29, 2026. Several commissioners expressed frustration with state preemption, and staff said the ordinance will provide design standards and right-of-way permit review. The ordinance passed 7-0; second reading is scheduled for June 1, 2026.
• Commissioner Colwell raised concerns about unfinished developments, citing Enrico Ridge, Osprey Estates, and a project on Doyle. The City Attorney and City Manager discussed code enforcement, performance and infrastructure bonds, development agreements, private property rights, and land banking. Vice Mayor Avila-Vazquez asked for an update on time-limit restrictions for new developments; staff committed to follow up.
• Commissioner Howington requested an ADA presentation, asked about a possible third Amazon facility, and discussed a Chick-fil-A request for $750,000 in incentives that the City Manager said staff declined. She said her public post was based on actual emails and defended asking residents their views. The City Manager said the city does not publicly disclose non-final business recruitment discussions and said the Theresa Basin Study had been received and was being evaluated.
• Commissioner Nabicht asked about drone delivery regulation; staff said the city can regulate fences and the storage structure but FAA-controlled drone operations are largely preempted. Commissioner Howington also questioned the fraud policy, impact fee study timeline, P&Z financial disclosure forms, and whether public forum requires a quorum. City Manager said public forum, presentations, and workshops do not require a quorum.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent agenda and pulled consent items as noted, with votes of 7-0 for Items 7-C, 7-D, 7-F, and 6-0 with one abstention for Item 7-J.
• Approved Ordinance No. 06-2026 on first reading, 7-0; second reading set for June 1, 2026.
• Ordinance No. 08-2026, establishing the Hickory Lakes Community Development District, was deleted from the agenda at the developer’s request. The minutes refer to the deleted item as “9-B,” while the agenda lists it as Item 8-B.
• Appointed Norma Jean Guida as Alternate to the Planning and Zoning Board for a term expiring March 15, 2028, by a 7-0 vote.
• Directed the City Attorney to obtain an ethics opinion regarding Commissioner Howington’s potential conflict, by a 6-1 vote.
• Accepted Commissioner Howington’s resignation as Deltona’s Team Volusia representative by a 7-0 vote.
• A motion by Vice Mayor Avila-Vazquez to extend the meeting failed for lack of a second.
• The City Manager said the Theresa Basin Study will be released to the Commission after staff evaluation, and follow-ups were promised on development timelines and an ADA presentation.