City of Deltona

2345 Providence Blvd.

Deltona, FL 32725

Minutes

City Commission Workshop

Monday, July 22, 2024

1. CALL TO ORDER:

5:30 PM

Deltona Commission Chambers

The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Mayor Avila.

2. ROLL CALL – CITY CLERK:

Present:6 -

Mayor Avila

Vice Mayor JodyLee

Commissioner Avila-Vazquez

Commissioner Heriot

Commissioner McCool

Commissioner Shimkus

Absent:1 - Commissioner Colwell

3. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG:

4. BUSINESS:

To provide the public with the opportunity to comment on the proposed

budget for FY2024/2025.

The City Manager gave a brief explanation of the agenda.

Mayor Avila opened the public comments and Kathy Brian, Edwin Lasanta, Pat Blodgett,

Brandy White, David Sosa, Virgil Ford, Elizabeth Chavez, Elbert Bryan, Tim Blodgett, and

Courtney Cross-Burgos addressed the Commission.

Kathy Bryan spoke regarding needs vs. wants, contracts, pricing, purchasing processes,

overtime, bonuses, staff training, paying back costs, evaluations, raises, coaching

sessions, police and fire staffing, saving money, and utilizing volunteers.

Edwin LaSanta spoke in favor of the budget, professional staff, his budget experience,

fairness, taxes, reserves, equipment, and moving the City forward.

Pat Blodgett spoke regarding retirements, saving money, reducing taxes, office supplies,

employee appreciation, office furniture, City scholarships, raising money, fire training

complex and new fire houses, splash pad maintenance, drone shows, and tightening the

City's belt.

Brandy White spoke regarding miscellaneous revenue, money transfers, storage unit

rentals, onsite storage, the Veterans' Memorial, budget increases, needing explanations,

staff having answers, and wasting her time.

David Sosa spoke regarding fund balances, the proposed millage rate, the previous salary

study, the City Commission, shortfalls, Lakeshore, FEMA reimbursements, economic

disasters, full rollback, and citizens who rent.

Virgil Ford spoke regarding various event costs, fluff in the budget, and the City

scholarships.

Elizabeth Chavez spoke regarding staffing, emergency funds, holiday parade, reusing

event items, road resurfacing, sidewalk replacements, repaying loans, landscaping and

green space, economic development, the IRS issue, and an overpayment from VSO

(Volusia Sherrif's Office).

Elbert Bryan spoke regarding vehicles, piggyback agreements and RFPs (Requests for

Purchase), animal control, wage increases, and the honor system.

Tim Blodgett spoke regarding truck towing capacities, employee appreciation, bonuses,

salary study, the IT (Information Technology) Department, going paperless, office supplies,

start up vs. operating costs, and accountability.

Courtney Cross-Burgos spoke regarding irrigation repairs, operating supplies, and

clarifying things.

David Sosa spoke regarding taxable values, staff increases, the millage rate, and bringing

up revenue.

Discussion by the City Commission on legislative priorities.

Strategic Goal: Strategic Issues

The Commission, Mrs. McKeon, and staff discussed appropriations, vetoed items,

grant-centric policies, various desirable projects, congress members' preferences, grant

matching, budget sponsors, taking an incremental approach, shovel-ready projects,

agreeing on a set of projects, grant application process, Georgia's involvement in the

process, attestation forms, updating the Commission on grant status, the League of Cities,

establishing priorities, talking to our representatives, being aggressive, and forming

relationships.

5. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Time permitted, public comments shall be limited to Item 4-B

on the agenda and shall not exceed two minutes. Please be courteous and respectful

of the views of others. Personal attacks on Commission members, City staff or

members of the public are not allowed, and will be ruled out of order by the Mayor.

The Mayor opened the public comments and Elizabeth Chavez addressed the City

Commission.