City of Deltona  
2345 Providence Blvd.  
Deltona, FL 32725  
Minutes  
Special City Commission Meeting  
Saturday, March 29, 2025  
1. CALL TO ORDER:  
9:00 AM  
Deltona Commission Chambers  
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Mayor Avila.  
2. ROLL CALL – CITY CLERK:  
Present:7 -  
Mayor Avila  
Vice Mayor Heriot  
Commissioner Avila-Vazquez  
Commissioner Colwell  
Commissioner Howington  
Commissioner Lulli  
Commissioner Santiago  
3. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG:  
4. ACTION ITEMS:  
A.  
Resolution No. 2025-48, Declaring Zoning in Progress to establish the  
“Keep Deltona Wild Overlay District” to encourage low impact  
residential development, protect environmentally sensitive lands,  
preserve biodiversity, preserve and encourage agrarian communities,  
and promote ecotourism and agritourism activities within certain  
unique areas of the City of Deltona, and determining that applications  
for Development Orders and Development Agreements shall be subject  
to the zoning in progress.  
City Attorney Torcivia read the title of Resolution No. 2025-48 for the record.  
Motion by Commissioner Avila-Vazquez, seconded by Commissioner  
Lulli, to approve Resolution No. 2025-48, for the Zoning in Progress for  
the "Keep Deltona Wild District Overlay".  
The Commission, City Attorney, and Planning & Development Services Director spoke  
about the ordinance language, the intent of the ordinance, tailoring to unique sub areas,  
outline of key characteristics, the three parts to the overlay, affects on flooding, needing  
more information, the impact to the area, zoning in progress, the JPA (Joint Planning  
Agency), wetlands, needing the areas broken out, people being left out, the Collingswood  
Community, extending the zoning in progress, extending beyond District 6, the map and the  
overlay, potential lawsuits, applications in place, current regulations, denied applications,  
development rights, rushing, D-ranch being conservation, tabling the item, applications in  
these locations, the current density, future zoning, having a workshop, complaints from  
residents, the motion to include direction, viewing the areas, maintaining agricultural uses  
and rural character, conservation, affects to Vineland Reserve, rural protections,  
commercial, Comprehensive Plan amendments, keeping things contiguous, annexation,  
current entitlements, stormwater, traffic, school crowding, land use concerns, consultant  
providing a presentation, downtown overlay, vested rights, and not reducing commercial.  
Commissioner Howington called point of order and she requested that staff display the map  
for everyone to see.  
The Commission and City Attorney continued speaking about Fish Hawk, the zoning,  
amendment to include sub areas, public workshops, and opening the conversation.  
Commissioner Avila-Vazquez withdrew her motion and Commissioner Lulli  
withdrew his second.  
Mayor Avila opened the public comments and J. Christy Wilson III, Lori Warnicke, Kathy  
Bryan, Willow Bordner, Randi Priest, Katherine O'Brien, Rob Trombetta, David Sosa,  
Suzanne Scheiber, James McCully Jr., and Tamara Manly addressed the City Commission.  
City Attorney Torcivia clarified after hearing the discussion and comments that the zoning in  
progress will allow for the creation of sub areas and once they are created they can have  
specific area characteristics. We do not have to make an amendment today to this  
resolution to have sub areas during the zoning. It is helpful to know that this is the intent of  
the Commission and make it clear during this discussion.  
Motion by Commissioner Lulli, seconded by Commissioner  
Avila-Vazquez, to approve Resolution No. 2025-48, for the Zoning in  
Progress for the "Keep Deltona Wild District Overlay" district and direct  
staff to subdivide the Comprehensive Plan amendments by the three  
areas and bring that back for consideration at future meetings,  
workshops, and public meetings. The motion carried by the following  
vote:  
City Attorney Torcivia read the title of Resolution No. 2025-48 for the record.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
For: 7 -  
Mayor Avila, Vice Mayor Heriot, Commissioner  
Avila-Vazquez, Commissioner Colwell, Commissioner  
Howington, Commissioner Lulli, and Commissioner Santiago  
B.  
Resolution No. 2025-49, Declaring Zoning in Progress to study and  
amend the activity center overlay permitted uses, mix of uses,  
density/intensity and architectural design to establish a walkable,  
mixed-used environment have includes a diverse mix of retail, dining,  
lodging and housing options, and determining that applications for  
Development Orders and Development Agreements shall be subject to  
the zoning in progress.  
City Attorney Torcivia read the title of Resolution No. 2025-49 for the record.  
Motion by Vice Mayor Heriot, seconded by Commissioner Santiago, to  
approve Resolution No. 2025-49.  
The Commission, City Attorney and Planning & Development Services Director spoke  
about allowing a great variety of uses, single family residential, mixed use not required,  
variety of uses, current applications, not allowing houses, original intent, ad hoc basis, more  
walkable environment, Comprehensive Plan amendments, Heathrow, Colonial Town Park,  
having another workshop, current zonings, increasing density without sacrificing mixed use,  
a sense of community, a downtown area, family friendly dining, no high rises, discussion  
with the County, vacant land, Rhode Island extension, Amazon, available property, working  
with TPO (Transportation Planning Organization), Colonial Town Square, vertical vs.  
horizontal development, mixed use, current regulations, multi-family residential, current  
entitlements, zoning in progress, and comparable projects.  
The Mayor opened the public comments and J. Christy Wilson III (representing Trafalgar  
Holdings), Scott Banta (representing 111 N. Ronald Reagan Blvd), Kathy Bryan, Lori  
Warnicke, Matt Bergens, and Terri Ellis addressed the City Commission.  
The Commission, spoke about students and safety, TPO (Transportation Planning  
Organization) projects, County improvements to Howland Blvd., enhancing walkways,  
fencing to protect children; acceptance of applications, trips, no specific design, mixed use  
buildings, current applications, current regulations, and tabling the item.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
For: 6 -  
Mayor Avila, Vice Mayor Heriot, Commissioner  
Avila-Vazquez, Commissioner Colwell, Commissioner Lulli,  
and Commissioner Santiago  
Against: 1 - Commissioner Howington  
C.  
Resolution No. 2025-50, Approving the Settlement Agreement for the  
Espejo Litigation.  
City Attorney Torcivia read the title of Resolution No. 2025-50 for the record.  
City Attorney Torcivia stated this was an unfortunate incident that occurred at the Dewey O.  
Boster Sports Complex in 2022. The child was injured and medical expenses that resulted  
from the incident. A case was brought against the City and there was a mediation with  
Attorney David Blessing, Roper P.A. and we were able to come to what she believes is a  
very favorable outcome. One of the conditions of the settlement is that we brought this item  
to the Commission today so they could put this past them and move forward. To be clear  
the City's carrier, in this case PGCS, and the carrier representative is the one who  
authorizes amounts that the carrier will pay. This settlement is a $100,000 payment for this  
incident and the City's deductible is only $1,000. This is a favorable outcome for the City  
and the carrier.  
Motion by Vice Mayor Heriot, seconded by Commissioner Lulli, to  
approve the resolution as presented.  
The Commission and City Attorney spoke about the process, settlement negotiations, prior  
practice, trial prep, discovery, negotiations, being a good outcome, preparation for trial,  
phone calls received, public meetings, shade meetings, no discussion of settlement, settled  
in mediation, rate based on liability, cases settled vs. going to trial, cost and fees, the facts  
presented, park safety and maintaining parks, accidents do happen, and challenges.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
For: 7 -  
Mayor Avila, Vice Mayor Heriot, Commissioner  
Avila-Vazquez, Commissioner Colwell, Commissioner  
Howington, Commissioner Lulli, and Commissioner Santiago  
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS: (2 minutes maximum length per speaker)  
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:  
7. ADJOURNMENT:  
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.  
______________________________  
Santiago Avila, Jr., MAYOR  
ATTEST:  
________________________________  
Joyce Raftery, CMC, MMC, CITY CLERK