[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6374543,"mediaKeyId","2144372-1f4091aff176090db9c6a7115323dadb","parentId",2144372,"title","Council narrowly votes to continue funding talks for First Step Shelter, asks staff to return with contract language and funding sources","audioSeconds",1343,"startMs",5596000,"endMs",6939000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2144372-1f4091aff176090db9c6a7115323dadb&start=5596&end=6939","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2144372-1f4091aff176090db9c6a7115323dadb/thumbnail_5596000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6374543/Volusia-County/Florida/Council-narrowly-votes-to-continue-funding-talks-for-First-Step-Shelter-asks-staff-to-return-with-contract-language-and-funding-sources","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374543-c7bda7bddc06c206a13188211cf7a3cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111202&Signature=jNiZLL~KypImJoe~W5j8C2Cv9oL8YoeWZGXW541aaTzjObVdrqNXU3j0SNJDddvb6peMhg5FHjNXXMgHBVRQA1xm85W3YD9Bll-3H51bixZI93cGR2vddGRGEfStvxKVEYx2mmBrPsEtv98NuH65OCGynsvxWm~JGXpAQHExD5X87qKq5lGgN2rmTnUU1ObS~hl71D8jz0I9tfw5W-Z9pn~vzrW9EgGWPyXmztQsN9~Yvnr1~7OtIhhUJFGgqLgzYC3Qyy5tvQhJtU5p7g4yPG9lKTloi1fqjAuu3bTvpl5lIF2UHc2SpMfnIE2satyU54D4lZ2lXKwW1C9pIhuBWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Volusia County, FL","date","2025-01-22T03:17:06Z","article","Volusia County Council voted 4-3 to advance a councilmember motion directing county staff to continue working with First Step Shelter to secure ongoing support and to bring back a revised contract and funding plan. The council’s action followed public comment from veterans, clergy, health-care partners and shelter leaders.

What the council requested: Council directed staff to draft contract language and identify internal and federal grant sources that could be used to fund shelter operations. Staff presented options for using existing federal grants (Emergency Solutions Grants and Community Development Block Grant funds) and indicated they would try to reduce use of the county general fund where possible. Staff will return with proposed contract language, performance metrics and the recommended source(s) of funds.

Public statements and council discussion: Dozens of residents, religious leaders, business and nonprofit leaders urged continued funding, citing shelter outcomes presented by First Step staff and volunteers, including reduced reliance on emergency rooms and an increase in permanent housing placements. Some speakers and council members asked for stronger governance, more transparency, and independent review of whistleblower allegations raised about shelter operations. A number of council members said they wanted clearer spending and reporting terms before committing multi‑year funds.

Council vote and effect: A motion introduced on the council floor to proceed with an agreed funding plan and to require reporting was approved by roll call, 4-3. Following the vote, staff said it will prepare and return with a revised contract and will identify specific funding sources and reporting requirements for council approval. The council did not appropriate new general-fund dollars at the meeting; staff will present recommended sources and a contract for council approval.

Next steps: Staff will return with a written agreement reflecting the council’s direction, proposed performance metrics and recommendation for funding sources (including which federal or one‑time sources staff will use, and whether staff recommends any general‑fund contribution). Councilmembers asked for a schedule that allows monitoring of outcomes and for staff to consider alternatives to ongoing county general‑fund support where possible.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County Council - Tuesday January 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After extensive public comment, the council voted 4-3 to advance a councilmember-led proposal for continued county support of First Step Shelter and to direct staff to finalize contract terms and identify funding sources; staff will return with a revised agreement and reporting requirements.","taxTitle","Volusia County, Florida","taxId",2878,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6374548,"Council allows temporary after‑hours parking for commercial fishermen with placard; staff to return with rules",701,2157000,2858000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2144372-1f4091aff176090db9c6a7115323dadb&start=2157&end=2858","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2144372-1f4091aff176090db9c6a7115323dadb/thumbnail_2157000.jpg","/articles/6374548/Volusia-County/Florida/Council-allows-temporary-afterhours-parking-for-commercial-fishermen-with-placard-staff-to-return-with-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374548-75f5b342b751069d6b6dac76ac9c6fc6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111202&Signature=fVtx~pzCBlV9ygj601V3plUBNLYml5Wnv~yROQODSGXkWDqOuRSaiC9FQk7nXAwFcrpQ0ATBuaDuvOkpNjIO1Em~~uENevyiShphCtAgoszx4dS8nGnZ9EJOOWEHPf-P9ESHcyHeDA5MCX0tHx2bd-xf50kS7SM0Xavw~9bToHUsKvdWXoJ8ZFJ-lnla1d~01FXcauZCwAqlS1uLiN2LvqqEa11GYiES3-pdCpK2OXFf23rThKm51WZuKt8b4TCToC-RA2GLFGRKhq3XeDGRU6qesAE2AhJo1Hg~43JlbWeuM58e3jVVi6Xt1NpYrqjpqzZPSNywP042D2orfVsSQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Volusia County Council voted narrowly to allow a temporary, limited after‑hours parking exception for commercial fishermen who display an authorized placard, and instructed staff to return in two weeks with a formal proposal. The motion passed 4-3.

Why it mattered: Commercial fishermen told the council that a new paid parking enforcement vendor has started ticketing them overnight at county boat ramps where they have historically parked to do night fishing. Fishermen said the change threatens their ability to work and asked for a temporary accommodation while staff investigates a longer-term solution.

What the council decided: Councilmembers approved a motion to allow individuals with a county-issued commercial‑fishermen placard to use county parking ramps after hours on a temporary basis. The motion was amended to limit the exception to Volusia County residents holding the placard. The council directed staff to research details — including exact eligibility, whether the policy should apply to county residents only, and whether an ordinance amendment is required — and to return with a recommendation within two weeks.

Vote and next steps: The motion passed by a 4-3 roll-call vote. County staff said the measure is temporary (two weeks) while they investigate whether an ordinance change will be needed, whether the placard system can be verified by enforcement, and how any permanent policy should be implemented and enforced.

Key context from the meeting: Council members voiced concern about unintended consequences for other user groups, dispute over whether the county should accommodate special categories of users, and the need to confirm how many people across the county would qualify under any permanent change. Several council members asked staff to clarify whether county-only residents should be eligible and to return with specific draft language for council consideration.","The council voted to allow a temporary exception for commercial fishermen to park after hours in county ramps if they display an approved placard; the allowance is limited to two weeks while staff returns with a vetted policy. The motion passed 4-3 after amendments limiting the exception to Volusia County residents with placards.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6374553,"Volusia County Council asks water district, Orange City to halt disputed drain into Miller Lake",2050,1686000,3736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2144372-1f4091aff176090db9c6a7115323dadb&start=1686&end=3736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2144372-1f4091aff176090db9c6a7115323dadb/thumbnail_1686000.jpg","/articles/6374553/Volusia-County/Florida/Volusia-County-Council-asks-water-district-Orange-City-to-halt-disputed-drain-into-Miller-Lake","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374553-d6dba60eb72885662e7dfaace2fc6dc7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111202&Signature=lM8h8aT35NT0Gl1j~o35rKgzePG9MWdRlqFMFF1kA5TUjrTaVrZrzRG4DBraDWD4wMeQdbpDRybVnkGO-g1KNYPGTOf3oYLQnxkKUXN5b4YV18lp7~Gd6lNldxBwsjS2RDiTqIZWneUWDN3yNCwn9BZpqxRhauDXODzPXoLi4vo4k7kwYlrcCSVquv1mHY7-fSQv~WfWF5~uVNUqo2J7UQ8WBRw5sTNW0BTE4NQ~8PM7n4t-JsETpJkGCE4qrMsbd9-0VS0SCuELr-CpXXIlpOpwew8GDJbENCKoPuPYbxGx-xn--5QWr1XuGm0GvePRo0oGv2wL~QuimcNDcBpzoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Volusia County Council members voted 7-0 on Jan. 21 to direct county staff to send a formal letter — signed by the council chair on the body’s behalf — asking St. Johns River Water Management District and, if appropriate, the City of Orange City to immediately require the property owner to close a private drainage connection while the district re-evaluates the permit that allowed water to be routed toward Miller Lake.

The action followed more than an hour of public comment from residents of the Miller Lake area who said flooding has left homes unusable and driveways impassable. “A 103 days, and we are still living in the twilight zone,” resident Monica Emerson told the council during the public comment period.

Why it matters: Residents from Miller Road, Shady Lane and nearby streets described long-term drainage and flooding problems they link to changes made under a 2017 permit that routed runoff toward Miller Lake. Multiple residents urged the county to halt what they described as unpermitted or modified drainage and to press the water management district to revoke or re-evaluate the permit.

What the council heard and found: Several public speakers said pumping from Miller Lake has been ongoing but that the lake remains at high elevations, preventing several homes from being safely used. Dannette Musler (Miller Lake community) said the city of DeBary has provided temporary pumping assistance, but warned DeBary will not be able to do that indefinitely. Resident David Hill told the council staff had recently compared the permitted drawings to the as-built system and discovered a control “weir” shown in the permit is not present in the installed structure. Hill said, “in the permit, the permit says, any deviations must be authorized in a permit modification. Any deviations that are not so authorized may subject the permit to enforcement action and revocation of the permit.”

County staff confirmed the district has reported the permitted plans showed a weir in the control structure, and that the weir either was never installed or was removed later. Ben Bartlett, county staff, told the council the district had informed county staff that the control structure does not appear to have been built to the permitted plans.

Council action: Councilman David Santiago moved that staff send a letter to St. Johns River Water Management District asking them to “shut down” (halt) the private pipe and demand the property owner close it until the permit is re-evaluated; the motion was amended to include Orange City if it is a co-permitting authority. Vice Chair Matt Reinhart seconded the motion. After brief discussion the council approved the request unanimously. County staff said the letter will be drafted by staff and signed by the chair on behalf of the council.

Next steps and immediate effect: The council’s vote is a formal request to the district and, if applicable, Orange City; the district, not the county, is the permitting authority and may choose enforcement options including a notice of noncompliance or consent order. County staff told the council they had set up a follow-up meeting with district staff and that staff will meet with residents to share status updates.

Resident concerns and context: Speakers asked the council also to consider permit revocation and to investigate possible unpermitted modifications they say have occurred. Residents and commenters raised out-of-pocket costs they said have been incurred pumping and hauling millings, and said long-term solutions are needed. David Hill estimated daily diesel cost for temporary pumps in the community at about $2,000 a day.

The council’s letter asks outside permitting authorities to act quickly; county staff said they will return with updates to the council and will meet with affected residents to coordinate next steps.","After repeated public complaints and new staff findings that a control weir is missing from a 2017 permit design, the Volusia County Council voted unanimously to ask St. Johns River Water Management District — and Orange City if it is a co-permittee — to shut a private drainage connection to evaluate permit compliance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council narrowly votes to continue funding talks for First Step Shelter, asks staff to return with contract language and funding sources

Council allows temporary after‑hours parking for commercial fishermen with placard; staff to return with rules

Volusia County Council asks water district, Orange City to halt disputed drain into Miller Lake