- April 19, 2024
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Palm Coast's City Council once again has five members, ending the era of deadlocked two-to-two votes.
Mayor David Alfin was sworn in the evening of Aug. 3 and addressed the full council chambers from the audience section before taking his seat at the council dais for an agenda that includes a vote on the city's tentative millage rate.
Alfin said that those who know him describe him as a problem-solver, and that he will focus on serving the city's residents.
Acknowledging the recent divisions on the council, he proposed a return to respect and decorum. People don’t have to be exactly alike to be on the same team, he said.
"They do have to understand each other," he said. "To understand, you have to listen and learn. ... Treating others with respect and kindness is key. You can’t order people around. My title may be different, but the last time I checked, everyone on the council has the same one vote."
He added that he is committed to protecting Palm Coast's quality of life.
"I will always conduct the people business in a professional, civil and appropriate manner. I think that’s what the citizens want. ... I am deeply honored to be trusted to serve as your mayor. It’s a trust I will protect and safeguard in my every word and deed."
Alfin thanked councilman Eddie Branquinho for his service as acting mayor, and acknowledged the absence of Councilman Victor Barbosa — who's been hospitalized with COVID-19 — and wished him a full recovery.
Alfin shook hands with the three councilmen present, beginning with Danko, before taking his seat at the dais.
David Alfin won a six-way city of Palm Coast special mayoral race on July 27 after former Mayor Milissa Holland resigned unexpectedly in May, citing her daughter's health concerns.
Branquinho served as acting mayor in the interim.
Branquinho and Councilman Nick Klufas both endorsed Alfin, while council members Ed Danko and Victor Barbosa endorsed one of Alfin's opponents, Alan Lowe.
The four council members who carried on during the interim period had opted to delay two major votes until the new mayor was sworn in: a vote on whether to lift the city's prohibition on the overnight parking of most commercial vehicles in residential driveways, and a vote on where to set the city's tentative millage rate.
The tentative maximum millage rate sets a ceiling above which the council can not go when it set the final millage rate after a series of upcoming workshops to plan the city budget.
The council had tried to set the tentative millage rate, but failed after deadlocking 2-2: Councilmen Klufas and Branquinho had favored setting the tentative maximum at the current millage rate of $4.6989 per $1,000 of taxable value, which would generate more tax revenue in the coming year than in the current year because of rising property values.
Councilmen Danko and Barbosa had wanted to set it lower.
Alfin has favored the current rate.
