Palm Coast City Council says farewell to two members

Palm Coast Observer
News

Palm Coast City Council members expressed their appreciation for fellow members Bob Cuff and Jon Netts during a Nov. 10 council workshop as the two men prepare to step down at the end of their terms.

Cuff, who represents District 1, did not run for reelection, and his seat will be taken by councilman-elect Ed Danko.

Netts has been serving a temporary appointment to fill out the term of former District 2 Councilman Jack Howell, who stepped down in July for health reasons. The District 2 seat will be filled by Victor Barbosa.

Mayor Milissa Holland addressed Cuff first.

"His efforts helped to attract news businesses to Palm Coast, to update public services and to maintain and preserve our city’s beauty," Holland said. "He championed the exploration of opportunities to use existing facilities and new technologies to provide advanced services to our residents, and he has done so humbly, always as a calm voice of reason … He personifies the essence of a consonant representative who has united his community in a spirit for common good."

Other council members also had kind words.

Palm Coast to amend agreement with school district on facilities

Palm Coast is planning to amend an agreement with Flagler Schools that lays out how the city will work with the district to coordinate on growth, impact fees and school facility requirements to prevent development from outstripping school capacity.

The city approved the agreement in June 2008 along with the district, the Flagler County government and Bunnell city government, but Flagler Beach, Beverly Beach and Marineland were not included at the time because they met exemption requirements.

Flagler Beach no longer does, and is now a signator, necessitating an update, Palm Coast Senior Planner Jose Papa said.

"My concern, always, is making sure we have adequate capacity for students in Flagler County — certainly when there are large developments, what impact that has on the school district is important to me as well," Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland said.

"Councilman Cuff has been a tremendous asset to me personally on this council," Councilman Nick Klufas said. "He literally knows how the city was built, and his knowledge has been incredibly helpful and impactful to all the decisions we've made over these last four years. ... Also, his dry sense of humor has kept things light enough so that we can all enjoy the Tuesday (council) meetings."

Of Netts — who'd been elected to two terms as a councilman and another two as mayor — Holland said he could be considered the "ultimate patriarch of our community."

"With mayor Netts at the helm, Palm Coast pioneered many successful programs, including his platforms for environmental sustainability, water management, energy efficiency and water reuse." Holland said. "He also led a strong fiscally responsible plan to diversify and grow our economy during a record-breaking economic downturn."

Cuff and Netts thanked their colleagues.

"I do want to thank the council ... and also the past council members, because your collegiality and your civility — and the ability to disagree without being disagreeable — is, I think, one of the things that has made doing a difficult job a lot easier and a lot more pleasant," Cuff said, before also thanking city staff.

"This council has done a marvelous job under very, very trying circumstances — Zoom meetings are not a lot of fun, on either side of the table," Netts said. "But it's been a pleasure to come back and serve for a period of time. ... If there's any way I can serve the city, I'll be happy to do so."

"I’d like to see a whole master plan of Town Center — what that vision is, what that looks like. ... What I don’t want to see is driving into Town Center and seeing all apartments and nothing else. It was supposed to be a mixed-use development, and I’d like to get a better understanding of when we’re going to see commercial."

— MILISSA HOLLAND, mayor