2026 Charter Review Committee - Meeting 6 - 9/22/2025

The County of Volusia's 2026 Charter Review Committee held a public meeting to gather community input on potential amendments to the county charter, which governs local government operations and is reviewed every ten years. Several speakers addressed issues related to public safety, transparency, and environmental protection. Key topics included the proposal for a publicly accessible pedestrian safety data portal independent of law enforcement to enhance transparency and accountability; calls for constitutional protections against county overreach in property inspections and administrative hearings; concerns about the adequacy of public transit funding and infrastructure, highlighting the $80 million annual impact fees collected for transportation; and recommendations to enshrine minimum environmental protection standards in the charter, including water resource management and climate resiliency. The committee plans to review submitted proposals and public comments in detail at their next meeting, with materials to be distributed in advance to facilitate informed discussion. The meeting emphasized community engagement in the charter review process and the importance of addressing procurement and funding allocations for transportation and environmental initiatives.