City Council Meeting 05-06-26

The City Council of DeBary held its regular meeting on May 6, 2026, focusing primarily on the proposed DeBary Land Bank Program. The council discussed the first reading of ordinance 02-2026, which would place a referendum on the November 2026 ballot to establish a land bank funded by an ad valorem property tax levy between 0.20 to 0.50 mills. The program aims to acquire vacant, underdeveloped, or environmentally sensitive properties from willing sellers to control overdevelopment, preserve open space, and manage redevelopment. The council emphasized that the program would be transparent, with no eminent domain powers, and would require public input and council approval for acquisitions. The ordinance also includes a sunset provision for 2039 unless extended by referendum. Additionally, the council approved converting a part-time Planning Technician position to full-time to support increased workload in growth management and planning activities. No other procurement or contract awards were discussed during the meeting.