By-Line: Brittany Kershaw, Director of Communications & Marketing
During today’s Legislative Delegation meeting at the Government Services Building in Bunnell, Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston presented the City of Palm Coast’s 2025 legislative priorities to Senator Tom Leek and Representative Sam Greco. Accompanied by Mayor Mike Norris, Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri, and Council Members Charles Gambaro, Ty Miller, and Ray Stevens, Ms. Johnston outlined the city’s vision and key projects essential to sustaining Palm Coast’s growth and maintaining its high quality of life.
“Did you know that Palm Coast became the largest city in House District 19 and Senate District 7 in 2024,” Ms. Johnston asked. “To keep up, we need some help with our infrastructure. The City of Palm Coast’s legislative priorities focus on safety through smart growth, reducing the risk of flooding, protecting our water supply and quality, and promoting community preservation.”
Ms. Johnston highlighted Palm Coast’s role within the Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC), advocating for regional collaboration and funding opportunities to support utility infrastructure needs across municipalities. Many municipalities in our region struggle to keep up with the infrastructure demands tied to population growth, extreme weather events, and rising construction costs.
As such, the City of Palm Coast’s top three priorities center on utility infrastructure. These priorities include converting Wastewater Treatment Facility 1 into an Advanced Water Treatment facility, adding brackish water treatment capabilities to Water Treatment Facility 3, and constructing an equalization tank to manage high rainfall periods and reduce stress on the wastewater system. Ms. Johnston underscored the need for expanded grant opportunities and matching fund programs to support these efforts.
Additional infrastructure developments are another major focus for the city. Ms. Johnston highlighted several critical projects, including the widening of Old Kings Road Phase 2A to serve as a parallel corridor to I-95, the continued development of the Palm Coast Maintenance Operations Center, and plans for Phase 3 construction of Old Kings Road North. Additionally, the city expressed its desire to enhance recreational opportunities by bringing a YMCA to Palm Coast.
The city also emphasized the importance of reducing flood risks through proactive stormwater management. Proposed projects include creating a stormwater park near Fire Station 23 and Burroughs Drive, increasing stormwater storage capacity in the Woodlands community, and lowering a weir in Seminole Woods Dry Lake to mitigate flooding risks.
Protecting the city’s water supply and quality remains a critical priority as Palm Coast plans for future well exploration and addresses intrusion and inflow issues in the wastewater system. Additionally, the city is dedicated to preserving its heritage and enhancing recreational facilities through projects such as restoring historic Fire Station 22 and rehabilitating the Frieda Zamba Pool at the Palm Coast Aquatics Center. Ms. Johnston also expressed gratitude for Senator Leek’s support of Fire Station 26, which recently broke ground, as a testament to successful partnerships.
The City of Palm Coast looks forward to working closely with the State Legislature to address the community’s needs. The countywide legislative priorities booklet distributed at the meeting includes detailed information about each priority. Once it is available online, the link will be added to this news story.
