- December 4, 2025
Palm Coast Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri held the first one in a series of town hall meetings put on by the City of Palm Coast called Let’s Talk Palm Coast on June 25, at the Community Center.
“I’m very honored to be your representative,” she said.
Pontieri invited the community to email her at [email protected], and she said she does her best to respond between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. — when her 13-month-old son is asleep.
Here are six takeaways from the event:
1. MATANZAS WOODS LIGHT
Pontieri announced that the City of Palm Coast will be getting a traffic light at Matanzas Woods Parkway at the Exit 293 interchange with Interstate 95, by the end of the year, thanks to the Florida Department of Transportation.
2. RESIDENTS FIRST
The City Council is in the process of raising its impact fees by about 100%. State law only allows the fees to be raised by 50%, unless cities can prove “extraordinary circumstances.” Pontieri said that by doing so, “The council took a big stand. We decided to go above and beyond. … These are historically high impact fees, and I’m very proud of that. … We really want to be a resident-first council, and we have a resident-first agenda.”
3. PALM COAST IS RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE
Remembering her own days as a young professional, when she was fresh out of law school, living in an 800-square-foot condo, she looked into buying a house in St. Johns County. She soon learned it was much less expensive to move to Palm Coast. She ended up buying a 1989 house in the W section that needed a lot of work. So, she said, she is sensitive to others in the same situation, including law enforcement officers and teachers who serve the community. Even with the increased impact fees, however, Palm Coast housing is about $32 per square foot less expensive than St. Johns County pricing.
4. EFFICIENCIES, NOT FORENSIC AUDIT
“There have been a lot of requests for a forensic audit,” Pontieri said. However, “a forensic audit is incredibly expensive” — well above six figures. Moreover, the regular annual audits have not shown any concerns. “So, with no smoke, why are we going to go looking for fires?” Instead, the city has hired a firm to seek for efficiencies. Results of that study should be available before the end of the budget season in September.
5. EXCITING THINGS COMING TO THE WEST
With the updated, award-winning Comprehensive Plan, completed this spring, the path is paved for westward expansion of Palm Coast. “I’m under confidentiality, so I can’t tell you, but it’s really exciting,” she said. The “brand” of Palm Coast is one that emphasizes outdoor recreation and sports tourism. “That’s what is going to kick off the westward expansion, and I’m really excited about it.”
6. GOLF COURSE SHOULD BREAK EVEN
While other City Councils in the past have treated the golf course like other park amenities, the current City Council has taken the approach that the municipal Palm Harbor Golf Course should at least break even.
7. HIRING ADMINISTRATION BEGINS
Although the City of Palm Coast is missing some top level administrators — community development director, utility director, assistant city manager, and now chief of staff — the city has delayed hiring those positions until a new city manager is hired. But, since that process has been delayed due to those candidates dropping out, Pontieri said Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston has begun searching for talent to hire.
8. CONTRIBUTION TO FCSO IS WORTH IT
Is it worth it for the city to pay millions every year to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, even though the county is obligated to provide law enforcement? Pontieri says yes. “We have one of the lowest property tax rates in the state and one of the highest safety ratings in the state,” she said. The FCSO also has had to add enforcement to Interstate 95, Pontieri said. She also praised the FCSO’s real time crime center and Sheriff Rick Staly’s ability to leverage technology to keep the community safe.
9. GET INVOLVED
In addition to joining an advisory board, residents can get involved in the city in three key ways: 1. Register for the Palm Coast Citizens Academy at www.palmcoast.gov/citizensacademy.
2. Join a Parks and Rec Program at www.parksandrec.fun.
3. Sign up for the e-newsletter at www.palmcoast.gov/week-in-review
Council Member Ty Miller will host the next town hall on Thursday, July 24, at 5 p.m. at the Southern Recreation Center’s second floor. Council Member David Sullivan will follow on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 5 p.m. in the Waterfront Room at the Community Center, and Council Member Charles Gambaro Jr. will round out the series on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 5 p.m., again at the Southern Recreation Center’s second floor.
Mayor Mike Norris has declined to participate.
