PALM COAST
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 16, NO. 7
NEW IN THE OBSERVER: ‘YOUR SCHOOLS’ PAGE 5B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025
With compromise, upgrades approved Council agrees to remove $140 million from experts’ plan, saving money for residents on monthly bills. PAGE 3A
LaShakia Moore to be honored by Boy Scouts
youth choir performs with star Star power Local Mandy Gonzalez at the Fitz. PAGE 4B
Superintendent named Flagler County’s Golden Eagle honoree 2A INSIDE LAWSUIT THREAT
Mayor Norris’ former boss threatens to sue Palm Coast after he’s passed up for city manager consideration. PAGE 4A
CHARTER TROUBLE? Palm Coast staff members accuse Mayor Mike Norris of ‘harassment’ and trying to direct staff. PAGE 4A
A FAMILY FAIR
The youth singers rehearse their part of the show with Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Moratorium proposal fails Coralynn Soard enters sixth year at Flagler County Fair & Youth show. PAGE 4B
ANNEXATION RULES Flagler County to analyze statutes before potential Veranda Bay annexation. PAGE 9A
City Council declined to support Mayor Mike Norris’ moratorium, but a crowd of residents did. Builders rallied to oppose it. BRIAN MCMILLAN PUBLISHER
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 6B Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Cops Corner............... PAGE 8A Letters........................ PAGE 8A McMillan..................... PAGE 8A Public Notices...........PAGE 10B Sports......................... PAGE 8B Real Estate..................PAGE 7B
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Mayor Mike Norris proposed a moratorium on residential home construction, at the March 18 City Council meeting. “The infrastructure is not in place to support residential growth at this time,” he said. But no one on the City Council was willing to second his motion, so the motion died, and there will be no moratorium. The action took place as Norris is also taking heat for potentially violating the City Charter by directing and intimidating staff. He received an outpouring of support from members of the audience at the March 18, both for his attempts to “clean up” City Hall, as well as support for his proposed moratorium. The first to make public comment was Celia Pugliese, who has lived in Palm Coast since 1991. “I am here in support of our mayor,” she said, adding: “This
Builders protested Norris’ proposed moratorium in the parking spaces surrounding City Hall on March 18. Photo by Brian McMillan
is the first mayor that is really for the residents.” One resident said she felt sorry for how much Norris is being criticized. “This is evil against you,” she said. Resident Jeremy Davis, who was asked to leave a recent City Council meeting for using vulgar language during public comment, apologized for his past behavior. He then praised Norris. “I will give you the shirt off my back to help you clean up this city,” he said. “I appreciate what you are doing.” A few residents criticized Charles Gambaro, the City Council member who brought up the charter allegations against Norris. Gambaro was appointed, not elected, to the City Council in 2024. “We get a mayor that is for the people, and they want to take
him out,” one resident said. Another resident said the City Charter should be changed to allow the mayor to direct staff. (Currently, the charter prohibits any interference with city staff by City Council.) She said the charter is ITT’s charter, referring to the original developer of Palm Coast. City Councilman Ty Miller responded that the City Charter was adopted by residents when the city was incorporated, “So it is our charter.” However, he added, “There is a methodology to change it.” Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri suggested that the city should look into reviewing the charter, and the council agreed to begin the process in the next year. Members of the building community, including Flagler Home Builders Association Executive Director Annamaria Long opposed the moratorium. Many trucks were parked in the spaces surrounding City Hall before the meeting in protest. Before the meeting, Long wrote an editorial, published on observerlocalnews.com, in which she said: “Mayor Norris’ proposed moratorium will not fix the problems he claims it will. It will, however, hurt our economy, increase housing costs, and create long-term financial strain on existing residents.”
SPORTS
FPC tops MHS Flagler Palm Coast’s Kleinfelder has strong outing in win over Matanzas
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