Charter Amendment 5 — conservation lands

Concerned the amendment's vague "public purpose" language could open Volusia Forever lands to state-statute uses like bombing ranges, prisons, and hospitals; asked that those uses be excluded.

Called the CRC's registry a loophole for developing Volusia Forever lands and urged the council to place the stronger Alachua-style voter-referendum amendment on the ballot instead.

The CRC vice chair defended Amendment 5 as stronger protection than current law and legally defensible, unlike the Alachua model.

A CRC member who defended Chairman Watts against personal attacks and argued the registry plus supermajority requirement genuinely strengthens conservation protections.

Said the registry isn't strong enough — feared even a drainage ditch could open protected lands — and supported an elected county chair.

A former councilman and CRC member urged against hamstringing future councils with rigid restrictions, arguing flexibility is needed for fire stations, police needs, and future land swaps.