Volusia County will send five County Charter amendments to the November ballot after the County Council held its final public meeting on June 16. The council voted against adding a sixth proposal that would have required unanimous approval to sell conservation land.

The five amendments were submitted by the Charter Review Commission. County Council Chairman Jeff Brower proposed an additional amendment requiring a unanimous vote to sell or transfer property acquired through the Endangered Lands or Volusia Forever programs, with some exceptions. Brower's proposal was in response to Amendment No. 5 from the commission.

Amendment No. 5 would create a registry of county-owned conservation land if approved. It would require five of the seven council votes to add land to the registry or remove land for sale. A minimum 30-day notice posted on the county website would be required before removing a property. The amendment includes a provision that land on the registry could be used for public purposes.

The council voted 4-2 to remove Brower's proposal from consideration. Brower and District 4 Councilman Troy Kent opposed removing the item, while Councilman David Santiago opposed adding the alternative amendment. At-Large Representative Jake Johansson was absent. "Let's trust the voters to make this decision and not take it out of their hands," Brower said.

Santiago stated that similar situations have historically confused the public. "That's what we've had historically because it has confused the people," Santiago said. The council does not have the authority to prevent the commission's five amendments from going to the November ballot and could not change their content.

Amendment No. 1 would change the county chairman's seat from an elected position to a role selected by fellow councilmembers. If approved, members would select a chair annually, with one person able to serve up to two consecutive years. This amendment would also expand term limits to cover any seat on the council. Resident John Nicholson said, "When six or seven guys get together and they vote for one of their own, it doesn't really come out the same way."

Amendment No. 2 would remove charter provisions on reimbursing council members for work expenses. The current charter requires reimbursement for out-of-county expenses but prohibits it for in-county expenses. This amendment would leave reimbursement matters to be governed by county ordinances or travel policies. Amendment No. 3 would align the charter with Amendment 10 to Florida's Constitution, approved in 2018, by removing obsolete portions referring to Constitutional Offices.