Red lights, green space dominate new year in Flagler

Published: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 3:46 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 3:46 p.m.

Meanwhile, city officials suspended a portion of the program and have contemplated whether to suspend it entirely. There has even been talk of scrapping it, but the city is bound by contract until 2019.

The debate has raged since 2010 and could reach its highest decibels in 2015. The 4th District Court of Appeal ruled in October that private companies may not legally issue uniform traffic citations. The city of Palm Coast, in conjunction with American Traffic Solutions, which has a contract to run the cameras until 2019, issues such citations when a suspected violator doesnt pay the initial fine within 60 days.

As of today, the city issues those initial fines but cannot charge late fees because of the court ruling, which is being appealed.

The red-light cameras have become a quagmire of state and local policy and law, said Steven Nobile, one of two new Palm Coast City Council members elected in November. Nobile was a vocal critic of the citys red-light program during his campaign, .

We really cant make a move right now ... Nonetheless, I am continuing to look at other avenues to put a stop to the program and replace it with a local law enforcement program to analyze and provide direction as to (the) best methods to reduce red-light (violators), Nobile said.

Heidi Shipley, the other newly elected council member, has not taken as strong a stance as Nobile on the red-light camera issue but her patience has worn thin since the October court ruling.

The red-light cameras divide people ... and for that reason I would like to rid our city of them, Shipley said.

Including the mayor, the council consists of five elected officials. If Shipleys staunch opposition doesnt change, the number of council members opposed to the camera program appears now to be greater than the number who support it.

Nobile and Shipley joined the City Council just before it faced another controversial issue the construction of a new city hall building. For years, Palm Coast has used retail space for its headquarters, but has since approved the design and construction of a standalone building in Town Center. Construction is scheduled to be completed in the fall.

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Red lights, green space dominate new year in Flagler