DELTONA, Fla. — A quasi-judicial hearing to discuss whether the Deltona City mayor violated travel policy will take place Monday evening.

What You Need To Know

  • At a commission meeting held on Feb. 3, the city commission voted to hold a quasi-judicial public hearing to determine whether Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. had knowledge of the city commission travel policy before his travel to Washington, D.C., in January 2025

  • In response, Avila released a statement defending his actions, saying the accusations are false and stating that his primary reason for being in D.C. was to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors from Jan. 17 through 19

  • The policy states that elected officials need the approval of the city commission before attending out-of-state conferences

  • A public forum will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, followed by a business meeting at 6:30 p.m.

  • The hearing will take place at the commission chambers

  • UPDATE COVERAGE: After a vote, Deltona City Commission says the mayor did not knowingly violate city travel policies

At a commission meeting held on Feb. 3, the city commission voted to hold a quasi-judicial public hearing to determine whether Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. had knowledge of the city commission travel policy before his travel to Washington, D.C., in January 2025.

The policy states that elected officials need the approval of the city commission before attending out-of-state conferences.

Residents and commissioners claimed the mayor violated the city’s travel policy during his trip to Washington, D.C., with his wife during President Donald Trump’s inauguration. 

The issue was first raised by commissioner Dori Howington during a recent meeting where she said the mayor’s trip cost the city several thousand dollars for expenses that included hotel accommodations and gas for a city vehicle.

In response, Avila released a statement defending his actions, saying the accusations are false and stating that his primary reason for being in D.C. was to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors from Jan. 17 through 19.

Spectrum News 13 obtained a copy of the City of Deltona Commission Policy and Procedure. It states that elected officials will be limited to three in-state conferences or seminars that have a benefit to the commission and the community per fiscal year. It also says that elected officials will seek approval for attendance at out-of-state conferences or seminars by majority vote of the city commission.

“We for a very long time have had distrust in our city between the residents and our elected officials and the other leaders who govern our city. And so, I think it’s really important to focus on ensuring that trust stays as intact as possible,” Deltona City Commissioner for District 6 Nick Lulli said.

He was not present at the Feb. 3 meeting where this issue was discussed because he was on a family vacation out of the country. When he returned, he said he had a chance to look at the facts, and now commissioners will have an opportunity to discuss it during the hearing on Monday night.

“Evidence will be reviewed, and we’ll get the opportunity to hear testimony about that and decide whether or not the mayor broke policy and then what should be the repercussions for that,” Lulli said.

According to the City Code of Ordinances, if a city commissioner is found, after a hearing, to have violated any provision of the Deltona City Charter, such commissioner shall be subject to sanctions that could range from docking pay to removal from office.

A public forum will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, followed by a business meeting at 6:30 p.m.

The hearing will take place at the commission chambers.