Volusia Matters Podcast

Feb 3 – Per their recent 2026 Goal Setting Session……County Council scheduled several Mini-Budget Workshops Feb 3 – County Council accepted a long-range ECHO Vision Strategic Plan and directed staff to maintain current procedures, continue implementing it. Feb 4 - DB City Commission approved a resolution Bike Week 2026 Master Plan for Public Property (Bike Week runs Thursday, February 27 to Sunday,...

Daytona Beach City Commission delayed a proposed $4.3 million purchase of the Cruisin' Café (at the corner of A1A at Main St) and two adjacent parcels. This is part of an effort to provide additional parking and rejuvenate the area. City of Daytona Beach hosted a community meeting to discuss a proposed update to its Code of Ordinances regarding mobile food vendors. Port Orange Riverwalk Developmen...

Podcast News Topics City of Daytona Beach is seeking proposals to renovate the historic Fire Station One into a sit-down restaurant/lounge that preserves the 100-year-old bldg’s architectural features/ historical significance. Jan 21 - DB Commissioners will hear…. 2026 Bike Week Master Plan for private property (prepared by Daytona Regional Chamber’s Bike Week Task Force. Presentation of Beachside...

Erika Kazma, a physical education teacher at Longstreet Elementary School, has been named Volusia’s Teacher of the Year. Chosen out of 70 teachers, she moves on to compete for Fla Teacher of the Year. The legislature began this week and runs until March 13. There will be several bills of interest to the business community. See list of bills below….. The County has a new online permit guide with pr...

Jan 7 - DB City Commission will DB City Attorney and Commission held a shade meeting to discuss litigation strategies and settlement in the Minto Communities case. Approved resolution to authorize Police Dept office space in the DB Oceanfront Hilton to provide an enhanced police presence and reduce crime in the Boardwalk and nearby city park areas. Approved a resolution regarding authority and res...

Podcast News Topics The DB City Commission will have an attorney-client shade meeting with their City Attorney to discuss litigation strategies regarding Avalon Park Daytona and City of Ormond Beach. look to ratify a $133 K grant with the State Board of Immigration Enforcement.. enter an Agreement with the Fla Dept of Transportation for $8.5 million in federal funding to support construction/engin...

Podcast News Topics The Federal Reserve voted 9–3 to lower the benchmark federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point to a range of 3.50% to 3.75%, the lowest level in three years. The move was intended to guard against a more-than-expected slowdown in hiring. Gov DeSantis announced a $112 million water-quality package for projects throughout the State….including $50 million for “Springs Resto...

Dec 1 - Deland City Commission Addressed downtown transportation to and from the SunRail Station by replacing bus service with VoRide service Codified a previous resolution to prohibit videotaping in the DeLand Police Department lobby Dec 1 – Edgewater City Council eliminated their Business Receipts Tax and addressed several LDC matters pertaining to Deering Park project. Dec 2 - County Council ag...

FDOT will convert SR 44 and Kepler Rd intersection (east portion of DeLand) into a new, single-lane roundabout, as a means to improve traffic flow/safety. Once this new roundabout is place….NO MORE TRAFFIC SIGNAL!!! Later, it’ll convert into a 2-lane roundabout Nov 12….US House voted 222-209 on a funding bill to end the government shutdown (Congs Cory Mills and Randy Fine voted YES). It funds most...

Flood Control/Stormwater Management Subcommittee Co-Chairs Nancy Miller and Jake Johansson report at Nov 10 Elected Officials Roundtable Charter Review Commission Mark Watts provides recap of Nov 10 meeting Holly Hill City Commission moves on 3 separate Charter Review ballot questions for 2026 ballot NSB City Commission approved a $1 million contract with Fla Dept of Environmental Protection for t...

Volusia Legislative delegation met today…..Oct 29, where Sens Tom Wright, Tom Leek and Reps Chase Tremont, Webster Barnaby, Bill Partington and Richard Gentry heard from local govt entities, community agencies, organizations and individuals on what they'd like to see accomplished in the upcoming legislative session which meets in Tallahassee, January 13 to March 13, 2026 Oct 21 - County Council ap...

Cities are working to address stormwater management/flood control DB City Commission meets October 15..agenda includes….. City auditor is establishing a fraud waste/abuse hotline, whereby city employees and general public can anonymously report potential fraud waste and abuse City is taking action to allow current city advisory board members who might lose their status on a board due to commission...

Podcast News Topics Local entities have finalized their FY 2025-26 budgets…FINAL list of approved budgets/tax rates to be posted in October VM newsletter Volusia Innovation Hub, 601 Innovation Way (next to Daytona Intl Airport) held its grand REopening on Sept 15 to mark the facility's management transition and expanded mission from UCF to Volusia's Economic Development Division DB City Commission...

Podcast News Topics Local entities are in final stages of setting their FY 2025-26 budgets…hearings conclude next week…..click the VM newsletter included in today’s email…. FINAL list of approved budgets/tax rates to be posted in October VM newsletter County Council approved the distribution of $8.3 million in Medicaid cost share funds for hospital districts. Deltona has published District 6 Vacan...

Sept 8 - Elected Officials Roundtable….School Supt Carmen Balgobin the District’s current A rating designated by the FDOE…..Also….County Councilman Jake Johannson (Co-Chair of the Volusia Stormwater Management/Flood Control Committee) reported on their progress                   Deltona City Commissioner Nick Lulli resigned resigned from office……the remainder of Lulli’s term exceeds two years….Del...

Local entities’ public hearings began this week regarding FY 2025-26 budgets. This month is when Volusia’s 16 cities, county and school board set their final budgets and tax rates before the new fiscal year begins October 1.                   County’s 2026 Charter Review Commission held organizational meeting on Sept 3…to begin their (10 year) review the Charter (County’s Const) and recommend amen...

Former Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette is new President/CEO of Port Orange/South Daytona Chamber DB Shores City Manager Kurt Swartzlander resigns….Police Chief Mike Fowler appointed at Interim Manager August 20 - DB City Commission… approved development entitlements for the new 5-Star luxury Pearl Beach Club Hotel…(A1A..just south of Silver Beach Rd) approved a phased-in $1,045 increase in impact f...

August 15 - Volusia’s Economic Development Q2 Breakfast focused on need for skilled trades i.e. electricians, plumbers, AC technicians, machinists, etc….Economic Development Director Lou Paris updated local 2nd quarter economic data… JetBlue is returning to DBIA with 2 daily, non-stop routes to New York City (JFK) and Boston (BOS)…service begins Dec 4….tickets on sale now. With JetBlue’s addition,...

All local entities (cities, county school board) set their INITIAL budgets/tax rates for FY 2025-26…still contemplating figures… 2 public budget hearings in September On opening day, School Bd and District staff hosted an event at Deland HS to reiterate their accomplishments so far this year….. Daytona Regional Chamber names Kristin Weiss as their next President/CEO…she’ll become Incoming Presiden...

Podcast News Topics This past month, all local entities (cities, county school board) set their INITIAL budgets for FY 2025-26 County Economic Development Q Breakfast…Friday, August 15, 7:30 – 9 AM….Daytona Intl Airport….Program is panel discussion on how 3 entrepreneurs turned their skilled trade careers into successful local businesses County Council selects 15 members (out of 41 applicants) for...