EP 125 Jeff Brower

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 fees on new single-family homes starting in 2026….consensus was to phase in the increase over multiple years…..to be determined at their September 3 meeting
• confirmed Abinet Belachew as their new City Auditor and James Lloyd as their new Sustainability/Resiliency Officer

Volusia Forever Advisory Committee meets Friday, August 29 County Admin Bldg, DeLand

August 26 - NSB City Commission…

• discussed their Westside Stormwater Master Plan and received $1,000,000State allocation check from Senator Tom Wright
• heard Economic Development Task Force report from Director Samantha Bergeron
• heard an update on Stormwater and Dredging Projects

Volusia-Flagler TPO approved their 2029/30 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and supported the Expedited Completion of Improvements to the I-4 St. Johns River Bridge project

School Board appointed 3 new members to FUTURES Foundation Board of Directors….also approved Supt Carmen Balgobin’s evaluation

Average 1..2..3 BR apartment rents in Volusia (August)

VISIT FLORIDA President/CEO Bryan Griffin announced that Fla welcomed 34.4 million visitors in 2nd quarter of 2025..  

Next Federal Reserve Bd meeting is scheduled for Sept 16–17... Recently, Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated he MAY BE open to a rate cut

President Trump fires Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook due to “mortgage discrepancies”….it'll probably be played out in court overtime 

US House and Senate are in recess until September 1...upon return they’ll address…

• avoid a Government Shutdown by Sept 30
• Appropriations& Budget Obligations
• Immigration Reform

Sheriff Mike Chitwood discusses their use AI in addressing crime….warns of financial fraud scams, hard core drugs

Sept 19…Volusia County Council will host Votran 50^th Anniversary Celebration

OTHER NEWS…..not included on podcast

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 (Click August Newsletter below)

Elected Officials Roundtable meets Monday, September 9, 9 - 11 AM…Daytona Intl Airport…..Mayors/Vice Mayors, City Managers and County reps to address topics of mutuel concern throughout Volusia