Volusia Matters Podcast

EP 136 Danny Robins VC Councilman

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 agenda
Annual Review for County Manager GR and County Attorney MD
Accepted a $400-K Fla Division of Emergency Mgnt grant to expand Emergency Operations Center.
Issued $30 million Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds to finance acquisition of Volusia Forever lands, supporting environmental conservation efforts.
Approved Off Beach Parking and Beach Access Fee revisions pertaining to permanent free beach access for residents and property owners.
Addressed Chair Brower's topic of Beach Driving from Intl Speedway Blvd to Auditorium.
Dec 2 - Ormond Beach City Commission rejected Daytona Beach’s $2.3 million offer regarding water/wastewater rights per Avalon Park Daytona Beach development….
Dec 3 - DB City Commission heard a Travel Audit Review by the City Auditor – Abinet Belachew AND a presentation by City Manager Deric Feacher regarding draft Management Policies for use of P-cards
Sen Rick Scott is leading a Republican effort to propose an alternative to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) called the More Affordable Care Act.
Central Fla Commuter Rail Commission (SunRail’s advisory board of elected leaders) from the 5 Local Funding Partners meets Thursday, December 4.
Federal Reserve Board meets December 9-10….will they reduce benchmark rate? Odds are high the Fed will cut rates
Opening in October 1985, the DB Ocean Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary
The County will host a Winter Beach Cleanup Saturday, Dec 6, 8 -10 AM at Winterhaven Park in Ponce Inlet.

EP 135 Daytona Beach City Manager Deric Feacher

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 federal government operations through January 30, 2026, and includes 3 full-year appropriations bills for select agencies
Oct 28 - Central Fla Commuter Rail Commission met/discussed expanding service to Saturdays and possibly Sundays with estimated costs of $23M to $26M. strong public demand for weekend service…BUT also concerns about affordability and cost per rider….there was also talk of extending to Orlando Intl Airport
Deland City Commission made appointments to the Historic Preservation Board AND Beresford Reserve Brownfield Advisory Committee
DB City Commission to make appointments to their Historic Preservation, Beachside Redevelopment and Nuisance Abatement Boards..PLUS Jackie Robinson Ballpark work…
County Council makes appointments to HAAA and Code Enforcement Bds
Nov 14 - Team Volusia Bd….Keith Norden gave an update on business prospects…announced changes in staff….heard details regarding Deering Park in NSB and Edgewater…..more details in Dec VM newsletter.
DON’T FORGET…..Property taxes are due….pay at any county tax collectors offices…no long line to pay property taxes vs car tag renewals..best days to go are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday…4% discount in November
INTERVIEW - Daytona Beach City Manager Deric Feacher….
Volusia Economic Development “Q” Breakfast will be Friday, Nov 21, 7:30 am Daytona Intl Airport with a panel discussion on “Make It Here. Positioning Volusia to Attract Industry.”

EP 134 Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila

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 the Historic Westside Stormwater Improvement Project
Edgewater City Council appoint Teresa Pope to Volusia Growth Management Commission… adopt Proportionate Fair Share agreement and Wastewater agreement with Deering Park
Property taxes are due….pay at any county tax collectors offices…no long line to pay property taxes vs car tag renewals..best days to go are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday…4% discount in November
SunRail will extend weekday service beginning Dec 1 whereby two more trains will be run during the evening to accommodate passenger riders
After 43 days of the Federal Government shutdown….the Senate advances a legislative package to re-open the government….House COULD vote later today or tomorrow……
INTERVIEW - Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila….
Volusia Economic Development “Q” Breakfast will be Friday, Nov 21, 7:30 am Daytona Intl Airport with a panel discussion on “Make It Here. Positioning Volusia to Attract Industry.” Click the button to RSVP…..

EP 133 Diezel Depew

EP 132 John Nicholson

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 approved 5 flood-mitigation projects designed to increase stormwater management capacity, protect vulnerable areas and support long-term resilience across the County. They reflect coordinated efforts between the county/cities under Transform386
Deltona City Commission voted to withdraw from lawsuit challenging SB 180…a reversal from their August decision to join the lawsuit. SB180 is new legislation that temporarily confines small local entities impacted by hurricanes—from enacting stricter development regulations until October, 2027.
It also nullified building moratoriums.
Fla Dept of Environmental Protection (FDEP) awarded $94,500 in grant funding to City of Holly Hill to implement their Regional Drainage/Estuary Program to address increased flood risks affecting LPGA Canal
Gov DeSantis wants to eliminate property taxes entirely for homesteaded properties while a special House committee is proposing 8 separate bills offering different forms of tax relief via constitutional amendments on the 2026 ballot
Volusia Forever Advisory Committee met Oct 24 and evaluated 2025 Cycle 5 properties for Volusia Forever criteria. The committee also ranked Cycle 3 and 4 applications
School District’s Bargaining Team and Volusia United Educators (VUE) met October 29, for a bargaining session regarding Instructional Staff for 2025. at Facilities Services Building.. 3750 Olson Dr, Daytona Beach
Volusia Schools’ Technical Coordinating Committee for School Facility Planning meets Oct 31 to exchange ideas between cities, school district, and county regarding student enrollment, development projects, and future projections for growth.
Volusia recently lost 4 fine individuals…. Dave Castagnacci, Lowell Lohman, Sandy Bishop Burke, Dick Kane.
Volusia County Schools announced 70 nominees for Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced on Jan 10 at the FUTURES TOTY banquet at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort
October 20 – as a means to expand affordable housing options, DeLand City Commission approved an ordinance allowing tiny homes to be built in designated areas of the city.
DB Shores City Mgr Kirk Swartzlander recently retired…Public Safety Director Mike Folwer is now Interim City Manager…SO Mark Swanson (formerly County Public Safety Chief) is now Acting Public Safety Director at DB Shores Dept of Public Safety
Sheriff Chitwood reported school threat arrests are down 45% from this time last year
Gov DeSantis and Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky announced improved conditions for homeowners and auto policy holders in Fla’s insurance market
Zane Ertel, former Regional Director with former State CFO Jimmy Patronis and current CFO Blaise Ingoglia, is now Development Liaison for City of Claremont in Lake County.
(FDOT) will host an open house regarding proposed improvements to Nova Rd from Flomich St to US 1 in Holly Hill/Ormond Beach…Wednesday, Nov 5, 5:30 to 7 PM
The Federal Government shutdown is in its 4th week (and counting)….no clear end-in-sight.
An estimated 750 federal employees in Volusia are either furloughed (not working) or working without pay….with a lot of talk about food assistance and early education programs (e.g., Head Start) running out of funds if the shutdown continues.
Latest CPI report showed prices rose at a slower pace than expected in Sept. Inflation increased 3% in 12 months through Sept vs 2.9% the previous month. Economists expected a 3.1% increase.
US Federal Reserve Board is met today…. Financial Markets are confident that the Board (via the will cut interest rates by 25 basis points) moving the benchmark fed funds rate to 3.75% to 4.0 %.
National debt is NOW $38 trillion. US spent $4 trillion on interest over the last decade but will spend $14 trillion in the next 10 years. Interest costs crowd out important public/private investments in our future, harming the economy for every American
INTERVIEW - John Nicholson…..Local Govt Observer/Commentator
Volusia Economic Development “Q” Breakfast will be Friday, Nov 21, 7:30 am Daytona Intl Airport with a panel discussion on “Make It Here. Positioning Volusia to Attract Industry.” Click the button to RSVP…..

EP 131 Lori Campbell-Baker - Daytona Beach CVB

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 commissioner boundary changes to continue serving the remainder of their term
Commission is taking up ordinances to revise outside detail rates to hire police and fire dept staff for city sponsored events and special outside detail rates for police to work bars, lounges in the city.
Commission is taking up another ordinance regarding police and firefighters retirement system.
33rd Annual Daytona Beach Biketoberfest happens this weekend… October 16–19
New Volusia Supervisor of Elections office is moving to 1588 N Woodland Blvd, DeLand. Ribbon cutting will be Oct 21, 3:00 PM
FDOT’s District 5 Office will hold public hearing Oct 20 to 24 ….to present the Tentative Five-Year Work Program for FYs 2026/2027 through 2030/2031
Volusia County is offering residents a convenient way to dispose of household hazardous waste with two free collection events
Daytona Regional Chamber’s Candidate Bootcamp will be Tuesday, Oct 28, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM at Chamber Bldg on City Island
Federal government shutdown which began October 1 appears ongoing with no resolution in sight and could impact business community
INTERVIEW - Daytona Beach CVB’s Lori Campbell Baker discusses tourist count during the Summer season and what we can expect in the months ahead
Volusia Legislative Delegation meets Wednesday, Oct 29, 9 AM—1 PM Deland City Hall (Click link below for Delegation Speakers Form)

Courtney Edgcomb

Volusia Matters Newsletter/Interview Cyrus Callum, Volusia Aviation Economic Resources Director

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Volusia Matters Newsletter/Interview Cyrus Callum, Volusia Aviation Economic Resources Director