Volusia County, FL - In Thursday's meeting, the Volusia County Council will decide whether or not to move forward with the City of Daytona Beach's annexation of the property where the First Step Shelter will be built.
Council members have been advised to officially adopt the Interlocal Service Boundary Agreement (ISBA) between Volusia County and Daytona Beach. Both the City and the County have already negotiated the terms of the agreement, but it is up to them to officially amend their respective plans to include the agreement.
The ISBA outlines that the City will be responsible for providing the shelter with municipal services like law enforcement and fire services and that the City will have the authority to plan for the shelter, such as issuing building permits.
During Thursday's meeting, council members will vote on whether or not to amend their plans. The City will vote to amend their plans at a public hearing on June 21. If both the City and the County agree to adopt the agreement into their respective plans, Daytona Beach will annex the property into the City. In order for the annexation of the Municipal Service Area (MSA) to go through, the City and the County must be involved in a Joint Planning Agreement (JPA).
If adopted, the City will also be able to begin construction of the homeless shelter using funds agreed upon in the First Step Shelter Interlocal Grant Agreement. In that agreement, the County will provide the shelter $2.5 million for construction and will aid the City $400,000 a year for 5 years. The City agreed to give $400,000 a year for 5 years from their own budget to put towards construction or operation costs.
(Map of the First Step Shelter property courtesy of Volusia County)
For earlier reporting on the First Step Shelter agreements between the City and the County, click here. Photo courtesy of Congarashu and Shutterstock.com. Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
