Daytona Beach, FL - Update: The Daytona Beach City Commission approved several decisions moving forward with development of Daytona's First Step Homeless Shelter (FSS), including a new engineering work authorization, rezoning for the land, and an agreement on how FSS may use City services.
At its meeting on Wednesday night, The City approved 7-0 a $72,466.60 work authorization for Parker Mynchenberg & Associates to create site engineering drawings and construction improvements including paving, storm drainage, and utility distribution for FSS. The goal of these improvements is to improve the value of the land for the shelter.
The Commission also unanimously passed an ordinance to change the future land use zoning to "City – Low-Intensity Urban." This would allow up to 25% of FSS land to be used for non-residential uses including commercial, recreational, and amusement.
The City also agreed 7-0 to pass an amended motion on an agreement that allows FSS to use certain City services to promote the shelter's activities. The agreement also lets FSS use the City's website and social media to bolster FSS's presence and use City meeting space to hold FSS board meetings.
Commissioner Robert Gilliland made a motion to amend the part of the agreement which says the City will provide an employee to serve as a board liaison and legal counsel for FSS. Gilliland suggested that the City provide the legal counsel for a period of six months. Mayor Derrick Henry agreed, but he instead suggested that the City provide an employee for legal counsel until the keys are turned over to the shelter. After that, FSS would seek its own legal counsel. This amendment will have to be turned over to the FSS board.
Henry also suggested that the Commission attempt to find counsel that would be willing to do the work pro bono. "We want this to be a project that belongs to the community, so there's no area where we are not asking people to volunteer. There's nothing off limits," he says.
"It's a big expenditure. Daytona Beach is willing to task its city attorney and community relations manager with working essentially in large part for First Step," Henry adds.
The agreement regarding FSS's use of City services and legal counsel will last one year and automatically renew unless it is terminated with at least 30 days notice. This was a motion to pass the ordinance on the first reading. A public hearing will be held on the agreement on September 20.
Earlier Reporting:
The Daytona Beach City Commission is expected to make several decisions regarding the First Step Shelter (FSS) at Wednesday's meeting.
On Wednesday, August 16, the City will decide whether to approve a work authorization for Parker Mynchenberg & Associates Inc. in the amount of $72,466.60. The authorization would allow the company to create site engineering drawings and site improvement specifications as well as construction site work, paving, storm drainage and utility distribution. The improvements are expected to increase the value of the parcel.
Another agenda item requires the City to decide on an agreement with FSS about city services FSS will be allowed to use. If approved, FSS will be able to use the City's meeting spaces to hold board meetings and use bulletin boards at city facilities to advertise board meetings. FSS would also be able to promote the shelter on City social media pages as well as link to FSS social media and FSS websites on the City's website.
The agreement says the City will provide an employee, decided upon by the City Manager, to serve as a board liaison and legal counsel, through the City Attorney or their designee, to assist in FSS board meetings. The agreement will last for 1 year and will automatically renew unless it is terminated by either party with at least 30 days notice.
A public hearing regarding changing the zoning of the FSS parcel will also take place at Wednesday's meeting. The City Planning Board wishes to change the future land use zoning from Volusia County - Conservation (C) to City - Low-Intensity Urban. This change allows for up to 25% of the parcel to have nonresidential uses such as commercial, office, warehouse, distribution, recreation, and amusement.
(Maps courtesy the City of Daytona Beach)
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