Daytona Beach, FL - Update: The Daytona Beach City Commission has joined the Volusia County Council in agreeing to move forward on the First Step Shelter.
In a 6-0 unanimous vote, the City Commission decided to approve the plan of supporting the shelter financially for at least the next five years. This decision was reached after some Commission members asked for clarification on how an over-budget or under-budget operation would affect the plan.
If the project comes in under the anticipated $2.5 million, leftover money can go towards operating costs. But, if the project costs upwards of the projected amount, the Commission reserves the right to use the $400,000 already contributed to the project to finish construction.
The agreement also means that whatever the City spends on the project, the County will match. If the City does not spend $400,000 in one year, funds will roll over to the next year.
"The thing that I will say, and the thing that I have said over and over and is most important now, is that now that all of these responses have taken place, it is most necessary that all of the wheels and all of those who have spoken, are prepared to do the work that will make this successful," said Daytona Beach Mayor, Derrick Henry. "Its going to take a lot of work and commitment and the reality is, a lot of plain old volunteerism because the money can only go so far."
Earlier Reporting:
One major item for The Daytona Beach City Commission meeting Wednesday night is an agreement between the City and Volusia County to develop a new 24-hour, full-service homeless shelter off of US-92, west of I-95.
The shelter would have 100 beds and would be developed by First Step Shelter Inc., a non-profit created by the City Commission in 2016. If approved, the shelter could be in operation by the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
The County Council already voted 4-3 to support plans for the 'First Step' homeless shelter in April. Wednesday night, the City will vote on an agreement that would use $400,000 in city grant money annually for the next five years for development and operation of the facility. The agreement says the County would also contribute an initial $2.5 million for construction and $400,000 for five years to go toward operation. The City would be committed to financially supporting and operating the 'First Step' facility for five years.
The County Council votes next week to finalize approval of the agreement. Both elected bodies must approve the agreement before construction can move forward, and both are expected to approve the plans.
For earlier reporting on the county decisions on the plans, click
here.
And for more earlier reporting on the city's grant proposal, click
here.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
