CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: CITY PROGRAM DELIVERS NEW BEGINNING Keith Thomas, a Daytona Beach resident for 56 years, moved into a brand-new home Tuesday afternoon, just days before the holidays. Thomas received the keys and a guided tour of the newly completed residence from the contractor, Wise Construction; representatives from the city’s Community Redevelopment and Neighborhood Services Department; and his pastor. The team celebrated the successful completion of the first of four reconstruction projects approved earlier this year and the transformation of Thomas’s residence. The original structure, built in 1950, was demolished due to safety concerns and replaced with a modern, accessible home designed to support long-term stability. Thomas purchased the original home in 2006 and first sought assistance in 2022 through the Coronavirus roofing program. However, because the house was not structurally sound after the roof was removed, full reconstruction was required. Construction began in July 2025.
“This started with just needing a roof,” Thomas said. “A woman told me, ‘Keith, there’s a program down at the city, and Mrs. LaShondra Robinson is over it.’ What began as a tarped roof turned into a house. They turned that around for me, and I’m grateful.” The 1,254-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath concrete block home, constructed by Wise Construction, includes a garage and accessibility features such as ramps and shower railings. Valued at $242,885, the home was funded through a combination of federal and state housing programs and administered by the city’s Redevelopment and Neighborhood Services Department. “This moment represents more than just a new house. It represents safety, dignity and a fresh start,” said Redevelopment Director Ken Thomas. The program currently has a waitlist of more than five years, with additional reconstruction projects planned at 322 North Keech St., 351 Garden St. and 831 Madison St.
For more information about eligibility and requirements, visit DaytonaBeach.gov/ProjectNewBeginning.
622 MARION STREET LOCATED IN ZONE 3, REPRESENTED BY CITY COMMISSIONER QUANITA MAY
City of Daytona Beach www.DaytonaBeach.gov 301 S. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach
CITY SECURES ADDITIONAL $5.2 MILLION STATE GRANT FOR NEW FIRE STATION NO. 1 The City of Daytona Beach has been awarded a $5.2 million grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Resilient Florida Program to support the construction of the new Fire Station No. 1, which is currently under construction on a 3.6-acre site in the 400 block of South Ridgewood Avenue. This funding builds on a separate $10 million state grant awarded in 2024 for the relocation and construction of the new station, bringing total state support for this critical public safety project to $15.2 million. The $27-million project constructs and relocates a new Fire Station No. 1, enhancing the city’s emergency response capabilities and protecting its first responders. The existing station, located at 301 S. Beach St. along the frequently inundated Halifax River, is Volusia County’s busiest, responding to more than 4,800 calls for service in 2024. The historic facility has served the community since 1925 and is Florida’s second-oldest continuously operating fire station. This strategic relocation will help ensure uninterrupted fire and rescue services, even during severe weather events.
PARKS & REC BOOKLET (AVAILABLE NOW)
A 62-page booklet featuring the city’s network of parks, recreation complexes, community centers and sports and entertainment facilities has been published.
NEW UTILITY CASH-PAYMENT PROCEDURE: ROUNDING TO THE NEAREST NICKEL WITH ACCOUNT CREDIT (EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY) Due to the ongoing nationwide shortage of one- cent coins, the City of Daytona Beach is updating its process for handling cash utility payments to ensure residents can continue making payments smoothly, even when exact coin change is not available. This rounding-and-credit approach is designed to be simple and transparent for residents while reducing reliance on penny inventories during the ongoing shortage. How it will work: When a customer pays a utility bill in cash, staff will round the payment up to the nearest five cents. Any amount above the exact bill total will be automatically applied as a credit on the customer’s utility account and carried forward to the next billing cycle. (Customers may still pay with pennies; however, the city will not provide pennies as change.) Example: • Amount due: $102.33 • Cash amount tendered: $102.35 • Credit applied to next month’s bill: $0.02 This procedure applies to cash utility payments and is intended to minimize inconvenience while maintaining consistent customer service.
// FIRE STATION NO. 1 RENDERING
Project Location: 420 S. Ridgewood Ave. Project Status: Interior framing and MEP roughs - 90% Anticipated Completion: Spring 2026 Project Value: $27,222,806 Historic Fire Station No. 1 RFP: Due by 3 p.m. Feb. 10, 2026 DaytonaBeach.gov/Purchasing
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IN THE WORKS BEACH STREET STREETSCAPE: PHASE II Project Status: design and pre-construction phase
Project Value: $9,114,861 million and a design value of $698,479
Beach Street Streetscape Improvements – Phase II, located between Bay Street and Michigan Avenue, is in the design and pre-construction phase and remains on schedule to begin construction in summer 2026. The project has an estimated construction cost of $9,114,861 million and a design value of $698,479. Planned improvements include a roadway diet converting the corridor from four lanes to two, along with new striping, signage, traffic control enhancements, water main replacement and new stormwater drainage pipes. LIFT STATION #34 | 510 ORA STREET Project Status: on schedule, anticipated completion date of April 2026 Work is progressing steadily on the replacement of Lift Station 34, a major city- owned master lift station serving a large portion of Daytona Beach’s northern beachside. Located at 510 Ora Street, the lift station was originally constructed in 1986 and is being replaced as part of a $10.9 million project to modernize critical wastewater infrastructure and improve reliability during high-flow conditions. Crews have recently installed the new wet well, pumps and piping, along with the new electrical/office building designed to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood. Next, the contractor will begin installing below-ground infrastructure and a gravity main. Demolition of the existing station is expected to begin early next year. The project remains on schedule, with an anticipated completion date of April 2026. SUNNYLAND PARK SOFTBALL SEATING & PRESS BOX TOWER Project Status: 100% Complete Project Value: $276,090 Construction of the new two-story press box tower, including first-floor concession and storage areas and new sidewalk/bleacher pads, is now complete. The tower has been repositioned behind home plate for an improved view and will support Bethune-Cookman University’s softball program and local recreational use.
UPCOMING
UPCOMING
100% COMPLETE
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‘TIS THE SEASON! Merry Christmas and happy holidays from our family to yours. Please note non-essential city offices will be closed from noon Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Dec. 26, in observance of Christmas. Offices will reopen Monday, Dec. 29. Garbage Schedule This year, Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Thursdays, resulting in adjustments to garbage collection. Thursday’s collection will move to Friday, and Friday’s collection will take place on Saturday. Please plan accordingly.
FREE TO ATTEND HOLIDAY BAZAAR & SANTA SIGHTINGS Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. Riverfront Esplanade, 179 S. Beach St.
TICKETS REQUIRED THREE DOG NIGHT
Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. Peabody Auditorium PeabodyAuditorium.org
JAZZ NIGHT SATURDAY, DEC 20 7-9 P.M. Troy “Sax Therapyst” and band FEATURING: ADULTS ONLY-BUSINESS CASUAL-FREE
FREE TO ATTEND MAIN STREET 2026 NYE PARTY Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. Main Street Daytona Beach
FREE TO ATTEND ADULTS-ONLY JAZZ NIGHT Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. YSG, 1000 Vine St
HOSTED BY: Jay Love
Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Drinks available for purchase at the bar.
FREE TO ATTEND THE MLK COMMUNITY HEALTH & RESOURCE FAIR
REGISTRATION OPEN MAYOR’S FITNESS CHALLENGE Jan. 8 - March 12 DaytonaBeach.gov/FitnessChallenge
COMMUNITY THE MLK HEALTH 01.10.2026 |9 A.M. TO NOON
YSG CULTURAL & EDUCATIONAL CENTER COURTYARD 1000 VINE ST.
For more information, contact Valerie Burks (386) 671-8254 RESOURCE FAIR
Daisy Stocking Park 555 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd.
Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. Daisy Stocking Park
Join us for a free health fair for the whole family to enjoy! Health vendors, food and activities for children!
Vendor spots are FREE but must be health-related or offer a free service to the community. Vendors are responsible for providing their own tent, table, chairs and any other equipment needed for their space. Contact Samantha Gottlieb with any questions or concerns (386) 671-5551 | GottliebSamantha@DaytonaBeach.gov DaytonaBeach.gov/MLKHealthMarketVendor
City of Daytona Beach | www.DaytonaBeach.gov | 301 S. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach Organized by: The City of Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi and Commissioner Paula R. Reed
Thank you to our platinum sponsor, Progressive Medical Research.
The Volusia County School Board is not affiliated with this City of Daytona Beach Parks & Recreation program in any manner, nor do they endorse or assume any responsibility for any activities that occur in connection with it
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