- December 15, 2025
Topics include history, development and crime
Wayne Grant
News Editor
The City Commission and top members of city government met in a five-hour session May 12 to make a list of goals and objectives for coming years. The next step will be for city staff to formalize the results into a Strategic Plan, so the commissioners can vote on it at a future meeting.
The meeting was led by Marilyn Crotty of the University of Central Florida Institute of Government.
“Fewer than half of cities around the U.S. do strategic planning,” Crotty said. “And many don’t engage the citizens.”
Crotty began the session by summarizing the results of two Community Conversations, meetings where local residents were invited to provide input.
In the meetings, they were asked what they treasured about the city. They responded with things such as the river and beach; parks; and transparency of government. Crotty said the biggest consensus was the preservation of historic sites.
Mayor Ed Kelley said the results were skewed because he believes many people at the meeting were members of the Historical Society.
“I’ll be criticized for saying it,” he said, “but it’s true.” He said, however, that the meetings got people talking and that was the purpose.
Historic sites have been a topic of conversation in the city since a brainstorming session earlier this year included an idea to sell the MacDonald House to a developer. At a recent commission meeting, a member of the Historical Society suggested turning the building into a museum.
The officials handled the matter by making “Develop Historic Preservation Plan” one of the objectives.
In the economic development area, officials agreed they need to see progress at Ormond Crossings, a privately-owned site for future residential development and a business park on North U.S. 1.
Commissioner Troy Kent remarked that 10 years ago, he was told that full build-out of the property would be 20 years, and now 10 years later, full build-out is still projected at 20 years.
Economic Director Joe Mannarino said building a bridge over the railroad tracks would spur development and suggested a partnership with Volusia County and the property owner, Tomoka Holdings.
Also discussed was the need to attract and retain police officers, especially as the city grows through annexation.
Police Chief Henry Osterkamp said that when interviewing potential officers, they often state their goal is to eventually move on to a bigger agency.
Kent said police staffing is important, because criminals from Daytona Beach currently target surrounding cities for car break-ins and other crimes.
“It’s a major issue for me,” he said.
Other goals listed involved infrastructure, economics, technology, human resources and quality of life. The Strategic Plan will be available on the city’s website when it is presented to the commission for approval.
City Commissioner Rick Boehm used the forum to promote an idea he has been discussing with city staff, a community and recreation center west of Interstate 95 to serve the growing population in that area. He proposed working with the School Board to construct a building on land it owns beside Pathways Elementary School.
He envisions a facility large enough for two basketball courts or seating 500 people, saying the city could use it for such things as the State of the City meeting.
“We haven’t built a community center in 30 years,” he said.
