- December 15, 2025
Wayne Grant
News Editor
The City Commission gave the go-ahead on May 19 for staff plans for the Environmental Learning Center to be built at Central Park. The cost of the center will be $800,000, with $400,000 coming from an ECHO grant.
The next step will be for city staff to bring the final design of the 2,000-square-foot center before the commission for their approval.
Staff visited learning centers in Chicago and Wabasso, Florida; as well as the Lyonia Environmental Center in Deltona and the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet.
The officials approved the ideas for the center unanimously.
“I’m tremendously excited about it,” said Commissioner Bill Partington.
Commissioner James Stowers said he had two daughters who will be using it.
“The interactive component is key,” he said.
Partington also thanked the citizen volunteers with knowledge of history, archaeology and other areas who have helped with the planning.
“I give them a lot of credit,” he said. “They have been a huge benefit.”
Planned exhibits include aquaponics, native species and fauna, audio visuals, a bee hive, and others as programs develop.
The concept master plan includes walking paths and outdoor learning areas with one located on an island accessed by two land bridges. Staff also hopes to secure funding to work with Halifax Audubon to create a movie that emphasizes animal and bird species that frequent Central Park.
Officials vote on salary increases
In a workshop before the meeting, the commissioners discussed increasing compensation for the city manager and city attorney. Before any increase can take effect, it will need to be voted on in a regular meeting.
The salaries of the city manager and city attorney are set at the commission’s discretion. The officials have remarked at previous meetings that their compensation should be reviewed because there was a three-year period when they did not get increases.
A comparison was provided to the officials of comparative salaries in other cities. Shanahan currently makes $138,320. Holly Hill pays $135,000, while DeLand pays $142,000. The top salaries were Port Orange and Deltona, $150,000, South Daytona, $154,721 and Daytona Beach, $175,814.
The commissioners all felt Shanahan should receive a raise, based on performance.
“I’ve heard all of you rave about the city manager and you’ve heard me rave,” said Commissioner Troy Kent. “She’s done an excellent job as city manager.”
The commission agreed to a 2% increase this year and a 2% increase next year for Shanahan.
City Attorney Randy Hayes, who has been with the city for 22 years, is at the bottom of area city attorney compensations at $113,513. Port Orange pays $116,459, Daytona Beach, $197,877 and New Smyrna Beach $200,990.
The commissioners agreed that they would likely not be able to hire an attorney with Hayes’ experience at his current salary.
“When you look at what Randy and his staff does, I’m blown away by his professionalism,” Kent said. “I’m not OK with where he is.”
Partington said he didn’t always agree with Hayes, but can always call him to discuss the issues.
The commissioners agreed on salary increases of 5% this year and 5% next year for Hayes, which would bring him to $124,864.
