- May 1, 2024
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Also, Shanahan gets high marks as manager.
The plan to have a gateway sign at every entrance to the city is going back to the drawing board. City staff members made a proposal for a design at a workshop on May 6 and received a variety of suggestions by the city commissioners.
The staff will return in July to present a new set of choices.
“I’d like to have more options,” said Commissioner Bill Partington.
He also said he would like to have, “Welcome to Ormond Beach,” and “Thank you for visiting,” on the signs.
“I’d like to see something simpler but still nice,” he said.
However, Commissioner Troy Kent said he liked the proposed design.
“That ‘thank you for visiting’ … that’s just not me,” he said.
He said he believes the design, which incorporates coquina, fits in with Andy Romano Park and the new Sunoco Station on West Granada Boulevard.
The commissioners made several suggestions for changes to the design, such as making the city seal larger and adding the word “welcome.”
Several commissioners disagreed with the proposed placement of a sign on U.S. 1 at the intersection with Nova Road.
“I’d prefer it be closer to the city limits,” Partington said.
City landscape architect Paul MacDonald, who was making the presentation, said the monument could not be placed at the city limits, which is farther north on U.S. 1, because FDOT does not allow that type of signage in locations with speeds greater than 45 mph.
However, the officials directed the city staff to work with FDOT and try to get a variance.
Seven locations are planned for the 18-foot tall signs. The cost of each sign is estimated to be $33,000. Electrical, landscaping and irrigation costs would add $10,000 per location.
A gateway sign was attempted in 1999, with the city exploring the option of placing it on Ormond Towne Square property at the southeast corner of Granada Boulevard and Williamson Boulevard. However, the city and the property owner could not reach an agreement, according to city documents.
Since that time, FDOT has eased its regulations as part of a new Community Aesthetic Features program, and placing a sign in the median became possible. That is where the current proposed signs would be located, and why they have the narrow and tall design.
Shanahan gets annual evaluation
At the city commission meeting after the workshop, the officials discussed the annual review of City Manager Joyce Shanahan, who has been at the job for five years.
Shanahan was recently evaluated by the commissioners and the Mayor, and received an average overall score of 4.87, with 5 being “outstanding and 4 being “exceeding expectations.”
“You do a fantastic job,” Kent said. “That doesn’t mean we always agree.”
Kent said when a person receives a review with scores that high, they should also be evaluated for compensation. He said both Shanahan and City Attorney Randy Hayes can go several years without a raise because their compensation is determined by the commission.
“I’d like to talk about it yearly,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we’re always going to award more compensation.”
Mayor Kelley suggested a mechanism be placed so that evaluation and compensation are evaluated at the same time.
Kent also mentioned at the end of the discussion period that he plans to run again for the city commission this year.
