- April 26, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
The family fishing tournament, which was one of the city's top goals for 2013, will be an annual event.
BY WAYNE GRANT | STAFF WRITER
At a goals workshop last February, the Ormond Beach City Commission formalized its top five goals for the year. Here’s a rundown on their status, as well as how some secondary goals are coming along.
No. 1. Create an annual parent-child fishing tournament at the fishing pier located at the west end of the Granada Bridge. Status: Achieved.
The first annual Reel in the Fun fishing tournament was Sept. 7. There were 21 teams, and the city plans to continue it as an annual event.
No. 2. Create a beautification plan for State Road A1A, south of Granada Boulevard. Status: In progress.
The city has applied for a median landscape grant from the Florida Department of Transportation. The schedule now calls for the city to receive a draft agreement from the county by July and for it to be approved by the City Commission in a public meeting in September. After a period for finalizing design and permitting, construction would begin May 2015.
No. 3. Develop two community gardens, one at Central Park and another at a second location. Status: In Progress.
There is currently a community flower garden maintained by residents at the intersection of Buena Vista Avenue and Areca Way. City staff plans to develop another one in Central Park on the north side of Division Avenue by a pump station which can be used for irrigation.
No. 4. Finalize the U.S. 1 North Joint Planning Agreement with Volusia County. Status: In Progress.
Since 2010, the city has been in negotiations with the county on annexation of enclaves and regulatory control over unincorporated areas. Negotiations are in progress.
No. 5. Research development of free legal aid for Ormond Beach residents. Status: In Progress.
The city found that the Florida Bar Association has an active legal aid service, and they have expressed a willingness to provide limited satellite services in Ormond Beach. Discussions are ongoing. Commissioner Bill Partington, who suggested the service, said he thinks it would be a good idea for those commissioners who are also lawyers to volunteer.
There were also several secondary goals, in addition to the top five, listed at last year’s workshop.
One of the goals was to build a field house at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. The building, currently in the design phase, will provide locker rooms, bathrooms and a safe place in case of lightning. Plans call for the building to be completed this fall.
Another goal was to annex the area on Williamson Boulevard where Tire Kingdom, the U.S. Post Office and an apartment complex are located. This area was annexed in 2013, as was the Chelsea Place subdivision, which was an enclave in the city.
“I’m sure most people thought Chelsea Place was in the city,” said Commissioner Rick Boehm. “The (Ormond Beach) police couldn’t go in there.”
The annexed areas already received water and sewer service from the city.
The commission also wanted to get Ormond Crossings, the housing and business park development on North U.S. 1, started toward development. The city commission approved zoning changes for the development in 2013, which was the final hurdle.
“The next step in the development process is for Tomoka Holdings to divide the 3,000 acres into plats and begin the construction of roads and utilities,” said city Economic Director Joe Mannarino.
The commission also discussed building an environmental learning center at one of the lakes in Central Park. The city is waiting for the Volusia County ECHO board to decide this year whether or not to award funds for the project.
