DEC. 17, 2025

Below is a brief overview of the key items highlighted in today’s City Manager’s Update newsletter:

• “Home for the Holidays” – New beginning for a longtime resident
  • Keith Thomas, a 56-year Daytona Beach resident, has moved into a new, fully accessible home built through the city’s reconstruction program after his previous 1950 home was demolished for safety reasons.
• Fire Station No. 1 – additional state funding awarded
  • The city secured an additional $5.2 million Resilient Florida grant for the new Fire Station No. 1 on South Ridgewood Avenue, adding to a prior $10 million state grant and bringing total state support to $15.2 million for the $27.2 million project.
  • The new station replaces the historic Beach Street facility, improving resilience and ensuring continuous fire and rescue service during severe weather. 
• New cash utility payment procedure – rounding to the nearest nickel
  • Due to the national penny shortage, cash utility payments will now be rounded up to the nearest five cents. Any amount over the bill total will be applied as a credit to the customer’s account. 
• Parks & Recreation booklet
  • A new 62-page Parks & Recreation booklet highlighting the city’s parks, recreation complexes, community centers, and sports/entertainment facilities is now available.
• Capital projects in progress
  • Beach Street Streetscape Phase II (Bay St. to Michigan Ave.): In design/pre-construction; will convert the corridor from four lanes to two and add new striping, signage, traffic control, water main replacement and stormwater improvements. 
  • Lift Station 34 replacement (510 Ora St.): $10.9 million project replacing a major master lift station; new wet well, pumps, piping and electrical/office building are installed. Demolition of the existing station is expected early next year; completion is anticipated April 2026. 
  • Sunnyland Park softball press box tower: New two-story tower with concessions, storage and new pads is complete and will support B-CU softball and local recreation. 
• Holiday schedule & garbage collection
  • Non-essential city offices will close at noon Wednesday, Dec. 24, and remain closed through Friday, Dec. 26, in observance of Christmas. Offices reopen Monday, Dec. 29.
  • Because Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Thursdays, Thursday garbage routes will be collected on Friday and Friday routes on Saturday for both holidays. 
• Upcoming community events
  • Holiday Bazaar & Santa Sightings– Dec. 19, 6 p.m., Riverfront Esplanade
  • Three Dog Night concert – Dec. 19, 8 p.m., Peabody Auditorium (tickets required)
  • Adults-only Jazz Night – Dec. 20, 7–9 p.m., YSG Cultural & Educational Center
  • Main Street 2026 New Year’s Eve Party – Dec. 31, 6 p.m., Main Street Daytona Beach
  • MLK Community Health & Resource Fair – Jan. 10, 9 a.m.–noon, Daisy Stocking Park
  • Mayor’s Fitness Challenge – Jan. 8–March 12 (registration now open)