The mayor expressed gratitude for the $150,000 grant received from the Valua Echo Board, slated for various projects to benefit Port Orange residents. Additionally, the success of the Mayor’s Cup golf tournament was acknowledged, with $88,000 raised for the city’s Parks and Recreation program. The council also considered the impactful proposal from Art House Foundation to create murals in the city’s Down Under area. The proposal, which included detailed statistics on community and economic impact, was met with enthusiasm from the council members.

The meeting also highlighted the contributions of local artists, including praise for a young lady’s design and commendation for a 14-year-old artist’s talent and contribution to the community. A council member estimated an economic impact of around $4 million in six months from an event.

Further discussions on community enrichment involved the Cypress Head golf course. The council reviewed the course’s condition, its financial performance, and marketing efforts, including initiatives to attract younger golfers. Despite a challenging winter season causing a revenue decrease, the council noted the popularity of the course and appreciated the courtesy of employees and maintenance staff.

Several ordinances were addressed during the meeting, including the amendment of the future land use map—changing roughly 7 acres from office residential transition to rural residential—and the approval of the Second Amendment of the master development agreement for Al shopping Village planned commercial development. These amendments catered to a new property owner’s plans to renovate an existing single-family home and clarified setbacks and commercial use permissions.

The amendment of chapter 74 Article 5 stormwater utility was also a significant agenda item, with the council discussing the need to modernize and streamline administration. The amendment, which was approved, included adding a definition for equivalent dwelling unit, reassigning equivalent dwelling units for properties, and providing more flexibility in revenue allocation for capital improvements.

The leveraging of external funds was a key topic, with the city manager highlighting efforts to maximize funds from outside sources, thereby reducing costs to residents. This included wastewater treatment plant upgrades and Echo grants. The council also discussed updates on the First Step shelter, considering a proposal to increase the city’s contribution to support the shelter’s capacity and success in housing individuals.

The meeting touched on the South Daytona Chamber of Commerce’s upcoming events and the closure of City Hall for Juneteenth, which was newly declared a national holiday. Additionally, the city manager emphasized the importance of external funding for the city’s projects.