Partnerships …
cooperation … joint planning … and interlocal and triparty
agreements. These words punctuated the annual State of the County
address delivered Jan. 28 by Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno.
“What I was trying to say, and what we have proven over the past
year, is that united we stand,” said Bruno after his presentation,
which included a stirring tribute to longtime civic, government and
education leader Jimmy Huger (see accompanying story).
Speaking to a crowd of about 400 at the Ocean Center, Bruno noted
the divisive vote on the proposed amendments to Volusia County’s
Home Rule Charter in 2006 has given way to new relationships and
regional cooperation. In his comments and through a video
presentation, he offered a sweeping look back at a challenging year
during which complex issues were addressed and diverse interests
worked together.
Bruno noted that much of this progress is due to markedly higher
levels of communication among Volusia’s mayors, city staffs,
businesses, schools and universities, civic organizations and
neighboring counties. He gave much credit to his County Council
colleagues and County Manager Jim Dinneen who has fostered
cooperation among individuals and entities with varied interests and
constituencies.
Transportation
Bruno spoke enthusiastically about the Florida Commuter Rail System
and the regional partnerships that are making it a reality. The
Volusia County Council has been a strong proponent of the system,
which will link Volusia County to Orlando and other Central Florida
communities. He also said that a partnership with DeBary emanated
from this initiative and will result in a transit-oriented
development planning project focused on the commuter rail station
and surrounding area planned for DeBary.
Following a transportation summit last year, many road project
partnerships have been forged. Among them is a partnership with the
Volusia County School Board to construct roads leading to new
schools. Ormond Beach is partnering with the county on the widening
of ClydeMorris Boulevard. Other agreements on road projects are in
place with Port Orange, South Daytona and Holly Hill. Water and
sewer project partnerships have been developed between the county
and the cities of Edgewater and Oak Hill.
Bruno also acknowledged partnerships between Votran, Lynx, other
transportation systems, the Florida Department of Transportation and
the Volusia CountyMetropolitan Planning Organization. The Commuter
Assistance Program is a critical product of this cooperation,
providing long-distance commuters with safe, efficient and
economical options to and from work. He also pointed out that
nighttime ridership on Votran has increased and the Intelligent
Transportation System technology has improved efficiency in
scheduling, routing and other services.
Environment
Bruno said the county, cities and the School Board are working
together to prohibit school construction in the county’s
conservation corridor in the middle of Volusia County. He said this
will limit future growth and protect the drinking water supply.
Bruno noted that 37,000 acres have been preserved through
partnerships and purchases through the Volusia Forever program. He
said the Volusia ECHO program has enriched our environmental,
cultural, heritage and outdoor assets through grants last year
totaling $5.6 million for qualifying projects. He said the expansion
of the Deltona Regional Library is being considered for U.S. Green
Building Council Leadership Energy and Environmental Design
certification, and is the result of a partnership project with
Deltona. He referenced the joint planning agreement with Deltona
that will protect rural areas and prohibit sprawl.
Tourism
With great pride, Bruno highlighted the $76-million expansion of the
Ocean Center. Construction is well under way with completion
expected before the end of the year. When finished, the Ocean Center
will be the fifth largest entertainment, convention and sports
complex in Florida.
Also on the tourism front, Bruno spoke of dramatic improvements in
air service at Daytona Beach International Airport with new nonstop
service to New York on AirTran Airways and Delta Air Lines and the
return of US Airways to DBIA with nonstop service to Charlotte. (And
most recently, Continental Airlines announced nonstop seasonal
service to Cleveland, while Delta Air Lines announced nonstop
seasonal service to Cincinnati.) He acknowledged the support and
cooperation of Volusia’s tourism
promotion agencies in funding marketing effort in support of the new
routes.
Economic development
Bruno offered a long list of projects that have been supported by
Volusia County Government through the leadership of the Department
of Economic Development, which provided expertise, consultation and
funding for most of the projects. Among the projects being pursued
in partnerships with the county:
-
Industrial acreage at Ormond Beach Airport Industrial Park
- An access
road at the DeLandMunicipal Airport
- Technical
economic development assistance in Deltona and Ormond Beach
- The
paving of two streets in Holly Hill
Bruno also
noted the Department of Economic Development’s role in helping
retain two successful Volusia County companies that were being
recruited by other communities—EdgeWater Power Boats and Raydon
Corporation. He added that the county’s grant of $500,000 helped to
bring a branch campus of Florida State University’s School of
Medicine to the area, the county’s funds being matched by the
Daytona Beach College Foundation.
Health and Human
Services
Citing the need to provide a safety net for people in need, Bruno
said the county donated a building, property and provided funding to
Serenity House for its 76-bed Hugh West facility. The county also
helped to fund a 24-bed facility in east Volusia County in
partnership with Serenity House to provide a safe, sober and
supportive living environment for recovering individuals. A county
grant provided funds for a 16-bed transitional facility for homeless
veterans in partnership with the Veterans Administration and the
county also helped facilitate the re-opening the 94-bed Homeless
Assistance Center.
Criminal justice
Speaking of the complexities and multi-jurisdictional nature of
criminal justice, Bruno said it was through partnership and
cooperation that the new Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS)
is being implemented. It is a technologically-advanced interconnect
system that will facilitate seamless sharing of information in real
time among law enforcement agencies, the jail, State Attorney,
Public Defender and others players in the criminal justice system.
Emergency response
Recalling the natural disasters that have befallen Volusia County
over the past decade, Bruno recognized the Volusia Prepares Business
partnership of area governments, chambers of commerce and nonprofit
and private sector organizations in helping businesses prepare for,
and recover from, disasters. He acknowledged the partnership between
the Volusia County Emergency Management Division and United Way that
created the Citizen Corps that is dedicated to enhancing the
volunteer emergency response system. He praised the Sheriff ’s
Office and private donors who raised funds for a mobile field
kitchen to support emergency workers while managing disasters. He
also applauded Sheriff ’s Office efforts to improve the emergency
response dispatch system. He also pointed to the successful
partnership between the Volusia Bureau of Investigation and local,
state and federal law enforcement agencies in targeting narcotics
trafficking, racketeering and organized crime in our area.
The budget
Bruno called for meaningful property tax reform by Florida’s
Taxation Budget Reform Commission in developing a fair and equitable
tax system for residents and businesses. He stressed the Volusia
County Council has lowered property tax rates for three years before
reductions were mandated by the state. But he warned that
forthcoming state-mandated property tax cuts will affect the
county’s ability to provide services. He said county government is
working diligently to maintain a very high level of service even in
the wake of tax cuts.
To illustrate his point, he said that dramatic cost increases in
road-building while revenues remain flat are pointing to a crisis in
transportation system funding. Revenue shortfalls have caused
multiple year delays in essential road improvement projects. He said
the county has turned to the Volusia/Flagler Higher Education
Consortium for an independent evaluation and analysis of the
situation.
In closing, Bruno acknowledged that our challenges are many and
complex. But the Volusia County Council and leaders throughout
Volusia are committed to working together for new ways to deliver
essential services with efficiency and economy.
