Beville Road Trail, Pier Repairs, Affordable Housing Study & More Up For Talks

Daytona Beach, FL - At their upcoming meeting on Wednesday (April 7th), Daytona Beach city leaders are expected to discuss adding multi-use paths on Beville Road, repairs to the Main Street Pier, and a possible study to evaluate Daytona’s need for affordable housing. The Daytona Beach Public Works Department is seeking input on whether or not the expenditure of $1,167,461 for a project regarding a multi-use trail on Beville Road is "in the city’s best interest." According to the agenda item, if approved, the project would bring an 8-12 foot wide concrete multi-use trail to the south side of Beville, stretching from Andros Isle Boulevard to Clyde Morris Boulevard. If the city is interested in the project, they will have to enter into a Local Agency Program (LAP) agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in the amount of $2,560,597—which is the expected total cost of the project. The LAP would cover almost half of the expected budget by contributing $1,393,136, while Daytona would have to commit $1,167,461 in local funds. However, any cost overruns in the project will be the city’s responsibility. City officials are also expected to discuss the awarding of a $67,044.97 construction contract to the Orlando-based marine construction company, Construct Co Inc. That nearly $68,000 contract will go towards repairing the Main Street Pier, one of Daytona’s beachside mainstays. The agenda item says the pier, which is over 70 years old, is in need of repair after it had been "battered by Nor’easters" over the past several months. The work needed consists of replacing multiple cross braces and piles, two important structural components of the pier. And in the continuing saga of bringing more affordable housing to Daytona Beach, officials will discuss publishing a proposal to solicit a study that looks at the city’s affordable housing needs. Per that agenda item, officials want a  firm to provide an unbiased analysis of the city’s need for new affordable housing units—both rental and ownership types. The city says this is needed due to future commercial and industrial development, population growth, and the continuing construction of market-rate and luxury housing. Once the contract for the study is signed, the firm will have 120 days from signing to complete the study. As of right now, it’s unclear as to how much this study could cost the city. More details are expected to come if the city approves the search. Officials are also set to discuss the proposed agreement between them and their choice for city manager, 44-year-old Deric Feacher, the current city manager of Haines City. That agreement shows Feacher is expected to receive a base salary of $220,000, an automobile allowance of $991 a month, a one-time housing allowance of $8,500, and a one-time relocation expense allowance of $5,000. The city is set to meet at 6:00 Wednesday night (April 7th). The city commission meeting can be watched live in the lobby of city hall, or through DBTV, which can be found online or at local Spectrum Channel 490.