Police Park, Walk and Talk program begins

The Daytona Beach Police Department has implemented a new “Park, Walk and Talk” program to forge a tighter bond between officers and the community. Starting this month, all patrol officers are required to park their vehicles, walk the streets and talk to people living or working in the neighborhood for at least 30 minutes every shift.

The goal of the program is to encourage police officers to develop relationships with those who live or work in the patrol area and give those people an officer they can rely on to handle any suspicious activity.

“It’s all about community engagement. The ultimate goal is for people to understand that we’re part of the community. They don’t just need us when something happens. They need to see us when there is absolutely nothing going on,” said Chief Jakari Young.

Main Street during Bike Week with 80th anniversary graphic

Commissioners approve Bike Week activities

The 80th anniversary of Bike Week is happening in Daytona Beach this March 5-14 with plans in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. City commissioners approved the Bike Week 2021 Private Property Master Plan submitted by the Daytona Beach Regional Chamber's Bike Week Festival Task Force at their Jan. 20 commission meeting.

This world-famous event started on the beach in 1937 and has grown into the largest 10-day motorcycle rally. Steps being taken this year at the popular event to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include:

Outside vendors will be permitted to reduce indoor crowding.
Businesses with outside vendors will be cleaning regularly, requiring face coverings, providing hand sanitizer, taking temperature checks and promoting social distancing.
Businesses in the Master Plan (including some on Main Street) will have to limit capacity inside to 60% to help promote social distancing.
Property owners who do not adhere to what was outlined in the Master Plan could be banned from hosting future outdoor activities during the next three Bike Weeks.

Businesses that are not included in the Bike Week Master Plan are able to operate at 100%.

For more information about Bike Week, visit the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Official Bike Week website.

Special Magistrate Rental Program meeting

Last year, the city’s Code Enforcement team opened 4,781 cases throughout the city and closed 4,651 cases. More than 40% of new cases were maintenance code violations, which are requirements for the interior and exterior of housing structures. Broken windows, wood rot, torn screens, mildew and damaged structures are examples of maintenance code violations.

Rental inspection program infractions made up almost 15% of all violations issued in 2020. The city’s Rental Inspection Program requires property owners register their residential rental units and that each property pass an inspection on a biennial basis.

Last summer, the city added a second Special Magistrate to focus on violations of the city’s Rental Program. A Special Magistrate is appointed by the City Commission and has the jurisdiction and authority to hear and rule over code compliance matters.

The next meeting of the Special Magistrate Rental Program will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, in the Commission Chambers at City Hall. On the meeting agenda there are 19 continued, 31 new, two lien review and one zoning compliance cases. The meeting agenda is on the city’s website.

The meeting can be watched online at www.codb.us/DBTV and on Spectrum Channel 490.

Commissioners support legislation to protect coastal ecosystems

City commissioners have unanimously supported bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting and preserving coastal ecosystems.

Known as Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act, House Bill H.R.5589 and Senate Bill S.3939 seeks to establish a national strategy to protect, preserve and restore coastal ecosystems like estuaries, tidal marshes and seagrasses. In addition to storing an incredible amount of carbon dioxide, these critical ecosystems protect shorelines from erosion and provide nursery habitats for fisheries.

The resolution of support urges our congressional representatives to vote in support of the Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act. More information is posted on the city’s website.