VOLUSIA DAY on March 24 had approximately 200 attendees that traveled by bus. Upon arrival, participants heard 13 speakers  including Reps. Pat Patterson, Dwayne Taylor, Dorothy Hukill, Sandy Adams, Alan Hays; Senators Evelyn Lynn, Tony Hill, John Thrasher, Make Haridopolos, Jeremy Ring, Dave Aronberg; OTTED Director Chris Hart and Governor Charlie Crist.

            The focus of the day was economic development….more so Jobs for Volusia! Other topics included   state budget and education. After hearing from our speakers, participants then went to the Capitol to meet with legislators.

            The Chamber would like to thank our sponsors…Camp Dresser and McKee, DB Kennel Club & Poker Room, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Unv, Daytona State College, Unv of Central Fla – Daytona, Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar, Publix, Coca Cola, Southern Paint, and Food Supply of Daytona Beach, and Boy Scout Troop 455.

            We would also like the thank Mary Swiderski, Betty Holness, Karen Jans, Susie Macon, Cheryl Coxwell, and Joni Hunt for their hard work in making this event happen. A special thanks goes to AJ Byrnes for photographing the event.

            News Channel 13 provided live coverage. Click Volusia Jobs Convoy for article and video. No doubt about it…Volusia SENT’EM A MESSAGE!

Gov. Charlie Crist called for bipartisanship to address Florida's problems. "Extreme views rarely solve problems and frequently create them. While there is great virtue in being true to your principles, conviction must be tempered with practicality and pragmatism. Taken to an extreme, conviction becomes inflexible - even destructive."

With a sluggish economy and efforts to boost economic development, he called for less "red tape" for business, toughter anticorruption laws and passage of a Seminole Indian gambling compact that lawmakers have rejected twice.

He stated that he had no regret for taking Florida's share of federal stimulus money from President Barack Obama's administration. "While not particularly pleasant for any of us, this step was the responsible thing to do for our people."

On gambling, Crist called for a "consensus" to generate more money for schools, while acknowledging that some legislative leaders oppose what they view as an expansion of gambling. "Florida desperately needs the money. Wouldn't it be appropriate to set aside personal biases and approve a compact that will help pay to educate Florida's schoolchildren?"

He cited his administration's accomplishments including a drop in violent crime to a barebones health insurance program i.e. Cover Florida and the advent of hand-held mobile devices to track foster children.

On October 16^th the Volusia League of Cities, Volusia County Association for Responsible Development (VCARD) and the Daytona Beach Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a community forum to discuss different aspects of Florida Hometown Democracy (Amendment 3, which will appear on the November 2010 ballot). Dozens of Volusia County businesspeople, government officials and citizens attended to listen to the views of a specially assembled panel.  

Panel members included Brian Teeple, Chief Executive Officer, Northeast Florida Regional Council, who spoke on planning; Alan C. Sheppard, Greenberg-Traurig Law Firm addressed legal issues; Charles Lee, Audubon of Florida addressed environmental aspects; and Ryan Houck of Floridians For Smarter Growth who spoke of alternatives to HTD.  It was noted that, despite repeated requests, leaders of the statewide Hometown Democracy initiative had declined to participate. Mark Watts, Cobb Cole spoke of Senate Bill 360, Florida’s ‘Community Renewal Act. Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno emceed the event.

The Hometown Democracy proposal, which will appear on the November 2010 ballot as Amendment 4, likely will ignite one of the biggest campaign fights of next year's elections. The proposed amendment, if passed, would require that voters decide all future changes to local comprehensive growth-management plans; blueprints that guide development in cities and counties. Hometown Democracy would effectively give the public veto power over development issues that are decided by government officials.

Opponents (including the Chamber) believe Hometown Democracy would create a cumbersome development approval process that could hurt efforts to attract new business to Florida.

Ryan Houck of Floridians for Smarter Growth called Amendment 4 a "sledgehammer solution" and said the state needs to devise strategies to manage growth, not send the issues to election ballots noting, "That's not planning. That's politics."

Hometown Democracy supporters, however, argue elected officials across the state are too closely tied to builders and developers.

HTD has mixed feedback from environmental groups. Charles Lee, a longtime Audubon of Florida leader who appeared on the panel Friday, said his group has remained neutral on the proposal and Lee is unsure of how he will vote on the amendment.

On October 15^th the Chamber hosted its 24^th annual luncheon with the Volusia County Council to  update  them  on  Chamber  activities  &  exchange  information  on  business  related  issues. Council members Joie Alexander, Jack Hayman, Andy Kelly, Pat Northey, Carl Persis, Josh Wagner, County Chairman Frank Bruno, County Manager Jim Dinneen and several department heads were in attendance. 

At  this  meeting, Business  Development  Partnership  Co-Chairman  Bob Williams,  reported  on  business  recruiting  efforts,  and most importantly, the plan moving forward to merge government and private-sector money and efforts to help existing businesses develop and look for new opportunities. This plan would also involve local CEOs assisting in the recruitment of companies to relocate or expand to Volusia County.  Williams said the new plan includes private leadership, but provides government "a strong seat at the table."

Local Government Committee Vice Chairman Andrew Young presented a progress report of the Chamber’s recommendations for 2009. He commended the County Council on approving a $614.6 million budget with a general fund tax rate of 5.36 mills (a $20.5 million reduction from the current $634.7 million budget); a first-class Ocean Center that works well with the surrounding neighborhoods; a "balanced" land use plan; support for commuter rail.

Young also spoke of the partnership involving the County, the City of Daytona Beach and a private developer that lead to the construction of the Dunn Avenue extension. For more information, please visit the Chamber's Government Relations page.

Young applauded the County’s efforts to set a "target budget amount" (the General Fund of $132 million would serve as a goal) for FY 2010-11. He also thanked the Council for supporting the Manager's recommendations regarding the contract impasse with the Firefighters Union. 

In response, Council Chairman Frank Bruno commented that the County is continuing its efforts to provide commuter rail transportation into Volusia County. He also expressed the county’s support for a united public-private economic development approach.

The DB City Commission is hosting a workshop regarding the homeless on Wednesday, October 15, from 4-5:15 pm at City Hall. Last year, the Chamber's Homeless Issues Committee worked to facilitate a 10-Year-Plan to End Homelessness for the Volusia-Flagler Coalition for the Homeless - a blueprint to guide the community on how to address the issue in the coming years.

A major point was that we not necessarily seek continued funding but to "redirect" money that is already being spent and use if for different purposes. For example, Halifax Health has a physician at the Homeless Assistance Center each week to treat the individuals for routine ailments. At the same time, this saves Halifax Hospital significant money in their ER.

The Chamber is also encouraging other Volusia communities to recognize their responsibilities regarding homeless individuals in their own backyard instead of letting it be perceived as just a "Daytona problem."

The Chamber sees addressing the homeless as an economic development issue, i.e., any community with an overflow of homeless has an evermore difficult hurdle to land new business.

How would you suggest we seek to manage the homeless situation in the Daytona Beach area? Has the local homeless situation had an impact on your business?