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Commissioner urges tighter controls on large events to protect Daytona Beach residents and historic sites
Summary
A Daytona Beach commissioner said the city must be more selective about events to protect elderly residents, children, pets and the city’s historic character, citing recent damage from a truck event and proposals to expand family-oriented sports facilities.
A Daytona Beach commissioner said the city should be more selective about what events it allows in order to protect vulnerable residents, historic sites and neighborhoods.
“There are 3 areas that really, really penetrate my mind. I'm concerned about our elderly. Mhmm. And I'm concerned about our children, and I'm concerned about about, about pets and how they're all being being treated,” the commissioner said in a recorded discussion.
The remarks came during a conversation about Daytona Beach’s identity as an “event-seasoned” city that sees population increases during recurring events. The commissioner said that growth creates opportunities but also strains the city and can produce damage if events are not managed.
“We've come a long way from the, from just being the the, spring break break city because we host so many different things now. I do think, though, that we have to be more conscientious of what we allow to come to our town. You know, we have to determine what type of city we want to be. What do we want to be named for?” she said.
The commissioner urged promoting more family-oriented attractions tied to recently renovated sports facilities. “I'd love to see more family oriented, events. I don't like it when, for example, when that we had that truck event, and they just tore up our city, just running through the beach with their wheels and, you know, urinating people's yards, all that sort of stuff. It's not what we wanna be known for,” the commissioner said, and added she would like to see a track around the remodeled stadium to draw families.
She also pointed to Daytona Beach’s cultural and historic assets, noting homes associated with Mary McLeod Bethune and Howard Thurman and recalling that “Jackie Robinson was allowed to play here when he wasn't allowed to play down the street in Sanford.” Those references framed an argument for using history and family programming to shape the city’s event strategy.
No motion, vote or formal policy change was recorded in the provided discussion; the remarks were presented as part of a conversation about priorities for events and city identity rather than as a staff direction or commission action.
City residents and officials considering event permitting and public-safety plans could use the commissioner’s points about vulnerable populations and historic-preservation goals when reviewing future applications for large events.
