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Residents urge fixes for boardwalk stairs, flood control and call for CRA and sales-tax transparency
Summary
During public comment on Jan. 8 residents raised recurring problems with boardwalk access and steps, urged long-term flood mitigation for Fairway Estates and proposed ideas for CRA transparency and better sales-tax distribution; commissioners and staff acknowledged the concerns and pointed to ongoing and planned follow-ups.
Multiple Daytona Beach residents used the Jan. 8 public-comment period to press the commission on recurring local problems, including boardwalk stairs that fail in storms, neighborhood flooding, concerns about CRA spending and the city's share of sales tax revenues.
John Nicholson, whose remarks focused on beach access, said the boardwalk stairs installed in prior repairs fail in storms and suggested reinstalling concrete steps that lasted decades rather than current breakaway or metal designs. "I'm asking you to look at it because, we make money off the tourist," Nicholson said, urging the city to consider more durable stair design to keep beach access open for visitors.
Several residents asked the commission to address chronic flooding in Fairway Estates and other low-lying areas. One resident proposed enlarging retention facilities or adding storage tanks to hold stormwater until tides allow outfall; commissioners and staff acknowledged ongoing work on drainage and said staff is looking into long-term mitigation.
Speakers also addressed financial issues: one commenter urged the commission to press county and state officials for a fairer distribution of sales-tax and tourist-related revenues, saying Daytona Beach provides a disproportionate share of tax receipts; another asked for greater transparency on Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) expenditures and questioned the status of funds in a specific CRA account.
Other public comments urged more enforcement and cleanup around Beville Road/Walmart and mentioned new local businesses investing in commercial corridors. Commissioners acknowledged the comments, thanked city departments for cleanup and code-enforcement efforts and said staff would follow up on specific requests.
None of the citizen remarks triggered immediate votes; several items were referred to appropriate departments for follow-up.
