City of Daytona Beach Shores recently issued the following announcement.
City Manager Michael T. Booker, who has focused on providing an excellent quality of life for the residents and visitors of Daytona Beach Shores as the City has grown and developed during his 22 years as City Manager, has announced that he will retire this summer.
“It’s been my honor to serve Daytona Beach Shores residents for more than two decades,” Booker said. “We have an outstanding team, and I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished. Our slogan is ‘Life is Better Here,’ and it really is. We’re in an excellent position for the future, with no debt, high-quality City services, well-maintained facilities and several new projects underway.”
Booker’s last day at the helm of the City will be July 8. The City Council will discuss the search for his successor at its next meeting, Jan. 25.
“Michael Booker is among the finest city managers in Florida, and we are fortunate to have had him guide the Shores as it grew into the beautiful and well-run city it is today,” said Daytona Beach Shores Mayor Nancy Miller. “We wish Mike all the best as he retires and thank him for leaving us well-positioned for success as we move forward.”
Booker started as Daytona Beach Shores city manager in October 1999 after serving as city manager of two cities in Delaware. He majored in history at Salsbury State University in Maryland and earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Delaware after choosing city administration as a career path.
“It’s been a wonderful career, working with people and serving the community,” he said. “My favorite part of the job are the employees. We are like a family here at the city.”
Situated on 5.5 miles of pristine beach, Daytona Beach Shores is a mix of residential and commercial that prides itself as a beachside retreat and vibrant municipality. With about 5,000 residents, the Shores is one of Volusia’s smallest cities.
The Shores has grown dramatically during Booker’s tenure. Twenty-six of the 62 condominiums in Daytona Beach Shores have been built since 1999, and the Daytona Max and Oceans 25 are nearing completion. An ExpressCare walk-in clinic operated by Halifax Health opened in 2021. The City launched a successful economic development incentive program to attract additional commercial investment.
“The Shores was a beach motel town when I arrived in 1999, and now we are a growing, thriving condo and resort community,” Booker said.
Major City projects that occurred under Booker’s leadership include the acquisition of an office building for a new City Hall; construction of a new Public Safety building, the Shores Community Center, a Public Works storage facility and the Public Works headquarters behind City Hall; and major sewer treatment projects.
McElroy Park – one of a dozen manicured parks in the Shores – was developed into a large multi-purpose complex for 10 pickleball courts, and the tennis center was added adjacent to the Community Center. Several other parks were constructed, and the City entered agreements to maintain beach parks located within Daytona Beach Shores.
The City has developed a unique model of public safety that combines fire/rescue and police services, with officers cross-trained to respond to all types of emergencies. The Public Safety Department has been awarded Excelsior Status for its accreditation.
Safety, financial responsibility, and the appearance of the community are highly valued. Shores voters approved a major beautification project to move utilities underground and upgrade streetlights, sidewalks and water/sewer lines and, in 2021, the City paid off that debt early, along with other debt in the general fund. As the City prepares to welcome a new city manager, it is officially debt-free.
Booker said he’s looking forward to spending more time with his wife and family during retirement. He’s been in treatment for cancer since 2020. Booker plans to take up the drums again and is excited to have more time to read about history and to travel.
Original source can be found here.
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