East Volusia News

Also: Commissioners approve 4th of July fireworks and first phase of North Causeway boat ramp improvements, appoint new Parking Task Force

During last night’s March 14 City Commission meeting, Interim Chief of Police Eric Feldman delivered a midway update on enhanced law enforcement operations being undertaken during spring break as part of a mutual aid agreement between the New Smyrna Beach Police Department, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and other municipal agencies.

“Four days in, we’ve written 380 traffic citations, primarily on Flagler Avenue. To put that in perspective, all of last year we wrote 3,700,” reported Feldman. “We’ve also had 31 arrests, so about half of those are felony arrests. Typically what we’re seeing are kids from out of town with narcotics and alcohol and, just a couple of hours ago, a 16-year-old with a handgun that was cruising around Flagler, and there was also narcotics in the car.”

Feldman also reported on the success of preventative measures.

“We’ve been able to set the tone early, which was our intention. So, as they’re coming into town, they’re met with what appears to be a gauntlet of very friendly officers. If their music is too loud, if they’re not wearing their seatbelt, if they’re speeding, they’re immediately addressed. So, it kind of sets that tone and I’m happy to report we have not had a single issue in the evening time past 10 o’clock,” continued Feldman. “So, we have not had to enforce the curfew because they’re asking us all day long about the curfew. It’s on the reader board signs as they come into town. By 10 or 10:30 p.m., it’s like a ghost town.”

On Feb. 28, city commissioners unanimously voted 4-0 to approve a citywide curfew for unaccompanied minors from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and legal holidays. Penalties include a written warning followed by $50 to $100 fines for subsequent violations. Commissioners also agreed to revisit the necessity of a permanent youth curfew later this year at their Oct. 10 regular meeting.

In other legislative action, commissioners:

• Awarded a $6,425 Community Redevelopment Agency grant for exterior foundation and wall repairs to The Church Parish Nurse Ministries, Inc. located at 699 West St.
• Approved a $75,496.50 contract to Kynex, Inc. for the city’s 4th of July fireworks display, which is hosted annually at Riverside Park.
• Agreed on a $111,000 contract to Dredging and Marine Consultants for design, engineering, and construction administration and an application to the Florida Inland Navigation District to fund 50% ($560,000) of Phase I construction costs for North Causeway boat ramp improvements.
• Appointed seven members to a new Parking Task Force established to evaluate and make recommendations on a range of citywide parking issues over the next six months. They include Zoe Neuner, Jay Pendergast, Anthony Otte, Serge Sorese, Wayne Lundberg, O.E. Burke, and Elizabeth Jones.

Would you like to know more? Watch video replay of this meeting at https://bit.ly/3FpeUdC and contact the City Clerk’s Office at clerk@cityofnsb.com or 386-410-2630.

Original source can be found here.