NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. The New Smyrna Beach City Commission jump-started what had been a laundry list of stalled projects that are considered key to the city's future growth and service needs, including parks, infrastructure and other capital needs at a "retreat" earlier today at the Atlantic Center for the Arts. The daylong session was moderated by Steven Rosenthal (lower left), who was paid $1,750.
In the far left photo are Commissioners James Hathaway, Randy Richenberg and Lynne Plaskett and Interim City Manager Khalid Resheidat. In the far right photo are Commissioners Richenberg and Jack Grasty, Mayor Sally Mackay, Commissioner Hathaway, Interim City Manager Resheidat (standing) and Commissioner Plaskett.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The $6 million-plus Esther Street project is moving forward.
The beachside park that includes off-beach parking, recreation and drainage improvements, is among myriad items jumpstarted by serious discussions during a day-long retreat today by city officials at the Atlantic Center for the Arts.
Having spent $4.4 million already last year to acquire two small parcels last year, the project had been stalled as have several other big ticket items, criticisms that led to the ouster of City Manager John Hagood earlier this year among a divided City Commission.
But there was no division at Wednesday's power session, spearheaded by Interim City Manager Khalid Resheidat, who wanted to jump-start projects that have become bogged down either because of funding shortages, politics, or other reasons.
Though $1,750 was spent on a moderator to lead the session, Resheidat felt it was a wise investment, especially in getting department heads and elected officials to speak candidly about the pressing issues that needed to be dealt with.
Everyone was in agreement Wednesday that Esther Street is a priority item and a big first step was a general consensus to move ahead with establishing "conceptual plans" for the City Commission to vote on, a pre-requisite for New Smyrna Beach receiving another couple million in the form of state grants to fund the actual development of the 1.91-acre site that dead-ends at the ocean. It would provide 52 off-beach parking spaces, as well as a picnic area, volleyball courts and improved rainwater drainage for nearby homes.
Resheidat told the gathering that if all goes well, the Esther Street project could be a reality in two to three years.
Among other issues discussed were city office relocation plans, capital equipment purchases and football stadium improvements, to name a few.
The football stadium, home to the New Smyrna Beach High 'Cudas, is in need of repairs, primrily the bleachers. After discussing the issue at length, three scenarios emerged: Keep it the way it is, but follow through with periodic inpections, do repairs that range from $126,000 to $421,000, or replace them altogether at a cost of nearly half a million dollars.
As for city offices, a short-term goal may be to use the former high school to alleviate crowding or for the long haul, add on to City Hall or expand facilities on adjacent properties.
A $5.3 million vehicle fleet replacement program that would create a seaparate line item in the general budget was introduced as well as maintenance and upgrades to fire stations.
Because this was a retreat, no concrete action or decisions could be formally made. Such issues have to be addressed by the City Commission in formal session after the public has been notified.
Only a handful of residents and media representatives attended the retreat, among them, Robert Rees, a frequent critic of city government spending, who said afterward he was impressed by the dialogue, especially the movement on Esther Street.
"I was against this project, but now that it has become a reality, I'm pleased they are finally moving ahead to get started on it," Rees said.