Approximately 400 people, including New Smyrna Beach residents and city officials, gathered at the Brannon Center April 21 to hear from city commissioners and listen to Mayor Fred Cleveland’s State of the City address.
The mayor and commissioners gave updates on several topics, including recent infrastructure improvements, environmental efforts, transportation issues, growth and management, and more.
Cleveland highlighted local schools’ academic and athletic successes; praised citizens making a difference in their communities and City Manager Kevin Cowper’s work since starting in August; and led the swearing-in ceremony of Chris Kirk as the city’s new chief of police.
Local high school athletes receive shoutout from New Smyrna Beach Mayor Fred Cleveland during State of the City event, Monday, April 21, 2025.
NSB Commissioners look back on 2024; update what’s next
The event started with pre-recorded videos from each City Commission member discussing the latest updates about their zones and what they have focused on in the last year.
Zone 1 Commissioner Valli Perrine highlighted the city’s recent efforts to “help and reduce” the homeless population in the city, the completion of Barracuda Bridge, and the upcoming Washington Street improvements project.
Perrine also pointed to the city’s agreement with First Step Shelter to offer temporary housing and rehabilitation services to willing homeless people in the city, the police department’s Community Outreach Unit and other programs helping the homeless population.
Zone 2 Commissioner and Vice Mayor Lisa Martin gave updates on the city’s beachside. With the help of David Ray, the city’s maintenance operations director, they highlighted recent landscape and infrastructure improvements at Flagler Avenue.
She also appeared alongside Kirk to discuss how the police department has handled the challenges of spring break week.
Christopher Kirk, pictured here with his wife, is sworn in as New Smyrna Beach’s chief of police during State of the City event, Monday, April 21, 2025.
Zone 3 Commissioner Jason McGuirk said the “health and stability of our city is in a very positive position.”
McGuirk mentioned recent flood control efforts, some in partnership with surrounding cities and with Volusia County, and also praised Cowper’s work since he was hired last summer.
Zone 4 Commissioner Brian Ashley took the opportunity to encourage residents to come to City Commission meetings to make their voices heard.
In a video inside the City Commission chambers, Ashley explained how members of the public can come up to the podium and speak about what is happening in their neighborhood.
“No issue is too small,” Ashley said. “If it concerns you as a citizen of New Smyrna Beach, the commission wants to hear from you.”
Communicating with residents, ensuring ‘quality of life’
Cleveland then took the stage and began his State of the City address, with a “focus on the importance of creating our future.”
He praised the efforts of Donna Athearn, a resident in the Corbin Park neighborhood, in advocating for and helping realize projects that aim to rehabilitate the Turnbull Canal.
Cleveland used her as an example of residents who “have not waited for a direction or a formal call to action.
New Smyrna Beach Mayor Fred Cleveland steps on stage to speak during State of the City event, Monday, April 21, 2025.
“They have seen the need, they have jumped in to fill a void, enhancing the quality of life for all of us in the process.”
The mayor discussed what he called the five “strategic pillars, which guide our planning and the way your city looks to shape its future.”
On “communication and trust,” Cleveland said the city increased the number of workshops, town halls and seminars “on challenging topics,” such as flooding and preserving beaches and growth.
He also highlighted the city’s cellphone notification system during preparation for storms and hurricanes.
On “quality of life,” the mayor pointed to development service staff’s recent efforts to update and “tighten” stormwater regulations in the city’s Land Development Code.
He also praised the leisure services department on the skate park’s expansion, the city marina’s renovation and city-wide road improvements
Growth management challenges, protecting NSB’s environment
Cleveland then spoke about growth management, saying the city’s challenge “is not the paradox of ‘either or,’ but we must manage the polarities of ‘and’ and ‘how’ related to what our future holds.”
He said that “old town New Smyrna is likely full and needs to be preserved and celebrated for its character and cozy feel.”
“Businesses are filling our vacant building and giving the city vitality while renovating and preserving our architectural heritage.”
The mayor praised local efforts to protect the city’s environment, highlighting the Marine Discovery Center’s recent work to create a living shoreline and to educate residents about natural defenses to hurricanes and storms.
Trey Hannah carries oyster reef break, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, as work continues on the latest living shoreline project at the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach.
“From a recovery perspective, over $7 million in state funding has been obtained to eliminate septic tanks in Silver Sands, which borders our precious Indian River Lagoon,” Cleveland said.
Lastly, the mayor said the city recognizes “that our existing infrastructure has the challenge of meeting our current needs while remaining nimble enough to prepare for our future.”
Last year’s parking task force offered several ideas about how the city could deal with parking and traffic issues. One of those, creating a mobility department, is already on course with the hiring of a director.
Cleveland closed his speech saying “one word cannot summarize the power” of individual efforts from residents and city staff working together for the city’s benefit.
“The state of the city is our hands,” he said. “To protect and secure for generations to come.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NSB mayor, commissioners update residents at State of the City