Community Improvement

The Civic League's founders envisioned an organization comprised of local businessmen who could utilize their community standing and economic impact to evoke progress in the Daytona Beach area. Perhaps the League's greatest contributions came in its support of projects to improve the community. This support was especially manifested in the League's endorsement of road enhancements and construction plans. The League's reliance on study commissions and expert advice allowed the members to make informed decisions on whether or not to support certain projects. Consequently, since its inception, the Civic League had a profound effect on the building of Daytona's infrastructure and economic development.

One of the original projects endorsed by the founders of the Civic League included the widening of Atlantic Avenue. On May 8, 1965, the News Journal published an article discussing the League's resolution to four-lane Atlantic Avenue from Broadway, North to Granada Avenue in Ormond Beach. The Civic League Executive Committee touted this expansion as the most critical road project on the peninsula. "We should like to see the city and the county and the state cooperate in making such an extension a reality as soon as possible." The Executive Committee continued by stating that all the funds should concentrate on this project and implored the City Commission of Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach, as well as the County Commission, to utilize these funds to acquire right of ways. The Executive Committee's resolution came on the heel of a City Commission decision to postpone any action until after a two-week study on the situation. On May 19, 1965, the Civic League suffered another setback when the Ormond Beach City Commission decided that improvements on Granada Avenue superseded the four-laning of State Road A1A.

In 1969 the J.C. Penney Company tried to acquire "City Island" for the purpose of commercial and residential development. This proposal was controversial for the City Commission, local business owners and Civic League members. City Commissioner Lee Cook issued a statement in the News Journal on February 13, 1969. Cook's statement reflected the opinion that although the J.C. Penney Company should be welcomed to Daytona Beach, they should not be able to buy "City Island." Instead, he recommended leasing the land and requiring that a percentage of annual revenues be paid to the city "with the specific condition that the revenue be designated for parks, recreational facilities and cultural pursuits."

The J.C. Penney plan constituted the bulk of discussion at the February 12, 1969 regular membership meeting of the Civic League. Mr. Coleman discussed the plan with downtown businessmen. He concluded that although some businessmen disapproved, the general consensus was favorable for the J.C. Penney plan. The League then discussed the plan and approved it by a verbal vote. On February 13, 1969, the League issued a statement of approval for the Penney plan based on a seventeen-point outline. The League thought that this development should be architecturally stimulating, attracting both tourist and industry. Also, the project would revitalize the downtown area both aesthetically and economically, thus increasing property value on streets intersecting Beach Street. In addition, the Penney plan would increase the city's tax revenue and stabilize the tax structure. The plan would also create an estimated 1200 jobs and portions of the funds obtained from the transaction could be used for recreational facilities. The final point stipulated that the city should exercise some control over aspects of architecture and traffic to ensure safety and efficiency for the public administration of county government, and that carries with it the responsibility to the Council which makes him answerable for the administration of all affairs of the County.

In many instances Civic League members utilized personal experiences or problems to solve larger problems within the community. On November 3, 1970, Floyd J. Treadway sent a letter to Mrs. Bernice Cohen of the Plaza Hotel in Daytona Beach. The letter was in reference to the World Affairs Forum held in the Plaza's convention hall. Although Tredway commended the hotel for their great facilities and complimentary rooms, he found fault with the attitude of the hotel management. He expressed great displeasure with the hotel's decision not to accommodate the convention members during coffee breaks. Tredway used this problem as a springboard for the problems of the area convention resorts as a whole. Tredway stated that the attitude of the plaza and other convention facilities "has caused considerable concern to the entire business community...to the point where the feeling that the convention hotels are more of a liability to this area than an asset." He pointed out that the community had taken great strides in promoting the convention resorts, but due to the overwhelming number of complaints, had lost confidence in the resort's ability to attract and maintain a steady convention clientele. Tredway then assured Mrs. Cohen that the situation was not hopeless or irreversible, and implored her to take his constructive criticism in the spirit for which it was intended.

Civic League members believed that progress evolved out of a community wide effort. Consequently, the League fostered participation from individuals and organizations representing various aspects of Daytona's population. On August 3, 1971, J. Saxton Lloyd invited nineteen young executives for lunch at the Danish Table Restaurant. The focus of this luncheon was to discuss local projects or activities that were not "receiving the necessary priority attention nor was sufficient pressure being exerted to bring about the successful conclusion of these projects." These projects included road construction with special emphasis on the completion of A1A 4-laning and downtown revitalization, opening causeways with bridges, clearing oyster shells to improve circulation and combat river pollution, the need for more police, airport improvements and area beautification. Also on the list but were not discussed were the employment of black people to improve race relations and the improvement of the public transportation system.

In early 1973 the Department of Natural resources proposed to push the bulkhead line back further off Volusia County beaches. On February 7, 1973, Tom Staed wrote a letter to Civic League members discussing the proposal. In the letter, Staed reminded League members about their endorsement of leaving the bulkhead line at its present location, and he implored the members to contact Jack Pierce and William Carlton of the Department of Natural resources to express the League's position on the issue. In response to Staed's letter, J. Saxton Lloyd drafted a letter to William Carlton on February 8, 1973. Lloyd expressed the position of the league as an interested, concerned citizen and not specifically as a League member. He paid particular attention to the setback line for the beaches between Dunlawton Avenue and Granada Avenue. Lloyd stated that to "change the rules at this late date would be patently unfair to those property owners who conformed to existing regulations when their structures were erected." He ended by urging the Bureau of Beaches and Shores to approve the already existing building line.

Like any democratic organization, the Civic League excelled through diversity of opinion and self-criticism. Consequently, on February 14, 1973, Robert C. Elston offered some constructive criticism in a poignant letter to Louis Samuel. Elston expressed concern over his perception of a change in direction by the Civic League. This perception was formed at the previous membership meeting. He thought that League decisions were based on personal interests rather than the good of the community as a whole. In addition, many of the decisions made were based on viewpoints of admittedly unqualified, biased members. Elston listed six comments made by League members who he considered to be unsupported or not considered thoroughly before a course of action was recommended. This list included: opposition to the new bulkhead line, a study of height and density in Daytona, a seaport for importing, and making Daytona a large central distribution area. Elston sums up his complaints in two objections. First, he thought members should not use the League to support their own interest, but instead should be community minded. Second, the League should examine all views before making a decision or taking a vote. Elston stated that the "Civic League has a responsibility and opportunity to educate the members so that their thinking can mature as the community matures." He concluded by saying that his views were meant to be constructive and strengthen the League.

The League also tackled issues revolving around local utilities. On March 11, 1976, the News Journal article detailed the League's recommendation to the city for an engineering firm to survey the franchise renewal question for Florida Power and Light. Mr. Dan Ashlin, Assistant City Manager, reported that a maximum $120,000 study budget covering the three phases of engineering, economic analysis and legal would determine the benefits to the community and provide more leverage for bargaining with Florida Power and Light. Mr. Marion Harrington, District Manager of Florida Power and Light highlighted the company's long track record in Daytona Beach and the tremendous cost the city would make by switching over to a municipal distribution system. After debating the issue, League members requested that a nationally recognized engineering firm conduct a survey. League President, Donald Holton, stated that the survey should "include economic, service level and legal aspects of whether or not the City of Daytona Beach should renew the franchise of the Florida Power and Light Co. or should provide municipal electrical distribution service."

With the popularity of Daytona's beaches and other tourist attractions, it was only natural that community development progressed by constructing a convention center. On March 3, 1979, a News Journal article discussed the possibility of building an elaborate convention center in Daytona Beach. At a Civic League luncheon, City Manager Howard Tipton and Community Development Director Jimmy Huger announced their plans for this massive undertaking. The meeting with the Civic League was designed to open discussion and promote support before Tipton and Huger went before the City Commission. Their plan called for the construction of a convention center directly on the Ocean with elevated walkways connecting two new parking garages on Auditorium Boulevard and the newly renovated Peabody Auditorium. The convention center would consist of three floors. The first floor would be for a 135 car-parking garage, 34,200 sq. ft. of retail shops and a 3,025 sq. ft. outdoor café. The second floor would hold the main exhibit area, storage space, retail shops, administrative offices and meeting rooms, and public accommodations. The third floor would be devoted to a luxury restaurant. In addition, the plan called for the renovation of the Peabody auditorium, which included added storage space, a new lobby and parking for 50 cars on the South side.

City Manager Tipton claimed that a convention center on the ocean would be a major draw to the Daytona area. Tipton and Huger predicted their plan to be economically feasible because Federal Urban Development Action Grants could be utilized for the two parking garages, thus releasing money for other phases of the convention center. In addition, Huger insisted that the local economy would experience a boom and several blocks surrounding the center would be upgraded. Huger and Tipton did admit; however, that there were still many questions to be addressed and a more detailed plan was in the works for their meeting with the City Commission.

On September 10, 1979, Thomas T. Cobb sent a memo to all Civic League members in which he enclosed a resolution to the County Council urging their acceptance of the Tourist Development Council's site recommendation for the proposed Civic Center. In his memo, he told League members of the Civic League board of directors' decision to approve the resolution. In addition, Cobb stated that he was going to present this resolution before the County Council as being unanimously supported by the League membership. The resolution itself commended the efforts of the Tourist Development Council and implored the County Council to recognize their diligence and approve the site selection.

In the early 1980's League members stumbled upon a dilemma facing many communities around the nation. That problem centered on development at the expense of our environmental resources. On June 6, 1980, the Civic League Executive Committee met to discuss their position on the proposed marina in New Smyrna Beach. The Ponce de Leon Inlet and Port Authority were trying to build the controversial marina but their efforts were being blocked by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation due to the potential threat of environmental damage to the mangrove wetland site. After a meeting with Port Authority Commissioner Dick Brown, the Civic League openly supported the construction of the marina. League Chairman Thomas T. Cobb said that the public benefit of the marina far outweighed any environmental damage, which may occur. The cities of New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater also adopted similar resolutions. On April 20, 1987, the Civic League once again renewed support for the marina project. League Chairman Richard Brown sent a letter to County Council Chairman, Frank Bruno, in which Brown stated the League's approval of the site. Opponents still noted the potential environmental loss that the construction would cause. In addition, many area businessmen feared loss of business to the new facility.

In October of 1980, the Civic League met with County Manager Thomas Kelly and Environmental Officer Barry Appleby to discuss the water situation in Volusia County. After the meeting, the League decided that water would be the top priority of the organization until a viable solution could be achieved. League Chairman Thomas T. Cobb wrote:
“Realizing, as we all do, the absolute necessity for a stable source of potable water, and recognizing the problems which several of our communities, including the City of Daytona Beach, are having, we have determined that this should be our number one project for as long as it takes to complete the review, to publish our findings and recommendations and to bring about a long range solution to this problem."

Thomas Kelly felt that success in solving the County's water problems would come from community leadership such as the leadership found within the Civic League membership. Kelly thought a political solution would be cheap and short range. Likewise, Kelly emphasized cooperation among communities as salt-water intrusion and drought already hard hit many regions of Volusia County.

On August 2, 1988, the Civic League announced their approval of a downtown site for the construction of an 80,000 sq. ft. courthouse facility. League Chairman Richard Brown mailed the results of the League's decision to the County Council, prior to their meeting to discuss the site. The controversy over the site of the courthouse arose over prediction of how the city was going to expand. Some felt that the city's Westward expansion favored the Indian Lake Road site while others wanted the courthouse downtown. The League members, however, endorsed the downtown site over the previous selected site on Indian Lake Road.

In November of 1988, Amendment four on the general election ballot received the Civic League's endorsement. The amendment called for the use of gasoline tax funds to support bonds for the purchase of rights of way highway and bridge projects. Richard Brown said, "We believe that this amendment will speed up construction, help business and consumers, reduce backlog of highway needs and improve air quality." Bridge and road priorities had been a special area of concern for the Civic League for the prior two years.

In 1989, the State of Florida authorized local governments to adopt a sales tax of one cent to be voted on in a countywide referenda. This tax would raise $28,000,000 annually for the county with $3.7 million going to Daytona Beach. These funds would be used for roads, jails and environmental improvement. At a December 7, 1989 Executive Committee meeting, Jay Adams asked for the League's support on the sales tax and Howard Tipton and Tom Kelly both believed that the tax should be local and not on a statewide basis. At a March 16, 1990 meeting, Howard Tipton gave a speech outlining the importance of this tax. He stated the successful counties had support of the newspapers and a great need for roads. The newspapers in Volusia County did not support the taxes but there was a great need for roads. Because of lack of newspaper support the City made a great effort to address as many organizations as possible to gain support.