- February 24, 2025
Commissioners seek to avoid duplication
Some Ormond Beach residents may not realize there is a group of people looking out for the quality of their life, but the Quality of Life Advisory Board has been around for 20 years.
Over the years, other advisory boards have been developed, and the City Commission voted at their Feb. 17 meeting to modify the duties of the Quality of Life Board to eliminate duplication.
One task removed by the commission is to “advise and make recommendations to the city commission on all facets of recreation and recreational facilities to the city.” Commissioners had commented at earlier meetings that these duties were also handled by the Leisure Services Advisory Board.
Also taken out of their baliwick is neighborhood improvement matters, because the commission has a Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Board.
Dr. Philip Shapiro, current chairman of the Quality of Life Board, said in an interview later that there have always been situations of advisory boards overlapping in responsibilities. Quite often, through the years, projects would be reviewed by more than one board.
They were very involved with Andy Romano Beachfront Park and the Environmental Learning Center, along with the Leisure Services Advisory Board. They once took a field trip to the airport to look at business opportunities, even though there is an Aviation Advisory Board.
“There are two ways to look at things,” he said. “I suppose they want to streamline and make things more efficient.”
Shapiro has been a member of the Quality of Life Board since 1996, and said when it was first formed, it had a broad scope of responsibility, much as the name implies. The board was asked to advise the commission on recreation, environment, aesthetics, economic development and building deterioration in the business district.
“They took a number of committees and formed the Quality of Life Board to cover a wide range of issues,” Shapiro said. “The city wanted a consensus of opinion.”
Board members are appointed by the commissioners from a pool of interested citizen, and a liaison from the city coordinates their meetings. For example, the Leisure Services Board is overseen by the Leisure Services Department, and often consists of individuals involved in local sports. The Airport Advisory Board liaison is the airport manager. There are several other boards, and they can be found under “Boards and Committees” on the city website, ormondbeach.org.
Duties that remain for the Quality of Life Advisory Board include cultural activities, educational programs and beautification of public property.
Also remaining is a duty to provide advice on issues related to the Volusia County Public Library. Shapiro said he does not ever recall a matter related to the library coming before the board.
They also still have a duty to preserve and prevent deterioration in the central business district, an area that overlaps with Ormond MainStreet. Shapiro said they have been less involved with this area as MainStreet has become more active. However, they are still often involved with the Historic Landmark Preservation Board.
Shapiro said all of the advisory boards were affected by the recession, because there was less money and fewer projects initiated by the city.
“We’re just coming out of it,” he said.
The Quality of Life Board once had 11 members but recently there are only seven, because some members chose not to continue. The City Commission recently reduced the number to seven in the bylaws to match the current number.
Shapiro said there was never a lack of interest among members of the Quality of Life Advisory Board. He remembers only one time when there was not a quorum for a meeting.
“We have always been a very well prepared board and given good input to the city commission,” he said.
He said the board is ready to provide input on any topic the commission asks them to consider, and he thinks there will more projects to review, now that the economy is improving.
“I’m very optimistic,” he said. “We have turned the corner.”
