Board Member Says He's Confident That A Safe Zone Will Be Created

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Daytona Beach, FL - When the city of Daytona Beach said they were not going to build or pay for a safe zone at First Step Shelter, board members, the executive director and a number of city officials in Volusia County were caught by surprise.  The safe zone would make the Shelter compliant with the Pottinger Law and was a big reason cities signed up to make an annual contribution to First Step.

Board member Chase Tramont, also a Port Orange City Councilman, said when the announcement was made by the city of Daytona Beach, "If there's no safe zone, Port Orange will be done." A number of other city officials said the same thing. Dwight Selby, vice-chair of the First Step Shelter Board and also an Ormond Beach City Commissioner said that being that having a safe zone Pottinger compliant by having a safe zone was part of the original promise from the city of Daytona Beach. He said the First Step Shelter is important to residents and so is the safe zone. 

Selby says he's highly confident that a safe zone will be created and that he's hopeful that it will be created and operate at a much lower cost than the numbers that have been thrown around. He said First Step is a collaborative effort. Selby said he personally focuses on the big goal of helping to change people's lives. "As long as we stay focused in on that, we will get through this challenge also."

At the last meeting, Executive Director Victoria Fahlberg was instructed to come back with some ideas on how to create a safe zone at a reasonable cost. The next meeting is scheduled for Janaury 27.

safe zone, first step shelter