PALM COAST, Fla. - The Palm Coast city government hosted its annual State of the City address Thursday evening, with remarks from City Manager Denise Bevan and Mayor David Alfin. It marked Alfin's second address since being elected in summer 2021, and Bevan's second since being brought on as permanent City Manager in February 2022.
After an introduction by Assistant City Manager Lauren Johnston and performance of the Star Spangled Banner by Melanie DiMartino, Bevan took the podium to deliver the first remarks. Nothing in Bevan's speech was unexpected: she thanked the work of city staff and residents and gave an optimistic forecast for the time to come. "Now is the time to unite and share in the creative process while we plan and build our future together," she said. The line rung true after a period of relatively little contention on a City Council that's gone through disunity in excess in recent years.
Alfin followed Bevan, speaking publicly after finally confirming he'd pursue a second term as Mayor, and not run for the state legislature as many suspected. While critics of the Mayor have no shortage of perceived gripes about his first one-and-a-half years in the post, Alfin stepped up in-kind with no shortage of city initiatives to tout. Namely, the adoption of the USS Gerald R Ford as a sister city, city staff's response to hurricanes Ian and Nicole, and recent work on multiple major city roadways.
Toward the close of Alfin's remarks he took the time to recognize a few community members in front of a packed Palm Coast Community Center:
