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Atlantic Beach · Commission Meeting · Mar 23, 2026 · 6:00 PM UTC-04:00 · 0 agenda items · brief v4

At a glance

Atlantic Beach City Commission met March 23, 2026 at 6:00 PM. The night's headline was the contested Neptune Beach water/fire-protection interlocal agreement (Resolution No. 26-48), which the commission tabled 3-1 over citizen objections — the only divided vote of the evening. Commission approved Ordinance No. 90-26-259 on first reading, authorizing a development agreement with Southcoast Capital Partnership, Ltd. for redevelopment of 299 Atlantic Boulevard. Thirteen-plus members of the public signed up to speak during the courtesy-of-the-floor segment, an unusually high turnout driven largely by concern over Resolution No. 26-48. Commissioner Bole also presented a city manager recruitment timeline, signaling that search is moving.

Newsworthy items

Item 8.B: Resolution No. 26-48 — Neptune Beach Potable Water/Fire Protection Interlocal Agreement

  • Recommended: no committee or staff recommendation recorded.
  • Decided: DEFERRED — tabled to the next Commission meeting (April 13, 2026).
  • Vote: 3-1, dissenter: Bruce Bole.
  • Flags: close-vote, public-comment-heavy
  • Confidence: medium — minutes record the vote and the motion but no substantive floor debate beyond "discussion ensued."

The motion, made by Commissioner Kelly and seconded by Commissioner Grant, was to table Resolution No. 26-48 to the April 13, 2026 meeting; it passed 3-1, with Commissioner Bole voting against. The resolution would have authorized a tri-lateral interlocal agreement between Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and TBR Neptune Owner, LLC for potable water fire-protection services. Attorney and resident Carolyn Zisser, whose letters were entered into the official record as Attachment A, argued the agreement goes far beyond fire suppression, writing: "This is not for the purpose of being a 'good neighbor' but is rather to solely assist a developer of property not even in our city." Zisser flagged language in Section 1(b) she said leaves the door open to providing potable water beyond fire suppression, and contended the agreement's real beneficiary is a developer who could sell the property, urging the commission to deny the resolution and vote down the interlocal agreement.

Item 8.F: Resolution No. 26-53 — Nature Connect Florida Community Garden Donation

  • Recommended: no committee or staff recommendation recorded.
  • Decided: PASSED — adopted as amended.
  • Vote: unanimous (4-0) on both the amendment and the final resolution.
  • Flags: surprise-amendment
  • Confidence: high.

Resolution No. 26-53 authorizes acceptance of a charitable in-kind donation from Nature Connect Florida, Inc. for landscape design and installation services at the community garden at Marsh Oaks Community Center, and authorizes the City Manager to execute the donation agreement. During discussion, Judith Leroux answered questions and agreed to include an additional amount to the grant for burying the powerline, not to exceed $6,560 as shown in the quote from Limbaugh Electrical Contracting, Inc. The commission first voted 4-0 to amend the grant agreement to attach that quote, then voted 4-0 to adopt the resolution as amended. Leroux and Lisa Goodrich had earlier delivered a joint presentation on the community garden plans during the courtesy-of-the-floor segment.

Item 9.A: Ordinance No. 90-26-259 — 299 Atlantic Blvd. Development Agreement (First Reading)

  • Recommended: CM Hogencamp recommended adoption on first reading; noted a second reading is required.
  • Decided: PASSED — adopted on first reading; second reading required.
  • Vote: unanimous (no roll call recorded — minutes state "a unanimous vote was taken").
  • Confidence: medium — minutes confirm unanimous passage but do not record individual votes or floor debate.

Ordinance No. 90-26-259 approves a development agreement between the City of Atlantic Beach and Southcoast Capital Partnership, Ltd., authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement to govern the redevelopment of 299 Atlantic Boulevard, providing landscape compensation and allowing for redevelopment of a portion of the existing building. CM Hogencamp recommended adoption on first reading and noted it requires a second reading; NDD Askew gave an overview and answered commission questions. The minutes do not record any dissent or substantive floor debate.

Item 8.A: Resolution No. 26-45 — Sturdivant Avenue Sidewalk Improvements (Bid Award)

  • Recommended: no committee or staff recommendation recorded.
  • Decided: PASSED — Resolution No. 26-45 adopted.
  • Vote: unanimous (4-0).
  • Confidence: high.

Resolution No. 26-45 awards Bid 2526-07 for the Sturdivant Avenue Sidewalk Improvements Project to McLain Site Solutions and authorizes the City Manager to execute the contract and purchase orders. The vote was 4-0 with no dissent or debate recorded in the minutes. This is a straightforward capital bid award but worth flagging given neighborhood sidewalk projects often draw constituent interest.

Item 8.C: Resolution No. 26-49 — Commercial Beach Access & Vehicle Operations Policy

  • Recommended: no committee or staff recommendation recorded.
  • Decided: PASSED — Resolution No. 26-49 approved.
  • Vote: unanimous (4-0).
  • Flags: public-comment-heavy
  • Confidence: high.

Resolution No. 26-49 establishes a policy for commercial beach access and vehicle operations pursuant to City Code Sections 5-16 and 5-30, providing for operational limits, safety standards, and enforcement. Discussion ensued with Laura Conahan before the 4-0 vote. The policy codifies commercial vehicle operations on the beach — a perennial flashpoint in beach communities — making this one to watch for follow-up from operators or residents.

Item 8.D: Resolution No. 26-50 — Residential Turf Block Cost-Sharing Program

  • Recommended: no committee or staff recommendation recorded.
  • Decided: PASSED — Resolution No. 26-50 adopted.
  • Vote: unanimous (4-0).
  • Confidence: high.

Resolution No. 26-50 authorizes establishment of a residential turf block cost-sharing program for public rights-of-way and authorizes the City Manager to execute necessary contracts and agreements. No debate recorded. This is a new spending program — reporters should check whether funding source or cap amounts were discussed in the attached manager handout.

Item 8.E: Resolution No. 26-52 — Marsh Oaks Community Center Parking Improvements (Bid Award)

  • Recommended: no committee or staff recommendation recorded.
  • Decided: PASSED — Resolution No. 26-52 adopted.
  • Vote: unanimous (4-0).
  • Confidence: high.

Resolution No. 26-52 awards Bid 2526-10 for the Marsh Oaks Community Center Parking Improvements Project to J. Howard Construction, authorizing the City Manager to execute the contract and purchase orders. The City Manager's community update notes a July 2026 soft opening remains on schedule and that a community center and garden ribbon-cutting is now planned for September.

Item 8.G: Resolution No. 26-54 — Civic Consulting Group Agreement / Interlocal Review (RFP 26-01)

  • Recommended: no committee or staff recommendation recorded.
  • Decided: PASSED — Resolution No. 26-54 approved.
  • Vote: unanimous (4-0).
  • Confidence: medium — minutes record vote but limited detail on scope or cost.

Resolution No. 26-54 authorizes the City Manager to execute a consulting services agreement with Civic Consulting Group, LLC for the review and development of the interlocal agreement (RFP 26-01) and authorizes a cost-sharing arrangement with the City of Jacksonville. The Jacksonville cost-share element is worth a follow-up — the minutes do not record what share each city bears or the total contract value.

Item 3.B / 4.A: Beaches Town Center Parking & City Manager Recruitment

  • Recommended: no committee or staff recommendation recorded.
  • Decided: CONSENSUS (non-binding) on parking; recruitment timeline presented only.
  • Vote: no roll call recorded.
  • Confidence: low — minutes record consensus language but no formal vote.

There was a consensus to send the City Manager back to Neptune Beach to ratify the $2.50 rate and delay any restructuring of the partnership agreement until December 31, 2026. The Neptune Beach City Council has voted unanimously to maintain the paid parking rate at $2.50 per hour through Dec. 31, enabling both cities to evaluate a full year of data before considering rate adjustments. Separately, Commissioner Bole presented a proposed timeline for the city manager recruitment, noting the intention is to avoid delays.

Consent agenda

  • Item 6.A: Resolution No. 26-51 — Accept water and sewer infrastructure in Coastal Haven Subdivision (PASSED).
  • Item 6.B: Resolution No. 26-43 — Designate 42-inch live oak at 1440 East Coast Dr. as heritage tree (PASSED).
  • Item 6.C: Resolution No. 26-47 — Award RFP No. 26-02 multi-year environmental laboratory services contract (PASSED).

All three passed 4-0 on a single motion by Bole, seconded by Kelly.

Skipped

Skipped: call to order and pledge of allegiance; roll call; approval of March 9, 2026 minutes (routine 4-0); Water Conservation Month Proclamation (ceremonial photo op with Doug Conkey); commissioner closing comments (Bole complimented Beaches Town Center Agency; Kelly and Grant offered brief thank-yous); City Manager report items 3.C–3.E (stormwater, Senate Bill 64, other reports — informational only, no action); 90-day calendar acceptance (consensus, no vote); recess at 7:59 PM / reconvene at 8:04 PM; adjournment at 8:37 PM.