At a glance

The April 13, 2026 Atlantic Beach City Commission meeting featured second reading and public hearing of Ordinance No. 90-26-259, the Ragtime redevelopment development agreement requiring Southcoast Capital Partnership to pay $162,595 in lieu of on-site landscaping. The potable-water fire-protection interlocal agreement (Resolution No. 26-48) returns after a contested 3-1 tabling at the March 23 meeting, where Commissioner Bole was the lone dissenter. A citizen attorney (Carolyn Zisser) submitted formal written opposition to that resolution, raising liability and scope concerns. The March 23 minutes also record twelve public speakers during general comment, an unusually heavy turnout concentrated around the water fire-line issue. No minutes from the April 13 meeting itself were provided — outcomes below are drawn from the March 23 minutes (items carried forward) plus the agenda; confidence is noted accordingly.

Newsworthy items

Item 8.A (March 23 action, returning April 13): Resolution No. 26-48 — Neptune Beach Fire Water Interlocal

• Recommended: Staff does not object to execution of this Interlocal Agreement to provide essential fire safety infrastructure while ensuring no financial burden is placed on the residents of Atlantic Beach.¹
• Decided: At the March 23 meeting, DEFERRED. Motion to table (continue) this resolution to the next Commission meeting (April 13, 2026); Motion: Candace Kelly, Second: Thomas Grant. Curtis Ford — For; Bruce Bole — Against; Thomas Grant — For; Candace Kelly — For. Motion passed 3 to 1.² Outcome at April 13 meeting: minutes not provided — minutes do not record the outcome.
• Vote (March 23 tabling): 3-1, dissenter: Bruce Bole.
• Flags: close-vote, public-comment-heavy, deferred-again
• Confidence: Medium (March 23 action confirmed; April 13 outcome unknown — no minutes supplied).

The developer of the property at 500 Atlantic Boulevard in Neptune Beach is planning a significant redevelopment project. Initial infrastructural reviews indicate that the City of Neptune Beach is currently unable to provide water service sufficient to meet fire flow test standards for the site.³ The deal would route an Atlantic Beach water main under Atlantic Boulevard for fire-suppression only, with the developer bearing all construction costs. The developer must terminate service from Atlantic Beach and switch to Neptune Beach's system once Neptune Beach is capable of providing adequate fire flow.⁴ Heavy citizen pushback was on record before the April 13 hearing: attorney Carolyn Zisser wrote that she was "surprised and dismayed" to see the resolution, given "strong opposition expressed by our citizens at prior meetings to providing water suppression to the developer of property in Neptune Beach," arguing "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."⁵ A second commenter, Nancy Staats, raised water-pressure risk: she asked "Have you considered what happens when BOTH NB and AB face a significant fire…? Have we done a study to determine that? In addition, the chronic use of our water by NB over time may well have a negative impact on OUR water pressure."⁶

Item 9.A: Ordinance No. 90-26-259 — Ragtime Redevelopment Development Agreement (Public Hearing & Final Reading)

• Recommended: Staff recommended adoption on second reading. Recommendation: Adopt Ordinance No. 90-26-259 on second read.⁷
• Decided: At March 23 first reading, a unanimous vote was taken to Adopt Ordinance No. 90-26-259 on first reading.⁸ April 13 final reading outcome: minutes not provided — minutes do not record the outcome.
• Vote (first reading): Unanimous (no roll call recorded individually; described as unanimous).
• Confidence: Medium (first reading confirmed; April 13 final outcome unknown).

The south end of the existing building (former Ragtime Restaurant) is being redeveloped to include significant interior remodeling and adding rooftop dining space; as a result the project triggered Section 24-176(3), requiring a landscape buffer between the building and the street.⁹ The existing property was developed with zero setbacks along Atlantic Boulevard and Ocean Boulevard making it impracticable to install the required landscaping between the building and the street; installing or enhancing landscaping at the property located at 0 Ahern (parking lot) would significantly reduce the number of available parking spaces.¹⁰ The developer estimated the cost to install the required landscaping at $162,595.00, and staff concurred. The proposed Development Agreement provides that, in lieu of installing the required landscaping on site, the developer would contribute this amount to the City. The agreement states that the funds shall be "deposited into the City's Beaches Town Center Fund, Tree Fund, or another designated City account and used exclusively for off-site landscaping or environmental enhancements within the Beaches Town Center area of the City."¹¹

Item 9.B: Ordinance No. 20-26-182 — Budget Amendment (First Reading)

• Recommended: Approve Ordinance No. 20-26-182.¹²
• Decided: Introduction and first reading only — April 13 outcome: minutes not provided.
• Vote: No roll call recorded.
• Confidence: Low — agenda-level only; no minutes.

The budgets of three funds need to be amended.¹³ Key drivers: Following the issuance of RFP 26-01, Civic Consulting Group, LLC was selected to perform a comprehensive forensic fiscal analysis. The City of Atlantic Beach and the City of Jacksonville have agreed to equally share the professional fees associated with this study.¹⁴ Additionally, the budget creates a new Landscaping and Environmental Enhancement Special Revenue Fund to receive the $162,595 Southcoast payment from Item 9.A, and recognizes CDBG grant revenue for Marsh Oaks Community Center parking improvements. Budget impact: General Fund +$44,575 revenues / +$89,150 expenditures; CDBG Fund +$196,751 revenues / +$196,751 expenditures; Landscaping and Environmental Enhancement Fund +$162,595 revenues / +$162,595 expenditures.¹⁵

Item 8.B: Resolution No. 26-58 — T-Mobile Hometown Grant Application

• Recommended: Adopt Resolution No. 26-58.¹⁶
• Decided: April 13 outcome: minutes not provided.
• Vote: No roll call recorded.
• Confidence: Low — agenda-level only.

Staff has applied for new playground equipment at Beaches Veterans Memorial Park.¹⁷ If the City is awarded the T-Mobile Hometown Grant resulting from a submitted application, an additional resolution will be required to authorize the Mayor or City Manager to execute the grant agreement.¹⁸ No direct budget impact unless awarded; would need to be included in FY 26-27 budget if successful.

Item 8.C: Resolution No. 26-59 — School Boundary Recommendation to Duval County School Board

• Recommended: Staff recommends the adoption of Resolution No. 26-59 to advocate for the City's educational priorities and the long-term social cohesion of the community.¹⁹ Submitted by CM Hogencamp on behalf of Commissioner Kelly.
• Decided: April 13 outcome: minutes not provided.
• Vote: No roll call recorded.
• Confidence: Low — agenda-level only.

Currently, student assignment plans managed by the Duval County School Board (DCSB) impact the social and economic fabric of the City. This Resolution seeks to formally recommend that the DCSB prioritize local zoning to maintain the "small-town" character of Atlantic Beach.²⁰ The City formally requests that the DCSB establish attendance boundaries ensuring all public school students residing within municipal limits are zoned for Atlantic Beach Elementary School as their "first choice."²¹ Atlantic Beach Elementary School has served as an "A-rated" anchor institution for generations, providing historical continuity and a unique sense of identity for residents.²² No fiscal impact.

Item 7.A: Board/Committee Appointments

• Recommended: BMRC recommended the slate of appointments at its March 26, 2026 meeting.
• Decided: April 13 outcome: minutes not provided.
• Vote: No roll call recorded.
• Confidence: Low.

The Board Member Review Committee met on March 26, 2026 to address vacancies on various boards and committees. Recommendations include: Douglas Moody elevated from CDB alternate to regular member; Nancy Staats as CDB First Alternate; Kelly Elmore as CDB Second Alternate; Matthew Mattila to ESC; Eran Tobol to ARCC; and Roy Goldman to G-PBOT.²³ Notably, the BMRC reconsidered its previous recommendation regarding Ian Brown as the second alternate member due to ongoing delays in establishing residency. Following a failed vote on the original motion, a new recommendation was approved.²⁴ The Ian Brown motion failed 0-5 at the BMRC level.

Item 3.B (March 23): Beaches Town Center Parking

• Recommended: No committee or staff recommendation recorded.
• Decided: CONSENSUS — no formal vote. There was a consensus to send the CM back to Neptune Beach to ratify the $2.50 rate and delay any restructuring of the partnership agreement until December 31, 2026.²⁵
• Vote: Consensus, no roll call recorded.
• Confidence: Medium.

The Neptune Beach City Council voted unanimously to maintain the paid parking rate at $2.50 per hour through Dec. 31. This enables both cities to evaluate a full year of data before considering rate adjustments and sets the stage for extending the interlocal agreement.²⁶ This item reappears on the April 13 agenda as item 3.D.

Item 6.A (Consent): Resolution No. 26-55 — WWTP Chlorination Change Order

• Recommended: Staff recommended adoption. Adopt Resolution No. 26-55.²⁷
• Decided: On consent agenda for April 13. March 23 outcome: not on that meeting's consent block. April 13 outcome: minutes not provided.
• Vote: No roll call recorded.
• Confidence: Low.

Prior to demolition, the contractor identified conditions requiring the relocation of electrical connections not indicated in the original design. Additionally, the department recommends a substitute for the originally specified chemical feed pumps due to documented manufacturer and reliability concerns with the initial brand.²⁸ The original contract was awarded for $1,290,000.00. This change order totals $61,288.42, bringing the revised contract amount to $1,351,288.42. Funding for this increase is available through the reallocation of surplus funds from Project PU2210 (Digester Catwalk Replacement), which currently holds an unused balance of $127,907.00.²⁹

Consent agenda

The April 13 agenda lists one consent item:

• Item 6.A: Resolution No. 26-55 — Change order authorizing $61,288.42 for the WWTP Chlorination-Dechlorination Upgrades Project (outcome not recorded — minutes not provided).³⁰

From the March 23 meeting, the following consent items passed 4-0:

• Items 6A–6C passed 4-0: Resolution No. 26-51 (Coastal Haven water/sewer infrastructure acceptance), Resolution No. 26-43 (42-inch live oak heritage tree designation at 1440 East Coast Dr.), and Resolution No. 26-47 (multi-year environmental laboratory services contract, RFP No. 26-02).³¹

Skipped

Call to order, invocation and pledge, approval of March 23 minutes (Item 1.A), Police Department Volunteer Appreciation ceremony (Item 2.A — Joni Lyon, Joe Esparza, James Johnson), 90-Day Calendar acceptance (Item 3.A), STOP Committee Report (Item 3.B), FY 2026-27 Priorities Update (Item 3.C), Community Bright Spots Project (Item 3.E), Other Reports (Item 3.F), City Manager Recruitment Update discussion (Item 4.A), City Attorney/City Clerk Reports (Item 11), and Closing Comments (Item 12) were skipped as procedural, calendrical, or ceremonial in nature. No minutes from the April 13 meeting were supplied, so outcomes for all items on that agenda — including all voted resolutions and ordinances — cannot be confirmed beyond what the agenda text and March 23 precedents establish.

References