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.

Debated

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. 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. 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." 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."

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.[^s2] Outcome at April 13 meeting: **minutes not provided — minutes do not record the outcome.**