Charter Review Com letter to City Commissionv01 26 15 (2)Charter Review Committee
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32202
January 21, 2015
Carolyn Woods, Mayor
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Ref: Charter Review Committee
Dear Mayor:
It is with great pleasure that on behalf of the Charter Review Committee you will find attached the
revision of the Charter of Atlantic Beach. After 17 meetings, we are pleased to submit this document for
your consideration and submission to the citizens of our City.
Much thorough discussion and debate has led to the results which you will find herein. We look forward
to working with you in the upcoming workshop to answer questions that you may have.
A couple of open items the Committee has requested that I bring to your attention are:
1. Coastal Resiliency Committee proposal – as referenced in the Committee minutes of the
December 4th meeting:
Coastal communities have become more and more aware of the threat of global warming and
the prevailing threat of the rise of ocean levels that will affect future generations of Atlantic
Beach residents. Our Committee believes that it is incumbent for this Commission and future
Commissions to monitor the year to year oceanic changes relating to rising tides. To accomplish
this, the Committee believes that you consider enacting an ordinance to create a standing
committee to be vigilante on behalf of the residents of our barrier island.
One of the ideas that was discussed in depth is the possible relaxation of our 35’ height
limitation for new construction only allowing new residences to be “built nine (9) feet off grade
to permit tidal surges to flow under said buildings. Permitted use of space under said buildings
shall only be allowed for residential off-street parking. Under no circumstances shall such space
be enclosed or encumbered for ANY use other than for parking and tidal surge relief. Said
spaces shall remain clear and shall not be enclosed for any reason. All other buildings not
seeking this relief shall comply with thirty-five (35) feet maximum height…”
2. Number of Commission seats as referenced in the Committee minutes of the December 15th
meeting:
The Committee is recommending for consideration by the citizens that district representation be
revised whereby the Commissioner residing in a district be elected by electors residing in that
district rather than being elected to office at-large by electors citywide.
As part of this discussion, a recommendation was made to increase from five (5) Commissioners
to seven (7) Commissioners where three (3) Commissioners, including the Mayor, be elected at-
large while the four (4) district Commissioners be elected by electors residing in that specific
district. The motion failed for the reason of a split vote three (3) for and three (3) against. It is
thought that the Commission may consider acting on this item as it is the only issue that the
Committee could not technically come to definitive decision but rather a technical decision by
failing to get a majority if favor or against.
Please consider the above as a communication from the Charter Review Committee.
On behalf of the Charter Review Committee, I remain
Sincerely,
Donald M. Wolfson
Chairman
cc: Charter Review Committee members
City Manager