Resolution No. 21-28RESOLUTION NO. 21-28
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA,
REQUESTING THAT THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REALLOCATE
$937,500 IN FUNDING FOR ATLANTIC BEACH PROJECTS IN ITS FIVE-
YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Atlantic Beach and the Consolidated City of Jacksonville have an
excellent history of working in harmony, particularly in recent years; and
WHEREAS, in its Five -Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), the City of Jacksonville has
allocated $937,500 for the acquisition of Johnston Island in Atlantic Beach; and
WHEREAS, the prospective Johnston Island acquisition is the only allocation for projects within
the Atlantic Beach city limits; and
WHEREAS, the prospective Johnston Island purchase is no longer under consideration; and
WHEREAS, the City of Atlantic Beach desires for the CIP funding to be reallocated to two
upcoming projects: The expansion of Gail Baker Community Center, for the purpose of expanding
programming to children, adults and seniors; and the replacement of the Atlantic Beach Lifeguard Station,
which is woefully undersized, does not meet operational needs, and presents environmental challenges for
our lifeguards; and
WHEREAS, these projects would serve to protect and improve the health, safety, welfare and
quality of a far-reaching number of Duval County residents and visitors, alike; and
WHEREAS, programming and special events available to all members of the public at the Baker
Center include, but are not limited to, after-school and senior citizen programs, tutoring, Girl Scouts, teen
and senior meetings, summer camps, yoga, taekwondo, and festivals; and
WHEREAS, the City of Atlantic Beach partners with Beaches Habitat volunteers and staff, and
expects that the Gail Baker Community Center's expansion will better enable the City to build partnerships
with the Kids Hope Alliance, Jacksonville Senior Services, and other nonprofit organizations; and
WHEREAS, more than 100,000 people from throughout Duval County and beyond visit the
Atlantic Beach shoreline annually, including an estimated 74,000 during May -July; and
WHEREAS, lifeguard service is specifically enumerated in the City of Jacksonville -Atlantic
Beach interlocal agreement, and Atlantic Beach Ocean Rescue provides mutual aid — and vice versa — to
Hanna Park, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach lifeguards.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, to improve the health, safety, welfare and
quality of life of Atlantic Beach residents and visitors, the City of Atlantic Beach respectfully requests
that:
Section 1. The City of Jacksonville reallocate $937,500 in Five -Year Capital Improvement
Project funding to two City of Atlantic Beach projects: The expansion of Gail Baker Community Center
and the replacement of the Atlantic Beach Lifeguard Station.
Section 2. City of Jacksonville CIP funding for Atlantic Beach projects be evenly split at
$468,750 each for the two projects.
Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Atlantic Beach, this 12th day
of April, 2021.
El en Lasser, Mayor
Attest:
6
Donna L. Bartle, City Clerk
Approved as to form and correctness:
Resolution No. 21-28 Page 2 of 2