City weighs options for Ocean Palm golf course; developer offer to invest and lease remains under review
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Public speakers urged the commission to retain and rehabilitate the Ocean Palm golf course rather than sell; the city manager and attorney said proposals—including one from John Patrick Capital that preferred city ownership with private investment—remain under consideration and staff will follow up with meetings.
Neighbors and residents urged the Flagler Beach City Commission Sept. 9 to reconsider selling the 40‑acre Ocean Palm municipal golf course and instead explore options to preserve it as a city asset. Several speakers, including Ryan Jones and Luke Ross (new business owner), said the course is a community amenity with potential recurring revenue if properly managed.
Ryan Jones, who lives near the course, told commissioners that John Patrick Capital presented an alternative at a prior meeting proposing that the city retain ownership while the private firm would invest in rehabilitation and offer profit‑sharing. Jones said that proposal “was dismissed out of hand” at the August meeting and asked who instructed the city attorney to prioritize a sale; the city attorney and manager said they would follow up.
City Attorney Fernandez said he is aware of the John Patrick Capital proposal and that discussions remain active; he and the mayor will take part in a teleconference with the firm the day after the meeting. Fernandez noted a legal constraint: the city currently has a tenant on the property, and any purchaser would take the property subject to that lease unless the city negotiated a buyout or eviction.
No formal vote or decision was taken. Commissioners agreed to pursue additional information in a public forum and to schedule future discussion when the item is an agenda item so the public can review alternatives, valuations and management proposals.
Speakers: Ryan Jones; Luke Ross; other neighborhood residents and business owners.