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Jacksonville Beach CRA approves four grants for safety cameras and facade upgrades
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Summary
The Jacksonville Beach Community Redevelopment Agency on April 27 approved one safety grant and three facade grants, authorizing up to $160,000 of incentive funding from a $300,000 incentives pool to help local businesses install cameras and upgrade storefronts; the board also discussed art committee bylaw changes and a city planning director resignation.
The Jacksonville Beach Community Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously April 27 to approve four incentive awards — a $10,000 safety grant for the 4 Points Sheraton and three facade grants, each authorized up to the program maximum of $50,000 for Breezy’s Coffee Shop, Caribbean Connection and the property at 102 6th Avenue North.
Taylor, CRA staff, told the board the 4 Points Sheraton application would fund an upgraded CCTV system and that "a staff recommendation would be to approve their safety grant." Taylor said the system is described as a 32‑channel camera system and clarified that the installation involves four physical cameras configured to provide multiple vantage points and that the grant requires police access to footage when needed.
The board heard details on the facade requests next. Taylor said the Breezy’s application aggregated multiple vendor quotes and asked that the CRA approve the project with the CRA contribution capped at $50,000 and the total project not to exceed $143,090. Taylor told trustees she had given that application a preliminary ROI score of 22 out of 25. For Caribbean Connection staff reported a total project cost of about $83,000 and recommended the full $50,000 CRE award; Taylor again cited a staff ROI score of about 22. For the large property on the north end of downtown (listed in the record as 102 6th Avenue North), staff recommended moving forward with exterior stucco repair, painting and lighting upgrades and asked the board to accept a timeline requiring the work to be completed.
Board members praised the visual and safety benefits of the projects but pressed staff on program mechanics and budget impact. One trustee noted the CRA incentive pool is $300,000 for the fiscal year and that approving the four items—$10,000 plus three $50,000 caps—would allocate a majority of that line. Taylor confirmed the reimbursement structure: projects cover costs up front, staff inspects and then issues the reimbursable CRA payment.
Each grant motion was made, seconded and approved by roll call; each vote drew an affirmative vote from every member present. The board did not attach additional conditions beyond standard code compliance and the existing grant paperwork; Taylor said any code conflicts discovered later would prevent funding for the noncompliant elements.
After grant approvals the board spent an extended period discussing proposed amendments to the art committee bylaws. Staff proposed increasing the art committee size from five to seven, assigning seat numbers with staggered odd/even term lengths (3‑ and 4‑year rotations), and adding a two‑term maximum. Trustees debated recruitment risks given the current Jacksonville Beach residency requirement for art committee members and whether to keep or remove term limits; staff said the amendments will first go to the art committee for feedback and, if recommended, return to the CRA as a resolution for adoption.
Before adjourning, the chair confirmed the next regular meeting is May 18 and notified members that the city’s director of planning and development (who also served as the CRA executive director) has resigned; the chair said the council and city manager will coordinate next steps on that position.
The meeting adjourned following a motion and second.
