Atlantic Beach council: roundup of ordinances, contracts, festival purchases and appointments

Atlantic Beach — In a session dominated by land-use and event planning, the Town Council on April 7 approved a package of ordinances, contract authorizations and festival-related purchases and made several administrative appointments.

Key votes and actions at a glance - Ordinance 4-2025 (parking revenue-share): Approved unanimously. Council discussed a revenue-sharing model in which landowners will receive a portion of parking income. - Ordinance 5-2025 (special event permits): Approved unanimously on second reading; the ordinance sets permitting procedures, security and lead times with good-cause exceptions. - Ordinance 6-2025 (move public time to start of meetings): Approved on first reading to relocate public comment to the start of council meetings; Councilwoman Taylor proposed limiting early public comments to items on the published agenda. - Resolution 4-2025 (Fair Housing Month): Approved unanimously; staff cited the federal Fair Housing Act as context. - Contract authorization with Cladom/Dayson (concert series): Authorized (see separate article for details). - Contract authorization for accounting services (Watson & Rice): Approved; Interim Town Manager Linda Cheatham said the town received three proposals, that the highest bids were about $82,000 and $81,000 a year and that the town’s selected contract "will be about 35" as stated in the meeting transcript. - Event procurements: Council authorized purchases for Bikefest (porta-johns, tower lights, golf carts, cleanup, tables/chairs, electrical) and approved using Gullah Geechee organization funds for the Gullah Geechee Festival (chairs, tents, entertainers and deposits). - Beautification Committee: Council reinstated a Beautification Committee and appointed Kenneth McIver as chair along with Will Thomas, Jamie Isom, Sarah Blair, Tiquita Lynn and Lynda Booker.

Staff reports and capital projects Interim Town Manager Cheatham said the town received three proposals to revise the Comprehensive Plan and the Land Management Ordinance; evaluation presentations were scheduled for April 16. Public-works updates included a $485,000 allocation approved by the County Transportation Committee to repave 30th Avenue; North Myrtle Beach will manage that project.

What council asked of staff Council asked staff to ensure vendors and event promoters provide insurance, security plans, evidence of landowner permissions for vendor sites and parking logistics before final contracts or permit approvals. Cheatham also said the town is advertising multiple job openings (planner, building official, police officer, parking staff, assistant town manager, police chief) and is pursuing an accommodations-tax grant for $50,000.

Votes at a glance (roll-call outcomes) - Ordinance 3-2025 (rezoning) — Approved 3–1 (Taylor/David moved/second). - Ordinance 4-2025 (parking) — Approved 4–0 (Taylor/David moved/second). - Ordinance 5-2025 (special events) — Approved 4–0. - Contract Cladom/Dayson — Authorized 4–0. - Watson & Rice accounting contract authorization — Approved 4–0. - Bikefest and Gullah purchases — Authorized 4–0. - Beautification Committee appointments — Approved 4–0.

The meeting adjourned at about 7:28 p.m.; the council scheduled budget workshops for April 14 (5:30 p.m.) with additional meetings expected in late April and June.