Atlantic Beach council adopts attendance rule, expands beach camping ban and tables procurement and business-license changes

The Atlantic Beach Town Council on Feb. 9 unanimously approved new rules tightening councilmembers' attendance requirements and adopted an amendment to the town code that prohibits camping or sleeping on public property, including beaches, after heated discussion about enforcement and outreach to people experiencing homelessness.

Council moved first to table changes to the business-license ordinance (Ordinance No. 13-2025). Members debated whether adding life-safety inspection language and a related fee belonged in the town's business-license code or should be placed elsewhere; Mayor Pro Tem John David said the town attorney would research the placement and fee implications. The motion to table Ordinance 13-2025 carried with Councilwoman Jacqueline Gore and Mayor Pro Tem David voting yes and Councilman Edward Campbell and Councilwoman Carla Taylor voting no.

The council also tabled Ordinance No. 18-2025, a revision to purchasing and procurement procedures that Deputy Assistant Town Manager Carnisha Hennigan said adds purchasing-authority language, requires council awareness of some purchases, and mandates dual authorization for checks. Council members said the draft did not clearly reference an earlier procurement ordinance and expressed concern about broad exemptions; the council voted to table the item for further work.

On matters taken up and passed, the council approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 2-2026, establishing attendance requirements for council members. Councilwoman Carla Taylor moved the measure and it passed unanimously.

Council then debated Ordinance No. 3-2026, an amendment to Ordinance No. 8-2025 that adds a prohibition on camping and sleeping on public property, including beaches and dunes. Council discussion focused on enforcement windows and town authority over dune areas. Mayor Pro Tem John David said the chief sought an enforcement window but that the change should not limit officers from acting; he noted enforcement questions and cited examples of individuals living in dunes. Councilwoman Jacqueline Gore raised concerns about whether dunes are under town jurisdiction and suggested the council explore assistance options for people who are sleeping on the beach rather than only enforcement.

Town Attorney Leah Moody advised the council on voting thresholds and agenda rules, noting that some statutory changes (for example, development-impact fees or business license tax changes) may require different majority thresholds under state law.

The council also nominated Erica Vaughn to a four-year term and reappointed Timothy Vereen for two years to the Planning Commission; both nominations passed unanimously. The Town Manager was absent and no manager report was given. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance No. 13-2025 (Amendment to Ordinance No. 1-2022, Section 10): Motion to table carried; vote recorded: Edward Campbell: No; Carla Taylor: No; Jacqueline Gore: Yes; John David: Yes (outcome: tabled). - Ordinance No. 18-2025 (Purchasing and procurement procedures): Motion to table carried (unanimous; outcome: tabled). - Ordinance No. 2-2026 (Attendance requirements): Second reading passed (unanimous; outcome: approved). - Ordinance No. 3-2026 (Amendment to Ordinance No. 8-2025 — camping/sleeping prohibition): Passed (unanimous; outcome: approved).

Next steps noted in the meeting included attorney research on ordinance placement and authority and staff review of any written proposals from the public regarding dune restoration.