Atlantic Beach council approves parking collections ordinance, advances dredging and pier engineering plans

Atlantic Beach — The Town of Atlantic Beach Council on April 27 adopted an ordinance to allow the town’s parking management company to refer unpaid parking violations to a third‑party collections agency and moved forward on several infrastructure and budget items, including a tentative dredging contract and engineering for a bridge abutment pier.

Town Manager John O'Daniel told the council the budget amendment on the consent agenda "represents formal approval to allocate funds for a Causeway land purchase previously discussed, and to transfer those funds to the Finance Director to handle the closing." The consent agenda, which included that budget amendment along with the finance and tax reports and prior meeting minutes, passed unanimously by motion, 4‑0.

On Ordinance 26‑04‑01, which amends Chapter 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) to permit referrals of unpaid parking fines to collections, Councilmember Joey Dean moved adoption and Councilmember Austin Waters seconded; the council adopted the ordinance unanimously, 4‑0.

O'Daniel said Brooks Dredging and Marine Construction submitted the lowest bid — $65 per cubic yard — to remove roughly 1,704 cubic yards from the Royal, Causeway and Money Island channels. "We are still awaiting final confirmation of the Water Resources Development Project Grant," O'Daniel said, but staff asked the council to tentatively accept the bid and authorize entering a contract if the grant is awarded to avoid delaying the project. By a show of hands the council consented to accept the Brooks bid pending grant award.

The council also approved moving forward with Stroud Engineering on a proposed bridge abutment pier after staff said the project scope shifted from a design‑build approach to an RFP/build process and from a CAMA Minor Permit to a CAMA Major Permit. That shift, plus required geotechnical work, increased cost estimates above staff’s administrative approval threshold. O'Daniel identified the major components of Stroud’s estimate: geotechnical investigation and report about $29,800 to confirm piling conditions; surveying and design $19,000; permitting (Major CAMA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOT) $8,900; and bidding/contracting services $5,000. Stroud’s timeline provided an estimate of permits received in roughly 31 weeks and contract award around week 41.

Councilmember Renea Baker asked about maximum allowable pier length under NCDOT, Duke Energy and CAMA regulations and urged staff to plan for the full desired length and amenities — including fishing landings and a kayak launch — early in the permitting process so later changes do not delay construction.

On personnel policy, the council approved Resolution 26‑04‑01 to amend Article VII, Section 28 (Inclement Weather/Hazardous Conditions) of the Town’s personnel resolution. The resolution was described as the version that reflected prior council consensus and passed 4‑0.

The meeting concluded with a closed session under N.C.G.S. 143‑318.11(a)(3) to consult with the town attorney. Mayor Pro Tem Harry Archer asked for an update on case 24CVS927, Ocean Ridge Owners Association, Inc. v. Town of Atlantic Beach and Phillip Lewis. Town Attorney Jane Gordon said a voluntary dismissal with prejudice filed April 9, 2026 included a Final Consent Order with a Settlement and Mutual Release Agreement; she reported the town does not have a copy of that agreement. Council discussed how the agreement could affect the town and its unified development ordinance; no public action resulted from the closed session. The meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m.

What happens next: Town staff will distribute draft budgets to council on Friday; if the Water Resources Development Project Grant is awarded staff will return with contract documents for the dredging project and proceed with Stroud Engineering’s geotechnical testing and permitting work.