Atlantic Beach council adopts combined vision, emphasizes appearance, safety and empowering staff

At a special retreat March 20, 2023, the Atlantic Beach Town Council reviewed the town’s strategic plan and heard a combined Vision Statement emphasizing managed, small-town growth, improved curb appeal, environmental stewardship and public safety.

Mayor A. B. Cooper, III led the discussion and urged a proactive approach to appearance and maintenance, saying staff should be empowered to "fix things when they see things that need to be done" and that Council should "set the tone" while management and department heads run operations.

Councilmembers read individual vision statements that were incorporated into a single combined Vision Statement describing Atlantic Beach as "a small-town-oriented community that offers a water-rich family-friendly environment," with a commercial district suited to a "classy small-town beach community" and an emphasis on safety, policing of the boardwalk area and environmental stewardship.

Councilmember Danny Navey pressed the group to keep safety at the forefront of the Five Key Focus Areas: Great Government; Smart Growth/Redevelopment; Recreation and Entertainment; Placemaking; and Environmental Stewardship and Resiliency. Councilmember Renea Baker urged updates to appearance policies for commercial and residential properties to preserve the town’s character and spur economic benefits.

As a next step, Town Manager John O'Daniel was directed to provide budget options so the Council can consider incentives and funding priorities to implement the vision, including possible measures to reward employees who take initiative in maintaining public spaces. The direction preserves the Council’s preference that budget decisions remain balanced and informed by management and department heads.