Beaches Watch

Beaches Watch Monthly Meeting
2025-08-07 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Beaches Branch Library, Community Room, 600 3rd St., Neptune Beach, FL, 32266, United States
Topic: Town Hall with Senator Yarborough and Representative Michael
Our state legislators have been elected to represent our beaches communities in Tallahassee. So, it’s important that you have an opportunity to interface with them. In this meeting, our state representatives will be providing an update on the 2025 Legislative Session bills that impact our beaches and they’ll be discussing their priorities for the next legislative session. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask them questions and let them know the issues that are important to you.

Beaches Watch Monthly Meeting
2025-07-09 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-03-05 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-02-05 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-01-01 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Beaches Branch Library, Community Room, 600 3rd St., Neptune Beach, FL, 32266, United States

Beaches Watch Monthly Meeting
2025-06-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Beaches Branch Library, Community Room, 600 3rd St., Neptune Beach, FL, 32266, United States
Topic: The Good and the Bad of the 2025 Legislative Session
Guests:
Mike Staffopoulos, Jacksonville Beach City Manager
Bill Killingsworth, Atlantic Beach City Manager
After 60 days of legislative meetings, what did the 2025 Florida legislature accomplish, and how will its actions affect our beach communities? For the answers to these questions, join us for this important recap of the 2025 Legislative Session. The meeting is open to the public.

Mike Staffopoulos (Jacksonville Beach City Manager) and Bill Killingsworth (Atlantic Beach City Manager) will help the audience understand the impact legislative action during the 2025 Legislative Session will have on their lives. Expected topics include affordable housing, property taxes, local government land regulation, utility relocation, recovery residences and more. There will also be discussion about bills that didn’t pass and are expected to come back in the 2026 Legislative Session. There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.

Beaches Watch Monthly Meeting
2025-05-07 19:00 - 20:00 | Beaches Branch Library, Community Room, 600 3rd St., Neptune Beach, FL, 32266, United States
Topic: Beaches Interlocal Agreements with Jacksonville: The History of Conflict and Compromise
Guests:
Bill Gulliford, former Atlantic Beach Mayor and Jacksonville City Council
George Forbes, former Jacksonville Beach City Manager
For many years, the beaches have been questioning whether we are receiving the services agreed upon within the Interlocal Agreements for the amount of taxes we pay to Jacksonville. To better understand the agreements that govern these services, join us for a history lesson about the interlocal agreements. Topics will include the impact of consolidation on the beaches, the legal action taken by the City of Atlantic Beach against the City of Jacksonville over double taxation, the Ocean County movement, and the negotiations with Jacksonville that resulted in the amendments to the original flawed interlocal agreement and ended the pending Atlantic Beach lawsuit.
Guest speakers will be Bill Gulliford and George Forbes. Mr. Gulliford is the former mayor of Atlantic Beach, Chairman of the Ocean County Committee to create a separate beaches county, and later a Jacksonville City Councilman representing the beaches. Mr. Forbes was the Jacksonville Beach City Manager when the interlocal agreement amendments were negotiated.
“Beaches Watch promotes educated citizen involvement in state and local issues that impact our quality of life. This important meeting will educate and engage beaches citizens about the history of the of the interlocal agreements that govern the county services we receive,” said Beaches Watch President, Maria Mark.

Beaches Watch Monthly Meeting
2025-04-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Beaches Branch Library, Community Room, 600 3rd St., Neptune Beach, FL, 32266, United States
Topic: State of our Schools
Guests:
Dr. Christopher Bernier, Duval Schools Superintendent
April Carney, District 2 School Board Member

Beaches Watch Monthly Meeting
2025-03-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Beaches Branch Library, Community Room, 600 3rd St., Neptune Beach, FL, 32266, United States
Topic: Beaches Town Hall with Jacksonville City Council Members
Guests:
Matt Carlucci, At-Large City Council Member
Nick Howland, At-Large City Council Member
Chris Miller, At-Large City Council Member
Ron Salem, At-Large City Council Member
Rory Diamond, District 13 City Council Member

Atlantic Beach Candidate Forum
2024-10-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Community Presbyterian Church, 150 Sherry Drive, Atlantic Beach, FL, 32233, United States
Atlantic Beach Candidate Forum Rescheduled to Saturday, October 19
As a service to Atlantic Beach voters, Beaches Watch is sponsoring a candidate forum for the Atlantic Beach candidates on the General Election ballot. Due to Hurricane Milton, the candidate forum that was scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024 has been rescheduled to Saturday, October 19 at 2pm at the Community Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 150 Sherry Drive, Atlantic Beach.
The Atlantic Beach candidate forum will be open to the public and will give voters the opportunity to learn about the candidates as well as their platforms and positions on Atlantic Beach issues before the November 5 general election. Candidates on the general election ballot for Atlantic Beach Commissioner Seat 3 are Mark Gabrynowicz and Thomas Grant. More information about the candidates can be found at www.BeachesWatch.com.
The general election will be held on Tuesday November 5, 2024 and early voting will be held October 21 through November 3 at the Beaches Branch Library from 10am to 6pm.
“Beaches Watch promotes citizen education on local issues and participation in local government,” said Beaches Watch president Maria Mark. “The election of our city officials is one of the most important ways citizens can participate in their local government. Through this forum, voters can learn more about the candidates and make an informed decision when they vote.”
The Beaches Watch organization does not endorse candidates and has been sponsoring non-partisan candidate forums for Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach since 2004.
Beaches Watch is a non-profit, non-partisan civic organization whose mission is to promote and facilitate educated and productive citizen involvement in local and state government decisions that affect the future of our northeast Florida beaches communities. Beaches Watch achieves this by raising, monitoring and researching issues; providing factual issue information to the general public and government officials; encouraging citizen participation in the solutions to beaches growth and quality of life issues and organizing citizens for action.
For more information about the candidate forum or Beaches Watch, contact 904-878-0435, email info@beacheswatch.com or visit the Beaches Watch website at www.beacheswatch.com.

Jacksonville Beach Candidate Forum
2024-10-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Meeting, FL, United States
Jacksonville Beach Candidate Forum Rescheduled to October 16
Due to Hurricane Milton, the Jacksonville Beach Candidate Forum scheduled for Wednesday, October 9, 2024 is being rescheduled to Wednesday, October 16 at 7pm via Zoom. The forum is open to the public.
Register in advance to attend this candidate forum via Zoom: REGISTER HERE
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
As a service to Jacksonville Beach voters, Beaches Watch is sponsoring a candidate forum for the Jacksonville Beach candidates on the General Election ballot. The Jacksonville Beach candidate forum will give voters the opportunity to learn about the candidates as well as their platforms and positions on Jacksonville Beach issues before the November 5 general election.
Candidates on the general election ballot for Jacksonville Beach Mayor are Georgette Dumont and Chris Hoffman. Candidates for Council Seat 1, At-Large are Fernando Meza and Bruce Wouters. Candidates for Council Seat 2, At-Large are Dan Janson and B. Duke Lewis. Candidates for Council Seat 3, At-Large are Jennifer Ashley and Greg Sutton. More information about the candidates can be found at www.BeachesWatch.com.
The general election will be held on Tuesday November 5, 2024 and early voting will be held October 21 through November 3 at the Beaches Branch Library from 10am to 6pm.
“Beaches Watch promotes citizen education on local issues and participation in local government,” said Beaches Watch president Maria Mark. “The election of our city officials is one of the most important ways citizens can participate in their local government. Through this forum, voters can learn more about the candidates and make an informed decision when they vote.”
The Beaches Watch organization does not endorse candidates and has been sponsoring non-partisan candidate forums for Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach since 2004.
Beaches Watch is a non-profit, non-partisan civic organization whose mission is to promote and facilitate educated and productive citizen involvement in local and state government decisions that affect the future of our northeast Florida beaches communities. Beaches Watch achieves this by raising, monitoring and researching issues; providing factual issue information to the general public and government officials; encouraging citizen participation in the solutions to beaches growth and quality of life issues and organizing citizens for action.
For more information about the candidate forum or Beaches Watch, contact 904-878-0435, email info@beacheswatch.com or visit the Beaches Watch website at www.beacheswatch.com.

Neptune Beach Candidate Forum
2024-10-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Beaches Branch Library, Community Room, 600 3rd St., Neptune Beach, FL, 32266, United States
As a service to Neptune Beach voters, Beaches Watch is sponsoring a candidate forum for the Neptune Beach candidates on the General Election ballot. The candidate forum will be held Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at 7pm at the Beaches Branch Library, 600 3rd St, Neptune Beach.
The Neptune Beach candidate forum is open to the public and will give voters the opportunity to learn about the candidates as well as their platforms and positions on Neptune Beach issues before the November 5 general election. Candidates on the general election ballot for Neptune Beach Mayor are Cori Bylund and Michael Phillips. Candidates for Councilor Seat 3 are Kerry Chin and Brent Rogers. More information about the candidates can be found at www.BeachesWatch.com.
The general election will be held on Tuesday November 5, 2024 and early voting will be held October 21 through November 3 at the Beaches Branch Library from 10am to 6pm.
“Beaches Watch promotes citizen education on local issues and participation in local government,” said Beaches Watch president Maria Mark. “The election of our city officials is one of the most important ways citizens can participate in their local government. Through this forum, voters can learn more about the candidates and make an informed decision when they vote.”
The Beaches Watch organization does not endorse candidates and has been sponsoring non-partisan candidate forums for Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach since 2004.
Beaches Watch is a non-profit, non-partisan civic organization whose mission is to promote and facilitate educated and productive citizen involvement in local and state government decisions that affect the future of our northeast Florida beaches communities. Beaches Watch achieves this by raising, monitoring and researching issues; providing factual issue information to the general public and government officials; encouraging citizen participation in the solutions to beaches growth and quality of life issues and organizing citizens for action.
For more information about the candidate forum or Beaches Watch, contact 904-878-0435, email info@beacheswatch.com or visit the Beaches Watch website at www.beacheswatch.com.
