The Atlantic Beach City Commission accepted a $50,000 grant to fund the police department's drone program and authorized two new patrol vehicles at its Monday, Aug. 24, meeting.

Mayor Curtis Ford and the four-member commission approved Resolution 26-100, accepting the grant from the Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust and authorizing City Manager Kevin Hogencamp to execute the agreement. The Northeast Florida-focused trust funds faith, education, family and human-needs programs. The resolution was part of the consent agenda.

Separately, the commission approved Resolution 26-106 to purchase and outfit two replacement patrol vehicles using reprioritized fiscal year 2025-2026 police department funds.

The commission also gave final passage to Ordinance 20-26-183, amending the city's FY 2025-2026 operating budget.

In another action, commissioners introduced Ordinance 5-26-77 on first reading. The measure would remove firearms regulation language from the city's emergency management code to comply with Florida Statute 790.33, which reserves all firearms and ammunition regulation to the state Legislature. Under that statute, local officials who knowingly violate the preemption face civil fines of up to $5,000.

The ordinance needs a second reading before final adoption.

The commission also authorized the police department to apply for a U.S. Department of Justice COPS grant for crisis-response training, and recognized city clerk Donna Bartle for 35 years of service with the city.

As we reported Aug. 22, the commission is navigating a projected $1.8 million revenue shortfall heading into the next fiscal year. The FY 2026-2027 budget process continues with the first budget hearing on Monday, Sept. 14, and the final hearing and property tax rate approval on Monday, Sept. 28, both at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Residents can weigh in by emailing [email protected] or contacting commissioners at coab.us/commission.