Atlantic Beach residents can now weigh in on city decisions from their couch, no commission meeting attendance required.

City Manager Kevin Hogencamp launched FlashVote, a civic engagement platform that sends short surveys to participants by email, text or phone call roughly once every few months, according to a city announcement posted Aug. 6. Each survey takes less than 60 seconds to complete on a phone, tablet or computer.

"We know life gets busy," Hogencamp told the Beach Gazette. "FlashVote makes civic participation convenient … no long evening meetings required."

Anonymized results go public within 48 hours of a survey closing. The city said personal information and individual responses are never shared or sold.

Topics will include local parks, road maintenance, public safety and community events. City leadership plans to use the data to inform budget priorities, policy choices and project planning across departments, according to the Beach Gazette's report.

What's next: budget season

The launch arrives as Atlantic Beach heads into its fall budget cycle. The city's next budget workshop is Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. in the City Commission Chamber at City Hall. Public hearings follow on Monday, Sept. 14, and Monday, Sept. 28, when commissioners will vote on the final FY 2026-27 budget and property tax rate.

Atlantic Beach's current millage rate is 2.7499 mills, the lowest among the three Beaches cities and below the state average of 4.82 mills, according to figures cited in Neptune Beach City Manager Richard Pike's August budget presentation.

Hogencamp was appointed permanent city manager on June 8 after serving as interim since January. He is a board member of the Florida Municipal Communicators Association.

How to sign up

Sign-up is free. Residents can register at www.flashvote.com/atlanticbeachfl. Questions can be directed to [email protected]. The next budget workshop is Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 800 Seminole Road.