Jacksonville Beach

[Metro Jacksonville]

Jacksonville Beach



The quaint charm of Jacksonville Beach is rooted in the 1800s when visitors traveled from the “distant” city streets of Jacksonville to take in a day at the beach. Visitors still travel to Jacksonville Beach today, but it’s a much easier — and briefer — trek. Henry Flagler's railroad is now Beach Boulevard and the trip from downtown takes only about a half hour by car, but the charm of this beachside village remains.

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2016-mar-jacksonville-beach-

[Charles Hunter]

Pete's Bar Thanksgiving is a great Neptune Beach tradition. (Not Jax Beach)
Other than that, a good article.

[TimmyB]

We absolutely love Jax Beach.  Wish there were more than two decent apartment communities to choose from, but beggars/choosers, eh?

Can someone (briefly) explain to me the relationship between JB and the COJ?  I thought they WERE a part of the city, but also kept SOME autonomy, such as PD and Fire, etc.  I never really have figured it out, despite having locals try their best!  Are they completely separate from each other, as the article suggests?

[Charles Hunter]

I am not an Expert on Consolidated Government, but my understanding is that the COJ government acts as the Duval County government for the 3 Beaches cities and the Town of Baldwin.  Note that the COJ City Council districts include these 4 areas - so the Jax City Council is the "Duval County Board of Commissioners" for the 4 cities.

[TimmyB]

I am not an Expert on Consolidated Government, but my understanding is that the COJ government acts as the Duval County government for the 3 Beaches cities and the Town of Baldwin.  Note that the COJ City Council districts include these 4 areas - so the Jax City Council is the "Duval County Board of Commissioners" for the 4 cities.

Were they on acid when they made all these "arrangements"?  Completely baffling, at least with my experiences in life!   

[tufsu1]

^ not really.  Most of Florida is this way. Cities have their own government, but the overall county governments represent everyone.  The difference here is that consolidation combined the City of Jacksonville with Duval County.

[CityLife]

Each of the Beach cities have their own interlocal agreements with COJ regarding provision of services. Each beach community has its own police force, building, planning, public works, finance, and HR departments. Neptune and JB also have their own fire departments. Atlantic Beach used to, but essentially contracts with JFRD for provision of fire services.

Beach residents send more of their Ad Valorem taxes to Duval County than to their respective City. Those taxes cover things like libraries, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, Clerk of Courts, and other County departments that the Beach cities do not provide. Due to the amount of wealth and property values at the Beaches, its residents pay more to the County than they receive in services. Its probably not a bad deal for all parties though, as the three Beach communities would have a hard time playing in the same sandbox if an Ocean County was ever formed, which comes up from time to time.

[vicupstate]

I am not an Expert on Consolidated Government, but my understanding is that the COJ government acts as the Duval County government for the 3 Beaches cities and the Town of Baldwin.  Note that the COJ City Council districts include these 4 areas - so the Jax City Council is the "Duval County Board of Commissioners" for the 4 cities.

Were they on acid when they made all these "arrangements"?  Completely baffling, at least with my experiences in life!   

Believe it or not, it is actually pretty streamlined compared to other areas. Only two entities cover everything.

In SC where I live, you can live in unincorporated area and have a mailing address for one town, get your water from a second town, get sewer from a third town, and fire protection from a Public Service District (aka quasi-town) that is also separate, and get everything else from the county.   Also your water might be from a private company that charges high rates with terrible water quality.   

[vicupstate]

I am not an Expert on Consolidated Government, but my understanding is that the COJ government acts as the Duval County government for the 3 Beaches cities and the Town of Baldwin.  Note that the COJ City Council districts include these 4 areas - so the Jax City Council is the "Duval County Board of Commissioners" for the 4 cities.

That is it in a nutshell. 

During the Consolidation vote, the Beaches and Baldwin actually voted on TWO questions, 1) To support consolidation or not  and 2) to maintain autonomy underneath the Consolidation charter, or simply 'fold' the respective city into the consolidated government.  The Beaches all voted FOR the former and not the latter.     

[TimmyB]

^ not really.  Most of Florida is this way. Cities have their own government, but the overall county governments represent everyone.  The difference here is that consolidation combined the City of Jacksonville with Duval County.

Right, and I think that's what puzzles me.  Most  local governments operate that way up here, as well, but we don't have any cities that decided to become a county.  If it said "Duval County", it would make much more sense than the City of JB also has a say in the affairs of the CITY of Jacksonville.  Thanks for the reply!  I'll figure it out, eventually. 

[TimmyB]

I am not an Expert on Consolidated Government, but my understanding is that the COJ government acts as the Duval County government for the 3 Beaches cities and the Town of Baldwin.  Note that the COJ City Council districts include these 4 areas - so the Jax City Council is the "Duval County Board of Commissioners" for the 4 cities.

Were they on acid when they made all these "arrangements"?  Completely baffling, at least with my experiences in life!   

Believe it or not, it is actually pretty streamlined compared to other areas. Only two entities cover everything.

In SC where I live, you can live in unincorporated area and have a mailing address for one town, get your water from a second town, get sewer from a third town, and fire protection from a Public Service District (aka quasi-town) that is also separate, and get everything else from the county.   Also your water might be from a private company that charges high rates with terrible water quality.

Yeah, those things happen like that up here, as well, except the water quality is usually pretty good.  (Obviously, not Flint, any more.)

[TimmyB]

Each of the Beach cities have their own interlocal agreements with COJ regarding provision of services. Each beach community has its own police force, building, planning, public works, finance, and HR departments. Neptune and JB also have their own fire departments. Atlantic Beach used to, but essentially contracts with JFRD for provision of fire services.

Beach residents send more of their Ad Valorem taxes to Duval County than to their respective City. Those taxes cover things like libraries, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, Clerk of Courts, and other County departments that the Beach cities do not provide. Due to the amount of wealth and property values at the Beaches, its residents pay more to the County than they receive in services. Its probably not a bad deal for all parties though, as the three Beach communities would have a hard time playing in the same sandbox if an Ocean County was ever formed, which comes up from time to time.

Good info.  Thanks!

[Know Growth]

Interesting to note that upon Consolidation certain towns retained a level of authority,retained their own city functions.
I do not recall the name now,there was an ardent Beaches community advocate,attorney well versed in COJ Consolidation,defended Beach community sovereign placement. Passed away a few years ago.

Neptune Beach!....cool 
I remember Rag Times when it was but a corner location,then doubled,then the area's first Brewery....'Hit me with da' Brick!'...Red Brick beer,then Dolphin Breath...eventually the original foot print tripled in size.

Beaches close enough to access from time to time.