Atlantic Beach – The Atlantic Beach Human Rights Ordinance is finally set to appear on the City Commission’s July 14 regular meeting agenda for its first reading.
The commission came to a 3-2 decision June 20 during a workshop for the HRO, where the consensus was agreed upon after 90 minutes of discussion.
The HRO was supported by Commissioner Maria Mark, who introduced the ordinance, Commissioner Mark Beckenbach and Mayor Carolyn Woods. Commissioners Jimmy Hill and Jonathan Daughtery opposed the measure. At the first reading July 14, the commission will decide whether to pass it onto a second and final reading Aug. 11, where it may be voted to enact the ordinance.
The ordinance will ban discrimination against people based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation and gender identity or gender expression within the city limits. There will be an exemption for religious organizations or smaller business, although both Hill and Daughtery find that measure unnecessary.
The HRO would allow for discrimination complaints to be reviewed by a special magistrate to determine whether they were valid. Hill said this would just make Atlantic Beach businesses the targets of lawsuits.
Although the first reading date is set, the City Commission can still hold another workshop on July 28 to review the final language before putting the HRO on the agenda.
