05-31-94 v MINUTES OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION OF ATLANTIC BEACH CITY
COMMISSION HELD IN CITY HALL AT 4:30 PM ON TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1994.
Present: Lyman T. Fletcher, Mayor
Steven M. Rosenbloom, Commissioner
Suzanne Shaughnessy, Commissioner
J. Dezmond Waters, III, Commissioner
Also: Kim D. Leinbach, City Manager
James R. Jarboe, Deputy City Manager
Ann Meuse, Finance Director
Maureen King, City Clerk
Absent: Robert G. Weiss, Jr. (Excused)
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Fletcher who inquired
regarding the balance in the various accounts. Ann Meuse indicated
she could have a printout of the balances in a few minutes so the
City Commission could review the monies that had been spent thus
far.
Ann Meuse referred to the spending freeze which the City Commission
had approved at the last commission meeting and indicated there was
some confusion regarding what the City Commission considered
essential spending. The Mayor indicated essential spending could
include such items as salaries, benefits and associated costs,
customary office supplies, insurance premiums, contractual
obligations, utilities, maintenance of equipment, operating
expenses of the water and sewer facilities, and everything which
had been previously approved by the City Commission. The Mayor
requested that purchase orders relating to water and sewer be
reviewed by the Water and Sewer Committee.
Discussion then ensued regarding the betterments which Ms. Meuse
proposed to include in the 1994/95 budget, and the question of what
criteria would be used to measure the level of service. It was
felt in some instances the level of service could be measured by
the number of complaints received, or in the Police and Fire
Departments service could be measured by the number of calls
received and the time for response. Following further discussion,
staff were directed to meet and come up with a method of measuring
level of service.
In discussion regarding betterments the City Commission would like
to see, Commissioner Waters felt the city may wish to consider an
additional day for garbage collection. He felt the city should
continue to pursue the acquisition of additional park lands and
expand the park programs. He felt the Seminole Road ditch needed
to be cleaned and indicated there was a problem with snakes in the
area. He also felt sidewalks should be better maintained and edged
and shrubbery should be trimmed.
The City Manager felt the city may be able to get block grant funds
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to build a community center in Donner Park and the monies being
used to rent the current facility could be applied to the
construction.
Commissioner Shaughnessy concurred with the desire to acquire
additional park lands. She also felt the Adele Grage Community
Center could use some sprucing up. She felt additional parking was
needed, particularly in the town center, and suggested better
maintenance and beautification of the beach accesses. She felt
city crews should maintain areas which had been landscaped and
suggested the Fire Department provide fire prevention service when
possible.
Commissioner Rosenbloom requested that each commissioner be
allocated a travel/expense account to enable them to attend
educational seminars which would be beneficial to the city. He
also suggested that instead of undertaking projects in a piecemeal
fashion the city seek professional help to develop an overall plan
which would address parking, revitalization, land use, etc. , for
the city. He felt maintenance and beautification of City Hall
grounds should be addressed and felt that the availability of
irrigation must be considered in all future beautification
projects.
Commissioner Waters felt the City Commission should review job
descriptions to better understand the responsibilities of the
employees and encouraged the use of volunteers and contracting out
services where possible.
The Mayor summarized the City Commission' s suggested betterments,
as follows:
1 . Better maintenance of green space and drainage areas
2. Continue Parks and Recreation improvements/programs; park
acquisition; make plan for each park
3. Planting of trees and beautification
4. Develop comprehensive city plan; education for staff and
Commission
5. Traffic, parking, and speeding
At this time Ann Meuse presented the budget report and briefly
explained the format. She explained the problems the Finance
Department had experienced with the telephone system, especially at
cut-off time. She indicated she would address these problems in
her 1994/95 budget.
There being no further discussion, the Mayor declared the meeting
adjou ned.
I) apt J
Maureen King
City Clerk