10-4-11 public mtg v MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC MEETING OF CURRENT ATLANTIC BEACH CITY
COMMISSION AND NEWLY ELECTED COMMISSION MEMBERS
HELD IN THE COMMISSION CHAMBER ON OCTOBER 4, 2011 AT 8:30 AM
City Commission Members present:
Commissioner Carolyn Woods
Newly Elected Commission Members present:
Mark Beckenbach
Maria Mark
Staff present:
Nancy Bailey, Recording Secretary
The meeting, which was held for the purpose of discussing City business and expressing ideas,
was called to order at 8:30 a.m.
The orientation was discussed. Ms. Mark stated she has met with everyone but Timmy Johnson
and will meet with him prior to MarshFest. Mr. Beckenbach stated he has not met with Donna
Bartle yet. Ms. Mark stated she has also not met with Donna Bartle.
Mr. Beckenbach asked if he is to give agenda items to Donna Bartle. City Clerk Donna Bartle
was brought into the meeting to answer questions. Ms. Bartle stated when it comes from a
Commissioner either she or the City Manager can add it, but staff go through the City Manager.
She stated the City Clerk's office puts the agenda together but the City Manager gives it to us.
She further explained the current procedures for the agenda packet but stated she did not see why
a Commissioner could not give her something to put on the agenda.
Mr. Beckenbach further asked about the procedures for the meetings. Ms. Bartle explained the
current meeting procedures. Mr. Beckenbach discussed changing how meetings are held and
votes are taken to give more citizen input. Ms. Mark agreed with Mr. Beckenbach suggestion,
stating the first meeting would allow the citizens to hear the items that would come up for vote at
the second meeting or for items that would need more input; the second meeting would be used
for items coming up for vote and other items requiring voting. At the second meeting, they
would have the option to workshop items. Commissioner Woods stated they always have that
option. She stated if they don't have a lot of citizen participation by changing the meeting
format, they could always go back to the way the meetings were held previously. Commissioner
Woods asked if all items being voted on have to be on one meeting. Ms. Bartle stated perhaps
they could build this new format into regular meetings. She pointed out that we do post the
agenda on the website and have hard copies in the Clerk's office. Discussion ensued regarding
the format for the Commission meetings. Ms. Bartle stated it appears there is a consensus here
to have more workshops or discussion -based meetings and reminded them that, as elected
officials, they have the option to call a workshop when necessary.
Sally Clemens stated once a month for workshops may be too much. She gave several examples
of items that could have been workshopped, adding that last night's meeting was a good example
and asked why Mr. Gulliford could not get the minutes of the Jacksonville City Council meeting
for us without a charge to the City. She stated she does like the five minute clock.
Minutes October 4, 2011
Page 2
Mr. Beckenbach stated in Neptune Beach at their workshop meetings citizens speak in the
beginning and at the end of the meeting they ask for input. Commissioner Woods stated the
citizens can text her during the meetings.
Dorothy Kerber stated she usually calls the Commissioners before the meetings if there is an
item on the agenda that concerns her. She stated she is not afraid to speak her mind but believes
the younger citizens need to get more involved. She stated they don't need to have another
special meeting so things can be understood by the citizenry. She stated they can come by to get
a copy of the agenda to see what is going on. She stated when Commissioners are first elected
they always want to do everything to make things easier for the citizens. She stated more people
will come when they are speaking about stormwater, taxes, etc. She mentioned several things
the Commission has approved in the past that she was not in agreement with, such as the art in
the five points area and in front of the fire station. She stated rather than talking at a meeting,
she will call the Commissioners the next day if they do something she does not like.
Discussion related to changing the time of the Commission meetings ensued. Commissioner
Woods stated Mrs. Kerber raised a good point about people being able to attend meetings and
asked if they had considered changing the timing of the meetings. Mr. Beckenbach stated 6:00 is
difficult for him but he can arrange it. He agreed 7:00 would be easier for him. Commissioner
Woods stated that Mr. Beckenbach could put it on the agenda to change the time after he is
seated. Ms. Mark agreed that 7:00 would be better and asked why it changed. Commissioner
Woods gave some background history of the change but suggested that they get a copy of the
minutes that discussed the change. Commissioner Woods reiterated that either of them could put
it on the agenda.
Mr. Beckenbach asked how much citizen input gets into the strategic plan. Commissioner
Woods stated zero. Discussion ensued about town hall meetings and strategic planning.
Ms. Mark stated she wants a community master plan that brings together all the pieces for the
community. She believes we are not utilizing our resources in the best way. Sally Clemens
stated she does like Ms. Mark's idea and shared her thoughts about a film she saw on community
planning.
Mr. Beckenbach stated from his meetings with staff, he has realized they have some very good
ideas that don't seem to be readily brought out.
Discussion ensued regarding a task force for the master planning and Ms. Mark stated she would
draft the objectives for the task force as well as a motion to present it to the Commission. She
further stated another objective is to get the citizens from Atlantic Beach west more involved.
Commissioner Woods stated she still believes videotaping of the Commission meetings will get
a lot more involvement from citizens and should be looked into again.
Mr. Beckenbach discussed the town hall meetings stating Ms. Mark was going to look into that
and asked if they were going to start these before they took office. Ms. Mark stated it may be
better to do this after the holidays, having the first town hall meeting at the beginning of the year.
She stated she would like to have one in each district.
Minutes October 4, 2011
Page 3
The next meeting was scheduled for October 19 at 3:00 p.m. to continue the discussion.
There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 9:51 a.m.
Nancy E. Bai
Recording Secretary