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10-05-19 Town HallATTENDANCE: Present: MINUTES Town Hall Meeting Saturday, October 5, 2019 - 10:00 AM Commission Chamber Ellen Glasser, Mayor - Seat 1 Cindy Anderson, Commissioner - Seat 2 Candace Kelly, Commissioner - Seat 4 Brittany Norris, Commissioner - Seat 5 Absent: Blythe Waters, Mayor Pro Tem / Commissioner - Seat 3 Also Present: Shane Corbin, Planning and Community Development Director (PCDD) Kevin Hogencamp, Deputy City Manager (DCM) Lori Diaz, Deputy City Clerk CALL TO ORDER Mayor Glasser called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM. 1 TOPICS OPEN DISCUSSION Mayor Glasser explained the informal format of a Town Hall meeting and introduced staff. She congratulated Lori Diaz for her recent promotion to Deputy City Clerk and introduced Mr. Shane Corbin as our incoming City Manager. She said that he will be starting his duties as our new City Manager tomorrow. James Cummings requested a wooden walkover at 4th Street beach access. Commissioner Anderson replied and discussion ensued regarding the budget for a walkover on 4th Street, requests by citizens and community consensus regarding ways to move the location to the top of the list. Mayor Glasser stated that an additional ADA compliant walkover was not planned for this year due to having one on 10th Street and encouraged emails to the Commissioners. Jane Hauenstein expressed concern that some of the newly planted trees in Johansen Park are dead or dying. She asked if there was a plan to water/care for them on a regular basis. PCCD Corbin reported that 75-80 trees were planted in Johansen Park and that 5 of the trees located in a cluster at the Northwest corner of the park did not survive due to the quality of the soil. He stated that in total close to 100 trees were planted and watered for four months, with Town Hall October 5, 2019 only the loss of 5, a good success rate. The City will continue that process with the trees being planted in the Royal Palms neighborhood. Mayor Glasser gave thanks to the citizen volunteers that were out watering. Susanne Barker expressed concern with the new state law taking away our ability to govern ourselves regarding tree law. She asked "What can we do? " and spoke about what Winter Park was doing regarding this issue which included revisions to their codes. Mayor Glasser stated that preemptions of the state are an ongoing problem we fight every year with limited success. She reported we are planning an update to our tree ordinance later this fall. Mr. Corbin reported we had 3 workshops dedicated to tree code revisions. Mayor Glasser suggested having the Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) consider what Winter Park is doing and bring forward a recommendation. Brad Duttera expressed thanks for our City employees. He spoke about his concerns and issues with the 5- way intersection and requested it be replaced with a traffic circle. He asked for input from the Commission. Commissioner Kelly expressed empathy but stated there is not enough space for a roundabout. Commissioner Norris mentioned a study done by the City about the feasibility of a roundabout and stated she will share the report. She stated she is in favor of a roundabout. Discussion ensued regarding issues of the country club gate closure and further research regarding imminent domain. Mayor Glasser replied regarding the country club gate closure and reported it is not a permanent situation. She stated she will be happy to make a request that the country club open the gate during their upgrade. Commissioner Anderson expressed empathy and stated at one time a roundabout was being considered but due to the public outcry, the Commission at that time chose an alternate improvement. She expressed being respectful that a decision was made based on the majority of people at that time. Mayor Glasser stated she is not in favor of a roundabout there. She spoke about other city locations that could be better served by a roundabout. Mayor Glasser's concerns included the fire and police dept. being forced into a traffic pattern of a roundabout and bicyclists/pedestrians being at risk with continuous traffic that does not stop. Commissioner Kelly commented that a roundabout is not being considered now but that does not mean it cannot be considered in the future. Rick Carper commented about the sign ordinance, and does not believe a roundabout causes significant delay. Town Hall October 5, 2019 Mayor Glasser stated the City's Planning Department will be looking at the sign ordinance soon and that the city is putting up a new sign at Adele Grage to eliminate the snipe signs around the center. PCCD Corbin added that the City picks up snipe signs in the rights-of-way on a regular basis. Mayor Glasser requested DCM Hogencamp to send out information as a reminder that the pop-up signs cannot be placed in the rights-of-way. PCCD Corbin spoke about the ability of the City to regulate sign size and location but cannot regulate content. He stated the City is reviewing what other municipalities are doing regarding amending their codes and stated a draft will be coming to the Commission soon. Barbette Steele expressed concern regarding parking, narrow streets and emergency access around Adele Grage. She asked if there is any thought of making some one-way streets where the streets are so narrow. Mayor Glasser replied that it has been talked about but no plan at this time to move forward. She stated that emergency access is of paramount importance and that a street by street review is being done by City staff (Public Works, Planning Department and the Police Department). She reported streets reviewed include 3rd Street, and 7th Street. Mitch Reeves spoke about grant money the City will be giving to schools and expressed disappointment that the Athletic Association was not included. Mr. Reeves expressed frustration with the Sherry Drive school traffic congestion. Commissioner Norris responded that the Athletic Association did not apply and encouraged them to apply next time. Commissioner Anderson is in agreement that a solution is needed for Sherry Drive school traffic congestion. She stated we should enforce the law. The ordinance states there is No Parking, No Standing on Sherry Drive and yet people sit there blocking the road for up to half an hour. Mayor Glasser is in agreement that a solution is needed for the Sherry Drive school traffic congestion. She stated she has met with the principal and spoke with the School Board representative. She stated the Police Department is a huge presence there. She stated it was unfortunate the Athletic Association did not apply for a grant and encouraged them to communicate and engage in the process. She stated the City is in favor of the program and what they do for our youth. Jane Stevens — a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity tutoring services stated she spends a couple of afternoons a week at the Gail Baker Center in Donner Park. She is interested in Town Hall October 5, 2019 background on available funding and how to better inform the community/residents. She asked for assistance in developing a clearinghouse of information. Mayor Glasser responded that last year the City had a Town Hall at the Gail Baker Center and invited representatives from non-profit organizations that are working with residents of Atlantic Beach. Discussion ensued regarding after school programs, gaps and/or ideas. DCM Hogencamp stated he has a lot of good information to help Ms. Stevens with creating an information clearinghouse of available resources and will lead this request. An attendee mentioned the Duval County Food Service Program having after school and evening meal programs and requested an update on safety concerns at Donner Road. Mayor Glasser reported that the budget for this year is complete and that the Donner Road project is included for this year. DCM Hogencamp added that $1.2 million is budgeted for safety and aesthetics, including curb, gutter, infrastructure and new road. Discussion ensued regarding the design aspect, the upcoming Parks Master Plan and neighborhood involvement. PCCD Corbin spoke about the upcoming Parks Master Plan Charette. In partnership with the National Parks Service and the Florida American Landscape Architecture of Society will include landscape architects that will be looking at a variety of different parks and the connectivity between parks. Mr. Corbin stated the first day will consist of public input and the second day will consist of getting to task to draw up concepts with a presentation that evening which should reflect the public input received. Mr. Reeves thanked the Commission for placing water fountains in the parks, and stated the parks have never looked better. He then requested City Attorney Durden be tasked to clarify whether Stormwater is a fee or a tax? He stated that if it is a tax then residents are paying for something that is not in an ordinance to pay. Mr. Reeves believes it is a fee. Mayor Glasser responded that the City Attorney is looking into it but has asked that Jacksonville Beach take the lead on that. She stated we do a lot for the school and for the City to be asked to pay the Stormwater fee (or tax) invites the legal distinction be made. DCM Hogencamp pointed out the upcoming Parks Master Plan Charette is scheduled from October 29th and 30th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Commission Chamber. Town Hall October 5, 2019 Sally Clemens expressed concern regarding a need for educating on the use of off-road vehicles being driven in the City. Mayor Glasser agreed education and enforcement is needed. Discussion ensued regarding the safety concerns with electric vehicles, concerns regarding Sherry Road traffic congestion at Atlantic Beach Elementary and an inquiry regarding the repaving of East Coast and Sherry Drive. Mayor Glasser stated she will reach out to the Police Chief regarding the education for electric vehicle safety. 2 PUBLIC COMMENT Commissioners and Mayor Glasser made closing comments. Commissioner Norris suggested one of the Commissioners reach out to the principal and to First Presbyterian Church regarding an agreement about parking and walking to pick up child and/or other solutions. Commissioner Anderson advocated for police officers to enforce road rules. There was discussion regarding reaching out to the school, it was agreed that Mayor Glasser will reach out to the principal. Commissioner Norris spoke about Donner Street being an example of future Complete Streets throughout the City and thanked everyone for coming. Commissioner Kelly stated this is "Democracy in action" and stated the questions/concerns brought forth inform and assist them when making plans on behalf of the City. She spoke about the budget and stated that 41% of the budget is from your taxes and the other pots of money come from mostly outside the City. Mayor Glasser stated she appreciates all the questions and encouraged emails with follow-up. She stated some of the things that she is working on are: o Push for support from the City of Jacksonville for our parks and for Mayport Road upgrades o Supporting the bike community- encourages the bike community to come to the Commission with ideas o Doing due diligence regarding what the possibilities/options are for Atlantic Beach regarding the sale of JEA o Address Stormwater issues -Infrastructure Upgrades She stated the operating budget can be found on our City website in Operating Budget under Finance. Town Hall October 5, 2019 ADJOURNMENT Mayor Glasser adjourned the meeting at 11:40 AM. Attest: Afrout, fV6,1,t& 04/X-2-------" Donna L. Bartle, City Clerk Ellen Glasser, Mayor Date Approved Town Hall October 5, 2019