10-25-23 Charter Review Committee - AgendaCity of Atlantic Beach
Agenda
Charter Review Committee Meeting
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 - 6:00 p.m.
Commission Chamber
City Hall, 800 Seminole Road
Page(s)
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.A. Approve minutes of the September 27, 2023, Charter Review Committee
meeting.
09-27-23 Charter Review Committee - 27 Sep 2023 - Draft Minutes
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2. PUBLIC COMMENT
3. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
3.A. ARTICLE III. - THE CITY MANAGER Sec. 24. - Absence of the city manager;
Sec. 27. - Governance of departments; ARTICLE IV. - THE CITY CLERK Sec. 28. -
Appointment; duties.; Sec. 29. - Qualifications.; Sec. 30. - Removal of the city
clerk; ARTICLE V. - CITY ATTORNEY Sec. 31. - Appointment and qualifications.;
Sec. 32. - Powers and duties; ARTICLE VI. - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Sec.
33. - Appointments and responsibilities; ARTICLE VII. — BUDGET Sec. 34. -
Preparation and adoption; ARTICLE VIII. - DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE Sec. 35. -
Director of finance; and other sections of the Charter
3.B. November Meeting Topics
3.C. November Meeting City Staff Attendance
4. ADJOURNMENT
This meeting will be live -streamed and videotaped. The video recording will be posted within
four business days on the City's website. To access live or recorded videos, visit
www.coab.us/live.
Any person wishing to speak to the Charter Review Committee at this meeting should submit
a request prior to public comment. For your convenience, forms for this purpose are available
at the entrance to the Commission Chamber.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes,
persons with disabilities needing special accommodation to participate in this meeting should
contact the City Clerk's Office at (904) 200-9790 at least three business days prior to the
meeting. .
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Present:
Absent:
Also Present:
MINUTES
Charter Review Committee Meeting
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 - 6:00 PM
Commission Chamber
Suzanne Shaughnessy, Vice Chair
Jennifer Lagner, Secretary
Debbie Buckland, Member
Charles "Chip" Drysdale, Member
Kelly Elmore, Member
Ellen Golombek, Member
Kirk Hansen, Member
Donald Young, Member
William "Bill" Gulliford, Chair
Bruce Andrews, Member
Mitchell Reeves, Member
Dawn Scott, Member
Steve Swann, Member
Donna Bartle, City Clerk (CC)
Jason Gabriel, City Attorney (CA)
William B. Killingsworth, City Manager (CM)
Agenda Item #1.A.
25 Oct 2023
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Vice Chair Shaughnessy called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Secretary Lagner called the
roll.
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approve minutes of the June 28, 2023 and July 26, 2023 Charter Review Committee
meetings.
With no changes, the June 28, 2023, Charter Review Committee meeting minutes were
approved as submitted.
With no changes, the July 26, 2023, Charter Review Committee meeting minutes were
approved as submitted.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jackie Beckenbach Atlantic Beach supports city manager residency required in that there is
stakeholder engagement, more accessibility, interaction with residents, cultural understanding /
social fabric, and accountability. In the absence of the city manager, the role of assistant city
manager should step in, and City should not look for interim; recommend put into the Charter.
Charter Review Committee
September 27, 2023
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Agenda Item #1.A.
25 Oct 2023
Vice Chair Shaughnessy introduced City Manager Bill Killingsworth. CM Killingsworth shared
his excitement to be a part of Atlantic Beach. In response to comments regarding city manager
residency requirement, it is a cost versus quality of life, and this is a policy decision the CRC
will debate. He was amenable to moving to Atlantic Beach but shared he didn't apply until salary
got increased. It played into his decision to apply for and pursue the position.
Dr. Nancy Staats Atlantic Beach was supportive with comments made by Jackie Beckenbach.
The salary can be affordable but if a major issue, the city could consider a housing allowance.
It is a nice idea to have a succession plan for absence of city manager. She is supportive of the
sale of any park land or parklike having to go to referendum. Finally, suggested wording should
be added to the charter regarding resiliency.
Ellen Glasser Atlantic Beach shared she is representing a group of people, is the Co -Chair of
Atlantic Beach Preservation. She recommends amendment to the Charter to be reviewed to
include environmental stewardship, resiliency and sustainability, and protection of the tree
canopy. Ms. Glasser suggested various locations to add to the Charter. Asked that the sale of
real property used as parks or parklike owned by City be approved unanimously by Commission
and send to the voters.
Sarah Boren Atlantic Beach Vice Chair ESC shared COAB ESC plans to formally recommend
a motion to adopt and insert environmental stewardship including protection of tree canopy,
resilience, and sustainability. Shared Steve Swann was speaking about stormwater as part of
Salon Series on October 5th from 6-8 p.m.
Carolyn Zisser Atlantic Beach concurs with Dr. Nancy Staats and Jackie Beckenbach but
suggested adding in Section 22 what Interim City Manager Joe Gerrity stated as what are
important issues and his comments on residency requirement. The most important is resiliency
and stormwater. This is tied to residency requirement because you must live here when it is
storming to see the community needs. She is supportive of residency requirement. Regarding
Section 24, she suggested that the language regarding the temporary absence or disability be
changed to provide for duties during any temporary or permanent absence or disability, death,
firing, and resignation, explaining it is necessary for succession planning and continuity.
Susanne Barker Atlantic Beach welcomed new CM Killingsworth. As Co -Chair of Atlantic
Beach Preservation, she referenced Glasser e-mail and introduced the members of Atlantic
Beach Preservation. She explained Atlantic Beach Preservation and how it started as community
driven when flooding of Aquatic Gardens. Supports street calming in Mayport, adding resiliency
into Charter, and to have voting on parks go to Commission then voter referendum.
Stephen Fouraker Atlantic Beach concurs with prior comments. He welcomed CM
Killingsworth. Would like the CRC to look at the process regarding Sunshine and would like
for CRC to figure out how not to be or should be lobbied by Commissioners for issues
undertaking. Think should be part of CRC rules since the Commission appointed them.
3. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
A. ARTICLE II. - THE COMMISSION Sec. 20. - Attendance of city manager and
other officers in city commission; ARTICLE III. - THE CITY MANAGER Sec. 21.
Charter Review Committee
September 27, 2023
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Agenda Item #1.A.
25 Oct 2023
— Appointment; Sec. 22. — Qualifications; Sec. 23. - Powers and duties; Sec. 24. -
Absence of the city manager; Sec. 25. - Removal of the city manager; and other
sections of the Charter.
CA Gabriel was requested to investigate the referendum and the house bill and land use
issues versus property disposition issues. He was also asked to investigate if a charter
provision can be changed by referendum.
Discussion
ARTICLE II. - THE COMMISSION Sec. 20. - Attendance of city manager and
other officers in city commission.
No changes to Section 20
Discussion
ARTICLE III. - THE CITY MANAGER Sec. 21. — Appointment.
No changes to Section 21
Discussion
Sec. 22. — Qualifications
No changes to Section 22
Discussion
Sec. 23. - Powers and duties
No changes to Section 23
Discussion
Sec. 24. - Absence of the city manager
General discussion regarding clarification of absence of city manager and needing to
further define it better and duties of the deputy city manager. Vice Chair Shaughnessy
asked CA Gabriel to recommend language; CA Gabriel agreed but acknowledged others
may feel differently and would bring back recommended language at a future meeting.
Discussion
Sec. 25. - Removal of the city manager
General discussion regarding the majority or super majority for removal of the city
manager.
Charter Review Committee
September 27, 2023
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Agenda Item #1.A.
25 Oct 2023
MOTION: The city manager shall serve at the pleasure of the city commission. The city
commission may remove the city manager for any or no reason by the affirmative vote of not
less than four (4) of its members.
Motion: Debbie Buckland
Second: Ellen Golombek
Suzanne Shaughnessy Against
Jennifer Lagner For
Debbie Buckland (Moved By) For
Charles "Chip" Drysdale For
Kelly Elmore For
Ellen Golombek (Seconded By) For
Kirk Hansen For
Donald Young For
Motion passed 7 to 1.
Discussion
Sec. 26 City Departments
No changes to Section 26
Discussion
Sec. 27 Governance of departments
General discussion ensued inquiring if the city had personnel practices. The CRC opted to table
the discussion until the October meeting in order to better understand what "personnel practices"
are. The CRC requested City Human Resources Director Cathy Varian attend to explain the city
personnel practices including but not limited to personnel manual, policies, and rules.
D. November and December meeting schedule
Due to the holidays, the CRC meeting schedule has to be adjusted. The two suggested
dates, 11/29/2023 and 12/18/2023 would be confirmed via email and confirmed at the
October 25, 2023, meeting.
C. October Meeting City Staff Attendance
City Human Resources Director Cathy Varian, CA Gabriel and CC Bartle to be in
attendance for October 25, 2023, meeting.
B. October Meeting Topics
ARTICLE III. - THE CITY MANAGER Sec. 24. - Absence of the city manager.; Sec.
27. - Governance of departments.
Charter Review Committee
September 27, 2023
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Agenda Item #1.A.
25 Oct 2023
ARTICLE IV. - THE CITY CLERK Sec. 28. - Appointment; duties; Sec. 29. -
Qualifications.; Sec. 30. - Removal of the city clerk.
ARTICLE V. - CITY ATTORNEY Sec. 31. - Appointment and qualifications.; Sec. 32.
- Powers and duties.
ARTICLE VI. - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Sec. 33. - Appointments and
responsibilities.
ARTICLE VII. — BUDGET Sec. 34. - Preparation and adoption.
ARTICLE VIII. - DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE Sec. 35. - Director of finance.
4. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, Vice Chair Shaughnessy declared the meeting adjourned at
7:18 p.m.
Attest:
Jennifer Lagner, Secretary William Gulliford, Chair
Date Approved:
Charter Review Committee
September 27, 2023
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