Resolution No. 07-03RESOLUTION NO. 07-03
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA,
REQUESTING MORE VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF AND MORE
SEVERE PUNISHMENT FOR PROSTITUTION CASES ON MAYPORT
ROAD, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Commission has considered improving the Mayport Road
corridor as an issue of strategic importance and has devoted considerable time and money
over the last several years in efforts to improve and clean up the areas along Mayport
Road, and
WHEREAS, specific efforts made by the City, and others, to improve and clean
up Mayport Road include the following:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Zoning changes implemented by the City to limit sizes of
signs, prohibit chain link, barbed wire or razor fencing on
street frontages, prohibit roofs that have a flat appearance,
prohibit open bay doors that face Mayport Road, requiring
windows and certain finishes on exteriors of buildings that
face Mayport Road, and limiting exterior lighting.
Strong code enforcement measures by the City's code
enforcement department on sign regulations, accumulation
of trash, and other relevant provisions of the City's code.
Installation of landscaped medians along Mayport Road
from Atlantic Blvd. to the Navy Base at Mayport in order
to improve traffic and pedestrian safety is currently under
design. This is to improve the business climate along
Mayport Road, and the overall appearance of the entry into
the Navy Base and is a joint project by Atlantic Beach,
Jacksonville and the FDOT, at a cost of several million
dollars.
Other landscaping and maintenance projects have
already been completed including Flyover landscaping at
the Atlantic Blvd. intersection, creation of Veterans Park,
and creation of a landscaped pond between 3rd and 4th
Streets with a walking track and benches.
Special police operations by Atlantic Beach and other law
enforcement agencies, have been conducted on numerous
occasions to enforce laws against drugs, sale of alcohol to
minors, DUI, and prostitution.
WHEREAS, the Atlantic Beach Police Department has been responding to
complaints of prostitution on Mayport Road for a number of years, has and
Resolution No. 07-03 Page 1 of 3
continues to make sound cases against the prostitutes, but the cases do not result
in any significant punishment or sentences, even for repeat offenders, and
WHEREAS, Florida Statutes provide for more serious charges with
harsher penalties for those who are convicted of prostitution more than once,
including all third and subsequent violations being subject to third degree felony
charges, which carry a potential sentence of up to five (5) years in prison, and
WHEREAS, a review of Atlantic Beach prostitution arrests on Mayport
Road shows that although some offenders have been arrested three (3) times or
more over the past several years, none of the offenders were sentenced to more
than sixty (60) days in jail. Therefore, although the Atlantic Beach Police
Department has made sound and successful cases against prostitutes with multiple
prior violations, these prostitutes have been routinely released back into the
community with minimal penalties, resulting in many additional and related
problems, including:
a. Prostitutes often have sexually transmitted diseases which can be
spread to their customers, and eventually to innocent people.
b. Prostitutes often participate in other crimes including theft, credit
card fraud, auto theft, and similar crimes of opportunity related to
their illicit sexual activities.
c. Prostitutes are often addicted to various drugs, so consequently
they often participate in the use, sale and distribution of illegal
drugs including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana.
d. Prostitutes often carry weapons for protection which can lead to
weapons related offenses such as aggravated assault, batteries, etc,
which can result in bodily injuries.
WHEREAS, with the many completed and ongoing initiatives to enhance
the safety and social climate along Mayport Road in Atlantic Beach and beyond,
as described above, the presence of street level prostitutes denigrates the quality
of life for people living, working, and passing through the City of Atlantic Beach
and the City of Jacksonville; and
WHEREAS, for the City's efforts to eliminate or significantly reduce the
number and visibility of street level prostitutes along Mayport Road to be
successful, there must be more vigorous prosecution of those arrested for
prostitution, and there must be harsher punishment and sentences imposed on
those convicted of prostitution.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: The foregoing "WHEREAS" clauses are hereby made a
specific part of this Resolution upon the adoption hereof.
Resolution No. 07-03 Page 2 of 3
SECTION 2: The City Commission requests that the Office of the State
Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit and Duval County, Florida, more
vigorously prosecute prostitution cases in the City of Atlantic Beach and the City
of Jacksonville, to include seeking enhanced charges and punishments for repeat
violators, as allowed by Florida Statute.
SECTION 3: The City Commission requests that all judges of the Fourth
Judicial Circuit and Duval County, Florida, impose harsher sentences for those
convicted of prostitution in the City of Atlantic Beach and the City of
Jacksonville, to include imposing enhanced sentences for repeat violators, as
allowed by Florida Statute.
SECTION 4: The City Clerk is hereby directed to distribute copies of this
Resolution to the Office of the State Attorney and all judges of the Fourth Judicial
Circuit and Duval County, Florida.
SECTION 5: This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon final
passage and adoption. /,
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 07 ' day of April, 2007.
ATTEST:
OvnQ
DONNA L. BUSSEY, CMC 4 DONALD M. WOLFSON
City Clerk
Approved . to
rm and correctness:
ALJENSEN, ESQUIRE
City • • rney
Resolution No. 07-03
Mayor
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