11-13-01 vCITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD MINUTES
NOVEMBER 13, 2001
Call to order: PRESENT: Curtis Sanders, Chairman
James Pelkey
Mamie W. Hurd
Ray Breault
AND: Alex Sherrer, Code Enforcement Officer
Alan Jensen, City Attorney
Julie M. Brandt, Secretary
Gina Lundgren
ABSENT: Richard Mann
Carl Russell
Peter Wynkoop
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Curtis Sanders, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to
the Flag.
The Secretary read the roll, finding that Board Members Richard Mann, Carl Russell and Peter Wynkoop
were absent.
Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held on September 4, 2001.
Following a brief review of the Minutes of the September 4, 2001 meeting, a motion was made by Mamie
Hurd, seconded by Chairman Curtis Sanders, and unanimously carried to approve the minutes as presented.
2. Recognition of Visitors and Guests regarding any matters that are not listed on the agenda.
There were no visitors or guests present at the meeting.
Chairman Sanders introduced New Board Member Ray Breault and new secretary Gina Lundgren.
3. Old Business:
A). Follow-up on Case No. 075-01 - Beniamin Brown Jr., 457 Sailfish Drive (Lot 1, Block 27, Royal
Palms Unit 2A).
Code Enforcement Officer Sherrer informed the Board that Mr. Brown had been maintaining his property
in good order. Mr. Brown still owes on the administrative fees and he's stated he will have all the fees due
by the deadline, which is December 4, 2001
B). Follow-up on Case No. 342-01 -James Baker, 598 Seaspray (Seaspray Lot 33, Block 4).
Code Enforcement Officer Sherrer informed the Board that Mr. Baker's property was in compliance 100%.
Two sheds have been removed and the one remaining shed has been permitted and approved. A discussion
with the actual owners who reside in California requested an extension on the fees. As of today Officer
Sherrer had not received any requests for those extensions. A brief discussion ensued on providing an
extension to Mr. Baker. Since extensions were granted for Mr. Brown, the Board Members expressed that
they be equally fair and provide a 90-day extension for Mr. Baker.
A motion was made by Board Member Hurd, seconded by Board Member Pelkey and unanimously
carried to acknowledge a 90-day extension to Mr. Baker. Chairman Sanders requested Code
Enforcement Officer Alex Sherrer to grant an extension to pay all fines and administrative expenses
totaling $842.41 by February 13, 2002.
C). Chairman Sanders reviewed the minutes of September 4, 2001 and requested an update of the
boat that was in the front of the yard.
Code Enforcement Alex Sherrer replied that the boat was in compliance. The owner had actually turned
the boat sideways and put it up across the front of his house.
D). Chairman Sanders requested an update from Code Enforcement Officer Sherrer in regards to
business sign enforcement.
Since June, signs have been surveyed under the existing ordinance that required that all business signs
come into compliance with the current regulations. Approximately two weeks ago, the City Commission
voted to change the ordinance allowing existing signs to be grandfathered under the old regulations. There
will be two public meetings regarding the grandfathering of non-compliant signs. There were
approximately 64 businesses that would have had to change their signs, some of these would involve costs
of up to $40,000 to remove or modify them. With the proposed changes, only 19 businesses will have to
comply with the new sign ordinance. These are the businesses that have dilapidated signs, signs that are in
the city right of way or signs that are too close to the power lines.
4. New Business:
A). Discussion of the Government-in-the-Sunshine Law -City Attorney.
The Sunshine Law in the state of Florida in essence provides access to Governmental meetings by the
public at both state and local levels; this applies to elected bodies and to appointed bodies. A brief
discussion from Mr. Jensen advised the board members what you can and cannot do under these laws.
B). Code Enforcement Case Load Update -Code Enforcement Officer Sherrer:
To date 2,489 different violations have been corrected. Upon reviewing the report the largest portion are
the signs. These are real estate signs, posted signs on utility poles or yard sale signs improperly placed.
The other category belonging to animals does not mean animal control. This is where people have called in
and complained that the neighbors are keeping an animal in a garage. If these are cases that are real bad the
Health Department is notified. But the 6 cases that have been reported are cases of nuisance and Code
Enforcement Alex Sherrer stated that these were areas that he was able to enforce and have cleaned up.
Under the category of Recreational Vehicles, Officer Sherrer noted that this number might possibly
increase due to the new code change for zoning. The code change may give homeowners a 15 ft setback
instead of 20 ft but may limit the recreational vehicle to one per property. Officer Sherrer then explained
the monthly report indicated "Call Ins" are all calls coming directly to him. "CE Identified" means these
are the items that Officer Sherrer has identified by driving through the community.
C). Date Change for January Meeting -The January i, 2002 meeting of the Code Enforcement
Board has recommended that it be changed to January 8, 2002
A motion was made by Board Member Breault and seconded by Board Member Hurd and
unanimously carried to approve that the next meeting be conducted on January 8, 2002.
5. Board Member Comments:
No comments were brought before the board.
6. Adjournment
There being no further discussion or business to co efore the Board eetin journed at 8:00
P.M.
Curtis Sand rs, Chairman
Code Enforcement Board
Attest:
Gina undgren - S re ary
2