Resolution No. 09-02 v RESOLUTION NO. 09-02
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH SUPPORTING
THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF GENERAL JOSEPH FINEGAN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UNTIL NAVY PLANNING FOR FUTURE
PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENTS AT NAVAL STATION MAYPORT IS
FORMALIZED AND THE LONG TERM NEED FOR THE SCHOOL CAN
BE PROPERLY EVALUATED.
WHEREAS,the $400M pierside overhaul of USS JOHN F KENNEDY(JFK)at
NAVSTA Mayport in 2003 was the largest overhaul ever done outside of a shipyard, and
established Mayport as a top level ship repair community,and
WHEREAS,the closure of Vieques aerial bombing range and NAVSTA Roosevelt
Roads in 2004 made NAVSTA Mayport the southern-most port in the Atlantic and Caribbean,
and
WHEREAS,the establishment by the Navy of the Training Resource Strategy(TRS)in
2004 which designated ocean and airspace operating areas off Jacksonville as the primary area
for coordinated Fleet training in the Atlantic;and the transfer of Commander U.S.Naval Forces
South(COMUSNAVSO)to NAVSTA Mayport in 2004; and the decision of the Navy in 2007 to
develop a Public-Private Venture(PPV)valued at more than$100M each for housing
improvements at NAVSTA Mayport and NAS JAX; and the decision of the Navy in 2008 to
favor development of a$100M Underwater Sonar Range in the ocean area adjacent to NAVSTA
Mayport; and the establishment of Commander 4th Fleet at NAVSTA Mayport in 2008, are all
indicative to the Navy's recognition as a major East Coast Naval Base,and
WHEREAS,with the almost 1 billion dollars worth of infrastructure improvements
anticipated at Naval Station Mayport it is inconceivable that the Navy will allocate those
resources without ensuring the efficient base loading of ships in addition to the assignment of a
Nuclear Carrier, and
WHEREAS,against this fantastic backdrop of positive momentum and opportunity for
Jacksonville and the Navy, comes the recent announcement of the Duval County School
administration that it plans to close General Joseph Finegan Elementary School,which stands at
the entrance of NAVSTA Mayport could have multiple dire consequences,and
WHEREAS,General Joseph Finegan Elementary School staff and the parents that
support the school have developed a special bond of mutual support,with the school staff
particularly understanding of the special needs of children who are experiencing the loss of a
parent while on a deployment.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission of the City of Atlantic
Beach,while understanding the financial shortfalls facing the Duval County School Board,does
hereby strongly support the continued operation of General Joseph Finegan Elementary School
until such time as further Navy planning as to base loading is formalized to allow that decision to
be based on clear future student needs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED if those financial issues force the decision to close
General Joseph Finegan Elementary School,we support retaining the property in a status that
would allow re-opening when the increased Navy population warrants such action.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City of Atl. ' 1 - . h,this 12th Day of January 2009.
J'1 I MESERVE
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ATL11t'
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DONNA L.BARTLE,CMC
City Clerk
Appro :s as to form and correctness:
i JENSEN,ESQUIRE
Ci. '.•� ey
Resolution No. 09-02 Page 2 of 2