02-05-94 v MINUTES OF THE ATLANTIC BEACH CITY COMMISSION PLANNING SESSION
HELD IN CITY HALL AT 9:00 AM ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1994
Present were: Lyman T. Fletcher, Mayor
Steven Rosenbloom, Commissioner
Suzanne Shaughnessy, Commissioner
J. Dezmond Waters, III, Commissioner
Robert G. Weiss, Commissioner
Kim D. Leinbach, City Manager
Jim Jarboe, Deputy City Manager
Maureen King, City Clerk
Mayor Fletcher called the meeting to order and explained the City
Commission had met in a similar planning session in past years. He
felt it was important to undertake planning and establish policy in
conjunction with budget preparations so that direction could be
given to the City Manager to help him in his budget plans. The
Mayor then invited the commissioners to express some of their
personal wishes and goals for the city.
Commissioner Rosenbloom requested a review of the sign ordinance as
it relates to campaign signs. He also felt that when the sale of
Beaches Hospital to Baptist becomes final, the City Commission may
wish to continue including the millage rate for a specific period
and dedicate it to certain projects or to increasing the reserve
funds. He also supported increased beautification and suggested
the possibility of contracting out maintenance of maintenance of
rights-of-way and landscaping. He also proposed construction of a
performing arts facility in conjunction with the Russell Park
facility, the construction of bike paths, and the possibility of
privatizing the solid waste services as a means to control costs.
Commissioner Weiss felt the beach should be used to a greater
extent for recreational purposes and noted the need for improved
parking and beach accesses.
Commissioner Shaughnessy stressed the need for increased code
enforcement and recommended changing the part time code enforcement
officer position to full time. She suggested equipment for this
position might include a lap-top computer which could be used to
enter information in the field. She also felt there was a need for
a large meeting room/public facility such as the one in
Metropolitan Park.
Commissioner Waters listed among the areas he would like to see
addressed the implementation of a tree planting policy, the
rezoning of certain areas of Mayport back to residential, increased
supervised recreational activities in parks, remodeling the Adele
Grage Community Center to provide one large meeting/multi-purpose
room, increased code enforcement, continued upgrading of
infrastructure, resolution of utility billing problems, better
maintenance of ditches, and cleaning up public works and park lands
including sowing grass.
Page Two
Minutes - Commission Planning Session
February 5, 1994
Following discussion of individual goals and interests, the group
agreed upon the following areas for which they felt policies should
be developed along with related areas to be considered to implement
each policy:
1 . Preserve and advance the residential character of Atlantic
Beach;
- Zoning integrity ( Investigate the possibility of rezoning
Saratoga and Forrestal back to residential - 12 months )
- Investigate reducing density where possible
- Investigate rezoning Donner neighborhood to residential
- Careful review of all PUD' s for lower density
- Review 2010 plan for compliance
2 . Beach access and use;
- Improve parking
- Improve sanitary facilities
- Monitor Federal and State restrictions and requirements
- Sixteenth Street access
- Benches and lighting
3 . Code enforcement;
- Full time code enforcement officer
- Vegetation ordinance
- Review Code - Improve scope and language
4 . Beautification and tree planting/maintenance;
- Citizen involvement
- Newsletter
- 5-year tree planting and maintenance plan
- Full or part-time gardener
- City maintenance of rights-of-way
- Refer Atlantic Boulevard to Greenscape
5 . Promotion of parks and recreation facilities and programs;
- Russell & Donner Park buildings
- Use of beach lands as recreational facilities
- Development of hall/public gathering facilities
- Programs in park with staff supervision
- Maintenance of parks ( city/citizens )
- Examine other uses of Howell Park/other parks
- Park equipment - Safety and expansion
- Land acquisition ( Dutton Island, annexation, Atlantic
Blvd. /Mayport Road property )
- Bike paths
- Underground utilities
Page Three
Minutes - Commission Planning Session
February 5, 1994
6. Provide and determine the level of essential services;
- Privatization
- 2010 Plan
- Determine essential services and levels
- Cost/benefit, value for services
- Fees
- Water/sewer, billing system, rate ordinance
- Implementation of Capital Improvement Plan
7 . Budget as a planning tool;
- Revise budget to allow long term planning
- Capital Improvement Plan
- Summaries/format
- Develop compensation package for employees
- User friendly
8 . Implement stormwater plan;
- Long term financing
- Tie to Capital Improvement Plan
- Work with other government agencies and cities for
resolution
- Clean and maintain ditches/out flows
9 . Continue enhancement of low and moderate income areas;
- Work with Donner Community Development Corporation and
Habitat to develop 5-year plan
- Expand Donner Community Development Corporation target
area/CDC advisory to Commission regarding Community
Development Block Grant funds
- Concentration of resources/efforts ( Code Enforcement and
Police ) on problem areas
- Establish rental code (Also See #1 )
- Impact of HUD housing at development stage
10. Strive for overall efficiency and evaluate value of services;
- Public relations
- Contracting for services and programs vs. self contained
- Automation vs. personnel
- Computer services and needs
- Citizens surveys
11 . Pursue additional revenue sources where possible;
- Grants
- Fees
- Donations
- Tax relief
- Parking meters ( Including Neptune Beach)
- Law suit
Page Three
Minutes - Commission Planning Session
February 5, 1994
- Joint projects with surrounding cities/county and other
government agencies
- Franchises
15. Public Safety;
- Disaster plan (Natural/man-made)
- Neighborhood safety programs, eg. Mayport Road -
overpass, speed, traffic light at West Sixth,
pedestrians, crime, etc.
- Wonderwood
- Atlantic Boulevard causeway ( raising level )
- Traffic and parking
Following identification of these areas a follow-up meeting was
scheduled for 4: 30 - 6:00 PM on Tuesday, February 15, 1994.
—fl1-1461/2-31‘j
Mau e n King
City lerk