02-15-94 v MINUTES OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION HELD IN CITY HALL
CONFERENCE ROOM AT 4:30 PM ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1994.
Present were: Mayor Lyman T. Fletcher
Commissioner Suzanne Shaughnessy
Commissioner J. Dezmond Waters, III
Commissioner Robert G. Weiss, Jr.
City Manager Kim Leinbach
Deputy City Manager Jim Jarboe
City Clerk Maureen King
Absent: Commissioner Steven Rosenbloom
The meeting was called to order at 4: 45 PM by Commissioner Waters
and the following matters were discussed:
Level of essential services: Jim Jarboe stressed the need for the
City Commission to determine the quality and level of
essential services to be provided by the city. This would
enable the City Manager to present a budget that would address
those wishes.
Budget: It was felt there should be a balance between the budget
requested by department heads and the pay raises expected .
The City Manager felt this may be difficult since most employee
groups were represented by unions whose interests were
strictly in the area of employee compensation and benefits.
The Mayor suggested that efforts be made to get contract
negotiations on a cycle with the budget considerations. He
also suggested that other revenue sources, including
regulating rental properties, should be explored to supplement
state revenue sharing.
The beach: Commissioner Weiss felt the beach was a wonderful
asset and could be used to attract tourists without
denigrating the quality of life in Atlantic Beach. Suggested
beautification and attractive trash containers. Commissioner
Shaughnessy suggested the old Atlantic Beach area would make
an attractive setting for bed and breakfast establishments and
felt the zoning of that area should be reviewed.
Section H/Mayport Road: Jim Jarboe felt if the Section H and
Mayport Road areas were upgraded this would encourage Navy
families to live there rather than other areas farther from
the base. Mayor Fletcher indicated he had attended a recent
meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization and reported
that a cloverleaf interchange which will eliminate the
overpass, is planned for the intersection of Mayport Road and
Atlantic Blvd.
Russell Park concession building: The Mayor indicated that the
Recreation Advisory Board would probably be in a position to
present their recommendations to the city commission at the
Page Two
Minutes of Strategic Planning Session
February 15, 1994
next regular meeting and it was hoped that construction would
begin on both the Russell Park and the Donner Park buildings
after the fall baseball season.
Annexation: It was agreed the city should continue to pursue
annexation to extend the city limits to the Intracoastal
Waterway, and look into the possibility of acquiring Dutton
Island either through purchase or annexation. Discussion also
ensued relative to the possibility and/or advisability of
annexing the Mayport area which, it was felt, would double the
current population of Atlantic Beach.
Future development: Commissioner Waters felt the city should
monitor the undeveloped property within the city and, where
possible, either purchase any property which would be
beneficial to the city or influence the type of development to
take place. He also felt the commercial areas of the city
could be upgraded in cooperation with the business community.
U.S. Navy: It was felt the Navy base had a major impact on the
city, particularly in the area of water and sewer service.
Mayor Fletcher felt annual or semi-annual meetings with the
base commander would be beneficial and agreed to contact the
base to schedule a meeting.
Following the discussions, the City Manager asked that the city
commission develop a brief policy statement on each area.
Essential services were identified as Police, Fire, and Public
Works ( Including sanitation, quality and frequency of service, and
water and sewer service) and Code Enforcement. A second tier of
essential services was identified as Parks and Recreation
( including programs and planning) , Beautification, and the greening
of Atlantic Beach. Kim Leinbach and Jim Jarboe were directed to
provide the City Commission with estimated costs to maintain the
current level of essential services.
Following further discussion it was agreed to continue the
strategic planning sessions at 4: 30 PM on the first, third, and
fifth Tuesday of each month with the next meeting to be held on
March 1 .
There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at
6 : 50 PM.
(9) 7at,tii_e_e_,,J
Maureen King, Ci y ClOk