08-10-70 v CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
AGENDA
August 10, 1970
1. Call to Order.
2 . Invocation.
3 . Approval of Minutes of July 27, 1970 and
August 6, 1970.
4. Recognition of Visitors.
5. Correspondence.
6. Police and Fire Chief.
7 . Public Works Superintendent.
8. City Manager.
9. Commissioners.
10. Mayor.
11. Adjourn.
. 4
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ATLANTIC BEACH CITY
COMMISSION HELD AT THE CITY HALL ON MONDAY, AUGUST 10 , 1970
Present : William S . Howell , Mayor-Commissioner
A . J . Longo
R. IL Rosborough
Preben Johansen
L. W. Minton , Jr . , Commissioners
and
R . C . Vo el , City Manager
Oliver Ball , City Attorney
Adele 3 . Drage , City Clerk
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor-Commissioner ,
Mr . Howell .
The invocation was given by Commissioner Minton .
The minutes of the meeting of July 27 , 1^70 , were approved
as written upon motion of Mr . Longo , seconded by Mr . Johansen,
The minutes of the meeting of August 5 , 1970 Special Meeting ,
were approved as written upon motion of Mr . Longo , seconded
by Mr . Johansen,,and carried.
Mr . Howell recognized visitors and called for any business
from the floor not on the Agenda.
Dr. David W. Cheshire , Chairman of the Narcotics Committee
stated that several weeks ago , the drug problem had been dis -
cussed at the Council meeting . Since that time , they have
been working with the Health Planning Commission of Jackson-
ville which covers all of Duval County . Dr . Cheshire pre-
sented a written report to the Council and stated that the
substance of it could probably ae boiled down to the fact
that a major problem is being developed in Northeast Florida
in 3 - 4 counties . Government money will hopefully be
secured , he stated , to help combat this problem, and that it
will be a very broad program. It will be a combination of
programs being conducted all over the United States . About
six months to a year has gone into this planning , and one of
the major things about this program, is that the three
beaches should combine their efforts in this area. There
have been fewer cases admitted into the Beaches Hospital in
the last three months , Dr . Cheshire stated , on drugs . The
ones admitted , are mostly Marijuana, which causes less effects
than the other stronger drugs such as LSD . Mayor Howell
asked the City Clerk to make copies of this report and bulletin
them out to the City Commissioners and said that the Com-
missioners should get in touch with Dr . Cheshire before the
next Council meetn7, on recommendations , etc . Copy of said re-
port is attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Minutes 3/10/70 Page #2
Mayor Howell stated that he was in receipt of a letter
from Dr . Cecil Hardesty , Superintendent of Schools , in which
it states that in regard to the Resolution proposing that
the Atlantic Beach _Elementary School No . 05 be renamed to
the Edythe B . Chambers Elementary School , it would be
placed on the School Board Agenda, but that the situation
is one which the School Board had not dealt with before and
one member had mentioned to him that he expressed a view
that while this might be a desirable action in this case ,
he had some rather strong feelings .that the School loard
should follow a policy of not naming a school after a
living person . This is an occasion , where he is sure all
of them would be sympathetic to the idea, but it would con-
stitute a precedent which the Board might have occasion to
regret at a later date .
The Police Department report for the month of July was re-
ceived for information and filing .
Mr . Hilliard , the Public Works Superintendent , reported
that his Department had finished the third tennis court
except for the color and striping . He reported they had
to wait 30 days to finish that portion . The lighting has
been completed on the other courts , as of the previous
Friday.
City Manager Vogel reported that his mileage for the month
of July was 4Y6 miles , and that of Mrs . Grage was 110 miles .
There being no further business , the Mayor declar. .- the
meeting adjourned . ( 7 : 0 p .m. )
Jr',7. .► . owe '1
7
Mayor-Commissioner
ATTEST:
CUA , 4 b}7,_ ,__
Adele S-. Grage
City Cler►:r
REPORT OF DRUG COMMITTEE
A survey of county and state-wide drug programs has been made, and at the
present time, a comprehensive drug program for Jacksonville is being planned
by a hung Ahut+t t:ummi t tto ut t he Mental Heal th Association of Jacksonville.
It It; intended lhnt this program include the following areas:
School programs fut the cIcment,iry , )ui►ior and senior high schools .
Program Bureau to fill requests for speakers and review existing programs.
Public Relations to promote good relations between the community and the
drug center.
Store Fronts run by volunteers to furnish information to users and other
interested persons in order to help them enter the drug center.
Hot lines in schools manned by teenagers to help give out information
and encourage other youths to seek help.
Back up Counselors , referred to adult callers to give aid to difficult
cases to get them to the drug center.
Pre-Addict Program, designed for the sporadic or occasional user.
De-toxification Program for the addict - In-patient and out-patient
Methadone Maintenance Program.
This program will probably get the approval of the Duval County Medical Society,
and I think that a Federal Grant has been applied for . The
scheduled time for beginning the program is September.
At the time, I made a suggestion to this Council to appoint a committee to look
into the drug problem in Atlantic Beach. I felt immediate action was needed due
to the increase in the summertime activities of the local users and people using
or passing through the area. I am still of this opinion, and wish to make the
following suggestions:
That the police pay more attention to the users and utilize the stop and
search law, if applicable.
That all suspicious apartments and houses be put under surveillance, and
the landlords notified that there is the possibflity of unlawful activities.
That the police notify the parents of all known users or suspected users of
drugs. The police have a list of approximately 300 users. These names were
given by people picked up for selling and possession, etc. Until the parents
recognize the possibility that their child is involved the problem will go
unchecked in that home. Therefore, we would like to suggest that the police
inform all parents of their children's activities.
Cooperate with the authorities by reporting auspicious activities.
f REPORT OF DRUG COMMITTEE (Page Two)
Encourage your child to give information leading to the arrest of pushers
and distributors of drugs . He must realize that these people are not his
friends, but only wish to make a profit off what could be an activity
causing permanent damage.
Help your child realize that the parent is the only person who will
stand up with him when arrested for the possession of unlawful drugs ,
and that users and pushers are not their friends when the authorities
become involved.
The three beach municipalities should combine their efforts to control
the problem, and police officers of one Beach should have the authority
to cross boundary lines to investig4e any problems.
Educational programs should be encouraged in the schools. Also, an
education program should be given for parents to inform them of the
dangers of drug use, physical symptoms to be aware 4a in children,
identification of growing plants and dried marijuana, and a4} .41x pills, etc.
A telephone number should be established to call which would give out
information and make suggestions for sources of treatment. Also, limited
advice should be given to those who are afraid to request information
from the police.
The use of, or the decision to stop using unlawful drugs, is a personal decision
which has to be based on emotion and intellect, and punishment alone is not
the answer. Therefore, it is necessary to have understanding with firm
limits imposed by the individual, or in those cases where the youth is unable
to exercise control , then it should be exercised by the parents with the
knowledge of the possibility of involvement of the authorities if the
parents are unable to handle the situation.
David W. Cheshire, M. D.