Item 1C - 1-23-16 Public Meeting MinutesAGENDA ITEM #1C
MARCH 14, 2016
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
PUBLIC MEETING-CITY COMMISSION COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
January 23, 2016
IN ATTENDANCE:
Mayor Mitchell Reeves
Commissioner Mitch Harding
Commissioner John Stinson
Commissioner Jimmy Hill
Commissioner Blythe Waters
Mayor Reeves opened the meeting at 3:01 pm on the 23rd of January 2016. Rules of
order were explained to the guests in attendance informing guests that the meeting
was not open for public comment or questions but only a discussion between the
Commission members.
1) Topics
Topics of the Forum were conveyed to the Commission and attendees. The topics
were described as follows:
a. Citizen request for a forum for discussion regarding the Gate
Petroleum proposed development;
b. Cloister Condominium south access gate use and discussion on
possible solutions.
Commissioner Hill was hesitant for the City Commission to facilitate such a meeting
for residents to comment on the Gate Petroleum proposal. Commissioner Hill stated
his belief was regularly scheduled Commission meetings provided an opportunity
for residents to voice concerns about such matters.
Commissioner Waters arrived to the Committee of the Whole meeting at 3:15pm.
Commissioner Harding stated that citizens had requested the forum for an
opportunity to have dialogue with City officials about the proposal.
2) Open Discussion
Mayor Reeves opened discussion about citizen requests for open dialogue with City
officials, detailing the events and comments that precipitated the request at a recent
Town Hall meeting. Commissioner Hill accepted the lead role in facilitating the
forum for citizens to meet to discuss concerns between themselves and for a current
member of the Commission to be in attendance. Commissioner Hill committed to
contacting those requesting the meeting and set a date and venue, and to
AGENDA ITEM #1C
MARCH 14, 2016
communicate these details to the City Clerk for dissemination to the entire
Commission.
Commissioner Stinson opened the discussion of the Cloister south gate matter with
a slide presentation of the original proposed solution reached at a recent citizen
forum on the matter. After Commissioner Stinson completed the presentation,
discussion ensued. Commissioner Hill commented he believed separating "Little"
Plaza from the other areas of concern seemed to make sense in his opinion. There
was consensus within the group to indeed consider "Little" Plaza separately and
make a recommendation to City staff to research parking and other contributing
factors and begin addressing citizen complaints about traffic safety in this area.
Discussion continued regarding the 1Qth Street beach access and the Cloister south
gate use. No clear consensus was reached about possible solutions or direction for
City staff regarding traffic and pedestrian safety, or about the current use of the
Cloister south gate by Cloister residents.
3) Solutions
The group reached a consensus on the request for a resident forum regarding the
Gate Petroleum proposal facilitated by the City. Commissioner Hill accepted the lead
role in facilitating the resident forum.
Direction regarding parking and traffic pedestrian safety was agreed upon. City staff
was to research parking restrictions, street width and feasibility of sidewalk
construction for the area and make a recommendation to the City Commission.
4) Closing Comments
Commissioner Stinson thanked all the members of the City Commission for taking
time on a Saturday afternoon to work on these matters.
Mayor Reeves adjourned the meeting at 4:51 pm.
ATTEST:
Donna L. Bartle, CMC
City Clerk
Minutes prepared by Commissioner John Stinson
Mitchell E. Reeves
Mayor /Presiding Officer