03-11-63 v COMMISSION MELTING
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH,-j0 FLORID .
MARCH /1, 196:i
AGENDA
(1) Call to Order.
(2) Minutes Regular Meeting February 25® 1963, and
Special Meetings March a963 and Burch 6, 1963
(3) Recognition of Visitors,
(4) Easements:
(4) Acceptance of ext$ ,5ion Royal Palms Drive to
Atlantic Boulevar'1 60° R/W.
(b) Acceptance of 15 eaJ►em'ent for water line
from City park property to Dudley Street.
(5) Request for Permit to construct awning on building
140 - 160 Nayport Road = Bernie's Restaurant ---
Permit #7552.
(6) Report City Attorney's opinitn on Uendryx-Culligan
business compatability to Bu.inet;s AA zoning.
(7) Mt. Fred Schnakenberg to appwar regarding use of
former airport for Police i\, socia cion one day circus
(8) Correspondence:
(a) Letter h City of JackLoaville.
Cb) Florida State Road Depvvtment,
Report on Park property.
(1o) Monthly reps t Deparbr eM of Pubt i.c Safety.
(a) Police
(b) Fire
(11) Commissioners.
(12) Adjourn.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ATLANTIC BEACH CITY COMMISSION
HELD AT THE CITY HALL ON MONDAY, MARCH 11, 1963 AT 8:00 P. M.
Present:
Henry G. Isaacs
Preben Johansen
J. B. Claiborne
C. B. Lawrence, Jr.
Chas. R. Moore, Commissioners
and
Frank Thompson, City Attorney
John R. Printon, City Manager
Adele S. Grage, City Clerk
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor-Commissioner, Mr.
Isaacs. Before going into the business of the meeting, Mr.
Isaacs recognized Mr. William S . Wilson, the Mayor of Jackson-
ville Beach, and expressed appreciation for his attendance at
this meeting.
The minutes of the meeting of February 25, 1963, were approved
as written upon motion of Mr. Johansen, seconded by Mr. Claiborne
and carried.
The minutes of the special meeting of March 5, 1963, were ap-
proved as written upon motion of Mr . Lawrence, seconded by Mr.
Moore and carried.
Mr. Isaacs requested the City Clerk to read the minutes of the
special meeting of March 8, 1963, following which Mr. Isaacs
moved that the minutes be amended to state the deed restric-
tions on the lots purchased for the park as set forth by the
City Attorney, seconded by Mr. Lawrence. Following a discussion
in which the City Attorney advised that the matter of restric-
tions was included in Resolution #63-8. After further discus-
sion, the Mayor called for the vote, which was:
Aye: Lawrence, Isaacs
Nay: Claiborne, Johansen, Moore
The Mayor declared the motion not passed. Mr. Claiborne then
moved that the minutes of March 8, 1963, be adopted as read,
seconded by Mr. Johansen and carried.
Mr. Isaacs recognized visitors present and called for any
business from the floor, not on the agenda.
Captain George Monkhouse, U. S. Army, secretary of the Atlantic
Beach Volunteer Firemen's Association, spoke on behalf of the
members of the Association. He advised that they were perturbed
Minutes 3/11/63 Page 2
by the articles in the papers regarding the reorganization of
the Fire and Police Departments and the hiring of a joint
Police and Fire Chief. They would like to know what the plans
are in this connection.
Mr. Claiborne advised that, speaking for four of the five City
Commissioners (not for Mayor Isaacs) , he would like to say that
they and the Volunteer Firemen had a great deal in common, as
each group volunteered to serve the City. The decisions made
cannot always be agreeable to all persons. The Commission has
not taken any administrative action, but have instructed the
City Manager to see if a man capable of serving as administra-
tive head of both departments can be found. The Commissioners
are not on trial and we do not have a Town Hall form of govern-
ment. Everyone is entitled to make their own decisions and
express their opinions but the responsibility for setting the
policy of Atlantic Beach is held by the Commissioners. it was
brought out that there has been no official action taken, as
they are simply investigating at this time and until the City
Manager makes a recommendation, and when and if a person is
found, then the City Commission will take the necessary official
action.
Captain Monkhouse advised that the Fire Department is not opposed
to the appointment of a new Fire Chief or a new Police Chief
and that they couldn 't care less who the Fire Chief is, so long
as he was an experienced capable man. They want to go on record
as opposed to one individual holding both jobs, as they do not
believe it can be done. He wanted to know what position the
Fire Department would be in if the Commission went ahead with
this plan, after they had disagreed with the proposed change.
Mr. Lawrence advised they had no idea of disposing of the Volun-
teer Fire Department, simply coordinating the two departments
under one head. Mr. Johansen advised that this is a democratic
form of government and that everyone has a right to go on record
as being for or against a policy or situation. He thinks the
Fire Department has done a beautiful job and should continue
doing so.
Captain Monkhouse advised they wanted to go on record as having
said that last November Claiborne and another Commissioner in-
terviewed several Jacksonville firemen with a view to consider-
ing as Fire Chief of the City of Atlantic Beach. At this time
approximate salary was discussed. He stated he took personal
offense to statements made about Volunteer Firemen at that time
Minutes 3/11/63 Page 3
and is prepared to present a witness who will testify under
oath as to exactly what transpired in Claiborne 's office in
Arlington last November. There was considerable discussion
of this matter between Captain Monkhouse and the Commissioners,
during which it was brought out that this change has been under
consideration for two or three years, that the Commission does
not see where it would affect the Volunteer Fire Department,
that they have done a good job, but that the Commission has
decided on a course of action to investigate the possibility
of finding a capable, experienced man as combined Police and
Fire Chief. Mr. Johansen said since it was clear how the
Commission stands, he would like to inquire what the position
of the Volunteer Firemen would be.
Captain Monkhouse advised that since the Volunteer Firemen
have gone on record as opposing the proposal, and if the City
Commission intends to go through with this plan, that he was
authorized to tender the resignation of the entire force of
Volunteer Firemen of the City of Atlantic Beach, en masse, to
be effective the 18th of March, 1963, at 8:00 P. M. in the
evening, at which time they would like for representatives
from the City, perhaps the Mayor, the City Manager, and as
many Commissioners as feel they would like to be there, to get
with members of the Volunteer Fire Department at the City Fire
Station to inventory the property that belongs to the City of
Atlantic Beach and, when the inventory is complete, the Volun-
teer Fire Association is prepared to remove from the City of
Atlantic Beach approximately $8, 000.00 worth of fire-fighting
equipment which belongs to the Volunteer Fire Association and
the Mayor can inform the President of the Volunteer Fire Associ-
ation as to who the representatives are who will meet with them
next Monday night to turn over the equipment that belongs to
the City and, at that time, they will remove all equipment
that belongs to the Association. Mr. Johansen advised that
his question is answered. He feels that the action is premature
before they know whether an individual can be found who is ex-
perienced and capable.
Among those speaking on the subject were: Mr. Henry Bitzer,
Mr. Lawrence Gallagher, Mrs. George Pritchard, Mr. Roy Nelson,
and Mr. Dan Watts.
Mr. Lawrence advised that this is the exact procedure that was
followed in obtaining the City Manager and moved that the Mayor
terminate the discussion concerning the Fire and Police Chief
Minutes 3/11/63 Page 4
so that we can take care of further business on the agenda. Mr.
Johansen seconded the motion, whereupon the Mayor advised that
he is against the plan but, in his opinion, the City Commission-
ers are going ahead with it, and without putting the motion, de-
clared this part of the discussion closed.
Mr. Printon presented to the Commission an easement covering
the extension of Royal Palms Drive to Atlantic Boulevard, con-
sisting of a 60 foot right-of-way that he advised conforms to
requirements of the City and that our consulting engineer, Mr.
Parks, had found it to be in order. The necessary adjustments
have been made and the easement is found to be correct and in
order. This is the right-of-way that will terminate opposite
Penman Road. Mr. Johansen moved that we accept the easement,
seconded by Mr. Claiborne and carried.
Mr. Printon next presented a 15 foot easement for extending
our water line through the Mount Pisgah A.M.E. Church property.
The Church was only willing at this time to give an easement
for a water line. Mr. Claiborne moved that we accept the ease-
ment, subject to the City Attorney 's approval, seconded by Mr.
Johansen and carried.
The City Manager presented a request for a building permit for
an awning to be put on Bennie 's Restaurant on Mayport Road and
advised that it meets all of our building requirements and re-
commends that it be approved. Mr. Claiborne moved that this
building permit be approved, seconded by Mr. Moore and carried.
It is the opinion of Mr. Thompson, our City Attorney, that the
Hendryx-Culligan Soft Water business is compatible to Business
AA zoning. Therefore, Mr. Johansen moved that we notify the
Hendryx-Culligan Soft Water Company that their business is com-
patible and will be permitted in the Business AA zone, seconded
by Mr. Claiborne and carried.
Mr. Fred Schnakenberg, on behalf of the F.O.P., asked for a
one-day permit to have a circus on the evening of April 14, 1963,
from 7:00 to 9:00 P. M. on the property known as the Bull Air-
port. They have already taken out liability insurance and he
advised that the property will be cleaned up prior to and after
the circus. Mr. Lawrence advised he had talked to the attorney
and he sees no reason why we could not give the permit; there-
fore, Mr. Lawrence moved that we give the F.O.P. a one-day permit
for the circus as requested, seconded by Mr. Johansen and
Minutes 3/11/63 Page 5
carried. Before seconding the motion, Mr. Johansen asked what
percentage the F.O.P. would get and was advised that 60% would
go to the F.O.P. for charitable purposes and 40% to the circus.
A letter was read from the City of Jacksonville regarding the
difficulty we are having in getting street lights replaced.
A letter was also read from the Florida State Road Department
regarding Resolution #63-6, which requested a condemnation of
a Colonial Oil property at Seminole Road and Atlantic Boulevard.
They advised that Seminole Road is a County road and the State
Road Department has no jurisdiction over the building, as it
is not located on State Road Department right-of-way. They had
referred our letter to Duval County.
Mr. Lawrence reported that the transaction covering securing
of land for park purposes in the vicinity of the fire station
was closed today, March 11, 1963, and that the City is now
owner of approximately 131 acres total.
Report of Fire Chief Howell for the month of February, 1963,
was read, received and filed.
Report of Police Chief McClung for the month of February, 1963,
was read, received and filed.
There being no further business, Mayor Isaacs declared the
meeting to be adjourned.
'� )
Henry G. I s, Mayor-Commissioner
Attest:
_122 & 2 . / ~ , -
62L-.&._ 2
Adele S. Grage, Cit Clerk/