06-14-17 Mintes Joint Workshop of City Commission & BNRPACMINUTES OF JOINT WORKSHOP OF THE ATLANTIC BEACH CITY COMMISSION AND
BEAUTIFICATION NATURAL RESOURCE PRESERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
HELD ON JUNE 14, 2017 -
COMMISSION PRESENT:
Mayor Mitchell E. Reeves
Mayor Pro Tem John Stinson
Commissioner Mitch Harding
Commissioner Blythe Waters
Commissioner Jimmy Hill
BEAUTIFICATION AND NATURAL RESOURCE PRESERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
PRESENT:
Bruce Andrews
Timothy Anderson (Left meeting at 7:33 p.m.)
Dawn Scott
Charles "Chip" Drysdale
Sarah Andrews Dark
Don Ford (Left meeting at 8:28 at p.m.)
Linda Lanier
Judith Leroux
John November (Arrived at 6:11 p.m.)
STAFF:
Brenna Durden, City Attorney
Kevin Hogencamp, Interim City Manager
Derek Reeves, City Planner
Joanie Bowman, Recording Secretary
Call to order.
Mayor Reeves called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Commission Chamber. Mayor Reeves
thanked everyone for their attendance, explained the procedure for the joint workshop and asked
everyone to state their name and title.
1. Courtesy of the Floor to Visitors.
Mayor Reeves welcomed the audience and explained the process for public comments. Mayor Reeves
opened the Courtesy of the Floor to Visitors.
Susanne Barker, 1938 Beachside Ct., Complimented and thanked all of the committee members of
the Beautification and Natural Resource Preservation Advisory Committee for all their hard work.
She expressed this committee will help enforce what the City of Atlantic Beach already has as it
relates to the codes and the protection of the environment.
No one else spoke from the audience. Mayor Reeves turned the meeting over to Interim City Manager
Kevin Hogencamp.
Minutes of the Joint Workshop on June 14, 2017
2. Committee reports
Interim City Manager Hogencamp congratulated the City Commission on the appointees to the
Committee and summarized the formation and history of the Beautification and Natural Resource
Preservation Advisory Committee. Mr. Hogencamp explained the two ordinances proposed; one
creating an Environmental Stewardship Committee and the second one creating a Tree Subcommittee
and then turned the meeting over to the Chair of the Committee, Judith Leroux.
Chair Judith Leroux spoke about the document as being a true democratic effort and agreed with the
sentiments of Mr. Hogencamp, the Commission did really well in their selection of wonderful people.
Chair Leroux read the list of committee member names and thanked all of the members for their
important input and love for the City of Atlantic Beach. She also thanked City staff as well as the
citizens who contributed to this effort. She explained that the new name of the committee would be
The Environmental Stewardship Committee. Chair Judith Leroux explained that the document
accurately represents the desires and concerns of the citizens of Atlantic Beach. She spoke briefly
about the process of the committee's charge and membership qualifications and explained that it was
created in consultation with City Attorney Durden. In summary, she stated that this could potentially
be an important arm of our government and an important support and research resource for the
Commission and citizens.
3. Joint discussion (Facilitated by Mitchell Reeves, Mayor)
Members John November and Don Ford stated that all members were in support of the contents of
both ordinances.
Mayor Reeves and the group spoke at length about the committee and subcommittee membership
numbers. There was a consensus that eleven members would be appropriate for this committee.
The group discussed the scope of work that the committee and subcommittees would be charged with
and how they would be set up and organized as well as incorporating an educational component.
Commissioner Stinson inquired as to whether the two ordinances would be presented to the
Commission on the June 26th Commission meeting.
City Attorney Durden explained that the language in the two ordinances need to be cleaned up before
they are presented, as there is some clarification needed and gave examples. She stated that she would
need to work with Interim City Manager Kevin Hogencamp, City Planner Derek Reeves, and either
Committee Member John November or Chair Judith Leroux to fine tune the ordinances and could
possibly have it ready for the July 10th City Commission meeting.
Commissioner Harding spoke about budgetary concerns and inquired whether there would be
language pertaining to budgetary consideration within the ordinances.
Interim City Manager Hogencamp addressed the budget concerns and stated the budget they are
proposing will have a marketing and communications line item as well as staffing the meetings with a
recording secretary.
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Minutes of the Joint Workshop on June 14, 2017
The group spoke at length regarding the importance of the tree subcommittee ordinance and the tree
subcommittee's purpose to review tree permits and serve in an advisory capacity. There was further
discussion regarding property rights, community rights, permits, fines, fees, education and of possibly
combining the two ordinances.
The group was in agreement that these proposed ordinances be presented to the Commission for a vote
as soon as possible.
Mayor Reeves stated that the City Attorney would revise the ordinances with the language that needed
to be addressed and share it with the Commission and the Committee together.
City Attorney Durden stated she needed the input from the group as a whole and requested the
Committee suggest who they want her to work with to revise the language in the documents and if
they are going to conduct it in a group setting, it would require a public meeting and minutes would
have to be taken.
Chair Judith Leroux suggested a group effort would be most effective in evaluating the language in
both ordinances.
City Attorney Durden stated her role is not to determine the policies, that is whatever the Committee
and the Commission chose, but that her role was the implementation of the ordinances and clarity of
the language.
Commissioner Stinson and the group commended the Committee for all the hard work, commitment
and dedication that was put forth for this very important cause and thanked them for their effort.
City Attorney Durden suggested, because of the time constraints, they meet Friday afternoon in the
Chamber and that in order to properly notice the meeting, would not close this meeting, but would
continue the meeting until Friday at a specific time. She stated they would examine both documents at
that meeting and she could produce a redline version to staff by Monday.
Mayor Reeves personally thanked all the Committee Members for their vision and tenacity for taking
this project and making it their own. He expressed his overwhelming gratitude for the great job they
did and thanked them for making this an easy endeavor for everyone involved.
Adjournment
Mayor Reeves ended the meeting at 8:50 p.m. and declared the meeting would continue on Friday,
June 16, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in the City Commission Chamber.
ATTEST
Donna L. Bartle, CMC
City Clerk
Mitchell E. Reeves
Mayor