Exh 9AGENDA ITEM #9
APRIL 14, 2003
March 31, 2003
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Honorable Mayor
and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jim Han
SUBJECT: City M ager's Report
City Welcome Sign on Atlantic Boulevard; Several months ago the City Commission
discussed the possibility of installing a joint "Welcome" sign with the City ofNeptune Beach on
the south side of Atlantic Boulevard. The relocation of the Atlantic Beach sign on the north side
of the road following the Flyover Project was determined to be hard to see.
The concept of a joint sign was discussed with Neptune Beach staff and both cities have split the
cost for a preliminary conceptual design that was prepared by Tat Chan. The design envisions a
new serpentine shaped retaining wall with raised lettering that would be located to the east of the
split on Atlantic Boulevard where the ramp for the Mayport Flyover turns offto the right. The
new wall would almost be adjacent to the existing retaining wall for the Flyover. A copy of the
plan will be shown at the City Commission meeting. If acceptable to the Atlantic Beach
Commission and the Neptune Beach Council, a permit from the FDOT would be needed and
funding could be included for the construction in the FY '04 budget. A cost estimate should be
ready by the time of the April 14th Commission meeting.
Union Election; The State Public Employee Relations Commission held amail-in election for
several groups of City of Atlantic Beach employees that have not previously been covered by
unions to see if they desire to create additional bargaining units. Two new units were proposed;
one for supervisors and one for white collar employees. The City received the results of the
mail-in balloting on Wednesday, March 26th. The supervisory unit was not approved, but the
white-collar unit was passed. Consequently, the City will have a third bargaining unit to
negotiate with during the coming months. Presently, there are two unions; one for police officers
and one for Public Works/Utilities (blue collar). This new unit would be organized under the
same affiliation as the Public Works union; the Laborers International Union of North America
(LIUNA). A shade meeting would be called with the City Commission shortly after the union
representative submits their list of proposals for the new contract.
Reception for Past Elected Officials; A suggestion has been made that the past elected officials
of Atlantic Beach be included in those invited to the Annual Reception for City Board and
Committee members held in August. This may double the number of participants in that
reception. Last year the cost to the City for the reception was $2,500. Comments will be
solicited from the Commission at the April 14the meeting.