Exh 9Agenda #y
October 9, 2000
City Manager's Report
October 3, 2000
Effective Date of WaterlSewer Rate Increase; The first cycle of Atlantic Beach utility bills has
been sent out in October and includes portions of the recently adopted water and sewer rate
increases. Atlantic Beach bills for the base chazges each month in advance and the increase to the
base charge is included in the October bills. l±or the volume portion of the chazge, Atlantic Beach
has billed the customer after the fact; once the meter has been read the chazge for the
consumption will be on the following bill. Atlantic Beach has not charged for volume based
increases until one month after the rate change takes effect. In this case, the rates for volume of
use will not be amended until the November billings. Utility customers aze currently being billed
for the base charges for October under the new rates and for their volume of usage during
September under the old rates.
Some utility customers have complained that the City's new rate increase is being applied
"retroactively" which is not the case. Most other utilities apply a rate increase for all billings that
occur after the effective date of the change including any volume based charges.
Emergency Air Line Replacement at ABWWTP; During late September, two sections of an air
line at the Atlantic Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant blew out due to corrosion. These air lines
provide an integral component in the digestion process and are highly susceptible to corrosion
because they are underground and the temperature of the air is very hot. Emergency repairs were
made and staff determined that the best way to fix the problem for the long term was to replace
the lines with new stainless steel pipes that would not be susceptible to corrosion. Three bids
were received with that of Gruhn May Inc. for $28, 680.40 being the lowest. Because the
emergency repairs were quickly failing, I authorized staffto begin the work utilizing the low bid
of Crruhn May Inc.
Seutic Tank Conversions; Since the City's new policies were adopted encouraging residents
with septic tanks to convert to the Public Sewer System, a total of 26 septic tank owners have
applied for assistance. Two of the conversions have been completed and two others were
determined to not be accessible to City sewer lines. The other 22 aze in the process of getting the
conversions accomplished.
Wastewater Reuse: Discussions with Country Club: City Staff has continued to meet with
representatives from the Selva Marina Country Club about the possibility of additional treatment
and reuse of the City's wastewater effiuent to irrigate the golf course. It has been determined that
the City's wastewater permit from the state requires consideration of reuse as a condition of
reissuance, and funds aze included in the 2000-01 budget for the reuse study. The City has agreed
to expand the scope of the normal reuse study to consider several aspects of the Country Club's
Agenda #9
October 9, 2000
needs and the ultimate cost of the City's providing the effiuent on a per thousand gallon basis.
Country Club representatives have indicated that they may not be in a position to help fund the
capital equipment needed for the additional treatment prior to use for irrigation, and the focus
shins to what the total additional cost would be to purchase, install and operate the additional
facilities needed and to "sell" the wastewater through a metered line at a special "reuse" rate
much like several other cities currently do. The results of this reuse study will be preserved to the
Commission when it is available.
Citv Government Week; Florida City Government Week is October 22-28. The Florida
Municipal League supports Florida City Government Week and has sent the attached sample
resolution for consideration by the City Commission.
Article on Dutton Island; The attached article entitled "Preservation Project Jacksonville" was
published in Volume 8, Number 3 of the Coastal Currents Magazine. This is published by the
Florida Department of Community Affairs and cites Dutton Island and the relationship between
the Cities of Jacksonville and Atlantic Beach to purchase and develop the property.
Agenda #9
October 9, 2000
Sample Resolution
Florida City Government Week
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RECOGNIZING CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK,
OCTOBER 22-28, 2000, AND ENCOURAGING ALL CITIZENS TO SUPPORT THE CELEBRATION
AND CORRESPONDING ACTMTIES.
WHEREAS, city government is the government closest to most citizens, and the one with the most direct
daily impact upon its residents; and
WHEREAS, city government is administered for and by its citizens, and is dependent upon public
commitment to and understanding of its many responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, city goverrunent officials and employees share the responsibility to pass along their
understanding ofpublic services and their benefits; and
WHEREAS, Florida City Government Week is a very important time to recognize the important role
played by city government in our lives; and
WHEREAS, this week offers an important opportunity to 'spread the word to all the citizens of Florida that
they can shape and influence this branch of government which is closest to the people; and
WHEREAS, the Florida League of Cities and its member cities have joined together to teach students and
other citizens about municipal government through a variety of different projects and information; and
WHEREAS, Florida City Government Week offers an important opportunity to convey to all the citizens
of Florida that they can shape and influence government through their civic involvement.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the City of does encourage all citizens, city government officials and
employees to do everything possible to ensure that this week is recognized and celebrated accordingly.
Section 2. That the City of does encourage educational parRterships between city government
and schools.
Section 3. That the City of does support and encourage all city governments to actively
promote and sponsor "Florida City Government Week."
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City of
Agenda #9
October 9, 2000
P'RES~E.R;~/AGTf~ON' PROJECT JACKSOI~1,Vf~L
PRESERVATION PROJECT .JACKSONVILLE
In January 1999, Jacksonville Mayor
John Delaney unveiled one of Florida's
most recent and perhaps most ambitious lo-
calland acquisition programs ye[. Known
as Preservation Project Jacksonville, this
$312.8 million growth management land
acquisition and park enhancement program
aims to purchase between 10 and 20 square
miles of Land, or approximately 10 percent
of the remaining undeveloped land in Du-
val County. Similar to many other local
programs in Florida, Preservation Project
Jacksonville arose from a great local aware-
ness of the need to manage growth, pre-
serve endangered lands, improve water
quality, and provide greater public access
to the city's vast supply of natural re-
sources.
Funding for Preservation Project Jack-
sonville involves a coordinated effoR [hat
includes local, state, and federal sources.
The process for selecting lands to be ac-
quired involves an oversight commission,
appointed by the mayor and representing a
diverse cross-section of the community in-
cluding business CEOs, local educators,
community activists, environmentalists,
lawyers, real estate experts, and commu-
nity volunteers. This commission works
with the community to identify projects and
makes recommendations to the mayor on
the purchase of land for conservation and
recreation. The Oversight Commission re-
ceives staff support from a technical steer-
ing committee representing various City
departments. In addition, the Preservation
Project has received technical support from
a variety of federal and state agencies.
The Mayor's Oversight Commission
gives higher priority to acquisition projects
in areas that are experiencing urban devel-
opment pressures or that are more vulner-
able [o urban sprawl. Through [he Preser-
vation Project Jacksonville program, [he
City uses state, federal, and local partner-
ships and other funding sources to lever-
age local funds for land acquisition and park
development in these priority areas.
One prime example of the success of the
Preservation Project is the Dutton Island
Intracoastal Waterway Park Expansion.
This project is located in a relatively un-
disturbed forest and salt mazsh area on the
rapidly developing Intracoastal Waterway
in [he Dutton Island area of Jacksonville.
I[ is an expansion of the Du[[on Island In-
tracoastal Waterway Park acquired in 1998
by the City of Jacksonville in partnership
Continued on back page
SUZANNE BELLAMY WOODCOCK IS A PLANNING
MANAGER FOR THE FLORIDA COMMUNTTIFS TRUST
EJ THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
The city's shaze of the $312.8 million plan
comes from bonds, debt savings, and gen-
eral revenue funds.
Partners in the land acquisition portion
of the plan -estimated at $220 million -
include Jacksonville's utility authority
(JEA), the St. Johns River Water Manage-
ment District, and the State of Florida us-
ing Preservation 2000 and other state land
acquisition program funds. Federal appro-
priations and private donations have also
helped fund acquisitions. The City has also
worked in partnership with the Trust for
Public Land, the Nature Conservancy, and
the cities of Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville
Beach, and Neptune Beach on various ac-
quisition projects.
Funding for the pazk improvement seg-
ment of [he plan will come from Ci[y
City al Jacksonville
sources, including a bond issue and a re-
fund from the Cross Florida Barge Canal View to west towards Dutton Island and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
project.
COASTAL CURRENTS • 15
Agenda #9
October 9, 2000
P P P • ~ - P P R~ • rY -
®7 w!~ ~J ®U'~/®V ®7I-`®A {~1®wl A~v~rl ~S®r! 1®R®i'~l A`°rJ®J ~Ni'~ li Ol al
with Florida Communities Trust (FCT),
prior to establishment of [he Preservation
Project. Approval of a 100-plus home sub-
division had been granted here, and the de-
veloper was ready to begin clearing land.
In May 1999, the Oversight Commission
voted to seek a state grant to pay for part of
the cost [o preserve this natural area in part-
nership with the City of Atlantic Beach.
patted by urban growth. The benefits of
this partnership include protection of the
sensitive resources of the Intracoastal Wa-
terway, redirected urban growth, provision
of a natural buffer from urban development,
ment under the Preservation Project Jack-
sonville program.
The Preservation Project Jacksonville
program is a key growth management tool
that will allow the City to plan for the fu-
ervation Project Jacksonville program, the
City has preserved more than 5,000 acres
improved recreational access to natural ar- tore, to plan for the green spaces and recre-
eas, and hazazd mitigation by preventing
substantial future economic losses [hat re-
anon areas now and to preserve the
community's natural resources for future
tool. By purchasing strategically-located of land-protectingenvironmentallysen-
sitive areas and helping to direct growth
away from these areas and into other areas
where it is desired and needed. Moreover,
the program has helped to improve the qual-
ity of life by providing green space and
scenic recreation areas for Jacksonville resi-
cult from [he flooding of development in generations. Since establishing the Pres-
The City of Jacksonville submitted a grant flood prone areas. Preservation Project
application to the FCT, with an estimated Jacksonville is an economic development
cost of acquisition a[ $2.7 million, includ-
ing $1.3 million in matching funds com-
mitted by the City. After FCT selected the
project for grant funding, the City acquired
the site to prevent development and is cur-
rendyworking with the FCT for reimburse-
ment using the grant.
Under the Preservation Project, the City
with its other partners has protected a sub-
stantial portion of the Intracoastal Water-
way from development, one of five corri-
dors [azgeted for the acquisition of envi-
and interconnected natural azeas, the City
is planning for the development of what
leaders call "ecotourism circuits," allow-
ingvisitors to travel throughout the County
viewing and studying archaeological and
historical sites while enjoying passive rec-
reational activities such as hiking, biking,
or camping. As part of the circuit, visitors
will be able to travel by boat, kayak, or ca-
noe along the Jacksonville Blueways Net-
work, awaterways trail that connects many
ronmentally sensitive lands and land im- lands acquired for water quality improve-
' Florida Department of Community Affairs • Florida Coastal Management Program
2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard • Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100
~~~
r-•
Florida
Coastal
Management City of Atlantic Beach
Program 800 Seminole Avenue
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233-5445
dents and visitors.
For more information on Preservation
Project 7acksonville, please contact the City
of Jacksonville, c/o The Preservation
Project, 117 West Duval Street, Suite 400,
Jacksonville, Florida 32202.
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