Marsh Oaks Neighborhood Association

June 2 minutes

Aug 03, 2001

MARSH OAKS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MINUTES FOR JUNE MEETING

The June monthly meeting of the Marsh Oaks Neighborhood Association (MONA)
was held on June 2, 2001 at 1PM in the Oceanside Church of Christ. The July
meeting of MONA will take place on Saturday, July 7, at 1PM in the Oceanside
Church of Christ on Snug Harbor Ct.

Atlantic Beach Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety David Thompson
attended the meeting, addressing a number of concerns raised previously by
MONA members.

I Dutton Island Park
Chief Thompson discussed the new park located on Dutton Island, including the
city's plans for beefing up security, improving access to the park, putting
in new facilities, and making the park more accessible to those with physical
handicaps. After making his presentation, Chief Thompson took questions from
MONA members about improving security in Tideviews Park and about the city's
plans for the Centex property.

II Traffic and Law Enforcement
Chief Thompson thanked MONA for its traffic-access proposal, and said that he
was in substantial agreement with many of MONA's suggestions for dealing with
the traffic-access problems created or aggravated by the Mayport Flyover
project.

(The final version of MONA's proposal was emailed to MONA members on June 11
and should be available soon on our website. A copy of the proposal was
delivered to the Mayor and City Commission of Atlantic Beach as well as to
the press.)

At the meeting with Chief Thompson MONA members raised a number of other
traffic concerns including the continuing problem with cars passing school
buses that have stopped to pick up or drop off students at Main St. and Levy
Rd. Chief Thompson promised to step up enforcement at this location.

MONA members also reported specific difficulties associated with peak-hour
traffic on Mayport Rd., including blocked intersections; raised an objection
to the idea advanced by Reynolds Smith & Hills of creating a truck turnaround
at Plaza Rd., and voiced again their support for a bicycle patrol in Marsh
Oaks.

III Rose Park
MONA members discussed the official opening of Rose Park on June 30. Three
questions were raised regarding the completed park: What are city regulations
regarding the presence of dogs? Could the city plant trees on the western
boundary of the park to create more shade? What happened to the request for
covered swings?

IV New City Park on Plaza Rd.
The primary item on the July agenda for MONA will be a discussion of the new
city park to be constructed on land acquired by the city on the north side of
Plaza Rd. MONA will leaflet residents in the houses immediately adjacent to
the park site, encouraging them to attend this meeting. City Recreation
Director Timmy Johnson and Recreation Board Chairman DeJean Melancon have
said that they will attend the meeting.

Submitted by Michael Hoffmann
July 5, 2001