April 2013.pdfApril 2013
Apr 8 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm
Apr 16 Community Development Board 6 pm
Apr 22 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm
Apr 23 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory Committee 6 pm
May 2013
May 13 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm
May 21 Community Development Board 6 pm
May 28 City Commission Meeting 6: 30 pm
May 28 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory Committee 6 pm
www.coab.us • (904) 247-5800
CITY OFFICIALS
Mike Borno, Mayor
Jonathan Daugherty, Commissioner
Maria Mark, Mayor Pro-Tem
Mark Beckenbach, Commissioner
Carolyn Woods, Commissioner
Jim Hanson, City Manager
Alan Jensen, City Attorney
Donna Bartle, City Clerk
Meetings are held in the Commission Chamber unless otherwise indicated.
* These events will be held at Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd.
April 2013
Apr 3 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Apr 7 Yoga - Adele Grage 4-5 pm
Apr 10 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Apr 13 Wild Wonders – Dutton Island Preserve 1 pm
Apr 14 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
Apr 14 Songwriters’ Concert – Adele Grage 6-8 pm
Apr 17 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Apr 18 North Beaches Art Walk – Town Center & Adele Grage 5-9 pm
Reception for the Artist – Adele Grage 5-9 pm
Apr 20 Shakespeare in the Park – Johansen Park (rain date April 21)
Apr 21 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
Apr 24 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Apr 27 Arts in the Park – Johansen Park 10am-6 pm
Apr 27 Wild Wonders – Dutton Island Preserve 1 pm
Apr 28 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
Apr 28 Acoustic Nights – Bull Park 6-8 pm
May 2013
May 1 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
May 5 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
May 5 Songwriters’ Concert – Adele Grage 6-8 pm
May 8 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
May 11 Wild Wonders – Dutton Island Preserve 11 am
May 11 Bowl Bash - Jack Russell Park Noon to 3 pm
May 12 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
May 15 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
May 16 North Beaches Art Walk – Town Center & Adele Grage 5-9 pm
Reception for the Artist – Adele Grage 5-9 pm
May 18 Wild Wonders – Dutton Island Preserve 11 am
May 18 Dancin’ in the Streets – Town Center 11 am-9:30 pm
May 19 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
May 19 Acoustic Nights – Bull Park 6-8 pm
May 22 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Mar 26 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
May 29 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
For the latest information, visit www.coab.us/recreation
Visit us on facebook! www.coab.us/facebook
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ARTS IN THE PARK
Make plans to attend the City of Atlantic Beach’s 10th Annual Arts in the
Park event sponsored by the Atlantic Beach Cultural Arts and Recreation
Advisory Committee on Saturday, April 27th from 10 am to 6 pm in
beautiful Johansen Park. Original art will be available for purchase by
over seventy accomplished artists exhibiting their fine arts and crafts in an
elegant natural setting. You will have the opportunity to meet the artists
one-on-one and discover unique artworks for your home, family and friends.
Pack a picnic lunch, grab your kids and come out to enjoy the day under the
large shade trees, listen to acoustic musicians and sample lots of delicious
food. For more information call 247-5828 or visit the City’s website at
coab.us/artsinthepark.
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CELEBRATE WATER CONSERVATION MONTH AND EARTH DAY
April is Water Conservation Month in Florida!
April is typically the driest month of the year in Florida, so it’s the perfect
time to think about ways to save water. Florida friendly landscaping is one
way to conserve. Check out the St. Johns River Water Management District’s
updated searchable plant list at www.sjrwmd.com. With information on over
800 plant species and growing conditions, you’re sure to find water-wise
plants for your garden.
April 22, 2013 is Earth Day. Find out about area events, including the Earth
Day Ecology Fair on April 20 at www.EarthDayJax.com.
Remember Your Days: Irrigate only on your days before 10:00 a.m. or
after 4:00 p.m.
Odd numbered addresses: Wednesday and Saturday
Even numbered addresses: Thursday and Sunday
Non-Residential: Tuesday and Friday
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PENSION PLAN CHANGES
There has been a lot of publicity in recent months about public
pensions. Funding problems have resulted from the financial
downturn with lower investment returns, but the long term
sustainability of pension plans has many complex causes. In
Florida, legislative mandates have made it very hard to make
changes in police and fire pension funds. However, it is clear that
now is the time to make some changes.
Atlantic Beach has been working for a long time to reduce future
pension costs. Changes were made in 2005 which reduced the
benefit levels for newly hired general employees and increased
pension contributions from all City employees.
Since then, continuing financial reports have made it clear that
more needs to be done. In 2011, the City Commission prepared
estimates of the savings that would result from making various
changes to the police and general pension plans. That report was
submitted to the new commission that took office in November of
2011. Meetings started in the following February to determine what
changes were to be negotiated with the City’s two unions. These
changes included eliminating the Defined Benefit Pension Plan for
non-vested and future employees and replacing it with a “Defined
Contribution” (401) type plan. Because of state mandates on the
receipt of insurance premium taxes that pay for a portion of police
pension plans, we decided to continue to offer a Defined Benefit
Plan for our officers, although with lower benefits for newly hired
officers. Employee contributions will be raised again for employees
that will remain in the traditional Defined Benefit Plans.
Several other benefit reductions have also been on the table
including reducing the amounts of leave that employees accrue,
eliminating the yearly sell back provision for unused leave and
eliminating the City’s longevity pay program.
Negotiations with our unions started in May of 2012 and were ongoing over
the next eight months. Because of a lack of progress, the City of Atlantic
Beach declared impasses’ with both unions which started a state mandated
process to resolve the issues. Even though the impasse had been declared
with the police union, negotiations continued and I’m happy to report
that both the City and police union members agreed on a new contract in
February. The City is now completing the impasse process with our second
union. As I am writing this article, we have the Magistrate’s recommended
decision in hand and hope to wrap up the final steps in this process by the
time you read this newsletter.
Some of these benefit changes result in immediate savings and others
take several years to realize. The long term savings are significant. The
City expects to spend approximately $760,000 per year less (in current
dollars) for employee benefits in 2022 than we are today.
The process of reducing benefits for our employees has been a difficult one
for the Commission and the staff. Planning for pensions requires working
in good faith and taking a long term outlook for both the City and our staff.
We greatly appreciate the understanding and cooperation we have received
from the City’s dedicated employees. We believe that we have made the
necessary and prudent choices to ensure that Atlantic Beach remains a
good place to live and work in the future.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE EVENT
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the City of Jacksonville’s hazardous
waste collection scheduled for Saturday, May 11th from 9:00am to 3pm.
A mobile household hazardous waste vehicle will be stationed at the
Jacksonville Beach Public Works Operations and Maintenance Facility
parking lot (1460 Shetter Ave). For more information call Jacksonville’s
Solid Waste Division at (904) 387-8847. A complete list of items that
will be accepted at this event is located on the COJ website at www.coj.
net. This is the only hazardous waste collection scheduled
at the Beaches for 2011, so don’t miss this opportunity to
dispose of your hazardous waste items.
(continued on next panel)
(pension plan continued)CITY ELECTIONS
Primary Election - August 27, 2013
General Election (if run-off required) – November 5, 2013
OFFICES UP FOR ELECTION:
Mayor/Commissioner- Seat 1 (2 year term) – At Large-
Currently held by Mike Borno
Commissioner- Seat 4 (4 year term)-District 1306 (Formerly 13F) –
Currently held by Carolyn Woods
Commissioner- Seat 5 (4 year term)-District 1312 (Formerly 13S)-
Currently held by Jonathan Daugherty
QUALIFYING DATES
Qualification of candidates will begin at noon, Monday, June 17, 2013 and will
end at noon, Friday, June 21, 2013.
Visit the city’s website at www.coab.us/elections for more information and links to
the detailed election calendar, district map and Duval County precinct finder page.