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FEBRUARY 2012
Feb 13 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm
Feb 20 President’s Day - CITY OFFICES CLOSED
Feb 27 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm
Feb 28 * Cultural Arts & Recreation
Advisory Committee 6 pm
MARCH 2012
Mar 12 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm
Mar 13 Code Enforcement Board 6 pm
Mar 26 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm
Mar 27 * Cultural Arts & Recreation
Advisory Committee 6 pm
Meetings are held in the Commission Chamber unless otherwise
indicated. *These events will be held at Adele Grage Cultural
Center, 716 Ocean Blvd.
CITY OFFICIALS
November 2011
Nov 2 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 4-7 pm
Nov 9 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Nov 16 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Nov 17 Holiday Artisans’ Faire – Adele Grage 5-9 pm
Nov 19 MarshFest – Dutton Island Preserve 10am – 3pm
Nov 20 Songwriters’ Concert – Adele Grage 6-8 pm
Nov 23 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Nov 30 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
December 2011
Dec 3 Holiday Celebration – Town Center
Dec 18 Songwriters’ Concert – Adele Grage 6-8 pm
Dec 15 North Beaches Art Walk – Town Center & Adele Grage 5-9 pm
Reception for the Artist – Adele Grage 6-8 pm
For the latest information, visit www.coab.us/events or www.coab.us/recreation
“Like” us on facebook!
ABET Presents…The Oldest Profession
Comedy/Drama by Paula Vogel
Directed by Celia Frank
February 2, 3, and 4, 2012
As Ronald Reagan enters the White House, five
aging practitioners of the oldest profession are
faced with a diminishing clientele, increased
competition for their niche market, and aching
joints. With wit, compassion, and humor, they
struggle to find and learn new tricks as they
fight to stay in the Life.
Showtimes: Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8:00pm
Admission: Adults - $15.00
Seniors, Military and Students - $12.00
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
www.coab.us • (904) 247-5800
FEBRUARY 2012
Feb 1 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Feb 1 Flag Football Registration Begins – Adele Grage
Feb 8 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Feb 12 Songwriters’ Concert – Adele Grage 6-8 pm
Feb 15 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Feb 16 North Beaches Art Walk – Town Center & Adele
Grage 5-9 pm Reception for the Artist – Adele
Grage 6-8 pm
Feb 22 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Feb 29 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
MARCH 2012
Mar 4 Songwriters’ Concert – Adele Grage 6-8 pm
Mar 7 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Mar 10 Wild Wonders – Dutton Island Preserve 1 pm
Mar 14 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Mar 15 North Beaches Art Walk – Town Center & Adele
Grage 5-9 pm Reception for the Artist – Adele
Grage 6-8 pm
Mar 21 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Mar 25 Acoustic Nights – Bull Park 6-8 pm
Mar 28 Mid-Week Market – Bull Park 3-6 pm
Mar 31 Wild Wonders – Dutton Island Preserve 1pm
For the latest information, visit www.coab.us/events or
www.coab.us/recreation
Visit us on facebook!
www.coab.us/facebook
Want monthly AB event updates sent to your
email or mobile? Sign up for
“Notify Me” at www.coab.us/list.aspx
708851-COAB-Newsletter-FEB2012.indd 1 1/17/12 11:27 AM
It’s a good time for a status report
to the public about the progress
Atlantic Beach is making to meet
the new State requirement to reduce nitrogen
discharges from our wastewater plants into the
St. Johns River.
First, a short recap of the City’s plan is in order.
It was determined that the lowest cost option to
meet the new standard would be to consolidate
the City’s two wastewater plants into one and
upgrade the main plant to meet the higher
standard. This option will also reduce operating
costs in the future. To do this requires installing
a new sewer line between the plants. Bids came
in last winter considerably under our budget
estimates for both the line and the plant work,
mostly because of the depressed economy and
contractors looking for work. The City received
enough savings through these to add some
equipment to modernize the sludge drying
process which will in turn provide additional
future savings to the City, both in hauling costs
to take the sludge to the landfill as well as tipping
costs to pay for it to be buried.
I’m happy to report that the new line to
connect the two plants was completed ahead of
schedule. Work is currently ongoing at the main
wastewater plant on Sandpiper Lane. Several of
the modifications and new pieces of equipment
have been installed and are “on line” although
much work remains to be done. However, the
nitrogen discharges out of the wastewater plant
have already come down by more than 50%. The
last step in the process will be shutting down and
demolishing the old Buccaneer Wastewater Plant
which is located at the intersection of Mayport
Road and Wonderwood.
The construction is scheduled for completion
before the end of 2012 which should give us more
than enough time to get everything operational
and meet the standards before the State deadline
of October 2013.
One more bit of good news; the City was
able to obtain financing for almost all of the
project costs from a State Revolving Loan Fund
which carries a much lower interest rate than
conventional financing, along with a grant from
the St. Johns River Water Management District, which
will translate into savings for Atlantic Beach customers
in the future.
You can rest assured that Atlantic Beach is doing its
share to improve the water quality in the St. Johns River.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The City of Atlantic Beach would like to hear from
citizens interested in serving on a citizen board or
committee. The City has a Code Enforcement Board,
Community Development Board, Cultural Arts and
Recreation Advisory Committee, two Pension Boards,
one for police employees and the other for general
employees, and a Board Member Review Committee.
For information about the responsibilities of these boards
and committees or to obtain an application form, please
contact the City Clerk, at 247-5809 or visit our web site.
WILD WONDERS RETURNS
TO DUTTON ISLAND PRESERVE
Do you enjoy the great outdoors and nature? A hands-
on nature program for the entire family will be held at
Dutton Island Preserve in Atlantic Beach beginning in
March. Mike Rossi, an experienced local educator, will
present his program “Warm Fuzzies and Prehistoric
Pals”. Kids can experience one-on-one encounters with
turtles, snakes, small mammals and reptiles. Dance,
storytelling and humor are interwoven into this delightful
presentation. The Wild Wonders Program will be held on
the following dates: Saturdays at 1pm – March 10 & 31
and April 14 & 28
SCOOP THE POOP!
Not only is dog waste not a pretty sight (or smell), but
it’s also a breeder of germs and disease. Pet waste left in
yards, on the beach, on sidewalks, and near streets and
gutters is a significant contributing factor to the spread of
bacteria, protozoa, and diseases.
When you leave poop on the sidewalk, it is eventually
swept into the storm sewers, which often discharge
directly into the waterways with little treatment. The
poop degrades water quality, leading to cloudiness
and an increase of algae. Pet waste has been
considered responsible for almost one fourth of the
fecal contamination of the waterways -- those very
same waterways in which you are boating, fishing, and
swimming!
“But it’s a natural fertilizer” NOT! Not only do we not
need the extra nutrients going into our waterways, but
fertilizer manure needs to be from a plant eater. Dog poop
won’t help your plants or the grass.
WINTER WATER
CONSERVATION TIPS
Our north Florida winter is finally here. Take action to
protect your pipes and keep your water use down during
the chilly season!
• Insulate hot water pipes to reduce the time it takes to
get hot water to the faucet.
• Insulate pipes in unheated areas, as well as outdoor
spigots and backflow preventers.
• Locate and test your master water shut-off valve. If a
pipe breaks in your house, you want to be able to shut
the water off quickly.
• Seal openings into the house where cold air could
reach unprotected pipes.
• If temperatures are predicted to reach near 20 degrees
Fº, prevent pipes from freezing by leaving faucets open
at the slowest drip possible.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow heat to
circulate around pipes.
• Drain your pipes before going out of town for an
extended period. Close the master shut-off valve, and
run every fixture until no water comes out.
For more conservation tips, visit
www.FloridasWater.com.
Remember Your Day:
Only irrigate on your day, before 10:00 a.m.
and after 4:00 p.m.
Odd numbered addresses - Saturday
Even numbered addresses - Sunday
Nonresidential properties - Tuesday
708851-COAB-Newsletter-FEB2012.indd 2 1/17/12 11:27 AM