October 2012.pdfOctober 2012
Oct 8 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm
Oct 16 Community Development Board 6 pm
Oct 22 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm
Oct 23 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory Committee 6 pm
November 2012
Nov 13 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm
Nov 13 Code Enforcement Board 6 pm
Nov 15 General Employees’ Pension Board of Trustees
Meeting 6:30 pm
Nov 15 Police Officers’ Pension Board of Trustees
Meeting 6:30 pm
Nov 20 Community Development Board 6 pm
Nov 22&23 CITY OFFICES CLOSED
Nov 26 City Commission Meeting 6: 30 pm
Nov 27 *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.
October 2012
Oct 3 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 4-7 pm
Oct 7 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
Oct 10 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 4-7 pm
Oct 14 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
Oct 14 Songwriters’ Concert – Adele Grage 6-8 pm
Oct 17 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 4-7 pm
Oct 18 North Beaches Art Walk – Town Center & Adele Grage 5-9 pm
Reception for the Artist – Adele Grage 6-8 pm
Oct 20 Campout under the Stars – Russell Park
Oct 20-21 Sea & Sky Spectacular – Jax Beach Oceanfront
Oct 21 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
Oct 24 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 4-7 pm
Oct 28 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
Oct 28 Acoustic Nights – Bull Park 6-8 pm
Oct 31 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 4-7 pm
November 2012
Nov 2-4 Fall Tennis Championship – Jack Russell Park
Nov 4 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
Nov 7 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 4-7 pm
Sep 9 Songwriters’ Concert – Adele Grage 6-8 pm
Nov 11 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
Nov 14 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 4-7 pm
Nov 15 Artisans’ Holiday Faire – Adele Grage 5-9 pm
Nov 18 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
Nov 21 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 4-7 pm
Nov 25 Yoga – Adele Grage 4-5 pm
Nov 28 Wednesday Market – Bull Park 4-7 pm
For the latest information, visit www.coab.us/events
or www.coab.us/recreation
Visit us on facebook! www.coab.us/facebook
Put your feet in the sand and your eyes to the sky for Jacksonville’s 2012 Sea &
Spectacular. This year’s show will be held on October 20th and 21st. Prepare to
be captivated by some of the world’s most stunning air acrobatics and military
demonstrations. The event will feature the dynamic U. S. Navy Blue Angels
and top civilian performers in the world. Bring the family out for a weekend
of interactive games, displays, live entertainment and children’s activities. Get
ready to go full-throttle, because this will not be your typical day at the beach.
Find Us
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Facebook
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The 2012 St. Johns River Report
This year’s State of the River Report for the lower St. Johns River Basin is now
available at www.sjrreport.com. Researchers from Jacksonville University, University
of North Florida and Valdosta State University compile information and data on the
St. Johns River from various agencies to provide both a brochure and a full report
on the river’s overall health.
The report rates the St. Johns River’s condition with respect to water quality, fisheries,
aquatic life and sediment contaminants. The brochure report is available for those
wanting a brief overview, but the full 252-page report and appendix can also be
downloaded. A digital archive is also available that includes links to over 95% of
the citations used to prepare the report. The report also reviews actions that are
being taken to improve the river’s condition.
Remember, only irrigate on your assigned 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
For more information, go to www.FloridasWater.com.
Drive Safely!
School is back in session and that means the “School Zones” are activated
on Seminole Road and on Sherry Drive during the designated times:
7:45AM-9:00AM and 2:30-3:30PM. The afternoon hours vary slightly two
Wednesday’s per month, when school is released an hour earlier. During the
posted times, the speed limit is 15 miles per hour in the designated areas
and is strictly enforced. Traffic fines are doubled in school zones. There
is also a crossing guard posted at the intersection of Seminole and
Seaspray, and in the 200 block of Sherry Drive – directly in front of the
elementary school. When
the crossing guard en-
ters the intersection to
stop vehicle traffic, vehicles are
required to stop AT THE TRAFFIC
CONES which are placed on the
roadway. Vehicles should not
pull up to the cross walk, as this
endangers the safety of the
pedestrians. Please help keep
everyone safe this school year
and do your part to abide by
the laws in the school zones.
AMERICA RECYCLES DAY
America Recycles Day is a national campaign to
raise awareness about the benefits of recycling
and buying products made with recycled
materials. Since 1997, communities across the
country have come together on November 15
to celebrate America Recycles Day. It is one day to educate and motivate. One
day to get our neighbors, friends and community leaders excited about what can
be accomplished when we all work together. One day to make recycling bigger
and better 365 days a year. This year, Atlantic Beach, in concert with Advanced
Disposal, will hold a community shred event and an electronic waste (E-Waste)
recycling event on Saturday, November 17th. Tentative sites for these two events
are Donner Park (Dutton Island Road parking lot) for the community shred event
and the Beaches Veterans Memorial Park (West 1st Street) for the E-Waste
recycling event. As the date of the event approaches, more detailed information
will be posted to the City’s website at www.coab.us.
Ways to Celebrate America Recycles Day: Nov. 15
1) Commit to recycle and buy recycled products both at home and work.
2) Learn what materials you can recycle in your community and do your
best to recycle all you can.
3) When shopping, purchase products that are packaged in materials you
can recycle locally.
4) Read product labels. At your local grocery, department store or home
improvement center, look for products with recycled content, and buy some.
Look for “safe bets” that always have recycled content: steel, aluminum,
glass or molded paper pulp containers (like egg cartons).
5) Start a compost pile with yard trimmings and food scraps.
6) Leave grass clippings on the lawn as fertilizer.
7) Think before you throw. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
Annual Family Fun Day & Campout under the Stars
Mark your calendars! The City of Atlantic Beach will hold its Annual Fun Day
and Campout under the Stars on Saturday, October 20th at Jack Russell Park.
Reserve your campsite early before they sell out. Campers can reserve a 10 x
10 campsite with a shared fire ring and firewood for a $10 registration fee ($15
after September 30th). Boy Scout Troop #37 will serve a free pancake breakfast
to all overnight campers in the a.m. Fun Day is free and open to the public and
begins at 1:30 pm. This year’s activities include mini golf, bungee run, bounce
house and performances throughout the afternoon. The Fun Day event will end
with the twilight movie. Call 247-5828 for more information or visit www.coab.
us/events for a schedule of events.
By the time that you read this article, Atlantic Beach will have begun
a new fiscal year. Adopting a budget that continues the City’s level of
services in these difficult economic times has been one of the City’s top
strategic priorities.
The nation has been in an economic downturn since 2008. Cities have
been particularly hard hit with declining property values and rising
pension and health care costs. Atlantic Beach is no exception. However,
there are several reasons why we have fared much better than most.
Conservative budgeting with a long term focus has allowed us to avoid
many of the mistakes made by other cities. Master Plans for the City’s
water, sewer and storm water systems have been in place for many years
and are updated regularly. Carefully planned investments in our utility
infrastructure and parks have been made when money was available and
the City has cut back on expenses when it was not. Several decisions have
been made to reduce operating costs in recent years. Consolidating the
City’s two wastewater plants in connection with the new environmental
standards to clean up the river is one example.
Reducing long term costs through several changes to the City’s two
pension plans and other benefits is another example. These changes are
being balanced with the need to provide pay and benefits to be able
to recruit and retain employees that we need to provide a high level of
services in our community. Negotiations between the City and its unions
are ongoing and we expect to reach a resolution with these within the next
couple of months.
The rates that citizens pay for property taxes in Atlantic Beach will remain
low and water and sewer rates will continue to be the lowest of any
provider in Duval County. Most importantly, we have another balanced
budget that provides for the continuation of the high levels of service that
our citizens and neighbors have come to expect in Atlantic Beach.
Atlantic Beach remains in sound financial shape and service levels are
being maintained. While it may not be the most exciting news that you
have heard all week, we hope you will appreciate its importance.