August 2003.pdfcity of atlantic beach newsletter
VOL.2 NO.8AUGUST 2003
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Acoustic Night
WHEN: August 17th from
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Adele Grage Cultural
Center/Bull Memorial Park
WHO: Contact Steve
Piscitelli at 247-9139
to get on the line-up.
Yoga Classes
WHEN: Beginning August 11th;
Mondays at 9:30 a.m.;
Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.;
Sundays at 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Adele Grage Cultural
Center, 716 Ocean Blvd.,
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
COST: $10.00/class (6 weeks)
or $50.00 for the 6-week
session paid in advance
WHY: The benefits of Yoga
include learning proper
breathing techniques to
reduce stress, increase
energy, improve functioning
of all body systems,
increase self-awareness
and flexibility. Yoga integrates
the systems of mind, body
and spirit creating a sense
of well-being and harmony.
Learn how to bring this
peacefulness into your
hectic, busy life to allow
the energy and happiness
to flow inward.
WHO: Linda White, RYI
(Certified Yoga Instructor)
will be the instructor and
all the classes are open to
all skill levels. Call Parks
& Recreation at 247-5828
for more information
Little League Baseball
Registration
WHEN: August 9th and 16th
from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Jack Russell Park,
800 Seminole Road
WHO: Call the Atlantic Beach
Athletic Association at 249-
2985 for more information
Flag-Football
WHEN: Registration August
11th. Call 247-5851 or
247-4033 for calendar
and additional information
www.ci.atlantic-beach.fl.us
SAVE WATER WHILE
COOLING OFF ON THOSE
HOT SUMMER DAYS
Everyone wants to have plenty
of cool water on a hot summer
day. To ensure that enough
water is available in the future,
here are a few tips to help
conserve this precious resource:
• Keep a pitcher of drinking
water in the refrigerator
instead of running the water
until it gets cold.
• Thaw those steaks for the
grill overnight in the refriger-
ator or on the defrost setting
in the microwave instead of
under running water.
• Take the kids to the beach
for a swim instead of let-
ting them run through the
sprinklers.
• Avoid installing a water-to-air
heat pump or air-conditioning
system. Newer air-to-air mod-
els are just as efficient and
do not waste water.
For more information on how
to conserve water, check out
the St. Johns River Water
Management District’s web-
sites: www.sjrwmd.com and
www.floridaswater.com.
CORE CITY
Storm drainage work has
proceeded on 1st and 6th
Streets, and new water serv-
ices are being connected on
6th Street. East Coast Drive
is being completed from
3rd to Ahern Street.
Recently, 3rd St.
was paved. The
remaining
streets to be
started include
Ahern, 2nd and
4th Streets. Near
the completion
of the project,
Sherry Drive
will receive its
final overlay and permanent
striping.
The International Code Council advises
homeowners, condominium owners and
apartment dwellers to visually inspect
porches, balconies, elevated free stand-
ing decks and similar structures at least
twice a year for safety.
According to ICC, things to look out for
may include:
• Split wood, rotting wood, loose or
missing nails or screws
• Loose or missing anchors where the
porch attaches to a house or building
• Missing, damaged or loose support
beams and planking
• Wobbly handrails or guardrails
If the porch moves when one person walks
or jumps on it, or you have any doubt about
its safety, get a professional inspection. If the
porch is crowded and people have difficulty
moving about, it probably exceeds capacity.
According to building safety codes
published by the ICC, residential porches
should withstand a minimum of 40 pounds
per square foot plus the weight of the
porch. Balconies, which are only supported
where they connect to the building without
additional posts, are designed to withstand
60 pounds per square foot.
When building or repairing a porch it is
important to get a building permit from
the building department. This ensures
that the porch meets safety codes and
will be inspected by the building inspector.
Elevated decks pose an additional problem.
An overloaded elevated deck can sway and
become unstable. Elevated decks must be
braced at the columns in addition to where
the beams and columns connect.
The ICC, a 50,000-member association
dedicated to building safety, develops the
codes used to construct residential and
commercial buildings, including homes
and schools. The majority of U.S. cities,
counties and states that adopt codes
choose building safety and fire prevention
codes developed by the ICC.
If you are a new resident of Atlantic Beach you may not be aware that any time your dog is
off your property it must be kept on a leash. It is particularly important to keep your dog under
control if you are on the beach. During the summer months when a lot of people are on the
beach, even “good” dogs can injure a child or an elderly person by jumping on them.
Dogs on the beach must have Atlantic Beach registration tags, and they must be on a leash unless
the owner is in the water with the dog. If your dog urinates or defecates on the beach, you must
remove it—not bury it. You are required to carry materials suitable for the removal of the waste.
Also, sea turtles nest on our beaches during the summer months. These nests are marked
and protected by orange barricades. Recently an inquisitive dog dug up one of the nests and
destroyed several eggs, possibly compromising the entire nest.
We hope you will enjoy your visit to the beach, but please, be responsible for your pets, be
considerate of other beachgoers and the wildlife we are fortunate enough to have on our
shores, and leave nothing behind but your footprints.
A NIMAL C ONTROL
Safety Tips for Porches
After years of negotiations Atlantic Beach finally
has acquired title to land located at the inter-
section of Mayport Road and Atlantic Boulevard,
which will become our latest park. As of our last
Commission meeting the park will be named
“Atlantic Beach Veteran’ s Memorial Park.”
Its primary usage will be as a play area for
the children of the Marsh Oaks area, but in taking possession
we found that the area included a piece of land adjacent to the
American Legion hall on Atlantic Boulevard. Considering the
many military veteran organizations in the area and our close
association with the Navy at Mayport, it seemed most appropriate
to honor those who serve and have served their country with a
park, which we can mutually design to provide a fitting memorial,
with flagpole and ceremonial meeting area. Conversations with
various veterans’ organizations have totally supported the
concept, as has the Atlantic Beach City Commission.
On another subject, schools open early
this year, August 7th, which means
school buses and children on our streets.
Let’s all slow down and be extra careful.
Presort Standard
US Postage Paid
Jacksonville FL
Permit No. 1645
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
August Calendar
SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
1
3
2
45 768
10
9
121413
17
16
18192120
15
22
26 27 30
*Teen Council
7:00 p.m.
Police Explorers
7:00 p.m.
247-5859 x20
Tree Board
7:00 p.m.
716 Ocean Blvd.
*Yoga class
12 Noon
Police Explorers
7:00 p.m.
247-5859 x20
Baseball registration
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Russell Park
Baseball registration
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Russell Park
11
*Yoga Class
4:00 p.m.
Acoustic Night
6:00-8:00 p.m.
247-9139 for details
*Yoga Class
9:30 a.m.
Police Explorers
7:00 p.m.
247-5859 x20
*Teen Council 7:00 p.m.
Community Development
Board 7:00 p.m.
*Yoga Class
12 Noon
*Yoga Class
4:00 p.m.
*Yoga
Class
4:00 p.m.
Police Explorers
7:00 p.m.
247-5859 x20
Cultural Arts Board
7:00 p.m.
716 Ocean Blvd.
Tree Board
7:00 p.m.
716 Ocean Blvd.
25
*Yoga Class
12 Noon
2824
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
John S. Meserve
MAYOR
Richard M. Beaver
MAYOR PRO TEM
J. Dezmond
Waters, III
COMMISSIONER
Louis M. (Mike)
Borno
COMMISSIONER
Paul B. Parsons
COMMISSIONER
James Hanson
CITY MANAGER
Alan Jensen
CITY ATTORNEY
Maureen King
CITY CLERK
John S. Meserve
Mayor
LETTER
FROM THE MAYOR
*Yoga class
9:30 a.m.
Flag Football
Registration 247-5851
Commission Mtg.
7:15 p.m.
29
Meetings are held in the Commission
Chambers unless otherwise indicated
*These meetings/events are held at
Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd.
*Yoga Class
9:30 a.m.
City Commission
Meeting
7:15 p.m.
23
31
DON’T MISS A PAYMENT!
Summer is a busy time of the year. The City would like
to remind all of our utility customers that arrangements
can be made to have your utility bill paid directly from
your checking account on the due date with our “Direct
Debit” program. This is especially helpful if you are
traveling or have trouble paying your bills in a timely
manner. Please contact the Water Department for
more information about how to sign up.
LET’S KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN
TRASH: Did you know it was illegal to set your trash
out prior to 6:00 PM the night before your scheduled
trash day or that empty trash containers are required
to be brought in by midnight on the same day your
trash is picked up? City Code Chapter 16, Sec 16-3.
YARD DEBRIS: You are limited to no more then five
cubic yards a week, not each day but a week. No single
item may exceed five feet in length or forty pounds.
If what you' re putting out for pickup looks too big, it
probably is. If you hire a contractor to trim your trees
their crews should remove the debris. City Code
Chapter 16, Sec 16-5
OLD APPLIANCES: Outside storage of old appliances
is illegal. Don't store or dump them. Instead, contact
Public Works for a special pickup, and please remember
to remove the refrigerator or freezer door. City Code
Chapter 12, Sec 12 (b) (7) and 16-14.
For additional information concerning trash and yard
waste pickup call Public Works at 247-5834. To report
violations of City Code call 247-5855.
NEW WEB SITE
The City has just launched a new web site that offers
many more features than our old site that had existed
for several years. It is a work in progress and we will
continue to add features. We look forward to receiving
your comments or suggestions. Check it out at
www.ci.atlantic-beach.fl.us