November 2003.pdfcity of atlantic beach newsletter
VOL.2 NO.11NOVEMBER 2003
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www.ci.atlantic-beach.fl.us
HOUSING REHABILITATIONASSISTANCE
The City of Atlantic Beach is
now accepting applications
for the 2003-2004 Community
Development Block Grant
(CDBG) housing program,
which provides help to low-
income homeowners for
certain housing renovation
activities. Funds will be
available in early 2004, and
will be awarded based upon
the most serious need.
These funds may be used
only for basic housing needs
and repairs, such as failed
plumbing or septic tanks, to
provide heating or hot water,
to correct dangerous structural
or electrical problems, or other
similar serious problems which
might make a home unsafe
or uninhabitable. (These funds
are not intended for general
upgrades or enhancements,
room additions and enclo-
sures, or cosmetic repairs.)
Applications may be obtained
at the Building Department
located in the Atlantic Beach
City Hall or by calling (904)
247-5826. In order to be con-
sidered, homeowners must
demonstrate that their income
qualifies for participation in
the program and that all eligi-
bility requirements are met.
CORE CITY
The “Count,” our now
famous turtle mascot, is
happy to report that the
Core City Improvements
Project is now substantially
completed. The
project was
completed
under budget
and ahead of
schedule, earn-
ing Petticoat
Contracting,
Inc. their full
incentive; but more importantly,
minimizing the inconvenience
to our citizens. Currently
the contractor is working on
punch list items for all streets
and the additional items
approved at the September
22, 2003 Commission
Meeting. These items include
adjoining street repairs,
beach end asphalt improve-
ments, adjoining drainage
problems, and East Coast
Drive sidewalk improvements.
We hope to have all of these
items completed early in
November.
PLEASE DON’T FEED
THE ANIMALS!
Please do not feed
alligators, raccoons, opossums,
or other wild animals. This is
for the protection of the ani-
mals as well as the citizens.
Most wild animals have a nat-
ural fear of human beings,
and this fear helps to keep
the animals alive. When citi-
zens feed the animals, the
animals lose their instinctive
fear. The animals will no
longer flee from people, and
the animals will come to
expect food when they
encounter human beings.
When this occurs, the animals
may frighten citizens, and
then the animals must be
relocated or destroyed.
Although most people who
feed wild animals do so with
good intentions, the long-term
results can be fatal.
Holiday Sanitation Pick up
Over the Thanksgiving
holiday, residents whose
normal pick up day is on
Thursday will have their
pick up on Friday, and
those whose normal day
is Friday will have their
pick up on Saturday. Since
Christmas Day falls on a
Thursday this year, pick
ups for December will be
made in the same manner.
Since the landfill is open
on New Year’s Day, there
will be no change to the
schedule at that time.
Computers for Public Use
The new facilities at Adele
Grage Cultural Center are
being well used by the
public. But did you know
that those facilities include
computers that are avail-
able for use by the public?
If you would like to e-mail
family or friends or do some
research, please call Athena
or Timmy at 247-5828 to
check on the schedule.
Yoga Classes
Yoga Classes are offered
at Adele Grage Cultural
Center, 716 Ocean
Boulevard, each Tuesday,
Thursday and Sunday.
For more information and
the times of the classes,
call Parks and Recreation
at 247-5828.
Art Exhibit
Mind’s Eye, an exhibit
of the artwork by Alice
Gartland, is on display
at the Adele Grage
Cultural Center now
through December.
Tree Lighting
The annual Tree Lighting
event is scheduled for
Saturday, December 6th.
The Bike Parade begins
at 3:00 p.m. Watch for
flyers to be posted in
November for more
information.
Half of residential water is used for
landscape irrigation. Using Xeriscape
principles can conserve a significant
amount of water. Xeriscape is merely
using the right plants in the right place
to promote a water conserving land-
scape. Over the next several months,
we’ll review the seven principles of
Xeriscape.
Principle 1—Design your landscape.
Careful planning is critical to Xeriscape
success, and this is a great time to start
planning. It’s also easier on the pocket-
book to install Xeriscape in phases.
Draw a simple site plan of your landscape
area. Note slopes, drainage problems,
shaded vs. sunlit areas, and other
features of the property. Determine
which areas will need irrigation when
you select plants.
Principle 2—Select the right plant
for the right area.Select and group
plants according to their water needs
to eliminate unnecessary watering.
Create three zones in your site plan:
• Natural zones: Plants in this area can
live on rainfall. They include native
plants or plants that have adapted to
the Florida climate.
• Drought-tolerant zones: These plants
can live mostly on rainfall.
• Moderate or “Oasis” zones: These
plants require regular watering and
should be limited as functional accents
in the Xeriscape, such as entryways,
turf areas, or fruit/vegetable gardens.
Thanksgiving—A Time to Be Thankful for Our Water Resources
Use Water-Smart Landscaping to Save Water
For more information on Xeriscape, check out the South Florida Water Management District’s Website:
www.sfwmd.gov. To read about the statewide Florida Water Conservation Initiative, check
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/waterpolicy/init.htm.
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The smooth transition of government goes
on as Commissioner Borno leaves office and
Sylvia Simmons takes her seat. Mike Borno
has served Atlantic Beach well for six years
as a Commissioner, and before that as a
volunteer on several committees. He always
did his “homework” on issues being addressed,
and voted for what he believed was in the best interest of
the entire city. Mike, you will be missed, and I know you are
continuing service to the city, in particular as our representative
to the Town Center Commission to look at parking problems
and solutions for that area. Sylvia, we welcome you. Besides
the Commission, we have volunteers who contribute thousands
of volunteer hours on our five standing boards and various ad
hoc committees. We got slightly taken to task for celebrating
those volunteers with a party in their honor. I would assure
them, and everyone, that having a social event where no
business is conducted is not a violation
of the “sunshine” or any other law, and
I believe the expenditure of money for
that annual celebration to be well spent.
It’s the only thing we do to say “thanks.”
Presort Standard
US Postage Paid
Jacksonville FL
Permit No. 1645
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
November Calendar
SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
2
1
34 657
9
8
111312
16
15
17 18 2019
14
21
25 26 29
City Commission
Meeting-
New Commission
sworn into office
8:00 P.M.
Tree Board Meeting
7:00 P.M.
716 Ocean Blvd.
10
Community
Development Board
7:00 P.M.
Tree Board Meeting
7:00 P.M.
716 Ocean Blvd.
Acoustic Night
4:00 - 6:00 P.M.
716 Ocean Blvd.
Cultural Arts &
Recreation Committee
7:00 P.M.
716 Ocean Blvd.
24
THANKSGIVING
HOLIDAY
City Offices Closed
City Offices Closed
2723
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
City Commission
Meeting
7:15 P.M.
28
Meetings are held in the Commission
Chambers unless otherwise indicated
City Commission
Meeting
7:15 P.M.
Animal Control 247-5866Building Dept. 247-5826City Clerk 247-5810City Hall (Switchboard) 247-5800City Manager 247-5808Code Enforcement 247-5855
Finance Director 247-5800
Fire Dept. (Non emergency) 270-1540
Human Resources 247-5820
Garbage & Trash Collection 247-5834
Parks & Recreation 247-5828Police & Fire Emergencies 911Police Records 247-5863Police Dispatch 247-5859Public Works 247-5834Purchasing 247-5880
Recycling 247-5834
Utility Billing/New Connections 247-5816
Water/sewer problems 247-5834
City Telephone Directory
22
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It has been a year since the City of Atlantic Beach Animal Control began an adoption of stray animals program,
and we are proud to say that we have found new homes for over 50 animals. We would like to thank all the
Atlantic Beach residents for their support of our efforts, by opening their hearts to adopt an animal, by donating
blankets and food to help those who adopted animals get them started. The adoption program strives to match
the right pets with the right people. We ask that you spread the word to friends and family if they are looking to
add a furry friend to their lives.
ANIMAL CONTROL
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