February 2004.pdfcity of atlantic beach newsletter
VOL.3 NO.2FEBRUARY 2004
C
U
R
R
E
N
T
S
www.ci.atlantic-beach.fl.us
PUBLIC WORKS
Construction on Phase III of the
Town Center improvement proj-
ect is underway. This work will
take place on Ocean Boulevard
from Ahern to 1st Street and
will include paving the parking
area, the continuation of deco-
rative brickwork, and additional
drainage and curbing as well
as relocation of some of the
existing palm trees.
Public Works Director/City
Engineer Bob Kosoy has
resigned to take a position with
a private engineering firm. Bob
worked for the City over thir-
teen years, and completed
many projects that have
improved the infrastructure and
quality of life in Atlantic Beach,
including the Core City
Improvements, expansions of
the water and wastewater
plants, and numerous water,
sewer and drainage projects.
We will miss Bob and wish him
well in this new endeavor.
SKATE INTO THE FUTURE,
a fundraising campaign for the
Oceanside Skate Park to be
built in Jack Russell Park in
Atlantic Beach, will be hosted
by the Oceanside Rotary Club
on Saturday, February 7, 2004.
The estimated cost of the
skatepark is $160,000 and we
are grateful to the Oceanside
Rotary Club who has announced
a $50,000 campaign to raise
funds from the community
to match the City of Atlantic
Beach funding for building
the new skate park, and to
Aqua East Surf Shop who
will donate skateboarding
equipment.
Come out and join
in the fun at
Skate into the Future which
will be held from 10:00 a.m.
to 1:00 p.m. in Jack Russell
Park. The event will feature
guest skaters, and refresh-
ment will be available.
Participants will have an
opportunity to make contribu-
tions at the event, or dona-
tions may be made later at
Adele Grage Cultural Center,
716 Ocean Boulevard.
Parks & Recreation
• Yoga classes are held
in Adele Grage Cultural
Center on Tuesdays and
Thursdays at 11:30 a.m.
and on Sundays at 4:00 p.m.
• The YMCA is offering a
spring break camp and a
summer camp at the Adele
Grage Cultural Center.
Space is limited so please
call 543-9622 early for
more information.
• The 2004 Camp-Out
Under the Stars has been
scheduled for February 28,
2004 at Jack Russell Park.
Activities include bonfire,
entertainment, food, face
painting and more.
Reservations can be made
at the Adele Grage Cultural
Center, 716 Ocean
Boulevard. Call 247-5828
for more information.
• The Atlantic Beach
Athletic Association's
T-Ball Jamboree will be
held at 6:00 p.m. on
February 7, 2004 at Jack
Russell Park. Opening Day
is scheduled for February
21, 2004. Call 249-2985
for more information.
Comprehensive Plan
Amendments
The City is beginning the
process to amend the
Comprehensive Plan as
required following state law.
The amended Plan will
address the planning period
through the year 2015.
During the next few
months, the City will hold
several public workshops
and public meetings in order
to provide opportunities for
public participation in the
planning process. Please
check the City's web site,
the Shorelines supplement
of the local newspaper, or
call 247-5826, for meeting
dates or further information.
USE WATER-SMART LANDSCAPING TO SAVE WATER - CONTINUED
Forty-five family members
gathered to congratulate the
Atlantic Beach Police Explorers
recently at their awards dinner.
Learning for Life, Scouts of
America Coordinator Stephanie
Cain, presented the Atlantic
Beach Explorer Post with the
National Explorer Excellence
Award. Out of sixty eligible
posts, only eight qualified for
this award.
Many Explorers also received
individual awards. Jose
Rodriquez was awarded
Explorer of the year as well as
awards for community service
and department service. Chris
Crews, who accomplished his
goal of becoming an Atlantic
Beach police officer, received
a shadow box containing
numerous awards he had
received during his time in the
post. Explorer Lieutenant
Chase Jamison was promot-
ed to Captain and received
awards for leadership, firearms
qualification, attendance and
community and department
service. James Barnes
received the academics
award. Reinaldo and Richard
Felicano received awards for
community service. David
Dillard and Zach Lamm
received awards for communi-
ty service and tenure. James
Barnes, Nicole Barnes,
Robert Blair, Tiffany Butler,
Nickole Crissman, David
Dillard, Zach Lamm, Eric
Perrucci, Josh Rebhahn and
Stephanie Ryan received
awards for successful comple-
tion of the Law Enforcement
Training Academy.
Congratulations to all these
Explorers for their hard work
and accomplishments.
CONGRATULATIONS! Law Enforcement Explorers
Xeriscape is merely using the right plants
in the right place to promote a water
conserving landscape. The first four
principles of Xeriscape were covered
in the November and January issues.
Here are the last three principles:
Principle 5 Irrigate efficiently -
Group plants according to their watering
needs, and set the time on each irriga-
tion zone to correspond to the needs
of the plants grouped within that zone.
Check the system weekly to ensure it
is operating properly.
Principle 6 Mulching - Use 2-3 inch
layers of mulch for walkways, as well as
within the planting beds. Mulches reduce
watering needs, weeds, erosion, etc.
Principle 7 Maintenance - Water
and fertilize plants only as needed.
Excessive amounts promote pest
problems and increase pruning and
mowing requirements. Raise lawn
mower blades to promote more
extensive root growth. Prune shrubs
to natural height and shape.
For more information on Xeriscape, check out the Southwest Florida Water Management
District's website: http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us.
Letters and newspaper articles have expressed
concern about pay and benefits for Atlantic
Beach employees, recently focusing on police
officers. While not a usual matter for a
Tideviews article, I would like to offer the follow-
ing from the entire Commission. We value the
work accomplished on a daily basis by all our
personnel. The police are out there on a twenty-four-hour-a-day
basis and are highly visible in their protection of us all. We have
other staff who are called on to provide essential services: pub-
lic works, water and sewer, lifeguards in season, parks and
recreation, administrative support personnel and others. Each
in their own way contributes to our safety and quality of life.
The Commission values their service and we are committed to
paying reasonable and competitive wages for those services.
Several years ago we recognized that Atlantic Beach salaries
were slipping behind other communities and took steps towards
evaluating and putting in place a pay plan that would help in
catching up. We accomplished most of that goal, but it has
been pointed out there is still a way to go,
particularly for some long-term employees.
We will continue to make progress in the
future without huge increases in spending.
Presort Standard
US Postage Paid
Jacksonville FL
Permit No. 1645
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
February Calendar
SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
56
8
7
9101211
1 24
13
15
14
1918
22
21
23 26
20
27
Laughter Workshop
7:00 p.m.
(716 Ocean Blvd.)
Teen Council
7:00 p.m.
(716 Ocean Blvd.)
Community Dev.
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Teen Council
7:00 p.m.
(716 Ocean Blvd.)
Skate into the Future
Jack Russell Park
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Commission Meeting
7:15 p.m.
Tree Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
(716 Ocean Blvd.)
16
Commission Meeting
7:15 p.m.
Cultural Arts &
Recreation Adv.
Committee Mtg.
7:00 p.m.
(716 Ocean Blvd.)
Tree Board
Meeting
7:00 p.m.
(716 Ocean Blvd.)
Camp-out Under
the Stars
(Set-up 1:00 p.m.)
29
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
John S. Meserve
MAYOR
Richard M. Beaver
MAYOR PRO TEM
J. Dezmond
Waters, III
COMMISSIONER
Sylvia Simmons
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
3
Meetings are held in the Commission
Chambers unless otherwise indicated
*These events will be held at Adele Grage
Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Boulevard
282524
Animal Control 247-5866
Building Dept. 247-5826
City Clerk 247-5810
City Hall (Switchboard) 247-5800
City Manager 247-5808
Code Enforcement 247-5855
Finance Director 247-5800
Fire Dept. (Non emergency) 270-1540
Human Resources 247-5820
Garbage & Trash Collection 247-5834
Parks & Recreation 247-5828
Police & Fire Emergencies 911
Police Records 247-5863
Police Dispatch 247-5859
Public Works 247-5834
Purchasing 247-5880
Recycling 247-5834
Utility Billing/New Connections 247-5816
Water/sewer problems 247-5834
City Telephone Directory
Could the fire, rescue, and police personnel find your home quickly in an emergency? Precious minutes are lost
everyday because someone didn't ensure that a home or business was properly numbered—precious minutes
that could save a life, a home or a business. As a resident or business owner in the City of Atlantic Beach, you
are required to have your building number permanently attached to the outside of your home or business, in a
conspicuous place and clearly visible from the street it faces. So think of prevention, think of the costs, think of
the loss, and make sure we can find your number.
CAN WE FIND YOUR NUMBER?
17