July 2004.pdfcity of atlantic beach newsletter
VOL.3 NO.7JULY 2004
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904-247-5800
www.coab.us
YARD WASTE
Residents are reminded of
the following guidelines
regarding yard waste:
• Grass clippings and leaves
must be containerized in
either cans of 20 to 32-
gallon size or in sealed
plastic bags, holding a
maximum of 40 pounds.
• If a contractor is hired to trim
trees on your property, it is
the contractor’s responsibility
to haul away the yard waste.
• Collection of yard waste
is limited to 5 cubic yards
(approximately a standard
size pickup truckload or
30 bags) once per week,
on Mondays.
• Cut limbs to 4' or shorter,
not larger than 6" in diameter
and stack in piles parallel
to the curb
• Yard waste is to be placed
at the residents’ curb for
pickup. Please do not place
waste in the roadway, where
it can be washed into the
storm sewer collection
system, accelerating the
need for expensive and time
consuming cleanout. Also,
residents are reminded that
yard debris may not be
placed on vacant lots, city
medians, parks or rights-of-
way. These are considered
to be illegal dumps and
are subject to a fine and
possible delay in the pickup
of such debris.
STORMWATER
Residents are reminded that
dumping anything into storm
drains or ditches, even if pri-
vately owned and maintained,
is illegal. The Florida
Department of Environmental
Protection Rules prohibit
discharge of any non-storm
water runoff into storm water
collection systems. This
includes discharges such as
backwash from swimming
pool filters, and even water-
based paints.
SAVE WATER WHILECELEBRATINGINDEPENDENCEDAY
Remember - No watering
between 10:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m.
Enjoy the pool or spa
on the holiday weekend,
but remember ways to
conserve water too.
• Check for leaks and
have them fixed promptly.
How do you know
if your pool is
leaking?
- Losing more than 1 inch of
water from your pool weekly
- If you are having trouble
balancing your chemicals
because you have to keep
adding water
- Constantly damp soil
around the pool
- Loose or falling tiles
- Obvious cracks, gaps or
settling
• Use a pool or spa cover to
reduce evaporation, and
save up to 7,000 gallons of
water per year. (Increases
safety factor and helps keep
debris out of the pool too!)
• Use the newer cartridge
filters. Backwashing sand
and diatomaceous filters
uses about 500 gallons for
each cycle.
Sea Turtles
Turtle nesting takes place on
our ocean beaches from May
1st through October 31st.
The nests are clearly marked,
but if you should see an
unmarked nest, hatchlings or
a stranded turtle, please call
the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol
at 241-7631. For additional
information about sea turtles
see our April 2004 newsletter
which is posted on our web
site at http://www.coab.us/tide-
views.asp or visit the Beaches
Sea Turtle Patrol web site at
http://www.bstp.net.
City Donates Computers
In May, the City of Atlantic
Beach donated twelve comput-
ers to Mayport Middle School
students. The computers were
obsolete for continued city
usage, but they were functional
in performing basic operations.
The Information Technology
staff made the necessary
modifications on the computers
to eliminate governmental files,
and the computers were then
configured for the students.
Students were selected, based
on financial need and school
performance, and on the last
day of school, the computers
were given to them to take
home. This was a productive
way to dispose of obsolete
equipment, while enhancing
the educational opportunities
for students in need.
Fireworks Laws
In Atlantic Beach it is unlawful
to possess, use, sell, or
explode any illegal fireworks.
How can you tell which fire-
works are illegal? The test for
legality can be summarized
simply: If it flies or it explodes,
then it is illegal. Sparklers
are legal throughout the state
of Florida.
The city code is intended
to enhance public safety,
improve visibility for public
fireworks displays, and
eliminate the trash and litter
resulting from the remnants
of illegal fireworks.
Hurricane season is here, and citizens are encouraged to update their hurricane kits.
The following Web site can provide detailed recommendations for planning before,
during, and after a hurricane http://www.coj.net/Departments/Fire+and+Rescue/
Emergency+Preparedness/Hurricane.htm. Additionally, the City of Atlantic Beach
Web site also contains links under the Police & Safety Main Page for hurricane
evacuation information at www.coab.us.
Hurricane Re-entry passes have been distributed to Atlantic Beach residents during
the past several years, and those passes continue to be valid. However, if someone is
new to the City of Atlantic Beach or they have misplaced the Hurricane Re-entry pass,
then additional passes are available from City Hall and/or the Atlantic Beach Police
Department Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hurricane Plans and Re-entry Passes
What is a short-term rental in Atlantic
Beach? Unless you own a business such
as hotel, motel, motor lodge, resort rental,
bed and breakfast or a tourist court, you
cannot rent or lease any house, apartment
or condo for a period of less than 90 days.
Only designated commercial properties
that are properly permitted and licensed
may rent or lease by the day or week, and
such activities are prohibited in residential
areas. City Code, Chapter 24, Sec. 24-17
SHORT TERM RENTALS
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We’re back into hurricane season, and since
we all live on a barrier island we are in
hurricane zones one or two. This means that
when there is a prediction of any level of
hurricane making landfall in our area, we will
be required to evacuate. New threat maps indicate that more
areas will be evacuated in a large storm, which means the
decision on evacuation will come earlier. By now we all
should have thought through the process of where we will go,
and have a stockpile of emergency items such as batteries,
water, medicines and the like to take with us. We’ve been
lucky for a few years, but predictions on the number of
hurricanes that will reach the United States
this year are high, so being prepared is in
our best interest.
Presort Standard
US Postage Paid
Jacksonville FL
Permit No. 1645
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
July Calendar
SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
12
4
3
56 879
11
10
1514
18
17
19 22
16
23
27 28 31
*Teen Council Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Community
Development
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
City Commission
Workshop
5:00 p.m.
Regular Comm. Meeting
7:15 p.m.
12
*Acoustic Night
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
City Commission
Meeting
7:15 p.m.
*Cultural Arts &
Recreation Adv.
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
2925
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
30
Meetings are held in the Commission
Chambers unless otherwise indicated
*These events will be held at Adele Grage
Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Boulevard
242120
13
*Atlantic Beach Public
Arts Commission
7:00 p.m.
*Tree Conservation
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
*Tree Conservation
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Stretch those hamstrings, lace up your sneakers, and get on your mark for the Atlantic Beach Fun Run.
Sponsored by the city's Cultural Arts and Recreation
Advisory Committee, the 5 km (3.1 miles) fun run will
take place on the beach in front of the Atlantic Beach
lifeguard station at the foot of Ahern Street on Sunday,
August 1 at 6:30 p.m.
Runners whose registrations are received by July 24
will receive a t-shirt. The entry fee is $10.00. Race day
registration will be available on the beach starting at
5:30 p.m. (but you may not be able to get a t-shirt with
any registration after July 24).
Awards will be given to the top three men and women, and the top three boys and girls (12 years old and younger).
"The emphasis with this event is on fun," said
committee member Steve Piscitelli. "We want to
provide another opportunity for our community to
enjoy its most prized natural resource."
See you at the starting line on the beach on
August 1st!
For further information or to register call
(904) 387-0528 or email consultjtb@aol.com
Atlantic Beach to Sponsor Beach Fun Run
Code Enforcement
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
26
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