May 2004.pdfcity of atlantic beach newsletter
VOL.3 NO.5MAY 2004
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904-247-5800
www.coab.us
GUN SAFETY
The Atlantic Beach Police
Department is participating
in a growing national effort to
promote firearms safety edu-
cation. We have partnered
with Project ChildSafe, a
program developed by the
National Shooting Sports
Foundation, to distribute
firearms safety kits and gun
locks free of charge to citizens.
All Atlantic Beach residents
may pick up a safety kit and
free gun lock at the police
department at any time while
supplies last. Each kit contains
a safety curriculum and cable-
style gun lock. The lock fits
on most types of handguns,
rifles, and shotguns.The goal
is to prevent a child or any
other unauthorized person
from accessing a firearm in
your home.
CITY WELCOMES NEWPUBLICWORKSDIRECTOR
As of April 19, 2004, the City
has a new Public Works
Director. Rick Carper, P.E.,
is an Atlantic Beach resident,
who previously worked for
five years on stormwater
and transportation projects
at a local engineering firm,
Connelly & Wicker. Rick also
served twenty years in the
Navy, during which he was
Commanding Officer of the
USS Oliver Hazard Perry.
He has a Masters Degree in
Mechanical Engineering, and
is licensed as a professional
engineer.
SPRING INTO ACTION
TO CONSERVE WATER
Remember: No watering
between 10:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m.
This is a good time of year to
inspect irrigation systems for
damage and make needed
repairs. An irrigation system
break can waste thousands
of gallons of water and add to
the water bill!
Make sure the automatic rain
shutoff device is also working.
Florida law on all automatic
sprinkler systems installed
since 1991 requires this.
Check the amount of irrigation
also, ½ inch to ¾ inch of
water is plenty to replenish
most lawns. By placing several
small flat cans (like tuna
cans) around the yard during
an irrigation cycle, it’s easy
to determine how much
water is being applied.
For more information on how
to conserve water, check out
the St. Johns River Water
Management website
at www.sjrwmd.com.
BUYING A BOAT? DO YOU HAVE A BOAT?
How many recreational
boats can you park or store
on your property?You can
have one boat on a residen-
tial lot that is 5,000 square
feet in lot area or less, and up
to two boats on a minimum lot
area of 10,000 square feet.
Where can you park/store
your recreational boat?All
recreational boats must be
kept 15 feet behind the front
property line, this is known as
a15-foot setback.
Where is the front property
line?The front property line
begins where the city right
of way ends. If you’re not
sure where that is, check
your property survey, or call
the Code Enforcement
Department at (904) 247-5855
before parking or storing
your boat.
Holiday Closing
City offices will be closed
on Monday, May 31, 2004
to honor the service of
those Americans who have
made the ultimate sacrifice
so that we may enjoy our
freedom. We are grateful
to them on this day and
every day.
Summer Camps
Register your children now
for the summer camps to
be held at Donner and
Jordan Parks. Summer
camps will begin on June
1, 2004. For additional
information, please contact
our Parks Department at
247-5828.
Atlantic Beach Artists
Studio Tour
Come enjoy a behind the
scenes look at the latest
works of art by Atlantic
Beach artists. Eight local
artists will open their studios
to the public from 1:00 to
5:00 p.m. on Saturday,
May 8th for a self-guided
studio tour. Included in
this year’s tour are photog-
raphers Jay Shoots and
Linda Broadfoot, artists
Mark Howard (watercolor),
Robin Sheperd (oils),
Alice Gartland (acrylics),
ceramic artists Bob Kirk
and Christine Kirk, and
printmaker Emily Arthur-
Douglass. Following the
tour you are invited to join
the artists at a reception
in Adele Grage Cultural
Center from 4:00 p.m. to
7:00 p.m.
Tickets cost $10 and can
be purchased at the Adele
Grage Cultural Center or
at the Wine Warehouse,
645 Atlantic Blvd, Atlantic
Beach. All proceeds from
ticket sales go to support
the arts at Atlantic Beach
Elementary School.
Now that the good weather is finally here, please remind your owners that when they
take you out for a walk, a stroll on the beach, or a good jog, you must have your
current rabies tag on, and your owners need to have cleanup material with them at
all times to clean up after you. For your safety and the safety of others, let them know
that you must be on a leash. Not only will this make you a good canine citizen and
your owner a responsible pet owner, but it’s also the law. For more information on our
animal laws, good canine responsibilities or our adoption program, please call Atlantic
Beach Animal Control at 247-5866.
TO OUR CANINE CITIZENS
Spring is upon us and that usually means
a time for growth. We welcome the flowers
blooming and trees sprouting, but the
thought of many unwanted litters of puppies
and kittens is unbearable. If you have
recently added a new pet to your family or
have just been procrastinating getting the
surgery done, please take advantage of the
“Spay Jax” program, sponsored by First
Coast No More Homeless Pets. For those
who qualify, your animal can be sterilized for
free, plus receive a rabies vaccine (a state
requirement for all pets). If you do not qualify
for the free surgery, FCNMHP can direct you
to a veterinarian participating in low cost
spay & neuter. Call 425-0005 or 247-5866
for more information.
Spay and Neuter Program
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Much has been said about the special character
of Atlantic Beach recently. During our annual
strategic planning meeting, how to maintain our
ambiance was a topic of considerable conver-
sation. Citizens have urged the Commission to
act to slow down the pace of construction of
large homes on small lots. The Commission
agreed in principle to look at the whole area of
what we can do to retain our quality of life without unduly
restricting the rights of property owners, and I will assure every-
one that no action will be taken without due input by citizens. At
the strategic planning meetings we agreed that protecting our
tree canopy and planting trees for the future were a high priority.
We also agreed that the variety of home construction styles
created an eclectic diversity, so trying to somehow manage
architectural styles is not something to consider. We already
have very progressive laws about setbacks, impervious surface,
and height restrictions. Perhaps by tweaking those ordinances,
and really working on the tree issue, we can put in effect a
guide that will retain the flavor of our lovely city by the beach.
On another issue, we have recently placed
brick crosswalks in various locations in the
city. It is important for everyone to realize
that pedestrians have the right-of-way over
cars at those and all marked crosswalks.
Presort Standard
US Postage Paid
Jacksonville FL
Permit No. 1645
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
May Calendar
SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
2
1
34 657
9
8
1312
16
15
17 20
14
21
25 26 29
*Teen Council Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Community
Development
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
*Teen Council Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Tour of Artists’ Studios
1:00-5:00 p.m.,
followed by reception
at Adele Grage
Cultural Center
Dancin’ in the Streets
festival in Town Center
11:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
City Commission
Meeting
7:15 p.m.
Teen Council
Concert in Jack
Russell Park
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
10
Acoustic Night at
Adele Grage
Cultural Center
6:00-8:00 p.m.
YMCA Summer
Camp begins at
Adele Grage Center.
City Commission
Meeting
7:15 p.m.
*Cultural Arts &
Recreation
Advisory Board
7:00 p.m.
2723
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
28
Meetings are held in the Commission
Chambers unless otherwise indicated
*These events will be held at Adele Grage
Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Boulevard
221918
11
*Atlantic Beach Public
Arts Commission
7:00 p.m.
*Tree Conservation
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
*Tree Conservation
Bd. Meeting
7:00 p.m.30 31
The future of the original area of the City, commonlyreferred to as Old Atlantic Beach, was the focus of muchdiscussion at the City Commission’s annual StrategicPlanning sessions. While a specific policy or plan hasnot been developed, the Commission recognizes thatthe unique character of this original part of the Cityreflects a personality and an ambience highly valuedby residents. For many years, Old Atlantic Beach haspossessed a sense of cherished “funkiness”that hasbeen defined by its close proximity to the beach, adense tree canopy, an intimate residential scale with
narrow, walkable streets, small lots and an eclectic
diversity in architectural styles and home types. The
Commission also recognizes that these very qualities,
which so uniquely define Old Atlantic Beach, may dis-
appear over the coming years as old trees begin to die
and as existing one and two-story homes are replaced
with large three-story homes that fully occupy the
buildable space of these small lots. Expressions suchas McMansions, Starter Castles and Monster Houses,and the long-term impact these extremely large homeshave upon communities that have developed in a traditional neighborhood pattern, have become a topicof much discussion—and debate—across the country.Old Atlantic Beach residents have become increasinglyvocal in expressing concerns about this trend in ourcommunity. Over the coming months, the CommunityDevelopment Board, the Commission and City staff willbegin to discuss this issue and will seek opportunities
to engage the entire community in this process. In the
meantime, if you wish to express your thoughts and
opinions, please send these to the Community
Development Department at City Hall, 800 Seminole
Road, Atlantic Beach, Florida, 32233 or by e-mail to:
sdoerr@coab.us
S AVING O LD A TLANTIC B EACH
Code Enforcement
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
24
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