December 2005.pdfVOL.1 NO.5DECEMBER 2005
F
R
O
M
T
H
E
M
A
Y
O
R
Save water by paying attention to your hose!
• An unattended hose,left running,can
waste 600 gallons of water in an hour.
• Check the hose connection to make sure
it is tight and not leaking.Use washers
between the hose and spigot to create a
good seal.
• Inspect the hose after turning the water on
to check for pinpoint leaks.
• Put a shut-off nozzle on your hose so you
can regulate the water flow and shut water
off while it isn’t being used.
• Turn water off at the spigot when you’ve
finished using the hose to help prevent
water loss from a leak that might form on
a pressurized hose.
• Use a broom or blower to remove dirt and
leaves from your driveway or sidewalk
instead of hosing them down.
Remember—Water only 2 days per week,
and NO watering between 10 a.m.and 4 p.m.
For more information on how to save water
visit the St.Johns River Water Management
District’s website at www.sjrwmd.com.
The City hosted a public workshop on
November 3 to get further input from resi-
dents related to strategies that will preserve
the unique character of Atlantic Beach as
defined by its close proximity to the beach,
dense tree canopy,an intimate residential
scale with narrow,walkable streets,small
lots and an eclectic diversity in architectural
styles and home types.
The Commission Chamber was packed as
residents listened to the City’s consultant,
Noré Winter,present a summary of their
report and a range of recommendations,
which are the result of a yearlong process
of studying the City and working with City
staff,residents and various groups.(The
presentation is available on the City website
at www.coab.us.) Participants asked many
informative and thoughtful questions,and
the consensus of the group and the City
Commission was to begin the process of
developing regulations that will attain the
goals of the project.The community
expressed a shared vision that the very quali-
ties that so uniquely define Atlantic Beach
must be protected if the fundamental value
of the City is to be retained.This process will
involve further input from the community
and more public meetings.One initial goal
of this project remains a primary focus:that
any new regulations should be simple and
straightforward,and that individual choices
not be unreasonably restrained.Please watch
the newspaper or the City website for notice
of future meetings,and you may also express
your thoughts in writing directed to the
Community Development Department at
City Hall,800 Seminole Road,Atlantic
Beach,Florida,32233 or by e-mail to:
sdoerr@coab.us.
It is with much
enthusiasm that I
write this open let-
ter to the citizens
of Atlantic Beach
as your newly
elected Mayor.
I thank former Commissioners Beaver
and Parsons and former Mayor
Meserve for their past commitments
of service to our city. I congratulate
Commissioners Borno and Fletcher
upon assuming the responsibilities of
service to our citizens. I look forward
to working with Commissioners
Simmons and Waters as they continue
their terms of office. Together, your
new Commission will face community
challenges of utmost importance for
all of us collectively. I am confident
that your Commission will do so
capably and with respect of the trust
that you have placed in each of us.
Each decision that is made on your
behalf will be treated with the utmost
care and deliberation.
I sincerely believe that there are many
opportunities to further enhance the
very fabric of our quality of life in
Atlantic Beach and to protect our
community character from influences
that potentially may erode our com-
munity’s personality. In the coming
year, you will have the opportunity to
decide collectively as to revising our
city Charter with a city wide compre-
hensive building height limitation.
You will determine as a community
as to the form of government that you
prefer to have: at-large representation
or district representation. Should our
state legislators not protect the rights
of private property owners enough
city of atlantic beach newsletter
HOW YOUR HOSE CAN WASTE WATER
SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY CHARACTER WORKSHOP
(continued on back)
city of atlantic beach newsletter
CALENDAR
Meetings are held in the Commission Chambers unless otherwise indicated
* These events will be held at Adele Grage Cultural Center,716 Ocean Blvd.
** These events will be held in the North Conference Room at City Hall,800 Seminole Road.
OUR BEACHES
The City’s beaches fared well through this
year’s hurricane season.We should all take this
good fortune as a reminder to do our individual
part in continuing to care for and maintain our
beautiful beaches. Please keep pets leashed, and
avoid walking on the dunes. Please clean up
after your pet and properly dispose of all trash
and animal waste.
Also, as we have those occasional wonderful
warm days through the winter months that
attract us all to the beach, keep in mind
that lifeguards will not be on duty, so keep
safety in mind. Public schools will be closed for
winter break December 19 through January 3,
and our beaches will be a popular spot if the
weather is nice.
MAYPORT ROAD MEDIANS
The City will host a public meeting on
“Monday, December 12th at 5:30 p.m. in the
Commission Chambers at 800 Seminole Road.
The purpose of the meeting is to provide infor-
mation related to proposed median construc-
tion along Mayport Road between West 7th
Street in Atlantic Beach and Wonderwood
Drive in Jacksonville. Representatives from the
Jacksonville and Atlantic Beach Public Works
Departments, as well as the Design Consultant
and the Florida Department of Transportation
will be on hand to answer questions. This is an
informational meeting only, and no action will
be taken at this meeting.
FIVE POINTS WORK WELL UNDERWAY
Reconstruction of the intersection locally
known as Five Points began in mid-October,
and the project is progressing very quickly
with the intent of having the roadway and the
decorative walkways completed by the end of
November and the entire project done before
the holidays.The decorative street lighting will
be the final touch to be added. Five Points is a
gateway and a landmark within the City of
Atlantic Beach.The new design will make this a
safer intersection and will instantly identify the
City as a truly special place.
Another long-awaited improvement, providing
public access to the Post Office from Plaza
Drive, is nearing completion.The Post Office
still has to complete several modifications to
their parking lot and the access road.This work
is expected to be finished in December.The
City will then paint and stripe the new turn
lane, which will clearly mark the new entry
from Plaza into the Post Office.
DECEMBER 2005
Don Wolfson
MAYOR
Jamie Fletcher
COMMISSIONER
J. Dezmond Waters, III
COMMISSIONER
Sylvia Simmons
COMMISSIONER
Mike Borno
COMMISSIONER
Jim Hanson
CITY MANAGER
Alan Jensen
CITY ATTORNEY
Donna Bussey
CITY CLERK
CITY OFFICIALS
F
R
O
M
T
H
E
M
A
Y
O
R
from the threat of potential eminent
domain takings for the benefit of private
entities, you as the citizens of our City
will be provided municipal legislation
to enact that which will further protect
private property owners’ rights.
It is apparent to me that your
Commission is committed to further
enhance the Atlantic Blvd. and
Mayport Road corridors and to
encourage a friendlier business
atmosphere. There are opportunities
for your Commission to further
improve and enlarge Town Center
to make it an even better business
neighborhood.
I look forward to working with our
City’s staff. It is imperative that those
working for you and representing you
provide you, our citizens, with a pro-
fessional, friendly, and courteous
demeanor reflecting the personality
and charm of our community.
The future is bright for the City of
Atlantic Beach although the path that
we shall travel will provide us with
many challenges. My commitment
to you is that we will enhance our
community quality of life for us and
for generations to come. Together,
we can and will achieve many of our
goals that in and of itself will be our
greatest reward. It is most important
to remember that we are all neighbors
committed to this task. The opportunity
is exciting; the effort belongs to us all;
the results will be enjoyed and shared
by those who are willing to make our
dream a reality.
My family joins me in wishing you
Happy Holidays and we hope and
pray for all in need to be helped by
others during this holiday season. Our
thanks to each of you for allowing us
to serve you for the next two years.
Dec.3 Tree Lighting – Town Center |
6:00 p.m.
Dec.4 *Songwriter’s Concert |
6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
Dec.10 Holiday Sing-A-Long – Bull Park |
6:30 p.m.– 8:00 p.m.
Dec.12 Mayport Road Median Project
Meeting | 5:30 p.m.– 6:30 p.m.
Dec.12 City Commission Meeting | 7:15 p.m.
Dec.14 *Tree Conservation Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
Dec.15 Board Member Review Committee
Meeting | 5:00 p.m.
Dec.15 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Meeting | 7:00 p.m.
Dec.23 City Offices Closed
Dec.26 City Offices Closed
JANUARY 2006
Jan.9 City Commission Meeting | 7:15 p.m.
Jan.10 Code Enforcement Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
Jan.11 *Tree Conservation Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
Jan.17 Community Development Board
Meeting | 7:00 p.m.
Jan.19 Board Member Review Committee
Meeting | 5:00 p.m.
Jan.22 *Songwriter’s Concert | 6:00 p.m.-
8:00 p.m.
Jan.23 City Commission Meeting | 7:15 p.m.
Jan.24 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee | 7:00 p.m.
Jan.25 *Tree Conservation Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
DON WOLFSON
Mayor
www.coab.us
MAYOR’S LETTER (cont.)