January 2005.pdfcity of atlantic beach newsletter
VOL.4 NO.1JANUARY 2005
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904-247-5800
www.coab.us
HURRICANES AND POWER OUTAGES
JEA estimated that nearly all the power outages we experienced during the hurricanes in
Atlantic Beach, as well as across Jacksonville, were caused by tree damage.
To help avoid those types of tree-related outages in the future, JEA and the City of Atlantic
Beach will be working together in January to coordinate tree and bush trimming around power
lines and power poles in the city.
Every three years, JEA rotates its crews to specific locations within its 900-square-mile
service area to concentrate on tree trimming. Just prior to the hurricanes, JEA and its
contractor Asplundh, began this routine maintenance trimming in Atlantic Beach.
“We understand the passions of many residents to protect the tree canopy in the area,
especially at the beaches,” said JEAspokesman Ron Whittington. “We try to reach a balance
that acknowledges the customers’ strong feelings about their trees and keeping trees from
causing power outages that affect all residents.”
JEA representatives are working directly with Atlantic Beach City Manager Jim Hanson’s staff
to determine where trees should be trimmed and which ones need to be removed.
JEA has agreed to provide plants from its nursery and replace trees that are removed, with
input from the city. JEAprovides the city and residents with certain types of low-growing trees
that can be replanted under power lines and trees to plant away from power lines to help
maintain the tree canopy as they mature.
JEA routinely performs tree trimming using professional trimming contractors who use
proper arboricultural pruning methods to keep the tree growth within acceptable limits. This is
done under the close direction of JEA’s foresters and certified arborists.
JEA also has a couple of tree tips for residents: have an arborist assess the status of your
trees’ health to avoid future problems; consider the location and mature height of a tree before
planting it; and, make sure there is adequate clearance for the tree to grow and not interfere
with utility lines and equipment to avoid future problems.
HOMEOWNER/PROPERTY OWNER/
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS
The Public Works Department is gathering
information on Homeowner’s Associations
within the City of Atlantic Beach to be used to
help in transmitting information to residents. If
your neighborhood has an association, please
contact Susan Gorman or Lisa Showman at
247-5834 with contact information for the
President or Chairperson of the Association.
CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY
Did you know….
•4 out of 5 children’s car seats are installed
improperly.
•An infant should remain rear facing until
they are at least one year of age AND 20
pounds. It is safest to keep them rear facing
as long as possible.
•The safest way for a 4-8 year old child to
ride in a car is in the back seat and in a
belt positioning booster seat. A child should
remain in a booster seat until they are
4’9” tall.
•No single type or manufacturer of car safety
seats is the “safest” or “best”. The “best” car
seat is one that fits your child’s size and
weight, is installed correctly in your car, and
that you will use every time you drive.
To schedule an appointment for a car seat
inspection at the Atlantic Beach Police
Department, please call Officer
Tiffany Layson
at 247-5859.
Volunteers Needed
The City of Atlantic Beach
would like to hear from
citizens interested in serving
on citizen boards or commit-
tees. We have a Code
Enforcement Board,
Community Development
Board, Cultural Arts and
Recreation Advisory
Committee, two Pension
Boards – one for police
employees and the other for
general employees, and a
Tree Conservation Board.
For information about the
responsibilities of these
boards or to obtain an
application form, please
contact the City Clerk, at
247-5809 or visit our web
site at www.coab.us.
We would also like to hear
from anyone who would like to
volunteer a few hours a week
in City Hall to help with tasks
such as filing or preparing
documents for imaging. You
do not need to have experi-
ence in these areas as we
would assist you and make
sure you are comfortable with
anything you are asked to do.
Call Donna Bussey at
247-5809 if you would like
additional information.
Mayor’s letter
(continued from back)
It will certainly not be a year
that we can rest on our
laurels. The Commission and
Staff will continue to be
challenged to see that normal
projects are brought in on
time and on budget, while
handling the emergent issues
of the day. Hopefully weather
systems will not be a repeat
of 2004. From all the
Commission and Staff of
Atlantic Beach, I wish the
very best to
all in 2005.
John S. Meserve
Mayor
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Presort Standard
US Postage Paid
Jacksonville FL
Permit No. 1645
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
January 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
7:00 p.m.
*Teen Council
7:00 p.m.
Community
Development Board
7:00 p.m.
Household Hazardous
Waste and E-Waste
Collection
City Hall Parking Lot
8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
City Commission
Meeting
7:15 p.m.
10
*Camp Out
Under the Stars
Registration Begins
City Commission
Meeting 7:15 p.m.
*Cultural Arts &
Recreation Advisory
Committee Meeting
7:00 p.m.
2723
30 31
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
Donna Bussey
CITY CLERK
LETTER
FROM THE MAYOR
*Songwriters’ Concert
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
28
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 Conference
Room at City Hall, 800 Seminole Road.
221918
11
*Tree Conservation
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
*Tree Conservation
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Code Enforcement
Board
7:00 p.m.
24
*Atlantic Beach Public
Arts Committee
7:00 p.m.
The end of 2004 brings with it the challenges of
2005. For the City of Atlantic Beach, 2005 will
bring lots of opportunities and some of those
challenges, but we are blessed with a
community that has great financial reserves, a
strategic plan that includes ten year financial
projections and planning on all our major
utilities and systems, and the projected completion of several
important enhancements to the community. We have a
conservative budget for 2005 which will maintain our reserve
of funds above the 25% goal. The first part of our bicycle and
pedestrian path system will be completed along Plaza, and we
will see a very attractive transformation of the 5 points
intersection in the heart of our community. The long-awaited
Rotary Club sponsored Skateboard Park will start and be com-
pleted in the Spring. Many thousands of cubic yards of sand
should be pumped on our beaches if all the various agencies
are able to get their act together. We, the Commission, will be
hosting a series of workshops to discuss how we can maintain
the ambiance of Atlantic Beach residential neighborhoods, and
work will be completed on the addition
to City Hall. (LETTER CONTINUED IN CURRENTS SECTION INSIDE)
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE AND E-WASTE COLLECTION
The City of Jacksonville will have a mobile household hazardous waste vehicle at the Atlantic Beach City Hall parking
lot (next to Russell Park), 800 Seminole Road on Saturday, January 8th from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Many materials used in the home and gardens are considered hazardous waste and must NOT be thrown into
household trash. These materials can cause serious safety and health problems. Check the list below for types of
products to take to the household hazardous waste and e-waste collection on January 8th.
WILL BE ACCEPTED: WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED:
Paint, paint thinners & strippers Fertilizer Computer monitors Bio-hazardous (medical) waste
Rechargeable batteries Acids Terminals, CPUs Explosives
Photographic chemicals Flares Keyboards Tires
Antifreeze Used oil TVs/VCRs Large household appliances
Lawn & garden chemicals Ammunition Printers & scanners (washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators)
Pool chemicals Drain cleaners Stereo equipment Commercial e-waste or
Aerosol cans Varnish/shellac Desk and mobile phones hazardous waste
Pesticides Car care chemicals Pagers
Small propane (lp) tanks Fire extinguishers Power tools
Car batteries Small kitchen appliances
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