September 2005.pdfVOL.1 NO.2SEPTEMBER 2005
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The City of Atlantic Beach has redesigned
its Web site to add functions and features
that were unavailable in the past. The devel-
opers built upon the core information pro-
vided in the previous Web site, and added a
number of new functions that should make it
easier for visitors and residents to locate
helpful information. The Web address has
not changed, so people who are accustomed
to visiting the Web site will not need to
make any changes to access the site.
New functions include:
1. Site Search Feature:Allows the user to
search the entire Web site for key words.
2. FixIt:This feature allows a visitor to check
a block identifying a specific problem, and
it will generate an e-mail to the City staff
member responsible for researching the
problems and resolving it.
3.E-News Sign-Up:This is an e-mail
sign-up feature that allows visitors to sign
up for news and updates from specific
departments,boards, and committees
within the City.
4. Calendars:There is a citywide calendar,
and there are additional departmental
calendars if someone wishes to track
activities in a specific department.
5. Boards and Committees:In the future,
all agendas for upcoming board and com-
mittee meetings will be posted on the
website. The City hopes that this will
save a number of trees by reducing the
use of paper, and the information will be
readily available to the public.
6. Online Job Application:This feature
will allow an applicant to complete and
send an electronic job application to the
City for consideration.
The Web site will continue to develop in
the coming years to offer new functions
while making city services convenient,
available, and cost-effective for all.
Web Address: www.coab.us
In August, the
beach renourish-
ment of our
oceanfront was
completed. Over
700,000 cubic
yards of very high quality sand was
placed from South Jacksonville
Beach, north to just south of 20th
Street In Atlantic Beach. Several
areas that had entirely lost their
berms had those protection layers of
sand replaced. The reason they did
not fill the rest of the way north was
that the sand cover was adequate in
those areas and did not require
renourishment. It is critical that every
five years or so we have sand added
to our beaches. The barrier created
by the construction of the jetties at
the mouth of the St. Johns River pre-
vents the normal southerly migration
of sand that would naturally replen-
ish our beaches. I give full credit to
that successful $13 million dollar
project to the Atlantic Beach staff,
particularly Jim Hanson, our city
manager, and Rick Carper, our direc-
tor of public works. They took the
lead in working with the Army Corps
of Engineers, Jacksonville, the other
beach cities and the contractors to
make it all work. Another thanks
goes to Congressman Crenshaw.
Ander was the key in getting federal
funding for our area. We now have
that additional buffer of sand from
any future storms
and hurricanes that
might threaten our
shoreline.
city of atlantic beach newsletter
NEW ATLANTIC BEACH WEB SITE
Yes, it’s that time again. Every political season,
questions arise as to the City of Atlantic Beach
Codes regulating election signs. For this reason,
the Code Enforcement Division is providing
answers to frequently asked questions:
Q. HOW MANY SIGNS CAN I HAVE?
A. City Code Chapter 17, Section 17-1.1
does not limit the number of election
signs placed on private property to
announce or advertise a candidate.
Q. HOW BIG A SIGN CAN I HAVE?
A.Your election sign can be no larger than
4 square feet in size.
Q. WHERE CAN I PLACE MY SIGN?
A.It must be placed wholly on your property.
When referring to your property, this
excludes city right-of-ways, medians,
trees and utility poles.
Q. HOW LONG CAN I POST AN
ELECTION SIGN?
A.Election signs are permitted once a candi-
date is qualified to run for election, and must
be removed 72 hours after the election.
Q. WHAT ABOUT POLLING PLACES?
A.Florida Statute 102.031 specifies that no
signs or solicitors are permitted within
fifty (50) feet of the entrance to a polling
place on the day of election, unless solici-
tation is conducted in a separate marked
area so as not to disturb, impede, obstruct,
or interfere with voter access.
ELECTION SIGNS!
John S. Meserve
Mayor
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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.
How would you like to pay only $7 per
month for each of your prescription drugs?
Prescription Relief is pleased to offer the
“Atlantic Beach’s $7 Prescription Relief
Program” for Atlantic Beach’s low to
moderate income citizens.
The program offers access to hundreds of
brand-name maintenance prescription drugs
such as Lipitor, Prozac, Zoloft, and Epogen
for $7 per prescription/per month. There is
no age limit; seniors can qualify too.
You can participate in this program if you:
• Have no other prescription drug insurance
(or Medicaid).
• Have a household income less than
$19,000 per year as an individual or less
than $31,000 per year for couples.
It’s easy to apply — just pick up the appli-
cation/postage-paid envelope at the Utilities
counter in City Hall and mail it today!
Because too many Atlantic Beach residents
of all ages lack adequate prescription drug
coverage, through a special arrangement by
the Atlantic Beach Commissioners, there
will be no application fee charged to Atlantic
Beach residents.
A Prescription Relief customer care repre-
sentative is available to answer your ques-
tions, tollfree at 1-866-378-4686 (1-866-
DRUG-686). Or, learn more by visiting
their Web site at www.prescriptionrelief.com.
ATLANTIC BEACH’S $7 PRESCRIPTION RELIEF PROGRAM
OCTOBER 2005
Oct. 1 Fun Day/Camp-Out Under the Stars
at Jack Russell Park
Oct. 2 *Songwriter’s Concert | 6:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m.
Oct. 4 PRIMARY ELECTION—
Voting Precinct
Oct. 10 City Commission Meeting | 7:15 p.m.
Oct. 12 *Tree Conservation Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
Oct. 18 GENERAL ELECTION (If needed)—
Voting Precinct
Oct. 19 Rescheduled Community Develop-
ment Board Meeting | 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 20 Board Member Review Committee
Meeting | 5:00 p.m.
Oct. 23 *Acoustic Night | 4:00 p.m. to 6:00
p.m.
Oct. 24 City Commission Meeting | 7:15 p.m.
Oct. 25 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Meeting | 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 26 *Tree Conservation Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 2005
Sept. 5 City Office Closed (Labor Day)
Sept. 11 *Songwriter’s Concert | 6:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m.
Sept. 12 City Commission Meeting | 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 13 Code Enforcement Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
Sept. 14 *Tree Conservation Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
Sept. 15 Board Member Review Committee
Meeting | 5:00 p.m.
Sept. 18 *Acoustic Night | 6:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m.
Sept. 20 Community Development Board
Meeting | 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 26 City Commission Meeting | 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 27 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Meeting | 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 28 *Tree Conservation Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
John S. Meserve
MAYOR
Richard M. Beaver
MAYOR PRO TEM
J. Dezmond Waters, III
COMMISSIONER
Sylvia Simmons
COMMISSIONER
Paul B. Parsons
COMMISSIONER
Jim Hanson
CITY MANAGER
Alan Jensen
CITY ATTORNEY
Donna Bussey
CITY CLERK
CITY OFFICIALS
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Book Collection Drive
The City of Atlantic Beach and
Atlantic Beach Experimental
Theatre are cosponsors of a book
collection drive to encourage early
literacy in Atlantic Beach. New or
used books suitable for preschool
age children are welcomed. Book
collection bins are in the City Hall
lobby, the gallery entrance of the
Adele Grage Center, and the theater
entry during ABET performances.
ABET volunteers will distribute all
donated books to Mayport Road
area childcare centers.Books your
child has outgrown can enrich the
lives of other children.
Saving on a Rainy Day
Conserve Water During the Rainy Season
September typically has higher
rainfall levels in our area, making
it the perfect opportunity to reduce
outdoor irrigation. Florida law
requires all automatic irrigation
systems to have moisture or rain
sensors that prevent them from
using water during a rainstorm.
You can tell when your lawn needs
watering, as it will start showing
signs of stress. The lawn may start
turning a bluish gray color, tire
tracks or footprints linger, leaf
blades start to fold in half length-
wise and soil around the root zone
may feel dry.
If you wait until these signs are
just beginning, you can keep a
healthy lawn while conserving
water and lowering your bill.
And remember – no watering
between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
For additional information
on how to save water, visit
www.floridaswater.com.
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