April 2006.pdfVOL.2 NO.4APRIL 2006
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The St.Johns River Water
Management District and its
partners are promoting Florida
Water Star,a program that
encourages use of water effi-
cient household appliances,
plumbing fixtures,irrigation
systems and landscaping.
Florida Water Star offers
incentives and resources to
builders and homebuyers of
new homes who value water
efficiency. Implementing
Florida Water Star standards
helps residents save money
on their water bills while
conserving water.An initial
investment of $1,700 can
save 270,000 gallons of
water each year!
Florida Water Star is a
point-based certification
program, similar to the
Federal Energy Star pro-
gram.The Water
Management District is
currently working with
northeast Florida builders
to certify the first Florida
Water Star homes in 2006.
For additional information
about Florida Water Star,go
to the Water Management
District’s website at:
www.sjrwmd.com.
Remember, No Watering
Between 10am and 4pm.
Water Lawns and
Landscapes No More
Than Two Times Per
Week!
How many con-
struction dump-
sters are there
currently in your
neighborhood?
How much has the value of your
house escalated in the past five
years?
The housing and redevelopment
boom of recent years is not unique to
Atlantic Beach. Neighborhoods, com-
munities, and even huge cities are
struggling to deal with real-estate
speculation, the invasion of bulldoz-
ers, and the infill of larger and larger
houses. Communities across the
country are revisiting their zoning
codes in an attempt to preserve the
character of old neighborhoods.
The City Commission, Community
Development Board and concerned
citizens have spent the last two
years grappling with the balance
between community rights and
property rights. Winter and
Company was hired to help devel-
op a long term plan. They have
now been to Atlantic Beach three
times, studied the traditional devel-
opment patterns and the current
trends of redevelopment.
Information was gathered through
public workshops, focus groups
including developers, realtors, and
community associations, and from
city of atlantic beach newsletter
FLORIDA’S WATER STAR PROGRAM
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GOT A PROBLEM? FIX-IT
The Atlantic Beach website,www.coab.us,has a
feature on the front page to provide quick input
from citizens.On the left side of the opening
page,there is a button that is labeled “Fix-It
Form.”When someone clicks on this button,a
page is displayed that allows the citizen to check
from a list of the most common problems that
arise in the City.By checking the appropriate
boxes and submitting the information,an email
is sent to the appropriate City staff member to
address and resolve the problem.
Next time you need to make the City staff
aware of a problem,just go to the City website
and Fix-It!
TEEN COUNCIL
Atlantic Beach Teen Council meets every
Tuesday night at 7:15 pm at Adele Grage
Cultural Center.The council is made up of a
group of 20 or so Atlantic Beach teens lead
by President Katherine Love.Teens involved
earn community credit hours for Bright
Futures Scholarships.
The council provides teens access to local
government and encourages them to become
leaders within their city.Teens have had an
opportunity to influence skateboard issues
and have provided staffing power for events
such as Dancing in the Streets.
The council also provides activities and
entertainment for the young people of
Atlantic Beach. Past events have included
an Atlantic Beach Teen Scholarship for which
they raised money to provide the scholar-
ship, an annual concert in Jack Russell Park
featuring local youth bands, and a youth
acoustic music event at Bull Park.
Upcoming events include assisting with the
Mayport Eighth Grade Dance on May 11th,
Co-sponsoring the Atlantic Beach Skate Contest
at Jack Russell Park on May13th,and coming
up in April they are sponsoring a Movie Night
in Russell Park featuring “Sandlot”.All families,
kids and teens are welcome!
For more information about the teen council
contact John Goelz at 904-654-4832 or Casey
Quinif at 904-708-6021.
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.
Donald Wolfson
MAYOR
Jamie Fletcher
COMMISSIONER
J. Dezmond Waters, III
MAYOR PRO TEM
Sylvia Simmons
COMMISSIONER
Mike Borno
COMMISSIONER
Jim Hanson
CITY MANAGER
Alan Jensen
CITY ATTORNEY
Donna Bussey
CITY CLERK
CITY OFFICIALS
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the Community Development
Board and City Commission.
We’ve learned that property values
are determined by four components:
1. The city address (in this case,
Atlantic Beach); 2. The neighbor-
hood; 3. The lot; and 4. The house.
In a healthy neighborhood the four
are of equal value. According to
Nore Winter, of Winter and
Company, “About half of the value
comes from outside the property.”
This includes the tree canopy, sun-
light and breezes, pedestrian friendly
small streets, and the streetscape. It
is easy to see why property values
are so high in Atlantic Beach and
why we must consider the commu-
nity beyond our lot line.
Mr. Winters will be back in Atlantic
Beach April 10th and 11th, and
again in May.
Community participation is important.
SHORT TERM RENTAL
What is a short-term rental in
Atlantic Beach? Unless you own a
commercial property 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; such activities are
prohibited in residential areas.
--City Code, Chapter 24, Sec. 24-17
APRIL 2006
Apr.1 Grass Education Class at Bull
Memorial Park | 9:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Apr. 9 *Songwriter’s Concert| 6:00- 8:00 p.m.
Apr. 10 City CommissionWorkshop| 6:00 p.m.,
meeting to follow at 7:15 p.m.
Apr.11 Community Character Workshop for
Public | 6:00 p.m.
Apr. 12 *Tree Conservation Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
Apr.15 Grass Education Class at Bull
Memorial Park | 9:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Apr.18 Community Development Board
Meeting |7:00 p.m.
Apr. 20 Board Member Review Committee
Meeting | 5:00 p.m.
Apr.23 *Acoustics Night | 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Apr.24 City Commission Meeting| 7:15 p.m.
Apr.25 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee | 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 26 *Tree Conservation Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
Sylvia Simmons
Commisioner
(continued from front)
www.coab.us • (904) 247-5800
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Featuring artists and fine
crafts people from all over
Jacksonville.Find watercol-
ors,oils,photography,
sculpture,ceramics,glass
and more.Meet the artists
and enjoy the beach park.
Find affordable and unique
works of art perfect for your
home or business.Sponsored
by the City of Atlantic
Beach,Cultural Arts
Committee.
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Check-in begins at 10 am;
Competition starts at Noon
The City of Atlantic Beach
will host its first skating
competition.The registra-
tion fee for the competition
is $20 for all ages and $40
for pros.There will be
three divisions; 14 and
under, 15 and up and open
pro. Everyone must pre-
register before Friday, May
12.There will be trophies,
cash prizes, free giveaways
and live music. Please call
247-5828 for additional
information.
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Yoga Classes are being
offered at the Adele Grage
Cultural Center.Classes are
$10 each and you must sign
up at the door.
EXCITING MARCHACTIVITIES
May 6 *Art in the Park Festival
at Bull Park |10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
May 7 *Songwriter’s Concert| 6:00- 8:00 p.m.
May 8 City CommissionWorkshop| 7:15 p.m.
May 9 Code Enforcement Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
May 10 *Tree Conservation Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
May 13 Oceanside Rotary Skate Park
Bowl Bash at Russell Park | No
Time
May 13 Dancin’in the Streets at Town
Center|11:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
May 16 Community Development Board
Meeting | 7:00 p.m.
May 18 Board Member Review Committee
Meeting | 5:00 p.m.
May 21 *Acoustics Night at Bull Park|
4:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.
May 22 City Commission Meeting|7:15 p.m.
May 23 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee | 7:00 p.m.
May 24 *Tree Conservation Board Meeting |
7:00 p.m.
MAY 2006