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March 2006.pdfVOL.2 NO.3MARCH 2006 F R O M T H E M A Y O R Our valuable water resources are limited—so it’s important to conserve whenever possible. The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program can help you transform your yard into a beautiful oasis that will not only conserve pre- cious water resources and reduce pollution,but will also help you save time,effort and money. The Agriculture Extension office is going to sponsor a Florida Yards Course through the mail beginning in April,with registration forms due by April 11,2006.The course is partly spon- sored by the Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board,and the cost is only $5.00. If you’d like to find out more about the program,contact the Duval County Extension Service at 387-8850,or download the forms from the website at http://cfyn.ifas.ufl.edu/ and click on Duval. For additional information about conserving water,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! As a reader of this newsletter, you may have observed that your Commissioners have accepted my invitation to write to you in this column. Again, I will invite those Commissioners interested in joining me to reach out further to all citizens by visiting with those of you in your neighborhoods who wish to visit with us at neighbor to neighbor beachside chats. There are issues unique to EACH part of our City. By receiving e-mails, phone calls, letters, letters to the editors, and visits to Commission meetings, we hear from those who are willing to speak out. There are many of you who are more com- fortable talking in person and in familiar surroundings, however, your concerns are just as impor- tant. It is important that we hear from those citizens willing to talk with us about these concerns. I look forward to visiting with you in the coming months at designated locations throughout the city. More to come regarding scheduling in the next City newsletter. Recently, a Jacksonville city council- man requested a review of the Interlocal Agreements between Jacksonville and Atlantic Beach to determine whether Jacksonville should “terminate existing interlocal agreements and relationships with …the city of Atlantic Beach…and negotiate new agreements.” It is imperative to understand how critical these documents are to the citizens of Atlantic Beach. These documents provide the guidelines as to the finan- city of atlantic beach newsletter USE APRIL SHOWERS TO CONSERVE WATER (continued on back) How many trailers/recreational vehicles can you park/store on your property? It depends on lot size.You can have 1 trailer or 1 recreational vehicle on a residential lot that is less than 10,000 square feet in lot area,and up to 2 trailers/recreational vehicles on a lot area of 10,000 square feet or more. Where’s the Front Property Line? The front property line begins where the City Right of Way ends.Typically most front property lines are located just behind your water meter, if you’re still not sure, check your property survey or call the Code Enforcement Office at (904) 247-5855 before parking/storing that trailer/ recreational vehicle. --City Code Chapter 24, Sec 24-163 (b) (1-4) Where can you park/store your trail- er/recreational vehicle? All trailers/recreational vehicles must be kept 15 feet behind the Front Property Line. This is known as a15-foot setback. 1.How many sales and how often? No matter what you call it, you are limited to a total of 3 days per year. --City Code,Chapter 13,Sec 13-11 2.What about signs used for advertising? Size,quantity,location and length of time are restricted. A.You are limited to no more than 2 signs for advertising your sale. B.Signs must be placed solely on your property. C.No off-site advertising is permitted.Signs are not permitted on the City Right of Ways,medians, trees or utility poles. D.Advertising signs may be as large as four square feet in size. E.Signs can be posted the day before the sale, but must be removed immedi- ately after the sale. --City Code,Chapter 17,Sec.17-26 (b) (10) TRAILER & RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKING/STORAGE YARD SALE! GARAGE SALE! ESTATE SALE! MOVING SALE! Whatever you want to call it,it’s a sale of personal property and is regulated by City Code.What are those codes and what do they regulate? For additional information regarding yard sales or to report a violation of City Code,contact your local City Code Enforcement Officer at (904) 247-5855. 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 C U R R E N T S cial responsibilities between Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville. These fiscal responsibilities are not the result of a magnanimous understanding but rather the result of heated negotia- tions between two municipal corpo- rations resulting from lawsuits filed on behalf of the citizens of Atlantic Beach before the Fourth Judicial Court in Duval County. While I am confident that we have a strong legal position, I am concerned that togeth- er, we must always remain vigilant to protect what is most important to all citizens of Atlantic Beach—our inde- pendence from the city of Jacksonville! EMPLOYEEOFTHEYEAR Congratulations to Lieutenant Henry Bartle for being selected as Employee of the Year. Henry has been employed with the AB Police Department for over 22 years. He was nominated by 11 fellow employ- ees who expressed appreciation for his professionalism, dedication, loyalty, respect, calmness under pressure, and leadership, among other things. Besides those characteristics, Henry has performed heroically during his “risky business” as a police lieutenant. Please join us in congratulating Lt. Henry Bartle for a job well done and for being selected as Employee of the Year. EMPLOYEEOFTHEQUARTER Congratulations to Ellen LaVake for being selected as Employee of the Quarter. Ellen has been employed at City Hall for over 24 years. She was recently promoted to Human Resource Assistant and is being recognized for assuming her new role, despite the many challenges, in a professional and pleasant manner. Please join us in congratu- lating Ellen LaVake for a job well done and for being selected as Employee of the Quarter.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 Commission Meeting | 7:15 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. Mar.1 Community Character Workshop for Public | 6:00 p.m. Mar. 5 *Songwriter’s Concert|6:00-8:00 p.m. Mar.7 Zoo Outreach - Dutton Island Preserve | 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. Mar.8 *Tree Conservation Board Meeting | 7:00 p.m. Mar.9,11 Zoo Outreach - Dutton Island Preserve |1:00 - 1:45 p.m. Mar. 13 City CommissionWorkshop| 6:00 p.m., meeting to follow at 7:15 p.m. Mar.14 Code Enforcement Board Meeting | 7:00 p.m. Mar.16 Board Member Review Committee Meeting | 5:00 p.m. Mar.18 Household Hazardous Waste Collection in the City Hall Parking Lot | 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Mar.19 *Acoustics Night | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Mar.21 Zoo Outreach - Tideviews Preserve | 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. Mar.21 Community Development Board Meeting | 7:00 p.m. Mar. 22 *Tree Conservation Meeting| 7:00 p.m. Mar. 23 & 25 Zoo Outreach – Tideviews Preserve Mar. 27 City Commission Meeting | 7:15 p.m. Mar.28 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory Committee | 7:00 p.m. MARCH 2006 Donald Wolfson Mayor (continued from front) www.coab.us • (904) 247-5800 The City is accepting applications for lifeguard positions for the 2006 season.All interested parties are welcome to pick up an application at the Atlantic Beach City Hall,or they may obtain an application on the Atlantic Beach Website www.coab.us LIFEGUARDPOSITIONSOPENFOR2006 SEASON Many citizens of Atlantic Beach are aware that the city has made major improvements to the “5 corner”intersection by City Hall,and despite criticism by a few the project has proved to assist with traffic flow through the intersection,and has made the area truly attractive.Decorative lighting is still to come, but it is a fine project that brings with it the “village feel” of our community.The former Commission spent much time debating and approving the elements of the intersection improvement project.The installation of a “Town Clock”was part of the plan and is still an element in the design.The new Commission elected to eliminate the funding for the clock but will support its inclusion if private funding can be found. Former Mayor John Meserve supports the effort to raise the $7,500 to complete the project, has opened a bank account,to accept donations and will return the funds collected should the clock not be installed.As the money will go to the city,it is a tax deductible donation,but check with your tax accountant.He will ask the City Manager to recognize the donations by individual for tax purposes.He is asking that you join in raising the funds to install the Atlantic Beach Clock in our new intersection. Please forward any donation (check) to : The Atlantic Beach Clock Fund c/o John Meserve 2126 Beach Avenue Atlantic Beach,Fl.32233 CLOCK FUND