April 2007.pdfVOL.3 NO.4APRIL 2007
F
R
O
M
T
H
E
C
O
M
M
I
S
S
I
O
N
E
R
The Atlantic
Beach City
Commission and
Administration
have completed
two evenings
of annual strategic planning. The
following projects are already in
process and so they were determined
to be of “highest priority.”
District Representation: A committee
of Atlantic Beach citizens has been
studying the issue of whether the
Commissioners and Mayor should
continue to be elected at large or by
district. The committee will report to
the Commission by the end of June.
The Commission will then decide
whether a referendum should be
placed on the ballot this fall.
Selva Marina Country Club land
use change: This is a lengthy process
involving both the Community
Development Board and the
Commission in response to a
request by SMCC, to change the
designation of 27 acres of its land,
in both the Comprehensive Plan
and Zoning Codes.
Hopkins Creek Retention Pond: This
project, currently in the design stage,
will dramatically reduce flooding in
Aquatic Gardens and other near by
neighborhoods.
Sanitation/Garbage Collection:
A new contract will provide
semiautomatic pick up for trash
and same day pickup for trash,
recyclables, and yard waste.
Mayport Road Medians: The project,
due to begin this summer, may be
city of atlantic beach newsletter
MINIMIZE YOUR RISK OF IDENTITY THEFT
(continued on back)
1.PROTECT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBER:Don’t carry your Social
Security card in your wallet or write your
Social Security number on a check. Give
your Social Security number only when
absolutely necessary.
2.TREAT YOUR TRASH AND MAIL
CAREFULLY:To thwart an identity thief
who may pick through trash to capture
your personal information, always shred
your charge receipts, copies of credit
applications, insurance forms, physician
statements, checks and bank statements.
3.BE ON GUARD WHEN USING THE
INTERNET:The internet can give you
access to information,entertainment,finan-
cial offers and countless other services,but
at the same time it can leave you vulnerable
to online scammers,identity thieves and
more. Visit www.OnGuardOnline.gov for
information on protecting yourself online.
4.SELECT INTRICATE PASSWORDS:
Place passwords on credit card,bank and
phone accounts.Avoid using easily available
information like your mother’s maiden
name,your birth date,the last four digits of
your social Security number or your phone
number,or a series of consecutive numbers.
5.VERIFY A SOURCE BEFORE SHARING
INFORMATION:Don’t give out personal
information on the phone,through the mail,
or on the internet unless you’ve initiated the
contact or are sure who you are dealing with.
Identity thieves are clever and will pose as
representatives of banks,internet service
providers and even government agencies to
get people to reveal their Social Security
number,or other identifying information.
6. SAFEGUARD YOUR PURSE AND
WALLET:Don’t carry your Social Security
card,leave it in a secure place.Carry only
the identification information,credit and
debit cards that you’ll actually need while
you are out.
7. STORE INFORMATION IN SECURE
LOCATIONS:Keep all personal informa-
tion in a secure place at home,especially if
you have roommates,employ outside help
or are having work done in your home.A
locked safe is best.
For further information on identity theft,visit
www.ftc.gov or contact Officer Tiffany Layson
at the Atlantic Beach Police Department at
(904) 247-5859.
April is usually the driest month of the year in Florida.That’s why April has been designated as
Water Conservation Month by the Governor and Cabinet since 1998 in coordination with the
American Water Works Association.This tradition helps to raise the awareness of how impor-
tant it is to conserve our water resources.
The City of Atlantic Beach is calling upon each citizen and business to help protect our
precious resource by practicing water saving measures and becoming more aware of the
need to save water.
Remember – water your lawns no more than 2 days per week,before 10 a.m.or after 4 p.m.
For more information on water conservation,go to www.floridaswater.com.
APRIL IS WATER CONSERVATION MONTH
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
F
R
O
M
T
H
E
C
O
M
M
I
S
S
I
O
N
E
R
delayed a few months so the State
can increase funding to cover
increases in the cost of asphalt.
Environmental Standards for
wastewater:The State Department
of Environmental Protection will
issue new standards for wastewater
released into the St. Johns River,
requiring expensive upgrades to
our wastewater treatment plants.
Royal Palms Subdivision: Plans to
upgrade and replace the water, sewer,
and storm water infrastructure and
repave roads.
Legislative Priorities: Identify State
legislative issues that might impact
Atlantic Beach (such as changes in
property taxes) and seek the best
possible legislation for our citizens.
SKATEPARKCOMPETITION
The City of Atlantic Beach’s 2nd
Annual Skateboard Competition will
be held Saturday, May 5 at 10 a.m.
at the Oceanside Rotary Skate Park.
This event is a judged bowl compe-
tition with cash prizes, trophies and
other free giveaways. The divisions
will be 8 and under, 9-12, 13-15, 16
and up, Girls, and Open Pro.
ARTINTHEPARKS
The City of Atlantic Beach’s 4th
Annual Arts in the Park festival will be
held Saturday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. in Johansen Park. The event
will provide a venue for our local
artists to exhibit, teach and sell their
beautiful works in an elegant natural
setting. This will be a family event
with a picnic-style atmosphere
featuring works of art, music and
dance. Everyone is welcomed to
pack a picnic lunch, invite family and
friends, and come out to enjoy the day.
Apr 5 *Songwriter's Concert | 6 - 8 p.m.
Apr 7 Easter Egg Hunt in Jordan Park |
11:00 a.m.
Apr 9 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
Apr 11 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg|7p.m.
Apr 12 Board Member Review Committee
Mtg | 5 p.m.
Apr 12 District Representation Study
Committee Mtg | 7 - 9 p.m.
Apr 14 “Wild Wonders”Program – Tideviews
Preserve | 11 a.m.– Noon
Apr 17 Community Development Board
Mtg | 7 p.m.
Apr 21 Tour de Parks – Atlantic Beach Parks
Apr 23 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
Apr 24 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Mtg | 7 p.m.
Apr 25 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg|7 p.m.
Apr 28 “Wild Wonders”Program – Dutton
Island Preserve | 11 a.m.– Noon
Apr 29 *Acoustics Night at Bull Memorial
Park | 4 – 6 p.m.
Apr 30 District Representation Study
Committee Mtg | 7 - 9 p.m.
(continued from front)
www.coab.us •(904) 247-5800
APRIL 2007
May 5 Annual Bowl Bash at Oceanside
Rotary Skatepark | 10 a.m.
May 6 *Songwriter’s Concert | 6 - 8 p.m.
May 8 Code Enforcement Board Mtg| 7 p.m.
May 9 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg| 7 p.m.
May 10 Board Member Review Committee
Mtg | 5 p.m.
May 10 Pension Board of Trustees Mtg| 6 p.m.
May 12 “Wild Wonders”Program – Tideviews
Preserve | 11 a.m.– Noon
May 14 City Commission Meeting | 7:15 p.m.
May 15 Community Development Board
Mtg | 7 p.m.
May 19 Dancin’in the Streets at the Town
Center
May 20 *Acoustics Night at Bull Memorial
Park | 4 – 6 p.m.
May 22 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Mtg | 7 p.m.
May 23 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg| 7 p.m.
May 28 Memorial Day Observed – City Hall
Offices Closed
May 29 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
May 26 “Wild Wonders”Program – Dutton
Island Preserve | 11 a.m.– Noon
MAY 2007
Sylvia Simmons
Commissioner
SANITATION CHANGES COMING IN JUNE
Starting on June 1, residential garbage col-
lection will begin using covered rolling con-
tainers,called toters,for household garbage.
The City’s contractor,Waste Services,will pro-
vide new garbage and recycling containers at
no cost to residents.The toters are required
because the method of residential collection
will change from manual to semi-automated,
where the actual lifting and dumping of the
garbage container is done by machine.
This system will make our community look
better by reducing the amount of garbage
spilled or blown out of containers and by elim-
inating the assortment of cans and bags cur-
rently used.As part of the change in service,
all types of refuse will be collected on the
same day of the week further reducing clutter
in neighborhoods.
All homes will automatically receive a 96-gal-
lon toter,unless the resident requests a smaller
container (64-gallon) by contacting Public
Works at (904) 247-5834.A toter of each size,
preloaded with 50 pounds of weight,may be
taken for a test drive at City Hall.
SERVICE
• Residential garbage will be collected once
per week
• Same day collections:The City will be divid-
ed into 5 zones.One zone will be collected
each day from Monday through Friday.
Residents will be notified of which day of the
week their refuse will be collected before the
new service starts.
• Garbage containers:new 96-gallon toters to
be provided by hauler
• Recycling containers:two new 18-gallon
containers to be provided by the hauler;one
for plastics,cans and bottles and the other for
paper and cardboard
RATES
• The new residential rate for garbage,recy-
cling and yard trash pick-up will be $17.10
per month.