August 2007.pdfVOL.3 NO.8AUGUST 2007
The City
Commission and
staff have spent
quite a lot of time
in meetings and
correspondence
related to the Moody property in
Jacksonville. Located across the
intercoastal waterway from Atlantic
Beach, the purposed density and
height of the buildings on this
property have raised concerns
over compatibility. Another interest
is a safety issue over the amount of
vehicles that will enter or exit onto
Atlantic Blvd. at the west end of the
bridge. These may cause congestion
not only during normal traffic times,
BUT PARTICULARLY when it comes
to hurricane evacuation. This devel-
opment request has not received
final approvals at this time.
A WARNING TO US ALL: Be wary
of the solution purposed by the
Florida Legislature to solve the
imbalance of property taxes that
has developed since the 3% cap
was established several years ago.
We do not yet know the impact on
our City in preparation of the 2008
Budget. In my opinion, the
Legislature failed to address the
c i t y o f a t l a n t i c b e a c h n e w s l e t t e r
H O W TO PA R T I C I P ATE IN WORLD WATER MONITORING DAY
(continued on back)
World Water Monitoring Day is an international outreach program intended to raise awareness
about protecting water resources around the world.
Each year from September 18 through October 18,citizens can help monitor the condition of
local streams,lakes,rivers,estuaries and other water bodies.Since the prog ram began in 2002,
over 80,000 people in 50 countries have par ticipated.
It’s easy to get involved! Just visit the website www.worldwatermonitoringday.org,register the
location you wish to monitor and purchase a test kit ($20).The test kit has everything you need
to measure four “snapshot”parameters that indicate water condition:temperature,turbidity,
d i s s o l v ed oxygen and pH.The kits include enough labwa re and reagents to conduct up to 50 tests.
Perform your testing any time between September 18 to October 18,and enter your data in the
inter national online database by December 18.Your results will be part of a global snapshot of
the world’s water quality.
Remember,water your lawn no more than two days per week,before 10 a.m.
and after 4 p.m.For information on the best ways to conserve water go to
www.floridaswater.com.
Now is the time to make sure your voter
registration is up to date and correct.Please
do not leave it to the last minute as the
registration books will close on September 4,
and you will not be able to make any changes
during the closed period.You may request a
duplicate voter’s registration card by calling
(904) 630-1414.
Voter registration applications are available at
City Hall,any public library,driver’s license
offices,state agencies that provide public
assistance,and many other public locations.
For more information or to obtain an online
application,please visit the Duval County
Super visor of Elections’website at
www.duvalelections.com.
CITY ELECTION — OCTOBER 2,2 0 0 7
Two Commission seats and the Mayor/Commissioner seat will be up for election on October 2.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE
ANNUAL CAMPOUT UNDER THE STARS
The City’s Annual Campout Under the Stars and Family Fun Day is scheduled for October 6
and 7 at Jack Russell Park.This year’s event will feature magic shows,face painting,juggling,
educational animal shows,a petting zoo and much more.All the activities are free.For anyone
wishing to campout,the cost of each campsite is $10 and registration begins August 1 at the
Adele Grage Cultural Center.For more information,call the Parks and Recreation Department
at (904) 247-5828.
AugNewsletter_fnl.qxp 7/13/07 9:06 AM Page 1
c i t y o f a t l a n t i c b e a c h n e w s l e t t e r
C A L E N D A R
Meetings are held in the Commission Chambers unless otherwise indicat e d .
* 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.
Don al d Wo lfs o n
M A Y O R
J a mi e Fl e tc he r
C O M M I S S I O N E R
J. Dezmond Waters, III
M A Y O R P R O T E M
Syl v ia Si mmon s
C O M M I S S I O N E R
Mik e B orno
C O M M I S S I O N E R
Jim H a ns on
C I T Y M A N A G E R
A la n J en s e n
C I T Y A T T O R N E Y
Donn a Bus s e y
C I T Y C L E R K
C I T Y O F F I C I A L S
problem of imbalance they caused
in years past, and are now trying
to convince us that they will solve
the problem by giving all of us (not
just the persons or business most
effected by the imbalance) property
tax relief. And we may suffer the
result of this legislation not only this
year. If the public fails to understand
the future impact of the proposed
referendum on being able to
generate sufficient budget funds
to operate our cities and passes
the referendum, it will be Katie,
bar the door. The resulting cuts will
force every city in Florida to reduce
basic services. It has been stated
by persons knowledgeable in these
fiscal matters that in the near future
and for a long time, the increase
in other taxes and service fees,
coupled with the cost to each of
us in loss of services, will far
outweigh the proposed reduction
in property taxes.
So citizens of Atlantic Beach, be
aware, pay attention and REALLY
research and understand what is
being proposed in the referendum.
Be prepared to vote to protect your
C i t y’s ability to provide future services
to support its citizens.
Mike Borno
Commissioner
Aug 8 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg |
7 p.m.
Aug 9 Board Member Review Committee
Mtg | 5 p.m.
Aug 9 Pension Board of Trustees Mtg |
6 p.m.
Aug 13 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
Aug 21 Community Development Board
Mtg | 7 p.m.
Aug 22 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg |
7 p.m.
Aug 27 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
Aug 28 *Cultural Arts & Recreation
Advisory Committee Mtg | 7 p.m.
(continued from front)
w w w. c o a b.u s •(904) 247-5800
AUGUST 2007
Sep 3 Labor Day Holiday - City Offices
Closed
Sep 10 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
Sep 11 Code Enforcement Board Mtg | 7 p. m .
Sep 12 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg |
7 p.m.
Sep 13 Board Member Review Committee
Mtg | 5 p.m.
Sep 18 Community Development Board
Mtg | 7 p.m.
Sep 24 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
Sep 25 *Cultural Arts & Recreation
Advisory Committee Mtg | 7 p.m.
Sep 26 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg |
7 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 2007
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles (DHSMV) has created a new online
system that allows Floridians to voluntarily
provide the name,address and phone number
of two emergency contacts for use by law
enforcement in case of an emergency.We
encourage anyone with a valid Florida driver’s
license or identification card to go to
www.hsmv.state.fl.us and enter this vital
infor mation.The secure information will
then be immediately available only to law
enforcement officials.To date,more than
515,000 Flor idians have taken advantage
of this system and input their emergency
contact infor mation.
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION NEEDED
A new online system that allows parents
to check the driving records of their minor
children is now available.Parents can go to
the DHSMV website at www.hsmv.state.fl.us
and enter their child’s license number,the last
four digits of their social security number and
their date of birth to view the record.
Officer Paul Diakos was recently named Employee of the Quarter for the Second Quarter of
2007.He has been assigned to the Public Safety Department since September 2003.Officer
Diakos’professional attitude and exemplary performance in the last three months will have a
positive impact on the safety of our community as well as benefit the citizens of other cities.
PARENTS AND TEEN DRIVER RECORDS
E M P L O YEE OF THE QUART E R
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