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June 2007.pdfVOL.3 NO.6JUNE 2007 F R O M T H E M A Y O R School is out and summer is here. Where has the time gone? Many of you are about to leave for a well deserved summer vacation while others will enjoy the lazy summer months at home. Please be cognizant of your well-being, that of your family and those that you may come across. Your elected officials are carefully following the tax reform debates in Tallahassee. Compromise will forge the outcome of the referendum that will be put to a vote statewide. Budgets of all municipalities will be affected. I have discussed this in great depth with our City Manager and we are prepared to explain to you, to the best of our ability, the pros and cons as to the compromise bill that we will have the opportunity to vote upon this fall. It is imperative that we understand in the clearest of terms what this vote will mean to each of us personally and to our municipality collectively. I am pleased to report that I have requested and received from the U.S. Navy their support of our efforts to retain ferry service crossing the St. Johns River at Mayport. It is my intention to request through the City of Jacksonville, as our county representative, that the state of Florida permanently fund future financial shortfalls in order to maintain Florida Highway A1A. Your commissioners have joined me in our effort to request that the Moody shipyard site be developed in such a fashion so as not to minimize the adverse impact upon traffic patterns at the western foot of the intracoastal bridge at the point of ingress and egress for this development during peak times of travel, as well as during hurricane evacuations. While the LUZ city of atlantic beach newsletter 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS (continued on back) For the 4th of July celebration each year,the City of Atlantic Beach co-sponsors the public fireworks display in Jacksonville Beach.This display is designed and operated by professionals who are able to minimize the danger of injuries and/or fires resulting from the fireworks.Each year,many of our residents take lawn chairs to the beach and enjoy the show from Atlantic Beach. Each year more than 10,000 people are taken to emergency rooms as a result of personal firework injuries.The injured people are disproportionately under the age of 15 and a significant number of these injuries result in permanent blindness.Additionally,more than 20,000 fires are reported to fire departments as a result of 4th of July celebrations. Considering the recent drought conditions and the wildfires in our region,the City of Atlantic Beach strongly discourages the possession and/or use of personal fireworks and reminds residents that fireworks that explode and/or fly are prohibited by state law and local ordinance.Plus,the resulting smoke obscures the view of the public fireworks display on the beach. Following a storm, it is essential that the City’s drainage system work in order to minimize flooding. Never place trees, limbs, and other debris in the roadway,along curbs or in medians. Our streets are actually part of the City’s engineered stormwater system.This type of debris placed or left in the streets will act as a dam and can quickly result in widespread flooding. Debris placed in the street could also interfere with or prohibit emergency response vehicles from reaching a call. Such storm debris should be placed next to the roadway, well clear of any interference with the street. Also, be aware that yard debris can never be placed on vacant lots, in parks, street medians or on any unpaved streets. Placing debris in these areas could create a safety hazard and is likely to result in a fine to the property owner. HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS JUNE 1 If a tree or large limbs fall on your property, please ensure that any contractor you hire to remove the tree is properly licensed to do this type of work, and most importantly, verify that the company or individual has insurance coverage, including liability insurance, in case his actions cause additional damage to your home. He must also have Workmen’s Compensation Insurance. Otherwise, you could be liable if one of his workers is injured while working on your property. Unfortunately,big storms provide opportunities for unscrupulous persons claiming to be qualified to remove and dispose of storm debris.There are numerous qualified tree removal companies in the area, and all will gladly supply their credentials upon request. If you have large trees in your yard, it might be wise to contact some of these companies as part of your hurricane preparation planning. Be aware that it is the responsibility of any tree-trimming contractor, lawn service provider or other contractor to remove and properly dispose of trees and debris.These private contractors are not allowed to place debris along city streets to later be removed by the City. Should we have such a storm, the City’s Public Works Department will have a large task in clearing public streets so that emergency vehicles can reach properties and residents can safely return to their homes. Tree removal companies cannot be allowed to delay or make this process more difficult. Post Storm Green Waste and Debris Pickup Use Caution with Contractors Removing Fallen Trees and Storm Debris 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 M A Y O R Committee has been non-supportive of our position, we have requested that Mayor Peyton intercede in order that we not be placed at the mercy of excessive traffic congestion at this juncture. Furthermore, your commission has vigilantly opposed the removal of the Atlantic Blvd./Kernan Rd. inter- change overpass that was ratified in the Better Jacksonville Plan. It is essential that the proposed overpass be constructed so beach citizens and Jacksonville citizens living east of this intersection have minimal traffic obstruction during peak traffic times and mandated hurricane evacuations. In closing, I extend to former Commissioner Rick Beaver and his family our heartfelt sympathy for the loss of Rick’s lovely wife, Fran. Our city lost one of our finest ladies and we are all blessed for having known Fran for all these years. She has left a beautiful legacy for her family and for our city. HURRICANE PLANS AND REENTRY PASSES The City of Jacksonville website (www.coj.net) provides detailed recommendations for planning before, during, and after a hurricane on their Fire and Rescue Department’s Emergency Preparedness page, under the word “hurricanes.” The City of Atlantic Beach website (www.coab.us) also contains links to hurricane evacuation information on the Police and Safety main page. Hurricane Reentry passes have been distributed to Atlantic Beach residents during the past several years, and those passes continue to be valid. However, if someone is new to the City of Atlantic Beach or they have misplaced their Hurricane Reentry pass, then additional passes are available from City Hall and/or the Atlantic Beach Police Department, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jun 10 *Songwriter's Concert | 6 - 8 p.m. Jun 11 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m. Jun 13 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg| 7 p.m. Jun 14 Board Member Review Committee Mtg | 5 p.m. Jun 18 District Representation Study Committee Mtg | 7 p.m. Jun 19 Community Development Board Mtg | 7 p.m. Jun 24 *Acoustics Night at Bull Memorial Park | 6 - 8 p.m. Jun 25 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m. Jun 26 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory Committee Mtg | 7 p.m. Jun 27 District Representation Study Committee Mtg | 7 p.m. Jun 27 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg| 7 p.m. (continued from front) www.coab.us •(904) 247-5800 JUNE 2007 Jul 4 Independence Day - City Offices Closed Jul 8 *Songwriter’s Concert | 6 - 8 p.m. Jul 9 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m. Jul 10 Code Enforcement Board Mtg | 7 p.m. Jul 11 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m. Jul 12 Board Member Review Committee Mtg | 5 p.m. Jul 17 Community Development Board Mtg | 7 p.m. Jul 22 *Acoustics Night at Bull Memorial Park | 6 - 8 p.m. Jul 23 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m. Jul 24 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory Committee Mtg | 7 p.m. Jul 25 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg| 7 p.m. JULY 2007 Donald M. Wolfson Mayor The City of Atlantic Beach has recently begun using an emergency telephone notification system called FirstCall Interactive Network.This system is used to notify citizens of emergencies (missing children, active police emergencies, etc.), potential hazards (hurricane evacuations), or vital public interest notifications (crime alerts, boil-water alerts, etc.). Primary telephone numbers of residents and businesses in Atlantic Beach are included in the FirstCall database.Additional telephone numbers such as cell, work, and unlisted numbers can be registered directly by citizens through the FirstCall website.These phone numbers are not subject to public disclosure. For more information,call Officer Tiffany Layson at (904) 247-5859. FIRSTCALL INTERACTIVE NETWORK: QUICK NOTIFICATIONS FOR BEACHES RESIDENTS For people who wish to register cell, work, or unlisted telephone numbers through the FirstCall website, follow the directions below: 1.Go to www.firstcall.net. 2.Click on “Unlisted Number Registration” 3.Enter your name,address,city,state,zip, and alternate telephone number. 4.Click on submit.(There is a clause that states,“FirstCall will never use private information for solicitation purposes or sell information to any third parties.”) For people who do not have Internet service or prefer to register additional telephone numbers by phone,follow the directions below: 1.Call FirstCall’s toll-free registration line at (866) 484-3264. 2.Enter your name,address,city,state,zip,and alternate telephone number.A separate call must be made for each additional number. 3.The system will provide a call back confirming the registration.