September 2007.pdfVOL.3 NO.9SEPTEMBER 2007
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School is back in
session — as you
drive throughout
our neighborhoods
please be mindful
and careful of our
precious children as they are excitedly
returning to school from their summer
vacations!
Opposition has been expressed vocally
by a few outspoken individuals regard-
ing district representation. The October
election will provide City of Atlantic
Beach voters with the opportunity to
decide as to the form of government
representation best suited for our city.
Your City Commission carefully selected
each member of a blue ribbon commit-
tee consisting of citizens from all cross
sections of our community — socially,
economically, politically, geographically
and age — to come forth with a recom-
mendation for the Commission.
“Well heeled” leadership from a very
small, socio-economic group is a
concern that resonates loud and clear.
When the “good” for all is decided by
the will of a few at the expense of the
majority, it is important for the majority
to step forth and make its own decision,
whatever the result may be. I look
forward to our citizens deciding for
yourselves as to the form of representa-
tion you so desire. Those of you who
wish to be heard can do so by turning
city of atlantic beach newsletter
CITY ELECTIONS
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Primary Election - October 2, 2007
General Election (if run-off required) -
October 16, 2007
OFFICES UP FOR ELECTION:
Seat 1 – Mayor (2-year term)
Seat 2 – City Commissioner (4-year term)
Seat 3 – City Commissioner (4-year term)
QUALIFYING DATES
Qualification of candidates will begin at noon
September 11 and end at noon September 18,
2007. However, candidates may open a bank
account and begin campaigning earlier if they wish.
For more information, contact City Clerk
Donna Bussey by phone at 247-5809 or by
email at dbussey@coab.us.
CHANGES TO ABSENTEE BALLOT
PROCEDURES
If you desire an absentee ballot, please call the
Duval County Supervisor of Election’s Office at
(904) 630-1414 or visit www.duvalelections.com
to put in a request. Absentee ballots can be
requested until 5:00 pm on September 26, 2007.
Please note: You can no longer obtain
absentee ballots through the City Clerk’s
Office and no longer return absentee
ballots to the City Clerk’s Office.
The City Code does not limit the number of election signs placed on private property to
announce or advertise a candidate. Signs cannot be larger than four square feet in size. They must
be placed wholly on your property and not on city right-of-ways, medians, trees or utility poles.
You are also reminded that election signs must be removed 72 hours after the election. Florida
Statute 102.031 specifies that no signs or solicitors are permitted within one-hundred (100) feet
of the entrance to a polling place on the day of election, unless solicitation is conducted in a
separate marked area so as not to disturb, impede, obstruct, or interfere with voter access.
ELECTION SIGNS
SANITATION UPDATE
Smaller toters – Due to a larger demand for
the smaller toters than anticipated, we currently
have no 64-gallon toters available for swaps. WSI
has placed additional toters on order, but they
will take approximately six weeks to arrive.
Residents may still call and be placed on the wait
list for the smaller toters. One free toter change
out is permitted per residence if a different size
toter is desired (for example, a 96-gallon toter is
too large and a 64-gallon toter is desired).
Additional toter size changes will cost the resi-
dent a one-time fee of $25.00.
Recycling – Residents of Atlantic Beach
increased their recycling rate for the months of
June and July by over 20% from the monthly
average for the previous year. Residents recycled
117 tons of waste in June and 126 tons in July,
compared to a monthly average of 94 tons and a
previous best of 110 tons. The Environmental
Protection Agency has a goal of diverting at least
25 percent of the solid waste stream from landfills.
By diverting both green waste and recycling, on
average so far in 2007, 24 percent of Atlantic
Beach’s residential waste has not gone to the landfill.
Toter Cleanliness – Based on comments and
recommendations from residents, the City has
directed WSI to return to leaving toter lids open
after dumping. This was initially changed to being
left closed because of concerns for rainwater in
the open containers, but we feel the containers
will remain cleaner and retain less odor if left
open to air out. Residents are strongly encour-
aged to bag all garbage in tightly closed plastic
bags prior to placing it in the toters.
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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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out at the polls to express yourselves in
October. Each citizen is entitled to equal
and fair representation with each vote
counting equally.
Your Commission has worked diligently
and responsibly to pass a budget that
will minimize an adverse impact upon
the services required to provide our
citizens with the continuity of the quality
of life with which you have become
accustomed. I am pleased that your
Commission has had the opportunity
to carefully scrutinize our budget under
the mandate as set forth by our state
legislative leadership. Reducing and
eliminating waste of our taxpayers’
precious dollars is always prudent.
In closing, I am thrilled to welcome to
our community the proposed opening of
One Ocean (formerly The Sea Turtle Inn)
scheduled for completion in January
2008. We are truly fortunate to become
the home to the ONLY ultra-luxury
oceanfront resort and spa in all of Duval
county. I must commend the vision of
this Commission as this addition will
certainly enhance the future expansion
of our business district in Town Center
and hopefully fuel the growth of new
business development westward along
our Atlantic Blvd. corridor.
Wishing you the best always,
Donald M. Wolfson
Mayor
Sep 3 Labor Day Holiday - City Offices
Closed
Sep 9 *Songwriter’s Workshop | 6 - 8 p.m.
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 16 Acoustic Night - Bull Park | 6 - 8 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.
(continued from front)
www.coab.us •(904) 247-5800
SEPTEMBER 2007
Oct 6 & 7Annual Fun Day/Campout at Jack
Russell Park
Oct 8 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
Oct 10 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg |
7 p.m.
Oct 11 Board Member Review Committee
Mtg | 5 p.m.
Oct 16 Community Development Board
Mtg | 7 p.m.
Oct 22 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
Oct 23 *Cultural Arts & Recreation
Advisory Committee Mtg | 7 p.m.
Oct 24 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg |
7 p.m.
OCTOBER 2007
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, juggling, face painting,
educational animal shows, a petting zoo and much more. All the activities are free. For anyone
wishing to camp out, the cost of each campsite is $10 and you can register at the Adele Grage
Cultural Center. For more information call the Parks and Recreation Department at 247-5828.
ANNUAL CAMPOUT UNDER THE STARS
Rising prices for gas and parking, coupled with
increasing traffic congestion, have made the
commute to work an even more daunting
challenge. The First Coast Metropolitan
Planning Organization (First Coast MPO) has
a Commuter Services car and vanpool program
in five counties that make getting to and from
the job easier and very cost effective. Here’s
how it works. Carpools are for two to four
people who share a general trip route and work
schedule. You take turns driving your own cars
or a single driver can be reimbursed for trips.
The program can help you find fellow riders
through a rideshare matching service. A van-
pool is a group of commuters (usually 7-15)
who ride to and from work in either an
employer or employee-sponsored van, available
through a national leader in vanpool programs.
The First Coast Commuter Services offers a
turnkey program including the vans, maintenance,
insurance, rider matching and employee
communications materials. For both carpools
or vanpools, participants qualify for the
Emergency Ride Home program so if an
emergency arises and you need to get home
quickly, a taxi ride will be provided. For anyone
interested in learning more about the ease
and savings of car and vanpools, please access
www.cooltopool.com or telephone
904-306-7500.
FIRST COAST COMMUTER SERVICES —
MAKING IT EASIER TO GET TO WORK
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