December 2008.pdfVOL.4 NO.12DECEMBER 2008
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Good news for drivers
on Mayport Road. The
resurfacing and median
construction should be
completed about the
time you receive this
version of Tideviews. All in all, the project
went well, being completed on time and on
budget. We’d like to be able to say that we
are at the end of dealing with construction
traffic delays on the road, but a second
round of construction will be occurring:
the replacement of all traffic signals to
new hurricane proof poles. While it should
not take an excessive amount of time, it
will involve some delays. We will put out
information on the schedule as it becomes
available. We have had several people note
the attractiveness of the palm trees and
plantings in the medians, and hope that they
will help slow traffic down on the roadway.
We will be pursuing another traffic study
following the light pole installations in the
hopes of getting the speed limit reduced to
some degree. A word to the wise, every
driver on Mayport Road can expect to see
additional traffic enforcement!
As we come towards the end of 2008, the
Commission would like to take the opportu-
nity to wish everyone Happy Holidays and
a healthy and happy 2009.
city of atlantic beach newsletter
John Meserve
Mayor
HAVE A GREEN HOLIDAY SEASON
During the harried holiday season, take some time to reflect on what’s truly important in our
lives. Resolve to have a sustainable future by making conscious choices to avoid waste.
Here are some green gift ideas from www.greenlivingideas.com:
• Consumable gifts in reusable containers, such as food baskets.
• Low-flow showerheads, programmable thermostats, energy saving light bulbs that conserve
resources and reduce utility costs all year.
• Gifts that require no wrapping but provide precious memories, such as theater tickets or
membership to a museum.
• Gifts of time or thoughtfulness.Write a family history or put together a photo album.
Provide a free evening of babysitting for friends who are new parents.
Let’s start a great New Year with the goal to reduce excess and wastefulness in all areas of our lives.
Remember – Irrigate your landscape no more than 2 days per week, before 10 a.m. or after 4
p.m. For some great water conservation ideas and fun games go to www.wateruseitwisely.com.
The Atlantic Beach Police Department is constantly striving for new and innovative ways to
improve services for our customers. Information sharing is one way to involve the community
more by raising awareness of crime trends and quality of life issues. CrimeReports.com is a web-
based software service that provides law enforcement agencies with an easy to use system for
sharing crime data with the public.
CrimeReports.com will enhance the level of service to our citizens.Atlantic Beach is on the cutting
edge and one of the first agencies in the State of Florida to provide this access to their community
members.In near real time,community members can obtain crime data in their neighborhood or
anywhere in the City.The data is presented in a user-friendly and easy to read map of the City.
The police department electronically transmits data to the vendor every 24 hours for uploading to the
crime map.Citizens may search for specific types of crimes and for certain periods of time by going to
www.Crime Reports.com.The site may also be accessed through the City of Atlantic Beach website at
www.coab.us.Information about registered sexual offenders with photographs is also available on the
site.Interested parties may register and receive crime alerts based upon criteria they select such as
location,distance and crime type.They can elect to receive these alerts daily,weekly or monthly.
ATLANTIC BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
ENHANCES SERVICE FOR CITIZENS
HOLIDAY HOURS FOR CITY OFFICES
City offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 25 for the
Christmas holiday. City offices will be open for business on Friday, December 26.
CAB_DEC08_form.qxp 11/14/08 3:54 PM Page 1
city of atlantic beach newsletter
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.
John Meserve
MAYOR
John Fletcher
COMMISSIONER
Mike Borno
MAYOR PRO TEM
Paul Parsons
COMMISSIONER
Carolyn Woods
COMMISSIONER
Jim Hanson
CITY MANAGER
Alan Jensen
CITY ATTORNEY
Donna L. Bartle
CITY CLERK
CITY OFFICIALS
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www.coab.us •(904) 247-5800
CALENDAR
DECEMBER 2008 JANUARY 2009
Dec 8 City Commission Mtg | 6 p.m.
Dec 10 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
Dec 16 Community Development Board Mtg |
6 p.m.
Dec 23 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Mtg | 7 p.m.
Dec 24 City Offices Closed | Christmas Holiday
& 25
Jan 1 City Offices Closed
Jan 12 City Commission Mtg | 6 p.m.
Jan 14 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
Jan 19 City Offices Closed (MLK Day)
Jan 20 Community Development Board Mtg |
6 p.m.
Jan 26 City Commission Mtg | 6 p.m.
Jan 27 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Mtg | 7 p.m.
Jan 28 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 pm
SPECIAL EVENTS
Secret Santa Toy Drive
December 1 to 18
Light up a child's face and heart! To help make a child’s
holiday season brighter, please drop off new unwrapped
toys at the Atlantic Beach Fire Station, 850 Seminole
Rd., or the Donner Park Community Center before
December 18. Gifts will be distributed at a children’s
party, December 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Donner Park
Community Center. Toys benefit our children in the
Beaches area. The City will also gladly accept donations
of wrapping paper, ribbon and tape. For more information,
contact Gail Baker, Recreation Coordinator at 247-5851.
Be an Angel Wishing Tree
Adele Grage Cultural Center
December 1 to 18
Be an angel and gift a child with a holiday present. Visit
the Adele Grage Cultural Center and select a child from
our tree and make this holiday “something special” for
a child in our community. Please return wrapped gifts
to the Center no later than December 18. For more
information contact the Recreation and Special Events
Office at 247-5828.
Annual Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting
Beaches Town Center
Saturday, December 6 — 3 to 8 p.m.
Fun for the whole family! The Beaches Town Center will
kick off the holiday season with the annual holiday cele-
bration and tree lighting on Saturday, December 6. The
festivities will begin at 3 p.m. with a holiday bike parade
through the Town Center and many activities to keep the
little ones busy including music, dance performances, face
painting, arts and crafts, hayrides and train rides. The
Mayors of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach will light the
community tree and Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by
sleigh at 6 p.m. Bring your canned goods for the annual
USO food drive. The City of Atlantic Beach, The City of
Neptune Beach, The Sea Horse Oceanfront Hotel, Town
Center Agency, Publix and The Beaches Town Center
Merchants Association sponsor this annual event.
Holiday Sing-along
Bull Park
Saturday, December 13 — 6 to 8 p.m.
Songs of the season, Florida “snow” and a visit from
Santa will once again take place at Atlantic Beach’s annual
Holiday Sing-along at Bull Park. Parents, children and com-
munity members of all ages are invited to join us for an
evening of karaoke-style caroling, refreshments, and fun!
ABET Presents Sanders Family Christmas
Adele Grage Cultural Center
December 5 -20
Sequel to the popular hit “Smoke on the Mountain,” the
Sanders family keeps the audience laughing, clapping and
singing along with over two dozen Christmas favorites. A
richly entertaining, wildly infectious musical, refreshments,
and fun!
Did you know that there is a program designed to help less fortunate citizens of our City? The program
is called “Atlantic Beach Cares.” The program allows you to authorize the City to add $1, $2, $5 or
more to your monthly utility bill which would be used to help those who are having difficulty paying
their utility bill because of their economic situation.The City of Atlantic Beach and the Catholic Charities
Bureau,Inc.administer the program.If you wish to participate in this worthwhile program please fill out
the authorization form below and return it to City Hall,800 Seminole Road,Atlantic Beach,FL 32233.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Joyce Lanier at 247-5816.
ATLANTIC BEACH CARES PROGRAM
Atlantic Beach Cares Program
YES, I want to help my neighbor. I hereby authorize the City of Atlantic Beach to add the
authorized amount indicated below to my monthly utility bill.This donation will remain in
effect until I notify the City of Atlantic Beach that I no longer wish to participate.
Water Account # _____________________________________________________
Name (please print) ___________________________________________________
Service Address ______________________________________________________
City __________________ State ____ Zip _________ Phone ________________
Amount of gift: ___$1 ___$2 ___$5 other $_________
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
The City of Atlantic Beach participates in the Insurance Services Office (ISO) Floodplain
Management Program which allows discounts for flood insurance to Atlantic Beach residential and
commercial property owners.This program rates the City on its flood control systems and
construction of structures in the floodplains.The City currently has a rating of 8, which gives
property owners in Special Flood Hazard Areas a 15 percent discount on their flood insurance.
The program includes such activities as outreach programs, preserving open space within the
floodplain, providing floodplain map information to citizens, enforcing current building code and
storm water management regulations and maintaining the City drainage systems. For additional
information, contact us at (904) 247-5826 or stop by the Building Department in City Hall.
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