July 2008.pdfVOL.4 NO.7JULY 2008
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The City of Atlantic
Beach has the last major
drainage project, the
“Hopkins Creek Drainage
and Retention Pond”,
nearing completion.
Located next to Sunshine
Church on Aquatic Drive, the storm water
retention and treatment facility is a series of
drainage lines, swales and culverts. The new
drainage retention pond is designed to rid the
Aquatic Drive subdivision of flooding during
almost every significant rainstorm. With this
project completed, Atlantic Beach will have
solved all major water treatment and drainage
issues that have plagued the city forever.
While there are still a few “ponding” issues at
various locations, we will continue to locate
and solve those problems. Congratulations go
to Rick Carper and his Public Works
Department who have overseen this project to
ensure it remained on budget and reduced the
impact on the neighborhood as much as
possible. Within the next weeks the
Commission will commence the budgeting
process for 2009. As was the case last year
we will be faced with many challenges, not
the least are new laws created in Tallahassee
that restrict our ability to control our financial
future. As always we will carefully consider
creative thinking and deal from a fiscally
frugal position. I do not believe that we will
significantly change our position on the
basics; public safety through a strong and
professional police and fire service,
maintenance of basic infrastructures so we
don’t role back essential maintenance of our
streets and utilities, and will continue to run
those utilities in a professional and user
friendly manner.
city of atlantic beach newsletter
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
Prepare a disaster kit for your home:Stock up on non-perishable food and water to sustain you
and your family for up to 72 hours or longer. Ensure you have important papers (e.g. insurance,
identification), first aid kit, a supply of prescription medicines and other specialty items in your
preparedness kit. In addition, plan to have an emergency kit for your car in case you need to
evacuate.While creating a disaster kit,pet owners should remember to pack the necessary items for
their pets.You can find more information on preparing your disaster kit at:www.ready.gov
Hurricane Re-entry Passes: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 the Hurricane Re-entry pass,additional passes are available
from City Hall and the Atlantic Beach Police Department,Monday through Friday,from 8 a.m.to 5
p.m.To obtain passes,an individual must show a driver’s license,utility bill,tax receipt,or similar
documentation to confirm residency.
YARD WASTE REQUIREMENTS
City Code Chapter 16,Solid Waste and
Recycling restricts set out of containerized yard
waste to the night before pickup as is done
with garbage.
This requirement was added last year because
of the desire to improve the appearance of City
streets. Treating containerized yard waste the
same as household garbage was included with
the change to single day pick up for all waste
streams (garbage, yard waste and recycling)
so that there would be significantly less
clutter/debris on city rights of way during
non-collection days.
Sec. 16-3. Garbage and trash containers.
(b) Set out and storage.…Garbage and yard
waste containers shall be set out no earlier
than 6 p.m. the day prior to collection and shall
be returned to their regular place of storage no
later than midnight on the day of collection.
Yard waste such as leaves or grass clippings
shall be set out in a yard waste receptacle.
Bulk (uncontainerized) yard waste such as
tree limbs or palm fronds may be set out
when generated.
John Meserve
Mayor
Hurricane Season began June 1 – Are You Ready?
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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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SPECIAL EVENTS
Songwriters' Concert
Sunday, July 20, 6-8 p.m.
Adele Grage Theatre,716 Ocean Blvd at 7th Street
This intimate event is brought to you by the
Atlantic Beach Cultural Arts and Recreation
Advisory Committee. It is a wonderful way for
artists to meet and for everyone to enjoy playing
and listening to awesome talent. Doors will open
at 5:45 p.m. and seating is first come-first served
for this admission-free/alcohol-free event. If you
are interested in performing at this event, contact
Darrell Prather at (904) 710-0397.
Upcoming dates: August 3, September 7, October
5, November 2, December 7
Acoustic Nights
Sunday, July 27, 6-8 p.m.
Bull Park,716 Ocean Blvd at 7th Street
Grab your blanket and chairs! Pack a picnic supper
and come to Bull Park to enjoy our Sunday
evening concerts outdoors under the stars. This
family friendly event continues through the summer.
Upcoming dates: August 17, September 21,
October 19 (last concert of the season)
North Beaches Art Walk
Friday, July 17, 5-9 p.m.
Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd.
Come meet photographer Tiffany Hartmann.
Movie Nights at Donner Park
Saturday, July 26, 7 p.m. (movies start at dusk)
Donner Park Community Center, 2072 George Street
The City of Atlantic Beach Recreation and Special
Events presents free showings of four great family
movies for summer. Bring your blankets and lawn
chairs and enjoy a night out at the park with
friends and family. Pick up a ticket between 7 and
8 p.m. for free refreshments. See the Atlantic
Beach Web site for movie details. For more
information call 247-5828.
Upcoming dates: August 9 and August 23
Open Mic Nights at Jordan Park
Saturday, July 19, 6-8 p.m.
Jordan Park Community Center, 1671 Francis Avenue
Join us for Open Mic Nights for a family-friendly
live show with music, poetry, and rap at the
microphone. Performers need to sign up in
advance for a time slot with Dee Davis at Jordan
Park Community Center (Monday-Friday from 10
to 4 p.m.). Jordan Park is located at Frances and
Jackson Streets. Visit our Web site
www.coab.us/events or call the City of Atlantic
Beach Recreation and Special Events Office
at 247-5828.
www.coab.us •(904) 247-5800
CALENDAR
The Alliance for Water Efficiency has a great Web site that includes a resource library, links to
standards including Green Building programs,and a bimonthly e-newsletter with water conservation
news.The May-June edition includes a summer reading review for two interesting books:
Dry Spring:The Coming Water Crisis in North America by Chris Wood and Mirage:Florida and
the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S.by Cynthia Barnett.
Mirage might be just what you need to take to the beach to learn how even “rainy” places like
Florida can run short of water.You can look through the Web site and read the reviews at
www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org.
Remember,water your lawn no more than two days per week—before 10 a.m.or after
4 p.m.For more information on water conservation,check www.sjrwmd.com.
JULY 2008 AUGUST 2008
July 8 Code Enforcement Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
July 9 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
July 14 City Commission Mtg | 6 p.m.
July 15 Community Development Board Mtg |
6 p.m.
July 22 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Mtg | 7 p.m.
July 23 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
July 28 City Commission Mtg | 6 p.m.
Aug 11 City Commission Mtg | 6 p.m.
Aug 13 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
Aug 14 Pension Board Mtg | 6 p.m.
Aug 19 Community Development Board Mtg |
7 p.m.
Aug 25 Citty Commision Mtg | 6 p.m.
Aug 26 Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee | 7 p.m.
Aug 27 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg
City Hall Chambers | 7 p.m.
SUMMER READING FOR “WATER WONKS”
LIFEGUARDS SHARE IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS
Always swim near a lifeguard.USLA
statistics over a ten (10) year period show that
the chance of drowning at a beach without
lifeguard protection is almost five times as great
as drowning at a beach with lifeguards. USLA
has calculated the chance that a person will
drown while attending a beach protected by
USLA affiliated lifeguards at one in 18 million.
Never swim alone.Many drownings involve
single swimmers.When you swim with a buddy,
if one of you has a problem, the other may be
able to help, including signaling for assistance
from others. If you do not swim with a buddy at
least have someone onshore watching you.
Don’t fight the current. USLA has found that
some 80 percent of rescues by USLA affiliated
lifeguards at ocean beaches are caused by rip
currents.These currents are formed by surf and
gravity, because once surf pushes water up the
slope of the beach, gravity pulls it back.This can
create concentrated rivers of water moving off-
shore. Some people mistakenly call this an
undertow, but there is no undercurrent, just an
offshore current. If you are caught in a rip
current, don't fight it by trying to swim directly
to shore. Instead, swim parallel to shore until
you feel the current relax, and then swim to
shore. Most rip currents are narrow and a short
swim parallel to shore will bring you to safety.
Parents:Please tell your children that if they
ever get separated, then please go to the nearest
lifeguard and tell them that you are lost.
Lifeguards can find their parents a lot quicker
than the children can.
Always check the warning flags and ask
the lifeguards what they mean.
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