June 2008.pdfVOL.4 NO.6JUNE 2008
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Some comments about
traffic safety. First,
Mayport Road has been the
scene of several accidents.
The construction, while
proceeding at a rapid
pace, is confusing and drivers in many cases
fail to slow down appropriately. I urge everyone
to either avoid the road or use utmost caution
for the foreseeable future. We are in contact
with the Florida Department of Transportation
to reduce the speed to 35 MPH, but so far
have lots of resistance to that proposal. A
new “pedestrian safety” bill enacted in
Tallahassee requires that vehicles yield the
right-of-way to any pedestrian in either
signalized or un-signalized intersections or
crosswalks. We have quite a few of those
pedestrian crosswalks in Atlantic Beach, so
please give way to pedestrians. Our State
Legislators in Tallahassee just finished the
2008 legislative session. Many new bills were
enacted that we will need to comprehend,
and as is their track record, they continue to
both limit local government abilities to control
our destiny and at the same time require
unfunded mandates. A typical case in point
is a new requirement to compost a certain
percentage of our organic waste. While a
lofty goal, there will be associated costs to
meet the new requirement. As the City of
Atlantic Beach goes about the process of
developing the 2009 budget, please be
assured that we are a fiscally responsible
government that is attuned to both preserving
services, while maintaining a conservative cost
of government.
city of atlantic beach newsletter
JUNE 14 IS NATIONAL FLAG DAY
Fly your flag proudly from Flag Day, June 14 through Independence Day, July 4.
Did you know you can protect our drinking water supplies by saving energy?
Power and water are linked to each other.It takes electricity to treat and supply water.And it takes
water to produce most forms of electricity.
According to Sandia National Laboratories,about 40 percent of our country’s fresh water is used for
energy production.So if you turn out the lights when you leave the room,or replace your old
appliances with energy efficient models,you’ll be saving our water supplies,too.
For more information on water conservation,check the St.Johns River Water Management District’s
website at www.sjrwmd.com.
Remember,water your lawn no more than two days per week – before 10:00 a.m.or
after 4:00 p.m.
PROTECT WATER SUPPLIES BY SAVING ENERGY
PEDESTRIANSAFETY
Pedestrians have the right-of-way! According to
state law, pedestrians in crosswalks have the
right-of-way over the vehicles on the roadways.
Drivers:
This means that when you approach a pedestrian
crosswalk and a pedestrian is waiting to cross
the street, you must yield the right-of-way.As a
matter of courtesy and law, you should slow or
stop to let the pedestrian cross the roadway.
Pedestrians:
1. Don’t bet your life on it! Although you may
have the right-of-way, you must be cautious
about crossing busy roadways. Sometimes
motorists don’t notice you or the crosswalk.
2. If a motorist waives you across the street,
stop and check to make sure that all lanes are
safe to cross. Drivers will sometimes waive you
across the street, but the drivers don’t always
check the “other” lane of traffic.
Drivers should make a special effort to identify
these locations around the city, and to provide
pedestrians with the courtesy and rights to
which they are entitled by law.
Please do your part to keep Atlantic
Beach pedestrians safeJohn Meserve
Mayor
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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 Bussey
CITY CLERK
CITY OFFICIALS
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SPECIAL EVENTS
June 2008
June 8 Songwriters Concert – Adele Grage |
6-8 p.m.
June 14 Wild Wonders – Dutton Island | 11 a.m.
June 19 North Beaches Art Walk – Town Center
| 5-9 p.m.
June 22 Acoustic Nights – Bull Memorial Park |
6-8 p.m.
June 28 Wild Wonders – Tideviews Preserve |
11 a.m.
July 2008
July 4 Fireworks – Beachfront | 9 p.m.
July 13 Songwriters Concert – Adele Grage |
6-8 p.m.
July 17 North Beaches Art Walk – Town Center |
5-9 a.m.
July 27 Acoustic Nights – Bull Memorial Park |
6-8 p.m.
FIREWORKS
For the 4th of July celebration each year, the City
of Atlantic Beach cosponsors the public fireworks
display in Jacksonville Beach. The public display
is designed and operated by professionals, who
are able to minimize the danger of injuries and/or
fires resulting from the fireworks. Considering the
recent drought conditions and the wildfires in our
region, the City of Atlantic Beach strongly dis-
courages the possession and/or use of personal
fireworks. Fireworks that explode and/or fly are
prohibited by state law and local ordinance, and
the resulting smoke obscures the view of the pub-
lic fireworks display on the beach. The City
encourages all residents and visitors to have a
safe and enjoyable holiday.
www.coab.us •(904) 247-5800
In the event that the City experiences a storm which takes a large number of trees or limbs down,it
is critically important for the safety of residents and emergency response workers that everyone
understand how to properly handle storm debris. 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 like 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.
Caution about the use of Contractors to Remove Fallen Trees and Storm Debris
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 may
be liable if one of his workers is injured while working on your property. Fallen trees can create
unseen dangers, such as downed, but live electric lines. 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, as we are so fortunate to have in
abundance here in Atlantic Beach, 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.
CALENDAR
JUNE 2008 JULY 2008
June 9 City Commission Mtg | 6 p.m.
June 11 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
June 17 Community Development Board Mtg |
6 p.m.
June 23 City Commission Mtg | 6 p.m.
June 24 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Mtg | 7 p.m.
June 25 Tree Conservation Board Mtg.
City Hall Chambers | 7 p.m.
July 8 Code Enforcement Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
July 9 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
July 14 City Commision Mtg.| 6 p.m.
July 15 Community Development Board Mtg |
7 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.
HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS JUNE 1
Post Storm Green Waste and Debris Pickup
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