March 2008.pdfVOL.4 NO.3MARCH 2008
The City of Atlantic Beach is proud to recognize Police Officer Terry Stanley as the Employee
of the Year for 2007. Officer Stanley is a college graduate who has been with the Police
Department since June 2004. He specializes in Traffic Homicide Investigations and DUI
Enforcement, and he has led the patrol division in productivity for several years. In addition
to performing routine patrol functions, he is also a certified Field Training Officer where he
is involved in the preparation and development of law enforcement careers for new officers.
Officer Stanley has distinguished himself as a highly ethical and professional role model, and
he has become an invaluable member of the City workforce.
city of atlantic beach newsletter
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
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TREASURE OUR LIQUID ASSETS
This summer you’ll be able to watch Liquid
Assets, a public television documentary
about our water infrastructure in the
United States.While many in the world
consider clean water a luxury, we’ve taken
it for granted in our country.
You’ll see how cities are rebuilding the
infrastructure that brings drinking water
to our homes and carries wastewater away.
In addition, you’ll hear from engineers,
planners, politicians and public health
officials about the $390 billion challenge we
face, as well as innovative solutions to keep
the tap running.
To learn more, check out the Liquid Assets
Web site at http://www.liquidassets.psu.edu/.
Remember—water your landscape
no more than 2 days per week,
before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. For
more information on conserving
water go to www.floridaswater.com.
We have recently
learned that the
contract for the
reconstruction of
Mayport Road has
had the financial
issues settled and
should go to con-
tract within a
month. This project has been years
in the planning and will have a very
visible impact on the area. In addition
to resurfacing the road, the series of
raised and landscaped medians will
provide a much more attractive and
safer environment for both pedestri-
ans and vehicles. The landscaped
medians will be more aesthetic, and
at the same time will eliminate the
unbroken “suicide lane” down the
center of the road, providing pedes-
trians with a place of some safety. It
is hoped that traffic speed will also
scale back as has been the case with
other residential “highways” that
have had center medians installed.
There are some concerns about limit-
ing left turn access to some busi-
nesses, but the anticipated reduction
in traffic accidents has always made
this one of the key strategic plans of
Atlantic Beach. Of course the real
downside is that for about a year the
road will be torn up, with some traffic
delays inevitable. We will keep every-
one informed as the construction
start date occurs. Developing a budg-
et for 2009 will be interesting as we
calculate what the recent tax amend-
ment means to the city. We will, how-
ever, continue to provide all essential
services, fair wages for our dedicated
employees, and maintain our city in a
manner that all can be proud of.
John Meserve
As spring approaches,consider these helpful
tips to minimize the impact of yard mainte-
nance on our environment.
1.Blow grass clippings back into grass or
landscaped areas.Yard clippings or leaves
blown or raked into storm drains or ditches
increase biological oxygen demand due to
the decay process,reducing the amount of
oxygen available for fish.
2.Using a mulching mower or composting
returns nutrients to the soil and helps reduce
the need for fertilizer.One bag of yard clip-
pings contains 1/4 pound of nitrogen.
3.Use native plants to reduce the need for
irrigation.
4.Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly
and in the amounts recommended for your
specific need.Contact the Duval County
Extension Service at 387-8850 for additional
guidance.Use slow release fertilizers.
5.Do not apply fertilizers or pesticides within
10 feet of a pond or ditch bank.Blow fertil-
izers from paved surfaces back into lawns or
landscaped areas.
Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Handbook:A Guide
to Environmentally Friendly Landscaping describes
how to minimize nonpoint source pollution
from landscapes,especially residential ones.
This handbook can be downloaded from the
Florida Department of Environmental
Protection Web site at:www.dep.state.fl.us.
Additional guidance for yard waste may be
found on the City Web site at:www.coab.us
SPRING IS COMING
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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.
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
March 2008
Mar 7 Late Night Skate - Jack
Russell Park 6 - 10 p.m.
Mar 8 Wild Wonders - Dutton
Island 1 p.m.
Mar 9 Songwriters Concert -
Adele Grage 6 - 8 p.m.
Mar 15 Tour de Parks - Jack
Russell Park 9 a.m. - noon
Mar 20 North Beaches Art Walk -
Town Center 5 - 9 p.m.
Mar 22 Easter Egg Hunt - Jordan
Park 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Mar 29 Wild Wonders - Tideviews
Preserve 1 p.m.
Mar 30 Acoustic Nights - Bull
Memorial Park 6 - 8 p.m.
April 2008
Apr 6 Songwriters Concert -
Adele Grage 6 - 8 p.m.
Apr 12 Wild Wonders - Dutton
Island 1 p.m.
Apr 17 North Beaches Art Walk -
Town Center 5 - 9 p.m.
Apr 20 Acoustic Nights - Bull
Memorial Park 6 - 8 p.m.
Apr 26 Wild Wonders - Tideviews
Preserve 1 p.m.
SUMMER CAMP SIGN-UP
The City of Atlantic Beach
Department of Recreation is
currently holding registration
through May 24 for summer camp.
Camp starts June 16 from 9:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the
Donner Park and Jordan Park
Community Centers. You can regis-
ter your child (ages 5-12) at the
Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716
Ocean Street from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
or 1 - 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday. For more information call
(904) 247-5828. Anyone interested
in attending the YMCA camp to be
held at the Adele Grage Center
should contact the YMCA at (904)
543-9622 for more information.
www.coab.us • (904) 247-5800
During the holiday season, some young
people received various types of air-powered
guns including, but not limited to BB guns,
pellet guns, paint ball guns, and other types
of guns that shoot various types of projectiles.
Although these “toy” guns are not considered
to be firearms, they are regulated under the
City Code.
The air-powered guns manufactured today
are not like the old “Red Rider” BB guns.
The new air-powered guns are capable of
firing projectiles at high speeds, which may
endanger animals, people and property.
The Atlantic Beach City Code prohibits
discharging any firearms including any air
gun, air rifle, air pistol or any similar device
within the City.
Additionally, many of these “toy” guns are
designed to look like real firearms.As a
result, they often create fear in citizens
who observe these devices being carried in
a public place.The Code prohibits anyone
from carrying or displaying any replica or
facsimile of a firearm in a manner or at a
location which would injure, annoy or create
fear in the general public or in any individual.
To protect the people and property in
our community, the Police Department
encourages citizens to recognize the dangers,
limitations, and responsibilities associated
with these devices.
Additional information can be obtained from
Detective Tiffany Layson at 247-5859.
The City is accepting applications for Ocean Lifeguards for the 2008 season. Interested par-
ties may pick up an application at the Atlantic Beach City Hall. Eligibility criteria and more
information, including an online application may be obtained on the Web site www.coab.us,
click on “jobs” at top of page, then click “ocean lifeguard.” Preference will be given to those
applications received before the last testing date of 3/29/08.
LIFEGUARD POSITIONS OPEN FOR 2008 SEASON
AIR-POWERED GUNS
Mar 10 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
(Commission has directed staff to pre-
pare an ordinance changing start time
to 6 p.m.)
Mar 11 Code Enforcement Board Mtg |
7 p.m.
Mar 12 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
Mar 18 Community Development Board Mtg
| 7 p.m.
Mar 24 City Commission Mtg (Commission has
directed staff to prepare an ordinance
changing start time to 6 p.m.)
Mar 25 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Mtg | 7 p.m.
Mar 26 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
MARCH 2008
Apr 9 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
Apr 14 City Commission Mtg (Commission has
directed staff to prepare an ordinance
changing start time to 6 p.m.)
Apr 15 Community Development Board Mtg
| 7 p.m.
Apr 22 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Mtg | 7 p.m.
Apr 23 Tree Conservation Board Mtg | City
Hall Chambers | 7 p.m.
Apr 28 City Commission Mtg (Commission has
directed staff to prepare an ordinance
changing start time to 6 p.m.)
APRIL 2008
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