November 2017
November 2017
November 2017
Nov 2 Parking and Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee 6 pm 1 Qigong @ Adele Grage Center............................................ 9:30 am
Nov 9 Pension Board 6:30 pm Senior Aerobics @ Baker Center .......................................10:30 am
Nov 10 Veterans Day Holiday - City Offices Closed Mid-Week Market @ Bull Park ............................................3-6 pm
Nov 13 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm Meditation @ Adele Grage Center ...................................... 6:00 pm
Nov 14 Code Enforcement Meeting 6 pm Zumba @ Jordan Center .................................................... 7:00 pm
Nov 16 Parking and Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee 6 pm Yoga @ Adele Grage Center ...............................................7:30 pm
Sept 21 Community Development Board Meeting 6 pm Nov 23 & 24 Thanksgiving Holiday – City Offices Closed 2 Meditation @ Adele Grage Center ...................................... 9:30 am
5 Paddle Tour @ Dutton Island ........................................... 11:00 am
S pe
c
i
a
l
E
ve
n
t
s
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
2
0
1
7
V
O
L
.
1
3
N
O
.
1
1
C
I
T
Y
O
F
A
T
L
A
N
T
I
C
B
E
A
C
H
N
E
W
S
L
E
T
T
E
R
C it
y
C al
e
n
d
a
r
Nov 27 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm
Sept 28 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory Committee 6 pm
December 2017
6 Senior Meeting @ Baker Center ....................................... 10:30 am
7 Kids' Yoga @ Adele Grage Center ............................5:30 & 6:30 pm
8 Qigong @ Adele Grage Center............................................ 9:30 am
Dec 7 Parking and Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee 6 pm
Dec 11 City Commission Meeting 6:30 pm
Dec 19 Community Development Board Meeting 6 pm
Dec 21 Parking and Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee 6 pm
Dec 25 & 26 City Offices Closed
Senior Aerobics @ Baker Center .......................................10:30 am
Mid-Week Market @ Bull Park ............................................3-6 pm
Meditation @ Adele Grage Center ...................................... 6:00 pm
Zumba @ Jordan Center .................................................... 7:00 pm
Yoga @ Adele Grage Center ...............................................7:30 pm
Meetings are held in the Commission Chamber unless otherwise indicated.
*These events will be held at Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd.
CITY OFFICIALS
Mitchell E. Reeves, Mayor Donna Bartle, City Clerk
John Stinson, Mayor Pro Tem Brenna Durden, City Attorney
Jimmy Hill, Commissioner Joe Gerrity, City Manager
Blythe Waters, Commissioner Kevin Hogencamp, Deputy City
Mitchell Harding, Commissioner Manager
www.coab.us • (904) 247-5800
“Sunsets in Atlantic Beach”
Many thanks to everyone who submitted photos for this year’s photo contest. The decision was unanimous among the judges as they selected the beautiful work of
Razvan Balotescu, who submitted a photo taken at Sunset Pier in Tideviews Preserve.
The winning photo will be featured on the cover of the 2018 Calendar of Events. Thank you to this year’s judges: Linda Olsen, Katie Rider and Linda Stewart.
9 Meditation @ Adele Grage Center ...................................... 9:30 am
Senior Pickle Ball @ Baker Center.................................... 10:30 am
14 Senior BINGO @ Baker Center ......................................... 10:30 am
Kids' Yoga @ Adele Grage Cente .............................5:30 & 6:30 pm
15 Qigong @ Adele Grage Center............................................ 9:30 am
Senior Aerobics @ Baker Center .......................................10:30 am
Mid-Week Market @ Bull Park ............................................3-6 pm
Meditation @ Adele Grage Center ...................................... 6:00 pm
Zumba @ Jordan Center .................................................... 7:00 pm
16 Meditation @ Adele Grage Center ...................................... 9:30 am
Artist Reception @ Adele Grage Ctr.......................................5-8 pm
19 Yoga @ Adele Grage Center ...............................................3:30 pm
Songwriters’ Concert @ AGCC Theater ...................................6-8 pm
21 Kids' Yoga @ Adele Grage Center ............................5:30 & 6:30 pm
22 Qigong @ Adele Grage Center............................................ 9:30 am
Mid-Week Market @ Bull Park ............................................3-6 pm
Meditation @ Adele Grage Center ...................................... 6:00 pm
Yoga @ Adele Grage Center ...............................................7:30 pm
23 Turkey Trot @ Atlantic & Ocean Blvd. ...................................... 8 am
26 Paddle Tour @ Dutton Island ........................................... 11:00 am
28 Senior BINGO @ Baker Center ......................................... 10:30 am
Kids’ Yoga @ Adele Grage Center ............................5:30 & 6:30 pm
29 Qigong @ Adele Grage Center............................................ 9:30 am
Senior Aerobics @ Baker Center .......................................10:30 am
Mid-Week Market @ Bull Park ............................................3-6 pm
Meditation @ Adele Grage Center ...................................... 6:00 pm
Yoga @ Adele Grage Center ...............................................7:30 pm
30 Meditation @ Adele Grage Center ...................................... 9:30 am
www.coab.us/recreation
Find Us
On
Facebook Visit us on facebook! www.coab.us/facebook
F ro
m
T
he
m ay
o
r
LeaDership aND uNity firmLy iN pLace
About eight months ago, I wrote a letter to the editor titled, “Atlantic Beach
is a model community that is retooling.”
This note to our residents is an update, of sorts, to that letter.
The bottom line: Our city manager and police chief positions are filled with great leaders; our long-awaited public safety building is now open; and,
citizen engagement, transparency, and efficiency at city hall have never
been greater. In other words, I believe that the City of Atlantic Beach has successfully “retooled.”
Consider Hurricane Irma.
Ten days before the storm, our city management had already held multiple
disaster-preparedness meetings and had a readiness plan in place. The level
of leadership and spirit of cooperation exhibited by the city manager, police chief, public works director and other key personnel before, during and after
the storm was a thing of beauty.
Since Irma came ashore, I have received dozens – if not hundreds – of
compliments from citizens about the communication between city hall and
the public. In fact, Chief Cook is leading an after-action exercise to determine what can be done better reviewing what we can do better next time. And, she
has already reorganized the Police Department after identifying opportunities
for efficiencies and more productivity. Now, that’s leadership!
As I enter my final weeks as your mayor, I have so many people to thank. I’d
like to start with my colleagues on the City Commission, who have showed great leadership themselves, symbolized by the unanimous vote in August to
hire Joe Gerrity as city manager.
That’s not all.
The City Commission also exhibited vision and unity in unanimously agreeing
to form an Environmental Stewardship Committee and Parking/Pedestrian Safety Committee. Together, by directly involving citizens to help us solve
problems from issues ranging from protecting our tree canopy to the safety of
our residents and visitors, we’ve shown that it’s a new day in Atlantic Beach. Along with the incredible work displayed day-to-day by our city workforce,
the City Commission’s spirit of unity are among my greatest sources of pride
and gratitude.
There are countless other sources of my appreciation – too many to count.
But I would like to this opportunity to thank everyone involved with the Web.com Tour Championship. What an honor it is to be the host of this
international competition, which brings a stunning $5.5 million in annual
economic impact to our community.
I’d also like to use this space to wish the new political leadership the best of
success. I encourage our residents to support the mayor and commissioners – whoever
they may be – and pledge to do all you can to help keep the forward momentum going. We love Atlantic Beach way too much to stop fighting now for our great community.
Finally, and most importantly, I’d like to thank our residents. I’ve always believed strongly that citizens should have a voice in decision-making in government, either directly or indirectly. It pleases me greatly that our political and administrative
leadership embraces this philosophy, and that our residents have enthusiastically answered the call. Your involvement in city and civic affairs gives me great optimism, and your support and encouragement has been heartwarming.
Thank you, and may God bless each of you. Mitch Reeves
WaNt tO Be a VOLuNteer?
The Atlantic Beach Police Department is looking for outstanding citizens to work as volunteers alongside our dedicated employees. The department is continually
responding to the needs of our citizens and would greatly benefit from caring citizens
who have the desire, time, talents, and knowledge to pitch in.
As a volunteer, you will be working with officers and staff, helping in areas such as:
Assisting with our Citizen Police Academy Data Entry
Detective Division – Clerical duties Traffic Duties
Inventory Tracking Animal Control Kennel Receptionist Duties Parking Enforcement
Crossing Guard
A minimum of eight hours of volunteer service per month is requested. Interested?
Please contact Lt. David Cameron at dcameron@coab.us or 248-5859, ext. 5950.
BuiLDiNG DepartmeNt upDate
Sept. 30 marked the end of the 2017 fiscal year and building construction in Atlantic
Beach continues at a faster pace than most other places. The Building Department issued 2,542 building permits with a combined value exceeding $55 million. That
included 111 new single-family homes. Several new commercial and multi-family
projects are in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, the Building Department is expanding its services. After-hours inspections
are now available from 8 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of each month and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. To arrange an after-hours
appointment, call 247-5814 during business hours. Please specify the permit number;
time, date and type of inspection requested; and contact info.
remiNDer – irriGatiON scheDuLes chaNGe ON NOV. 5
When the time changes from Daylight Savings Time to Eastern Standard Time on
Sunday, Nov. 5, remember to change the settings on your irrigation system. During the fall and winter, you are only allowed to irrigate one day per week: before
10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Know your days:
address irrigation Days
Homes with odd addresses: Saturday
Homes with even addresses: Sunday
Non-residential properties: Tuesday
For more information on irrigation restrictions and water conservation,
visit www.FloridasWater.com.
3rD aNNuaL tONy’s turkey trOt 5k ruN
BeNefitiNG BraiN iNjury aWareNess
Everyone is invited to participate in Tony’s Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning. The 5K
Run/Walk/Trot begins at 8 a.m. and 1 Mile Fun Run begins at 9:30 a.m. All ages
are welcome. There will be lots of fun activities for the family including face painting,
tattoos, costume contest and live music. Food vendors will include Lazy Days Catering,
Breezy Bakery and Flame Broiler. Smoothies from Robeks at the finish line!
For more information and registration, visit www.TonysTurkeyTrot.com.
recreatiON DepartmeNt reaDy tO riNG iN the
hOLiDays
The holidays will soon be upon us and each year residents of our community have
opened their hearts and graciously fulfilled the wishes of many children who would
not have a holiday to celebrate without their generosity. Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 21,
the holiday tree at the Adele Grage Cultural Center will be filled with children’s wishes.
Please consider visiting the Adele Grage Cultural Center at 716 Ocean Blvd. between 8
a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to select a holiday gift tag from the tree and
make this holiday “something special” for a child in our community. Please deliver
wrapped gifts to the Adele Grage Cultural Center no later than Friday, Dec. 15. For more
information, contact the Recreation Department at 247-5828.
hOLiDay ceLeBratiON & tree LiGhtiNG
Come celebrate the holidays as Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach join together to light
the community tree in the Beaches Town Center on Saturday, Dec. 2. The festivities will
begin at 3 p.m. with a bike parade (with prizes) through Town Center and everyone is
invited to decorate their bikes and join in the fun. The mayors of both cities will light
the community tree and Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by sleigh at 6 p.m. for the tree
lighting and visit with the kids. Don’t forget to bring your cameras!
hOLiDay artisaNs’ faire
Are you looking for a great place to pick up special and unique gifts for the holidays?
Then mark your calendar for this special one-night-only event to be held on Thursday,
Dec. 7 at the Adele Grage Cultural Center. Live music, free food and more than 20 new
artists will display their unique gifts. Look for the bright lights at the corner of Seventh
Street and Ocean Boulevard – and bring the family!
chaNGe tO saNitatiON scheDuLe
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no garbage pickup on Thursday, Nov.
23. Thursday’s scheduled service will be moved to Friday, Nov. 24; Friday’s collection
will be Saturday, Nov. 25.