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MAY 2007
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LORIDA
VOL.3 NO.5
We have exciting
news this month!
We are proud to
announce that
the City of
Atlantic Beach,
your hometown, has been awarded
near/y two million dollars by the
State of Florida to preserve the
Buckman Trust land along our
beautiful intracoasta/ waterway.
While there are still some bridges to
cross on this important project, we
feel confident it will move forward
quickly. Mayor Wolfson took the
lead on this preservation project,
traveling to Tallahassee to secure
the State funding. Thanks also go
out to former Mayor Lyman Fletcher
and all those who continue to help
with local fundraising. So when
you cross the Atlantic Boulevard
bridge heading into Jacksonville,
just look to your right. All that
spectacular marshland you see
along the waterway will likely be
preserved forever.
While seemingly not connected, other
preservation projects underway are
literally quite connected to our
marshes. We are taking significant
actions to protect your environment
by reducing pollution that could
flow into the very marshlands
we're trying to preserve. We call it
"TMDL" legislation. Our actions will
make Atlantic Beach a much more
eco -friendly place to live in the
near future. And to make sure all
that clean water makes it safely out
to our waterway, you should also
know we're well on our way to
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ADOPT YOUR WATERSHED
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is leading the charge and challenging citizens to
protect our rivers, streams and estuaries with their "AdoptYour Watershed" campaign.
A watershed is a land area that drains to a single body of water — ours is the lower St. Johns River
watershed. The EPA's program includes ways to get involved with volunteer monitoring and activities
for adults, children and students. The "Watershed Academy" offers more than 50 free, web -based training
modules.You can download a free handbook about developing watershed plans to protect our river, or
read about "15 ThingsYou Can Do to Make a Difference inYour Watershed." To learn more about the
EPA's "AdoptYour Watershed" program, go to www.epa.gov/adopt/.
Remember, ONLY water your lawn two days per week, before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
For more information on water conservation, go to www.floridasvvater.com.
RESIDENTIAL SANITATION CHANGES COMING JUNE I
Starting June 1, residential recycling collection will begin using new; larger recycling bins provided by
the City's contractor, Waste Services of Florida, Inc. Each home will receive two new recycling bins at no
cost to residents. The intent of providing two containers is to allow residents to separate their recycling
into fiber (newspaper, magazines, boxboard, brown paper bags, telephone books, catalogues, office
paper, etc.) and containers (all colors of glass, plastic types 1 through 7, metal cans, etc).
To obtain additional information on the new recycling efforts contact Public Works at (904) 247-5834.
SERVICES:
• Residential garbage will be
collected once per week.
• Garbage containers: new 96 -
gallon toters to be provided
by hauler.
• Same day collections: the City
will be divided into five zones.
One zone will be collected
each day, Monday through
Friday. Residents will be noti-
fied of which day of the week
their refuse will be collected
before the new service starts.
• Recycling containers: two
new 18 -gallon containers to
be provided by the hauler;
one for plastics, cans and
bottles and the other for
paper and cardboard.
SIGNS OF SPRING ARE EVERYWHERE:
YARD SALE! GARAGE SALE! ESTATE SALE! MOVING SALE!
Whatever you want to call it, it's a sale of personal property, and is regulated by City Code. So, what
are those codes and what do they regulate?
1. How many sales and how
often? No matter what you call
it, you are limited to a total of
three days per year. City Code,
Chapter 13, Sec 13-11
2. What about signs used for
advertising? Size, quantity,
location and length of time are
restricted. City Code, Chapter
17, Sec. 17-26 (b) (10)
A.You are limited to no more
than two signs for advertising
your sale.
B. Signs must be placed solely
on your property.
C. No offsite advertising is
permitted. Signs are not
permitted on the City
right-of-ways, medians,
trees or utility poles.
D. Advertising signs may be
as Large as four square feet
in size.
For additional information regarding yard sales or to report a violation of City Code, contact your local
City Code Enforcement Officer at (904) 247-5855.
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(continued from front)
replacing the stormwater and
sewer systems in the entire Royal
Palms neighborhood.
Finally, we're working together with
citizens from all over town to preserve
and protect the representation each
of our distinct communities within
Atlantic Beach deserves. This
"Districting Committee" has been
holding workshops for several
months now, looking into how
our diverse needs might be best
represented. We'll be hearing the
Committee's report sometime this
summer. Whatever they find, the goal
remains preservation — preservation
of your rights to equal and fair
representation.
So it seems we can celebrate
preservation this month from our
marshlands to our neighborhoods,
and from the beauty we can see to
the environment we count on. And
what a more beautiful place to
preserve than Atlantic Beach!
Jamie Fletcher
Commissioner
DO WE HAVE YOUR NUMBER?
You know where you live and you
know where you work, but do the
fire, rescue, and police departments
know? Precious minutes are lost
every day because someone didn't
ensure their home or business
was properly numbered, precious
minutes that could have saved a life,
a home or a business. As a resident
or business owner in the City of
Atlantic Beach, you are required to
have your building number perma-
nently attached to the outside of your
home or business, in a conspicuous
place and clearly visible from the
street it faces. So think of prevention,
think of the costs, think of the loss
and ensure we can find your number.
CITY OFFICIALS
Donald Wolfson Mike Borno
MAYOR COMMISSIONER
Jamie Fletcher
COMMISSIONER
J. Dezmond Waters, 111
MAYOR PRO TEM
Jim Hanson
CITY MANAGER
Alan Jensen
CITY ATTORNEY
Sylvia Simmons Donna Bussey
COMMISSIONER CITY CLERK
www.coab.us . (904) 247-5800
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CANINE DISTEMPER OUTBREAK
Florida Fish andWildlife has announced an outbreak of canine distemper among raccoons in Northeast
Florida and we have had several sick raccoons in Atlantic Beach. A few facts you should know:
• Canine distemper is a viral disease that infects worse and the disease is usually fatal. Distemper
raccoons, foxes, coyotes, skunks, and unvaccinated is not the same disease as rabies, although some
dogs. The disease does not affect humans. symptoms are similar.
• The disease is more likely to occur when • Keep children and pets away from sick raccoons.
raccoon populations are large or concentrated. As the disease progresses, the animal may
Not all raccoons get the disease and many do appear calm, but can become aggressive if
survive these outbreaks. approached too closely.
• The disease is spread when animals have direct • To discourage raccoons, remove attractants
contact with body fluids or droppings from an from your yard, feed pets indoors, etc. If you
infected animal. Distemper is always present feed outdoors, bring in feeding bowls right
in the environment, so the best prevention after pets have eaten. Make sure garbage cans
for dogs is to make sure they are vaccinated. are secure and can't be knocked over or have
Contact your vet to make sure your dog's their lids removed.
shots are current. • Sick raccoons may pass through your yard and
• Symptoms of distemper may include discharge move on. If you have a sick raccoon in your
from the nose and eyes, a rough coat of hair, yard, call Atlantic Beach Animal Control at
emaciated appearance, and unusual behavior (904-) 247-5866. If a raccoon dies in your yard,
such as disorientation or wandering aimlessly. wrap the body in a plastic garbage bag and
The animals' symptoms become progressively throw it away.
For specific questions on raccoons or other wildlife, contact Florida Fish andWildlife at (904) 270-2500.
PLEASE DO NOT FEED RACCOONS! Providing artificial food sources may lead to unnaturally
large concentrations of animals and increase the spread of disease.
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ATLICiAH
F L O R IDA
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MAY 2007
May 5 Arts in the Park — Johansen Park
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
May 5 Annual Bowl Bash — Oceanside Rotary
Skate Park 1 10 a.m.
May 6 *Yoga 1 4 - 5 p.m.
May 6 *Songwriter's Concert 1 6 - 8 p.m.
May 8 Code Enforcement Board Mtg 1 7 p.m.
May 9 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg I 7 p.m.
May 10 Board Member Review Committee
5 p.m.
May 10 Pension Board of Trustees Mtg 16 p.m.
May 12 "Wild Wonders" Program —Tideviews
Preserve I 11 a.m. - Noon
May 14 City Commission Meeting I 7:15 p.m.
May 15 Community Development Board Mtg
7 p.m.
May 19
May 20
May 20
May 22
May 23
May 26
May 27
May 28
May 29
Dancin' in the Streets —Town Center
*Yoga I 4 - 5 p.m.
*Acoustics Night at Bull Memorial
Park 1 6 - 8 p.m.
*Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Mtg 1 7 p.m.
*Tree Conservation Board Mtg 17 p.m.
"Wild Wonders" Program — Dutton
Island Preserve 1 11 a.m. - Noon
*Yoga I 4 - 5 p.m.
Memorial Day Observed — City Hall
Offices Closed
City Commission Mtg 1 7:15 p.m.
JUNE 2007
Jun 10 *Songwriter's Concert 1 6 - 8 p.m
Jun 11 City Commission Mtg 1 7:15 p.m.
Jun 13 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg
7 p.m.
Jun 14 Board Member Review Committee
Mtg 1 5 p.m.
Jun 19 Community Development Board Mtg
7 p.m.
Jun 24
Jun 25
Jun 26
Jun 27
*Acoustics Night at Bull Memorial Park
6 - 8 p.m.
City Commission Mtg 1 7:15 p.m.
*Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee Mtg 1 7 p.m.
*Tree Conservation Board Mtg 1 7p.m.
Meetings are held in the Commission Chambers unless otherwise indicated.
*These events will be held atAdele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Oman Blvd.
**These events will be held in the North Conference Room at City Hall, 800 Seminole Road.
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