September 2004.pdfSEPTEMBER 2004
VOL.3 NO.9
city
atlantic beech newsletter
Navy Band to Play
A free Concert in the Park
will be held on Saturday
evening, September 4th at
7:00 p.m. in Russell Park.
The Navy Band's Southeast
Brass Quintet will perform.
Flag Football Coaches
Needed
Volunteer Flag Football
coaches are needed for
children ages 5-12. Contact
Dee Davis at 247-4033 for
more information.
Florida Neighborhoods
Conference
The City of Jacksonville will
host the 8th annual Florida
Neighborhoods Conference
September 16 - 18 at the
downtown Adam's Mark
Hotel. The theme of this
year's conference is Building
Super Neighborhoods. The
conference will focus on
issues that face every
neighborhood during a series
of tours and workshop
sessions. A tour of Neptune
Beach, Atlantic Beach and
Mayport Village will offer an
opportunity to showcase
these special areas. The
annual conference brings
Florida's community leaders
together to share ideas and
learn ways to improve their
communities. For more
information, contact the City of
Jacksonville's Neighborhood
Services Division at 630-7398
or neighbor@coj.net.
School is Back in Session
Another summer races by,
and schools are now back in
session. Motorists are
cautioned to slow down and
use due caution throughout
the community. Motorists are
also reminded that they are
required to stop for school
buses, including school
buses stopped on Mayport
Road, and pedestrians in
crosswalks have the right-of-
way. When pedestrians are
observed at a crosswalk,
motorists are legally obligated
to stop and allow the
pedestrians to cross.
904-247-5800
www.coab.us
BEACHES BIKEWAY
The first piece of the City's bikeway will soon be under construction. An eight -foot
wide bike path will be built along the north side of Plaza extending from Mayport Road
eastward to Parkside Drive. In mid -2002, the three Beach cities completed a bikeway
planning project to identify priority routes which would traverse the beaches in a
north -south pattern, with east -west routes to connect schools, shopping, the beach,
parks and other recreational destinations.
Neptune Beach, within the last year, has completed a bike path which runs along
portions of Florida Boulevard and Penman Road, and a bike path along Mayport
Road is included in designs for Mayport Road median construction. Numerous city
streets within Jacksonville Beach contain marked bike lanes. Other projects are being
considered by the City Commission for next year.
CITY CLERK RETIRES
At the end of August, one of the City's most valued and respected employees, City Clerk
Maureen King, retired after almost 20 years of service to the City of Atlantic Beach. Maureen
has provided a level of professionalism and integrity to the City that will be hard to replace.
More importantly, Maureen brought a kindness of spirit and a steadfastness that served as an
ever-present inspiration and role model for all City staff fortunate enough to work in City Hall.
Maureen, your friends and co-workers extend genuine and warm wishes to you and your
family, and please know that you will be missed in oh -so -many ways.
WEEKLY RENTAL OF PRIVATE HOMES
AND CONDOMINIUMS ALLOWED DURING
SUPER BOWL
The Atlantic Beach City Commission has
approved a limited waiver to the City Code
which will allow weekly vacation rentals within
residential areas during the 2005 Super Bowl,
only between the dates January 30th and
February 12th. The City's regulations consider
rentals for less than a three-month time period
as a commercial use, and therefore, not
permitted within residential zoning districts.
The action came in response to numerous
inquiries from residents and property manage-
ment agents wishing to rent private homes
and condominiums to Super Bowl visitors.
The Commission noted that there seemed to
be few objections to granting the temporary
waiver and felt that the 2005 Super Bowl is a
unique and special circumstance, but also
noted that there was no interest in amending
the existing City Codes to allow such vacation
rentals on a permanent basis.
Residents who intend to lease their homes dur-
ing Super Bowl are advised to take reasonable
security precautions and to consider the use of
a reputable property leasing management
service who can provide guidance regarding
taxes and any licensing as may be required by
State law. Property owners and visitors should
also be aware that all other City Codes related
to noise, nuisances, beach protection, traffic,
parking and alcoholic beverages will remain in
full effect during the Super Bowl.
LEARN How TO SAVE WATER AND
MONEY
Florida is running out of clean drinking water,
and Atlantic Beach has put a new water rate
structure in place to encourage conservation.
Similar water rates are being implemented
across the State which are intended to
discourage wasteful or inefficient use of precious
potable water resources. Residents are already
calling to ask for tips on how to better conserve
water. The City will continue to provide monthly
conservation guidelines within Tideviews, and
conservation related literature will also be
available at City Hall in the Utility Billing lobby.
The St. Johns River Water Management
District and the Southwest Florida Water
Management District have created excellent
web sites, which include an interesting array
of conservation information. The District web
sites can be found at: www.sjrwmd.com and
www.swfwmd.state.fl.us. More information
related to water saving measures can be
also be found at: www.floridaswater.com,
and the Environmental Protection Agency
provides an online water conservation
program with more than 100 graphic screens
and animation. EPA's site is located at:
http://www.epa.gov/seahome/watcon.html
...and remember, no watering
between 10:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m!
CI
T Y OF A T L A N
TIC
B E A C H
QUESTIONS ABOUT ELECTION SIGNS
As each political season approaches, questions arise as
to what types and sizes of election signs are permitted
within the City of Atlantic Beach. Chapter 17 of the City
Code addresses election signs as follows. (Any other
questions about election signs may be directed to the
Code Enforcement Division at 247-5855.)
HOW MANY SIGNS CAN I HAVE?
The City does not limit the number of election signs
placed on private property to announce or advertise a
candidate.
HOW BIG OF A SIGN CAN I HAVE?
Your election sign can be no larger then 4 square feet
in size.
WHERE CAN I PLACE MY SIGN?
Election signs must be placed wholly on your private
property. This means it is illegal to place election signs
on any City streets, within any public right-of-ways,
medians, on trees and utility poles, City buildings or
within parks. Any signs illegally placed will be immedi-
ately removed and discarded of by the City
HOW LONG CAN I POST AN ELECTION SIGN?
Election signs are permitted once a candidate qualifies
with the Supervisor of Elections, and must be removed
within 72 hours after the election.
WHAT ABOUT POLLING PLACES?
Florida Statutes, Chapter 102.031 specifies that no
signs or solicitors are permitted within fifty (50) feet of
the entrance to a polling place on the day of election,
unless solicitation is conducted in a separate marked
area so as not to disturb, impede, obstruct, or interfere
with voter access.
John 5. Meserve Richard M. Beaver
MAYOR MAYOR PRO TEM
J. Dezmond
Waters, III
COMMISSIONER
Sylvia Simmons Paul B. Parsons
COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER
James Hanson
CITY MANAGER
Alan Jensen
CITY ATTORNEY
Maureen King
CITY CLERK
FROM THE MAYOR
It is with real regret that we say goodbye to
Maureen King, our City Clerk. Maureen came
to work for the City in 1985 as the Executive
Secretary to the City Manager, working her way
up and becoming the Commission's City Clerk
in 1988. In those 19 years, she has become
the epitome of what makes Atlantic Beach
employees special. Her dealings with all the Commissions
over the years have been based upon mutual respect and
professionalism, not always easy considering the many differing
personalities of the elected officials. Her customer service
attitude has probably been her finest atribute. Citizen requests
for information or assistance have always been met with a
cheerful and positive spirit. In my eight years with the City, I
have never heard anyone say a negative word) about her work
ethic or helpful demeaner. On a personal basi , I have
requested information from Maureen on many .ccasions, and
her knowledge of the history of Atlantic
Beach plus her ability to research the
records has proven invaluable. For the
entire Commission, I thank her for her Jo
service to us and to the community. Meyor
`1 11"-s1\
erve
City oFAtlantic Beach
800 Seminole Roai
Atlantic Beach, FL 52258
Presort Standard
US Postage Paid
Jacksonville FL
Permit No. 1645
September Calendar
SON MON TOES WED THOR5 F R I 5 A T
Meetings are held in the Commission
Chambers unless otherwise indicated
*These events will be held at Adele Grage
Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Boulevard
1
2
3
4
Navy Band's Southeast
Brass Quintet Concert
in Russell Park
7:00 p.m.
5
6
7
*Tree Conservation
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
8
9
10
11
12
13
City Commission
Meeting
7:15 p.m.
14
Code Enforcement
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
15
16
1 7
18
19
20
21
Community
Development
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
22 *Atlantic Beach
Public Arts
Commission
7:00 p.m.
*Tree Conservation
Board Mtg.
7:00 p.m.
23
24
25
26
27
City Commission
Meeting
7:15 p.m.
28
*Cultural Arts &
Recreation Adv.
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
29
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