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12-1991 Atlantic Beach Courier1 if Ell III William I. Gulliford, Mayor )mmissioners: Lyman T. Fletcher, Glenn A. Edwards, Adelaide R. Tucker, J. Dezmond Waters, Alan C. Jensen, City Attorney, Kim D. Leinbach, City Manager, Maureen King, City Clerk City Of Atlantic Beach BOARDS George Bull, Jr. Mattie Freeman Heywood Dowling, Jr. Herbert Moller John J. Venn Barbara Bonner Edward Martin (Meets 1st Tuesday every two months) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD Ruth Gregg Samuel T. Howie W. Gregg McCaulie Robert Frohwein Don Wolfson Mark McGowan (Meets 3rd Tuesday of each month) PENSION BOARD OF TRUSTEES Joseph Garvin Joan LaVake Richard E. White Ronald W. Wingate Alison Brown J. C. Green P.J. Wetherhold HOSPITAL BOARD Dorothy Kerber, Atlantic Beach Representative John Weldon, Jr. Carolyn Woods Jim Pelkey Sandy Sheppard Thomas Frohne (Meets 3rd Monday of each month) RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Donald Fagan Henry Batts Jeff Croom David Turner Richard Riley (Meets 2nd Thursday of each month) FROM THE MAYOR'S DESK We approach this Holiday Season with many concerns about the state of our economy, and with numerous problems facing our country. For many of us, it may seem difficult to get excited about the upcoming holidays when barraged by stories about the homeless, the jobless, a credit crunch, faltering businesses, and all the bad news of our time. But maybe in all this adversity, it is even more important to resurrect the old and true meaning of this season; of giving, no matter how little; of sharing with family, friends, and those we do not know; of reflecting on what we have, no matter how meager; and thanking God we have that. Your Commission is well attuned to the conditions in the economy, and the associated suffering, and we are committed to holding down the cost of government to you. Our employees didn't receive raises. I trust they are glad they have a job; many people don't. We have not been extravagant in our expenditures, and have actively sought ways to save money. We have seen our revenues from the State greatly reduced, but we held the line on taxes. We are all sharing in the hard times. Maybe there won't be as much under our Christmas trees as in times past, but maybe we will all be drawn a little closer together because of hardship. Isn't that the real meaning of "community"? Let me suggest you find someone less fortunate than you, and help them. It doesn't have to be much; maybe even just the contact to let them know there is someone out there who cares about them. A cake, a card, a meal, or a smile goes a long way to lift someone who is down. Our society has been built on people caring for people, and the Season we will soon celebrate is a wonderful time to further express caring and sharing. I hope this Holiday Season will be the best ever for you and yours, not in a material sense, but in its true spirit. Happy Holidays, Bill Gulliford Mayor Two Commissioners who, between them, have given more than twenty years of faithful service to the city, have retired. Robert B. Cook served on the Board of Adjustment, and later, on the City Commission, and John W. Weldon served on the City Commission in the 60's and again in the 90's. Both Commissioners were dedicated to preserving the character and quality of life in the city and gave unselfishly of their time to make Atlantic Beach a better place to live. We will miss them. Two new City Commissioners, Lyman Fletcher and Dezmond Waters, were sworn into office on November 5, 1991. We welcome them both and look forward to working with them. City Commission meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of each month (except December when the only meeting of the month will be held on Monday, Dec. 9th). Please plan to come and meet our new officials and become more involved in your community. We want to make our citizens aware of a program currently being run by Scotty's. For each $100,000 of Scotty's cash register receipts ccllccted, Scott,, ' r ill donate building materials worth $10,000 to Habitat to build homes for those who would otherwise be unable to own a home. Receipts may be deposited in collection boxes in City Hall, the Adele Grage Community Center (716 Ocean Boulevard), and the Police Station. If you send receipts with your utility bill payment, we will make sure they are put in the collection boxes. This is an opportunity to help the less fortunate in our community at no cost, and we urge our citizens to support this worthy cause. Commissioner Edwards will be in attendance in City Hall on Mondays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, and on Fridays from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. If you have a suggestion, complaint, or just want to talk, stop by City Hall and meet with Commissioner Edwards. No appointments are necessary. 1 On Saturday, January 18, 1992 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM, the Committee will sponsor its first annual "Atlantic Arbor Fest" to observe and celebrate Florida Arbor Day. On this date, local nurseries and tree farms will sell ti and shrubs at the best prices avail. The varieties will include Oaks, Magnolias, Myrtles, Hollies, and Dc to name a few. The project is designed to increas awareness of the value of trees in o community and, in turn, to help bei - Atlantic Beach for generations to come. This is a perfect time of the year for tree planting. Watch for additional information and details in our local newspapers as the date for "Atlantic Arbor Fest" draws closer. In further observance of Florida Arbor Day, the Committee is also sponsoring a series of planned activities and programs for Atlantic Beach Elementary School beginning on Monday, January 13, to help educate our youngsters on the importance of trees in our environment. Each student will be given a tree seedling to take home and plant, and hopefully, to watch it grow. The above projects are an important undertaking for the Committee and volunteers are needed. If you have a little time to share, please contact Carl Walker, Beautification Coordinator at 247-5828, weekdays from 8:00 AM until noon. In addition to the Arbor Day festivities, the Committee will be considering many other major projects. Please give us the benefit of your time and talents. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month in the Conference Room at the City Hall beginning at 7:30 PM. Come join us! We thank you for the many nominations for "Yard of the Month" which resulted from the form in the last issue of the Courier. The last three selections have been: Mr. Lowell Breeding, 975 Camelia St., Mr. and Mrs. Barry Brubaker, 43 Forrestal Circle S. and Mr. and Mrs. John B. Mizell, Jr., 522 Clipper Ship Lane. Remember you don't have to use a form to submit a nomination for this monthly award. Give us a call and let us know the address - we'll do the rest. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STORM WATER UTILITY (S.W.U.) — Many of you have noticed a new charge on your latest utility bill for the S.W.U. In answer to many questions regarding this fee: 1. $9.00 Quarterly Fee — Each Residential Unit is charged at the rate of $3.00 per month. 2. Purpose of Fee — The fee will provide necessary monies to prepare a S.W.U. Master Plan, design plans, and construct much needed drainage improvements. We will purchase new ditch cleaning equipment and increase street sweeping. 3. Collected Fees — There are legal constraints that prohibit these monies from being used for anything other than drainage improvements or maintenance. CAPITAL PROJECTS We are close to completion of the new lift station near the Sea Gardens Condominiums on Seminole Road. After completion, all residences in the City of Atlantic Beach will be serviced by the City water and sewer plants. The expansion of the Buccaneer Sewage Treatment Plant is underway with the construction of the Surge 1 •1 1 WJ 91 LIJ DI IJ DI r, . BICYCLE LAWS & SAFETY The Police Department expects to see many new bicycles on the street during the Christmas season, and we hope that the following information will be useful to you. Bicycle accidents are one of the leading causes of injuries in young people, and we want to prevent any of our Atlantic Beach children from getting hurt while biking. According to Florida Law: • A bicyclist must obey all traffic controls and laws. • A bicyclist must use a fixed, regular seat for riding. • No bicycle may be used to carry more people than the bicycle is designed to carry. • A least one hand must be kept on the handlebars while riding. • Parents must not knowingly allow their child to violate these provisions. • When riding on a sidewalk, a bicyclist has the same rights and duties as a pedestrian, but the bicyclist must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. • Between sunset and sunrise, a bicycle must be equipped with a white front light and a rear reflector and red light. • A bicyclist is prohibited from wearing a headset, headphone, or other listening device other than a hearing aid while riding. • A bicyclist riding slower than the flow of traffic should ride as close as practical to the right hand curb of the roadway unless passing, making a left turn, or to avoid hazards. The Atlantic Beach Police Department will be utilizing a bicycle patrol throughout the city, and we have found that verbal warnings are largely ineffective. Please comply with these laws, and call your Police Department whenever you have questions about bicycle safety. We wish you a joyous and safe holiday season. COMMUNITY CPR TRAINING CPR training is now available to the community through the Atlantic Beach Fire Department. If you are interested in this program, please call the fire station at 247-5802 for details. FIRE SAFETY TIPS • With the cool weather upon us, please double check your smoke detectors for proper operation. (1) Change battery at least once a year. (2) Clean dust from inside the detector. (3) Check to see that the indicator light is lit. • Keep areas around portable heaters clear of combustible items and be sure not to leave heaters unattended while lit. • Unplug all Christmas lights before going to bed or before leaving the house for any period of time. ADELE GRAGE Although the building is not "ready for prime time", the following activities were held in the ADELE GRAGE COMMUNITY CENTER in the past month: Bridge Clubs, Arts & Crafts Clubs, LeLeche Group and of course, the VERY SUCCESSFUL -BOOK SALE conducted by the Friends of the Library, Beaches Branch. OUR DECEMBER CALENDAR: December 5th — 6:00-8:00 PM Our THIRD CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION AT JACK RUSSELL PARK. Santa arrives at 6:00 PM. Enjoy Santa and all the other activities which include bands and choirs, face painting, free balloons and treats from Publix. December 7th — 9:00 AM -Noon (Family Project) r -11- 1— e_1_-, vOlii LOGvUtlluuii�c_Lci uuU ticliuiu6y v popcorn and cranberries for the Center's tree. Bring a family ornament with your family's name and 1991 on it and we will hang it on our Community Tree each year! Please Note: Christmas is for children and we have some very needy children in our own community. We invite the Atlantic Beach citizens to pick a tag from our "Giving Tree" at the Community Center. Return the wrapped gift with the tag and ,Santa will deliver the gifts December 24th. We have the names of six families who have one or two children whose Christmas could be a whole lot brighter ... with a gift from you. 27 1:00-3:00 PM Special Safety Presentations by Atlantic Beach Police Dept. 30 2:30-3:30 PM Beaches Library Story - Tellers Hour 31 10:00 -Noon Safety at Home & Away (Atlantic Beach Fire Dept.) January 2 10:00 -Noon Jacksonville Zoo Outreach Program & Display 3 1:00-3:00 PM Slide Presentation (Animal Control Officer, `BJ") We hope our neighbors in the Donner and Jordan Park areas are enjoying their NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT! We know it has been long in coming ... but now you have it - ENJOY IT!!! The Community Center has a container to receive non-perishable foods, ALL YEAR ROUND! This donation will be delivered to B.E.A.M. on a regular basis to be distributed among needy families. "The right of children to play, to sing and to dance, the right of youth to sport for sport's sake; the right of men and women to use leisure in the pursuit of happiness in their own way, are basic to our American heritage." — Harry Truman BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON! SCHOOL'S OUT **0 ACTIVITIES: 6 December 23 10:00 -Noon CHRISTMAS PARTY! Admission: a gift for a child of your age (under $5.00) 24 10:00 -Noon A Movie! 27 1:00-3:00 PM Special Safety Presentations by Atlantic Beach Police Dept. 30 2:30-3:30 PM Beaches Library Story - Tellers Hour 31 10:00 -Noon Safety at Home & Away (Atlantic Beach Fire Dept.) January 2 10:00 -Noon Jacksonville Zoo Outreach Program & Display 3 1:00-3:00 PM Slide Presentation (Animal Control Officer, `BJ") We hope our neighbors in the Donner and Jordan Park areas are enjoying their NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT! We know it has been long in coming ... but now you have it - ENJOY IT!!! The Community Center has a container to receive non-perishable foods, ALL YEAR ROUND! This donation will be delivered to B.E.A.M. on a regular basis to be distributed among needy families. "The right of children to play, to sing and to dance, the right of youth to sport for sport's sake; the right of men and women to use leisure in the pursuit of happiness in their own way, are basic to our American heritage." — Harry Truman BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON! Tank. We have completed repairs to the combined outfall line at Sherman's Point on AlA (Mayport Road). The new sidewalks along Seminole Road are nearly completed and work along Main Street between Levy and Dutton Roads is progressing well. We thank all the residents affected by these projects for their patience. NEEDLE DISPOSAL We hope to have stickers and pamphlets printed soon regarding the proper disposal of needles and syringes. Improper disposal can put Sanitation Workers at great risk. If you have any questions, please call the Public Works Department at 247-5834. As mentioned in the September newsletter, lined landfills will not accept yard waste after January 1, 1992. To comply with this state law, the City of Jacksonville will contract to build a yard waste mulching facility (or facilities), probably in Bayard or on Kings Road, which will be completed in January 1992. The yard waste from Atlantic Beach will still be picked up but in a separate collection and it will be hauled to the closest mulching facility. (You will receive specific information in January on pickup days, etc.) Since the mulching facility will be farther from Atlantic Beach than the Girvin Road Landfill (where our garbage goes) it will cost more for us to haul it there. You can help keep costs down by reducing the amount of yard waste you put out: leave your. grass clippings on your lawn to recycle nutrients and compost other materials in your backyard. Also, the Committee is looking at building a mulching facility at the Beaches. The Solid Waste Committee has been working diligently to incorporate the results of the survey on solid waste issues into local ordinances. Some of the highlights of the survey and corresponding actions are as follows: RESULTS ACTION 49% of households put out reduce garbage collection garbage three or fewer to three days a week times a week, 70% of (plus yard waste once a households thought three week, recyclables once times a week garbage a week) collection was enough 73% of households placed change to curbside their garbage at the pickup instead of 20 ft. curb from the curb 49% favored a volume develop volume based based garbage rate rate structure and get structure public input on (41% were opposed) implementation All Atlantic Beach residents are invited to join the Committee as we look at issues such as recycling, garbage collection, landfills, yard waste composting, and volume based garbage rates. Committee meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM in the Conference Room at City Hall. For more information, contact Committee Chairman Theresa Todd at 249-1864. Just a reminder — we now recycle magazines and metal coat hangers, _- as well as newspapers, glass, plastic and aluminum cans. Keep up the good work and encourage your neighbors to recycle! With the advent of cooler weather, Florida snakes are on the move. If you spot a snake in your yard and would like to have it identified or removed, please call the police dispatcher and someone will be sent to assist you. In addition to our Animal Control Officer, we have a private citizen who is Vi knowledgeable about Florida snakes and will assist. A free brochure about poisonous snakes is available in the lobby of the Police Department. We have many stray cats and hungry raccoons in our city, and they are attracted to pet food which is left out of doors. To avoid these problem animals, please feed your pets indoors or at least remove or dispose of the food at night. If you have problem animals that need to be trapped and relocated, please call Animal Control at 246-1648 to be placed on the waiting list. A copy of the trap policy can also be obtained in the lobby of the Police Department. Please continue to abide by the laws for your animals while in public places. Dogs should be leashed and tagged, and the owner should carry a pooper scooper and dispose of their dog's waste. Although conditions on the beach may prevent the Animal Control truck from operating effectively, our Animal Control Officer is also assigned a bicycle to continue beach front enforcement. NOMINATE 1NEIGHBOR 1 Who has the best -looking yard in your neighborhood? The Beautification Committee would like to know so that they can be considered for recognition for their talents! If you have a nomination, fill out the information below and mail it to City Hall, 800 Seminole Road to the attention of the Beautification Coordinator. Or, just drop it by City Hall. If you don't know the name of the resident, just give us the address. Name of Nominee: Address: Your Name and Phone Number: (Optional) -------------------------J City of Atlantic Beach Courier 800 Seminole Road Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233 Police & Fire Emergencies 911 Police & Fire Non -Emergencies 249-5606 City Hall (Information) 247-5800 Animal Control 246-1648 Garbage & Trash 247-5834 Parks & Recreation Department 247-5828 Recycle Hotline 247-5834 Building Department 247-5826 City Clerk 247-5809 City Manager 247-5800 Finance Director 247-5800 Public Works 247-5834 Purchasing 247-5818 Utility Billing 247-5816 J.E.A. (street lights) 396-5310 Tax Collectors Office 630-2000 Property Appraisers Office 630-2025 Newsletter Staff Maureen King Dorothy M. Strain Bulk Rate U.S, Postage PAID Jacksonville, FL Permit No. 1645