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03/1992 Atlantic Beach Courier0 . ,AD 1 a 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 1 Atlantic Beach BOARDS CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD George Bull, Jr. Heywood Dowling, Jr John J. Venn Herbert Moller Gene Montanye 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 Patricia Pillmore (Meets 3rd Tuesday of each month) PENSION BOARD OF TRUSTEES Joseph Garvin Joan LaVake Richard E. White Ronald W. Wingate Alison Brown PUBLIC NUISANCE CONTROL BOARD J.C. Green P.J. Wetherhold Dorothy Kerber, Atlantic Beach Representative TREE CONSERVATION BOARD John Weldon, Jr. Thomas Frohne Carolyn Woods Hope VanNortwick Jim Pelkey (Meets 3rd Monday of each month) RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Donald Fagan Henry Batts Jeff Croom Henry Isaacs Richard Riley (Meets 2nd Thursday of each month) Over the past several weeks our elected officials have looked into the possibility of extending City Hall hours for the convenience of our residents. Upon reviewing a recommendation from the City Manager and after careful deliberation, our Mayor and City Commission have authorized the extending of hours on Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Those citizens who are unable to conduct business during regular hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. will be afforded the opportunity to do so on Thursday of each week as noted. The program will be started on March 5, 1992 and over the course of the next several months we will be evaluating how well it is received and used. Adjustments will be made after receiving this additional information. Obviously, with not all staff members present after 5:00 p.m. on Thursdays, we will be unable to provide the full compliment of services normally available during business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, you should be able to pay bills, request water, sewer, and solid waste collection services, and generally ask questions about the services provided by our City government. Additionally, if you have a complaint or concern and we are unable to satisfy the same with the reduced staff members present, we will be sure to refer the same to the appropriate department on the next day for follow-up and contact with you. We hope this plan is of interest to you and urge you to use the same as needed. We also encourage your input in terms of your feelings towards this extended hour program. Kim D. Leinbach City Manager Please be advised of the following ordinances recently enacted by the City Commission: Ordinance No. 95-92-51 passed on February 10, 1992 provides that a fee of $20.00 will be charged for the release of any animal which has been picked up by the animal control officer and impounded for any reason, for any length of time. Ordinance No. 80-91-45 passed on December 16, 1991 revised the water and sewer rates charged by the city and provides an incentive for water conservation. Residents who use less than 15,000 gallons per quarter should see a reduction in their utility bills; however, residents using over 20,000 gallons per quarter will see substantial increases. Copies of these ordinances are available in the office of the City Clerk. Ways to conserve water. In the bathroom: • Limit showers to five minutes. • Don't turn the shower on until you are ready to step in. • Don't run the water while you brush your teeth. • Brush your teeth first, using the cold water in the line while you wait for the water to get hot enough to wash your face or shave. • Don't let the water run while you shave. In the kitchen: • Equip faucets with aerators. • Don't run water while you peel vegetables; rinse them briefly before and after peeling. • Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator to eliminate the necessity of running water for several minutes until it runs cold. • While waiting for tap water to run hot or cold, catch the lukewarm water in a pan and use it to water plants. • Run dishwasher only when you have a full load. In the laundry: • Whenever possible, run the washing machine only when you have a full load. PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT EASTER EGG HUNT AND PARADE Thursday, April 16th, 10:00 a.m, until Noon The City of Atlantic Beach's SIXTH ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT will be held on Thursday, April 16th, from 10:00 a.m. until Noon in Jack Russell Park. This year, instead of the hat and bonnet contest we have held in the past, children " ages 2-10 will be able to participate in an 1, EASTER PARADE. Children may dress up in 0 0 Mom or Dad's clothes, Easter Symbols, or whatever. There will be no special categories, and everyone may walk or be wheeled. EASTER PARADE ROUTE — The parade will leave The Adele Grage Community Center at 10:00 a.m. and proceed down Plaza to Jack Russell Park at which time the Easter Egg Dunt will start. REGISTRATION AND GUIDELINES FOR THE EASTER EGG HUNT — Each child must bring six (6) plastic eggs, filled with one (1) sticker in each egg— NO CANDY. You must bring the filled eggs when you register. Only those children who are on the list will be able to hunt. Registration begins March 16th in the Adele Grage Community Center from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., only. Peter Rabbit, Ricky Raccoon and HUG (surprise guest) are planning to join us, so it is suggested parents bring cameras. All hunters will be provided with a bag for their eggs so it is not necessary to bring a basket, but you may if you wish. If you live along the parade route, please acknowledge the children by waving, clapping, etc. UTILIZING THE ADELE GRAGE COMMUNITY CENTER The City's Community Center is ready to provide the community with a place to play cards, cribbage, bingo or any other activities or events. The building is manned by Parks and Recreation Director, Rose Blanchard, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. daily. It has been suggested that a class in Sign Language be provided. If you would be interested in this please let us know. We will have a questionnaire available in the City Hall, Public Works, and the Community Center which will give you an opportunity to let us know what programs you would like to have. Please fill this out and return to Rose Blanchard, Parks and Recreation Department, 716 Ocean Boulevard, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233-5400 or drop it off at any city facility. UNDERWAY The new Post Office facility is now under construction in Atlantic Beach. This new facility is located on Mayport Road just south of Plaza and will serve all of Atlantic Beach, portions of Neptune Beach and north toward the Navy Base. The Postal Service chose this site for its centralized location and for its access to Mayport Road. The facility will allow customer access only from Mayport Road with Postal vehicle access from Plaza. Extensive landscaping of the site upon completion will make the facility one of the most aesthetically pleasing in Northern Florida and will include the preservation of two state identified wetland areas. Construction and Landscaping plans are on file in the Building and Zoning Department at City Hall and available for public inspection. 1 1 '' C Em / The rehabilitation of Donner Subdivision using Community Development Block Grant funds is continuing for a third year. In a joint effort lead by Atlantic Beach, Federal, and City of Jacksonville — HUD money is being directed into Donner Subdivision to accomplish the rehabilitation of homes owned by elderly residents with low income levels. During the first year Atlantic Beach conducted a thorough study of the area identifying homes eligible for the program, road and drainage problems and needed improvements for Jordan Park. During the second year eight homes were rehabilitated. Now, during the third year, an additional four homes are to be repaired, park improvements will be made, intensified Code Enforcement efforts will help improve the appearance of the neighborhood, and additional maintenance and improvement of the drainage systems will be done. In addition to the efforts of the City, a new non-profit organization of area residents has been formed to promote and assist further rehabilitation of the neighborhood. This Community Development Corporation will assist area residents in obtaining low interest home improvement loans from local banks, recruit eligible Block Grant recipients, help the City identify homes for improvements, organize community functions, and provide a forum for residents to have real input into the improvement of their neighborhood. Anyone desiring further information about either the Block Grant program or the Donner Community Development Corporation can contact City Planner, George Worley, at City Hall. 19114,99:1 I 1 1 Beaches Habitat has begun construction of their first house. The newly formed branch of the world-wide "Habitat for Humanity; has chosen Atlantic Beach as the location for its firs' house. With the assistance of th City in locating available property, Beaches Habitat has purchased three lots in Donner Subdivision. The on- going rehabilitation project in that area helped attract Habitat's attention and now their efforts will greatly benefit the area by providing three new homes, for three community minded families, to compliment the rehabilitation work to the existing homes in the area already being done by the City. Because of the excellent working relationship between Habitat and the City, Habitat plans to continue targeting areas in Atlantic Beach as long as properties are available. Beaches Habitat relies almost entirely upon donated materials and labor for their efforts. The City of Atlantic Beach encourages anyone interested in this worthy cause to contact Beaches Habitat for further information. 111, 11'1 1 9 1. ' D At a joint meeting of the City Commission and the Community Development Board in December, a committee made up of members of both bodies was formed to review the City's Zoning and Subdivision regulations and to recommend revisions if necessary. This committee will review the regulations with an eye toward eliminating conflicting terminology, vague definitions, and duplication of sections. In addition, clarifying the powers and duties of the Community Development Board, staff officials and the City Commission may be addressed. CHANGES TO ZONING DISTRICTS AND PERMITTED USES WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED BY THIS COMMITTEE. Meetings will be open to the public and scheduled meetings will be posted in City Hall. 4. Old Appliances (White Goods) — Stickers may be purchased at City Hall for their pickup. 5. Hazardous Materials — Latex paints may be left open, filled with sand and disposed of with regular garbage. Oil based paints, thinners, old batteries, chemicals, etc. should be saved and taken to the advertised center when the County sponsors an Amnesty Day. Please do not illegally dispose of any materials in our ditches, sewers, or right-of-ways. We must protect our most precious resources in Atlantic Beach, our land and water. We will advise you of pickup days for garbage, yard trash, and recyclables by flyers delivered to your home. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us at Public Works 247-5834. lei DI DI 1110 1 '1, In order to prevent injury to our sanitation workers, hypodermic needles should be disposed of properly. We recommend they be placed in plastic two -liter soft drink bottles, securely capped and taped. Improper disposal can put sanitation workers at great risk. If you have any questions, please call the Public Works Department at 247-5834. Recently, we have had many complaints concerning outdoor cats. Cats that roam the neighborhood are creating more problems than dogs. They scratch auto paint, fight among themselves during the night, and create odor problems in gardens and yards. The cat ordinance requires cats to be "maintained on your property and not become a nuisance." Also, cats must be registered with the city just as dogs must be registered v,,41, Fh n�F:r TF r��'a wr P-4— n,.i .u.a uaa5 .w�. as ✓ , ..wc.b an i:u�uvva l.ub, yvu .uai help by getting the cat vaccinated and tagged. If everyone will cooperate, the problems we are having with wild cats will be greatly alleviated. The Atlantic Beach Lifeguards are accepting applications for the spring and summer season. Interested applicants can obtain the required paperwork from the Police Department Records Division. We are looking for mature individuals with extensive water safety and first aid backgrounds. Starting pay for a qualified guard is about $7.50/hr. If you are interested or you know of someone (perhaps away at college) who may want to work as a lifeguard in Atlantic Beach, applications need to be submitted as soon as possible. The city of Atlantic Beach is an equal opportunity employer. Many of you have called about having receptions at the Community Center. For your information, the building has a maximum capacity of 35 people at any one time. The back section is ideal for meetings, classes and activities of this nature and will not interrupt city workers. After hours you may pay to use the building and arrangements will be made according to the function. VOTING FOR PRECINCT 03F The Community Center is the voting place for Precinct 03F and is available for voter registration as long as the books are open. USE OF PARKS, PAVILIONS, BALLFIELDS, & TENNIS COURTS Call 247-5828 at least two weeks before you would like to use a facility, whether it is for a weekday, night or weekend. You will be issued a permit and that is your guarantee for the space you requested. Tennis courts need reservations for matches. Please call well in advance. This applies only to matches and not everyday play. UNF SPONSORED CLASSES IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER Communicating Through the Media — March 25th Ethnic & Cultural Diversity — April 23rd Call UNF for cost information. FREE TAX HELP FOR SENIOR CITIZENS The AARP is offering free tax help for senior citizens in the Adele Grage Community Center, 716 Ocean Boulevard, every Tuesday from Noon until 4:00 p.m., until April 14, 1992. BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE The "Atlantic Arbor Fest" activities held in January proved to be highly successful! Our thanks to those who assisted the Committee with the projects and to those who attended the tree sales held on January 18, 1992. The nurseries report that over 200 trees and shrubs were sold that day. Additionally, 1,000 Virginia Pine seedlings were given to the students at Atlantic Beach Elementary School and to those who turned out for the tree sale. Other activities held at the elementary school during the week long Arbor Day celebration were both interesting and entertaining for the students, and the faculty, as well. A special thanks to the Jean Ribault Chapter of the DAR who presented the City with a gift of a 10' east Palatka Holly Tree, which was planted on Florida Arbor Day in the greenscape median of the City Hall parking lot. We hope that is will serve as an impetus for other groups, organizations or individuals to consider making similar donations. It is a lasting way to be part of providing an attractive natural setting for our City. Our very special and distinctive license plates will soon be available! Plan to purchase them at City Hall anytime during normal working hours, or at the Adele Grage Community Center, between 8:00 a.m. -12:00 Noon, Monday through Friday. The cost will be $5.00 each with profits from the sale to be used for landscaping and added plantings on City property throughout our community. The tags will be attractive and reflect the pride we all share in being Atlantic Beach residents. Show support of our City and the Beautification Committee by purchasing one or more! With the coming of spring, the Committee has many other projects in the works. We can always use new members who share a commitment in creating a beautiful and environmentally safe community. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month in the City Hall Conference Room, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Join us! With the closing of the Girvin Road Landfill, the days of six day garbage pickups are ending. We will have much longer trips to the new disposal sites and we will need everyone's help in reducing the amount of trips to the landfill. You can help by doing the following: 1. Garbage — Dispose of as many foods as possible by using a garbage disposal, by composting, and minimizing waste. 2. Trash — Mulch grass clippings,, burn wood in your fireplaces, and if your property has a lot of trees, consider purchasing a small brush chipper. 3. Cardboard — Save cardboard until our cardboard compactor is in place at Public Works. We expect by March you will be able to take cardboard to the Public Works Facility and simply push boxes through the gate. Cardboard will then be baled and recycled. 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 ................................ 247-5810 City Manager ............................ 247-5800 Finance Director ......................... 247-5800 Public Works ............................. 247-5834 Purchasing ............................... 247-5818 Utility Billing ............................ 247-5816 .T F A (Street ligl,t.g) 396-5310 Tax Collectors Office ..................... 630-2000 Property Appraisers Office ............... 630-2025 City of Atlantic Beach Courier 800 Seminole Road Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233 * A [OF-W-711or"11 A .0 Tax Collector (Auto Tags)..........................246-7407 Supervisor of Elections..............................630-1410 Post Office (Royal Palm Drive) .................249-5231 Public Library (Beaches Branch)..............241-1141 Driver's License Bureau (For appointment).................................241-3215 Bus Schedule Information .........................356-5521 Dial -A -Ride ................................................246-1477 Atlantic Beach Elementary School ...........249.2794 Mayport Middle School..............................241-2441 Fletcher Middle School..............................246-6484 Fletcher Sr. High School ...........................249-5635 Councilman Dick Brown (Council District 3) ...............................630-1386 Rep. Joe Arnall (State House District 19) ......................249-1990 Tallahassee ...........................................488-0001 Newsletter Staff Maureen King Dorothy M. Strain Trudy Lopanik Bulk Rate U.S. Postage PAID Jacksonville, FL Permit No. 1645