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06/1992 Atlantic Beach CourierWilliam 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. John J. Venn Heywood Dowling, Jr. 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 J.C. Green P.J. Wetherhold 1 '1•'1 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) It 10 Lei rki VA. 1 1 • :1. Donald Fagan Jeff Croom Henry Batts Henry Isaacs Richard Riley (Meets 2nd Thursday of each month) Please be advised of the following ordinances recently enacted by the City Commission: Ordinance No. 75-92-9 passed on February 24, 1992, amended the City Code regarding traffic and motor vehicles. The section regarding parking commercial and recreational vehicles was amended and a residential parking sticker program was initiated. The stickers are available for purchase in City Hall at a cost of $5.00. Ordinance No. 55-92-26 passed on April 13, 1992, rewrote the section of the city code regarding solid waste. These changes are significant and are more fully explained elsewhere in this newsletter under "SOLID WASTE COLLECTION." Copies of these ordinances are available in the office of the City Clerk. The City Commission meets twice monthly at 7:15 PM in City Hall, 800 Seminole Road. Regularly scheduled meetings will be held June 8 and 27, July 13 and 27, and August 10 and 24. The public is invited to attend these meetings. City Hall hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Monday through Friday. The extended hours on Thursdays have been discontinued. Voter registrations may be made in the City Clerk's office Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM or at the Adele Grage Community Center (716 Ocean Boulevard) Monday through Friday between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM. We hope everyone over the age of eighteen will register so they can vote in the upcoming Presidential election. VOTE, AND THE CHOICE IS YOURS. DON'T VOTE, AND THE CHOICE IS THEIRS. REGISTER, OR YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. The new, uniform water and sewer rates were implemented with the April 1, 1992 billing. Unlike prior rates, every customer, residential and commercial, is now charged the same rate for service as follows: $1.00 for 1,000 gallons for water $2.25 for 1,000 gallons of sewer The new rates have been structured to encourage water conservation. Customers whose consumption is 16,000 gallons or less, per quarter, will experience a reduction over the old rates. Customers whose consumption exceeds 16,000 gallons per quarter will have increased water bills. Sewer charges are based on water consumption and no sewer charges are applied to residential customers for consumption in excess of 40,000 gallons per quarter. Residential consumption above that quantity is presumed to be used for landscape purposes and, therefore, would not require treatment at the sewer plant. While a rate adjustment was necessary at this time, we are proud of the fact that our rates are the 1nwPGt of heth niihlie. anti nrivsfoly ownPri i tilitiPG in Duval County. We encourage our citizens to conserve water so that they may enjoy the reduced rates for consumption under 16,000 gallons per quarter. With the closing of the Girvin Road and Northside landfills, the city is forced to transport solid waste to the new Trail Ridge landfill on the west side of Jacksonville, a distance of almost 50 miles (one way). The city, with the help of several volunteers on the Solid Waste Committee, has worked diligently to provide quality service at the best possible price. While we have tried to keep prices as low as possible, it evas necessary to increase the rates and, effective with the June 1, 1992 billing, the quarterly charge for solid waste collection will be $48.00. However, we are checking into the possibility of going to monthly billing and we will keep our citizens informed in subsequent newsletters of our progress in this direction. Beginning June 1, 1992, residential solid waste pick ups will be changed as follows: Garbage 2 days per week Yard trash 2 days per week Sevilla Gardens, Oceanwalk, Selva Marina and all areas east of the center line on Seminole Road and its continuation along Selva Marina Drive will be picked up on the following schedule: Monday and Thursday - Garbage Tuesday and Friday - Yard trash Fleet Landing, Fairway Villas, Selva Linkside, Seaspray and all areas west of these subdivisions will be picked up on the following schedule: Monday and Thursday - Yard trash Tuesday and Friday - Garbage • RILTITIA-01 VU log .• PLAZA DR. ATLANTIC BLVD. Com/ \' MON. & THURS. GARBAGE; TUES. & FRI. YARD TRASH RESIDENTIAL MON. & THURS. YARD TRASH; TU ES. & FR 1. GARBAGE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTERS PICKED UP MON. & WED. Please note that garbage, yard trash, and recyclables must be separated as mixed loads will not be accepted at the landfill. Commercial dumpsters will be picked up on Monday and Wednesday. In addition, large commercial accounts may arrange for Saturday pickups. Recyclable items will continue to be picked up one day per week. Clean corrugated cardboard, cut or folded to a size no larger than the recycling bin, will also now be accepted for recycling. (This does not include cardboard such as cereal or detergent boxes). We can only accept corrugated board at this time. If the corrugated cardboard is too large to fold for cut, it will be accepted at the public works facility, 1200 Sandpiper Lane. There will no longer be a charge to have white goods (stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.) picked up. Stickers to be placed on such items may be obtained by calling Public Works at 247-5834. We will do our best to make sure that problems are kept to a minimum during this transition period but we feel that it is only reasonable to expect some difficulties. We hope you will let us know of any problems you experience and we solicit your patience and understanding during this transition. Ci cc A Nir Ao FLEET W 2 LANDING a 0 C3 cc U, or g Z A' Z ZQ W o PLAZA DR. ATLANTIC BLVD. Com/ \' MON. & THURS. GARBAGE; TUES. & FRI. YARD TRASH RESIDENTIAL MON. & THURS. YARD TRASH; TU ES. & FR 1. GARBAGE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTERS PICKED UP MON. & WED. Please note that garbage, yard trash, and recyclables must be separated as mixed loads will not be accepted at the landfill. Commercial dumpsters will be picked up on Monday and Wednesday. In addition, large commercial accounts may arrange for Saturday pickups. Recyclable items will continue to be picked up one day per week. Clean corrugated cardboard, cut or folded to a size no larger than the recycling bin, will also now be accepted for recycling. (This does not include cardboard such as cereal or detergent boxes). We can only accept corrugated board at this time. If the corrugated cardboard is too large to fold for cut, it will be accepted at the public works facility, 1200 Sandpiper Lane. There will no longer be a charge to have white goods (stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.) picked up. Stickers to be placed on such items may be obtained by calling Public Works at 247-5834. We will do our best to make sure that problems are kept to a minimum during this transition period but we feel that it is only reasonable to expect some difficulties. We hope you will let us know of any problems you experience and we solicit your patience and understanding during this transition. Parks & Recreationet. By the time you read this issue of the COURIER, school could be out for this year! Congratulations to all the children and their parent. d and summer is abouttobe a 11 grades were g pleasant time. The ADELE GRAGE COMMUNITY CENTER will be available for children, ages 6-10, during the summer months from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday. ® There will be activities for their • use and enjoyment such as Ping Pong, Table Pool (with adult supervision) ceramics, table games and more. For further information, please contact Ms. Rose at 2 d -5828. he Also, the Theater Arts Camp, sponsored Players-by-the-Sea will be offering an opportunity for your children during these summer information regarding this Camp, please call Carson Merry Baillie at 246-3394. Once again, the children of Donner Subdivision will have the opportunity of attending our SUMMER CAMP, from June 8, 1992 through August 21, 1992. REGISTRATION FORMS MUST BE COMPLETl be E D r By MAY 29, 1992. All participantsState of Florida. FREE LUNCH, provided by the Please give Ms. Rose a call or leave a message with the Receptionist at City Hall, 247-5800, and we will gladly get back to you. Our SPRING FESTIVAL was a SUCCESS! Lots of you came to the festival the day before Mother's Day, bought Mom a lovely gift, rode the ponies and enjoyed all of the activities available. We all had a terrific time and hope you did too! Our special thanks to all who participated, donated and MADE OUR DAY. Keep tuned to Channel 52 on Cable TV for more information on the HAPPENINGS IN AND AROUNDweaTHE re looking BS OFa ATLANTIC EACH. safe andr now, happy Summer! °1 SUMMERTIME, SUMMERTIME, SUM, SUM, SUMMERTIME ................. . Animal Control SNAKES ALIVE! It's that time of year when the snakes are coming out of hibernation and looking for food. But don't panic if you have snake -o -phobia. In reality, snakes cause few problems and many are beneficial in reducing populations of rodents and other pests. Since just six of Florida's snakes are venomous and only four of these are widespread, the snakes you encounter are most likely to be nonpoisonous, according to the Florida Game and Fish Commission. They advise to observe the snake, try to figure out what kind it is, by using a good reference book available from libraries or bookstores, and if no immediate danger is posed to leave it alone or call your animal control officer to remove and relocate the reptile. She and two other members of the Jax Herpetological Society are available on call to assist Atlantic Beach residents in any snake problem. REMINDERS: If you are feeding a stray or outdoor cat, be sure to get it vaccinated against rabies, tagged with the city, and kept on your property. Stray and outdoor cats are increasingly a major problem and traps are being loaned to residents who encounter a problem in this regard. With good weather right around the With r and vacations coming soon, more people eir dogs will be visiting our beaches. Remember to tell your guests and friends to leash their dogs and clean up after them. If they want to take their dogs on the beach in ourcitheir dog. must have the Atlantic Beach dog tag o The `Big Three" wildlife animals in our re searching for food and are damaging property. Raccoons, opossums and armadillos are being sighted frequently digging for grubs and worms, ransacking gardens for roots, and pilfering bird feeor seeds. if you have a problem with these critterers s, call Animal Control to get on he list for a humane trap. IMPORTANT Telephone Numbers 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 J.E.A. (streetlights) ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,396-5310 Tax CnIlentors O fficG... "”' ... . .............630-2000 Property Appraisers Office ............... 630-2025 City of Atlantic Beach Courier 800 Seminole Road Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233 FRE UETLY Calle Numbers 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 X 1 William I. Gulliford, Mayor Commissioners: 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 VOLUME 3, NO.3 SEPTEMBER 1992 From the Mayor ... On August 10th, the Atlantic Beach City Commission City of Atlantic Beach BOARDS passed Resolution 92-22, directing the Mayor and the City Attorney to file suit against the City of Jacksonville. This action was initiated to seek legal remedy for the serious CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD financial discrepancy between the monies the City of George Bull, Jr. Heywood Dowling, Jr. Jacksonville, acting as our County, collects in Atlantic John J. Venn Herbert Moller Beach in fees and taxes versus the services they render to Gene Montanye Barbara Bonner our citizens. This action was prompted by a petition signed by over 450 households in our community. The Resolution Edward Martin was the culmination of better than four years of (Meets 1st Tuesday every two months) negotiation with Jacksonville on this subject without tangible results. It is not a rash action on our part! COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD Mayor Ed Austin's reaction to our Resolution was that Ruth Gregg Samuel T. Howie all we had to do was "pick up the phone and call him." We W. Gregg McCaulie Robert Frohwein have been picking up the phone and calling the City of Don Wolfson Mark McGowan Jacksonville for over four years: no one has answered! We Patricia Pillmore have been negotiating with Mayor Austin and his staff for (Meets 3rd Tuesday of each month) fourteen months, and have nothing to show for it. A Committee was activated over a year ago by the Jacksonville City Council, chaired by Councilman Harry PENSION BOARD OF TRUSTEES Reagan for the purpose of intergovernmental relations and Joseph Garvin Joan LaVake resolution between the three Beach communities, Baldwin Richard E. White Ronald W. Wingate and the City of Jacksonville, our County. It hasn't met in Alison Brown almost a year. As the tax and fee clock has ticked on, we have repeatedly heard City of Jacksonville officials agree PUBLIC NUISANCE CONTROL BOARD there are financial inequities to the detriment of Atlantic Beach. However, they have done nothing positive to J.C. Green P.J. Wetherhold correct any of the shortfall! After an in-depth study by a citizen's committee over HOSPITAL BOARD the period of a year, they developed numbers that indicate Dorothy Kerber, Atlantic Beach Representative to us that the City of Jacksonville is shorting our citizens $3.5 million each year between revenues they collect, and TREE CONSERVATION BOARD services they provide in our community. We believe our claim is strongly supported by the facts and figures this John Weldon, Jr. Thomas Frohne committee has developed and accumulated. Carolyn Woods Hope VanNortwick Finally, what do we want? Just equitable resolution to Jim Pelkey return to our City the revenues that have been unfairly (Meets 3rd Monday of each month) collected from our people. Those additional monies could be used to reduce property taxes, bolster and improve our RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD local services, as well as address needed improvements in our wage scales and benefits for some of our employees. It Donald Fagan Henry Batts is ironic that the City of Jacksonville continues to use our Jeff Croom Henry Isaacs overpayments to them, to hire our police and firemen Richard Riley away with higher wages and benefits than we can (Meets 2nd Thursday of each month) currently afford. Legal action is not what we wanted. We have negotiated in good faith for years, but to no avail. I would submit that we could resolve our differences in a week or less, if both parties were truly committed to do it. That door is still open for the next several weeks; we hope the City of Jacksonville decides to use it. W i 1. Charges the highest millage of the 10 largest counties in Florida. 2. Charges the 15th highest millage of all counties in Florida. The next 14, for the most part, are rural counties with no cities of any size. 3. Doesn't provide police patrol services. Atlantic Beach renders police patrol services to Jacksonville on a daily basis. 4. Only provides one half of the county rescue service to Atlantic Beach that it gives to Jacksonville residents. 5. Doesn't provide public works services. 6. Doesn't provide water and sewer services. 7. Doesn't provide solid waste pick up. 8. Doesn't provide most of the indigent medical care. 9. Doesn't provide fire department services 10. Doesn't provide recreation services. 11. Doesn't provide planning and zoning. 12. Doesn't provide beach cleaning, although accepted the responsibility in 1983. 13. Doesn't give miscellaneous appropriations. 14. Doesn't give services from Jacksonville Economic Development Corporation. 15. Doesn't provide adequate disaster planning. 16. Doesn't maintain county ditches. 17. Doesn't provide needed county road access to the mainland. 18. Doesn't provide central services. 19. Doesn't offer many of the services that large counties provide their cities. 20. Poor service from the Jacksonville Health Department ("We don't do much work out there.") 21. Offers no county roads. 22. Doesn't often coordinate on issues of mutual concern. 23. Doesn't provide assistance with influx of county residents who use the beach. 24. Doesn't assist in local economic development efforts. 25. Doesn't set a fair ad valorem tax rate for the few services provided. The Presidential Election will be held on November 3, 1992. Citizens have until 5:00 PM on October 5, 1992 to register to vote in this election or to make any other changes such as change of party or change of address. Residents of Duval County may register to vote at City Hall between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, or at the Adele Grage Community Center between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. The registration books will close on October 5, 1992 and will not reopen until November 4, 1992. The voting precincts in Atlantic Beach are as follows: 03F—Adele Grage Community Center 716 Ocean Boulevard 03G— Community Presbyterian Church 150 Sherry Drive 03H —City Hall 800 Seminole Road The polls will be open on election day from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM M00*MOM In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Jackson from impeachment In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency of the United States In 1923, one vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party November 14 — Walk-a-thon sponsored by Atlantic Beach Parks & Recreation Department to aid St. Jude's Children's Hospital. To sign up or for further information, please see Mrs. Rose at the Adele Grage Community Center. December 5 — Christmas Tree Lighting at Donner Park - the first ever. �. December 12 — Christmas program in ". Russell Park. Additional activities are planned - this year. Committee Several planting projects have been completed during the past three months. Cypress trees have been added to the landscape at City Hall and will provide an attractive setting for many years to come. Landscaping at each of the four "Welcome to Atlantic Beach" signs is now complete. These areas, in key City locations, present an excellent 5110 "first impression" for our visitors. By the way, the areas are maintained, on a volunteer basis, by Committee members. Atlantic Beach Vanity Plates are still on sale as a Committee fund raiser. They are available for $5.00 each at City Hall and at the Adele Grage Community Center. Profits will be used for plantings on City property. The plates are attractive and in keeping with the image of our community. Support your Beautification Committee and their efforts and at the same time, show your pride in being an Atlantic Beach resident, "A Great Place to Grow". There was a tremendous response to the form used in the last issue for nominations for "Yard of the Month". For those of you who submitted a nomination, our thanks; each receives our consideration. Thus far, over 25 deserving yards have been recognized. Our latest three winners have been: Ms. Helen Peterson, 351 Seminole Road; Mr. James Carnell, 648 Aquatic Drive, and Mr. & Mrs. R. B. Dumlao, 588 Plaza. The Committee has many "IIIbitious projects to implement within the coming months. Extra hands and fresh ideas are always needed. Regular meetings are held in the Conference Room of City Hall, the second Wednesday of each month, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Join us! �� • _KNILK13011 As of July 28th the Coastal Construction Control Line has been officially relocated to approximately coincide with the east edge of Beach Avenue. This line stretches the full length of Atlantic Beach, north to south, and requires that any new construction or additions east of the line be permitted through the Department of Natural Resources as well as the city. Any person considering ANY construction east of a line coinciding with the east edge of Beach Avenue should contact the Building Department for information as to the exact location of the line and the proper permitting steps to be followed. The Building Department is open in City Hall from 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday, and can be reached by telephone at 247-5826. We wish to thank our citizens for their support and cooperation with the new solid waste collection schedules. Most of our citizens are separating their solid waste materials and setting them out for collection on the proper days. If you have questions regarding the disposal of any material, please call the Public Works Department at 247-5834. J �'�:_QVffAM Improvements to the culvert at Fleet Landing are under way. A new flow control system is being installed to prevent backups and we are confident this will prevent many of the drainage problems experienced in the past during heavy rainfall. NOISY CANINES: Please keep your dogs quiet during sleeping hours. If your dog barks to alert you to trespassers, get up, investigate the situation, and immediately quiet your dog after praising the animal for doing its job. There are various ways to control an excessively noisy dog: with velcro muzzles, electronic collars, obedience training, or by simply bringing the dog indoors during the night. If the city receives reports of a barking dog from three different sources, on three separate occasions, the owner can be cited. DOGS ON THE BEACH: The only time you can unleash your dog is when you and your dog are swimming in the ocean. Carry the leash with you into the water and releash the dog before it returns to the sand. Please, remember to carry and utilize clean-up material for your dog. DOG AND CAT TAGS: If you have bought your pet's tag and you move to anofl f>.r Iocat;", nr if vT_1 MVP your nat to a ncv, owner, be sure to call Animal Control with the tag number and the new information. The tag will still be valid and serve as identification if the pet gets lost from the new location. If you plan to use a city park, either daily or on weekends, please call Mrs. Rose at 247-5828 to make a reservation. This will help with scheduling the use of the parks and prevent disappointments. Our summer camp was a great success, with / up to 25 children attending each day. We all had a great time and made many new friends, hopefully, for life. Our thanks to Carson Merry Baillie and the Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre for their treat of pizza, ice cream and drinks at camp's end. By the time you read this we hope the citizens and children of the Donner Subdivision will have the beginnings of a long awaited Community Center. The Community Center will be funded by grant monies secured by Chief Thompson and the Atlantic Beach Police Department. We will have a building which we hope will be heated and cooled, and will be known as the Donner Park Community Center. It will be staffed by Phyllis Terrell, our summer camp counselor, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday for homework assistance and play. All other requests for use of the building or the L,: -JI park should be made by calling Mrs. Rose at 247-5828. A permit for use of the building will be issued and all permits must be signed by Mrs. Rose. Please accept our invitation to the dedication of the building when a program will be presented by the "Kids of Summer Camp 1992." The date and time of the dedication will be advertised in the Beaches Leader. DATES TO MEMBER: August 25 — School opens September 1— Election Day - First Primary (Check your voter registration card for the location of your voting precinct) September 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26 at 8:00 PM - the Atlantic Beach Experimental Theater will perform "TWO FOR FUN," two one -act plays that are lighthearted, adult comedies. One is a classic by Sean O'Casey and the other is an original modern day comedy by Todd Drazien. The Thursday evening performances are still free to Atlantic Beach residents with proper identification. Admission for Friday and Saturday performances are $5.00 per person. t'or reservations, call Mrs. Baillie at 246-3394. Beginning September 17 and every Thursday thereafter — From 1:00 to 2:00 PM dance classes will be held at the Adele Grage Community Center, 716 Ocean Boulevard. For more information, call Pauline Kriz at 249-8674. September 26 —12:00 Noon - 7:00 PM - a fund Elraising party at Donner Park with food, kids games, arts and crafts sales, barbecue dinners, and much more. This fun event is being sponsored by the Donner Neighborhood Community Development Corporation. October 1 Election Day - Second Primary October 19 - November 19 — The Great Pumpkin will be at the Adele Grage Community Center to receive gifts of food. Thanksgiving baskets will be distributed to needy families in Atlantic Beach. (We will have our "giving tree" again this year. It was a great success last year.) November 3 — GENERAL ELECTION DAY 1® November 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28 — (Yes, Thanksgiving Day evening) Performances by the Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre: "Two for the Season," two one -act plays, "Starman, Wish me Luck" and "Year of the Pilgrimage." Admission to Thursday night performances will be a can or box of non-perishable food. Space is limited so please call Mrs. Baillie at 246- 3394 for reservations. These are family plays but may not be understood by children under twelve years of age. Commmittee The past three months have been busy ones for the Committee! Planting projects have included: The addition of more holly trees in the medians of the City Hall parking lot area; major landscaping at the "Welcome to Atlantic Beach" signs at the Seminole Road and Atlantic Blvd. intersection and at the city limits location, west of the Mayport Road intersection. Further plantings have also been made at the two other sign locations. If you haven't noticed these improvements, take a look next time you go by. They create a pleasant impression of our City. Atlantic Beach Vanity Plates are now on sale at City Hall and the Adele Grage Community Center as a fund raising project of the Committee. Their cost is $5.00 each, with all profits to be used for landscaping and enhancements of City owned property. The plates are attractive and reflect the pride we all share in being residents of our City. Stop by and get a tag for your vehicle and another for a friend! With so many colorful, beautiful yards this time of year, a choice for the "Yard of the Month" has not been easy. The past three winners include: Mr. & Mrs. Larry Covington, 1896 Hickory Lane; Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Scudder, 388 11th Street, and Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Thomas, 386 Skate Road. Please take the time to complete the following form if you wish to k nominate someone for "Yard of the Month". The above three choices were each a result of nominations sent in. The newly elected officers for the Beautification Committee as a result of the April election are: Joanna Fletcher, Chairman, Ottilie Wilkins, Vice Chairman, and Vern Weatherford, Treasurer. Congratulations for a well done job go to Sharon Arrington, past Chairman. If you share the desire in enhancing our lifestyle and in making our City more beautiful and "A great place to grow", join us at our next Committee meet- ing. These meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month in the City Hall Conference Room. Nominate your Neighbor 'Tard of the Month" 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 & phone number (optional) Code Enforcement Dept. "Take Pride" As a property owner or tenant in the City of Atlantic Beach, we should all be doing our part to improve and maintain the home town appearance of our City. Over the remainder of the year we will be listing various and frequently offended City of Atlantic Beach Ordinances. We feel confident that through awareness of the "Law" we will all do our part to keep Atlantic Beach the model city we all desire. In conjunction with the Code Enforcement Board and the Code Enforcement Department Project "Take Pride" will begin with Cavalla Road and the Royal Palms area. FOR YOUR INFORMATION CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH ORDINANCES (Abbreviated) 1. No person shall allow any lot or premises to become overgrown with weeds or deposit rubbish of any kind. Uhapter 12-1-3, Chapter 23 Art 3. 2. You have an abandoned vehicle if: Vehicle appears incapable of being driven on a public street or does not have a valid registration tag properly attached. Chapter 21, Article 11, Div. 1, Sec. 21-24A. Please do not clutter private or public property with abandoned vehicles, refrigerators, washing or drying machines. For pick up of washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators call Public Works Department 247- 5834. For more information call us at 247-5826. Both the Jacksonville City Council and the Atlantic Beach Commission have approved the Community Development Block Grant contract for this year. This year`s contract makes available to elderly and low/ moderai income homeowners over $100,000 for rehabilitation of their homes. This primarily focuses on weather proofing the roof and repairing the plumbing of the recipients' homes. This year the City also will construct some improvements to Jordan park to make it more useable to the community. Anyone interested in obtaining help through this program can contact George Worley at City Hall or by telephone at 247-5800. This program is limited to low and moderate income residents of Donner Subdivision. CommunityDevelopment Boanif The Community Development Board of Atlantic Beach meets on the third Tuesday of each month at City Hall. Meetings are in the City Commission Chambers and begin promptly at 7:00 PM, The Community Development Board hears and acts on requests for Variances and Zoning uses. The Board also reviews and recommends changes to the City's Zoning Ordinances and Comprehensive Plan. All meetings are open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend. 0 Ze L040D A I 0 m�7*j ee Conservation Board The Tree Conservation Board of the City of Atlantic Beach meets the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:30 PM. This board is tasked with protecting the tree environment of Atlantic Beach by assisting contractors and owners in the planning 4 and construction of new homes without removing any trees unnecessarily. Applications for new building permits require a review by this board as well as reviews by the Building and Zoning Departments. All Tree Conservation Board meetings are open to the public and residents are welcome to attend. 00TW7,11111371 Will :7:11" We are anxious to comply with the recently enacted Americans with Disabilities Act. Disabled citizens who are planning to visit any of our facilities are encouraged to call Diane St. Laurent at 247-5800 at least twenty four hours in advance so we may arrange to have assistance available as necessary. Our quarterly blood drives continue to be well supported by both employees and citizens and a heart -felt THANK YOU is extended to all who donated blood on May 1. Many people benefit from the generosity of blood donors and we encourage anyone wishing to participate to contact Diane St. Laurent for details of the next blood drive. The City of Atlantic Beach regulates removal of trees from lots being cleared for construction of new buildings and certain additions to existing buildings. Basically, no tree may be removed from t I any property in Atlantic Beach without 41 approval from the Tree Conservation Board. The only exception to this rule is that OWNERS of property may remove trees from lots ON WHICH THEY LIVE. For information on specific regulations and Tree Conservation Board meeting schedules, please contact George Worley at 247-5826. Recent concentrated efforts by the City's Code Enforcement officers are making a visible difference in the Royal Palm area of Atlantic Beach. Numerous violations of various City codes were documented, owners notified, and now, many have been corrected. Chief among the violations were dilapidated fences, unlicensed or junk cars, and overgrown weeds. The Royal Palm area was designated as the first of several neighborhoods to receive concentrated Code Enforcement efforts. Continuing Code Enforcement efforts and the cooperation of residents throughout the city will benefit everyone ia" with improved appearances and property values. For information about city codes, codes enforcement and future target areas, please contact Don Ford or Karl Grunewald at 247-5826. The City Commission has approved an ordinance renaming that portion of West 12th Street between Mayport Road and Orchid Street. The short stretch of road aligns with Plaza on the east side of Mayport Road and the Commission has now named it "West Plaza". West Plaza now runs in two discontinuous segments from Mayport Road to Orchid Street and from Begonia Street to Gladiola Street. 1 The Florida Department of Transportation plans to undertake improvement work on Atlantic Boulevard starting in August and lasting several months. Proposed work will include drainage improvements and resurfacing the roadway. New Subdivision Approved The City Commission has granted approval to the final subdivision plat of Selva Linkside Phase 2. This second phase will contain 80 new single-family homes and is located to the north of Phase 1 and west of the golf course. The Community Development Block Grant program in Atlantic Beach is preliminarily projected to get $131,000 in funds from Federal Block Grant allocations to the Jacksonville area in this coming fiscal year beginning October 1st. The program will continue housing rehabilitations, but will also expand efforts to improve infrastructure in the target area. Information about this program is available from George Worley at 247-5826. URBAN WILDLIFE: Most wildlife problems post no "real" threat but are "perceived" problems. Many times unwanted animals can be discouraged by outsmarting them. Shrinking open rural land is making it difficult to relocate unwanted urban wildlife and it is not always ecologically sound to do so. Florida Statutes make it illegal to willfully or wantonly destroy wildlife. In the event of a serious or safety problem with urban wildlife, your Animal Control department has humane traps available. Residents wishing to set up wildlife habitat in backyards can get free information by writing to the Florida Game Commission, Information Department, Bryant Building, 620 South Meridian, Tallahassee, FL 32399; National Wildlife Federation, 1400 Sixteenth Street N.W., Washington, DC 20036; or National Institute for Urban Wildlife, 10921 Trotting Ridge Way, Columbia, MD 21044. Rodent problems should be directed to either a pest control company or the Jacksonville Rodent Control Office. Armadillos are not a threat to public safety and actually can be beneficial since they are one of the few types of animals that eat fire ants. REDEMPTION FEE: Dog and cat owners should be sure to have the Atlantic Beach city tag on their pets at all times. A "house pet" or "yard dog" may escape and get caught by Animal Control. There is now a $20.00 redemption fee to retrieve your pet. If a pet is not wearing a city tag, the owner will be required to purchase one at double the normal rate. IMPORTANT Telephone Numbers 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 J,E.A, (street lights) ........................................632-0300 Tax Collectors Office .....................................630-2000 Property Appraisers Office.............................630-2025 City of Atlantic Beach Courier 800 Seminole Road Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233 FREQUENTLY Called Numbers 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 Trudy Lopanik Bulk Rate U.S. Postage PAID Jacksonville, FL Permit No. 1645