12/1992 Atlantic Beach Courier1
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
AtlanticCity of .
ach
BOARDS
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
George Bull, Jr. Heywood Dowling, Jr.
John J. Venn Kathleen Russell
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
HOSPITAL BOARD
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
Jeff Croom
Henry Batts
Henry Isaacs
Richard Riley
(Meets 2nd Thursday of each month)
In the past sixty years the City of Atlantic Beach has
grown from a small resort town to an enjoyable small city
with year round residents and a variety of businesses.
Over the years the city has constructed water plants and
a water distribution system„ sewage collection mains,
pumping stations, force mains, and a sewage treatment
plant. To further serve the growing community, the city
purchased the Buccaneer Service Company utilities and
the Oak Harbor utility system. Collectively, the three
utility systems are the major financial enterprise of our
community.
Continued growth of our community resulted in several
additions to our water and sewage systems. Unfortunately,
upgrades and expansions of our utilities were not enough
to meet the stricter administrative rules of the various
government regulatory agencies and keep pace with
population growth. As a result, the city has experienced
regulatory moratoriums and a Department of
Environmental Regulation Consent Order which mandated
significant additions and improvements to our water and
sewer systems.
In January 1991, the Mayor and City Commission
established a Water and Wastewater Utilities Committee.
This committee was established to assist city staff in
reanalyzing the capital improvement needs previously
recommended by consultants. The work of this committee
has included determining the condition of the utilities,
accomplishing the Consent Order mandates, establishing
fairer utility rates, and setting up a program of
construction, financing, and maintaining our utilities to
meet "build -out."
The projects of utmost urgency are:
1. Atlantic Beach Water:
a. Improvements to Water Plants 1 and 2
b. Upgrading water distribution lines
2. Atlantic Beach Sewer:
a. Expand capacity of wastewater treatment plant
b. Rehabilitate collapsed sewer lines
3. Buccaneer Water:
a. Install chlorine cylinder dual load cell
b. Construct duplicate water plant
C. Repair water treatment plant No. 4
4. Buccaneer Sewer:
a. Acquire land for expansion
b. Repair and replace steel at plant
c. Construct chlorine contact chamber/handling
facility
d. Construct improvements for odor control
5. Oak Harbor Water:
a. Upgrade distribution system
6. Oak Harbor Sewer:
a. Rehabilitate sewer lines
The city's main objective is to provide safe, efficient,
and sufficient service to all customers at rates that are fair
and equitable.
Current revenues from existing rates are insufficient to
pay for the necessary improvements. The Water and
Wastewater Utilities Committee has recommended a rate
increase to fund the improvements which must be
undertaken. The City Commission now must consider and
act on the committee's recommendations.
In order to reduce the impact of this unavoidable
increase on its customers, we are preparing to implement a
MONTHLY BILLING cycle. Of the three monthly bills
each customer will receive in any quarter, two bills will be
for the minimum amounts without any consumption
charges. The third monthly bill will be for the minimum
amounts, plus the consumption charges for usage in excess
of 9,000 gallons for the quarter. Monthly billing will
reduce the financial burden on many customers by
allowing smaller, monthly payments rather than large
quarterly payments. To keep the bills as low as possible,
meters will continue to be read quarterly, saving the
additional cost of monthly readings.
To further reduce the impact of the rate increases, the
minimum water and sewer rates will be set for only a
small percentage increase annually for the next five years.
The increases for water usage are being established ahead
of time so that you will know what increases to expect,
and when, for the next five years.
Since the increases over the next five years will also
apply to excess water, those customers who practice
conservation measures and use less than 9,000 gallons per
quarter, will pay less.
D
The following ordinances have been enacted recently
by the City Commission:
Ordinance No. 80-92-49 provides that side door
collection of solid waste may be purchased for $20.00 per
quarter in addition to the regular collection charge.
(Residents who cannot place their solid waste container at
the curb because of a handicap or other reason, should
contact the Public Works Director at 247-5834).
Ordinance No. 80-92-50 provides that "no consumer of
water from the city water system shall have a cross
connection or potential cross connection either inside or
outside of any building or buildings without a back flow
prevention device being installed or prevent any and all
back flow."
Copies of these ordinances are available for public
inspection in the office of the City Clerk
There will be only one regularly scheduled meeting of
the City Commission during the month of December. This
meeting will be held at 7:15 PM on Monday, December
14th, 1992.
We welcome our new Fire Chief, Ron Williams, who
joined the city on November 2,
1992. Chief Williams has over
twenty-five years of personnel
and operations management and
training experience with the City
of Orlando Fire Department,
where he advanced through the
ranks from probationary
firefighter in 1966 to District
Chief in 1983.
Chief Williams' educational background includes an
Associate of Science Degree in Fire Technology and a
Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration from Western
States University. In addition, he is also a Certified
Minimum Standards Fire Instructor, Emergency Medical
Instructor and a Certified Correctional Officer Instructor.
Starting December 1 the Atlantic Beach Fire
Department will provide a free "Holiday Fire Safety
Survey" to all interested city residents. Firefighters will
answer your fire safety questions and give you information
and recommendations for a fire -safe holiday.
We are providing this service because national statistics
show an alarming loss of life and property during this
season of the year.
The Fire Department's goal is to
help prevent tragic fire losses during
the Holiday Season. To schedule
your home safety survey, please call
the Atlantic Beach City Hall at 247-
5800. (911 for emergencies only)
For your continuing safety, the
Atlantic Beach Fire Department will
also continue to provide this free
service year round.
The Fire Department will offer Cardio -Pulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR) classes to the public beginning
December 19. A tentative schedule for the classes is as
follows:
Saturday, December 19 9:00 AM -1:00 PM
Saturday, January 16 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Saturday, February 27 9:00 AM -1:00 PM
Please call 247-5802 for further information, or to
sign up for a class.
At a recent meeting of the City Commission a
citizen presented the city with a check to provide cable
television service to the Fire Department. He felt other
citizens might want to make similar donations and
suggested the various departments make available to the
public, a list of items not included in the operating budget,
but certainly beneficial to the city. The following list,
along with estimated prices, is provided for your
information. If you are interested in donating any item, or
a portion of the cost of any item on this list, we would love
to hear from you.
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Soft body armor for Patrol officers $ 450.00 each
Portable radios for officers 700.00 each
Hand-held radar for traffic enforcement 1,200.00
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:
2' x 3' corkboard 42.00
A monetary donation to be used toward the purchase of
longevity pins for employees
A telephone for the hearing impaired
(TDD phone) 300.00 - 400.00
CITY CLERK'S DEPARTMENT:
Thermos carafes for coffee/water at city meetings 120.00
Dry erase board for Commission Chambers 40.00-100.00
White tablecloth (Approx. 52" x 90") 50.00
BEAUTIFICATION:
Hardwood trees
40.00 - 200.00
(Oak, Holly, Elm, Maple, Cypress)
100.00
Ornamental trees
35.00 - 250.00
(Dogwood, Camelia, Crape Myrtle)
350.00
Ornamental hedges
20.00-50.00
(Azalea, Oleander, Hibiscus)
200.00
Ornamental annual plants
150.00
(Petunia, Begonia Marigold)
Refurbish "Yard of the Month" sign
75.00
Solar lighting for
"Welcome to Atlantic Beach" signs (4)
275.00 each
Redwood benches with backs
175.00 - 250.00
Volunteers to assist with Arbor Day tree sale,
January 16
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT:
Landscaping (Bushes/shrubs)
500.00
Merit plaques
100.00
New phone system
2,500.00
Stove
350.00
Table and chairs for kitchen
250.00
Microwave oven
200.00
Office chair
150.00
CITY HALL LUNCH ROOM:
Double burner hot plate 35.00
Silverware 20.00
Dish towels 10.00
Scrubbers/Dish detergent/hand soap 15.00
Water cooler (eg. Zephyr Hills 1 -yr. rental) 200.00
17i� 1 ..
PROJECTS
We are making great progress towards the completion
of the improvements to Water Treatment Plant #1 on 11th
Street and Water Treatment Plant #2 on Mayport Road.
These improvements will provide a greater capacity and
reliability for our water plants.
In addition to the water plants, we have begun to
upgrade our water distribution system by installing new
water mains on 1st, 9th, and 11th Streets. Residents on
these streets can look forward in the next couple of months
to greatly improved water pressure. We recommend that
affected residents have their own plumbing checked as
soon as possible in anticipation of the changeover to the
new main.
We have recently completed a project connecting
Atlantic Beach and Buccaneer Water Distribution
Systems. This interconnect will provide emergency
backup between systems resulting in increased reliability
to our customers.
An adjustable weir has recently been completed at the
culverts under the entrance to Fleet Landing. The water
elevation in our ditches and canals can now be controlled
to a greater extent than before, thereby reducing the
possibility of flooding.
SANITATI®N
Thanks to all residents separating yard trash and
garbage and for recycling. We appreciate your efforts to
set out the proper waste materials on the proper days. We
will continue to improve our efforts to provide top quality
sanitation service and various new equipment is being
purchased to assist in this effort. As always, if you are
experiencing any difficulty with Sanitation pickups, please
call us at 247-5834.
BLUE RAILER (a.k.a. a dune buggy or all -terrain
vehicle,) is now in operation patrolling the beach during
high and low tides.
The following rules apply to dogs on the beach:
- A dog may be unleashed on the beach only when
the dog and owner are in the water together
- Atlantic Beach dog tag must be on the dog collar or
in the possession of the owner
- Pooper scoopers must be carried and used to pick
up defecation
When you see your Animal Control Officer, please
acknowledge that you have both the dog tag and scooper
so your beachcombing won't be interrupted by being
called forth.
CITY DOG TAGS can be replaced for $1.00 by
presenting your current rabies vaccination paperwork, and
your old pet license or license number, or receipt, to a
cashier in City Hall If ynii do not have any of this
information, call BeeJay, at 246-1648 with the year and
month purchased and she will research it for you.
City ordinances require pets to have an Atlantic Beach
pet tag and owners who have not complied with a request
from the Animal Control Officer to purchase such a tag
will receive a letter from the Police Department reminding
them to do so.
CHRISTMAS PETS - Parents should think about it
ANIMAL BITES - If any person
is scratched or bitten by a dog or
cat within the corporate limits of
the city, it is the duty of that person
or the owner of the dog or cat with
knowledge of the incident, to report
it to the Police Department within
twenty-four hours.
carefully before giving their children a
puppy or kitten for Christmas. After the
holidays are over and school reopens,
the pets are going to be lonely and will
need attention. Remember, they grow up
to be dogs and cats and will need
training and lots of loving care, plus
their shots and tags. It's sad to report,
'. *; •'. `
but during January and February there's
an influx of unwanted pups and kittens
that have been either lost or discarded.
ANIMAL BITES - If any person
is scratched or bitten by a dog or
cat within the corporate limits of
the city, it is the duty of that person
or the owner of the dog or cat with
knowledge of the incident, to report
it to the Police Department within
twenty-four hours.
Parks and Recreation Director, Rose Blanchard, is
recovering from heart by-pass surgery and is on extended
medical leave. We wish Rose a speedy and complete
recovery and look forward to having her back with us
soon.
We are pleased to report that a new modular building
has been placed in Donner Park. This building was
acquired by grant funds and will be used as a community
center and should greatly benefit our residents. Jeffery
Young has been hired to coordinate youth activities in
Donner Park and we look forward to a great program.
The Christmas tree lighting has been scheduled for the
evening of December 12th in Russell Park. Watch the
government T.V, channel for future announcements about
this and other recreational programs.
11 ) WN 01 LVI
We have received a number of calls indicating that
boats and motor homes parked in front yards are
obstructing the view of motorists and causing traffic
hazards. Please be advised the city code provides that
"travel trailers, motor homes, hauling trailer or boat
trailers shall be permitted if parked or stored behind the
front yard building line."
We would also like to remind property owners that it is
a violation of city ordinances to permit weeds, grasses or
other unhealthful growth to exceed twelve inches on any
lot within the city, except for properties located in
undeveloped areas of the city which are at least twenty
feet from the nearest occupied residential or business
property, and which are at least twenty feet away from an
adjoining right-of-way in which there is a paved street.
1110F.111JUM61• •
Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 16 ! That's
the date -of the Committee's Second Annual "Atlantic
Arbor Fest" tree sale at Jack Russell Park to observe and
celebrate Florida Arbor Day. Last year's sale was a big
success and this year's event promises to be even bigger
and better. Local nurseries and tree farms will be offering
a wide selection of trees and shrubs at competitive prices.
The sale will take place from 10 AM -3 PM. Watch our
local newspapers for further details.
During the week prior to the event, a series of
interesting educational programs will be held for the
students of Atlantic Beach Elementary School. These are
being sponsored by the P.T.A. and faculty.
To assist the Committee in its tree planting efforts
throughout the City, we are asking for donations from
private citizens, clubs or associations, and from our
business merchants. These funds will be matched from the
allocated City budget monies and used for the planting of
trees on City property. Help us to provide a healthy,
beautiful environment for generations to come. Call
Joanna Fletcher, Committee Chairman, at 246-3768 or
Carl Walker, Beautification Coordinator, 247-5828 for
further details on the program.
We thank Carson Baillie and the members of the
Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre for their support in
allowing us to conduct a fund raiser at their recent pre-
opening performance of "Two for the Season". Our thanks
also to the many residents who attended and made a
contribution to our "Tree fund". The Committee plans
other similar such fund raisers in the future. If you have
any ideas — or can help sponsor such an event — let us
know. Better yet, attend one of our Committee meetings
held the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM in
the Conference Room of City Hall, 800 Seminole Road.
NORTHBEACH
"Singin' in the Street"
The TownCenter Agency, a committee organized to
beautify and renovate the business and entertainment
district of Atlantic and Neptune Beaches, is planning a
Winter/Christmas festival on Sunday, December 6, 1992,
from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, at the east end of Atlantic
Boulevard.
There will be plenty of fun and games for children,
drinks and snacks, and entertainment by local schools and
churches, the Nutcracker Touring Group, and the First
Coast Pops Woodwind Quintet.
All profits from the festival will go towards the
TownCenter project.
IMPORTANT
Telephone Numbers
Police & Fire Emergencies....................................911
Police & Fire Non-Emergencies.....................249-5606
Post Office (Royal Palm Drive)......................249-5231
Police Records ................................................249-4629
Public Library (Beaches Branch) ...................241-1141
City Hall (Information)...................................247-5800
Driver's License Bureau
Animal Control...............................................246-1648
(For appointment)......................................241-3215
Garbage & Trash ............................................247-5834
Bus Schedule Information ..............................356-5521
Parks & Recreation Department .....................247-5828
Dial -A -Ride ....................................................246-1477
Recycle Hotline ..............................................247-5834
Atlantic Beach Elementary School.................249-2794
Building Department ......................................247-5826
Mayport Middle School..................................241-2441
CityClerk .......................................................247
-5810
City Manager..................................................247-5800
Fletcher Sr. High School ................................249-5635
Finance Director .............................................247-5800
Councilman Dick Brown
Public Works ..................................................247-5834
(Council District 3) ....................................630-1386
Purchasing ......................................................247-5818
Rep. Joe Arnall
Utility Billing ..................................................247-5816
(State House District 19) ...........................249-1990
JZA, (siicci llght5)........................................632-0300
Tallahassee .................................................488-0001
Tax Collectors Office .....................................630-2000
Property Appraisers Office.............................630-2025
•o•
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
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