Loading...
June 2020.pdfJUNE 2020 Jun 8 Commission meeting 6:30 pm Jun 9 Cultural Arts and Recreation Committee 6 pm Jun 10 Environmental Stewardship Committee 6 pm Jun 15 Commission workshop (tentative) 6 pm Jun 16 Community Development Board 6 pm Jun 17 ESC Outreach Subcommittee 6:30 pm Jun 22 Commission meeting 6:30 pm Jun 23 Board Member Review Committee 6:30 pm JULY 2020 Jul 2 Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Hearing 2 pm Jul 3 City offices closed Jul 8 Environmental Stewardship Committee 6 pm Jul 13 Commission meeting 6:30 pm Jul 15 ESC Outreach Subcommittee 6:30 pm Jul 20 Commission workshop (tentative) 6 pm Jul 21 Community Development Board 6 pm Jul 27 Commission meeting 6:30 pm Meetings are held in the Commission Chamber unless otherwise indicated. Clean out eaves and gutters. Be sure your downspouts drain properly, without leaving puddles in the drainage area. Change water in the bottom of plant containers, including hanging plants, at least twice per week. Remove vegetation or obstructions in drainage ditches that prevent the flow of water. Plants with large leaves that collect water should be cleared out every few days. Replace water in birdbaths at least twice per week. Check tarps on boats or other equipment that may collect water in pockets or indentations. Replace water in pet feeding dishes at least once per week. Check closely for any containers, such as unused planters, that may hold water and empty them frequently. The City of Jacksonville Mosquito Control Division performs spraying as needed and educates the public about its role in reducing the mosquito population throughout the county. May through October is considered the “heart” of mosquito season. Mosquitoes need water to breed and water standing just a few days can produce a crop of mosquitoes. If the amount of rainfall received does not allow for water to stand for several days, the mosquito population is essentially kept in check. The following tips can minimize mosquito breeding sites on your property: Because the insecticide Naled is used in the City of Jacksonville’s aerial treatments, the City of Atlantic Beach has requested that city officials be notified in advance of any aerial spraying in Atlantic Beach. The City of Atlantic Beach will, in turn, announce the aerial treatment plans on the City website (www.coab.us) and on the City’s social media platforms. The EPA says that if you think you have had a reaction to the spraying of Naled, talk to your doctor or call the regional Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222. More information about mosquito control is available at www.coj.net or (904) 630-2489.J U N E 2 0 2 0 V O L . 1 6 N O . 6 C I T Y O F A T L A N T I C B E A C H 8 0 0 S E M I N O L E R O A D A T L A N T I C B E A C H , F L 3 2 2 3 3 (9 0 4 ) 2 4 7 -5 8 0 0 /I N F O @ C O A B .U S W W W .C O A B .U S C I T Y C A L E N D A R T h e A t l a n t i c B e a c h R e c r e a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t s t a f f i s w o r k i n g w i t h D i g L o c a l N e t w o r k a n d c o m m u n i t y v o l u n t e e r s t o d e l i v e r y f o o d t o A t l a n t i c B e a c h r e s i d e n t s w h o c a n m o s t u s e t h e m ? W e 'r e t a l k i n g a b o u t 6 4 h o t m e a l s , 1 7 b a g s o f g r o c e r i e s , a n d 1 3 p r o d u c e a n d C O V I D -1 9 s u p p l y b o x e s . E v e r y s i n g l e w e e k ! E a c h o f t h e b e n e f i c i a r i e s g e t s a l o v e l y h a n d -w r i t t e n n o t e ! T h i s l a b o r o f l o v e i s f a c i l i t a t e d a t t h e D i g L o c a l g r e e n m a r k e t , w h i c h i s h e l d f r o m 1 0 a .m . t o 2 p .m . W e d n e s d a y s a n d S a t u r d a y s a n d i s t e m p o r a r i l y l o c a t e d a t J a c k R u s s e l l P a r k . DID YOU KNOW, AB? BUGGING YOU ABOUT MOSQUITOS! The City of Atlantic Beach has a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, which governs stormwater discharge into the City’s drainage system. The stormwater ends up in the Intracoastal Waterway. One aspect of the City’s permit is a requirement to control unauthorized discharges into the environment through illicit discharge prevention. An illicit discharge is any non-stormwater input to the drainage system, whether by an unauthorized connection (such as a swimming pool discharge) or the dumping of any substance (even if mostly water) directly into a drainage catch basin or ditch. Suspected illicit discharges or potential illicit connections should be reported to Public Works at 247- 5834. We’re halfway through a regrettable year that saw JEA in scandal, the Landing razed, school closed, public events canceled, and non-essential workers isolated. Regardless of where you stand on the science of it, the COVID-19 contagion added a new dimension to local government: public health. Mixed with other city business – beaches, Town Center, schooling, small businesses, 18th Street, restaurants, recreation and employee safety – this certainly kept the City Manager, Mayor and Commissioners busy. It forced us to re-examine how work can be accomplished. Working from home annoyed cats and delighted dogs. We regret not buying stock in Zoom. Parents have a newfound appreciation for the role of teachers. Our neighbors suffered the desperation of losing a job and the generosity of others delivering food to them. Business owners were forced to pivot and search for alternative delivery of their product. Loved ones died alone in crowded ERs. We learned new vocabulary: distance learning, essential workers, social distancing. We have new heroes, everyone from EMTs, to hospital staff, to mortuary services. COAB staff is to be commended for the creative thinking that brought the Dig Local farmer’s market to Jack Russell Park. The IT staff quickly came up to speed as a Zoom host. Recreation staff published a virtual Easter egg hunt. Lifeguards and Public Safety officers filmed safety PSAs. We hosted no-contact food truck gatherings. Neighbors, too, hosted driveway picnics and drive-by birthday parties. The restrictions lightened up beginning in May. Now the burden of staying healthy has shifted to personal responsibility. But schools are still closed and social distancing is still in effect. Outside-the-box thinking is still needed to keep us safe. June continues sea turtle nesting season. Please leave the beach empty and flat, and keep outside lighting low to the ground. June is also the official start of hurricane season. Hopefully, you ate up last year’s supplies and are ready to stock up with a new selection. Remember that you need one gallon of water per day per person for three-plus days. If you have a pet, plan out where you can take it, and get its papers ready. Congratulations to everyone who should have graduated or married or otherwise celebrated. Candace Kelly (ckelly@coab.us) The purpose of the upcoming municipal election is to fill the following Commission seats and consider Charter amendments by public referendum as detailed in Ordinance No. 33-19-24. O f f i c e s u p f o r e l e c t i o n : M a y o r /C o m m i s s i o n e r -S e a t 1 (2-year term) - A t l a r g e Currently held by Ellen Glasser C o m m i s s i o n e r -S e a t 2 (4-year term) - D i s t r i c t 1 3 0 8 Currently held by Cindy L. Anderson C o m m i s s i o n e r -S e a t 3 (4-year term) - D i s t r i c t 1 3 0 7 Currently held by Martina "Blythe" Waters P u b l i c r e f e r e n d u m /C h a r t e r a m e n d m e n t : PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ATLANTIC BEACH CHARTER TO MODIFY THE MAYOR-COMMISSIONER TERMS OF OFFICE Commencing with the election in November, 2022 shall Section 5 of the Atlantic Beach Charter be amended to: (1) extend the Mayor-Commissioner term of office from two to four years; (2) reduce the Mayor-Commissioner number of allowable consecutive terms from four to two terms; and (3) limit any Mayor-Commissioner holding office as of November, 2022, who has served two consecutive terms, to one additional consecutive four- year term? YES _______ NO ________ A d d i t i o n a l I n f o r m a t i o n : For information on residency requirements and links to the candidate’s folders, election calendar, district map, and Duval County Supervisor of Elections’ precinct finder page, please visit our AB Municipal Election page at www.coab.us/Election. The City Clerk serves as the filing officer for Atlantic Beach municipal elections. Citizens interested in becoming a candidate should contact Donna Bartle, City Clerk at (904) 247-5809. ADAPTING IN THE COVID-19 ERA FROM COMMISSIONER KELLY NOVEMBER 3, 2020 AB GENERAL ELECTION S T O R M W A T E R D I S C H A R G E