July 2020JULY 2020
Jul 2 Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Hearing 2 pm
Jul 3 City offices closed
Jul 8 Environmental Stewardship Committee 6 pm
Jul 11 Commission workshop 10-noon (Adele Grage Center)
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 23 Commission budget workshop 6 pm
Jul 27 Commission meeting 6:30 pm
Jul 28 Board Member Review Committee (tentative) 6:30 pm
Jul 30 Commission budget workshop 6 p.m.
AUGUST 2020
Aug 6 Commission budget workshop 6 pm
Aug 10 Commission meeting 6:30 pm
Aug 12 Environmental Stewardship Committee 6 pm
Aug 17 Community Development Board 6 pm
Aug 19 ESC Outreach Subcommittee 6:30 pm
Aug 20 Pension Boards 6:30 pm
Aug 24 Commission meeting 6:30 pm
Aug 25 Board Member Review Comm. (tentative) 6:30 pm
Meetings are held in the Commission Chamber unless
otherwise indicated.
FLOOD PROTECTION
IN-A-NUTSHELL
Know how to shut off the electricity and gas to your
house when a flood comes.
Make a list of emergency numbers and identify a
safe place to go to.
Make a household inventory.
Put insurance policies, valuable papers, medicine,
etc. in a safe place.
Put cleaning supplies, camera, waterproof boots,
etc. in a handy place.
Develop a disaster plan.
Get a copy of “Repairing Your Flooded Home” from
www.redcross.org.
Never put leaves or storm debris in the stormwater
inlets.
The City of Atlantic Beach has an active stormwater
management program to help protect property in the
city from future flooding. Most stormwater in Atlantic
Beach is localized and will dissipate quickly; however,
heavy stormwater activity may be caused by local
conditions, large storms, or hurricanes. As such, the
City is always seeking ways to reduce the impact of
heavy stormwater activity on residential and
commercial property.
Meanwhile, here are some things you can do to prepare
for flooding.
The City of Atlantic Beach also encourages residents to
consider permanent protection measures and to buy a
flood-insurance policy.
To learn more, visit www.coab.us/flood protection, or
contact the Building Department at 247-5813 or
building-dept@coab.us.
J U L Y 2 0 2 0 V O L . 1 6 N O . 7
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
We’ve faced many challenges recently, both individually
and collectively. I’m reminded that people are closest to
government at the local level. While I can’t speak for
other levels of government, I have appreciated hearing
from so many of you. Here in Atlantic Beach, we are
working hard to find opportunities in the face of
challenges.
P A R K I N G A T T O W N C E N T E R
Acknowledging the great demand and limited supply of
public parking, the Commission voted to provide our
residents (who register) free parking for 3 hours in the
Atlantic Beach public spaces at Town Center. Along with
everyone else, residents can continue to park for free in
other public spaces at Town Center for the first 30
minutes. If you live in Atlantic Beach, you can register or
learn more at www.northbeachesparking.com/atlantic.
This parking program is administered by Neptune Beach.
C O V I D -1 9 & C L A S S O F 2 0 2 0
During this global pandemic, we know countless people
who have risen to meet unprecedented, ongoing
challenges. We ask that folks continue to socially
distance and do their part to protect others, especially
those most vulnerable. I do want to offer a huge shout-
out to the resilient graduating Class of 2020. I had an
opportunity to chat with many of these graduates
recently, as I delivered more than 100 congratulatory
letters.
A M E R I C A N F L A G S
We recently updated our sign ordinance to comply with
a Supreme Court ruling instructing that cities cannot
regulate content. Hearing requests to exempt U.S. Flags
from content regulation in the code, we asked for legal
guidance in order to protect the City from legal
challenges. The Commission responded by deregulating
all flags and removing flags from the sign code. Folks
can fly any size/number of U.S. flags they want without
any regulation!
R A C I A L E Q U I T Y
In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder and national
demonstrations, our City is embarking on a process to
address racial equity. Acknowledging systemic racism
and its disparate impacts, this is an opportunity to build
community by listening, learning, talking to each other,
and making reforms. We will do this in constructive
partnership with our police, whose officers are
committed to serving and protecting us.
Ellen Glasser (eglasser@coab.us) #WeAreAB
Bicycling is one of the best ways to get exercise, see the
sights and reduce your carbon footprint. However,
bicyclists face a host of hazards. They often must share
the road with vehicles, and injuries can happen even on
a designated path.
With about 80 million bicyclists sharing the road with
motorized vehicles, it is vital bicyclists – and drivers –
take some safety precautions. That’s why, in June 2020,
the City of Atlantic Beach launched a four-part bicycle
safety campaign.
1 . B a s i c b i c y c l e s a f e t y e d u c a t i o n f o r r i d e r s . We’re
calling our bicycle safety campaign in Atlantic Beach
#BikeSmartAB. You’ll see us on social media, in
classrooms, in the community, in the news media, and
online at www.coab.us/bikesmart.
2 . H e l m e t p r o m o t i o n . There's a comprehensive outline
of crucial info on helmets at www.coab.us/bikesmart.
3 . D r i v e r e d u c a t i o n . We’re calling this component of
our bicycle safety campaign, “Look Twice, Drive Nice in
AB.” This is an effort to make drivers more aware of
cyclists, and pre-conditioning them to react properly to
a cyclist on the roadway.
4 . F a c i l i t i e s i m p r o v e m e n t . With wider sidewalks and
flashing crossing lights, the City is making it safer for
bicyclists and pedestrians, and there’s more to do.
CHALLENGES
& OPPORTUNITIES
FROM
MAYOR GLASSER
The bald eagle's recovery is an American success
story. Habitat destruction and degradation, illegal
shooting, and contamination of its food source due to
the pesticide DDT had decimated the U.S. national
bird's population by 1967.
Habitat protection afforded by the Endangered
Species Act, the federal government’s banning of
DDT, and conservation actions taken by the American
public helped bald eagles make a remarkable
comeback. Today, the bald eagle population is
protected, healthy and growing.
The bald eagle’s story is a stark reminder that our
ecosystem is dependent upon our being good
stewards of the environment, starting with tree
protection. Locally, those efforts are championed by
the City’s Environmental Stewardship Committee
(ESC).
“Given our community’s robust American patriotism
and that our nation’s proud symbol rests and nests in
large trees, it is important that we ensure people
know the importance of preserving our large trees --
in part to conserve the habitat of our iconic species,”
says ESC Co-Chair Dan Giovannucci.
For information on the ESC, tree protection, or other
City of Atlantic Beach conservation or sustainability
efforts, call 247-5804 or email trees@coab.us.
DID YOU KNOW,
AB?