SEPTEMBER 2006
VOL.2 NO.9
AGGRESSIVE DRIVING
FROM THE MAYOR
Your commissioners have finalized
our ordinance
for our citywide
height limit
referendum. Our
citizens will have
the opportunity
to vote on this City Charter amendment on November 7. Also, your
commissioners have settled into
our second round of Neighbor to
Neighbor Beachside Chats. These
forums have provided us with a
keen insight into specific issues of
concern within different neighborhoods of our City. Our city staff has
taken action to address many of
these concerns and feedback from
our citizens is most appreciated.
This venue is the precursor to
determining community-wide interest in possible district representation.
I intend to appoint a blue-ribbon
committee of citizens from around
the city to participate in the evaluation
of this issue in the coming year.
This most important decision must
be carefully and thoroughly evaluated
to determine the feasibility of such
a significant change. A report will
be submitted to the commission
for evaluation in time to place this
item on a citywide referendum for
our citizens to vote upon in the
fall of 2007.
There are a few citizens that when
encountering a lapse in City services,
their first inclination is to contact
their elected officials or to go
directly to the media with their
complaints. For the most efficient
response, please directly contact
the appropriate department or
department head whose telephone
numbers appear in this letter. Our
city staff is ready, willing and able
to assist with these matters in a
timely and attentive response.
Aggressive driving is responsible for two-thirds of all auto fatalities each year (27,000 deaths),
four times greater than DUI. Some common forms of aggressive driving are: erratically slowing
down or speeding up; blocking a passing lane or refusing to move over; closing the gap to
prevent someone else from entering; threatening or insulting by yelling; gesturing or honking;
tailgating to punish or coerce; cutting off to retaliate; or, driving at very high speeds.
Aggressive driving is driving under the influence of impaired emotions, and it assumes that one
driver has the right to increase danger for others. People choose to drive aggressively.
Attitude and behavior modifications are essential to changing the way that people think, feel and
behave behind the wheel.The solution to aggressive driving is to develop supportive driving
styles that reduce risks. Drivers in traffic are highly dependent on each other’s coordinated
actions. For example, closing the gap in response to noticing a car that wants to enter your lane
is counter-productive to facilitating the flow of traffic.That vehicle is not going to disappear.
Next time you are out driving on the road, practice acts of kindness while driving. Let the
other vehicle merge into your lane or wave at the car that lets you in. Don’t yell and honk at
the car in front of you if it doesn’t attempt that turn into traffic when you think it should. Be
patient. Leave home early so you have plenty of time to reach your destination and are not
hurried or stressed. Driving a vehicle can be a very safe mode of transportation, but it can
turn very dangerous with just one wrong decision.
HURRICANE CLEANUP
Post Storm Green Waste and Debris Pickup
To protect the drainage systems, streets and
other public property, please do not place
trees, limbs, or other debris in the roadway or
medians. Debris should be placed next to the
roadway, not in the street where it will
obstruct drainage.
Yard debris may not be placed on vacant lots,
City medians, parks, drainage easements or
unpaved right-of-ways.These are considered to
be illegal dumps, will delay pick up of debris,
and are subject to a fine. Residents living along
streets with separate medians (e.g. Plaza, Selva
Marina, Saturiba, and other roads in the Selva
Norte and Oceanwalk areas) are reminded
they are to place their waste on their side of
the street, not in the medians.
Use of Contractors to Remove Fallen Trees
from Houses or to Clear Private Lots
If a tree falls on your home, please ensure the
contractor you hire to remove the tree is
licensed to do the removal, and most importantly, has insurance coverage. He must have
liability insurance (in case his actions cause
additional damage to your home) and
Workmen’s Compensation Insurance (otherwise you may be liable if one of his workers is
injured while working on your property).
If a homeowner or homeowner’s association
hires a tree trimming contractor, lawn service
provider or other contractor to remove trees
and debris, the contractor is responsible for
disposal of the resulting debris (e.g., landfill or
mulch site). Private contractors are not
allowed to simply place the debris in the right
of way to be removed by the City.
All public debris removal efforts will be under
the control and direction of the City’s Public
Works Department.There will be no cleanup
efforts by FEMA in the City of Atlantic Beach.
(continued on back)
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(continued from front)
It is heartbreaking to witness the
tragedy unfolding in the Middle East.
The appalling conflict ensnaring
many innocents makes us appreciate
the fact even more that we are so
blessed to live in our incredible
country where we are relatively
safe and secure — not having to
worry minute by minute about
incoming missiles and threats to
our very existence. Let us pause to
appreciate the blessings that we
each share by living in this wonderful
community — we should never lose
sight of the blessings that are so
dear to us and keeping these in
their proper perspective!
NEW WATERSENSE PROGRAM
SAVES WATER AND SAVES YOU MONEY
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced a new program in June
2006 that promotes water use efficiency and improves the market for water-saving products
and services.The WaterSense program will designate products and services that help
conserve our valuable water resources. Picking products or services with the WaterSense
label will save consumers money on their water bills as well.
EPA will be partnering with manufacturers and retailers to make it easy for customers
to buy high-efficiency, water-saving products and services. EPA is also designing criteria
to certify irrigation professionals in system design, installation, maintenance and auditing.
You may want to encourage your irrigation or landscaping contractor to check into the
WaterSense Program. For more information on WaterSense, go to EPA’s website at
www.epa.gov/watersense.
Donald Wolfson
Mayor
ELECTION SIGNS!!!!
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
PHONE DIRECTORY
ANIMAL CONTROL: 247-5866
Stray animals, traps for domestic
animal nuisances
BUILDING DEPARTMENT: 247-5826
Permits
CURRENTS
CODE ENFORCEMENT: 247-5855
Housing code violations, abandoned
vehicles
CITY INFORMATION: 247-5800
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE: 247-5808
Cable TV complaints
JACKSONVILLE ELECTRIC
AUTHORITY–JEA: 665-6000
Streetlights out
Yes, it’s that time again. Every political season, questions arise as to the City of Atlantic Beach
Codes regulating election signs. For this reason, the Code Enforcement Division is providing
answers to frequently asked questions:
Q. HOW LONG CAN I POST AN
Q. HOW MANY SIGNS CAN I HAVE?
ELECTION SIGN?
A. City Code Chapter 17, Section 17-1.1
A. Election signs are permitted once a
does not limit the number of election
candidate is qualified to run for election,
signs placed on private property to
and must be removed 72 hours after
announce or advertise a candidate.
the election.
Q. HOW BIG A SIGN CAN I HAVE?
Q. WHAT ABOUT POLLING PLACES?
A. Your election sign can be no larger than
A. Florida Statute 102.031 specifies that no
four square feet in size.
solicitors are permitted within 100 feet of
Q. WHERE CAN I PLACE MY SIGN?
the entrance to a polling place on the day
A. It must be placed wholly on your property.
of election.
When referring to your property, this
excludes city right-of-ways, medians, trees
and utility poles.
CALENDAR
PARKS AND RECREATION: 247-5828
Jordan Park - 247-4032
Donner Community Center - 247-5851
PUBLIC WORKS: 247-5834
Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Appliance collection, residential and
commercial garbage collection,
recycling collection, right-of-way
obstruction, yard waste collection
UTILITIES PAYMENT: 247-5816
Customer service, new service, termination of service, billing inquiries and
problems
Mike Borno
MAYOR
COMMISSIONER
Jamie Fletcher
COMMISSIONER
Jim Hanson
Alan Jensen
MAYOR PRO TEM
CITY ATTORNEY
Sylvia Simmons
Donna Bussey
COMMISSIONER
CITY CLERK
Sep 19
Sep 25
Sep 26
Sep 27
Community Development Board Mtg |
7 p.m.
City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
*Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee | 7 p.m.
*Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
Oct 17 Community Development Board Mtg |
7 p.m.
Oct 23 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
Oct 29 *Acoustics Night at Bull Park | 4 - 6 p.m.
Oct 24 *Cultural Arts & Recreation Advisory
Committee | 7 p.m.
Oct 25 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
Meetings are held in the Commission Chambers unless otherwise indicated.
* These events will be held at Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd.
** These events will be held in the North Conference Room at City Hall, 800 Seminole Road.
www.coab.us • (904) 247-5800
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Sep 17
*Songwriter’s Concert | 6 - 8 p.m.
City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
Code Enforcement Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
*Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
Board Member Review Committee
Mtg | 5 p.m.
*Acoustics Night at Bull Park |
6 - 8 p.m.
Oct 7 & 8 Family Fun Day & Camp Out Under
the Stars at Jack Russell Park
Oct 9 City Commission Mtg | 7:15 p.m.
Oct 11 *Tree Conservation Board Mtg | 7 p.m.
Oct 12 Board Member Review Committee
Mtg | 5 p.m.
Oct 15 *Songwriter’s Concert | 6 - 8 p.m.
CITY MANAGER
J. Dezmond Waters, III
Sep 3
Sep 11
Sep 12
Sep 13
Sep 14
OCTOBER 2006
CITY OFFICIALS
Donald Wolfson
SEPTEMBER 2006
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