Jacksonville Beach, District 2
Community Newsletter
September 2019
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Please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors!
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Jax Beach Hurricane Preparation
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City officials have been working to prepare the City for Hurricane Dorian. Beach access points have been closed off with sand, pumps are in place, and the City's Emergency Operations Center is in operation.
- The city of Jacksonville Beach, in conjunction with all three beach cities and the City of Jacksonville, have issued a local Declaration of Emergency. A mandatory evacuation of zones A and B has been called effective Monday morning at 8AM.
- Any special needs citizens requiring assistance evacuating should call Dial-a-Ride at 904-246-1477.
- Due to life threatening surf and dangerous rip currents, all beaches will be closing beginning at midnight on Sunday until further notice. The hazardous ocean conditions are likely to intensify to a point in which it will become too dangerous for Ocean Rescue to respond to emergencies in the water. For safety purposes, the City is urging everyone to not enter the water.
- There is a mandatory curfew beginning Monday at 10pm until 6am each evening moving forward until further notice.
- Alcohol sales will also be banned beginning Monday at 10pm moving forward until the conditions improve.
- Any special needs citizens requiring assistance evacuating should call dial-a-ride at 904-246-1477.
- All information will be updated on the City website, Beaches Energy website and our social media platforms.
- All city offices will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday to the public.
Please stay safe, be
prepared,
and continue to monitor the storm.
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Jax Beach 2020
City Budget Proposal
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Jacksonville Beach's proposed 2020 budget maintains the current millage rate of
$3.9947
per $1,000 of assessed value. This is
18.8% lower
than the state average.
Highlights include:
- Total City budget: $163,892,602
- General Fund (akin to a checking account to pay for City services): $24,027,407
- Total proposed millage rate Jax Beach residents will pay for 2020: $18.5654 per $1,000 of assessed value.
- The breakdown of where your millage payment goes:
- Jax Beach: 20.54%
- Jacksonville: 41.91%
- School Board: 36.17%
- Water Mgmt: 1.22%
- Inland Nav: .016%
- The breakdown of how the proposed Jax Beach General Fund will spent is:
- Police: 41%
- Fire: 19% (Jacksonville still has to vote to transfer our fire services)
- Parks & Rec: 15%
- Planing & Dev.: 10%
- Ins./non-dept.: 8%
- Public Works: 7%
- Property Taxes are the revenue source of 49% of the General Fund. Other revenue streams are:
- Fund transfers: 18% (e.g. Beaches Energy)
- Other gov: 19%
- Comm tax: 7%
- License, permits, fees, etc.: 7%
Votes on the proposed budget are:
- September 9th, 6:00 pm
- September 16th, 7:00 pm
Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or comments.
904.486.6865
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9/2
Labor Day
Click
here
for more information and events.
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Short Term Rentals in Jax Beach
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On June 27, City Council held a workshop where members of the public were able to offer their thoughts on the City’s proposed
Short Term Rental ordinance
. Changes were identified, and the revised ordinance was heard by the Planning Commission on July 22 (video below).
Some key changes:
- Have both Single and Collective Certifications (the ability for licensed agents to register multiple STRs under one application, thereby reducing the cost to register).
- Explicitly state in the ordinance (not just the “where as” section, which is to present the City’s legislative intent) that single-family, two-family, or townhouse dwelling units subject to deed restrictions and/or covenants of a homeowners’ association, condominium units, and owner-occupied dwelling units renting any portion thereof shall not be subject to the regulations of this ordinance.
- Have an initial inspection, but then follow-up inspections only when there is a change in ownership or after any major modifications.
- Define maximum occupancy by bedrooms and sq ft of living area.
The public has one more opportunity to have input into this ordinance.
Upcoming Dates
:
September 16th: City Council – Second Reading, 7pm
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Good news! There has been some movement on completing the repairs to the pier. The pier was first damaged in 2016 by Hurricane Michael, and then damaged further by Hurricane Irma. In 2018, the first 635 feet of the pier was open to the public.
Here is what we know about completing the repairs to the pier:
- While Jacksonville will not commit to a completion date, construction is expected to begin in September/October of 2019.
- It will take approximately 25 months to complete the project (Nov. or Dec. 2021).
- The project will cost $9 million. The cost is broken down to 75% federal government; 25% split between Jacksonville and the State.
- The reconstructed pier will be the same length as the original pier (1,300 feet), but will be 8 feet higher at the end.
Jacksonville will maintain ownership of the Pier, but Jacksonville Beach is looking at taking over its management.
More information can be found
here
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The following properties/projects are new large-scale developments in downtown Jacksonville Beach. The latest addition is
221 Surfside
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a mixed use development to the property just north of the Seawalk Pavilion. Proposed uses include a restaurant, office space, a boutique hotel, and retail.
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221 Surfside
(formerly Sydney's and Buckets, just north of the Pavilion)
Rooms: 17
Height: 2 stories
~Construction has started~
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Rooms: 136
Height: 56' (5 stories)
~Buildings over 35' (3 stories) were grandfathered in~
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Rooms: 80
Height: 35' (3 stories)
~Construction has started~
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Rooms: 202
Height: 89' (eight stories)
~Construction has started~
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Rooms: 57 hotel rooms, 54 apartments
Height: 68' (6 stories)
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Together, we will make a difference.
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Let's continue to work together to ensure that Jacksonville Beach remains one of the greatest places to call home! Reach out if you have any questions or concerns about what is happening in your neighborhood or City.
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Cell phone: 904.486.6865
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