CI T Y   O F   F O R E S T   P A R K

 

TO:                             Mayor and Council

 

FROM:                       John Parker, City Manager

 

DATE:                       March 23, 2010

 

SUBJECT:               INFORMATION BULLETIN  - FEBRUARY, 2010

 

 

The following is a department by department status report of priority activities, projects and initiatives for the month of  February, 2010.

 

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

 

Youth Basketball – We have a total of 30 teams with eight children per team, total of 240 participants.  Games are held on Fridays 6pm-8:30pm; and Saturdays 9am-9pm.   

 

Public Swimming – The indoor pool was open to the public on Tuesday and Thursday 7pm-9pm; and Saturday 1pm-4pm. 

 

Water Exercise – Our Recreation and Leisure Services offer two water exercise classes.  One is held on Monday and Wednesday 1pm-2pm; the other take place on Monday and Wednesday at 6pm.  These classes are very popular with participants that have limited movement due to joint pain or those that just enjoy exercising in the water as opposed to floor exercising.  The classes are held in our heated indoor pool.      

 

Lift Your Body – On Tuesday and Thursday at 12noon, J.R. Pierre, one of our recreation supervisors, instruct participants through a very intense floor exercise class known as Lift Your Body.  The class incorporates boxing, aerobics, step aerobics, weightlifting and jogging in a forty-five minute workout.  The participants must enjoy it because they keep coming back for more.  The class meets at 12:15pm.

 

Yoga – On Wednesday night Mr. Wesley White takes his participants through a soothing yoga workout.  The participants spend an hour and fifteen minutes learning movements to help de-stress their stressful workday.  This class is held at 6:45pm.

 

CPR/First-Aid – CPR/First-Aid class was held on February 27, 2010 in partnership with our Fire/EMS Dept.  The class time was 9am-4:30pm; and was held at Fire Station #2 on Linda Way.

 

Saturday Swim Lessons – For kids and adults began February 20, 2010.  The beginners class for ages 6 and above is held 11am-12noon; preschool classes take place 12noon-12:30pm.  We have twenty-five (25) participants registered for the class.

 

Coaches’ Game – The Recreation Center also hosted their end of the year youth basketball coaches’ game.  We played two games on February 24th with our own Michelle Dorsey singing the National Anthem; Portia Langley performed between the games on stilts, bringing a colorful and entertaining show.  All of our coaches who participated and kids from our program had a very good time.

 

Registration – The Recreation Center started registration for the following athletic programs:  T-Ball, Pee Wee Ball, Soccer, Girls Softball, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Adult Softball, Adult Basketball, Adult Volleyball, and Teen Weight Lifting.

 

Lifeguard Training – The screening for lifeguard training was held February 16, 2010.  Classes meet on Tuesday and Thursday night 5pm-9pm.

 

Gym Use – 680 participants for the month of February 2010

 

Ongoing Classes

 

            Water Aerobics – Monday & Wednesday 6pm-7pm

            Yoga – Wednesday evening 6:45pm-8pm

            Water Exercise – Monday & Wednesday 1pm-2pm

            Teen Weight Lifting – Tuesday & Thursday 5pm-6pm

            Swim For Fun (ages 55 & Over) – Tuesday & Thursday 1:30pm-2:30pm

            Chess – Wednesday 5pm-9pm

            Martial Arts (Tai-Chi, Kung Fu) – Tuesday 6pm-7pm

 

 

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

 

*          February was a fun month at the Senior Center.  We started with the Red Hatters and ended with Bingo. 

 

*          Red Hatters wearing their colorful outfits, had  High Tea  at the center with entertainment and good food.   

 

*          The Super Bowl was a noisy party with everyone rooting for both teams.  They all rooted for whoever was scoring.  We ate lots of food and everyone went home saying their team won! 

 

*          Valentine Dinner was a big success with a great dinner.  The Seniors enjoyed dressing in all the red they could find, and remembering old times.  Everyone went home with a little Love (candy or a rose).

 

*          Bingo still keeps everyone busy.  I think every senior likes to play Bingo.  The food is just an added joy as they come early for breakfast or stay after for lunch.

 

*          Covered dishes are always fun.  Everyone tries to outdo the other to see what they can bring.  It is good fellowship and a day out to visit friends.

 

*          Cards are still going strong on Club day.  We have 1 to 4 tables at any time.

 

*          Dominoes are growing and the Seniors are now playing a couple of times a week.  On their club day they have 8 to 12 people and still growing.

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

*        March 10, 2010 – Silverteen Annual Soup & Cornbread Lunch @ Forest Park Senior Center 11 am-1:30 pm. Tickets: $3 per person

 

*        March 18, 2010 – Youth Soccer Draft @ 7pm @ Soccer Fields   

 

*        March 27, 2010 – Easter Egg Hunt/Safety Fest – Ages 10 years & under @ 11am-2pm @ Baker Field – Hunt starts promptly @ 12noon

 

 

                                                                        Elaine Corley, Director

                                                                        404-363-2908

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING

Building Plans Submitted

 

Business Name

Address

Details

Sanofi Aventis

2500 SouthPoint Dr.

Freezer

 

Building Permits Issued

 

Structure Type

Address

Details

Commercial

5182 Old Dixie Hwy. – B

Tenant finish; 1,700 sq. ft. JC $15,000

Residential

1161 Evelyn Dr.

Porch; 400 sq. ft. JC $2,800

Commercial

701 Ruskin Dr.

Roof; 41,208 sq. ft. JC $629,000

Residential

5068 Ash St.

Fire Ruling; JC $2,500

Residential

752 Brookwood Dr.

Carport; 198 sq. ft. JC $600

 

 

Certificate of Occupancies Issued

 

Business Name

Address

Date of Issue

Garcia Produce & Trucking

4730 Lake Mirror Pl.

02/02/2010

Garcia Produce & Trucking

4748 Lake Mirror Pl.

02/02/2010

La Ecomonica

4581 Jonesboro Rd.

02/05/2010

Tuder Const.

4584 Jonesboro Rd.

02/05/2010

Rod’s Moving Service

767 Main St.

02/17/2010

Firestone complete Auto Care

4916 Jonesboro Rd.

02/25/2010

CC Public Defender

675 Forest Pkwy.

02/25/2010

 

Affiliate Board Activity

 

There were no Board meetings in the month of February 2010. 

 

Special Interest

 

Partial Plan Update

to the

Forest Park Comprehensive Plan 2005-2025/Workshop

 

The City Council adopted the current 2005-2025 Comprehensive Plan on February 21st, 2005. In order to maintain the Comprehensive Plan, a Short Term Work Program (STWP) must be completed at five (5) year intervals to update the progress of major capital improvements, programs and initiatives. There is also new regulations that require a Partial Plan Update, which was added to the process in March 2007. A municipality is required to keep the Comprehensive Plan current, to maintain its Qualified Local Government (QLG) status, and be eligible to receive State grants and loans.  As required by the Georgia Planning Act of 1989, the City is currently conducting a Partial Plan Update to the Forest Park Comprehensive Plan 2005-2025. A public workshop was held to update the City’s future development goals and policies for the Comprehensive Plan. This workshop provided an overview of the City’s previous planning initiatives along with discussion of current issues and opportunities. The meeting was held at Forest Park City Hall at 745 Forest Parkway, Forest Park, Georgia 30297, in the Council Chambers from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday February 23rd, 2010.   Robert and Company (author of the current 2005-2025 Comprehensive Plan) hosted the workshop.

 

 

                                                                        Steve Pearson, Director

                                                                        (404) 608-2300

 

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

 

Street Division:

            Street crews had a busy month with right-of-way clean-ups of debris in ditches, cutting bushes, and opening blocked storm drains, 850 feet of ditch line was dug out due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall on Granade Drive.  Crews also helped the Park crews cleaning and removing debris from Conley Road Cemetery.

 

Special Paid Sanitation Pick-ups:

            4138 O’Hara Drive, 689 Brookwood Drive, 5583 Phillips Drive, 5596 Phillips Drive, 5645 Sequoia Drive, 5657 Sequoia Drive, 5512 Ash Street, and 4756 Burks Road

 

 

Building Maintenance:

            Major projects for the Maintenance crews have been the enlargement of the storage closet in Tonya’s office, which entailed removing back wall, framing new area, closing off part of the hallway, installing light fixtures, and extending the ceiling.  Crews also build enclosure areas for heater units to ensure proper safety compliances. Crews installed a wall heater and smoke detector, painted wall and ceilings, and replaced faucet at the fire station. Shelves were built in the mechanical room to accommodate the server at City Hall. Other projects completed by Building Maintenance crews included work orders for all buildings and departments.

 

Parks Division:

            Parks crews were maintaining park areas and right-of ways along with their regular daily duties of Recreation and Leisure set-ups revolving around the recreation facilities and Senior Building activities.  Crews worked at Conley Road Cemetery removing trash and debris and cutting grassed area. Crews cleaned and removed port-a-pot that was vandalized at Perkins Park. Park crews helped Building Maintenance Division personnel with the digging of ditch line on Granade Drive.

 

 

                                                                        Mike Gippert, Director

                                                                        (404) 608-2310

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE/EMS

 

  • All City Departments exercised their Severe Weather plans during the Statewide Tornado Drill on February 3rd. No deficiency noted.

 

  • The Fire Marshals’ Office conducted fire safety classes concentrating on space heaters to Georgia Power employees.

 

  • The 2nd annual Fire Department Awards Ceremony was held on February 26th at the Royal Palm on Main Street. Department awards are as follows:

 

    • Firefighter of the Year – Jason Brown

 

    • Chiefs Award – Men and women of Forest Park Fire Department

 

    • Medical Save Awards – Paramedic Kevin Milton, FF/EMT William Pruitt, Paramedic Carter Cagle, Captain Joel Turner, Paramedic David Herrin, Sgt. John Gaskin, Paramedic Rusty Hicks and FF/EMT Micah Cauble.

 

o       Medical Save-Assist Awards – Captain Joel Turner, FF/EMT        Keith King, Sgt. John Gaskin, Paramedic Fred Chamberlin, Sgt.       Richard Mahoney, FF/EMT William Pruitt, Battalion Chief        Robert Brackett, Battalion Chief Barry Hopper, Sgt. Jon Baker,   FF/EMT Jay Mathis and Sgt. Chance Williams.

 

Congratulations to all of these dedicated personnel and the outstanding job they do everyday.

 

  • Fire personnel trained 11 citizens in CPR/First Aid.

 

  • Congratulations to Joel Turner who was recently promoted to Captain-EMS Training.

 

  • Retired Master Firefighter Charlie Robinson passed away on February 12th after a lengthy illness. A full honors firefighter funeral was conducted on Tuesday February 16th in his honor.

 

                                                           Run Activity

 

      Fires                                                                           Other Responses

 

      Private Dwelling                             1                      EMS Engine Assist                        101

      Multi-Family                                   1                      False Alarm                           18

      Other Structure                               1                      Mutual Aid Given                 2

      Vehicle                                              2                      HazMat                                  1

      Rubbish                                             2                      Hazardous Response             8

      Other Fire                                         2                      Other Response                     4
                              Total                         9                                 Total                        129

                 

 

                                     EMS Calls               222 (81 treated, released                                                                                                   on scene, 141 transported to area                                                                                    facilities)

 

                                     TOTAL CALLS      360 (Average 13 per day) 

 

 

 

 

                                                                        Chief Eddie Buckholts

                                                                        (404) 608-2382

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION / FINANCE

 

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of February are $1,293,933 or 6.10% of the budget.  Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $11,876,679 or 55.99% of the budget (fiscal year July 2009 – June 2010). For comparison purposes, the period of July through February represents 66.67% of the budget year. Total expenditures for the General Fund remain under budget for the eight month period of July through February.

 

Local Option Sales Tax revenue received in February was $370,177, compared to $467,486 for February of the prior year. The fiscal year-to-date total received is $3,299,842 or 63.46% of the budget. The percentage of the budget year through February is 66.67% of the year; therefore, revenue from Local Option Sales Tax remains less than budget through February. The decrease as compared to the prior year is expected, considering the state of the nation’s economy.

 

Business license payments for 2010 licenses were due by February 28. As of the end of February, $568,982 (71% of budget) of collections had been posted to the accounting system. This amount does not represent all license collections. An additional amount of fees had been collected but not posted to the accounting system as of the end of February.

 

 

 

                                                                        Mike Blandenburg, Director

                                                                        (404) 366-4720

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

Sidewalks to Schools, Phase III and Transit Oriented Pedestrian Improvements Projects

The City of Forest Park has executed easement acquisitions for twenty-four (24) of the fifty-one (51) properties requiring an easement.  Two are currently scheduled for closing.

 

 

 

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

The City of Forest Park received six (6) sealed bids for this project.  The lowest qualified bidder information was submitted to the Atlanta Regional Commission.  The city is waiting for ARC and GDOT to approve the lowest qualified bidder and issue the Notice to Proceed with Construction.

 

State Farmers Market

NO STATUS CHANGE – Assisting the Georgia Department of Agriculture in identifying and researching funding sources for transportation and building improvements.

 

Forest Park Business Coalition

The Forest Park Business Coalition was held Tuesday, February 16, 2010.  The Speaker was Superintendent Ed Heatley.  Superintendent provided information on preparation for the next SACS visit, successes in the Clayton County School System, addressed budget concerns and identified ways for the Business community to partner with the school system.

 

 

                                                          John Parker, City Manager

                                                                        Angela Redding, Mgt. Analyst

                                                                        (404) 366-4720

 

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES

 

TRIAD

 

The monthly TRIAD meeting was held with approximately 50 people in attendance. C.O.P.S. Officers were the quest speakers and the topic was “Home Security.”

 

Patrol

 

Officer Habboushi completed Basic Intoxilyzer class at GPSTC

 

Officer Peterson completed Health and Wellness training.

 

Officer Huston and Officer McClelland have both completed First Responder Class. This was the last course Officer Huston needed to complete her intermediate certification.

 

MPO Cochran completed Officer Survival

 

Officer Gomez and  Officer Yermack completed the Interpersonal Relations course.

 

Officer Gomez completed Health and Wellness training

 

Officer Rowe is reviewing the revised city ordinance concerning false alarms and researching operations and guidelines concerning alarm systems .

 

Michelle Leverett (communications) has passed her NCIC/GCIC test

 

Eight CPA applications have been turned in this period, four others are still pending.

 

Lt. Hiers attended training on the new Rapid ID portable fingerprinting device.

 

MPO Cochran will be participating in the executive interview for Sergeant

 

Sgt. Armstrong and Ofc. Bullington attended TRIAD Feb. 18th.

 

Major Matson, Ofc. Consalvo, Ofc. Bullington and Capt. Podsiadly attended the funeral for Lt. Mike Vogt of Chattahoochee Hills P.D.

 

Lt. Hiers, Sgt. Armstrong and Ofc. Rowe attended breakfast at Jones Memorial Church

 

Officer Consalvo attended Officer Survival at GPSTC - 40 hr course.

 

Officer Consalvo attended the Apartment managers coalition meeting.

 

MPO Freeman and MPO Waltrip completed First Responder training.

 

MPO Freeman celebrated five years of service with the Forest Park Police Department.

 

Sgt. Cloud and MPO Jackson attended training on the Blue Check SAF-ID and the MC-75 at the Gwinnett County Jail on Feb 2, 2010

 

 

 

 

CID

 

Sgt. Fisher attended High Risk Interview assessment.

 

Sgt. Fisher attended a meeting with Atlanta Crime Stoppers and the Forest Park Business Coalition.

 

Detective Averhart attended the Northside Neighborhood Watch Meeting on 2-18-10.

 

COPS

 

Capt. Jamie Reynolds was the guest speaker at the South Side Neighborhood Watch February 3rd.

 

C.O.P.S. Officers conducted the Apartment Manager’s Coalition with (8) managers in attendance

 

The North side Neighborhood Watch Meeting was held on February 18th. Major Matson was the guest speaker along with members from communications  

 

Jamarco Clark, a former Forest Park Police Cadet signed a letter of intent to play football on a scholarship with Iowa Wesleyan University.

 

 

 

                                                          Chief Dwayne Hobbs

                                                                        (404) 466-7280