C I T Y   O F   F O R E S T   P A R K

 

TO:                          Mayor and Council

 

FROM:                    John Parker, City Manager

 

DATE:                    February 18, 2008

 

SUBJECT:               INFORMATION BULLETIN  - JANUARY, 2008

 

The following is a department by department status report of priority activities, projects and initiatives for the month of  January, 2008.

 

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING

 

Building Plans Submitted

1.       Little Caesars Pizza                      819 Forest Pkwy. Ste. E; Int. finish

2.       Crazy Horse Saloon                     3920 Jonesboro Rd.; Int. remodel

 

Building Permits Issued

1.       4233 Jonesboro Rd.                             Fire ruling; JC $30,000

2.       837 Northview Dr.                      Fire ruling; JC $20,000

3.       1131 Grace Dr.                           Bed/bath addition; 300 sq. ft. JC $6,000

4.       4284 Gilbert Pl.                           Fire repair; 1,050 sq. ft. JC $15,000

5.       578 Linda Way                           Addition; 1,300 sq. ft. JC $15,000

6.       535 Mistral Way                          Enclose garage; JC $1,000

7.       837 Northview Dr.                      Fire repair; 1,200 sq. ft. JC $15,000

8.       826 Sherwood Cir.                      Fire ruling; JC $10,000

 

Certificate of Occupancies Issued

1.       Pink Pony South                         4730 Frontage Rd.                      01/02/08

2.       Katherine Florist                         4493 Jonesboro Rd.                             01/03/08

3.       Ceasar Richbow                          559 Forest Pkwy. A                     01/10/08

4.       Taquerua Y Int’l                         4095 Jonesboro Rd. J                 01/10/08

5.       A.K. Surplus Beauty                    770 Morrow Rd.                         01/11/08

6.       Sock Hop                                   4855 Jonesboro Rd.                             01/14/08

7.       Restaurant, Billiards                    4148 Jonesboro Rd.                             01/17/08

8.       Rodeway Inn & Suites                 4415 Jonesboro Rd.                             01/16/08

9.       Lunex Express                            561 Forest Pkwy. 3                     01/24/08

 

Affiliate Board Activity

 

Planning and Zoning Board

 

*      The Planning and Zoning Board held a Public Hearing on January 9th, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the courtroom located within the Agnes B. Bateman Community Development Building, 785 Forest Parkway, Forest Park, Georgia 30297.  At issue, a petition (Conditional Use Permit) had been filed by Julian Wyatt, 936 Calvo Court, Hampton, Georgia 30228, owner of 880 White Oak Drive, Forest Park, Georgia 30297; Clayton County Tax Identification Number 13079D D019, for a Conditional Use permit to establish and operate a Personal Care Home, providing personal care services to two or more non-family adults within the residence.  The Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve recommendation of the petition.

 

A second Public Hearing was held on January 22nd, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 745 Forest Parkway, Forest Park, Georgia 30297. During the regular scheduled Council meeting, the petition was tabled until the next Council meeting. 

 

*      Planning and Zoning Board held a Public Hearing on January 9th, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the courtroom located within the Agnes B. Bateman Community Development Building, 785 Forest Parkway, Forest Park, Georgia 30297. The Public Hearing was being held for the purpose of hearing public comments, if any, with regard to the proposed rezoning of two (2) parcels of property lying and being in Land Lot 16 and 17 of the 13th District of Clayton County, Forest Park, Georgia. The two (2) tracts are more particularly described as:

 

Tract 1: 2.0 acre parcel, Clayton County Tax Identification Number 13017B A001 aka 4206 Thurman Road, Forest Park, Georgia 30297.  Owner: Franklin P. Peal, Jr. 9435 Poston Road, Jonesboro, Georgia 30238.

 

Tract 2: 0.87 acre parcel, Clayton County Tax Identification Number 13017B A002 aka 4222 Thurman Road, Forest Park, Georgia 30297. Owner: Gail V. Coffey 510 SW 801st Road, Holden, MO 64040.

 

Both Tract 1 and Tract 2 are currently zoned R-80 Single Family Residential (CFPCO Section 8-8-51). The rezoning petitions are to change the R-80 zoning designation to C-1 General Commercial (CFPCO Section 8-8-56). The Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve recommendation of the petition.

 

A second Public Hearing was held on January 22nd, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 745 Forest Parkway, Forest Park, Georgia 30297. During the regular scheduled Council meeting, the petition to rezone the properties was approved by Council by a unanimous vote.

 

 

 

                                                          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.  Cleaning out the holding pond at the police department was a main area of work involving cutting down dead trees and cleaning debris from the area and putting down grass seed and hay.  Cut down low hanging limbs from the right-of-ways around the city and picked up numerous loads of yard waste.

 

 

Building Maintenance:

          Building Maintenance along with Park crews started the renovation of the T-Ball restroom in play area. The interior walls were removed and replaced with block walls, urinals, piping and sinks were removed and replaced according to new specifications.  Repairs to the roof were made over bay station 2 at the fire department. Maintenance crews also completed numerous work orders throughout all city departments.

 

 

Parks Division:

          Parks crews assisted Maintenance crews with the renovation of the T-Ball restroom.  Parks crews worked removing leaves from all city buildings, 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.  Special attention was given to maintenance of the Forest Parkway landscaped areas.

 

 

                                                         Mike Gippert, Director

                                                          (404) 608-2310

 

 

 

 

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

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

The City is waiting for the Final Construction Documents from Pond & Company.

 

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

 The property owners have responded favorably to the LCI Main Street project.  The City is in the last phase of meeting with property owners requiring a temporary construction or driveway easement.

 

State Farmers Market Project

The City has finally received the final document.  It is being reviewed to ensure that the corrections were made from the draft document.

         

Community Development Block Grant Projects (CDBG)

The City of Forest Park submitted 10 applications for Fiscal Year 2008 Community Development Block Grant Funds.  Applications submitted were:

 

1.     Renovations of the Indoor Pool

2.     Indoor Pool Dehumidifier

3.     Commercial Dishwasher for the Senior Center

4.     Senior Center Expansion

5.     Construction of New Entertainment Facility

6.     Replacement of Community Building #1

7.     Starr Park Improvements – Small Playground

8.     Replacement of Community Building 3 & 4 with one large facility

9.     Renovation of Outdoor Pool to include a new Indoor Pool and bath house

10.   Starr Park Improvements – Large Playground

 

Forest Park Business Coalition

The next meeting of the Forest Park Business Coalition is Tuesday, February 19, 2008 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Community Services Authority 1000 Main Street.  Chief Buckholts is the Speaker.

 

2008 SPLOST

The passage of the 2008 SPLOST on Tuesday, February 5th will make possible a number of vital projects, including: law enforcement and public safety projects, parks and recreation projects, library projects, and transportation and improvement projects.

 

 

Projects identified for Forest Park includes:

 

·        LCI (Livable Centers Initiative) Main Street Downtown Pedestrian project and the inclusion of underground utilities from North Oak Street to realignment of College/Ash/Main

 

·        Sidewalks to Schools Phase II and Transit Oriented pedestrian streetscape projects

 

·        Capital equipment to include police, administrative, fire, public works and recreation

 

·        New Recreation Center complete with design, construction and equipment.

 

·        Expansion of City Hall facility and parking including design, construction and equipment, as well as a new computer system and software

 

·        Property acquisition and maintenance for upcoming projects, street maintenance, greenspace, transit purchase and park space

 

·        Road construction and maintenance

 

·        LCI (Livable Centers Initiative) Main Street Downtown Pedestrian project – Phase II Design and Construction

 

 

John Parker, City Manager

Angela Redding, Mgt. Analyst

(404) 366-4720

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION / FINANCE

 

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of January are $1,495,508 or 8.42% of the budget.  Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $9,438,572 or 53.14% of the budget (fiscal year July 2007 – June 2008). For comparison purposes, the period of July through January represents 58.33% of the budget year. Total expenditures for the General Fund remain under budget for the seven month period of July through January.

 

Local Option Sales Tax revenue received in January is $410,037, compared to $413,882 for January of the prior year. The fiscal year-to-date total received is $2,903,387 or 54.80% of the budget. The percentage of the budget year through January is 58.33% of the year; therefore, revenue from Local Option Sales Tax remains less than budget through January.

 

Business license payments are being received for 2008 licenses. As of the end of January, $153,318 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 January. The due date for payment is February 28.

 

Approximately $4,000,000 of the year 2007 property taxes had been collected and posted to the accounting system by the end of January.

 

 

Mike Blandenburg, Director

(404) 366-4720

                  

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES

 

 

TRIAD

TRIAD held a meeting at the Forest Park Senior Center January 18, 2008. The featured speaker was Robin Gay of Heritage Bank, who gave a presentation regarding securing personal information to prevent identity theft.  Approximately 65 TRIAD members were in attendance.

 

ADMINISTRATION

Officer Whitehead and Capt. Reynolds attended a job fair at Fort McPherson where 35 applications were given out. He is expanding our recruiting efforts to different areas of the state including South Georgia.

 

Radar recertification training was conducted for several officers by MPO Presley

 

COPS

COPS officers conducted Business Watch and Apartment Coalition Manager’s meetings, as well as Neighborhood watch meetings throughout the month of January.  Attendance was up at several of the meetings, with one meeting drawing more than 14 citizens.

 

An Apartment Manager’s coalition meeting was held with 4 managers in attendance.

 

A Business Watch meeting was held at Ash Morrow Plaza.

 

 

 

                                                          Chief Dwayne Hobbs

                                                         (404) 366-7280

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE/EMS SERVICES

 

  • Major David Halcome is enrolled in the Clayton County Regional Police Academy receiving Basic Police Mandate Training. Once this 13-week course is completed he will be police-mandated allowing more flexibility in pursuing arson

     investigation cases.

 

  • The Tower Truck and equipment was utilized at Huie Elementary as three classes of Pre-K students were taught Fire Safety Education.

 

  • An additional 13 people were trained in CPR at Griswell Senior Center

 

 

Call Activity

 

Fires                      18

EMS Assist              100

False Calls              16

Mutual Aid              1

HazMat                   2

Other Hazards         7

Other Responses     20

EMS                       250

 

                                                                   414 Responses Total

 

         

                                                          Chief Eddie Buckholts

                                                          (404) 608-2382

 

                                     

 

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

 

Youth Basketball -  Youth Basketball games started on January 5th.  We have 33 teams with 8 players on each team for a total of 246 players.  Games are played on Friday nights starting at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m.  The participants range from 5 years to 16 years old.

 

Swim lessons for pre-school 3-5 years of age and youth ages 6 and above are held on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  The classes will run for 6 weeks beginning January 12th.

 

The Indoor pool is open to the public on Tuesday and Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Men’s fitness will meet on Tuesday night from 8:15 p.m. to 10 p.m.  This is for men ages 18 and over together for a  fun night of fitness including full court basketball games and weight lifting.

 

Gym use – 549 for the month of January

 

Wellness Programs

Water Aerobics – Monday & Wednesday  6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

          Yoga – Wednesday evening – 6:30 p.m.  – 8 p.m.

          Water Exercise – Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 12 noon – 1 p.m.

          Teen Weight Lifting – Tuesday & Thursday – 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

          Swim For Fun – Tuesday & Thursday – 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

          55 & Up Exercise/Weight Room – Monday – Friday – 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. and

Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

 

 

SENIOR CENTER ACTIVITIES:

We started out the New Year with a Red Hatter Dinner at King Kong Buffet.  It was fun for everyone.

 

We started a new program called WII Bowling and it has been a lot of fun.  We play two times a week and have 15-20 Seniors per day or more. 

 

Bingo has been busy.  We play on the 2nd and 4th Friday each month and have 30-40 Seniors playing each time.  Then we eat, either breakfast or lunch, along with the bingo.

 

We had a covered lunch and everyone brought in some great food to share.  It was good fellowship and a great day.

 

Exercise class is on the move and everyone is trying to lose weight since the holidays.  It is more of a Senior stretching class and can be done standing or sitting.  So it is easy for everyone.

 

The Knitting Group is staying busy as it is still warm enough for hats, scarves, and slippers.  They have gone wild selling at our small craft shop, but soon the warm weather will be here. 

 

 

                                                          Elaine Corley, Director

                                                          (404) 363-2908