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 26, 2009

SUBJECT: INFORMATION BULLETIN - JANUARY, 2009

The following is a department by department status report of priority activities, projects and initiatives for the month of January, 2009.

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

NEW EMPLOYEES ALERT!

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce our two new staff members to the Forest Park Community and to the City. They are:

Junior Pierre – He likes to be called ‘JR’. JR has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies from Hunter College. He has been working at LA Fitness Sports Club were he was a certified fitness trainer. He will serve as a Recreation Supervisor in our department. Welcome Aboard JR!

Portia Langley – Portia has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Fort Valley State University. She comes to us from Clayton County where she worked in Archives & Records. She has also served in AmeriCorps. She will serve as a Recreation Supervisor in our department. Welcome Aboard Portia!

ACTIVITIES

Youth Basketball – Our youth basketball season started January 10, 2009. There are 28 teams participating this year. The participants are ages 5-16 years of age. Practices began December 8^th. The teams are broken down in five (5) divisions: Pee Wee – ages 5-7 years old (6 teams); Shorty – ages 8-9 years old (5 teams); Midget – ages 10-11 years old (8 teams); Juniors – ages 12-13 years old (4 teams); Senior – ages 14-16 years old (5 teams); total of 224 participants. The games are played on Saturday mornings starting at 9am until 9pm.

Picture Day – For the Youth Basketball program took place on January 24, 2009. The teams were represented well. Approximately 149 complete packages or individual photos were purchased by the parents. Willard Photography photographed the players. On December 12, 2008 Santa arrived at the Senior Building for pictures with Santa. There were approximately 25 kids there with their parents for this exciting event. 15 packages were sold at $15 per package.

Public Swimming – The indoor pool is open to the public on Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm to 9pm and Saturdays 1pm-4pm.

Men’s Fitness – Meets on Tuesday nights from 8:30pm to 10pm. This programs is for men 18 years and older. The program consists of full court basketball games and weight lifting.

Gym use: 483 for the month of January 2009.

Ongoing Classes

Water Aerobics – Monday & Wednesday 6pm-7pm

Yoga – Wednesday evening 6:45pm-8pm

Water Exercise – Monday & Wednesday 1pm-2pm

Baton – Wednesday 6pm-7pm

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

Chess – Wednesday 5pm-9am

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

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

* January has been a slow month with everyone getting over the holidays, putting away decorations and getting started on a new year.

* We started with Red Hatters on their regular trip to lunch and meeting. They all enjoy going out and getting dressed up.

* Bingo and breakfast/lunch are doing well. They enjoy Bingo but are really enjoying the meals. It is fun for the staff and seniors.

* Dominoes are growing and we are up to 2 tables and more interest is shown every week. Cards are also a favorite and played every day and the club is on Thursdays.

* TRIAD met and talked about Victim Assistance. The District Attorney talked about things seniors needed to be aware of.

* Our Fun Lunch this month was at Baby Jane’s. It was a good lunch and everyone enjoyed the trip.

* The WII games are still very popular. We play bowling, golf and fitness on different days and they enjoy them all.

Elaine Corley, Director

404-363-2908

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION / FINANCE

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of January are $1,487,636 or 7.72% of the budget. Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $9,971,700 or 51.77% of the budget (fiscal year July 2008 – June 2009). 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 $346,721, compared to $410,037 for January of the prior year. The decrease has been expected due to the state of the economy. The fiscal year-to-date total received is $3,330,715 or 64.80% 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 more than budget through January.

Business license payments are beginning to be received for 2009 licenses. As of the end of January, $50,183 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 $4,500,000 of the year 2008 property taxes had been collected and posted to the accounting system by the end of January.

Mike Blandenburg, Director

(404) 366-4720

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Street Division:

Street crews had a busy month with right-of-way clean-up of debris in ditches, cutting bushes, and opening blocked storm drains. Webb Drive was a main area of work involving cleaning out the ditch and removing overgrown bushes. Tires were hauled away from the Recycling center to ITC Recycling for disposal. Numerous trees were cleaned from right-a-way after the rain storms. Street crews also picked numerous loads of yard waste.

Completed Court Ordered Abatements:

680 Forest Hills Path, 764 Glenn Drive, and 722 Glenn Drive

Special Paid Sanitation Pick-ups:

4650 Elam Church Road, 485 Scott Boulevard, 5182 Old Dixie Highway, 4838 Bartlett road, 4613 Bartlett Road, 4713 Bartlett Road, 121 Royal Drive, 855 North Avenue, and 810 Morrow Road

Building Maintenance:

Building Maintenance crews were busy constructing a storage structure for trash containers outside the recreation department along with repairing the gate at the T-Ball press box and removing and replacing the heater at the pool. All fence caps were checked and replaced and all lights at Putt Putt concession were checked and replaced. Data cables between Public Works and Fleet building were restrung removing the slack and ceiling vents were closed and replaced with ceiling tiles. Maintenance crews also completed numerous work orders throughout all city departments.

Parks Division:

Parks crews assisted Street crews with the cleaning of right-of-ways and removing of trees during the storms also in the placing of street address sign at City residential properties. Shrubs and trees were trimmed on Short Ash, College Street, Ernest Avenue, Ruby Lane, Watts Road, Conley Road, Hill Street, East Street, Fallview Drive, Catherine Street and Boling Drive. 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.

Mike Gippert

(404) 608-2310

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

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

The City Attorney delivered 21 Preliminary Title Search files to City Hall. This will enable the City to begin the easement process with property owners. There are a total of 51 easements.

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

The City of Forest Park received notification from the Department of Transportation that the ROW has been certified for this project. The City has submitted the utilities certification, ADA certification and notification of competitive bidding documents to the Atlanta Regional Commission. Robert & Company will be submitting the Final Field Plan Review.

ARC has initiated the process to request construction funds from GDOT.

State Farmers Market

The City is working with the Department of Agriculture to identify funding sources for Phase I of the Implementation Plan.

Stimulus Package

The City of Forest Park submitted three projects totaling $175,885,067.07 for funding through the Economic Stimulus Package. The following projects were submitted:

· Multi-modal Transportation Complex

· Solid Waste Modification and Energy Generating System

· Resurfacing projects

Georgia Cities Week

The Georgia Municipal Association is sponsoring Georgia Cities Week April 19-April 25, 2009 to showcase and celebrate cities and the many services they provide.

Last year the City encouraged sixth graders at Babb Middle School and Forest Park Middle School to participate in the essay contest, “If I Were Mayor, I Would….” There was an overwhelming response in participation from Babb Middle School. The students were presented with a certificate of participation from the Mayor. One idea this year is to recognize the students at the April 20^th Council meeting, which will be held during Georgia Cities Week. If you have any suggestions/recommendations for Georgia Cities Week activities, please contact John Parker or Angela Redding.

Forest Park Business Coalition

The next Forest Park Business Coalition meeting will be held Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at Community Services Authority 1000 Main Street from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm. Networking is held from 11:30 am until 12 noon. The program is from 12 noon until 1:00 pm. Lunch is provided.

John Parker, City Manager

Angela Redding, Mgt. Analyst

(404) 366-4720

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING

Building Plans Submitted

Business Name	Address	Details
Clorox	17 Lake Mirror Rd.	Boiler Room Addition.
Clorox	14 Royal Dr.	Lodge pole II

Building Permits Issued

Structure Type	Address	Details
Residential	673 W. Warren Dr.	Fire repair; 1,120 sq. ft. JC $3,200
Commercial	4851 Jonesboro Rd.	Interior remodel; 24,000 sq. ft. JC $500,000
Commercial	5021 Old Dixie Hwy. Ste. 100	Racking system; JC $50,000
Residential	998 Tamarack Trl.	Fire ruling; JC $4,800
Residential	5347 Sharon St.	Fire ruling; JC $10,000
Residential	5072 Highland St.	Storage shed; 144 sq. ft. JC $2,400
Multi-Family Residential	507 Ga. Ave. Bldg. C	Fire ruling; JC $5,000
Residential	5327 Lee Cir.	Storage shed; 256 sq. ft. JC $2,000
Residential	4657 Bartlett Rd.	Storage shed; 324 sq. ft. JC $1,200
Commercial	5345 Old Dixie Hwy.	Interior remodel; 2,401 sq. ft. JC $14,190
Residential	1274 Watts Rd.	Rehab interior/exterior; 900 sq. ft. JC $10,000

Certificate of Occupancies Issued

Business Name	Address	Date of Issue
Bread of Life Ministries	1089-B Forest Pkwy.	01-29-2009
MCS Tax Pro Solution	4894 Jonesboro Rd. A	01-07-2009
Trane	5021 Old Dixie Hwy. 500	01-08-2009
Crandle Bray Counselor	671 Forest Pkwy.	01-08-2009
Tienda Y Carniceria	1403/1405 Rockcut Rd.	01-09-2009
Tortichips	4234 Jonesboro Rd. L	01-15-2009

AFFILIATE BOARD ACTIVITY

There were no meetings of the affiliate Boards for the month of January 2009.

Special Interest:

Telecommunication Monopole Tower

On January 7^th, 2009, a conditional use permit to install a 186’ telecommunication monopole tower was issued to City Switch, an affiliate of Norfolk Southern Corporation to be located on the railyard at 269 Main Street.

City Switch’s original tower site was to be located along the railroad tracks at West Street and Forest Parkway. This location fell within the Main Street Redevelopment Area and TAD District. This location would have been “extremely inconsistent” with the City’s redevelopment plans and goals.

Our City Attorney, after researching case law, has opined that railroad companies are subject to Federal Exemption Laws and would therefore be exempt from Forest Park’s Tower ordinance and zoning regulation. This would mean, the railroad company could place the tower anywhere they chose to, on railroad property.

City Manager, John Parker, negotiated with railroad officials and City Switch, and successfully persuaded them to shift the tower site some 2,500’ west to the Forest Park railyard. Also, Mr. Parker as a “special condition” related to the conditional use permit, acquired the right to co-locate an antenna assembly upon this tower to accommodate the City’s Police, Fire and EMS Departments. This co-location will be at no cost to the City of Forest Park. The co-location of the antenna assembly on this tower, should alleviate the “dead spots” within the City, which have plagued City 2-way radio communication coverage for decades.

Steve Pearson, Director

(404) 608-2300

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE/EMS SERVICES

• The Fire Marshals Office – Major David Halcome and Capt. Sam Batten – presented a lecture to Georgia Power employees on Space Heater Safety to be disseminated in Public Education efforts.

• Sixty employees of Sanofi Aventis – Southpoint Drive were taught fire extinguisher safety by the Fire Marshals Office utilizing the Extinguisher Simulator from Ft. Gillem Fire Department.

• Several members of the Fire Department participated in a large-scale table top exercise directed by the Area 7 All-Hazards Council. The purpose of the exercise was to test emergency response and disaster preparedness for local departments and the regional area as well.

• Two Firefighter/EMTs – Enrique Barlow and Jim Shaw have started an extensive Paramedic training program administered at Henry County Fire Department. This was the result of being selected through an assessment center to be sponsored by the agency in the class. Also, FF/EMT Sal Carrillo is participating in the class. Upon successful completion, these three will add to our Paramedic program.

Run Activity

Structure Fires 6

Vehicle Fires 3

Brush Fires 1

Other Fires 2

EMS Assist 100

False Alarms 17

Mutual Aid Given 2

HazMat 2

Other Hazards 10

Other Responses 23

Total Fire Responses 166

EMS Calls 220

Total Calls 386

Chief Eddie Buckholts

(404) 608-2382

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES

TRIAD

TRIAD held a monthly meeting January 16^th with approximately 50 people in attendance. The focus of the meeting was the Clayton County District Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance program. District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson and Susan Bass of the Victim Assistance office were on hand to discuss the program.

Citizens Police Academy

Recruitment for the March 17th Citizen’s Police Academy class is currently underway.

Patrol

Adam Team found business at 4729 Jonesboro Rd, (Beauty Supply Store) had been broken into before the alarm was set off, and apprehended the suspect Larry Gullatt.

MPO Mayra Ambris received her POST Certification for FTO.

Officer Consalvo completed the “Shadow” portion of his field training and was released from field training.

Officer Jenkins has reached a milestone of 3 years with our agency.

MPO Cochran has completed Interviews and Interrogations class.

MPO Averhart has been reassigned to Criminal Investigations Division.

Delta Team had issued a total of 136 citations over the week end of January 23-25 and has made approximately 7 arrests for drunk driving.

MPO Waltrip attended the Drug Identification Course at G.P.S.T.C. (40 hour course)

CID

Detective Sergeant Karen Henry was awarded detective of the year for 2008.

Ofc. Curtis Averhart was promoted to detective and has begun duties in CID.

Capt. Cotrell, Lt. Delk, Sgt. Henry & Det. Craig attended the Neighborhood Watch meeting on 01/15/09.

Chief Dwayne Hobbs

(404) 366-7280