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:                   July 23, 2009

 

SUBJECT:            INFORMATION BULLETIN  - JUNE, 2009

 

 

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

 

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

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

The City is waiting for the City Attorney to deliver the preliminary title search for nine (9) more properties.

The City has begun preparing the Right-of-Way Easement package for this project

 

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

NO STATUS CHANGE - The City of Forest Park is waiting for the Notice to Proceed with construction from the Georgia Department of Transportation.

 

State Farmers Market

NO STATUS CHANGE – Identifying and Researching funding sources for transportation and building improvements.

 

Presentation to the State Farmers Market Produce Dealers Association

John Parker, City Manager presented an update to the State Farmers Market Produce Dealers Association on Economic and Redevelopment projects in the City of Forest Park specifically the Main Street Redevelopment, State Farmers Market and Fort Gillem projects.

 

                                                          John Parker, City Manager

                                                          Angela Redding, Mgt. Analyst

                                                          (404) 366-4720                                                                       

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

 

 

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

 

Summer Day Camp – Began June 1, 2009 with 106 campers registered for the first week.  The campers participate in various summer time activities including swimming, athletics, group competition games and many others.  They have been on several field trips (Zoo Atlanta, Imagine It and the GA Sports Hall of Fame in Macon, Georgia.  A storyteller stopped by to take them on an imaginary trip to the Caribbean Islands.  We are averaging approximately 100 campers per week ages 4-15 years old. 

 

Swim Classes – Were held June 1-12 with a total of 27 swimmers; and June 15-26 with a total of 40 swimmers.  Classes are held in the indoor pool starting at 9am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday for two weeks. Our swim classes are based on American Red Cross guidelines with emphasis on safety. Classes are for children ages 3-12 years old. 

 

Outdoor Pool – Starr Park Pool opened on June 3, 2009. The pool is open to the public on Monday, Wednesday 1pm-7pm; Tuesday and Thursday 3pm-7pm; Friday 1pm-6pm; Saturday 12noon-6pm; and Sunday 1pm-5pm. Public swimmers for the month of June totaled 2,615; Day Campers totaled 1,625.

 

Family Nights @ Starr Park Pool – Were held on June 6, June 12, June 26, 6:30pm-8pm. This time is set aside for families to enjoy swim time at the pool and a hotdog plate for only $2 per person. Total of 124 participants for June 2009, averaging 41 per Family Night.

 

On Thursday, June 11, the Mariachi Espuelas De America band kicked off our Summer Bash at Starr Park.  It started slow, but once the band started playing the people enjoying the walking track and playground migrated to the stage for the entertainment. Residents in surrounding area joined in for the summer night of music in the park.

 

June 18, 2009 was Movie Night. The movie ‘Happy Feet’ attracted approximately 350 kids and their parents.  Free popcorn was given to the movie goers.  Due to the heat, some stayed in their air-conditioned cars, while others brought blankets, lawn chairs, and umbrellas.  The concession had cold drinks, hotdogs and other items available.  The pre-show consisted of music and games while the crowd waited for night to fall.

 

June 29, 2009 – Thursday Night Summer Bash – Forest Park Recreation’s Summer Entertainment series continued this past week with another fine night.  Karaoke Night marked the third week of our Thursday Night Summer Bash at Starr Park.  With a crowd of roughly 40 people attending, the City of Forest Park witnessed an amazing, and at times hilarious, display of amateur singers and performers. Surprisingly, we were privileged enough to hear some singers with fine tuned pipes and showed a strong command of our stage.  Their song selections ranged from country to gospel to hip-hop, all the way to rock ‘n roll. On the other hand, some of the performers who “graced” the microphone reminded us of just why we love karaoke-singers who can’t hold a note and should probably just stick to singing in the shower! Overall though – good, clean, family fun.  We look forward to many more!

 

Adult Basketball – during the month of June, the Forest Park Recreation Center finished playing in adult basketball on June 17th with our league winning the championship.

 

Coed Softball – We finished our league play and also our league championship on June 16th in Coed Softball.

 

Men Softball – We are continuing our league play on Thursday nights 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm. League will finish playing July 16th with the championship playoff.

 

Girls Basketball – We will start play June 29th with 17 teams and 8 girls per team. We will play twice a week for 5 weeks finishing July 31st.

 

Daily Gym Use - 892 participants for the month of June 2009.

 

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

 

*        June was really busy with everyone watching grandkids a few days, getting ready for vacations, and our activities coming up.

 

*        We had Red Hatters luncheon, it was a fun trip and a great lunch. Then Bingo and Breakfast came right behind it. So everyone was busy.

 

*        The Senior Picnic was cooking with great salads, veggies and  fellowship. The dinners all showcase the great cooks we have.

 

*        Next was the fun lunch as you see the seniors love to cook, eat and share.  It is one of the fun days that we all enjoy.

 

*        Then we add cards, dominoes, crafts, dancing, computers, exercise and the other activities and we keep everyone busy. The day ended with Bingo & Lunch. 

 

*        This was a good month with everyone doing their things and enjoying the fellowship and being able to get out and to visit friends.

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

*        July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2009 – Summer Entertainment @ Starr Park (July 2, 16, 23, starts @ 7pm; July 9, 30 starts @ 7:30pm movies will start around 8:30pm)  

 

*        July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 2009 – Family Night @ Starr Park Pool 6:30pm-8pm

 

*        July 11, 18, 25, 2009 – Cheerleading & Football Camp @ Kiwanis Stadium 10am-2pm 

 

*        July 20, 2009 – Seniors Ice Cream Social @ Senior Center 1pm-2:30pm – Ticket required 

 

*        July 25, 2009 – Christmas in July @ Senior Center 9am-2pm 

 

         *         July 27, 29, 2009 – Youth Soccer Clinic 6:30pm-8pm @ Soccer Fields ages 6-12 boys and girls

 

 

                                                          Elaine Corley, Director

                                                          404-363-2908

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION / FINANCE

 

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of June are $1,795,188 or 9.15% of the budget.  Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $17,266,747 or 88.02% of the budget (fiscal year July 2008 – June 2009). For comparison purposes, the period of July through June represents 100.00% of the budget year. Preliminary total expenditures for the General Fund are under budget for the fiscal year by $2,349,249 or 11.98%.

 

Local Option Sales Tax revenue received in June is $390,284 compared to $532,267 for June of the prior year. The amount received in the prior month of May 2009 is $506,324. The fiscal year-to-date total received is $5,350,300 or 104.09% of the budget; the percentage of the budget year through June is 100.00% of the year. Revenue from Local Option Sales Tax for the fiscal year is more than budget by $210,300 or 4.09%.

 

The budget process for the 2009-2010 fiscal year has been completed. The budget was adopted by the Mayor & City Council at the June 1 City Council Meeting. The efforts by the Mayor and Council, and the department heads, during the budget process is greatly appreciated.

 

Licenses issued for New Businesses for the month of June 2009:

 

Name                                                          Description

 

Families United Children Learning Center           Children learning center

Young Impact Community Center                        Community center /                                                                                   Summer camp

Anointed Word Outreach Christian Center           Church

The House of Prayer For All God’s People             Bible study and worship                                                                             services

Centro De Salud Familiar                                     Medical office

Barber Studio                                                       Barber shop

Nakayos Food                                                       Food mart

 

 

                                                          Mike Blandenburg, Director

                                                          (404) 366-4720

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

 

Street Division:

          Street crews were kept busy completing sixteen initial abatement orders given by Planning, Building, and Zoning, which entail cutting grass and cleaning debris from properties.  Ditches were clean out at 5307 West Street, Parker Street, 367 Third Street, and 5246 Sharon Street.  Crews were kept busy clearing right-of-way and cleaning fallen trees from roadway after thunderstorms.

 

Abatements:

          5588 Alder Drive, 811 Elizabeth Drive, 1102 Stoneybrook Road, 4746 Burks Road, 1121 Stoneybrook Road, 860 Cascade Drive, 855 Dennis Drive, 863 Birch Street, 976 South Avenue, 679 Glenn Drive, 764 Glenn Drive, 5654 Bowden Street, 644 Valleyview Drive, 5070 Park Avenue, 5699 Skyland Drive, and 4774 College Street

 

Special Sanitation Pickups:

          North Avenue, Puckett Street at Haynes Drive, 553 Kay Street, 863 Northview Drive, 5260 Madison Street, 5013 Courtney Drive, 866 Needle Drive, 287 First, Street, Ash Street, and behind Fire Station #1

 

Building Maintenance:

          The major project for Building Maintenance crews is the installation of the playground equipment at Starr Park, which entail digging trenches for laying drainage pipes, grading and leveling the area, and beginning the installation of the playground equipment.  Crews also installed and replace urinal at the Police Annex.  Damaged ceiling tiles were replace at the Recreation Building along with checking and repairing doors. 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 also helped Street crews removing downed trees after thunderstorm from City right of ways.

 

 

                                                          Mike Gippert, Director

                                                          (404) 608-2310

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING

 

 

Building Plans Submitted

 

Business Name

Address

Details

Graybar

107 Forest Pkwy. # 400

Tenant finish.

The Universal Church

4150 Jonesboro Rd.

Tenant finish.

T-Mobile South

269 Main St.

Telecom co-locate

 

 

Building Permits Issued

 

Structure Type

Address

Details

 

Residential

 

561 Forest Hills Path

Storage Bldg.; 160 sq. ft. JC $1,300

 

Residential

 

888 Hill St.

Demo dwelling; 1,600 sq. ft. JC $7,800

 

Residential

 

803 Kennesaw Dr.

Int/Ext repairs; 1,363 sq. ft. JC $7,200

 

Commercial

 

823 South Ave.

Addition; 3,740 sq. ft. JC $88,000

 

Commercial

541 Forest Pkwy. Ste. 1,2, and 3

Remodel; 3,600 sq. ft. JC $11,000

 

Commercial

 

107 Forest Pkwy. #400

Remodel; 9,380 sq. ft. JC $28,000

 

Commercial

 

2500 Southpoint Dr.

Racking system; 4,872 sq. ft. JC $65,000

 

Residential

 

4534 College St.

Fire repair; 180 sq. ft. JC $12,500

 

Commercial

 

721 Morrow Rd.

Car damage repair; 120 sq. ft. JC $9,800

 

 

Certificate of Occupancies Issued

 

Business Name

Address

Date of Issue

Nakyos Food Mart

4485 Jonesboro Rd.

06-02-09

Barber Studio

4738 Jonesboro Rd.

06-08-09

TNT Studio

540 Main St. - A

06-10-09

Studio 211

1067 Forest Pkwy. - C

06-10-09

Centro De Salud Familiar

4921 Jonesboro Rd. E

06-12-09

Profession Business Svs.

521 Forest Pkwy. 200

06-12-09

City Walk Retail Clothing

540 Main St. – B

06-16-09

Diva Images Salon

828 Morrow Rd.

06-29-09

Young Impact Comm. Ctr

1320 Rockcut Rd.

06-23-09

Discount Auto Insurance

4140 Jonesboro Rd. D-4

06-30-09

Blimpie

541 Forest Pkwy. # 8

06-30-09

 

AFFILIATE BOARD ACTIVITY

 

There were no affiliate board meetings for the month of June 2009.

 

 

 

                                                          Mike Tuttle, Deputy Director

                                                          (404) 608-2300

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE/EMS SERVICES

 

·         Capt. Brackett, Chief Buckholts, Deputy Chief Clark, FAO Mike Earles, FF/EMT Enrique Barlow, FF/EMT Jay Mathis and Lt. James Tyson attended a one-day seminar hosted by Gwinnett County Fire Department entitled “Firefighter Survival”. This was a lessons-learned class involving actual firefighters who have survived tragic incidents as well as lessons learned from incidents that were not successful.

 

·         Approximately 20 children from Playschool Daycare visited Fire Station #1 for a tour of station and equipment.

 

·         Station 2 personnel visited Ash Street School to display a Fire Engine and Ambulance and to talk about Fire and Life Safety.

 

·         32 residences participated in a fire drill, alarm test and inspection at Governors Terrace Apartments.

 

·         All Schools in the City were inspected by the Fire Marshals Office to be followed by familiarization walk-thrus by all three shifts.

 

·         Personnel from the Fire Department met with and are planning mutual training efforts with Sara Lee employees Emergency Response Team.

 

·         Forest Park CERT members continue to work aggressively towards completing a Rehab Unit to be utilized on long-duration incidents and events.

·         Congratulations to Paramedic Ronald Imlay, FF/EMT Josh Warren, FF/EMT Bryan Rathvon and FF/EMT Hunter McFarlane as new hires into the Fire Department. We wish them all a long and rewarding career with the City of Forest Park.

 

                                                Run Activity

 

                             Structure Fire (private)            1

                             Vehicle Fire                              3

                             Other Vehicle                           1

                             Grass/Brush Fire                    2

                             Rubbish Fire                            2

                             Other                                       1

                             EMS Assist                              92

                             False Alarm                              13

                             Mutual Aid Given                              3

                             HazMat Response                    2

                             Other Hazards                         11

                             Other Responses                      14

 

                             EMS Calls                                228 (139 Transported)

 

                             Total Calls                               373            

 

 

 

                                                          Chief Eddie Buckholts

                                                          (404) 608-2382                                                    

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES

 

TRIAD

 

TRIAD held their monthly meeting and Forest Park Department gave a presentation about pandemic flu and prevention strategies. Approximately 48 seniors were in attendance.

 

Patrol

 

Officer Simmons, Hill, Stevenson, and Avery all attended the 16-hour Basic Radar Operator Course given by MPO Presley.

 

Officer Geeslin has been promoted to MPO and completed the Advance Traffic Law Course.

 

MPO Geeslin attended the DUI & Field Sobriety Testing course at GPSTC.

 

All personnel attended a four-hour in-service course on communication and conflict given by MPO Presley

 

Capt. Harris completed Hostage Negotiations.

 

Officers Ashworth and Hightower attended the 16-hour Basic Radar Operator Course given by MPO Presley.

 

Capt. Harris attended Neighbor Watch meeting hosted by Lt. Delk.        

 

Officer Hightower has entered the shadow phase of the FTO program

 

MPO Hawkins completed the Physical Conditioning class at GPSTC.

 

Sergeant Armstrong attended Intox Recertification at GPSTC.

 

Officer Consalvo attended Search Warrants & Affidavits training at GPSTC.

 

Captain Podsiadly, Sergeant Armstrong, Officer Gomez & Officer Rowe attended ‘Summer Safety Breakfast’ in Morrow

 

MPO Cochran successfully completed the Field Training Officer’s Course.

 

MPO Smith & Gomez attended NHW on June 18th

 

Ofc. Paul attended Advanced Report Writing training at GPSTC.

 

Capt. Podsiadly & Ofc. Gomez attended the Apartment Coalition Meeting

 

VIPER participated in OPERATION FALCON  with the U.S. Marshall’s Office June 8-13 2009.  They were assigned to Team Osprey which arrested 266 people wanted for various offenses.

 

SGT Cloud was awarded his Intermediate Certification by POST.

 

CID

 

Lt. Delk presented the June 02, 2009 Neighborhood Watch Meeting.

 

Detective Averhart attended the Neighborhood Watch Meeting on 6-18-09.

 

Admin

 

MPO Presley was awarded her Intermediate Certificate by POST.

 

As of June 30th a total of 164 hours of in-service training have been conducted at FPPD.

 

 

                                                          Chief Dwayne Hobbs

                                                          (404) 366-7280