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:                 December 27, 2007

 

SUBJECT:            INFORMATION BULLETIN  - NOVEMBER, 2007

 

The following is a department by department status report of priority activities, projects and initiatives for the month of November, 2007.

 

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING

 

Building Plans Submitted

1.         661 Forest Pkwy.                 Park Pointe; Strip shopping center

2.         4913 Pine St.                         Pine St. Place; townhomes

3.         4666 Jonesboro Rd.             Best Coin Laundry; Interior remodel

4.         4620 Old Dixie Hwy.           Mack’s Auto Sales; Sales Building

5.         327 Lamar Dr.                      Waste Mgmt.; Remodel Lift Dock

 

Building Permits Issued

1.         411 Springside Dr.                Enclose porch; 125 sq. ft. JC $3,000

2.         1035 Stoneybrook Rd.         Bathroom addition; 66 sq. ft. JC $7,000

3.         540 Main St.                         Install drop ceiling; 735 sq. ft. JC $1,200

4.         4595 Jonesboro Rd.             Repair fire wall; JC $2,500

5.         4855 College St. Unit 14      Fire repair; JC $10,000

6.         4855 College St. Unit 9        Fire repair; JC $20,000

7.         734 Oakdale Dr.                    Repair car damage; JC $3,000

8.         4666 Jonesboro Rd. 102     Install door opening; JC $8,000

9.         327 Lamar Dr.                      Remodel loading platform; JC $225,000

10.       874 Linda Way                      Bedroom addition; 300 sq. ft. JC $2,500

11.       5182 Henderson Rd.            Inter rehab; JC $1,500

12.       4883 Evans Dr.                     Remodel kitchen; 500 sq. ft. JC $5,000

13.       4620 Old Dixie Hwy.           Demo existing bldg. 1,250 sq. ft. JC $9,000

14.       784 Spring Valley Dr.           Storage bldg.; 192 sq. ft. JC $1,200

15.       1067 Forest Pkwy. E                       Tenant finish; 650 sq. ft. JC $3,000

 

Certificate of Occupancies Issued

1.         Wing Out Express                            4652 Jonesboro Rd.             11/06/07

2.         Best Coin Laundry                           4666 Jonesboro Rd. 101      11/07/07

3.         SLP Used Furniture                         4816 Jonesboro Rd.             11/12/07

4.         Jesus n Memaw                                786 Main St. 301                  11/13/07

5.         Encore Staffing Svcs.                       519 Forest Pkwy. 210         11/15/07

6.         On-Site Computer Training            819 Forest Pkwy. B              11/19/07

7.         El Michaucano                                   1089 Forest Pkwy. A           11/19/07

8.         Great Wall                                         4873 Jonesboro Rd.             11/18/07

9.         Daizy’s Beauty Salon                        4450 Jonesboro Rd.             11/30/07

10.       Family Game Room                         4666 Jonesboro Rd. 102     11/07/07

 

Affiliate Board Activity

 

Zoning Board of Appeals

 

The Zoning Board of Appeals held a public hearing on Wednesday November 28th, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the courtroom of the Agnes B. Bateman Community Development Building, 785 Forest Pkwy., Forest Park, Ga. 30297.  At issue, they were to consider a request or petition by Morris E. Miles, homeowner, 4730 Stillwood Cove, Forest Park, Ga. 30297, for a variance to a required building setback. The property is further described as Clayton County Tax Identification Number 13046C A010; and lies in Land Lot 46 of the 13th District of Clayton County, Georgia, in the northwest quadrant of the City of Forest Park. The parcel is zoned R-95 Single Family Residential.  Mr. Miles plans to construct a 20’ x 40’ (800 sq. ft.) professionally built garage/accessory building by Better Built Buildings of  Griffin, Ga. in his rear yard. In order to achieve the proper placement of the proposed building to abut the existing drive, a 4’-0” variance into the 10’-0” setback is required. This equates to a 40% variance. After much discussion the Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to approve the variance.

 

 

 

                                                                                    Steve Pearson, Director

                                                                                    (404) 608-2303

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION / FINANCE

 

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of November are $1,211,949 or 6.88% of the budget.  Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $6,320,860 or 35.87% of the budget (fiscal year July 2006 – June 2007). For comparison purposes, the period of July through November represents 41.67% of the budget year. Total expenditures for the General Fund remain under budget for the month of November and for the five month period of July through November.

 

Local Option Sales Tax revenue received in November is $412,291, compared to $560,444 for November of the prior year. The amount is an increase from the prior month of the current year. The prior year amount was unusually high. The fiscal year-to-date total received is $1,999,385 or 37.72% of the budget. The percentage of the budget year through November is 41.67% of the year. Revenue from Local Option Sales Tax remains less than budget through November, and will continue to be monitored each month.

 

The preparation and mailing of 2007 property tax bills was completed in October. Payment of property taxes is due by December 20. Collections posted to the accounting system as of the end of November are approximately $1,285,000.

 

A draft of the City’s annual Financial Report, including the audit report, is currently being reviewed. An unqualified (top level) audit report is expected for fiscal year 2007.  

 

Mike Blandenburg, Director

(404) 366-4720

 

 

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

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

The City is waiting for GDOT to approve the revised concept plan and ROW drawings submitted in September.

 

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

City officials are continuing to meet with property owners on Main Street whose property will require a temporary construction easement or a driveway easement.  There are a total of twenty-five (25) properties requiring ROW.  Eleven (11) property owners have come in to sign the paperwork for the temporary construction and driveway easements.

 

State Farmers Market Project

EDAW delivered one copy of the final deliverable for review.

           

Community Development Block Grant Projects (CDBG)

The City of Forest Park received $125,000 in CDBG funds to replace the roof on the Recreation Center.

 

Forest Park Business Coalition

Major Chris Matson along with Clayton County Police Chief Jeff Turner presented crime statistics, police initiatives, and safe holiday shopping tips at the Forest Park Business Coalition meeting held Tuesday, November 20th.

 

The next Forest Park Business Coalition meeting will be held December 18, 2007 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Royal Palm.

 

 

                                                                                    John Parker, City Manager

                                                                                    Angela Redding, Mgt. Analyst

                                                                                    (404) 366-4720

 

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE/EMS

 

  • Major David Halcome and Captain Sam Batten attended a three day Youth Fire Setters Program sponsored by the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation. This class was designed for allowing Fire Marshal personnel to detect patterns in juvenile fire setters and conduct programs in combating this increasing problem.
  • A Cub Scout Troup from the area was given tour of Fire Station 1 and taught basic Fire Safety Education.
  • Twelve personnel from the Clayton County Senior Citizens Center were trained in AED/CPR by Forest Park Fire personnel.
  • The Mayor and Council have approved the purchase of a new ambulance for the Fire Department. This new addition is expected to be delivered around the middle of December and should be put in service by the first of the year. This unit will be a first-class state-of –the-art addition to our medical service delivery.
  • The Fire Department hosted the monthly meeting of the Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association at the Farmers Market Tourism Center with lunch catered by the Oakwood Café and funded by Fire Line, Inc. Approximately 80 Chief Fire Officers from the Metro Area attended this function.

 

Call Activity

 

·        Residential Fire              4

·        Industrial Fire                1

·        Vehicle Fire                     1

·        Brush/grass Fire                        5

·        Dumpster Fire                4

·        Other Fire                       1

·        EMS Engine Assist         96

·        False Alarm                     6

·        HazMat Response          2

·        Other Hazard                  6

·        Other Response              18

 

144 – Total Fire-related calls

232     EMS-related Calls

 

376      Total Calls for Month          

 

 

                                                                       

                                                                                    Chief Eddie Buckholts

                                                                                    (404) 608-2382

 

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

 

WHAT’S HAPPENING

 

*          City Election – The City Election was held on November 6, 2007 in the Recreation Center’s Gymnasium.  The building was closed November 5, 2007 to set up for the election.   

 

*          Youth Basketball Registration – Was held the month of November 2007.  The draft is scheduled for December 1, 2007.  The program is for boys and girls ages 5-16 years old.  Practice will start in December and games January 2008.

 

*         Start Smart Basketball – This is a developmental basketball program for children 3-5 years of age.  The program completed 6 weeks of classes on November 17, 2007.  Everybody had a great time.  There were 15 students.   

 

*          Basketball Clinic – The youth basketball clinic was held on November 27, 28, 2007 6:30pm-8pm.  The clinic was for boys and girls 5-7 years of age.  The clinic was an introduction to basketball.  Participants were taught the basic skills of the game.  There were 19 participants.

 

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

 

*          Swim Lessons – Swimming lessons are taught on Saturdays starting at 11am.  We have a beginners and a preschool water orientation class.

 

*          Chess Club – Meets on Wednesday nights starting at 6pm.  They meet at Community Building #1 (Girl Scout Building).

 

*          Christmas Parade – The Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting scheduled for Monday, November 26, 2007 had to be cancelled due to the weather.  It was rainy and cold.

*          Daily gym use 515 for the month of November 2007.

 

            *          Wellness Programs

                                    Water Aerobics – Monday & Wednesday 6pm-7pm

                                    Yoga – Wednesday evening 6:30pm-8pm

                                    Water Exercise – Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12noon-1pm

                                                Monday & Wednesday 12noon-1pm, 1pm-2pm

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

                                    Swim For Fun – Tuesday & Thursday 1:30pm-2:30pm -55 & up

                                    Exercise/Weight Room – Monday-Friday 9am-8pm and

                                                Saturday 10am-4pm

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

 

                        November was a busy and fun month for the seniors.  The weather is changing and everyone is getting ready for the holidays coming up.

 

*          The Red Hatters went out to dinner and a shopping trip.  We went to Fayetteville and had an enjoyable trip.    

 

*          Our trip to Ellijay for apples and pumpkins is always fun and the vans come back as full as they can get.  Of course we have to stop and eat along the way and everyone has to taste the pumpkin and apple ice cream.  Then the trip home and the traffic.

 

*          Our knitting class is staying busy knitting hats to sell at the craft show and getting ready for the Christmas Sale at the park.  They have enjoyed making the hats and slippers, which we have in all colors and shapes. 

 

*          We got out all the Christmas and Thanksgiving items, then we start to decorate the Center.  They all like to come and decorate. 

 

*          We end the month with our Thanksgiving Dinner.  Everyone brings a covered dish and then after dinner listen to the Walnut Grove Band.  They all liked the Gospel and Blue Grass music.  So we all had a full month of work, fun, and entertainment, then are ready to start December.

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

*        December 1, 2007 – Youth Basketball Draft @ Gym starting @ 9am

 

*        December 4, 6, 2007 – Call from Santa – 6pm-8pm

 

*        December 7, 2007 – Pictures with Santa – 6pm-8pm @ Senior Center

 

*        December 8, 2007 – Breakfast with Santa – 8:30am-10:30am @ Senior Center

 

 

 

Elaine Corley, Director

404-363-2908

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

 

Street Division:

             Major projects for the month of November included the filling of potholes at numerous locations around the city and the clearing of 10 dead trees.  Crews also helped with the Building Maintenance Division with the installation of Christmas decorations.  These crews also ran the vacuum truck cleaning out ditches of fallen leaves.   Low limbs were cut from the sidewalks on Forest Parkway.  Preparation and arrangements were made for the City barbeque.

 

 

Building Maintenance:

            Public Works crews lead by the Building Maintenance Division installed Christmas decorations throughout the City, and exterior decoration to most all of the main city buildings. Crews also rebuilt electrical boxes in the park, mounted 3 picnic tables, and laid out 3 patio and table areas around the new playground equipment. Maintenance crews also completed numerous work orders for all city departments.

 

 

Parks Division:

            Along with the daily cleanup around the park areas and city buildings and the interior cleanups of the recreation building and park buildings, Park crews were busy removing leaves from side parks and median areas and right-of-ways, which included Forest Parkway and Jonesboro Road.  The Parks Division crews planted flowers in park areas and most major city buildings.  The Parks Division with help from the other Public Works Divisions was also responsible for the setup on the Main Street and the Starr Park area for the Annual Christmas Parade and Grand Lighting of the Park Area.

 

 

 

                                                                        Mike Gippert, Director

                                                                        (404) 608-2310

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES

 

Officers handed out “Crime in Your Area “flyers on Blueridge Dr, Cloudland Dr and patrolled the surrounding areas in reference to recent thefts in the area.

 

Officers spoke with employees of businesses located in Clayton Plaza and Forest Park Shopping Center in reference to “Holiday Crime”.

 

Officers also held a Neighborhood Watch Meeting for the residence of the area of Kennesaw Dr.

The Department also prepared for the arrival in December of members of (CALEA) Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies for the on site inspection for reaccreditation.

 

 

 

                                                                        Chief Dwayne Hobbs

                                                                        (404) 366-7280