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: October 2, 2007

SUBJECT: INFORMATION BULLETIN - SEPTEMBER, 2007

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

PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT

BUILDING PLANS SUBMITTED

1. 4869 Jonesboro Rd. Interior wall additions

2. 2500 S.Point Dr. Interior remodel

BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED

1. 4185 O’Hara Rd. (2) Bedroom additions; 200 sq. ft. JC $35,000

2. 1409 Rockcut Rd. (E) Interior finish; 6,400 sq. ft. JC $120,000

3. 596 Virginia Cir. Enclose carport; 264 sq. ft. JC $3,500

4. 837 Main St. Re-skin awning; 240 sq. ft. JC $3,000

5. 381-B Forest Pkwy. Tenant finish; 1,243 sq. Ft. JC $19,170

6. 4568 Old Dixie Hwy. Retail shopping ctr. shell; 7,797 sq. ft. JC

$500,00

7. 5281 Lee Cir. Interior remodel; 1,042 sq. ft. JC $5,000

8. 4495 Simpson Rd. (3) Modular classrooms; 672 sq. ft. JC $9,000

9. 1201 Conley Rd. (2) Room addition; 483 sq. ft. JC $15,000

10. 847 Dennis Dr. Int/Ext rehab; 820 sq. ft. JC $4,500

CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCIES ISSUED

1. Shoreline Transportation 703-C Ruskin Dr. 09/06/07

2. Best Buy Soccer 4615 Jonesboro Rd. 09/14/07

3. Thai Video 824 Morrow Rd. 09/14/07

4. Southlake Brake & Auto 4151 Jonesboro Rd. 09/26/07

5. McDuffie Realty 4888 College St. 09/26/07

AFFILIATE BOARD ACTIVITY

Planning and Zoning Board

Kenai Townhomes – 380 Main Street

The Planning and Zoning Board held a meeting on September 5^th, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the courtroom located in the Agnes B. Bateman Community Development Building, 785 Forest Pkwy., Forest Park, Ga. 30297. At issue was final plat review for Kenai Townhomes located at 380 Main Street, Forest Park, Ga. 30297. Jim McNair, McNair Grading, Inc. purchased the development in June of 2006. On April 18, 2007 a Final Plat was submitted depicting the owner/developer as McNair Grading, Inc., U.S. Highway 19, Griffin, Ga. 30224.

The site currently contains 9.97 acres; 434,162 sq. ft. and has two (2) access drives located on Main St. and an emergency drive that will be secured by a locked double gate on Stillwood Cove. There are two private roadways located within the development, Kenai Way and Kenai Lane; both roadways having a 50’ right-of-way. There are a total of fifty-six (56) residential lots within this development. Approximately 50% of the area contained in this development is dedicated to green space including; 1+ acre pond, two (2) creeks bisecting the lot and approximately 5.0 acres of undisturbed wooded area. Boundary and plat information was prepared by Frontline Surveying and Mapping, Inc. 3595 Canton Rd. A-9 PMB 272, Marietta, Ga. 30066. Thomas Edward Peay, Jr. Ga. RLS No. 2402.

Zoned - RM125

Total Site Area - 9.97 acres; 434,162 sq. ft.

Total Lots - 56

Total Units - 56

Min. Floor Area- 1,500 sq. ft.

Mary Parker made a motion and Glenn Mathis seconded the motion to approve the final plat. Voting on the motion was unanimous. Subsequently, the final plat went before Mayor and Council on September 17^th, 2007 at which time the Council approved the final plat.

Steve Pearson, Director

(404) 608-2303

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

WHAT’S HAPPENING

* Adult Softball – Games are played on Monday and Tuesday night starting at 6:30 pm at Baker Field. There are ten teams.

* Youth Soccer – The Youth Soccer league started the season on September 8, 2007. Games are played on Saturday starting at 10 am. The soccer program has a total of 225 children on eighteen teams ages 4-12 years old. Games are played at the soccer fields on Park Drive.

* Men Basketball – The Men Basketball League Fall Season opened on September 19, 2007. Games are played on Wednesday nights starting at 7 pm in the gym.

* Water Exercise – Meets on Monday and Wednesday 1 pm-2 pm monthly at the indoor pool.

* Yoga – Meets on Wednesday evenings 6:45 pm-8 pm at the Recreation Center.

* Kiwanis Stadium – Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy played on September 13, and 20, 2007 starting at 6:30 pm; and Babb Middle School played two games on September 11, 25, 2007 starting at 5 pm. Also Forest Park Youth Football plays games on Saturdays starting at 10 am.

* Chess Club – The Chess Club meet every Wednesday evening 6 pm-9 pm at Ash Street Community Building #1.

* City Election was held on September 18, 2007 at the gymnasium.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

September was a hot month with temperatures up and the Seniors staying busy.

* We are getting ready for the Olympics and hope to do well. There are eight (8) participating in the State Tournament and we should do well. Let you all know next month.

* The Red Hatters enjoyed a nice trip shopping and to lunch. They all enjoy dressing up and showing off their frillies.

* Bingo stays busy with either our special breakfast or lunches. It seems that everyone likes to eat.

* We also had a great covered lunch with the seniors bringing their special recipes for all to taste. And it does taste good.

* The Line Dancers went over to Governors Glen to perform and it was very enjoyable for everyone.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fall classes are scheduled to start in October 2007.

* October 2, 2007 – Indoor Pool Opens for Public Swimming (Tuesday & Thursday 7 pm-9 pm; Saturday 1 pm-4 pm)

* October 6, 2007 – Community-Wide Yard Sale 9 am-2 pm @ Recreation Building Parking Lot (Rain Date: October 13, 2007)

* October 16, 2007 – City Run-Off Election – Recreation Center Gymnasium 7 am-7 pm

* October 17, 2007 – Youth Basketball Registration starts Monday-Friday 10 am-7 pm until filled @ gymnasium

* October 20, 2007 – Autumn In The Park Festival 10:30 am-5:30 pm @ Starr Park (Rain Date: October 27, 2007)

* October 27, 2007 – 5K Fun Run/Walk 8 am @ Starr Park

* October 31, 2007 – Magic of Halloween Carnival 6 pm-8 pm @ Gym

Elaine Corley, Director

404-363-2908

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION / FINANCE

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of September are $993,720 or 5.65% of the budget. Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $3,672,626 or 20.88% of the budget (fiscal year July 2007 – June 2008). For comparison purposes, the period of July through September represents 25.00% of the budget year. Total expenditures for the General Fund are under budget for the month of September and year to date.

Local Option Sales Tax revenue received in September is $395,926, compared to $523,902 for September of the prior year. The prior year amount was unusually high and included a additional non-recurring distribution. The current month amount is consistent with the previous month of the current year. The fiscal year-to-date total received is $1,220,517 or 23.03% of the budget; the percentage of the budget year through September is 25.00% of the year. Revenue from Local Option Sales Tax remains slightly under budget through September. It should be noted that the budget amount is slightly more than the prior year budget.

The annual audit for the City began on September 10 and the fieldwork (audit procedures) is expected to be completed in October. Preparation of the financial report will begin at that time and is expected to be completed by the end of November.

New business licenses issued during the month of September:

Name Description

Shoreline Transportation Trucking company

Lation Mix 1 Sales of clothing and accessories

Best Buy Soccer Soccer Sporting Goods

Fashion Land Clothing sales

El Milagro Retail Grocery

Generic Medicine Clinic Family Medicine Practice

Thai Video Video rental and sales

Southlake Brake / Auto Automobile repair

Mike Blandenburg, Director

(404) 366-4720

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

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

The revised Concept Plan was submitted to GDOT on September 6^th and the revised ROW drawings submitted September 14^th. Pond & Company are now working on the construction drawings.

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

The acquisition packages are now complete. In October, the City will begin meeting with property owners on Main Street whose property will be needed for a temporary construction easement or a driveway easement.

State Farmers Market Project

EDAW is continuing work on the additional services deliverables.

Community Development Block Grant Projects (CDBG)

The City of Forest Park was awarded $125,000 in CDBG funds for the replacement of the roof on the Recreation Center.

Pandemic Exercise Drill

The City of Forest Park and other governmental entities have been engaged in Emergency Preparedness Activities in the event of a Pandemic or other events where large masses of persons would be vaccinated in a short period of time.

On October 25, 2007 from 8:00-12:00 noon at Starr Park, the Recreation Center and surrounding buildings, the City of Forest Park and other agencies will be checking the effectiveness of these plans with a Pandemic Exercise Drill.

The City as well as the other agencies is utilizing various methods to inform the public of this Exercise-Drill.

John Parker, City Manager

Angela Redding, Mgt. Analyst

(404) 366-4720

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES

Citizens Police Academy

Citizen’s Police academy is ongoing. Some of the topics the members of the class have learned about are the Community Oriented Policing Program, the School Resource Officer Program, and the department’s crime prevention efforts.

Hispanic Citizen’s Police Academy

Lt. Lopez has begun the Hispanic Citizen’s Police Academy and there are approximately 20 participants making this one of the larges HCPA classes to date.

Administration

The mock assessment for CALEA is scheduled for October 4^th and 5^th. During this time assessors will be evaluating our CALEA files in preparation for the CALEA on-site which is scheduled for December 8-12.

Community Oriented Policing

COPS officers participated in:

• Apartment Manager’s Coalition meeting
• Neighborhood Watch meetings were held for Longleaf Dr residents and West Warren Drive residents as well as Willow Park Apartments, Shortleaf Dr., Catherine St. area, Dearing St., Pine Mountain St, Kennesaw Dr, Skyland Dr., and Tanglewood Dr.

Officer Whitehead attended a Health Fair at Paradise Church. While at the Health Fair Officer Whitehead spoke to twenty kids and adults. Pencils were given out to all kids alone with a tour of a patrol car. Officer Whitehead used Riot Gear for a display. There were about twenty vendors inside the gym and Ms. Charla V. Johnson was the Health Fair director.

Patrol

A burglar was apprehended by Baker Team in the area of 4451 Simpson Rd. He was seen by Officer Craig coming out of the house with computer equipment in his hands. Several officers gave chase and apprehended him shortly thereafter.

A second burglar was apprehended by Adam Team at 5690 Ash Street. The female was attempting to take clothing, shower curtains and other miscellaneous items from a house.

Chief Dwayne Hobbs

(404) 366-7280

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE/EMS SERVICES

• Several members of the Department attended the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon on Labor Day to present a check in the amount of $3858.00 from proceeds collected in the MDA Boot Drive. A-Shift was the shift with the highest total collected at $1800.00. Congratulations A-Shift!

• The Fire Marshals Office and B-Shift personnel attended the Good Neighbor Day held at Hendrix Drive Elementary School. 150 children and adults participated in Exit Drills utilizing the Fire Safety House.

• The Fire Marshals Office and B-Shift attended the City Wide Health Fair at Paradise Church of God on Hendrix Drive. 12 children participated in exit drills utilizing the Fire Safety House.

• The Automatic External Defibrillators obtained through the Community Prevention Grant from the Clorox Company have been placed in all of the public schools and the City Gym. 36 personnel from the school system were taught CPR/First Aid by Fire Department personnel in order to be trained for better response in the event of heart attacks, etc in sporting events and other public activities.

Run Activity

Structure Fire 5

Other Fire 4

EMS Assist 83

False Alarm 15

Mutual Aid Given 1

Hazmat 2

Other Response 21

EMS Calls 207

338 Total Calls

Chief Eddie Buckholts

(404) 608-2382

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Street Division:

Major projects for the month included finishing project at Catherine Street, which required placing 30 feet of curb on Ernest Drive 100 feet of curbing was added. Pine Mountain Drive 40 feet of sidewalk was poured and 30 feet of 12 inch piping was placed along Georgia Avenue. New signs were placed throughout the City. Six abatements; 789 Pine Valley Drive, 4951 Bartlett Road, 5094 Jones Road, 4359 Brookside Drive, 532 Hanes Drive, and 685 Blueridge Drive were completed. Ditches were cleaned and low limbs and brush were cleaned from right of ways.

Building Maintenance:

Crews repaired a leak in the roof over the front bay, built an awning over the ice machine and laid block around the foundation, installed insulation in the weight room ceiling, installed drop ceilings, hung sheet rock and painted at the Fire Department. The Police Department building was pressure washed, bad siding was replaced, gutters were cleaned out, and the officer waiting room was painted. Graffiti was removed from the wall at Conley Road, and plexi-glass was placed over the fronts of all signs in all side parks.

Parks Division:

Along with helping to clear right-of-ways, special attention was given to Starr Park in preparation for the Yard Sale. Preparations were made for the Block Party held on Hendrix Drive and the area was cleaned up. Ball fields were lined off getting ready for the fall season. Right-of-way cutting was done on Jonesboro Road, College Street. Forest Parkway was trimmed and edged. Personnel have been shifted from other divisions to help with these tasks as well as utilization of the trustee workforce.

Mike Gippert, Director

(404) 608-2310