C I T Y O F F O R E S T P A R K

TO: Mayor and Council

FROM: Elaine Corley, Acting City Manager

DATE: February 15, 2006

SUBJECT: INFORMATION BULLETIN - January ‘06

The following is a department by department status report of priority activities, projects and initiatives for the month of JANUARY, 2006.

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES

2005 Crime & Accident Stats

Part I crimes in Forest Park decreased by 12.7% in 2005 compared to 2004, with a total of 237 fewer offenses. This represents a 47% reduction since 1996.

Property crimes (burglary, larceny, auto theft, arson) accounted for the decrease, with 248 fewer crimes, a 14.6% decrease.

Violent crimes (homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) increased by eleven offenses, or 6.5%. Robberies were up by nine offenses, and homicides by two offenses. Rapes and aggravated assaults were reported in the same numbers in 2005 as in 2004.

The number of traffic accidents occurring in 2005 (1167) was down 11.8% from 2004 (1323). Since 1996 the number of accidents has declined 16.8%.

Detectives/COPS/Viper

Officer Darell Whitehead conducted a safety class for twenty children at the Clayton County Head Start facility. He talked with the children about good behavior and “stranger danger,” and handed out Junior Police stickers.

The Speed Trailer was deployed on Forest Parkway and on Phillips Drive during the month to monitor traffic activities.

Administration

Danielle Jenkins and Larry McAllister were hired as police recruits and began training at the Clayton Regional Law Enforcement Academy. Linda Levendoski was hired and began work as a Communications Operator.

David Morrison came to the Department in January as part of the Criminal Justice Intern Program from Georgia State University. David will spend 150 hours over a ten week period working on special research projects. Upon completion of his internship David will receive the Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice.

Honor Guard

The Forest Park Police Honor Guard conducted a wreath laying ceremony on January 3^rd to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of Officer Ricky Cash. The wreath was laid at the memorial marking the spot of Officer Cash’s death at College Street and Jonesboro Road.

Uniform Patrol

Captain Jamie Reynolds completed a Weapons of Mass Destruction training course at the Center for Domestic Preparedness, located in Anniston, Alabama.

Lt. Dan Podsiadly and Officer Todd Gladden received letters of commendation for their professional response to a suspicious person call on Glade Road. By their quick response and good teamwork they located the suspicious person and determined that he had been involved in a home burglary. By interviewing the suspect in custody they were able to identify and locate another individual involved in the burglary. These two confessed to a number of burglaries in the City, and a good amount of stolen property was recovered.

TRIAD

Sixty-three people attended the Friday, January 20^th TRIAD meeting which featured Corine Deyton, the newly inaugurated Mayor of Forest Park. Mayor Deyton discussed community issues of interest to the TRIAD members. Detective Stacy Moore of the Morrow Police Department provided an update on activities in Morrow.

Citizen Police Academies

The Citizens Police Academy and the Hispanic Citizens Police Academy will be conducting new sessions this spring. The starting dates will be announced soon. Anyone interested in participating in one of these popular community programs should contact the police department at (404) 366-7280.

Chief Dwayne Hobbs

(404) 366-7280

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

WHAT’S HAPPENING

· Youth Basketball - We have a total of 37 teams, 296 children. Teams practice Monday through Thursday with games being played on Friday nights and all day Saturday. Pee Wee Division (ages 5-7) has 8 teams; Shorty Division (ages 8-9) has 8 teams; Midget Division (ages 10-11) has 10 teams; Junior Division (ages 12-13) has 6 teams; and the Senior Division (ages 14-16) has 5 teams. They played a total of 72 games in January. Pictures were taken on Sunday, January 29, 2006 1pm-5pm in the gym..

· Clayton County High School Swim Teams – The High Schools had three (3) regular season swim meets that were held on January 11, 18, 25, 2006. Meets are tri-meets and are at 6pm and 7:30pm on Wednesday nights. The County Preliminaries and Finals were held January 30, 31, 2006 starting at 6pm. There were 8 High Schools and approximately 200 swimmers that participated in this year’s event.

· Swimming Lessons – A new beginners swim class started January 14, 2006. There are 21 students in this session.

· Indoor Pool – The indoor pool is open for public swimming on Tuesday and Thursday nights 7:30pm-9:30pm and Saturday 1pm-4pm.

· Baton – Georgia Youth on Parade classes. Classes meet every Saturday 9:30am-11:45am for ages 5-18 years old.

· Wellness Programs

Water Aerobics – Monday evenings 7:30pm-8:30pm

Aerobics – Tuesday & Thursday 6pm-7pm

Water Exercise – Monday & Wednesday 1pm-2pm

Swim For Fun – Tuesday & Thursday 1:30pm-2:30pm (seniors)

Yoga – Wednesday evenings 6:30pm-8pm

Ladies Fitness – Monday evenings 8pm

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

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

& Saturday 10am-4pm

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

· January was a pretty quiet month so we could catch up on getting things put away from the holidays. The Red Hatters started off January with a trip to Olive Garden with 20 of our ladies for a fun lunch and meeting.

· Our Shuffleboarders are getting ready for the tournament season. There are local tournaments that we will be going to.

· The Card ladies have been busy playing and recruiting new players. They now have 4 tables on some Thursdays.

· Computer classes have started and will meet twice a week for 4-6 weeks. There are five (5) students taking the class.

· Our dancers are still growing in number and staying busy. They meet on Wednesday afternoons.

· Other things that have kept the seniors busy this month has been puzzles, games, computer fun and just meeting for a covered dish lunch.

UPCOMING EVENTS

· February 1-28, 2006 – Youth Ball Registration for Spring Sports: Soccer, T-Ball, Pee Wee Baseball, 7/8 Baseball, Girls Softball – Registration Monday-Friday 9am-7pm

· February 6, 2006 – Clayton County Middle School Swim Practice Starts @ Indoor Pool

· February 15, 2006 – Screening for Lifeguard Training Course 7pm @ Indoor Pool

Elaine Corley, Director

404-363-2908

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of January are $1,241,456 or 7.91% of the budget. Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $8,589,010 or 54.70% of the budget (fiscal year July 2005 – June 2006). 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 through December. This can be primarily attributed to diligent monitoring of expenditures by the City departments.

Local Option Sales Tax revenue received in January was $362,530, compared to $309,150 for January of the prior year. The fiscal year-to-date total received is $3,054,938 or 60.49% of the budget; the percentage of the budget year through January is 58.33% of the year. Revenue from Local Option Sales Tax remains ahead of budget.

Business license applications were mailed to businesses in December. The bills for business licenses were mailed in January and payment is due prior to March 1, 2006.

Mike Blandenburg, Director

(404) 366-4720

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

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

The concept report has been approved for the Sidewalks to Schools, Phase III project. The City is still awaiting approval of the concept report for the Transit Oriented Pedestrian Improvements Project.

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

The Historic/106 report has been approved. In addition, Robert & Company hopes to obtain right-of-way drawing approval in early 2006.

State Farmers Market Project

EDAW is currently performing the basic data collection tasks, as well as preparing for interviews with stakeholders. The interviews are scheduled to begin in January 2006. EDAW met with Commission Irvin on November 22, 2005 and the Wholesale Representatives on December 6, 2005.

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)

The City has received the Notice to Proceed for the two CDBG projects awarded.

Fort Gillem

The Mayor will be appointing a Chairman and two additional board members to the LRA.

Elaine Corley, Acting City Manager

Angela Redding, Management Analyst

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING

BUILDING PLANS SUBMITTED

1. 143 Lake Mirror Rd. U-Freight America; Interior

renovation

2. 3000 S.Corp Pkwy. Ste. 200 ABX Logistics; Tenant finish

3. 680 Main St. J&J Martinez; Int/Ext remodel

4. 5290 Old Dixie Hwy. Wlpak; Interior remodel

5. 417 Barton Dr. Wters Edge; Renovations

6. 424 Forest Pkwy. Ace coin Laundry; Interior remodel

BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED

1. U-Freight America 143 Lake Mirror Rd.; Int. remodel; 50,243 sq. ft.;

Job cost $260,000

2. Ace Coin Laundry 424 Forest Pkwy.; Int. remodel; 4,200 sq. ft.; Job

cost $8,000

3. 5299 Sharon St. Replace existing carport; 360 sq. ft.; Job cost

$1,000

4. 800 South Ave. Demo Interior/Rehab; 1,271 sq. ft.; Job cost

$4,620

5. 1090 Elaine Dr. Enclose carport (Bedroom); 510 sq. ft.; Job cost

$1,000

CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCIES ISSUED

1. ASAP Graphics 86 Main St. 01/12/06

2. Life Cycle OB/GYN 4990 Phillips Dr. 01/24/06

3. Dominion Printing Co. 50 Main St. 01/04/06

4. Ash Morrow Plaza

Barber Shop 826 Morrow Rd. 01/26/06

5. Asian Music Video 5967 Ash St. 01/31/06

• There were no meetings of the Architectural Design Review Board, Planning and Zoning Board, or the Zoning Board of Appeals during the month of January 2006.

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. Watts Road next to the creek was a main area of work involving the filling of a large sinkhole, rebuilding the headwall and replacing the sidewalk. The old sidewalk at the corner of Main and West were removed and replaced. A new guardrail was placed and Springdale Road at the creek. Street crews also picked numerous loads of yard waste.

Building Maintenance:

Major project completed by Building Maintenance crews included the rewiring for the new telephone system at the Police Department. The roof was repaired at fire station 1 and a new outlet was installed in the weight room. Maintenance crews also completed numerous work orders throughout all city 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. Special attention was given to maintenance of the Forest Parkway landscaped areas.

Mike Gippert, Director

(404) 608-2310