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: April 12, 2006

SUBJECT: INFORMATION BULLETIN - March ‘06

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

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

WHAT’S HAPPENING

· March of Dimes Coaches Game – Was held on March 1, 2006. There were two games played starting at 6:30pm Pee Wee Coaches took on the Shorty Coaches; and at 7:30pm match-up was Junior and Senior Coaches against the Midget Coaches. Both games were well supported and everyone had a great time raising money for a good cause.

· Dribble & Shoot Contest – Was held on March 6, 2006 – Pee Wee League; Tuesday, March 7, - Shorty, Junior and Senior League; and on March 9, 2006 the Midget League. Over 200 children participated in this year’s contest. Competition is based on individual score and team competition. The children had a good time demonstrating their skills in dribbling and shooting. Awards were given out to the team winners and the individual winners in each age group.

· Youth Basketball - The basketball season ended March 11, 2006. They played a total of 36 official games in March in the gym at the Recreation Center. Banquets were held at Burger King on Forest Parkway.

· Soccer Sign Up – The Soccer program has drafted teams and they are practicing for the upcoming soccer season. Games will start on April 1, 2006. We have a total of 18 teams and 239 participants. This program is for boys and girls ages 4-12 years old. Games are held at the soccer field on Park Drive.

· T-Ball Sign Up – Continues through March 21, 2006. The T-Ball program is for children ages 4-6 years old. We have a total of 6 teams. Games will start in April 2006.

· Girls Softball – The girls softball program has an 8/under, 10/under, and 12/under team. Practice has started and games will be played starting in April 2006.

· Middle School Swimming – This program is run by the Clayton County Board of Education. They have a total of 13 teams. We had two Meet Dates in March, on the 24^th and 31^st, 2006. Meets are held on Friday nights starting at 5:30pm, 6:30pm, 7:30pm, and 8:30pm, these are tri-meets.

· Adult Softball – Sign up continues in March 2006. We have 5 leagues that we are signing up. Games will start the week of April 10, 2006.

· Men’s Spring Basketball – Sign up continue the month of March 2006. We will have 6 teams that start play beginning on April 12, 2006.

· Lifeguard Training – The Lifeguard Training Course was held on Wednesday nights from 5pm to 10pm in March. We had a total of 10 to complete this course that was held at the indoor pool at the Recreation Center.

· 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

March was a busy month for the Seniors.

· The food show for the second day was a treat for 24 more Seniors. They all enjoyed a day of sampling and eating.

· Blue Willow for the Red Hatters was a good trip both for eating and meeting new friends. The Red Hatters seem to be everywhere lately. It is a good group and everyone has fun dressing up in their red fineries.

· Bingo and anything is also a big treat for the Seniors. It doesn’t make any difference if you combine breakfast or lunch. They still come out to play.

· The Annual Soup and Cornbread lunch was a big success as usual. We cooked soup and cornbread.

· We had a surprise Ham and Cabbage lunch for St. Patty’s Day. It was a few days late, but everyone was there with their green and enjoyed the meal.

· Our new programs of exercise and computer classes are growing. It keeps the Seniors busy and teaches everyone something new every time.

· We are all now trying to get ready for the Community-Wide Yard Sale. Everyone is cleaning and gathering up things to sell.

UPCOMING EVENTS

· April 1, 2006 – Youth Soccer Opening Day

· April 1, 2006 – Community-Wide Yard Sale 9am-2pm @ Starr Park

· April 8, 2006 – Easter Egg Hunt/Safety Fest 10am-2pm @ Baker Field

· April 22, 2006 – Swing Into Spring Festival 10am-6pm @ Starr Park

Elaine Corley, Director

404-363-2908

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES

Administration

Chief Dwayne Hobbs announced the following promotions at the March 24^th staff meeting:

Lieutenant L.A. Stevens was promoted to Captain.

Sergeant J.J. Lopes was promoted to Lieutenant.

Officers Juan Cruz and David Eads were promoted to Sergeant.

Detective Isaac Fisher was promoted to Detective Sergeant.

The Forest Park 911 Communications Center has been upgraded with new computerized equipment. This upgrade will allow us to transfer 911 calls to over 20 surrounding law enforcement agencies with the push of one button. We will also have the capability to contact preprogrammed ten digit numbers from this same screen. Instant playback or written reports can be generated and used to provide statistical information regarding 911 services to the public.

Uniform Patrol

Officers Nathan Adams and James Fraser of Baker Team responded to the scene where a person had been shot during a robbery. The victim was experiencing problems breathing and went into cardiac arrest. Officers Adams and Fraser used the CPR Kit and began CPR, continuing until Fire Department Rescue personnel arrived. Their efforts kept the victim alive for two hours, although he later died at the hospital. Officers Adams and Fraser were commended by Chief Hobbs and the Department’s senior staff for their heroic efforts.

The following were hired and assigned to the Clayton Regional Law Enforcement Academy for the basic law enforcement class: David Elrod; Michael Hammerstone; Noslen Perez; and Troy Powell. Heather May was hired as a certified Police Officer and assigned to Delta Team.

Danielle Jenkins and Larry McAllister completed the basic law enforcement course and have begun field training. Officer Jenkins is assigned to Charlie Team and Officer McAllister to Adam Team.

Sergeant Orlando Kinchloe has qualified for Georgia’s Advanced Law Enforcement Certification. Officer Brian Hawkins has been selected to serve as a Field Training Officer on Charlie Team.

TRIAD

The monthly TRIAD meeting was held on Friday, March 17^th at the Senior Center. Clayton County Commissioner Carl Rhodenizer presented an update on the commuter rail line being considered for the south metro area.

Citizen Police Academy

The spring session of the Citizens Police Academy began on Tuesday, March 21^st.

Community Oriented Policing Unit

Sam’s Club awarded $1,250 to the Police Department to support safety and crime prevention programming. Gigi Manzanares, Manager of the local Sam’s Club, presented a check to Captain Jamie Reynolds and Officer David Eads.

Two Neighborhood Watch meetings were held along with the monthly Apartment Manager’s Coalition meeting. Officer Mayra Ambris discussed COP’s programs with the Citizens Police Academy students. Officer David Eads presented certificates of achievements to fifty graduates of the D.A.R.E. program at Huie Elementary School

Chief Dwayne Hobbs

(404) 366-7280

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION/FINANCE

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of March are $1,305,429, or 8.28% of the budget. Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $11,019,970 or 69.93% of the budget (fiscal year July 2005 – June 2006). For comparison purposes, the period of July through March represents 75.00% of the budget year. Total expenditures for the General Fund continue to be under budget through March. This can be primarily attributed to the continued diligent monitoring of expenditures by the City departments.

Local Option Sales Tax revenue received in March was $441,151, compared to $323,967 for March of the prior year. The fiscal year-to-date total received is $4,005,653 or 79.32% of the budget; the percentage of the budget year through March is 75.00% of the year. Revenue from Local Option Sales Tax remains ahead of budget as of March.

The budget process for the 2006-2007 fiscal year continues. Budget worksheets have been submitted by the department heads and are under review by the Finance Director. Department heads are in the process of preparing their Management Plan updates. Budget presentations by departments to Mayor & Council will be conducted in May.

New business licenses issued during March:

Name Description

Mabuhay Dollar Store Retail

White Star Communications Cell Phones & Accessories

Seto & Son, Inc. Rental

Best Pho “To Chau” Restaurant

Great Wall Wireless Wireless Phones

Oriental Café Restaurant

Joyeria Y Regalos Silvia Gold / Silver / Gifts

Kim Danh Video / Music Video and Music Store

Victoria Professional Service Packages / Credit Clean up

Blachie Chery Stewart Cleaning Service

Amigos Auto Repair Auto Repair & Body Shop

Key Touch Massage Therapy

Los Tres Potrillos Clothing

Sweet Home Decoration Pictures / Shoes / Home Décor

La Bamba Café Lounge / Dancing

Georgia Trader International Sport Clothing / Costume

Jewelry

Mike Blandenburg, Director

(404) 366-4720

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. Crews also filled 4 potholes on West Street and put in 4 new driveway tie-in and 200 feet of new curb line on Patricia Drive. The backhoe was used to clean the ditch line on Watts Road, Middlebrook Drive, Main Street, Glenn Drive, and Sharon Street. The Recycling Center was cleaned up and preparations were made for the upcoming Clean Sweep.

Building Maintenance:

Major projects for the Maintenance crews have been the renovation of City Hall which included the moving of the service counter and front desk and framing for glass partitions. Walls were removed to separate the Finance Department giving Mike an entrance from the hallway. Walls were repositioned and sheet rocked and all electrical, phone, and computer wiring were rerouted. Ceiling tracks and tiles were redone and new carpet installed. 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. Park crews removed all football equipment from ball fields and lines off and prepared fields for the upcoming soccer season. All city building flower bed areas were weeded and sprayed. Setup was done for the City-wide Yard Sale.

Mike Gippert, Director

(404) 608-2310

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

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

Pond & Company has begun preparation of construction and right-of-way drawings for this project.

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

The Categorical Exclusion (final environment document) has been submitted to GDOT for approval. Construction drawings and right-of-way drawings has been submitted to GDOT for approval. The right-of-way drawings will be submitted to the City Attorney for approval and for a title search. The City will also have to select a GDOT-certified appraiser for each parcel to be acquired-even if all easements are donated. Preliminary discussions suggest that this will cost a minimum of $200.00 per parcel.

State Farmers Market Project

EDAW is in the process of setting up interviews with the steering committee. Public meetings (Visioning Sessions) will also be conducted for citizen input & feedback. Public meetings will be scheduled in the morning and evening to accommodate citizen schedules. The date & time for all public meetings will be announced.

Fort Gillem Redevelopment Project

The Ft. Gillem project is moving forward. The City has advertised for an Executive Director for the LRA. The deadline for resumes is April 14, 2006.

CDBG-Park Improvements Project

The project consists of making improvements to the following existing parks: Theatre Road Park, Second Avenue Park, Scott Boulevard Park, and Hemlock & Alder Park. Improvements shall include the installation of new playground equipment, water fountains, lighting, pavilions, picnic tables, walking trails, basketball courts, and drainage improvements. The improvements will not be identical in all the parks listed.

Theatre Park is almost complete. Hemlock & Alder Park should be completed in two weeks. Park Improvements will begin shortly thereafter on Second Avenue Park and Scott Boulevard Park.

The amount of CDBG funding awarded for this project is $74,662. CDBG grants do not require a match from the City.

CDBG Forest Avenue Project

The project will make drainage (18-inch pipe/curb/gutter), and sidewalk improvements (1,871 L.F.) on Forest Avenue from College Street to Courtney Drive. The Public Works department is waiting on survey drawings that will be utilized to acquire easements from property owners.

The amount of CDBG funding awarded for this project is $82,000. CDBG grants do not require a match from the city.

Hines Ward Day

Hines Ward Day has been scheduled for Saturday, April 22, 2006. The City will be honoring our own Hines Ward, MVP Superbowl XL of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hines started playing football in the Forest Park Youth Football Program. Hines played for Babb Middle School and Forest Park High School. A parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. from the Health Department Parking Lot, turn right on Lake Drive, left onto West Street, left onto South Avenue, left onto Park Drive and end at Hines Ward Pass (formerly Bridge Avenue). The ceremony will begin 10:00 a.m. at the Entertainment Stage located in Starr Park.

John Parker, City Manager

Angela Redding, Mgt. Analyst

(404) 366-4720

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING

BUILDING PLANS SUBMITTED

1. U-Freight 143 Lake Mirror Pl. – Fire alarm

2. United Way 5163 Old Dixie Hwy. Ste. 150 – Tenant finish

3. United Way 5163 Old Dixie Hwy. Ste. 150 – Sprinkler

BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED

1. 744 Cone Rd. Carport enclosure; Job cost $2,000

2. 4885 Hale Rd. Handicap ramp; Job cost $1,500

3. 955 Sherwood Cr . Fire repair; Job cost $50,000 – 1,246 sq. ft.

4. 955 Sherwood Cr. Fire ruling; Job cost $2,500

5. 5014 Park Ave. Fire repair; Job cost $30,000 – 1,200 sq. Ft.

6. Pineridge Ct. Bldg. 4 Pineridge Villas; Job cost $50,000

-2,600 sq. ft. (2 units)

7. Pineridge Ct. Bldg. 3 Pineridge Villas; Job cost $100,000

-5,200 sq. ft. (4 units)

8. Pineridge Ct. Bldg. 2 Pineridge Villas; Job cost $200,000

-10,400 sq. ft. (8 units)

9. 4473 Hillpine Rd. Fire ruling; Job cost $60,000 (Demo/Repair total)

10. 5014 Park Ave. Fire ruling; Job cost $30,000

11. 5163 Old Dixie Hwy. Tenant finish; Job cost $200,000 –

Ste. 150 3,172 sq. ft.

12. 794 Main St. Int. /Ext. remodel; Job cost $1,500 –

bathroom addition and remodel

13. 273 Central Ave. Trash dock addition; Job cost $302,000 –

1,320 sq. ft.

14. 4645 Jonesboro Rd. Ste. B Tenant walls; Job cost $2,000 – 137 sq. ft.

15. 4645 Jonesboro Rd. Ste. H Tenant walls; Job cost $400 – 166 sq. ft.

16. 791 Springvalley Dr. Enclose garage; Job cost $900 – 198 sq. ft.

17. 868 Forest Pkwy. Int. door; 300 sq. ft.

18. 3990 Jonesboro Rd. (Phase I) Interior remodel; Job cost $42,000 –

31,200 sq. ft.

19. 1215 Waverly Dr. Fire ruling; Job cost $1,000

20. 698 Catherine St. Fire repair; Job cost $300 – 144 sq. ft.

21. 5752 Jefferson Ave. Front porch; Job cost $1,500 – 256 sq. ft.

22. 869 Ga. Ave. Poolroom addition; Job cost $6,000 – 560 sq. ft.

CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCIES ISSUED

1. Pineridge Villas Bldg. 1 (6) units 02/27-03/27/06

2. Los Tres Potrillos 4645 Jonesboro Rd. Ste. D 03/03/06

3. Oriental Café 5959-5963 Ash St. 03/21/06

4. Sweet Home Decoration 819 Main St. 03/09/06

5. La Bamba Café 4739 Jonesboro Rd. 03/13/06

6. Amigo’s Auto Repair & Body Shop 4610 Ernest Dr. 03/14/06

7. MI Bodequita Inc. 4730 Lake Mirror Pl. 03/21/06

8. U-Freight 143 Lake Mirror Pl. 03/27/06

9. OnStaff Solutions 526 Forest Pkwy. 03/28/06

10. Better Deals Movers/Trucking 15 Royal Dr. 03/28/06

11. Keen’s Family Pet Shop 4816 Jonesboro Rd. 03/28/06

12. La Delilas Bakery 4462 Jonesboro Rd. Ste.E 03/29/06

13. Quality Medical Supply 769 Main St. 03/29/06

14. Paleterial La Flor De Michoacan#2 4035 Jonesboro Rd. 03/29/06

15. DHL Smart/Global Mail 1500 Southpoint Dr. Ste. 200 03/31/06

AFFILIATE BOARD ACTIVITY

Planning and Zoning Board

The Planning and Zoning Board held a public hearing on March 29, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the courtroom located at the Agnes B. Bateman Community Development Bldg., 785 Forest Pkwy. Forest Park, Ga. 30297. At issue was a rezoning petition filed by Darrell Anderson, Diamond Real Estate (owner), to rezone a 0.157 acre vacant lot located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Jones Rd. and Fourth St. The zoning amendment sought is to change the current zoning classification of Light Industrial to R-80 Single Family Residential. Mr. Anderson has been actively purchasing lots in the (former Rose Town) Southwest Forest Park area. He currently has (4) new 2-story 1,600 sq. ft. houses under construction and this lot would make (5) if it is rezoned. The houses are being marketed for $120,000. The houses are being regulated by R-80 Single Family Residential criteria and are subject to the Noise Level Reduction (NLR) Acoustical Sound Ordinance. A second public hearing will be held on April 17, 2006 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 745 Forest Pkwy., Forest Park, Ga. 30297 at 7:00 p.m. Also, during the regular scheduled meeting the petition will be considered and final determination by Mayor and Council will be rendered.

Architectural Design Review Board

A meeting was held March 21, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room at the Agnes B. Bateman Community Development Bldg., 785 Forest Pkwy. Forest Park, Ga. 30297. At issue was the review of civil site plans for the complete redevelopment (raze existing building, new curb/gutter and parking lot and a new building) at Mack’s Auto Sales, 4620 Old Jonesboro Rd., Forest Park, Ga. 30297. The plans were approved as submitted with the following stipulations:

1. Install an irrigation system for the landscaping; either an underground sprinkler system or locate hose bibs every 50’.

2. Place prominent “EMPLOYEE PARKING ONLY” signs at the four designated parking spaces on the south side of the property so there would not be any patrons utilizing that area.

Also, Mr. Moye, Engineer for the developer said they were going to put and additional landscape buffer across the rear of the property in addition to a privacy fence to buffer the residential area from commercial activity.

Steve Pearson, Director

(404) 608-2300

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE/EMS

• The Fire Department assisted the 1^St Responder class being taught at Forest Park High School. We utilized our rescue unit and personnel to display emergency medical equipment. Sgt. Cagle, Sgt. Hogan and Firefighter Thomas demonstrated the use of the equipment and answered questions concerning their career and emergency medical care.

• The officers of the Department were involved as a group in a Planning Retreat at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth on April 23-24. Many great ideas and strategies were developed during this period which will result in a more efficient and safe city.

• Fire personnel spent a large part of March conducting annual pump testing on its apparatus. Now that the pumps have been tested the emphasis other than normal training activities will be placed on hydrant servicing. This is expected to be a two-month project.

Chief Eddie Buckholts

(404) 608-2383