C I T Y   O F   F O R E S T   P A R K

 

TO:                       Mayor and Council

 

FROM:                  Bill Werner, City Manager

 

DATE:                   November 7, 2005

 

SUBJECT:            INFORMATION BULLETIN  - OCTOBER  ’05

 

The following is a department by department status report of priority activities, projects and initiatives for the month of October, 2005.

 

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE/EMS

 

  • The Fire Department was invited to attend the Clayton County Sensational Saturday held at Clayton County International Park. We utilized the Fire Safety Trailer with 112 children to promote fire safety.

 

  • During Fire Prevention Week the Fire Department taught fire safety to 1007 children. We visited schools and daycares, and some children came to the fire stations for their lesson and a station tour.

 

  • The Fire Safety Trailer was once again a big hit at the City Fall Festival. 299 children toured the trailer, while the adults were greeted by 9 members of the CERT Team. Brochures and home safety information were available to everyone.

 

  • The Fire Department has received the “Hook and Ladder” Award from the Muscular Dystrophy Association for the annual MDA Boot Drive held in August. This award was given to the Fire Department with the greatest increase over last year in the state. The amount collected this year was a 92% increase over last years effort. A cook-out sponsored by MDA was given to “B” Shift for the highest shift total for the year.

 

  • The Fire Department has completed hose testing for the year and is scheduled to begin hydrant maintenance and testing during the month of November.

 

Chief Eddie Buckholts

(404) 608-2382

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

 

YOUTH  and TEEN

 

·        Youth Soccer  - Our Fall youth soccer program with over 300 participants will end on the 29th and banquets for the 17 teams will be held the first part of November at Cici’s Pizza in Riverdale. 

 

·        Baton – GYOP operates our baton program every Saturday from 9am to 11am.  We have an average of 20 students weekly.

 

·        Youth Basketball – Registration began October 17th and our Pee Wee, Shorty and Midget Divisions (ages 5-11) are full with a waiting list.  We still have openings in the Junior and Senior Division.  With limited gym space, we may have to look at changing our format. 

 

ADULT PROGRAMS

 

·        Our passive programs of Ballroom Dancing, Chess, Defensive Driving, Judo and Yoga are going well. There were six participants in Chess, six participants in defensive driving and 12 participants in yoga for the month of October.  

 

·        Our Men’s Full Court Basketball brings a lot of excitement, and our Water Exercise is going good.  There were sixty participants in men’s basketball and twelve participants in water exercise for the month of October. 

 

·        Water Aerobics, Ladies Fitness, Money Smart and Home Safety classes are starting soon. There were eight participants in water aerobics class for the month of October.

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

 

·        Community-Wide Yard Sale – Was held Saturday, October 1st with 82 vendors.  It was a very successful day.  The weather cooperated and it was a beautiful day.  During the hours of operation from 9 am to 2 pm several thousand came there and made their purchases.

 

·        Autumn In The Park – Our Annual Autumn in the Park Festival was held on the 15th from 10 am to 6 pm.  We had a total of 68 vendors on a gorgeous Saturday.  The Atlanta Dove Release Association opened the day with the release of doves circling high above our park.  Line dancers both locally and travelers from Bartow County taught all of us a little bit of country, and Elvis arrived at the park as well as the Mariachi band from McDonough and our youth dancers of Dancing with Donna.  There were several thousand that went through the park that day and a great time was had by everyone.

 

·        5K Fun Run/Walk – is scheduled to kickoff the 29th at 8:15am with warm-ups starting at 8 am.  We have 65 registered to participate.

 

·        Magic of Halloween – the Magic of Halloween is coming October 31st! It is for children ages 10 years and under with an admission of 50 cents.  There will be a costume contest also.

 

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

 

·        Coffee, chatter and sweets are in full swing on Wednesday and Friday mornings 8:30 am to 10 am.  Come enjoy the fun and fellowship.

 

·        Do you know how to play hand and foot?  Do you know what it is?  Come find out on Thursdays, it begins at 9:30am and we may have to move to a bigger area.

 

·        Our Line Dancing group (Senior Rockettes) is getting better and better and they performed at our recent Autumn in the Park Festival.  They meet every Wednesday from 1pm to 3pm, classes on Thursdays 5pm-7pm.

 

·        We had booths in the Community Wide Yard Sale and the Autumn in the Park Festival, both food and crafts.

 

·        State Golden Olympics were held in Warner Robins, Georgia.  We had 14 seniors participating each one could enter multiple events and collectively 18 medals were won.  CONGRATULATIONS!!

 

·        Halloween Dinner with great food, entertainment and a costume contest are slated for the 29th with 60 reservations.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

·        November 11, 2005 – Veterans Day Ceremonies 11am @ Senior Center

·        November 14, 2005 – Senior Volunteer Appreciation Dinner @ 6  pm @ Senior Center

·        November 15, 2005 – Senior Trip for Shopping

·        November 19, 2005 – Senior Thanksgiving Dinner @ 6 pm @ Senior Center

·        November 28, 2005 – Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting @ 6:30  pm

 

Elaine Corley, Director

404-363-2908

 

                  

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES 

 

Officer of the Year

Detective Alberto Cruz was recognized by the Knights of Columbus at their annual Public Safety Banquet as the Officer of the Year for the Forest Park Police Department.

 

Promotion

Senior Patrol Officer Charles M. Gentry was promoted to the rank of uniform Sergeant and assigned to Baker Team.

 

TRIAD

The monthly TRIAD meeting was held on October 21st at the Forest Park Senior Center. Steve Mosley from the Air Marshals Service discussed travel safety when flying. At an earlier meeting the importance of shredding unnecessary financial records was discussed. The TRIAD used funds from the barbecue to purchase shredders for members that did not have one. These shredders were distributed at this meeting.

 

 

 

Detectives/COPS/Viper

COPS officers conducted three neighborhood watch meetings, with thirty-five people attending.  Officers participated in the Red Ribbon Week Parade for Hendrix Drive School, the annual Autumn in the Park event, and the Walk America 5K fun run. Officers conducted safety fairs for the Eagle’s Nest Daycare facility, Hendrix Drive Elementary School, and Huie elementary School.

 

Officers Whitehead, Sergeant Cloud and Detective Fisher served as recruiters at a job fair at Fort McPherson. Officer Ambris hosted the Hispanic Citizens Police Academy on Thursday nights, and Officer Eads discussed the DARE and COPS Programs at the Citizens Police Academy.

 

 

 

                                                          Chief Dwayne Hobbs

                                                          (404) 366-7280

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION/FINANCE

 

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of October are $866,954 or 5.65% of the budget.  Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $4,336,849 or 27.61% of the budget (fiscal year July 2005 – June 2006). For comparison purposes, the period of July through October represents 33.33% of the budget year. Total expenditures for the General Fund are under budget through October.

 

The fieldwork for the annual audit was completed by the end of September. The auditors are in the final stages of preparing a draft of the financial report.

 

Property tax bills were mailed on time on October 17. The taxes are due by December 20. Payments were beginning to be received in October. November will be a busy month for tax payments at City Hall.

 

New business licenses issued during October:

 

                   Name                                                  Type of Business

 

            McDaniel Mattress                             Mattress Sales & Show Room           

            Lifeguide Health Service                   Home Care / Skilled Nursing

            Prophetical Word Church                   Church Ministry

            Mina’s                                                 Clothing, Shoes, Handbags &  Acc.

            Divine Food Mart                                Convenience Store and Gas

            Georgia Soccer League / Sport          Soccer Equipment sales

            Telecell Wireless Inc.                         Cellular Phones

            Viet Thanh Video / Book Store          Video Rental / Book Sales

            General Audio                                     Retail Electronics

            Christian’s Medical Equipment         Medical Equipment / Supplies

Service

            ESAB Welding/Cutting Products       Warehouse / Storage

            Brandon Hill                                        Office space for Retail

Distributor (Home Occupation)         

            Samuel Barraza                                  Office space for Telecom Sales                                                                                              (Home Occupation)                                                        

 

Mike Blandenburg, Director

(404) 366-4720

                       

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Street Division:

           The major event for the month of October was the Semi-annual “Clean Sweep” event on October 1st.  The Street crew and volunteers worked hard to move the vehicles that entered our facility.  Street crews also cleared right-of-way of low limbs on several streets, new curbs were finished on Theater Drive and the ditch behind North Parkwood home was cut and dug out.

 

Building Maintenance:

          The Building Maintenance crews repaired plumbing at the indoor pool, replaced tiles and put exhaust fans in the T-Ball restroom.  Parking lot stripes were repainted at the Senior Building and the Stadium parking lot. Crews replace plumbing in the bathroom at City Hall, and removed yard sale banners and hung fall festival banners and set out 20 fall festival signs.  Work orders were completed on all City buildings.

 

Parks Division:

          October was a busy month for Parks Division crews planting flowerbeds on City right-of-ways and park areas.  Particular attention was given to the Starr Park area in preparation for the Fall Autumn in the Park Festival and the 5K Road Race.  The Recreation Center was set-up for the Halloween Carnival. Other standard maintenance issues were completed by the crews, which included grass cutting of parks and right-of-ways, clean-ups and set-ups for events in city buildings and the maintenance of fields for sporting events.

 

                                                          Mike Gippert, Director

                                                          (404) 608-2310

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

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

GDOT reviews have been very slow and we are still awaiting approval of the Concept Report.  In addition, due to a change in ADA requirements the City may have to obtain more easements than anticipated.  The City has discussed with ARC the possibility of moving the projects to FY 2007.

 

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

Robert & Company has received GDOT’s revisions of the 30% drawing package.  Preliminary right-of-way documents from Robert & Co. have been received in order begin the historic effects review and begin preparation for the right-of-way phase.

 

State Farmers Market Project

The project kick-off meeting was held Friday, November 4, 2005 @10:00 am at Forest Park City Hall.  The meeting focused on the goals for the project.  Current issues and planning efforts already in place that could influence the project were discussed.

 

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)

The City is waiting on the Notice to Proceed from the County for the two CDBG projects awarded.  The projects awarded are Pocket Park Improvements (Theatre Road Park, Second Street Park, Scott Boulevard Park and Hemlock & Alder Park) in the amount of $74,662 and Street/Drainage/Sidewalk Improvements to Forest Avenue in the amount of $82,000.

 

Fort Gillem Dual Tracking Grant

City Council authorized the Mayor to sign the agreement and accept the grant in the amount of $174,000 with a local match of $20,000.  This grant will assist the City as we move to plan for the future use of a substantial portion of the Fort.

 

 

 

                            

                                                          Bill Werner, City Manager

                                                          Angela Redding, Mgt. Analyst

                                                          (404) 366-4720    

 

 

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING

BUILDING PLANS SUBMITTED

1.       Washington Mutual       4894 Jonesboro Rd. – New bank.

2.       Wilpak                            5290 Old Dixie Hwy. – Equip. Installation.

3.       Chick-Fil-A                     4959 Jonesboro Rd. – Addition.

 

BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED

1.       Chick-Fil-A                     4959 Jonesboro Rd. – Addition. 180 sq. ft.;

Job cost $72,000.

2.       539 Evergreen Dr.                   Garage-400 sq. ft.; Job cost $6,000.

3.       5556 Alder Dr.               Bathroom-120 sq. ft.; Job cost $7,000.

4.       Global Signal                 66 Barnett Rd.-128 sq. ft. concrete pad;

Job cost $10,000.

5.       1109 Rockcut Rd.          Bedroom/Laundry/Bath Room addition-

                             608 sq.ft.;  Job cost $12,000.

6.       764 Elizabeth Dr.           Garage addition-576 sq. ft.; Job cost $8,000.

7.       105 Forest Pkwy. !00     Tenant finish-18,613 sq. ft.; Job cost $173,000.

 

CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCIES ISSUED

1.       ESAB Welding & Cutting Products   105 Forest Pkwy. Bldg. 100

Ste 200       10/24/05

2.       Life Guard Health Services               519 Forest Pkwy. #270

10/05/05

3.       Prophetical Word Church                  713 Forest Pkwy. A    10/07/05

4.       Mina’s                                               1003 Forest Pkwy. A  10/27/05

5.       Viet Thanh Video/Book Store           4140 Jonesboro Rd. A-10

10/13/05

6.       Telecell Wireless Inc                          4140 Jonesboro Rd. D-7

10/10/05

7.       Georgia Soccer League                      4493 Jonesboro Rd.  10/06/05

8.       General Audio                                   4464 Jonesboro Rd. B  09/28/05

9.       Divine Food Mart                               4700 Jonesboro Rd. A  10/04/05

10.     McDaniel Mattress                            4931 Phillips Dr.             09/30/05

11.     Christians Medical Equip/Supplies  1057 Main St. C   10/10/05

12.     Parkway Florist                                 1057 Main St. B   10/10/05  

 

 

  • The Planning and Zoning Board, Zoning Appeals Board and the Architectural   Design Review Board held no meetings during the month of October 2005. 

 

 

Steve Pearson, Director

                                                          (404) 608-2300