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: June 24, 2008

SUBJECT: INFORMATION BULLETIN - MAY, 2008

The following is a department by department status report of priority activities, projects and initiatives for the month of May, 2008.

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING

Building Plans Submitted

1. 532-A Forest Pkwy. Wall remodel (Interior)

2. 5345 Old Dixie Hwy. Interior remodel

3. 4666 Jonesboro Rd. #103 Interior remodel

Building Permits Issued

1. 4537 Puckett St. Remodel (3 rooms); 680 sq. ft. JC $20,000

2. 661 Forest Pkwy. A-6 New retail Shopping Ctr.; 8,400 sq. ft. JC

$700,000

3. 532-A Forest Pkwy. Interior remodel (-/+ walls); 79 sq. ft. JC

$11,000

4. 357 First St. New home CO Inspection; 1,700 sq. ft. JC

$1,500

5. 4160 Jonesboro Rd. Interior wall; 400 sq. ft. JC $6,000

6. 4257 Sierra Dr. Storage Shed; 144 sq. ft. JC $1,200

Certificate of Occupancies Issued

1. Jackson-Wesley Academy 721 Morrow Rd. 05/02/08

2. What-A-Cut 1067 Forest Pkwy. A 05/13/08

3. Marina Hair Salon 4462 Jonesboro Rd. H 05/13/08

4. Primera Plus Charter 4295 Thurmond Rd. 05/13/08

5. American Wings & Deli 814 Morrow Rd. 05/14/08

6. House of Wheels 868 Forest Pkwy. 05/20/08

7. Tax Pro Financial Services 4806 Jonesboro Rd. 05/20/08

8. Lady Elegance 824 Morrow Rd. 05/20/08

9. Crazy Horse Saloon 3920 Jonesboro Rd. 05/21/08

10. Tropical Flavor Restaurant 4849 College St. 05/22/08

11. South Atlanta Orthopedics 425 Forest Pkwy. #111 05/28/08

12. Joyeria Y Regalos 4426 Jonesboro Rd. 05/28/08

Affiliate Board Activity

There were no meetings of the affiliate Boards for the month of May 2008.

Steve Pearson, Director

(404) 608-2303

Department of Fire and Emergency Services

• Provided EMS unit for Senior Olympics.

• Fire Safety Trailer at Spring Festival in Starr Park. Approximately 250 children were taught fire safety by on-duty Fire personnel and several CERT members.

• Participated in Career Day at Fountain Elementary.

• Participated in Safety Rodeo at Chic-Fil-A Dwarf House. The Fire Safety Trailer, an engine and EMS unit assisted, with approximately 60 children attending.

• Participated in International Day at Clayton Count Head Start. An engine, Fire Safety Trailer and EMS unit assisted in Fire Safety Education for 250 children.

• Provided an EMS unit for the Hines Ward Youth Day Camp at Kiwanis Field. Approximately 350 attended this event.

• Captain Barry Hopper attended the Annual Georgia Firefighter Burn Foundation Camp at Eatonton. Captain Hopper assisted as counselor and security detail. This is a camp where children with burns attend a week-long camp with others with the same type of injuries.

• CPR and First Aid was taught to 4 City summer camp workers.

• Fire Personnel participated in the annual “Give Burns the Boot” Drive for the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation. Thanks to local support a total of $1518.15 was collected to assist in these efforts.

Fires

Structure Fires 3

Vehicle Fires 1

Rubbish 1

Other Fires 2

EMS Assist 90

False alarms 10

Mutual Aid Given 1

Hazmat 1

Hazardous Condition 7

Other 19

135 Total Fire Incidents

EMS Calls 253

388 Total Calls for Month

Chief Eddie Buckholts

(404) 608-2383

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION / FINANCE

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of May are $1,110,470 or 5.85% of the budget. Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $15,444,970 or 81.43% of the budget (fiscal year July 2007 – June 2008). For comparison purposes, the period of July through May represents 91.67% of the budget year. Total expenditures for the General Fund remain under budget for the eleven month period of July through May.

Local Option Sales Tax revenue received in May is $403,396 compared to $433,121 for May of the prior year. The current fiscal year-to-date total received is $4,548,740 or 85.83% of the budget. The percentage of the budget year through May is 91.67% of the year; therefore, revenue from Local Option Sales Tax remains less than budget through May. The reduced amount for the current year is primarily due to the state of the national economy.

Licenses for New Business for the month of May 2008:

Name Description

Jackson-Wesley Academy Christian Academy

Primera Plus Charter Service Charter service

What A Cut Barber Shop

Marina Hair Salon Hair salon

American Wings & Deli Restaurant

P & R Transportation Non-emergency transportation

House of Wheels Auto service

Tax-Pro Financial Services Check cashing and money orders

Lady Elegance Women’s clothing and accessories

Tropical Flavor Restaurant Restaurant

South Atlanta Orthopedics

And Sports Medicine Medical services

Mike Blandenburg, Director

(404) 366-4720

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

Special Registration for our summer programs took place on Thursday, May 1, 2008. Parents were able to register their kids for day camp, swim lessons, girls basketball and a variety of other summer activities.

The City of Forest Park Annual Spring Festival was held May 10, 2008. The original scheduled date was May 3, but due to inclement weather it was rescheduled. Approximately 70 vendors (crafts, food, games, Forest Park Fire, and Police Department) participated in the community event. The entertainment consisted of Forest Park Silver Steppers, Pony Tail Entertainment, Mariachi Band, Martial Arts demonstration and much more. There were approximately 1500 spectators enjoying the festivities.

On May 31, 2008, Hines Ward MVP Organization sponsored a fitness camp for local youths ages 7-14 years old. Approximately 150 kids participated. The camp focused on agility, strength, speed training. Some of Mr. Ward’s team mates and other professional NFL athletes volunteered their time and expertise on some football drills. The camp was held from 11am until 2pm.

For the month of May 2008 the Recreation Department continued league play in the following activities:

* Adult Softball – Tuesday night Coed League. Games times are 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm. Also we registered five teams for Wednesday night adult men, with game times at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm. In both leagues there are a total of 150 participants.

* Adult Basketball – Wednesday night adult men league. Game times are 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm. There are 72 total participants.

* Soccer – 277 players, between the ages of 4 years through 12 years old. They play on Saturdays starting at 9am and ending at 3pm.

* Girls Volleyball – They play on Monday and Tuesday nights at 6:15pm and 7pm each night. There are a total of 80 girls that participate between the ages of 12 and 16 years old.

* Tee-Ball and PeeWee Ball – 277 players between the ages of 4 years through 12 years old. They play on Saturdays starting at 9am through 3pm.

* The Indoor Pool was available for the public’s use on Tuesday and Thursday nights 7pm-9pm during the month of April 2008.

* Daily gym use 656 for the month of May 2008.

* Wellness Programs

Water Aerobics – Monday & Wednesday 6pm-7pm

Yoga – Wednesday evening 6:45pm-8pm

Water Exercise – Monday & Wednesday 1pm-2pm

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

Swim For Fun (ages 55 & Over) –

Tuesday & Thursday 1:30pm-2:30pm

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

Saturday 10am-4pm

Martial Arts (Tai-Chi, Kung Fu) –

Tuesday & Thursday 7:30pm-8:30pm

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

May was a busy month with the Olympics, Mother’s Day and the Memorial Day Weekend.

* The Olympics kept us really busy as we had 110 participants in 15 activities. We also had Opening Ceremonies with balloon release, big BBQ and a lot of happy faces. It was a fun program for everyone.

* Our Mother’s Day was a day out for lunch at Baby Janes restaurant. We all enjoyed a great lunch buffet and time with friends.

* The WII has kept us going as we play bowling twice a week and another game once a week. They like the golf or tennis especially as a new game.

* The Red Hatters went to Piccadilly restaurant for lunch. They were all happy to show off their hats and dresses.

* The Card Club is still growing and we have 3 to 4 tables on Thursdays. We have lunch together and then go back to cards.

* Our regular weekly programs have been growing and keep the Seniors on the go. We have the BINGO Lunch and Breakfast, WII Bowl and Tennis, Cards, Computer games, TRIAD and the puzzles, games, drop ins that are here at the Senior Center all the time.

UPCOMING EVENTS

* June 2, 2008 – Starr Park Pool Opens

* June 6, 13, 20, 27, 2008 – Family Night @ Starr Park Pool 6:30pm-8pm

* June 9-12, 2008 – Cheerleading Camp 6pm-8pm

* June 9-12, 2008 – Girls & Boys Basketball Camp @ Gym

* June 13, 2008 – Senior Breakfast @ 8am and BINGO @ 10am @ Senior Center

* June 16, 2008 – Senior Picnic @ 6pm @ Senior Center. Bring a lot of salad or covered dish. Get your ticket early!

* June 20, 2008 – TRIAD Meeting @ Senior Center 10am

* June 25, 2008 – Girls Basketball League Starts @ Gym

* June 27, 2008 – BINGO & Lunch @ Senior Center 10am

Elaine Corley, Director

404-363-2908

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES

COPS

MPO Turnage conducted the meeting of the Apartment Managers’ Coalition. Five members were in attendance to discuss home invasion robberies and crime prevention tips.

COPS Officers and Patrol personnel have been handing out fliers regarding the upcoming Ward I and Ward III community meetings.

Citizens Police Academy

Recruitment for upcoming Citizen’s Police Academy and Hispanic Citizen’s Police Academy classes is currently underway.

Patrol

All department personnel attended the training class “Managing a Diverse Workforce”.

On 5-17-08 VIPER Team along with FBI SSTF executed a search warrant at 4140 Jonesboro Rd (Café Mong Mo) for illegal gambling. There were 28 arrests with charges ranging from Commercial Gambling, Gambling, to Disorderly Conduct. More than $12.000 was seized along with 13 gambling machines. Forfeiture paperwork has been submitted to the District attorney’s office for the money and the machines.

Sgt. David Eads has completed his 120 hours Supervision Certification.

Detective Sgt. Fisher acted as the Host for Atlanta Crime Stoppers. The meeting was held at the Forest Park Police Station.

Capt. Cotrell and Det. Cruz attended Law Enforcement Day at Turner Field as a guest of Georgia Power.

Lt. Delk attended a weeklong Management class at Georgia Public Safety Training Center.

Detective Sgt. Fisher obtained arrest warrants for the murder which occurred on Old Jonesboro Rd.

Viper Team participated in Operation Deep Sweep which was a joint effort with patrol teams to identify vacant houses and conduct sweeps for vagrants to prevent crime.

Defensive driving courses were given by Sgt. Ray Daniel to all department personnel.

Officer Hiers attended school for Criminal Procedures (April 21 – 25).

Baker team arrested copper thieves and their tools & copper recovered all because of a concerned neighbor’s call on the 2 suspects coming out of a vacant house. The thieves broke into 1028 Tamarack Tr. And were cutting and stealing copper piping.

Sgt. Cloud is attending a gang conference in Dallas, TX

Administration

The assessment center for Lieutenant was held on May 16th with assessors from other agencies evaluating the candidates. The assessors were very complementary of both the candidates and the process which was coordinated by Capt. Lilliana Stevens.

Chief Dwayne Hobbs

(404) 366-7280

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

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

GDOT approved right-of-way drawings have been forwarded to the City for these projects. The next step is to request the City Attorney perform a title search for each property requiring a construction easement. The City has requested three quotes from GDOT certified appraisers for the right of way phase.

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

The City is in the process of completing the steps necessary to move the project to the construction phase. City staff will oversee the recording of the deeds with the County.

Archway Partnership

The City of Forest Park along with the other funding partners signed the Archway Partnership MOU. A meeting was held May 29^th at the Clayton County Extension Office regarding the development of the Executive Committee and the progress of the search for the Clayton Archway Executive.

Regional Transit Plan

The Mayor and Angela Redding attended the Atlanta Area Airport Chamber May meeting for a presentation on the update to the Regional Transit Plan. The meeting was held at the Georgia International Convention Center.

John Parker, City Manager

Angela Redding, Mgt. Analyst

(404) 366-4720

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Street Division:

Street crews were kept busy after the storms removing fallen trees in roadways. Trees were removed from Lloyd Drive, Owens Drive, Bartlett Road, Tanglewood Lane, Stillwood Cove, Parker Street, Highland Street, Pine Mountain Drive, Cone Road, Kite Drive, Ash Street, Cypress Drive, and Pineridge Road. Crews also completed 9 abatement orders which entailed cleaning, cutting, and securing properties provided from Planning Building & Zoning.

Building Maintenance:

Crews finished the last touches on the concession stand by installing the divider for stalls in the restrooms and hung windows. Another major project for the Building Maintenance crews has been the installation of the new playground equipment at Starr Park. Repairs were made at both pool areas in preparation for the summer swim season. 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. Crews also helped Street Division personnel with leaf and limb pick-up.

Mike Gippert, Director

(404) 608-2310