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 21, 2008

SUBJECT: INFORMATION BULLETIN - SEPTEMBER, 2008

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

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES

TRIAD

The September Triad meeting was held with approximately 45 people in attendance. The Senior Expo was announced and will be held on October 17^th from 10 am – 2pm at the recreation center gymnasium.

COPS

Attendance continues to be high at the Neighborhood Watch program meetings that have been held for north and south side residents. Average meeting attendance has been between 80 and 100 residents which is a dramatic improvement in community involvement.

Patrol

Lt. Roland Morgan retired from after 34 years of service with the City of Forest Park. A reception was held at Royal Palm on September 29^th and was attended by numerous officers and city officials.

All officers attended classes on crime scene processing

Officer Colvin, Officer Raley and Officer Wheeler received their radar certifications

MPO Cochran has returned to team from light-duty status

Citizens Police Academy Class #23 began on September 16, 2008 with 25 registered participants.

Lt. Wright passed Marijuana ID School

Sgt. Armstrong passed Firearms Instructor School

Officer Consalvo is in field training

CID

Sgt Henry & Detective Jackson completed block training & crime scene investigation.

Detective Craig has completed the crime scene investigation class.

Sgt Fisher gave an identity theft class at Georgia Power. Approximately 30 Georgia Power employees were in attendance.

Administration

MPO Lisa Presley is training for the Nike Women’s Marathon (26.2 miles) in San Francisco October 19th for Team in Training to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/nikesf08/lpresley

Chief Dwayne Hobbs

(404) 366-7280

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING

Building Plans Submitted

Business Name	Address	Details
Family Dollar	4018 Jonesboro Rd.	New Retail Space
Sunny Garden	4150 Jonesboro Rd. Bldg. B Ste. 800	Tenant Finish
Ash St. Center	5277 Ash St.	Int./Ext. Remodel
Ga. Credit Union	435 Forest Pkwy. Ste. 303	Int. Remodel
Snelling Staffing	528-E Forest Pkwy.	Int. Remodel
Trane	5021 Old Dixie Hwy.	Tenant Finish
La Morentia	4060 Jonesboro Rd.	Fire Suppression System

Building Permits Issued

Structure Type	Address	Details
Commercial	528-E Forest Pkwy.	1,125 sq. ft.; JC $24,000
Residential	1092 Ponderosa Pk. Dr.	Repair foundation; JC $1,200
Commercial	435 Forest Pkwy. Ste. 303	1,443 sq. ft.; JC $88,000
Residential	769 Bridge Ave.	Deck addition; 120 sq. ft. JC $3,500

Certificate of Occupancies Issued

Business Name	Address	Date of Issue
Salon De Belleza	4581 Jonesboro Rd.	09/03/2008
Platinum Cuts	697 Ruskin Dr.	09/03/2008
A Touch of Class Salon	1067 Forest Pkwy. Ste. C	09/05/2008
Designer Thrift Store	4185 Jonesboro Rd.	09/04/2008
Xclusive	5340 Old Dixie Hwy.	09/04/2008
Bernal’s Towing Service	4816 Old Dixie Hwy.	09/16/2008
La Esmeralda	1403 Rockcut Rd.	09/15/2008
McDonald’s	3907 Jonesboro Rd.	09/15/2008
Best Food Mart	4666 Jonesboro Rd. Ste.102	09/16/2008
ESAB Expansion	107 Forest Pkwy. Ste. 100	09/23/2008
Studio 211 Hair	786 Main St. Ste. 303	09/24/2008

AFFILIATE BOARD ACTIVITY

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

Steve Pearson, Director

(404) 608-2300

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

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

The Right-of-way documents have been forwarded to the City Attorney for the Preliminary Title Search.

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)-Main Street Streetscape Project

The City is in the process of scheduling a meeting with GDOT right-of-way coordinator and the City Attorney to review the Easement documents and certify the right-of-way drawings.

State Farmers Market

The Department of Agriculture is reviewing the Strategies for Implementing the Master Plan and Transportation Study to identify funding sources for the project.

Forest Park Business Coalition

The next Forest Park Business Coalition meeting will be held Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at Clayton County Community Services Authority 1000 Main Street from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Yulonda Beauford, President & CEO of the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce will be the Guest Speaker.

Other

Clayton County United Way Campaign

Angela Redding has been asked to serve a second year on the Clayton County United Way Campaign Cabinet. Members of the Cabinet are: Carl Rhodenizer, Jim Crissy (Southern Regional Hospital), Ron Shipman (Georgia Power), Shalley Bishop (Firstbank Financial Services) and Angela Redding (City of Forest Park).

John Parker, City Manager

Angela Redding, Mgt. Analyst

(404) 366-4720

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Street Division:

Street crews were kept busy trimming and cutting city right of ways. Crews also completed a total of 8 court ordered abatements and 15 special sanitation pick-ups. Signs were made for the neighborhood watch meetings and the teen meetings and placed around the City.

Completed Court Ordered Abatements:

5171 East Street, 5562 Greenwood Way, 5094 Jones Road, 5015 West Street, 916 Cone Road, 932 Cone Road, 913 Forest Parkway and 1182 Evelyn Drive.

Special Paid Sanitation Pick-ups:

999 Cone Road, 556 Shellnut Drive, 862 Oakdale Dive, 1166 Pine Mountain Drive, 287 First Street, 839 Kennesaw Drive, 724 Brookwood Drive, 5131 Warner Drive, 5094 Phillips Drive, 562 Moore Avenue, 4381 Simpson road, 815 Elizabeth Drive, 4604 Burks Road, 5556 Alder Drive, and 855 Birch Street

Building Maintenance:

Crews worked on major repairs at the Police Department. Water damaged sheetrock had to be removed and replaced. Gutters were checked and repaired. The entry door for the 911 office was replaced and stained. Tiles were removed and replaced. Relocated phones jacks and replaced covers. Helped roofer by lifting ac units and removing razor wire. The fountain at City Hall was cleaned and a new pump was installed. Replaced an electrical junction box in ceiling at City Hall and replaced wiring. All damaged ceiling tile was removed and replaced at Planning, Building, and Zoning along with checking for leaks around all air conditioning units and reconnection gas lines. The carpet in the conference room at Personnel was shampooed. Crews also completed numerous other work orders from all departments.

Parks Division:

Right-of-way cutting on Main Street, Jonesboro Road, and Forest Parkway highlighted efforts by Parks crews. The rains have made August a busy month for Parks crews cutting grass and trimming and pruning shrubs. All ball fields were lined off for the upcoming football season. 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

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE/EMS

• On September 11, Fire Personnel as well as several Police personnel and community leaders participated in a short 911 Memorial Service at Fire Station 1 to reflect on the tragic losses of 9-11-01.

• Captain Sam Batten conducted a safety meeting with Georgia Power employees on Fire Safety procedures in the workplace and home.

• Major Matt Jackson and Captain Sam Batten attended (at no cost to the City) the International Code Council Conference in Minnesota. This was a very historic occasion for the National Fire Service Profession in that the ICC voted by a huge margin to pass code changes that will require automatic sprinkler systems in residential dwellings – both single and multi-family.

• Fire personnel manned the Fire Safety House and displayed fire apparatus at the Good Neighbor Day-Hendrix Drive Elementary School. Approximately 60 children were exposed to the Fire Safety House and taught exit drills in the case of fires in the home.

• The month of September was “Preparedness Month” in the State of Georgia. The Fire Department and Emergency Management personnel distributed pamphlets on the guidelines and procedures for all disasters – both natural and man-made and how to take care of one’s family.

Call Statistics

Structure Fire 1

Vehicle Fire 1

Brush/Grass Fire 1

EMS Assist 91

False Alarm 12

Mutual Aid (Given) 2

HazMat 3

Other Hazards 7

Other Responses 19

137 Total Fire Calls

EMS Calls 309

446 Total Calls

Chief Eddie Buckholts

(404) 608-2382

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION

Expenditures (preliminary totals) for the General Fund for the month of September are $1,099,339 or 5.87% of the budget. Year-to-date preliminary expenditures for the General Fund are $3,997,133 or 21.34% of the budget (fiscal year July 2008 – June 2009). 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 $517,064, compared to $395,926 for September of the prior year. The current month amount is consistent with the previous month of the current year. The fiscal year-to-date total received is $1,520,877 or 29.59% of the budget; the percentage of the budget year through September is 25.00% of the year. Revenue from Local Option Sales Tax remains ahead of budget through September.

The annual audit for the City began on September 29 and the fieldwork (audit procedures) is expected to be completed by October 15. Preparation of the financial report will begin at that time and is expected to be completed by mid November.

New business licenses issued during the month of September:

Name Description

Cook & Cook Insurance Insurance agency

Platinum Cut Barber Shop

Hair Stylist / Beauty Salon Hair Salon

Designer Thrift Store II Sales of used clothing

XClusiv Restaurant & lounge

A Touch of Class Salon Beauty Salon

Torres Automotive Auto Repair

Mines Enterprises, DBA McDonald’s Fast Food Restaurant

Bernal’s Towing Service Towing / Hauling Cars

Mike Blandenburg, Director

(404) 366-4720

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE SERVICES

Adult Softball – This is a Coed League that plays on Tuesday night at 7pm. There are six teams in the league. Games are played at Baker Field.

Youth Soccer – The Fall Soccer program has 16 teams with 194 children participating between the ages of 4 years and 12 years. Games are played on Saturday starting at 10am. Games are played at the Soccer Fields on Park Drive.

Kiwanis Stadium – Southern Football League played two (2) games on September 20, 27, 2008 at 6pm. Forest Park High School JV played on September 3, 11, 18, 25, 2008 at 5pm. Babb Middle School played on September 16, 2008 at 5pm. Also Forest Park Youth Football play their games on Saturdays starting at 10am.

The Recreation Center was closed starting August 11, 2008 for repairs and maintenance. Recreation Center was scheduled to re-open on September 22, 2008.

Good Neighbors’ Day – On September 27, 2008, Councilperson Adams sponsored a Community event at Hendrix Drive Elementary School (Good Neighbors’ Day). All the City Departments participated. There were approximately 250 residents there to enjoy the festivities. The Fire Department brought the Smoke House, Public Works cooked hotdogs, Recreation, Police Services, City Hall and Planning & Zoning gave out important City information. There was a Face Painter, Moon Walk and balloons were given to the children. Everyone enjoyed the event. Thumbs Up to Councilperson Adams and the effort she put into bringing the community together for this festive day!

Boy Scouts – Richard Davies and the local Boy Scout Organization sponsored a Scout Fair at Baker Field on September 27, 2008 9am-4pm. There were approximately 375 potential scouts and their parents participating at the event. Tug of war, cave man golf, airplane race and sling shots were some of the activities offered to the participants.

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

* The Red Hatters started the month off as a busy month. We went to lunch and then shopped. It was fun.

* The State Senior Olympics were held in Warner Robins and we did well in medals. We took home 10 medals in Shuffle Board and a few in track events. They can now go to the Nationals in San Francisco, California.

* We were really busy with many of our regular activities, bowling WII, dinners, lunches, card club and many other activities.

UPCOMING EVENTS

* October 4, 2008 – Community Wide Yard Sale @ Recreation parking lot 9am-2pm

* October 17, 2008 – Senior Health Expo 10am-2pm @ Gymnasium

* October 18, 2008 – Autumn in the Park Festival 10:30am-6pm @ Starr Park

* October 25, 2008 – 5K Fun Run/Walk @ Starr Park starting at 8am

* October 31, 2008 – Halloween Carnival 6pm-8pm @ Gymnasium

Elaine Corley, Director

404-363-2908