Argyle Area Civic Council

Minutes of the Mon, May 19, 2008 AACC Meeting Dennys Restaurant

Minutes - Posted 6-15-2008 6:00pm

MINUTES OF THE MAY 19, 2008
MEETING OF THE ARGYLE AREA CIVIC COUNCIL
Held at Denny’s Restaurant, 8409 Blanding Boulevard
Jacksonville, Florida 32244

Present: Bill Lewis, President; Marie Splane, Recording Secretary; Allen Durant, Treasurer; Thomas R. Martin; Bill Ellis; John Draper; Don Christen; Bobbie Cockayne; Jim Kelly.

President Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.

Approval of April minutes: John Draper made a motion to approve the April minutes; motion seconded by Tom Martin and passed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Clay County Commissioner Doug Conkey:
· The Beltway is on hold due to Private/Public Partnership funding issues.
· Traffic red light cameras were considered by the Clay County Policy & Rules Committee, but no action was taken after a discussion on costs. This item will come up again next year.
· The Clay County Finance Committee approved going into the reserve fund in order to pay for increased fuel costs for county vehicles through the end of the year.
· Water Transportation Study: There was a briefing three weeks ago at the MPO meeting. This item will be tabled due to anticipated deficits. Exploration of Commuter Rail will continue.
· Three new DRI’s: Saratoga Springs has been approved. Highlands will come up for a vote in July. Governor’s Park is contingent on the Beltway.
· The statewide November ballot will have some very important issues to vote on: property taxes, sales taxes, the way education is funded, exemptions, and a state constitutional amendment.

PUBLIC SAFETY: No report.

TRANSPORTATION:

Collins Road Extenstion: Tom Martin reported that the St. Johns River Water Management sent a letter to the City of Jacksonville regarding the design; apparently the project is not ready to move forward at this point.

Cheswick Oak extension into Clay County: Discussion by President Lewis and Doug Conkey. Commissioner Conkey’s goal is to eventually connect to Kindlewood.

Intersection of Cheswick and Argyle Forest Boulevard: Commissioner Conkey is working with Duval County Councilman Michael Corrigan to try to improve the intersection at Cheswick and Argyle Forest so you lessen the impact backing up one way on a two way street.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT:

Oakleaf Town Center: New stores opening are Chick Filet, Ross, Bank of America, H.H. Gregg. Restaurants coming: Moe’s Southwest Grill, Up The Creek restaurant.

Cecil Commerce Center: Jim Kelly reported that a movie theater is in the long-range plan at Cecil Commerce Center.

OLD BUSINESS:

Website: President Lewis says we had 879 hits on the website in April and 457 so far in May.

Treasurer’s Report: Allen Durant reports that the bank balance is $347.12 as of April 30.

Argyle Forest Sign Island at Argyle Forest Boulevard & Blanding: We still need to find a brick mason. Allen Durant found a source for the bricks, and he will be getting with David Hodges.

Argyle Forest Bridge Lights: President Lewis will be in contact with Councilman Corrigan’s office to make sure all of the existing bridge lights will be removed when the new light poles are installed.

NEW BUSINESS:

Property Swap at Old Middleburg Road and Argyle Forest Boulevard: The Parks and Recreation Department (City of Jacksonville) is now balking at swapping their acreage on Old Middleburg for the Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department’s acreage on Argyle Forest Boulevard. The AACC will be writing a letter to Parks and Recreation supporting this land swap. JFRD is planning a command center for the entire Westside at this new location, which will bring in new jobs. If the land swap does not go forward, the JFRD will not build the station. We will be asking for the support of Council members Corrigan, Hold and Davis, as well as all five at-large council members, with letters of support sent to Mayor Peyton.

Storm Water Tax: John Draper made a motion to adopt a resolution urging the repeal of the bureaucratic storm water tax and urging people to delay paying the fee as long as legally possible, and that the AACC go on record as requesting repeal of the storm water tax as being inefficient and unnecessary, to be send to the Jacksonville City Council members. Motion seconded by Bill Ellis. After a short discussion, a vote was taken and the motion passed.

There being no further business to come before the council, John Draper made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Bill Ellis. The meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Marie Splane, Recording Secretary

Agenda Last Updated 5-17-2008 12:00 pm

ARGYLE AREA CIVIC COUNCIL
AACC Meeting Monday, May 19, 2008 7:30 pm
Location: Denny's Restaurant 8409 Blanding Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32244 Phone: 904-778-4624
Corner of Blanding Blvd and Youngerman Circle.
Map: http://web.sa.mapquest.com/dennys/advantage.adp?transaction=locmap&recordId=509&pwidth=400&pheight=250to
1. Call to Order 7:30 pm
2. Approval of Old Minutes
Monday, April 21, 2008 http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/jacksonville/aacc/genpage/781858794.html
3. Committee Reports
a. Jacksonville City Council, Clay County Commission Report and other elected officials or representatives
1. Duval County School Board District 7 - Tommy Hazouri
2. Jax District 14 Council Member Michael Corrigan - Past Council President 2006 - 2007
3. Jax District 12 Council Member Dan Davis - City Council President 2007 - 2008
4. Jax District 11 Council Member Ray Holt
5. Jax At Large, Group 1 Council Member Ronnie Fussell
6. Clay District 2 Commissioner - Doug Conkey
7. State Representative Jennifer Carroll (R), District 13 - Rebecca Coleman, District Secretary
8. U.S. Representative Cliff Stearns (R), Florida's Sixth District - Sherrie Porter, District Aide
b. Public Safety Report. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Clay County Sheriff's Office
c. Transportation. David Hodges - Click on the links for the Latest Info on these Projects
1. Argyle Forest Blvd 4 Lanes - http://www.jtaonthemove.com/projects/bjp/bjargyle2.aspx
2. I-295 @ Collins Rd / Blanding Blvd Interchange C/D Project - http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/public/genpage.html?nid=972432200&nneighid=351562714&nsupercity=623542159
3. Collins Road Widening -
. I) Collins Rd/Rampart to Blanding http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
. II) Collins Rd/Westport to Rampart http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
. III) Collins Rd/Shindler to Westport http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
. IV) Collins Rd/Shindler to Old Middleburg http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
. V) Extension of Collins Rd from Old Middleburg to Cecil Commerce Center. Proposed. May or May Not Happen.
4. Old Middleburg Rd./103rd to Branan Field http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
5. Branan Field Chaffee Road Phase 1 (103rd St. to I-10) - http://www.jtafla.com/projects/bjp/bjbranan10.aspx
6. Shindler Rd realigned with Cheswick Oaks along the JEA easements for power lines. Proposed. May or May Not Happen.
7. College Drive Extension North Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study - New connection between Blanding Boulevard (SR 21) and Branan Field/Chaffee Road (SR 23). - Clay county http://www.collegedrivenorth.com/faq.htm
BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
Jacksonville Transportation Authority Projects Map - http://www.jtafla.com/projects/projects_map.html
Florida Department of Transportation Information http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/construc/district2pio/counties/duval.htm http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/construc/district2pio/counties/clay.htm - http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/publicinv/PI-D2.htm
d. Business Development - David Hodges
. . Oakleaf Town Center - Jacksonville, FL - Description http://www.sembler.com/current_projects.php?id=12
. . Oakleaf Town Center - Jacksonville, FL - PDF Map http://www.sembler.com/pdfs/Oakleaf%20Town%20Ctr.pdf
e. Communications and Web Site - Bill Lewis
f. Home Owners Association President Meeting - Bill Lewis
g. Grant Writing Committee
h. Landscaping Committee - Argyle Sign at Argyle Forest Blvd and Blanding Blvd
i. Treasurer's Report - Allen Durant
4. Old Business
a. Argyle Forest Sign Island at Argyle Forest Blvd and Blanding - We still need the assistance of a brick mason who can advise the best way to replace the broken bricks.
b. Update - New Argyle Forest Blvd Bridge Lights
Councilman Corrigan asked that I send the attached picture regarding the proposed bridge lights for your review. JTA and JEA concurrently have requested that new lights be installed to replace every other existing decorative lighting housing and brick work with the proposed historic lights, which are similar to the ones installed on the Ortega River Bridge. There will be no decorative housing lighting at the second, fourth and sixth locations, which will be removed. A couple of other pictures are attached for reference.
Please let us have your comments/feedback.
Thanks.
Dianne W. Smith, ECA
Council Member Michael L. Corrigan, Jr.
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 11:38:00 -0400
In accordance with your response and by copy of this email, we are advising JTA to proceed with this project. The 2nd, 4th and 6th decorative housings will be removed from both sides of the bridge. The six housings will be delivered to the Chimney Lakes Recreation Center. At the locations the housings are removed, the City/JEA approved lights poles will be installed. The 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th decorative housings will remain untouched.

We appreciate your input and assistance with this project. Thank you.

Dianne W. Smith, ECA
Council Member Michael L. Corrigan, Jr.
District 14
117 West Duval Street, Suite 425
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 630-1677
Fax: (904) 630-2906
diannes@coj.net
c. Collins Road Extension between Shindler Drive and Old Middleburg Road


5. New Business
a. Property Swap at Old Middleburg Road and Argyle Forest Blvd
Subject : Letter needed to Parks and Rec Dept
Date : Thu, 8 May 2008 22:30:00 -0400
From : "David Hodges"
To : 'Bill Lewis'
They are now balking at swapping their acreage on Old Middleburg for the
JFRD's acreage on AFB. We need to send a forceful letter supporting that
swap. JFRD is also planning a command center for the entire Westside at
that new location and we could use the extra jobs as well. If the swap is
not done, JFRD will not build the station in our lifetime. We need
Corrigan, Holt and Davis to weigh in on this as well as all five at-large
council members with letters of support sent to the Mayor.
Argyle area Civic Council
David Hodges, Chairman
Economic Development Committee
Transportation Committee
ftci@comcast.net

6. Additional Comments From the Public
7. Motion to Adjourn

Email us
ArgyleACC@joimail.com

Additional Web Links

Minutes of the Monday, April 21, 2008 AACC Meeting
BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
Florida Department of Transportation Information
Oakleaf Town Center - Jacksonville, FL - Description
Oakleaf Town Center - Jacksonville, FL - PDF Map