Argyle Area Civic Council

Minutes of the Mon, Apr 20, 2009 AACC Meeting Dennys Restaurant

Minutes Posted May 17, 2009

MINUTES OF THE ARGYLE AREA CIVIC COUNCIL
Held on Monday, April 20, 2009 at 7:30 P.M.
Denny's Restaurant, 8409 Blanding Boulevard
Jacksonville, Florida 32244
PRESENT: Bill Lewis, President; Tom Dumas, Vice-President; Allen Durant, Treasurer; Jim Kelly, Recording Secretary; Marie Splane, Special Guest Sherrie Porter, District Aide to Congressman Cliff Stearns; David Hodges, Tony Bates, Thomas R. Martin, Bill Ellis, Bobbie Cockayne, Kay Sibert, Don Christen, Marc Sitowitz and John Draper.
1. The meeting was Called to Order at 7:50 p.m.
2. Approval of March minutes. Kay Sibert made the motion to approve the minutes; seconded by John Draper
3. Acknowledge visiting representatives
President Bill Lewis welcomes Sherrie Porter to the meeting. Porter reports that Congressional Representative Cliff Stearns, Florida's Sixth District has received a Taxpayers' Friend Award 2009-04 from the National Taxpayers Union. Porter reported Stearns participated in local “Tea Parties,” and has scheduled constituency meetings for Saturday, May 2, at four city locations.
AACC members then had some questions.
3. Committee Reports:
a. Transportation:
Vice president Tom Dumas had several concerns about the pending Collins Road interchange and the current Better Jacksonville project widening the overpass bridge. His questions were how and when the interchange would be funded now that the stimulus package is on the street without any mention of this project. On the current COJ project, Dumas is unhappy with the “prison-like” fence being put into place on the new four lane bridge. He would like to see something more aesthetically pleasing.
The group asked Porter to find out if the government plans to gather rich oil reserves in Montana and North Dakota called the Bakken Formation.
Other complaints about the Collins Road overpass included: Sidewalks are right on the curb creating an unsafe pedestrian situation, bike lane installation is going in but sidewalks are not on both sides of Collins road.
Thomas Martin reports that water permits should be updated on May 4, 2009 and perhaps then we will know the start of Rampart Road and Shindler Road infrastructure upgrades and planned Collins Road extension.
David Hodges remains concerned that his idea for merging the Cheswick Oak intersection and Shindler Road into one new intersection traveling along the power line right of way toward Clay County was ignored; he says it appears that Clay Electric has cleaned up the power lines leaving an easement unused.
Thomas Martin wonders if the Fire station is still planned for the corner of Collins and Old Middleburg.
5. Business Development: Marie Splane reports she has heard a new furniture store will be coming to the Youngerman circle side of the Argyle Village Shopping Center; 6001 Blanding Blvd. Timing is unknown.
6. Communications and Website:
Bill Lewis reports that Argyle Area Civic Council is now on Facebook website. He has posted new bridge light pictures there. He explains the advantage of social and professional sites to the computer web-user challenged; that immediate information can be dispatched to the membership.
7. Grant Writing Committee: Nothing new to report.
8. Landscaping - The main entry sign has taken another hit and received extensive brick damage caused by an unknown vehicle. There is much doubt that an accident report was even filed. Treasurer to look into repair costs.
9. Treasurer's Report: Allen Durant reported that the treasury balance is now $349.74; Dumas wonders of we can find business donations to help repair the sign this time?
10. Old Business:
a. Argyle Forest Bridge Lights. New lamps in place; now we need to decide if we remove the remaining old unlightable lights or take them down and cap the wiring holes. Suggestion: Bobbie Cockayne and Kay Sibert: leave them for six months prior to final decision; No decision made tonight.
11. New Business
Tom Dumas tells the assembly he is anxious to donate some of his timber property for use as a community garden. He will install irrigation, solar panels and form the Argyle Area Community Garden; anyone interested should come to an organizational meeting on May 2, at 1 p.m.11. Holistic, sustainable and available to the community says Dumas.
Kay Sibert has experience with Community Gardens in another state and she would be interested in helping set it up.
:
The meeting concluded at 8:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Jim Kelly, Recording Secretary

Agenda - Last Updated 4-19-2009 8:30 pm

ARGYLE AREA CIVIC COUNCIL
AACC Meeting Monday, April 20, 2009 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, March 16, 2009 http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/jacksonville/aacc/genpage/650659530.html
Monday, February 23, 2009 http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/jacksonville/aacc/genpage/617228243.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. I-295 @ Collins Rd / Blanding Blvd Interchange C/D Project - http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/public/genpage.html?nid=972432200&nneighid=351562714&nsupercity=623542159
2. 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
3. Old Middleburg Rd./103rd to Branan Field http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
4. Branan Field Chaffee Road Phase 1 (103rd St. to I-10) - http://www.jtafla.com/Projects/showPage.aspx?Project=11
5. 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/moreDOT/majorprojects.shtm#two
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. Relay for Life of Westside, Jax,FL - Friday, May 8, 2009 4:00 pm til Saturday, May 9, 2009 10:00 am at Bishop Snyder High School.
Cathy Greene - Event Chair, Volunteer Cell: (904)309-4008 cgreenenjax@comcast.net - www.relayforlife.org/westsidefl
b. New Argyle Forest Blvd Bridge Lights are now installed - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jacksonville-FL/Argyle-Area-Civic-Council/66463272990
c. Damage to the Argyle Sign at Blanding Blvd.
d. Should AACC apply for Corp. Non Profit Status? (Tabled from the February 23, 2009 AACC Meeting
e. Rezoning on Hipps Property - PROPERTY RE-ZONING FROM RR TO PUD PROPOSAL FOR NAVY HOUSING, UNITS OF SINGLE AND MULTI FAMILY HOUSING
Subject: Rezoning on Hipps Property
Email Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:26:42 +0000
This is information you will want to share with your association.
Someone put the following notice in our mail boxes:
As a result I emailed Daniel Davis' office, our city councilman and I got the following response; after the mail box notice.
There is to be a town hall meeting at Shindler Rd Baptist Church on August 4, 6:30pm.
PROPERTY RE-ZONING FROM RR TO PUD
OLD MIDDLEBURG AT SANDLER = HIPPS PROPERTY
CALL CITY, 630-1902, FOR INFORMATION ON #2008517
PROPOSAL FOR NAVY HOUSING, UNITS OF SINGLE AND MULTI FAMILY HOUSING

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July 11, 2008
You were on my list of people to personally call regarding this issue, as I remember you called our office several months ago inquiring about this.
We are holding a community meeting on August 4th at 6:30 pm at the Shindler Road Baptist Church. I JUST placed an order for the mailout post cards about 5 minutes ago as well as requested an ad be placed in the Times Union on Saturday, July 26th as well as the Westside Sun on July 26th and Saturday, August 2nd. Any persons living within 350 feet of the properties in question will receive the post card mail out. I will be mailing those out hopefully by the end of next week.
As of now, these are the following scheduled Public Hearings:
August 12th - City Council in the Council Chambers at 5:00
August 14th - Planning Commission in the Council Chambers at 1:00 (I believe)
August 19th - Land Use and Zoning Committee meeting in the Council Chambers at 5:00
We will have representatives from our Planning Department and the Office of General Counsel to answer any questions and the applicants from Pappas, Metcalf, Jenks and Miller will also be doing a presentation on the rezoning.

Thank you,
Sarah Lane
Aide, Council Member Daniel Davis
District 12: Daniel Davis - City Council President 2007 - 2008
Sarah Balme, Assistant; Email: DDavis@coj.net Phone: 904-630-1380 -- Fax: 904-630-2906
Web Site: http://www.coj.net/City+Council/District+12/default.htm
5. New Business
a. Argyle Area Westside Community Garden - Suzanne Deshaies or Tom Dumas
6. Additional Comments From the Public
7. Motion to Adjourn

Email us
ArgyleACC@joimail.com

Additional Web Links

Minutes of the Monday, March 16, 2009 AACC Meeting
Oakleaf Town Center - Jacksonville, FL - PDF Map
Oakleaf Town Center - Jacksonville, FL - Description
Florida Department of Transportation Information