C.O.N.A. of South Pinellas County

Don't wilt, keep pressing for a better community

Aug 09, 2002

THE PRESIDENT'S GREETING:

The response was fantastic for the School Board candidates we invited to our July meeting. Since then we hvae been able to conact, and invite to our Augsuts 21 meeting, almost all of the candidates for the Judicial seats and the House of Representatives seats. These candidates are all running in the primary election on September 10.

This is the time to meet the future judges and hear what the Representatives plan to accomplish. It is also an ideal time to ask them to come to you individual neighborhoods to hear the issues and concerns of our citizens.

Judical Candidates for the 6th Judicial Circuit
(Groups 8,25,26,28 & 41)
Wayne Cobb & Chris Yeazell
Declan Mansfield & John Renke
George Brown & Sarah Chaves
Robert Michael & Jack St. Arnold
Byron Lorrier & William Vinson f
Linda Allen or M. Malinda Ottinger.

House of Representative Candidates
Dan Krassner & Richard Langton - District 51.
Cary Burns, Christopher Eaton & Frank Farkas - District 52.
Ken Feck & Charlie Justice - District 53.
Vincent Hopkins & Frank Peterman - District 55.

The candidates for the Senate seats that represent St. Petersburg are running unopposed.

Also, ?“Grand Central Neighborhood & Business District?” is returning to show how they work together and have made a tremendous impact on Central Avenue and Kenwood and Palmetto Park neighborhoods.


AGENDA FOR BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S MEETING (8/21/02)

Pledge

Approval of the Minutes

Treasurer's Report

Grand Central Neighborhood & Business District

Introduction of the Judicial Candidates

House of Representatives Candidate Forum

Old Business

New Business


OUR PRESIDENT'S REPORT:

Dear Neighbors,

This month?’s meeting on August 21st promises to be interesting. The candidates are committed. Invite these candidates, and last month?’s school board candidates, to your neighborhood meetings, so they can learn who the neighborhoods are, and what are our major concerns are. We had a tremendous response to the questions asked last month of the school board candidates. Choice is a major decision that every parent or guardian should be aware of if you have school-age children. (See article in this issue.)

I was going to a meeting one morning last week, and ran into someone that I have a number of meetings with every month. He commented that I spend a lot of time at City Hall, like he does. I agreed, but said that like all the other neighborhood activists, I don't get paid to be there, but he does. We can all agree or disagree with a proposal, but it is the people that have a passion that help direct and get things done. We're all volunteers! Thanks for caring about our City. We must work together for the improvement of our City.

I attended the City Council hearing on the Azalea Library. It is amazing that the project progressed this far before staff realized that the neighborhoods wanted input. Questions that were raised should have been addressed in March, 2001, when City Council awarded the outside consultant a contract to determine the need for library space around the entire City.

It took a number of northside neighborhoods to rally for the Roberts Center before the City found the $48,000 to keep the Roberts Adult Center open. That center has a great program for Seniors that benefits people throughout the City.

There is a line-item in next year?’s budget for new parking meters. The plan is to install meters downtown, around Baywalk, Beach Drive and along the waterfront. We?’re not sure if the move is for the patrol that chalk tires to lower the budget, or to increase City revenue, either way this is not what the downtown business community wants.

It has taken six months for Virginia Littrell and her ?“Prostitution Task Force?” to draft a plan that the 4th & 34th Street Business communities, Fossil Park, 5 Points, Crescent Heights, Uptown and Old Northeast Neighborhoods have been trying to control for ages. Thank you, Virginia, for taking on the problem.

I want to encourage every neighborhood to send representatives to the Florida Neighborhood Conferences in Tampa in September. The agenda and schedule appear in the center of this issue.

We have been invited to help Lakeland start a Council of Neighborhoods organization, but that has been rescheduled for October or November. I will keep the volunteers aware of the status.

Bob Jeffrey has now completed a draft of the Vision 2020 Plan. He is in the process of sending it to the Steering Committee for review. After their review, there will be a workshop with the Planning Commission. I will get the word out as soon the workshop is scheduled. If you are interested in this workshop, please send me your E-mail address so that I can notify you.

I hope you had a wonderful summer. If you have children or grandchildren, I hope that school started out well for them. Don?’t forget to watch out for all children walking on our neighborhood streets and sidewalks, and remember to slow down when driving through school zones.

See you at the meeting,

Brent


JULY BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S MEETING MINUTES

The July C.O.N.A. meeting was held on July 17, 2002, at All Children's Hospital Conference Center.

President Brent Fisher called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

> The Pledge of Allegiance to Our Flag was repeated in unison.
> Brent inquired if all present had obtained a copy of the July Newsletter.
> Our President called for corrections or additions to the June Minutes as printed in our Newsletter. Hearing of no revisions he announced approval of the Minutes as published.
> Our Treasurer, Libby Steele, reported a General Fund balance of $3,010.70 and a Leadership account balance of $45.00.
> CONA presented a plaque to retiring USF Dean Dr. William Heller in appreciation for his decade of leadership and service to our community.
> Helen Levine, (Advisor on School & Public Affairs for our city), solicited volunteers for the program "Mayors, Mentors, and More". She also described the city scholarship offerings to local students including the Bright Futures Program and the Doorway Scholarships.
> The presentation prepared by the Grand Central Business District was deferred until next month due to a computer display problem.
> Steve Plice, (Jungle Terrace), reported on the monthly CONA meetings with Police Chief Harmon. Recruiting remains a problem. All CONA members were urged to convey questions for the Chief to Jim Biggerstaff, (Disston Heights), who chairs our CONA Committee meeting with the Chief.
> Karl Nurse, (Old Southeast), spoke of his work with our Codes Revision Committee meeting with city staffers Mike Dove, Susan Ajoc, and Mark Winn. These discussions are continuing.
> Mike Dove, (Deputy Mayor), standing in for Susan Ajoc, announced the deadline for Neighborhood Partnership Grants will be 9/27/02. Grant application forms can be downloaded and submitted by e-mail.
* Susan is soliciting pledges of support for the proposed Neighborhood Block Party to be held at the Pier, which will coincide with the 100/300 year joint St. Petersburg birthday celebration.
* Mike announced the Public Forum regarding the new library to be held 7/18/02 at 7 PM in the St. Petersburg College Music Center.
* August 6th will see this year's National Night Out celebration by our Police Department at Woodlawn Park on Sixteenth Street.
* At 7 PM on August 14th there will be a presentation of our Area Master Bike Plan, in the USF Bayboro Student Activities Building.
> Brent reported on a meeting with Mike Connors, (City Engineering), that several major streets will be equipped with sidewalks in a city funded program to correct past deficiencies. Currently approved traffic plans may be delayed in implementation until 2004/2005.
> Our program then focused on our forum of school board candidates. They included: Richard L. Bennett, Linda Lerner, and Marc B. Wilson for District 2, Matthew P. Sullivan for District 4, Nancy Bostock and Moses D. Holmes, Jr. for District 5, Dr. Max R. Gessner, Mike Pachik and Mary L. Russell Candidates At Large. No other candidates were available to attend.
After his introduction, Brent Fisher explained the forum format of individual introductory presentations, questions from the floor, and individual closing remarks limited to two minutes. Brent encouraged all neighborhood associations to invite these candidates to address their local meetings.

Old Business:
* Mort Sherman, (Crossroads), urged and agreed to chair a CONA committee to track progress in resolution of our area water shortage problems.

New Business:
* Ingrid Comberg, (Asian FACE), was applauded as the Chairperson for our next CONA Leadership Program. She encouraged neighborhoods to invite spokesman Tom Killian to acquaint their residents with our program.
* Phillip Whysong, (North Kenwood), expressed concern about city relocation of some old residences that seemed to have been parked and abandoned without being set on a new foundation.
* The question of a blanket 501-C Tax Shelter for our member neighborhoods was raised. Though there is no blanket CONA can offer, Steve Plice, (Jungle Terrace), offered to help via their current incorporated status.
* Steve Plice observed that the city administration has taken no action to implement the recommendations that were published by the Vision 2020 Project initiated by CONA. He pointed out that the current city staff efforts to revise the building code should be preceded by an integration of the Vision 2020 conclusions with our city Comprehensive Plan.
* It was moved, (Plice/Comberg), CONA will urge that the Planning Commission schedule workshops to implement the findings of the Vision 2020 Project in revisions to the existing City Comprehensive Plan. [Approved]
* Amendment was proposed, (Frazer-Smith/Sherman), CONA will establish a standing Vision 2020 Committee to track progress in implementation of the findings of this project and to represent and report to CONA on all public forums and hearings related to this project. [Approved]
* Steve Plice provided additional background information about his neighborhood's struggles to voice their opposition to the closing of the Azalea Library. He urged our attendance at the Forum mentioned earlier.
* Brent Fisher offered some details of the city's plans for the Roberts Adult Community Center that were garnered from Susan Ajoc and Lee Metzger at the last Mayor's Breakfast for CONA leaders. A budget forum will be 8/24/02.
* Brent offered thanks and praise for Paula Engel our new Newsletter Editor.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.

Repectfully Submitted by:
Conrad Weiser, Secretary


QUOTE OF THE MONTH

?“To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun??” ---Katharine Graham


?“MAYORS, MENTORS & MORE?”:
A Partnership Program to Support our Education System by Gail Eggeman, Manager, Grants Administration, City of St. Petersburg

[Editor?’s Note: During July?’s CONA meeting, Helen Levine, Ph.D., Advisor on School & Public Affairs for the City, spoke about the Mayor?’s Mentoring Program in St. Petersburg. She discussed the benefits and needs of this very new and important effort to support the education system in our city. Each month we will provide additional information on this program.]

School has started. Our school kids need your help. One hour a week at a school. Pretty simple.

Mayor Rick Baker has already raised funds for more than 300 scholarships over three years for the Doorways Program offered by the Pinellas County Education Foundation to low-income students in the city. Now the big challenge is to find mentors for these new scholarship recipients. The Doorways Program requires students to maintain a C average, stay away from drugs, attend school, stay out of trouble and meet with a mentor weekly to keep their scholarship. The Mayor believes that it is the mentor that keeps the students in the program when the opportunity to stray is available.

Mayor Baker has issued a challenge to all of us to open our hearts and give our time, or money, to support this mentoring effort. He is so committed that he is establishing an Administrative Policy at the City of St. Petersburg encouraging city staff to mentor by allowing one hour of paid work time per week. He is also talking to businesses and encouraging them to establish this same type policy for their employees.

Currently, more than 150 employees at the City of St. Petersburg are mentors or tutors, including me. Please join your neighbors in the community working to make a difference in the lives of our young people and the future of our city by becoming a mentor. If you have any questions or want more information about mentoring, please contact me at mentoring@stpete.org or call the Mentoring Hotline 551-3180, or visit the city's Web site at www.stpete.org/mentoring for school information and an application.

Thank you.


"Mentoring provides a unique opportunity to change lives - a child?’s and your own. I encourage everyone to mentor. In this complex world, it is a simple way to make a difference."

Mayor Rick Baker, City of St. Petersburg


PARTNERSHIP NOTES:
Neighborhood Partnership Program of St. Petersburg

Guess What? Teens Care! Scrubbin' da 'Burg
Over 600 teens volunteered throughout the neighborhoods to clean up St. Petersburg on Tuesday, July 23. The teens represented the various summer camps, teen councils and TASCO. They painted, picked up trash, stacked books, cleared brush, planted and cleaned city facilities. The teens, ranging in ages from 12-16 years, hope to make Scrubbin' da 'Burg an annual event.

Looking for a Few Good Volunteers
FLUX, an Arts in Neighborhoods event, to be held at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Court on November 2, 2002, is looking for volunteers to help with this event. The event will be sponsored by First Night. This new event was highlighted in last month?’s CONA newsletter. To volunteer, please contact Terese Hilliard, with the Neighborhood Partnership Department, at 551-3249

Neighborhood Partnership Grant Deadline
The Neighborhood Partnership Grant applications are now available from the Neighborhood Partnership Department. You may call 892-5141 to receive a copy via U.S. mail or E-mail. All applications are due by Friday, September 27, 2002, by 5:00 p.m.

Susan P. Ajoc, AICP
Neighborhood Partnership Director

Neighborhood Partnership Program
City of St. Petersburg, P.O. Box 2842, St. Petersburg, FL 33731
(727) 892-5141 (phone) ?• (727) 892-5323 (fax) ?• (e-mail) spajoc@stpete.org


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

[This letter was received via E-Mail.]

Hello Paula and Neighbors! July 20, 2002

I am new to CONA and, although a proud 17-year resident of St. Petersburg, my CONA involvement is on behalf of quite a different St. Pete neighbor, Albert Whitted Airport. Although this might be a new perspective of the airport, the folks at Albert Whitted are as fiercely dedicated and loyal to our delightful city as any other neighborhood member!

Sometimes I think St. Pete is best appreciated, in its totality, from a birdseye view! From the sky, one can truly appreciate this city's beauty and diversity -- from the boats cruising the bay, the vast areas of trees, parkland, athletic fields and marinas, the historically beautiful architecture (residential and business), and, most importantly, the acres of open waterfront. Where else can residents enjoy such vistas? I hope others recognize the enormous historical significance and potential resources available to the city from Albert Whitted.

As the debate escalates regarding airport elimination and proposed development of that property, I would welcome opportunities to share relevant data on an on-going basis with CONA membership. It is only with informed members that sound decisions can be made. Please let me know how I might help. My E-Mail address is pbsdriftwood@aol.com.

Thank you!
Bill Steinberg


PARENTS, IT'S TIME TO CHOOSE A SCHOOL

Making a choice often is challenging, especially when it comes to our children. Parents want to be sure they make the right choice that will provide their children with the best opportunities available. That's what the Choice Plan is all about - giving choices to parents that will shape their child's educational years.

The Choice Plan, which begins in 2003-04, gives parents the chance to choose a school they believe best meets the needs of their child. The chance to choose is fast approaching. In fact, school choices must be made before the end of 2002.

For the Choice Plan's initial year, everyone (including students entering kindergarten or those who are new to the district) will have to choose, even if the choice simply is to have a student remain at the current school. If parents do not make a choice, their child will be assigned to a school with spaces remaining after all other students have been placed.

Schools are working hard to emphasize their uniqueness and initiate programs that will attract parents to choose them. Family Education and Information Centers will open to help parents with their selections. Community events will be held to acquaint parents with what each school has to offer. Considerable publicity about the Choice Plan is expected in the media as well as on the school system's television station, WPDS-Ch. 14.

Here are some important Choice Plan dates:

?• August 2002 - Parents of students in kindergarten through grade 11 will receive a letter in the mail called a Declaration of Intent. Completing the Declaration of Intent will give parents a convenient way to make a choice about their child's school for the 2003-04 school year. The deadline to respond to this letter is Oct. 1, 2002.

?• August-November 2002 - Discovery Nights (similar to open houses) will be held at schools.

?• September-December 2002 - School tours.

?• Oct. 5, 2002 - Magnet and High School Showcase, Crossroads Mall (formerly Bay Area Outlet Mall).

?• Sept. 16- Dec. 13, 2002 - Choice application period.

?• January 2003 - Parents notified of results of computer selection process (school assignment).

If you have questions or concerns, visit Pinellas County Schools' web site at www.pinellas.k12.fl.us or call the Family Education and Information Center nearest you. They are located at PTEC-St. Petersburg, 3420 Eighth Ave. S, 552-1595, and at Robinson Challenge, 1101 Marshall St., Clearwater, 298-2858.


PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE BUILDING CODE
(How many times must this bad idea be killed?)
by Steve Plice, Jungle Terrace

Early this year, the City Staff proposed changes to the building code that would make it substantially easier for the City to grant variances. Many of us were concerned that these changes would move the City in the wrong direction. We also felt that it is premature to change the way we administer the building code, because the entire code is currently being re-written. Before changing the administrative procedures, we need to see the contents of a newly revised code.

In June of this year, the City Staff presented the proposed changes to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission rejected the proposal for the same reasons described above. The Planning Commission told Staff these proposals should wait until after our VISION 2020 has been adopted and until after the building code has been re-written.

In defiance of instructions from the Planning Commission, the Staff has scheduled a Public Hearing on a modified version of the proposed changes for August 20, 2002. The Public Hearing will be with the Planning Commission, in Council Chambers, beginning at 4:00 PM.

As with the original proposal, there are substantial objections to the changes advocated by City Staff. One very interesting new change is to eliminate the residence requirement for Board of Adjustment members. Who thinks that non-residents should be making decisions that affect the quality of life in our City?

Other troubling changes include a huge expansion of the criteria for granting variances. For example, a developer would be ENTITLED to variances "if the proposed project involves the redevelopment or utilization of an existing developed or partially developed site." In plain English, this means that any property with any sort of structure on it would be entitled to a variance.

To make matters worse, the requirement to even ask for a variance is eliminated for properties that are currently out of compliance with the building code. The worst offenders would automatically have the more "property rights" than would similar properties that are more nearly in compliance with the code. These "rights" would be granted automatically and the property owner would not even need a variance to violate the requirements of the building code.

These proposals were a bad idea when they were proposed earlier this year. The Planning Commission rejected them when they were presented at a workshop last June. Now, the City Staff is attempting to move these rejected proposals forward in the approval process. What part of "NO" do they not understand?


NEIGHBORHOODS ENFORCING TRAFFIC SPEED (NETS):
A Pilot Program by Kyle Nelson,
Lakewood Estates Traffic Chairman

Neighborhoods Enforcing Traffic Speed (NETS) is a program designed to further utilize the traffic speed control resources that the City currently has in its possession. The program involves the use of the city?’s radar trailers, radar poles, CPOs, and sometimes, traffic patrol officers. NETS is designed to educate drivers and enforce neighborhood traffic speed.

A pilot program has been spearheaded by St. Petersburg CPO Richard Grimberg; Mike Frederick, Manager, Neighborhood Transportation, City of St. Petersburg; and me as the Lakewood Estates Traffic Chair.

The program works like this:

On Monday, a radar trailer is placed on a very high traffic volume or high traffic speed neighborhood street. These streets are determined numerically from the highest to the lowest based upon a Hazard Exposure Index (HEI) supplied by the City to the Police Department or the neighborhood traffic chairperson.

Through the CPO, and the coordinating support officer(s), during the peak hours of traffic flow on that neighborhood street, radar patrol will occur. This patrol may be done the same day as radar placement, or within a few days, based on officer availability. And, patrol may occur more than once, or even within the neighborhood or other troublesome streets, as traffic tries to avoid the knowingly signed and enforced road. CPOs can then report to their neighborhoods the results of their patrol in their newsletters.
Portable signage is being used stating ?“NETS Program in Place?” and
?“Entering Neighborhood Enforced Traffic Speed Area?”.

The program makes the trailers and poles more effective because they still advise vehicles of their speed, but encourage drivers to adhere to the posted speed limit for risk of ticketing.

NETS produces accountability to the neighborhoods, can help further driver education, and presents effective reminders to slow down. The program also will help to alleviate some stress on those neighborhood roads until funding becomes available for their approved traffic calming measures.

The Pilot Program Results
The pilot program targeted a south St. Petersburg neighborhood street that handles 1,600 vehicles per day. Volume during the pilot program was 160 vehicles per hour with 70% driving faster than the posted speed limit and 45% traveling at ticketable speeds. This street has a HEI of 64.

The results of the first pilot are as follows:

3:30 p.m. Sign placed at the intersection of Fairway Ave and Greenway Ave for northwest-bound traffic.
4:00 p.m. Traffic Enforcement Officer?’s movement to position.
4:42 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Ten tickets written for over $1,300 in Revenue.
9:00 p.m. NETS Sign installed below Speed Limit Sign about one block before Radar Unit.

Prior to sign for southeast-bound traffic being installed, ticketable speed dropped from 45% to 13.5% during the 5:00 -6:00 p.m. hour.

After placement of the southeast-bound sign, the average speed over 24 hours dropped by 4.07 m.p.h.

Between 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. on July 11
?“Ticketable Speed?” dropped to 9.67% of vehicles.

After enforcement, vehicles traveling in excess of 20+ m.p.h. over the speed limit during the next 24 hours dropped from 30 to 5.

In addition, enforcement only began at 41 m.p.h. in a posted 30 m.p.h. zone. Tickets could have been written at 40 m.p.h. Approximately five vehicles passed doing this speed.

Finally, the 85th percentile speed increased by .25 m.p.h. over the previous measurements. This shows that the number of vehicles
traveling at higher speeds on this neighborhood street has increased in the past two years. This supports the fact that funding for traffic calming measures or officer enforcement must increase to protect quality of life and safety on this road. Which is more cost-efficient over the next few years?

For more information about using this program in your neighborhood contact Mike Frederick, Manager, Neighborhood Transportation at 893-7843; your local neighborhood CPO; or the St. Petersburg Police Department at 893-7780.


NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT
Jungle Terrace Civic Association
by Steve Plice

The Jungle Terrace Neighborhood includes approximately 2,500 single family homes in the far northwest corner of the City. The neighborhood's western boundary is Boca Ciega Bay, and its northern boundary is the City Line (40th Ave. North in most places). The eastern boundary is 66th Street and the southern boundary is 22nd Ave. North. The Jungle Terrace Civic Association (JTCA) s one of the largest and oldest neighborhood associations in the City.

JTCA was organized in the early 1950's when area residents were concerned about the manner in which the conversion from septic tanks to a sanitary sewer system was being implemented. Since then, the association has been active in City and neighborhood affairs. JTCA was one of the founding members of CONA and through the years has actively worked to strengthen CONA and other neighborhood associations. Les Casper, JTCA President in the early 1990's, was a founder of the CONA Leadership program along with Rick Baker, Jon Clarke and Virginia Swanson. The association is fortunate in that many past presidents, dating back 20 years, remain active in neighborhood affairs. This gives the neighborhood association a strong sense of the evolution of the neighborhood movement and a cadre of experts.

The Jungle Terrace Neighborhood is predominately comprised of middle class homes that were built in the ?‘50s, ?‘60s and early ?‘70s. An eclectic mix of larger homes are scattered throughout the neighborhood and along the Boca Ciega shoreline. Although most of the growth occurred after WWII, there is a significant number of older homes in the neighborhood dating back to the early 1900's. The neighborhood describes its character as "jungle-like", featuring lush, mature vegetation reminiscent of Old Florida. Since the 1970s, the population has been static because the area is built out. According to the 2000 census, the neighborhood population actually declined during the 1990s. Most of the homes are very well-maintained and are continuously being improved and upgraded. Neighborhood surveys consistently indicate that residents like their neighborhood and wish to preserve it as it is.

Tyrone Square Mall is in the Jungle Terrace Neighborhood. The mall, as well as the vibrant business community along Tyrone Blvd, 22nd Ave. North, and 66th Street make Jungle Terrace one of the largest retail areas in the City. Some estimates indicate that 30% of the City's retail sales take place in the Tyrone Area. Proximity to high-quality shopping is seen as both an advantage and as a threat to a quiet, relaxed lifestyle. The success of the Tyrone area provides convenience but it also creates noise and traffic congestion.

In addition to retail, the Jungle Terrace Neighborhood also includes a large industrial park. Led by Raytheon, the industrial park is emerging as a center for high tech industry. High quality jobs and high quality shopping located within the neighborhood area is one reason residents consistently report that they are well satisfied with their neighborhood.

Resident satisfaction with the neighborhood is closely related to the area's amenities. The Pinellas Trail bisects the neighborhood. Walter Fuller Park and Abercrombie Park are prominent and important features that get a great deal of attention from JTCA.

?“Quality of life?” issues are, in the end, the things that matter for a neighborhood. If an area is a place where people want to live and raise their children, it is a successful neighborhood. With this in mind, Jungle Terrace has worked to a healthy environment for children and families. "Kid Central" has evolved in an area including the Science Center, the Azalea Middle School, the Walter Fuller Youth Center, the Walter Fuller Youth Sports activities, the Walter Fuller Pool and the Azalea Library. These facilities are intensely used by neighborhood children as well as children throughout the City and the County.

Jungle Terrace Civic Association members have recently participated in a three year effort to develop a Master Plan for Walter Fuller Park as well as a Neighborhood Plan. These plans provide a road map for future results expected to be even better than the current success.