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

Restoring Our Natural Environment

Jul 09, 2003

RESTORING OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT...COME AND LEARN
HOW---

Would you like to see more birds and butterflies in your yard? Would you like to spend less time and money on lawn care? The St. Petersburg Audubon Society can show you how! At our July meeting they will show us a slide program about the latest environmentally-friendly landscaping techniques including conserving water, improving the quality of storm water run-off, and enhancing habitats by planting for wildlife.

The Audubon Society will present this program at the July C.O.N.A. meeting, and they will be happy to present the program to any other neighborhood association?’s or clubs that are interested. Audubon Society members will even take neighborhood groups on bird walks in their own respective neighborhoods and tell them about the birds living there.

The scheduled speaker for this presentation is Barb Zias, St. Petersburg Audubon Society representative. She can be reached at 521-4997. Or if you would like, you can contact Bill Bilodeau at 322-9695 or visit the website: www.stpeteaudubon.org.

The CONA Meeting location for Wednesday, July 16th is:
The Sunshine Center
330 5th Street N.
St. Petersburg

Doors Open at 6:00 p.m.
Meeting Starts at 7:00 p.m.


PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Dear Neighbors,

This morning (Monday, July 7th)I read the St. Petersburg Times front page tragic story of the 20 cyclists hit by a car yesterday, July 6th. Hopefully, the Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan will help define routes and keep cyclists safe, but the bike clubs and bike packs are going to need to control their method of travel. The Master Plan can not be put into place soon enough.

If you haven?’t noticed -- Pinellas County is having budget problems. The administrator has cut jobs and is in a fight regarding unionizing. However, the average salary for non-management employees is $37,500 and with benefits it raises the average compensation package to almost $47,000! The Sheriff has requested an increase to pay his patrols more because it is getting harder to keep and recruit good officers. The City of Largo is looking to raise their property taxes 22% to provide for the services their residents want.

Mayor Baker has proposed a budget that is keeping the line on property taxes for our City but raising the fees for certain items ?– some services that we all use like water and sewer rates; others fees only for special interest groups with specific requests. We have seen an unanticipated increase in tax revenue this past year of over $2 million in increased property values. For those of you that bought homes ?– THANK YOU! For those of you that sold homes, you know that the effort that you have put into making St. Petersburg the desired City in Pinellas County, and that neighborhood involvement has been a major contributing factor to this. We have improved many areas of the City, but there is still more to work on. Keep up the good fight.

Speaking of fighting, last week I was called to attend a gathering at the Port of St. Petersburg. It wasn?’t my typical meeting as this was the beginning of the drug round-up for street-level dealers. The police are working to get the bigger members, but your calls and protests have been heard, and the Chief has said that the drug sweeps will continue. On another front, don?’t drive 100 M.P.H. around Chief Harmon or he will stop you! He?’ll have to borrow a patrolman?’s citation pad to write you a ticket, but he will ticket you. Maybe the Mayor can budget pads for the unmarked cars!

I have two other issues to address in this message. First, it is time for the Mayor to tell the Chief that he needs to move into the City and become a St. Petersburg resident. At the same time, it is time for the Chief to tell his commanding officers, that it is time for them to also become St. Petersburg residents. The Chief works at the pleasure of the Mayor, and the command officers work at the pleasure of the Chief. SO?…this would be a good start to showing why we are requesting patrol officers to live in the City. The Mayor has budgeted take-home patrol cars and a special non-payback loan for officers that move into the City and stay on the police force for a certain period of time. This should not be extended to command officers. They should do it because we pay their salary and benefits, and it shows that St. Petersburg is the City to live in in Pinellas County.

The second issue is the Albert Whitted Airport issue. I received an announcement last Friday that there are two upcoming presentations about the airport. The dates are Tuesday, July 15th and Wednesday, July 16th. This doesn?’t give us much time to get the word out to the neighborhoods, put I have posted this information on the CONA list.bot. I know that both the ?“park group?” and the airport supporters are calling for appointments to speak at different meetings. Please make room for them on your agenda. The park group needs to tell how it will be paid for and what the cost will be to maintain a 60-acre facility, as well as what will be done with the remainder of the airport property. The airport group needs to tell about the hangers on the waterfront and why they need to be in that location. They also need to tell about the 1,000 ft. extension that is proposed in the next 20 years to the EAST (into the bay). If the Mayor cannot get them the short extensions on the North side (next to the breakers), how do they expect to get 1,000 feet out into the bay as another finger? Will the airport supporters pay the extra cost for the upgrades? The original budget for the repairs ended up being short, and that is why all the improvements were not completed. If the main spokesman lived in the City that he keeps his plane in, it might help.

Just my thoughts. Looking forward to seeing you at the July 16th meeting.

Your neighbor, Brent


AGENDA

Pledge
Minutes
Treasurer?’s Report
Committee Reports
Codes
Neighborhood Partnership Office
Guest Speaker: Barb Zias
St. Petersburg Audubon Society
Old Business
New Business
Announcements


JUNE BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S MEETING MINUTES

The June C.O.N.A. meeting was held on June 18th, 2003, at The Sunshine Center, 330 5th Street North, St. Petersburg.

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

?¢ Brent called for additions or corrections to our May Minutes as published in our June CONA Newsletter. [None]
?¢ Libby Steele gave her Treasurer's Report listing a current balance of $3,257.00 and a deficit in the Leadership account of $78.00. She noted mailing expenses of $122.00. We were reminded that CONA pays $150.00 for our annual bulk mail privileges, which are available to our members who have a mailing of at least 200 items.
?¢ Susan Ajoc, (Neighborhood Partnership), reminded us of the September State Neighborhood Conference in Sarasota, (brochures in rear of meeting room), and of the continuing opportunity to buy discounted tickets for the Devil Rays vs. NY Yankees game.
?¢ St. Petersburg police Chief Chuck Harmon was introduced and given the floor. The Chief in turn introduced 10 of his staff that accompanied him.
> Chief Harmon read exerts from a new Police Statistics Report that will soon be presented to City Council and thereafter released to the press.
> He offered limited information about an ongoing task force that has temporarily preempted many of our Community Police Officers.
> We heard various aspects of the proposed purchase of assault rifles.
> The Chief then invited questions from our audience.
> Chief Harmon urged our members to press our legislators to approve the use of traffic cameras to record speeders and red-light runners.

Old Business:
> We were reminded of available brochures, (in rear), urging inclusion of messages about the Amber Alert System in our neighborhood newsletters.
> It was pointed out that the Police "TIPS Line" (892-5000) can also be accessed on the Internet: http://www.stpete.org/police/index.htm

New Business:
> Brent confirmed that the bi-monthly CONA meetings with the Police Chief would be supplanted by rotating neighborhood meetings in each of the 3 police districts.
> Several commentators spoke of the challenge of learning about moral problems among patrol officers. Virginia Littrell, (City Council), assured us that the police moral situation is improving and urged us to give the new chief more time to remedy department problems.
> Ingrid Comberg announced a Court Watch Training Seminar would be held in Sarasota on July 25th.
> Libby Steele reminded us to consider emergency arrangements for our family and our pets as this year's hurricane season approaches.
> Brent encouraged neighborhood representation at a Leisure Services Workshop, July 14th at 7 p.m. in the Wildwood Recreation Center at which the center lane landscaping project for lower 34th St. will be discussed.

Our meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Conrad Weiser, Secretary

[Your Secretary recorded 5 pages of notes at this meeting. Let me remind you that Robert's Parliamentary Rules dictate that Minutes should consist of a record of motions made and their disposition by the electorate, not the ensuing discussions. C.W.]


CONTINUED OPPORTUNITIES FOR MENTORING
by Gail Eggeman, C. P. A. Manager Grants and Education, Office of the Mayor, City of St. Petersburg

If you are looking for an hour a week volunteer job over the summer and understand computers, the Pinellas County Education Foundation in collaboration with Front Porch received a grant from Department of Education. It has been distinguished as the best of this type grant in the state. The grant provides for family literacy by hosting a Technology-Summer Camp for youth 7- 14 years old. A mentor is needed for one hour a week to work with a student at the Midtown Technology Center located at the NAACP of on 16th Street South.

Next year John Hopkins Middle School is looking for a Chess Club advisor to supervise and assist middle school students who come to school early to play chess with competition in mind. Chess Club meets at 9:00 am until school starts at 9:40.

To find out more about either of these opportunities please call me, Gail Eggeman at 892-5189,
FAX me at 893-7719 or E-Mail me at gail.eggeman@stpete.org.

My Mentoring Experience!
This was my second year of being a mentor for a Doorways scholar. We got off to a slow start, maybe because I?’m 50ish and female and he?’s 12 and male. It took me a while to give up being an adult with him and begin to think of him as a valued friend. When I did, he did. At the beginning of the this school year it was apparent in his face and greeting that he was glad to see me that first day back. I was thrilled. I had gone the whole year before wondering a little about how we were getting along.

School was out May 20. I met with my student May 13th for the last time this year. It?’s been a good year, a lot more conversation and sharing, even some ?“teachable moments?” on his part! I?’ll admit to a bit of relief at the end of the school year last year, but now I?’m disappointed the school year is over. I won?’t see him over the summer and I?’m really looking forward to August and that great smile. Mentoring is a lesson for me and a gift.

So join me: Mentor - give a gift, get a gift. Call 551-3180 or email mentoring@stpete.org for more information for next school year.

Transform the world, one life at a time. Please mentor.

Put Hope in a Child?’s Future
Sadly in the City of St. Petersburg we have several children who don?’t believe they have a future in the next century. Many children in St. Petersburg are surrounded by a life of drugs, crime and violence leaving them powerless when making choices about their future.

Pinellas County Schools has received a mentoring grant from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Safe and Drug-Free School that is targeting 51 schools that serve the students who live in the Midtown area of St. Petersburg. The 2001 St. Petersburg Police Uniform Crime Report was used to identify areas of the city with violent crimes two to three times higher than the city?’s average. Furthermore, the 51 schools in this project have 50-80% of their students receiving free and reduced lunch. These high crime and high poverty areas and the schools within are the target for this mentoring program.

The Office of Community Involvement is looking for individuals and businesses to become a part of Pinellas County Schools by donating an hour a week of their time to visit a school and mentor a child from grades 3-9. Many of the children in St. Petersburg lack the safety net and support systems needed in their lives to ensure their ability to benefit from educational opportunities. The time you spend with a child can help him or her see that there are opportunities to have a future, finish school, go to college and be productive voting member of this city.

Research by Big Brothers and Big Sisters showed that children with one caring adult in addition to their parents were:
?· 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
?· 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
?· 53% less likely to skip school
?· 33% less likely to engage in violence

Furthermore, St. Petersburg will benefit by seeing lower crime rates, higher graduation rates, increased qualified workforce and more tax payers.

If you are interested in supporting the children of St. Petersburg or would like more information about the Mentoring Grant, you may contact Cathy Heverly, Project Grant Coordinator with the Office of Community Involvement for Pinellas County Schools at 893-2308.

THE MOST IMPORTANT HOUR OF YOUR WEEK MIGHT BE THE ONE YOU GIVE AWAY!


QUOTE OF THE MONTH
?“We cannot go forward unless everybody moves forward. We can?’t believe in the next century until every child believes he or she has a future in the next century. We will either work to build our children, or we can continue to build more jails. We must build our nation?’s youth.?”?…..Colin Powell


Attend the 7th Annual Florida Neighborhoods Conference 2003:
Hyatt on Sarasota Bay Resort and Conference Center, September 11-13

Go to Participate, Learn, & Have Fun!
The City of Sarasota and the Sarasota neighborhoods are excited and proud to host this year?’s neighborhoods conference in September 2003. It will be held Hyatt on Sarasota Bay Resort and Conference Center.

Again this year we are fortunate to have the annual conference held so close by. C.O.N.A. and the City of St. Petersburg would like to show support with by our participation, so please try to represent St. Petersburg and attend.

As a participant you will be able to choose from 40 informative and helpful workshops on the regular track, or the register for the ?“Professional Track Workshops?”. You?’ll have the opportunity to network and share experiences with other Florida neighbors, explore Sarasota, and meet Sarasota?’s elected officials. There is time for relaxation on Thursday and Friday evenings at conference-sponsored events. And on Friday and Saturday, you can choose from one of 26 mobile city tours followed by a wrap-up luncheon and keynote address Saturday at 12:15 p.m.

Conference Registration booklets are available from our Neighborhood Partnership Office or online at www.fnc.sarasotagov.com.

Conference Registration
Register prior to August 1 to receive regular registration conference rates. The pre-registration rate for the entire 2-day conference is $35. If you include tours, advance registration is $40 (for 1 tour), $50 (with 2 tours), and $60 (with 3 tours).

Registration rates are higher if you register AFTER August 1.
The on-site registration rate is $90 (includes workshops for both days plus the Saturday morning mobile tour w/ a continental breakfast). Pre-registration rates are $20 per day, $45 on-site; or $35 for both days before 8/1 and $75 on-site; mobile tour only $5 before 81/; $15 on-site. Registration fees are not refundable.

Hotel Registration
The Hyatt on Sarasota Bay is the official conference hotel site. Room rates range from $109 for a standard room to $318 for a 2-bedroom suite. Call the Hyatt directly to reserve your room. The Hyatt?’s phone number is (941) 953-1234; the fax is (941) 952-1988.

Workshops & Events Offered at the Florida Neighborhoods Conference

Go and Learn! Here is a list of the workshops and events being offered at the 7th Annual Florida Neighborhoods Conference, September 11-13 in Sarasota.

Workshops-at-a-Glance

Track A Topics ?– Building a Better Place
Asset Mapping: Building Communities Through Strengths
Combating N.I.M.B.Y. Paranoia
Partnerships in Preservation: Bring Outsiders in to Help
Promises and Pitfalls of Mixed-Use Zoning

Track B Topics ?– How Others Di it
Citizen Corps: Is Your Neighborhood Emergency Prepared?
Community Policing
Connecting Neighborhoods through Greenways & Pathways
Hosting the Florida Neighborhoods Conference
Learning to Lead, Follow and Get Along
Peer to Peer Code Enforcement
Residential Rental Property Ordinances
Sarasota Police Volunteer Program ?– Making a Difference in a Neighborhood
Successful Housing Rehabilitation Programs
The ?“How to?” of Celebrating Neighborhoods
Traffic Calming: Taming the Wiley Road Beasts
Visual Blight: Neighbors Set the Rules
Creating Groovy Public, Community & Neighborhood Art

Track C Topics ?– Organizing & Maintaining Associations
Association Membership (Sustainability)
Getting Government?’s Attention ?– When You Really Need It
Getting the Word Out on Your Neighborhood
Negotiation Power & Influence
Now That We Have the Money ?– The Basics of Grant Management
Read All About It: The Value of Neighborhood Newsletters
Resolving Conflicts and Building Consensus in Your Neighborhoods
Succeeding as an Association
The Click of a Mouse ?– A Powerful Tool ?– Neighborhood Websites
Under the Umbrella ?– Associations Coming Together as One
Using Fines to Pay for Neighborhood Programs
Volunteers: The Lifeblood of Your Association

Track D - Working With Others
Cultural Diversity ?– Overcoming the Language Barrier
Faith Communities and Neighborhood Change
Neighbors Helping Neighbors ?– Assisting Those in Need
Youth Initiatives for Neighborhoods

Track P ?– Workshops for the Professionals*
Bringing Laughter into the Workplace
Stress in the Real World
Communication in the Workplace
Leadership with Ballet Warraba
Survival Guide for Neighborhood Work
The Nuts & Bolts of Keeping the Neighborhood in Neighborhood Services

*You must register separately for these sessions.

Tour Descriptions
You will have the chance to choose from 26 different Sarasota tours being offered Friday morning, Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. From history and architecture to southwest Florida?’s natural beauty to exclusive shops, galleries boutiques and restaurants, to Sarasota?’s varied neighborhoods ?– there are tours for walking, riding or boating opportunities!

Conference Schedule-at-a-Glance

Thursday, September 11
Noon - 6 p.m. Exhibitor Set-Up
3 p.m. Hotel Check-In
4 p.m. ?– 8 p.m. Conference Registration
6 p.m. ?– 9 p.m. Social Event at G. Wiz Interactive Science Center

Friday, September 12
7 p.m. - 3 p.m. Registration Open
8 a.m. ?– 6:30 p.m. Exhibits Open
8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Continental Breakfast in Paradise!
9 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Mobile Workshops/Tours
Professional Track Workshop I
9 a.m. ?– 10:15 p.m. Workshop Session I
10:30 ?– 11:45 p.m. Workshop Sesson II
Noon ?– 2:00 p.m. Luncheon: Keynote Address
2:15 ?– 5:00 p.m. Mobile Workshops/Tours
Professional Track Workshop II
2:15 ?– 5:00 p.m. Workshop Session III
3:45 ?– 5:00 p.m. Workshop Session IV
6 p.m. ?– 9:00 p.m. Sarasota Friday Fest on
Sarasota Bay
6:30 p.m Ballet Warraba Performance, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Saturday, September 13
7 a.m. - 9 a.m. Registration
7 a.m. - Noon Exhibits Open
8 a.m. ?– 9 a.m. Continental Breakfast
9 a.m. - Noon Workshop Session V
10:30 ?– 11:45 p.m. Worskhop Session VI
Noon Hotel Check-out
12:15 p.m. ?– 2 p.m. Awards Luncheon: Keynote Address


PARTNERSHIP NOTES
Neighborhood Partnership Program of St. Petersburg

Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. New York Yankees
Send in your ticket reservations and payments to the Neighborhood
Partnership Department by September 1, 2003. This will allow
sufficient time to get the tickets back to the neighborhoods before the
September 20th game. Tickets are $5.00 each and are located in the
upper deck behind home plate.

7th Annual Florida Neighborhoods Conference
Deadline for early registration to the Florida Neighborhoods Conference
in Sarasota is August 1st. The full registration fee for the conference
(2 days with one tour) increases from $40 to $90 after August 1st. (See article in this newsletter for more details.) Contact the Neighborhood Partnership Department for a booklet or visitwww.fnc.sarasotagov.com.

Neighborhood Partnership Temporary Offices
The city's Neighborhood Partnership Office has relocated from the 2nd Floor of the City Hall Annex Building to the 3rd Floor of City Hall, 175 Fifth St. N. The City Hall Annex (a historic building built by Edwin H. Tomlinson in 1902 as the Domestic Science and Manual Training School) is undergoing renovations. Please check in at the City Hall security desk for a visitor's badge before proceeding to the 3rd Floor to check in with Sharon Cimarik. All staff
phone numbers and E-mail addresses remain the same.

Water Resources Citizens Academy
Who: Citizens of St. Petersburg
What: Increase citizens' awareness and understanding of the services
provided by the Water Resources Department through education regarding
the operations, policies and procedures of the department and the
development of contacts with department staff. The Academy is designed
to promote community involvement and building community support along
with fostering a positive work environment through development of
positive relationships with citizens.
How: Obtain your application from the Neighborhood Partnership (Sharon
Cimarik at 892-5141) or Water Resources (Stacie Lehmann at 893-7261)
Departments.


Neighborhood Partnership Grants ?– F/Y 04
Applications will be available by mid-July from the Neighborhood
Partnership Department. For more information, contact Susan Ajoc,
Neighborhood Partnership Director, at 892-5141 or nghdpart@stpete.org.
Please contact Sharon Cimarik to schedule an appointment with her to
discuss your potential grant application. It is highly recommended that
you meet with her prior to submitting an application.

There have some changes to the grant application. A workshop will be
scheduled for bonus points. Also, if you have not completed previously
awarded grants (e.g. submitted your final reports) by the application
deadline and/or have not maintained previous grant projects as specified
in the contracts, you will be penalized during the upcoming grant
round.

Neighborhood Partnership Grant Deadline: September 5, 2003, at 5:00 p.m.
Neighborhood Partnership Department, City Hall, (175 5th Street North), 3rd Floor.


DEAR FELLOW FLORIDIANS AND CONA MEMBERS,

As you know, for the past year-and-a-half I have been attempting to promote the implementation of an active, operational Amber Plan in the Tampa Bay area. In the pursuance of this endeavor, I have spoken to many groups, all of whom agree this plan should be in place before it is needed. I have been informed that the Governor will be in Sarasota in the near future. Due to this scheduled visit, it was suggested that this would be an excellent time to make contact with the Governor and let him know we, the citizens of the Tampa Bay area, care and want the Amber Plan in place.

So to accomplish this, I am asking you, one and all, to contact the Governor by one of the means outlined below in which you should inform him that:

1. You know how a real Amber Alert operates.
2. You have seen my presentation (or by what other means you have heard of the Amber plan).
3. You have never heard an Official Amber Alert issued by one of our local radio or TV stations (of course, unless you have, which is doubtful due to the fact that the stations I?’ve questioned have never broadcasted an actual alert issued by a police department or other local agency).
4. You urge him to work with us in the Tampa Bay Area to create a real, working plan before it is needed or before it's too late.
5. Last but not least, you feel, as do most law enforcement personal, the presence of a fully functional plan will serve as a deterrent to child abduction in the future.

Letters should be addressed to:

Governor Bush, Office of the Governor, The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001

The Governor?’s web-site is: jeb.bush@myflorida.com; fax # is: 850/487-0801

As I am sure you know, you need not write a long, detailed letter. All that is necessary are the above-mentioned facts and your name and mailing address to prove you are a resident of Florida.

I also would like to mention, if the postage or the cost to fax (or inability to fax) is a problem, if you forward your notes or letters to me, I would be more than happy to send them to the Governor at my expense. Also, if at all possible, please contact me to advise if you sent a correspondence, so I may track the response (which will be helpful in my dealing with the Governor's office in the future).

I again wish to thank you for you assistance and loyalty. As always if you should have any questions, comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me via the following:
phone 727/345-7000, fax 727/345-4881, email rrmediates@aol.com.

Thanks for all your support!

Ron Russell, Jungle Terrace Civic Association

____________________________________________________________________________
HELP Governor Bush and the next abducted child. Help us create and support a real, working Amber Alert System in the Tampa Bay area. For more info, or to volunteer, call Captain Ron Russell at 345-7000 or E-Mail him at rrmediates@aol.com. We need your support!
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