Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
BURGESS ROAD MEETING COMING UP
This is my cat Precious in her box. She loves curling up and sleeping in her secured little box. Don't ask me why. I would image she would say, "I feel safe here". And, is that how we would like life to be for us, in our homes, our neighborhoods, at work and at play. So what does Precious in her box have to do with Burgress Rd. Will, nothing accept it is not safe. To walk down East Burgest Rord from Davis Highway to Lanier is scary. There are no save areas to walk along Burress Rd. Many wrecks occur at the intersection of Burgess Rd. and Sanders. There have been attempts by the City and County to address the dangerous situation in this older community. As I campaigned throughout the Burgess Road area, many residents complained about the speed of cars driving down Burgess Rd., and the lack of sidewalks. There are many school children who walk down Burgess, Sanders St., and Lanier Street to get to Holmes Elementary. Parents worry about their children walking these dangerous streets. I made a campagin promise to make Burgress Road improvements a top priority.
MEETING WITH THE MAYOR
To: Mayor Ashton Hayward
Fr: City Councilwoman Sherri Myers, District 2
Dt: February 17, 2011
1. Pensacola’s primary business area.
a. Plant trees along 9th Ave from Bayou Blvd to Dunmire Wood.
b. Plant trees along Creighton Rd that are within the City limits and work with County to plant trees in that portion of Creighton Rd. that is in the County.
c. At the entrance to 9th Ave at Olive Rd there is a median strip that is large enough to plant trees and install a sign that says “Welcome to Pensacola” . This could be the northern entrance to the City that could be beautified.
2. Neighborhoods:
a. Eau Claire is a neighborhood that is blessed with sidewalks and large right of ways. There are few trees in this community. It is a great neighborhood for planting trees and would greatly enhance the environment and property values of this community.
b. Survey the parks in District 2 to determine which parks need trees. Parker Circle Park is in need of additional trees as several trees that were planted are dying. Springdale Park on Brent Lane is badly in need of trees and erosion control.
3. Erosion Control. The City owns a number of retaining ponds that are creating serious pollution problems for Carpenter Creek. Appoint someone from public works and other appropriate agencies to meet with me to survey these ponds and either plant grass, indigenous shrubs or trees to control the erosion, or a combination of all.
1. Burgess Rd. from Lanier to Davis Hwy. Part of this road is in the County. I have met with both County Commissioner Grover Robinson and Larry Newsom the transportation director for the county, regarding Burgess Rd. This road is highly dangerous and the stormwater system has deteriorated to the point of being dysfunctional. The county has agreed to put sidewalks on the portion of Burgess that is in the county. Larry Newsom has agreed to discuss working with the city in making improvements to Burgess Rd. from Sanders Street to Davis Hwy. I will be organizing a neighborhood meeting with Commissioner Robinson, Larry Newsom and the City to discuss Burgess Rd improvements. At the same time we will discuss a joint venture with the county to install sidewalks on Sander’s Street. We may be able to obtain federal funds for a “safe walk to school” program for Sanders.
URGENT: There are many wrecks at the corner of Burgess and Sanders. The traffic calming efforts by the city and county have not worked. This issue needs addressed immediately. Mr. Garza is familiar with this problem. I will ask the county for a traffic incident report for the past two years. I have already spoken to Larry Newsom and Commissioner Robinson; this needs to be coordinated with the city.Please assign a staff persons to work on this issue.
My understanding from discussing Lanier Street with Larry Neusom is the county is installing sidewalks along Lanier from Creighton Rd to Langley. These improvements will greatly benefit the residents of my district my providing us with safe sidewalks. I believe the County has a grant from the federal government because Lanier is close to Holmes Elementary School.
2. Traffic Calming:
a. The intersection at Sanders and Burgess Rd., has many wrecks. Part of the intersection is in the county and part of it is in the City. This requires the City to contact Larry Newsom to address this intersection. I have already discussed this matter with him and Al Garza some months ago.
b. Eue Clair: This community has a serious traffic problem that is the result of traffic cutting through from Olive Road to 9th Ave. The community wants the traffic to slow down and re-routed if possible. I have spoken to Commissioner Robinson regarding this matter, as it will involve the County’s participation to address the traffic calming issues. Please assign a city staff person to work with me on this issue.
c. Tippin and Dunmire Woods are used for a cut through from 9th Ave to Creighton. These two streets need traffic calming. Please assign a staff persons to work with me on this project.
d. CREIGHTON RD: This monster street is used by many residents of District 2. There are residents and many small businesses on this street. This street needs traffic calming with lights that will slow the traffic and allow for safe crossing. At this time, Creighton Rd is not crossable. To calm traffic on Creighton will have to be a co-operative effort between the City, County and FDOT. Please assign a staff person to work on this issue with me.
e. Sanders St: See above
The parks in District 2 are some of the most neglected parks in the city. Not one park has ADA accessible play equipment for children with disabilities. Most of the elements in the majority of the District 2 parks are inaccessible to people with mobility impairments. (There were some modifications to the playground at Parker Circle) All parks must be brought up to ADA. I have already surveyed these parks last year with City staff regarding the ADA. No improvements have been made.
1. Pine Glades Park: This park has a very active neighborhood association that has met with David Flarhety and me to discuss improvements to the park. This park is not accessible for persons who use wheelchairs or walkers. It must have a curb cut and sidewalk going to all elements of the park. All elements include the covered picnic area, playgrounds and benches. The neighborhood association will continue to work with David Flaherty to make improvements, but the ADA improvements are not an option.
2. Tippin Park: This park is located in a mixed use neighborhood which includes businesses, single family residences and a church. This park is probably used by more people than any park in District 2 and has a lot of visibility because it is located at the intersection of Tippin Ave and John Carrol. Three years ago (or longer) I met with John Ewing from Parks and Recreation regarding the need for ADA improvements. NOT ONE ADA IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN MADE. THERE ISN’T ONE ELEMENT IN THIS PARK THAT IS ACCESSIBLE. The ADA improvements have to be accomplished soon. Twenty years is long enough. This park also needs new equipment, benches, and water fountain that works. This park has beautiful heritage oaks and residents have expressed a desire to have a covered picnic area under the oaks. I have been working with a neighborhood association that wants improvements and may submit a grant application. I plan to explore the possibilities of trying to get businesses in District 2 to adopt this park for some improvements. I would like to see the sand removed from this entire park and engineered wood fibers installed with ramps that will allow kids to get to the playground. Please assign a staff person to meet with me to discuss the improvements needed for this park. This park has serious flooding problems that need to be addressed.
3. Springdale Park: This is a large park in a very old neighborhood located on Brent Lane. It does not have accessible playground equipment. It does have an accessible covered picnic area. It has a serious erosion problem on the east side. It appears that the City is planting trees. However, the erosion problem cannot be solved with just trees. Grass planting and watering of the grass will be necessary. Furthermore, this park is very dark. There was a flood light there at one time. It has not worked in four years. This park needs lights. Please assign a staff person to work with me on this project.
4. Parker Circle Park: This park has a very active neighborhood association. There still needs to be trees planted in the park on the south side. There is a need to take down what is left of the basketball goals. The community does not want the basketball goals in the neighborhood. They may want a covered picnic area on the slap. The community would like an assess route from the neighborhood to the Bryan Park Library. The water fountain needs to be turned back on. It is a new fountain. The city turned it off during the winter last year and never turned the water back on. The community went all summer without its water fountain.
5. Dunmire Woods Park: This is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Pensacola with many large heritage trees. However, the park has been neglected. The City put in a new sidewalk, but without a curb cut. Both entrances in the park need handicap accessibility. The west side of the park needs a handicap parking space that conforms to the Florida Building Code. There are no ADA accessible elements in the park. This needs to be correct. There is little playground equipment. There needs to be lights along the sidewalk in this park as there are many trees and dense vegetation that keep the park very dark at night. Please assign a staff persons to work on this park with me. I was promised curb cuts and ADA improvements last February 2010. None thing has been forth coming.
6. Fairchild Park: this large park has been neglected for years. There are no ADA accessible elements to this park. There is probably no way a person in a wheelchair or walker could get to the playground equipment because of the distance from the parking lot to the equipment. This park needs a lot of attention, including handicap parking. The playground needs to be moved closer to the north end of the park to improve accessibility.
7. Camelot Park: This community has a park that is actually a beautiful green space with walking trails through the woods. It has does not have any playground equipment for children. This community park is going to be greatly impacted by the expansion of I-10 to six lanes. These beautiful woods are threatened with destruction as FDOT wants to use the property for its expansion. I need to have an update from Al Coby, David Flaherty and the FDOT regarding the fate of this park and neighborhood. I need to have a neighborhood meeting soon to update the residents as to the plans to mitigate the impact of this highway project on their neighborhood and park.
8. Bryant Park: This park is new and is located behind the Tryon Library. This should have been a park with a lot of accessible features for children with disabilities. It will be minimally accessible at best. At present there is equipment for children to play, but NOT ONE ELEMENT IS ACCESSIBLE PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADA FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
District 2 is buzzing with commercial activity, however the City has made no efforts to promote this area and the neighborhoods surrounding it, some of which are in a serious state of decline. The City should be promoting Uptown much like the efforts to promote Uptown Fort Worth. Our Comprehensive Plan calls for creating a connectively between Uptown and Downtown. I would like to facilitate a meeting with stakeholders from Uptown, including our businesses, neighborhoods and workforce representatives to discuss a strategy for improving the image, sidewalks, streetscaping and transportation in the Uptown business community and neighborhoods. Please assign a staff person to work on this project with me.
Fr: City Councilwoman Sherri Myers, District 2
Dt: February 17, 2011
District 2 Projects for 2011
I
I
Reforestation and Beautification
Return funds to District 2 from clear cutting and removing trees.
Areas to consider:
1. Pensacola’s primary business area.
a. Plant trees along 9th Ave from Bayou Blvd to Dunmire Wood.
b. Plant trees along Creighton Rd that are within the City limits and work with County to plant trees in that portion of Creighton Rd. that is in the County.
c. At the entrance to 9th Ave at Olive Rd there is a median strip that is large enough to plant trees and install a sign that says “Welcome to Pensacola” . This could be the northern entrance to the City that could be beautified.
2. Neighborhoods:
a. Eau Claire is a neighborhood that is blessed with sidewalks and large right of ways. There are few trees in this community. It is a great neighborhood for planting trees and would greatly enhance the environment and property values of this community.
b. Survey the parks in District 2 to determine which parks need trees. Parker Circle Park is in need of additional trees as several trees that were planted are dying. Springdale Park on Brent Lane is badly in need of trees and erosion control.
3. Erosion Control. The City owns a number of retaining ponds that are creating serious pollution problems for Carpenter Creek. Appoint someone from public works and other appropriate agencies to meet with me to survey these ponds and either plant grass, indigenous shrubs or trees to control the erosion, or a combination of all.
II
STREET IMPROVEMENTS
1. Burgess Rd. from Lanier to Davis Hwy. Part of this road is in the County. I have met with both County Commissioner Grover Robinson and Larry Newsom the transportation director for the county, regarding Burgess Rd. This road is highly dangerous and the stormwater system has deteriorated to the point of being dysfunctional. The county has agreed to put sidewalks on the portion of Burgess that is in the county. Larry Newsom has agreed to discuss working with the city in making improvements to Burgess Rd. from Sanders Street to Davis Hwy. I will be organizing a neighborhood meeting with Commissioner Robinson, Larry Newsom and the City to discuss Burgess Rd improvements. At the same time we will discuss a joint venture with the county to install sidewalks on Sander’s Street. We may be able to obtain federal funds for a “safe walk to school” program for Sanders.
URGENT: There are many wrecks at the corner of Burgess and Sanders. The traffic calming efforts by the city and county have not worked. This issue needs addressed immediately. Mr. Garza is familiar with this problem. I will ask the county for a traffic incident report for the past two years. I have already spoken to Larry Newsom and Commissioner Robinson; this needs to be coordinated with the city.Please assign a staff persons to work on this issue.
My understanding from discussing Lanier Street with Larry Neusom is the county is installing sidewalks along Lanier from Creighton Rd to Langley. These improvements will greatly benefit the residents of my district my providing us with safe sidewalks. I believe the County has a grant from the federal government because Lanier is close to Holmes Elementary School.
2. Traffic Calming:
a. The intersection at Sanders and Burgess Rd., has many wrecks. Part of the intersection is in the county and part of it is in the City. This requires the City to contact Larry Newsom to address this intersection. I have already discussed this matter with him and Al Garza some months ago.
b. Eue Clair: This community has a serious traffic problem that is the result of traffic cutting through from Olive Road to 9th Ave. The community wants the traffic to slow down and re-routed if possible. I have spoken to Commissioner Robinson regarding this matter, as it will involve the County’s participation to address the traffic calming issues. Please assign a city staff person to work with me on this issue.
c. Tippin and Dunmire Woods are used for a cut through from 9th Ave to Creighton. These two streets need traffic calming. Please assign a staff persons to work with me on this project.
d. CREIGHTON RD: This monster street is used by many residents of District 2. There are residents and many small businesses on this street. This street needs traffic calming with lights that will slow the traffic and allow for safe crossing. At this time, Creighton Rd is not crossable. To calm traffic on Creighton will have to be a co-operative effort between the City, County and FDOT. Please assign a staff person to work on this issue with me.
e. Sanders St: See above
III
Park Maintenance, Beautification and ADA
1. Pine Glades Park: This park has a very active neighborhood association that has met with David Flarhety and me to discuss improvements to the park. This park is not accessible for persons who use wheelchairs or walkers. It must have a curb cut and sidewalk going to all elements of the park. All elements include the covered picnic area, playgrounds and benches. The neighborhood association will continue to work with David Flaherty to make improvements, but the ADA improvements are not an option.
2. Tippin Park: This park is located in a mixed use neighborhood which includes businesses, single family residences and a church. This park is probably used by more people than any park in District 2 and has a lot of visibility because it is located at the intersection of Tippin Ave and John Carrol. Three years ago (or longer) I met with John Ewing from Parks and Recreation regarding the need for ADA improvements. NOT ONE ADA IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN MADE. THERE ISN’T ONE ELEMENT IN THIS PARK THAT IS ACCESSIBLE. The ADA improvements have to be accomplished soon. Twenty years is long enough. This park also needs new equipment, benches, and water fountain that works. This park has beautiful heritage oaks and residents have expressed a desire to have a covered picnic area under the oaks. I have been working with a neighborhood association that wants improvements and may submit a grant application. I plan to explore the possibilities of trying to get businesses in District 2 to adopt this park for some improvements. I would like to see the sand removed from this entire park and engineered wood fibers installed with ramps that will allow kids to get to the playground. Please assign a staff person to meet with me to discuss the improvements needed for this park. This park has serious flooding problems that need to be addressed.
3. Springdale Park: This is a large park in a very old neighborhood located on Brent Lane. It does not have accessible playground equipment. It does have an accessible covered picnic area. It has a serious erosion problem on the east side. It appears that the City is planting trees. However, the erosion problem cannot be solved with just trees. Grass planting and watering of the grass will be necessary. Furthermore, this park is very dark. There was a flood light there at one time. It has not worked in four years. This park needs lights. Please assign a staff person to work with me on this project.
4. Parker Circle Park: This park has a very active neighborhood association. There still needs to be trees planted in the park on the south side. There is a need to take down what is left of the basketball goals. The community does not want the basketball goals in the neighborhood. They may want a covered picnic area on the slap. The community would like an assess route from the neighborhood to the Bryan Park Library. The water fountain needs to be turned back on. It is a new fountain. The city turned it off during the winter last year and never turned the water back on. The community went all summer without its water fountain.
5. Dunmire Woods Park: This is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Pensacola with many large heritage trees. However, the park has been neglected. The City put in a new sidewalk, but without a curb cut. Both entrances in the park need handicap accessibility. The west side of the park needs a handicap parking space that conforms to the Florida Building Code. There are no ADA accessible elements in the park. This needs to be correct. There is little playground equipment. There needs to be lights along the sidewalk in this park as there are many trees and dense vegetation that keep the park very dark at night. Please assign a staff persons to work on this park with me. I was promised curb cuts and ADA improvements last February 2010. None thing has been forth coming.
6. Fairchild Park: this large park has been neglected for years. There are no ADA accessible elements to this park. There is probably no way a person in a wheelchair or walker could get to the playground equipment because of the distance from the parking lot to the equipment. This park needs a lot of attention, including handicap parking. The playground needs to be moved closer to the north end of the park to improve accessibility.
7. Camelot Park: This community has a park that is actually a beautiful green space with walking trails through the woods. It has does not have any playground equipment for children. This community park is going to be greatly impacted by the expansion of I-10 to six lanes. These beautiful woods are threatened with destruction as FDOT wants to use the property for its expansion. I need to have an update from Al Coby, David Flaherty and the FDOT regarding the fate of this park and neighborhood. I need to have a neighborhood meeting soon to update the residents as to the plans to mitigate the impact of this highway project on their neighborhood and park.
8. Bryant Park: This park is new and is located behind the Tryon Library. This should have been a park with a lot of accessible features for children with disabilities. It will be minimally accessible at best. At present there is equipment for children to play, but NOT ONE ELEMENT IS ACCESSIBLE PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADA FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
IV.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
District 2 is buzzing with commercial activity, however the City has made no efforts to promote this area and the neighborhoods surrounding it, some of which are in a serious state of decline. The City should be promoting Uptown much like the efforts to promote Uptown Fort Worth. Our Comprehensive Plan calls for creating a connectively between Uptown and Downtown. I would like to facilitate a meeting with stakeholders from Uptown, including our businesses, neighborhoods and workforce representatives to discuss a strategy for improving the image, sidewalks, streetscaping and transportation in the Uptown business community and neighborhoods. Please assign a staff person to work on this project with me.
ADA COMPLIANCE
The City of Pensacola does not have a transition plan as required to bring its facilities into compliance with the ADA. The Parks and Recreation conducted a survey of the parks a few years ago, however as far as I know a plan to correct barriers to access was not developed. Please appoint a staff person to work with me on access all of the City’s parks and facilities in District 2 for the purpose of developing a plan to bring them into compliance with the ADA.
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