Argyle Area Civic Council

Minutes of the January 18, 2010 AACC Meeting at Denny's Restaurant

MINUTES OF THE ARGYLE AREA CIVIC COUNCIL
Held on Monday, Jan 20, 2010 at 7:30 P.M.
Denny's Restaurant, 8409 Blanding Boulevard
Jacksonville, Florida 32244

PRESENT: Tom Martin, Bill Lewis, 2010 president, Tom Dumas, 2010 V. pres, Allen Durant, Treasurer, Jim Kelly, secretary, Clay County Commissioner Dist 2. Doug Conkey, Marie Splane

1. The meeting was Called to Order at 7:41 p.m.

2. Approval of Aug minutes.

Minutes approved

3. Acknowledge visiting representatives

Clay County Commissioner District 2 Doug Conkey addressed the AACC about issues affecting Clay County.

Clay County Commissioner Doug Conkey is invited to make remarks;

A. Commissioner Report’s cold weather delay in opening railroad crossing on Kingsley Ave in Orange Park; although work is continuing slowly, it could be another week until the track work is complete.

B. Conkey declares shoulder widening on Branan Field Road is “awesome and completed,” making the stretch of Clay County connector much safer and more pleasant to drive.”

C. Conkey reports widening of Blanding Blvd. from Old Jennings Road to CR220 is on time.

D. A new dedicated right turn lane from Kingsley onto U.S. 17 (Park Ave) is to start planning soon.

E. Clay County Rd. 209 is being widened because bids are now lower for road repairs. Six miles added by Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) as a result of extra monies available.

F. Clay County Doctor’s Lake Drive and a double on ramp from U.S. 17 onto I-295 may be added by TPO soon.

G. The economic Stimulus financed Oakleaf overpass from East to West Oakleaf is underway; should be completed by end of 2010. (Safety of children attending four Clay County schools is the reason for the overpass connection.)

H. Clay County contributed “significant” money to drive improvements to Cheswick Oaks Blvd at Argyle Forest intersection. Conkey will report back as specific improvements to turn lanes at that intersection are decided.

B. Kay Siebert interjects that David Hodge’s proposal to straighten out the intersections of Collins Road and Cheswick Oaks with each other by following the now abandoned Clay County Power lines right of way crossing Argyle at Collins only would have made better sense.

Conkey responds that ideas like this one are strongly encouraged by government officials in today’s lacking economy.

I. Conkey reiterates cost savings enjoyed by slow economy; he estimates an extra 87 million was added because money was there after lower-than-anticipated savings came from bids submitted. Still Conkey warns it is a “brutal budget year” Especially for:

A.1. sales/gas tax [lower] predictions;

A.2. state unfunded mandates such as Medicare, Medicaid, nursing home – per person costs being increased, passed to counties.

A.3. Conkey warns painful cuts coming to Fire, police, libraries, etc. Conkey says county vows to work with county manager to find options available to smoothly transition to drastic cut options; “We are not coming out of this soon, we must make sure to continue necessary citizen services.”

J. OTHER CONKEY INFORMATION

1. Intelligent  Traffic system coming to U.S. 17 in March 2010; will help drivers by adjusting traffic signals as needed during rush hour and can even advise subscribers of traffic conditions online before thy leave home.

K. As Transportation Planning Organization Chair for 2010, Conkey warns that changes will come sooner than later in how priorities are funded; Feds may push for ways to save fuel, eco driving, in short, expect more government influence in driving patterns, county expansion, i.e. infill instead of sprawl, find ways to get cars off the roadway.

Tom Martin, Duval County TRUE Commission, Watermill Neighborhood HOA President, wonders if we could learn from other cities like Denver where the bus runs up and down the main highways at about two-minute intervals.

Conkey responds: This area isn’t dense enough to warrant that kind of frequency yet.

Kay Siebert wonders if combined elections would really save money in Duval County.

It will become a ballot issue in the future all agree.

 

Other info briefly discussed

4. Committee Reports:
a. Transportation: Other info briefly discussed

1. Collins Road/collector distributor bid request on I-295 should commence on July 21, 2010.

2. Collins Road extension from Shindler to Old Middleburg South is underway.

3. Residents may be upset with planned white vinyl fence along their property on Collins Rd. extension.

4. A number of downtown city streets formerly State route are being turned over to the city for maintenance – including Laura Street which is being improved by the city to enhance the approach to Jacksonville Landing.

4. Old Jennings is to be four –lanes with turn in middle?

 

5. Business Development

Johnny Spencer is delaying his efforts to get Oakleaf land for a cell tower because the land is unavailable just now

 

6. Community proposals/guest speakers: none 

 

7. Grant Writing Committee: nothing to report

 

8. Landscaping: nothing to report

 

9. Treasurer’s Report
Allen Durant reported that the treasury balance is now $99.99 and $234.00 in each respective acct.

 

10. Old Business:
a. none

 

11. New Business

A. Discussion turns to street peddling; code enforcement is aware but so are peddlers who wait until code enforcement officers are not on the street to display their wares without proper licensing.

Members in attendance vote to delay the February meeting from Feb 15, to

Feb 22 because President Bill Lewis is out of town.

Warning from Chimney Lakes resident: Someone is stealing mail from neighborhood mailboxes; use caution, watch for thieves.

The meeting concluded at 9 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Jim Kelly, Recording Secretary