Argyle Area Civic Council

Minutes of the AACC Meeting Monday, July 19, 2010 7:30 pm Denny's Restaurant

MINUTES OF THE ARGYLE AREA CIVIC COUNCIL

Held on Monday, July 19, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

Denny’s Restaurant, 8409 Blanding Boulevard

Jacksonville, Florida  32244

Present:  Bill Lewis, President; Tom Dumas, Vice-President; Marie Splane, Acting Recording Secretary; Allen Durant, Treasurer; Ken Shirey, John Draper, Tom Martin, and guests Alberta Hipps and John Saoud.

1.  The Meeting was called to order at 7:50 p.m.

2.  Motion to approve minutes – Marie Splane made a motion to approve, Dumas seconded.  Minutes approved.

3.  Committee Reports – No elected officials present.

4.  Transportation:

Collins Road extension (Tom Martin):    The contractor is installing the drainage. Progress is slow. The contractor cannot install the drainage in the eastern portion of the roadway until the drainage is installed  and working along Shindler Drive south of Taurus Street. This requires a water management permit.  The application for the second phase of Shindler Drive project (Collins Road to 103rd Street) storm water management permit is being reviewed by the Saint Johns River Water Management District. The District is giving the engineer a hard time.

Shindler Widening Update:  Alberta Hipps has inquired about the widening and was told there will be no information available until 2016.  The preliminary stake-out has been done but nothing beyond that.

Collins to Westport & Westport to Shindler 4-laning (Tom Martin):  When this will be accomplished is not known.

5. Homeowners Associations (Tom Martin):

Watermill and Chimney Lakes associations are trying to get a joint agreement for managing the operation and maintenance of the water management permits.  The permits were never turned over to Chimney Lakes Homeowners Association.  If the City of Jacksonville connects to the drainage structures at Watermill, the outfall is full of brush and debris, so there is the question as to who is supposed to take care of that.  Original developer Wirt Beard still owns the lakes.

6.  Business Development:  (H&J’s, formerly Beef O’Brady’s, (located on Argyle Forest Boulevard in strip mall next to Winn-Dixie) recently erected a lighted “tower” type neon sign in the parking area.

7. Treasurer’s Report (Allen Durant):  $234.75 in the savings account, $45 in checking.

8..Damage to the Argyle Sign at Blanding Boulevard.  Alberta Hipps asked about the Argyle Forest entryway.  It is still in need of repair.  Bill Lewis will send out emails to see if we can receive some donations for repairs.

9.  Argyle Area Community Garden (Tom Dumas).  The garden is doing well.  Members are making plans for the fall planting.

10.  New Business (John Saoud – Collier Dickinson):  Development at Rampart and Argyle Forest Boulevard.

Previous plans for a shopping center a couple of years ago were dropped due to the overall economy, but the owners are now prepared to move forward with a shopping area, to be anchored by a 10,000 square-foot hardware store, a Little Cesar’s pizza restaurant, a sub sandwich shop, a laundry/dry cleaners and a pediatrician’s office.  The previously discussed canoe ramp is also included in the current PUD.  Collier Dickenson would like to get approval from AACC to extend store hours for the restaurants to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.  Tom Dumas suggested that the variance list the specific shops by name.

11.  Internet Cafes/Video Poker Locations – (Alberta Hipps)

Proposed City Ordinance 2010-326 , sponsored by Councilman Hyde, has 5 backers.  Rules Committee and Finance Committee meetings have been scheduled for August 2 and 3.  Approval of 2010-326 would ensure that our community standards are protected and prohibit the operation of these cafes.  Internet cafes promote, market and operate establishments that engage in illegal gambling as defined by Florida Statutes.   They attempt to disguise themselves as sweepstakes or “game promotions” but in reality are illegal gambling facilities. 

There are 53 such locations in Duval County, roughly 2 new openings per month. These establishments are casino-like environments which call their operations “sweepstakes,” which are essentially a bank of internet-connected electronic slot machines.  Ms. Hipps’ client is the Jacksonville Kennel Club, which is required to adhere to stricter regulations than these “internet cafes.”  

Currently only Broward and Dade counties are allowed to have slot machine gambling.  The Urban Citizens Planning Advisory Committee and other CPACs are concerned and are urging adoption of the ordinance.  Ms. Hipps passed out a Question/Answer fact sheet detailing further information.  Citizns can go to www.reportillegalgambling.com to tell your city councilperson how you feel about this issue.

Allen Durant made a motion that AACC send a letter to all members of the Jacksonville City Council to say we are in support of this ordinance.  Motion seconded by Tom Martin and carried.

12.  Upcoming Elections:  There will be a Political Hob Knob sponsored by the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce on August 12th at the Hyatt Hotel.

13.  Traffic Cameras at Argyle & Youngerman:  John Draper inquired as to the status of the cameras.  So far the cameras have not been activated.

No further business coming before the Argyle Area Civic Council, John Draper made a motion to adjourn.  The motion was seconded by Tom Dumas and the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Marie Splane, Acting Recording Secretary