Argyle Area Civic Council

Minutes of the Mon, Jan 19, 2009 AACC Meeting Dennys Restaurant

Minutes presented at the Feb 23, 2009 AACC Meeting

MINUTES OF THE ARGYLE AREA CIVIC COUNCIL
Held on Monday, Jan 19, 2009 at 7:30 P.M.
Denny's Restaurant, 8409 Blanding Boulevard
Jacksonville, Florida 32244

PRESENT: Bill Lewis, President; Tom Dumas, Vice-President; Allen Durant, Treasurer; Marie Splane, Recording Secretary; Jim Kelly, trainee recording secretary; Ken Shirley, Sharon Shirley, Robert Taylor, Thomas R. Martin, Bill Ellis, Kathy and Wayne Stephens, Bobbie Cockayne, David Hodges, Tony Bates, Bobbie Cockayne, Kay Sibert, Don Christen, Ashley Davis, and John Draper.

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:37 p.m.
2. Approval of November minutes. Thomas Martin pointed out the following corrections should be made in the Collins Road update paragraph: the fourth sentence that reads “…flooding of River Point Drive North and River crest Drive” should read “Timber Point and Leaf crest Drive.”
After Discussion, Bill Ellis moved to approve the corrections for the December minutes and Alan Durant seconded the motion, which carried.
3. Committee Reports:
4. Transportation: David Hodges from the transportation committee reported that he and Tom Dumas visited Lake City to inquire about reported delay of I-295 and Collins Road interchange originally scheduled to begin in early 2009; they spoke with Charles Baldwin. District Two Secretary. “According to Baldwin,” said Hodges, “The newspaper is incorrect about a two year delay in beginning construction; it should have read a two month delay, but he added ‘better keep an eye on it.’” According to Baldwin the Right of Way will be finalized by August 2009 and work will start right after that month.
Hodges added additional information about the I-295 and Collins Road interchange. “The DOT received an unsolicited owner-builder proposal that would allow the project to go ahead as planned with the builder initially covering all construction costs with private money and receive reimbursement as Federal money becomes available.”
One possible advantage in this project is an unforeseen willingness by work-starved contractors to bid lower for the work than originally anticipated by the state. As of today, Hodges says “the project start date appears to be delayed only two months.”
President Lewis suggested forwarding Baldwin’s FDOT email about the delay to Representative Cliff Stearns office as a means of keeping tracking the federal and state money so that this project isn’t delayed further.
John Draper wondered along with Tom Dumas if the money is really there and if so, was it included in the anticipated Federal stimulus package? Hodges believes the money is there; “stay tuned,” he says.
Tom Dumas reports on COJ project to widen the Collins Road overpass at I-295: “By March the first two lanes (north) will be completed and traffic will divert to using that side while deconstruction of the original overpass is completed and rebuilt as a (south) two lanes overpass.
Discussion turns to College Drive Extension in Clay County.
Ashley Davis reminds AACC of Long Range plans calling for an interception of Kindlewood drive at Branan field Chaffee and another connection between Kindlewood and Cheswick Oak with College Drive completing a long anticipated shortcut to Blanding Boulevard near College Road. Hodges is not sure if funding is available for that project; Hodges then adds that he has heard discussion about dismantling the Shands Bridge in Clay County in order to build a beltway corridor with a toll bridge in its place. “The work recently done there should make the existing bridge good for another 60 years,” he adds rhetorically, “so why should the people in Clay County need to pay toll on a new bridge which might not be necessary for years to come?” John Draper agrees and adds: “Clay County is going to need to find better ways to accommodate the anticipated 5,000 homes by finding proper funding for a bigger bridge.”
State legislature is expected to study public-private road construction as it applies to fair taxing in March 2009, according to Draper.
Thomas Martin and Bill Ellis attended the meeting of the St. Johns River Water Management District regarding the permitting for the Collins Road Extension. “The City now has their drainage plan ^ inn place and approved for two lanes on Collins Road extension,” said Martin, “But…nothing can be started until Shindler Road drainage project gets completed.”
5. Business Development: Hodges reports a rumor that Costco, might build in the Oakleaf area but a site and date for construction have not been announced. The BP gasoline Station on Argyle Forest at Oakleaf is now open with a Dunkin’ donuts and a soon-to-open United States Postal Service Office. Hodges is working on a letter to get a tax collector office built on Argyle Forest soon.
Ashley Davis reports that Village Inn has agreed to consider Oakleaf vicinity for a new location in the future. Another rumored restaurant would be a Cracker Barrel at Blanding and Branan Field - timing is unknown.

6. Communications and Website: No news.

7. Grant Writing Committee: Nothing new to report.

8. Landscaping - Argyle Forest Entrance Island at Blanding Boulevard: Allen Durant reported that the brick work is finished; pressure washed and looks very good.
9. Treasurer's Report: Allen Durant reported that the treasury balance is now $339.74.
10. Old Business:
a. Argyle Forest Bridge Lights. No information from Councilman Corrigan so far.
b. Rezoning of Hipps Property for Navy Housing: No information on any upcoming public meetings.
11. New Business:
a. Tony Bates of the Concerned Taxpayers Organization cautioned the group that Daniel Davis’ bill, Council legislation 1055 designed to better favor Duval County contractors’ bears watching as it could lead to big legal problems from lawsuits brought by other contractors.

There being no further business to come before the council, Bill Ellis made a motion to adjourn. The meeting concluded at 8:43 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Jim Kelly, Recording Secretary

Agenda - Last updated 1-17-2009 10:00 pm

ARGYLE AREA CIVIC COUNCIL
AACC Meeting Monday, January 19, 2009 7:30 pm
Location: Denny's Restaurant 8409 Blanding Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32244 Phone: 904-778-4624
Corner of Blanding Blvd and Youngerman Circle.
Map: http://web.sa.mapquest.com/dennys/advantage.adp?transaction=locmap&recordId=509&pwidth=400&pheight=250to
1. Call to Order 7:30 pm
2. Approval of Old Minutes
Monday, November 17, 2008 http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/jacksonville/aacc/genpage/487683096.html
3. Committee Reports
a. Jacksonville City Council, Clay County Commission Report and other elected officials or representatives
1. Duval County School Board District 7 - Tommy Hazouri
2. Jax District 14 Council Member Michael Corrigan - Past Council President 2006 - 2007
3. Jax District 12 Council Member Dan Davis - City Council President 2007 - 2008
4. Jax District 11 Council Member Ray Holt
5. Jax At Large, Group 1 Council Member Ronnie Fussell
6. Clay District 2 Commissioner - Doug Conkey
7. State Representative Jennifer Carroll (R), District 13 - Rebecca Coleman, District Secretary
8. U.S. Representative Cliff Stearns (R), Florida's Sixth District - Sherrie Porter, District Aide

b. Public Safety Report. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Clay County Sheriff's Office
c. Transportation. David Hodges - Click on the links for the Latest Info on these Projects
1. Argyle Forest Blvd 4 Lanes - http://www.jtaonthemove.com/projects/bjp/bjargyle2.aspx
2. I-295 @ Collins Rd / Blanding Blvd Interchange C/D Project - http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/public/genpage.html?nid=972432200&nneighid=351562714&nsupercity=623542159
3. Collins Road Widening -
. I) Collins Rd/Rampart to Blanding http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
. II) Collins Rd/Westport to Rampart http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
. III) Collins Rd/Shindler to Westport http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
. IV) Collins Rd/Shindler to Old Middleburg http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
4. Old Middleburg Rd./103rd to Branan Field http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
5. Branan Field Chaffee Road Phase 1 (103rd St. to I-10) - http://www.jtafla.com/Projects/showPage.aspx?Project=11
6. College Drive Extension North Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study - New connection between Blanding Boulevard (SR 21) and Branan Field/Chaffee Road (SR 23). - Clay county http://www.collegedrivenorth.com/faq.htm
BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS http://www.coj.net/Departments/Better+Jacksonville+Plan/Road+Projects.htm
Jacksonville Transportation Authority Projects Map - http://www.jtafla.com/projects/projects_map.html
Florida Department of Transportation Information http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/moreDOT/majorprojects.shtm#two
d. Business Development - David Hodges
. . Oakleaf Town Center - Jacksonville, FL - Description http://www.sembler.com/current_projects.php?id=12
. . Oakleaf Town Center - Jacksonville, FL - PDF Map http://www.sembler.com/pdfs/Oakleaf%20Town%20Ctr.pdf
e. Communications and Web Site - Bill Lewis
f. Home Owners Association President Meeting - Bill Lewis
g. Grant Writing Committee
h. Landscaping Committee - Argyle Sign at Argyle Forest Blvd and Blanding Blvd
i. Treasurer's Report - Allen Durant
4. Old Business
a. Relay for Life Westside - May 8 & 9, 2009 at Bishop Snyder High School. Cathy Greene - Event Chair, Volunteer Cell: 847.494.9647 cathy.greene@wamu.net
b. New Argyle Forest Blvd Bridge Lights
c. Collins Road Extension between Shindler Drive and Old Middleburg Road - Thomas Martin
d. Rezoning on Hipps Property - PROPERTY RE-ZONING FROM RR TO PUD PROPOSAL FOR NAVY HOUSING, UNITS OF SINGLE AND MULTI FAMILY HOUSING
Subject: Rezoning on Hipps Property
Email Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:26:42 +0000
This is information you will want to share with your association.
Someone put the following notice in our mail boxes:
As a result I emailed Daniel Davis' office, our city councilman and I got the following response; after the mail box notice.
There is to be a town hall meeting at Shindler Rd Baptist Church on August 4, 6:30pm.
PROPERTY RE-ZONING FROM RR TO PUD
OLD MIDDLEBURG AT SANDLER = HIPPS PROPERTY
CALL CITY, 630-1902, FOR INFORMATION ON #2008517
PROPOSAL FOR NAVY HOUSING, UNITS OF SINGLE AND MULTI FAMILY HOUSING

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July 11, 2008
You were on my list of people to personally call regarding this issue, as I remember you called our office several months ago inquiring about this.
We are holding a community meeting on August 4th at 6:30 pm at the Shindler Road Baptist Church. I JUST placed an order for the mailout post cards about 5 minutes ago as well as requested an ad be placed in the Times Union on Saturday, July 26th as well as the Westside Sun on July 26th and Saturday, August 2nd. Any persons living within 350 feet of the properties in question will receive the post card mail out. I will be mailing those out hopefully by the end of next week.
As of now, these are the following scheduled Public Hearings:
August 12th - City Council in the Council Chambers at 5:00
August 14th - Planning Commission in the Council Chambers at 1:00 (I believe)
August 19th - Land Use and Zoning Committee meeting in the Council Chambers at 5:00
We will have representatives from our Planning Department and the Office of General Counsel to answer any questions and the applicants from Pappas, Metcalf, Jenks and Miller will also be doing a presentation on the rezoning.

Thank you,
Sarah Lane
Aide, Council Member Daniel Davis
District 12: Daniel Davis - City Council President 2007 - 2008
Sarah Balme, Assistant; Email: DDavis@coj.net Phone: 904-630-1380 -- Fax: 904-630-2906
Web Site: http://www.coj.net/City+Council/District+12/default.htm
5. New Business
a. Status of the Collins Road - I-295 Interchange - David Hodges
6. Additional Comments From the Public
7. Motion to Adjourn

Email us
ArgyleACC@joimail.com

Additional Web Links

Minutes of the Monday, November 17, 2008
Oakleaf Town Center - Jacksonville, FL - PDF Map
Oakleaf Town Center - Jacksonville, FL - Description
Florida Department of Transportation Information