Channel Resident Association

Communication #018: Health & Safety

Apr 30, 2009

Summary

?¨ The City of Tampa and Tampa City Council is keenly focused on Channel District being a successful and prosperous residential community. To ensure the neighborhoods successful development by 2010, numerous special districts and special assessments have been created to support this initiative, in addition to the City of Tampa and development with the neighborhood.

?¨ Roads & Sidewalks - Failing roads are slated for repaving in addition to sidewalk creation. During the build out of theses public works - there may be some inconvenience for walking, driving and parking within the Channel District.

?¨ Recreational Space - Open public space for recreational use by residents, an infrastructure baseline requirement for all residential neighborhoods, continues to be a goal of the residents and the City. Residents, City and Property owners, City Council still aim to attain and develop the acre on Whiting and 11th Street while working with Special Districts impacting the neighborhood with their independent agenda.

?¨ Communication - While bulletins being circulated target ample notification to residents - residents have been forced to work with a broken communication system. City Council is attempting to fix this poor and delayed communication and apologizes for all notification that is not easily accessible for all residents, in addition to a minimum two week notification.

?¨ You CAN make a difference - You have a voice - by acting as a responsible citizen. See Action Required and attain the tools to empower yourself as a responsible citizen, valued resident and good neighbor.


What You Need To Know

?¨ Sidewalks in the Channel District - are now recognized by the City of Tampa. Months prior to the 2009 Super Bowl the City of Tampa's Transportation Department - Sidewalk Division walked all Channel District sidewalks and carried out any and/all required maintenance.

?¨ Sidewalk creation to connect the patches is coming, as developers impact is paying for the sidewalk creation around Cobalt's THE SLADE. You can also see the new sidewalks on Washington Street across from the THE SLADE (South side) and elsewhere.

?¨ Sidewalk creation to connect the patches is continuing. With the price now cut in half with a recent City contractor and the Department of Transportation the City of Tampa is prioritizing the sidewalks and will start connecting the gaps that exists.

?¨ Sidewalks ensures pedestrian safety and vehicle safety. They reduces trash from visitors and the lazy resident and enables parking safety and enforcement. Sidewalks support the health and safety of the neighborhood.

?¨ Recreational Space for residents is still targeted. Issues of Special District impacts favoring private initiatives continue to hound the success of attaining a Recreational space, greater than one acre in the heart of the neighborhood. Not only is a recreational space an infrastructure requirement, it also brings residential health to residents and residents property values, in addition to neighborhood safety - as clearly defined by the City of Tampa and other city's throughout the world, with successful "downtown" residential neighborhoods.

?¨ Recreational Space is not to be confused with passive open spaces being proposed by Special Districts impacting the neighborhood - casually termed as parks. These parks being proposed have safety issues that have been identified prior to creation. Residents, City Staff and City Council are working together hoping to resolve all issues these parks pose, as the safety risk they pose is of detriment to residents as well as neighborhood property value, if the parks move forward, as presently proposed by the Special District.

?¨ Roads within the Channel District are failing while roads on the periphery of the Channel District that connect Brandon & Ybor City to the Central Business District and Harbor Island are not.

?¨ Developers impact is paying for some repaving around Cobalt's THE SLADE, while the rest is your residential tax dollar at work.

?¨ A job half done remains undone; While the road paving being done is not completing Whiting Street, residents are driving for the completion at the time of this proposed paving.

?¨ All issues linked with the road on Whiting Street will continue to grow and impact residents and visitors alike.

?¨ Risk is increased to high of Whiting road paving remaining incomplete, with a small portion remaining incomplete, attaining focus to complete it in a "reasonable" timeframe will be far more challenging.

?¨ Special thanks to the Tampa Downtown Partnership, one of many Special Districts impacting the Channel District, for their work in making the City of Tampa acknowledge the sidewalks of the Channel District.

?¨ Special thanks to the City if Tampa for working with residents on attaining sidewalk recognition and on attaining recognition with the intervention of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, one of many Special Districts impacting the Channel District, for all maintenance and support of our neighborhood sidewalks that come with resident tax.

Action Required

?¨ You CAN make a difference - You have a voice - Support the neighborhood and the focus groups within the neighborhood by acting as a responsible citizen with the following information:

1- Sidewalk Maintenance - if you notice a area of sidewalk requiring attention you can make a difference by informing the following so they will come out, assess and take corrective action immediately:

City of Tampa (813) 274-8333

2- Sidewalk Creation - if you notice sidewalks missing where there should be a sidewalk - - you can make a difference by request a sidewalk completion petition to be mailed to you for your completion, return and then prioritization for action by contacting the following:

City of Tampa (813) 274-8333

3- Street Lighting Maintenance - if you notice an existing streetlight needing repair - you can make a difference by informing the following so they will come out, assess and take corrective action immediately:

Tampa Electric Company (813) 223-0800.


4- Street Lighting Creation/Upgrade - if you notice a portion of the neighborhood requiring street lighting - you can make a difference by informing the following so they will come out, assess and take corrective action :

City of Tampa at (813) 274-8303

5- Road Maintenance - if you notice poor road conditions and/or a pothole requiring attention you can make a difference by contact the following department open 24 hours for citizen support:

City of Tampa at (813) 622-1940



?¨ Be aware of road works this next week - see attached flyer.


?¨ Continue to communicate with your neighbors on all issues that impact the neighborhood, they value your voice.



?¨ Continue to communicate with your community on all issues that impact the neighborhood, we value your voice. If you are not already part of a focus group and are interested, please contact the Communication Committee who may assist you.



?¨ Continue to educate yourself on all issues that impact the neighborhood, an educated voice is a voice of value.


If you have questions, please contact : Scott Humphries, scott.humphries@floridamoves.com