INDIALANTIC
                RECORD        August 2004

FRDAP FUNDS TO IMPROVE PARKS
State Senator Haridopolos and State Representative Needelman present FRDAP checks for Nance (top) and Sunrise (bottom) parks to Mayor Trott, Deputy Mayor Benevente and Council members Bogert and McCabe

State funds totaling $100,000 have been awarded to the Town for improvements to Nance and Sunrise parks.  State Senator Mike Haridopolos and State Representative Mitch Needelman presented two checks representing $50,000 each to the Mayor & Council members on July 20, 2004, for the two Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) projects.

Nance Park improvements include  replacing the boardwalk deck north of the existing restrooms; constructing a sidewalk from the parking lot to the two pavilions, to the play equipment, and to the boardwalk; replacing the volleyball court seating; and installing play equipment for 2 to 5 year olds.  Currently included in the Town’s FY-05 Proposed Budget are additional funds to provide a drinking fountain to be located by the play equipment; handicap parking modifications; a handicap accessible ramp from the new sidewalk to the existing boardwalk; renovation of dune crossover #1; and resurfacing a portion of the parking lot.  These improvements will be funded with Enterprise 2 monies.

Sunrise Park improvements include a 14’ x 21’ covered observation deck; concrete path throughout the park; approximately six exercise stations along the path; and site irrigation.  Currently included in the Town’s FY-05 Proposed Budget are additional funds to provide two handicap  parking spaces on the north side of Watson Drive and renovation of the dune crossover at the eastern end of Watson Drive. These improvements will be funded with Enterprise 1 monies.

These two projects continue the Town’s efforts to maximize the use of grant monies toward improving Town parks with added features and greater accessibility for all residents

SCOTT HOLSTINE  - 2003 FLORIDA POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Officer Scott Holstine recently was honored with the Lee McGehee Officer of the Year Award bestowed by the Florida Police Chiefs’ Association. Holstine received  the statewide award for Police Departments with less than 30 sworn officers.

Officer Holstine was nominated for his work in bringing to conclusion a string of occupied home burglaries and for his actions in apprehending an armed bank robbery suspect while mindful for the safety of citizens caught in the vicinity.  In addition he excelled in the areas of drug arrests and traffic enforcement.

A plaque and check were presented to Officer Holstine at the FPCA conference held in June in Panama City Beach

RECENT COUNCIL ACTION

June 15, 2004 Meeting

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extended the agreement with Hoyman, Dobson & Company, P.A. for audit services for FY-04 and FY-05

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authorized Deputy Mayor Benevente to attend the Florida League of Cities’ Annual Conference as the Town’s voting delegate

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authorized the Town Manager to approve temporary street closures for neighborhood parties

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agreed to draft an ordinance amending the hours of operation for Douglas Park 

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 requested that the Zoning and Planning Board review the possibility of  allowing decorative fences in front yards in the commercial (C, C-1 and C-2) zoning districts

July 20, 2004 Meeting

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 renewed the contract with Florida Department of Transportation for reimbursement for maintenance of non-paved portions of US-192 and SR-A1A

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extended the contract with Fertig’s Sharper Cuts, Inc. for lawn maintenance services through September 30, 2005 at an annual cost of $23,340

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extended the contract with Apex Pest Control through September 30, 2005 at an annual cost of $3,180

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approved entering into an agreement with the State Attorney’s office regarding prosecution of Town Code violations

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approved  FRDAP agreements for improvements to Nance Park and Sunrise Park 

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changed the regular Council meeting date in September to September 14th to meet state budget hearing requirements

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set tentative millage rate for Fiscal Year 04-05 at 4.8451

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set date for first public hearing on the millage rate and budget for 7:00 pm on September 14th; set final public hearing on September 28th at 7:00 pm

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set budget workshop for 6:00 pm on August 17, 2004

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 approved Ord. 04-10 on first reading amending the hours of operation for Douglas Park

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approved Ord. 04-11 on first reading prohibiting consumption of alcoholic beverages and possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages in all Town parks
NEW FACES IN TOWN

Cold Stone Creamery -  2 Fifth Avenue –   Ice cream shop

Starbucks Coffee Co. – 2 Fifth Avenue – Coffee products

National Institute for Financial Counseling – 105 S. Riverside Dr., #200 –  Financial consultation

Riverside Skin Care – 18 S. Riverside Dr., #101 – Skin care 

 Conserving Water is Everyone’s Business – from the St. Johns River Water Management District

Florida’s water supply is dependent upon fickle weather patterns – periods of abundant rain followed by periods of drought.  Although Florida receives an average of 50 inches of rain per year, about 65 percent of that evaporates.  Only a relatively small percentage of total rainfall replenishes the aquifer from which we draw 90 percent of public supply.  How you can help:

Regularly examine pipes and fixtures for leaks; repair all leaks immediately

Retrofit toilets, sinks and showers with low-volume water conserving devises

Landscape with plants and grasses that require little water.  Your local cooperative extension agent can assist you in developing a water-conserving landscape plan to best suit your needs.

Use efficient landscape irrigation techniques including drip irrigation, soaker hoses or sprinklers regulated with automatic timers.

Avoid hosing down sidewalks, driveways and parking lots.  Sweep them instead.

Thank you for conserving water!

Dr. Chris Finton presents an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to Police Officer Scott Holstine.  This presentation marks the second AED donated to the Indialantic Police Department by the American Heart Association.  Both are assigned to police officers  on patrol to provide a more rapid response to someone experiencing a heart attack.

Dr. Finton is the Executive Director of the Health First Institute and Chairman of the American Heart Association’s Brevard County AED Taskforce. Officer Holstine has  served with the Department since April, 2000 and is  the Town’s 2003 Officer of the Year.

POLICE BEAT

With summer in full swing and the roads and beaches crowded, the Police Department would like to remind everyone about some basic bicycle laws

1.       A bicycle rider or passenger under the age of 16 years must wear a bicycle helmet that is properly fitted and is fastened upon the rider or passenger’s head by a strap.

2.       A bicycle rider may not allow a passenger to remain in a child seat or carrier on a bicycle when the rider is not in immediate control of the bicycle. 

3.       A bicycle may not be used to carry more persons than the number for which it is designed or equipped, except that an adult rider may carry a child securely attached to his or her person in a backpack or sling.    

4.       A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a crosswalk has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.

5.       Any person operating a bicycle shall keep at least one hand upon the handlebars. 

6.       Every bicycle in use between sunset and sunrise shall be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and a lamp reflector on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 600 feet to the rear.

7.       A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian. 

8.       Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway.

A violation of any of these bicycle laws could subject the operator (or parent) to a fine. For a complete list of Bicycle laws please refer to Florida State Statute 316.2065

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The Attorney General has recently rendered an opinion prohibiting the operation of “any” motorized scooter on the public streets and sidewalks. Electric and gas powered scooters are included. Motorized scooters can only be operated on private property. Anyone operating the scooters can be legally cited for driving an unregistered motor vehicle. Any parent or guardian can be cited for permitting an unauthorized minor to drive a scooter.

Anyone with questions regarding these laws please contact Community Policing Officer Terry Tenpenny at the Police Department or email ttenpenny@indialantic.com. Be safe and have a great summer.

Public Works Update – Ron Cassedy

DID YOU KNOW - Chapter 16, Trees and Shrubs, of the Town Code calls for all property owners to prune trees abutting streets of the town.

Pruning trees on your property and on the right-of-way adjacent to your property is your responsibility.  Corner lots have two (2) such “front yard” areas extending to each street pavement.  Maintenance of these areas is  addressed in Section 5.5-68, Landscaping.   If you have branches hanging over the street edge or sidewalk, or limbs extending out into an intersection, they may be hazardous to motorists, pedestrians and emergency vehicles.  Limbs may also interfere with visibility of a stop sign.  Please check the street, sidewalk and stop sign, if applicable, next to your property to see if these problems exist.  Tree limbs should be cut fourteen feet above the street pavement.  

Please contact the Public Works Director at 984-5224 prior to trimming right-of-way vegetation or if you need assistance.

The Public Works Department is currently trimming and removing any limbs and hazards that exist.

FIRE FACTS

 Indialantic Fire Rescue (IFR) will be hosting it’s first annual flu immunization/cholesterol screening/open house festival on Saturday Oct. 9th  from 9am until 4pm.  Flu immunizations and cholesterol screening will be done on a first come, first serve basis due to limited supplies.  The cost for flu immunization will be $12.00 per shot.  Cost for the cholesterol screening will be $4.00.  

The Open house festival will be a day-long event that will display the various equipment that IFR uses to protect and serve the citizens of Indialantic.  The following will be available:

bulletFire house tours
bulletFire engine tours
bulletIFR Volunteer Honor Guard
bulletEmergency Medical Equipment 
bulletWater rescue equipment
bulletDisaster trailer
bulletFire prevention displays
bulletFree smoke detectors
bulletFree medical/fire prevention handouts
bulletFree hot dogs, hamburgers, sodas
bulletKids attractions
bulletStarbucks Coffee
bulletCold Stone Creamery
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And much more!!!

 Come and enjoy the day with the staff of the Indialantic Fire Rescue Department.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Department at 723-0366.  

ü           Town Hall will be closed Monday, September 6th for Labor Day

ü          Qualifying dates for the November 2, 2004 election will be August 19 through September 2, 2004.  Seats to be filled are:  Mayor, currently held by Daniel Trott, Council Seat 2, currently held by Mike McCabe, and Council Seat 4, currently held by Cliff Cook.  Packets will be available in the Town Clerk’s office

ü          The Zoning and Planning Board will be discussing glare in residential districts at the August 24th meeting.  Interested parties are invited to attend.

The annual Halloween Party will be held October 23, 2004 from 4 pm to 8 pm.  Anyone interested in volunteering to work the games and refreshment stations should  contact Loren or Gabrielle Strand at 956-3113 or Jan at 723-7788

Congratulations to Attorney Paul Gougelman who was recently selected City Attorney of the Year by the Florida League of Cities.

 Town Attorney Gougelman was nominated for this honor by the Space Coast League of Cities.  He was among five finalists selected state-wide.  The award was presented June 26 at an awards ceremony held in Lake Buena Vista

 

UPCOMING BOARD AND COMMITTEE OPENINGS

There will be openings, including reappointments, on the Civil Service Board, the Parks, Recreation and Beautification Committee, the Police/Fire Pension Board  and the General Employees’ Pension Board.  Applications are available at Town Hall and on the web site.  For more information on boards or committees, please call the Town Clerk’s office at 723-2242.

UPCOMING MEETINGS 

AUGUST

            17           8:00 AM    Heritage Committee

            17            6:00 PM     Council budget workshop

17             7:00 PM  Town Council

            24             5:30 PM     Zoning and Planning

SEPTEMBER

14             7:00 PM   Town Council

21             8:00 AM     Heritage Committee

21           10:00 AM     Pension Boards

27             9:00 AM     Parks/Recreation

28             7:00 PM      Special Council

                                    (Budget Hearing)

28             5:30 PM      Zoning and Planning

The Volunteer Fire Department meets every Wednesday at 7:00 PM at the Fire Department, 216 Fourth Ave


Public Works is installing two swales on the north side of the 200 block of 6th Avenue behind the 235-241 5th  Avenue Center

The Indialantic Record is published every other month by the Town of Indialantic, 216 Fifth Avenue, Indialantic, FL  32903 at an outside cost of $.22 per resident.  Daniel S. Trott, Mayor; Vincent Benevente, Deputy Mayor; Councilmembers  Bruce Bogert, Cliff Cook and Michael McCabe; Christopher W. Chinault, Town Manager; Laura Eaton, Town Clerk – www.indialantic.com - (321) 723-2242