UPDATES:

Lee Lamar Named Deputy Public Safety Director – Fire Operations

Auburn Public Library to Reopen June 28

AGENDA DETAILS — AUBURN CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, JULY 1 — AUBURN CITY COUNCIL
6:55 pm — Committee of the Whole /  7:00 pm – Regular meeting
Held in the council chambers, 141 N. Ross St. Open to all.
Agenda & full packet:  www.auburnalabama.org/agenda
Agenda includes:
7. CITIZENS’ COMMUNICATIONS.
8. CITY MANAGER’S COMMUNICATIONS. City Manager Duggan.
a. Alcoholic Beverage License. LMG, LLC dba/Zazu. 145 East Magnolia Avenue. Restaurant Retail Liquor License. Consideration.
b. Announcement of Board Vacancies. Appointments at the August 5, 2008 Meeting.
(1) Greenspace Advisory Board. Two Positions. Four Year Terms Expire August 7, 2012.
(2) Planning Commission. One Position. Six Year Term Expires July 30, 2014.
9. ORDINANCES. None.
10. RESOLUTIONS.
a. Conditional Use Approvals. Planning Commission Recommendations. Public Hearings Required.
(1) Lisalyn S. Parker/Kevin Harp (Authorized Representative). Parker Building Company. Road Service Use (Best Tire New Addition) in Comprehensive Development District (CDD). Property Located at 1646 South College Street.
(2) Kathy Matthews/Lindburgh Jackson (Authorized Representative). Commercial and Entertainment Use (Alteration Shop) in the Redevelopment District (RDD). Property Located at 300 North Donahue Drive.
b. Auburn Chamber of Commerce, Auburn University Student Government Association, and City of Auburn. Fall Downtown Street Closings. Approval.
c. Industrial Development Board. Auburn Technology Park West. Off Site Sewer Improvements. Reimbursement from Water Resource Management Department. $87,100.
d. Contracts and Agreements. Authorize Mayor and City Manager to Sign.
(1) $108,500 and $10,000-$20,000. Annual Audit-FY2008. Machen McChesney and Chastain.
(2) $74,872. Compact Loader w/Brush and Tree Cutter. SunSouth LLC.
(3) $13,415.28. Compliance EnviroSystems, LLC. Professional Services. Inspection, Cleaning and Root Control Application. Tullahoma Drive, Wrights Mill Road, and Carter Street. Change Order No. 1.
(4) $1.6 million. AuburnBank Property. Purchase and Sale Agreement.
e. Drainage and Utility Easements, Street Easements, Temporary Construction Easements, Rights-of-Way, and Quit Claim Deeds. Acceptance, Vacation, and Settlement for Value Lost.
(1) Indian Hill Road. Indian Hill Subdivision. Vacate Portion of Indian Hill Road Right of Way. Quit Claim Deeds. Public Hearing Continued From April 15 and June 17, 2008 Meetings.
(2) Drainage and Utility Easements and Right-of-Way. Acceptance.
(a) Carolyn Rogers, et al. Woodland Park Subdivision, Phase 1, Fifth Revision. Property Located along Tallyho
Drive, North of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and East of Woodland Park Subdivision, Phase 2.
(b) North Woods, Inc. Camden Ridge 11th Addition, Phase Two. Property Located South of Camden Ridge 10th Addition and the Extensions of Keystone and Piedmont Drives.
(3) Drainage and Utility Easements and Street Easements.
(a) LCR Tuscany, LLC. Tuscany Village, Plat No. 1A, Redivision of Lot 13A. Property Located at Intersection of Vinci Way and Montiano Lane. Drainage and Utility Easement. Vacation.
(b) Losal Unlimited, LLC. Martin Place Subdivision. Property Located at 440 and 446 Martin Avenue. Drainage and Utility Easements and Street Easements. Acceptance.
(c) Auburn University. O. D. Smith Hall. 135 South College Street. Drainage and Utility Easement. Twin City Court Extension Project. Acceptance.
(4) Temporary Construction Easements. Acceptance.
(a) Robert Miller. 2480 Lee Road 61. Dean Road and Harper Avenue Sidewalk Project. Settlement of $250 for Value Lost.
(b) Gary and Deborah Pegues. 1905 Sunset Drive. Cox Road Improvements Project.
f. Condemnation Proceedings. Authorize City Attorney to Initiate. Cox Road – I-85 Interchange Project.
(1) Property Located off Master Court and Beehive Road. Tract 36.1.844 Acres.
(a) Brantley Land Company [Tom Hayley, Eagle Mgmt, Redd Family Partnership].
(b) College Land LLC. [Tom Hayley, Eagle Mgmt, Redd Family Partnership].
(c) Tiger Crossing. [Tom Hayley, et al].
(2) The Concrete Company c/o Hugh Sorrell. Property Located Off Lee Road 10. Tract 31. 2.704 Acres.
11. OTHER BUSINESS.
12. ADJOURNMENT.

AUBURN – Board Vacancies
• One vacancy on the Planning Commission was announced at the June 17 City Council meeting and will be filled at the July 15 meeting.
• One vacancy on the Planning Commission will be announced at the July 1 City Council meeting
and will be filled at the August 5 meeting.
• Two vacancies on the Greenspace Advisory Board will be announced at the July 1 City Council meeting and will be filled at the August 5 meeting.
• One vacancy on the Lee County Youth Development Center will be announced at the August 19 City Council
meeting and will be filled at the September 16 meeting.

Info on city boards & commissions is available at www.auburnalabama.org/boards/.  If interested in applying for any of the above vacancies, contact the City Council (coagbemail@auburnalabama.org) and/or City Manager (cduggan@auburnalabama.org).

==============================

Thanks for your interest and support.

Email: placeforum@gmail.com

Web: http://placeforum.org/blog/

Comments Off

SPECIAL NOTE: Especially during the summer and in holiday weeks, meeting details may change or meetings may be cancelled with little notice. When possible, such changes will be noted in an email update and/or on the http://placeforum.org website.

==========================

WEEK OF JUNE 30, 2008

MONDAY, JUNE 30 — LEE COUNTY COMMISSION www.leeco.us
4:00 pm — work session / 6:00 pm — regular session
Held in the commission chambers, Opelika Courthouse, 215 S. 9th Ave, Opelika. Open to all.
Agenda includes:
6. Reports from Staff:
7. CONSENT AGENDA:
a. Minutes of Commission Meetings June 6 and June 9, 2008
b. Ratify and Approve Claims
c. 1st Reading Lee County Recreation Board – Judge English D5
d. Announcement of 3 Openings on the East Alabama Health Care Authority Bd
8. OLD BUSINESS:
a. Report on Planning Legislation Language – Judge English
b. Legislative Consideration – Commissioner Lawrence
c. Policy, Procedure, and Regulation Manual – Roger Rendleman
9. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Animal Control Issue – Robert Sawyer
b. Vehicle Damage Claim Denial – Susan May
c. Lee Road 157/Solid Waste Issue – Margaret Chadwick
d. Planning Commission – David Williams
e. NACo Prescription Drug Plan – Commissioner Harris
f. Auburn Satellite Office Bid Results – Roger Rendleman
10. Discussion Items. 11. Adjourn

MONDAY, JUNE 30, 7:00 pm – LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF EAST ALABAMA / Forum with local legislators
Held at the East Alabama Health Resource Center, Pepperell Parkway, Opelika. Open to all.
All of the local Alabama Representatives and Senators have been invited to participate in a forum discussing the highlights of the 2008 regular and special sessions of the Legislature. Please come to share your questions and concerns with them.

MONDAY, JUNE 30, 9:00 pm — A CEMETERY SPECIAL / ALABAMA PUBLIC TV

Broadcast on Alabama Public TV (APTV), and on the web (www.aptv.org/Schedule/showinfo.asp?ID=182039&NOLA1=ACEM).
This celebration of cemeteries across America takes an unusual and informative look at graves, monuments, family plots, sculpture, and the way cemeteries interconnect with many aspects of modern American culture. Traveling from Key West to central Alaska, the program features examples of burial grounds as special sites where history and art are preserved, where flowers and trees can be important attractions, where people make pilgrimages to the final resting places of the famous and the familial, and where old and new traditions often combine in fascinating ways.

TUESDAY, JULY 1, noon – AUBURN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD / IDB
Held in the City Manager’s Conference Room, Auburn City Hall, 144 Tichenor Ave. Open to all.

TUESDAY, JULY 1, 3:00 pm – OPELIKA MAIN STREET FARMER’S MARKET
Held each Tuesday throughout summer along South Railroad Avenue between 8th and 9th Street, Opelika. If you are a grower and would like to participate, contact Opelika Main Street at 745-0466.

TUESDAY, JULY 1, 5:30 pm — AUBURN PARKS AND RECREATION
Held at the Dean Road Rec Center. Open to all.

TUESDAY, JULY 1 — AUBURN CITY COUNCIL
TBA — Committee of the Whole / 7:00 pm – Regular meeting
Held in the council chambers, 141 N. Ross St. Open to all.
Agenda & full packet: www.auburnalabama.org/agenda

TUESDAY,JULY 1 — OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL
TBA – work session / 7:00 pm – regular meeting
Held at 204 S. 7th St, Opelika. Open to all.
Agenda: www.opelika.org

THURSDAY, JULY 3, 3:00 – 6:00 pm —FARMERS’ MARKET AT AG HERITAGE PARK
Held at AU’s Ag Heritage Park. Open to all. http://www.ag.auburn.edu/themarket
The Market is open rain or shine unless severe weather poses a danger to vendors or customers.
The Market at Ag Heritage Park is a regular Thursday afternoon event through mid-August. The Market features locally grown, fresh-from-the-farm produce along with locally made products. You likely will find strawberries, greens, onions and other spring produce as well as honey, goat cheese, stone-ground grains, baked goods and plants. Educational displays are welcome too, and any College of Ag departments and clubs interested in having a booth can contact Dani Carroll, 334-749-3353 or carrodl@auburn.edu, or Katie Jackson, 334-844-5887 or smithcl@auburn.edu, for information or to reserve a space.

FRIDAY, JULY 4, 6:00 pm — City of Auburn Annual July 4th Celebration http://www.auburnalabama.org/news/2008/pr061808.asp
Held behind the home side of the Duck Samford Football Stadium. FREE to the public. Rain date -Saturday, July 5th. More info: Auburn Parks & Recreation at 501-2930.Sponsored by Briggs & Stratton and hosted by the Auburn Parks & Recreation Department, this special event will include live musical entertainment, featuring Parrots of the Caribbean, and the best fireworks display in town. This FREE Independence Day celebration is something the entire family will enjoy. The gates will open promptly at 6 p.m. The public is encouraged to come early and receive free goodies courtesy of Briggs & Stratton. The public is also encouraged to bring a blanket and lawn chairs. Spectators will have the opportunity to purchase Country’s Barbecue for dinner. At 7 p.m., Parrots of the Caribbean will kick off the festivities with family fun and entertainment. Parrots of the Caribbean cover songs from Jimmy Buffett to Bob Marley and Harry Belafonte to the Beach Boys. The fireworks show will begin promptly at 9 p.m.

============

Home Depot kicks off nationwide CFL recycling program
Recycling compact fluorescent light bulbs just got easier. Home Depot announced it will offer free CFL recycling at each of its 1,973 locations. Customers can drop off expired, unbroken bulbs at the returns counter of any Home Depot store.
The home improvement retailer is beginning the program in response to customers´ concerns about improper disposal of the bulbs, which contain small amounts of mercury. The national recycling program is the most widespread of its kind and offers an alternative to some existing options — community hazardous waste programs and select retail stores, according to the retailer. “With more than 75 percent of households located within 10 miles of a Home Depot store, this program is the first national solution to providing Americans with a convenient way to recycle CFLs,” said Ron Jarvis, Home Depot´s senior vice president for environmental innovation.

UPCOMING EVENT
THURSDAY, JULY 17, 6:00 pm – SIERRA CLUB / LIGHTBULBS TO LEADERSHIP / ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE WITH GREEN JOBS
Held in the City of Auburn Meeting Room, 122 Tichenor Ave (entrance off side of building, across the parking area from Cheeburger Cheeburger’s rear entrance). Open to all. Please RSVP to D. Newton; newton3117[at]bellsouth.net.
Local legislators, city officials and citizens are invited to attend this event, held as part of the Sierra Club’s nationwide Lightbulbs to Leadership campaign. Attendees will participate in a teleconference call with Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope and Green for All Director Van Jones. They’ll talk about how we can achieve a clean energy future that creates green jobs and a healthy economy. The Lightbulbs to Leadership campaign is sending the message that to really solve global warming, we need to change more than lightbulbs — we need to change direction. We need action that is strong, urgent, and bold enough to get the job done.

====================
AU COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE VIDEO / features Alabama Water Watch
This video includes the Alabama Water Watch as one of the many activities of the college that are
“making a difference.” http://www.ag.auburn.edu/adm/comm/challenges/
CITY OF AUBURN / CONSTRUCTION PROJECT STATUS REPORTS (updated weekly)
PUBLIC WORKS: www.auburnalabama.org/pw/status.asp
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: www.auburnalabama.org/wrm/status.asp=============

Thanks for your interest and support.

Email: placeforum@gmail.com

Web: http://placeforum.org/blog/

Comments Off

UPDATES – ADDITIONAL EVENTS

ADDITIONAL MEETING FRIDAY:
FRIDAY, JUNE 27, NOON — AUBURN COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY / CDA – special called meeting
Held in the conference room, Auburn City Hall, 144 Tichenor Ave. Open to all.
Agenda: special called meeting.

DATE CHANGED (formerly scheduled for both June 26 & 27; now only on June 27)
FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 8:30 am – AU BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Held in Ballroom B, AU Hotel & Dixon Conference Center. ww.auburn.edu/administration/trustees/agenda062708.html

LOCAL WATERSHED SWaMP’ED WITH SUCCESS — JUNE 20, 2008 COLUMN BY LISA BROUILLETTE
http://placeforum.org/blog/category/columns-lisa-brouillette/
(first published in the Opelika-Auburn News, June 20, 2008)

==============
For some interesting views on the Midwest flooding, see The Weekly GRIST newsletter and the articles referenced below.
When We Reign, It Pours
Humans have a hand in Midwest flooding

How much responsibility do humans have for the floods disastrously deluging the Midwest? Of course the rain poured for days, but it fell on plowed-up prairies, drained fields, altered streams, no-longer-wetlands, and developed floodplains — all unable to absorb precipitation to the best of their natural ability. Between 2007 and 2008, more than 160,000 acres of Iowa land (mostly covered with deep-rooted, water-absorbing grasses) was taken out of a federal conservation-reserve program to be farmed (mostly for corn). Near St. Louis, Mo., nearly 30,000 homes have been built on land that was submerged by flooding in 1993; despite taller, stronger levees — which some say are part of the problem, not the solution — the area may very well be swamped. “Cities routinely build in the floodplain,” says Kamyar Enshayan, a city councilmember in Cedar Falls, Iowa. “That’s not an act of God; that’s an act of City Council.” And according to a new report from the federal Climate Change Science Program, the weather’s not going to get better anytime soon: Thanks to climate change, North America will continue to experience intense rains, heat waves, increased drought, and stronger hurricanes.

sources: The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal

see also, in Grist: As corn and soy fields drown in rainwater, the food crisis deepens
see also, in Gristmill: As Midwest floods recede, what’s being washed into the groundwater?
see also, in Gristmill: Midwest woes are a boon to fertilizer companies
see also, in Grist: A special series on the Army Corps and the Mississippi River
——————————

————

Thanks for your interest and support.

Email: placeforum@gmail.com

Web: http://placeforum.org/blog/

Comments Off

Local watershed SWaMP’ed with success

    — by Lisa Brouillette

(First published in the Opelika-Auburn News, June 20, 2008)

Droughts in the southeast, floods in the heartland, EPA fines totaling over $4 million levied against four major national homebuilders for alleged Clean Water Act violations—recent news on water and water quality issues has been bleak.

Want some good news about our local watershed for contrast? Look at the work of SWaMP — the Saugahatchee Watershed Management Plan. 

SWaMP’s goal is “to clean up Saugahatchee Creek and educate others of its value.” As shown on their new website (www.swamp.auburn.edu), SWaMP accomplishes this through a combination of research, education, and practical projects.

For example, SWaMP funded approximately 20% of the Saugahatchee Restoration Project located in Auburn, downstream of the North Donahue Bridge and north of Richland Road.  SWaMP collaborated on the project with the City of Auburn’s Water Resource Management Department (WRM), which planned and executed the restoration.

According to the SWaMP website, an estimated equivalent of 100 dump truck loads of soil had eroded from this site into Saugahatchee Creek and from there to Yates Lake and the Tallapoosa River. The erosion threatened a major sewer line that transports sewage from thousands of homes to an Auburn wastewater treatment plant.

However SWaMP doesn’t just fix existing problems, the group also works proactively to encourage better methods of construction, development and maintenance. Recently they presented a local workshop on low-impact development (LID). This method, proven successful in other areas, incorporates wetland-building and other environmentally friendly techniques.

Local developer Jay Conner, who attended the LID workshop, is already involved in a local LID project –  the Camden Ridge Constructed Wetland project.  This project will help reduce sediment and pollution runoff such as lawn chemicals and fertilizers, pet waste, motor oil, etc. In addition, it will serve as an educational opportunity for the whole community.

SWaMP is providing both funding and technical assistance for the Camden Ridge project. For more details, see the “What can a local wetland do for your subdivision?” link on the SWaMP homepage.

One of SWaMP’s strengths is that it’s comprised of a variety of stakeholders: state and local government officials, university personnel and departments, environmental groups, developers, industries, interested citizens, and others.  

It’s particularly heartening to see developers involved with SWaMP.  Many LID methods —greenways, wetland building, erosion control, stream bank restoration, etc. —are best incorporated in the earliest stages of development. They provide aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits.

A SWaMP  project with Opelika Middle School couples stream restoration of Rocky Brook Creek in the municipal park with stream water quality testing by OMS students. At Trinity Christian School, SWaMP funded the installation of a rain harvesting project, in which two 1,700 gallon barrels collect rain from the school’s roof. That system is expected to supply the water for the school’s restrooms and outdoor garden plot.

Also in the planning stages are subdivision pollution-trapping structures, rural stream renovations, and additional school and community outreach projects.

            SWaMP obtains its funds through a grant from ADEM and EPA Region 4, and is coordinated

through the Auburn University Fisheries Department. AU staff who are instrumental in SWaMP’s success

include director Dr. Bill Deutsch and co-coordinators Eric Reutebuch and Wendy Seesock.

Comments(0)

Week of June 23, 2008

BLUEBERRIES FOR SALE – Benefit for HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
The blueberries are local, organic, delicious and help build houses for Habitat for Humanity! For sale at the following times and locations:
Walgreens’ Parking Lot — (Corner of Glenn and Dean) — Tuesday & Thursday (7-9 a.m.); Saturday (8-10 a.m.
Kinnucan’s — (S. College & N. Donahue) — Tuesday (3-5 p.m.); Saturday (11 a.m.-1 p.m.)
AU Farmer’s Market — (W. Samford Ave & Donahue) — Thursday (3-6 p.m.)

============================

SUNDAY, JUNE 22 through THURSDAY, JUNE 26 — Downtown Sidewalk Cleaning & Maintenance June 22 – 26

MONDAY, JUNE 23 through FRIDAY, JUNE 27 — Auburn Public Library Closed June 16 – 27
TUESDAY, JUNE 24 — Portions of West Glenn Avenue and Donahue Drive Closed June 24

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 3:00 pm – OPELIKA MAIN STREET FARMER’S MARKET
Held each Tuesday throughout summer along South Railroad Avenue between 8th and 9th Street, Opelika.
If you are a grower and would like to participate, contact Opelika Main Street at 745-0466.

TUESDAY, JUNE 24 3:00 pm — OPELIKA PLANNING COMMISSION
Held at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika Public Works bldg. Open to all. www.opelika.org
Agenda includes:
A. PLATS (preliminary and prel. & final) – Public Hearing
1. McKemie Corners S/D, 10 lots, Lee Road 266, Thomas Miller, Preliminary & Final approval
2. Village at Waterford, Phase II, Al Hwy 169, Village at Highland Hills LLC, Preliminary
B. CONDITIONAL USE
3. Carson Jackson, 200 2nd Avenue, C-2, outdoor display of rock products
4. Purpose Baptist Church, 3211 Waverly Parkway, R-4, New church sanctuary
5. Environmental & Recycling Solutions, 1902 Market Street, M-1, GC-2, Environmental services
6. Frank Jackson, 2311 Center Hills Drive, C-2, GC-1, Storage building
7. Nancy Willingham, 13 Samford Avenue, C-3, GC-2, Allow bar/grill to open until 2:00 AM
C. REZONING – Public Hearing
8. Goodwyn Mills & Cawood, 3500 block of Robert Trent Jones Trail, from R-3 to PUD and amend master plan for property adjacent to the Marriot
9. Lisa Ditchkoff, 614 North Railroad Avenue (former Coca-Cola building), from C-2 to C-1 WITHDRAWN
D. AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE – Public Hearing
10. Section 7.3 Use Categories – Amend matrix table from Not Allowed (N) to Conditional use (C) for Funeral Homes in an R-4 zoning district

TUESDAY, JUNE 24 , 7:00 pm – AUBURN BIKE COMMITTEE www.auburnalabama.org/cycle/
Held in the conference room, Development Services Bldg, 171 N. Ross St. Open to all.

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 7:00 pm – OPELIKA SUMMER SWING SACK SUPPER /KIDD BLUE
6:15 – 7:30 pm Sack Suppers for sale – Hamburgers, hot dogs, home made ice-cream prepared by the Opelika Band Boosters. Complimentary lemonade provided by First American Bank of Opelika.
Held at the Municipal Park in Opelika. Free outdoor concert; open to all. Hosted by the Opelika Parks and Recreation Department.
KIDD BLUE: A true Lee county original. Formed in 1985 as an off shoot of Robert Orr’s jazz ensemble called “Off Ramp”, Kidd Blue and the Blues Kings began wowing audiences as the house band at Denaro’s on Toomer’s Corner. Twenty years later, Kidd Blue ’s eclectic mix of horn driven Soul, R & B, Rock & Roll and 80’s favorites is enjoyed by audiences from 8 to 80. For more information visit the band at www.kiddblue.com
The Rocky Brook Rocket, a vintage train with a long, rich history, has been restored and is back on the tracks for complimentary train rides. Come out early! Bring the whole family, a quilt or lawn chair and relax on the bank of Rocky Brook Creek for an evening of musical fun, fellowship and relaxation. More info: Opelika Parks and Recreation Department at 334-705-5560 or e-mail bkent@ci.opelika.al.us

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 5:30 pm – AUBURN INTEGRATED GROWTH MODEL / JOINT MEETING OF AUBURN PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL
Held in the city meeting room, 122 Tichenor Ave. Open to all.
Final report on the Auburn Integrated Growth Model.

THURSDAY, JUNE 26 and FRIDAY, JUNE 27 — AUBURN UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Agenda: will be posted at www.auburn.edu/administration/trustees/meetings.html

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 9:00 am – Noon — AUBURN ALUMNI ASSOC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Held at AU’s Alumni Center. Open to all.

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2:00 pm – ALABAMA COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION / ACHE
Held in the PSC Hearing Room, 9th Floor, 100 North Union St, Montgomery; ph: 334-242-1998. Open to all. Agenda: Discussion of agenda items for Friday, June 27, 2008 meeting.

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 3:00 – 6:00 pm —FARMERS’ MARKET AT AG HERITAGE PARK
Held at AU’s Ag Heritage Park. Open to all. http://www.ag.auburn.edu/themarket
The Market at Ag Heritage Park is a regular Thursday afternoon event through mid-August. The Market features locally grown, fresh-from-the-farm produce along with locally made products. You likely will find strawberries, greens, onions and other spring produce as well as honey, goat cheese, stone-ground grains, baked goods and plants. Educational displays are welcome too, and any College of Ag departments and clubs interested in having a booth can contact Dani Carroll, 334-749-3353 or carrodl@auburn.edu, or Katie Jackson, 334-844-5887 or smithcl@auburn.edu, for information or to reserve a space.

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 9:00 am — ALABAMA COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION / ACHE
Held in the RSA Union Building, 100 North Union St, 9th Floor, Public Service Commission Hearing Room. Ph: 334-242-1998. Open to all.
Preliminary agenda:
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call of Members and Determination of Quorum
III. Approval of Agenda
IV. Consideration of Minutes of Previous Meeting
V. Chairman’s Report
VI. Executive Director’s Report
VII. Institutional Accountability Reports on Progress Toward Goals Identified in the State Plan
VIII. Discussion Items
IX. Decision Items
X. Information Items

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 11:00 am – ALABAMA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION / EMC
Held at the ADEM Building, Alabama Room (Main Hearing Room), 1400 Coliseum Blvd, Mont.; 334-271-7706. Open to all.
Agenda includes:
1. Consideration of minutes of meeting held on April 18, 2008
2. Report from the Director
3. Report from the Commission Chair
4. Report from the Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee
5. Consideration of Adoption of Proposed Amendments to the Division 3 – Air Regulations – The Commission will consider proposed amendments to the Division 3 – Air Regulations. The Department proposes to amend ADEM Administrative Code Rules 335-3-10-.01, 335-3-10-.02, 335-3-11-.01, 335-3-11-.06, 335-3-11A-.01, 335-3-11A-.02, and Appendix C. The Department held a public hearing on the proposed amendments on May 9, 2008.
6. Ronnie Smith v. ADEM, EMC Docket No. 08-04 (NPDES-Related Matter) – The Commission will consider the Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge to dismiss the Petitioner’s appeal of ADEM Administrative Order 08-096-MNPS issued on February 26, 2008, to Ronnie Smith, Ronnie Smith Development, Holtville, Elmore County, NPDES AUR168412.
7. Other business
8. Future business session
* The Agenda for this meeting will be available on the ADEM website, www.adem.alabama.gov, under EMC Information and Calendar of Events.
** The Minutes for this meeting will be available on the ADEM website under EMC Information.

SATURDAY, JUNE 28 — Summer Sizzler Ride Challenge
All rides begin & end at Cary Woods Elementary School. Open to all.
The Auburn Parks and Recreation Department and the Auburn Bicycle Committee will host the Inaugural Summer Sizzler Challenge Ride Saturday, June 28. This ride is “Part 3″ of the Auburn Bicycle Challenge. This event is open to anyone, however you must compete in all 4 Auburn Bicycle Challenge events to be eligible for prizes.
Participants can choose from four courses:
3-mile course: begins at 8:00 am
17-mile course: begins at 7:50 am
34-mile course: begins at 7:40 am
62-mile course: begins at 7:30 a.m
Registration will only be available the day of the event and will begin promptly at 6:45 a.m. The cost is $5 to participate. For more information, please visit www.auburnalabama.org/cycle or contact Dee Watson at 501-2948.

==========================================

CITY OF AUBURN / CONSTRUCTION PROJECT STATUS REPORTS (updated weekly)
PUBLIC WORKS: www.auburnalabama.org/pw/status.asp
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: www.auburnalabama.org/wrm/status.asp

=============

Thanks for your interest and support.

Email: placeforum@gmail.com

Web: http://placeforum.org/blog/

Comments Off

June 20, 2008 column by Lisa Brouillette: Local watershed SWaMP’ed with success

(first published in the Opelika-Auburn News)

Droughts in the southeast, floods in the heartland, EPA fines totaling over $4 million levied against four major national homebuilders for alleged Clean Water Act violations-recent news on water and water quality issues has been bleak.

Want some good news about our local watershed for contrast? Look at the work of SWaMP – the Saugahatchee Watershed Management Plan.

SWaMP’s goal is “to clean up Saugahatchee Creek and educate others of its value.” As shown on their new website (www.swamp.auburn.edu), SWaMP accomplishes this through a combination of research, education, and practical projects.

For example, SWaMP funded approximately 20% of the Saugahatchee Restoration Project located in Auburn, downstream of the North Donahue Bridge and north of Richland Road.  SWaMP collaborated on the project with the City of Auburn’s Water Resource Management Department (WRM), which planned and executed the restoration.

According to the SWaMP website, an estimated equivalent of 100 dump truck loads of soil had eroded from this site into Saugahatchee Creek and from there to Yates Lake and the Tallapoosa River. The erosion threatened a major sewer line that transports sewage from thousands of homes to an Auburn wastewater treatment plant.

However SWaMP doesn’t just fix existing problems, the group also works proactively to encourage better methods of construction, development and maintenance. Recently they presented a local workshop on low-impact development (LID). This method, proven successful in other areas, incorporates wetland-building and other environmentally friendly techniques.

Local developer Jay Conner, who attended the LID workshop, is already involved in a local LID project -  the Camden Ridge Constructed Wetland project.  This project will help reduce sediment and pollution runoff such as lawn chemicals and fertilizers, pet waste, motor oil, etc. In addition, it will serve as an educational opportunity for the whole community.

SWaMP is providing both funding and technical assistance for the Camden Ridge project. For more details, see the “What can a local wetland do for your subdivision?” link on the SWaMP homepage.

One of SWaMP’s strengths is that it’s comprised of a variety of stakeholders: state and local government officials, university personnel and departments, environmental groups, developers, industries, interested citizens, and others.

It’s particularly heartening to see developers involved with SWaMP.  Many LID methods -greenways, wetland building, erosion control, stream bank restoration, etc. -are best incorporated in the earliest stages of development. They provide aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits.

A SWaMP  project with Opelika Middle School couples stream restoration of Rocky Brook Creek in the municipal park with stream water quality testing by OMS students. At Trinity Christian School, SWaMP funded the installation of a rain harvesting project, in which two 1,700 gallon barrels collect rain from the school’s roof. That system is expected to supply the water for the school’s restrooms and outdoor garden plot.

Also in the planning stages are subdivision pollution-trapping structures, rural stream renovations, and additional school and community outreach projects.

SWaMP obtains its funds through a grant from ADEM and EPA Region 4, and is coordinated through the Auburn University Fisheries Department. AU staff who are instrumental in SWaMP’s success include director Dr. Bill Deutsch and co-coordinators Eric Reutebuch and Wendy Seesock. Opelika and Auburn city staff, including Matt Dunn of Auburn’s WRM department, also are closely involved with SWaMP projects.

#   #   #

Comments Off

ADDITIONAL EVENT:
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm —-SGA SUMMER BLOOD DRIVE
Held in AU’s Foy Ballroom. There will be free food available (pizza, etc.)
A special reason to donate: Colin Sanders, the 20-mth-old grandson of Dr. Bill Deutsch (Alabama Water Watch, Fisheries, College of AG) is battling a cancer known as a neuroblastoma.  Colin has been through rigorous chemo and will face more treatments, but today he receives his stem cell transplant.  Many of us have been looking for ways to help, and here is an idea…Donate Blood ON CAMPUS TOMORROW.
Colin has already had several transfusions and will likely face more, so you can help! You can donate in his honor by referencing number 513724 when you give. He’ll receive $10 for each unit donated. (This number will work at any donor center, so if you can’t make it here tomorrow, donate later and reference his number.)

TIME CHANGE:
FRIDAY, NOV. 16, 4:45 – 5:45 pm — IRAQ MORATORIUM VIGIL
Held at Toomer’s Corner. All are invited to participate.
Sponsored by Alliance for Peace and Justice. Bring candles, signs (some will be provided). Join thousands nationwide wearing black armbands or ribbons on the 3rd Friday of each month. See www.iraqmoratorium.org and www.peaceeagle.org.

DATE CORRECTION: (incorrectly listed as Friday in previous email)
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 8:00 pm – SUNDILLA CONCERT FEATURING James Durst and Jim Scott
Held at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall (AUUF), 450 E. Thach. www.sundilla.org
Admission: $10; with student ID $8; children under 12 free (and welcomed; play area provided). Light refreshments provided free of charge; you may also bring your own food or beverage (beer/wine allowed). For more info, and to hear music clips of James Durst and Jim Scott, go to www.sundilla.org.

===========================================

ACTION ITEM — BIKE LANES NEEDED ON SAMFORD AVENUE EXTENSION
(Info courtesy of Kirk Iversen, member of the Auburn Bicycle Committee)

The City of Auburn is designing the extension of Samford Avenue east of University Drive to connect with Glenn Avenue. The Auburn Bike Committee has asked that bike lanes be included in the design.

The City is supportive and has offered to include an option with bike lanes in the budgeting process. Once they see what that will cost, they will decide if the city can afford it. Other options may be a multi-use sidewalk on one side, or nothing. [note: The Samford Extension is in council member Robin Kelly's ward.]The big concern is money. The Council needs to know that there is support from citizens for spending tax money on this.

Please contact the City Council today and let them know you think bike lanes are worth the money. [Council contact info at www.auburnalabama.org/cc/members.asp; email entire Council via coagbemail@auburnalabama.org.]

Please take time to speak up about this now. Once the curbs & gutters get installed, it’s too late.

Points to consider or include (in your own words):
• Sidewalks are important for pedestrians and children on bikes, but putting bike commuters or recreational cyclists on the same sidewalk is dangerous for everyone — commuting cyclists move at up to 20 mph, much different than pedestrians or children on bikes.

• Sidewalks are dangerous for cyclists at normal speeds (10 to 20 mph), especially at driveways and intersections.

• A sidewalk on one side of the road means cyclists will be on the “wrong” side half of the time, dangerous when merging with the road at the end of the sidewalk, and headlights are in their eyes.

• AASHTO’s recommendations are to avoid putting bicycles on sidewalks. And AASHTO’s definitions would consider a “multi-use path” on this road to be a “sidewalk”.

• This extension is a very important piece of our official Bike Network. For commuters, Samford Avenue includes tennis courts, elementary, junior high, and high schools, and the University. It connects to the Samford bike lane on campus that will soon extend to Shug Jordan, the Wire Road bike lanes/paths that will go from Samford to Webster, and ultimately, Kiesel Park. Important work sites are at each end of Samford (AU on the west, USDA state office, Sam’s, Skyway offices, etc. on the east. For recreation, this extension will tie into the University Drive and Bent Creek bike lanes and Hamilton/Ogletree Roads.

=======================

Thanks for your interest and support.

Email: placeforum@gmail.com

Web: http://placeforum.org/blog/

Comments Off

SPECIAL NOTE: Especially during the summer, meeting details may change or meetings may be cancelled. When possible, such changes will be noted in an email update and/or on the http://placeforum.org website.

==================================================================

WEEK OF JUNE 16, 2008

ALABAMA CITIZENS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM / ACCR
Click here to download THE VOICE OF ALABAMA Vol. 3: 2. ACCR newsletter
Legislative dysfunction — 2008 session failure rooted in 1901 constitution
When the legislative process goes awry, as it did in the 2008 regular session, we often blame partisan politics or the ever-popular “special interests.” However, this year’s failure goes beyond those factors to another, more imposing one – the 1901 Alabama Constitution. The constitutional ploy that shut down the Senate for 26 out of 30 days on a purely local bill is a relic of the elitism that taints this central document of our state government. This year it sabotaged the Senate; another year it could happen in the House or both.

MONDAY, JUNE 16 – FRIDAY, JUNE 27 — AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY CLOSING
Auburn Public Library Closed June 16 – 27

TUESDAY, JUNE 17 – AUBURN POWER DISRUPTION
Power Service Disruption for Portions of North College Street and Magnolia Avenue Rescheduled for June 17

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, NOON – AUBURN COMMERICIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (CDA) — SPECIAL CALLED MEETING
Held in the City Manager’s Conference Room, 144 Tichenor Ave. Open to all.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 3:00 pm – OPELIKA MAIN STREET FARMER’S MARKET
Held each Tuesday throughout summer along South Railroad Avenue between 8th and 9th Street, Opelika.
If you are a grower and would like to participate, contact Opelika Main Street at 745-0466.

TUESDAY, JULY 17, 5:00 – 8:00 pm — Walker Evans Lecture and Reception
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Free & open to all. Reception follows lecture. www.jcsm.auburn.edu
Dr. Marilyn Laufer, JCSM director will present a program on photographer Walker Evans and his collaboration with wrtier James Agee which resulted in the publication Let us Now Praise Famous Men. This exhibit will be on display June 13, 2008 through November 8, 2008 at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. This exhibition features a selection of images made in 1936, when the editors of Fortune magazine sent writer, James Agee and photographer, Walker Evans on assignment to document the southern sharecropping economic system.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17 – AUBURN CITY COUNCIL
Committee of the Whole: 6:30 pm / Regular meeting: 7:00 pm
Held in the council chambers, 141 N. Ross St.. Open to all.
Agenda & full packet: www.auburnalabama.org/agenda/
Committee of the Whole agenda includes:
3. CABLE TV UPDATE. Presentation and Discussion. City Manager Charles M. Duggan, Jr. and/or Assistant City Manager/CIO Jim Buston.
4. MUNICIPAL JUDGE. Discussion. Councilperson Arthur L. Dowdell, Sr.
5. WATER WORKS BOARD. One Position. Six Year Term Begins June 22, 2008. Incumbent: Tony Overfelt (has served one full term).Nominations.
6. QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA. City Manager Duggan.
Regular meeting agenda includes:
7. CITIZENS’ COMMUNICATIONS.
8. CITY MANAGER’S COMMUNICATIONS. City Manager Duggan.
a. Announcement of Board Vacancy. Planning Commission. One Position. Mayor Nominates to Council. Six Year Term Expires July 30, 2014. Incumbent Cheryl Cobb has served one full term and one partial term, and is eligible for reappointment.
9. ORDINANCES.
a. Steve and Karen Hickok. Property Located at 2525 East Glenn Avenue. Rezone from Development District Housing (DDH) to Comprehensive Development District (CDD). Planning Commission Recommendation. 1.8 Acres.
10. RESOLUTIONS.
a. Economic Development Department. Tax Abatements. Excludes Education, Hospital, and Children’s Home Ad Valorem and Sales and Use Taxes.
(1) Selzer Automotive, LP. Lot 17 Auburn Technology Park West.
(2) Cumberland Plastic Systems, LLC. 229 Teague Court. Modification of Previously Approved Tax Abatement.
b. Conditional Use Approval. Public Hearing Required. Planning Commission Recommendation.Reunion, LLC/Greg Darden. Property Located at 712 West Magnolia Avenue. Road Service Use (Parking Garage) in University Service (US) Zoning District. Amend Previous Conditional Use Approval.
c. Development Agreement, Contracts, and Agreements. Authorize Mayor and City Manager to Execute.
(1) Reunion, LLC/Greg Darden. North Park Parking Garage. 712 West Magnolia Avenue. Development Agreement.
(2) Agreements.
(a) Public Safety Department – Police Division. Fourth Addendum to Merger Agreement Between City and Auburn University. Adjust Financial Commitments. FY08.
(b) East Alabama Health Care Authority dba/HealthPlus Fitness Center. Wellness Program. Extension.
(3) Contracts.
(b) Public Safety Department.
(1) 911 Equipment Maintenance. Service Contract. Motorola. $1,468.03/month for Ten Months.
(2) In-Car Video Cameras (17). Digital Ally, Inc. $79,900. Sole Source Provider.
(3) Personal Mobility Vehicle-T-3 Series. T3 Motion, Inc. $11,598. Sole Source Provider.
(c) Water Resource Management Department.
(1) Kubota L4330 Tractor. Capital Tractor, Inc. $11,732.56. State Contract Number 4008642.
(2) Increase from $35,000 to $60,000. Amendment 1 to Task Order 12. Professional Engineering Services. CH2M Hill.
(c) Public Works Department.
(1) $14,670. Professional Engineering Services. East Samford Avenue Extension Project. Civil Design and Consulting, Inc. Additional cost. .
(2) $105,000. Professional Engineering Services. Downtown Parking Deck Project. Barge, Waggoner, Sumner, & Cannon, Inc.
d. Drainage and Utility Easements, Rights-of-Way, Temporary Construction Easements, and Quit Claim Deeds. Acceptance and Vacation.
(1) Indian Hill Road. Indian Hill Subdivision. Vacate Portion of Indian Hill Road Right of Way. Quit Claim Deeds. Public Hearing Continued from April 15, 2008 Meeting.
(2) ERM Investments, LLC. Donahue Coin-Op, Plat No. 1. Property Located at 410 North Donahue Drive. Drainage and Utility Easements and Rights-of-Way.
(3) Lewis A. Pick, III. Pick Estates Subdivision. Property Located North of Pickwood Subdivision and West of Shelton Mill Road. Drainage and Utility Easements and Rights of Way.
(4) Temporary Construction Easements. Cox Road Improvements Project.
(a) Staley and Leona Fincher. 1977 Cox Road.
(b) Thomas and Lorra Casson. P.O. Box 525.
(c ) Dawson Family Limited Partnership. 1880 Cox Road.
(d) John and April MacDonald. 1900 Sunset Drive.
(e) Robert Miller. 2480 Lee Road 61.
(f) Bethany Pylant. 2010 Cox Road
(5) City of Auburn. Grant Temporary Construction Easement to Cleveland Brothers Construction Company. Construct Drainage and Utility Easement. Forrest Pointe Development Project.
(6) $80,850 Settlement. J. Mathan and Jill Holt. Grant Permanent Drainage and Utility Easement.1.65 Acres. Property Located in West Auburn North of Highway 14. Northside Transfer Force Main Project.
e. Water Works Board. One Position. Six Year Term Ends June 21, 2014.Appointment.
11. OTHER BUSINESS. 12. ADJOURNMENT.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17 – OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL
6:30 pm – work session / 7:00 PM – regular meeting
Held in the council chambers, 204 South 7th Street, Opelika. Open to all.
Agenda: www.opelika.org/
Work session agenda includes:
(1) – a. Update on the Brown School
(2) – a. Resolution to amend P.O. with Volkert & Assoc.
(3) – a. Resolution to amend P.O. with HTE
(4) – a. Douglas Street, drainage/ditch issue. b. General updates
(5) – Discuss/review CM agenda items of 6/17/08
Remarks by Mayor; General business; Bids; Resolutions; Ordinances; Board Appointments
(6) – Discussion: New / Old Business
a. Board appointments. b. Other City business.
Regular session agenda includes:
6) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
7) REMARKS BY THE MAYOR – Gary Fuller
1. Recognize Kyle Burdette as the police officer of the month.
2. Building permit report for May 2008.
3. Presentation of a special recognition resolution to Mr. Mark Mitchell.
4. City Financial Summary – May 2008.
CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS – (Limit comments to five minutes or less)
9) REPORT OF DISBURSEMENTS
10) COMMITTEE REPORTS
11) GENERAL BUSINESS – Bob Shuman
1. Public hearing, Annual CDBG Action Plan FY2009.
2. Public hearing, project development agreement with King Automobiles, Inc. and limited obligation revenue warrant to be issued by the City.
3. Public hearing, amend zoning ordinance, 1.6 acres on Old Columbus Road, from M1 to R4M.
12) AWARDING OF BIDS – (By Resolution) – Shirley Washington
1. Three year contract for custodial service for the ESG/Public Works department.
2. Contract for underground primary distribution cable for the L&P department.
3. Ammunition for OPD from the Alabama State contract.
4. Three year contract for custodial service for the L&P department.
5. Oral recommendation, contract for an Enterprise Content Management Retention System.
13) RESOLUTIONS – Guy Gunter
1. Refund of a sewer assessment fee to the First Seventh Day Adventist Church.
2. Approved the use of the AutoMARK Voter 87000 (voter assist terminal) during City elections.
3. Appoint R.G. Shuman as the City election manager and absentee manager.
14) ORDINANCES – Guy Gunter
1. Amend City Personnel Policy manual, Section 10 – 2nd Reading.
2. Amend zoning ordinance, 1.6 acres Old Columbus Rd, M1 to R4M – 1st Reading.
3. Development agreement with King Automobiles, Inc and issue revenue warrant – 1st Reading.
15) APPOINTMENTS. 16) ADJOURN

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 4:00 pm – AUBURN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD / SPECIAL CALLED MEETING
Held in the City Manager’s Conference Room, Auburn City Hall, 144 Tichenor Ave. Open to all.
Note: Meeting will be held only if a quorum of IDB members will be present.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 6:00 pm – LEE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB
Held at the Elks Club, 1944 Opelika Road.
6:00 pm — buffet dinner ($9.00; tax and tip included)
6:50 pm – Program: Dr. Gerald Johnson, Capital Survey Research, “Analysis of the Primary Elections.”
Gerald Johnson is an emeritus professor of political science at Auburn University and directs the Capital Survey Research Center (CSRC) in Montgomery, Alabama. The CSRC is the polling department of the Alabama Education Association. Established in 1996, the CSRC is a 24-station state-of-the-art telephone-interviewing center. The CSRC uses a Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) system that allows for extensive controls of demographic and geographic factors such as race, gender, and region. Coupled with random digit dialing selection of telephone numbers, the system produces highly representative survey samples that accurately reflect the population being surveyed.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 7:30 pm – AU SUMMERSTAGE 2008 / The Complete History of America (abridged)
Held at AU’s Telfair Peet Theatre. Info: www.auburnuniversitytheatre.org/
Dinner Theatre packages available through Arricia with shuttle services to and from AU Theatre.
AU Summerstage 2008 opens with this wonderfully wacky entree authored by the insanely talented Reduced Shakespeare Company and directed by AU Theatre Assistant Professor Chris Qualis. Join us as we take on 600 Years of History in 6000 seconds! From Washington to Watergate, yea verily from the Bering Straits to Baghdad, from the New World to the New World Order, this hilarious comedy is a ninety-minute rollercoaster ride through the glorious quagmire that is American History.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, NOON — ALABAMA HOME BUILDERS LICENSURE BOARD
Held at 445 Herron Street, Montgomery. Ph: 334-242-2230
Regular meeting. The Board will meet to approve minutes from the previous month’s meeting, to approve applications for licensure, and to conduct the general business of the Board.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 3:00 – 6:00 pm —FARMERS’ MARKET AT AG HERITAGE PARK
Held at AU’s Ag Heritage Park. Open to all. http://www.ag.auburn.edu/themarket
The Market at Ag Heritage Park is a regular Thursday afternoon event through mid-August. The Market features locally grown, fresh-from-the-farm produce along with locally made products. You likely will find strawberries, greens, onions and other spring produce as well as honey, goat cheese, stone-ground grains, baked goods and plants. Educational displays are welcome too, and any College of Ag departments and clubs interested in having a booth can contact Dani Carroll, 334-749-3353 or carrodl@auburn.edu, or Katie Jackson, 334-844-5887 or smithcl@auburn.edu, for information or to reserve a space.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 4:00 pm — OPELIKA PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION
Held at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika Public Works bldg. Open to all. www.opelika.org
Agenda includes:
A. PLATS (preliminary and prel. & final) – Public Hearing
1. McKemie Corners S/D, 10 lots, Lee Road 266, Thomas Miller, Preliminary & Final approval
2. Village at Waterford, Phase II, Al Hwy 169, Village at Highland Hills LLC, Preliminary
B. CONDITIONAL USE
3. Carson Jackson, 200 2nd Avenue, C-2, outdoor display of rock products
4. Purpose Baptist Church, 3211 Waverly Parkway, R-4, New church sanctuary
5. Environmental & Recycling Solutions, 1902 Market Street, M-1, GC-2, Environmental services
6. Frank Jackson, 2311 Center Hills Drive, C-2, GC-1, Storage building
7. Nancy Willingham, 13 Samford Avenue, C-3, GC-2, Allow bar/grill to open until 2:00 AM
C. REZONING – Public Hearing
8. Goodwyn Mills & Cawood, 3500 block of Robert Trent Jones Trail, from R-3 to PUD and amend master plan for property adjacent to the Marriot
9. Lisa Ditchkoff, 614 North Railroad Avenue (former Coca-Cola building), from C-2 to C-1 WITHDRAWN
D. AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE – Public Hearing
10. Section 7.3 Use Categories – Amend matrix table from Not Allowed (N) to Conditional use (C) for Funeral Homes in an R-4 zoning district.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 5:00 – 8:00 pm – COLLECTORS TALK AND WINE TASTING
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Free & open to all. Talk followed by a 6:00 pm wine tasting & reception.
Lynn Barstis Williams and Stephen J. Goldfarb, the collectors of Imprinting the South: Works on Pape, will give a slide presentation and discussion illuminating their collection and exhibition. The exhibition runs through August 23 and features works on paper that represent a view of the South’s social, economic, cultural and topographical identity. Images in the collection range from southern landmarks, picturesque cities, scenes of cotton and tobacco farming to depictions of religion and recreation. The museum has created a pod cast available for download June 13 at www.jcsm.auburn.edu. iPods are also available to checkout at the front desk. More info: 334.844.1484.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 6:30 pm – SAVE OUR SAUGAHATCHEE / SOS
Held in AU’s Swingle Hall, room 313 (Fisheries Bldg). Open to all.
Agenda: Bacterial sampling of local watersheds-ADEM & Cliff Webber

FRIDAY THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 8:00 pm – SUNDILLA CONCERT FEATURING James Durst and Jim Scott
Held at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall (AUUF), 450 E. Thach. www.sundilla.org
Admission: $10; with student ID $8; children under 12 free (and welcomed; play area provided). Light refreshments provided free of charge; you may also bring your own food or beverage (beer/wine allowed). For more info, and to hear music clips of James Durst and Jim Scott, go to www.sundilla.org.

FRIDAY, JUNE 20 to SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
LEE COUNTY TOUR OF HOMES 2008 / BENEFIT FOR LEE COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Held in various locations in Opelika and Auburn. Homes will be open to the public, free of charge. Proceeds will benefit the Lee County Habitat for Humanity.
Tours begin at the Auburn and Opelika Chambers of Commerce where tour viewers will receive a 2008 Tour of Homes publication and a map for the tour homes. Lee County currently has over 200 newly constructed homes on the market. The East Alabama Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® offers this opportunity for the entire community to see what is being offered in new construction homes of all sizes and prices in Lee County.
More info: event chairwoman, Sylvia Paul at 334-319-0491; smpaul@hughes.net. http://www.opelika.org/Default.asp?ID=16&pg=City+News&action=view&nid=249

FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 5:00 pm  4:45 – 5:45 pm– IRAQ MORATORIUM VIGIL
Held at Toomer’s Corner. All are invited to participate.
Sponsored by Alliance for Peace and Justice. Bring candles, signs (some will be provided). Join thousands nationwide wearing black armbands or ribbons on the 3rd Friday of each month. See www.iraqmoratorium.org and www.peaceeagle.org.

FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 6:00 – 9:00 pm – AUBURN DOWNTOWN ART WALK / SUMMER NIGHT 2008
Held in Downtown Auburn. Free & open to all.
This annual event is for local artists and musicians to display their talents, while offering the community a chance to enjoy an evening in the downtown area.
Downtown merchants and restaurants will remain open after regular business hours and business will hold sidewalk sales. Citizens are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and shop, dine and enjoy the downtown atmosphere. Local artists will have their work on display and local musicians will entertain the public on Toomer’s Corner. This event will also include children’s activities with a parade earlier in the evening.
Band Schedule:
6:00 – 6:30 Little Muse
6:00 – 6:45 Todd Vickery
6:45 – 7:00 Children’s Parade led by Todd Vickery and Jon Myles
7:00 – 8:00 MUSE
8:00 – 9:00 Alabama Gravy Soppers
College Street from Thach Avenue to Tichenor Avenue and Magnolia Avenue from Wright Street to Gay Street will be closed to vehicular traffic on Friday, June 20 from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. In the event of rain, the road closings are valid on Saturday, June 21. Sponsored by the City of Auburn, the Auburn Arts Association, and the Auburn Downtown Merchants Assoc. More info: Sara Hand at 501-2944 or shand@auburnalabama.org or visit www.auburnsummernight.com.

================

CITY OF AUBURN / CONSTRUCTION PROJECT STATUS REPORTS (updated weekly)
PUBLIC WORKS: www.auburnalabama.org/pw/status.asp
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: www.auburnalabama.org/wrm/status.asp

=============

Thanks for your interest and support.

Email: placeforum@gmail.com

Web: http://placeforum.org/blog/

Comments Off

 Low-Impact Design workshop available in Auburn this Friday.  Seating is limited. Registration required by tomorrow.  See details below.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm – INNOVATIVE LOW-IMPACT SITE DESIGN WORKSHOP / A Study in Costs and Benefits of Green Subdivision Development
Held in the Rouse Life Sciences Building, Room 112, AU.
Registration begins at 8:30 am. Limited seating.
Maps, Parking and Box Lunch provided. Lunch tour of Camden subdivision included.
TO REGISTER: Contact Wendy Seesock seesowc@auburn.edu or Rita Grub rzg0009@auburn.edu before June 10 at (334) 844-9323 or 844-4785.
Topics:
Costs of doing business the conventional ways
Using the natural features of a site
Cost-Effective Infrastructure
Selling the Product
Instructors
George F. Crozier, Ph.D.  – Director (Ret.) Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Terry C. Plauche, ASLA – Landscape Architect and City Planner
Kevin D. White, Ph.D., P.E. – Chair, Civil Engineering Department ,USA
Emily H. Sommer, CCIM – Associate Broker, Roberts Brothers, Inc.
Sponsored by SWaMP (Saugahatchee Watershed Management Plan) www.swamp.auburn.edu. A production of grassroots, inc, a 501(c)3 organization

Note: Continued education units (CEU) are available for participation in this workshop.

========
Thanks for your interest and support.

PLACEforum@gmail.com /  http://placeforum.org

Comments Off

SPECIAL NOTE: Especially during the summer, meeting details may change or meetings may be cancelled. When possible, such changes will be noted in an email update and/or on the http://placeforum.org website.

===============================================================

WEEK OF JUNE 9, 2008 — MEETINGS, EVENTS & UPDATES

MONDAY, JUNE 9, noon– AUBURN PLANNING COMMISSION PACKET MEETING (AGENDA DISCUSSION)
Held in the conference room, Development Services Bldg, 171 N. Ross St. Open to all.
Agenda & full packet: www.auburnalabama.org/pc/agenda.asp
(Note: Regular meeting will be held on Thursday, 5 pm — see details below)
Agenda includes:
CITIZENS’ COMMUNICATION
OLD BUSINESS
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Camden Ridge Subdivision, 11th Addition, Phase Two PL-2008-00332
Applicant: North Woods, Inc.
General Location: Piedmont Drive and Keystone Drive
Zoning District: Development District Housing (DDH)
Action Requested: Final plat approval for a 52-lot conventional residential subdivision and one
subdivision amenity lot
NEW BUSINESS
2. 200 West Glenn Subdivision PUBLIC HEARING PL-2008-00269
Applicant: War Eagle Ventures, LLC
General Location: 200 West Glenn Avenue
Zoning District: Urban Core (UC)
Action Requested: Preliminary plat approval in order to consolidate twelve lots into one lot
3. 200 West Glenn Subdivision PL-2008-00270
Applicant: War Eagle Ventures, LLC
General Location: 200 West Glenn Avenue
Zoning District: Urban Core (UC)
Action Requested: Final plat approval in order to consolidate twelve lots into one lot
4. Woodland Park Subdivision, Phase 1, Fifth Revision PUBLIC HEARING PL-2008-00329
Applicant: Maxwell Engineering and Land Surveying, Inc.
General Location: Bridle Court / Tallyho Drive
Zoning District: Limited Development District (LDD)
Action Requested: Preliminary plat approval for a 4-lot conventional residential subdivision and one
subdivision amenity lot
5. Woodland Park Subdivision, Phase 1, Fifth Revision PL-2008-00330
Applicant: Maxwell Engineering and Land Surveying, Inc.
General Location: Bridle Court / Tallyho Drive
Zoning District: Limited Development District (LDD)
Action Requested: Final plat approval for a 4-lot conventional residential subdivision and one subdivision amenity lot
6. Alteration Shop PUBLIC HEARING PL-2008-00327
Applicant: Lindburgh Jackson
General Location: 300 North Donahue Drive
Zoning District: Redevelopment District (RDD)
Action Requested: Recommendation to City Council for conditional use approval for an commercial and
entertainment use (alteration shop)
7. North Park PUBLIC HEARING PL-2008-00331
Applicant: Donald Allen Development
General Location: 712 West Magnolia Avenue
Zoning District: University Service (US)
Action Requested: Recommendation to City Council for amended conditional use approval for a road
service use (parking facility)
8. Best Tire New Addition PUBLIC HEARING PL-2008-00335
Applicant: Kevin Harp
General Location: 1646 South College Street
Zoning District: Comprehensive Development District (CDD)
Action Requested: Recommendation to City Council for amended conditional use approval for expansion of a road service use (automotive repair shop)
9. Copper Beech PUBLIC HEARING PL-2008-00333
Applicant: Hydro-Engineering Solutions, LLC
General Location: 575 Shelton Mill Road
Zoning District: Comprehensive Development District (CDD) / Development District Housing (DDH)
Action Requested: Waiver to remove the requirement of a Type-2 structure (fence) along the western
property line
10. Koul Office Building PUBLIC HEARING PL-2008-00336
Applicant: Chris Koullas
General Location: 890 North Dean Road
Zoning District: Comprehensive Development District (CDD)
Action Requested: Waiver to the north bufferyard requirement from 15 feet to 5 feet
OTHER BUSINESS. CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATION. STAFF COMMUNICATION. ADJOURNMENT.

MONDAY, JUNE 9  – LEE COUNTY COMMISSION  www.leeco.us
4:00 pm – work session / 6:00 pm – regular session
Held in the commission chambers, historic courthouse building, 215 S. Ninth St, Opelika. Open to all.
Agenda includes:
3. Public Comment from Citizens:  (limit of 3-minutes per speaker)
4. Establish Quorum and Open Regular Meeting:
5. Awards, Presentations, Proclamations or Other Recognitions:
6. Reports from Staff:
a. Planning Commission Appointment Considerations – Wendy Swann
7. Consent Agenda:
a. Minutes of Commission Meeting May 27, 2008
b. Ratify and Approve Claims
c. Bid #22 Hardware for Information Services Department – Tim Parson
8.  OLD BUSINESS:
a. Legislative Consideration – Commissioner Lawrence
b. Smiths Station Ballfield Bids – Roger Rendleman
9.   NEW BUSINESS:
a. Gold Hill Plantation – Ron Calloway
b. Board of Education Bond Issue – Judge English
c. High Risk Rural Roads Guardrail Project – Neal Hall
d. EMA Mutual Aid Agreement – Deedie Matthews
10. Discussion Items
11. Executive Session
12. Adjourn 

MONDAY,JUNE 9, 4:00 pm – AUBURN CEMETERIES ADVISORY BOARD
Held at the Dean Road Rec Center. Open to all.

MONDAY, JUNE 9, 4:00 pm – AUBURN WATER WORKS BOARD
Held in the Water Resource Management Conference Room, 1501 West Samford Avenue (Shug Jordan and West Samford). Info: 501-3060.
Agenda includes:
V. New Business
1. Financial Report – April 2008 / Andrea Jackson
2. Industrial Development Board
    A. Request for Reimbursement for the Auburn Technology Park West – Off-site Water Improvements / Phillip Dunlap
    B. Request for Access Fee Waiver for Project Brumbeat, Project Hunter, Project Albert, and AU Research Park / Phillip Dunlap
3. Alabama Power Company, Inc. — Request to Utilize AWWB Stormwater Retention Pond / Laura Koon
4. Dexter Fortson – Proposal for Security Additions / Laura Koon
5. James Estes Water Treatment Plant
    A. Request for Approval to Purchase Additional Sodium Hypochlorite Storage Tank / Matt Dunn
    B. Sodium Hypochlorite System Installation – Proposal for Construction Services – Floyd Services Co Inc / Matt Dunn
    C. Water Plant Roof Replacement – Proposal for Construction Services – RPI of Alabama / Laura Koon
6. Watershed Monitoring Program – Request for Approval to Retain Suncrest Laboratories / Matt Dunn
7. Lake Ogletree Dam – Drilling Services – Request for Approval To Retain QORE Property Sciences / Laura Koon & Sam Shannon
8. Inundation Study Presentation (Hydro Engineering) / Laura Koon & John Curry
VI. Staff Reports
1. Project Status Report / Laura Koon
2. Water Supply Update / Laura Koon
VII. Additional Information
1. Rainfall Data / Laura Koon

TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 11:30 am – AUBURN GREENSPACE ADVISORY BOARD
Held in the city of Auburn meeting room, 122 Tichenor Ave. Open to all.

TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 3:00 pm – OPELIKA MAIN STREET FARMER’S MARKET
Held each Tuesday throughout summer along South Railroad Avenue between 8th and 9th Street, Opelika.
If you are a grower and would like to participate, contact Opelika Main Street at 745-0466.

TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 4:00 pm – AUBURN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Held in the Development Services Bldg, 171 N. Ross St. Open to all.

TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 7:00 pm – OPELIKA SUMMER SWING SACK SUPPER / Bill J. Brooks: ELVIS Lives Concert
6:15 – 7:30 pm: Sack Suppers for sale – Hamburgers, hot dogs, home made ice-cream prepared by the Opelika Band Boosters. Complimentary lemonade provided by First American Bank of Opelika.
Held at the Municipal Park in Opelika. Free outdoor concert; open to all. Hosted by the Opelika Parks and Recreation Department.
Bill J. Brooks -ELVIS Lives Concert: Top rated Elvis Tribute artist in the S.E. This show is dynamic, entertaining, moving and family friendly.
The Rocky Brook Rocket, a vintage train with a long, rich history, has been restored and is back on the tracks for complimentary train rides. Come out early! Bring the whole family, a quilt or lawn chair and relax on the bank of Rocky Brook Creek for an evening of musical fun, fellowship and relaxation. More info: Opelika Parks and Recreation Department at 334-705-5560 or e-mail bkent@ci.opelika.al.us

THURSDAY, JUNE 12 — AUBURN POWER SERVICE DISRUPTION
Power Service Disruption Planned for Portions of North College Street and Magnolia Avenue June 12

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 3:00 – 6:00 pm —FARMERS’ MARKET AT AG HERITAGE PARK
Held at AU’s Ag Heritage Park. Open to all. http://www.ag.auburn.edu/themarket
The Market at Ag Heritage Park is a regular Thursday afternoon event through mid-August. The Market features locally grown, fresh-from-the-farm produce along with locally made products. You likely will find strawberries, greens, onions and other spring produce as well as honey, goat cheese, stone-ground grains, baked goods and plants. Educational displays are welcome too, and any College of Ag departments and clubs interested in having a booth can contact Dani Carroll, 334-749-3353 or carrodl@auburn.edu, or Katie Jackson, 334-844-5887 or smithcl@auburn.edu, for information or to reserve a space.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 4:30 pm – OPELIKA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

Held in the Planning Chambers, Opelika Public Works Bldg, 700 Fox Trail, Opelika. Open to all.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 5:00 pm – AUBURN PLANNING COMMISSION
Held in the council chambers, 141 N. Ross St. Open to all.
Agenda & full packet:  www.auburnalabama.org/pc/agenda.asp  (See details above, Monday, noon, June 9, PC packet meeting)

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 6:00 pm – AUBURN BOARD OF EDUCATION  www.auburnschools.org
Held in the Auburn High School multi-media room, 405 S. Dean Rd. Open to all.
[Note: Board of Ed meetings usually are held on Tuesdays, but this meeting was changed to Thursday.)

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 7:00 pm — EAST ALABAMA CYCLING CLUB / EACC
Held at the Health Resource Center, 2027 Pepperell Parkway, in Opelika, diagonally across from the East Alabama Medical Center. EACC meetings are held at 7 pm on the second Thursday of the month at the For more information about EACC, please visit their website at http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/groups/EACycling.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13 to SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm  (Also held June 20 to 22.)
LEE COUNTY TOUR OF HOMES 2008 / BENEFIT FOR LEE COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Held in various locations in Opelika and Auburn. Homes will be open to the public, free of charge. Proceeds will benefit the Lee County Habitat for Humanity.
Tours begin at the Auburn and Opelika Chambers of Commerce where tour viewers will receive a 2008 Tour of Homes publication and a map for the tour homes.
Lee County currently has over 200 newly constructed homes on the market. The East Alabama Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® offers this opportunity for the entire community to see what is being offered in new construction homes of all sizes and prices in Lee County. More info: event chairwoman, Sylvia Paul at 334-319-0491; smpaul@hughes.net.  http://www.opelika.org/Default.asp?ID=16&pg=City+News&action=view&nid=249

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 6:00 pm – ART EXHIBITS & OPENING RECEPTION / AUBURN COLLECTS: IMPRINTING THE SOUTH and AMERICAN CLASSICS: SELECTED PHOTOGRAPHS OF ALABAMA BY WALKER EVANS   http://jcsm.auburn.edu/
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Cash bar available.  RSVP to 334.844.3085.
Exhibit includes images from the collection of Lynn Barstis Williams & Stephen J. Goldfarb, organized by the Georgia Museum of Art, and Selected Photographs of Alabama by Walker Evans.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 7:00 pm – CHINESE MUSICAL DRAMA SISTER LIU
Held in AU’s Foy Student Union ballroom.
A group of 27 nationally acclaimed artists from Guangxi, China, will be performing its show known as “Sister Liu”. This classic Chinese folk musical drama is based on a well-known love story of an ethnic (Zhuang) minority in southern China. Singing is a traditional way for young Zhuang people to communicate, show their talents and to express their feelings of love. This event is organized by the AU Chinese Professional Association and the AU Chinese Students and Scholars Organization and is sponsored by the AU Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.
Tickets are $5 for AU students and employees with valid IDs, $15 for general public and free for children 10 years old and younger. Tickets will be on sale from 12:30-2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, June 4-6, inside the Mell Street entrance of Draughon Library (second floor lobby). For ticket reservations, call 444-2723 or e-mail chenli1@auburn.edu, or call 333-4345 or e-mail tianyua@auburn.edu.

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 — 16th ANNUAL ALABAMA WATERWATCH ASSOC MEETING & PICNIC
Info: http://aww.auburn.edu
You are cordially invited to enjoy food, fun, and fellowship with citizen volunteer water monitors form across the state.  Come join us for a day on Smith Lake, and enjoy the variety of activities offered throughout the day and the wonderful picnic lunch being hosted by the Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy.
Please register online at:
https://fp.auburn.edu/icaae/EventWebReg/Picnic/08/picnicRegister.aspx
The link to the picnic agenda is:
https://fp.auburn.edu/icaae/EventWebReg/Picnic/08/picnicAdd.aspx

=========================================================
CITY OF AUBURN / CONSTRUCTION PROJECT STATUS REPORTS (updated weekly)
PUBLIC WORKS: www.auburnalabama.org/pw/status.asp
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: www.auburnalabama.org/wrm/status.asp

=========================================================

Thanks for your interest and support.

Email: placeforum@gmail.com

Web: http://placeforum.org/blog/

Comments Off