Bob Davie

The storm drain at this location is in the middle of the road and giving away. I avoid it because it would damage my suspension. It is getting worse and at this point is a simple fix--just replace the steel grate. You cannot miss it if you drive north on 34th street and turn right before 1st avenue south, on the minor road just after the auto store. You will be looking at the fence around the YMCA. It is right at the intersection of several roads/alleys, less than 100 yards of 34th street.

The crosswalk signal at 18th Avenue and 4th Street is inoperative on the east side almost all the time. It is a serious public safety hazard in that folks on the west side push the button, see their flasher working but when crossing the street may nearly be run down by oncoming traffic in the east lane because the signal is out, like my wife and I this morning. This has been reported before, and the signal has worked for a day or so, either because of luck or City action, probably the former as I am sure the City would have fixed it, if it observed it not working. Occasionally it still works for a few hours; I think when it is raining, but who knows? If City inspectors find it working, have them check it everyday until it doesn't. As an engineer, I know it is hard to fix something if it is working at the time you are there. Thanks for your assistance.

I want to commend the crew maintaining Bartlett Park. I have walked around the area for years, and this particular crew is super. Please thank them for a job well done.
Bob

This morning (March 9th) about 9 AM I was walking south on West Bay Isle Drive, SE when it appeared an ambulance was in front of one of my neighbor’s homes. It turned out to be a City/County truck and trailer (License Plate XE9569) with a crew installing sod. The truck was parked just fine, nicely adjacent to the curb, better than many private landscaping vehicles park, with no reason for flashing lights. I pointed this out to the man who appeared in charge and asked him to turn the lights out. He mumbled a few words and blew me off, showing me no courtesy, like walking up to me to discuss the issue seriously. I took his attitude to be that he was City/County and used the lights as he saw fit. I stated that if every landscaping or neighborhood maintenance crew used flashing lights, soon their justified uses by ambulances, police, and other emergency vehicles would be ignored. I know sometimes flashing lights can be accidentally left on, but this was deliberate. If running the lights is some City/County policy in these situations, it needs to be changed. If not, employees should be instructed to use judgement with the goal of minimizing their use. They should also not blow off resident’s concerns. As an aside, this looked like a pretty inefficient operation in terms of size of crew and nonchalant supervisor to do a sod job no bigger than I have done by myself in my yard. It was a prime example of taxpayers concerns about inefficient local Government which I am sure some of my neighbors noticed.

This involves two locations: 215 and 245 22nd Avenue SE. In front of 215 there are two large low-hanging tree branches that at their lowest point are 70 inches (that is 5 feet 10 inches) above the sidewalk. This poses a serious safety issue for folks walking in the dark along that sidewalk. Even for me at 5 foot 9 inches it is like driving a van in a parking garage; you feel like you will hit the trees. The branches keep getting lower with time and need to be cut off—no small job. In front of 245, another tree branch, a little higher than the previous ones also needs to be cut off. I believe Code calls for an 8-foot clearance above sidewalks. I appreciate your assistance in keeping our sidewalks safe.

The “No Parking” signs in front of 125 22nd Avenue North, SE have created and pose a serious danger to drivers as well as cars parked by these signs on both sides of the street. The median coupled with the signs are the problem. I had mentioned this to someone on the City Staff but never heard back. Even worse, cars and trucks frequently don’t stay behind the sings and park away from the curb. As a Florida PE I have a duty to do what I can to look out for the public safety. In short, these signs need to be moved a good 10-20 feet back from the median. It is common sense! Just take a look. The property is up for sale, so it is a good time to do it. Finally, I hope I don’t end up as a witness against the City in a legal action after this formal request that you fix this very real safety issue. By the way, citing code (whatever it is in this unique situation) will probably not play well in court given the safety issue we have here. Thanks, and I will be glad to meet with you on site to review the issue. 727-492-2611

I submitted item 1299585. You responded that it was a duplicate of item 1299585 from September. OK, I agree. However, Before I left town a couple of weeks ago, nothing of substance on this safety issue had been done. Moreover, you not only need to install reflective markers as you proposed (but hadn't yet done), you need to put up 15 mph or less speed-limit signs. 15 mph is even too fast for some cars and trucks. I would like to see the Mayor drive his car over these humps at 25 mph. Try it yourself. Visitors unfamiliar with the area can easily do it accidentally. A 15 mph speed limit sign would help warn folks of the upcoming dangerous humps. These humps are currently dangerous to both people (jarring back or neck injury for example) and equipment. We need to make neighborhoods as safe as possible for both residents and visitors. Please fix the problem completely and confirm in writing that these humps are within safety code by citing the appropriate reference which guided or dictated their design. Thanks.
Bob Davie