SPAHA Sunset Park Area Homeowners Association

November - December 2013

A Message From Our President

P.O. Box 10751, Tampa 33679

After five solid months of dredging the canals in Sunset Park, the dredging project has been com-pleted, including the private dredging next to the docks and seawalls.

This issue of our newsletter continues to present photos of the dredging process, both to better in-form the members as to what has been happen-ing, and also as a matter of historical record of the biggest single event in Sunset Park history.

Spearheaded by Ellie Montague and others for decades, we never gave up on our quest to get the stormwater runoff from other parts of the city, mostly leaves and construction runoff, removed so as to restore our canals to their original state.

However, as explained in Mike Rothenburg's arti-cle on stormwater, because the dredging was put off for so many years, the accumulated silt made the lakes and canals so shallow that mangroves, oyster beds, and sea grasses were established. And the City has been told that once they are es-tablished they cannot be removed.

Fortunately, Dr. Garrity of the EPC is taking a look at the fact that these species were a not a natural characteristic of the original canals, and is looking into possibility of allowing the mangroves and sea grasses to be removed and relocated so that proper drainage of stormwater can be effected.

We’ve also mentioned the need for maintaining the lakes and canals that have been dredged. The best model that the City of Tampa should emulate is Cape Coral, which has its own fleet of dredges, and continuously dredges the canals in their city, much in same way that they never stop painting the Golden Gate Bridge.

I think that it is time for the City of Tampa to take a serious look at purchasing their own dredging equipment so that we can maintain what we’ve succeeded in getting accomplished.

Marlin Anderson

SPAHA’S Annual Fall Dinner Meeting

Tuesday, November 12th 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm CDB’S Southside

3671 S. West Shore Blvd.

Guest Speaker

Hillsborough County

Commissioner Sandra Murman

Sandra Murman was elected as a County Com-missioner in 2010, representing District 1, which includes South Tampa. In 2011 and 2012 she was elected by her fellow commissioners to serve as Vice Chair of the BOCC. Prior to joining the County Commission, she completed eight years as a member of the Florida House of Representa-tives from 1996 - 2004. Representative Murman was the first Republican Woman to hold the posi-tion of Speaker Pro-Tempore in the Florida House of Representatives.

Please note - This dinner is free to SPAHA mem-bers. However, seating is limited to 45 people.

2

The Very Latest on the Dredging

By Mike Rothenburg

Activities of the ‘Resident Action Team’ continue as the dredging the City has contracted for is still underway. According to Duncan Seawall, they removed over 80 truckloads of muck from Lake Dundee alone - the lake was nearly filled to the top with sediment before they began dredging.

Many of our neighbors have seen this dredging activity in their canals and, notably for all of us, a return of wildlife ranging from bird life, to mullet, blue crabs, snook and even manatees. When the Bayway canal in Beach Park was dredged several years ago, I was amazed at the wildlife that took advantage of the rejuvenated canal system.

As you will recall, the City has promised to come up with a ‘Master Plan’ to identify all dredging needs throughout the area. At our specific re-quest, this Plan is to consider all dredging needs without limitations such as canal width, presence of new growths of sea grasses, oyster bars and mangroves. These are important criteria.

While such colonization is important, in the case of our canals, colonization by these species is the result of muck accumulation, and further increases the amount of trapped sediment, destroying our waterways and impeding drainage.

To that end a meeting was held with Dr. Richard

Garrity, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC). The EPC is the Hillsborough County agency primarily regulating the ability to remove the muck where those plants began to colonize.

This meeting was held to seek their assistance and cooperation in allowing the City to permit dredging and removal of muck where mangroves and oyster beds are present. Their assistance was promised, and we look forward to the City being able to cost effectively permit such impacts at which time the City can fund a full dredging program.

In addition to these activities, we have highlighted the need to the City’s Stormwater Department to clean out the drainage at the bridge over S. Parkview. Mike Herr, City Stormwater Director, indicated they are aware of the problem and will be addressing that concern.

Again, we strongly encourage all residents of Sun-set Park to actively participate in the process of funding further dredging efforts. Please reach out to our Mayor and to City Council, and urge them to continue to appropriate funds for the proper clean-ing and maintenance of our canal system.

Contact information: Mayor Bob Buckhorn: 813-274-8251 Bob.Buckhorn@ci.tampa.fl.us

Councilman Harry Cohen: 813-274-8134 harry.cohen@tampagov.net

Councilman Harry Cohen speaking at the September 2013 SPAHA meeting on the need for a Phase II dredging project, including dredging the remainder of the West Shore canals. Members of the Resi-dent Action Team, including organizer Kent King (in dark shirt), were also in attendance.

3

The crane operator at the Dundee River using seawater to wash off the sides of the bins used to hold the muck prior to transport.

View of the dredge on the Dundee River. Notice the caution sign - can’t wait to see some Manatees in Lake Dundee and the Dundee River!

The crane at the Dundee River staging area transferring muck from the bin on the barge to the bin on land.

4

Community Policing

SPAHA is located in TPD District 1. The District 1 office is located at 3818 Tampa Bay Blvd. The office is staffed 24 hours/7 days each week.

Numbers you should know are:

Captain Ruben Delgado 354-6600

Maryanne Hunsberger 354-6692 Neighborhood Affairs Liaison

General information 354-6600

Needless to say, in the event of an emergency,

always call 911. However, for non-emergency

assistance, call 231-6130.

Greeting Autumn

By Aja Anderson

We welcome autumn’s cooler air

Unto our city fair.

It means the holidays are coming-

the times of our most precious things-

Memories born of children’s laughter-

of songs that will forever after

call to mind a memory and a smile to your face-

the magic of sharing hearts and space.

Here’s to our neighbors, to the lights they leave on,

To the Christmas trees you can see through windows,

Here’s to the friendships we build our lives upon,

It is through our friends and family we grow.

Water Use Restrictions

Lawns: After possibly the rainiest summer in Tampa in decades, the lawn watering restrictions for Tampa are continuing at twice per week. As of October 24, 2013, the City of Tampa has published the following lawn watering restrictions: Lawns can be watered twice per week, and the schedule is based on the last number of your street address, as follows: At addresses ending in 0, 1, 2, or 3: on Mondays and Thursdays; At addresses ending in 4, 5, or 6: on Tuesdays and Fridays; At addresses ending in 7, 8, or 9: on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Car Washing: Washing of cars and trucks is allowed on an as-needed basis, during any day or time, as long as water is used efficiently.

Red Light Cameras in South Tampa

The number of red light cameras in Tampa has grown from 24 when the program started in Octo-ber 2012 to 42 now. However, effective 1/1/14 there will be almost 60 of these cameras through-out Tampa. Most important to Sunset Park resi-dents, there will be active cameras at Kennedy and West Shore starting in 2014. Existing South Tampa red light cameras: Northbound Dale Mabry at Kennedy Blvd.

Southbound Dale Mabry at Kennedy Blvd.

Eastbound Dale Mabry at Kennedy Blvd.

Northbound Dale Mabry at Gandy Blvd.

Southbound Dale Mabry at Gandy Blvd

Eastbound Gandy Blvd. at Dale Mabry

Southbound Manhattan Ave. at Gandy Blvd.

Eastbound Gandy Blvd. at Manhattan Ave.

Westbound Gandy Blvd. at Manhattan Ave.

Northbound West Shore Blvd. at Gandy Blvd.

Westbound Gandy Blvd. at West Shore Blvd.

Eastbound Gandy Blvd. at West Shore Blvd.

New red light cameras in South Tampa effec-tive 1/1/14: Kennedy Blvd. and West Shore Blvd.

Kennedy Blvd. and Howard Ave.

5

SPAHA Officers and Directors

Officers:

President: Marlin Anderson 288-8952

Vice President: Michael Lundberg 787-2600

Recording Secretary: Rudy Miro 505-8336

Corresponding Secretary: Ed Ellsasser 495-3593

Treasurer: Mike Rothenburg 286-0772 Directors:

Tom Digiacomo 289-7558

TJ Ferlita 892-5160

Carrie Grimail 765-1637

Dennis Noto 240-2033 Committee Chairpersons:

Membership: Michael Lundberg 787-2600

Neighborhood Watch: Carrie Grimail 765-1637

Stormwater: Mike Rothenburg 286-0772

Newsletter: Marlin Anderson 288-8952

M O N O L I T H

STONE PROTECTION

Bring Back the Luster to your Granite Countertops!

Unique 5 Step Process Makes Counters Look Like NEW.

Blocks Bacteria

Prevents Stains

Applied to New or Existing Stone

Please patronize our advertisers

6

Sunset Park Area Homeowners Association P.O. Box 10751 Tampa, FL 33679

Presorted Standard

U.S. Postage Paid

Tampa, FL Permit No

3657

Police - non-emergency 231-6130 Lawn Watering Complaints 274-8036

City of Tampa Information Line 274-8211 Solid Waste 348-1111

Recycling Dept. 348-6504 Code Enforcement 274-5545

Special Waste Pickup 348-6507 Stormwater drains - clogged 622-1901

Manhattan Brush Site 348-1127 Zoning information 274-8405

Potholes or sinkholes 622-1940 Mosquito Control 635-5400

TPD Neighborhood Watch 354-6692 Street light outage (TECO) 223-0800

Tree Hotline 258-8733 Animal Control 744-5660

Environmental Coordination 274-8071 Animals (removal of dead) 348-1126

Important Phone Numbers