June 2012 Access Lakeland

City of Lakeland’s Monthly Newsletter

June 2012 30290-I-0112

IN THIS ISSUE

REEnergize Lakeland: Rebates for New Appliances

The City of Lakeland is pleased to announce that wonderful back drop for public events. Lake Mirror is the T.Mims Corp. Red, White & Kaboom Independence surrounded by many park elements that add to the beauty Celebration will take place with live music at Lake Mirror and ambiance of the venue. These park elements include: on July 3rd from 6-9 p.m. with a breathtaking fireworks Kryger Park, Barnett Family Park, Sunflower Preschool display dazzling the crowd at 9 p.m.

Playground, Magnolia Building, Hollis Gardens, & the Lake Tom Mims, President of T. Mims Corporation said, Mirror Complex. Albert Paley’s “Tribute to Volunteerism,” “We are pleased to sponsor Red, White & Kaboom a conspicuously ornate & colorful sculpture, crowns the again this year. It is an excellent opportunity northeast shore. for our community to come together During Red, White & Kaboom there in celebration of our great country will be a variety of food and and it is free to the public.” Mims drink vendors around Lake added, “We will be continuing Mirror so bring a blanket our Chow for Now canned and enjoy the festivities food drive to benefit in celebrating our great Volunteers in Service to nation. All City parking the Elderly; so we want garages will be open each spectator to bring for T. Mims Corp. Red, at least one can of White & Kaboom. food for VISTE.” There will be Chow for Now volunteers with grocery carts circulating through the park collecting canned goods.

Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE) is a TU community-based, non-profit ES D I RR organization serving Lakeland, M AY, AKE Bartow, Mulberry and Ft. Meade.

JULY L • 3RD • 6-9PM Established in 1983, the primary goal of VISTE is to enable elderly persons to continue living independently and safely in their own home.

The evening’s main entertainment will include live music from the Channel Z Band. The Channel Z Band has been in existence since 1997 and is a five-piece band that has been in force for nearly eight years. They are sure to be a crowd pleaser with their diverse song list that spans from the 60’s to current pop favorites and includes hits from the Beatles to the latest from Katy Perry.

Red, White & Kaboom takes place at the scenic Lake Mirror Promenade located at 121 South Lake Avenue, Lakeland, FL. This historic landmark was built in the 1920’s. The Promenade, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been a source of pride PLEASE BRING ONE CANNED FOOD within the community for generations and it makes a ITEM PER PERSON. ALL DONATIONS

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Meet Lynne Simpkins: Community Development Senior Planner

PRO M EN

ADE

Neighborhood Outreach

CELEBRATE FREEDOM • JULY 3

Linemen

228 S. Massachusetts Ave Lakeland, FL 33801 863.834.6000 www.lakelandgov.net

CANNED FOOD DRIVE WILL BENEFIT VISTE

Monthly Comparison of Residential Electric Rates

MARCH 2012

Source: FMEA Monthly Utility Bill Comparison

ReEnergize Lakeland

Rewarding You For Being Energy Efficient Lakeland Electric is offering a $200 rebate to residential customers for the purchase of a new Energy Star rated refrigerator. To be eligible for the rebate a customer must recycle their old appliance and the rebate will be processed as a credit on the residential customer’s Lakeland Electric bill. The purpose of the rebate is to encourage customers to increase the energy efficiency of their household appliances. Customers must recycle their old units and can’t transfer or utilize those units for other purposes.

Those interested in taking advantage of the appliance rebate must be a Lakeland Electric customer and they must own only one refrigerator.

Applicants must purchase a new Energy Star refrigerator and recycle their old appliance through the store of purchase. The receipt must specifically state the old unit will be recycled in order for the rebate to be processed.

Lakeland Electric customers wishing to participate in the refrigerator rebate program simply need to: • Purchase a new energy star rated refrigerator.

• Recycle the old refrigerator by having the store of purchase remove the old unit.

• Submit the rebate application available on line (http://bit.ly/oAu95L) and a copy of the original receipt within one week of the purchase and pick-up of the old unit.

• Please make sure the receipt specifically states that the old unit will be recycled.

Approved rebates will be offered as a onetime credit on the customer’s Lakeland Electric bill. Rebates will be provided on a first come-first served basis to eligible customers. In the event that customer demand exceeds funding availability, Lakeland Electric may in its sole discretion, discontinue the refrigerator rebate program without further notice.

The application for the appliance rebate program and instructions are available on Lakeland Electric’s website under Residential Energy Saving Tips, Programs and Rebates. For more information on the appliance rebate program and other ReEnergize Lakeland residential energy efficiency programs, call 863/834-7172 or visit www.lakelandelectric.com and click the Residential navigation button on the top of the home page.

RATES ARE LOW Lakeland Electric’s rates are at their lowest point since July 2008, having dropped 19.8%.

The cost of energy represents a substantial portion of a household’s budget. Lowering rates helps everyone keep more money in their pockets in these tough times. “We’re delighted our rates are lower,” said City Manager Doug Thomas. “Our locally owned electric utility is committed to providing our community efficient, safe and reliable electricity at a reasonable cost.”

In the past decade, natural gas prices were extremely high, creating a negative impact on the economy. According to Barry Moline, Executive Director of the Florida Municipal Electric Association, “The economic downturn across our country triggered a drop in electric demand, causing fuel prices to fall. In addition, we’ve secured more natural gas supply, which has increased the amount of fuel available.

The resulting price drop is great news for consumers.” Today, Lakeland Electric rates are one of the lowest in the state.

www.solarlakeland.com

NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH In an effort to promote safe and quality neighborhoods, the City of Lakeland developed a Neighborhood Improvement Program in 1988. A dedicated Neighborhood Outreach division was established 10 years later to help in meeting the growing needs of the City’s neighborhoods. The initial focus was on deteriorating areas to help them re-establish a sense of ownership and pride within their neighborhoods. Today, the goal of Neighborhood Outreach is to preserve stable neighborhoods, stabilize traditional ones and give new birth to weakening neighborhoods.

The City of Lakeland has identified approximately 100 geographic neighborhood boundaries and there are 15 registered neighborhoods associations.

A neighborhood association is a group of neighbors working together for the good of all, with common goals and objectives.

It could be as simple as wanting to improve an abandoned property or remove an old truck in a yard that has become an eyesore.

Maybe there is an increase in crime and you don’t want to be the sole voice of complaint. Maybe you need a speed bump installed to reduce high traffic speeds. You might have a drainage problem that needs attention. A neighborhood association makes decisions and comes up with solutions regarding common problems by sharing ideas towards plans that improve the quality of life within a neighborhood.

The City has two staff persons lead by Senior Planner, Lynne Simpkins that assist with planning meetings, organizing neighborhood specific projects, preparing and mailing newsletters, writing and implementing grants and providing direction to help neighborhoods navigate through the channels

of City government.

All of the 15 established neighborhoods come together within the Neighborhood Association Coalition. Each neighborhood is represented by their key officers, general neighborhood association members and City outreach staff. The Neighborhood Coalition meets on a quarterly basis throughout the year.

Many topics are discussed and new ideas are explored at these quarterly meetings. During this time, projects involving the neighborhoods and the City of Lakeland are reviewed. As the neighborhood associations and their leadership have matured, neighborhood members have taken a more active role in orchestrating and conducting these meetings.

One of the most beneficial parts of each meeting is the sharing by each of the neighborhoods about events and ideas that have been successful in strengthening their community.

Removing obstacles and passing along proven methods can help the newer neighborhood organizations grow and develop.

Every year, neighborhoods come together with a sense of unity during National Night Out, an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program that promotes neighborhood spirit and policecommunity partnerships in our fight for a safer nation. Each year National Night Out involves citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2011.

Neighborhood Outreach continues to provide

a myriad of leadership training and organizational management programs that help to provide the tools for neighborhoods to become empowered and self sufficient. Strong neighborhoods are very important to a community’s quality of life.

Organizing a neighborhood association can be very rewarding. A great deal more can be accomplished if tasks are divided up among several people so that no one person has to do the whole job. The shared satisfaction of success is contagious. If you would like more information on forming a neighborhood association, please visit the City’s website at www.lakelandgov.net/commdev/Neighborhoods/ ForminganAssociation or contact Lynne Simpkins at lynne.simpkins@lakelandgov.net.

G OV E R N M E N T E M P L OY E E S AT WO R K

Meet Lynne Simpkins Lynne Simpkins is a Senior Planner in the Community Development Department where she oversees Neighborhood Outreach for the City of Lakeland. She said, “My title is Senior Planner but my job duties include leadership development and program administration for Lakeland’s 15 active neighborhood associations.”

Simpkins can often be seen visiting neighborhood meetings at night and attending neighborhood specific events on the weekends. She said, “I believe you build a system that works for itself and it’s my goal to empower our neighborhoods to help instill a sense of pride.” She added, “Taking pride in where you live is contagious, it moves people to improve the aesthetics of their streets and this acts as a catalyst in reducing neighborhood crime.”

Simpkins was born and raised in Lakeland. She graduated from Lakeland High School and she received a nursing certificate from the Lakeland College of Business. She went on to Polk Community College and then ultimately earning a degree in Public Administration from the University of Phoenix.

She had all the intentions of entering the world of health care but during a summer she worked as an intern for the City of Lakeland in the Community

Development Department and that all changed. “I was initially doing a comprehensive housing survey with my internship and I got exposed to City planning,” she said. “I got to work with planners in developing the City’s Comprehensive Plan and my appreciation of research was amplified. That is when I fell in love with planning and working with citizens toward a common goal.”

Simpkins started with the City in 1988 but she has been a full-time employee for the past 24 years.

She helped develop the City’s current neighborhood strategy that is a hybrid of similar programs in Orlando, St. Petersburg and Jacksonville. “We started looking at neighborhoods with the goal to make them more self-sufficient with the ultimate goal in improving the quality of life in all of our neighborhoods,” she said. “In our first year of having a focused neighborhood outreach, we had five established neighborhood associations.”

Since then the program has grown to include neighborhood matching grants that help neighborhoods with specific projects and the City has developed a system so neighborhoods can communicate better on a grass roots level.

Simpkins said, “We have designed a program to help distressed neighborhoods with the tools to

help them get engaged in the process, making them more aware of their neighbors.”

“We owe it to our citizens to help them enjoy the quality of life that our City is trying to create,” she said. Collaborative action is the best way for a group of neighbors to create positive change.

When minds and resources are brought together, solutions can often be found to issues that once seemed overwhelming.

When not working, Lynne loves spending time with her family. She said that her best friend is her sister and in her spare time she enjoys reading, writing poetry and staying active in her church where she is in charge of outreach ministry. Lynne is married to her husband David who works at Publix and they have one child David III who works in the music industry.

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HU GUIRDREICANE

Electric line work is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. A lapse in judgment or a physical slip-up can mean serious injury or even death.

Linemen are required to climb poles and work at great heights, in buckets suspended from trucks but lineman are also required to work with energized, high voltage, electrical lines, often during dangerous weather conditions.

There are many precautions that a journeyman lineman must take and one of the most important aspects of the job is safety training.

For this reason, Lakeland Electric linemen give up their own time, working after hours or on weekends, in preparation for the Florida Lineman’s Competition. The dedication paid off at this year’s 12th Annual Florida Lineman Competition. This competition brought together lineman teams and apprentices from Florida’s municipal electric utilities, electric cooperatives, and military bases.

The teams gathered at Gainesville Regional Utilities, Eastside Operations Center where they demonstrated the skills involved in one of America’s most dangerous jobs.

The Lakeland Electric journeyman team of Dwayne Goostree, Justin Devaisher, and Matt Thomas won first place in the Cut-Out and Arrestor Change, the Cross Arm Change-Out, and the Conductor Tie-In, capturing a 2nd place overall finish. In addition, Lakeland Apprentices Samuel Brown and Doug Bergwall won 1st and 3rd place respectively in the overall apprentice competition.

Designed to highlight safe utility operations, the event – presented by Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) and hosted by Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) – put the technical and physical skills of utility workers to the test in a crowd-pleasing display of skill and teamwork.

Hundreds gathered at the GRU Eastside Operations Center and watched as journeyman teams and apprentices competed in challenges simulating day-to-day operations.

The annual event gives highly trained linemen teams and apprentices the opportunity to learn more about their trade in specialized workshops, while interacting and sharing ideas with their peers.

Lakeland Electric has been very successful every time it competes in the annual event winning numerous 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies in individual events and claiming 1st place overall top honors in the Journeyman category in 2001, 2004 and 2005. Lakeland Electric Apprentices have placed 1st overall in 2009, 2010 and 2012.

The individuals that participate in the competitions take great pride in their accomplishments. In return Lakeland Electric has come away with a more empowered, efficient and most of all, a safer workforce through the skills they learn by competing.

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AVAILABLE @ CITY HALL, PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND OTHER CITY FACILITIES.

ONLINE www.lakelandgov.net

IN PERSON City Hall is open 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Monday-Friday PUBLIC MEETINGS City Commission and Utility Committee meetings occur the first and third Monday of every month. The public is invited to attend or watch live on Channel 615 (Brighthouse) or Channel 43 (Verizon FiOS) CITY COMMISSION 9:00 a.m.

UTILITY COMMITTEE 1:00 p.m.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS City Hall 863.834.6000 Lakeland Electric Customer Service 863.834.9535 Power or Water Outages 863.834.4248 Stormwater Hotline 863.834.3300 PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILL ONLINE www.lakelandelectric.com

BY PHONE 863-834-9535 IN PERSON Lakeland Electric has partnered with over 50 local businesses including area AMSCOT offices to accept your utility payment.