City of Lakeland’s Monthly Newsletter • April 2012

IN THIS ISSUE

Celebrate Public Works

Meet Charief: LPD K-9 Partner

Volunteers in Public Service

Lakeland Electric’sNew Web Portal

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228 S. Massachusetts AveLakeland, FL 33801

863.834.6000

www.lakelandgov.net

30290-I-0110

Lemon Street Promenade is adorned with 10 new pieces of art from the sculptor Doug Makemson. His outdoor sculptures feature interesting pieces of metal, parts of machines and mysterious vehicle parts in all shape, sizes and weights. The larger than life works of art depict wild life from the Bear that is made from chrome car bumpers to the Three Dogs that are made from gears, flywheels and farm machinery parts. Makemson’s artwork will be on display along Lemon Street through February 2013.

Makemson said that there is a challenge when using metal to make the art seem to come alive and he achieves this by implying motion. Some of the creatures have open mouths, are displayed in asymmetrical positions, or they have cocked heads to make them seem more realistic. Because of this, the creations develop individual personalities and become much more than the sum of their parts.

Makemson said, “My sculptures are made from steel, stainless steel, copper and brass. The use of thick or non-corrosive material ensures that the works will last when exposed to the outdoor environment.” He prides himself on the fact that almost all of the raw material used in his work is recycled from businesses, scrap yards, and farming activities. He said, “The metal has a history. There is an early 1920’s car bumper that is used for the wings on Woodpecker and the Bush Hog blade that came from my own tractor is used on one of the Three Dogs.”

Makemson’s work is very popular because everybody can identify with each piece of art including those with art backgrounds and ordinary people. The public enjoys seeing Makemson’s metal wildlife on display. Children especially are captivated by the large beasts. He said, “Almost everyone who encounters my work has a smile on their face, which is exactly my goal: to make people smile.”

Makemson is no stranger to Lakeland. His piece called Crocodilis Imperious has a permanent home overlooking Lake Mirror as it sits in front of the Train Station on Main Street. His work has also been featured at past Lemon Street outdoor sculpture displays. He said, “I love this setting and I am especially grateful to have my work located on Lemon Street for the public to enjoy.” He added, “I enjoy creating my art and I am appreciative for the opportunity to share it with others.”

Lemon Street Outdoor Sculptures on display until February 2013Remembering • Bugsey • Jurassic Dragonfly • Chromosaurus Kangerensis • Red-Eyed Stork

Bear • Three Dogs • Woodpecker • Heron • Swooping II

FROM PIECES OF THE PASTN E W A R T E X H I B I T I N S T A L L E D O N L E M O N S T R E E T

Monthly Comparison ofResidential Electric Rates JANUARY 2011

Lakeland Electric is currently in the process of replacing analog meters with newer smart meter technology. This new meter technology allows Lakeland Electric to operate more efficiently. With the full implementation of the program, meters will be able to tell Lakeland Electric where an outage has occurred. This saves time and energy so your electricity is restored faster. The system reports exactly where the issue is so linemen can quickly repair the circuit instead of driving along a power line looking for the problem.

This is just one of the benefits that your new Smart Meter and the associated Smart Grid system will offer Lakeland Electric customers. Ultimately, smart meters provide you with more detailed information about your energy use. For the first time ever, you’ll be an active participant in your household energy management. Lakeland Electric customers will have more control over how much power is used – and when it is used.

This month, Lakeland Electric will introduce a customized web portal so each smart meter customer can view electric usage patterns with easy to read reports. There is much to gain by monitoring and reducing your use of electricity. Customers using the web portal can be an active participant in practicing energy efficiency – saving you money and reducing your impact on the environment.

Lakeland Electric’s electric 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.”

YOUR POWER USAGEAT YOUR FINGERTIPS

RATES ARE LOW

Source: FMEA Monthly Utility Bill Comparison

www.lakelandelectric.com

solarfarm green energy partnership»Jim Stanfield, LAKELAND ELECTRIC

Kerinia Cusick, SUNEDISON

Customers can view and analyze their electricity use and find ways to make energy consumption more efficient. The web portal is easy to use, secure and it will only take a few minutes to set-up online. The portal will display daily, weekly and monthly electricity usage in detail.

The PlugintoSmart web portal will also support energy analysis tools that highlight energy saving suggestions and tips to help customers reduce their power bills.

Transforming the current electric grid into a more intelligent system involves a wide range of advanced technologies, including smart meters, which improve the reliability and security of the national energy grid. Please visit www.pluintosmart.com to start your smart meter web portal access and to receive more information on the Lakeland Electric smart meter program.

The City of Lakeland is pleased to announce Brad Johnson as the Assistant City Manager. Johnson comes to us from the City of Palm Bay, Florida where he served as the Budget Administrator.

Johnson said, “I am grateful for this very exciting opportunity within an extremely dynamic organization and I am looking forward to being an integral part of the team.” He added, “My first task is to meet the staff to better understand Lakeland’s many services and to better learn the community’s needs. I am very excited and I look forward to my family and I becoming part of the Lakeland Community.”

The City of Lakeland is looking for you to play a part in serving your community through our program, Volunteers in Public Service or ViPS. Launched in 2009, ViPS makes it easy to explore the many rewarding volunteer opportunities with the City of Lakeland.

We currently have a database of 320 potential volunteers. Volunteer opportunities range from working with plants in Hollis Garden to assisting young readers at the Lakeland Public Library and even helping out in the City Clerk’s office. If you are

City Manager, Doug Thomas said, “We conducted a national search that delivered a group of highly qualified applicants. After a very thorough process that included panel interviews, one-on-one interviews and community tours; we believe that Brad will enhance our operation as we prepare for the future.” He added, “We know that his previous experience in performance management, strategic planning and his financial knowledge of municipal operations will be a great fit for our team. Brad has a tremendous passion for local government and his experience in a comparable well managed Florida community (Palm Bay) will also enable him to hit

interested in volunteering with the City of Lakeland, please visit www.vips.lakelandgov.net to sign up. The website list areas of interest for volunteers and provides a calendar of opportunities. Candidates as young as age 14 are welcome to apply.

For more information about the City of Lakeland’s Volunteers in Public Service, you may contact program coordinator Beth Sherling at 863-834-2280 or by e-mail at vips@lakelandgov.net. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakelandViPs and on Twitter @LakelandViPs.

the ground running.”Johnson received his undergraduate degree from

the University of Maryland in 2002 and he earned his Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of Missouri in 2007. He is very active in community service. He has served as a United Way of Brevard Campaign Cabinet Member, Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition Volunteer Member and he has served on the event planning committees for Relay for Life as well as Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida. Brad and his wife Shira, a non-profit administrator, have a 4 1/2 month old daughter.

Welcome Brad Johnson New Assistant City Manager

Voluteers in Public Service: Lakeland’s VIPS

G O V E R N M E N T E M P L O Y E E S A T W O R K

Meet K-9 Partner ChariefHe wears his badge with pride as he patrols the streets of

Lakeland each night. K9 Officer Charief is one of the elite members of Lakeland’s nationally recognized K9 team. This brave but loveable dog is no ordinary canine. Ranked second in the nation, not once, but twice, Charief has won or placed in every trial certification category both regionally and nationally. As one of Lakeland’s top performing K9s in the history of the department, he proves that he is in a league of his own.

Born in Holland, Charief came to the Lakeland Police Department in 2007 and immediately bonded with his partner and trainer officer Aaron Peterman. Both began the long and intense training that is required to be a member of the Lakeland Police Department K9 team. The duo underwent the minimum 800 hours of training required to ensure they were ready to hit the streets of Lakeland. For Charief, he had to learn basics of patrol operations and narcotics detection. For Peterman, he had to learn a little bit of Dutch. As with most K9s, their basic obedience training is done in the country where they were born and therefore their commands are usually given in German or Dutch.

Peterman, a 12-year veteran of the force who has been a member of the K9 team since 2006, describes Charief as “a one in a million dog.” Peterman feels very lucky to have found a partner that can be calm on the job but can be intense and aggressive when he needs to be. It is often rare to find a K9 dog that has those traits along with ability to be social with kids and families at public events. Clearly the bond between trainer and K9 is very strong. Peterman describes his trusted

partner as one ”who is scared of nothing, never calls in sick, and never complains. I know that he will always be there for me and I for him.”

Peterman and Charief spend more time together than with anyone else in their lives. After working side-by-side throughout their shift, the duo heads home together. Charief lives with Peterman, his wife and their young daughters. A true member of the family, Charief is like any other dog at home playing fetch and searching for his favorite toy, a piece of rubber hose. He also has a new playmate at the house, a one-year-old Maliniois puppy that keeps him on his toes and gives his a run for his money.

The Lakeland Police Department K9 team, assembled in 1979, is made of nine dogs and eight handlers. Each member of the team is trained in detection and patrol operations including search work, criminal apprehension and drug detection.This elite group has ranked as the top K9 team in the nation on more than one occasion. This past February the two LPD 4-man teams swept the top honors at the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) Region 1 Trials, a first in the history of the trials.

If you would like to see Charief and other members of the LPD K9 team in action come to the National Dog Detector trials hosted here in Lakeland May 20 - 23, 2012. For full details on the trials and the LPD K9 team visit www.lakelandgov.net/lpd.

PUBLIC WORKS WEEKThe City Of Lakeland Celebrates

STAYCONNECTED

ONLINEwww.lakelandgov.net

IN PERSONCity Hall is open

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Monday-Friday

PUBLIC MEETINGSCity 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 COMMISSION9:00 a.m.

UTILITY COMMITTEE1:00 p.m.

IMPORTANT NUMBERSCity Hall

863.834.6000

Lakeland Electric Customer Service

863.834.9535

Power or Water Outages863.834.4248

PAYING YOURUTILITY BILL

ONLINEwww.lakelandelectric.com

BY PHONE863-834-9535

IN PERSONLakeland Electric has partnered with over 50 local businesses

including area AMSCOT offices to accept your utility payment.

The City of Lakeland Public Works Department will celebrate National Public Works Week on Friday, May 4th in conjunction with First Friday activities in downtown Lakeland. It all begins at 6 p.m. in Munn Park.

“Public Works: Creating a Lasting Impression” is this year’s National Public Works Week theme. The celebration is a time to energize and educate the public on the importance that public works plays in their daily lives: planning, building, managing and operating the heart of our community and building the quality of life.

The City of Lakeland’s Public Works Department consists of seven divisions and 283 full-time employees. The seven divisions include Engineering, Construction & Maintenance, Traffic Operations & Parking Services, Lakes & Stormwater, Facilities Maintenance, Fleet Management and Solid Waste. The fiscal year 2012 budget for the Public Works Department is just under $53 million. Public Works also oversees a capital improvement plan budget of almost $16 million.

During the event, staff will be on hand to showcase information about each division, explain education programs and demonstrate the use of a variety of equipment. There will also be give-a-ways, games and lots of First Friday entertainment. Downtown shops and restaurants will stay open late.

On Monday, May 7th the Lakeland City Commission will issue a proclamation, where Public Works employees from the various Public Works divisions will be recognized. Please visit lakelandgov.net for more information.

Are you looking for an exciting, fun-filled and power-packed enrichment program for your child during the summer? Then look no further – Camp BLAST is your answer!

Camp BLAST is the highly successful summer recreation program for kids located at City recreation facilities and various schools throughout Lakeland. Children who have completed grades K – 5 are eligible for the program and parents must verify the child’s grade with a copy of their most recent report card. Spots fill up quickly, so be sure to mark your calendar for these dates!

Camp BLASTJune 18th - August 10th, 2012 (8 weeks)No camp July 4thMonday – Friday7:30 am – 5:30 pmFor more information, visit www.lakelandgov.net

or call 863.834.3284