Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING



Meeting

October 14, 2003



Members Present: Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers and Councilors R. Gary Allen,

Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles E.

McDaniel, Jr., Evelyn Turner Pugh, Nathan Suber and Evelyn Woodson (arrived

8:46 a.m.). Also present were Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff, City Manager Carmen

Cavezza and City Attorney Clifton Fay.



Members Absent: No one was absent.

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Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers called the meeting to order at 8:37 a.m. in the Council

Chambers Conference Room, Plaza Level, Government Center.



Muscogee Technology Park:

City Manager Cavezza reminded everyone about the Groundbreaking Ceremony for

Muscogee Technology Park.



Demolition Ordinance:

City Manager Cavezza advised that listed on the City Attorney?s Agenda today is

a demolition ordinance. He said there may be two property owners coming to ask

for additional time, but all of the individuals have had ample opportunity to

do something.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers asked if the ordinance reads that the work must be done

by a licensed contractor; especially if the individual decides to make the

repairs, and it meets standards, at which time, City Manager Cavezza said that

would be okay, if the work meets standards.



Council Work Session:

City Manager Cavezza pointed out that October 28th is the Council Work Session,

which would be held at the Trade Center. He said that a Legislative Luncheon

would immediately follow it. He said that we would like to have the next work

session at the Naval Museum.



Tree Pick Up:

City Manager Cavezza stated that on November 1st, we would begin the tree

pick-up test. He explained that basically what happens is if there is a pile

of trees in the front of an individual?s house; then, we put the notice on the

door to tell them who to contact or they could call the City in advance, before

they put the trees on the right-of-way and the City would pick it up and take

it to the landfill. He said that we would have it weighed and send the

individual an invoice through collections. He pointed out that it would be

$50.00 for the trip and $14.00 per ton. He said that we would see how this

process works and tweak it as we go along. He added that if it were something

that the City would not be picking up; then, we would give the individual a

request for compliance, which allows them ten days to remove it.



ISTEA Grant Application:

City Manager Cavezza said that on the agenda, there is a request for some ISTEA

money, because we need to be able to get around Bibb Mill for the Riverwalk.

He pointed out that we don?t have the money to match that right now, but if we

don?t get the money matched; then, we would have a date which we would need to

execute it and if we don?t have the match; then, we would have to turn the

money back in. He said that right now, we are pressing the deadline and we

need to put the application in for that money.



Fire & EMS Department:

City Manager Cavezza said that we have two fire fighters that would be

retiring; a Battalion Chief and a Fire Captain. He recommended, along with

Mayor Poydasheff, that the Chief go ahead and fill those positions. He

explained that the procedure requires that we inform the Council of this.



Legislative Agenda:

City Manager Cavezza said that copies of the Legislative Agenda have been

provided. He said that we accumulate these over the year; then, we have a

meeting with the Legislative Delegation in conjunction with the School Board

and the Chamber of Commerce to review them. He briefly gave an overview of the

items on the Legislative Agenda. He then briefly reviewed some of them and are

as follows:



? Opposing the closing of Rutledge State Prison

? Oppose charging the City for the use of State inmate labor

? Jail overcrowding for State inmates

? Health department funding

? Support of the LOST

? Tax destination marketing

? Trade Center Funding

? National Background check

? Opposing pay raise for elected Officials without resolution from the local

governing authority

? State funding for Oxbow Marina

? Alcohol sells on Sundays for off-premise



Councilor Suber pointed out that since Phenix City, Alabama has alcohol on

Sundays, a great deal of merchants in Columbus are taking a big hit on the

weekend.



There was continued discussion on this matter with various members of Council

expressing their views.



Building Contractor?s License:

City Manager Cavezza said that in the package that has been provided, there is

a hearing for Mr. Kittrell, who is a contractor whose license has been

suspended for a year for a multitude of reasons. He explained that Mr.

Kittrell has gone through the normal procedure, and he was coming to the

Council next week to appeal this, which is his right. He pointed out that he

has the right to plead his case and bring witnesses; the City has those same

rights and we would be prepared to bring forth people that were involved in

that to make statements.



Civic Center:

Mayor Poydasheff commended the Civic Center Employees by stating that this

weekend, there were 5500 people in the Civic Center on Saturday night and

Sunday night there were about 2500 people for different concerts and events

going on.



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Meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.



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Sandra T. Davis, Deputy Clerk of Council