Columbus, Georgia

6





COUNCIL BRIEFING



May 14, 2002





A Council Briefing was held on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 in the Council Chamber

Conference Room, on the Plaza Level of the Government Center, Columbus,

Georgia. Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rodgers, presiding.



PRESENT: Present other than Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers were Mayor Bobby G. Peters,

Councilors, Charles E. McDaniel, Berry (Skip) Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr.,

Richard Smith, Robert Poydasheff, Nathan Suber, Evelyn Woodson and Evelyn

Turner Pugh (arrived at 8:15 a.m.) Also present were City Manager Carmen

Cavezza; City Attorney Clifton Fay; Director of Finance Kay Love and Director

of Human Resources, Tom Barron.



ABSENT: Councilor R. Gary Allen



GUEST (s): John Turner, Columbus Businessman

John Anderson, Consultant

Jim Phillips, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.







This meeting was called to order at 8:05 a.m.



City Manager Cavezza called attention to two subjects to be discussed today:

(1) the river restoration and (2) the tree ordinance. He then asked Mr. John

Turner to come forward to report on the River Restoration Project.



Mr. John Turner, a Columbus businessman, came forward to report that over the

past three years, there has been an effort underway to restore about a two

and one half miles stretch of the Chattahoochee River sponsored by the Uptown

Columbus and the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. He said since there are many

complex issues associated with a project of this magnitude, he sought

professional advice from architect John Anderson, and Rick McGlauglin,

designer of the 1996 Olympic whitewater on the Ocoee River. At this point, Mr.

Turner asked Mr. Anderson to come forward to brief the Council .



Mr. John Anderson, the architect ,briefly advised the Council that he

represents a whitewater architectural company. Using an overhead projector,

Mr. Anderson briefly gave an overview of the plan to restore 2 plus mile

section of the river by pointing out the possibility of altering two downtown

Columbus dams - one at the Eagle Mills and the other located at City Mills and

creating free-flowing whitewater into the City with benefits to include:

recreational rafting, kayaking and fishing.



At this time, Mr. Jim Phillips, the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper came forward to

report the progress made at this time on the project as he explained that

with the assistance of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, a study was done

on the viability and interest to the Corps? involvement; which he explained

they are excited about and that excitement translates into the possibility of

federal support dollars to fund much of the work that has to be done. He said

his appearance today is to show this as being an opportunity for the City

to sign on as a co - sponsor with the Corps of Engineers. He added that the

Corps will fund up to 65% up to a cap of $5 million for project cost. He

concluded by saying that in the last eighteen months,there has been no

resistance from the communities regarding this project.



Councilor Poydasheff reminded the Councilors of the rare instance when the U.

S. Army Corps of Engineers wishes to do something positive in contributing

money to a project, and said speaking for my colleagues, this a good thing. He

continued to point out that a couple of years ago, Congressman Barr attempted

to cut the flow, etc; However, if this is resurrected again by Congressman

Barr, this will strengthen our hand.



At this time, Mr. Anderson asked the Council for the opportunity to clarify a

letter of intent as being non-binding in that it would be sent to the Corp

of Engineers. He said this letter states that we are seriously interested in

this project, but we are not financially committed. He explained that upon

receiving the letter; the corps will spend up to $400,000 of its? money to

complete a more involved feasible study and from the City?s point of view, this

a no-risk proposition which allows us to thoroughly investigate this project.



Responding to Councilor Woodson?s question, what would be the cost of this

project to the City, he replied that the possibility exists for private funding

to support a large portion of this project; but he does not foresee any

significant outlay of dollars from the City itself, if we have the support of

the Corps, we will have a major component; private component and the remaining

component could be an issue with the City, but at this time he does not see

this as being significant. ( He then gave an approximate cost of $1 millon ).



Seeking additional information, Councilor Woodson asked if Georgia Power

is aware of this project, he responded that Georgia Power is aware of the

project as they have indicated they would give their support by working with

us. Councilor Woodson then asked what was the time frame of submitting the

letter of intent to which he responded as soon as possible.



City Manager Cavezza remarked that the letter has been received and would be

sent in the councilor?s packet on Friday. Deputy City Manager Bishop followed

up on City Manager?s Cavezza?s statement by saying that the plan now is to get

the City Attorney to sign off on the commitment letter, include it in your

mail packets on Friday, and it would be voted on next Tuesday.



As the councilors continued to view their concerns for this project, City

Manager Cavezza pointed out that a draft of the project would be available for

review at the next Council meeting.



TREE ORDINANCE:



City Manager Cavezza pointed out this is the same briefing conducted the

last time, except that pictures have been removed and in each section

discussed, a recommendation has been added . He said Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers

indicated that he wanted to vote on the issues. He then asked if the Council

wanted to cast their vote today or vote in the public meeting. He said it is

ready to be voted upon, subject to the Council?s approval.



Responding to City Manager Cavezza?s request and commenting on a statement he

read in the newspaper in Sunday?s edition, Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said that

votes are not being taken in the Executive Session, as he continued to explain

that everything being done has been open to the public.



Using an overhead projector, City Manager Cavezza continued to report that the

purpose of ordinance is to preserve trees as he pointed out the first aspect as

follows:



TOPIC - SPECULATIVE GRADING:



(Sec. 18 (g) last paragraph 36 and 37); Definition of ?Natural Area? Sec. 2

page 6 and Perimeter Plantings, Sec. 8 (b), pages 20 and 21.





OPPOSING POSITIONS:



(1) Clearing is necessary; so that, the prospective buyer can ?visualize? the

area.

(2) Removal of all trees prevents a prospective buyer?s option of saving and

using any mature or existing trees as part of their plan.





OPTIONS:



? Developers can do grading, etc. if they do one of two things:



(1) Leave an undisturbed natural buffer (30?) along public ROW. (Once the plan

is submitted, the buffer can come down)



(2) Prepare a planting plan for that portion of the development adjacent to

the public ROW and plant as required per applicable ordinance.



? Buffer Ord. ? One tree every 100? or 50? depending on width of planting

strip.

? Tree Ord. ? One small maturing tree every 30? or one large maturing

tree every 50?.



City Manager Cavezza recommended to support the ordinance as written.



For clarification purposes, Councilor Smith sought an explanation to determine

the time frame of the planting season for the developers in Section 18 (g) to

which City Manager Cavezza stated that the ordinance reads the planting should

be done by the next planting season and if it is necessary to remove the 30?

buffer; then , the developer should submit a plan which should be implemented

by the next planting season. He said he recommends support of the Buffer

ordinance, and pointed out there is a provision, in that the developer can

request a waiver from the Tree Committee.



Councilor Poydasheff provided a footnote to this discussion, as he stated that

before he resigned his position on June 21, 2002, he would like to recommend

support for the ordinance, with exceptions made by Councilors Suber, McDaniel

and myself in regards to the car owners and the boat manufacturers.



Section 6: Applicability) (b) If expansion is done to a building, the tree

ordinance only applies to that portion of the expansion greater than 5,000

square feet and not for the entire project.



Section 6: Applicability (d). Redevelopment of a site shall require the

application of the Ordinance. It is defined as the demolition and rebuilding

or expansion of 50% or greater of the site?s physical development trees can be

planted any place on the site ? the $220.00 per tree contribution will be

addressed later in the briefing.



RECOMMENDATION: Support the ordinance as written.



Section 7: Density Requirements: (Single Home Site) The case of a single

family residential residential home being on any lot or tract zoned as

specified above in this section 7 (b) greater than two acres in surface area,

the tree density unites required to be met for said site shall be those

applicable to two acres irrespective of the greater size of said lot or tract

upon which said home is built.



As the Councilors continued to discuss this issue, Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers asked

that they go ahead and deal with the things we know we have to do. He then

pointed out the exclusion of automobiles from the ordinance by a number of

councilors, City Manager Cavezza concurred by saying that this section is

not in the ordinance, now. Therefore, Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers advised that

since there is a recommendation to take it out, let us deal with that now.



At this point, the councilors were deciding whether this issue could be voted

on in this setting. Councilor Turner pointed out that since this ordinance is

not on the books, therefore, an amendment could be done at this time to which

Councilor Suber advised against casting a vote on this matter in this

meeting, but instead to vote in the regular meeting.



Sectional 8: Additional Requirements: (Vote was taken)



The motion to exclude car dealers and mobile home dealers from the Savannah

Ordinance was made by Councilor Poydasheff and seconded by Councilor Woodson.

All nine councilors voted unanimously for approval with Councilor Allen being

absent for this meeting.



Section 3: City Arborist ( Vote was taken)



The arborist has to get the approval from the Director of Public Services in

order to stop a project. Motion was made by Councilor Turner Pugh and seconded

by Councilor Smith. All nine Councilors unanimously for approval. Councilor

Allen was absent for this vote. (The previous ordinance gave the arborist the

power to halt the project).



Section 12: Alternative Compliance:



Responding to Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers? question regarding the tree planting

penalty, City Manager Cavezza explained that this is a donation into the tree

planting fund; so that, the money can be used to plant trees along the right of

way. City Manager Cavezza then recommended to delay a decision on this

matter until after the First Reading. After continued discussion as Councilor

Turner Pugh expressed her disapproval of this stipulation, she then made a

motion to delete the $220.00 penalty fee. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers,

with there being a 5 to 3 vote which is an insufficient vote for action as

Councilors McDaniel, Smith, Turner Pugh, Henderson, Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers

voted yes, Councilor Poydasheff, Hunter and Suber voted no and Councilor

Wooson not casting a vote. Councilor Allen was absent for this meeting.



Section 13. Inspections: Supports the ordinance as written.





There being no other business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.









Gloria A. Carey, Secretary