Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING



Meeting

January 7, 2003



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

Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Charles E. McDaniel, Jr. and

Nathan Suber. Councilor Evelyn Woodson arrived at 5:13 p.m. and Councilor

Julius Hunter, Jr. arrived at 5:14 p.m. Also present were Mayor Robert S.

Poydasheff, City Manager Cavezza, and City Attorney Clifton Fay.



Members Absent: Councilor Evelyn Turner Pugh was absent.

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Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers called the meeting to order at 5:06 p.m. in the Council

Chambers Conference Room, Plaza Level, Government Center.



Recognition of new Mayor Robert Poydasheff:

Mayor Poydasheff expressed appreciation for the opportunity to be Mayor of

Columbus and to be able to work with the Council. He also spoke about the new

carpet in the Mayor?s Office. He explained that the rug was old and he would

not stand for that tacky look when we have the governor and other dignitaries

coming into that office. He said that there have been rumors of a public

safety reorganization, but maintained that this is not happening. He added

that what is being done, which he committed to when he ran for office, was to

create a committee of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, which will

involve the Police Chief, FBI, Ft. Benning and Fire Chief. He added that

Emergency Management Director Riley Land would be sitting in on these meetings,

and we would be asking Phenix City, Alabama to come on board; thereby, we could

be prepared and share intelligence.



After responding to questions from the members of Council, Mayor Poydasheff

invited members of Council to attend these meetings.



Tree Board:

City Manager Cavezza said that we have provided the members of Council with a

list of the individuals that have been nominated so far to the Tree Board,

along with some potential nominees that have not been officially nominated. He

asked City Arborist Rachelle Buice to come forward to brief the Council on the

Tree Board and its function. He maintained that on January 21, 2003 the Tree

Board would be listed on the agenda for the Council to vote on the nominations;

we are continuing to accept nominations.



City Arborist Rachelle Buice, came forward to provide an overview of the

purpose and responsibility of the Tree Board members. She explained that one

of the first items that the Tree Board would be responsible for is creating a

tree master plan. She recalled that last year, we did



Council Briefing

January 7, 2003

Page 2





write a grant and was received to fund a master streetscape plan, which means

identifying major arterial roads, collectors, neighborhoods and areas that we

need trees planted. (Ms. Buice passed around the table a document, which was

not filed with the Clerk for the record.) She said that the members could help

with raising funds, working on partnerships to bring in money to get these

trees in the ground. She pointed out that another part of the master plan is

the ?forestry management plan?. She explained that the make up of the tree

board would; hopefully, allow volunteer manhours to do that. She said that the

tree board members will also be involved with education, by not only educating

themselves, but the public as well. She said that they would have to develop

their own guidelines and regulation; electing officers, and she would serve as

ex-officio and advisor. She added that they would also be hearing variances.



City Arborist Buice explained the resources available for the Tree Board

members through the Georgia Forestry Commission, which assist with board

development training and Tree Board Academy as well as information from other

Forestry Commissions throughout the country. She briefly went over the

qualifications as outlined by the ordinance.



At this time, City Arborist Buice responded to various questions from the

members of Council and pointed out that the board would have to establish their

bylaws, rules and regulations, which she believes would go to the City Attorney

and then a copy to the members of Council.



In response to a question of Councilor Davis, City Arborist Buice replied that

the developers are far exceeding the TDU (Tree Density Unit) requirements. She

said that she is encouraged, because the developers are really trying to save

the trees.



Public Agenda:

City Manager Cavezza advised that Mr. Tim Farmer is listed on the Public Agenda

regarding penalties for late taxes. He has basically stated that he put his

letter in his mailbox on the 26th of November, but the tax office did not

receive it until the 4th of December, but the gentleman feels that he is not

responsible for the efficiency of the postal system.



City Manager Cavezza said that Tax Commissioner Lula Huff has provided a letter

outlining the chronology of this situation.



City Manager?s Agenda:

City Manager Cavezza pointed out that on the purchase agenda there were some

elevator repairs that had to be done on an emergency type basis. He said that

we are going to have to address the elevators in our next budget cycle, because

we are having some real problems with them.



Executive Session:

City Manager Cavezza said that he is going to be requesting a brief executive

session to discuss a personnel issue.





Council Briefing

January 7, 2003

Page 3





Request for R. G. Jones field:

Councilor Henderson advised that he has received an e-mail for submitting a

request to the Board of Honor for consideration of naming the stadium and the

softball complex; but not South Commons, after Mr. R. G. Jones that recently

passed away. He recalled that he was one of the founding fathers who was able

to assist with getting softball up and running in Columbus. He said that he

wanted to mention it to the Council before he requested a resolution to submit

it to the Board of Honor.



Update on Councilor Evelyn Turner Pugh:

City Manager Cavezza informed the members of Council that Councilor Evelyn

Turner Pugh is doing well and should be returning in about two weeks.



There being no other business to discuss, this meeting adjourned at 5:22 p.m.











________________________

Sandra T. Davis

Deputy Clerk of Council

Council of Columbus, Georgia