Columbus, Georgia

COUNCIL BRIEFING



January 22, 2002





A Council Briefing was held on Tuesday, January 22, 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 R. Gary Allen, Berry Henderson, Robert Poydasheff, Richard Smith,

Nathan Suber , Evelyn Turner Pugh and Evelyn Woodson (arrived at 8:28 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 Charles McDaniel





This meeting was called to order at 8:27 a.m.



ANNOUNCEMENTS:



Referring to the fact sheet in the Councilor members? ./ books, City Manager

Cavezza pointed out a zoning issue to be discussed as an agenda item, today

which explained basically lays out a criteria of 20,000 sq. feet lots.



At this point, councilor Allen interrupted and said the entire numbers look

fine, except, the percentage. He explained that if you took 20% of 20,000

that is 4,000 , but if you go back to the R-1 number and take 35% of 15,000,

that is a larger ?footprint. He said by raising the percentage from 20 % to

30 %, then you would have roughly the same ?footprint? as the R-1 number.

After hearing the different views from the Council members, City Manager

Cavezza advised the Councilors that this matter will be addressed at the

Public Hearing by the P.A.C (Planning Advisory Committee).



Concluding, Councilor Turner Pugh thanked Rick Jones, Director of Community

and Economic Development..



F.Y. I.



? Timelines on zoning ordinances in Packet. ( Will be in the Councilor?s

packets next week)

? Parking issues



City Manager Cavezza pointed out there was a study done several years ago

that addressed parking. Referring to the map on the projector , he pointed to

the areas of concern as the downtown and the uptown areas from Bay Avenue to

6th Avenue and 8th Street to 19th Street which he said are public parking

areas .



BREAKDOWN:



? There are approximately 4100 parking spaces including the 9th

Street parking lot and the parking garage.

? The Parking Garage ? under 685 spaces available ( about 500

are leased leaving about 185 left for daily usage)

? The current rates are: $1.00 daily and $25 monthly



He said due to growth in the downtown area with opening of new offices ,the

opening of Performing Arts Center, with the increase of Columbus State

University students, the demand for more parking is on the rise.. He said

based on a study done by BRW in October, 1996, they laid out three

approaches as follows:



(1) Parking Management - This approach has been handled by Metra by

encouraging citizens to park in the Parking garage.



(2) The Moderate Approach - Survey for support

regarding meters on Broadway. ( The study is incomplete

at this time)



(3) The Bold Approach ? Reduce on - street parking and force

people into the parking garage. (Not sure this is the way to go)



RECOMMENDATION:



A recommendation was made by City Manager Cavezza to work with various

companies in the area to set up a public/private arrangement to build a new

parking garage on the northern end of the uptown area.



Responding to Councilor Turner Pugh?s question, if the medians are eliminated,

would there be one lane of traffic in the downtown area, he explained that if

that plan is approved, it would eliminate parking along the medians , but

Deputy City Manager Bishop added that there would still be two lanes.



As Councilors continued to raise questions, City Manager Cavezza vowed to keep

the Councilors apprized on the progress of the downtown parking situation.



NO - SMOKING ORDINANCE:



? The no - smoking ordinance has been placed on hold which is on Second

Reading, today.



He advised the Council members that the issue to decide is whether we want to

handle this administratively or by ordinance which would require enforcement.

The Councilors then expressed differing views as to the necessity of drafting

an ordinance to regulate smoking during regularly scheduled games on playing

fields ? located at any City park or recreational facility.



MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT:



City Manager Cavezza highlighted the pool fees are as follows:



? 18 years and over $3.00

? 12 to 17 years - $2.00

? Seniors 50 + $2.00

? 11 years and under $1.00

? Seasonal - $30.00



Responding to a question from Councilor Turner Pugh regarding the time

frame, of the pool season, Tony Adams, Director of Parks and Recreation said

the pool season begins late May thru early August.



BUDGET:



Referring back to the budget matter, Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers stated it baffles

him as to how we are decreasing our revenue in the budget and increasing our

expenditures, which Ms. Love answered, yes, due to the economy of the past

eight years the expenditures have increased and that we have not increased

our revenue budget during the year. He then asked if we will get a handle on

the expenditures?



She pointed out that is specifically on the sales tax, based on the trend,

but all the other items we get one time a year; for example, our franchise fees

, she continued to explain that revenue could be made up. Typically, we don?t

go in and adjust revenue line items for those increases. She said as far as

the sales tax, we may be in line for the line items, because we have plenty of

line items in that category; however, we will have a better idea in March when

businesses tend to slow down, as of April 1 that is the time they are paying

their taxes and renewing their license fees.



He then asked Ms. Love to define a Modified Budget which she explained this

is the budget after adoption to which he said includes all increases? He

asked why the salary increases were not anticipated in the regular budget.

She responded by stating , yes it based on all increases, the salaries are re

- appropriated, and we did estimate all the salaries , as the cost of living

depends on the raise, as well as H.B.; 302; however, we are moving from non

categorical to the functional area.



CELLPHONE SURCHARGE:



Councilor Henderson, inquired about the wireless surcharge listed in the book

and how it is policed? . She explained that we don?t have a way to police it

and that we rely on the company to submit a monthly report which tells the

number of participating customers.



REQUEST YOUTH LEAGUE EXEMPTED FROM SIGN ORDINANCE FOR A PERIOD OF THREE WEEKS:



At this point, Councilor Henderson requested that the Youth Sports League be

exempted from the sign ordinance for three weeks due to registration sign-ups.

As, councilors expressed their disapproval with this request, the point was

raised as how can we arbitrarily make the change for the City and not make

the same changes for the businessman?



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









Gloria A. Carey, Secretary