Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR SESSION

JUNE 11, 2002





The regular weekly meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia was called to

order at 9:02 A.M., Tuesday, June 11, 2002, on the Plaza Level of the

Government Center, Columbus, Georgia. Honorable Bobby G. Peters, Mayor and

Honorable John J. Rodgers, Mayor Pro Tem, presiding.



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PRESENT: Present other than Mayor Peters and Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers were

Councilors R. Gary Allen, Berry H. Henderson, Robert Poydasheff, Evelyn Turner

Pugh, Richard Smith, Nathan Suber and Evelyn Woodson. City Manager Carmen

Cavezza, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Clerk of Council Tiny B. Washington and

Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis were also present.



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ABSENT: No one was absent.



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INVOCATION: Offered by Reverend Tommy Green, Pastor of Fairview Baptist

Church.

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by students from Britt David Baptist Church

Children?s Class.

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UNSUNG HEROES:



Mayor Peters said that on last week, we had two individuals that we

recognized as unsung heroes, but weren?t unable to be present then, but said he

thinks they are here today. He then called forward Rev. Sharon Billins and Mr.

Howard Pitts.



Mayor Peters said we try to recognize individuals in the community who

have done so much, but get very little recognition. He then read his

proclamation, proclaiming honor to the individuals and then presented it to

Rev. Billins.



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RECOGNITION OF JAMES BAUDOIN:



Mayor Peters said that Mr. Baudoin has really been helping out quite a

bit with some many different things and the opening of the River Center, but

said we had a delegation from Kiryu, Japan and said that Mr. Baudoin went the

extra mile to make them feel very welcomed in our City and said he would like

to present to him a Certificate of Appreciation from the Mayor, for his

excellence assistance to the City of Columbus, especially the Mayor?s Office

and the Commission on International Relations and Cultural Liaison, in hosting

an official delegation on April 22 - 24, and extended hospitality to the

delegation and handled arrangements for their attendance at the River Center of

the Performing Arts.



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GEORGIA TREND MAGAZINE:



Mayor Peters said if you haven?t seen the Georgia Trend Magazine for the

month of June, he would encourage everyone to get that, as there are two

excellent articles on the City of Columbus, Georgia and all the emphasis on all

of our development, as well as the arts and the River Center. He said he would

like to congratulate all those individuals who were featured in that article

and the people of Columbus, for all they have done to make Columbus what it is.

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DR. DAVID MCINTOSH, RE: CERTIFICATE OF NEED APPLICATION:



Councilor Poydasheff said we have Mr. Charles Clark and Dr. David

McIntosh, who is present in the Chamber this morning and said Dr. McIntosh is

listed on the Public Agenda this morning who wants to talk about a Certificate

of Need application, and then called this matter up at this time.



Dr. David McIntosh, Associate Director of the John B. Amos Cancer Center

appeared and said he is pleased to inform the Council that a Certificate of

Need Application has been filed with the State to build a new free standing

John B. Amos Cancer Center on the Columbus Regional Campus. He said this Cancer

Center would be approximately 46,000 square feet, with three levels and over a

$20 million project that is being proposed. He said it is very much needed for

our community and will raise the level of Cancer care in the community and will

have expanded treatment services, which they have outgrown at the current

facility. He spoke for several minutes in outlining why he felt this center is

needed and what will be included in the new facility.



Councilor Woodson said since this is very important to our community and

we do have citizens who really have a need for these services, she would like

to offer an oral resolution of support for the new proposed facility. Seconded

by Councilor Poydasheff and carried unanimously by those nine members of

Council present for this meeting.



THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS THEN ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:

______________________________________________________________



A Resolution (365-02) - Offering support for the Certificate of Need

application that was filed by Columbus Regional for the construction of an

on-campus building for oncology services at the Medical Center.



Councilor Poydasheff suggested that Dr. McIntosh also contact Colonel

Pollock, who is the Commanding Officer at Martin Army Community Hospital

because many of our Veterans, particularly retirees, have to go to August for

Cancer treatment. He said with tri-care this would be of importance to the

active and retired Veteran community in Columbus. (See below for additional

discussion)

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA:



WITH COACH APPLETON AND COACH GREEN STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE

FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR ALLEN AND ADOPTED BY

THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (366-02) - Commending and congratulating the Columbus

State University baseball team upon their victory in the Division II World

Series Championship. Councilor Allen moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor

Hunter and carried unanimously with those nine members of Council present,

standing to cast their affirmative votes.

WITH MS. LUCINA HEATH STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE FOLLOWING

RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR HUNTER AND THEN ADOTPED BY THE

COUNCIL:_______________________ __



A Resolution (367-02) Commending and congratulating Lucina Heath upon

being crowned Ms. Senior for the West Central Georgia area. Councilor Hunter

moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor Poydasheff and carried unanimously by

those nine members of Council present for this meeting.

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NOTE: The City Attorney?s Agenda is continued below



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ZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS:



THE FOLLOWING FOUR ZONING ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS

READ BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON EACH AS

ADVERTISED:__________________________________



An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 6.5 acres of property located at

5825 Morningside Drive from an R-1 District to an R-1A District.

(22-A-02-Harco Properties, LLC)



PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:



A gentleman, who was identified as Mr. Freeman was present, and in

response to a question of Mayor Peters, said this is going to be developed into

house lands, fifteen (15) lots. He said it is some land that the Jenkins family

owned for many, many years and said they are developing it into a small

subdivision, seventeen (17) lots. He said the reason for the zoning is that

there is a strange zoning line running across the lots. He said there are two

lots that are 965 feet deep and said for some reason the zoning line went

across both lots. He said the front portion was one zone and the back portion

was another zone, and said in order to get the subdivision into the right zone,

we had to rezone the front portion into the correct zone. He said there are no

objections.

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An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 0.17 acres of property located at

1121 30th Street from a C-2 District to an R-3A District. (23-A-02-Watson)



PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:



Ms. Watson, the petitioner was present, but did not make any

presentations, as there was no present to oppose this proposed rezoning. Mayor

Pro Tem Rodgers said we are just bringing the zoning back into agreement with

the rest of the area. He they discovered in trying to get the mortgage for Ms.

Watson that her property had been rezoned to C-2 at some point in the past and

said all of the land around there is residential.



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THE FOLLOWNIG ZONING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND ITS PUBLIC HEARING

DELAYED BY THE COUNCIL UNTIL JULY 9TH AT THE REQUEST OF THE

PETITIONER:



An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 1.3 acres of property located at the

northeast corner of River Road and Schley Road from an A-1 District to a C-2

District. (26-D-02-Schley) Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers made a motion that we delay

this first reading as requested by Dr. Schley. Seconded by Councilor Poydasheff

and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present for this

meeting.

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CERTIFICATE OF NEED APPLICATION:



Dr. Jack Tidwell, Medical Director of the Tidwell Cancer Center also

appeared and read a prepared statement offering his support for the Certificate

of Need application that was filed by The Medical Center for the construction

of an on-campus building for oncology services at the Medical Center.

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ZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS CONTINUED:



THE FOLLOWING ZONING ORDINANCES WERE ALSO SUBMTITED AND THEIR CAPTIONS

READ BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD AS ADVERTISED



An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 9.5 acres of property located at the

southeast corner of Moon Road and Stone Mill Drive from an R-2 District to an

A-0 District. (24-CA-02-Developers-Investors, Inc.)



PROPONENTS:



Ms. Leah Braxton, representing Developers-Investors, Inc., which is a

subsidiary of W. C. Bradley appeared and pointed out that Hospice wants to

expand their campus into this area. She said they also have plans for a CVS

drugstore on the corner. She said the representative for CVS, Mr. Rick

Carpenter is also present here with her today.



Councilor Henderson expressed some concerns for this area, and said when

the rezoning efforts was underway for Hospice most of the people who were going

to be impacted by that rezoning were not so concerned about Hospice itself, but

said rather it was the matter that it was in the midst of that residential area

we were going to have some either A-O commercial development that would blaze

the trail for any other rezoning efforts to follow.



He said one of his concern stems from the Columbus Park Crossing

presentation when they were talking about the creation of a plan overall

development zoning schematic, they were careful to start up towards Whittlesely

and use the commercial property and as it came eastern toward Moon Road, it

became less intrusive; and in fact went to an A-O and then it was going to go

for offices and then transition to apartments and then a little higher density

residential and then back up to the Spring Lake area and the church. He said

the infrastructure on Moon Road is really not ready, in his opinion, for the

type of traffic that would initiated by a drugstore.



Councilor Henderson expressed his views and concerns for several minutes,

after which Ms. Braxton then responded to several concerns expressed by

Councilor Henderson. She pointed out that they have signed with the City,

right-of-way access agreements for the intersection improvements that are about

to occur right there in conjunction with the Columbus Park Crossing project.

She said there are a number of improvements that will enhance that roadway, and

one of those is a right-turn lane that will go a good bit of the way, to give a

right-hand turn for the residents going into Stone Mill and the Total Systems

employees coming from the Hunters Point area.



Ms. Braxton said they are also talking with Hospice about trying to extend

that to their driveway where it would potentially become three-lanes from there

out. She said they are cognizance of the problems there and she thinks all of

the improvements that are currently scheduled for Columbus Park Crossing will

have a tremendous impact on that intersection.



Councilor Woodson said several months ago there was concern and a request

was made for a traffic light to be put in that intersection. She said the

response that came back to them was that during the development stage that

traffic light should be installed by the end of July or August this year.



City Manager Cavezza said there will be a light installed by the end of

August.



Ms. Braxton also responded to concerns of Councilors Smith and Allen as

well.



Council Allen said he received some telephone calls in opposition and said

he did call Ms. Braxton and she was kind enough to share some information with

him and said he got that information to them, and said he has only heard from

one individual now who is in opposition to it. He said he hasn?t heard from

anyone else.



OPPONENTS:



Mr. Jim Rhodes appeared and expressed his opposition to this proposed

rezoning ordinance. He said that his opposition to this proposal is that this

is going to be a strip mall that will go in on Moon Road. He said why don?t we

wait until we get the road fixed, why do we have to do it now. He said there is

11,000 vehicles a day on the road and said he wrote the City Manager a letter

about this road a long time ago and said it is on the schedule for 2004. He

said you are killing us with ozone from all the vehicles. He said that we need

to have something done about the ozone emissions from vehicles and running

through areas. He said you have a noise ordinance, one of the best one we have

ever had, but said you don?t enforce it; and said that is what?s happening on

Moon Road. He said we sit back and develop, build, but said the people are not

even considered.



He said there are concrete mixer trucks going up and down this road. He

said he has asked for help with getting those big trucks off of Moon, and said

you have helped him with that, by adopting an ordinance, but said you don?t

enforce. He said these concrete trucks keeping going up and down this street

all down long, taking a short cut going to Williams Road.



Mr. Rhodes also said that you need to think about the people that live out

there in the neighborhood and said if you are going to do something for the

neighborhood, fix the roads.



Mayor Peters said he worked with Mr. Rhodes many years ago when that was

his responsibility about truck traffic and heavy truck traffic on Moon Road. He

said he thinks the ordinance reads that those trucks are allowed as a matter of

local delivery, and said he doesn?t think it is local delivery going up and

down Moon Road to service Columbus Parkway and then asked City Manager to see

to it that we start enforcing that ordinance.



Mr. Rick Carpenter, in response to Mayor Peters, as it relates to the

development of a CVS Pharmacy, said that it will be a free standing drugstore.



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An Ordinance - Amending Ordinance No. 00-96 that amended certain

boundaries of a district located off of Veterans Parkway, east of Cooper Creek

Road (currently known as 8400 Veterans Parkway). The purpose of this amendment

is to amend condition number 2 and add a new condition number 5.

(25-CA-02-Lullwater Apts., LLC)



Mayor Peters said we usually put conditions on and don?t allow people to

come back in and change those conditions after they have been approved and put

in the ordinance, and then asked City Manager Cavezza to explain this matter.



City Manager Cavezza said the condition was that construction traffic

would not be able to use the intersection of Cooper Creek Road and Veterans

Parkway until a light was installed at that location for safety purposes. He

said that light has not yet be installed, but said it is in the cue to be

installed, but is not done yet. He said the request from the petitioner is that

they be allowed to use that intersection where there is construction traffic

and cut back. He said they have already obtained permission from the

individuals who own that private property to cut back the vegetation to make

the view on Veterans Parkway further, so that they can safely enter Veterans

Parkway. He said they are asking for that variance from the Council.



Councilor Turner Pugh then asked when will the proposed light be installed

and said oftentimes when we have issues like this, the petitioner will

oftentimes help the City pay for the light, to move it up. City Manager Cavezza

said the light should be up by September.



Councilor Allen said he thinks that the construction is scheduled to be

completed by October. He said the concerns that has reached him, is that once

the street is open and the light is not there, is there a concept or idea of

how to restrict the traffic from the apartments. He said this is a very bad

intersection and said he really appreciates Mr. Jeffcoat getting permission to

clear the site distance restriction and make it a safer intersection.



PROPONENTS:



Mr. Doug Jeffcoat, representing the Bradley Company, along with Mr. Dick

Edwards, Fickling Company and responded to several questions of the Council.

Mr. Jeffcoat said when this property was rezoned back in 2000, the condition of

rezoning was that this intersection not be loaded until the traffic signal went

in place. He said the intent was to try to deal with the safety concerns at

that intersection. He said the timeline on getting the light installed to make

that intersection has stretched out longer than anybody expected. He said it is

not necessarily anyone?s fault, and a lot of people have been working to get

this taken care of.



He said what they are requesting is that an alternative that was

recommended by Ron Hamlett on improving the safety of the intersection, which

is to improve the site distance by coming back towards Columbus along Veterans

Parkway and clearing some of the trees and vegetation back so that it would be

a safer intersection.



He said as far as loading that area with additional traffic, the only

thing that they are asking for is permission for construction traffic to exit

out from the project onto Franklin Drive and down to Cooper Creek and then come

out to be able to get onto Veterans Parkway. He said the residents of the

apartment complex will not be using this exit until the signal goes into place.







After further discussion on this matter, Mr. Jeffcoat showing maps of the

area, responded to several questions and concerns of Mayor Peters and members

of the Council.



Mr. Jeffcoat said the City?s Inspections & Code Enforcement Division have

told them that they have a problem routing construction traffic from the

apartment units that are still under construction into a very restricted

residential area. He said those construction trucks will be right in front of

those occupied units.



Councilor Allen said he has never heard that before and then asked City

Manager Cavezza to help him understand this mater. He said he need to look into

the statement made by Mr. Jeffcoat in that they have been told by the

Inspections & Code Division that they will be unable to bring construction

traffic back through the occupied area, while continuing their construction.



Councilor Turner Pugh said she would also like for the staff to explain

the difference in construction traffic going by the apartments versus going by

the residential homes.



After some twenty-five minutes of discussion on this proposed rezoning,

with Mr. Jeffcoat responding to further questions of the Council, this public

hearing was declared having been held.

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA CONTINUED:



THE FOLLOWING TWO ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF

DISCUSSION THEN INTRODUCED ON FIRST READING





An Ordinance - Amending Ordinance No. 02-43 (Tree Preservation and

Replacement) by removing the requirement that for residential lots exceeding

7,500 square feet, one tree must be planted in the front yard; and for other

purposes.



An Ordinance - Amending Ordinance No. 02-43 (Tree Preservation and

Replacement) by creating a new Tree Protection Advisory Board (seven members)

and a new Board of Arbor Appeals (five members); and for other purposes.



The following individual appeared and expressed their views on the above

two ordinances:



Mr. Tom Flournoy, Flournoy Development, Mr. John Turner, Mr. Bob Hydrick

and Mr. Thornton Jordan



After the individuals expressed their views on the ordinances, several

members of the Council also expressed their views on the subject, and then

responded to several of the concerns expressed by the individuals above.



City Attorney Fay then asked if there was anyone else who wanted to be

heard on either or these two ordinances, but there was no one who indicated

that they wanted to be heard. He then pointed out that these two ordinances

would be voted on next week on second reading.

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COUNCILOR POYDASHEFF?S SEAT:



Mayor Peters said when Councilor Poydasheff qualifies for office on next

week, it will be up to the Council to decide whether or not they want to

appoint someone to fill that unexpired term until the election in August, or it

could just remain a vacant seat for that time period. He said we will have a

special election called, and then asked City Attorney Fay if that would be next

Tuesday, so that you could have qualifying during the same time period.



City Attorney Fay said the Council may appoint someone for a two-month

interim, but said the Elections Superintendent Director, Nancy Boren would have

to call for a Special Election.



Mayor Peters said people have called and asked why Councilor Smith doesn?t

have to give up his seat, is because his seat is up anyway and he is not in the

middle of a term. He said if it is 18 months or more left on a term when

someone qualifies for another office, then you have to have a Special Election.

He said it is not going to cost for additional election, because the election

for this Council seat will be held in conjunction with the local elections in

August that we are having anyway. City Attorney Fay said that is correct.



Councilor Turner Pugh then asked how does this impact on our votes if we

only have nine members of Council seated and voted. City Attorney Fay said we

would still have to have the six votes for any ordinance or resolution to pass.

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BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING:



THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY BUDGET REVIEW

CHAIRPERSON TURNER AND A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD AS ADVERTISED AND AMENDED BY

THE COUNCIL: ____________



An Ordinance- Adopting the annual Operating and Capital Improvements

Budget for the fiscal year 2003, beginning July 1, 2002 and ending June 30,

2003, in the total amount of $171,763,407 for certain funds of the Consolidated

Government of Columbus, Georgia and appropriating the amounts shown in each

budget as outlined in the ordinance.



Budget Review Chairperson Pugh said she would like to thank the Council

for their indulgence for our budget hearing sessions. She said she thinks that

we have digested this budget even though there are still some issues that we

need some clarifications on by law, we have to put the ordinance on first

reading today.



She pointed out that the annual Operating and Capital Improvement Budget

for FY03 proposed in the total amount of $171,808,407.



Councilor Turner then outlined the several different funds that make up

the budget, and are outlined as follows: Sewer Fund Budget - $4,378,084. Paving

Fund Budget - $11,402,686. The Medical Center Fund Budget - $9,330,085.

Integrated Waste Management Fund Budget - $8,957,295. The Emergency Telephone

Fund Budget - $3,067,005. Civic Center Fund Budget - $4,334,569. The Debt

Service Fund Budget - $4,592,083. The Transportation Fund - $4,676,082. The

Parking Management Fund - $253,490. The Bull Creek - $1,427,261. The Oxbow

Creek - $569,007. The Columbus Iron Works Convention and Trade Center

$1,726,207. The Economic Development - $777,504. The Health and Life Insurance

Budget - $14,691,810. The Risk Management - $1,701,894. Workforce Investment

Act (WIA), formerly the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), - $3,081,544. The

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - $3,009,000.



She said everyone will not be pleased with the budget, and said we wish we

could do more for the employees; however, with the budget constraints that with

dollars coming in, we were not able to request a salary increase outside of the

$500 per person. She said if mid-year time, if the economy should happen to

blossom back up like it once did, we can always go backand make mid-year

adjustments, even on salaries.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said these are not necessary tax funded, all of

these operations, but said many of them are enterprise funds, that we have

funds coming in from user funds and various other sources. He said he doesn?t

want anyone to get the impression that all of this is being funded by property

taxes or fees raised just to fund the budge.



City Attorney Fay said this is a public hearing and then asked if there

was anyone who wanted to be heard, but there were none.



Councilor Turner Pugh said there were concerns during the budget session

on the administration for the Small Business Loan Program, the $100,000 that we

have in there. She said we had requested some information on how the program

was doing and were loans actually being given out in the administration of that

program. City Manager Cavezza said we have that data and said we will be

bringing back to the Council in a Work Session. He said under the CDBG Budget,

the small business portion of it, there is a $105,000 for overhead and staff

and said Uptown Columbus, Inc., is running that program for the City. He said

they are in the process of trying to line up some money for loans. He said in

the past the City has provided some of these funds and said we were not able to

do it this. He said whether or not that $105,000 is an actual allocation,

depends on how that program comes together.



City Manager Cavezza said there was also some questions of the BID and

said we will have the Chairperson of the Board of the BID to explain the BID

expenditures, as there was some discussion about security.



Councilor Turner Pugh said there is one amendment that we need to make on

the budget, as it is on first reading, is to add $45,000 for the Public

Defender?s Office. She said that is because of the State Supreme Court ruling,

as it relates to indigent defense funding, as we are required to give any

indigent person an attorney. City Manager Cavezza said they met with the State

Court Judges and said they have indicated that a minimum of two would be

necessary. He said we will monitor it and if an adjustment is appropriate it

will make that adjustment.



Councilor Turner Pugh then so moved to amend the budget in the amount of

$45,000. Seconded by Councilor Poydasheff and carried unanimously by those nine

members of Council present for this meeting.



Councilor Turner Pugh said she had asked about the funds that we receive

in the County Drug Treatment Funds and whether or not it could be used for the

DARE Program and said according to the information that she received, it can.



Mr. Gerald Ludwig appeared and said he has attended several of the budget

hearings and he is pleased with the budget and he thinks that this is one of a

better budgets.



THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND ITS CAPTION READ BY CITY

ATTORNEY FAY AND INTRODUCED ON FIRST READING:

______________________________________________________ ___



An Ordinance - Adopting non-operating budgets for fiscal year 2003,

beginning July 1, 2002 and ending June 30, 2003, for certain funds of the

Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia and appropriating the amounts

shown in each budget as outlined in the ordinance.



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POLICE & FIRE GAMES:



Mayor Peters said at 12:00 noon on next week, he would hope that the

Council and public would come to the Trade Center, as the Governor will be

there for the kick-off of the Police & Fire Games.



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THE FOLLOWING FOUR ORDINANCES WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ

BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON SECOND READING:

___________________________________



An Ordinance (02-44) - Rezoning approximately 6.71 acres of properties

located at 1118, 1230 1234, 1236 and 1240 54th Street from an A-0 and M-1

District with conditions to an M-1 District. (18-CA-02-The McDougal Co.)

Councilor Poydasheff moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor Allen and

carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present for this meeting.





An Ordinance (02-45) - Rezoning approximately 8.41 acres of property

located at the southeast corner of Buena Vista Road and Moye Road from an R-1A

District to a C-3 District. (19-D-02-Edwards) Councilor Suber moved its

adoption. Seconded by Councilor Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those

nine members of Council present for this meeting.



An Ordinance (02-46) - Rezoning approximately 0.25 acres of property

located at 4112 St. Francis Avenue from an R-2 District to an A-0 District.

(20-CA-02-Hart) Councilor Turner Pugh moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor

Suber and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present for this

meeting.



An Ordinance (02-47) - Rezoning approximately 1.67 acres of properties

located at 4131, 4137, 4143, 4149, 4153 & 4201 St. Francis Avenue from an R-2

District to an A-0 District. (21-CA-02-St. Francis Hospital Affiliated

Services, Inc.) Councilor Woodson moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor

Smith and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present for this

meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING EIGHT ORDINANCES WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ

BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND ALSO INTRODUCED ON FIRST READING





An Ordinance - Providing for the demolition of the structures located at

2817 Bradley Circle (Elizabeth Adams, owner), 2827 9th Street (Mary & Benson

Ford, owner), 2314 Buena Vista Road (Lafayette Hilton, owner), 1133 Staunton

Drive (Louis L. Johnson, Jr., owner), and 4415 16th Avenue (Leo Mackey,

owner), and for demolition services for the Inspections and Code Division in

accordance with Tabulation of Bid sheet.



An Ordinance - Providing for contributions to the Columbus, Georgia

General Government Employees? Pension Plan for the fiscal year beginning July

1, 2002.



An Ordinance - Providing for Government funding of a Major Disability

Income Plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002.



An Ordinance - Providing for Government funding of a Death Benefit

Escrow for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002.



An Ordinance - Providing for the supplemental contributions to the

Columbus, Georgia Pension Plan for employees of the Department of Public

Safety for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002.



An Ordinance - Amending Article VII of Chapter 13 of the Columbus Code

Solid Waste Collection and Disposal by establishing new guidelines for an

offset to residential rate for low-income households; and for other purposes.



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PENSION FUND:



Mayor Peters said there is a misunderstanding about the pension fund and

said we were talking about changing this penalty, the 6%; whereby if you take

an early retirement, you take 6% penalty. He said a lot of the employees were

under the impression that it was a 6% reduction in the amount calculated toward

their pension. He said what they do, is you have full retirement at 60% and you

take a early retirement at age 50, or an earlier time; you would take the same

amount of money that they would get and deduct 6% per year, but then it would

still be spread out over the same number of years. He said you would get the

same amount of money, but you wouldn?t get it as often, is what they explained

to him.



City Manager Cavezza said if a person has accrued 20 or 30 years and if

they want until their retirement age, they can accrue their full pension at

that time, for the years that they served. He said they have that option or

they could take an early retirement.



Several minutes of discussion continued on this subject, with several

members of the Council expressing their views and Mayor Peters explaining this

matter further.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING TWO RESOLUTIONS, EXPRESSING APPRECATION FOR RETIREMENT WERE

SUBMITTED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS

AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY

MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR POYDASHEFF, WHICH CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE EIGHT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT AT THE TIME, WITH

COUNCILOR ALLEN BEING ABSENT FOR THIS VOTE:





A Resolution (368-02) - Expressing appreciation to Robert G. Matthews upon

his retirement with the Columbus Police Department after nearly 30 years of

service.

A Resolution (369-02) - Expressing appreciation to Jimmy J. Redmon

upon his retirement with the Marshal's Department after more than 12 years of

service.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING THREE RESOLUTIONS, EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF

FORMER CITY EMPLOYEES WERE SUBMITTED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND THEIR CAPTIONS

READ BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE

ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY

COUNCILOR SMITH, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE EIGHT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

PRESENT AT THE TIME, WITH COUNCILOR ALLEN BEING ABSENT FOR THIS

VOTE:____________________ __



A Resolution (370-02) - Expressing condolences to the family of Mr. Harry

J. Youmans, former employee with the Columbus Public Services Department, who

passed away on February 27, 2002.



A Resolution (371-02) - Expressing condolences to the family of Mr.

Clifford F. Hull, former employee with Columbus METRA Transportation System,

who passed away on April 14, 2002.



A Resolution (372-02) - Expressing condolences to the family of Mr. Robert

P. Jackson, former employee with the Columbus Police Department, who passed

away on April 16, 2002.



A Resolution (373-02) - Expressing condolences to the family of Mr. Gerald

A. Douglas, former employee with the Columbus Police Department, who passed

away on April 28, 2002.

-------------------------------------------*** ***

***------------------------------------



EXECUTIVE SESSION:



City Manager Cavezza requested a brief executive session to discuss a real

estate matter and a personnel issue, immediately after the adjournment of the

Council meeting.

-------------------------------------------*** ***

***------------------------------------



CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING THREE RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY

MANAGER CAVEZZA AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE

MOTION MADE BY COUNCILOR POYDAHEFF AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR WOODSON WHICH

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE EIGHT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:_________________________________________ _





A Resolution (374-02) ? Authorizing the Mayor to execute a Local

Government Project Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for

road improvement to construct rehabilitation and widen project NH-185 (317)

from SR520 (Victory Drive) to St. Mary?s Road.



A Resolution (375-02) ? Authorizing the City Manager to apply for and

execute a contract with the Georgia Department fo Transportation on behalf of

the City for financial assistance to carry out the FY-2003 Transportation

Planning Work Activities of the Columbus-Phenix City Transportation

Study.



A Resolution (376-02) - Reaffirming a resolution for the $1.50 charge for

911 and the $1.00 charge for enhanced wireless 911 to continue per billable

telephone for another year.



THE FOLLOWING TEN PURCHASING RESOLUTIONS, WITH DETAILED INFORMATION HAVING

BEEN INCLUDED WITH THE CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA PACKET, WERE SUBMITTED AND

EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER CAVEZZA AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL UPON THE ADOPTION

OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY COUNCILOR POYDASHEFF AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR

WOODSON, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE NINE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR

THIS MEETING:_______________ ____



A Resolution (377-02) - Authorizing the execution of a contract for long

distance telephone services with ITC Deltacom.



A Resolution (378-02) - Authorizing the execution of a contract for

Historic Preservation Services with The Jaeger Company.



A Resolution (379-02) - Authorizing the purchase of five (5) mid-size extended cab pick-up trucks

from Mike Patton CDJ, in the amount of $68,995.00.



A Resolution (380-02) - Authorizing the purchase of thirty-three (33)

glock semi-automatic pistols from Smyrna Police Distributor, in the amount of

$15,477.00.



A Resolution (381-02) - Authorizing the purchase of telephone equipment

for the Jail Addition from Black Box Network Services, in the amount of

$29,257.68.



A Resolution (382-02) - Authorizing payment to BellSouth Pro

Group-Atlanta, in the amount of $69,269.00 to relocate telephone cables to

accommodate the Construction required for the Trade Center renovation.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION, WHICH WAS DELAYED ON LAST WEEK, WAS AGAIN

SUBMITTED AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (383-02) - Authorizing payment to Georgia Department of

Human Resources for an additional ambulance license renewal fee, in the

amount of $12,550.00. Councilor Turner Pugh moved its adoption. Seconded by

Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present for this meeting.



*** *** ***



MASTERBUILT:



City Manager Cavezza said we had a business, Masterbuilt purchased some

land, $38,000 from us to expand their business and said the land is not

developable. He said it is not contamination, as it was an illegal landfill at

one time, and said the soil is such that you can?t really do construction on

that soil. He said they have asked for their money back and said they are

planning on relocating in Corporate Ridge. He said they have spent

approximately $27,000 of their own money to develop that property and are

asking for that reimbursement. He said a part of that package is $11,000 piece

of land, which would make it $38,000 which would be equal to their

expenditures. He said that piece of land we will not be developing, but said

the building that Masterbuilt is located in, there are some people interested

in that; so we can see some economic development advantages coming out of this.

He said we recently received that we are going to get a $200,000 Brownsfield

grant from the Federal grant, and said hopefully, this grant through our master

planning and attention to environmental issues will help us determine how many

problems, like this, we have in the Enterprise Zone so that we can deal with

them.



City Manager Cavezza then asked for the Council?s approval to work with

Masterbuilt to allow us to reimburse that money. He said this money will come

out of a real estate fund that we have accumulate, plus $8,000 out of the

capital project fund and general fund. Councilor Poydasheff so moved. Seconded

by Councilor Hunter and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present for this meeting.



*** *** ***



City Manager Cavezza outlined some dates for some upcoming events around

the City, which are outlined below:



June 14th ? Rigdon Park Pool Opening



June 18th ? Police & Fire Games



June 27th ? Georgia Power Luncheon with the Council



June 28th ? Shirley Winston Park & Psalmond Pool Opening



June 22 ? 27 ? Fire & EMS Certification Evaluation





*** *** ***



BUILDING ON VICTORY DRIVE:



Councilor Woodson said she received an e-mail regarding the building on

Victory Drive again, where we requested the owners to demolish the building or

board it up. She said they were supposed to respond to us by yesterday. City

Manager Cavezza said he has not received a response on this matter, but said he

will follow up on it.



*** *** ***



SUBSTANDARD HOUSING:



Councilor Smith said he would like for the Mayor and City Manager to

provide further information on this request regarding the substandard housing

on Illges Road that was made on last week, and said if it doesn?t meet the

building code or health department code, let?s put a big sign on the right of

way, telling who owns this property.



Councilor Suber said he talked with Mr. Bill Duck and said he is working

on that. Councilor Smith said he also talked with him, but said he don?t want

to let that issue die; because when you have a school full of teachers saying

that is a major issue with them, he thinks that we need to do something.



City Manager Cavezza said we will continue to follow up on that.



*** *** ***













MATLIDA LANE APARTMENTS:



Councilor Hunter said the Matlida Lane Apartments burned and are going

through the condemnation process and said even though it may take some time,

the City will do whatever it can to see to that building is boarded up, and the

glass and debris is cleared away. He said it is his understanding that the

residents have spoken to him that children have been playing in that area, and

said it does pose a hazard. He said he wants the citizens to understand that we

are not going to wait two months while we wait for the condemnation and let

that be an eyesore. He said we will do whatever we can to keep it from being an

eyesore.



*** *** ***



REMOVAL OF A BURNED BUILDING:



Councilor Turner Pugh asked City Manager to go over the guidelines when a

house burns in a neighborhood and what our process is, to have that structure

removed. She said as she understands from Councilor Suber that there is a house

on Radcliff Avenue that has been there for over two months now.



*** *** ***



COLUMBUS HOUSING INITIATIVE:



Councilor Turner Pugh asked City Manager Cavezza to ask Columbus Housing

Initiative to bring an update on where they are with the housing projects.

-------------------------------------------*** ***

***------------------------------------

CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AS

INFORMATION FOR THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL:



(1) Biographical sketch of Ms. Nancy Wilkerson, Councilor Henderson?s

nominee for the position of Judge Albert Thompson on the Columbus

Golf Course Authority.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (384-02) - Excusing Councilor Charles E. McDaniel from the

June 11, 2002 Council meeting. Councilor Turner Pugh moved its adoption.

Seconded by Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those eight members of

Council present at the time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers having already left the

meeting.



*** *** ***







THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND

OFFICIALLY RECEIVED BY THE COUNCIL:____________



Letter from Law offices of Hatcher, Stubbs, Land, Hollis & Rothschild,

LLP regarding the Hospital Authority of Columbus, Georgia Revenue Certificates

(St. Francis Hospital, Inc. Project.) Councilor Poydasheff moved the letter be

received. Seconded by Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those eight

members of Council present at the time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers having

already left the meeting.





*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ALSO SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON

AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:_______________



A Resolution (385-02) approving the report of the Finance Director of

those alcoholic beverage licenses that were approved and/or denied during the

month of May. Councilor Poydasheff moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor

Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council present

at the time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers having already left the meeting.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK

OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL:

___________________________________________________







Application of Bridgett Herring for a temporary street closure for 9th

and10th Street at the west side of Front Avenue Bay Avenue from 9th to 11th St.

Dillingham St. at the west side of Front Avenue (Front Avenue will remain open

on Wednesday, July 3 ? Thursday, July 4, 2002 at 6 p.m. to Midnight in

connection with a ?Celebration of Thunder on the Hooch ? God & Country.?



Councilor Turner Pugh moved the approval of the application. Seconded by

Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council

present at the time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers having already left the

meeting.



*** *** ***



MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING BOARDS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND OFFICIALLY RECEIVED BY THE

COUNCIL:





Building Contractors Examining Board, May 2, 2002.

Development Authority, May 1, 2002.

Development Authority, May 23, 2002.

Employees? Pension Plan, Board of Trustees, April 3, 2002.

Board of Tax Assessors, Numbers 21.



Councilor Allen made a motion that these minutes be received. Seconded by

Councilor Henderson and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council

present at the time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers having already left the

meeting.

-------------------------------------------*** ***

***------------------------------------







BOARD APPOINTMENTS:



COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL:



Clerk of Council Washington again pointed out that we still need a nominee

for someone to succeed Mr. Homer Kuhl on the Community Development Advisory

Council, as he cannot succeed himself. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said he has a

nominee in mind, but hasn?t been able to confirm whether or not they would like

to serve.



*** *** ***



COLUMBUS GOLF AUTHORITY:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that on last week Mr. Earl Bagley

and Mr. Willie Hill, was nominated for another term of office to succeed

themselves and that they may be confirmed. Councilor Poydasheff then made a

motion that they be confirmed. Seconded by Councilor Allen

and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council present at the time,

with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers having already left the meeting.

Councilor Suber moved confirmation of Mr. Floyd C. Washington who was nominated

to succeed Mr. Rannie Lewis. Seconded by Councilor Poydasheff and carried

unanimously by those eight members present.



Councilor Suber also moved confirmation of Ms. Rhudine Nelson to succeed

herself for another term of office. Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried

unanimously by those eight members of Council still present at the time.



Councilor Henderson then moved that Mr. Richard C. Hagler be confirmed to

succeed Mr. Michael Silverstein and carried unanimously by those eight members

of Council still present.



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that we have two nominees for the

position of Judge Albert Thompson, which are Nancy Wilkerson and Mr. Rudolph

Allen. A roll call vote resulted in an inconclusive vote of 5 ? 3. Voting for

Mr. Allen were Councilors Hunter, Poydasheff, Pugh, Suber and Woodson. Voting

for Ms. Wilkerson were Councilors Allen, Henderson and Smith.

*** *** ***



INDUSTRIAL & PORT DEVELOPMENT COMIMSSION:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Mr. Stephen Butler?s term of

office has expired and that he is not eligible to succeed himself and that the

Council needs to nominate someone to succeed him. There were no nominations.



*** *** ***



KEEP COLUMBUS BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that on last week Mr. Joel Ames,

Ms. Susan Binns, Jr. Joel Collins, Mr. William Consoletti, Mr. David Hay, and

Ms. Liliana McDaniel was nominated for another term of office and said that

they may now be confirmed. Councilor Woodson so moved. Seconded by Councilor

Poydasheff and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council present at

the time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers having already left the meeting. She said

we would need someone to succeed Ms. Cindy Alexander



EMPLOYEES PENSION BOARDS OF TRUSTEES:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that the terms of office of

Mrs. Carolyn Helms on the Employees Pension Boards of Trustees will expire on

June 30, 2002, and they is not eligible to succeed herself



Mayor Peters said he is waiting on a nominee from the Retired City

Employees Association.



*** *** ***





REGION 9, MH/MR/SA:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Ms. Mary Myles has been

nominated to succeed Mr. Gary McCory on the Region 9, MH/MR/SA Board and that

she may be confirmed. Councilor Suber so moved. Seconded by Councilor Turner

Pugh and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council present at the

time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers having already left the meeting.



She also pointed out that Mr. Michael Johnson?s term has expired last year

on this board.



*** *** ***



TAXICAB COMMISSION:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that we need to fill the one new

at-large seat that was recently approved by the Council.



*** *** ***



Mayor Peters then asked if there was anyone present in the audience who

was not listed on the Public Agenda, but had an issue to bring before the

Council, they could be heard at this time.



Mr. Gerald Ludwig said Ms. Diane Scrimpshire of the Elections &

Registration Department informed her that the filing time period was from 9:00

a.m. on June 19th to 12:00 noon on June 21st.



*** *** ***





EXECUTIVE SESSION:



Regarding an earlier request of City Manager Cavezza to go into an

executive session, Councilor Turner Pugh made a motion to allow the Council to

go into an executive session to discuss a real estate matter, as well as a

personnel issue. Seconded by Councilor Poydasheff and carried unanimously by

those eight members of Council present at the time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers

having already left the meeting.



At 11:40 a.m., the Council adjourned its regular session to allow the

Council to go into an executive session.



At 12:28 p.m. the regular session was reconvened, at which time Mayor

Peters pointed out that there was a vote taken by the Council in executive

session, dealing with a personnel matter where there was an employee that was

in the Sheriff?s Department transferred over to the Marshal?s Office and didn?t

have the college to do that, and was improperly classified to a wrong

classification and the Council voted that individual should be decreased in

classification from a Step 10 back to a Step 9, which meets his current

qualifications until such time he receives his college. He said if he don?t get

the college, he will stay at a Step 9, and if he don?t get it within the time

period, he will have to be terminated under the rules and regulations.



He said he will lose his powers of arrest and will not get the take-home

car and cannot carry a weapon. He said that was a unanimous vote of those

seven members of Council that was present at that meeting.



*** *** ***



With there being no other business to come before this Council, Councilor

Allen then made a motion for adjournment. Seconded by Councilor Suber and

carried unanimously by those seven members of Council present for this meeting,

with the time being 12:30 P.M.



*** *** ***







Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia





















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