Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING



Meeting

April 8, 2003



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

Glenn Davis, Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., Nathan Suber and

Evelyn Woodson. Councilor Berry Henderson arrived at 8:22 a.m. and Councilor

Evelyn Turner Pugh arrived at 8:32 a.m. Also present were Mayor Robert S.

Poydasheff, City Manager Carmen Cavezza, Assistant City Attorney Jamie DeLoach

and Finance Director Kay Love.



Members Absent: Councilor Wayne Anthony was absent.

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Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers called the meeting to order at 8:20 a.m. in the Council

Chambers Conference Room, Plaza Level, Government Center.



Restaurants located in the Central Riverfront District:

City Manager Cavezza called attention to the proposed amendment to Section

3-5(g) of the Columbus Code so as to permit the issuance of alcoholic beverage

licenses to restaurants located within the Central Riverfront District provided

such restaurants are at least 250 ft. away from the grounds of a church.

Councilor McDaniel stated there is a restaurant right around the corner and

they were able to acquire an alcoholic beverage license.



Councilor Henderson expressed his concern by stating that in the past,

individuals have come forward requesting changes in the alcoholic beverage

ordinance. He went on to say that the CRD district is a separate, unique area

and we are trying to build up this area. He said we might want to put some

specifications in there if it is within the 300 ft. City Manager Cavezza

pointed out that with the 250 ft. distance requirement, the restaurant would

not be able to charge a cover charge.



Councilor Allen agreed we needed to fix this for the district and not one

particular individual. He then asked if there was another potential business

that could come forward in this area to request an amendment so they would be

able to qualify for an alcoholic beverage license. City Manager Cavezza

explained he could not guarantee that someone would not come in and ask for a

200 ft. distance requirement, but the 250 ft. seems to be a reasonable change.



There was continued discussion on this matter with various councilors

expressing their views. Councilor Davis said that he was unsure if he would be

able to support this ordinance change because of the language in the

amendment. Mayor Poydasheff said that he had spoken to his pastor, where he is

a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and





Council Briefing

April 8, 2003

Page 2





they were satisfied with 250 ft. rule and would not express opposition to the

ordinance change.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers pointed out he has not in the past supported a change in

the alcoholic beverage ordinance and would not be able to support this one.

Councilor Suber stated that we created this entertainment district; therefore,

we knew what would be located in that area, and the church does not have a

problem with it.



Councilor Davis asked if the 250 ft. rule would be confined to this area, at

which time, Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers reminded everyone that we are talking about

the CRD which already exists and right now we are talking about changing the

distance requirement. Councilor Allen suggested some language that would read,

that if a restaurant was within a certain distance of a church, they could only

serve beer and wine and they could not be a nightclub. He said we could let

the people know upfront when they move within the CRD.



City Manager Cavezza explained that the current ordinance allows a restaurant

to become a pub after 9:00 p.m. and charge a cover charge. Mayor Pro Tem

Rodgers asked if the restaurant was aware they did not qualify for an alcoholic

beverage license when they entered the lease agreement. City Manager Cavezza

said that ?Buddy? owns that building and he does not know if they were aware of

it or not.



Solid Waste Collection And Disposal:

City Manager Cavezza advised there is an ordinance listed for first reading

today regarding solid waste collection and disposal. He said it requires

transfer station facility owners or managers to control noxious odors. He said

if you can detect an odor within 100 ft. and we receive three complaints about

the facility; then, they can be cited. Assistant City Attorney Jamie DeLoach

made a correction in that it would take three convictions and not three

complaints to potentially subject them to business license revocation.



Councilor McDaniel stated that on Third Avenue, there is a transfer station

with a terrible odor and people use it to dump garbage; it is especially bad

when we have the weekend, because there is no garbage pick up and it just stays

there. Councilor Suber asked why are we giving them six months, at which time,

Councilor Allen suggested lengthening the time to 12 months, because we would

have a hard time getting three convictions in six months. Councilor Pugh

suggested getting our State Legislators involved to address this issue.



There was continued discussion on this matter with various council members

expressing their views.





Council Briefing

April 8, 2003

Page 3





Parking Management For Lakebottom Park:

City Manager Cavezza advised there is a Parking Management Ordinance for

Lakebottom Park listed on the City Attorney?s Agenda on first reading. He said

that we had a meeting with the Little League President and came up with an

agreement not to change to a one-way street, but we would enforce parking

regulations. He said some people are parking on the grass and just anywhere

they want to. He said we are requesting the Council approve the Parking

Management Area for Lakebottom Park and allow the Police Department to deputize

special parking enforcement officers to enforce parking and traffic regulations

in that area. In response to a question of Councilor Allen regarding the

people that are causing the problem, City Manager Cavezza maintained that it is

mostly people coming for softball games.



Emergency Management Advisory Board:

City Manager Cavezza advised that there is a resolution listed on the City

Attorney?s Agenda to disband the Emergency Management Advisory Board. Mayor

Poydasheff added that the people who are on this board felt it was redundant

considering the fact he has established the Columbus Homeland Security and

Emergency Management Task Force. He then provided the names of those

individuals who are a part of the Columbus Homeland Security and Emergency

Management Task Force. Councilor Woodson pointed out there are some

individuals who are on the Emergency Management Advisory Board that would like

to be a part of the Homeland Task Force.



Mayor Poydasheff explained this is primarily a networking of people dealing

with security issues and he does not know the members of the Emergency

Management Advisory Board or if they would have to have a security clearance.

Councilor Pugh said she would hope the board would report back to the Council

with some type of briefing or report.



Councilor Henderson suggested some of the large corporations be involved with

the Task Force such as AFLAC and Synovus.



There was continued discussion on this matter with various council members

expressing their views.



Roadside Vendors:

City Manager Cavezza said it is close to time for the regular Council Meeting

to start and he did not have an opportunity to discuss the roadside vendors.



Meeting adjourned 8:59 a.m.



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Sandra T. Davis, Deputy Clerk of Council