Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES



COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA





REGULAR SESSION





MARCH 29, 2005





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

to order at 9:00 A.M., Tuesday, March 29, 2005, on the Plaza Level of the

Government Center, Columbus, Georgia. Honorable Robert S. Poydasheff, Mayor,

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



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PRESENT: Present other than Mayor Poydasheff and Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers

were Councilors Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry H. Henderson, Julius H.

Hunter, Jr., Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., Evelyn Turner Pugh, and Nathan Suber.

City Manager Isaiah Hugley, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Clerk of Council Tiny B.

Washington and Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis were also present.

Councilor R. Gary Allen arrived at 9:06 a.m. Councilor Evelyn Woodson arrived

at 9:10 a.m.



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ABSENT: No one was absent.



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INVOCATION: Offered by Reverend Johnnie Flakes ? Fourth Street Baptist Church.



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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by students from the Enrichment Services Program

Headstart Class.

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MINUTES: Minutes of the March 15, 2005 meeting of the Council of the

Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia were submitted and approved upon

the adoption of a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and seconded by

Councilor Turner Pugh which carried unanimously by those eight members of

Council present at the time with Councilors Allen and Woodson not yet having

arrived to the meeting.

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CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILOR TURNER PUGH, THE FOLLOWING

TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING APPLICATION WAS CALLED UP AS THE NEXT ORDER OF

BUSINESS:





Application of Rev. J. H. Flakes to temporarily close 5th Street between

2nd and 3rd Avenues, on Saturday, April 9, 2005, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.,

in connection with a ?Church Carnival?.



Councilor Henderson moved the approval. Seconded by Councilor Suber and

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

Councilors Allen and Woodson not yet having arrived to the meeting.

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NOTE: The Clerk of Council?s Agenda is continued below.



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ZONING PUBLIC HEARING:



THE FOLLOWING ZONING ORDINANCE WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY

ATTORNEY FAY AND A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD AS

ADVERTISED:





An Ordinance - Amending the text of the Unified Development Ordinance to

correct omissions and to clarify sections. (9-A-05-Planning Division)



PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:



Members of the Planning Division staff was present, but did not make a

presentation as there was no one present to oppose this proposed text

amendment.



City Attorney Fay pointed out that this ordinance would be voted on next

week.

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NOTE; Councilor Allen arrived at this point in the proceedings, the time

being 9:06 a.m.

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING TWO ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY

FAY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON SECOND

READING:_________________________________________________



An Ordinance (05-28) - Rezoning property located at 6008 Billings Road

from an R-1 (Low Density Residential) District to an R-1A (Low Density

Residential) District. (10-CA-05-Wade) Councilor Suber moved the adoption of

the ordinance. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and carried by a vote of 7 to

2. Councilors Allen and Davis voted no and Councilor Woodson had not yet

arrived to the meeting.



An Ordinance (05-29) - Rezoning property located at near the NW & SW

corners of Veterans Parkway & Wooldridge Road is proposed for rezoning from an

A-1 (Agricultural) District to an R-1 (Low Density Residential) District and an

R-1A (Low Density Residential) District. (11-CA-05-Grey Rock Development, LLC)

Councilor Suber moved the adoption of the ordinance. Seconded by Councilor

McDaniel and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present at

the time, with Councilor Woodson not yet having arrived to the meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND

EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON

SECOND READING ATER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DISCUSSION :



An Ordinance (05-30) - Rezoning property located at parts of 6001 and 6003

Warm Springs Road from an R-1A (Low Density Residential)/PUD (Planned Unit

Development) and an A-1 (Agricultural) District to A-O (Apartment-Office)

District. (12-CA-05-Tiger Creek Development and The Billing Co.)



Councilor Davis asked City Manager Hugley to tell him what road

improvements are planned at the intersection of Blackmon & Warm Springs Road.



Deputy City Manager Bishop said currently there are no plans for

improvements for the intersection at Warm Springs/Blackmon Road. He said in

the staff report, they projected traffic for all the future development in that

site. He said there is one parcel that is zoned A-1 at the interchange of

Blackmon and J. R. Allen Parkway and said if it were rezoned to commercial, it

would contribute approximately 4,000 trips to the network and at that point;

then, there would be a need for improvements at that intersection. However,

based on the current traffic as of now, we don?t have any improvements planned,

other than if the road gets to a point where it needs to be resurfaced or

something like that, we will address it. He said in the long-range plan there

is consideration of doing something with Blackmon Road and Billings Road.



Several minutes of discussion continued on this matter, with Deputy City

Manager Bishop and Zoning Administrator Will Johnson continuing to respond to

several questions and concerns of members of Council on this issue, after which

Councilor Suber then made a motion to adopt the ordinance. Seconded by

Councilor Allen and carried by a unanimous vote of 8 to 1, with Councilor

Turner Pugh voting no and Councilor Woodson not yet having arrived to the

meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND

EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON

SECOND READING: _





An Ordinance (05-31) - Rezoning property located at parts of 6003 Warm

Springs Road from an R-1 (Low Density Residential) District to an R-3A (Medium

Density Residential) District. (13-CA-05-Tiger Creek Development) District.

Councilor Suber moved the adoption of the ordinance. Seconded by Councilor

Allen and carried by a unanimous vote of 8 to 1, with Councilor Turner Pugh

voting no and Councilor Woodson not yet having arrived to the meeting.

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NOTE; Councilor Woodson arrived at this point in the proceedings, the time

being 9:10 a.m.

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THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION, NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA WAS

SUBMITTED BY MAYOR POYDASHEFF AND READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS

AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL: __________



A Resolution (179-05) - Commending and congratulating Clerk of Council

Tiny B. Washington upon her selection as 2005 Clerk of the Year by the Georgia

Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers moved

the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor McDaniel and carried

unanimously with all ten members of the Council now present and standing to

cast their affirmative vote.



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WITH DETECTIVE JOYCE DENT-FITZPATRICK STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE

FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BYCOUNCLOR ANTHONY AND ADOPTED BY

THE COUNCIl:____



A Resolution (180-05) - Commending Detective Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick upon

her recently assisting a woman who was allegedly being assaulted near the

Wal-Mart on Airport Thruway. Councilor Anthony moved the adoption of the

resolution. Seconded by Councilor Hunter and carried unanimously with all ten

members of Council now present and standing to cast their affirmative vote.



WITH MS. JANICE HUDSON AND THE PRINCIPAL OF COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL STANDING

AT THE COUNCL TABLE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY

COUNCILOR HENDERSON AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:

___



A Resolution (181-05) - Commending Columbus High School upon its selection

as a Magnet School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America. Councilor

Henderson moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor McDaniel

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

with Councilors Suber and Woodson being absent for this vote,



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WITH COACH JAMES B. REDD AND HIS FAMILY STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE

FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR HENDERSON AND

ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (182-05) - Commending James B. Redd, former basketball coach

at Central-Phenix City, who was recently inducted into the Chattahoochee Valley

Sports Hall of Fame. Councilor Henderson moved the adoption of the resolution.

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

Council present standing to cast their affirmative vote.



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WITH MAJOR GENERAL (RET.) KENNETH LEUER STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE

FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIREY BY COUNCILOR HENDERSON AND ADOPTED

BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (183-05) - Commending Major General (Ret.) Kenneth Leuer,

former all-American wrestler, who was recently inducted into the Chattahoochee

Valley Sports Hall of Fame. Councilor Henderson moved the adoption of the

resolution. Seconded by Councilor McDaniel and carried unanimously by those

nine members of Council present at the time, with Councilor Turner Pugh being

absent for this vote.



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WITH THE COACHES AND MEMBERS OF THE SPENCER HIGH GREENWAVES BOYS

BASKETBALL TEAM STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS

READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR ALLEN AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:__________________



A Resolution (184-05) - Commending and congratulating the Spencer High

School Greenwaves boy?s basketball team recently finishing seventh in the

Georgia

AAA rankings. Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by

Councilor McDaniel and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council

present standing to cast their affirmative vote.

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NOTE: The City Attorney?s Agenda is continued below.



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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA CONTINUED:



AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILOR SUBER, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED

AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:



A Resolution (185-05) - Confirming the appointment of Mrs. Valeseia D.

Goodwin as Deputy City Manager for Current Operations, at a salary of $77,500.



City Manager Hugley said he would like to share with the Council his plans

for

savings that comes along with this appointment. He said the individual is

currently a department head and said this individual will serve as the Deputy

City Manager and he will not fill the director?s position that she will be

coming from and she will continue to serve as that department head. However, he

said there is a person in that department who is at a Pay Grade 13, but whose

title is not currently Assistant Director and part of this plan recommends that

this person be brought up one pay grade, to Pay Grade 14 and would receive a 3%

pay increase. He said as this person takes on the Deputy City Manager?s

position and serve as department head, we know that some of the department?s

responsibility will be pushed down to this individual who he is asking to serve

as Assistant Director of the department. He said the plan that he is bringing

before you with benefits when you consider the savings and not filling the

department head?s position would save a total of $97,011.00.



Mr. Hugley went into further details in outlining the entire plan and the

total savings that will come along with the plan, after which he then announced

his selection of Ms. Lisa Goodwin as Deputy City Manager and then asked for the

Council?s confirmation.



Councilor Suber moved confirmation and the adoption of the resolution.

Seconded by Councilor Henderson and carried unanimously by those ten members of

Council present standing to cast their affirmative vote.

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA CONTINUED:



THE FOLLOWING EIGHT RESOLUTIONS, EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO THOSE

EMPLOYEES WHO RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE SERVICES OF THE COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED

GOVERNMENT WERE SUBMITTED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ BY MAYOR

PRO TEM RODGERS AND THEN ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL, PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A

SINGLE MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR HENDERSON

AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE NINE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT AT THE TIME,

WITH COUNCILOR WOODSON BEING ABSENT FOR THIS VOTE: __



A Resolution (186-05) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. John H. Dixon upon

his

retirement with the Park Services Department after 20 years of service.



A Resolution (187-05) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Wales L. Whitt upon

his

retirement with the Water Works with over 7 years of service.



A Resolution (188-05) - Expressing appreciation to Ms. Joanne L. Mathews

upon her retirement with Muscogee Manor with over 27 years of service.



A Resolution (189-05) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Clifford Byrd, Jr.

upon his upcoming retirement with the CPD/Investigative Services with over 33

years of service.



A Resolution (190-05) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Henry L. Gagnon

upon his upcoming retirement with the Public Services Department after 23 years

of service.



A Resolution (191-05) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Warren W. Myles

upon his upcoming retirement with the CPD/OOPS after 35 years of service.



A Resolution (192-05) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Kenneth Tate upon

his retirement with Public Services Department after 5 years of service.



A Resolution (193-05) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Donald B. Williams

upon

his retirement with Fire/EMS Operations after 36 years of service.



THE FOLLOWING FIVE RESOLUTIONS, EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF

THOSE FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY

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

RODGERS AND THEN ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE

MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MCDANIEL, WHICH

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE TEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:____________________________________



A Resolution (194-05) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Willie

E. Rozier, Sr., former employee with the Public Services Department, who passed

away on January 22, 2005.



A Resolution (195-05) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Jake

Jones, former employee with the Columbus Water Works, who passed away on

February 2, 2005.



A Resolution (196-05) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Clyde

Huckaby, former employee with the Columbus Water Works, who passed away on

February 25, 2005.



A Resolution (197-05) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. J. C.

Yarbrough, former employee with the Fire Department, who passed away on

February 27, 2005.



A Resolution (198-05) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Walter

T. Henderson, former employee with the Columbus Water Works, who passed away on

February 28, 2005.

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PUBLIC AGENDA:



MR. BILL MADISON, RE: CUSSETA ROAD PROPERTIES AND ALPINE DRIVE PROPERTIES

AND LOCAL AND FEDERAL PLANS FOR THE FUTURE:_

Mr. William J. Madison, 974 Overlook Drive, said he is here on a personal

note, as well as the President of the local chapter of the NAACP.



Mr. Madison said as the President of the NAACP, they are concerned about

civil rights and said a question arose recently about the death of Dr. Jim

Burns, who was the Superintendent of the Muscogee County School System. He said

under the constitution a person?s civil rights, an individual is not permitted

to take a person?s life, liberty or property without due process and said we

are holding the Police Department in question as to whatever happened to the

act of violence to be brought to justice for Dr. Burns.

He said if we could get that to the table and see if somehow we can correct

that unfilled mission.



He also made mention of the killing of Mr. Kenneth Walker and said he

would like to see another grand jury hearing to look at this case.



Mr. Madison said he would ask that the City come forth with a committee to

look at the Community Development Block Grant money and how it is spent. He

said he would ask that the City take this very, very seriously.



Mayor Poydasheff said that the Council is very active in that and

basically the plan is always presented to the Council.



Mr. Madison also made comments regarding a matter as it relates to Mr.

Brown and his business. He said Mr. Brown and his family has been in a dire

straight problem trying to do business in our town. He said he would ask

someone in this Council to contact our state legislators and ask them to take a

look at the entire problem dealing with the Brown family as it relates to the

10th Avenue Farmers Market.



Mr. Madison then made several comments as he has on numerous occasions

from time to time during his many appearances before the Council. He said he

need to know why the Cusseta Road properties, as well as the Alpine Drive

properties that are in deplorable conditions have not been demolished. He said

these properties were standing when his properties were demolished and they are

still standing today. He said he couldn?t understand why the property can?t be

destroyed. He said he has received several telephone calls and said the

citizen?s wants the property demolished.



Councilor Turner Pugh said several of the Council members have been

checking on this property and said there were some issues that needed to be

resolved by HUD. She said she did find out on last week; that the issue with

HUD, on those

properties have been resolved and the portion that the City could act on as far

as demolition to the portions of it are now in process.



Mr. Madison said he would like to have an actual date these properties

will be demolished.



Mayor Poydasheff said we don?t have the dates, but if Mr. Madison wants to

speak with the City Manager or Councilor Turner Pugh privately he has that

right. He said if he wants to come back to speak with the Council at the end of

the meeting, he can do that, but at this time, he is going to have to ask him

not to respond to any further issues.

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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA CONTINUED:



THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER

HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:______________



A Resolution (199-05) - Authorizing the submission of an application and

if approved accept a grant for $50,000 from the Georgia Department of Human

Resources to provide family connection activities in order to improve child

health including reduced incidences of teenage pregnancy, child abuse, neglect

and other risk factors. Councilor Turner Pugh moved the adoption of the

resolution. Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those nine

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

for this vote.



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THE FOLLOWING FIVE PURCHASING RESOLUTIONS HAVING BEEN ENCLOSED WITH THE

CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER

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

MADE BY COUNCILOR TURNER PUGH AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR WOODSON, WHICH CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE NINE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT AT THE TIME WITH MAYOR PRO

TEM RODGERS BEING ABSENT FOR THIS VOTE:__________________________



A Resolution (200-05) - Authorizing the purchase of an upgrade to the

AVLdisplay monitors in the 911 Center from First Communications in the amount

of $30,190.41. The 911 Center operates a vehicle location monitoring system

that collects, combines and displays the location data generated by each

individual Public Safety Vehicle that is equipped with a GPS unit and reports

its location via the Mobile Data System. This system has been in place for

several years and the number of Public Safety Vehicles on the system has

increased each year. The load on the system has reached the point that the

current 19? display monitors do not provide sufficient display area to clearly

show the location of the number of units that are being tracked, at a

resolution that allows the Dispatchers to rapidly identify the location of the

units.



A Resolution (201-05) - Authorizing the execution of a contract with

Greens Construction for the construction of a putting green at Bull Creek Golf

Course. Greens Construction will construct a 10,000 square foot putting green

with ten (10) in/out heads (Hunter G85). Possible additional work may include

constructing two bunkers at the #2 East course, reshaping the left side of the

chipping green, reshaping the right side fairway at #16 West, stripping and

re-sprigging the chipping green, reshaping the chipping green bunker,

constructing one cart path and concrete curbing.



A Resolution (202-05) - Authorizing the purchase of two hundred-fifty (250)

gas masks and accessories from Safeco, Inc., in the amount of $64,624.90.

The gas masks and accessories are additional units and will be used by the

Police and Sheriff?s Departments. The equipment will be used by law

enforcement officers who must work in chemical and biological environments,

either accidentally released or released as a part of a deliberate criminal

act. They will also be used for crowd control applications. Council recently

awarded a bid (RFB No. 05-0035; Riot Shields & Gas Masks; Resolution No.

474-04, dated November 9, 2004) to Safeco, Inc., for the purchase of gas masks

to be used by the Police Department and Sheriff?s Department. The vendor has

agreed to provide the additional units at the same bid price.



A Resolution (203-05) - Authorizing an award of the remaining year of the

annual contract for the provision of fire truck apparatus & accessories, on an

?as needed basis,? to Ten-8 Fire and Safety Equipment of Georgia, LLC. Council

approved the current contract with Harless Equipment, LLC on June 12, 2001

(Resolution No. 349-01), which will expire June 18, 2006. Harless represented

Pierce Manufacturing in providing the fire trucks to the City. Harless Fire

Equipment, LLC informed the Department of Fire & EMS, in a letter dated

December 15, 2004, that due to the changes in the industry, as well as, the

growth plan the company has in place, Harless has decided to make a change in

manufacturer representation. Effective January 1, 2005, Harless no longer

represents Pierce Manufacturing and Med Tec Ambulance.



A Resolution (204-05) - Authorizing the emergency purchase of a heavy-duty

washer/extractor from Tri-State Technical Services in the amount of

$19,105.00. The washer/extractor will be used by the Department of Fire and

EMS to clean turnout gear.



A Resolution (205-05) - Authorizing payment to Service Station Equipment

Repair, Inc., in the amount of $22,395.36 to provide services to upgrade the

fuel tank piping for underground storage tanks (UST) on at the City?s Fleet

Shop.



A Resolution (206-05) - Authorizing the purchase of the second Mobile Data

Channel on the City?s 800 MHZ Radio system from Motorola, in an the amount of

$72,582.32.



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SOCCER GRANT:



City Manager Hugley said through our U.S. Senator and the U. S. Soccer

Foundation Association, we are scheduled to receive a $32,500 grant for

lighting for our soccer complex. He said they have received a faxed

notification, but the official notification will be forthcoming and then they

will be bringing a resolution to the Council to request the authorization to

accept the grant.



Mayor Poydasheff then asked City Manager Hugley to send notification to

the Soccer Association advising them of the $32,500 grant we will be receiving

to provide lighting for our soccer complex.



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UPCOMING EVENTS:



PUBLIC HEARING:



City Manager Hugley said on Thursday, April 7, 2005 at 4:00 p.m., at the

Metra Office at 814 Linwood Boulevard, there will be a public meeting to

discuss proposed route adjustments and reduction and they are urging everyone

to come out to this meeting.



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FIRE STATION OPENING:



City Manager Hugley said on Saturday, April 9, 2005, 10:00 a.m., there

would be a ribbon cutting ceremony for Fire Station #10, 1441 Benning Drive. He

said they would like to invite the public to come out and be a part of this

activity.



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MAYOR?S FITNESS WALK:



City Manager Hugley said on May 14, 2005, 8:30 a.m., we will have the 20th

Annual Mayor?s Bi-City Fitness Walk and Health Expo at the Civic Center.



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METRA PUBLIC HEARING:



Referring back to this matter, Councilor Anthony asked City Manager Hugley

to make some additional comments as it relates to the survey that will be given

out to the citizens on the bus routes for additional comments, if there is

someone who will not be able to attend the public hearing.



City Manager Hugley said as we discussed this morning, several members of

the Council addressed their concerns as it relates to a reduction in bus route

services. He said what they want to consider, instead of reducing the bus route

services, they would like to come back to the Council at some point, to propose

a bus fare increase in lieu of reducing services. He said between now and April

7th, they will be doing an on-bus survey to get some feedback from the riders

as to whether or not they would rather see an increase in bus fare versus

reduction in services. He said they would then share that information with the

Council; and the feedback that we get from them, the information will also be

available at the April 7th public hearing.



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BUDGET ISSUES:



Councilor Allen said during the Council?s Strategy Meeting on last week,

we talked about our budget and a multitude of things we wanted to look at and

said he knows there was a list being prepared as they continued throughout the

day and then asked that this list be provided to the Council before the budget

process begins.



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UTILITY COMPANIES:



Councilor Woodson said she would like to thank Deputy City Manager Bishop

who assisted her with a problem on last Saturday morning whereby one of her

constituents had contacted her regarding some flooding in the Oakland Park

area.



She said she would like for the City Manager to contact the utility

companies and ask them to inform us when they are making repairs or doing

things in the neighborhoods so that we can be aware of these things in the

event there are problems that are encountered by residents of those particular

neighborhoods.

She said apparently there was some work being done near the property that

flooded and we were not aware of it. She said we assumed it was something

small, but actually it wasn?t.

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CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AS

INFORMATION FOR THE MAYOR & COUNCIL:______



(1) ACCG?s Legislative Update Newsletter, Volume 15, Number 8.



(2) Memo from ACCG, Re: The 2005 ACCG Policy Committee Information and

Sign-Up.



(3) Biographical Sketch of Ms. Lucy Sheftall, Councilor Davis? nominee

for a position on the Planning Advisory Commission.



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THE FOLLOWING TWO TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING APPLICATIONS WERE SUBMITTED BY

CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE

ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY COUNCILOR HENDERSON AND SECONDED BY

COUNCILOR ALLEN, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE TEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

PRESENT FOR THIS MEETING:_____________________________



Application of Frances Quick to temporarily close Broadway from 5th to

8th

Street, Front Avenue from 5th to 7th Street, Bay Avenue from 10th to 11th

Street, 10th Street from Front Avenue west, 6th & 7th Street from 1st Avenue

west, 5th Street from Broadway west, Dillingham Street & Bridge, Lumpkin

Blvd from Victory Drive, from Thursday, April 21 through Sunday, April 24,

2005, in connection with ?Riverfest Weekend?.



Application of Edward Dubose to temporarily close 9th Street between 1st

and 2nd Avenue, 1st & 2nd Avenue south of the Government Center access to the

parking garage to 9th Street, on Saturday, April 30, 2005, from 12:00 p.m. to

3:00 p.m., in connection with ?March in Protest for Justice for Kenneth

Walker?.



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NEW HORIZONS MH/DD/AD COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington submitted a letter from Mr. Ben Richardson

resigning from his position on the New Horizons MH/DD/AD Community Service

Board. Councilor Allen moved the letter be received with regrets and thanks

for his service. Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those

ten members of Council present for this meeting.



Clerk of Council Washington then advised that the Board is requesting that

Ms. Suzanne Goddard be appointed to succeed Mr. Ben Richardson on the New

Horizons Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases

Community Service Board and submitted the appropriate official appointment

form.



Councilor Henderson then made a motion that Ms. Goddard be confirmed.

Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those ten members of

Council present for this meeting.



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MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING BOARDS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OFCOUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND OFFICIALLY RECEIVED BY THE COUNCIL:

C.I.R.C.L.E., February 8, 2005.

Convention & Visitor?s Bureau, November 17, 2004.

Convention & Visitor?s Bureau, January 19, 2005.

Convention & Visitor?s Bureau, February 16, 2005.

Golf Authority, February 22, 2005.

Hazmit Planning Commission, February 17, 2005.

Housing Authority, February 16, 2005.

Public Safety Advisory Commission, March 3, 2005.

Tax Assessors, Nos. 10 & 11-05.

Taxicab Commission, March 2, 2005.



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

Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council present

for this meeting.



*** *** ***



BOARD APPOINTMENTS:



C.I.R.C.L.E:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Mr. Jose Feliciano has

resigned from this board and that the Council will need to nominate someone for

this position.



Councilor Suber said he would have a nominee on next week.



*** *** ***



PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION:



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

Ms. Sharon Jamison?s regular member seat on the Planning Advisory Commission.

She said the two nominees are Mr. Joe Alexander and Ms. Lucy Sheftall. She said

she is ready to take a vote if the Council desires.



Prior to any votes being taken, Clerk of Council Washington responded to

several questions of the Council regarding the membership and the number of

females serving on this board, as well as the Senatorial District

representation of those members.



Several members of the Council then expressed their views regarding this

matter, after which Councilor Allen then made a motion to delay this matter for

one week at the request of Clerk of Council Washington, which was seconded by

Councilor Woodson; however, the motion was later withdrawn once the information

that Councilor Davis had requested was provided by Clerk of Council Washington.



After continued discussion on this issue, Councilor Davis then pointed out

that he was nominating Ms. Sheftall as an alternate member, after which

Councilor Suber then made a motion to confirm Mr. Joe Alexander to succeed Ms.

Sharon Jamison. Seconded by Councilor Henderson and carried unanimously by

those ten members of Council present for this meeting.



Regarding the alternate seat of Mr. Joe Alexander, Councilor Suber has

nominated Mr. Michael Eddings and Councilor Davis is nominating Ms. Lucy

Sheftall; Clerk of Council Washington then took a roll call vote, which

resulted in Mr. Michael Eddings being selected.



Voting for Mr. Eddings were Councilors Allen, Henderson, Hunter, McDaniel,

Turner Pugh, Suber and Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers. Voting for Ms. Lucy Sheftall

were Councilors Anthony, Davis and Woodson.



Clerk of Council Washington then pointed out that Mr. Eddings could now be

confirmed. Councilor Suber then so moved. Seconded by Councilor Allen and

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



*** *** ***



With there being no further business to come before this Council, Mayor

Poydasheff then asked if there was anyone who wanted to address the Council.



Mr. William Madison then came forward again.



Prior to Mr. Madison making any additional comments, Mayor Poydasheff said

with respect to the Browns, said he is amazed that Mr. Madison has asked the

Council to look into this matter because this is a State issue and with him

being the President of the local NAACP, he would suggest that Mr. Madison

contact the State Representatives and the two Senators that represent Columbus,

which would be the proper forum for you to address it to.



Mr. Madison said the Browns have won in court, but have lost in

government. He said the judge has ruled in favor of the Browns, and the

government rules against them.



Councilor Suber said he is aware that Senator Harbison was working with

the Browns. Mr. Madison said he has already spoken directly to Senator Harbison

and said he felt that if we had 25 horses pulling the wagon, it would roll

easier.



Councilor Suber said he believes that all of the representatives are aware

of this situation and they have done about as much as they can.



Mr. Madison once again made comments regarding the properties on Alpine

Drive. He said he has received one call from one Council member to talk about

a problem.

He said his family has lost over $4 million in real estate as a result of a

bank, his dealing with the Housing Authority, as well as it having transferred

the problem into Juvenile Court, where he lost his grandson. He said he is also

talking about the tapes that the former City Manager had, that no one could now

seem to find.



He said City Manager Carmen Cavezza before leaving here said he would

bring the tape forth and the Council would hear them. He said no one from the

Council has called him. He said he believes as a citizen here, he should

receive a call from somebody about the Alpine Drive property.



Mr. Madison, in response to Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said he couldn?t

understand, why we can?t get that property torn down because of its deplorable

state. He said he assures you that if that property was anywhere north of Macon

Road or Manchester Expressway, it would be gone. He said we needed to be real

about this issue. He said he believes that the people who live there have a

right to live free of that eyesore.



Mayor Poydasheff pointed out to Mr. Madison that he has already discussed

this matter and then asked Mr. Madison, if he has any other issues that he want

to discuss with the Council. He said he would ask Mr. Madison to discuss

something that he hasn?t already discussed because we are not going to go over

this issue again and again.



Mr. Madison said he still doesn?t have an answer to his questions, as to

when will this particular piece of property be torn down.



City Manager Hugley said we have given the demolition order to Reaves

Wrecking Company and they are in the process of getting to that particular

property that Mr. Madison has referenced on Alpine Drive and it will be

demolished. He said we don?t have a specific date or timeline for that, but

said they will call Reaves Wrecking Company and urge them to move forward on

that project.



*** *** ***



PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM:



Councilor Henderson pointed out that the River Dragons are in first place

and said the playoffs will begin the first of next week. He said the

Cottonmouths have won their home playoff game in about four years and are

advancing to the finals that will begin this weekend against Macon. He said the

Civic Center will be full over the next few weeks with opportunities for people

to go down there and support the local teams. He said he would encourage

everyone to do that.



*** *** ***



With there being no further business, Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers then made a

motion to adjourn. Seconded by Councilor McDaniel and carried unanimously by

those ten members of Council present for this meeting, with the time being

10:30 A.M.



*** *** ***





Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia