Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR SESSION

JULY 16,

2002



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

order at 9:00 A.M., Tuesday, July 16, 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, Julius H. Hunter, Jr., Charles E.

McDaniel, Jr., 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 John Mabry ? Pastor of Mt. Tabor Baptist

Church.

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by students from the Wonderland Day Care Center.

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PROCLAMATIONS:



Councilor Woodson said that she asked that a proclamation be brought forth,

as she thought that it was really important when we were recognizing

accomplishments of youths and other events in the City, she wasn?t aware of

this young man, but said after she found out about him, she wanted to recognize

him.



She said this young man is from the Winterfield area, which is one of the

areas that we started with the Community Improvement Program. She said she

thought it was such a great honor to see in that community, as we went to help

and clean it up and take out all of the unwanted elements, that children in

that community were progressing and should be recognized.



Mayor Peters then called forward Willie C. Phillips, Cornelius Jackson and

Zachary Foster to receive their proclamations. Mr. Foster was not present.



He then presented the proclamation to the two young men who were present

and said that this proclamation recognizes them for all of their

accomplishments and said that Councilor Woodson has asked that you receive this

special recognition, which is naming today as your day, here in Columbus,

Georgia.

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ONE COLUMBUS:



Councilor Turner Pugh said on yesterday we had a news conference where we

talked about One Columbus and the Mayor?s International Festival, which will be

coming up on Saturday, August 10, 2002 at 6:00 p.m., at the Columbus Civic

Center. She said even though the invitations and tickets may say black tie or

formal and native attire, said we are asking everyone to come out to this

event. She said the tickets are $25 per person and is being sponsored by the

Mayor?s Commission on Diversity and One Columbus. She said on Sunday, the

International Festival will be held at the Civic Center. She said one of the

things that she needs to stress is that even though the invitations says black

tie, is that you can wear whatever you choose to wear, because it is native

attire as well, and said we want everyone to be there and we want them to be

comfortable.



Mayor Peters said the International Festival, which will be held on that

Sunday started some eight years ago and said that every year it has been

growing. He said that is such a fabulous event and said you don?t have to have

any tickets for this event, and said we hope that people will attend both, but

if you can?t, at least attend one or the other.

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MINUTES: Minutes of the June 27, July 2, and July 9, 2002 Meetings 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 Smith, which carried unanimously by those nine members of

Council present for this meeting.

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ZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS:



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

ATTORNEY FAY AND A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD AS ADVERTISED:



An Ordinance - Amending the text of the Zoning Ordinance to change the

Off-Street Parking requirements for commercial, general business or personal

service establishments that cater to retail trade, but not including food

stores. (31-A-02-Planning Division)



PROPONENTS:



Mr. Will Johnson of the Planning Division staff was present, but made no

presentation, as there was no one present to speak in opposition of this

proposed rezoning ordinance; however, City Manager Cavezza made some comments

regarding this petition and then responded to questions of the Council.



City Manager Cavezza said he thinks that everyone is well aware that the

requirement was 5.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet and now it is reduced to 4

spaces per 1,000 square feet, which seems pretty popular with the developers

and builders in the area. He said it does not affect food stores, where it is 1

space per 100 square feet, which is a separate part of the ordinance and said

if it is something that needs to be addressed, we can address that later.



Councilor Henderson asked if we tried to take into account all the

different scenarios? He said he has heard on a number of different

occasionsdepending on the type of establishments, the size and locations,

sometimes if you have a 2,000 square foot or 1,500 square foot smaller

business, trying to identify what is adequate parking on a small piece of land,

and wanted to make sure that we have gone through all of those scenarios.



City Manager Cavezza said we have talked to the developers and builders in

their monthly Development meetings where it was discussed and as part of the

tree ordinance, it was also discussed. He said we haven?t had a community

meeting or public meeting per se to address that particular portion of it, and

that is what this forum can serve as. However, it has been generally well

received across the board, and he hasn?t heard any negative comments. He said

there has been a very positive response to it.



Councilor Henderson said for a new developer accomplishing the goals that

we are trying to get them to accomplish, he thinks this is ideal; but said he

wants to be clear in his mind on how this would impact some existing buildings

that are rezoned to C-3. He said there was one on River Road that had very

limited space for parking and a small establishment. He said he just wants to

make sure that we have considered all the different options.



City Manager Cavezza said he believes that we have, and said we have

reduced the minimum requirements, which is a minimum requirement and said if

they want more, they have the flexibility to put in more. He said he thinks

that we are accommodating just about any concerns out there.



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THE FOLLOWING ZONING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND A PUBLIC HEARNIG WAS

HELD AS ADVERTISED AND AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DICUSSIONS, ITS FIRST READING

WAS DELAYED FOR TWO WEEKS:



An Ordinance - Amending the text of the Zoning Ordinance to allow yoga and

pilates as a Special Exception Use in an H (Historic) Zoning District.

(32-A-02-Planning Division)



Mr. Craig Strain of the Business License Division appeared and responded

to questions of Councilor Suber, as to exactly what is pilates. He said it is a

form of exercise, like yoga. He said it is a scaled down version of aerobics.

He said he is not here from the standpoint of the City, but the Historic

District, and said he thinks there was a recommendation at one point made for

primary use change in the Historic District to make it for personal fitness,

personal care and personal training; however, they were not looking for a

principal use change, but said they do want the Special Exception Use. He said

principal use would compound their problems with parking in the Historic

District because it opens it up to businesses, and gym, which they can?t

accommodate down there, but said for a Special Exception Use for this type,

they are in agreement with the Planning Division.



Mr. Strain then responded to several questions of Mayor Peters and members

of the Council.



Several members of the Council then expressed their views regarding this

matter, after which Mr. Will Johnson of the Planning Division then appeared and

responded to questions of the Mayor and Council, as well.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said he would suggest that if we are going to

consider allowing yoga and pilates classes as a Special Exception Use, we need

to make sure that we set some criteria for that Special Exception Use. He said

we don?t want this to be something that comes in and be purely subjective,

whether we grant one or not. He said he would strongly urge that some criteria

be developed on which to base that Special Exception Use approval or denial.



City Manager Cavezza said they can develop that criteria and bring it back

on next week, and then asked City Attorney Fay, if it would still be second

reading, to which City Attorney Fay stated that we could still do it on second

reading, if you want to put a limit on class size.



Councilor Allen said as one of the criteria, he would like it to

specifically state that it is only applicable within a business environment and

cannot be used in a home setting.



Councilor Woodson said she would like for us to delay the ordinance and

look into it a little bit more since there is a lot of concern from the

Council. She said she hasn?t seen any pictures of the facility and would

request a delay to allow us to get a better understanding of the issue. She

said we would need to have the definition a little more clearly for the average

individual that comes in and read it for them to understand it.



Mayor Peters then asked if there were any objections to a two-week delay,

but there were none.



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THE FOLLOWING TWO ORDINANCES WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ

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

ADVETISED:





An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 4.88 acres of property located at

the northern portion of 6751 Macon Road from an R-1A District to a C-3

District. (33-CA-02-Artisan Properties, Inc.)



PROPONENTS:



Mr. Dick Norman, the petitioner was present, but he did not make any

presentation, as there was no one who appeared to speak against this proposed

rezoning ordinance.



Councilor Allen said initially Mr. Norman, as well as himself received

several telephone calls from the residents and said he would like to commend

Mr. Norman, because on at least two occasions, he went out and met with the

neighbors and went out of his way, to meet all of the requests that they had.

He said he wants to commend Mr. Norman for his willingness to meet and sit down

and talked with those residents, as well as went the extra miles to answer all

the questions of the residents.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said he would like to echo those sentiments, because

he knows that at least one time in the past, this property was up for rezoning

and was defeated.



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THE FOLLOWING ZONING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND A PUBLIC HEARING WAS

HELD AS

ADVERTISED:





An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 32.116 acres of property located

at 6800 Macon Road from an R-1A District to an M-1 District. (34-CA-02-Dykes

Development, Inc.)



PROPONENTS:



Mr. Sid Dykes, the petitioner appeared and responded to questions of the

Council. He said it would be used for storage and workspace while they are in

the area. He said they will store their equipment there and would have a small

construction building that they use for an office, and said it is a short-term

operation while they are working in the area that they will use it as a

warehouse facility that they would work out of.



He also responded to questions as it relates to the type of buffer that

would be put into that portion of land that backs up to the R-1A property. He

said there is a natural wooded buffer there already, and said they would not

destroy that area, but would leave it as it is.



Mr. Will Johnson of the Planning Division and City Manager Cavezza also

responded to questions of the Council, as it relates to Condition #3 of the

Planning Advisory Commission that the property would revert back to an R-1A,

but the Planning Division has stated that this is not necessary.



After some fifteen minutes of discussion on this proposed rezoning

ordinance, City Attorney Fay then declared this public hearing has been held.

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING TWO ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ BY

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







An Ordinance (02-70) - 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) Councilor Suber moved its

adoption. Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those eight

members of Council present at the time, with Councilor Woodson being absent for

this vote.



An Ordinance (02-71) - Providing for the demolition of the structures

located at 2713 Baldwin Street (Charlie R. Colbert, owner), 753 Lawyers Lane

(Robert Dixon, owner), 755 Lawyers Lane (Joe Jackson, Sr., owner), 4 Caprice

Court, 5 Caprice Court, 4132 Alpine Drive, 4144 Alpine Drive, 4145 Alpine

Drive, and 4200 Alpine Drive (Wm. J. & Shirley C. Madison, owners), and 4819 ?

13th Avenue (Axlence C. Wilber Scott and Sherman Walker, Jr., owners), and for

demolition services for the Inspections and Code Division in accordance with a

Tabulation of Bid sheet.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor Suber.



Councilor Hunter said with regards to the property owned by William &

Shirley C. Madison, he would like to request that he be allowed to abstain on

voting from this ordinance, as he has represented them in the past. Mayor Pro

Tem Rodgers them made a motion that Councilor Hunter be allowed to abstain on

this vote. Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously.



The question was then called on the motion to adopt the ordinance, which

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

Councilor Woodson being absent for this vote and Councilor Hunter abstaining

from this vote.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND ITS

CAPTION READ BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND INTRODUCED ON FIRST READING:



An Ordinance - Authorizing the creation of an Environmental Court Division

of the Recorder's Court and the regular hearing of the docket for violations of

environmental ordinances; increasing the FY03 Budget for Recorder's Court by

$3,598.00; and for other purposes.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said he is going to support this undertaking and

said the single biggest question that has been asked of him when this was first

proposed, is how are we going to know what we are to be charged with under this

ordinance, or under the Court, and then said he thinks it would be prudent for

us to publish the list of ordinances that are going to be dealt with in the

Environmental Court on CCG TV.



Mayor Peters said these are not new violations, but said these are cases

that have always been made and just rather than having them co-mingle with

criminal cases, this will be isolated to just deal with environmental cases, to

which City Manager Cavezza said that is correct.



Councilor Turner Pugh said once we get started with the Environmental

Court, let?s have the Finance staff to start tracking cost separately from

Recorder?s Court, because at some time in point, she would like to see a cost

analysis of the expenses versus what we are receiving from the Environmental

Court prospective.





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THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED AND ITS CAPTION READ BY CITY

ATTORNEY FAY AND AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DISCUSSION WAS THEN ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (434-02) - Declaring that there is a need and necessity to

immediately acquire an easement for aviation and noise in regard to Lot One

(1), Block "C," Regal Manor Subdivision, a/k/a 4068 Desoto Drive, Columbus,

Muscogee County, Georgia, Tax Map Identification No. 082-058-001; title to

certain objects or natural growth obstructing airways and an easement for

access of ingress, egress and regress to remove said objects under the

provisions of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated authorizing the Mayor to

order the acquisition of said interests for airport purposes and authorizing

the filing of a declaration of taking by the City Attorney or his

representatives for the acquisition of said interest under the authority of the

Official Code of Georgia annotated, Sections 6-3-20 and 32-3-1, Et. Seq.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said this has been the subject of much debate and

lawsuits over the years, and said he wants the City Attorney to assure us this

morning that this absolutely has to be done and, that we have done all of our

homework, with respect to maps, and that maps will be filed with the Clerk of

Superior Court.



City Attorney Fay said that the maps have already been filed with the

Clerk of Superior Court. He said Mr. Jacob Beil could not be present here this

morning, but said there was a new survey done in June of 2002 and said this is

just for an area involving some trees and air space that are needed under the

FAA requirements.



Mayor Peters said for the record, nobody?s home is in jeopardy because of

this resolution, City Attorney Fay said its approximately $11,000 worth of air

space, and tree property.



Councilor Allen said for those that are watching and living in this area,

he would like clarification on exactly what this intention is and what the

repairs, replacement or modifications that the airport will be addressing on

the home sites, and exactly what kind of work will be done and what replacement

factors will be made, as far as leaving the yard in the same shape as before

you got there.



Mr. Don Morgan, Legal Counsel for the Airport, said the particular

improvement at the airport that FAA is talking about is the activation of an

electronic guide slope at the end of Runway 23, which would allow airplanes

that are coming in at night from that direction to be able to use electronic

monitoring devices to get their slope right coming into the runway. He said it

is a safety issue and said in order to activate that guide slope which is

already in place there are trees within the air space that have to come down.

He said this particular piece of property belonging to Mr. Lopez has several

pine trees that extend up into the airspace that needs to come down before the

FAA will authorize the active use of this particular glide slope device.



He said the Airport Commission has purchased easements from a number of

other property owners in this particular neighborhood and said what has

happened in the past is that the Airport Commission with the property owners?

input, has determined which trees are to be topped and which trees must come

down.



Mr. Morgan said all of this has been done at no cost to the property

owners. He said in the Lopez situation, the reason you have a new resolution

and a new survey is because Mr. Beil felt that it was important to more

accurately describe exactly that which is being taken above his property,

rather than rely on the descriptions we have used in past easements, which

makes reference to the Code of Ordinances and the maps that is incorporated by

reference in the Code of Ordinances. He said this is a particular property

description that relates only to Mr. Lopez?s property.



Mr. Morgan then responded to several questions of members of the Council

regarding the trees that are taken down and whether of not there is

consideration given to replacing them with a type of tree that would not grow

to the height that would interfere with the glide path.



Mayor Peters said he would like to once again confirm for the records that

this does not include anyone?s home or yard, and said this only affects

airspace and trees. Mr. Morgan said there is nothing in the 20-year master plan

for the Airport that would indicate any houses are to be removed out there. He

said it is only trees.



After some thirty minutes of discussion on this issue, with Mr. Morgan

responding to further questions of the Council, Councilor McDaniel moved its

adoption. Seconded by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those nine

members of Council present for this meeting.





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PENDING CASES AGAINST MCP:



Councilor McDaniel said City Attorney Fay has given a report on the

pending cases that we have against the City and said he is concerned about the

number of cases that we have against the Muscogee County Prison, which is over

20% of these cases. He said he would like for the City Attorney to give the

Council, in writing, why are we having so many lawsuits being filed against MCP

and what?s going on out there.



City Attorney Fay said a lot of them are habeas corpus suits, which are

related, but said he would be glad to provide him with some information. Mayor

Peters then pointed out that it is only procedural, because with every lawsuit

that is filed against the City, they name him personally as Mayor.

He said it is because they are an inmates and habeas corpus brings the body

before the Court, which means Warden Golden has custody of them and they have

to name him, but said that doesn?t mean that he has really done anything wrong.



City Attorney Fay said there are a lot of inmates at the Muscogee County

Prison that are now filing claims of various sorts. He said he will be glad to

look at it, but said it is a routine manner.



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ENVIRONMENTAL COURT:



Councilor Henderson said it seems to come up periodically where people are

questioning some of the Conferences and the trips that some of the Council

members take, and said he just wanted to point out that the Environmental Court

is a direct result of the Inter-City visit that was taken up in Tennessee. He

said you can also look at the Business One Stop Shop and said that idea came

from the City of Jacksonville, which is helping new businesses get started and

now there is a high tech incubator that is in the works, which came from

Austin. He said it is a lot cheaper in the long run to be a good copier of

things that are working in other areas, and said you don?t find out about them

unless you go visit them.

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PUBLIC AGENDA:



NO ONE REQUESTED TO BE LISTED ON TODAY?S PUBLIC AGENDA.



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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING TWO RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER

CAVEZZA AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:



A Resolution (435-02) ? Authorizing the submission of a grant to the

Council of Juvenile Court Judges to the Columbus Muscogee County Juvenile Court

to fund the purchase of services for Juvenile Offenders Program and amend the

multi-governmental fund by a like amount. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers moved its

adoption. Seconded by Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those nine

members of Council present for this meeting.



A Resolution (436-02) ? Authorizing certain elected and appointed

officials of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia to be covered

under workers? compensation and repealing resolutions or parts of resolutions

in conflict. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers 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 FIVE 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 SUBER AND SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM

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

THIS MEETING:



A Resolution (437-02) - Authorizing the purchase of body armor from

Law Enforcement Supply Company, for the estimated annual contract value of

$83,804.50.



A Resolution (438-02) - Authorizing the execution of a construction

contract with Holley Construction Company & Associates, Inc., in the amount of

$853,900.00, for the construction of Fire Station Number 7.



A Resolution (439-02) - Authorizing the procurement of ready mix cement on

an ?as needed basis? from the Concrete Company, estimated contract value of

$79,250.00; and Couch Ready Mix USA, estimated contract value of $8,765.00. The

total estimated annual value of the contract is $88,015.00.



A Resolution (440-02) - Authorizing the purchase of a large format copier,

plotter and scanner from Ikon Office Solutions.



A Resolution (441-02) - Authorizing a professional services contract, not

to exceed $50,000.00 with Market Street Services, Inc., (Atlanta, GA) to

provide analysis of the workforce climate and strategic planning for Region 8,

which includes the following counties: Clay, Chattahoochee, Harris, Muscogee,

Quitman, Randolph, Talbot and Stewart, the local WIA (Job Training) Office, in

Muscogee County, is responsible for coordinating the work performed by the

contractor and subsequent payments.



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THE FOLLOWING ADD-ON RESOLUTION, WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY

MANAGER CAVEZZA AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:



A Resolution (442-02) - Authorizing the purchase of two cabs and chassis

from Transpower, Inc., in the amount of $154,796.00, and two dump bodies from

Park-Built Body & Truck Company, in the amount of $18,276.00; and rescinding

Resolution Number 409-02, which awarded the contract for the cab and chassis to

Volvo & GMC Trucks of Atlanta. The award for the dump body remains the same.



City Manager Cavezza said a few weeks ago the Council approved the

awarding of a contract for the purchase of a dump truck from Volvo & GMC Truck

and said at that time, we had a requirement for rear axle, with dual reduction

differential and was told by the Company at that time, that this truck had

that; however, they did come back and tell us that was in error and it does not

have it. He said based on that we would like to go to the next lowest bidder,

which is Transpower and purchase that same truck.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor Smith and

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

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ILLNESS OF RAY EVANS:



City Manager Cavezza said he is sure that everyone is aware that Ray Evans

of the Parks & Recreation Department is in St. Francis Hospital as a result of

an unfortunate stroke he had. He said he is still unconscious and that we are

all praying for him and hope he does well. He said there was a tour of sales

tax projects for the media that Ray was in charge of and was supposed to happen

on July 18th and said that it be delayed and we would reschedule it.



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MEN OF ACTION, INC.:



City Manager Cavezza reminded the Mayor and Council of an invitation that

they received for a Reception to Men of Action, Inc., that will be held at

Miriam?s Caf?, on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 at 6:30 p.m.



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PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4844 BRUNING DRIVE:



Councilor Turner Pugh said that she would like for City Manager Cavezza to

have someone to go out and check the property located at 4844 Bruning Drive, as

the grass needs to be cut. She said the house is empty and looks like it has

been like that for a while.



She said one of the things that she thought our garbage collectors driver

would do when we put the radios in the garage trucks, when they pass by homes

and see these things they are supposed to call it in, but said apparently they

are not doing it.



City Manager Cavezza said that they will get Special Enforcement out there

to take a look at that, and said he knows that was the understanding that

preceded him when the Council authorized the radios to be put in the garbage

trucks and that was supposed to happen. He said he has since checked on that

and asked people about that and said the understanding has been in the past

that the radio requirement was to keep track of the inmates and that in fact

the truck is moving so fast and they are going at a rugged pace, it is hard for

them to concentrate on anything else.



Councilor Turner Pugh said someone should be riding around this community

to see these neighborhoods. She said when you ride by there and see how long

its going to stay there and a month goes by, then someone is not doing their

job. City Manager Cavezza said that they will follow-up on that.



Councilor Woodson said she rode the garbage truck and said she was the one

who came back and started talking about having radios for two reasons, with one

being for safety purposes and the other was so that they could report back

anything that they see. She said about a year ago she also made a request of

Code & Enforcement that when they are out there doing their inspections and if

they see things that needed to be done, for them to go ahead and report it.

She said that we just need to re-emphasize that and tell them that this is what

we need to do.



City Manager Cavezza said that it is something that should happen and said

that he will certainly follow-up on the matter.



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SOUTH LUMPKIN ROAD @ AVONDALE ROAD:



Councilor Woodson said she would like for City Manager Cavezza to send

someone from the Engineering Division to go out to the intersection of South

Lumpkin Road @ Avondale Road, where the Piggly Wiggly store is located, and

have them to study the traffic where those motorists are coming out of the

parking lot onto Avondale Road, where there is a utility pole which blinds the

oncoming traffic. She said we have had about three or four accidents at this

location.



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PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2334 SHELBY STREET:



Councilor Hunter said he has sent the City Manager?s Office an email

several weeks ago regarding the concerns of a resident regarding a house that

was burned on Shelby Street, and said that he has not heard anything in regards

to this request. He said he would like for the City Manager to look into those

concerns of that resident, who has expressed concerns about the property

located at 2334 Shebly Street that was destroyed by fire approximately 17 - 18

months ago; and provide a response and determine when will these repairs be

completed and the property restored.

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SOLID WASTE:



Speaking to City Manager Cavezza, Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said we have been

using a code section for removal of solid waste, Paragraph D, which relates to

non-residential property and said he would like to get your assurance that we

are being careful and that we make sure that there are no homestead on that

property and that there is not just someone on vacation, or something like

that, but it is in fact unoccupied property when we do that.



City Manager Cavezza said we have changed the administrative letter to

tell the person that at a certain time we would take certain action, if they

did not act within a specified time period.

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CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AS

INFORMATION FOR THE MAYOR AND

COUNCIL:



(1) Notice of the next meeting of the West Central Georgia Mental

Health Development Disabilities and Addictive Disease Planning Board to be held

at 2;00 p.m., on July 19, 2002, at the Region 9 Office, 3800 Schatulga Road,

Columbus, Georgia.



(2) Notice from EPD Public Advisory Air Protection that two

applications have been received: (1) Cessna Aircraft Company to operate a

facility for the manufacture of aircraft components, located at 4800 Cargo

Drive, Columbus, GA., and (2) Golden Foundry & Machine Company, in which the

final products are gray and ductile iron castings, to be located at 600 12th

Street, Columbus, GA.





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THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND AFTER SOME THIRTY MINUTES OF DISCUSSION, WAS DEFEATED BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution - Approving a Special Exception Use to erect a wireless

communication facility (tower) for wireless communication services on property

located at 1720 Warm Springs Road. Councilor Suber moved the resolution be

denied. Seconded by Councilor Allen.



Mr. Ron Chaplain, of TLC Wireless, on behalf of Voice Stream Wireless

appeared and said the reason that they need this tower in this particular

location is to fill a coverage gap that exist for Voice Stream in the immediate

area. He said they would like to try to improve and upgrade the service in the

area especially along Warm Springs Road and along Hilton Avenue. He said Voice

Stream is expanding their network here in the City of Columbus, improving and

upgrading it. He said they have 23 sites, which they have brought or will be

bringing to this area. He said this is the only site out of those 23 that has

required a new structure. He said Voice Stream?s policy and dedication to

co-locate antennas whenever possible is evident by the fact that this is the

only structure out of the 23 sites that will be a new structure.



He then showed several maps of the proposed area that they are working

with and the residences around the area.



Mr. Chaplain then responded to several questions of Mayor Peters and

members of the Council.



Ms. Aronda Smith of the Planning Division also responded to several

questions of Mayor Peters and members of the Council.



After more than thirty minutes of discussion with Mr. Chaplain continuing

with his overview and presentation in trying to convince the Council to approve

his request and responding to further questions of the Mayor and Council, as

well as members of the Council expressing their views on this issue and Mr.

Bobby Allen, the property owner also making comments in this regard, Councilor

Suber again moved the denial of this request. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem

Rodgers, which carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present for

this meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING TWO RESOLUTIONS WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CLERK

OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (443-02) - Changing the August 13, 2002 regular Council

Meeting to a Strategic Planning Session and changing the August 27, 2002 Work

Session to a regular Council Meeting. Councilor McDaniel moved its adoption.

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

Council present at the time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers being absent for this

vote.



A Resolution (444-02) - Approving the report of the Finance Director of

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

month of June 2002. Councilor McDaniel moved its adoption. Seconded by

Councilor Smith and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council

present at the time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers being absent for this vote.





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THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK

OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL:



Application of Ms. Pauline Brown for a temporary street closure of Playa

Delray Drive between Meadowlark Drive and Califon Drive, on August 6, 2002,

from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., in connection with a ?National Night Out Against

Crime.? Councilor Turner Pugh moved the approval of the application. Seconded

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

present at the time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers being absent for this vote.





*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION FOR A TAXICAB OWNER?S BUSINESS LICENSE WAS

SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL:







Application of Ms. Mary Ellen Wilson for a taxicab owner?s business

license to operate Radio Cab Company, located at 4327 Victory Drive, Columbus,

Georgia. Councilor McDaniel moved its approval. Seconded by Councilor Allen

and carried unanimously with all nine members of the Council now at the table

and voting.





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MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING BOARDS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND OFFICIALLY RECEIVED BY THE COUNCIL:



Board of Tax Assessors, Numbers 25 & 26.

Budget Review Committee, May 14, 2002.

Budget Review Committee, May 21, 2002.

Development Authority, June 5, 2002.

Zoning Appeals, Board of, June 5, 2002.



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

Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present for this meeting.



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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 his

potential nominee is still considering.



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TAXICAB COMMISSION:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that the Council still needs to

nominate someone for the new at-large seat that was approved by the Council on

last month. There were no nominations made.



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GRASS CUTTING:



Mayor Peters asked City Manager Cavezza if we can look at whether or not

when our City crews cut the grass around the City, can they look at lowering

the blades on the lawn mowers to possibly add another week or so to the growth.



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Councilor Turner Pugh said when we talk about things that we feel that

other departments should be doing in helping to patrol this community, this is

just another aspect of us having to do more with less. She said we don?t have

the funds where we just have someone out there riding all day, everyday; but

said it just bothers her riding through the community and continuously seeing

things that need to be done, when she knows that we have staff out there that

should be reporting these things. She said when you have trash trucks going

through a community twice a week and then you have leaves being picked up once

a week, some of the problems that we get calls about or some of the things that

they call in, that shouldn?t have to happen. She said that is the purpose of

having the staff. She said if she sees it and the people sees it, our staff

already sees it and they should be reporting it, and said that really bothers

her. She said she doesn?t want them to think this is a black mark against them,

and said they are doing their jobs, but they just need to learn to do their

jobs better and smarter.



City Manager Cavezza said the intent is to do just what Councilor Turner

Pugh says, but said he can?t guarantee that it is being done by everybody; and

said he certainly agrees with the concept, and we will continue to enforce

that.



Mayor Peters said he agrees, especially with the citizens that live in the

neighborhoods, they call and said if the Animal Control personnel, police

officers, firefighters and everyone, if we all did it, it would make a

difference.



Councilor Suber said the important part of this is when we first brought

up the idea of the radios, there was a serious discussion from the people that

were driving the trucks and they brought up the fact that they could do better

on their route to improve the city. He said if they are not doing that, then

that means that some department heads are not reinforcing that they need to do

these particular things, then there shouldn?t be no excuses. He said if a

person is driving by the same location twice a week and they see this

happening, then he feels embarrassed to even having the citizens to pay for

those additional expense of the radios; because it really wasn?t necessary at

that time based on what we were told. He said once we got the commitment from

the other councilors to do this, then he thinks we should expect those

individuals that are driving the trucks to do their jobs and if they can?t,

then we need to do what we need to do.



City Manager Cavezza said certainly that would help a lot to do that, and

they should do that. He said he will continue to emphasize that, but said what

he thinks is missing here, is that there are a lot of things that are called

in. He said what we are talking about is a few that hasn?t been reported and

said that we should get them all. He said there are a lot of things that are

being called in routinely and said that we react to it, but said we will

continue to try to be more efficient in doing that.



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Mayor Peters 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. There was no one who wanted to be heard.



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

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

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

with the time being 10:23 A.M.



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Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia