Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING



Meeting

April 27, 2004



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

Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson (arrived 8:45 a.m.), Julius Hunter,

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

Woodson (arrived 8:48 a.m.). Also present were Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff,

City Manager Carmen Cavezza, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Finance Director Angela

Cole and Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis.



Members Absent: No one was absent.



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Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers called the meeting to order at 8:33 a.m. held in the

Council Chambers Conference Room, Plaza Level of the Government Center.



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Governor Perdue signing of bill:

Mayor Poydasheff announced that Governor Sonny Perdue would be here at

approximately 2:30 p.m. for the signing ceremony for the Local Option Sales

Tax. He said that the Council is also invited to the reception.



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Public Safety Advisory Council:

City Manager Cavezza advised that Councilor Hunter would be addressing

questions regarding the Public Safety Advisory Council.



Councilor Hunter recalled a question from last week regarding the

responsibility and authority of the Public Safety Advisory Council. He pointed

out that this would be an advisory board, which has no subsequent power but is

there to advise. He reminded everyone that a number of cities have formed

advisory boards to assist with regard to policing efforts within the

community. He described the purpose of this board as the line of communication

between the public and public safety. If an adverse situation does occur in a

community, he explained, that the City would be more likely to have

cooperation, because of the fact that a certain favorable atmosphere has been

created because of this open dialogue. He emphasized that the idea in

Columbus, is to try to have the best and safest community we can have with the

public and public safety working together.



Mayor Poydasheff added that he has spoken to officials in other cities and

maintained that this is not the type of board that is going to interfere with

the internal operations of the Police Department but will be a supplement. He

acknowledged that he would be asking the Sheriff and Marshal to buy into this,

because everyone understands that the Sheriff and Marshal are separate entities

headed by elected officials.



Councilor Anthony reminded everyone that it is a two way function with not only

the public communicating with public safety, but with public safety

communicating to the public. Councilor McDaniel reiterated his previous

thoughts by maintaining that he does not believe the City of Columbus needs

this type of board. He recalled the previous Council establishing a Public

Safety Board and it did not work out; therefore, it was disband. He contended

that he would not support the establishing of a Public Safety Advisory Council.



Councilor Davis expressed his concerns in that it is not all-inclusive. He

said that he does not want the Police Department to feel that they have been

singled out, because this department possesses high accreditation ratings.

Mayor Poydasheff contended that he could not mandate the Sheriff or Marshal

Departments to become a part of the public safety advisory council.

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NOTE: Councilor Henderson arrived at 8:45 a.m. and Councilor Woodson arrived

at 8:48 a.m.

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There was continued discussion on this matter with various members of council

expressing their views





Meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.







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Sandra T. Davis, Deputy Clerk of Council