Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

WORK SESSION

MAY 25, 2004





The regular monthly Work Session of the Council of Columbus, Georgia was

called to order at 9:02 A.M., Tuesday, May 25, 2004, in the Council Chambers,

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

presiding.



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

Councilors R. Gary Allen, Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Julius

H. Hunter, Jr., Evelyn Turner Pugh, 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: Councilor Charles E. McDaniel, Jr. was absent.



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INVOCATION: Offered by Councilor Anthony.



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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor Poydasheff.



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PROCLAMATION:



?GREATEST GENERATION WEEK?:



Mayor Poydasheff briefly spoke about the WWII Memorial that is going to be

dedicated in Washington, D. C. He complemented several individual who assisted

in raising funds to send some of our local heroes to Washington with those fund

raising efforts being led by Mr. Chuck Hunsinger, who is one of the Regional

Representatives for Congressman Mac Collins.



With Mr. Bob Ned along with several members of the VFW standing at the

Council table, Mayor Poydasheff read his proclamation, proclaiming May 24 ? 30,

2004 as ?Greatest Generation Week?, in Columbus, Georgia.



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?MS. SHERRY MITCHELL?:



With Ms. Shirley Mitchell standing at the Council table, Mayor Pro Tem

Rodgers read Mayor Poydasheff?s proclamation, proclaiming high honor and

recognition for ?Ms. Shirley Mitchell?, Columbus, Georgia for being named

National Small Business Person of the Year and many other achievements.



Ms. Sherry Mitchell, acknowledged that she has received something that has

not been publicized, but she wanted to share with everyone that she was given

$50,000. to give to the local charity of her choice, which was from Microsoft,

Office Depot and Hewlett Packard. She pointed out that she also received

$10,000. for technology in her company, Growing Room.

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CONSENT AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WAS READ IN ITS

ENTIRETY BY COUNCIL DAVIS AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL UPON A SINGLE MOTION MADE

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

UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE NINE MEMBERS PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:





A Resolution (223-04) - Commending and congratulating the Brookstone

School Lady Cougars Tennis Team for recently winning their sixth Class A State

Championship.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND APPROVED BY

THE COUNCIL UPON A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY

COUNCILOR ALLEN WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE NINE MEMBERS PRESENT WITH

COUNCILOR HENDERSON BEING ABSENT FOR THIS

VOTE:





An Ordinance (04-38) - Adopting Muscogee County Prison Policy, Number

420-100, Muscogee County Prison Promotion Policy.



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THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND APPROVED BY

THE COUNCIL UPON A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY

COUNCILOR ALLEN WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE NINE MEMBERS PRESENT WITH

COUNCILOR HENDERSON BEING ABSENT FOR THIS

VOTE:





A Resolution (224-04) ? Authorizing a request to accept a deed to Quail

Creek Drive located in Section Two, Quail Creek Subdivision. The Department of

Engineering has inspected this street and recommends the acceptance.



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THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING APPLICATION WAS LISTED ON THE

CONSENT AGENDA AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL UPON A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY MAYOR

PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR ALLEN WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY

THOSE TEN MEMBERS PRESENT FOR THIS MEETING:







Application of Mr. Scott Boyce to temporarily close Peachtree Drive from

Elmwood Drive to Crest Drive (including its intersection with Park Drive) on

Monday, May 31, 2004, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., in connection with a

"Memorial Day Celebration".



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WORK SESSION AGENDA:



BOSS (BUSINESS ONE STOP SHOP) UPDATE:



Mr. Ron Hines, from the Chamber of Commerce, came forward to provide an

update on the activities and results of the Business One Stop Shop, which would

be five years old at the end of this month. He introduced the BOSS

Administrator, Ms. Marie Cordero, who is the first bilingual employee in the

Small Business Department. He then provided the names of the speakers and

their association with the BOSS Program, who would be coming forward: Ms.

Marie Cordero, BOSS Administrator, Ms. Sherry Mitchell, owner of the Growing

Room, Mr. Tony Calloway, Primamerica Financial Services, Ms. Susan Miller, Area

Director for the University of Georgia Business Outreach Services Small

Business Development Center and Mr. Dave Houmrest, with SCORE.



Ms. Marie Cordero, BOSS Administrator, came forward to provide information

regarding the number of clients that have went through the BOSS Program. She

reported that we have had 52 clients from year to date and from inception to

date, we have seen 530. She said that 77% of those numbers are new businesses

and 23% are existing businesses. She reported that of the demographics, we

have 55% African Americans with the majority being females, 7% Hispanic and the

white males are increasing in numbers.



Ms. Sherry Mitchell, owner of the Growing Room, approached the rostrum to

talk about her experience with starting up her business with the support of

BOSS. She then emphasized the importance of the small business sector and the

role of the BOSS program.



Mr. Tony Calloway, Primamerica Financial Services, came forward to briefly

speak about the role of the BOSS program in relations to the Chamber of

Commerce. He commented on the service providers that are available to assist

people with the resources that are available.



Ms. Susan Miller, Area Director for the University of Georgia Business

Outreach Services, pointed out that we focus on one-on-one free unlimited

consulting for small business regardless of if they are new or an existing

business. She said that we also offer reasonably priced seminars and work

shops in a non-traditional classroom setting. She advised that we are the

outreach faculty for the University of Georgia.



Mr. Dave Houmrest, with SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives), came

forward to explain that SCORE is a group of local business men and women who

have come together to work with companies. He said that we are dedicated to

the enterprenurail education and formation growth and success of small

businesses in the local community. He said that we provide confidential, free,

one-on-one counseling to help people start up and operate small businesses. He

pointed out that we try to provide them with the information, resources and the

tools to increase their probability of making their ideas come to fruition and

be a success.



In conclusion Mr. Hinze recognized two others that were instrumental in

the BOSS program: Ms. Angela Agenti, with Vroom Technology is our co-chair of

the Small Business Department and Ms. Carol Gerdes, Columbus Times Newspaper,

co=-chair of our Black Business Outreach. He also introduced the individuals

that are present that make up the list of twenty-five businesses that resulted

from BOSS activity that are still in business from the fifty startups.



Councilor Turner Pugh pointed out that BOSS was birthed out of the

Inter-City Visit to Florida. She said that it was Councilors Henderson and

Woodson?s idea to have a business one stop shop. She said that when we went to

Florida we were able to see how the programs work. She thanked the Chamber,

because during those Inter-City Visits we learn how things are done; then, we

bring it back to Columbus, and we do it better than those other communities.



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LIBERTY DISTRICT PLAN:



City Manager Cavezza recalled that the 1997 SPLOST provided some funds for

the Liberty District. He said that the stakeholders have been meeting on this

subject, and we would like to provide the Council with an update on those

Plans. He recognized Mr. Darrell Meyers with KPS out of Birmingham, Alabama

and Mr. Fred Cobb from JRA Architect.



Mr. Darrell Meyers, with KPS Group, came forward to provide an overview of

the Master Plan for the Liberty District. He reviewed the existing conditions,

as well as the recently created historic districts. He mentioned that the

district has changed, with the exception of a few sing-family detached houses

and isolated businesses. He pointed out that there are problems with flooding

in this area. He said that we put together the first cut of the plan, which we

call the ?Strategic Development Concept?.



He said that in speaking with the stakeholders, we asked what should we be

doing to make this concept clear and distinct, and the response was the

following:



Physical Plan for Redevelopment:



? Open Space

? Land Use System

? Commerce & Entertainment

? Residential Redevelopment

? Industrial Uses

? Accessibility System

? Streetscapes

? Pedestrian Circulation Parking



He pointed out that the key priority is to make sure that temporary uses

are not allowed, because those temporary uses sometimes do not go away.

Changes in the zoning map, as explained by Mr. Meyers, would have to be made

with a complete shift in the zoning map, because most of the zoning is

completely inappropriate for what is there and for what should be there.



In response to comments made by Mayor Poydasheff, Mr. Meyers determined

that apartments on top with the businesses down below is a concept that has

already come to Uptown Columbus.



Referring back to the zoning ordinance, Mr. Meyers pointed out that there

is no way right now within the zoning ordinance, to support planned

redevelopment district. He suggested a PRD (Planned Redevelopment District),

which would have a set of mandatory design standards. He summarized the report

by saying that the City would need to market this plan. He also suggested that

the City attempt to control those key parcels of land, use zoning as a tool and

where necessary provide some incentives.



In conclusion, he pointed out that a listing of things to be doing now and

are provided below, but it ends up with monitoring the results:



? Organize and commit to district redevelopment

? Appoint, empower and support a redevelopment champion

? Coordinate the efforts of the public and private sectors

? Keep the big picture in mind

? Coordinate all regulations

? Make sound investments

? Do something every day

? Monitor the results and fix anything that does not work

? Take charge!



City Manager Cavezza recognized the presence of Mr. Jim Robertson from JRA

Architects. City Manager Cavezza pointed out that the Ma Rainey House plays a

role in this, the part of the flood control, the project coming down 6h Avenue

from the river up to the heart of the Liberty District to alleviate some of the

flooding problem. He said that he believes this is the beginning of a success

story.



In response to a question of Councilor Suber, City Manager Cavezza replied

that the Weracoba District is not a part of the $5 million infrastructure.

Councilor Turner Pugh asked about the row houses on 9th Street, at which time,

City Manager Cavezza said that we are working through the CHDO, and we would be

bringing all of them down except for two, and those two would be restored. He

advised that CHDO is going to raise an apartment similar to that in that

location. City Manager made one correction to his previous comment by saying

that we are not going to restore those two in place, but Historic Columbus is

going to move those two into another location.



Councilor Woodson asked about the areas that were mentioned that needed to

be rezoned, at which time, City Manager Cavezza said that he believes it would

be taken care of as part of the Unified Development ordinance where we have

overlay districts where we can have mixed uses.



Councilor Davis asked about those liabilities that are in the area and

what is being proposed, at which time, Mr. Meyers responded by saying that one

of the most important aspects of a redevelopment project is to invite the

people who are there now to participate and stay there. He said that some of

those liabilities would probably take care of themselves.



There were continued discussions on this matter with Mr. Meyers responding

to various questions from the Mayor and members of Council. Councilor Turner

Pugh asked about the plans for the property on the corner of 6Th Avenue and 8th

Street, at which time, City Manager Cavezza advised that this property was sold

to a local business person and he went into bankruptcy; so, that is tied up in

that situation right now.



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DEMOLITION INFORMATION:



City Manager Cavezza recalled that there was some discussion last week

regarding demolitions that we have had. He reported that the Council has

granted ten extensions on demolitions with four of those being demolished by

the City, when the individual did not meet their time, one was sold the next

day and was repaired by the new owner in a timely manner, three were repaired

and of those three repaired, one was on time, one was a week late and one was

about a month late. He advised that the one that was a month late was the

Goolsby property that we had all kinds of problems with the estate. He

reported that there are two that are still pending that are within the

timeframe with one of those being the for Mr. Serrato that the Council agreed

to last week. He pointed out that we monitor those very close to make sure

that we don?t have any lagging behind that.



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BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING:



City Manager Cavezza reminded everyone that there would be a budget

meeting immediately after the Council Meeting in the Ground Floor Conference

Room of the Government Center. He announced that this should be the last

meeting for the Budget Review Committee, and the meetings are open to the

public.



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COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT TOWN MEETING:



City Manager Cavezza advised that the Community Assessment Town Meeting

that is being conducted by the United Way is scheduled for June 1, 2004, at the

Shirley Winston Park.



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ANNUAL HOUSING SUMMIT:



City Manager Cavezza pointed out that on Saturday, June 5, 2004, we would

have our annual housing summit that is sponsored by our own Community

Reinvestment Department, which has been a very successful event.



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EXECUTIVE SESSION



City Manager Cavezza requested a brief executive session to discuss a

mater of potential litigation.



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FUNERAL SERVICES:



Mayor Poydasheff advised that former Finance Director Kay Love, her father

has passed away and the funeral services are this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at

Striffler-Hamby.



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CCG MARKETING PLANS:



Councilor Woodson asked that the staff provide an update on the Management

Development Project that focused on the marketing plans for the Columbus

Consolidated Government.



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EXECUTIVE SESSION:



Mayor Poydasheff called attention to the request from City Manager Cavezza

regarding an executive session to discuss a matter of potential litigation.

Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers made a motion to go into executive session. Seconded by

Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present for this meeting.



At 10:15 a.m., the Council adjourned their regular session to go into

executive session. At 10:22 a.m. the Council reconvened the regular meeting,

at which time, Mayor Poydasheff announced that the Council did meet in

executive session to discuss a potential matter of litigation and a personnel

issue, but there were no votes taken.



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

meeting was adjourned, upon the adoption of a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem

Rodgers. Seconded by Councilor Woodson, which carried unanimously by those

nine members of Council present for this meeting, with the time being 10:23

a.m.



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Sandra T. Davis

Deputy Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia