Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR MEETING

NOVEMBER 25, 2003





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

to order at 9:00 A.M., Tuesday, November 25, 2003, 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 Rodgers were

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

Julius H. Hunter, Jr., Charles E. McDaniel, 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, but was officially

excused upon the adoption of Resolution Number 538-03.



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INVOCATION: Offered by Councilor Wayne Anthony.

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Girl Scout Troop 104 from Fort Benning.



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PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL:



With Chief of Police Willie Dozier, along with several of his officers

standing at the Council table, Mayor Poydasheff said we just completed a very

serious weekend, where we were closely tied with Fort Benning in the SOA Watch.



Mayor Poydasheff said City Manager Cavezza, members of the Council, as

well as himself and the Columbus Homeland Security Emergency Management Task

Force have been working over the years to come up with a strategy as it relates

to this past weekend. He said he would be remiss if we didn?t thank all of our

Public Safety personnel for the great work that they did on this weekend.



He said it was a very long event and by the count that he received, there

was approximately 8500 people who came and demonstrated. He said because of the

planning and the action that our Public Safety personnel took, it was a

peaceful demonstration; however, there were about 42 arrests that were made.



Mayor Poydasheff said he wanted to thank Chief Dozier, Sheriff Johnson and

all of their personnel for what they did in preparing for this event, as well

as coordinating everything with Fort Benning, from seeing to it that traffic

was not impeded as well as seeing to it that people were treated responsibly,

honorably and honestly. He said this is the 13th year that this event has been

going on in this City and our Public Safety personnel have always done the

right thing. He said we have never been in the news for overbearing police law

enforcement work and said personally, he is very proud of our Public Safety

personnel. He said from what he has heard from this Council and the City

Manager, you all deserve great acclamation; therefore, he wanted to bring you

before the Council to honor you this morning.



Chief Willie Dozier said all of the accolades go to all the personnel that

worked over the weekend and spent the last two days out there. He said they are

thankful that we had an event that didn?t erupt into something more volatile

and said we are glad to have it behind us.



Councilor Davis said he would also like to mention some other outstanding

people in our community who also served in the part of helping to encourage our

friends out at Fort Benning; our soldiers. He said we certainly do appreciate

our public safety personnel and the sacrifices they made over the weekend. He

said we have two individuals in our community, Dr. Jack Tidwell and his wife,

Miriam who have taken a stand and are supporting and showing encouragement for

our soldiers in the military and friends at Fort Benning. He said he would like

to ask for a resolution commending Dr. & Mrs. Jack Tidwell.



Mayor Poydasheff said they voluntarily moved their rally supporting the

troops from their location so it was away from the site of the demonstration in

order to avoid confrontation. He said this shows their commitment to a peaceful

rally and a rally committed to support rather than one that is antagonistic.

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PROCLAMATIONS:



?COLUMBUS FAMILY WEEK?:



With Councilor Evelyn Turner Pugh and Dr. Perry standing at the Council

table, Councilor Anthony read the proclamation of Mayor Poydasheff, proclaiming

the week of

November 23 - 29, 2003 as, ?Columbus Family Week? in Columbus, Georgia.

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WITH MS. JENNIFER PITTS STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE FOLLOWING

RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (536-03) - Commending and expressing deep appreciation to Ms.

Jennifer Pitts for her volunteer spirit and hard work on the research project

reviewing the consolidation of the Columbus Fire Department, EMS Department and

the Emergency Management Agency into the Columbus Department of Fire and EMS.

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

carried unanimously with those nine members of Council present for this

meeting, standing to cast their affirmative votes.

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RIVERDRAGONS:



Mr. Barry McMullen said he would like to thank the Council for the

proclamation on the family, and said what he does is provide great

entertainment for the family. He said which is the reason the Riverdragons are

in town, to provide professional basketball for families to come out and enjoy.

He said about two weeks ago, they unveiled a new logo that endears themselves

as a professional basketball team and an entertainment option in this community

to many of the people that are here. He said with the research that he did with

Reebok International, they realized that about 4 out of 5 families or almost

all families in this community are touched in some way by Fort Bennnig in the

great services that our young men and women portray for our country and said

they just wanted to share with the Council and the community, this new logo,

which includes the insignia of Fort Benning. He said their first home game is

Friday, November 28th against Ashville at the Civic Center. He said their goal

is that all the families that are a part of this great family week would also

come down to the Civic Center for this opening game at 7:00 p.m.



Mr. McMullen said there are enough people in this community to support the

sports that are here and said they want everyone to know that they have given

everything that they have to make sure that there is entertainment for

everyone. He then outlined the events and activities set for the opening game.



Mayor Poydasheff said he can assure you that this Council supports all of

the teams and said it is great family entertainment that is great for Fort

Benning and the people here in Columbus.



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WLMF 1270 AM. HISPANIC RADIO STATION:



An unidentified gentleman appeared and said they are here this morning to

extend an invitation to the Mayor & Council to attend the 2nd Annual Hispanic

Business Fair, where they will be celebrating South Columbus on December 7th.

He said there would be over 60 businesses that will be a part of this activity

and said there would be an opportunity for someone to win a new Dodge Neon. He

then distributed a copy of the Hispanic newspaper, which has all the

information regarding this event. He also said on December 28th they would have

their very traditional Christmas Party in the Latin community at the Civic

Center. He said they want to invite the Mayor and Council to attend both of

these events.



He then introduced those individuals who were part of the Ritmo Latino

Hispanic Radio Station.

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MINUTES: Minutes of the November 18, 2003 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 Allen, which carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present for this meeting.

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CONSENT AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING FOUR ITEMS WERE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED BY THE

COUNCIL, PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY

MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR HENDERSON:



An Ordinance (03-99) - Rezoning property located at 2818 8th Street and an

area

adjacent to 2818 from an R-4 District to an R-3A (Medium Density Residential)

and an

area south of 2702 and 2704 Baldwin Street that fronts Washington Avenue, from

a C-2

District to an R-3 (Medium Density Residential. (42-CA-03-Planning Division)



An Ordinance (03-100) - Providing for the demolition of 1306 Floyd Road

(Barbara

Cullinan, owner); 614-7th Street (Clydia Mae Morgan Davis, owner); 191 Wickham

Drive (David L. Huff, owner); 1029-31st Street (William F. Jenkins & John M.

McMillan, owners); 3208 Hamilton Road (Rossie Lavon Prather, owner); 3002 Delta

Street (Robert Palmer, owner); 901 Joy Road, Lot K34 (Christine Roach, owner);

400-29th Avenue, Lot 12 (Spelman-Hung Capital, LLC, Owner); and for demolition

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

of Bid sheet.



A Resolution (537-03) - Authorizing the payment of unused sick leave to

employees in accordance with Section 16B-15-6(2) of the Columbus Ordinance.



A Resolution (538-03) - Excusing Councilor Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., from

the November 25, 2003 Council meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING TWO TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING APPLICATONS WERE

APPROVED UPON THE ADOPTION OF A MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM

RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR HENDERSON, WHICH CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE NINE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:





Application of Gloria Weston-Smart to temporarily close the Dillingham

Street

Bridge, on December 4, 2003, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., in connection with

the Tri-

Community Christmas Celebration ?Night of Lights?.



Application of Mike Snapp to temporarily close 3rd Avenue between 11th

Street

and 12th Street, on December 6, 2003, from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., in

connection

with providing items for underprivileged individuals.



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THE FOLLOWING THREE NEW ZONING PETITIONS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF

COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND AN ORDINANCE AND PUBLIC HEARING CALLED FOR BY MAYOR PRO

TEM

RODGERS:





Petition submitted by Ralph Kingrey to rezone approximately 1.23 acres of

property located at 931 Dogwood Drive from an R-1A District to an R-4 District.

(Recommended for conditional approval by the Planning Advisory Commission and

denial by the Planning Division.) (45-D-03-Kingrey) (A letter was submitted

by Mr. Ralph Kingrey requesting that a public hearing be called on his petition)



Petition submitted by Developers-Investors, Inc. to rezone approximately

2.041 acres of property located at 7515 Cooper Creek Road from an R-1A District

to a C-3 District. (Recommended for conditional approval by both the Planning

Advisory Commission and the Planning Division.)

(46-CA-03-Developers-Investors, Inc.)



Petition submitted by Mordic Builders, Inc. to rezone approximately

6.72 acres of property located at 6210 Crystal Drive from an R-1A District to

an A-O District. (Recommended for conditional approval by both the Planning

Advisory Commission and the Planning Division.) (47-CA-03-Mordic Builders,

Inc.)



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THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL NEW ZONING PETITION WAS ALSO SUBMITTED BY CLERK

OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND RECEIVED BY THE

COUNCIL:



Petition submitted by Legacy Real Estate Advisors, LLC to rezone

approximately 23 acres of property located along the south side of St. Mary?s

Road, south of Northstar Drive from an R-2 District to an R-3A District.

(Recommended for conditional approval by the Planning Advisory Commission and

denial by the Planning Division.) (44-D-03-Legacy Real Estate Advisors, LLC)



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers made a motion to receive this petition. Seconded by

Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present for this meeting.

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WORKSESSION AGENDA:



COLUMBUS FIRE & EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES:



Ms. Jennifer Pitts, a doctoral student at Auburn University recently completed

a

volunteer research project on the recent consolidation of the Columbus Fire

Department, Columbus Emergency Medical Services and the Columbus Emergency

Management Agency appeared and gave an overview of that project, which is

outlined below:



? Research Objectives:

? Identify and measure key issues related to the merger that impact employee

perceptions, attitudes, and work-related outcomes

? Establish a baseline for tracking the change effort

? Provide feedback to management for facilitating decisions



? Research Focus:

? Organizational Change ? specifically Mergers & Acquisitions

? ?Human side? or organizational aspects of a merger

? Public Sector





BACKGROUND ON MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS



? Considered the most stressful organizational change in the workplace.

? Success/Failure of a merger generally attributed to organizational issues

(vs. financial or logistical)

? M & A?s are commonly associated with negative employee reactions such as:

? Absenteeism

? Turnover

? Job dissatisfaction

? Decline in morale, organizational commitment, and

Perceptions of trust and fairness in the organization





? Key Research Conclusions from past studies on Mergers & Acquisitions:



? Cultural change is among the most difficult of changes for human beings, and

mergers requiring cultural change may take 4 - 7 years for employees to fully

adapt

? Best time to start tracking employee opinions and perceptions is 12 - 18

months after merger.

? Commitment to and support of change effort by management is critical to the

success of the merger





RESEARCH METHODOLOGY



? Phase I:Field interviews with a random sample of employees at all levels of

the organization (N=40) to identify key issues and concerns related to the

merger (Completed in July 2003)



? Phase II:Measurement of Issues Related to the Merger and to the Organization

in General

? Employee Opinion Survey (Conducted September 2003)

? 251 responses; 102 questions; Eight Scales

? 7 point range per scale: 1= very dissatisfied or strongly disagree to 7= very

satisfied or strongly agree. Neutral = 4.





KEY ISSUES IDENTIFIED IN INTERVIEWS (PHASE I)



Compensation

Promotion Pay

Cross training: EMS to Firefighter



Perception of Politics

Low Morale/Motivation

Overall Outlook on Merger



Communication

Top MNGT Support (Lack of)

Planning & Implementation of Merger





KEY ISSUES MEASURED IN THE SURVEY (PHASE II)



? Satisfaction with Communication

? Management Support of the Merger

? Organizational Justice (Workplace Fairness)

? Job Satisfaction

? Intent to Remain with Organization

? Change Management

? Trust in Leadership

? Commitment to the Change (Merger)





SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS



? Commitment to the Mergeris below average overall (3.3) and lowest for

Firefighters (3.1)

? Job Satisfactionlevel is above average overall (5.2) but significantly lower

for EMS (4.3)

? Intention to Remain with the Organizationis above average overall (5.1) but

significantly lower for Fire medics (4.05) and FF/EMT (3.92)





SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR KEY ISSUES MEASURED



SATISFACTION WITH COMMUNICATION



? Considered to be one of the most important factors in the merger integration

process



? Measures employees? perception of effectiveness of organizational

communication



? Previous research studies show Satisfaction withCommunication is positively

associated with Job Satisfaction, Trust, Organizational Justice, and Commitment

to the Organization



? Survey measured eight separate dimensions of employees? Satisfaction with

Communication



? Overall group averages ranged from a low of 3.5 to high of 4.9 (out of 7)



? Improvement in employees? Satisfaction with Communication should have a

positive impact on employee job satisfaction and commitment to the merger





MANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR THE MERGER



? Refers to the employees? perception of the extent of their superior?s support

for and commitment to the merger



? Management support is positively associated with Job Satisfaction, Commitment

to the Merger, and Organizational Justice



? Overall Group Average 4.0 (Neutral response)



? An increase in employees? perception of their superior?s support for and

commitment to the merger should have a positive influence on their commitment

to the merger and job satisfaction





ORGANIZATIONAL JUSTICE



? Measures employees? perception of fairness in the workplace from three

dimensions:



? Procedural Justice: refers to the employees? perception of the fairness of

the decision making process, and whether they have a voice in decisions that

affect them



? Distributive Justice: refers to employee perceptions about the outcomes of

organizational decisions, and the degree to which rewards and resources are

allocated in an equitable manner (outcomes such as pay equity, workload, etc.)



? Interactional Justice: refers to the employees? perceptions about the

interpersonal treatment received during the implementation of procedures or

organizational decisions (e.g., respect, dignity, appropriate explanations)





ORGANIZATIONAL JUSTICE SCORES

(Out of 7 point scale)



? Procedural Justice 2.9**

? Distributive Justice 3.4

? Interactional Justice 4.2



? Procedural Justice (fairness) is positively and significantly associated with

job satisfaction, intention to remain with the organization, trust, and

commitment to change.



? An increase in employees? perception of fairness in the merger process

related to decisions that affect them should have a positive influence on job

satisfaction and commitment.



COMMITMENT TO CHANGE



Commitment to Change is defined as a mind-set that binds an individual to

a course of action (behavioral support) necessary for successful implementation

of a change initiative.



? Three types of commitment



? Affective Commitment

? Belief in Value of the Change

? Most critical type of commitment required

? Continuance Commitment

? Recognition that there are costs associated with failure to provide support

for the change

? Normative (Moral) Commitment

? Sense of obligation to provide support for the change





Affective Commitment 3.3*

? ?I believe in the value of this merger?

? Continuance Commitment 5.1

? ?I have too much at stake to resist this merger?

? Normative Commitment 4.0

? ?I feel an obligation to work towards this merger?



? Affective Commitment to the Merger is lower than average overall, and varies

significantly by Job Category.



Commitment to Change by Job Category

The percentages were highlighted as it relates to the three different

categories which includes Firefighter, Fire Officer and EMS





KEY FACTORS POSITIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH COMMITMENT TO CHANGE (MERGER)



Communication Satisfaction (4.1)

Procedural Justice (2.9)

Management Support and Commitment (4)

Commitment to Change (3.3)

(This highlights the overall Group Average)





Job Satisfaction and Intention to Remain with the Organization



? Job Satisfaction score overall is above average (5.2) but varies

significantly by job category.



? Job Satisfaction is significantly associated with an employees? Intention to

Remain with the Organization.



? Intention to Remain with the Organization also higher than average overall

(5.1) but varies significantly by job category.



? An employees? stated intention to remain with the organization has been found

in past studies to be the single biggest predictor of turnover.



Ms. Pitts also showed a chart highlighting the numbers for Job

Satisfaction by Job Category of the three different jobs: Firefighter, Fire

Officer and EMS, as well as a chart showing the numbers for the intention to

remain with the Organization by Job Category of the Firefighter, Fire Officer

and EMS.





Key Factors Positively Associated with Job Satisfaction and Employee Retention



Communication Satisfaction Job Satisfaction Intent

to Remain

Organizational

Justice with the

Organization

Trust in Leadership



In concluding her presentation, Ms. Pitts stated that the Survey results

suggest several key areas of focus that should have positive results on

Employee Commitment to the Merger, which includes the following:



? Improve Organizational Communication

? Improve Perception of Procedural Justice

? Increase management commitment to and support for the merger



She said the results indicate significant variation by Job Category in

Commitment to

the Merger, Job Satisfaction, and Intention to Remain with the Organization.

She said the overall results are very consistent with previous studies on

private sector mergers. She said the same responses that have been found in

private sector mergers were found in this particular study and said the data

was supported in each of these different variables. She said the overall

neutral response in some of these suggest that even though there are areas that

need improvements, this is not an organization in crisis.



Ms. Pitts said there are a lot of areas that perhaps would improve some of

the job satisfaction, but overall it is not a crisis situation; however, it

needs to be viewed as an opportunity to improve in some of the areas. She said

she thinks that the merger would start to move along much successfully.



Ms. Pitts then responded to several questions of Mayor Poydasheff and

members of the Council.



Mayor Poydasheff said we would keep the Council informed of everything

that we are going to be doing as it relates to the Fire/EMS Department.



Councilor Suber said he thinks that we also need to commend Fire Chief Roy

Waters for implementing this process; because he could have just continued to

go along; however, he took it upon himself to look forward and try to find some

additional information, which he thinks is important.



Fire Chief Roy Waters said this has been the most comprehensive study that

they have ever been through in their department. He said he thinks that the

Fire Department has been through more consultants than any other department in

the Consolidated Government. He said Ms. Pitts has done, in his opinion, what

no one else has ever been able to do, which is to bring things to light, i.e.,

identified areas that we can and will improve in and has not cost this City any

money. He said he is appreciative of what she has done, because there are

several areas that were identified, he really didn?t know that they had some

problems in; but a lot of the areas there were no surprises to him, because

they have been working on this since consolidation. He said as a result of

this, they had a meeting with the Mayor and City Manager on last week, and they

will be having a meeting with all of their officers and start communicating a

lot of this information to them and soliciting their support.



Chief Waters said this is a huge step in the consolidation process and he

doesn?t think there is any other department that would have faired any

differently than what they did. He thanked the Mayor and Council for their

support and said he thinks that there will be continuous improvement in their

department within the next few years; because now they have something that they

can work with. He said no other consultant has ever provided them with this

information before.



Councilor Turner Pugh said that maybe we need to look more to our

surrounding Colleges to have graduate students to do more reflections on our

City government when we want to look at our government, instead of going to

paid consultants.



Several members of the Council then expressed their appreciation to Ms.

Pitts and Fire Chief Waters for what they have done.

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UPDATE OF 1993 SPLOST PROJECTS:



Mayor Poydasheff said we have promised the public by the end of the year

that we would be coming out with an itemized list of what we accomplished in

the 1993 SPLOST and said the City Manager will be making that presentation on

today.



City Manager Cavezza said we feel good about what has happened with the

1993 SPLOST and then went into some details in giving a brief presentation and

update on the 1993 SPLOST projects that have been completed, as outlined below.

He said the process started in the early 90?s with a list of projects being

developed as a result of many public meetings and said as a result of that a

list was accumulated and broken down into five basic categories as outlined

here.



w General Categories:

w Parks

w Public Safety Building

w Civic Center

w Sidewalks

w Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)



March 1993 - Citizens approved 169.4 million dollars for citywide projects with

a 90% YES VOTE



Project Funding Sources



w SPLOST proceeds $171,979,142

w Interest earned 12,963,261

w Private Sector 2,058,500

w Grants 3,067,903

w Total Public/Private funding $189,568,806



In response to a question of Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers as to whether or not

the grants reflected the $10 million that we received from the Water Works,

City Manager Cavezza said the estimated cost for the CSO project was $65.5

million, but because there was a $10 million grant, the Water Works did not

withdraw all of that, but only withdraw $55.3 million out of the SPLOST to

complete the CSO project. He said there is one thing that he is not sure the

people realize, which is the CSO project facilitated the construction of the

Riverwalk. City Manager Cavezza said this was a great opportunity to follow

through on that project and actually build the Riverwalk over the work that was

being done for the CSO, which in effect saved us some money.



Excess Proceeds



w $12,222,262 Balance



l Pay off Series 2001 CBA Lease Revenue Bonds - $10,195,000

l Jail

l Technology

l Security/Safety

l 800 MHZ Upgrade

l Balance $2,027,262



City Manager Cavezza said the law states that you can do one of three

things with the remaining funds, (1) Enhance SPLOST projects, (2) Pay off old

debts or (3) Roll back taxes. He said they have used $10 million to pay off old

debt and said with the remaining $2 million dollars, what he would like to

recommend is that we apply that money against the $22 million shortfall at the

Trade Center right now. He said when we receive the money for the $22 million;

then, we take it toward enhancement projects. He said we have a three-year

option where we can pay down the principal on that and he would suggest that we

do that.



City Manager Cavezza then highlighted those projects that have now been

completed, which are outlined below:



l Recreation Centers

n 4 new

n Northside

n Psalmond Rd

n Shirley Winston

n South Columbus



n Renovations

n A. J. McClung Stadium

n Golden Park

n Comer

n North Columbus



w 8 to 10 Softball Fields

n South Commons

l Stadium Field ? from an additional $3,500,000 Public/ Partnership





w Baseball Fields

w New/Renovations

n Shirley Winston (4 New)

n Northside (3 New)

n Double Churches

n Edgewood

n Rigdon

n Lakebottom

n Golden Park

n North Columbus





w Tennis

n 4 new/Renovations

l Cooper Creek (10 New)

l Lakebottom



w Marina

n Marina study completed

n Permitting in process

n Construction was not part of package





w Trails

n 10 to 15 miles

l Citywide

l South Commons

l Portions of North RiverWalk





w Park Development

n New/Renovation

l Shirley Winston (New) Britt David

l South Commons (New) Rose Hill

l Woodruff Farm North Columbus

l Promenade

l Psalmond Road

l Double Churches

l Fort Middle School





w Park Development

n Renovations

l Lindsey Creek

l Rigdon Park

l Lakebottom Park

l Edgewood Park

l Carver Park





w Playgrounds

n 4 new

l Shirley Winston

l Lakebottom

l Edgewood

l Northside





w Land acquisition

n Shirley Winston

n Northside





w New Public Safety Building

n Police Headquarters

n Fire & EMS Headquarters

n Coroner





w Civic Center

n Added Ice

n 3 million dollars from private endowment





w Sidewalks (Goal 30 miles)

w Installed 50 miles of sidewalk

w Combined Sewer Overflow



City Manager Cavezza said we have completed all of these projects and

because of grants, public/private partnerships, savings and interest, they were

able to leverage a lot more funding than what they had projected they had. He

said he thinks the SPLOST helped benefit the local economy. He said a lot of

people who don?t live in Columbus helped pay for the SPLOST Projects funding

because it was supported by many from outside the County. He said he thinks

that all the projects were done right. He said we didn?t fall prey to anything

and take out sprinkler systems, nor cut the number of trees or use cheap

materials, but said we held the line on quality and maintained it throughout

the projects. He said the projects need to be maintained at a high standard,

which is our challenge right now.



Mayor Poydasheff said without the leadership and concern of City Manager

Cavezza as well as the sound fiscal management that he provided; these things

would not have been possible. He said what you have done is validated the

commitment of this Council and what they promised the people of Columbus. He

said he is very proud of the City Manager?s leadership.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said we have shown the public what we have spent

with their money and said he thinks it would be interesting if we could develop

a program that would show the respective projects that were done, just exactly

what was leveraged from the private sector to go with this to show what was the

total impact on Columbus, as a result of the ?can do attitude? that was

displayed by the voters in 1993.



Councilor Davis then asked if we have any true numbers on what percentage

of dollars outside our community were generated. City Manager Cavezza said

there is a number that is used a lot, but said he is very uncomfortable with

it; because he can?t document it. He said generally they say 30-35% of SPLOST

that is contributed by people who don?t live here. He said he would be hard

pressed to document that.



Several members of the Council then expressed their views as it relates to

the completed SPLOST projects and thanked City Manager Cavezza for his

leadership in this regard, after which City Manager Cavezza then responded to

several questions of the Council. There were some referrals then made by the

Council, as outlined below.



Councilor Davis asked that the staff try to do some research and determine

the amount of revenues being generated as far as the economic impact.



Councilor Henderson asked that this presentation be put into some kind of

narrative and air it on CCG-TV.



Councilor Anthony also asked that this presentation be printed in the

local newspaper or Columbus In the Valley Magazine so that the citizens can

have access and retain it as a record.



Councilor Woodson asked that we try to provide some photographs of what

these areas looked like prior to the renovations or new projects being

constructed.



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H.B. 285:



City Manager Cavezza said H.B. 285 on last year dealt with storm water

management and said we have much stricter guidelines being imposed on us by the

State, which is requiring the City to enforce tighter rules and provide more

information. He said there would be costs for a permit, which would cost about

$80.00 per acre and $40.00 would go to the City and $40.00 to the State. He

said this would be a challenge for us; however, it will solve a lot of our

erosion and storm water problems.



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PUBLIC DEFENDERS:



City Manager Cavezza said the State has passed a bill that says we are

going to meet certain requirements, which would in affect pass on to us an

unfunded mandate in excess of $3 million. He said we feel like we have a good

public defender program, but we are not the only one in the State, as there are

other cities who have problems. He said what the State is trying to do is to

fix something that is broken; however, we don?t think ours is broken, but we

are not an exception and will have to do it their way. He said the funding is

the issue; he said they have passed the bill, but didn?t provide the funding.

He said Councilor Turner Pugh serves on that Task Force.



Councilor Turner Pugh said one of the issues is trying to set standards.

She said the law requires the Commission that has been set up to set standards,

as well as require them to hire an Executive Director for the entire State

program by January 2004, with an implementation date for our program to begin

in 2004-2005. She then went into further details in outlining what the

Commission?s charge is; after which several members of the Council expressed

their views and concerns regarding this bill.



City Manager Cavezza and Councilor Turner Pugh then responded to questions

and concerns of several members of the Council. Councilor Hunter said he would

suggest that the State take over the Public Defenders? program.



Mayor Poydasheff asked that the City Attorney draft a resolution and

include the remarks of Councilors Hunter and Turner Pugh and forward it to our

State Legislators. Councilor Turner Pugh said the resolution needs to be

drafted to the Legislators asking them if they could delay the implementation

of the bill that has already been set forth until the State can come up with

full funding.



Councilor Woodson said she thinks that maybe we need to have ACCG and GMA

to look at the resolution for them to have their input.



Councilor Allen said one thing that concerns him is that the mandated

benefit bill came through and we really didn?t know anything about it until now

and said if we are paying our Legislative Lobbyist to watch out for us; then we

need to be made aware of these types of situations before they are passed. He

said he would appreciate our lobbyist informing us on any mandated bill. He

said he thinks they need to either be here in person briefing us on it or have

someone from their office here briefing us on it.



City Manager Cavezza said they do talk to them and they send us the

information and we staff it. He said the position that we took was against it,

unless the funding was provided.



Councilor Allen said he thinks there needs to be better communication, as

he doesn?t think they are fulfilling their obligation to this City and the

Council by not coming to this Council and explaining this type of situation to

us.



Councilor Turner Pugh said she found out about this bill on a Friday

afternoon about 5:20 p.m. while traveling out of town and the bill had already

been passed when she received a telephone call from Lt. Governor Mark Taylor,

who asked her to serve on the Commission.





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UPCOMING EVENTS:



City Manager Cavezza highlighted the following additional upcoming events,

which are outlined below.



Nov 25th, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.,Columbus South Task Force Meeting, Baker Middle

School



Dec 2nd, 2:00 p.m., 2010 Vision Meeting, Legacy Hall, RiverCenter



Dec. 4th, 4:00 - 9:00 p.m., Tri Community Christmas Celebration "Night of

Lights" Dillingham Street Bridge



Dec. 8th, 6:00 p.m., Liberty District Public Meeting, Government Center Annex



Dec. 9th, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., Columbus South Task Force Meeting, Baker Middle

School



Dec. 12th, 7:00 p.m., Annual Holiday Gala for City Employees, Civic Center



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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BRANDING:



Mayor Poydasheff said it was interesting listening to National Radio where

he heard that Denver Colorado is going through the process of economic

development branding for tourist and etc.; and said the highlight being how

important it is for cities trying to get conventions and people and if they

don?t do it, they would be left out of the bag.

He said with respect to what we are doing here in Columbus is being paid for by

the private sector.

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NOTE: Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers left at this point in the proceedings, with

the time being 11:00 a.m.,

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COLUMBUS SOUTH TASK FORCE:



With respect to the Columbus South Task Force meeting, Councilor Woodson

asked City Manager Cavezza if this is the last meeting that the public can come

to where they would have a vote. She said the consultant had stated that there

were three meetings that anyone could come to and join any of the task force

groups.



City Manager Cavezza said he had stated that if they were not involved by

this meeting, then beyond this, it would not be productive for them to be

involved; however, he doesn?t see them turning anybody away.



Mayor Poydasheff said they would not turn anyone away.



Councilor Woodson said she would like to encourage the citizens that if

they haven?t been involved yet, she would urge them to do so at this meeting on

tonight.



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

Turner Pugh then made a motion for adjournment. Seconded by Councilor Suber and

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

Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers having already left the meeting and Councilor McDaniel

being absent, with the time being 11:05 A.M.







Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia