Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR MEETING

MARCH 15, 2005



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

order at 9:00 A.M., Tuesday, March 15, 2005, on the Plaza Level of the

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

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



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PRESENT: Present other than Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff and Mayor Pro Tem John

J. Rodgers were Councilors R. Gary Allen, Berry H. Henderson, Julius H. Hunter,

Jr., Evelyn Turner Pugh and Nathan Suber. City Manager Isaiah Hugley, City

Attorney Clifton Fay, Clerk of Council Tiny B. Washington and Deputy Clerk of

Council Sandra Davis were also present. Councilor Evelyn Woodson arrived at

9:10 a.m.



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ABSENT: Councilor Wayne S. Anthony, Charles E. McDaniel and Glenn Davis were

absent, but was officially excused upon the adoption of Resolution Number

175-05, 176-05 and 178-05.

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INVOCATION: Offered by Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers.



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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by students from St. Anne School.



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MINUTES: Minutes of the March 8, 2005 meeting of the Council of the

Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia was 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 six members present at the

time. (Councilor Woodson had not yet arrived and Councilors Anthony, Davis and

McDaniel were absent for this meeting.)

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ZONING PUBLIC HEARING:



THE FOLLOWING ZONING ORDINANCE WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY

FAY AND ITS PUBLIC HEARING WASDELAYED FOR TWO WEEKS AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY

MANAGER:

An Ordinance - Amending the text of the Unified Development Ordinance

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



City Attorney Fay said there has been some discussion of a two-week delay

of this ordinance. City Manager Hugley said he is requesting that this

ordinance be delayed for two weeks. He said they would like for the members of

the Council and the members of the environmental community and the public to

have some additional time to review what they are bringing forward. He said

there would be more information forthcoming to the Council.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers then made a motion for a two-week delay. Seconded by

Councilor Henderson and carried unanimously by those six members of Council

present at the time. (Councilor Woodson had not yet arrived and Councilors

Anthony, Davis and McDaniel were absent for this meeting.)

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NOTE: Zoning Public Hearings continued below.



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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA:



WITH DANIEL KING STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION

WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR HUNTER AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:



A Resolution (154-05) - Commending and congratulating Daniel King of

Blanchard Elementary School upon taking third place in the Muscogee County

School District Spelling Bee. Councilor Hunter moved the adoption of the

resolution. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and carried unanimously with

those six members present at the time standing to cast their affirmative vote.

(Councilor Woodson had not yet arrived at the meeting and Councilors Anthony,

Davis and McDaniel was absent for this meeting.)

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



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ZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS:



THE FOLLOWING FOUR ZONING ORDINANCES WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS

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

ADVERTISED:



An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 5.179 acres of property located at

6008 Billings Road from an R-1 District to an R-1A District. (10-CA-05-Wade)



PROPONENTS:



Mr. Wright Wade, 1401 West Dinglewood Drive, said he is here requesting

six acres of property to be rezoned on Billings Drive. He said originally he

had applied for an R-2 zoning, but said at the Planning Advisory Commission

meeting, he listened to the concerns of the neighbors and said their number one

concern was that they wanted larger lots than the R-2 requirements. He said

they were also concerned with flooding in low areas of the property; which bred

mosquitoes. He said he then changed his rezoning from an R-2 to an R-1A, which

has a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet. He said these lots would range

from 10,100 feet to over 19,000 feet per lot.



Mr. Wade said he designed and located the detention pond in the area of

concerns, which should eliminate the low line area. He said another concern

was a 50-foot buffer in the rear of the property and said he has agreed to this

50-foot buffer. He said with these conditions, the PAC and Planning Division

have recommended approval of this rezoning.



He said the zoning classification is consistent with the future land-use

map of the comprehensive plan. He then showed a color-coded map, which outlines

the commercial, R-1A and R-2 zoning in this area. He said the property that he

is requesting to be rezoned is bordered by R-1A on the north and west and

commercial is on the east, and R-1 is on the south border.



Mr. Wade said the houses he will be building would be 1700 - 2000 square

feet, and will sell in the price range of $175,000 - $210,000. He said he has

obtained a list of homes for sales in the adjacent subdivisions and then

highlighted those areas, as well as the price range of those homes.



He said since he has changed his rezoning request to R-1A and added

conditions that were concerns of the neighbors, therefore, he hopes that the

Council would vote in favor of his rezoning requests.



After he concluded his presentation, he then responded to questions of

Mayor Poydasheff and members of the Council.



In response to Mayor Poydasheff, Mr. Wade pointed out that the detention

is supposed to take care of the problem as to the silt going into the lake.



At the request of Councilor Allen, Deputy City Manager Bishop explained

the Engineering process and how they will monitor the construction of the

detention pond and the flow of the water to the detention pond.



OPPONENTS:



The following individuals then appeared and spoke in opposition of this

proposed rezoning petition:



Ms. Janice Frank, 5943 Bertcliff Drive said part of the problem that they

have with this development is not the developer, but when the commercial

property was rezoned, this neighborhood was made a lot of promises and when the

developer left and the problems were left, we have called the City regarding

the water problems, and their answer have been that this is a private problem.

She said her property was flooded right after they moved in; where water went

into the garage and it went so far that they purchased a flood insurance

policy.



She said once they got an attorney and he sent the City a letter, they did

come out and correct that problem. She said her neighbor across the street has

had a lot of problems with that since and he was told the same thing, that the

City does not maintain private property.



Mr. Will Johnson, Zoning Administrator, and members of the Council and Mr.

Wade then responded to questions of Ms. Frank.



Mr. Wade then responded to further questions of members of the Council.



Councilor Turner Pugh said she knows that the Planning Advisory Commission

recommended 60 ft. wide lots, but she have a problem with taking R-1A and doing

that with R-1A zoning, instead of keeping it at 75 ft.



Ms. Frank said other than the water problem she doesn?t think they have a

problem with R-1A. She said of course, all of them that are in an R-1 zone

would really like to keep it R-1; however, they realize you do have to make

concessions.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said he has spoken with Ms. Frank a number of times

over the years and said it has always been the same problem out there.

He said while that is a private lake, he thinks that we will be burying our

heads in the sand, if we thought that only private dirt went into that. He said

the construction around that area has contributed to the siltation of the lake.

He said he would like to suggest that our Engineering Department provide some

guidance, any in-kind assistance that can be given to the residents in and

around the Billings Road property that is being looked at for a new zoning

classification, to try to address their concerns as it relates to the lake and

how these problems can be corrected. He said he is not suggesting that we

dredge it, but maybe we can offer them some assistance in how something might

be done to clear this problem in the future.



Ms. Frank said her neighbors are willing to accept R-1A, but not with

60-foot lot width.

City Manager Hugley said the lake property is an estate; however, they

will take a look and will follow the directions that the Mayor Pro Tem has

asked them to.



Mayor Poydasheff said maybe some of the runoff problem could be alleviated if

we look at the sewerage that?s going to be going in, which will be a

requirement any way. He said maybe we want to look at possibly expanding the

sewerage requirements to address the runoff problems. He said he agrees that

the lake is not the problem, but the runoff.



Mr. Wade responded to questions of the Council as to the number of lots

that he is requesting. He said Lot #1 is 125-ft wide, #2 120-ft, #3, 90-ft. He

said go all the way around to #7, and those lot widths are greater than 75

feet. However, when you get into the cul-de-sac, Lots Numbers 8, 9, he would

need 60 feet, 11, 12 and 13 is where he would need the 60-feet setback. He said

that doesn?t necessarily mean he will build the house right at the setback

line, which is 60-feet. He said this is why heeds the 60-feet setback maybe on

half of the lots, not all of them.



Councilor Turner Pugh said if this ordinance is going to pass with the

60-foot wide minimum lot width, she thinks it needs to be lot specific as

stated on the site plan and the site plan needs to be made a part of the

ordinance. She then so moved. Seconded by Councilor Woodson.



Mr. Wade then went into further details in explaining how many of his

proposed lots were going to have the proposed 60-foot frontage. He said mainly

the lots in the cul-de-sac lots will need the 60-foot frontage. He said lots 7,

8, 9, 10, 11 & 12.



Mayor Poydasheff said the motion that has been made by Councilor Turner

Pugh would make that a condition of the ordinance and then asked Mr. Wade if he

had any objections to that, to which he said he did not.



After continued discussion on this subject, with Mr. Wade responding to

further questions of the Council, Councilor Allen said what he would like to do

is to identify the lots with the 60-foot setback and make that a condition of

the ordinance; to which Mr. Wade said that would be fine.



Mr. Wade said Lots 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13 will be 60-foot at the

building line.



City Attorney Fay said they are going to strike the word all lots and

outline these six lots that were stated above.



After further discussion on this issue, the question was then called on

the motion to include these six lots as a Condition 1 with a 60-foot minimum

wide at the building line, as motioned by Councilor Turner Pugh above, which

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



The following other individuals then appeared and expressed their

opposition to this rezoning petition:



Mr. John Gray then expressed concerns about the natural undisturbed buffer

and what will happen to the buffer once the property is clear-cut. Deputy City

Bishop responded to those concerns of Mr. Gray.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers asked if we could include those conditions on those

lots, because it is between commercial and residential and in the lot covenant,

require that the buffer be retained and that it run with the land.



City Attorney Fay said it will run as a 20-year condition; however, if the

Council wants to put in another that some sort of deed be required from

Mr. Wade.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said he understands the people?s concerns and said

Mr. Gray?s concern is that after Mr. Wade is out of this deal and you have

individual property owners who have purchased those lots that have backed up to

it; there is some means by which we have to be able to ensure these people that

this buffer will not be infringed upon. He said we could do that through a deed

of covenant or by a condition in the ordinance.



City Attorney Fay said right now, you have a 20-year condition that states

the 50-foot natural buffer will be required. He said if you want to include

something else to require a restrictive covenant, but those by law are limited

in themselves and they can be continued at certain points. He said the only

other thing that we can require him to do is put in some sort of restrictive

covenant.



Discussion continued on this aspect with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers asking City

Attorney Fay if he is comfortable that this 50-foot undisturbed natural buffer,

if someone intrudes into it, that under the force of law in this ordinance, we

can go back and make them replace anything that they take down.



City Attorney Fay said that is correct. He said this will run for 20 years

and can be enforced by building codes or the zoning violations.



Several minutes of discussion continued on this proposed rezoning

ordinance, with Mr. Gray continuing to express his concern about the lake and

it filling up.



Mayor Poydasheff pointed out we talked about the sewerage and said we will

be working with the Water Works.



City Manager Hugley in response to Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers, as to whether or

not we can look at it the way it exists now, said we are dealing with storm

water and not sewerage. He said they would take a look at that.



Councilor Turner Pugh then asked the City if the undisturbed natural

buffer is going to be sold as part of those lots. City Attorney Fay said if the

lots were conveyed, it would be a part of the real estate.



Several minutes of discussion continued on this aspect, with members of

the Council expressing their strong views regarding this issue. City Attorney

Fay then responded to many of those concerns of the Council in this regard.



City Attorney Fay said the only other way that you can force someone to

put together covenants that runs with the land is restrictive covenants.



After further discussion, Councilor Allen then made a motion that this be

required to be put in the covenants.



Mr. Wade said he can put this in the covenants or it can be a buffer;

however, if this is just coming up because of him he wants it to come up with

the rest of the developers from this point on. He said if he has to put a

buffer covenant in his zoning covenants than everyone else needs to do that as

well. He said he would be glad to agree to it, but from this point on, he would

like for everyone to consider the same thing.



Councilor Allen then made a motion to add this to the ordinance as a

condition. Seconded by Councilor Woodson.



City Attorney Fay said we they can add a third condition which says that a

restrictive covenant shall be required to protect the 50-foot buffer area on

the east property line.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said the way it is listed now with the natural

undisturbed buffer, this actually gives them protection of law. He said if you

go to the restrictive covenants, then it is encumbered upon each individual to

sue their neighbor in order to get anything done. He said he would think that

the greater value would be what?s in the ordinance now with the natural

undisturbed buffer. He said he thinks this is all we need to have to protect

those neighbors.



Councilor Turner Pugh said in the UDO plan that is in place, as she

understands it, it takes away the 20-year requirement that it is indefinite and

asked, if that is correct.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said we could put any number of years that we want

to in this ordinance, on the natural buffer.



Councilor Turner Pugh said she understands that, but what she is saying is

that she was told that under the new ordinance (UDO) that we just put in place,

that it takes away the 20-year restriction.



Deputy City Manager Bishop stated that this case started before the new

UDO ordinance went into effect on March 1st; therefore, it would go with the

old standards. He said he would defer to the City Attorney.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said this wouldn?t become law until under the UDO;

however, Mr. Bishop said the process had started before the UDO came into

effect. He said he would defer to the City Attorney.



City Attorney Fay said the application date was controlled, but whether or

not the UDO changes the 20-year requirement, he is not sure.



After discussion continued on this, City Attorney Fay, in response to

Councilor Turner Pugh stated it would have to be in the ordinance that it is

indefinite and to take the 20-year limitation off.



She then asked Councilor Allen if he would agree to change his motion to

state that instead of adding a restrictive covenant, that we would take the

20-year off and make the natural undisturbed buffer indefinite.



City Allen then withdrew his motion.



Councilor Turner Pugh then made a motion to state that a 50-foot wide

undisturbed, natural buffer shall be required along the east property line in

perpetuity. Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those

seven members of Council present for this meeting.



Ms. Virginia Stadnick, 5919 Bertcliff Drive appeared and expressed her

concerns regarding this proposed rezoning ordinance.



Mayor Poydasheff said in the area of where Ms. Stadnik?s live and asked

City Manager Hugley to have someone to go and see if they are meeting the

decibel level as far as noise is concerned.



Ms. Stadnik stated that George Woodruff?s mother owns the lake.



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NOTE: Mayor Poydasheff left at this point in the proceedings, with the

time being 10:20 a.m.

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After more than one hour of discussion on this matter, Mr. Jerry Ivey,

5852 Bertcliff Drive and Ms. Linda Garrity also appeared and expressed their

opposition of the proposed rezoning ordinance.



City Attorney Fay then declared this public hearing held. He said this

ordinance would be voted on at the March 29, 2005 Council meeting.



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MUSCOGEE LIONS:



Ms. Miti Oxford, Chairperson of the Mayor?s Commission for Persons with

Disabilities was present to introduce the Muscogee Lions who won State

Championship in Wheelchair Basketball.



She said four years ago they had a dream to bring an adaptive sports

program for kids with physical disabilities to the Muscogee County Schools. She

said we have now realized that dream; however, it took a few years; to do that,

but this is the result of that dream.



Ms. Oxford then introduced each of the team members, and a certificate was

presented to each of them by Coach Carl Decker, which includes Jordan Butler,

Jonathan Byrd, Logan Brakefield, W. D. Finney, Jessie Strowman, Michael Lee and

LaShaun Long.



She said special congratulations to Coach Decker and Pete Austin, as well

as the volunteers Brian Carlstrum, Jeff Swift, Scooter and Rodney Rawls from

the Parks & Recreation Department. Ms. Oxford said she would also like to

thank Ms. Brenda Dozier with the Muscogee County School District, who was

instrumental in making this program a success.



Coach Decker pointed out that ASH, which is a State organization that runs

this program will be venturing out to start a football program in the Spring

this year. He said there are twelve teams throughout the State and we are

looking to continue to grow. He said these young men have come so far within

the last year; although they haven?t had the opportunity that their able bodied

counterparts have had playing soccer at 4-years old; however, within the last

two years, they have come a long way. He said each of them have had benchmarks

that they have done and this has been a wonderful program to be involved with

and said they look forward to growing it, picking up power hockey, soccer as

well as basketball. He said we want to bring opportunities to our students

within Muscogee County that have physical disabilities.



Councilor Woodson asked Ms. Oxford to provide information about the

organization and everything that has occurred to the City Attorney and then

asked City Attorney Fay to prepare a resolution to congratulate this team.

She said if we can get a list of the game schedule, we would run it on CCG-TV.

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ZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS CONTINUED:



An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 334.5 acres of property located near

the NW & SW corners of Veterans Parkway & Wooldridge Road from an A-1 District

to a R-1 District. (11-CA-05-Grey Rock Dev., LLC.)



PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:



Mr. Will White, 2001 Country Road, the petitioner pointed out that he has

a long presentation; however, if the Council would like, he could go through

the presentation, but if you prefer we could hear Mr. Woodruff?s comment in

opposition and he could address them. He said he is familiar with their

concerns, as he spoke with Mr. Woodruff three months ago regarding this one

issue that he has a problem with.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers then called Mr. George Woodruff to allow him an

opportunity to address his concern.



Mr. George Woodruff, 5051 Grey Rock Road said this is a proposal that he

would like for the Council to consider in an effort to make Columbus beautiful

and not ugly. He said he would like to see the Council adopt an ordinance on

fences to be straight up, not sideways, which is usually how Dave Erickson puts

them up.



He said on a 35 feet buffer, he would like to propose a 50 feet buffer. He

said in front of the fence, he would like to propose some holly bushes to be

planted every ten feet apart and the bushes to be seven feet tall, 3 feet wide

and ten feet apart. He said this would allow them to grow together and be one

major buffer.



Mr. Woodruff said plants are required to stay alive, but said the

developer typically allows his plants to die.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said he and Mr. Woodruff have spoken on a number of

occasions about the fence issue and said he happens to agree. He said he has

spoken to our staff in this regard and said they are working on that issue

right now. He said for us to put up a privacy fence buffer in an ordinance

only to have someone throw something up that falls down or leans it would be an

eyesore within two years, is not what the intent of the Council is.



Mr. Will White said they have four different buffers that they are

implanting in this development and said the tract that they are rezoning is

approximately 334 acres of land on Wooldridge Road and Veterans Parkway. He

said on Wooldridge Road, it is an 80-foot right-of-way and on the northern

side, the tree cover is good and have grown down into the right-of-way

approximately 10-15 feet. He said they are implementing a 40-foot non-disturbed

tree buffer with an agreement that where there are gaps in the buffer, they

will go back and plant evergreens, magnolia and holly.



He said on the south side of Wooldridge Road, they have agreed to go back

and plant a 35-foot buffer along this south side a significant amount of

evergreen plants. He said it is well in excess of $100,000 of plantings, which

he thinks will exceed any buffer planting ever in the history of Muscogee

County.



Mr. White said this buffer will be owned by mandatory homeowner?s

association and will not be owned by property owners; therefore, there is an

entity in place to maintain and monitor this buffer. He said they will have the

funds available to ensure that this buffer remains as it is in perperity.



He said fencing can go behind the buffer on the individual lot owners, but

on the north side of Wooldridge Road even if the fencing is put up sideways and

falls down shortly thereafter, no one will see it. He said on the south side of

Wooldridge Road, if that occurs over a period of time- three to five years, he

doubts that many people will be able to see it.

Mr. White said he would suggest that the buffer and the planning that we

are agreeing to outside of their development on Whitesville Road is

unprecedented in Muscogee County. He said the reason they have only one person

in opposition is because they have gone through a very methodical and detailed

process with the adjacent property owners and property owners in the

neighborhood in an effort to answer their questions and concerns.

He said there was no opposition at the PAC meeting; in fact they had someone to

speak in favor of the petition.



He said they had to go through a DRI process, which is recommended

approval. He said they have gone through this process for 1? years now. Mr.

White said he spoke with Mr. Woodruff three months ago regarding his concerns

about the fencing. He said he thinks that he has adequately answered those

concerns and said he thinks that this will be a unique development in Muscogee

County. He said it fits very well with the concept of a conservation

subdivision. He said since they began this process over a year ago, they didn?t

fall under the new UDO conservation subdivision.



After some twenty minutes of discussion, Mr. White then concluded his

presentation, after which he responded to questions of the members of the

Council.



Deputy City Manager Bishop then responded to members of the Council, as

far as the timeframe of widening Veterans Parkway.



City Attorney Fay then declared this public hearing held and said the

ordinance will be voted on in two weeks.



An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 6.1 acres of property located at

Parts of 6001 & 6003 Warm Springs Road from an R-1A/ PUD/A-1 Districts to A-O

District. (12-CA-05-Tiger Creek Dev. & the Billings Co.)



PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:



Mr. Billings, the petitioner was present, but he did not make a

presentation, as there was no one present to oppose this proposed rezoning

ordinance.



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An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 38 acres of property located at Part

of 6003 Warm Springs Road from an R-1 District to an R-3A District.

(13-CA-05-Tiger Creek Dev.)



PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:



Mr. Dave Erickson, the petitioner was present, but he did not make a

presentation, as there was no one present to oppose this proposed rezoning

ordinance.

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA CONTINUED:



THE FOLLOWING TWO ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY

FAY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON SECOND

READING:



An Ordinance (05-26) - Regulating vehicular traffic in Columbus, Georgia

by establishing/amending the parking restrictions along the following street

segments: Young Street ? Establishing a No Parking Anytime, along the South

curb of Young Street beginning at the East curb of Wildwood Avenue running,

easterly to Oak Avenue a distance of 255 feet; Oak Avenue ? Establishing a No

Parking Anytime, along the East curb of Oak Avenue beginning at the South curb

of Young Street and running northerly a distance of 575 feet; authorizing the

installation of official traffic control signs indicating said parking

restrictions; repealing any conflicting ordinances and for other purposes.

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

Henderson and carried unanimously by those seven members of Council present for

this meeting.



An Ordinance (05-27) - Amending the ?Official Street Map, City of

Columbus, Georgia,? by changing the official street name for the section of

public roadway currently designated as Cutler Drive to Glenmere Drive,? to be

one street name consistent with the length of roadway; authorizing the

replacement of existing street name signs labeled as Cutler Drive to Glenmere

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

Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those seven members of Council

present for this meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING TWO RESOLUTIONS EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO THOSE EMPLOYEES

WHO HAVE RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE SERVICES OF THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT WAS

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

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

MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR HENDERSON, WHICH

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE SEVEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:





A Resolution (155-05) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Larry G. Justice

upon his retirement with the Metra Transportation Department after 32 years of

service.



A Resolution (156-05) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Larry E. Love

upon his retirement with the City Manager?s Department after 27 years of

service.



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THE FOLLOWING SEVEN RESOLUTIONS EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF

THOSE FORMER EMPLOYEES WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY WAS SUBMITTED BY CITY ATTORNEY

FAY AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND THEN ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM

RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR TURNER PUGH, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY

THOSE SIX MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT AT THE TIME, WITH COUNCILOR ALLEN BEING

ABSENT FOR THIS VOTE:



A Resolution (157-05) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. George

E. Moore, former employee with the Metra Transportation Department, who passed

away on November 28, 2004.



A Resolution (158-05) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. John B.

Roberson, former employee with the Public Services Department, who passed away

on November 9, 2004.



A Resolution (159-05) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Wallace

P. Sellers, Jr., former employee with the Finance Department, who passed away

on December 18, 2004.



A Resolution (160-05) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Ezra O.

Leatherwood, former employee with the Metra Transportation Department, who

passed away on December 18, 2004.



A Resolution (161-05) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Leon E.

Peters, former employee with the Public Services Department, who passed away on

December 25, 2004.



A Resolution (162-05) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mrs. Myra

K. Binns, former employee with the Tax Commissioner?s Department, who passed

away on December 27, 2004.



A Resolution (163-05) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Marion

T. Oliver, former employee with the Columbus Police Department, who passed away

on January 5, 2005.

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EXECUTIVE SESSION:



City Attorney Fay pointed out that City Manager Hugley is requesting a

brief executive session after the adjournment of this morning?s meeting, to

discuss a personnel issue.

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PUBLIC AGENDA:



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



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VOTE ON RESOLUTIONS:



Councilor Turner Pugh, who was not seated at the Council table when the

vote on the first four items on the City Attorney?s Agenda were taken requested

that her affirmative vote be added to those items.

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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING SIX RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER

HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:





A Resolution (164-05) - Authorizing the acquisition of Parcel 7 for the

St. Mary's Road widening project, 0.014 acres (616.05 square feet), of land for

right-of-way for County Road and/or Municipal Street purposes. Councilor Suber

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

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

Councilor Allen being absent for this vote.



A Resolution (165-05) - Authorizing the acquisition of Parcel 31 for the

St. Mary's Road widening project, 0.032 acres (1,366.46) square feet), of land

for right-of-away for County Road and/or Municipal Street purposes. Councilor

Suber moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor Henderson and

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

Councilor Allen being absent for this vote.



A Resolution (166-05) - Authorizing the acquisition of Parcel 2 containing

0.013 acres for right of way for the Williams/Whitesville Road Project through

condemnation to clear title. Councilor Suber moved the adoption of the

resolution. Seconded by Councilor Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those

six members of Council present at the time, with Councilor Allen being absent

for this vote.



A Resolution (167-05) - Amending Resolution 125-05 for the Condemnation of

Property on Williams/ Whitesville Road to correct the legal description.

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

Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those six members of Council present at

the time, with Councilor Allen being absent for this vote.



A Resolution (168-05) - Authorizing the execution of a City Right of Way

Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for a County

contract to re-construct the Whitesville Road/Williams Road improvement

project. Councilor Suber moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by

Councilor Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those six members of Council

present at the time, with Councilor Allen being absent for this vote.



A Resolution (169-05) - Authorizing the transfer of 4.5 +/- Acres of

property at 1825 Victory Drive to The Development Authority of Columbus

to construct a facility for a prospect. Councilor Suber moved the adoption of

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

six members of Council present at the time, with Councilor Allen being absent

for this vote.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING FOUR PURCHASING RESOLUTIONS, WITH

DETAILED INFORMATION INCLUDED WITH THE CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA PACKET, WAS ALSO

SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL

PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY COUNCILOR TURNER PUGH AND

SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SUBER, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY WITH ALL SEVEN MEMBERS

OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS MEETING NOW AT THE TABLE AND

VOTING:



A Resolution (170-05) - Authorizing the purchase of fifteen (15)

triage-tracking devices from Disaster Management Solutions, Inc., for use by

Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Disaster Management Solutions

will provide a state-of-the-art patient tracking system that utilizes proven

technologies to capture, report and distribute vital patient information in the

event of a mass casualty incident. The system is designed to work with

bar-coded triage tags.



A Resolution (171-05) - Authorizing the purchase of firefighting

accessories from Axis Fire Supply, Inc., W.S. Darley & Co. and Fireline, Inc.

for the estimated annual contract value of $19,969.50. The firefighting

accessories, which include gloves, boots and helmets, will be ordered on an ?as

needed basis?. The term of the contract shall be for three years with the

option to renew for two additional twelve-month periods. The renewal will be

contingent upon the mutual agreement of the City and the Contractor.



A Resolution (172-05) - Authorizing the purchase of furniture, for the

Office of Homeland Security, from National, in care of The Overby Company, in

the amount of $13,700.32. The purchase will be made via Georgia State Wide

Contract #S-030748, for which The Overby Company is an authorized dealer for

National. The furniture includes chairs, desks, hutch units etc?and will be

used to furnish the Office of Homeland Security, which will be located in the

basement of the Public Safety Building. This furniture matches the present

throughout the Public Safety Building.



A Resolution (173-05) - Authorizing payment to BellSouth for the annual maintenance for all Cisco

equipment and software license renewal, included in the IP Telephony network in

five locations: the Government Center, Annex, Public Safety Complex, Fox

Recreation Center and the Trade Center. The annual cost of network and

equipment coverage, known as BellSouth DataCare, is $83,889.62 to be paid in

twelve monthly payments. The monthly payments will be included in the monthly

phone bill in the amount of $6,990.80. The BellSouth DataCare IP Telephony

Manager is a continuance of the existing Cisco/BellSouth hardware and software

maintenance purchased last year with the new Cisco AVVID IP Phone System

through BellSouth. The maintenance for this equipment is renewable each year

on or before the anniversary date of March 31st. Only BellSouth has a complete

end-to-end solution for all voice and data issues from both an equipment and

network perspective including the BellSouth CO (Central Office) network.

Consequently, this maintenance and service is available only through BellSouth.



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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT:



Councilor Woodson asked City Manager Hugley to contact our Congressional

Delegation, the Senate and the House to find out who has not signed off on the

letter as it relates to the CDBG; because it is her understanding that one of

our senators has not signed off on that. She said once we find out who in our

Congressional Delegation has not signed off on the letter, she would like for

him to draft a letter or resolution that would address the impact that the loss

of these funds would have on Columbus, i.e., exactly what programs would be

affected, in terms of them coming back to the local level for funding.



City Manager Hugley said we have forwarded a letter to each of our

Congressional members as it relates to CDBG; however, we will follow up to find

out who has or hasn?t signed on.



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NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES:



Councilor Woodson said she would like for the City Manager to have someone

to contact the National League of Cities to discuss with them the Our City/Our

Voice web link in order to get details for possibly creating this link to the

City of Columbus? website.

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CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AS

INFORMATION FOR THE MAYOR & COUNCIL:



(1) ACCG?s Legislative Update Newsletter, Volume 15, Number 7.



(2) Memo from ACCG, Re: Emory Greene Award Nominations.



(3) Notice from GMA, Re: Two Day Training Sessions for Elected

Officials on May 12 - 13, 2005, in Columbus, Georgia.



(4) Notice from NLC, Re: Leadership Training Institute, August 25 ?

27, 2005 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING THREE RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CLERK OF

COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A

SINGLE MOTION MADE BY COUNCILOR SUBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR WOODSON AND

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE SEVEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:



A Resolution (174-05) Changing the March 22, 2005 Council Meeting to a

Strategy Session to be held at the Trade Center.



A Resolution (175-05) - Excusing Councilor Wayne Anthony from the March

15, 2005 Council Meeting.



A Resolution (176-05) - Excusing Councilor Charles McDaniel from the March

15, 2005 Council Meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ALSO SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON

AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (177-05) - Approving the report of the Finance Director of

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

month of February 2005. Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the resolution.

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

Council present for this meeting. Councilor Allen moved they be confirmed.

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

Council present for this meeting.



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HOSPITAL AUTHORITY:



Clerk of Council Washington submitted a letter from Mr. Ken Henson

advising that the Hospital Authority has appointed Tracy Sayer to succeed

Laverne Jackson and Nancy Rinn has been reappointed to serve another term of

office. Councilor Allen made a motion that they be confirmed. Seconded by

Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those seven members of Council

present for this meeting.



*** *** ***



MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING BOARDS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND OFFICIALLY RECEIVED BY THE

COUNCIL:





Lower Chattahoochee RDC, January 27, 2005.

Public Safety Advisory Commission, February 17, 2005.

Tax Assessors, No. 9-05.



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

Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those seven members of Council

present for this meeting.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING ADD-ON RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (178-05) - Excusing Councilor Glenn Davis from the March 15,

2005 Council Meeting. Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the resolution.

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

Council present for this meeting.



*** *** ***



BOARD APPOINTMENTS:



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



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

resigned from the C.I.R.C.L.E. and that the Council will need to nominate

someone to fill this unexpired term of office.



*** *** ***



PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that the term of office of Ms.

Sharon Jamison on the Planning Advisory Commission expired on March 1, 2005 and

that Councilor Suber has nominated Mr. Joe Alexander to move up from an

alternate member to succeed her as the regular member. She further pointed out

that Councilor Suber has also nominated Mr. Michael Eddings to succeed Mr. Joe

Alexander as the alternate member on this board.



Clerk of Council Washington then pointed out that Councilor Davis has a

nominee for this board and has requested that Council delay action on this

matter until the next regular meeting in two weeks.



Councilor Allen then made a motion to delay this matter for two weeks.

Seconded by Councilor Henderson and carried unanimously by those seven members

of Council present for this meeting.



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



Councilor Woodson asked Clerk of Council Washington to provide her some

information on the C.I.R.C.L.E.



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EXECUTIVE SESSION:



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers pointed out that there was a request of the City

Manager for the Council to go into an executive session to discuss a personnel

matter after the adjournment of this meeting and then asked what was the

pleasure of the Council in this regard. Councilor Suber then made a motion to

allow the Council to go into an executive session. Seconded by Councilor Allen

and carried unanimously by those seven members of Council present for this

meeting.



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At 10:58 a.m., the Council adjourned its regular session to allow the

Council to go into an executive



At 11:40 a.m., the meeting was called back to order at which time Mayor

Pro Tem Rodgers pointed out that the Council met in executive session to

discuss a personnel issue, but there were no votes taken.



*** *** ***



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

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

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

with the time being 11:41 A.M.







Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia