Columbus, Georgia

Pre-Council Briefing

Minutes

October 19, 2004





Present: Mayor Bob Poydasheff and Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rodgers. Councilors Nathan

Suber, Glenn Davis, Evelyn Turner-Pugh, Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr.,

Charles McDaniel, Evelyn Woodson and Gary Allen were present. Also present were

City Manager Carmen Cavezza, Human Resources Director Tom Barron, City Attorney

Clifton Fay, Deputy City Manager Isaiah Hugley, Director of Finance Angela

Cole, Chief Administrator Liz Turner, Deputy City Manager Richard Bishop,

Director of Information Technology Charles Tate, Public Works Director Rufus

Riggs, and Zoning Administrator Will Johnson, Clerk of Council Tiny B.

Washington, and Recording Secretary Triena B. Sharpe.



Absent: Councilor Wayne Anthony.



Location: Council Chambers Conference Room, on the Plaza level of the

Government Center.



Meeting began at 8:42 a.m.



YAC Educational Debate:

City Manager Cavezza began the session referring to the Youth Advisory

Council?s request to televise some debates for educational purposes between

some of the candidates. He continued stating that the meeting will include the

candidates from the areas of the Sheriff, Marshal, District Attorney and

Superior Court Divisions.



Deputy City Manager Hugley then expounded on the agenda for the meeting;

outlining the date, time allotted per candidate, questions that will be posed,

and then he explained the reason for allowing the youth to have this type of

forum, which he restated the same point brought out by City Manager Cavezza; to

promote education.





EMS Support from the Private Sector:

City Manager Cavezza stated that EMS is still having difficulty keeping the

vehicles on the road. He shared that they are authorized 42 paramedics and they

only have 21. He continued saying that they will be going out on a temporary

basis and rotating help from the private sector. He stated that working with

the private sector allows continued coverage of the whole city. He further

stated that some of the paramedics are required to have a certain amount of

time on the trucks in order to meet promotional requirements.



City Manager Cavezza referred back to the RFP ? which is a contract being

established with the city and the local agencies to help place private

emergency vehicles on the road for one year. He stated that within this year,

he anticipates that the city will be able to have more paramedics within the

city. He also stated that this would save on overtime, but lose on Medicare.





Trees:

City Manager Cavezza stated that some people are interested in planting trees

for commemoration in various locations of the city. He continued stating that

Parks & Recreations Division has researched other cities to obtain insight

about the guidelines the other cities use. He concluded by stating his future

intentions of bringing this before Council at a later date.



Garbage Cans:

City Manager Cavezza referred to the Ordinance which states the size of the

trash cans authorized (not over 32 gallons) and he stated that changes are

taking place to better service the people and insure the public is educated on

the size and weight allowed as well as publication in stores.





Note:

City Manager Cavezza informed the Council about a student study taking place on

the dock at Rotary Park between the 9th - 23 of November. The students will be

riding the boat to study the river.



Pawnshops:

City Manager Cavezza stated that in the process for e-government he is

concerned about the Pawnshop owners being informed and improving their ability

to report information.



Public Safety:

City Manager Cavezza responded to Councilor Turner Pugh?s question by stating

that Public Safety exceeded their overtime budget and were working together

with general government?s assistance. He further stated that this was

accomplished by using areas such as hiring lags. He also stated that the School

of Americas? protest was an area not budgeted for; therefore, he stated, it

became something that had to be dealt with.



City Manager Cavezza concluded about a statement placed in the Ledger-Enquirer

dated October 19, 2004, by stating that the headline was in error.





Meeting adjourned at 8:58 A.M.



_____________________

Triena B. Sharpe

Recording Secretary