Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR SESSION

JUNE 10, 2003





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

order at 9:02 A.M., Tuesday, June 10, 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, Julius H. Hunter, Jr., Berry H.

Henderson, Charles E. McDaniel, 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. Councilor Glenn Davis took his seat at the Council table at 9:05 a.m.



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ABSENT: No one was absent.



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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. Mark Childcare Development

Center.

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MINUTES: Minutes of the June 3, 2003 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 nine members of Council present at the time, with

Councilor Davis being absent for this vote.

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CELEBRATION OF SPORTS EXCELLENCE:



Ms. Janice Davis, Executive Director of the Greater Columbus Sports &

Event Council introduced Mr. Harold Bryant, Chairperson of Celebration of

Sports Excellence, to give an update on this event.



Mr. Harold Bryant said Celebration of Sports Excellence would be a great

event that will take place on Monday night, June 16, 2003 6:30 p.m., at the

Columbus Civic Center.



He said for many years the Columbus-Ledger Enquirer has selected several

teams at the All Bi-City level and said that these individuals had their moment

of fame, while their pictures were in the paper, but said that was about it. He

said Ms. Davis and the people down at the Sports Council felt like there should

be a more appropriate recognition for the first string All Bi-City athletes,

second string honorable mention, as well as the All Bi-City athletes in the

past; so, that is what this is all about on next Monday night.



Mr. Bryant said the first string athletes will receive the CSE Award for

the first time, which is ?Celebration of Sports Excellence?, that is a

medallion that they will treasure. He said the Female, Male and Coach of the

Year in all sports will be honored, and the Female, Male and Coach of the Year

of the top athletes will be honored as well.



He said they are really excited about this and are expecting a big

turnout. He said that Ms. Davis and her staff at the Sports Council have been

very busy processing reservations and orders.



Mr. Bryant then introduced those who were present with him, which includes

Ms. Susan Vann and Ms. Lois Cohn.

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA:



WITH THE FAMILY OF MR. RAY EVANS STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE

FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR ALLEN AND ADOPTED

BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (254-03) - Expressing condolences to the family of Mr. Ray G.

Evans, former Division Manager of the Parks and Recreation Department who

passed away on May 27, 2003. Councilor Allen moved its adoption. Seconded by

Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council

standing to cast their affirmative vote.



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WITH MR. CHARLES BEALL STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE FOLLOWING

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

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (255-03) - Commending and congratulating Mr. Charles Donald

Beall upon his receipt of the 2003 Governor's Award in the Humanities and for

his work in preserving African-American history in southwest Georgia.

Councilor Hunter moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor McDaniel and carried

unanimously by those ten members of Council present for this meeting.



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WITH MS. GINA PEREZ STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE FOLLOWING

RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR ANTHONY AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (256-03) - Commending Ms. Gina Perez for her service as

Georgia State President and National Parliamentarian for SkillsUSA-VICA.

Councilor Anthony moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor Hunter and carried

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

Councilor Woodson being absent for this vote.

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



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ENTERPRISE ZONE:



City Attorney Fay said the legislation related to Enterprise Zones has

passed. He said this was something that the Council had requested of the State

Legislators. He said they have added retail to the list of businesses that can

be conducted in an Enterprise Zone and said the Governor has signed that bill.

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ZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS:



THE FOLLOWING TWO ZONING ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ

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

ADVERTISED:





An Ordinance- Rezoning approximately 51.94 acres of property located on the

northeast side of Blackmon Road, 1,094 feet north of Warm Springs RoadfromanA-1

District to an R-2 District. (12-A-03-Billings)



PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:



Mr. Billings was present, but he did not make any presentation, as there

was no one present to oppose this proposed rezoning ordinance.



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An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 57.84 acres of property located on

the north side of Williams Road between Stevens Lane and Cleo Drive from an A-1

District to a C-3 District. (13-CA-03- North Brent Properties)



PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:



An unidentified gentleman was present, but he did not make any

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

ordinance.



City Attorney Fay advised that these two ordinances would be voted on next

week.

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA CONTINUED:



AT THE REQUEST OF MAYOR POYDASHEFF, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS

DELAYED ON LAST WEEK AT THE CITY ATTORNEY?S REQUEST, WAS CALLED UP AS THE NEXT

ORDER OF BUSINESS AND AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DISCUSSION WAS INTRODUCED ON

FIRST

READING:





An Ordinance - Amending the General Government and the Public Safety

Pension Plans and the Major Disability Income Plan by changing the percentage

of the member's average monthly earnings from two percent to one and one-half

percent in determining the amount of normal retirement pension, late retirement

pension and the amount of disability retirement pension for eligible employees

hired after June 30, 2003; and for other purposes.



Chief of Police Willie Dozier said he would like for the Council to

consider the impact that this proposed ordinance change would have on the

ability to recruit and maintain public safety officers in the City of Columbus.

He said they attend a lot of recruitment fairs with other law enforcement

agencies, Fort Benning, Auburn, Fort Valley and all the surrounding colleges,

trying to get applicants to come in and fill positions within the Police

Department.



He said when we stand before those group of people, we don?t stack up very

well with what other cities have to offer, in trying to recruit law enforcement

officer and public safety officers into this profession.



Chief Dozier said when you compare retirement plans with other agencies in

Georgia and Phenix City, we presently have a 30-year retirement plan that

offers 60% of the pay to public safety personnel. He said these are the

same people that they are competitive with, and we are now proposing to reduce

that to 45%. He then gave some comparison of other cities and what their

retirement plan is versus the City of Columbus.



He said he is concerned about recruiting officers to do the job in this

City, saying they presently have 19 vacancies in the Police Department and said

he has 9 other officers on military leave.



In his conclusion, Chief Dozier said what he is concerned about is making

the package that we offer to potential applicants less attractive and said he

is asking the Council to strongly consider the implication that goes along with

working in Public Safety who are asking people to take a risk and asking them

to do something that other employees do not do.



Chief Dozier said at the present time, there is no incentive in the City

of Columbus to work in Public Safety, and said if we don?t have an incentive we

will never fill these positions. He said he is asking for your support to help

him do what he has to do to deal with the issues that are facing Columbus,

Georgia.



Fire Chief Roy Waters said he agrees with what Chief Dozier just said. He

said he has 10 vacancies as of today and 12 individuals on military

activation. He said he is also concerned about not only being able to recruit

people, but to be able to retain quality people to do the job that we are

excepted to do today in the Consolidated Government. He said he does think they

will have a problem attracting the quality of people that they want in public

safety and retain them for any length of time. He said he just recently had two

officers to resign to other departments because of the benefit package. He said

he thinks that the number will increase over a period of time, especially if

the Council votes to reduce it to one and one-half percent.



Sheriff Ralph Johnson said he would concur with both of the Chiefs that

just spoke to you. He said that he looks more at retention, because we have

seen that Columbus has been a training ground in the past to get people

well-trained and then they will go somewhere else. He said his fear is that we

will continue to lose more than we have been losing if this ordinance is

adopted.



Lt. Randy Robertson, President of the Fraternal Order of Police said that

his biggest concern is that it seems like we are taking steps backwards in a

very important area of our City when a lot of other areas of our City are

taking large steps forward economically and business wise. He said two of their

officers have just recently resigned to go to another county for a substantial

pay raise and increase in pension benefits.



He said he received a telephone call on this morning and was told that

Dekalb has increased their pay into the pension to 3%, which is 90% payout

after 30-years of services.



Mayor Poydasheff said he would certainly like for every consideration to

be given, because he is concerned about bringing on board, excisions, and said

he don?t think it would be impermissible to separate public safety from the

rest of government employees. He said public safety is the one that are having

the problems; especially with the military activation. He said he would like to

see some figures on what would happen if we do prospectively separate public

safety from the general government.



City Manager Cavezza said he don?t personally think we need to separate

public safety from the rest of the government, as it pertains to all.



Several members of the Council then expressed their views on this matter

and responded to those concerns and comments expressed by the three Public

Safety Chiefs.



Chief Dozier then responded to questions of members of the Council.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers asked Chief Dozier to share those percentages of pay

retirement figures with the Council, because they seem to be contrary to some

of the things we heard in the backroom earlier this morning. He said he is

particularly concerned with how we can be awarding the same number of credits

one and one-half versus two and some other cities are paying 75% and we are

only paying 45%.



Chief Dozier said if you figure it on 30-year retirement



City Manager Cavezza said we checked with those municipalities and that is

what their retirement plan showed. He said he don?t know if the Chief is

talking about replacement salaries versus what the City pays; however, he has

asked the HR Officer to get together with the Chief, to clear this matter up.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers then asked Chief Dozier to make those figures

available to them.



After more than forty five minutes of discussion on this subject, with the

members of Council expressing their further views on this, several requests

were made by members of the Council which are outlined below:



Mayor Poydasheff said as it relates to the proposed ordinance that would

change the percentage of the member?s average monthly earnings from two percent

to one and one-half percent, have the staff to provide some figures to

determine what would happen, if we do, prospectively separate public safety

from general government.



Councilor Woodson said after the staff does a comparison of their figures

with the Police Chief numbers, let?s look at having the discussion at the

Council meeting, so that the public will be afforded the same information that

we will be given.



Councilor Allen said he would like to have the staff to add the comparison of

Henry & Dekalb County to their list of comparisons.



City Manager Cavezza also responded to questions of the Council.



Councilor Hunter said he would like for the public safety departments to

provide a history of the vacancy level in the departments of Public Safety for

the last 20 years. Councilor Allen also asked for the staff to provide a list

of new hires for the Public Safety Departmentsfor the last 20 years as well.

Mr. Billy Watson appeared and said prior to 1980 we didn?t have a pension

plan that would amount to anything, because people weren?t living long enough

to draw any money out of it. He said five employees within the public safety

department got together and formed the pension plan that they have now. He said

they had assistance from former Councilor Mike Henry and Public Safety Director

Col. Robert Reinke at that time.



He said the first plan that they produced, the actuary said it was going

to cost 28% of their salaries and the City was going to match it, so we had to

par it down. He said they got it down to 8% and the City matched it. He said in

the late 80s, the City came up with a plan , instead of giving us a raise, they

could take over the pension plan and it would cost the City less money. He said

they opposed this, because they felt like as long as we were paying into it, it

would be sound and everything would be okay.



Mr. Watson said in the early 1990s, the City Manager came up with a plan

instead of putting money in, they would only put in the amount that the actuary

thought was sound.



Director of Finance Kay Love then responded to questions of Mr. Watson

regarding the pension plan and why are they having to put more funding into the

plan.



Mayor Poydasheff also responded to questions of Mr. Watson as well.



After continued discussions on this issue, Councilor Davis said he would

like to make a motion to delay this matter for two weeks.



Councilor Henderson said this matter could be delayed; however, the

effective date of the new hires to qualify for the pension plan would have to

be changed. He said in two weeks there is no Council meeting; so, therefore, it

would be a three-week delay. He said out of respect to a Councilor who wants

more information, he would second a motion to delay it for one week.



Mayor Poydasheff then asked Councilor Davis if he was going to amend his

motion to a one-week delay, to which he said no. There was no second to

Councilor Davis? motion, which died for the lack of a second.



Mayor Poydasheff then asked if there were any other motions on this

matter, but there were none. With there being no other discussion on this

matter, City Attorney Fay advised that this ordinance would be voted on at next

week?s meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING TWO ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY

FAY AND THEN INTRODUCED ON FIRST

READING:



An Ordinance - Providing for the establishment of taxing districts,

including a county-wide general services district and two (2) urban services

districts and three (3) Business Improvement Districts (BID); providing for the

levy, assessment, and collection of taxes for Columbus, Georgia within such

districts for the year 2003 as provided under the Charter of the Consolidated

Government of Columbus, Georgia; providing penalties for violations of the

provisions of said ordinance; and for other purposes.



An Ordinance - Providing for the levy, assessment, and collection of

taxes for the public school system of Columbus, Georgia.



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THE FOLLOWING FOUR ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND THEIR

CAPTIONS READ BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON SECOND READING

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

SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SUBER, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE TEN MEMBERS OF

COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS MEETING:







An Ordinance (03-38) - Providing for contributions to the Columbus,

Georgia General Government Employees' Pension Plan for the fiscal year

beginning July 1, 2003.



An Ordinance (03-39) - Providing for Government funding of a Death Benefit

Escrow for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003.



An Ordinance (03-40) - Providing for Government funding of a Major

Disability Income Plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003.



An Ordinance (03-41) - Providing for the supplemental contributions to the

Columbus, Georgia Pension Plan for employees of the Department of Public Safety

for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003.



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THE FOLLOWING TWO ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY

FAY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON SECOND READING:



An Ordinance (03-42) - Adopting non-operating budgets for the fiscal year

2004 beginning July 1, 2003 and ending June 30, 2004, for certain funds of the

consolidated government of Columbus, Georgia, and appropriating the amounts

shown in each budget. Councilor Turner Pugh moved its adoption. Seconded by

Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

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



An Ordinance (03-43) - Amending Article VII of Chapter 13 of the Columbus

Code Solid Waste Collection and Disposal by changing the guidelines for an

offset to the residential rate for low-income households. Councilor Suber

moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor Hunter and carried unanimously by

those nine members of Council present at the time, with Councilor McDaniel

being absent for this vote.



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THE FOLLOWING THREE ORDINANCES WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY

ATTORNEY FAY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON SECOND READING, PURSUANT TO THE

ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY COUNCILOR TURNER PUGH AND SECONDED BY

COUNCILOR SUBER, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE NINE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

PRESENT AT THE TIME, WITH COUNCILOR MCDANIEL BEING ABSENT FOR THIS

VOTE:





An Ordinance (03-44) - Adopting an operating budget for the fiscal year

2004 beginning July 1, 2003 and ending June 30, 2004, for certain funds of the

consolidated government of Columbus, Georgia, and appropriating the

amounts shown in each budget.



An Ordinance (03-45) - Amending certain sections of the Columbus Code and

changing miscellaneous fees which are included in the Proposed Fee Increase

Chart for the following departments: Fire and EMS, Public Services and Parks

and Recreation, and which were recommended by the Council Budget Review

Committee for the FY04 budget.



An Ordinance (03-46) - Regulating vehicular traffic in Columbus, Georgia

by deleting from the "Official Street Map, City of Columbus, Georgia" the

street segments and rights-of-way of Mount Street, 5th Avenue and old alignment

of Hamilton Road and the new alignment of 5th Avenue north of 18th Street with

each street segment being described in detail by parcels on surveyed plats by

Thomas L. French, Jr. and made a part of the ordinance by reference; providing

that all existing utility easements of record remain in effect and providing

appropriate width of easements as required by the applicable utility companies

will be reserved for unknown utilities; authorizing disposal of said property

in accordance with the Columbus Charter and repealing any conflicting

ordinances.



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EMPLOYEES PAY INCREASES:



Councilor Turner Pugh said the pay increases in the adopted budget is 3%

for the City employees and said that the change on the health insurance

increase would be effective on their anniversary date, which is the same time

that the pay raise will go into effect. She said the retired employees would

get one and a half percent.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY

AND INTRODUCED ON FIRST READING:



An Ordinance - Amending Columbus Code, Chapter 13, so as to adopt the

State Rules and Regulations for Food Service for protection of public health

and sanitation; to provide a permit fee for food service establishment permits;

and for other purposes.



City Attorney Fay said this would provide penalties for violation and said

persons would be cited to Environmental Court and can be fined and put in jail.

However, Mayor Poydasheff said that the penalties are no different than they

have always been, but said this will make it more expeditious and will get the

Environmental Court involved and the money will go to the City.



Mr. Ed Sadala of the Columbus Health Department appeared and said he

appreciates everyone?s input into this issue. He said what we are asking for is

that the State?s Food service rules and regulations be adopted as a City

ordinance. He said from a day-to-day aspect, it will not change anything that

they do in terms of their efforts of inspecting restaurants. He said what this

does is to help them with the very small percentage of food service

establishments that we have here, where the owners, operators or managers do

not want to comply with the rules and regulations. He said they want to

continue to operate outside of the context of those rules and regulations.



He said this allows them a better mechanism through the Environmental

Court to come in and say to an operator that if they don?t correct the

problems, they will be issued a citation and they can explain to the judge, why

they don?t want to do what is required of them.



Mr. Sadala said besides what they have had in the past, it is simply

administrative hearings. He said 99% of the establishments in this City are

doing a good job, and they are out there to earn a living and provide a healthy

place for the patrons to come in to eat. He said this helps us bring in the

other few percentages to meet those same requirements and regulations.



Councilor Davis said he would request of the departments that deal in the

areas of inspections & business licenses for these establishments to look into

putting together an information sheet that can help them.



Mr. Sadala said they have tried to work with the City and do have a very

good working relationship in terms of building inspections. He said under the

current State code, a food service establishment has to have approval from the

Health Department before their business license can be issued and said they

work very closely with the business license department and have corrected many

of those problems that Councilor Davis may have had concerns about. He said

they do have handouts that they provide to prospective operators, to help them

understand what is needed.



City Manager Cavezza said that Councilor Davis had previously mentioned

that to him and said that he has asked the staff that deals with the

certificate of occupancy, signs and etc., to come up with a checklist and said

they are working on that.



Councilor Henderson said that there is an organization at the Chamber of

the Commerce that came out of an inter-city visit called BOSS, Business One

Stop Shop and said their focus is to provide the assistance and resources to

start-up businesses, people with an idea, and identifying those things that

needs to be accomplished before they can operate. He said it would be a good

idea for them to place some of their literature at our licensing area.



City Attorney Fay pointed out that this matter will be voted on at next

week?s Council meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY

AND AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DISCUSSION WAS AMENDED BY THE COUNCIL ON FIRST

READING:





An Ordinance - Providing for the demolition of structures located at 1612

3rd Avenue (James P., Cecil P., Sr. and Archibald W. Brown, II, owners), 1031

Sheridan Avenue (Crawford Enterprises, Inc., owner), 715 Fort Benning Road

(Robert E. & J.P. Goolsby, owners), 1021 - 17th Street (Marvin R. & Rose D.

Hanks, owners), 2927 Clover Lane (Ivan V. & Carolyn A. Hurey, owners), 3751

Cusseta Road, Lot 117 (Ann Myong Isaacs, owner), 314 - 27th Street (Cora Lee

Melvin, owner), 4780 Gardiner Drive (Midland Mortgage #2, owner), 332 - 26th

Street (Mary L. Pearson, Life Estate, owner), 3751 Cusseta Road, Lot 108 (Bobby

G. Penny, owner), 2520 - 3rd Avenue (William C. & Mattie Smith, owners), and

for demolition services for the Inspections and Code Division in accordance

with a Tabulation of Bid sheet.



City Attorney Fay asked if there was anyone present who wanted to be heard

on any of these properties.



City Manager Cavezza said he would like to ask that the property at 322

26th Street be removed from the ordinance, as the owner has proceeded with

demolition on her own. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers so moved. Seconded by Councilor

Suber and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council present for this

meeting.



Mr. Robert E. Goolsby representing the property located at 715 Fort

Benning Road said the apartments in question are low income

housing which rents for approximately $175.00 per month and are up to HAPP

standards. He said he has spent about $30,000 in remodeling the apartments and

right at the time when they finished, right before they could get them

occupied, someone brought in one of the apartments and apparently fell asleep

on a mattress and started a fire in one end unit.



He said after spending that amount of money buying the apartments with his

father and owning them that many years and putting that much money into

remodeling them, coupled with the fact that his father has since passed away,

and his 50% of the partnership is tied up in an estate that has not been

probated yet, due to a contest to his estate.



Mr. Goolsby said he hasn?t had the legal authority to sell or dispose of

the property and he is not financially able to put any more money into the

property. He said he feels that it is a good investment for someone that would

go in and clean the smoke damage and make the repairs to that one unit. He

said it would also provide adequate housing for people in South Columbus. He

said he doesn?t think that it is the best benefit for people to bulldozer it

down.



Mr. Goolsby continued to speak for several minutes as to why he felt this

property should not be torn down. He said he is asking for a six-month

extension to allow him time to resolve his father?s estate and to sell the

building.



Mayor Poydasheff then asked Mr. Goolsby for clarification on his request

and said you are asking for six months to sell the property, to which Mr.

Goolsby said he don?t have the funds to renovate the building. He said what he

would like to do is to sell it as quick as possible and whomever purchases it,

can bring it up to standard.



In response to a question of Councilor Suber as to the City?s attempt to

purchase this property from him, Mr. Goolsby said that he explained to Ms.

Lynnette Gross that he did not have the authority to sell at that time. He said

he told her that he did want to sell the property, but he was asking if they

could wait until they resolved the issue with his father?s estate.



Councilor Suber then asked City Attorney Fay in being that the property is

in probate, if we can do anything anyway. City Attorney Fay said that as long

as proper notification is made to the estate and the representative.



Mayor Poydasheff then asked who is the executor of the estate, to which

Mr. Goolsby said there is a temporary executor, who is Mr. Warner Kennon.



Mayor Poydasheff then asked if proper service has been made on him. City

Attorney Fay said he would have to defer to Ms. Wiggins of the Inspections &

Code Division.



Mr. Goolsby said his purpose for being here today is as managing partner

of the partnership.



Several minutes of discussion continued on this aspect of the property

being in probate and whether or not the estate has been notified of this

matter.



Councilor Allen said he has a concern with it being in the Court and then

asked if the demolition wouldn?t have an effect on the probate as far as the

value of the property.



City Attorney Fay said it could have an effect on the value, but as far as

legal proceeding, as long as you give the requisite notice to the estate, you

will not be stopped from proceeding. He said as long as we notify the

administrator executor.



Ms. Rebecca Wiggins, in response to Mayor Poydasheff as to whether or the

administrator has been notified, said that the owners of record have been

notified, and said Mr. Goolsby was notified.

After further discussion on this issue, Mayor Poydasheff said since there

is an administrator, he would be more comfortable if he has been served and

have him to appear. He then asked City Manager Cavezza if we could delay this

property for a few weeks.



Councilor Allen then made a motion that this matter (property located at

715 Fort Benning Road) be delayed for three weeks. Seconded by Councilor Allen

and carried unanimously



City Manager Cavezzza said we have notified the owner of record, which the

ordinance requires and then asked if there is something in probate, does that

change the rules.



Mayor Poydasheff said the law is that if he is the owner and it is outside

of the estate then the rules aren?t changed, but if that piece of property is

part of the probate procedure than he may not necessarily be the owner, because

it may have evolved into certain other beneficaries and that is what we are

trying to clear up.



City Manager Cavezza then asked if this is an issue that the City Attorney

will follow up on. City Attorney Fay said that we need to look at the record

owner and if that estate have some other record owners; then if that estate

have other record owners, we need to get notice to everyone.



Several members of the Council then expressed their views on this matter,

with Mr. Goolsby responding to further questions of the Council. City Manager

Cavezza also responded to questions of the Council as it relates to the City?s

request to purchase the property.



Councilor Henderson said even though this issue is tied up in probate and

as long as there is a 50% ownership represented, and that individual is served,

he would like to ask the City Attorney to look at finding a way where we can go

ahead and facilitate the demolition.



Councilor Davis asked City Attorney Fay when a piece of property is tied

up in probate, can it be sold? City Attorney Fay said not until the probate is

either terminated or you get some kind of relief from the judge.



Councilor Turner Pugh said in the letter of notification that the staff

sends out when we first get involved in the inspections, she thinks that we

need to have the staff to add a statement in the letter, which states, if the

pending property is in probate, that they are required to notify the City who

the executor is, with their proper address; so, that we can notify the executor

in the beginning of this process.



Councilor Anthony said having the threat of demolition may actually

expedite some legal conflicts over the property.



*** *** ***



Mr. Marvin Hanks, 1306 Autumn Leaf Court, said he is the owner of the

property at 1021 17th Street and said he started working on this house back in

December replacing the roof and fixing the front of it. He said it had a lot of

structural damage to it, which he is still working on. He said he has been

working on the property by himself and said he has the funds to complete the

property. He said he is here this morning asking for an eight-month extension

to complete the property. He said Ms. Wiggins came over on yesterday to look

at the roof that he had replaced in the back, which is coming along fairly

well.



He then went into more details in highlighting exactly what has been done

in trying to bring this piece of property back up to standard and those items

that needs to be done.



Mr. Hanks then responded to questions of members of the Council.



City Attorney Fay said that this piece of property would remain in the

ordinance, as there is no motion of the Council to remove this piece of

property.



Mayor Poydasheff then advised that this matter would be voted on at next

week?s meeting.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED AND DELAYED BY THE COUNCIL AT THE

REQUEST OF CITY ATTORNEY

FAY:





A Resolution - Commending and congratulating Mr. Kenneth Thomas upon his

receipt of the 2003 Governor's Award in the Humanities and for his work in

historic preservation and genealogical research in Georgia.



*** ***

***



THE FOLLOWING TWELVE RESOLUTIONS EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO SEVERAL

INDIVIDUALS WHO RENDERED SERVICE ON A CITY BOARD WERE SUBMITTED BY CITY

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

TEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:





A Resolution (257-03) - Expressing appreciation to Dr. Paul E. May for

meritorious service on the Animal Control Advisory Board.



A Resolution (258-03) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Frank Chester for

meritorious service on the Building Authority.



A Resolution (259-03) - Expressing appreciation to Ms. Stella Shulman for

meritorious service on the Building Contractors Examining Board.



A Resolution (260-03) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Timothy Johnson for

meritorious service on the Community Development Advisory Council.



A Resolution (261-03) - Expressing appreciation to Ms. Connie Parrish for

meritorious service on the Community Development Advisory Council.



A Resolution (262-03) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Homer Kuhl for

meritorious service on the Columbus Community Development Advisory Council.



A Resolution (263-03) - Expressing appreciation to Ms. Biddy Hammett for

meritorious service on C.I.R.C.L.E.



A Resolution (264-03) - Expressing appreciation to Ms Ann Henderson for

meritorious service on C.I.R.C.L.E.



A Resolution (265-03) - Expressing appreciation to Dr. Nemia Chai for

meritorious service on C.I.R.C.L.E.



A Resolution (266-03) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Jim White for

meritorious service on the Civic Center Advisory Board.



A Resolution (267-03) - Expressing appreciation to Ms. Jasmine Houston

for meritorious service on the Civic Center Advisory Board.



A Resolution (268-03) - Expressing appreciation to Mr. Jim Walker for

meritorious service on the Civic Center Advisory Board.

*** *** ***



SLUMLORD PROTECTION ACT:



Councilor Suber asked City Attorney Fay how would this affect us in the

future in dealing with the slum areas with the Slum lord Protection Act, which

the Governor signed on Monday. He asked if this is going to affect us in any

way in being able to deal with the situation that we just dealt with.



City Attorney Fay said hopefully, it won?t affect any of your authority

under the ordinances, but he will check the law and provide a memorandum to the

Council.



Mayor Poydasheff said it will affect apartment owners and said you will

have to get a complaint filed by one of the tenants. He said once you get a

complaint, you have presumed notice and then you can go in and review the

situation.



City Attorney Fay said it may not affect the demolition.

-------------------------------------------*** ***

***------------------------------------



PUBLIC AGENDA:



MR. WALLACE ARCHIE, REPRESENTING THE TAXICAB COMMISSION, RE: REDUCING THE

MEMBERSHIP ON THE TAXICAB COMMISSION:



Mr. Wallace Archie, Chairman of the Taxicab Commission appeared and said

Ordinance Number 02-37 that the Council adopted in May 2002 put two additional

people on the Taxicab Commission and said those positions were never filled. He

said at that time he expressed his concerns that we didn?t need those two

additional positions. He said those two positions made it necessary for us to

have five members present in order to have a quorum.



He said at this time there are only five members on the Commission and

said on last week, they were not able to have a meeting because they did not

have a quorum.



Mr. Archie said that his concern is that this will continue to happen

unless this Council allows them to go back to seven members on the Commission.

He said they had seven members and the Council added the two new members,

increasing it to nine members. He said it took five members for them to have a

quorum in order to have a meeting. He said at the present time, they only have

five members.



Councilor Suber said we recently added two additional members to that

Commission and one did serve for a little while and the other seat was never

filled. He said he agrees and he didn?t think that we needed those other two

positions. He said he thinks that we need to have it more workable for them,

because they are still trying to get the ordinance to us, so we can make some

changes in the Vehicle for Hire ordinance. He said he would sponsor the

ordinance to rescind the ordinance for the membership.



Mayor Poydasheff said that he thinks the better course of action is to

make sure that we fill the positions that we have created on the various

commissions.



*** *** ***



MR. JIM POUND, RE: TRAFFIC SIGNALS:



Mr. Jim Pound said he is here to talk about the traffic lights in

Columbus. He said there is a big concern from the community as a whole that our

needs are not being met by the traffic control systems that we have in place.



Mr. Pound distributed around the Council table a handout to each member of

the Council, which he referred to in making his presentation to the Council. (A

copy was not filed with the Clerk of Council for the Council?s records)



Mr. Pound then made several statements criticizing the traffic light

system in Columbus.



Mayor Poydasheff asked Mr. Pound if he has called City Manager Cavezza to

sit down and talk with him to discuss this matter. Mr. Pound said he has not

talked with City Manager Cavezza, but said he have communicated quiet a bit

with Ron Hamlett and Richard Bishop, but he did copy to Mr. Cavezza on some of

the correspondences.



Continuing with his presentation, Mr. Pound said that the City paid

millions of dollars and were promised a coordinated system in this City. He

said he thinks that the citizens of this community have been lied to by

previous Council and by the traffic department.



Several members of the Council responded to those statements and concerns

of Mr. Pound and then expressed their views as it relates to this subject.



Mr. Pound also highlighted several of the general areas, which he said are

problems with the traffic control system, pointing out that they are not

coordinated on major thoroughfares.



Deputy City Manager Richard Bishop then responded to questions of members

of the Council as well.



After more than fifteen minutes of discussion on this subject, Mayor

Poydasheff said he would ask that Mr. Pound sit down with the City Manager and

talk about this issue; and perhaps, we can come back in a Work Session to

address these issues.



Mr. Pound said he has been very frustrated because he has tried to go

through the channels which he thought was appropriate to get something done and

he has been pretty much stonewalled at every opportunity there. He said he has

copied many people on the emails without any responses.



Members of the Council expressed further views on this matter, after which

City Manager Cavezza said that he would get together with Mr. Pound.

-------------------------------------------*** ***

***------------------------------------

CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILOR SUBER, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS CALLED UP

AS THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:



A Resolution (269-03) - Approving a Special Exception Use to erect a

wireless communication facility for wireless communications service on property

located at 8935 River Road. Councilor Suber moved its adoption. Seconded by

Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council present

for this meeting.

-------------------------------------------*** ***

***------------------------------------



NOTE: The Clerk of Council?s Agenda is continued below.



-------------------------------------------*** ***

***------------------------------------

TRAFFIC SIGNALS:



Councilor Allen said he noticed one point that Mr. Pound made in his

report, which is that there may be someone from Georgia Tech who could come in

and assist us. City Manager Cavezza said that we brought in consultants before

to help on some of these projects.



Councilor Allen said he was thinking that maybe we could work together

with some Engineering students, whereby they can take on this project as an

internship.



City Manager Cavezza said we will take a look into that. He said we are

having a real problem in that section to do that, which is grossly

understaffed. He said we have a system where we can monitor these; however, we

have a problem keeping someone trained in the area. He said it is our problem

and we will work it out.



*** *** ***



SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE:



Councilor Davis said he has heard a lot of concerns from citizens about

cellular towers going up and where they are going up. He said he just want to

thank Mr. McKenna and his folk, as it looks like they did a little research and

found a good spot for a cellular tower. He said on behalf of the citizens he

wants to thank you. He said he knows that this Council is really concerned

about putting those things in the right places.

-------------------------------------------*** ***

***------------------------------------

CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING FOUR RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY

MANAGER CAVEZZA AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE

MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MCDANIEL, WHICH

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE TEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:



(See below for Councilor Suber?s request to add his vote to these items)



A Resolution (270-03) - Authorizing the filing of the Annual Action Plan

and Application for the Consolidated Plan requesting funding for the Community

Development Grant, HOME Partnership Program and Emergency Shelter Grant

Programs.



A Resolution (271-03) - Authorizing the acceptance of remnants of Veterans

Parkway and 5th Avenue and declare surplus and dispose of certain street

segments (remnants) that are listed on the attached agenda report to the

Medical Center.



A Resolution (272-03) - Authorizing the City Manager of Columbus, Georgia

to apply for and execute a contract with the Georgia Department of

Transportation on behalf of the City for financial assistance to carry out the

FY-2004 Transportation Planning Work activities of the Columbus-Phenix City

Transportation Study.



A Resolution (273-03) - Authorizing the City Manager to acquire properties

identified as 1.5 +/- acres for a fire station and 6 acres+/- for ball fields

located on Veterans Parkway between Williams Road and Cooper Creek Road from

the Muscogee County School District.



A Resolution (274-03) - Rescinding Resolution Number 222-88 which

established the general rules, procedures, regulations, requirements and

specifications setting forth the manner and method for creation of new urban

services districts; and expansion, consolidation, reduction or merger of urban

service districts and substituting a new resolution which establishes general

rules, procedures, regulations, requirements, and specifications, setting forth

the manner and method for creation of new urban services districts; and

expansion, consolidation, reduction or merger of Urban Services Districts.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING TWO PURCHASING RESOLUTIONS HAVING BEEN INCLUDED WITH THE

CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER CAVEZZA AND

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

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

UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE TEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:



(See below for Councilor Suber?s request to add his vote to these items)



A Resolution (275-03) - Authorizing payment to Georgia Department of

Natural Resources for solid waste disposal fees in the amount of $41,403.50.



A Resolution (276-03) - Authorizing the declaration of vehicles and

carious equipment shown on the attached list as surplus equipment in accordance

with Section 7-501 of the Charter of the Columbus Consolidated Government.



*** *** ***



HOUSING SUMMITT:



City Manager Cavezza said on last Saturday, we had a Housing Summit at the

Trade Center and said over 400 people attended that session. He said the

weather was bad, but they still turned out. He said there were representatives

from HUD, CHI, financial institutions, three realtors, and three non-profit

organizations. He said they had five break-out sessions on tenant?s rights,

home-buying, housing authority and etc. He said it was a tremendous success and

we were amazed at the number of people that attended that event. He said he

thinks that will become an annual event for the City.



*** *** ***



UPCOMING EVENTS:



City Manager Cavezza highlighted some upcoming events, which are outlined

below.



Tonight, at 6:00 p.m., Edgewood Baptist Church, Public Meeting to address

the Forrest Road project.



June 15-16, 2003- Columbus Youth Soccer Association, Snicker?s State Cup

Tournament.



June 17, 2003, 6:30 p.m., Green Island Country Club, 2003 Leadership

Columbus Graduation Dinner.



*** *** ***



SIGNS ON SOUTH LUMPKIN:



Councilor Woodson asked City Manager Cavezza to have someone from

Inspections & Code Enforcement to check on those abandon signs that have been

out there on South Lumpkin Road for almost two years. She said these signs have

been out there for almost two to three years and said we want to try to clean

up that area a little bit more.



*** *** ***



MOBILE HOME PARKS:



Councilor Woodson said she received some complaints on mobile homes and

said she would like for us to have our personnel to go back out and check on

some of the complaints that she has received.



City Manager Cavezza said we are in the process of inspecting all of the

mobile home parks again as we found some problems in some of them.



*** *** ***



HOUSING SUMMITT:



Councilor Turner Pugh said when the news media first started talking about

the Housing Summit, they did not give the City staff enough credit. She said

CHI was a part of the Summit, but said this was really the brainstorm of our

City employees. She said Lynnette and Michelle did a good job on that event.

She said she knows that several of the mortgage institutions are already

planning for next year, because they were so overwhelmed at the number of

people who turned out.



*** *** ***



STATE CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT:



Councilor Davis said he would like to invite the citizens to come out to

the Youth?s State Cup Soccer tournament this weekend, as there will be some

first class athletes who are highly competitive. He said these are the best in

the State and said our teams are doing well.



*** *** ***



BRITT DAVID PARK:



Councilor Henderson said he has been getting some telephone calls from the

people up at Britt David Little League. He said that is now the oldest little

league park left in Columbus, which was built when Sowega came in and moved all

the property and built Wal-Mart. He said when they talk about how to construct

a little league park, they hold this up as an example on how not to construct a

little league park. He said there are some infrastructure issues and awful

drainage problems.



He said he know that we don?t have the money to address those things and

have been working with them on the matter. He said it is a more complicated

issue in dealing with District 8 Little League, because the population is

shifting and changing. He said he don?t mind putting money into these new ball

fields, because we want to provide recreational opportunities, but said he want

to make sure that we are not putting money into new ball fields where we don?t

have a large pool to draw from and we have another area that is in need of

funding to upgrade the existing ball fields that is currently trying to serve

500 kids.



Councilor Henderson then asked City Manager Cavezza to look into it and

see, what, if anything can be done with Britt David Park, and advise whether or

not we are going to look at transitioning teams over to the new fields.



City Manager Cavezza said we have met with them and said that they are

still meeting with Tony Adams of the Parks & Recreation Department and said the

problem is money. He said they have been able to fix up a lot of the field, but

said lighting is an issue, which is an expensive one. He said they are just

working with them the best that they can.



*** *** ***



COLUMBUS HIGH BASEBALL TEAM:



Councilor Henderson asked City Attorney Fay to prepare a resolution

honoring the Columbus High Baseball Team for their second place finish in the

State Championship.



*** *** ***



INTERNS:



City Manager Cavezza said we have some interns who come in during the

summer and work with some of our departments and said we have two here this

morning that he would like to introduce. He then introduced Marcus

Cullenlander, from Alabama A & M and Adam Wolfing, from Illinois State

University.



Councilor Woodson then asked how can someone get into the Internship

Program, because she has someone who needs to do one for Human Resources. City

Manager Cavezza said they can call the HR Department or his office.

-------------------------------------------*** ***

***------------------------------------

CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL INFORMATION FOR THE

MAYOR AND

COUNCIL:





(1) Memorandum from Clerk of Council Washington, Re: Keep Columbus

Beautiful Commission.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL: A Resolution (277-03) - Approving the report of the Finance Director of

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

month of May.Councilor Allen moved its adoption. Seconded by Councilor Turner

Pugh and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council present for this

meeting.



*** *** ***



TAXICAB COMMISSION:



Clerk of Council Washington submitted a memorandum from Mr. Wallace

Archie, Chairman of Taxicab Commission, requesting that the seat of Mr. Darren

Phillips be declared vacant. Councilor Henderson so moved. Seconded by

Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those ten 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:



Board of Tax Assessors, Number 21.

Development Authority, April 2, 2003.

Development Authority, April 16, 2003.

Development Authority, May 7, 2003

Family & Children Services, May 28, 2003.

Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission, April 15, 2003.

Tree Board, March 12, 2003.

Tree Board, April 2, 2003.

Water Commissioners, Board of, April 14, 2003.



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

Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present for this meeting.



*** *** ***



BOARD APPOINTMENTS:



BUILDING CONTRACTORS EXAMINING BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that we need someone to fill the

seat of Ms. Stella Shulman on the Building Contractors Examining Board, as she

has been appointed to the Development Authority.



She said that she is working with the Homebuilders Association in trying

to get a replacement for Ms. Shulman?s seat.



*** *** ***



COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ADVISORY BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Ms. Ollie Johnson does not

wish to be reappointed to the Cooperative Extension Advisory Board; therefore,

the Council will need to nominate someone for this position.



She further pointed out that Ms. Joanne Cavis is working to help us get

someone for this seat.



*** *** ***



REGION 7 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COUNCIL:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out the term of office of Mr. Mike

Higgins on the Region 7 Emergency Medical Services Council will expire on June

30, 2003 and that he is eligible to succeed himself. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers then

nominated Mr. Higgins to succeed himself for another term of office. She said

she would bring this back on next week for the Council?s confirmation.



*** *** ***



UPTOWN FA?ADE BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Mr. Mark R. Lupo has resigned

from his position on the Uptown Fa?ade Board and said this is the Council?s

appointment and that we need someone to fill this seat.



*** *** ***

Mayor Poydasheff then asked if there was anyone present in the audience

who was not listed on the Public Agenda, but had an issue to bring before the

Council, they could be heard at this time. No one came forward to be heard.



*** *** ***



RESOLUTIONS ON THE CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:



Councilor Suber asked that his affirmative vote be added to the resolutions

on the City Manager?s Agenda as he was out of the room when these votes were

taken.



*** *** ***









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

Tem Rodgers then made a motion for adjournment. Seconded by Councilor Allen and

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

with the time being 11:50 A.M.



*** *** ***





Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia