Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR SESSION

FEBRUARY 19, 2002





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

to order at 9:03 A.M., Tuesday, February 19, 2002, on the Plaza Level of the

Government Center, Columbus, Georgia. Honorable Bobby G. Peters, Mayor, and

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





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

Councilors R. Gary Allen, Berry Henderson, Julius H. Hunter, Jr., Robert

Poydasheff, Richard Smith 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 Evelyn Turner Pugh and Nathan

Suber took their 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 Dr. Gloria Rodgers - Pastor, Cathedral of Prayer Church

of God In Christ.

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by students from Richards Middle School.

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ONE COLUMBUS SUMMIT:



Mayor Peters said he would like to thank City Manager Cavezza, Reverend

Johnny Flakes, and members of the Council that was present to help put on the

One Columbus Summit that was held on Friday night. He said there was really a

lot happening, and the Muscogee County School District was involved in that

program as well. He said they had a wonderful banquet on Friday night and a

good session was held on Saturday morning. He said Senator Max Cleland was in

town for that event, as well.



He said we got our public safety personnel together to showcase our

different equipment and the things that we need for our homeland defense and

what we have done in Columbus. He said he understands that there is a lot of

money available in Washington under this new bill that they will pass to assist

us with training and equipment for homeland defense.

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ZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS:



THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS SUBMITTED AND ITS CAPTION READ BY CITY

ATTORNEY FAY AND A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD AS ADVERTISED AND THE ORDINANCE

AMENDED BY THE

COUNCIL:





An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 32 acres of property located on

portions of 6001 & 6015 Warm Springs Road from an A-1 District to a PUD

District. (3-CA-02-Woodmont Properties, Inc.)



City Attorney Fay pointed out that there was one additional condition

about a deceleration lane that has been added to the ordinance, which is

recommended by the Planning Division.



PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:



Mr. Alan Kamensky, said they would like to verify that the condition that

is being added is for a deceleration lane only. He said it is written as a

deceleration lane or a right turn lane. He said his client is willing to accept

a deceleration lane, as they don?t know what a right-turn lane is or what the

cost for a right-turn lane will be. He said he believes that Mr. Jones is

comfortable with that being a deceleration lane only.



City Manager Cavezza said that they could accept the deceleration lane.

Mr. Kamensky then asked if the ordinance can be amended to say a deceleration

lane only, they would appreciate it. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers then made a motion

that Condition Number Four state that a deceleration lane shall be required as

determined by the City Traffic Engineer. Seconded by Councilor Poydasheff.



Councilor Allen said he has received some telephone calls regarding this

proposed rezoning and said the main concern expressed was regarding traffic. He

said with the increased population of this particular area, traffic has become

a major cause and concern, not particularly with this development, but in

addition to this development it will compound it. He then asked if there was a

timeline on the signalization at the intersection of Blackmon Road @ Warm

Springs Road or the widening of those two streets. (See below for a response

to Councilor Allen?s question)



The question was then called on Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers? motion to amend the

ordinance, which carried unanimously by those ten members of Council present

for this meeting.



City Attorney Fay then pointed out that the condition should read that the

deceleration lane shall be required as determined by the City Traffic Engineer,

which is outlined as Condition Number Four.



Mayor Peters then asked, if the signalization that Councilor Allen was

talking about, if he wanted that as part of the development to be paid for by

the developer or was he raising the issue in general.



Councilor Allen said not the signalization of the access to Blackmon Road

from this particular development, but said the overall traffic pattern, as it

exists today. He said according to the traffic report, there will be an

increase in cars in this area. He said it is a nightmare now as you try to exit

some of the subdivisions around the Middle School. He said when you go over to

the subdivision across Warm Springs Road there are additional problems at this

intersection when people are trying to get out during the peak times.



He said his concern is with the widening of either Warms Springs Road or

Blackmon Road and said whatever the plans are for the widening, he thinks we

need to explain those plans.



City Manager Cavezza said we really don?t have an answer today, but said

one of the things that they are looking at is widening right there in front of

the school, because of the problems that we are having there. He said he would

come back to the Council after we look at that.



Discussions continued on this proposed rezoning, with City Manager Cavezza

and City Attorney Fay responding to questions of Councilor Suber, as to when

was the deceleration lane added to the report, because it was not included with

the information on the computer. He also asked if the

deceleration lane is driven by traffic and if we know that it is going to

increase the traffic, then why did we just add it last week.



Mr. Kamensky said they were notified on Friday and said it is not a

problem with them putting in the deceleration lane. City Manager Cavezza said

he will find out why it was just done on Friday and not prior to that time.



Councilor Hunter said if we had included the summary page from the staff

report that ties everything together, we would have been more informed. He said

in the future, he would like for the staff to include that summary page in the

computer as well.



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THE FOLLOWING TWO 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 0.25 acres of property located at

2307 Hamilton Road from an R-4 District to a C-3 District. (4-CA-02-Signature

Construction Company)



Councilor Smith said in looking at the Planning Advisory Commission?s

recommendation, he has some concerns about what factors or standards that we

use to approve something. He said in reading the report, which states that the

Planning Advisory Commission recommends that the request be conditionally

approved based on the fact that although it is not consistent with the

Comprehensive Plan, it would create an improvement in the immediate area. He

then asked if we have a set standard that the Planning Advisory Commission has

to follow in developing when it is not consistent with the Comprehensive

Plan.



City Manager Cavezza said in looking at the map, everything around the

property is commercial and said what they in fact should be saying is that it

is consistent with the development in the area. He said the area, as it now is,

this will be an improvement in the sense that what is currently there right now

is not very good, but this will upgrade that particular area.



City Manager Cavezza then responded to several questions of members of the

Council.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said another way to address that issue is for us to

try to keep more current with the Land Use Plan, and if in fact, the usages in

the area are leaning in a particular direction, then he thinks we need to be

quick to update our Land Use plan. He said that indicates to him that the Land

Use plan probably needs to be looked at. City Manager Cavezza said they are in

the process of doing that.



Several members of the Council then expressed their views regarding this

proposed rezoning, after which the Director of the Department of Community and

Economy Development then responded to various questions and concerns of the

Council.



PROPONENTS & OPPONENTS:



Mr. Steve Dixon, representing Signature Construction Company then appeared

and went into some details in outlining exactly what he is planning to do with

this proposed rezoning of the property.



Councilor Henderson and Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said they would encourage

the staff to make sure that this proposed project will be adequately buffered

from adjoining residents.



In responding to the question of Councilor Turner Pugh and Mayor Peters, as

to whether this project could be done within an A-O zoning classification, Mr.

Rick Jones said as they understand it, Mr. Dixon will have a showroom for

display purposes, which means he did not meet the A-O criteria. He said A-O

basically limits itself to certain items including drugstore, and etc. He said

that a C-3 classification was a better fit than an A-O.



After more than twenty minutes of discussion on this proposed rezoning,

with Mr. Dixon responding to further questions of the Council, City Attorney

Fay then declared this public hearing held.



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An Ordinance - Rezoning approximately 0.17 acres of property located at

2912 12th Avenue from a C-2 District to an R-3A District.(5-A-02-Gregory)



PROPONENTS:



Mr. Tim Gregory, 1535 11th Avenue appeared and said that he wants to sell

this property and he does have a buyer, but said because of the zoning

classification, the loan couldn?t be processed; because technically, it would

be a commercial loan. He said that is the only reason he wants it rezoned.

He said it would be a single-family residence.



City Manager Cavezza said this basically restores the area back to R-3.



Mr. Gregory said the building was originally on the demolition list and

said he purchased it, and went in and completely remodeled it. He said he has

had a buyer since November, but said as they were going through the loan

process they discovered this improper zoning classification and said this is

why he is requesting the rezoning of the property back to residential, R-3.

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CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILOR WOODSON, THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY STREET

CLOSING APPLICATION WAS CALLED UP AS THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS AND DELAYED BY

THE COUNCIL AT HER

REQUEST:





Application of Uptown Columbus, Inc. to temporarily close the 1000 block

of Broadway, on March 16, 2002, from 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight in connection

with the ?Saint Patrick?s Day Function?.



Councilor Woodson said she would like to request that we delay this

application for one week. She said it has been brought to her attention this

morning that all merchants have not been contacted in reference to this closure

and event. She said she would like to ask Uptown Columbus to meet with all the

merchants that this closing will affect before it is brought back to this

Council. She said that there are about five (5) establishments in that area

that has not been contacted.



Councilor Suber said there needs to be a message to whomever needs to know

that until they talk with the citizens that owns businesses downtown, it makes

no sense to bring it to the Council. He said it was somewhat embarrassing to

him when a citizen called and asked if this was coming before the Council and

he hasn?t heard any controversy. He said he thinks it behooves Uptown Columbus,

in the future, to let the businesses that they are supposed to be representing

know when they are trying to close off streets, so they can deal with that.



Mayor Peters and City Manager Cavezza then addressed the concerns of the

Council, who expressed some concerns in this regard.



Councilor Woodson then made a motion that this application be delayed for

two weeks. Seconded by Councilor Poydasheff and carried unanimously by those

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

for this vote.



Councilor Turner Pugh said we need to look at making a part of the

application process on temporary street closing applications, that whomever

submits the application would have to notify all those individuals who will be

affected by this street closing, and have them to indicate to this Council,

whether or not there is any opposition, to the street closing.



City Manager Cavezza then responded to further questions of the Council as

it relates to this matter.

After still further discussion on this matter, Councilor Woodson said she

would like to request that they sit down and discuss this problem, and bring

everyone back to the table on this issue.

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



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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:



AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILOR HENDERSON, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS CALLED

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



A Resolution (69-02) - Declaring property identified as 1018 Talbotton

Road Tax Map 016-022-001 and 002 as surplus and authorizing the sale of said

property to the highest bidder. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers moved its adoption.

Seconded by Councilor Poydasheff.



City Manager Cavezza said that this relates to the sale of property to

Columbus Regional that will complete our redevelopment area, which includes the

Three Arts Theater, Columbus Regional and Doctor?s Hospital. He said Columbus

Regional and Doctor?s Hospital have come to an agreement. He said Columbus

Regional was the only bidder and has worked out an arrangement with the

Doctor?s Hospital. He said in the future we will be coming to you with the

street closures that ties into development expansion in these areas.



Mayor Peters said we bidded out this property and people had an

opportunity to bid on it. He said we had an appraisal done, and whoever was the

highest bidder over the appraisal, won the bid.



Councilor Hunter said he would like to disclose for the record that he

sits on the Board of Directors of Columbus Regional Hospital. He said he

doesn?t have a financial interest, but he just wanted to disclose this for the

records.



Councilor Poydasheff said he would like to also disclose that he sits on

the Board of Directors of Doctor?s Hospital.



Councilor Turner Pugh said on these other properties that we are

abandoning and selling, asked if any of them are cutting off access to the

other medical facilities.



City Manager Cavezza said they would have if not Doctor?s Hospital and

Columbus Regional not come together. He said they have come to a general

concept of how they are going to open that area up, and said it will not

restrict access.



Councilor Turner Pugh then asked if that concept between the two parties

is in writing. It was then indicated by the two gentlemen who were seated in

the audience that it was.



She then asked if it was possible to be provided with a copy of the

agreement, in order to make it a part of our official records. She said she

understands that it is an agreement between the two parties, but said with the

City being the governing body, we have had agreements that we thought were in

place. She said when we come back five years later, and she may not be here,

but someone would be here trying to figure out what her intentions were. (A

copy of the agreement was filed with the Clerk of Council on February 22, 2002

and is being made a part of these minutes.)



Mr. Brian Laverty, representing the Medical Center Hospital Authority and

Mr. Twan Waller, representing Doctor?s Hospital then appeared at the podium at

the request of Councilor Turner Pugh.



Mr. Laverty said they have a signed agreement and said they can provide a

copy of that document for the records. He said they spent a lot of time working

this agreement between both institutions.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said the street in question was 19th Street;

however, City Manager Cavezza said it was 18th Street. He said those issues

have been resolved. Councilor Turner Pugh said you?ll know it was resolved, but

said she wants to make sure that everyone knows that it?s resolved and this is

the reason why she wants to make it a part of our legal minutes.



Councilor Allen said it states in the resolution that it declares as

surplus 6th Avenue from 18th to 17th, which is apparently one block of 6th

Avenue; and 18th Street from 5th Avenue, to a point to be determined, west of

10th Avenue. City Manager Cavezza said that it correct, that is the intention.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said when the issue surfaced four or five years ago,

an effort was made to close 18th Street, but it met with violent opposition

from Doctor?s Hospital, but 6th Avenue was never an issue.

Mr. Waller said actually 6th Avenue was an issue and the Medical Center

Hospital Authority deeded over some property for the expansion of widening and

improving 6th Avenue to the City.



Councilor McDaniel asked City Manager Cavezza if the City has sold the

right-of-way for the widening to the State or will they sell it on the Three

Arts Theatre. City Manager Cavezza said he has been told that the widening will

not go on that side of the road, but it will take the other side of the road.

Several minutes of discussion continued on this matter with City Manager

Cavezza responding to further questions of the Council, after which the

question was then called on the motion to adopt the resolution, which carried

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



City Manager Cavezza said he appreciates the effort that Doctor?s Hospital

and Columbus Regional pulled together to work this through, because this could

have been a very, very difficult thing to do. He said what they have is a good

coordinated effort that?s going to be a real improvement in that area, and also

closes out that redevelopment area, as far as completing the project.

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



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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA CONTINUED::



THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS SUBMITTED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY AND ADOPTED BY

THE COUNCIL ON SECOND

READING:



An Ordinance (02-20) - Providing for the demolition of the structures

located at 5131 11th Avenue (Davis, Michael, owner), 414 16th Street (Edmonds,

Booker T., Estate), 802 Rigdon Road (Hendrick, Alicia, owner), and 13 Lafayette

Drive (Walker, Douglas, owner), and for demolition services for the Inspection

and Code Division in accordance with the attached Tabulation of Bid sheet.

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

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



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THE FOLLOWING SIX RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ BY

MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND THEN ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL UPON THE ADOPTION OF A

SINGLE MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR

POYDASHEFF, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE TEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT

FOR THIS

MEETING:



A Resolution (70-02) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Charlie

S. White, former employee with the Columbus METRA Transit System, who passed

away on November 2, 2001.



A Resolution (71-02) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Henry E.

Love, former employee with the Columbus Fire Department, who passed away on

November 22, 2001.



A Resolution (72-02) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mrs. Sallie

B. Green, former employee with the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department,

who passed away on December 8, 2001.



A Resolution (73-02) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Fred C.

Soto, former employee with the Muscogee County Prison, who passed away on

December 23, 2001.



A Resolution (74-02) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Bobby

Murphy, former employee with the Columbus Public Services Department, who

passed away on December 23, 2001.



A Resolution (75-02) - Conveying condolences to the family of Mr. Charlie

L. Huguley, former employee with the Columbus Water Works, who passed away on

January 7, 2002.

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PUBLIC AGENDA:



MR. DWAYNE DONNELLY, RE: MUSCOGEE COUNTY

PRISON:



Mr. Dwayne Donnelly, who requested to be listed on today?s Public Agenda

cancelled his scheduled appearance before the Council this morning.



Mayor Peters said he did talk with Mr. Donnelly and said that he is trying

to set up a meeting with him.



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MR. RICK KIRKLAND, RE: TO REQUEST PERMISSION TO HOLD A SPRING CARNIVAL AT

THE MAIN GATE PLAZA, LOCATED AT 3850 VICTORY DRIVE FROM MARCH 28 - APRIL 7,

2002:







Mr. Rick Kirkland appeared and requested permission that he be allowed to

hold a spring carnival at the Main Gate Plaza, located at 3850 Victory Drive

from March 28 - April 7. He said he is here today to respond to any questions

that the Mayor and Council may have.



Mayor Peters asked if this has been done before, to which Mr. Kirkland

stated that it has.



Mr. Kirkland said they haven?t had the carnival at this location, but it

has been held there many times. He said they hold the contract for five state

fairs and said he wants to showcase some of their equipment for the Riverfest

Committee for next year.



Councilor Suber then asked City Manager Cavezza has this ever happened

before. Before City Manager Cavezza could respond, Mr. Kirkland said it has

been going on for 25 years that he knows of.

City Attorney Fay said that the Council has approved these requests when

it hasn?t been held on City property, at the fairgrounds, the South Commons

area, then the Council has approved it for an offsite location. He said it is

required under your current ordinance. (Section 4-11 of the Columbus Code)



Councilor Suber said it was his understanding that the City Manager has

the approval rights on these things. City Attorney Fay continued to respond to

further questions of the Council. He said the ordinance can be amended and the

Council has discussed it in the past, but right now it still requires your

approval.



Mayor Peters said what has happened before in the past is that the

individuals putting on the event has never shown up before, but it has just

been a routine deal in the past.



After some ten minutes of discussion on this matter, Councilor Poydasheff

then made a motion that the request be approved. Seconded by Councilor Suber.



Councilor Woodson said she understands what we are doing, but she is

concerned that the gentleman is before us now, and said we have never done this

before. She then asked if we are changing our procedures, then if so, we need

to make it known to the public, because that is public property.



Mayor Peters said the Clerk of Council can verify that these have been on

the Council?s Agendas before, as it is his understanding that they have, but

the person asking for it usually doesn?t come, it has just been a routine

thing. He said the businesses themselves hire him to put this on, on their

property and since it is not on City property, the Council has to approve their

request.



Clerk of Council Washington said, yes that Mayor Peters was correct in

that these have been routine requests that have come before this Council for

approval, and the individuals usually don?t appear in person, but just sends a

letter requesting approval. She said that she would pull the records of the

Council meetings where these were done in the past and provide that information

to the Council.

The question was then called on Councilor Poydasheff?s motion to grant the

request, which carried unanimously by those eight members of Council present at

the time, with Councilor Hunter and Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers being absent for this

vote.



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MR. C. MICHAEL DAVIS, II, RE: BID

PROCESS:



Mr. C. Michael Davis, II, of 3409 Tomahawk Drive appeared and said that he

is in a unique situation in that his taxpayers interest and business interests

are irrelevantly entwined in this particular instance. He said the reason he is

here today is to ask the Council to defer for a short period of time, their

decision on purchasing pursuit vehicles that you are asked to approve today,

until such time as the City has an opportunity to drive and evaluate the

production vehicle. He said the difference in the bid money was $56,206 between

them and the next lowest bidder. He said they had a proto-type vehicle that

suffered an engine failure.



He said the Dodge Enforcers are currently in production and the City had

the opportunity early in January to evaluate a proto-type vehicle, which

suffered an engine failure at 1333 miles. He said they documented to the City

by the engineers, which stated that the source of the failure was a

manufacturing defect caused by improperly adjusted equipment. He said there was

only one proto-type allotted to the entire Southeast; therefore, he was unable

to get another vehicle for the City to evaluate. He said there was also some

discussion as to the availability of bracketing for the installation of the

technology package.



Mayor Peters said out of all the cars that is being produced you send us

one for our Police Department to try out and it breaks down completely and we

have asked for another car to look at, and to this day there has never been

another vehicle.



Mr. Davis then pointed out that he sent documentation to the Purchasing

Division regarding that request. He spent some ten minutes in explaining this

matter and then went into further details in outlining what they are currently

offering the City.



Several members of the Council then expressed their views regarding Mr.

Davis? request before the Council and a request for a delay.



Mayor Peters said the City Council and the Mayor doesn?t get involved in

the bid process, as there is a set process set up by law and unless someone can

show that the process was tampered with or not legal or someone did something

wrong, we don?t normally go out and drive cars and we don?t care what the

recommendation is or what the bid process is, we are going to do it our way. He

said we just don?t ever do that.



Mr. Davis said that is what he is questioning. He said why is the bid

process being (unintelligible), since the bid is much more than one percent

different than the next lowest bidder. He said we are talking about $1,600 per

car, which is almost an 8% difference between them and the next bid. He said

what he is asking the City to do is to continue the process for at least one

more bid session, so that you can consider a production vehicle.



City Manager Cavezza said we have been waiting for a vehicle since

December 4th, to which Mr. Davis said they have produced that vehicle, which

was the proto-type vehicle that broke. He said we don?t have a vehicle, but Mr.

Davis wants him to recommend to the Council that we purchase a vehicle that we

have not driven nor seen or done anything with it.



City Manager Cavezza said he is hard pressed to recommend to the Council

that we purchase a vehicle that we don?t know about.



Mayor Peters said the only question that he thinks we need to answer on

the record is that Mr. Davis is saying that even with the one percent, we are

not following our bid.



City Manager Cavezza said he thinks he is talking about the low bid. Mr.

Davis said that is correct, they were substantially the lowest bid. He said

that drives the question as to whether or not we buy strictly on low bid and

that is not the answer, we don?t strictly buy on low bids. He said that is a

primary concern, but said there are other concerns.



Several members of the Council continued to express their further concerns

as it relates to this matter, with Mr. Davis responding to various questions of

the Council, after which this matter was concluded after some twenty minutes of

discussion.

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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING SIX PURCHASING RESOLUTIONS, WITH DETAILED

INFORMATION HAVING BEEN INCLUDED WITH THE CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA PACKET, WERE

SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER CAVEZZA AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL UPON

THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY COUNCILOR POYDASHEFF AND SECONDED BY

COUNCILOR WOODSON , WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE TEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

PRESENT FOR THIS MEETING:

A Resolution (76-02) - Authorizing the purchase of weight room equipment

from Promaxima Manufacturing, Ltd., in the amount of $14,275.00.



A Resolution (77-02) - Authorizing payment to the Hughston Clinic, in the

amount of $26,489.00, for workers? compensation claims.



A Resolution (78-02) - Authorizing the purchase of carpet and carpet

installation services on an ?as needed basis. Norman & Storey will provide

Discovery Carpet tile for the estimated annual contract value of $39,285.00.

Huckaby Brothers will provide Glasbac Carpet tile for the estimated contract

value of $39,135.00.



A Resolution (79-02) - Authorizing the purchase of carpet (roll & tile)

and carpet installation services on an ?as needed basis?. Norman & Storey will

provide and install Shaw Roll Carpet for the estimated annual contract value of

$15,000.00. Huckaby Brothers will provide and install Glasbac Tile Carpet for

the estimated annual contract value of $60,000.00.



A Resolution (80-02) - Approving the procurement of HVAC Preventive

maintenance services from Cox Corporation, for the estimated annual contract

value of $18,370.00.



A Resolution (81-02) - Authorizing the purchase of a ? ton crew cab short

bed pick-up truck (4 x4) from Mike Patton CDJ, in the amount of $21,198.00.



A Resolution (82-02) - Authorizing the purchase of thirty-six (36) police

pursuit vehicles, thirty-five (35) bar lights, and thirty-five (35) screens

from Bill Heard Chevrolet, in the amount of $711,269.00.



Councilor McDaniel said on the police pursuit vehicles, he noticed that we

are purchasing some new cages for these vehicles, and said he thought that we

were going to interchange those cages from car to car and then asked, what?s

gong to happen with those cages.



City Manager Cavezza said we are interchanging them in most cases with

what we are bringing in. He said we are purchasing the cages for the vehicles

that are not a replacement vehicle. He said some of the vehicles flow down into

a lesser use vehicle, and there is a movement of the vehicles all around, and

said the purchase of cages is to compliment what we are trying to do across the

board and get them all up to a certain level.



He spent several minutes in responding to questions of Councilor McDaniel

as it relates to the cages and lights for the new vehicles. He said our intent

is to use as many cages as we can. He said he has been told that the cages in

the Impala and the Crown Victoria are interchangeable. He said he will provide

some additional information to Councilor McDaniel.





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THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS DELAYED BY THE COUNCIL AT THE REQUEST OF

MAYOR PRO TEM

RODGERS:





A Resolution - Authorizing the purchase of ten (10) commercial versatile

mowing systems from Wingfield, AG, Inc., in the amount of $$69,950.00.



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CELLULAR TELPHONE SERVICES:



Councilor Woodson said when you open the bids on the cellular telephone

services asked City Manager Cavezza if we went with a different company, and

those employees who have a contract with the current company, will their

contract continue until that further time or be discontinued.



City Manager Cavezza said it would be discontinued. He said there are time

limits and in some cases if we don?t get the new bid to Council in time, we

will ask you to extend that. He said once the Council approves the new contract

the old one would be discontinued. He said there is an arrangement with our

current contract where employees can get their personal service, but they have

to pay for it on their own, at a reduced rate.



Mayor Peters said we had also talked about trying to bid the services out

on a flat cost regardless of the number of minutes and said he don?t know if

anyone entertained that or not. City Manager Cavezza said he will have to check

and see when we are going out for bids again and said we can see what is the

best way to do it. He said we open it up very broad and go for the best

possible contract that is offered to us.



***

*** ***



EXCERISE EQUIPMENT:



Councilor Woodson said she knows that we will no longer charge for the use

of the exercise equipment in the weight room at the Super Centers, but said she

has received several telephone calls regarding the City's decision not to

charge for using the exercise equipment at the various Super Centers. She said

they feel like we need to charge something, even if it is only $1.00 for the

maintenance of that equipment. She said that she thinks that we need to go back

and rethink this decision. She said she would suggest that we look at charging

$1 or $2 per visit and that money could be set aside for the repairs of the

equipment.



City Manager Cavezza said we had asked that we test it for about six

months to see what the impact of the equipment and usage would be and then come

back with a recommendation. He said the valid point is to try to get enough

money to maintain it, because it is very expensive equipment, but said on the

other hand, we don?t want to just let it sit idle. He said you have to have a

balance somewhere and that is what we are trying to find.



He said he thinks that there is a lot of data that is not available and

that is why they asked for the test period so we can find out what the impact

is.



Councilor Woodson then asked City Manager Cavezza to go back and look at

that again and possibly look at doing a survey at the Super Centers and

determine what the citizens would be willing to pay for using the equipment.



***

*** ***



CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE:



Referring back to this subject, Councilor Turner Pugh said as it relates

to the question that Councilor Woodson had asked, said she thinks the issue is

that those employees who have a contract now with our current provider and they

were able to get those rates because they were City employees. She said some of

their contracts would not be expiring at the same time that the City?s will.

She said most of the time when you sign a contract with these cellular

telephone companies you have to do it for one year. She then asked if those

City employees that have their personal service with the current service

provider, will they be given the same existing rate until their contract

expires because the City left, or will they have to renegotiate a new contract.





City Manager Cavezza said that he would think that they would continue the

service until such time as their contract expires, but he is not certain of

that and he would have to look into that.



***

*** ***



SEVERE WEATHER WEEK:



City Manager Cavezza said the week of February 17 - 23, 2002 has been

proclaimed Severe Weather Awareness Week in Georgia by the Governor and said

that on Wednesday, February 21st we will run a test-warning message by the

National Weather Service. He said some time during the day we will run a

statewide tornado drill. He said if the weather is bad on that day, it will be

done on Friday instead of Wednesday.



***

*** ***



City Manager Cavezza then outlined the following events that will be held

during this week:



February 19th - Lunch with the Friends of Public Education, Trade Center

February 21st - National Arbor Day

February 25th - Youth Advisory Council meeting



***

*** ***



SIRENS:



Councilor McDaniel said that the siren at Johnson Elementary School does

not work, and said it has not worked for several months now. He said he has

mentioned it to Riley Land to check on it.



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

sirens all over the City with sales tax money that the Council has approved, so

we are not repairing those that are not working right now. He said hopefully in

the not too distance future, they will start replacing all of the

them in the City.



***

*** ***



WATER FOUNTAINS AT RIGDON PARK:



Councilor Woodson said she made a request on the water fountains at Rigdon

Park that needed some steps replaced, and said that she was told that it had

been complete, but said on yesterday she went over to the Park to look at the

pool and said the fountain was gone.



She said the one next to the baseball field is gone and the one at the

football field the steps have never been put there so that the little children

could reach it. She said nothing has been done and she would like for City

Manager Cavezza to have someone to look into this immediately, because this was

a request that was made several months ago and it hasn?t been done.



***

*** ***



CAGES:



In response to an earlier question of Councilor McDaniel, City Manager

Cavezza said that the cages that were in the old Dodges are the ones that will

be replaced. He said they won?t fit into the new vehicles.

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

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



CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AS

INFORMATION FOR THE MAYOR AND

COUNCIL:





(1) ACCG?s Legislative Update Newsletter, Volume 14, Number 4.



(2) Memorandum from Clerk of Council Washington, Re: Building

Authority of Columbus.



(3) Memorandum from Clerk of Council Washington, Re: C. I. R. C. L..E.



(4) Memorandum from Clerk of Council Washington, Re: Recreation

Advisory Board.



***

*** ***



THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:



A Resolution (83-02) - Approving the report of the Finance Director of

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

month of January. Councilor Poydasheff moved its adoption. Seconded by

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

present at the time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers being absent for this vote.



***

*** ***



THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED AND

EXPLAINED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL:

Application of Gloria Weston-Smart to temporarily close Front Avenue north

and southbound lanes from 7th Street to the Trade Center parking garage, on

February 21, 2002, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in connection with the ?Arbor

Day Celebration?.



Councilor Poydasheff moved its approval. Seconded by Councilor Turner Pugh

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

with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers being absent for this vote.



***

*** ***



MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING BOARDS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND OFFICIALLY RECEIVED BY THE

COUNCIL:



Board of Tax Assessors, Number 5.

Community Service Board MH/MR/SA, January 28, 2002.

Development Authority, December 5, 2001.

Development Authority, January 16, 2002.

Planning Advisory Commission, January 16, 2002.



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

Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present at the time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers being absent for this vote.



*** ***

***



BOARD APPOINTMENTS:



BUILDING CONTRACTORS EXAMINING BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington once again advised that the term of office of

Mr. Sam Hartin on the Building Contractors Examining Board expired back on

December 31, 2001 and that he cannot succeed himself. She then asked if there

were any nominations, but there were none.



*** ***

***



CIVIC CENTER ADVISORY BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that we still need a nominee for

Council District Five's representative on the Civic Center Advisory Board.



*** ***

***



COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Councilor Woodson is

nominating Ms. Floretta Thornton Reid to succeed Reverend Joseph Roberson on

the Community Development Advisory Council. She then advised that Ms. Reid may

be confirmed. Councilor Turner Pugh so moved. Seconded by Councilor Suber and

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

Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers being absent for this vote.



*** ***

***



EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ADVISORY BOARD:



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

Adams on the Emergency Management Advisory Board expired on December 31, 2001

and that he cannot succeed himself. She also pointed out that Mr. David Grindle

is no longer a resident of Muscogee County and that the Council must name

someone to take his seat on this board.



She then pointed out that Councilor Woodson is nominating Mr. Keith Weeks

to succeed Mr. Mark Adams on this board and that she will bring this back on

next week for the Council's confirmation.



*** ***

***



HISTORIC & ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that the terms of office of

Ms. Mary Ford, Ms. Charlotte Frazier and Mr. Sia Etemadi on the Historic &

Architectural Review Board expired on January 31, 2002 and that they are not

eligible to succeed themselves. She pointed out that Councilor Hunter is

nominating Ms. Helene Watson to succeed Ms. Mary Ford. Councilor Hunter then

moved that she be confirmed. Seconded by Councilor Poydasheff and carried

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

Pro Tem Rodgers being absent for this vote.



She also pointed out that Councilor Hunter is nominating Ms. Dora Jackson,

as well as Councilor Allen is nominating Mr. Anthony Gilbert for Ms. Charlotte

Frazier's position, and that she would bring this back in two weeks for the

Council to take a vote.



Clerk of Council Washington said we are waiting to hear from the Uptown

Business Association, for their recommendation for someone to succeed Mr.

Etemadi.



*** ***

***



RESOLUTIONS OF APPRECIATION:



Councilor Turner Pugh asked that we prepare a resolution of appreciation

for Ms. Mary Ford and Ms. Charlotte Frazier thanking them for their service on

the Historic & Architectural Review Board.



*** ***

***



LAND BANK AUTHORITY:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that on last week Councilor

McDaniel nominated Mr. William Baird to succeed Ms. Patricia Hedges on the Land

Bank Authority, who is no longer a resident of Muscogee County. She then

advised that Mr. Baird may now be confirmed.



Councilor Poydasheff then made a motion that Mr. Baird be confirmed.

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

Council present at the time with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers being absent for this

meeting.



*** ***

***



BOARD OF TREE EXPERTS:



Clerk of Council Washington once again pointed out the term of office of

Mr. Donald Campbell on the Board of Tree Experts expired on December 31, 2001

and that he is not eligible to succeed himself. There were no nominations.



*** ***

***



BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS:



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

Johnny Cargill on the Board of Zoning Appeals will expire on March 31, 2002 and

that he is not eligible to succeed himself. She advised that Council must

nominate someone to succeed Mr. Cargill for this position.



*** ***

***



Referring back to the board of Tree Experts, Councilor Smith said he

understands that we will have a Work Session on next week on the ordinance that

has been developed and said they have a potential new format for the Board of

Tree Experts and then asked if we should go ahead and appoint someone to this

board or should we wait until after we receive the recommendations from the

Tree Committee, as they are recommending some things as it relates to the

board, as well.



City Manager Cavezza said the intent is to get a good representation from

across the City on that board, so they are going to recommend some changes to

that. He said the tree ordinance could go on for a while and he would recommend

that you go ahead and appoint someone to the board.



Councilor Turner Pugh then asked if their recommendation is that

everything that deals with trees will go before that board and not come to this

Council, to which Councilor Smith said he doesn?t know about that.

She said she thinks that we need to move very slowly on that.



City Manager Cavezza said there would be a detailed briefly on that next

week and we will be able to address these issues.



*** ***

***



ONE COLUMBUS SUMMIT:



Councilor Turner Pugh said she would also like to commend City Manager

Cavezza and his staff for a job well done in hosting the One Columbus Summit.

She said they went above and beyond whatever needed to be done, and she wants

to personally thank them.



*** ***

***



SOVEREIGNITY IMMUNITY:



Mayor Peters said that the sovereignty immunity bill that is pending has

been changed somewhat and said the government itself would be substituted as a

defendant in any action of elected officials and employees would no longer be

named. He said anything that the elected official or employee does within the

scope of their employment are automatically exempt. He said it was reported out

of the House with a favorable vote, but it is still in the Rules Committee.



*** *** ***



EMPLOYEES PESONAL INFORMATION:



Councilor Suber said he wasn?t aware of the information that was sent to

the Legislative Delegation as it relates to pre-empting City employees from

personnel information.



City Manager Cavezza said he had mentioned it to the Council during a

Council briefing a few weeks ago. He said basically what this is, is that we

wanted to afford our employees the same protection that the School District and

others have, and not divulge their personal addresses, social security numbers

and telephone numbers to the public. He said we felt that was a fair thing to

do, but said he has been told that this legislation is very complicated and

much more involved in that, but said that was not our intent. He said our

intent was merely to keep our employees from being on lists so that people

could solicit from them.



Councilor Turner Pugh said she couldn?t understand why this just couldn?t

mirror that bill after the existing bill that had been put in place for the

School District. City Manager Cavezza said that was what their intent was, was

to have it added to that or just mirror it.



Mayor Peters said his understanding is that the news media could still get

access to all that information, but telemarketers and individuals like that

could not come in and ask for a list of all of our employees and the

information on them for their personal use for marketing.



City Manager Cavezza said the media?s concern was the issue of the Open

Records law, but said it was not our intent to obstruct that law.



TRAFFIC SIGNAL @ 18TH & 2ND AVENUE:



Councilor Henderson said he spoke with Deputy City Manager Richard Bishop

about the traffic light down there at 18th Street and he knows why we are

working on getting that back up, because there are some businesses that have

been impacted. He said he would like to urge City Manager Cavezza to do

everything possible to work out the situation, short of putting a light back up

there.



He said he has heard from several people who are so pleased with the fact

that they can get into and out of downtown on the 2nd Avenue Corridor without

the bottleneck that was created with the proximity of the two traffic signals

at 18th Street and 2nd Avenue.



City Manager Cavezza said they have some businesses that are impacted and

are very concerned about that light not being up. He said they are trying to

work out an arrangement.



Mayor Peters said it was on the news about a death that took place on 17th

Avenue and said the way the media portrayed it was that the tree was blocking

the stop sign and we supposedly had notice of that and didn?t do anything. He

said he knows that they went out and replaced the stop sign the same day, but

it is his understanding that the order went in before the accident because the

sign was bent.



City Manager Cavezza said every morning, the Traffic Management personnel

calls 911 and asks them if there is anything that has been reported so they can

get right on them to fix it, and said that morning they indicated that there

was a stop sign that was bent over on that street, and they went out and

replaced the stop sign under routine business.



Mayor Peters then asked that we have someone to check the location of 17th

Avenue where the traffic accident occurred, to determine whether or not that

tree is blocking the visibility of the motorist and determine whether or not we

need to remove that tree or move the stop sign over a little.



City Manager Cavezza said he has seen some pictures of the area out there

and said he has been told that there is also a flashing light before you get to

that intersection warning that there is a stop sign ahead. He said a few years

ago there was a serious accident where three people were killed at that same

corner and that is when the flashing light and a 25-miles per hour speed limit

went in.



Councilor McDaniel said he thought that the flashing light was installed

for the school zone. City Manager Cavezza said he was not aware of that, as he

thought it was because of that intersection, but he would look into it.



***

*** ***



ONE COLUMBUS SUMMIT:



Referring back to this subject again, Councilor Turner Pugh said she would

also like to thank the Columbus Ledger Enquirer newspaper, as well as the

television stations, Channel 3 & 9, for the media coverage of the One Columbus

Summit. She said there were also members of the media that also sat in and

participated in the Summit as well.



***

*** ***



Mayor Peters then asked if there was anyone who was not listed on the

Public Agenda, but had an issue to bring before the Council that they could be

heard at this time.



A gentleman appeared and identified himself as Mr. Neil Wingfield, 344 U.S. 19

South, Leesburg, GA. He said on Item C on the City Manager?s Agenda, the

commercial versatile moving system, where the bids were opened on October 31,

2001 he wants to know what happened with the bid as it relates to this matter.



Mayor Peters said that item has been delayed for two weeks. He said the

City Manager and some of the Council members have some questions regarding this

matter. He said it would be premature to go over the process today, but he

would encourage Mr. Wingfield to meet with the City Manager.



Mr. Wingfield said in his last conversation with Ms. McCorvey two weeks

ago, she was possibly considering throwing out the bids and rebid this item. He

said it seems to him that it is down to his company and Hamilton Hardware as

the two most qualified bidders and she was going to throw everything out and

rebid it. Mayor Peters pointed out that has not happened. Mr. Wingfield said

they have been hung out for so long on this, he wished that we could come to

some decision.



Councilor Allen said earlier in the Council briefing Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers

had asked for a meeting to be arranged to allow all parties to sit down and

discuss this matter. He said he thinks this gentleman might want to attend that

meeting to be able to have input.



Mayor Peters said if any of the vendors are going to be there at the

meeting, let them all be there. City Manager Cavezza said he will have to get

together with the staff and look at the matter, but said he agrees that if one

of the vendors is there, they should all be there.



***

*** ***



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

Councilor Poydasheff then made a motion for adjournment. Seconded by Councilor

Allen and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present at the

time, with Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers having already left the meeting, with the time

being 10:48 A.M.



***

*** ***







Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia