Columbus, Georgia

COUNCIL BRIEFING



October 8, 2002





A Council Briefing was held on Tuesday, October 8, 2002 in the Council Chamber

Conference Room, on the Plaza Level of the Government Center, Columbus,

Georgia. Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rodgers, presiding.



PRESENT: Present other than Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers were Mayor Bobby G. Peters,

Councilors R. Gary Allen, Berry Henderson, Nathan Suber, Evelyn Turner Pugh and

Evelyn Woodson (arrived at 8:30 a.m.) and Richard Smith (arrived at 8:45 a.m.)

Also present were City Manager Carmen Cavezza; City Attorney Clifton Fay;

Director of Finance Kay Love and Director of Human Resources Tom Barron.



ABSENT: None.



ALSO PRESENT: Ms. Lula Huff, Tax Commissioner









City Manager Cavezza pointed out that due to the number of subjects to cover in

a limited amount of time, he asked that Tax Commissioner Lula Huff come forward

to comment on an administrative error made on some of the tax information.



HOMEOWNER?S TAX RELIEF CREDIT:



Ms. Huff came forward and passed a copy of a letter to be mailed to the

homeowners around the table, in reference to the Homeowners Tax Relief Credit.

(A copy of the letter is on file as part of these minutes). She explained that

on the tax bill mailed to the taxpayers, there was a printing error in the ?tax

credit block?. She further explained the amount inserted in that block was

different than the amount of the actual Homeowner?s Tax Relief Grant credit.

However, she pointed out that it did not in any way affect the amount of taxes

that were due. She said unless we make those corrections, the City of Columbus

would not be reimbursed by the State of Georgia. So, therefore, it is

satisfactory with the State of Georgia for our office to send a letter to

everyone who received one of these bills. She said as a result of this error,

a letter from the Tax Commissioner?s Office would be mailed to approximately

20,000 taxpayers at a cost to the City of Columbus of Columbus of approximately

$12,000.00.



Referring back to the letter, Councilor Rodgers asked if the credit given on

the ?corrected amount? is more than the ?tax amount due? correct, to which Ms.

Huff responded, ?yes.? He then expressed concern with the office receiving

numerous calls from citizens seeking an explanation on the ?total tax due.?

Again, she pointed out that the letter explains that due to a computer, error

the amount of the Homeowners Tax Relief Credit in the box labeled is correct,

and the printing error in no way affects the calculation of the Ad Valorem Tax

and if this happens, the office is prepared to handle the phone calls.

However, she said unless the letter goes out, the State of Georgia will not

reimburse the county for the amount of those tax credits.



Concluding with the discussion, City Manager Cavezza commented that only one

phone call has been received by the Tax Assessor?s Office as of today. He said

it was a human error on the part of the program; but it has been fixed. He

then thanked Ms. Huff for appearing.



The following agenda items were discussed:



?===== SPECIAL EXCEPTION: ?=====





City Manager Cavezza recalled about two weeks ago, there was a request for

Special Exception to build an 800 MHz radio tower located at 1720 Warm Springs

Road, which the City of Columbus currently leases tower space. He said the

tower is located within the 300 ft. rule with dimensions of 145 ft. high. He

pointed out the distance of the property line is 195ft. high; but the height

requirement is 300 ft. in a residential area. He said based on a hardship

claim, the company claimed they were unable to get communication, etc.; and now

they are coming back to request Council reconsider its decision and allow them

to put that 145 foot tower within that existing location. He pointed out this

will save the City of Columbus $50,000 per year in rental fees.



Responding to Councilor Rodgers? question, if this would open the door for

other requests of this type, City Manager Cavezza responded that while the

staff is bound by the ordinance, the staff feels that consideration should be

given because the company could not find another location for the tower.





As various Councilors expressed their disapproval for this Special Exception,

Deputy City Manager Richard Bishop concurred with City Manager Cavezza to

explain that other options have been considered for the cellular company, for

example: Jordan High School and Lake Bottom Park.



Concluding, City Manager Cavezza informed the Council that this matter would be

voted on next week.



?=====WATER WORKS ?=====



At this time, Mayor Peters, asked if a Work Session is scheduled next week?

City Manager Cavezza responded by saying next week would be a regular meeting.

Mayor Peters then said that representatives from the Water Works would come

before council next week to discuss the water rate increase.



City Manager Cavezza proceeded to explain that with the approval of the board,

there would be a rate increase based on the approval of the Council. He

indicated that a public meeting would take place one week from today and in

addition to this issue, the board requested to go into executive session on

another issue.





?=====BOND REQUEST?=====



City Manager Cavezza reported that the $44,200,000 bond issue which $11,200,000

debt services is to include:



Two (2) Fire Stations ? $2,000,000. -There were six fire stations to be built

from the SPLOST funding, but due to inflation and the merger of EMS and the

Fire Department, the cost of those stations have significantly increased.

There are funds to build four (4) stations with the additional $2,000,000. The

location of the stations will be located on ?J? Street and Corporate Ridge at

Transport Blvd. and Cargo Dr., as this would complete the six stations

discussed in the SPLOST. There was a recommendation by the consultants to add

two additional fire stations, however, while the funding for this project has

not been approved, we are currently working with Chief Wetherington who has a

crew that builds fire stations.



Stormwater Enhancement - $16,500,000. or a sewer plant which is a follow up to

the sales tax (SPLOST).

Road and Street Resurfacing - $6,000,000. This project is to upgrade

approximately 80 miles of local roads, streets, and bridges.



Parking Garage ? Trade Center - $3,500,000. This project is a combination of

a public/private partnership. The garage will be located in Downtown Columbus,

adjacent to an existing hotel and will be used by hotel patrons and the general

public.



Street Closing - The Bradley Company is building a parking garage on Bay

Avenue and 12th Street.



Parking Lot Deck ? $500,000. The warehouse located on Front Avenue extending

from 10th to 11th Street was donated to the City of Columbus by the Bradley

Company to provide more parking for the uptown area.



Skateboard Super Center ? $3,000,000. There is a potential for a

public/private arrangement located in the vicinity of the Civic Center with

the possibility of hosting sports such as BMX Biking and Skateboarding.



There were continued questions on this issue, but City Manager Cavezza pointed

out that since Deputy City Manager Isaiah Hugley was more knowledgeable about

this project, he referred the questions of various councilors to Deputy City

Manager Hugley. Responding to Councilor Henderson?s question if the private

owner of the skateboard park located on Veterans Parkway has been contacted,

Deputy City Manager Hugley replied, ?yes.? He added that the owner has no

interest in investing with the City of Columbus in developing a skateboard

park, but has expressed interest in managing the City of Columbus?s Skateboard

Park, which he added is in the conceptual stage. Responding to Councilor

McDaniel?s question as to the location of the park, he stated that one site

adjacent to the Civic Center is being considered because it is a City of

Columbus owned property and the existing infrastructure. Councilor Hunter

asked, ?How does the City of Columbus stand, liability-wise?? City Attorney Fay

advised that we looked at this issue, and pointed out we would have the same

liability situation we?ve got now with Lake Bottom Park.



Continuing with the report on the skateboard park, Deputy City Manager Hugley

maintained that right now, the City of Columbus is planning to manage the park

in-house. He said it would not be necessary to have the upper echelon

management because we have the Civic Center Staff in place, Administrative

Services, etc. Deputy City Manager Hugley advised there would possibly be a

need for a manager of the skate park and ice rink.



In response to Councilor Henderson?s question, if this facility would be a

regional draw, attracting visitors from Atlanta, etc. At this point, City

Manager Cavezza indicated there is an ice rink located in South Charleston.

Deputy City Manager Hugley concurred by saying that while there is an ice rink

located in South Charleston, he pointed out this facility is not a Super

Center. He then recalled an article regarding the opening of South Charleston

ice rink in January, 2002, at the cost of $3.6 million naming some of the

amenities of the ice rink which included: A dance hall with a 500 seating

capacity and a D. J, etc. He pointed out while there was a projection of

$186,000 in revenue for the first year, it was reported that $380,000 in

revenue was collected for the months of January through June. There were

several minutes of discussion on this project, as Mr. Hugley again pointed out

the park is in the conceptual phase with an estimate of about 60,000 Sq.ft.



$5,000,000. TRADE CENTER BOND:

City Manager Cavezza advised this is the final item on the bond issue, and then

reported that the Trade Center is close to paying off the $5 million bond, as

this goes into the $35 million renovation. At this time, he asked Finance

Director Kay Love to come forward to provide some detail on the debt service.



Finance Director Love came forward and referred to the Agenda report on e-CAP

as she began to explain that these are regular government authority 30 - year

bonds, and assured the members of Council that the debt service on the Bay

Avenue Parking Garage would not have millage rate impact on us because that

debt would be covered. She then continued to report that based on the current

market plus 25 basis points assumptions (which is subject to change based on

the market conditions at the time of issuance, the plan calls for a 30 year

term with interest only payments in FY ?04 and FY?05 in the approximate amount

of $2,292,584. per year, and the first principal payment repayment in FY?06.

She said the annual debt service requirements for the Bay Avenue Parking Garage

would be repaid from guarantee lease and revenue from an MOU with the W.C.

Bradley, Inc. She continued to explain that the balance of the annual debt

service payments would require an increase in the debt service millage of

approximately 0.43 mills in FY ?04. However, in future years, the millage

requirement to service this debt will range from 0.29 mills in FY ?05 to 0.55

mills in FY 06 and beyond. Concluding, she said not to take into consideration

growth in the digest, which will require a lower millage rate once that is

factored in.



NEW UTILITIES ORDINANCE:



Since there were no questions at this time for Finance Director Love, City

Manager Cavezza addressed a new ordinance with the utility companies. He

pointed out the ordinance would include the following: Safety and Aesthetic

and pointed out that we have been working very closely with the various utility

companies.



DETAILING COMPANIES:



City Manager Cavezza reported that the EPD is cracking down on these types of

businesses. He said we are going to work with the business owners by educating

them to take the right precautions.



PARKING ADJUSTMENTS:



City Manager Cavezza requested that the time of the street closure in the

downtown parking area located on Front Street be changed from four to eight

hours for one week. In addition, there will be another street closure from

First Avenue between Ninth Street and Tenth Street due to a movie production.



SEWER PROBLEM



Councilor McDaniel asked if the City of Columbus is not responsible for repairs

to a sewer line located on private property? City of Columbus Manger replied if

the sewer line were on private property, the only time the City of Columbus

would get involved would be if there were obstructions in the flow of water. He

said beyond that, we are not involved. Concluding, he said that he would look

into this matter, specifically.



NEGOTIATION OF PROPERTY:



This is property located by the Thirteenth Street Bridge (Between Country?s and

the Bridge), which belongs to the City of Columbus.



There being no other business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 8:52

a.m.







Gloria A. Carey, Secretary