Columbus, Georgia

Minutes

COUNCIL BRIEFING

April 12, 2005



Members Present: Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers and Councilors R. Gary Allen,

Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles E.

McDaniel, Jr., Evelyn Turner Pugh, Nathan Suber and Evelyn Woodson (arrived

8:55 a.m.). Also present were Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff, City Manager Isaiah

Hugley, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Deputy City Managers Richard Bishop and Lisa

Goodwin, Inspections & Code Enforcement Division Manager Bill Duck, Human

Resources Director Tom Barron and Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis.



Members Absent: No one was absent.



Guest: State Court Solicitor Ben Richardson.

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This meeting was called to order at 8:40 a.m., in the Council Chambers

Conference Room, Plaza Level of the Government Center.



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City Manager Hugley pointed out that State Court Solicitor Ben Richardson is

scheduled to talk to the members of Council regarding a matter but has not

arrived. He then proceeded with some other topics for discussion.



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Juvenile Court?s Budget:

City Manager Hugley mentioned that listed on the City Attorney?s Agenda is an

amendment and increase of the FY-05 General Fund budget by $16,068.00 for

Juvenile Court supervisory fees. He explained that these are the fees that the

judge has the authority to assess for Juvenile Court in fines or penalties, and

the monies could only be used for certain things as designated by the judge,

such as: counseling, diagnostic testing, mediation, etc.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers asked why are they just coming into play now, at which

time, Finance Director Angela Cole advised that the judge has an activity that

he wants the folks in Juvenile Court to do; the judge doesn?t have the money to

do it and the fees give him the ability to do those activities. Councilor

Turner Pugh said that this money should be in the general fund budget in a

separate fund; so, that we could identify it.



Councilor Allen requested a history of how this came about. Finance Director

Cole said that there is a state law that authorizes Juvenile Court to do this.

Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers determined that when Juvenile Court forecasted their

budget at the beginning of the year, this forecast was not in there or these

fees to exceed their forecast. Finance Director Cole explained that these fees

were not budgeted at all. She pointed out that they did start assessing the

fees and have become more aggressive in doing so.



There was continued discussion on this matter with some members of Council

asking questions regarding the funds. City Manager Hugley reiterated that the

use is restricted. Councilor Allen then asked to be provided with information

on when the law was passed and the criteria for using the funds.



In conclusion, City Manager Hugley said that we would provide this information

to the Council. He pointed out that what we are asking for today is to

increase Juvenile Court?s budget, which is a part of Superior Court?s budget by

the $16,068.00, which would authorize the judge to proceed to spend it on these

restricted services.



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Demolition Ordinance:

City Manager Hugley said that we have a demolition ordinance listed on the City

Attorney?s Agenda. He explained that in that ordinance, there is property

owned by Benchmarck Standards, LLC. He said that we received an email

yesterday from Mr. Bill Felder, who states that the property is not owned by

Benchmarck Standards, LLC and is owned by Cargill Properties; ownership was

transferred on December 31, 2004 and recorded on January 5, 2005. He explained

that the staff has pulled a copy of the warranty deed and it is showing name

change from Benchmarck Standards, LLC to Cargill Properties, LLC. and was filed

in March. He said that we are asking the Council to proceed with the

demolition, because it has the same owners. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers determined

that the owners just changed name. City Manager Hugley advised that Mr. Matt

England is the owner of Benchmarck Standards, LLC and Cargill Properties, LLC.



In response to a question of Councilor McDaniel, City Manager Hugley pointed

out that Mr. England owns the apartments on 23rd Street and several other

structures. City Manager Hugley recapped the discussion with Mr. Bill Felder

and Mr. Matt England regarding their request to refrain from demolishing the

structures.



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Jordan Mills:

City Manager Hugley pointed out that we have Jordan Mills on the agenda for two

separate zonings. He explained that the entire property would be A-O but with

an overlay of the Mill Restoration District. He said that one of the rezonings

has to do with the parking lot. He advised that the other property is actually

the mill property on the other side of the street.



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Bad Check Service:

State Court Solicitor Ben Richardson had arrived at the Council Chambers and

was prepared to discuss the bad check service. State Court Solicitor

Richardson immediately pointed out that this is not a bad check recovery

program that we are trying to implement throughout the city. He said that this

is specifically for his jurisdiction with the cases that he has dealing with

bad checks. He said that he wanted to set up a program where the people that

are charged with bad checks; instead of, prosecuting them some people may

qualify for this diversion program, which would help keep their record clean.

He said that with the job market so tight, he did not want to label someone

with a record. He said that it is also a ?bounce back program? that provides

them with financial classes.



He pointed out that he could go ahead with this program but wanted to keep the

Council apprised of what he is doing. He explained that part of the fee would

go back to the Solicitor?s Office and part to the City Government. He said

that he would like for all the funds to run through the city.



In response to Councilor McDaniel regarding the number of bad check cases,

State Court Solicitor Richardson estimated that there are approximately 100

cases per year. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers asked where the funds would come from,

at which time, State Court Solicitor Richardson responded by saying that the

funds would come from the participants, when they pay a participation fee to

the program.



City Manager Hugley pointed out that there is no City money involved; however,

the City would receive a small benefit from the penalty that is assessed.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers asked about the amount of the fee for the program and how

the company is going to make money, at which time, State Court Solicitor

Richardson said that the fee is $100.00



Councilor Davis asked about the projected revenue. City Manager Hugley pointed

out that it is an RFP; therefore, it is being negotiated and we would come back

to the Council after we go through the procurement process to negotiate it.



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There being no further business to discuss and with the dialogue being

concluded, this meeting adjourned at 8:58 a.m.







________________________

Sandra T. Davis,

Deputy Clerk of Council