Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR SESSION

JULY 2, 2002





The regular monthly night meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia was

called to order at 5:31 P.M., Tuesday, July 2, 2002, on the Plaza Level of the

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

Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers, presiding.



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

Councilors R. Gary Allen, Berry H. Henderson, Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., Evelyn

Turner Pugh, Richard Smith, Nathan Suber and Evelyn Woodson. City Manager

Carmen Cavezza, Assistant City Attorney Jamie DeLoach, Clerk of Council Tiny B.

Washington and Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis were also present.



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ABSENT: Councilor Julius H. Hunter, Jr., was absent, but was officially excused

upon the adoption of Resolution Number 428-02. City Attorney Clifton Fay was

absent, but was represented by Assistant City Attorney Jamie DeLoach.



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INVOCATION: Offered by Bishop Barbara Sheppard, Pastor of the Words of Wisdom

Christian Center.

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BIRTHDAYS:



Mayor Peters said that we have three councilors who will have a birthday

this month. He said Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers? birthday is on tomorrow, July 3rd,

Councilor Charles McDaniel?s is July 10th and Councilor Nathan Suber?s is July

20th. He said we would like to wish them all a very Happy Birthday.

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CITY OF CHARACTER WORD FOR THE MONTH:



Mayor Peters said the City of Character Word for the month is diligence,

with related words being discipline, patience and punctuality. He said

according to Benjamin Franklin, diligence is the mother of good luck.

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Megan and Brandon, who were escorted by Ms. Kelly

Peters.

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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING TWO ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND THEIR CAPTIONS READ BY

ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY JAMIE DELOACH AND INTRODUCED ON FIRST READING:







An Ordinance - Amending the "Official Street Map, City of Columbus,

Georgia," by changing the official street name for the section of public

roadway currently designated as Franklin Drive to "Adelaide Drive," to be one

street name consistent with the length of the roadway; authorizing the

replacement of existing street name signs labeled as FranklinDrive to Adelaide

Drive.



An Ordinance - Amending the FY02 Risk Management Fund Budget from

$1,293,937 TO $1,493,937.



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WITH THOSE NAMED IN THE RESOLUTION STANDING AT THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE

FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED BY ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY JAMIE DELOACH AND

READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR SMITH AND THEN ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (414-02) - Commending the members of the graduating

class of Leadership Columbus for 2001-2002. Councilor Smith moved its

adoption. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and carried unanimously by

those eight members of Council present for this meeting.

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PUBLIC AGENDA:



NO ONE REQUESTED TO BE LISTED ON THE PUBLIC AGENDA TODAY.



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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 SMITH, WHICH

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE EIGHT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:





A Resolution (415-02) - Authorizing the submission of an application,

and if approved accept a $10,000.00 grant from the Governor's Office of Highway

Safety to support the costs of buying equipment and supplies to enhance traffic

enforcement and educating the public on highway safety and amend the

multi-governmental fund (216) by a like amount.



A Resolution (416-02) - Authorizing the acquisition of 12.53 +/- acres of

land to the City of Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, located on Chattsworth

Road (north of Georgia Railroad and US 80).



A Resolution (417-02) - Authorizing the acceptance of 90+/- acres of land

by a citizen to the City of Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, located on

Cusseta Road (less than 1,000 feet from Ft. Benning) for the Greenspace Program.



A Resolution (418-02) - Authorizing the acceptance of a deed to Ruth Creek

Court and the Detention Pond Lot located in Lowery Creek Subdivision, on behalf

of Columbus, Georgia.



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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 MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR

SMITH, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE EIGHT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT FOR

THIS MEETING:



A Resolution (419-02) - Authorizing payment to Cole-Layer-Trumble Company

for maintenance service and support for The Oasis System for the period of July

1, 2002 through June 30, 2003, in the amount of $53,032.50. The payments will

be made in twelve monthly installments of $4,419.38.



A Resolution (420-02) - Authorizing the execution of a contract for

vehicle and equipment maintenance parts facility with NAPA Auto Parts.



Councilor McDaniel said on this contract, there is some discrepancies in

the resolution and the fact sheet. He said on the fact sheet, it says the

contract should be for three years, with an option to renew for two years and

in the resolution, it says that the contract is two years, with an option

to renew three 12 months period. He said he wants to know which one is

correct.



City Manager Cavezza said that the contract is for three years, with an

option to renew for two additional years. Councilor McDaniel then made a motion

that the resolution be amended. Seconded by Councilor Suber and carried

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



A Resolution (421-02) - Authorizing approval of a letter of agreement with

Prison Health Services for physician and physician?s assistant medical and on

site psychiatric services for inmates at the Muscogee County Jail in an amount

not to exceed $36,150.00 per month, unless additional services are requested

and delivered.



A Resolution (422-02) - Authorizing payment to Georgia Power, in the

amount of $38,624.63 for outdoor lighting at North Riverwalk.



A Resolution (423-02) - Authorizing the expenditure of appropriated funds

to Election Systems and Supplies (ESS) (Omaha, NE) for FY-03 election supplies

and equipment maintenance parts, in the estimated amount of $80,000.



A Resolution (424-02) - Authorizing payment to IBM for hardware

maintenance agreements, in the total amount of $55,046.59. Payments will

be made in monthly installments by Information Technology.



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SHIRLEY WINSTON PARK POOL OPENING:



City Manager Cavezza said there will be a ribbon cutting for the opening

of the Shirley Winston Park Pool on Friday, July 12, 2002 at 10:00 a.m.



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SIGNS ON RIGHT-OF-WAYS:



City Manager Cavezza said he is starting to get telephone calls about

signs on the City?s right-of-ways and said when the candidates qualified, they

were given a handout that explains the rules on where signs could be placed. He

said he would suspect that a lot of the signs that are being put out are not

necessarily being put out by the candidates and said getting the word out is

difficult. He said what they have told their enforcement personnel is that if

the sign is on the right-of-way to pick it up; and if it is borderline, just

leave it there. He said every time you get complaints, you get a lot of reports

about the other candidates sign being on the right-of-ways on these locations.

He said we only have so many people that we can send out to do this with and

said we are not on a concerted effort to pick up signs, but said we are doing

it normally and said he would hope that the individuals will comply with

keeping those signs off of the right-of-ways so that we don?t have a lot of

problems. He said there are some clear guidance that has been put out on this,

if there is anyone that need any assistance in this regard.



In response to a question of Mayor Peters, City Manager Cavezza said the

first 6 feet in an individual?s yard is the City?s right-of-way and said the

guidance that has been given, is to keep the sign behind the sidewalks and 5

feet behind the telephone pole.



Mayor Peters said at one time we had people out measuring whether or not

it was four and half or five feet, to which City Manager Cavezza said that we

are not going to get into that and said if it is a close call, we are just

going to leave it along and let common sense apply.



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BUILDING PERMITS:



City Manager Cavezza said there was a discussion earlier about building

permits and a gentlemen, who had contacted Councilor Turner Pugh, who was very

concerned that he had torn down a building, and was repairing it and didn?t get

a building permit. He said the point that he needs to make here, is that if an

individual is going to make renovations to their property of any significance,

they need to get a building permit. He said there are codes to be followed and

safety issues, which is part of the construction process.

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CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AS

INFORMATION FOR THE MAYOR AND

COUNCIL:





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

Columbus Beautiful Commission.



(2) Notice from the United States of America, Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission that Eagle & Phenix Mills Project filed a request to amend its

license to adjust the project?s annual charges based on the existing installed

capacity of 4,260 kW instead of the authorized capacity of 27,660 kW.



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THE FOLLOWING THREE RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:





A Resolution (425-02) - Excusing Councilor Charles McDaniel from the

June 27, 2002 Council Meeting. Councilor Henderson moved its adoption. Seconded

by Councilor Allen and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council

present for this meeting.



A Resolution (426-02) - Approving a Special Exception Use authorizing a

variance request to reduce the minimum residential setback of a wireless

communications facility (tower) from 300 feet to 199 feet for wireless

communication services at 3650 Buena Vista Road. Councilor Suber moved its

adoption. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and carried unanimously by those

eight members of Council present for this meeting.





A Resolution (427-02) - Approving a Special Exception Use to extend the

height of an existing wireless communications facility (tower) from 141 feet to

185 feet at 3650 Buena Vista Road. Councilor Suber moved its adoption. Seconded

by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and carried unanimously by those eight members of

Council present for this meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK

OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL:



Application of Dr. Gregory K. Blue and Sandra Thomas to temporarily close

Marion Street from Henry Avenue to the end of the shopping center. (Half the

street), on July 20, 2002, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., in

connection with a ?Block Party?.



Councilor Turner Pugh moved the approval of the application. Seconded by

Councilor Suber and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council

present for this meeting.



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MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING BOARDS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND OFFICIALLY RECEIVED BY THE

COUNCIL:



Board of Tax Assessors, Number 24.

Convention & Trade Center Authority, February 28, 2002.

Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission, June 11, 2002.

Personnel Review Board, June 19, 2002.

Water Commissioners, Board of, April 22, 2002.

Water Commissioners, Board of, May 13, 2002.



Councilor Turner Pugh made a motion that these minutes be received.

Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and carried unanimously by those eight

members of Council present for this meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION, NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK

OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND APPROVED BY THE

COUNCIL:



A Resolution (428-02) - Excusing Councilor Julius H. Hunter, Jr., from

the July 2, 2002 Council Meeting. Councilor Henderson moved its adoption.

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

Council present for this meeting.



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BOARD APPOINTMENTS:



COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL:



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

for someone to succeed Mr. Homer Kuhl on the Community Development Advisory

Council, as he cannot succeed himself. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said his

potential nominee is still considering.



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INDUSTRIAL & PORT DEVELOPMENT COMIMSSION:



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

Mr. Stephen Butler expired in May of this year and that he is not eligible to

succeed himself and pointed out that the Council still needs to nominate

someone to succeed Mr. Stephen Butler.



Councilor Suber then nominated Mr. Wade (Trip) Tomlinson. Clerk of Council

Washington said she will bring this back on next week for the Council?s

confirmation.



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KEEP COLUMBUS BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION:



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

Ms. Cindy Alexander expired on June 30, 2002 and that she is not eligible to

succeed herself. She also pointed out that Mr. Joel Ames has already been

nominated and confirmed by the Council to succeed himself for another term of

office, but advised that we received a fax from the Executive Director of the

Keep Columbus Beautiful Ms. Gloria Weston-Smart stating that he does not wish

to serve again. She also pointed out that Ms. Weston-Smart states that Ms.

Geraldine Blackmon has resigned her position on this board.





Clerk of Council Washington then pointed out that the Keep Columbus

Beautiful Commission has submitted some recommendations for considering in

filling these seats. She pointed out that they are Mr. Bernard Corcoran, Jr.,

to replace Ms. Cindy Alexander, Mr. Elliott Waddell, III to replace Mr. Joel

Ames and Ms. Joan Freeman Cargill to replace Ms. Geraldine Blackmon.



Councilor Suber then nominated those three individuals as outlined above.

Clerk of Council Washington said she will bring these three nominations back on

next week for the Council?s confirmation.



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TAXICAB COMMISSION:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that the Council still needs to

nominate someone for the new at-large seat that was approved by the Council on

last month. There were no nominations made.



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Mayor Peters 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.



Mr. Owen Ditchfield said the item that was on the City Manager?s Agenda

tonight regarding Greenspace was the first thing that he has heard about

Greenspace in a long time, and said it would be a good idea to keep the public

better advised of what you are doing. He said he knows that land acquisition is

often something that you can?t disclose publicly until it happens, but he know

some areas that he would like to see Greenspace and he is sure a lot of other

citizens could make recommendations. He said maybe we could have that upfront

where people are thinking about it. He said he hasn?t seen much public

discussion at the Council meeting.





City Manager Cavezza said we have people who have been coming in and

presenting plans and said we are looking at those. He said we have a lot

working in the Greenspace arena right now and said that we are looking at some

land that people have offered to donate. He said this particular piece of

property was near the site where the Infantry Museum will be and where the park

was donated, and said it is a swap and that?s why it came to the forefront as

soon as it did. He said you would see a lot more on Greenspace in the near

future. He said anyone that does want to donate land, we are interested in

talking to them.



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BUILDING ON VICTORY DRIVE:



Councilor Woodson thanked City Manager Cavezza for having that building

torn down on Victory Drive that she had requested several weeks ago.



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NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON THE PRIDE OF COLUMBUS:



Mayor Peters said there was a really nice article about the pride of

Columbus, Georgia in the St. Petersburg Times Newspaper. He said it was really

a great article about all the things that are happening here in Columbus,

Georgia and said he will send the Council members a copy of that article.



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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 eight members of Council present for this meeting,

with the time being 5:55 P.M.



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Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia





















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