Columbus, Georgia

COUNCIL BRIEFING



November 13, 2001





A Council Briefing was held on Tuesday ,November 13, 2001 in the Council

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

Georgia. Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rodger, presiding.



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

R. Gary Allen, Berry Henderson, Councilor Julius Hunter, Charles McDaniel,

Robert Poydasheff, Richard Smith, Nathan Suber and Evelyn Turner Pugh

(arrived at 8:30 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: Councilor Evelyn Woodson



Guest: Nancy Boren, Director of Voter?s Registration









This meeting was called to order at 8:25 a.m.





RE- ZONINGS:



SERRATO PETITION:





City Manager Cavezza referred to a zoning request by Dr. Serrato to rezone

approximately 9.654 acres of property located at 9055 and 9067 Veterans Parkway

from an A-1 District to an A-0 District, and pointed out that a double

denial was recommended by the Planning Department and the Planning Advisory

Committee. He advised the members of a letter which was received from Ms.

Janet Lawand, the owner of the property stating there was no deal between her

and Dr. Serrato and for that reason, he is recommending the petition to be

disapproved.





Billings petition:



City Manager Cavezza recalled a request made by Mr. Ben Billings, the

petitioner, to build apartments with the HUD Grant. He continued by saying

Mr. Billings is requesting to build apartments without the grant and his

recommendation to Council would be to direct him to return to the Planning

Advisory Committee (PAC); in order to start the process over. Councilor Allen

informed the Council that yesterday, he and Mr. Billings met and that Mr.

Billings is in full agreement to go back through the process with PAC.





COLUMBUS PROPERTIES:





? Delayed for three (3) weeks





ANNOUNCEMENTS:







Department of Transportation Board Dinner



? Reception: November 14, 2001 , Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

? Dinner: November 14, 2001 Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.





Department of Transportation Board Meeting



? Chamber of Commerce, Thursday, October 15, 2001 at 10:00 a.m.





POOL CONSTRUCTION:



? Psalmond Road

? Shirley Winston Park





abandoned property fees:



City Manager Cavezza then discussed the process by which a resident?s property

is handled once it is placed on the right ?of ? way due to an eviction. He

explained currently, after an eviction occurs the goods are removed from the

house by the Marshal?s Department , it is placed on the right - of - way , the

Department of Public Services picks it up, and it is taken to the landfill

and asked if a fee should be charged for this service. Continuing to explain,

he said as of result of a Staff Action circulated for comments, Marshal

Suddeth was given a card for his comments; however, he decided to distribute

that Staff Action all over the City; however, at this time, it is not ready to

go out nor is it ready to go to Council.



After the Councilors expressed their views on this issue, City Manager said

City Attorney Fay would look into this matter and would be brought back to

Council at a later date.



FA?ADE BOARD SIGNS



Referring to the Information Section in each Councilor?s packet, City Manager

Cavezza pointed out a compromise had been reached on the side board issue. At

this point, Councilor Turner Pugh expressed disapproval of the compromise for

the following reasons: (1) Approval of only non ?flashing signs inside the

building (2) The signs are to be custom made. (3) One (1) to two (2)

Color specifications. She pointed out that she could not approve this

compromise as it stands now.



City Manager advised Council members that Fa?ade Board worked with us to reach

an agreement and that it is out of their hands, but if necessary, Council can

recommend changes.



REDISTRICTING:





City Manager Cavezza announced that a meeting with Mr. Ted Land, Districting

Commission Chairman will be held on November 20, 2001, will come to discuss

this redistricting issue to be considered by the Council by Dec. 1, 2001.

Councilor Evelyn Pugh commented that she would not support the decision to

remove Fort Middle School from District four (4) .



Responding to a question from City Manager Cavezza of time line, Nancy Boren

replied December 1, 2001. City Attorney Fay added the final drop dead date

would the middle of February, because you want it to be effective for the

August Primary.



Councilor Suber suggested setting up a meeting with the School Board and The

City Council to discuss the issue to look at the lines to be redrawn; so that

it would be acceptable to most ;also, he referred to an article in the

Ledger Enquirer that said Linda Parker was upset because she was not notified

about this meeting. He said the main objective would be to get the School

Board and Council to reach an agreement, which could then be directed to the

Justice Department.





City Manager Cavezza informed the members of Council by stating there are no

requirements for the boundaries of the School District and the Council

District, that you go your separate ways.



Responding to a question from Gary Allen if the school should delay adopting

the lines until it is approved by the legisators, Nancy Boren said she thinks

the issue with the school board is, they want their lines to coincide with

Council lines as long as it is compatible with what they want, but they don?t

want to be tied to the Council lines; therefore, if the Council?s Districts are

changed, they don?t want to change theirs, but as a convenience if they agree

to the lines, they want the lines to be the same.





Comparing the options, City Manager Cavezza asked all the Council members were

in favor of Option Three, most of the Councilors were in favor; however,

Councilor Hunter expressed his approval of Option Five and Option Six. He said

he is favor of any option, which does pose a conflict between the Council and

the school board.



At this point, City Manager Cavezza assured the members that he would go back

to the school board to find a solution and reiterated that Mr. Ted Land will be

here at the next to discuss this matter. City Manager said to keep process in

line, he recommended to allow the commission to bring the recommendation to be

decided upon to the Council.





At this point, Councilor Suber asked City Attorney Fay to draft a resolution on

the boundary issues of Council and school board, which City Attorney Fay said

he would follow up on the request.



City Manager referred to the list of Legislative Agenda issues and listed them

as follows:







LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ISSUES:



1. Passenger Rail Funding

2. Road Projects

3. Disconnect the Clerk of Superior Court and tax Commissioner?s salary from

the Sheriff

4. Skate Park Funding

5. Mentally challenged/Substance abuse Homes (notify local officals regarding

placement of mentally challenged homes in neighborhoods.

6. State Funding for Oxbow Marina

7. Fall Line Air Quality Study.

8. Sales Tax for Operation

9. Funding for the Columbus Trade Center/Visitor?s Center expansion

10. The Environmental Court.

11. Increased Funding of Indigent Program

12. Funding for Bibb City Infrastructure Problems

13. Tri ? Rivers Funding - $50,000. Naval Museum

14. Naval Museum

15. Grant in aid funding to County Health Department

16. Additional Grant in Aid Funding to Counties for target salaries

17. Amend chapter 2 Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia annotatd charging

the Department of Human Resources with the authority to inspect

all food service operations.





City Manager Cavezza advised the Council members that this issue would be

brought back to discuss during the Work Session on Tuesday, but Assistant City

Manager Hugley explained the issues would be brought back for the Council?s

approval after the Legislative Delegation meeting to be held on December 4,

2001.





ANNOUNCEMENTS (CONTINUED):



? Ground breaking Ceremony, the Psalmond Road Pool , November 20, 2001 at 4:00

p.m.

? Ground Breaking Ceremony - Shirley Winston, November 21, 2001, at 4:00 p.m.

? ?Nights of Lights?, November 29, 2001, Fourteen Street Bridge.













There being no further business to discuss, this meeting adjourned at 8: 58 a.m.











Gloria Carey, Secretary