Columbus, Georgia

Minutes

COUNCIL BRIEFING

April 19, 2005



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

Berry Henderson, Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., Nathan Suber and Evelyn Woodson.

Also present were Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff, City Manager Isaiah Hugley, City

Attorney Clifton Fay, Inspections & Code Enforcement Division Manager,

Management/Research & Analysis Manager Larry Love, Human Resources Director Tom

Barron and Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis.



Members Absent: Councilors Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Julius Hunter, Jr., and

Evelyn Turner Pugh were absent.

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This meeting was called to order at 8:50 a.m., in the Council Chambers

Conference Room, Plaza Level of the Government Center.



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Parks & Recreation:

City Manager Hugley called attention to the memorandum in the information

section of e-cap regarding Parks & Recreation. He explained that it contains

information regarding the service hours at the recreation centers, the tennis

center and the swimming pools. He pointed out that those hours were based on

the FY-06 submissions. He said that we are reducing the number of part-time

personnel, which requires a reduction in service hours.



He said basically, we would be opening an hour later than normal and closing an

hour earlier. He advised that this new schedule would go into effect on May

23, 2005. He said that normally we are open on Sundays, but with this new

schedule we would be closed. He continued to highlight various hours of

operation for Parks & Recreation.



He explained that the staff thought that it would be best to start the new

schedule now, because the children would be getting out of school on May 20,

2005; they would begin using the recreation center based on the new hours. He

said this is the reason the staff has suggested that the new hours begin on May

23, 2005.



Councilor Henderson asked if there were going to be any changes in the rental

process. He explained that some people rent the center out for private parties

and things of that nature, at which time; City Manager Hugley said that he does

not believe there would be any changes in that.



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Demolition Ordinance:

City Manager Hugley called attention to the number of demolitions that were

listed on last week. He said that one particular demolition was Matt England,

who is the active duty major in the military. He had advised that the staff

had given him a one-year extension, which was done verbally. He said that we

did go back to the tape, but the tape did not capture all of that particular

demolition hearing. He explained that MRA Manager Larry Love was the staff

person presiding over that meeting and he recalls that tape. He mentioned that

we do have minutes for that demolition meeting. He advised that according to

the minutes, the 45-day notice was explained to Mr. England just as we have

done with others and Mr. England signed it; so, the assumption was that he knew

that. City Manager Hugley advised that MRA Manager Larry Love is present here

this morning.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers said that he understood Mr. England to say that these

comments occurred at a meeting held last October and not the demolition

hearing. Inspections & Code Division Manager Bill Duck responded by saying

that he did initially, but later on in his comments, he went back and brought

in the demolition hearing.



Rebecca Wiggins recalled that there has not been any discussion of any sort of

extension for Mr. England. MRA Manager Larry Love said that there was mention

of an extension, but it was not a one-year extension. He said the only

extension we talked about was the 45-day notice.



In response to the comment by Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers regarding the statement

that Mr. England made on his contentions that there should be a single

transition from building to building, at which time, Inspections & Code

Division Manager Bill Duck explained that this concept does not exist. He said

if there are multiple buildings on a property; then we are talking about all of

the buildings at one time; it cannot be done just one at a time.



Councilor Allen called attention to the pictures of one building that has been

repaired. He then asked why not give him some additional time, considering the

work that he has done on the one building. Inspections & Code Enforcement

Division Manager Bill Duck said that we have been dealing with this situation

since July 2004 and only recently he has worked on the one building.



Deputy City Manager Richard Bishop said that the neighborhood came out loud and

clear about cleaning up that area. He said that Council has the authority to

grant him more time, but the staff did not see any viability in giving him more

time when he has not made progress on the other buildings.



Councilor Allen called attention to the number of buildings on the property,

which is a different situation than other properties. Councilor Suber recalls

that there have been other situations where multiple structures were involved

and was able to name one such situation. Councilor Suber also commented that

from July 4th to October 12th, 2004, he had not done any work.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers and Councilor Allen then made some comments regarding the

months that Mr. England had been out of the country with the military.



In conclusion, City Manager Hugley advised that the staff has remained

consistent when dealing with demolitions.



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

concluded, this meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.







________________________

Sandra T. Davis,

Deputy Clerk of Council