Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING



Meeting

September 9, 2003



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

(arrived at 8:38 a.m.), Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Julius

Hunter, Jr., Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., Evelyn Turner Pugh (arrived at 8:35

a.m.), Nathan Suber and Evelyn Woodson (arrived at 8:31 a.m.). Also present

were Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff, City Manager Carmen Cavezza, City Attorney

Clifton Fay and Arborist Rachel Buice.



Members Absent: No one was absent.



Guest: Mr. Jody Nelson, Georgia Power and Mr. Jim Butler

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Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m. in the Council

Chambers Conference Room, Plaza Level, Government Center.



Resolution:

Mayor Poydasheff said that Mr. Jim Butler would be here to explain a resolution

that would be sponsored by Councilor Suber.



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National League of Cities:

Mayor Poydasheff said that the City of Augusta is supporting Councilor Turner

Pugh as the Vice President for the National League of Cities. He said we

should also take care of our own; therefore, he had a resolution drawn up and

Councilor McDaniel would read it into the record.



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Georgia Power - Tree Trimming Program:

Mr. Jody Nelson provided a brief overview of the tree trimming service that is

done by Georgia Power. Mr. Nelson said that he is in the Forestry and

Right-Of-Way Service for Georgia Power. He said the mission is to keep the

energized non-insulated overhead conductors free from encroaching trees,

branches etc. and to prevent power interruptions from trees, as well as,

protect the public from possible electric hazards. He advised they are

responsible for tree trimming and removing dead trees. He then gave some

information regarding his credentials in the forestry field.



He explained that we trim trees from every power line in the entire city every

three years. He gave an over view on how the trees are trimmed and the proper

way to cut the trees to preserve the health of the trees; we are still working

to make this better. He pointed out that every customer is notified before a

tree is trimmed on his or her property. He added that Georgia Power trimming

is performed by professional tree care companies. He suggested that low

growing species of trees should be replanted to avoid conflicts with the

utility lines in the future. He pointed out that trees that are hazardous or

unattractive after pruning may be recommended for removal by Georgia Power. He

then provided pictures of trees that are unattractive or disfigured after

trimming and hazardous trees.



At this time, Mr. Nelson responded to concerns from the members of Council

regarding specific tree trimmings that have occurred in the City. City

Arborist Rachelle Buice also made some brief comments.



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House Bill 237:

Mr. Jim Butler, called attention to House Bill 237, which was introduced during

the last session of the General Assembly. He explained that House Bill 237

calls for three things; a comprehensive, well-funded State-wide water study,

funded trading and unrestricted inner basin piping of water in a sixteen county

area around Metro Atlanta. He said the bill was defeated, but would be back

next year. He pointed out that people who hold water permits, and he holds

twenty of them, that were given for free by the State and it would be

ridiculous for us to be able to sell them for cash, when it was a gift from the

State. He explained that the other thing that is wrong with this is that it

privatizes water rights. He said that once water is converted into a private

property right; then, anybody could pipe water anywhere. He then outlined the

cities and organizations that have passed resolutions in opposition to permit

trading. He asked that the City of Columbus speak out on this issue as well.



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Resignation of Finance Director:

City Manager Cavezza announced that Finance Director Kay Love is leaving the

Columbus Consolidated Government; her last day is October 10, 2003. He advised

that she has accepted a job as the Deputy Administrator for Roswell, Georgia.



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Governor?s Budget Reduction:

City Manager Cavezza reported on the governor?s budget reduction, which the

governor mandated the staff and State to reduce cost, and as a result, we are

getting a lot of reaction from State agencies. He said the Health Board is

panicking, because of some of the healthcare reductions. He determined that

they would loose about $600,000. He pointed out that the State is also looking

at charging the City of Columbus for the use of inmates to pick-up garbage, and

this would break our back. He said that a lot of this is in the discussion

phase, because it has to be acted on by the Legislators. He said that he has

spoken to Mr. Tom Buck, III regarding these issues.



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Demolition of Property:

City Manager Cavezza advised that Ms. Williams from the Huling property has

decided to demolish the property herself; therefore, she should get title

clearing by the first of October and the staff has told her that sixty days

from that date she would have to have the property demolished or the City would

do it.



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Department of Fire & EMS:

City Manager Cavezza advised that listed on the City Attorney?s Agenda is the

administrative changes for the Fire & Emergency Ordinance. He said that it

basically changes the old wording from when we had a separate Fire Department

and separate EMS Department. He said this just rolls them together and

straightens it out administratively.



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Public Services ? Tree & Limb Pick-Up:

City Manager Cavezza recognized the presence of Public Services Director Rufus

Riggs. He advised that we have talked about tree and limb pick-up. He said

that Public Services Director Riggs has done a lot of work on this process and

believes that we have come up with something that we would like to test.



Public Services Director Rufus Riggs recalled that he has spoken to the Council

in this regard during a work session. He said that he has provided a listing

of other cities to show the amount they are charging for garbage collection.

(A copy of this document was not filed with the recording secretary.) He then

provided an overview of the document submitted. He recommended that the staff

let the citizens know that the City does not pick up trees, as part of the

normal collection process, but provide the citizens with the Citizen Service

Center?s telephone number to call if they would like for the City to pick it

up. He said we would provide the citizen with the cost for the inspectors?

fee, guarantee that it would be collected within a week, and if they choose not

to use City service; then, they could contract with someone else. He advised

that the billing would be done through our planning department and sent out at

a later time. He recommended that we do this for six months as a pilot to see

how it works; then, after that period, come back to the Council to provide the

data that was collected and the cost associated with it. He also proposed that

we establish a $50.00 pick-up fee with a $14.00 per ton fee.



At this time, Public Services Director Riggs responded to various questions

from the members of Council. In response to a question of Councilor Davis,

Public Services Director Riggs recalled that the current ordinance reads that

the City would pick-up limbs from pruning that are six inches in diameter or

smaller and cut to four feet or shorter.



Public Services Director Riggs advised that he would need a minimum of 25 to 30

days to get something in place and to have notices sent out. City Manager

Cavezza asked if there were any objections to testing this process, at which

time, no one raised any objections. He then stated that we would let the

Council know about the implementation date once we send notices out. Councilor

McDaniel asked if there would be any new equipment purchased, at which time,

Public Services Director Riggs said that there would not be.



Meeting adjourned at 8:50 a.m.





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Sandra T. Davis, Deputy Clerk of Council