Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

WORK SESSION

APRIL 27, 2004





The regular monthly Work Session of the Council of Columbus, Georgia was called

to order at 9:04 A.M., Tuesday, April 27, 2004, on the Plaza Level of the

Government Center, Columbus, Georgia. Honorable Robert S. Poydasheff, Mayor,

and Honorable John J. Rodgers, Mayor Pro Tem, presiding.



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

Councilors Wayne S. Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry H. Henderson, Julius H. Hunter,

Jr., Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., Evelyn Turner Pugh and Evelyn Woodson. City

Manager Carmen Cavezza, City Attorney Clifton Fay and Clerk of Council Tiny B.

Washington were also present. Councilor R. Gary Allen took his seat at 9:05

a.m. Councilor Nathan Suber and Deputy Clerk of Council Davis took their seats

at 9:10 a.m.



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ABSENT: No one was absent.



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INVOCATION: Offered by Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers.

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff.



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PRESENTATION OF A RESOLUTION TO DARRION MITCHELL:



State Representative Carolyn Hugley said she is here this morning to honor

a hometown hero who has brought honor to our City on an International basis not

only once, but twice. She said she has a special resolution prepared for Mr.

Darrion Mitchell and then read the resolution in its entirety; which was House

Resolution Number 1120 that was adopted by the Muscogee County Legislative

Delegation.



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

FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS THEN SUBMITTED AND READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY COUNCILOR

MCDANIEL AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS,

GEORGIA:





A Resolution (197-04) - Commending and congratulating Metra Bus Operators

for demonstrating expert driving skills in the Annual Southwest Georgia Local

Transit Roadeo Competition. Councilor McDaniel moved the adoption of the

resolution. Seconded by Councilor Hunter and carried unanimously by those ten

members of Council present for this meeting.

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MAYOR?S FY-2005 BUDGET MESSAGE:



Mayor Poydasheff said as you know, every year at this time, the Mayor

presents his budget to the Council and then the Council meets as a Budget

Review Committee over the next few months with the final buget being adopted by

July 1, 2004.



He said today, he is presenting the budget books to the Council members.

He thanked City Manager Cavezza, as well as Finance Director Angela Cole and

members of her staff for all the hard work that was done in preparing this

budget.



Mayor Poydasheff then read his prepared budget message stating that the

balance budget that he brings you on today is a product of diligence and

concern ? diligence in the exercise of fiscal responsibility in a slow economy,

concern for continuing fulfillment of our shared vision for the future of

Columbus. The total operating budget for FY-2005 is $183,342,008, up a modest

1.15% over the revised budget for FY-2004. He said he believe this budget

provides a solid basis for continuing the momentum of the city?s progress as

well as maintaining the services citizens want and deserve.



He said recently there have been calls from the community and from groups

of city employees for increases in city employees? pay. Those calls resonate

with him because he believe in providing the best pay scale possible for our

dedicated workers and have publicly stated his intention to improve their pay.

This budget, therefore, despite the continuing slow economy and city revenue

shortfalls, contains a 3% across-the-board pay raise for city employees,

effective on their employment anniversaries ? a generous raise when compared

with the smaller percentage increases provided this year by some of our major

employers in the private sector. Additionally, this budget has good news for

employees in the field of health insurance: there is no increase in the amount

employees will have to pay for health insurance premiums.



Mayor Poydasheff said on the revenue side, the budget calls for raising

the property tax millage for operations less than one-half mill to 9 mills,

which is the limit set in the Charter. The change in the millage will produce

$1,200,000 additional revenue. We have experienced 3% growth in the tax digest

and that will produce $1,600,000 in additional revenue, so we continue to

benefit from progress and development in our city. These revenue increases are

minimal in their relationship to the overall budget, but they do help

counterbalance shortages in other areas. Additionally; however, we have some

increased expenditures that are beyond our control. For example, we anticipate

a $2,125,000 million increase will be required in city contributions to the

Pension Fund, $602,322 more for Workers Comp and $660,000 for automobile

insurance.



He said this FY-2005 budget would require a change in the fund balance

from a 90-day reserve to a 67-day reserve, a conservative adjustment that will

enable the city to meet its needs and reach essential goals in the coming

fiscal year without compromising our basic financial viability.



Mayor Poydasheff said this budget challenges us to make the dollars go

further than ever before, and together we will make it work for the good of the

people of Columbus. This is a conservative and responsible budget, based on

current assessments and analysis, not on our hopes for the future.



Budget Review Chairperson Turner Pugh thanked Mayor Poydasheff for his

budget and those remarks made by him, saying we accept your budget. She said

she wants everybody that heard your words to understand; that even though there

may be something in the budget that you have presented to us, it may not be in

there when it comes to the final resolution from a Council vote. She said we

will be going through the budget and have about six weeks that we will work

through it and anyone is welcomed to attend these budget sessions, as they are

open to the public. She said if individuals have questions that they need to

know about the budget, that individual would have to go through a Council

member.



She said we need to have a budget approved by the end of June and then

pointed out that the first meeting will be held on May 4th, at 3:30 p.m., and

would continue each Tuesday thereafter until we come up with a resolution of

the budget. She said first reading has to be no later than June 15th with the

second reading being June 22nd.



Councilor Turner Pugh said if anyone has any input they would like to

make, they are welcomed to give it to any Council member.

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L.O.S.T.:



Councilor Turner Pugh said Mayor Poydasheff mentioned the additional

L.O.S.T. that the Governor is coming to sign today, she said she would like to

commend our local legislative delegation because they have been working on this

for a long time. She said our legislative delegation really went to bat for us

and we really appreciate what they have done. She said after the signing of the

bill into law, she would like for the City Attorney to draft a resolution

thanking the legislators for their assistance in getting this bill passed.

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CONSENT AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING THREE ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL,

PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM RODGERS AND

SECONDED BY COUNCILOR ALLEN, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE TEN MEMBERS OF

COUNCIL PRESENT FOR THIS

MEETING:





An Ordinance (04-27) - Rezoning property located at 8351 Fortson Road from

an A-1 District to a C-3 District. (14-CA-04-Jordan)



An Ordinance (04-28) - Rezoning property located at 6740 Mobley Road from

an R-1 District to an R-1A District. (13-CA-04-Brian Grier, Inc.)



An Ordinance (04-29) - Rezoning property located at 3401 and 3507

Schatulga Road; 5615, 5619 and 5631 Peggy Drive and 6910 Aldora Drive from

an R-1A District to an R-2 District. (15-CA-04-George C. Woodruff Co.)



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THE FOLLOWING THREE RESOLUTIONS WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AND

ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:





A Resolution (198-04) - Authorizing the execution of a Quit Claim Deed for

Turnberry Lane at Veterans Parkway to the Georgia Department of

Transportation. Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded

by Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council

present for this meeting.



A Resolution (199-04) - Authorizing the acceptance of a deed to Aaron

Lane located in Section Four, Spring Ridge Subdivision. Councilor Allen moved

the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor Turner Pugh and carried

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



A Resolution (200-04) - Excusing Councilor Evelyn Turner Pugh from the

April 20, 2004 Council Meeting. Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the

resolution. Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those ten

members of Council present for this meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY STREET CLOSING APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED AND

APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL:



Application of Karen Stewart to temporarily close Wingfield Drive between

Downing and Dell Drive, on Sunday, May 2, 2004, from 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in

connection with a ?Neighborhood Party?. Councilor Allen moved the approval.

Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those ten members of

Council present for this meeting.

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DONATION OF LAND TO THE CITY:



Mr. Robbie Watkins of Georgia Power Company said he just wanted to stop by

and advise that he has some paperwork that he will be recording this afternoon;

whereby Georgia Power Company is going to donate property to the City of

Columbus, a beautiful piece of riverfront property. He said this property is

located adjacent to the Dillingham Street bridge and it has a value of over

$175,000. He said we are going to entrust this piece of property to the City of

Columbus for their use in their beautification and enhancement of the Uptown

Columbus area.



Mayor Poydasheff thanked Mr. Watkins for this presentation on this

morning.

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KENNETH WALKER MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT:



Councilor Anthony said he would like to recognize two individuals who are

present in the audience today to briefly speak to the Council to advise of an

upcoming event and then so moved. Seconded by Councilor Suber and carried

unanimously by those ten members of Council.



Councilor Anthony then called forward Reverend Howard White and Reverend

Steve Jones and those individuals who are working with them on the Kenneth

Walker Memorial Golf Tournament in the community and how we might help.



Reverend White and Reverend Jones then appeared and went into some details

in outlining their initiatives.



Reverend Jones said they are planning a Kenneth Walker Memorial Golf

Tournament, which will be held on Thursday, September 2, 2004. He said today

at 12:00 p.m., they would be publicly announcing the Kenneth Walker Memorial

Golf Tournament.



Mr. Howard White, of Pierce Chapel United Methodist Church said they

have a concern about unity in the community and would like to see that this

tragic event that has happened here in Columbus not be something that divides

us, but if possible, be something that unites us. He said that is largely what

this golf tournament is about.



He said these funds would also be used to help some child who may have

lost a parent and could use scholarship money. He said they would like the

Council?s support in this effort.



Mr. Jim O?Donnell, Chairperson of the Kenneth Walker Memorial Golf

Tournament said he has heard some interesting language used in the Council

meeting today, i.e. speaking in one voice, collegially and said that is the

kind of things that they want to do for this entire community. He said they

want to put a public face on this community that resembles the public face that

you, Council, together show right now. He said their first and foremost purpose

is unity in this community.



He said they want to change the way that people have traditionally thought

about race relations in this community and he would ask that the Council

endorse their endeavors. He said he would challenge the communities? political

bodies, political leaders, business leaders and various civic leaders to come

together as one and support this effort. He said he looks forward to working

with everyone in that effort.



Mayor Poydasheff said what Mr. O?Donnell and his group is doing certainly

fits in with the dedication of our City Manager in One Columbus, as well as the

Mayor?s Commission on Unity and Diversity. He said anything that we do as

individuals or collectively that will continue to bring our community together

in his opinion is something that the City Council, the Mayor and Administration

should support.

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WORK SESSION AGENDA:



ANIMAL & FOWL ORDINANCE:



Ms. Drale Short, Chief of the Special Enforcement Division of the

Department of Public Services went into some details in outlining a brief

summary of the recommendations that have been made to amend the Animal & Fowl

Ordinance, as outlined below.



SECTION 1.



Section 5-3(c) of the Columbus Code is hereby amended by adding a new

subsection (9) to read as follows:



?(9) A designated representative of PAWS Columbus, Inc. confirmed by Council."



SECTION 2.



Section 5-5 of the Columbus Code is hereby amended by adding new

subsections (20) and (21) to read as follows:



"(20)Tethering shall mean the act of fastening or restraining a dog to a

length of material in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of

the dog. The tether may be made out of rope or metal chain and shall be a

minimum of twelve feet long and appropriate for the size of the dog.



(21) Caretaker shall mean any person entrusted with the short-term

responsibility for a domesticated animal. If an Owner gives short term

responsibility for an animal to a minor, the Owner remains responsible for any

liability in connection with the animal."



SECTION 3.



Chapter 5 of the Columbus Code is hereby amended by adding a new Section

5-7.1 to read as follows:



"An Owner or Caretaker of a dog who allows the dog to spend more than

eight hours in a twenty-four hour period outside must provide the dog an

outdoor facility that meets the following specifications:



(a) Outdoor facilities for dogs shall include one or more shelters that

are accessible to each dog and one or more separate outside areas of shade that

is large enough to contain all the dogs at one time to protect them from the

direct rays of the sun. Outdoor facilities shall be kept neat and free of

clutter, including equipment, furniture and stored materials as well as

accumulated trash, waste, junk, weeds and other discarded materials.

(b) Outdoor shelters shall comply with the following:



(1) Include a roof, four sides and a floor;



(2) Be of sufficient size to allow each dog in the outdoor facility to

sit, stand, lie in the fully stretched position, and to turn about freely;



(3) Provide an environment that will protect from the elements when the

ambient temperature is below 50 degree Fahrenheit or below 10 degrees Celsius;



(4) Be constructed of materials that are impervious to moisture and

easily cleaned and sanitized;



(5) Contain floors made of wood or concrete;



(6) Be structurally sound and kept in good repair, with no missing

boards, jagged edges or excessive rust;



(7) Be cleaned daily on all hard surfaces with which the dogs come

into contact; and,



(8) Be free of accumulated trash, waste, junk, weeds and other

discarded materials."



SECTION 4.



Section 5-10 of the Columbus Code is hereby amended by deleting the title

and inserting a new title to read as follows:



"Control of Domesticated Animals"



SECTION 5.



Subsection 5-10(c) of the Columbus Code is hereby deleted in its entirety

and is replaced by the following language:



"Use of a leash on all public property. No Owner or Caretaker shall allow

any canine, dog on any public property unless such animal is restrained by an

appropriate leash and under the control of a responsible person."



SECTION 6.



Section 5-10(d) of the Columbus Code is hereby amended by adding new

subsections (11) and (12) to read as follows:



"(11) Transporting of Animals. It shall be a violation of this Chapter

for a domesticated animal to be transported in the back of an open bed vehicle

unless such animal is securely tethered by a cross tie to prevent such animal

from jumping off or being thrown from the vehicle.



(12) Fence Height. Owners that rely upon a fence to secure their

domesticated animals must use a fence of sufficient height to ensure that such

animals are restrained within the confines of their property. The individual

size and abilities of any domesticated animal shall determine the height of the

fence. If such animal evades the fence, the Owner shall be in violation of

Section 5-10(a)."



SECTION 7.



Section 5-12 of the Columbus Code is hereby amended by deleting subsection

(1) and replacing it with the following language:



"Any violation of the Columbus Code Section 5-7.1 on Shelter shall be

guilty of a city ordinance violation, punishable as set forth in Section 1-8 of

the Columbus Code.?



SECTION 8.



Section 5-12 of the Columbus Code is hereby amended by adding new

subsections (7) and (8) to read as follows:



"(7) Tethering that does not meet the requirements of Section 5-5(20).



(8) Leaving an animal unattended inside a vehicle, regardless of window

position or use of air conditioning.?



SECTION 9.



Section 5-13.1 of the Columbus Code is hereby amended by deleting

subsection (a) and replacing it with the following language:



?(a) Holding Time. Any impounded animal, not under observation for

rabies, that is not claimed within five days of the date of impoundment or five

days after the Owner of the animal is notified, shall be disposed of in a

manner approved by the Director of Public Services. However, if the Owner is

incarcerated at the time of impoundment, the animal shall be held for ten (10)

days. After the tenth day the animal shall become the property of Columbus,

Georgia and be disposed of in a manner approved by the Director of Public

Services.?



After Ms. Short outlined those recommended changes, she then responded to

several questions from members of the Council.



Ms. Short also responded to concerns expressed by Councilor Woodson as it

relates to fencing and said she had mentioned this sometime earlier; however,

there was no action taken on it, because she was told that the Board would be

looking at this ordinance. She said she doesn?t see anything in the ordinance

to increase the height of fences depending on the size of the dog.



Several minutes of discussion continued on this aspect of the ordinance,

as it relates to the fencing requirements, with City Attorney Fay also

responding to questions of Mayor Poydasheff and members of the Council.



After more than fifteen minutes of discussion on this subject, Councilor

Woodson then said she would get together with the City Attorney and Ms. Short

to take them out to a location so they can see what her concerns are.



City Manager Cavezza said before the ordinance comes before the Council on

first reading, we would hold a public hearing to get the public?s input. He

said once we resolve all that, we would then bring it back to the Council for

first reading.



Mayor Poydasheff encouraged City Attorney Fay and Ms. Short to get

together with Councilor Woodson and address her concerns.



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PUBLIC SAFETY:



Councilor Wayne Anthony, Chairperson of the Mayor?s Public Safety Committee

thanked the members of his committee, Councilors Henderson, Hunter, Suber and

Woodson for the time that they have given to work on some additional

recommendations. He also thanked members of the Public Safety who have given

them advice and directions.



He said as you know, they were commissioned by Mayor Poydasheff to look at

the recruitment issues of Public Safety, which lead into other human resources

issues as it relates to Public Safety and other parts of the City government.



He said this morning, they are bringing to the Council a series of

recommendations for consideration and that is why they wanted it to come to

this Work Session.



Mayor Poydasheff said as he understands it, neither the Police Chief of

the Chief of Fire/EMS have seen these ordinances and then asked Chairperson

Anthony if he was proposing to bring these ordinances on next week; because he

thinks that before we do that, we need to give them an opportunity to view

these recommendations.



Councilor Anthony then outlined the Committee?s recommendations as listed

below:



1. The Finance Committee should provide additional funding for public

safety recruitment in the FY05 budget.



2. All public safety recruitment should be coordinated through the Human

Resources Department.



3. The Columbus Council should consider consolidation of all human

resources functions.



4. The Columbus Council should adopt the ordinance containing

modifications of educational requirements for public safety departments.



5. The Columbus Council should conduct a comprehensive compensation and

benefits study for the entire consolidated government to include public safety

employees and general government employees.



Councilor Davis said he knows that there were a lot of studies and

research going on as it relates to Public Safety and said he would like to know

the conclusions that have been made dealing with starting pay and what was said

about the removal of the 5% contribution to the public safety retirement plan,

as well as what was the conclusion as it relates to the shortage of street

police.



Councilor Anthony said, yes it was a part of the research; however, it is

a funding issue. He said the staff is looking into how much these items would

cost. He said the next issue would be what do we have in terms of funds to be

able to do those things.



He said starting pay was one of these issues, with pay compression being

another one, as well as retention, pay and benefits being another position,

which are financial issues that are going to be driven by whether or not we

have the funding to do those.



After more than thirty minutes of discussion on this subject, with

Councilor Anthony and members of the Committee responding to those questions

and concerns expressed by Councilor Davis, this matter was concluded.



Councilor Davis then asked that he be provided with an updated comparison

of those issues that were studied earlier as it coincides with other Public

Safety Departments around the State.



Mayor Poydasheff said he and City Manager Cavezza would get together with

Councilors Anthony and Davis to go into more details in addressing his

concerns.



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PSOA:



Mr. Mike Green, representing the PSOA; which he said is a group of

professionals, business owners and agencies in our community that have taken

the task to volunteer their time to try to enhance the life of senior adults.

He said they have distributed around the Council table, a publication, which he

said is a one-year effort to put together a resource book that they put in the

hands of senior adults; whereby they can have a resource manual to live a

quality life. He said there are approximately 50 members who are part of their

organization.



He said their next project would be to look at transportation for senior

adults, to help them who may have problems with finances and being able to get

to the doctor.



Mr. Green said he just wanted to come and present this book to the Council

for them to be able to show to the people in their areas.



Also present with Mr. Green was Mr. Joe Robbins, Ms. Catherine Fussell,

Ms. Mary Beth Plott, Ms. Kim Abercorn and Mr. Danny Plemmons.



Councilor Woodson said she would like permission to give this brochure to

the Asian Pacific Alliance to see if they can translate it and get it out to

the Hispanic community. There were no objections expressed by Mr.

Green.



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COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:



City Manager Cavezza said they have been working on this plan for well

over a year. He said we are doing the Land Use plan and following this will be

the Unified Development Ordinance, which addresses a lot of the administration

of the Comprehensive Plan, as well as a consolidation of all our ordinances

affecting the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use plan.

He said we have had many public meetings on this plan and have gone out to all

the Planning Districts, which was generally well received. He said the Council

has also been briefed off and on as it relates to the plan.



He said they also took it to the Planning Advisory Commission, not that we

needed to, but as a courtesy because we felt that since they are going to be

acting on zoning requests, they needed to know what was going on in this

process. He said at that time, the developers came in full force and expressed

some concerns about the plan. He said the PAC said they didn?t recommend the

plan be approved without specifics.



City Manager Cavezza said we are here today to show you some of the

specific issues that came up. He said he was somewhat disappointed that a

general comment like that was made, because it did not contribute to the

process. He said they have extracted some of those comments that we will

address with you on today. He said what they really need to do, is once we get

the Council?s input and any concerns that they may have, we need to move

forward with it and get it closed out.



Deputy City Manager Bishop said during the PAC review process they captured

about twenty different issues that were brought up and then made a

twenty-minute presentation in which they gave a review of those issues that

were raised during the Planning Advisory Commission meeting as it relates to

the Comprehensive Plan. Those issues of concerns are outlined below:



Issue # 1 - Maps were inaccurate: Because this has been a dynamic process,

changes were made to maps after they were given to Home Builders and the maps

have been corrected.



Issue # 2 - The Plan does not allow for sufficient housing for working

families: Over 1500 R-1, R-1A and R-2 lots currently available. The proposed

COMP Plan adds approximately 800 acres to higher density land use.



Issue # 3 - Input was not solicited from the Development Community:

Public meetings were held for all Planning Areas and open participation was

encouraged and the proposed plan was presented at the City?s monthly

Developer?s Meeting.



Issue # 4 - Demographic information is missing: Although demographic

information is not included in the Chapter 8 update, demographics were

considered.



Issue # 5 - The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) is referenced in the

Update, but it has not been adopted: It was anticipated that the UDO would have

been completed before Comprehensive Plan was approved. The term UDO has been

removed from the Comprehensive Plan Text.



Issue # 6 - Large areas are designated as Rural Residential, however, currently

there is not Rural Residential Zoning designation: Rural Residential is a land

use, A-1 is the corresponding zoning.



Issue # 7 - Plan States that Rural Residential is limited to areas without

water or sewer: There is sewer availability in areas that are Rural Residential.

The Comp Plan states that areas without water and sewer need to be Rural

Residential.



Issue # 8 - Planning District 4 is 71.8% undeveloped, but does not accommodate

any planned growth: Planning Area 4 currently has over 900 lots that are zoned

R-1, R-1A, R-2 and other A-1 developments under construction or in the planning

process.



Issue # 9 - North Columbus growth is limited to pending further study:

Growth in North Columbus is on going with residential, multi-family and

commercial. Because of development restraints such as topography and geology

issues, studies are sometimes needed prior to development.



Issue # 10 - There are no plans to accommodate housing for the future working

families, police and firemen to support job growth: There are over 1500 Low

Density lots that are supported by the land use plan or currently zoned for low

density residential development. The proposed COMP Plan provides for over 800

acres for a higher density development.



Issue # 11 - In 2003, 74.6% of single-family permits issued were for zoning

classification of R-2 or less. With this in mind, have there been any

considerations made to add an equal amount of medium to high-density land use

to replace what will be lost by moving R-2 to medium density: Only 9 of 39 R-2

zoned developments were built to R-2 zoning requirements.



Issue # 12 - The proposed UDO has not been passed, therefore, the new zoning

classifications have not either. How can PAC be asked to pass a plan that list

zoning classifications that do not exist: There are no new zoning

classifications, the proposed recommendation moves R-2 from low density to

medium density residential and R-3A from medium density residential to high

density residential.



Issue # 13 - In the proposed plan where would a developer have the opportunity

to develop a master planned community, such as a Maple Ridge: A developer can

make a proposal at any time Maple Ridge did not evolve because of a zoning

ordinance, but by an acceptable Master Plan.

A conservation subdivision concept which is being developed can be a tool for

developing this type community.



Issue # 14 - Could a provision be put into the Comp Plan that would not allow

the proposed land use to be a negative in a developer?s zoning efforts if the

land to be rezoned has access to sewer: This would be a Council decision.



Issue # 15 - Why hurry: Although the Comprehensive Plan does not have a full

review until 2008, Chapter 8 has historically been updated every 5 years. 1998

was the last update of Chapter 8. The update of Chapter 8 has been in process

for over a year.



Issue # 16 - What is the UDO and when will it be completed: The UDO provides

the regulations necessary for development; it should be adopted in 2004.



Issue # 17 - Why vote on a Comprehensive Plan that is based on a document that

has not been adopted: The Comprehensive Plan and UDO are two different

documents. The Comprehensive Plan is the road map, while UDO provides the

regulation that guide the implementation of development of the Comprehensive

Plan. Pieces of the proposed UDO could be brought forward as needed.



Issue # 18 - Why increase Rural Residential: Although Rural Residential has

been increased; it is in areas where sewer availability is limited and areas

that have historically been in large tracts, such as farms. There are

currently 1500 lots that are available to be developed Low Density Residential.

The proposed Comprehensive Plan adds another 800 acres to a higher density land

use.



Issue # 19 - Where is the planning for Commercial and Multi-family:

Approximately 200 acres have been proposed for a Mixed-Use Land Use area on

Williams Road. There is also a proposed area at the intersection of

J. R Allen and Psalmond Road. 1650 units are currently in the planning process.



Issue # 20 - Why move R-2 from Low Density to Medium Density Residential: Lot

dimensions for R-2 (7,500?) and R-3 (6,000?) are more aligned than R-2 being

in Low Density (20,000?, 15,000?, and 10,000?)

Although there are areas that are zoned R-2, historically the lot sizes have

been R-1A Labor Profile.



After the conclusion of his presentation, Deputy City Manager Bishop, as

well as City Manager Cavezza, then responded to several questions and concerns

of Mayor Poydasheff and members of the Council. There were also some referrals

made by members of the Council, which are outlined below:



Councilor Turner Pugh asked that the staff check and determine if there is

any additional or new information from the Columbus Health Department as it

relates to septic tanks and the lot sizes, etc.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers asked Deputy City Manager Bishop to do some research

and determine if there is any legislation that says if a sewer connections

comes on line that you are required to tap onto it, even if you have a septic

tank.



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers also asked that he be provided with the total amount

of land that is available for housing developed, which Mr. Bishop referenced in

this presentation.



Councilor Henderson and Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers asked that the Planning

Advisory Commission make some recommendations on the Comprehensive Plan and

then forward those to the Council.



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FT. BENNING:



Mayor Poydasheff responded to some concerns of Councilor Subers as it

relates to the personnel and financial report concerning Ft. Benning that was

provided to the members of Council at the request of Mayor Poydasheff,



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COMMUNITY PLANNING CONSULTING SERVICES:



As it relates to the RFP for community planning consulting services,

Councilor Davis asked what is the normal cost of those consulting services,

to which City Manager Cavezza said they don?t know, as we don?t have a City

Planner. He said we had talked about going out with an RFP to see if we could

get a consultant to serve as a planner on an as needed basis to look at various

projects. He said we don?t have a feel for that and this is the reason why we

are going out with an RFP.



With there being no other business to come before this Council, Councilor

Suber then made a motion for adjournment. Seconded by Councilor Allen and

carried unanimously by those seven members of Council present, with Councilors

Anthony, Henderson and McDaniel having already left the meeting earlier during

the proceedings and the time being

11:30 A.M.



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Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia