MINUTES
COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA
REGULAR SESSION
JANUARY 15, 2008
The regular weekly meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia was called to
order at 9:05 A.M., Tuesday, January 15, 2007, on the Plaza Level of the
Government Center, Columbus, Georgia. Honorable W.J. Wetherington, Mayor,
presiding.
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PRESENT: Present other that Mayor Wetherington were Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Turner
Pugh, Councilors R. Gary Allen, Wayne Anthony, Mike Baker, Glenn Davis, Berry
H. Henderson, Julius H. Hunter Jr., and Evelyn Woodson. City Manager Isaiah
Hugley, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Clerk of Council Tiny B. Washington and
Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis were also present.
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ABSENT: Councilors Jerry ?Pops? Barnes was absent, but was excused upon the
adoption of Resolution Number 21-08. Councilor Charles E. McDaniel Jr. was also
absent.
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INVOCATION: Offered by Bishop and Mrs. Kevin Legette of My Father?s House
International Outreach Ministries Inc.
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by the children of My Father?s House International
Outreach Ministries Inc. Daycare Center.
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WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS FROM GEORGIA POWER COMPANY STANDING AT THE COUNCIL
TABLE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY AND ADOPTED BY THE
COUNCL AND PRESENTED TO THOSE NAMED IN THE RESOLUTION:
A Resolution (14-08) ? Commending and congratulating Georgia Power?s storm
team who recently traveled to Sand Springs, Oklahoma to assist citizens with
major power outages (December 9 to December 17, 2007). Councilor Henderson
called on the personnel from Georgia Power to come forward. Upon reading the
resolution, Councilor Henderson moved the adoption. Seconded by Councilor Davis
and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council present with
Councilors Barnes and McDaniel being absent from meeting.
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MINUTES OF COUNCIL METINGS:
Minutes of the September 11, 18 & 25, 2007 and October 2 & 9, 2007 Council
Meetings of the Council of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia
were submitted and approved upon the adoption of a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem
Turner Pugh. Seconded by Councilor Baker and carried unanimously by those eight
members of Council present with Councilors Barnes and McDaniel being absent
from meeting.
CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA:
THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY
AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:
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An Ordinance (08-1) ? Rezoning property located at 1230, 1236, 1244, 1246
and 1248 5TH Avenue are proposed for rezoning from LMI (Light
Manufacturing/Industrial) District to GC (General Commercial) District.
(56-A-07-Wightman) The proposed use is retail and commercial services.
Councilor Davis moved the adoption of the ordinance. Seconded by Councilor
Woodson and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council present with
Councilors Barnes and McDaniel being absent from meeting.
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THE FOLLOWING TWO ORDINANCES WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY
ATTORNEY FAY AND INTRODUCED ON FIRST READING A PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON EACH AS
ADVERTISED:_____________________________________________________
An Ordinance ? Amending the Columbus Code so as to establish a franchise
fee applicable to holders of cable or video franchises issued by the State of
Georgia.
City Attorney Fay informed Mayor and Council that this will be a 5% fee
payable by holders of cable or video franchises issued by the State of Georgia.
City Attorney Fay also stated that this is under the new State Law where
companies can obtain license and for business being conducted here in Columbus,
they will pay a 5% franchise fee. He said this item would be back next week for
a vote.
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An Ordinance ? Authorizing Sunesys, LLC (?Licensee?) to encroach upon,
over, under and in certain streets, easements, alleys and other public
rights-of-way of the Columbus, Georgia Consolidated Government (?City?) for the
purpose of installing, constructing, operating, upgrading, maintaining,
repairing, replacing and removing a multimedia optical fiber communications
transmission system to be installed by licensee. (Councilor McDaniel)
City Attorney Fay stated that this is strictly a School District job and
if there is any activity conducted or contracted outside the school district,
they (Sunesys) will pay Columbus a franchise fee. This Ordinance will allow
Sunesys to do the work for the School District. He said this item would be back
next week for vote.
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PUBLIC AGENDA:
THE FOLLOWING PERSON (S) APPEARED ON THE PUBLIC AGENDA AND PROVIDED IS A
SUMMARY OF THEIR COMMENTS: __
MR. WILLIAM MADISON, RE: JUVELIE COURT AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH:
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MR. WILLIAM MADISON, 974 Overlook Drive said on this day of
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birth, he is reminded that he had a dream. He said
he want to thank you, Mr. Mayor for your support of our Freedom Fund Banquet
and delivering a key to out guess speaker Mr. Fred Grey. It was greatly
appreciated. We cannot help but thank the Mayor Pro Tem who came and grace us
with her presence to receive a thank you from the NAACP for your works ? for
you all following a trail that Martin King and others have set before us. Also
want to thank the city for supporting the NAACP banquet.
He said the NAACP couldn?t just sit in its office without complaints
coming in. He said this really has not much to do with you city leaders here;
but he believes that the school board need to be told by the community that
they are on the wrong trail as they try to build a ?Taj Mahal?; and some are
talking about classrooms and books.
He said a more insidious problem is that after retirement, white employees
go home with $2,700 a month retirement; the black employee goes home with $700
a month retirement and they are doing the same work. And when you talk to the
School Board personnel they tell you they recognize the problem but it is in
Atlanta with the Legislation. I want this body to know and now the community
knows that we have a dual retirement system in 2008 in the City of Columbus.
Mr. Madison said he is talking about the 25-35 employees who come directly
to me and explain that every time they go and try to get into the teachers
retirement system they are deflected with ?I?ll get back to you?. He said it?s
time for the city to talk to the school board ? the school board and the city
can come together and talk to the people in Atlanta.
He said at some point you come to the end of your rope and you say to the
world ?I am not taking it anymore?. H said for 15 years, he has taken every
blow ? illegally, immorally and unethically; CB & T bank has wronged him, but
he is still standing proud. In 1992 CB & T asked me to help them attack my own
attorneys. I stood firm, my wife stood firm. We were not going to allow CB & T
Bank to wreck our conscience and we will not do it today. That bank has done
everything to my family that they can possibly do. I have the freedom of speech
to be honest and tell you the truth. This is the body of the people, for the
people, and by the people.?
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CITY MANAGERS? AGENDA:
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER
HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE
COUNCIL:________________________________________________________
A Resolution (15-08) ? Authorizing the acceptance of a deed to Center Brook
Court located in Brookstone Centre. The Department of Engineering has inspected
said street and recommends the acceptance. Councilor Allen moved the adoption
of the resolution. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh and carried
unanimously by those eight members of Council present with Councilors Barnes
and McDaniel being absent from meeting.
A Resolution (16-08) ? Authorizing the submission of an application and if
approved accept a $50,000 grant from the Georgia Environmental Facilities
Authority for Recycling and Waste Reduction Program. Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh
moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried
unanimously by those eight members of Council present with Councilors Barnes
and McDaniel being absent from meeting.
A Resolution (17-08) ? Authorizing the acceptance of a Gift of Limited
Warranty Deed from W. C. Bradley Company for 1.44 acres of property located
North of 12th Street/River Club and East of the Chattahoochee River to 14th
Street for the RiverWalk Project. Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the
resolution. Seconded by Councilor Henderson and carried unanimously by those
eight members of Council present with Councilors Barnes and McDaniel being
absent from meeting.
A Resolution (18-08) ? Authorizing the acceptance of a Gift of Limited from
Warranty Deed Eagle & Phenix Hydro Company, Inc. for 0.425 acres of property
located North of 12th Street/River Club and East of the Chattahoochee River to
14th Street for the RiverWalk Project. Councilor Allen moved the adoption of
the resolution. Seconded by Councilor Henderson and carried unanimously by
those eight members of Council present with Councilors Barnes and McDaniel
being absent from meeting.
City Manager Hugley pointed out to the Mayor and Council that in the
acceptance of a gift of property that relates to extending the RiverWalk ?
included the Water Tower and W.C. Bradley has committed to taking care of the
water tower for ten years after which the city will be responsible for taking
care of said water towers. W.C. Bradley will conduct all maintenance during and
before turning it over to the city at the end of the ten-year period.
Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh asked about the RiverWalk being completed and
extending to the Marina and Fort Benning.
City Manager Hugley explained that this phase would connect the RiverWalk
past 13th Street up to 14th Street behind the Mill and all the way to Fort
Benning. He also stated that there is still a small piece to be completed in
Phenix City ? the area behind the Mill.
Several members also expressed some comments regarding this portion of the
Riverwalk to be completed in Phenix City, after which City Manager Hugley
responding to those comments.
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THE FOLLOWNIG TWO PURCHASING RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMIKTTED AND EXPLAINED BY
CITY MANAGER HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A
MOTION MADE BY COUNCILORS WOODSON AND SECONDED BY COUNCLOR ALLEN AND CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE EIGHT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESNET FOR THIS MEETING, WITH
COUCNILORS BARNES AND MCDANIEL BEING ABSENT FROM THE
MEETING:___________________________________________________
A Resolution (21-08) ? Approving the continuation of periodic payments,
for training expenses, to the University of Georgia?s Carl Vinson Institute of
Government, not to exceed $70,200.00. Training expenses include courses and
classes for the Management Development Program (MDP); Financial Management
Program (FMP); and Supervisory Development Program (SDP), provided, as needed,
for on-going employee training and development programs for the period July 1,
2007 through June 30, 2009.
Carl Vinson Institute provides customized training, facilitation, and
consulting services to local governments and their boards and authorities. The
course work is designed for the development of city and county managers,
department heads, managers, supervisors and employees of city and county
governments. These training programs are long-term on going, and must be
scheduled and committed months in advance of the classes; the program planning
and course delivery typically span multiple budget years.
A Resolution (20-08) ? Approving the reimbursement payment to Keep
Columbus Beautiful Commission in the amount of $38,065.36 for the Household
Hazardous Waste Recycling project. Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission organized
and sponsored the Great American Clean Up ? Household Hazardous Waste Recycling
project, held October 2007. The City shares the cost of the effort with Keep
Columbus Beautiful and reimburses the Commission a portion of the recycling
expense.
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HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS
City Manager Hugley said he knows that some advocates for homeless persons
were here at this Council a few weeks ago and we had shut down the restrooms
and were doing some repairs. He said we need some help from the people out
there who are destroying our property; and then appealed to the citizens of
Columbus to report person or persons who destroy city properties.
He said he knows that every person who is out there and are homeless are
bad, but said the damage continues to happen and we are concerned that we can
repair the damages and then it is destroyed again. He said we have some people
who are destroying property and we just need some help. He said if anyone knows
who these persons are, he would hope that would report them.
Mayor Wetherington said he was having lunch the other day and there was
one of the homeless advocates who came up to him and told him that he was a
little short to some of the people who were before the Council speaking
regardless the homeless problem. He said he apologized to the individual and he
told them that he certainly didn?t intend to be that way and said he wants this
Council to know that he tries to be respectful to everyone that comes to speak
to this Council. He said, as you know we have the five minutes rule and we try
to abide by it the best he can and it is not his intent to be disrespectful to
anybody.
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COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE VISION MEETINGS:
City Manager Hugley said he would like to remind the citizens of the
Comprehensive visioning update meetings and then asked that Director Rick Jones
to provide an update on the Comprehensive Plan.
Director Rick Jones said this is an important time for our city ?it is an
important time mostly for all our citizens to get involved in their government.
He said we are setting up the blueprint for the next twenty years fro how this
community will develop and grow. He said with everything that we have going on
dealing with Kia, Aflac, and everything else that comes with that, now it is
imperative that we go through this process of understanding what we are trying
to accomplish as a community. He said these meetings will be public meetings,
and outlined below are the listings of when these meetings will be held:
January 22, 2008 - Midland Middle School
January 24, 2008 - Double Churches
January 28, 2008 - Wynnton Middle School
January 29, 2008 - Club View Elementary School
February 4, 2008 - Kendrick High School
February 11, 2008 - Baker Middle School
He said these meetings are not your typical forum where presentations are
made followed by questions and comments segments. He said there will be
presentation; as well as there will be opportunities for people to vote on
issues discussed; people will break up into groups and get hands-on with the
maps. He said anyone unable to attend these meeting can still make their voice
heard by logging onto the Planning Department website or the consultant which
is www.jjg.co/ccgplan and take a survey - this survey line will be opened until
February 29, 2008.?
Councilor Woodson asked City Manager to make sure that we have these
meetings publicized as much as possible. She said to please add some of those
comments that were made by Mr. Jones that this wouldn?t be your typical
meeting, but it will be an interactive meeting and it is important for our
future.
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MOON ROAD PROJECT:
Councilor Allen said he wants to talk about the Moon Road project and he
believes that we are going to be bringing some of the discussion forward in a
Work Session to talk about the roads going forward. He said the petition that
Mr. Jim Rhodes submitted from the residents of Hunters Point is included in the
Clerk of Council?s Agenda. He said there was a gentleman who sent an email
about the possibility of installing a roundabout at that intersection and he
would like to put that on the Agenda for the engineers to talk about that
option to see if that is a viable option for that intersection.
City Manager Hugley informed Council that at the next work session the
issue of roads would be discussed. He said he talked with that gentleman, Mr.
Jim Pound on last week when he came to him with that. He said Director of
Planning Rick Jones also talked to one of the national road design engineering
companies that we dealt with and we sent that to them; and they responded to
that. He said he doesn?t believe that they support or recommend that, but we
will get into those details at the Work Session next week.
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CLERK OF COUNCIL AGENDA:
THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AS
INFORMATION FOR THE MAYOR &
COUNCIL:________________________________________________________
(1) Petition submitted by Mr. Jim Rhodes with signatures of citizens opposing
the widening of Moon Road into a four lane roadway from Wilbur Road to
Whittlesey Boulevard.
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MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING BOARD WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL
WASHINGTON AND OFFICIALLY RECEIVED BY THE
COUNCIL:________________________________________________
Board of Tax Assessors, No.47 with Exemption Applications
Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh made a motion that the minutes be received.
Seconded by Councilor Allan and carried unanimously by those eight members of
Council present with Councilors Barnes and McDaniel being absent from meeting.
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THE FOLLOWING NEW ZONING PETITION WAS SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL
WASHINGTOIN AND AN ORDINACNE AND PUBLIC HEARING WAS CALLED FOR BY COUNCILOR
ALLEN:
Petition submitted by Roy Drake/Capital Pest Control to rezone
approximately 0.14 acre of property located at 620 Brown Avenue from RO
(Residential-Office) to GC (General Commercial). Recommended for approval by
both the Planning Advisory Commission and the Planning Department.
Councilor Allen called for the ordinance and public hearing on this
petition.
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THE FOLLOWING ADD-ON RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CLERK OF
COUNCIL WASHINGTON AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:
________________________________________________
A Resolution (21-08) ? Excusing Councilor Jerry ?Pops? Barnes from the
January 15, 2008, Council meeting. Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the
resolution. Seconded by Councilor Baker and carried unanimously by those eight
members of Council present with Councilor Barnes and McDaniel being absent from
meeting.
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BOARD APPOINTMENTS:
BOARD OF HEALTH:
Clerk of Council Washington informed Council that the term of office of
Dr. James Sullivan expired on December 31, 2007 and that he cannot succeed
himself and Council will have to appoint someone for this seat.
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BOARD OF HISTORIC & ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW:
Clerk of Council Washington informed Council that she has contacted
Ms. Barbara Pound, representative for the Board of Realtors, as well as
Mr. Richard Bishop for someone to fill the position as the Uptown Business
Association?s representative and is awaiting a response in regards to nominees
for these two seats. Additionally, she pointed out that Ms. Dora Jackson and
Ms. Helen Watson are both at-large members and are not eligible to succeed
themselves and that Council would have to nominate someone for these two seats.
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HOSPITAL AUTHORITY OF COLUMBUS:
Clerk of Council Washington informed Council that two additional nominees
are still needed for Mr. Tracy Sayers and Ms. Nancy Rinn seats on the Hospital
Authority.
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With there being no other business to come before the Council, Mayor
Wetherington then asked if there was anyone who had an issue to bring before
the Council, they could be heard at this time.
Mr. Jim Rhodes, 1 North Whisper Court ? Mr. Rhodes stated that he
appreciates Councilor Allen for stating that Mr. Jim Pound will be at the next
Council Work Session where roads are schedule to be discussed. He said
roundabout fits in perfectly with the Context Syntax Design and supports
minimum impact to neighbors. He said if you have been to Hilton Head, South
Carolina you can see what we are talking about. He said we had these seven
years ago and now it?s just coming up.
He said he would also like to thank the Finance Director for her
presentation and financial update.
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With there being no other business to come before this Council, Mayor Pro
Tem Turner Pugh made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Councilor Baker and
carried unanimously by those eight members of Council present with Councilors
Barnes and McDaniel being absent from the meeting with the time being 9:40 a.m.
Tiny B. Washington, CMC
Clerk of Council
The Council of Columbus, Georgia
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