Columbus, Georgia

MINUTES

COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

REGULAR SESSION

JUNE 19, 2007



The regular weekly meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia was called

to order at 9:03 A.M., Tuesday, June 19, 2007, on the Plaza Level of the

Government Center, Columbus, Georgia. Honorable W. J. Wetherington, Mayor,

presiding.



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PRESENT: Present other than 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., Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., and Evelyn

Woodson. City Manager Isaiah Hugley, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Assistant City

Attorney Jamie Deloach, Clerk of Council Tiny B. Washington and Deputy Clerk of

Council Sandra Davis were also present. Councilor Jerry ?Pops? Barnes took his

seat at the Council table at 9:05 a.m. Councilor Evelyn Woodson took her seat

at the Council table at 9:10 a.m.

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ABSENT: No one was absent.



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INVOCATION: Offered by Reverend Mike Stewart, Director, Pastoral Care Columbus

Regional Healthcare System.

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by students from Child Life Discovery Center.

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PROCLAMATIONS:



CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY VITA COALATION RECOGNITION

DAY:_________________________________________



With Mr. Joe Riddle, Director and Linda Hyles, Co-Chair standing at the

Council table, Councilor Baker read the proclamation of Mayor Wetheringotn

proclaiming June 19, 2007 as ?Chattahoochee Valley Vita Coalition Recognition

Day? in Columbus, Georgia.

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MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING: Minutes of the March 27, 2007 Council Meeting of

the Council of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia were submitted

and approved by the Council upon the adoption of a motion made by Mayor Pro Tem

Turner Pugh and seconded by Councilor Allen, which carried unanimously by those

ten members of Council present for this meeting.

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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:



AT THE REQUEST OF MAYOR PRO TEM TURNER PUGH, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS

CALLED UP AS THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL:

___________________________________________________



A Resolution (266-07) ? Approving and supporting Ambling Development

Partners, LLC d/b/a Ashton Avalon, LP and authorize tax abatements for a

multi-family housing complex to be located at 3751 Cusseta Road under the

Enterprise Zone Act.



City Manager Hugley went into details explaining how the tax abatement

works.



Councilor McDaniel moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Mayor

Pro Tem Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present at the time, with Councilor Woodson being absent for this vote.



Councilor Hunter recognized the presence of Dr. Robert Wright who was

seated in the audience. He said, as you know we did have a trailer park that

was at that location, but it has been cleared out. He said for years this

site has been blight on the neighborhood and said when that property was

cleared the citizens who lived in that area was so very pleased to get rid of

it. He said he is happy that Dr. Wright is involved in this development

because he is from Columbus and he knows the history of that particular area,

as well as knows what we are trying to accomplish in South Columbus.



He said we are trying to bring back South Columbus one neighborhood at a

time and said we don?t want anything to go back in there which was akin to what

we had previously. He said he feels confidant that because of whom we have

involved in this project, they are going to be very sensitive to the history of

that neighborhood and the goals that we are trying to accomplish in that

immediate vicinity and the neighborhoods that surround it. He said the

property was already rezoned for this type of build-out, and he is happy that

we are able to provide assistance in this effort, because in providing

assistance to Ambling Development, he thinks that we are in the long run

providing assistance to the people of that community and South Columbus.



Councilor Hunter said he thinks that we are sending a further message that

we are serious when we say that we do care about each and every community in

this City. He said he would like to say to Dr. Wright, on behalf of a grateful

community, thank you for coming back to your hometown and putting your money

where your mouth is. He said he knows that he is very serious about this and

you walk the talk.



Councilor Anthony said this is a landmark decision, which is probably the

first development in 30-40 years along that area and said he sees it as a major

change in terms of the way you are helping us take that community. He said he

would like to thank Dr. Wright for his years of leadership here in this

community years ago, but also for coming back in and making extraordinary

contribution to restore that area of Columbus.

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NOTE: The City Manager?s Agenda is continued below.



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CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILOR DAVIS, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS CALLED UP

AS THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS:

__________________________________________________



A Resolution (267-07) ? Approving a variance request to waive the minimum

street frontage requirement in order to plat a landlocked lot at 6551 Green

Island Drive. Councilor Davis moved the approval of the resolution. Seconded

by Councilor McDaniel and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council

present at the time, with Councilor Woodson being absent for this vote.

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NOTE: The Clerk of Council?s Agenda is continued below.



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CITY ATTORNEY'S AGENDA:



THE FOLLOWING THREE ORDINACNES WERE SUBMITTED AND EXLAINED BY CITY

ATTORNEY FAY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON SECOND

READING:________________________



An Ordinance (07-33) ? Providing for the establishment of taxing

districts, including a county-wide general services district and three (3)

urban services districts and three (3) Business Improvement Districts (BID);

providing for the levy, assessment, and collection of taxes for Columbus,

Georgia within such districts for the year 2007 as provided under the Charter

of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia; providing penalties for

violations of the provisions of said ordinance; and for other purposes. Mayor

Pro Tem Turner Pugh moved the adoption of the ordinance, Seconded by Councilor

Henderson and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present at

the time, with Councilor Woodson being absent for this vote.



An Ordinance (07-34) ? Rezoning property located on part of 3361 North

Lumpkin Road is proposed for rezoning from GC (General Commercial) District to

RMF2 (Residential Multi-Family 2) District. (21-A-07-Homecorp) Councilor

Henderson moved the adoption of the ordinance. Seconded by Councilor Allen and

carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present at the time, with

Councilor Woodson being absent for this vote.



An Ordinance (07-35) ? Rezoning property located at 1201 Front Avenue is

proposed for rezoning from LMI (Light Manufacturing/Industrial) District to CRD

(Central Riverfront) District. (23-A-07-W.C. Bradley Company)

Councilor McDaniel moved the adoption of the ordinance. Seconded by Mayor Pro

Tem Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council present

for this meeting.



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EXECUTIVE SESSION:



City Attorney Fay pointed out that Councilor Davis has called for an

executive session on potential litigation before a vote is taken on this matter

and then asked what is the pleasure of Council.



THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY

FAY AND DELAYD UNTIL LATER IN THE MEETING AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILOR DAVIS:

(See below for additional discussion on this subject)___________



An Ordinance ? Amending the budget for the Fiscal Year 2007 beginning July

1, 2006 and ending June 30, 2007, for certain funds of the Consolidated

Government of Columbus, Georgia; appropriating amounts shown in the SPLOST

Project Fund for the Library Project; increasing the Library Project budget for

FY07 by $6,078,148 (including $611,049 for additional greenspace at the rear of

the Library) to a total of $21,789,634; and for other purposes.



Councilor Davis said he would like to delay action on this ordinance until

the end of the City Attorney?s Agenda.



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THE FOLLOWING FIVE ORDINANCES WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY

ATTORNEY FAY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON SECOND READING PURSUANT TO THE

ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM TURNER PUGH AND SECONDED BY

COUNCILOR HENDERSON, WHICH CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE TEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

PRESENT FOR THIS MEETING: _



An Ordinance (07-36) ? Providing for contributions to the Columbus, Georgia

General Government Employees? Pension Plan for the fiscal year beginning July

1, 2007; and for other purposes.



An Ordinance (07-37) ? Providing for the supplemental contributions to the

Columbus, Georgia Pension Plan for employees of the Department of Public Safety

for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007; and for other purposes.



An Ordinance (07-38) ? Providing for Government funding of a Major

Disability Income Plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007; and for

other purposes.



An Ordinance (07-39) ? Providing for Government funding of a Death Benefit

Escrow for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007; and for other purposes.



An Ordinance (07-40) ? Amending Article VII of Chapter 13 of the Columbus

Code Solid Waste Collection and Disposal by changing the guidelines for an

offset to the residential rate for low-income households.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY

FAY AND DELAYED BY THE COUNCL AT THE REQUEST OF PLANNING DIVISION CHIEF RICK

JONES:________________________________________________



An Ordinance ? Rezoning properties located at 6344 and 6366 Buena Vista

Road are proposed for rezoning from NC (Neighborhood Commercial) District to

GC (General Commercial) District. (22-D-07-Cato)



Mr. Rick Jones said when they went through this process they were under

the understanding that they had recommended denial and then later on, the

ordinance and a public hearing was called for by the Council. He said the

notice went out, as it should have in the newspaper, but the letters did not go

out; therefore, they are asking that this matter be tabled until such time as

they send the letters for the notification process to the surrounding

neighborhood.



Councilor Henderson moved the ordinance be tabled. Seconded by Councilor

Woodson and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council present for

this meeting.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY

FAY AND DELAYED BY THE COUNCL AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILOR WOODSON: ______



An Ordinance ? A text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to

amend requirements for outdoor cafes in the CRD (Central Riverfront District)

District. (24-A-07-Uptown Columbus, Inc.) (Councilor McDaniel) The Planning

Advisory Commission and the Planning Department recommended approval.



City Manager Hugley said we had some discussion at a recent Council

meeting about this particular proposed ordinance. He said Uptown Columbus

received the support of their Board and had some meetings with property owners,

but there was a question as to the meeting and he in turn called the

CEO/President of Uptown Columbus and asked him to have another meeting. He

said as a result of his request for an additional meeting, he has asked for a

delay on this particular ordinance and said we would like to grant that delay;

however, this hearing had already been advertised, so we had to bring it forth

on the agenda today.

He said if the Council agrees to a delay, you might want to go ahead and

hear anyone who wants to be heard on today.



Mayor Wetherington then asked if there was anyone who wanted to be heard

on this matter, but there was none.



Councilor Woodson then made a motion to delay this ordinance. Seconded by

Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those ten members of

Council present for this meeting.



Councilor Baker then asked Chief of the Planning Division Mr. Jones to

explain to him exactly what a text amendment to the UDO is and how it differs

from a rezoning request and what the notification requirements are.



Mr. Jones said anytime you have a text amendment, there really is no

requirement in the UDO because it is simply a text amendment, in terms of

generally speaking how you may change something in that classification.

He said for instance, if want to add additional requirements to the general

commercial classification because it is citywide, there is no real notification

process to individual property owners. However, they are still required to put

an ad in the paper and run it 15 days ahead just like you with anything else

and you would go through that process trying to notify the general public at

that time.



He said in this case dealing with the central riverfront district as it

was so adequately pointed out to the staff that we did have a geographical area

that was going to be impacted by this and we needed to go back and make

notification to them; and they certainly did that. He said they sent out

letters to all the property owners within the CRD area to notify them and ran

the again. He said they also worked with Uptown Columbus to make sure the

notification process was in hand.



Mr. Jones said generally speaking when you have a typical text amendment

change, there are no requirements to mail out letters, but basically run the ad

in the newspaper, but when you deal with geographical areas like this and the

panhandles areas, as well, we do send out letters and should in the future as

well.



Councilor Henderson said just to be proactive on this issue, he would like

for the staff to get a statement from the Chief of Police, as well as officials

from Fort Benning as to any concerns that they might have with respect to

safety issues in Uptown Columbus.



Councilor Davis said on those same lines, he would also like to include

CSU as to their position on this proposed ordinance.



Councilor Allen said he has personally observed over the past several

years when we have a function down in the district that sometimes there are

those under age who wants to participate in the drinking of alcohol and said

they are going to find some way to get it. He said he just wanted to put it on

your list that we need to be aware of this and take precautions, because if we

allow this in the downtown area, that?s going to occur at some point.

He said we just need to keep our guard up to protect the citizens from

this type of activity.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY

FAY AND INTRODUCED ON FIRST READING:

____________________________________________



An Ordinance ? Amending the Unified Development Ordinance to create a

corridor overlay district along Highway 80 from Warm Springs Road to the Talbot

County line. (25-A-07-Planning Department)



Mr. Rick Jones, Chief of the Planning Division said they are prepared to

make a presentation to the Council this morning, but will reserve that in

essence of any questions that you might have.



Councilor Allen said he would like to read into the record, a letter from

the Panhandle Homeowners Association. He said he thinks this is an effort to

save the Council time through contentions rezoning matters, which he know we

all have experienced over the past several years. He said it has been very

rewarding to him to have the unified group who put this in the hands of the

City and help us move forward with the development of the areas out in the

panhandle.



He then pointed out that the following neighborhoods are a part of the

Panhandle Homeowners Association, which include: Beaver Run, Chapel Lake,

Liberty Hall, Upatoi, Country Walk, Blackburn Ridge, Warm Springs Road,

Chattsworth Road, Jackson/Lynch/Garrett Road areas, County Line Road,

Springbrook Crossing, Randall Creek Farms, and Midland Woods



Councilor Allen also read the letter addressed to the Mayor Wetherington and

Members of City Council



The Board of Directors of the Panhandle Homeowners Association praises the

efforts of the Panhandle Planning Group and fully endorses their

recommendations for the OVERLAY DISTRICT ORDINANCE

FOR US HIGHWAY 80.



It is only through effective planning that development along this major artery

can become a successful and attractive asset for Columbus in the future.



We recommend favorable consideration be given this proposal.



/s/ William Ward

President

Panhandle Homeowners Association



Councilor Allen said the group that came together and put this together

worked long and hard. He said he would like to personally thank them for all

the efforts and time that they put into this, and he thinks they have done a

lot of work for us in laying the groundwork for the future growth of Columbus.

Mr. Rick Jones and City Attorney then responded to questions of members of

the Council with respect to the creation of a corridor overlay district in the

panhandle area.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said if the Council approves the overlay

district ordinance for the area along Highway 80 from Warm Springs Road to the

Talbot County line, we need to make sure that we have the staff to provide a

copy of this ordinance to all the landowners in the area.



Mr. Jones said since this information has gone out we have received

information about doing other areas throughout the community. He said they are

now looking and working with Columbus South, as well as Victory Drive and the

possibility of doing an overlay district. He said they had a meeting with them

on last Thursday to do that very thing.



He said they told the panhandle committee that they met with initially

this is our test case and wanted to make sure that this work before we tried to

do anything else, as well as to make sure that the Council was comfortable with

this kind of procedure before we tried to go anywhere else with it. He said

from what we can tell, they think they are going the right track.



Mr. Jones said one thing to understand about an overlay district is that

not one size fits all, and that?s why it?s important for us to sit down with

people like Columbus South and others to really get a feel for those

neighborhoods and roadways. He said the things that are going on along Highway

80 are not necessarily applicable to Victory Drive or Manchester Expressway or

anywhere else.



Councilor Henderson said he supports this overlay distract as well. He

said he thinks that an overlay district represents a major step forward, which

he thinks is a positive step. He said unless there is a pressing need to get

this approved within the next few or so, he would love to see this continue;

not because he has any doubts about it, but because he if we are taking this

kind of step, this significant step and this really is an opportunity to look

at whether or not we can craft something that can be used in other areas, he

thinks that we need to take it slow. He said he thinks that we need to treat

it as a work session and make sure we are very proactive and thinking down the

road what questions could arise; especially when you have mixed use of zoning

classification up and down that corridor.



He said he would feel more comfortable if we were able to dissect this

over a few Council pre-council sessions to make sure we understand exactly what

we are putting in place out there.



City Attorney Fay then asked if anyone wanted to make a motion or do we

want to leave it on second reading to be voted on the Consent Agenda.



Mr. Bert Coker, 5815 Ventura Drive came forward to voice his comments on

this matter. He said this is a great opportunity for these people not to get

squeezed in with two big box businesses, like they did in the area in which he

lives in, which is Lincoln Hills, Tanglewood and Windsor Park.

He said they have new Wal-mart to the north of them, as one on the south

of them and said if they have had something like this in place before they

built these two Wal-mart, that would have been great.



Mr. Coker spoke for several minutes expressing his views regarding this

proposed ordinance.



City Manager Hugley said next Tuesday is a Work Session and said if we

need to bring it on a Work Session and then come back on the first Tuesday that

we meet in July, which would be July 10th then we can it back at that time.



City Attorney Fay then responded to questions of Mr. Coker.



Councilor Henderson asked that the ordinance not be put on the Consent

Agenda, but let?s discuss it at the Council Work Session and then vote on it at

the July 10th Council meeting.



Mr. Milton Jones said for the sake of time, he would like to reserve his

comments for next week?s Council meeting.



Councilor Henderson said if we could incorporate Mr. Milton Jones comments

in with the presentation that Chief of Planning Division Rick Jones will make

that will be fine, because typically we don?t have citizens coming to give

input at the Work Session.



Mr. Paul Olson, 1380 Upatoi Lane also appeared and made comments regarding

the proposed overlay district ordinance. He said it does affect him just as

greatly as it does Bert Coker and many other citizens. He said he lives out in

the panhandle of Upatoi and said if you go on Highway 80 east bound towards

Macon, you will find near the area where Swift Bolling Plant used to be

located; where the speed limit is 45 mph, coming up the ramp on US 27 taking a

right people are speeding that you can?t even go to the right.

He said if the area is congested now, you could only image what the area will

be like after the new Wal-mart is built.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY

FAY AND INTRODUCED ON FIRST READING:

____________________________________________



An Ordinance ? Providing for the levy, assessment, and collection of

taxes for the public school system of Columbus, Georgia; and for other

purposes.



City Attorney Fay said there is no change from last year?s assessment. He

said the mileage rate is still 23.37 mills. He said this ordinance would be

vote on next week during the Council?s Consent Agenda.



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THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY

FAY AND AFTER SOME DISCUSSION WAS AMENDED BY THE COUNCIL, DELETING ONE

STRUCTURE FROM THE ORDINANCE:___________________



An Ordinance ? Providing for the demolition of structures located at:

(1) 4633 Farley Drive (Richard Ankrom, Jr., owner)

(2) 1151 Floyd Road and 1211 Floyd Road (Bread of

Life Christian Center, owner)

(3) 708 Lawyers Lane (Betty S. Campbell, owner)

(4) 2428 Schaul Street (Dennis Deal, owner)

(5) 1337 Cusseta Alley (Tina M. Duncan, owner)

(6) 926 Calvin Avenue (Baxter S. Edwards, owner)

(7) 2015 Ft. Benning Road (GC2, LLC, owner)

(8) 2517 Schatulga Road (Gracie Jackson Estate, %May Grace Kelly, owner)

(9) 5730 Hodges Road, Lot 11 (Linda Lesch, owner)

(10) 814? 5th Avenue (Jacqueline E. Martin, Owner)

(11) 6911 Aldora Drive (Frank & Alvenia Parham, owner)

(12) 936 Amber Drive and 5041 Miller Road (Forest R.

Preston, owner)

(13) 515 Chesterfield Avenue (Martha Spencer, owner)

(14) 812 5th Avenue (Gwendolyn E. Sumbry, owner)

(15) 4010 Singer Drive (Bessie M. Western, owner)

and for demolition services for the Inspections and Code Division in

accordance with the attached Tabulation of Bid sheet.



Individuals came forward regarding the following property, as outlined

below:



Mr. Richard Ankrom, Jr., 1733 Biggers Road, owner of the property located

at 4633 Farley Drive came forward to ask for a 4-month extension and outlined

the reasons why he is requesting this extension. He said he purchased the home

on August 4, 2005 from B & H Moving Company, owner William Herring, who was

also supposed to move the house for him to this address. He said his intent

was to move the house and renovate it, and at a later time to rent it out. He

said he has paperwork to indicate even as late as November 3, 2005, where he

faxed paperwork to Mr. Herring to show where the house was to be located at the

Farley Drive address.



Mr. Ankrom said he has spent about $3,000 having footing poured and

concrete blocks put up. He said after 3 or 4 weeks the house was then ready to

be put on the foundation. He said this then was going into 2006 and he then

called Ms. Rebecca Wiggins to let her know that he is having difficulty with

Mr. Herring moving the house. He said Ms. Wiggins told him that they have had

considerable problems with Mr. Herring and his company before and told him that

she understood, but still things needed to be done to the house.



He spoke for some ten minutes in explaining the problem that he had in

trying to get the house moved onto the property.



Ms. Rebecca Wiggins said it is true that Mr. Ankrom was not able to get

that house put onto its foundation and he did have trouble with the house

remaining on the steel beams; however, once he did get that house moved, he had

only a permit to do the foundation. She said he has never bought a permit to do

any framing, plumbing or electrical work for a temporary power pool and they

did talk to him on occasion about that. She said they have had an inspector to

go over and look at the house and make some inspections and what you see is the

way the house looks now. She said they didn?t even condemn this until June

2006 and that was after it had sat there for so long and they had so many

complaints about it.



She said on May 28th Mr. Ankrom came to their office and applied for

permits that he would need should you?ll give him the time he asked for to

complete this job, but we elected not to sell him the permits at such a late

date because we didn?t want him to waste his money if you?ll didn?t give him

more time.



Ms. Wiggins said the work that has been done there has not been

substantial and Mr. Ankrom told her on the telephone one time that he had not

worked on the property in several months because of a work related promotion

that took him away from his job. She said the workmanship is not very good and

the work that has been done has been done without permits and the proper

inspection and said they would not recommend an extension.



After Ms. Wiggins concluded her report on this matter, she then responded

to several questions of members of the Council. Mr. Ankrom also responded to

questions of the Council.



City Attorney Fay pointed out that Mr. Ankrom has asked for a 4-month

extension and then asked if there is any motion by the Council. There was

none.



City Attorney Fay said hearing no motion of the Council means that it

would remain on the list.



Councilor Hunter then asked Mr. Ankrom, what can be done in four months to

make this presentable?



Mr. Ankrom said the inside of the house needs sheetrock and it doesn?t

take a long time to do that. He said it looks a lot worst than it is and said

four months would be adequate enough time to renovate this house and have it

ready to occupy.



Councilor Hunter said once the house was moved and setup, what caused you

not to go ahead and get it taken care of, was it because of your job?



Mr. Ankrom said, yes. He said he got a promotion and it caused him an

extensive amount of time to be out of town with travel.



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

Mr. Ankrom responding to further questions of the Council, there was no motion

to allow for a four months extension.



Mr. Darnell Skinner, 6744 Autobound Drive, said he is here this morning to

represent Bread of Life Christian Center?s and their Board of Directors to ask

for an extension to take down the property located at 1151 Floyd Road. He said

they have secured a contractor to do the work and said before the City

intervenes they would like to have the opportunity to take down the property

and they are requesting 60 ? 90 days to do that.



Ms. Rebecca Wiggins said she would like to recommend that the Council

consider leaving it on second reading and if they can get it torn down before

our contractor gets there, we will allow them to do that. She said should they

fail to perform, they wouldn?t have to come back to this Council.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh so moved. Seconded by Councilor Davis and

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



Speaking to Mr. Skinner, Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said you have been

extra time, which we don?t always do and said since you have a contract on

having the house taken down, but she would encourage you that this needs to

take less than 30 days.



Mr. Skinner then asked if there is any way that they could get at least 60

days to do because they have other people that are taking care (inaudible).

Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said Ms. Wiggins is saying yes; therefore, she would

move that you have 60-days to demolish the house. Seconded by Councilor Barnes

and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council present for this

meeting.



Ms. Wiggins said Mr. Skinner still needs to talk with you about the other

house located at 1211 Floyd Road. She said she don?t think they want to tear

that one down and then asked Mr. Skinner is that correct.



Mr. Skinner said actually they do want to tear that one down as well.



City Attorney Fay then said the motion would apply to both properties.



*** *** ***



Attorney Rick Flowers said it is his understanding that the property

located at 708 Lawyers Lane was to be withdrawn because the property was sold

to a new owner on last Friday and the deed has been recorded. He said it was

his understanding that this notice of demolish process was going to be

withdrawn.



Ms. Wiggins said legally they have to asked that this property be taken

off this list because at the eleventh hour have sold that and the deed has been

recorded. She said they have to give the new owner due process.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh then asked how long do we have to give the new

owner. Ms. Wiggins said they will give them a hearing in August and then they

will have 45 days to make the repairs, then we will get an asbestos survey and

a price and then bring it back to the Council if they do not perform.

Mr. Flowers said it is his understanding that the new owner fully intends

to get right on this project. He said there has been efforts made in the past

to do some work and building materials have been placed on site and stolen

overnight at least twice. He said there have been some efforts made in the

past, but they understand that they have to get it done and get it done in a

timely manner with the contractor and security.



After further discussion on this subject, Councilor Woodson then made a

motion to remove the property located at 708 Lawyers Lane from the list.

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

Council present for this meeting.



*** *** ***



Attorney Rick Flowers said Mr. Edwards purchased this piece of property

located at 926 Calvin Avenue and said at the time he bought it, it was under

notice of demolition and between the time he purchases the property and the

City?s methodology of dealing with renovations of property changed in that the

owner is not allowed to do self-help, but they have to go through a contractor.

He said there has been an effort made to do some work. He said Mr. Edwards has

had the house wired twice and stripped twice.



He said he has had about $15,000 worth of materials on location that has

been stolen, but has made substantial efforts to try to deal with this property

and we understand that something has to be done. He said what he anticipates

having to do and what they would like to ask the Council to give him some

additional time to be able to coordinate with a general contractor to be able

to get in there and do as much as possible and as short of period of time as

possible to be able to bring this property up to code, but secure.



Several members of Council then expressed their views on this property and

Mr. Flowers and Ms. Wiggins responding to questions of the Council.

There was no motion granted for any additional time.



*** *** ***



Ms. Ventrine Jenkins, 6882 Bartow Way, Midland, Georgia said she is

present this morning regarding the property located at 6911 Aldora Drive.

She said her mother passed in June of 2006 and she didn?t leave a will;

however, her sister was living in the house and when she could no longer keep

it up, the house was abandoned. She said between the time that her mother

passed, her husband has passed and she became ill and wasn?t able to take care

of the matter. However, she said she is well now and has retained an attorney

to assist her with this matter.



Ms. Rebecca Wiggins said the property was in the name of both of her

parents and they are both deceased. She said she understands that

Ms. Jenkins has gotten an attorney to probate those estates and that work is

almost complete. She said they received a telephone call from a real estate

broker on the 15th of this month and as soon as the probate is finished, they

would like to sell this property to a gentleman who plans to repair it. She

said this finally has finally gotten the estate of their parents settled.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said right now, by law we can?t discuss this

with her until the will has been probated and the executor has been named and

you have the letter of testamentary.



City Attorney Fay said there was no will and she will get Letter of

Administration. He said we could delay action on this matter until she gets all

the paperwork complete. He said if they don?t take action to sell the property,

then it can come back to the Council and then asked, what was the pleasure of

Council on this matter. He then asked Ms. Wiggins if they have a

recommendation on this matter.



Ms. Wiggins said their recommendation on this matter is to leave on the

list and if the estate does not settle; if she doesn?t get the letters and if

they don?t sell, then we would have the authority to take the house and not

have to come back to this Council.



Ms. Wiggins, in response to Councilor Woodson said it is her understanding

that Ms. Jenkins should get her Letters of Administration within a day or so;

therefore, that?s why she suggested the recommendation that she did.



Ms. Jenkins then asked how much time would she have to get this matter

taken care of.



Mayor Wetherington then asked Ms. Wiggins what is her recommendation on

the time, to which she said they are really not asking for an additional time

for Ms. Jenkins because she thinks by the time this process is complete, she

will have her letters. She said the probate is already done she just has to be

appointed.



City Attorney Fay said these properties would be back on second reading on

the Consent Agenda on next week, with the exception of those that was taken off

the list or given additional time to be demolished.



*** *** ***



EXECUTIVE SESSION:



City Attorney Fay said we had a request for an executive session before

the Library discussion or vote on potential litigation and said we can have

that meeting now.



Councilor McDaniel said he thought that we were going to wait until they

have their meeting, which is not until June 29, 2007; as he understands they

wouldn?t have a called meeting. He said he thinks that we ought to wait until

they have their meeting to see what they are going to do.



City Attorney Fay said if we delay it, it would come back at the July 10,

2007 Council meeting.



Mayor Wetherington then asked Councilor McDaniel if he was asking for a

delay.



Councilor McDaniel then made a motion to delay the matter until after the

Library Board have their meeting on June 29, 2007 and then we take it up at the

next Council meeting.



Mayor Wetherington then said there was no second to the motion.



Councilor McDaniel said he thinks that we are just spinning our wheels if

they don?t have a meeting on the thing.



Councilor Davis then seconded the motion for discussion.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said one of the things that needs to be stated

is when you read the newspaper, it appears that we asked them to go back and

just address Councilor Anthony?s proposal; that was not the full intent, at

least not on her part. She said there were some questions from some Council

members as to the air conditioning portion of it. She said she would not have

supported Councilor Anthony?s proposal herself.



She said when the Library Board goes back and discuss it, whether it get

returned to them or put on hold for two weeks, when they discuss it, they need

to discuss the overall categories period.

She said she would never support anything that comes before this Council when

you talk about cutting out the Children?s Library or even reducing it greatly.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said if you wait two weeks or if the whole list

gets sent back, it?s one in the same, but they need to look at it from the

perspective of not just Councilor Anthony?s proposal, but the other things and

questions that were brought up from City Council members.



Councilor Anthony said since his name is being used, he wanted to clarify

what he said. He said all he was simply suggesting is that there may be

$500,000 that could be shifted. He said if we want to leave the Plaza as is,

but there was over $847,000 earmarked for landscaping and could we shift some

of that money so that we could cover the entire property with green.

He said he just wanted to clarify that is all he was suggesting.



Councilor McDaniel said the problem with that is that they have not met to

even discuss that. He said that is the problem and we haven?t done anything

since the last meeting to discuss this matter. He said he thinks that we are

just spinning our wheels until after we hear from the board after they meet.



Councilor Henderson said he can appreciate Councilor McDaniel?s desire to

delay it since there has been no meeting of the Library Board, but the point is

that there were two weeks given in which they were given an opportunity to try

to pull some members together and run some different options by them. He said

we have delayed this now, three or four times and he were ready to vote three

weeks ago and he is ready to vote it up or down today. He said he is not going

to support a delay. He said at the request of Councilor Davis, he is happy to

go into an executive session. He said he haven?t heard anything on the horizon

that?s going to pop up that?s going to change the way he has viewed this thing

from the beginning.



Councilor McDaniel said he think we owe them the courtesy to delay it.



Councilor Henderson said he agrees with that and he thinks we did give

them the courtesy or trying to give them two weeks to get together, and they

were unable to pull anyone together.



City Attorney Fay said we have a motion on the table to delay this matter

until July 10, 2007.



The question was then called on the motion to delay the matter, which was

defeated. Working for the motion was Councilor McDaniel and voting against the

motion was Councilors Allen, Anthony, Baker, Barnes, Davis, Henderson, Hunter,

Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh and Councilor Woodson.



City Attorney Fay then declared that this motion dies.



City Attorney Fay then pointed out that we have a request for an executive

session. He also pointed out that we have another matter scheduled for

executive session with some Water Board officials and said we can try to do it

all at once now, which is on potential litigation.



Councilor Allen then suggested that we go into executive session to just

discuss the issue that Councilor Davis has requested and then come back into

regular session.



Councilor Davis then made a motion to go into executive session to discuss

a litigation matter. Seconded by Councilor Barnes and carried unanimously by

those ten members of Council present for this meeting.



At 10:40 a.m. the regular meeting was adjourned to allow the Council to go

into an executive session to discuss a litigation matter.



At 11:05 a.m., the meeting was called back to order, at which time Mayor

Wetherington pointed out that the Council did meet in an executive session to

discuss a litigation matter, but no votes were taken.



City Attorney Fay then called up Item Number Four on his agenda, which is

the ordinance amending the Library Project by $6,087,148.



Councilor Anthony then asked Ms. Bobsie Swift to come forward for an issue

of clarification regarding greenspace.



Councilor Henderson then made a motion to allow Ms. Swift to be heard.

Seconded by Councilor Davis and carried unanimously by those nine members of

Council present at the time, with Councilor Woodson being absent for this

vote.



Councilor Anthony then asked Ms. Swift regarding the property behind the

Library, which is right now concrete, what is the current plan for that

property back to the creek line.



Ms. Swift said they would use the funds that they have available to remove

the asphalt as far as they can go. She said they have not be able to do

anything about determining the cost, but they will use whatever monies they

have for outside work, and remove the asphalt as far as they can go and put

grasses there. She said they are not attempting to do any kind of landscaping

or anything like that because they don?t feel like it?s their job to do that.

She said until there is a master plan for that property, they just don?t think

it would be a very judicious use of taxpayers funds to do anything back there

other than get that property ready for whatever master plan could be developed

for it.



Mayor Wetherington then asked Ms. Swift, if they are going to put Meta

grasses as far as they can and then a tree line on the back. He said he

believes that it what you told him when he was out there.



Ms. Swift said the tree line would be at the edge of what they would

consider their property. She said they would put a tree line there and remove

the asphalt and then put Meta grasses as far as they could go back there.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh then asked Ms. Swift if there is a preliminary

design for the Children?s Reading and Storytelling Plaza, to which Ms. Swift so

no.



Ms. Swift said they have no money to do any design work until this budget

item is passed. She said their hands are just tied because they can?t do

anything until they have the money to do the planning and design.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh asked Ms. Swift, how did they arrive at the $1.3

million figure then?



Ms. Swift said it was just a figure that they came up with based on Newt

Aaron?s estimates of what could be done back there. She said they could do a

$200,000 Plaza or an $800,000 Plaza and have the reminder for greenspace, but

they don?t have any idea until they can have some actual plans done.



Mayor Wetherington then asked if there were any other questions on this

matter?



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh then made a motion that we return the list back

to the Library Board for clarification on issues that were brought up by the

Council. Seconded by Councilor Woodson.



Mayor Wetherington then asked Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh to please repeat

her motion.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said the motion is that we return the list back

to the Library Board for clarification on issues that were brought up by

Council members as it relates, specifically to the air conditioner unit system

and also, some type of proposed design as it relates to the Children?s Plaza

and the extent to where it will fall.



Councilor McDaniel said he thought that was it, because they had sent it

back saying that was it and they haven?t met again. He said he thinks that we

are just spinning our wheels on this thing; we need to just vote either yes or

no.



Councilor Henderson then asked Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh if that was a

motion to deny the list or a motion just to send it back for reconsideration?



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said to deny the list as we have it.



Councilor Davis said he truly believes that all parities involved need to

get together and come to some agreement. He said the word master plan was used

today and said the master plan is probably what?s in the best interest of our

whole community, the City of Columbus. He said he don?t think that?s going to

be worked out today, but possibly in deliberations with the Library Board and

talks that a master plan can be included. He said he thinks that there are

other parties that need to be involved here and contribute to the effort of a

master plan.



Councilor Henderson said there are several issues that have sort of gotten

clouded into this one request for the Library Board. He said he has heard from

a lot of people and overwhelm the comments are not so much park oriented, as

they are that they don?t want to see any development taking place on this

property. He said he thinks that there are a lot of people under the

perception that if this passes, if this list passes, the opportunity for a park

or to restrict development passes with it, and said that?s simply not the case.



Councilor Henderson said because of the current zoning out there on that

property, this Council is going to ultimately have the responsibility of making

decision if any of that property is sold off, and there is no guarantee that it

will be, but if it is; how it?s used is going to be decided by this Council

through the zoning process. He said as it stands right now, the blanket zoning

over the whole area is neighborhood commercial, which is probably one of the

less intrusive zoning in our UDO.



He said, if in fact, a master plan is developed and if in fact there is a

aggressive attempt to sell off or develop any of that property, he is not sure

from the conversations that he has heard around this Council table, that there

will be much positive opportunity for that to take place. He said he just

wanted to assure the people that are watching that this vote does not give an

up or down vote on the park. He said his contention has been all along that the

two are completely separated. He said if he thought for a minute that by adding

$200,000 or $500,000 to this budget that we would get a park out there, he

would vote for it in a heartbeat.



Councilor Henderson said his opinion is that this vote is specifically

dealing with whether it is a reasonable or legal request from the Library Board

to complete the construction process on the Library. He said the City Attorney

tells us that we have been given in fact, a legal and reasonable request.







City Manager Hugley said he knows that the Mayor Pro Tem has asked that

they bring back some design of the Learning Plaza for Children. He said they

have expended the $40 million budget that was approved by this Council and said

in order for them to incur expenses those expenses are going to have to be

authorized. He said to get a design of a Learning Plaza, they will obviously

have to employ someone; therefore, he need clarification as to whether you are

authorizing us to allow them to proceed forward with expending monies to design

and bring back this design as requested by the Mayor Pro Tem or are they to

seek funds elsewhere. He said they couldn?t do this without money.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said she thinks that is a different issue from

this needs list. She said if they want money to go out and do a design they can

request that just like they did this entire list; they can come back with a

request for a design. She said we can say delay, or send it back; however, the

motion was to either vote it up or down. She said you either vote for the list

or don?t vote for the list and if you don?t vote for it there are

specifications for what the Council was asking for and she don?t think that was

mis-confused, but apparently it was.



She said if we get other work orders in between that time when they bring

the whole list back and the design on the Children?s Reading Plaza or whatever,

it happens.



After more than twenty minutes of discussion on this matter, the question

was then called on Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh?s motion, which carried by a vote

of 7 to 3. Voting for the motion was Councilors Allen, Anthony, Barnes, Davis,

Hunter, Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh and Councilor Woodson. Voting against the

motion was Councilors Baker, Henderson and McDaniel.



City Attorney Fay then pointed out that item will be sent back to the

Library Board and Ms. Swift and her board will take that up at their next

meeting, which he believes will be the end of June for discussion.



*** *** ***



OTHER POTENTIAL LITIGATION MATTERS:



City Attorney Fay said they still have an executive session on other

potential litigation matters to have with some Water Board officials, who has

guests with them from Atlanta.



Mayor Wetherington then asked if we want to go into executive session at

this time; however, it was decided to go ahead with the public agenda and have

the executive session at the end of the meeting.

------------------------------------*** ***

***--------------------------------

PUBLIC AGENDA:



MR. LORENZA WILDER, RE: RECREATION CENTER IN BELVEDER PARK AND THE

FIVE-MINUTE RULE FOR PUBLIC AGENDA, AND WAIT TIME TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC

AGENDA:____________________________________________________

Mr. Lorenza Wilder, who requested to be listed on the Agenda, did not

respond when given the opportunity to address the Council.



*** *** ***



MR. PAUL OLSON, RE: 1999 SPLOST REFERENDUM, (2) ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, AND

(3) GMA ANNUAL CONVNTION:



Mr. Olson came forward and expressed some concerns with the 1999 SPLOST

referendum. He showed an advertisement of the 1999 referendum and pointed out

that it states in Item #9, to the extent that O.C.C.G 36-82.1(d) maybe ruled by

a court of confidence with respect to the sales tax. He said this is a law

that they are specifying in this legal publication. He spent several minutes in

highlighting various points of that publication.



He also made comments regarding illegal immigrants saying he has talked

with the Council before about them not having an ordinance to address this

matter. He said the last time he was here before the Council, he asked if any

of the Council members had any comments about illegal immigrants and there was

nothing but silence and said silence condones illegal actions.

He said as a public official he thinks it is an obligation for you to address

these concerns and implement an ordinance.



Mr. Olson said he would like to ask why the GMA Convention is always in

Savannah since it is headquartered out of Atlanta and how much money is going

to be spent from the City Council in their lodging. He said he would also like

to have a syllabus of the workshops that several of the Council members will be

attending.



City Manager Hugley and Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh then responded to those

concerns of Mr. Olson as it relates to GMA and the membership, as well as where

the meetings are held.



Several members of the Council also responded to many of the comments that

were made by Mr. Olson in him addressing the Council. City Attorney and City

Manager Hugley also made additional comments regarding the 1999

referendum.

------------------------------------*** ***

***--------------------------------



NOTE: Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis left the meeting at 11:19 a.m.

------------------------------------*** ***

***--------------------------------



MR. JEFF JOHNSTON, RE: TAXICAB INSPECTIONS, (2) RATES ON TAXICABS IN

COLUMBUS AND (3) NEW HOME BASED TAXICAB COMPANIES:

_____________________________



Mr. Jeffery L. Johnston, 3122 Oak Circle said he owns Ranger Cab Company

and said he was in the military for 20 years and after retirement he came right

into the cab company. He said he is here requesting a change in the 24-hour

dispatch services and there are several reasons why he is requesting this

change. He said he is all about doing good things for the City of Columbus.

Mr. Johnston said this past August, the Georgia State Revenue came down and

we got Columbus, Georgia on the same sheet of music; and all the taxicab owners

had to pay sales tax for the past four years. He said he had to pay $18,000.00

because in the past four years, as one individual taxicab owner, he earned

$200,000 and out of that 7% Muscogee County got 3%. He said he is all about

doing the right thing.



He said there is a lot of good revenue in the business, if you work hard

and do the right thing. He said all the cab drivers in Columbus make $800.00.

He said one cab company is paying $70.00 per day to use his vehicle and another

cab company you are paying $58.00 per day, and that does not include gas. He

said as far as revenue for the City of Columbus, there are areas that you can

check into.



He said, as far as the 24-hour dispatch service is concerned, Columbus is

the only city in the State of Georgia that mandates 24-hour dispatch. He said

for a larger city, you are always going to have a 24-hour dispatch because

there is a need because if you have 50 to 100 cabs, you are going to have this

service.



Mr. Johnston said one reason that his company is so small is because he

has very high standards. He said to work for Ranger Cab Company, you have to

volunteer for drug testing and you have to pay. He said another thing that

Ranger Cab Company does is to have the free designated driver that is normally

done during the Christmas holidays, but said he does it year round for the

citizens of Columbus. He said he only requires a two-hour notice.



He said there are 75 independent contractors out there at Fort Bening,

which changed about two years ago. He said the City of Savannah has three

major cab companies 24-hour dispatch, but it is not mandatory; neither is

Macon. He said the larger cab companies with 600 or more cabs, there?s no

problem.



Mr. Johnston said cab drivers are like independent contractors and said

you can?t say a cab driver is going to work 8 hours a day and pay them a

certain amount. He said Fort Benning had some issues with that back in 2003;

because for the last 12 years they were supposed to be paying the cab drivers

$10.47. He said Fort Benning is upset with him a little bit because he is all

about being honest and saying things the way it is.



Mr. Johnston, in response to Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said he has been to

the Taxicab Commission twice. He said he went before the Taxicab Commission in

December and they had some discussion, because there were only two or three

taxicab members present. He said then at a later time, they had a formal

meeting and they had a vote with Lt. Ross; the vote was 3 to 2, which was a

split decision. He said they voted 3 to 2 to keep the 24-hour dispatch service.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said the whole purpose of setting up the Taxicab

Commission was that they would deal with taxicab issues and we would take their

recommendations, if they were reasonable. She said if you couldn?t convince

them and they know about taxicab business, how are you going to convince us and

we don?t know.

Mr. Johnston said three years ago the Taxicab Commission voted to raise

the taxicab fares; Columbus, Georgia is the only city that has a maximum fare

out of the entire State of Georgia. He said he called 35 different cities.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said the whole emphasis behind the Taxicab

Commission is so you all could be self-regulated. She said she knows that

everybody is not going to agree on the same thing all the time, but if we don?t

do what the Taxicab Commission recommends then what?s the point in having it.



Mr. Johnston said it may not be fair, but if the City Council says there

is one fare, there should be one fare, because there are 12 different prices on

the door of taxicabs. He said if a citizen rides with Brown Cab, Freedom Cab or

Ranger Cab, there is a different price; that?s wrong. He said we need to be

across the board across the State, and let?s do the right thing, let?s pay our

taxes and have one fare. He said the Council recommended one fare you didn?t

say a minimum fare and let?s talk about a flat rate for $15.00. He said when a

taxicab driver makes $400 or $500 a day, do you think Muscogee is really

getting their 7% or 3%.



Councilor Henderson said he knows it is very difficult to get 100%

participation at those meetings because they have expressed to us in the past

that it?s been kind of difficult to get them all together. He said this request

is an interesting one, while he don?t think we ought to run an end run on the

Taxicab Commission, he thinks that we might want to re-evaluate this.

He said it would be interesting to see how the vote was. He said this looks

like to some degree that it limits the chance of smaller companies getting into

the business; which ultimately is a good environment for the citizens.



He said he understands why we are interested in making the 24-hour

availability because of the personnel that?s going to need a ride somewhere

after midnight. He said he don?t know if we want to refer this back to the

Taxicab Commission and ask them if they would maybe substantiate the reasons

for requiring it.



Mr. Johnston said he has worked with them and have been to all the

meetings. He said he is talking about the City of Columbus; we?ve lost millions

of dollars. He said going back through the State, for Jeff Johnston and one

taxicab $18,000 for the past four years and Muscogee County got 3% of that. He

said he pay his taxes and he?s about doing it right. He said all these larger

companies are making $50,000 - $60,000 per month.



Councilor Henderson said in following up with what Mayor Pro Tem Turner

Pugh has suggested, perhaps we can get a written recommendation and some

justification from the Taxicab Commission.



Mayor Wetherington said he would be happy to talk with the Police

Department about this issue; discuss it with Lt. Ross and Chief Boren and he

will bring a report back to the Council.







Mr. Johnston said he really feels that the larger taxicab companies are

trying to keep the smaller companies down. He said 24-hour dispatch is no

problem, because they have maintained two taxicab companies for the last eight

years, with a two-man operation.



Mayor Wetherington asked Mr. Johnston to allow him an opportunity to look

into it and he will get back with the Council.



Councilor Woodson said if Councilor Henderson would permit, she would like

to request that we get something back on the fee structure as well

because the gentleman is saying that we are loosing money. She said with the

budget that we have and the things that we want to do, she would like for us to

look at the fees that they are charging and how much money we get back from the

different taxicab drivers. She said she is just interested in this information

based on the conversation here today. She said it sounds like we are not

getting our full share of what we should and that?s what he is saying. She said

she would like to have a little more information because she is not sure of

what?s going on.



Councilor Baker said perhaps at a Council Work session could we get an

overview of how the taxicab system works.



Mayor Wetherington said he would get Lt. Ross to come over and brief the

Council on this matter.



Mr. Johnston said Lt. Ross understands the police side of it in general

you won?t get the full side. He said he thinks you need to go outside to these

other cities. He said if you ask the cab drivers, you wouldn?t get the honest

truth.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said when we have the Work Session, let?s make

sure that information is provided to the Council as to what are the rates that

are being charged at Fort Benning. Also, provide some information as to why

there are only 64 out of the 200 taxicabs that we have in Columbus that are

allowed on Fort Benning.

--------------------------------------*** ***

***--------------------------------

CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA CONTINUED:



THE FOLLOWING THREE RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY

MANAGER HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE

COUNCIL:___________________________________________



A Resolution (268-07) ? Authorizing the approval to enter into a

three-year lease agreement with A Miracle in the City Foundation for the Primus

King Recreation Center, 2604 Staunton Drive. Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh moved

the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor Henderson and carried

unanimously by those eight members of Council present at the time, with

Councilors Davis and McDaniel being absent for this vote.



A Resolution (269-07) ? Authorizing the approval is requested to enter

into a three-year lease agreement with the Spirit Filled Methodist Church for

the Boxwood Recreation Center, 1101 Morris Road and Belvedere Recreation

Center, 726 Parkwood Drive. Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh moved the adoption of

the resolution. Seconded by Councilor Henderson and carried unanimously by

those eight members of Council present at the time, with Councilors Davis and

McDaniel being absent for this vote.



A Resolution (270-07) ? Granting the approval to submit applications and

if approved accept FY2008-FY2009 Transportation Enhancement funds from the

Georgia Department of Transportation to be used toward streetscape improvements

on Veterans Parkway from Victory Drive to 13th Street; Wynnton Road from

Peacock Avenue to Hilton Avenue; and for improvements to the 14th Street

Pedestrian Bridge. Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the resolution.

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

Council present at the time, with Councilors Davis, McDaniel and Mayor Pro Tem

Turner Pugh being absent for this vote.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING TEN PURCHASING RESOLUTIONS HAVING BEEN SUBMITTED WITH THE

CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY MANAGER HUGLEY AND

ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ADOPTION OF A SINGLE MOTION MADE BY

COUNCILOR ALLEN AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE SEVEN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

PRESNET AT THE TIME, WITH COUNCILORS DAVIS, MCDANIEL AND MAYOR PRO TEM TURNER

PUGH BEING ABSENT FOR THIS VOTE:



A Resolution (271-07) ? Authorizing the purchase of fiber optic service

from Lightspeed Datalinks in the amount of $113,700.00. The Jail requires fiber

optics to allow the connection for the Visimate Arraignment System between the

Muscogee County Jail, the Government Center and the Government Center Annex.

This system will accommodate Wireless Judicial-to-Jail Conferencing, enabling

suspects to make court appearances through video conferencing, while remaining

at the jail.



Lightspeed was chosen to provide the fiber optic service because the

vendor installed the video visitation system at the Jail. The video visitation

system was purchased at the recommendation of the Sheriff after discussions

with all the Judges, the Mayor and the City Manager.



A Resolution (272-07) ? Authorizing the approval of payment for the

emergency purchase of a new HVAC system, for 29th Street Gym, from Lonnie Smith

Service, Co., Inc. (Columbus, Georgia) in the amount of $14,985.00. On March

16, 2007, the City Manager approved the emergency purchase of a new HVAC system

for 29th Street Gym to replace the unit that had been vandalized. Copper from

the old unit was stolen, rendering the unit inoperable. Facilities Maintenance

documents that Lonnie Smith Service Company was the only vendor with the system

in stock that could install immediately.



A Resolution (273-07) ? Authorizing the procurement of installation

services for the IBM Commonstore Lotus Domino Archiving Software from

IBM/Oceansuite in the amount of $55,445.00. IBM/Oceansuite is responsible for

installation services for the IBM Lotus Notes CommonStore Archiving Software,

DB2 Content Manager and email search module. The purchase of the software and

hardware were approved per Resolution #114-07. This new software will allow IT

to archive the email files to an alternate location, which will result in a

more manageable and efficient email system. The software will also have search

capabilities for security and litigation issues. The IBM/Oceansuite is an only

known source available only through IBM. Therefore, the vendor is deemed an

only known source for the installation service per the Procurement Ordinance,

Article 3-114.



A Resolution (274-07) ? Authorizing payment to Motorola (Schaumburg, IL)

in the amount of $114,262.76 for Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) Server and Premier

MDC Software Maintenance Support. The maintenance provides hardware and

software support for MDT Server hardware located in the 911 Center, on a 24 x 7

x 365 schedule, and is the hardware infrastructure that interfaces the MDTs in

the Police Department, Sheriff?s Office, Fire Department, Marshal?s Office and

Inspections & Codes Division. The maintenance period is July 1, 2007 through

June 30, 2008. All of the software and equipment was developed by Motorola and

is proprietary in nature. Therefore, the vendor is considered an Only Known

Source, per Section 3-114 of the Procurement Ordinance.



A Resolution (275-07) ? Amending Resolution #555-06 (approved December 19,

2006) to change the awarded vendor from LaGrange College Center for Community

Studies to Center for Community Studies, Inc. Resolution #555-06 authorized

the annual contract for Evaluation Consultant Services for Columbus Children,

Youth and Family Coalition, Inc., which was awarded to LaGrange College Center

for Community Studies to provide evaluation consultant services on an ?as

needed basis?. The Purchasing Division has received notification that LaGrange

College Board of Trustees voted to close the LaGrange College Center for

Community Studies. The last day of the operation for the entity for all

financial transactions is June 30, 2007. Center for Community Studies, Inc.

(CCS) has provided written confirmation to assume the contract as originally

proposed at the same cost and schedule. All staff of the LaGrange College for

Community Studies will become employees of the new Center for Community

Studies, Inc. Therefore, providing the same expertise and quality of service

as in the original contract. The transition will be seamless for Columbus

Consolidated Government.



A Resolution (276-07) ? Authorizing the purchase of one (1) 6x6 off-road

articulated dump truck from Yancey Brothers (Columbus, GA) in the amount of

$280,495.00. The dump truck is an additional unit and will be used by the Pine

Grove Landfill to transport dirt and material in the construction of new

phases, as well as, moving materials from one pit or cell to another. Vendors

were asked to provide a guaranteed buy back offer within five (5) years or

7,500 operating hours, whichever comes first of the new unit. The City reserved

the right to either act on this offer or to keep the equipment longer than the

5 years or 7,500 hours, with the understanding that it voids the offer.



A Resolution (277-07) ? Authorizing the purchase of two (2) commercial

zero-turn-radius mowers with baggers from Hamilton Equipment (Columbus, GA) in

the amount of $15,367.50. The mowers are additional units and will be used by

the Parks Services Division, of the Parks and Recreation Department, to

maintain ball fields throughout Columbus.



A Resolution (278-07) ? Authorizing the annual contract for grounds

maintenance from Outdoor Solutions, Picture Perfect Lawn and A Cut Above

Landscape. All firms will provide grounds maintenance services to include

weekly, monthly and yearly maintenance routines, including fertilizing, weekly

mowing, edging, weed control, irrigation, pruning, mulching, disease and insect

control, etc. The ground maintenance services provided by the contractors will

include all the necessary equipment and labor. The City manages forty (40)

Gateway grounds maintenance areas in Muscogee County.



A Resolution (279-07) ? Authorizing the purchase of watershed

fertilization services from Burt Fertilizer for the estimated annual contract

value of $10,534.94. This contract includes the fertilization of approximately

78.77 acres of watershed lakes to provide erosion control. The watershed lakes

are as follows: Bull Creek - Psalmond Rd.; Cooper Creek-Gentian Blvd.;

Smith-Schomburg Rd.; Charter Oaks-Papaya Dr.; Weems-Stinson St.; Pierce

Chapel-Creekwood Ct.; DeBrabant-Macon Rd.; Anthony-Rockhurst; MCCI-Schatulga

Rd.; Airport-Airport Thruway; and Heath-Heath Park. The contract period is for

three (3) years, with the option to renew for two (2) additional twelve-month

periods. The renewal option is contingent upon the mutual agreement of the

City and the Contractor.



A Resolution (280-07) ? Authorizing payment to 1st Mechanical Services

(Alpharetta, GA), in the amount of $27,889.00 for the emergency repair of the

600-ton chiller at the Civic Center. The chiller ceased to operate, thereby,

inhibiting the air conditioning from cooling the building.

The repair of the chiller included: (1) replacement of three SCRs, (2) repair

of coolant loop fittings, and (3) replacement of inhibitor and brush heat

exchanger in coolant loop. Facilities Maintenance approached two vendors to

provide quotes to perform the repairs:



1st Mechanical Services $27,889.00

Siemens $28,598.00 (Replacing three SCRs only)



The City Manager approved the emergency repair of the chiller on May 1, 2007.



*** *** ***



CAC MEETING:



Councilor Hunter said on last week, he had the opportunity to watch the

CAC Meeting that Councilor Barnes attended and said during that meeting they

discussed an issue that we discussed a while back at a Council meeting with

regards to the St. Mary?s Road proposed widening project that the Department of

Transportation had brought back months ago. He said as you know, at that time

we had significant negative feedback from people who lives and have businesses

in that area and as a direct result of that we came to the conclusion that it

would be best if we had some type of an advisory committee that was made up of

people who lived in the area and whose businesses would be affected.



He said what came to them at that first public meeting was a concept, but

not a final draft; and said it is his understanding that before anything is

brought back to this community from the department of transportation, there

will be an opportunity to have input from the public, specifically that

advisory committee.



Councilor Hunter said there remain concerns within the community and it

was evident from the CAC meeting that was recently held. He said he has asked

for the City Manager to give some response to that because it is a high issue

in the community and they need some information for those people who will be

affected by this.



City Manager Hugley said he did not attend the meeting, but he did watch

it on the video. He said the staff is working together to pull together that

Citizen Advisory Committee, a list of members that they will send to the

Georgia Department of Transportation. He said as a staff they have concerns of

what has been laid out in terms of the St. Mary?s Road widening. He said as the

project moves forward as some future date, things will continually come back to

this body based on feedback we get from Georgia Department of Transportation.

He said he knows that Councilor Barnes has been involved and that process, and

said it is his understanding that State Representative Carolyn Hugley and State

Senator Ed Harbison is scheduling a meeting with our DOT representative to talk

about their concerns about the St. Mary?s Road issue, which are in line with

the staff?s concerns and this elected body. He said there is much concern in

this community about the

St. Mary?s Road issue and there will be much more discussion on it as we go

forward.





*** *** ***



HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS:



Councilor Woodson said she would like for the staff to contact

Ms. Elizabeth Dillard with the Homeless Task Force regarding those homeless

individuals who were moved from the Second Avenue Bridge, they are now living

behind the Piggly Wiggly on North Lumpkin Road. She said we need to look at

trying to get them moved into one of the homeless shelters or a different

location.



*** *** ***



PAYLESS SHOE STORE:



Councilor Woodson said she would like to have someone to go out and check

the property line at the Payless Shoe Store on Victory Drive, also look into

the concerns of a vehicle falling.

-------------------------------------*** ***

***--------------------------------





SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS:



Councilor Woodson said she has received an email from a constituent in

reference to the school board televising their program. She said the individual

that sent the email makes it seem like we don?t work with the school system.

She said she did receive an email from Naomi Buckner saying that the school

board has approved for their work sessions to be televised. She said she wanted

the citizens to know that any time that there is a school board issue, they

receive telephone calls as well and they do call their colleagues and talk with

them, and work with them on these matters.



City Manager Hugley said their regular board meetings are recorded and we

do rebroadcast them through CCG. He said they have not in the past recorded

their work sessions, just their monthly board meetings. He said he received a

telephone call from one of their board members when the vote was not to air

their work sessions and asked me if they provided us with a tape, would we play

it, which of course we did tell them we would play it.



*** *** ***



ROAD PROJECTS:



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh asked City Manager Hugley if the members of the

Citizens Advisory Committee that are dealing with the road projects were

appointed by the Council.



City Manager Hugley said there is three different committees that tie into

the committee that put things in the Transportation Improvement Plan.



Mr. Rick Jones, Chief of the Planning Division said the Citizens Advisory

Committee is a volunteer group that they pull together throughout the region,

not just Columbus, but includes Phenix City, Russell County and Chattahoochee

County. He said Harris County is also invited to the table although they are

not really an official member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization.



Mr. Jones said the Committee?s role is to advise the MPO or staff on

projects and they act in the same way as the Planning Advisory Commission does;

they advise the staff in terms of how the project should go.



After Mr. Jones gave an overview of the Citizens Advisory Commission, he

and City Manager Hugley then responded to further concerns of members of the

Council.



City Manager Hugley said they will look at the makeup of the board to make

sure it is reflective of those living in all geographical areas of the

communities.



Members of the Council also made comments regarding this subject, after

more than fifteen minutes of discussion on this subject. Mr. Rick Jones also

responded to further questions of members of the Council.

-----------------------------------*** ***

***-------------------------------------



CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:



CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING ITEM AS INFORMATION

FOR THE MAYOR & COUNCIL: ________________________________________________



(1) Biographical Sketch of Mr. Jed G. Harris, Jr., Mayor Wetherington?s nominee

to replace Ms. Sandra McKinnon on the Convention & Trade Center Authority.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL: _______________________________



A Resolution (281-07) ? Approving and receiving the report of the Finance

Director of those alcoholic beverage licenses that were approved and/or denied

during the month of May 2007. Councilor Henderson moved the adoption of the

resolution. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by

those eight members of Council present at the time, with Councilors Allen and

Davis being absent for this vote.



*** *** ***



MEMORIAL BENCH:



Clerk of Council Washington submitted a memorandum advising that the Board

of Honor has taken action to approve a request to install a ?Memorial Bench? in

honor of the late Mr. Bob Vincent at Cooper Creek Park and that it needs the

Council?s approval.



Councilor Henderson moved approval. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh

and carried unanimously by those eight members of Council present at the time,

with Councilors Allen and Davis being absent for this vote.



*** *** ***



CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING TWO TAXICABE

APLLICATIONS FOR A BUSINESS LICENSE FOR APPROVAL: _________________________



Application of Mr. Jeffery Johnston for a taxicab owner?s business license

to operate Jumpmaster Cab Company, to be located at 9118 U. S. Highway 27,

Hamilton, Georgia 31811.



Application of Mr. Eddie Smith for a taxicab owner?s business license to

operate Fifty Cents Cab Company, to be located at 357 Brennan Road, Columbus,

Georgia 31903.







Councilor Henderson moved the approval of these two applications. Seconded

by Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those eight members of

Council present at the time, with Councilors Allen and Davis being absent for

this vote



*** *** ***



CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING TWO TEMPORARY STREET

CLOSING APPLICATIONS FOR THE COUNCIL?S APPROVAL: ___________



Application of Vinnie DeLong to temporarily close 5th Street between 2nd

and 3rd Avenue, on Saturday, June 24, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., in

connection with the ?Annual Church Carnival and Picnic?.



Application of Jade Cheeseboro to temporarily close Bay Avenue from City

docks to Dillingham Street, Bay Avenue from 10th Street to 11th Street

Dillingham Street, 9th and 10th Street from west side of Front Avenue to

Dillingham Street on Alabama side, from 12:00 p.m. July 3 - 12:00 a.m. July 5;

Broadway and Front Avenue from 9th Street to 10th Street and 9th and 10th

Street from Broadway to Front Avenue, from 1:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on July 4,

2007, in connection with ?Thunder on the Hooch?.



Councilor Henderson moved the approval of these two applications. Seconded

by Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those eight members of

Council present at the time, with Councilors Allen and Davis being absent for

this vote



*** *** ***



MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING BOARDS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND APPROVED:



Board of Tax Assessors, No. 23-07.

Uptown Facade Board, April 16, 2007.

Uptown Facade Board, May 21, 2007.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh made a motion that the minutes be received.

Seconded by Councilor McDaniel and carried unanimously by those eight members

of Council present at the time, with Councilors Allen and Davis being absent

for this vote.



*** *** ***



THE FOLLOWING TWO NEW ZONING PETITIONS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL

WASHINGTON AND AN ORDINACNE AND PUBLIC HEARING CALLED FOR BY COUNCILOR

MCDANIEL:____________________________________



Petition submitted by Foresite Group, Inc. to rezone approximately 0.514

acre of property located at 3127 and 3131 Macon Road from NC (Neighborhood

Commercial) to GC (General Commercial).

(26-A-07-Foresite Group, Inc.)

Petition submitted by Robert Morrison to rezone approximately 2.0 acres of

property located at 3556 and 3562 St. Mary?s Road from SFR3 (Single Family

Residential 3) to GC (General Commercial). (Recommended for approval by both

the Planning Advisory Commission and the Planning Department).

(27-A-07-Morrison)



*** *** ***



BOARD APPOINTMENTS:



CONVENTION & TRADE CENTER AUTHORITY:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that Mayor Wethrington is

nominating Mr. Jed Harris, Jr. to succeed Ms. Sandra McKinnon on the Convention

& Trade Center Authority. Councilor Henderson moved

Mr. Harris be confirmed. Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously

by those nine members of Council present at the time, with Councilor Davis

being absent for this vote.



*** *** ***



FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that on last week Mrs. Evergreen

Covington was nominated to succeed Ms. Juanita Booker on the Family & Children

Services Board and that she may now be confirmed. Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh

moved she be confirmed. Seconded by Councilor Hunter and carried unanimously

by those nine members of Council present at the time, with Councilor Davis

being absent for this vote.



*** *** ***



HISTORIC & ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that the seat of Mr. Jeff

Bickerstaff on the Historic & Architectural Review Board has been declared

vacant and that we need someone to fill this position, which must be someone

who lives in the Historic District.



There were no nominations.



*** *** ***



KEEP COLUMBUS BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that she has outlined those

nominees who have been nominated to succeed themselves for a second term of

office and they may now be confirmed. Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh then moved

confirmation of those individuals. Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried

unanimously by those nine members of Council present at the time, with

Councilor Davis being absent for this vote.



The following individuals were confirmed to succeed themselves for a

second term of office: Beth Burgin, Susie Hamlet, Cheryl Johnson, Marie Lewis,

Priscilla Marshall, Sandra Mason, and Larry Trammell.



Christine Dawson was confirmed to succeed Virginia Dickerson, Patricia

Killough to succeed Pamela G. Feagle, Jack Collins to succeed Carlton Gardner,

Robert Watkins to succeed Barry Jenkins, Betty Thomas-McBride to succeed

William Kendall, Julie Bray to succeed Linda McLemore, James Moto to succeed

James Miller, William Consoletti to succeed Kenneth Queen, Sherrylrae Wicker to

succeed Shelby Rollinson, Doris Estell to succeed Eva Smith



*** *** ***



TAXICAB COMMISSION:



Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that on last week David Cassell,

Robert Cullinan, Robert Kidd and James Nash was nominated on last week to

succeed themselves for another term of office.



Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said before we confirmed these individuals she

would like for Clerk of Council Washington to make sure that these individuals

are attending the meetings and then bring it back on next week.



Clerk of Council Washington said she would check that and then bring this

matter back on next week.



*** *** ***



With there being no additional business on the Council?s Agenda, Mayor

Wetherington then asked if there was anyone seated in the audience who wanted

to address the Council. There was no one.



*** *** ***



EXECUTIVE SESSION:



Regarding an earlier request of City Attorney Fay, Councilor Henderson

made a motion to allow the Council to go into an executive session to discuss a

matter of potential litigation. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh and

carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present at the time, with

Councilor Davis being absent for this vote.



*** *** ***



At 12:25 p.m. the regular session was adjourned to allow the Council to go

into an executive session.

-----------------------------------*** ***

***-------------------------------------



NOTE: Councilor Allen left at 12:30 p.m.

Councilor Davis returned back to the meeting at 12:31 p.m.



-----------------------------------*** ***

***-------------------------------------

At 1:09 p.m. the meeting was called back to order at which time Mayor

Wetherington pointed out that the Council met in an executive session to

discuss a matter of potential litigation, but there were no votes taken.



*** *** ***



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

Henderson then made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Councilor Woodson and

carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present at the time, with

Councilor Allen having already left the meeting, with the time being 1:10 p.m.



*** *** ***





Tiny B. Washington, CMC

Clerk of Council

The Council of Columbus, Georgia

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