Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING

Meeting

November 8, 2005



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

Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles E. McDaniel, Jr.,

Evelyn Turner Pugh (arrived 8:37 a.m.) and Evelyn Woodson. Also present were

Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff, City Manager Isaiah Hugley, City Attorney Clifton

Fay, Assistant City Attorney Jamie DeLoach, Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin,

Finance Director Angela Cole, Public Services Assistant Director Rachel Buice,

Clerk of Council Tiny B. Washington and Deputy Clerk of Council Sandra Davis.



Members Absent: Councilors Berry Henderson and Nathan Suber were absent.

================ ======== ===============

This meeting was called to order at 8:36 a.m., in the Council Chambers

Conference Room, Plaza Level of the Government Center.



*** *** ***

Legislative Agenda:

City Manager Hugley called attention to the listed items from the departments

for the legislative agenda. He recommended that the Council review this list

and advise if there are any to be added and/or deleted.



*** *** ***



Georgia Power Franchise Agreement:

City Manager Hugley reminded the Council about the current franchise agreement

with Georgia Power that is due to expire in 2011. He advised that GMA

comprised a committee and reviewed the proposal for the new Georgia Power

agreement. He explained this agreement would be offered to different

municipalities across Georgia that was reviewed by the committee appointed by

GMA and the franchise fee that was adopted by the governing body of the Georgia

Municipal Association.



He shared that this is a thirty-five year agreement that would go through the

year 2040. This agreement was challenged by one of cities, but the courts

upheld the thirty-five year agreement saying the term is reasonable. He

recalled that the City received $6.6 million, which is based on 4% of gross

revenue from residential and commercial customers of Georgia Power in FY-05.

He explained that under the new agreement the percentage remains at 4%. He

said the one item that this agreement includes that the current agreement does

not is Ft. Benning, which should bring an additional revenue of $120,000 to the

City.



Mayor Poydasheff pointed out that this amount does not include the Infantry

Museum that would be a customer of Georgia Power and some of the other

facilities that are coming on line.



City Manager Hugley continued that under this new agreement Georgia Power would

be responsible for moving the distribution center; whereas, in the current

agreement, the City was responsible.

Councilor McDaniel expressed concerns with how the trees are cut by Georgia

Power around the power lines.



Councilor Turner Pugh expressed the concerns of GMA regarding the thirty-five

year agreement; however, we don?t have a choice but to accept this term.

Councilor Woodson reminded everyone of the thirty-year contract with the

Medical Center, which is the reason for her concerns. City Manager Hugley

advised that Assistant City Attorney DeLoach has advised that without the

thirty-five year term, the citizens would have to pay an additional 4% tax

added to their bill.



City Manager Hugley then highlighted other franchise agreements and are listed

as follows:

Atmos Energy ? 15 years expires 2020 ? 4% of gross sales for five years and 5%

for the next ten years

Mediacom ? 15 years expires 2007 - 5% of gross sales

Charter ? 15 years expires 2007 ? 5% of gross sales

Knology ? expires 2009 ? 5% of gross sales

AT&T ? indefinite- per linear foot

Bell South ? indefinite - 3% of recurred revenue

Expedia ? expires 2010 ? 5% of gross receipts

Public Service Telephone ? 15 years ? 5% of gross receipts



He called attention to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that is included

with this agreement, which addresses how we would deal with trees and

authorizes the City Manager to sign the agreement. He explained that the MOU

addresses the pruning standards, removal and planting of trees.



Responding to Councilor Allen regarding the removal of tree criteria and

replacement, Assistant Public Services Director Buice briefly explained that it

is the same process, if the tree is damaged or would be unsightly; then, they

would talk to the adjacent property owner and that?s when we get the adjacent

property owner to agree that we are going to remove the tree. However,

Assistant Public Services Director Buice pointed out that if the tree is a

hazard; then, they would contact the City Arborist and work with the citizen so

that they would understand that it need to come down. She pointed out that if

the tree is removed, the citizen could request that a tree be replanted and

there is a form to fill out to accomplish that. She said that we would replant

with a tree that is suitable under the power line and Georgia Power gives the

City the money for that.



*** *** ***



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

concluded, this meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.







________________________

Sandra T. Davis,

Deputy Clerk of Council



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