MINUTES
COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 26, 2016
The regular weekly meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia was called
to order at 5:30 P.M., Tuesday, January 26, 2016, on the 2nd Floor of the
Citizens Service Center, located at 3111 Citizens Way, Columbus, Georgia
Honorable Teresa Tomlinson, Mayor and Honorable Evelyn Turner Pugh, Mayor Pro
Tem presiding.
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PRESENT: Present other than Mayor Teresa Tomlinson were Councilors R. Gary
Allen, Mike Baker, Jerry Barnes, Tom B. Buck III, Glenn Davis, Berry H.
Henderson, Bruce Huff and Judy W. Thomas. City Manager Isaiah Hugley, City
Attorney Clifton Fay, Assistant City Attorney Lucy Sheftall, Clerk of Council
Tiny B. Washington and Deputy Clerk of Council Lindsey Glisson were also
present. Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Turner Pugh took her seat at 5:35p.m. Councilor
Evelyn Woodson took her seat at 5:47 p.m.
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ABSENT: No one was absent.
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INVOCATION: Offered by Reverend Cindy Garrard, Pastor of St. Luke United
Methodist Church.
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Girls Inc.
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PUBLIC HEARING:
Mayor Tomlinson called forward the public hearing on the River
District Redevelopment Plan? 6th Avenue/Liberty District, Uptown, and 2nd
Avenue/City Village?Tax Allocation Districts 2, 3 and 4.
Prior to the hearing being held, Councilor Davis said it is his
understanding that each of these three requests for a Tax Allocation District,
6th Avenue District/Liberty District, Uptown, and 2nd Avenue/City Village
-Tax Allocation Districts 2, 3 and 4 are all being looked at separately and
that it would be the preference of the Council that these different requests be
voted on individually.
City Attorney Fay said right now there is a package for the Redevelopment
area, which includes all three TADs, but said if any councilor wants to make a
motion to vote on these separately, that?s appropriate at this time. He said
these will be voted on in March.
Councilor Barnes made a motion to vote on each Tax Allocation District
separately. Seconded by Councilor Thomas and carried unanimously by those nine
members of Council present, with Councilor Woodson being absent for the vote.
City Attorney Fay then stated that Councilor Davis wanted to read
something into the record. Councilor Davis said he would like this statement
that he is about to read to be recorded into the records. He said he has been
made aware of O.C.G.A. concerning conflicts of interest relative to the
creation of Redevelopment Districts under the Redevelopment Powers Law. In
light of the current statutory language, I am disclosing that I do not
currently have a financial interest direct or indirect in any of the three
proposed tax allocation districts in the River District Redevelopment Plan,
which is on the Mayor?s agenda for Public Hearing today. However, out of an
abundance of caution, I do wish to disclose that there is a potential that I
might have what could be construed to be an indirect interest in transactions
related to the proposed Columbus, Georgia Consolidated Government, Tax
Allocation District #3 Uptown which is one of the three Tax Allocation
Districts proposed by the plan. Accordingly, I make this written disclosure
and announce that I will not participate in discussion of or vote on any
resolution or other Council action which includes the area identified as the
Uptown Tax Allocation District described above.
Councilor Davis? statement was filed with Clerk of Council Washington for
the record and is therefore, being filed with the records of today?s meeting.
Councilor Huff said he needs some direction, because he too is a business
owner in the Liberty District; therefore, he needs to be guided by the City
Attorney, as far as his participation in these matters.
Mayor Tomlinson said he has owned it for longer than two years.
City Attorney Fay said if you have owned it for longer than two years,
prior to this month, then you are able to keep your ownership, but said you
need to disclose it, and not participate or discuss that particular district
where you have a property ownership.
City Attorney Fay then called Mr. Richard Bishop, and Mr. Bleakly to come
forward to proceed with the public hearing. He also stated that in light of
the action taken earlier by this Council, apparently they would like to vote
separately on each of these districts. He said that can all be worked out on
paper by March 8th on paper.
Mr. Richard Bishop came forward and said they would like to give an update
and respond to some of the questions that had been asked at the last meeting.
He said they have a representatives from each of the districts present here
tonight, to include Ms. Marquette McKnight, Mr. Justin Krieg and Mr. Robert
Anderson. He said that Mr. Ken Bleakly, is present tonight to address the
questions or issues that has been raised and said each member of the Council
should have a copy of that presentation, which he will be going on that
addresses two changes in the plan. He said the issue regarding the
reassessment, we hope that we have a solution for that, but they do respect
your comments and do want to hear those.
Mr. Bleakly said the Council members received a copy of the updated River
District Redevelopment Plan earlier this week, and said all of these changes
are reflected in that document, and we just wanted to highlight them for you.
He then briefly outlined the updated changes, as well as showed the proposed
Boundaries on the map, which represented the three areas, as listed below.
He said the proposal for the River District Redevelopment has three
separate TADs areas included, and said TAD #2 is 6th Avenue/Liberty
District, which is highlighted in blue and the map, TAD #3 is Uptown and is
highlighted in orange on the map. TAD #4 is 2nd Avenue/City Village and
has not change; that basic boundary; however, some of the boundaries have
changed slightly.
Mr. Bleakly said the Liberty District boundary is identical to what was
discussed at the last meeting and then outlined the information, as outlined
below.
TAD #2: 6th Ave./Liberty District
Summary
Number of Parcels 599
Total Acres 296
Taxable Acres 221
2015 Market Value
Fair Market Value $130,358,198
Taxable Digest $27,337,652
Total Fair Market Value/Acre $440,330
Total Taxable Value/Taxable Acre $123,770
Number of Assessed Buildings/Structures 239
He said in the Uptown area there was a change that was made to exclude a
property that we had previously included. He then outlined that parcel, as
listed below. He said that area is part of the River Landing project and he
believes it is intended to be a parking deck. He said that property now would
continue on the city?s digest and the advantage of doing that is that you will
receive the immediate revenues both from the construction and from the
valuation of that Parcel in part to offset your concerns about the
reassessment impacts. He said that project moves ahead, part of that project
will stay on the tax rolls and will not be included in the TAD and said that is
the only change in the Uptown boundary.
Revisions: TAD #3
Parcel
004 009 004 (north of 13 St. Bridge / south of 14th) divided Southern portion
omitted from TAD #3
TAD #3: Uptown
Summary
Number of Parcels 389
Total Acres 194
Taxable Acres 139
2015 Market Value
Fair Market Value $339,451,725
Taxable Digest $47,844,941
Total Fair Market Value/Acre $1,754,660
Total Taxable Value/Taxable Acre $345,417
Number of Assessed Buildings/Structures 222
TAD #4: 2nd Ave./City Village
Number of Parcels 990
Total Acres 371
Taxable Acres 261
2015 Market Value
Fair Market Value $105,664,573
Taxable Digest $30,265,438
Total Fair Market Value/Acre $285,215
Total Taxable Value/Taxable Acre $116,065
Number of Assessed Buildings/Structures 595
Revisions: TAD #4
Three parcels added at northern boundary
183 001 009
010 004 002
010 004 003
Mr. Bleakly said as we had discussed at the last meeting, there was a
request to include a couple of parcels north of Manchester Expressway.
He said the previous boundaries ended at Manchester Expressway, but said we
have added two parcels to the north. He said that the only other change to the
boundaries. He said at the last meeting, they also talked about these three
needs that needed to happen, as listed below.
Revisions
} Renumbering of TAD Districts
} Requested Boundary Changes
} Reassessment Impact on Base Value
Mr. Bleakly said given that you have approved the Benning Tech Park, TAD
#1, they have renumbered these so that Liberty District is TAD #2, Uptown would
be TAD#3 and City Village would be TAD #4. He said there was a request to make
those boundary changes and they have made those changes.
Mr. Bleakly said the third issue was how the City could deal with the
potential impact of the reassessment process that you are going through
currently. He said over the last month, they have spent a considerable amount
of time consulting with other cities, as well as talking to one of the State?s
foremost authority on the Redevelopment Power Law, Ms. Sharon Gay, about how
would be the most efficient way to deal with the potential change in value that
would come from the reassessment, sometime in mid- 2017, if you made the
decision to go ahead and adopt the TAD this year, which would then set the base
at 2016.
He said the conclusion was that there is a provision in the law that is
called a Pilot payment in lieu of taxes provision, but said the language is not
totally clear as to whether or not the sponsoring jurisdiction can give itself
its own pilot. He said it?s clearly one that you can do with the school
district, or if you are municipality, you could do with the county.
He said it is not clear that the sponsoring jurisdiction can actually
create a pilot to itself.
Mr. Bleakly said in looking at the language, the conclusion was that the
best strategy was to use the amendment provision that is in the law, Section
44-36 10(b) has a provision that basically allows you to add parcels at a
future time, so you could potentially add a couple of small parcels. He said
what that does is, it triggers that you then have to reset the base to the year
that you added those parcels. He said how that would work is, if you went
through the reassessment process when you have the answer in the middle of 2017
and there was a significant difference in your opinion between 2016 and 2017
values, then what you could do is amend those districts and add a couple of
small parcels and that would set the base to that 2017 number.
He said that seems to be the cleanest and simplest approach to do that,
and it gives you total option to do it or not to do it depending on the results
of the assessment process.
Mr. Bleakly said their recommendation would be to proceed and adopt the
plan this year and set the base in 2016 and that would allow you to start
marketing the properties to attract projects into the three TAD areas, and you
can move ahead and if it becomes necessary to make that adjustment, we don?t
anticipate there would any debt that would be issued in the previous 12 months
and that means you can reset the base and make that adjustment based on what
your final conclusions are about the assessment process in 2017.
He said by including this portion of the River landing project, or by
taking it out of the TAD and leaving it in the City?s tax base, we think that
would generate several hundred thousands of dollars in the short term to the
City in 2017/2018; which would hopefully offset some of the impact of the
reassessment process, to make sure you were covered in terms of some of those
additional revenues.
After the conclusion of the presentation by Mr. Bleakly, he and City
Attorney Fay then responded to questions of members of the Council.
Regarding Councilor Davis? statement that he read earlier and filed with
Clerk of Council Washington, Councilor Allen said in past requests when a
Council member has expressed concern about voting on an issue, the Council has
voted to allow them to abstain and then asked, if that is something we need to
do in this regard based on his request.
Mayor Tomlinson said it is in our Charter, that if a Councilor requests to
abstain that it must be voted on by Council and said she don?t know if the
State law preempts that by forbidding it and said she would need to ask the
City Attorney.
City Attorney Fay said he has made a disclosure so he is forbidden by
Statue from participating in the Uptown TAD. He said you could do that in
March when this matter is on the table.
Mayor Tomlinson said when this matter comes back in March, asked that
Clerk of Council Washington make a note that when this comes back up in March
that we will follow that procedure and remind the Council and then take a vote
to allow Councilor Davis to abstain.
Further discussion continued on this matter, with several members of the
Council expressing their views regarding the subject of the TADs, after which
referrals was made by members of the Council, and are outlined below.
Councilor Baker said once a parcel goes into a TAD, if there is a project
big enough that the developer thought that his business model was a better fit
for a tax abatement than a TAD; is it not included in here that he has not
forfeited that. He said once we put these parcels in a TAD, you couldn?t
give any tax abatement, because you need that tax revenue to pay the
financing.
Mr. Bleakly said it is a policy question for the Council. He said legally
you could do, but said it wouldn?t be practical. He said you would either do
one or the other. He said there are examples where companies have taken the
abatement rather than the TAD. He said if the districts is already growing, it
doesn?t bring a deficit, but said the rule is generally if you are in a TAD,
that?s the preferred methodically.
Councilor Baker said he agrees, and then said he would like for Mr. Rick
Jones to look at that and bring us some updated information, and look at that
as far as a policy question.
Councilor Davis said this pertains to the Liberty District and said there
was some concerns of the Council about the South Commons area and he don?t see
any changes that have been made there. He said the way he understands it, the
Council can amend the TAD with a motion and the right amount of votes to remove
that area. He said he will not support the Liberty District because he is not
in agreement with the South Commons area being a part of it. He said he think
it would be a conflict to keep it in the TAD.
Mayor Tomlinson asked if that would include the fuel station, because that
is not South Commons and said it is a potential brownfield. There was a brief
discussion between Councilor Davis and Mayor Tomlinson as to this matter.
Councilor Davis said it would be the Softball field, Civic Center, the Golden
Park area, and Skateboard Park.
Councilor Davis then made a motion for the area of the South Commons to be
removed from the Liberty District TAD, to include the main Softball field,
Civic Center, Golden Park and Skateboard Park. Seconded by Councilor Barnes.
Several minutes of discussion continued on this matter, with members of
the Council expressing their views regarding the South Commons area.
Councilor Henderson and Woodson said they would like to see that area
drawn out so that we can see what that would look like.
Mr. Bishop said we can get Mr. Bleakly to draw the lines and said he
wanted to get some directions and then asked Councilor Davis, if you want us to
go in the directions to maintain the tank farms in the TAD. He said he would
see that as critical to the city and said he need to make the lines work and it
make require coming through the South Commons in some way.
He said he is not saying he can?t be done, but said we just need some
directions, as we bring you proposals back with maps if you want to keep the
tank farms in the TAD, and said if you don?t, it?s pretty simple. He said if
you do, Mr. Bleakly has to figure out how to make the lines work.
After much discussion, Councilor Davis then withdrew his motion.
Councilor Davis said he is totally fine with that. He said he will withdraw his
motion and that is what he was hoping would happen tonight and that it wouldn?t
have to come up. He said he thinks that everyone understands where his concerns
are and said that his concerns are for the City.
City Attorney Fay then asked if there was anyone in the audience who
wanted to be heard on this matter, but there were none.
Mr. Richard Bishop in concluding this matter said he would hope that the
Council votes to approve all three of the TAD Districts. He said over the last
few months they have tried to answer of the questions that the Council members
have had and said that the TADs are put in place to incentivize economic
development.
City Attorney Fay said this matter will be back before the Council on
March 8th to be vote on by the Council.
City Manager Hugley said he would ask the Council to look at the TAD
policy and if you see something else that needs to be changed to let us know
before it comes back to this Council.
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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA:
WITH THE 2015 COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN?S SOCCER TEAM STANDING AT
THE COUNCIL TABLE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
COUNCILOR THOMAS AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:
A Resolution (15-16) ? Commending and congratulating the 2015 Columbus
State University Women?s Soccer team upon recently making it to the NCAA
National Championship Match in Florida.
Councilor Thomas moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by
Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council
present.
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MINUTES: Minutes of the January 12, 2016 Council Meeting of the Consolidated
Government were submitted and approved upon the adoption of a motion made by
Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh. Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried
unanimously by those ten members of Council present.
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CITY ATTORNEY?S AGENDA CONTINUED:
THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY ATTORNEY FAY
ON SECOND READING:
An Ordinance (16-1) ? Rezoning property located at 7350 Blackmon Road from
RE1 (Residential Estate 1) zoning district to GC (General Commercial) zoning
district.
Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the ordinance. Seconded by Councilor
Woodson and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council present.
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EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Mayor Tomlinson entertained a motion to go into executive session to
discuss a Litigation matter. Councilor Davis made a motion to go into
executive session to discuss a Litigation matter. Seconded by Councilor
Woodson and carried unanimously by those ten members of Council present.
At 6:37 p.m., the Council adjourned its regular meeting to go into
executive session. At 7:05 p.m., the meeting was reconvened.
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An Ordinance (16-2) ? Amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2016
beginning July 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2016 so as to appropriate and
account for the payment of legal fees and expenses provided to the Muscogee
County Sheriff in the case of Darr v. Columbus; and for other purposes.
Councilor Allen made a motion to amend the ordinance to add the protest
language. Seconded by Councilor Buck and carried unanimously by those eight
members of Council present, with Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh and Councilor
Woodson being absent for the vote.
Councilor Allen moved to adopt the ordinance as amended. Seconded by
Councilor Buck and carried by a vote of nine to one with Mayor Pro Tem Turner
Pugh and Councilors Allen, Barnes, Buck, Davis, Henderson, Huff, Thomas and
Woodson voting yes and Councilor Baker voting no.
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PUBLIC AGENDA
THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS APPEARED BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON THE PUBLIC AGENDA
TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING SUBJECT MATTERS, AS LISTED BELOW: ________
MR. DAN EAST, REPRESENTING VALLEY RESCUE MISSION, RE: EXPANION
PLANS:_______________________________________
Mr. Dan East, representing Valley Rescue Mission, came forward and went
into details and explained to the Council their plans for expanding the Valley
Rescue Mission.
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MR. JOSHUA MCCARTY, RE: HOMELESSNESS IN
COLUMBUS:_________________________________________________
Mr. Joshua McCarty, who requested to be listed on the Council?s Public
Agenda, to speak to the subject of Homelessness in Columbus, cancelled his
scheduled appearance prior to the meeting this evening.
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MR. TONY ALFORD, JR., RE: COMMENTARY ON LEGAL
MATTERS:___________________________________________________
Mr. Tony Alford, Jr., who requested to be listed on tonight?s Public
Agenda, to speak to the Council regarding a Legal matter, did not respond when
given the opportunity to speak to address the Council.
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MR. LEWIS CLEMONS, RE: TAX ASSESSMENT PURPOSES:
Mr. Lewis Clemons, came forward and went in details in explaining his
situation with regards to purchasing church property from another church, and
him having to pay property taxes on this property, which should be exempted, as
they are operating as a church.
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MS. LINDA SIMMONS, RE: FLOODING:
Ms. Linda Simmons, came forward and addressed an issue of flooding that
caused property damage to her home during the recently extremely hard rain
which occurred a few weeks ago.
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MR. JOHNNY BORUM, RE: INJURED OFFICERS:
Mr. Johnny Borum, a former police officer came forward, as he has done on
another occasion and made comments regarding the unfair treatment that he feels
our police officers are given after they have been injured on the job.
Mr. Borum went into much details in what he said happened to him when he
was injured on the job.
Councilor Woodson said Mr. Borum made a comment in his presentation that
concerns her and said she would like for the City Manager to go back and
research that matter. She said he mentioned that fact that one of our staff
members told him that he shouldn?t get long term disability. She said she
found that very strange because no one should be telling you what benefits you
should or shouldn?t get. She said she would like to know if we are telling
people what type of coverages they should take out. She said she want to know
what are we doing or what are we saying because no one should ever give our own
personal opinion on a situation like that.
City Manager Hugley said, yes, he can understand that and what he thought
he heard him say, was that many years ago when he started, he did ask a
question, if he should get long term disability and someone said no, that the
City is going to take care of you. He said if that occurred that person is
probably long gone, because it was probably 20 years ago. He said he will
certainly make sure that HR understands and he know that we don?t try to sell
policies, or not sell policies for other agencies that sell long term/short
term disability; that would be typically an insurance agency that we allow
payroll deduction on that we currently have with the City. He said that is a
personal decision, and we shouldn?t be encouraging, one way or the other. He
said he will make sure that we continue that practice of not recommending, and
let that person make their own personal decision based on their family needs,
or what they think they need.
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CITY MANAGER?S AGENDA:
THE FOLLOWING FIVE RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY
MANAGER HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE
COUNCIL:___________________________________________
A Resolution (16-16) ? Authorizing the City Manager of Columbus, Georgia
to execute a Supplemental Contract with the Georgia Department of
Transportation (GDOT) for additional funding for the Columbus-Phenix City
Transportation Study (C-PCTS).
Councilor Woodson moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Mayor
Pro Tem Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council
present, with Councilor Buck being absent for the vote.
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A Resolution (17-16) ? Authorizing the City Manager to enter into an
agreement with AT&T for needed utility relocation for the construction of the
Follow Me Trail Bridge across Victory Drive.
Councilor Huff moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor
Woodson and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present, with
Councilor Buck being absent for the vote.
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A Resolution (18-16) ? Authorizing the Mayor to submit an application for
and to accept, if approved, a State Road & Tollway Authority Go! Transit
Capital Program Grant with no local match required for funding of the Columbus
to Atlanta Inter-city Passenger Rail Environmental Study.
Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by
Councilor Woodson and carried by a vote of eight to one with Mayor Pro Tem
Turner Pugh and Councilors Allen, Baker, Barnes, Davis, Henderson, Huff and
Woodson voting yes and Councilor Thomas voting no, with Councilor Buck being
absent for the vote.
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A Resolution (19-16) ? Authorizing the City to approve use of Columbus
Umpires Association as a vendor for officiating games with the Parks and
Recreation Department.
Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by
Councilor Henderson and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council
present, with Councilor Buck being absent for the vote.
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A Resolution (20-16) ? Authorizing the Columbus Parks and Recreation to
accept donations in the form of gift certificates, check, and cash from
sponsors and individuals for the purpose of purchasing supplies each year for
the Empty Bowl event. Also, to allow Columbus Parks and Recreation to accept
cash, check, and credit card donations before and during the event each year
for tickets to the event, auction pieces, and money donations. 100% of the
money will go to Feeding the Valley for the Kid?s Caf? program. Bowls will be
sold after the event for donations as well. This is an ongoing yearly program
and requires donations each year to put on the event. Approval is requested
for each year that the Empty Bowl is held.
Councilor Henderson moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by
Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council
present, with Councilor Buck being absent for the vote.
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THE FOLLOWING ADD-ON RESOLUTION WAS SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY CITY
MANAGER HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL:
____
_____________
A Resolution (21-16) ? Authorizing the City Manager, in partnership with
the Friends of Historic Claflin, to submit and accept, if awarded a grant
application, to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Historic
Preservation Division, in the amount of up to $35,000 for the development of a
preservation plan for the Claflin School Restoration Project, with a 40% cash
and in-kind match to be provided in total by Friends of Historic Claflin, and
to amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by the amount of the award.
Councilor Allen moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by
Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council
present, with Councilor Buck being absent for the vote.
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THE FOLLOWING TWO PURCHASING RESOLUTIONS WERE SUBMITTED AND EXPLAINED BY
CITY MANAGER HUGLEY AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL: ____
_____________
A Resolution (22-16) ? Authorizing a contract with Newell South, LLC (East
Point, GA), for the removal, recycling/reuse of scrap metal, bulky items and
similar material from the Columbus Landfill, and other City locations of
Columbus Consolidated Government, at a percentage rate of 40% based on the
American Metal Market Scrap Iron and Steel Price.
Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded
by Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council
present, with Councilor Buck being absent for the vote.
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LANDFILL:
Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said on the landfill issue, there was something
on television, where she saw one of the guys saying that we would be able to
drill the holes to use the methane gas. City Manager Hugley said he saw that
story on television last night and said the individual was talking about
methane gas and how we are moving in the direction of being able to extracting
methane gas, not only from the Schatulga Road Landfill that is closed, but Pine
Grove Landfill as well. He then called Director of Public Works Pat Biegler to
come forward and make some comments regarding this matter.
Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh said she just want to make sure that we don?t
have the same problem as before.
City Manager Hugley said we don?t have a contract with any methane gas
company and said when we do this, it will have to come back to the Council; but
said it will be something that we are working on internally. He said we will
have to put the infrastructure in place.
Ms. Biegler then came forward and made some comments regarding this
matter.
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A Resolution (23-16) ? Authorizing the purchase of Network Consulting
Services from CPAK (Lagrange, GA), in the amount of $45,000.00. The vender
will provide three hundred (300) hours of consulting services for the
Information Technology Department.
Councilor Huff moved the adoption of the resolution. Seconded by Councilor
Woodson and carried by a vote of eight to one with Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh
and Councilors Allen, Baker, Barnes, Henderson, Huff, Thomas and Woodson voting
yes and Councilor Davis voting no, with Councilor Buck being absent for the
vote.
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THE FOLL0WING UPDATES WERE PROVIDED ON THE CITY
MANAGER?S AGENDA:_________ ___________________
Dr. James Worsley, Director of Parks and Recreation came forward with an
update on the Aquatic Center.
Ms. Pat Biegler, Director of Public Works came forward with an update
the Integrated Waste/Fleet replacement.
Deputy City Manager Pam Hodge came forward with an update on the FY15
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report/CAFR.
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CLERK OF COUNCIL?S AGENDA:
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL WASHINGTON AS
INFORMATION TO THE MAYOR AND
COUNCIL:___
____ ______
(1) Email correspondence from Corey Jones, Re: Personnel Review Board.
(2) Memorandum from Iris Jessie, Assistant Human Resources Director/Affirmative
Action Administrator, Re: Fiscal Year 2015 Affirmative Action Annual Report.
(3) Certificate of Need application submitted by the Columbus Diagnostic
Imaging Center, LLC for a MRI scanner.
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MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING BOARDS WERE SUBMITTED BY CLERK OF COUNCIL
WASHINGTON AND OFFICIALLY RECEIVED BY THE
COUNCIL:________ _____
Board of Elections and Registration, September 3, October 1, November 5 &
December 3, 2015.
Board of Tax Assessors, 01-16.
Board of Water Commissioners, November 9 & December 14, 2015.
Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Commissioners, November 18, 2015.
Housing Authority of Columbus, November 19, 2015.
Pension Fund, Board of Trustees, August 12 & September 9, 2015.
Personnel Review Board, January 20, 2016.
Taxicab Commission, November 17, 2015.
Councilor Allen made a motion that these minutes be received. Seconded by Mayor
Pro Tem Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council
present, with Councilor Buck being absent for the vote.
*** *** ***
BOARD APPOINTMENTS:
BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND REGISTRATION:
Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that she has received notification
from the Muscogee County Democratic Party that they are recommending
Ms. Linda Parker, as their nominee to be reappointed for another term of office.
BUILDING AUTHORITY OF COLUMBUS:
Clerk of Council Washington pointed out that the term of office of Mr. Kel
Jackson on the Building Authority will expire on March 30, 2016 and that he is
eligible to succeed himself. She further pointed out that he is eligible to
succeed himself and would like to serve another term. Councilor Allen then
nominated him for another term of office.
Clerk of Council Washington said she would bring this back at the next
meeting for the Council?s confirmation.
*** *** ***
CIVIC CENTER ADVISORY BOARD:
________________________
(Roeaster Coles) SD-15
Eligible to succeed herself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Olivia Pennington) SD-15
Eligible to succeed herself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Stan Stovall) SD-15
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
_______________________
(James Wilkoff) SD-29
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
_______________________
(Jim Irwin) SD-15
Not eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
_______________________
(Walter Lewis, Sr.) SD-15
Not eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*** *** ***
COLUMBUS BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS:
_________________________
(Ann H. Davis) SD-15
Eligible to succeed herself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
*** *** ***
COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CULTURAL LIAISON ENCOUNTERS
(C.I.R.C.L.E.):
Merlina Salamanca (Mayor Tomlinson?s nominee)
(Merlina Salamanca) SD-29
Eligible to succeed herself
(Mayor?s Apptmt.)
Mattie Hall (Mayor Tomlinson?s nominee)
(Mattie Hall) SD-15
Eligible to succeed herself
(Mayor?s Apptmt.)
_________________________
(Jong Yoon) SD-29
Post 9
Seat declared vacant.
(Council?s Apptmt.)
_________________________
(Pedro Diaz-Agosto) SD-15
Post 11
Seat declared vacant.
(Council?s Apptmt.)
________________________
(Mary Renteria) SD-15
Post 12
Seat declared vacant.
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*** *** ***
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL:
________________________
(Zaki Shahid) SD-15
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Not interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Colin Martin) SD-29
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Not interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Olive Vidal-Kendall) SD-15
Eligible to succeed herself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Joseph ?Tripp?Blankenship) SD-15
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Don Cook) SD-29
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Gregory Smith) SD-15
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Teddy Reese) SD-15
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Adrian Chester) SD-29
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Not interested in serving another term.
_______________________
(Christy Lemieux) SD-15
Eligible to succeed herself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
_______________________
(Gladys Ford) SD-15
Not eligible to succeed herself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
________________________
(Carla Thomas) SD-15
Not eligible to succeed herself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
________________________
(Jack Hayes) SD-29
Not eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
________________________
(Kim Jenkins) SD-29
Not eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*** *** ***
CRIME PREVENTION BOARD:
LaRae Moore (Mayor Tomlinson?s nominee)
(LaRae Moore) SD-29
Eligible to succeed herself
(Mayor?s Apptmt.)
Capt. Gordon Griswould (Mayor Tomlinson?s nominee)
(Capt. Gordon Griswould) SD-29
Eligible to succeed himself
(Mayor?s Apptmt.)
Melvin Blackwell (Mayor Tomlinson?s nominee)
(Melvin Blackwell) SD-29
Eligible to succeed himself
(Mayor?s Apptmt.)
________________________
(Winston Bailey) SD-15
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Gregory Wagner) SD-29
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Sharon Cox Belvy) SD-15
Not eligible to succeed herself
(Mayor?s Apptmt.)
_______________________
(Nancy Rinn) SD-29
Not eligible to succeed herself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*** *** ***
PERSONNEL REVIEW BOARD:
________________________
(Ron Mahoney) SD-15
Regular Member
Deceased
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*** *** ***
PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION:
________________________
(Frank Etheridge) SD-15
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Edward Kinner) SD-29
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
________________________
(Kathleen Mason) SD-29
Eligible to succeed herself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Interested in serving another term.
*** *** ***
RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD:
________________________
(Tracy Belt) SD-15
District 7
Resigned
(Council?s Apptmt.)
________________________
(Jennifer Collins) SD-15
District 8
Resigned
(Council?s Apptmt.)
________________________
(Todd Stanfill) SD-29
MCSD Representative
Vacant Seat
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*** *** ***
TAXICAB COMMISSION:
___________________________
(Billy Craft) SD-29
Deceased
Taxicab Driver Representative
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*** *** ***
TREE BOARD:
William Consoletti (Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh?s nominee)
(William Consoletti) SD-29
At-Large
Eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*Mr. Consoletti is interested in serving another term.
_________________________
(Chris Coakley) SD-15
At-Large
Not eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
_________________________
(Steve Smith) SD-29
At-Large
Not eligible to succeed himself
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*** *** ***
UPTOWN FA?ADE BOARD:
____________________________
(Fred Greene) SD-15
Not eligible to succeed himself
Uptown Columbus
(Council?s Apptmt.)
*** *** ***
With there being no other business to come before the Council, Councilor
Allen made a motion for adjournment. Seconded by Councilor Huff and carried
unanimously by those nine members of Council present, with Councilor Buck being
absent for the vote, with the time being 11:05 p.m.
Tiny B. Washington, MMC
Clerk of Council
The Council of Columbus, Georgia
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