RESPONSES/REFERRALS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2012
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY:
1. ORDINANCE DEFINING WEEDS:
Have the staff to look into amending the ordinance that defines weeds
to potentially include dead trees and nuisances. (Request of Mayor Tomlinson)
Response:
Per Asst. City Attorney, Lucy Sheftall:
The City Attorney's Office does not recommend amending the definition of weeds
in the weed ordinance. The ordinance was just amended this past fall to make it
clear that trees and ornamental grasses were not covered by the ordinance. The
public services folks can add to this, but it seems that weeds and trees pose
entirely different maintenance issues. An eighteen inch height restriction on
healthy trees would not be workable.
The only workable option for the City to become involved would be to create a
separate nuisance ordinance that governed dead or compromised trees on private
property that were in danger of falling on someone else's private property or
public property. This would presumably require a mechanism where citizens could
complain about a tree, public services would inspect it and issue a citation if
they found it to be a danger to someone else's property or the public right of
way. At that point if the property owner failed to remove the tree, public
services could remove it and try to collect from the owner just as we do with
weed cutting.
The recommendation of the City Attorney's office would be that instead of
creating these new enforcement obligations on the city, we allow private
litigation among property owners to handle these cases in accordance with well
settled existing law. The situation that came to Council is perhaps extreme and
rare. However, if Council desires to create a new enforcement mechanism for
these situations, we can assist with an appropriate ordinance.
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TO THE CITY MANAGER:
2. ANIMALS SPAY & NEUTER:
Have the staff to check to see about partnering with some of the local
veterinarians to work out a way that the animal is spayed or neutered before
they are adopted out to a family and provide some feedback regarding this
concept. (Request of Councilor Woodson)
Also, check into staff sending out weekly or bi-weekly notifications to the
citizens as reminders to get their animals spayed or neutered. (Request of
Councilor Allen)
RESPONSES/REFERRALS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2012 - PAGE 2
Response:
Provided by Pat Biegler, Director of Public Services
Since we do not have an operating room at the Animal Shelter, veterinarians
would not be willing to perform spaying or neutering at our site. The initial
concept with PAWS was that all animals would be spayed or neutered by PAWS
before leaving the campus. However, they have been unable to deal with the
volume and have had waiting times of up to two weeks or more. All adopters pay
the low cost spay/neuter fee of $50 before leaving the shelter and are provided
with a list of veterinarians who will accept the low cost voucher. PAWS is
working to increase their capacity by adding a part time vet to their staff.
We do not want to spay or neuter an animal if they are not adopted. Also, we
are not staffed to care for animals that have had surgery. Additionally, any
issues that might arise with pets that are already adopted and belong to
someone else could raise significant liability issues.
Adopters are advised when adopting that they have 30 days for spaying or
neutering and sign an agreement to do so. They also pay the adoption fee before
they leave the shelter. At the end of 30 days, we will send them a 15 day
notice to provide proof. After that date, a citation will be sent to them. A
pre-printed postcard is being designed at this time. I'm not sure when we would
send another reminder during this process. The City attorney has advised us not
to agree to extend any deadlines, although we are already doing this for the
extra 15 days as we felt it important to send at least one reminder before
initiating any legal action or fines.
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3. CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION:
Have the Administration to schedule Mr. John Shinkle, Charter Review Commission
Chairman, to a Council Meeting to explain and discuss the recommendations of
the Charter Review Commission for informational purposes. (Request of
Councilor Thomas)
Response:
Mr. John Shinkle, Charter Review Commission Chairman, is working with the City
Manager's Office to schedule a date for presenting recommendations from the
Charter Review Commission.
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4. PROPERTY CONDITIONS:
Have staff to check to find out if the city has received calls regarding the
property located at 6001 Hunter Road and if the Inspections & Code Enforcement
Division has taken a look into possible code violations. (Request of Mayor
Tomlinson)
RESPONSES/REFERRALS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2012 - PAGE 3
Response:
Both Inspections/Code and Special Enforcement checked 6001 Hunter Road for code
violations and found the area to be in compliance with CCG's Codes.
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5. NEW ICE RINK:
Provide a report to address the issues discussed by Mr. Gordon Peters as it
relates to an ice rink schedule and the Ice Rink Manager serving as an ice
hockey coach. (Request of Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh)
Response:
Per Ross Horner, Director of the Civic Center:
Attached below is a copy of a letter to the Columbus Hockey Association
describing our meeting on the subject of scheduling issues. Consistency is the
goal of both organization and we have now created a program that will be
consistent for CHA and Public Skating for the future.
Public Skating uses twenty-one hours a week at the Columbus Ice Rink: Monday,
Tuesday & Thursday from 5 pm - 7 pm; and Friday - Sunday from 4 pm - 9 pm. All
other available times are allocated to CHA next, and other building users
follow after those times are booked.
The Ice Rink accommodates additional programming in the areas of Private Ice
Rental, Broomball, College Hockey, Birthday Parties, Camps, and Figure Skating.
Other open ice time is utilized by the Columbus Cottonmouths for practice when
the Arena is not available.
Also, schedule a work session to discuss coaching opportunities by city
employees for various sports, as well as, possible policies and procedures.
Let?s also include information regarding the Ice Rink Manager being allowed to
provide ice skating lessons. (Request of Mayor Tomlinson)
Response:
This item has been added to the Council Work Session List for Tuesday, January
31, 2012 for discussion.
5B. Provide a copy of the job description for the Ice Rink Manager.
(Request of Mayor Tomlinson)
Response:
A copy of the Ice Rink Manager's job description is attached below.
RESPONSES/REFERRALS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2012 - PAGE 4
5C. Let?s have the Ice Rink Manager to address the members of Council to
discuss the pros and cons of coaching opportunities by city employees, as well
as, facility fees and everything that goes along with this matter. (Request
of Councilor Woodson)
Response:
This referral will be discussed at the Council Work Session on Tuesday,
January 31, 2012.
5D. Have the staff to come up with some kind of family package fee for the
parents that have more than one child to offer some sort of discount. (Request
of Councilor Barnes)
Response:
Please note in the attachments below that this year's fees are actually less
than the year before based on the discount already in place - and plans are to
offer more incentives for public skating for the next fiscal year. In
addition, we are working to add value with food packages and increasing our
'free' skate days to attract new users. (Two Power Points regarding fees are
attached below)
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6. INDIGENT CARE:
Have the staff to check to see if in the past around year 2002 Former Finance
Director Kay Love and possibly Ernest & Young or John Shirley conducted an
audit of hospital care for indigent persons (just for the record). (Request
of Councilor Davis)
Response:
Per Pamela Hodge, Director of Finance:
Attached is the information I was able to locate on a previous audit of the
Indigent Care Hospital Contract. We are unable to locate a copy of the report
but have contacted the auditor who was awarded the RFP. No one currently in
the Finance Department is familiar with the results of this audit from 2001. I
was not aware of any previous audit.
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Copies submitted to the following on January 12, 2012
Mayor Tomlinson
City Manager Hugley
City Attorney Fay
Sandra T. Davis
Deputy Clerk of Council
The Council of Columbus, Georgia
Sandra T. Davis
Deputy Clerk of Council
The Council of Columbus, Georgia
Attachments