Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

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

Council Members









Agenda Item #



Columbus Consolidated Government



Council Meeting



09/02/2008



Agenda Report #



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: Local Option Sales Tax, Authorization to Proceed



INITIATED BY: David Arrington, Deputy City Manager







Recommendation: To approve a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to

proceed with design, engineering, site investigation, project management, and

other essential studies on the attached list of projects utilizing existing

funding sources.



Background: On July 15, 2008 the citizens of Columbus approved a one

cent Local Option Sales Tax to fund public safety, roads, and infrastructure

improvements. In Resolution No. 226-08 the Council of Columbus, Georgia

expressed their intent to utilize 70% of the new LOST revenue for enhancements

to public safety and 30% of the revenue for roads and infrastructure

improvements. In Resolution No. 323-08 the Council of Columbus, Georgia

approved advancing the hiring of 100 additional police officers as committed in

the LOST plan utilizing proceeds from the Continental Carbon lawsuit .



A preliminary list of public safety, road, and infrastructure projects vital to

the safety and quality of life to the community has been established. Several

of the projects identified on the preliminary list have a partial funding

source available.



Analysis: Planning for these major infrastructure projects may require

approximately 18 - 24 months to design, engineer, conduct site investigations,

and acquire property prior to construction beginning. It will be beneficial to

the community to proceed with design, engineering, site investigation, project

management, and other essential studies utilizing existing funding sources. By

proceeding with this planning process, these public safety, road and

infrastructure projects will be completed in a more timely manner, allowing the

community to benefit from these essential improvements.





Financial Considerations: This resolution will authorize the use of existing

funds previously budgeted for the projects identified on the attached list.

The expenditures associated with the planning process on the projects in the

attached list will not require the advancement of Local Option Sales Tax

revenue.



Legal Considerations: None



Recommendations/ Actions: Approve a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to

proceed with design, engineering, site investigation, project management, and

other essential studies on the attached list of projects utilizing existing

funding sources.





A RESOLUTION



NO._______





A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PROCEED WITH DESIGN, ENGINEERING,

SITE INVESTIGATION, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL STUDIES ON THE

ATTACHED LIST OF PROJECTS UTILIZING EXISTING FUNDING SOURCES.



WHEREAS, on July 15, 2008 the citizens of Columbus approved a one percent Local

Option Sales Tax (LOST) to fund public safety, roads, and infrastructure

improvements; and,



WHEREAS, the Council of Columbus, Georgia has expressed their intent to utilize

70% of the new LOST revenue for enhancements to public safety and 30% of the

revenue for roads and infrastructure improvements pursuant to Resolution No.

226-08 and,



WHEREAS, the Council of Columbus, Georgia has approved advancing the hiring of

100 additional police officers as committed in the LOST plan utilizing proceeds

from the Continental Carbon lawsuit pursuant to Resolution No. 323-08 and,



WHEREAS, a preliminary list of public safety, road, and infrastructure projects

vital to the safety and quality of life of the community has been established

and,



WHEREAS, a number of the projects identified on the preliminary project list

are partially funded with an existing funding source and,



WHEREAS, it will be beneficial to the community to proceed with design,

engineering, site investigation, project management, and other essential

studies utilizing existing funding sources and,



WHEREAS, by proceeding with this planning process, these public safety, road

and infrastructure projects will be completed in a more timely manner, allowing

the community to benefit from these essential improvements and,



WHEREAS, a complete financing package for construction of these projects and a

final project list will be presented to Council for approval in early 2009.



NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES:



The Council of Columbus Georgia hereby authorize the City Manager to proceed

with design, engineering, site investigation, project management, and other

essential studies on the attached list of projects utilizing the existing

funding sources identified.

_______________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,

held the _____day of _____________, and adopted at said meeting by the

affirmative vote of ______members of said Council.



Councilor Allen voting __________.

Councilor Anthony voting __________.

Councilor Baker voting __________.

Councilor Barnes voting __________.

Councilor Davis voting _ .

Councilor Henderson voting __________.

Councilor Hunter voting __________.

Councilor McDaniel voting __________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.

Councilor Woodson voting __________.





_______________________________ _____________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Jim Wetherington, Mayor





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