REFERRALS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 22, 2011
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY:
1. PANHANDLING ORDINANCE:
Have the staff to find out how the panhandling ordinance works in Mobile.
(Request of Councilor Woodson)
Have the staff to check and see if there is already something that exists on
the books about loitering. Also, have the staff to bring to us the perimeters
that define loitering; what the options are for residents who want to get
people to move along that are sitting outside of their home. (Request of
Councilor Henderson)
Response:
The City Attorney responded to the referrals. Item was adopted at the April
12, 2011 Council Meeting.
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TO THE CITY MANAGER:
2. ANTIETAM DRIVE REZONING:
When you have residential property that is coming off of an arterial road that
leads to apartments, what is the plan as far as taking care of any kind of
activity with children as far as a safety measure: are we looking at speed
bumps or signs? Have the staff to inform us what we are going to do to avoid a
potential issue with respect to children being outside playing. (Request of
Councilor Davis)
Response:
When the development was initially zoned, the City entered into an agreement
with the developer to connect the road network creating street now known as
Antietam Drive. As a traffic calming measure, the developer was requested to
install two round-a-bouts on Antietam. This measure was specifically directed
at slowing down traffic and improving safety in the area. The proposed rezoning
will not have a negative impact on traffic. The proposed zoning of SMF2 will
actually reduce the projected total daily trips from an estimated 268 trips/day
for the current zoning RMF2 to 163 trips/day for the proposed zoning, a
reduction of 105 trips/day.
3. CDBG HOMELESS PROGRAM:
Let?s have a Work Session on the $1 million grant that we received for the CDBG
Homeless Program. Also, make sure this information is provided to the Council
prior to us going into the budget review process. (Request of Mayor Pro Tem
Turner Pugh)
Response:
Presentation was schedule to be presented on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 Council
Work Session, but because of time was delayed for Tuesday, April 12, 2011.
REFERRALS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 22, 2011 ? CONT?D
4. PARKS & RECREATION AUDIT:
Have the District Attorney to come to speak to the issue of the Parks &
Recreation Audit. (Request of Councilor McDaniel)
Response:
Asst. District Attorney Alonzo Rivers briefed Council on the Parks/Recreation
closed criminal cases Tuesday, April 29, 2011.
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5. EMPLOYEES BENEFITS MANAGER:
Have the staff to find out if any of the list of benefit managers that was
provided to the Council deal with other cities and counties; and, if so, what
kind of success rate they have had with those other cities and counties.
(Request of Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh)
Response:
This information was emailed to the Mayor/Councilors on March 28,
2011.
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REFERRALS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 29, 2011 ?
TO THE CITY MANAGER:
1 MEDICAL CLINIC:
Have the Administration to look at other companies within our
community to see what they are doing, as well as, determine how cost effective
it has been for them. (Request of Councilor Woodson)
Have the staff to provide data from Transform Medicine RX that they have
collected in their company or from the industry to show their year over year
impact of providing a clinic as an option, and what is the total cost of health
care?s percentage for that company. (Request of Councilor Henderson)
Response:
Emailed response to Mayor/Councilors on April 6, 2011. A copy is attached.
2. CEMETERIES:
Have the staff to check and see if there is any kind of Federal grants to
assist with the operations and maintenance of cemeteries. Also, when we look
at these grants, which might be available, let?s make sure that we look at it
from a public safety prospective.
When it comes to pauper burials, let continue to do further research to see
what it takes to do cremations for pauper burials, as he feels it is something
that the City can benefit from. (Request of Councilor Davis)
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OUTSTANDING REFERRAL FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2011 COUNCIL MEETING
BUDGET PROCESS:
Have the staff to do a presentation at a Work Session on the Budget process; to
include information as to how the process began and what steps and phases that
it has to go through before it gets to the Council. (Request of Councilor
Davis)
Response:
This item was listed for presentation at the Council Work Session on March 29,
2011, but due to time was delayed until April 12, 2011 Council Meeting.
REFERRALS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 12, 2011
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY:
1. MEDICAL CENTER CONTRACT:
Have the City Attorney to draft a letter to send to the Medical Center to
address the appropriate sections of the contract that we have with them to
consider negotiations to amend the contact regarding the funding that we give
to them. (Request of Councilor Allen)
Response:
City Attorney Clifton Fay advised that he would forward draft letter to the
Mayor after receiving payment and tax collection information from Finance
Director Pam Hodge.
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TO THE CITY MANAGER:
2. PROPOSED PROJECTS:
Whenever we have projects or any type of report that we are working on and if
it doesn?t come back to the Council for at least 90 days or more, have the
staff to provide some advance notification and a chronology of the project when
it does come back to this Council; and outline what has taken place with it and
then advise the Council why we are where we are at that point in time. (Request
of Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh)
Response:
An email has been sent to all department heads regarding this referral. A list
of projects will be developed for updating Mayor/Council at future meetings.
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3. SIDEWALKS:
In the future whenever there are sidewalks put down in our community, let?s
have the staff to look at putting in sidewalks that are elevated. (Request of
Councilor Woodson)
Response:
To elevate the sidewalk on those streets that have been constructed as rural
with shoulders and no curb and gutter, would require the addition of curb and
gutter, stormsewer system, additional right of way and could thus prohibit the
construction project from occurring due to the limited amount of funding
available. Each street would need to be looked at individually and possibly
considered for a stand alone project not part of the sidewalk project.
.
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4. MOON ROAD WIDENING:
Have the staff to provide a list of things that we can do to lessen the impact
on the Smiths with the Moon Road widening project and provide that information
to the Council. Also, let?s see if we can come to some agreement that will be
satisfactory to the Smiths and let?s do whatever we can do to assist their
family going forward with this project. (Request of Mayor Tomlinson)
Response:
Staff is working with the engineers on this matter and will provide an update
by May 27th. We will continue to work with the Smiths on this issue. We are
looking at the possibility of utilizing a different color of guardrail, in
combination with the use of landscaping. Staff will do everything possible to
mitigate this issue and to work with the Smiths in the development of this
project.
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5. HOMELESS PREVENTION & RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM:
Have the staff to provide the Council with a map showing where the homes are
located that were assisted with funds from the Homeless Prevention & Rapid
Re-Housing program. Also, have the staff to list the types of properties that
we provided assistance to. (Request of Councilor Allen) Have the staff to
provide a copy of the requirements and qualifications for the awarding of this
grant. (Request of Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh)
Response:
A report is attached.
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6. BUDGET PROCESS:
Have the staff to provide a disk to the members of Council, which includes the
line item budgets; and he would challenge the Council members in that if there
is something that they want to add something on the add-list during the budget
process; for them to research through some of those other areas in conjunction
with the staff members to identify an area to cut.
Response:
Finance Director Pamela Hodge provided the line item budget on disk at the
Council Budget Review Committee Meeting on Friday, April 29, 2011.
6a. Also, show us on each department head section, a total head count from last
year to this year and highlight any increases or decreases. (Request of
Councilor Henderson)
Response:
Information was provided by Finance Director Pam Hodge at the Council Budget
Review Committee Meeting on Tuesday, May 10, 2011.
6b. Also, have the staff to provide a report that will identify all of the
forty plus departments within the City Government, and go back the last ten
years and provide the number of employees in those departments. (Request of
Councilor Allen)
Response:
Finance Director Pam Hodge at the Council Budget Review Committee Meeting
provided information on Tuesday, May 10, 2011.
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7. MEDICAL CENTER:
When the Legal staff writes the letter to the Medical Center, let?s have the
Finance staff to provide them some history, as to how much has been paid out,
as well as how much we receive. (Request of Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh)
Response:
Staff is working with the City Attorney on this referral to provide this
information.
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8. CONCERNS OF HOCKEY ASSOCIATION:
Have the staff to look into some concerns and complaints from the Columbus
Hockey Association regarding the availability of being able to play in the ice
rink and report to the Council regarding these concerns. Also, when makeup
dates are given, let?s make sure that we give them sufficient time for them to
plan and add those dates to their calendar. (Request of Councilor Allen) When
giving dates to the league, let?s make sure that we have all the teams in the
room at the same time. (Request of Councilor Henderson) Have the staff to
continue working with the Advisory group on issues that may arise regarding
these matters. (Request of Councilor Davis)
Response:
Mayor, City Manager and others met with the Columbus Hockey Association
Tuesday, April 26. A follow-up report will be provided.
9. GUS?S RESTAURANT
Have staff to provide information concerning a sign at Gus?s Restaurant that
has not been working for a few weeks.
Response:
The Sign Inspector in Inspections & Code was contacted by Bishop-Tadlock signs
and asked what was needed to light the existing sign at Gus's Restaurant. This
is an old existing sign located on the right-of-way that has not been lighted
in years. Diane referred them to Ron Hamlett, Traffic Engineering, who issues
any permit dealing with right-of-way properties. Ron advised the contractor the
sign exists nonconforming and can remain in place but can not be changed in
size or height. The sign can be maintained and provide internal lighting as
originally. An encroachment permit will be required from Engineering and an
electrical permit from Inspections & Code in order to work on the sign. This
information was provided to the person that contacted Ron in Traffic
Engineering. (Please see attached picture)
REFERRALS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 10, 2011
TO THE CITY MANAGER:
PROCUREMENT PROCESS:
Have the staff check on the all-terrain tires to see if that was a part of the
bid specifications and which of the final candidates had that included.
(Request of Councilor Allen)
Have the staff to research the tax structure that the City has with all of the
exemptions and reductions that apply to auto dealers, as well as, check to see
if we could improve on some of those. (Request of Mayor Tomlinson)
Response:
Staff is researching this referral and will provide a report by June 14, 2011.
Attachments