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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting March 19, 2019 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER MARCH 19, 2019 August Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., March 19, 2019, the Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Few, Garrett, Sias, Fennoy, Frantom, M. Williams, D. Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Absent: Hon. Davis, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission. (Votes by telephone on Item #34) The invocation was given by Father Michael Hull, Pastor St. Ignatios Melkite Catholic Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. Mr. Mayor: All right, good afternoon, everybody. Once again we are here to do the people’s business and as we prepare to get started here I want to make mention of just a few things. Today was a day of excitement in the City of Augusta. We had our ribbon cutting for the Traffic Management Center. It was a collaborative effort that will provide the city with communication to over 200 traffic signals within our system and have access to 75 new High Definition PTZ Cameras that will assist our technicians with monitoring traffic throughout our city. It provides us with a host of other opportunities in terms of traffic control but also EVP Emergency Vehicle Positioning. That ‘P’ is probably not positioning but EVP Electric Emergency Vehicles allowing them to be able to come through our lights safely and securely to get people to hospitals. But our city is continuing to move forward in becoming a Smart City making our time now and the future brighter for all of our citizens. I also am excited today to recognize that March is Women’s History Month. All right, all right. (APPLAUSE) Women’s History Month --- The Clerk: (unintelligible) standing up. Mr. Mayor: --- I’m getting ready to do that, I’m getting ready to do that. For most of us gentlemen in this audience the first lady that we find ourselves falling in love with is largely our Moms. And I know that I have an amazing relationship with my Mom being her first born and oldest child so, Ms. Davis, if you’re listening I know I love you and you love me back. I can say that, that’s right. And today I do want to take an opportunity to recognize the amazing women who make up this great community that are in the audience today. Those of you who are here would you please stand all of the women who are here because of your contribution to what makes this world great, would the women please stand. (APPLAUSE) Let’s give them a hand for what they do. And more women than ever are headed to Congress comprised of a wide variety of backgrounds women minorities, veterans, teachers. This is an amazing time to be in these United States of America. And again it’s important for us to applaud the efforts of women like those of you in this room who every single day are making amazing contributions to the communities in which you live and not just to your families and so we’re forever grateful and thankful. I also want to remind all of our citizens and those of you who are here today that Augusta in partnership with 1 our friends in North Augusta will have a period of public comment regarding the New Savannah st Bluff Lock and Dam on Thursday March the 21 here at the Commission Chambers from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It’s going to take place here. Again, Thursday March 21 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. where we will be able to record the comments and be able to deliver a single package to the Army Corp of Engineers as a community and that includes our friends and partners in North Augusta. thth The 20 Annual Mayor’s Masters Reception will be held on Monday April the 8 at The Augusta Common from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. and I’m looking forward to every one of you being in the room, so good to see you all. All right, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Yes, sir. At this time I call your attention to the invocation portion of our agenda which will be delivered by Father Michael Hull, Pastor of St. Ignatios Melkite Catholic Church, would you please stand. And we’ll former Commissioner Bill Lockett to please lead us into The Pledge, thank you. Mr. Mayor: Father Hull, are you here? Okay all right, he is not here. Let us bow our heads. Gracious and eternal God we come to you today seeking your wisdom your guidance but also your promise peace. Direct our efforts today Oh God as we seek you from who bring all wisdom. Today is a day that we will rejoice and be glad in all that you have done for us in this community that we call Augusta. Now may your hand be upon our efforts today as we come together as a community as a government to represent you before the people and the people before you. This we pray in your name. Amen. st Mr. Mayor: Okay, I do want to take in the words of the Commissioner from the 1 a Point of Personal Privilege and I’m going to ask a friend of the communities a local Pastor in the area we would do this during our Delegation period of time but I’m going to go ahead and ask him to come at this time. Many of you know that former Commissioner Andrew Jefferson had done a tremendous amount of work in our community and on this past Sunday I had the great fortune of being a part of the launch of 97.3, the area’s first Hispanic radio station that former Commissioner Jefferson was largely instrumentally in helping to make possible along with the working efforts of Maurice McDowell from the Administrators Office. And so I want to ask him to come. I’ll give him two minutes just to acknowledge and it was dedicated in memoriam to Commissioner Jefferson, please come. We wanted to again, if you’ll speak from that microphone. Mr. Maestre: Thank you, sir, for the opportunity. It’s been six years of working very hard just dreaming about the radio station here in Augusta and we planned and we’ve been working and pushing forward making many calls. Maybe like six months ago I called Commissioner Jefferson --- Mr. Mayor: Pastor, could you pause for a moment? Mr. McDowell: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: Share with them your name and your church and where you’re located. Mr. McDowell: Yes, sir. My name is Pastor Angel Maestre. I’ve been Pastor for the last 14 years on Oasis of Blessings the first Hispanic Christian Church in Augusta. We are located on 2 3265 Deans Bridge Road right there next to Davis Appliance. We’ve been changing not only the people but also the building in the location. It was like kind of lost building in the woods and finally it’s coming out of it with a new reformed structure. And by the way at the same time God has given us this opportunity to launch this past Sunday and I really appreciate your blessings in that inaugural day, Mr. Mayor, it meant a lot to us and to the community. So Commissioner Jefferson was a very great guy helping us on the first call that I called him he said Pastor whatever you need just let me know and he made a couple of calls and it possible which was impossible. And since then that was like the last stone that we were trying to conquer and he was able to put in on our way and I praise God for that praise for the opportunity and I’m very thankful for the people who got this foot in the leadership in our community that is helping us in some way some how to conquer this dream. So Oasis Blessing is here to stay and Augusta has another tool to get the community together and so it defines our effort as a community to push forward and to inform and have a bridge between one community and another no matter if we speak Spanish or English now we have a ready station to bring us together and I’m very thankful for that, for everybody there that is being a part of it. My Mayor has been a part of it and Mr. McDowell which is here in the audience thank you for believing in us we know that we are not that big in the city yet but the community is coming over and here they are not alone anymore and they are driving. Now they have 97.3 FM. That’s going to bless them and give them information in whatever needs they may have. So if you need us we’re going to be here, 97.3 FM. Thank you for the opportunity, sir. Mr. Mayor: Would you just mention the part you wanted to speak about where the Commission and Commissioner Jefferson you dedicated the radio station in memorial to him. Pastor Maestre: Yes, sir, on Sunday we opened our newest studios there on 3265 Deans Bridge Road and we revealed the plaque that we made in honoring our friend and Commissioner Andrew Jefferson our brand new studio. So the studio, the radio station has been named on the door that says a Studio Andrew Jefferson so it’s an honor for us that we can be able to honor such a great man and keep his legacy to the community through years to come naming the studio under his name. (APPLAUSE) st Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to have a privilege of personal point or --- Mr. Mayor: Point of Personal Privilege? Mr. Fennoy: --- or something to that effect. Mr. Mayor: Yes, go ahead. th Mr. Fennoy: I would just like to remind everybody here that on the 29 of March between 11:00 and 2:00 o’clock we’re going to be selling barbeque dinners and all monies that we raise will go to the Heart Foundation in honor of Commissioner Jefferson and Commissioner Grady Smith. Mr. Mayor, on this past weekend I got an envelope a letter in the mail and under the return address there’s a sticker that says I’m the NRA. And insider the envelope was a page that was torn I guess out of an NRA pamphlet and on that page it talks about the NRA’s support of law 3 enforcement and it talks about the NRA’s support of our soldiers. And on the bottom of that is a sticker that says Proud to be an American and Freedom Is Not Free and another sticker that says I’m the NRA. And on the front of that page was a sticker where this person wrote you need to be deported. You are not fit to be called a citizen. And I think a lot of people really don’t understand why I don’t stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. I think that it’s important that everybody in here knows that anytime anything has come before this Commission as it relates to our Military I have always been 100% supportive. That anytime anything comes before this Commission as it relates to the Sheriff’s Department I have always been 100% supportive and I will continue to support the military. I will continue to support law enforcement but some of you all don’t understand what I have gone through, the bigotry and the hatred that I’ve had to endure. And it is difficult for me to respect the flag that doesn’t respect me. It’s difficult for me to respect a country that would allow families to be separated at the border. It’s difficult for me to accept laws like Stand Your Ground that will allow African American men to be shot down and nothing happens. So I do not want anybody to get the wrong impression about why I don’t stand. I support the military, I support law enforcement, but I do not support the way people of color are being treated in this country. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. st Mr. Mayor: Thank the gentleman from the 1. Madam Clerk. The Clerk: RECOGNITION(S) February 2019 Employee of the Month. A. Congratulations! Mr. Steven M. Behrend, Augusta Utilities Department. The Clerk: Yes, sir. I call your attention to the recognition portion of our agenda we would like to offer the Mayor and members of the Commission as well as the City of Augusta would like to offer congratulations to Mr. Steve Behrend of the Augusta Utilities Department, Mr. Mayor and Ms. Jackson. Mr. Wiedmeier, do you have other members from your department who’d like to share in this? Mayor Davis, the Employee Recognition Committee has selected Steven M. Behrend as Augusta Georgia’s Employee of the Month for February 2019. Steve is one in a million. If you don’t believe it just ask the employees of the Augusta Utilities Department. Steve has been a dedicated Engineering Manager for the Utilities Engineering at Fort Gordon Division since October 2013. Steve’s knowledge of engineering, project management and employee relations is unparalleled which is just one the many reasons why he’s a very critical part of the Utilities Department. Steve is the epitome of there is no I in team. He welcomes every opportunity to instruct and train others and take pride in being able to share his knowledge to improve the department and position it for success. His efforts not only benefit the entire Augusta Utilities Department but they also set an example and inspires his coworkers to be proactive and proficient. He regularly volunteers to resolve issues, develop project scopes and manage budget expenditures. Steve is usually the first one to arrive and the last to leave. He always maintains a positive attitude and takes on each new responsibility with optimism. Steve’s willingness to assist others and his commitment to the Augusta Utilities Department is unequaled. Steve has proven himself to be the go to guy for capital projects and utility planning. In the past year Augusta Utilities Department has experienced an increase in projects totaling over $36 million dollars that Steve successfully oversees. It qualifies such as those Steve’s embodied that led him to be an invaluable resource 4 and exceptional employee not only Augusta Utilities Department but also the City of Augusta. Based on this nomination Steve’s outstanding contributions to the department and service to Augusta Georgia the Employee Recognition Committee would appreciate you in joining us in recognizing Steve M. Behrend as the February 2019 Employee of the Month, congratulations. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Behrend: Thank you. I just wanted to thank the Commission, Mayor Davis, and Administrator Jackson, my Director Tom Wiedmeier, my boss Assistant Director Horace Luke, all my coworkers out at the Ford Gordon Division make it exciting to come to work everyday and all my coworkers throughout the department and the city it’s an exciting time to be a part of the Augusta Richmond County. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Wiedmeier: There’s a tremendous amount of work going on at Fort Gordon. Steve’s managing the capital projects and the engineering. With the Fort Gordon group everybody that’s here please stand I’d like to recognize you guys too so they’re doing a great job out there. I would like to mention Steve is a professional engineer and a West Point graduate so I worked with him for a long time so thank you, Steve, for what you do. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Luke: As he mentioned Fort Gordon is going through a transformation there’s a lot of work a lot of projects going on out at Fort Gordon and Steve has been a valuable part of that success. Fort Gordon is always improving and always changing and so we have to change with the times and adapt. I would also thank Steve’s family which is here. Not only does Steve come first he leaves last he’s here when nobody’s there like on weekends, 8:00, 9:00 o’clock at night. He’s always there making sure that the projects are on schedule, things get done as they should and we just want to say thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: Steve, thank you for what you do not only your service to this country but to the City of Augusta and all of our citizens, once again congratulations. (APPLAUSE) Would Steve’s family please stand. Outstanding. (APPLAUSE) Thank you. The Clerk: DELEGATIONS B. Mr. Jim Hall regarding two approaches to rehabilitate 401 Walton Way former JLEC (Joint Law Enforcement Center) for use as a juvenile justice center. (Requested by Commissioner Mary Davis) Mr. Hull: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission and Administrator. My name is Jim Hull. There’s been skepticism expressed that the work necessary to rehabilitate Building A at 401 Walton Way can be accomplished for $2,250,000 plus soft costs and a contingency reserve in that the cost to demolish the tower portion of the premises and to properly mothball the remaining buildings can be done for $600,000 dollars. I was asked to look at 401 Walton Way and give my evaluation of the feasibility and of the estimated cost along with a recommendation for action exclusively from a business perspective. I have great past experiences in working with the city and its staff on similar progressive projects. We brought about the relocation of the City Transit Facility to my property located behind the former Regency Mall and 5 th I worked with the Administrator to open up a large redevelopment parcel at the 15 Gateway to Augusta University. I worked with the city and others on the development of the Kroc Center, the Georgia Cyber Center, the Georgia Cancer Center and recently on the redevelopment of Starbucks and Chick-fil-A on a parcel I own on Highway 25. My sole perspective here in speaking to you today is what makes good business sense and based on my experience except for the tower the existing improvements at 401 Walton Way are not overall mis-improvements and should be rehabilitated and used. I believe the construction costs estimates we have put together are accurate. but I know that there can be a fear that the rehabilitation of a government building can result in costs in excess of expectations. So I am here today to suggest two different approaches. The first proposal was previously made and the second is a new alternative designed to eliminate the concern that the city would incur cost overruns and to give the city a guaranteed fixed cost structure. My group will make arrangements for a $25,000 grant to the city to be used to fund a detailed study to document existing architectural site and environment conditions and develop a space utilization plan. This would allow the project to be bid by contractors through the city’s regular procurement process and if at any time and if for any reason or for no reason the city does not want to move forward, we will terminate our group’s involvement without any expenditure of funds by the city. As an alternative approach I am prepared to lease 401 Walton Way from the city and to sublease the renovated facility back to the city on the following terms: Our group would have architectural and engineering plans generated and approved, we would have 75-days to complete our evaluation and confirm the feasibility of the project. Upon the city authorizing us to begin we would proceed to complete the agreed construction work and upon the completion of the construction work the city would have the option to either purchase the lease holding improvements at our cost or elect to pay a net monthly rental of $29,792.00 dollars. After the developers’ expenses for property management, accounting and other costs, this rental equates to an annual 8.7% return on investment with no return of investment. The rental represents a guaranteed cost for a renovated 401 Walton way. At the end of the 15-year lease term the city has the option of purchasing the improvements for 50% of the developers costs or renewing the lease and at the end of the extension period the developer will convey all if its interests in the improvements to the city for $1.00 dollar. In the second alternative the developer group is taking all risks for any initial costs construction costs overruns. The second alternative is a compelling offer to the city if it wants to eliminate the risk contemplated improvements can be completed at the estimated cost. This type of public/private partnership I am proposing is being used all over the country and I thank you very much for your time today and I’m glad to answer any questions. Mr. Mayor: Thank you very much, Mr. Hull. We appreciate you coming to share that with th us. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 for a question. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Hull --- Mr. Hull: Yes, sir --- Mr. Hasan: --- good afternoon once again. Mr. Hull: --- good afternoon. 6 Mr. Hasan: Mr. Hull, I want to make sure and I don’t know which one of the plans the alternative may be which one of them do I understand you, I know you’ve given it to us I get a chance to look at it in detail a little bit later --- Mr. Hull: Yes, sir. Mr. Hasan: --- are you suggesting that we lease the building to you currently as is and let you do the renovations? Mr. Hull: Yes, sir. We would lease the buildings as they sit on an as it where it is basis and it would be our responsibility to do all the renovations and all the demolition pursuant to the plans that would be approved by the city and the Augusta Judicial Circuit. Mr. Hasan: But the lease takes place first. In other words we do a lease first and you do all the work per the lease from us. Mr. Hull: Yes, you would lease the premises to us. The lease would provide that once we completed the construction pursuant to the plans that the city would approve then at that time after the construction has been completed, the city would have the option to either purchase the improvements that we made at our costs or to make the lease payments pursuant to the lease. Mr. Hasan: Thank you. Mr. Hull: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: All right there are a couple of questions, all right the Chair recognizes the st Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Ms. Jackson, can I ask Ms. Jackson (unintelligible). Mr. Mayor: Please do. Mr. Fennoy: Ms. Jackson, what was our estimated cost for demolition and renovation of the 401? Ms. Jackson: For the cost of the demolition of the complex was estimated at $1.5 million dollars. Mr. Fennoy: So we’ve got a $900,000 dollar, the entire complex. Ms. Jackson: Yeah, that was in keeping with our initial plan to demolish the entire complex was $1.5 million was the estimated cost. Mr. Fennoy: And how much money or do we have any SPLOST monies that’s designated for 401? 7 Ms. Jackson: There is in SPLOST VII. Mr. Fennoy: And how much is --- Ms. Jackson: That is the $1.5 million. Mr. Fennoy: --- $1.5 million, okay. And Mr. Hull --- Mr. Hull: Yes, sir. Mr. Fennoy: --- if we agree to say Option 2 when would how soon would it be before you can get started? Mr. Hull: I think we could be started the feasibility period would be 75 days and I would expect we could have all the drawings and going through the city’s regular permitting process, with architectural drawings would be another four months. So I would say, Commissioner Fennoy, within a total of six months from today that we should be able to get started. Mr. Fennoy: Okay and my last comment is that I think one of my biggest concerns and it’s been a concern that’s been expressed by Commissioner Marion Williams over and over again is that once we agree on a dollar amount for a project then as we get closer to the end we’re going to come back with change orders. And the change orders is going to extend the actual price of that project way beyond what we had planned on spending and you’re saying this is not going to happen. Mr. Hull: Yes, sir, Commissioner Fennoy, what I’m saying is we would have a legal lease that would provide if we have to do the work and complete the project and the city’s costs are fixed, yes, sir. Mr. Fennoy: All right thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Okay I’m going to ask a single question. As a developer across this region and the Southeast United States and pieces of real estate in corridors like this one in particular, is this highest and best use for that property? Mr. Hull: I think it could be the highest and best use. Yes, the property, Mr. Mayor, is a little bit limited because of the natural boundary that is created by the Savannah River and also the railroad tracks on the other side. So when these retailers are determining the feasibility which essentially is what the sales volume they predict from their proposed development, we’re limited because of those natural factors and so for that reason I do think this is a the highest and best use. I would add that we could take the corner of this property and think in terms of some kind of retail development on the corner maybe one acre or an acre and a half on the corner and that would be the exception to what I’m speaking of. Mr. Mayor: All right, I have a follow up question based on your response. Given that the train tracks, the Norfolk Southern Rail Line, is effectively 2.6 miles from this location and the 8 Savannah River would be effectively about 1.17 miles from this location the natural barrier impediment, how does that strike with regards to that because if you look at it it’s in an immediate thoroughfare that is in the middle of two states, high volume traffic that comes through there. How can we again in your experiences as a major developer across the Southeastern United States take this property and effectively tell us that this the best use for it in light of those things? th Mr. Hull: Well, if you take the Savannah River which is about 6/10 of a mile to the north and you take where the railroad tracks are and the traffic count what the retailers tell you that as far as a grocery store people shop where they live and so we really need a three mile ring and that’s what we’re talking about and unfortunately on the north we’re cut off by the river. So and the railroad tracks the road patterns give us some problems so that’s where we get to a like a Dollar General with a food component and a fast food restaurant could probably be fit in on the corner. And from a highest and best use as far as generating funds they generate a little more money than certainly a governmental project with lawyers office and that kind of development is that responsive to what you’re asking? Mr. Mayor: It’s what you’ve shared based on your experiences and you’re the developer. I’m not. Mr. Hull: Thank you. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Hull, this question is not in a way to question what you do for sure because you’ve got what you do across the southeast which I know I just wish you was maybe be the same poor fella I talked to earlier you’re --- Mr. Hull: (Unintelligible). Mr. Hasan: --- you’re opposed to it that’s why I need to be poor if that’s the case. But my question is I was fortunate to have lunch today with some law enforcement officers and I just took the liberty and was talking about, I was there to meet with them about other concerns they had and I took the liberty of asking them about 401 who had worked in that building. It was six of them and all six of them said they had worked in the building and I asked them what was their opinion of the building in terms of trying to renovate or what have you and they pretty much said if they wasn’t forced to go in there to work they wouldn’t go in there to work. There were two studies done and you probably seen both of them, one in the 80’s and some one was done one around 2000/2011 what puts you at ease and comfort that you can deal with those concerns that previous occupants in that building that they’ll be satisfied when you get through with your body of work at this cost. I know anything can be done at a cost but at your current cost how could you deal with that? Mr. Hull: Well and you know I have dealt with a lot of environmental issues in my development career and in this case the majority of where we had the problem which has been water infiltration is going to be demolished so the buildings that we have remaining, the two buildings that we’re proposed to remain have not suffered as much of the environmental problem 9 as the other building. So you know in my experience we’ve dealt a good bit with the remediation of environmental issues you know we can handle these problems under the budget that we’ve got you know that we’ve submitted to you today. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, sir. Mr. Hull: Yes, sir, thank you. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 and then I’ll th take one final question from the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. Sias: Good afternoon, Mr. Hull --- Mr. Hull: Good afternoon, Commissioner. Mr. Sias: --- not being an engineer or a developer I have to look at the history of what’s been in that location. And when reviewing the very first analysis that your group proposed if I’m not mistaken it was eventually taking the building down to the basic skin frame, is that correct? Mr. Hull: I’ve got Architect Booker here and he can tell us something or Mr. Aikers. Mr. Sias: Well, let me finish my question with you then, sir. And in making that comment this idea of rehabbing this building I am extremely afraid of that. I extremely afraid of that because this building has been there for quite a while and nearly from the first day of occupancy there were issues. So some time just a little old common sense as to when you are dealing with these kinds of issues that kind of it’s kind of malingering and just kind of hangs around. And when you deal with folks who say I’m sick but we have several folks in the building that’s good so I foresee and I don’t have a crystal ball but I foresee the future of bringing that same thing back unless that building is basically demolished. So I appreciate everything that you and your group have done but I’m still in that first paragraph you had about skepticism. I still have a serious concern on that as that’s been the complete history of this building and we got everybody else out of it. And I’m just extremely concerned about that and at this point in time I’m convinced but I thank you for your presentation. Mr. Hull: Commissioner Sias, may I ask you, respond to that? Mr. Sias: Yes, sir. Mr. Hull: And you know that’s the beauty, Commissioner Sias, of this proposal which is you know as a developer we have to comply with all the environmental rules and regulations and we have got a very outstanding building department here in our city and they require compliance with all of the rules as does the state. And I can assure you that our proposal incorporates a, all remediation necessary for a good first class building. So and the beauty of this proposal to the City of Augusta is that all that risk is on my shoulders. If I don’t comply with every rule and every regulation, it’s at my cost. We’re giving the city, we’re providing the city a fixed sum contract. On any environmental issues that have to be remediated and we remediate environmental problems 10 all the time everywhere. The majority of the problems, Mr. Sias, in this particular development are going to be demolished and we have to do that to a certain standard as well. So I think by shifting the burden of those environmental concerns onto the developer then the city is fully protected and the city’s lawyers can fully protect it and then that’s what we call a risk shifting and we’re shifting the risk on to the developer and if I’m wrong and I have to spend double that amount to satisfy all the governmental agencies then that burden is on me. Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor, I’ll close with this comment. Thank you very much, sir, and I just want to make sure on thing is clear is that I fully support a facility for Juvenile Justice. I really do and I intend for us to have one whether it be 401 or whether it be a new building or a renovated building but most definitely we have to get a facility and so I’m totally for that but I’m still on the wrong side of this one. Mr. Hull: I understand, sir, thank you. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair’s going to recognize the Commissioner from the 9. I want to pause and make sure that we bring this conversation back into alignment this is just a conversation again with a community partner who’s coming and speaking on behalf of the Juvenile Courts. Earlier last year there was some discussion about how to repurpose the 401 Building. The city has not entered into any agreements, I want everybody to fully understand that. This is just again by way of conversation and suggestions about how we might be able to attack an ongoing th concern around space for a Juvenile Court. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Hull, I thank you for coming and sharing with us and I’m glad we’re having an open dialogue about this facility because I too see the need and know how important it is to have such a facility. And I’m not an architect, I’m not an engineer or any of the sort but I’ve got plenty of vision. My grandfather used to tell me all the time as a child he could look through muddy water and spot dry land and he convinced me of that because he was a smart man. He was not educated but he knew common sense. He had very little education but he had a lot of experience and I tend to lean on a lot of stuff he told me you know as a child so I’ve got a little vision myself when we talk about the risks and all that other stuff. But the building was built, when it was built years ago we had an outside contractor do it the building lasted about 20 years and it started to fall down then but like you stated it was just water coming in the building. Even my vision then said put a roof over the top of the roof and then you stop the water from coming in but that wasn’t good enough. But there are other buildings that has been sustained and secure and has been a good building and it’s still there so I can’t foresee tearing all of it down. I think the tower needs to come down. I don’t think you need to renovate, I think it needs to come down. Those people who were working and the Commission Hasan talked about evidently didn’t work in the other building they had to work in the tower itself and I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t want to go back into that situation but I do think there’s some good in those other buildings. I do think that we could tear down the tower. You know ya’ll you and the Mayor and Georgia Tech were talking about retail stores and big box stores and all that stuff but you hit something that’s close and dear to me when you talked about the three mile radius with economics. There’s not much money on that side of town, let me put it that way. There’s some homeowners and some businesses but there’s not a lot of economic money that’s floating around there and people are not going to just travel on that end of town because you put a building there or store there whatever it 11 is. So I’ve said that to say that I think you’ve got a good program. I think you planned it good; I think it needs to be vetted some more and talked about some more. We need to ask some more questions. I need to try to stump you every chance I get and I ain’t going to be able to do that I know but I need to try. Mr. Hull: I’m easy. Mr. M. Williams: I need to try that because I think that if you don’t ask questions you won’t know. I mean the only bad question is the one you don’t really ask and then after it’s too late then you won’t ask it when it’s too late. But I say all that to say that we need a facility bad and since we’ve got this building and I think over half of it can be used I would certainly be in support of trying to help put a deal like that together with somebody. Now like the Mayor said I don’t want nobody to get the wrong impression we had not decided anything. You just brought a proposal to us. Somebody else may have a better one, a cheaper one and when I say cheaper less expensive for this government and I’d be willing to entertain that. And I just think we’ve got to have vision to see how this thing can happen and not just turn around and build everything. Mr. Hull: Well, thank you, Commissioner Williams, and we so much hope we have an opportunity to work with this commission. We think we do great things, we have done great things and we appreciate it. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, thank you very much. Okay, Madam Clerk, we’re going to go to the Consent Agenda. The Clerk: Our Consent Agenda consists of Items 1-32, Items 1-32. For the benefit of any objectors to our Planning Petition once the petition is read would you please signify your objection by raising your hand. I call your attention to: Item 1: Z-19-09 – Is a request to approve with conditions the foundation for EDS requesting a Special Exception for property located at 1345 Flowing Wells Road. Item 2: Is a request with conditions requesting a change of zoning from a Zone R-1A (One- family Residential) to a zone R-3A (Multiple-family Residential) affecting property known as 2737 Milledgeville Road. Item 3: Is a request with conditions requesting a Special Exception to construct a boarding house located at 2737 Milledgeville Road. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those Planning Petitions? I call your attention to the Public Service portion of our agenda: Item 4: Is for an Adult Entertainment amendment waiving the second reading. Item 5: Is a motion to approve a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with the Augusta Mimi Mart located at 1503 Gordon Highway. Item 6: Is for an on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Hyatt House located at 1268 Broad Street. 12 Item 7: Is a request for an on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau dba as Augusta Co. located at 1010 Broad Street. Item 8: Just for record this amendment is waiving a second reading. Item 9: Is for an alcohol Special Events License for property located at 2834 Washington Road. Item 10: Is for an alcohol Special Events License for a location at 3035 Washington Road. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those Alcohol Petitions? Mr. Mayor members of the Commission our Consent Agenda consists of Items 1-32. And the Administrator is asking Item 25 to be pulled and referred back to committee. Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk as a matter of record Item 17, on Item 17, I’m trying to get to you. Okay, Madam Administrator, do you want to speak to that one? Ms. Jackson: Yes on Item 17 the wording of that should be changed to substitute Mayor where Director is so it should read as follows: Motion to authorize Housing and Community Development Department and the Mayor to execute a Certificate of Consistency with Local Consolidated Plan for SAFEHOMES, Inc. Mr. M. Williams: What do we do with that, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: So what do we do with 17? Well, you’re going to approve it but it needs to be, ultimately I’m the one who signs the document and that’s not there. That’s not what this is. It’s as if the Director from Housing HCD is executing that okay? All right. Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got a couple of questions about a couple of these I want to pull. Mr. Mayor: I’m going to give them to you now. All right, the Chair will entertain any motions to add or remove from the consent agenda. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from th the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to add Item 38 I think it’s the, to the Consent and I’d like to pull Item 16, 22 and 24. The Clerk: Mr. Williams, can I get you to speak into your mike, sir? Mr. M. Williams: Write that down, it’s the first time, Ms. Bonner. The Clerk: I beg your pardon? Mr. M. Williams: Item 16, 22 --- th Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, all right the Commissioner from the 9 is going to make is going to amend that for Item number 38, he’s got a slight change for number 38. 13 Mr. M. Williams: Point of, add it to the Consent Agenda but I want to waive the second reading. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. M. Williams: You’ve got those other three, right, Ms. Bonner? The Clerk: Sir? Mr. M. Williams: You’ve got those other three that I wanted to pull? The Clerk: Yes, sir, but let me make sure that was Item 16 and Item 22 and you were adding to the Consent Item 38 with an amendment to waive the second reading. Mr. M. Williams: But I was pulling 24 as well. The Clerk: You want 24, okay. Mr. Mayor: And Item 25 is being pulled and referred back to committee. The Clerk: Yes, sir. st Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I don’t necessarily want to pull Item number 20 but I would like to give if possible for Commissioner Lockett to be given an opportunity to talk about Age Friendly Augusta and the impact that it’s having and going to have on our community in a three minute period of time if that’s because he can get long-winded. Mr. Mayor: I think I heard what the Commissioner say he wanted to pull Item 20. The Clerk: Yes, sir, I believe that’s what he said. thth Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9, I’m sorry the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. Hasan: --- Mr. Mayor, Item number 18 I can ask a simple question or either you can pull it. Mr. Mayor: We’re going to pull it. Mr. Hasan: Okay, pull 18. 14 th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Frantom: I’m not going to pull it but I just want to go on record saying that I’ll be voting No on Number 4. The Clerk: Four, okay. Mr. Fennoy: Do we add 39? Mr. Mayor: Yeah all right, add 39. The Clerk: To the Consent? Mr. Mayor: Yes, please. The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve. Mr. M. Williams: I need some clarity on that, Mr. Mayor, 39, I don’t want to --- Mr. Mayor: Okay with objection. All right, so we won’t add it. Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve as stated on the screen. Mr. Sias: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PLANNING 1. Z-19-19 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve with the conditions below; a petition by The Foundation for EDS Inc. requesting a Special Exception to add additional property to the campus for EDS that was approved for a Special Exception in 2017 (Z-17-27) per Section 25-i (b) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta Georgia affecting property containing approximately 8.74 acres and known as part of 1345 Flowing Wells Road. Part of Tax Map 029-031-11-0 DISTRICT 3 1. The site plan and design of the proposed kindergarten facility should be mindful of environmentally sensitive areas. 2. No fill in the floodplain, floodway or the wetlands is permitted. 3. Issuance of development permits shall be contingent upon the submission regulations, including but not limited to the Food Ordinance. 4. Any disturbance or encroachment on the floodplain or floodway should be avoided. 5. A no-rise certification will be required for all land disturbance and if required Army Corp. of Engineers approval to disturb the wetlands. 2. Z-19-10 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve with the conditions below; a petition by Divine Vision Ministry Inc., on behalf of Valerie Wilkins, requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1A (One-family Residential) to Zone R- 3A (Multiple-family Residential) affecting property containing 1.61 acres and known as part of 2727 Milledgeville Road. Tax Map 070-2-022-00-0 DISTRICT 2 1. The only permissible 15 used of the property shall be a Boarding House or single-family residence. A. A Site Plan must be provided for further structural additions on the subject property of enlargement of the existing residence for the purpose of additional residential use. 3. The Boarding House shall be limited to 8 residents, subject to minimum space requirements set forth by the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance at the time of the application. An additional 3 residents will be allowed on the second floor if all of the components of Section 32 of the Life Safety Code are met. 4. One parking space for each 2 individuals residing in the Boarding House must be provided and clearly marked, along with 1 parking space for the owner or resident manager. 3. Z-19-11 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve with the conditions below: a petition by Divine Vision Ministry Inc., on behalf of Valerie Wilkins, requesting a Special Exception t construct a boarding house per Section 26-i (u) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta Georgia affecting property containing 1.61 acres and known as part of 2737 Milledgeville Road. Tax Map 070-2-022-00-0 DISTRICT 2 1. The parcel at 2737 Milledgeville Road was rezoned for use as a Family Personal Care Home by zoning cases Z-09-05 in 2009. 2. A business License was never obtained and the Special Exception for the Family Personal Care Home expired. 3. Currently, the parcel contains and is zoned for single-family residence. 4. According to Tax Records, the residence was built in 1936. 5. According to the applicant the residence contains: 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths (2 existing and 1 proposed), the required office a Boarding House must include, plus common area to include: a living room, a kitchen, a dining room, a laundry area on the first floor and a loft and sitting area on the second floor. 6. According to a recent Code Enforcement inspection, the existing residence currently has 3 usable bedrooms on the first floor and is able to house 8 residents within the existing structure, including the resident manager. Bedroom 1 has 100 sq ft and may house 1 resident Bedroom 2 has 333 sq ft and may house 3 residents Bedroom 3 has 414 sq ft and may house 4 residents 7. According to a recent Code Enforcement inspection, the existing residence contains: A living room that meets the spacing requirements of 150 sq ft for 6 or more residents and contains 575 sq ft; A dining room meets the spacing requirements of 120 sq ft for 6 or more residents and contains 154 sq ft; One existing full bathroom and 1 proposed full bathroom are to be part of this facility – bathrooms are required to contain one functional toilet, a lavatory and a showering facility per 4 residents; A dedicated office for the resident manager has been provided. 8. Based on square footages provided by the applicant, and additional 3 residents would be allowed in the upstairs bedroom. Bedroom 4 has 275 sq ft and may house 2 residents Bedroom 5 has 166 sq ft and may house 1 resident According to the Fire Department, additional residents on the second floor would only be allowed if all of the components of Section 32 of the Life Safety Code are met. An additional bathroom exists upstairs. 9. Per the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Boarding Houses are allowed to provide temporary or longer-term accommodations, for compensation, at no less than thirty (30) days for 4 or more persons which, for the period of occupancy, may serve as a principal residence. These establishments also may provide complementary services, such as housekeeping, meals, and laundry services. No health-related services may be provided, including but not limited to, dispensing of medications. The owner or an employee of the owner (resident manager) must reside on site and are counted toward the maximum occupancy. Such operations are allowed by Special Exception approval only in the R-3A, R- 3B and R-3C zones under defined performance standards. They are also allowed by right in 16 the B-1 an B-2 Zones under defined performance standards. 10. Parking spaced at the existing residence are not currently marked on the large concrete area in front of the residence. One parking space for each 2 individuals residing in the Boarding House must be provided, along with 1 space for the owner or resident manager. 11. The proposed Boarding House should have minimal traffic impact on Milledgeville Road or nearby Gordon Highway. 12. Public transportation is available within walking distance of the proposed Boarding House. 13. A bike rack is not proposed for the proposed Boarding House based on applicant drawings. 14. ADA accessibility will have to be provided for the Boarding House. PUBLIC SERVICES 4. Motion to approve Adult Entertainment ordinance amendment to the Augusta, Georgia Code, Title 6, Chapter 1, Adult Entertainment, Section 6-1-3 (g), to provide that an erotic dance establishment business tax certificate holder is eligible to obtain on-premise consumption alcohol licenses subject to the regulations of the Augusta Alcohol Ordinance and provided that the establishment is in compliance with Section 6-1-9 of the Adult Entertainment Ordinance that provides location requirements. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 12, 2019) 5. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 19-09: request by Jay Patel for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Augusta Mini Mart located at 1503 Gordon Highway. District 2. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 12, 2019) 6. Motion to approve New Location: A.N. 19-11: request by John D. Engler, Jr. for an on- premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Hyatt House Augusta located at 1268 Broad Street. There will be Sunday Sales. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 12, 2019) 7. Motion to approve New Location: A.N. 19-12: request by Bennish Brown for an on- premise Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau dba Augusta Co. located at 1010 Broad Street. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 2, 2019) 8. Motion to approve On-Premise Alcohol Licenses: request approval of amendments to the Augusta, Georgia Code, Title 6, Chapter 2, Article 1, Alcoholic Beverages, to provide that a business tax certificate holder – for an adult dance establishment/erotic dance establishment that can be permitted under the guidelines of the Augusta, Georgia Adult Entertainment Ordinance – is eligible to apply for on-premise alcohol licenses. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 12, 2019) 9. Motion to approve a request by Tracy Trotter of HOA Restaurant Holder dba Hooters of Augusta located at 2834 Washington Rd for an Alcohol Special Event License for the week of April 6-14, 2019 (Masters Week). There will be Sunday Sales. District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 12, 2019) 10. Motion to approve a request by Jan Scholer of Wings of Augusta dba Wild Wing Café located at 3035 Washington Rd for an Alcohol Special Event License for the week of April 7-13, 2019 (Masters Week). There will be Sunday Sales. District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 12, 2019) 11. Motion to approve the Excess Facilities Charge Agreement in the amount of $140,983.06 with Ga. Power Co. for installation of transformers to serve New Electrical Room for the 17 Airport’s General Perry Smith Parkway – SED Area. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 12, 2019) 12. Motion to approve the 2019 Thanks Mom and Dad Innovative Program Grant for new senior programs at Brigham Senior Center in the amount of $2,000. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 12, 2019) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 13. Motion to approve the updated agenda item to approve the purchase of one Chevrolet Tahoe Pursuit using a sub-grant funded by the Federal Homeland Security Grant Program through the state of Georgia for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and one Chevrolet Tahoe for the Richmond County Coroner’s Office using SPLOST 7 funds. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 12, 2019) 14. Motion to approve request from Augusta Utilities Department Construction and Maintenance Division to replace one backhoe loader to Border Equipment utilizing ITB #18- 234A and lease two sewer vacuum trucks to Environmental Products of Georgia utilizing ITB 18-305. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 12, 2019) 15. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s) request to sell property located at 3209 Sylvan Court to an approved homebuyer. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 12, 2019) 17. Motion to authorize Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s) Director to execute a Certificate of Consistency with Local Consolidated Plan for SAFEHOMES, Inc. Domestic Violence Shelter in Augusta, Georgia. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 12, 2019) 19. Motion to approve authorization of Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s) agreement for a Small Business Development Loan to Leibra Inc. dba Whipped Creamery in the amount of $37,500.00 (at 4% Interest and an 84-Month Term). (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 12, 2019) PUBLIC SAFETY 21. Motion to approve SAMHSA (3) grant contractors for the Accountability Court DUI and Veterans Court programs. Contractors are Treatment Centers of Augusta, A Bells Counseling Services, Hope House of Augusta, Inc. (Approved by Public Safety Committee March 12, 2019) FINANCE 23. Motion to approve the continued purchase of Augusta POL/EPL Insurance with Premium Quote for 2019 – 2020 POL/EPL coverage to J. Smith Lanier & Co., LLC current broker, through insurance carrier RSUI for a premium of $58,700. (Approved by Finance Committee March 12, 2019) ENGINEERING SERVICES 24. Motion to approve the Amendment to the Landfill Gas Sales Agreement with Covia Holdings Corporation. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 12, 2019) 25. Motion to approve amending Section 4-2-6 of the Augusta Code – Fees for Environmental Services Department Landfill Fees and Waive the Second Reading. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 12, 2019) 18 26. Motion to approve the Environmental Services Department – Augusta Landfill to Offer Reduced Rate Disposal Day. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 12, 2019) 27. Motion to approve the Landfill Disposal Agreement with Inland Waste Solutions and approve the execution of the Agreement by the Mayor. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 12, 2019) 28. Motion to approve execution of Contract Item Utility Agreement to include Augusta Utilities Department’s water and sanitary sewer relocations in the Georgia Department of th Transportation contract, through competitive bidding for GDOT Project PI 220680 SR4/15 Street Widening – Milledgeville to Government Road. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 12, 2019) 29. Motion to approve Budget Increase of $1,000,000 for the Sanitary Sewer Connection Program – RFQ 16-205 awarded to Southern Services and Universal Plumbing. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 12, 2019) 30. Motion to approve tasking the Administrator with setting up a meeting with Norfolk Southern Railroad and bring a report back to the Commission in20 days. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 12, 2019) PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 31. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Augusta Commission held on March 5, 2019 and Special Called meeting held March 12, 2019) SUBCOMMITTEE Pension Committee 32. Motion to approve Plan Amendment to 2008 GMEBS Pension Plan including post- certified employees of the Coroner’s Office in the definition of public safety employees. (Approved by Pension Committee February 19, 2019, Commission March 5, 2019 – second reading) PUBLIC SAFETY 38. Motion to amend the Augusta, GA Code to strike the pet registration requirement and remove all fees associated with the pet registration requirement. (Requested by General Counsel A. MacKenzie) Mr. Mayor: All right, voting. Ms. Davis out. Mr. Frantom votes No. \[Item 4\] Motion Passes 9-0. \[Items 1-3, 5-15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24-32, 38\] Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk. The Clerk: I call your attention to the Administrative Services portion of our agenda: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 19 37. Discuss the purchase of a vehicle for the Mayor’s Office. (No recommendation – clarification of whether the vehicle approved for the Mayor’s Office will be used by the Mayor or the Mayor’s staff.) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This item is to discuss the purchase of a vehicle. I think we agree on a vehicle. I think what the difference is whether it’s going to be a staff vehicle or whether it’s going to be a personal vehicle for the Mayor and whether or not the state laws says that it’ll be a city logo, a city seal on it. That’s been the issue. Now I guess only you can answer this question, Mr. Mayor. Is this a staff vehicle or this is a personal Mayor’s vehicle? Mr. Mayor: Well, this vehicle will be for the Mayor. Mr. M. Williams: Okay and being for the Mayor the rules state that it should be a 12- month period each year each month where you’re looking into the general public having an opportunity to weigh in on whether the seal will be on the vehicle or not. I know that there’s been some emails and some correspondence going by saying that there was a vote or an amendment to that but I don’t think we can amend the state law. I mean I’m just asking the question and my Attorney here can step up and answer that question whether the Mayor’s vehicle has to have a local or seal or not and how that works. Mr. Mayor: Would you like to direct that question to the Attorney? Mr. M. Williams: Anybody who can answer it. The Attorney’s a good man but whoever can answer that question I just need the right answer. Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie. Mr. MacKenzie: Based on the ordinance referred to by the Commission, I don’t see that requirement for the Mayor’s vehicle. Mr. M. Williams: My question to the Attorney, Mr. Mayor, you can direct this to him too, the state law supersedes anything we do inside this government or do vice versa. Mr. MacKenzie: Well, the Commission can’t pass anything inconsistent with state law. Mr. M. Williams: So what does the state law say, Mr. Mayor? I’m going to go through the Chair because he’s playing lawyer talk today and I ain’t got time for that. I need a straight answer; I need to know what the state says versus what this Commission may have voted on at any point in time. Mr. MacKenzie: I’ve not looked at state law. I’d be happy to research that issue. I’m looking at our ordinance (inaudible). 20 Mr. M. Williams: You’re a lawyer, you’re a lawyer. Now don’t, Mr. Mayor, let me talk back to you because he’s going to get me out of my comfort zone. I came in with a good spirit today. I came in to do the people’s business and I don’t appreciate a man making the type money he’s making to try to fast talk somebody who’s been here for 16 years and heard three or four lawyers before he got here. So the state law ought to be something you ought to read or have on the back of your hand, Mr. Andrew. So if you don’t know what the state law says now, it shouldn’t take you but a few seconds to take somebody in your office to send it to you on your phone so you can reveal that this community. Mr. Mayor: So let me all right, I’m going to come back to that. All right, the Chair th recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you. I move we approve this item with the, for the vehicle for the Mayor’s use and that we come back in 12 months and answer the decal question. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, you can, if I can I want to go through the Chair. Mr. Mayor: Well so all right, I’ve got a motion and a second. All right, the Chair’s going th to recognize the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I’d like to just address what the Attorney said if you don’t mind because this will be a very simple process. I agree with the Attorney when he said that what the Commission adopted in 2001 it did not have anything about the public hearing, I think it have about the 12 months. But if you go to the information that the Clerk sent out in 2002, 2003, 2004 they had a public hearing and that public hearing also said that this lasts for 12 months. That’s why the done it in ’02 or they done it in ’01, they come back and done it in ’02. That’s 12 months later they done it again and they done it again in ’04. So I do agree, Mr. Attorney, Mr. Mackenzie when you say that but I think the Commissioner is asking what the state law says and I’d like to make a substitute motion to my colleague and that is, Mr. Mayor, that we do a, to allow to have the public hearing 1:15 next week to go ahead on and approve this vehicle for yourself, Mr. Mayor, and do it again in 12 months. So I’d like to make that motion. Mr. M. Williams: I’ll second that if that’s the process. No one told me what the law says. Yes, I’m going by the state law. So until I hear that from the Clerk or the Lawyer, either one, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right, so let’s hit our posture. This Commission has already approved the purchase of a vehicle; that has already been done, we’re very grateful for that to be the case. The question that’s before us right now is a matter of whether the decal should be on it or not. To the degree that we’re even having this conversation which I don’t think we should be, that’s my opinion, consistent with what the ordinance is. But the ordinance that this Commission adopted in th 2001 says, consistent with state law, the question that the Commissioner from the 9 has asked Georgia law requires that every motor vehicle owned or leased by any county or municipality to have a decal or seal on the front door of the side of the vehicle, the law specifically exempts 21 vehicles used for law enforcement, prosecution purposes. The law also provides every municipality and/or county in the great State of Georgia. There are 535 municipalities in this great state. It allows them an exemption to other vehicles in accordance with Title 36. This body previously for former Mayor Bob Young approved a vehicle and again the ordinance that was adopted by this body did not speak to the issue of having a public hearing with regards to that and again consistent with Title 36 it says that a public hearing should be conducted. Now again we certainly can go through that process but I don’t think it’s prudent for us to do that. When you think about again from a public safety perspective and matters like that, I believe it is completely unwise to affix that decal on that given the world we live in today. Mr. Hasan: Point of Personal Privilege, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: I hadn’t finished. Mr. Hasan: That’s fine. Mr. Mayor: And I’ve been in this office for just five years, Ms. Bonner, five years and the thst Commissioner from the 4 has made a motion, the Commissioner from the 1 has seconded it. We’ve got a substitute, I’ve been in this office for five years and on more than one occasion, the Marshals can attest to it, we’ve had someone come into this building who have threatened not only my life but the life of my staff. You can take that for granted but I don’t and I don’t want to be riding around in this city. I want to be able to go home to my family every single day --- Mr. Fennoy: Right. Mr. Mayor: --- and we’re having this conversation and I think it’s imprudent for us to be doing that. But in this building I’ve been here five years and on more than one occasion this has happened and we snicker at it we go through this process and it needs to stop. The Chair’s going th to go to the Commissioner from the 9 who asked the question so consistent with state law that is th correct, sir, you’re absolutely correct to the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Can I respond, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: The floor is yours. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: When a police office inquires about a job, he or she ought to know what that job entails. Now you said you’ve been here for five years and had someone to come in here so having a car with a seal on it is going to make somebody target you I guess is what you’re trying to say? The state law, it don’t matter to me someone is this Commission agreed to get a car for your staff. Your staff is going to do no delivering; we got a courier to do all delivering. You’ve got really two people in your staff maybe three with your secretary but if the state law says that’s the way it’s supposed to be, that’s what we need to go by and then you as the Mayor ought to be 22 making sure that does happen. Now when Bob Young was here who had a blue light in his car. State law didn’t require that; he had to remove it. He had a hearing about whether the car should be sealed or have a city seal on it or not. That happened but you’re going to bypass all of that, Mr. Mayor, and I just don’t think that’s right. I think that the state law is what the state law says and that’s what this city ought to go by. We talk about transparency and doing things right. I’m really disappointed in the way we sit here and act like we can just do what we want to when we want to do it. Mr. Mayor: So, Commissioner, I don’t think we’ve sat here and said we’re just going to do what we want to do I think --- Mr. M. Williams: That’s what you’re doing today, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: --- I just read what you asked and said here’s what the law says. Mr. M. Williams: Ms. Bonner? Mr. Mayor: You have a substitute motion, the Chair has the floor. You have a substitute motion that you seconded and we’re going to vote on that right now and that substitute motion was whether or not we wanted to have a public hearing. And you had a date in mind or should I say th the Commissioner from the 6 --- Mr. M. Williams: I want to read the statement. I don’t want you to give it to me (unintelligible). th Mr. Mayor: --- the Commissioner from the 6 has a substitute with a date on it and so forth. All right, we’re going to vote on the substitute, Madam Clerk, at this time. That’s what we’re voting on and move on the substitute motion. Would you restate it? The Clerk: The substitute motion was to hold a public hearing next Tuesday at 1:15 and to come back in 12 months for the renewal for the exemption of the decal. Mr. M. Williams: There’s not an exemption. If people show up to say what, Mr. Mayor. I need to get an understanding what we’re doing now because you already talked about three or four years when we didn’t do it. Mr. Hasan: Point of Personal Privilege, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: You didn’t have a vehicle and so there’s no reason to have a hearing if there’s no vehicle. You don’t have a hearing if there’s no vehicle. So again the question that is before us is whether or not we’re going to have a public hearing on next Tuesday. We can absolutely have one today, I’m quite okay with that. All right, let’s just vote on that, Madam Clerk. All right, voting. Mr. Hasan: Point of Personal Privilege, Mr. Mayor. 23 Mr. Mayor: I’m coming to you. Mr. Hasan: Okay. Mr. Hasan and Mr. M. Williams vote Yes. Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Few, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett and Mr. Clarke vote No. Ms. Davis out. Motion Fails 2-7. th Mr. Mayor: Back to the main motion from the Commissioner from the 4. The Clerk: The motion was to approve the purchase and come back in 12 months for the renewal --- Mr. Sias: In other words no to approve the that the vehicle is for the Mayor’s use --- The Clerk: --- Mayor’s use. Mr. Sias: --- and then we’ll come back in 12 months for the second decal hearing. No, this is the public hearing. Mr. Mayor, may I ask a question please? Mr. Mayor: State your inquiry. Mr. Sias: Before we vote since this is a public meeting and it was on the agenda I would ask that you invite anyone from the audience for the public if they want to say something on this issue they can do it, you’re the Chair. Mr. Hasan: I don’t think you can do that, Mr. Mayor. Mr. M. Williams: This is not a public hearing. This is a Commission meeting in case you forgot. It’s not a public hearing, it’s a Commission meeting. Mr. Hasan: Now ya’ll have made a mess of this. Mr. M. Williams: I’ll tell you what, done wrong so long they think wrong is right now. Mr. Mayor: So, all right let’s just vote on this underlined motion and just move forward. All right, I’ve got a motion and a second, voting. Mr. Hasan: Point of Personal Privilege, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: (Inaudible) --- Mr. Hasan and Mr. M. Williams vote No. Ms. Davis out. 24 Motion Passes 7-2. th. Mr. Mayor: --- the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 State your inquiry. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I don’t you know I didn’t think you intended to but just for clarity for the audience’s sake in no way form or fashion do we want to put yourself and your family in harm about this vehicle. We’re just trying to follow the state law what the state law says. I think the Attorney has been very misleading today. As I look at this information that the Clerk sent out, he did say he didn’t read it but Ms. Bonner sent this to all of us in terms of the state statute. And I would think knowing there was confusion about this particular issue even if she did not send it to he would’ve looked it up to make sure. That does not diminish or deny what he said in terms of what was adopted in 2001 but most assuredly he had ample opportunity to look at the state statute which was actually sent to him to make a informed or more informed statement that he made. So once again, Mr. Mayor in closing, in no form or fashion was this designed to put yourself of your family in any kind of danger. I can remember when Sheriff Roundtree ran for Sheriff of this city I was interviewing him on television and I had heard about a couple of times that he had been threatened and one of the things that after that I asked him about it because I know he spoke very little about it or kind of under his breath and my response (unintelligible). And afterwards he said to me the reason he don’t do that is because for the most times it generates copycats. So we were just following state statute attempting to do that and no way to put you or your family in danger and I think, Mr. Mayor, at the end of the day you’re aware of this as well, thank you much for the time. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Madam Clerk, Delegation and Item number 34. And we have the rdrd distinguished lady from the 3 who’d like to be on the phone call the Commissioner from the 3 Commissioner Davis. The Clerk: DELEGATIONS C. Ms. Debbie Bunch regarding Green Meadows Neighborhood and the Hale House Foundation. Mr. Mayor: So, ma’am if you will, oh you have a presentation okay if you’ll share with us your name and your address and you have five minutes. Ms. Bunch: My name is Debbie Bunch and I am a resident of 3033 Hummingbird Lane in Augusta, GA. I’ve been there for almost 30 years and I can’t get this thing to do right, sorry about that. I know that this is a very emotional topic for many and that, okay, let me get my breath. I know that this is a very emotional topic for many and I just want to share with you some facts regarding this zoning request for exception. The fact is that many of those that are opposed to this proposal it was very difficult for them to be here today but we have always been here for every hearing and we are united in our opposition to this proposal. We feel that it is not in harmony with the zoning in that area, it would detract from the character of our neighborhood and is not compatible with the current land use in that area. We did present before the Planning Commission last week and they voted overwhelmingly to deny this request. The fact that we have spoken to 25 our Commissioner, Super District Commissioner, State Representative and State Senator and all of the elected officials in this area have expressed their support for our position and opposition to this request. The Hale Foundation has repeatedly claimed that it would not impact crime in this area but there is a study that on the relationship between alcohol and drug treatment centers that is the most cited work on this subject, and they conclude that these facilities either draw people in that are crime prone or create situations that are conducive to criminal activity. Now you should know that even though we are in a high crime area which is depicted by this map from the GIS Site, in three and a half years there were only six crimes reported on that map. I mean in three and st a half years from January 1 ’15 to June of last year there were only six incidents in our neighborhood so we are a pocket of peace in that area. There’s a fact that a study entitled “Not In My Back Yard” the effect of substance abuse centers on property values conclude that we find that a neighboring treatment center is associated with an 8% reduction in nearby home prices and that this discount is magnified for treatment centers that specifically treat opioid addiction as much as 17%. There are 113 homes in Green Meadows Estates that have a fair market value of a little over $9 million dollars. A 17% loss would be $1.5 million dollars in a small subdivision. That equity loss many of the residents have spent their entire lives building. It’s a fact that many have tried to compare this facility to Bluff Plantation. In actuality the only similarity is they both treat drug addiction. There’s a summary of information there that compare the two. It’s a fact that the construction of the new Richmond County Technical Careers Magnet School created challenges in our area and resulted in an increase in erosion and noise pollution. Any further construction in that area would exacerbate those situations. It’s a fact that the living quarters at 3042 Eagle Drive where the recovering addicts would be housed are only 350 feet from the parking lot of the Richmond County Technical Careers Magnet School and 821 feet from the nearest building where thth 6 through 12 graders attend classes. That’s less than three football fields away. It’s a fact that th there was a public hearing only July 10 2017 regarding a petition for a Special Exception by the Monks of Mount Tabler. The residents of Green Meadows Estates registered no objection because the retreat they proposed was in harmony with current land use and would not affect the character of the neighborhood. It's a fact that exceptions are denied to hair salons and personal care homes all the time and if someone of little means was making a request for any number of other businesses on this property they would immediately be rejected. It’s a fact that we in no way dispute a need for an opioid treatment center in the CSRA. Neither do we dispute the fine work that the Hale Foundation has done and the many lives that they have changed, however there are many more suitable properties where this facility could be located. It’s a fact that our neighborhood is richly diverse. We are old, young, blue collar, professionals, retired ooh I finally got two. We are black, white, Hispanic and others yet we stand united in our opposition to granting this zoning exception. We’ve tried to make it very clear from the very beginning and at every opportunity. We have done everything within our power to stop this action and preserve our peaceful neighborhood. In conclusion we feel that it would be in the best interests of Augusta Richmond County as a whole to preserve what we have built there. This subdivision is a shining example of what South Augusta can be, what all of Augusta can be. We ask that you vote in harmony with the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to deny this request and we ask that you vote as if this facility were going to be open in your own backyard or better yet in your mother’s backyard. Thank you for your time. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Ms. Bunch, any questions from the colleagues? Madam Clerk, next agenda item delegation please. 26 The Clerk: DELEGATIONS D. Ms. Tracie A. Roe regarding the Green Meadows Neighborhood and The Hale House Foundation. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Ms. Roe please state your name and address for the record please. Ms. Roe: My name is Tracie Roe. I live at 2408 Par Drive Augusta, GA --- Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: You have five minutes. Ms. Roe: --- 30906. First off I want to say to Mr. Fennoy I’m proud of your 30 year trip. we’re, I’m very proud of you over the years and your success, thank you. This epidemic is not only the opioids but it’s also an epidemic of moving it into neighborhoods. How can the law allow them to move into neighborhoods and destroy hundreds of lives, neighbors, family members. I just don’t understand taking advantage of our own peace and serenity; please don’t let it do that. Just as an example where the University Hospital opened a clinic over there in front of West Lake, a $250 million dollar home is now on the market for $600,000 all because a clinic opened over there. Our property values will drop. They, the Hale Foundation, has shown very little respect for zoning boards. They continue to build after the first hearing and did their remodeling although it hadn’t even come to the second hearing. They are showing ya’ll very little respect now too. Please, please show them that you are the governing body here and that you will vote with us on our problems. I have spent 47 years of my life dealing with alcoholics. My mother was an alcoholic, my sister was an alcoholic and hung herself at age 47. I have the hardest time saying this. I don’t want to live with it behind me the rest of my life. I just don’t want to live with it behind me the rest of my life and by opening this door with the Affordable Care Act and you allowing this precedent to go into this neighborhood, there are going to be other ventures that come in and your neighborhood could be next. This place is more suited for a medical facility, for a medical district where the doctors can actually see what’s going on. They’re the ones prescribing these medications they need to see what’s going on, not us as neighbors, not schools, they do. On th January 6 of this year my only son died of cancer. I was at his bedside through his entire transition telling him how proud of him I was and how he was my greatest accomplishment, how he was loved by family and so many friends and telling soon he’d be with his father, his grandfather and his grandmother and it was okay to go. How much I loved him and to hear him whisper back he loved me. All I ask is please let me grieve for my son and show the Hale Foundation that you are the governing body that controls them and that they don’t control you. Please vote no, thank you. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Ms. Roe. Any question from the colleagues? Okay next let’s go to the Agenda Item 34 and then we’re going to hear from Mr. Jim Trotter, Madam Clerk. Mr. Trotter: Thank you, Commissioner Frantom. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Let her read the item. 27 The Clerk: PLANNING 34. z-19-08 – a request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to deny a petition by The Hale Foundation Inc. requesting a Special Exception to establish and In- patient Drug and Alcohol Treatment Facility per Section 26-1-(g) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta Georgia affecting property containing approximately 20.65 acres and known as 3042 Eagle Drive. Tax Map 109-0-001-00-0 DISTRICT 6 Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Attorney Trotter. Mr. Trotter: Thank you, Mayor Davis. I do have, before I get to my request I do want to address two things said by Ms. Roe and Ms. Bunch and we’ve had a number of interactions with them over the last six or seven months. First of all, Ms. Roe said we’re showing very little respect to the Commissioners by continuing to build out there. It’s actually quite the opposite. All we’re doing is maintain the property, preparing the property. We’re in fact trying to show tremendous respect to the neighborhood and to this board and to the Board of Commissioners by not allowing that property to fall into a state of disrepair. It’s simply being maintained. There’s no business activity or treatment activity going on out there, I want to clear that first of all. Ms. Bunch said and she’s right that their neighborhood, I wrote this quote down it is a pocket of peace, that there’s a lot of crime in the general area but the Green Meadows Neighborhood has relatively low crime and she’s right and we can say the same thing about the Hale Foundation on Watkins Street. The Hale Foundation has been there over 20 years and it is an open facility on Watkins Street with houses in neighborhoods right next to it. Almost zero lot lines over there and there has been one incident in the last 20 years. This particular piece of property we’re talking about is very different because it is isolated on seven or eight heavily wooded acres. It is not right next door to the neighbors like we are on Watkins Street. Having said that and after communications with the city Law Department yesterday and this morning, we would actually respectfully request that the item be continued and that we can develop a plan to address the many questions about access to the property and come back with a more concrete plan for you to consider for access and we would th respectfully request that it be continued to this body’s April 30 hearing. Mr. M. Williams: So moved. Mr. Garrett: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a motion and a second, all right voting. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, hold on, everybody just suspend for a moment. We do have rd the Commissioner from the 3 on the line as well who wanted to be called in for purposes of hearing the debate on this. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor --- 28 Mr. Mayor: Hold on one second, Commissioner. Mr. Hasan: --- okay. The Clerk: Are you there, Ms. Davis? Ms. Davis: I am, thank you. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk. th The Clerk: The motion is to continue this zoning matter until our April 30 meeting for a continuance. Ms. Davis: Okay. th Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’m going to go the Commissioner from the 6, the Chair recognizes th the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, this is a, first I need to know from a legal perspective do we have to vote whether we allow that to happen or not? I need to know that and then I’ll make a follow up comment. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right the Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie. Tthe question before us is do we have to vote on a continuance. Mr. MacKenzie: Well, he’s requesting a continuance to a specific date in the event the Commission took no action because there was not six votes to either approve or deny the application then he could still make a request to add it to a future agenda if not action was taken. Mr. Hasan: Okay I’m sorry, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I have my constituents there myself and Commissioner Clarke’s constituents there. I’d like to hear almost 100%. And I’d like to know from them Mr. Mayor do they want us to proceed on with this and not support this and do a substitute motion because let me, because based on what I’m hearing the Attorney said, Mr. Mayor, is the very same reason that they denied it. He’s asking us to give him an opportunity to get that option in place per se. That was not submitted at the time that they moved forward to rezone the Hale House property. And for that community they want to do that, Mr. Mayor, honor their request. I’d like to ask them that are they there to make a substitute motion but for me to allow them to move away from what they put on the table at this particular time because that’s what it says here, as stated above it’s the recommendation that this site, no, I’m sorry, the Planning Commission denied the Special Exception specifically preliminary development plans showed the location of all proposed ingress egress sites was not presented. And what he’s asking for now if I understand him correctly to let him come back and formally present that. Well, that should’ve been presented at the time of the request and it’s not there and if we do anything other than that we’re giving him, giving them a lifeline and I’m not sure the committee wants to do that. Now if they want to do that I don’t know how the vote is going to come out but that’s what’s being asked and I don’t mean to characterize him but that’s what I hear. 29 Mr. Mayor: Well again, I don’t have all of the background on this. I know my senator is supposed to be sending me some information that I haven’t gotten at this point but I am very sensitive to this matter on both sides. What you’re asking is what I think your constituents wanting you to decide on today (unintelligible) --- Mr. Hasan: Yeah, but they’re here so I don’t have to, I can ask them, do you mind me asking them? Mr. Mayor: --- and I think that again to the degree that what’s in front of us is a request for a continuance. Now I don’t know what information we’re going to get that we don’t have today but what I’m hearing it is germane to this conversation. Mr. Mayor: Well, Mr. Mayor, he should’ve presented it at the time that he submitted the application and if we do anything other than that, Mr. Mayor, then we’re violating our own laws, we’re violating our own codes. Mr. Mayor: So --- Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: --- hold on hold on, we’re going to make sure we get it heard --- Mr. Hasan: --- okay. Mr. Mayor: --- okay? Let me hear from our Planning Department with regards to this matter. Again we’ve got a motion on the table for a continuance with a proper second just so everybody knows where we are that’s what our posture is okay? All right, Director Sherman. Mr. Sherman: This is the application for the Special Exception for the Hale House. The plan that was submitted and for a Special Exception you’re required to submit a plan showing your curb cuts etc., the plan that was submitted was the plan it’s the As Built, it’s what is on the property now with access to the Hale House to the property through Green Meadows. Mr. Trotter: Correct. Mr. Sherman: At the Planning Commission meeting even, let me take you back to the public hearing, the room was filled as it is today at the Planning Commission meeting is was about as full as well. The Planning Commission took our recommendation for denial and approved that for presentation to you. Mr. Trotter has come in and they would like to find an alternative access point to this property. That plan was not submitted so it’s my understanding that that cannot be considered at this point because the plan was not submitted at the time that they applied. What they’re asking for is just what has been expressed and that’s basically it. Mr. Mayor: Okay --- 30 Mr. Trotter: Mr. Mayor, may I address that as well? Mr. Mayor: --- hold on hold on, Attorney MacKenzie, their request that’s in front of us, has this been granted before a continuance? Mr. MacKenzie: Yes, it’s commonly used as part of the process of an applicant for a Special Exception wants to make adjustments to the plan and they request a continuance to go back and make adjustments and bring it forward. And usually that’s to make it more palatable or to address some of the concerns that were raised at the public hearing process which is what I think was done here. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, why don’t we just vote on it at this point. Mr. Hasan: I make a substitute motion, Mr. Mayor. th. Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 State your motion. Mr. Hasan: I’d like to make a substitute motion to deny his request for continuance. Mr. Sias: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Madam Clerk, we’ve got a substitute motion with a proper second and that is to deny the continuance, voting, would you okay, everybody suspend --- The Clerk: I wanted to announce it. Mr. Mayor: --- all right voting. The substitute motion is to deny the request for th. continuance until April the 30 That is the substitute that’s what you’re voting on. Commissioner th, from the 6 we’re waiting on you. Mr. Hasan: I’m sorry, Mr. Mayor, I thought I had voted, my bad. The Clerk: Ms. Davis, how are you voting? Ms. Davis: (Inaudible). The Clerk: We’re voting on the substitute motion to deny the continuance. Ms. Davis: Okay, are you ready for my vote? The Clerk: Yes, ma’am. Ms. Davis: No, ma’am. The Clerk: Okay. 31 Mr. Mayor: Fails. Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Few and Mr. Hasan vote Yes. Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote No. Motion Fails 4-6. Mr. Mayor: Okay, now we’re back to the motion that was before us and it is a request for th a continuance for a period of a certain date April the 30. All right, voting. The Clerk: Ms. Davis, how are you voting? Ms. Davis: And this is for the continuance, right? The Clerk: Yes, ma’am. Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am, I vote Yes. The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote Yes. Motion Passes 6-4. Mr. Mayor: Okay --- Mr. Trotter: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: --- thank you. Okay so --- The Clerk: Are you going to stay on with us, Ms. Davis? Ms. Davis: No, ma’am but thank you for calling. The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Mayor: --- okay so let me just again for the, I think for the community let me just share what’s happened at this point. The petitioner came, we gave the community an opportunity to present as well and the petitioner has an opportunity to go and do some more work and they will come back and schedule another time to come before this body. What I will tell you is that you will have equal time to come and present again as well. You will have your voices heard and again whether it’s the same two spokespersons or if you have someone else you will have that time to come before this body and speak and have your voices heard in the community okay, all right, thank you. The Clerk: 32 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 20. Motion to accept the resignation of Mr. Bill Lockett, Commission Liaison, Age-Friendly Augusta with correction that – the Advisory Council members be appointed by the Commission rather than the Mayor. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 12, 2019) Mr. Fennoy: Move to approve. Mr. Speaker: Second. th, Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the distinguished gentleman formerly from the 5 Mr. Bill Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Good afternoon Mr. Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioners excluding one that wanted kept me here. First of all, I’d like to thank the Mayor, the Administrator and Commissioner Sias for coming to our summit of this past Thursday. You missed a great opportunity to learn about Age-Friendly. I had more than three minutes to talk to you about it. I don’t know if my former colleague is looking for but I would prefer to answer any questions you may have any. Mr. Fennoy: Commissioner Lockett, I would just for the benefit of those that don’t know talk about your experience with Age-Friendly and how Augusta will benefit from it being designated as an age friendly city. Mr. Lockett: Age-Friendly is extremely important not only to Augusta but throughout this th entire nation. January 2014 we became an Age Friendly Community I believe the 20 in the th nation. As of February 28 there were 332 Age Friendly Communities. Our population is getting older; by 2035 individuals 65 and older are going to outnumber those 18 and younger so this older population is one you’re going to contend with. And in most instances excluding myself older people have more expendable income and I know ya’ll are looking for that and we pay taxes also. What you do in Age-Friendly you just go out every day and try and make life better for those older citizens inevitably making life better for younger citizens. I just read I think in the last 24 hours about this county the bad shape we’re in as far as health is concerned and one would think that Augusta-Richmond County would be one of the top communities as far as healthcare with all the facilities that we have. We rank I think about may a hundred and thirty something out of 159 counties. And just a few feet away you go into Columbia County they’re number ten. This is something we need to work on. We worked with Breathe Easy Augusta on getting a smoking ordinance because we are hurt a lot because of smoking and because of obesity. We suffer because we don’t have adequate places where people can buy healthy foods. You notice in the less fortunate communities you find lots of dollar stores and other stores of that type, fast food places but no places where you can go and buy cabbage and those things that are healthy for individuals, we work with people on that. We have lots of seniors that don’t have family to take care of them. We help them from a social aspect. We have Valentine’s Day parties, we have Christmas parties, we have all those kinds of things in order to get them out of the house, we have educational opportunities for them. We want to make sure that we work with the government and ensuring that we have sidewalks. I’m a good example, I’m a walker at least five mornings a week but I 33 have to get in my car and drive to the park because we don’t have sidewalks and I don’t want to take a chance of getting run over by a truck in the street. Those are the things that we need to do. At Age-Friendly with us that volunteer we can help you all because there are things that we know about that we could help ya’ll, ya’ll are doing things that we assist you in doing. When I was a Commissioner I was really upset because when the redid the intersection on Dean Bridge and Gordon Highway. It’s a deathtrap there. They don’t have an acceleration lane if you’re coming towards town. But coming here today I hope I saw I saw them tearing up the concrete and so forth I hope that that’s what, I know, Commissioner Sias, you’re on that also so I hope that’s what they were doing but it’s things like that. You know if you’re an able bodied person you can go about things if you’re walking down the sidewalk and all of a sudden the sidewalk ends well you just do whatever’s best. But if you’re in a wheelchair or if you’re a mother with a baby in a stroller or if you’re out at night, no streetlights, those are the kinds of things we can get involved with to make Augusta indeed the Garden City and a place for everybody who wants to live. Mayor, I know you said I had three minutes I think I’m getting close to it but does anybody have any questions? Mr. Mayor: Five minutes is fine. Mr. Lockett: I can talk about Age-Friendly all day if you’ve got any questions I’ll answer if not, I can get out of here. Mr. Sias: 20 minutes is fine. Mr. Mayor: Yeah, your time has expired. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from th the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Commissioner Mr. Lockett you are right about that intersection and I want to take a moment if I’m not out of line because I seem to be out of line all the time. I want to thank the Engineering Department, Director Malik and his crew and Mr. Ussery for getting on that issue. It took a moment but they had to go back through state, you know there’s two state roads that meet there. So bottom line it took a minute but they were able to convince them that that was a deathtrap and so it’s being taken care of. I want to say thank you to them and thank you all, you and I talked about that before your tenure. But you know we both how it takes a long time so that’s an Age-Friendly correction all right, thank you, sir. st Mr. Mayor: All right (inaudible) the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make a motion that we reluctantly accept the resignation of Bill Lockett as our Commission Liaison for Age-Friendly Augusta. Mr. Frantom: Second. Mr. Fennoy: I’d like to change my motion reluctantly approve the motion to accept --- Mr. Frantom: Second. Mr. Fennoy: --- the agenda item. 34 Mr. Sias: Second. Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second, voting. Ms. Davis out. Motion Passes 9-0. Mr. Fennoy: What happens if we don’t approve this? Mr. Lockett: If I’m authorized to speak, I’ll tell you. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Lockett, again thank you for your service. Anticipate us reaching back out to you just to let you know how much we appreciate not only your service but what you’ve done. Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor, I appreciate you all and I’m not walking away, Commissioner Fennoy, I’m just stepping down from the leadership. I will hang on in America’s capacity if you all desire, thank you all very much. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Madam Clerk, we have some petitioners who are still here that were on the regular agenda let’s get them first I think Public Services, 35? The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 35. New Ownership Application: A.N. 19-10: A request by Narinder Kaur for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Rosier Road Neighbors Mart located at 2228 Rosier Road. District 6. Super District 10. (No recommendation from Public Services Committee March 12, 2019) Ms. Walton: Good afternoon. Item Number 19-10 is a request by Narinder Kaur for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Rosier Road Neighours Mart located at 2228 Rosier Road, do we have any objectors to this alcohol petition? The Planning and Development Department has approved and the Sheriff’s Office. We need you to state your full name and home address. Ms. Kaur: Hello everyone, my name is Narinder Kaur --- The Clerk: Ms. Walton, can you pull the mike down for me please? Ms. Kaur: --- my home address is 4127 Chatterhorn Drive, Evans Georgia. Mr. Sias: Move to approve. Mr. Garrett: Second. 35 Mr. Mayor: Voting. Ms. Davis and Mr. Fennoy out. Motion Passes 8-0. Ms. Kaur: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Top to bottom, however you want to go. I don’t know where we are right now. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 16. Motion to approve the proposed drafts of the dedication plaques for the following projects: Augusta Planning and Development – Renovation and Addition Augusta Central Services Department – Renovation and Addition (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 12, 2019) Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the th 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. When I saw this I (unintelligible) didn’t we just do a renovation with the Central Services on Peach Orchard I mean so what, I guess my question what is this and why is there another renovation. Mr. Mayor: Actually it’s not a renovation. This right here is just accepting the proposed drafts for the plaques, dedication plaques that will go on the face of the building. That’s what this is. Mr. M. Williams: Okay well, I make a motion to approve --- Mr. Hasan: Second. Mr. M. Williams: --- I was looking at we just did a bunch of work for them when I saw this. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second, voting. Ms. Davis and Mr. Frantom out. Motion Passes 8-0. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 36 18. Motion to approve outsourcing the work on the patio deck at the Lake Olmstead Park with staff working with Procurement to complete the work as an emergency project. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 12, 2019) th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, my only concern was that the Procurement Department was able to recognize this as an emergency status based on the event that they’ve got that barbeque and that’s going to be the early part of May. And I know that’s what it’s going to take to go ahead and do what needs to be done whether it’s going to be an emergency status then from the Procurement Department. Mr. Mayor: Okay, did you have that? All right. All right, the Chair recognizes Ms. Douse. Ms. Douse: Were you asking that question of the Procurement Department --- Mr. Hasan: Yes --- Ms. Douse: --- because per the code it has been acknowledged that it is a safety concern and it can be viewed as an emergency. Mr. Hasan: --- did the Procurement Department I’m trying to say did you get a chance for them to look at it and make sure of that because we don’t want to get stuck in a political conversation. Ms. Nancy Williams: Ms. Sams did state that she had received the information and had addressed the department to proceed with that on an emergency basis. Mr. Hasan: Okay thank you, ma’am, that’s all I need, thank you. Mr. D. Williams: Motion to approve. Mr. Hasan: Second. Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second, voting. Ms. Davis out. Motion Passes 9-0. The Clerk: FINANCE 22. Motion to approve proposed calendar for SPLOST 8 with Administrator making a presentation. (Approved by Finance Committee March 12, 2019) th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. 37 Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. No problem with SPLOST 8 but I want to just ask that all of the recaptured funds be brought back whatever SPLOST it is 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 so we get a total of how much unexpended monies that’s still either with projects or can be used in some other areas before we talk about another SPLOST I’d like to have those numbers. Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I think that’s an excellent thing the Chair recognizes Madam Administrator. Ms. Jackson: Yes, I think when we discussed that last week what we said was that at the end of this quarter we’ll have our first quarterly report and at that time we’ll provide the data related to unexpended funds. Mr. M. Williams: And that will of the SPLOST’s I mean every and I don’t want to say we didn’t get this right. We need to get a total I’d like to see the total of the (inaudible). Ms. Jackson: Yes, we go from each of the SPLOST referendums, correct. Mr. M. Williams: --- okay so moved, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Frantom: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, voting. Ms. Davis and Mr. Sias out. Motion Passes 8-0. The Clerk: ENGINEERING SERVICES 24. Motion to approve the amendment to the Landfill Gas Sales Agreement with Covia Holdings Corporation. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 12, 2019) th Mr. M. Williams: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Who’s going to address this the Administrator or I see Lori coming; she’s coming around the bend. Mr. Mayor: All right, Director Videtto. Mr. M. Williams: Ms. Videtto, since you’re leaving us I need to ask you all the questions I got to ask for unless I call you at home and I don’t want to do that. Mr. Mayor: I think you should try to ask her questions until at least tomorrow this same time and we can hold on to her a little while longer. 38 Mr. M. Williams: She might not be upset but ya’ll are going to be upset. We had some issues and I brought it to your concern about the company that was doing the landfill gas that it couldn’t get anybody. Are we going to another company to sell this gas or actually what’s going to happen when we do this amendment? Ms. Videtto: No, sir, the name of the company changed so Covia Holdings is now the operator of the Unimin Mine, the former Unimin Mine in Hepzibah. They’re the same people just a different company name. This is just reauthorizing that agreement for the gas sales to the company. Mr. M. Williams: Okay but there was some issues and concerns that were brought to me about they couldn’t get the gas, they couldn’t with whoever was supposed to be selling this gas over there and you and I talked about it. Do you have any knowledge of that, has that been resolved has this new company who bought it out going to do the same thing? Ms. Videtto: Yes, it has been resolved. We put the improvements in place and it has been resolved. Mr. M. Williams: So moved to approve, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Frantom: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Ms. Davis and Mr. Sias out. Motion Passes 8-0. The Clerk: PLANNING 33. Z-19-06 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to deny a petition Joseph Edge, on behalf of Edge Property Management LLC, requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) to Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) affecting property containing 0.48 acres and known as 2665 Tobacco Road. Tax Map 140-0-008-00-0 CONTINUED from February 4, 2019 meeting. DISTRICT 4 th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. With this issue what I want to do I request that we send this back to the next Commission cycle for several reasons. Number one to sit down and talk with the developer to see if we can work out some issues about additional property to make this a worthwhile venture and also to make sure that folks in the neighborhood are satisfied as its concerns and impact. So at this time I make a motion that we send this back to the next Commission cycle. Mr. Garrett: Second. 39 st Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. th Mr. Fennoy: I know that the Commissioner from the 4 wants it sent back to the next Commission cycle but does this need to go back to next committee cycle for discussion or are you okay with it going straight back to the next Commission cycle? Mr. Sias: If I may respond? Mr. Mayor: All right, please. Mr. Sias: If I send it back to the Commission cycle that’d be only be one week to do that because that cycle’s coming up next week this comes from Planning so it’s really not on our committee cycle and that would give us two weeks to get some answers. Mr. Mayor: Whatever you’re selling, he don’t look like he’s buying. The Chair recognizes th the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: --- it’s still going to be two weeks either way I mean we just won’t have it on committee, there’s no difference except you’d be there to discuss it in committee. I would love to see it come back. I’ve got some concerns myself about this particular issue. This is part of the Super District. I shared that with the District 4 earlier that you know I’ve been hearing bits and pieces. I need to talk to Planning and Zoning, talk to Rob Sherman about what the pros and cons is but I would love to see it go back to committee go through that process and then go on the full Commission which is going to end up with the same thing but at least have two opportunities to sit down and discuss it. I’ve got enough meetings, Mr. Mayor, besides these sidebar meetings everybody wants to have I can’t do that. Mr. Mayor: Okay, are you making that in the form of a substitute? Mr. Sias: I will amend my motion. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, that’s good. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner th from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I’ll amend my motion to say we take this back to the committee th cycle on the 26 of March. No, that doesn’t give us that kind of time. Let’s go to 9 April --- The Clerk: No, sir --- Mr. Sias: --- there are no meetings that week? 40 The Clerk: --- that’s tournament week. Mr. Sias: All right, so what would be the next committee cycle in April. thth The Clerk: The 30 of April, well next week is on the week, the 26 is committee and then nd we meet on April 2 regular commission meeting. All items for the committee scheduled for the ththth 9 will be referred to the 16 the April 16 meeting. th Mr. Sias: Mayor, Commissioner Williams, is the 16 good for you to have enough time for the discussion you mentioned? Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, if we can go through committee with it and have it start there versus going --- th Mr. Sias: Let’s do it on the 30 then --- Mr. Mayor: All right. Mr. Sias: --- 30 April --- The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Sias: --- can I get my second back please, I’m not taking over the Mayor’s (inaudible). Mr. Garrett: I second it. The Clerk: Okay Mr. Garrett are you, okay that was Mr. Sias and Mr. Garrett and who had originally motion and second that so they’re in agreement so this item will be referred back to the th April 30 committee meeting. Do we have a meeting Engineering Services, what meeting or do you want to do it under a Special Called Meeting? Mr. Mayor: Certainly not Administrative Services. The Clerk: Oh is that where it’s going, maybe Administrative Services. Mr. M. Williams: Engineering Services, where does that fall at? Mr. Mayor: Again, this right here will be one of your Planning Commission. The Clerk: It’s a Planning Commission item and those items are technically the Planning Commission is technically the committee meeting that hears these items which make the referral to the Commission like the committees do so they’re a quasi-committee so but we’re going off the th norm here a little bit. So, these will be referred to the April 30 Administrative Services committee. Mr. Few: Mr. Mayor, do you know exactly what moment you lost control? 41 Mr. Mayor: I do, I do January 1, 2015. Mr. Sias: Can we vote since you’re out of control? Mr. Mayor: Voting. Ms. Davis out. Motion Passes 9-0. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 36. Request Approval of RFQ Item 18-169 – Real Estate Brokerage Services for the Laney Walker/Bethlehem Revitalization Project to Sherman and Hemstreet on behalf of Housing and Community Development Department (CD). (No recommendation from the Administrative Services Committee March 12, 2019 with an amendment for a one-year term and two one-year renewal terms.) The Clerk: I think he sent an amended contract in the brown envelope there, I don’t know, Mr. Welcher could probably walk you through it. Mr. Mayor: Hold on just one second. All right, there’s an envelope that’s been placed before everyone that envelope has a redline document for our consideration. The Chair’s going to th go the Commissioner from the 6 --- Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: --- he’s the one who had the questions. Mr. Hasan: --- yes thank you, sir. Mr. Hawthorn, when did you get this? When you made your modifications? Mr. Welcher: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, Mr. Commissioner, this is the change we talked about in Admin Services on last week. This was the change that you requested. Mr. Hasan: Okay and so what are those changes are again because we just got it so we ain’t had a chance to read it so I’m definitely asking the questions. Mr. Welcher: There’s only one change. There you see Number 4 you asked that the one- year commitment be changed from a four-year optional annual renewal down to a two-year optional renewal --- Mr. Hasan: Okay --- Mr. Welcher: --- that was the only change that you requested. 42 Mr. Hasan: --- and what was the previous ones? I had a couple more early on. Mr. Welcher: Early on you also asked us to change from consultant to Laney Walker developer partner. Also you asked us to go back under number three under Termination of Contract and include a termination without cause verbiage. Those were additional changes that we made on last week, we provided those to you as a redline document as well as an original document on last week’s, at last week’s committee. Mr. Hasan: I have one more question. Can you tell me what that part is again I’m sorry because we just got it now. Mr. Mayor: All right Page 3 Item 16 Paragraph 16 speaks to the Termination of Contract which was one of your primary request for changes. Mr. Welcher: And also you asked that we change the word ‘consultant’ which there were 54, you asked us to change that word we provided on last week during committee, a redlined contract agreement as well as and a clean agreement. There were about 54 changes from the word consultant to Laney Walker/Bethlehem Development and Partners. Mr. Hasan: I’m going to ask one more, and I’m trying to read this as you’re talking and I’m going to ask once again is the 16A can you give me because maybe I’m overlooking just give me a day I mean an amount of time whether it’s 30-days, 60-days, 15-days, 15-minutes --- Mr. Mayor: 30 days, sir. Mr. Hasan: --- 30 days, where is that at? Mr. Welcher: It’s not in there, sir. What we went to specifically were the changes that you asked us to make on last week. Mr. Hasan: That was one of them though. Mr. Welcher: That was not, sir, if I’m not mistaken. Mr. Hasan: That’s what I was talking about. There was no days, Commissioner Sias can attest to that, that was my concern. Mr. Welcher: We don’t have a problem making that change, sir, we don’t have a problem whatsoever making that change. We went specifically and looked at the recording on yesterday to be specific but we do not have a problem making that change to 30 days, not a problem. No problem whatsoever. Mr. Hasan: Okay I’ll just leave like that but that’s what we were talking about last week but thank you, sir. Okay but that still needs to be changed then. I think it needs to be added in to 43 here that each one of you have a 30-day notice or a 60-day notice if you want to break the agreement. That’s standard for contracts. Mr. Mayor: Are you yielding? Mr. Hasan: Yeah, I’m done. th Mr. Mayor: All right, he yields. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Mr. Welcher, do you clearly understand the comment that my th colleague from the 6 is making? Mr. Welcher: Yes, sir. He’s asking us to put from a termination standpoint for the amount of time that this can happen. Mr. Sias: And what’s that agreed time? Mr. Welcher: He wants 30 days put in there on either side by either party. Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor, I move that we approve the contract with the amendment, the change the termination time to 30 days on either party and that we the Commission receive a copy of the amended contract via e-mail. Mr. D. Williams: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second. Attorney MacKenzie, are you tracking? Okay all right, voting. Ms. Davis out. Motion Passes 9-0. The Clerk: APPOINTMENTS 39. Motion to reappoint Mr. James Scott to the Tax Assessor Board of Richmond County to a four-year term effective 4/25/19 and ending 4/24/23. (Requested by Commissioner Ben Hasan) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have no problem with Mr. Scott but I just thought this was a Commission appointment that we ought to at least have some dialogue. A couple of question though I don’t know who’s going to answer well Mr. Ross going to answer it or someone from the staff. I need to know what’s the salary, what’s the pay for these employees and how long have they been serving? 44 Mr. Mayor: All right, Mr. Ross, if you’ll approach. Okay, I have two questions for you. One, what is the term of service for an appointee to the Tax Assessors Board? Mr. Ross: The standard term, sir, it’s four years as stated here regarding Mr. Scott that would be serving from January 15, 2019 to July excuse me July 25, 2019 to July 24, 2023. Mr. Mayor: And what is a --- Mr. Ross: Four-year term from excuse me from April, forgive me, from April 25, 2019 to April 24, 2023. Thank you for that correction. Mr. Mayor: --- all right and what is the stated salary of a member of the Tax Assessors Board? Mr. Ross: Members of the board are compensated at $625.00 per month I believe is the amount. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. M. Williams: Okay and my other question, Mr. Mayor, is I mean you as the Mayor got term limits and this Commission has term limits but we reappointed some people in positions. I just found out today the state is reappointing some people who just came off the board as well. How do we ever get other trained people onboard when we keep putting the same people back? And I heard the same words every time this happened well we’ve got a good team. I mean the team is so good we you know don’t ever want to change so when I saw it on the agenda I wonder there hasn’t been any discussion. I got a call from a couple of members of the board. I hadn’t talked to any of the Commissioners about who, when, where, what we decide. We’ve been putting somebody back on the board at $625.00 a meeting is that right, Mr. Ross, you said $625.00? Mr. Mayor: Per month. Mr. Ross: That’s per month, sir. There are committee meetings as well as called meeting as necessary but the figure is a flat $625.00. That’s regardless even when they’re in school or taking 40-hour courses. Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I get that, I get that. I just think that we need to really look at this, Mr. Mayor, is there any rush to doing this? Do we need to do this today? It looks like there ought to be some choices to choose from versus just giving some position. The state just did something similar to this this week I found out so it bothers me when we just act like nobody else can do this job. There are other people need an opportunity. We serve a large community who’ve been wanting to get in a position to be on some of these boards especially one that’s paying $625.00 a month. Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I believe the gentleman knows of what he speaks. 45 Mr. M. Williams: I may not know but I guarantee that’s more than I make up here so I’ve got some issues with that. I’ve got some serious issues with that. Mr. Mayor: Well, what I do know is that this body is the ones who make the recommendations for appointments and that’s certainly well within your right to call it into th question. I’m going to go to the Commissioner from the 6 who placed this on the agenda. I’ll th recognize the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. A couple of things, Commissioner Williams, we had in mind here I’m sorry, Mr. Mayor, my colleague, we had in mind in doing in looking at the board. We have recently last three or four years we have put some new people on the board and he was trying to attempt to have mixture of seasoned people and brand new people. But also when you look at the way we’ve been operating and since we got here as well Mr. Scott here was by Super District 10 unanimously. I did call if you look in the back of the book on 39 you’ll see part of all of the board members what particular Super District they come out of. So with that before I put it rdth on the agenda, I called the Commissioner from the 3, Commissioner from the 7, Commissioner thth from the 8, Commissioner and myself in the 10 and they agreed to go ahead and put Mr. Scott back assuming that the Commission as a body would support the representative from Super District 10 especially since they had unanimous support for that and so that’s why we’ve got it on the agenda because we have respect like you know you’ve got when you have Bernard Johnson who is not asked to be reappointed Super District 9 so hoping that you all from Super District 9 and the Commission members from 10 would support whoever you all come up with in particular for that appointment. The other two appointments as you already made mention were legislative appointments and they took care of their business so we were just doing the one from 10 and ya’ll got the one from 9 because Bernard Johnson decided he didn’t want to run anymore. Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem. th Mr. Frantom: I want to thank the Commissioner from the 6 for what he just said. These individuals it takes them a few years to get under wraps. I’ve been the liaison on this board for four plus years almost four years now and they work hard. If you saw the reports they have to report and what they have to do they’re worth every penny. And other municipalities make more than they do so I make a motion to approve agenda Item number 39. Mr. Hasan: Second. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second the Chair recognizes the st Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Ms. Bonner --- The Clerk: Yes, sir. Mr. Fennoy: --- may I address Ms. Bonner? 46 Mr. Mayor: You may. Mr. Fennoy: Is it possible that appointments, consensus appointments before that may be six months before their terms expire, you notify us that this person’s term is scheduled to expire so that, and I know what Commissioner Hasan is saying about this is a Super District but we all have to vote. And it would be good if we could look at some people that we want to consider for consensus appointments so that when a person’s name comes up we’ll be familiar with that (inaudible). The Clerk: You’re asking six-months out? Mr. Fennoy: Is that and the reason --- The Clerk: Well, on this particular one I think it’s been about two-months out, two-months that this information was initially sent to the Commission regarding these open appointments. Then I sent you out a subsequent memo reminding you that you had received the information two months ago. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, what I can I’m going to try to do The Clerk’s work now. The Clerk: Well, I don’t know, let’s see. Mr. Mayor: I want to remind this body that Madam Clerk has sent out not only that memo but you’ve sent out a notebook as well with all of the consensus appointments and you’ve asked us on no less than four occasions. The Clerk: Two years ago. Mr. Mayor: That’s right, that’s right, no less than four occasions to sit down and work on putting that together so that we wouldn’t be piecemealing it as we are right now. The Clerk: But, Mr. Mayor, to answer Commissioner Fennoy’s question I am in fact that’s, if you may have noticed in your book last week there were requests for consensus appointments. nd If I heard no objection from a majority of you that they would be placed on our April 2 meeting for consideration so I’m trying to get in where I fit in, I don’t know. Mr. Fennoy: (Unintelligible) subsequent. The Clerk: Yes, sir but I mean sure I mean I can take that under advisement. I mean I don’t know, six-months out? Mr. Fennoy: I mean what it won’t help, it won’t change anything. If it won’t change anything, Ms. Bonner, we’ll just leave it as it is because some folks don’t look at their (unintelligible). 47 Mr. Sias: Call for the question, call for the question. Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second. I’m going back to the Commissioner th from the 9 for closing arguments. Mr. M. Williams: Well no, Mr. Mayor, just what was stated you know in looking at this list and the newest person on this list probably came in ’16 so this ain’t no, Commissioner Hasan talked about we’re trying to keep a mixture so we won’t lose any I guess value. But it seems the same thing every time. We keep putting the same folks back and that don’t make good sense to me now. People who’ve been around, walking around this building up and down the halls just like they’re in school strolling up and down and the same folks are coming back again and we say we don’t have no problem with it but I have people all of the time wanting to know about serving and putting in a Talent Bank to get an opportunity. You’ve got to go, Mr. Mayor, because the state law says again up to two terms you’re out. I got to go but if these people can go in forever and ever and ever we had some people in for 20 years. So I mean I ain’t got a problem with Mr. Scott I mean but I’m tired of acting like I don’t see what’s going on and we’re supposed to walk around like it’s fine. It ain’t fine. Mr. Mayor: I have a motion and a second for the reappointment of Mr. James Scott, voting. Mr. Williams abstains. Ms. Davis and Mr. Garrett out. Motion Passes 7-0-1. Mr. Mayor: All right, I believe that’s all the business before us. If there are no objections this meeting is adjourned. \[MEETING ADJOURNED\] Lena Bonner Clerk of Commission CERTIFICATION: I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on March 19, 2019. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 48