Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting January 2, 2019 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER JANUARY 2, 2019 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., January 2, 2019, the Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Few, Garrett, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, Fennoy, D. Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: Good afternoon and Happy New Year to everybody. We’re excited to be back once again to do the people’s business. To all of our newly elected officials, welcome once again. I hope that you took great effort to enjoy the time off that you had because you’re going to need it. We’re going to throw you right into the fire and put you to work, isn’t that correct, Madam Clerk? The Clerk: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: I just want to draw everyone to your notebooks if you haven’t already looked at it. I do want to remind everyone of the joint meeting with the Legislative Delegation that will th take place tomorrow morning at 8:30 in the Beazley Room. Also on January the 10 on January th the 10 we will have the ribbon cutting of the Phase II Building of the Georgia Cyber Center, the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center and that will take place at 5:00 p.m. on January the th 10 of this week so I just want to make sure everybody’s tracking those events. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Thank you. I call your attention to the invocation portion of our agenda which will be delivered by Reverend Brendolyn Jenkins Boseman, Pastor of the Hudson Memorial DME Church. Please stand, after which our Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Reverend Brendolyn Jenkins Boseman, Pastor, Hudson Memorial CME Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. The Clerk: Office of Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr., by these presence be it known that Reverend Brendolyn Jenkins Boseman, Pastor of the Hudson Memorial CME Church is the Chaplain of the Day her spiritual guidance and civic leadership serves as an example for all citizens of Augusta. nd Given under my hand this 2 Day of January 2019, Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Would you join me in thanking Pastor Boseman for her civic duty and service as our Chaplain. (APPLAUSE) The Clerk: At this time we will have recognition December recognition of our Recipients of our Years of Service we’d ask the Mayor, Ms. Jackson, Ms. Sylvia Williams from our H.R. Department will acknowledge those recipients for Years of Service. Thank you. 1 Ms. Williams: Good afternoon Mayor Davis, Commissioners, special guests, Directors, citizens of Augusta, Georgia. Happy New Year. My name is Sylvia Williams the Employee Relations and Training Manager for Human Resources. It is my esteemed pleasure to recognize the December 2018 Years of Service Recipients. For the Month of December 2018 we have 21 employees celebrating 5 to 20 years of services with Augusta, Georgia. This afternoon we would like to recognize our 25 to 50-years of service recipients for the Month of December. The total years of service institution knowledge being celebrated today is 355 years. When I call your name please come forward. William Doss, Board of Elections 25 years. (APPLAUSE) April Myers, Utilities Department 25 years. (APPLAUSE) Thomas Washington, Fire Department 30 years. (APPLAUSE) Congratulations to all of our Years of Service recipients. Please join me in a round of applause as we thank these employees for their loyal service to Augusta, Georgia. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: I also want to draw everybody’s attention to the revised agenda item Number 7. This is a revision to the existing information that you already have, Madam Clerk? The Clerk: Yes, sir according to our General Counsel there’s no substantive changes to the agenda just grammatical changes but he could enumerate those if need be. Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Just added with unanimous consent --- Mr. Mayor: Without objection. The Clerk: --- okay. The Clerk: ELECTION OF OFFICER(S) A. Mayor Pro Tempore for two-year term 2019-2020. Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to do all of these by roll call vote, Madam Clerk, if there are multiple nominees. Okay all right, our posture is we’ll take nominations for Mayor Pro Tem and then we’ll close those and we’ll have our roll call vote and we’ll proceed as rd such. The Chair recognizes Madam Mayor Pro Tem the Commissioner from the 3. Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to nominate Commissioner Sean Frantom for the Mayor Pro Tem for 2019-2020. Mr. Few: Second. Mr. Mayor: Yeah, a second’s not necessary, it’s not necessary. All right, the Chair st recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Yes, I’d like to nominate Commissioner Marion Williams. 2 th Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Move to close nominations. Ms. Davis: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, roll call vote. The Clerk: Mr. Clarke for Mr. Frantom. Mr. Clarke: Yes. The Clerk: Ms. Davis. Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am. The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy. Mr. Fennoy: No. The Clerk: Mr. Few. Mr. Few: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Garrett. Mr. Garrett: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Hasan. Mr. Hasan: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Sias. Mr. Sias: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams. Mr. D. Williams: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams. Mr. M. Williams: Present. Mr. M. Williams votes Present. 3 Mr. Fennoy votes No. Motion Passes 8-1. Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, all right, so what we’re going to do is we’re going to stand at ease for 5 minutes, we’ll stand at ease for 5 minutes and the newly elected Mayor Pro Tem and I will take a few minutes in caucus and talk about a few matters and then we’ll come back. All right, we’ll call this meeting back to order. All right, the Chair recognizes Madam Clerk. The Clerk: The Mayor and the Mayor Pro Tem offer the following as appointments of standard of committees for a two-year term 2019-2020. Administrative Services: Commissioner Sias Chair, Commissioner John Clarke, Vice Chair, member Commission Johnny Few, Commissioner Mary Davis. Engineering Services Committee: Chair, Commissioner Marion Williams, Vice Chair, Commissioner Ben Hasan, members Brandon Garrett, Sean Frantom. Public Safety Committee: Chair, Commissioner Dennis Williams, Vice Chair, Brandon Garrett, members Sammy Sias, Johnny Few. Finance Committee: Chair, Commissioner Bill Fennoy, Vice Chair, Commissioner Dennis Williams, members, Commissioner Marion Williams and Mayor Pro Tem Frantom. Public Services Committee: Chair, Commissioner Mary Davis, Vice Chair, Commissioner Ben Hasan, members John Clarke and Bill Fennoy. Ex-officio Members to the Richmond County Board of Health: Commissioner Dennis Williams, Augusta Aviation Commission, Commissioner Sammie Sias, General Aviation Commission, John Clarke, Greater Augusta Arts Council, Sean Frantom, Planning Commission, Marion Williams, Augusta Richmond County Library Board, John Clarke, Richmond County Board of Education, Commissioner Dennis Williams, Emergency 911 Council, Brandon Garrett, Board of Tax Assessors, Sean Frantom, John Few, Richmond County Hospital Authority, Brandon Garrett, CSRA Regional Development Authority, Mary Davis, Augusta Richmond County Landbank Authority, Ben Hasan, Downtown Development Authority, Bill Fennoy, Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mary Davis, Family Connection, Johnny Few and Canal Authority, Bill Fennoy. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. To all of the members of the Commission we look forward to a very busy year. I look forward to working with everyone of you and our newly elected Mayor Pro Tem so we can do the business of the people. And look forward to working with our committee chairman as well in the days ahead as I know each of the department directors will look forward to working with each of you. All right, Madam Clerk. Mr. Sias: Motion to approve. Mr. Speaker: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting, Mr. Few waiting on you to push the button. Mr. Fennoy votes No. Motion Passes 9-1. 4 The Clerk: Our Consent Agenda consists of Item number One. Mr. Mayor, Commissioner Williams, Marion Williams asked that Item number 5 be added to the consent agenda with the th rescheduling to the January 29 committee meeting. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, all right, without objection we’re adding Item number 5 to the, which is coming first the next full Commission meeting? th The Clerk: No, sir, that’s committee on the 29 --- Mr. Mayor: Committee --- The Clerk: Yes, sir. th Mr. Mayor: --- okay. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. If there’s no objections, I’d like to add Item 4 and 7 to the Consent Agenda. Mr. Mayor: Without objection. I do want Director Sherman to come and talk to me about four though. Mr. Sias: Still approving it and he’s just going to give us a briefing, that’ll be okay --- Mr. Mayor: Oh --- Mr. Sias: --- you said without objection. Mr. Mayor: --- I did. Mr. Sias: Okay. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: --- I don’t have a problem with it but I do need to know just before we approve it what comment that Director Sherman’s going to bring. Mr. Mayor: Well again, I don’t have any objections to consenting it but I do want to have a conversation with you about it on the other side. So I want to be consistent because if we start talking about it then we’re going to take it off consent. Mr. Sias: Which one is it, four? Mr. Mayor: --- 5 Mr. Sias: I withdraw the request for four --- Mr. Mayor: --- okay --- Mr. Sias: --- to add six. Mr. Mayor: --- okay instead of five. Mr. Sias: Move to approve. Mr. Garrett: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 1. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Augusta Commission held December 18, 2018. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 5. Discuss the Administrator’s response to salaries and personnel of Juvenile Court. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 7. Motion to adopt Resolution of Support for 114 Interstate. (Requested by Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle and Commissioner-Elect Brandon Garrett.) Mr. Mayor: All right, five and seven. The Clerk: Mr. Garrett, was that you seconding? Mr. Garrett: Yes. The Clerk: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: All right, voting. Motion Passes 10-0. \[Items 1, 5 and 7\] The Clerk: Top to bottom, sir? Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am. The Clerk: PLANNING 6 2. Z-18-48 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve, with the conditions stated below, a petition by Michael Thurman requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) to Zone P-1 (Professional) affecting property containing 0.19 acres and known as 1230 R.A. Dent Blvd. Tax Map 046- 3-183-00-0 DISTRICT 1 The site shall not be available for parking until such time as all requirements have been met. Furthermore, the lot be fenced to prevent parking on the site, until such time as all site improvements can be executed; The applicant must start development of the parking lot within six (6) months or the property reverts to its previous zoning designation of residential use; residential use prevents the use of he property as a parking lot; The applicant must provide a detailed engineered Site Plan that meets all development regulations in place at the time of the submission of the site plan; The site, including all properties zoned in 2017, must be enclosed on all sides with a 6 ft. solid fence or wall. This includes the property lines adjacent to the railroad. Security lighting must be provided to adequately illuminate the parking area but must be directed away from the existing residential properties. A business license for the operation of a paid parking lot shall be acquired, prior to any parking on the site taking place. Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Director of Planning, Mr. Sherman. Mr. Sherman: Okay, this agenda item was first presented to you from the Planning th Commission on October the 16 and it has to do with rezoning a piece of property so that the applicant can develop a parking lot. If you can imagine the property shaped like a horseshoe the bottom legs intersect with the street and the property that is needing to be rezoned is at the top of the horseshoe. So it was presented to you back in October, no action was taken. It was put back th on the agenda on November the 6 and at that meeting you asked the Planning office to go back to the neighborhood and see if there was any additional input that the neighborhood wanted to th provide. On the November the 19 we did have a meeting in the neighborhood at Antioch Church and we had about 17 or so people there and there were some objectors there. The concern was with one, was with that being a parking lot in the neighborhood but I think the bigger concern or as equally of a concern was the impact that this additional stormwater runoff would have in the neighborhood. And so at that meeting we were asked to get with the Engineering Department and see if they’re having any problems in that neighborhood and if so how to address them. We did get with the Engineering Department. They did a quick study of the storm drain system. They found that it is probably at capacity but this project if properly engineered, hold on one second, let me read you this so I won’t get it confused. But it says the existing drainage system along Augusta Avenue between Mauge Street north to the Double Wing Trap Three is believed to be significantly undersized based on the total contributing area the existing pipe sizes and current city engineering standards. The existing 30-inch reinforced concrete pipe system with the Double Wing Trap north of Laney Walker is believed to be adequate for current and possibly future stormwater discharges. It goes on to say that any future developments in this area will be required to analyze the entire existing receding system all the way to Laney Walker to determine the true capacity. This analysis will most likely reveal that the system south to the Double Wing Trap is in need of upgrades. So it can be done. It will take some engineering and when they submit the site plan that is required that they study the system to determine what improvements need to be made. 7 st Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1 to speak to this matter. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Sherman --- Mr. Sherman: Yes, sir. Mr. Fennoy: --- of the residents that attended the meeting at Antioch how many expressed support for this project? Mr. Sherman: The residents didn’t express support for it. Mr. Fennoy: Okay and my point is is that the residents that live in that community do not want a parking lot in their neighborhood. Most of the residents that came up and most of the residents that live there have been there for 50-plus years. A lot of the residents are elderly. I think these are the same residents that had an issue with the parking and the Engineering Department worked out a parking plan for the people that live there. When the drainage issue came up and they talked about talking to Engineering to come up with a plan their comments were is that regardless of what plan we don’t want it in our neighborhood and I think that at this time we should respect the wishes of the residents. Like I say a lot of them have been there all of their lives and they just don’t want a parking lot next to where they live so I think we ought to respect their wishes. th Mr. Mayor: Thank you. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Rob, when we was at that meeting and I was there at Antioch weren’t we supposed to notify the residents to be here today when this came up? Was that done? Mr. Sherman: No, not directly but the sign was placed back on the property prior to Christmas so it was a large sign that was placed on the property. Mr. M. Williams: Okay well, that’s not what we said we was going to notify them. We didn’t say we were going to put a sign up so that’s my first issue. The other issue is that we talked about the lighting and all that could happen and the people could use the parking lot when you know it wasn’t being used in the afternoons or at night and the people just were very strongly against having and I don’t blame them for not wanting to have a parking lot so someone can use it during the day. There’s a traffic issue that Augusta State has there. It’s been dumped on the people that’s living in that area. There’s been a problem already where the garbage man can’t come down st the street I mean but the people that’s not their responsibility. Commissioner from the 1 just stated that the people have been there a long time and they have but they have not been considered for a long time either now. I’m very, very much against this project. I don’t think it should be there. I don’t think it ought to be something we’re going to let you use it in the afternoon if you feel like you want to park out of your yard if you can get in your yard. So I mean this is a business decision. I don’t blame a businessman but I’m looking out for the people who live in that community who have to deal with this everyday who wants to lay in their bed and have a bright light shining. The train’s already waking them up so well no, you get used to that the noise don’t 8 bother you but and I guess they can get used to the light but I’m not going to support a light, I’m not going to support that, Rob. I’m just sorry that we didn’t notify them. There was, Mr. Brown was here earlier. He’s supposed to be invited and I guess he must have saw the sign but who, we’re supposed the community to have them here. I think you’re right about 17 people and they was homeowners. They wasn’t renters, these people that live there who’s done invested who can’t go nowhere. In fact they offered to sell their property someone wanted to buy their property but I just think that we’re doing an injustice if we approve this today and I hope my colleagues would understand and not support. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Garrett: This question is for Mr. Sherman. This is the parcel of property that we’ve already approved two pieces correct that are pre-zoned as a parking lots, correct? Mr. Sherman: That’s correct and as I was saying if you can imagine it being a horseshoe shape the legs and then the top is the property that is in question today the two sides have been approved, they were approved back in ‘17 I believe it is. Mr. Garrett: Correct. Mr. Sherman: And just for your information the applicant has submitted a site plan for the two legs to develop them into parking lots. I can’t say that they will be approved. I can’t say that they will not be approved by the reviewing departments. It hasn’t gotten that far along yet. Mr. Garrett: But with this added additional piece, one piece of property and it’ll all be engineered to hold the water, right --- Mr. Sherman: Correct. Mr. Garrett: --- and it has to pass all those guidelines before it’s able to move forward, correct? Mr. Sherman: Correct, to include the analysis of the system to determine if any improvements need to be made there. Mr. Garrett: Okay, thank you. Mr. Mayor: Director Sherman, I think you expressed a series of things with regards to infrastructure needs in that area to be able to support this project. Are those things in motion or are they suggestions on the recommendations? Is any work being done right now to make sure those things happen? Mr. Sherman: No, no, sir. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right and you have pending a submission for permit on what you refer to as the two legs of the horseshoe --- 9 Mr. Sherman: Correct. Mr. Mayor: --- that will come before the Planning Commission. Mr. Sherman: That will not go before the Planning Commission. Those properties have already been rezoned. The process for sites plans is that it’s submitted, routed out to the other departments so there will not be another public hearing on those two. Mr. Mayor: Okay but they’ve already been approved to be used as a parking lot. Mr. Sherman: Correct. Mr. M. Williams: Point or Order, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: All right, just hold on. Okay based on what you’ve told us and what we know the success or this or failure of it is largely prevaricated on whether or not the infrastructure can be built out to support it is that not true? Mr. Sherman: Yes. Mr. Mayor: Okay and we don’t have that answer today is that also not true. Mr. Sherman: That’s correct. When the Engineering Department looked at it, it was just a quick look at it. They sent crews out to determine the size of the system but for it to, but to know for certain that it will carry this additional runoff the recommendation from the Engineering Department once the site plan is submitted is that they study that and determine what it is needed or if that is sufficient sizing for the additional runoff. Mr. Mayor: Okay, I don’t know what our posture is from the standpoint of support or lack thereof of this but I do believe it’s extremely germane to do this analysis before you take any vote on this matter, that’s just a suggestion. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the th 5. Mr. Few: Study has shown that you need to do this work to get the water to flow off the property easily and readily, right? What would happen if you finish this project and the water does not recede like it’s supposed to recede? Mr. Sherman: Well, that’s it, once the, say if we get to the point where he’s going to submit a site plan for the total project it’s designed and the plans are submitted, the process, the plans are submitted through the Planning office and routed out to the other departments for review. The Engineering Department would review the design plan and see if has the capacity for onsite storage and that the controlled release rate what impact would that have upon that the city’s infrastructure. But part of the recommendation from the Engineering Department is for the developer to study that section of the infrastructure to determine what the actual capacity is and will it handle it. 10 Mr. Few: Okay. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you again, Mr. Mayor. Rob, two things. Our Engineering doing engineering work or is that paid company that’s doing the work? Mr. Sherman: For the developer? Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, for the developer. Mr. Sherman: The developer, it will be his engineer that will do the analysis. The design for his plan and the analysis of the city’s system and the city Engineering Department will review those analyses. Mr. M. Williams: Okay, the areas have been rezoned by not necessarily for a parking lot, is that right? Mr. Sherman: No, sir, the two areas that have been rezoned that was for a parking lot. Mr. M. Williams: Okay but this additional parking if it’s already been rezoned for parking and this is an addition, now I’m trying to figure out whether or not because it’s making it sound like this is a necessary piece for the other two who are already been zoned. Mr. Sherman: I think that it is and when I made the comment that I don’t know that the other departments will approve or disapprove the plan once it’s submitted. I would imagine the concern of the fire department is that a truck can get in there as it’s proposed with just the two legs. I don’t know if a firetruck can get in there and maneuver and turn around and exit so that’s why my comment is I don’t know. We haven’t heard any comments back from those reviewing departments. Mr. M. Williams: Well how did we approve that then because if we don’t know and I don’t mean you but if we don’t know that a firetruck can get in there now, how did we approve that in the beginning to this point if that’s an issue? Mr. Sherman: The applicant can probably answer that better but I imagine his plan was to acquire all the properties and have the horseshoe shaped plan and that’s not what it has so he’s proposing to use what he has. Mr. M. Williams: I can answer that too, Rob, I mean I don’t need the applicant to answer that because the perspective of getting another plan like this maybe not going through but that was the intent. But if the intent is there but you hadn’t got the property rezoned, hadn’t gotten it, how can we approve those other two? I mean because to me now and I don’t have a parking lot but to me if you hadn’t acquired all the property how could we assume that the three other pieces are going to be acquired? I mean the residents was surprised when that first happened. It came before the proper channels, I get that, but the same people that Commissioner Fennoy talked about that 11 have been there for 50 years thinking you know construction’s going on, we don’t what MCG’s doing, we don’t know who’s doing it, not just with that but a lot of stuff going on in this government but long story short, how can we how could this body not you but this body approve something to be done that hadn’t got all of the facets of the area that we need whether it be the fire department, whether any facet of public safety? Mr. Sherman: I’m imagining because I wasn’t here when it was presented to you that it was presented and it was to be used as parking lot and he’ll be required to comply with all of the standards for development of the property. If that required him to have a much smaller parking lot than what he could have if he acquired all the properties but the condition would be of course he has to comply with the city’s regulations. Mr. M. Williams: I understand, Rob. I’m making a motion to deny this piece of property, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’ve got a motion and a proper second, voting. Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Hasan and Mr. M. Williams vote Yes. Ms. Davis, Mr. Few, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett and Mr. Clarke vote No. Mr. Sias abstains. Motion Fails 4-5-1. Mr. Mayor: All right, next item, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 3. Discuss the Augusta Annual Senior Dinner and Dance. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: --- it’s a new year but the same old situation I guess. I want to talk to I guess who ever is in charge whether it be the Director, Administrator or the planner of this event. I along with several other Commissioners attended this event and I was very disappointed in the layout I guess may be a good word. Last year I attended this event as well. People were looking forward to this it was kind of a dreary night a little bit of rain but didn’t have the biggest crowd that we normally have but I think the people enjoyed the food tremendously but other planning of this was really terrible in my opinion. I guess my first question to Glenn since he’s at the podium is what kind of support or what kind of budget do we have to put on this event, Mr. Parker? 12 Mr. Parker: We do it through our Senior Budget that we have a line account for that we work with. We received about $2,500 dollars in sponsorships. Some of that was cash, some of that was donation of services that we didn’t have to put out and then we spend about depending on the year about $8,500 dollars on the event. Mr. M. Williams: So $8,500 dollars is spent on just this one event, is that right, is that whole, I’m trying to figure out what the budget is for this event I want to get it right so $8,500 dollars. Did you orchestrate the event? I mean was it you who acquired the, I guess the food the music portion? Mr. Parker: I didn’t personally acquire any of that. Our staff does that with our Senior Division staff takes care of that, those responsibilities. Mr. M. Williams: Well, you know and this is an event that’s been growing and ongoing like I said I attended last year as well. I don’t remember much after last year but we ran out of food last year and the entertainment for the people, the people, this is something that the people came out for I think it’s from what 6:00 to 10:00, is that the hours? Mr. Parker: Something like that yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: There’s an old song that Commissioner Hasan used to sing all the time and when they finished giving out the gifts and donations, Ms. Douse, they started singing Hit The Road Jack and people started to get up and leave and I was very disappointed because they, you know, people thought it was over with, really. The music, the entertainment I guess you get what you pay for and I don’t know what the cost of the music was but the entertainment was not very good at all. It’s two bands. I missed the first one and I think the comments was it was pretty good the second one I wouldn’t want them playing I wouldn’t want them playing Coming Around the Mountain I mean they just, they just couldn’t do it. But I’m disappointed in how we budget for that and Commissioner Hasan was there himself and I told the Clerk that night, that very night, I was just that disappointed, Commissioner Frantom. I told the Clerk that night to make sure to put this on the agenda because we didn’t think it through very well. We didn’t do the things that we should have done through the previous years of doing this event. This event ought to be growing and getting better. Got to be one of the worst we ever had. I mean I’m going to put it at the top of the list as one of the worst we’ve ever had, I was just that disappointed. Like I say the food, I think the food was great. I don’t know of any complaints. We didn’t run out but the people just wasn’t treated at that time of year or any time of year where it was a special event for the seniors. We don’t do very much for them. I used to laugh at seniors but I’m at that age now where I understand what they’re dealing with and I think they ought to be treated and we talk about it out of our mouth, we always talk about how we love our seniors, we love our church but the things we do for them and the way we do it don’t say that and that ought to be hand in hand and I was very disappointed and hopefully now that we will put something in the budget to be able to do an event or don’t do the event. I mean don’t half do nothing. If you’re going to do it we ought to do it with some class about it and I don’t mean going to the Marriott or anything like that just getting professionals to do professional type stuff. And, Commissioner Frantom, you know, you heard, you seen it. 13 Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Commissioner Hasan. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. I’m pretty glad when I saw this on the agenda, I was pretty excited about that in the sense that I did have some concerns about it as well and I hope my colleagues will indulge me for just a moment. I got involved with this event last year because I received a phone call from Commissioner Lockett and one of the things he called me about is because him with the AARP I think it’s AARP which one is the seniors I think it’s AARP, right? Mr. Parker: Correct. Mr. Hasan: Yes, they had donated about $1,000 dollars and they were being told that their money was not going to be used to help fund the event and there were several other persons who had donated money, they were being told that that money was donated last year around for the Christmas event was not going to be able to be used for this year. With that concern I went to the Administrator last year and shared with her my concerns was and to her credit she got immediately on top of it, she dealt with things that was needed to be done and one of the things I asked of her at that particular time was that I think they were short of funds. Now I’m going to go back to the $8,500 dollars, $8,500 dollars will not sponsor this event. Let me be very clear about that. It will not support this event. So I asked Ms. Jackson last year could she at least pay for the civic center and she told me that she would take care of it and everything and she did everything went off very well for all the problems we were concerned about she got to it. This year she was able to tell me though so this year I’m back in the same place. Now with that also I worked the event last year. Most of you don’t know after we do what we did for the Clerk’s Office we was down there all day long from that time on having lunch down there getting things straight and then working on the event. I went home last year about 4:00 o’clock took a bath got back at 6:18 I do take a bath, Commissioner Sias. At 6:18 I got back and for that event anyway --- Mr. Sias: Do you really need to tell us that? Mr. Hasan: --- that was for you, that was for you. And so at that point the event started at 6:00 o’clock at that particular time when I got back at 6:18 there was already 800 seniors there already, had a phenomenal time, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. This year I’m going to fast forward to this year this year there was some struggles again and it’s all about money. The event is being underfunded and so with it being underfunded again I went back to the Administrator this year and once again she stepped up to the plate and whatever she needed to do whether it was to speak to Recreation Department Director or whomever it was able to go off. The one thing that was not able to move because the Administrator could not move that it was because of the entertainment. The entertainment we paid for just what we got. We really didn’t have any money and so you got what you got. You know I don’t want to call the band name don’t know their name really but you didn’t have the money to pay the band and things of that nature but this year I left there full in spite of that. This is a phenomenal event, the seniors thoroughly enjoyed themselves they put on their and some people say their Sunday best, they enjoyed their meal, they enjoyed the attention and we should not make light of this. Mr. Mayor, you happened to be there last year, you saw it, you know the Administrator was there, Mr. Parker was there, many of my colleagues were there this year as well. It is a phenomenal event. There’s two things that I recommend based 14 on my working with this event the last two years. Number one, I recommend that I would suggest that we put a minimum of $15,000 dollars aside just for that particular event. A minimum of $15,000 dollars for that event as a minimum. I don’t think we need much more than that because they do raise some funds as well. But also I think Ms. Downs handled that event but also here’s what I witnessed the last two years in being with that event. I witnessed the work that what I would call Ms. Bonner’s team. Ms. Bonner has a team that, and I’m going to give these ladies names Ms. Brenda Bonner and that’s Ms. Lena Bonner to you all, then she has another friend Ms. Marsha and another one named Ms. Janet they do phenomenal work. What you all see when you see that salad being made they make that salad back there in the kitchen. When you see those cakes on that plate they do all of that at no cost to anybody; they invest their time and energy. So my request in spite of what I’ve known, what I’ve observed for the last two years is that we recommend $15,000 dollars for that and allow that event to be worked on with Ms. Douse I mean Ms. Downs who represents that in the Recreation Department but also have the Clerk’s Office to give her the kind of assistance that she needs to help make those things happen in a very real big way. It’s a phenomenal event. I hope we don’t underestimate that image of what those seniors really appreciate this event, the really appreciate it Mr. Mayor, thank you very much. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Commissioner Hasan, I agree with your words there. Commissioner Clarke. Mr. Clarke: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Well this year was the first year that I went to this gathering since I’ve turned of age and I want to tell you I’ll concur with what Commissioner Hasan said. Maybe we need to spend just a little bit more money on it. But I have to kind of go the opposite end. I think the event was a success. I thought it was well put together. They had two bands that were of course for different people. I thought they did a good job. I saw people enjoying themselves. I saw people thankful to be out and included in something so by and large I’ll say that the event was a success and I certainly had a good time at my table with the people I was sitting with. And course Mr. Hasan kept throwing peppermints around the room but I thought it was a good event and I thought it was well put together but maybe just a few more dollars into the event could help it out a little bit. By and large I just want to say congratulations and thank you to the committee that did put it on and also to Mr. Lockett for continuing his endeavors in this area. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Commissioner Fennoy. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Parker, do you know approximately how many people attended this event? Mr. Parker: I think this year we had around 600 or a little over. If you recall it was a rainy night so it was a terrible night to have the event on to start with. The previous year we did have as Commissioner Williams mentioned we did have around 800 the previous year and we set up the arena floor for about 800. Mr. Fennoy: And when do ya’ll start planning for this event? 15 Mr. Parker: Ms. Douse plans for it I would say throughout the year periodically. We start promoting it at our Senior Centers and our Senior Food Programs sometime in October/November so people know about it. Mr. Mayor: I believe the Director is referring to Ms. Downs not Douse. Mr. Parker: What did I say, I’m sorry yeah I’m sorry, thank you yeah, Ms. Joyce Downs. Mr. Fennoy: Okay and when she plans it is there, does she have a budget or is it a floating budget? Mr. Parker: Well, there was there’s no money approved specifically for this item in the budget so we use the one account that I mentioned where we typically pull senior funds from where she pulls her events throughout the year that she does and then we piecemeal through some other accounts to make this event happen. We did request money in the 2019 budget additional money for this but I believe that line item stayed the same for next year. Mr. Fennoy: Well, you know, I would like to encourage if possible maybe a couple of my colleagues to if Ms. Downs would allow us to work with her on planning this event to come up with a budget that based on the maximum amount of people that we’re planning on serving so that December 1919 we’ll know exactly how many people we’ll be able to serve and let this be a successful event. I would also since this is you know the Christmas holiday, it’s hard to get good bands this time of year because all of the good bands have been taken. Mr. Parker: I would say this. I think Commissioner Marion Williams has mentioned the second band. That band appeared last year also and that’s one of the reasons we invited them back. we got very good comments from their performance --- Mr. Fennoy: Okay. Mr. Parker: --- if you will last year so that, the first band that performed, we got word of mouth on them. They performed at someone’s Christmas party or early and they were sort of a late edition to the agenda but the second band we were familiar with them. Mr. Fennoy: Okay. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: You know I’m listening to the conversation with regards to this event and th might I offer a couple of suggestions. One, I think the Commissioner from the 6 has recommended a very noble approach to this. I think what we heard a moment ago with regards to the Commission getting involved in it I think that’s a terrible idea --- Mr. Fennoy: It depends on the (inaudible). 16 Mr. Mayor: --- I do. I think that there’s a wonderful team that’s putting this event together and I’m going to say as my Clerk would say I’m doing the Mayor’s business now and we’re going to let them do their business. They’re much better at planning this event; there’s a heart to serve st our senior citizens. I think the hope, the lift to the Commissioner from the 1 point that this body can give though is to make sure that this is a signature event for our city. If we’re going to acknowledge the efforts of our senior citizens, our aging population realizing that Augusta is one of the few Age Friendly Cities in the State of Georgia, that becomes our approach. We look for every opportunity and occasion to make an investment in those whose broad shoulders we stand upon who we serve upon and we do it in a way that’s constructive and reflective of what they’ve given to this community from all walks of life as opposed to us you know getting involved in it any heavier than that. And I think we’ll take those recommendations and then go from there. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’ve got Commissioner Sias and then Commissioner D. Williams. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I just want to know, I’m going to ask this question it’s for Mr. Parker and Ms. Jackson are we comfortable with the estimate $15,000 from my colleague or is that number too arbitrary at this point? Mr. Parker: With $15,000 we could obviously do a lot more than we’ve done. I heard the food was good. It’s the same food you will that they’re served at the Senior Programs by that contractor that’s one of the benefits of doing that is we get an extremely good price on the food and that was good. I think where we could invest the additional money you know the table decorations, those kinds of things are good would be strictly in the entertainment. There were a lot of people, I didn’t stay all through all of the second band I was there for the first band the first band there were a lot of people on the dance floor doing line dancing and other dancing. I think the big investment would be with the band itself and we’ve got to look at the capacity that we could put on the floor and if we open this up too much we’ve got to do it through a ticketed event but we could do some additional marketing to get some people down there. And I’m sort of coming off the top of my head with those ideas but that is one way we could use that. I don’t think $15,000 dollars is unrealistic. I don’t think any more than that that needs to be put towards this event. Mr. Sias: Ms. Jackson, do you have any reason why you couldn’t consider this specific line item versus this recreation budget? And I know you’re the guardian of these issues and I respect that so do you see that as a based on what this is doing and the number of people that are attending this should be a specific line item by itself? It could be attached to the Recreation Department but not necessarily a direct piece of their budget, that’s the question. Ms. Jackson: And I would like to research that question, sir, in comparison as we’ve got other events of this large scale impact as well so I’d like to have consistency with how we treat those so please let me research that and come back with a strategy for all of those types of events. Mr. Sias: I want to put that in the form of a motion that we ask the Administrator to research the idea of a line item funding the Senior Dance with the projected impact of $15,000. Mr. Fennoy: Second. 17 Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. We still have two people left to talk here, Commissioner Dennis Williams. Mr. Dr. Williams: My question has already been answered. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay Commissioner Marion Williams. Mr. Hasan: (Unintelligible) time limit on that I’m sorry Mr. Mayor Pro Tem --- Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: What did you say? Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- I’m sorry, I apologize. Mr. M. Williams: No, I just wanted to make sure that the additional funds would be for that event and not added to the total amount that we’ve got to pull from other events and say well because this is the end of the year when this happened and most times the end of the year everything is gone. We done used whatever funds we had to do something else with but I think there ought to be a number associated with that event because it is a signature event like the Mayor has stated that people are at the end of the year want to celebrate want to come out fellowship and do all those other things with and I just think it ought to be done right. But I would love to know that specifically set up for that event versus just adding to the total amount that we use like we think it needs to be used somewhere else. Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to ask you to yield. I’ll take it back now. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I think we’ve got it. Mr. Mayor: I’ve heard, I’m going to go back to my original statement, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. I’ve heard a lot with regards to this and we’re about to do what we are real good at and that is trying to solve problems up here and I don’t think we should do that. I think that what the Administrator has indicated is accurate. There are a number of events this just happens to be the one we’re talking about now because it just occurred. I do believe that the event itself should be properly funded. We shouldn’t have an event where we’re begging to have it put on let alone th people robbing Peter to pay Paul. As the Commissioner from the 6 has talked about I know the year that I attended there was conversation about getting folks together to try to raise money to support the event if I remember correctly and we shouldn’t be doing that. And so to that end I know we’ve got a motion and a second on the floor. I’m fully aware of that. My caution with that is that again it’s January we’re talking about an event that well in fact take place in December that we need to make sure we’re allocated and proper resources from and we probably have the budget resources already to do that. But for us to try and plan it and say well this you’re just going to put $15,000 and that’s going to make it a better event. I think you’ve got to get the appropriate people involved and who have put this on year after year after year and give them an opportunity to imagine what they would like for this event to be about and to do it in a way that says if we were putting on a grand event for the senior citizens of Augusta what would that look like and then couple that with conversation here along with the other signature events that we say we’re going 18 th to have in the year 2019. That does not in any way diminish what the Commissioner from the 4 st has posed and a second from the Commissioner from I believe it was from the 1 it doesn’t diminish that at all but we tend to do this all the time. This is what we’re talking about so let’s fix it right now as opposed to, well, let’s take the deliberative steps and understand what this event should be, get the right people at the table knowing that there’s going to be a budgetary increase of some amount to make it a signature event as opposed to just what we’re talking about right now. We’ve got a motion and a second all right if ya’ll want to vote on that you can unless you want to withdraw it. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Sias may withdraw, he made this motion. Mr. Mayor: I’m going to let him do that. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner th from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you. I couldn’t agree more with what you were saying but that is why I think the motion was kind of covered all that as well is that fact that it would be some research done. And I certainly know that the motion I proposed was not to grab an instant solution and a matter of fact that was the exact reason for that motion in the manner if was presented. So I just hope we allow the Administrator and her team and members to do just that and call for the question. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have a --- Mr. Mayor: All right, everybody just hold on. All right, could you restate your motion? Mr. Sias: The motion was to have the Administrator and her question was to research what it would take to properly fund this with the idea, this event, with the idea of $15,000-dollar cap or where would the money come from. But it basically proposed the research for this idea of making this a signature event. Ms. Bonner, if you don’t mind, Mr. Mayor, could you restate what you wrote that I had said? The Clerk: You said to allow the Administrator to research this for a dedicated line-item project budget and its impact. That’s basically what you said. Mr. Sias: That sound good. Mr. Hasan: --- (unintelligible). th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor and I’m going to say this to my colleagues, to everybody else. I’m not saying this to be mean, to be ugly but also in, Ms. Jackson, in doing your research to see what the cost is going to be I hope my colleagues would also consider what I said about the body who worked at the team I’m going to say this and it doesn’t, Team Bonner and her team has done not only do they come from the front line and they serve as well. I think you have to have people who feels that so when you look at the money you look at who you’re, those persons that are involved in that process too, Ms. Jackson, to see exactly what they do. I think the 19 Commissioner’s request was try to let it stand alone so I think there’s a leeway to do it and look at the persons who are heavily invested in there giving up their time and things like that so I’m hoping you would do that and see exactly because that’s what’s been happening the last couple of years and probably happening much longer than that, that’s a serious body of work. When I left the other night, I left at 10:30. I was beat down; I limped home. They were still there giving of themselves so that’s why I’m saying I’m not talking off the top of my head. I’m talking of people who are investing on the front line giving of themselves making it happen. And so with that as you look for the resources to do that, Ms. Jackson, I’m hoping you also have those conversations with the persons who done the front lines and giving their time as well. Ms. Jackson: Certainly. Mr. Hasan: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second, voting. Mr. Garrett votes No. Motion Passes 9-1. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got one more item. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 4. Request authorizing resolution for Augusta Planning and Development on behalf of the Metropolitan Planning Agency to apply for Section 5303 FTA grant through Georgia Department of Transportation. Mr. Sherman: Okay, so this is just that, it’s for the fiscal year 2020 highway grant for Planning and we had budgeted the local match into our ’19 budget there on our fiscal year so it begins in the month of July through June of 2020 and these are for (unintelligible) it’s the section element work element (unintelligible). Mr. Mayor: And what’s the match amount? Mr. Sherman: Pardon? Mr. Mayor: Match amount. Mr. Sherman: The match amount will be $17,175.00 and again (inaudible) $17,175.00 is the local match and we had that budgeted in the, this year’s budget. Mr. Mayor: The Chair will entertain a motion. Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve. 20 Ms. Davis: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Motion Passes 10-0. The Clerk: ENGINEERING SERVICES 6. Discuss sidewalks installed by the Richmond County Board of Education on Kratha Drive in front of the Wilkerson Garden Elementary School. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Dean of the Commission Commissioner from the th 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I assume the BOE had done this and I had the Board of Education down but in talking to our Engineering Department Malik said to me that we as a city have done this and I was really, really took back when I found out when we done this. One of the crossing guards asked me why we would do that and I shared with her that we didn’t do it. The sidewalks in front Wilkerson Garden is been turned around the front is now the rear and the rear is now the front so they came back and added sidewalks and the BOE had came and added the sidewalks. But I was very disappointed to see there’s no curb, there’s an uphill grade on the sidewalks and there’s nothing about the work the quality of work being done but the way it was done. There’s no curb, there’s the grade where the water can’t go in the ditch. The water’s still standing between the street and the sidewalk even right now and it’s been at least a couple of days since it rained. Yesterday the water’s still standing. And I have some pictures I called my Clerk, Mr. Mayor, and I asked her to call Engineering and have him take some pictures so you could see exactly what I was talking about. But at one end on the Milledgeville Road side you can’t even use the sidewalk because the water’s at the end of that wall still standing there. So I need to know from Engineering though did we not have someone to go out for bid to get to do this work and if we went out for bid didn’t we have guidelines for them to go by as to how it should be done is my first two questions, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right, very good, Director Malik? Dr. Malik: Yes, sir, we do have guidelines and go through the regular procurement process and design process, however, there’s another program called the ADA Compliance Program and there’s some disconnect which we intended to fix those you know breaks in communication and all that. So this work was done under the ADA Compliance Program. At this point you know we’ve got the ADA Compliance Coordinator to the Compliance Department and the Engineering Department assists the Compliance Department however, yes, the work was done under the Engineering Department (unintelligible) the Traffic Engineering and there are two deficiencies in the construction process which we intended to look at that and mitigate the (unintelligible) concerns and other concerns and see how we could meditate the concerns but in general the Engineering Department is doing a tremendous amount of construction and you know the majority 21 of the projects are done in a very good excellent way on that but this project somehow fell short on that (unintelligible). Mr. M. Williams: Follow up, Mr. Mayor? Mr. M. Williams: So we did, Malik, you’re saying we do have we did go through Procurement and we do have guidelines and I guess my next question would be since this is ADA Compliance wouldn’t that be more reason to have someone to check this to make sure that it is ADA as we specified on here? Isn’t that more reason for somebody to follow up to see how that is done and done right because it is ADA? I mean it should be done any way because of that shouldn’t there have some more eyes on it I guess, Mr. Mayor, would be the best way to say it. Dr. Malik: Yes, sir, I think that’s where the disconnect I think the focus becomes more on meeting ADA requirement and somehow the Engineering Department fell short of that so I would say moving forward with this program I’m intending (unintelligible) and set up a process how it’s going to work together between the two departments and make sure that this construction on this program meets all the Engineering standards we have and go through the review process with other projects too. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, the information that was given this afternoon Dr. Malik gave me, in 2016 we did eleven projects like this ADA. In 2017 we did 26 projects like that in 2018 we show we did thirteen of those projects but if we did that many of those projects and we don’t have someone to verify that it was done by the standards that need to be done how do I know the ones in ’16, ’17 even the ones in ’18 have been done I mean done right? I mean something whoever made the decision had to have some information, had to have somebody to answer to rather than just do this now because I really thought the board who, and I was wrong because I thought the board did it because they did some work in the school and this is right in front of the school to the next block. I said they probably did it for the children but that would make it even more unsafe for a child to be walking on the sidewalk which connects to the street. There’s no curb at all. There’s no way the water can move at all except go across the street in front the homes of the people that live there in another ditch that don’t have no sidewalk now. Mr. Mayor: All right, so why don’t we do this? All right, I’m fully aware I don’t know about the other projects that are going on but what I would like to hope is that that these are other ADA projects that are related particularly to sidewalks that are in fact ADA compliant. I’ve seen the one on Kratha Drive and it, while it may meet minimum ADA standards it probably doesn’t meet our standard as it relates to sidewalks as we lain them here in downtown. So I would ask the Director to do is come back with a proposal on how we can remedy this situation. Dr. Malik: Yes, sir, that’s the plan moving forward most of these projects are really the ramps the (unintelligible) --- Mr. Mayor: Sure --- Dr. Malik: --- but more important we will come up with a plan to say these projects need to go through the same general scrutiny process. 22 Mr. Mayor: --- all right, so not at next weeks but in the first committee meeting in February if you’ll have a recommendation for us of how to resolve this. Dr. Malik: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. M. Williams: Question, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: What, I’d like to know the other projects that have been done whether they come back and say they are in compliance or not and I’d like to know how much costs this project cost us to do this and what it’s going to cost us to straighten it out because somebody made that decision now. I mean if we’re going, if some people have to suffer because they have done some things without the guidelines then we let some go I mean there’s no recourse for something like this? Mr. Mayor: Well, I think the recourse is if we didn’t meet full engineering standards but there was a minimum ADA Standard that may have been met, let’s fix it and bring clear and full resolution to it from that perspective. I do think it’s appropriate for you to get all of the information you need in terms of what the cost of the project is and have that available for us as well at the first committee meeting in February, is that sufficient? Mr. M. Williams: And the others, ones that’s not --- Mr. Mayor: Yes and those that are the 2018 projects that are on here if you’ll just have that cost information as well. Dr. Malik: Yes, sir, but all the ones that are completed --- Mr. Mayor: Yeah --- Dr. Malik: --- I will bring that information. Mr. Mayor: All right, wonderful, in fact if you will have that provided to us electronically before the meeting as well --- Dr. Malik: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: --- it would be very helpful, okay? All right, outstanding. All right again we’ll receive this as information with those instructions. Madam Clerk, is there any other business before us? The Clerk: No, sir, that’s it. 23 Mr. Hasan: I make a motion to receive it as information, Mr. Mayor, if you don’t mind. Mr. Mayor: I think yeah, well that’s fine. We don’t have to vote on it again receiving it as information, that’s fine. All right, I think this is all. The 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 of The Augusta Richmond County Commission held on January 2, 2019. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 24