HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMMISSION MEETING November 18, 2008
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
NOVEMBER 18, 2008
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., November 18, 2008, the
Hon. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Holland, Smith, Mason, Grantham, Hatney, Beard, Johnson, Jackson,
Bowles and Brigham, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
The invocation was given by Bishop Rosa Williams, Pastor Everfaithful Baptist Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Bishop Williams, if you could come forward please. I have something for
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you. And I was sharing with Bishop Williams beforehand. I spent my 38 birthday in her
church and I turned 41 this Thursday so we’re making this an annual birthday event. Office of
the Mayor. By these present be it known that Bishop Rosa L. Williams, Pastor Everfaithful
Baptist Church is Chaplain of the Day for her civic and spiritual guidance demonstrated
throughout the community. Serves as an example for all of the faith community. Given under
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my hand this 18 Day of November 2008. Thank you so much. (APPLAUSE) Madame Clerk?
The Clerk: Yes sir.
Mr. Mayor: On the ---
The Clerk: The addition?
Mr. Mayor: Please.
ADDENDUM
36. DELEGATION
A. Andy Cheek RE: Discussion of the upcoming canal drainage project as it pertain to
other activities on the canal such as repairs to the tow path, dredging of Warren Lake and
Lake Olmstead, clearing erosion material and downed trees from the upper canal,
historical investigation work on sites of interest and discussion of the need for coordination
of activities between the Canal Authority and other groups with the Utility Department.
The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Mayor, we have a request for an addendum item. Mr. Cheek did
in fact get his request in on time, however, there was an error on behalf of our office. I was out
of the office and they placed it on the desk and it did not make it on the printed agenda. So at
this time we’re requesting that Mr. Cheek be allowed to be a part of the agenda under the
Delegation portion.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, could I get a motion?
Mr. Jackson: So moved.
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Mr. Johnson: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I have a motion and a second. And correct me, Ms. Johnson, do we
need unanimous consent on that?
Ms. Johnson: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by
the usual sign.
Mr. Smith, Mr. Grantham and Mr. Mason vote No.
Mr. Holland abstains.
Motion fails 6-3-1.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I would request that since that didn’t make it through if we could add
Mr. Cheek to the next meeting.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Madam Clerk, Recognitions.
The Clerk:
RECOGNITIONS
Employee of the Month
A. Mr. Travis Griffin, Augusta Utilities Department, October Employee of the Month.
The Clerk: Would you please join the Mayor here at the podium along with, Mr. Smith
would you like to join Mr. Griffin along with department, interim department director,
employees, staff of Augusta Utilities?
The Clerk: Dear Mayor Copenhaver. The Employee Recognition Committee has
selected Travis Griffin as the October Employee of the Month for the City of Augusta. Travis is
currently an inspector with the Utilities Division. He has been employed with the City of
Augusta for a year and a half. Travis was nominated by Jody Crabtree who is a supervisor with
Utilities. Mr. Griffin was nominated for consistently going above and beyond the normal
requirements of his position. The employee has gained the respect of coworkers and contractors
for his actions. His ability to think outside the box and approach problems with a fresh
prospective has also saved the department and our customer’s money. The committee felt that
based on this nomination and Mr. Griffin’s dedicated and loyal service to the City of Augusta we
would appreciate you joining us in awarding Travis Griffin Employee of the Month for the
Month of October. Congratulations Travis. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: I have this for you as well. Dear Mr. Griffin. On behalf of the City of
Augusta it is with great pleasure that I congratulate you for being recognized as the Employee of
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the Month for October 2008. Your contribution to your organization Augusta Richmond County
government and the citizens of Augusta has earned you this recognition. I appreciate your
willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty and your outstanding work ethic. You are
truly an asset to the Augusta Richmond County Information Utilities Department and the citizens
of Augusta Georgia. Please accept my personal congratulations on this wonderful award. You
are truly deserving of this recognition. Sincerely yours, Deke Copenhaver, Mayor.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. Smith: Travis, we want to thank you for your high level of employment. You have
really set the pace over there at the Utilities and we are so proud of you. And we ask that you
just continue to go forward as you have in the past. Thank you. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, on to the consent agenda.
The Clerk: Yes sir. Our consent agenda consists of items, on our printed agenda 1-8.
We would like to offer the following items as part of the consent agenda. Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34 ---
Mr. Russell: Thirty-five.
The Clerk: Thinking about it. No, sir. Mr. Mayor, before we continue, yeah, we can
take a motion and then I’ll read for the benefit of any objectors for our alcohol petitions and our
planning petitions.
Mr. Smith: Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Smith: Thirty-six was to be added to that.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, but we have to wait until we come out of the meeting, if we have
one.
Mr. Mason: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Mason.
Mr. Mason: Yes, Mr. Mayor. At this time I just, on item 17, 18 and 19 ---
Mr. Speaker: Inaudible.
Mr. Mason: --- I’m sorry, 17, 18 and 20. If there is any of the folks from Parsons or
Khafra or CH2MHILL that’s here today at all? Yes, there is. Well I would just like to say, Mr.
Mayor, as a point of privilege here that we certainly do appreciate the awarding of these
computer systems to our Sheriff’s Department on behalf of Barton Village where the substation
is planned to be. And we thank you for your participation in what you’re doing for the city and
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certainly from the district, from District 4 I say thank you. Once again and certainly if you
would elevate that up to your higher as well that we all thank you from this Commission and
from the Sheriff’s Department as well for what you’ve done. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you for making that catch. Okay, do we have any further additions to
the consent agenda? Okay, do we have any items to be pulled from the consent agenda for
discussion?
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, can we see if there’s any objectors to the alcohol license or
anything before we go on with that?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, that’s fine. Madam Clerk, if you could or Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: If I may, sir, item 5 needs to be referred back to committee. We’ve got a
little bit of housekeeping work to do there.
The Clerk: Item 5?
Mr. Russell: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: For the benefit of any objectors I will read the Planning petitions and I call
your attention to,
Item 2. Which is a request for a Special Exception to allow for a minor addition to bring an
existing covenant into zoning conformance at 3042 Eagle Drive.
Item 3. A change of zoning request from a Zone A (Agriculture) to a Zone B-2 (General
Business) with a Special Exception affecting property at 3959 Jimmie Dyess Parkway.
Item 4. Is for a change of zoning from a R-3B (Multiple-family Residential) and a R3C
(Multiple-family Residential) to a Zone P-1 (Professional) affecting property at 124 Greene
Street.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to those planning petitions?
Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Under our Public Service portion of the agenda, Mr. Sherman, are the
petitioners in the chamber? Are the petitioners here?
Mr. Sherman: Just one.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors?
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Mr. Sherman: (Inaudible)
The Clerk: Okay, we’ll read them.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I believe we missed one zoning issue, number nine ---
The Clerk: Number nine, yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- on the regular.
The Clerk: Item 9 is for a request for a change of zoning from a Zone R-3C (Multiple-
family Residential) to a Zone P-1 (Professional) Are there any objectors to that planning
petition? We have objectors to the petition, item 9.
Under Public Services.
Item 10. Is for an on premise consumption liquor and Beer license to be used in connection with
Argo’s located at 1923 Walton Way.
Item 12. Is for a retail package Beer license to be used in connection with Skinner Mill BP
located at 3299 Skinner Mill Road.
Item 11. Is to renew all alcohol beverage licenses in Augusta-Richmond County to include
Adult Entertainment, Sunday Sales, Dance. Are there any objectors to those alcohol petitions?
Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Mr. Sherman, are the petitioners in the chamber?
Mr. Sherman: Yes.
The Clerk: All petitioners are here? Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I would look for a motion to approve the consent agenda, I guess,
minus item 9 so that we can discuss and would look for that motion to include referring item
number 5 from the consent back to the committee.
Mr. Hatney: So moved.
Ms. Beard: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
1. FINAL PLAT – BELFAIR LAKES, SECTION 2-S-773 – A request for concurrence
with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning Commission to approve a request from
James G. Swift & Associates, on behalf of Southeastern Family Home, for final plat
approval for Belfair Lakes Subdivision, Section 2. This residential manufactured home
subdivision is located on Waterfront Drive, adjacent to Belfair Lakes, Section 1 and
contains 42 lots.
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2. Z-08-74 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to approve a petition by L. Phillip Christman II, on behalf of The Order of St.
Helena, requesting a Special Exception to allow for a minor addition and to bring an
existing convent in to zoning conformance per Section 26-1 (a) of the Comprehensive
Zoning Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond County affecting property containing
approximately 20 acres and is known as 3042 Eagle Drive. (Tax Map 109-0-001-00-0)
DISTRICT 6
3. Z-08-75 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to approve with the condition that 1) that after the site is developed a study
shall be conducted by the City of Augusta to see if a signal is warranted at the Jimmie
Dyess Parkway/Harper Franklin Drive intersection; a petition by Jack Manton, on behalf
of Georgia Vitrified Brick & Clay, requesting a change of zoning from Zone A
(Agriculture) to Zone B-2 (General Business) with a Special Exception for an extended stay
hotel per Section 22-2 (d) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond
County affecting property containing 5 acres and was recently assigned the address of 3959
Jimmie Dyess Parkway. (Part of Tax Map 066-0-056-03-0) DISTRICT 3
4. Z-08-76 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to approve with the conditions that 1) the property shall not be used as a drug
rehabilitation or halfway house; a petition by Jeff Drake, on behalf of Christ Community
Health Services of Augusta, requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-3B (Multiple-
family Residential) and R-3C (Multiple-family Residential) to Zone P-1 (Professional)
affecting property containing 1.22 acres and is known as 124 Greene Street. (Tax Map 047-
4-136-00-0) DISTRICT 1
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
5. Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend the Augusta Richmond County Code; to
create new Chapter 5 to Title II (Finance and Taxation) called “Chapter 5, called “Article 1
Identify Theft Prevention Program”; to create a new Article 2 to the new Chapter 5 called
“Article 2 Treatment of Address Discrepancies”; to comply with federal regulations
relating to red flags and identity theft; to provide for codification; to provide for
severability; to provide for an adoption date; to provide an effective date; and for other
purposes allowed by law. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee October 27,
2008) (Motion to refer this back to the committee).
ENGINEERING SERVICES
6. Motion to approve an ordinance to amend Title Seven, Article 2 of the Augusta-
Richmond County Code titled “Construction and Maintenance” so as to add a provision
for speed humps, to provide the guidelines for the construction, installation, and
maintenance of speed humps for public and residential streets, to repeal all ordinances in
conflict herewith; to provide an effective date and for other purposes as requested by the
Traffic Engineering Department. (Approved by Commission November 5, 2008 – second
reading)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
7. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held on
November 5, 2008 and Special Called Meeting October 30, 2008.
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APPOINTMENTS
8. Motion to approve the appointment of Vaughn Maxwell to the ARC Tree Commission.
PUBLIC SERVICES
10. New Ownership Application: A.N. 08-50: A request by James R. Key for an on premise
consumption Liquor & Beer license to be used in connection with Argo’s located at 1923
Walton Way. There will be Dance. District 1. Super District 9.
11. Discussion: A request by License & Inspections to renew all the Alcohol Beverage
Licenses in Augusta Richmond County to include Adult Entertainment. There will be
Sunday Sales. There will be Dance. District 1.
12. New Ownership Application: A.N. 08-51: A request by Marion M. Koger for a retail
package Beer license to be used in connection with Skinner Mill BP located at 3299 Skinner
Mill Rd. District 7. District 10.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
16. Motion to approve a Resolution to approve the Pendleton King Dog Park; to approve
Pendleton King Dog Park rules pursuant to Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia Code
Sections 4-1-6 and 4-1-34; to provide for an effective date; and for other purposes.
PUBLIC SAFETY
17. Motion to accept the $2,800.00 donation from Parsons for the purchase of computers
for the Barton Chapel Sheriff’s Substation, and to approve budget amendment
accordingly.
18. Motion to accept a donation of computers and printers from CH2MHILL for use at the
Sheriff’s Substation in Barton Village.
19. Motion to approve placing recaptured funds from site purchase into construction fund
for Fire Station #10.
20. Motion to accept a donation of computers and printers from Khafra Engineering for
use at the Sheriff’s Substation in Barton Village.
ENGINEERING SERVICES
24. Motion to approve Amendment 003 to contract with Turner Associates.
25. Approve Amendment No. 3 to Turner & Associates’ Architectural Contract for the
New Judicial Center.
26. Provide authorization to Potts Construction Company to award Bid Package #1, in the
amount of $1,610,762.00, which includes site clearing and grading, underground water,
storm and sanitary piping; and curb & Gutter and asphalt paving for the new Judicial
Center.
27. Approve design contract to Tetra Tech RTW, Inc. in the amount of $375,863.00 to
upgrade the Lift Stations Systems at Fort Gordon.
28. Approve Change Number Six (CPB #324-041110-201824117) in the amount of $637,000
funds from SPLOST Fund Balance. Also, transfer $152,000 to the Project Construction for
the East Boundary Street and Drainage Improvements Project and approve Change Order
Number Two with Mabus Brothers Construction in the amount of $485,000 as requested
by the Engineering Department.
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30. Motion to approve a Replacement Housing entitlement of $29,064.00 to Amanda L. and
Laura M. Willcox, previous tenants of the Alexander Drive Project Parcel 9-T-1, 1078
Alexander Drive in Augusta.
31. Award bid to L-J, Inc. (Low Bidder) in the amount of $104,075 for the demolition and
reconstruction of the headwall and pipe replacement at Summerchase; and approve, under
emergency conditions, due to the headwall deteriorating further while acquiring bids.
Contractor has been given a “Notice to Proceed” under emergency basis.
32. Approve the deeds of dedication, maintenance agreements, and road resolutions
submitted by the Engineering and Augusta Utilities Departments for The Lakes at Spirit
Creek Subdivision.
34. Approve Change Number Four in the amount of $235,000.00 with funding of
$235,000.00 from SPLOST Phase IV Recapture for project construction. Also approve
award of construction contract to Reeves Construction Co., Inc. in the amount of
$721,461.40 for the Washington Road Intersection Improvements, subject to receipt of a
detailed project schedule, a contractor’s project team approved by the engineering
department, a traffic control plan, a staging plan, signed contracts, and proper bonds as
requested by the Engineering Department.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and second. If there’s no further discussion
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Hatney abstains.
Motion carries 9-1. [Item 10]
Mr. Hatney abstains.
Mr. Brigham abstains on adult entertainment portion.
Motion carries 8-2. [Item 11]
Mr. Hatney and Mr. Grantham abstain.
Motion carries 8-2. [Item 12]
Motion carries 10-0. [Items 1-8, 16-20, 24-28, 30-32, 34]
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, I guess we’ll go to item 9 first.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
9. Z-08-69 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta-Richmond County Planning
Commission to approve a petition by Darlene McCann requesting a change of zoning from
Zone R-3C (Multiple-family Residential) to Zone P-1 (Professional) affecting property
containing .08 acres and is known as 605 Fourth Street. (Tax Map 047-4-314-00-0)
DISTRICT 1
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Patty.
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Mr. Patty: This property has been a house, it’s an historic home and it’s located next to
an existing bail bonding establishment. It’s near the Law Enforcement Center. The only issued
that’s been raised is parking. There’s room for probably one space on the property. Applying
our ratios to it you’d need three. There is a neighborhood plan, Olde Town that supports
rezoning to professional in this area the area west of Third Street actually. If there’s enough
parking and that’s I say that’s been the issue and if staff and the Commission feel that while there
may not be adequate parking on the property there are public parking lots one in May Park that
doesn’t appear to be utilized very often and parking around the Law Enforcement Center and
street parking could easily make up the two spaces that it lacks. So we recommend that it be
approved.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, can we hear from the objectors? Okay.
Mr. Speaker: If I can, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: And if you’d state your name and address for the record and keep it to 5-
minutes please sir.
Mr. Speaker: No problem, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, thank you Commission and thank
you Mr. Mayor. And I appreciate the opportunity to voice my objections to this. And I
understand what Mr. Patty said and I’d like to address the issues. Number one, he states that ---
Mr. Holland: Excuse me.
Mr. Grantham: Name and address?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Holland.
Mr. Speaker: I apologize.
Mr. Mayor: Your name and address.
Mr. Speaker: My name is Scott Hall. I own four pieces of property ---
Mr. Mayor: And your address to though, please, sir.
Mr. Hall: It’s 11 Fourth Street, 613 Fourth Street ---
Mr. Mayor: Your home address, though, your name and address.
Mr. Hall: 598 Medina Drive, Martinez, GA 30907.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hall: And I apologize. This is the first opportunity to do this.
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Mr. Mayor: That’s okay.
Mr. Hall: I understand what Mr. Patty said and again I am here representing that I own
four pieces of property. I have Mr. Bob Rayburn here who owns four pieces; I mean two pieces
of property there. I have a letter from the lady across the street, directly across the street from
this piece of property and I also have a letter from the president of the Olde Town Neighborhood
Association. And he said yes he was contacted by the Commission to in fact see if he opposed it
and he said we did not oppose it but we were under the assumption that they would be required
to comply with the guidelines. He said nobody told me that in fact they were going to seek to go
from three required off street parking spots to zero. And I’ll just take a couple of minutes and
show you exactly what I’m talking about. This is the subject property we’re talking about 605
Fourth Street. The Olde Town Neighborhood Plan basically says that an existing structure can
be easily converted without drastic changes and the most important part is any required vehicle
parking can be accommodated in the rear yard and adequately screened from adjacent residential
end uses. Section 4.2 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of Augusta-Richmond County
requires three off-street parking. The existing structure can in fact be changed without. We’ve
got no problem with that. But the required parking in the rear of the vehicle. There’s no place
for the parking in the back of this particular property. If you’ll look here, and I’m just going to
show you a couple of slides and I’ll get to what I think is the most important slide. This is a slide
right here and you’ll see that the blue building is the building we’re talking about and that’s the
required space for parking. Now Planning and Zoning said well there’s plenty of parking on the
street, okay since existing building occupies a large portion of the property off street parking
may be a problem. That’s absolutely correct. Second point is on-street parking is prevalent in
this area of Fourth Street and public parking is available within a reasonable distance. That is
absolutely false. This is the street we’re talking about. Again this is a thoroughfare.
Ambulances, law enforcement, there’s a bus stop here. Again if this is prevalent parking I don’t
know. Again you’re not going to see this kind of parking down there all the time but again the
property that we’re talking about, I’ll put my red dot is right here and I own this property and
there’s currently nobody in that property. I own the property behind it. There’s currently
nobody in that property. There’s a lady that has had a stroke right directly across the street that
requires a wheel chair, okay and she has to have here sister, her car and a nurses aide. Again
these are some more shots. Again we’re looking at the subject property here and again if this is
abundant property I don’t know what abundant. Most of the corners of these properties are
yellow curbed because they want you to be able to see oncoming traffic. Again if you drive by
in the middle of the day you don’t see anybody parking on the yellow curb well the reason is it’s
yellow, all four corners. The property across the street, this Commission approved P-1 zoning
for this building. You’re supposed to have four parking spots. This building has zero parking
spots. It’s surrounded by yellow curbs. This is the front of the building, this is the side of the
building and this is the required off-street parking, okay. That is a problem. Here we’re talking
about all of the property around 401 the Criminal Justice Center. Again all of these people are
illegally parked. Again if that’s abundant parking I don’t know what we’re talking about. Look
at this and you’ll notice you know this is looking the other direction and this is the building I
own here and that property is down there. If that’s abundant you know and it was suggested that
I parked all of these cars. I got a couple of cars but I don’t have this many.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir, and ---
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Mr. Hall: That’s my five minutes?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, that’s your five minutes is up but we appreciate your presentation.
Mr. Hall: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: And do we have any of the petitioners here that would like to speak as well.
Okay, and I’ll ask you the same. Please state your name and address for the record and keep it to
five minutes as well.
Ms. Speaker: Darlene McCann, 4775 Brookline Road, Martinez, GA and it won’t be that
long sir. Um, the building that I purchased I was planning the two front ones for secretarial
purposes to meet clients. There are two parking spaces available one on each side of the
building. That’s not a problem. Both the secretaries have agreed that they will not, they won’t
even think about parking on a yellow curb or breaking the law. If necessary and there’s not
abundant parking on any day I think the picture you saw the day when court was in session
during the daytime hours they don’t mind parking further away if they need too or even parking
over in May Park that area is never full. Mr. Scott simply does not want me there doing the same
kind of business.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Thank you, ma’am. Commissioner Bowles.
Mr. Bowles: Mr. Patty, could you kind of give us a summary of the issue at hand and
your recommendation please.
Mr. Patty: Well, I mean there’s the typical yellow curb near the intersections but there’s
no extended yellow curb that I’m aware of. I’ve been by it probably a dozen times and um,
observed during those times since this came up no congestion like this has been described. As I
said there’s a lot, a new parking lot in May Park that I don’t know it’s been there for several
months now and I’ve seen very few cars in these twelve times that I’ve been by. So I think given
the land use around it the fact that there is a parking supply there’s very little parking needed for
this type of a business so I would recommend that you approve it.
Mr. Bowles: In addition to that how many residential zonings are around this property,
on that street?
Mr. Patty: There are some. I’ll have to pull the map out.
Mr. Bowles: I mean is it surrounded by residential zonings or ---
Mr. Patty: No, you’ve got a mixture of professional and residential.
Mr. Bowles: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Johnson.
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Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As long as we have you up is it also true that with
the addition to the jail pod going up it’s going to create more parking as well over there, right?
Mr. Patty: I would assume so. I’m not familiar with it. I haven’t seen the plans yet.
Mr. Johnson: But you don’t initially see a significant issue with the ---
Mr. Patty: Well, I mean they’ll have to supply, yeah, I mean they’ll be subject to the
same ordinances as a private developer is. They’ll have to provide additional parking if they put
a jail in that area.
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Johnson: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Patty, I think what Mr. Johnson was saying is with the construction
of the two new jail pods out on Phinizy Road that we will alleviate some of the parking problems
in the Fourth Street area. That the Sheriff has indicated is going to reduce his personnel as well
as people down there. So that should help eliminate some of that parking problem that we might
be faced with today.
Mr. Holland: Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Holland.
Mr. Holland:
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, in view of the fact that we as
Commissioners normally accept what Mr. Patty has said along with the Planning and Zoning
Commission and most of the time they are correct when they make their decisions and they’re
So I’d like to make a motion that we approve
making a recommendation that we approve this.
this so we can move on.
Mr. Mason: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Brigham votes No.
Motion carries 9-1.
Mr. Hatney: Madam Clerk, excuse me, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney.
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Mr. Hatney: I abstain on all alcohol. I forgot to mention that.
The Clerk: We need to go back and reconsider it and then put you down, okay. So we’ll
do that.
Mr. Hatney: Okay. Thank you.
The Clerk: We’ll ask for reconsideration on those two if we could.
Mr. Hatney: If you don’t mind. Could ya’ll do that for me?
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely.
The Clerk: Reconsideration on items 10, 11 and 12. We need a motion for that.
Mr. Johnson: So moved.
Mr. Jackson: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second.
Mr. Bowles: I think you need unanimous consent.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, and we’re gonna get it today. We have a motion and a second.
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Grantham: Madam Clerk, I abstain on item 12.
The Clerk: Well, wait until we get there. Mr. Hatney, are you going to vote to reconsider
these items so you can abstain?
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, can I get a motion, do we need to approve those three items with
Commissioner Hatney abstaining.
Mr. Johnson: So moved.
Mr. Holland: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual
sign.
Mr. Brigham: Lena, did you get my comment that I’m not voting for any, I voted no on
all of the Adult Entertainment Licenses.
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The Clerk: I wanted to get it on the record though.
Mr. Brigham: Well, it should be on the record by now.
The Clerk: I didn’t hear you.
Mr. Brigham: Well, I’m voting No on all the Adult Entertainment licenses and I’m going
to vote for the rest of them.
The Clerk: Okay, that’s what I needed to hear. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: Okay, that motion carries with Mr. Hatney abstaining. Mr. Jerry Brigham
voting against the Adult Entertainment license. Mr. Grantham, are you abstaining?
Mr. Grantham: Yes, number 12.
The Clerk: On number 12. Mr. Grantham abstains on number 12.
Mr. Hatney: I abstain on number 12 too.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, we’ve got you on all three.
Mr. Mayor: Just a little bit of housekeeping. Madam Clerk, now that we’ve cleared that
up if we could move on to the next agenda item.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
13. Approve changes in salary grades for positions in Recreation, Utilities, and the Tax
Assessor’s Office.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE
15. Approve changes in salary grades for positions in Recreation, Utilities, and the Tax
Assessor’s Office.
FINANCE
22. Approve changes in salary grades for positions in Recreation, Utilities, and the Tax
Assessor’s Office.
ENGINEERING SERVICES
29. Approve changes in salary grades for positions in Recreation, Utilities, and the Tax
Assessor’s Office.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell.
14
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor if I may the companion items are 13, 15, 22 and 29 if I’m
And what I’d like to do is refer those back to the appropriate committees for
correct.
discussion.
Mr. Jackson: So moved.
Mr. Hatney: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Okay that was 15 ---
The Clerk: It was 13, 15, 22 and 29. I think we’re at item 14 now?
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
14. Discuss the lease renewal between Augusta and US Army Corps of Engineers (COE) for
operation of the park and navigational lock at New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam.
(NSBL&D).
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: I’d like to ask that we postpone this until after we adopt the budget.
Mr. Grantham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Would you like to put that in the form of a motion?
Mr. Brigham: So moved.
Mr. Jackson: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and second. If there’s no further discussion
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Grantham: Refer ---
Mr. Mayor: To refer it until after the budget.
15
The Clerk: After the budget adoption.
Motion carries 10-0.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
23. Update of the bond swap presented by Commissioner Grantham. (Requested by
Commissioner Bowles)
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you. This will only take one moment. I just wanted to bring to
the attention of our Commission what a really outstanding position they took back when we
reversed the swap on our bond issue that we had when the Public Utilities on the $60 million
dollar bond. And what we have done and I passed out a sheet for information and I received this
back from Ms. Diane McNabb who is our bond specialist and who reports to us. But from
December 31 to October 31 of this year our government has saved a little over $3 million dollars,
$3,337,000.00 on reversing that bond issue and going on a full term bond at a set rate. And with
that Ms. McNabb indicated to me that had we stayed in this plan that over the course of this bond
issue that we would’ve been subject to losing somewhere in the neighborhood of $40 million
dollars. So I think this is a tribute to this Commission in doing this and taking a stand when they
really needed to. So I want to give this report to you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Don, and I’d like to express my appreciation and I know
everybody else is for your leadership on that issue. And really to the rest of the Commission you
know this deserves a lot of credit for watching after the finances of the taxpayers of this city. So
thank you so much and can I get a motion to receive this as information?
Mr. Holland: So moved.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual
sign.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, did we skip one? Did we miss 21?
The Clerk: Well, I thought we had that on the consent. Did we not include it? We
didn’t? Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All the fur is flying getting this ---
16
The Clerk: Well, it was discussed to take the recommendation of the Tax Assessor but --
-
The Clerk:
FINANCE
21. Report from the Tax Assessor’s Office regarding the refund/credit request from the
Magnolia Park Limited Partners on property located at 2420 Damascus Road.
Mr. Mayor: Please, sir.
Mr. Speaker: Mr. Mayor, how are you? A report has been provided to the Commission
that details the information that was provided by the owner. It has been reviewed by my office
and a recommendation is being made for credit in the amount of $36,718.48.
Mr. Bowles: Motion to approve.
Mr. Hatney: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir.
The Clerk: Item 33?
Mr. Mayor: Which I think is our final, well not final but next to ---
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
33. Consider a request from Wardco Properties for the removal of solid waste fees from
their tax bill and a permanent exemption from the Solid Waste collection Program.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith.
Mr. Smith: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We recommend that this goes back to committee, to
our next committee.
Mr. Mayor: Would you like to put that in the form of a motion?
Mr. Smith: I will.
17
Mr. Hatney: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 10-0.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATOR
35. Motion to approve the 2009 budget.
Mr. Mayor: Did Mr. Russell get scared and leave the room?
Mr. Grantham: He bailed out on us.
Mr. Mayor: That’s never a good sign. Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: I can do it from out there if you want.
The Clerk: You’ve got to.
Mr. Mayor: He was out there psyching himself up.
Mr. Grantham: He was on the ledge of the window.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell, the floor is yours.
Mr. Russell: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission I come
forward today with round three of the Budget Proposal that we’ve been working on for the past
several weeks. As you know budgets are always tough to do and we’ve never had a lot of fun
doing it but as we’ve looked at the parameters you’ve given us today you have before you what
we feel to be the most appropriate use of our tax dollars at this particular point in time. You set
the bar pretty high. You almost, well not almost you unanimously shared with me your desire
not to raise taxes. And we’ve heard that and this budget does not raise taxes. You also shared
your desire to maintain service levels as high as we possibly can within those dollars we have
available. This budget does that. It does require some tough decisions. It does require some
actions that might not be seen favorably by people in our community but I feel very strongly that
this does take us forward into the next year with an opportunity to provide the level of service
that we need to provide to continue to move our community forward. Because of those
constraints you’re at a budget that’s very lean and you’re looking at a budget that’s just that a
document to give us a plan to continue to move forward. In August we get to revisit this and
hopefully we’ll be revisiting it many times prior to that as we look at the nature of our economy
and the things that we have to face on a day-to-day basis. As I’ve shared with several of you
individually and each of you collectively again let me assure you that in August when we come
back we’ll be able to tell you where the dollars are spent as we’ve done in the past and where we
18
would need additional dollars if necessary. And the reason for that would be based on economic
conditions that are not within our control. I can’t promise you the gas is going to remain at $2.50
a gallon. I can’t promise you we’re not going to arrest John Smith and have to spend an extra
half million dollars on his bond. I can’t promise you what the future holds. But I can promise
you that I and the staff are prepared to manage these dollars in the best way possible to give our
citizens the best impact that we have for the dollars that we collect and that each and every penny
they give us we will get at least a penny’s worth of value back for each and every one of them.
Highlights again are no tax increase. We have heard that and it’s here. The levels of service that
I project are not what I would like to give. In all honestly I’d like to live in a world where we
could have more museums and more arts and more other kinds of things there. But given the
nature of the community we have now and the economic conditions we have and the parameters
you set that’s not the world that we live in. Let me begin by sharing with you the Transit budget.
We need to take that off of the table today. You heard an initial comment about that from our
study people but that’s not something we’re prepared to talk about today for several reasons.
One of which is we’re still working on that. The other which is it does require public hearings
prior to adoption and those public hearings have not been held. As you know transit’s always
one of these issues that rubs very deeply and impacts on our community very hard and very fast
on certain people in our community. So what we’d like to do is bring that back to you as we
have in the past with our recommendation at a later date. As of today we would like to notice a
th
public hearing and will be distributed to you and to the public for Thursday, December the 18 at
the May Park Community Center from 4:30 to 6:30 where we would receive information from
the public about the transit budget. After that we will be bringing you back a recommendation
on the transit budget. I have as you directed I’ve told Mr. Johnson to reduce the amount of
dollars spent. Those options to reduce that are still on the table. There are several options that
he’s mentioned and that will be mentioned in the public hearing as required by law. All of those
are just that, on the table. There have been no decisions made and will be no decisions made or
recommendations prepared until after we have those public hearings and each and every one of
you have had an opportunity to have input in those areas there. The General Fund Budget and
I’d like to speak from the document you have in front of you and it’s on the screen. As we’ve
gone over on several occasions this is a balanced budget. It provides services that we have been
able to provide and it comes back to a balance with no tax increase. Some of the major revenue
adjustments are to eliminate the reimbursement from the Human Relations Commission of
$75,000.00. Demolition program, transfer from waste management for a profit of 125, and the
Public Defenders reimbursement based on our contract with the State of Georgia over the past
several years we received that back as a reimbursement and we continue to think that would
happen. The expenditure adjustments or program elimination will be the elimination of the
Human Relations Commission, elimination of the James Brown Exhibit. Let me share with you
on that. That exhibit that we funded last year at $75,000.00 is still there at present. What this is
is an additional request for additional money to expand and improve that exhibit and provide
some security functions there. It was our feeling last year that that was a one time contribution
of $75,000.00 and therefore at this point in time that’s where it’s at and that’s my understanding
at the moment. I don’t see the exhibit going away at this particular point in time. And then the
elimination of the Summer Youth Program.
Mr. Holland: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor.
19
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Holland.
Mr. Holland: Again, please. I didn’t get a complete understanding about the James
Brown Exhibit.
Mr. Russell: The James Brown Exhibit last year we funded that at $75,000.00. It was
my understanding at that point that was a request for a one-time funding source to get that
exhibit up and running. We funded that last year. When they came back this year and asked for
an additional $75,000.00 it’s my understanding that helps to provide security and upgrades to the
museum and to the operation itself. So it’s my understanding that that exhibit, we’ve already
invested $75,000.00 into the exhibit. What you see there is that $75,000.00 investment. The
additional dollars was not supposed to be a reoccurring cost. But they hoped to be able to get
that to improve the exhibit and to provide extra security.
Mr. Holland: So have we spoken with the persons at the museum and do they know that
they won’t be in a position to get these funds?
Mr. Russell: Yes, they do. That’s why they’re here.
Mr. Holland: Okay do you all, okay, we’ll hear from them.
Mr. Russell: If you would like they would be able to comment on that at some point I’m
sure.
Mr. Holland: Thank you.
Mr. Russell: Let me share with you what they’re going to say as they need the money as
will everybody else if you want to go through this at this particular point in time.
Mr. Holland: Let’s hear from them.
Mr. Russell: Not a problem if that’s the wish you’d like.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to speak to that also and I’m following on what
Commissioner Holland is saying. I’m going to be a little more detailed with that. Is it in looking
at our reduced amount for the Augusta Museum of History we’re showing $56,250.00 deduction
out of a $206,000.00 budget that we’ve been given. In addition we’re taking $75,000.00 away
from them in regards to the James Brown Exhibit. It would be my recommendation and proposal
that we reinstate $31,250.00 back into the Augusta Museum which then still remains giving them
a cut of $100,000.00. And I see down below that Mr. Russell has so indicated that he’s got a
little contingency to work with and I think that would be wise money spent to not only protect
what we spent $75,000.00 on last year but to give them something to be able to progress even
further with the James Brown Exhibit and others that would help the Augusta Museum in doing
20
that. So we’re not comparing one museum against the other in doing what I’m recommending.
We’re still cutting the Augusta Museum $100,000.00.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we value everybody’s input and I’ll just but back to your presentation
Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: And what we’ll do is keep a running total of those kinds of actions there to
see where we’re at, at the end of the presentation if you’d like.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you.
Mr. Russell: The next item would be uh, I’m going to back up some. I’m lost. I’m
sorry. The next item would be the programs increases. As we talked about on several occasions
the court administrative position. That includes salary and benefits for that program. And we
recommend that because we think that it will help us work more closely with the judges and
move forward in a consolidated way to help keep people out of the jail or make sure that we
prosecute those people in a timely fashion. There’s actually a savings in that action there.
Reduce agency appropriations by 10%. That’s a total of $198,000.00 and we’ll talk about that in
some detail in just a second. Reduce the Arts Council to 150. This recommendation restores
that $50,000.00 to them. Reduce the audit fees by 25,000. Reduce the Museum of History by
$56,250. Reduce the city update, which is the program that we put out by $9,890.00. That’s the
brochure that you get about our city and the progress that we’ve been making. What we did is
take the education and training and cut that in half across the board. That’s a reduction of
$212,000.00. The Lucy Laney Craft Museum we’ve reduced the funding level of $150.
Reduced Miracle Making Ministries to the 2008 level at $1,250.00 reduction. Mosquito control
we reduced that. In addition to that we reduced the promotion account. That’s the stuff we use
to make purchases and give aways, basically. Reduce the Superior Court Circuit Program.
That’s a gain of about $213,000.00. Reduction in the Public Works with about 6.5% and
Recreation was about 7.5. Reduction in landfill fees and as we talked about before that’s a
program where we’re removing the people doing the bulk weights back into the landfill so that
we can pay for them out of the landfill fees as opposed to general fund dollars.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Hatney had a question.
Mr. Hatney: Just one question. When you say reduce Superior Court due to Circuit
Program. Exactly what are you talking about?
Mr. Russell: For the past several years since I’ve been here we’ve billed the Circuit
Court or billed the Circuit Court through the City of Augusta and we have been unfortunately
taking the burden of the majority of the cost of that court.
Mr. Hatney: Okay.
Mr. Russell: --- as we did with the Public Defenders Office and District Attorney’s
Office. And working with Judge Overstreet and Tom Gunnells we’ve been able to shift that
around to where the other counties are taking a more appropriate ---
21
Mr. Hatney: Okay.
Mr. Russell: --- level of expenditure.
Mr. Hatney: I understand now. Thank you.
Mr. Russell: Okay, they were the cuts that we proposed. And if we go down a little bit
we’ll talk about the changes that we’ve done to hopefully emolliates some of that activity
basically. Did you like that word?
Mr. Grantham: Yeah.
Mr. Mayor: That’s another nice big word.
Mr. Russell: Plethora is the new word today. Additional savings from the Superior
Court Program that’s about $200,000.00 there. Revised fuel cost projections. We’ve talked
about that and talked about that and talked about that. But what we’ve done over the past and
when we initially did this budget when we started 10-weeks ago we projected fuel costs of about
$3.50 a gallon so that’s what we were paying. In addition to that we’ve been able to lower that
projection. We’re projecting about $2.50 a gallon now. That’s savings that you’ll see both here
and in the Sheriff’s budget. Personnel reductions of about $200,000.00 the gain through ---
employment, nutrition hopefully. Our reduction at the State Court, Superior Court and State
Court of about $30,000.00. She’s aware of that and agreed to that. Reduced reduction in the
Marshall’s Office, twenty-five here and twenty-five in the Law Enforcement Fund. We’ve had a
conversation with the staff about that and the Marshall and I will meet shortly about that. At the
Tax Commissioners request we met with the current and the new Tax Commissioner who will be
taking office in January. And that $100,000 request he’s aware of that and has assured me that
will not affect he operations. Reinstated the $50,000 to the Arts Council. The arguments
compelling as they talk about the Arts in the Heart and the things that we’re doing there and the
number of people they bring into our community and the dollars that they spend and I thought
that was a worthwhile endeavor and I’ve asked the staff to reinstate that. In addition we will
reinstate the municipal housekeeping services that we initially taken out in Public Service. So
you’ve got the people here that will be working in our building. We reinstated the McDuffie
Woods Operation at $139,000. We reinstated part of the reductions to Public Works and Public
Services of $150,000. Parks and Recreation of a $150,000, Summer Youth partially at $50,000
and increased the contingency for another $89,000.00 we’re looking at there. The 10% agency
reduction that I talked about the $198,000.00 we’ve looked long and hard again at that. We still
recommend the decrease in project access of $45,000.00. We’ve been able to reinstate the
community medical outreach, Miracle Making Ministry, various children, the Board of Health
both public and mental, the DFAC children’s program, the Children Regiment the Safe Homes,
Historic Augusta. And what we did do there was take an additional $10,000, take an additional
$7,500 out of the Fort Gordon Alliance, which gives them a balance of $15,000 as opposed to the
$25,000 that we’ve given them in the past. Law Enforcement is where I initially ---
Mr. Mayor: One second. Commissioner Hatney.
22
Mr. Hatney: Before you leave I think the second sheet you lost me course that’s nothing
new. But you mentioned that you with the Project Access to restore the $45,000.
Mr. Russell: No, sir. We continue to take the $45,000 out of the Project Access. We
look at their dollars and think they would be able to survive here with what they currently have
and with appropriation that we give them that’s about $400,000 minus the $45,000 so it’s about
$355,000 or so.
Mr. Hatney: Okay, my other question is, was there any possibility could we have any
thoughts of this $122,000 that’s coming out of the Public Health.
Mr. Grantham: It’s going back to them.
Mr. Hatney: It’s going back to them? Okay.
Mr. Russell: Wait a minute let me make sure I’ve got my Project Access numbers
correct. We gave them $450,000 in ’08 we took it down to $405,000 for Project Access this
year.
Mr. Hatney: Another $75,000 down wouldn’t hurt them though. Another $75,000 down
wouldn’t hurt them. They’ll still be in good shape compared to the rest of these folks who are
struggling.
Mr. Brigham: I don’t think that’s the case.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Holland.
Mr. Holland: Mr. Mayor, I think some time ago we asked for a breakdown in terms of
funds that are being used by Project Access. Have we ever received any information pertaining
to that and if not can we get a breakdown of all of those funds. What is it $450,000 and now
they’ll get what, $350,000. Can we get a breakdown in terms of how those funds are being
used?
Mr. Russell: We have their financial statements so we can get you a breakdown of the
funds their actual budgets if you like.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, while we’re on Project Access they’re the only ones ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: --- they’re the only ones that are providing free medical services. We’re
buying drugs for the patients of Project Access is basically what’s happening. And there have
been some additional savings recently only because Project Access has found a way to help save
some additional money in the purchase of those drugs and the drugs that they give to people. I
think though with the economy the way it is and the fact that they’re the only ones that are
23
providing free medical services based on everything that we need to continue to allow them to
have that this is not a year to cut out indigent medical expenses. We, this Commission has done
that tremendously over the last several years but I think we’re down to the bare basics at this
point.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Hatney.
Mr. Hatney: Two things. We’re not opposing Project Access but they’re not the only
one that’s providing free health. They’re not the only ones but my concern is and all I’m asking
for is a record of activity. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hatney: I think with that kind of money we ought get that. We shouldn’t have to ask
for it every year and never receive it.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: To go one step further again on this issue I think that we should require
and I know we haven’t, auditor’s statements from all of our agencies that we make contributions
to. But we need to require that and order the statements in file on every contribution’s that’s
made with government funding. And if we have that than you have good justification to come
and present that to us.
Mr. Russell: Then you’ve done that and that was part of what we passed in the budget
last year along with our SPLOST operations there. But we do get a auditor’s statement before
we distribute any of our funds.
Mr. Grantham: Very good, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: Law Enforcement initially several weeks ago we suggested a millage
increase to cover the law enforcement deficit in our budget. After working with the Sheriff over
the last couple of weeks and as I presented last week I believe ---
Mr. Mayor: Last week.
Mr. Russell: --- we’ve been able to eliminate that millage increase. So there’s no millage
increase in the law enforcement fund. Once again through the elimination or the mileage
increase the monies that we’ve got there revised fuel of the millage increase. We eliminated that.
We eliminated the housing Sheriff’s prisoners that are at RCCI. That’s a program we started
24
several years ago. It turned out that it worked well as far as moving the bodies but it’s fairly
expensive as far as being able to do that. That’s fifty people that will be reabsorbed back into his
population for a savings of almost $780,000.00. Revised fuel cost projections gets us another
$723,000. The false alarm ordinance that I’d like to talk about just briefly is something you’ll be
seeing in the very near future. Most cities of our size and a lot smaller have a false alarm
ordinance. What we’ve discovered over the years is that we spend a lot of time replying to false
alarms not only in the cost facture by the danger facture as we run our fire trucks and ambulances
and police officers to calls that don’t amount to anything. The majority of that is because people
don’t fix their alarms and what this does would encourage them after three try’s to fix their
alarm. After that they’d be fined for not having the alarm working. That’s going to generate
some income from those fines but it’s also going to hopefully reduce the liability we have from
officers or fire trucks running lights and sirens to answer false alarms time after time after time
after time. There will be a waiver in that ordinance to allow for weather conditions and special
occurrences which is similar to that and that ordinance I think is already prepared and should be
on your agenda sometime in the next couple of weeks to be implemented the first of the year.
Revised revenue projections. Revised projections to accept increase in fringe costs. The other
money I talked about a little while ago $25,000 from the Sheriff’s, for the Marshall’s Department
and then a use of fund balance. Let me talk about that for a minute. What we’ve asked you to do
is go dip in your fund balance again to balance this. And what we’ve weighed there was whether
or not we wanted to increase taxes or use the money we have available payable to us on a rainy
day. Our fund balance is still nice it’s good. It’s probably the envy of most other places or most
other cities in our commonwealth?
Mr. Mayor: State.
Mr. Russell: State of Georgia, I’m sorry.
Mr. Russell: You’re not in Virginia.
Mr. Russell: I’m back home again. I get nervous and I revert back to commonwealth.
Mr. Mayor: And I’ll bet it’s the envy of most cities in the commonwealth as well.
Mr. Russell: I would think so, too, sir. I meant to say that up front. It is the envy of
most cities in the commonwealth of Virginia and also Georgia. And that’s because of the
policies of you as a group established over the last few years as we continue to do that. I think if
there’s any time at all that we should reach into our piggybank to help our citizens now’s the
time to do that. As each and everyone of them face the same increase costs that we face I think
as a Commissioner and a staff member we’re proud of the fact that we’re able to tighten our belt
enough to be able to help them in this particular case and that’s what that money’s for, is for a
rainy day and even though the sun might be shining today economically we feel that it’s raining
and it’s appropriate to use that at this particular point in time. Fire protection we reduced capital
expenditures and hopefully will make that up in SPLOST dollars in the future. 911 fund we’ve
balanced that with the 374 fund balance which is again healthy. Transit we already talked about.
The golf course requires an additional $83,000.00 and that’s a separate enterprise fund for that
requires an additional $83,000.00 transfer to balance from the general fund to do that. What I’m
25
asking for you today if you have an comments or questions or suggestions we’d like to hear. We
would like to try to work those into the budget as we talk about that over the next little while. As
Commissioner Grantham pointed out there is slight contingency fund that we can deal with there
so we can hopefully take care of some of your wishes at this particular point in time and
hopefully we’ll get this budget passed. What the staff wants and what I want is the opportunity
to work this budget for the next eight months. Again we’ll come back in August as we always
do and while I don’t particularly like this system it does give us the opportunity to revisit this.
We need to revisit it regularly as we go through this year and it does give us the opportunity to
come back in August with better data and more information than we have now as we actually set
the millage rate. As I said before this budget includes no tax increase, it’s balanced and I think it
provides an exceptional level of service. I’ll be happy to try and answer any questions you might
have.
Mr. Mayor: Okay before I go to the Commissioners I just want to say you guys, I
applaud staff for working so hard on this. I’ve been down here I’ve seen the time and effort
they’ve put into it. It’s not easy to divine the will of ten people. So I just before we get started
with the questions and comments I wanted to thank y’all for the work that you put into this. I
would also say that a budget that can be presented in this economic climate that does not increase
taxes or impact to greatly services is a pretty amazing think. So, Commissioner Johnson.
Mr. Russell: Let me if I can as a point of personal privilege let Tim and Donna and
everybody that has worked on this budget and that includes all the staff ---
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely.
Mr. Russell: --- because they’re the ones that actually have done all the hard work.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Johnson.
Mr. Russell: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Well, Fred, I agree I think that y’all have done a
magnificent job on trying to work out a difficult situation here. And we actually freed up some
funds and I know I spoke with you earlier about this. It was an elimination of our facility
operations that we proposed from the Parks and Recreation Department through Tom Beck. And
I had a couple in my district one being Dowdy Park and also W.T. Johnson. We spoke to it
equates to about $50,000.00 and these are two highly needed parks. The kids that use these
parks actually Dowdy is only open for four hours so it’s definitely not a full time position there.
But W.T. Johnson we just retained control of that center and I’d like to give it an opportunity to
create some programs there for our youth with the CRCT test and also with the SAT test and
things of that nature. And just bring about some great programs there because that particular
center provides a service for a lot of that area down in 30901. But like I said it equates to about
$50,288.00 if possible I’d like to get those reinstated please.
Mr. Russell: We have looked at that and we can do that, sir.
26
Mr. Johnson: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Bowles.
Mr. Bowles: You’re not going to hear me ask for money very often Fred so but we do
have an obligation to the Augusta Soccer Park. We signed a 40-year contract with them back
nine years ago and promised them we would keep up with the field and the maintenance of the
field. We went back on that agreement about two-years after it and we decided to give them
$100,000.00 as what we were paying in operational costs for that. And they ran that park for us
and actually have improved it probably tenfold since we ran it. And we’ve cut them back to
$50,000.00 a year and this is one park that actually brings money into the city and I would hope
we could reinstate $50,000 for the Augusta Soccer Park out of the $150,000 contingency.
Mr. Russell: The staff looked at that and we can do that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Beard and then I’ll take Commissioner Grantham.
Ms. Beard: Mr. Mayor, I’m looking at Nancy Glaser and she looks devastated. And she
looks that way because she needs every penny of what she has requested. And that is not only
true of her it’s also true of Chris that’s in the Lucy Laney Museum of Black History. You know
in our city that museum is so important and you would be amazed at the people who visit it every
year from out of town. I just don’t see that we can they have been working with so little they’re
given so little. We simply can not have a well balanced community without these entities. So
I’m going to ask that you at least reinstate Nancy’s $56,000 and Chris’ $50,000.
Mr. Russell: That takes us over the budget that we have available. We’ve got some
money and I would suggest that we can do a little bit less than that if you’d like. But whatever, I
can’t do that with the money we have available and get the $100,000.00.
Mr. Mayor: What would we have left in the contingency at this point?
Mr. Russell: Two sets of contingency numbers that we have available to us. One of
which is the $500,000 that we set as a years goal. The other a little bit in excess of that that we
had void up and I don’t mind doing money with that as we’ve already talked about. My problem
is once we go into that $500,000.00 at this particular point in time I don’t think that’s wise and I
would not recommend that. What we might want to do is have those agencies come back later
on when we have a better feel for where we’re at. And I could’ve spent the $150,000.00 up front
and we’ve done that in the past and it’s worked out well once we’ve done that. At some point
that might be the option I would suggest that we take into consideration.
Ms. Beard: Well, as they did with the Police Department you know they reinstated that
and it remained. I would actually like to see it up front and then if there’s a need if we don’t
quite make it then maybe something should be worked out.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
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Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I heard Ms. Beard with what she’s saying.
I think we all need to you know reach out and do what we can to help as well. And I made the
statement back some time ago about our Commission reduction. I will not get into that right
now. But what I mentioned earlier was the reduction we made against the Augusta Museum and
that was the $56,000.00 plus the $75,000.00 and that’s why I am requesting that we put
$31,250.00 back into the Augusta Museum. That’s not asking for full recovery in what you had
taken out but it still leaves them with $100,000.00 reduction in their overall presentation and
their request. But I think this would give them the hopes of being able to maintain and to work
for not only the James Brown Exhibit but some others within the museum. And based on reports
of the visitation of that museum they have been expanding considerably and so I feel like that’s
an important area that we need to work on. And Fred as you mentioned if we can get some of
these agencies to come back to us after the first quarter of the year and show us exactly what
they have produced or what they’re working on for this year then is gives us a better opportunity
to consider further contingency use. And I think that would be in order for us to do so I’m going
to ask him that he put that $31,250.00 back in.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and we are able to do that, Fred?
Mr. Russell: That’s within the number that we have.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and I would with regards to the contingency if we’re looking to help
fund the Lucy Craft Laney Museum how do we have a number left at this point?
Mr. Russell: Yes, you’ve got some left in there but as we just referred a few minutes ago
we’re going to be talking about the lock and dam and in both cases I would prefer that we hold
with the line that we have now and that we revisit both of those sometime later on. That would
be my recommendation.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hatney.
Mr. Hatney: Mr. Administrator, the Augusta Arts Council and the Lucy Laney Museum,
are they receiving the same amount of money?
Mr. Russell: In the initial presentation I reduced them both to $150,000.00.
Mr. Hatney: But are they receiving the same amount.
Mr. Russell: In this presentation the Arts Council gets $200,000, Lucy Laney gets
$150,000 ---
Mr. Hatney: Because you added, okay, you added fifty back to them to give them that.
Mr. Russell: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hatney: Why don’t you split that?
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Mr. Russell: That’s an option we have available to us.
Mr. Hatney: I’d appreciate that if you split that. I can live with that.
Mr. Russell: What I’m looking forward to a consensus to do that.
Mr. Hatney: I think that will work. Give each one of them $25,000.00 back.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Holland.
Mr. Holland: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I was also looking here at the revenue adjustment.
When you say eliminate you want to take away and take away you know the entire
reimbursement of the EEOC for Human Relations. Is there any way possible that you could sit
down with Ms. Diana Darris and sit down and look at her budget and see that she gets a least part
of the $75,000.00 that’s being taken out of her budget to help her with her program?
Mr. Russell: Commissioner, that’s not her budget, that’s actually money that we get
reimbursed from the Feds for doing investigations. That comes in as an income so that’s not,
doesn’t have anything to do with her budget. I’m not too sure and I haven’t talked to Ms. Darris.
If she would consider some mechanism to actually do that, I don’t know that we have a route to
do that for the Feds but I would not be opposed to exploring that option over the next while. But
at this point that’s not her venue at this point.
Mr. Holland: But you will talk to her and give an opportunity to discuss this with you in
reference to what she’s supposed to be getting.
Mr. Russell: This is separate from her totally. It doesn’t have anything to do with here.
But if the opportunity presents itself for her to be able to take over that function and get
reimbursed as opposed to going to the Equal Opportunity Commission, if the opportunity
presents itself for her to be reimbursed then that would be a Federal decision not ours. I don’t
mind having that discussion with her and the Feds to do so.
Mr. Holland: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I don’t mean to be argumentative but I’m going
to make a point that you know we look at these agencies based on their production and what they
do for us and for our community. We talk about the soccer field, we talk about the museums, we
talk about the arts council, we talk about all these people and what they’re producing for our
community based on tourism based on money being brought in. And I can’t sit here and be fair
one against the other when I know that the Arts Council has produced much, much more than
many of these combined together. So if we’re going to be fair and let’s be fair and do what we
need to do and support the Arts Council to what’s been requested here. And if any other
museum or any other agency wants to come back and give us a proposal after the first of the year
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stating what they have done, what they can produce what they will produce then I think we need
to entertain those issues. I am not in favor of taking money and splitting it up just because one
got cut the same as another one.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Beard.
Ms. Beard: Mr. Mayor, I just want to say that all of these groups are very, very important
to this area. And you know I want to remind all of you one thing. The top tourism not only in
this area but in the country is black history. So don’t let me hear that these things aren’t as
important you know as some of the others. They’re all important and they have buses coming in
all the time to bring tourists to see it and it’s something we never had before. Understand when I
grew up there was no such thing as black history and this is why it’s so important to us. But it is
not the only thing that is important. All of it is important. We were on a trip and we toured arts,
the arts areas in Orlando and they’re very well. They’re not a part of the Universal Studio
system and it just means so much to our community. How wonderful it was for me to go the
Augusta Museum of History to take friends from out of town to see the James Brown Exhibit.
It’s fabulous. Now I’m just sorry, we need a well-balanced community and that’s not just all
public safety. It’s also cultural activities. It’s very, very essential and I think we need to do what
we can because I would not say it if it were not true. They are struggling and they’re finally
beginning to get things off the ground and it should make a difference for us and our community.
Mr. Mayor: Well, Ms. Beard, and I would agree with you the fastest growth form of
tourism in the United States of America is African-American Heritage Tourism. We are the
birthplace of Moorehouse College and I don’t want anybody to say that these things aren’t
important because they all are important. I agree with you completely. Commissioner Brigham.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, let’s switch gears again. Let’s go back to the Rec Department.
I’m assuming we’re still eliminating in the proposed cuts the Golf and Gardens and also the Lock
and Dam Park.
Mr. Russell: At this point we are, sir, yes.
Mr. Brigham: I would suggest anything we add back in to Rec first goes through the
thing or see who place is used most and that we add those places back based on the public use of
these facilities. And I think that would be a better wiser spending of the public’s dollars for the
public’s convenience is to let them get money for the facilities that they use and if they’re not
using the facilities in greater numbers than other places than we need to close some. And I know
that I’m suffering parks being closed in my neighborhoods and I think we need to all step up to
the plate to have some parks closed. And I think that we need to when we do this I think we
need to look at the public’s use of these facilities and I don’t think we ought to be sitting up here
as a Commission trying to determine where the public is using them. But let the public
determine where they’re using them and we abide with their wishes not with wishes we want to
generate because we think we trying to be fair or something.
Mr. Holland: Just remember now when you start closing parks ---
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Holland.
Mr. Holland: Thank you. When you start closing parks you’re going to start having an
increase in crime. These people are going to have to have someplace to go so that’s something
we definitely need to think about before we make that kind of decision.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: Let me suggest as a compromise moving back to the museums again. That
we take money out of my contingency account or actually money that we have for economic
development in my budget and look at the money we have there. I’m not uncomfortable
recommending $25,000 for the Arts Council, $25,000 for the Lucy Laney and $25,000 for the,
for the uh ---
Mr. Mayor: Museum.
Mr. Russell: --- the Museum of History at this particular point in time. Once again being
cognizant of the fact that this is not a budget set in stone. And as we continue to look at it we’ll
be able to come back and revisit each of those issues as we go forward.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I think here again, Fred, and that’s been referenced a lot of times. We
do need to look at our arts community as an economic driving engine in the community as
effectively. That’s what they are. Commissioner Hatney.
Mr. Hatney: Mr. Administrator, one other question. With the statement you just made
I’m in support of that, really I am. My only other question is exactly how many other folk are
we talking about will be losing their jobs?
Mr. Russell: At this point ---
Mr. Hatney: Actual breathing folk.
Mr. Russell: At this point we’re looking at probably twenty that positions will be
eliminated. But what we have not done is run them against the number of bodies, or number of
vacancies that would be appropriate for that. So my assumption would be less than that.
Mr. Hatney: Okay, less than twenty.
Mr. Russell: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: And I just, I want to put this into context you know what other cities are
looking at. And I stated at the beginning of the discussion that fact that we could be looking at a
budget with no tax increase and no major impact to services if you spread it across the board it’s
a pretty amazing thing for a city. I had read earlier today that I believe Atlanta is looking at
letting go I think it was 4,000 employees or something. It’s a huge number of employees so just
putting into context we’re very fortunate. Commissioner Hatney.
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Mr. Hatney
: Mr. Mayor and my colleagues and Mr. Administrator, if my colleagues
will accept your last proposal with those things you can do and that no more than twenty, less
than that are going to lose their jobs. Personally without the tax increase and everything really I
And it would be my motion that we go on and accept this as it
think you’ve done a good job.
is.
Mr. Mason: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Ms. Beard: Does that include the twenty-five?
Mr. Mayor: Yes. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the
usual sign of voting.
Mr. Holland: And the discussion with Ms. Darris.
Mr. Russell: Yes, sir.
Mr. Holland: Thank you.
Mr. Bowles, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Brigham and Mr. Grantham vote No.
Motion carries 6-4.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. I just and I want to thank the Commission. I know everybody gave
input into that. These are very difficult decisions but it’s difficult times nationally and so once
again thanks to the staff. Ms. Johnson, I believe you have the need for a hopefully short Legal
meeting.
Ms. Johnson: A short legal meeting regarding ---
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, we have an item we need to go back to.
Mr. Mayor: Oh, excuse me.
The Clerk: The lease at the, fourteen? Number 14, Mr. Brigham?
Mr. Brigham: I don’t know which number it is but it’s the Lock and Dam.
Mr. Mayor: I thought we had a motion to move that ---
The Clerk: After the adoption of the budget.
Mr. Mayor: Oh, after the adoption of the budget.
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Mr. Brigham: I think now is the appropriate time to do it since we didn’t approve no
money for it.
Mr. Grantham: We haven’t approved anything. You want a motion to it?
The Clerk: Jerry wants a motion for it.
Mr. Mayor: He wants a motion to reconsider it.
Mr. Brigham: No, we made it to postpone it until after we adopted the budget is what the
motion was. We adopted the budget so now we need to consider this item.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Johnson, procedurally would it be that we would immediately take up
the agenda item after the adoption of the budget?
Ms. Johnson: Well, there isn’t an agenda item. It was a motion to postpone which in my
mind is until after the final adoption of the budget and we didn’t do that today.
Mr. Grantham: (inaudible)
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Brigham: We adopted the budget.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Johnson.
Ms. Johnson: Yes, sir. We do need a legal session regarding real estate, pending
litigation and to receive legal advice.
LEGAL MEETING
A. Pending and Potential Litigation.
B. Real Estate.
C. Personnel.
ADDENDUM
37. Motion to approve going into a Legal Meeting.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, can I get a motion to that effect?
Ms. Beard: So moved.
Mr. Johnson: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual
sign.
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Mr. Jackson, Mr. Brigham, Mr. Grantham and Mr. Bowles vote No.
Motion carries 6-4.
[LEGAL MEETING]
38. Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with
Georgia’s Open Meeting Act.
Mr. Mayor: I’ll go ahead and call the meeting back to order. And, Madam Attorney, I
think we would need a motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of
compliance with Georgia’s Open Meeting.
Ms. Johnson: Yes, we would and I also need to make a correction. For the record, Mr.
Mayor, the final budget was adopted today subject to amendment.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Russell: (inaudible) the final budget was adopted all funds and all whatever except
for Transit.
The Clerk: Go to the mike for me, Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: If I can, the final budget was adopted for all funds and all account except
for Transit which is still on the table and that will be brought forth before the end of the month.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Russell: End of December, I’m sorry.
Mr. Mayor: Can I get a motion of the Open Meeting Act?
Mr. Hatney: So moved.
Mr. Johnson: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual
sign.
Mr. Mayor: And, Madam Attorney, I believe we had an add and approve.
Mr. Brigham: The vote.
Mr. Mayor: Oh, excuse me.
Mr. Bowles, Mr. Grantham and Mr. Jackson out.
Motion carries 7-0.
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Mr. Mayor: Go ahead.
Ms. Johnson: Yes, sir, you did regarding item #14 on the Commission agenda.
Mr. Mayor: And the motion would be, Mr. Russell, do you want to come forward and
give the motion on that?
PUBLIC SERVICES
14. Discuss the lease renewal between Augusta and US Army Corps of Engineers (COE) for
operation of the park and navigational lock at New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam
(NSBL&D).
Mr. Russell: The motion would be to add and approve and authorize staff to fund the
project through the contingency dollars that are currently available in the budget. And to sign
the lease for a year with the Corp of Engineers.
Mr. Hatney: So moved.
Mr. Mayor: On the Lock and Dam Park.
Mr. Holland: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Russell: ’09 budget and it’s a 10-year lease, I apologize.
Mr. Beck: Mr. Mayor, if I could. It’s currently a 10-year lease. That is what is expiring
in December. I guess there could be some negotiation with the Corps of Engineers to shorten
that lease. And if that’s what you would prefer than ---
Mr. Hatney: No.
Mr. Beck: --- we could pursue that.
Mr. Hatney: Do what you’ve got to do.
Mr. Mayor: Well, but the motion to add and approve did not ---
Ms. Johnson: --- specify the terms of the lease.
Mr. Hatney: It doesn’t say anything about the terms.
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Ms. Johnson: So that will provide the current terms.
Mr. Hatney: Y’all work that out. Don’t bother me with that.
Mr. Brigham voting No.
Mr. Bowles, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Grantham out.
Motion carries 6-1.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. With no further business to come before the body, Mr. Russell?
Mr. Russell: (inaudible)
The Clerk: No, he just voted no on the motion. He didn’t object to it being added.
Mr. Mayor: With no further business to come before the body we stand adjourned.
[MEETING ADJOURNED]
Lena J. 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
November 18, 2008.
_____________________________
Clerk of Commission
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