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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-28-2002 Meeting I PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - May 28, 2002 1:30 P. M. PRESENT: B. Young, Mayor, M. Williams, Chairman, T. Boyles, L. Beard, S. Shepard members, Co=issioners Bridges, Cheek, Colclough, Hankerson, Mays, G. Kolb, Administrator, J. Wall, Attorney, G. Hewett, IT, Chief A. Gillespie & Chief Joiner, Fire Dept., L. Bonner, Oerk of Co=ission. MEDIA: S. Norris, Augusta, Focus, A. Metro Spirit, H. Williams, Augusta Chronicle, N. Coleman, Metro Courier, TV 26. 1. Consider a request from Piedmont Landscape to discuss the fire hydrant requirement for the project at Bobby Jones Business Park. Mr. Dudley, property owner, Athens, GA: We have a building on Frankie Court that we built. We thought when we bought the property that all the infrastructure was there. This building will not have a large volume of people, in the day, about twenty for about an hour. At night it will be vacant. We're asking for a variance on the new water hydrant because we didn't have the funds in the budget because we didn't think we had to have it. I Chief Gillespie: Certainly that is the fire code and we're prepared to give a variance, but we're not prepared from the Fire Dept., side to give a variance on this. This is the current code the new code is more restrictive it will be up to 400 feet, rather than 500. We feel at this time it would be inappropriate for us to start picking and choosing which of our businesses need to follow those guidelines. Mr. Shepard: The issue here is the Certificate of Occupancy. I think that they're getting close to the completion of the building and what I think they're asking for instead of a variance I think there are two ways of approaching this. There is a temporary variance so that they can open with a Certificate of Occupancy or we can go to a permanent variance. I think from a precedent standpoint the Fire Dept is more in favor of a temporary variance. But, if we didn't do anything a fire hydrant would have to be relocated at a substantial cost to this business in the curve of Frankie Court right in front of the building. Mr. Beard: I move that we follow the lead of our FIre Dept. I would also like to leave some lead way if possible so that a financial arrangement could be worked out. Mr. Williams: Would your reco=endation include that the Fire Chief and Mr. Hicks get with these people to find out what the cost would entail and working out some kind of finance plan. I Mr. Beard: That could be included. Mr. Boyles: Second. When the infrastructure was put in why was it skipped so far? And where is the water line to tie it to? Mr. Hicks: It wasn't. There is a water line right in front of the building. Currently, when fue hydrants are put in there's no lack of a water line large enough to provide fire protection. It's just that the nearest fire hydrant is 235 feet from the corner of the property. Under the current policy of putting fire hydrants every 1000 feet, if that's the closest one, the next one would be even farther away. Just to give you a bit of information, the Chief and I have been looking at fire codes and their requirements. In a number of co=unities, they are now going to spacing of a fire hydrant every 500 feet in business areas and high property. I don't know how the Chief would look at residential areas. That will increase the cost of construction, but it will take us out of this. The alternative is to leave it at every 1O00 feet and let these situations arise, but then it becomes a little distasteful. I Mr. Shepard: I would like to ask the maker of the motion if we could have that working with procedure take place between now and the next Co=ission meeting so we can address this in a final deposition. Mr. Hicks: I would like to ask if the Administrator would work with the Fire Chief and myself to work this out. Mr. Mays: What is deadline on trying reaching their certificate of occupancy date I and I heard one set of plans was turned down and a different set was submitted that was approved. Mr. The first set of plans was submitted to the Fire Marshal and we did not show a new fire hydrant and the Fire Marshal disapproved the plans. When I contacted them the reason was that we were beyond the allowable distance. We had at that point no option except to submit a new set of plans with the location of the proposed fire hydrant that we proposed at the corner of our property. We then met the Fire Marshal requirements and it was approved we had to meet the code. They did not waiver or change anything. The reason we came before you today was to request a hardship consideration. As much as funding is important but also time. Because this is a city main and normally, to tap into that system we have to pay the city to do that and we can hire a private contractor to install the water meter. This physically takes a good amount of time. We still have inspections and permits to go through that are normal. Another reason that I made this application to this committee is because we have been in other areas where as long as we were 500 feet from the hydrant to the front of the property they accepted and approved. We understand the code and the Fire Marshal and the department is within the code. And we're asking for a special consideration. Motion carries unanimously. I I I I 2. Approve purchase of existing leased computer system to maintain legacy applications and serve as a future test environment. Mr. Hewett: This is a request for your approval to purchase a computer system that we are currently leasing. The two departments that are running on this system are the Utilities Dept. and the Tax Co=issioners office. The lease runs out at the end of next month. To continue the lease for another year would cost approximately $8400.00 to purchase it out right would cost $7500.00. So due to the fact that we will have a decrease in the funding requirements and that we would own the equipment at the end of the year we're reco=ending that the equipment be purchased out right. Mr. Beard: So move for approval. Mr. Shepard: Second. Mr. Cheek: How old is this piece of hardware? Mr. Hewett: Three years old. Mr. Cheek: In the world of computers that's a dinosaur. Why are we maintaining a dinosaur when we can apparently buy one that's probably a lot more energy efficient with a lot more memory and processing speed in favor of keeping a dinosaur? Mr. Hewett: We looked into that. In order to begin a new lease we would have to go for three years. The legacy system will not require a system for that long. They only require this system for one more year. So we looked into the option of leasing it for one year and that was the $8400.00 cost. If we would go get a newer, faster, better, bigger machine it would cost $156,000 a year to lease then we would have to obligate to two additional years which at this time we think we'll need. Mr. Cheek: I don't think this is a good use of technology. I don't think we need to buy it. If we only need it for another year we need to keep it for another year and then get rid of it. I think it sounds like a mistake to me. Mr. Hewett: It will still be under maintenance and it will be under maintenance factory direct so parts will be available. To lease it for a year is more expensive than to purchase it and at the end of that time we wouldn't have the capitol to resell. After further discussion, Motion carries unanimously. 3. Discuss front entrance into Courthouse. (Requested by Commissioner Williams) Mr. Williams: I have received several calls and talked to several people about the entrance into the building. We have five entrances into this building and only one that has a security system there. I think that homeland security is important and something that we need. But, I think it's bad when people have to park and walk around this building to come in. I'm thinking that there maybe some monies in the Sheriff's Dept., that we should be able to get another machine to put at the rear entrance. I Mr. Shepard: My suggestion is that your concerns be directed to Marshal Smith because he was the lead person in getting the security system that we presently have. Mr. Young: If I might offer a suggestion. Why don't we take the thirty-minute convenient parking spaces, which are by the back door and move them to Greene Street and mark those spaces on Greene St., for thirty-minute parking for people to come in through the front door. It's something that we can do while we're waiting for the Marshal's report. Mr. Russell: I did meet with the Marshal about three weeks ago and we did talk about some of the issues you mentioned. We will be ready at the next meeting to do a presentation. Part of what the Mayor mentioned about the parking spaces is I something we considered. If you would like for us to put some numbers with that in reference to how much a machine would cost and the staffing it would be available. We would be more than happy to prepare that and let you and Finance look at that next time and determine if that's the direction we want to go in. Mr. Shepard: I move that we continue your request until the next meeting and let the Marshal come back and Mr. Russell furnish us with some figures about another machine as you suggested and consider the Mayors' suggestion about moving the parking spaces. Mr. Beard: second. Motion carries unanimously. 4. Motion to approve addendum to Lease Agreement between Augusta Riverfront Limited Partnership and Augusta, <rtorgia. Mr. Beard: So move for approval. Mr. Shepard: Second. Motion carries unanimously. I I 5. Discussion on swimming ban in the Savannah River. (Requested by Commissioner Cheek) Mr. Cheek: The current ordinance that prohibits swi=ing was written at a time when we had heavy barge traffic and industrial use on the river. The canal was established to provide power for as many as forty-seven industries at one time. We are nearly 100% with our recreational use of our river and we have developed a national heritage corridor along our canal. Most of the citizens that I have spoken with agree that due to the nature of the Augusta canal which is still an industrial waterway that the ban on swimming should remain in place. Our ordinance is an example of a law that is no longer appropriate and one I hope we can remove from the books. No law or amount of signage is a substitute for good judgement. Our river and canal have certain dangers associated with them, but proper safety precaution around all water is the key to saving lives not this ban on swi=ing. I firmly believe that if we truly plan on developing the recreational use of our miles of riverfront that this law must be changed to a policy of swim, boat, kayak or wade at your own risk. We can place educational signs at various locations outlining the dangers and underlining the fact that each individual is responsible for their own actions. I would like to ask you to consider either a motion to revoke the swi=ing ban in the river only and replace it by a swim at your own risk policy. Or to at least create a study co=ittee to look at what other cities are doing with their waterfront. I Mr. Shepard: I would say let's approve this in concept and consider the city Attorney drafting the appropriate ordinance that would promote the recreational use for this area. But protect the facilities from trespassers. Motion fails for lack of a second. After further discussion, Mr. Beard: I would like to make a motion that the Attorney and statT get together and come up with something and bring it back in June at the second committee meeting. This should give them ample time to work the staff and bring back some type of ordinance that would allow our citizens to utilize the river and also be protected of the government. Mr. Shepard: Second. Motion carries unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned. I Lena 1. Bonner Clerk of Commission .. - I PUBLIC SAFETY AGENDA COM1v1ITTEE ROOM - May 28, 2002 1:30P.M. I. Consider a request from Piedmont Landscape to discuss the fire hydrant requirement for the project at Bobby Jones Business Park. 2. Approve purchase of existing leased computer system to maintain legacy applications and serve as a future test environment. 3. Discuss front entrance into Courthouse. (Requested by Commissioner Williams) 4. Motion to approve addendum to Lease Agreement between Augusta Riverfront Limited Partnership and Augusta, Georgia. 5. Discussion on swimming ban in the Savannah River. (Requested by Commissioner Cheek) ..... -. - L.oi