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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-25-1997 Meeting I I I PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - AUGUST 25, 1997 4:00 P.M. PRESENT: B. Kuhlke, Vice Chairman, Presiding; W. Mays, R. Zetterberg, members. J. Brigham, U. Bridges, Commissioners; R. Oliver, Administrator; J. Wall, Attorney; Stewart Walker & Larry Harris, License & Inspection Department; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission. ABSENT: Hon. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; M. Todd, Commissioner. ALSO PRESENT: Sylvia Cooper, Augusta Chronicle; Rosemary Forrest, Metro Spirit. The Clerk: We have 2 addendum items: (1) Motion to approve an agreement with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for a National Recreational Trails Grant in the amount of $60,000; with Augusta-Richmond County matching funds of $30,000; being included in 1998 Recreation and Parks budget. (2) Motion to approve a professional services contract with James G. Swift & Associates for $5,480; for preliminary design and cost estimating regarding future improvements to the Augusta Golf Course. Mr. Mays: So move. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the attorney to amend Augusta-Richmond Code S 6-2-64 (d) to provide for measurement of distances under the alcohol ordinance from property line to property line. Mr. Wall: Basically what this does is go back to the old county method of measuring and going from property line to property line, in so far as alcohol licenses are concerned. The old county method was to go from property line to property line. The State uses the method that we put into our current code, which is from the front door along the most direct avenue of travel, etc. It's a policy decision as far as whether you want to be more restrictive. I did point out in the agenda that as far as restaurants are concerned that may have licenses, the way the ordinance is currently exempted, the will not have to meet this more stringent requirement. And I think that becomes an issue in so far as a lot of your downtown areas and the relationship between certain restaurants and churches, they would not have to meet this propercy line to property line. Mr. Bridges: I asked to have this put on the agenda because this came up with the recent vote on Old Waynesboro and Brown Rd, and some of my constituents were asking about the policy that we have. Correct me if I'm wrong, as I understand it, if we have two roads that intersect, we have somebody that wants to put a liquor I store, and there is a church behind it. As our policy is now, we measure the 100 yards by walking out the store to the nearest walk way, following that walk way down to the intersection and coming on as you would come in a normal walk past the church building. So in essence, you could have 100 yards in the walk way before you ever reach the church building and yet the church could possibly be directly behind the business in question. So, 100 yards is a short distance anyway for something like this in my opinion, that's the length of a football field. And I think that it would be fair to the churches and neighborhoods and children involved to go back to the old ordinance of having it from the nearest property line to the nearest property line and impose it on that. I realize those existing now would be grandfathered in. And it would probably affect my district more than any. But I think that is fair to the churches and those that would prefer there be some more stringent requirements on that. And I would hope that the committee would approve it. Mr. Zetterberg: If we have an existing establishment and they sell, and they were approved under the old ordinance and then that establishment is sold to a new owner, which ordinance does that stand one under? Because if it changes, "it could affect an awful lot of people downtown. Mr. Walker: The business would have to be closed 9 months. I Mr. Wall: The business would have to be closed 9 months and then the new standard would go into effect. Mr. Kuhlke: If the owner of an establishment sells to someone else and they continue operations, then they stay under the old ordinance. My concern would be that if that didn't apply, that people that have an investment in things like that, the value of their investment would decrease significantly with the passing of this ordinance. Mr. Wall: There was a good bit of debate at the time we were trying to consolidate the city code and the county code as far as which method to go to. And that's the reason we fell back on the state statue and just used what they did, which was the line of travel. You will have strip shopping centers that are popping up next to churches, Walton's Corner is a prime example of that. And we ran into some distance discussion at that time, as it turned out that church turned out to be more than the 100 yards. But those situations are going to arise, and that's fine, as long as the Commission understands those potential problems that are going to come up with the strip shopping centers. Mr. Kuhlke: With a larger tract of land, somebody might be at the other end of the shopping center. But if you're going from property line to property line then you're penalizing somebody that goes into that shopping center. .1 I I 1 Mr. Walker: The city used to the ordinances were combined, they 100 ft. We did measure it the same property line. be 600 ft., 300 yards and when went to the State distance of way, from the front door to the Mr. Bridges: That's wonderful. I keep seeing this distances shortened and I know that there is an economic impact out there. When you've got to be concerned with the moral welfare of the community as well, I think it's something that should be considered. Mr. Mays: I would like to make a motion that we should allow the Administrator and the Attorney to set up something to work within the time frame, of implementation of maybe 60 or 90 days, or whatever you all feel comfortable with and maybe looking at the old distance requirements of where they were out of the old city ordinance. Because there is a two edge sword with that property line to property line. Your property lines on the edge might be close and yet it might be where you're talking about the buildings may be at the very opposite ends of it. But this way I think that getting back to the old distance, I think that'll be fairer, particularly in a lot of the dense areas. And you also get a chance for planning the new ones. Mr. Kuhlke: Could you all work on that. What we're talking about rather than property line to property line, maybe going ahead to the 300 yards distance from front door to front door. Mr. Wall: As Stewart was commenting, there was some legislation introduced this year that would have changed the state requirements expanding that, and that didn't pass. But we can go ahead in anticipation that the State law may pass and increase the distance from door to door. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. Mr. Oliver: We'll bring it back this committee next time. Motion carried unanimously. New Ownership: Consider a request by Kevin Kilchenstein for a consumption on premise liquor, beer & wine license to be used in connection with Sweet Basil Grille. LLC located at 399 Highland Ave. There will be Sunday sales. No objectors. Mr. Kilchenstein: Kevin Kilchenstein 1436 Glenn Ave. Mr. Walker: This application meets all the requirements of the alcohol ordinance of Augusta-Richmond County and has been approved by the Sheriff's Department. Mr. Zetterberg: So move. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the Director of Recreation to approve an agreement I with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for a National Recreational Trails Grant in the amount of $60,000; with Augusta- Richmond County matching funds of $30,000; being included in 1998 Recreation and Parks budget. Mr. Zetterberg: So move. Mr. Mays: Second. Mr. Oliver: this? How does the Canal Authority interface with Mr. Beck: It's quasi related. The project is actually on the river itself which a lot of the master plan with the Canal obviously ties the river in, especially with the linkage of the bike paths and the potential pedestrian ways. But that would be the only linkage that could be used. It's actually a project on the Levee itself. This ties in with what North Augusta has done with their green way and bike system, We could send a letter to the Canal Authority asking if that linkage would be enough for them to recommend. Mr. Kuhlke: Mr. Zetterberg would you consider amending your motion if we approve it, subject to the Administrator checking with I the Canal Authority. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the Director of Recreation to approve a professional services contract with James G. Swift & Associates for $5,480; for preliminary design and cost estimating regarding future improvements to the Augusta Golf Course. Mr. Beck: This is a professional services contract with the actual plans being conceptual in nature, but the cost estimating would be specific. Since Recreation & Parks has assumed operational control and management of the course, we have felt very good about the operation as far as the revenue generation and the amount of play. The revenues that we have brought in through the middle part of August, has netted a substantial amount of revenue up there. The kinds of improvements that are purposed here, I think are very critical to the course going into the next millennium. Without these improvements we're going to be putting good money to bad by trying to repair the club house that is there now. Mr. Mays: I move for approval. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. I Mr. Oliver: This is predicated on these fee increases. This I doesn't work without the fee increases, they go hand in hand. Mr. Beck: Those fee increases, will be substantial to some, even though they look very minimal, all the way through the year 2005 or 2006 will still only be $34.00 play and write fee, will be a fair amount of money. So those increases, while they will bring in additional revenues for the course, I feel like we're still going to keep the course in the municipal golf range, where someone can afford to play yet also help pay for some improvements to the course. Mr. Oliver: We will have to come back with a financing plan once we get done, which will actually delineate the exact fees. Motion carried unanimously. With no further business to discuss, adjourned. the meeting was Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission I bjb I