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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-30-1998 Meeting I I I PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - March 30, 1998 4:00 p.m. PRESENT: Hon. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; Mays, Chairman; J. Brigham, Kuhlke, Todd, members; R. Oliver, Administrator; J. Wall, Legal Counsel; T. Beck, Recreation Department; H. Siddell, Fleet Manager; R. Sherman, S. Walker and L. Harris, License & Inspection; J. Murphy, Public Works. ALSO PRESENT: Tracie Powell, Augusta Chronicle, Stacy Eidson, Metro Spirit, Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission. A request to approve a contract with Toole Engineering for professional services related to drainage improvements at Boykin Road Park SPLOST Phase III and to reprogram funds as follows: Boykin Road Park $40,000 from 2000 to 1998, $40,000 Lock and Dam Park from 1998 to 2000. Mr. Beck: This is the item that we discussed at the last Public Services meeting and you all requested that we have Jack Murphy come in to explain some of the things that are going on with the road and how this was really initiated by some of the issues with public works. Although these improvements needed to be made at the park anyway. Mr. Murphy: When we started the Boykin Road improvements, I don't think that Tom had a severe problem with drainage at that time, the problem is we didn't notice it. But as we started on into the project we noticed silk coming off the park itself. I believe it was the contractor who called it to our attention because he had just built two catch basins right near the park. .- Mr. Oliver: I would note in Mr. Toole's letter it says; the park is experiencing some degradation to facilities due to erosion caused by uncontrolled runoff. Currently storm water runoff sheets flood across the ball field and across the basketball courts creating a channel of water along the southern edge of the basketball courts and eroding the corner upon it's exit on to Boykin Road right-of-way. Mr. Beck: What we are asking you to do in a synopsis is this; the Boykin Road project is approved in the SPLOST Phase III for the year 2000. What we are asking you to do is move those $40,000 up to 1998 and take $40,000 of approved 1998 funds from the Lock & Dam project and move it to the year 2000 to balance those two off. MR. KUHLKE: Move approval. MR. BRIGHAM: Second. After further discussion; Mr. Beck: If I can summarize the way that we were approaching this. The $40,000 for budgeted in the SPLOST Program to take care I of basically four things: (l) trying to rehab the existing practice ball field that's unlighted, but an important part of our program. (2) to redo some playground equipment. (3) to upgrade the basketball court and; (4) to improve the drainage. And Mr. Toole in this contract will be addressing all these things at one time. The drainage improvements brought this to the forefront because it is the most critical right now. These things were going to be done anyway, this was an element of the plan. In our SPLOST Program this is was one of the elements of $40,000 anyway. Mr. Kuhlke: It is my opinion that the Sales Tax and the Capital Improvement Program was developed. I think that as we go forward we are going to find on an awful lot of projects that we have coming up that we are going to run short. And I think that it would be of a benefit to the Commission and also for Tom along with Mr. Acree to revisit all of the remaining proj ects you have on there, and that you may have to reprioritize those projects. And you could very well find out that to do the most significant projects we have, including the South Augusta Sports Complex, that some of these things may not be able to be done under this present sales tax program. I think that Tom and his staff along with Rick Acree need to revisit everyone of those capital projects and let us know where we stand. Motion carried 3-1 with Mr. Todd voting no. I New Ownership: Consider a request by Isidro Ortiz Medina for a consumption on premise liquor, beer & wine license to be used in connection with Camino Real Mexican Restaurant located at 2501 Washington Road. There will be Sunday sales. Mr. Medina: Isidro Ortiz Medina, 950 Stevens Creek Road. Mr. Walker: This application meets all requirements of the License Department and the Sheriff's Department, including Sunday sales and we recommend approval. (No objectors) MR. KUHLKE: Move approval. MR. BRIGHAM: Second. Motion approved unanimously. A request from Lori D' Alessio to approve amendment of Ordinance No. I 5998 (Augusta-Richmond County Code Section 2-2-50 et seq.) imposing rental car excise tax to include penalties for late payment. (First I I I Reading) Mr. Wall: Basically, what it does is put the same penalties in as the alcohol ordinance. MR. KUHLKE: So move. MR. TODD: Second. Motion approved unanimously. A request from Heyward Johnson, Transit Director to approve the disposition of six (6) vehicles by competitiv~ sealed bids. MR. KUHLKE: So move. MR. TODD: Second. Motion approved unanimously. A request from Al McDill, Director Bush Field, for approval of Change Order No.2 for the Short-Term Parking Lot Project Contract with APAC-Georgia, Inc. in the amount of $45,050. MR. KUHLKE: So move. MR. TODD: Second. Motion approved unanimously. A request to approve and award the Fleming Sports Complex bleacher bid to the low bidder, Norvel Hasley and Associates, in the amount of $14,528.00. MR. TODD: So move. MR. KUHLKE: Second. Motion approved unanimously. A request to approve amendment to the Ordinance establishing the Construction Advisory Board. Amend meeting dates from quarterly to bi-monthly, add "vice-chairman" to serve in the absence of the chairman, specify "one year" to be the term of officers, delete the "per diem" of $20.00 per meeting to defray expenses, and add as a duty "serve as liaison between the License and Inspection Department and builders". MR. KUHLKE: So move. MR. TODD: Second. I Motion approved unanimously. A request to approve the extension of APT's existing Tire Lease Contract. MR. KUHLKE: So move. MR. TODD: Second. Motion approved unanimously. A request to approve and award the new water filtration unit for the Dyess Park Swimming Pool to the low bidder, Augusta Sunshine Pools, in the amount of $14,250.00. MR. TODD: So move. MR. KUHLKE: Second. Motion approved unanimously. I Discuss the McBean project - SPLOST Phase III. Mr. Todd: My main question is how much money have you reprogrammed from Districts 6 and 8? Mr. Beck: Up to this point we haven't reprogrammed, I guest you're speaking of the initial letter that we sent out of some thoughts along those lines, but with the re-bidding, I really don't have any idea of what we may have to reprogram at this point. Mr. Todd: reprogramming, initiated the reprogrammed? Before the letter that you sent out on proposed the actual reprogramming that happened when we first natatorium process, how much money have you Mr. Beck: There are three (3) commissioned districts in our park system that have the fewest number of facilities. They are District 4, 6 and 8, District 7 has only a few facilities too, but it has a few more than District 6 does. The point being we didn't I have many projects, the only parks that we've got in District 8 are Hephzibah, which we have already finished the first phase of the rehab there at the Hephzibah Park and we've got $50,000 left for I I I the year 2000 I believe. As far as District 8 goes, that and McBean are the only parks we have in District 8. District 6 we've got Jamestown, point being there weren't any monies there to start with. Just like District 4 there aren't many projects in District 4 to reprogram out of. Mr. Todd: What we are proposing here on the McBean, and I understand the need to get away from the Highway 56 situation. But, we're buying a lot more land than what we're on now. Certainly I'm concerned about the number of acres that we're buying, because that was the reason for the regional concept, and we bought over at Blythe. How many acres did we buy there? Mr. Beck: We bought 35 acres there. But we have delineated 20 acres for park use and 15 acres for potential sale. Because that was the Commission's charge to us to do that and we have done so. My recommendation on any land acquisition at all is that at least 20 acres be bought for the future for this government. Mr. Todd: So you spend your money in purchasing the land, then we wait until the next sales tax to try to do something about a park. And are we going with a situation where we are going to have to staff it or are we going to try and build toward the methodology of unstaffed facilities that satellite out from the main one? Mr. Beck: Our plans would be to construct a recreation center on the sight similar to what we have at McBean now, which is one of the most successful programs we have. McBean is a very heavy utilized facility. So yes, it would be a smaller recreation center. Mr. Mays: What are we being asked to do today? Mr. Oliver: Actually, all we're going to be asking to do is if you all are in agreement with the methodology is to do the appraisals on the property. We may come back with the appraisals substantially less or greater than the asking price. You need to make the policy decision whether you want to relocate that park with the understanding that the property is going to be held until the Phase V Sales Tax. Mr. Mays: What I would like for us to discuss at the next committee meeting is in reference to, current conditions, whether it be safety or in general improvements and how we stand in regular maintenance repair budget, if we are going that long. I think that we need to look at some possible numbers even if they have not been professionally done at that point of what it might take us to do some things in-house. Mr. Brigham: My problem is the methodology of choosing the site. I think what should be done is that there should be some citizen input to narrow it down to three sites. I think that at that point the people that sit around this table will need to be involved in looking at narrowing it down to a final selection site. I do have a problem when we have it all wrapped up. I don't think I that's the way it should be done. I think that if you want to narrow it down to two or three sites and let us look at it. But the last two times we got proposals for site specific selection, and I don't like that. I don't think it should be that way. Mr. Beck: the process. I respectfully disagree. I think we went through Mr. Brigham: Which other Commissioner besides Mr. Bridges was involved in it? Mr. Beck: Mr. Bridges came to the public meeting we had. Mr. Brigham: If it's going to be public property, I think that Commissioners ought to view the site and make the final selection of where the property should be bought. Mr. Oliver: then I have seen we can burn that If that's the policy that the Commission wants, that policy used successfully other places. Then in as policy and require it in the future. Mr. Kuhlke: I think that makes sense. It also makes sense that it's consistent with the way the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tern and who else presented department heads and so forth to us. I Mr. Todd: I agree that at some point that there needs to a procedure that when they decide to expand or move, that it's not suitable where they are. When they are included with recreational staff on selecting the possible sites, then the public Services Committee needs to be engaged as far as kicking the procedure in as far as getting appraisals, on the three or four different sites and deciding what site we want to go with. MR. KUHLKE: I would like to make a motion that we direct the Administrator to develop a policy along the lines of what Mr. Brigham has talked about from the standpoint of property acquisition. I would also like to make a motion that we give approval to have the appraisal done on this property. MR. BRIGHAM: Second. Mr. Todd: is going to be property owners I would assume in that procedure Mr. Oliver there a restriction as far as staff negotiating with on prices on property? Mr. Oliver: What I would envision is that there would be a series of community meetings and let the community decide on three sites. Then those three would be brought to the Mayor and Commission for final decision. Mr. Brigham: What I'm basically trying to say is that I don't think there needs to be any negotiation or appraisals done until we I , , ~ ... agree that this is the location that we want. And not just approved by the Public Services Committee, it needs to be the entire Commission, Mr. Mays: I agree that the Administrator needs to set that policy up that not only Public Services approve, but that the Commission approves in reference to dealing with policy. Just an observation, sometimes we get into a situation where there is no where to buy other than one or two pieces or property. I think it should be left to us period and that we deal with the public getting us to a point on possible site selections. The other problem in the motion, if we are going ahead with the appraisals, does this knock out the other sites that have been brought back by the committee if we are getting into setting a policy. Or do we need to leave that open and look at rather or not we want to use one of the other sites. I think that we need to get the policy in place and then go back and revisit what three we may want to deal with. Mr. Todd: What's the hurry to do an appraisal when you're not going to build on it until the next sales tax? Mr. Kuhlke: I can withdraw the part as far as the appraisal goes. Once Randy presents this policy and we go to the Commission and get approval of the policy, Tom brings in all three or four places that they looked at with a recommendation. Mr. Beck: You have that now. Mr. Oliver: We will do the policy and be back to the same spot in two to four weeks. Mr. Kuhlke: I don't care about waiting, but I think that everybody else would rather have the policy and we go ahead and follow that policy. I will amend my motion to delete the appraisal. Mr. Oliver will develop the policy and present it to everybody. Motion approved unanimously. With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned, Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission /bb I I I