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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-10-2000 Meeting I PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - July 10, 2000 4:00 P.M. PRESENT: B. Young, Mayor, R. Colclough, Chairman, J. Brigham, B. Kuhlke, W. Mays, members, M. Williams, Commissioner, R. Oliver, Administrator, W. Hornsby, Deputy Administrator, J. Wall, Attorney, T. Beck, Recreation Director, R. Sherman, L. Harris, S. Walker, L&I, R. Berry, Sheriff's Dept., L. Bonner, Clerk of Commission. ABSENT: B. Kuhlke, Commissioner. ALSO PRESENT: S. Eidson. Metro Spirit. Clerk: We have a request to add two items to the agenda. I. Motion to adopt an ordinance to amend Augusta Richmond County Code Section 6-6- 45 so as to define an arcade; to amend Section 6-6-45 to add a new subparagraph (k) to regulate the transfer of arcade licenses; and to amend Section 6-6-45 to add a new paragraph (I) to provide for an audit of businesses with an arcade license. 2. Motion to adopt an ordinance to amend Augusta Richmond County Code Section 2-1- 3~ so as to provide a regulatory fee of $250 for arcade licenses. Mr. Brigham: So move to add. 'I ~ l ; .1": Mr. Colclough: Second. Motion carried unanimously. Motion to approve Bid Item #00-079, New Multi-Unit Play System, at Hyde Park to Hasley Recreation & Design for $30,000. As you are aware the way we have bid our playgrounds the last three years, we bid a certain amount of dollars and asked the companies to give us their best design. Purchasing sent eight bids out and we got two bid back in. As we have done with other bids in the past we put together a review team that consisted of three members of the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association to review the playground bids and to come up with recommendation for the best playground equipment. They have done that and the recommendation is for Hasley Recreation & Design and we recommend approval. Mr. Mays: So move. Mr. Brigham: Second. " Motion carried unanimously. I Motion to approve the extension of an annual employment agreement for Richard Hatfield, Newman Tennis Center Manager. Mr. Hatfield has been the manager at Newman since we took over operations in 1997 and has done an outstanding job there. He has filled his contract obligations. Just I as a note, part of the contract agreement does call for a salary increase which reflects a five percent increase from last year that is consistent with what the Commission has approved as the base numbers for our regular employees, three percent cost ofliving and a two percent merit increase. After a brief discussion., Mr. Brigham: So move. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion fails 1-1-1 with Mr. Brigham voting yes, Mr. Colclough voting no and Mr. Mays voting present. Motion to renew a work-study agreement at Newman Tennis Center between Augusta State University and Augusta Richmond County. ..... Mr. Beck: This agreement has been in effect for many years and the last three years since we took over operation of the center. This is an agreement to utilize college students from Augusta State in work-study settings. It actually cost Newman Tennis Center 25 percent of what these employees are paid. ASU picks up 75 percent of the work-study agreement and ARC 25 percent. I Mr. Mays: So move lV1r. Colclough: Second. Motion carries 2-1 with Mr. Brigham voting no. New Application: A.N. 00-31: A request by Edna Allen for an on premise consumption beer license to be used in connection with County Line 2000 located at 3379 Gordon Highway. District 8. Super District 10. Ms. Allen: Edna Allen, 3379 Gordon Highway. Mr. Harris: This should also read Sunday sales. This applicant has met all requirements of the L&l Alcohol Ordinance. [went out and made an inspection of the building and I did see the necessary kitchen equipment and we have a copy of her menu. We recommend approval. (No obje9tors) Mr. Mays: So move. . Mr. Brigham: Second. I I Motion carried unanimously. New Application: A.N. 00-32: A request by Nam S. Deal for a retail package beer & wine license to be used in connection with Super Mini Mart located at 1812 Lumpkin Road. District 2. Super District 10. Ms. Deal: Nam S. Deal 3637 Crawfordville Dr. .' Mr. Harris: This applicant has met all the requirements of the L&1 Department and we recommend approval. (No objectors) Mr. Brigham: So move. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion carried unanimously. Transfer Application: A.T. 00-33: A request by Alice E. Mason to transfer the on premise consumption liquor & beer license used in connection with Snuffy's Tavern located at 2610 Peach Orchard Road to riverside Grill, Inc. located at 120 Sand Bar Ferry Road. District 1. Super District 9. ~.I lV1r. Harris: The Sheriffs Department is asking that we postpone the transfer for Ms. Mason at the Old Windjammer location which would be the Riverside Grill. There is some question about a state law that say you can't sell alcohol within so many feet ofa housing authority. We want to check the footage distance to make sure. Mr. Brigham: I would like to make a motion that we-concur with the Sheriff's Department recommendation to deny. Mr. Mays: Second. Mr. Hamilton: Dan Hamilton, Attorney for Ms. Mason 701 Greene St., Suite 104. I would like to make it clear that [ am a law partner of Steve Shepard. He is aware that I am involved in this case. Mr. Brigham: Mr. Chairman I think we need to hear from the Sheriffs Dept. Mr. Berry: Our decision is based on the crime activity that happened at this location when it was in operation which is; two murders, either in the parking lot or directly across the street from the club, aggravated assaults, armed robbery, loitering in the parking lot. Since the club has b~en closed there has been only one incident that I am aware of and that was a search ',,:amint for gambling. Since there has been a non-alcohol establishment at this location there has been no reports of any incidents. I lV1r. Brigham: Have we had any complaints with Ms. Mason on her operations? Mr. Harris: She is a qualified applicant. As far as her past business history we've had no problems with her there. But we concur with the Sheriff's Department as far as the location it has been bad. Mr. Mays: On the basis of both the Sheriffs Department and L&I on denial, with a good record on current status, if this is turned down by the full Commission, this would not effect her license status with the government on her current business in any way would it? Mr. Harris: No. In Ms. Mason's position her ex-location has been closed. Based on our ordinance, when one location is closed you have so many days before you have to be start serving again. She applied to us to transfer this license before that time limit elapsed. If she is not approved and does not find another location within sixty-days, that license will become null and void because she will not be serving any alcohol and you have to be serving over a time frame. lV1r. Mays: But we could make under discretion in terms of a determination as to whether or not we allow that place to reopen if the parties so choose, it wouldn't prohibit her. Mr. Harris: Right that's up to the Commission. You can give an extension for however many months you would like. Mr. Brigham: lV1r. Hamilton, why are you all requesting a transfer. Mr. Hamilton: This is a new lease that she has signed and I understand that the former business at its former location has been dissolved. I have.some interior photographs of the proposed location if those would be helpful to the Committee. I think it's important to point out that my client has for more than five years have been in good standing, had no problems in Hephzibah at Smitty's. There are folks here that support this application that are from this new location. Ms. Mason was not at this location ten years ago when the previous incidents occurred. Ms. Mason wants to work with law enforcement. She pledges to hire at her own expense patrol units and have the area monitored. I I Mr. Mays: The one thing that I would suggest to the applicant in the interim period that you all may want to do. Anytime we have the Sheriffs Dept., recommendation along with a L&I Dept. recommendation for denial the strength of any of that being turned around depends on two things. Yau have two entities in that area that I think you may need to have some serious conversation with: (I) is you have an active, legitimate on going neighbor,h90d association that is down there in Eastview with lV1r. Thomas. (2) In terms of the combination HUD project that the city is in conjunction with Rev Hatney and others on ihesenior center that's there on East Cedar Street. I would suggest you meet with those two entities in the interim. That you have some conversation with them because that will help in terms of where this will rest and a final I disposition if there is a working agreement within those entities. I Mr. Brigham: How many days have expired? Mr. Harris: It will be ninety days. She had to post a billing for thirty days. So she came in two weeks prior to that for us to process the application. Mr. Brigham: I think that since she has been a good license holder, give her an opportunity to find another location. I will amend my motion to allow her until the end of the year to renewal time to find another location. W1r. Mays: Second. Motion carried unanimously. Discussion: Consider a request by James S. Brantley for a gameroon license to be used in connection with Georgia-Una Billiards & Spas, Inc. located at 3187 Washington Road. District 7. Super District 10. Mr. Harris: lV1r. Brantley asked that this be withdrawn from the agenda. He gave no reason so I imagine he is dropping his request for a gameroom license altogether. ,I Motion to adopt a resolution supporting the passage of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) by the United States Senate with any match to be made from Parks & Recreation Sales Tax Funds. Mr. Beck: This bill has been passed by the House of Representatives. This is potentially very important legislation nationally for the park and recreation industry. It would fund up to 52.8 billion dollars that could go into different programs. This would help leverage funds potentially in Phase IV of the sales tax with recreation monies for additional dollars. What we're asking you to do is adopt a resolution in support of this to the Senate for the passage of CARA. Mr. Mays: So move. WIr. Brigham: Second. Motion carried unanimously. Discuss inspection of rental properties. (Requested by Commissioner Williams) I lV1r. Williams: I have talked \0, constituents in District 2 about properties that are being rented that are not suitable to be lived in. [talked to lV1r. Sherman about neighborhood cleanups. I thought as a Commission we could form some kind of task force to and do something about all of the dilapted propenies in our communities. Mr. Oliver has some suggestions and I would like to hear from him. lV1r. Oliver: Obviously its frustrating when you live in a neighborhood and you have rental property that is not taken care of. There are some things however, that you all need to balance in these deliberations. One of the things is that some of these properties that are less than market rate and do not meet codes and clearly they should and people should not have to live in that type of environment. There are ways if the Mayor and Commission want to could impose regulations upon the landlords to enhance those properties and bring them up to minimum standards. However, that is going to result in the rent on those properties being increased and landlords contending they don't have the money to do that. My suggestion is that you require all landlords to be licensed and that you require an annual inspection on rental properties to meet minimum standards. Those that do not meet the minimum standards will not be eligible to be rented. Our inspection would not be for cosmetic things but rather for meeting minimum life safety and housing codes before the structure could be occupied. There would have to be a mechanism worked out for funding of these inspections. Discuss policy on boarding up properties. (Requested by Commissioner Williams) I Mr. Oliver: As it relates to the boarding up of properties, lV1r. lVbck had brought a proposal together to limit boarding up houses to one year and if we did that it would have to be forwarded it could not be done in the rear. But that the house could be boarded up for a maximum of one year and at the end of one year it would have to be either renovated or sold to someone who would take care of it or taken down. At that particular point and time it was not of interest by the Commission in adopting such an ordinance. I The other thing I would note is that W1r. Wall and [haveb.een working with representatives of the delegation as it relates to making it so in rim foreclosures can be done for non payment of both demolition lien as well as a maintenance lien so that we could address those properties right now is cost prohibited. We go out and clean properties but we can't get titles to them. What we would like to do make it so we can get title to them in an expeditious way and get them in the hands of people that can take care of them. It will take the Legislature to do that. Motion to adopt an ordinance to amend Augusta Richmond County Code Section 6-6-45 so as to define an arcade; to amend Section 6-6-45 to add a new subparagraph (k) to regulate the transfer of arcade licenses; and to amend Section 6-6-45 to add a new paragraph (I) to provide for an audit of businesses with an arcade license. Mr. Brigham: So move to fonvard to the full Commission without recommendation. W1r. Mays: Second. ! ' Motion carried unanimously. Motion to adopt an ordinance to amend Augusta Richmond County Code Section 2-l-3(jd so as to provide a regulatory fee of $250 for arcade licenses. I I Mr. Brigham: So move to forward to the full Commission without recommendation. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion carried unanimously. With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission Ibb '1 I " i PUBLIC SERVICES AGENDA COMMITTEE ROOM - July 10, 2000 4:00 P. M. 1. Motion to approve Bid Item #00-079, New Multi-Unit Play System, at Hyde Park to Hasley Recreation & Design for $30,000. 2. Motion to approve the extension of an annual employment agreement for Richard Hatfield, Newman Tennis Center Manager. 3. Motion to renew a work-study agreement at Newman Tennis Center between Augusta State University and Augusta Richmond County. 4. New Application: AN. 00-31: A request by Edna Allen for an on premise consumption beer license to be used in connection with County Line 2000 located at 3379 Gordon Highway. District 8. Super District 10. 5. New Application: AN. 00-32: A request by Nam S. Deal for a retail package beer & wine license to be used in connection with Super Mini Mart located at 1812 Lumpkin Road. District 8. Super District 10. 6. Transfer Application: AT. 00-33: A request by Alice E. Mason to transfer the on premise consumption liquor & beer license used in connection with Snuffy's Tavern located at 2610 Peach Orchard Road to Riverside Grill, Inc. located at 120 Sand Bar Ferry Road. District I. Super District 9. I 7. Discussion: Consider a request by James S. Brantley for,a garneroom license to be used in connection with Georgia-Lina Billiards & Spas, Inc. located at 3187 Washington Road. District 7. Super District 10. 8. Motion to adopt a resolution supporting the passage of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) by the United States Senate with any match to be made from Parks & Recreation Sales Tax F\ll1ds. 9. Discuss inspection ofrental properties. (Requested by Commissioner Williams) 10. Discuss policy on boarding up properties. (Requested by Commissioner Williams) - - I ADDENDUM PUBLIC SERVICES AGENDA July 10,2000 4:00 P. M. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: 1. Motion to adopt an ordinance to amend Augusta Richmond County Code Section 6-6-45 so as to define an arcade; to amend Section 6-6-45 to add a new subparagraph (k) to regulate the transfer of arcade licenses; and to amend Section 6-6-45 to add a new paragraph (I) to provide for an audit of businesses with an arcade license, 2. Motion to adopt an ordinance to amend Augusta Richmond County Code Section 2-l-3@ so as to provide a regulatory fee of $250 for arcade licenses. I -. ....