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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting April 17, 2012 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER April 17, 2012 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 5:00 p.m., April 17, 2012, the Hon. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Smith, Mason, Hatney, Aitken, Jackson and Bowles, members of Augusta Richmond county Commission. Absent: Hon. Johnson and Brigham, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: And we had some presentations to make prior to it and I apologize for getting sort of late with the meeting. We’ll go ahead and call the Commission meeting to order. And I’d like to call on Dr. Dwayne Carter, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church for our invocation. Please stand. The invocation was given by Dr. Dwayne Carter, Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. Mr. Mayor: Pastor, if you could please come forward I’ve got a little something for you. And I just want to say thank you for that wonderful and spot on invocation. Office of the Mayor. By these present be it known that Dr. Dwayne Carter, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, is Chaplain of the Day. For his civic and spiritual guidance demonstrated throughout the th community serves as an example for all the faith community. Given under my hand this 17 Day of April 2012, Deke Copenhaver Mayor. Thank you, sir. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: That’s getting off to a good start. Madam Clerk, let’s go on to the delegations. The Clerk: DELEGATIONS A. Mr. Douglas Higgon, Regional Manager, Global Spectrum. RE: Update on current and upcoming activities/events at the James Brown Arena. (Requested by Commissioner Matt Aitken) Mr. Mayor: And if you guys, I hate to do it because I know you’ve got so much to tell and I want to hear probably more than five minutes worth but if you could keep it to five minutes, please, sir. Mr. Jones: Okay, first I want to thank everyone for having us come in here today to speak before you. My name is Monty Jones, Jr. General Manager of the James Brown 1 Arena/Bell Auditorium. First I’d like to acknowledge the Augusta Richmond County Coliseum Authority. We have our chairman Cedric Johnson here today as well represented the authority but thank them to allow Global Spectrum to represent them at the James Brown Arena and Bell Auditorium. And also thank the community for everything they have been as far as coming out and supporting everything that we have going forth. As far as the board members you see them all up there (inaudible) all them couldn’t be present today but Cedric is here representing them all. Right quick I would like to turn it over to Douglas Higgon who is the Regional General Manager, I mean Regional Vice President of Global Spectrum. Mr. Higgon: Thanks again. Thanks for having us today and I’ll do my best to do my fifteen minute presentation in one minute and then let Monty talk about our success. Just to give you a little bit of an idea of the depth of the company that you have at the James Brown Arena and the Bell Auditorium. Our parent company for the parent company for Global Spectrum is Comcast. Just recently purchased a small company called NBC Universal gives you the idea of the depth of the resources behind us. Close down to our parent company Comcast Spectacore. Comcast Spectacore not only owns Global Spectrum it owns the Philadelphia Flyers, Comcast Sports Net, a marketing company, a food service company and ticketing companies. Just to give you a little bit of an idea of the structure of our organization. As I said we support the local team with a lot of support from our corporate offices in Philadelphia right down from our COO John Page to myself supporting Monty Jones and then really working very closely with the Authority. And that’s the key to our success here is the relationship that we have with the Authority and the partnership that we have with them with what’s been able to have this great success story. A little idea of the depth of the company we manage 112 facilities across the US, Canada and the world for that matter. Last year it did over close to 21 million people at all of our facilities and over $632 million dollars in gross revenue. I’ll skip through this one real quick. It’s a breakdown of the types of facilities that we have. You can see arenas, convention stadiums, specialized venues and performing arts facilities. I’ll turn it over to Monty real quick and just remind you all we’re very proud of the success we’ve had in Augusta and it really is a flag ship account when we go to other cities and tell them about what we can do and the partnership that we have. Mr. Jones: Okay, just with the James Brown Arena we’re current home tenants of the Augusta River Hawks of the Southern Professional Hockey League and also the Augusta Futurity. But then also we have the Bell Auditorium in which we’re the home to the locally Suwannee Quintet which have a band playing there for 72-years. Also we have the Broadway in Augusta series and also the Pops at the Bell. Just a note since we’ve been here we’ve been in place since August 2008. In the first three years here we’ve had 27 sold out performances. Just stst this year so far which started July 1 we’ve had 12 sold out performances since July 1 both the James Brown Arena and the Bell Auditorium. With that you can see that throughout that time frame we have been able to reduce the annual subsidy by over half a million dollars. And then over the, from currently it’s been an average of 1.3 million subsidy’s to under $800,000 dollars subsidy for this year coming forth. Even though we see that we have save over half a million dollars there also still is actual subsidy and loss comparable with those buildings due to the age and different things going forward. But we’re constantly working to dwindle that amount down. And these are just some of the highlights we’ve had over the first three years almost a million people with 963 thousand people come through James Brown Arena and the Bell Auditorium. 2 We’ve had a fan club of over 50,000 people within our fan club for the James Brown Arena and the Bell Auditorium and 17 million hits this past year to our website. Capital Improvement. Another thank you to the Authority for going out and most recently most of you may have heard $5 million dollar bond that we’ve able, the Coliseum Authority has been able to go out. We’re been able to do things such as the Windsor Club that’s new and improved. We’re able to update of H/VAC system which will help us be more energy efficient and also keeping us cool with this hot weather that we have here in Augusta. So those are just some of the different things that we’re able to do with what we’ve been able to do. And then as far as community involvement we have people on our staff that sit on the board of The Boys and Girls Club, The Augusta Training Shop, The Safe Home, we’re involved with the Ronald McDonald House, the Comcast Care’s Day and we just do different things throughout the community to help support whether it’s through charitable ticket donations or anything of that matter just to be part of local and community events. And then one thing we just want to highlight we do pride ourselves on customer service. This is instituted in all of our venues but granted we branded this a little bit to the driven market with the (inaudible) how you doing program which we emphasized with our staff whether it’s full time or part time to show great customer service and these are out top ten. So that we divide by these on a daily basis no matter if we’re having an event or if it’s just daily communication. And last but not least Global Spectrum, (unintelligible), the James Brown Arena/Bell Auditorium Community, the Augusta Richmond County Coliseum Authority all together brings success for Augusta Richmond County. Thank you for your time. Mr. Mayor: Thank you all. And, Monty, I want to share a quick story with you. I’ve shared it with you privately but I wanted to share this publicly. At the GMA Conference in Savannah was June I was speaking to somebody that asked me where I was from. I said I was from Augusta. They said, golly, we love to come see concerts up there. We can’t get anybody good in Savannah. We had Tim McGraw last week; we couldn’t sell them out. So people in Savannah based on the job you guys are doing in conjunction with the Authority are driving here because we’ve got better entertainment options. So I think that says a lot about the job y’all are doing. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mason: Mr. Mayor, I’ve got a question. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, Mr. Mason. Mr. Mason: I definitely didn’t want to interrupt that applause because it was definitely warranted. One thing I do want to say is that the professionalism exhibited by you and your staff is to be commended. As you know I’ve attended many events at both locations and it’s an outstanding difference between where we were just a few short years ago to where we are. But more importantly I’m impressed with the vision of where we’re going and that that’s remarkable. I do have one question though that I get quite often that’s asked of me when I’m out there at those venues. The, there’s times where either disabled or seniors or really anyone coming down the stairs from the top portion where there was no railings. Have we looked at what we’re going to do in relation to that? I know I get asked that a lot. Can we just get some railings so we can you know you’ve got ladies in high heels, you’ve got men with their fly gear you know and 3 they’re trying to be cool and they try to get down them stairs at the same time. Do we have something in mind in order to rectify that situation? Mr. Higgon: Yes, those are currently some of the items with the $5 million dollar bond that we are able to look at some of those issues so that we can correct those as part of you know with us being more energy efficient. And then with different things that are going forward we are looking we are looking at those types issues so that we can make it even safer for people. Mr. Mason: So when I’m asked out there I just tell them to call you? I really do appreciate the job that you’re doing. If we can rectify that that bad boy that’s the only thing that I ever hear from a negative standpoint. And if we can rectify that I’m telling you you’re A number one and we appreciate the job Global Spectrum is doing here in Augusta Richmond County. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Aitken. Mr. Aitken: Mr. Mayor, thank you. I just want to thank y’all. I live just down the street from it and it always warms my heart when I see people that are sold out. And I get a lot of my friends come and park in my yard so it’s a good thing. Mr. Mayor: How much do you charge them? Mr. Aitken: Well, it’s free right now but as y’all keep going I’ll put a little fee on it. But also as we heard about the other development and it’s such a team spirit that’s starting to happen in this community and all of us have a place in that. And I just wanted to thank my colleagues as we’re looking at. I know a lot of people say a lot of stuff’s going on downtown but it’s taken all of us on this Commission to really work together and figure out how do we continue to build these venues that’s going to draw the tourism or the event dollars that’s going to really be the bottom line for our city. So thank you for just leading the charge in that. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Thank you. I think we’d be remiss if we didn’t also congratulate the Coliseum Authority. I think you all are doing an outstanding job under the leadership of Mr. Cedric Johnson. It hasn’t always been that way but we want to thank you for what you’re doing and your motivation and so forth. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Y’all are an inspiration to us guys. Thank y’all. Madam Clerk, on to the consent agenda. The Clerk: Yes, sir. Our consent agenda consists of items 1-29, items 1-29. For the benefit of any objectors to our Planning petitions once the petition is read would you please signify your objections by raising your hand. I call your attention to: 4 Item 1: Is to approve a petition requesting a Special Exception to establish a sales office in the Willhaven subdivision on 2201 Huntcliffe Drive. Item 2: Is a request for a change of zoning from an R-1 (One-family Residential) to a Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property at 115 Davant Street. Item 3: Is a request for a Special Exception with a condition that the transition house be limited to youths between the ages of 6 and 18 to establish a Transition Housing in a P-1 (Professional Zone) on property located at 1509 Brown Road. Item 4: Is a request for a change of zoning from a B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to a Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property at 2225 Wheeless Road. Item 5: Is a petition requesting a change of zoning from a Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to a zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property known as 2019 Old Savannah road. Item 7: Is to approve the Comprehensive Zoning to allow single family dwellers in condominiums to be developed as permitted use under certain criteria and to allow family personal care homes as permitted use. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those Planning petitions? Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: I call your attention to the Public Services portion of our agenda. If there are any objectors to any of these alcohol petitions would you please signify your objections by raising your hand. Item 8: Is to deny a request for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with the Cloud Nine Bar & Grill located at 3156 Wrightsboro Road. Item 9: Is a request for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with 2723 Washington Road. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to those alcohol petitions? Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Our consent agenda consists of items 1-29 with no objectors to our Planning or alcohol petitions. Mr. Mayor: Okay, gentlemen, do we have any additions, Commissioner Lockett or? Mr. Lockett: I wanted to per request of the chairperson of Public Services is absent today I was asked if I would withdraw without prejudice agenda item number eight. And for clarification I would like for Mr. Sherman to explain to those in attendance exactly what that means. PUBLIC SERVICES 8. Motion to deny New Ownership Application: A.N. 12-14: request by Tyrone Davis for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Cloud 5 Nine bar & Grill located at 3156 Wrightsboro Rd. There will be Dance. District 5. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 9, 2012) Mr. Mayor: Mr. Sherman? Mr. Sherman: Good afternoon. Mr. Johnson had discussed proposing to you to allow the applicant to withdraw the application for the alcohol license. What that means is that as far as his benefit it just wouldn’t be a blemish attached to his name because what he wants to do is to come back to you with another location and still with partnership with the person who has the alcohol license at this location ask you to transfer it to an approvable location at a later date. If you do deny the application what it means is that what’s on the table is an alcohol application so he could still come back and file for an alcohol license at another location. But what it means is that this location would not be good for an alcohol license for a year. So anyone would have to wait a year before they could apply for an alcohol license here. So that’s in a nut shell what it’s all about. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Mr. MacKenzie, do we need a motion to withdraw the application without prejudice? Mr. MacKenzie: I think if you have unanimous consent you don’t have to actually do a motion. Mr. Mayor: Do we have unanimous consent on that to honor the, okay. All righty, thank you, sir. Commissioner Jackson, did you have your? Mr. Jackson: Yes, I did. I needed to add something to item 18. It’s the motion for the award to bid 12-116 to University Health Care System as the vendor for the Baseline and Annual and Pre Employment Medical Exams for the Augusta Richmond County Fire Department. It was language that was supposed to be in there. Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have unanimous consent to change the language? Can you read the clarification of the language? Okay, Commissioner Smith, did you have a? Mr. Smith: I would like to add an item on the agenda. The Clerk: Consider the addendum item to be added to the agenda and then if it’s added he’s asking that it be added to the consent agenda. Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have unanimous consent to add the addition to the agenda? Apparently we do and to add it to the consent agenda. Okay. Do we have any further? Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell: Did you get to the pulls yet? Mr. Mayor: No, we have not. 6 Mr. Russell: Sorry. Mr. Mayor: Do we have any items to be added to the agenda, to the consent agenda? Okay, hearing none do we any items to be pulled for discussion. Mr. Russell. PUBLIC SERVICES 15. Motion to approve naming of the Arts Council as the Public Art Agency for the City of Augusta and tasking the Administrator, Ms. Durant, and Attorney with developing a mission statement and a set of bylaws for the agency to serve in its capacity. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 9, 2012) Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission you asked me and Brenda Durant to get together and talk about Item 15. We through a scheduling issue we were unable to do that until this coming Friday. I know we’ve got several of the Arts people here with us today but I’d like to pull that to the next Commission meeting until we can have that conversation. Mr. Mayor: Do we have unanimous consent to do so on that? Okay. Do we have any other items to be pulled from the consent agenda? Can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? Mr. Lockett: Move to approve. Mr. Smith: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PLANNING 1. Z-12-19 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Pillon Communities requesting a Special Exception to establish a sales office in Willhaven subdivision per Section 8-2 (f) affecting property containing .17 acres and known as 2201 Huntcliffe Drive. (Tax Map 065-4-095-00-0) DISTRICT 3 2. Z-12-28 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Gwen Fulcher Young, on behalf of Bonnie Newman Richey, requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) to Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing .49 acres and known as 115 Davant Street. (Tax Map 010-0-010-00-0) DISTRICT 7 3. Z-12-29 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the condition that the transition house be limited to youths between the ages of 6-18; a petition by Richard Johnson requesting a Special Exception to establish Transition Housing in a P-1 (Professional) Zone per Section 20-2 (b) and Section 26-1 (g) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta Georgia affecting property containing 1.85 acres and known as 1509 Brown Road. (Tax Map 214-0-006-04-0) DISTRICT 8 4. Z-12-30 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Dallas Simon Jr. requesting a change of zoning from Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing .28 acres and known as 2225 Wheeless Road. (Tax Map 070-1-049-00-0) DISTRICT 5 7 5. Z-12-31 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Arlo Burnett requesting a change of zoning from Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing .82 acres and known as 2019 Old Savannah Road. (Tax Map 072-4-126-00-0) DISTRICT 2 6. ZA-R-211 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend Section 15 (Two-family Residential) of the Augusta, Georgia Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance by deleting Section 15-2 (a). 7. ZA-R-212 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend Section 16 (Multiple-family Residential) of the Augusta, Georgia Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance by deleting Section 16-2 (b) and (c) and relocating them in their entirety t Section 16-1 (c) and (d) allowing single-family attached dwellings and condominiums to be developed as permitted used under certain criteria and to allow family personal care homes as a permitted use. PUBLIC SERVICES 9. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 12-15: request by Falguni Patel for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Pratham Food Mart, LLC located at 2723 Washington Rd. District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 9, 2012) 10. Motion to approve Amendment 4 that modifies the Agreement for professional service nd dated 2 day of November, 2006, between the Owner: Augusta, Georgia, a political subdivision of the State of Georgia, acting by and through the Richmond County Commission; and the Design Consultant: KSGW Architects, LLC, for the Professional Services known as Architectural Design Services for Expansion of the Webster Detention Center, Augusta, Georgia. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 9, 2012) 11. Motion to approve award of bid item #12-122, Diamond Lakes Outdoor Multipurpose Court Facility, to Blair Construction in the amount of $342,425.92. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 9, 2012) 12. Motion to approve the Dollar/Thrifty Rent-A-Car Lease Agreement which was approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission at their March 29, 2012 meeting. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 9, 2012) 13. Motion to approve the Eighth Amendment to the Lease at the Augusta Soccer Park between the Augusta Arsenal Soccer Club and Augusta, Georgia. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 9, 2012) 14. Motion to approve amendments to Augusta-Richmond County Code, Title 6, Chapter 5, by adding Sections 9-15, to provide for operating Food Trucks. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 9, 2012) 16. Motion to approve the Hall Marketing Option #2, renewal of their current contract for one year, which was approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission at their March 29, 2012 meeting. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 9, 2012) 17. Motion to approve Seabury APG Contract Renewal Option #2 which was approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission at their March 29, 2012 meeting. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 9, 2012) PUBLIC SAFETY 8 18. Motion to approve moving forward with using University Health Services as the vendor for Baseline Annual & Pre Employment Medical Exams for the Augusta, GA Fire Department. (Approved by Public Safety Committee April 9, 2012) FINANCE 19. Motion to approve FY 2012 Budget for Planning Division of the Planning and Development Department. (Approved by Finance Committee April 9, 2012) 20. Motion to approve the FTA 5303 Metropolitan Transportation Planning Grant. (Approved by Finance Committee April 9, 2012) ENINGINEERING SERVICES 21. Motion to approve Emergency clean-up services from the February 24, 2012 storm in the amount of $46,000.00 funded from General Fund contingency account as requested by the AED. Also approve I) SITEC, LLC; II) Big Dog Stump; and III) Southern Tree Care, Inc. to provide required emergency services as determined by the AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 9, 2012) 22. Motion to approve Final Adoption of the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update for Augusta, GA. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 9, 2012) 23. Motion to approve the notification of the award of a contract with Blair Construction, Inc. for services associated with construction of the Jamestown Sanitary Sewer Phase III-A Project under the Task Order Program for Infrastructure RFQ #11-130 in the amount of $102,100.84. Bid item #12-136. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 9, 2012. th 24. Motion to approve application to erect a monument at 4 Street and Broad Street to the exact location and the approval of the Traffic Engineering and Recreation Departments. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 9, 2012) 25. Motion to approve a Lease Agreement with Thompson Farms for a 29 acre portion of the Big Farm property. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 9, 2012) 26. Motion to approve Proposal from Dewberry and Davis to perform Utilities Meter Reading Optimization and Route Analysis. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 9, 2012) 27. Motion to approve the proposal from Cavanaugh and Associates to develop Water Efficiency Program. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 9, 2012) 28. Motion to authorize the Engineering Department to enter into an agreement with Jack L. Minor Realty Company for the purpose of preparing the appraisals on the Windsor Spring Road Phase V Project, from State Route 88 in Hephzibah to Willis Foreman Road, CPB #323-04-299823786, at a cost of $159,500. Funds are available in the project Right of Way account for the Engineering Department. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 9, 2012) PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 29. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held March 28, 2012 and the Special Called Meeting on April 9, 2012. ADDENDUM 9 33. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Mason H. McKnight, IV to a term on the General Aviation Commission at Daniel Field representing District 10. (Requested by Commissioner Smith) Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Hatney: Madam Clerk, I abstain on alcohol please. Thank you. The Clerk: That motion carries with Mr. Johnson and Mr. Brigham out, Dr. Hatney abstaining on the alcohol petitions. Mr. Hatney abstains. Motion carries 7-0-1. [Item 9] Motion carries 8-0. [Items 1-7, 10-14, 16-29, 32, 33] Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk on to the regular agenda, please, ma’am. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 30. Consider approval of the final negotiated contract with Automatic Data Processing th (ADP). (Deferred from the March 28 2011 Commission Meeting) Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell, are you taking this one? Mr. Russell: I guess I can. As you know we have developed a final contract with ADP. You’ve had that contract in your possession for a while to be able to peruse that. The issue becomes whether or not we decide to move forward with this at this particular point in time. Upon reviewing the final contract I think the lawyer has some comments he’s probably like to make. And based on the contract as it results in his final form I’d like to follow up with that after he speaks to the issue. Mr. Mayor: Mr. MacKenzie. Mr. MacKenzie: Sure. I’ve actually provided this four page document that probably explains it a little better than I could. I mean I can respond to any public questions relating to those concerns. I will say it was a pleasure working with the representative from ADP. We did work long and hard. They did make a number of concessions. And the concerns that I listed are just ones that I wanted to make sure that ya’ll are aware of and that you knew what you were getting into. And it’s not to reflect negatively on their ability in continuing negotiating with the process. It’s just some things I wanted you to be aware of. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle. 10 Mr. Guilfoyle:I’d like to move this forward back tothe committee Yeah, because we just got this information at 2:39 yesterday and it wasn’t ample time to sit there and study it and do our proper homework. Mr. Hatney: Second. Mr. Mayor: Would you like to put that in the form of a motion? Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to put it --- Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded by Commissioner Hatney. Commissioner Bowles. Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mayor, there’s some questions also and I’d like for between this next week and the committee maybe to come up with the required staffing that would be required if we were to go with ADP because we are far off between what ADP is stating and what we are stating internally. So I’d like some information regarding how we arrived at our numbers. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. In addition to that we talked ad nauseum on Monday in reference to contractual language and verbiage within the scope of work and any number of things that went on on Monday. I would certainly encourage within this next week or two or whatever it is that we have that we address some of those issues or make sure those issues that we’ve addressed on contractual language and the verbiage of the contract to insure from a governmental standpoint that we have the best interests of the government. We understand private businesses in the business of return on investment and making money. I don’t have a problem with that because this is America that’s great. But at the end of the day we’ve got to make sure we have those mechanisms in place that protect this government from losing monies and not getting the service or the levels of service that we’re contracting out for. So without talking specific I think we know what that was and what we discussed. And I would just want to make sure that that’s looked at and in the contractual language as well. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Mason. Mr. Mason: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there’s no, yes, sir. Mr. Russell: We talked about bringing this back in the committee structure next Monday or bringing it back to the full Commission in two weeks. Mr. Mayor: What was your motion, Mr. Guilfoyle? Mr. Guilfoyle: Yeah, back to committee. 11 Mr. Mayor: Okay, it was to send it back to committee. We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next agenda item please. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 31. Approve the repayment of $344,233.50 from the General Fund to the Augusta Housing and Community Development’s HOME Account by April 20, 2012 due to the determination by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that funding in the amount of $52,105.00 provided to 30901 Development Corporation in 2007 to put fencing around its development on Augusta Avenue was ineligible and that funding in the amount of $292,128.50 provided to East Augusta CDC (to purchase lots in Marion Homes) in 2006 was unable to yield completed housing projects within the allotted time frame. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Welcher. Mr. Welcher: Good evening, Commissioners. Let me first start off by I want to actually clear up a misconception. Something that you may have actually seen printed. And that is the fact that this repayment actually has to be paid back to HUD it actually has to go back via the treasury wire. And that’s not true. Now a repayment does have to take but this repayment actually has to only go to our internal home account. So and of course this repayment actually has to be done with non-federal funds thus is the reason why I’m actually standing here today. So I just actually wanted to clear that up. In no way am I here to place blame based on previous decisions made but instead I want to stand here today and give you factorial information that will aid us to tell you exactly where we are in the hopes that we may come to a conclusive agreement in regards to actually how we may be able to move forward. So what I want to be able to do before I open up the question to you all is actually give you some factorial information in that you may not have actually heard to date. The first thing that I would like to tell you about is spending time lines. And that’s a federal statute when you talk about HUD. They have what I consider a 2.5 (120). And what that merely says is that whenever we get a funding allocation we actually have two years to actually commit this funding to obligate this funding via written agreement. And then we also have from the date or year from this allocation we have five years to expend this funding. When I say expend actually this funding actually has to be drawn out of the actual integrated disbursement the actual financial documentation. So it actually has to be disbursed and actually expended. But one of the key factors with that is what I consider 120 days. And what that is, from the ending once a project ends we actually have 120 days to pretty much close this project out via what this is called the IDIS System. And that way they know exactly HUD this is an internal system that persons from Washington can see. This is also an internal system that our regional office in Atlanta can see and this is the same system that we use here in Augusta. So therefore they’re able to keep up with projects. And of course projects are actually indentified via accounting numbers. So where we are today there are actually two 12 projects that have actually exceeded this five year time frame. And, well, let me back up. There are more than two projects if you look at the actual two page document that we actually got from HUD. It actually spoke of six projects. Well, three of these projects to date there’s no repayment required. We were actually able to provide a response to those. And if you will the other three projects two are of the same kind. So I’ll speak to those. The first one would’ve been $52,000 dollars and some odd change. To be exact that number’s $52,105.00 and that project actually involves one of our non profits which we actually entered into agreement with back in 2005. And that non profit was named 30901 Development Corporation. Currently back in the new millennium early 2000/2002/2003 we actually entered into an agreement with them where we actually devised or constructed twelve single family houses among these two streets. Well, some years after that there was fencing that was actually put up on these same properties which thus created the actual violation because what HUD indicated that once you actually close out a project well once you actually delve into a project you actually have twelve months to go back and put additional funding in for developmental purposes. Well, this wasn’t the case thus indicated a violation on our part. The second project that I’ll talk about encompasses and I talked about there were three projects. This one is Marion Homes Revitalization Phase I. And this came about actually over two contracts and this contract with East Augusta CDC was to inquire into demolish property which was we actually have done to date. This amount was $292,128.50. The issue here is the fact that due to some impediment of course they’ve acquired the property demolished okay well in order for our department to be able to close out a project we actually have to have a unit on the ground. Where there have been some impediments to date that have actually precluded us being able to actually going in and close out the projects. Why because there are no units on the ground where there’s reasons why there are not units on the ground we’ve been working and had talks with Engineering as it relates to but still don’t have a time frame as it relates to exactly when the water and sewer and drainage issue actually will be taken care of which will allow the actual non-profit to be able to move to actually construct these houses which would allow us to be able to move and close out the projects. So thus you have once again the five year time frame as actually passed as well. So what you have in essence is you have an aggregate amount of a little over $344,000.00 that HUD’s not only coming to us but they’re going all across the country. And based on the economy based on cuts they’re actually looking for local as well as state jurisdiction to be able to pay these firms back so that they can put this money back into the (unintelligible). And the last thing that I would say is to tell you about exactly just want to be able to clear up the HUD letter. Because if you look at the HUD th letter it talks about the date of February 16. And what the letter actually talks about it said that th we have six days from February 16 to be able to provide the funding back to HUD. Well I got on the phone and I talked to Mayor Presley who’s actually the director at the HUD regional office and explained to here that wasn’t going to happen based on the layout and the way these meetings actually be held and exactly when these meetings when you all actually made your approvals. And talked to her again this morning sent an email and pretty much got back so I’m able to stand with confidence and say what I’m saying today. They’re okay with that sixty day timeline. What they indicated and what’s indicated to me was they gave themselves a two week th window. Their drop end date is April the 27 is their drop end date. So what’s indicated to me was based on pretty much how you all whatever your pleasure is if we look to make repayment then to try to work with the county with your approval of course to try to get this money back by the end of the week or beginning of next week. So I just wanted to provide you all with 13 information, with factorial information and hopefully I’ve done that. And now I’ll step back and actually allow you all to ask me some questions. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Well, first of all, Mr. Welcher, I appreciate that thorough explanation to kind of clear up some of the cloudiness that kind of surrounds this type of situation. Now I’m going to paraphrase what I think I’ve heard. There were six projects initially, three did not require and payment and then you had two light projects and then one additional project for those three that that are the issue. We’ve had fencing created the violation with 20901 Development Corporation? Mr. Welcher: That’s right. Mr. Mason: Okay and then the project at Marion Homes Revitalization you said impediments got in the way I heard you say. Impediments being what, water, sewage and drainage? Mr. Welcher: I mean the non-profit probably could’ve moved to construct the houses but they wouldn’t I mean that’s not how you do proper development. I mean you need proper water, sewage and drainage. Mr. Mason: Well, I would certainly hope so are we’re going to have some serious issues. Mr. Welcher: Therefore they were not able to move forward. Mr. Mason: Absolutely. Okay, so from that standpoint I guess my concern is this moving forward. How do we rectify or have some checks and balances in place as I hear you use the terminology two plus five (120). How do we utilize the allocation for the first two years I’m hearing you saying and being expended or disbursed within the next five and then the, the next three rather and then the 120 days thereafter. How do we have the necessary checks and balances in place to say at Phase I maybe the first year second year or whatever the case may be figure out where we’re at, where we’re going what’s keeping us from getting there. Year two and so you see what I’m saying? How do we rectify that because my problem is that I’ve seen this happen a few times since I’ve been sitting up here and I’m wondering have we put a mechanism in place to address these issues so that we can try to minimize them and totally delete them if we can would certainly minimize them. Do you have something in place or do you have a plan? Mr. Welcher: Yes, sir, we do have a plan. Internal this is a situation what I call constructive tension and that is where we actually meet with each division within the department and they provide all the spreadsheets pretty much where we are. What we’ve done is we’ve been able to break down projects by year. So that’s something that we’re actually looking at a little closer than we actually have been. But we’ve actually taken it a step further and maybe Andrew wants to speak to this but one of the things we’re also working to do if I may speak in turn is to try to after a, after a certain time frame if projects have not met certain percentages than they 14 would actually revert back to our department so we have enough years to be able to actually carry out and not be stuck in the same position. So I’m speaking a little bit out of turn because when the process of actually working with Legal to put that language together but that way I can be sure that we’re not getting stuck out. If the non-profit is doing it, doing their work and they’re actually progressing that’s one thing. But if we get into a situation where it stalls and there are reasons why we’re stalled for lack of funding then from my perspective I don’t like standing up here is my point. Okay, so I have to be sure that I put (unintelligible) that will protect the city and that will be on the front end via the home agreement. Mr. Mayor: Okay and, Mr. Mason, I’m going to recognize you again. Your first two minutes is up. Mr. Mason: Thank you and I’m going to go ahead and close it out by saying this. Those milestones have to be put in place so that we have that check and balance system as we go through. I’m concerned or curious about the working relationship between governmental entities. If in fact we know that’s there’s some issues in terms of the impediments that you talked about the water, the sewage and so forth and of course that would come up underneath this government as well. What type of working relationship do you have? When I say you I mean the directorate. What type of relationship do you have without utilities or engineering department and so forth to have that communication going on knowing that we need sewer, water and drainage. Where are we in the process of getting that done? Do you understand what it’s going to cost us if we don’t and so forth and so on. Where’s the priorities so the Commission can know, so we can know what way we need to move. You kind of see where I’m going here? Mr. Welcher: Yes, sir. Yes, sir, we’ve had relationships but as I indicated this is a mistake that definitely will not happen again. So I mean to answer your question the relationships are actually there but the in depth conversation as it relates to this specific matter we have not had that conversation. Mr. Mason: It’s absolutely necessary. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Bowles, Commissioner Jackson then Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Bowles: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This probably more a question for Fred or the Attorney. What is the obligation and the liability of the recipients of these funds to properly expend these funds? Mr. MacKenzie: I’d be happy to attempt to address that. That’s part of what we’re looking forward to making sure there’s an address for future contracts. And I’m not sure which one you’re talking about. Mr. Bowles: I’m talking about the two contracts in front of us right now, the 30901 and the East Augusta CDC. I mean do we not have a right to protect the taxpayers of Augusta in at least having some of the assets that these corporations have pledged to fund the $342,000.00 we’re paying? 15 Mr. MacKenzie: What you currently have in place is not as strong as what it could be. I’ll leave it at that. We are looking into the potential, at the potential of what we could do to insure the city’s made whole with respect to those and any further discussions that might be had in legal. But I will say there is room for improvement for future projects and that’s what Hawthorne referenced earlier and that’s what we’re in the process of meeting with the department to develop my ironclad protections with respect to future incidences especially as the federal government gets a little more aggressive with respect to enforcing their --- Mr. Bowles: We can talk about the future all day long but I’m talking about what I’m supposed to be voting on. And I can’t get a conscious vote on something I don’t know if we’re going to be repaid or what’s going to happen to the funding. So I guess I’ll just have to vote the way I feel. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Jackson then Commission Lockett. Mr. Jackson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think we found ourselves about three years ago and I agree with Mr. Mason, about three years ago we had to repay $2 million dollars back at some point in time from a SPLOST project that was out in my district that was underfunded. And we wound up using that $2 million to repay I believe pretty much the same thing that’s going on here. And we’ve since then to now I don’t think we’ve truly corrected the issue. And I think further discussion needs to be had with strengthening those guidelines. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: I think part of my question has already been answered. But this if for the Administrator. I heard you say earlier about this money would come from the general fund. But the general fund would be replenished. I think that was my understanding. Would you explain that, please? Mr. Russell: The funding cannot be used through, we can’t use federal funds to replenish federal funds basically. So we’ve got to use non-federal dollars. My initial recommendation is to go ahead and take it out of the fund balance because of the time frames that we have here. There’s some other options that might be available to us for these projects through either the current ongoing Laney Walker projects it would fit into that or some of the other SPLOST projects that might involve the water projects and stuff like that. The simplest thing off the top of and the quickest is to take it out of the fund balance. And because of the timeframe that would be my recommendation. By putting it back into our own funding, you know, the money’s not going from here to Washington, it’s still staying here. But it’s a different pot that we’d have to put in basically. Mr. Lockett: But it’s not going back into the general fund. Mr. Russell: No. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Guilfoyle and then Commissioner Smith. 16 Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I realize from 1995 to 2010 we had gave $8.4 million dollars on CHDO’s projects. Is that correct? And um, over these past years we’ve been having to give money back to the federal government. And now we stand here before saying that we’re going to do something at this moment. It’s time that, you know, while we do have this Commission here we do have to implement a policy to hold people accountable. Right now we gave out money which is I had talked to Mr. Russell about this that we cannot get back. Is that correct? Okay, now we’re having to pay for it twice. So it’s actually costing the city of Augusta taxpayers right at $700,000. We’ve got to come up with a solution in the contracts, hold people accountable. The Marion Homes that was built in 2005/2006 you said that on a five year term limit that if they don’t use it they have to refund the money. Is this part of the Marion project which is six and seven years old? Mr. Welcher: Well, what I indicated was that what HUD indicated is that if your project is not come to fruition and you’re able to close it out then the city that was given the money was allocated to we’re actually the participating jurisdiction. So we’re actually on the hook for paying the funding back. Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay, so we’re paying twice in reality. Can we use SPLOST money in regards to pulling it out of general funds? Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell? Mr. Russell: We can find similar issues there that would do that but I think you’re trespassing on the intent of the SPLOST at this particular moment. You know my feeling is the cleanest and the most effective way to do it is to take it out of the general fund. To look for other funding sources I think you’re at least not participating in the flavor of the law at this particular point in time. So I would not recommend that. Mr. Guilfoyle: So if we pass this today it’s going to be forgotten tomorrow. Mr. Russell: Well, I don’t think that’s actually it as you look at that. I think as you go with these projects you’re continuing to learn the if’s, ands and buts of what you’re doing here basically. I think what you’ve heard us say is that we recognize the fact that the contracts we’ve had with the CHDOs is somewhat less than perfect in the fact that they need to be, they need to be tightened up to the point that there is some recourse to those people that are helping make these decisions. I think you also heard that there needs to be better communication as we look at the projects that they’re taking on and how they’re impacted in a more universal approach. You also heard that if you look at the idea of building houses in the market that occurred between the time that the funds were granted and the time that we have today that went totally south. You also have heard that the Feds have taken a different approach to how they want to deal with those things over the past in the fact that they’re tightening down their rules and regulations just as we need to start tightening ours down. What you also heard was unless we pay this money back we’re putting our federal funding in jeopardy and that if cities across the country run into these same situations they’re making the same decisions we are. I mean this is not isolated to the fact that we’ve had projects that didn’t come to fruition in the timeframe. It happens here, it happens 17 in other places, it happens because sometimes we make mistakes. It happens sometimes because there are issues outside our control that bring us to fruition here basically. So I don’t think you’re hearing it’s going to be forgot. I think you’re hearing that we need to continue to refine the process. Mr. Mayor: And just to go along with that. I think what we’re talking about in economic development you call in a call back agreement that is you give somebody a certain amount of incentives and they don’t use them by a certain date they pay you back which is I think the type of thing that we need in this situation. That if the city if the funds aren’t expended then they come out of your budget not ours. I think that’s what we’re all talking about. Commissioner Smith. Mr. Smith: I just want to ask. You’re saying the sewer and water not being on the premises or being able to tie into the lots to is part of the main reason we weren’t able to meet the deadline or get things started? Mr. Russell: Part of what we’re looking at in there in that area is the drainage issue all along. Basically it’s fairly low. That whole end is flooded. As you know we took care of some flooding issues along East Boundary. We’ve taken care of that. The next phase of that that we’re looking at is Marion Homes. Because of the timeframes and such we haven’t got there as fast as we had hoped to. So that’s something that we knew was an issue and had plans to fix, but we haven’t got there yet. Mr. Smith: Who was the engineer that who had to approve it on the front end for us to be able to get the money. Mr. Russell: The property was approved to be bought through HED. You know we’ve probably should’ve had better conversations with the Abie’s people to look at how that happens. But that’s one of the things you learn as you go down the line. We’re learning very quickly that these things are not significant, are not, you know, islands unto themselves or other impacts that you had here. You know I think in the past the Feds have said you buy property, build houses and move on. But now they’re changing their tune a little bit to the accountability issues and we haven’t kept up with that as quickly as we should. But once again these are decisions that were made five, six years ago. Mr. Smith: Well, let me say this. I’m in construction and it’s cheaper to put it on paper first and go down the check list and then when you see what’s there then you make your move. And change orders are lessened and usually the progress is a lot quicker. And, you know, I don’t want to Monday morning quarterback but it seems like, you know, the taxpayers take it on the chin every time we have a shortfall. And you know it’s just I know some of the folks around Augusta have been asking me questions and I’m learning a lot today. Mr. Russell: And that’s the process. I mean we’re actually the grantee and that’s our responsibility. Mr. Smith: Okay, well, I’m like some of the others you know --- 18 Mr. Mayor: Okay Commissioner Bowles. Mr. Bowles: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Fred,you know I’m beginning to, you know when people buy property and expect water and sewer to come it’s called land speculation. And we’re operating nothing more than a bank helping nonprofits build housing. You know when that happens to a for profit corporation the bank’s going to come and take that property. And because these are nonprofits we’re telling the taxpayers of Augusta guess what you get to pay for it. That is not logical to me. I just don’t understand how we can’t have these nonprofits pledge assets to our government to cover these funds that you want us to expend. Mr. Russell: I think you’re talking about moving forward in a manner that would allow for some of that. Obviously you’ve got to be cognizant of the fact the nonprofits are not there with a great deal of resources. I mean they operate hand to mouth like everybody else. The issues becomes at this point in the contracts that we wrote for these we did not have those callback things. You know I would suggest that in the future we either get the property back or require them to pay the funding back or whatever. But that’s a moving forward issue at this point. And I don’t disagree with your discuss but that’s what we’ve got to deal with. Mr. Bowles: I know that discuss has been here for the seven years I’ve been on this Commission and it’s always with this program. And this isn’t the first, you know, swing at the ball up here. Mr. Russell: But I think you’re probably a different mindset among the balance of your friends on the Commission and there has been in the past to help us move forward with that. And I think that’s probably what we’ve got to towards. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Lockett then Commissioner Aitken then Commissioner Mason. Mr. Lockett: The only thing I want to say, Mr. Russell, in what you said in the future if a CHDO had a significant amount of money that they were not going to able to expend for reasons such as in this case was infrastructure after a certain period of time could y’all put something in place where they have to come back and get in contact with you so you can find maybe another purpose that this money can be used for? Mr. Welcher: Well, what we’re going to do is just put percentage timelines or marks in place to say that you know 25 or 50% of the funding has to be spent by such and such a date. But the bottom line is what we’re going to try to do is try to leave ourselves at least a year and a half two year gap is my point. I can’t allow these projects continue to get to the three and a half to four year timeframe --- Mr. Lockett: Right. Mr. Welcher: --- with nothing being done and be in this position again. So in my mindset if we have a project and you’ve done your predevelopment you’ve done your due 19 diligence on the front of it it’s going to take more than three years depending on if you’re only doing single family houses if you’re not talking about an excess of twelve or fifteen or twenty houses. So that’s something that we are working with Legal. That’s to be something definitely that we’ll be happy to provide to you all to take a look at. So that is what we trying, working now to put in place --- Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Welcher. Mr. Welcher: --- those mechanisms those milestone. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Aitken. Mr. Aitken: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Has there been any discussion with East Augusta since the city’s going to have to take the hit on this. Has there been any compromise that we can, they can absorb some of the hit as well? Mr. Welcher: I have to refer to Andrew on that one. Mr. MacKenzie: There has been some discussions with them but there’s not been any willingness on their part to make any payments at this time. And we are looking at the possibility of any kind of legal recourse with respect to that. Mr. Aitken: But right now they just get $292,000.00 of property. Do we know what the property value is actually worth in that area? Mr. Welcher: No, not as of today no. Mr. MacKenzie: The two ninety two would be the total contract price for both contracts which would include part of the work they did. So it wasn’t just for the land value. They did do the work that they were contracted to do but part of that was to acquire property as well. And like I said we are looking into the possibility of what action can be taken against them. Mr. Aitken: I know we’re trying to figure out the drainage projects down there and the phases that we’re going in and try to readjust those as we can in trying to find some funding to get that down. So it’d be great to see East Augusta step up to really try to work with the city a little bit in a way to show some kind of a partnership that we’ve given them. That’s just my comment, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to clarify. I thought I heard a comment mentioned potential loss of federal funds if this isn’t paid back. Did I hear that correctly? Mr. Russell: Obviously that’s a threat that the Feds always make when you, when they come back with that. 20 Mr. Mason: Are you saying that’s just its not legitimate or is it legitimate? I mean that’s important. Mr. Welcher: That’s legitimate. I asked that specific question of Mayor Presley. The question I asked her what would be the recourse if the city refused or did not pay the funding back. What she indicated to me was a couple things that could happen. They could suspend future project setups. Current projects going on they would not touch them but future project setups they could suspend those. And she also indicated that there were other sanctions that are a little bit more I guess tension wise but she said she could not go into those with me. Mr. Mason: Okay, here’s what I’m going to say in reference to this. I’m going to make a motion here but I’m going to make this statement. While I can appreciate and I don’t like this under any stretch of the imagination but while I appreciate my colleagues being attention to detail at this particular time I wish I would have seen a little bit of this when we were going through the TEE Center parking deck and $12 million dollars. I wish I would’ve seen a little bit more of this when we were going through the TEE Center period. The bottom line where we’re at right now is follow through is extremely important. I’m going to make a motion that we pass this today with this caveat. Your office, your office must have the follow through. Where we lose it up here in this government is follow through. We’ve all talked about it. Well, you know we’ll see it in the future. You know we keep hearing that. Somebody has to be held accountable for follow through and putting milestones and these types of things in place. People are getting paid good money up here. We’re probably the poorest at $13,000 a year and we get blamed for . Follow through, milestones, checks andbalances. everything We’ve got to see this going forward and I hope this Commission would hold folks accountable and do what’s necessary if you’re not doing your job or he’s not doing his job or whatever the case may be. But we’ve got to have that follow through. Because of the fact that I’m not inclined to lose any federal funds, motion that we we can’t afford to do that period under any circumstances I’m going to make a pass that todaywith that caveat of the follow through that we need to see up here on this Commission because I know I’m going to be asking for it as we move forward. I don’t want to see another one of these things come through if we can help that because we’ve got to have those communications going on. I think that probably would get us where we would need to be at this point, Mr. Mayor, but I’m going to tell you right now I’m not happy with that all. Mr. Mayor: Okay, so your move is for approval with, okay. Is there a second to that? Mr. Lockett: Yeah, Mr. Mayor, I second that because I told the media today that this was not going to happen again. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Welcher, as far as any monetary that you have in the account at this time for future projects, can we pull from that? Mr. Welcher: No, the repayment into our home account has to come from a non federal source. 21 Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay and these organizations that we funded or gave this money to were they? st Mr. Welcher: They were sent a formal request asking for payment on the 31 of March th and the 30. And as of today I have not received any response from them to that formal letter. Mr. Guilfoyle: What about their nonprofit status at the time that the money was given? Mr. Welcher: Both nonprofits were actually (unintelligible) certified at the time of application and at the time of actual agreement. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith. Mr. Smith: Mr. Welcher, can we get an accounting of where the money went and who it got sent to and who owes the amount back? Mr. Welcher: Sure. Mr. Smith: So can we get recourse back on them to get it paid up? Mr. Welcher: I mean I can provide it to you via email if you would like. Mr. Smith: Email, TV, phone whatever. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there is no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Bowles and Mr. Jackson vote No. Motion carries 6-2. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, ma’am. Thank you, Hawthorne. Final agenda item, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 32. Consider approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Phoenix regarding a partnership recommendation for solutions to assist the city in meeting workforce education goals. Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have somebody here to speak? Ms. Powell: Good evening. Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am, if you could state your name and address for the record and keep it to five minutes, please, ma’am. 22 Ms. Powell: Okay. My name is Angela Powell my address is 1409 Lee Court here in Augusta 30909. I am a Workforce Solutions Advisor for University of Phoenix here in Augusta and I meet with companies all across the Aiken Augusta area to find out what the educational needs are for their employees and to find out if there’s a way that University of Phoenix can help them reach those needs and fulfill those needs. I’ve met with the Mayor and we’ve discussed ways that we would like to get the city employees better educated. And University of Phoenix is proud to offer city employees a 4% tuition discount. We also want establish a website for your employees so that they can go on the website and see some of the degree programs that we offer. We do have a campus here in Augusta. It’s right behind Doctor’s Hospital and it has four Bachelor Degree programs that we offer, Criminal Justice, Health Administration, Psychology and Business. We also offer the MBA on campus but of course all of our degree programs are also online. There’s no cost to the city for this partnership. It’s just an AMOU that the Mayor would sign if you approve the proposal and the AMOU. He would just sign it and it would just basically mean that we’re in partnership to try to get your employees some Bachelors and hopefully Master’s degrees. So that’s pretty much it. Mr. Mayor: I would --- Mr. Jackson: Move to approve. Mr. Mason: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Ms. Powell: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: And I think we’re all about the education of our employees so thank you for making the presentation. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: Good way to go out. With no further business to come before the body we stand adjourned. [MEETING ADJOURNED] Lena Bonner Clerk of Commission 23 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 April 17, 2012. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 24