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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting March 19, 2013 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER MARCH 19, 2013 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 5:00 p.m., March 19, 2013, the Hon. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Lockett, Guilfoyle, Mason, D. Smith, Williams, Fennoy, Johnson, Davis, G. Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Absent: Hon. Jackson, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission. The invocation was given by the Reverend Arthur Cutler, Pastor, United One Way Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. Mr. Mayor: I will go ahead and call the regular meeting to order. And I’d like to call on Reverend Arthur Cutler, Pastor, United One Way Baptist Church for our invocation. Please stand. Mr. Mayor: Please join me in the Pledge. And, Reverend, if I could get you to come forward we have a little something for you. Thank you so much for that invocation. Office of the Mayor. By these present be it known that Reverend Arthur Cutler, Pastor, United One Way Baptist Church is Chaplain of the Day. For his civic and spiritual guidance demonstrated throughout the community. Serves as an example for all of the faith community. Given under th my hand this 19 Day of March 2013. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor. Thank you, sir. (APPLAUSE) Madam Clerk, on to the recognitions. The Clerk: RECOGNITION(S) Georgia Regents University A. Recognition of Georgia Regents University Department of Military Science: Instructor of the Year for the U.S. Army ROTC program – Capt. Pedro Rivera Noncommissioned Officer of the Year – SFC Reyes. (Requested by the Mayor’s Office) Mr. Mayor: And I would like to call on my good friend Retired Brigadier General Jeff Foley to do the honors on this, please, or to emcee this portion. General Foley: Well, Mr. Mayor and honorable Commissioners, Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to come here and share with you some wonderful news about our Army ROTC program at Georgia Regents University. There’s a number of good things going on at the university especially in the world of Military Outreach and Military Health. Today, and we’ll come back and talk to you about all that sometime in the future. But today we’re going to talk about our ROTC Department, that is traditionally been associated with Augusta State but now encompasses Georgia Regents University and other universities and I’ll let Colonel Keith 1 Cantrell talk about that in a minute. But the point is the reason we’re here today is out of 277 universities in the United States of America that have Army ROTC programs Georgia Regents University is not number ten, or not number five or not number two. We are Number 1. (APPLAUSE) Guess who number two is? Notre Dame. And everybody else is behind them. And it’s dedicated; I met with the Commanding General of the US Army Cadet Command. He was here visiting about two weeks ago and we talked about it and he talked about the quality of the cadre, the quality of our recruits, the quality of our training program, the quality of our leadership and the outreach and support of the President, the university the faculty and staff of this wonderful university that you all know and love. I’m so proud. I had nothing to do with this. I had absolutely I really didn’t. I have nothing to do with this. I would like to introduce to you Lt. Col. Keith Cantrell. He is the Jaguar Battalion Commander. He just so happened to have been the instructor of the year in 2003 when he was in Captain Pedro Rivera’s spot here at Augusta State University. We’ve just got marvelous people and they keep coming. Col. Keith Cantrell will tell you a little bit more about why we are number one and he’ll introduce Captain Promotable Pedro Rivera who’s also here with us. But thank you for having the, giving us the opportunity to be here today. (APPLAUSE) Lt. Col. Cantrell: I’d like to thank everyone for allowing us the opportunity to come, Mr. Mayor and the Commissioners, to address ya’ll. I won’t take long because I know you’ve got a lot of business. But we’re very proud of this program. We’re very proud of this program because we represent Augusta, Georgia. Not just the golf capital but now the Military Science Program in the entire country. So we’re better than Georgia, North Georgia, Princeton all these prestigious universities. This team of cadets is producing quality officers for you to defend everything that you’re doing and we make it a point to make sure it’s quality this leading your sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, nieces. But we don’t do this alone especially me. It is a team effort. And last year SFC Reyes won the NCO of the year for all the cadet command of the 273 schools in a very rigorous competition. And we were honored this year for my right hand man CPT Pedro Rivera to win the COL Leo Cobb award that distinguishes him as the number one instructor in all of ROTC or Cadet Command Land. So I’d like to bring CPT Rivera forward. (APPLAUSE) And I thank you for your time. Mr. Mayor: First off, I just want to say congratulations. I always say that Augusta is a city that is pursuing excellence at all levels. This is just another example. And with that Office of the Mayor. Certificate of Recognition presented to CPT Pedro Rivera 2013 Instructor of the Year US ARMY ROTC Program. Whereas CPT Pedro Rivera is the Asst. Professor at the Georgia Regents University Department of Military Science and he will receive the COL Leo A. th Cobb Memorial Award during the 6 Brigade ROTC Field Training Exercises Award Ceremony th on April 7 at Fort Gordon. And whereas the Army has promoted Rivera to Mayor and has selected him to participate in the Army’s highly competitive intermediate level of education also st known as Armor Officer Rivera recently served as Company Commander of C Company 1 thth Light Arms Battalion 67 Armor Regiment QVCC 4 KD I believe. I need glasses so bad. The Augusta community has benefited greatly from the wisdom you share and the lives you exemplify by your hard work and devoted service. Thank you for your commitment as it serves th as a great example and inspiration for all of us. Given under my hand this 19 Day of March 2013. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor. (APPLAUSE) 2 CPT Rivera: Thank you very much. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, on to the delegations. The Clerk: DELEGATIONS B. Mr. Sam Olens, Attorney General. RE: Congratulate the Augusta Commission on their compliance of the revised Georgia Open Meeting Law; and the promotion of a statewide food drive. Mr. Mayor: And I’d just like to as the Attorney General comes up to take a point of personal privilege. And thank you for being here. Sam is a good friend of mine. He’s a great friend to the City of Augusta and is doing a great job for the State of Georgia. So thank you so much for being here. Mr. Olens: Well, thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Commissioners, for having me. It’s a pleasure to be in your great city today. I admit this brings back memories. For twelve years I served as a county commissioner and chairman of Cobb County. I remember public presentations, I remember legal matters, I remember what you do and it’s great work and it’s fun to be here. I also had the honor of serving with your Mayor on the Department of Community Affairs. And back then there were really only about three elected officials on the state board. Your Mayor was one of the few who regularly showed up even though he didn’t live in the Metro area and I think that’s really important. It’s no quick drive to get from here to Emory area to get to those meetings and he regularly attended and DCA has a vital place in our state. Course now I get to represent the Department of Community Affairs. I wanted to touch base on the three quick things. One, we have a bill in the legislature. Please tell your colleagues in the legislature House Bill 178 to deal with PILMOS those folks that claim they’re treating people with pain but they’re selling opiates. They’re selling predominantly OxyCodone, pass the house, pass the Senate Health Committee. I need everyone’s help to make sure it passes in the last six days of the session. I know that you can talk to your law enforcement and they’ll tell you it’s a problem throughout our state and we need to be able to better regulate those places that call themselves medical offices but may be drug dealing. Secondly, I’m here as I travel the whole state with regard to an initiative that we’re in the second year of the Legal Food Frenzy. This was a program started in our sister state of Virginia where they ask lawyers to collect food and to provide that food for the state’s food banks. In Georgia we have seven regional food banks, of course Golden Harvest is the food bank in Augusta. Last year we collected as a state over 612,000 pounds of food. Our goal this year is to collect at least 750,000 pounds. Now for those th that think that may be a high ambition, Virginia in their 7 year collects 1.4 million pounds through their lawyers and they have less people than our state. So I would encourage you that right after you finish teasing a lawyer about a lawyer joke or suing your friend or whatever ask him whether he signed up at GA Legal Food Frenzy.org to go through his clients and do something good for society, collect food, raise funds. The reason we do it April 22-May 3 right before Law Day is because almost 60% of our public school children are eligible for free or reduced lunch. That’s a scary number, six zero not one six. Almost 60% of Georgia’s public school children are eligible for free or reduced lunch. What happens to those kids over the 3 summer? Who’s making sure they get proper nutrition? So this is a program where lawyers come together collect food, collect funds for Golden Harvest and that provides Golden Harvest the extra foods over the summer months to take care of our children. So please don’t just tease a lawyer, tell them to go on the internet and sign up today and to assist Golden Harvest. Three, as I’m sure many of you know last year we passed a total rewrite of the state’s Sunshine Law Open Records Open Meetings House Bill 397. And I will tell you no government is perfect. Your Commission’s not perfect, the Commission I headed before you isn’t perfect, the State of Georgia is not perfect. We have to have discussions at times with our clients. They are difficult laws but they are important laws to insure the credibility of the government. And I will simply state that when it comes to the large communities in our state there are some that are repeat offenders. There are some that we seldom see. We sooner or later see everyone due to the nature of the business of government. But I would suggest to you that when I compare Augusta Richmond County to the other larger urban areas in our state you’re one of the much better governments. You’re one of the governments we get the least number of complaints on. And you’re one of the governments that tends to spend more attention to full compliance. Now once again that doesn’t mean you’re perfect. None of us are perfect but you certainly when it comes to that large urban category are far, far better than many of your colleagues. And I will trust the next time you go to Savannah to the GMA Convention or ACCG Convention you will tease some of your larger colleagues with my comments today. It’s a pleasure to be with you, Mr. Mayor and Commission. Thank you very much for the time. God Bless you all. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Thank you so much, Sam. (APPLAUSE) And what a professional, he kept it to four minutes and forty-five seconds. Madam Clerk, I believe we had a request that the next delegation be deleted? DELEGATIONS C. Mr. Byrd Warlick, Attorney, Downtown Development Authority, regarding the renewal of the Business Improvement District. The Clerk: Yes, sir, that is correct. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith. Mr. D. Smith: Mr. Mayor, I would also ask that item number two be deleted. I’ll bring that back at another time. Mr. Mayor: Okay, wait until we get, Donnie, if that’s okay we’ll wait until we get to the full agenda and I’m sure the Clerk has noted that. The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Mayor: Okay, on to the next agenda. The Clerk: DELEGATIONS 4 D. Ms. Denice Traina on behalf of Augusta Interfaith Coalition regarding transportation. Ms. Traina: And I would like to let you know I’m yielding some of my time to my other committee folks that will be just standing up in a moment. And we will keep to our time and we may ask for just a smidge more. My name is Denice Traina and I live at 631 Bohler Avenue 30904. Good evening and thank you for this opportunity to speak on behalf of the Augusta’s Interfaith Coalition on the issue of public transit. The coalition’s purpose is to promote the expansion of the existing transit services provided to the public at large and to be the voice for the people and transit riders. We see an immense need for the expansion of mass transit in Augusta and its nearby communities. We hear continuously from members of our congregations especially the disabled both veterans and civilians about how difficult how difficult it is to reach school, work and public service destinations to pay bills, make purchases, enjoy recreation and visit family and friends because of limited transit options. Mr. Armstrong: Hello, my name is Javon Armstrong at 544 Highland Avenue. I’m a part of the Sand Hills Community. I’m also coming in as part of the transportation initiative. And if you’ve ever spoken with our business members they will tell you there’s much more of a need for transportation in terms of the foot traffic into their establishments or they may have to shut down or move elsewhere. Some already have. We believe that some of the vision and the conference of plan their bottom line needs as well as our own interests as consumers and tax payers must be met. th Mr. Fryer: Larry Fryer, 1115 6 Avenue Augusta, Georgia. Our families want to see services to extend to include weekends and holidays. Obviously this is the best time for them to jump on the bus and catch a movie, go downtown, visit a park or museum, eat out at a restaurant and hike or kayak along the canal, paying for access to public transit to and from our faith homes on Sunday’s should be within our reach and to be able to get back and forth to employment. Thank you. Mr. Hollobaugh: My name is Tim Hollobaugh, 2132 Balfour Street, Augusta, Georgia. That’s on the south side of town. Let’s be honest and admit that Augusta has not been had a good track record at meeting its responsibilities and providing the public with a timely solution to comprehensive transportation. For that reason we are looking at ultimate forms of transportation that would meet the public needs and support me for reliable and courteous transportation and the hope that you might review those needs them also. While it remains in the purview of this body to generate ideas, provide resources and execute solutions we are not willing to wait for you to do so but hope that some effort whatever the response may be able to be met. Thank you. Ms. Speaker: To our Mayor and of course our Commissioners. In your honorable places and positions one of the things I would like to first see is that we also have come with us tonight some of the same people that are supporting as well as riding the buses. Could you please stand to your feet? And again as community advocates and as well as yourselves I would like to say to you whether the body decides to hire a new director and reinvigorate his Department of Transportation to tackle this head on or whether he decides to empower and authority please know that our community is calling for a public not private solution and that appointing a 5 Citizens Advisory Council is vital to achieving the objective of expanding our transit systems in a meaningful way. And I still even before I sit down would like to say thank you all for starting just what you said and doing what you’ve already done. Thank you. Mr. Dicks: Terrence Dicks, 207A Steiner Avenue, Augusta, Georgia. In closing I want to remind you that many residents of Augusta would love to leave their vehicles at home and thus save money, avoid traffic and pollution and get some exercise. I want to convey a sense of urgency to you as we work on this issue and request this body act in the best interests of its constituents. Our residents are desperate to have better options available to them especially in areas of employment and education. We will support common sense solutions coming forth from this body that will continue to seek solutions on its own. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Ms. Traina: Finally on behalf of the Reverend Christopher G. Johnson, our Executive Director in Augusta’s Interfaith Coalition, we want you to know that we are eager to partner with the Augusta Richmond County Government as an Adjunct Citizens Advisory Committee to bring about a quality and responsive public transit system. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: And that was five minutes three seconds. I felt that was like a stereo. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen a presentation like that. But prior to recognizing Commissioner Mason I do want to say thanks to each of you for coming today. I think that this Commission has established transit as a priority. We did so in our first retreat of the year. We’ve had an ongoing dialog and I know that this is something that many of us talk about regularly that we know we need to do better. It’s just getting to that point and how we get there. But I think the best way is us working with you guys to find creative solutions. Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m going to echo those sentiments exactly. And I’m going to say thank you to the group that have come out as well as the bus riders. You’ve made it very, very clear the situation that we have here in Augusta Richmond County. We’ve heard what you’ve stated and you can clearly see that we’ve already begun to take the necessary action. Everything has a time and a place and unfortunately it does not move quite as fast as you might want it to but we’ve got to dot our ‘I’s we’ve got to cross our ‘T’s and we are looking for extended service and expanded service that gets one from point A to point B in this county in a timely fashion on time. And so we’ve heard that and we’ll continue to do that. And we’re taking the steps to make that happen. So I want to also thank my Commission colleagues up here on this dais for being proactive and responding to the citizens and to this community. And we are not finished yet. We’re looking for a very comprehensive and a robust transit system that addresses the needs of Augusta Richmond County. And that’s what we are committed to doing. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Commissioner Fennoy then Mayor Pro Tem Johnson. Mr. Fennoy: Can I ask a question please? Ms. Traina, what would be the roles of the citizens advisory board and how would it compliment what we as Commissioners are trying to do with the transit system? 6 Ms. Traina: Well, I think you know you’re part timers and so we understand that you have a lot on your plate in terms of all the different issues. And I think we have an opportunity as an advisory committee to be your eyes and ears as consumers and as want to be consumers. So I think our group that has been formed is a very diverse group of folks and we just you know we’re asking to be have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made so that we can give input that I think would be constructive in making solutions come forward. Mr. Mayor: And I just want to say that I think that to have that dialogue is a good thing because I think on both sides one of the things that I see is misinformation gets out there. And so to help educate the public with regards to the constraints that we face you know from financing and everything but I do think if we look at other cities as models that have much better transit systems than ourselves that’s how we’re probably going to get there. And that’s something that I think the citizens could really help with. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First and foremost I’d like to say thank you all for your patience and definitely your support in us helping us as we try to transform the transit system and do some of the necessary measures that first off it took to get to the next step. And we’ve done that. But what I’d like I think it would be excellent, I know we had some dialogue about that last year about creating that board or what have you. If I can, Mr. Mayor, Sharon, And what we’ll try to do is maybe look at some other cities and could I ask you aquestion? some of the concepts that they have adopted in that same manner to see how feasible that would be and what it would take to get that in place. Have you done any research as it relates to creating a board that would relate to public transit? And, if not, is it possible for you to maybe put something together or take a look at it and see what other counties have done in the past with this? Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir, I could. I have not. Mr. Johnson: Okay. Ms. Dottery: Also the situation we had in the past we did have a Citizens’ Advisory Board --- Mr. Johnson: Okay. Ms. Dottery: --- that worked real well, real well and so that’s something I think that we could do. Mr. Johnson: All right, well if you could into that, that would be the will I guess if you could probably bring something back to this body showing how that board would be set up and what you’re recommendation would be to put the board together I would love to see that. And I think that would be a great opportunity for us to take a look at making sure that you know if that’s said and done that’s something we want to do we can also look at to play it forward and implement that --- 7 Mr. Mayor: I agree. Mr. Johnson: --- to put the board in place. Mr. Fennoy: Do we need to put that in the form of a motion? Mr. Mayor: Um, can I get a motion to task Sharon with doing that? Mr. Fennoy: So moved. Mr. Johnson: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and second. Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My only concern would be I don’t believe a decision has been made as to whether or not we’re going to keep this in house or whether we’re going to go outside for somebody to run our transit. If we’re going to keep it in house I think the request would be proper and appropriate. But if we’re going to outsource it so I think we ought to make that decision before we do that. And I would also like to thank Ms. Traina and the others that have spoken on behalf of the need for good transit. It’s evident that we’re lacking in that capacity and it’s helping us economically as it’s hindering us economically. We have jobs out at Fort Gordon and other places that our workers and potential workers can’t get to because of a lack of transit. And I know many of us that have automobiles that would take public transit if it was available, it ran on a regular basis and we didn’t have to be out in the elements in order to wait for it. We have a long ways to go but I think we are finally but surely moving in the right direction. And again thank all of you that came out and spoke on behalf of the need for public transit and we are going to work with you to make it happen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. And I think the motion was just to task staff with bringing back the information to this body. That it was not to go ahead and set up that committee. Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think perhaps that tasking should go through the City Administrator because again he is the City Administrator to get with our Transit Department. And I also want to say this as it relates because I know we’re not making a decision on a, whether you’re in or out. But I just do want to be clear from my standpoint. I’m not so much interested whether we run it inside or outside but I am interested in making sure we have the service that is necessary for our citizens. So I don’t want to get bogged down --- Mr. Mayor: No. Mr. Mason: --- I don’t want us to get bogged down up here or whether it’s inside or whether we’re doing it or whether the outside is doing it. What I do want to see is that is done. 8 Ms. Traina: And if I could add, whether or not it’s going to be outsourced or in house we would still like to be part of an advisory board. In either case that would seem to be fair to the consumers. So I would like you to consider that. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, ma’am. And Mr. Mayor Pro Tem would you like to amend your motion to include running this through the --- Mr. Johnson: Oh, most definitely I think that would be appropriate. And I know of course I know in the past I think that was delegated through Ms. Allen or what have you? That’s fine and I think it would definitely work in both cases so. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a --- Mr. Russell: Yeah, I’d like to echo what she just said. I totally lost your name, Ms. Traina, I’m sorry. But you know I think it’s important we allow for the citizen input on, in any direction we go. And it might even be more important if we decide to go outside than inside. But I think in either way we need to make sure that’s a viable part of what we’re doing in this particular case. And hopefully we’ll be able to bring you back some information that would make that happen either way. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Commissioner Smith. Mr. D. Smith: Before we vote we’ve added, subtracted, added. Somebody please tell me, give me a clarification on exactly what it is you want us to vote on. Mr. Mayor: We are simply on voting on tasking the Administrator and staff to get together to bring back information regarding other Citizens’ Advisory Committees that have been successful in other cities and how they’ve been set up. Mr. Smith: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Lockett, did you? Mr. Lockett: No, that was my question. 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. Mr. Jackson out. Motion Passes 9-0. Mr. Mayor: Thank ya’ll for coming. Madam Clerk, on to the consent agenda. The Clerk: All right. Did you want to do the addendum? Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am, that’d be fine. 9 The Clerk: We also have one item from the addendum agenda, number one. Motion to approve the Sec. 5307 Augusta Public Transit grant repayment between the Federal Transit Administration (FTA and Augusta, Georgia for Capital purchase of engines. Mr. Mayor: Do we have unanimous consent to add? Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I don’t think we have unanimous consent and I need to know why is it that it was not put on the regular agenda. If there’s an emergency there’s a reason. We talked about this before. We get stuff that later on the dais supposed to look at to make a decision on. And we’ve got to a lot anyway, but I really would have to go through the proper channels and get on the, in the books so we can have a chance to study it so. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell? Mr. Russell: I totally concur with Commissioner Williams’ statement. Unfortunately we were notified late last week by the Federal Transportation Commission, Administration that they wanted this repayment within a day or two of when they said. We could not take any action until it’s here and that’s the only reason it’s here now because of the timeline that they gave us, sir. Mr. Mayor: So is that okay with you, Commissioner Williams? I mean I know it’s not okay with you but does that? Mr. Williams: Well, does that constitute a, some emergency? Are you saying that if they notified you the night before last I think you’re saying, Fred? Mr. Russell: It was late last week. They gave us a deadline of tomorrow to make the payment, sir, and we were notified --- Mr. Mayor: Thursday. Mr. Russell: --- Thursday. Mr. Mayor: So this one’s not on us. It’s on the federal government. Mr. Williams: But they don’t sit up here, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: What’s that? So do we have --- Mr. Williams: I’m going to allow it but you know we already stated earlier that if it’s not an emergency we shouldn’t have stuff brought up here and lay it on the desk. We had some calls from some people about issues downtown and I share with them today. If it wasn’t on the agenda then we wouldn’t discuss it because it hadn’t been through the proper channels to be able to look at it and make a conscientious decision on. 10 Mr. Mayor: And I agree. I think it’s, we need to be consistent with regards to what is an emergency and what’s not. I would say that this one rises to the level of an emergency but sometimes we let through ones that don’t. Yes, sir, Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell: The threat that they made even is that obviously if we don’t make this payment they will withhold federal funds which includes --- Mr. Fennoy: Motion to approve. Mr. Mason: Second. Mr. Russell: It’s hard to argue with D.C. I tried. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion to approve and it’s, well we need to get it but we do have unanimous consent to add. Okay, we have a motion to approve and a second. If there’s, Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: I voted to add but I do have a question though. I would like to know why did we put ourselves in a position where we have to pay $80,000? I don’t think that has been stated yet. If it was, I was napping. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell or? Mr. Russell: Donna’s got the answer to that. Mr. Mayor: Ms. Williams. Ms. Williams: This is an ongoing discussion between us and the FTA. Back in 2010? Okay. The purchase of three bus engines occurred in 2009. A requisition was sent in to Procurement from the then director of Transit stating that on the requisition there was a request for the purchase of three engines. The provider was listed as a sole source. The, during the audit it was discovered that it was not a sole source, that they were the authorized provider. Difference in terminology but it means entirely two different things. So the buses were purchased as a sole source. It was discovered and listed as an audit finding in 2010. We have been working with the Transit Authority, FTA since then to attempt to get a resolution to this. Up until last Thursday we had been speaking to an individual who told us that we would be allowed to make another purchase to replace and this would not be a repayment. Last Thursday that changed. We were notified that we had to make a repayment and the deadline was tomorrow. That is about as much as I can simplify it. There’s some additional information I think that was attached to the agenda item. Mr. Lockett: So if I understand you correctly what you’re saying is the former director of Public Transit submitted the request and led everybody to believe that it was sole source when in reality it wasn’t. And this happened in 2009. 11 Ms. Williams: Yes, sir, it was listed as a sole source where they were actually the authorized provider. Mr. Lockett: Well, my last question is this is how did it get through Procurement and Finance? Ms. Williams: I do not know, sir. I cannot answer that truthfully. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Mr. Lockett votes No. Mr. Jackson out. Motion Passes 8-1. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, on to the consent agenda, please. The Clerk: Yes, sir. Our consent agenda consists of items 1-35. And for the information about the Planning portion of the agenda I’ll read the planning petitions and if anyone has an objection to those would you please signify your objection by raising your hand. Item 8: Is a request to approve a petition by Lionel Prather on behalf of Georgia Bank and Trust for a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) to Zone LI (Light Industry) affecting property at 711 Scott Nixon Memorial Drive. Item 9: Is a petition by George Brown requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) and HI (Heavy Industry) to Zone A (Agriculture) affecting property located at 3911 Bath Edie Road. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to these Planning petitions? Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Okay. Under our Public Services portion of the agenda I’ll read the alcohol application and if there are any objections would you please signify your objection by raising your hand. Item 14: It is a request for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine license to be used in connection with Ls Juntas DBA Los Cabos Mexican Restaurant which is located at 920 Baker Avenue and there will be Sunday Sales. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to this alcohol petition? Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: So our consent agenda is items 1-35. 12 Mr. Mayor: And prior to moving to that, Madam Clerk, Commissioner Smith, I know you did have one other addition to the agenda. I know you’re very excited about getting that done so I didn’t want to overlook you. Do we have unanimous consent to add addition, to the agenda item number two all of Commissioner Smith’s appointments. Commissioner Smith? Mr. D. Smith:I’m going I need to ask one of my colleagues a question. Just a second. to ask my colleagues to put, to approve agenda, the addition to agenda number two, my appointments to the various boards. Mr. Mason: So moved. Mr. Lockett: Second. 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. Mr. Jackson out. Motion Passes 9-0. Mr. Mayor: That’s one off the honey-do list. All righty, do we have any additions to the consent agenda? Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: I’d like to add agenda item number 43 to the consent agenda, please, sir. Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have any further additions to the consent agenda. Mr. Williams: Item 40, Mr. Mayor. I’m sorry, I’m sorry that’s not the one, I’m looking at something else. I’m thinking about my appointees. Okay, it’s already on the consent. I’m apologize it was already on consent. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Any further additions to the consent agenda? Hearing none, do we have any items to be pulled for discussion? Mr. Johnson: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: No, actually to the consent if we could, item 38. Mr. Speaker: And forty-one. Mr. Mayor: Added to we have 38, 41 and 43. Mr. Guilfoyle: You’re adding --- Mr. Mayor: You’ve got another one, Wayne? 13 Mr. Guilfoyle: No, sir. Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have --- Mr. Fennoy: Thirty-nine. Mr. Mayor: Thirty-nine? Mr. Mason: Uh, --- Mr. Mayor: Sir? Mr. Mason: --- we need to talk about 39 because I’m looking at making a different motion on that. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Guilfoyle: Can we add number 37 then? Mr. Mayor: Thirty-seven? Commissioner Smith, you had your hand up? Mr. Smith: No, I was asking a question. I’m sorry. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Okay, do we have any items to be pulled for discussion? Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, Mr. Mayor, can I have item number 17 and item number 21 pulled, please? Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Smith, did you have you hand up? Mr. D. Smith: Yes, sir, item number 16 if you’ll pull that please, sir. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: Item number 6, Mr. Mayor, 19, and 5, I think. Let’s see five I’d like to get some clarification on five as well. Mr. Mayor: Okay, do we have any further items to be pulled for discussion. Mr. Williams: One more. One more. Mr. Guilfoyle: I’m going to be turning into a pumpkin at midnight now. Mr. Mayor: Okay, are you good? 14 Mr. Williams: We’re good. Mr. Mayor: Okay hearing no further, can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? Mr. Lockett: Move to approve. Mr. Guilfoyle: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PLANNING 1. FINAL PLAT – HAYNE’S STATION PAHSE 2A = S-818-II-A – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Cranston Engineering Group, on behalf of COEL Development Co., Inc., requesting final plat approval for Hayne’s Station Phase 2A. This residential subdivision is located at Hattan Court at Rosland Circle and contains 41 lots. 2. SA-46 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend the Land Subdivision Regulations for Augusta, Georgia to allow for electronic data submittal and amend the requirements for plan submittals. 3. SA-47 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend Article 1, Section 104 of the Land Subdivision Regulations for Augusta, Georgia to exempt certain plats and subdivisions where no new streets or utilities are required per O.C.G.A. 15-6-67-3(d). 4. SPA-09 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend the Site Plan Regulations for Augusta, Georgia to allow for electronic data submittal and amend the requirements for plan submittals. 7. Z-13-10 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Shauntisha Williams-Powell, on behalf of Sadie L. Williams, requesting a Special Exception to establish a Family Personal Care Home per Section 26-1 (H) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta Georgia affecting property containing 1.0 acre and known under the present numbering system as 3938-B Bath Edie Road. (Tax Map 189-0-020-02-0) DISTRICT 8 8. Z-13-11 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Lionel Prather, on behalf of Georgia Bank and Trust, requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) to Zone LI (Light Industry) affecting property containing approximately 3.0 acres and is known as 711 Scott Nixon Memorial Drive. (Tax Map 015-0-005-01-0) DISTRICT 3 9. Z-13-13 – A petition by George Brown requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) and Zone HI (Heavy Industry) to Zone A (Agriculture) affecting property containing 3.13 acres and known as 3911 Bath Edie Road (Tax Map 189-0—12-00-0) DISTRICT 8 10. ZA-R-221 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta, Georgia by amending Section 28-B-5(Prohibited Signs) and 28-B-13(Enforcement and Penalties). 11. ZA-R-222 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta, Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for 15 Augusta, Georgia by deleting from Section 2 – Definitions – Travel Trailers and Travel Trailer Parks, Section 7 – Special Exception for recreational vehicle park and Section 22 – General Business – Travel Trailer Park. 12. ZA-R-223 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta, Georgia by adding a Section 28-E – Recreational Vehicle Parks. 13. ZA-R-224 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta, Georgia by amending Section 35-8 – timeline for re-submittal of a defeated zoning petition. PUBLIC SERVICES 14. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 13-04: request by Manuel C. Reyes for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine license to be used in connection with Las Juntas DBA Los Cabos Mexican Restaurant located at 920 Baker Ave. There will be Sunday Sales. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 11, 2013) 15. Motion to approve a petition authorizing the filing of grant applications with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the South Carolina Department of Transportation for transportation funds. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 11, 2013) 18. Motion to approve the Sec. 5311 Rural Transit grant application between the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Augusta, Georgia using American Recovery & Reinvestment ACT (ARRA) Funds. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 11, 2013) PUBLIC SAFETY 20. Motion to approve Mutual Aid Agreement with Georgia Emergency Management Agency. (Approved by Public Safety Committee March 11, 2013) 22. Motion to approve Addendum to Sungard Contract to bring it into compliance with Augusta Procurement Regulations. (Approved by Public Safety Committee March 11, 2013) FINANCE 23. Motion to approve Public Official Liability Insurance with Landmark American Insurance Company, current carrier, for a premium charge of $64,948 (same premium charge as 2012) for policy period April 19, 2013 to April 19, 2014. (Approved by Finance Committee March 11, 2013) 24. Motion to approve a request from the CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon, Inc. regarding the reestablishment of funding in the amount of $25,000 on an annual basis. (Approved by Finance Committee March 11, 2013) 25. Motion to approve a request from the Garden City Rescue Mission for a refund of 2012 property taxes. (Approved by Finance Committee March 11, 2013) 26. Motion to approve the transfer of the below listed City owned properties for the purpose of selling to potential buyers for the market/tax assessed value. (Approved by Finance Committee March 11, 2013 (1) 922 Boyd Lane 16 (2) 2854 Pineview Road (3) 1040 Tenth Street (4) 706 Walton Way (5) 708 Walton Way (6) 714 Walton Way (7) 720 Walton Way ENGINEERING SERVICES 27. Motion to approve Change Order #1 to the existing construction contract in the amount of $289,920.74 to Blair Construction for the additional work to complete the water line installation along Range Road into the Gordon Lakes Golf Club in Fort Gordon which will improve the redundancy in that area and fire protection. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 11, 2013) 28. Motion to approve a contract with Cascade Environmental for solid waste and recycling carts in an amount budgeted annually. Bid Item 12-227. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 11, 2013) 29. Motion to approve the deeds of dedication, maintenance agreements, and road resolutions submitted by the Engineering and Augusta Utilities Departments for Granite Hill, Section “Three C.” (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 11, 2013) 30. Motion to approve an Option for the purposes of acquiring a Right-of-Way between Myong Cha Mosely, as owner, and Augusta, Georgia, as optionee, in connection with the Windsor Spring Road Phase V Project, 0.018 acre (780.20 sq. ft.) in fee simple and 0.012 acre (539.73 sq. ft.) of permanent construction & maintenance easement, more or less, on Project Windsor Spring Road, Phase V, STP00-1105-00(004) from property located at: 4632 Windsor Spring Road, private, at the purchase price of $750.00. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 11, 2013) 31. Motion to approve an Option for the purposes of acquiring a Right-of-Way between First Advent Christian Church, as owner, and Augusta, Georgia, as optionee, in connection with the Marks Church Road Reconstruction Project, 0.137 acre (5,953.62 sq. ft.) in fee simple and N/A acre of permanent construction & maintenance easement, more or less; and 5,630.77 sq. ft. of temporary construction easement, more or less, on Project Marks Church Road Reconstruction, from property located at: 1263 Marks Church Road, private, at the purchase price of $21,500.00 (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 11, 2013) PETITONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 32. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular & Special Called Meetings held March 5 and Special Called meeting March 11, 2013. 33. Motion to approve the scheduling of the Tuesday, April 2, 2013 regular meeting of the Commission. APPOINTMENTS(S) 34. Motion to approve the appointment of Grey Murray to the Augusta Aviation Commission and Gary D. Trammell to the ARC Planning Commission representing District 3 effective April 1, 2013. 17 35. Motion to approve the appointment of Rev. Melvin Ivey to the ARC Planning Commission representing District 9 effective April 1, 2013) PUBLIC SERVICES 37. Motion to approve contract between Augusta, GA and Mead & Hunt, Inc. on behalf of the Augusta Aviation Commission for Aviation Consulting Services at Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field. FINANCE 38. Motion to approve the replacement of 41 Public Safety Vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office for 2013. (No recommendation from Finance Committee March 11, 2013) APPOINTMENTS 43. Motion to approve the recommendation(s) of the Board of Tax Assessors for the reappointment of Tracy Williams and Bill Lee to the BOA for a four-year term. ADDENDUM 45. Motion to approve the following appointments to various boards, authorities and commissions representing District 7: Public Facilities, Mark Lorah; Citizens Small Business Advisory Board, Amy R. Bernstein; Augusta Richmond County Planning Commission, Sonny Pittman; Augusta Ports Authority, Donnie Thompson; Augusta Richmond County Tree Commission, Roger Davis; Bush Field Aviation Commission, Randy Sasser; Board of Zoning Appeals, Jerry Brigham; Canal Authority, Richard Isdell; Daniel Field General Aviation Commission, Tim Martin; Consolidated Historic Preservation, Dave Barbee; Riverfront Development Review Board, Charlie Walker, Jr.; Augusta Richmond County Personnel Board, Ronnie Masters; Augusta Richmond County Library Board, Amy Lawson. (Requested by Commissioner D. Smith) Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Jackson out. Motion Passes 9-0. [Items 1-4, 7-15, 18, 20, 22-35, 37, 38, 43, 45] Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, let’s go to the first pulled agenda item, please. The Clerk: PLANNING 5. Z-13-08 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Rex Augusta LLC, on behalf of Minette Matthews Hatcher, requesting a Special Exception for residential use in a P-1 (Professional) Zone per Section 20-2(b) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta, Georgia affecting property containing approximately .16 acres and is known as 1516 Monte Santo Avenue. Tax Map 044-1-211-00-0) DISTRICT 2 18 6. Z-13-09 – A petition by Rex Augusta LLC, on behalf of Evans Community Baptist Church, requesting a request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a Special Exception for residential use in a P-1 (Professional) Zone to convert an existing bed and breakfast facility into an apartment per Section 20-2(b) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta, Georgia affecting property containing approximately .20 acres and is known as 334 Greene Street. (Tax Map 047-4-088-00-0) DISTRICT 1 Mr. Mayor: Mr. Patty. Mr. Patty: Yes, sir, this is a property that was a house at one time. It’s on the section of Monte Sano, between Central and Wrightsboro, north side. Most if not all of those properties are now professional. All the zoning is Professional and this is a two story house and the applicant would like to make a couple of apartments upstairs and use the bottom floor as professional offices. It’s been done for years. In order to do that in a Professional Zone you have to have a Special Exception We changed the ordinance some time ago because we were getting requests for professional zoning and after the zoning was granted (inaudible) because it’s somewhat compatible with residential used being converted to multi-family. But we think this is compatible the area and recommend you approve. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: Thank you. George that’s what I wanted to know what was going to be constructed. It says 16 acres and I think there was six, and it says twenty and I had a question on both of those. Mr. Patty: 1.6 acres. It’s just a small lot on Monte Santo. Mr. Williams: Okay and that’s what I couldn’t figure out. But I see 16 here and I guess the other one would be a small .2 --- Mr. Patty: Zero. Mr. Williams. I make amotion to approve, : .20? Okay. I’ve got no problem Mr. Mayor. I just wanted to be clear on that. Mr. Johnson: Five and six? : Motion to approve five and six? Mr. Mayor Mr. Williams: That’s right. Mr. Mayor: Do we have a second? Mr. Johnson: Second. 19 Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Mr. Jackson out. Motion Passes 9-0. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 16. Motion to approve funding for MACH Academy in the amount of $25,000 from the contingency fund for the next 6 months and monitor their expenditures during that period and review the matter again at the end of 6 months for consideration of additional funding. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 11, 2013) Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith, was this your pull? Mr. D. Smith: Yes, sir, it was. Is there somebody here from? Mr. Russell: Yes, sir, the Executive Director. Mr. D. Smith: Well, my question really is not for the Executive Director it’s for the Administrator. Mr. Russell: Okay I’m sorry. Don’t sit down, I may need you. Yes, sir. Mr. D. Smith: We have a new recreation director that has been hired. When is he coming on board? Mr. Russell: The first Monday in May, sir. Mr. D. Smith: The first Monday in May. Mr. Russell: Yes, sir. Mr. D. Smith: It would be my preference is that the new Recreation Director have an opportunity to review this and be involved in it. So that’s the reason I pulled it is that I think we ought to give our new Recreation Director an opportunity to be involved in this and review this particular business if you will and give us feedback. That’s what we hired him for and so that’s the reason why I pulled the item. Mr. Russell: And part of my concern about not doing the fifty up front and phasing it the way we did was to accomplish that. What I’m attempting to do is make sure that, there was some confusion initially about whether or not that this money was going to be necessary for survival at this point. And you might want to let the Executive Director speak to that at this moment. But part of my desire to phase the funding was to accomplish exactly what you said, sir. 20 Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am, if you could although we all know you, state your name and address for the record, please, ma’am. Ms. Jones: My name is Betty Jones. I’m the Executive Director for MACH Academy. My residence is 3602 Coventry Drive in South Augusta. And to answer the question we are struggling right now financially. Two more months if we have to we’ve got to find some funding. We have in the past but we’ve had to, we’ve have several staff members that went without money without funding for six months. I mean we do what we have to do to keep this program afloat. This organization has been around for twenty years and we’ve done a lot of good things. It’s unfortunate right now with the economy like it is that our funding, it’s just like dwindling away. And as we try to identify new sources it’s becoming more and more difficult because there are more and more organizations out there vying for the same dollars. So we’re trying to look at where can we find some new dollars. Where can we get some assistance to keep us afloat until we can identify some monies that will sustain us for years to come. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, ma’am. Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We know that this organization MACH Academy has done some outstanding work with some of our youth and some of our teenagers, our young people on the streets. Even if the new director comes in Mr. Russell we’re going to have to tell him what they do because he won’t be able to see it in the short period of time. He’s going to have to be educated on what they have been doing and what they, what their record stands on. And I understand what Mr. Smith is saying but at the same time we done bit the bullet a lot of times we get accused of not doing and we get accused for doing. We got to do what you believe is right and vote to a conviction. I’m going to make a motion we approve giving the twenty-five and then when the new director comes in we walk himover thereand show him the exact place that this facility’s been located for a long time and what outstanding work they’ve been doing. So that’s my motion. Mr. Johnson: I’ll second that motion. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Davis and then I’ll come back down to this end. Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And thank you for all you do. And I know that of course times are tough right now and that’s what I was going to ask Mr. Russell. Do we have funds to budget, do we have any funds budgeted for this --- Mr. Russell: We’ll take it --- Ms. Davis: --- at the present time? Mr. Russell: --- out of the contingency fund --- Ms. Davis: Okay. 21 Mr. Russell: --- and there’s sufficient funds in there to do that. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Guilfoyle, then Commissioner Lockett then Commissioner Fennoy. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is to the Administrator. Fred, we currently provide $13,880.00. Is that correct? And then the $25,000.00 which is what you’re going to take out of contingency fund, is this going to be a one shot deal or is this going to be coming back next year before us? Mr. Russell: I wish I could predict the future but I can’t. Obviously things are tight. And I know they’re struggling to find dollars. They’ve lost some federal money that to my knowledge that was a big support to them. I think you heard her say that they are going to look for additional dollars in any way that they can. I would hope that this would just be filling a hole that currently exists but I cannot promise you they won’t be back, sir. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we all know, at least we should know what the MACH Academy does for our young people. In fact a few months ago Michael Harding and Ms. Jones had quite a few of their students here that have received full scholarships because of what they got at MACH Academy. But you know what puzzles me is I realize the economy is bad. We make lots of bad investments up here but today we have agenda item number twenty-four which I’m in support of. It talks about reestablishing funding for the CSRA Alliance at Fort Gordon in the same amount $25,000.00. They’re talking about reestablishing funding here. Okay? But so all they’re asking is help them out until the economy turns around and maybe they can get more donations and so forth. We can’t put these young people on hold. We’re going to pay for them one way or the other. I much rather see them play golf, I mean play tennis and get a scholarship to college than to pay their hotel expenses out at Webster Detention Center. I would hope that my colleagues will support this agenda item. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Commissioner Fennoy. Mr. Fennoy: Yeah, I was going to tell in on what Commission Lockett said. I think that the $25,000 dollars is a small investment and I think that the return we’re going to get on our investment is immeasurable. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. And I do want to thank you for all you do as well. Commissioner Johnson, did you? Mr. Johnson: Yeah, I just wanted to just say, thank you, Mr. Mayor, but I just wanted to say I think we need to make sure it’s clearly understood up here that we do have issues in other areas in Park and REC, we know that. This is a different case, it’s not, it is not one that you can compare The Patch and Newman Tennis Center and The Aquatic Center and some of the other places that we do fund as well. And that’s why the Administrator made the recommendation to 22 break it up into the sum for twenty-five to see exactly and also give you an opportunity to go out and seek other resources to see whether or not you need the other $25,000. So I said it before and I’ll say it again $25,000 is a very small amount to just stay afloat. And let’s be real. We spend that in attorney fees on frivolous cases so we’re not asking for anything unusual. But I do support it and wouldn’t support it any other way. Do we need to look at those other facilities yes but I think we need to look at possibly partnering with other maybe schools or what have you to fund those facilities to make sure they stay function able. But I do think this is definitely the right thing to do and the way the Administrator made the recommendation to do that I think it would definitely something that we should support so. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. If there is no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Mason, Mr. Lockett and Mr. Williams vote Yes. Ms. Davis, Mr. D. Smith, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. Grady Smith vote No. Mr. Jackson out. Motion Fails 5-4. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, ma’am. Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, point of personal privilege. Madam Clerk, would you put that back on the agenda for the next full Commission meeting again, please? The Clerk: Yes, sir. Mr. Williams: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next pulled agenda item, please. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 17. Motion to approve tasking the Administrator to meet with Paul Simon to develop a proposal between First Tee and the Augusta Municipal Golf Course with all details to be brought back to the Commission. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 11, 2013) Mr. Mayor: And who’s pull was this? Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is for the Administrator. Fred, where are we at as far as trying to find other competitive bids to do with this golf course? Mr. Russell: We’ve had conversations with the individuals that bid in the past. There’s been several phone calls coming in. We’re still discussing the method to move forward with that and that’s pretty much where we’re at. When this came up that put us in a different direction to some degree but we could move forward with all that simultaneously if you’d like. 23 Mr. Guilfoyle: If my colleagues won’t mind I know that the whole reason why we actually pushed this golf course off is because the Mayor Pro Tem wanted the new director to come in. I know that he still wants the same decision to be made as far as the golf course so the new director will have a say so. But I just wanted to look at all our options when we come to view Mr. Simons as well as the MMA has showed interest in it as well as a couple of other companies. So if we could go on what we tried to go on back in January is to look at all our resources. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Commissioner Williams then Commissioner Fennoy. Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The agenda states that the Administrator is to get with Mr. Simon and then come back to the Commission. I wanted to make sure that that doesn’t come back to Commission it comes back to the Committee. The negotiations need to take place but we don’t need to be negotiating Mr. Mayor and then a decision gets made or something gets wrote up. And then we have to vote on it and we don’t know what’s in there. I wanted it to come back to committee so I can hear whether that Ragu sauce has got everything in it or not. Because if it don’t have the right ingredients we need to make sure they’re put in there so we can go back to Mr. Simon and make sure that we have gotten those things that we want. Now we don’t necessarily need to negotiate the contract but I want to know what’s in the contract before this body votes on it so I had planned to pull this Mr. Guilfoyle pulled it first and But I want to make a motion that we approve this that’s fine. item 17 to go forward with the conversation but be brought back to committee so we as a body can look at what Mr. Simon has brought and what our negotiator has brought and then we can determine whether that’s good or bad or indifferent. We may need to go and do like Mr. Guilfoyle said then and to get some conversation with somebody else. But I wanted to make sure that this don’t get in a box where it comes back to this full body and we don’t have any knowledge except what somebody’s put in a book and we agree or disagree on it. We need to make sure that we, because we’ve been talking about The Patch, we’re talking about adding the school board in with some children coming up there to combine First Tee and The Patch together. We’re talking about some beautification we’re talking about making the city golf course a city golf course. And that’s what we ought to be doing making sure that the golf course is something that’s really, really nice and that people will want to play golf. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. We have a motion. Do we have a second on that? Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. Commissioner Fennoy I’ll recognize you. Mr. Fennoy: Yes, I had an opportunity to talk to some of the former Patch players at a different golf course over the weekend. And they liked the idea of the Municipal Golf Course partnering with First Tee. And many of them said that they would come back to the Patch if this could actually take place. 24 Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Ms. Davis had her hand up next and then I’ll come back down to that side. Ms. Davis:substitute motion Mr. Mayor I was just going to ask for a just to include the include any other proposals motion that Commissioner Williams asked for to that Mr. Russell might have. We haven’t, when we said we were going to go back to some previous management groups that have entertained proposals we haven’t seen those either. So could we, I don’t know if that needs to be a substitute to include any other proposals that we might have --- Mr. Mayor: Yeah that --- Ms. Davis: --- at the current time. Mr. Mayor: --- would be a substitute to encapsulate the previously made motion into to include all other proposals we’ve had. Mr. Guilfoyle: I’ll second that one. Mr. Mayor: Okay. We have a substitute motion that’s been properly seconded. Mr. Mason. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First, I need to have that motion repeated before I even make a comment. I may not need to. The Clerk: The motion was to approve tasking the Administrator to meet with Mr. Simon to develop the proposal and to bring it back to the committee rather than the Commission. And then to include in the discussion any other proposals that come forth. Mr. Mayor: That was the substitute motion. Mr. Mason: Okay, so let me kind of break that down a minute. To include in the discussion with who because he’s discussing with Mr. Simon. So who are we included in the discussion with? Mr. Mayor: Fred and let me just, I think it’s entering into discussions with Mr. Simon and then when he comes back to the committee as Commissioner Williams --- Mr. Mason: I just want clarity because I want to know what I’m voting on. Mr. Mayor: --- Fred just --- Mr. Russell: Let me tell you what I heard since I’m trying to interpret what we’re doing here basically is that what I would end up coming back with would be a proposal that we negotiate with Mr. Simon and any other proposals or interested parties that would be willing to take over the golf course and operate it in some format or form. So you would have a menu to choose from of if you want to go with A, B, C or whatever. That’s what I interpreted that to be. 25 Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams. Oh I’m sorry. You’re not finished? Mr. Mason: I’d like to have just a few words here. You’re negotiating a proposal with Mr. Simon. Is that what I’m hearing you say? Mr. Russell: Yes, we would develop, Mr. Simon would develop a proposal. In addition to that we would look at the other proposals there and bring you back a menu of those proposals that are on the table or developed for you to look at all those and determine which one would be the best service to the city is what I heard that to be. Mr. Mason: Okay, so as we’re looking at the, let’s put the deal with Mr. Simon or the solicitation for proposal to the side for a moment. Mr. Russell: Okay. Mr. Mason: As we’re dealing with those the other ones that you’re talking about have there been and RFP drafted because you’re talking proposals. Have there been something drafted to solicit a proposal for or from at this point? Mr. Russell: At this time the only thing I was instructed to do was to talk to the two people that had previously looked at this opportunity and determine their interest. They have both expressed an interest to move forward. If you want to include other people we could re- advertise fairly quickly and get that on the table. But at this point the ones I would be dealing with were the two that had previously applied and move forward. Mr. Mason: Okay, I’m just wondering in this whole process from a protocol standpoint if you have not drafted for instance some sort of solicitation in a request of what you’re looking for scope or work in a requirements and so forth how does one come with a proposal or something that haven’t not, have not necessarily been asked for. Mr. Russell: If you want to expand it beyond the two that were currently in the pool we would have to do that. Mr. Mason: Okay. Mr. Russell: And that’s not what I heard. Mr. Mason: Okay that’s what, okay I’m clear. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I don’t know anything about golf at all. I can recognize the ball but that’s all. I don’t, that’s all golf is nothing to me. But we was talking and I guess I was the only one in the room when Mr. Simon came and started talking about adding the First Tee with The Patch along with some kids being taught some things at that particular 26 meeting. But we were going to try to at least get the school board involved to sent students even up to that point and allow the kids that’s at First Tee to graduate or progress I guess to a larger field as they learn which wouldn’t stop any of the players. It wouldn’t stop any of the people are already participating there. Now what I’m hearing is now that we’re going out, we’re going to get something all together different. I don’t understand how we get up here and change our minds. Are we decide that we had a vision and the vision ain’t the same. Mr. Mayor, we was talking about doing the First Tee with The Patch with Augusta Tech being able to come in with their expertise and laying out some things. Mr. Simon had said he has some people who was already experienced in doing some things. We wouldn’t have to hire. We know we was going to have to do the same maintenance we’ve been doing now and take care of the course. And I thought we was in negotiations. I thought we was talking. I thought we was going to go through this body and have it done so everybody would be on the same page. Now it sounds like we never heard this before. It’s sounds like we want to do something totally different. Now we know that The Patch has been the center of this board for a long time from closing it down to throwing it away to saying it wasn’t making no money saying it wasn’t the right thing. We done heard all kinds of talk. Now we’re at the table now with somebody’s who’s got a plan that’s working and it may not work for us but we at least ought to be at the table to talk about it. But now we want to go back out to somebody and we’re going to confuse everything. Mr. Mayor: Well, I’ll tell you, Commissioner Williams, and I don’t disagree with you. Too often I think what we get is a pitch and not a plan. A plan is on paper and it’s something that we can review. It’s not just coming up and saying you know we’re going to do this. I think what the substitute motion gets is we’ll get Mr. Simon’s plan but we’ll also get a couple others to take a look at too. And if Mr. Simon’s which includes a lot of the things I think we all want up here is the best one I would say that that would be the one that we’re going to take. Commissioner Johnson then Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think Commissioner Williams kind of hit the nail on the head with that. He’s absolutely correct. The thing is Paul Simon made a pitch to the Commission last week and what we asked him to do was get with the Administrator, bring back his plan or his proposal to us. Then he made that pitch. This was not something we requested. He made the pitch because he saw the need and said look here I think I have a solution for you guys. That’s why we asked him to bring that back to us. It wasn’t like we was out soliciting that. Whatever the Administrator is doing outside of that with the other two companies or individuals in reference to The Patch that’s fine, they can do that. But we’re just saying that came about because of the pitch he made. Now I don’t have a problem with supporting Commissioner Davis’ motion but I’m just saying it wasn’t something we said let’s do this and that’s how it got here. It got here because of the presentation he made. And we wanted to see what it was because nothing was on paper. Nothing was presented to us as a body. So if it’s something worth looking at let’s look at it and see. And if it’s not then maybe we can do something different. But I’m not opposed to those others because they may not be in a position to present a proposal this quick. I don’t know. But I just don’t want it, the offer could be out there but I don’t want us to get it extrude up here that we are in something that we requested. That was not the case. It was something he brought to us and we decided to look at it so I just wanted to put that out for the record. 27 Mr. Mayor: Good point. Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know the plan that Mr. Simon presented is completely different that what was on the RFP’s then any of those people they weren’t even asked whether or not you will consider working with First Tee. They weren’t asked these things. The plan that Mr. Simon presented was almost identical to the plan that we did about three years ago when Mr. James Kendrick came up with a plan to involve the First Tee to involve Walton Rehab, Richmond County Board of Education, Augusta Tech and others. And some of my colleagues voted against it because they wanted to go all the way to Scotland. And you see how that worked. This is a good plan. It’s something we can get our young people, our senior citizens and so forth involved with. This is keeping the money in Augusta Richmond County not send it out somewhere else. This is a plan that we can tweak if necessary so I would hope that we would wait until Mr. Simon’s comes back with a plan and let’s take a look at it, see if can be tweaked or enhanced or whatever before we continue to go out and in La La land trying to find somebody else. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Lockett. Commissioner Guilfoyle then Commissioner Smith. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I know we’ve been discussing this for quite some time now but I keep hearing about this plan. But in my agenda book it just shows the description from item number seventeen. Where is this plan at ya’ll? Mr. Johnson: It’s got to bring --- Mr. Mayor: Yeah, that’s what we’ve got to bring in. Mr. Guilfoyle: And we’re going off verbiage. That’s the last thing I want to do is make a decision on verbiage. Mr. Mayor: Which is, I will tell you and I just told Commissioner Williams he was completely right earlier that we should run everything back through committee so it’s not just coming directly to, so it’s taken those steps sequentially, putting the plan together, bringing it back to committee then it can come back to the full Commission. Mr. Williams: We’ve got time to look at it, Mr. Mayor. We can make our pros and cons then but we hadn’t got anything. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith. Mr. D. Smith: I was just going to try to echo some of this and see if I’m in the right place. This is a concept that Mr. Simon has talked to us about but we’ve not seen a business plan. When he came down here with a TEE Center he had a business plan and so on and so on. We haven’t any of that. And I think that’s the frustration that I’m suffering and everybody else up here is suffering is that’s what we want so, that’s what I’m wanting. 28 Mr. Mayor: Point of personal privilege for Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: Yes, sir, to my colleagues on the right and the left. This is what the vote is for him to bring the plan back so we can look at it in committee. We can kill it or we can breathe life into it. But we’re trying to kill it before it even gets off the floor. So if we could pass this and he has a chance to negotiate with the Administrator he can bring it back to committee then ya’ll get your knife out and you can cut it up and do whatever you need to do. Mr. Guilfoyle: Call for the question. Mr. Williams: But it’s, I mean this is no rocket science stuff. Mr. Mayor: I was recognizing Commissioner Davis and then I believe the question’s been called for? Ms. Davis: Yes, Mr. Mayor, all I was asking the last discussions we had concerning The Patch was for the Administrator to go back to the two management groups who had sent proposals. I want to make sure that they’re included in whatever we decide on. If it’s not on this motion, I can do it at a different. I just want to make that point. Mr. Mayor: And that’s, that’s the motion on the floor. Correct, the substitute motion? Okay. Mr. Mason: Point of clarity --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. Mason: --- if I could clarification. I appreciate Commissioner Davis’ comments but the fact of the matter is if you look at it from a legal standpoint maybe we can get some advice from General Counsel. I don’t see the reason for another motion to tell Fred to do what we’ve already passed a motion for him to do. So that’s already out there so he just needs to continue on with that. This is about a concept that Mr. Simon’s is bringing forward and that’s what we need in my opinion that’s what we need to vote on now for that because again, Mr. Mayor, we’ve already voted to have Fred work with them and kind of figure out what that process is with those two. Mr. Mayor: Okay, let me try to get clarity. And I agree with you. Mr. Mason: We never stopped him. Mr. Mayor: Yeah. Mr. Mason: That command or that vote is still out there. Mr. Mayor: And, okay to, let me just try to get us here with this. I agree with you completely. I think it would be best to as Commissioner Williams said that when their proposals 29 are brought back that they are brought back in the same committee meeting that this proposal is brought back in and so that we’re comparing everything at the same time. I think you know. It gives you that menu of options. Mr. Mason: You’re the Chair. Mr. Mayor: Okay, so we know, the question’s been called for but just for clarification Mr. Russell, Ms. Davis the inclusion into your substitute motion that encapsulated Commissioner Williams motion that’s already, the Administrator’s already been tasked with bring that back. Correct? Okay. Mr. Russell: It would be appropriate to bring it back all at the same time. Mr. Mayor: Okay and would you be willing to amend your substitute motion to just say to bring back all of the proposals at the same time? Okay, okay so the substitute motion is to task the Administrator with developing a proposal with Mr. Simon and to bring the other two proposals back through committee at the same time. Okay. Mr. Johnson: Mr. Mayor, hold on I mean that’s good, that’s good but we need to be clear now. This proposal that Mr. Simon is bringing back is he going to present it or he’s just giving the proposal to us. Mr. Russell: (inaudible) given the nature of what we’re looking at and the impact it has we can have each of the people making proposals --- Mr. Mayor: To present. Mr. Johnson: Exactly that’s my point they need to present it if they’re --- Mr. Mayor: I agree. Mr. Johnson: --- going to be here. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a substitute motion. The question has been called for. Commissioners will now vote by the substitute sign of voting. Mr. Jackson out. Motion carries 9-0. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, I’m told we have some people still here for Item 40. The Clerk: ENGINEERING SERVICES 40. Discuss 2013 Solid Waste Contract Subcontractors. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) 30 Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: Yes, sir, I had this put on the agenda, Mr. Mayor, to talk about the 25% local participation that we’re supposed to be getting in this. And I think Mark is here but we have took at least three local businesses that was doing business with the city that was out on their own doing okay until we consolidated and pulled them in, in this government and we gave them an opportunity to go work and did an outstanding job. I mean they moved some stuff that the average garbage hauler wouldn’t even look at without a complaint. And now we only took two of those out of the five and put them back to work when we left the other three out which is going to really affect a lot of families, a lot of equipment. And I wanted this board to look at it and to make a decision. The contract is not, it’s been awarded but not let out. It won’t be let until I think what’s that Mark, June or July? June one? We have time to make sure that the people that have been working for us will clean this city up and we’ve got a lot of stuff still out there. But we have a, when we first did this folks was unloading everything they could put their hand on, on the street. We tore up a lot of equipment because we thought it was going to be a onetime deal and we’ve been moving and I thought we was wrong to do this but I was a part of that board who said anything you put on the street they’ll move. And they moved anything they put out there from car engines to transmissions to anything they put out. And I think it’s very unfair now that we get to this point and let the biggest or the largest contract dollar wise that we have ever done in the City of Augusta but we let three of the five small or local haulers we left them out. And I’ve got some issues with that, Mr. Mayor, and I don’t know what my colleagues think but I think we need to address that. I think we need to look at it. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Johnson, I believe we’re going to hear. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem? Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. What I would like to see here and I guess, Nancy, if you will you can go ahead and put this on the agenda. I would like to have it on the agenda for next Monday committee Engineering Services to have Mr. Johnson to bring the prime contractors to speak before the committee as well as the body who’s here to give us their terminology on how they I guess they chose that method if you will to just include the two subs that they have because I understand this thing is very technical. Out contract is with the primes not with the subs and although they made the initiative to do the 25% if they chose to do it and use two contractors which is subcontractors if you will they can do that. Now I may not agree with it but technically they can do that. So the issue is with the primes if you will and we need to make sure that we get the terminology on how they came up with their methods. So if you can add that to the agenda Engineering Services on Monday then we can discuss, get them to tell us why they chose that and how they got to that. And in that way we can get some resolve to this whole thing and figure out what’s going on. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams, Commissioner Johnson has requested that this be added to next Monday’s Engineering Services Committee Meeting, let Mr. Johnson bring in the two primes so that they can discuss this with this body. Is that amenable to you? Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I don’t know what bringing the primes in. The primes got the contract there. I don’t think and maybe we can iterate to them what, how important it is to keep 31 those local businesses in. Now we tried everything we can and if that’s the next step I’ve got no problem doing that. But I wish that we would be mindful of what we have done in asking for 25% of that work that we gave out be done locally. And they took out of the five small contractors they only took two of them and left three of them out. And each one of those contractors had at least 15-20 people plus equipment. We’re not talking about that equipment. And I just think that’s wrong. I think there’s something that we as a body ought to say to the prime hey look, we want 25% of that work to go back to the local people. These people have been working for years. Now when we were a county and a city they were in the county and had their own business they had to get their can, we made them buy trucks, we made them get into a situation that they probably wouldn’t have got in debt wise but because they want to work for this city they found a way to do it. Now we’re going to just walk away from them and say hey, we don’t need you no more. And we needed them they was right there and they was on a very, well they were under a lot of scrutiny I guess I could say to make sure that they were in compliance and do what, and they did it. And I just think it’s wrong for anybody to come in and take three other companies and just push them out but. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Yeah, I just want to follow up there. I think and that’s the step that we would need to take because technically the primes are responsible for hiring their subs and we need to kind of ask them why they chose to use two because they can do 25% with two subs. They can do that. They can create enough work for them to you know justify the 25%. But what we want to know is why they chose that method because if there’s more work they could’ve included more of the subs. You know and that’s the thing and that’s what we want to know, why they chose that method because there is enough work for them to include other subs. Mr. Williams: I have appointments, Mr. Mayor, I’m going to have to leave if I can. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. I don’t know anything about hauling trash or anything else but I do know that these two was given the lowest of the lowest to pick up. Now there’s something wrong here now. Let’s put this on the table. We talking about a city that’s talking about doing things that’s fair and equitable with everybody but we hire some primes who gave two out of the five the lowest of the lowest to pick up. And I guess all trash is trash but some of them are dirty than others and you might not believe that. And they were assigned to pick up the stuff that nobody else wanted to pick up. And I think it’s unfair. Mr. Mayor: Okay. I always heard that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If I could ask Mark a question because I don’t see anybody here from Procurement, Mr. Mayor, if I could. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Johnson. Mr. Mason: First, Mr. Johnson, has this contract been signed and let? I know the period of performance hasn’t started but have this contract been signed, awarded and so forth. 32 Mr. Johnson: This has been signed, it’s been executed it’s been awarded and all of the pre-work, ordering trucks, installing equipment has initiated. So we an effective date and a start date. We are between the effective date and the start date of service delivery. Mr. Mason: Okay no, Mr. Mayor, here’s why I’m asking this question and it’s probably not going to be very popular. But I’m talking about in terms of right as far as a procedure. The contract has been executed, signed and let. And the contract is with your prime vendor, the prime contract vendor. When this happens we put out a scope of work and that scope of work through a solicitation and proposal was received from several different ones perhaps and then a contract was awarded. At that point if things was not asked for prior to, once the contract is signed it is what it is. And that’s unfortunate. I’m not by any stretch of the imagination saying I agree with it but the fact of the matter is it was signed. And we generally, and even in the federal government, we don’t deal with subcontractors because you’re main vendor is the prime vendor. That’s who we deal with as a government. So all I’m saying as we go through this process whomever we bring up here we need to be very, very cautious on how we move forward when you have a signed and executed document as a contract it’s a binding deal once it has been signed. Now whatever happened or didn’t happen prior to it being signed once you put your name on that dotted line now you’ve got some legal issues potentially to deal with. So I would just hope whatever we do we be very clear. But I’m hearing some language up here and I don’t know if I’m getting close to my time. If I am I’ll take another one, Mr. Mayor. But I’m hearing some language up here telling a prime what to do and I don’t believe that we have the authority to do that if we put, if we put out a solicitation requesting a certain scope of work with certain requirements and certifications within that scope or work. If they responded to it, they were the most responsive and it was awarded to them then they execute that in the manner that they so choose as long as it meets the requirements that we asked for. So I don’t know where we’re going here and it’s a slippery slope if we’re bringing them in, if that’s the case and Legal can speak to this. We need to be awfully careful with a signed document. What we say and what we try to enforce after the fact because then that would become amendments to the contract and we have not made an amendment or requested an amendment to deal with certain things. Perhaps that’s a way to go and have that discussion. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Commissioner, Bill, you had your hand up. Mr. Fennoy: And I guess my question is, is the 25% is that a dollar amount or is that a percentage of the household or businesses where trash will be picked up? Mr. Johnson: It’s a percentage of the revenue paid to the prime contractor. Mr. Fennoy: Okay. Mr. Mayor: You know I don’t know that we’re going to get resolution on this. Commissioner Johnson? Mr. Johnson: Yeah, I just wanted to follow up and just say that I think Commissioner Mason hit the nail on the head. He’s absolutely correct. And I think with this being said the reason why you know I think just having the primes here it will at least let us know how they got 33 to that. It’s not to say that anything can be changed but at least they can justify how they came to that because they did that, we didn’t do it. Mark didn’t do that it was the primes who chose the method they chose and I guess it give us an opportunity to just hear from them. And that’s why I just said it would be appropriate to probably hear from the source versus getting innuendos about how they got to that. Because they came to that conclusion someway and you know at least we can ask them in terms of how, explain to us how they got to that. So I’m ready to move forward and vote. Mr. Mayor: Can I get? Commissioner Smith? Mr. Lockett: Mr. Mayor, please? Mr. Mayor: Excuse me. Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: For the last half hour all I’ve been wanting to say is we have been discussing agenda item number 40 but on the monitor there’s agenda item number 41. Mr. Mayor: Thank you for that catch. Commissioner Smith. Mr. G. Smith: Mark, these five subcontractors do they have, were they given criteria they had to meet, county specifications? And maybe there was a reason some of them didn’t meet the specifications or? Mr. Johnson: Our specifications are for the prime contractors. Mr. G. Smith: Right. Mr. Johnson: We hold all of the subcontractors to the same standard as the prime. Mr. G. Smith: Right. Mr. Johnson: So if the sub fails to perform we hold the prime responsible for failure to perform. So we did not specifically look at subcontractors. Mr. G. Smith: And so the prime is, pays the subcontractor. The subcontractor has no dealings with the county. Is that right? Mr. Johnson: That is correct. Mr. G. Smith: Except to meet the expectation there. Mr. Johnson: That is at our vantage point as the prime. Mr. G. Smith: Right, okay. All right. 34 Mr. Mayor: Okay. Can I and I’ve recognized you twice and a point or personal privilege, Mr. Williams. Can I get a motion to receive this as information? Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to receive as information, sir. Mr. Lockett: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will --- Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor there is, there is. Mr. Mayor: Who’s the further discussion? Mr. Williams: Right here, I need further discussion. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams, I’ve recognized you twice and as a point of personal privilege. Please, sir, it has been requested to be on next Monday’s Engineering Services agenda meeting. We good? Okay. If there’s no further discussion today Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Jackson out. Motion Passes 9-0. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, let’s go on to the, back to the pulled agenda items. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 19. Motion to approve a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Augusta Housing Authority and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and authorize the Mayor to execute the same and any other forms related to the environmental review of the Cherry Tree Crossing Redevelopment Project. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 11, 2013) Mr. Mayor: Mr. DeCamp. Mr. DeCamp: Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, this item is related, we’ve had an outstanding professional relationship with the Housing Authority to help them with their environmental assessment work on their projects over the years. And in this particular case because the property is supposed to be, almost all the buildings on the Cherry Tree Crossing site are more than 50 years old. This Memorandum of Agreement is necessary in order to meet federal regulations and requirements. Mr. Mason: Motion to approve, Mr. Mayor. 35 Mr. D. Smith: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there is no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Williams out. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next agenda item, please. The Clerk: PUBLIC SAFETY 21. Motion to approve allowing the Augusta Fire Department to contract with Titus Sports to provide peer fitness training as it relates to the Augusta Fire Department’s Wellness & Occupational Fitness Program. (Approved by Public Safety Committee March 11, 2013) Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle : Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I actually had time to speak with Chief James while they was in discussion of trash. And we walked down to the store and got a soda pop and motion to approve. came back. But Somebody second. Mr. Mason: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Did you say soda pop? Mr. Jackson and Mr. Williams out. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I believe that dispenses the pulled items. Back to the regular agenda. The Clerk: PLANNING 36. Z-13-12 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to deny a petition by Larry Ennis requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) to P-1 (Professional) affecting property containing approximately 1.03 acres and is known as 1906 Phinizy Road. (Tax Map 144-0-010-00-0) DISTRICT 6 Mr. Mayor: Mr. Patty. Mr. Patty: Yes, sir, this is a residential property along the south side of Phinizy Road. There are approximately twelve houses left out there. Some of them show pride of ownership. 36 This one is in disrepair. The Planning Commission felt that it is still a neighborhood although the jail and jail facilities are across the street. We felt that priority should be given to the neighbors out there. This would be the first commercial intrusion into this area with the exception of a warehouse type of development of some kind between the old shrine and the Highway 56. The presenter at our meeting testified that this would be a place where prisoners could come after they were released and work on getting, you know be around for a while, work on getting transportation and that sort of thing. I think the Planning Commission weighed the facts and came out I’d have to say slightly in favor of denial because of the evidence that was presented. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you. Mr. Patty, I actually rode down Phinizy Road Saturday with a friend of mine and was looking at all the different, because I knew this was coming up today, the different venues we have out there. We’ve got a YDC that takes up one quarter of it. We’ve got a Shriners Club right next to a Shriners Club they just built a supply house which is all basically commercial. You’ve got your baseball field you’ve got your nursing home which is right across the street or probably right nest store to this facility here which is (unintelligible). Then you’ve got your church parking lot which is on the opposite end 25 Phinizy Road which is where they wanted discussion on the amphitheater. And let’s not forget our prison that we have out there. We have six houses if that that’s considered residential and we want to change this from Agriculture to P-1. I don’t see why not. I mean because what this is going to be, it’s going to be hand in hand with the Sheriff’s jail house out there. Mr. Patty: My only response to that is think about that whole section because whatever you do for this one will set the tone for the rest of them. Mr. Guilfoyle: It’s already on both ends of Phinizy Road, sir. Mr. Patty: You have twelve houses left in there and a fairly upscale mobile home park if that’s not an oxymoron. Mr. Guilfoyle: My motion is to approve. Ms. Davis: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. I actually had already called for the vote. Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to approve it not a motion to deny it, right? Mr. Mayor: No, motion to approve. Mr. D. Smith: No, we made a mistake. 37 Mr. Guilfoyle: No, the Clerk needs to change that then. Mr. Mayor: Just to clarify your motion your motion was to approve --- Mr. Mason: Not to deny it. Mr. Mayor: --- no. Mr. D. Smith: To approve to go against that. Mr. Mayor: Okay. The Clerk: Approve the petition. Mr. Mason: The Clerk got it. Mr. Guilfoyle: To deny the recommendation from the Planning Commission. Mr. Mayor: And approve the petition. Mr. Guilfoyle: And approve the petition. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Now that we’ve clarified the motion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Long, I’m sorry you wasn’t able to present your pictures. Mr. Lockett votes No. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Williams out. Motion Passes 6-1. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, on to the next agenda item, please. The Clerk: FINANCE 39. Motion to approve a Resolution in support of amending local legislation to provide for salary increases for Richmond County Civil and Magistrate Court Judges. (No recommendation from Finance Committee March 11, 2013) Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I know we’ve had some discussion on this and . And what I would propose we’ve seen some discord between individuals and elected officials is to put forth a resolution in support of reviewing all elected officials salaries and to take action as appropriate. And a review could be an increase it could be nothing it could even be a 38 decrease if they’re getting paid too much. But it’s a review and I would say that that would probably be the most appropriate for all folks concerned instead of all this piecemealing that we have going on and then no one feels left out from that process. So my motion would be for a review, approve a resolution or a review for the salaries of all elected officials in Augusta Richmond County. Mr. Mayor: Can I get a second on that? Mr. Lockett: Second. Mr. Mayor: Did you second, Commissioner Lockett? Okay. Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: Thank you. I’d just like to add I think that’s absolutely the point that we was trying to make here. I commend Commissioner Mason for that. And let’s be clear for the record. I know there was some questions about that. It’s not saying that anything is going to be done it just gives us a blueprint that we know exactly what the salaries should be. And it’s up to you know this body to make those adjustments. So it’s not to say that when it comes back you know if it comes back you know with the recommendations that we will do that. It’s just what the salaries should be and there may not need to be no adjustments at all. So I just wanted to put that out there for the record. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Commissioner Smith. Mr. D. Smith: I would ask Commissioner Mason if he will impose a time limit on when we would get that information back. My question was to you as the maker of the motion. Would you stipulate to putting a time limit on when we should have that information back? Mr. Mason: If I could ask for a Legal opinion on that because I don’t know from a --- Mr. Mayor: Mr. MacKenzie? Mr. Mason: --- (inaudible) standpoint what their process is. Mr. MacKenzie: Sure. It’s my understanding your motion was to request that the Legislative Delegation perform this review. The legislative cycle as far as this year has a very, very tight window. So I’m not sure if you’re anticipating for the next legislative cycle. If that’s the case then there wouldn’t be a short timeline on it. Otherwise if you’re looking at doing it for this legislative cycle the time is very short. Mr. Mason: Well, if you think about it, Mr. Mayor, they’re the ones who asked us to send some sort of resolution up here requesting them to be (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: We can request. Mr. Mason: I mean then you know as far as I was concerned I was making the request. 39 Mr. Mayor: By the end of this session? You might not get it done. Mr. Mason: Yes that’s pretty, absolutely. So you’d like to amend your motion to be by the end of the session. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Mason: Yes. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Thank you, sir. We have a motion that’s been made and properly seconded. If there is no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Mason, Mr. Lockett, Mr. D. Smith, Mr. G. Smith all voting Yes. Ms. Davis votes No. Mr. Jackson, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. Williams out. Motion Passes 6-1. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, on to the next agenda item, please. The Clerk: ENGINEERING SERVICES 42. Motion to approve the GOT Contract and Service Provider contract for the James Brown Blvd Streetscape and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute agreements under the direction of the Law Department. (Requested by Commissioner Mary Davis) Mr. Mayor: Ms. Davis. Ms. Davis: I believe that the, Margaret Woodard is here to speak about those but I believe the Commission was presented these initial contracts in the summer of last year. And So I move these are the final contracts to come back for the remaining funding for this project. to approve. Mr. Mayor: Do we have a second? Mr. Johnson: I’ll second that motion. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Jackson, Mr. Williams and Mr. G. Smith out. Motion Passes 7-0. Mr. Mayor: And, Madam Clerk, did we dispose of agenda item 41? Did that go on the consent? 40 The Clerk: I thought that was on the consent? Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, 41 is motion to approve a contract with Augusta Quality Lawn care with information to be provided regarding scope of work and the approximate number of lots to be cleaned on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. Mr. Mayor: That’s what I’m showing. The Clerk: I don’t know what happened with the agenda. Mr. Guilfoyle: We’ll need to put you in time out, young lady. The Clerk: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: What is your 41, Nancy? The Clerk: My 41 is the Augusta Quality Lawn Care. Mr. Lockett: That’s right. Mr. Mayor: Okay, that’s the same one. Can we get a motion on that one? Madam Clerk, if you would read your agenda 41 so we can vote for you. The Clerk: ENGINEERING SERVICES 41. Motion to approve a contract with Augusta Quality Lawn Care with information to be provided regarding a scope of work and the approximate number of lots to be cleaned on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. (No recommendation from Engineering Services Committee March 11, 2013) Mr. Lockett: Move to approve. Mr. Guilfoyle: Second. Mr. Mayor: 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. Mr. Guilfoyle: Is that it, Madam Clerk? Mr. Fennoy votes No. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Williams out. Motion Passes 7-1. Mr. Mayor: With no --- 41 Mr. Lockett: Mr. Chairman? Mr. Chairman, point of personal privilege. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Lockett. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know often times this Commission is criticized and we don’t deserve it. But I just want to point out something and point out why we have so much dissention in the community. If you look at agenda item 24 CSRA Alliance at Fort Gordon was asked for reestablishment of funding in the amount of $25,000. We didn’t even debate that. We put it on the consent agenda. But here we have the MACH Academy that’s doing something for our young people and we can even get six votes to support that. This is hypocritical and this how the community is going to see that. And I would hope that our votes wouldn’t be like this in the future. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: With no further business to come before the body we stand adjourned. [MEETING ADJOURNED] Nancy Morawski Deputy Clerk of Commission 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 March 19, 2013. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 42