Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting April 16, 2013 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER APRIL 16, 2013 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 5:00 p.m., April 16, 2013, the Hon. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Guilfoyle, Mason, D. Smith, Williams, Johnson, Jackson, Davis and G. Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Absent: Hons. Lockett and Fennoy, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: I’ll call the meeting to order. And I’d like to call on Avis Snearl, Pastor, Ward Chapel AME Church. Please stand. The invocation was given by the Reverend Avis Snearl, Pastor, Ward Chapel AME Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of American was recited. Mr. Mayor: And, Reverend, if you could please come forward please, ma’am, I’ve got something for you. And thank you for that wonderful invocation. Office of the Mayor. By these present be it known that Reverend Avis Snearl, Pastor, Ward Chapel AME Church is Chaplain of the Day for her civic and spiritual guidance demonstrated throughout the th community. Serves as an example for all of the faith community. Given under my hand this 16 Day of April 2013. Deke Copenhaver, Mayor. (APPLAUSE) Madam Clerk, on to the delegations. The Clerk: DELEGATIONS A. Rev. Christopher G. Johnson, MDiv., MPA, CNE, CNS Augusta’s Interfaith Coalition Executive Director, regarding the Augusta Interfaith Coalition’s Transit Initiative supports the promotion of affordable, accessible, safe transportation in order to meet the regional needs of our residents. Purpose: To promote the expansion of existing transit services provided to the community at large and present a proposal to go forward with the Community Advisory Committee and the framework for a comprehensive public transportation system. Mr. Mayor: If you could please come forward, sir, and just if you could keep it to five minutes please. Rev. Johnson: Yes, sir, thank you. Mr. Mayor and to the others, Commissioners thank th you for the opportunity we have to come to you again. At the last meeting on the 19 last month members from the initiative came and met with you and discussed the Community Advisory Committee. I want to bring you up to date and let you know that they’ve been continuing to 1 working hard and studying very hard the public needs for transportation in this area. They have studied the 2009 Augusta Richmond County Transportation Plan in and out. We’ve met with various people including the former Commission Matt Aitken who stated that the reason why the transit system’s not the way it should be is because we have not given Mobility enough time to study it to know exactly what we’re doing. And we’ve met with others who said you know we need to put together a comprehensive plan before we go forward. We’re asking that you let the community the actual Community Citizens Advisory Committee to be a part of the discussions because what’s going on is things taking place everyone pointing fingers and no one seems to know which way things are going. The Committee has been working very hard, very hard and I wanted to come back and say we don’t want to come in at the tail end we want to jump in right now. We know that and extension has been given to Mobility but the group also believes that we need to extend Mobility time to give them enough time to put a comprehensive plan in place. Don’t just cut them out at the end of thirty days don’t get rid of them at the end of twenty don’t put a time limit. Let’s put together a comprehensive plan first and during that process we can also implement the necessary changes we need to make. That’s what we’re here for. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Do we have any questions? Commissioner Johnson, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think that’s what we’ve done here, Pastor. We asked of course Transit Department along with other department heads to come together and come with an overall comprehensive plan. Also that comprehensive plan will be encompassed into an RFP that is actually going out. We have extended the current contract, I think, for another two months. Am I correct, Andrew, to give the questioning time for the RFP to be cured? But that is exactly what we want to do in the process just to make sure that, it’s 90 days? It’s 90 days to make sure that we do have that comprehensive plan. And I do concur with you on that I think it is something that we need to bring this board into to get them involved to get their input as well. So it will not be something that they’re unaware of and they can in turn share that with the community as we move forward. So we are very aware of that. We are definitely looking at the comprehensive approach to make sure that we do have a path forward so it can be transparent for everybody moving forward. Again you’re familiar with the 2009 plan as it relates to Mobility. We felt that they had an opportunity to look at that plan and we stated it here on the floor that we wanted them to enhance Transit if you will. And we didn’t feel like it happened over the last year and a half. So now it’s just one of those things. We have to make a decision up here as a body to get our Transit Department of the track we want it to be on. So I do understand the concerns. We are open to discussion to make sure that we do have the committee or the board if you will be involved in this process. And we want to encourage them to stay involved and stay on board with us as we move forward with this plan. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Absolutely. And I’m just and I’m going to get to you, Commissioner Smith, in a second but, Reverend, that’s the thing I think you’ve heard from most of us up here is that we’re committed to improving Transit. There’s consensus there. We want to work with the public and we want to get it done. It’s something that we’ve spoken about for years and years and years but you know we’re the second largest city in Georgia and we need a transit plan and a transit service that reflects that. Commissioner Smith. 2 Mr. D. Smith: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Reverend Johnson, your group, have ya’ll spoke with the employees of Mobility? Reverend Johnson: We have, personally I have also spoke with the General Manager and the President of Mobility and which we also have a meeting scheduled one day next week to have a face to face meeting to look at the ins and outs. And also to see where they’re experiencing problems. Their biggest concern was I talked with them and others talked with them that they were not given us clear direction. They were just given us duplicating what was in place when we gave it to them. This is all you do. And later on when there’s heat all of a sudden people start talking about making changes that the city’s pointing fingers at them and they almost threw the deal up in the air. And we know we just want things to work. And I despair for the people down in Blythe not to have transportation. It’s not fair for the people down in Hephzibah not to have transportation, it’s not fair. People need to get to work on time not waiting thirty minutes an hour later to get to work. I mean it’s just not fair and so we want something that works. Mr. D. Smith: All right, let me have a follow up question please. The morale for the current 86 plus employees at Mobility can you talk to me about the current morale that’s there? Rev. Johnson: Yes, we talked with a number of employees currently working there. The morale is low. Low for two reasons. Number one they feel as though no one cares about them. They feel that the Commission don’t care about them. The only thing anyone’s looking at is the bottom line. Mobility’s been given a short leash on what to deal with and how to do it and they feel well squashed you know and now there’s nothing but the bus drivers and let’s get rid of the bus drivers because that’s the closest one to them. You know they can’t get to the Commission they can’t get to the CEO’s who’s out of town. They can’t get to no one. Only ones they see is the bus drivers frustrated and mad and no one to carry them anywhere. They can’t get on a bus look at them and say I don’t want to ride you know we got to make it better. Mr. Smith: What I’m hearing from you is that you’re group and I think all of us will agree that transportation is an issue is that Mobility has not been given a fair opportunity to implement changes that we want to do. That they were simply given a job told them to do that and then the job that they gave them was not what the community wanted. Is that what you’re telling me? Rev. Johnson: Part of the problem was privatization is that we think a private enterprise can do a better job than the public sector. That’s not necessarily true. An efficient private company can do a better job because they don’t have to deal with you know some of the red tape that the public sector but also those who are journeymen know that the public sector can also do a very good job also. So if you get, if the public sector handed this paper to Mobility you take it and run with it without going over any details about telling them this is the point we need to make sure we need to take care of South Augusta because when back before consolidation we’re only dealing with the city for transportation. Now we’ve got to deal with the whole of Augusta and that’s where the problem is. Mr. Smith: Thank you Mr. Chairman. 3 Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’m really kind of in fact I’m very disappointed. But Mr., Reverend Johnson from one preacher to another preaching right now I just want to know. Can you get Mobility to tell us that we gave them an outline to do just what we told them to do with nothing and they had no more instruction? Rev. Johnson: We’ll do that. Mr. Williams: I said can you get them to stand where you are and tell --- Rev. Johnson: Sure --- Mr. Williams: --- wait, wait, wait I didn’t ask you to tell me what they said Reverend I’m asking you to get them to stand where you are there and to tell this body that all we’ve done was to give them a bus and a uniform and tell them to go to work. Because if they can do that then they’re really not the firm we need. If they can stand where you are and say that because I take offense. Now I’ve heard all of this stuff about the bus we’ve been worried and we’ve been going through back and forth I understand how important transportation is for the city of Augusta, especially for those who need it. I just talked with a couple of young men yesterday and told them I’m going to start riding the bus. I’m just going to catch the bus and just talk to the bus riders and the bus drivers because I’m just that concerned. Now I, but Mobility if they can stand where you are and tell this body we just gave them a few buses and told them ya’ll go out there and find your way. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing and that’s what you just stated. I’m saying that we have done everything that we know to do. We heard all kinds of promises about how good the buses were going to be we did a study and I thought the study was going to come back and show improvement of the different things we’re going to do and nothing has been done. I heard how clean the buses is today. Well, when you get terminated, yeah, I guess you go to work then but the buses should’ve been clean all the time. I heard that the people that were cleaning the bus were the people that the city had and they wanted to continue to use them. But if they wasn’t doing the job no company should’ve kept anybody on the detail of cleaning or doing something else if they weren’t performing. They were getting paid so I think we’re going down the wrong road, Mr. Mayor. I think we made a decision we’ve been bent over backwards to try to do what we can to keep them afloat but the time has come --- Mr. Mayor: Okay, do you want another two? Mr. Williams: --- yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Williams: The time has come now that we need to I don’t who’s fishing. Who did I say fish or what. I don’t do no fishing. I do mine at the fish market but I’m saying it’s time for them now to understand. This is a business up here. We’ve got to run it like a business. It’s got, we heard about making money and not making money. No bus system makes money. We’re not 4 looking for the bottom line but the services should’ve been done. I shared this before and I’m going to close with this, Mr. Mayor. There’s an obese lady sitting on Milledgeville Road sitting on the ground waiting to catch the bus. She couldn’t stand no longer. I really felt bad but she’s sitting on the grass, on the ground there wasn’t even a rock to sit on to catch the bus. Now I take blame for that because we sit up here too we should’ve made sure that those things are in place. You want people to ride the bus you’re talking about Hephzibah and all those places even Fort Gordon. If you don’t have a need to go out there and you put buses out there all day long the buses are going to be running. If there’s no need if there’s nobody riding you got a grant to do this. This is not some revenue we can just open up and say hey this is the way it’s going to be. I’m really disappointed. I think this board has bent over backwards to do everything we can to keep that firm in place along with the other stuff to do the city needs to get aggressive and do what it’s supposed to do and call I mean --- Rev. Johnson: We’re not asking to keep them in place. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner Williams. Rev. Johnson: We asked them to stay in place until we could put a comprehensive plan together because otherwise you’re starting all over again. And with all due respect too, you have a Commission talk you have the public firm talk, the private firm talk and no one is talking the same talk. We want to see something together that’s why we’re advocating putting together a program with clear dialogue. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. And I think that’s, it’s all got to be a team effort so thank you sir. Do we have any further questions? Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to receive as information. Mr. Jackson: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion to receive this as information and a second. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next delegation please. The Clerk: DELEGATIONS B. Mr. Charles Cummings regarding city transit, schedules, routes and extension of services. Mr. Mayor: And if you could keep it to five minutes too, please, sir. 5 Mr. Cummings: Mr. Mayor, City Commissioners, residents of Augusta, Georgia I’m Charles Cummings and I respectfully direct your attention to the Augusta Transit System. I realize that this has been a hot subject over recent months. In fact I sat in on a meeting but what I did not hear was scheduling, routes and days of operation. I realize that the system operates such as East Boundary they start running at six o’clock in the morning and they round it up around 8:30 at night. Well if I have to get to work by seven I might not make it. If I want to work a little overtime I can’t depend on the transit system to get me home. The routes does not include South Augusta, it does not include Fort Gordon and in fact when you go down Deans Bridge Road where Barton Chapel intersects with Meadow Brook Barton Chapel receives transit service. Meadow Brook just on the other side of the road does not. And they both go in opposite directions for a good distance. The days of operation they don’t operate on holidays, they don’t operate on Black Friday, they don’t operate on Sundays. Mr. Mayor, you stated Augusta is the second largest city in the State of Georgia. Our transit system has to reflect that. It must reflect that. We have taxpaying citizens who need good dependable transportation. My recommendation is simply this. If we’re going to keep the disabled veterans in mind we’re going to keep disabled citizens in mind if we’re going to keep employees without a car in mind even the kids who go to alternative schools should be issued a voucher. We need to employee a group of private citizens to serve all ten districts and report back to this body with their findings in regards to scheduling, routes and days of operation. And with that information hopefully it can become an integral part of any modification going forward. Augusta deserves better transportation and I realize you guys are working hard to make that happen. I’m just here to say keep up the good work, keep up the hard work but we got to make a change in Augusta, Georgia. Thank you very much. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: I just want to ask one question. And I agree with the people who don’t have transit and who need transit to make the bus available. I think Mr. Cummings mentioned about the alternative schools and I’m thinking wouldn’t that be a school board issue rather than a city issue. I just want to get --- Mr. Cummings: No, sir, I don’t think it would be and the reason why I think it wouldn’t be because the school board actually functions under the Commission so the Commission so the Commission has a thought of the school board. Mr. Williams: No, sir. Mr. Mayor: No, sir, they’re um, just for clarification they’re a totally separate elected board. They’re constitutional officers as well. So that’s totally separate. Mr. Cummings: Well, I’ll go back and do my research but it is still certainly an option. We have alternative kids that live on the outskirts of Richmond County. We only have one alternative school here in Augusta on Walton Way. The Mama don’t have a car, the Daddy don’t have a car and we tell these kids they got to get to that school. I’m offering up the best solution I can. 6 Mr. Williams: And, Mr. Mayor, if I can follow up. Mr. Cummings, I appreciate that but I just wanted to get you to understand and I’ll get some clarification for myself that that was two different governments. The bus running I’m sure those kids could use that bus to get to the alternative school and any other place of business they need to get to. But I didn’t want you to leave thinking that there was something that we had authority to do here you know as Commissioners. Mr. Cummings: And, Mr. Mason, you know I’ve always, Mr. Williams, I’ve always respected you and I thank you for the information. And I will go out and research it and come back with more information as I prepare to move forward. This won’t be the time I continue to work hard to make this happen. Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, sir. Commissioner Mason. Mr. Mason: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. I just want to say that Mr. Cummings brings up a number of good issues that we’re currently discussing as we speak in reference to alternative schools a serious issue. And it’s an issue that needs to be addressed. However as we previously stated that is a school board issue and I would highly encourage Mr. Cummings to get on the school board agenda and speak to that issue. I believe that this city would be more than welcome to consider that as an option if in fact the school board asked the city to do so because it is up underneath their jurisdiction. And I would hope that they would find it to be extremely important and I think that we would act accordingly in that manner. Much of what you brought up in terms of transportation and Reverend Johnson and various locations being comprehensive extending and expanding the service as well as the hours. These are things that are extremely important not only to this Commission but it’s important to the community. And furthermore it’s important to the business owners. I’ve met with several companies that employee thousands in the call center business and they brought up a lot of the same issues. The bus stops at seven or eight o’clock and people get off at ten and twelve and they can’t get home. So these are things I’m glad to hear you bring them forward but I need for you to know with some confidence that these are things they we are addressing very, very seriously because we clearly know certainly I know that these are issues that are out in the community and these are issues that we must address and that we are addressing. So at the end of the day whether it’s my thought and belief that we will have the extended transportation that we seek we will have the expanded service that we need citizens in Augusta Richmond County will be able to get from Point A to Point B in a timely fashion and will be able to move this community into the next millennium. Not only for our --- Mr. Mayor: Two more? Mr. Mason: --- I’ll probably need about 30 seconds. Not only for this government but for our citizens. It’s extremely important for our business community that they tap into our bus systems. And I’ve suggested to them that they can assist us in expanding this service and extending this service by participating in advertising on our buses, bringing in additional revenues. By supporting bus passes for their employees at perhaps a discounted rate. And the only reason why I’m saying this is just to let you know there’s been a lot of thoughts that have gone into this and we put work into this already. So I don’t want anybody leaving here thinking 7 that this has not been addressed at an extensive level because status quo we can’t have that anymore. That’s a done deal was over. We’ve got to move on. We’ve got to put it to where it should be and that’s the commitment I think that we have up here on this Commission. But I certainly do appreciate those that are concerned for coming forward and insuring that your needs are heard. But more importantly at some point they need to be met and that’s our focus. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir. Madam Clerk, on to the consent agenda. The Clerk: Yes, sir. Our consent agenda consists of items 1-12. And under the Planning portion of the agenda I’ll read the Planning petitions and if there is anyone who has an objection would you please signify your objection by raising your hand. Item 5: Is a request to approve a petition for a change of zoning from Zone LI (Light Industry) to Zone R-3B (Multiple-family Residential) affecting property located on the southwest right-of-way line of Delta Drive. Item 6: Is to approve a petition for a change of zoning from Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property located at 3950 Wrightsboro Road. Item 7: Is a request to approve a petition for a change of zoning from Zone R-1C (One- family Residential) to Zone R-1D (One-family Residential) affecting property located at 2346 Wrightsboro Road. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those petitions? Mr. Russell: None noted, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: So our consent agenda is items 1-12. Mr. Mayor: Do we have any additions to the consent agenda? Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, I’ll bet you wouldn’t mind --- Mr. Mayor: Mr. Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Item number 18 if nobody has a problem. Mr. Mayor: Do we have any further additions to the agenda, I mean to the consent agenda. Do we have any items to be pulled for discussion? Commissioner Smith. Mr. D. Smith: Number one, please, sir. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: I’d like to just get some clarity on number four as to what we’re doing with that. I don’t have a problem with it but I’d just like to know. 8 Mr. Mayor: Okay. Is George Patty here? Mr. Russell: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Patty. Mr. Patty: Yes, sir. This is a property that was used as a muffler shop. There’s a house in the front and there’s a commercial building in the back. And that’s the end of the commercial strip coming from that intersection. And the applicant is present. I believe he wants to live in the front and work in the back and that will allow him to do what he wants to do and retain the residential character there. And we think that’s a win, win for everybody. Mr. Williams: Okay, Mr. Patty, that’s already a situation that’s there now right? Mr. Patty: Yes. Mr. Williams: And I guess that’s why I asked this question about this special exception. What’s the difference in what has been there and being done then what’s going to be different from that? Mr. Patty: I guess it’s a technicality but a muffler shop is something that’s allowed as an auto repair in a B-2 Zone a Paint and Body Shop. And this is only one paint booth within an auto repair business. But when you’ve got a paint booth then that makes it, he’s got to have permission for an auto body repair. And that requires LI Zoning, no special exceptions. Mr. Williams: And that raises a flag with me. I’m looking at we’re always complaining about South Augusta and why South Augusta is not this and that and the other. But we allow certain things to go in certain areas Mr. Patty that we don’t allow in other areas. And I’m trying to figure out how we can ever be one city with the same rules for everybody when we keep changing the rules. I know where the muffler shop is and you know I’m familiar with the houses in front and the muffler shop’s in back and now it’s going to be a paint booth there. And it is way back off the road. I mean I’m not opposed to it. My question my concern is that we keep doing this not just in that one, that one is way off the road. You really can’t see it. You’ve got to drive down in the driveway you know to get to that one. I mean I’ve been there. I’ve used, I had some work done there before so I’m familiar. But I’m also concerned about the mindset of the community that’s there that we can put up different things in different parts of town that we can’t put in the other side of town. George, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Mr. Patty: Well, I understand your desire to be consistent but at some point you’ve got to look at these things on an individual basis, on a case by case basis. Now I think if you look at this one this is a perfect solution (inaudible). Mr. Williams: I’ve got no problem with it I’m in support you don’t have to worry about me voting against it I’m just one vote but I’m thinking that I’ve all of this to deal with now where once we allow one then you can’t tell the next one you says well just because he’s off the road. Is that right? 9 Mr. Patty: Well, like I say you want to be consistent but at the same time just about every situation, in most cases the situations are different. I mean obviously you want to you know you want to be consistent --- Mr. Mayor: The best you can. Mr. Patty: The best you can. Mr. Williams: All right, George --- Mr. Mayor: Okay, you’re okay with --- Mr. Williams: --- so moved. Mr. Mayor: --- it staying on consent. Mr. Williams: Yes. Mr. Mayor: Can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? Donnie, did you? Mr. Smith: I think I can, we can if Mr. Patty will just answer a couple of questions for me I think we can get rid of number one. I won’t have to take it off the consent agenda. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Smith: Mr. Patty, is this on the south side of Wheeler Road or the north side, Oxford and Cambridge? Mr. Patty: That’s in Cambridge Subdivision which is out off Tobacco Road. Mr. Smith: All right because I was thinking that it was Cambridge off of Wheeler Road over there. Mr. Patty: That’s Cambridge (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: Old Louisville. Mr. Smith: It just didn’t say whether which district it was in. It’s in Alvin’s district not mine. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Smith: You can put it back on consent then, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mason: Thank you, Commissioner Smith. 10 Mr. Mayor: Can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? Ms. Davis: So moved. Mr. Johnson: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PLANNING 1. DEVELOPMENT PLAN EXTENSION – CAMBRIDGE SECTION 15 – S-819 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Nathan Youngblood Homebuilders Inc., requesting a two year extension on the development plan for Cambridge Section 15. This residential subdivision is located on Thames Place and Oxford Drive and received development plan approval on June 2, 2011. 2. A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to move forward a petition by the Woodmen of the World Central Georgia Jurisdiction requesting approval for placement of a granite memorial bench to be placed in the Heritage Park pocket park located at 1225 Pine Street. The new bench will honor all veterans. 3. SA-48 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend Article 1, Section 105 – Exemptions – of the Land Subdivision Regulations for Augusta, Georgia maintaining the requirement for State Plan Coordinates compliance as found in Section 307(P) and Section 308. 4. Z-13-15 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Queensborough National Bank, on behalf of Frank South, requesting a Special Exception for a paint and body use in a B-1 (General Business) Zone per Section 22-2(a) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta, Georgia affecting property containing 1.30 acres and is known as 3101 Old Louisville Road. (Tam Map 110-4-155-00- 0) DISTRICT 2 5. Z-13-16 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by James B. Trotter, on behalf of Augusta Village at Riverwatch LLC, requesting a change of zoning from Zone LI (Light Industry) to Zone %-3B (Multiple- family Residential) affecting property located on the southwest right-of-way line of Delta Drive, 351 feet, more or less, southeast of River Shoals Parkway containing approximately 26 acres. (Part of Tax Map 008-0-010-12-0 DISTRICT 7 6. Z-13-17 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Ming Lin requesting a change of zoning from Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing .97 acres and is known as 3950 Wrightsboro Road. (Tax Map 039-0-013-00-0) DISTRICT 3 7. Z-13-18 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Robert Lacher, on behalf of Bernard Mock Jr., requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1C (One-family Residential) to Zone R-1D (One-family Residential) affecting property containing approximately .24 acres and is known as 2346 Wrightsboro Road. (Tax Map 044-3-186-00-0) DISTRICT 2 8. ZA-R-226 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta, Georgia by deleting Section 21-1(b)(30) Group Day Care Homes and Day Care Centers in the B-1 11 (Neighborhood Business)Zone and adding Section 26-1® Special Exceptions-Group Day Care Homes and Day Care Centers. PUBLIC SERVICES 9. Motion to approve an ordinance to amend Augusta-Richmond County Code Section 6-7 Vehicles for Hire – Taxicabs, so as to provide current standards for the operation of taxicabs. (Approved by the Commission April 2, 2013 – second reading. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 10. Motion to approve amending the 2009 – 2012 Action Plans to reprogram $503,354.00 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 11, 2013) PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 11. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held April 2, 2013. APPOINTMENTS(S) 12. Motion to approve the reappointment and appointment of the following representing District 1 effective immediately and expiring March 31, 2017: Darryl Nettles, Public Facilities; Small Business Citizens Advisory Council, JoRae Jenkins; Planning Commission, Denice Traina; Augusta Port Authority, Charlie Hannah; Tree Commission, Burkie Ayer; ARC Personnel Board, Aishia Leverett; Board of Zoning Appeals, Clyde Rouzan; Augusta Aviation Commission, James Germany; Historic Preservation Commission, Alison Fields; Library Board of Trustees, Brenda Morton and Aimee Sanders, General Aviation Commission. FINANCE 18. Approve Contractor Agreement with the Augusta Canal Authority for projects to be funded from SPLOST VI. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign. Motion carries 8-0. [Items 1-12, 18] Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, on to the regular agenda, please. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 13. New Ownership Application: A.N. 13-11: A request by Krupa Pareshkumar Patel for a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Stop N Save located at 1857-C Gordon Hwy. District 5. Super District 9. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Sherman. 12 Mr. Sherman: Are there any objectors to any of the alcohol applications? There are no objectors. Ms. Morawski is everything (inaudible)? Ms. Patel: My name is Krupa Pareshumar Patel of Stop N Save Convenience Store. And address is 2302 Spring House Lane Augusta Georgia 30809. Mr. Sherman: The Sheriff’s Department and Planning and Zoning reviewed the application and recommend you approve it. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: Yes, sir. 1857-C Gordon Highway. Where’s A and B at? Mr. Sherman: There are three store fronts on the property. It’s next to ATC Transmissions. It’s across the street from Tire Kingdom. Then there’s a convenience store. Mr. Williams: Okay, I got a picture. I know where it is now. Mr. G. Smith: Is that by the old Carriage House, in that area? Mr. Patty: Right. Mr. Johnson: Move to approve. Mr. Mason: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. Ya’ll need to get together and talk about the Carriage House afterwards. Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Mr. Smith: Never been there. Motion carries 8-0. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, ma’am. Mr. Sherman. PUBLIC SERVICES 14. New Ownership Application: A.N. 13-12: A request by Sharon A. Scheetz for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with The Pub & Grub located at 4020 Mike Padgett Hwy. District 8. Super District 10. Mr. Sherman: Okay number fourteen is a new ownership application. It’s a request from Sharon A. Scheetz for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine license to be used in connection with The Pub and Grub located at 4020 Mike Padgett Highway. District 8. Super District 10. 13 Ms. Scheetz: My name is Sharon A. Scheetz, 2298 Bass Wood Drive, Augusta. Mr. Sherman: The Sheriff’s Department and Planning and Zoning reviewed it and recommend that you approve it. Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to approve. Mr. Jackson: 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 of voting. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Sherman: Okay number sixteen --- PUBLIC SERVICES 15. Discuss the responsibility of the Finance and Procurement Departments in association with the approved Sec. 5307 Augusta Transit grant repayment between the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Augusta, Georgia for Capital purchase of engines. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) Mr. Mayor: Actually hang on we’re on fifteen and I think that --- Mr. Williams: I was going to move fifteen to the next Commission meeting. Mr. Mayor: Committee meeting or? Mr. Williams: Well, we can move to a committee meeting. That’s fine. Mr. Mayor: Okay, would you like to put that in the form of a motion? Mr. Williams: So moved. Mr. Mayor: Do we have a second on that? Mr. Jackson: Second. Mr. Mayor: Is there any further discussion? Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next agenda item. 14 The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 16. Discussion: A request by Eurl D. Kittles for a Dance license to be used in connection with Club Elite located at 3165 Gordon Hwy. There will be Dance. District 3. Super District 10. Mr. Mayor: Mr. Sherman? Mr. Sherman: Well, the applicant Mr. Kittles was here and he’s not here now so I suppose we want to postpone it to the next meeting. Mr. Mayor: Okay, can we get? Commissioner Johnson. Mr. Johnson: No, I was going to say I’ll make a motion just to send it back, well send it to committee if you will then we’ll --- Ms. Davis: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion that’s been, Commissioner Williams --- Mr. Williams: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: --- that’s been properly seconded. Mr. Williams: Wasn’t it passed in committee, Rob? I mean License and Inspection I mean the Sheriff’s Department and all them? Mr. Sherman: Well, we were prepared to recommend that it be approved. But this is the Commission committee today since we didn’t --- Mr. Mayor: We didn’t have a committee. Mr. Sherman: --- have a committee. Mr. Williams: Right. Mr. Sherman: And so again Kittles was here but not (inaudible) form so I think that it’s, you know postponing it until next Monday would be appropriate. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Okay we have a motion that’s been properly seconded. If there’s no further discussion Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign of voting. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next agenda item please? 15 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 17. Discuss changing the ordinance that deals with conflict of interest and ethics violations. (No recommendation from Administrative Services Committee March 25, 2013) (Referred from April 2 Commission meeting) Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Smith. Mr. D. Smith: Yes, I have a substitute motion for number seventeen. Mr. Mayor: There’s not been a primary motion made yet. Mr. D. Smith: I’m sorry. All right --- Mr. Mayor: Do you have a motion? Do you have a lot of emotion on this one? Mr. D. Smith: I do. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Go ahead. Mr. D. Smith: I want to make a motion, a substitute motion that --- Mr. Mayor: No, a primary motion. Mr. D. Smith: --- I want to make a motion that we task the Administrator and I’m sorry not the Administrator, our Attorney Mr. MacKenzie and Commissioner Pro Tem Johnson, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Smith, Donnie Smith and Commissioner Mason to review the ordinances of other municipalities in the State of Georgia to compare our ethics policy and come back with possible revisions to ours within the next 60 days. Mr. Mayor: Do we have a second on that? Mr. G. Smith: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion that’s been properly seconded. Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: Yeah, Mr. Mayor, I’ve got a, I’ve got no problem with the motion that Commissioner Smith made. I wish we could cut the time down to 30 days. Why is it --- Mr. Smith D. Smith: I’ll compromise with you, 45 then. Mr. G. Smith: Second. Mr. Mayor: You willing to split the difference with him? 16 Mr. Williams: Yeah, I can split the difference. The maker of the motion, this motion I think this is one Commissioner the one that put it on right? Mr. Mayor: And you’re okay with it being amended. Oh no, I’m just saying you’re okay with amending it because you’re initially --- Mr. D. Smith: 45 days, yes, sir, I am. Mr. Mayor: Okay and the seconder is okay? Okay. Mr. Williams: I’ve got no problem, 45 days is --- 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. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, the final agenda item. OTHER BUSINESS 19. Discuss the Commission’s parliamentary procedure rule “Call the Question”. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams. Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Nancy, could you have the electronic engineer beside you put this on the screen for me? No, no, this one please. And the reason I had this put on, Mr. Mayor, I commend you for being the Mayor and chief officer here the presiding officer of this meeting. But we’ve been getting confused with a lot of issues that come through especially when it calls the question. The Call the Question does not mean vote on the item. If I can get Mr. Andrews to read that section 3.4.06 for us please. Mr. MacKenzie: Sure. 3.04.06 Vote immediately Call the Question. A Commissioner may move to Call the Question i.e. move to end discussion when it is clear that further discussion is unnecessary or the discussion is becoming repetitive. This motion shall not require a second and no discussion on the motion shall be allowed. If there is no objection than it will be presumed there is unanimous consent. Should there be an objection and affirmative vote of the Commission shall be required. Mr. Williams: Now can you interpret that to me and the Mayor, Mr. Andrew, since you are the Attorney? I mean I know what I think it means and I’ve got no problem explaining that. But to many times we call for the question and we get confused. As our legal advisor can you explain to this what that means? Mr. MacKenzie: Well, I’m sure as an initial matter I think the purpose of this motion is once an item has been discussed fully and there’s no more fruitful discussion to be had it’s a 17 motion to go ahead and have a vote on the item. I agree it would be inappropriate for this motion to be made immediately following the reading of an item without there being any discussion on it. There’s actually a companion rule called 2.02 which is Discussion of the Rule. And that relates to the two minute limitation. And read consistent with this there’s also ability for there to be and extension to the amount of time if a Commissioner wants to go beyond the two limits. And initially the Chair can do that and beyond that it can be something also to go before the body. Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I heard a lot of words but I didn’t hear any clarity on it. The, you said if there’s no objection when the question is called there’s been discussion, Mr. Mayor. From my understanding from my little training that I received from all of the classes I’ve been able to take as a Commissioner when the question’s being called and anyone can call for the question. But if there is some unreadiness if there’s an objection then the vote needs to be taken as the majority to see if there’s enough people that want to discuss it any more. Mr. Mayor: And I don’t disagree with you, Commissioner Williams, but I think where we probably, so the question is called for and nobody says I object to it and would like to have a vote on it. And I think that for the clarity of all of us that’d make it easier to move on or to not. But I think that that brings clarity. I think that would just make it easier if you say I object I’d like to have a vote on it then we vote on it and see if there’s a majority to move on. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, Commissioner Guilfoyle, let me, well --- Mr. Guilfoyle: --- would you call for the question? Just practicing. Mr. Williams: Well and Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mason: I object. Mr. Williams: --- we have had this to come up several times and I think our Attorney should advise us when we are not following the guidelines that we’re supposed to follow. That’s written down in the books for us. And this is one that we use a lot of times, the question’s been called and there’s some unreadiness but there’s nobody asking if there any unreadiness we go ahead and vote on the item. This substitute motion is always voted on first. Mr. Mayor: Yes. Mr. Williams: Well, even the Mayor Pro Tem when he was elected when I nominated Mr. Jackson we tell him we’re voting on the Mayor Pro Tem. We didn’t vote on Mr. Jackson. But the rule says that you vote on your secondary motion first then you vote on your primary motion for that. Mr. Mayor: But that in the and --- 18 Mr. Williams: And that’s just one of them. I mean that’s not an issue now. Mr. Mayor: We need to go to lunch and discuss this further. Mr. Williams: Okay, well --- Mr. Mayor: But can we at least with I think you and I and everybody else is clear that just makes it easier if somebody says I object I’ll stop and say okay and say we need to have a vote on this. Mr. Williams: Vote to see, yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, I think that would help us out a lot. Mr. D. Smith: Mr. Chairman, for a point of clarity on the item number seventeen I have a written form of that motion that I made if everybody would like to see it. I just didn’t get it to me in time but it is a written form of what we talked about if anybody wants to see it or we want to put it on the board as a point of clarity. Mr. Mayor: We can just add that to the record. (Motion to approve forming a sub-committee comprised of Mayor Pro Tem Johnson, Commissioner Donnie Smith, Commissioner Mason and Commissioner Davis with the assistance of the General Counsel to review ethical standards of other jurisdictions regarding penalties for ethical violations and to develop language to clarify what transactions are prohibited and to provide recommendations to Commission regarding same within 45 days.) Mr. D. Smith: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: But, no, Commissioner Williams, you and I are on the same page. It just makes it easier for everybody. So thank you for that. And I will say I’ve requested just a small part on the retreat agenda just to go over some of the basics of Parliamentary Procedure for all of us. It’s good for all of us to brush up every now and again and so okay can I get a motion to receive that as information. Mr. Williams: So moved. 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. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: If there’s no further business to come before the body we stand adjourned. [MEETING ADJOURNED] 19 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 April 16, 2013. __________________________________ Clerk of Commission 20