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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting March 7, 2017 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER MARCH 7, 2017 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., March 7, 2017, the Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Jefferson, Guilfoyle, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, Fennoy, D. Williams, Hasan and Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: Good afternoon, everybody. We are here to as my good friend John Clarke likes to say we’re here to do the people’s business and we are going to do the people’s business today. I want to welcome everybody to the Municipal Building. We’ve got a lot of business to attend to today but we are here to recognize some people. And before we get started we always want to invoke the presence of God and I’m going to give Madam Clerk an opportunity to get situated and call on our Pastor. The Clerk: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission we ask that Pastor Marty Baker, Lead Pastor of the Stevens Creek Church please come forward to deliver our invocation. Please stand after which we’ll ask our Mayor Pro Tem if she will please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Pastor Marty Baker, Lead Pastor, Stevens Creek Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. Mr. Mayor: We want to want to thank Pastor Marty Baker for coming to be with us on today. For those of you who don’t know him Lead Pastor of Stevens Creek Community Church, a wonderful church in our community. In the June, I’m sorry the January issue of Augusta Magazine was featured there as one of our fault leaders and very proud to have you here with us and we want to thank you for your civic and spiritual leadership in our community would you join me in thanking him. (APPLAUSE) We do have a certificate for you, Dr. Baker. (APPLAUSE) The Clerk: At this time we’d ask our Human Resources Director Mr. Mike Lozier to come forward to recognize our employees who have celebrated their 25 and 30-years of service. Mr. Lozier: Yes, I’ll explain, thank you. Good afternoon Mayor Davis, Commissioners, special quests, Directors and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County. My name is Mike Lozier, Human Resources Director for Augusta Richmond County. Today it is my pleasure to recognize our February Years of Service recipients. For the month of February 2017, we have 14 employees celebrating 5 to 20 years of service with Augusta Richmond County. This afternoon we would like to recognize our 15 to 50 years of service recipients. As I call your name please come forward. Vince Cunningham, Central Services, 25 years of service. (APPLAUSE) Ronald Hardin, Sheriff’s Department, 25 years of service. (APPLAUSE) Mary Pace, Utilities Department, 30 years of service. (APPLAUSE) Sheila White, Sheriff’s Department, 30 years of service. (APPLAUSE) Patty Strength, Juvenile Court, 35 years of service. (APPLAUSE) Marion Pugh, Utilities, 40 years of service. (APPLAUSE) 1 Mr. Mayor: We also have with us our former Sheriff who’s here joining his wife Ms. Patty Strength would you please stand we’ve got our former Sheriff Mr. Ronnie Strength who’s here with us. (APPLAUSE) RECOGNITIONS Employee of the Month B. Congratulations! March 2017 Employee of the Month. The Clerk: At this time we would like to acknowledge and recognize our March Employee of the Month. We ask Mr. Marion Pugh, let’s hear it for Mr. Marion Pugh. (APPLAUSE) The Employee, Mr. Pugh the Employee Recognition Committee Mr. Wiedmeier are you here, he’s out there too? This is the Director Mr. Tom Wiedmeier. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Wiedmeier the Employee Recognition Committee has selected Marion Pugh as Augusta Georgia’s Employee of the Month for the March 2017. Marion has been with the Utilities Department for 40 years. He has helped contribute to the department’s growth and development in so many different ways. He has acquired a vast amount of knowledge about the utilities system and has always been willing to share that knowledge. Marion has always demonstrated leadership and respect about doing his job in a safe manner. He is considered to be one of the best heavy equipment operators in this area and has used those skills repeatedly for the Utilities Department. Numerous people have been trained by Marion and used what he taught them to advance. It is an honor and a privilege to work with such a dedicated hard working person. I just want to thank Marion for all that he’s done for the Utilities and for Augusta. Based on this nomination and Marion’s outstanding contributions to the Augusta Utilities Department and his service to Augusta, Georgia the Employee Recognition Committee would appreciate you in joining us in recognizing Marion as the March 2017 Employee of the Month. Congratulations. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Marion, would you like something to say? Mr. Pugh: I don’t know where to start. I done forgot all through the years. I forgot but thank you for everything. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Wiedmeier: I’d like all the Utilities Department employees to stand and help me in honoring Marion. Marion is, he’s got incredible energy after having worked 40 years but his real value and what I really appreciate is the way that he teaches the younger people and mentors them. He’s a wealth of knowledge and I appreciate his work and his friendship. (APPLAUSE) The Clerk: RECOGNITIONS Commissioners Certifications A. Congratulations! Commissioner Sean Frantom, Ben Hasan and Sammie Sias on completing the required course work to obtain your first level of certification through the Georgia Municipal Association and the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government Municipal Training Institute. The Clerk: At this time, Mr. Mayor, we would like to offer our congratulations to a trio of members from our Commission, Commissioner Sean Frantom would you come forward, 2 Commissioner Ben Hasan and Commissioner Sammie Sias on completing the required course work to obtain their first level of certification through the Georgia Municipal Association. Mr. Mayor: We have the Diaper Dandy himself, we’ve got the Commander in Chief in waiting, no, that’s the Dean and we’ve got the distinguished gentleman who is here now from the th 6. Commissioner Marion Williams indicated that they have all reached no longer rocket scientist status. Mr. Frantom: It’s an honor to be up here with those two gentlemen but I want to dedicate this to the Commissioner in the house who taught me all about training Commissioner Bill Lockett, thank you. (APPLAUSE) The Clerk: DELEGATIONS C. Mr. Bill Lockett RE: Soliciting support for Augusta’s Age Friendly Initiative. Presentation will include information on Walk Augusta Audit; City-Wide Cleanup Proposal; and a trip to Macon-Bibb County to review their successful Age Friendly Program. Mr. Mayor: All right. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Madam Clerk. My name is Bill Lockett. I live at 3030 Longleaf Court. I realize I have five minutes so I’ll be brief. Good afternoon Mr. Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and my distinguished former colleagues Commissioners and those of you in attendance. I’ll tell you a two-month vacation can make a big difference, I feel like a new person. What I want to talk to you about briefly is about two years ago during the month of March Augusta Age Friendly we had a city-wide cleanup. It was very successful and I know from what went on when I was on the Commissioner and what I’ve read and seen in the media over the past few weeks we’re trying to get back there. But I just wanted ya’ll to know that Augusta Age Friendly wants to be a part of this because we all want to see a clean Augusta. Now about Georgia Walks, Georgia Walks thth Summit they’re going to be in Augusta on May the 4 and May the 5 this will be our second annual summit. It seems that Augusta Age Friendly is always (inaudible) out to Macon-Bibb County Age Friendly. They had a very successful turnout last year in Macon-Bibb. They had in excess of 100 professionals, elected officials, community health people, political, activists and et cetera. They’re all working on walkability. You know Augusta has a problem, has a weight problem and it’s not all because of McDonald’s and the fast food. It’s because there are so many places that we’d like to walk but we can’t walk so we’ve got to work on that and this is what the th Walk Summit is about. May the 4 I think about 3:30 to about 7:00 they’re going to meet at the Partridge Inn and they’re going to do a walk summit on parts of Augusta and the next day they’re going to have some work sessions and so forth throughout the day both at the Partridge Inn so if any of you all can break away I think this would be educational for you. I plan on being there myself because these sessions teach you so much especially when you’re making multimillion dollar decisions when it comes to walkability, transit and so forth. Age Friendly. As you know the Spring of 2014 Augusta Richmond County became an age friendly city recognized by the th National AARP and the World Health Organization. At that time we were the 20 city in the nation to have those dual designations but guess what. As of a couple of weeks ago there were 3 149 so evidently the other cities and communities are seeing how important this can be. Georgia has a rapid increase in senior citizens albeit they’re all coming in. Many are (unintelligible) out but senior citizens tend to have more disposable income and we’re talking about lots of downtown development trying to get the college people and so forth in but we can’t forget about the seniors. The senior population is growing throughout the nation and we’ve got to be prepared for them and this what Age Friendly is about. Livability, walkability, making sure that the seniors have a social life, making sure they have a good transit system. This is all about Age Friendly and so we’ve been here in Augusta since early 2014 and I fell in love with it because I’m a walker. I see so many other people walking and there are so many people wanting to walk and they can’t walk. The way many of our communities were constructed is you have to drive because many don’t have sidewalks and sometimes you just want to go to the other side of the community but you can’t walk through so you’ve got to drive around and so we want to make sure that we do the right thing. And I’ve found devoting a considerable amount of my time to Age Friendly, that’s my calling I suppose, and I would love to get the support my colleagues because the last meeting of 2016 you all passed a resolution indicating that you’re going to support us. Lastly, I hope sometime in the near future those of you who want to go along will take a trip to Macon and see some of the things they have done because Macon has an outstanding age friendly, of course they were age friendly before us. We have a great one but we want to make it greater and with your support we can do it. Talk about Age Friendly every opportunity we get and we’re going to start working on a logo or something so anywhere you go you see this sign you know this is Augusta Age Friendly. We want to be better than all the others and I think we can do. So I solicit your support; anything that I can do let me know and I gladly will. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, my friend, now a private citizen as he says but always a Commissioner, your leadership has been phenomenal and not forgotten particularly in the area of Age Friendly. And so I do know that we still fully support you in your efforts and the entire Age Friendly community here in Augusta. We’ll make a note of it and look forward to participate in it th in some way. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5. Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to make a motion that we make former Commissioner Lockett our liaison for Age Friendly for the Augusta Richmond County Commission and give him my full support in whatever he needs. Mr. Guilfoyle: I’ll second that. Mr. Mayor: Okay well, Madam Clerk, he just said too much over time. It made him feel good, he looks good, he feels good, now they’re trying to put him back to work. Mr. Hasan: He can’t afford his calling, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: He can’t --- The Clerk: He’s up for the task now. 4 st. Mr. Mayor: --- yeah all right so I’m going to recognize the Commissioner from the 1 I st appreciate the motion and a proper second let me recognize the Commissioner from the 1 and then we’ll kind of get back to this. Mr. Fennoy: Okay, Commissioner Lockett, what is it that Augusta can do to enhance this status as an Age Friendly Community? Mr. Lockett: Just a few months ago we had our action plan approved by the National AARP that spells out those things we want to do. What we want to do is we want to enhance those things that we’re already doing as a government. We already have sidewalks in certain places but other places we don’t. We have public transit in certain places but other places we don’t. There are some areas that we have activities for senior citizens, other areas we don’t. We could put forth more effort in assisting senior citizens or finding employment because many of our seniors are on a fixed income. We can have training sessions which we had in the past to teach seniors how to go online, operate an IPAD and those things because many of our senior citizens aren’t home so this is some of the things that we do. Mr. Fennoy: Okay and my last question, Mr. Mayor, if this Commission approves you as our liaison are you willing to help us facilitate these things --- Mr. Lockett: Yes --- Mr. Fennoy: --- if approved? Mr. Lockett: --- most certainly. Mr. Fennoy: Okay, thank you, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’m in support. I’d just like to know in that role what else th would the, this body be approving or agreeing to. I think the Commissioner from the 5 said well he needs and I’m sure there’s going to be some finances somewhere. I want to make sure that when I approve whatever I’m going to approve I know upfront versus you know because he said whatever he needs. So I mean to have a spokesperson is one thing but to provide whatever their needs are and we don’t know what that could be so I’d be very careful. I wouldn’t just put it out there I’m going to support that because I need to know what those needs would be. Now the spokesperson I’ve got no problem with it if you want to make it the spokesperson Commissioner Lockett who’s been very helpful and very adamant about Age Friendly I can support that but the other half of that I think it needs to be looked at very carefully before we just approve that. Mr. Mayor: Yeah well I’ll comment in a minute. All right, the Chair recognizes the th Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I think last year this body made a decision I think it was about a $10,000 dollar annual commitment that this body made to Age Friendly. 5 That’s what I know to be on the record so I anticipate that that comes with it at this particular time as well in terms of giving Commissioner Lockett the ability or capability to work with the Administrator as those funds need to be drawn down. Mr. Mayor: All right before we, so let’s do this this is how we’re going to handle this. We’re in the delegation portion and we certainly have the ability to take action at any point in time that we need to. And I think without question the integrity of Mr. Lockett, former Commissioner Lockett is without question and before we you know carve up the will let’s do this. I think he has come because he is a champion for Age Friendly related issues but before we try to solve a problem by creating another problem let’s abandon that. And I think it certainly is an appropriate gesture th to have him be a representative for this body as the Commissioner from the 5. I think whether it’s in a, you know, an official capacity or whatever let’s just go ahead and say you know we want him to move forward in that vein. We know that there are resources that have been allocated and we’ve never defined a role for a person as Age Friendly, I understand that, which is what the th Commissioner from the 9 is asking, what is that what is that overall role is there a proper question. But before we get in the weeds let’s just acknowledge that we want Commissioner former Commissioner Bill Lockett to be our champion as a representative for this body and let’s take that approach and then we can come back and have another conversation about what the details of that are, okay I think that’s how we should handle that. Mr. Jefferson: So does that mean my motion was --- Mr. Mayor: Well if you want to vote I’ll give you the opportunity to vote, I don’t think it’s necessary but if you want to do that you certainly can, if that’s want you want to do. All right, okay without objection. Mr. M. Williams: What are we voting on Mr. Mayor I need some clarity. Mr. Mayor: That’s what I’m going to give you again. Mr. M. Williams: Okay. Mr. Mayor: All right so it is the will of this body to recognize Mr. Bill Lockett as an official representative on matters of Age Friendly as it relates to the City of Augusta. That’s the motion if you’re voting on it. Mr. M. Williams: With what just representative I mean the motion was two things is that right? Mr. Mayor: Right. Mr. M. Williams: I just need clarity --- Mr. Mayor: Well, I just clarified it as a representative. I don’t have a job description, I don’t have a position description but the most important piece is you’re saying you wanted him as a representative, I mean that’s really --- 6 Mr. M. Williams: --- okay. Mr. Mayor: --- so don’t so let’s not add anything to it let’s just we want him to be a representative. Mr. M. Williams: I don’t (inaudible) need clarity because I want to be very clear. Mr. Mayor: That’s why I gave you that clarity. All right, so let’s do this. Let’s do this all those in favor by a sign of showing right hand, raise your hand all those who support it. Okay all right without objection it’s unanimous, thank you. All right Commissioner. Mr. Lockett: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, all right and we’ll follow up I think we know how to do that. Very good okay I’m going to go off script, Madam Clerk, just for a minute. I guess we have a penchant for doing that. I want to bring to this body’s attention that there are a number of matters that are of great importance to us. Most recently today we received an update from ACCG I believe you may have received that as well, Ms. Jackson, about the issue around Senate Bill 2 and that’s the issue as it relates to the mandate on local governments around permitting and licensing processes. I want to encourage this body to not only take a look at that the email has since been forwarded by our distinguished Clerk to every one of you. Take a look at that. It is the Fast Act off of Senator Mike Duggan. It could potentially affect how we handle licensing and/or permitting. There’s been a lot or work that’s been put into that here locally over the last six months in fact and so I want everybody to pay attention to that. It mandates that cities and counties that charge any regulatory fees are have any regulatory requirements establish a schedule of such fees and requirements which includes timelines necessary for processing and the completion of applications. It is again one of those proposed unfunded mandates from the legislature and for any of our friends who are listening in don’t pick winners and losers. I’ve said that consistently. We don’t need to be picking winners and losers. Let local government through local control determine the outcome. But when you can be helpful then we encourage you to be able to do that but that Senate Bill 2 I’d ask everybody to take a look at that. Continuing in that same vein there’s a proposed Senate Bill 254 that is a matter of significant importance. It is an issue around public safety and law enforcement. This body has consistently supported our Sheriff and supported our Marshal and certainly supported our Fire Chief around the areas of public safety. Most recently the governor was here in town and we applauded not only the announcement around the Cyber Innovation and Training Center but it was important for them to note in signing the amended budget that there was money to increase the salaries of all State Troopers. Now it’s one thing for the governor who has a budget of $25 billion dollars to operate and say we’re going to do that but it’s another thing for 159 counties to be told you’re going to do it without any funding from the state legislature. That is the posture that some are attempting to put us in. My Sheriff our Sheriff a good friend and we are very supportive but that is something that has to be worked on and/or worked through. We’re not at a point at this stage of the year in a position to be able to add $4.5 million dollars to our budget. Loosely what that might cost us but that is moving forward there’s a conversation about that in the legislature. Everyone on this body needs to be mindful of that and paying attention to that. That’s something that could potentially end up being an unfunded mandate to all local governments. In fact the state 7 average for Sheriff’s deputies’ pay is $29,000. What they state has said for all state troopers is they’re paying them $46,000. That would be a 55% increase. Again, I want to say all my friends in the legislature let local government officials handle local budgets and if you’re not going to send us any money then don’t mandate what we do. And I think that’s the position of the Georgia Municipal Association as well as ACCG the Association of County Commissioners and Governments. We’re going to do everything we can, Ms. Jackson, to look at that and come up with a strategy about how we might be able to do that. We want to keep every Sheriff’s deputy that’s trained that’s certified and we have a very stellar Sheriff’s agency here in the City of Augusta. In fact the largest full service Sheriff’s agency in the State of Georgia and we want our Sheriff to know we’re being supportive of your efforts. And it’s not something that we can do overnight but we’re going to be looking at that wholeheartedly. Those are very important matters that are before us and now from a federal perspective there are grave concerns about the proposed budget from the Trump Administration. Last week we were there in D.C. and there were several critical issues one of them being the proposed elimination of Community Development Block Grant money all across the country. That has been a bedrock to how we do some redevelopment work in our urban core particularly Laney Walker Bethlehem. That’s $3 billion dollars that are allocated across these United States of America. Augusta has been a recipient of those dollars for many, many years. In addition to that there’s this conversation about eliminating the WIOA the wheel of money to the tune of about $2.9 billion dollars. When you talk about infrastructure and job creation the very heart of that is we owe dollars. This is not a partisan issue this is a people issue and if we’re going to have the ability to build houses infrastructure and create jobs in Augusta Richmond County then we need these resources to be able to do that. So I would ask all of the th members of this body to reach out to your Congressman as well Congressman Allen from the 12, Senator Isaacson and/or Perdue and weigh in very heavily on these issues because they have the potential of cutting off our Community Development Block Grant dollars. And so those are things th that are extremely important to us. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate all the updates you gave us a wonderful outline in terms of what you just done. Is it would it be on your final note there about reaching out to the Congressman would a resolution help us any at all in that matter? Mr. Mayor: Well I think it certainly adds emphasis that these are issues that are important to us. We met with a number of our congressmen, Congressman Allen was engaged in meetings I was not able to, I met with a series of other members of our Georgia Delegation and the truth of the matter is they all acknowledged that they don’t even know what’s going on coming from the Administration. And so while we might send a resolution they are still in a state of flux as well about what very well may or may not happen. But these are issues that have been outlined in his address as well as his “budget proposal” and so they have a great potential to affect us in a negative way. And not just us but cities all across the United States of America. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, the Chair recognizes Madam Clerk. The Clerk: I call your attention to the consent portion of our agenda which consists of items 1-39, items 1-39. For the benefit of any objectors to any of our alcohol petitions once those 8 petitions are read would you please signify your objection at the time of the reading. I call your attention to our Public Service portion: Item 2: Is a request for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in connection with the location at 2510-B Peach Orchard Road. Item 3: Is for an on premise consumption Liquor License to be used in connection with the location at 730 Broad Street. Item 4: Is a request for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in connection with the Regal Cinemas located at 1144 Agerton Lane. Item 5: Is for a request for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in connection with the location at 1289 Broad Street. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those alcohol petitions? Mr. Speaker: Inaudible. The Clerk: Okay, what item number 4, okay. Is that 1289 Broad Street, okay and let me see your hands again how many do we have objectors for? Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, our consent agenda consists of items 1-39 with objectors addressing item number 5, sir and ma’am. Mr. Mayor: And number four, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Number four and five, oh you’re number four. Mr. Mayor: Yes. The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes --- The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, if we could acknowledge the update on Item number 18. Mr. Mayor: Yes, each of you have been given an copy of an updated plan for expenditures from the Coliseum Authority. I do see their attorney represented here Mr. Jay Edward Enoch this is on the consent agenda at this time and I just want to draw your attention to the revised expenditure plan. The Clerk: Consent agenda 1-39 with objectors on items number four and five. Are we pulling? th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to pull agenda item number 15 please. 9 Mr. Mayor: All right, item number 15. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner th from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I need a couple of answers and I don’t want to, I guess the best thing is to pull them items 9 and 18 just to get a couple of answers. Mr. Mayor: Do you need to pull number --- Mr. M. Williams: Well --- Mr. Mayor: --- it is within your right, Commissioner, you --- Mr. M. Williams: --- I’m just (inaudible) --- Mr. Mayor: --- that’s good. Mr. M. Williams: --- I’ve got a question that’s all. I’m not in objection. The Clerk: Are you going to pull those, sir, 9 and 18? Mr. Mayor: Yes, 9 and 18. All right, are there any other motions to add or remove from st the consent agenda? The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Yes, I’d like to add number 44 to the consent agenda. Mr. Guilfoyle: No. Mr. Mayor: Okay with objection, there’s an objection. The Clerk: Oh, okay. Ms. Davis: Motion to approve. Mr. Frantom: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PLANNING 1. SA-52 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend Section 400-H-Standard for Streets and Roadway, Street Right-of-Way Widths of the Subdivision Regulations for Augusta, Georgia by updating standards to be consistent with the Augusta Engineering Street and Road Technical Manual. (Approved by the Commission February 21, 2017 – second reading. PUBLIC SERVICES 2. Motion to approve New Location: A.N. 17-6: request by Barethea Walker for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in connection with Smokin 10 Aces located at 2510-B Peach Orchard Rd. There will be Dance. District 2. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee February 28, 2017) 3. Motion to approve New Application: A.N. 17-7: a request by Ahmed Said Mohammad Ashel for an on premise consumption Liquor License to be used in connection with Sharifa’s Hookah Bar and Lunge located at 730 Broad Street. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee February 28, 2017) 6. Motion to approve an award of contract for Bid Item #17-136, HVAC Automation System Upgrade, for Diamond Lake Community Center to Trane Commercial Systems for $127,234.00. (Approved by Public Services Committee February 28, 2017) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 7. Motion to approve a request from the Augusta Fire Chief for the acquisition of one Ford F-150 for an additional Arson Investigator. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee February 28, 2017) 8. Motion to deny a request from the Senior Pastor of First United Pentecostal Church of Augusta, Reverend Mark Maddox, for the donation of two paratransit vehicles and one bus for the First United Pentecostal Church of Augusta. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee February 28, 2017) 10. Motion to approve five (5) annual bid items. The items require Commission approval due to the fact that purchases on the individual items will exceed $25,000.00. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee February 28, 2017) 11. Motion to approve a request from the Head Coach & Director of the Augusta Boxing Club for a donation of one 28-passenger bus in order to transport members of the Augusta Boxing Club to and from competitions. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee February 28, 2017) 12. Motion to approve a request from Fleet Management for the replacement of four Marshall’s Office vehicles, purchase one new vehicle and to replace one vehicle in the Probation Office using SPLOST Phase VII-Public Safety Vehicles. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee February 28, 2107) 13. Motion to approve Resolution of Support-Operation Teammate. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee February 28, 2017) PUBLIC SAFETY 14. Motion to approve the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update provided by Atkins North America, Inc. and authorize the Mayor to execute the Updated Hazard Mitigation Plan following the 30-day public review period. (Approved by Public Safety Committee February 28, 2017) FINANCE 16. Motion to accept the 2017 Summer Intern Program Grant from Civic Affairs Foundation. (Approved by Finance Committee February 28, 2017) 17. Motion to approve a request from Mr. Patrick Feistel of the Garden City Rescue Mission for an abatement of taxes for the tax year 2016. (Approved by Finance Committee February 28, 2017) ENGINEERING SERVICES 11 19. Motion to approve supplementing the Augusta Utilities Department contract with Blair Construction, Inc., not to exceed $114,945 to cover the additional costs of water line th relocation for the 15 Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project as requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 20. Motion to approve and authorize the Engineering Department (AED) to accept and receive federal financial assistance through Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Implication Grant Program. Also, grant authorization permitting the Augusta, GA’s Mayor to sign all documentation as requested by the AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 21. Motion to approve award of preliminary engineering phase of Design Consultant Services th Agreement to Civil Services, Inc., in the amount of $200,916.27 for the 5 Street Bridge over the Savannah River (Bridge Repair and Restoration), subject to receipt of signed Agreement as request by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 22. Motion to determine that the alley between Hogan Street and Adrian Street, as shown on the attached plat has ceased to be used by the public to the extent that no substantial public purpose is served by it or that its removal from the county road system is otherwise in the best public interest, pursuant to O.C.G.A. §32-7-2, with the abandoned property to be quit- claimed to the appropriate party(ies), as provided by law and an easement to be retained over the entire abandoned portion for existing or future utilities as directed by Augusta Engineering Department and Augusta Utilities Department. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 23. Motion to approve entering into a Mowing and Maintenance and Indemnity Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation. Also, obtain a GDOT Permit for Gordon Hwy at Doug Barnard Entryway Landscape Improvements Project as requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 24. Motion to determine that 0.06 acres adjacent to 1507 Saint Luke Street, shown as “Tract B” on the attached plat has ceased to be used by the public to the extent that no substantial public purpose is served by it or that its removal from the county road system is otherwise in the best public interest, pursuant to O.C.G.A. §32-7-2, with the abandoned property to be quit-claimed to the appropriate party(ies), as provided by law and an easement to be retained over the entire abandoned portion for existing or future utilities as direct by Augusta Engineering Department and Augusta Utilities Department. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 25. Motion to approve Tower Cloud, Inc.’s Formal Registration Application to access the public right of way within the Augusta, Georgia for the provisions of telecommunications services as a State-Certified Utility. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 26. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire property in fee simple interests (Parcel 087- 2-134-00-0) – 2-17 Walnut Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 27. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire property in fee simple interests (Parcel 087- 2-192-00-0) – 167 Aragon Drive. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 28. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire property in fee simple interests (Parcel 087- 2-193-00-0) – 173 Aragon Drive. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 12 29. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire property in fee simple interest (Parcel 087- 4-055-00-0) – 2029 Golden Road Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 30. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire property in fee simple interests (Parcel 087- 4-056-00-0) – 2033 Golden Road Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 31. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire property in fee simple interests (Parcel 087- 4-072-00-0) – 2061 Golden Rod Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 32. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire property in fee simple interests (Parcel 087- 4-073-00-0) – 2063 Golden Rod Street. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28,2017) 33. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire property in fee simple interests (Parcel 088- 1-032-00-0) – 149 Aragon Drive. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 34. Motion to determine that a portion of Heath Street, East of Berckmans Road as shown on the attached plat has ceased to be used by the public to the extent that no substantial public purpose is serviced by it or that its removal from the county road system is otherwise in the best public interest, pursuant to O.C.G.A. §32-7-2, with the abandoned property to be quite-claimed to the appropriate party(ies), as provided by law and an easement to be retained over the entire abandoned portion for existing or future utilities as directed by Augusta Engineering Department and Augusta Utilities Department. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) 35. Motion to approve the amount of $7,108.72 to have 17 Streetlights added to Ashton Drive and Ardwick Drive in the Southampton subdivision at a cost of $255.00 per month for a total of $3,060.00 per year thereafter. This is also to approve a new lighting tax district for the 52 lots associated with above roads. Funding is available in the Street Lighting budget account #2760416105312310. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee February 28, 2017) PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 36. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the commission held February 21, 2017 and Special Called meeting held February 28, 2017. APPOINTMENTS 37. Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Janmarie Hall to the Augusta Animal Control Citizens Advisory Board effective April 1, 2017 representing District 3. 38. Motion to approve the appointment of Dr. Charles Larke – Augusta Aviation Commission; Ms. Marian T. Brown – Augusta Public Library Board of Trustees and Ms. Barbara Gordon – ARC Zoning & Appeals Board representing District 5. 39. Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Monica R. Mack to the Citizens Small Business Advisory Board representing District 6. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a motion and a second with the following items from the, Madam Clerk, item number five, four and five they’ve been pulled as well, we have objectors, yes, ma’am, all right so everybody suspend. We’re adding item four and five, all right? 13 Mr. M. Williams: Who pulled those two, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: You’ve got objectors so --- Mr. M. Williams: But somebody would have to I mean we had the same objectors --- Mr. Mayor: The Mayor’s pulling them. Mr. M. Williams: --- okay, I’m just following the rules. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Motion Passes 10-0. \[Items 1-3, 6-8, 10-14, 16-17, 19-39\] The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 4. Motion to approve application A.N. 17-8: request by Gabriel Echevarria for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in connection with Augusta Exchange Stadium 20 & IMAX d/b/a Regal Cinemas located at 1144 Agerton Lane. There will be Sunday Sales. District 3. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee February 28, 2017) Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes Mr. Sherman. Mr. Sherman: This is just that, a request to have a Liquor, Beer and Wine License. This is at the theater up on Agerton Lane. It is recognized as an entertainment venue, they have over 250 seats. More than 50% of the income comes from the sale of tickets (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: Okay all right. Ms. Davis: Mr. Sherman it was approved by Planning and Development and the Sheriff’s Office, is that correct? Mr. Sherman: That’s correct. Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’ll hear from the objector. The Clerk: Ma’am, you can come to this podium and then it takes, Mr. Sherman has to address. Ms. Speaker: Do I need to say who I am? Mr. Mayor: You do. 14 Ms. Smith: Last time you all met was the first county commissioners that I went to and I learned a lot. My name is Sharon Smith I’m at 3415 Ravenwood Drive, Augusta, Georgia. Mr. Frantom, you’re my county Commissioner. I am most concerned that you guys are even considering a liquor license in the Regal Theater. For one thing we have very, and don’t roll your eyes, Mr. Davis, please. Mr. Mayor: I’m not rolling my eyes, ma’am. Ms. Smith: For one thing we have very few indoor family friendly entertainment places in Augusta. This is one of them depending on the movie of course but this is one of them. I am asking that you not make it not family friendly but you leave it. I’m very concerned about a couple of things. Last time ya’ll met four Commissioners voted to approve four more liquor licenses. You have four more on the agenda today and three of them or two of them have been approved just by consent, is that correct, do I understand the process of what’s going on? This man is willing to pay almost $6,000 dollars for a license, just a few dollars short, correct? While we may say that’s good money what is the cost to our county? Mr. Williams, you are known as one who will fight tooth and nail for the good of his constituents, is that correct and that I applaud you. If this is good that we keep passing more and more liquor licenses in Richmond County. Is that good for your constituents? Ms. Davis and Mr. Smith, this is your zip code 30909. Is that good for our constituents is it because we don’t have enough liquor licenses up in that area? In less than two blocks in each direction from the theater there are eleven establishments that I know of that serve liquor, I think that’s plenty, everything from Twin Peaks to O’Charley’s. Tomorrow morning, this is my county, this is my theater so I have a vested interest in it. I work with the children of Richmond County. I heard a man talking today who’s in a wheelchair he spoke for our children because of alcohol and drinking, had gone to Afghanistan came back without any damage physically. I go tomorrow to Columbia County Detention Center as a volunteer to teach math. One time I asked our guys, I have men what started you on this slippery slope here. It was alcohol and some of them moved on into drugs. Now I don’t think Richmond County Detention Center is in need of more inmates. I think they probably have all that we can afford to house. Now if this gentleman were to take his monies that he makes and pour them into the Salvation Army, Golden Harvest Food Bank, Augusta Rescue Mission, Garden City Mission and help pay for the effects of his license as well as the other ones you’re giving out then that might bring something good but I don’t see anything good coming out of this. Now the Masters are coming. Good. They’re here for one week. We deal with the fallout of what every you guys decide for the remaining 51 weeks. Mr. Mayor: Your time has expired. Ms. Smith: Thank you sir, thank you for hearing me. Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am, thank you. All right, the Chair will entertain a motion. Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to approve. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Mayor: Voting. 15 Motion Passes 10-0. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 5. Motion to approve New Location: A.N. 17-9: a request by Robyn Jarrett for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer and Wine License to be used in connection with The Scene located at 1289 Broad Street. There will be Dance. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee February 28, 2017) Mr. Sherman: At the committee meeting the other day I gave you the information about this application the proposed location is 1298 Broad Street and this is the former Planned Parenthood where that was located. There were objectors here and I think mostly they were objecting because of they would prefer to memorialize the, that location. I’m not sure that it was 100% against the alcohol but I think it was more via in memory of how it was formerly used. So, we were talking about the distance requirements that the location has to meet. It meets the distance requirements and to everything and what I presented to you was the distance that’s required to a church. And to get the distance you go out the front door to the sidewalk down the sidewalk across the street, etc. down to the front door of the of the church. That distance is 740feet; 340 feet is required. The, what was not mentioned to you that there’s also a school at this property that was just totally missed. The school is on the far side of the property away from where this proposed establishment is going so for an on premise Liquor, Beer and Wine License as it relates to a school for a Beer and Wine it’s 100 yards still 300 feet but for liquor it’s 200 yards or 600 feet. The walking distance from this location to the school building is roughly 850 feet it more than meets the distance. What the ordinance also says is that it’s 200 yards or 100 yards Beer and Wine to the building or the property. So, the way that we have looked at that in the past is that if there’s a school building furthest away from the establishment but the playground is in-between we measure to the playground. In this case there’s a little bit more of a twist because it’s the church and the school all on the same property so which is the school ground which is the church ground. What we did was we looked at it the most restrictive way and said that all of it was school property. So what that meant was that we had to measure from the proposed establishment to the front, the very closest corner of the property, that is where we had a problem and it came out to like 450 feet. I got in touch with the, and I don’t know that all of those buildings that are within between the sanctuary and this corner that I’m talking about is it used for a school or a church. But we’re saying that it’s used for the school. I got in touch with the alcohol applicant. Their property is a thru lot so the building has frontage on both Jones Street and Broad Street they have the driveway in the front on Broad, two driveways in the back on Jones and their parking lot is in the back on Jones. So he said that he had even considered putting the front door at that location and I said well that’s what you will need to do to make this work. And it meets all the code requirements he’s got to do alterations on the building. It’s just that he’s going to put the front door on the back side, he’s going to more than meet the distance requirements but I wanted to bring this up to you so that you have all the information to fully make a decision. Mr. Mayor: Thank you so much, Mr. Sherman. All right, we appreciate that. All right, th are there any questions? Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. 16 Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Mr. Sherman, you say you could maybe or might put the front door. When are you going to know that for sure? Mr. Sherman: Well and what I meant to say and what I needed to say is that a condition of this license being approved the front door has to go on the Jones Street side of the building. Mr. Sias: Then you want to amend the item. Mr. Sherman: Yes, sir, to say that the Planning Department and the Sheriff’s Office recommend that the alcohol application be approved with the condition that the front door the main entrance is on the Jones Street end of the building. Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right okay so I think that the motion stated it as eloquently as possible. th All right, I’m waiting on the Commissioner from the 4 to say so moved. Mr. Sias: Are you going to hear from the objector? Mr. Mayor: Yes, we will. All right I’ll hear from him now, Madam Clerk? Mr. Sias: I have no problem with the motion. Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. The Clerk: From the objector sir? Spokesperson for the objectors? Ms. Speaker: (unintelligible). The Clerk: Yes, ma’am, just give us your name and address. Ms. Edell: (unintelligible) give each member a copy (unintelligible). My name is Eva Edell. First I want to apologize for my emotional outburst last week. Mr. Mayor: Would you state for the record your address? Ms. Edell: I am not from Augusta. I live in Aiken, SC 1814 Pine Log Road. The reason I am here is not so much that I’m against having a liquor license given to anybody. As I tried to say last week I’m a survivor of World War II death camp and I see this issue of granting a license to the old Planned Parenthood building in that perspective. If you think about it, Planned Parenthood and any other abortion clinic in our country is no different than the death camps of Europe except that the victims are much smaller as you can see from the pictures we passed out. I ask you, would you permit a bar and a dance floor to be established in the gas chambers of Auschwitz? Unthinkable, isn’t it. Now consider Planned Parenthood of Augusta more than 60,000 babies little human beings were killed there. I used to stand out front and beg women to give life to their 17 babies. I offered to adopt or whatever it took so please consider them in this light. Don’t desecrate the blood of those babies by establishing a bar and a dance floor on it. It is no difference, no different than establishing a dance floor or a bar in the gas chambers of Nazi Germany. I just want to ask you gentleman and lady, all of us will someday stand before the judgement throne of Jesus Christ and give account of what we do. Consider what he will say to you about this decision you’re making today. This building can be used for the good of humanity so if our local churches would just work together we could have a counseling center for post abortive women who lives are being destroyed because of their regret. A healing place. We could have a small memorial there where a woman could come and give a name to her baby and find closure. We could use it for so many good things so please give your liquor license to another building but not for the old Planned Parenthood. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem. Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you for the two objectors that have spoken today. As far as the last item we just spoke about the Commission up here we have to hear, you know, applications for liquor licenses and new buildings and those kinds of zoning issues weekly, and we base them on the guidelines that we have and the regulations that we have and we have to follow the laws of what we’ve set up as a county. We appreciate so much of your emotion as well as I feel the same as far as what has happened in that building but we can’t prevent someone from buying that building and then opening up according to following all of the regulations and rules and laws that we have. I don’t know if there was ever and effort from ya’ll’s church to purchase that building before but what we’re brought to us today is a different owner and they are following the guidelines that’s been approved by our Planning and Zoning and our Sheriff’s Office so we have to follow our own rules and regulations. But we do appreciate your speaking out. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the th 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I understand better than most what the objectors are saying but I’m reminded of not this chamber, Ms. Bonner, but the other chamber when we filled it up when the book store wanted to come to Augusta up on Gordon Highway. And we had the chambers completely filled up with non-supporters and the Commission at that time did not support it but it cost this city an astronomical amount of money to pay because we had to follow the law, not just this law state law saying something we have to were bound by that. And we take an oath when we come here and I understand your situation. Had someone else owned the building but it’s someone else’s property someone else’s building I do sympathize but I’ve got to follow the law, I’ve got to be make sure not just your church but other areas won’t have to pay through this government for not following that law. If there was something that we could have done if it didn’t meet the guidelines, if it wasn’t in order, then I don’t think anybody up here would even try even think about supporting it. So, I do understand, I do share with you, I do sympathize with what you’re trying to do but I do think we are bound by not just local but state law to do what we have been sworn to do as an elected official. Mr. Sias: Move to approve with conditions. 18 Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, we have a proper motion and a second. Voting. While they’re voting, Ms. Cooper, I have a good friend in the audience Mr. Lowell Greenbaum former Chair of Richmond County Democratic Party and a very good friend, good to have you here with us today. Motion Passes 10-0. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 9. Motion to approve a request from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office to replace 34 Road Patrol cars, 2 Traffic cars and 7 Criminal Investigation cars using SPLOST VII-Public Safety Vehicles. (Approved by Administrative Services Community February 28, 2017) th Mr. Mayor: All right, Mr. Crowden, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 for a question. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My question is not to Mr. Crowden, maybe the Administrator. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. M. Williams: I understand that this is a SPLOST issue as far as being approved but I need to know, Ms. Jackson, what does the guideline actually say does that require us to buy these cars? I can’t understand how 34 cars go out at the same time. I’m just trying I mean I’ve been in support of the Sheriff’s Department and I’m still supporting but just because they’re in the SPLOST does that mean that we have to buy them because it’s under the SPLOST package? I mean what do the guidelines actually say because the Marshal’s got some in here too but I just need to know what does the guidelines actually says. We use the SPLOST name all the time, but does it say we have to? Is there a must? I mean somebody needs to help me out. Ms. Jackson: Sir, I’m at a little bit of a disadvantage because I don’t have the exact language of the referendum in front of me but I do recall that the Sheriff specifically requested at the we formed our SPLOST list was for replacement vehicles. Mr. M. Williams: In every SPLOST we had, we had replacement vehicles in the SPLOST for not just this year but the previous year so that’s a normal request. But my, I don’t have to get an answer today. I think we’ve got enough support to give the Sheriff what he needs but I would like to get that back to see how the wording is to say whether or not we have to buy cars because of the designated SPLOST. Now if we didn’t have monies in there, we couldn’t buy them and I understand but we shouldn’t be buying them just because we’ve got the money and that’s what it sounds like. So I would love to get that from you later on. Ms. Jackson: I’ll pull that exact line item and provide it to you sir. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you. I make a motion to approve, Mr. Mayor --- 19 Mr. Sias: Second. Mr. M. Williams: --- because we’ve got the votes to do it. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, we’ve got a motion and a proper second. The Chair recognizes st the Commissioner from the 1 for an inquiry, state your inquiry. Mr. Fennoy: I have a question for --- Mr. Mayor: Would you speak into the microphone? Mr. Fennoy: --- I have a question for --- Mr. Mayor: Mr. Crowden. Mr. Fennoy: --- Mr. Crowden. The vehicles that are in my book some having been as little as 145,000 miles and some having as many as 200,000 miles. Are these the vehicles that we are replacing? Mr. Crowden: That’s correct, sir. Mr. Fennoy: Okay now does the, is there any, as far as safety is there anything that the GMA or ACCG or a governing agency say that we should bring cars out once they get a certain amount of miles? Mr. Crowden: No, sir, that’s strictly a Commission decision. In 2004 we presented a life- cycle for every piece of equipment in here that follows the American Public Work Association best fleet practices. You do that in order so that you can project replacements. Now let me tell you why. If we don’t replace and we wait until a car is just uneconomically repairable because it’s lost a transmission and engine or rear end or whatever and it’s past history shows that it is a tremendous drag on the finances we have to have some method of replacing it. We try and project that as opposed to have to react to it because here’s what I face every day every year. If I don’t get these cars in front of you before April then I lose the vendors pricing, I have to wait until October. So if the vehicle goes down, it’s down for months before I can request a bid and then I don’t usually get my money available until the first three months of the new year. So now I’m almost a year that that car is not available or that truck or whatever. I have to work within those timelines. The time that I get the money is different than the time that’s available to order cars for government pricing. Mr. Fennoy: Thank you. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I need to ask Mr. Crowden one question I --- 20 Mr. Mayor: Certainly. Mr. M. Williams: --- I want to make sure I heard right. Did he say we had cars anywhere in this government with 200,000 miles on them? Mr. Crowden: That’s right, sir. Mr. M. Williams: Okay, can you tell me where those cars are at? Mr. Crowden: It’s usually in the Sheriff’s Department, there’s some --- Mr. M. Williams: We’ve got Sheriff’s cars with 200,000 miles. Mr. Crowden: Yes sir, it’s on your list, it’s on the attachment. Mr. M. Williams: Okay well. Mr. Crowden: The, there’s I think three trucks in Maintenance that are over 200,000. Mr. M. Williams: I don’t think 200,000 in my opinion I’m not a mechanic so 200,000 is good with me I mean but I didn’t think we had any vehicles the last time I checked we may have had 89,000. We’ve been selling cars to New York and Pennsylvania and Chicago to use them for taxi’s. They come here and buy our cars and take them back, the same car you just talked about and make taxis out of them to go around Washington, DC and Maryland and every other major city. So, I don’t want to debate with you about that, Ron, but I was disappointed when I heard 200,000 miles. You know you and I have had plenty of conversations I’ve been very interested in keeping up with that and we’ve got the motion to pass it, I made the motion, but I just think we can buy cars when they’re needed we don’t wait until the transmission goes out we don’t wait until the engine falls down we don’t wait until rims fall out of it but when you buy 34 cars at one time I think there’s an issue that this government needs to look at. Plus, we pay $3 million dollars a year to do preventive maintenance on those cars so it ain’t got no business the transmission it motor ain’t got no business shutting down because we service them. A car’s not made to last a certain mile and then stop. It’s unlimited. I know some people who get a million miles on them I’m not suggesting we do that but I know some people who get a million miles. So, Mr. Mayor, we’ve got a motion to approve but I didn’t want this body to be misled thinking that we don’t know anything about automobiles at all. Mr. Mayor: I understand. There’s a motion and a proper second. The Chair recognizes th the Commissioner from the 10. Mr. Smith: I was just going to comment do you think we ought to buy more Fords, th? Commissioner from the 9 That truck you’ve got that big diesel you’ve got --- Mr. M. Williams: (inaudible). Mr. Guilfoyle: Call for the question. 21 Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I think that’s an excellent idea. I drive a Ford. Voting. Mr. Smith: Me too. Mr. Mayor: And a more lighthearted moment today is in fact National Pancake Day and National Cereal Day. Anyone wanting to join me at IHOP after I’d be happy to oblige. Mr. Fennoy: Are you buying? The Clerk: They’re free, yeah he’s buying. Now that’s going to cost you. Mr. Mayor: That’s right. Motion Passes 10-0. Mr. Mayor: You know they get real proper talking about turkey sausage and bacon. Madam Clerk, let’s go to number 44. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 44. Discuss a resolution changing the name of the John C. Calhoun Expressway. (No recommendation from Administrative Services Committee February 28, 2017) st Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the distinguished Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I think at our last committee meeting we had a conversation about John C. Calhoun and John C. Calhoun’s history. Normally when we name a building, a street, or a road or a room after someone it’s someone that has had a positive impact on this community on this country. But at this time Mr. Mayor, I want to go ahead and put this back on the agenda at a later time. I want to put it back on the agenda at a later time. Mr. Mayor: I think that’s a wonderful gesture on your part but I’m wanting to hear a second from our Mayor Pro Tem for that. Mr. Hasan: I make that second, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Hasan: Pull it from the agenda? Mr. Sias: Moving to delete it, right? Mr. Hasan: Yes. 22 Mr. Mayor: That is correct. All right, we’ve got a motion and a second all those in favor will vote yea those opposed will vote no. Mr. Fennoy abstains. Motion Passes 9-1. st, Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner from the 1 for your leadership on that. All right let’s go to number 18, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: FINANCE 18. Motion to approve agreement with Augusta Coliseum Authority for funding as authorized in SPLOST Phase VII. (Approved by Finance Committee February 28, 2017) th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 for a question. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just have one question and my question was the revived issue or the way this money’s being spent. Was that not supposed to be done prior to this coming to this body? Shouldn’t all that had been done ahead of time? Mr. Mayor: Well, you know I don’t know if I’m the right person to speak to it but I do know that this body to include yourself voted to approve the SPLOST package that the citizens voted in an overwhelming fashion, 62% in fact, Commissioner Hasan. And the Coliseum Authority was the beneficiary of that after much debate about what they should get. That number was upwards of twelve it was reduced to six and then discussed about being four and it’s certainly well within their right to say this is how they’re going to allocate those resources. But probably Attorney Enoch can speak to it but I think you your point whether it was today yesterday or before they’ve given us just a revision because they had presented something to us and I think you’re well right that you know we would hope that they shared that with us before but why don’t we hear from our Attorney Enoch. He can talk about where we were versus what you have in your hand then maybe that might help us with it, we had agreed on something before. Mr. Enoch: I’m Ed Enoch, 3111 West Lake Forest Drive. I’m the attorney for the Coliseum Authority. To your question, Commissioner Marion Williams, we initially submitted the budget for the one and a half million dollars that we understood had already been allocated for this year and that’s the top highlighted items. Those are items that are of an immediate need to bring the James Brown Arena and the Bell Auditorium back up to a serviceable level. The remaining four and a half million right now we’re still in the process of hearing from the architects who are surveying properties to help give us a recommendation to coordinate with you all about potentially where to build the next new arena. So that four and a half million we don’t know what the answer to the question will be for instance on what property acquisition costs might be you know. That could vary widely depending on what location. When we submitted the SPLOST what we asked for was money to either to be used to maintain and keep the existing buildings going realizing that we’ve got these aging properties and/or to begin the process of the new arena. So part of this money that we’re spending right now in the first million and a half is for the 23 architects to help us make those decisions and to be able to come to you all with recommendations about how we one, place it into funding that’s going to obviously be the, I started to say the $64,000 dollar question but’s it’s going to be the $110 million dollar question really is probably what they’re telling us. So, that’s why after this was submitted the request was made that we come back and put some flesh on the bones for the $4 ½ million. This is really just our best shot at that. What we would use it for in the old buildings depending on the timeline for building the new building but ideally we would use part of this money for property acquisition. The way that MOU is set up we would be coming back to you before the $4 ½ million comes to us with a more detailed request to say we anticipate using that money x, y and z. Right now the second part is really just a wish list. Mr. M. Williams: If I can respond, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. I’m sorry this number just came out of the air then because I’m trying to figure out with the guidelines that go with the SPLOST and how all the entities are supposed to have a list and what they’re going to do. When they turned that in I’m thinking that they already been done this. I’m in support of the arena now let me get that up front first but I’m trying to make sure that everybody is held to the same standards because there are some people who will bring and came to present and didn’t have it in place we would’ve said you’re too late or you didn’t follow the procedure. So I’m just trying to make sure everybody holds me to the rule I’m trying to hold everybody else to rule that’s all it is. So if that’s the way it’s supposed to be then I think we ought to make sure that everybody, I know some entities that didn’t come in the right amount of time, didn’t do what they needed to do and I was just asking a question about that. I wasn’t second guessing you or the arena but I just want to know why it was late and why we’re just getting just then and not had it before time. Ms. Davis: Commissioner, I’d like to, maybe the Administrator can give you a little bit more information as far as the process but I think that it’s, I understand what you’re saying but I think in the SPLOST the ask was a lot greater number so you knew what you were going to do with those funds and we weren’t able to allocate that amount of the funds. And that’s why right now you don’t have a firm plan with what has been allocated, is that correct, Madam Administrator? Ms. Jackson: That’s a good explanation. Also just want to make sure I think the Mayor made this point earlier but I want to reiterate but what was attached with your committee agenda last week was just the expenditures for the first $1.5 million. They came back today with additional information to explain perspective uses for the four and a half million that remains as part of this allocation. Does that respond to your question, sir? Mr. M. Williams: Yes and what I’m hearing this may change though I mean from what I’m hearing and I’m just asking a question. It’s not to hold this up. We approved the SPLOST passed like the Mayor said. We voted for it, the community voted for it, we done done it but if there’s a guideline to go with it I’d just like to see everybody be held to the same standards. I’ve got a motion to approve if there hasn’t already been one. 24 Mr. Frantom: Second. Ms. Davis: We’ve got a motion and a second please vote. Commissioner Smith is out right now. Mr. Smith out. Motion Passes 9-0. Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Enoch. Mr. Enoch: Thank you. Ms. Davis: Madam Clerk, can we go to item 40 please? The Clerk: PLANNING 40. Z-16-41 – Reconsideration of a request by the Augusta Planning Commission to approve, with the conditions stated below, a petition by Stanley Mack, on behalf of Stanley and Shelley Mack, 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 .31 acres and known as 3603 Richdale Drive. Tax Map 143-0-277-00-0 DISTRICT 6. 1. The home shall be staffed in three (3) 8-hour shifts on a 7-day, 24-hour basis with no staff sleeping in the home. 2. A private room shall be provided for staff to conduct business. 3. No more than sox (6) clients are permitted to reside in the home based on the number and size of the existing bedrooms. 4. In order to continue to maintain a local business license, the applicant must continue to maintain a license with the State of Georgia, proof of compliance with the minimum requirements of Chapter 111.8-2.01 of the O.C.G.A. must be provided, and the applicant must provide updated fire department compliance for six (6) clients. All requirements must be met within six (6) months of approval of this Special Exception request, or the Special Exception is void. 5. If wheelchair bound persons reside in the residence all 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design requirements must be met, including but not limited to: •All doorways must be at least 3 feet wide. •At least one bathroom that permits a wheelchair dependent person to use all bathroom facilities unimpeded. 6. All conditions must be met prior to issuance of a local business license. (Approved by Commission January 17, 2017) Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Are you here to speak --- Mr. Sherman: Yes. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- okay. I know that we’re rehearing this, correct? Mr. DeCamp: Yes, this is a petition by Stanley Mack for a Special Exception for a Family Personal Care Home at 3603 Richdale Drive. It was originally was heard by the Planning 25 th Commission originally on December 5 2016 and the Planning Commission recommended approval with six conditions that are actually part of the agenda item. They were subsequently to th that the Augusta Commission on December 20 2016 referred it to the Public Services Committee. th The Public Services Committee heard it on January 10 of this year and approved the Special th Exception with again with the six conditions listed. Then on January 17 the Augusta Commission denied the Special Exception. Just by way of general background when we, the city zoning ordinance specifies that we look at three criteria for Special Exceptions for Family Personal Care Homes. Those three include looking to see if there are any other similar facilities or like facilities within a 1,200-foot radius of the proposed location. We found that that was that there were no other locations within 1,200 feet. Secondly that the location is not an area in which that possibly the health, safety and welfare of the Personal Care Home residents could be compromised. Of course this location is in a predominately residential area so we felt it met that criteria as well. And that the benefit, thirdly that the benefits of the Personal Care Home outweigh any depreciating effects on neighboring properties. And again because there’s no substantial change to the exterior of this property it meets the with regards to our spacing standards for the interior rooms it meets the requirements spelled out in the zoning ordinance and that was essentially the basis for the staff recommendation and the conditions that were attached. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you very much, sir. I’m trying to remember --- Mr. DeCamp: Paul. Mr. Sias: --- say again? Mr. DeCamp: Paul DeCamp. Mr. Sias: Mr. DeCamp. I’ve got a couple of questions I want to address here to Mr. DeCamp, Mr. Mayor. When we talk about exceptions we have a, we have an exception regulation within our zoning and planning whatever we call that. I want to talk about the first part of that. You have been specific idea with a Personal Care Home and other things but if I’m not mistaken, Mr. DeCamp, and you correct me when I’m wrong, you may or may not have that regulation immediately with you but in the exception clause that applies to all exceptions to zoning, does it not say that exception has to be a fit within the harmony of the area where it is intended to go being requested, am I correct? Mr. DeCamp: Generally that is correct, sir. Mr. Sias: So the point being when I talked, when you talk about a business and someone said well those are not businesses but when I look on Angie’s list and I find this business, that’s a business. When I look on the other part of the internet and I find this business, that’s a business so and the and when we talk about fitting in harmony we have commercial zones, we have residential zones and I’m fussing at you, Mr. DeCamp --- Mr. DeCamp: No (unintelligible). 26 Mr. Sias: --- you are the what did he say the delivery okay? I’m not trying to shoot the messenger. What I’m trying to get across here is we have an exception, just because we have some steps doesn’t mean the exception is automatically granted. If it doesn’t fit in harmony that is the first thing for all exception requests. Secondly, we are as government now stepping on the cornerstone of when people buy residential property. They buy and the neighborhood has covenants and we keep hearing well that’s a civil matter. Well then maybe everybody should come sue this government because what we’re doing we’re stepping on a group that we don’t expect to sue. Now if it’s a business owner they done made a few bucks here they step right on up and they can file suit against Richmond County to attempt to overturn any negative decision. But the homeowners have the same right for their covenants because Mr. DeCamp for my benefit and others where are these covenants or file when that neighborhood is registered, that subdivision is registered? Where are they filed? Mr. DeCamp: Normally they’re filed with, they’d be filed with the property records with the Superior Court Clerk. Mr. Sias: So then we have a permanent record now of what that neighborhood was intended to be. Am I correct? Mr. DeCamp: That’s correct (unintelligible). Mr. Sias: And that also specifies the land use, am I correct? Mr. DeCamp: Well --- Mr. Sias: Yes or no, Mr. DeCamp. Mr. DeCamp: --- generally speaking. Mr. Sias: Yes or no, I ain’t trying to trap I’m just telling you the truth okay? So now we as a government can go back and change it apparently any which way we want irregardless of what a homeowner thought or expected when they bought in that neighborhood. So as you can tell from my question, Mr. DeCamp, I’m totally against these. So when there are folks who object to these things, Mr. Mayor, I think we should honor their request. Now if nobody cares and nobody objects that’s fine however when we have neighborhood associations whose primary function is to keep their property values up, keep a safe place and a non-businesslike place for their families and children. Thank you very much. Mr. Hasan: Motion to deny, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right hold on, Commissioner. I’m going to recognize the gentleman from th the 9, state your inquiry Commissioner. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I was listening to Commissioner Sias and I do agree that the taxpayer, the property owner is the first person the first line that we need to be 27 protecting. We’re the government because of the taxpayer because of those. Now when you bring business into the neighborhood that changes everything. And there are a lot of cases where we have businesses. At the old county you didn’t have to do anything but put a sign up Williams’ fried chicken and you’re in business in the old county. But when we were consolidated we came under the rules of the (unintelligible) of a city consolidated government. that means you have to go through license and inspection you just can’t do what you want to do. Now if this business was existing I think for a long time and nobody really knew it was there but once we know --- Mr. DeCamp: Right. Mr. M. Williams: --- once we know that it’s there and the people complained about it I mean if it’s right, we had daycares. Now I remember, Paul, you and I’ve been dancing a long time --- Mr. DeCamp: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: --- this ain’t our first rodeo but people can have 25 children in their home as long as they say they’re related to them because we can’t prove they’re not. If they ain’t got no sign up and that kind of thing but we really you’re open for business and if one business can come in then you’re going to open up not a residential area but you’re going to open up a business district where you’re going to have mechanic shops, somebody may have helped Ron Crowden with them Ford Crown Vic’s Grady was talking about. But I think we understand that we’ve got to be mindful of the constituents of this city that pay the basic home taxes, raise their children and families and not businesses. So I had to put my two cents in but I just think we need to know we just don’t --- Mr. Sias: I second the motion, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Let’s just suspend for a moment. I think there are multiple things that are happening right now and I want to make sure this is done right, everybody just suspend. Okay, th Attorney MacKenzie, would you approach. All right I want the Commissioner from the 6 and thth the Commissioner from the 4, Commissioner from the 7. Okay all right the Chair recognizes th the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, several minutes ago I made a motion to deny. I’m going to withdraw my motion, my colleague’s going to make a motion. Thank you. th Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Before I make that motion, Mr. Mayor and my colleagues, I just want you to understand I from every fiber in my being see this government as one of our greatest responsibilities is to protect our citizens. Whether we’re protecting them from harm from oversees, domestic or terrorism or whatever and our neighborhoods are the bedrock of our community. If we don’t have our neighborhoods, we don’t have a community. So I move to deny this particular personal care home on several conditions. Number one, it just does not fit the need of this, benefit it does not benefit this neighborhood in any way shape form or fashion as to increase their property 28 values or maintain the same. Secondly, we have a hearing for public input for these exceptions. The neighborhood has expressed, members of the neighborhood have expressed that they do not desire this business in their neighborhood. And the third and final point the harmony of this business is not in conjunction or in the harmony of this business is not the harmony of this neighborhood. This neighborhood is a residential base based on their covenants. This is a business advertised as a business. Thank you. Mr. Hasan: I second. Mr. Mayor: All right, we have a motion and a second. All right, this a question that’s th being directed to the Commissioner from the 4 and your iteration of reasons. Is it not true that this business as you refer to it a Personal Care Home is already in the neighborhood? Mr. Sias: I will not answer that with a yes or a no. I will answer this as this. Anybody can keep three folks with no requirement, three. To expand greater than three it requires an exception to the basic land use authorization for that area. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make a motion to approve this agenda item. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Sias: You mean a substitute motion. Mr. Guilfoyle: Substitute, yes, sir, thank you. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so we’ve got a substitute motion. All right, we’ve got a substitute motion to approve as written. All right, all those in favor will vote yea and those opposed will vote no. Mr. Hasan: (Unintelligible). Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, everybody suspend. Mr. DeCamp: If I could Mayor, Commissioners we would like to request that to amend the stipulation, the condition to limit the number of persons to no more than five. Right now it says up to six. th Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: I’d like to amend my motion, Madam Clerk, what Paul DeCamp had added. The Clerk: Okay. 29 Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Paul. Mr. Fennoy: (unintelligible) second. Mr. Mayor: All right, you just did. Mr. Hasan: I have a question around that if you don’t mind. Mr. Mayor: I’m going to come to you. All right I’ve got a substitute motion, Madam Clerk, that is to approve as written with a limit of not to exceed five. Okay all right the Chair th recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, can I get some clarity around when this first came before us how many residents where in the home? Mr. Mayor: Paul? Mr. DeCamp: Honestly, Commissioner, I don’t know right off hand how many there were. Mr. Hasan: Well I mean if we, I’m assuming because we’re making an amendment obviously there were less than six in there because other than that if you’re getting a Special Exception, how many was in there, four? Mr. DeCamp: It might have been four, it might have been five, I’m not positive but the limit on a Family Personal Care Home is six. Mr. Hasan: Okay. th Mr. Mayor: So I think the amendment to the Commissioner from the 6 is because as the th gentleman from the 4 indicated you can have up to three and not have this conversation and so they’re putting a cap on it at five. Mr. DeCamp: The other thing I would point out and the one thing we didn’t catch early on is that given the size of the bedroom standards that are in the zoning ordinance it could only, there was only room enough in the four bedrooms for a total of five residents to meet our standards. Mr. Hasan: My Mayor and I hate and it probably won’t work but I’m going to try it anyway. Do we have to send this back to Planning and Zoning the specs and everything was out of whack. We have something we previously voted on this body approved it now they’re, no we denied it I’m sorry we denied it and as we began to because the Commission made the decision to revisit it and still making amendments on the floor right now as we’re making another decision about it I consider that we table it and send it back to Planning and Zoning. Mr. Mayor: Well, I think that’s certainly a wonderful idea. Let’s do it this way. We’ve got a substitute motion which is the superior motion for us right now. Let’s try to dispose of that one and then if it’s unsuccessful --- 30 Mr. Hasan: Point of Personal Privilege, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: --- I’ve given it to you already. Mr. Hasan: Another Point of Personal Privilege. Mr. Mayor: All right, well, let me vote first. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, if you vote first the amendment was made after he made the motion after before he told us about the five. Mr. Mayor: All right so --- Mr. Hasan: Yes, he did because I caught, I stopped him, Mr. Mayor, in the process of saying --- Mr. Mayor: I’m not trying to --- Mr. Hasan: --- I’m not talking about I’m talking about my colleague Commissioner Frantom. Mr. Mayor: --- okay right I understand --- Mr. Hasan: Okay. Mr. Mayor: --- okay hold on, hold on, everybody just hold on. A lot of passion in the room. All right we have a superior motion on the floor and that’s the substitute with the noted condition of not more than five. If this measure fails, then you’ll have an opportunity to do something a little different. So let’s take this up now. I don’t know how it’s going to go, you don’t know how it’s going to go, maybe you do I don’t know. Mr. Sias: Are we voting? Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. G. Smith vote Yes. Mr. Sias, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Hasan vote No. Mr. M. Williams abstains. Motion Passes 6-3-1. Mr. DeCamp: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, we are, I’m following your lead. 31 The Clerk: Sir? Mr. Mayor: I’m following your lead. The Clerk: PUBLIC SAFETY 15. Motion to provide a 60-day notice to the Magistrate Judges that the City of Augusta plans to change the in-house probation order and request a meeting with the judges within ten days of the approval by the Commission. (Approved by Public Safety Committee February 28, 2017) Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, I’m going to limit debate on this matter in five minutes. All th right, I’m going to recognize individuals in this order. Commissioner from the 8 then the thth Commissioner from the 6 and then the 4. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, I need some clarification why we’re going to provide a 60-day notice then turn around and require whoever to meet with the judges within ten days. I’d like to maker of this motion to please explain that to me, it’s a contradictory motion. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I didn’t make the motion. I would like to address it but I didn’t I’m not the maker of the motion. Commissioner Sias is the maker of the motion. Mr. Mayor: All right, do you want me to --- Mr. Hasan: Yes but I would like to speak to it as well. Mr. Mayor: --- I understand. All right so the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the th 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. To answer my colleague’s question, it’s not a contradictory motion. It says that we will provide notice a 60-day notice because that is in the order as to make any changes or whatever as far as this ordinance is concerned. In the other part about it said to request a meeting within ten days. In other words if we’re providing them with a 60-day notice then we also need to set up a process to meet with them within that 60 days. So the point was for us to request a meeting, get our request out within the next ten, ten days of if this is approved by the Commission. And while I have the mike, Mr. Mayor, I want to make a note on this and I will take responsibility for this. But it should’ve been to the state and magistrate judges, that was what the motion should have been. But I take responsibility for that for scripting so then that should’ve been state and magistrate judges because those are ones who are on the signed order. Thank you. The Clerk: Is that your motion or --- Mr. Sias: Yes. 32 Mr. Mayor: All right --- The Clerk: There was no second to it. Mr. Hasan: I’ll second it. th Mr. Mayor: --- okay all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. You know my follow up question to this motion is who is going to be meeting with the judges is it going to be the Commission, the Mayor, the Administrator? It leaves an open door. And if it’s the Administrator I would hope it would be the Administrator because the Administrator has been part of this process going back a year and a half and actually she was in it from the embryo stage when Judge Slaby had come up. And for us to change the whole process that this body approved unanimously I believe then we’re going to go back and circumvent what we had voted on, what we had approved and what was the theory behind of following the Athens-Clarke. You know I hear that people are intimidated by the police or men in uniform. You know I have been incarcerated before but it don’t bother me now. If you ain’t doing nothing wrong, you ain’t doing wrong but my concern is when we lower the standards on this probation then Administrator ought to be the one that’s fighting for this to keep it the same of what we what our goal was to follow the footsteps and the path of Athens-Clarke. And by us changing the process we’re changing the outcome. Now the gentleman in Athens-Clarke had said you won’t get it done in six months. You won’t get it done in eight months. It’s going to take time and I would like to hear the Administrator’s opinion on this process or what her intent or whoever’s intent to meet with the magistrate judges, what they’re intent on changing. Mr. Mayor: Well, I appreciate you and I certainly know it’s well within the Administrator’s right to speak to this but I think that this is an issue that’s been generated by your colleagues on the Commission and as such they need to speak to this matter. All right, I’m going to recognize th,th the Commissioner from the 8 from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate that and I concur with your observation around that. Mr. Mayor, the reason we’re doing this is we just have some concerns. I’ve also spoken with the gentleman from Athens-Clarke who worked for us diligently to be a part of this process to show us how to set it up. They are P.O.S.T. Certified peace officers by their own desire. They do understand also that we have an opportunity to become P.O.S.T Certified probation officers. As a matter of fact I think by us being so aggressive here, as you know, Mr. Mayor, there’s a piece of legislation that’s up in Atlanta that’s possibly honoring the request that we have here. There are conversations among the judges right now state court judges in particular about doing what they consider to be a hybrid system in terms of that meaning that some of them will be P.O.S.T. Certified peace officers, P.O.S.T Certified probation officers. So that conversation I think we’re moving in the right direction in doing that. I think Judge Slaby also led the charge for that piece of legislation to be put in place there before the state legislators so I think in many ways he would agree with this conversation that we’re having, Mr. Mayor. So what I’m thinking in any form or fashion and nobody has said this but that we’re being disrespectful to the court in any form or fashion. I think we’re doing what we have a right to do to meet with them give them the 60- 33 days’ notice, that 60-days’ notice starts at the time of the meeting with them to discuss it with them. Also there’s some of the judges like I say that I’ve spoken with they are already having this conversation right now as we speak. th Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I’m going to recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I agree that we need to have a conversation with the judges and talk with them. There has been a lot that’s happened. I think each one of my colleagues received a letter from Attorney Long commending us on how good the services were going and the way that we had done this but somewhere down the line there’s been some changes somewhere. When you talk about P.O.S.T Certified people coming in, we hire the people to accept fines and stuff from people. The whole atmosphere had changed the construction of the building, the interior of the building had been changed the yards have been cleaned up they had a whole different atmosphere and all of a sudden something went wrong and everything went the other way. And I too have a problem with we’re demanding that people be P.O.S.T Certified. The last private company that we had was not P.O.S.T Certified. I mean nobody even talked about even getting P.O.S.T Certified. They never got a letter about being P.O.S.T Certified but now we’re saying that we want to change. We hire someone, we hire the Director. They hire people to come in and I thought they were working well but something happened down the line. I requested three or four times if not more to have a conversation in this room, talk about the process, what was wrong, what’s going on and what’s not going on. Now we’re still skirting around a lot of stuff that’s been said in other quarters, maybe not in this room but the Director had to be P.O.S.T Certified but the System Director did not have to be. I’ve got an issue with that I mean if, why is that? I’ve got an issue with officers wearing uniforms to collect money. Commissioner Guilfoyle said if you ain’t done nothing wrong then you shouldn’t have to worry about it and if I was him I wouldn’t but if I was me I would. There’s a difference in a man coming to you in a uniform when somebody’s going to talk to you and you don’t know what they’re going to talk about. I’m an old grown man now but when I get stopped on the highway, Ms. Bonner, I get nervous because I don’t know who I’m going to get, maybe a Barney Fife, maybe somebody else. So think there’s an issue when you come to pay probation now and you’re paying probation services why do you have to have a gun and a badge to collect that, I don’t think that’s right, that’s my personal opinion Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right I’ve been very generous. I said we were going to limit debate to five minutes we are at the nine-minute mark. All right the Chair is going to recognize in this th order for closing arguments the Commissioner from the 8 and then the Commissioner from the th 4. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner, if you’ll suspend I’m going to recognize the th Commissioner from the 7. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My question is that if we approve this agenda item today we’re basically saying we’re going to change something in the probation office even though we hadn’t had any discussion with judges, is that what we’re approving today that we’re saying? 34 Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to answer that, I’m going to answer that. Okay, one of the things that I think is important I’ve said this before I’m going to say it today if we’re going to debate a matter we all need to do it from a common set of facts and clearly we don’t have a common set of facts and so let me try to articulate those. The conversation for weeks now has been ongoing that in this body meaning those of you who sit in here took action a couple of weeks ago, a cease and desist order to the degree that you could do that under judiciary encouraging Judge Slaby and others to cease and desist all terminations. That was the impetus behind not only this conversation but other conversations as it relates being able to fully staff the public probation office that has been stood up once again by this body. You took on that as an office, you funded it and they are experiencing some success with the exception of not being able to keep people and being able to get to a place of being fully staffed because of the concerns around this notion of P.O.S.T Certification and what that meant. There was a lot of discussion about whether or not we would have a law enforcement office or in fact a supervisory services or community services office which rd is traditionally where probation services are. Senate Bill 217 offered by our senator from the 23 Senator Jessie Stone would address this issue that has been brought up that affects not only this jurisdiction around the issue of public probation but other counties who have decided to bring it th in-house as well. The Commissioner from the 7 was asked to forward that draft legislation to all of the members of this body and did, we have that. What is included in this motion with the noted th amendment from the Commissioner from the 4 to include the state court judges is a change in the order that is in draft. That has already been transmitted to the Chief Judge, Judge Slaby has a copy of that. Judge Slaby has been in discussions with not only the other state court judges but the magistrate court judges as well. So, when we walk away from this motion no one can say well I’ve been blindsided the judges are already having this conversation, some of you may not be aware of that but he is having this conversation with the magistrate court judges and the state court judges as well. And so part of this motion today is to say we’re going to change the order but we want it to be an amenable change they know what those proposed changes are that bring the th language into alignment thus as the Commissioner from the 6 indicated the hybrid organization. You cannot have law enforcement officers today. They have to go through the training and part of the progression is for them to become P.O.S.T Certified. That is the goal behind the item on number 15 and so hopefully that clarifies but that again there’s no slight of hand going on here. That’s a discussion that’s already taken place with the judges both in magistrate court and state court and Chief Judge Slaby is leading those discussions in the judiciary. So, it is appropriate for us to take this action because the current order says a 60-day notice has to be given. All right so th the Commissioner from the 8 your question was well who is going to meet with them. I think as it is written it say that again a meeting within 10 days and the goal if for the Commission to meet with them. There’s again a line of demarcation between the branches of government but this office exists because this body decided to stand up a public probation office so at a point of time that a meeting date is set there will be a notice that goes out inviting every Commissioner to be a part of that discussion. Pursuant to the current order, the Administrator, the Chairman of Public Safety, and the Chief Judge, the Magistrate Court Judge and others are already on the advisory committee. That’s what you adopted, that’s what you agreed to and so those folks but given the fact that this is again a decision for the whole body everyone will be invited to the meeting, okay? Mr. Sias: Call for the question? 35 Mr. Mayor: Yeah, that the common set effect. All right voting. Commissioner from the thnd 10 Commissioner from the 2 and the Mayor Pro Tem is absent. The Clerk: She’s out. Mr. Mayor: She is out. Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Guilfoyle abstain. Ms. Davis out. Motion Passes 7-0-1. The Clerk: I think we’re at item number 41, sir? Mr. Mayor: 44, we disposed of that one. The Clerk: We’ve done 44, yes. Mr. Mayor: Let’s go to number 46. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATOR 46. Update/presentation on Augusta’s community awareness efforts e.g. Environmental th Services Department’s March 25 “Great Augusta Cleanup and Recycling Block Party” event. The Clerk: I call your attention to your handout, your green handout. Mr. Mayor: Is that the small one, Madam Clerk? The Clerk: Yes, sir. Ms. Jackson: The one that looks like this. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Ms. Jackson: Okay, we just wanted to bring this item to your attention as we have discussion various cleanup efforts and an overall strategy for making Augusta a cleaner, brighter place. This is one initiative that’s led by the Environmental Services Department. I don’t think this is the first time they’ve done it but we certainly want to highlight at this time to improve attendance at the event. Leadra Collins who is with our Utilities Department a Public Education Specialist has worked with the Environmental Services Department in pulling this together. Unfortunately, Ms. Videtto he is leading the effort was not able to be here today so Leadra is going to make a brief presentation just to advise you about this event and the importance of it. 36 Mr. Mayor: Okay before she does that, Madam Administrator, I’m going to pose this question to you and certainly Environmental Services. Given that there is a community effort along the lines of city serve is it appropriate for us to combine these efforts on the same day or again I know this a (unintelligible) term but do we get a better bang for our buck by combining those efforts and simple doing it at one time? That’s the question. Ms. Jackson: This is really an informational event. As Ms. Leadra will describe we’re going to do things like show or educate our citizens about how to get recycling carts. If they want to do individual neighborhood cleanups how to go about doing that. Talk about tire collection and things of that magnitude. I will in a related matter I think directly related to what you’re saying we have had ongoing discussions in the last few weeks about doing some cleanups in the Bethlehem neighborhood and we are going to schedule those in conjunction with the City Serve Effort. So this is preparation and information public education effort what is going to happen on th April 29 I believe it is. We’ll be the actual boots on the ground cleanup and we will be doing that in conjunction with City Serve. Mr. Mayor: Very good, thank you. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from st the 1. th Mr. Fennoy: Ms. Jackson, on the recycling Block Party on the 25 would information th about City Serve on the 29 of April be available to the people? Ms. Jackson: We have begun discussion with them to see if they would like to do a booth. I’m not sure we’ve got a commitment for them for a booth at this event but we have asked them to participate with us. Mr. Mayor: Ms. Collins. Ms. Collins: Good afternoon, Commissioners, Mayor. As a good community partner Augusta Environmental Services Department provides a variety of community wide events and education programs to encourage our citizens young and old to join in reducing waste and keeping our community clean. It’s our responsibility to make Augusta a cleaner and greener community and a better place to live. And so in doing so we invite the community to come out on March the th 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Augusta Common. We invite the community to join us for the Great Augusta Cleanup and Recycling Block Party. This event will promote recycling and a cleaner community by inviting residents to sign up for recycling bins and to become educated about what goes where. In other words what we want the residents to know about recycling contamination so that the right products go into the correct bins. We also support volunteer litter collection events and neighborhood and community cleanups to help beautify our city. So information regarding the neighborhood cleanup, volunteer litter pickup and civic tire collection program will also be on hand during this event. Several of the city’s departments will also be there to discuss their efforts initiatives to keep Augusta beautiful. Augusta Utilities will have information to emphasize the oil, used oil recycling program out at ESG. The Marshal’s Department will be on hand to discuss the enforcement of litter patrol, code enforcement, the Mayor’s Office, Augusta Animal Services as well as Augusta 311. Additionally various civic and non-profit organizations will also be on hand to display their cleanup efforts. For example, City 37 Serve, we have reached out to City Serve and have given them a spot to have a pop up tent where th they can give the information about that event for April the 29 as well as have people to sign up to participate for that event. And the Savannah River Keeper will be there with information on how to keep our waterways clean. Additionally a few other community partners will be there to collect items that are reusable, for example the Burn Foundation, Ronald McDonald House and Action Ministries. This family friendly day of events activities, excuse me, will be filled with many opportunities for our citizens to come out and become educated, engaged and involved in keeping this great city beautiful and we hope that everyone will be able to come out and attend. Mr. Mayor: Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the1st for a question. Mr. Fennoy: Yes, what are we doing to make the public aware of this event? Ms. Collins: This, it has been sent out via those who sign up on our alert system notification, Notify Me. It’s on our social media. It has been put on the community calendars as well as we’ve reached out to the Marketing Department for Environmental Services to get some radio airplay as well. Mr. Fennoy: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Spread that opportunity for Beasley to send out a press announcement. Ms. Jackson: We’ll do that as well. Mr. Fennoy: Do we need a motion to approve as information or receive as information? Motion to receive as information. Mr. Jefferson: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay, voting. Ms. Davis, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. Sias out. Motion Passes 7-0. Mr. Mayor: So today is Tuesday, Ms. Jackson. I understand that Saturday is Heart Walk Saturday. Ms. Jackson: That is correct. Thank you for reminding me. The Heart Walk will take th place on Saturday March 11 at the North Augusta Greenway. We will have a team of Augusta employees; our employees have worked really hard and raised a good deal of money. We’re still collecting donations by the way but we had a goal of $20,000. I think the last time I checked we had raised about 13 or 14 so we’re getting, we’ve far exceeded our collection last year. Last year we raised about 10 or 11 so we look forward to the walk. We have t-shirts available for our City of Augusta team. One of the things I wanted to emphasize last year each department had different shirts. This year I wanted a collective shirt for the group so we do have that if any of you all would like to walk with us we can make sure you get a shirt. 38 Mr. Mayor: Are you going to pay for them? Ms. Jackson: I might figure out how to do that. Ms. Hasan: She says she’s going to pay for it, that’s a curve ball, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: I couldn’t miss that opportunity. All right, so we’ve goal of $20,000 and we’re about 14plus. Okay, so I’m going to issue a challenge to the 2,700-member organization that we have that if we are short of that goal today and we believe we can meet that goal, Ms. Bonner. I know that I’m sitting on the dais with some retirees with plenty of money. In other words they’re all about the Benjamin’s --- Ms. Jackson: Disposable income. Mr. Mayor: --- disposal income, yeah, we keep hearing that regularly. The Clerk: We do. Mr. Mayor: We do and so to the 2,700-member organization --- Mr. Sias: I’ll write you a check but you might have to catch it. Mr. Mayor: --- if you toss it in there and make arrangements but I think we have an opportunity to if 20 is our goal I think we can get there. So to all of our department directors that are in here and all of our employees who might be listening in, to the Sheriff who I know is watching I’m challenging you and your folks over there to come up with $2,500 and that’ll get us to 17 and then we’ll be less than three short. To the Marshal who’s listening in I want you to come up with $1,500. Okay, all right, all right but since you asked, I’ve got ten Commissioners. I’m going to ask every one of you all to write a check for $100.00. Mr. Speaker: Today? Mr. Mayor: Today. The Clerk: No IOU’s, no IOU’s. Mr. Mayor: That’s right. Mr. Sias: And the Mayor’s check, $500.00? Mr. Mayor: Depends on what’s left over. Mr. Smith: Hey, can you do like my customers do me can you hold it for about a month and I’ll get with you? 39 Mr. Mayor: But we are, I think your hashtag is Team One Augusta. Well, let’s be about One Augusta and let’s meet our goal not just has an aspirational goal but let’s meet our goal. We believe we can get there okay? All right so is that --- Ms. Jackson: Thank you very much, sir. st Mr. Mayor: --- all right, very good. All right the Commissioner from the 1 is about to tell us who’s going to do more than $100.00. Mr. Fennoy: I’m going to do better than that on the way down here I received a call from Jamaica it said I had won 2 ½ --- Mr. Mayor: Are you going to donate all of that? Mr. Fennoy: --- not all of it but they said I just won $2 ½ million dollars and a brand-new Mercedes and I told them I was on my way to a meeting so they’re going to call me back at 6:00 o’clock and let me know how I could go about reclaiming it. But as soon as I get it I’ll match whatever you all raise. Mr. Mayor: Okay, it sounds like a winner to me. Oh my goodness --- Mr. Jefferson: They usually want $25,000 dollars for you to send them to collect it. Mr. Mayor: That’s right. Mr. Hasan: Pass that down to the Mayor. Mr. Smith: Is it dry yet? Mr. Mayor: Okay, that’s what I’m talking about. Mr. Smith: Is that one dry yet? Mr. Mayor: That’s what I’m talking about. All right, Madam Clerk. Mr. Smith: Mr. Mayor, me and Ben got a machine over here. You need any more? Mr. Hasan: You’ve got one more coming, Mr. Mayor. The Clerk: I might have to get in on that ya’ll keep it up? Mr. Sias: No, you know I ain’t gonna let them chumps down there get ahead on me. I’m going to have to write (inaudible). Who is this made out to? Mr. Fennoy: Ben Hasan. 40 Mr. Sias: Who’s it made out to, Mr. Mayor? Ms. Jackson: The American Heart Association and in the memo line please write the City of Augusta. Mr. Mayor: All right, all right --- Mr. Smith: We need to keep the Mayor happy. Mr. Mayor: --- I appreciate that, I appreciate that. That’s my former Mayor Pro Tem. He knows the Mayor loves him. All right waiting on the Dean and the Diaper Dandy. All right, Ms. Allen is going back over to the IT Department to get, she’s going to shake everybody down, she’s going to shake everybody down. All right okay, we’ve got until Friday, Madam Administrator, and you’ll give me a total? Ms. Jackson: Yes. Mr. Mayor: All right fantastic, outstanding. All right, Madam Clerk, back with you. The Clerk: Where you’re going, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: I’m following your lead. The Clerk: The top? Mr. Mayor: Well, no, we’re going to come back to that one there’s still some discussion going on quietly behind the scenes. The Clerk: How about item 42? Mr. Mayor: That’s good. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 42. Discuss scheduling a Commission Work Session regarding the establishment of Personal Care Homes in Augusta, GA. (Requested by Commissioner Ben Hasan) Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to delete this from the agenda. I make a motion to delete from the agenda. Mr. Frantom: Second. th Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a second from the Commissioner from the 7, very good. Voting. 41 Mr. Sias votes No. Ms. Davis and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 7-1. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 43. Discuss/update from Administrator regarding the electrical system at the Augusta Common. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) Mr. Mayor: Madam Administrator. Ms. Jackson: Yes, during our last meeting of the Economic Development Sub-Committee it was brought to our attention by Brenda Durant of the Arts Council that there’s concerns with our electrical system at the Augusta Common. As of, that was just a few days ago and as of today we can provide just summary explanation of what the issues are. We do not have a firm cost estimate for the upgrade of that system but we want to provide you with as much information as we can today and we’ll do further research and get a specific solution and estimated cost to you at a later date. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and in being in that meeting with Ms. Jackson it came up about the electrical system. You know I was wondering why the City of Augusta required our rentals to have to have an electrical person on call on staff when they have an event and pay them, I forget what their hourly wages is but I was really surprised, I was really shocked to hear that we have had this problem for quite some time. The Director talked about how at Eight Street how it had been going in and out. I don’t understand why we had not fixed this already. I don’t understand how we can rent a facility and expect people to partake of the facility knowing all the time, it had happened the first time and we didn’t know but this is has been an ongoing problem for quite some time. So I would hope not just get some information that we find the funds to go ahead and fix the electrical system so when we do rent it out we haven’t got to worry about I mean things can happen but we ain’t got to worry about having somebody down there to go throw a switch to get back. I was really, I’m really kind of disappointed when I heard this so I hope this is to, if I need to make a motion not to get the details and see if we’ve got someone here to address it but to find the money to go ahead and get the electrical system up to date that should be so we can rent the facilities out. That don’t make sense, that don’t compete with me. I don’t understand it so if I need to make a motion I will, Mr. Mayor, to go ahead and find the funds to fix the electrical system for the city’s facilities, and it may not be all at one time --- Mr. Hasan: I make a motion to second. Mr. M. Williams: --- but anything we rent out ought to be secure enough to know that people can use it and not worry about the band the lights going out on one side. 42 Mr. Mayor: Yeah, well, I think you’ve got a motion and a second from the Commissioner th from the 6. I think what I heard is that there needs to be an assessment and then come back with here’s what it’s going to cost to fix it. The Chair recognizes Mr. Wimberly to speak to this. Mr. Wimberly: Mr. Mayor, thank you and Commissioner. The assessment really is going to drive what it’s going to cost you to repair this or to make changes because as you spoke about the condition of the system that we have in place now. It’s not necessarily the system has a problem. It’s the vendors that come in and what they bring in to put on the system that creates a problem for the system as an overload. And the reason you have someone there is because when they’re in the Common or on the buckhead they’re using our services and therefore they’re required that we have an electrician there for that purpose. Mr. M. Williams: Can I respond, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Sure. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Wimberly, I understand that but even not the Commons nor the Amphitheater when you rent out facilities is that not a requirement to have an electrician there at some other building because I asked the question how can we rent a building and I’ve got to pay the city, I’m talking about the residents of Richmond County or maybe nonresidents anybody who want to rent out our facilities have to pay for an electrician to be there just in case? Mr. Wimberly: Not in all facilities. It’s those facilities that the user, the renter, is wanting to connect to our power. I’m not talking about going to the wall and plugging in a cassette player but someone wanting to bring in a system that requires a huge amount of power and those are the ones we are at. We’re not at the community centers and so forth where they may use power. On those outside systems that’s where you will find an electrician there. Mr. M. Williams: Okay, my motion is to do what you just stated but I’m hoping that we understand that if we’ve got a outdoor event you don’t bring the old LP or the 45’s and just plug it in and play a record. You’ve got people with speakers and all this other stuff. When you talk about outside events like the Amphitheatre do we, when people use that I expect them to bring equipment, we don’t have that equipment so they bring equipment in. So, not you but I think we ought to have the foresight to say hey it ain’t going to be small, it’s going to be large so we’ve got to upgrade whatever we need to have so people can use our events. If I came here from anywhere and use our facilities more than one time and had to pay I wouldn’t come back because the system’s going to fail. I’m thinking we ought to upgrade those particular systems so they’ll be used and be able to withstand whatever they bring. Brenda Durant mentioned she had to bring portable generators downtown because there’s no power; there’s nothing that we can work on. I mean I’m sure Georgia Power would be glad to hook it up for us. They’re going to get paid I mean so we’ve got to think outside the box I think, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: You’re right, Commissioner. I think you’re about to get what you’re asking th for. All right I’m going to ask before I recognize the Commissioner from the 7 I’m going to ask Ms. Bonner to restate our motion that’s before us. 43 The Clerk: The motion regarding the electrical system at the Augusta Common is to identify a funding source and proceed with the assessment for potential upgrade/repair. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right. All right, don’t run away Mr. Wimberly the Chair recognizes th the Commissioner from the 7. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would ask my colleagues that we also consider the Saturday Market. It starts up next weekend. The power there is not where it needs to be and they continue to have issues there. We fixed some of those issues last year but I would ask my colleagues to extend to the Saturday Market as well, the bulkheads all the way down. Mr. Mayor: That’s the bulkhead, that’s part of the issue that we have. I think they’ve forgotten, Mr. Wimberly, the issue we had last year where we had to borrow equipment from our friends. All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. All right, the Chair recognizes the st Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Wimberly, how long do you think it’ll take for that assessment to take place and bring something back to us? Mr. Wimberly: Well, I think a meeting with Ms. Durant to lay out exactly what she is desiring to have and then we put together a system that would deliver that to her. That’s going to probably take at least a month just to figure that out so I know at least a month to figure out exactly what it is because then we’ve got to start looking at the components and the cost of those components to put it together. Mr. Mayor: Okay so --- Mr. Fennoy: I’ve got one more question. And the generator that we have for the centers for the different shelters could that be used as a power source until we could get something permanent? Mr. Wimberly: It wouldn’t necessarily solve the issue that I believe that we’re talking about now and that is putting power along Broad Street for the Arts in the Heart. It wouldn’t solve that problem because not only would you need the generators but you would need disconnects to be able to spread them out along the way that people would be able to plug in. And also that generator would have to really set it back because it would be real loud. It’d be louder than what you have now. Even when you have the generators along the street that generator would be much louder. Mr. Fennoy: Okay, thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor: All right, let me ask let me, I’m going to ask the Commissioner to do this. th What you don’t want Mr. Wimberly trying to do is from 8th Street down to no, from 10 Street th down to 6 Street what you don’t want him doing is having to try to design a power supply system with feeders and disconnects on the floor whether it’s single phase or three phase, Grady. I think it’s probably prudent for us to let him go back and do the assessment that is necessary because 44 again we have a variety of uses and what you don’t want is a temporary solution for a long-term problem particularly in regards to power supply whether it’s for a concert, whether it’s for Arts in the Hearts vendors who at best are having, you know, those systems that draw a lot of current because they’re (unintelligible) or doing something like that. So, let’s stay with the main motion, let him move forward with that and then come back to us. I think that’d be the proper thing for us to do. Mr. Speaker: (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: To include, well, as you expand the scope of it if we’re having events at the Amphitheatre then it would be reasonable for him to include that in this conversation. The issue at hand is not just the Commons but it’s all along that area where you’ve got power supply needs. And so if he’s doing an assessment let’s let him do the assessment and come back with a cost and a scope of work and then as the Administrator indicated --- Mr. Hasan: Do we get a breakout of that though? Mr. Mayor: --- yeah absolutely, absolutely, yeah, that’s why I said just stick to your main motion and include that in there. Mr. M. Williams: I just want to be clear now. I heard Arts in the Hearts and Ms. Durant had to go and rent equipment. But I don’t want to confuse it. I don’t want to prolong it but when you talk about the bulkhead and the Amphitheatre which belongs to us that in the event we’re trying to do or what we want to do there and I think those are the first things we ought to look at versus trying to do all of it because if you take a survey from every facet Broad Street and everything else that’s going to --- Mr. Mayor: So that’s why I’m saying let’s not put Mr. Wimberley and Central Services in a position of trying to identify where the feeder circuit is and we’re going to supply power from here to the Commons and then we’re going to jump over with another leg to the bulkhead. Let’s let him scope it out and his motion allows us to be able to do that, allows him to be able to do his due diligence and come back to us with a solution. All right voting. All right, the Chair recognizes th the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Yeah, I just had one question for Mr. Wimberly. I ain’t trying to get into the design, I just want one question. Based on the equipment that people bring up to those various events have we found a need for any three-phase equipment or three phase power needs? Mr. Wimberly: Absolutely. That’s where you’re more likely you’ll want to put on Broad Street if you’re trying to satisfy Arts in the Heart. The circuits that we have now are very old circuits and they were put in before a lot of the demands that we have today was available and so you’ve got to upgrade those. The Amphitheatre definitely needs an upgrade because if some of the equipment that your bands will have now, the power technician and all of the effects equipment that they have it draws a lot of power and your Amphitheatre for example can’t handle that so they have to cut back on what they can do when they set up there. So, yes, you will have to consider those phases as you (inaudible). 45 Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor: I’m going to go out on a limb and Ms. Jackson has a very strong branch. If you call our friends at Georgia Power they’ll help us with this. Mr. Wimberly: They will. Mr. Mayor: They will help us with this, yes, okay. Voting. Ms. Davis and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right 41. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 41. Discuss Jamestown Community Center. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) th Mr. Mayor: Before I recognize the Commissioner from the 9 who put this on the agenda I shared with the Commissioner that our posture concerning this matter was to lay on the table postpone indefinitely I until such time that we had reached a reasonable resolution. And while it’s certainly within the right of any Commissioner to put a matter on the agenda this item was in fact on an agenda and at my request he righteously did in fact put on the table and postpone indefinitely until at such time that we had a solution. While we’ve not reached a resolution or closure at least thus the conversation it would require this body to remove it from the table in order to debate this measure. Now he’s not surprised by this because I shared that with him in advance because I don’t want to have any surprises but it will require this body to remove from the table for us to debate it. Mr. M. Williams: So moved. Mr. Mayor: All right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the --- Mr. Speaker: Second. Mr. Mayor: --- okay, all right, we’ve got a motion and a second to do that. All right, it will take six votes to do that, is that not true --- Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, first of all this is --- Mr. Mayor: --- hold on, Commissioner, hold on. Mr. M. Williams: --- well I mean --- 46 Mr. Mayor: Just hold on. Mr. M. Williams: --- you’re taking a motion and a second and if you’re going to follow the rules, let’s follow the rules. Mr. Mayor: I’m doing that now. Mr. M. Williams: Okay. Mr. Mayor: All right, Attorney MacKenzie. Mr. MacKenzie: If what was happened previously was a motion to postpone until an event happens and that event has not happened yet then it would be appropriate by motion to consider the item earlier then you could take it off and consider it before the event happens which is what appears to be the motion on the table. Mr. Mayor: Okay, it requires six votes, is that correct? Mr. MacKenzie: Yes. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, we’ve got a motion and a second to do that. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, before we --- Mr. Mayor: Hold on, just hold on, I’m not going to vote, I’m going to recognize you but you just hold on, now you’re going to follow the rules too. Mr. M. Williams: I’ve been following the (inaudible). th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9, state your inquiry. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir. First of all, I am surprised because what you just stated was not what we put on the books. When we had this in committee, we decided to table it. When you table something there’s got to a deadline or a date to come back to it. You stated that we said indefinitely. If that’s true, I’d like to see that or hear that from the Clerk where it was stated to put it on table indefinitely so that was partially true what you just stated. What was stated was to put it on the table but no one said if it wasn’t a date to the end of the meeting. We didn’t address the end of the meeting. I yield to you to get you to handle that and you said you would and nothing happened so and if we’re going to follow the rules, let’s follow the rules now. So can you read back, Madam Clerk, the minutes and tell me when it was said indefinitely? Mr. Mayor: Okay so we didn’t, I don’t think the Clerk has the minutes but what we stated was until such time that we had a resolution. Mr. M. Williams: Okay read that. I need to hear that. I need to hear what until such time we had a resolution that’s indefinitely to such time same terminology, Mr. Mayor. 47 Mr. Mayor: Well, that’s my point. Mr. M. Williams: Can you show me that? Can you tell me that? Okay somebody told me that. Mr. Jefferson: I withdraw the motion. Mr. Mayor: Well, I think he needs that motion because he wants to talk about it and so again you’ve got a motion and a second to remove from the table so the reasonable thing would be to let you vote on it and say alright we’re going to remove it from the table. Mr. M. Williams: Well it wasn’t tabled, Mr. Mayor. You’re changing up on us now don’t do that. If it had to be a time then I go on with that. I ain’t going to vote on something that wasn’t voted on in the first place. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. M. Williams: Andrew, somebody needs to step in here now to show what the rules are. Mr. Hasan: Ms. Bonner, do we have any other agenda items? Then we can come back to this. Mr. Mayor: Augusta government raises his head once more. All right, I’m not sure how that works but what happens in committee is not binding on the floor, Commissioner. I don’t know how that works, Ms. Bonner, but that’s what I heard. Mr. M. Williams: Those are the rules, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Well, there’s no rule for that but --- Mr. M. Williams: Those are the rules; that’s the way the procedure works. You ain’t got to like them but that’s the way the procedure works. I’m really --- Mr. Mayor: Here’s where we are; here’s where we are. All right, the Chair’s going to th recognize the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ve had this put back on the agenda to try to hopefully get some clarity. I need a legal opinion from the Parliamentarian as to Jamestown being ran and being controlled by an elected official in this government that takes part in this body as a whole. Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie. 48 Mr. MacKenzie: If I could give a little further clarity. You’re asking for a legal opinion or whether or not it’s permissible under our code or conflict of interest? Mr. M. Williams: Either way, Mr. Andrew. If it’s right that’s what I’m asking you as an attorney whether it be under the code or whether it be under anything. My opinion is that an elected official who sits on this board and runs the Jamestown or any community center, Jamestown happens to be the one we’re talking about, but runs any facility and then sits on this dais who is charge of all of the employees, the Administrator, the lawyers, everybody else. I need to know from you is there any conflict, is there any codes anything, you know I ain’t picking and choosing. Mr. MacKenzie: Well, here’s how I’ll respond to that. If you’re seeking a formal legal opinion, I can give that in a written format. If you’re asking for legal advice in a public forum you can waive the normal confidentiality that would apply to that. I can give you an opinion based on the information provided. It sounds like the question that you’re asking is whether or not there would be potential conflicts of interest with respect to a Commissioner serving in the capacity of a Director for the Jamestown Community Center and also being a Commissioner of the Augusta Georgia Commission and that’s a question that either could be addressed in a formal opinion or if the Commission so choses to waive the confidentiality attorney/client privilege related to that then I could provide an opinion here regarding that. Mr. M. Williams: I think we need to put it on the table and waive that in my opinion now do we, it takes six votes for that? I mean we’ve been, the Mayor’s going to address this, he’s going to handle this several months ago. Mr. Sias says he’s stepped down. Mr. Sias can’t step down and give the direction to somebody he chooses to give it to. That ought to come back to this body or through the Administrator or through some other agency to direct or find another person to run the facility. I can give my car to my best friend. I still can control it because my best friends got it. And you just can’t swap it over because I’m going to step out of the way and give it to my son or my daughter or whoever else is going to be there. We’ve been playing this thing too long. This don’t make good sense to me. Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor? Mr. M. Williams: I need a legal opinion, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Well, I think the Attorney just answered your question as you asked him. I’m not an attorney and I certain can’t render a legal opinion and I think what you’ve asked for the Attorney attempted to give that to you. Mr. M. Williams: The Attorney said he could in two ways. That’s what he stated, Mr. Mayor, I think. He didn’t say he couldn’t give it to me. I think he’s waiting on some direction. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. M. Williams: And I think this body would want some direction versus to keep going back and forth. 49 Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, in what direction do you suggest we give? Mr. M. Williams: I suggest he give an opinion right here on the floor so we’ll resolve this matter one way or the other. st Mr. Mayor: Okay all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Are we going to act on the motion and the second we got a few minutes ago? Mr. Mayor: No, that was withdrawn. It’s not necessary at this time. All right okay well th the Commissioner from the 9 we’re waiting on you. Mr. M. Williams: I asked for the attorney to disclose here right now what, whatever it is that he has. Mr. Mayor: Okay well I think you just heard unequivocally what your options are. I’m not sure what else is needed at this point. Mr. M. Williams: I don’t know what --- Mr. MacKenzie: My suggestion would be for a motion to waive the attorney/client privilege allowing the attorney to provide an opinion on the floor or you could do a motion to direct the attorney to provide a written opinion with some direction perhaps where the Commissioner to articulate what the legal issue is and I can produce that in a written form or some other motion that you could make as a body. Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to direct the question to you. Mr. M. Williams: I make a motion that we waive the what did you say, Andrew, waive the --- Mr. MacKenzie: Waive the attorney/client privilege. Mr. M. Williams: --- attorney/client privilege and let the attorney give us a response right now so we can put this baby to bed. Mr. Hasan: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’ve got a motion and a second to waive attorney/client privilege. Voting. Mr. Sias abstains. Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Jefferson vote No. Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. G. Smith vote Yes. Ms. Davis and Mr. Guilfoyle out. 50 Motion Fails 5-2-1. Mr. Mayor: Okay, that motion has failed. The agenda item was to discuss. I believe we’ve reasonably done that and we certainly can move on at this point. The Chair recognizes the th Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Move we take this as information, receive as information. Mr. Hasan: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right voting. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, do we need to do anything? The motion just failed. Mr. Mayor: It did I was --- Mr. Hasan: We don’t need to do nothing. Mr. Mayor: --- yeah. Mr. M. Williams: Madam Clerk, will you put this back on the agenda? Thank you, ma’am. He wants to play by the rules but he’s going to make up certain rules. I’m sick and tired of playing games. Mr. Mayor: All right, item number 45. The Clerk: APPOINTMENTS 45. Motion to approve the reappointment of Mr. Brad Owens to the Augusta Urban Redevelopment Board. (Requested by Commissioner Sean Frantom) th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Owens was on the agenda two weeks ago, was not spoken for because his talent bank questionnaire was not complete by the Commissioner from District 6. Half of us thought he was approved and he wasn’t. We didn’t listen fully so I make a motion we approve Brad Owens to the agenda. No second? Mr. Mayor: That motion fails, it did not receive a proper second. All right. Mr. G. Smith: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay --- Mr. Frantom: Wow, all I can say, wow. 51 Mr. Mayor: --- all right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting. Mr. M. Williams: That motion failed. Now you’re putting it back on the agenda. What game is this you just said the motion failed for lack of a second and then somebody else is going to come up with a second and you’re going to put it back on the agenda. We make these rules as we go or do the rules say it failed because of a lack of a second. And I ain’t got no problem with Brad. I’m just saying how the things run. The Mayor just put it back to vote again. I’m just thinking do we want to do that. That’s crazy just any way you want to do it. Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Frantom and Mr. G. Smith vote Yes. Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Ben Hasan vote No. Mr. M. Williams not voting. Mr. Sias abstains. Ms. Davis and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Fails 3-3-1. Mr. Mayor: I believe that’s all the business before us, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Yes, sir, that’s it. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I make a (inaudible)? Mr. Mayor: All right this meeting is --- Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, based on our motion around the probation is that for Ms. Bonner ready to make contact directly? Mr. Mayor: That is correct. Mr. Hasan: Okay thank you, just wanted clarity, thank you. Mr. Mayor: This meeting is adjourned. \[MEETING ADJOURNED\] Lena Bonner Clerk of Commission CERTIFICATION: I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, herby 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 7, 2017. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 52