HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting October 3, 2017
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
OCTOBER 3, 2017
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., October 3, 2017, the Hon.
Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Jefferson, Guilfoyle, Sias, Frantom, Davis, Fennoy, D. Williams and
Hasan, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
ABSENT: Hons. M. Williams and Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County
Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Good afternoon. I hope everybody’s doing well today. We are here once again
to do the people’s business and it is a fantastic day in the City of Augusta. We’re happy to have
so many here with us the Arts Council and the good work that they do we’ll showcase today.
Thank you for an amazing Arts in the Hearts International Festival right after that Ironman and
now this week they tell me that there’s another festival called Westobou. And a lot going on in
our region and certainly in the hub city called Augusta. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, at this time we will have our invocation delivered by the Reverend
Augusta H. Hall, Jr., Pastor of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church after which we’d
have our Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and we will ask Ms. Brenda Durant to lead us.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Bonner, before we do that I want to make sure we’ve got some new
information that’s been brought to us, some new information that’s been brought to us as well that
I think if we could go ahead and give unanimous consent to add this to the agenda I’d greatly
appreciate that. Is there any objection to add the item that’s been presented to you on your dais?
Mr. Sias: Is it the one we have here?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, that’s correct.
Mr. Sias: Okay (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Okay, without objection it has been added to the agenda. All right, before
Pastor Hall if you’ll come ahead and approach Pastor Hall yeah, without objection we have added
it to the agenda. There has been a substantial tragedy in these United States of America. I’m sure
the right Reverend will probably include our neighbors, friends, family members and so forth in
his prayers but the mass shooting that was in Las Vegas at the concert of a local Georgia boy Jason
Aldean probably has affected some of the people in this room if not you directly some of you are
friends or family members. And so, as we come we’re going to ask everybody to stand and we’re
going to have a moment of silence and reflection for life for those folks who were gunned down
59 to date and over 527 who were injured in this process. Would you please stand with us and
we’ll have a moment of silence then, Pastor Hall, it’s on you.
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The invocation was given by Reverend Augusta H. Hall, Jr., Pastor, Bethel African
Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Pastor Hall, Augusta, we are excited to have in our community our Chaplain
of the Day Reverend Augusta H. Hall, Jr., he’s the Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal
Church and he loves this city, he loves our people and we’re extremely excited to have him be our
Chaplain. And we want to continually encourage him as he provides spiritual guidance and civic
leadership that’s serves as an example not just as parishioners but to the broader community as
well. Would you join me in giving him a hand today? Thank you. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: At this time we will have an acknowledgement of Years of Service. Mr. Mike
Loeser, our Human Resources Director, would you please come forward.
Mr. Lozier: Thank you. Good afternoon Mayor Davis, Commissioners, special guests,
directors and citizens of Augusta-Richmond County. My name is Mike Loeser, your Human
Resources Director for Augusta-Richmond County. Today it is my pleasure to recognize our
September Years of Service recipients. For the Month of September 2017 we have 36 employees
celebrating 5 to 20 years of service with Augusta-Richmond County. This afternoon we would
like to recognize our 25 to 50 years of service recipients when I call your name please come
forward. Joan West, Utilities 30 years of service. (APPLAUSE)
Ms. Jackson: Ms. West would like her staff to come up and join her as well as her family
and friends. (APPLAUSE)
Ms. West: If I didn’t know any better, I think somebody likes me. I knew that the day I
walked into Augusta Utilities at 2760 Peach Orchard Road that that was going to be my home. I
knew that, I told God I said Lord when I leave here you will let me know and that’s how it’s been.
He still has not let me know so if I’m up here another 30-years don’t be surprised. I have a great
group of staff, co-workers, deputies, friends, my boss oh God 40-year friends 30-year friends and
without them I would not be the person that I am today. I truly appreciate every, every one of the
people that are standing up here and the ones that are upset because they couldn’t come we have
to leave the office open Melissa, Chris I mean ya’ll just don’t know when you set a goal in life
stay focused on that goal. My job has not been easy but, it has been a wonderful place to work I
love Augusta Utilities Customer Service our customers make our day (APPLAUSE) and I thank
each and every one of you all. Jessie, the one in the middle back there, she’s my right-hand person
she said she was going to dance down the aisle, thank God she changed her mind she has no
rhythm. But now I’m going to give this over to the Mayor, thank you so much.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. West, thank you for what you’ve done for the City of Augusta and
continue to do and I’ve enjoyed working with you this short time as well.
Ms. West: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, congratulations.
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Ms. West: Thank you. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: At this time I will call your attention to the delegation portion of our agenda.
DELEGATIONS
A. Greater Augusta Arts Council’s presentation of the City Arts Grant Awards.
Ms. Durant: Thank you very much. Thank you, Mayor, for staying down. I’d like to invite
our board president Mary G. Jones to come forward with the grants. And I have handed you the
Commissioners packets about our program but just to remind you that each year the City of
Augusta allocates funding to the Greater Augusta Arts Council to distribute to the non-profit arts
community. For the fiscal year 2018 funds were reallocated in increments up to $7,000 dollars to
support general operating expenses or projects for 17 different organizations. We are grateful to
you our city leaders who recognize the importance of public financial support to sustain a wide
variety of artistic disciplines and expressions. At this time I’d like to call forward the people who
were awarded the organizations who were awarded grants we’ll ask them after they accept their
check to step to the side for, we’ll do a group photo after. The Augusta Ballet Larry Baratto is
here to accept that. The Augusta Ballet applied for and Arts Work Grant which is general
operating. The Ballet promotes and enhances quality of life by fostering a culture of dance,
appreciation and support through exceptional ballet performances, educational programs and
creative collaborations, we serve a broad and diverse audience, thank you to the Augusta Ballet.
The Augusta Chorale Society represented by Carolyn Dolen Arts Work General Operating Grant.
We are an auditioned volunteer community chorus located in Augusta, Georgia. Our chorus is
made up of singers ranging in age from teenagers to senior citizens. We perform four concerts
each season with professional orchestral accompaniment. The Augusta Concert Band, Mike
Lawless is accepting the funds an Art Challenge Project Grant, their project was the concert band
concert season. The Augusta Concert Band is a community band comprised of students, amateur
and professional musicians. The Augusta Mini Theater represented by Nicole Williams and I
believe I saw Judith Butler as well, Art Works General Operating Grant. Augusta Mini Theater
Augusta Georgia’s first community art school to focus on multi-art disciplines under one roof was
founded on October 8, 1975. Its mission is to provide affordable arts instruction and performances
and develop artistic and life skills for youth. The Augusta Players Jeannie Butler is here, it’s not
Jeannie Butler. It’s a Jeannie Butler impersonator; it’s an acting group that can be whoever they
want.
Ms. Wright: She knows who I am (inaudible).
Ms. Durant: It’s Jenny Wright, Jenny Wright is in the house, Arts Work General Operating
Grant. The Augusta Players is an award winning non-profit community theater organization
dedicated to presenting the highest quality theatrical productions. Their mission is to foster
creative expression by providing the medium for local actors, musicians and dancers, directors,
designers and technicians to explore their talents and sharpen their skills. And they just finished a
weekend of performing for us at the Imperial Theater so thank you for that. Barefoot Productions
known as Creative Impressions, Judith Ruffin is representing that organization, received an Arts
Work General Operating Grant. Barefoot Productions/Creative Impressions is an auditioned
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chorale ensemble designed to provide talented young singers in the greater Augusta area with an
outstanding training in the art of chorale singing. Colton Ballet Company, Catherine Bush
representing the ballet company. Colton Ballet Company is the non-profit company that performs
the Nutcracker each year as well as a spring repertory production. The Gertrude Herbert Institute
of Art, Heather Williams is here or not here, not here. The Gertrude Herbert for over 75 years the
Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art has remained the only independent visual art school in the Central
Savannah River area that offers studio art classes and workshops as an ongoing basis for art
enthusiasts of all ages from beginners to professionals. Next up is the Harry Jacobs Chamber
Music Society, Catherine Wall is here to accept their check for an Arts Work General Operating
Grant. The Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society brings world-class international chamber music
to the Augusta area and provides outreach clinics and programs by the visiting musicians that will
be given in schools in order to inspire young music students. Harry Jacobs is presenting as part of
the Westabou Festival this year. Imperial Theater, Charles Scavullo accepting their grant and Art
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Challenge Project Grant. The project is Summer Fund Family Free Series and 100 Anniversary
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Gala, congratulations to the Imperial’s 100 year. The mission of the Imperial Community Theater
is to preserve the historic integrity of the downtown theater and provide a classic venue for
performing art groups, artists and audiences from Augusta and surrounding areas. The Imperial
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Theater will celebrate its 100 Anniversary in 2018. Jessye Norman School of the Arts Gary
Dennis and Irene Shastry, someone else’s handwriting, I can read my own, received an Art Work
General Operating Grant. The mission of the Jessye Norman School of the Arts is to develop
students to become creative, caring visionary responsible citizens through the transformative of
power of the arts. The broad range fine arts programs challenges students academically, integrates
technology and lays a foundation for extraordinary life experiences. The Morris Museum of Art,
Kevin Grogan and Kathy DeLoach are here today, Art Works General Operating. The Morris
Museum of Art located on the Riverwalk in downtown Augusta, Georgia is the first museum
dedicated to the art and artists of the American south. The Morris Museum of Art is dedicated to
encouraging artistic inquiry providing a rich visitor experience and exercising civic responsibility.
Sacred Heart Cultural Center, Sandra Fenstermacher, Director and Kim Overstreet are here to
receive their Art Works General Operating Grant. Sacred Heart, a former Catholic church, is now
the home of various cultural activities including choral concerts, art exhibits, holiday events and
the annual Garden Festival as well as the home of the Augusta Ballet, the Augusta Children’s
Chorale, the Augusta Choral Society, the Augusta Players, Symphony Orchestra Augusta and the
Greater Augusta Arts Council. Storyland Theater, Barbara Feldman is here to receive their Art
Works General Operating Grant. Storyland Theater, an Augusta non-profit corporation, has
performed for over 630,000 students, teachers and chaperones and families from all over the CSRA
since 1988. Their main purpose is to present live, quality theatrical productions performed by
adults for children and families. Suzuki Strings, Linda Balm and Lois Akins are in the house to
receive their Art Works General Operating Grant. Serving the CSRA since 1978 Suzuki Strings
of Augusta provides private and group lessons on violin, viola, cello and bass. They are a non-
profit school dedicated to the Suzuki philosophy. Any child who is properly trained can develop
musical ability just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue, I wish someone
had told this to my piano teacher. Symphony Orchestra Augusta, Cara Provis and Ann Catherine
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Murray are here to receive their Art Works General Operating Grant. Now in its 63 season the
Symphony Orchestra Augusta is the primary professional orchestra for the 768,000 residents of
Augusta’s River Region and pursues its mission through its annual Symphonic Pops and Chamber
concerts that reach approximately 15,000 people each year. And congratulations on lighting up
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the Miller Theater during the Arts in the Hearts Festival that was a beautiful experience, I know
so many of us were there. And last our ‘W’ Westobou Amy Christian is here to receive their Art
Challenge Project Grant. It’s for the Westobou Visiting Artists Lecture Series. Ambitious and
innovative Westobou is an ever-evolving multi-arts festival dedicated to enriching the cultural
fabric of economic sustainability and social vitality of the region. Westobou builds community
and inspires cultural change through engaging creative and thought provoking artistic experience.
And the Westobou Festival opens tonight at their gallery on Broad Street, I’m sure Amy would
extend an invitation to everyone to come to the opening. We also have some people in the room
who are on the review panel Christian Eberhart, Debra Huffman and Mary Schraer are here we’d
like to recognize our panelists as well. (APPLAUSE) All right, you have to be like a TV family
that really likes to sit together at the table really close, get in, get in, get in. Thank you very much
for your continued support of the Arts in Augusta.
Ms. Jones: As our grant recipients take their seats I’d like to acknowledge Brenda Durant,
our Executive Director, as well as Christina Burkeshire, without them we couldn’t keep all of this
together. So thank you and if you’ll join me in giving them a thanks. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: I call you attention to our Consent Agenda which consists of items 1-25, that’s
items 1-25. For the benefit of any objectors to our Planning petitions would you please signify
your objections once the petition is read. I call your attention to:
Item 1: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone R-1C (One-family Residential) to
a Zone P-1 (Professional) for the purpose of surfacing parking area on property known as 1239
Augusta Avenue, 1204 Holley Street and 1236 R A Dent Boulevard.
Item 2: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone R-1C (One-family Residential) to
a Zone P-1 (Professional) for the purpose of surfacing parking areas consisting of property known
as 1223 and 1227 Augusta Avenue.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to either of those Planning petitions? I call your
attention to the Public Services portion of our agenda if there are any objectors to the alcohol
petition would you please signify your objection by raising your hand.
Item 3: Is a request for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be
used in connection with the Harbor Inn Seafood Restaurant located at 3404 Wrightsboro Road.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to this alcohol petition? Mr. Mayor, members of the
Commission, our Consent Agenda consists of items 1-25 with no objectors to our Planning or
Alcohol petitions.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair’s going to entertain motions to add or remove from the
consent agenda. I want to begin, Ms. Bonner, with items 12 and 13, we’re removing them from
the consent agenda and possibly from the agenda in total.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: All right.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- under item 12 under federal, with that being federal grant money I know
we done vetted the process went through the committee meetings, here it is on the consent agenda.
But we need to find out that we’re not putting ourselves in harm’s way with it being federal money,
it has to be expended by I believe by the end of this month.
Mr. Mayor: Well, that can’t be true because if you read the caption in the documentation
it says that they were going to bring it back. And what we are going to do is provide 30 days for
public comment and so I don’t think that’s quite accurate. But we’re going to have some discussion
about it so what we’re doing now is we’re pulling it from the consent agenda, items 12 and 13.
Mr. Guilfoyle: All right.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, any other motions to add or pull? The Chair recognizes the
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Commission from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: I want to pull item number 2.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, can we add Item 26 on consent?
Mr. Mayor: I object. I want to hear about that because we didn’t hear anything about it.
We were supposed to hear about it last week and we couldn’t they were working on some other
information so I want to hear about that. All right, any other motions to add or remove from the
consent agenda?
Mr. Sias: Move for approval.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
1. Z-17-25 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve
with the following conditions a petition by Michael Thurman requesting a change of zoning
from Zone R-1C (One-family Residential) to Zone P-1 (Professional) for the purpose of
establishing paid surface parking areas consisting of three tax parcels totally .70 acres and
known as 1239 Augusta Avenue, 1204 Holley Street and 1236 RA Dent Boulevard. Tax Map
046-3-248-00-0, 046-3-185-00-0 and 046-3-184-00-0 Divided into 2 petitions. Postponed to
September meeting. DISTRICT 1 1. The lot be fenced to prevent the current use from
continuing until such time as all improvements can be executed; 2. The applicant move to
start development within the proscribed timeframe of six (6) month or the property reverts
to its previous zoning designation of residential use which prevents the use of the property
as it currently operates; 3. The applicant provide a detailed engineered site plan that meet
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all development regulations in place at the time of site review; 4. The site shall not be
available for use until such time as all requirements have been met; 5. A business license for
the operation of a paid parking lot shall be acquired.
PUBLIC SERVICES
3. Motion to approve New Application: A.N. 17-29: A request by Cheong M. Rhee for an
on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Harbor
Inn Seafood Restaurant located at 3404 Wrightsboro Rd. There will be Sunday Sales. District
5. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee September 26, 2017)
4. Motion to approve award of Bid Item #17-216 to Doyle Dickerson Terrazzo in the amount
of $64,960 as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission on August 31, 2017. (Approved
by Public Services Committee September 26, 2017)
5. Motion to approve acceptance of bid from Aero Specialties for $47,944 for the purchase
of an Aircraft Belt Loader. (Approved by Public Services Committee September 26, 2017)
6. Motion to approve bid award #17-235 to J & B Tractor Co. in the amount of $53,155 for
the purchase of a new Utility Tractor. (Approved by Public Services Committee September
26, 2017)
7. Motion to approve the acceptance of FAA Grant 3-13-0011-040-2017 for the design of
Airport Access Controls, Air Carrier and GA Apron Rehab, and Airport Drainage Master
Plan. (Approved by Public Services Committee September 26, 2017)
8. Motion to approve Change Modification #2 Griffin Contracting Inc. associated with the
ARFF Pavement Rehabilitation Project at Augusta Regional Airport. (Approved by Public
Services Committee September 26, 2017)
9. Motion to approve a Facility Agreement for Diamond Lakes Tennis Center and MACH
Academy. (Approved by Public Services Committee September 26, 2017)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
10. Motion to approve Probate Court Lobby Renovation in order to increase the security of
the Probate Court for the Judge, staff and public. (Bid 17-120A) (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee September 27, 2017)
11. Motion to approve a request from the Augusta Council of Garden Clubs for the
placement and care of a Blue Star Marker in Accordance with ARC policy. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee September 26, 2017)
14. Motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Commercial and
Retail Development between Augusta, GA and the Development Authority of Richmond
County d/b/a Augusta Economic Development Authority as approved by the Commercial
and Retail Sub-Committee on September 25, 2017. (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee September 26, 2017)
15. Motion to authorize Recodification of the Augusta, GA Code, Agreement for on-going
Supplementation and Online Code Publication. (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee September 26, 2017)
PUBLIC SAFETY
16. Motion to approve a request from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office funding in the
amount of $39,303.85 to satisfy the remaining balance owed to New World (Tyler
Technologies). (Approved by Public Safety Committee September 26, 2017)
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17. Motion to approve a grant from Maddie’s Fund in the amount of $5,000.00 to support
public education efforts to advance animal lifesaving and reduce euthanasia. (Approved by
Public Safety Committee September 26, 2017)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
18. Motion to determine that the Alley East of Eleventh Street, One Block South of Telfair
Street and One Block North of Walker 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 September 26,
2017)
19. Motion to determine that Woodsedge Drive 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 September 26,
2017)
20. Motion to determine that the Alley between Heard Avenue and Russell 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, and to receive as information the results of the public hearing held
regarding the issue of abandonment 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 and adopt
the attached Resolution. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee September 26, 2017)
21. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for right-of-
way (Parcel 087-4-118-00-0) – 189 ½ Dan Bowles Road. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee September 26,2 017)
22. Motion to approve proposal for standardization of AUD security, fire alarm, access and
surveillance systems from Tyco Integrated Systems. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee September 26, 2017)
23. Motion to approve authorization to proceed with the purchase of the Traffic Jet 1638
Print System at a total cost of $63,280.40 for the Augusta Engineering Department Traffic
Engineering Division. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee September 26, 2017)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
24. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held September 19, 2017 and
Special Called meetings held September 21 and September 26, 2017.
SUBCOMMITTEE
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Pension Committee
25. Motion to approve Resolution adopting amendments made by the Board of Trustees of
the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System (GMEBS) to the GMEBS Master Defined
Benefit Retirement Plan Document in the year 2017; 1) Amended Adoption Agreement; 2)
Amended General Addendum; 3) Amended Service Purchase Addendum. (Approved by the
Pension Committee September 29, 2017)
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. All right Ms. Bonner, voting.
Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Smith out.
Motion Passes 8-0 \[Items 1, 3-10, 14-25\]
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Ms. Bonner, items 12 and 13 we’ll move to the foot of the calendar.
The Clerk: Okay.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
2. Z-17-32 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve
with the following conditions a petition by Michael Thurman requesting a change of zoning
from Zone R-1C (One-family Residential) to Zone P-1 (Professional) for the purpose of
establishing paid surface parking areas consisting of two tax parcels totally .27 acres and
known as 1223 and 1227 Augusta Avenue, Tax Map 046-3-253-00-0 and 046-3-252-00-0
Divided into 2 petitions. Postponed to September meeting. DISTRICT 1 1. The lot be fenced
to prevent the current use from continuing until such time as all improvements can be
executed; 2. The applicant move to start development within the proscribed timeframe of six
(6) months or the property reverts to its previous zoning designation of residential use which
prevents the use of the property as it currently operates; 3. The applicant provide a detailed
engineered site plan that meet all development regulations in place at the time of site review;
4. The site shall not be available for use until such time as all requirements have been met;
5. A business license for the operation of a paid parking lot shall be acquired. (Deferred from
the Commission’s September 19, 2017 meeting)
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Fennoy, this was your pull?
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
Mr. Fennoy: How are you doing, Ms. Wilson?
Ms. Wilson: I’m fine, how are you?
Mr. Fennoy: I’m okay. It says is 2008 the applicant requested a Special Exception to
convert the properties that are the subject of this application into parking lots. It was determined
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that the Commission would not allow the applicant to withdraw the request the proximity of the
single family houses and the apartment complex converting the properties across the street was a
major factor in them denying this request. What has changed if anything?
Ms. Wilson: Well, this application when it originally came before this body took place in
2008 and since then there’s been additional development activity in the area. So that’s what has
that’s probably the biggest thing that has changed with regards to this property. In addition to that,
the applicant has added a few additional parcels to his assemblage of land mass to have a larger
area that can be utilized for parking.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and under the sections that addresses traffic and circulation it says the
site as currently designed does not appear to meet basic on-site circulation requirement such as
minimum aisle width of 12 feet for one-way traffic and 24 feet from two-way. The property has
one ingress/egress point.
Ms. Wilson: I think that what you will find is that this is a two-phase process. The
applicant’s requesting to get the property rezoned but once that happens if you all vote to do that
then the second part of this is that he has to submit a development plan. Within that development
plan he will have to meet the criteria that is in place by the Engineering Department ordinance to,
for circulations as well as access to the property. So, you will find that once of the conditions and
I’ll read the recommended conditions with the approval of this if this moves forward is that the lot
be fenced to prevent the current use from continuing until such time as all improvements are
executed, the applicant must move to start development within the proscribed timeframe. So with
this request he has to start doing something within six months. The applicant has to provide an
engineer site plan that meets all the development regulations so that is where you would get a site
plan that meets all of the codes and regulations that we currently have in place. And it says the
site shall not be available for use until such time as all requirements have been met and a business
license for the operation of a paid parking shall be acquired.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, so once we once we say if we approve this the requirement for 12-feet
one-way and 24-feet two-way would that change or?
Ms. Wilson: No, he would still have to meet the requirements of the ordinance. I mean
that doesn’t change with regards to how the site functions he’s going to have to meet the
development requirements so he would have to meet the 12 feet and the 24 feet. What might
change might be he end up with a few less parking spaces because he’s got to meet the
requirements of the ordinance.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and the section that deals with buffer and landscaping it says the site
currently has no buffering between the residential buildings to the south, the plans do not indicate
the required buffering including solid 6-foot fences on all sides facing residential, a 10-foot side
yard and 20-foot street side buffer. That’s, once we approve this then ---
Ms. Wilson: Again if you move forward with approving this the applicant would have to
meet all the conditions of the ordinances that are in place at the time. You will note that the
applicant on the conceptual plan that was submitted showed that there was an 8-foot fence that
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would require a variance if that were allowed. The applicant has gone out and made some, added
some fencing in order to address some other issues that and concerns that we had from adjacent
property owners but he would still have to meet the criteria that is in place before he actually is
able to operate this a legal paid parking facility.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and my last question, Ms. Wilson, if we approve this does that mean
that it can only be used for parking, that if this does not go through will it revert back to a One-
Family Residential or will it still remain Professional.
Ms. Wilson: Well, this does not have the reversion clause but that is always an option
should you decide that you want to put it in place. That clause is located in Section 37 excuse me
35-7 of the Zoning Ordinance and it is set up so that if development or activity does not take place
within 18 months that the property would revert back at the initiation of this body to the underlining
zoning classification. The applicant has requested that the proposed use for this property be for a
commercial parking lot only and that is what we’re moving forward with for this.
Mr. Fennoy: But that clause was not included but we ---
Ms. Wilson: No, we did not include that as a recommendation for a condition but it does
not mean that you can’t do that as an elected body but we did not recommend that.
Mr. Fennoy: Then I would like to make a recommendation that we approve this with the
understanding that if ---
Ms. Wilson: Section 35-7 be included as one of the conditions with regards to reversion
back to the underlining zoning if development activity does not take place within 18 months?
Mr. Fennoy: --- yes.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Are you finished, Commissioner Fennoy?
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Madam Mayor Pro Tem. Ms. Wilson, just one thing I want to
reiterate we will get the proper stormwater controls added to this, correct?
Ms. Wilson: Absolutely sir, yes sir.
Mr. Sias: And when would the stormwater fees start?
Ms. Wilson: When, I don’t know if he’s paying stormwater fees right now with regards to
the fact that there’s nothing on ---
Mr. Sias: It’s undeveloped so he’s probably not.
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Ms. Wilson: --- but it will start as soon as he starts development he has to put in engineered
controls to deal with the stormwater management issue for the site.
Mr. Sias: Recommend approval.
Mr. Speaker: Second.
The Clerk: We have, okay will you be seconding Commissioner Fennoy’s motion?
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Fennoy ---
Mr. Sias: He already made a motion?
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- well he made, he didn’t make it into a motion but he wanted to,
his wish was to add the clause.
Ms. Wilson: The reversionary clause which is Section 25-7.
Mr. Sias: I don’t have a problem amending the motion, I just had one question before I do
that. Ms. Wilson the present zoning is R-1C Residential, right?
Ms. Wilson: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: And we’re going to allow him to put asphalt out there right for a parking lot,
correct?
Ms. Wilson: He’s going to have to make improvements he can do asphalt or gravel
whatever the Engineering department states is appropriate for a parking facility.
Mr. Sias: All right, no problem with including that what Commissioner Fennoy
recommends, the reversion clause.
The Clerk: That was to approve the petition and to include the reversionary clause.
Mr. Sias: That’s correct.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: I’d like, go ahead Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: That’s it, ma’am.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay I’d like to ask Mr. Thurman too since we are adding this are
you aware I mean is that going to fit into your plans or do you have any concerns while you’re
here while you’re hearing a new part of the motion in addition to it?
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Mr. Thurman: The idea is ---
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Thurman, if you would also state your name and your address
please.
Mr. Thurman: --- Michael Thurman, 1913 Wrightsboro Road, Augusta, Georgia. The idea
right now is to put in a parking lot; hopefully it’s going to work out. If not this property is adjacent
to a business and has businesses within a block of it as well. I’d hate to, I’ve gone through trouble
for years trying to get this done. It is possible to put some kind of other business there, it’s against
the railroad tracks, you can’t build houses there. So I would rather there not be a clause if possible
because you never know what the future might bring and it’s a little difficult sometimes to get
things done so I’m not going to withdraw. If they insist upon it but I would rather not be there
because even for tax basis the Professional is going to bring more taxes in than a residential so it
benefits the city as well and I’m providing a, right now I’m providing a much needed service
because you’ve had people come in front of you over the last year complaining about parking
there. And we’re looking to take between a 100 and 150-cars off the streets and put them in that
area.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Hasan, you were finished right, Commissioner
Sias?
Mr. Sias: Yes.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Thurman, you are aware that in the five
requirements here it says within 6 months you start making some adjustments or some
improvements to the property.
Mr. Thurman: Correct, yes.
Mr. Hasan: So when you think about it there’s 18 months out window. I don’t know
whether the 18 months Ms. Wilson is referring to that you have to be up and operating or you have
to be showing a really, really good movement in the direction you’re up and operating as a
business. So Ms. Wilson to Ms. Wilson if you don’t mind, are you saying he has to be up and
operating in 18 months or does it revert back or he must be showing substantial movement towards
the direction what the request is?
Ms. Wilson: He must be showing that he is moving forward with regards to implementing
the zoning request that he has before you today.
Mr. Hasan: So in 6 months he must start doing whatever needs to be done and in 18 months
he must vastly show that he’s trying to get there ---
Ms. Wilson: That’s correct.
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Mr. Hasan: --- if he’s not up and operating.
Ms. Wilson: That’s correct.
Mr. Thurman: We hope to be done much quicker than that because ---
Mr. Hasan: That’s what you’re here, I just want to kind of clarify about what you’re saying
because in six months is when you’re supposed to be start doing some things 18 months if you do
what you’re saying. I think that’s another year from the time that you start maybe up and operating.
Mr. Thurman: --- well that timing’s fine but Commissioner Fennoy’s saying in five years
from now we decide to shut down the paid parking that we have to, it would automatically be
rezoned to back to residential and we’d have to start over.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Thurman, let’s let Ms. Wilson explain that part looking into the
future if something changed.
Ms. Wilson: No, basically the way, it’s my understanding the way the reversionary clause
works is that if the use shall cease. So, if you move forward with this being a parking facility then
the Commission, so this body would have to initiate getting it rezoned back to an R-1C. It doesn’t
just automatically happen.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Right.
Ms. Wilson: So that’s the way that that clause is set up.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay great, thank you. We have a motion and a second, please vote.
Mr. Fennoy and Mr. D. Williams vote No.
Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Smith out.
Motion Passes 6-2.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Thurman. Thank you, Ms. Wilson. Madam Clerk,
we’re going to go to 27 please.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
27. Motion to approve a cap of all General Fund payments to non-profit organizations at
$25K with exception of the three agencies listed below. A cap of $25K for all General Fund
requests and consider an accounting review process that is not detrimental to the smaller
non-profits. The following non-profits would be considered exempt up to the amount
designated:
The ARC Museum of History $125K
The Lucy Craft Laney Museum $125K
The Arts Council Operations $143,420K
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(No recommendation from Finance Committee September 26, 2017)
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Madam Mayor Pro Tem. I had a question for Ms. Jackson, the
Administrator.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Ms. Jackson.
Mr. Sias: Ms. Jackson, have we come up with a process yet to for the smaller non-profits
who are receiving $25K or less per se that we can find a way to minimize the cost of their
accountability to the city such as either an audit or a financial review? Have we come up with
something that’s say within the $1,000 to $2,000-dollar range that they can do such as a, I think
that’s a strange word is a Compilation Statement or something, I can’t remember what it was.
Ms. Jackson: I think Compilation Statement is what you’re referring to, sir. No, we have
not formally adopted that. As you may recall the requirement used to be that all of the
organizations receiving funding regardless of the amount of the grant had to submit a full audit.
We came back to you at some point later and asked that that be reduced from an audit to a review
for those organizations receiving $25K dollars or less. Since that time we have not come back
with any subsequent recommendations to change that so right now a review is what is required.
We continue to look at that. I think there’s only one organization at this point that’s indicated that
they have a problem with that and we continue to talk to them to see how we might be able to
change that but no we’ve not made any formal recommendation to do anything less than a review.
Mr. Sias: Okay, thank you, Ms. Jackson. One more, may I continue, Madam Mayor Pro
Tem?
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Go ahead.
Mr. Sias: Ms. Jackson, I’m not completely satisfied with the process that we have right
now on our non-profits. But for now I think what I’m going to do is I’m going to recommend that
we withdraw this item from the agenda, I’m not finished with it, but I want to withdraw it from
the agenda today, and that’s a motion.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias, would you repeat that sorry I had a little,
somebody in my ear.
Mr. Sias: I said I wasn’t through with this item and I’m going to, I move that we withdraw
it from the agenda today ---
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay ---
Mr. Sias: --- and I got a second.
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Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- all right, so we have a motion and a second. Please vote. Sorry
about that Commissioner Sias. Usually I hear everything we’re saying up here.
Mr. Sias: I can understand the distraction.
Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Smith out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
th.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8 State your inquiry.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, we’ve got NGOs in the house who are probably at a loss right
now. What is the next step on this because it’s been a ---
Mr. Mayor: We’re not quite there yet, sir, Commissioner. I appreciate your inquiry but
we’re not quite there yet, we’re not there. It’s a good question and we’re going to talk about it in
just a minute but we’re not there yet, yeah, we’re not there yet. Okay, Madam Clerk, can you
report the vote here first?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, that motion carries 8, unanimous with Mr. Marion Williams and Mr.
Grady Smith out.
Mr. Mayor: Item 26.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
26. Motion to approve the 2018 Third party administrator (TPA) and stop loss agreements
with Blue Cross Blue Shield and authorize the Mayor to sign required documents.
Ms. Jackson: Mr. Brazzell has this item.
Mr. Brazzell: Mayor and members of the Commission, thank you. Item 26 as the Clerk
read request approval of a third-party administrator agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield as well
as our stop loss agreement. Just as a, a quick background Blue Cross Blue Shield has served in
this capacity since 2014 as our third-party administrator and stop loss provider. The initial contract
was for three years. We’re now into, it was for three years with two one-year renewals we’re now
into year four. We have one more year to go on this contract and therefore we will be rebidding
the service in 2018. Augusta is self-funded as most of you probably know and that makes stop
loss coverage even more important. Essentially what Blue Cross does for us is administer the
claims. Why stop loss coverage? Basically that is our financial safety net which means we pay
up to a certain amount on a catastrophic claim and once it reaches that certain amount it goes into
stop loss coverage and therefore Augusta has no further financial obligation on that particular
claim. The claim ceiling this year is $225,000. The amount that it will adjust to in 2018 is
$250,000. I will tell you that there’s a sense of urgency here because we do have at least one claim
that is in excess of $1 million dollars right now. We have three or four others that are in the
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hundreds of thousands of dollars. At any point until we act on this agreement at any point Blue
Cross has a right to reevaluate the rate that we have negotiated and so we’re simply trying to get
in front of that so that Augusta’s not stuck with those heavy claims later in the year.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brazzell, in a previous conversation a discussion of automatically
renewing a self-renewing contracts came up. Is this one of those self-renewing annual contracts?
Mr. Brazzell: Basically it is but because the rates change renegotiated each year we come
back to the Commission and ask you to authorize or approve those negotiated rates.
Mr. Mayor: So it’s not a fixed rate over a three-year period of time ---
Mr. Brazzell: No, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- like the contract is.
Mr. Brazzell: The initial three years might have been. I don’t have the history, I’m sorry,
but I know the rate for 2018 is different from the rate we had in 2017 that we have now.
Mr. Mayor: So effectively we are in the renewal period but will this be a three-year contract
like the previous one?
Mr. Brazzell: No, it will end this contract the total length of the contract will expire
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December the 31 2018 which means we will take bids in 2018 for a new third-party administrator
contract.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Brazzell: And the reason, normally we would not come to you until later in the year
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October or maybe even the 1 meeting in November with this renewal but because we’re staring
these high claims in the face if we get the renewal signed off on now based on the rate that has
been negotiated we can avoid those major payments.
Mr. Mayor: So with a single year contract having to be effectively rebid every year, does
that put us as a city at a competitive disadvantage in terms of you know our contractual ability as
opposed to having a longer-term contract?
Mr. Brazzell: Well, when we go back into the market we will look for another three-year
contract plus two renewals for a total of five years which is the arrangement we had this time. It’s
just that because the rates do adjust each year we come back to you for approval of that not to say
we’ve gone back into the market to rebid but we have to go back to Blue Cross to get the new rates
for the next year.
Mr. Mayor: But you’re saying we are going to rebid next year though.
Mr. Brazzell: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Brazzell, you just mentioned two things, you
mentioned that we have about a $225,000 dollar coverage somewhere in that neighborhood the
numbers might not be exact.
Mr. Brazzell: $225 ---
Mr. Hasan: Stop loss, stop loss ---
Mr. Brazzell: --- stop loss, yes.
Mr. Hasan: --- stop loss. And so didn’t you just mention also we have one pay out potential
a million dollars. How does that work does Blue Cross pay the additional (unintelligible) on this
---
Mr. Brazzell: Yes.
Mr. Hasan: --- a $1,000 dollars so we don’t have to pay?
Mr. Brazzell: You have the stop loss coverage in place you pay your amount up to your
ceiling up to twenty-five next year it will be two-fifty and the remainder of that claim whatever it
runs to will be the responsibility of the insurance carrier.
Mr. Hasan: So it doesn’t fall back on me as an employee.
Mr. Brazzell: No.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, all right thank you, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7.
Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting.
Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Smith out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
The Clerk: Item number 28, sir?
Mr. Mayor: Twenty-seven.
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Mr. Frantom: We already did it.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
The Clerk: We’ve done 27.
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
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28. Report from the Augusta Delegation relative to the September 14 meeting with officials
from the Georgia Department of Transportation. (Requested by Commissioner Bill Fennoy-
deferred from the September 19, 2017 Commission meeting)
Ms. Jackson: Mr. Ladson is handling this item for us.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Director Ladson.
Mr. Ladson: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission ---
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Ladson ---
Mr. Ladson: --- yes.
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Mr. Mayor: --- let me would you yield to the Commissioner from the 1. All right, the
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, and I just wanted to hear from Mr. Ladson and the Commissioners that
attended the meeting what took place in Atlanta so that my colleagues and the residents of
Richmond County know the relationship between Augusta and DOT and some of the projects that
we have going and some of the requests that were made at that particular time.
Mr. Mayor: Who was the delegation?
Mr. Fennoy: I think Commissioner Sias and Commissioner Hasan.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First, I’d like to apologize to my colleague from
District 1 because I mentioned last week I had my information, my little talking points with me
and I don’t have them with me now, but I did realize myself and Commissioner Sias, we had made
a decision about what we would expose to the committee in terms of what we were able to witness.
And the attendees from us was Commissioner Sias and myself, Commissioner Sias took
Commissioner Fennoy’s place because Commissioner Fennoy had an engagement and he
requested and asked Commissioner Sias would he sit in for him and so Commissioner Sias was
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able to go. Commissioner I mean sorry Mr. Ladson, Mr. Hameed, I think it’s Anthony, what is
Anthony’s last name?
Mr. Ladson: Anthony Taylor.
Mr. Hasan: Anthony Taylor and then Ms. Jackson had a representative there Maurice
McDowell. There might have been one more person but we was able to be in the presence of DOT
Commissioner Don Grantham, Mr. Russell McMurray ---
Mr. Ladson: Russell McMurray.
Mr. Hasan: --- Russell McMurray and two other gentlemen. I had all that written down
who all was there. But what was interesting to me is that they have a great respect for the
delegation from Augusta. Mr. Ladson has been in a phenomenal relationship with them in terms
of about thinking and witnessing and knowing and understanding who Dr. Hameed was that puts
us in a good place, we, we’ve been in a good place in an ongoing relationship with them. Some
of the things historically that we witnessed last time was able to go with Mr. Ladson several months
ago or earlier part of the year that just by the mere fact that he was there and requested I think
about $10 million-dollars additional. I think he got about $12 million-dollars somewhere in that
neighborhood. And I think that will continue with some of the relationships that we have in place.
They trust us in many ways in terms of talking about the TIA and things of that nature. So I think
we’re in a good place as long as we don’t do anything to damage the relationships and what we
clearly see we leave here and go to the state level it clearly becomes all about relationships and I
think Mr. Ladson has always done a great job in dealing with relationship with the DOT Chairman
as well as the Commissioner there. And they’re looking forward to doing business with us and
being supportive of us in any way as we move forward in the future. Mr. Mayor, those are my
comments about the relationships.
Mr. Mayor: Fantastic, I think that’s outstanding. All right, Director Ladson?
Mr. Ladson: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission. The meeting actually
went real well of course we always want more than we actually get but the whole purpose of going
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up there on September 14 was to request some dollars for some existing TIA projects which is
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mainly in the 3 band which is the downtown projects. Those projects, at least the majority of
them, have some there’s some small shortfalls on the majority of them. Two of them have major
shortfalls and so we went and requested some dollars from, on those projects. These projects are
actually spread out over a period of five years, five or six years and I think we’ve requested, I have
the dollar amount here we requested about $6.5 million dollars over a six-year period. The
Commissioner actually, his recommendation was to bring each one of these projects one at a time
since they’re expanded over a six-year period. And so the first project was actually the James
Brown project which is scheduled to be bid next year and we had a request on that project of about
$1.4 million dollars and GDOT actually gave us $500,000 dollars on that project. And like I said
he said to come each year with these projects and they would, they didn’t commit but they said
they would more than likely help us out on these projects. So that’s pretty much where we stand
and just to kind of recap was has happened last year as Commissioner Hasan has stated that we
went up there and I think we requested $10 million dollars and actually got $12 million dollars so
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they have been pretty gracious to us on our request for projects so hopefully as Commissioner
Hasan said that the relationship does keep going because it’s always, has been positive for us.
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Mr. Mayor: Fantastic. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 to close us
out.
Mr. Sias: Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. I want to reiterate what Commissioner Hasan
and Mr. Ladson has stated first off is that we have a great relationship with GDOT. Now I will
bring in a slightly concern not negative but it’s a concern and one of the concerns is that we have
on some of our projects that we need to ensure that we’re holding our folks to the fires as far as
the cost estimates on these projects and that we need to ensure that we keep our design consultants,
that we come up with projects when they’re doing these projects downtown that we really hold the
line on it. It’s not negative but the fact is that I’m a little concerned about the range of the bids so
that’s the part that the Commissioner did ask us to have a little concern on. It wasn’t something
they were upset about but it was a little bit of a concern that we look at the price of what we’re
consulting these projects, the total price of the projects that was a bit of a concern. All right, thank
you. It was a great trip.
Mr. Mayor: Fantastic, all right, thank you. The Chair recognizes the Chairman of
Engineering Services.
Mr. Fennoy: Motion to receive this as information ---
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Smith out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. Fennoy: --- and I’m a little bit disappointed at Abie on the actual $10 million and got
twelve and he could’ve asked for twenty and got twenty-four. So, Abie, you’ve got to do a better
job asking.
Mr. Ladson: I’ll right, I’ll try next time.
Mr. Fennoy: Motion to receive as information.
Mr. Sias: He’s laid the groundwork that can last for years so as long as we keep it cultivated
it’ll last for years.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ll receive this as information and move on to the next item.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
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29. Discuss renaming the John C. Calhoun Expressway to Veterans Expressway. (No
recommendation from Engineering Services Committee September 12, 2017-deferred from
the September 19, 2017 Commission meeting.
Mr. Fennoy: That’s me, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, the reason I had this placed on the agenda is because of what
North Augusta is doing next door and the resolution that Savannah recently signed concerning the
Talmadge Bridge and sent to Atlanta. I, and what the resolution says is that the people that named
the bridge after Talmadge does not represent Savannah. Savannah has a population of 54%
African-American. They have brang in over $2.5 billion dollars annually in tourism and the
Talmadge Bridge connects South Carolina to Georgia. And Talmadge was a racist. He is believed
to have been involved in a lynching of four black people and it doesn’t look good when people
come to your city and see you recognizing and honoring a racist. John C. Calhoun never lived in
Augusta. John C. Calhoun never that I know of has ever been to Augusta. He’s not a resident of
the State of Georgia. Yale has removed his name from one of the buildings up there. So I think
it’s fitting and proper that we the City of Augusta, Georgia name the expressway after an
organization that has a positive ring to it, an organization that is something, done something real
great for this country. The only thing John C. Calhoun did was use his position as Vice-President
to justify slavery. If we expect the Cyber Center to attract the people coming into Georgia that we
hope they will attract if we expect new businesses and industry to come to the State of Georgia
then I would ask my colleagues to support a resolution seeking to rename the expressway. I would
also ask my colleagues to support the resolution that the City of Savannah sent to the delegation.
We talk about how difficult naming buildings and roads will be because this is a state thing but I
think if the Chamber of Commerce, if the Greater Arts Council, if other fraternal organizations
support resolutions that says the State of Georgia is not the same state that it was 20, 30, 40-years
ago. I want to believe that, I want to believe that we have grown beyond that and that we want to
do the right thing. It is insulting for African-Americans to live in a city where you’re honoring
someone that said that we were better off as slaves than we were as free people. That’s an insult.
If you go to Germany you will not see any streets or buildings named after Adolph Hitler. If you
go to Italy you won’t see any streets or buildings named after Mussolini. They are a part of history
and you may find them in the museums but you will not find these countries honoring these people.
So when the Masters come to Augusta and we have the Red Carpet Tour and people are riding
down the John C. Calhoun Expressway and someone asks the question, well who was John C.
Calhoun, they will wonder well why are you honoring, is this the type of city that you are trying
to get my business to come to? I don’t think so. This is a major undertaking, Mr. Mayor, and the
Commission can’t do it alone but I think that if anything gets done it has to start with the
Commission. I don’t believe that any of my colleagues, any of my colleagues have the same
philosophy or ideology expressed by John C. Calhoun so I don’t think we should honor John C.
Calhoun. So I’d like to make a motion that we get a resolution sent to the General Assembly
requesting a name change from John C. Calhoun Expressway to Veterans Expressway.
Mr. Hasan: I second the motion.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor and to my colleagues you know I’ve been on both sides of this
issue thinking that it was not a priority. In many ways I think in terms of the daily business it may
not be but in many ways at the same time it is. It is something we can send a signal like my
colleague has eloquently let it be known that when we see cities like North Augusta considering
doing what they’re doing, we don’t know where it’s going to end up at. When you see what cities
or counties like Chatham County or the City of Savannah taking action, we don’t know what the
state is going the final decision is going to make. But what they’re attempting to do is just to
change the spirit of the community that they think looms over their city as a result of certain events
and behaviors of people that many of us have no way of determining or we have no way of
changing. Now at the same time it’s a business decision too that we’re in the midst of those things
we’re in the midst as joint cities of North Augusta and City of Augusta about to just explode for
all intents and purposes. Savannah’s digging, about to dig that harbor deep so they can take some
of the biggest ships in the world so they’re acting appropriately they’re also protecting their
integrity and the business interest of their city. And so when we say we have when there are other
things we can do sure there are to be honest I agree with that but at the same time this is a request,
it’s a resolution. The state has the final say. It is a state road. We cannot change it and I think it
does us no harm in asking at the end of the day about something of this magnitude to potentially
change the spirit of this community. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all very good conversations. I have not weighed in on this. The
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Commissioner from the 1 called me and had a very robust conversation with me about it.
Obviously we had a rally in our city that was a very civil rally unlike in other parts of our country
and that is a testament to our citizens. It’s a testament to the great work of our Sheriff and his
deputies over there. But again at the end of the day it’s a testament to the people who we have in
this community. I’ve often times said that we tend to talk about things, Ms. Bonner, on the surface
and never really approached the real conversations that need to be had. And this is in my mind
one of those examples of where we’re talking about things that again are important. And I don’t
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want to say or do anything to diminish what the Commissioner from the 4, 1 has brought forward
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and the Commissioner from the 6 but it is my prayerful hope that this discussion will not fall on
deaf ears but rather lead to larger and more significant conversations about the reality of the world
that we live in today that in some people’s minds, when you see images of it, is not very far
removed from days of yonder. And so what I will tell this body is that if you agree to support a
resolution. I will sign it. If you agree to support a resolution I will sign it and I think that that
resolution if you’re going to have one is one that should have language in there suggesting that the
matter of these things should in fact be under local control. And I think that’s the place that if
we’re going to have these discussions, we’re better able to have them in Augusta than the folks in
Atlanta have in further trying to shape where this community goes. And so hopefully that’s, again
if there is support and/or interest in trying to do something of this nature, that it include language
to say that we think that it is in the best interests of the great State of Georgia to allow this to be a
local matter and let the local communities address their own individual needs because they are in
fact closest to the people. We’ve got a motion and a proper second.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, may I request a roll call vote on it?
23
Mr. Mayor: That’s well within your right. Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Guilfoyle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Jefferson.
Mr. Jefferson: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Abstain.
The Clerk: Mr. Smith, he’s out. Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams out.
Motion Fails 3-4-1.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’ll go to the added item to the agenda.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
31. Approve recommendation from Administration to waive rental fees as follows in
association with Augusta On Ice Event the $8,000 for set up days and the $36,400 for event
days totaling $44,600. (Requested by the Administrator)
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Augusta on Ice Fees
thth
Set up Fees – October 30 – November 14
Rental $500.00 x 16 Days = $8,000.00
thth
Rental Fees – November 15 – January 6
Rental $700.00 x 52 Days = $36,400.00
Clean-Up Fee $400.00 x 52 Days = $20,800.00
Staff Superintendent $7,786.00
Electrician $9,394.00
Clean-Up Team $18,480.00 (Overtime)
Total Cost $100,860.00
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Administrator Jackson.
Ms. Jackson: Thank you, sir, just to let you know how this got on our agenda today. Mr.
Parker was approached last week in regard to having an Augusta On Ice Event at The Common.
It is a 50-day event starting around Thanksgiving and ending shortly after January 1 where there
would be ice skating and other winter themed events on The Common during that time period.
The Augusta on Ice Event if we were to charge for a price for those activities on The Common for
that time period the full cost would be $100,860.00 dollars. We are proposing to waive all rental
fees associated with that in exchange for being named a presenting sponsor of the event. In the
packet that’s been provided to you there is a summary of the rental charges and what we’re
proposing. There is a summary of what it means and the benefits associated with becoming a
presenting sponsor for this event and then there’s also a brief email as well as a presentation called
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Augusta On Ice Overview dated September 29, 2017 and that goes into more detail of the event.
Mr. Parker is here as well as the organizers for the event Ms. Chris Boerner if you all have any
further questions. I also want to add that it’s estimated that they’ll have approximately 100,000
visitors into Augusta over that 50-day time period and they will be promoting this event over a
150-mile radius from Augusta meaning our name would be out there throughout about a 2 ½ hour
drive from Augusta to those parts of the southeast. So there would be some benefit associated
with having the Augusta On Ice Event in Augusta as a presenting sponsor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’d like to hear from the folks who are putting this event on. Okay,
if you’ll state for the record your name and address Ms. Boerner.
Ms. Boerner: My name is Christine Boerner, this is my husband Mike Boerner, our address
is 504 Creekstone Trail in Evans, Georgia. Thank you for the opportunity to talk with you. We
are incredibly excited at the chance that we might be able to bring Augusta On Ice to this
community. We moved here about a year ago with a one-year old and a three-year old, and what
Mike and I truly live for is bringing people together and trying to build connection in a way that
makes a difference. And when we moved to this community we were trying to figure out how can
we make an impact where people will actually remember it and it will matter for years and years
to come and so it’s taken the form of something I never would’ve expected. It’s a holiday festival;
there’s tremendous amount of organizing and information that goes into that. But what it’s truly
about is providing a place for years and years and years for people to come together to build
traditions, to build memories and to make Augusta a place where they think of home, where they
are proud to live, where they want to live. We’re working very closely with Fort Gordon and
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we’re working with churches and schools and community groups all around the area to make this
something that’s created by the community with 50-days of programming where from professions
organizations down to your first-grade classes. They’ll be on the stage every single day, bringing
back a portion of the proceeds every day to those community organizations that we’re working
with. And the idea behind all of it is that we’re in it together. We all live here we all come with a
pass that got us to where we are today but we can come together to build traditions into the future
and we would love nothing more than to have our new home Augusta be the place that this lives
for years and years and generations to come.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, can you talk about what it means to a presenting sponsor?
Ms. Boerner: Certainly so we value the presenting sponsorship in the neighborhood of
$50,000 dollars but what that includes is any time we talk about the words, the event Augusta On
Ice it will be presented by the City of Augusta. We’ve actually designed artwork already where
your name and logo is integrated into our Augusta On Ice logo so you would never see Augusta
On Ice without very prominent presence and recognition of how important this partnership is to
us. We have over $300,000 dollars in media that we’ll be turning on within a couple of weeks,
every single time we’re on TV, we’re on the radio we’ll have a billboard which all those things
will happen the City of Augusta would be recognized.
Mr. Mayor: So in that recognition for Augusta will that include your website being updated
as well to reflect the same that it’s Augusta On Ice?
Ms. Boerner: Absolutely assuming we receive the approval from the Commission here
today we are prepared to make that change immediately and turn on Augusta On Ice.com with full
recognition to the City of Augusta for its support.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem being the Commissioner
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from the 4.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just a couple of quick questions for the Administrator
or from Mr. Parker, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Certainly.
Ms. Davis: If we do waive, just as far as waiving these fees is that going to hurt us as far
as any kind of revenue we typically would need throughout the Recreation Department?
Ms. Jackson: What Mr. Parker has negotiated is that we would still be paid for any services
provided by our staff so we’re essentially doing it at cost. We would not be charging for the actual
rental of the facility. There were a couple of events I think scheduled during that time period that
we’re looking to move to other venues. If you need any detail about that you can speak to that but
essentially we’re doing it at cost. They’re paying for our out of pocket expenses.
Ms. Davis: So anybody else who did usually use The Commons will be able to have them
somewhere else within the Recreation Department facilities.
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Ms. Jackson: That’s correct.
Ms. Davis: Okay.
Ms. Jackson: Mr. Parker?
Mr. Parker: That’s correct. There’s only one event that had paid to use the facility in
November. We’ve agreed to reimburse them, help them find someone and these folks have
actually said up to a limit that if they have to pay a little more to rent a different facility they would
help them with that rental.
Ms. Davis: Okay and real quick too as far as with The Commons being a grass area is that
okay as far as its not having that you know exposed to the natural elements, I mean as far as when
we’re done with this as far as damage to that area.
Mr. Parker: It’s going to take some damage and one of the things we’re entering this
agreement with is we want this to be a one-year agreement. In January we want to sit down and
say okay what do we need to change and then enter into a long-term agreement. We’re not sure
how much, yes, it’s going to be without light for 50 days so you know there’s going to be some
work that’ll have to be done there. I hope we don’t have to re-sod. I hope we can just sprig it and
slice it and it’ll come back up because it is the time to over seed now so we wouldn’t be over
seeding. We’ll just leave it and let it go dormant.
Ms. Davis: Okay thank you, I’m in support I just wanted to make sure. I knew these bases
were covered but I wanted to make sure, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My question is also for Mr. Parker and/or the
Administrator. Mr. Parker, being that this is an ice rink a couple of things I want to ask. There
will be a tremendous amount of power to keep this water at that state of being frozen appropriately.
Do we have the available, and I know we have power sources there, but do we have the ability to
do this without having to bring in a different kind of power main?
Mr. Parker: The easy answer is no. They will be responsible though for bringing in the
necessary power to accommodate their needs. I don’t want to put words in their mouth. I think
they’re looking on the short-term basis of potentially doing that with generators. If we enter into
a long-term agreement then we need to sit down and figure that out. They need 480. What we
typically have currently in The Common is 208 but I will say they’ve been in conversation with
Georgia Power as late as early this morning talking about that. Georgia Power’s looking at what
needs to be done right now.
Mr. Sias: Then well Georgia Power will have, can I speak to them please, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, absolutely.
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Mr. Sias: So ya’ll have plans then to have Georgia Power drop in a temporary pole or
something to give you that, it’s 408 right?
Ms. Boerner: That’s correct 408 (inaudible).
Mr. Sias: Okay.
Ms. Boerner: We have two viable options. One is to bring in a generator and that will
actually be two so that we have backup in case the power was every interrupted. That is a plan we
can execute tomorrow if that was a path we decided to move forward. At the same time we’re
parallel pathing exploring directly with Fran (unintelligible) and Georgia Power what it would take
to bring power in. So I spoke with her this morning and she’s going to have someone on her team
come and look at how they would distribute the power. So we’ll assess sort of from cost as well
as stability of the energy what the best plan is to make sure the ice rink can be chilled.
Mr. Sias: Okay, thank you.
st
Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, I saw a, up in Spartanburg in November and I think I had talked with
Glenn once before about ice skating downtown and they seemed to be having a good time. What
about liability issues who will ---
Ms. Boerner: We are in receipt of your requirements and we’ve already addressed naming
the City of Augusta as an additional insured and liability insurance in compliance with what you’d
require from us ---
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Ms. Boerner: --- so we would carry the insurance as Augusta On Ice.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and will there be vendors maybe selling food and drink during this?
Ms. Boerner: Some. I’ll paint the picture for you. Imagine it’s almost a winter wonderland
like Central Park you walk in there’s a light show that every half an hour will be choreographed
dancing around you. You’ll have an outdoor ice rink that’s about 150 people can be on it at any
given time. A 70-foot long ice slide that you go down on a saucer, picturesque train that’s made
in Athens, Georgia that circles the perimeter of the park. We’ll have a food vendor that will be on
site all 50 days and we’re working with them to develop a custom menu which is elevated and
substantial so that people can spend a long time in the downtown area and enjoy the day. I will
also a Beer and Wine Garden. We’re working very closely with Brad and Havird Usry in a lot of
capacities but they be working on operations of our Beer & Wine. We’re exploring the possibility
of also bringing in, a big part of this is honoring past traditions and so we’re looking at bringing
in a Fat Man’s Forest a throwback as well and Brad is very excited about that opportunity. Santa
will be there. They will be taking pictures. We’ll have a craft area for kids so that they can write
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letters to Santa. We’re going to be roasting some S’mores oh and the community stage truly is at
the heart of it all I mean in my mind that’s what it’s about. It’s about people being together on the
stage to showcase their talents.
Mr. Fennoy: Now ---
Ms. Boerner: Sorry I was long to answer your question.
Mr. Fennoy: --- okay and how accessible will ice skates I mean ---
Ms. Boerner: Yeah, so we’ll have the skates available. When you’re ready to skate you
just come show up and we’ll have everything you need to go ahead and enjoy the ice.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, it went over I’m (unintelligible) it went over well in Spartanburg. I
was, like I said talked early with Mr. Parker about it. I think this will do well here in Augusta also.
Ms. Boerner: It’s been quite well received in conversations we’ve had so far, we’re very
optimistic.
Mr. Fennoy: Motion to approve, Mr. Mayor.
Ms. Davis: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7.
Mr. Frantom: I just wanted to thank Chris for the call last week and all the team, Mr.
Parker, Janice. This has been a true effort of many employees to get this to the point where we
are. This is an exciting time for downtown Augusta and it’s just going to be a great element to
bring to downtown. Just thank you and hope that my colleagues will support this, so thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a motion and a proper second. Do you want a roll call vote,
just kidding voting.
Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Smith out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right I have not ice-skated, Commissioner Frantom, since they used
to have ice skating at the Omni. Some of you are too young to remember that but there was, when
we had the Atlanta Hockey Team, that’s right, the Atlanta Flames they moved to Calgary and the
rest is history as they say.
Mr. Sias: I’m much too old to remember.
Mr. Mayor: You don’t say. We’ve got two or more items. I’m going to ask Director
Welcher if he’ll approach. We’ve had a lot of conversation, Madam Clerk, about Housing and
Community Development and there will be much more conversation as we really get our arms
29
around what’s going on. And more importantly what we can be doing to really change the
trajectory of our community particularly the communities that are depressed in nature. So I’ve
asked this body to take a look at Items 12 and 13, I’ve also had a conversation with Welcher and
so I’ve got we’ve got two motions that we’re going to make just so we can continue moving it
forward but with conditions and so I’m going to ask this body if they’ll be prepared to support that.
Again, it doesn’t change the outcome on the face in terms of what you’ve got in front of you if
you’ll go right to the underlined motion for 12 and 13. But from a federal standpoint as the
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Commissioner from the 8 has indicated I want to make sure we have no federal implications
which based on what I think I know and what we’ve done in the past there are no federal
implications in terms of where we are. And so I’ve got again two motions that we’re prepared to
make and the Mayor Pro Tem has the first one with regards to item number 12 and then I’m going
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to go to the Commissioner from the 6 so if you’ll pay close attention okay? All right, Mayor Pro
Tem.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
12. Motion to approve amending the2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Action Plans to Re-program
$152,095.00 and Revise the Scope of Work in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
funds subject to 30-day public comment period. (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee August 29, 2017)
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for Item 12 I’d like to make a motion to approve
amending the 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Action Plan to re-program $152,095.00 and revise the
Scope of Work in Community Development Block Grant funds subject to a 30-day public
comment period. However, such funds should not be spent for any purpose except for expressly
approved by the Commission.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’ve got a question.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: May I address Mr. Welcher ask Mr. Welcher a couple of questions?
Mr. Mayor: You may.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Welcher, presently how are these funds spent?
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Mr. Welcher: Presently we came before you on August 29 and at that time we presented
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to you the presentation as to how we would re-program the funds. And on August 29 we stated
to you that $152,000.64 would all 100% be used for housing and rehabilitation. And the day after
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August 29 we moved to our 30-day public comment period. That 30-day public comment period
has ended. To date we have not received any comments so we are back now from a compliance
standpoint after the end of the 30-day public comments period to be able to move forward via your
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approval and allow these funds to be used for Housing and Rehabilitation program needs of which
our seniors are used for health and safety code as well as deficient items so this is our second time
before you. What we’ve done as you saw the years put before you we’ve taken funds from 2011
as well as the other years that have been highlighted and using them in our situations where we
feel like they add the most value. So, the 30-day public comment period after your approval via
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committee on the 29 of August we went out to the public, we advertised in the Augusta Chronicle
as well as other periodicals. There are no comments that have come back from citizens so now
we’re here for your final approval.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, but in the past you have been able to spend these funds without coming
before the Commission.
Mr. Welcher: That’s not true. Whenever we’ve re-programed we also there is what is
considered a substantial change so anything above $50,000 dollars whenever we move the CDBG
funds above $50,000 dollars we have to come back before you all to gain approval. So there was
a presentation that was provided as well as handouts provided to you we showed where we were
taking the money from as well as it showed how we were using the money as well.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and ---
Mr. Welcher: And also notated if I would, Mr. Commissioner, also noted in their senior
analysis of what you have it talks about $63,656 that also we stated was ready to be re-programed
but we indicated that we wanted your by in dialogue with regards to how to use this $63,000 I’m
pretty sure some may remember that conversation.
Mr. Fennoy: --- and, Mr. Mayor, what is the difference between the original motion and
the motion that was just made.
Mr. Mayor: That no money is going to be spent until they come back to us, that from this
point we’re not just appropriating money. Let me mention a few things right here. Here in the
last several weeks in the last several weeks and again it’s certainly my hope that we’re paying
very, very close attention to this. We’ve had a series of re-programing conversations. I have a
series of documents that have come across my desk. This is not new. I’ve had these conversations
with Director Welcher, I’ve sat in Director Welcher and Ms. Jackson’s conference room upstairs
and had these same conversations to include what you adopted last week or a week and a half ago
with regards to the 2018. And my pause is just getting longer and I think it’s prudent for us to take
time to look at what we’re doing in terms of utilizing these resources. We heard just on last week
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from our Finance Director that when we have the budget conversations starting on the 17 we’ve
got a $1.2 million-dollar conversation we’re going to have with regards to Housing and
Community Development as well. We have to look at these in terms of their totality about how
we’re using these dollars. I see the allocation that’s here and the second motion that you’re going
to have with regards to item number 13 and both of these have the same language added at the end
of them I see that as a compromise as opposed to asking you to just kill it. And that is what I came
with the expectation to effectively do is just kill it and we stop it all right now but again I think
this gives us an opportunity, it gives Mr. Welcher an opportunity. Again I don’t know if it matters
to you all but we’re talking about re-appropriating dollars from 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 that’s a
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that’s a six-year period of time on that. We’ve got dollars that are sitting around that we’re not
doing anything with and then we have shortfalls here, we have expansions over here. I, you know,
I just think it’s I think it’s something that everybody sitting on this dais should be thinking about.
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All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: He was first (inaudible).
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, by the motion that the Mayor Pro Tem made for any money to
be spent it comes back before this body. Well, there’s fourteen different items for money to be re-
programed and this is federal money, is that correct, that has to be spent? It cannot be used in our
General Fund?
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
Mr. Guilfoyle: And so with him, Hawthorne and his department, already gets broken out
to a total of $152,095 dollars once we approve this why does he have to come back in front of us
fourteen different times to get another approval?
Mr. Mayor: That’s not the intent of your motion. Attorney MacKenzie, can you speak to
that please?
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure I’d be happy to. This is to approve the plan which was outlined in
the attachment. I think the restriction that was added was to bring it back so I guess the plan could
be reevaluated by the Commission or the Commission could approve any adjustments made to the
plan consistent with what the Commission would like to do versus what he proposes as a plan.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Can I respond, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: All right, I want you to hold on before you do. What again as the Attorney
has articulated all of those things have happened. Director Welcher has also indicated to us that
there were no comments that came back from the public. That’s typically not unusual, that’s
generally what happens we have meetings, public hearings nobody shows up and we just move
forward. And so again to his point, Welcher’s point, we’ve heard this twice. We have and you
have in front of you a motion to approve what’s here but at the point of time we are preparing to
expend funds for anything beyond what’s here I think we should be involved in that discussion up
to and including the $63,000 that continues to be mentioned as these dollars are available to be
appropriated at somebody’s discretion. All right, that’s all (unintelligible).
Mr. Guilfoyle: Can I respond?
Mr. Mayor: You may now.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Oh, the Administrator has her hand up.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, you’re yielding?
Mr. Guilfoyle: I’ll yield and then I’ll follow up.
Mr. Mayor: Administrator Jackson.
Ms. Jackson: Thank you. For clarity I’d like to make sure I understand what’s being
proposed and make sure you all understand what the department is proposing here. The department
said there’s a $152,095 that’s available. They’re proposing to re-program that for housing rehab,
correct?
Mr. Mayor: It’s actually $215,000.
Ms. Jackson: Is your number incorrect?
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
Ms. Jackson: Okay, I’m sorry but the original proposal for just for this $152, is that right?
Mr. Welcher: That’s correct because we have to be specific ---
Ms. Jackson: Right.
Mr. Welcher: --- when you re-program and we did not know where the 63 was going so
(unintelligible).
Ms. Jackson: Okay all right, so this motion was about the $152. Your department is
recommending that we spend those monies for housing rehabilitation and permanent supportive
housing because of the understanding you have a waiting list for clients that are waiting for housing
and rehab services.
Mr. Welcher: The demand far exceeds the funding available to do homeowner rehab for
our seniors.
Ms. Jackson: Okay, so under the motion that was approved does that mean before he
engages in any further rehab activities he would need to come before the Commission?
Mr. Mayor: I have a better question, Ms. Jackson. We have a total of $215,000. The
Director just indicated we have more requests than we have money available and to the
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Commissioner from the 8 concern or anyone else’s concern about ‘federal loss’ we should do
this. We have to expend these resources by a certain date, time, and month, and second so why
then are we not including the $215 in full? Why are we playing a shell game? I’m going to go
back to that conversation why are we even bothering to play a shell game when you don’t have
sufficient enough resources to meet our waiting requests. So why not just go ahead and say we’re
going to go ahead and expend our $215,000?
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Mr. Welcher: If I may respond?
Mr. Mayor: I’m going back to this. There is a place that we’re going to end up at I am
extremely concerned about this place and we keep playing mouth games and I don’t like it and I’m
going to leave it at that. Now again if you want me to withdraw this, I’ve raised this for the
umpteenth time and if you all want to adopt it then I will be happy to waive and you just go with
the base motion that’s there but you’re going to see this again.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, now that I can follow up it shows clearly the $152, the $63,000
is not involved in this agenda item whatsoever as far as expenditures. Hawthorne has been before
us numerous times and if we do decide to change it, as a matter of fact, I’ll make a substitute
motion, motion to approve at face value of what the agenda actually shows to motion to
approve as.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Call for the question.
Mr. Sias: Objection to call.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ll continue debating. All right, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Hawthorne, I want to go as the Mayor there’s a six-
year spread. When we talk the 2011 their appraisals, this is what I believe there so you correct me
and inform all of us. In 2011 were those just appraisals from 2011 or was that when the money
was initiated to do appraisals that has been going on for several years?
Mr. Welcher: That’s when the money had been allocated or committed to do appraisals to
assist the Laney Walker/Bethlehem Revitalization Project. But since that time we slowed down
acquisitions so we don’t need the funding anymore.
Mr. Sias: So but I’m asking, the question I’m asking you is is those appraisals that money
was only spent in 2011 or was it done for appraisals that went over a number of years?
Mr. Welcher: It went over a number of years but when we’ve gotten to a point ---
Mr. Sias: I get that what I’m asking ---
Mr. Welcher: Over a number of years, sir.
Mr. Sias: --- yeah over a number of years so it wasn’t that the money started in ’11. It just
sit there.
Mr. Welcher: Correct.
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Mr. Sias: Okay the next thing in 2013 the Small Business Assistance was that the same
process as well where the money kind of extended out as you were doing these things?
Mr. Welcher: That is the balance which has been underutilized, correct.
Mr. Sias: But it didn’t just start and stop in 2013 it sit there, am I correct?
Mr. Welcher: That’s correct.
Mr. Sias: Okay so basically I wanted to get a clear understanding of whether this money’s
just been laying around you know with no control over or no nothing and something perhaps illegal
or nefarious going on but that’s not the case is what you’re telling me?
Mr. Welcher: Yes, sir, that’s correct.
Mr. Sias: So in this $63,000 dollars that we keep talking about, what did you recommend
for that $63,556.46 or did that appear from nowhere? Tell me why this $63,000 dollars is so
popular up here.
Mr. Welcher: We just merely took a percentage. In dialogue and conversations in hearing
you all out that was our first way of saying, you know, let’s show leverage just so a partnership to
be able to provide you with additional funding initially to say some of the activities, the eligible
CDBG activities, that you all wanted to engage in, that was our first attempt. The second attempt
had to do with our 2017 money but there’s money available once we receive it this year. The third
attempt was when we came back before you all last week which is our fiscal year 2018 plan which
speaks specifically to economic development, workforce, housing as well as the façade program.
So there are three attempts to work with you all in regards to exactly those things you all desire
and want to see. So that was our first attempt just a percentage of money. We didn’t want to come
back before you all and say let’s re-program money but we want to use 100% for where we want
to go with it. We want to show good faith to show that we hear you all in regards to your desires.
That was the reason why.
Mr. Sias: Follow up, Mr. Mayor? Apparently, Mr. Hawthorne, that $63,000 probably
wasn’t enough. Ms. Jackson, do you support what Director Hawthorne has said?
Ms. Jackson: I fully support us providing more money for our client, perspective clients
who need their houses rehabbed, sir.
Mr. Sias: Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: All right, all right, so I am I’m going to do it again Commissioner from the
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6.
Mr. Hasan: Okay Mr. Mayor I ---
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Mr. Mayor: I want to ask hold on a second if you don’t mind. I think the Commissioner
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from the 8 had a substitute, Ms. Bonner, is that correct with a proper second?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right I’m going to ask the Commissioner from the 6 to just waive
yours ---
Mr. Hasan: --- okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- we’ll revisit this differently. All right, so I’m going to recognize the
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Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Ms. Jackson or Mr. Hawthorne either one, 12 and 13, what is different from
this in terms of what we engaged in last week when we the 2018 one-year action plan other than
the year? Why I’m asking that question is because I’m looking at 12 for sure maybe 13 as well
that you’re going to take after coming before the Commission and you’re going to go out and do
a 30-day comment period, that’s what’s on here now.
Mr. Welcher: The comment period is over ---
Mr. Hasan: It’s over now?
Mr. Welcher: --- that’s why we’re back before you all.
Mr. Hasan: And Revise the Scope of Work in Community Development funds are subject
to a 30-day comment period is says subject to.
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Mr. Welcher: That was the agenda item we came before you all on the 29.
Ms. Jackson: Yeah, the next line it says approved by Administrative Services of August
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29.
Mr. Hasan: Okay so my question, let me ask my question then. So when you do what they
done last week it doesn’t come to the full Commission? It goes straight to the public the revision
for the 2018 plan because I don’t see it in the agenda unless one of these items is there.
Mr. Welcher: This is not the ’18 plan. Item 12 ---
Mr. Hasan: No, no, no I understand that.
Mr. Welcher: --- yes.
Ms. Jackson: You’re asking for the item you approved last week in committee ---
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Mr. Hasan: That’s just in committee right.
Ms. Jackson: --- they were approved in committee and then it went to the public for a 30-
day.
Mr. Welcher: So now we’re at the end of the 30-day public comment period, we’ll come
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before you on November the 7.
Mr. Hasan: So the full Commission doesn’t approve it before it goes to the public? I mean
because if you go the 30-day period, you’ll be back and say, well, the public has approved it like
you say you’ve done this one here and at that point in time you’ve done all your business and we’re
going to approve it. So the Commission doesn’t get a chance to weigh in on it before it goes to
the public as a body I’m not talking as a committee? The committee approved it I’m talking about
the body.
Mr. Sias: But it also went to the body for that.
Mr. Hasan: It hasn’t been to the body yet.
Mr. Welcher: Well, you have an opportunity during this 30-day public comment period to
weigh in. This is just the opportunity for any and everybody to weigh in. I understand what you’re
saying but typically it goes the committee gives us the authorization to be able to move it to the
community who can’t change the plan. All they can do is just provide comments. This is your
opportunity as well. We can have work sessions to talk about those you know whatever you’re
hesitations or heartburns are with that ’18 plan.
Mr. Hasan: So back to my point, my question when it goes before the committee, does it
come before the whole body because when it comes back to us, to the body, it’s going to be the
30-day period is going to be over. We won’t have a chance as a body to weigh in on it. The
committee has for sure but the body doesn’t? And I’m not saying, I’m just asking for clarity
around it because I was looking for it in the agenda.
Mr. Welcher: That’s, typically the time to weigh in on it is now during the 30-day public
comment period.
Mr. Hasan: So we become the public at this point?
Mr. Welcher: Yes.
Mr. Hasan: And no longer, we’re not policy makers at that point ---
Mr. Welcher: No, sir, yes sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- is that, that’s HUD’s regulations?
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Mr. Welcher: That’s regulations. The 30-day public comment period for any and
everybody, local officials on down to citizens.
Mr. Hasan: So it’s HUD’s regulations that it doesn’t come before our Commission before
it goes to the public or is that something we’ve been doing (unintelligible).
Mr. Welcher: That’s our policy. I mean from a HUD standpoint ---
Mr. Hasan: Our who?
Mr. Welcher: --- that’s our policy HCD and working with the local Commission and
typically HUD just wants to see we needed an approval from the governing body but there has to
been approval in which you give the public an opportunity to weigh in on it as well.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, I would hope that we revisit that because I don’t see how we do that
one. Now I definitely don’t see how we do that one because like I said that’s not a federal policy
that’s a HUD, that’s a horse of a different color. I’ll leave that alone but let me try to,
Commissioner Sias, you asked the question about my $63,000 dollars and I think Mr. Welcher just
explained what I’ve been saying all the while. Let me figure out how we got to the $63,000 dollars;
we have a different interpretation of this. But during the part of the year around March, April,
May or sometime, we were asking and there was a commitment to this body that we will weigh in
on what that agenda will look like in terms of what their budget would be like moving forward in
terms of programs that it would invest in or they would do business with, not invest in but as much
as do business with and we were assured that. Ever since that time it's been coming back, the
$63,000 has been coming back, is a set aside for the Commission to make a decision about. I mean
in essence he just said that again, that, okay, this is our good faith effort for you all to weigh in on
it and do what you want to do with this but when we made these comments the early part of the
year, it will say well why bring us a finished product. We have little or no opportunity to change
and the evidence is in that goes out for 30-day comments now. So my point is that that’s why the
$63,000 dollars you keep seeing it because if we want to make a decision about any of these funds
well here’s ya’ll’s $63,000 dollars and you all decide what ya’ll want to with it. So that’s where
your $63,000 dollars that’s what you’ve got there. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, voting.
Mr. Sias: Is this the substitute we’re voting on?
Mr. Mayor: (unintelligible) read the substitute.
The Clerk: The substitute motion is to approve as stated in the agenda item.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Smith out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8 for a motion, number 13.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
13. Motion to approve 2017 Budget Adjustment for the Housing and Community
Development Department. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee September 26,
2017)
Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to approve.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Voting.
Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Smith out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Bonner, is there any other business before us?
The Clerk: No, sir, that’s it.
Mr. Mayor: This meeting is adjourned.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of The Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
October 3, 2017.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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