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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting January 16, 2018 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER JANUARY 16, 2018 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., January 16, 2018, the Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Guilfoyle, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, Fennoy, D. Williams, Hasan and Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Absent: Hon. Jefferson, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: Good afternoon, everybody. We’re going to call this meeting to order, the Chair recognizes Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Yes, I call your attention to the invocation portion of our agenda which will be delivered by Father Daniel Trout, St. Luke Anglican Catholic Church after which we’ll ask Ms. Judith Sink from our H.R. Department to lead us in our Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Father Daniel Trout, St. Luke Anglican Catholic Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. Mr. Mayor: Thank you to Father Trout. Welcome to the Garden City of Augusta, Georgia home of James Brown the Godfather of Soul, Masters Golf Tournament and the Cyber Security Capital of the World, thank you. Would you join me in congratulating Father Trout welcoming he and his wife from Lake Mary, Florida to our fine city. We look forward to not only your leadership in the community but also your spiritual leadership there at the church. Thank you so much, both of you. I want to draw everyone’s attention to your notebooks for one item before we proceed. Ms. Bonner has provided us with the Commission and Committee meeting schedule for 2018; I just want to draw everybody’s attention to this. It has a series of dates on there that shift. Please pay close attention to that as we move expeditiously through the month of March into April. There are a few date changes that are there so I want to draw everybody’s attention to that. I had the great pleasure this morning of spending an hour and a half with Kevin Johnson, CEO of Starbuck’s, Rosalind Brewer the Seat Chief Operating Officer and their Chief Legal Counsel this morning; they send their greetings to the City of Augusta. They are extremely excited about the workforce that we have here in our city. Their partners are equally excited about not only the expansion but their opportunities to make continued investments in the City of Augusta beyond the expansion of the facility. And so they, one, want all of Augusta to know that they are pleased to be here and enjoy the partnership that they have with us. So, let’s continue to welcome businesses into our community and know that people are looking and they are in fact still choosing Augusta so that’s exciting. Madam Clerk. RECOGNITION(S) Employee of the Year A. Congratulation! Mr. Glenn Hall, Information Technology Department as Augusta, GA 2017 Employee of the Year. 1 The Clerk: Yes, sir. I call your attention to the Recognition portion of our agenda; we will recognize our Employee of the Year. We offer our congratulations to Mr. Glenn Hall as he makes his way forward along with Ms. Allen, Information Technology Director. Are there others, Ms. Allen, Mr. Hall, that would like to join you? Dear Mayor Davis, Glenn is truly an asset to not only the Information Technology Department but also the City of Augusta. He is one of those employees that every leader wants to have as a member of their team. He always exhibits a positive demeanor no matter the technology challenges he faces. Glenn never responds that something can’t be done but instead works hard to find ways to get it done. His innovative thinking and determination was key in the success of the Mobile Tag Office Project implemented by the Tax Commissioner’s Office located on Fort Gordon. Not only did this project save the taxpayer’s money, it provided a convenience to our military and civilian population on the fort. Glenn is not one of those employees that wants to stand and take credit. He truly understands the meaning of a team and does what he can to assist anyone in the Information Technology Department finding technology solutions for our customers. Glenn’s positive can do attitude, innovative thinking, dedication and commitment to the organization warrants his selection for the Augusta Employee of the Year. I’m proud to have him a part of the Information Technology team. Congratulations, Glenn Hall. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Hall: They all like to say thank you to everybody. First off, I want to say thanks to God and Jesus my Lord and Savior for allowing me to share this moment with ya’ll today. I would like to thank my IT Department. They’re back there in the back; they always come and give me support. Ms. Allen not only is she my Director, she’s my leader. She always instilled in me to show your value; she always says show your value in this organization. I also want to thank Mr. Steven Kendrick. Mr. Steven Kendrick always challenged me to think outside of the box. He always tells me that good is the enemy of great and so you don’t have to be good when you can be great so I always try to be great. Also, I would like to thank my old high school teacher Mr. Bill, Commissioner Bill Lockett. In 1999 he was the guy that pulled me to the side and always said man there’s something in you, you could be great one day; just keep working hard. And he gave me an FLA award back then and said man one day you’re going to do something great and I’d like to thank him for that. Thank you all for ya’ll’s support, all my friends and family and my coworkers, thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: I think Glenn was perhaps one of the first people I met when I came. We had a series of questions about computers and he came right over. He has been a stellar employee from the time that we’ve arrived here. His customer service skills are par excellence. He has done a phenomenal job with working with the Mayor’s office. I’m sure everyone can echo those same sentiments. I asked him what the cost savings were effectively for the project and he said about $200,000 dollars in terms of savings so everyone who always talks about what’s the bottom line. When you’ve got employees on your team who are making those types of contributions using their skills their talent and their abilities that add value to the organization we can be equally proud to know that we have individuals who are as competitive as what we see in the private sector. And so again thank you for what you do, thank you for making Augusta what she is because of your contributions. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Hall: This is my Mom Sheila and this is my Aunty Karen. (APPLAUSE) 2 Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor, I’m not real sure what Ms. Allen feeds her employees but they are always such an energetic, very loud in a good way group. I appreciate that. Good job. They’re always celebrating. They have too much fund in their department, I do too! Ms. M. Williams: Mary, ain’t no such thing as too much fun --- Ms. Davis: I agree with you on that. Mr. M. Williams: --- no such thing, it’s like having too much money. Ms. Davis: I agree, I don’t have that problem. I have too much fun maybe --- Mr. M. Williams: You have too much fun? I don’t have too much fun, ain’t no such thing. Ms. Davis: --- not too much money though. The Clerk: RECOGNITIONS B. Reverend Melvin Ivey regarding a proposed Commission Bus Tour so that commissioners can make more informed decisions when it comes to moving the city forward. Reverend Ivey: Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, Happy New Year. I was scheduled earlier this year but I had an incident at home and I find myself here today. I just wanted to --- Mr. Mayor: Sorry, would you just state for the record your name and address? Reverend Ivey: Sure --- Mr. Mayor: Okay. Reverend Ivey: --- Melvin Ivey, 1016 Fox Den Road, Hephzibah, Georgia. We are, I’ve come before you today with a proposal and if you notice on the agenda talked about a proposed Bus Tour. Many of you may know that I serve on the Richmond County Planning and Development Commission and each month before we have our meeting we actually take a bus tour and what I want to share with you all today are some of the advantages of sitting on a bus and not having to have to drive. One of the things is that you’re going to sit at an elevated position which allows you to see things that you would not normally see. Now one of the things that I have, I’ve experienced and many on the bus tour with us have experienced is that when you are driving there are a lot of things that you don’t get a chance to see because your focus number one is on the road. You’re trying to keep it between the lines and your main objective is to get from Point A to Point B. I know a lot of you say well why should we go on a bus tour? Like I stated, number one, it gives you an elevated position; you get to see things that you don’t normally get to see. The other thing is that you get an opportunity to see the entire city not just segments of the city because the 3 decisions that you all make impact the entire city. The other thing that it does is that it gives you the opportunity, you make a lot of decisions. I looked at your agenda today you’ve got about 30 something consent agenda items but if you’re doing a quarterly bus tour you will have a visual of what this county actually looks like and how the decisions that you will make will impact this particular city. I believe by going on a bus tour it would also give you an opportunity to look at what is and what could be. Augusta is a great place to live but it can be greater. I believe if you take the time and allow the City Administrator to schedule a quarterly bus tour where you have the freedom to talk about the area or to look at it not only through your eyes but look at it through your colleague’s eyes and then you can begin to plan for the future of Augusta not for what’s just is. And I believe that while you are making those decisions you will make decisions that’s best for all of Augusta because it appears to me now that Augusta is becoming the Cyber Hub and there’s a lot of potential that’s coming to this area. It’s going to take all of us working together to make this city what this city can actually be so that not only our children but our grandchildren will be glad to be a part of Augusta Richmond County. So I challenge you all today to seriously consider a quarterly bus tour where you have the freedom to talk to one another and to be honest about the process. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you Mr. Ivey for coming and sharing with us. All right, the th Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 10. Mr. Smith: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just wanted to say I’ve been on a couple of those bus trips and they do have certain points that you brought out. But the main thing is that’s the reason why us as commissioners who also hold jobs in the private sector have people we’ve got on certain boards and the Planning Board and all that. If I need to know something, I call them first and then say hey fax me over a schedule and all that and then if I’m really in doubt I’ll ride out there myself you know and see what’s going on. But I agree with you there’s several things that’s coming around with Cyber and everything else that we need to step up the pace and make sure we stay up with what’s going on. So but I do know that we do have people on certain committees, men and women who are very qualified to you know say a lot about Augusta and we have people that work for the Planning Commission that you know if we need to know something about a piece of property we can do that. But a bus trip’s always good but a lot of times you might be chatting or talking and miss the main point of a certain area. So you know that’s the way I feel about it but, you know, a bus trip’s fine but usually a lot of people riding along and right on down the road and the same thing happens every year. But I think we’re in a new year and we know that we’ve got to step up to the plate the Cyber people are here, Medical College and some other industries coming in this area that we need to show them that we are up with them, so that’s a good idea. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Reverend Ivey, in looking at the agenda item I really honestly didn’t know what to expect but I think you presented a very compelling case on a quarterly basis and it’s something we may continue sectioning the city off and look at it by sections and things like that to get chance to look at it and probably at the end of that year we do just a whole tour of the whole city. But I especially like the way you said it and what you had to say around that issue and the importance of the potential benefits from it so I can support that what you said and thank you for the suggestion. 4 th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Ivey, thank you. Your words had substance. I’ve actually been on a bus ride back when the Bus Riders Association and what you’re saying gives a lot, it does have a lot of validity to your words. I would like to do it. I would like to ride with my colleagues and probably what we’ll do is break it up in different do two districts for each quarter and we should capture them all in a year but thank you for coming before us. And Madam Administrator, Mr. Mayor, if you don’t mind can I can I say something to the Administrator? Mr. Mayor: Sure. Mr. Guilfoyle: Madam Administrator, if you would set up something hopefully on today the Commission around 10:00 o’clock in the morning that way I’m only wasting one day. But anyway, I would like to do it if the Administrator could get us all together. Thank you, Mr. Ivey. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor? th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir. To my pastor he’s my pastor like that’s my Clerk over there but we talk often and I agree with what he just said. But let me say this. All the bus rides in the world ain’t going to change if the mindset of the people don’t change. We, most of us have been in this city for quite some time. We’re not newcomers, we’re not someone who just arrived here in the last year we know what is needed on each side of town. We know about the have and the have nots and that’s my issue with going on a bus ride. We, Commissioner Fennoy talked about District 1 and District 2 as being the most blighted areas that we have in this community and we all know that even the people in this audience know that as well. But we have not put the focus on that so we don’t need to take a bus ride. Now I don’t mind taking one but we don’t need to take a bus ride to see that. So I’m saying that to say the bus ride is great but I think we’ve got to change the mindset of the people who elected to do what is necessary to spread not just the economics but the wealth, the growth, the everything. I mean when you’re driving like you say you know you’ve got to focus on the road when you’re riding the bus you can look around and see the stuff that you see everyday because you go through there. And I just think that that’s a great idea but I think that even with an idea if the mindset of the people is not to do the right thing that we’re going to end up just where we are now, and I think that’s why we got elected officials in here we’re elected in districts because the representation ought to come through and for that district but at the same time we have to work in each other’s backyard at some time to get it right. So I’m in favor of the bus ride. I ain’t got no doubt about that but I don’t want to ride the bus just to be riding the bus. If we’re going to change some things, we’re going to do some things different then we’ll do that. But I won’t say that I spend too much time with them already but I spend enough time. And I just think that we ought to make sure that we do what we need to do when we take advantage of the Administrator setting up a tour for us and don’t come back and say because we did this once, Mr. Mayor, we went out here about a year ago and went south and looked at all the potential and all the stuff. Had some taxpayers to ride with us, the news media rode with us and we looked at some stuff out there but it’s still the same. Ain’t nothing changed yet. We didn’t have to drive. We had 5 a designated driver; I don’t think I was drinking that day but we had a designated driver and it’s still the same, Reverend Ivey, so I’m in favor but we have to change the mindset. st Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Reverend Ivey, I also support you on your suggestion. I think that if my colleagues could ride through District 1 and District 2 especially during the summertime when we talk about overgrown lots they can see what we actually mean about overgrown lots. I’m not talking about grass that’s one or two feet tall. I’m talking about grass that’s five and six feet tall. When we talked about dilapidated houses and boarded up houses, you will have an opportunity to see the great number of dilapidated and boarded up houses that exist especially in District 1 and District 2. And most recently Commissioner Williams, Marion Williams talked about burned houses that’s still standing. If you ride through District 1 and District 2, you will be amazed at the amount of blight that you see in these districts and hopefully when we start talking about budgeting we’ll increase the amount of money that we’ll spend on lots being cut or houses being torn down. But hopefully more important we will put more money into economic development so that when we take these houses down, you know, we could put houses up. The last bus tour I went on I think we were riding around Augusta looking at the electrical boxes that had recently been painted and everybody was riding on the buses having a good time laughing and joking and talking about how beautiful these boxes were. And we went down Reynolds Street and went out by the airport and thth then we came down Milledgeville Road and we crossed 15 Street. And when we crossed 15 Street and started heading down Martin Luther King people started not talking as much. And then thth we got down to 12 Street and made that left turn on 12 Street and people became absolutely quiet. There was not a word spoken or said on that bus because for the first time, for the first time people had gone downtown and they had seen what blight actually looks like. They became aware of the living conditions that some people had to live in not because of a home that they stayed in but because of the condition that their former neighbors kept their property in. So I agree with this but I think it would be useless if you’re going to look at grass that needs to be cut. We don’t need to go January of February because there won’t be any grass to be cut. But I think that’s a good idea and I will support you in your efforts to make this happen. Mr. Mayor: All right, Mr. Ivey, thank you so much for coming to share that with us. Reverend Ivey: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. I want to take a moment and, he didn’t ask me to do it but I’m going to do it anyway. I’m going to ask everyone if they would please keep our attorney Andrew MacKenzie and his family in your prayers. We know that his wife has been dealing with the complexities of an ill father and through it all she’s certainly been very strong for their family. Andrew has been strong for her and he transitioned on this past weekend and we want our attorney to know that we stand strong with you and that we have you and your family in our prayers. And I would ask all of us to do that as the MacKenzie family is navigating through that, the loss of a loved one and the transition of their family beyond this day so I ask you all to pray with them as well okay, all right thank you. Madam Clerk. The Clerk: 6 RECOGNITIONS C. Ms. Deborah C. Tolbert regarding the following issues: 1. The disenfranchisement of Georgia Power from the City of Augusta. 2. The deficiencies of handicap accommodations in the City of Augusta, GA especially public buildings. Mr. Mayor: Ms. Tolbert, you can speak from that one there --- The Clerk: At this lectern right here. Mr. Mayor: --- from that microphone. Ms. Tolbert: Can you hear me? Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am, if you’ll state --- Ms. Tolbert: Clearly? Mr. Mayor: --- yes, very clearly, if you’ll state for the record your name and your address please. Ms. Tolbert: My name is Deborah C. Tolbert. I live at 1602 Johns Road, Apartment 8 in the Garden City of Augusta. Okay, I’m a little nervous if you could just bear with me. On or thth about December 13 or 14 I went down to Georgia Power to pay my gas bill. Upon arrival, I saw that the entire building was closed down even the drive through. I was not made aware that the building would be closing. I did receive in some of my bills some flyers indicating where I could pay my bill. Also I received a flyer saying I could sign up for a flat bill. But I was at a loss of what to do once the building itself was closed being handicapped on very limited in my activities, it’s actually a strain to be here today but bear with me by the grace of God I’ll make it through. Subsequently before I could even decide how to exchange this money order and try to pay this bill online or at Walmart and at that time I was not aware that you could pay it at Walmart, my electricity was turned off, no notice and no phone call in one of the coldest winters here in Augusta. It was off for approximately two weeks. After the two-week period Georgia Power took my deposits, paid on the bill, opened another account in my name. Georgia Power has closed its doors to consumers here in Augusta. It’s no longer a franchised entity. It cannot accept a franchise fee from its Augusta consumers unless it has a standing physical address in Augusta to accept payment and I did have some flyers here to support that. I’m not an expert. I’m a retired registered nurse but I do have common sense. If you go down to pay a bill that entity needs to be located in the city where you could pay that bill. You should not be expected to go to Walmart to pay the Georgia Power bill, be exposed to spending money there and in addition to that paying another fee to Walmart to pay Georgia Power’s bill and Georgia Power is still accepting a franchise fee. This is illegal and I expect that the lawyers here probably looked into this, I’m not sure. Also, Georgia Power needs to make better accommodations for the handicapped when they’re paying a bill. Unfortunately, everybody is not computer literate and I’m so happy that we’re moving in that field but some of us cannot keep up. We can’t remember passwords, user I.D. all of that in order to pay 7 our bills. We’re used to going down to that entity, paying their bill and going home with the assurance that my electricity will be on, I will have my CPAP to sleep at night. I must have five minutes and if you would look at the documents I gave Ms. Bonner, it will support my case. I also ask that you have the attorneys investigate it. I will entertain questions now. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Ms. Tolbert, I do want you to be aware that you have approximately a minute and 27 seconds --- Ms. Tolbert: Okay. Mr. Mayor: --- of time left in terms of your presentation if you have more you want to present. We’ll certainly take questions from the Commissioners. I want to give you all the time you need to you have another item you say the deficiencies of handicap accommodations in the City of Augusta. Do you want to speak to that issue? Ms. Tolbert: Yes, there is a deficiency of handicap and that literature is in the envelope here. I notice you’ve made strides but sometimes there will be a handicap sign and not an operational door itself for the handicapped. There will be, it needs to have accommodations for the sidewalks to take the wheelchair onto the sidewalk into the building and sometimes that is not possible. Sometimes people have a mental handicap and they can’t get on the computer to pay their bill but they can go down to that building to pay their bill. I should not have had my electricity turned off because Georgia Power had closed the building. Now I realize I was behind. I was in a car accident and I got a little behind I was trying to catch up. Every time I think I caught up, they charged me another deposit so and the only thing I’m asking is that Georgia Power look into this and you all look into it if Georgia Power can still be considered a franchise if they have no place here to pay that bill. Mr. Mayor: All right, I do believe that we have our Compliance Director here. I just want you to know who she is, Ms. Irving, would you please stand? It is her office that is working on ADA related matters in the City of Augusta. We are in fact making strides with regards to that and we’ll continue to do that going forward. She can be a resource for you as you’re engaging our public facilities. I do want to make sure that at the end of our time she connects with you and provides you with her contact information for any matter related to ADA issues and she’ll meet you in the rear here. I also want to note that Georgia Power is in fact a private entity. In June of 2017 they communicated publicly that they would be closing the Walton Way office as one of numerous offices across the great state of Georgia that they will be closing as they were shifting their businesses. As we know that they are one of the largest utility providers in the nation now providing both gas, solar, coal and nuclear power. And so they communicated that publicly in June of 2017 and then they officially closed that in October of 2017. Now I’m not a learned attorney by no stretch and it’s unfortunate what’s happened with regards to where you are right now. And I want you also to understand that the office closure, the local office closure has nothing to do with Augusta’s franchise agreement with Georgia Power. It has nothing to do with that whatsoever okay, it’s a totally separate issue. All right, I just want to share that with you. I’m not a learned attorney but I know generally how those agreements work and their local office closure has nothing to do with their franchise agreement with the City of Augusta, okay? All right --- 8 Ms. Tolbert: Can I ask you a question, Mayor? Mr. Mayor: --- I hope I can answer it. If not we’ll direct it to the right people who can. Ms. Tolbert: What is the franchise fee that we’re paying on our Georgia Power bill? What is that for? Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ll defer to the Administrator. Ms. Tolbert: Okay. Ms. Jackson: Generally, the concept of franchise fees is designed to reimburse the local government for any expenses associated with the maintenance of public rights of way that the utility may use and/or damage and therefore need to be repaired. So for instance their trucks are riding the roads and they’re on poles and so forth and the right-of-way that’s to insure that we can take care of any maintenance related items associated with their use of those public rights of way. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I’m going to take a question. The Chair recognizes the thnd Commissioner from the 9 and the Commissioner from the 2. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Tolbert, what you said made a lot of sense and I’d like to hear from a learned attorney that we’ve got that we pay here on staff about the franchise fee and does that have any bearing on this issue. And a simple yes or no answer. If it don’t, then I don’t need the history. I just need a yes or no answer. Mr. MacKenzie: Sure. The short answer is probably not. I would have to verify the facts (inaudible). I did look online of the Georgia Power website. They do have a physical office identified at 2103 Northlake Road. I don’t know if that’s available to take payments. Mr. M. Williams: Well, I understand that the closure came and they announced it like the Mayor said but the franchise fee also plays a role somewhere. But I’ve got a lot of cousins that goes downtown. They take their money straight to the office. They don’t go online, they don’t have a banking account, they don’t have a checking account. It’s not just with Georgia Power. I mean with Georgia Natural Gas. I mean all my cousins they take their money to the door and they pay their bill in the hands so they know it’s paid. Some people don’t some of them don’t even have a banking account but some kind of way they come up every month with that money to pay those bills. I understand Georgia Power’s a huge entity from (unintelligible) and Milledgeville to Waynesboro to the stuff they’re building down there. I understand that but you’ve got people who work hard every day who don’t have the necessary means as Ms. Tolbert said to go online and pay bills and to remember passwords and codes. I think in my opinion that we at least ought to have a conversation with them. They may not open up anything else but I think there’s a small segment of this community that still needs those places to go. Now maybe ya’ll haven’t been out there very often but I’ve been there several times and the lines sometimes is out the door but folks if they could go online and pay it they wouldn’t be down there in line but they’re in line because the people who don’t have computers and people who don’t probably have internet at all still have to pay their bill because they’ve got power that’s coming to their homes. So I think it’s very 9 unfortunate that it happened to Ms. Tolbert but I think it’s unique that it came before this body that we can check into this. I mean I accepted the closure because you know they said that’s what they’re doing but the franchise fee has any attachment to it as far as the citizens are concerned but we don’t need to let them just slide. I asked the Clerk to put something on the agenda about these exceptions that we do. We approve stuff and got an exception but them once they get approved nobody goes back to check it, nobody finds out are they still following the rules or not they’re just they do it so I would love to have something brought back, Mr. Andrew, for my information to know that it does or does not affect having a local office here where people can come. And it may be small but there ought to be something I think and if the franchise fee addresses that, Mr. Mayor, I would love to know that my cousin and them still can go pay their bill. nd Mr. Mayor: All right, we have a final question from the Commissioner from the 2. The nd Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2. Mr. D. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ma’am --- Ms. Tolbert: Yes --- Mr. D. Williams: --- were you not contacted by an official of Georgia Power --- Ms. Tolbert: --- yes, I was. Mr. D. Williams: --- that explained to you what needed to be done and they set up your emergency or whatever it is? Ms. Tolbert: Right. I did talk to a representative but at the time I was not able to, I was not able to meet with her. I was having some physical difficulties. Mr. D. Williams: But this would really come under the Public Services Commission. Ms. Tolbert: It wouldn’t come under the Commission? Mr. D. Williams: (inaudible). Mr. Tolbert: Oh, okay I thought it was related to the FTC as well but I could be mistaken like I say I’m not a lawyer or business person. I just want to be able to pay my bills like everybody else and have electricity and not be left in the cold. Mr. Mayor: So, all right, Ms. Tolbert, here’s what I suggest. Again from an ADA Compliance standpoint as you exit the chamber Ms. Irving is waiting for you and she is prepared to speak with you in regards to access into and out of our public facilities across this county. In addition to that what I would ask is if you would take the liberty to use that cellphone number that was provided to you from the Georgia Power representative and if you will then in turn call that representative. They are prepared to help you in every way possible. They are on standby waiting for you. 10 Mr. Tolbert: Okay, can I be assured that you will look into it again too a plant here so we can pay our bills? Would the Commission at least do that? Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, we’re going to do that. Ms. Tolbert: Okay thank you and thank you for your time and your service. Mr. Mayor: Ms. Irving, Ms. Irving as you speak with you and communicate with her, Mr. Campbell will be providing you with information with regards to onsite locations that Georgia Power and Georgia Power’s affiliate Atlanta Gas and Light they can go and pay. He’ll be having the information here shortly, okay? Thank you. Madam Clerk? The Clerk: I call your attention to the consent portion of our agenda. Mr. Mayor: Ms. Bonner, if you’ll suspend. Ms. Tolbert, Ms. Tolbert, Ms. Tolbert, okay Ms. Tolbert, you are able to pay your Georgia Power Bill at any Publix at any Kroger or any drugstore here in the great state of Georgia. You’re able to pay your bill. Mr. M. Williams: If it’s another location, there’s a fee, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: You’re able to pay your Georgia Power bill at any of those and of course you’re able to pay online, those are options. We’ll communicate the same to Mr. Campbell so we’ll have it in writing for you, Ms. Irving will share that information with you okay? Ms. Tolbert: (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: I understand all right, Mr. Campbell, he’ll communicate that information. Ms. Tolbert: (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: I understand, yes ma’am, you are, yes, ma’am. Madam Clerk? The Clerk: Our consent agenda consist of Items 1-31, Items 1-31. For the benefit of any objectors to any of our Planning petitions once those petitions are read would you please signify your objections by raising your hand. I call your attention to: Item 3: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone A (Agriculture) to a Zone HI (Heavy Industry) affecting property at 4220 Deans Bridge Road. Item 4: Is a request for a Special Exception for property located at 4260 Deans Bridge Road. Item 5: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone A (Agriculture) to a Zone HI (Heavy Industry) affecting property at 4338 through 4364 Deans Bridge Road. Item 6: Is a request for a Special Exception affecting property located at 4338 through 4364 Deans Bridge Road. 11 Item 7: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone R-MH (Manufactured Home Residential) to a Zone R-1E (One-family Residential) affecting property located at 2560 Overlook Drive, 2611 Overlook Drive and 2538 through 2566 Waterfront Drive. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those, you have an objection, ma’am, which item is it? Ms. Speaker: (inaudible) The Clerk: South of Deans Bridge Road properties, okay that’s Item number 3, 4 and 5 and 6 so we have objectors for those items. Our consent agenda consists of Items 1-31 with objectors for Items 3, 4, 5 and 6 of our Planning petitions. th Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would like to pull Items 2, 8 --- The Clerk: Wait just a minute 2 and 8? Mr. Sias: --- yes, ma’am and I request that we treat 2 and 8 as companion items. Also I would like to pull Item 21 and also would like to delete Item 34. Mr. Mayor: All right, could you repeat that concerning Item 21? Mr. Sias: Pull Items 2 and 8, request that they be treated as companion items, pull Item 21 and I need some questions answered on 21 and delete Item 34. Mr. M. Williams: (inaudible). th Mr. Mayor: Okay well yeah, well the Commissioner from the 9 is correct. It belongs to the body, I’ve heard that over and over again. But, Commissioner, to the Commissioner from the th 9 again direct to the Chair he is questioning that because there is a Pension Committee Meeting at 12:00 where this issue was addressed, it was addressed at that time as it should have been addressed. And again it came back this action is effectively already happened and it happened in concert with the Pension Committee Meeting which was scheduled already. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, in reading this I know that that is because I didn’t want to confuse or to think that you could just delete an item it has to have unanimous consent plus it belongs to the body once it’s on this agenda. Even though I understand the process and what had took place, I’m just trying to make, keep the rules keep the rules. Mr. Mayor: Absolutely I agree with that. Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got no problem, I mean I’m not going --- 12 Mr. Mayor: I wanted to add that clarification okay because I knew where you were going. th All right okay hold on just a second. I’m going to ask the Commissioner from the 4 to withdraw that caveat of 2 and 8, if you could let’s listen to those independently. They’re in similar code sections but let’s look at them independently if you don’t mind --- Mr. Sias: That’s fine. Mr. Mayor: --- pull both of them okay. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner th from the 9. Mr. M. Mayor: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, I’d like to pull Item 3, 4, 5, and 6. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. M. Williams: Item 7 if it hasn’t been pulled already. 8 I think because commissioner pulled 8 but that’s 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Mr. Mayor: Okay. All right so 2 through 8 pulled, 21 and delete 34. All right, the Chair th recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I don’t want to pull anything. I want to make a comment so I wanted, is it all right to make a comment now or you just want to deal with the pulling and what you’re consenting but it is around the pulls, you know, the comment I would like to make. Mr. Mayor: Well, it sounds like we’re going to have some debate on it so let’s just yield and leave it there. Mr. Hasan: Okay, all right. st Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, are you looking to add items to the consent agenda? Mr. Mayor: Sure. Mr. Fennoy: I’d like to add Item number 33 to the consent agenda. Mr. Mayor: All right. Mr. Hasan: I think we object, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: I don’t think the objection’s loud enough. Ms. Davis: Move to approve, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Frantom: Second. 13 CONSENT AGENDA PLANNING 1. FINAL LPLAT – MAYFAIR ON WALTON – S-873 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by H&C Surveying, on behalf of Mayfair on Walton LLC, requesting final plat approval for Mayfair on Walton. This residential subdivision is located at 3115 Walton Way and contains 10 lots. Reviewing agency approval 12-20-2017 DISTRICT 3 PUBLIC SERVICES 9. Motion to approve Augusta Aviation Commission’s selection of Newton & Associates, Inc. for the Airport Rates & Charges Consulting Services as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission November 30, 2017 (RFP 17-217). (Approved by the Public Services Committee January 9, 2018) 10. Motion to approve contract between Augusta Regional Airport and Delta Airlines as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission at their November 30, 2017 Meeting. (Approved by the Public Services Committee January 9, 2018) 11. Motion to approve Bid Award (17-286) to R.L. Wiley Electrical Contractors for the Airport Maintenance Building Renovations as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission November 30, 2017. (Approved by the Public Services Committee January 9, 2018) 12. Motion to approve (Bid Award 17-286) contract for services to install an epoxy floor system at the Augusta Regional Airport at a cost of $28,965 as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission November 30, 2017. (Approved by Public Services Committee January 9, 2018) 13. Motion to approve the Events Marketing Promotions Program with First Foundry. RFQ 17-184 (Approved by Public Services Committee January 9, 2018) 14. Motion to approve the purchase and acquisition of two (2) passenger boarding bridges from JBT Aero Tech Corporation (JBT) at a cost not to exceed $2,000,000 as approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission November 30, 2018) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 15. Motion to approve five (5) annual bid items. The items require Commission approval due to the fact that purchases on the individual items will exceed $25,000.00. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee January 9, 2018) 16. Motion to approve award of contract for design of an addition and renovations to the Augusta 911 Center to 2KM Architects of Augusta in the amount of $55,000.00. RFP 17-272 (Approved by Administrative Services Committee January 9, 2018) 17. Motion to approve Fix and Publish Qualifying Fees for 2018. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee January 9, 2018) 18. Motion to approve the renewal of the lease for the use of property located at the Navy Operational Support Center at 2869 Central Avenue for the term of 1 July 2018 through 30 June 2019. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee January 9, 2018) PUBLIC SAFETY 14 19. Motion to approve acceptance of a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council 2018 Supplemental Grant Award for Richmond County DUI and Veterans Court programs. (Approved by Public Safety Committee January 9, 2018) 20. Motion to approve a request from Ms. Joyce G. Law, Program Manager Delta House, Inc. Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History regarding authorizing Information Technology Department to create maps on property listed as Thompson Farms to support owner’s claim as a Centennial Family Farm awarded by GA Dept. of Natural Resources Historic Preservation. (Approved by Public Safety Committee January 9, 2018) 22. Motion to approve the purchase of two (2) Power Load Stretcher systems from Stryker Medical in the amount of $78,838.88. (Approved by Public Safety Committee January 9, 2018) FINANCE 23. Motion to approve designating the Canal Authority as applicant and project manager for a grant to the GA Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Fund for Certified Local Governments for the 2018 funding cycle. The grant will be for the th preparation of a preservation plan for the Trinity CME Church relocation project on 8 Street. (Approved by Finance Committee January 9, 2018) 24. Motion to approve a request from Mr. Patrick Feistel for an abatement of taxes for the Garden City Rescue Mission. (Approved by Finance Committee January 9, 2018) ENGINEERING SERVICES 25. Motion to approve funding for Design Consultant Services Supplemental Agreement Five to Pond and Company in the amount of $108,540.00 for the Berckmans Road Widening. Realignment and Bridge Replacement Project as requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee January 9, 2018) 26. Motion to approve a Deed of Dedication and Maintenance Agreement, for the water and sanitary sewer systems, from Mayfair on Walton, LLC. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee January 9, 2018) 27. Motion to approve a Deed of Dedication and Maintenance Agreement, for the water and sanitary sewer systems, from Sprint Food Stores, Inc. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee January 9, 2018) 28. Motion to approve a request for the installation of street lights on Bullock Avenue. This is also to approve a new lighting tax district for the 43 lots associated with the above road. Funding is available in the Street Lighting budget account #2760416105312310. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee January 9, 2018) 29. Motion to approve the installation of seventeen streetlights on Copse Drive and Ashley Loop at a cost of $137.86 per year. This is also to approve a new lighting tax district for the 45 lots associated with the above roads. Funding is available in the Street Lighting budget account #2760416105312310. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee January 9, 2018) 30. Motion to approve the installation of eleven street lights on Walker Creek Road and Horsepen Branch Court at a cost of $147.11 per year. This is also to approve a new lighting tax district for the 27 lots associated with the above roads. Funding is available in the Street Lighting budget account #2760413105312310. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee January 9, 2018) 15 PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 31. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Augusta Commission held January 2, 2018 and Special Called meeting held January 9, 2018. FINANCE 34. Move to approve having Mr. Rocky Joyner of GMEBS report back to the Augusta Commission on January 16, 2018 with the presentation on retirement benefits to achieve 2% multiplier. The previous request for a survey of employees is no longer needed and is hereby deleted from the presentation. (Requested by Commissioner Sammie Sias) Mr. Mayor: All right we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting. Mr. Jefferson out. Motion Passes 8-0. \[Items 1, 9-20, 22-31, 34\] Mr. Mayor: Item number 33. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 33. Motion to approve the Regency Mall location as the site for the new civic center and to reject the deal for its construction with the continuation of negotiations along with the establishment of a timeframe of 45 calendar days for action, a committee with named participants who will continue with the negotiations and the identification of a funding process/source. (No recommendation from Public Services Committee January 9, 2018) Mr. M. Williams: So moved. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Mr. Hasan: May I make a substitute motion, Mr. Mayor? th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir, I’d like to make a substitute motion. Motion to reject the proposal to build the arena at the Regency Mall location and to request the Coliseum Authority to recommend another site. Ms. Davis: Second. Mr. Mayor: A motion, a substitute motion and a second. The Chair recognizes the th Commissioner from the 9. 16 Mr. M. Williams: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, there was some discussion I think needs to be had and I’ve got no problem moving to another site if someone can show me another site. Now we done asked the Coliseum Authority to do something that we’re not able to do I guess and can somebody say why? Can somebody give me a good explanation as to why it’s not a good site and I may be able to change my views and you know my outlook on it as well but I’m hearing that there’s some issues that being with the site. Now I know some issues with the deal but I hadn’t heard the issues with the site. I want to know why there’s an issue with the site. I said with the media earlier there, Mr. Mayor, if I was going to New York I wouldn’t get up and start driving. I’d make a determination where I was going, what location I was going. I was going to Brooklyn, going to Queens. I was going to someplace particular I wouldn’t know exactly where I was headed before I just got up and start driving. So, the location is what we have been talking about and the location is in my mind and in my views, I’m not an expert by no means but the infrastructure’s there, the roadway is there, egress is there everything we need, room is there. There has not been anybody that proposed another location so can somebody help me understand why this location, not the deal, but this location is not good, anybody. Tasha, you can help me out I don’t care just somebody needs to just share something with me. th Mr. Mayor: Okay, I think the Commissioner from the 10 wants to try to take a stab at that and if he’ll direct it to the Chair. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the th 10. Mr. G. Smith: We’ll go over and steal the ball team from North Augusta if you want to. No, seriously I appointed a couple of people on the Coliseum Authority and I think they’re doing a fine job and they paid money to have a team come in and give them locations and certain sites. This site was like four down the list and these guys on there I trust are all born and raised here in Augusta except one he’s in North Carolina. But you know I trust their opinion. They’re businessmen. They have been connected with the entertainment business and certain other private businesses I think show that they are qualified to make a decision. And you know I told them to come up with something concrete and let us know what to do. Check back with their (inaudible) and get them to print out their findings and let’s everybody see it, put it on the video down there. And you know I grew up right down about a mile from that area when I was young and I hated to see Regency Mall go but the crowd hung around down there and everything and made it kind of impossible for folks, good honest hardworking folks, to do business. The only reason why they didn’t bother me I had a little Maxon Radio for my business and they all thought I was a policeman but anyway said if they ever find out they’re going to kill you. But the thing about it is I see it and I’m listening to those guys say and so and I’ve got folks I represent out in District 8, folks I represent out there in District 7 and 3 so you know I’m kind of either way. I won’t be going to any of that stuff anyway by the time they get it through, I’ll be my mid 70’s and so let’s the millennium folks take a pick, they’ll be paying for it and they’ll be the ones that goes see Prince and all the rest of the guys. Prince, oh that’s right. I’m sorry I liked him a lot. I don’t keep up (unintelligible). But anyway I tell you what. They enjoyed it. I watched the half-time show the other day and it’s just a different world now. And now I know how my Daddy when James Brown was singing in my bedroom come back there and say turn that music off and I said to him but it was always up as loud as it could go. That radio would be jumping on the desk. But anyway, you know, that’s what I see, Marion, I could go either way. 17 st Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, we have a Coliseum Authority that’s in place. The representatives on the Coliseum Authority have been appointed by our legislative delegation and this Commission. I think that if we’re going to have a Coliseum Authority then we need to respect the decisions that the Coliseum Authority makes even though those decisions may not necessarily be popular with this Commission these are the decisions that they make. I think that to direct the Coliseum Authority or any authority that’s an authorized authority of this government is beyond our duties and responsibilities. If we’re going to tell them what to do then why do we need them in the first place? We could do the job ourselves. So, in the past I’ve tried to be supportive of the airport and the recommendations that they bring forward to us, the Planning Commission and the recommendations that they bring to us and all the recommendations that the boards and authorities bring before us for approval. I try to be supportive of their recommendations even though some of them I don’t always agree with. But these are the people that we have put in place and I think that we need to respect the decision that they make or if we can’t trust them to make the right decision we replace them. If we’re going to interfere with the decisions that they make then just do away with the whole authority. But that’s my take on it, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: Yeah, some very valid points. I think the Commissioner from the 10 just indicated that he trusts them. He trusts in the decisions they made and I think the last time I th checked they made a decision. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. st Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I completely agree with my colleague from the 1 --- Mr. Fennoy: Thank you, sir. Mr. Sias: --- and if that’s the case why would the agenda item be there, number one. We should not be saying we’re going to approve a site and then work on a deal. You approve a site, you’ve lost your leverage. How can you negotiate for someone you’ve already illegally committed to go there? I have a problem with that. If the Coliseum Authority I would expect that they would st be in that view but what my colleague from the 1 said and we should receive a complete package from the Coliseum Authority, vote it up or down. We’re here talking about splitting half and half; we approved this, we negotiate that. So again I think my colleague from the first nailed it. We shouldn’t be in it. It would be my view we give it back to the Coliseum Authority and let them work on it and bring a complete package. That’s my say, Mr. Mayor, thank you. Mr. Mayor: All right --- Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got a problem, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: --- okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: You mentioned the Coliseum Authority having to look forward to bring us a complete package say they don’t have the negotiating authority, they’re not a state regulated authority. This is the local authority we put together through the state legislature that have an appointment and we had an appointment. But they already spoke, they already said now they 18 didn’t say they didn’t like the deal. We said we didn’t like the deal so if we don’t like the deal I can understand that. Now someone said we’ll you’re going to give up your leverage if you say you want the site. We can do eminent domain. We need to pick the site. There’s a lot of tools in the toolbox that we hadn’t used yet that would be very effective if we needed too but I don’t understand why we can’t at least get one of the two things at least get the site located. And it’s not just necessarily the site. It’s the perfect site but then just think what it’s going to do for the City of Augusta if we build something of that magnitude there. Now if you just put one building there it’s not going to work. Mr. Mayor, you had a rendering that you got drawn up and it just changed the whole dynamics of that whole area. Retail stores and restaurants are going to come because you’ve got rooftops out there and you put traffic. They need that destination point; that’s when the restaurants follow that. We all got stoves in our kitchen whether we use them or not then. We can cook our own steaks or the steakhouse ain’t coming because we’ve got rooftops. We need to create a destination point where folks are going to visit and come and the restaurants and stuff will follow that. Somebody said that the Sixth and Watkins is not open. If that was the case, why is Sixth and Watkins closed. What that tells me is there’s something wrong with the location then because Sixth and Watkins was right there at the arena we’ve got and it ain’t doing it. That tells me right there something’s wrong. So why don’t we just be open minded enough, that bus tour Reverend Ivey talked about it’s already ought to be taking place in our minds right now. We ought to be able to see the Regency Mall site as the perfect site to build something of that magnitude. Now you know we didn’t even mention the name of James Brown. The whole time I’ve been elected I’ve been talking about a James Brown museum, a James Brown festival but until we talk about moving that site ain’t nobody even thought about James Brown who’s known all over the world. Tell me what city would not want to build something that’s going to attract people for a man that everybody that knows anything about music knows and would love to come to a facility that’s got his name on it. I’m embarrassed about the so-called James Brown Arena now. There’s nothing, zero inside got one sign outside, Mr. Mayor, that somebody wrote that says James Brown but inside there’s not even one picture. So if we want to do the things that Ms. Tolbert talked about the sidewalk we need economic dollars to come in. We need to do something innovative, we need to think outside the box, we need to do some stuff different. Now it don’t take no rocket scientist to figure that out and this is about what’s right and doing the right thing. The deal I still agree it needs to be worked on but the site is the perfect site. Nobody has come up the Coliseum Authority, no Commissioner, no Clerk, no Administrator, no lawyers, no firemen, police, nobody has come up with a better site so I’m wondering what are we going to do? Tear the old one down and keep it down for two or three years and build it back in the same spot between two railroad tracks? That don’t make good sense to me now. So I need to know (APPLAUSE) --- Mr. Mayor: Hold your applause, hold your applause. Mr. M. Williams: --- I need to know, Mr. Mayor, why this site is not good. Something ain’t right. My grandpa said something in the milk ain’t clean now. I need to see it; I need somebody to tell me something. I don’t understand it. Now if it was the wrong site but it’s the best place, I ain’t saying the deal, the best site the best site to build this facility, Mr. Mayor. And, Madam Clerk, you know what to do now I mean it’s automatic I’m putting in on automatic right now. However this vote goes I ain’t got much but I’ve got authority to put something on this agenda and I’m going to keep it on this agenda one way or the other. 19 th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, this whole arena thing naturally had the support of the majority of these Commissioners. This whole thing started off wrong from the beginning; in a nutshell the way it’s been handled has been handled wrong. What you’re going to have to do is look out. I don’t know how many business people are in here or how many investors are in here but it falls down on simple economics. Is it feasible to put every taxpayer at risk in this city or was it the intent to even let the voters have a say so where their arena goes? That’s never been mentioned. Financials has never been mentioned even though the Coliseum Authority, if you look at the offer from the Cardinal’s, it shows that the arena had obligation from a triple net lease for the lifetime of that building to repaving, to relighting and to do the relighting you’ve got to tear up that concrete, well, the asphalt because there’s no concrete underneath it. And if there was concrete underneath it it’s actually going to cost more. The numbers that was trashed that was gathered by actually people in the profession was actually conservatively low. But what you have to do is look at it like this. You’re going to put an arena in an area that’s open 52 times a year. That’s less than two months a year, Mr. Mayor. In in other words every week you’re going to have a like a Bass Pro Shop that’s open for 6-hours a day. Again like I told former Commissioner Moses Todd, will it abolish blight? No. Will it attract new retail? No. Will it attract a restaurant? No. This is, I think it’s more of a feeling than looking at it from an economic standpoint. What you’re going to have to do is look at what is feasible to put at Regency Mall. We have developers that’s willing to talk with the owner of Regency Mall. You have Jim Hull, Will McKnight as well as Clay Boardman who is successful in that. I’m not successful in that area and neither is anybody behind this dais. So before I put these taxpayers at risk where to come up with another charge of GO Bond or whatever the heck we’re going to call it, let’s do it right. The coliseum failed to do their job when they presented us this offer of Regency Mall. There was no numbers attached to it, there was no negotiation with the owners of Regency Mall. The only way they knew how to negotiate which is their words not mine, unorthodox way of negotiating because they had to look at the newspaper, the mainstream media to see what the Commissioners was complaining about and then they’ll send in another offer. Is this the way we want to do business? No. So, Mr. Mayor, at this point let’s call for the question and let’s get this over with. Thank you. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Let me make one thing clear. That’s what I said from the first time I heard about this whole issue. I actually thought Regency Mall was a good site, however, I have never ever consented to the deal that’s been presented and I will not. There has to be a deal that makes sense for the taxpayers of the City of Augusta. I’ve said this repeatedly; I’ve said it publicly repeatedly. So, I don’t know about everybody’s milk but mine is crystal clear. Now if you’re going to have a good deal the good deal will be the site but you can’t, you can’t cut that in half. So as long as we don’t have a good deal or a deal that is favorable to the citizens of Augusta Richmond County I can’t support that. Bottom line in no way shape, form or fashion and that is the same consistent position that I’ve taken all along. The present deal and I don’t blame anybody I’m just talking about what the deal is. The deal is a rip off for the citizens and the taxpayers of Augusta Richmond County whether the developers intended for it to be that that’s not my point, whether we intended for it to be that, that’s not my point. This past Saturday I went over that deal 20 line by line. That deal doesn’t work for me; it doesn’t work for the citizens I believe. We cannot put ourselves in that kind of debt for that kind of deal. That has always been my position and that will continue to be my position until we get something that makes sense I can’t support it. Thank you, sir. st Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’m going to say this and I’m not going to say anything else on the Regency Mall except to cast my vote. I have always supported the mall location as the best site for the James Brown Arena. I have never supported the “deal”. And that will continue be my issue until Commissioner Williams decides to no longer put this on the agenda. But I also would like to point out that I think the Regency Mall has been closed for 30-plus years and the developers th that the distinguished Commissioner from the 8 just mentioned have had opportunities to decide or come up with something that’s best for that area. And my concern is that why at the last minute when this site is being considered for an arena are we talking about this will be the best location for something else but you can’t tell me what that something else is. I’m ready to vote, Mr. Mayor, and again --- Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I think those are all very, very salient points. I’ve heard the th Commissioner from the 10 indicate that he trusts the businessmen that are appointed to the Coliseum Authority. He knows them, all of them from Augusta except one and believes in their ability to make the decision, a decision which they did make but now is about to be rejected for the third time. Mr. M. Williams: I have a question, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: I know, I know, I know. The Commissioner from the 8 said something that I think is quite profound that this has been handled wrong from the beginning and as I listened to that I asked myself that had any other site been chosen but this one would Susan McCord and Sylvia Cooper and Damon Kline and Joe Whiting, Metro Spirit or anybody else for that matter have written consistently sometimes four times a week, most times at a minimum two times a nd week, from August the 22 until most recently they haven’t about much about any other site been chosen. And when any of the folks south of Gordon Highway even complain and/or murmur and the likelihood of that one, John Clark, is very low, very low. It’s rhetoric this notion about dividing the city, I don’t think we’d be hearing anything about that because the good folks who live south of Gordon Highway they just don’t do that. They don’t mobilize the paper and decide that there are not going to be any positive articles written. They just don’t do that. But the Commissioner th from the 8 said something that was pretty significant he said why have we not said we’re going to let the people decide, let the people decide what site we choose. I think that is an outstanding idea. I think it’s an idea that this body needs to give strong consideration to that. There is an election coming up in May and the people quite frankly, if the appropriate measures are put in place, this could be put on the ballot where the people of Augusta decide where we build it. I think that’s something that I certainly am not afraid of. I think several of you were at a meeting a couple of weeks ago, I did not attend that I was not able to in fact I was not able to attend the Commissioner th’s from the 4 breakfast on this past Saturday in fact I missed it for the last two months, I’ve been 21 not able to be there because of other related matters. But it certainly could happen and it could be put on the ballot and the citizens of Augusta could decide. That could happen. Mr. Hasan: Let me ask you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: And not only could that happen but I would encourage that if consideration is given to that do the same thing that the folks in Savannah did. I’ve seen it all over Facebook where they’re talking about they’re going to build an arena in Savannah. The one that they’re building in Savannah is if you would take it and do a comparative analysis where they’re building it is effectively in a similar location to what we’re talking about right here if you were to look at it. I’ve had conversations with their elected officials down there. In 2013 they had bond referendum on the ballot where the citizens decided they were going to fund that and we could certainly take the same approach. None of those things are things I’m afraid of. Ms. Bonner, I was asked this question and I think it’s certainly appropriate everybody keeps asking me who’s going to run against the Mayor, who’s going to run against the Mayor. I don’t make decisions about my passion for this city based on whether I’m going to get reelected or not. Those are the least of my concerns and this certainly holds true in this case as well. But from day one when I was asked to engage in this discussion and I think many of you heard about how I was asked to be engaged in this discussion, could you all attend a meeting that I was again not able to attend, I shared with the person who asked me that I said, you know, I’m not interested or worried about reelections. When you make decisions about opportunities to reconnect our city you make them on the basis of what the impact it potentially could have to change the lives of current Augustans and future generations th. of Augustans. And so I want to applaud the Commissioner from the 8 You said that. I think that’s an outstanding idea and all those sites could be ranked, put on there, they could have a series of meetings, discussions about it and let the folks decide, I don’t have a problem with that. All right, I’m going to go in this order because you were in fact last and then I’ll circle back around, th okay? All right, I’m going to recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 then I’ll go to the thth Commissioner from the 6 and then to the 8. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, my question is how do we get this on the ballot? It wouldn’t be binding but how do we get the process moved forward to where this body I guess --- Mr. Hasan: (inaudible) Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Well, that’s not true. I think that is true, you could do it that way but I also know that if we were to reach out to our elections officials if there’s going to be a bond attached to this and we don’t know what that number is, at least I don’t know what that number is in terms of building it. The citizens, I’m going to use the Savannah example. I think in their referendum it was $146 million dollars. They’ve now put more money in, it’s about $160 million-dollars, and it’s smaller than the one we’re proposing. They’re talking about 9,000 seats and we’re talking about twelve. Then I think that what we could in fact do is again put the sites on there as a question on the May ballot and you put it on all of the ballots and then you attach also to that question an amount that we get from the Coliseum Authority and you just vote it up or down. I think you do that and that gives you an opportunity, it gives us an opportunity, it gives us an opportunity to the degree that there as those that suggest this is issue has divided our city. Perhaps this is a very noble way to recollect and bring our city into this discussion is a tangible way that allows them the 22 way in and have their voices said. And if that were to happen I’m going to be satisfied whatever happens. Whatever that looks like I’m going to be satisfied. All right, that’s your question I’m th going to the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I asked Ms. Bailey there last week about what it would take to get it on the ballot and she did say the Democratic party and Republican party would have to agree. So, you convene, get them to convene their committee, their steering committee I guess to come up with that immediately. Also, the information has to be in at the deadline of qualifying time and th at this point would be March the 9. She said that the end of the qualifying time for reelection th which would be March the 9 that information has to be approved to be on the ballot. So but both parties would have to agree to have it on there so you can reach out to them. Now the part I do disagree with because there would be no negotiation at that time when you just mentioned Savannah, Savannah as I understand it has a I think it’s the Barrett-Cooper or what have you that is the same I think they changed the name recently or they merged with someone they have, they have the same consultant group that our Coliseum Authority has here as well so no negotiation has been done thus far about any sites to what it’s going to look like. My point in saying that is that I’d rather for just the sites be on there and not the bond issue be on that at this time until we can see what that’s going to look like. But we’ll know at that time, we know what site it is, we just move forward. So we can’t but a number to it right now but in terms of an actual consultant it is the exact same consultant that Savannah has right now. And to your point you’re absolutely right. Savannah is looking at a 9,000 arena and right now they started out at and the 9,000 arena was going to be $90 million-dollars, it jumped to a $140 million-dollars and now it’s over a $160 million-dollars so it’s going to be hard for us to look at that number like that. So I encourage you if that’s what you want to do, we put it on the ballot. We get the public, we need to move fast and get that and put that on the ballot but not the bonding. Mr. Mayor: So to have a non-binding, hold on, to have a non-binding item on the ballot you will go to each of the parties to have a binding decision. This body could move to do it if we attach the bond to it, okay? If a bond was attached to it then this body could attach the bond and the sites to it or this body could inquire the legislature, legislative delegation and ask them to simply just put the item on the ballot if you wanted it to be done singularly with just the sites. Mr. Hasan: But with just the sites I think is appropriate at this time. I think just the sites; I don’t have a problem with that. Mr. Mayor: Well, if we did that and I think the approach I would rather have is just have the legislative delegation put it on the ballot. Yeah let’s let the legislative delegation put it on the ballot. Mr. Hasan: Well, we ought to track both ways, Mr. Mayor, because, I’m sorry Mr. Mayor can I continue? 23 Mr. Mayor: Continue, yeah. Mr. Hasan: I think since you, I think as your last couple years in the senate and I don’t know, you can correct me on this, they had a unanimous consent position on your delegation so if one person dissent then we won’t be able to get that even from them so we ought to look at both angles to see can we get you know the Democrat and Republic parties as well that way we have our chances much greater to get it on the ballot if that’s what you want to proceed to do. Mr. Mayor: Okay, I think that’s certainly appropriate. We could do both yeah, parallel paths, we could do both just one parallel path and have it on the ballot. Okay, all right I’m going th to recognize the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor, I support the idea of putting it on the ballot for the folks, but I guess one thing we need to make clear. You still have to get a deal so let’s not fool anybody now, let’s th not fool anybody with that. And also, my colleague from the 6 has said he has agreed with that so if he’s willing to withdraw his substitute I will make one for the ballot. Mr. Hasan: Well, let me say this here let me say that to his point if you don’t mind. Mr. Mayor: Sure. Mr. Hasan: To your point I think you’re absolutely right. I think, Mr. Mayor, if you’re going to consider based on what we have not thus far and I’m asking an opinion if we can as a body we’re making progress so we can agree on this. If we’re going to consider because of, here’s what’s happened, Mr. Mayor, let me share this. When we were over there Commissioner Fennoy, myself, Dennis Williams and Commissioner Sias at the Coliseum Authority meeting on the end of November, one of the questions that was said to the attorney there sir, Coliseum Authority attorney about who was doing the negotiations and he said you know some (unintelligible) was negotiating over the top of him he wasn’t sure what have you. So my point if we’re going to consider putting the Regency Mall on there we ought to allow, we ought to suggest to the Coliseum Authority that that consultant they have on hand needs to be talking to the owners because we don’t want to choose that site like you say don’t have no idea and we play right into the owners’ hand. Now nobody in here and I see many property owners in here and you know you don’t do land speculation like that so those consultants if they’re going to be considered they need to be start talking to the Cardinale family if we’re able to get this on the ballot and we not be at the mercy of them just because the site has been chosen by the general public. Protect the public, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Yeah I agree with that. I agree with all of those very salient points as well. And I think that that’s a communication that we will we can send forward as well, I think that’s th absolutely correct. Okay all righ,t so the Commissioner from the 4 is asking you to withdraw your substitute. Mr. Hasan: I’ll withdraw it, Mr. Mayor, if he’s going to put another motion of the table. Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right I’m going --- 24 Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible). th Mr. Mayor: --- Commissioner from the 4 if you’ll suspend and yield to the Commissioner th from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, I actually during committee last week I had talked some of the colleagues about doing a straw vote and I had to figure a solution because it was not that easy. And so I got this from our election board, the political parties, this is for a straw vote, a non- nd partisan election come May 22. The political parties are allowed by law to put straw vote nd questions on their party’s ballot during the primary. The primary this year is on May 22 2018. th The deadline for the parties to submit a straw vote question for the ballot is March 9 at noon. Remember though they would most likely need to convene a meeting to get the members or executive boards’ approval before they entertain putting the question on the ballot. Also remember there’s a prerogative whether they want to put a straw vote question on a ballot. Each party decides for themselves. Democrat party is Mtesa Wright Chairman. On the Republic side it’s Paul Sterett. Now last week I was coming up, trying to come up with a solution, sir, and we should have three questions, straw vote questions. Number one, do we want the arena at Regency Mall? Simple answer yes or no. Do we want the arena downtown? Simple answer yes or no. Third question, do nd we want an arena at all? Simple answer yes or no. I believe that’ll, at that point come May 22 it tells us if this body needs to even move forward in any direction because if we don’t have the consensus of the people, the voters, the people we work for, there’s no reason for us to move forward at that moment. I think by trying to put a bond referendum out there in other words we’re going to buy a house, we’re going to ask for money, but we ain’t found the house yet. I believe that’ll be a mistake and that’s the way the people are going to perceive it. I believe that by doing a straw vote it puts it in a simple way or a simplicity in your words, Mr. Mayor, way of doing things. That way we find out what the people want. Apparently between the ten of us as well as the six on the Coliseum Board we can’t seem to get any direction so hopefully my colleague will make a motion to do a straw vote that way we need to see if it’s only three or four months away and see if we need to move forward and in which direction we need to go, plain and simple. Thank you. th’s Mr. Mayor: All right, I think that the Commissioner from the 6 position to run parallel paths should be given consideration too in terms of being able to accomplish getting it on the ballot. I think both of those ought to be given consideration too with regards to what we’re discussing so that you don’t lose, you don’t lose the opportunity to get it on the ballot okay? All right, so you withdraw your --- Mr. Hasan: Yes. Mr. Mayor: --- okay you withdraw the substitute. All right, I’m going to let you frame th that Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Frantom: Are you finished (unintelligible). Mr. Mayor: All right, do you want to ask that question now, Commissioner? 25 Mr. Frantom: So we’re putting three things on the ballot, two things on the ballot? I mean where are we going because it’s obviously the support’s there and I support that to let the citizens decide. I just was disappointed because it’s going to fracture this community even more the way I feel. Mr. Mayor: But I don’t think you do that. I think you again put all the sites on there and give the people an opportunity to decide. Mr. Frantom: And no site? Commissioner Guilfoyle said no site no arena at all so you’re going to put no arena then you’ll put all sites on there? Mr. Mayor: Again I’m not suggesting you don’t, that you do that I’m just thinking, we started this conversation about putting the sites and letting the people decide and all of us, all of us at that point walk away from it and say this is what the people have said, they’ve spoken we’re going to live with it. Mr. Frantom: Do we agree that it doesn’t come back on the Commission agenda again? Mr. Mayor: I don’t have a problem with that. Mr. Frantom: And if we don’t, can we state that we don’t do delegations in front of us or do we have to agree to let delegations of support of this site, that site? I mean frankly, I mean this needs to over. I mean good, up, down wherever we’re going to pick but I mean is there a way for us not to have supporters of each one coming in front of us or do we have to allow that? Mr. Mayor: Well, I think what we do at this point is when we agree and affirm that we’re going to put locations that were provided on the ballot and we’re going to allow the citizens of Richmond County to decide on a location, plain and simple. Plain and simple. Mr. Sias: I’m getting ready, thank you, Mr. Mayor, I getting ready to work on this frame but I just need a question answered. I don’t know if the attorney is aware of this but I’m going to nd. ask anyway. This is a non-partisan election on May 22 Generally parties are not involved in that so is there any, is it against state law or it is allowed by state law for a local municipality or a local county government to put a non-binding resolution on a non-partisan ticket? Mr. Mayor: All right, why don’t we do this. Ms. Bailey, if you’re watching in on this would you please come downstairs? Mr. Hasan: You’re looking up, Mr. Mayor. You think mighty highly of her. Mr. Mayor: Ms. Bailey, if you’re watching please come downstairs. Mr. Hasan: Are you texting her, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: No, I’m not texting her. 26 Mr. Hasan: You got her, Ms. Bonner? Mr. Mayor: Okay so Commissioner he’s been planning all the whole while, he been planning this the whole time. All right let’s do this right here we’ll stand at ease for five-minutes, we’ll stand at ease for five-minutes. Mr. Sias: And once you get that answer I’ll be ready I have my motion ready to be framed. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, we’ll stand at ease for five-minutes. Okay all right, we’re going to reconvene. Here’s our posture. We have our Board of Elections Executive Director Ms. Lynn Bailey on the phone. We’re going to give her an opportunity to explain to us what our options are from a balloting standpoint. We also with us Travis Doss who’s in, he’s her deputy who is here and will be able to answer any additional questions beyond that for clarity’s sake for brevity. But we will yield. Madam Clerk, if we can get Ms. Bailey on. She’s on the line muted. Ms. Bailey? Ms. Bailey: Yes. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Ms. Bailey, if you could at this time explain to this body what our options are with regards to a balloting initiative related to an arena site for the City of Augusta. Ms. Bailey: Yes, I’m sorry I couldn’t hear you very well but we have, we were discussing how to get a straw vote question on the ballot, is that what I’m being asked? The Clerk: Yes. Ms. Bailey: Okay well, there’s only one way to do that and that would be for each of the political parties to agree to allow it to be put on their primary ballot in May. Now you have to understand that each political party has its own prerogative whether or not they’ll allow that on their ballot. And their choice to put a question like that on the ballot would be independent one from the other. Just also so you’ll be aware of the timeline any questions that any straw vote questions that the parties want the Board of Elections to put on the ballot would have to be submitted to the Board of Elections at the time the parties would qualify their candidates. And so th that would be March the 9 at noon would be the deadline and you would have to allow time for the parties to convene their executive committees to take a vote on whether or not they would want to put the matter on the ballot. Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Bonner, can you, okay, I’m going to give her a question. The Clerk: The Mayor has a question for you. Ms. Bailey: Okay. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Ms. Bailey, outside of the straw poll or vote on either of the partisan ballots what other option is there for this body to place in front of the registered voters this item of building an arena at a location, what other option is available to us? 27 Ms. Bailey: I’m not aware of any option that would allow for any type of non-binding question to go on a ballot. The questions that we typically get say from the General Assembly are presented to us pursuant to some statutory regulation such as changing the Charter of the City of Augusta when they change the way vacancies are filled for instance or in fact when the vote itself for Consolidation was called. Other ways that things get on the ballot questions get on the ballot are through other statutory regulations that allow for a SPLOST then General Obligation Bonds then matters that the governing authority are authorized by resolution to put on a ballot. Outside of that, though, I am really not aware of any vehicle to get a ballot a question like that on a ballot. Mr. Mayor: Okay, Ms. Bailey, then the follow up question is this, in the event that there is a bond attached to this would that provide opportunity to get it on the ballot? Ms. Bailey: Lena, could you repeat that question? Mr. Mayor: All right, the question is if a bond were attached to this is that a way to get it on the ballot. Ms. Bailey: Oh, --- The Clerk: Okay, Lynn you got that, if a bond is attached to question can it be placed on the ballot? Ms. Bailey: --- I don’t think the straw vote part can be put on the ballot. In other words I don’t know that you could say you know we’re going to issue a bond in ‘x’ amount with a vote up or down from the voters and will you please keep where you would want it. I don’t know that the non-binding part could be included in there. Now certainly I suppose that the, and legal would need to be consulted on this, but there’s most definitely a way to get a GO bond question on there and if the bond question could be worded in such a way as to be location specific then I guess one could be tied to other but it would have to be a specific yes/no question that would be bonding. Mr. Mayor: Okay, so Attorney MacKenzie, in the event that that were the question or a question, all right so if the question were shall, I hate doing this shall the, shall the City of Augusta adopt a GO bond not to exceed $200 million-dollars for the purpose of building a multi-purpose facility at a downtown, at the existing downtown location, question one. Question two, same question at the Regency Mall location, I don’t know. Mr. MacKenzie: I think that’s possibly permissible so long as it met the statutory requirements that each one independently would be binding. Typically though that’s not done that way. There’s usually only one question done because you’re trying to maximize an opportunity to get an approved item. See you wouldn’t have two competing items you would work in such a way that you basically say do you want a yes or no. Now you could put a specific location on it but generally there’s not two questions like that it’s just one. Ms. Bailey: If I understood you correctly you’re asking whether the location can be tied to the bond? 28 Mr. Mayor: Yes. Ms. Bailey: The idea again I would say that that’s something we’d want legal to look into to see if it can work that way. Typically GO bonds are going to be based on a you know a monetary value and then the years in which it’ll be paid off and the matter it pertains specifically to the issuance and paying back of the bond. I’ve never seen it where there a precinct or, excuse me a location tied to it. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, you’re complicating this. We’re not going to do the bonding part of it now. Mr. Guilfoyle: It might be simpler just to do the straw vote now. Mr. Hasan: Keeping it simple. Mr. Mayor: No, I’m not trying to complicate it. I just want Ms. Bailey to answer the questions so I want to make sure we fully understand what our options are. Okay, the Chair th recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to provide a substitute motion to present motion that’s on the floor that has a --- Mr. Mayor: Okay, suspend for a moment. Do you want it now or? Ms. Jackson: I can. I just wanted to let you know I just received a text message from Commissioner Jefferson he’s asking that he be contacted so that he can vote on this issue if it does come to a vote. Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right. Mr. Hasan: Tell him we’re doing better with him out so that might’ve been the lucky charm because we were doing pretty, I told Dennis Williams Commissioner Williams I said that’s the key to getting something done with Commissioner Jefferson out so don’t call him in. Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Bonner, can we get him on the line, can we get Jefferson on the line? Mr. Guilfoyle: Don’t we need a motion first? The Clerk: What phone number did he give you? Mr. Mayor: He’s on his mobile phone. All right, I’m going to go back to the Commissioner th from the 4. 29 Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Move that we provide a non-binding resolution on the 22 May 2018 general election ballot to approve a site location for a new arena from the following locations: current location downtown or Regency Mall location Gordon Highway. Mr. Hasan: Second. Mr. Fennoy: Roll call, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Sias: I need to restate my motion. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 --- Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: --- he’ll restate his motion. Mr. Sias: --- with the permission of the body, I’d like to restate my motion. Request that, the City of Augusta request that each party general party in Augusta, Republican and Democratic parties, provide a resolution on the 22 May 2018 general election ballot to approve a site location for a new arena from the following locations, current location downtown or Regency Mall location, Gordon Highway. And before a second, Mr. Mayor, Mr. MacKenzie, did that cover it? Mr. MacKenzie: Yes. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay, everybody suspend, Travis is --- Mr. MacKenzie: My co-counsel is saying it has to be a yes or no question. Mr. Sias: It can’t be a choice question. Mr. Mayor: Travis? Mr. Doss: It can be a multiple question, you can have more than one question, you can say if you want it to be at the Regency Mall yes/no or if you want it at downtown yes/no. However, if they answer yes to both of then you haven’t really gotten much of an answer but it’s not, it’s not, it’s not a multiple-choice type of question. For a straw, for an opinion poll question it has to be posed in such a way that the only answers are yes or no. Mr. Sias: Okay, can I go with, Mr. Mayor, if I may? Mr. Mayor: Continue. Mr. Sias: Mr. Travis, if I just, if we said with the two things downtown yes or no, Regency Mall yes or not, would that fit the bill? 30 Mr. Doss: It would fit as far as if you’re asking the parties to put two separate questions on the primary ballot. Mr. Sias: Okay, so I need --- Mr. Doss: But then you run the possibility of getting two positive or two negative answers. Mr. Sias: --- Mr. Mayor, if I would, I think Mr. Travis understands what we’re saying so could I speak through your voice with that motion? And you say it and I agree and then it’s my motion. Mr. Doss: Do I get put in the minutes for that? Mr. Sias: No, sir. Mr. Mayor: So, Travis, could you work with our attorney and figure out what that should sound like and look like? Let’s make sure we get it right. Mr. Doss: Don’t like to read my reading, no. The Clerk: No, put your, you modify it. Mr. Doss: Well it needs to be, the May 22 general primary because it’s not an election it’s a general primary ballot and if you want to put the two sites on there then you’re asking the parties to pose two questions one with the new arena should be at downtown yes/no --- The Clerk: Read the motion like (inaudible). nd Mr. Doss: --- okay. It says, to provide a non-binding resolution on the 22 May 2018 general primary ballot to approve a site location for a new arena at the current location downtown yes or no. Question number two, approve a site location for the new arena for the Regency Mall location located at Gordon Highway yes or no. Mr. Sias: Exactly what I said, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Hasan: I second that for Travis. Mr. Mayor: All right --- Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Travis. Mr. MacKenzie: The only suggestion I would have is also add that that it is a motion to request that each of the political parties, the Democratic party and the Republican party, and then the question that needs to be. 31 The Clerk: Okay, we can modify that. Mr. Sias: (Inaudible) Mr. MacKenzie, you said you made a slight modification? Mr. MacKenzie: It was just to add the language that was in the first motion you made which was to state that it is a motion to request of each political party, the Democratic party and the Republican party, to add the questions that were previously articulated by Travis. Mr. Sias: Madam Clerk, are you tracking on this? The Clerk: Yes, I got it, sir. Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor, that concludes my motion. The Clerk: We have a motion and a second, Mr. Sias and Mr. Hasan. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, voting, I’m not sure what we’re doing but. Mr. Jefferson out. Motion Passes 9-0. Mr. Guilfoyle: The $200-mill that you was talking about --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. Guilfoyle: --- so a twenty-year return at $14 million-dollars a year so in other words it’s almost three mills per each taxpayer. So in others words your stormwater fee is basically is what you’re going to be charged every year annually. Mr. Mayor: I’m hungry, my head ain’t settled, we still got a lot of business in front of us. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, who’s going to make contact with the parties? Mr. Mayor: We’ll do that through Ms. Bailey. Yeah we’ll do that through Ms. Bailey, Board of Elections. Okay, Ms. Bonner. The Clerk: Where are we headed? Mr. Mayor: I’m sorry? The Clerk: Where we headed, top to bottom or --- Mr. Mayor: Top to bottom. The Clerk: --- top to bottom, okay. 32 The Clerk: PLANNING 2. SA-53 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend the Land Subdivision Regulations for Augusta Georgia by st amending Section 106 – Definitions & Section 405 – Flagpole Lots. 1 Reading. 8. ZA-R-250 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta Georgia by amending Section 2 (Definitions), Section 7 (A-Agriculture) and Section 14 (R-MH- Manufactured Home Residential) by adding flagpole lots in all other residential zoning st classifications. 1 Reading. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Yes, sir. I don’t have a true objection to the wording of this particular agenda item, however, I do want to recycle this to the next Commission meeting so I can have an opportunity to really dig into it, read it, get a full understanding of it, and ask any questions of the Planning Director or the Planning Commission. That’s really my request there because we are amending our zoning regulations and I think that requires our full due diligence. So, I just want an opportunity to really get in there, ask some questions I feel need to be asked. So, my motion is to send this back to our next full Commission meeting. Mr. M. Williams: Second. Mr. Mayor: Okay --- Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, a comment please? Mr. Mayor: --- all right, we’ve got a motion and a second. The Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem. Ms. Davis: Thank you --- Mr. Mayor: Ms. Wilson? Ms. Davis: --- I was going to ask Ms. Wilson, thank you. I just wanted to make sure this isn’t going to as far as the timing will that mess you up as far as what you’re trying to do if we put if off for two weeks? Ms. Wilson: No, it won’t. Ms. Davis: Okay, thank you. Mr. Mayor: I’m going to go here and then come back to you, okay? The Chair recognizes th the Commissioner from the 6. 33 Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I was going to ask my colleagues if they mind all of these issues because most of them seem to be Planning issues. Can we send all these issues back to the committee cycle and look at them there? I don’t normally go straight to Commission but we look at them there either forward them all but I don’t want to take up all the next Commission meeting with them. Just let’s look at them at committee so we can look at them real close. Mr. Mayor: Hold on a minute. Mr. Hasan: Because most of the issues let me say this, Mr. Mayor, because most of the issues that we get like this normally we are amending our code in some form or fashion. The only time we see this is the time like this and we probably need to consider doing something different moving forward around these types of issues because we’re amending the code. And so, I’m saying right now we’ve got so many of the same things and it could be pretty time consuming having a chance to look at them and make some hasty decisions. Let’s forward them back to the committee cycle and let’s consider doing different moving forward. Mr. Mayor: Well, I think that that’s certainly, I think that’s extremely relevant, th Commissioner. The concern is, and I think this probably where the Commissioner from the 4 was originally going. Two and eight are in fact related because they do in fact require a change to the ordinance but three, four, five, six and seven are nothing more than requests for concurrence with a change of zoning. You’re not making substantial changes to the ordinance as you are with two and eight which is why he was wanting to go there. I only ask him to separate them for the express purposes of conversation making sure everybody understood it. But if he wants to combine the two I’m okay with that. I just wanted to have that separate because we’re talking about two issues independently. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for that clarification. Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Yeah, absolutely. All right, so I’ve got a second from the Commissioner from thth the 9 but he has a question, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Sias: Do you object to those being companion items? Mr. M. Williams: No, no --- Mr. Mayor: I don’t either. Mr. M. Williams: --- I’m in support but I do want to recognize and I do want to bring it back to our attention. In committee we want to consent this stuff then it gets to the full Commission unless when somebody pulls it. We’ve got to talk about it at --- Ms. Davis: (inaudible). 34 Mr. M. Williams: --- no, no, no I’m not talking about just this one. Commissioner Hasan talked about some issues that should go back because they come out of committee. You was in committee as well. And the ones that I’m talking about now I got three, four and five that you already talked to some people about --- Mr. Guilfoyle: It was never in committee, sir. Mr. M. Williams: --- these issues went to Planning and Zoning, right? Mr. Guilfoyle: Right. It came from Planning and Zoning directly onto the main agenda and it never run through our committee cycle. Mr. M. Williams: Well, okay and I apologize you’re right, you’re right --- Mr. Guilfoyle: Oh no, you’re good. Mr. M. Williams: --- no, no but in Planning and Zoning in committee cycle we consent a th lot of stuff and stuff needed to be discussed and get those details like Commissioner from the 4 talked about. But I’ve got no problem like I said putting two and eight together. I pulled a couple of items here that I think got resolved but I don’t have the answers that I need. I need to know what the (unintelligible), Mr. Mayor when it comes around. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so two and eight we’ll adopt, Madam Clerk, as companion items. I think that was the posture that you had, Commissioner. Mr. Sias: Right. The Clerk: Moving it to the next Commission meeting right, sir? Ms. Davis: Right. Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so two and eight. We’ve got a motion and a proper second to refer back to the next Commission or committee meeting? Mr. Sias: Commission. th The Clerk: Commission that is February 6. Mr. Sias: That’ll give us two weeks. Mr. Mayor: Okay, very good. Mr. Sias: No, actually three weeks. 35 Mr. Mayor: All right, very well. All right, voting. Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Frantom out. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. M. Williams: Three, four, five and six. The Clerk: Are those like companions? Mr. M. Williams: Right. The Clerk: This will include Items 3, 4, 5 and 6 --- Mr. Mayor: And seven. The Clerk: --- and seven. The Clerk: PLANNING 3. Z-18-01 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the conditions stated below a petition by Augusta Environmental Services, on behalf of the City of Augusta, requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) to Zone HI (Heavy Industry) affecting property containing approximately 85.4 acres and located at 4260 Deans Bridge Road and 3010 through 3080-A (even #s) Birdwell Road for a total of 17 tax parcels. A complete list of tax parcel numbers is available in the Planning and Development Department office. DISTRICT 8 1. A 600-foot buffer shall be undisturbed except for maintenance and activities permitted under the Georgia Rules for Solid Waste Management. 4. Z-18-02 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the conditions stated below a petition by Augusta Environmental Services, on a behalf of the City of Augusta, requesting a Special Exception to add these parcels to the Augusta Landfill per Section 26-1 (n) & (o) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond County affecting property containing approximately 85.4 acres and located at 4260 Deans Bridge Road and 3010 through 3080-A (even #s) Birdwell Road for a total of 17 tax parcels. A complete list of tax parcel numbers is available in the Planning and Development Department office. DISTRICT 8 1. A 600-foot buffer shall be undisturbed except for maintenance and activities permitted under the Georgia Rules for Solid Waste Management. 5. Z-18-03 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the conditions stated below a petition by Augusta Environmental Services, on a behalf of the City of Augusta, requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) to Zone HI (Heavy Industry) affecting property containing approximately 32.3 acres and located at 4338 through 4364 (even #s) Deans Bridge Road for a total of 9 tax parcels. A complete list of tax parcel numbers is available in the Planning and Development 36 Department office. DISTRICT 8 1. A 600-foot buffer shall be undisturbed except for maintenance and activities permitted under the Georgia Rules for Solid Waste Management. 6. Z-18-04 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the conditions stated below a petition by Augusta Environmental Services, on a behalf of the City of Augusta, requesting a Special Exception to add these parcels to the Augusta Landfill per Section 26-1 (n) & (o) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta-Richmond County affecting property containing approximately 32.3 acres and located at 4338 through 4363 (even #s) Deans Bridge Road for a total of 9 tax parcels. A complete list of tax parcel numbers is available in the Planning and Development Department office. DISTRICT 8 1. A 600-foot buffer shall be undisturbed except for maintenance and activities permitted under the Georgia Rules for Solid Waste Management. 7. Z-18-09 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the conditions stated below a petition by Jonathan Crawford, on behalf of Victor Mills, requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-MH (Manufactured Home Residential) to Zone R-1F (One-family Residential) affecting property containing approximately 33.25 acres and located at 2560 Overlook Drive, 2611 Overlook Drive through 2630 (all #s) Overlook Drive, 2538 through 2566 (all #s) Waterfront Drive, a portion of 2406 Belfair Lakes, 2424 and 2426 Belfair Lakes for a total of 38 tax parcels. Tax Map 082-0-007- 00-0, a portion of 082-1-043-00-0 and additional tax parcels. A complete list of tax parcel numbers is available in the Planning and Development Department office. DISTRICT 4 The concept plan reviewed is considered for illustrative purposes of the present zoning action only and does not meet development plan submission criteria. A development plan meeting all applicable state and local codes and ordinances must be submitted and approved prior to permit issuance. The development plan shall not exceed the 131 lots or 3.32 unit/acre density proposed on conceptual plan revision #4, updated December 11, 2017. No public roads shall be closed without a request from the property owner, review by the Augusta Engineering, Fire and Planning and Development Departments, and approval of the Augusta Commission by way of resolution. The review of the concept plan is not considered a request for public road or right of way abandonment. A means of ingress and egress shall be maintained to the parcels presently addressed as 2547 B and 2551 Waterfront Drive. This access point shall be indicated on the development plan. The second entrance, as required by Article IV, Section 400(K) of the Land Subdivision Regulations, must be constructed with the first phase of the subdivision. Acceleration and deceleration lanes meeting the specifications of Augusta Traffic Engineering and the Georgia Department of Transportation shall be required at all access points on Gordon Highway. All required buffers shall be undisturbed. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, if I can? Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, you have the mike. Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I think this got resolved; the Utley family was here. But my question was when you’re talking about Heavy Industrial Industry on Deans Bridge Road and they’ve got 65-plus acres out there I think. And this came up in Planning and Zoning at a meeting Ms. Utley needed some answers as to what effect that that would have by allowing the Heavy Industrial stuff to come in plus with the landfill being installed in that area there as well. So I know they were here for a while and I think Commissioner Guilfoyle had a talk with them and I 37 don’t know what the resolution came to be so the HI (Heavy Industrial) didn’t propose any threat, any harm? Mr. Guilfoyle: No, can I reply, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Yes. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you. Mr. Williams, as far as the owners of the property that’s adjoined to the landfill their concern was because of the facility that’s coming in to make from trash to fuel, fertilizer and wood vinegar but this had nothing to do with it. This 10 acres is actually, 33 acres is actually being for Heavy Industrial, that’s what the Solid Waste Director needed to be done. There’s nothing changing on there just the zoning. Mr. M. Williams: Well --- Mr. Guilfoyle: Am I correct, simple as that? Mr. M. Williams: --- that’s doesn’t sound right. Mr. Guilfoyle: I probably said it wrong, sir. Mr. M. Williams: Well, I don’t know. Heavy Industrial tells me and that’s an issue that’s coming up pretty soon because we zone certain things a condition that these zonings are being done. We don’t follow up with that to see are they there. Now the question was Ms. Utley had and she’s not here she could speak for herself as to what effect did the ground water or to any part of their property that may be contaminated not now but years from now because they’ve been there forever and a day. Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, they was worried about what happened during the sludge crisis back I guess when your first term where the McElmurray’s and the owners of Country Boy’s where they lost a lot of cattle. But that was coming from the solid waste facility which fertilize which helped people that was farming raise hay and it’s actually they was able to do multiple cuts on that field. But this here’s a total different situation which I explained to them but they are concerned about what’s coming in adjacent to their family property which is a big family that lives there all the Utley’s and seven families that lives on this one parcel of land. And after speaking with the solid waste director Melanie because I was being pulled and tugged by one of the media personalities that I really couldn’t focus in. So if Melanie Wilson would finish up this conversation it would really help me out. Ms. Wilson: Melanie Wilson, Planning and Development Director, Lori Videtto is here to answer any additional questions. But the recommendation from the Planning Commission and they’ve discussed this at length and heard the concerns from the Utley family was that this be approved with the condition that they buffer be extended to 600 feet which is double the regular buffer and that that area be left undisturbed except for the maintenance and activities that would be permitted under the Rules for the Solid Waste Management Plan. So, basically that’s what the outcome of that meeting was. From our discussions with the Utley family during the recess, we 38 talked a little bit more about this and explained to them that anything that’s proposed for the remainder of that property and both of these sites you’ve got 85.4 acres on the Birdwell Road and Deans Bridge Road and the other is 32.3 acres on Deans Bridge Road would have to go through an extensive public process to build and do anything on that site. So this is just the first stage. She’s moving forward with something candidly that I asked her to do to bring those properties into compliance because they’re already being used and from a Planning standpoint you’d like to try to have your properties in compliance with regards to really having a handle what the land uses are in the county and in the City of Augusta so that’s what happened with that meeting. After talking to them about what the process was going to be, they seemed to be satisfied. The Environmental Services Director also answered questions that they had about some of the trash that was dropped when the trucks were coming up and down the side road and she made a commitment that she would double check with staff and insure that they are picking up any waste that’s dropped from the trucks that are currently using the facility. But I just wanted to reiterate the property’s currently being used right now. They’re just rezoning it to get into compliance because they’re at the point where they’re updating the Solid Waste Management Plan which they have to do. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you. If the Utleys are satisfied, Ms. Wilson, I’m well within myself. I just knew that in Planning and Zoning they had no idea what was coming when we met that day. She had some concerns about what was being processed. They’ve got about 65-plus acres out there. They’re not on a two-acre parcel; they’ve got about 65-acres been out there for years and I understand their concern. Now it’s too late when the horses get out of the gate and try to round them back up so they were doing the right thing, I think, addressing these issues now before we finalized something and then we don’t know it. If it wasn’t Heavy Industrial, if it wasn’t some significant type situation going on, it wouldn’t need to be zoned Heavy Industrial. That tells me because it’s Heavy Industrial that they may do a lot of different things there and that’s the issue that I have with us giving a special exception to different ones and then we don’t follow up as to what they’re doing. Just because you’ve got Heavy HI zoning and they say they’re not going to be doing HI because they got that zoning people tend to do that. So, if they’re fine with it, I ain’t got no problem. I see, I know they got kind of bored with our meeting (unintelligible) gone but I’ve got no problem if they’re satisfied. Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, we’ve got a motion and a second. All right, so we need to withdraw Number 7, it’s not related to this. So Items 3, 4, 5 and 6, okay? All right, the Chair th recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: This question is for Ms. Wilson or Ms. Videtto. I noticed Ms. Wilson you mentioned Birdwell Road, is the bridge still washed out on Birdwell Road and will that have any effect on this issue? Ms. Videtto: Is debris washed out on Birdwell (inaudible). Mr. Sias: No, the bridge. Mr. Guilfoyle: It is. 39 Ms. Videtto: Yes, it still requires maintenance. Mr. Sias: No, no, it’s gone. So my question is was that going to have an effect because it did on some other things that we were trying to do out there to the fact that the Birdwell Bridge is washed out completely and the road is washed out on another spot. So, my question being then did that have any bearing on any of this since this property apparently abuts Birdwell Road but to you all’s knowledge no, then I’m fine. Ms. Wilson: Yes, to my knowledge no and we went out to look at the property (unintelligible). Mr. Sias: It’s been washed out, it’s gone, thank you. Mr. Mayor: All right, do we have a motion and a second? The Clerk: No, I need one. Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to approve. Ms. Davis: Second. Mr. Mayor: It’s a motion to approve Item 3, 4, 5 and 6. The Clerk: Seven. Mr. Mayor: Okay not seven, Ms. Bonner. The Clerk: No, you’re right, 3, 4, 5, 6. Mr. Mayor: Okay, yes, ma’am. All right, voting. Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Frantom out. Motion Passes 8-0. The Clerk: PLANNING 7. Z-18-09 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the conditions stated below a petition by Jonathan Crawford, on behalf of Victor Mills, requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-MH (Manufactured Home Residential) to Zone R-1F (One-family Residential) affecting property containing approximately 33.25 acres and located at 2560 Overlook Drive, 2611 Overlook Drive through 2630 (all #s) Overlook Drive, 2538 through 2566 (all #s) Waterfront Drive, a portion of 2406 Belfair Lakes, 2424 and 2426 Belfair Lakes for a total of 38 tax parcels. Tax Map 082-0-007- 00-0, a portion of 082-1-043-00-0 and additional tax parcels. A complete list of tax parcel numbers is available in the Planning and Development Department office. DISTRICT 4 The 40 concept plan reviewed is considered for illustrative purposes of the present zoning action only and does not meet development plan submission criteria. A development plan meeting all applicable state and local codes and ordinances must be submitted and approved prior to permit issuance. The development plan shall not exceed the 131 lots or 3.32 unit/acre density proposed on conceptual plan revision #4, updated December 11, 2017. No public roads shall be closed without a request from the property owner, review by the Augusta Engineering, Fire and Planning and Development Departments, and approval of the Augusta Commission by way of resolution. The review of the concept plan is not considered a request for public road or right of way abandonment. A means of ingress and egress shall be maintained to the parcels presently addressed as 2547 B and 2551 Waterfront Drive. This access point shall be indicated on the development plan. The second entrance, as required by Article IV, Section 400(K) of the Land Subdivision Regulations, must be constructed with the first phase of the subdivision. Acceleration and deceleration lanes meeting the specifications of Augusta Traffic Engineering and the Georgia Department of Transportation shall be required at all access points on Gordon Highway. All required buffers shall be undisturbed. Mr. Guilfoyle: Motion to approve. Ms. Davis: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a proper second. Mr. M. Williams: Question, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 for a question. Mr. M. Williams: Ms. Wilson, can you help me understand about the condition? We approve a lot of rezoning a lot of stuff with conditions but how do we know, how can we keep up with whether or not they are keeping that condition that we approved? Ms. Wilson: When, when, this is basically the rezoning so when they come back they can’t do anything until they have an approved development plan. The development plan is where the conditions are checked. When staff goes out to do the inspections they also check to ensure that the conditions are being met. These conditions go into our computer system which we just updated and so every time an inspector goes out those conditions pop up they won’t get c.o’d until the conditions are met. Mr. M. Williams: I asked the Clerk to put on the agenda for our next committee cycle to talk about a lot of the zoning we have done with a lot of the automobile repair shops and storage yards and they was approved with conditions, but when you go by there they’re doing all kinds of things now that wasn’t in the zoning or wasn’t approved when we did it. So my question is how do we keep up with that when we approve something for this with conditions that you stay ‘x’ amount of feet or you stay behind this fence or you stay behind this property, how do we follow up with that because a lot of things we done approved and I’m going to bring it back next week that’s supposed to have been with conditions that they don’t and they start doing it. So how do we regulate that? 41 Ms. Wilson: Well, when the property is initially CO’d then it does meet the conditions but like any, it’s like if you have a house that you buy and you start adding a bunch of stuff to the back of the house you become, you get out of compliance and then your neighbor will call Code Enforcement and we will go and deal with it through that venue. That’s what happened in this case. For any property that is doing something that is outside the conditions they are cited and we go through the legal process to get them to come into compliance. Mr. M. Williams: Yeah and we’ll talk about this at the next committee cycle but this is, the process has been happening where we approve like you say you add onto your house and you’re not supposed to have it or you get a license to run a flea market, I’m just throwing something out and then you start selling other goods and refrigerators and stuff that are not with the flea market. And that’s what done took place when a lot of the areas that I frequent through the districts that people have got approved and once they get in there they do what they want to do. 56 where the old brick yard was the sign’s up there we had that business has been shut down. It’s operating full force now. And we talked about that but once they got whatever it is nobody is checking I guess so we’ll but we’ll talk about that at our next committee. That’s all, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a proper second. Voting. Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Frantom out. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got two more items. The Clerk: PUBLIC SAFETY 21. Motion to approve the Order for Probation Services for State and Magistrate Courts of Richmond County. (Approved by Public Safety Committee January 9, 2018) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The question I have is for the attorney if you don’t mind. Mr. Mayor: I don’t mind. Mr. Sias: Mr. MacKenzie --- Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brown. Mr. Sias: --- oh, I’m sorry, I was looking down, he was in transition down there. Mr. M. Williams: All the lawyers look alike. 42 Mr. Sias: I didn’t say that, Mr. Brown. Okay now here’s my question when we got this and I’m looking through it don’t normally for this kind of business you have a Summary of Changes sheet that precedes in front of the document otherwise you’ve got to go line by line, document by document to verify and check the changes. Mr. Brown: A document like this normally would be redlined so as if it’s the latest version it should normally be unnecessary for a person to have to read the entire document and to compare an old document to find out what has changed so the changes should be obvious. Mr. Sias: Is that the case here? Mr. Mayor: Yes. Mr. Sias: How so? Mr. Mayor: This document has been redlined. If you’ll look on Page 4 of 21 beginning effectively there and continue through the document. Mr. Sias: You said on Page 4? Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, starting on Page 421 and --- Mr. Sias: Are you talking about where you talking about at the point where we’ve got that underlined item on the little bowlegged four? Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, these are housekeeping changes effectively because of the changes to recent state statute and that’s where the majority of these modifications kind frankly I think all of them are modifications come from or come as a result of that and so they’ve been incorporated under this latest document. Mr. Sias: But my original question is still unanswered. Don’t you normally have a Summary of Changes? Mr. Mayor: Well --- Mr. Hasan: To Page 4? Mr. Mayor: --- starting on Page 4, that’s where you begin the changes. Okay so --- Mr. Sias: It’s white lined, it’s not redlined. There’s an underline. Mr. Brown: There’s a clean copy and there’s a redlined copy. The redlined copy I believe to which the Mayor is referring is the back copy. Mr. Mayor: That’s correct so wherever you see an underline or a strike through those are the changes of record in the document. 43 Mr. Hasan: Page 4? Mr. Mayor: Yes, starting on Page 4 of --- Mr. Sias: Of the second one? Mr. Mayor: --- of the second one. Mr. Sias: I think my point has been made correct, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Oh yes your point (inaudible). Mr. Sias: My point has been made. Now there should be a Summary of Changes. Mr. Mayor: Well so all right, so --- Mr. Sias: I mean I just want a fair answer so, Mr. Attorney, am I wrong on that? Mr. Brown: I really think there’s probably more than one way to approach that. These changes seem to be so minimal you will write more in the summary than it would be the changes. These do not seem to be major substantive changes. I think you will get a Summary of Changes if you were dealing with a big subject matter and you were initially considering it. But once you go through it as many times as this has been gone through I think the writer is simply trying to tell you what final few things have been changed. Mr. Sias: And that was a good Mr. MacKenzie answer, Mr. Brown. That was a good Mr. MacKenzie answer. Mr. Brown: What about lawyer? Mr. Sias: All I wanted was an answer and you know this Summary of Changes didn’t have to be that complicated just simply said Item 1A through Item 1C that’s all I was asking for but he’s answered my question, Mr. Mayor, there should’ve been a Summary of Changes. I’m good for that move to approve. Mr. D. Williams: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting. Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Frantom and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 7-0. Mr. Mayor: One final Item 32 on the agenda. The Clerk: 44 PLANNING 32. Z-18-07 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the conditions stated below a petition by David Harden requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-2 (Two-family Residential) and Zone R-1E (One-family Residential) to Zone B-2 (General Business) to establish a plant nursery affecting property containing approximately 2.96 acres and located at 1813 and part of 1815 Kissingbower Road. Tax Map 057-3-139-01-0 DISTRICT 2 1. The only approved use of the property shall be a plant nursery. Any change of use will require reevaluation by the Planning Commission. 2. The site must substantially conform to the concept plan submitted with this application dated 12- 14-17 3. Issuance of development permits shall be contingent upon submission of plans meeting engineering, environmental, and all other pertinent development regulations. Mr. Mayor: I’ll entertain a motion. Mr. Sias: So moved. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion --- Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got a question, Mr. Mayor, before we get a vote. I thought Ms. Wilson was going to address this and help me out. Mr. Mayor: She came up to address it. Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I saw her then we got that motion. But just around the corner on Waldon Drive there’s a nursery similar to this one that’s been placed in the community that the people have been really disappointed by. There’s a truck yard I recall there a bus, a truck there down the streets there’s several automobiles storage yard on Waldon Drive as well. Now this coming up here now as a nursery. Ms. Wilson, can you help me out to understand a little bit about the location and where this business may be? Ms. Wilson: This property is located on Kissingbower Road and it’s probably a half a block or a block from the Family Dollar Store that’s located in that vicinity. When the Planning Commission heard this, they talked a lot about the fact somewhat about the fact that, you know, you’ve got Kissingbower which is a road that is, you know, pretty heavily traveled you have some environmental conditions that’s on the side of the property however they did decide to move forward and support it. This is one of the few times where my recommendation is contrary to what their recommendation was, however, the owner decided to come in with the proffer. One of the concerns that I had was that this property surrounds a single-family residential property so it’s kind of like a, I can put it on the overhead if you’d like to see it but it is surrounding, the property is surrounded by this zoning request. I think that the applicant has good intentions with regards to working with the community to put in a nursery, however, I felt that based on just good planning policy you would not move forward with the request of this nature, however I’m just the recommender. The owner during, between the time that the Planning Commission voted and 45 today’s meeting came in and made a proffer which I agree with and I think that would allow me to support it. His proffer is this: if development does not commence within 24 months or if the use ceases to exist for six-months that it would revert back to the underlining zoning of R2 and R1E so it puts the onus on him to do something within a timely manner. The zoning is only for a nursery period and he’s agreed that if he is not able to move forward with the zoning it would revert back to the underlining zoning that is currently in place. Mr. M. Williams: There’s a church that sits there along with that single-family home as well. That is a heavily traveled road Kissingbower Road there. It is at the Family Dollar Store right at the railroad track there. I’m having some difficulty understanding how we can mix so many other things in one area. This is going back to District 2 and it’s a part of my district as well. I served that district before. It’s going back to how we put almost everything that we can come up in certain areas but in certain areas we don’t allow this. We got one in District 2 as well that’s on Walden Drive. It done came in, the neighbors didn’t understand what happened, it’s going further back in the property almost against the railroad tracks now. They’ve got a child advocate center down the street from there. How can we continue to let people just put up just anything? I mean if and I don’t mean just anything when I say it like that but how can we, we’ve got a residential home right here and we’ve got a church that I don’t know what denomination the church is there. There’s a pond over there, there’s a road, I can’t think of the name of the road with two or three houses that back up to a pond in there but --- Mr. Smith: (inaudible) motel. Mr. M. Williams: --- is that what it is, Grady? Yeah, I mean so this is very familiar territory now. I don’t know about everybody else but I’m not opposed to business and growth but we just stick them up wherever we want to stick them up. The neighbors are already complaining about what’s going on on Walden Drive. We allow this operator to put a bus, two or three dump trucks just sitting out there, put a big bright light that shines at night and the neighbors across the street have to deal with that and the neighbors were there first. Next door there is the nursery that they done added on to three or four times and put up cane poles now, Moses, where when they grow up you won’t be able to see what’s going on in there because they’re going to be behind the cane poles. Now if we’re going to police it, how can we inspect that if we can’t see what’s going on back there because they done put up different type stuff? So, I’ve got some issues with this one I’m sorry but I do, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Ms. Wilson --- Ms. Wilson: Yes, sir. Mr. Sias: --- the things that Commissioner Marion Williams are referencing, are not we also have guidelines that support that I mean you just can’t arbitrarily put up all these various structures, am I correct? Ms. Wilson: You are absolutely correct, sir. 46 Mr. Sias: So then I would think then even before this site really needs a verification inspection and since the Commissioner has brought that up I would think that from there we would, your department would actually head out there and say okay how many violations do we have here in relationship to these arbitrary structures and things. You know you can’t, you can’t, it’s not within our code to go out there and hang up a tarp from two poles and say you’ve got this thing going here, that’s against our code anyway. So I would just hope that we would enforce the rules that we have and many of these things will be addressed. Mr. Hasan: Call for the question, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Fennoy: Motion to --- The Clerk: We have a motion --- Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. The Clerk: --- do you want to do it again? Mr. Fennoy: No, we’re losing a quorum, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a proper second. All right, voting. Mr. M. Williams votes No. Mr. Frantom, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion passes 6-1. st Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: Yes sir. Mr. Sias: --- hey, before we leave, Mr. Mayor, I move that we reconsider the item we just did. Mr. M. Williams: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right ,we’ve got a motion to reconsider. Mr. Sias: A motion to reconsider, gentlemen. Mr. Mayor: And the motion is to reconsider Item 32. Mr. Sias: Yes, sir, that’s it, the reason being there was a question with those revisions that she discussed, those conditions, did we include that in the motion, Ms. Bonner? 47 The Clerk: It was as listed on the agenda item. Mr. Sias: Oh yeah so then the things then, they weren’t included in. Mr. Mayor: They’re in there. Ms. Wilson: The reversion clause is not in place. Mr. Sias: But we can bring that back at the next meeting unless, we can bring it back then. The Clerk: Yeah, modify, yeah, it needs to be in there. st Mr. Mayor: Right. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, before we leave I just want to bring everybody’s attention that in the January 2018 edition of Georgia Trend Brooks Keel, President of Augusta University and Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor of Augusta Georgia, were listed as the 100 most influential Georgian’s. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Sias: Commissioner, I’ve got a question for you before we close now. I was listening to Georgia Trend, I didn’t hear you say nothing. 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 January 16, 2018. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 48