Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting May 1, 2018 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER MAY 1, 2018 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., May 1, 2018, the Hon. Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Jefferson, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, Fennoy, D. Williams, Hasan and Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Absent: Hon. Guilfoyle, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: All right, I call this meeting to order. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk: The Clerk: Yes, sir. I call your attention to the invocation portion of our agenda which will be delivered by Reverend Rufus Copeland, Pastor of The Gardner Grove Baptist Church after which we’d like our newly hired H.R. Director to please lead us in our Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Please stand. The invocation was given by Reverend Rufus Copeland, Pastor Gardner Grove Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. The Clerk: Office of the Mayor, Hardie Davis, Jr., by these present be it known that Rev. Rufus Copeland, Pastor of Gardner of Grove Baptist Church is Chaplain of the Day. His spiritual guidance and his civic leadership serves as an example for all citizens of Augusta. Given under st my hand this 1 Day of May 2018. Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Would you join me in thanking him? (APPLAUSE) Reverend Copeland is a long-time spiritual leader in this community and a very good friend, my former classmate in fact in ministry school. Thank you so much for what you do. The Clerk: I call your attention to the Delegation portion of our agenda. DELEGATIONS A. Dr. Ronald P. Nurse, PhD, regarding the Doctor Nurse Hospital introducing HIV prevention and transitional housing. The Clerk: Dr. Nurse? It appears Dr. Nurse may not be in the chamber. We move to Item number B. DELEGATIONS B. Mayor Gregory A. Carswell, Jr., City of Waynesboro, Georgia regarding the City of Waynesboro’s gratitude for Augusta’s assistance during their recent water crisis. 1 The Clerk: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, would you please come down front we have Mayor Gregory A. Carswell, Jr., City of Waynesboro regarding the City of Waynesboro gratitude for Augusta’s assistance during their recent water crisis. Mayor Carswell, he wants to make a presentation. Mr. Mayor: Would you join us on the floor? Mayor Carswell: Good afternoon. Thank you so much for allowing me this opportunity to address you on today, Mayor Hardie Davis and the Augusta Richmond County Commission. You do know a couple of weeks ago about three weeks ago Waynesboro had a crisis where we had a watermain break and during that time of course we were out of water for about 8 hours. But if it was not for of course our Water Department who was working diligently down in that hole you know making sure they’re taking care of it but if it wasn’t for your support as well it probably would’ve been worse than what it was. We got a call from Mayor Davis saying whatever we needed because they were there and of course the Augusta Fire Department helping out and everybody was supplying water giving a phone call saying whatever we needed they were at our aid. And so we wanted to make sure we recognized you and let you know we appreciated that because of course if we didn’t have that help we don’t know what we would have done without the water. So, with people coming in bringing the water the Fire Department having the (unintelligible) tanks to have the water for the people to come in and fill up jugs, it was just phenomenal, and we appreciate that so today we want to recognize you. The City of Waynesboro brings a Certificate of Appreciation presented to Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. and the Augusta Richmond County Commission in recognition of your support to the City of Waynesboro. By the st Mayor and the Council of the City of Waynesboro this 1 Day of May 2018. Thank you so much for all that you do. Thank you so much for your support and if there’s anything that we can do for you we’re right down the road, just give us a call. Thank you so much. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: Don’t move, everybody. Mayor Carswell, we receive this on behalf of the entire Augusta Commission and our entire team here in the City of Augusta, our Fire Chief and the leadership that he provides as well as the team. We are neighbors but we are also friends in this community. What happens in Waynesboro matters to Augusta and what matters to Augusta matters to Waynesboro. So thank you for your gracious willingness to come and present this to us and we receive it on behalf of the entire Commission. Thank you. This is what communities are all about. (APPLAUSE) The Clerk: At this time we will have our Recognition, is Dr. Connor going to do it the presentation? Ms. Conner: Good afternoon Mayor Davis, Commissioners, special guests, Directors and citizens of Augusta Richmond County. My name is Dr. Gwendolyn Conner, Human Resources Director for Augusta Richmond County. It is with great honor that I introduce to some and present to all our April recipients for their services of 25 to 50 years of service. In the month of April we have had a total of 22 employees who are celebrating 5 to 20 years of service. The individuals that we will honor today we ask that you come forth as we call your name. First, we have Mr. Henry Ussery, Sheriff’s Department 25 years of service. (APPLAUSE) Next, we have Ms. Joanne Adams with the Parks and Recreation Department 35 years of service. (APPLAUSE) And we 2 have one more individual who unfortunately could not be here with us today however it would be remiss if we did not acknowledge his years of service. That would be in the person of Mr. Michael Atkins with the Fire Department 30 years of service. (APPLAUSE) Once again if we could give a big congratulatory applause to all of our Years of Service recipients for the Month of April. Thank you. The Clerk: Before we proceed with our Consent Agenda we’d like to do a last call for Dr. Nurse to see if he’s made it into the chamber. Okay, we’ll proceed with our Consent Agenda which consists of Items 1-22, Items 1-22. For the benefit of any objectors to our Alcohol petitions once the petitions are read would you please signify your objections by raising your hand. I call your attention to: Item 2: Is a request for a Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with the location at 816 Cotton Land. Item 3: Is a request for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with the location at 2161 Gordon Highway. Item 4: Is a request for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with the location at 1200 Interstate Pkwy. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those Alcohol petitions? Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, our Consent Agenda consists of Items 1-22 with no objectors to our Alcohol petitions. Mr. G. Smith: Move to approve. Mr. Frantom: Second. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to pull Item 1 under consent 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, 21 and 22. Mr. Hasan: I have a question, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Hold on, hold on. All right, everybody just stand at ease, Attorney MacKenzie? Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, I’m going to make a friendly suggestion to the Commissioner th from the 9. I know there’s a great deal of interest by many of your colleagues to move forward on a number of these items and go ahead and vote on them and adopt them. Are there any of great interest that you believe you would need to have substantial debate on as opposed to the entire Consent Agenda? Mr. M. Williams: All of them, Mr. Mayor, all twenty-two of great concern. 3 Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, well, we’re going to limit debate to two minutes on each of the items. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have a question before you do that. th. Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 State your inquiry. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I’m just asking for clarity here. It seems as those we voted, a motion was made to adopt the agenda so is it still that it can be pulled after that? I’m just asking for clarity, I don’t know, I’m asking for clarity. Mr. Mayor: Well, he made a motion, there was a proper second but again his hand was raised --- Mr. Hasan: Okay. Mr. Mayor: --- and I wanted to make sure I recognized him. Mr. Hasan: Okay thank you. Just asking for clarity, thank you. Mr. Mayor: Yeah, we’re going to limit debate to two minutes on each of these items, okay? Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, a Point of Order? Mr. Mayor: State your inquiry. Mr. M. Williams: I don’t have any problem with you trying to limit debate to two minutes but you cannot legally do that to limit any discussion we may have as an elected official for the general public needs to know what information we need to know or to put out for them. Now I don’t think it’ll take more than two minutes for each one of my items that I pulled but legally you cannot pull or limit it the discussion to two minutes because that’s what you feel like doing. If those are the rules then that ought to be at every commission meeting not just this particular one. So I mean I’ve got no problem with the two minutes but that’s legally, you’re not going to bind me as an elected official as to what I say and how long I say it because I’m elected by the people to represent them. I’ve got some questions that they need answers to, not me but the people need answers to and you ought to be willing to at least give that to the general public give those answers that the people need but the two minutes there’s no problem with me but legally and I guess the Attorney said that. Madam Clerk, can you, I don’t want to put her on the spot but --- Mr. Mayor: Well, you’re not going to put her on the spot. Mr. M. Williams: --- I don’t want to put her on the spot. Mr. Mayor: And so I want you to yield the Chair at this time. I want to direct your attention to Rule 202 and it gives me all the authority to limit debate but at the same time limit the time that 4 you have to speak on an issue. What I’ve said is that we’re going to limit debate on each of these matters to two minutes and I’m going to give you an opportunity to have your voice heard as you represent the people of your district in this city. And so, Madam Clerk, we’ll move forward with item number one. The Clerk: CONSENT AGENDA PUBLIC SERVICES 1. Motion to approve 2018 Transportation Security Clearinghouse Service Agreement. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 24, 2018) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: I want to know who’s going to address this and I’ll need some information about who’s going to address it. If the Chair’s going to address it then I can limit it to the Chair but who ever is going to address this I need to talk to. Mr. Mayor: So again, I want to draw your attention back to the rules. If you’re going to address anyone you’re not going to interrogate any of your colleagues, staff or citizens. You’ll address your comments to the Chair. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Mr. Judon to speak to this issue. Mr. M. Williams: --- Mr. Judon, you can’t limit who I speak to, Mr. Mayor, or what position they’re in. Now you done stepped over your boundaries several times today. You will not do that. You will not do that today now. Mr. Mayor: All right --- Mr. M. Williams: I have the right to pull these items and I’m going to pull those. Mr. Mayor: --- and you’ve been given that ability to have each one of them heard individually, now is your time. The Chair recognizes Mr. Judon. All right, the Commissioner th from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Judon, thank you for tolerating this meeting today. It’s not normally, but I need to know a little bit more information about each one of these items especially when you’ve got, can you help me out with that? Mr. Judon: Yes, sir. This particular item is we’re asking for approval for a contract with the Transportation Security Clearinghouse which is a subset of the American Association of Airport Executives. This particular contract will provide Geo Fencing Technology for the airport ground transportation entities most specifically the TNC’s so the Uber’s and the Lyft’s of the 5 world. This is a money end contract, the Transportation Security Clearinghouse, they recover 5% of the fees that we will collect for the ground transportation for the Uber and Lyft type services. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Judon, don’t we have a similar contract already with another agency to do some of the work or is this the only one we’ve got? Mr. Judon: This is the only one. We have had contracts with Uber. We started a contract with Uber about a year and a half ago and we contracted with Lyft about six months ago. Prior to this technology, both companies self-reported so this will give us the opportunity again to have a geofencing technology. We’ll be able to track them, we’ll be able to have historical data on their activities and this is also part of a more comprehensive ground transportation plan where the taxis have a gate arm technology as well and a transponder technology. Mr. M. Williams: And my last question, Mr. Judon. If someone else, we had a contract with the airport when certain taxi cabs couldn’t come on the premises to even bring anybody off because the contract renewed every 30 days so we never did see that before your time. I guess my question is how do we monitor that? How do we make sure that that’s a situation that everybody will be able to partake of if they go through the proper channels. I mean that goes monitoring fact that you mentioned will take care of all of that as far as somebody else being added to it and not added to, dismissed or not dismissed. How will that take place? Mr. Judon: Again the taxi cabs have a transponder on their vehicles so we’ll be able to track them as they enter the airport, as they pick up. Anybody can drop off so we don’t regulate drop-offs, just pickups primarily and we have personnel that enforce that. And for the TNC’s it will be the geofencing technology that will be the tool that we use to track and monitor them and there’s some enforcement mechanisms that we have in place through staff as well to monitor. Some may be attempting to pickup illegally. Mr. M. Williams: Okay, thank you, Mr. Judon, thank (inaudible). Mr. Frantom: Move to approve. Mr. D. Williams: Second. Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second to approve. Voting. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 9-0. The Clerk: That motion carries unanimously. Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle will be absent from today’s meeting. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 6 2. Motion to approve New Applicant: A.N. 18-14: request by John David Weir for an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Noble Jones, LLC located at 816 Cotton Lane. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 24, 2018) Mr. Mayor: Okay, Mr. Sherman and if you’ll come and state for the next two items as th well. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Rob, can you help me with this one? This is the Old Cotton Patch, is that right? Mr. Sherman: That’s correct. Mr. M. Williams: Okay and this is an on premise consumption? Mr. Sherman: On premise consumption it is and the Sheriff’s Office and Planning and Development recommend that it be approved. Mr. M. Williams: Is this a new ownership? Mr. Sherman: It’s a new ownership, yes. Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve. Mr. D. Williams: Second. Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second to approve. Voting. Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 8-0. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 3. Motion to approve New Applicant: A.N. 18-15: request by Samrat K. Brahmbhatt for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Sawa Kendra, LLC dba Split Stop 2161 located at 2161 Gordon Highway. District 5. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 24, 2018) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Rob, same question with this one. Is this a new application? Mr. Sherman: It is a new application. It’s a new location. It’s a tire store or has been. It formerly was a gas station but it’s recommended to be approved by the Sheriff’s Office and Planning and Development. 7 Mr. M. Williams: And that’s at 2161 and --- Mr. Sherman: Well, 2161 Gordon Highway this is just a point a reference across from the Parliament House just down from Skyview Drive on Gordon Highway. Mr. M. Williams: Is that a different address? Mr. Sherman: Okay, I’m incorrect. This is down towards the Holiday Inn on Gordon Highway, yeah, Racetrack the old Racetrack, new owner yes, yes, new owner. Mr. M. Williams: Okay. Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve. Mr. D. Williams: Second. Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second to approve. Voting. Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 8-0. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 4. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 18-16: request by Samrat K. Brahmbhatt for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Sawa Kendra LLC dba Split Shop 1200 located at 1200 Interstate Pkwy. District 3. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 24, 2018) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Ms. Walton: This is an existing location. It’s just transferring to new ownership. It’s up off of Wheeler Road and Bobby Jones. Mr. M. Williams: The Sheriff’s Department? Ms. Speaker: The Sheriff’s Department has approved and the Planning and Development has approved the application. Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I’ve got no problem. Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve. Mr. D. Williams: Second. 8 Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second to approve. Voting. Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 8-0. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 5. Motion to approve amendments to the Augusta, Georgia Code, Title 6, Chapter 2, Article 1, Alcoholic Beverages, to include additional definitions, amendments to comply with State regulations, and amendments for regulating brewpubs, breweries, and distilleries. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 24, 2018) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Rob, exactly what are we doing with this one now? Mr. Sherman: Okay so the state has amended their state code and it has added additional definitions. There’s a new section that it requires that if an alcohol license holder has violated a local alcohol ordinance that it be reported to the state. The Daniel Field Airport has been added as a city location where alcohol can be on the premises just as the Commons or any of the park facilities Julian Smith etc., so it’s been added. But I guess the majority of the changes have to do with the distilleries and the breweries that you recently approved I guess a few months ago with zoning ordinance amendments and it just specifies the, how much they can produce and that it comes under state regulations as far as retail sales and sales to go. Mr. M. Williams: You said the airport had been added? Mr. Sherman: Yes. Mr. M. Williams: Which airport are you talking about Daniel --- Mr. Sherman: Daniel Field. Mr. M. Williams: --- and is that why the rules were changed is that what you’re saying? Mr. Sherman: Is that why the rules have changed? Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, is that why the state rule was changed as the airport has been added how is that --- Mr. Sherman: No, no --- Mr. M. Williams: --- the state rules changed but --- 9 Mr. Sherman: --- the state rules changed as far as definitions go. Locally we’ve added changes to the ordinance and one is that Daniel Field is added to the alcohol ordinance to specifically list it. It was interpreted to mean that they could have alcohol up there, for instance last year when they had the Polo Match up there. We had a alcohol caterer who had a Single Event License to operate up there and the Daniel Field was added just to specifically include it. Before a license can be issued, the Sheriff’s Office has to approve the application as well as the airport authority. Mr. M. Williams: The airport was the only position that was added on the, no one else no other facility besides the airport? Mr. Sherman: That’s the only one. Mr. M. Williams: Is there a reason for that? Mr. Sherman: All the others are already included. Mr. M. Williams: Already included, okay. Mr. Frantom: Move to approve. Mr. D. Williams: Second. Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 8-0. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 6. Motion to approve a request by Tera Ashley Montroy for a Massage Operator’s License on an Oncall Basis to be used in connection with Massage etceTERA located at 2525 Centerwest PKWY APT 7G. District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 24, 2018) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Sherman, can you help me with this one? Is there any other, not conflict, but is there any infringes on this person, this new application? Mr. Sherman: No, there’s not. The Sheriff’s Office and Planning and Development recommend that it be approved. For someone who is going to perform massage therapy the massage therapist is licensed through the state but they can only work in Augusta under an operators, a Massage Operators License and this person is applying for the operators license. She also will be the therapist but you have to have both. Mr. M. Williams: But she won’t be doing it in house so to speak she’s going out? 10 Mr. Sherman: That’s correct this is an outcall basis only. She’s been approved to have it at her home which is at an apartment complex with permission from the owners of the complex as well as going through the Special Use Permit for a home occupation. Mr. Frantom: Move to approve. Mr. G. Smith: Second. Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second to approve. Voting. Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, we’re going to go to Item 28. The Clerk: FINANCE 28. Presentation by Ms. Belinda Johnson regarding a tax matter involving the Tax Commissioner’s Office concerning property in her grandfather’s estate in the name of Johnny M. Taylor at 2485 Dublin Drive. (No recommendation from Finance Committee April 24, 2018) Mr. Mayor: Ms. Johnson, if you would as you prepare to address us would you tell us your address and just state for the record your full name. Ms. Johnson: Okay, the address that I’m in concern with is the family home at 2485 Dublin Drive. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Sias: Is it your residence? Mr. Mayor: All right, continue. Ms. Johnson: And thank you for having me. Mr. Mayor: Certainly. Ms. Johnson: My concern is my brother went to the Tax Commissioner’s Office to pay the taxes on the home. At the time he was prepared to pay the full $2,300.00 dollars that was asked. The Clerk denied the $2,300.00 dollars and only accepted $891.00 dollars. We were told that that amount was enough to secure the home. Now we come a year later having harassment phone calls and texts from Mr. Mays who’s the possible buyer, supposedly buyer of the home, telling us that we have to leave. And you know I’m wondering if I can get some kind of resolution 11 of, you know, what went wrong and how was the family misled to thinking that our property was still ours, you know, after money had been taken by the Tax Commissioner’s Office at that time. Mr. Mayor: Okay --- Ms. Johnson: I --- Mr. Mayor: --- continue. Ms. Johnson: --- I did speak with Mr. Johnson, Chris Johnson, in the presence of two other counselors last week and he did mention that the money should not have been taken by the young lady but that it should’ve been placed in the hands of Mr. Mays which there is another question I do not understand how. In addition to that I was told by Mr. Chris Johnson that there was a piece of paper in the office, some papers in the office with my name requesting $15,000 dollars equity of the home. I come back to the office, you know, requesting those papers and they have none so, you know, my family is deeply concerned. You know they have gone behind my back you know trying to get my elders involved you know as far as going to three of them opposed to myself and my brother which is another story but I’m still, you know, how can that come about, how can that happen? Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Johnson, I’m going to ask you a single question and that is --- Ms. Johnson: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: --- you came you were able to present today. What is the resolution you’re hoping to achieve today? Ms. Johnson: Well, for the family property to be to stay with the family. We was the one and only family that have been in that home for over 40 years. Mr. Mayro: Okay, all right, Madam Clerk, can we get somebody from the Tax Commissioner’s Office? I don’t see anybody from the Tax Commissioner’s Office and then I’m going to yield to the Chairman of Finance. It says it came forward from Finance with no recommendation. Maybe you can bring us up to speed where we are on this matter, okay? All right, can we get somebody from the Tax Commissioner’s Office? They should be here at this th meeting. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7. Mr. Frantom: Mr. Mayor, we did meet with Ms. Johnson last week, myself and Commissioner Sias, and I would feel more comfortable if Chris Johnson was in the room and to speak on it because I’m not the expert on it. But basically there was no options is what she was giving after our discussion with her last week. She still felt the need that she wanted to come before the Commission to state her case on it. I don’t think that the Tax Commissioner’s Office is going to be coming up based on the discussion that I heard last week when we had this item. They weren’t present at Finance either and they felt like this was a Tax Commissioner’s Office issue. Ms. Johnson: Excuse me, sir. 12 Mr. Mayor: Hold on, Ms. Johnson, hold on one second, okay? Mr. Frantom: So I mean I don’t know what else I can say other than that, Commissioner Sias? th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have a lot of sympathy for Ms. Johnson and her family and the situation that they’re in but let me just put a little clarity to this situation if I can. And the reason why we met with Ms. Johnson in private on last Tuesday is to, is to, we were a little concerned about this information just being out there and the whole situation being discussed publicly but it is what it is. Initially this was a property tax sale where their property taxes I believe and Ms. Johnson we go through the Chair but if I say something that you find you feel is in error just be prepared to request the Chair and he’ll give you a chance to say something to that. This is a property that was sold at a tax sale and basically under Georgia law if you’re property is sold under a tax sale, there’s a 12-month waiting period by the person that buys it and the original property owner has a 12-month period plus 20% payment to the present owner to recoup that property or reclaim that property. And from what we could understand the idea of reclaiming the property by the original owners, they went to the Tax Commissioner’s Office to pay the tax and that wasn’t the recipient of any monies due and they were actually accepting a payment which should not have been accepted because the property had already been sold a year ago so therefore there was no taxes for these folks to pay. Their reclaim process goes through the buyer that bought it. With that being said the Tax Commissioner’s Office was very apologetic for accepting a payment that had no effect on what the Johnson’s real situation was except to make them irritated and the fact that they thought they had claimed the property back which in fact they had not. That was an error that the Tax Commissioner’s Office has accepted, however, it did not change the situation. And so there’s also a reimbursement part back to the Johnson family if they decide to accept it and there was some other issues there as well as internal who wanted to sell the property or who didn’t want the property. But the bottom line is the property had been claimed at a tax sale and the Johnson’s wanted to reclaim it. That process did not work the way they thought it was supposed to work but it doesn’t change the situation of where they’re at. And from my conversation with Ms. Johnson when we talked with them she is very concerned about the fact that they were able to make that payment that had no effect and I can understand that and sympathize with that. Okay and that is in a nutshell I believe, Mr. Mayor, thank you. Mr. Mayor: All right thank you, Commissioner Vice-Chair of Finance. I think we all have a better understanding of where we are with regards to how we’ve arrived at this situation. I’m th going to recognize the Commissioner from the 9 and then we’ll come back and tell you what our th next steps are. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I spoke with Ms. Johnson as well and I think their concern was repaying the money or paying the money and someone should’ve had the information whether that’s the right department, the wrong department or not even accepting the money so I understand her frustration. There is a year’s limit I think with regaining or repurchasing a piece of property and I don’t know what the timelines are because I didn’t get into that but I do 13 think someone should’ve been smart enough to say to her or to her brother whoever paid the money because they didn’t accept all of the money. They accepted some of the money and if you accept some of the money you should’ve known where the money was going or where it should’ve went. So I do sympathize I do think that someone ought to be able to explain what happened. Would that change the process? I don’t know but I do understand that if they tried to regain the family’s piece of property I think that someone should’ve been able to address that for them. Mr. Mayor: Okay great, all right, I’m going to recognize our Tax Commissioner. So again our Finance Chair and Vice-Chair have spoken to this based on the data that they have but I’d like for you to bring an additional level of clarity. Mr. Kendrick. Mr. Kendrick: Sure. I caught the tail end of the conversation. I have been informed about the process and what is going on here and I appreciate Commissioner Sias and Commissioner Frantom for attempting to clarify but let me just clarify a little further how that process works. When a property is put up for a tax sale at any given time, a homeowner, the original homeowner, can come and make a payment in order to stop that process. This particular process I believe the homeowner owed approximately $2,300 dollars and we were in belief that they would be there that morning before 10:00 to pay it. It happened this morning. We had a tax sale for 10:00 o’clock. Anybody who gets here can stop that sale. That didn’t happen that day so that property went to sale and at that time it was for the years say for example 16 and 15. The current year 17 had not been levied against. In other words we can’t place it for sale against years that we actually haven’t placed a levy against so the late years were 15 and 16. The levy was against them so the amount that was due was based on those although 17 was still due as well. The law won’t allow us to say at a tax sale all of these monies are due in order to get it complete. It only allows us to collect what’s due at the tax sale being levied against. When the homeowner didn’t arrive at 10:00, the house was sold. Later that day that homeowner did arrive and once they arrived, they went to the desk to make a payment. Now the Clerk at the desk accepts payments every day. The levy officers whom the homeowners had been working with were there as well but those are the people they talk with each and every day as it relates to the delinquent taxes. When they approached the desk to make the payment, the Clerk, he asked the Clerk how much he owed. Well then our system it shows that 15 and 16 are now paid because they were paid that morning but 17 is what’s left outstanding now because we hadn’t levied against it so the Clerk looks in and she sees that 17 is due and she informed the taxpayer this is what you owe. And so it was at that point which our office believes the taxpayer recognized that ‘a’ I really owe more than that and I know that. Did not say that so they paid the $800.00 dollars at that point. And that’s our policy we take payments based on what’s due and that’s what that clerk saw at that point. Later on the things that happened after that become between the old homeowner and the new homeowner who’s bought it. It came back and again at this point I’m not as familiar with it came back and we attempted to give them the $800.00 dollars back once we recognized that. And understand under the law we weren’t required to give that $800.00 dollars back because that payment had been made against property that was indeed due. People pay other people’s taxes all the time. It’s not unusual for you to perhaps pay your mother or you to pay you aunt and so it was not unusual for us to take a payment and in this instance we took it as well. Although we do acknowledge that it could’ve been erroneous because they thought perhaps it was paying it for themselves so we attempted to give those monies back. When we attempted to give those monies back at one point they said they wanted them and then later on they decided they didn’t want them. They wanted the property back 14 and thus it became the little back and forth about whether or not the property should’ve been sold, not sold and that type of thing. And so I have been informed about it but Deputy Tax Commissioner Chris Johnson has been working on this project for some time. Commissioner Sias came down, Commissioner Frantom came down as well and we all discussed it and that is pretty much the issue here. Now and one of the reasons I certainly did not, our office did not look not to come here not wanting to inform you but it is such a complex issue that has so many caveats that as you peel back the onion, there’s even more things that become policy driven more about what the laws are for a tax office more than they are then what you gentlemen and lady do here as well. And so our reason for not having been here to today was because we thought this matter was settled once we announced hey this is it. Your appeals process is here in the Tax Commissioner’s Office. There’s one elected official here that can possibly change that and that’s me and Chris Johnson has made the recommendation that we don’t have much room to go on this one so we made that decision and that’s where we were. Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, haven’t heard the following. Attorney MacKenzie, what’s our posture? Mr. MacKenzie: Well, as Mr. Kendrick has stated I believe this is a legal dispute largely it does not really involve the Tax Commissioner’s Office. However in the event this particular person would file a claim against the Tax Commissioner’s Office as you know that would be a claim ultimately that may come to you in a closed forum setting to be resolved in that way. So my recommendation at this point would be to receive as information but if any claims are forth coming obviously we’ll process those in the normal course. Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. All right, Ms. Johnson, this is where we are we again as a citizen have the ability to come and be heard. We’ve heard your case. We have no jurisdiction outside of what’s been told us at this time and so we’re going to receive it as information and allow you to go through the normal channels to continue this process. Ms. Johnson: Okay and I understand what you’re saying --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am. Mr. Johnson: --- but being that this property had already been sold and the money was taken, shouldn’t there have been you know like a red flag or something telling us that the property had already been sold informing the clerk or letting them know that this, you know, should go in a certain department. You know because my brother he did offer to pay the $2,300 but she refused that, she took the $891.00 he gave her a thousand dollars and she gave him change back and had the family thinking, you know, they told us that that was all that, you know, needed. Mr. Mayor: Sure. Mr. Johnson: You know had that hadn’t taken place like that then I’d have been able to you know just walk away and accept it but it’s telling me, you know, there’s somewhere there, you know, something went wrong or some procedures are not quite being followed through and now I think that should be brought, you know, to someone else. 15 Mr. Mayor: Well and I think you brought it certainly to our attention. I think you have as Mr. Kendrick has indicated he is that person he is that elected official in charge of the Tax Commissioner’s Office and they will have additional conversations with you and try to again bring you to a better place in terms of, you understand. Ms. Johnson: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: So we’ll yield to the Tax Commissioner of this. Ms. Johnson: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ll --- Mr. Kendrick: And, Mr. Mayor, I’ll be more than happy to speak with her as we leave here today. Mr. Mayor: --- thank you. All right, we’ll receive this as information. Ms. Johnson, thank you for your time. Mr. Sias: So moved. Ms. Davis: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, voting. Madam Clerk, we’re going to Item number 29. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have a question about this. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 9-0. ADMINISTRATOR 29. Presentation from Augusta University Marketing 3750 Class-Event Planning and Production. th. Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 State your inquiry. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, as I was reading the headline and I apologize in advance to, this is coming out of Parks and Rec’s? Mr. Mayor: I have no idea. Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Administrator Jackson. 16 Ms. Jackson: Yes, I can speak to that. This was a process that our Recreation and Parks Department as well as our Downtown Development Authority and I believe some other non-profits were involved in as well related to a marketing class. The professor for that class is here. They came up with a have an idea that she and her group will describe to you when you comes up to the podium so it’s really just presented for information as a result of this class having done a project related to local government. Mr. Mayor: Okay I understand. Madam Clerk, in the future and again this is just from a practice and quite frankly a policy standpoint if we’re having presentations like this we typically put them at a delegation portion, yes, no? The Clerk: No, sir. At this, it was requested by the Administrator to go under her heading and that’s why it was placed there, not necessarily so she asked that that it be placed there. Ms. Jackson: I did make that request, sir. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I finish up where I was originally headed if you don’t mind? It’ll take about 30 seconds. Mr. Mayor: Sure. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, sir. I was just looking at it, Mr. Mayor, knowing that we just you know done a logo we just you know hired a marketing firm you know a few weeks ago and I’m trying to figure out I mean if we knew this was coming I don’t much heads up we have we could’ve waited and saved possibly $150 to $160,000 dollars and let this class as a project take that on and we could’ve saved this money. The timing is just well, you know, as I looked at it, it got kind of you know interesting to me but that was my concern about it. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: I believe the gentleman knows of what he speaks. All right, if we can have the group come forward at this time. Ms. Jackson: Okay, Dr. Marsha Loda is their professor. She will introduce the topic. Dr. Loda: Hello, thank you for allowing me --- Mr. Mayor: Hold on, would you speak from the podium please? Dr. Loda: --- yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, what we’re going to do is give you we’re going to give Ms. McFarley an opportunity to load up here your presentation and we’ll get that situated. If you have handouts, you can go ahead and pass those out. Dr. Loda: To give you a little background while they do their technical stuff my name is Dr. Marsha Loda and I teach a Hospitality Segmentation within the Hull College of Business. And part of that requirement there’s a class called Event Planning and Production and of course I want 17 to get my students involved in a class project so we had eight different teams. It was in my mind that they would present something come up with an event for Augusta University. They said no, no, that’s boring, we want to do something for Downtown Augusta. So we had eight teams. Margaret Woodard came and spoke to the class to update them on all the great things that are happening downtown and recruited a panel of judges including Brenda Durant and Glenn Parker who assessed all of the presentations. This is the winning team. I will shut up and turn it over to them and let me introduce Emily Banks, Madison Leighton, David Pelletier and Erin Willingham, students I’m very proud of. Thank you. Ms. Banks: Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, thank you for having us today. We decided to do our event and name it Bridging the Gap which we will explain throughout our presentation. So as an overview we’re going to talk about the current state of Downtown Augusta and like where we found our inspiration for the event, our concept in the venue, the event logistics, our expected revenues and our expenses and then kind of what we want to gain out of this event. So the current state of Downtown Augusta we have Arts in the Hearts and the Westabou Festival that bring our community together and so that’s kind of like what we wanted to do with our event. It really has something that really brought our community together and really showed what Augusta had to offer. So we asked ourselves one major question. What is the best thing Augusta has to offer and we realized that the Savannah River is our biggest asset. So we asked ourselves three different questions. What are other cities doing with their river access? What signature events do other cities host that we can bring to downtown Augusta? and what benefits and charities can we tie into these events? Ms. Leighton: So the Savannah River is something that really makes Augusta, Augusta and we need, wanted to come up with an event that was really unique and that we hadn’t done in this area before that really celebrated our river and kind of embodied the symbolism of the river bringing together Georgia and South Carolina and Augusta and North Augusta and just all of the people of our community together. So our event concept is a Bridge Dinner. This is a semi-formal dinner held at night time on top of a bridge over the river. So live music, lots of food, fireworks at the end of the night. We wanted to feature some hors d’oeuvrs and appetizers from local restaurants around the area, a coffee bar and a cocktail bar. th Mr. Pelletier: So we identified the 5 Street Bridge as mainly being our main venue for this event since it is possibly be going under renovations to turn it into a pedestrian bridge hopefully we identified this event as being a great kickoff to the opening of that bridge. Ms. Willingham: So one of the biggest issues that we have in downtown Augusta is the homeless problem and we decided that the benefit for this dinner will be to help stop homelessness and that would be by pouring more money into the shelters that we currently have downtown. Mr. Pelletier: So we decided to call our event Bridging the Gap and we’re really going to be working to help end Augusta’s homelessness. We want to bridge that gap between poverty and everyday normal lives that these people we hope can get back to someday. As you can see with our logo we try and signify that it really helps bridge the community together behind this issue. But moving on to our event we do have two tickets really available hopefully with this event: $75.00 dollars for early birds and about $100 dollars for general admission. We really want to 18 target our young millennials or young professionals but already existing charitable and corporate partners who want to help out in this region with this cause. We’re shooting for about the early part of 2019 during the spring or the summer with about 500 people attending this event. We identified also three main charitable causes in the Augusta region that would be great beneficiaries for this. They are the Salvation Army due to their Center of Hope just down from the Augusta Canal along with the Augusta Warrior Project due to their work with the homeless veterans populations and the Augusta Rescue Mission with their work as well in the community. This a four-hour event. Like they said before it includes a low country boil, live music, dancing, art displays and fireworks show at the end of the night as well, coffee and alcohol of course will be served at the event since we will have very high-quality meals on site. We’re also going to have parking readily available on the Georgia side currently at the old depot property which can hold about 500 cars there at that lot. We also have service parking available on the South Carolina side for caterers and our event setup for easy and readily access to the bridge. We also targeted the portion of the volunteers where we want to get in contact with these charities, get their list of volunteers that we’re able to staff the event, we’re able to run it smoothly and hopefully have no hitches along the ride. But looking at the map you’ll see the blue dot above the History Museum represents the old depot properties parking lot right now, the green dot represents where the check- in for the event will occur, the blue triangles of course will represent the dining areas with the red dot in between with the stage and live music along with the art displays and the dancing will occur as well. The yellow dot represents where our caterings will be setup basically preparing for the event that night and then the blue dot on the other side of the river of course is our service parking. Working with our downtown partners we hope to also launch a word of mouth campaign and also a poster campaign downtown along with using television, radio and internet and social media advertising to really help broaden the reach of this event and spread not only just outside Richmond County but to our neighboring counties as well. Looking at our expenses we have everything listed out from our security, our catering, our setup, the fireworks so we’re estimating about $29,140 dollars in our expenses. Sponsorship packages are available from $2,000 to $1,000 which allows for tickets, VIP access into the event through a separate line and also recognition on stage and on branding at the event as well so we’re estimating about $10,000 dollars hopefully we get from sponsorship money. And then of course moving into our ticket sales we’re estimating out $37 to about $50,000 dollars in that range looking at that. So anywhere from about $18 to $30,000 dollars is where we’re looking at for a profit that we can help turn back into charitable donations to these partners we hope to work with. But really our end goal is to really bring the community behind an issue. Yes, it’s a good event, yes, it’s a unique venue right on the river. It’s something that Augusta really doesn’t have. It’s been successful in other cities and we hope to bring that here and make it about helping people in our community who really do need help. It’s something I know a few weeks ago you saw many people who were left homeless after being kicked out of hotels during Masters Week and this is really an event that kind of highlights that need for help in the community and we can really divert it into these charities that could really move into using those causes. Do ya’ll have any questions? th Mr. Mayor: I think there’ll be a series of question if the Commissioner from the 4 doesn’t mind I’ll start with the first two and then I’ll yield to him. Back on your slide with regards to your layout, what happens in the event that the old depot property parking lot is not available? 19 Mr. Pelletier: I would think we are able to possibly work with neighboring areas. I know parking is also available at the museum area, also further down near The Commons, near the Marriott Hotel there there is parking readily available there. And if it comes down to distance I’m sure we can possibly find some shuttle service whether it’s golf carts or buses to possibly help move people down to the bridge. Mr. Mayor: My good friend Mayor Steve Benjamin over in Columbia as you’ve noted as done this for several years and it’s been very successful. In Tallahassee they recently had one Andrew Gillam so it’s exciting. My second question is have you again in your list of three that you mentioned, are you aware of the Family Promise Network which is actively engaged in meeting the needs of homeless families across Augusta where for 52 weeks a year they house a family and a local church each week to provide food, shelter and clothing and life skill training trying to get them mobile and back into the workforce? Are you aware of them as well because they do a substantial amount of good in the community? Mr. Pelletier: I have heard of them before and I definitely think with the profit we hope to get from this event it allows for more flexibility on where that money can go to. It doesn’t have to be restricted just to these three charities that we listed. I know there’s many other ministries and other social organizations that really help the homeless population in the Augusta region. th Mr. Mayor: Fantastic. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Just a couple of quick follow up questions. I know this is a general floating concept I really enjoy what all of the work ya’ll are doing and congratulations to both the professor and you all for engaging in this. The question I would have, a couple of them. Number one, are you expecting a large or promoting a large participation from the South Carolina side? Mr. Pelletier: I would say yes mainly because it is, though it does target Augusta itself and its homeless population mainly because it’s a metropolitan region, this is a unique event. Like the Mayor said it’s held up in Columbia as well so the people in North Augusta, Aiken, Edgefield they don’t have to drive all the way about an hour away to Columbia to go and experience a unique event like this. Anytime you can have a wonderful meal with friends in a very unique venue that hasn’t been used before in a sense like this it’s really something I think will attract people from both sides of the river. Mr. Sias: And the reason I asked that question looking at your layout there doesn’t seem to be a check in from the South Carolina side so I would ask that you maybe relook that so that because definitely this is a great event for Augusta. Generally we look at the CSRA so I would hate for them to end up with all the food and the alcohol and not be able to come in because that’s the way it looks right now so that might be an injustice to all of us so just some food for thought but really it sounds good. And the Mayor brought up an excellent point about the parking. I really think you need to have, I see you’ve got some parking designated possibly in South Carolina but as you move this idea forward, I think you really need to lock down the parking aspect and have assurances from such as the depot it may be under construction it may be under UNISYS control 20 but just speak to all those folks about parking and that can make this event very successful. So again congratulations to your efforts and thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, thank you. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Congratulations again, great presentation. My question is who’s the champion to run this event in your ideas or in your presentation? Dr. Loda: That’s a good question. When we presented these ideas our judges, Ms. Woodard and Brenda Durant and Glenn Parker, loved all the events and Mr. Parker said that he hoped that he could produce some of them and just wanted to share this idea with the more or less to share this idea with the Commission. So it is just a spark of an idea at this point (unintelligible) was liberally produced at I’m not sure but of course there are many changes that can be made. This is a student led perspective which I think they did a great job with but it’s just a spark, a glint in somebody’s eye right now. Mr. Frantom: Okay, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from st the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Yes. I think this is a good project and I’d be anxious to see what the other seven projects look like I mean I --- Dr. Loda: I certainly wanted us to present all of them and they went oh we can never have that amount of time. So I’ll be glad to get a synopsis of all of them to you if you’d like to see. Mr. Fennoy: --- okay. I guess my question is do you all plan on this being an annual event? Mr. Pelletier: I would definitely think so. I know homelessness just doesn’t go away with the snap of a finger. It takes a while and it’s a long cause that we really hope can turn this into an annual as an annual event. Like we said we don’t have a lot of annual events that bring the community together. We do have Arts in the Heart, we do have Westabou and a couple other like cultural festivals but this is something I think can Augusta use as a brand saying come to our region but also help the region itself through our own causes locally. Mr. Fennoy: Okay my next question is have you all considered using the Visitors and Convention Bureau to get the word out about this project? Mr. Pelletier: Absolutely. I think working with the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the Downtown Development Authority and other local business partners we can really help grow this event and allow this event to be broadcast not only just in the CSRA but to other neighboring metropolitan areas like Atlanta, like Columbia, like Savannah to really attract people from all across the southeast. Mr. Fennoy: And my last question what will we do in case of rain? 21 Mr. Pelletier: Hopefully fingers crossed it won’t rain but I’m sure possibly we’ll be looking at a backup date in case this is rained out. I know we’ll probably be working closely with the National Weather Service and our local meteorologists to ensure that you know that we have a safe and dry event on that bridge. Dr. Loda: It’s statistically (unintelligible) dry (unintelligible). Mr. Fennoy: Okay all right, I just wanted to say thank you for the excellent job that you all have done in presenting this and putting this together. Thank you, you did a great job. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5. Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Dr. Loda and I have had a bond for many years and I really think a lot of her and definitely her students especially David I’ve known since he was a little lad. But knowing Dr. Loda the way that I do, have ya’ll investigated the possibility of grants to help with the seed money and so forth? Dr. Loda: Great idea. I would also like to say that the budget that the student led budget (inaudible) but certainly that’s a great idea. Mr. Jefferson: Because I mean it seemed like that’s something that could really once it started the momentum would be a snowball effect in not only with your current students but the students would hold on as alumni to make sure it lives. So basically I felt like it would be a great idea for these students you know gave them a project to research some type of grant to see if the seed money would be available because it’s going to take a lot of money to start out. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: Thank you. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My question is one that’s been answered already about the weather but what time of year are you anticipating doing this at an annual? Mr. Pelletier: We’re probably going to look possibly during the summertime. Usually you know we want to try and stay away from the April showers which we just experienced this past month. But I definitely think probably during the summer which really we don’t have a lot of events post Masters Week so I think targeting that period would probably be the best. Dr. Loda: If I might interject just a minute before it gets too hot and also specifically October might be the drier month but all of those things considered. Mr. M. Williams: Yeah and that’s one thing that came up in my mind about the time of year. We can’t place the weather, we don’t know. You can talk about showers but knowing when it tries to cool down a little bit it might be a little bit better on everybody you know in that form. But the other thing is Glenn Parker we did this local situation and had someone in he said that he was getting with some people to try to find to find some signature event that we can annually put 22 on every year always come up with the same thing. It don’t work but I come up with the James Brown Festival I mean that’s something that everybody knows all over the United States and probably the world. So, I’m looking for those type avenues to do. We’ve got to attract people in you have to give people something different than what they’ve been having. You do the same thing you get the same thing. I do know that this is it sounds great sounds like it really could work but I’ve been pushing this James Brown situation because once you put that out there people automatically flood Augusta. We don’t understand that here because we’re too close to it but people on the outside of Augusta know how much that’ll do. Even that one statue we’ve got there’s people there every day taking a picture with the one statue. That just tells me we have not even scratched the surface on what we can do by using that name. Now some people can’t dance on the good foot but at the same time they want to move the good foot so they ought to be willing to understand what this man has done in his lifetime to help Augusta get on the map so to speak. So I applaud you all. I think that’s great I think you have some good ideas and I think you need to keep working on it; it’s going to take some tweaking. The Clerk: That’ll be their next project, that’ll be their next project. Mr. M. Williams: Okay well, I’m just I mean I’m excited to hear about something different. If Harlem, Georgia can put on a Laurel and Hardy Festival up there and if you go to Salley, South Carolina for the Saturday after Thanksgiving for the chitlins and stuff we certainly ought to have some kind of strut here in Augusta and we have not done that. So I commend you again. Thank you very much. Mr. Mayor: Okay --- Mr. Hasan: Motion to receive as information. Mr. G. Smith: Second. Mr. Mayor: --- all right, so we will receive this as information, but I think that we should probably do more than just receive this as information given that you’ve come and presented this. I think it’s something that we need to actively work on if we’re going to engage the students and the work they’ve done and put some action behind this and it not just be conversation. The Chair th. recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 th Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Chair. No disrespect to my colleague from the 6 but I’d like to present a substitute motion that we move this to Parks and Recreation to come back with some concrete plans. Mr. Jefferson: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. All right, so we have a substitute th that allows us to do that. All right, the Commissioner from the 9 you are recognized. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ve talked to the Clerk about economic subcommittee we had to reenact that and I would love for this body to be a part of that 23 subcommittee to come in and help us to conversate with us about different things. Now we do a lot of talking up here --- Dr. Loda: One of the things that my classes are great for some companies are starting to use and millennials are now running the world that you well know. Mr. M. Williams: --- well you know --- Dr. Loda: (Inaudible) you can use my classroom as a test market or how would millennials feel about this, how would millennials react to that. Really I think the perspective that they came with this event was how to attract more millennials to downtown Augusta and get millennials involved. Mr. M. Williams: --- well, if I can follow up, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: You can. Mr. M. Williams: You know some folks laugh when I say we do a lot of talking but we don’t use the knowledge that we have to put things in place. We do a lot of talking about different things. I’m the longest serving Commissioner and I’ve been here to hear a lot of conversations but nobody, we always find a reason not to do it versus finding a reason to do it then if it don’t work you do something else. But when you don’t do nothing and that’s what we do a lot of talking about. We talk about it and it sounds good but we don’t do anything. Now there’s no sense in repeating something that’s not working but if you try something and it works then we ought to build on that and that’s why I think we’re in the shape we’re in now. Mr. Mayor: Okay --- Mr. M. Williams: I would love to have you partner with the subcommittee. Ms. Bonner will get with you to let you know when that subcommittee’s going to be reenacted. Mr. Parker will be there, Brenda Durant, a lot of other people that you’re already familiar with to be able to share with us and to interact and to inform us about some of that stuff. Mr. Mayor: --- okay all right, so here’s our posture. We have a substitute motion to refer this to Parks and Recreation and for Parks and Recreation to put together a full plan of how we would execute this and a date to be determined 2019 with a proper second. That is the motion that is before us, substitute motion that is before us, Ms. Bonner. The Clerk: Yes, sir. st Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, voting. The Commissioner from the 1 seconded it, the st Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 9-0. 24 Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you so much --- Ms. Davis: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: --- we wish you all well in your studies. (APPLAUSE) Madam Clerk, we’re going to let Tom Corwin step out in the lobby and get all of their contact information, interview them and all that he wants to do. The Clerk: Well, I’ll take care (unintelligible). Mr. Mayor: That’s right, that’s right, I’m trying to get an Augusta Chronicle article right now. Madam Clerk, we’re going to go to Item number 23. The Clerk: PUBLIC SERVICES 23. Ms. Tonya Bonitatibus requesting the City of Augusta move forward with hiring McLaughlin Group to create concept drawings for the Whitewater Center included in Destination Blueprint adopted by the city on June 6, 2017. (No recommendation from Public Services Committee April 24, 2018) Mr. Mayor: As Ms. Bonitatibus prepares, I do want to take an opportunity, I see some of our esteemed clergy in the audience and thank ya’ll for being here. I know ya’ll are praying for us that we make wise decisions for the people of Augusta. So Reverend Martin, another of our spiritual leaders and Reverend Booker, thank ya’ll for being here today. All right, the Chair th. recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 State your inquiry. Mr. Sias: After her presentation I’m going to have a --- Mr. Mayor: Everybody’s going to have that opportunity. Mr. Sias: --- say what now? Mr. Mayor: Everybody’s going to have that opportunity. Mr. Sias: Hey look, I wanted to jump first. Mr. Mayor: I know you do. Mr. Sias: I want to jump in the river first so you know. Mr. Mayor: Can you swim? Mr. Sias: Absolutely not. 25 Ms. Bonitatibus: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Thank you for allowing me to come to speak today. We talked last week and I believe we’ve been talking for quite a while now about the possibility of creating a Whitewater Center in The Locks. Just to give you guys some background and remember there are two different issues here. We have the dam itself and what happens with the Corp of Engineers and then whether we save The Locks or not in that plan. And so what we are trying to do is get a plan together to create a Whitewater proposal so that as the court comes back in July/August or the end of the summer and says okay we either want to do rocks all the way across the river or we want to do the changes at the Lock and Dam, we could provide good evidence and reasoning for keeping The Locks. I did after last week go back to the to Mr. McLaughlin. I presented, you guys have the formal letter request from him. There are a couple of other requests that I had at that time one was not to have travel expenses but to have him actually itemize that which he did, I believe $1,500.00 dollars. And then the other was Commissioner Frantom wanted to see if we could also look at some of the amenities on the grounds themselves to include a ropes course. The other thing I would tell you is that I would like somebody to tell me if I am wrong but this what I believe. I’ve done a lot of work looking at the Lock and Dam trying to understand the history. I was of the opinion that is was the first desegregated park in Augusta. I now think I’m wrong. I actually think it’s even cooler than that. It was never segregated in the first place and that is a history that we should actually highlight. I grew up in South Augusta and that cooperative effort that it kind of defines us I think now is something that I want to see highlighted in the future so part of the 3,500 additional costs is to lay out the upland facilities to include the ropes course and then beginning to think about the historical element. The other thing I want to say real quickly is there was, up until now every time that I’ve come to talk about this there was a lady that joined us her name was Leslie Berry. Leslie Berry passed about a month ago and it’s kind of weird. Every time I stand up here now with this Whitewater Course it makes me shake a little bit because she pulled me aside about two months ago and it was at a part where it was pretty frustrating. After we had the Corp meeting and said you know I want to give everything that I have and support you guys because this is more than just the river. This is more than just the Lock and Dam park. This is actually the opportunity to begin to shift a part of our town. I believe very strongly. I live on Tobacco Road, have my whole life and we haven’t seen the growth from Fort Gordon. This you know this Commission we widened Jimmie Dyess Parkway, we have made strategic decisions that have driven some of our people to Columbia County and I think this is a big, big impetus and a right move forward so we can actually start trying to keep those people on our side of town and if nothing else get them to come back here and spend their money. So but I have the request. There is also the Statement of Qualifications. There are a number of requests of why should we choose Mr. McLaughlin so I think I have included all of that. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Sias. Mr. Sias: Thank you, Madam Mayor Pro Tem. To my colleagues and the body the Administrator I think if we’re going to, right now I will say first off I’m in favor of looking at this process and a design or something as to the possibility of a Whitewater approach. But also I think we need to have a, in speaking with some of my colleagues to include the Mayor Pro Tem and some others let’s look at a holistic approach on the river area. One of the options we had discussed further back was a light show, a boat doing a light show. So we all, and some other options that we could use there I think the Mayor Pro Tem mentioned something about a zipline. There are 26 several things. So we are going to bring the McLaughlin group here. I think we should really focus on a holistic approach of the river particularly in the pool area and what we can do with that and also past the pool are where the Whitewater thing is considered. So we have we’ve done very little on the river between bridges and that is our main pool area we really need to look at take a holistic approach of what we can do with that. So I think we really ought to ask McLaughlin Group to do more than just look at that. Ms. Bonitatibus mentioned a couple of things but I think we can add some more to that and also ask the Law Department and the Administrator on our next meeting to come back with a contract with McLaughlin Group to look at this. And I think it would be great if we approve the concept today and task them with having a contract for them to look at take a holistic approach and bring some recommendations based on some of things we already know we want that could be done at the river. And I think this is an opportunity to do this irregardless of whatever the final determination of the court and I think we can be able to fit all that in. So, Madam Mayor Pro Tem and Mr. Mayor, that is my recommendation and thought and also consider that in the form of a motion. Mr. Frantom: Second. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay --- Mr. Hasan: --- can I ask for clarity? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- hold up one second. I’ve got a couple of people I need to recognize. Mr. Hasan: Okay. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Is that okay then I’ll get you. I think that Commissioner Frantom had brought up this ziplining idea but what I wanted to also mentioned too we’ve talked to North Augusta what last year I guess Commissioner Williams, Commissioner Frantom, trying to figure out some kind of water ferry. That’s what I had mentioned today to Commissioner Sias. We never really looked into major logistics of how that could work but that’s just something I think we also need to somehow start having some discussion on the feasibility of that. I know that would probably be a private investment as well but just with what’s going on across the river that’s what we had had a lot of discussion about too. Commissioner Frantom and then Commissioner Williams. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. Yeah, I agree with my colleague; he said a lot of what I want to say. As a holistic approach I think when you look at this in this contract it mentions multiple locations and multiple things and I think people need to understand that. Also the city would own this. Some people would ask who would own this plan in moving forward. But when you look at what we did in 2017 with the Destination Blueprint of approving it and kind of giving a vision for the city both the ropes course and zipline and the whitewater course were a part of that plan so we are basically putting into action what we approved last year. So again I hope that my colleagues will agree to support both initiatives on this as my colleague and I again I agree that we need to look at it holistically and it’s an exciting in Augusta. And if you look at Columbus I sent my colleagues all the video of Columbus and they zipline across the 27 Chattahoochee. How cool would it be to zipline across the Savannah River, so thank you, Madam Pro Tem. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. A couple of things and I heard about the zipline and I’m not against that. In fact I’m in support of it but we also talked about a water taxi. We do a lot of talking like I said earlier. We met with the Administrator I think and North Augusta we went over and sat down and discussed some things about the future of the park and transportation and a water taxi but I’d like to see this moved forward with this and add the rest of it. Why are we going to hold up everything else and then come back and say well now let’s go do it. It takes time to get to New York. You got to first get out of the door and get in your car. You won’t get there by staying in your house. So if we approve this along with having that other stuff done this would get this moving versus waiting and that’s what we do a lot of hurry up and wait, Mary, so I mean if I can make a substitute motion my substitute motion would be to approve this along with adding the other things that the group can come back and assess us on. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: I think Commissioner Sias had mentioned that with the holistic approach so I think that’s pretty much part of the motion to include other options --- Mr. M. Williams: Okay --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- including what we mentioned up here today. Mr. M. Williams: --- well, I’ve got no problem then if we can go ahead and move forward versus just studying everything at one time and adding it together. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: And we’ll read that motion before we take a vote just to make sure we’ve included everything that we want to. Commissioner Hasan. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, ma’am. Madam Mayor Pro Tem, my concern is I think Commissioner Sias might have made mention of this so I want this to be for clarity that if we’re talking about the next meeting which would be to come back with this because time is of essence. We know here so it needs to have it and get back the contract needs to be in place so we can hire the McLaughlin Group because all of this is time sensitive. So we’re talking about the next meeting to the Madam Administrator and the Attorney to have a contract in hand that can be signed? Ms. Jackson: Is that for the next regular meeting, sir? Mr. Hasan: No, ma’am --- Ms. Jackson: Committee? Mr. Hasan: --- committee. 28 Mr. Sias: Special Called meeting (unintelligible). Mr. Hasan: Special, yeah. Ms. Jackson: We’ll do our best. Mr. Hasan: That’s not good enough. We need to do something, Ms. Jackson. This is time sensitive because the Corp is going to be coming down and so at least to Commissioner Williams’ point even though we could do all of those things, we need to drill down and focus on the Whitewater for the most part and get that down. And so he won’t be able to start until we get a contract in hand and so we need to just be mindful that it’s time sensitive, that it’d be back sometime in June or July and so we don’t need to prolong getting a contract in hand. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan, I agree but we’ve got to make sure we also can do this correctly and get it done with our staff. Mr. MacKenzie, do you feel like this is something because I don’t know if you’ve even been working with this group at all initially or you know going through the details. Mr. MacKenzie: I think it’s reasonable to expect that we could probably get it done. A lot of it would depend on what kind of language or if there’s any information that the consultant wants an agreement or not. I think it’s feasible for us to have the contract ready for approval by next week. Mr. Hasan: Do you have a protype? Excuse me. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan. Mr. Hasan: I’m sorry, Madam Chair. May I speak to, Ms. Bonitatibus, do you have some, a working protype there or something that what he is saying in any form or fashion? Ms. Bonitatibus: So the contract that I or the proposal does say if the proposal is acceptable we can provide our standard agreement for professional services. So I would say if you vote today to move forward with the concept and give the Attorney the ability he can contact them immediately and they can send the contract over and then begin from there so he definitely does have a draft contract. Mr. Hasan: Okay, that’s all I’m saying because I know all if it is time sensitive so I want to expedite the process, that was all. I didn’t want to get bogged down as sometimes things do in government, thank you, ma’am. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias. Mr. Sias: Thank you, Madam Pro Tem, and to my colleague’s question reference clarity that’s exactly why I said I urge that we do the concept today where it says they go back and develop a contract with those things in there. And also the other point is if I may address the Attorney? Mr. MacKenzie, to do a contract with this group would we be moving or are we authorized to do 29 that within the normal procurement parameters without violating anything? But here’s what I can say to that. If that becomes an issue in the preparation of the contract, that can be notified to us before the contract is done. In other words we can still approve what we want today but if we run into anything that’s problematic in that process, then I would say ya’ll bring that back to us as well if it becomes problematic. But we definitely need to include those other things inside of that agreement that we’re going to give to them a contract to look at those things and it definitely will increase pass, more than likely pass the predesignated amount. But this is an opportunity for us to do this so we need in that contract all those ideas we want them to look at for a holistic entertainment approach on the river. Thank you, Madam Mayor Pro Tem. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Also I wanted to just make comment that we, Mr. MacKenzie, did you need to follow up to that? Mr. MacKenzie: I was going to say I think that’s a good approach. I believe it can be done within the timeline you’re anticipating. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: I just wanted to make a comment because I know that this Commission and our Mayor we sent a resolution in support to try and repair or keep, you know, save the Lock and Dam and this is no intention up here to interfere with that. Still support that we have for that. I want to make that clear because I know there’s a lot of efforts that are still going on statewide and with the federal votes that are making these decisions. So just wanted to really make sure we’re not trying to interfere. We’re still behind you in your efforts so this is just something that now we’ve made it more detailed and expanded upon about how we can really have more recreation on the river, so I just wanted to make that comment. Is there any other discussion? Okay, Madam Clerk, will you read the motion just to make sure we’ve got everything included? The Clerk: The motion was to approve the concept of creating a whitewater center as included in the destination blueprint and to task the Administrator and General Counsel to bring back at our next meeting a contract with McLaughlin Group to address a holistic approach for river activities. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay we have a motion and a second. Please vote. The Clerk: To include the zipline. Ms. Bonitatibus: Fishing number one. That has to be number one above everything else is fishing. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 9-0. Ms. Bonitatibus: Thank you. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Tanya. Mr. Mayor, do you want to take back over? Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk --- 30 The Clerk: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: --- hold on just one second. The Clerk: Okay. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re going to Item number 30, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATOR 30. Motion to approve an amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Janice Welch Osei to assist in the Office of the Administrator. th Mr. Mayor: Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5. Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would like to check with my colleagues to see if it would be in order to make a motion to send this to committee because this has just been brought to our attention, I just feel like as a Commissioner it needs some more discussion so I would like to put that in the form of a motion. Mr. Hasan: I second. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a proper second to refer this to the Administrative Services committee, okay. All right, we’ve got a motion and a second for that th purpose. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: After, thank you, Mr. Mayor. After reading that I understand what my colleague is saying. I don’t really have an issue with it going back to committee but I really think we should I know the Administrator didn’t lobby folks for this to my knowledge but I really think we should have a little bit enough faith to go ahead and accept this. So my substitute motion is to approve. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Jefferson: I have a question. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7. Mr. Jefferson: Well, this is --- th Mr. Mayor: The 7 --- Mr. Jefferson: --- oh I’m sorry. Mr. Jefferson: --- I’m coming back to you. 31 Mr. Jefferson: Okay. Mr. Frantom: My question is how does this fall in, we’ve had two we haven’t had two deputies in over a year. We haven’t had deputy for the last four months I guess. How does the deputies fall into this agreement in assisting the office and what’s the plan moving forward to get the deputies back? Mr. Mayor: All right, I think those are all valid --- Mr. Frantom: Are they? Mr. Mayor: --- yeah, they’re valid questions and I think that’s part of the reason why the th Commissioner from the 5 is suggesting we put this back in committee that there needs to be some discussion about this. Not withstanding the fact that originally I think his intent was to have a discussion about it as we did when we originally brought Ms. Osei on in Executive Session to talk about it because you’re fundamentally now changing the terms of the consulting agreement. The requirements that we had in the original professional services agreement are now changing substantially and as a result of that there needs to be further discussion about that in terms of not only what we are going to be offering the consultant on an annual basis i.e. monthly basis and then at the same time what the deliverables will be with regards to that. And I think that was the intent th behind the Commissioner from the 5’s request. All right, I’m going to go to the Commissioner th from the 6 and then I’m going to come back to you. All right, the Chair recognizes the th Commissioner from the 6 --- Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: --- and then I’ll let the Administrator close out. Mr. Hasan: --- I think you, Mr. Mayor, I also think you pretty much what I wanted because I looked at what was required upon on the original agreement and one of those points was to hold the office down until we got an HR Director, we have that. The other was to give some recommendations in terms in restructuring of that and that would concern me at this point with a sitting director if that has not already been done. If the report has been found, I wouldn’t want a consultant to continue to do that at this point. I would like them to find their own way around that particular office. So that’s why I think it should be a broader conversation because I have some questions around those issues as well. Mr. Mayor: Absolutely. All right, I’m going to refer, I’m going to recognize the Administrator but in doing that, Madam Administrator, in the original professional services agreement there was a specific deliverable, the swat analysis. We have not received a copy of that. I don’t have a copy. I don’t know if anyone, I think that is something that needs to be delivered to our inbox to myself and the Commissioner’s that we need to get a copy of that. I think that’ll help us as we’re making decisions moving forward with regards to HR. I think the new HR Director needed a copy of that as well if that has not been delivered she should be getting a copy of that. These are things that will make us better as an organization and so if you can have that delivered 32 to us by noon tomorrow that will be very helpful. All right, I’m going to recognize you now and th I’m going to close with the Commissioner from the 5. Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Hold on, Commissioner. I’m recognizing the Administrator and closing with you. Mr. Jefferson: Okay, I’m sorry, spoke out of turn. Mr. Mayor: That’s all right. Madam Administrator. Ms. Jackson: Thank you, sir. If I can address some of your questions, I certainly would like to comprehensively. The reason that I put this on the agenda today without discussing it in committee is technically the interim assignment ended last week with the hiring of Dr. Conner so I felt like if we needed to amend her responsibilities, I need to do that right away. So that’s the explanation for it not being on, for not waiting until the next committee to do so. Number two, in terms of the swat analysis she has provided a draft report to me. I’m reviewing that report now. She needs my feedback in order to finalize. As soon as we can get that finalized, we can certainly have that to you this week if not exactly by noon tomorrow it will be in this week. In terms of the questions regarding the Deputy Administrator positions, one of the responsibilities if you missed if you look at the first attachment in the agenda. Section 1 is hereby amended by the deleting the current language and adding the following: Consultant will assist the Administrator with various organizational development and management tasks. These tasks include but are not limited to coordination of executive searches specifically for the Deputy Administrator positions, department analysis and assistance to the PPPM Manual Subcommittee of the Commission. And we had a consultant that was working with us previously on that. We’re no longer using his services. Given Ms. Osei’s familiarity now with the organization I think she would be the appropriate person to assist with that committee in the process and follow with developing procedures as that committee completes their work. Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Administrator, is it not true that you have posted the position for the deputies and have looked at some candidates already? Ms. Jackson: I have looked at some candidates, however, I don’t have those in sufficient number or qualities. She’s doing a deeper search for me to identify additional candidates. th Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I’m going to go back to the Commissioner from the 5 with his original motion and that was to refer this back for further discussion. I think that’s certainly th well and proper. All right the Commissioner from the 5 would you yield to the Commissioner th from the 9, I’ll give you the opportunity to close it out. Mr. Jefferson: Certainly. th Mr. Mayor: Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. 33 Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and I guess my question is when you amend professional services in that same area but wouldn’t that be a different area that you’re stepping out of going to the administrative side of that even though they’re capable of doing that kind of work. But you’re leaving one, I guess, set of situations going into a different one. Wouldn’t it have to be a whole new thing? That’s why I think we need to talk about it. Mr. Mayor: Well, I think again the gentleman know of what he speaks. The amendment substantially in my mind changes what the original consultant agreement was about. Mr. M. Williams: All right. Mr. Mayor: And that was to one to go in and conduct the swat analysis of our HR staff and then to help us in identifying a person who would then take on the role of HR and you’re substantially changing that now. Mr. M. Williams: For clarity I mean for my own clarity I’m saying that if it was someone in HR that they was fixing to do and we had this person that would be a different situation than moving from that to something else and I’m thinking we need to go back to committee with it as well but I just want to be clear. Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I think so. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the th 5. Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is no reflection on the person but as a Commissioner when I open up my agenda and looked at that I felt like that was something that should’ve had some discussion, some input from us because you know we hired Ms. Osei for the purpose of standing in after Mr. Losier left his position in HR. And now I’m looking to see before we even get a finalization or closeout we are talking about a continuation. And like I said she has not done anything wrong. She’s been a great asset but I just feel like as a Commissioner that it’s something that should discussed rather than to open up your agenda and see it on the page. And it’s no reflection on the Administrator, you know. She has great judgement but it’s such a thing as I feel that protocol is in line because as a Commissioner I think we’ve got the responsibility to assess what decision or what route we want to take with certain things. And I just felt like that violated everything I raised my right hand to follow through as a Commissioner. And I’ll just cut it off right there and save my other comments once we get in the Administrative Services committee. Thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor: All right, we do have the matter that is in front of us. Commissioner from the thst 4 made a substitute motion that was seconded by the Commissioner from the 1 and that’s certainly well within his right. And, Madam Clerk, I think the substitute was to move forward and then of course the main motion was to refer this to the committee. All right, we need to dispose of the substitute unless he withdraws that. Mr. Sias: No (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, we’ve got a substitute and a second. All right, voting. 34 Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Sias vote Yes. Ms. Davis, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. G. Smith vote No. Motion Fails 3-6. th Mr. Mayor: We’re back to the main motion from the Commissioner from the 5 which is to refer this to committee and have additional discussion and clarification. Voting. Mr. Fennoy votes No. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 8-1. Mr. Mayor: Madam Administrator, as you are working with Ms. Osei I would ask you to expedite the swat analysis. I think that would be helpful not only for us but more importantly for Dr. Conner in her new role as HR Director. Ms. Jackson: As I indicated, it will be done this week. Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am, thank you. All right, okay anybody want to make a motion to adjourn? I’m just kidding, just kidding, that’s a loaded question. All right, Item number 22. The Clerk: APPOINTMENT(S) 22. Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Tameka L. Jones to the Personnel Board representing District 3. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I don’t have any problem with Ms. Jones but I would like to know just a little bit about her who’s I mean this is coming from what? Mr. Mayor: Well, your Madam Mayor Pro Tem. It’s her appointment. The Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: I received an email from Ms. Jones and we, Chuck Evans was my previous appointee and he moved to Columbia County so he has not been available to serve on that board so it’s been vacant. And she reached out and is ready to get involved so I asked the Clerk to get a Talent Bank Form from her and information and put it on the agenda to approve. She’s eager to be involved in Augusta. Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve. Mr. D. Williams: Second. 35 Mr. M. Williams: Madam Mayor Pro Tem, all of the necessary ‘I’s’ have been dotted and ‘T’s’ been crossed, right? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Do you trust your Clerk? Mr. M. Williams: I trust my Clerk --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Of course they have. Mr. M. Williams: --- but --- The Clerk: The Talent Bank’s in your book, her profile’s in the book. Mr. M. Williams: --- so moved then. The Clerk: We have a motion and a second; we just need to vote. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 9-0. Mr. Mayor: Just one second, Madam Clerk. Okay, Madam Clerk, we’re going to go in this order 24, 25, 26 and 27 will limit debate to 10 minutes on each of these and we’ll go individually. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 24. Discuss lack of response and receive explanation from General Counsel MacKenzie regarding call back requests that are made to him and his Senior Staff Attorney Smitherman that are only returned to certain commissioners and not others. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I placed a call in and I finally got in touch with Andrew MacKenzie but I placed a call into Ms. Smitherman as well. Ran across and got with Mr. Guilfoyle and asked him as well he had made those attempts and finally he got a call back but I never did and I’m wondering you know why is there some commissioners get calls back or some commissioners get responses and some don’t. I understand why but I thought it needed to be brought to this body so we can get some clarification as to their response. Mr. MacKenzie was out of town and he said he would try to get in touch with Ms. Smitherman as well. There was some questions I needed answers to; I did not receive a call to this day back from her. I think Mr. Guilfoyle may have, I can’t speak for him he’s out today, but we had a long conversation about why the calls were not being returned. So if Mr. MacKenzie or someone has a legitimate answer I would love to hear that why they didn’t take place. I think we furnish the phones maybe we don’t I don’t know but I think we furnish the phones is that right, Ms. Bonner? Okay. 36 Mr. Mayor: All right, Attorney MacKenzie. Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, I’ll be happy to respond to that. First, I’ll say we do all have phones in the Law Department. If you need to reach any of our attorneys, we all do have phones where we can be reached. Ms. Smitherman and I were actually talking on the telephone at the time you called. As you know that was right preceding the EMS Council meeting which I think we probably will be discussing in some of the subsequent agenda items. When you called her, I was actually talking with her and we were on the phone preparing for that event and part of the research that needed to be conducted I instructed her to do. She did mention that you had called as well as Mr. Guilfoyle and that’s why I returned your call while she continued to research that topic. And we did provide a written response containing answers to the inquiry that was raised and we did attempt to call later although I know it was getting up against the time in which that meeting was starting so there was, I try to return the calls of every Commissioner as well as the Mayor and really any of our other clients as well as soon as reasonably possible. To the extent we weren’t able to do that and because of the circumstances and I apologize for that. Mr. M. Williams: Andrew, let me clarify something. This was not the day of the meeting, this was prior to the meeting. One afternoon I called the Clerk’s office and had her to make the calls as well to try to reach someone. This wasn’t during the proceeding or the time the meeting was done. This was the day, probably the day before maybe a couple of days before --- The Clerk: Friday. Mr. M. Williams: --- yeah, on a Friday when I called. And I’m sure we’re trying to save money, we’re cutting a lot of calls so we don’t have call waiting and don’t have an answering service on them phones that you all got we need to, you know, see about that. But I never did get a call back and that really bothers me to the fact that you answered, you finally answered and if you was talking to her and you told her that I had been trying to that I talked with you I left a message for her, had the Clerk as well to call you and to call her to leave a message not to have her call and I never received that call. So that was on a Friday. They had Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday possibly even Tuesday morning that I needed information but so that wasn’t the same timeframe that she was thinking about morning of that meeting. The Clerk: Yes, Mr. Mayor, can I address that --- Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, yes. The Clerk: --- I may need to do a correction on that. I think it was Monday, were you out Monday and Tuesday? Mr. MacKenzie: Yes, ma’am. The Clerk: Yeah, and we tried to reach him through email and left messages at the office so I wanted to clarify it wasn’t this Friday, it was Monday. 37 Mr. M. Williams: Well, it wasn’t the day of the zoning meeting because that was that morning so I didn’t want her to think that I was running into that time that he could reach me because you know I was in that meeting. I was not but I did not get a call is basically what I’m addressing. Mr. MacKenzie: I’ve tried to call you back as soon as possible and I’m sure that my staff does as well. Mr. M. Williams: No I need a little more than that now I need a little more than that, Mr. Mayor, if I’m not out of line, I’ve been out of line all day so --- Mr. Mayor: Yeah, --- Mr. M. Williams: --- ain’t no sense of me getting back in now. I do need to know from -- - Mr. Mayor: --- well, I’m going to try and help you with this one --- Mr. M. Williams: --- well from --- Mr. Mayor: --- I am. Mr. M. Williams: --- from a standpoint of attorneys working for this body. Now I know the Fire Chief’s got an attorney who walks in with him and walks out with him. I can’t get one on the phone, something’s wrong now. Mr. Mayor: Let me try to help you. Mr. M. Williams: Okay well, I need the help. th Mr. Mayor: So I’ve looked at this issue that the Commissioner from the 9 is raising. It is a cultural issue. It’s not an issue as it relates to just the Attorney. There is a perception that you have to be certain Commissioners or elected officials in order to get a response from individuals who work in this government. I’ll start with the Directors and I’ve said this since day one that we are here to support you in every effort but as an employee of this government, whenever an elected official or quite frankly any of your colleagues reach out to you, you should respond back in a reasonable amount of time. That is professionalism, that’s integrity of job, etc. But this cultural practice of getting back to certain ones and not to others it is a real issue. It is not something that is elusive or of this mystical notion that just happens from time to time that is not, I’ve seen it I’ve experienced it myself as well. But what we must do and again I think I like the approach that th you’re taking but you’re dialing it back a little bit the Commissioner from the 9. But as a practice in this local government, we should respond to each and every one with a reasonable amount of time and if we can’t then send a short message that says I’ll have to get back to you. That’s something that we should just expect that’s common courtesy, that’s professionalism as opposed to sometimes the gamesmanship that does go on so I concur with you that you know you should get a response back. The Attorney has indicated that this is where he was, this is what the posture 38 was and I certainly accept that on its face value but as a common rule of thumb in this organization of employees, elected officials and otherwise that’s something that we owe each other that we respond and that’s a basic expectation of working in an organization of this size whether it’s private sector, public sector that we do in fact respond to one another. So that’s what I would want to see happen. Mr. M. Williams: Can I reply, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: You may. Mr. M. Williams: The Attorney acted as if this was he just stated a normal practice, that it’s not a big deal and maybe in his mind it’s not. He was willing to say you know I guess if the call drops it just drops and don’t worry about it. It’s another thing but you’re right, it does happen quite often. Certain people can call, certain people get responses, other people get treatment. And so I beg to differ with him because he’s in charge of the department. He is the chief lawyer so I expect him to get those answers, those responses. Mr. Mayor: Well and I think that’s certainly reasonable. Again as a rule of thumb I think it’s extremely important whether we are elected officials communicating back and forth to one another, whether we’re communicating with staff that we try to respond in a reasonable amount of time just demonstrating common professional courtesies to do that. I’ve been guilty of it sometimes myself just as we’ve seen it of not responding as quickly as I probably should and so all of us need to take some ownership in this issue and especially as it relates to working with our department directors, our attorney, our staff so that we have those again productive working relationships. All right, do you want to receive this as information? Mr. M. Williams: That’s all I can do, Mr. Mayor. I don’t have any other alternative but to receive as information. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, very good. Mr. Grady Smith: So moved. Mr. Mayor: We’ll receive it as information and we’ll go to the next item. The Clerk: PUBLIC SAFETY 25. Discuss negotiations with ambulance companies to provide service to the ARC. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Again thank you, Mr. Mayor. On yesterday when we went to Carrie J. Mays and met with some of the neighborhood people there this topic came up about the ambulance service and it was stated that what we was paying was too much or shouldn’t be paying for the 39 ambulance contract. Well, it never was mentioned that we had no negotiation that the Administrator nor this body have put anything in place to negotiate. We offered a 65% cut to the ambulance contract whether we like that provider or whatever we hadn’t negotiated with anybody that could provide that service for us and whether it be the present provider or any other provider. But there has not been no negotiation but we’re putting it out there as if we’ve been held up without a gun and I’ve got to take issue with that. Had we negotiated and sat down at the table to talk to any provider, even the present one we have now, we may have had a resolution to all of this back and forth about who’s charging who’s on first and what’s on second. So I’ve really got some issues as to the Administrator I’d like to know why we had not negotiated or why we had not sat down at the table and talked with a agency that can provide this service for the people that we represent the people that we need go out and service the people of Richmond County. Now you stated that Columbia County was paying I think $500,000 dollars and we was paying almost $800,000. Well, we’ve got more customers than they’ve got so we ought to pay more. I think we got the abandoned areas, we’ve got the back alleys, we’ve got the areas that’s going to cost us more. We got a lot of range to cover. So I’m a little bit disappointed because we have not, advised the Administrator or the Administrator came to us and said this is what we need to do. We just purchased two ambulances without equipment. I don’t think stretchers and all the other stuff have come out I don’t know that for a fact but we spent over $400,000 dollars just for two ambulances. No one has said we was going into the ambulance business. No one has thought about talking about going into the ambulance business but we are acquiring ambulances. We have no billing process, there’s no way we can bill it. There’s no staff or personnel to staff that equipment. We have not picked up anybody in I don’t know when with the two older ambulances we’ve got. So my question is I guess to the Administrator, Mr. Mayor, what direction are we heading in? Why did we buy those two ambulances? Now if you can’t answer, Administrator, maybe the Fire Chief can answer. What direction are we going in for us to buy that equipment with the taxpayers’ money over $400,000 dollars and don’t have the manpower nor the other resources we need to go along with that? Mr. Mayor: Madam Administrator. Ms. Jackson: I think the Fire Chief has explained the answer to that question several times. I think one of the primary reasons he did it was so he can have an ambulance available at fire scenes for the benefit of his firefighters in the event that one of them becomes injured on the site of a fire. On a scene of a fire we could have an ambulance there guaranteed to respond to his the needs of his personnel, is that correct, Chief? Mr. M. Williams: May I respond Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Yes. Mr. M. Williams: That’s like having a police officer on every corner because you don’t know when a robber’s going to rob you, Donna, so you need to have a police officer on every corner. That’s an answer but that’s not a good enough answer. When you’re talking about a fireman who agrees to take that job, understands the risks that he has not just having an ambulance, we’re going to send an ambulance out there we’re going to need, how many stations we got nineteen, we’re going to need nineteen ambulances still going to need manpower to go with them 40 and we won’t be picking up anybody because if a fireman may get injured may have to use that services then we still won’t be picking up. So I hearing now that we bought $400,000 dollars- worth of equipment that we don’t have the manpower for just in case we need to send an ambulance to a fire scene where someone may get hurt at. Is that the reason, Ms. Jackson, you’re saying? Ms. Jackson: That is one of the primary reasons that the Chief stated. If the Chair would like, the Chief can repeat the other reasons as well. Mr. M. Williams: No, Mr. Mayor, that’s a good enough answer for somebody. It ain’t good enough for me but if you’re talking about spending $400,000 dollars and we’re not going into the ambulance business now but we done bought two pieces of equipment and don’t have the manpower for that, don’t have the equipment for that, what are we doing with the taxpayers’ money? You talked about being a good steward of the taxpayers’ money. How can that be a good steward of the taxpayer’s money if we just spent $400,000 dollars for equipment that we don’t have the necessary other entities or other parts and personnel to run it? Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I’m going to address that in two ways. One, I’m going to th recognize the Commissioner from the 4 to speak to this matter then I’m going to come back and I’m going to remind this body of a series of actions that are required Commission action. Starting last year with the hiring of part-time personnel to begin addressing these issues about how we will have folks, things that this body voted on, as we were moving forward to address this issue to include augmenting our current fleet of two with two new ambulances. I’m going to walk us down th memory lane. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I need to ask Chief James a quick question but I don’t need him to really come up. Mr. Mayor: All right, give him a moment to approach the microphone. Let’s do this the proper way. Mr. Sias: All right, thank you. Mr. Mayor: Yes sir. Mr. Sias: Chief, how long has this City of Augusta/Augusta Fire Department had an ambulance license? Chief James: The City of Augusta’s had an ambulance license since 2004/2005. Mr. Sias: Thank you. If I’m not mistaken, Chief, you may be a little incorrect on that because according to the bid information I read we had a license back in 2002 when we bidded out the service to Rural Metro. We actually bid the service out whether we had a license I don’t but we owned the thing so thank you for that information. So I want to say, Mr. Mayor, we’ve been in the ambulance business as long as we’ve had an ambulance license so that’s nothing new for this government. What we did do was contract out the services to augment what we had. We’ve never, since we’ve had our license, we have never been out of the ambulance business because we 41 have a responsibility to the citizens of Augusta-Richmond County and this is become Augusta- Richmond County. And we’ve always had that service augmented by a contractor until 2014 when that service was taken from us by the present zone provider via the state. The state awarded that zone designation to that particular provider and therefore at that point it was up to them whether or not we received the call or whether we got a call. Now there’s been a lot of questions about what would happen if that just fell apart. I think irregardless this city has always and has a requirement to be prepared to offer the citizens of Augusta-Richmond County the best emergency services, the same as we do with fire, the same as we do with utilities, the same as we do with roads. That is what people expect from their government. Now it’s been said that the Augusta Fire Department can’t put out a fire. Now I take issue with that. We have some very brave young men and women who go out and put their lives on the line for citizens and anybody in this county, neighboring counties, mutual aid agreements, and I just consider that way below any kind of level of standard for that to be said from the dais about our fire department and our valued men and women. So and this body has taken on, there’s never been a subsidy below $1 million-dollars. I just don’t know how the numbers get changed around for convenience but it is what it is. So, Mr. Mayor, I thank you for the opportunity to make those points. Mr. M. Williams: Can I respond, Mr. Mayor? st Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, if I can remember correctly at one time the ambulance services was being discussed, I think it was in 2013 somewhere along those lines, and we had several ambulance services that wanted to submit a proposal to provide services for the city. But some of my colleagues that are presently on the committee voted for that process not to take place and to give the contract to Gold Cross. The problem that I had with that process is that and I don’t have anything against Gold Cross but the problem that I had with that process is that I had nothing to compare it to, that we were more or less at the mercy of Gold Cross because some of my colleagues didn’t want that process to be competitive and for no other ambulance services to be a part of that process. So you know it just amazes me how all of sudden we want to talk about the contracts and the process when the process has more or less been tainted from the start. th Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Bonner, I’m going to need your expertise here now because I’m going down memory lane that the Mayor talked about earlier. When we had Rural Metro for an ambulance service in this city and we kept contract for a while and we ended up bidding it out now and ended up with Gold Cross. And I think the Commissioner from st the 1 is right that not just his colleague but six of his colleagues decided that they could have renewed without going out and that was within the guidelines to reinstate a contract back with Gold Cross. So I don’t care who gets the thing, contract, but it ought to be at least a bid process because ain’t nobody going to carry for nothing. Now whether it’s a million-dollars, $800,000 or $500,000 I don’t know that, Mr. Mayor, I don’t keep up with those numbers. That’s not my job. But I do know that we have had other ambulance services in here even before that we had other forms of transportation taking people to and forth from the hospital. But it just amazes me how we won’t even sit down and just talk to a company. Now we’ve got a bid process here. We ain’t 42 going to do like some of these areas that we’re working in here where we don’t go through no bid we just pick who we want to do it. We’ve got a bid process so we ought to be trying at least talk to other providers, get a quote from them, get a bid from them. It’s going to cost us something but we had not had that not one time. It looks like the process is not fair. It looked like we want to do it fair we get to a bid. Do a sealed bid, a open bid, I don’t care how you do it but we hadn’t done any of that. Had not had the first time that we had talked about changing that process, and the bell rings again, Ms. Bonner. But those are the things that you know we come in here and talk like you know everything is fine. People on the street are being mistreated I think, been overcharged and a lot of other things because we don’t have nothing in place. Mr. Mayor: Yeah --- Mr. M. Williams: We had time restraints put in the contract at one time. We had a number of ambulances at peak time and non-peak time. We don’t have any of that now because we have not sat down and talked and negotiated through the Legal Department or the Administrative Department or this body as a commission to try to come up with something feasible. Now we said we was going to do that but we hadn’t done it yet but we expect to get something different. Mr. Mayor: Our time has expired on this matter, Commissioner. All right okay, all right --- The Clerk: Do you want to go to the next one? Mr. Mayor: --- yeah, we want to go to the next one. We’ll receive this as information. The Clerk: We don’t have a quorum so it’ll just go off. Mr. Mayor: Item 26. The Clerk: PUBLIC SAFETY 26. Update from staff on what triggered/caused and who authorized stationing a Fire Department Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in the commission chamber during commission meetings. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9, Chief, would you please approach. All right go ahead, Commissioner. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This chamber belongs to this body and I’m hearing reports of different things but I’d like to know from the Fire Chief what triggered, what caused us to have an EMT placed in this room. I guess like he stated about the fireman going on a fire call they send out an ambulance behind the fire truck so I guess he feels the same way about this. But, Chief, can you tell me what triggered and why this was brought to this body without going through this body to get an okay from it? 43 Mr. Mayor: Chief James. Chief James: Mr. Mayor, Commissioner, the firefighter, the EMT was assigned to the chamber by myself. It was triggered from the training and other things that we have done. We thought that that was the best way we could, you know, a way we could protect the public. We had been in conversations with active shooter and we were talking about the Georgia Trauma Center Stop the Bleed Campaign and we were discussing this location and how to address issues that could possibly happen here and that’s how that decision came about. Mr. M. Williams: You’re telling me, can I follow up, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Sure. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you. Can you tell me why there’s not anyone at the Planning and Zoning meeting to sit here at the same way? Can you tell me why any other public meeting in this building whether or not it’s just in this chamber but any public meeting because what it sounds like they’re not just not on our bleachers in this chamber but at the John Ruffin Building as well because there’s the court chambers over there as well. You’re talking about a situation like you just described. So are we going to place them in every open meeting that John Q. Public’s going to be at in case there’s an active shooter, is that what you’re saying? Chief James: No, that’s not what I’m saying --- Mr. M. Williams: I mean I was asking that question. I formed it like that but if you’ve got one placed here then the other meetings that’s here in the general public is here as well. It could be that type of situation because I mean you’re walking to your car things happen so that’s my point. How do we determine which ones? When it comes to this body, this chamber, it belongs to this body here. It takes six votes for anything in this room. We just had a little debate about the Marshal a while back and all that plays under this body here. You just don’t decide, Chief, I don’t think I mean maybe so. Chief James: --- that was a question? Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, you done missed it. Mr. Mayor: Just suspend. Mr. M. Williams: Well, Mr. Mayor, I was asking him --- th Mr. Mayor: I know I’m laughing at the Commissioner from the 10 right now. He’s ready to tell us a dugout story and I thought I might want to hear what that story was to kind of break it up a little bit but then he stopped and Madam Clerk said we ain’t got time for all that. All right so, Chief, you need to answer the question. Chief James: If the question is that how do we decide that this particular meeting was because this was the particular meeting we thought had the most people that came in. And based 44 th on our history, even my personal history of working when the chambers were on the 8 floor when citizens went down, got sick, we’d go to Mr. Russell’s office, get the first aid kit out and would go to assist them. And we noticed, we discussed the fact that there was no first aid kit here, that there was no AED here and then we tried to address that situation. If other venues get to where they’re that crowded or an area where we consider then we may not decide that that’s where someone needs to go or how would we assure that those particular issues are addressed. During that conversation this happened to be the conversation we had been talking about doing that training in this building for employees that work in this building and that’s how this particular subject came up. Mr. M. Williams: So, Chief, my question to you is you didn’t think that should be brought to this body for this body to decide, that’s something that you as a Fire Chief. Now you’re in charge when there’s a fire now we won’t get into the fire we’re going to stay with the EMT. But you decided that that’s what this body needs and if you decide something else I guess you’ll implement that as well because you’re the Fire Chief, right? Chief James: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: Okay so if you decide something else, you’re going to implement that as well? Chief James: If it falls under the rules that I think that’s under my purview so --- Mr. M. Williams: Okay, okay hold your point now because you say if it falls under the rules. When this building was renovated, there’s rules that the Fire Department was supposed to check off so to speak to make sure that all the safety measures was in place. Now if you had to have a man in here that should’ve been under the rules, that should’ve been stated when you signed off on it. If there’s a defibrillator or whatever necessary your job as the Fire Chief should make sure every floor that’s got the capacity of rescue whatever it is. Now if you’re going to put a man on every floor, I ain’t got no problem with that but I’ve got a problem when you decide to take a man out of the station or a man from somewhere else place them here to sit here during the meeting because you decided. I don’t think you make that decision in this room. Now you might make that on the street when there’s a fire call, it’s got to be a fire call, it can’t be just somebody calling, it’s got to be a fire call. So I take issue, Mr. Mayor, because there’s guidelines. When this room was approved smoke detectors, sirens or alarms all those things ought to be checked off by the Fire Department I thought so that dog won’t hunt, that don’t make --- Mr. Mayor: Yeah, well let me ask you I’m going to ask you I’m going to direct the question to you. Would you like the person to no longer be in this chamber? Mr. M. Williams: Would I like? Mr. Mayor: Would you like to remove the EMT Firefighter from, the medical tech, would you like to remove this person from the chamber? 45 Mr. M. Williams: I just think it’s costing the taxpayers’ money, Mr. Mayor, to have someone to sit here in just in this particular chamber but if you’re going to do it all over the building and every facility I mean that’s one thing but to place someone in this chamber because there may be something that’s like saying you know if you go to a fire a fireman may be overcome by smoke so I need an ambulance there. That’s the silliest thing I ever heard in my life. Mr. Mayor: I want to caution --- Mr. M. Williams: I mean those things happen and the history of the fire department even when we had horse and buggies those things happened we had horse and buggy fire fighters and trucks, Ms. Bonner --- Mr. Mayor: --- I want to caution you --- Mr. M. Williams: --- on Broad Street. Mr. Mayor: --- I want to caution you on your statement particularly the approach because as you say costing the taxpayers’ money. If you look out in the audience you have some of our highest paid professionals who are in the audience right now and they’d probably rather be back in the office doing something else so let’s go back to the central question --- Mr. M. Williams: Okay but --- Mr. Mayor: --- would you like for that person to be removed? Mr. M. Williams: --- let’s go back to your question because if those people got a reason for being here then they ought to be here. But if those people are just here because they want to see the show then I’ve got some issues with that. But if they’re here because they’ve got legitimate issues yeah, they ought to be here but just to be here? Mr. Mayor: Well, I think the Fire Chief indicated and you know again whether it’s his analysis or not what he indicated was based on the training (unintelligible) --- Mr. M. Williams: If he’s going to be, if they’re going to be at every public facility we have yes, but if not going to be at every one no I don’t think this ought to be treated any different from anybody else if John Q. Citizen’s got to deal with when he or she is in this room. I don’t think this body ought to be more privileged to protection than everybody else ought to be privileged to it. Mr. Mayor: --- all right, so I’m going to go back to my central question would you like for the Fire Chief to remove said individual from the chamber? Mr. M. Williams: I don’t think it was approved by this body so, yeah, I think that we shouldn’t have a person sitting here for this particular body. It ought to be either everybody or nobody now, you can’t pick and choose. 46 th Mr. Mayor: All right, okay so, Chief James, the Commissioner from the 9 doesn’t see value in it and would like you to have that person no longer sitting in this chamber. Now you made a prudent decision as to why you want him here. He just indicated that it takes six votes in order for anything to happen. Does this body want to vote on whether or not this person is here? Mr. Speaker: (Inaudible). Mr. Mayor: I’m asking okay you do want to vote on it, okay, all right. All right, the Chair th recognizes the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: I don’t think there’s a need for, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I don’t see a need for this body to vote on it. That’s why hire these professionals you just mentioned to make these decisions so I don’t see any reason for that. We need to let these folks do their job. Thank you. nd Mr. Mayor: Very well, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2. Mr. D. Williams: I make a motion to receive Item 26 as information. Mr. G. Smith: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a proper motion and a second to receive as information. Voting. Mr. Frantom, Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Mr. M. Williams votes No. Motion Passes 6-1. Mr. Mayor: All right Item 27. The Clerk: PUBLIC SAFETY 27. Update of the status of Augusta’s efforts to follow through with the Commission’s directive to pursue re-opening of the EMS Zone through the Regions VI EMS Council. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: --- this is the situation where we made a call to Andrew MacKenzie to get Ms. Smitherman to return a call back. We went to the EMS Council Board to talk to them and some untruths I guess would be a better way to put it was told. We was told that the zone was going to be opening up. This body decided to pursue that because I asked the question when we 47 was told that why are they giving up the zone and they wasn’t giving up the zone but we was told that the zone was being given up so we as a body decided to pursue it. Well, finding out later that was an untruth that it wasn’t being open. We had went to court, we had lost the zone, we had fought for it through our attorneys. The state ruled that the ambulance service Gold Cross in question would be the zone provider so now we’re back at the circle again. We’re talking about zones, we’re talking about ambulances we done bought but nobody said yet from the Administrator, the Attorney or the Fire Chief that we were going into ambulance business that we’re going to start transporting. We hadn’t transported anybody yet with the old ambulances or the new ones that are coming. So, Mr. Mayor, I’m a little bit disappointed as to why we pursue we opened up this EMS zone when we was told that the zone was fixing to be given up. Now Commissioner Guilfoyle is not here. Commissioner Frantom is not here. But I’m not the only one that heard that statement that that’s why the zone was being opened up. Now if they’re going to be opened up, we should pursue it if it’s going to be opened up but I asked that question people come bearing gifts. Be careful of those bearing gifts. They want to give it away. Why is that and then now we’re hearing about all the bad complaints and all that kind of stuff. During that time, Mr. Mayor, I got a call with a complaint about Gold Cross. A man called me and said that we didn’t need to keep Gold Cross. Gold Cross was doing a bad job so Gold Cross got lost coming from his Mama’s house to University Hospital. Now I probably could’ve swallowed that had it been the other way around but he got lost coming from his Mama’s house going to University Hospital. There are 412 ways to go to University Hospital from anywhere. But that’s the kind of complaint that I had, Mr. Mayor. That tells you that the people are starting scheming and trying to keep this government off balance. Mr. Mayor: Yeah, well, I’m going to agree with you again but from this perspective that this conversation has persisted far too long. It’s time for us to have a real conversation about what our posture is as it relates to EMS services and the City of Augusta. And I’m expecting us to have that conversation here next week. It’s high time for us to do that and to move out of the shadows, move out of the rooms, meeting rooms etc. and have a complete conversation so I agree with you th, from with that regard. What we disagree, Commissioner from the 9 is that this body to include yourself voted to petition the EMS Council to open up the zone --- Mr. M. Williams: You’re right, Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: --- nobody came bearing gifts saying that ‘Gold Cross was going to leave the zone’ but we specifically had a series of conversations and meetings where we said we’re going to write a letter which I did sign and we moved forward with asking them to open the zone. That is a prudent move, that is a move that should’ve happened years ago. The reality of it is as the jurisdiction we should in fact be the zone provider. That is consistent with some smaller counties than ours and it is a position that I wholeheartedly support, one that I’m going to unequivocally stand with our Commission, our government and our Fire Chief to open the zone with petition and I fully expect us to be the zone provider. Mr. M. Williams: --- my question --- Mr. Mayor: To that end, to that end, to that end, I want to hear from Attorney Smitherman to give us an update on where we are. 48 Mr. M. Williams: --- one question, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Yes, please approach. Mr. M. Williams: My question will this body, this government intend to go into the ambulance business? Is that what I’m hearing you say? Mr. Mayor: Well, that’s not what you heard me say but --- Mr. M. Williams: Well, I’m asking the question I mean because if we’re going to pursue the zone and we don’t have it but if we get it we done bought two ambulances, we don’t have any equipment. What are we going to do then? If that’s the direction we’re going in I just need to know. I think the general public needs to know --- Mr. Mayor: --- well --- Mr. M. Williams: --- those people are being charged for whatever reason. You heard this before. We pay $5 million-dollars a year to change oil in our cars and trucks but we can’t pay the subsidy for ambulance service that people need. So it ain’t about saving money because if that was the case we’d have done something with that. We ain’t talked about that not one time. Mr. Mayor: --- all right lets’ do this. All right, you’ve had ample time to talk about it. You asked for an update on the status of Augusta’s efforts. Attorney Smitherman. Ms. Smitherman: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Commissioners. As you’re aware there was a Region VI EMS Council Zoning Committee meeting last Tuesday to discuss and accept additional information on Augusta’s request that the zone be opened. Both parties were given until this past Friday to provide additional information which my understanding that both parties did. We just received an email yesterday afternoon from the Chairman of the Zoning Committee indicating that the Zoning Committee would not have an opportunity to have another meeting prior to the next regularly scheduled Region VI EMS Council meeting which is this Thursday coming up. And as a result the zoning issue would not be, there would not be a recommendation from the Zoning Committee to be made at the next Region VI meeting but that the Zoning Committee would schedule another meeting sometime shortly thereafter and that all parties would be made aware. So at this time we are waiting for the next Zoning Committee meeting to be scheduled at which time we’re hopeful that the zoning committee will make a recommendation which will go forward to the full Region VI EMS Council to be addressed by the full council. Mr. Mayor: All right, so help me I’m getting real slow right now as it’s late in the evening. What you have stated is that there is a meeting that will take place Thursday, is that not true? Ms. Smitherman: Yes, sir, there is a full Region VI EMS Council meeting their regularly scheduled meeting which will be Thursday. Mr. Mayor: But is it at this meeting that they will not be making a recommendation. 49 Ms. Smitherman: They will not, they have not had a sufficient meeting time in order to be able to make that recommendation. Mr. Mayor: And there is a meeting date/time not certain where they will then make their recommendation but we are awaiting that date. Ms. Smitherman: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor: Okay. All right okay all right, is everyone tracking? Mr. M. Williams: Point of Order, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right, state your inquiry. Mr. M. Williams: Ms. Smitherman is responding as an attorney. I thought we went into Legal (unintelligible) attorney. The Fire Chief should’ve been responding but since Ms. Smitherman is an attorney maybe she can answer this question. Do this body intend on going into the ambulance business? I hadn’t heard that yet. Mr. Mayor: Well, suspend. I don’t think you’re the right person to answer that question, That’s right, you are the one who decides. Mr. M. Williams: Well, but I ain’t had no conversation Ain’t nobody talked to me about it but I ain’t buying no ambulance either. We done voted to buy two ambulances and we didn’t have that conversation to spend $407,000 dollars. All this could’ve been handled a couple of weeks ago, maybe a month ago and now we’re talking about it again. Mr. Mayor: All right, so here’s what we’re going to do, here’s what we’re going to do. All right, we asked for an update on the status of Augusta’s efforts to follow through with the Commission’s directive. This body gave a directive to pursue opening up the zone in petition in that we ultimately become the zone provider. That is a work still in progress. We’re awaiting the EMS Council’s recommendation about that. That is our posture as it relates to the purchase of the ambulances. Again it is this body’s right as a government to do that. You voted to do so. We purchased two new ambulances and at some point in time in the future they will be delivered. That does not change or negate the fact that to date Gold Cross is in fact the zone provider. Statutorily the law requires them to provide for EMS services in Augusta-Richmond County and until they are no longer the zone provider, there’s a full expectation by this government and certainly by me as the Mayor of our 202,000 citizens that they better show up and provide those services. The law requires them to do that. Mr. M. Williams: But the law did not require them --- Mr. Mayor: We’re not debating that matter. What we’re debating consistently is whether we’re going to have the zone opened up and we hope that that happens. In the event that it does and we become the zone provider at that point just like there are several jurisdictions in this 13- 50 county region who are in fact the zone providers we will be able to determine our own destiny in terms of who we contract services out to or what posture we take. The question, Commissioner th, from the 9 that you keep asking and it is a prudent question and it is one that we will discuss and we will discuss it in a way that is constructive as opposed to being elusive. You’re frustrated, citizens are frustrated. We will have this conversation about what our posture is as it relates to the long-term disposition of not only the ambulances that we have but what we are purchasing about what we will do --- Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, you brought the provider in --- Mr. Mayor: --- that’s a conversation you want us to have and I agree we should have it. Mr. M. Williams: --- you brought the provider in. I didn’t bring, you brought the provider in and being the provider we got no time restraints, we got no a number of ambulances at peak time any other time we can put in place because we don’t, all we’re doing is getting the ambulance service to provide because they’re the zone provider. And the people are not being picked up properly I say properly without the expense that they ought to have because the city’s not paying any kind of subsidy at all. So, --- Mr. Mayor: It has nothing to do with that. Mr. M. Williams: --- okay that’s your opinion, that’s your opinion. Mr. Mayor: Factually that has nothing to do with that. Mr. M. Williams: Factually they have, Mr. Mayor, it’s your opinion that they don’t but I think they do. Mr. Mayor: Well all right, thank you so much, Ms. Smitherman. All right, motion to receive as information? Mr. Hasan: Motion to receive as information. Mr. D. Williams: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. Voting. Mr. M. Williams votes No. Mr. Frantom, Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 6-1. PUBLIC SERVICES 7. Motion to approve Bid Item #18-121, Mobile Stage for Augusta Recreation and Parks Department, to Century Industries for $189,324. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 24, 2018) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 51 8. Motion to approve Fleet Management Department request to replace 7-Road Patrol, 4- Traffic, 2-Administration, 1-Community Services, 1-Training Range and 1-Civil & Fugitive vehicles within the Sheriff’s Office using Capital Outlay funds. Akins Ford Corp. Bid Item 18-123 (Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 24, 2018) 9. Motion to approve the purchase one non-CDL required dump truck for the Utilities Department, Construction and Maintenance Division. Fleetcare Commercial, Bid 17-188 (Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 24, 2018) 10. Motion to approve award of contract for the replacement of the Webster Detention Center’s Kitchen and Laundry HVAC to Gold Mech Inc. of Augusta in the amount of $165,295.00 utilizing competitive Bid Item #18-138. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 24, 2018) 11. Motion to approve award to install a Sump Sweeper Filtration System on the existing cooling tower at the Augusta Judicial Center to Contract Management of Augusta for $60,050.00. Bid Item 18-136. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 24, 2018) 12. Motion to approve award of contract for the Augusta Probate Court Lobby Renovations to Sommers Construction in the amount of $170,000.00. (Bid 18-156) (Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 24, 2018) Mr. Mayor: The Chair will entertain a motion to approve Items 7, 8, 9, --- Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: --- 10, 11 --- Mr. M. Williams: --- I had those items pulled, Mr. Mayor, now if I --- Mr. Mayor: You did --- Mr. M. Williams: --- that’s right. Mr. Mayor: --- you did you absolutely did. Again the Chair will entertain a motion to approve Items 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 --- Mr. M. Williams: So, Mr. Mayor, you think you can sit here and just take what I pulled and just combine them. Do you think you have that authority? I mean I need to ask the Parliamentarian now or the Clerk one of those need to help us out because we both need some help up here. You run the meeting and that’s all but I think the Parliamentarian needs to step and he needs to tell you you’re right or tell you you’re wrong either one, it don’t make no difference. Mr. Mayor: Okay --- Mr. M. Williams: --- I can put them back on the agenda but I don’t need to do that. Mr. Mayor: --- no, you don’t. 52 Mr. M. Williams: Okay, so if you’re going to take the liberty and just do what you want to do --- Mr. Mayor: --- well --- Mr. M. Williams: --- we pay him. I pulled these items, every one of them. Mr. Mayor: --- Commissioner, you know I’m being as gracious as I can --- Mr. M. Williams: I hope you’re being gracious because I’m being gracious too now don’t you think you’re the only one being gracious now. Mr. Mayor: --- no --- Mr. M. Williams: We’re both being gracious. I’ve been real gracious today. I backed up a little bit. Mr. Mayor: --- well and I want you to back up a little bit more. Mr. M. Williams: I’m trying but you ain’t giving me no help. Mr. Mayor: I’m trying to help you. I want you to put the car in park right now. Mr. M. Williams: I’m going to keep the foot on the gas. Mr. Mayor: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Parliamentarian. Mr. Mayor: All right, you’re, I’m going to rule you out of order in a minute but I’m trying to give you a chance. Mr. M. Williams: I mean you can rule me out --- Mr. Sias: So moved. Mr. D. Williams: Second. Mr. M. Williams: --- you can rule me out, Mr. Parliamentarian, I need an answer from my Attorney. Mr. Mayor: Commissioner, again, I want you to yield to the Chair. Mr. M. Williams: I did everything I could, Mr. Mayor. I pulled these items just like the rules said --- 53 Mr. Mayor: You did --- Mr. M. Williams: --- I should do and did that --- Mr. Mayor: --- you did --- Mr. M. Williams: And now you’re going to circumvent that too as well and the Parliamentarian hadn’t said a word. Mr. Mayor: --- because I haven’t recognized him. Mr. M. Williams: Okay, if you want to rule me out, rule me out. Mr. Mayor: The Chair is who will rule you out of order, not the Parliamentarian, okay. The Clerk: That motion was to what? Mr. Mayor: To approve, the motion was to approve 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, that was the motion. All right, we have a second. Mr. M. Williams: I want to hear from the Parliamentarian, Mr. Mayor, before you vote on anything --- Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. M. Williams: --- if there’s some legal stuff to go with this. Mr. Mayor, I asked for a ruling from the Parliamentarian. If he rules in your favor, however he wants to rule, but the Parliamentarian needs to get one of us straight on this issue now. I did what the rules say. I pulled the agenda item each one of them. Now if he says that you are right you all can go ahead and vote. I’m not going to support it but if he says you’re right --- Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. M. Williams: --- so you’re not going to allow him to speak, is that what you’re saying? You’re going cover him with the wrong stuff you’re trying to do? The Clerk: You voting, Mr., Commissioner Williams? Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I’m voting no, Ms. Bonner --- The Clerk: Okay. Mr. M. Williams: --- in fact I ain’t voting, I’m not going to be participating, I’m not going to be participating in that. That’s not a legal vote. Mr. M. Williams not voting. 54 Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Frantom and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 6-0-1. Mr. Mayor: Item number 13, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: PUBLIC SAFETY 13. Motion to approve deposit of check from GEMA in the amount of $5,905.00 into Augusta, GA. account and issue a check made payable to LEPC in the amount of $5,905.00 for the reimbursement of funds expended in operations. (Approved by Public Safety Committee April 24, 2018) th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. All right, I have a question, Fire Chief, would you approach? Can you explain to us the check being made payable to LEPC? Who is that entity? Chief James: Yes, sir, that’s the Local Emergency Planning Committee which is the committee that’s made up of several industries that we have in each county in the State of Georgia to have industries all have LEPC groups. And this is, the EMA’s work with the LEPC and/or the connection between the LEPC and GEMA and the State of Georgia. GEMA hands out grants to the LEPC’s. They wrote this check in the name of Augusta-Richmond County EMA so since they put the check in our name we need to deposit the check with our Finance Department and then the Finance Department will then take that money and give it back to the LEPC. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Chief James, Mr. Mayor? Chief, I might have mentioned this and I apologize in advance. Who manages this LEPC? How is that, who’s the Chair, head of that? Chief James: I don’t have the name in front of me right now but they have a Chairman, they have a board, we are a part of that board. They have an account. They’ve always had an account. They pay for things like training. If we have some HAZMAT training we want to send some guys to, they’ll pay for that. Mr. Hasan: Are they regional? Chief James: It’s Richmond County --- Mr. Hasan: Richmond County. Chief James: --- right, so it’s the industries that are in Richmond County --- Mr. Hasan: Thank you. 55 Chief James: --- Columbia County have their own LEPC’s. Mr. Hasan: What, excuse me Mr. Mayor, I’m sorry. Mr. Mayor: Continue. Mr. Hasan: Are you on the board, who’s on the board --- Chief James: Yes --- Mr. Hasan: --- representing Richmond County directly. Chief James: --- yes, directly you will have myself, Ms. Lucas and Ms. Sharon Bennett that serve in different roles and also like I said we are the conduit between the State of Georgia and GEMA and those LEPC’s which is like I said made up of almost any of those plants that you would have, NUTRA Sweet, DSM, Monsanto it’s all those different manufacturers are a part of this group. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Davis: Move to approve. Mr. D. Williams: Second. Mr. Mayor: We have a motion to approve and a proper second. Voting. Mr. M. Williams not voting. Mr. Frantom, Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 6-0-1. The Clerk: PUBLIC SAFETY 14. Motion to approve Revised Fee Schedule for CSRA Probation Contract. (Originally Approved by Commission on December 19, 2017) (Approved by Public Safety Committee April 24, 2018) Mr. Brooks: Good afternoon, I’m Shaun Brooks with Superior Court. This item was simply an updated contract to our Misdemeanor Probation Contract that we use. We use the same contract within all three circuits within the county I mean within the Judicial Circuit all three counties. And the original fee schedule that we had is incorrect. Apparently the state renegotiated some of the monitoring fees like ankle monitoring that sort of thing. All of the fees go directly to the probationers to pay; they’re the ones that are billed. The fees when they renegotiated with the state those numbers came down. You should have all that information so it’s just to formally adopt those revisions so I brought it before you all. 56 th Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. He might have, in closing comments there, Mr. Brooks, he might have answered my question. So those funds decreased. They didn’t increase or anything. Mr. Brooks: Right I believe they went from nine, $12.00 dollars to like $9.00 dollars a day. Mr. Hasan: And so across the board did you have any of that increase at all? Mr. Brooks: None at all. It was just three numbers that decreased by two to three dollars per day. Mr. Hasan: Okay all right thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. D. Williams: Move to approve. Ms. Davis: Second. Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second. Voting. Mr. Williams not voting. Mr. Frantom, Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 6-0-1. Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes Madam Mayor Pro Tem. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Mayor, I was going to make a motion to approve Items 15 through 21. PUBLIC SAFETY 15. Motion to approve reimbursement to Richmond County Board of Education, Augusta University Medical Center, and Richmond County Health District for shelter operations during the evacuations caused by Hurricane Irma and to reimburse Animal Services, Augusta Transit, and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, for their assistance and to authorize the Accounting Department to issue reimbursement checks and authorize the Mayor to execute the appropriate documents. (Approved by Public Safety Committee April 24, 2018) FINANCE 16. Motion to approve a request from the Daniel Field General Aviation Commission, DNL GAC, for an increase in the operating budget of the Daniel Field Airport in the amount of $79,000. Please note that the Daniel Field Airport is an enterprise fund. (Approved by Finance Committee April 24, 2018) ENGINEERING SERVICES 57 17. Motion to approve adoption of the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) as revised by Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) 17-04-3443P, Effective May 2, 2018. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 24, 2018) 18. Motion to approve ESD to utilize the Georgia EPD Local Government Scrap Tire Abatement Program for Dump Site Cleanup and Right-of-Way Cleanup and to authorize the Administrator and Mayor to execute Agreements and Required Documents. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 24, 2018) 19. Motion to approve engineering for N. Max Hicks Water Treatment Plant Reservoir Dam Improvements. The Safe Dams Program has provided direction on repairs and improvements that need to be made and is requiring that those improvements be completed by April 19, 2019. We would like to move forward with this work as quickly as possible to ensure we can complete it ahead of the deadline. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 24, 2018) 20. Motion to approve adoption of the revised Soil Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control (ES&PC) Ordinance as requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 24, 2018) PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 21. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Augusta Commission held April 17, 2018 and Special Called Meeting held April 24, 2018. Mr. G. Smith: Second. Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second. The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, just a minute on 21 if we could if we could approve it with a correction to reflect that Commissioner Sean Frantom was actually absent from the meeting. I think the minutes in your books reflect that he was present but we need --- Ms. Davis: So moved. The Clerk: --- okay, thank you. Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second, voting. The Clerk: I’ll just include it being approved with correction. Ms. Davis: With corrections, thank you. The Clerk: Thank you. Mr. M. Williams not voting. Mr. Frantom, Mr. Fennoy and Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 6-0-1. The Clerk: Okay that’s it. 58 Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, that’s it? The Clerk: Yes, sir, I believe that’s it. Mr. Mayor: All right, this meeting is adjourned. Mr. Sias: Did we do items 4 and 5? The Clerk: Four and five. Ms. Jackson: Did we do six? Mr. Mayor: We did. Ms. Jackson: We did do six, okay. Mr. Mayor: We went all the way to six (meeting ended). \[MEETING ADJOURNED\] 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 May 1, 2018. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 59