HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting June 5, 2018
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
JUNE 5, 2018
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., June 5, 2018, the Hon.
Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Jefferson, Guilfoyle, Sias, M. Williams, Davis, Fennoy, D. Williams,
Hasan and Smith, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Absent: Hon. Frantom, member of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Well, we’ll say good afternoon one more time. Welcome to your Chamber
where we’re here to do the people’s business. I know there’s a lot of hot topics that are on the
agenda today and we’ll move expeditiously through the agenda and certainly give everybody an
opportunity to hear what’s going on in your city. Madam Clerk, I understand that one Mr. Clint
Eastwood is in town, the former Mayor of Carmel, California. I am a big Clint Eastwood fan. In
fact my two most favorite movies of all time are Outlaw Josie Wales and Unforgiven.
The Clerk: Do you want to make his day?
Mr. Mayor: That’s right and I’m not saying that just because he’s in town but for the folks
who actually know me those have always been my two favorite movies. I’ve watched each of them
about 50 times apiece ---
The Clerk: I know.
Mr. Mayor: --- absolutely they tell, they both tell an amazing story. So, Mr. Eastwood, if
you’re listening you have a friend here in the City of Augusta.
The Clerk: Please make our day.
Mr. Mayor: That’s right, go ahead make my day. Well, in the words of Denzel
Washington, my man, my man. All right, we’ll call this meeting to order. The Chair recognizes
Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, at this time we will have our invocation delivered by Reverend Robert
E. Donaldson, Asst. Pastor of the Mount Vernon Missionary Church after which we will ask the
Girl Scout Troup of Mount Cavalry to please come forward and lead us in our Pledge of
Allegiance. Thank you.
The invocation was given by Reverend Robert E. Donaldson, Asst. Pastor Mount Vernon
Missionary Baptist Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
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The Clerk: Reverend Donaldson, the Office of Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. By these present
be it known that Reverend Robert E. Donaldson, Asst. Pastor of Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist
Church, is Chaplain of the Day. His spiritual guidance and civic leadership serves as an example
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for citizens of Augusta. Given under my hand this 5 Day of June 2018 Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor.
(APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: I call your attention to the Recognition portion of our agenda.
RECOGNITION(S)
Judge Carl C. Brown, Jr.
A. Honorable Carl C. Brown, Jr., Chief Judge Superior Court, relative to recognizing the
Augusta Commission with a Certificate of Appreciation.
The Clerk: We have Judge Doug Flanagan filling in for Judge Brown today. He’s in court
so.
Judge Flanagan: You know the Commission is always giving recognition to other people,
to the good citizens of Augusta we felt it’s time for them to get the recognition. For those that
don’t know I’m the Chief Judge of Juvenile Court. The Chief Judge of Superior Court Carl Brown
is trying a rape case. They have witnesses in California so he couldn’t take a break to be here. But
we’re going to give recognition where we think recognition is due and also say a couple of things
about Juvenile Court. As you know the Commission voted to give us a home. We’re working on
getting it shaped; they’re going to come up with plans for us. We have some of the members of
our committee here. We have Mr. Grant here, we have J.R. here and see some others here with us
but we’re going to give them awards so if I can come on around this way and give the awards out
and Mr. Shaun Brooks can help me. I guess we’ll start with the top Mayor Hardie Davis.
Mayor Davis: Thank you, Judge.
Judge Flanagan: Okay. (APPLAUSE) Commissioner William Fennoy (APPLAUSE)
Commissioner Mary Davis (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Sammie Sias (APPLAUSE)
Commissioner Andrew Jefferson (APPLAUSE). That’s probably the most work the Court
Administrator had done all day but Commissioner Ben Hasan (APPLAUSE) Commission Sean
Frantom (APPLAUSE) Commission Wayne Guilfoyle (APPLAUSE) Commissioner Marion
Williams (APPLAUSE) I like the tie, I like the tie, Marion, looking good. Commission Marion
Williams is of course my old school classmate. Commissioner Grady Williams (APPLAUSE) I
got to pick on him he used to sit next to me by the way but I could never copy off his paper, just
to let you know. And I want you to know Commissioner Dennis Williams already has his
certificate so I don’t want you to think we forgot him. He came to lunch and we gave him his. We
have some other people that have helped us get where we are today. Lena Bonner (APPLAUSE)
Geri Sams (APPLAUSE) I don’t know if Ms. Tameka Allen is here, Gigi McCrae okay take off
the stickie. You know I’m a judge you’ve got to give us a stickie so we know what we’re doing.
Jeez, I know this guy, George Eskola, doesn’t he work for the news media somewhere, is he
around? Okay, Tom Corwin, George Eskola, George, I’ve got an award for you. You know the
thing is ya’ll are giving awards to other people with the great stuff you’re doing to help us and
while we’re going through this I want you to know that Juvenile Court’s been working hard. We
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got another $100,000 dollars added to our grant so it’s now $400,000 dollars up a hundred grand
from last year for children’s programs that we’re running and we put in for two more grants so
we’re looking forward to getting in our new home. And in the meantime we’re trying to generate
non-Richmond County taxpayer money to pay for some of the programs. Okay, Sylvia Cooper,
Tom Corwin, Sandy Hodson let me see who else is here. I don’t think, no the other people are not
here so you don’t need me to read anything else. I want to thank you all for the great work you’re
doing. As always I want to remind you I will be looking for a little extra for the children so I know
we’re going to get some plans and some engineers to look it over so we can renovate that building
in a cost effective way. And again I want to personally thank the Commissioners for stepping
forward to do what I think is the right thing to give our children a campus for Juvenile Court, thank
you. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: At this time we will ask Dr. Connor to please come forward with
acknowledgement our Years of Service, Mr. Mayor and Ms. Janice Jackson our Administrator.
Dr. Conner: Good afternoon Mayor Davis, Commissioners, special guests, Directors and
citizens of Augusta, Georgia. My name is Dr. Gwendolyn Conner. I’m the Director of Human
Resources and today it is surely my esteemed honor and pleasure to recognize our May Years of
Service recipients. For the Month of May we have 29 employees celebrating 5 to 20 years of
service with Augusta, Georgia. This afternoon we would like to recognize our 25 through 50 years
of service employees and when I call your name if you will please come forward. First we have
Ms. Kathy Jackson with Planning and Development who, we’re recognizing with 30 years of
service. (APPLAUSE) Next we have Ms. Gillian Bell with the Utilities Department and we will
be celebrating 35 years of service. (APPLAUSE) Once again if you will please help me
congratulate these individuals. (APPLAUSE) One more time if you will let’s give a hand of
applause. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk:
RECOGNITION(S)
Mt. Calvary Girl Scot Troup 20724
B. Acknowledge Girl Scout Troup 20724 on the occasion of earning their Government Badge.
(Requested by Commissioner Dennis Williams)
The Clerk: The Girl Scout Troup 20724 is in the process of earning their Government
Badge which requires them to attend a local governing authority meeting to observe how the
legislative body interact with each other in their role as an elected official, observe how the
governing authority resolves conflicts, disagreements and how they deliberate before enacting
local laws and the impact they have on the local community. Some of the badges the troops have
earned thus far First Aid, Philanthropy, Artists Drawings, Savvy Shopper, Scouts Way, Breast
Cancer Awareness Activity and the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Fundraiser Campaign. As I call your
name would you please come forward to receive your recognition.
Ms. McFarley: Marisa Lakes, Taylor Evans, Madison Lakes, D’rial Whitaker, Alexandra
Marshal, McKayla Moore, Tierra Williams, McKenzie Lakes and we would also like to recognize
the troop leaders who are here today Ms. Linda Durham and Ms. Carla Ferris. (APPLAUSE)
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Mr. D. Williams: Good afternoon. We’re fortunate this afternoon to have with us the Girl
Scout Troup from Mr. Calvary Baptist Church where the Reverend Clyde Hill is the Pastor. This
afternoon we have eight young ladies some are daisies, brownies and some are juniors and it’s
good to see our young people in our community being active throughout the community and the
church. Being a Girl Scout along with Boy Scouts help develop them to become much better
citizens as they grow up to adulthood. So we want to give them a good hand and encourage them
to keep going and make tomorrow a better day than today. Thank you. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, we had a Pension Committee Meeting immediately prior to
our 2:00 p.m. meeting at which time we adopted a series of changes to the Pension agreement that
we had approved several weeks ago. They were minor changes in fact cleanup changes with
regards to dates. I’d like to get unanimous consent to add this to the agenda.
Mr. Sias: So moved.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, without objection. All right and we’ll take that up during the consent
agenda portion of our agenda, Madam Clerk, and we’ll waive the second reading, okay?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right, yes, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner. State your inquiry.
Mr. Sias: (Inaudible) amount of changes (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: We did, yeah, we did. Two issues when we passed it that was language that
made the 2% multiplier effective July 1 but required that you be an active employee on that date
which means that the folks who were retiring July 1 would not get it. The second was the increase
in employee contributions also became effective July 1 instead of January 1, 2019. Those were
the two changes that were made; they were all date changes. We’ve since cleaned that up. It was
an error in the original documentation as it was sent to us from Atlanta.
Mr. Sias: Well, wasn’t the change that made the (unintelligible) 1 January 2019?
Mr. Mayor: That is correct.
Mr. Sias: I mean 1 January 2018 that was the change that you made, correct, right?
Mr. Mayor: That is correct.
Mr. Sias: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, very good.
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The Clerk: I call your attention to the Delegation portion of our agenda.
DELEGATIONS
C. Mr. Seve Adigun regarding a proposal to assist with the Paid Parking/Parking Meter
Initiative.
Mr. Mayor: Okay to each of our delegation participants you have a time allotment of five
minutes. You do not have to use all of your time. Mr. Seve, if you will approach and you can
speak from this podium here, sir. Again if you will tell us again your name and your address for
the record.
Mr. Adigun: Yes, sir good afternoon. My name is Seve Adigun. I reside at 3107
Greensboro Way, Augusta. To the distinguished members of the Commission I greet you today
with the highest of joy. My name is Seve Adigun. I’m a Market Analyst with the Dunlop Design
Group, LLC and an independent contractor for the McKay Metering System out of the Province
of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada. Since taking up residence here in the Augusta area just
over a year ago, it has been my humble desire to assist with the paid parking dilemma here in the
city. It is no secret that this is a touchy matter for the city. It has been tried in the past and since
the last undertaking in the 80’s no one administration has really confronted the situation for any
number of reasons: local residents not wanting to pay to be downtown, business owners feel as
though this is a deterrent, what have you, those reasons are well established. If I may, I wanted to
give you a few facts a few numbers about paid parking. There is no city in the region as many of
you already know you’ve traveled to Charlotte, I’m sorry Savannah, Macon, Chattanooga. There
are other cities around the country comparable to the size of Augusta. All of them have invested
in paid parking and done well or making profits off of it. The reality is space is the new black.
Paid parking is a global commodity, paid parking represents passive revenue for the city with
proper monitoring can represent can create an annual windfall. Number two the City of
McDonough, Georgia thriving metropolis of the deep south with a population one-tenth the size
of Augusta has been utilizing paid parking for several years and generating a profit from it. I want
to leave you with this one number $8.3 million-dollars. Augusta first launched it’s, the first survey
of this century in 2004 to research paid parking here in the Augusta area. Using the very
conservative model that our company has created had Augusta invested in paid parking in 2005 as
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of April 1 of the year the city could’ve generated $8.3 million-dollars in passive revenue of paid
parking. That’s roughly $623,000 dollars a year. Our intent is not to create another survey. We’re
clear, we’ve done surveys, we know that the city needs it. What we want to present is a plan of
action. Our plan, the plan we created can is ready for immediate implementation. It is multifaceted
with numerous working parts adjoining both the city and community. It works off components
already existing in city’s infrastructure and it’s comprehensive and fluid enough to evolve as the
city transitions through its imminent downtown morphoses that’s going to occur over the next six
to eight years. The plan has been reviewed and found favorable by the Augusta Downtown
Development Authority Ms. Margaret Woodard has worked with me, I’ve worked with her since
December reviewing the plan and going over the plan trying to make it look like it could be
something for the city. Lt. Mitchell with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department has noted
and says that if the city finds, could present the manpower in the budget for this plan it’s very
feasible and will benefit both the city and the Sheriff’s Department. Again I am a transplant to
this very beautiful city but I’ve also I’ve learned that nothing flips overnight. I’m not here to be
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the paid parking savior for Augusta. I know that you have questions. You want to know how
much it’s going to cost, where’s the money going to come from, who’s going to monitor the
program, what does the city get out of it and who’s going to be the bad guy that tells the city that
you have to pay for parking at some point. I’ll be that guy, I’ll fall on the sword for you. We have
all the answers to all the questions. Our plan is very detailed and ready to go. Augusta is
anticipating some 3,000 to 5,000 families relocating to this area over the next five years. Many of
these families are from communities where paid parking is a part of the norm. We don’t anticipate
this demographic being, having any problems acclimating to paid parking in Augusta. The core
of our plan focuses on engaging the psychology of the local community. There’s this continued
debate that local Augustans were pushed back and be the adversaries of change. We believe that
by embracing the community and employing the community in the change process we can help
people become more comfortable with this inevitable change. The process of introducing new
initiatives will take time, will take compassion, consistency and a voice of reason that is not
obnoxious nor is it indifferent to the community. Through gradual steps, positive marketing and
management and reinforcement and assertive consistency the plan will work and the community
will recognize its position, its role in making it work. Our plan includes incentives for downtown
businesses and residents. We’ve attempted to address every possible conceivable question
regarding the community, financing, implementation, community involvement, marketing,
monitoring, ordinances, cultural change and inevitable growth for the city. My sole request as the
Task Force grows and moves on and continues to investigate what they need to do we’re simply
asking that you allow us to sit at the table with you and in any way that we can help we’re looking
to become a viable part of what the Task Force is going to do to help bring about this change for
the city. Thank you very much for your time today.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, thank you.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
D. Mr. Raheem J. Ramsey speaking on behalf of the Vape Community regarding the
proposed ordinance to restrict smoking.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mr. Ramsey ---
Mr. Ramsey: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- again to all of our delegation speakers you have five minutes, if you’ll start
by giving us your name and your address of residence, okay?
Mr. Ramsey: My name is Raheem J. Ramsey and I live 7631 Pleasantville Way in
Grovetown, Georgia. Good afternoon Mr. Mayor, Commissioner, fellow business owners and
citizens of Augusta. My name is Raheem J. Ramsey and I’m co-owner of Vaposeum, LLC a
VAPE shop right here in Augusta, GA. I’m a retired Army veteran of 20 years, a husband, father
and small business owner. As I stated before a few weeks ago during the workshop discussing
this ordinance I’m not an advocate of smoking at all but an advocate of free choice not just for
businesses but for citizens as well. Small businesses undeniable truth as to what keeps cities like
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this thriving, retail stores, barbershops, bars, restaurants and lastly VAPE shops all contribute to
keep Augusta moving in a positive direction. I think this ordinance to restrict smoking and the
uses of electronic cigarettes should be deleted for all VAPE shops. It’s extremely unfortunate that
VAPE shops are being put into a category that we strive to help citizens get away from that’s the
use of tobacco. This ordinance will dilapidate expansion for current VAPE shops and prevent the
possibility of anyone who may want to jump into this industry trying to chase the American dream.
The language in this ordinance proposes evidence that says the FDA determined that various
samples tested contained not only nicotine but also detectable levels of known carcinogens and
toxic chemicals including tobacco specific nitroimines and diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical
used in antifreeze. Well let me tell you the general public has been confusing propylene glycol
with diethylene glycol which is used in regular automobile antifreeze. E-liquids do not contain
diethylene glycol. It contains propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is on the FDA’s generally
recognized as safe which is known as (unintelligible) lists for over 50 years now. Breathe
Easy.com explains e-liquid as this. There’s four main ingredients. They include vegetable
glycerin which is referred as VG, propylene glycol is PG and liquid nicotine either suspended in
PG or VG and also flavoring. These days VG is the dominate ingredient in most liquids. It’s
commonly derived from soy or palm and nearly all VG used in e-liquids is food grade and certified
by the representatives of the US Pharmacopeia Convention which is referred to as USP. PG
comprises the second largest component of modern e-liquid and it’s slightly thinner than VG and
allows liquid to achieve consistency compatible with devices that are being used in today’s market.
Propylene glycol also delivers a bit of bite or what we refer to in the industry as a throat hit. PG
is the component referenced when vaping opponent such as such as the Breath Easy Organization
claimed that e-liquids contains antifreeze. PG is a nontoxic component added to engine coolant to
reduce the toxicity of that fluid in order to avoid poisoning pets who drink the sweet smelling
puddles from our cars. Some liquids also contain nicotine. While commonly derived from tobacco
leaves and stems, nicotine can also be extracted from plants as diverse as broccoli, tomato, bell
pepper and potatoes. Propylene glycol is safe for human consumption in everyday use. The FDA
has approved it as safe food additive so it’s been that way for 50 years. Because of its versatility
it’s also been utilized in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries and it’s still being used in
these industries today. The National Stop Smoking Campaign currently underway in the UK is
sending sales of electronic cigarettes soaring as smokers use our devices to quit. Furthermore, the
Royal College of Physicians agreed that using E-cigarettes eliminates most of the harms attributed
to smoking. The medical body also recommends vaping for patients trying to quite traditional
tobacco products so vaping eliminates up to 95% of the risk associated with cigarettes because the
majority of cancer causing chemicals are inhaled through smoke so electronic cigarettes and
vaping does not produce any secondhand smoke. In conclusion I came here to fight the small
businesses and freedom of choice. This is how we feed our families, pay our bills and lastly service
the community. No one here is making the argument that smoking is a good thing. We just want
to be able to have the freedom how we choose to run our businesses and posing bill after bill
putting us all in a box slowly chips away at our First Amendment right. And to put all of this into
perspective I would’ve not even been able to participate in something like this 60 years ago but
yet here I am. That was because there were brave men and women who made it possible so a
simple man like me could have a voice. Thank you. (APPLAUSE)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
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Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Ramsey ---
Mr. Ramsey: Sir ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- how does the vaping device work?
Mr. Ramey: --- all vaping devices work in the same fundamental way. You have a battery
that powers the device. You have a coil which is a heating element that turns the liquid into, the
liquid solution into an aerosol which in turn emits the smoke or what we refer to as vaping.
Mr. Guilfoyle: All right, does a vaping device, I had read somewhere that vaping devices
causes a popcorn lung whatever the heck that is.
Mr. Ramsey: So, there’s a big fuss about e-liquids containing an extract called diacetyl
and that notion has been caused from popcorn lung in factory workers breathing in high levels of
diacetyl from the butter flavoring. The primary e-liquid flavors of concern are custard flavors and
you know the industry for the most part manufacturers, e-liquid manufacturers, they make these
liquids diacetyl free.
Mr. Guilfoyle: All right and a final question, Mr. Mayor, is the secondhand vapor off of
dangerous?
Mr. Ramsey: No, sir. With any device like a cellphone, a car, everything requires
maintenance so if you use something according to the instructions in which they all do, they require
us to know now to change out our filters which we know we call them coils. As long as you’re
doing those things and you’re changing them out everything will be just fine. And with regards to
the ingredients all of those ingredients are FDA approved food additives so we’re not adding extra
things in there. So it’s, that whole notion came from a study that was conducted I forget who it
was by but they tested an electronic cigarette and they tested it to a point where the item was you
know the button was pressed for extended periods of time which doesn’t quite match up to the
natural usage of electronic cigarettes or cigarette.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Ramsey. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you. All right, Mr. Ramsey, thank you.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
E. Mr. Clint Martin speaking on behalf of the CSRA Food and Beverage regarding the
proposed ordinance to restrict smoking.
Mr. Martin: Good afternoon, my name is Clint Martin. I own Bar West Martini Lounge
It’s on Walton Way Extension 3136. Good afternoon. I’d like to say thanks for taking all our calls
over the last month. I know you guys have been fielding a lot of complaints from us on both sides
really. But you know we’re here today to represent the not just the bars and the businesses that
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will be affected but the thousands of other people that we’ve signed up through the petitions in the
City of Augusta. Over the past month you’ve heard a lot of extraordinary claims from the Breathe
Easy people. Things like this ordinance will help our county’s overall health and also that there
be no effect to bars. The truth is those claims are false. According to Christina Gibson in Savannah
who is the Chronic Disease Prevention Director for the Coastal Health District she publicly stated
last year we cannot specifically link the decrease in heart attack death rates to the implementation
of the smoke free ordinance. That’s a direct quote from her last year, seven years after the smoking
ordinance was put into place. You would think that something that causes such a great public
health safety that is good enough to put businesses out of operation that there’d be some scientific
link that they could actually find. They can’t. They can’t because it doesn’t exist. Not just that
study but numerous studies that I’ve emailed ya’ll. I think I’ve sent you guys like twelve or thirteen
scientific studies all documented in scientific journals by medical doctors that conducted the same
studies and there’s no correlation between secondhand smoke and heart disease and lung cancer.
It doesn’t exist. It claims that the ordinance will have no effect on bars. Well, what proof have
they showed us? They cited one study that Savannah did. Have you guys seen the study? Have
they been able to provide you with an actual study? Have they served you a link to where you can
even find it because I spent three days looking for it. I called Savannah, I called Atlanta, nobody
will disclose the study. If it’s something that’s beneficial and it will help businesses then why
would you not want to put that right out fron? Because they’re hiding something and the fact is it
does affect bars disproportionately everywhere that it has been done. I also sent you guys five or
six economic studies that showed the disproportionate effect that it has on smoking bars. It hurts
bars more so than restaurants because you haven’t been able to smoke in a restaurant in 15/20
years. When we tried to do our own research and get down to Savannah and actually talk to the
people and you know really figure out what really was the effect, they wouldn’t even release the
on-premise liquor license information to us so we could compare year over year just simple license
numbers, was there a decrease in liquor license numbers? That would show an effect, they won’t
release that. We even submitted an open records request and they still stonewalled us. That’s I
mean that’s we should be able to have access to that. It's a government’s records but they still
refused to do it. I sent you guys dozens of studies about the loses and everything around that but
has anybody seen the Savannah study? I just would like to ask a show of hands has anybody seen
the Savannah study? You have could I get a copy of it please, I mean I’m not trying to be ---
The Clerk: Is it on the website?
Mr. Martin: --- it wasn’t on their website either. I checked. But you know in closing I urge
you guys to look at the information that’s been presented, look at the effects that it’s going to have
on the community and on the businesses. And, you know, please take into consideration that this
is these are people’s livelihoods. We’ve invested thousands and thousands of dollars. We do
benefits, we do charity work, we give back to the community more so than most. But I’d just like
to say thank you guys. I appreciate you guys hearing us out and please side with business, thank
you. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes okay, Mr. Martin, would you come back please? The
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
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Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Martin, you said you’re a bar owner. I believe you said this on this
floor before. Do you allow smoking in your establishment?
Mr. Martin: I do not allow smoking inside; I have an outdoor patio. We opened in 2011
and we made a conscious choice and I believe that it should be up to the bar owners whether or
not they want to cater to smoking inside their establishment or if they want to provide an outside
area. One of the issues that have really been at the forefront in this is, you know, the business
owners’ right to choose who he wants to service and a lot of people aren’t going to be able to be
set up to adapt to these changes. You look at downtown Augusta. There’s nowhere you can go
10 feet and not be in violation of this ordinance. You look at other bars you know in West Augusta
that are in shopping centers. You go 10 feet from that shopping center door and you’re at another
shopping center door. You go 10 feet in the front you’re in a busy parking lot, you know. I mean
what do you tell those people? What do you tell those customers? Okay please go across the street
or what do you tell the families that are walking by that have kids that now they’re being subjected
to secondhand smoke because they’re walking past adults that were inside of a bar making adult
decisions that are now outside in public. I mean that’s, that was the, that was why we decided to
make our choice.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Mr. Martin. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
F. Mr. Tracy Ferris regarding the effect of the proposed smoking ordinance on the coin
operated amusement industry in Augusta-Richmond County.
Mr. Ferris: Good afternoon, thank you. Tracy Ferris, residence 2903 Wakefield Lane
South, business 551 Ellis Street. Mr. Mayor, Lady and Gentlemen of the Commission, thank ya’ll
very much for letting me come out here and speak to ya’ll today. I have a Power Point so how do
we, thank you. I own A&M Amusement. We put pool tables and jukeboxes and video games in
the bars. We work hand in hand with the bars. When they lose money we lose money so I’m very
heavily, financially involved in this smoking ordinance. The fact is this ordinance is going to be
devastating to local businesses. The smoking ban will cause a plus amount of 30% decrease in
business. Our business is 100% dependent on discretionary income. We’re not a necessity. We’re
not toilet paper, we’re not paper towels. When people come out it’s because they have the
discretionary income and they want to come out. If we don’t offer what they want, they simply
won’t come out. They’re going to stay at home and not spend their money. When the smoking
ban went to work in New York the basic of it is it showed a total loss of $121 million and 2,650
jobs and you can see California lost 1,000 bars, smoking in Florida they lost 60%. Augusta is
going to lose at least a million in a half year so let’s look at it this way, New York’s twice the size
of Georgia so you take that $121 million and you say okay Georgia would have $60 million
smoking loss. We’re the second largest city in Georgia okay, that’s a lot of money. Breathe Easy
says smoking bans don’t hurt business. That’s simply not true. Let’s not compare apples and
oranges. The numbers that they pull are from places like McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken,
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places that don’t offer smoking. They never have, they never will. These places vastly outnumber
local bars. That trick vastly skews the data in order to hide the effect on the true local bars. The
last time we were in this Chamber, Ms. Anderson stood up here and said food and beverage
workers can’t do anything else for a living and work in smoky bars. That’s 100% false and it is
highly insulting and here are the facts. There are more non-smoking bars in Augusta than the bars
that allow smoking. There are more food and beverage jobs in businesses that don’t allow smoking
than others, at least three times as many. Many of these F&B guys they’re college grads. They
could go do something else. They just really enjoy the work that they have in the bars. Smoking
Ordinance is bad for kids. All right, let’s take a look at this. Right now you have the smokers that
are in an adult only establishment, no kids allowed, so you’re going to have these adults that have
been drinking go out into the public where the kids are around blowing smoke in their face. Do
you really want to go out to a First Friday and take your kids walking down the street with a bunch
of smokers blowing smoke everywhere after they’ve been drinking? Why not keep them in the bar
in an adults only establishment. When they can’t smoke in the bars they’ll smoke in other places
like their homes and you know it’s just not good for kids. Breathe Easy used bully tactics to
intimidate. I put state employees, my bad, it’s not state employees. Augusta Health is nonprofit.
I didn’t know that but they sent out this letter to their employees telling how to come down here
and support them. The reason we know about this is because we had supporters that sent this to
us that said we’re getting this at work. We can’t come out and support you because we’re worried
about retaliation from our employer or maybe losing their jobs, okay? So how nice is that to know
you can’t stand up for what, your employees told us that. So, the fact that it’s not a state thing
takes it from criminal to just highly unethical. Don’t be bullied. Local businesses cannot afford
the losses that will result from the proposed ordinance. The current smoking ordinance protects
children and keeps smoking in an adult only environment. There are many more nonsmoking bars
in Augusta than are smoking bars. They’re saying they can’t get a job in a nonsmoking bar simply
isn’t true. Stand up for local businesses and your constituents and reject special bullies, special
interest bullies, thank you. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Okay, here’s our posture. Generally we would say hold your applause, we’re
being very gracious today. We do not have anyone who has signed up to be a delegate speaker in
the for positive category as it relates to this matter so I’m going to take the liberty as the Chair and
have one single speaker come and I’ll give you five minutes to speak with regards to this matter.
The Clerk: You can use that podium.
Mr. Mayor: You can use this one here as well and if you would again as the others have
done state for the record, please if you’ll face, please face the Commission please. So again five
minutes if you’ll state for the record your name and your address and who you’re representing.
Ms. Speaker: So first of all I think there’s a little misunderstanding we called to be listed
and we were told we didn’t need to be listed that we’d just be called on so I apologize for that
confusion. It’s okay we have lots of people that would’ve loved to speak so thank you for giving
one of us a chance.
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
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Ms. Tingen: Okay, my name is Dr. Martha Tingen. I live at 1379 Waterston Drive, Evans,
Georgia and I work everyday in the City of Augusta at Augusta University at the Georgia
Prevention Institute and the Medical College of Georgia and I’m very thankful and proud of our
wonderful organization. Honorable Mayor Davis and Augusta-Richmond County Commissioners,
each of you were duly elected by the citizens of Augusta-Richmond County to represent all the
citizens of Augusta-Richmond County. I’m sure you’re well aware that only about 20% of people
in our area are smokers and 80% are nonsmokers. I’m actually going to share some things today.
I am a nurse, I’m a wife, I’m a mother, I’m a researcher and my whole life has been devoted to
preventing illnesses and disease starting early in children. We have people that we know now that
has Stage 4 Lung Cancer that can have no treatment or any hope. Why? Because they were raised
in homes where both their parents smoked two packs of cigarettes a day so I have many
publications that I can share the facts with you. I am very sorry that you have listened today to
some very inaccurate and false information that has been presented prior to me speaking. I can
not take the chance to refute each of those but I’m sorry that that was shared and it is inaccurate.
I really want to share basically two things today. The first thing I want to share is a letter that I
believe you all received but I think it deserves reiterating. And this is from the former Mayor of
Savannah who was there when they passed the Smoke Free Ordinance and his name is Dr. Otis S.
Johnson. I’ve met with him several times about Healthy Savannah quite a few years ago. And I
want to share just a couple of things from his letter and this is verbatim. “We took this action to
protect the health of our citizens. The scientific evidence was clear about the dangers of smoking
also we took into account that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. The health
risks of secondhand smoke are documented. They include heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma
and other respiratory infections. Our nonsmoking citizens who were patrons and worked in smoke
filled environments were at risk of suffering from smoke related illnesses. There was strong
opposition from bar owners and some restaurant managers expressing a fear that the passage of
the ordinance would hurt their bottom line. We respected their opinion but we felt that our citizens
would adjust to this change. A Georgia Department of Health study in 2013 concluded Savannah’s
Smoke Free Ordinance had no impact on taxable sales revenue for bars and full-service restaurants
in Chatham County.” So the gentleman that wanted the report could probably contact Dr. Johnson
I’m sure he could give it to you. The Savannah Smoke Ordinance went into effect on January 1,
2011. Eight years later it would be hard to find a citizen or visitor to Savannah that would tell you
that having a smoke free Savannah is not a great idea. I hope Augusta-Richmond County will join
the 1,443 municipalities in 42 states and the District of Columbia that have enacted smoke free
laws. I also want to share with you the National Poison Control Center has increased, had an
increase in calls of over by 111% in the last three years because of electronic cigarettes and people
vaping. One teaspoon of nicotine is lethal to a child. I think there’s, I know there’s currently over
7,000 flavors available and every month 200 new flavors are added. They are very aromatic, they
are very colorful, and a small child can easy open one and take a sip so you can order nicotine in
different doses. This is a very serious thing. In addition, I’m just going to mention very briefly
there’s also something called third hand smoke and I’ll give you a simple example. If there was a
nurse working in the intensive care unit of the most fragile among us neonates that are born very
premature and she went outside and wore her scrubs and smoked a cigarette and came back in and
if she held that baby close to her on her shoulder, on her clothes where all the smoke has fallen
you could test that baby’s blood, you could test their hair, you could test their saliva, you could
test their urine and you could find something called cotinine which is what nicotine breaks down
in our body to in that child. That is called third hand exposure which there’s very little literature
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on so all of our, it’s a new area of research but it’s clearly documented and it’s dangerous. Toddlers
and babies that creep and crawl that sit in car seats where there’s exposure ---
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Ma’am, just wanted to let you know your time has expired and if
you don’t mind wrapping up.
Dr. Tingen: --- okay ---
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, thank you.
Dr. Tingen: --- thank you for considering this today this is all about one thing is health.
And I will share a personal thing because it’s very important. I live in Columbia County okay, all
right.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Ya’ll, excuse us.
Dr. Tingen: I was going to address the bars and restaurants but anyway ---
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you.
Dr. Tingen: --- but I’ll just say Applebee’s in Evans is exploding since they went tobacco
free.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you for your time, ya’ll excuse please. (APPLAUSE) Ya’ll
please we need to keep order in the Chamber, please?
Dr. Tingen: Any questions?
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: It doesn’t look like it thank you so much for your presentation. Do
we have any Marshals in here today? I don’t see any.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, we’re going to we’re going to allow the Girl Scouts, Brownies
to exit the Chamber and then we’re going to resume our business, thank you. We do have some
seats available here to my right, to your left up front if there are those of you along the wall who’d
like to take a seat you’re more than welcome to come and have a seat. Certainly give you an
opportunity to come and have a seat.
The Clerk: I call your attention to our consent agenda which consists of Items 1-29, Items
1-29. For the benefit of any objectors to any of our Alcohol petitions once those petitions are read
would you please signify your objections by raising your hand. I call your attention to:
Item 1: Is a request for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection
with Fred’s Stores located at 2872 Tobacco Road.
Item 2: Is a request for a retail package Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in
connection with the location at 1773 Kissingbower Road.
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Item 3: Is for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with the
location at 1959 Kissingbower Road.
Item 4: Is a request for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection
with the location at 2160 Martin Luther King Boulevard.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those alcohol petitions? Mr. Mayor and
members of the Commission, our consent agenda consists of Items 1-29 with the addition of Item
1 on our Addendum agenda.
Mr. Mayor: And Item 1 is a waiving of the second reading.
The Clerk: Second reading, yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We’ve got a couple of items I’d like to pull Item
number 5, Item 20, 21 and 22 ---
The Clerk: 20 ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- 21 ---
The Clerk: --- and 22.
Mr. M. Williams: --- 22 and along with 28 please. 20, 21, 22 and 28 and Number 5, Ms.
Bonner.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I would like to add Items 33 and 34 to the consent agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, that was the issuance of bonds for the Phase 2 of the parking deck and
the name change for the Development Authority. They both make sense to be added. All right,
st
the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1, okay he waives. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. Fennoy: Did someone pull 26 ---
Mr. Mayor: No, sir ---
Mr. Fennoy: --- I just had a question on that one.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, so we’ll pull Item 26.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: Do you have a question Commissioner?
Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got a question, Ms. Bonner, you read the alcohol license the 2160.
What number was that?
Mr. Mayor: Number four.
The Clerk: Item number four, yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Do you have a question?
The Clerk: We had no objectors.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I’ve got a question on that one too, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Ms. Davis: Move to approve, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
Mr. Sias: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PUBLIC SERVICES
1. Motion to approve New Location Application: A.N. 18-17: request by Pamela Smith for
a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Fred’s Stores of
Tennessee, Inc. d/b/a Fred’s Store #1930 located at 2872 Tobacco Road. District 8. Super
District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee May 29, 2018)
2. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 18-18: request by Young Hi Han
for a retail package Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with July Kiss
Co. Inc. d/b/a Kissingbower Liquor Store located at 1773 Kissingbower Road. District 2.
Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee May 29, 2018)
3. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 18-19: request by Maritza Ramos
Castro for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Dabraham,
LLC located at 1959 Kissingbower Road. District 2. Super District 9. (Approved by Public
Services Committee May 29, 2018)
6. Motion to approve to enter into Phase III contract with MCCi, LLC as a sole source
vendor for the amount of ‘not to exceed $85,000.00’ for the purpose of digitizing and indexing
historic building plans. (Approved by Public Services Committee May 29, 2018)
7. Motion to approve amendments to the Augusta, Georgia Code, Title 4, Chapter 2, Article
2, Litter Control, Section 4-3-9 Littering Street and Sidewalks Prohibited so as to provide
regulations prohibiting the placing of posters, signs and advertisements on any public
property; and delete the section titled ‘Tiered Fee Schedule’. (Approved by Public Services
Committee May 29, 2018)
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8. Motion to approve the purchase of a System for the New Transit Operation and
Maintenance Facility from Stertil-Koni. (Approved by Public Services Committee May 29,
2018)
9. Motion to approve a request from CSRA Regional Commission /Area Agency on Aging
for Augusta, Georgia to assist with the funding of the Home Delivered Meal program for the
remainder of fiscal year 2018 (endings on June 30, 2018). (Approved by Public Services
Committee May 29, 2018)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
10. Motion to approve a request from the Coroner’s Office to replace two vehicles. Bid Item
18-191. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee May 29, 2018)
11. Motion to approve the request from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for the
purchase of one Property Room truck. Allan Vigil Ford Bid 18-184. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee May 29, 2018)
12. Motion to approve the request for 1 - Recreation – Trees and Landscape Vehicle and 1 -
Engineering-Maintenance Vehicle. Allan Vigil Ford Bid Item 18-186. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee May 29,2 018)
13. Motion to approve a request from the Utilities Department for two pickup trucks and
one midsize SUV for Utilities-Engineering Division vehicles. Allan Vigil Ford Bid Item 18-
183 and Bid Item 18-184. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee May 29, 2018)
14. Motion to approve holding a workshop on information from HCD Director regarding 5-
year history of HUD allocations, expenditures and activity listings on Tuesday, June 19, 2018
at 12 Moon. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee May 29, 2018)
15. Motion to reject Unsolicited Proposal: RFPUP 18-001 Strategic Sourcing, Expense
Reduction & Change Management Advisory Services. (Approved by Administrative
Services Committee May 29, 2018)
PUBLIC SAFETY
16. Motion to approve receipt of $7,500 in State grant emergency funds for treatment
services for indigent participants in DUI Court. This emergency funding is in addition to
previous approved grant A18-08-018 ($159,369). (Approved by Public Safety Committee
May 29, 2018)
17. Motion to approve Augusta-Richmond County FY19 Capacity Agreement for state
inmates being housed in the Richmond County Correctional Institution. (Approved by
Public Safety Committee May 29, 2018)
18. Motion to approve a 2 year contract, with three (1) year renewals, with AU Medical
Associates to provide for a Medical Director for the Augusta Fire Department in the amount
of $39,000.00 per year and authorize the Mayor to sign the contract with Augusta University
Medical Associates. RFP 18-154A. (Approved by Public Safety Committee May 29, 2018)
19. Motion to approve the purchase of Emergency Fire Dispatch protocol system for the 911
Center. (Approved by Public Safety Committee May 29, 2018)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
23. Motion to approve award of Bid Item 17-285 for 7.5kw Generators to Border States
Industries. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 29, 2018)
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24. Motion to award Bid Item 17-290 for a Rough Terrain Telescopic Forklift to United
Rentals. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 29, 2018)
25. Motion to award Bid Item 17-291 for SCADA Computer Server to Insource Solutions.
(Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 29,2 018)
27. Motion to approve supplemental funding of current Sediment Dredging and Disposal
Construction Services Two-Phase Contract Phase 1 (Heirs Pond) and Phase 2 (Lake
Aumond) of the current contract. RFP 17-301. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee May 29, 2018)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
29. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Augusta Commission held
May 15, 2018 and Special Called Meeting held May 29, 2018)
FINANCE
33. Approved attached documents related to the issuance of $4 million plus cost of issuance
in bonds for the construction of phase 2 of the parking deck located the Hull McKnight
Georgia Cyber Center for Innovation and Training. Authorizing the Mayor and Clerk of
Commission to sign and execute the attached documents.
34. Motion to approve and Ordinance to amend GA Code, Sections 1-4-6 through Section 1-
4-12 to change the name of the “Development Authority of Richmond County” to
“Development Authority of Augusta, Georgia”.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second, voting.
Mr. Frantom out.
Motion Passes 9-0. \[Items 1-3, 5-19, 23-25, 27, 29, 33, 34\]
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
4. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 18-20: request by Sayed Mirwais
Haydary for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Sayed MH,
Inc. d/b/a Grab N Go located at 2160 ML King Jr. Blvd. District 2. Super District 9.
(Approved by Public Services Committee May 29, 2018)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
th.
Mr. Sias: The 9
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Mr. Mayor: I’m sorry, the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’m going to make a motion to approve this but I’d like for
staff if they will to bring me the initial approvement when this was initially approved. I don’t want
to say back in the day, Ms. Bonner, but I mean history has done showed it’s ugly head up again
and so I’m going to, I’m not going to hold this businesses owner up I’m going to approve that but
I do want to get the history of when this was initially approved at the old 2160 because it was
17
initially turned down. The next thing I know it was opening up and I didn’t never find out how it
got opened. Now the business done existed then I’m not going to penalize this business owner
who’s evolving into the business now but I want staff to bring me back the information that when
it was initially approved in the first place because this body turned it down but it somehow, Ms.
Walton, I don’t think you was in that position at that point but somehow it got opened. So I’m
going to make a motion to approve, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. M. Williams: --- and let this business owner continue but I’d certainly like to know
how it got swapped around because we never approved nothing up here so.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Walton, you can, all right, thank you very much. All right,
we’ve got a motion and a second, voting a motion to approve.
Mr. Frantom and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
5. Motion to approve playground equipment purchase for the Bernie Ward Community
Center as part of RFP Item #17-275 for $124,000. (Approved by Public Services Committee
May 29, 2018)
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 ---
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: --- Mr. Parker, please approach.
Mr. M. Williams: --- Mr. Parker, if you could just help me just for a minute. I’m trying to
get my hands around what we’re buying at Bernie Ward for the $124,000 that we’re about to spend.
Now we know playground equipment we talked about it a few weeks back and how much you
needed but can you kind of help me out with that?
Mr. Parker: Yes, sir, it’s basically the same unit we recommended for Wood Park in your
packet there’s a picture of it there there’s a large unit with three of four slides on it it’s what they
call a Multi-play Unit.
Mr. M. Williams: Now you know we had some conversation about how bad the equipment
how neglected I guess I could say the equipment that was there and I’m thinking we will be doing
a little bit more than just the standard stuff that we’re putting somewhere else because it was really,
there wasn’t no playground equipment if you want to be honest about it. There was one swing that
was there that when the building was built and it was two-sided swing but it wasn’t but one swing
there then so if we’re not doing any more I think there should be some improvements. We talked
18
about a camera system and I just found out there’s an incident that happened the other night there.
Are we doing any camera systems anything along that area you know that we’ve got a lot going
on there? So is this going to include any type camera system for the grounds? This would be the
second incident that I know about.
Mr. Parker: This specific project does not include anything with cameras. There are
currently cameras at the Bernie Ward Recreation Center that do cover portion, probably not all but
portions of the parking lot and the interior of the building.
Mr. M. Williams: But we just had an incident at the pool the other day are you familiar --
-
Mr. Parker: Yes sir.
Mr. M. Williams: --- with that, okay. And we just had prior to that we had an incident
with a young lady who was picked up by some man the center. And we’ve been talking about
cameras. Now how many incidents do we have to have before we realize the importance of it to
do something versus you know ---
Mr. Parker: The cameras, if I may, the cameras at Bernie Ward were actually used to help
make the Sheriff’s Office aware of who, with the incident with the young lady ---
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Parker: --- the camera actually picked up on that. I would just mention too with this
playground you remember less than a half mile up the road where our Administrative Office is
there are two playgrounds at that location so.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, sir and that’s a whole different park, is that Wood Park? Which is
that?
Mr. Parker: No, sir, it’s right where our Administrative Office is.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah but what’s the name of the park there?
Mr. Parker: Elliot, thank you, I’m drawing a blank here.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, Elliot Park. I’m familiar with that and for a smaller group of kids
the park is not a traditional park. It’s more of a children’s type park versus a park with playground
equipment. So I don’t consider that to be the same I mean that’s totally different. Now we had
this conversation with Warren Road versus Bernie Ward and how things are and the equipment
the maintain the fencing area. I mean there’s a lot of work needs to did at Bernie Ward so when I
saw this, that’s the first thing that came to my mind as to what we was doing and what were we
going to be able to take any of this money and to make sure the camera system is working properly
so we can view to help with some of the crime there. Now we know what side of town that’s on.
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We know the background there but I would love to see us follow up on trying to get the best safety
facility we can have in that area.
Mr. Parker: Yes, sir ---
Mr. M. Williams: Go ahead.
Mr. Parker: --- no, go ahead.
Mr. M. Williams: If any money can be from this equipment can be used to help with the
camera system and the camera system ain’t expensive. We don’t have to get Clint Eastwood stuff
,Mr. Mayor, you talked about we’re not that kind of camera. Now we just need a camera, I mean
something simple. This, I mean you’re talking about less than $100 dollars you can get a camera
system off line just anywhere but I’m talking about the safety of the children out there. Now we
got people talking about smoking and I’m talking about people who are being mistreated by
bullying and all this other stuff with children in parks. So I was hoping that we’d have something
left out of this to be able to make sure, in fact I’m going to make a motion to approve this, Mr.
Mayor, and me and Mr. Parker are going to get together and we’re going to come up with the
money out of our own pocket to get some cameras or something, we’re going to make that happen,
all right?
Mr. Mayor: Very good. I’ll even throw in a couple of dollars myself.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible) mini cameras.
Mr. M. Williams: Anything we can afford. It’s better than nothing. We ain’t got nothing
right now. My motion is to approve, Mr. Mayor.
Ms. Davis: I’ll second it.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second, all right voting. I think the
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Commissioner from the 4 just indicated that he’ll even install them for you. All right, voting.
Mr. Frantom out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
20. Motion to approve entering into a Mowing and Maintenance Agreement as well as an
Indemnity Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation in conjunction with
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TIA funded 15 Street Pedestrian Improvements Project as requested by AED. (Approved
by Engineering Services Committee May 29, 2018)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 and Director Malik is
over here, Commissioner.
Mr. M. Williams: Malik, can you help me out help me understand about what we’re doing
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with the 15 Street pedestrian situation here. I mean when we’re talking about entering into a
mowing agreement. Is that from Stormwater (unintelligible) I mean exactly what are we doing
with that?
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Dr. Malik: This is one of the band II TIA projects 15 Street and we’re almost ready to
bid the project out. In the construction there’s a section of the road is a local road from downtown
down Walton Way and from Walton Way to further up Central is a state route. This being a state
route and we have any landscaping or that kind of thing to happen it’s just part of the process.
Mr. M. Williams: So ---
Dr. Malik: Two projects we have to get this project in construction band of next year.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I guess my question would be when I saw mowing and maintenance
agreement is that what the state, you say we’re going to be partnering with them or we’re paying,
what, how’s that working?
Dr. Malik: This is generic document that they use in the name but if we have any
landscaping we will be maintaining this road, this section of the road so any maintenance,
landscaping will be part of on the city (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I’m still not following you, Malik. I hear you now I’m just trying
to understand. I’m trying to figure out when we’re mowing when we enter into a mowing and
maintenance agreement with who, who are we entering into that agreement with?
Dr. Malik: The DOT, the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Mr. M. Williams: So the state is going to be doing some of this work the DOT is going to
be doing some of this work and the city’s going to be doing some of it, is that right?
Dr. Malik: Right now it’s a locally managed project so we will be doing all the work and
that’s why the state is authorizing us to do the work and it’s part of that process and we have to
sign this document and the state will let us do the work.
Mr. M. Williams: Because it’s a Band II you’re saying we’ve got to make this agreement,
is that right?
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, okay that helps me understand I mean my colleague, so moved,
Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. All right, voting.
Mr. Frantom out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
21. Motion to approve funding for Preliminary and Final Engineering Phases of Design
Consultant Supplemental Agreement to Civil Services, Inc. in the amount of $715,495.85 for
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15 Street Bridge over the Savannah River (Bridge Repair and Restoration) as requested by
AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 29, 2018)
Mr. M. Williams: Malik, is this yours too?
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir. Again this is another TIA Band II Project and we opted to do this
project at local levels. That way that gives us more control. So we finished the Phase I follow up
with the assessment of the bridge and part of the assessment giving the TIA funds and we’re going
to move this project into the design phase. Again we need to complete the design and get the
project under construction by December of 2019 so this is the last part of the Engineering Services
plan that we’re working on.
Mr. M. Williams: So where and this is not a pedestrian bridge we’re talking about.
Dr. Malik: Right, right now given the funds we have the only repair we can do is to make
this bridge not for the regular traffic because it’s not in our funds and will take $14 to $15 million-
dollars to rehab the bridge to open up to traffic and it already has a restricted load limit.
Mr. M. Williams: Well and Malik, that’s what bothers me if we’re going to put any money
in a bridge to for pedestrians just to be able to walk on and we’re not going to have it so equipment,
traffic can travel on I mean how much money will we spend for a pedestrian to walk on that bridge?
If we’re going to redo that bridge we ought to be doing that bridge that ought to suffice for an
automobile to go across it if it has to, now something don’t ---
Dr. Malik: The thought process is and this will supplement or complement the other
ongoing activities in downtown if we tried it and (unintelligible) property maybe at some point
North Augusta might step up and connect their greenway walking trails to (unintelligible) activity.
We do have a Gordon Highway bridge that’s blocked across that but again the TIA funds if we do
the project or we don’t. Then if you don’t do it the money’s going to go back the state.
Mr. M. Williams: I mean that’s, Mr. Mayor, I’m going to yield to you but let me ask this
question because if you drive downtown to park and get out to walk on the bridge but you can’t
drive on the bridge because the bridge is not suitable for traffic but we’re going to spend ‘x’ how
many million dollars total roughly?
22
Dr. Malik: Right now it’s $8 million-dollars.
Mr. M. Williams: $8 million-dollars to do a walking bridge? I mean hold it now. I’m
going to have to call Glenn Parker back because we can (unintelligible) we all better do something
then because something, you’re talking about $8 million-dollars.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah ---
Mr. M. Williams: And I understand if we’re going, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: --- well, well again with Item number 21 again the request is I’m curious as
to what the funding source is for the additional $715,000 but again this is nothing more than
completing the design phase or scope of the project, that’s all they’re asking for today.
Mr. M. Williams: --- but if we do the design phase and don’t use it why are we spending
money on the design phase? Now we’re going throw some more good money after some more
bad money this ain’t Grady Smith Plumbing now that’s the way Grady do down there. But I’m
trying to figure out how can we do that? I mean if that’s what, if that’s the concept if we’re going
spend $700 hundred something dollars to do the design phase then put up $8 million-dollars for a
walking bridge something’s wrong.
Mr. Mayor: I can assure you, Commissioner, this is not the bridge to nowhere ---
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Sias: I’ve got a quick question for you.
Mr. Mayor: --- it is not a bridge to nowhere. All right, can I get a motion to approve?
Mr. Sias: Can I get my question first?
Mr. Mayor: You can but I just want to make sure I’ve got a motion and second.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Ms. Davis: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Do you already have a motion?
The Clerk: Yes, we do.
Mr. Mayor: We’re waiting on you.
23
Mr. Sias: Why am I going to ask the question then?
Mr. Mayor: Because you may change it and have a substitute motion.
Mr. Sias: Dr. Malik, how much would it cost to do this bridge for traffic, just an off the
top estimate on your head?
Dr. Malik: $14 to $15 million-dollars.
Mr. Sias: Okay, that’s what I thought, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Are you satisfied with the motion to approve?
Mr. M. Williams: I can’t support it, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Sias: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second, voting. I’m going to give you a softball in a
minute.
Mr. M. Williams votes No.
Mr. Frantom out.
Motion Passes 8-1.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
22. Motion to award Bid Item 17-271 for a Replacement Raw Water Pump #5 at Goodrich
Street Raw Water Pumping Station to Gicon Pumps & Equipment, Inc. (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee May 29, 2018)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Tom ---
Mr. Wiedmeier: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I don’t feel like we have a meeting if I don’t talk to you up here about
something with all the money you got in water something just don’t seem right. But tell me
Goodrich Street is the only Raw Water Pumping Station we’ve got, is that right?
Mr. Wiedmeier: Right.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay now why are we replacing this one pump if this old station has
been there many, many years on Goodrich Street when the old what was it up there the landfill and
all that stuff’s been up there on Goodrich Street. So this is an old facility. My question is why are
24
we spending money on this one pump or one station if that facility is that old? Are you going to
come back next week with another pump or are you going to come back a week after that ---
Mr. Wiedmeier: Well ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- go ahead.
Mr. Wiedmeier: --- okay this is our raw water pumping station on the canal. It’s our major
pumping station. It’s the one where we’ve got the $18 million-dollar project just about to finish
up for the new turbine. It is our oldest but it’s also where we, that’s where we pump most of our
water for the whole system.
Mr. M. Williams: I understand but I guess my question is since this is one of the oldest is
this the only raw water pump that we’re going to need? I mean --
Mr. Wiedemeir: We’ve got six raw water pumps down there. Some of them are turbine
driven, three of them are diesel driven so some of our oldest stuff and some of our newest stuff is
at that same station.
Mr. M. Williams: So I just have to wait until you come back with another pump next time
because you do them one at a time is that what you’re saying?
Mr. Wiedemeir: I’m not planning on coming back for another pump before I retire so.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah that’s right, Mayor. When’s that going to be, Tom, when’s
retirement?
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. G. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Tom, I had one more question ---
Mr. Sias: Uh, uh, no you don’t.
Mr. Mayor: --- is it a centrifugal pump or a water turbine pump?
Mr. Wiedmeir: It is a centrifugal, multi-station centrifugal.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. G. Smith: Engineers flexing their muscle.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second, voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom, are you voting on this one?
25
(Mr. Frantom votes by telephone)
The Clerk: Yes, okay.
Motion Passes 10-0.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 7 has joined us. We’ve got two
important issues that we’re going to take up right now beyond all of the other important stuff we’re
dealing with today and we’re going to go in this order. We’re going to deal with Item 31 and then
we’ll go from 31 to Item 30. I know there’s a lot of interest particularly with regards to Item
number 31. I’m going to encourage everybody in this Chamber regardless of the outcome of this
matter hold your applause, hold your comments and if necessary take it outside the Chamber, okay,
all right.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
31. Motion to approve draft Ordinance to Restrict Smoking and the use of E-Cigarettes in
public places of public accommodation. (No recommendation from Public Services
Committee May 29, 2018)
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, can I get a roll call vote?
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Mr. Mayor: Hold on, hold on. All right, the Commissioner from the 9 has asked for a
roll call vote. We will certainly grant that; it’s well within his right. All right, the Chair recognizes
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the Commissioner from the 1, from the 5.
Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to make a motion to approve amendments
to the Augusta Georgia Code to restrict smoking and the use of E-Cigarettes in public places with
an effective date of January 1, 2019.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a proper second, the second coming from the
thth
Commissioner from the 6. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make substitute motion to approve the draft
ordinance to restrict smoking and the use of E-Cigarettes in all government places.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ll second that.
thth
Mr. Mayor: So as a point of clarification to the Commissioner from the 8 and the 9 that
is included in this document.
Mr. Guilfoyle: No, government ---
26
Mr. M. Williams: Government places.
Mr. Guilfoyle: --- not private property.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so again your, state your motion again, state your substitute.
Mr. Guilfoyle: I make a motion to approve the draft ordinance to restrict smoking and the
use of E-Cigarettes on government grounds only. How’s that?
Mr. M. Williams: The second still stands.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so we’ve got a substitute motion with a proper second from the, all
right the Chair recognizes, Ms. Bonner, are you tracking?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
st.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1 State your
inquiry.
Mr. Fennoy: For clarity does that mean state government, federal government ---
Mr. Guilfoyle: No, sir ---
Mr. Fennoy: --- but ---
Mr. Fennoy: --- what Augusta Richmond County owns, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: --- okay, could I ask ---
Mr. Mayor: State your inquiry.
Mr. Fennoy: --- the maker of the motion to modify his motion to state that?
Mr. Guilfoyle: Madam Clerk, can you add that to it, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, so the substitute motion then clarified is pertaining only to local
government buildings.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, and the Commissioner from the 9 you seconded it?
Mr. M. Williams: I seconded it.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, okay, all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
27
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Before I ask my question I just want to get a little clarity on
something from you, Mr. Chair. Is this a vote only or are we going to have any discussion on this?
Mr. Mayor: Well, I’m prepared to have some discussion as much as ya’ll would like. Why
don’t we do this? Let’s just dispose of the substitute motion first, go ahead and vote on it and then
we’ll come back to the underlined motion.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, it sounds like you’re either a psychic or something. Do you
know if the motion’s going to fail?
Mr. Mayor: Well, I don’t know what’s going to happen but I am able to speak prophetically
about things.
Mr. M. Williams: I mean if the motion passes that’s the game right there.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah well ---
Mr. Sias: Call for the question on the substitute motion.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay.
Mr. M. Williams: You have to take another vote then you all want to call the question ya’ll
been doing that and nobody said a word. All the question means you want to vote to see if there’s
any more dialogue or not ---
Mr. Sias: Correct.
Mr. M. Williams: --- it don’t mean you vote on this issue here yet.
Mr. Mayor: Well again as I said I’m prepared to do whatever you want to do do. You
want to have some debate about it we can do that, are you prepared to vote on your substitute?
Mr. M. Williams: I come to work I mean (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’re going to vote on the substitute. All right, roll call vote.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
28
Mr. Frantom: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Guilfoyle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Jefferson.
Mr. Jefferson: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. D. Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: No.
The Clerk: Mr. M. Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Motion Fails 3-7.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, you’re doing pretty good with your prophetic (inaudible).
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you sir. Again who is speaking for the functionality of this ordinance
such as would it be the Law Department or would it be who?
Mr. Mayor: Well, that’s a very good question I’m going to yield to Attorney MacKenzie
who had been tasked with drafting this. Attorney MacKenzie, why don’t you take this approach
and walk us through the ordinance as proposed.
Mr. Sias: But I had a specific couple of points I wanted to ask ---
29
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Sias: --- I didn’t necessarily need the whole thing.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, very good.
Mr. Sias: --- just a couple of points. May I address Mr. MacKenzie?
Mr. Mayor: You may.
Mr. Sias: Mr. McKenzie, Item F Section 4-2-78 it says in an enclosed area. It says the
enclosed area means all space between the floor and a ceiling that is bound on all sides by a wall
or doorway one that’s open or closed. A wall includes a retractable divider, garage door or other
physical barriers. The question I have then the minute these barriers are temporary. If they open
up that barrier does that mean now that that’s now an area that can be smoked in i.e. an example.
If you have a room and you are able to close it off with a wall with a temporary wall going to the
outside then you move that wall does that not become a smoking area?
Mr. MacKenzie: Based on the definition that’s provided in this ordinance it would no
longer qualify as an enclosed space because it wouldn’t be bound by all sides.
Mr. Sias: So therefore based on also what we need to do is take a permanent wall make it
a temporary wall and they’ve got a smoking area any time they retracted it and moved it back is
that what I understand of this ordinance the way it’s written?
Mr. MacKenzie: It wouldn’t be enclosed if you have one open wall because it would be
open to the elements of the outside.
Mr. Sias: Okay thank you, Mr. Attorney, that was a definite lawyer answer. All right, the
next item I want to ask about the next one is a reasonable distance Item roman number five or V
whatever that is on Section 4-2-78 reference a reasonable distance. It says reasonable distance
mean a minimum of 10 feet or a distance that is sufficient to insure to ensure indoor areas remain
smoke free by preventing smoke from infiltrating enclosed public places via any entrance, exit,
window, vent or any intake system or building where smoking is prohibited. Here’s the question
I’m trying to get addressed, Mr. Mayor and Mr. MacKenzie ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner, would you suspend for a moment? Would you direct
everyone to their page at the bottom, what’s the page number?
Mr. Sias: Page 13 of 21, my apologies.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Sias: Page 13 of 21 Paragraph V. My question here then in talking with some of the
folks in the business community they were concerned that they should have a lot distance if that
was going to be the case if this ordinance passed. I don’t quite I haven’t quite got to that yet in
30
discussion with some of my colleagues. If we have two businesses that are side by side then if you
say there’s a minimum of 10 feet then or 20 or 30 they could end up, there is no distance of that in
between those folks so for me if that was stricken to say a reasonable distance. Now a reasonable
distance itself would be interpreted and that would be in my view what businesses may not want
that would be on the onus of the business owner. But if I look at things downtown they’re stacked
door to door so how do we, Mr. MacKenzie, in drafting this ordinance what was the intent to look
at businesses that was side by side?
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, I’d be happy to address that. It’s my understanding that this was
just designed to insure, minimize the risk that the smoking would affect those who are inside the
building or get into atria A/C system and cause the smoke to infiltrate the building. Even if
buildings are side by side, there’s still a minimum of 10 feet away from any entrance to the building
you could just go towards the road or away from the series of buildings if they’re close together
and still be in compliance with the ordinance.
Mr. Sias: So here’s my question then if you move outside your area 10 feet and that puts
you five areas in somebody’s else’s business that doesn’t, that won’t fly. So here’s my question
the point of my question I should say. If we’re going to require the businesses to do this I think
reasonable should be the key and it’s not that is has to be interpreted so much as this is a felony
court case. I believe reasonable should be the word that will apply so that in my view and
remember this is my view then that gives the businesses a reasonable opportunity to find ways to
keep doing their business and also abide by the law and the ordinances that this body has passed,
that’s my view. I’m not trying to confuse the issue or trying to say when you lock down a distance
of feet in a crowded area that becomes problematic in my view. So my two cents, Mr. Mayor and
the Attorney, and Item V I think 10 feet should be removed and replaced with a reasonable distance
and I’m satisfied with what I heard about Item F on Page 10 of 21, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’ll pass.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I need to understand who’s going to police, who’s going
monitor how this is going to be determined what the who’s too close or who violated or who didn’t
violate. How’s that going to come about? I guess the Attorney has the answer to that I guess I
don’t know.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, he does and I’m going to draw everybody’s attention to the Ordinance
under Tab 31 beginning at Page 18 and I’ll yield to the Attorney, all right Page 18 of 21. All right,
Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, the short answer in a nutshell it’s enforceable by any law
enforcement officer in addition to the Augusta Georgia Planning and Development Director or
authorized designee as provided in the code section.
31
Mr. M. Williams: Can I address Mr. Andrew while you have a sidebar with your lawyer?
Okay, Andrew, if that’s the case are you saying we can call an officer or someone can call an
officer to this location to say somebody’s violating? You know we’ve got a problem already with
the Sheriff’s Department saying he’s got not enough manpower so how are we going to enforce
that? And if someone from Planning and Zoning is designated are they going to be on call to go
by and inspect or check for this? I mean you gave me some words but it really don’t make sense.
I’m trying to figure out how can we police this, how can we control this either way. Now either
way if it passes and somebody is violating it who’s going to be responsible to.
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, I think the short answer is any time you looking at any kind of
enforcement whether it be traditional law enforcement or enforcement of the ordinance such as
this it always comes down to resources. And you know this largely is a good faith enforcement
effort that most people are going to comply with what the law is. It’s usually in the event that
there’s noncompliance the ordinance provides a mechanism whereby people can issue a complaint
and there’s a process where that can be resolved whether that be through law enforcement or
through the Planning and Development Department.
Mr. M. Williams: So are you saying that the businesses that would be in violation and their
license will be taken from the business because they allowed someone to or someone came in
smoking for instance. If the business owner did that, will they be subject to revoking their license
or will that person be fined? Or I mean I don’t understand, I mean it’s not clear to me.
Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, direct your attention to Page 19 which is where it gets into violations
and penalties that’s Section 4-2-89 and it provides for an initial fine of $50.00 dollars for violations.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay you cited the page. Now explain to me is that for the business
owner are you saying or is that for the person ---
Mr. MacKenzie: This is for the person who smokes or uses an E-Cigarette, the business
portion is on Section C. It goes into the possibility of having suspension or revocation of a permit
or license issued to the premises.
Mr. M. Williams: --- Mr. Mayor, that’s all. I don’t understand anymore but I did hear
something from him but it ain’t, it still ain’t clear to me he said something but that’s what lawyers
do I guess.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah well, you know he’s a learned attorney I’ll tell ya.
Mr. M. Williams: They make too much money to do that, Mr. Mayor. They make too
much money to be a learned attorney so.
Mr. Mayor: They tell me you need two things in your life a preacher and an attorney, I
think you’ve got one of those covered.
Mr. Fennoy: In that order, Mr. Mayor.
32
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I have a concern about this ordinance
right here.
Mr. Mayor: I know you do.
Mr. Guilfoyle: You know we, we’re going after every part of this city including private
clubs, you’ve got a VFW, you’ve got an American Legion. You’ve got recreational areas. It
means any club public or private area open to the public for recreational purpose whether or not
any fee or for admission is charged including but not limited to amusement parks, we don’t have
that, athletic fields we do, beaches we don’t have that, fairgrounds we do, gardens we do, golf
courses open to the public. So if you own a golf course and you want to smoke you a good old
stogie playing with your friends having a cold toddy you can’t even do that and if you do you’re
going to get fined. There’s something wrong here. You know it was confined to enclosed areas,
restaurants, then we exchanged it to bars then we exchanged it to private citizens, private
businesses. I’ll give you an example. Country Club. They spend $40/45,000 dollars building a
room within their operations because when they have concerts there, if a customer walks out they
can’t reenter so they built to eliminate any of the nonsmoking patrons not to be affected by it. It
was called respect but it was the owners will and just to do that. So anywhere we go outside we’re
going to get fined including the 20% like the Doctor said. How far are we going to reach out as a
government? We can’t even our Sheriff’s Department or Marshal’s Department, I don’t know
how we’re going to govern this, how we’re going to go after it. You know when we start coming
up before us which probably will happen in the near future, not while I’m on the floor where
somebody goes to take away my guns, my right to raise my children, my right to go to church.
When’s it going to stop? Thank you, sir. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve asked ya’ll to hold your applause. I’ve asked you to do that now
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(unintelligible) just a little bit. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. Jefferson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to amend my original motion to reflect the
change from 10 feet to a reasonable distance in that ordinance.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Attorney MacKenzie, we’re good, all right fantastic. The Chair
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recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah Mr. Mayor, I’d like to know what’s a reasonable distance because
what’s reasonable to somebody may not be reasonable to somebody else. So what’s your reason
then when they talk about distance now because I mean it’s going to be a self determination if it
does ---
Mr. Mayor: Yeah ---
33
Mr. M. Williams: --- I mean 10 feet may be reasonable to somebody and we just said we’re
taking 10 feet out so wait now let’s be real.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, what are you suggesting?
Mr. M. Williams: I say we vote it down and let the businesses decide what they want to
do themselves I think, I’m not going to put ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- I mean that’s my suggestion.
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Mr. Mayor: --- okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6, state
your inquiry.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, just a little statement Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. D. Williams: --- I’m agreeing with my colleague on that. One of the things ---
Mr. Mayor: Which colleague?
Mr. D. Williams: --- well pretty much Guilfoyle and Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. D. Williams: Well, first of all in our society you have a matter of choice whatever you
want to do. You decide what barber you go to, you decide what hairdresser you go to. I decide
what cigar I smoke and what store I buy it from. Now every, each side has a good positive position.
Yes, smoking is bad for you they say. Well, I make that choice and I still smoke my cigar because
I like it and we all do that in our society. We have to get away in my opinion from forcing people
to do things that the majority wants a lot of times. We are individuals; if we start with the smoking
ban next thing you know we can’t eat barbequed ribs on Deans Bridge Road, you know, so we
have to learn how to accept. When I go to a restaurant and there’s smoking if I don’t feel like
being bothered with the smoke or who I’m with don’t like the smoke, I don’t go to the restaurant
or I leave. I have the choice; each of us has the choice of what we want to do in our daily lives,
basically. Now I won’t vote against it but we have to take into consideration when you invest your
money in a business, you don’t get all these rules when you start out but all of a sudden they come
up and just leave to run your business the way you think it should be ran as long as it’s legal.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor, let’s vote.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I make a substitute motion.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got an amendment to the underlined motion to change and strike 10
feet to reasonable distance. We’ll let each and every one to determine what that means for
34
themselves but that is the motion and second that we’ve got on the floor right now. We’re going
to vote on that.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got a substitute motion, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’m going to vote on this first if you don’t mind. I mean I’ve got one
substitute I’ll let you vote on that and come back to the main motion ---
Mr. Sias: Roll call?
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah it’s a roll call vote for everybody. You okay with that, Commissioner,
if not I’ll yield to you if you want.
Mr. M. Williams: Don’t yield no more.
Mr. Sias: And, Mr. Mayor, I just want to be clear on that clarification on the pending
motion. There’s the one where the ten is removed and where reasonable.
Mr. Mayor: Sure okay, that’s what’s before us. All right, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Guilfoyle.
Mr. Guilfoyle: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Jefferson.
Mr. Jefferson: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
35
Mr. Sias: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith: No.
The Clerk: Mr. D. Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: No.
The Clerk: Mr. M. Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: No.
Motion Passes 6-4.
Mr. Mayor: All right okay, that motion has passed. The ordinance is adopted with that
change with an effective date of January 1, 2019.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9, state your
inquiry.
Mr. M. Williams: --- point of clarity the point before they leave this Chamber ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I think that we need to share and let this group know what has just
been passed and how it’s going to be effective. Now we said a reasonable distance. That could
be two feet away could be reasonable so really in fact we really hadn’t did anything because the
bar owners can still do what they’ve been doing because they can determine what is reasonable in
my understanding. So I wanted to be clear before people leave and Sylvia Cooper who ain’t
writing today gets it out there wrong. I want to make sure that we get it right ---
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- is that what we just passed?
Mr. Mayor: --- so I think that you’ve got 21 pages of an ordinance that has been worked
on for a number of years that’s been modeled after several to include what’s happened in Savannah,
Athens, “the college town” that everyone refers to it as has adopted this similar ordinance many,
many years ago. In fact there are 28 states in these United States of America to include
Washington, DC and Puerto Rico that have passed strong smoke-free laws that include restaurants
and bars, well over 50% ---
36
Mr. M. Williams: My question was ---
Mr. Mayor: --- I know I’m getting there, over 50% of the United States population is now
protected from secondhand smoke in public places. We now with this ordinance to your point the
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sticking point that the Commissioner from the 4 raised again to the degree that it’s reasonable the
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Commissioner from the 4 State your concern.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Reasonable distance that is sufficient to insure indoor areas
remain smoke free. In other words are you far enough away for the smoke not to be going through
the door, the window or vent. It’s that simple. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Again, that’s in the Ordinance Page 13 Paragraph V under the Definitions
section. All right if those of you who are here for or against are planning are planning on exiting
the Chamber and don’t want to stay with us for the rest of the rodeo I’ll give you an opportunity
to do that now, thank you. Again, if we’ll go ahead and exit the Chamber and take our sidebar
conversations out of the Chamber. All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to go back up to Item 28
---
Mr. Hasan: I thought you said 31 and 32.
Mr. Mayor: --- oh I’m sorry, yeah, 30.
The Clerk: Thirty?
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Mr. Mayor: Yes, we’ve got the Commissioner from the 7 still on the line.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
30. Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend Augusta, Georgia Code Sections 3-5-1 and 3-
5-86 to allow personal transportation vehicles with specified features to be used on certain
street; to provide for definitions; to provide for safety requirements and registration
procedures for personal transportation vehicles to be used on Augusta streets for the purpose
of reducing harmful environmental emissions and supporting tourism; to repeal all Code
sections and ordinances and parts of Code sections and ordinances in conflict herewith; to
provide and effective date and for other purposes. (No recommendation from Public Services
Committee May 29, 2018)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Motion to approve.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and second, voting.
37
Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
(Mr. Frantom votes by telephone)
Motion Passes 8-2.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk Items 26, 28.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
26. Motion to approve placing Camilla Avenue at the top of the list to make the repairs to
the portion of the road in Richmond County and contacting Columbia County about making
repairs to their portion of the road so that the work could all be done at the same time.
(Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 29, 2018)
nd
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2 if you would
please speak into the microphone.
Mr. D. Williams: I only have a question. Do we get cooperation from Columbia County?
Mr. Ussery: I did contact them and I did have a conversation with them. They have not
committed to doing that at this point. They said most of their funds that they have for resurfacing
are already committed to other projects but they would see if they had a savings in any of those
projects that they would put it towards this.
Mr. D. Williams: Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, with that being said I would like to make a substitute motion that
we wait until we hear from Columbia County before we move forward because I think that we will
do more damage if half the road is paved and another half is not paved.
Mr. D. Williams: I’ll second that motion.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a substitute with a proper second, I actually like that. All
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right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make a motion to say not so much Columbia
County to hear from them as much as we check with Columbia County periodically to try to
see because it’s not on their radar. It’s more on our radar and check with them periodically
to see can we get them on board as opposed to waiting to hear from them.
Mr. Fennoy: I’m okay with that, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Hasan: I ain’t going to charge you for that either.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Fennoy: A rose by any other name.
The Clerk: Can you ask him for clarity ---
Mr. Mayor: clarity, I will.
The Clerk: --- I didn’t hear (inaudible).
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 6 would you.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am what I was just saying, Ms. Bonner, I was asking to kind of amend
the language waiting to hear from Columbia County as opposed to just checking with them
periodically because they may call us but not just sit and wait. W can check with them every so
often because I think our Traffic Engineer he’s very familiar with that road projects or not long
terms that work and create some money real fast. So every so often he can check with them and
see what their status are.
The Clerk: So the motion would be to wait to check with Columbia County periodically
before moving forward.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. G. Smith: May I ask him a question?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, certainly, would you speak into the microphone please, sir?
Mr. G. Smith: How much portion is Richmond County versus Columbia County?
Mr. Ussery: Almost right down the middle.
Mr. G. Smith: Really I wouldn’t take too long to wait on to hear from them. It don’t insure,
look bad right now half the street paved and half not.
Mr. Ussery: It would look odd yeah; normally you don’t pave half.
Mr. G. Smith: You could move the Richmond County sign to the right get somebody’s
attention.
Mr. Ussery: I will continue to you know try to reach out to them as often as, without
bothering them but at the same time to be sure they don’t forget.
Mr. Fennoy: Don’t even say that.
39
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a substitute motion with a proper second, voting.
The Clerk: It’s the original motion.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias, are you wanting to participate on this vote?
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Sias: Is the motion as is, ma’am?
The Clerk: No, sir, it is to check periodically with Columbia County before moving
forward with the paving of the road.
Mr. Fennoy: We don’t want to have a half-paved road.
The Clerk: It’s not on Columbia County’s radar at this time.
Mr. Frantom and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
28. Motion to approve to Supplement Construction Contract with Reeves Construction Co.
in the amount of $1,060,158.00 to cover additional cost for Resurfacing Olive Road (Gordon
Hwy to White Rd.) and Center West Parkway (Sherwood Dr. – Bertram Rd.) as requested
by AED. Bid 17-243. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee May 29, 2018)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7, the Chair
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recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, Mr. Mayor, I was, I’ve got no problem with this and I’m going
to make a motion to approve it but I was wondering, Malik, where are we with Wrightsboro Road
at the, at Daniel Village right there from that stretch of road I mean it’s embarrassing to say that
we have not addressed that. And my question is where are we with doing something? The road
holds water, it’s rugged, it’s rough, it’s just it’s a bad piece of real estate so can you help me out?
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir, that road is basically needs to be reconstructed and we are working on
the RFP to get the design engineer on board this year to reconstruct the road. So that is on our
(unintelligible) and there is SPLOST VI allocated funds for that road to reconstruct that road.
40
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion to approve and I think there was a second.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, all right ---
Mr. Fennoy: I have a question.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1, state your inquiry.
Mr. Fennoy: Dr. Malik ---
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir ---
Mr. Fennoy: --- where are we on Laney Walker?
Dr. Malik: --- help me out.
Mr. Fennoy: We’ll talk about this after (unintelligible).
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, if I can respond. We shouldn’t be nowhere near Laney
Walker. We just did that whole entire street ---
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- from railroad tracks to railroad tracks and we had a situation where
we almost had to go in and add a fine because the company hadn’t, was dragging their feet finishing
up.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, so we’ve got a motion and a second.
The Clerk: You’ve got great recall, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: That’s right.
Mr. Mayor: We’re going to issue a ruling on germanous in a minute here, voting.
Mr. Frantom and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. M. Williams: Let me look at this company again it might be the same company, Ms.
Bonner, let me look at this company again (unintelligible).
Mr. Sias: Is that it, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Well, unfortunately, I mean you’ve got 32 and 35.
41
Mr. Fennoy: What’s 35?
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
The Clerk: The Administrator has a presentation.
Mr. Mayor: Okay well you want to just make a motion to approve?
Mr. Sias: I make a motion to do what needs to be done.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam, we’re going 32, 35.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
32. An update and full accounting of the licensing fees authorized under the Animal Services
Ordinance effective 1 January 2016. Please advise how the fees are funded back into animal
services. (No recommendation from Public Safety Committee with a review from the Law
Department May 29, 2018)
Mr. Mayor: All right no recommendation from Public Safety. All right the Chair
recognizes Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. MacKenzie: I just wanted to note in accordance with the request from the committee
of last week there was a proposed cut amendment which is added to the last part of this item that
addresses that issue so it restricts the funding to just the registration and licensing fees collected
so that correction was made in Subsection D.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Tab 32 ---
Mr. MacKenzie: Yes ---
Mr. Mayor: --- Page?
Mr. MacKenzie: --- it’s actually the last page.
Mr. Mayor: All right very good, all right, draw everybody’s attention there. All right, the
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Can I get Ms. Broady to come forward, sir?
Mr. Mayor: This is from the same distinguished gentleman who said it wasn’t going to
take long.
42
Mr. Sias: It’s not, I just want to make sure we don’t have to come back. With your
permission, Mr. Mayor, I wanted to check with Ms. Broady. Ms. Broady, when we look at the
items that were added I remember the intent of the Animal Ordinance at the time it was passed as
far as money coming back directly from operations back into the Animal Services, was the money
from our new parts which were Licensing and Registration, am I correct?
Ms. Brodie: You are correct.
Mr. Sias: And therefore if that did not happen we would’ve had a new mandate with no
money and the idea was to fund those things. With this change in the code that the Attorney has
proposed would that exactly fix that issue that we have?
Ms. Brodie: Yes, sir, it will.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, Move to approve.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’ve got a question.
Mr. Mayor: Hold on.
Mr. Sias: Say what?
The Clerk: To approve the amended ordinance.
Mr. Sias: To approve the amended ordinance.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I’d like to get some clarity around what
the Attorney made mention of. I know this was discussed last week those changes but was it ever
adopted by the committee or was that a conversation piece?
Mr. Mayor: Well, you know, the Attorney doesn’t work on anything unless ya’ll give him
direction.
Mr. Hasan: I don’t remember that because you said no action was taken so I don’t
necessarily remember that no actions were taken.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie.
Mr. Hasan: That’s one part of it I’m still not through.
Mr. Attorney: What I have from my notes last week is that we were to provide a correction
to the code amendment to address this situation to make it available for the Commission today.
43
Mr. Hasan: I’m not sure about that but that’s so I’m not sure about that, Mr. Mayor, no
action was taken. The second part of that, Mr. Mayor, is two things. I think the ordinance needs
to make some corrections before you do anything because the ordinance as it was written it pretty
much as Commissioner Sias made mention last week that it would give all the resources back for
whatever services they provided but the intention was licensing and registration as they say the
ordinance doesn’t reflect that. The second thing is that also you’ve got the Commission
appointments on the Commission appointments are designated so that we have to do it by district
and we know that we ruled against that in saying that you know as a Commissioner we can make
appointments from anywhere in Richmond County. Also I encourage us not to do this, Mr. Mayor,
until we can get the ordinance straight and then we can do what they asked us to do. But the third
part of it because this also was the ordinance that had on it that, Mr. Mayor, no shade on you in
saying this that this also was the ordinance that had on it that the Mayor would have veto power
and I brought that to the attention at the time. That’s not in there any longer, they took it out, but
once again they went ahead and approved it and then they took it out as opposed to, make the
changes and then come back and request the particular funds, make the changes per the ordinance
first before we award any type of funds. That’s my whole thing.
Mr. Mayor: Well, this is the first time I’ve ever heard that I would have veto power. That’ll
be the headline, the Mayor has veto power.
Mr. Hasan: I addressed it then.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so are you suggesting that you’re going to make a substitute motion
to send this back to committee ---
Mr. Hasan: Yes ---
Mr. Mayor: --- is that what I just heard?
Mr. Hasan: --- I’d like to make a substitute motion to send this back to committee and
make the necessary changes to the ordinance.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ll second it.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a substitute motion and a proper second, I’m coming back
to you just hold on, everybody just hold on. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Broady, I’ve got a couple of questions here
and I’m going back to what was initiated and what I thought was approved by this Commission.
When did this take place, my first question.
Ms. Broady: The ordinance was approved February of 2016 with registration to become
effective the first of January 2017.
44
Mr. M. Williams: Okay and how much money was supposed to have come to Animal
Services?
Ms. Broady: The money that was generated by the licensing of unaltered dogs and cats.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay how much money, I mean you’re saying where it comes from, but
I want to know how much money from the ’16 that should have been from my understanding came
through Animal Services.
Ms. Broady: There was no number no money from ’16. The registration did not begin
until ’17.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay it’s ’18 now so give me ’17.
Ms. Broady: Okay ’17 was 7,150 I believe, 8,250.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay from my understanding in committee that you hadn’t received it,
hadn’t come to Animal Services and I thought it was approved. I’m trying to figure out if we voted
on it to be done and it wasn’t done, what happened? Who caught the ball or who stopped the ball?
That’s all I want, that’s all I’m trying to find out.
Ms. Broady: Sir, I can’t answer as to stopped the ball. I questioned but I was told we
needed to come back in front of the Commission.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, was that in Legal, was that in Finance?
Ms. Broady: No, I didn’t speak with Legal. I spoke with Finance and the Administrator’s
Office.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay Finance then, Mr. Mayor, can I continue?
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. M. Williams: Donna, normally I would not call on you today but since you’re here
help me understand what happened.
Ms. Williams: (Unintelligible).
Mr. M. Williams: I understand.
Ms. Williams: All right, when this conversation came up I pointed that there was
conflicting language in the ordinance. That one section of it referred to all the fees being used to
offset the General Fund expenditures and that section, I can’t stay this as fast as Andrew can
Section 4-1-43A says that the fees are imposed with the sole purpose of defraying expenses borne
by the county for animal control. But then in the little piece Section D when you go down below
the language changes to say that the fees shall be used to enhance services and then the schedule
45
that is attached is all the fees. So all I ask and the Attorney that I was dealing with, Mr. Bray, that
helped with this ordinance he’s no longer here. It was about the same time he left. So I asked for
a clarification just to let Finance know because if you were restricting fees I need to know which
fees are restricted and it points to two different things. So I did like you do, sir, I asked for some
additional information ---
Mr. M. Williams: Okay ---
Ms. Williams: --- and it kind I think it got bogged down. So I said the simplest thing to
do was to just to come back to the Commission and ask for a clarification and I think we’ve finally
got to that point.
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay my ---
Ms. Williams: So just tell me which ones because when Finance restricts a fee, I have to
have a document that says on whose authority we’re restricting at and I just need to know which
is which.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I get that. My final question, my last question is whatever money
was restricted from that time will that go to Animal Services now, in other words when our Legal
Counsel tells us which one should be restricted from the time it should’ve started in ’17 that that
money will go to Animal Services now because it should’ve been from what I’m hearing back
then. So I don’t think they ought to be penalized say well you know we didn’t give it to them then
so we’re going to give it to them now the money needs to go there now for them to use in the
Animal Services. I guess my question is to Andrew or to you I’d rather ask you, Donna, because
I get a better response from you. Andrew’s going to sit there and look like I’m ---
Ms. Williams: If I can suggest that ya’ll would move expeditiously on this 2017 fees
because 2017 has not been audited yet. It is in the process of being audited. I can have that
documentation to show to our auditors that those fees are restricted and it’s simply a journal entry
to move the money. If you wait four or five more months, you’re going to have to pull it out of
Fund Balance because I have no authority to restrict it so I would suggest if you could come to
some agreement, it’s $8,250 dollars.
Mr. M. Williams: I thought we had voted on to do that. I thought it was passed when the
subcommittee came back and gave us instructions I thought we gave the instruction. And if we’ve
got to give instructions then follow the instructions that we gave then nobody giving instructions
we might as well do it ourselves. So, Mr. Andrew, my opinion is as the Legal Counsel on this
body and you down there to get that straight so we can get that passed before the auditors have to
come and do ---
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan and then Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: I was going to be next.
Mr. Hasan: Let him go ahead, go ahead ---
46
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: I’m sorry, Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Hasan: --- four comes before six, I can live with that.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: The whole idea of I put the (unintelligible) and do exactly what Ms. Williams
had just asked. It was license and registration fees which was moved to Animal Services that was
to defray costs (unintelligible). So the bottom line I don’t think we really need to hold this up. I
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think we can really go ahead but my colleagues point from the 6 we can authorize the staff go
make those changes and bring them back for approval.
Mr. Fennoy: So moved.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Mr. Hasan: Can I get some clarity around what he just said because he talked pretty fast
at the end, what does that mean ---
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias, explain your motion again.
Mr. Sias: Authorize the staff to make the changes to the ordinance which was then clarified
what you said earlier, my friend, but there was no action taken.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, so does make I’m right?
Mr. Sias: No, that makes you (inaudible).
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Ya’ll are both right. All right hold on, Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk: Yeah well we have a motion on the floor from Commissioner Hasan and
Commissioner Marion Williams was to forward it back to committee with the necessary
amendments. I guess I’m recommending that what you just said be included.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: What I’m trying to say is this. Let me make mine a substitute motion so it
doesn’t go back to committee. Iit can go back now and be done and come back for approval. So
that’s a substitute motion that we authorize staff to make these changes and bring it back and
bring those changes back and we can do that on the Special Called Meeting next week and
we’ll have this done.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Hasan: I don’t have a problem with that.
47
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay good, ya’ll we have a motion and a second. Let’s vote.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. Commissioner I’ll do like you do. I’ll say you were right but don’t
believe me.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Frantom and Mr. Guilfoyle out.
Motion carries 8-0.
Mr. Hasan: Madam Mayor Pro Tem ---
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: --- yes, ma’am, just remember we’re changing two things in that. You’re
changing how the money is distributed and you’re also changing about board appointments, there’s
two things to be changed in that, thank you.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. MacKenzie, you look a little perplexed.
Mr. MacKenzie: I have some concerns about the language changes to the board
appointments. It has some requirements that we looked into for the Consolidation Act and now it
requires each Commissioner appointee reside in the geographical district and where that
Commissioner resides. We’ve looked at this issue (inaudible).
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan, can we do these separately so we can go ahead
and get ---
Mr. Hasan: Well let ---
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- Ms. Williams, she’s nodding back there they need this information
so they can go ahead.
Ms. Hasan: --- Madam Mayor Pro Tem, I respect that but I respectfully disagree with what
the Attorney just said as well but I will go ahead. I’ll pull back on that I respectfully disagree with
what he just said.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah put that other agenda item to committee. How about that?
Mr. Hasan: That’s fine.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: He had the last agenda item ---
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Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Is that it?
The Clerk: --- no, we have the presentation or are we?
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Oh yeah, okay.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATOR
35. To provide the Commission an update on the Public Relations and Education efforts of
the 911 Department.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Madam Administrator.
Ms. Jackson: Yes, we’ll make this as quick as we can as when we scheduled this we didn’t
realize we would be on the agenda with a marathon meeting. But as you all may recall sometime
ago I had challenged Mr. Dunlap with the task of reducing the number of calls his department, a
significant percentage of the calls that we get in are nonemergency calls. It’s not appropriate for
911 and I challenged him with putting together an information campaign with the public. He’s
done a good deal of work so I just wanted to bring you all up to speed with some of the work he’s
done in that regard.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
Mr. Dunlap: Thank you Ms. Jackson, Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioners, thank you for the
opportunity this afternoon. Just to kind of give you a brief, brief a brief update on how our public
relations and education campaign has gone. So is public education really needed for 911? We
watch television, but we see movies, TV, 911 knows exactly where everyone is any time they call
911. Well, that’s a myth. The fact is we don’t know where you’re at and it’s important that we
do have public education to try to get people to better understand how the system actually works
and we do this in various ways. So we have these public education topics that are necessary for
people to understand the process of what happens when they actually dial 911. There’s a difference
between when you call 911 from a regular land line or a business telephone and your cellular
phone. We need certain information in order to get you the right help and we also we need those
people who are calling to remain calm and speak clearly. The most important thing that we need
overall is the location of the incident. I came up here last week and we were talking about a new
program that we’re going to be utilizing as far as the Emergency Fire Call Taking protocols. Those
are the questions that we’re going to be asking. That’s the only thing we’re getting people prepared
for is all the questions that we must ask because we have to paint a picture for the responders. We
can’t just lead them in there blind; they really need to know where they’re going into so be prepared
to answer those questions that we ask. Something else is teaching children when they have to call
911. It’s a little different back when I was younger and you just were able to push the three buttons
911. Nowadays with cell phones something that we really don’t consider is when you dial 911
you have to actually hit the send button. Children might not understand that process so that’s
another thing we’re actually teaching them. In addition to making sure your address is clearly
posted and visible, if you can think of the worst rainstorm that’s going on those responders need
49
to be able to see the address in numerics on the house and also teaching Text to 911 is another
education topic that we’re hitting. So of course when is it time to call 911? Where it’s a serious
act of emergency that requires police, fire or ambulance personnel to respond. And we’re also
teaching people when not to call 911. So if you didn’t get your full twelve nuggets in your combo
meal that’s not a reason to call 911. If you don’t feel someone is a reasonable distance away from
when you’re having a cigar, that’s not a reason to call 911. Now we don’t give legal advice. If
you’ve been sitting in traffic on I-20 for the last 35 minutes, don’t call 911 to ask why you’ve been
sitting in traffic so long. We actually had that last year after the storms at the Master’s we were
receiving 911 calls people wanting to know why they were sitting in traffic so long. So other
feedback and inquiries that we receive from our public outreach. Now why do you ask so many
questions? You know if you’re asking all those questions who’s actually sending us help and again
you know where I’m at so why do you need to ask me my address? Now these are things that it’s
necessary for us to ask those questions, it’s necessary that we verify the address and explaining
the fact that we have a call taker who intakes the call and a dispatcher who actually goes over the
radio to dispatch the first responders, a lot of people aren’t aware of that. So other feedback and
inquires that we’ve gotten someone said they saw on Facebook how they can just call 911 and
order a pizza and we’ll automatically send the police. Well that’s another myth that isn’t true.
Someone advised me personally that they tried using our Text to 911 program when they were in
the southern part of Georgia and they said it didn’t work. Well another part of education is trying
to get them to understand the Augusta Text to 911 Program will only work in Richmond County.
And another one we had someone ask or make a statement if they called 911 from their cellphone
when they’re in Virginia does it get answered in Augusta? Now wherever your call is at or
wherever you’re physically located that’s the 911 Center your call’s actually going to go to. So
some of our events that we actually have done over the last year we did have a Trunk or Treat
Event at our 911 Center last year. We kind of kept it low key because we weren’t really sure how
it was going to go the first time. We’re looking forward to doing that again as a safe place for
children to come and do Trick or Treating. We’ve had church mentoring groups come by. We
were actually able to allow them to do test texts to 911’s. They thought that was really something
that was amazing for them to be able to do. The Family Emergency Day where we had the Marshal,
the Fire Department and other community events. You may have seen your utilities mailer in May
we’ve actually gotten some good feedback from that. Additional agencies, homeowners
associations have actually reached out asking us to do presentation for them. In addition to we
recently did the Rotary and other homeowners meetings. So in the fall of 2018 we’re looking to
really beef up our school outreach. We’ve already drafted kind of our lesson plan to get out to the
schools again to teach them when to dial 911 and actually how to or what to expect whenever they
do call. So we continue with our goals for homeowners associations, any type of church groups,
we want to be able to get out to parades and other city events and functions. And we have our
Public Relations team. They meet monthly and if there’s any special group you’d like for us to
present to you let us know. We’d like to thank our entire staff from our PR Department, Utilities
has been helpful, Ms. Collings, I know from Ms. Jackson’s office and Mr. Beasley and thank you
for everyone that’s allowed us to come and speak. It’s been a really positive thing for our staff.
Ms. Mayor: Okay thank you so much and thank you for the campaign that ya’ll are doing.
Anybody have any questions, Commissioner Fennoy.
50
Mr. Fennoy: Have you considered any type of public service announcements to so that the
public will know when to call 911 and when not to call 911 like TV ads or ya’ll could put together
a TV ad to ---
Mr. Dunlap: That’s definitely something for us to look into. I know I’ve got a face for
radio so it’s definitely, it’s something that we can look at.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay thank you, we appreciate it.
Mr. Dunlap: Thank you.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Madam Clerk, do we need a vote on that?
The Clerk: No, ma’am ---
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay ---
The Clerk: --- we have a quorum so we (inaudible).
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- oh, there you go. All right, any other business? Okay, we’re
adjourned, correct?
The Clerk: Yes, ma’am.
Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
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
June 5, 2018.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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