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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting December 18, 2018 REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER DECEMBER 18, 2018 Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., December 18, 2018, the Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Hons. Guilfoyle, Sias, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, Fennoy, D. Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’re going to call this meeting to order. Again, good afternoon. We are here to do the people’s business. It looks like a full house today. I’m hoping that everyone is in the holiday season as we come to celebrate Hanukah, Kwanzaa and Christmas and all of those other names that we’ve identified with. But we are here to do the people’s business. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Yes, sir, thank you. At this time we would ask Pastor Ron Jones, Lead Pastor of The Hill Baptist Church to please come forward to give our invocation after which we will ask the City Administrator, Ms. Janice Jackson, if she will please lead us into the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Please stand. The invocation was given by Pastor Ron Jones, Lead Pastor, The Hill Baptist Church. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. The Clerk: Office of Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr., by these present be it known that Pastor Ron Jones, Lead Pastor of the Hill Baptist Church is Chaplain of the Day. His spiritual guidance and civic leadership serves as an example for all citizens of Augusta. Given under my hand this th 18 Day of December 2018, Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Pastor, thank you so much for your leadership and service in this community. Would you all join me in thanking our Pastor? (APPLAUSE) Madam Clerk, before we go on there are a couple of addendum items that we have in front of us as well as some additional information for (inaudible) the current item that’s on the agenda regarding Item number 32. I’m going to ask do we have unanimous consent to add these items without objection. Mr. M. Williams: No, sir, no, sir, Mr. Mayor. With objection. Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Speaker: Which items? Mr. M. Williams: Both of them. Mr. Mayor: Okay --- Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have a question (inaudible). 1 th Mr. Mayor: --- all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, the zoning item zoning Z-18-58 and I just needed some clarification and I don’t want to choose one item over the other I just want to make a point of reference if you don’t mind. Item, the item in terms of this appointment is something that’s just come about as a conversation this morning per your conversation with myself and probably some of my colleagues as well. The item from the Planning and Zoning is an item that the Planning and Zoning committee has made a decision about. It was an oversight on their part that it didn’t get there. So my question is there a distinction between those two by not getting to the Clerk of Commission’s office at this time or does it boils down to the same as it’s not on the agenda? Mr. Mayor: Yeah, it’s not on the agenda. I think again we’ve taken this same approach with other items that we’ve added from a, and requesting it. I will tell you that the reality of it is and this a conversation for 2019 this is a very high-bar. This is a standard that I think is not prudent with this idea around having unanimous consent to add an item to the agenda when it fact it only takes six votes to vote and to adopt the measure. If we’re not making changes as it relates to the “Charter” that would require super-majority i.e. eight votes this again is imprudent in terms of being able to functionally operate as a government. I know it’s been the standard all this time but at the end of the day a simple majority should be sufficient to add items to the agenda. So we have again objection to add them. If you want to take them individually I certainly am okay with doing that as well. But these are all matters that are important to our community and how we move forward. Commissioner, you still have the floor. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like the Commission to reconsider in particular the Item 18-58 both of them if feel if you’d like to reconsider, Commissioner, but especially the item around the zoning because the item as you as the representative or ex-officio on this Planning and Zoning committee that it was an oversight on that body’s behalf. So I would hope that you would did not at least not object to that one being added, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, thank you to you too, sir. All right, the Chair recognizes the th Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: If there is, thank you, if there’s no reconsideration on the objection then I want to add the resolution referencing the Savannah Lock and Dam to the next full Commission agenda, Madam Clerk, if there’s no reconsideration of the objection. Mr. Mayor: All right and we’ll do the same thing for the Item number 2 as well if there’s th no reconsideration. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: The process that you just explained so eloquently a few minutes ago is the process that this government has been working on. Whether it needs to be changed or not I’ve 2 got no problem but I been had this thick book all weekend long in fact, I wasn’t even bringing into the Chamber today. I’ve got the Assistant Clerk to bring it in. These things should have been put in the agenda. Now if there’s an emergency, there’s something that didn’t take place, that’s one thing. I’ve got no problem with an emergency but we get too much of that. We get too many times people walk up here and give you some information that you’re supposed to look over and vote on. Maybe these votes are not important to a lot of us but to me I take them seriously that I want to know what I’m supporting. Now just because somebody brings it at the last minute and supposed to give it to me I’m supposed to support it? The rules are what they are. Now if we need to change them I mean like you say it takes six votes to make some changes but until that happens this is the process. Mr. Mayor: Yeah --- Mr. M. Williams: And I’m not trying to harp on it. I was on the Planning and Zoning. I don’t know how that took place and accidents do happen but if you let one in you ought to let them all in and you’ve got two or three others here. I came in today with all of this information that I’m supposed to look at (unintelligible). th Mr. Mayor: --- yeah well and again the gentleman from the 9 is correct that this is in fact the current process and I will be working with this body to recommend making that change because I think it’s a prudent one such a high standard again it makes no sense whatsoever. At the end of th the day to the degree that we have these items going in I think the Commissioner from the 6 has spoken well to the zoning matter. Item 1 Resolution in support of Option 1-1 for the Savannah River Lock and Dam. To the degree that this has been an ongoing discussion in this community for well over a decade, quite frankly two decades about what the long term disposition of the Savannah, New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam is. It’s important for us to speak with one voice as a community and the resolution that is before us was sent out on yesterday. Again, as we are able to move as swiftly as possible and provide as accurate information it takes time to draft these things so that we have something to at least look at. That is the matter that is in front of you with regards to that. With regards to Item 2 I was at University Hospital this morning for their 200- year closeout activities in terms of putting a time capsule together. They have an outgoing member that goes out now and they would like to get someone appointed. There are a number of very important matters that are going to be before that hospital and their board as they step into 2019 and while they’ve asked if we could go ahead and get this done for them with regards to having an appointment in place so that they’re fully able to move forward as a board in 2019. And so all of these things happened here in a short window and that’s why we moved expeditiously to try to get them on the agenda now knowing that when you come back next week all you’re going to have is a committee meeting and those items will be forward to the full Commission as of the first January th in 2019 which will be the 8. And so this is an opportunity to do the business of the people now. Mr. M. Williams: Because of the Grinch, Mr. Mayor, I’m not going to let him steal my Christmas this year. I’m going to give in again and I’m reminding you that I’m giving in again to a situation that is on the books the way it’s supposed to be handled. And I’ve been all this year been doing it but I’m going to pull back because I’m not the Grinch, I’m not going to be the Grinch this year. I’m going to have a long talk with Rob Sherman after this but I’m not going to be the Grinch this year but anything else, Mr. Mayor, until the rules change we need to go by the rules 3 and that’s why I’m a stickler for the rules so just be glad the Christmas holidays is coming. That’s all I can say you’ve got your present already. Mr. Mayor: All right and I’m going again you’re a kind man and I appreciate that. All right, without objection. Mr. Sias: Is that all items? Mr. Mayor: That’s all items. All right yes, sir. All right, we’ve added these items without objection. All right, Madam Clerk? RECOGNITION(S) Years of Service A. Presentation honoring out-going member of the Augusta Commission Honorable Wayne J. Guilfoyle, Commissioner District 8. The Clerk: I call your attention to the Recognition portion of our agenda which gives us much pleasure but dismay to recognize our outgoing member for the Augusta Commission Honorable Wayne J. Guilfoyle, Commissioner District 8 would you please join the Mayor here at the dais, sir, in front of the dais, without objection. Mr. Guilfoyle: Madam Clerk, Mr. Mayor and Commissioners man I’ve go my little letters, notes written down here so I’m going to have to --- Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a microphone for you down here. Mr. Guilfoyle: --- yeah I’d rather be, all right, let’s go. Mr. Mayor: I’ll even hold your notes for you. Mr. Guilfoyle: No, there’s too many of them. The Clerk: You don’t have to give us your name and address again. Augusta, Georgia salutes and sincerely thanks Wayne J. Guilfoyle, Commissioner District 8 for his outstanding dedication and service on the Augusta Commission January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2018 th presented by the Augusta Commission December 18 2018. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Guilfoyle: Can I go back to my own side if you don’t mind --- Mr. Mayor: I don’t mind. Mr. Guilfoyle: --- the people don’t mind. th, Mr. Mayor: Ladies and gentlemen, the gentleman from the 8 my Commissioner, my friend, Wayne J. Guilfoyle. 4 Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, thank you. (APPLAUSE) He called me about 30 minutes ago he said don’t cry but let me go ahead and start off by I’d like to thank the elected officials that I have worked hand and hand with. You’re talking about the Sheriff, the Judges, the Marshal, Coroner, it’s been a pleasure working with them. I’m going to get to my colleagues here shortly rd but oh I got to tell you a little joke this is the 3 time I’ve even been behind this dais with a suit on so it’ll be the last time as well. I’d like to thank the employees from SES all the way to ones that’s digging the ditches with the shovel. They’re the ones who makes the Commissioners Augusta Richmond County look good. Anytime we have a problem, an issue, we rely on our Directors. Our Directors almost every time follows through if they could do it within their power. But the Directors delegate it to the employees who’s out there doing the work so I’d like to thank the employees of Augusta Richmond County for making Augusta the city what it is, thank you. As far as the media (APPLAUSE) as far as the media George, Troy, Tom Corwin, Shaquille, Susan McCord and Sylvia Cooper, thank you for your honest writing. Thank you both for being friends along the way. You know we have other entities within Augusta Richmond County that we work hand and hand with. You know when you look at the Daniel Field Airport, Bush Field Airport, the CVB, the Chamber of Commerce, the Canal Authority, this is all parts of our government that makes it work. This is the idea, a lot of ideas come from these organizations, a lot of good promotional stuff. I’d like to thank them as well. You know a lot of people think that this Commission, we do a lot of bickering but it’s mainly focused on certain issues. That’s like today you’ve got 29 agenda items that’s probably going to be approved plus you’re going to have another five to seven that’s going to be put on the consent that’s been thoroughly vetted last week during the committee cycle. This is the process that this body here takes on that they signed up to do that they were elected to do by the people for the people not just certain groups of people all the people it’s been my philosophy. I got in it to do one thing try to make change, try to make change for the better. If anything I tried my best but I’ve also learned that people made me better on this floor, I thought I knew everything. Never did. I got put in my place early on in life. I thought I knew about certain departments on how to restructure. That’s not the case. I admire our directors. We need to keep them, we need to entrust what their guidance because they have the education, experience and the knowledge and they have their staff to support them. A lot of things have happened over these past eight years. If you look at the TEE Center Parking Deck that was the first thing that I encountered here. I thank Brad Owens, I thank Al Gray as well as Corey Johnson, Joe Bowles, Joe Jackson that was willing to stand with me and to try to find a better solution and a better deal for the city but still not hold up the project. That went through and it’s been a success every since. Starbucks was a big issue out there in District 8, employed a lot of jobs. That ain’t going to be the end of it. We’ve got a good Development Authority that’s always trying to figure out ways to promote with new businesses, create new jobs and Augusta is probably at the lowest job rate there is over these past couple of years. UNISYS downtown again by the Development Authority is going to be up to 700 jobs before they’re done. You’ve got your Depot Project that just passed earlier this year. It’s going to be a game changer for downtown and downtown is the heartbeat of Augusta. And a lot of with the Engineering Department they’re going to redo all of Broad to try to attract new companies to come in, new retail shops, bring it back the way it was for people love to come downtown. You’ve got your Foundry Project with Hawthorne was pushing that with help by John Clarke, Michael Thurman we sat down and come up with a better deal for the city. You’ve got Solvay which they increased their plant out there on Tobacco Road, created more jobs. And most of all I have to thank our Governor Nathan Deal. Nathan Deal had 5 believed in Augusta Richmond County and invested $50 plus million dollars for the Cyber Command. That’s a big game changer for the CSRA. I’m not just going to say Augusta CSRA, North Augusta prospers, Columbia County, Aiken as well as Burke County. It’s going to bring a lot of knowledge here. But all them projects this is where the Commissioners come in. Not one single person up here behind this dais made any one of these happen. It took the will of this body to pass anything and with the Commission’s understanding with the listening to these other departments you know our Finance Department finding out ways, our Administrator especially with the Cyber Command because we had to come up with so many millions of dollars for the parking aspect of it. If we wouldn’t have done that it wouldn’t have never happened so it’s a big, a lot of challenge for our staff; they came through and I applaud them. But then again the Commissioners I enjoyed, I know that in two weeks that we‘re going to have four of them get reelected I know that this past four years they probably think man them four years flew by fast but it didn’t fly by fast enough for me I could tell you that. But I appreciate serving Augusta Richmond County, appreciate serving the citizens of Augusta Richmond County. That was my job I fulfilled it and after today I’ll be done and unless there’s a Special Called Meeting. One other note, Mr. Mayor, Madam Clerk --- The Clerk: Sir. Mr. Guilfoyle: --- over the years I was given two gas cards. I kept these over the years in the same envelopes they came in stapled so they’ve never been used. My IPad but you know I hope this lady’s not in this room who actually called my secretary at work and the secretary came in and she’s I don’t know how to tell you this. This is when Commissioner Sias was doing the animal ordinance to make sure we didn’t have as many animals had to be put to sleep. He done a good job, put a lot of time in it. But this lady had called my secretary and she said I’d like to speak to the Commissioner. She said well he’s not in. Well I just need to tell you if you would tell him that I’m concerned about these birds and with these cats going after these birds. You’re going to need to pass an ordinance where all cats has bells on them to warn the birds. I could not bring that to Commissioner Sias. But I thank all the employees of Augusta Richmond County Butch Gallop in the back thank you for your friendship along the way as well as Mr. Williams thank you for serving on the Library Board, thank you, Mr. Mayor thanks my colleagues. (APPLAUSE) Now the fun begins, Mr. Mayor. thst Mr. Mayor: Well, I think if I think if the Commissioner from the 6 or the 1 had the microphone or raising their hands they say, Mr. Bonner, Point of Personal Privilege, so I’m going to take a Point of Personal Privilege. The Clerk: That’s right. th Mr. Mayor: I’ve known the Commissioner from the 8 oh goodness probably I don’t know 15 years so and he has been my Commissioner the whole time that he has served but he’s been my th friend and I did call him and Commissioner from the 9 asked him not to cry because we both tend to be big crybabies from time to time. But I wanted to leave him with something I know that there’s something else planned for this afternoon but I did want to share with this with you today. We’re wishing you much joy and success in the days ahead. Poet Edward Markham said these words and I do have two things for you. He said these words ‘there’s a destiny that makes us 6 brothers, none goes his way alone. All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own’. May that be your story for the lives that you’ve touched, the constituents that you’ve helped. May it come back into your life and the life of your family in the days ahead. And I have two gifts for you from, I tend to read a lot and I know you do and I’ve got two gifts for you. Congratulations for your time well served. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Guilfoyle: No, I’m not --- The Clerk: You look like it. Mr. Guilfoyle: --- I’m Asian, my eyes are squinted normally. The Clerk: So are mine. Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk? RECOGNITION(S) MACH Academy. Inc. International Winner C. Congratulations! Leila Hunter for winning the 2018 “Little Mo” International Tennis Championship held in Palm Beach Garden, FL on December 2, 2018. (Requested by Commissioner Bill Fennoy) The Clerk: At this time we would like to acknowledge one other superhero Item number C MACH Academy the International Winner. We would like to offer our congratulations to Leila Hunter for winning the 2018 “Little Mo” International Tennis Championship held in Palm Beach Garden, FL on December 2, 2018. Little Miss Hunter would you along with your family your coaches and MACH Academy would you please join the Mayor, Commissioner Fennoy here at the podium, thank you. (APPLAUSE) The Clerk: Office of the Mayor Certificate of Recognition given to Leila Hunter, MACH Academy, Inc. The City of Augusta recognizes your commitment to athletic excellence exemplified by your unwavering commitment and distinguished sportsmanlike conduct you displayed during the 2018 8 and under in the Maureen “Little Mo” Conolly Circuit of Tournaments which is the premier challenge for junior ages 8 through 12. You inspired others to perform at their best and we congratulate you for your outstanding achievement for participating and winning the “Little Mo” International Championship Tournament held on December 2, 2018 in Palm Beach th Gardens, Florida with a 6-0 6-2 victory. Given this 18 Day of December 2018. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Fennoy: You know every opportunity that the city has to recognizes greatness in our young people; we need to take advantage of that. When I first read about her accomplishment, I said wow, she’s the best in the country and I was immediately corrected by saying that she’s the best in the world. And she represents Augusta; she represents the best of Augusta and I’d just like to take this opportunity to say thank you for your greatness. I would like to take this opportunity to your parents to say thank you for your support and would also like to take the opportunity to thank MACH Academy for the great work that they do in preparing our youth not only for tennis but for college and for life. So this is only the beginning of your greatness; we look for great things 7 out of you. And again congratulations and keep up the good work and here’s a little something special for you. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: Congratulations. Mr. Speaker: Yes, I’d just like to thank the City of Augusta and the coaches and MACH Academy. They do a great job for the families and the children there. It’s a great organization and I’d just like to thank you. Mr. Speaker: Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, thank you for taking this time to recognize the success and achievement of Leila Hunter winning this prestigious international tournament. We really appreciate the support that the city has provided to us for years. And her success would not be possible without the dedication of her parents, the dedication of her primary coach Mark O’Neal and the support that MACH Academy staff and volunteers has given us and her primary coach is here Mark O’Neal. (APPLAUSE) Mr. O’Neal: Mayor and Commissioners and people of the City of Augusta again we want to say thank you. We’re basically a volunteer organization so any help we can get we surely, surely appreciate it and is needed. We’re very excited to have one of our students be able to find such success, that’s our goal all along. We encourage them all to think big and dream big and so we hope to see more of it as we move forward and again we can’t do it without you guys helping us out. I do want to comment on her parents again. I get a chance to be around them a bit more than the other coaches and again I don’t want to take all the credit. It’s all the coaches and all the staff that works at MACH Academy that’s a big part of making it happen but I do get a few more hours with them and I have to tell you these parents are incredible. And this is the type of thing we’re looking for we’re trying to encourage not only the students that we work with but we really make a conscious effort to include the parents because we know the ultimate success, the overall success starts with parents and when they’re there really standing behind them, really supporting, great things can happen. So we’re going to continue to do that and I just want to make sure that we recognize you guys because I really do appreciate it and I’ve seen how you guys stand behind her and so you guys take a lot of credit for her success, thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: Commissioners, if you all would come to the center let’s take one more group photo, if we can get everybody in that that would be fantastic, again congratulations, Little Miss Hunter. RECOGNITION(S) November Employee of the Month B. Congratulations! Augusta, Georgia’s November Employee of the Month recipient. The Clerk: We would like to congratulate and acknowledge Augusta Georgia’s November Employee of the Month. Would you please come forward along with, as they make their way forward the Employee Recognition Committee has selected Tiersa Cobb as the Augusta Georgia’s Employee of the Month for November 2018. She is an awesome example of a team player she constantly maintains a positive attitude particularly when dealing with customer issues. She continues to go above the call of duty to extend great customer service to all customers. During 8 an extensive shortage of staff she did not complain when asked to fulfill various duties and even went as far as to volunteer when she saw a need for help. She is punctual, dependable and courteous to coworkers and customers alike. During a vacancy in a senior staff position, she temporary fulfilled many of the responsibilities of that position even though it was not her job to do so and she did it gladly. She continues to help in that regard to this day just to help with the mission of the team. Diligence within the last year has resulted in the collection of 85% of returned unpaid items totaling $446,000 dollars it is a joy to work with her. Based on this information for her outstanding contributions to Utilities and her service to Augusta, Georgia the Employee Recognition Committee would appreciate you joining us in recognizing her as our November 2018 Employee of the Month, congratulations. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Wiedmeier: I’d just like to say our customer service division is the face of Augusta Utilities. I appreciate your great work and your great attitude; you make us all look good. Thank you very much. Ms. Cobb: I just want to say thank you and I appreciate the recognition for today. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Mayor: Congratulations. Ms. Speaker: We as a group would like to thank Tiersa for her hard work. She is a hard worker, she’s at work every day she does her job and again we sincerely appreciate you. (APPLAUSE) RECOGNITIONS(S) Acknowledgements 2018 Augusta United Way Campaign D. Ms. Tameka Allen regarding 2018 Augusta United Way Campaign. The Clerk: At this time we would like to acknowledge our 2018 Augusta United Way Campaign being presented by Ms. Tameka Allen, Director or our Information Technology Department. Ms. Allen: Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor and the Commission. It looks like today’s theme should be greatness because what I’m going to be presenting to you is a representation of the great work that the employees of the City of Augusta has done in regards to the united Campaign the United Way Campaign that we’ve had this past year. Of course again I’m honored to again serve as United Way Campaign Chair. I was very fortunate to work with some great people here in the City of Augusta as well as the awesome staff from the United Way. Our theme continued to be United We Can because of course as we all know when we all work together there’s nothing we can’t accomplish together. We’ve had various fund raisers, we had a second costume party, we had a 50/50 raffle which we collected over $1,200 dollars and the winner won over $600.00 dollars. We had departmental fundraisers and definitely want to thank the Commission as well as the Administration for supporting us in these endeavors. We have our departmental employee campaign managers these are the people who are actually out there communicating with the various departments and pushing the fundraisers throughout the organization and their departments. And I know I drove them crazy on a day to day basis trying to find out what they 9 were doing and what kind of funds we were bringing in so I’d just like the ECM’s from the departments as well as their department heads to please stand. (APPLAUSE) Again they are the ones who did so much work in their various departments and I ask that they all stay until the end of the presentation so we can go out and take some pictures as well. This year we did it a little differently. Actually we had two people that served as chairs myself and Ms. Gwendolyn Connor were the two co-chairs for this campaign as well as a core team because as we all know as I’ve stated in the previous campaign any good leader knows to surround himself with a great core team and we actually had new members join us this year to make things happen. We had a team of energetic, committed and devoted people that were looking forward to serving our organization because as we all know United Way of the CSRA serves our entire organization, our entire community, and they do great things for our community. So if you would just please stand when I call your name. Leadra Collis in Utilities, Takiyah Douse Central Services, Veronica Freeman the Sheriff’s Office, Shelly Good, Information Technology, Pamela Griffin, Human Resources, Tammy Herring, Environmental Services, Shelette McCrae, Engineering, Kathy Murray, Information Technology, Sheila Paulk from Procurement, Scott Peebles, Marshal’s Office, Teasha Prioleau, Recreation, Geri Sams, Procurement, Whitney Sparks, Human Resources, Shamika Weaver, Recreation and Jessica Williford, Administrators Office. These are the people that worked on the core team to make things happen, thank you guys. (APPLAUSE) Each year I challenge this group of people, the employees, to do better than we did the previous year and I am so proud to announce that over 60% of the departments exceeded their 2017 campaign goals, exceeded their 2017 campaign goals. As well as some of the departments meeting their actual goals for 2017 so that says we have some great committed employees here in the City of Augusta. So this year we will actually do something a little more special. We’re going to be presenting the departments the top three departments with trophies and these departments actually are receiving these trophies because they had the most percentage of growth from their previous year. Okay so third place goes to Richmond County Correctional Institution. (APPLAUSE) Warden Evan Joseph and Ms. Marie Bolton did a number of fundamental great fundraisers in their department and they did an awesome job. Second place award goes to our Augusta Law Department. (APPLAUSE) Ms. Rosita Thomas drove them absolutely crazy and our first place award goes to our Human Resources Department. (APPLAUSE) Ms. Pamela Griffin and Ms. Whitney Sparks they actually collected four times as much as they did the previous year. (APPLAUSE) And our Legendary Award. We wouldn’t know what to do without this department. This department made a commitment each year at the beginning and said the next year I’m going to exceed it by 10% and they held strong to what they stated. This year’s Legendary Award is going to be presented to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office (APPLAUSE) Ms. Veronica Freeman. Ms. Veronica Freeman and Sheriff Richard Roundtree and his staff I mean they exceeded the level of commitment and raised over $11,000 dollars just themselves. (APPLAUSE) Again I am so proud to have served as the Chair for the United Way Campaign. I’m so proud of the commitment that the employees of Augusta have shown to their community. Everyone realized that United We Can. Now I’m going to ask Ms. Burnette who is our new CEO of the United Way and her staff to come forward along with the core team so that we can reveal what we did in 2018. 2017 we raised $51,416.83. Everyone knows that was a ground breaker. I mean we exceeded we broke the record the highest we’ve ever done was $36,000 in the history of Augusta-Richmond County. It brings me great pleasure today because you know I’m always challenging people guys I’m just that challenging type that I wanted to break the $51,000-dollar record. We’re going to set the record we’re going to drop the (unintelligible) we couldn’t find that but we dropped it. For 2018 Augusta United Way 10 total is $54,000.00. (APPLAUSE) So we can take a picture Mr. Mayor, Ms. Jackson with Ms. (inaudible). (APPLAUSE) Ms. Burnette: (Inaudible) on the agenda but I just wanted to also comment, I know that (inaudible) I am Brenda Burnette and I’ve got the pleasure of being the new President and CEO of your United Way in the CSRA and seeing (unintelligible) it takes a lot of early mornings, late nights and a lot of creativity to raise $54,000 dollars but it’s because of dedicated folks (unintelligible) made this happen. And because of their commitment than last year we were able to impact the lives of over 281,000 people from the CSRA. And knowing that more money was raised this year that means that we’ll be able have an even greater impact this year. So thank you to all for all of your dedication thank you for your support I’m so appreciative of the work (unintelligible) community safer and stronger for everyone, thank you so much. (APPLAUSE) Ms. Allen: Again thank you and I also want to thank the employees because I was concerned we weren’t going to meet the challenge and I put out there an option that they can you know do a pie face and hit me in the face with pies if they buy a five-dollar raffle ticket just so we can collect more money. And it was great that the employees said that they could not do that to me so I felt pretty good about that and we still exceeded the total. So again thanks to the Commission and Mayor and Administration for your support and thanks for everybody in the City of Augusta all of the great employees that we have, thank you. (APPLAUSE) The Clerk: ELECTION OF OFFICERS E. Discuss appointment of interim commissioner to District 5 seat. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams, Jr.) th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: --- this has been a long time coming. We should’ve done something earlier. I’m still going to make an appointment or a nomination. I hope my colleagues will follow suit and support. I’m going to nominate Mr. Karlton Howard to fill the seat. Mr. Mayor: Our first nominee, Ms. Bonner, Mr. Karlton Howard. The Chair recognizes th the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I also feel there’s a need to ensure that we get somebody that can adequately represent our folks in District 5 until they get the opportunity to choose their own personally their own selection, I nominate Reverend William Few. Mr. Mayor: Our second nominee, Ms. Bonner, is William Few. 11 Mr. M. Williams: Move that nominations be closed, Mr. Mayor. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, thank you for the recognition. Mr. Mayor, I would ask my colleagues at this point I do appreciate the gentlemen who put in their names up on the hat as far as consideration for the District 5 fill in seat. I’m at a challenge right now and if Grady Smith was still present here on this floor he would have the same challenge as I would. The way it’s been done in the past is that the Super Commissioners always put up a nomination. Grady had done it when Joe Bowles was on the floor it was done three times back then. But my challenge that I’m facing, Mr. Mayor, and I wish my colleagues would understand this, this is my last time I’m going to sit behind this dais as a Commissioner. I’ve got Brandon Garrett that’s going to be stepping in that should have a say so or a weigh in or at least reach out to these three or two prospects who’s willing to put their name in a hat. So I’m going to ask my colleagues if they would take that into consideration to give a fair chance to Brandon Garrett to cast a vote because as of right now I will not be casting a vote because I will not have to work with either of the potential candidates, sir. st Mr. Mayor: I understand the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I realize how difficult it’s been to get six votes on a candidate to fill the vacancy. I would like to ask my colleagues to be willing to accept whoever gets the majority amount of votes and let us move forward. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 9 moved that nominations be closed is there a second. Mr. Hasan: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Roll call? Mr. Mayor: Yes, please. Mr. Guilfoyle: Roll call vote, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: That’s what’s coming. The Clerk: Mr. Clarke. Mr. Clarke: Yes. The Clerk: Ms. Davis. Ms. Davis: Can we clarify --- 12 Mr. Mayor: Clarify on who they are voting for. The Clerk: The vote is taken on the nomination in which they’re placed. Ms. Davis: Right, I just wanted to know if we’re all on the same page. The Clerk: Mr. Karlton Howard, I’m sorry. Ms. Davis: No, ma’am. The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy. Mr. Fennoy: No. The Clerk: Mr. Frantom. Mr. Frantom: No, ma’am. The Clerk: Mr. Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: No, ma’am, I will not be voting. The Clerk: Mr. Hasan. Mr. Hasan: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Sias. Mr. Sias: No. The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams. Mr. D. Williams: No. The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams. Mr. M. Williams: Yes. Mr. Guilfoyle not voting. Motion Fails 4-4. The Clerk: This will be for Mr. William Few, Johnny, sorry. The Clerk: Mr. Clarke. Mr. Clarke: Yes. 13 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: No. The Clerk: Mr. Sias. Mr. Sias: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams. Mr. D. Williams: Yes. The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams. Mr. M. Williams: No. Motion Passes 6-3. Mr. Mayor: Okay at the appropriate time, Madam Clerk, we’ll schedule a swearing in --- Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor --- Mr. Mayor: --- for the appointee we’ll follow your direction on that, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: Okay. th Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: --- thank you, Mr. Mayor --- 14 Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. Hasan: --- I’d just like to congratulate Mr. Few, Reverend Few, but we’ll be sworn th next week on the 27 ourselves so it may be appropriate to swear him in at the same time with us. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, is Mr. Few here? The Clerk: Yes. Mr. Mayor: Oh, okay all right, okay very good, thank you. The Clerk: Are we moving? Mr. Mayor: We are moving, Madam Clerk. What I’d like to do is I want to deal with Item G. I want to deal with Item G, let’s go ahead and deal with that matter. The Clerk: Are you going to take it in concert with the agenda item --- Mr. Mayor: Yes. The Clerk: --- okay. DELEGATIONS G. Williams Communication, Inc. regarding Bid Protest for RFP 18-120 - 800 MHz Radio System for Augusta. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 32. Motion to deny the Amended Protest of Williams Communication, Inc., regarding Request for Proposal (RFP) RFP Item 18-120 – 800 MHz Radio System for Augusta, Information Technology Department. Received through the office of Fleming & Nelson, LLP, Attorney at Law on October 9, 2018 at 4:49 p.m. (No recommendation from Administrative Services Committee December 11, 2018) Mr. Mayor: Item G is with regards to the protest that’s there, all right we’re going to recognize --- The Clerk: Item 32? Mr. Mayor: --- yes, Item 32 and Item G are companion items on your addendum information there is at the top evidentiary information presented by Fleming & Nelson and Attorney MacKenzie, if you’ll state to us what our posture is. Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, according to our rules in the code this will be an opportunity for both the protestor as well as a representative from the Procurement Department, they’ll each have five minutes to summarize the arguments and evidence presented to the Administrative Services Committee. 15 Mr. M. Williams: Point of Order, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Administrative Services Chair. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, we just had this I guess you would call it a hearing at the Administrative Services where everybody had the same equal amount of time. Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Mr. M. Williams: So why are we going back through the same process again? I mean we shouldn’t have had it at committee level if we’re going to have it now at this level. The time may be short of five minutes but we just had this and the body voted to send it to the full Commission with no recommendation. Now I don’t understand why we’re going to go back through that same process that we did last week at Administrative Services committee. Mr. Mayor: Yeah well, the gentleman certainly asked a very appropriate question and you indicated that it was referred to the full Commission with no recommendation but if you refer to Item 32 on your regular agenda there’s a motion to deny which is before us. There was also during that time an indication that there might be more information or there was some concern around the protestor having had sufficient enough time to be able to speak to the matter. That’s why our posture is what it is today. Mr. M. Williams: But the protestor had equal amount of time as the Procurement Department had, Mr. Mayor, and we made sure of that but I’m thinking here we are going through the same process that we just went through last week. This is not a new process. th Mr. Mayor: If the gentleman from the 9 will suspend, the Chair recognizes Attorney MacKenzie to speak to this matter and then we want to again hopefully answer the question. Mr. MacKenzie: Sure, I’ll be happy to speak to that. The purpose of having an additional opportunity for both the protestor and the Procurement Department to speak again is to ensure that there’s an opportunity for the protestor to present their arguments before the entire Commission. As you know the hearing level within the Administrative Services that’s technically only a subpart of the Commission even though we often have high attendance with all the Commissioners which is a good thing. This is to insure the due process rights of the protestor as well as the department allow for them to have a final say before the Commission body makes a final decision and that’s why we’re following the procedure exactly as outlined in our Procurement Code which allows for them to summarize the arguments that were made. No new evidence is to come in but they have the opportunity to summarize the arguments that were made at the Administrative Services Committee level. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, can I respond? Mr. Mayor: Well to me you may. 16 Mr. M. Williams: Okay thank you, sir. We went to the extent of having a court recorder here. Now if we’re going to do this again shouldn’t we have that same thing? If it’s so urgent so important that we did it in Administrative Services we had one to come in. Now we’re going to do it in open forum? If the decision had been made or voted on to deny and the protestor thought that it was wrong then we have an opportunity to come back I think but before we even take a vote we’re going to hear this again I mean somebody, something’s missing, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Well, I’ll summarize it in this matter and then we’ll hear from the representative for Williams Communications. I think you said earlier in this discussion that this is a process and it was certainly the process before I got here and maybe before you got here as well so we’re going to follow the process. Mr. M. Williams: The process ain’t been working before me. I mean we had this process and went through it at the committee level. I shouldn’t have heard it then, I should’ve just waited until today. Mr. Mayor: Again there’s, it is certainly well within their right to be asked to be placed on Delegation, there on the delegation and I’m going to give them their requisite five minutes at this th time. I’m going to ask the gentleman from the 4 to yield so we can move with this matter, do you have a question, all right, state your inquiry. Mr. Sias: Thank you and hear from the William’s attorney I don’t have a problem with that just make sure that we grant equal time to (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: I think the attorney has indicated that our process is we’ll hear from the protestor and then we’ll hear from Procurement. They both have five minutes. All right, the Chair recognizes the representative from Williams. Mr. Worthington: Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Commissioners and my name again is Kurt Worthington. I’m here appearing again on behalf of Williams Communication in this procurement appeal. This is for a radio system RFP and it is agenda item number 32. I did want to use sort of my limited time today to summarize our positions on certain points but also wanted to provide some rebuttal to a couple of points from Procurement’s presentation last week since we weren’t afforded that opportunity. And I would again another caveat like I did last week we’re still working through copious amounts of documents and emails we have requested from open records request that is still in progress. Just moving quickly to my first point relates again to the change in the score sheet used to evaluate proposals. Last week in their response Procurement denied that the RFP scoring sheet was materially modified but however that’s simply not true. In your agenda packet if you’ll look at Page 697 you’ll see that original scoring sheet. It was included in the original RFP and it has the 0 to 5 scale on it in bold next to where it says Phase 2. By contrast if you then turn to Page 799 in your agenda packet you’ll see the changed scoring system sheet and it then automatically assigns a 5 to each proposal regardless of that proposal’s price or position in the rankings. That’s on that first column on the sheet on Page 799 so the scoring system clearly changes. There may be an explanation for that but to say that it hasn’t changed is materially false and the effect of that change is that it waters down the advantage the low bidder has. It also removes discretion from the evaluators in that process. And it’s our contention that change was 17 done without any notice to Williams Communication and we feel that that would violate the Georgia Public Works Laws, that’s the first point. Second point relates to Equal Opportunity for both bidders to engage in preliminary negotiations and again last week Procurement maintained both parties were given a fair and equal opportunity to engage in sort of the negotiation phase of the project and again that is simply not true. Both parties were able to give oral presentations to the committee back in April but shortly thereafter in May the Procurement Department determines they’re going to begin negotiations with Motorola and that’s shown on Exhibit A in the handout I had last week that’s also in your packet that was the additional information we included. When that happened in May that was four to five months prior to the award of the contract to Motorola and allowing that process basically gave Motorola an opportunity to make some changes. Again some were large some were small but they changed their original proposal. Williams was not given that same opportunity; it was unaware that negotiation was taking place. On a related note that we touched on last week was that it’s our position that some of the details of Williams proposal may have been shared with Motorola during that process. The tower locations were changed and the tower height was changed to sort of mimic what Williams had proposed and that’s in Exhibits B1 and B2 a handout from last week. And again I mean whether this was done purposely or unintentionally it still violates Georgia Public Works Statute. You can have pre-award negotiations like this but you have to include all reasonable proposals. I site to O.C.G.A 369121C2 and again that was clearly not done here. Similarly under state law you can’t share the contents of one proposal with another and that’s (unintelligible) to the third point as well that Procurement -- - Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Sir, just to let you know you have one minute. Mr. Worthington: --- thank you. Procurement highlighted last week that is was a unanimous vote to go with Motorola but it does not matter if it was unanimous or if it was really close. If the procedure was not followed, the process is flawed and under state law the contract is invalid and all we’re asking for from this body is we’re not asking to give the contract to Williams. We’re asking to let’s go back let’s do the RFP process again in a way that is transparent and gives a fair opportunity to all responsive proposals to make changes and do that negotiation, thank you. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay thank you. Do we have any questions before we bring Ms. Sams, Commissioner Sias. Mr. Worthington: I do have representatives from Williams who can respond to some questions if I can’t answer them. Ms. Davis: Okay, thank you. Mr. Sias: Yes, sir. I just have one question for you, your name again, sir? Mr. Worthington: Kurt Worthington. Mr. Sias: Mr. Worthington --- Mr. Worthington: Yes, sir. 18 Mr. Sias: --- what is your company Williams Communications relationship to Advance Communications Concept Inc.? Mr. Worthington: I do not know. I could refer, I could have someone from Williams come up if there’s any connection that I don’t know. If you’d like me to get them up here I can. Mr. Sias: I would. Ms. Speaker: Yes, my name is Christine Johnson my address is 5046 Tennessee Capital Boulevard, Tallahassee. Our relationship to Advance Communications is they are local small business that we reached out to as part of the 10% Local Small Business Goal of this project and they were our actual local small business partner for this project at a 10% partnership which would’ve meant over a million dollars for them in to your local community. Mr. Sias: Okay, thank you, I just wanted to know what that relationship was. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Madam Chair. What’s your name again, I apologize. Mr. Worthington: Kurt Worthington. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Worthington, you made a statement I won’t say accusation a statement about you believe information was shared or possibly shared. Can you be clearer on which one you’re saying possibly shared or you believe information was shared and if you believe it was shared what do you have to support that? Mr. Worthington: Well and to answer that question I do think that I’m somewhat limited on how much I can answer that question because you know we made a request early on in this process for the process before the Administrative Services Committee we asked that be held off until we were able to get all the information from the Open Records Request and process that. There was no timeline on that. And honestly the Procurement Department they could’ve done a stay of the contract but they waived that so really there was harm to just wait. We wanted to do that so that we could give full information. But that request the hearing was set in spite of our protest and so at this point we’re still looking through to fully respond to that. I would say that when you look at the design, I went into this some last week but when you look at it in the packet on I believe it’s Exhibit B1 and B2 it sort of shows a map of where towers were located on the two proposals. The first proposal from Motorola and Williams really I think they had maybe two locations that were very similar but otherwise out of five otherwise they weren’t. But then when you flip to the revised Motorola proposal there’s four out of five that are shared. It’s somewhat circumstantial but in the entire county these towers were moved to, two towers were moved to locations that were very similar to what Williams had proposed. And I believe the tower height was raised to get close to the I believe it’s 250 feet that Williams had proposed so again you know do we have you know a direct email or something that connects that we don’t but that’s sort of the process we’re going through now that’s why we had wanted to sort of stop before we got to this 19 body they can’t accept additional evidence. But again we were just we’ve kind of been pulled by the current into this uphill process. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Madam Chair. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams. Mr. M. Williams: Yes, Mayor Pro Tem. I thought it was going to be five minutes and we’re getting into some deep discussion here now. I thought it was going to be a five minute on both sides. I want to hear from Procurement and not from the protestors themselves who done had this process so can I hear the five minutes from Procurement please? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: You sure can, Ms. Sams? Mr. Worthington: Thank you. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Ms. Sams: You’ve heard many things coming from Williams’ representative and sitting there listening to it I thought I was in Mars or someplace because I’m standing here telling you that it just did not happen and the search for evidence that states such and he cannot produce it to you I find that to be totally unprofessional and uncalled for. So with my five minutes I would like to talk to you about the real facts. As Williams has stated he finds these violations of the Procurement Department and according to Georgia law so what I’ve done today is taken both of those laws, both of those codes and laid them side by side and hopefully I can get just a little more time. The Procurement Code identifies O.C.G.A 36921C1C and it’s very similar to Georgia Code 369121C but he chose two but let me just read to you C that the City of Augusta codes reflect. It says make an award to the responsible, responsive offer who proposed if determined in writing to be the most advantageous to the governmental entity. That’s what Augusta did. It further states that the evaluation factors shall be basic on which the award decision based on the decision award is to be made. That’s state law; we did that. He chose number two and let’s just take time for that. Accept for in the Request for Proposal the offer submitting the proposal it doesn’t say share, it doesn’t say you must, it says may be afforded an award. It says maybe but he’s telling you that we were supposed to and had to and we broke the statute, the statute didn’t say that. It further states may be afforded an opportunity to for discussion, negotiation, revision hmm, or proposals discussion, negotiation and revisions may be permitted according to state law. And as we go on talking about state law you know I’m kind of anxious because I could not believe someone would get up in here and just say the whole department has failed and that we did not allude to anything and throw anything on the wall and hope something sticks. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Ms. Sams, you have a minute and twenty-five seconds. Ms. Sams: So let me just read one particular law coming out of the state law that the representative for Williams refused to read and that’s ‘D’ and it’s very important. It says whenever a public works contract for any governmental entity it’s subjected to award it says no person who desires to procure such work for himself or herself or for another shall prevent the endeavor to 20 prevent anyone from making a bid or proposal therefore by any means whatsoever. I want to call your attention to Exhibits 5, 5A, 11, 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D. Those are the exhibits that Williams tried to throw our subcontractor out, tried to rewrite the proposal, tried to convince some of the members of this Commission to change the actual type of procurement that we were trying to procure, change it from an RFP to an ITB. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Ms. Sams, your time’s up and I do have a hand up from Commissioner Sias. Mr. M. Williams: I hadn’t finished, Madam Mayor Pro Tem. We gave five minutes and an extension period --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. MacKenzie, what is the ruling on taking questions after their five-minute presentation from each side? Mr. MacKenzie: There’s no prohibition on taking questions. I think each side had a five- minute uninterrupted time where they can make their presentation --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Which was done. Mr. MacKenzie: --- and if they’d like to make additional questioning that’s permissible. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias. Mr. Sias: Thank you, Madam Mayor Pro Tem. I move that we approve item agenda item number 32. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. M. Williams: --- I want to hear the rest of Ms. Sams’ answer but I mean she was interrupted. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams, do you have a question to ask her from what she’s already laid out because we are allowed to have questions and answers after the five- minute presentation. Mr. M. Williams: Okay I want her to finish her statement at least get that much done. I mean because we had this process already, Madam Mayor Pro Tem, and I was stated that before we got started but after she got into it I wanted since we put it on the floor, I ain’t got no problem with that everybody needs to hear everything but we’re stopping her before she can finish her final statement there I want to hear the rest of that. Mr. Hasan: Madam Mayor Pro Tem? Mr. M. Williams: Do you have a specific question to ask her though? I think you have to give her some direction what you’re asking. 21 Mr. M. Williams: To finish her statement she was making before she was interrupted is what is my question she was on to finishing up and she was --- Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Mayor Pro Tem, she’s ruled on this. Everyone had five minutes and your concern while germane was related to the questioning that the protestor had. It is certainly well within our rules that questions can be asked after giving five minutes of uninterrupted commentary, that happened. It’s happened for both our Procurement Director and of course the protestor so we’ve got a motion and a second that’s before us right now and that’s what we should entertain. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Let’s be clear on the motion please, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: The motion is to deny the Amended Protest of Williams Communications, Inc. regarding Request for Proposal for Item 18-120 – 800 MHz Radio System for Augusta, Information Technology Department. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we have a motion and a second, let’s vote. Motion Passes 9-0. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay thank you, Madam Clerk, we’ll take Item F please. The Clerk: DELEGATIONS F. Mr. Brad Owens regarding Save The Pool Information related to the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam issue. ADDENDUM 45. Motion to approve a Resolution in support of Option 1-1 for the Savannah River Lock and Dam. (Requested by Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. and the Administrator) Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Owens, you have five minutes please. Mr. Owens: Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, Madam Clerk, I rise before you today to speak about the ongoing issues with the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam and the effects on our community if something’s not done to save the pool. What is save the pool? With the release of the Corp of Engineers’ preferred option replacing the current structure just become clear that we’re in danger of losing one of the most valuable assets we have as a community which is our Riverfront created by the pool which is created by the Lock and Dam. Let me say first and foremost I am not a mechanical engineer, I’m not an architect. I’m simply a trained analyst which means I know how to take facts in, look at data, collate it into a pattern and present it in a way that the decision makers can use it to do their job. Looking at a lot of the information that’s been floated around here, one of the largest problems concerning this project with the Lock and Dam has been getting factual information and data in a common set of terms to operate from for you decision makers and for other decision makers. As the Mayor’s fond of 22 saying, everyone must operate from a from the same set of facts. So with that let’s talk about a few things that have been confusing some of our own people that support saving the pool. You hear a lot of talk about the pool itself what is it, what’s the pool? Well, the pool is the level of water that’s created between the Lock and Dam which is out behind the airport and the diversion dam basically. The depth of the pool that everyone continues talking about which will be lowered th under any of the plans that have been put forward is measured at the 5 Street Bridge. So when th you talk about the pool being lowered two to six feet they mean at the 5 Street Bridge based on the current water level which would drop by that much. So how did we get here? So that’s what that means when you say the pool’s going to drop. They’re not talking about the pool out at the Lock and Dam or upstream you’re talking about right downtown where over a billion dollars- worth of development on both sides of the river’s taken place. That’s where they’re talking about, so how did we get to where we’re at now where the Corp put forth something that drops our pool and destroys our Riverfront? A lot of this past year I’ve been working quietly with a small group of concerned citizens to solve this issue. We’ve been working very quietly behind the scenes to try to figure out some options for you decision makers when the time came when the choice that the Corp puts out, the drop they probably put that out a couple of weeks ago. So what can be done? There’s a lot of talk about the Water Act, the WIIN Act about SHEP so there’s been some confusion about how these things are connected. Well, what is the WIIN Act? It’s the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation’s Act. It’s a federal piece of legislation under the Senate, the Environment and Public Works Committee is responsible for it under the House the Transportation Infrastructure Committee’s responsible for drafting it. This is the federal law that dictates the parameter’s and issues and issues directives concerning the Lock and Dam and its operation from a federal standpoint. This is what would need to be amended to save the pool; you would have to see the WIIN legislation change. And by the way to put the Whitewater Park or any other stuff out there other than what would work with what they’re proposed you would also need to amend the act. What is SHEP? That’s the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project SHEP for short. It’s jointly funded by the U.S. Corp of Engineers and it’s non-federal partners which is important the Georgia Ports Authority and the Georgia Department of Transportation. How are these connected to our Lock and Dam? Well the deepening project has caused more salt water to come in is how it was explained which means that some of the spawning grounds for some of the fish down there has been corrupted or pushed further upstream. So the solution was to replace our Lock and Dam with a fish passage of some sort and the original plan was to fully repair the Lock and Dam itself the boat structures and then build a small fish passage on the South Carolina side and that was what was put forth which made a lot of sense because it allowed us to maintain control of the pool and the flow. Now what people don’t understand --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: You have one minute left. Mr. Owens: --- okay I heard people say what is you know what’s the flow, what’s the pool, why is it important we must be able to control the flow at the Lock and Dam throught the gates to be able to maintain the pool upstream. So as people say why don’t you just build the rock a foot higher and it’ll be okay. It doesn’t work that way. It creates the possibility of flooding out in that area and also it’s about the flow through the dam so we have a lot of tributaries that dump into it and that stretch is known as the pool. We have to be able to maintain it and as you can see now if you go out and look now. So you do have what’s called a Preferred Local Option as a local government that you can put forward which must be considered by the Corp. It must be 23 considered. It allows you to have a real seat at the table and that’s one of the things that I hope that this body will consider is it gives you an opportunity to have a say in exactly what we want. And what we need is I want, I would like to see you all lead our region in the fight to save our pool. We need stakeholders to come together and work together and it is work it’s going to take work to put all of these people together and get them on the same sheet of music to save our pool --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: That’s five minutes. Mr. Owens: --- so we need a unified voice. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, I do have Commissioner Guilfoyle’s hand up so he has a question. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Madam Mayor Pro Tem. Can I speak directly to Brad, ma’am? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes. Mr. Guilfoyle: Brad, as far as this information that you have been studying etc., and the last time that I had spoken they had a substitute come in for the Corp of Engineers because the lady got held up in Texas Airport and so we couldn’t get no the financer’s. My main concern is the water level along the river. It not only affects us, it affects across the river, down the river etc. But if the dam is removed what’s going to happen since my District 8 falls all the way down to Burke County. What happens to that level? Mr. Owens: Well again I’m not a biologist. I’m not a person who’s but what we’ve studied is right now the, if you can’t control the flow over there and say there’s a rock weir over there and the flow was going down it would, there’s some flooding going on now because of how high it is. If we can’t control the flow as quickly as it rushes here if we go downstream so my understanding is is that it would increase the possibility of flooding downstream. So as the flow is not being able to be controlled or slowed down it allows a lot more water could go over rock weir than we could control. So right now if you go out you look some of the gates are up and some are closed even as with as much water as we’ve had and actually going over the top it’s only about a foot difference between what’s behind the dam and what’s in front of the dam. And so without the ability to control those gates you just can’t control the flow and the pool just goes with whatever gravity takes it to. Mr. Guilfoyle: Brad, I realize a lot of industries down river relies on that water. I’m going to, Madam Pro Tem I’m going to ask the Mayor has he had any correspondence with other elected officials surrounding this issue as far as the Mayor of North Augusta, Aiken etc. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. This is an important issue in fact it perhaps is Augusta’s most significant existential threat right now. And to the degree that everyone is engaged th to the Commissioner from the 8 we’ve been in conversations with the Mayor of Aiken, North 24 Augusta, Waynesboro and our counterparts there in Columbia County. As late as today everyone has a copy of the resolution that is before this body. What I’ve asked my colleagues our colleagues to do is give consideration to adopting a resolution that is similar if not identical to the language that is before us today. I’m anticipating that that will happen from each of our neighbors so that we are all speaking with one voice in this community quite in the CSRA. And so there’s been a lot of conversation and discussion going on whether it be with the consortium which includes industry professionals as well who are part of this. I think this is the one time where we are all going to be saying the same thing and working together collaboratively to make sure that we address the first piece which is identifying a preferred solution and then the second piece will be how we begin discussing any additional funding measures, so that’s our response today. Mr. Guilfoyle: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Madam Pro Tem. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Commissioner Fennoy and then Commissioner Frantom. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Owens, I’m not an engineer either and I think for me I’ve got to rely heavily on what our engineers tell us about the different proposals and the different options. Have you had a discussion with our engineer or the River Keeper about what you’re proposing and or is this something that you and the people that you have been talking to are proposing, recommending? Mr. Owens: We have not had, we have actually been tasked to have some meetings with the Administrator which we are coordinating now but that is part of the piece of this where we were looking at possible funding options through the URA that I serve on. I know that after those meetings took place that I felt that we would be able to come back with who and is the appropriate people to talk with on the staff. As far as engineers go we’ve had a tremendous, I have talks with the Corp of Engineers directly, I’ve had talks with NOA directly, I have had talks with Congressman Allen’s office on what would need to be done there. I have conversations with Senator Isakson’s office, with Senator Perdue’s office, with Representative Karr’s office it’s been about a year we’ve been quietly working on this to try to figure out a path forward because we’re kind of hemmed in with the federal legislation right now. It would have to change for us to do anything related to saving any of the structures that are there. So we would perfectly be willing to meet with anybody at any time. We have a pretty good group of folks with our stakeholders including landowners and businesses and so we’re looking forward to meeting with the Administrator and getting back with what your engineers had to say. I don’t think it’s you know at this point it’s just kind of like would the body, would the body take a strategic direction you know are we going to accept one of the loses of the pool that’s been put forward or are we going to go forward as a region and fight to see the bill amended and see the pool saved. And we can see it changed. It’s just going to take a lot of coordination again. We just want to get the conversation started, sir, we don’t have to drive it. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: And just so you know Dr. Malik and Tom Wiedmeier have been involved in these meetings that have been going on for a while now. Commissioner Frantom and then Commissioner Sias. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Madam Clerk, Mayor Pro Tem, sorry. So just to be clear this is the City of Augusta’s resolution not Brad Owens I think there may be some confusion that people 25 think this is Brad Owens and brought this before us, this isn’t Brad Owens. Brad, my question for you is the current plan how does it affect the events that happen on the river, be that Iron Man, be those things that we currently have? Mr. Owens: Excellent question. One of the things that we looked that was you know when talking to people we did talk to the Iron Man folks and they said that they had requested that the gates be used to raise the river about a foot this past year. Now I don’t have any written confirmation of that. I only go by what people tell me; I assume they’re telling me the truth. But we would lose that capability and if the river dropped I can assure you that if it drops two or three feet which is probably a minimum of what it would drop under this plan you would lose Iron Man because there would be obstacles that would appear especially on the South Carolina side like the training wall and those things. The river is full of obstacles that we can’t see. If we lose the ability to maintain the pool, you can take that I believe the projected economic impact last year was $13 million dollars from Iron Man. We would lose that. Also things like boat races you can forget that but also think about maybe recreational boating, just plain recreational boating. We had the 15th Street Marina folks who have stepped up Mr. Christianson has said that they’re on the river a lot down there with the boats. They rent stuff out and maintain it and you know their concern is that if we lose even one or two feet we might lose about 50% of our recreational boating on the river and that’s just going to be a disaster. I mean imagine two or three boats trying to pass each other in a narrow channel so it’ll have a dire effect. If it goes forward as it is, Commissioner Frantom, this would have a dire effect on water tourism, you can bet on it. Mr. Frantom: Thank you. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias and then do you want to okay, Commissioner Sias and then the Mayor. Mr. Sias: Thank you, Madam Pro Tem. The Resolution, I just want to bring everyone’s attention to the Resolution that you see on the screen that is a not to take anything away from Mr. Owens and what they’ve done that is a resolution by the City of Augusta. The City of Augusta is contrary to many beliefs are very much aware of the value of the pool to the City of Augusta, CSRA, all of our industry and the fact that our drinking water and all the things that come from the river. So let it be known clearly known that the City of Augusta is not sitting on the side watching this happen. And one of the things we have in this resolution is a matter of fact that we want to endure that the pool stays at the highest possible level. This pool has become totally invaluable to the City of Augusta, the CSRA, and our industry base and we have no intent of letting flow down the river. Just make sure that we understand that. So with that being said, Madam Pro Tem, I move that the we adopt the Resolution that you see on the screen before you that’s an addendum item to our agenda. Mr. Frantom: Second. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we have a motion and a second. Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. This has been a lively discussion; I appreciate th our presenter for sharing the concerns that may share. The Commissioner from the 4 has stepped 26 into this around the level of engagement. I want to let the citizens of Augusta fully understand and know that this governing body has been and continues to be actively engaged in this issue. Contrary to any perceptions or implications, we’re not just interested in building whitewater parks. Every single day we’re making decisions as a government about the health, welfare and safety of all of our citizens. That includes our stakeholders from an industry perspective who we have actively engaged in this discussion. The Chamber’s been engaged. I see our representative Sue Parr who has been helping to lead this charge. Sue, would you stand up? Everybody needs to know who this is. This is our Chamber President who’s been engaged in this conversation as well. There are a host of community partners up and down the river who are engaged in this discussion. We’re not asleep at the wheel; no one has to be an engineer to be able to engage in this conversation but we do have engineers who are engaged in this conversation. One of them happens to be from Georgia Tech, so a good thing and he knows all about the water, the water quality and everything else in this city. But not withstanding that we are fully versed on the WIIN Act. We have been involved in these discussions. We’ve gone to Washington and met with folks as well but today as th the Commissioner from the 4 has indicated we are adopting a resolution that speaks in unanimity about Augusta’s position with regards to what has been presented to us from the Corp of Engineers and that has been critical, that has been necessary and today we’re taking that next step forward and we believe without question that our partners in this discussion are going to follow suit. And my conversations again as late as this afternoon even the Mayor of Aiken don’t have their next meeting until January but was prepared to come over here and if necessary speak to their support of our efforts as well. So again we’ve got a motion and a second, voting. Motion Passes 9-0. Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, there’s been a lot that’s gone on and we are at the consent part of the agenda and a little bird told me that there’s going to be a whole bunch of items put on the consent agenda. All right, the Chair recognizes Madam Clerk. The Clerk: So we’re at the Consent Agenda part --- Mr. Mayor: Yes. The Clerk: --- okay our consent agenda consists of Items 1-29 and under the Planning portion of the agenda I’ll read the Planning petitions and if there are any objectors would you please raise your hand to signify your objection. Item 1: Is a request for concurrence with the Planning Commission to approve with conditions a request for a Special Exception to establish a family cemetery on property known as 5168 Storey Mill Road. Item 2: Is a request for concurrence with the Planning Commission to approve with conditions a request for a Special Exception to bring and existing Family Personal Care Hom into zoning conformance and this affect property located at 5038 Storey Mill Road. Item 3: Is a request for concurrence with the Planning Commission to approve with conditions a change of zoning from Zone R-1C (One-family Residential) to Zone R-3B (Multiple- family Residential) and to amend the conditions for A-18-10 affecting property located at 2083 Heckle Street, 2022, 2024 and 2026 Warren Street. 27 Item 4: Is a request for concurrence with the Planning Commission to approve with conditions a request for a change of zoning from Zone B-2 (General Business) & Zone R-3C (Multiple-family Residential) to Zone PUD (Planned Unit Development) affecting property located at 1102 and 1016 Laney Walker Boulevard. Item 5: Is a request for concurrence with the Planning Commission to approve with conditions a request for a Special Exception to establish a Child Day Care Center in a P-1 (Professional) Zone located on property at 3408 Peach Orchard Road. The Clerk: Are there any objectors to any of those Planning petitions? None noted, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a couple of objectors in the audience. Okay, all right, if you’ll approach please both of you. All right and if you’ll inform the Clerk which items you are opposed to, are you all together? Okay, would you please come forward, sir, the gentleman. Okay, Director Sherman, give me some new guidance on where we are here. We want to move it along. Mr. Sherman: (Inaudible). Mr. Mayor: Would you approach the microphone please? We’ve got objectors. Mr. Sherman: Okay, this is the agenda item number Z-18-62 for the Day Care Center on 3408 Peach Orchard Road. Mr. Mayor: All right. Mr. Sherman: It was recommended to be approved with a condition that access must be provided off Satcher Boulevard to provide secondary ingress/egress. Mr. Mayor: All right, but he’s an objector okay --- Mr. Sherman: I’m not certain. Mr. Mayor: --- all right, so we’ll come back to you then we’re going to assume you’re an objector and we’re going to take it off the consent agenda. Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I think --- Mr. Mayor: Hold on a second, I’m going to come to you. All right, just hold on. All right, are there any objectors to any other items? Okay, all right. Mr. Hasan: --- thank you. Mr. Mayor, Item number five, Mr. Mayor, this is in my district you see it in District 6. I’ve been to the location and seen it. Really there is no objection, it may be a misunderstanding unless on Satcher Boulevard that is an egress area there. Now if they’re not deciding to use that area then it presents a problem but if they don’t mind driving in the back of there to come up with a secondary access to the property and if that’s, if he don’t want to do that then there’s a problem. But if he’s willing to do a road that’s already there on the property 28 because I drove up on it over the weekend. The access is there. Now if he don’t want to do that then he presents a problem. Mr. Mayor: All right, so my concern right now is that we’re debating this matter --- Mr. Hasan: Okay. Mr. Mayor: --- yeah, we’re debating this matter. We’re going to just pull it and we’ll talk about it at that time. All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem. All right hold on, Madam Clerk, are there any other items you need to before we take requests to remove or add to the consent agenda, is there anything else you need to read? The Clerk: No, sir, I don’t think so. I don’t think you have any alcohol petitions. Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to consent if the Commission agrees Item 31. Mr. M. Williams: Are you going to pull it first (inaudible). Mr. Mayor: So I’ll take requests to add and to pull so you’re going to add 31? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: I was going to add to the consent. I’ve got a few if I can go through them. Mr. Mayor: All right, I want you to go through them. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: 31, 37 --- Mr. Frantom: I object, I want, I’ve got a question on 37, 38, and 39. They can be companion. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- okay 43 and then, Mr. Mayor, the addendum item that we had to appoint Ed Tarver to the University Hospital Board and that’s what I’d like to try to consent. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9. Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’ve got a question on Item 16 if I can, I mean it’s probably best to go ahead and pull it but I need a question on Item 16. Mr. Mayor: All right, so we’re going to pull Item 16. The Chair recognizes the st Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to add Item number 33 to the consent agenda. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7. 29 Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to ask my colleagues to withdraw agenda Item number 30. nd Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2. Mr. D. Williams: If my colleagues agree, I’d like to add Item number 36 to the consent. Mr. Frantom: I have a quick question on that one. Mr. Mayor: Okay, hold on a second. All right, so that’s a request to get an additional amount from the mixed drink tax. Ms. Jackson: That’s correct, sir. Mr. Mayor: All right --- Mr. Frantom: I’ll make a generic statement. Mr. Mayor: --- all right, so are you --- Mr. Frantom: This is that one, I’m going to let it go but I just understand why it wasn’t on Finance Committee last week and didn’t come through proper channels and we just need to work on that moving forward, thank you, I’ll let it go. Mr. Mayor: --- I understand. Okay all right, so yeah I want to make sure, everybody hold make sure we’re tracking. Mr. Hasan: Are we adding or pulling at this time? The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, was 33 placed on consent? No? Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Well, he requested it --- The Clerk: But it wasn’t. Mr. Mayor: --- well, there was an objection, oh okay all right, there was an objection. Mr. Sias: I want to --- Mr. Mayor: Hold on I’m going to the right. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from th,th the 5 I’m sorry from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I’d like to pull Item number 2 and Item number 17 and we’re okay on Item number 5. 30 Mr. Mayor: Yes, okay, you’re --- Mr. Hasan: Pulling Items 2 and 17. Mr. Mayor: --- okay all right just hold, everybody hold. All right, the Chair recognizes th the Commissioner from the 4. Mr. Sias: The question I had has been addressed. Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the st 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to pull Item number 33 at this time and put it back on the agenda at another time. st Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so Item 33 the Commissioner from the 1 is asking us to withdraw that and we’ll --- The Clerk: Withdraw? Mr. Mayor: --- yeah, all right. Mr. Guilfoyle: I was going to pull every agenda item. Ms. Davis: We won’t make your party. Mr. Guilfoyle: Ya’ll won’t, I will. Mr. Mayor: I’m trying to get there right now. Okay all right, Madam Clerk, I think that we’ve captured all of them. Okay and we’ve added agenda item, addendum item as well. Okay, all right, any other motions to add or pull from the consent agenda? Ms. Davis: Move to approve, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Sias: Second. CONSENT AGENDA PLANNING 1. Z-18-54 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the conditions listed below a petition by Daniel Hollingsworth requesting a Special Exception to establish a Family Cemetery per Section 26-2-m affecting property containing 0.07 acres and known as part of 5168 Storey Mill Road. 363-0-005-00-0 DISTRICT 8 1. The area for the cemetery is to be no smaller than 0.50 of an acre. 2. The plat indicating the location of the cemetery, the access easement, and the perpetual maintenance agreement must be recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court. 3. The cemetery must be permanently fenced. 4. No burials of anyone outside of the Hollingsworth family is 31 permitted and no burial sites may be sold. 5. The cemetery must be recorded with the Georgia Secretary of State per Georgia State Law Title 10, Chapter 14. 6. All deaths must be filed with the Richmond Count Health Department per GA Code §31-1-15(b) 3. Z-18-57 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the conditions listed below a petition by Stables Management Development LLC, on behalf of Locke & Heather McKnight, requesting a change of zoning from Zone R- 1C (One-family Residential) to Zone R-3B (Multiple-family Residential) and to amend the conditions for Z-18-10 affecting property containing approximately 2.83 acres and known as 2083 Heckle Street, 2022, 2024 and 2026 Warren Street. Tax Map 035-3-238-00-0, 035-3-128- 00-0, 035-3-217-00-0 & 035-3-216-00-0 DISTRICT 3 1. The development shall not exceed 47 units and overall density of 16.4 units/acre, in accordance with the submitted conceptual plan. 2. Detention pond shall be underground. 3. Ninety (90) off-street parking spaces shall be provided, in accordance with the submitted conceptual plan. Parking shall be enclosed in a fenced area and screened with vegetation in accordance with the requirements of the Tree Ordinance. 4. Facades of existing warehouse buildings shall be preserved to maintain aesthetic cohesion. New building facades shall be designed in a manner that is complimentary to the existing architectural style. 5. Sidewalks shall be installed on the subject parcels. 6. Plans meeting all applicable development standards shall be submitted and approved prior to issuance of development permits. A lighting plan shall be included with the development plans. All exterior lighting shall be downcast and/or directed away from adjoining residences. 4. Z-18-60 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the conditions listed below a petition by Augusta Housing & Community Development, on behalf of AGLBA & CGG Holdings LLC, requesting a change of zoning from Zone B-2 (General Business) & Zone R-3C (Multiple-family Residential) To Zone PUD (Planned Unit Development) affecting property containing approximately 2.31 acres and known as 1102 and 1016 Laney Walker Boulevard. Tax Map 046-4-757-00-0 & 046-4-766- 00-0 DISTRICT 1 1. Permitted uses of the site be limited to multi-family apartments, professional offices, restaurants and retail development. 2. The total height of any structure shall not exceed 4 stories or 75 feet, to include any attached or detached structures. 3. The overall density shall not exceed 35 units per acre. 4. The total commercial space in each building shall not exceed 25,000 gross square feet in area. 5. There shall be no required front setback, a minimum 10-foot side setback and a minimum setback of 25 feet. 6. The site must conform to the all related provisions of the Augusta Tree Ordinance or applicable landscaping codes. 7. The off-street parking requirement shall be 96 spaces as shown on the concept plan. If during site plan review additional spaces are needed it will be addressed. 8. A minimum of 10% of the site shall be dedicated to open space. Such open spaces may include park, recreational or plaza primarily used for public use. 9. The maximum lot coverage for each lot shall be 80%, to include building and impervious areas. 10 A fence or screen wall in the required front yard shall not exceed four (4) feet in height. A fence or screen wall in the required side or rear yard shall not exceed six (6) feet in height. 11. Any outdoor storage shall be limited to enclosed buildings or screening with a 6 foot wood privacy fence or masonry wall. 12. No freestanding signs permitted on the affected property without approval by the Planning Commission. Building or wall mounted signs are limited to a maximum surface area of 2 square fee per linear foot. Projecting signs may not project more than 5 feet from the building wall it is attached except for canopy or awning mounted signs. Window 32 signs may not occupy more than 20 percent of the area of any window. 13. Improve sidewalks on all adjacent streets to meet the latest adopted ADA standards. 14. New curb cuts must be permitted meet the standards of Augusta Traffic Engineering Department. 15. Lighting in the parking lot be directed away from nearby residences. 16. Final building elevations and materials of the proposed structures are subject to design review. 17. Minor changes to an approved PUD site plan may be handled administratively by the Planning Director. 18. Any changes deemed major will trigger the need to amend the original PUD site plan and require Augusta Commission approval. 19. Building elevations must reflect those presented with this application. PUBLIC SERVICES 6. Motion to approve the RFP 18-246 for Aviation Fuel Supplier to AvFuel and approve the Contract for the Augusta Regional Airport as approved by the Aviation Commission on November 29, 2018. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 11, 2018) 7. Motion to approve the ALL SOUTH ROOFING Contract for Hangar One at Augusta Regional Airport. (Bid Item #18-261A) (Approved by Public Services Committee December 11, 2018) 8. Motion to approve by resolution the designation of one Sunday during the calendar year 2019 that bars can be open as provided for in the Augusta Alcohol Ordinance, Section 6-2- 77 (3a) with the designation of Super Bowel Sunday for bars to remain open. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 11, 2018) 9. Motion to approve FAA Grant for Runway Rehabilitation and Apron Design Work at Daniel Field Airport. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 11, 2018) 10. Motion to approve the Contract with A&D Painting for the Augusta Regional Airport Hangar One Project Re-Bid Item #8-257A. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 11, 2018) 11. Motion to approve the Memorandum of Agreement with Transportation Security Administration and Augusta, Georgia. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 11, 2018) 12. Motion to approve the RFP Award for Parking Management services to Republic Parking and approve the 2019 Contract for Augusta Regional Airport. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 11, 2018) 13. Motion to approve tasking Code Enforcement with bringing back an update on the inspection of Ms. Yvonne Murphy’s apartment at Georgian Place Apartments at the next committee meeting on January 8, 2019 and to include a report from the Board of Health. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 11, 2018) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 14. Motion to approve a request from Augusta-CSRA Vietnam War Veterans Memorial rd Initiative to erect a memorial in the Median of Broad Street, in Olde Town, between the 3 th and 4 Street intersections. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee December 11, 2018) 15. Motion to approve BCBS of Georgia Medicare Advantage PPO Renewal. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee December 11, 2018) FINANCE 33 18. Motion to approve funding for the state-wide December 4, 2018 General Election Runoff. (Approved by Finance Committee December 11, 2018) 19. Motion to approve 1 year renewal of agreement with Corvel, acting as Third Party Administrator, to provide Worker Compensation Claims Administration services to Augusta, GA. (Approved by Finance Services Committee December 11, 2018) 20. Motion to approve reallocation of recapture funds from SPLOST VI projects. (Approved by Finance Services Committee December 11, 2018) ENGINEERING SERVICES 21. Motion to approve awarding contract to Environmental Products of Georgia for Bid 18- 264 Truck with Crawler and Lateral Launch Camera in the amount of $282,862. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) 22. Motion to approve the Assignment of Augusta’s Agreement with Otto Container Management to OCM Solutions and approve the Execution of the Concurrence Document. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) 23. Motion to approve the Execution of the Amendment to the Lease with Georgia Waste Systems with ESD to bring back a report in March 2019 on the recycling data for the years 2017 and 2018 and 2016 if available. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) 24. Motion to approve the Landfill Gas Purchase and Sale Agreement with the correction of the company name Covia Holding Corporation (formerly known as the Unimin Mine in Hephzibah, Georgia). (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) 25. Motion to approve Bid Award 18-236 Equipment for Motor Control Center Upgrades in the Amount of $289,935. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) 26. Motion to approve award of Construction Contract to Reeves Construction Company subject to Value Engineering and not to exceed in the amount of $11,246,487.20 for Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Project, Berckmans Road Widening & Realignment, and Bridge Replacement Project – Phase II as requested by AED. Award is contingent upon receipt of signed contracts and proper bonds. Bid #18-195 Also, approve reallocation of th $1.6M from Engineering SPLOST VI Scott’s Way Bridge & 7 St. Bridge funds to Berckmans Rd Bridge Construction. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) 27. Motion to approve award of Contract for Bid 18-262: Chemical Treatment of Sanitary Sewer Line – Capacity Management to Duke’s Root Control in the Amount of $300,000. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) 28. Motion to approve to Supplemental Construction Contract to E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc. in the amount of $662, 103.45 for completing needed supplemental Drainage Improvements in conjunction with Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Project, Marks Church Road & Drainage Improvement project – Phase II as requested by AED. Bid #16-261 (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 29. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meting of the Augusta Commission held December 4, 2018 and Special Called Meeting held December 11, 2018) PLANNING 34 30. Z-18-59 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to deny a petition by ISM, LLC, on behalf of Winchester Home Builders, Co., requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) and Zone R-1B (One-family Residential) to Zone R-3B (Multiple-family Residential) affecting property containing approximately 18.8 acres and known as 413 through 433 (odds only – 8 tax parcels) Pleasant Home Road. Tax Map 016-0-044-00-0, 016-045-00-0, 016-045-01-0, 016-0-045-02-0, 016-0- 046-00-0, 016-0-047-00-0, 016-0-048-02-0 & 016-0-048-03-0 DISTRICT 7 PUBLIC SERVICES 31. Motion to approve the bid award to Newsome Electric, Bid Item 18-319 in the amount of $28,795 – Electrical Feeder for New Passenger Boarding Bridge and Equipment at the Augusta Regional Airport. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 33. Motion to approve renaming the Lake Olmstead Stadium-the Commissioner Andrew A. Jefferson Amphitheater. (No recommendation from Administrative Services Committee December 11, 2018) ADMINISTRATOR 43. Motion to renew the Sec. 5311 Rural Transit grant application between the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Augusta, Georgia for July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Motion Passes 9-0. \[Items 1, 3, 4, 6-15, 18-30, 31, 33, 43\] Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to go top to bottom. The Clerk: PLANNING 2. Z-18-55 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the conditions listed below a petition by Dr. Ayodele Ayedun, on behalf of Dr. Ayodele Ayedun and First Imex Corp., requesting a Special Exception to bring an existing Family Personal Care Home into zoning conformance per Section 26-1(h) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta, Georgia affecting property containing 20.41 acres and known as 5038 Storey Mill Road. Tax Map 347-0-001-01-0 DISTRICT 8 1. The home shall be staffed on a 7-day, 24-hour basis. 2. A private room shall continue to be provided for staff to conduct business. 3. Rubbish and inoperable cars must be removed from property. 4. The facility the capacity must be capped at three (3) residents in compliance with the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance definition of a Family Personal Care Home. 5. The applicant must receive and maintain a City of Augusta business license and continue to maintain a license with the State of Georgia. Proof of compliance with the minimum requirements of Chapter 111.8-62.01 of the O.C.G.A must be provided, and the applicant must provide annual fire department inspection reports. 6. All requirements must be met 35 within six (6) months of approval of the Special Exception, or the Special Exception is void. 7. If wheelchair bound persons reside in the residence all 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design requirements must be met, including but no limited to: • All doorways must be at least 3 feet wide. • At least one bathroom that permits a wheelchair dependent person to use all bathroom facilities unimpeded. th Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think, Mr. Mayor, Director Sherman is going to just let us know where it has three residents in compliance, they need to have a number four and I think it’s just as simple as that, that he wants to make a correction. It’s not three residents there, it’s four residents and that’s I just want to make sure that’s on the record. Mr. Sherman: That’s correct, Commissioner Hasan. When the question was asked to the applicant how many residents will you have he was assuming that we were asking how many did he currently have which is three. He wants to have four and so that’s the correction is to go from three to four. The state has approved him to have up to five but because of the size of this house the number of bedrooms four is plenty to have. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8. Mr. Guilfoyle: Mr. Mayor, thank you, this is going to be quick. Rob Sherman, as far as this address on Storey Mill Road I just want to make sure that Storey Mill Road is part of the city limits in Hepzibah that we don’t have jurisdiction over. Is this falls in the city limits or is it on the east side of Storey Mill Road? Mr. Sherman: Well, the other side from the city. Mr. Guilfoyle: Okay, thank you, motion to approve. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Sherman: Thank you. Mr. Guilfoyle: I didn’t have my computer. I turned it in. Mr. Mayor: Okay, we’ve got a motion and a second, voting. Motion Passes 9-0. The Clerk: PLANNING 5. Z-18-62 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve with the conditions listed below a petition by Joseph and Toni Elam requesting a Special Exception to establish a Child Day Care Center in a P-1 (Professional) Zone per 36 Section 26-1-r affecting property containing 0.59 acres and known as 3408 Peach Orchard Road. Tax Map 133-1-026-00-0 DISTRICT 6 1. Access must be provided off Satcher Boulevard to provide a secondary ingress/egress. th Mr. Mayor: Okay, I think the Commissioner from the 6. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think that passed by consent because we did not pull it. Mr. Mayor: That’s correct, that was what I understood. The Clerk: I’m sorry. Mr. Sherman: We felt that there was someone who had who was objecting to it. That issue was resolved. He understood what the comment is and he’s fine with it so there’s objectors to it. Mr. M. Williams: So we did pull it, Nancy, you were right. It was pulled. Mr. Hasan: My bad then. Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so we’ll entertain a motion. Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second, voting. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: I think Commissioner Guilfoyle is out right now so let’s go ahead and call the vote. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 8-0. Ms. Davis: Madam Clerk, Item 16. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 16. Motion to approve month-to-month billing with First Vehicle Services for Fleet Maintenance Services pending the recommendation from the evaluation committee. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee December 11, 2018) Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams, this was your pulled item? 37 Mr. M. Williams: Yes, ma’am. Ms. Douse, we asked the question about the local vendors being a part of this agreement so can you enlighten me as to what happened? We discussed a number of things, is that being considered as being looked at? Ms. Douse: Yes, sir, it has. I went back and searched our RFP and this document was reviewed by the Compliance Department and the Compliance Department set a goal on this particular procurement project as well as during the negotiation phase we’ve had additional conversations with the proposed vendor and have insured and impressed upon them our need to review local procurements as they go out and look for local vendors and local participation. So that will also be included in our contract when we present that to you shortly. Mr. M. Williams: Okay, if that happened, Madam Mayor Pro Tem, I’ve got no problem but that had not been addressed before. We brought up several issues as the vendor of choice going outside this region to get I guess specialized equipment, not equipment, specialized services such as glass and other stuff like that and local businesses have not be able to participate. So I want to make sure that’s --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: So do you want to make a motion? Ms. Douse: Actually --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Sorry. Ms. Douse: --- the advertisement will go out and local vendors will have an opportunity to bid on those projects. Mr. M. Williams: --- so moved. Mr. Hasan: Second. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: We have a motion and a second, please vote. Okay, also if there is some constituents in the audience to hear Item 30 that was withdrawn and it’s not on the agenda today so I apologize if ya’ll are here to hear that item. That was withdrawn from the agenda today by I believe the contractor so I’m sorry that you’ve been sitting here all this time but okay, thank you. Madam Clerk. Motion Passes 9-0. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 17. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s) procedural process relative to agreements/contracts/task orders for the Laney Walker- Bethlehem Revitalization Project (for calendar year 2019) (Approved by Administrative Services Committee December 11, 2018) 38 Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan, this is your pull? Mr. Hasan: Thank you, ma’am, Madam Mayor Pro Tem. Madam Pro Tem, I’d like the Commission to treat this item the same way we treated this item at the committee level. It was Item number 4 and Item number 5 and both of them in essence are the same process which was to once we approve this today that anything that has to come back and deal with the HCD office it goes back just before the Mayor, the Administrator and HCD and we never see it again. I’ve had some concerns as of late about some of the things that actually and I think that was there. And so with that being said, the Mayor last week asked to pull Number 4 to kind of look at it a little closer and I would encourage the Commission to do the same thing with this item and have Mr. Welcher to come back at our first committee cycle of next year 2019 and we slow walk this through why these things are important. One point that was so aptly made last week by Commissioner Sias on Item number 4 that is not before us today was that it was about the process of having people the opportunity to lock in interest rates and he felt that’s part of the process of doing business. So this item here in many ways fits that too. They’re like companion items in many ways so just pull this and let him come back and discuss this in 2019 at the committee cycle and he breaks this out. That’s what I’m asking. So I make a motion that we pull this from the agenda and come back in thththth June, whether it be June the 9, January 9 committee cycle or January the 8, probably the 8. The Clerk: Eighth. th Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah, the 8 is our first Commission meeting back so that would be th the 15. nd Mr. Hasan: So what are we doing on the 2 then, what are we doing on the second? st Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: January 1 is a Tuesday. Do we have a meeting on the second? Mr. Hasan: I think we come in on a Wednesday. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, sorry about that. So we have a meeting so you wanted to th come back to the committee on the 8. Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am. I make a motion that both Items 4 and 5 come back before th the Commission well, four is not here but both of those items come back on January the 8 first committee cycle of next year. Mr. Frantom: Second. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we have a motion and a second please vote. Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. D. Williams vote No. Motion Passes 7-2. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Madam Clerk we, 30, 31 not I’m sorry --- 39 The Clerk: Thirty-four? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- yes. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 34. Discuss the hostile work environment in the Augusta Law Department. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams, I’m thinking that this is a Legal item and I know that we’ve talked about that this last committee or Commission or committee cycle are we going into a special, no, we’re not. I think that this is going to have to be discussed in Legal. Mr. MacKenzie --- Mr. M. Williams: No, I disagree. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- now that we’ve had it in Legal as well we can put it on the next Legal agenda. Mr. M. Williams: I mean in Legal we didn’t get anything done and if you’ve got a hostile working environment anywhere the Law Department or any other department ought to be trying to address that and find out where or what’s the process to change that now it’s in the Law Department this time. Now we keep saying that we can’t talk about employees but since employees have been affected what are we supposed to do? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Well, I think we can definitely talk about it but I believe it’s going nd to have to be in Legal and we’ve got that next meeting on the 2 and we can put it on the Legal th agenda, or no it would be the 8 before committee. Mr. M. Williams: I’m hearing you, Madam Pro Tem, and we’ve done a lot of those legal meetings but no Mr. Grinch is here and he’s here to stay. I mean but this is a serious issue that we’ve got and I brought it before, brought it in Legal and didn’t get it resolved, talked about it but it was a report given by Andrew and we just kind of, let it kind of just dropped it as if it was solved. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: I think we felt like it was resolved but let’s put it on the agenda on th the 8 for the Legal agenda we’ll make sure that it’s on there right, Mr. Mayor? Mr. M. Williams: Just to follow up --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Hold on one second, Commissioner Williams. Mr. M. Williams: --- I don’t have any at all opportunity to do anything except go to Legal with it. I don’t think those are the rules though. We hadn’t called any names, we don’t have a lawsuit on our hands but to prevent that I think we need to talk about it and if this body goes in to 40 Legal and don’t get nothing done and don’t get it on the floor to get it done then when do we get it done? th Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: We’ll talk about it on the 8. Mr. M. Williams: I think you’re just trying to get out of Christmas and get to New Year’s, Madam Pro Tem. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: No, no, no. All right, Commissioner Fennoy, did you have something? Mr. Fennoy: No. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, so a motion to move this to the next Legal agenda, can I get a motion to that effect? Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Sias: So moved. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, we went backwards. We have a motion and a second, please vote. Mr. M. Williams: Madam Mayor Pro Tem, I’m going to make a comment if I can. Mr. D. Williams and Mr. M. Williams vote No. Motion Passes 7-2. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, Commissioner Williams. Mr. M. Williams: Right that down, Nancy, but I mean I’m going to address this issue and I’m not going to address it on the floor but I don’t want anybody saying well don’t talk to the press don’t talk to nobody else. This is an issue we should be talking about. We should’ve got it resolved back in Legal we didn’t, I put it on the floor, now we’re not getting it resolved now. I think that it is very, very important to make sure that an employee is being made whole. We hadn’t brought anybody in, we hadn’t talked to them as if they don’t matter. And when you’ve got a situation they’re dealing with a Director and the PPM don’t address that and we don’t address that then the person who feels like they’re in a hostile work environment feels like nobody cares. So I’m, there’s nothing I can do right here. Ya’ll ain’t going to stop me from talking about it though. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Madam Clerk, let’s move to Item 36 please because I think we have our --- The Clerk: Yes, ma’am, Item 36 --- 41 Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- okay, sorry, I thought Commissioner Frantom had pulled it. Commissioner Williams, I’m afraid 35 we’re going to go through the same thing, let’s go to 35. Mr. M. Williams: Let’s go to 35. The Clerk: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 35. Discuss the Human Resources Department. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams) Mr. M. Williams: We are in a situation, Madam Pro Tem, with this Human Relations, not Human Relation, Human Resources Department and the same thing again we talked about it, we had some conversation in Legal. We’ve got someone on paid administrative leave been that way for probably 30, 35, 40-days. Are we going to continue that I mean is this going to be an open thing for the rest of next year or the end of this year versus next year, where are we with that? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Madam Administrator or Mr. MacKenzie. Mr. MacKenzie: I’ll just say this, this qualifies as a personnel matter. Typically it’s discussed in Legal I would suggest you do that with this one as well. th Mr. Hasan: I make a motion to add it to the Legal agenda on the 8 of January. Mr. D. Williams: Second. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we have a motion and a second to move this to the Legal th agenda on the 8. Mr. M. Williams: Madam Pro Tem, again this is another issue that --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, hold on, Commissioner Williams, let’s vote. Mr. M. Williams: --- we had this in Legal. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: I know. We’re going to have to do it again. We like to do things over and over again. Mr. M. Williams: No, no, no --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Let me call for the vote and then let’s, I’ll give you one more personal point of privilege. Mr. M. Williams: --- so when are we going to accept the responsibility of facing up to some hard decisions that we have to make in here? Are we going to leave people just hanging out like that? 42 Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Let’s get this vote on the record please. Commissioner Guilfoyle? Mr. Guilfoyle: I just want to say I hope the newly elected that comes in January would take time to read this in a neutral form and just look at the facts before you cast your decision. It’s a lot easier you know when you hear hearsay but when you read it on your own you can make your own determination, your own mind --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay. Mr. Guilfoyle: --- and there was some good accolades. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Will you please vote, Mr., Commissioner Guilfoyle? Mr. Guilfoyle: Is that what you want me to? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes. Mr. M. Williams: So --- Mr. D. Williams, Ms. Davis, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom and Mr. Clarke vote Yes. Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Guilfoyle and Mr. M. Williams vote No. Mr. Sias out. Motion Fails 5-3. Mr. M. Williams: --- so how do we deal --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Williams. Mr. M. Williams: --- with this Madam Pro Tem? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: We’re going to deal with it in Legal, you know we deal with it. Mr. M. Williams: Wait now. The vote didn’t pass now I mean you talk about six votes it didn’t go. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: You know you can still ask for something to be put on the Legal agenda so let’s do that --- Mr. M. Williams: And I understand that --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- you don’t have to have it approved. Mr. M. Williams: --- that’s why I put it on the floor here because it didn’t go nowhere in Legal and the vote didn’t pass to send it to Legal now so we need to address it. 43 Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Mr. Mayor, we’ll put it on the Legal agenda. Mr. Mayor: Yeah, we’ll add it to the Legal agenda. Mr. M. Williams: I can add it to the Legal agenda. I don’t need Mr. Mayor to do that I --- Ms. Mayor: Well then, you add it. Mr. M. Williams: --- but the vote didn’t carry to take it away take it off this table. It stays right here so we need to discuss it, Mayor Pro Tem. That’s what the voting process says now. Mr. Hasan: Madam Mayor Pro Tem, may I make a comment? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: We don’t have a motion to reconsider. Mr. M. Williams: We don’t have to reconsider. The vote didn’t pass. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: That’s how every vote is you know that we have to move on to the next agenda item which is number what number 40, Madam Clerk? The Clerk: Thirty-seven. Mr. Frantom: 37, 38, 39. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: That’s what you pulled. Okay 37 and you’re taking, you want to take them as companion? All right, Madam Clerk, we’ll take those three as companion items. The Clerk: ENGINEERING SERVICES 37. Approve the Award of Bid Item 18-274 to MHC Kenworth for the Purchase of a Water Truck. (No recommendations by Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) 38. Approve the Award of Bid Item 18-287 to Nextran Truck Center for the Purchase of an Over the Road Truck. (No recommendation by Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) 39. Approve the Award of Bid Item 18-288 to Vanguard Truck Center for the Purchase of a Roll-Off Truck. (No recommendation by Engineering Services Committee) Mr. Guilfoyle: So moved. Mr. Hasan: Second. Ms. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Frantom. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Madam Pro Tem. I pulled these for a couple of reasons. Number one is does this these three items fall under Local Option 5%? 44 Ms. Jackson: I do not know the answer to that. Mr. Frantom: So all of these three that I pulled all three of them go outside of Augusta by $7,000 and less which falls within the 5%. And then on 38 it lists, listed exceptions to warranty requires that overtime exceeds $6,951. Well, we don’t even know for freightliner what that total is. You know I just have concerns when we’re spending money in other cities and we’re within $2/3,000 dollars of the price. And then I need to know whether there’s a Local Option because if it is then we should be losing these locals over the people out of Atlanta. Mr. Hasan: Madam Mayor Pro Tem? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Hold on, Commissioner Frantom? Mr. Frantom: I mean that’s basically my question. Local and then there’s a warranty questions in here and are we, when a company doesn’t get it locally are we saying hey you didn’t get it because x, y, z or are we not even saying anything? I mean it’s just disappointing that $2 to 5,000 dollars and we’re spending money in Atlanta, that’s way within the 5% Local Option that we discussed. Mr. Hasan: Madam Mayor Pro Tem? Mr. Frantom: Thank you. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan. Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am, if I’m not mistaken, Commissioner, I mean if it’s in the 5% range I actually think it’s 10% local if I’m not mistaken not 5 so I mean that puts it much closer. I think it 10%, it’s not 5%. I mean, is that correct, it’s 10%? Mr. Frantom: Then why (inaudible). Mr. Hasan: If it was within 10% (inaudible). Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Then we need okay, hold on, who can help us address this? Mr. MacKenzie, would you be able to? We don’t have anybody here from Procurement. Mr. MacKenzie: It’s within 10% (inaudible) code I can look it up. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Guilfoyle. Mr. Guilfoyle: This Local Option Sales Tax, I’d like for my colleague that brought this up to clarify what in regards to buying a machine no different than when we buy a Ford the Chevrolet’s from outside this area. It depends on the state bid contracts that’s how we normally run with it. So can he enlighten me about this loss because I’m a little lost on that one for one reason. I mean we show local preference but it’s done through bidders who does work for the city 45 no different than the furniture here. We’d rather show preference to our local but I don’t know if there’s a Vanguard dealer in Augusta or anywhere else but I just need some clarification. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Frantom. Mr. Frantom: I mean they obviously had to meet the specs to put in a bid. They didn’t disqualify from the bid process. Just trying to understand why $2,000 dollars, $6,000 dollars and $5,000 dollars well within 5%, 7% on one of them is why we why is the Local Option not being considered. And then some of them it’s kind of like because we didn’t pick them because the warranty out, expenses were outside of the bid again. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay let’s, I think Madam Administrator has her hand up to talk. Ms. Jackson: Yeah, I’ve got some background information on this. I had asked the Procurement Director to provide me some information unfortunately I’ll just be reading what she sent but I think this will give some explanation. Regarding the 18-274 Water Truck the local vendor preference option was included in the solicitation, however, the actual bid came in over $100,000 dollars. The local vendor amount was $130,060 dollars the lowest vendor amount was $124 and I think that local preference only applies to projects of $100,000 dollars or less. Mr. Frantom: Actually 128. Ms. Jackson: So that’s the issue with I guess all of these because all of these over $100,000 dollars. Mr. Frantom: So it only applies to what say again, I’m sorry. Ms. Jackson: It only applies to bids that are under $100,000 dollars, that policy the local preference policy. Mr. Frantom: Can this government change that? Ms. Jackson: This government can certainly change that if you have the support to do so. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Hasan and then we’re going to vote we have a motion and a second. Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am exactly what the Administrator just read. That’s right, it does have a cap on it a $100,000 and below but I agree with Commissioner Frantom. I look forward to having discussions and raise the bar a little bit. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Madam Clerk? The Clerk: Who made the motion and seconded it? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Guilfoyle made the motion. 46 Mr. Guilfoyle: For all three. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Who seconded? Mr. Hasan: I did. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan. The Clerk: Thank you. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, let’s vote please. Motion Passes 9-0. Mr. Hasan: Madam --- Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan. Mr. Hasan: --- yes ma’am, before we close out and I apologize and this may be a little late in the game to do this but can we get unanimous consent for Mr. Few. I’d like to make a motion for unanimous consent, reconsideration, I appreciate that for reconsideration. Leave it the way it is? They say leave it the way it is; they ain’t taking no chances. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay next item, Madam Clerk. The Clerk: ENGINEERING SERVICES 40. Receive as information a 60-day Update on the Performance of Inland Waste, the Customer Communications Plan for ESD, and a report on the results of the Customer Satisfaction Survey. (No recommendation Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Madam Administrator. Ms. Jackson: Yes, there is a written report in your booklet, a pretty comprehensive written report on this topic. Unless there are questions from the Board I would ask you all accept that written report for information. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, are we good with that Commission? Okay, so I’ll need a motion please --- Mr. D. Williams: So moved --- Ms. Mayor: --- to receive as information. 47 Ms. Hasan: I have a question for Ms. Lori if you don’t mind. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, ma’am. Ms. Lori, like you say I don’t know where we are but for sake of time but are you satisfied with the way that the direction is moving? Ms. Videtto: Yes, I am. Mr. Hasan: Okay all right, thank you, ma’am. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: Good question can we have --- The Clerk: Who seconded it? Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: --- we need a second. Mr. Frantom: Second. The Clerk: Thank you. Ms. Mayor Pro Tem: We have a motion and a second please vote. th, Mr. Mayor: Okay, while we’re getting ready for the next item, Commission from the 4 if you’ll vote we’ll appreciate it. Motion Passes 9-0. Mr. Mayor: As we’re getting ready for Item 41 there’s a lot of work that’s been put into this by our team here. I think you’ll appreciate what you see but I do want to echo a couple of other things in advance of that. As we come to the close of our meeting in our last Legal meeting there were a series of conversations about two matters dealing with current leases that we have and those matters need to be addressed on today. So we’re going to have two motion to address those matters because of the clock running out on us here at the end of the year but we addressed both of those on last week with regards to space that HCD is currently in and also the issue regarding 600 Broad so those are matters that we do need to resolve and we need to do that today so we’ll have two motions here in just a moment that we need to address before we do leave, okay? All right, the Chair recognizes Madam Administrator. ENGINEERING SERVICES 41. Receive as Information Research Performed on the Handling of Blight in Other Cities. (No recommendation Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) Ms. Jackson: In reference to Item 41 in regards to research on blight obviously blight Code Enforcement and beautification of the community are issues we discussed at length at this place. 48 As we have done previously were given periodic updates on new recommendations, ideas and to satisfy efforts this is another one of those. I would also add that I think two weeks ago Mayor Davis made reference to the fact that we were working toward collectively towards to some additional solutions so this is a summary of research from other communities per the request of this Commission as well as additional recommendations for your consideration. Mr. Mayor: Director Videtto, the floor is yours. Ms. Videtto: As Ms. Jackson indicated this is kind of an update as well as a summation of some research and some information moving forward and some steps to move forward so obviously this has been a hot topic in Augusta for some time. Most recently you’ve seen a couple of articles in the Augusta Chronicle on the issue as well as a lot of talk about numbers, numerous presentations, research, field trips, bus tours, some call complaints pick any adjective you want and we addressed it along the way. One of the questions that I get asked a lot is how much, how much and you’ll see some numbers as we go through this. So one of the first little nuggets I’m going to leave you with is if we were to demolish all of the properties that currently have a demolition order how much would that cost? That is about $1.8 million dollars. Now there are more that are still in the process and that’s an additional $1.54 million approximately to handle those, it is a lot of money. So we’ve been working on this for some time so let’s talk a little bit about what we’ve done. The scope is large; there is a lot to deal with, there is a lot to talk about, there is a lot of things that’s been happening and a lot of key players have been involved as well. And you can kind of see in the second bullet point that’s obviously not everybody and even though I’m the one standing up here this is not something I have certainly done alone and it is really taken the Mayor’s office, Administrator’s Office, Planning and Development, IT, Environmental Services, the Land Bank, Housing and Community Development, the Tax Commissioner and I could go on and on and on and I don’t pretend that I’m going to remember everybody but I try to identify as many as I could remember. We have implemented some changes along the way. A lot of those are things that happened probably more behind the scenes than our public may realize. Some enhancements to our scrap tire disposal, our Code Enforcement processes our community outreach, increased our fees for vacant lot cutting and developed some training and done some additional things along the way. Part of that is increased enforcement and that’s one of the things that we talk about quite frequently is what are we doing, what are we doing to make this better and recognizing the efforts of the Marshal’s office, Code Enforcement officers being in the community talking to the neighbors, addressing the issues that are there and you can see that even between th 2017 and as of November 30 in 2018 there’ve a lot a lot of inspections that have occurred in these neighborhoods. We have better information that’s being captured and tracked about property ownership and that becomes very, very important as you’re trying to deal with these structures especially if they’re privately owned. We really have to know who owns them in order to move this forward. IT has been instrumental in making sure our data is good and our data is where it needs to be. We need some baseline information we need to know what’s out there, how many, how much and they’ve been really helpful in making that happen as well. We talked a little bit about the software packages and City Works and City View our some of those packages and they’re actually talking to each other now which is a huge accomplishment as well. Of course Keep Augusta Beautiful to actively working with community in addition to all the other groups and making some progress there as well. So as we roll forward one of the tasks that was specifically asked me was to research other communities so that’s what I did and we did that. 49 Many have a similar baseline although there are some local customizations that occurred there as well but what this really means is Augusta doesn’t have to start from scratch. Other places have done this, other places have been very successful in these programs and we’re certainly not alone as we deal with this issue. So just as a snapshot these are some of the cities, counties that I looked at. There’s 14 that are listed here but there are so many more. Every time you research one it links you to another one and to another one and to another one because similar to what Augusta is doing these cities have done the same thing. They’ve looked at other programs, they’ve pulled the pieces that will work for them and they’ve really started implementing. If those four on the top the City of Aiken, Baltimore, MD, Greenville, SC and Macon-Bibbs and I’m going to provide you a little bit more information on although I do have details on the other ones if you want to talk about those separately. So on the surface there were a couple of common themes that I found as I worked through those. A lot of them have had a really catchy program names, Fight the Blight, From Blight to Bright, Green Theme, Demolition 200, Vacants to Value and many, many more. I mean everybody had a full catchy name for their program, they have good press coverage, and they set goals, very specific goals, that they could measure. Administratively they had dedicated program funding and that funding came from a variety of sources but they had the dedicated funding to make sure this rolled forward. They all designated target areas and a lead agency. They also worked with ordinance reviews, they updated their processes and made sure what they had in place on the books supported their efforts. Operationally they performed initial surveys, they did a lot of data management and very detailed data management, increased their Code Enforcement and Law Enforcement activity and they started doing some registration of vacant properties, foreclosures, dilapidated structures, mothballs, landlords, tenants so they really understood and had and a grasp on the information they had available to them. So some of the key implementation steps that those cities took again designating that lead agency and the location that they were going to work in. It really helped them to focus their resources, show that the city or county had a good plan and they were willing to stick with it and then highlight and utilize things that they already had in place. But they had a lot of programs that maybe were smaller that were already on the books but they weren’t a coordinated effort and having that coordinated effort was incredibly important. The funding is the other one that we always seem to fall back to somewhere along the way. They used departmental budgets, they used grants, bonds, SPLOST money, state allocations and in some cases a variety of all of those were a gathering of all of those and of course again I’m going to continue to fall back to data gathering is very important. st Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: You know I don’t disagree with anything that you have said but I believe the way we’re going to eradicate blight is to have development. I mean we tear down houses because they’re dilapidated and then two years later we got to go back and cut the grass. I would love to see some housing development in the blighted areas. Downtown Augusta the district that Marion Williams, Commissioner Dennis Williams and myself represent have more dilapidated houses have more houses that are partially burned and until those houses are completely torn down and something is put in its place, we’re going to have the same thing over and over and over again. I was in a neighborhood meeting last night in Marion Homes and I wanted you all to go through Marion Homes to see what it looked to see what blight looks like --- Ms. Videtto: I’ve got that picture (inaudible). 50 Mr. Fennoy: --- okay but what happened ya’ll went down there and cut the grass before I could take the bad out. Ms. Videtto: Every once in a while we do a good job. Mr. Fennoy: Yeah, I mean and I understand, I understand the restraints that you all have but I want to see a long-term plan I want to see, that word --- Mr. Mayor: Sustainability. Mr. Fennoy: --- yeah that kind of I want to, when I go through Marion Homes 50 years from now I want to see something that was done in 2019 and 2020 that could stand the test of time. Mr. Mayor: I think if you’ll allow Director Videtto to get through this you’re going to hear everything (unintelligible). Mr. Fennoy: You’ve got something like that well, go ahead, I apologize. Ms. Videtto: Okay so just the next few slides talk about what some of the specific county programs had in place that I thought was really kind of telling for us in Augusta. So the City of Aiken and I picked the City of Aiken simply because they’re so close to us and they put in place a pretty good program. Their target area is the north side of the city and downtown so if you’ve been to Aiken over the past couple of years you’ve seen this you may not have realized what was going on but you’ve seen the change to their downtown and you’ve seen the change to the north side. They’ve allocated $320,000 dollars to their budget for demolition and lot cleanup. They’re only dealing with about 140 pieces of property and if you kind of do the math and see how that balances out. They’ve also been awarded a $300,000 dollar Brownfield Grant for 2018 to help them assess some of these properties and identify some of these properties and they have a neat program which is called Demolition 200 and it’s for those owners that own some of these dilapidated properties but just don’t have the means to get them torn down. They contribute $200.00 dollars; the city demolishes them on their behalf. The City of Greenville. We talked a lot lately about the City of Greenville. They have also been very, very specific about the areas that they’re targeting. Downtown in historic districts Augusta Street, Laurens Road, Pleasantburg Drive, Rutherford Street, Wade Hampton Blvd. and some of the areas in West Greenville. Again they’ve been incredibly specific when they’re talking about how they’re going to tackle this. They too have received a Brownfield Grant in 2018 to identify some more of those properties. Macon- Bibb. This is one of those other ones that keeps popping back up because people seem to like the Macon-Bibb program. They have target areas they were identified by commission districts and they happen to have nine commission districts. They also received a $400,000 dollar Brownfield Grant in 2015. They implemented a blight tax which is where they taxed the blighted properties at a higher rate to pay for some of the extra services that those properties were receiving, extra grass cutting, and things like that. This is the government that took out the bonds and they took out $9 million dollars in bonds and then they then allocated them by the commission districts. They’re estimated to be dealing with about 5,000 blighted structures and the bonds have addressed hundreds of those. They are still struggling; this is ongoing problem for Macon-Bibb and that $9 51 million dollars certainly made a good dent in it but it did not solve the problem. They really have to continue working to truly solve the underlying problem. Baltimore, MD eats through all of this research has kind of become one of my favorite programs. I really like what they’ve done. They’ve also identified very, very specific areas throughout the City of Baltimore that they’re going to target and they’re a little bit different from the Detroit or the New Orleans where they were dealing with open blocks or blocks of destruction from Katrina. Baltimore didn’t have that. They had kind of spotty redevelopment that they needed to go through. Their program is called Vacant to Value and it looks like they were addressing somewhere in the neighborhood of 16,000 vacant buildings and 14,000 vacant lots. Now because of the numbers their funding is also much higher. I mean they received $10 million dollars plus some funding from the state to get their program moving. But they have some interesting programs with receivership, a very, very streamlined code enforcement process which gets it to their receivership process incredibly quickly and dedicated staff of attorneys and researchers to make sure they are able to find the owners of all these properties and navigate the court process because most of them are privately owned. You still have to navigate that process which can slow it down if you can’t find the proper owners. So some of the takeaways from the research that I did is to understand the timeline. None of this happens quickly. It can take you anywhere from 60 to 90-days to get it through a court process if you can identify the owner and then it can take from there to get it redeveloped so it is no means a very quick fix but having all the pieces in place is incredibly important. Again to figure out the funding and the review, they spend a lot of time with their codes and updating their codes to make sure that everything was in place so that when they jumped in, they jumped in with both feet and they were able to work all of the property transfer processes, receivership, imminent domain, in rem and all of that to make sure that it was good to go for their particular community. They had very specific and very strong goal settings so they could establish the program, track their progress and tell people the story. They also focused their efforts by zone area or node depending on how they chose to describe it but those were all key pieces to all of these projects. So I turned then and looked at Augusta’s program and said okay well I did all this research and looked at all these other programs. What does Augusta have and Augusta Housing and Community Development Department has a lot of these pieces already in place. Beautify to Build is an effort we’ve heard about and talked about in the past. Laney Walker Bethlehem is one of those very successful programs but again it takes time to see the development and see the difference. Development nodes have been identified, we have infield redevelopment strategies, public private partnerships, partnerships with nonprofits and lots of neighborhood improvement programs. Well again, a lot of the pieces that we’ve talked about as I looked at all this research are already have the ground work laid out. You also have a Landbank Programs. The Side Lot Program which is another one that I get asked about a lot is why can’t I buy that lot next door for a dollar or how do I obtain that lot next door for a dollar that is vacant or I’ve been mowing or I’m tired of looking at it or whatever the case may be, we have that available today. You may not have been aware of that but we do. There are lots of efforts from marketing properties and redevelopment. We have a Residential Demolition Program, we have a Vacant Lot Cutting Program which again we’ve talked about numerous times. Our Code Enforcement has stepped up their enforcements. In 2017 there were 124 citations and 197 through 11 months in 2018 so they’ve stepped up their efforts as well. Our data gathering and standardization with our IT partners has been wonderful and of course we have lots of volunteers and resources available who can help us work through this as well. So if you step back and say okay what should Augusta do next or should Augusta choose a target area my answer would be yes but here’s why. It really helps you focus your resources. From an operational 52 standpoint it will really help those departments that are doing that to say where should I focus my demolition, where should I focus my grass cutting, where should we focus for redevelopment, where should we focus our code enforcement effort and it really concentrates those limited resources because I don’t think at any point in time we’re going to have an unlimited budget. I’d like to think so at some point but I’m pretty sure it’s never going to happen so it really helps us to be smart with the way that we allocate our resources and our money. And it provides the Land Bank an opportunity to assist with assembling those vacant properties, getting them into a usable format, getting them marketed appropriately. So if you choose a target area, there’s some things that you could do that would really continue to push this program along. You could have a higher level of code enforcement, you could have a more stringent standard, you could have a streamlined process that will move that further along. You can develop a different tax structure for those particular groups or have zone designations. You can prioritize those services, you could actually come and say 80%, a 100% of the demolition work needs to happen in this target area or whatever those percentages happen to be. You could actively seek public private partnerships to get to successful redevelopments and also develop those standards, update store fronts, landscape standards and things like that that really go to continue to push that forward especially for the existing residents and businesses. We don’t want to leave them out because a lot of them are well invested in the area so it’s kind of a twofold thing. So if you were to pick a target area, what about th this target area? This is bound by 15 Street, Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd., Poplar and Clay and one of the reasons that this area flowed forward was because of everything that’s happening in and around it. If you kind of look at that map you can see all of the projects that are happening in that area. The kind of greenish bluish shaded to the upper right is Laney Walker Bethlehem, already happening, already successful processes already in place we already know that that system works. But then you also have what used to be Cherry Tree Crossing which is now the Legacy at Walton. You have schools that are being rebuilt with Josey right there across the street, Murphy Middle School. You have road widening projects, safety projects and a lot happening right there in that area that is really just ready for us to come in and focus our efforts. So why this area? Adjacent to our projects that are already happening gateway to downtown, medical districts highly populated and it is very historic but you also have an area that showed blight, pervasive poverty and is underdeveloped and it’s generally in distress. And then of course you have access to various economic development tools. If you plot demolitions, this map kind of shows the demolitions that are already in process or are already issued in the books and you can see that there’s an impact that can be made pretty quickly. So if I had to come and say what are key steps to implementation? Utilize the Land Bank. As the new Land Bank Director comes on their efforts can become much more intentional and marketing and implementation of those programs can become much more clear. Apply for grants. Grant funding is out there, let’s go get it. Establish priorities and timelines for those activities, continue to review ordinance and recommend those needed updates and incorporate the use of these various zones that are available for our opportunity. th Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 7. Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for the presentation. My question is with a statement. What is the plan moving forward from the government’s standpoint to bring something back to kind of develop this plan and just you know this is a great report so it doesn’t sit and we get to work like what are your thoughts what we’re going to do? 53 Mr. Mayor: Well, this was, if I were to say where we are this is what represents about 85% of the plan. Come next year when this group has been working on putting this together is able to reconvene that remaining 15% which includes real direct strategy will be (unintelligible) to that and have a conversation at the end of the month with here’s how this can be rolled out. The key piece is as Director Videtto has indicated is that these are things that need to happen. There’s been discussions about again in this target area not just going in cutting grass but having the redevelopment components tied to that which involves Planning and Development. They’ve been involved in these conversations and the discussion is having an over-laid district saying this what st we want it to look like which is the question that the Commissioner from the 1 asked and it will involve partnerships with private sector stakeholders. As you all are aware if you haven’t driven by R.A Dent Boulevard and Wrightsboro Road right now you can see the Foundry Place th Development going up and with the $22 million dollar 15 Street widening project, it’s become a very nice gateway into not only the medical district but in our downtown urban core which is st where Commissioner from the 1 has indicated the majority I’d submit to you 97% of our vacant blighted and abandoned properties are in those areas that he talked about. And this is a unique opportunity for us to get out there and attack it in a sustained way over time and involve our private sector stakeholders to truly make a difference in the lives our community people. And right now th again this is where from your question to the Commissioner from the 7 those are the next steps. A couple of more meetings to convene and put some real strategy around what this looks like and then come back to this body and get (unintelligible) and support for that. Mr. Hasan: I make a motion to receive as information. Mr. Frantom: Second. st Mr. Mayor: Okay the Commissioner from the 1. Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, what I would like to see is the economic impact that a section of th Pine Street, 11 Street and Florence Street had on the city ten years ago or maybe longer, 12 years ago and the economic impact that these same areas have on the city now. And if this is something positive then we need to do what is necessary to expand it. I mean Apple Valley is a part of my district. I don’t know how many of you all rode through Apple Valley lately. The Hill area is a part of my district, Harrisburg is a part of my district and I guess what I’m saying there are all kind of opportunities for the type of development that took place around Pine Street to take place in other areas of the city and we need to, it needs to happen. Maybe we could take out you know $15 million dollar bond to get this done. I mean we do it for everything else. I mean we do. We do it to build parking decks, we do it for renovations of a Municipal Building and why not do it to build up the city. Mr. Mayor: I couldn’t agree with you more. All right --- Mr. Mayor: So can I make a motion that we do that? Mr. Mayor: --- I believe the gentleman can do whatever he wants to. It’s well within his right to make a motion. Again, I want to take an opportunity to commend Ms. Jackson, our entire team, as you’ve seen there’ve been a host of people who were working on this. This came as a 54 result of a clear action by this Commission that said come back with a functional plan that allows us to get after this in a sustained fashion and that is what you have you have. You have the initial elements of that in front of you. We’ve got a motion to just receive as information. We’re going to continue the good work that’s being done and come back with an executable plan at the top of next year. Madam Administrator, would you like to add anything? You’ve been involved in this. Ms. Jackson: Yes, I don’t to want, I just don’t want to minimize the difficulty of pulling this off even with the cities that Lori cited in her presentation. As long as they’ve been working on this and as extravagant as some of their plans may be some of them are still struggling, I think all of them have faced mixed success. So it’s just a long-term process but we’re committed to continuing to develop a plan and tweaking the plan as necessary to make sure that we do all we can for Augusta. I think you’re absolutely right, Commissioner from District 1, it does take redevelopment that’s really the only thing that makes a difference. And we hope to be at a point where if we take the right steps from a public perspective if the private sector comes in and takes over so that it’s not just our problem it’s an issue that the private sector is willing to tackle as well. Mr. Mayor: Absolutely, all right we have a motion and a second. Is that why you’re raising your hand? Mr. Sias: I was just going to say we definitely have to have an economic plan as far as this (inaudible) so that’s going to have to be the main focus (unintelligible) really need to focus on and I think again (unintelligible). Mr. Mayor: Absolutely. All right, we’ve got a motion and a second to receive as information. We’ll do that; all right we’ll put the $15 million dollar bond when we come back in January. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 8-0. Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a number of things again I mentioned just a moment ago. I know we’re all trying to track to get us quickly to the event that’s happening at the boathouse as possible but I do want to try to take care of these two pressing matters that we dealt with during the Legal meeting on last week. And that is they’re not on your agenda, we’re going to come back to this one here in just a second, Madam Clerk, but I want to take, I’ve got two motions here. They deal with the property at 600 Broad Street and then of course the lease that we’re currently in at 925 Laney Walker with Housing and Community Development. Those things are expiring at the end of the year and we need to resolve these matters now. And so the Chair recognizes the st Commissioner from the 1 for a motion. ADDENDUM 47. Motion to approve a three-year lease of 600 Broad Street with two, one-year renewal options, to Augusta Regional Collaboration Project. 55 Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make a motion to approve a three-year lease of 600 Broad Street with two, one year renewal options to Augusta Regional Collaboration Project. Ms. Davis: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second, voting. Mr. Hasan: Is price important to that? Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I think we’re maintaining the same price that we have. Mr. Hasan: Okay. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 8-0. ADDENDUM 48. Motion to approve a nine-month lease of suite numbers 200, 330, 331 and 332 of the building located at 925 Laney Walker Blvd. th Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 for a motion. Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Motion to approve a nine-month lease of suite numbers 200, 330, 331, and 332 of the building located at 925 Laney Walker Blvd. Mr. Fennoy: Second. Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second. Attorney Mackenzie, if you’ll make sure Ms. Morawski has a copy of those two motions. Mr. MacKenzie: They’re already here. Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Mr. Mayor: Voting. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 8-0. ENGINEERING SERVICES th 42. Discuss GDOT PI#0013927 0 SR4/US25 BUS (13 Street) at Savannah River Bridge Replacement Project and Addition of Local Proffered Improvements. (No recommendation from Engineering Services Committee December 11, 2018) 56 Mr. Mayor: Well, there is Item 42 on here but I think we can handle that by just providing a letter, is that correct, Dr. Malik, we can just write a letter? All right, fantastic. Mr. Sias: Motion to approve. Mr. Hasan: Second. Mr. Mayor: All right, very good. Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible) provide a letter (unintelligible). Mr. Mayor: Yes, that’s correct, all right, voting. Mr. Guilfoyle out. Motion Passes 8-0. \[MEETING ADJOURNED\] 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 December 18, 2018. ______________________________ Clerk of Commission 57