HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting November 19, 2019
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
NOVEMBER 19, 2019
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., November 19, 2019, the
Hon. Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. B. Williams, Garrett, Sias, Fennoy (participates by telephone), Frantom,
M. Williams, Davis, D. Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County
Commission.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re going to call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, the first
thing I want to do just, there’s an Addendum item that’s before us and do we have unanimous
consent to add it to the agenda without objection? All right, without objection. All right, the Chair
recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: I call your attention to the invocation portion of our agenda which will be
delivered by Reverend Andy Cook, Pastor of the Covenant Presbyterian Church after which we’ll
ask our Interim Administrator, Mr. Jarvis Sims, to please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Please stand.
The invocation was given by Reverend Andy Cook, Pastor Covenant Presbyterian Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
The Clerk: The Office of Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr., by these presence be it known that
Reverend Andy Cook, Pastor of the Covenant Presbyterian Church is Chaplain of the Day. His
spiritual guidance and civic leadership serves as an example for all citizens of Augusta. Given
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under my hand this 19 Day of November 2019, Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Would you join me in congratulating Pastor Cook? (APPLAUSE) Thank you
so much, Pastor, wonderful.
The Clerk: Are we going from the, sir?
Mr. Mayor: I’m sorry?
The Clerk: Do you have a PSA?
Mr. Mayor: No, I do, but I’m thinking through that right now.
The Clerk: Okay, do you want to do the recognitions?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, please.
The Clerk: Okay.
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RECOGNITIONS
October 2019 Employee of the Month recipient
A. Congratulations! Ms. Sallie Blandenburg October 2019 Employee of the Month.
The Clerk: I call your attention to the Recognition portion of our agenda. The Mayor and
the Commission would like to offer our congratulations to Ms. Sallie Blandenburg who’s our
October 2019 Employee of the Month. (APPLAUSE) Would you please come forward? Is Mr.
Wiedmeier here from Utilities, would you all like to come up with her?
Mr. Hasan: What department is that, Ms. Bonner, what department is that? Utilities, okay.
The Clerk: Okay, as she makes her way forward, the Employee Recognition Committee
has selected Sallie Blandenburg, Dr. Malik’s here?
Mr. Mayor: He is.
The Clerk: Okay come on, come on, as the October 2019 Employee of the Month for
Augusta, Georgia. Ms. Blandenburg works with the Augusta Engineering Department where she
has been employed for nearly 14-years, she was nominated by Wilhelmina Streetman. Ms. Sallie
Blandenburg is the most pleasant person I’ve met in my life. I feel privileged to work with her.
She is a no nonsense kind of person. She takes her job very seriously and has a great duty of care
when it comes to the people she supervises. She takes pride in her work you can rely on her to do
a good job. She makes sure the employees have all they need to complete a task on time and
safely. When she was first promoted to her present position as Crew Supervisor, she was put in a
situation to do a job that usually takes a week or more to complete. Her employees are so motivated
by her that they did not hesitate to jump in and make this happen within two days. They worked
overtime without complaint. She was once assigned half-days to the Traffic Engineering
Administration Office to help convert pothole work orders over for the city’s old Lucicity Program
to the new City Works Program., Her knowledge of her job made it easy to identify that tasks
were complete and what was still open. She could identify locations and what had been done on
the site. This was a very tedious job but she showed up every day in good spirits and willing to
get the job done per Ms. Livingston. It took them six or more months to complete and organize.
You can ask anyone in the Engineering Department and I can guarantee you that they will all be
enjoyed working with her. Based on this nomination and Sallie’s outstanding service the
Employee Recognition Committee would appreciate you in joining us in recognizing her as the
October 2019 Employee of the Month. Congratulations. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Blandenburg is going to say a few words.
Ms. Blandenburg: I’m never nervous but I’m kind of nervous coming in front of the Mayor
but I have enjoyed working for the City of Augusta and when I do a job I set my goal to do it to
my best ability. I don’t like half doing work. So if you ever need me I’m always there so I’m so
glad my department and everybody recognized me and I appreciate it. Thank ya’ll so much for
ya’ll’s support. (APPLAUSE)
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Dr. Malik: I just want to say thank you and thank you for your hard work and dedication
and you’re the right person and the crew asphalt and potholes because you know we have tons of
requests every day, and thank you for your service.
Mr. Mayor: Fantastic. Ms. Blandenburg, on behalf of the Augusta Commission thank you
for what you do you make our city a great place to live, learn, to work and raise our families.
Thank you. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: I call your attention to the Consent portion of our agenda which consists of
Items 1 through 25, Items 1 through 25. For the benefit of any objectors to either of our Planning
Petitions would you please signify your objection by raising your hand. I call your attention to:
Item 4: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) to a
Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property known as 101 Dan Bowles Road.
Item 5: Is a request for a change of zoning from a Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to
an R-1A (One-family Residential) and HI (Heavy Industry) to a Zone B-2 (General Business)
affecting property known as 1038, 1046 and 1048 Claussen Road.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to either of those Planning Petitions? I call your
attention to the Public Service portion of our agenda, if there are any objectors to any of our
Alcohol Petitions would you please signify your objection by raising your hand once the petition
is read. I call your attention to:
Item 7: Is a request for an on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be
used in connection with the location at 1002 Broad Street.
Item 8: Is for an on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in
connection with the location 1721 Gordon Highway.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to either of those alcohol petitions? Mr. Mayor,
members of the Commission, our Consent Agenda consists of Items 1 through 25 with no objectors
to our Planning or Alcohol Petitions.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Madam Clerk. All right, the Chair will entertain any
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motions to add or remove. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I’d like to add Item 26. This has a lot of improvements in various
districts so I just want to add this to the Consent Agenda.
Mr. Mayor: All right, let’s suspend just for a moment. There’s nothing in the list, there is
a list, do we have a list? It’s not in the notebook.
Mr. Sias: Some say yes, some say no.
Mr. Mayor: I don’t have it in the notebook.
The Clerk: There’s no backup behind 26?
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Mr. Mayor: No.
Mr. Sias: I know what it is but there’s no backup.
Mr. Mayor: I mean I’m not suggesting that I necessarily disagree but I don’t what the
District Commissioner ---
The Clerk: We’ll get that, we’ll get that for you.
Mr. Sias: Get the backup?
The Clerk: --- yes, we’ll get the backup for you.
Mr. Sias: Just delay that then.
Mr. Mayor: --- that’s the only reason I’m asking.
Mr. Sias: We can still consent it and get the backup. We’ve all discussed it.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. M. Williams: I need to know what I’m voting on, I mean.
Mr. Sias: I’ll withdraw so we can, hopefully we’ll get that by then.
Mr. M. Williams: I mean we’ve already got some issues we voted on not just this body
but bodies done voted on stuff and didn’t know, everybody didn’t know what was on first and
who’s on second so I want to see the list.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, can you get that ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- can we get that list before?
Ms. Davis: I left it up here last week it’s just not here.
Mr. Hasan: Can you take, Commissioner Davis, and put it on the projector?
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Ms. Davis: I thought that, someone took it. It was up here last week.
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Mr. Mayor: --- all right, so we’ll hold on that one then we’ll come back to it okay? All
right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the, hold on. All right, we’ll come back to that
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one, Madam Clerk. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: I have the same motion ---
Mr. Mayor: Oh, okay, all right.
Mr. B. Williams: --- and that’s, if I may that’s the item ---
The Clerk: That’s the printout for the Capital Improvements for Recreation ---
Mr. B. Williams: --- yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: --- is that what you’re looking for?
Mr. B. Williams: --- yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. On the Consent Agenda Item Number 22 if my
colleagues look at that, Mr. Mayor, it has a month-to-month contract with Atlantic Coast
Consulting Group ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- and the Administrator’s Office has been in conversation with them and the
General Counsel and what they were willing, the month-to-month gives us a 20% increase in cost
however the vendor is willing if you do it on a quarterly basis they would accept that at the current
cost and they are here to say that they would accept that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and so the amendment that’s already been in there is a quarterly contract
as opposed to month-to-month, all right, so we’re pulling that one.
Mr. Hasan: You want to pull it?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Sias: We have to.
The Clerk: Which item was that, I’m sorry.
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Mr. Mayor: Number 22.
Mr. Sias: Twenty-two.
Mr. Mayor: Pull 22, okay? Madam Clerk, let’s add Item 33 to the Consent Agenda, Item
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35 and 36 are being referred to the December 3 full Commission meeting.
The Clerk: 34 ---
Mr. Mayor: No, 35 and 36 ---
The Clerk: --- 35 ---
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Mr. Mayor: --- 34 is ready for debate today. 35, 36 referred to December 3. Item Number
29 since there was a discussion last week I don’t think that there’s any formal action to be taken
today.
Mr. Sias: That’s correct.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, so ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I don’t know about that.
Mr. B. Williams: Which one?
Mr. Mayor: --- Number 29.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Well, it’s in Procurement so I mean we’ve got to take an action if we
don’t want ---
Mr. Sias: There’s a protest going so it’s not going anywhere right now.
Mr. Mayor: That’s Number 29.
Mr. Sias: That’s coming back to Administrative Services.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, the protest will take precedence over any action we’ll take it up at that
time.
Mr. Hasan: I’m sorry, Mr. Mayor, can ya’ll share what ---
Mr. Mayor: You want us to share what we were just talking about.
Mr. Hasan: --- yes, I’d appreciate it.
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Mr. Mayor: Well, the protest will be on next week’s agenda at which point we can take up
Number 29.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, okay well even if we decide not to award it at that point ---
Mr. Mayor: Sure ---
Mr. Hasan: --- it’s under protest?
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah.
Mr. Hasan: Fine, just wanted to make sure, okay.
Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Well, that’s why I’m saying let’s just take it off. That’s what I was attempting
to do. Let’s delete Number 29.
The Clerk: And that will be part of the Consent to delete?
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct and we’ll add Number 27 to the Consent Agenda, just checking
to see who’s awake. Stay woken.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Motion to approve agenda as stated.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Sias: Hold on, can we add 28, no, we need to discuss it.
Mr. Mayor: We need to discuss it, yes, we do. Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- I think that’s what we have.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: 26 and 27 ---
Mr. Mayor: 27 is out, yes, 27 is taken off.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- both of them.
Mr. Mayor: And 26 both of those are taken from consent. We’ll debate those on the regular
agenda.
The Clerk: But they’re on the regular, 26 is on the regular agenda as 27. Our Consent
Agenda was Item 1 through 25 adding 33 ---
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Mr. Mayor: And 29.
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The Clerk: --- 29, 35 and 36 forwarded to the December 3 meeting.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: That’s correct.
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
The Clerk: 29 deleted.
Mr. Mayor: You’ve got it ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir, I have it.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
1. FINAL PLAT – MCCOY’S CREEK SECTION 5 – S-900 – A request for concurrence
with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by James G. Swift &
Associates, on behalf of Prather Construction. DISTRICT 3
2. FINAL PLAT – VILLAGE OF GOSHEN, Ph. 2 hots 1-13– -885-II–1-13 – A request for
concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by
Jachens Land Surveying, on behalf of Gordon Group and Goshen Holdings LLC, requesting
final plat approval for Village at Goshen, Phase 2, Lots 1-13. This residential townhome
subdivision is located in the Village at Goshen development on Valencia Way and Castellon
Way. DISTRICT 8
3. FINAL PLAT – VILLAGE AT GOSHEN, Ph. 2 lots 9-18– -885-II–9-18 – A request for
concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by
Jachens Land Surveying, on behalf of Gordon Group and Goshen Holdings LLC, requesting
final plat approval for Village at Goshen, Phase 2, Lots 9-18. This residential townhome
subdivision is located in the Village at Goshen development on Valencia Way. DISTRICT 8.
4. Z-19-44 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve a petition by Klara Benzicron, on behalf of MEPE Living Trust, requesting a change
of zoning from Zone R-1 (One-family Residential) to Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting
property containing 9 acres and known as Dan Bowles Road. Tax Map 087-4-128-00-0
DISTRICT 2
5. Z-19-49 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve a petition by J-Gar Inc. requesting a change of zoning from Zone B-1
(Neighborhood Business), R-1A (One-family Residential) and HI (Heavy Industry) to Zone
B-1 (General Business) affecting property containing 3.78 acres and is 3 tax parcels known
as 1038, 1046 and 1048 Claussen Road. Tax Map 012-0-012-00-0, 012-0-014-01-0, 012-0-014-
04-0 DISTRICT 7
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PUBLIC SERVICES
6. Motion to approve the 2020 Cooperative Sub Grant Agreement with CSRA Regional
Commission for Senior Nutrition Services for Augusta, GA. (Approved by Public Services
Committee November 12, 2019)
7. Motion to approve New Ownership: A.N. 19-40: request y Allan Soto for an on premise
consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Pineapple Ink
Tavern located at 1002 Broad Street. There will be Sunday Sales. District 1. Super District
9. (Approved by Public Services Committee November 12, 2019)
8. Motion to approve New Location: A.N. 19-41: A request by Celvon M. Mitchell for an on
premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Primetime
Bar & Grill located at 1721 Gordon Highway. There will be Dance. District 2. Super District
9. (Approved by Public Services Committee November 12, 2019)
9. Motion to approve request by the Planning & Development Department to renew the
existing Alcohol Licenses in the City of Augusta. There will be Arcades. There will be Dance.
There will be Sunday Sales. Districts 1-8. Super Districts 9-10. (Approved by Public Services
Committee November 12, 2019)
10. Motion to approve the Permeable Grid Solution-Ecoraster in the amount of $149,877.36.
(Approved by Public Services Committee November 12, 2019)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
11. Motion to approve Engineering Department-Maintenance Division requests the purchase
of one new Compact, All-Wheel Steer Loader at a cost of $68,038.50 from Bobcat of Augusta,
GA. Bid Item 19-207. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee November 12, 2019)
12. Motion to approve Engineering Department-Facilities Maintenance Division requests the
purchase of one replacement truck, with a utility service body, at a cost of $105,764.00 from
Nextran Truck Center, Macon, Georgia. Bid Item 19-260 (Approved by Administrative
Services Committee November 12, 2019)
13. Motion to authorize amending the 2018 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Agreement between Augusta, Georgia and the Boys and Girls Club of the CSRA-Heritage
Academy site, specifically $3,700 in expenses from the Training line item to the Personnel
line item in the Agreement. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee November 12,
2019)
14. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide Laney Walker/Bethlehem Revitalization Funding to contract with J.
Lovett Homes & Construction for the reconstruction of driveway at 1246 Pine Street.
(Approved by Administrative Services Committee November 12, 2019)
15. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide contract with Antioch Ministries to construct three (3) affordable,
residential units on Perry Avenue (within Laney Walker/Bethlehem) Warrick Dunn (WD)
Communities. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee November 12, 2019)
PUBLIC SAFETY
16. Motion to accept PetSmart Adoption Preparation Grant in the amount of $35,000. The
grant will support activities related to preparing animals for adoption. (Approved by Public
Safety Committee November 12, 2019)
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17. Motion to accept a grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) for
continuation of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant with funding from the Continuation
Base and Comp Advocate to provide services to crime victims from October 1, 2019 through
September 30, 2020, and authorize the Mayor to execute the necessary documents.
(Approved by Public Safety Committee November 12, 2019)
18. Motion to approve the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) is requesting approval
for the funding of the resurfacing of the training range driving course located at 2098
Greenland Road Blythe, GA. E.R. Snell Bid Item 19-279 (Approved by Public Safety
Committee November 12, 2019)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
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19. Motion to approve the installation of 46 street lights along Walton Way between 15
Street and D’Antignac Street with an annual cost of $27,600.00. Funding is available for
construction tin 2019 Capital Outlay Funds budget account #272041610-54.14410, and
annual maintenance and power is available through Street Lighting Fund #276041610-
53.12310. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee November 12, 2019)
20. Motion to approve the purchase of a Kubota M5091 HDC Tractor Loader-Batwing-
Sweeper Combo, bid Item #19-252 from J&B Tractor Co., Inc. Augusta GA as the compliant
bidder with no exceptions. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee November 12,
2019)
21. Motion to determine that Clanton Road as shown on the attached map has ceased to be
used by the public to the extent that no substantial public purpose is served by it or that its
removal from the county road system is otherwise in the best public interest, pursuant to
O.C.G.A. §32-7-2, with the abandoned property to be quit-claimed to the appropriate
party(ies), as provided by law and an easement to be retained over the entire abandoned
portion for existing or future utilities as directed by Augusta Engineering Department and
Augusta Utilities Department. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee November 12,
2019)
23. Motion to approve award of Bid Item #19-286 to Blair Construction, Inc. to construct the
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Fort Gordon 15 Street Collector Sanitary Sewer under the Task Order Program RFQ #18-
263 in the amount of $2,888,188.00. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee
November 12, 2019)
24. Motion to approve Award of “On-Call Professional Services for Engineering and Field
Design, small to Medium Scale Maintenance Task Design, Regulatory Periodic Inspection
Compliance and Structural Inspection & Investigations” Services (CEI Services) Contract
to ZEL Engineers, Infrastructure Management Systems, Moreland Altobelli, Hussey Gay
Bell and Cranston Engineering, subject to receipt of signed contract and proper insurance
documents. The Contract is for three years with renewal option of two additional years. Also,
approve $500,000 to fund the CEI Services. Requested by AED. RFP 19-241 (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee November 12, 2019)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
25. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Augusta Commission held
on November 5, 2019 and Special Called Meetings held on November 5 and November 12,
2019)
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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
29. Discuss with CVB and Film Augusta and other film industry experts about 401 Walton
Way importance to the filming industry. (No recommendation from Administrative Services
Committee November 12, 2019)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
33. Motion to award RFQ #19-282, Professional Services for the Preparation of a Risk and
Resilience Assessment to HDR Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $249,680. (No
recommendation for Engineering Services Committee November 12, 2019)
Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Passes 10-0 \[Items 1-21, 23-25, 29, 33\]
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to go to Item Number 22 just to make
sure we’re fully clarified of that and I’ll call on Attorney Brown.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
22. Motion to approve month-to-month contract with current vendor agreement Atlantic
Coast Consulting, Inc. relating to the Environmental Services Department. (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee November 12, 2019)
Mr. Brown: Mayor and Commissioners, consistent with the statement made by
Commissioner Ben Hasan the contract as indicated at the current contract rate without any increase
they’re willing to go to a quarterly, quarter-to-quarter contract as opposed to a month-to-month.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair will entertain a motion to do so.
Mr. M. Williams: Question, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ll take the question first. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: I just need to understand what’s the difference in going to a quarterly
contract and the amount and then going to a month-to-month contract and the amount?
Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: The month-to-month rate is 20% higher than the standard rate which is a two-
year contract rate that Augusta negotiated back in 2012. They’re willing to maintain the standard
2012 rate for a quarterly contract. The difference would be that if Augusta seeks to terminate the
contract you would have to give notice one-quarter in advance of course. If you went month-to-
month which would give you a month notice to terminate the contract that rate would be 20%
higher.
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Mr. M. Williams: I get that and that’s what we agreed on, Mr. Mayor, but I guess my
problem is if the quarterly rate is what three months ---
Mr. Brown: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I mean three months a quarter if we hire an engineer, if we get
someone to fill that position do you think the 20% is going to outweigh what we could be doing if
we hire someone within that length of time?
Mr. Brown: According to the, in several conversations with the Engineering Services
Director and the Administrator, it’s become very clear that the hiring of one P.E. would not replace
all the services that ACC performs. It would just not be physically possible. So the Engineering
Services Director believes that a three-month winddown certainly would be reasonable.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’m (unintelligible) but I still don’t understand what my
Attorney said but if hiring one person is not going to alleviate that position anyway I’m not
understanding how two more months because one month is what you’re saying for month-to-
month is not going to do it.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, so ---
Mr. M. Williams: Either we’re going to do a contract or we’re not going to do a contract.
It sounds as if it’s an extension to that contract for additional more time. I mean you’re telling me
you’re dropping the rates but it ain’t in plain view you know I’m giving you more time to do what
you’ve been doing and we had not been satisfied is why we’re changing it. So I mean let’s be real
about it and say we’re going month-to-month and we’ve got to pay whatever it is until we get
somebody in there.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: What the advantage of this latter request of a quarterly as opposed to a month-
to-month in addition it’s saving the city money it actually affords the city a lot more, six-times
more flexibility, I’m sorry eight-times more flexibility than it had on the two-year contract and it
doesn’t cost the city anything to get this flexibility. If the city reorganized the department, the city
decided to bring on two P.E.’s or rearranged it or wants to go with another company, it’s a very
short turnaround and the city doesn’t incur any additional expense in doing it. It just gives the city
flexibility at no increased costs, but whatever you know the wishes of the body.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m just wary of those bearing gifts, that’s all I’m saying so I mean that’s
my opinion.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 for a
motion to approve quarterly contract.
Mr. Hasan: I make a motion to approve to amend, to approve a quarterly contract
with the current vendor Atlantic Coast Consulting Company.
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Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second.
Mr. Brown: And that would be interpreted as tasking the Administrator with this with the
assistance of the Law Department to prepare and negotiate the exact terms of that contract and
bring it back before you.
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
Mr. Brown: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Mr. M. Williams votes No.
Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Passes 8-1.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I’m going to go to the Addendum item next.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
38. Discuss/receive information from HCD staff and related person(s) regarding the reported
security concerns and living conditions(s) at the Linden Square Senior Citizens Housing
Complex (formerly constructed and owned by the 30901 Development Corporation).
(Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I asked the Clerk to add this to the agenda and
I thank my colleagues for allowing it to be added. This is not about Linden Square as much as it
is about the residents that’s living there. I learned last week that Linden Square had been sold to
a different company. I’ve got no problem with that but what I have a problem with the residents
there have been having some complaints about security, about people knocking on doors late in
the early morning hours. A young lady called me, Mr. Mayor, that was very concerned about her
mother living there and can’t find anybody to address her mother’s issues. Now she can’t find
anybody I know her mother certainly can’t find anybody and I wanted to know from HCD where
are we, who owns this property, and why we can’t find somebody to answer those questions that
the renters have.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Director Welcher if you’ll approach I do see that we have
representatives from Beulah Grove who are here. I see Dr. Sam Davis with support from his team
there in the event that we have questions. Director Welcher, can you bring us up to speed with
what we know from a City of Augusta standpoint?
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Mr. Welcher: Yes, sir, so Linden Square I believe is a 2002 tax credit low-income tax
credit project in which the City of Augusta infused approximately $350 to $400,000 dollars for the
purpose of construction. When talking about tax credit projects they typically carry a 15-Year
Compliance Period wherein based on the fact of HUD funding being a part of it that certain rents
have to stay affordable. We know that Linden Square is a 48-unit Senior Citizen apartment
complex which basically means that anybody ages 55 and older would qualify. It is a 48-unit, 36
one bedroom, 12 two-bedroom unit. From a City of Augusta perspective the City of Augusta at
the end of the 15-year Compliance Period all compliance measures from the City of Augusta’s
perspective had been met. The amount of funding $350 to $400,000 dollars that the City of
Augusta committed for this project back in 2001/2002 was infused in the form of a grant. So to
date where you are you have principals here from 30901 Development Corporation who was the
non-profit on record at that time to sort of talk to the current status of where that property is. But
from an Augusta, Georgia standpoint all compliance measures have been satisfied knowing that
the 15-year Compliance Period has ended.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner?
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Welcher, I appreciate that and that informs
me about the long-term of the grant and what have took place with the infusement of this grant.
But my question is today is that the District 1 area where this where Linden Square sits at,
Commissioner Fennoy got a call. I think he’s out of town now but I got a call as well about some
of the seniors who live there, particularly one I won’t say some. But this lady was calling about
and she gave me some information and I gave you to contact her. She can’t get in touch with
anybody. Her mother’s a senior who can’t address these issues herself so if it’s been sold then
who owns it, who do we talk to whether it be the 30901 Development or whether it be some other
agency. But you know you just stated it’s supposed to be affordable apartments and I guess along
with those guidelines they ought to be accessible when there’s issues that have been brought forth.
Now I didn’t bring this, someone called me about it. I did what I know to do and that’s to put it on
the agenda so can you tell me about who owns it, how can we access them because it’s become an
issue now.
Mr. Welcher: I could speak to, I mean I’ve done some research and I can articulate in
regards to the corporation that owns. I would rather if it would be permissible at this time for the
principals of 30901 CEO Dr. Sam Davis as well as the former Executive Director Beverly Wright,
I would ask them to sort of speak to that. I can but I would feel more comfortable with them being
a part of that transaction and a part of the non-profit associated with it if they would come and
speak to that if it’s permissible.
Mr. Mayor: Okay so let’s do this, all right I just want to make sure we’re framing correctly.
The matter at hand the agenda item is to discuss and receive information from you and related
persons about security concerns and living conditions at Linden Square Senior Citizens Housing
Complex. All right, so number one we want to make sure we’re addressing those issues okay I
want to stick to the script. That’s security concerns. And number two the living conditions of
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which the Commissioner from the 9 has raised based on who reached out to him. All right, so
I’m going to ask 30901 Development Representatives to come forward at this time and I want to
14
make sure we focus on really what if any role they have because based on what I just heard is that
they no longer are the owner of this, that this is a private sector entity that has the property. No
longer does the City of Augusta have any nexus with regards to this as well. But certainly as an
elected official and concerned representatives that is why we have this matter before us today, is
that correct?
Mr. Welcher: That’s correct.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, very good. Okay, all right, Dr. Davis, if you don’t mind and I
want to again just because of what I just heard is their role in it is gone, they’ve been absolved of
their role in it based on them having again sold this property.
Mr. Welcher: Correct.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I say something?
Mr. Mayor: All right, hold on, yeah, I just want to make sure that we’re all tracking, okay?
Dr. Davis: I’m going to ask Sister Wright to come and actually make the presentation but
I’d like to go on record saying that the property has been sold. If there’s a security issue we should
not be called. We shouldn’t even be down here. So I called the owner, I made sure that Hawthorne
had the name of the owner and all that paperwork is in order so I’m kind of bewildered that we
would be called down here when you already have the information. I’m not saying Hawthorne,
I’m just saying the city has the information so I’m kind of bewildered.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right hold on, let’s suspend for a minute.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay and I need to address that, Mr. Mayor. I was going to ask the
Clerk who first of all who has the information because when I implied to Mr. Welcher who works
for this body he called me back and couldn’t tell me who actually owned it. This person and I
don’t know how I can get his name out now, Mr. Mayor, but the young lady who called me about
her mother’s apartment couldn’t find anybody to talk to so I reached out to Mr. Welcher and he
informed me that the apartment complex was sold. Whether that be the case or not I mean I didn’t
ask the Clerk to have the 30901 or Reverend Davis or anyone else to come down here. I’m glad to
see them but at the same time I just need the answers so I could tell the young lady because if it
was my mother or anyone needed to get to the rental to the management and couldn’t get no answer
I mean they go to the next source and the next source would be the city. So she called me. I
immediately called Mr. Welcher so if they’re not the owners and the information ---
The Clerk: (Inaudible) was coming.
Mr. M. Williams: --- huh?
The Clerk: That’s who we thought was coming. It was my understanding that the
residential manager, Mr. Welcher was able to make contact with on last week was going to be
here. That’s who we, you were going to try to reach here.
15
Mr. Welcher: Yes, ma’am, so you know just for clarity the information got the call from
Commissioner Marion Williams reached out to Ms. Jean Calloway of 30901 Corporation. She
was able to give me information and a contact number that I was provided was an office number.
That was the information we got and of course it was on a Friday so it was an office number. We
did call and I mean it was not a cell number it was an office number so there so nobody we were
able to sort of reach based on the information that we were given. I’ve done research in regards
to the corporation. I can articulate on the corporation who they are, number of properties, number
of units I can articulate to that component but I’ve yet to be able to as of today be able to actually
talk to somebody. So not knowing that the next best place to go was to go to 30901 who would
have a relationship with this corporation who’s out of Orlando, Florida.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, so why don’t we do this, why don’t we do this. Let’s just
receive this as information and then on the other side of this conversation let’s get in the same
room and find out who the new owner is and get all of those specifics and then because what we
don’t want to do is take this resident and have them reaching out to thin air only to find no one
either so let’s take those approaches and that would be better to try to help people.
Mr. M. Williams: Would that not be public information I mean? Mr. Welcher gave us a
location of where the new owners I think he said Florida but I hadn’t heard a name or organization
or anything. I mean this don’t sound right now. I mean if everything is done and it’s done there’s
no problem with that but there ought to be some contact people for people living in a community
that you’re supposed to be responsible for. I asked the lady who called me to take some pictures
of the security system she’s worried about. She’s also worried about people knocking on her
mother’s door 2:00 and 3:00 o’clock in the morning. She talked about the maintenance of the
place so I said to take some photographs. I hadn’t been over there myself but I asked her to take
some photographs and I said to her I will put it on the agenda to get some information. Here I am
now I’m going in another room to try to find out what the general public should know so somebody
ought to have a name and a number of somebody you can contact and the Clerk ought to be able
to call somebody today to say that there is an issue that’s going on in that area.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Dr. Davis and Ms. Wright, if you would tell us who the property
was transferred to and then we will find out the appropriate information.
Ms. Wright: Okay, Mayor Davis and to the Commissioners, the normal protocol would be
for the resident to contact the apartment manager and that name is Ms. Lynn Holloway. She’s the
apartment manager. She may not be there every day but there is an opportunity to leave messages
on her voice mail. The owner is AGPM Acquisitions, LLC that is also an affiliate of Banyon
Management Company. We have the contact information for them in Orlando, Florida where
they’re based.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right if you would if you’ll just give that information to Ms. Bonner
and then we’ll make the appropriate contacts and we’ll work very quickly to get someone that can
help the resident, okay? All right, thank you, thank you. 26, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
16
PUBLIC SERVICES
26. Motion to approve recommendation for various capital improvement projects funded
through SPLOST 7. (No recommendation from Public Services Committee November 12,
2019)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. To my colleagues this is what the Recreation and Parks has
brought forth to us with some recommendations to do with projects that had already been designed
and committed to and others that were not. If you look at the last page of that we had $11 million-
dollars that were uncommitted and these are some of the improvements that were recommended
to do with that and we did have an opportunity to kind of discuss this and look at it but initially
more discussion is always needed. But with my recognition at this point I also make a motion
to approve.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’ve got a motion and a second and what you’re saying is approve the
$11 million, is that correct?
Mr. Sias: That plus to certify because one of the discussions was do we want to change
any of the committee stuff so the idea is to keep the committee going and approve what to do with
the $11 million as well.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so both page, the last page and the second page and the last
page.
Mr. Sias: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor, if Commissioner Sias could add to that agenda we had talked about
last week I believe is was Commissioner Hasan to make a priority of Fleming, do you remember
that, Commissioner Sias?
Mr. Sias: I have no problem with doing that to amend my motion to say that and, sir, it’s
more than just to amend my motion to say that Fleming will be our priority.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and I’m in support of that but I’d like to know
exactly that priority is going to consist of. Naturally we say Fleming but that’s a big complex.
We’ve got $11 million are we spending ---
17
Ms. Davis: It’s already committed.
Mr. Mayor: So all right so just for clarification I think it’s again ---
Mr. Sias: We’ll be able to get all the lights replaced, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay.
Mr. Sias: The park out there that they were redoing all the lights.
Mr. Mayor: So we’ve got a recommendation for a commitment for $4.7 which is on the
next to the last page and then a commitment, a new commitment of the $11 million for the final
page that’s what’s in front of us. All right, hold on, everybody suspend for a minute. Okay, the
Chair recognizes Assistant Administrator Maurice McDowell to speak to the Commissioner’s
question.
Mr. McDowell: To the question that was posed by Commissioner Marion Williams what
does that look like in terms of improvements to the Fleming Park complex. Because we only have
a million dollars allocated to that particular site our focus was going to be on the safety issues and
concerns with that ballfield so we’re going to totally revamp that entire ballfield complex. We
don’t have enough money currently to address the building itself but definitely that ballfield that’s
out there in that particular area.
Mr. M. Williams: If I can respond, Mr. Mayor, and we know that we’ve been having some
issues with that area not just that field and that tragic accident that happened out there but we’ve
got $2 million for the Aquatic Center and we’ve got a million for the field. When you do the field
don’t you think there’s something else that’s got to be done to upgrade that facility with what
we’ve got here now if we go by this list ---
Mr. Mayor: So on the committed the non-committed funds today that you’re addressing
there are $1.5 million for safety improvements; that will be incorporated into the one that you’ve
identified for Fleming as well. So two separate line items dedicated $1 million then $1.5 for safety
improvements as well.
Mr. McDowell: Correct.
Mr. M. Williams: --- so really that’s $2.5 ---
Mr. Mayor: Not just to Fleming the $1.5 is across the entire Recreation and Parks complex
---
The Clerk: To include Fleming.
Mr. Mayor: --- which includes Fleming.
18
Mr. McDowell: To include Fleming.
Mr. M. Williams: --- and I guess my issue, Mr. Mayor, and ya’ll got me at a good day
today, today is Tuesday and it’s Mary’s birthday coming up next year so ---
Ms. Davis: (Unintelligible).
Mr. M. Williams: --- next year’s your birthday I know, Mary, but I’ve got some questions.
I want to support all of this but I just know we have not done what we need to do with Fleming.
It’s going to take more money than what we’ve got here. If you take across all our parks and
spread it out what’s going to be left to do those things that we should’ve done years ago over there?
Mr. McDowell: Commissioner, if I could address that that’s our plans. As we move
forward I think this body challenged us last week to come back with a robust plan for how we
would allocate resources to SPLOST 8. So on SPLOST 8 we will see a plan that has the resources
dedicated to do something more holistic and to get away from the approach of doing a patch so
we’re already talking about it.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m tired of waiting. I’m tired of waiting. I always had to wait on until
somebody else gets something then you know we’re going to bring it to you when after we finish
over here. Why can’t we start over there? Why can’t the robust plan, Mr. Mayor, be for the rest
of the Recreation and Parks Department?
Mr. Mayor: All right, everybody suspend. All right, so here’s our posture. We have a
motion to approve the recommended list and then the non-committed list with the understanding
that Fleming Parks one-million already committed on this list would be expedited as a priority to
begin resolving the safety concerns at Fleming Park. In addition to that around safety
improvements and in particular lighting issues that were recognized at other parks across the
county there’s an allocation of $1.5 to be allocated for that as well. And what I’m hearing and I
know that this is the direction that this body wanted to go in pursuant to us bring to closure the
issues around the tragic thing that happened last year is that Fleming happens now. And what I’m
hearing is that pursuant to this motion that will be the case in terms of how we appropriate these
funds and then move forward towards identifying contract support to get it done, is that what I’m
hearing?
Mr. McDowell: Correct.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, I’ve got a motion and a second, voting.
Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, Number 27.
The Clerk:
19
PUBLIC SERVICES
27. Motion to approve the new construction of facility at the Henry H. Brigham Center. (No
recommendation from Public Services Committee November 12, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: Motion to delete.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, it was included in 26. The motion is to delete Item 27, voting.
Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I want to go to Number 32.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
32. Ms. Bessie Jones regarding an unfair/excessive incident with the Richmond County
Sheriff’s Department. (No recommendation from Public Safety Committee November 12,
2019.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Jones, if you’ll approach.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, may I speak?
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, I’m going to recognize you here in just a moment. Ms. Jones, if you
would state for the record your name and your address as well.
Ms. Jones: My name is Bessie L. Jones. I live at 2319 Henry Circle, Augusta, Georgia
30906.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you so much. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I asked Ms. Jones to come to a Public Safety
Meeting and she did show up and she had to leave. We kind of got long-winded like we do a lot
of times but she had to leave and I want her to be able to come back. It was so meaningful to me
to have her to come in at least share and she understands there’s nothing we can do about the
incident that happened to her but she was so adamant about making sure that this don’t happen to
anybody else. Now we’ve got a lot of good officers on our streets and I’m sure of that but we’ve
got some officers don’t need sensitivity training but they need to understand what it’s like to be on
the other side of a badge I guess is the best way to say it. So, Ms. Jones, if you’ll just share with
this body and the Mayor about what happened to you and pray that it doesn’t happen to anybody
else in this City of Augusta.
20
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Ms. Jones: Yes, sir, on June the 29 at my residence I had got upset with my fiancé so I
slapped him in the face with the mail. He had told me something that he had did and he didn’t.
When I got the mail I sent out to the garage and I was speaking with him and I slapped him in the
face with it, he turned and just barely touched me and I got very upset. And I called one of my
sons I said look we into it and he said well better you call the law than I come over there because
I don’t want to get in no trouble. So I called them. They came out and we was speaking to one of
the officers that was there already and then a younger guy came up. He was telling us you know
ya’ll can just separate and not have an incident here. So I said I’ve been living in Augusta around
three years. I’m from Wrens and after the officer got there, the first officer, a younger guy came
up and we was explaining what had happened which really was nothing because you know we
didn’t fight or anything. And the younger officer that came said do you have your I.D. I said yes,
sir, he where it at. I said in the house. He followed me all the way in the house to go in pocket and
get my I.D. and came back out on the stoop, back step and he handcuffed me. And my fiancé
looked up and said what are you doing? He said why are you handcuffing her? Oh, she going to
jail, she hit you first. And he said, sir, don’t take her to jail because she can’t go to jail. I’ll go for
her because she’s sick. He said we’ve got a place for her. He said, no, sir, take me because she’s
sick. I’ve got a terminal cancer. I’ve got multiple myeloma. I was diagnosed in 2013. I went, they
took me to jail. I stayed in the cell for 1:00 o’clock that day to about 11:00 o’clock that night and
when I came out I had developed pneumonia. I hadn’t been well enough to talk to anybody about
really since it happened but I know there’s no cure for my condition but that incident with me
going in that jail and when I came out I was sick. Before I went in there I was going to work each
day working three days a week doing private duty sitting. When I came out I wasn’t able to do
anything because I had developed pneumonia and my condition had flared back up. And since
then I’ve been on chemo six hours, every Tuesday of each week for eight weeks but when I went
in that cell I got I contracted all the germs that I couldn’t be around. But when I had two bone
marrow transplants my immune system was very weak and I had a transplant in 2014 and one in
2015 and I did good for four years. I was basically back to myself. But after I went in that jail and
contracted that pneumonia and came out, I hadn’t been able to be right since. I hadn’t even been
able to talk to anybody really about it. I just reached out to Mr. Williams and spoke to him about
the case that happened to me but I just don’t wish this on nobody else. I went in the cell about
1:00 o’clock that Saturday and I stayed and I had on a tank top and some shorts. I liked to froze.
When I was in there I coughed and sneezed so bad when I went up to Medic they gave me a
Tylenol. My blood pressure was like 180 over 120 and I said, ma’am, I’ve got to have my chemo
pill. I don’t have it here. She said well who’s at your house that can give you your chemo, get you
your chemo medicine out here to you. I said the one they said I slapped. She said you got a
number I can get in touch with somebody to bring it out here to you and I had one of my sons and
I called him and he told my fiancé to bring my chemo medicine out there and I stayed in there
from that Saturday to that Monday. What they was basically trying to do to try to keep me from
going in there was to bail me out but they wouldn’t let me come out of there. And I’m 62 years
old. I don’t even have a speeding ticket. I don’t have a record for doing anything and I think that
was mighty harsh to do somebody like that. And I got out there. I had to sleep on the floor when
I come out of there I couldn’t get well, I’m not well now I’ll never be well because it’s a terminal
cancer but I don’t hope for them to do anybody else like that. I tried to call for help. I started to
hyperventilate because I’ve got asthma and all that stuff and one of the officers came to my cell I
said, sir, I can’t catch my breath so I need some help. Can you get me medical he said he threw
21
his hands at me and told me can I come to work? I’m like you know I’ve never been in nothing
like this. I didn’t know, I know it wasn’t going to be no rosy being in jail but my fiancé offered to
come to jail for me. He said uh umm, you can’t go, she needs to go. So the City of Augusta this
little young guy that came and looked like he was all of 21 he put them handcuffs on me and that
was the worst trip I ever had because of my multiple myeloma, my bones are fragile. And I wrote
to that jail but I hope he don’t never this never happens to anybody else in the City of Augusta or
anywhere else and I know it ain’t no cure for my condition but maybe it’ll help somebody that go
in that jail saying I went in that filthy place people walking around out of their minds so to the
point they were pooping in plates and putting it in the trash. This shouldn’t happen to any human.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Ms. Jones. Commissioner?
Mr. M. Williams: Well, Ms. Jones knows that there’s nothing we can do to resolve her
case but she wanted to let this be known and I’m glad she did. I had a similar incident, Mr. Mayor,
working on one of my raggedy cars of mine and I pulled up to a situation where my granddaughter
(unintelligible) put her down. The officer didn’t know who I was and I’m glad he didn’t but he
approached me like I was less than nothing. And he said I said I came to look at the car. He looked
at me and asked my granddaughter, ma’am, who caused this? She said it’s mine. Who do you
want to pull it? When I asked him I said didn’t I just ask you tell you I came to look at the car.
He said why are you arguing with me? You can be looking at it. Well, we need some sensitivity
training to some of these younger officers and some of these older officers as well. And I’m tired
of paying people to do a job and it’s a touchy job. You’ve got to be the judge and jury when you’re
an officer but a lady like this that wasn’t in a confrontation with her fiancé, who wasn’t in an
argument, wasn’t disruptive, was carried to jail and stayed for that amount of time and then
released for nothing. I think there’s some issues this government’s going to have to take upon
ourselves to understand that everybody ain’t going to do you right because they ought to do right.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you.
Mr. M. Williams: Anybody ain’t got no questions?
Mr. Mayor: No, no questions.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I was wondering if she filed a report with the Sheriff’s Office at
all?
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Jones, did you file a report with the Sheriff’s Office?
Ms. Jones: Sir?
Mr. Mayor: Did you file a report with the Sheriff’s Office, okay.
Ms. Jones: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right Number 31, Madam Clerk.
22
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
31. Motion to stop Augusta’s pursuit of the EMS Zone. (Requested by Commissioner Sammie
Sias)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Recently the EMS Council basically inquired they wanted to
know what the City of Augusta wanted to do as far as the EMS Zone and we either need to
reconfirm what we’ve done or don’t change what we’ve done, however, the question is do we want
to reverse what we’ve done in the past. And so I put it on the agenda and that’s my motion to stop
Augusta’s pursuit of the EMS Zone.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay I’ve got a motion and a second, voting.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m going to vote, Mr. Mayor, but I’m a little bit afraid I’m telling you
now.
Mr. Mayor: I ain’t never known you to be afraid.
Mr. M. Williams: Just a little bit afraid ---
Mr. Mayor: I ain’t never known you to be afraid.
Mr. M. Williams: --- not too much but I’m a little bit afraid.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote Yes.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams and Mr. Hasan vote No.
Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Fails 5-4.
Mr. Mayor: Number 34.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
34. Motion to adopt parking management plan as recommended by SP+. (Requested by
Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.)
Mr. Mayor: All right, Attorney Alls, Engineering, Dr. Malik.
23
Dr. Malik: Everybody out of two documents, one is the full 25-page Management Plan.
The other is a one-page summary of that plan basically abstracts to understand what’s in the plan
and then this Commission can act on that. So on that page there is a map of the service area
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particularly the Broad Street and side street bordered by the 5 Street on one side and 13 on the
other. Then Ellis Street which is yellow is a permitted street. The other would be the metered one
so I can go top to the bottom. The plan is proposing the paid parking from Monday to Saturday
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the parking rate $1.50 per hour. And then also the maximum time for the
Broad Street suggested recommended time for the Broad Street is 2 hours and the side streets is 4
hours. Ellis Street is parking by permit and the plan has recommended that should be the residents
living around that area or the workers who work there. Suggested recommended rate is $50.00
per year for the residents and $25.00 per month for the workers. There also will be loading and
unloading zones for commercial that’s the area to be worked on yet on that. There will be payment
options. The recommended plan has four different APPs they are proposing to use for people to
pay and also they can pay at the pay stations. For citations recommended Planning using the
software or the features of the (unintelligible) Mobility APP and they will riding around and
issuing citations if there’s unpaid parked vehicles there. The plan structure there is Exhibit B on
Page 2 of the plan structure what they’re proposing on that and we can come back to that. Then
there’s also options if there’s three citations unpaid citations totaling $100.00 with the last one not
paid in 30 days then they can come and do that and still (unintelligible) 24 hours then that vehicle’s
going to be towed. Also if the collective unpaid fine is $500.00 dollars or more then it’s immediate
towing on that vehicle. Then on the collection and maintenance the plan the proposed master plan
includes two team members. They’re going to be riding around and also the operational staff right
from Manager to Assistant Manager, Bookkeeper, Field Supervisor, Enforcement. All proposed
the revenue generated the operational expense is going to be covered (unintelligible) and the
projection is the third page Exhibit C. On the top one is the revenue which is projected $1.239
million and then the bottom part is expenses like payroll expenses, operational costs and
management fees. Primarily the cost plus plan whatever the operation expenses are and
management company at $65,000 a year management fee on that. There are still four at the bottom
are still outstanding issues and decisions that this body has to discuss and make like designating
the city you as the city who’s going to be managing and then also they will be hiring at least two
staff at the city level to coordinate and manage it. Also (unintelligible) on Page 1 will be collected
and the last part is once the Commission adopts this management plan and we’re working with the
companies right now to on the legal, it’s under legal review, the contract. Those two documents
approved then we will update the ordinance according to current conditions approved. So that’s
kind of a quick summary of this management plan which you have the full copy too.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Dr. Malik. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from
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the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, Item 34 a motion to adopt parking
management plan as recommended by SP+ I’d like to, and I’m going to use the word humbly
suggest that you allow that we vote for this to come back when the other Item 35 and 36 comes
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back. However, I don’t think like you say to amend it when we said December the 3 I think both
of these 35 and 36 have need to come back to a committee cycle as opposed to coming right before
the Commission because you said a motion to adopt management parking contract. Does that need
to go through a committee cycle and the parking management ordinance all that has to go through
24
a committee cycle as well. So all of these need to come back including 34 at this time where
there’s so much uncertainty because as Dr. Malik just mentioned the contract is not in play as of
yet. They haven’t responded I think I’ve heard him say just then. And so it’s hard to adopt a plan
until they put a contract because a contract could enhance the management plan. So I’d like to
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make a suggestion that we talk about December the 10 as opposed to December the 3 if those
things are back in place and they respond at that particular time and that’s 34, 35 and 36.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to address that. I think we I’m going to be on a soapbox
---
Mr. Hasan: That is a motion.
Mr. Mayor: --- I’m going to be on a soapbox a little bit in that the reason why you’re
looking at 34 is because these things will help you facilitate the parking management contract and
the ordinance. What this body has failed to do is to adopt the parking management plan which
you then use to construct the contract and that is what’s before us. So in terms of “the
uncertainties” or things that remain to be done it really is you can’t get the contract or the
management ordinance all of which these elements will go into until this body decides to take
action and we’ve not done that. So that’s why it’s before you which is why my recommendation
was again to defer Items 35 and 36 until that next full Commission meeting which again I don’t
have a problem with it going through the committee process. Our local government provided the
vendor with their modifications to the contract on Friday of this past week and they concluded that
they couldn’t get it done otherwise it would’ve been here ready for you today as well. So while I
hear your motion I’d ask you to just think long and hard about that that the most important action
this body needs to take today is the adoption of the parking management plan which gives guidance
and says here’s what we’re going to do as a city as it relates to this which this body to date has
failed to do. I would also offer that in the Exhibit A that Dr. Malik has presented around the
column where it says parking max time Broad Street 2 hours and the side street 4 hours, I would
say that we need to be consistent that that should be 2 hours whether you’re on Broad Street or on
the side street otherwise what you’ll have is a situation of where I’m just going to just park on the
side streets max out and then I may or may not move. I think we need to be consistent in our
implementation and approach to this and I will counter that we should amend what’s being
proposed in Exhibit A and that they all read max 2 hours. All right I’ll yield there and I’m going
thth
to come to the Commissioner from the 9 and then the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Malik, I thought you said Monday through
Saturday. Is that what you said?
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got some issues with Saturday. I think that the weekends ought to
be exempt, there ought to be no parking fee for Saturdays. Weekends ought to be exempt in my
opinion five days a week you know that’s what the standard is I believe in other cities. When you
go to Savannah I looked at the parking they do there and weekends are not considered as a day
people are coming in and I understand we’ll probably get more visitors on that side but five days
a week in my opinion, Mr. Mayor, I can support but I don’t think there ought to be Saturdays for
25
charging whether it be two hours on Broad or four hours on Ellis it still ought to be exempt on
Saturday I think.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I was going to say that we should go ahead and I was going to
suggest we approve the plan as submitted and then work out any kinks but you also went and made
a change or suggested a change. Commissioner Marion Williams is suggesting a change so what
that tells me, sir, technically I put my hand down and that means we’ve got a little bit more work
to do on this maybe minimal work but just a little bit more work. So let me put forth this suggestion
and then I’ll make it in the form of a substitute motion. First thing I would like to say I support a
parking plan in downtown Augusta, I absolutely do, a parking management plan and also I support
a fee for that as well. However at this point I would like to suggest that now that this plan is sort
of out of the hands of the civilian folks or the consultant and down to us and looking at some things
we can make our thoughts and suggestions and run through it and then go ahead and approve it.
So I’ll make a substitute motion that we take all of these and run them by, I’m not sure if that’s the
same as your motion, Commissioner Hasan, but I just want to run these right on back through the
committee maybe we could take this first one back to full Commission and the other two back
through committee and that way we have a chance to make some changes because I support the
management plan but I see now we have to make some tweaks in it.
Mr. Speaker: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Sias: Say what now? If I’m not mistaken the only one that those two, the Mayor
wanted those two wanted those was willing for those two 34 and 35, 35 and 36 to go back to
committee but he still wanted 34 to come back to the Commission. That was the deal.
Commissioner Hasan ---
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: --- what was your thought, what was your motion again?
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Mr. Hasan: My motion was to send it all back to about December the 10 because I think
all of it needs to go through the committee cycle including my original motion in regards to 34 as
well because when you’re doing a contract the contract has a tendency to impact the things that
are the least expected to impact. And so to approve this plan, this plan and the contract can come
back and have an impact on the plan in some form or fashion what it is it unintended consequences.
So if we’re going to do 35 and 36 we can’t truly implement 34 but that is, just keep it all together
do it all at the same time. I mean I’m not against it. I’m like you. I’m in support of a plan but
we’ve got an opportunity to do it right and I think we ought to do it right and send it all back
through the committee process in a timely fashion.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor, I have a yield biding my time as they say in your body isn’t that
where you came from but I support the plan. I just asked that we get this little short process now
correct we’ve had. So I withdraw my motion and I’ll support what Commissioner Hasan presented
but we want to get it done that’s what I want to impress upon you.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, I appreciate that and he yields the balance of his time. Again I’m going
to take a hardline approach Commissioner Hasan on this one from the standpoint of 34. You can’t
have a contract unless you are directing what goes in the contract; that is the purpose of the plan.
And so often we have these conversations and I’ll use your term we put the cart before the horse
and in this case to try to have them all match up then we’re working on a contract that this body
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has not given any direction on. And right now the contract that we’ve had since October 22 we
find ourselves at a place of needing to clearly give the vendor direction on here’s what Augusta is
directing us to do. Now let’s put it in a contract. This also drives what your potential revenue
might be. Everything that we’re saying if I don’t have a rate, if I don’t know when I’m going to
charge then I have no basis for a contract from the standpoint of what my fees are going to be,
what my potential revenue’s going to be. This body has to make decisions to give direction.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I understand your concerns around that but here’s how I look at it.
When I look at when it says motion to approve to adopt the parking management plan as
recommended by SP. SP had a contract that modified that walks lockstep with their plan. They
have a contract there. Our contract, I haven’t seen it I don’t know what it looks like. It could be
something that’s totally not in lockstep with their plan per se that’s why all those things ought to
be together. They could be totally different. I don’t know what that looks like. So you’re saying
adopt their plan but adopt our contract. That don’t necessarily work ---
Mr. Mayor: That’s not what I said.
Mr. Hasan: --- because we said, but that’s what happens though. You don’t have to say it.
If we adopt their plan, are we sending them a contract that we have that’s been drafted by our Law
Department that can represent the city’s interest? Just answer is we can walk through it.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so I’m going to walk you through it ---
Mr. Hasan: Just answer. I’ve got a question on the floor to you.
Mr. Mayor: --- are you going to let me answer you?
Mr. Hasan: Okay, go ahead.
Mr. Mayor: What we have presented to us by Engineering and the Attorney is Augusta’s
version of taking SP’s recommendation in Augusta, here’s what we believe. That is what Dr.
Malik just articulated to this body based on their analysis, based on their review here is, and that’s
the reason why they also agree that Item 35 and 36 should be deferred from today but the most
important piece which is why they’re only presenting and prepared to speak to this issue because
this was the issue that they spent their time working on and drafting to be prepared for today’s
meeting. And it was agreed that Items 35 and 36 this right here represents Augusta’s input and
direction about how parking management should be implemented in downtown. That’s what this
document represents.
Mr. Hasan: But it has some differences in terms of what SP had so ---
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Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
Mr. Hasan: --- so in other words you’re looking at the contract they was giving us versus
the contract we just sent them. And so we haven’t heard back from them just yet so to adopt this
plan here it may not sit well with the contract that we have forwarded to them. We may all end up
in the same place. They may have a better contract they’ve offered us but we ought to wait, Mr.
Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: That contract says that contract doesn’t speak to the project management plan,
Commission Hasan. Once again you’re mixing apples with oranges and once again what happens
is we delay and delay and delay and we talk, talk, talk and talk to death when what everybody
waits for this body to do is give direction. This is an opportunity based on recommendations from
staff. Here’s what the direction should be and these are the things that we should move forward
with as a city. The Attorney’s already again made edits to the agreement that was sent by the
vendor that includes and incorporates this conversation. That’s all I’m saying. And for the record
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the Commissioner from the 3 and I just checked Savannah does charge on Saturday’s for parking
at this time, only not on Sunday’s.
Mr. Speaker: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, that change was made a year ago. That was a 2018 change.
Mr. Hasan: You’ve got a motion on the floor, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: We do, voting.
Mr. B. Williams: Ms. Bonner, I need to change my, I pushed the wrong button.
Mr. Hasan: Ms. Bonner, can you clear this out please?
Mr. Mayor: The motion before us is to send this back to committee, Item 34. We’ve
already done that with 35.
The Clerk: And 35, sir, is not going back to committee.
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Mr. Mayor: That’s right it’s December 3.
The Clerk: His motion was to send them all back through committee ---
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Mr. Hasan: On December the 10.
The Clerk: --- but then there’s a conflict with what you’ve already done, I guess we’ll
work that out.
Mr. Fennoy: (Unintelligible) that as if the vendor don’t like it, that’s his problem.
28
The Clerk: All right we’re voting, sir?
Mr. Mayor: We’re voting, again and talking again.
Mr. Fennoy: The motion is to send all three back to the committee?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: I don’t support that.
The Clerk: Okay, all right.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Clarke and Mr. Frantom vote Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Garrett, Mr. D. Williams and Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Motion Passes 6-4.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: --- I’m going to go on my soapbox now. On August the 21 of 2018 this body
voted to strip out of the Planning or the Zoning Ordinance the requirements for non-conformant
parking spaces, loading spaces etc., and the issue of off-street parking. In that same ordinance it
was stated to this body the success of the proposed parking regulation amendment was dependent
on implementation of a parking management plan. That was in August. We started with a Parking
Task Force at that same time. That was in 2018. Here it is a year later and we’re still talking.
Progress has been made in our city, buildings are being built. No longer do you have to have
parking spaces when you move people into loft apartments and we keep talking. North Augusta,
they took the same conversation up in February of this year. They talked about it and in August
of the same year they went from talking about it to implementing a parking management plan,
installing meters and now it’s fully operational and here it is we’re still talking. We got to do
better. I mean the second largest city in the State of Georgia we’re still struggling with these types
of issues. It’s a shame, Item Number 30.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
30. Discuss the Richmond County Coliseum Authority’s decision to remove the James Brown
Arena signage from the Augusta Entertainment Complex. (Requested by Commissioner
Marion Williams)
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Mr. Mayor: The Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I spoke with the Chairman ---
29
Mr. Fennoy: (Unintelligible) got to go.
The Clerk: Well, we just thought you’d like to hand on.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I spoke with the Chairman ---
Mr. Fennoy: --- (unintelligible) I’ve got to go.
Mr. M. Williams: --- thank you, Ms. Bonner. I spoke with the Chairman and talked with
several of the members of the Coliseum Authority and I’m disappointed and I’m not pleased with
what has happened. The Chairman shared with me that the body voted the members that I spoke
with said they was not informed about what happened on the outside. They was informed about
the inside. But it just bothers me for all of these years that I’ve been talking about the James Brown
Arena and how it hadn’t looked and all of a sudden we make changes and we don’t even keep up
with who’s making the changes. I mean I’m very disappointed as to what happened. Mr. Mayor,
I got a call from Deanna Brown at 10:30 at night. I went downtown at 11:00 to look at the signage
and I seen it had been changed. My first question, Mr. Mayor, and I’ve got several questions my
first question is who came up with the Augusta Entertainment Complex? I mean I’d like to know
who proposed that, who would think that would be better than the James Brown Entertainment
Complex or the James Brown Complex and the James Brown Arena? I mean that’s one question.
The other question is we pay for signage and we didn’t even verify what was brought back and
then put up and didn’t know that was done. My next to the last question as Commissioner Fennoy
would say we say it’s because it’s a complex we’re going to change it to Augusta Entertainment
Complex, Augusta don’t do no entertainment, never have. There are some people who try to
entertain in Augusta but nothing like James Brown but if we’re going to make that an entertainment
complex and we took the name of James Brown down why didn’t we take the name of the Bell
Auditorium down as well? We didn’t do that so I’ve got some issues with what took place and the
way it took place. I know I’ve been the Lone Ranger maybe by myself talking about moving the
James Brown Arena because it’s in the wrong place between two railroad tracks downtown in a
congested area with no parking and I still won’t support it. I don’t care what they come up with or
how many dollars they come up with I’m not every going to support anything to do anything to
put money back in that same location because it’s wrong to do that. And I hear people saying we
need to build it back downtown. You’re going to tear a building down, leave it torn down for
whatever time it takes to build it back. We’re going to be without an area for all that time and still
don’t have no parking. It’s crazy, Mr. Mayor. But I really need some answers to my questions
and my biggest question, Mary Davis, is why the Commission was not even approached about that
as if we don’t matter, as if we don’t, it don’t make no difference because the Authority had the
authority. We appoint, can do whatever what they want to do. They didn’t even tell us nothing
about it. I had to get a phone call at 10:30 at night. I’m tired of the tail wagging the dog. This dog
don’t wag no more. I’m not going to do that. I’m very disappointed and I get, everywhere I go now
people are talking about why are they trying to change the name the people are saying we ain’t
changing the name. When you go to Augusta Entertainment Complex you done changed the name
whether you realize it or not. That’s an underhanded way of doing it that’s not saying I’m doing
it it's just doing it and you ain’t supposed to know no better. I know better, Mr. Mayor. I see it, I’m
not going to sit back with that so maybe the Chairman or maybe someone on the board can tell me
30
first of all who come up with Augusta Entertainment Complex and how is that better than the
James Brown Entertainment Complex. That would be my first question.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: Do we know who approved the change of the sign in order for the sign
to be place up in front of the arena?
Mr. Mayor: Well, to the Chairman of Public Safety I think the only thing I can come up
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with is that as the Commissioner from the 9 has indicated the Coliseum Authority members six
of who you duly appointed one is a Legislative Appointee they vote on measures all the time and
clearly somewhere along the way there’s confusion as to whether this was an agenda item that was
voted on. I don’t know all of the facts. But one thing I do know is that this body appropriated $6
million of SPLOST funds to support their efforts over there and whatever they spent came from
those funds, that’s what I do know.
Mr. M. Williams: There’s nobody here, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: I don’t see anybody from the Coliseum Authority over here.
Mr. M. Williams: Ms. Bonner, did you notify anybody from the Coliseum Authority that
this was going to be on the agenda?
The Clerk: No, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay well, I guess that’s why they said they’re not here then.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: They have a Coliseum Authority meeting today.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: Are we going to have any type of official review or report from the
Coliseum Authority?
The Clerk: Officially, I mean we can do that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, so all right, so what we’ll do we’ll reach out to them officially and at
our next full Commission meeting we’ll have them then.
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The Clerk: December 3 meeting?
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Mr. Mayor: December 3, continue, sir.
Mr. D. Williams: Because that was a big strain on the general public well on us as elected
officials in trying to answer to the general public about a big change like that and not being aware
31
of it. And not knowing that it was changed I found out on my way to a funeral you know and we
do need some type of official response from the Authority.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, to the Chairman of Public Services why don’t we have them
come to your committee meeting which is next week ---
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The Clerk: On the 26, Tuesday.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, are we good with that? All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor
Pro Tem then I’m going to come back down.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah I just got to speak some facts. It’s been the Augusta
Entertainment Complex for at least five years. It was developed by Crewhoo. They do that so that
they can market both the Bell Auditorium and the James Brown Arena. Now I can’t speak to why
the sign they took, basically the logo still had James Brown Arena at the top, Bell Auditorium at
the bottom. They kept the same sign and they cut off it saying James Brown Arena and Bell
Auditorium and they kept the façade and they just put like put new facades up. I can’t understand
why they did it that way to cut off the names but I can tell you that I was at the James Brown Arena
last night and it was sold out for the Guitar Pull and for us to sit here and say that we don’t know
how to do entertainment in this community is very disingenuous and I think that’s crazy to say. If
you haven’t seen it they put James Brown all inside of it. Again, I’m not speaking about the outside
sign. I’m speaking about the inside. And last night this parking lot was full of cars last night
because it was sold out. I parked in this parking lot last night. So not to say that the Brown family
what they did it was wrong because I agree that it shouldn’t have been that way but I think we
need to hear from them and understand that we did put those people in and they voted for that
whether they knew what they were voting for or not. But I think that the crew over there Chris
Bird and Spectrum have done a phenomenal job in marketing those facilities but again the sign
was an unfortunate issue in my mind so thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I’d just like to say for the record I think
that some of the things that’s been said and I’m not trying to defend putting up a sign that doesn’t
have all of the correct information in it that’s not my point but to have board members to take and
look at a presentation and then a motion is made for them to vote and here is the motion that was
made. The motion was made by Darren Smith. He made a motion to approve the bid from the
company (unintelligible) not to exceed $75,000 dollars which would include outdoor signage, so
they knew what they were signing. Now did the sign come back correct? Absolutely not from
what they were shown but they knew they voted but I’m hearing some of them saying they didn’t
vote for nothing outside period. It’s not true; the motion doesn’t say that. This is the motion so
I’m not, I’m not so really what we’re debating about really we weren’t privy to those conversations.
32
We may not like the fact in all of that but for the most part that’s the motion there which includes
outdoor signage. Darren Smith made the motion and it was seconded by Benita Jenkins.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m certainly not through with this and I plan to
keep this on the radar as long as I possibly can and that’s as long as I’m alive I guess until this next
year’s gone. This arena, this whole arena deal has been wrong, has been done wrong for a long
time. When we did the straw poll vote about moving the arena whoever put it together put it
together where it would be hard to understand I guess is my best way to describe it. People was
confused about what they was voting on. This is a plan to keep moving this arena in the same
location. Now that’s the first thing. The next thing is why do we appoint people that won’t even
report to us who won’t even talk to us about what’s going on down there. That’s my biggest issue.
We put people there to represent and they represent us and nobody called us, nobody said a word
out of all of the millions of dollars this government spends in that facility and we got appointees
down there and we don’t know nothing. Ms. Bonner, my first thing for you to do I need to know
how long has been appointed, who needs to be moved off of that board. That’s the first order of
business I think. The next thing is though, Mr. Mayor, when you, if you wanted to go to a show
and I know I ask at least in my sixteen years, Mary, at least three times about going to a show and
I’m always told that the promoter says they don’t have no tickets or you can’t go. I don’t need a
ticket. I don’t need a seat. I want to walk through the building. They will not stop me from walking
through the building anytime there’s an event going on downtown. They can come in with a
parking place and park wherever they want to and go to any show they want to but you’ve got to
ask permission like a child wants to go to the store, those days are over with. I done asked several
times and each board member says well let me see what they Chairman says, let me see what the
promoter says. We’re giving too much now and I’m sick and tired of us acting like we’re not the
controlling factor. So if there was members that need to be changed need to be changed now we
done had this board dismantled one time. I mean we reorganized it I thought at one point but I’m
just disappointed at the way underhanded people think you’re not smart to see what they’re doing.
The general public sees, the general public knows what they’re doing. What other name and the
Mayor Pro Tem was talking about it had been changed the last five years, how can you even
phantom the Augusta Entertainment Complex against a name like James Brown who’s known all
over the world. We could put Waynesboro Entertainment Complex it could’ve been just as much.
I mean it ain’t much different than that than Augusta. James Brown is known all over the world
and who wouldn’t use a name like that who would not use the man like him or not understand his
music, understand him. Who would not use a man that done put this city on the map? And then
we talk about entertainment now if we were talking about horse racing or something and saying
I’m not going to use James Brown but for music a blind man can see that that’s the man you should
be using, Mr. Mayor. So and I know the real issue and I’m trying my best not to say it but I’m
trying not to put it out there like I want to why they’re not promoting James Brown, why they
don’t think that’s an entity that would bring money into this city. We keep hollering about what
we don’t have. Something’s wrong and I mean I’m crazy but I ain’t stupid now. I’ll be one, I ain’t
going be both of them.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, is it going to be the consensus of the Commission that they be
asked to come to the Public Services?
33
Mr. Mayor: I think so, that’s correct, they’ll be at the Public Services meeting.
Mr. M. Williams: And that’s who, Mr. Mayor? Who’s coming? I don’t want the Chairman.
I want everybody to be here. If the Chairman’s going to come he can’t speak for everybody. They
all need to be here.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve extended an invitation to the Coliseum Authority Board.
Mr. M. Williams: To the Authority.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. M. Williams: It’s crazy, man. I’ll tell you what I mean I thought this day was gone.
This day ain’t going nowhere.
Mr. Mayor: All right, 33.
The Clerk: We’re back to 28, I think.
Mr. Mayor: Twenty-eight.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
28. Motion to approve forwarding this item to the full Commission to receive an update from
the Marshal’s Department regarding the issue of citing citizens for overloading trash
containers and also to have Planning & Development to bring back some industry standards
regarding the proper size dumpsters to be located in apartment complexes. (Approved by
Public Services Committee November 12, 2019)
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Mr. Sherman: So at the November 12 meeting we had an item on the agenda to report to
you some information that came up when there were questions about overfilled residential garbage
cans. Environmental Services provided you the information you needed on that and then the
question came up about overfilling the dumpsters in the apartment complex. Colonel Probus is
here to answer those questions. But also you asked that Planning & Development bring back
information on the industry standards for proper size dumpsters. We don’t have that information
today we will be meeting on Friday and then again another group will be meeting on Monday and
we’ll be bringing that information back to you but Col Probus is here about the other.
Mr. M. Williams: Colonel Probus ---
Col Probus: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: --- let me have the Mayor Pro Tem see why, the Mayor Pro Tem is out
so can you give us your information, please, sir?
34
Colonel Probus: Yes, sir, to answer I believe it was Commissioner Hasan’s question from
last Tuesday we do in fact deal with and enforce those violations both when a residential customer
has overflowed their particular containers and when those containers are overflowed at apartment
complexes.
Mr. M. Williams: The Mayor Pro Tem is back. I’m going to turn it back over to him, but
my question I guess to Rob is how do we know as taxpayers as elected officials when the containers
are not the right size or should be the right size. If they’re overflowing evidently that tells me
they’re not but is there any enforcement to make sure they get the right ones when they order ones
or how do we do that?
Mr. Sherman: As far as the commercial users they apartment complexes that’s where we’re
also having issues and complaints. There is a standard and actually Commissioner Sias handed
out something the other week, last week. It gives the standard for different type buildings and uses
and we’re going to be looking at that information to see if there’s any additional information along
those lines. And then Environmental Services the Marshal’s Office, Planning and then the
Administrator’s Office will all be meeting to come back with some information for you that we in
the end will be going back through the Planning Commission to amend the Zoning Ordinance to
require that specific size volume containers are on apartment complexes, commercial uses so that
we don’t have the problem with garbage overflowing.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, anyone else want to speak on this?
Mr. Hasan: Yes, I will.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Probus how you doing, sir?
Colonel Probus: Yes, sir, how are you, Commissioner?
Mr. Hasan: I forget Lieutenant, Captain, which one is it.
Colonel Probus: The Marshal bestowed me with rank of Colonel.
Mr. Hasan: Colonel, I didn’t mean to lowball you now.
Colonel: It’s no lowball, no lowball. Bill is fine.
Mr. Hasan: Okay you doing all right today, sir?
Colonel Probus: I’m doing great, sir, how are you?
Mr. Hasan: Listen, one of the questions I had last week I think about the containers. I
happened to be in an apartment complex and it was privately owned and around it it just
35
overflowed and the residents there were just stacking up you know their garbage was actually in
bags but just on the outside of that.
Colonel Probus: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: And so I was asking who monitors that and was told the Marshal’s Office
monitors that.
Colonel Probus: We do we proactively monitor. We also reactively respond to calls to
those items. As a matter of fact this year alone we have already responded to 57 of those cases --
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Colonel Probus: --- just this year alone, 31 additional cases for litter that had been left on
the street outside of the receptacle.
Mr. Hasan: So in the event that you come and see one in dire straits like that what is the
timeline that they have to get that debris cleaned up?
Colonel Probus: Immediately.
Mr. Hasan: Immediately?
Colonel Probus: Immediately and understand there’s a couple of variables too if it’s a first
time offense we’ll allow them to get it cleaned up with no action. If it’s a multiple time offender
they’re going to more than likely get a citation and appear in court.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, okay well I definitely wanted to know because there’s several things
and I just, the others come to mind but three things including the one that I mentioning that came
up and all of them seemed to be you know out of sight is out of mind ---
Colonel Probus: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- everybody said it was the Marshal’s responsibility. And I think one of
those I might’ve even spoken with the Marshal about it one of them was a young man I just gotten
an email that morning that one of my constituents sent me a video of young kids playing ball in
the street, quite common. But the thing about it sometimes I am sensitive to that but there’s a
playground in their neighborhood ---
Colonel Probus: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- and so speaking with the Marshal about it he said go either way, go to the
Sheriff or go the Marshal. And so we’re trying to and I don’t want to speak ahead of myself, Mr.
Mayor, but I’m going to make mention of this and if I’m out of order you know there’s nothing
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unusual about that it’s telling a Commissioner you’re out of order. I think on December the 10
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we’re scheduling probably a workshop, is that the 10 or the 12?
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Mr. Mayor: I think it’s the 12.
th,
Mr. Hasan: The 12 well, a workshop around all of the code enforcements whatever the
department they’re in so that we can get some clarity around it and try to find a way to make it
work in a holistic way for the government.
Colonel Probus: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: So I appreciate your comments but we’ve got some big things coming basing
our workshop around code enforcement across the government to try to get our handle around who
does what, when, where and how.
Colonel Probus: We’ll look forward to that.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you.
Colonel Probus: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner, I don’t know if this was a specific person putting
this on the agenda or just a holdover from last week.
Mr. Hasan: Well, that was part of it there, it was part of it there on the dumpsters.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Move to accept this as information.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
The Clerk: I think that takes us to the budget item, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATOR
37. Approve FY 2020 budget for Augusta Georgia.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
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Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We don’t, can we (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Okay, if everybody will continue let’s get the handouts in our hands and then
we’ll move as quickly with that, all right? Finance, well, I hadn’t taken any I hadn’t recognized
anybody to speak yet. Madam Clerk was just iterating ---
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor we don’t, that ship done sailed, that ship done sailed.
Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: --- oh yeah we just yell out now.
Mr. Hasan: From the back of the room.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, if Finance will come and please give us our handouts of the conversation
that took place on yesterday I believe that there are some amendments to the budget that were
discussed, I know just ---
Mr. Sias: There ain’t no amendments on a new budget.
Mr. Mayor: --- oh okay well they’re going to hand it to us then. All right outstanding I’ve
got 50 cents always not a surprise, I’ll be doggone. Okay here’s what I’d like to see happen each
of us have been given a folder I’d like for you to tell us what the contents in the folder are first and
then we’ll proceed with whatever presentation you have. All right, who’s going to speak to it?
What do we have in our folders?
Mr. Sims: Good afternoon, Mayor and Commissioners. In your folders you will have a
copy of a presentation that we provided for you all. We also have for Tab 1 a revised fund that
shows all of the funds listed to reflect a balanced budget. Also for Tab 5 we also reflect the new
personnel to include all of the adjustments we made from the work sessions. And for Tab 6 we
also have a revised projects and additional funding requests that reflect the recommendations from
the work sessions. This encompasses all of the discussion that we had from all three of the work
sessions.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, so let’s calibrate, everybody. We have here which is what goes behind
Tab 1 and that is the budget recommendation All right with a balanced budget showing what the
revenue projections are and the expenditures. And then of course you mentioned Tab 5 which is
new personnel, Tab 6 which is the one sheet of new projects and additional funding and then the
General Fund Budget sheet which is a one page document as well, is that correct?
Mr. Sims: That’s correct.
Mr. Mayor: All right and I’m going to go to the Mayor Pro Tem, first question.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can we go straight to Juvenile Court because that was the hot topic
and I think we can move quickly.
Mr. Sims: Sure.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Based on our discussion yesterday I think it was the one you just had
up, that’s the one I wanted was looking at. Keep going, keep going, slide five I think. All right,
if we go with the part-time on the far right column what does that look like from the program
standpoint? Is the program still staying $100,000?
Mr. Sims: That’s correct.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay but that okay that was what Commissioner Bobby Williams
talked about that far right column yesterday.
Mr. Sims: Correct.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, yeah that was my only concern with this budget,
Commissioners, and I hope that we would approve the part-time on the far right column so thank
you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so to the Mayor Pro Tem’s question that is, is the part-time included
in what we have in front of us?
Mr. Sims: That is correct, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, any additional questions? All right, I believe the Chair
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recognizes the Commissioner from the 6 for a motion.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve the budget as presented.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we some more unreadiness. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Just to be clear on this juvenile thing that was the part-time piece that’s what
we’re approving because it has two options in it, is that correct, Mr. Administrator?
Mr. Sims: That’s correct, sir. If you will see on slide five first option is for one personnel
the second option is for two personnel and the third which is the recommended option is for a part-
time with a dollar amount of $60,000. That allows flexibility for Juvenile Court to be able to run
their operation.
Mr. Sias: Just as long as there’s no confusion on those three options. That’s the only
reason I raised my hand.
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Mr. M. Williams: So which option is in the budget? You’ve got three.
Mr. Mayor: The third column the part-time is what’s in the budget, is that correct
Administrator Sims?
Mr. Sims: That is correct.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I have a motion and a second, voting.
Mr. Mayor: Don’t go anywhere we’re about to reconsider an action.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom and Mr. Garrett vote Yes.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Passes 6-3.
Mr. D. Williams: Madam Clerk, I think I pushed the wrong button ---
Mr. Hasan: (Inaudible).
Mr. D. Williams: --- well I did. I pushed N instead of Y, I’m sorry.
Mr. Sias: Do you want to reconsider then?
Mr. D. Williams: I do have thick fingers so.
The Clerk: He wanted to vote Yes ---
Mr. D. Williams: I hit no instead of yes. It’s the budget we done raised enough sand over
that.
The Clerk: --- to reconsider.
Mr. Mayor: That wasn’t what I had in mind when I said we’re about to reconsider.
The Clerk: Well, just to make it clean (unintelligible) vote once it’s published like that.
Mr. D. Williams: I do apologize.
The Clerk: Okay, so the consensus we can do that?
Mr. Sias: Not yet.
Mr. D. Williams: We’ve had this same situation before.
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Mr. Mayor: Everybody yield, everybody yield. So I think what the Commissioner from
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the 2 is saying is that he wants to make sure that the record is clear that his intent was to vote yes
for the budget, is that correct?
Mr. D. Williams: You said it better than I (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Okay, that’s what he wanted to do and I think we’re okay with that.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, we need to vote to reconsider because it’s been posted, vote to
reconsider, that’s what you want to do.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I’m getting ready to do that the Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the, trust me, everybody calm down. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: I move that we reconsider this item only for the purpose of the
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Commissioner from the 2 to change his vote.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
The Clerk: Well stated.
Mr. Mayor: No, this is a motion to reconsider the previous action.
Mr. Sias: No, sir, my motion was complete.
The Clerk: Well, no, we got the intent of it ---
Mr. Mayor: That’s right.
The Clerk: --- but we have to consider it.
Mr. Mayor: The previous action which is voting on the budget, all right, voting.
Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Mr. Sias votes Present.
Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Passes 7-1-1.
Mr. Sias: I voted Yes.
The Clerk: Well, we’re going to put you down for present now, now let’s do the vote.
Mr. Mayor: All right, now what we’re voting on is the adoption of the budget as present
today okay, that’s what we’re voting on.
Mr. Hasan: I make a motion to adopt the budget as presented today.
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Mr. Sias: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, voting. Now to the Commissioner from the 6 and the 4 that is not
what I was talking about when I said reconsider. It didn’t have anything to do with the budget.
Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Passes 7-2.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
ENGINEERING SERVICES
35. Motion to adopt parking management contract with SP+ for period of 3 yrs with 2 one
year renew options. (Requested by Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.)
36. Motion to adopt parking management ordinance as amended by Traffic Engineering and
Planning Department. (Requested by Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.)
Mr. Hasan: Well, let me, I’ve got to tell a story, Mr. Mayor, I’ve got to tell a story. What
the Mayor, in speaking with the Engineering they are of the mindset that possibly all of these items
around is that 34, 35 and 36 will be in line by next committee cycle which will be the, what is that?
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The Clerk: The 26.
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Mr. Hasan: The 26 so if that’s the case, if that’s the case only if it’s ready, Mr. Mayor, if
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on the 26 it’s not ready it won’t go but I will do that for the committee cycle. So I make a motion
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that those items come back to committee cycle on the 26 if all of it’s complete we begin to take
action on them. All three must be complete.
Mr. Sias: Isn’t this a reconsideration first?
Mr. Hasan: Yes, you can, I’m sorry to your point you’re exactly right. I’d like to make
a motion to reconsider the previous action on 34, 35 and 36.
Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
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The Clerk: Well, can we add, the Commission voted to take it to the December 3 meeting
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so but his motion included 34 and 35 and 36 originally to go to the December 10 meeting.
Mr. Mayor: Which is why he included them in his motion because we want to take action
on all of them next week.
The Clerk: Okay, so we’re doing all of those, okay.
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Mr. Garrett votes No.
Mr. Clarke, Ms. Davis and Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Passes 6-1.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
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Mr. Hasan: I make a motion to put Items 34 and 35 on the 26 committee cycle if all
three items are available and ready to take action on, 34, 35 and 36 all those things must be
in place.
The Clerk: On the 11-26 meeting provided they’re all completed?
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Clarke and Mr. Fennoy out.
Motion Passes 7-0.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I think that there’s probably a little bit more business before
us. Now is the time for us to get down to the brass tacks of business at 4:14 and thank the staff for
the work that they’ve done on putting together a balanced budget for the year 2020. Administrator
Sims, thank you. I think this is your first budget under your belt with the City of Augusta. To our
Finance team, to the Deputy Administrators and to all of the departments that have helped, worked
diligently in putting this together. And to the Commissioners for your hard work on yesterday,
thank you all and unless Speedy Gonzales beats me to my office this meeting is hereby adjourned.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of The Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
November 19, 2019.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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