City of Duluth, Georgia

February 8, 2010 Minutes

WORK SESSION OF THE
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
CITY OF DULUTH, GA
FEBRUARY 8, 2010

PRESENT: Mayor Harris, Council members Bomar, Dugan, Jones, Mundrick and Whitlock
City Administrator, Department Directors, City Attorney

A work session was held prior to the regular scheduled meeting to allow the elected officials to discuss this evening’s agenda items. No other items were discussed and no action was taken.

MINUTES OF THE
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
CITY OF DULUTH, GA
FEBRUARY 8, 2010

Mayor Harris called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

INVOCATION/PLEDGE: Councilmember Bomar
WELCOME RESIDENTS: Berkeley Crossing/Norman Downs

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Chocolate Perks owner Marsha Bomar announced their first anniversary, and noted that there would be events and giveaways on Friday from 7am-9pm.

Parks & Recreation Director Kathy Marelle announced the activities scheduled for the City’s Valentine’s Day celebration at Bunten Park on Saturday, February 13th, followed by the activities at the Red Clay Theatre.

Councilmember Bomar also announced that today is the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts. She also said that there would be an Ethics workshop sponsored by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) on February 18th, and mentioned that she would like to work with Planning Staff and be the elected official who assists with the submission of the application for the ARC Community Choice Award.

1. CONSENT AGENDA
   1. APPROVAL OF JANUARY 25, 2010 MINUTES
      A motion was made by Councilmember Mundrick, seconded by Councilmember Whitlock, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

      Those voting for: Council members Bomar, Dugan, Jones, Mundrick and Whitlock
      Motion carried.

2. PUBLIC HEARING
   1. RESOLUTION TO AMEND TAX ALLOCATION DISTRICT (TAD) #1– BUFORD HWY [Exhibit “A”]
      Mayor Harris opened the public hearing and introduced Chris McGahee, Economic Development Manager. Mr. McGahee explained that the purpose of this public hearing is to amend the boundaries of the City of Duluth’s Tax Allocation District #1 – Buford Highway Corridor, as previously approved by Council on December 14, 2009. This amendment reflects changes that were requested by Gwinnett County, and removes 24 tax parcels bordering and including the Town Green, City Hall, and Duluth Cemetery considered already redeveloped by the County. It also removes two outside parcels comprising Mathias/Street Smarts and the Woodley site.

      Ken Bleakly came forward to explain that the 24 parcel reduction changed the numbers only slightly. There were originally 293 parcels included in the TAD, and now there are 262 parcels, reducing the value of the base amount (current tax value) from 68 million to 60.5 million. Because the County increased the millage rate at the end of last year, and the old rate was used with initial calculations, there is actually more TAD value; instead of $18.9 million, we generate about $20 million with the new boundaries.

      Mr. Bleakly further explained that the process at this point is to continue seeking concurrence with the County, to submit the plan with letter to them. There is an approximate eight week review period, and then recommendations are made to the Commission for their approval at either the April 1st, 15th or May 6th meeting. The plan will then be submitted to the Gwinnett County school board, who may potentially take the same timeframe for approval, but it should have the go-ahead hopefully by July.

      Questions were raised as to whether informal discussions have taken place with the school board, and Mr. Bleakly confirmed that they have. In several other jurisdictions, this process can run concurrently; but in Gwinnett County, the school board will not perform any official reviews until the Commission has approved.

      There being no further comments or questions, Mayor Harris closed the public hearing and called for a motion.

      A motion was made by Councilmember Bomar, seconded by Councilmember Jones, to approve the amendment to the Buford Highway Corridor Tax Allocation District #1 boundaries as presented.

      Those voting for: Council members Bomar, Dugan, Jones, Mundrick and Whitlock
      Motion carried.

3. OLD BUSINESS
   1. ORDINANCE OF REZONING – R-100 to C-2 – CASE Z#0227-09
      MANTON BROTHERS, LLC. PARCELS 6-267-077 & 7-161-121
      This case was presented to the Council on January 25, 2010, and was postponed at that time to allow the Planning Staff to present a modified rezoning request to the Planning Commission. Since their next meeting will not be held until February 15th, Planning Staff recommended postponing this request until the February 22, 2010 City Council meeting.

      A motion was made by Councilmember Dugan, seconded by Councilmember Bomar, to postpone the ordinance of rezoning for Case Z#0227-09 until February 22, 2010.

      Those voting for: Council members Bomar, Dugan, Jones, Mundrick and Whitlock
      Motion carried.

4. NEW BUSINESS
   1. ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE FY10 BUDGET – $23,048 – NEW YEARS DONATIONS [Exhibit “B”]
      The Mayor and Council considered an ordinance to amend the FY10 budget to account for donations and sponsorships by citizens and merchants to offset the cost of the New Year’s Eve event, and to transfer funding to the Police uniform division to cover overtime costs for the same event.

      A motion was made by Councilmember Mundrick, seconded by Councilmember Dugan, to approve the ordinance to amend the FY10 Budget as presented.

      Those voting for: Council members Bomar, Dugan, Jones, Mundrick and Whitlock
      Motion carried.

   2. LINE ITEM TRANSFER – $7,361.00 – PARKS & RECREATION
      The Parks & Recreation Department is currently short two full time staff members and is requesting the transfer to allow for additional hours to be worked by a part-time 20 hour week staff member. The Mayor and Council considered a Line Item transfer request in the amount of $7,361 from Salaries (100-601-611051110) to Part Time Salary (100-601-611051111).

      A motion was made by Councilmember Jones, seconded by Councilmember Bomar, to approve the line item transfer as presented.

      Those voting for: Council members Bomar, Dugan, Jones, Mundrick and Whitlock

      Motion carried.

5. EXECUTIVE SESSION – REAL ESTATE, PERSONNEL, POTENTIAL/PENDING LITIGATION
   A motion was made by Councilmember Bomar, seconded by Councilmember Mundrick, to adjourn to executive session at 7:18 p.m.
   All for. Motion carried.

   After the discussion, a motion was made by Councilmember Bomar, seconded by Councilmember Mundrick, to return to regular session at 9:05 p.m.
   All for. Motion carried.

   MAYOR HARRIS ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WOULD BE A WORK SESSION HELD AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING AND THE PUBLIC WAS INVITED TO ATTEND.

6. ADJOURNMENT
   A motion was made by Councilmember Bomar, seconded by Councilmember Whitlock, to adjourn at 9:05 p.m.

   All for. Motion carried unanimously.