City of Duluth, Georgia

March 22, 2010 Work Session Agenda

SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
DULUTH CITY HALL
COMMUNITY ROOM
MARCH 22, 2010

5:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Harris

Mayor Harris to announce the Special Called Meeting is for the purpose to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss pending & potential litigation, real estate and personnel matters.

1. EXECUTIVE SESSION – REAL ESTATE, PENDING/POTENTIAL LITIGATION, PERSONNEL
2. ADJOURNMENT

MAYOR AND COUNCIL
MONTHLY WORK SESSION AGENDA
MARCH 22, 2010

1. TOWN GREEN EVENTS-Janice Yarbrough/Alisa Williams

   In 2008, a decision was made by Council to hold the first Saturday of each month open for public use. Staff would like to open up this discussion again and see if Council may reconsider. Staff has reserved most Saturdays in the prime months for City events; therefore, very few Saturdays are available for rentals.

   1. Staff asks Council to consider public days for the town green and fountain to be the movie nights, concert nights, festival nights etc. since most of the time rentals cannot fit on those event dates and some days before and after due to preparations and take- downs for the event.
   2. Staff asks Council to reconsider event attendance numbers to either original proposal of 1500 amphitheater/3000 max at one time or change to allow for general private group rentals 1200 attendees max at one time/2000 attendees max per day instead of the 500 max decided in 2008.And/Or
   3. To allow for larger fundraiser, charitable events, staff asks Council to consider allowing 3-5 events for large numbers not to exceed 2,000 people at any one time to allow only 501(c)3 “charitable fundraisers with restrictions of at least 75% of profit going directly to the charitable purpose. Staff believes this would allow only events such as Down Syndrome Buddy Walk, Alzheimers Association, and direct serve charities. However, for example: Red Cross would not be included since 90% of their donations go to administration. They do have paperwork that can support their percentage of administration vs. expenditures for purpose.
2. LIVING HONORARIUM – Jennifer Freeman

   Jennifer Freeman representing the Duluth Fine Arts League (DFAL) is seeking Council approval to spearhead the Living Memorial project. The Fine Arts League would be responsible for:

   1. Recommending name change for proposed artwork to be “Living Honorarium.”
   2. Selecting a site location for the art work.
   3. Issuing a “Call to Artists” who wish to be considered for the project.
   4. The design and acceptance processes.
   5. Identifying a project selection panel.
   6. Managing project from inception to installation, subject to the City’s parameters.
3. LEASE STUDY – Economic Development Manager Chris McGahee

   The purpose of the lease discussion is to determine a rate structure for city owned properties. The discussion will briefly examine maintenance, policy, and then rate. The outcome should be a rate determination with a plan for the highest priority property maintenance issue, which is failing roof systems.

4. REVIEW OF SOLID WASTE PROPOSALS – City Adm./Council member Mundrick

   City Administrator McLemore and Councilmember Mundrick to report.

5. PROJECT UPDATES – City Administrator

   West Lawrenceville/McClure Bridge – Engineering on track for the estimated time to begin the end of this year unless delays occur from obtaining any additional rights-of-way.

   Hudgens Restrooms – Bids were received from 11 different companies on Thursday of last week and a recommendation will be made to Council in the weekly report this week. Construction is estimated to take no more than 3 months once the contract is awarded.

   Dog Park – Kathy Marelle has sought the names of companies who have experience with designing a dog parks and obtained names of companies that have designed in Gwinnett and Fulton. Kathy is working on the RFP language on soliciting the proposals from the identified firms and should have that sent out by the end of the month.

   Red Clay – The advertisement for demolition is currently running and posted on our web site. Bids are to be submitted by March 31st and demolition is to occur not longer than 30 days.

   Methodist Church – The architect is working on drawings so that they can estimate cost. Specifically, they have someone computing the electrical and mechanical systems to go in the building and should be complete in the next 30 to 45 days.

   WP Jones Activity Building – The Parks Board gave the go-ahead to architects Hill, Foley to do the design and they are working under the schedule previously provided earlier this week.

   Hospital Connector – Still on the same schedule provided. We had to wait on ARC and GDOT a few extra weeks because ARC had failed to sign the approval document, so it had to be re-routed to both of them again, but that has taken place and everything is at FHWA (Federal Highway) for them to review and give their blessing for us to move to the next step.

   Highway 120 Re-Alignment – Still moving on the same schedule submitted by the engineers working the project for October 2012 to begin construction. Engineer says the additional traffic analysis requested has been completed and submitted.

   Davenport Extension – Although this project was not one requested for more information, we are still moving toward a deadline of April 30th for property. Environmental begins Monday and a report will be given to Council by the April 12th meeting. If there are any suspicious areas there will be soil tests done without waiting for the completion of the Phase I report. The owner of the mini warehouses adjacent contacted the City and requested a meeting regarding his property and Davenport Extension. Staff met with David Stembridge along with the City Engineer to discuss his property and time schedules should Davenport Extension take place. The meeting was positive in that Mr. Stembridge said he wanted to work with the City.

   Staff will be available to discuss any of these projects if more discussion is desired.