City of Duluth - August 27, Minutes

City Council - 27 August 2007 Minutes

WORK SESSION OF THE
MAYOR AND COUNCIL

PRESENT:
Mayor Lasseter, Councilmembers Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan, Hall
City Administrator, Department Directors, City Attorney

A work session was held prior to the regular scheduled meeting to allow the elected officials to discuss and ask questions of department directors regarding this evening’s agenda items.

OTHER ITEMS DISCUSSED: Denise Brinson with the City of Suwanee met with the Council to discuss Economic Development/Main Street Manager position.

No action taken.

MINUTES OF THE
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
CITY OF DULUTH, GA

7:00 P.M. - CALL TO ORDER:   Mayor Shirley Fanning-Lasseter
INVOCATION/PLEDGE:            Councilmember Jim Dugan
WELCOME RESIDENTS:            Berkeley Woods | Olde Towne Village

CEREMONIAL MATTERS
1. RECOGNITION – ALICE LI – NATIONAL WINNER, HOLOCAUST
  REMEMBRANCE ESSAY
  The Mayor and Council recognized Duluth High School student Alice Li and congratulated her for an outstanding job on her award-winning essay. Out of over 4,100 entries submitted nationwide to the Holocaust Remembrance Project sponsored by The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation, , Ms. Li was awarded a trip to Washington DC in June as a top ten finalist, and received first place in the contest overall, receiving several scholarships.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. APPROVAL OF AUGUST 13, 2007 MINUTES
2. BID AWARD – IMPACT STUDY FOR LARGE SCALE BUILDINGS [Exhibit “A”]
  Requests for Proposals to conduct an impact study for Large-Scale Buildings and Developments were sent out to three firms on August 14, 2007. Jordan, Jones & Goulding responded with a bid of $49,900. Since this figure is within the amount previously specified by Council, approval of this item authorizes the Mayor or City Administrator to execute an agreement with Jordan, Jones & Goulding for $49,900. The study will be performed as outlined with a completion date of November 2007, for presentation to the Planning Commission on November 5th and Council on November 12th. Councilmember Mundrick requested that contingency funds in the amount of $49,900 be transferred to PDP-CD -01-08 line item 100-740052132 to cover this unbudgeted expenditure.
3. CONTINGENCY REQUEST (AS ADDED DURING MOTION) - $49,900 – IMPACT STUDY
  
  A motion was made by Councilmember Mundrick, seconded by Councilmember Kirouac, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented with the addition of a third item to allocate $49,900 from the Contingency fund to cover the costs of the impact study for the large scale buildings with Jordan, Jones & Goulding , (to be transferred to PDP –CD-01-08, Line Item 100-740052132.)
  
  Those voting for: Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan, and Hall
  Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. ORDINANCE OF SPECIAL USE PERMIT - HC PAWN SHOP - SUP#0128-07
  WESLEY COX - TITLEMAX TAX PARCEL 6-293-168 [postponed, Exhibit “B]
  Mayor Lasseter announced that the Council received notification from the applicant, Attorney Gerald Davidson, requesting this item be postponed until the September 10th agenda. Letter entered attached and shown as Exhibit B being made part of these minutes.
  
  A motion was made by Councilmember Bomar, seconded by Councilmember Hall, to postpone the ordinance of Special Use Permit for case SUP 0128-07.
  
  Those voting for: Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan, and Hall
  Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
1. APPROVAL OF PARK MASTER PLAN – HDR ENGINEERING
  The City of Duluth final Park Master Plans were previously presented by Robby Bryant of HDR Engineering which included plans and information obtained and documented from a variety of community meetings. Park master plans include W.P. Jones Park, Taylor Park, Church Street Park, Scott Hudgens Park and Rogers Bridge Park. The Park Master Plans support park land acquisitions, demographics, area population, estimated cost associated with proposed park projects, and an inventory of current facilities. Approval of the Park Master Plans will allow the City to meet the national park standards as specified by the National Recreation and Park Association. Staff and the City parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommend approval of the Park Master Plans as presented.
  
  Wanda Bennewitz, Chairperson of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, came forward to state that the Board felt that this was a very important step toward the City’s parks department accreditation. With HDR’s assistance, several public hearings were held. The steering committee was formed and over 30 members attended. The board also requested that the High Schools send a representative as well. Two public forums were held, and HDR met with homeowners associations, the youth sports associations, the City Administrator and local senior citizens. Input was also solicited from children who attended the summer camp programs; citizen’s surveys were available on line as well as other city facilities.
  
  This information was analyzed by HDR and the steering committee and from those meeting the master plan was created based on the most requested amenities for the parks. Highest on the list were more walking trails, more passive parks, multiuse greenway trails, restroom facilities at existing parks, the purchase of more parkland, a skate park, play and picnic areas, river connector between the two river front parks, and a dog park.
  
  Findings from the studies resulted in the following recommendations from the Advisory Board. Most important was the complete build-out of Rogers Bridge Park, followed by a new building to replace depot at WP Jones, adding a second restroom building at Hudgens, access to the Chattahoochee greenway, and the children’s area at Taylor Park.
  
  Robbie Bryant with HDR also came forward and summarized the content of the Plan as presented, explaining the components of the study (community profile, facility inventory, public meetings), and noted that these factors were balanced with NRPA standards to make recommendations specific for the City of Duluth.
  
  Councilmember Mundrick commented that it was a very ambitious plan, but that the first few stages would obviously depend on passage of the SPLOST next year. He attended several of the meetings and was impressed with the process as well as thankful for the many residents and community members who participated.
  
  Mayor Lasseter thanked everyone for their hard work over the past six months in making this project an important planning tool for the future. She noted that this was the first comprehensive park plan study that has been completed, and also pointed out that the desires of citizens and children change over the years.
  
  Councilmember Bomar also suggested that the City utilize a variety of funding mechanisms in addition to the SPLOST and look at a other sources of revenue in order to complete some of the improvements more quickly.
  
  A motion was made by Councilmember Dugan, seconded by Councilmember Mundrick, to approve the Park Master Plans for the City of Duluth as presented.
  
  Those voting for: Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan, and Hall
  Motion carried.
2. AUTHORIZATION FOR CONTRACT – ABBOTT’S BRIDGE RD (HWY 120)SIDEWALKS
  [postponed]
  The Mayor explained that the City has received grant funding for the proposed sidewalks along Abbott’s Bridge Road (Highway 120) from Buford Highway to Hill Street, and the consultant and engineering company are ready to begin. Council was asked to consider an agreement with Bron Cleveland Associates, who helped us obtain the grant, to oversee the sidewalk project for BCA 4120-26, FY06 CMAQ SR120.
  
  A motion was made by Councilmember Bomar, seconded by Councilmember Mundrick, to postpone the Bron Cleveland contract for the Hwy 120 CMAQ sidewalk project until September 10th.
  
  Those voting for: Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan, and Hall
  Motion carried.
3. AUTHORIZATION FOR CONTRACT – TIP BUFORD HWY @ SR 120 - GATEWAY
  [postponed]
  The Mayor explained that the City has received grant funding for the Intersection Gateway improvement project to be located at Buford Highway and Highway 120, and the consultant and engineering company are ready to begin. Council was asked to consider an agreement with Bron Cleveland Associates, who helped us obtain the grant, to oversee project BCA 4120-30, SR120/BUFORD HWY TIP IMP for intersection improvements. This item has been included in the FY-08 budget under CD 57-08, but if approved, additional funding from contingency is necessary.
  
  A motion was made by Councilmember Dugan, seconded by Councilmember Mundrick to postpone the Bron Cleveland contract for the gateway intersection improvements for Hwy 120/Buford Highway until September 10th.
  
  Those voting for: Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan, and Hall
  Motion carried.
4. CONTINGENCY REQUEST - $20,000 – TIP BUFORD HWY @ SR 120 - GATEWAY
  Since the contract with Bron Cleveland for sidewalks was not yet approved, this item was requested to be postponed until September 10th.
  
  A motion was made by Councilmember Mundrick, seconded by Councilmember Hall, to postpone the contingency request as presented.
  
  Those voting for: Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan, and Hall
  Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
1. LIFE INSURANCE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
  The Mayor and Council considered a recommendation by the Capital Reserve and Retirement Benefits Investment Committee to include elected officials as eligible employees for the City furnished life insurance while they are in office. The cost of the minimum $30,000 life insurance benefit is $65.00 per year for each elected official.
  
  A motion was made by Councilmember Mundrick, seconded by Councilmember Bomar, to deny the addition of elected officials to the City Life Insurance policy as presented.
  
  Those voting for: Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, and Hall
  Those voting against: Councilmember Dugan
  Motion carried.
2. AMENDMENT TO PERSONNEL POLICIES – NEPOTISM [Exhibit “C”]
  At its August 15, 2007 meeting, the Capital Reserve and Retirement Benefits Investment Committee discussed and recommended that the Mayor and Council amend the Nepotism policy, as reviewed by the City Attorney. This new policy will replace the current Paragraph 3.600 of the current City of Duluth Personnel Management System Policies and Procedures Employee Handbook and addresses employment issues between and among city staff and elected officials.
  
  Councilmember Mundrick asked for clarification on what “administrative staff” and the definition of “independent contractor status.” It was clarified that individuals who are performing work for the City (but are not actually city employees) cannot be a relative if there is the possibility that it would create a subordinate relationship.
  
  A motion was made by Councilmember Kirouac, seconded by Councilmember Hall, to approve amending the nepotism policy as presented.
  
  Those voting for: Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan, and Hall
  Motion carried.
MATTERS FROM CITIZENS
1. Marline Santiago- Cook, of 3958 Ballycastle Court came forward to speak on behalf of the Smart Growth group, questioned the status of the proposed Wal-Mart project and expressed their discontent with the process thus far. Mayor Lasseter replied that the concern of the Council does lie with the people in the community but that all matters must be handled in a legal fashion.
  
  John Homonek of 3011 Frankie Lane came forward along with several neighbors, requesting that Council amend the Duluth animal control ordinance to be clearer in its definitions, provide step-by-step directives of how citizens can issue a complaint, and to also include language to allow for more code enforcement from the City when a complaint is issued. The Council instructed the City Attorney and Chief of Police to draft an amendment to the current ordinance and present back to Council through a weekly report before placing on agenda.
  
  Joan Berger of 2640 Nesbitt Crossing Way came forward requesting the City plan of action for the replacement of the Interim Planning Director. Mayor Lasseter read a memo from Interim Planning Director Shelley Stiebling who stated that she submitted her resignation effective September 7th and has accepted the Planning Director position with the City of Covington. [Copy of memo entered, attached and shown as Exhibit “D”]. Mayor Lasseter further stated that the City had been in the process of interviewing for the position of Planning Director for several months and that a replacement is being considered.
MATTERS FROM COUNCIL/DEPT HEADS/CITY ATTORNEY
1. Council Member Bomar recognized two boy scouts, Bret Peabody and Michael Messor with Scout troop 419, who were present working on their citizenship and community badges.
  
  Council member Mundrick thanked the citizens who are taking part in the City’s 2030 Vision plan.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – PERSONNEL
1. It was necessary to hold an executive session on a personnel matter.
  
  A motion was made by Councilmember Mundrick, seconded by Councilmember Bomar, to adjourn to executive session to discuss Personnel Matters at 8:15 p.m.
  
  Those voting for: Councilmember’s Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan, and Hall
  Motion carried.
  
  After the discussion, a motion was made by Councilmember Hall, seconded by Councilmember Mundrick, to return to regular session at 9:05 p.m.
  
  Those voting for: Councilmember’s Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan, and Hall.
  Motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
1. A motion was made by Councilmember Mundrick, seconded by Councilmember Hall, to adjourn at 9:06 p.m.
  
  Motion carried.

Menu:

City Council - 27 August 2007 Minutes