M I N U T E S

 

REGULAR MEETING OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF APRIL 5, 2010

 

 

 

 

Call to Order:              The regular meeting of Mayor and Council of April 5, 2010 was                                          called to order by Mayor Corine Deyton at 7:00 p.m.

 

Invocation:                  The invocation was given by Councilwoman Maudie McCord                                             followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.

 

Approval of                 Ms. Williams made a motion to approve the minutes of the Work   

Minutes:                      Session of March 15, 2010, the Regular Meeting of March 15, 2010 and the Special Meeting of March 24, 2010 with the necessary corrections, seconded by Ms. Adams.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Comment Period:        Mr. Carl Evans – commented that Chief Clark, an employee of the City, for over 42 years, recently died, and the City should have done more to acknowledge this by putting it on the website and marquee in front of City Hall.

 

                                    Mr. Roy Lunsford – stated a few days ago, truck #118 had two occupants in it and he followed this truck 6 miles riding up and down Ash Street, and he previously asked if we need additional  zoning people hired and since these two individuals did nothing why can’t they write down violations as they drive around.      

 

                                    Ms. Christine Ellington – stated we are not enforcing our ordinances, she stated 933 Kennesaw Place and 5209 Austin Place have piles of trash and she is constantly seeing rats and snakes.  She stated she can’t ride through this City with pride.  She stated Linda Way has obstacles such as fences that block their view. 

 

                                    Mr. Kenny Ruffin, Councilman of Riverdale, invited everyone to attend  two seminars, April 17th on etiquette for kids ages 6 thru 18 and April 24th on resume writing and job interview skills.

 

Recess:                        Ms. Lord made a motion to recess to hold a Public Hearing, seconded by Ms. Adams.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Public Hearing:           Mayor Deyton opened the Public Hearing to receive comments on the draft Comprehensive Plan Partial Update.

 

                                    Mayor Deyton asked if there was anyone present to speak.

 

                                    Mr. Osman Ercin, Senior Planner for Robert & Company spoke. 

                                    Mr. Ercin stated they did the City’s 2005 Comprehensive Plan and has done the partial update.  The purpose of the Comprehensive Plan is to help regulate land use change, a map that regulates change to our zoning and land use (future land use map).  We have to create regulations for land uses because what we do on our property affects our neighbors.  The requirement to conduct comprehensive planning is part of the Georgia Planning Act of 1989.  This establishes a mechanism called qualified local government status and maintains eligibility for state and national grant programs.  He stated the partial update is part of the 2005 comprehensive planning standards.  This has us do the additional items that have been added to the new planning standards in 2005 and allows us the opportunity to update the plan to reflect some of the changes that have happened in the City since 2005.  It allows us to update our 5 year short term work program with the specific items the City would like to accomplish within 5 years. 

 

                                    The items in the partial update are a review of issues and opportunities in the City.  The partial update is all done at once and once completed and allowed opportunity for public comment; this is the transmittal hearing that will transmit the document to ARC and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for their state review.   Once they approve the plan, it will come back before Council to hold another hearing for adoption.

 

                                    This partial update just incorporates the different planning processes that have gone on since 2005, including Fort Gillem strategic reuse plan, the Farmers Market Plan, the Downtown Main Street.  He stated they have created a land use map that incorporates the recommendations of Fort Gillem study into the future land use map.             

                                               

                                                 He then took questions from the audience.

 

                                    Ms. Adams made a motion to close the Public Hearing, seconded by Ms. McCord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Public Hearing:           Ms. Adams made a motion to open the Public Hearing to receive comments with regard to the proposed rezoning of a parcel of property lying in Land Lot 19 of the 13th District, seconded by Ms. Lord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

                                    Mayor Deyton asked if there was anyone present to speak.

                                    Mr. Vernon Wright, broker for the owner Mr. Ernest Lee spoke.  He stated he has worked on this area for the last 7 years trying to market it and did have a sale to a warehouse development, but the Federal Fresh Water Act, after 2000, does not allow a creek to be removed or relocated. The property has a creek that bisects his 10 acre site.  The land west of the creek that may experience a development or grading and land east of the creek, which touches residential back to Willena Drive would not be touched at all.  The land around this site has been placed in a planned unit development for industrial so they are in an area that would be that use.  He stated in regard to the borrow pit, dirt would be received back into the pit, in an exchange basis.  Mr. Lee, in essence, could take dirt out and sell it and make an income and other people that had surplus dirt, seeking a place to put it, could pay him for the opportunity to store dirt back in the site.   The site is completely wooded on all three sides.  This would be the highest and best use of this site as we have not been able to get a development because of the creeks and inability to relocate them to the setback areas of the site.

 

                                    Mr. Wesley Reed, a civil engineer was present to speak.  He explained the pit will not go any deeper than the creek and the terrain would be lowered to the level of the creek and above the 100 year flood plain.   You would catch the water before it got to the creek to allow the sediment to set before it goes into the creek.  There would be no water on the site. 

 

                                    Mr. Wright stated the timber on the east side of the creek will not be touched; the timber on the west side of the creek is why we need the rezoning.  The total site covers 10 acres and five acres will be untouched. 

 

                                    Ms. Lunsford spoke – she stated at this time it is zoned residential, and is this property in a residential area?  She stated if this is in a residential area, are the neighbors of said property going to suffer quality of life issues, as the people on Lamar Drive with Waste Management.  If this is a residential area, will heavy equipment be parked there ready to fill the dump truck?  How big is the pit going to get and what do neighbors of the neighborhood think of this or have they been asked.

 

                                    Ms. Christine Ellington stated she lived around Lamar Drive and she lives it everyday.  She smells it now, hears it now and has been hearing it for 15 years.  This isn’t the type of thing we need here, we need to start being progressive.  I want a quality of life that many of you had 30 to 40 years ago.  

                                    Mr. Steve Pearson read a portion of the staff report that was previously presented to the Planning and Zoning Board.

 

                                    Mr. Roy Lunsford spoke.  He stated if this place in undevelopable, there would be an industrial site put on it.  How is this possible? 

                                   

                                    Mr. Darnell Moorer, serving as Vice-Chair of the Planning and Zoning Board, and this request was placed as a motion and the motion died.  The reason for this is Forest Park has had predators to divulge on our City for years and Southpoint is a good example of that.  He stated all he saw was another big hole in Forest Park and West Nile Virus is still alive and well.  When we asked the gentlemen at the meeting, he said that pit should be about 50 feet deep.  He asked how much dirt would be excavated, and was told 100,000 cubic yards.   He does not want to see a whole that deep in Forest Park.

 

                                    Mr. Reed stated we design these to drain and there will be no standing water.

 

                                    Ms. Adams made a motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Ms. Lord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Swearing In of            Ms. Adams stated the purpose of the Teen Council is to give the

Teen Council:              teens an opportunity to develop leadership skills and take responsibility in the community.

 

                                    Mayor Pro-tem Sparkle Adams administered the Oath of Office to all Teen Council representatives.

 

                                    City Manager John Parker administered the Oath of Office to the Teen City Managers.

                                   

                                    Finance Director Mike Blandenburg administered the Oath of Office to all Teen Finance Directors.

 

                                    Judge Allyson Pitts administered the oath of office to the Teen City Attorneys.

 

                                    Mayor Corine Deyton administered the oath of office to the Teen Mayors.

 

Proclamation:              Mayor Pro-tem Adams presented Lois Collins with a proclamation for her work with teens in the City and the Prevention Plus Program.

 

Resolution:                  Request was made to consider a Resolution of the City Council of

Partial Update to         the City of Forest Park, Georgia, authorizing the transmittal of a

City’s                          partial update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan to the Atlanta

Comprehensive Plan:  Regional Commission and the State of Georgia for review and comment pursuant to Georgia Local Planning requirements, Chapter 110-12-1-08, Rules of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs; to provide for an effective date; and for other purposes.

                                   

                                    Mr. Judson made a motion to approve the Resolution, seconded by Ms. Adams.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Rezoning:                    Request was made to consider a rezoning request of a parcel of property lying in Land Lot 19 of the 13th District, owned by Ernest Lee, from R-95 Single Family Residential to Planned Unit Development (PUD). 

 

                                    Ms. Adams made a motion to deny the request, seconded by Mr. Judson.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Resolution -                 Request was made to consider a Resolution by the City Council of

Surplus                        the City of Forest Park declaring certain City property, listed on

Property:                     Exhibit A, to be surplus property and to provide for its proper disposal either by auction or other methods pursuant to the City’s Ordinances; and for other purposes.

                                   

                                    Mr. Judson made a motion to approve the Resolution, seconded by Ms. McCord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Resolution – Ga.         Request was made to consider a Resolution by the City of Forest

Cities Week:                Park recognizing Georgia Cities Week, April 18-24, 2010 and encouraging all citizens to support the celebration and corresponding activities.

 

                                    Ms. Lord made a motion to approve the Resolution, seconded by Ms. McCord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous

 

Ordinance -                 Request was made to consider an Ordinance by the City Council of

Sprinkler Systems:      Forest Park, Georgia, to amend Title 4, Chapter 2, Article B of the Code of Ordinances of the City pertaining to Fire Prevention and Protection, and adding the requirement for Sprinkler Systems in new residential and multi-family dwellings in the City; to provide for severability; to repeal all Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.

 

                                    Mr. Judson made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Ms. McCord.  Voting for the motion was unanimous

 

Resolution -                Request was made to consider a Resolution by the City of Forest

Southern Regional      Park recognizing and supporting Southern Regional Medical

Medical Center’s         Center’s Certificate of Need Application to offer Open Heart

Certificate of Need     Surgery; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.

Open Heart Surgery:  

                                    Ms. Lord made a motion to approve the Resolution, seconded by Ms. Williams. Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Comments:                  Ms. Lord stated the Neighborhood Watch meeting is being held tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. at the Police Department.

 

                                    Dr. Beeler spoke.  He stated he is on the Clayton County Complete Count Committee and encouraged everyone to fill out their Census forms.

 

Adjournment:              Ms. Lord made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Ms. Adams.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

                                    The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.