M I N U T E S

 

REGULAR MEETING OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF MAY 3, 2010

 

 

 

 

Call to Order:               The Regular Meeting of Mayor and Council of May 3, 2010 was called to order by Mayor Corine Deyton at 7:00 p.m.

 

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

 

Roll Call:                      Mayor Corine Deyton, Mayor Pro-tem Sparkle Adams, Councilman Donald Judson and Councilwomen Karen-Brandee Williams, Maudie McCord and Linda Lord.

 

                                    Also present were City Manager John Parker, Director of Finance Mike Blandenburg, Director of Planning, Building and Zoning Steve Pearson, Director of Support Services Christine Terrell, Deputy Director of Recreation and Leisure Services Sharon Smith, Chief Eddie Buckholts, Major Tommy Orr, Director of Public Works Mike Gippert and City Attorney Robert Mack.

 

Approval of                  Mr. Judson made a motion to approve the minutes of the Special

Minutes:                       Meeting of April 14th, the Work Session of April 19th and the Regular Meeting of April 19th with the necessary corrections, seconded by Ms. Williams.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

Comment Period:          Mr. Carl Evans spoke concerning a safety issue at Starr Park on Thursday evening.  He stated a child came up missing and you could not hear the description of the child through the emergency warning system the City has in place.  He stated he was across the street at the t-ball field and he could not hear anything.  He said this system should be loud enough for people to hear it.

 

                                    Ms. Christine Ellington spoke.  She thanked code enforcement for stepping it up and she can see where efforts have been done. She also commended the efforts of the police department in their help in locating the missing child at the park. 

 

                                    Mr. Roy Lunsford spoke.  He stated there was a public hearing concerning a borrow pit and there was a call for anyone to speak for or against it.  He stated his wife was going to speak and the other person jumped up and got in front of her.  He stated the Council should have been in control of that meeting but failed to control it.  He stated he felt his wife was disrespected and stated the Council should abide by the rules that are set.  He also stated our major streets are in worst shape now than when complaints started.  He stated this includes houses and yards and sidewalks.  He stated the City has planted flowers which look good, but it is not what the citizen’s want or need. He said it is nice to ride down the Parkway and see the nice things, but most of the people that ride the Parkway are only here for a few minutes.  They don’t have to live here knowing that half a block on each side of the Parkway there is slums of our houses, disrepair, unkept yard, overgrown sidewalks, gang graffiti, sinkholes, potholes, and broken and neglected cars.   

 

                                    Steve Pearson responded to the comments made by Ms. Ellington at the last Council meeting.  She brought up fencing which she regards as a big issue.  She stated from what she understood there is a 4/8 Ordinance  which means nothing up in front, going to the front of your house should  be over 4 ft. high and the sides and back over 8 ft. and there is clearly a violation at 658 Linda Way. She was told there was no such 4/8 in the Ordinance.  Response:  There is no 4/8 in the Ordinance ( 4’ and 8’  height limitation of fence).  The City of Forest Park has two sections relating to fencing – Sec. 8-8-78 (fences) and 8-8-36 (visual clearance), both adopted in 1959.  He stated 8-8-78 was amended in July of 2005 to prohibit barbed wired, razor wire and electrical wire fencing in residential districts.  8-8-36 (visual clearance) is in the process of amendment to provide for a maximum height in residential zones to 8 feet from its current regulation of 15 feet.  He stated what Ms. Ellington referenced is not an adopted ordinance, but a misrepresentation of a regulation included in the general summary of the code and compliance regulations depicted on the City’s website.  He asked that this be removed.  

 

                                    The second issue concerns Harold Crumbley being approached to erect a cell tower on Forest Park United Methodist Church property and asked for favorable consideration when this matter comes before Council.  Response:  Mayor and Council adopted telecommunication towers Ordinance 12/3/96.  The Ordinance established general guidelines for the citing of these towers and to whereon these towers and antennas could be located.  In order to protect the residential areas in the City, the Council restricted these towers to be located in industrial zoned areas.  The City of Forest Park Ordinance 8-10-9 (zoning requirements for location of telecommunications towers) states no conditional use permit to construct a tower or monopole or to locate an antenna on an existing building, structure, tower or monopole shall be issued unless the location has been zoned industrial under the zoning powers of the City.  He stated an application to erect a tower at the Forest Park Methodist Church could not even be considered because the zoning classification is R-80 Single Family Residential.  He also stated should the ordinance be amended to allow cell towers in the R-80 Single Family Residential Zoning for this cell tower to be located at the Church, cell towers would then be allowed in any R-80 residential zone which equates to roughly 70% of the City.

 

                                    At the last Council Meeting, Mr. Willie Finch made a complaint about the graffiti on his daughter’s new fence and the ticket she received. Mr. Finch also asked if this happened again, would she receive another citation.  Response:  Mr. Pearson stated contact was made with Ms. Finch regarding the graffiti on December 7, 2009 and she was advised of the code violation at that time.  After no attempts were made to remove the graffiti on February 23, 2010, a certified letter was sent giving her 30 days to restore the fence and/or appeal the decision.  After no response, on April 13, 2010 Ms. Finch was cited for violation of 302.9 Defacement of Property with a court date of May 14th.  He stated initial contact with Ms. Finch was made on Dec. 7th and the citation was issued on April 13th, 136 days later.  He also stated if the fence should be painted with graffiti again, it would be the same violation and the same remedy. Yes, a citation would be issued for non-compliance.

 

                                    Mr. Gippert addressed a complaint made by Mr. Roy Lunsford concerning potholes on Forest Parkway.   Mr. Gippert stated he called the Ga. State DOT and today he was contacted by the new Maintenance Engineer and he promised to address the potholes on 19/41, Forest Parkway and Jonesboro Road by the end of the week.

 

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

Forest Park                  of the City of Forest Park authorizing the Mayor to execute a

Basqueball                    License Agreement with Forest Park Basqueball League for the

League:                        use of Forest Park Recreation Gym from June 5, 2010 through August 1, 2010 to conduct Basqueball League Games; to provide for severability; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.

 

                                    Mr. Judson 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

Clayton County            for the City of Forest Park, Georgia to amend the Code of

Health Codes:               Ordinances of the City so as to adopt by reference certain Clayton County Board of Health Codes, rules and regulations; to provide for severability; to repeal all Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.

 

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

 

Board:                          Request was made to consider the following Board appointments:

Appointments:

                                                Ethics Board (2 year terms - 5/3/10 – 5/3/12): 

                                                             Ward 1 – Patrice Roberson 

                                                             Ward 2 – Phyllis Cooper

                                                             Ward 3 - Tempy Hebart

                                                             Ward 4 – Willie Finch

                                                             Ward 5 -  Joe Wimberly

 

                                                Planning and Zoning Board  (4 year terms – 5/3/10 – 5/3/14)

                                                            Deverick Williams

                                                            Don Wright

                                                            Darnell Moorer

                                                            Glenn Mathis

                                                            Margarine Harris

 

                                    Planning and Zoning Appeals Board (5 year terms – 5/3/10 – 5/3/15)                                                          Frank Deaton

                                                William Folds

                                                Christophe X Buggs

 

                                    Board of Appeals (International Property Maintenance Code –

                                                                                        (4 year terms – 5/3/10 – 5/3/14)

                                                Craig Mims

                                                Eddie Robinson

                                                Christopher Jones

 

                                    Architectural Design Review Board (3 year terms – 5/3/10 – 5/3/13)

                                                Rodney Givens

                                                Gary Goodman

                                                Ron Gossett

                                                Ron Dodson

                                                Yahya M. A. Hassan

 

                                    Ms. Lord made a motion to approve the Board appointments, seconded by Ms. Adams.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

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

Surplus Property:          the City of Forest Park Declaring Certain City Property, listed on 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. Williams.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

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

Transfer of funds:          Park authorizing the Director of Finance to transfer funds for the Department of Public Works Fleet Division in the amount of $45,000.00 from Line Item 100-27-4900-53-1270 Gas All Departments to Line Item 100-27-4900-52-1712 Equipment Maintenance All Departments, to cover needed funding for the remainder of the 2009-2010 Budget Year; and for other purposes.

 

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

 

Other Business:             Ms. Adams made a motion to suspend the rules and add an item to the agenda, seconded by Mr. Judson.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

                                    Ms. Lord made a motion to modify the judge structure by reducing the number of judges from three to two judges, seconded by Ms. Adams.  Voting for the motion was unanimous.

 

                                    Ms. Adams stated there will be a Ward 1 Clean-Up Day on May 15th and encouraged everyone to participate.

 

                                    Ms. Lord reminded everyone the Southside Neighborhood Watch meeting will be tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. at the Police Department and Thursday night there will be a Southside Homeowners Association Meeting and we will be wrapping up our efforts to deal with the airport.

 

                                    Ms. Williams stated she is having a Meet and Greet this Friday at Forest Park United Methodist Church and encouraged everyone in her ward to attend.

                                   

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

 

                                    The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.