M I N U T E S
REGULAR MEETING OF
MAYOR & COUNCIL OF
Call to Order: The regular meeting of Mayor
and Council of
Invocation: The invocation was given by Councilman Lord followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
Present: Mayor Charles Hall, Mayor Pro-tem H. H. Estes, Councilmen David Halcome, Wesley Lord, Donald Judson and Councilwoman Debbie Youmans.
Also present were City Manager William Werner, Director of Finance Mike Blandenburg, Director of Support Services Christine Terrell, Management Analyst Angela Redding, Fire Chief Eddie Buckholts and Pamela Everett of the City Attorneys Office.
Approval of
minutes: Mr. Estes made a motion to
approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Mayor and Council of
Recess: Mayor Hall recessed the meeting to hold a Public Hearing.
Public Hearing: Mayor Hall opened the Public Hearing to receive comments on the tax increase due to reassessment of property.
Mr. Blandenburg stated this tax increase is the result of property reassessments. He stated this increased the tax digest by $5.2 million dollars, increasing tax revenues to the City in the amount of $30,000.
Mayor Hall asked if there was anyone present to speak.
The following citizens spoke:
- Ms. Louise Judson
- Mr. Mike Bragdon
No one else was present to speak.
Mayor Hall closed the Public Hearing.
Public Hearing: Mayor Hall opened the Public Hearing to receive comments on the tax increase due to increase in millage rate.
Mayor Hall asked if there was anyone present to speak.
The following citizens spoke:
- Mr. James Pate
No one else was present to speak.
Mayor Hall closed the Public Hearing and reconvened the meeting.
New On-Premises Request was made for a new on-premises
Beer License - consumption alcohol license for beer only from
Quisqueya High: Quisqueya High, Inc. D/B/A Taqueria
Y Pupuseria LA Internacional,
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the new on-premises consumption alcohol license for beer only from Quisqueya High, Inc., seconded by Mr. Halcome. Voting for the motion was unanimous.
Resolution - Request was made to consider a Resolution by
Agreement with the City Council to authorize the Mayor to sign
Ga. DOT: an Intergovernmental
Agreement with the State of Georgia Department of Transportation to perform a
study to determine the appropriate improvements for the Forest Park Farmers
Market; to set an effective date; and for other purposes.
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the Resolution, seconded by Mr. Lord.
Mr. Judson asked the purpose of the Resolution for the Farmers Market as it would pertain to the City. Mr. Werner explained the Council approved a marketing study for the Farmers Market approximately three years ago as part of the extension of the Livable Centers Initiative. Out of that study, it was determined retail revitalization of that market would have significant impact on the cities surrounding that area in terms of retail, restaurant. This study would set out a transportation plan, internal and external to the market, that would accommodate a retail expansion of the market. He stated this study would cost the City nothing.
Ms. Youmans stated there was no agreement attached to the Resolution for her to review.
Ms. Youmans asked for a roll call vote:
Ms. Youmans - no, not because she is against the project, but because she was not given the proper amount of information and this agreement was just received.
Mr. Halcome - yes
Mr. Estes - yes
Mr. Judson - yes
Mr. Lord - yes
The motion carried.
Ordinance: The
Ordinance by the City Council of the City of
EDAW Contract: Forest Park authorizing the Mayor
to enter into a contract with EDAW,
Inc. to provide professional planning services for the Farmers Market
Transportation Improvement Study and Master Plan project in an amount not to
exceed three hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($350,000); to provide an
effective date; and for other purposes was withdrawn from the agenda until a
later date.
Ordinance – transfer The Ordinance to transfer fifteen thousand
of $15,000 for dollars ($15,000) from the unappropriated
Farmers Market balance of the General Fund to Account Number
Study: 220-21-4210-52-1200
for project administration assistance for the State Farmers Market
Transportation Improvement Study and Master Plan; to provide an effective date;
and for other purposes was removed from the agenda.
Resolution - A revised Resolution was presented authorizing
Contract with Jack the Mayor to enter into a contract with Jack
Burnside- Farmers Burnside for project administration assistance
Market Study: for the State Farmers Market
Transportation Improvement Study and Master Plan, in the amount of fifteen
thousand dollars ($15,000) with costs to be paid from the funds received from
the Georgia Department of Transportation for the Farmers Market Transportation
Improvement Study and Master Plan; to provide an effective date; and for other
purposes.
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the Resolution, seconded by Mr. Lord.
Ms. Youmans requested a roll call vote:
Ms. Youmans - no, because we just received the contract
Mr. Halcome - yes
Mr. Estes - yes
Mr. Judson - yes
Mr. Lord - yes
The motion carried.
Resolution to
apply Request was made to consider
a Resolution by
for TEA Funds: the City Council of the City of Forest Park authorizing the Mayor to apply for Transportation Enhancement Funds (TEA) in the amount of $800,000 with a Local Match of $200,000 for additional Streetscape Improvements on Main Street; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the Resolution, seconded by Mr. Lord.
Mayor Hall stated the $200,000 match has been promised from the SPLOST funding.
Mr. Estes called for the question. Voting was unanimous.
Voting for the motion to approve the Resolution was unanimous.
Resolution – Final Request was made to consider a Resolution
Flat: requesting authorization for the City Manager to sign a Final Plat as approval of the City Council of Forest Park for the subdivision of single family residential development.
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the Resolution, seconded by Mr. Lord. Voting for the motion was unanimous.
Ordinance - Request was made to consider an Ordinance
Increase fees
for by the City Council of the
City of
Medical Treatment & to increase the fees for Medical Treatment
Emergency Services: and Emergency services provided by the Forest Park Department of Fire and Medical Services pursuant to the Georgia Medicare 2005 Ground Ambulance Fee Schedule; to provide an effective date and for other purposes.
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Mr. Lord. Voting for the motion was unanimous.
Ordinance to Request was made to consider an Ordinance by
establish final
ad the City Council of the City
of
valorem tax millage establish the final ad valorem tax millage rate
rate: for the City of Forest Park, Georgia to provide for severability; and for other purposes.
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the Ordinance to establish the ad valorem tax millage rate at 6.593 mills, seconded by Mr. Halcome.
It was discussed that since the one mill increase would generate $400,000, the increase could be adjusted to just fund only the employee raises and pay scale adjustment of $280,000.
Mr. Estes called for the question. Voting was unanimous.
Ms. Youmans requested a roll call vote.
Ms. Youmans- no, it should be decreased to match the exact amount of the employee raises
Mr. Halcome - yes
Mr. Estes - yes
Mr. Judson - yes
Mr. Lord - yes
The motion carried.
Ordinance – increase Request was made to consider an Ordinance
In Mayor Salary: authorizing an increase in the Monthly Compensation to the Mayor, pursuant to City Charter Section 2.14 from one thousand two hundred dollars per month to one thousand six hundred dollars per month and to increase the number of hours worked per year; to provide for an effective date; and for other purposes.
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Mr. Lord.
It was discussed that monies will come from the present budget to fund the Mayor and Council increases.
Mr. Estes called for the question. Voting was unanimous.
Ms. Youmans requested a roll call vote.
Ms. Youmans - no
Mr. Halcome - yes
Mr. Estes - yes
Mr. Judson - no
Mr. Lord - yes
The motion carried.
Ordinance – increase Request was made to consider an Ordinance
In Mayor
Expense amending City Code
Section
Allowance: Compensation and Monthly
Expense Allowance for the Mayor to authorize an increase in the monthly expense
allowance to the Mayor from two hundred fifty dollars to three hundred fifty
dollars per month; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.
Mr. Lord made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Mr. Estes.
Ms. Youmans requested a roll call vote.
Ms. Youmans - no, it has been less than 10 to 12 years, it was 1999
Mr. Halcome - yes
Mr. Estes - yes
Mr. Judson - no
Mr. Lord - yes
The motion carried.
Ordinance - Request was made to consider an Ordinance by
Increase in monthly the Members of the City Council to authorize an
Salary: increase in the
monthly salary for the City Council members from eight hundred dollars per
month to one thousand dollars per month; to provide an effective date; and for
other purposes
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Mr. Lord.
Ms. Youmans requested a roll call vote.
Ms. Youmans - no
Mr. Halcome - yes
Mr. Estes - yes
Mr. Judson - no
Mr. Lord - yes
The motion carried.
Ordinance – increase Request was made to consider an Ordinance
in Council Expenses: amending City Code Section 2-1-33 Compensation and monthly expenses of members of the City Council to authorize an increase in the monthly expense allowance for the City Council members from one hundred fifty dollars to two hundred fifty dollars per month; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Mr. Lord.
Ms. Youmans requested a roll call vote.
Ms. Youmans - no
Mr. Halcome - yes
Mr. Estes- yes
Mr. Judson - no
Mr. Lord - yes
The motion carried.
Ordinance to transfer Request was made to consider an Ordinance
Funds: to transfer funds in
the amount of fifty four thousand five hundred and fifty dollars ($54,550) from
the unappropriated balance of the General Fund to accounts and Line Items
specified by the Director of Finance and the City Manager to appropriate funds
to increase the annual salary pay grades for all job classifications in all
city departments by five percent as provided by Rule II, Section 4, Salary
Adjustments of the City’s Personnel Rules and Regulations; to provide an
effective date; and for other purposes.
Mr. Lord made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Mr. Estes. Voting for the motion was unanimous.
Ordinance to amend Request was made to consider an Ordinance to
Pay Plan: amend the City’s Pay
Plan to increase the minimum salaries for all positions by five percent (5%);
to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Mr. Halcome. Voting for the motion was unanimous.
Ordinance to transfer Request was made to consider an Ordinance to
Funds: transfer funds in the amount of two hundred twenty seven thousand dollars ($227,000) from the unappropriated balance of the General Fund to accounts and line items specified by the Director of Finance and the City Manager to appropriate funds for merit increases for the various departments as provided by Rule II, Section 5, Salary Advancements of the City’s Personnel Rules and Regulations; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Mr. Lord. Voting for the motion was unanimous.
Ordinance to provide Request was made to consider an Ordinance to
Merit
increases: by the Mayor and
Council of the City of
Mr. Estes made a motion to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Mr. Lord. Voting for the motion was unanimous.
Reappointments to The following reappointments to Boards were
Boards: tabled.
Architectural Design Review Board – (3
year terms)
Ralph Willis Ron Gossett
Agnes Martin
Planning and Zoning Board – (4 year terms)
David Rashmir Mary Parker
Agnes Martin Darnell Moorer
Mr. Estes made a motion to remove the reappointments from the table, seconded by Ms. Youmans. Voting for the motion was unanimous.
Mayor Hall stated Ralph Willis and Ron Gossett have asked to be removed from the ADR Board and a request made to appoint Mr. Steve Brumlow to the Board.
Mr. Estes made a motion to reappoint David Rashmir, Mary Parker, Agnes Martin and Darnell Moorer for another four year term on the Planning and Zoning Board, seconded by Mr. Lord. Voting for the motion was unanimous.
Comment Period Mrs. Louise Judson spoke about businesses on
By
Public:
Mr. Mike Bragdon spoke concerning the funding of pay raises.
Mr. James Pate spoke concerning the increase in taxes.
Mr. Ronnie
Blackmon spoke concerning the red lights in the City of
Mr. Roy Lunsford spoke concerning the Department of Transportation Agreement, streamlining City departments, pay raises, take home vehicles, millage rate increase and public opinion.
Comments by Ms. Youmans asked to go on record that she wanted
Governing Body: to squelch a rumor that she heard that she has been dancing at the Crazy Horse and her husband and herself are going to the Crazy Horse late at night drinking, and this is not true.
Adjournment: Mr. Estes made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Lord. Voting for the motion was unanimous.
The meeting
adjourned at