2016-12-27 · City Council · Transcript · Work Session Meeting

--- title: December 27 2016 Work Session Meeting date: 2016-12-27 source: 2016-12-27_December_27_2016_Work_Session_Meeting.wav --- [0:00:20, 0:00:20]: Yeah. [0:00:22, 0:00:26]: I want to ask a question if anyone publicly speaks [0:00:29, 0:00:40]: Find those out in the lobby if you want to during the the evening. So if you have not, um go get your phone. [0:00:42, 0:00:44]: three minute period to speak. [0:00:48, 0:00:48]: Uh [0:00:49, 0:00:53]: I need a motion to open it. Uh no, call to order and you hit the head. [0:00:55, 0:01:07]: I wanna tell y'all this is my coach. He has been the mayor of Pro Cham for the year, so um Anthony Ford, uh our mayor Pro Chim. Okay. [0:01:08, 0:01:23]: Thank you. Okay. Now then officially we'll get started with this meeting. We're delighted to have everyone here this evening. And at this point I would um do we need a motion to open the meeting? No, no ma'am, you need invocation. Someone to give invocation. Okay. [0:01:24, 0:01:37]: All right. I'll tell you what I would love to do at this time. If you would uh bear with me one more time, I would love to do the invocation for the evening. So if I could ask everyone to please stand and bow your heads. [0:01:40, 0:01:44]: Dear Heavenly Father, we ask you that you be in this space with us this evening. [0:01:44, 0:01:48]: Give us pure hearts that we're here for the right reason. [0:01:48, 0:01:53]: to run the business of our city in a very cohesive manner. [0:01:54, 0:01:55]: We're all on one team, Lord. [0:01:56, 0:02:01]: And we just ask that you would guide us and direct us so that whatever decisions we make [0:02:01, 0:02:07]: will be for the benefit of our wonderful city, the city of Stockbridge. This prayer we ask in your name. Amen. [0:02:08, 0:02:12]: And if you would at this point uh join me in pledging the flag. [0:02:13, 0:02:17]: But do we specify how we can understand? [0:02:19, 0:02:23]: But what it says one nation, one job, one [0:02:27, 0:02:31]: Uh before you sit down, I want you to do something else for me. [0:02:31, 0:02:31]: Um [0:02:32, 0:02:45]: I am used to being in the state Senate this time of year, right after Christmas, and every day there we pledge the Georgia flag. And there's a dollar bill that I'm gonna give to the person that tells me that they know the pledge to the Georgia flag. [0:02:47, 0:03:05]: Okay. All right. Listen up, we're gonna learn it because if we're gonna have it up here, we're gonna honor it. Otherwise we have to move it out of the room. So here it goes. There are three key words to the pledge of the Georgia flag, and those are made up by the motto of the state of Georgia. And the motto is real simple. [0:03:06, 0:03:07]: Wisdom? [0:03:08, 0:03:09]: Justice. [0:03:09, 0:03:10]: in moderation. [0:03:11, 0:03:14]: That's the Georgia Matto wisdom. [0:03:14, 0:03:16]: justice and moderation. [0:03:17, 0:03:20]: And the flag pledge is very similar to that. [0:03:21, 0:03:24]: I pledge allegiance to the Georgia flag. [0:03:25, 0:03:29]: and to the principles for which it stands. [0:03:29, 0:03:33]: wisdom, justice and moderation. [0:03:33, 0:03:34]: Okay? [0:03:34, 0:03:40]: Now if you have trouble remembering those words, I'm going to take just a minute to tell you how you can remember'em. [0:03:41, 0:03:42]: I'm gonna be Wilson. [0:03:43, 0:03:45]: Councilman Blount, it's going to be [0:03:46, 0:03:47]: Wisdom, justice. [0:03:48, 0:03:52]: And Councilman Alexander over here is gonna be moderation. [0:03:52, 0:03:57]: So you got it? Wisdom, justice, moderation. Okay, let's pledge the Georgia flag. [0:03:59, 0:04:05]: I pledge allegiance to the Georgia flag and to the principles for which it stands. [0:04:06, 0:04:09]: wisdom, justice and moderation. [0:04:10, 0:04:11]: Okay, we're good to go. [0:04:16, 0:04:17]: [258.1, 259.9]: At this time um [0:04:20, 0:04:22]: Let's ask for a roll call. [0:04:23, 0:04:26]: Councilman Alexander. [0:04:26, 0:04:27]: Councilman Blair. [0:04:27, 0:04:27]: President. [0:04:28, 0:04:29]: No? [0:04:29, 0:04:31]: Present. Councilman Ford. [0:04:32, 0:04:40]: Mayor Pro Tem Ford, present. Mayor Pro Tem Ford. Thank you. Councilwoman Gett? Present. Councilwoman Robinson? Present. Mayor, you have a corn. [0:04:42, 0:04:43]: [284.8, 289.1]: At this time we are going to um [0:04:50, 0:04:58]: Adopt the agenda for the evening if you all have your agenda in front of you. [0:05:01, 0:05:03]: [307.0, 323.9]: Okay. All right. We're gonna review minutes before we do that. So if um everybody you have your minutes in your book, we've already read those. Do I hear a motion that we accept the minutes from eleven fourteen? We have to [0:05:27, 0:05:38]: All right, that's good. He's coaching me that we are going to review the minutes tonight, but we won't vote on them until we get to the regular council meeting. So is everybody okay with that? [0:05:39, 0:05:44]: Okay, have you all already read all your minutes? Everybody's review. Okay? So that's all we have to do. [0:05:46, 0:05:50]: Right, unless there are any questions unless they have any questions on that. All right, now [0:05:50, 0:05:54]: If you have questions, let's hear those right now, otherwise we'll move forward. [0:05:56, 0:05:56]: Okay. [0:05:57, 0:06:04]: At this time, um again, if you have your public comment sheets back in, take those to the clerk. [0:06:09, 0:06:13]: No, that's this like a card youth. [0:06:16, 0:06:26]: Yeah, because we don't have to send page. Madam Mayor. I'm going to take this back. Okay. Okay. [0:06:29, 0:06:30]: Madam Mayor. [0:06:31, 0:06:38]: Madam Mayor, um I would like to make a motion to adopt the agenda. [0:06:38, 0:06:41]: Okay. Thank you very much. [0:06:41, 0:06:50]: Okay. We've done the minutes, we've adopted the agenda and now we have discussed the public comment options. Excuse me, Mayor, you have to make a motion. [0:06:52, 0:06:53]: It was secondary. [0:06:53, 0:06:56]: Th there's a motion on the floor, it just needs to be voted on. [0:06:56, 0:06:57]: Okay. [0:06:58, 0:06:59]: All right. All in favor? [0:07:01, 0:07:02]: A post? [0:07:02, 0:07:05]: Okay, we're good to go. Sorry that we got off track there. [0:07:06, 0:07:08]: Okay, at this point um [0:07:08, 0:07:18]: On our agenda is old business and that will deal with our public hearing on the final reading and adoption of our proposed [0:07:21, 0:07:24]: Do we have any public comments? Okay. [0:07:25, 0:07:26]: All right. Well [0:07:26, 0:07:37]: It looks like we need to just back up and start over again. Okay. Uh would you call the names of the people who signed up for public comments and then we'll have them come up and they have three minutes each to speak. [0:07:38, 0:07:40]: Okay. Miss Melinda West, please. [0:07:47, 0:07:50]: And you can both come on up, that'll be fine. [0:07:51, 0:07:56]: And when you come to the microphone, would you state your name and your address where you live? [0:08:05, 0:08:08]: [492.8, 493.4]: Oh [0:08:14, 0:08:23]: Hello, Robert West, uh one thirty five Winsong Drive. Robert West, one thirty five Winsong Drive. [0:08:24, 0:08:24]: Uh [0:08:26, 0:08:30]: First of all, congratulations, um mayor. [0:08:33, 0:08:35]: I mean I'll make it brief, but [0:08:37, 0:08:39]: I was here to let everyone know [0:08:40, 0:08:41]: That uh [0:08:42, 0:08:43]: I'm the owner of [0:08:43, 0:08:46]: French quarter entrees, which is uh [0:08:47, 0:08:50]: Package ice cream, wholesale retail business. [0:08:51, 0:08:52]: Uh [0:08:53, 0:08:55]: tried to join the food truck Tuesday. [0:08:56, 0:08:56]: Event. [0:08:58, 0:08:59]: Was denied. [0:09:00, 0:09:01]: Well [0:09:03, 0:09:07]: acts to submit business license and [0:09:08, 0:09:12]: Put your insurance in the name of the city of Stockbridge [0:09:12, 0:09:14]: And all of this [0:09:15, 0:09:16]: Uh [0:09:17, 0:09:19]: By Ms Grant. [0:09:21, 0:09:22]: Like we were gonna be in it. [0:09:23, 0:09:24]: Never happened. [0:09:26, 0:09:27]: Phone call to my wife. [0:09:27, 0:09:28]: Saying. [0:09:29, 0:09:31]: We don't want that kind of business. [0:09:31, 0:09:32]: Uh [0:09:33, 0:09:35]: You gotta get with the food truck people. [0:09:37, 0:09:39]: This, that and the third, you know [0:09:40, 0:09:44]: Never, ever, ever apply to this again. [0:09:44, 0:09:51]: You know, you have to go through all these levels and all this, talk to the food truck peop okay, well okay, I talked to the food truck lady. [0:09:52, 0:09:57]: heavy set African American lady. She just sits in the car down on the hill. [0:09:57, 0:09:59]: Well she said uh [0:10:01, 0:10:04]: We need to join Food Truck Coalition's five hundred dollars. [0:10:04, 0:10:07]: Well how much is it going to be to get in? She don't know. [0:10:09, 0:10:10]: Uh [0:10:11, 0:10:13]: You just, you know, come out here and just [0:10:14, 0:10:20]: set up and y she don't know how much it's gonna be. You just you're gonna give her part of whatever you make. [0:10:21, 0:10:24]: Like, okay, well, that's not how I [0:10:25, 0:10:27]: I do business, you know what I mean? I raise four kids in this [0:10:28, 0:10:29]: County. [0:10:29, 0:10:30]: Yeah, been uh [0:10:32, 0:10:33]: You know, citizen with [0:10:34, 0:10:35]: Clean record. [0:10:37, 0:10:37]: You know. [0:10:38, 0:10:42]: Police will call it, I set up by myself that property owner's permission. [0:10:43, 0:10:44]: Way down from Nibia. [0:10:45, 0:10:50]: Police will call, told me get off the property. City manager came out and told me [0:10:51, 0:10:53]: Well where's your licence? Where's your [0:10:54, 0:10:55]: Oh [0:10:56, 0:10:57]: You're right to sell. [0:10:57, 0:10:58]: And all this [0:10:58, 0:11:00]: What a property owner. I submitted all that. [0:11:02, 0:11:06]: Next thing I know, the police came and got me off the property, told me [0:11:06, 0:11:07]: The license no good. [0:11:08, 0:11:08]: Yeah. [0:11:09, 0:11:11]: You know, cardner the city manager. [0:11:12, 0:11:12]: And your [0:11:13, 0:11:14]: You know you gotta leave. [0:11:15, 0:11:18]: And I've lost money since then. [0:11:18, 0:11:20]: You know, and uh [0:11:21, 0:11:31]: Something you know. Something you know uh Mr West, your three minutes are up. I appreciate your comments and we will deal with those um after [0:11:31, 0:11:35]: tonight, Mrs. West, at the same address. [0:11:35, 0:11:46]: Okay. Melinda West, one three five Winston Drive. First of all, I want my husband and my statements to vote be included in these m meeting minutes officially. [0:11:46, 0:11:47]: Um [0:11:47, 0:11:53]: Actually, uh my husband was explaining that we were treated like common thugs on the street. [0:11:53, 0:11:54]: Swept off the streets. [0:11:55, 0:12:00]: uh probably um I'm sure it was all Lakeisha Gantt because she called me. [0:12:00, 0:12:07]: on the phone and told me that the type of business we had was not needed in the city of Stockbridge and that the people [0:12:08, 0:12:17]: in the city o of Stockbridge, we would not have to use the Atlanta Food Corps coalition if the people in the city would kick their game up. [0:12:17, 0:12:18]: And I say, Well [0:12:18, 0:12:22]: Are we allowed to get in after we went and got insurance? [0:12:23, 0:12:28]: We followed all the processes and procedures and policies that you all had in place. [0:12:28, 0:12:29]: But of course [0:12:30, 0:12:45]: I have documents that was changed throughout the process. We never was told that we had to that you all had a contract I had to go through and follow up myself after my husband and I had went through [0:12:45, 0:12:51]: bringing documents here and uh following up and and and actually being misled [0:12:52, 0:13:00]: that we were gonna be a part of a food truck coalition. Then we were I was dem uh talked to in a diminishing way [0:13:01, 0:13:20]: de degraded and humili publicly humiliated because my husband and I was um had oh say okay we left the food truck alone in the city of Stockbridge and we went down the street and got a private owner who I also have a copy of his letter saying we was okay to sell there and and we were [0:13:20, 0:13:30]: follow up with a police officer approaching us and pushing us off the lot. Which in course we lost a lot of money and like I said publicly humiliated. [0:13:31, 0:13:34]: And as my husband said, we have raised four kids. [0:13:34, 0:13:38]: We lived in Henry County for I think this is going on about [0:13:38, 0:13:43]: maybe eighteen years. Now we've been in the city of Stockbridge maybe three and a half years. [0:13:43, 0:14:02]: But we have lived in Ellen Wood and the Stockbridge area for quite a while and we are familiar with the area. And our questions are before my three minutes uh is uh over, I would like to this people in the city of Stockbridge and the Henry County residents, I would like [0:14:03, 0:14:05]: Us to be [0:14:06, 0:14:07]: the people dead. [0:14:08, 0:14:14]: we go to for businesses and to be considered for all the public events. [0:14:15, 0:14:27]: so that it can be community oriented, so that the community can put the money back in the community po uh pockets, the taxes. I think that's what the entire community would want. [0:14:27, 0:14:38]: not to have the money flowing outside of the community. I think whoever made the contract was kinda foolish because that's not really beneficial to the community at all. [0:14:39, 0:14:49]: I want to thank both of you for coming and presenting your case and all of your comments will be taken up when the food truck Tuesday event is planned for next year. [0:14:49, 0:14:51]: If it is if it is pliant. [0:14:52, 0:14:55]: your comments will be printed up and put in before the committee. [0:14:56, 0:14:59]: Thank you so much. And congratulations, I'm sorry. [0:14:59, 0:15:00]: Thank you. [0:15:01, 0:15:05]: Okay. Now then we've heard about um [0:15:05, 0:15:10]: some things that have gone wrong, but let's hear about something that hopefully is gonna go right. [0:15:10, 0:15:15]: And this is uh taking up uh we're moving into our public hearing [0:15:16, 0:15:17]: At this point in time. [0:15:17, 0:15:20]: Do I need a motion to go into public hearing? [0:15:21, 0:15:21]: Followed. [0:15:22, 0:15:22]: Okay. [0:15:23, 0:15:37]: Then we are going to start with our city manager who is going to present a portion uh or get us started on our budget for twenty seventeen. The goal of the budget is to have a balanced budget. So [0:15:38, 0:15:41]: Let's hear what they are bringing to us at this time. [0:15:41, 0:15:43]: Okay. Um thank you, Mayor. [0:15:43, 0:15:45]: Good evening, Council. [0:15:45, 0:15:51]: Uh this is the third official hearing rehearing of the of the of the budget. [0:15:52, 0:16:03]: after the last meeting um in conversation with the mayor and based on some of the conversations that took place after the last hearing a request was made to go back and look at [0:16:03, 0:16:20]: um making modifications to the proposed draft to get it to the number that would not involve dipping into the fund balance at all. So myself working in conjunction with our treasurer missiles and neighbors, we went back and identified several items um that could be [0:16:21, 0:16:24]: removed from the current proposed budget [0:16:25, 0:16:45]: Certainly for future consideration should that be the case, but the the thought was with the intent of having a budget that matched expenditures matching revenues without the need for going into fund balance. I believe that's been presented to all the council members for your consideration. So uh myself, Miss Neighbors, I [0:16:44, 0:16:47]: [1013.9, 1021.6]: Councilman Alexand I mean sorry, uh Councilman Ford who is serving as our president pro tem of the [0:17:01, 0:17:02]: Right. [0:17:03, 0:17:11]: All right, let's start this off here. First of all, um council, mayor and citizens, initially when this budget was presented [0:17:11, 0:17:14]: A couple of months ago, about two months now, I guess it is. [0:17:15, 0:17:16]: It seems like that anyway. [0:17:16, 0:17:19]: Um the one point three five seven [0:17:20, 0:17:23]: point five, right? Million dollars come out of fund balance. [0:17:24, 0:17:25]: That [0:17:25, 0:17:26]: Okay. [0:17:26, 0:17:32]: That is not illegal. To pull money out of fund balance, to balance your budget budget is not illegal. [0:17:32, 0:17:44]: It's a different way or method methodology to get a balanced budget. It's probably not the preferred method method, but it's not illegal. And I want to make sure that you understand that since I presented this. [0:17:44, 0:17:49]: I didn't do anything illegal. The council wouldn't do anything illegal if we adopted it originally as proposed. [0:17:49, 0:17:50]: Okay. [0:17:50, 0:17:51]: Now [0:17:52, 0:17:56]: All the items that were in that budget primarily [0:17:57, 0:18:03]: were things that the council had agreed to to do during fiscal year two thousand seventeen. [0:18:03, 0:18:16]: Once again, reband rebranding initiative, amphitheater design, a comprehensive plan, opportunity opportunity zone uh zone applications. All right, help move the city forward. Fiber optic network for the city buildings. [0:18:16, 0:18:30]: replacing any type of aging equipment, light towers and message boards, all those items. Okay? One time purchases to help the city move forward, to build up our downtown area and and have economic uh develop work on the economic development for the city itself during the downtown area. [0:18:31, 0:18:37]: Now I'll tell you, if all those items are not taken out of fund balance now and we balance the budget without that [0:18:38, 0:18:40]: You know what's going to happen during the course of the year? [0:18:41, 0:18:56]: The council has already agreed to these doing the course you will have to have amendments and we'll take make amendments for each of those items and we'll take it chances are we're gonna take it out of fund balance and we'll make several different amendments, whether it's in February, March, June, October, November, whatever. [0:18:57, 0:19:00]: So it's just a methodology, whether you take it out now [0:19:00, 0:19:01]: Or you take it out later. [0:19:02, 0:19:03]: Okay? [0:19:03, 0:19:04]: Should [0:19:04, 0:19:08]: As long as we the council agrees and that there's items that we talked about [0:19:09, 0:19:12]: in our last organized finance meeting [0:19:12, 0:19:15]: that we said that we wanted to have all these things. [0:19:16, 0:19:19]: You know, uh fine, as long as we do those things. [0:19:20, 0:19:25]: That's the bottom line. Now, I can agree to the fact about the land acquisition [0:19:26, 0:19:39]: uh coming out and that was one of the big contentious type items before. You know, but you public and the people that are listening know that we've have been discussing this. Fine, if we want to take it out to help balance but so be it. [0:19:39, 0:19:47]: Eventually if we get to purchase land, guess what? It's gonna come out of fund balance anyway. And you'll know it because we're gonna tell you we know it uh that we're doing this. You'll know that. [0:19:47, 0:20:06]: Same thing I admitted uh last time we were together about our public affair uh information officer. And I believe that uh the and I agree that that after some training and some education problems and other other folks in other cities, then I agreed in the sense that uh that most likely will come out of fund balance as well and I agree the fact we should have that. The city needs that. [0:20:06, 0:20:07]: In that aspect. [0:20:08, 0:20:09]: So on that note [0:20:10, 0:20:14]: Whether we take it off on balance now or later is gonna eventually most likely. [0:20:14, 0:20:25]: the chances are it'll come out of fund balance. If it didn't, there'll be some other pot of money and you would know that because we wouldn't do it without you knowing it in the first place. But I just want to make sure that you understand when the initial budget was presented [0:20:26, 0:20:27]: By me and presented. [0:20:27, 0:20:29]: There was nothing illegal about it. [0:20:30, 0:20:36]: It's perfectly legal to balance the budget that way. It's a different methodology and it's probably not the preferred methodology. [0:20:36, 0:20:40]: But if it's going to help get our budget approved [0:20:40, 0:20:47]: and get it through for twenty seventeen, make the council and the majority of maybe citizen out here happy, so be it. [0:20:48, 0:20:55]: But eventually as we go down the road to make these improvements the things that we agreed to and it come back for addendums. [0:20:55, 0:21:02]: It is gonna have to come out. Once we get it presented to us, we pull it out, have that discussion, it'll come out of fund balance anyway. [0:21:02, 0:21:04]: So whether it's now or later, [0:21:05, 0:21:08]: I just want to make sure I say that at this point. Thank you. [0:21:10, 0:21:11]: Madam Mayor. [0:21:13, 0:21:18]: I I would like to explain something to the audience just to help [0:21:19, 0:21:20]: Um [0:21:21, 0:21:25]: The audience understand uh the comments that were made. [0:21:26, 0:21:27]: A budget [0:21:28, 0:21:30]: When it is put together [0:21:30, 0:21:31]: has to be [0:21:32, 0:21:32]: Um [0:21:33, 0:21:37]: funded on the revenue estimates that are coming in. [0:21:37, 0:21:39]: That is Georgia law. [0:21:40, 0:21:43]: If you go beyond that [0:21:43, 0:21:50]: you do have to dip into your fund balance or emergency fund, whatever title you want to put on that. [0:21:50, 0:21:58]: So that's that's the point of discussion here tonight. And uh does anyone else have a comment they would like to [0:21:59, 0:21:59]: Hi. [0:22:00, 0:22:01]: Councilman Alexander. [0:22:01, 0:22:09]: Yes, uh ladies and gentlemen. Uh uh speaking to uh Mayor Pro Tem's uh point and the overall budget. [0:22:09, 0:22:12]: The one thing that uh this council endeavoured to do [0:22:13, 0:22:21]: was to make Stockbridge uh the great city that it should be, that it could be, that it ought to be, that it used to be. [0:22:22, 0:22:42]: As you drive around the city, one of the things that we did uh we took some money out of the reserve fund to help with um cleaning up the litter and um making sure that we had the grass cut uh when you get off the interstate. So when you pulled off the interstate and the sign says Stock Bridge in Henry County, you wouldn't be embarrassed. [0:22:43, 0:22:49]: Those are the type things that we put in this budget that we fought for. Uh when you come uh down I seventy five [0:22:49, 0:23:09]: and you're looking at the exit to pull off on, uh in order to keep our tax base low, we need to have those exits maintained because if you're a traveler and you're traveling south, we want you to stop in stockbridge. Because every time you spend a dollar for gas or every time you spend a dollar for food and lodging, that's a tax dollar that you don't have to pay. [0:23:10, 0:23:20]: We look at this uh these adjustments as investment uh into the city. Um as Mayor Pro Tem said, you know, this is a collective body and we work together as a team. [0:23:21, 0:23:36]: Uh the compromise position is there was one point five million dollars set aside out of fund balance. Uh the compromise position uh to myself would be to remove the one million dollars in property acquisition as Mayor Pro Tem said, but to leave [0:23:37, 0:23:55]: the remaining money uh into the budget. One of the things that we're trying to do to endeavor is to increase the infrastructure. You've heard a lot about that. One of the key infrastructure to bring quality jobs and development to Henry County is fiber optic connectivity. We're trying to be on the front end. [0:23:56, 0:24:07]: There's a tremendous amount of competition going on uh in the Metro Atlanta area. And I say this, there are gonna be the halves and there's gonna be those that are left behind. [0:24:07, 0:24:09]: If you're not competitive [0:24:09, 0:24:19]: and we want high wage, high paying jobs, you gotta invest in fiber optics and the infrastructure that you need to do to improve your community. [0:24:19, 0:24:23]: I say and I commit it to you all when I was running for office [0:24:23, 0:24:43]: that uh I'm not satisfied with the way North Henry Boulevard looks. And for us to do something about it, we have to invest in it. We can't simply say w we want to make change, we want to make improvement and not put any money there. It is kinda not disingenuous to say that we're going to make all of these changes, but when the time comes, you know [0:24:43, 0:25:03]: Put any money in that column. You just simply cannot do that. And what I ask I'll call on to do is that we're working as a collective body. Let's compromise, take part of it out, uh the property acquisition out, which is over a million dollars, and then use to invest in our city to make it the best that it can. [0:25:03, 0:25:04]: [1507.7, 1509.0]: Any other comments? [0:25:10, 0:25:13]: I have one more for my second time. [0:25:13, 0:25:15]: [1517.1, 1537.1]: The rule I was told they get five minutes on each discussion. So your five minutes are up. Mayor um Madam Mayor, it's actually each council member gets five minutes and they get two five minute sessions actually. So if they want to have a comment and then they want to rebut it, as of now the ordinance hasn't been [0:25:37, 0:25:55]: and changed to list anything but they get to speak twice and after that they have to ask counsel, yield to counsel for extended period of time. But let me ask the counsel because I was told that each person could speak twice for a total of five minutes, so I need a ruling on that. [0:25:55, 0:25:57]: I would like to make a motion, please. [0:25:57, 0:26:02]: Beg your pardon? I think Mike Mike's gonna Mike's gonna the attorney's gonna do this. I'm pulling it up. [0:26:06, 0:26:16]: I may be allowed to just read from the ordinance. Uh it says no member while councils in session shall speak on the matter under discussion without first being recognized by the presiding officer. [0:26:17, 0:26:23]: Nor shall we speak longer than five minutes, nor more than twice upon the same question without the consent of Council. [0:26:25, 0:26:27]: Okay. So was that right? [0:26:28, 0:26:32]: Th the five minutes w is correct. Um [0:26:33, 0:26:37]: If he wishes to speak, if the council so desires to allow him to speak, they can [0:26:37, 0:26:39]: decide to allow'em a speech. [0:26:39, 0:26:40]: Mm-hmm. [0:26:41, 0:26:42]: Okay. [0:26:42, 0:26:43]: Do I have a [0:26:44, 0:26:52]: Yes, you have a motion to extend the uh amount of time for to allow Mayor Portem to make his uh comments. Second. [0:26:53, 0:26:56]: Okay. Motion is second. [0:26:57, 0:26:59]: Discussion. Anybody want to discuss that? [0:27:00, 0:27:01]: Okay. [0:27:01, 0:27:05]: I'm okay with it either way. I'm just trying to follow the the rules that I was told. [0:27:06, 0:27:07]: Okay. [0:27:07, 0:27:08]: All in favour? [0:27:09, 0:27:10]: Okay. [0:27:11, 0:27:16]: On that note, what I forgot to mention earlier is that uh on a document that is before the council and I believe [0:27:16, 0:27:21]: Uh our uh city manager Mike Harris is gonna uh bring this up and further explain some things. [0:27:21, 0:27:24]: It talks about uh concerts and what I wanted to [0:27:24, 0:27:27]: make known is that I'm in favor of having [0:27:27, 0:27:30]: Uh three concerts, uh June, July and August. [0:27:30, 0:27:32]: А форта сидис. [0:27:32, 0:27:38]: And for the second concert to be somewhere around the fourth of July week uh holiday time frame. [0:27:38, 0:27:55]: And also to look at having fireworks uh for that, since that is something that has not occurred in the southern part of the Atlanta metro area that I know of. Um but I would want to mention that as well, be part of this uh budget process, make sure we properly fund for those three concerts. [0:27:55, 0:27:58]: Fourth of July, fireworks for our citizens. Thank you. [0:28:01, 0:28:03]: Anyone else have a comment? [0:28:03, 0:28:05]: Madam Mayor, I have a question. [0:28:05, 0:28:07]: Um thank you. [0:28:07, 0:28:27]: Uh Mr. Harris and and maybe Ms. Napers can answer this question for me. In regards to our twenty seventeen budget, does it not include possible land acquisition revenue that's coming in? We we haven't included that as of yet, correct? So that if we received some revenue from [0:28:27, 0:28:47]: Um either revenue, expected revenue from whatever type of um whether we were to sell land or something of that nature. If it is not included, we then can amend the budget to include these items that are taken out at this time. That's correct. Um the prospect [0:28:47, 0:29:06]: of revenues from potential sales of city properties is not included in in the estimated in the current draft budget. And if I if I could just kind of clarify a couple of points, I think it is important to kind of go through the list of items that were considered for um to be backed out of [0:29:07, 0:29:20]: the proposed that made up to one point five. That did include uh land, uh some of the money is set aside for land acquisition, also the fiber optic initiative, as well as the d disaster recovery um redundancy. [0:29:20, 0:29:22]: that we've talked about before. [0:29:22, 0:29:25]: Um one of the Sound of Summer Concerts. [0:29:25, 0:29:27]: A light tower, a message board. [0:29:28, 0:29:30]: The design of the amphitheatre [0:29:30, 0:29:31]: Um [0:29:31, 0:29:34]: using actually taking that out of general fund [0:29:35, 0:29:45]: monies and using SPLOSS funds for that. We've researched that and found that as a viable um a viable option. And we also were able to um realize some [0:29:45, 0:29:46]: insurance cost savings. [0:29:47, 0:29:50]: Um actually based on mayor coming in and not taking insurance. [0:29:50, 0:29:51]: That's where that came from. [0:29:51, 0:29:54]: So those items, removing those items. [0:29:54, 0:29:56]: That makes up that one point five [0:29:57, 0:29:59]: Seven, one point five three seven. [0:29:59, 0:30:03]: that would have been coming over from fund balance. But I think it's important to note [0:30:03, 0:30:05]: This does in any in any [0:30:05, 0:30:25]: way, shape, or form mean that these cannot be added back in when the council deems appropriate to be used at a different time. Certainly um the fiber initiative and the disaster recovery initiative are initiatives that we feel are important for us to move forward with. There's a number of steps that need to take place and happen prior to us being ready to actually move forward, but sure that's something we would anticipate happening this year. [0:30:25, 0:30:26]: Yeah. [0:30:26, 0:30:46]: as well as everything else. And we would anticipate that whether that's a budget amendment that takes place b in January, February, or mid year in June or Jan or June or July, you know, the council consumer to dictate when uh when it would be deemed most appropriate. Certainly the staff will be making recommendations to the council on when we feel it would be the best from a time [0:30:46, 0:30:56]: timeliness standpoint. Um so those are the items that make up the the gap of that one point five three seven uh million dollars that was going into the fund balance. [0:30:57, 0:31:02]: So basically so the audience the the people who are the actual [0:31:02, 0:31:05]: citizens of Stockbridge can understand. [0:31:05, 0:31:10]: They're not pulling anything out of the budget that's just gone forever. [0:31:10, 0:31:25]: it's gone so that we can go forward with a balanced budget without dipping into reserve funds. Some of those items might that money might not be needed like right away. Is that correct? That's correct. I think it's [0:31:26, 0:31:46]: One thing this city has been really mindful of doing over the course of the last two or three years is building our fund reserves back up. And you know again I credit Miss Neighbors and her staff for doing such a good job of building our reserves back up to the levels it was at now, because in three years ago it was less than half a million dollars and then we're well beyond that right now. There are a number of items and initiatives that the [0:31:46, 0:31:50]: Council has identified that are very important and again we think are certainly [0:31:50, 0:31:55]: important to the to the viability and success and the thriving and advancement of this of the city. [0:31:56, 0:32:16]: Uh the thought being let balance the budget based on our anticipated revenues and then when deemed appropriate we can go back into the fund balance and utilize those funds to do those things, acquire land as needed, um, move forward with some of the techno technological um advancements that we need to make to to continue to enhance our services. [0:32:17, 0:32:17]: Okay. [0:32:18, 0:32:19]: Any other comments? [0:32:19, 0:32:20]: I'd like to make a motion, please. [0:32:22, 0:32:23]: Okay. [0:32:23, 0:32:28]: I'd like to make a motion to Councilman Alexander. Thank you. [0:32:28, 0:32:31]: I would like to make a motion to enter these [0:32:31, 0:32:36]: The budget, uh with the exception of the land acquisition. [0:32:37, 0:32:48]: uh portion of the budget um to leave these items in and to remove the nine hundred and four thousand dollars in land acquisition. [0:32:50, 0:32:52]: Is there a second to that motion? [0:32:56, 0:33:04]: There appears to be no second to that motion. Do I hear any discussion or another motion? [0:33:04, 0:33:06]: Madam Mayor. [0:33:06, 0:33:07]: Okay? Okay. [0:33:07, 0:33:27]: So basically you're saying this is to have a balanced budget going into twenty seventeen that we can revisit once we have the revenue coming from other areas, we can revisit this. Is that what you're saying? Absolutely. At any time. You know, we can revisit it at any time because we do have a a healthy fund balance at this point. Okay. [0:33:27, 0:33:33]: So basically this would actually take us going in twenty seventeen with a balanced budget. [0:33:33, 0:33:38]: It would have a budget where the expenditures match our anticipated revenues. [0:33:38, 0:33:39]: Yes, ma'am. [0:33:39, 0:33:59]: One other point I would like to add has also been brought up, um the position of uh public information officer. Um did also contemplate making some additional uh amendments. That's something that we can certainly use fund balance for as well. I anticipated not likely filling that position until later on, later part of the year, probably in um [0:33:59, 0:34:01]: middle part of the year. Um [0:34:02, 0:34:20]: We had the job description, I think the council has seen the job description previously, but um certainly a thought would be also adding that in as well and either we could utilize fund balance for that when that time became appropriate or we could reduce in another area in order to make up that difference. But that's something also for council's consideration. [0:34:21, 0:34:24]: Okay. Is there a motion? [0:34:26, 0:34:28]: A comment from Councilman Blount. [0:34:29, 0:34:29]: Um [0:34:31, 0:34:33]: One of the things that are made clear to [0:34:34, 0:34:43]: in discussions to this prior to coming is that this uh this doesn't change anything that we've agreed upon as a council. Uh it doesn't [0:34:44, 0:34:46]: Change anything, so [0:34:46, 0:34:54]: With that being said, I would like to make a motion to accept the recommendations and to re and to visit these uh items in order to [0:34:54, 0:34:58]: balance the budget that we would I would motion that we accept the budget. [0:34:58, 0:35:01]: And then revisit these items that we will be removing. [0:35:03, 0:35:19]: There is a motion on the floor to accept the presented budget um to make it balanced. That would be by removing one million five hundred thirty seven thousand five hundred dollars worth of items to balance the budget. Is there a second to that? [0:35:20, 0:35:21]: I second. [0:35:22, 0:35:24]: Yes. [0:35:26, 0:35:32]: Ladies and gentlemen, I disagree with that decision. I'm gonna vote against this budget. [0:35:32, 0:35:36]: The reason that I'm gonna do that is because I wanna be honest with you. [0:35:36, 0:35:42]: And being honest with you means if I'm gonna do something just like you do in your household, you got a budget for it. [0:35:43, 0:35:46]: Not no not one of us sitting in these seats. [0:35:47, 0:36:07]: would go out and uh into twenty seventeen saying every time that you needed to do something you're gonna change your budget incrementally as you go along. Is this is this ingenuous for us to say, you know, we're gonna make these changes uh when they occur or when they happen. I ran on [0:36:07, 0:36:19]: reinvestment. I ran on actually giving you a distinguishable downtown. There's money in the budget for that. I ran on cleaning up the stockbridge streets. There's money in the budget for that. [0:36:20, 0:36:26]: We've been kicking the can down the road in Stockbridge for years. [0:36:26, 0:36:33]: This is why our city looks like it does now. It's embarrassing in some areas because we don't invest in it. [0:36:34, 0:36:54]: This is not acceptable to uh to you or to anybody sitting on this path. What date are we gonna deal with cleaning up Highway one thirty eight? What date are we gonna deal with uh recreating the downtown? What date are we gonna deal with doing fiber optics uh in the community? I went to train [0:36:54, 0:36:56]: [2217.3, 2227.2]: The training at the Georgia Municipal Association that trains all of us says that we need to have twenty five percent in reserved rainy day funds. [0:37:07, 0:37:25]: Contrary to what you have heard, the city has eighty-seven percent fund balance. That means we're supposed to have twenty-five, but we have eighty-seven. That means that we have seven point eight million dollars as of last year's audit in the bank to reinvest in Stockbridge. [0:37:25, 0:37:33]: The reason that Stock Ridge looked the way that it did previous in the leaders when we were proud of it is because the city reinvested. [0:37:34, 0:37:41]: Rudy Kelly and and Tip um and P and Tip Strickland reinvested in the city. They thought it was important. [0:37:41, 0:38:01]: And you have to put that into the budget in order to make it look the way that it needs to look. I say to each and every one of us up here, I would not go through uh twenty seventeen changing my budget monthly when we could put it out there right now, tell you what we're gonna do. We just heard members sitting on this very board. [0:38:01, 0:38:10]: forward that said, We're gonna do it in twenty seventeen. If you're gonna do it in twenty seventeen, why would you not budget it? That makes no sense. [0:38:11, 0:38:15]: Madam Mayor. Thank you for your comment. Are there any other comments? Madam Mayor, may I? [0:38:16, 0:38:18]: Yes. Councilman Robinson. [0:38:20, 0:38:27]: I I have a question because on the list that was provided, these are the only items that we're taking off, correct? [0:38:28, 0:38:48]: And I'm I'm in this saying land, fiber, disaster recovery, on one concert, light tower, message board, amphitheater design, um which we possibly use the SPLOSS for fund for that, um and then the insurance cost savings. Will this interfere with any of the [0:38:48, 0:38:59]: the beautification efforts that we've already started and we've already have foreseen for twenty seventeen. No. All other budgeted items are remain intact. [0:38:59, 0:39:05]: So it's just these items that if so we can revisit later. That's correct. [0:39:05, 0:39:08]: Okay, thank you. Any other comments? [0:39:10, 0:39:10]: Madam Mayor. [0:39:11, 0:39:22]: If I may. I I um understand where Councilman Alexander's coming from and it is my opinion and and my intention that as soon as [0:39:23, 0:39:43]: if we are to receive revenues um coming in um that will help us balance out these items in the near future, then I planned on amending the budget that one time to place those items in there and hopefully sooner than later. Um and I I think that that would be a I would feel [0:39:43, 0:39:50]: feel comfortable with a balanced budget um going in twenty seventeen. Um [0:39:50, 0:39:59]: making sure that we have we're not spending more than what we have. I understand the argument of twenty five percent general reserves. [0:39:59, 0:40:00]: However, we've heard [0:40:01, 0:40:21]: other arguments at state that's uh more for small rural towns who really don't have any funds and they're saying at bare minimum keep that at least twenty five percent. Um you know, if a disaster were to happen or something were to happen, I would hate to have a city with only twenty five percent um of our reserves. [0:40:21, 0:40:39]: at that point in time. But I wanted everyone to know that it is my intention to do everything that we say that we want to do, including the amphitheater and including the fiber optic. I think we all can agree on that. Right now our concern is doing what we need to do to balance our budget. That's my concern at least. [0:40:41, 0:40:42]: Okay. Any more discussion? [0:40:43, 0:40:50]: We have a motion on the floor to remove items that would total in the amount of one million five hundred thirty seven dollars. [0:40:51, 0:40:53]: Uh thirty seven, five hundred dollars. [0:40:55, 0:40:57]: At this point we've had um [0:40:57, 0:40:58]: Healthy discussion. [0:40:59, 0:41:04]: Uh all in favor of that um motion, please raise your hand. [0:41:06, 0:41:09]: The vote is three to two. The budget is balanced. [0:41:11, 0:41:18]: Opposed. Oh, sorry. All opposed. I got really excited about pa passing that budget. Uh all opposed? [0:41:21, 0:41:22]: For staying. [0:41:23, 0:41:25]: Okay, you got the vote. [0:41:27, 0:41:29]: Okay, Stockbridge, you can be very proud tonight. [0:41:30, 0:41:32]: Your city council passed a balanced budget. [0:41:33, 0:41:36]: And I think we need to I know it was not easy. [0:41:36, 0:41:40]: for them to make this decision but I'd like for you to give them a round of applause. [0:41:46, 0:41:53]: Okay. Do we need a motion um Mr Ford to come out of our public hearing? No. [0:41:53, 0:41:55]: No motion. All right, we'll move on. [0:41:55, 0:42:02]: Okay, the next thing we have on our agenda tonight is um Main Street. [0:42:02, 0:42:04]: advisory board appointment. [0:42:05, 0:42:08]: And I think our city manager, Michael. [0:42:08, 0:42:10]: Harris is going to [0:42:10, 0:42:12]: Come and tell us something about that. [0:42:12, 0:42:13]: Yes, thank you again. [0:42:14, 0:42:15]: Um [0:42:16, 0:42:20]: Our Main Street manager, Ms. Kirch Bragg, was before the council [0:42:20, 0:42:22]: Couple of weeks ago [0:42:22, 0:42:26]: um making a recommendation for [0:42:26, 0:42:34]: the proposed new board appointments. At that time the council opted to um [0:42:34, 0:42:53]: because at the same time we're also annexing in some additional properties, particularly Carriage Lake property. So the directive that came back from the uh city council was let's defer that appointment for um I think at least thirty days, additional thirty days to allow them time to come in and those who in that community may be interested so they can apply. [0:42:54, 0:42:56]: Um she said that's fine. But as he went back [0:42:56, 0:43:03]: Um and look what would that would it would because we have a number of members that are rolling off the term expires at the end of the year. [0:43:03, 0:43:13]: we would not have enough members to form a quorum beginning the first uh meeting in January. So the reason why this is coming back for consideration by the council is [0:43:14, 0:43:18]: Um again there's two items related to Main Street tonight. One is to [0:43:19, 0:43:39]: um appoint at least three members so we could have a quorum coming into tw twenty sixteen that would still leave a number of uh three additional three or four additional members that still need to be appointed, giving them time to um to make the appointments to to for curious leg consideration, but also adding a person but I believe the other two appointments [0:43:39, 0:43:59]: appointments are business owners, businesses within the Main Street area. Um so we're the second piece on the Main Street item tonight is the bylaws and one of the proposed amendments to the bylaws is the addition of another position which could be filled by that carriage lake. Um [0:44:00, 0:44:00]: option. So [0:44:00, 0:44:02]: Again, the first item is [0:44:02, 0:44:03]: Um [0:44:04, 0:44:06]: [2647.3, 2649.3]: to reappoint [0:44:09, 0:44:20]: Again, at least three of the members. That fourth member is the actually the council appointee, which currently is being um handled by Mayor Pro Tem Ford. [0:44:20, 0:44:22]: And certainly we would also ask that that be [0:44:23, 0:44:40]: um um handled as well if the the council so d so desires. But again the issue here is to be able to make sure we have a quorum to be able to meet in January. It still will leave two additional business owner positions and a newly added um resident at large position. [0:44:41, 0:44:49]: Uh would it be the council's pleasure that we do that in public meeting or would you like to discuss that um [0:44:49, 0:44:51]: those appointments in executive sessions. [0:44:52, 0:44:53]: Yeah, well. [0:44:54, 0:44:55]: Exactly session. [0:44:56, 0:44:56]: Oh. [0:44:59, 0:45:02]: Any other comments before I call for a vote? [0:45:02, 0:45:03]: Okay. [0:45:03, 0:45:09]: You said that the recommendation is from Main Street to r to reappoint the three positions. [0:45:10, 0:45:13]: that are currently in and then to [0:45:14, 0:45:14]: Um [0:45:16, 0:45:26]: Re reappoint either reappoint Mayor Pro Tem Ford or appointment. So three position and Mayor Pro Tem Ford? That's correct. That's rec recommendation from Main Street. Right, as a minimum for for tonight. [0:45:26, 0:45:36]: 'Cause there were some re other recommendations but again the council wanted staff to hold off and put those back out in case anyone from the Keraslet community w had an interest in applying. [0:45:38, 0:45:44]: Okay. Any other comments? Okay. Councilman Robinson. Um Michael [0:45:45, 0:45:45]: [2745.6, 2747.2]: Is it a way [0:45:47, 0:45:54]: requirement they have a meeting in January that they have to have this meeting that we can't wait. I mean [0:45:55, 0:46:08]: Yeah, Lisa. We've had other appointments uh that we're waiting, so I I'm just trying to see w what's the rush for this one if we have to have a meeting in January. I'm gonna bring in Miss Lisa Fareed, the assistant to Miss Bragg's. [0:46:08, 0:46:09]: on that issue. [0:46:10, 0:46:14]: Thank you, Madam Mayor and members of the Council, City of Stockbridge. [0:46:15, 0:46:18]: Yes, ma'am, Council Member Robinson. Um [0:46:19, 0:46:20]: If we [0:46:20, 0:46:24]: are not in compliance with these bylaws which we have submitted to [0:46:25, 0:46:26]: The state [0:46:26, 0:46:27]: Four. [0:46:27, 0:46:27]: Um [0:46:28, 0:46:30]: our accreditation. We will be [0:46:30, 0:46:31]: out of compliance. [0:46:32, 0:46:33]: And so um [0:46:35, 0:46:38]: I guess what the problem is because we were a start up [0:46:39, 0:46:40]: Two years ago. [0:46:41, 0:46:46]: All of our initial appointments were made at the same time, so several of them are rolling over at the same time. [0:46:46, 0:46:50]: They'll be staggered more from this point out. [0:46:50, 0:46:51]: Um however [0:46:52, 0:46:56]: As of December thirty first, we have um [0:46:56, 0:46:57]: For [0:46:58, 0:47:02]: um members who would like to be reappointed. Um [0:47:03, 0:47:12]: If they are reappointed, we can go on with our January meeting and have an actual quorum. We do have some applications that are [0:47:12, 0:47:13]: Um [0:47:13, 0:47:18]: you know, being examined and we're also trying to you'll see in our next [0:47:18, 0:47:21]: presentation open a new position [0:47:21, 0:47:27]: for a third resident so that we can include more members of our community and have a good cross section. [0:47:28, 0:47:30]: But we would be out of compliance. [0:47:32, 0:47:38]: Any other comments from council members? Yes, Mayor. Um if you don't mind. [0:47:39, 0:47:48]: I'm okay with going ahead and reappointing. Um I don't see a need for executive session on this. There may be some other reason, I don't know, but [0:47:49, 0:47:55]: I'm okay based off of what we had heard before and from the understanding there needs to be a quorum for the next meeting. [0:47:56, 0:48:00]: And being that our Main Street department is fairly new [0:48:00, 0:48:06]: you know, the foundation has been laid there. So I totally understand when it comes to boards [0:48:07, 0:48:10]: Well the amount of time it takes, especially volunteer board. [0:48:10, 0:48:13]: of of this sort. They've act they've worked really hard. [0:48:14, 0:48:15]: They got things moving. [0:48:15, 0:48:19]: And if it's the recommendation of our staff members [0:48:19, 0:48:21]: to at least reappoint [0:48:21, 0:48:30]: those that were already on the board, I'm okay with that. I'm I'm willing to go ahead and move forward with making that recommendation. The the question that was on the floor was [0:48:31, 0:48:36]: Do you want to do this in public session or in executive session? [0:48:36, 0:48:40]: Did anyone else have a comment about that before we move forward? [0:48:42, 0:48:44]: Okay. Councilman Ford. [0:48:45, 0:48:46]: Keeping mine of my five minutes, right? [0:48:46, 0:48:48]: Yeah. Five minutes. Okay. [0:48:48, 0:48:57]: What it amounts to since I'm the uh council representative to the Main Street, uh there are several recommendations that are in front of you council and and that the [0:48:57, 0:49:00]: Main Street manager is is uh is identified. [0:49:00, 0:49:04]: as uh three uh recurring individuals that want to remain [0:49:05, 0:49:09]: and two additional folks uh the applications that were before you as well. [0:49:09, 0:49:29]: For me specifically, uh if we approve all these folks or at least enough at least uh uh five people this evening, uh we'll have more than enough for a quorum to conduct our meeting. Uh specifically for me and the council, we can do that at our meeting in January and whether or not uh the council prefers me to remain [0:49:29, 0:49:32]: Fine. If not we can appoint someone else from the council. [0:49:32, 0:49:40]: it I mean what is the council's uh intent whatever the council's intent is on that on that aspect. I do also to answer the Pacific question [0:49:40, 0:49:47]: Um I I feel that maybe we need we want to discuss this in a secular session, then come back out of the second session and tell you exactly who [0:49:47, 0:49:51]: uh we would want to appoint. I would think it'd be more beneficial to do it that way. [0:49:52, 0:49:53]: In that aspect. [0:49:54, 0:49:55]: uh take on this at this point. [0:49:56, 0:49:57]: Any other comments? [0:49:58, 0:50:04]: Do I have a motion as to which way we're gonna go? Executive session versus um [0:50:04, 0:50:05]: Public session. [0:50:05, 0:50:06]: No. [0:50:07, 0:50:13]: I'll make a motion that we re reconsider these uh appointments in executive session. Do I hear a second? [0:50:14, 0:50:15]: I'll second that. [0:50:15, 0:50:16]: Discussion. [0:50:18, 0:50:20]: No discussion. All in favor, please raise your hand. [0:50:23, 0:50:24]: Those opposed? [0:50:27, 0:50:27]: Okay. [0:50:28, 0:50:32]: Got the vote. It looks like we're going into executive session. I'm thinking [0:50:32, 0:50:52]: uh that we won't be in there long if you want to wait um and see how this goes we'll try to make it as quick as possible. If you do wait, I would encourage you to get up out of your seat, go uh all over the room and introduce yourself. Stockbridge is strong and it's people, so we want all of you to get to know each other. [0:50:56, 0:50:58]: We'll be back quickly. [0:51:10, 0:51:16]: Well you can talk if you can make it. [0:51:16, 0:51:20]: [3090.0, 3095.1]: [0:51:50, 0:51:51]: Yeah, I think it's [0:52:05, 0:52:10]: [3131.7, 3140.0]: I wouldn't like. [0:52:23, 0:52:27]: Forward and we're going back into our regular, get a boat, get a boop. [0:52:29, 0:52:33]: [3154.2, 3155.1]: Okay. [0:52:36, 0:52:40]: Now that I'm really confused. [0:52:41, 0:52:49]: We're we're going we have a motion and we're gonna vote. All in favor? Okay. Five? [0:52:50, 0:52:51]: And maybe the version of weekly. [0:52:51, 0:53:03]: Yeah, I got it. I got it. The coach's helping and throwing me off all at the same time. Okay. At this time we're gonna reconvene our regular meeting. Do I have a motion that we reconvene? [0:53:05, 0:53:06]: To reconvene. [0:53:07, 0:53:09]: Thank you, Councilwoman. [0:53:09, 0:53:11]: All right, second. We're back. [0:53:11, 0:53:13]: So do we have discussion on that? [0:53:14, 0:53:16]: No discussion, then all in favor? [0:53:18, 0:53:30]: Okay, we're back into our regular meeting. We were in executive session. There is a recommendation that's coming out of executive session, so I'm gonna turn to our mayor Pro Tem who's gonna present. Okay. [0:53:30, 0:53:34]: Madam Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that uh the members of the uh [0:53:35, 0:53:41]: Uh recommended members for the um Main Street would be Anika Potts, which is a Stockbridge resident. That'll be for [0:53:42, 0:53:47]: uh two year term ebony gurney for uh a two year term also Stockbridge resident. [0:53:47, 0:53:52]: And then Miss Leah Sanders is a new applicant and business owner which is outside the Main Street district. [0:53:53, 0:53:55]: And that business is Olympia Pizza. [0:53:55, 0:54:00]: and Mr. Don Gordon is a new applicant, business owner outside of the Main Street district. [0:54:00, 0:54:02]: And his business is airstrike photography. [0:54:04, 0:54:08]: Okay, you've heard that motion. Do I hear a second? A second. [0:54:09, 0:54:18]: All right, we have a motion and a second. All in favor. Oh no, discussion, discussion, I got it. Yes. We've got to have a discussion at this point. Yes. [0:54:18, 0:54:35]: Um I just wanna make note that um there is also a position for the Downtown Development Authority which crosses over to Main Street. However, the Downtown Development Authority it's our duty to appoint that person and for the council to confirm that meeting will be held January twenty third. [0:54:37, 0:54:38]: Any other discussion? [0:54:38, 0:54:40]: If not, all in favour? [0:54:42, 0:54:44]: It's a hundred percent. [0:54:44, 0:54:47]: No opposed. Thank you. [0:54:47, 0:54:49]: Uh okay, let's do that. [0:54:53, 0:55:04]: At this time um we are going to take up some new business and that that is going to deal with the bylaws for the Main Street program. [0:55:07, 0:55:08]: Thank you again, Mayor. [0:55:08, 0:55:10]: Council. Um [0:55:10, 0:55:30]: This last item is again it's a resolution to approve the revised set of bylaws. Um one of the primary changes or revisions in this year is the addition of an additional position. Uh one of the things that came out of the last meeting was a request to add a position for consideration by those in Carriage Lake to give them some opportunity to go back through and apply. [0:55:30, 0:55:42]: apply and look at the position and look at the credentials that are needed. So that's one of the main additions. I'm gonna kinda defer to Miss Lisa Fare to kinda give you some of the uh kind of some of the highlights of some of the other amendments that are being proposed in this revise. [0:55:42, 0:55:43]: Mm. [0:55:45, 0:55:47]: Please if you can. [0:55:47, 0:55:50]: Thank you again, Madam Mayor and Members of Council. [0:55:50, 0:55:51]: Um [0:55:52, 0:55:55]: So in Article eight at section eight [0:55:55, 0:56:05]: Point zero one, it states that the Main Street Advisory Board bylaws may be modified at any time upon the recommendation of the board and approval by the Stockbridge City Council. [0:56:06, 0:56:09]: Um and we believe you've received those notes. [0:56:09, 0:56:12]: Um in addition, according to section [0:56:12, 0:56:27]: three point zero five C of the Main Street Advisory Boards, the addition or removal of board positions as listed in Article three, Section three point zero four of these bylaws must be approved by the mayor and council. [0:56:28, 0:56:40]: Therefore, the Main Street staff recommends the following. We ask that Madam Mayor and Council approve our submitted bylaws and the changes speak to verbiage consistency. [0:56:41, 0:56:41]: Voting. [0:56:42, 0:56:48]: Increasing the number of resident Main Street Advisory Board positions from two to three. [0:56:48, 0:56:50]: individuals and [0:56:50, 0:56:53]: having each a two year term. [0:56:53, 0:56:54]: And this would um [0:56:55, 0:56:58]: only be adding one additional resident position. [0:56:58, 0:57:00]: So the result of that would be that [0:57:01, 0:57:01]: Um [0:57:01, 0:57:05]: This will increase the number of board positions from eleven to twelve. [0:57:06, 0:57:11]: And most importantly, it would allow for those who are submitting applications through the extended [0:57:11, 0:57:13]: thirty day application period. [0:57:13, 0:57:16]: An opportunity to be appointed to the border as a resident. [0:57:17, 0:57:20]: or to any of the other open positions that they may be qualified. [0:57:22, 0:57:22]: Okay. [0:57:23, 0:57:25]: You have heard the presentation. [0:57:26, 0:57:29]: Is there a motion to accept the bylaws? [0:57:29, 0:57:31]: Mayor Present. I mean Madam Mayor. [0:57:32, 0:57:32]: Sorry. [0:57:33, 0:57:35]: Um I would like to move to approve a resolution [0:57:36, 0:57:39]: Um for the revised bylaws of the Stockbridge Main Street Advisory Board. [0:57:40, 0:57:41]: Say a second. [0:57:43, 0:57:44]: Councilman Block. [0:57:44, 0:57:45]: Is there discussion? [0:57:46, 0:57:46]: Yes. [0:57:47, 0:57:57]: Yeah, I just want to mention, thank you, Mayor, that uh part of attachment A deals with the increased boundary of Main Street. Just wanna make sure the councillors understands that, how we the Main Street area has is expanded. [0:57:57, 0:58:06]: Yeah, I think that's a that's a great thing there. And of course, as you well know, everything uh all the new changes are all outlined in red, so you can easily read those changes. Thank you very much. [0:58:06, 0:58:09]: Okay. Um all in favour? [0:58:11, 0:58:15]: No opposed. Thank you. Passed. Yeah, thank you. [0:58:15, 0:58:23]: At this time before our city manager sits down, I'm gonna ask if he has any comments he would like to have. Just one very brief comment. Um [0:58:24, 0:58:29]: often sometimes it goes overlooked but just want to say a special congratulations to Sergeant Webster and she's [0:58:30, 0:58:33]: She's out there she is. Sergeant Webster. [0:58:33, 0:58:41]: Um congratulate her. She was um recipient of one of the Chiefs Awards this year for Henry County and you know she serves up here so once I congratulate her. [0:58:47, 0:59:01]: Thank you. All right, we are almost to the end of our evening. Um if we do have any pertinent comments uh from our council, we'll start down here. If you don't have anything, it's okay to pass and go on down the line. [0:59:01, 0:59:03]: I like the yes, me. [0:59:04, 0:59:05]: Woman I recognize. [0:59:06, 0:59:26]: Yes, Councilman. Yes, I would like to thank everybody for coming out to uh the meeting tonight and for participation. And I'd like everybody out there sitting in the audience to know that you can apply for these board positions that we just came up with, and we need you all to be actively involved in everything we do. I want to make [0:59:26, 0:59:32]: Make sure that every uh everybody has hop happy holidays and hope you had a merry, very, merry Christmas and a happy new year. [0:59:34, 0:59:35]: Councilman Black. [0:59:36, 0:59:38]: I'll also like to thank everyone for coming in, uh [0:59:39, 0:59:44]: It's good to see a room full of people still uh participating when we come out of executive session. [0:59:45, 0:59:51]: Um hope you all had a safe holidays and I say look forward to twenty twenty seventeen to be an awesome year in here in the city of Stockbridge. [0:59:53, 0:59:55]: Thank you. I'd just like to say welcome. [0:59:55, 1:00:01]: I want you to go home tonight, bring one person with you next time and let's start filling up the house. [1:00:02, 1:00:22]: Thank you, Mayor. Um I want to tell folks thank you for being engaged once again. Hopefully you had a great Christmas, so happy holidays to you and happy new year. We're gonna have a very prosperous, outstanding, very successful New Year. Uh obviously you were here and listening to all the budget conversations over the course of time and you're gonna see that we're gonna produ uh be balanced budget, but you're also gonna see improvements in your [1:00:22, 1:00:42]: downtown area, economic development and improvements in the city of Stockbridge and the intent is to make the city of Stockbridge the best city in the state of Georgia, without a doubt. Okay? So keep keep keep the faith, keep with us. We're gonna get it done right and we'll have this continue to have this dialogue with you and uh make everything proper and good. God bless you all. Thank you. [1:00:44, 1:01:04]: Uh yes. Um Mr. and Mrs. West are no longer in here, but I wanted to get an opportunity to speak to them in regards to the food trucks and wanted to give you a little updated information about that. We've been really successful this past year with the food trucks and look forward to a new year. Um we um you know it [1:01:04, 1:01:24]: It was our first year doing it, so of course we have some trial and errors. But you're more than welcome to go on a City of Stockbridge website and look at the forms and the criteria. Um one of the things is you must be a food truck and you must have a specialized item. So the item purchased from the ice cream, um purchased out of a store [1:01:24, 1:01:44]: would not be sufficient for the food truck day. And I'm hoping that they're watching. If not, then I'll get the information and give them a call and speak to them in that regard. Um but we definitely want if you are a citizen of Stockbridge or a Henry County resident and you have a food truck to let [1:01:44, 1:02:04]: you know that you are definitely a priority when it comes to attending events such as these and we make that known and we have made that known and we've spoken to several restaurants in the community about that. So if you have a truck or if you know someone who has a truck that's local, please tell them to give us a call because we want to get that started off um [1:02:04, 1:02:24]: Right and we tried to do that exact same thing last year for vendors as well. There's a if you go on the City of Stockbridge website and you click up click on um events, click on food trucks, everything will pop up. The application is very detailed. We did our homework from several cities in Atlanta metro area. [1:02:24, 1:02:42]: And if you have any question, comments, and concerns, please feel free to reach out. Um having said that, I would just like to thank you and for all your support and your continued prayers. I'm excited about our new year with our great team up here and we're headed in the right direction. We want to do what's right for you. So thank you and God bless. [1:02:43, 1:02:59]: Thank you all so much for coming out. Also wanna um thank my colleagues for having a great meeting tonight, having the great dialogue, and Merry Christmas to everyone um and happy new year, and we'll see you in twenty seventeen. Thank you. [1:02:59, 1:03:19]: Before we close quickly, I want to just uh tell the audience that every time you come to a city council meeting there are agendas out in the front and I would encourage you to get one. Um if you did not get one tonight when you get ready to leave, um there are announcements of upcoming meetings and all of these events will be [1:03:19, 1:03:36]: held at the city hall unless otherwise noted. Meeting dates and times are subject to change and if you have access to a computer you can always visit the city website. If not, um we would encourage you to call and double check. [1:03:37, 1:03:41]: if there's a meeting you're interested in, just to make sure everything's safe. [1:03:41, 1:03:51]: But um I'm not gonna read all these meetings, I'm gonna encourage you to stop out front, get your own copy, take it with you and you'll have all your meeting notices for the next um couple of weeks. [1:03:52, 1:03:55]: Uh anything else? Otherwise, do I have a motion to adjourn? [1:03:56, 1:03:57]: Madam Mayor. [1:03:58, 1:04:00]: I move that we adjourn our meeting. [1:04:01, 1:04:03]: Okay. Uh all in favor? [1:04:04, 1:04:08]: Oh gosh, we've got to have discussion again. Do you want to discuss adjourning? [1:04:09, 1:04:10]: [3850.4, 3852.8]: Uh okay. All right. Then um [1:04:13, 1:04:19]: All in favor, please raise your hand to adjourn. Thank you. Let's note that we're out of here at seven thirty. [1:04:26, 1:04:27]: Good ending. [1:04:31, 1:04:32]: Mm-hmm.