2017-03-28 · City Council · Transcript · Work Session Meeting

--- title: March 28 2017 Work Session Meeting date: 2017-03-28 source: 2017-03-28_March_28_2017_Work_Session_Meeting.wav --- [0:00:20, 0:00:27]: Yeah, so we're just gonna [0:00:30, 0:00:32]: Well, [0:00:38, 0:00:41]: [ 60.0, 65.4]: [0:01:10, 0:01:13]: Panie Przewodniczący. [0:01:14, 0:01:19]: It is six o'clock. We're gonna get started with our meeting and um [0:01:19, 0:01:32]: If we could at this time, I'm gonna call the meeting to order and I'm going to invite up Reverend Jacqueline Rose Tucker from Red Oak United Methodist Church and she's gonna bless us with an invitation this evening. [0:01:36, 0:01:42]: And after she finishes, uh we have a scout group in our audience that came to um [0:01:43, 0:01:51]: be a part of our uh program tonight and they are gonna come up and uh lead us in our pledge of the flag to the flag flag. Thank you. [0:01:52, 0:01:55]: This looks like church, folks sitting in the back. [0:01:55, 0:01:56]: Yeah. [0:01:56, 0:01:57]: Let us pray. [0:01:58, 0:02:02]: Dear gracious Lord, we are honored to be in your presence tonight. [0:02:03, 0:02:08]: We're so thankful that we have a country and a system. [0:02:09, 0:02:11]: That recognizes that we can do nothing without you. [0:02:13, 0:02:16]: And so, Lord, as we are reminded of who we are and whose we are, [0:02:17, 0:02:25]: We are reminded of the politic that which means the public affairs, the work of the people, shrewdness, business minded. [0:02:25, 0:02:30]: But always understanding to whom much is given, much is required. [0:02:30, 0:02:32]: And so we pray for this session together. [0:02:33, 0:02:39]: that it would be a time of like mindedness and if we agr disagree, we agree to disagree. [0:02:40, 0:02:44]: But let it all be to your glory and for the people. [0:02:45, 0:02:47]: And all of God's people said [0:02:47, 0:02:48]: Amen. [0:02:48, 0:02:49]: Yeah. [0:02:49, 0:02:54]: Now if we could have our scouts come up and lead us uh in our pledge to the flag. [0:03:04, 0:03:06]: Oh we up here, okay. [0:03:15, 0:03:16]: [200.1, 205.7]: Somehow face the flag. Some of the flag. Someone face it flag. [0:03:27, 0:03:41]: Under God individual with liberty and justice for all. [0:03:41, 0:03:44]: How much? [0:03:50, 0:03:54]: At this time we're gonna ask our clerk, Vanessa Holliday, to call the role. [0:03:56, 0:04:01]: Councilman Alexander Councilman Blount. Present. Mayor Neal. [0:04:01, 0:04:05]: Present. Mayor Pro Tem Ford. Present. Councilwoman Gantt. [0:04:07, 0:04:14]: Let the record reflect Councilwoman Gantt is not in attendance. Councilwoman Robinson. Present. Mayor Neal, you have a quorum. [0:04:15, 0:04:22]: Do we have a motion to adopt the agenda or do we have any uh items to be added to the agenda? [0:04:23, 0:04:23]: Yeah. [0:04:23, 0:04:43]: Yes. I'd like to make a uh amendment to the agenda that uh uh I have a City of Stockbridge proposal excuse me, uh one Henry proposal for the City of Stockbridge for Entrepreneur Event in conjunction with the Advanced Technology Development Center, which is ATDC, and the technology [0:04:43, 0:04:49]: Association of Georgia, which is called a TAG and one Henry Economic Alliance for discussion this evening. [0:04:51, 0:04:55]: Each of you have a proposal in front of you that was issued to me uh just yesterday actually. [0:04:57, 0:05:04]: Do you want to amend the agenda? I want to amend the agenda that we add this under the discussion phase. It probably should be item number seven, I believe. [0:05:04, 0:05:12]: Okay, we have a motion and by um Pro Tem Ford and a second by Councilman Alexander. All in favor? [0:05:14, 0:05:14]: Thank you. [0:05:16, 0:05:24]: At this time we're going to review minutes, several sets of minutes, one from um February ninth. [0:05:25, 0:05:28]: Another set from february tenth. [0:05:29, 0:05:34]: February thirteenth, February twentieth, and february twenty eighth. [0:05:35, 0:05:38]: Do I hear a motion to accept the minutes? [0:05:38, 0:05:40]: Yeah, yeah, I may [0:05:41, 0:05:50]: There's no mo there's no motion. Okay. We have a this is just to review the minutes. We don't we don't uh this is actually to review the minutes. And if there are any uh uh [0:05:50, 0:06:03]: Changes I guess we may we can make, we'll let the clerk know that, but we won't uh vote on to the next voting meeting. Any any comments about the minutes? We tweaked a few this afternoon. Anything else? [0:06:03, 0:06:04]: Okay, we'll move on. [0:06:05, 0:06:06]: There's no discussion. [0:06:08, 0:06:12]: All right. At this time we're going to um [0:06:12, 0:06:20]: Ask if we have any public comments from our audience. If there's anyone in the audience that has not [0:06:20, 0:06:26]: Filled out an orange form if you want to comment, you need to do that quickly. [0:06:26, 0:06:28]: If not, we'll move along. [0:06:28, 0:06:30]: under old business. [0:06:31, 0:06:40]: We have council consideration for adopting a social media policy for the city. That will be presented by our city manager, Michael Harris. [0:06:40, 0:06:42]: Good evening, Mayor, good evening, Council. [0:06:43, 0:06:45]: Um a few weeks back at our [0:06:46, 0:07:06]: previous council meeting, staff introduced a proposed social media policy. This was generated um staff had done a lot of work putting together um drafting a document that was took parts from some other jurisdictions that had a a fairly robust social media policy already in place. So we took um elements from those from [0:07:06, 0:07:07]: All the jurisdictions and [0:07:07, 0:07:10]: combined those together and came up with what we presented [0:07:11, 0:07:12]: Um at the last meeting. [0:07:13, 0:07:19]: Based on the comments that staff has received that we received at that meeting from the council, we've come back with two separate options. [0:07:20, 0:07:24]: And the options that are shown in your in your notebooks this evening [0:07:24, 0:07:28]: the the are they're highlighted with the two [0:07:28, 0:07:29]: Differing um [0:07:30, 0:07:30]: areas. [0:07:31, 0:07:32]: Primarily on page three. [0:07:33, 0:07:35]: In essence what it states is [0:07:36, 0:07:50]: Option one, it would be um advertising for city events and council initiatives as approved by city council would be promoted. Council initiative for council initiatives promotion would consist of pre event advertising only. [0:07:51, 0:07:56]: as opposed to post event advertising, which would be option two. Option two is more [0:07:57, 0:07:59]: Um more wide open if you will. [0:07:59, 0:08:00]: In that [0:08:01, 0:08:12]: it would allow for council initiatives um would be promoted and event photos may be posted at the discretion of the P PIO but those would be the any photographs taken [0:08:13, 0:08:15]: D of the event to be posted on the [0:08:15, 0:08:19]: uh city's Facebook page or website after the event. [0:08:19, 0:08:30]: Um the direction the staff was aiming to go for was really trying to back away from having so many things on the city's Facebook page and really trying to keep it relegated to the city events. [0:08:31, 0:08:37]: Again, as has been stated previously, this is a very aggressive and active council that's doing a number of different initiatives throughout [0:08:38, 0:08:44]: And sometimes other items within other city events can get lost in the fray of of our Facebook pages. So [0:08:44, 0:09:01]: Um the hope being and again we we took a lot of this from looking at other jurisdictions, um how they handle it. In a lot of cases they relegate their city Facebook and website pages just to those city identified um and dedicated city events and for individual council initiatives [0:09:02, 0:09:09]: those council members typically will have their own websites and they'll go back through and they'll list their um their achievements on their own personal websites. [0:09:10, 0:09:21]: Um again it keeps away from the the perception of of potential campaigning amongst a sitting council members as well. So that's one of the issues that we wanted to make sure uh we were mindful of. [0:09:21, 0:09:38]: So again I thought this was um option one certainly being kind of a uh kind of a hybrid um compromise between some of the things that staff was looking at and some of the comments that we received from council, which would involve advertising for the events up front, however for after the events [0:09:39, 0:09:42]: Um we would not include all those post event pictures, so [0:09:43, 0:09:48]: presented both options for uh council's consideration and happy to address any questions that council may have. [0:09:48, 0:09:49]: Yes, ma'am. [0:09:50, 0:10:10]: Are there questions? Yes. Let me ask you this. How about option three or option C, where you said option B which was posting on the Facebook page before and after, but add a caveat that says between qualifying and election day that there will be [0:10:10, 0:10:11]: You know um [0:10:12, 0:10:29]: there will be no initiatives posted between qualifying and election day. Even if so if we did allow posting for council initiatives that that window would be cut out uh during an election year so there wouldn't be any confusion between qualifying and election day. [0:10:31, 0:10:51]: Yeah. Yeah this is you all's policy of just you know taking any any recommendations you may I may have. Uh question. Yes. Yes, thank you, Mayor. Actually I'm sorry, Councilman Answer, I'm not I'm not in favor of that. What I would like to see is option one with the caveat that's in option two, the event photos may be posted at the discretion of the PIO. [0:10:51, 0:11:11]: Oh take that one sentence and put it in option one and that's what I would be satisfied with. But I'm thinking that if you have a council initiative or some type of community event that a a individual that is running is conducting and and they normally conduct during the course of a a year prior to the qualification, I don't see why they can't continue on with those type of initiatives. [0:11:11, 0:11:13]: Who else use if I could speak to that? [0:11:14, 0:11:31]: Uh yes, Councilman Alexander. The reason that I speak to that is in the past we've had events um show up, you know, council initiatives, uh all that time during election time and that you know, if we have that window [0:11:31, 0:11:51]: carved out that removes. We've had some events, you know, that show up like right before uh election time in October where people were doing counseling initiatives that were very on the borderline of could that have been campaigning because that really creates an advantage uh for the incumbent. [0:11:51, 0:12:11]: So that is the concern that I'm seeing and I saw that to in my opinion happen during campaign season and I don't want that to happen to somebody else running for office is that all of a sudden we have a bunch of council initiatives show up and then that person is out front. They're on the city Facebook page, they're on the city website regular [0:12:11, 0:12:31]: They're in the newspaper, not you know, at city expense. So I think that speaks to Mr. Harris's concern, which is some of this stuff can be looked at as campaigning um uh during that period. And and when I say that, that's only between the time on an election year. Any other time we could do that fully [0:12:31, 0:12:40]: but just not during election time because, you know, this year we have the same thing coming up. I mean, we're doing qualifying at that point that we have uh council initiatives [0:12:41, 0:12:45]: You know, it can be perceived that way. I just don't want to be perceived that way. [0:12:45, 0:12:49]: So am I understanding you that you are suggesting that [0:12:49, 0:12:53]: No council initiatives would be held during campaign season. [0:12:54, 0:13:14]: No, I'm I'm saying that they will not be posted uh during campaign season and that you could consider not ha uh actually during election time, right, no council initiatives during qualifying up until election day. So yes, uh as I think that out yes, because even if you didn't advertise it you have big groups [0:13:14, 0:13:26]: groups that could be considered campaign events and that's only between that window in August and election day every f uh two years or four years for election time. [0:13:28, 0:13:39]: Mayor Neil. Are there any other comments? Mayor Neil. Okay, I have one first uh down here from Councilwoman Gantt. Um yes. I kinda came in at the tail end of this and [0:13:40, 0:14:00]: Um I disagree with Councilman Alexander uh in regards to um stating that no council initiatives are to take place or initiatives or being posted for that you know, or an event that's already been planned or if it's an initiative. Um we're here to represent [0:14:00, 0:14:20]: the citizens it's not a strategic plan or anything of that nature. It's something that I feel um we should continue to do. That's what the citizens are expecting for us to do is to represent them w whether it's an initiative or an event. It's not a political campaign. We just happen to be um an officer. [0:14:20, 0:14:20]: Yeah. [0:14:22, 0:14:25]: Okay. [0:14:25, 0:14:26]: I um [0:14:28, 0:14:34]: I think that with uh I'm I'm concurring with uh Mayor Pro Tem about the uh PIO officer. [0:14:34, 0:14:39]: Because with that position you're gonna have a media p a social media policy. [0:14:39, 0:14:44]: Rhether you're doing that whatever initiative you're doing or whatever you're doing in the community. [0:14:45, 0:14:48]: throughout your term, which is four years [0:14:49, 0:15:01]: Whatever the social media policy is, that's our that's gonna be in place. And those are gonna be determined by the PIO officer, uh PIO person that's put in that position. Um [0:15:01, 0:15:03]: It would be premature for me. [0:15:04, 0:15:12]: to want to implement any new policies that wouldn't allow any council members this year that would be running. [0:15:12, 0:15:14]: Because I have nothing to lose. [0:15:15, 0:15:26]: So when you look at when you try and implement policies when there are other council members in here that it is an election year for, I believe the best policy is is to have a PIO officer. [0:15:26, 0:15:29]: have the social media policy in place [0:15:29, 0:15:40]: and go about the business as usual. Rather that's if if anybody does something extra and it helps and it benefits the citizens of Stockbridge, the winner is the city of Stockbridge. The winner's the citizens. [0:15:41, 0:15:50]: Uh I I don't like us getting into the political ram about this and that because we put a policy in place that protects that anyway. That that protects that entity of [0:15:51, 0:15:52]: of politicing. [0:15:52, 0:16:04]: through the city's expense anyway. So I I believe uh uh the I I agree with option one, but I would like to see all all of the social media policies done through a PIO officer. [0:16:06, 0:16:18]: Are there other questions or Mr Harris, do you have any other comments? Mayor. I did. Um I did want to just note that, you know, when we started looking at this, we also looked at a number of our local jurisdictions as well. [0:16:19, 0:16:24]: And we were looking for the consistency in how they handle this type of situation. Every [0:16:25, 0:16:28]: has some their own nuances certainly but [0:16:29, 0:16:37]: This was fairly uniform throughout the certainly throughout the metropolitan area and certainly on a local level here in Henry County in the jurisdictions that we looked at where [0:16:38, 0:16:48]: The postings on the on the city's Facebook page and the city's website was really confined to those overall general city events. [0:16:49, 0:16:50]: There were cases [0:16:50, 0:17:00]: where individual council members did retain their own personal Facebook page in which you click on that page and you see the individual um [0:17:00, 0:17:10]: um council member have their litany of different items and things that they had done, initiatives and other activities they may have taken place or participated in throughout the throughout the uh throughout their jurisdiction. [0:17:10, 0:17:17]: Um so that was the direction that we're trying to move towards with this and to try and help to because what we have noticed is [0:17:18, 0:17:21]: with there being so much, with having such an active council. Um [0:17:22, 0:17:42]: with such a proliferation of so many pitchers being on there, some of the big events can simply just get lost or some of the main things we have coming up can simply just get lost. And we want to make sure we still have a focus on the big things that we're trying to move forward with. You know, as this summer approaches, we have a number of events again with food trucks and a summer concerts that'll be going on and [0:17:42, 0:17:50]: um Memorial Day events, things of that nature. So we want to make sure we keep the focus on our on our on our on our on our main and our big events. [0:17:51, 0:17:52]: But certainly [0:17:52, 0:17:56]: I and again I get I thought it was option one was a good compromise in that [0:17:56, 0:18:03]: based on what we heard from the council that it does allow you to go ahead and I think it it does it does make sense to certainly for the initiatives that are going on [0:18:04, 0:18:13]: to make sure it's promoted and it put it put it out there on the website so people are made aware of it. And then most recently we had the senior fund activity. You know very well attended. [0:18:14, 0:18:27]: And and I think things like that that bring people out, you know, with the goodwill um events coming up soon. I think that's a city event. You know, but so I think promoting those things certainly is is is is reasonable. [0:18:27, 0:18:30]: But I think just the thought was if we can kind of scale back on [0:18:30, 0:18:33]: Everything that comes after that and all the pictures afterwards. [0:18:34, 0:18:36]: So that was the rationale behind taking this step. [0:18:37, 0:18:38]: Okay. [0:18:38, 0:18:44]: All right. Um yes. Uh Councilwoman Robinson. Thank you. [0:18:45, 0:18:50]: Facebook, does it not have an option to where you can put it in a file like [0:18:51, 0:18:53]: on there where you can say [0:18:53, 0:18:58]: Okay, this is whatever happened, you can date it. [0:18:59, 0:19:11]: That those to me could be files for each council person, correct? On Facebook. It gives you that option. So that way it won't tie down the timeline as you're speaking of. [0:19:11, 0:19:30]: Right. Okay. So with the option one with the PIO officer giving them the option to say, okay, this is what we will post, but it will be placed in each council person's history for as the folder for that person. Okay. And my question is also to council [0:19:31, 0:19:51]: We have a four year term, so to me, if you start early doing different initiatives, we shouldn't have a problem when it's time for your election. Because normally what you'll have is you'll have your previous items that you're gonna be doing annually. So you wouldn't be doing anything short to the [0:19:51, 0:20:11]: citizens because you would already have stuff that you will be doing annually. So certain things when it's time for election, I I think that's something we should look at because if you're doing stuff for the citizens, it's nothing that will just pop up at the end of the year. It would definitely be something that will be done, you know, year one, year two, [0:20:11, 0:20:31]: two um and if it then if you do do something at the year four it should be done at the beginning of the year. So it's ways that to me that it can be done, but it's just a matter of just sitting down and and and saying this is what it needs to be so to be fair to everyone. But I do know in Facebook it does give [0:20:31, 0:20:41]: Yeah. [0:20:41, 0:20:46]: And just to if I could address that quickly, um we did look and see if [0:20:46, 0:20:48]: If on the main city is a little bit more than a little bit of [0:20:48, 0:20:49]: Um [0:20:49, 0:20:52]: websites if they're if they included a link to the individual's [0:20:53, 0:20:54]: personal Facebook page. [0:20:55, 0:21:13]: That's not what they had. Yeah. So I'm not sure if that's what you're referring to. That's not. Okay. Right. It's a folder that you can put. Um and I think we should look into that because I know on my personal Facebook page I have things from day one when I started with Facebook that I can just put or I can delete that folder. [0:21:13, 0:21:14]: It's an option. [0:21:15, 0:21:15]: Okay. [0:21:15, 0:21:21]: Yeah, last comment please. Uh okay, there is another comment by uh Councilman Blount. [0:21:23, 0:21:29]: W one of the things and I just want to reiterate this, one of the things we want to always do is is eliminate confusion. [0:21:30, 0:21:31]: We want to eliminate mis [0:21:32, 0:21:32]: Uh [0:21:34, 0:21:36]: We want to make sure what we post is accurate. [0:21:37, 0:21:39]: This is why we want a policy in place. [0:21:40, 0:21:49]: without all these different components to it for one person, the PIO officer to to put on face uh to put on the website and the Facebook website because [0:21:50, 0:22:02]: out of all the concerns, if you have that one set policy, it eliminates that. If you got something that so you almost telling a a council member, if you come up with this great idea [0:22:02, 0:22:05]: And you only got six more months to serve as a council member. [0:22:06, 0:22:26]: You can't come up with you can't push that idea out there because it'll look like campaigning. I don't think that's fair to any council member s sitting up here because we're we was elected to formulate creative ideas. We was elected to listen to the citizens and listen their their ideas and whatever come forth. So this is why you put a policy in place. [0:22:26, 0:22:32]: that when you come up with these ideas, regardless of how late or early in the year it is, whether it's in the election year or not, [0:22:33, 0:22:41]: that policy is in place for a PIO officer that doesn't have to answer to us on what to do but answer to the city manager on what they can post. [0:22:44, 0:22:50]: Okay. Any other comments? Uh I would just like to ask the city manager's recommendation. [0:22:50, 0:22:50]: Well [0:22:51, 0:22:53]: Yeah, it sounds like [0:22:55, 0:22:57]: There's still some [0:22:58, 0:23:04]: difference of opinions as far as how much we should be posting and in in what manner. Um perhaps [0:23:05, 0:23:07]: You know, I think the the consensus as um [0:23:08, 0:23:14]: um reflected by the board previously was to move forward with the PIO position. Um [0:23:15, 0:23:31]: Perhaps we can go ahead and take the steps of filling that position and bring the person on and have them aid in really crafting'cause they're going to be the person who really is going to own this policy, you know, in all sincerity. Um they'll have a far better understanding of how it should be regulated and governed. Um [0:23:32, 0:23:48]: Um again this is something I think it's something new to a lot of jurisdictions, not just City Stockford certainly. I think a lot of jurisdictions with with um social media playing such a such a uh a vital role in dissemination of information now, how you regulate that certainly certainly is is is a [0:23:48, 0:24:08]: it it requires some kind of policy. So when we started looking out, a lot of jurisdictions still don't have a formali a formalized policy. So a lot of it was just kind of going through and talking to them and finding out what has kind of been your how you've handled the situation. So so the few that did, that's what we kinda pulled and gleaned from. But you know, pulling in someone who has worked specifically in this arena [0:24:08, 0:24:10]: [1451.1, 1455.9]: guidance to be able to help how we better craft this. Because again it just sounds like there's still some [0:24:16, 0:24:20]: Some difference of opinions as far as what would be the best direction to move in. [0:24:20, 0:24:22]: So if that's [0:24:23, 0:24:26]: council's directive we can get I mean I know we've talked about moving forward with the PIO so [0:24:28, 0:24:33]: Okay. I believe we have a comment from Pro Tem Anthony Ford. Thank you, Mayor. Appreciate it. [0:24:33, 0:24:34]: Um once again. [0:24:35, 0:24:37]: Well what I like to see is option one with the [0:24:37, 0:24:57]: the events photos uh be posted in discretion by the PTO PIO I'm sorry. Now if we if we delay this until we get a PIO online then uh that's several months from now. All right, whenever that would be I don't know, uh May, June, July, who knows. I mean you maybe you can help na nail that down. That's one thing. The other thing is and [0:24:57, 0:25:01]: In the meantime, who will function as that PIO? [0:25:02, 0:25:03]: on the staff right now. [0:25:05, 0:25:13]: Who will? Yeah, who will. That does that person does not currently exist. I mean that doesn't I have to do that. [0:25:13, 0:25:29]: Up until, you know, uh between the executive assistant to the Mayor Council, executive assistant to city manager, the clerk's office, um a number of people have kind of shared those those duties and functions. I mean it really is a testament to how well staff works works together, but [0:25:30, 0:25:50]: as needed, people have jumped in to kinda help post and and but I can tell you even in that that's created sometimes some overlap and redundancy that that again the hope of a PIO that would help eliminate. So I think that was part of the the impetus because I I can you know I've I've been here for three years now and in year one this wasn't really a big issue because there weren't [0:25:49, 0:25:57]: as many, nearly as many um functions that were going on or or as many pictures being taken at at different at various events. [0:25:57, 0:26:17]: and request for having those things posted. Um now that now there is. Um I can tell you in the next couple of months, you know, the vast majority of the activities are really going to be centered around already designated um city functions. We have Memorial Day coming up, food trucks are coming up, summer concerts, so those things would be handled as they would have been handled previously. We'll advertise those [0:26:17, 0:26:37]: up up front and then certainly we will post pictures afterwards. And I think it's also critical to note that some of these things, again like the events that are spearheaded by our Main Street Department, they maintain their own separate Facebook page. So they'll have their postings of items and activities that take place. [0:26:37, 0:26:48]: big part of what they do is tourism to attract people into their main street district so they want to make sure they're constantly showcasing what they're doing. Um so there are other areas where we're gonna be posting different different pictures. So [0:26:48, 0:27:06]: You know, I think from that standpoint, I think the majority of things that are coming up. I know we do have some council initiative union and community basketball game is coming up soon. Um so I know we do have some events that'll be coming up, but I I think the vast majority of the items that are coming up are gonna be really city, um dedicated city city events that have already been identified. [0:27:07, 0:27:17]: And again, up until a time where a PIO is identified, that'll likely be continue to be handled as a as a committee function. Madam Clerk, is that about correct? [0:27:17, 0:27:19]: she says with a sly grin. [0:27:19, 0:27:25]: Okay. Um are we going to finish this discussion and move this forward? [0:27:28, 0:27:29]: Again. [0:27:29, 0:27:49]: To the next meeting or well yeah we can't we can certainly bring it to the next meeting or if it's the council's desire to to to make a motion on either option one or option two. If it's not and we prefer and preferences to table this, we certainly make the option to table it until such time that we have a um we filled that PIO position and then revisited it at that at that time. [0:27:49, 0:27:53]: Okay. What is the pleasure of the council? [0:27:54, 0:27:56]: Ms. Uh Mayor, I'd like to make a motion. [0:27:57, 0:28:05]: I'd like to make a motion that option one, we accept option one, once again, by adding events, photos may be posted at the discretion of the PIO. [0:28:06, 0:28:08]: Do I hear a second? [0:28:09, 0:28:11]: Second by Councilman Blount. [0:28:13, 0:28:14]: All in favor. [0:28:15, 0:28:21]: Oh discussion. Sorry about that. [0:28:21, 0:28:41]: We haven't even authorized the position of PIO yet. We had it in the budget last year and it was actually removed. So we're actually discussing authorizing a position that we have no budget for and we haven't even begun the discussions on having our HR manager sit down [0:28:41, 0:28:55]: and put the job description together or any of that. So we're kind of like putting the cart before the horse, aren't we? We're only a uh the motion was for a social media policy, not for a position. [0:28:56, 0:29:00]: Well that w that was the full motion was under the PIO officer, right? [0:29:01, 0:29:06]: The council consideration for adopting a social media policy for the city [0:29:07, 0:29:21]: Which is being presented by Michael Harris, City Manager. Could we state the motion, please? The motion was to take option one and add events photos may be posted at the discretion of the PIO. It was properly seconded. [0:29:21, 0:29:27]: See what I'm saying? That's there's no PIO. Well no P I O is hired, is that correct? [0:29:28, 0:29:48]: Or i i I I guess I and I if I may, Madam Mayor, um to your point, um y yeah, you're right. I think those duties, those PIO duties, will continue to be as done by the committee. Um but I do want to add that um our HR manager has gone through the steps of um'cause we've talked about it before, we have we have a job description, we've gone through uh [0:29:48, 0:29:57]: um um salary ranges so everything is teed up ready to go for as soon as we make the budget amendment for that position because I think we heard from previous meeting [0:29:58, 0:30:00]: the entirety of the council is unanimous in that [0:30:01, 0:30:07]: um the decision to move forward with that position. So at that point we started making those provisions. So we have all that information in place. [0:30:07, 0:30:15]: in absence of a PIO, then you know w those functions will continue to be handled again again by committee as they've as they're handled right now. [0:30:16, 0:30:20]: I'm for this if we can say we're gonna have a PIO officer [0:30:21, 0:30:30]: When? Sixty days, ninety days, six months before the end of the year, I'm okay with it as long as I know we're gonna do that. But right now we don't have that. [0:30:30, 0:30:50]: I believe we are scheduled in April to have our quarterly uh update on our finances and at that time would be the appropriate time if you want to amend money in for a PIO position. I believe that's what we've agreed on in the past, is that correct? [0:30:50, 0:30:53]: Yes. Is there a comment by Councilman Blount? [0:30:53, 0:31:00]: one of the consensus that this council has said and and and made forward to the public that we do [0:31:00, 0:31:01]: want disposition. [0:31:02, 0:31:09]: and to formulate a policy because what's what's going on now, what we wanna see right now, I would like to see personally. [0:31:10, 0:31:18]: I is information being put out with the policy behind it, with the position that we've c had a consensus on that this is something that's needed for the city and we want it. [0:31:19, 0:31:22]: and we move as quickly as we can on this. [0:31:22, 0:31:24]: Because we want accurate [0:31:24, 0:31:44]: information put out there and we don't want this uh this this convoluted situation because uh one of the options I was thinking about also if we're gonna have those first of all picture taken. Uh if it's falls on events, why don't we get with C C over that's over City events and [0:31:44, 0:32:04]: and see if she has someone that she could recommend to take pictures. And and prior to bringing a P PIO officer in, that we can still go through the policies and have that person that's coming on part time to abide by whatever policies we put in place until we have an official PIO position put in, but let events bring those people in. [0:32:04, 0:32:05]: Because [0:32:05, 0:32:21]: with all this picture taking and and politicking that's going on right now and some inaccuracies in those things that have been put out, we need to have something done right now. We're here to serve the citizens a stop bridge in the best way we can without all this politicking being put in place. [0:32:22, 0:32:27]: Okay. [0:32:29, 0:32:30]: Just a quick comment. [0:32:31, 0:32:46]: I think with the events we already have someone um that they use to take photos'cause throughout the food trucks they have I think was the intern that they had that was taking pictures. So that is already she was doing that when I was there. [0:32:47, 0:33:07]: And she did even at the concerts. Yes, she did. Yes. That's correct. And if if I if I just one last comment. And you're right. I think that there was staff at at from Merle Manders that did take I think a lot of the challenge, I think what the what precipitated this was it got to a point where it did it was becoming overwhelming. [0:33:07, 0:33:27]: just the posting of the pictures and keeping track of all the pictures and the sheer volume of pictures trying to post, that's what kind of precipitated let's create some kind of a policy to see if we can't clarify and clean up the process um to make it a bit more efficient. Certainly once a PIO comes on board, I would imagine that this policy would be tweaked as time goes, you know o or [0:33:27, 0:33:38]: over time, um but certainly this was kind of a stopgap measure, if you will, to kinda help put some provisions in place to figure out how do we make this process a bit more efficient, you know, for for the here and now. [0:33:38, 0:33:48]: Okay. Okay. We have one more comment by Councilman Gantt. [0:33:48, 0:34:05]: it was to me it's the staff in general. I've taken pictures. There's been days when we had screen on the green and Main Street needed someone to take pictures, so I grabbed the camera and took pictures. I think it's been a staff team effort. I don't think that the intern [0:34:05, 0:34:15]: um had a and it's an intern remind you, I don't think that was just their job duty was to go around taking pictures. I I think that um [0:34:17, 0:34:17]: [2057.8, 2063.9]: this is a a fair and we've bit I think we've been going through this about two you know, two or three times already. [0:34:24, 0:34:30]: I think is fair and accurate for us and uh the concern is to eliminate the work on the staff. [0:34:30, 0:34:50]: in regards to what is being downloaded, what what is required of them. So that there's no favoritism or anyone thinking one person is choosing one person over another or these people have that many pictures out there just to have a clean cut policies and procedures. And so again I'm concurring with um Mayor Pro Tem. [0:34:50, 0:35:08]: Ford and Mr. Blyn on that. Mayor Neal. Mayor Neal. Yes, and I need clarification on the motion. If the motion is to um have the at the discretion of the PIO or in the interim, the committee, is that to be included in your motion? [0:35:09, 0:35:14]: No, actually I didn't I didn't include that. Okay, I said the PIO, that's the way it's written. [0:35:15, 0:35:27]: But it would make more sense until we get to pay all PIO then I would I would amend it to add and the committee, uh which would be the staff members that would work this by the committee. It makes more sense to do that. Thank you. Okay. [0:35:28, 0:35:31]: W we already. [0:35:31, 0:35:33]: All right, let's go back and clear this up. [0:35:34, 0:35:38]: The way it's worded in the in the uh booklet that we have before us [0:35:39, 0:35:52]: The motion that you're making is for council consideration for adopting a social media policy. Would you restate those two points that you made? Well it was option one with adding the statement that was in option two [0:35:53, 0:36:11]: It says event photos may be posted at the discretion of the PIO and now until we get a payoff and and with the com or the committee, I guess whatever that c or staff, whatever they say and staff, or staff, PIO and staff, since that uh the committee is formed by the city staff. [0:36:12, 0:36:12]: Okay. [0:36:12, 0:36:14]: Okay, is everybody clear? [0:36:15, 0:36:18]: Now the person who seconded that motion [0:36:18, 0:36:22]: Can we have that restatement again, the second? [0:36:22, 0:36:23]: That was Mr Blount. [0:36:23, 0:36:24]: Mm. [0:36:24, 0:36:28]: Councilman Blount, will you s re second this after he's clarified it? [0:36:29, 0:36:32]: Yeah, but the discussion piece is what staff are we talking about? [0:36:33, 0:36:37]: Because the problem we've had is that when we say staff [0:36:37, 0:36:57]: And the that staff is is is uh staff that's answered to mayor and council, that's been the conflict because you got six bosses. One is telling you they want it this way, that in the job description telling you do it this way, and another boss can tell you I want it done that way. This is what has made this whole situation [0:36:58, 0:37:12]: s so much conflictual in in trying to perform duties. So what staff are we uh identifying? I I would say at the discretion of the city manager. As determined by the city manager that not second. Okay. Uh all in favor. [0:37:15, 0:37:15]: Okay. [0:37:17, 0:37:31]: Thank you so much for that one. And now uh we're going to hear another old business item council consideration to add a fourth of July with fireworks event for the city and that too will be presented by our city manager, Michael Harris. [0:37:32, 0:37:50]: Thank you again. Um try to be a little more succinct on this one. Um th again, this is a follow up from a conversation from the last meeting. Um question was posed to staff about the prospect of doing a Fourth of July fireworks celebration this year and we were asked to provide some actual cost estimates [0:37:51, 0:37:58]: And what I've included what's been included in the book a is a breakdown of some of the um quotes that were received by our events personnel. [0:37:59, 0:38:05]: And again, just kinda reiterate what was discussed at the last meeting, we anticipate a cost of anywhere from [0:38:06, 0:38:13]: twenty five to perhaps thirty thousand dollars for the cost. Um the challenge being at this late a date [0:38:14, 0:38:15]: that it would be um [0:38:16, 0:38:22]: One, just a challenge to be able to secure a firm to be able to do the um production. [0:38:22, 0:38:27]: and then any entertainment that would be uh requested would certainly be [0:38:27, 0:38:29]: uh challenging at this later date. [0:38:30, 0:38:44]: And if it's going to be on that day, you know, as stated in some of the notes, you're going to be paying a premium for Fourth of July. What a lot of um organizations do is they schedule their events for a day before, day after, two days before after. [0:38:45, 0:38:57]: challenge right now is again even with this late date, all those dates are filling up. Um so this is the information as as requested by council that staff has put together um, you know, from a [0:38:58, 0:39:16]: But my recommendation, you know, typically it takes time to go back through and schedule and plan for or something like this. My recommendation would be that we include it in the next year's budget, but even prior to then we can go ahead and start making provisions to have it in place for next year. But again, just as as just a follow up from the council's um request from the last meeting. [0:39:17, 0:39:27]: Okay, at this time do I hear a motion one way or the other regarding the Fourth of July fireworks? Yes. Uh Councilman Blount. [0:39:27, 0:39:47]: I motion that it be removed that item be removed and we consider any future budgets for it because one of the things that's clear is that this event is gonna cost us almost three times as much as we budgeted for already. Uh we have I believe personally in my seat that I'm sitting in, we have a lot more uh [0:39:47, 0:40:06]: um uh going on in the city of stockbridge and to see how you know we can shoot up fireworks or get uh or or to expand this budget to s to the so astronomical j to include fireworks. Um we I I I'm totally against it. So my motion is on the table that we be re it be removed and addressed at a later date. [0:40:07, 0:40:11]: Okay, Councilman Blount, your motion is to table it to a later date. Is that correct? [0:40:12, 0:40:12]: Yes. [0:40:13, 0:40:14]: Do I hear a second? [0:40:15, 0:40:16]: A second. [0:40:16, 0:40:19]: We have a motion at to table with a second. [0:40:20, 0:40:22]: Uh by Councilwoman Gantt. [0:40:22, 0:40:23]: Discussion. [0:40:24, 0:40:24]: Okay. [0:40:25, 0:40:29]: And we are now going to go into discussion. Councilman Alexander. [0:40:29, 0:40:49]: I I do understand that um this is something that I'd like to see the city move forward with uh at some point uh probably next year to make put us in a position where we want to um have a have a grand event uh on the Fourth of July, kinda filling a hole uh in the community. [0:40:49, 0:40:57]: We're gonna have a concert in July. It would seem appropriate to have that Sound of Summer concert uh be on the fourth of July. [0:40:57, 0:41:05]: And um I'm very cognizant of you know what we're doing with the with the citizens' money because at this point [0:41:06, 0:41:15]: uh it would be cost prohibitive. But, you know, we're trying to look forward to see what's going on in the city to see what we can do in order to move things forward. [0:41:16, 0:41:24]: But it should be pointed out that uh at this time right now this city hired uh an independent investigator. [0:41:25, 0:41:27]: And that's costing you all money. [0:41:27, 0:41:30]: Out there. Um mayor. [0:41:30, 0:41:31]: Point of order. [0:41:33, 0:41:34]: That's [0:41:39, 0:41:45]: Yes. Okay. [0:41:45, 0:42:05]: Yeah, we're we're talking about spending money. So the a a ruling needs to be issued as to whether the point of order should stand and the council move on with the discussion. The point of order is pertaining to the issue at hand period, not other areas of of of uh expenditures of the city. [0:42:05, 0:42:08]: is to the to the issue that's at hand. I understand. [0:42:08, 0:42:13]: All right, Councilman Alexander, I would ask that you stay on topic regarding the fireworks. [0:42:14, 0:42:34]: I I thought I was on on topic which was talking about the budget and what we were spending uh money on in terms of moving in that direction because you know we're gonna spend more money than the proposed fifteen to twenty thousand dollars on another issue which is the investigator. So we are spending [0:42:34, 0:42:43]: Uh Councilman, I'm gonna call your time. You you've spoken more than your two minutes unless somebody wants to recommend that he go forward. [0:42:44, 0:42:45]: All right. [0:42:45, 0:42:51]: At this time there is a comment now from Councilman Blount. I mean sorry. [0:42:51, 0:43:11]: Protem forward. Discussion purposes. Um in reference to the fireworks, now I under I like to see the fireworks, but I know that now with all these numbers it is a lot of money, all right, for right now. So it needs to be properly planned. So it's probably best to of course plan this out for the next budget for next year. I also like to say that if we can switch that July concert to [0:43:11, 0:43:29]: to the fourth so we'll have something on the fourth. Maybe that might be the best thing to do. So we'll have something on the fourth. We just won't have fireworks, maybe a concert. Now obviously you have to have someone on the staff to check that out, see what the cost factor would be, whether or not who's available, things of this nature, but maybe now look at just having that July concert on the fourth itself. [0:43:30, 0:43:38]: versus no fireworks and then taking one little step further next year to have the console on the fourth with fireworks and plot properly plan it out. Thank you. [0:43:40, 0:43:42]: Uh we had a motion to table [0:43:43, 0:43:45]: And we had a second [0:43:46, 0:43:47]: Can we clarify the motion, please? [0:43:49, 0:44:02]: Beg your pardon? Clarify the motion if it's tap we want to table it, but what means we can bring it back at some point for next year. All right, I'm gonna clarify it. The motion was to table the Fourth of July discussion regarding fireworks. [0:44:03, 0:44:05]: And we have a second back [0:44:05, 0:44:06]: Councilman Gantt. [0:44:07, 0:44:08]: Yeah, it's a woman game. [0:44:12, 0:44:16]: All in favor of that to table, that motion to table. [0:44:18, 0:44:19]: Okay? [0:44:19, 0:44:21]: Thank you so much. We'll move on. [0:44:21, 0:44:26]: We have new business uh council consideration to approve a change order. [0:44:26, 0:44:30]: for the local maintenance and improvement grant L M I G [0:44:30, 0:44:33]: paving and resurfacing project for the city. [0:44:34, 0:44:47]: with Blount construction and I want to make a point that is not our councilman Blount's company in the amount of two hundred and sixty four thousand two hundred seventy two dollars and eighty cents. [0:44:47, 0:44:51]: This will be presented by our city manager, Michael Harris. [0:44:52, 0:44:53]: Thank you, Mayor. Um [0:44:53, 0:44:56]: This item uh actually reached out to many of you [0:44:57, 0:44:57]: Um [0:44:58, 0:45:00]: week or so ago when this all came came about. [0:45:02, 0:45:10]: The the LMIG is a local maintenance improvement grant program that we've been participating in for a number of years with the Georgia Department of Transportation and [0:45:10, 0:45:15]: Through our through the grant process we received over two hundred and eighty [0:45:15, 0:45:30]: So over two hundred eighty thousand in grant funds for the purpose of doing resurfacing work. Came to the council late last year to approve the list and we approved roughly just a little over four miles of resurfacing, which is again just a step up from what we did last year. [0:45:31, 0:45:35]: as we were going through the process as they you know, we'd wore the contract to Blount. [0:45:35, 0:45:40]: Um working with our procurement specialist, Mr. Donald Riley and and his neighbors, our treasurer. [0:45:40, 0:45:48]: And when we crafted the the the contract, we had a provision in there that allowed us to should other items come up [0:45:48, 0:45:55]: that needed uh to be addressed and we could we have a unit price that was given so we can go ahead and add as needed. [0:45:56, 0:45:57]: So once our [0:45:57, 0:46:00]: um public works director came on board Mr. Deshaus Aaron. [0:46:01, 0:46:21]: We started going back through and looking at some other areas that we knew definitely were in need of repair, some of our more higher profile areas, and we looked at Flippin' Road and East Atlanta Road, areas that I've received a number of calls and I know council members have received a number of calls about. Um so we asked Blonde if they can give us a quote to add that to the list. So they were able to [0:46:21, 0:46:23]: At the time they had made very [0:46:24, 0:46:31]: great progress on running through the El Meg list. I mean they're they're right up to finishing up on their last few streets they're resurfacing. [0:46:32, 0:46:44]: Uh so he gave us a quote and it was contingent upon them being able to do the work without having to leave and come back. So we're trying to do as fast a turnaround as possible, knowing these were needed areas. Um [0:46:45, 0:47:05]: So they sent the change order, I initially approved the change order, but when I sent it back down to finance, they notified me rightfully so, and again I think it speaks to the the the integrity and the professionalism of our of our finance department and all those that are involved and they said, Hey, you know, even though we had a provision in the contract which was approved by the council that allowed us to add [0:47:05, 0:47:12]: it still eclipsed the threshold that I was authorized to approve, so it needs to come back to the council. [0:47:12, 0:47:13]: So [0:47:13, 0:47:33]: Here we were in this kind of kind of little bit of a limbo. So that's why I immediately reached out to council, notified you all what happened, what transpired, and asked for your approval to allow them to continue to proceed and move forward. Um, received a consensus, um a a majority consensus to allow the work to proceed and bringing it back tonight to ratify that action. So I just want to make sure [0:47:33, 0:47:53]: Everyone knows council, the viewing public, nothing was done underhanded. The only thing this is about was simply to make sure that we maximize the use of our contractor in making sure that we got Flippin' Road paved and East Atlanta Road paved. It added them on. We had money, uh supplemental funds in our SPLOSS for a contract. That's what that was utilized. [0:47:53, 0:48:10]: for um some of these additional costs. So that's how it's being paid, it's not coming out of general fund. These FOS funds have been set aside specifically for resurfacing. So we felt good about the um about the option. They were able to move forward with it without having to demobilize and remobilize, thereby costing an additional fee. So [0:48:10, 0:48:13]: That's what this is, you know, I take full responsibility for [0:48:14, 0:48:15]: [2895.3, 2895.7]: It's it. [0:48:16, 0:48:20]: the the mix up in the in the timing but at the end of the day and I think [0:48:20, 0:48:22]: Everyone can attest. Those roads certainly are [0:48:23, 0:48:43]: Right, a whole lot better now than they did a couple of weeks ago. So we've had a lot of compliments on that. I would like to thank our treasurer, um Linda Neighbors, for calling that to the city manager's attention. This is what good government looks like when it functions the way it should, and we appreciate everything to make this uh come together. [0:48:43, 0:48:53]: Together. Do I hear a motion tonight that we approve um this uh change order so that we can move forward, Mayor? Was it to ask a question? Beg your pardon. [0:48:55, 0:48:58]: Are we gonna have discussion? [0:48:59, 0:49:03]: Yeah, but since he made a presentation, I just wanted to ask a question. Go ahead. [0:49:03, 0:49:04]: Um [0:49:04, 0:49:09]: When y the uh local maintenance and improvement grant of the two hundred and eighty thousand [0:49:10, 0:49:13]: How much was that spent prior to this project? [0:49:13, 0:49:25]: Well the total cost for everything prior to the the original contract amount was like seven hundred and four thousand dollars. So that get money gets spent up front and then we tap in and use our supplemental funds that have been identified through SPLOSS four. [0:49:25, 0:49:32]: So anything beyond that two hundred and eighty nine thousand is use we use our SPLOSS for so we use we leverage [0:49:32, 0:49:36]: those grant funds to ex be able to extend how much research thing we can do. [0:49:36, 0:49:37]: Yeah. [0:49:37, 0:49:39]: Pertaining to the areas that we're going to be covering. [0:49:40, 0:49:40]: Mm-hmm. [0:49:41, 0:49:42]: Which I would like to see [0:49:42, 0:49:45]: us fix our roads, you know, if you will. [0:49:45, 0:49:50]: What part of this is what percentage of this road picture we're doing? Is any of it in the county? [0:49:50, 0:50:05]: No, all these and it's a great point, y all these all these sections are solely in the city of Stockbridge. Now we do have maintenance agreements that speak to um grass cutting and and and and and some maintenance items within these sections in the within these road areas. [0:50:06, 0:50:11]: But you'll notice or you could have noticed prior to us doing flip the road p it uh in particular. [0:50:11, 0:50:13]: Right there at the city line. [0:50:13, 0:50:18]: you'll notice that there was a a a a clear difference in the pavement [0:50:18, 0:50:36]: from the city to the county where they had previously paved up to the city line and that's where they stopped. So and I it had conversations with the county to find out if that was on their schedule any time soon. It is not, they wouldn't have paved our section either way. It would have been back on our responsibility to pave that section. So that's how we want to go ahead and proceed. [0:50:36, 0:50:45]: Okay, so with the L M uh L M I G funds and the SPAS funds, we we're okay with covering it and we'll submit another round next year as well. [0:50:46, 0:50:49]: Okay, at this time do I hear a motion? [0:50:49, 0:50:50]: Man alew. [0:50:50, 0:51:05]: I would like to move that we approve the um onus contract number two oh one six oh eight-sixteen for the increase of the change order uh in the amount of two hundred and sixty four thousand two hundred and seventy two thousand fourteen six. [0:51:05, 0:51:17]: And I also um although I made that motion, um they were pointing to Donald stating that he's the one who've caught the correction. So wanted to give him credit for that. Well we just [0:51:17, 0:51:30]: Uh yes, I w I will compliment uh our procurement officer. I apologize for that. And also Councilman Blount will accept your second to that motion. I'll uh is there any further discussion? [0:51:32, 0:51:33]: If not [0:51:33, 0:51:36]: I'll call for the vote. All in favor. [0:51:38, 0:51:48]: All right. And there are a lot of happy citizens out there. We've heard lots about our paving. It's made some folks happy and we appreciate that. He appreciate hearing from them. [0:51:48, 0:51:52]: Uh the next thing we're going to go into a discussion item. [0:51:53, 0:51:59]: And it will also be presented by our city manager. It's uh regarding a rezoning request. [0:51:59, 0:52:05]: Uh regarding the Wet Set, Scuba and Water Sports Inc. of Stockbridge. [0:52:05, 0:52:05]: Yes. [0:52:06, 0:52:15]: Thank you again. And this is uh a long time business, it's been here in Stockbridge for a number of years, um well over twenty years. The Wet Set Scuban Water Sports [0:52:16, 0:52:17]: Located um [0:52:18, 0:52:29]: fifty f fifty one oh four North Henry Boulevard right near Shields. Um they've taught swimming for a number of years. They've taught scuba for a number of years and [0:52:29, 0:52:36]: he's in a process of kind of transitioning from more scuba related to more of a swim school. There is a swimming facility there. [0:52:37, 0:52:57]: So when we were approached by the property owner, they were asked to say he here's what we want to do if somebody wants to turn it into more of a swim school as a designated swim school. We said that's great, but in uh this gives us an opportunity to kind of clean up our zoning. Um he's currently zoned C one for a swimming school. This would require per R code and ordinances to be zoned [0:52:57, 0:52:58]: On C two. [0:52:58, 0:53:18]: Um so again this is simply a more of a a cleanup item. It's simply going from C one to C two for a longtime business. Uh you know, and again we're we're happy that they're continue want to continue to invest in the community and invest in their business here in the community. Um it's it was heard by the zoning advisory board and they recommended approval. [0:53:18, 0:53:25]: Um that'll be coming to the council for full consideration in about two weeks, Mike, I believe. [0:53:25, 0:53:25]: Yes. [0:53:26, 0:53:34]: So again, this is just discussion, this is a public hearing, just to kind of give you an idea kind of what's coming up and what it's all about. So if you have any questions, I'd be happy to address them. [0:53:35, 0:53:53]: Is anything in two I'm s I'm sorry, Mayor. No. Uh Councilman Blount, did you have a question? Yeah. Is anything on this going to change in two weeks or this is what you're going to actually present in two weeks? That's that's exactly what's going to be presented. Well but we'll formally had uh along with the report, we'll have the the recommendation from the zoning advisory board. [0:53:53, 0:53:55]: Which will be for approval. [0:53:57, 0:54:01]: Well we can't approve it today because it has to go forth for right here. [0:54:01, 0:54:04]: Any other questions on this item? [0:54:04, 0:54:10]: If not we'll move along to item number five under discussion. This is a variance um [0:54:11, 0:54:15]: Station two, LP of Atlanta, Georgia request a variance. [0:54:15, 0:54:22]: from development standards for signage for the property located at four four four four four four four seventy five North Henry Boulevard. [0:54:22, 0:54:27]: The property is located in Land Lot sixty one of the twelfth district. [0:54:27, 0:54:47]: And uh right now this is about signage. So Mr Harris is gonna present this one also for discussion. Well actually I'm going to Madam Mayor, if you don't mind, I'm on a tag team with um the city attorney here. This is a variance for about fifteen items and he's gonna walk through some of the complexities of this. This was also heard by the Z A B and Mike will give you a description on what the [0:54:47, 0:54:48]: Talk about. [0:54:49, 0:55:02]: Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um you have before you a fairly complex looking uh variance request, but at the end of the day it it's not as complex as it as it appears to be. [0:55:03, 0:55:03]: Um [0:55:04, 0:55:11]: the zoning advisory board met and it and approved um a modified set of variances for this [0:55:11, 0:55:13]: Um I'm gonna walk you through just sort of [0:55:13, 0:55:17]: it at a ten thousand foot level what they approved and then [0:55:17, 0:55:25]: What we'd like to do is uh encourage you all to schedule uh brief meetings with the staff so we can go through'em [0:55:25, 0:55:45]: um line by line, offline just because I don't want to take up too much time this evening. Um but of course we will go through these line by line um to the extent necessary at the public hearing in in two weeks. As you all know at that location there's currently a Texaco and the operators of that gas station will [0:55:45, 0:55:48]: will remain the same. It's gonna be the same operator [0:55:48, 0:55:54]: They are just changing brands. Um their contract with Texaco uh is is set to expire. [0:55:54, 0:55:59]: um soon and rather than re sign with Texaco, they have opted to sign up with [0:56:00, 0:56:00]: Sonoko. [0:56:01, 0:56:07]: I believe that is Shell instead of Texco, isn't it? [0:56:07, 0:56:16]: Um and so rather than re sign with Shell they're gonna sign up with Snoco and they have a a vastly different branding [0:56:17, 0:56:20]: Um under the uh Sinoco um [0:56:20, 0:56:22]: national brand. [0:56:22, 0:56:29]: Um as a result when they were looking at the the changes in the sign faces and and the and the color scheme [0:56:29, 0:56:34]: Um we have since uh the shell was established. [0:56:34, 0:56:39]: Um we have adopted a new sign ordinance and in addition [0:56:39, 0:56:45]: Um we have the old downtown overlay that applies to this. And there are a number of provisions [0:56:45, 0:56:54]: um if red strictly would not allow them to move towards the SNOPO brand as sort of nationally recognized. [0:56:54, 0:56:56]: So they're having to do a lot of things. [0:56:57, 0:57:00]: um uh where they would have to do a lot of things if [0:57:00, 0:57:02]: They were not granted ovarians. [0:57:02, 0:57:09]: But we just need you to keep in mind it's an existing business, there are existing signs, there's existing awning. [0:57:09, 0:57:13]: Um and really what they're proposing to do is to change the color scheme. [0:57:14, 0:57:18]: and otherwise bring the uh the business into compliance. [0:57:19, 0:57:19]: So [0:57:20, 0:57:34]: By way of example, just to give you an indication of of the type of variance they're looking for, um the biggest uh variance potentially is i with respect to the color scheme. The old downtown overlay district, um [0:57:34, 0:57:36]: Establishes [0:57:36, 0:57:40]: uh or actually prohibits the use of primary colors [0:57:41, 0:57:45]: for signage and and external um surfaces of buildings. [0:57:45, 0:57:48]: Well if you look at the Sunoco branding it's [0:57:49, 0:57:51]: um blue, yellow and red. [0:57:51, 0:57:56]: And primary color. So and so they're asking for at least for that sign until they get a variance. [0:57:57, 0:58:01]: um as to the coloring. Um as to the height of the sign [0:58:01, 0:58:06]: Um our current sign ordinance um limits the height of the sign to eight feet. [0:58:07, 0:58:10]: Well there's an existing sign there that I believe is about thirty feet. [0:58:11, 0:58:14]: And so they're proposing to lower it to fourteen feet. [0:58:15, 0:58:20]: Well technically that's an increase o over eight feet, but they're actually lowering the height of the sign. [0:58:20, 0:58:24]: and changing the uh the structure of the sign. [0:58:25, 0:58:27]: to something that's more in compliance with our ordinance. [0:58:28, 0:58:48]: So th those are just examples of of what they're proposing to do to refurbish the exterior of the building, make it look uh do to frankly to improve uh the the nature of the building. Um one uh additional thing I'll mention tonight, and again we'd want you to w we want to walk through each of these in in detail. [0:58:47, 0:58:49]: Um [0:58:50, 0:58:52]: the the building where the old uh [0:58:52, 0:58:55]: downtown overlay district prohibits [0:58:55, 0:58:57]: the painting of masonry. [0:58:58, 0:59:02]: So technically they're not allowed to paint their building because they have a [0:59:02, 0:59:03]: Uh Cinder Block. [0:59:03, 0:59:18]: um construction, but it's been painted for years and years and years. And what they would like to do is repaint it and update the paint on that. Um sandblasting the paint off the building would make it look a lot worse. At least that's the estimation of the zoning advisory board. [0:59:19, 0:59:39]: So that's another example that they're uh uh recommending uh they be allowed to vary from the the the ordinance so that they can repaint the building, you know, a n a nice neutral color. That now the that actu actual portion of the building would not be a primary color. They're looking at sort of a off grey color just to to make the building uh [0:59:39, 0:59:40]: fresher and updated. [0:59:40, 0:59:41]: So that's [0:59:42, 0:59:48]: You know, aga again that's a ten thousand foot overview of the uh proposed set of variances. [0:59:48, 1:00:08]: And rather than um commenting on this, we're recommending that you all uh make an opportunity to meet with the staff um so that we can walk you through uh exactly why the zoning advisory board is is making these recommendations and then we'll represent that entire presentation uh at the public. [1:00:08, 1:00:10]: public hearing in a couple of weeks. [1:00:13, 1:00:16]: Okay. Are there any comments about this? [1:00:18, 1:00:38]: And you might want to check, I believe that sign they're gonna do is gonna include uh planners for flowers also. Yes, ma'am. That there there's a requirement that there be a three foot buffer around the the sign and and they're offering to to do some planners to to adjust for that. So yes ma'am. [1:00:38, 1:00:39]: Wash up the pictures. [1:00:39, 1:00:47]: Um yeah, I d I forgot to show you all pictures, so uh Mr. Harris is gonna bring those. Just real quick. This is [1:00:49, 1:00:53]: I understand I'll come back to you. I apologize. Go ahead, please. [1:00:54, 1:00:58]: Again, this is the existing site here, kind of what it looks like right now. [1:00:58, 1:00:59]: And [1:01:00, 1:01:03]: to Mr Worm's point. These are some of the [1:01:04, 1:01:05]: Colored [1:01:06, 1:01:08]: options that they were looking for, proposing [1:01:09, 1:01:10]: And [1:01:11, 1:01:12]: existing [1:01:13, 1:01:14]: Proposed [1:01:18, 1:01:22]: I think that's about it. Yeah. [1:01:23, 1:01:26]: This one and rotate it. [1:01:26, 1:01:28]: Okay. [1:01:28, 1:01:30]: Yeah. [1:01:34, 1:01:40]: So that that's a rendering of what they hope it will look like uh uh assuming the variance is grand. [1:01:41, 1:01:54]: Okay. Um I would just say that thank you so much for that presentation and the council if they need to know more will be able to drop in and talk to the city manager and find out. [1:01:54, 1:01:59]: more details. I think we have a question by uh Councilman John Blount. [1:01:59, 1:02:16]: The the other the other portion of the property, that is that included the the other portion that the uh that you do the emission? There's an emission station and that's part of the variance package. [1:02:16, 1:02:20]: uh color now they want to paint that the same blue as the Sunoko. [1:02:22, 1:02:28]: believe there is also a picture of Renim. [1:02:29, 1:02:32]: So it's all g the whole property's gonna match. [1:02:36, 1:02:37]: [3761.9, 3764.5]: Yeah, that's probably the best one. Yeah. [1:02:47, 1:02:48]: [3769.8, 3771.1]: I think that's but just uh [1:02:52, 1:02:53]: Yeah. [1:02:54, 1:02:58]: Yeah, you can see it back. That's existing look with the yellow back here. [1:02:58, 1:03:01]: And again propose as just shown. [1:03:02, 1:03:03]: [3783.8, 3790.6]: painting the building and taking all the other signage off and with just the blue fascia and the white lettering. [1:03:12, 1:03:14]: Okay, thank you both. [1:03:15, 1:03:22]: At this time we're going to ask if our city manager has any comments that he would like to make. Excuse me. [1:03:22, 1:03:42]: Let's go back and uh get a comment first from Pro Tem Ford. Actually, Mayor, what I did or first part of the meeting, we amended the agenda to add an item. I said number seven, but it's really number six. Remember I had a everybody everybody should have in front of them to include the clerk, the uh city manager as well as the uh city attorney, and says the city of Stockbridge proposal [1:03:42, 1:04:02]: And what Michael Harris and I received yesterday was a briefing of an update and an actual proposal that's before you by three outstanding citizens of Stockbridge are right back on the back. They're gonna come forward here and talk to us further about this. But this deals with the the city of Stockbridge being a sponsor for entrepreneurial [1:04:02, 1:04:22]: event in conjunction with this Advanced Technology Department Development Center, which is called the ATDC, and the Technology Association of Georgia, which is called the TAG, and the One Henry and Economic Alliance. Ladies and gentlemen, could you please come forward? Okay, so what you have here is uh uh you've got the Mrs. Sylvia, Ariel Shaw, and Gladwin [1:04:22, 1:04:24]: And um and supplies bowling. [1:04:25, 1:04:45]: Mode. And they're all members of this particular one Henry initiative. Once again they re I received a briefing yesterday uh w from them with Michael Harris. And what this amounts to is that uh it still is with incubators and entrepreneurs in the area and working out the the technology aspect, uh bringing it into Henry County itself. [1:04:45, 1:05:05]: itself and wanting to to have Stockbridge on the forefront of this new development to start these startup businesses in this aspect. So and they were looking for us to sponsor uh evening this event at Merrill Manors in June. Um in this as well, I believe the the dates scheduled date right now is June [1:05:05, 1:05:19]: twenty second provided it's available and I believe it still is, as well as provided that the council would want to support this initiative. So on that note, I'm gonna be quiet for a second and allow them to give a briefing and discussion as to have a discussion with the council. [1:05:20, 1:05:20]: Go ahead, please. [1:05:21, 1:05:27]: Mayor, uh members of city council, uh thanks for uh giving us a couple of minutes to talk about this. Uh two years ago [1:05:28, 1:05:29]: We said [1:05:29, 1:05:32]: Wouldn't it be good if Henry County [1:05:32, 1:05:35]: had a facility that help could help [1:05:35, 1:05:37]: produce its own local businesses. [1:05:38, 1:05:40]: And get'em on the ground, get'em started right. [1:05:41, 1:05:45]: Because so many people are trying to put businesses on the ground. [1:05:45, 1:05:48]: don't know the first question, which is who do you call? [1:05:49, 1:05:56]: How do you get it done? And depending on who they ask, uh, in Henry County they get a variety of answers. [1:05:57, 1:06:17]: So the idea of an incubator was born and we started really at point zero, uh didn't know what we didn't know and it was really tough to figure it out. Um over the period of our discovery learning, we ran into the ATDC, the Advanced Technology Development Centre. [1:06:17, 1:06:21]: which is organized under Georgia Tech. [1:06:21, 1:06:24]: But is eighty percent funded by the state. [1:06:26, 1:06:32]: And their mission is to develop technology incubators primarily. [1:06:32, 1:06:44]: And if you go to their offices uh on uh Fifth Street in downtown Atlanta, you will see about a dozen companies that are up on one floor with them that they're currently incubating. [1:06:45, 1:06:55]: everything from uh technology for uh uh medical uh advances to a uh machine that you can have mixed drinks from. [1:06:56, 1:07:00]: but it is a technology thing that uh the company is developing. [1:07:00, 1:07:04]: So uh we discovered that they had a process. [1:07:04, 1:07:12]: Now, we were about to make the same mistake a couple other communities have done, and that is to say, Oh, well where are we going to put this incubator? [1:07:13, 1:07:14]: Where where's our building? [1:07:15, 1:07:17]: Well you can't have uh [1:07:18, 1:07:18]: Other [1:07:19, 1:07:25]: municipalities, other counties have got themselves a building and then found out they had no process. [1:07:26, 1:07:27]: They walked in and heard echoes. [1:07:29, 1:07:33]: We have discovered that AT D C has been down this road many times. [1:07:34, 1:07:37]: and that they can help us develop the process. [1:07:37, 1:07:44]: And the main pro the beginning of that process is do we have any entrepreneurs in England County? Do you know? [1:07:44, 1:07:51]: I think I we do. I think we g but do we really know? So there is a study [1:07:51, 1:07:54]: uh that we have launched with them. [1:07:54, 1:07:56]: to determine the level of entrepreneurship. [1:07:57, 1:08:02]: Nothing happens for free. That study is costing thirty thousand dollars. [1:08:03, 1:08:08]: Fifteen thousand dollars of that is being paid by Henry County Development Authority. [1:08:09, 1:08:13]: The other fifteen thousand dollars we got paid with some of that state funding. [1:08:15, 1:08:19]: So by the time this twenty second of June rolls around [1:08:19, 1:08:22]: we will have a good idea of [1:08:22, 1:08:23]: what the entrepreneur [1:08:24, 1:08:25]: landscape looks like. [1:08:26, 1:08:29]: At this event we will begin to develop our process. [1:08:30, 1:08:35]: And to do that we'll have like six people on a panel who are entrepreneurs from Henry County. [1:08:35, 1:08:40]: And then ATDC will provide the primary speaker. [1:08:41, 1:08:42]: To talk about [1:08:43, 1:08:48]: how this entrepreneur sh uh process actually would work. [1:08:50, 1:08:56]: They provide training at a very zero level of hello, you want to make a company come in? [1:08:57, 1:09:02]: And that training they'll do for everybody, from a technology company [1:09:02, 1:09:04]: to a lawn mowing company. [1:09:05, 1:09:06]: They'll do it for anyone. [1:09:06, 1:09:26]: But the that process goes on and there's a weed out point in that process where they say, Okay, we've trained you up, now go out and find us where your customer base would be and come back and report to us. And they say only about twenty five percent of the companies come back and report, but then they've got the people that we know are serious. [1:09:27, 1:09:35]: So this m uh event on the twenty second of June would be the beginning to get that sort of process rolled. [1:09:36, 1:09:36]: Mm. [1:09:37, 1:09:40]: They do not ATD C [1:09:40, 1:09:44]: uh does not want to charge for that event, so we need to find sponsors. [1:09:45, 1:09:50]: When we first uh briefed some of the members of this council, there was a lot of interest in it. [1:09:50, 1:09:54]: So we thought that we would ask uh the city of Stockbridge [1:09:54, 1:09:57]: uh to take first pass at sponsoring it or not. [1:09:58, 1:10:02]: And I will say frankly today, uh Madam Mayor, where do you [1:10:02, 1:10:03]: Sponsor it or not? [1:10:04, 1:10:05]: We still want Shimba. [1:10:06, 1:10:09]: Uh w it will happen. We'll go out and find a sponsor. [1:10:10, 1:10:12]: But we would like for it to be you. [1:10:12, 1:10:21]: And uh but i if i you know, I know budgets and uh the issues because this will cost a little bit of money, not a huge amount. [1:10:22, 1:10:25]: But if you can do it, we'd love for you to do it. [1:10:26, 1:10:29]: If you can't sponsor it, we would still love for you to participate. [1:10:30, 1:10:34]: And subject to questions, ma'am, uh that would conclude our briefing. Okay. [1:10:34, 1:10:38]: Um anybody else in your group have a comment that you'd like to make? [1:10:40, 1:10:56]: All right, good evening. My name is Richard Sylvia and I actually sit on the Henry County Chamber of Commerce board, also sit on the Executive Committee with one Henry, and I actually am the uh chairperson for the professional services and corporate solutions subcommittee under one Henry. [1:10:57, 1:11:05]: Good evening, Mayor. Good evening, Council. So we actually had a meeting with Council maybe about four or five months ago to talk about [1:11:06, 1:11:06]: The incubator. [1:11:07, 1:11:08]: And [1:11:08, 1:11:11]: It's extremely important for people to understand the [1:11:11, 1:11:14]: economic impact that the incubator will have on Henry County? [1:11:15, 1:11:22]: As uh Mr Boland was sharing, we actually have two of the premier technology organizations within Georgia. [1:11:23, 1:11:26]: that are actually going to help us move forward the incubator. [1:11:27, 1:11:30]: We also have the support of the Henry County Development Authority. [1:11:30, 1:11:31]: Who's actually [1:11:32, 1:11:35]: invested the first fifteen thousand dollars within the incubator. [1:11:36, 1:11:46]: Right. So the incubator is actually gonna be twofold. One it's gonna be technology centric with an AT D C component, as Mr. Bolin shared with you, but then the other piece would be a business incubator. [1:11:46, 1:11:48]: that will look at other professional services type [1:11:49, 1:11:51]: organisations and businesses. [1:11:52, 1:11:58]: Right now there are other cities within Henry County who would like the incubator situated there. [1:11:58, 1:12:01]: When I first started with one one Henry two years ago [1:12:01, 1:12:03]: Our mission was to be able to develop [1:12:04, 1:12:05]: A technology [1:12:06, 1:12:08]: presence south of Atlanta. [1:12:09, 1:12:11]: And then so doing [1:12:11, 1:12:13]: We would like the incubator to live here. [1:12:14, 1:12:19]: So what we're asking is with this first component relative to the feasibility of the study that's being done, [1:12:20, 1:12:23]: that Stockbridge supports [1:12:23, 1:12:24]: and sponsors the incubator. [1:12:25, 1:12:29]: So you guys have a leg up on the other cities relative to where this incubator is gonna sit? [1:12:30, 1:12:33]: Right. So the incubator's gonna be historic here in Henry County. [1:12:33, 1:12:37]: So let's make no mistake about the impact that it's going to have on economic development. [1:12:37, 1:12:39]: Right. So right now seventy percent [1:12:40, 1:12:43]: of the students that we educate in Henry County leave. [1:12:44, 1:12:47]: They go somewhere else and we lose the tax base. [1:12:48, 1:12:52]: What the incubator will help do is actually keep some of our [1:12:53, 1:12:57]: educated students here because it gives them an opportunity to build their own business here. [1:12:58, 1:13:01]: The incubator won't be in an entity by itself. We're actually looking at [1:13:02, 1:13:05]: potentially having a secondary education being part of it. [1:13:05, 1:13:07]: Whether it's Clayton, whether it's Gordon, whether it's Mercer, [1:13:08, 1:13:10]: Well, there's some combination thereof. [1:13:10, 1:13:14]: as well as our workforce development committee that will also sit within the incubator. [1:13:15, 1:13:15]: Space. [1:13:16, 1:13:20]: So at this point we're still at the very beginning of what we're trying to do here. [1:13:21, 1:13:30]: However, we want to give you guys the first opportunity to partner with One Henry and the Incubator Project to ensure its success. [1:13:30, 1:13:43]: Okay. Any other comments? No. Um I'd like you to come back to the mic, one of you, and be very specific as to what you're asking of the city council tonight. [1:13:46, 1:13:50]: What we need for the sponsorship of this event. [1:13:50, 1:13:50]: Yeah. [1:13:51, 1:13:53]: would potentially be on the twenty second of June all [1:13:54, 1:13:55]: things lining up. [1:13:56, 1:14:00]: is we'd uh want the use of of the facility, which is we would [1:14:01, 1:14:03]: suspect M Merle Manders for that. [1:14:04, 1:14:09]: And then we would like uh to cater with some light hors d'oeuvres. [1:14:09, 1:14:12]: And a at the request of ATDC [1:14:13, 1:14:17]: They would like that caterer to have a poor license for uh beer and wine. [1:14:18, 1:14:19]: Uh [1:14:19, 1:14:23]: And so it is the facility, the food and the drink. [1:14:24, 1:14:28]: Uh and ma'am, we don't have a we don't have a specific number on that yet. [1:14:28, 1:14:33]: uh because we would uh we'd look for your guidance on on who you'd want us to use. [1:14:34, 1:14:53]: Since it would be basically asking is the use of the facility and for the city to underwrite the cost of any catering for that event. Is that correct? Exactly it. Plus the beer and the wine, which I don't think we can purchase. Is that correct, Mr Attorney? [1:14:54, 1:14:55]: It's allowed. [1:14:56, 1:15:00]: We we actually uh see the beer and wine being a no host bar. [1:15:01, 1:15:05]: so that the attendees would actually pay for their drinks. But the [1:15:05, 1:15:14]: So to set up a cash. We would just say that the c the uh cater caterer should have a poor license so they can provide that service. [1:15:15, 1:15:15]: Okay. [1:15:16, 1:15:16]: All right. [1:15:17, 1:15:18]: Um [1:15:18, 1:15:21]: Anything else that would be expected? [1:15:22, 1:15:26]: Long term, short term. The one other discussion that we had was uh [1:15:27, 1:15:29]: about how we publicize this event. [1:15:29, 1:15:34]: And uh you know, we we would certainly welcome any uh [1:15:34, 1:15:35]: Uh [1:15:35, 1:15:52]: organized efforts you have for publicising an event, but Ju Henry actually has a Image and Communications subcommittee, as you well know, that uh would be in charge of public publicising the event as would ATDC. [1:15:52, 1:15:56]: and tag the the Technology Association of Georgia. [1:15:56, 1:15:59]: Okay, I don't think that would be a problem. [1:15:59, 1:16:03]: Publicizing it. Okay, I'm gonna turn this back over to Mr. Ford. [1:16:04, 1:16:10]: Well actually, Mayor, I would uh actually ask the council if they got any c uh uh questions or discussion before [1:16:10, 1:16:11]: So I would imagine they'd have some. [1:16:12, 1:16:13]: Uh so [1:16:13, 1:16:33]: I'll go right here, sir. Well, I I want to thank you all for bringing this tremendous endeavor here because it's something that we want to do to partner to bring um professional services jobs to the north end of the county, partnering with our region. I think one of the [1:16:33, 1:16:35]: [4595.3, 4615.3]: We'd like to talk I I'd like to maybe get a a few words on is we say it many a time the new slogan around Hartsville is that we're um you know, we're two hours away from anywhere in America. Well Stockbridge is two hours and twenty minutes away from anywhere in America. So you talk about maybe the the the enhancements uh [1:16:55, 1:16:58]: of attracting businesses n nationwide the stock bridge. [1:17:01, 1:17:06]: The efforts [1:17:06, 1:17:14]: in the total program to attract businesses to Stockbridge uh involving the incubator nationwide. [1:17:17, 1:17:20]: I still don't understand specifically what the question is. [1:17:20, 1:17:21]: Go ahead. [1:17:21, 1:17:22]: Make sure to make it. [1:17:23, 1:17:25]: So let me try to answer that question for you. [1:17:25, 1:17:35]: So with one Henry, it it's not just about an incubator and it's not just about professional services. Mm-hmm. So if any of you have been to any of the One Henry meetings, I know that I've seen probably at least [1:17:36, 1:17:42]: three, maybe four year faces that have been part of the meetings, we're actually looking at increasing the quality [1:17:43, 1:17:44]: Of life. [1:17:44, 1:17:45]: For Henry County citizens. [1:17:46, 1:17:50]: Right, so there's a five prong approach that we take relative to the one Henry mission. [1:17:50, 1:17:53]: And we look at workforce development, we look at [1:17:54, 1:18:05]: Professional Services and Corporate Solutions, which is the committee that we're actually representing today, there's an entire image and communications component to try to change the face of how the rest of [1:18:05, 1:18:09]: South of the city you see. Right. In the eyes of of [1:18:10, 1:18:15]: the rest of Metro Atlanta. If you will. There's a workforce development component. [1:18:15, 1:18:18]: And then there's also an industrial component and [1:18:19, 1:18:27]: Uh what I call an example of what these guys have done is actually the CID that we have south of the city where we're actually actually asking the businesses there [1:18:28, 1:18:29]: To spend money. [1:18:30, 1:18:32]: Right, tax themselves to make that area better. [1:18:33, 1:18:42]: Right. So I'm trying to get to your question be because your question is very broad. Right. Right? Mm. And la I'm sorry, and last but not least is uh arts and leisure. [1:18:42, 1:18:45]: Right. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Right. So [1:18:47, 1:18:49]: It it's a it's an ecosystem. [1:18:50, 1:18:51]: Around [1:18:52, 1:18:53]: What we're trying to do [1:18:54, 1:18:58]: that which we need to build in order to be able to attract corporations here. [1:18:58, 1:19:00]: So when you talk about Hartsfield [1:19:00, 1:19:03]: We're two hours away from anywhere in the world. [1:19:03, 1:19:10]: probably a little more than that. Right? However, we need to be able to take advantage of the busiest airport in the world. [1:19:11, 1:19:13]: In most of what we do. [1:19:14, 1:19:14]: Keep that in mind. [1:19:15, 1:19:24]: Right, so when we talk about the incubator and its proximity, potentially, to seventy five, it puts us in a great position. [1:19:24, 1:19:27]: to be able to attract all types of different [1:19:29, 1:19:30]: Industries. [1:19:30, 1:19:33]: professional services organizations and technology companies. [1:19:35, 1:19:38]: Did I answer your question? Yes, sir, you did. Okay, thank you. [1:19:39, 1:19:54]: Are there any other questions or comments? Yes, Mayor. Councilman Robinson. I wanted to r I sit on the board for the capital committee so I didn't know. Wanna reach out to the attorney if there's something I can comment on, vote on, is there anything [1:19:55, 1:19:57]: It's just best to [1:19:57, 1:20:01]: state what you just stated and then to recuse yourself from the rest of the discussion. [1:20:03, 1:20:04]: Merdale. [1:20:05, 1:20:10]: Yes, Councilwoman Gantt. I have a question as well. I um have a [1:20:10, 1:20:14]: relationship, business relationship with one of the presenters today. [1:20:15, 1:20:26]: Uh as a attorney client or anything of that nature, or is well that is that something I have to recuse myself from? As long as it's not related to one Henry, I don't see a a conflict. [1:20:26, 1:20:26]: Thank you. [1:20:29, 1:20:31]: Anyone else have comment or question? [1:20:33, 1:20:34]: Okay. [1:20:35, 1:20:39]: It was a um uh presentation about I guess about five months ago. [1:20:40, 1:20:43]: Something like that. And I can't remember if the whole council was there or not. [1:20:44, 1:20:45]: I I d I don't remember. [1:20:46, 1:20:47]: Um [1:20:47, 1:20:50]: So basically what your your your potentials here [1:20:51, 1:20:53]: But what you see in here is is is [1:20:53, 1:20:57]: Is it just primarily an event or your potential for [1:20:58, 1:21:00]: You're starting your [1:21:01, 1:21:02]: Business. [1:21:02, 1:21:03]: The A committee. [1:21:04, 1:21:07]: So the event is the first step. [1:21:07, 1:21:09]: In the feasibility study? [1:21:09, 1:21:13]: Again, so when we talked to you guys before we were just talking concept. [1:21:13, 1:21:14]: We just had ideas. [1:21:15, 1:21:15]: Right. [1:21:16, 1:21:18]: Now the rubber meets the road when we get the [1:21:19, 1:21:22]: development authority to drop fifteen thousand dollars and invest in the program. [1:21:23, 1:21:25]: Right. So we have [1:21:26, 1:21:28]: A T D C tag involved. [1:21:29, 1:21:31]: We have the development authority involved. [1:21:31, 1:21:34]: We have the Henry County Chamber of Commerce involved. [1:21:35, 1:21:36]: It's no longer just an idea. [1:21:37, 1:21:41]: I mean we're going to move forward with this. However, we still need to understand the feasibility. [1:21:42, 1:21:45]: of the incubator and to ensure that [1:21:45, 1:21:50]: from an entrepreneurial perspective and from a Henry County perspective that is going to be supported. [1:21:51, 1:21:55]: So we could take this idea and just keep moving with it. However, that probably wouldn't be prudent. [1:21:56, 1:21:59]: and a good way to be able to spend our taxpayers' money. [1:21:59, 1:22:03]: Right. So again the event will be one of many events. [1:22:03, 1:22:04]: That are hosted. [1:22:04, 1:22:05]: So [1:22:06, 1:22:08]: truly understand the feasibility. [1:22:08, 1:22:10]: in the support around an incubator? [1:22:11, 1:22:16]: But there's also a capital campaign that we're working on, so we're not looking for Stockbridge to [1:22:17, 1:22:19]: Fun the entire incubator. [1:22:20, 1:22:25]: Right now we're in the process of developing we're in the process of putting together a capital campaign [1:22:25, 1:22:29]: that will probably pay for most of that incubator. [1:22:30, 1:22:30]: Right? [1:22:30, 1:22:36]: We're still in the very beginning stages of that strategic plan, so I am sitting on that council as well. [1:22:36, 1:22:37]: Um [1:22:38, 1:22:43]: And I would imagine probably within the next couple of months we'll understand what that entire capital campaign looks like. [1:22:44, 1:22:54]: and the monies that will be donated over a five year period to be able to support that along with probably three to five probably three other potential ideas. [1:22:54, 1:22:56]: That we'd like to [1:22:56, 1:22:57]: implement and see [1:22:58, 1:23:03]: included within Henry County again to increase quality life here. [1:23:04, 1:23:24]: Uh yes. Yes. Well what I understand here of course is uh manners I believe is still available on the twenty second of June if we want to improve this. So if if we approve this, this is like a city sponsored event, w just like when we have anything else like a um a um job fair there, things of this nature, it would be the city would encompass just give up that particular [1:23:24, 1:23:44]: particular facility. In the proposal it says an estimate of roughly three thousand dollars for food or purchasing of alcohol, whatever the case may be, uh for that event. Uh so I'm sorry, is that wrong? Not to purchase alcohol. I'm sorry, excuse me. Excuse me. That's right. Give me straight. Give me straight. So it it's just facility cost and then [1:23:44, 1:24:04]: Yes sir. Alright, so in here is three three grand for that. So the question would be um the three thousand dollars, I I know obviously this is not budgeted, where would that come or how if we want to approve this, where would that come out of and then and then uh whether [1:24:04, 1:24:05]: [5047.2, 5056.3]: Given that this event isn't scheduled until June and to the point we did check with the availability at Merle Manders is it is available. [1:24:16, 1:24:17]: So it's been placed on hold. [1:24:18, 1:24:22]: dependent upon the outcome of this meeting. But in speaking with our treasurer, Miss Neighbors [1:24:23, 1:24:30]: Because it's in June we know we're going to be having a uh discussion regarding a budget amendment, quarterly budget amendment in April. [1:24:30, 1:24:33]: A recommendation would be that um if it's a [1:24:33, 1:24:53]: approved and it's the will of the council to move forward that it be included in that amendment in April. Okay. On that note then, Madam Mayor, if you don't mind, I'd like to make a motion that we uh uh accept this uh sponsorship uh for this one Henry initiative scheduled for twenty second June at Merrill Manors Conference Center. [1:24:53, 1:24:54]: Circle. [1:24:55, 1:25:04]: Okay, we have a motion by Councilman uh our Pro Tem Ford with a second by Councilman uh Alexander. [1:25:05, 1:25:06]: Any discussion? [1:25:07, 1:25:09]: Yes, the three thousand dollars. [1:25:10, 1:25:11]: Because [1:25:12, 1:25:13]: Because there's still some [1:25:14, 1:25:34]: We we're not getting a whole uh and then there's still some must assuming that you guys want some other things happen. So are we talking about a function that doesn't exceed three thousand dollars or do or do you all know it's gonna be more than three thousand dollars? That would be not to exceed three thousand dollars. And actually when we put that number together we were thinking we were gonna [1:25:34, 1:25:45]: gonna be paying dollars for a facility. So um you know, I can't put a a a hard dollar number on it now, but I I don't think we approach three thousand dollars at this point. [1:25:47, 1:25:47]: Okay. [1:25:49, 1:25:50]: All right. Any other [1:25:51, 1:25:52]: Discussion [1:25:53, 1:25:54]: If not, all in favor. [1:25:57, 1:26:06]: All right. No opposed. Congratulations. Passed. Ma'am, we thank you and the council for your time. All right. [1:26:13, 1:26:15]: [5175.6, 5180.8]: Uh let me ask our clerk, did you get all of their names for the first time? [1:26:21, 1:26:21]: Good. [1:26:21, 1:26:26]: Good to go. Um at this time we will ask our city manager for comments. [1:26:27, 1:26:39]: Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor. I d I did want to make the council and the public um aware that we have brought on a new community development director, Ms. Camilla Moore. Um she actually [1:26:39, 1:26:59]: She was able to start a little bit early, so Jesse came in a week earlier, otherwise she would have been here this evening. Um she had a prior engagement. But at the next meeting we'll do a formal introduction. But she's already gotten very much involved into the processes on what's going on and and and and and already gotten delved into a number of issues that we've been working on. So um but [1:26:59, 1:27:05]: Glad to have her on board and again next time at the next meeting we'll be able to do a more formal introduction for the uh for the public as well. [1:27:06, 1:27:08]: Great, thank you. Any other comments? [1:27:09, 1:27:13]: Um we'll start now with Councilman Alexander if you have a comment. [1:27:13, 1:27:33]: I do. I'd like to thank everybody for participating as usual. And um, you know, it's always encouraging to see people come out and uh you know participate in the democratic process of moving Stockbridge forward. You know, I always want to be uh good stewards of the city's s city's money in every instance. [1:27:33, 1:27:42]: And uh that's kinda what we want to do. And while we endeavor to spend the necessary funds in order to make the city [1:27:42, 1:28:02]: uh prosperous and to fulfill the new vision and mission statement that we put forward. So I definitely uh appreciate uh you all coming out participating. We have a um uh good w uh partnership with Goodwill continues on April the sixth. We have uh the next career expo [1:28:02, 1:28:22]: And this time it's gonna be at Ted Strickland um community center uh so that we can continue to bring job opportunities uh to the citizens in our community, always uh giving back. And I would like I didn't thank the uh volunteers uh for uh the litter campaign [1:28:22, 1:28:31]: along Jodico Road, including uh count commission chairwoman June Wood who was out there with us. Uh it makes a whole lot of difference. [1:28:31, 1:28:39]: When everybody rolls up their sleeves and gets involved in the community and you're seeing the tangible results of us moving the city forward. Thank you. [1:28:40, 1:28:41]: Councilman Bullen. [1:28:43, 1:28:45]: Yeah, I just want to say, um, as a city [1:28:46, 1:28:51]: My prayer's always been that we make the best decision for our city and we move the city forward. Uh [1:28:52, 1:28:53]: As a collaborative effort. [1:28:54, 1:28:58]: Uh we're gonna be having the National Day of Prayer, uh the first Thursday of May. [1:28:59, 1:29:00]: Here at uh city hall. [1:29:01, 1:29:03]: So I would like everyone to come out to that because [1:29:03, 1:29:05]: I believe God answered prayers and [1:29:06, 1:29:08]: We surely need it in government. [1:29:08, 1:29:18]: Um I just wanna s just as my colleagues and just address them today and just say, you know, whatever we need to do to work together to move the city forward, let's continue to do that. [1:29:20, 1:29:40]: Yeah, uh Protem Forward. Thank you, Mayor. Appreciate it. Uh folks, the month of April is uh it's actually in our uh upcoming events, Paint Henry Blue. And we have a kickoff campaign right here at Stockbridge at Merrill Manor's Conference Center this Thursday at six thirty. And now the reason why I want to mention that to you is that uh during the course of the month of [1:29:40, 1:30:00]: of April to support um against any activity against child abuse, I guess it is. Uh life for you too as much as you can wear blue during the course of the month. Month of April, wear blue tie, blue jacket, shirt, whatever. Try to wear blue as much as you can to support the uh this uh this activity to uh protect our children and [1:29:59, 1:30:05]: And it's always good to have you uh to continue to engage uh with the uh [1:30:05, 1:30:08]: with the council as we continue to do the best we can to move the city forward and [1:30:08, 1:30:12]: and do your people's work. Okay. God bless you all. Thank you. [1:30:13, 1:30:14]: Councilwoman Gantt. [1:30:16, 1:30:20]: Thank everyone for coming out tonight and thank you for your continued prayers and support. [1:30:23, 1:30:26]: Councilwoman Robinson. Um just wanna thank everyone for coming out. [1:30:27, 1:30:27]: Thank you. [1:30:28, 1:30:29]: Okay, thank you. [1:30:30, 1:30:37]: Um at this time um I wanna just ask our um city attorney, do we have any issues for executive session? [1:30:38, 1:30:38]: Yes, ma'am. [1:30:42, 1:30:47]: Okay. Um at this time we're just gonna put a pause on and um [1:30:48, 1:31:03]: Let me let me just say a couple of things though. Um just in case anyone has to leave while we're in executive session, uh we do have upcoming city meetings and you're gonna find those announcements either on the city website [1:31:03, 1:31:06]: You're gonna find them on our Facebook page. [1:31:06, 1:31:13]: or by talking to someone at the city hall you can find out anything going on. We have a city job fair. [1:31:14, 1:31:19]: in partnership with Goodwill Industries to be held on Thursday, April sixth. [1:31:19, 1:31:22]: this year at the Ted Strickland Community Center. [1:31:23, 1:31:28]: That will be coming up right away. We have a council work session on April tenth. [1:31:28, 1:31:33]: That's where we will have an update, a quarterly update on the city's finances. [1:31:33, 1:31:40]: And all city offices will be closed on Friday, April fourteenth, in observance of Good Friday. [1:31:40, 1:31:56]: We have uh upcoming council member community meetings, uh Coffee with a cop, Unity in Community, a beautification project, nonprofit social mixer. Um these things are in your tonight's um [1:31:57, 1:32:09]: um agenda and I would encourage you to take that with you so you can retain all of these dates. We also have some upcoming civic events as Pro Tem Ford alluded to, the Paint Henry Blue. [1:32:10, 1:32:15]: And Georgia Cities Week and Unity in the Community, another event with them. [1:32:16, 1:32:19]: And then on a Saturday, April twenty ninth. [1:32:19, 1:32:35]: the um Main Street program will be having a city yard sale. So if you have anything at home that you would like to get rid of, um sale, you need to participate in the city yard sale. So we're gonna pause at this time. [1:32:36, 1:32:44]: And go into executive session. So do I hear a motion to go into executive session? [1:32:46, 1:32:53]: Ma'am, I move that we go into executive session for the purpose of real estate litigation and personnel. Second. [1:32:54, 1:33:02]: Okay, we have a motion by Councilwoman Gantt and a second by Councilman Alexander to go into executive session. [1:33:02, 1:33:07]: Um all in any discussion about that? All in favor of going there. [1:33:07, 1:33:09]: All right. Thank you. We'll be back soon. [1:33:23, 1:33:24]: Oh thank you. [1:33:27, 1:33:32]: But wrong wrong. [1:45:35, 1:45:35]: Yeah. [1:45:38, 1:45:40]: Yeah, yeah. [1:47:20, 1:47:25]: So [1:49:32, 1:49:33]: Yeah. Yeah. [1:49:35, 1:49:37]: [6582.5, 6595.1]: Um I think that's the right. [1:50:09, 1:50:17]: [6619.1, 6621.5]: I think what I'm saying. [1:50:28, 1:50:37]: Okay, uh people are basically [1:54:24, 1:54:30]: Oh yeah, it's just like [1:54:42, 1:54:44]: Yeah. [1:57:43, 1:57:49]: [7501.8, 7508.5]: [2:05:09, 2:05:11]: [7512.9, 7517.5]: Oh yeah, see more. [2:05:18, 2:05:20]: [8450.0, 8465.0]: [2:22:01, 2:22:02]: Uh uh. [2:23:23, 2:23:24]: Uh uh. [2:23:30, 2:23:36]: And uh so [2:23:37, 2:23:40]: But [2:23:41, 2:23:48]: Yes, sir. I'm still in City Hall. I was trying to get out of here. There's so much stuff going on here. [2:23:52, 2:23:56]: Yeah, [2:23:57, 2:24:01]: Oh yeah. [2:24:01, 2:24:10]: I think that's what I mean about six three. [3:08:35, 3:08:43]: They should be able to go to what's the other one. [3:10:30, 3:10:40]: [13299.5, 13301.4]: [3:41:43, 3:41:47]: Oh okay. You you yeah, you ain't got more stake or nothing like that. [3:41:51, 3:41:52]: Okay. [3:42:12, 3:42:15]: Boy, it is some kind of code in this place. [3:42:17, 3:42:18]: [13339.5, 13343.2]: Right? They're right here. Let's show it. [3:42:25, 3:42:26]: [13365.9, 13370.7]: At this time I need a motion to end the executive session. No move. [3:42:51, 3:42:53]: Um motion uh back [3:42:54, 3:42:59]: President Pro Tem Ford. Do I hear a second? Second by Councilman Alexander. [3:42:59, 3:43:01]: Is there any discussion? [3:43:02, 3:43:04]: If not, all in favor? [3:43:05, 3:43:06]: Okay. [3:43:07, 3:43:08]: Okay. [3:43:09, 3:43:17]: All right, at this time I'm going to um ask for a motion to come back into our meeting. [3:43:17, 3:43:18]: So moved. [3:43:18, 3:43:20]: Do I hear second? Second. [3:43:21, 3:43:24]: Second by Robinson and the motion was by Ford. [3:43:25, 3:43:28]: Um at this time do I hear any discussion? [3:43:29, 3:43:31]: If not, all in favor? [3:43:33, 3:43:37]: Okay, we're back in the meeting. Oh sorry. [3:43:42, 3:43:48]: Okay, here we go. Mayor. Mayor. I think a clerk you have a question? [3:43:50, 3:44:00]: I just need to put into the record that Councilwoman Gantt did um attend the meeting at six o'clock PM and exit it during executive session. [3:44:00, 3:44:01]: Okay. [3:44:01, 3:44:07]: Do we need do we need uh to d you just need to put it in there? Okay, you're gonna put that in the motion. [3:44:08, 3:44:12]: I mean in the minutes. Okay. At this time, um [3:44:12, 3:44:24]: We have um a few things that we need to take care of. Let's start announcement. Uh first with our announcement that unfortunately we are losing our city manager. [3:44:25, 3:44:45]: Um Michael Harris has um tendered his resignation and he will be accepting another position back in the private sector and I think it goes without saying how much we care and think of Michael and we wish him the absolute best and he's gonna be terrific and helpful. [3:44:45, 3:44:48]: helping us prepare for who's to follow. [3:44:48, 3:44:51]: If you do you have any comments you'd like to make? [3:44:52, 3:45:10]: No, it's just it's it's been a pleasure to be able to have the opportunity to serve um this community and and and and and this mayor and council and prior mayor and council as well. And um I just on behalf of my and my family we're it's appreciative of the opportunity that we've had and and look forward to seeing more great things happen here in the city of Stockbridge. [3:45:11, 3:45:30]: Thank you. Thank you. And best wishes. Uh at this time uh due to the uh resignation of our city manager, we um have discussed um retaining a search firm and I'm gonna ask if there is a council member who has a motion related to that. [3:45:30, 3:45:44]: Well I will say thank you mayor, I will say that uh make a motion that we retain a search firm to find a outstanding uh city manager that can fulfill the shoes that the big shoes that Michael Harris is now leaving behind. [3:45:45, 3:45:47]: Okay, we have a motion. Do I hear a second? [3:45:48, 3:45:48]: Second. [3:45:48, 3:45:54]: We have a second from Councilman Alexander. All in favor to hire the search firm. [3:45:55, 3:45:56]: Thank you for your vote. [3:45:56, 3:46:16]: Okay. This time we have another um matter of um importance and that will be we I'm gonna refer that out to our uh city attorney and he will tell us about it. Um Madam Mayor, um based on uh recommendations from staff, um we would ask that a motion be made [3:46:16, 3:46:27]: to hire the firm of Massey, Watson and Hembry uh for their services, professional services in the amount not to exceed sixty seven thousand dollars. [3:46:29, 3:46:30]: Some of the [3:46:30, 3:46:31]: Second. [3:46:33, 3:46:34]: Any discussion? [3:46:37, 3:46:39]: No discussion. All in favor? [3:46:41, 3:46:53]: Madam Mayor, in addition, we'd like the staff would like to recommend and ask that a motion be made to hire the professional services of Meredith Weaver, also in the amount not to exceed sixty seven thousand. [3:46:55, 3:46:56]: Do I hear that motion? [3:46:57, 3:46:58]: Shall move. [3:46:58, 3:46:59]: Do I hear a second? [3:47:02, 3:47:04]: Okay. Uh motion back. Um [3:47:05, 3:47:11]: Present protem forward and a second by uh Councilman Robinson. Uh any discussion on that? [3:47:13, 3:47:15]: No discussion. All in favor? [3:47:17, 3:47:22]: Right, thank you. Uh are there any other matters for discussion? [3:47:22, 3:47:23]: If not [3:47:24, 3:47:31]: Um I will just say that the evening do I hear a motion? Gotta have a motion. Yes. No. To adjourn. Right. [3:47:31, 3:47:33]: I'd like to make a motion that we adjourn the meeting. [3:47:33, 3:47:35]: Okay, do I hear a second? [3:47:36, 3:47:37]: We have a motion and a second. [3:47:38, 3:47:40]: All in any discussion. [3:47:42, 3:47:43]: All in favour. [3:47:43, 3:47:44]: All right. [3:47:44, 3:47:46]: Meeting's over. Thank you. [3:47:52, 3:47:55]: All right, what happened? Steve, did you see? [3:47:55, 3:47:56]: Oh no.