2017-04-10 · City Council · Transcript · City Council Meeting

--- title: April 10 2017 City Council Meeting date: 2017-04-10 source: 2017-04-10_April_10_2017_City_Council_Meeting.wav --- [0:00:04, 0:00:17]: But I don't have any other. [0:00:22, 0:00:28]: Ladies and gentlemen, it's six o'clock, so if we could uh have all our council people come up, we'll get started. [0:00:51, 0:01:07]: At this time if I could I'll call the meeting to order and get started for the evening. Um I'm looking for Reverend Postel. Is he in the audience? He is. Reverend Postel, if you'll come up and uh give our invitation, we would appreciate that. [0:01:08, 0:01:19]: Reverend Postel, I might add, is the minister at the First United Methodist Church in Stockbridge, so if you're looking for a place to worship, I'm sure he'd be glad to have you. Amen. [0:01:22, 0:01:23]: Let's pray. [0:01:29, 0:01:33]: Most gracious God, we are so thankful for this day. [0:01:35, 0:01:39]: in a world that is constantly changing before us. [0:01:41, 0:01:43]: We are so thankful that you are God who [0:01:44, 0:01:45]: Never changes. [0:01:47, 0:01:50]: As the psalmist says, your years never end. [0:01:51, 0:01:54]: So Lord, I pray that we are able to draw strength from you today. [0:01:56, 0:02:00]: I pray God that each and every person in this room is able to put trust in you. [0:02:02, 0:02:05]: I pray, O Lord, that you pour your spirit [0:02:05, 0:02:07]: And to each and every person here. [0:02:08, 0:02:11]: So that we may be able to see the world through your eyes. [0:02:15, 0:02:16]: I pray God that [0:02:17, 0:02:18]: You were able to [0:02:19, 0:02:22]: Offer each man and woman strength. [0:02:22, 0:02:25]: today to make every decision [0:02:26, 0:02:27]: Every thought. [0:02:28, 0:02:29]: Every word that we speak [0:02:30, 0:02:32]: In the competence assurance [0:02:33, 0:02:34]: Of your plan? [0:02:35, 0:02:36]: Your provision [0:02:37, 0:02:39]: And you as our foundation. [0:02:40, 0:02:42]: There is no God like you. [0:02:45, 0:02:46]: It's in your name we pray. [0:02:46, 0:02:47]: Amen. [0:02:47, 0:02:48]: Bam. [0:02:48, 0:02:52]: And if you would uh remain standing we're gonna pledge the American flag. [0:02:55, 0:03:07]: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to your God, gorgeous man. One nation, under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. [0:03:08, 0:03:09]: Thank you. [0:03:17, 0:03:23]: At this time we'll ask our clerk, Vanessa Holliday, if she will to call the roll. [0:03:24, 0:03:25]: Councilman Alexander. [0:03:26, 0:03:29]: Present. Councilman Bullt. Present. Mayor Neal. [0:03:29, 0:03:36]: Present. Mayor Pro Tam Ford. Present. Councilwoman Gantt. Present. Councilwoman Robinson. Present. Mayor Neal, you have a quorum. [0:03:37, 0:03:37]: Thank you. [0:03:38, 0:03:42]: At this time um I would like to ask for a motion to adopt the agenda. [0:03:44, 0:03:44]: Mair Neil. [0:03:45, 0:03:48]: I'd like to amend the agenda to include a discussion on um [0:03:49, 0:03:54]: allowing the discussion to uh move forward with hiring a PIO officer. [0:03:56, 0:03:58]: All right, you've heard the motion. Do I hear a second? [0:03:59, 0:03:59]: Second. [0:04:01, 0:04:03]: I'll uh is there any discussion on that? [0:04:06, 0:04:07]: If not [0:04:07, 0:04:08]: All in favour? [0:04:10, 0:04:10]: Thank you. [0:04:12, 0:04:16]: Okay, so um that will go on our discussion list for the evening. [0:04:27, 0:04:39]: At this time uh we have minutes to approve from previous meetings from February ninth, tenth, thirteenth, twentieth, and twenty-eighth. Do I hear a motion to approve those minutes? [0:04:42, 0:04:48]: I've got one down here. Okay. Um we have a motion by um [0:04:49, 0:04:53]: Mrs um Miss Robinson and a second by Mr. Alexander. [0:04:53, 0:04:55]: Um any discussion? [0:04:56, 0:04:57]: If not [0:04:58, 0:04:59]: All in favour? [0:05:00, 0:05:00]: [302.1, 322.1]: Thank you. At this time I would like to um just call attention to the fact that prior to our meeting beginning tonight, we do all of our ceremonial presentations in the hour preceding our meeting. And we had two wonderful um things happen tonight. We did a letter of commendation for Dr. Renata Hannah for Renata. [0:05:22, 0:05:33]: receiving the President Barack Obama Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteer services and volunteer services for the city of Stockbridge. And congratulations, Stockband. [0:05:38, 0:05:58]: And um although the group has left, I believe, um, already, uh we had a great delegation to come and be supportive of the uh Blanton family and the National Autism Awareness Month is this month. And we did that recognition for that and presented it to one of our own citizens who [0:05:58, 0:06:14]: has a beautiful autistic child who was with us and uh helped us get through our picture making by telling us all cheese just at the right time. So we appreciate the Blanton family and we just wanted to make you aware that those two presentations were made earlier this evening. [0:06:17, 0:06:37]: At this time if anyone in our audience wishes to make a public comment and you did not fill out a yellow form, if you will jump up and go out and get a form and fill it out, we'll give you a minute to do that. If not, we'll go ahead and get started with those who did fill one out earlier and we'll go to our clerk and ask her [0:06:37, 0:06:39]: Mm. [0:06:44, 0:06:45]: Need a Lee. [0:06:45, 0:06:51]: Anita, what was the last name? Lee L E E. Anita Lee, if you would come up please. [0:07:00, 0:07:06]: Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Anita Lee. I am at one oh three Club Drive in Stockbridge. [0:07:06, 0:07:10]: Um I'm coming before you briefly just to uh put a little nugget in your ear. [0:07:11, 0:07:15]: Um, I'm gonna be sending you all some more information about what I'm about to talk about. [0:07:16, 0:07:18]: And I apologise that I wasn't able to gather that up. [0:07:18, 0:07:19]: before the meeting. [0:07:20, 0:07:25]: Um I I do know that uh this council in this city is moving forward with [0:07:25, 0:07:29]: uh finding out solutions to bring city wide broadband access. [0:07:29, 0:07:31]: And I want to also we give you [0:07:32, 0:07:34]: uh my sort of expertise. [0:07:35, 0:07:37]: on some of the things that I found out. [0:07:37, 0:07:53]: I know that I spoke with my c Mr Harris and uh the IT department is gonna be contacting the normal folks, the Comcast and the AT and Ts and for that reason that's fine. However there are a lot of of of different and um [0:07:53, 0:07:59]: uh a little bit more cost effective and efficient ways of bringing broadband access to the city of Stockbridge. [0:07:59, 0:08:02]: Um I am uh a digital inclusion fellow. [0:08:02, 0:08:05]: And uh we're just sponsored through Google Fiber. [0:08:06, 0:08:16]: And um that's not to say I'm loyal to Google Fiber, because that may not come here either. Um but I also have had opportunities to speak with other types of organizations [0:08:17, 0:08:20]: that bring city wide and business wide broadband [0:08:21, 0:08:23]: um to those communities. Um I've also have [0:08:24, 0:08:29]: uh colleagues in other cities where cities have done unique and different ways to bring [0:08:29, 0:08:31]: broadband to their community. So [0:08:31, 0:08:32]: Um [0:08:33, 0:08:38]: I have uh like I said, I've spoken to Mr Harris and uh just wanted to put that little nugget in your ear that [0:08:38, 0:08:40]: I will be sending some additional [0:08:40, 0:08:43]: uh resources that I would like the city to take a look at. [0:08:43, 0:08:44]: To um [0:08:45, 0:08:58]: provide municipal broadband to the citizens and to its businesses and I think uh it'll be a wonderful asset to the city and um and uh that's my nugget. [0:08:58, 0:09:03]: Thank you, Anita. We appreciate those comments and we'll look forward to receiving the materials. [0:09:05, 0:09:09]: At this time tonight, um we under our new [0:09:09, 0:09:11]: Oh you got another one. Okay, here we go. [0:09:12, 0:09:13]: Miss Katie Young. [0:09:14, 0:09:15]: Katie Young. [0:09:20, 0:09:23]: And we'll remind all of our presenters tonight that you have three minutes. [0:09:33, 0:09:37]: Hi, I'm Katie and this is Steven. This is my brother. [0:09:37, 0:09:39]: And we are a [0:09:39, 0:09:54]: You deserve it mentoring for teens uh from ages fifteen through twenty one. The purpose of this meeting is to introduce you introduce our organ organization to you guys and just briefly You speak it's a a little bit louder. Okay. Okay. [0:09:55, 0:09:59]: The purpose for this visit is to introduce you to services mentoring for teams. [0:10:03, 0:10:13]: Our primary mission is to enhance the quality of teenagers ages fifteen through twenty one in our community by pri providing program designed to support education [0:10:13, 0:10:19]: Enhance self esteem and equip teams with life skills that lead to healthy, productive choices. [0:10:19, 0:10:28]: YDI has adopted in both conventional and traditional ways to help develop effective and sustainable solutions to transfer the disadvantaged teams into [0:10:29, 0:10:42]: dignified citizens. Why the high has a grassroot organization that supports team empowerment through enhancements of various activity that has transformed transformed lives. YDI is a nonprofit [0:10:42, 0:10:45]: Organization of five oh one C three. [0:10:45, 0:10:48]: The need for this you deserve it mentor [0:10:48, 0:10:51]: organization is to empower teenagers [0:10:51, 0:10:57]: Um we have a lot of different little uh amenity activity that we does. We our main focus is mentoring. [0:10:58, 0:11:01]: If they're having problems at home, single parent home school. [0:11:01, 0:11:02]: dealing with life choices. [0:11:03, 0:11:06]: Uh then also we focus on the ones that finish high school. [0:11:06, 0:11:09]: and have nothing to do or productive to do. [0:11:10, 0:11:19]: Uh so we offer mentorship, academic tutoring, employment, employability skills, community service hours, the ones that have gotten tickets. [0:11:19, 0:11:20]: Quote, quote. [0:11:21, 0:11:25]: uh social awareness. We have a few that's dealing with [0:11:25, 0:11:27]: drug trafficking, um [0:11:27, 0:11:33]: prostitutions that we're you know, trying to steer them down the right way to try to help'em back to [0:11:33, 0:11:42]: being dignified citizens to let'em know that the that way that they think is easy is not always the way to go. So we're focused on ages [0:11:43, 0:11:46]: fifteen through twenty one, bringing him back to life or giving him hope. [0:11:47, 0:12:00]: giving them different choices and entrepreneurship. We have a lot of them that don't want to go to school. College is not for me. So what we do, we have entrepreneur, we have partner with uh a few companies and then we have uh a couple of them that a couple of [0:12:01, 0:12:02]: Uh uh [0:12:02, 0:12:06]: personal owned business have partnered with us to give them entrepreneurship to help them. [0:12:07, 0:12:09]: uh start their own business truck driving. [0:12:09, 0:12:10]: Uh [0:12:10, 0:12:15]: uh Brad, he's over uh over the construction highways, he's giving them jobs as well. [0:12:16, 0:12:18]: So it's just a little bit what we want to do. We want to [0:12:19, 0:12:20]: Uh work with the teenagers. [0:12:20, 0:12:22]: Here in Stalgrid. [0:12:22, 0:12:28]: That's allows that o opportunity. And we also look into partnership uh with Stockbridge. [0:12:29, 0:12:34]: Thank you. Thank you. We thank you so much for your presentation. Thank you. [0:12:38, 0:12:52]: Do we have any more? Who would like to speak? Okay, at this time we're going to move into our new business and under that we are going to uh pause and have a rezoning uh tonight. So at this time um [0:12:52, 0:13:03]: I believe we're gonna call up Camilla Moore who's new on our staff and Camilla's gonna come up and um talk to us a little bit about this rezoning project. [0:13:03, 0:13:05]: Uh yeah, excuse me. [0:13:06, 0:13:10]: I would like to um identify did was not aware that the um [0:13:10, 0:13:25]: the Baker family own this particular property. I just simply wanted to disclose that they have been an advertiser uh in the past with my website um uh on this um partnership with South Point Retail at exit two eighteen. [0:13:26, 0:13:40]: And Madam Mayor, I know this is the first time everyone's getting a chance to meet Miss Moore. She's actually been on staff now for about three weeks, um, hit the ground running from day one. So we thought this would be a great transition. This is the same these are the same two cases that [0:13:40, 0:13:58]: uh myself and Mr. Williams presented at the last meeting, but now in her new role as a community development director, she'll be handling these duties going forward. So I'd like to introduce her to the I think everyone's had a chance to meet her at this point, but to the public as well. Um she's done a great job and she's been a great asset already. So with that, Ms. Moore. [0:13:59, 0:14:03]: Thank you, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and members of Council. [0:14:03, 0:14:06]: I'd like to thank Mr. Harris for um [0:14:06, 0:14:12]: Giving me the opportunity to serve you and the citizens of Stockbridge. I look forward to implementing your vision [0:14:13, 0:14:15]: And as what you see is what you get. [0:14:15, 0:14:18]: I'm gonna bring you the good, the bad and the ugly. [0:14:19, 0:14:21]: That's how I operate as your planning director. [0:14:21, 0:14:24]: Mayor, we have two items before you tonight. [0:14:24, 0:14:40]: Uh for the record I'm gonna read the first one into the record. It's RZ sixteen thirty nine S for Stockbridge. The applicant is Bruce Brown. The location is five one oh four North Henry Boulevard. The rezoning is from C one to C two. [0:14:41, 0:14:43]: Right now it's operating as a swimming pool. [0:14:44, 0:14:49]: Current land use is retail, sales and indoor recreation, future land use commercial. [0:14:49, 0:14:54]: Road access is North Henry Boulevard. Staff prepared a package for you. [0:14:55, 0:14:56]: If you have it [0:14:56, 0:14:58]: Right here is our area view. [0:14:59, 0:15:07]: And on this area view it's struck in yellow lines, shows you the location of the property along State Route Highway forty two. [0:15:07, 0:15:12]: Most of this area has already transitioned from non residential to [0:15:12, 0:15:15]: Other uses such as C one, O and I [0:15:15, 0:15:29]: Henry County Planning Department recommended approval. Staff has reviewed their recommendations and the Planning Commission on March in March also recommended approval. So staff is coming for you tonight supporting the recommendation of Henry County and the Planning Commission. [0:15:31, 0:15:32]: Thank you. [0:15:33, 0:15:45]: Do I hear a motion that we accept or do we need to Madam Mayor, we need to open the public hearing to receive public comment um, on this change. Okay. [0:15:45, 0:15:57]: All right then we are going to do that. Um in order for us to go into a public hearing, do I hear a motion that we go into public hearing for the matter of hearing rezoning? Okay. [0:15:58, 0:15:59]: Okay. We're in. [0:16:00, 0:16:00]: Um [0:16:01, 0:16:02]: If we could at this time. [0:16:03, 0:16:03]: Um [0:16:04, 0:16:22]: If there's any public comment, we're gonna take public comment, either for or against this rezoning. So if there's anyone in the room who is against it, we'll hear you first and then we'll hear those that are for. So anyone who's against, if you would come to the podium. [0:16:24, 0:16:30]: Okay. Is there anyone who would like to speak on behalf of this motion? [0:16:32, 0:16:33]: Rezoning. [0:16:34, 0:16:36]: You don't, unless you want to. [0:16:36, 0:16:37]: Okay. [0:16:37, 0:16:39]: All right. [0:16:39, 0:16:57]: There's um nothing for or against other than the person who the applicant is here and um we appreciate your presence and as I said you're welcome to come but not necessary if you don't have anybody against you. At this time, if there is a motion to move forward [0:16:58, 0:17:05]: We just need to formally close the hearing so you can just do that by statement. And then we're going to vote after that. Is that correct? [0:17:05, 0:17:13]: Okay. All right. We're gonna close the public hearing at this time and then we are going to vote. So we're officially closed. May nil. [0:17:14, 0:17:25]: I move that we approve the rezoning R Z sixteen dash thirty nine S um uh property location fifty one oh four North Henry Boulevard. [0:17:25, 0:17:34]: Okay, we have a motion by Miss Gantt and a second by Mr Alexander and at this time, Mr Blount, please. I mean Mr Blount, well, your voice. [0:17:35, 0:17:42]: Didn't get that over there. Uh okay, Mr. Blount, uh second from you. And now this time is there any discussion? Yes. [0:17:43, 0:18:02]: I I really would like to hear from the applicant because uh many of the public probably is not aware of this project and this could be a significant addition to the city, so if you might be able to talk about it a little bit and kinda tell uh the public that you're about to add a swim facility to the city, I think they might be excited about it. [0:18:05, 0:18:20]: My name is Bruce Brown, fifty one oh four North Henry Boulevard, uh owner operator of Wet Set, Scuba and Swim. Um we're not adding anything. We've actually been doing this for over eighteen years at this point. Um we just found that our zoning didn't [0:18:21, 0:18:25]: really include the swim school portion of it. So we [0:18:25, 0:18:28]: made efforts to fix that particular issue. So [0:18:28, 0:18:40]: Um the pool's been there. It's an indoor heated swimming pool. We've been teaching swimming lessons uh like I said for eighteen plus or minus years and swim parties and scuba lessons and all that stuff up there. [0:18:40, 0:18:58]: It apparently is one of the best kept secrets of Stockbridge because It is. Eighteen years I've had people, you know, they they drive by and say they wanna you know, they've been meaning to stop in or whatever and uh everybody pulls in wants to actually see the pool itself and it's down behind the building closed in. So [0:18:59, 0:19:02]: Uh do we have questions from the council? [0:19:04, 0:19:04]: Okay. [0:19:04, 0:19:05]: One second. [0:19:05, 0:19:25]: Yeah, th thank you, Mayor. I wanna m make it known also that um probably eight to ten years or so ago, my only child, which happens to be a female, actually I took her to your swim facility to learn how to swim. Uh so I just wanna let you it was it worked well. She's she's a decent swimmer. But that was the initial start there aspect. So I don't know if that if that what that does and or nothing, okay, great. [0:19:25, 0:19:31]: Just want to make sure I I get that out. But but absolutely. I put she participated in that. So good. Thank you. [0:19:31, 0:19:46]: Uh Mr Brown, we appreciate that and we appreciate the fact that we're being able to get this word out for you that we teach swimming in Stockbridge. So thank you for coming to the podium and uh um we have another question from um Councilman Blount. [0:19:47, 0:19:48]: It's right here. [0:19:49, 0:19:56]: Just real quick,'cause I've been to your facility a few times to deal with you know, looking at your you know I actually bought a couple of regulators from there. All right. [0:19:56, 0:20:09]: Um I've been with Patty since nineteen eighty four. Now are you still gonna be dealing with those uh type uh dynamics even with the we're hanging on to scuba as long as we can hang on to it. Unfortunately that's that's my my passion and [0:20:09, 0:20:11]: And here in Stockbridge it's just not [0:20:12, 0:20:20]: as busy as it once was. Um we're we're doing more business in the swim lesson part of it than the scuba part of it. [0:20:20, 0:20:24]: Uh but I still work on regulators and sell'em every chance I get, so [0:20:24, 0:20:25]: Yes, sir. [0:20:26, 0:20:28]: Okay. Any other questions? I do. Ms. Robinson. [0:20:29, 0:20:46]: I'm just excited about this. I thought you were just a private um swim place. Is this something that you reach out to the community? How do you actually advertise, you know, for is the community of our advertising is the swim lesson sign out front and word of mouth. [0:20:46, 0:20:48]: Okay. Yeah. So is there something I guess [0:20:49, 0:21:05]: You know, that would be good to get with the school board to let them know that that's we've done stuff with some of the local schools. The uh Henry County Recreation Department used to put our flyers up and stuff like that. Um our our classes this time of year are pretty much booked full through the summer. [0:21:05, 0:21:12]: So we we don't do a whole lot of advertising simply for the fact we we don't have a whole lot more to sell than what we've already sold. So [0:21:13, 0:21:17]: Um it's up there. Come on up and check it out. Definitely do that. Thank you so much. [0:21:17, 0:21:19]: Any other questions from the Council? [0:21:20, 0:21:24]: All right. Thank you, Mr Brown. [0:21:26, 0:21:27]: Sure. [0:21:28, 0:21:33]: Okay, at this time do I have a motion that we can move forward with this rezoning? [0:21:34, 0:21:37]: We've already done that and so uh at this time [0:21:37, 0:21:39]: If there's no more discussion? [0:21:39, 0:21:42]: We're going to vote on Miss Gantt's motion. [0:21:43, 0:21:44]: All in favour? [0:21:45, 0:21:46]: Okay, we're good. [0:21:46, 0:21:53]: Moving on. Yes, Mayor, the next item before you tonight is a variance, VR seventeen oh two S. [0:21:53, 0:21:56]: The applicant is station two ALP Sunako. [0:21:57, 0:22:04]: At 3350 Riverwood Parkway, suite 1800, Atlanta, Georgia, the agent is Stephen Barger. [0:22:04, 0:22:12]: Location in the southwest corner of the intersection of North Henry Boulevard and Rock Quarry Road, landlock 61 of the 12th District. [0:22:13, 0:22:17]: The applicant has come in and asked for fifteen parances. [0:22:17, 0:22:21]: I want to preface um here is an air area view. [0:22:23, 0:22:24]: Here is his only map. [0:22:25, 0:22:28]: And here are some pictures that I want to talk about. [0:22:28, 0:22:30]: I want to preface this case. [0:22:31, 0:22:36]: to give you an understanding why there are so many variance requests for this particular property. [0:22:37, 0:22:42]: Any property that preceded your adoption of your downtown developments [0:22:43, 0:22:44]: Lay overlay. [0:22:44, 0:23:04]: If they do anything to improve the property, it's going to trigger compliance. So, not only with this property, but other properties that preceded the adoption of the overlay, you're going to see a number of these variances. And the reason why, they have two choices. One, to make the property look better, or two, to leave it as it is. [0:23:04, 0:23:11]: is. And so when they come in like this, they're hoping that we will allow them to improve the property. [0:23:11, 0:23:14]: Right here is a building before and after. [0:23:14, 0:23:19]: As you can see, which was one of the major objections in re in relation to the variances from the county. [0:23:20, 0:23:21]: And then this is more important. [0:23:22, 0:23:23]: The sign. [0:23:23, 0:23:27]: the science as you can see what it was and what it is. [0:23:27, 0:23:35]: Here County Planning Department only approved five of these as it relates to the overlay district. [0:23:35, 0:23:37]: They denied all of the signage [0:23:38, 0:23:39]: requirements and requests. [0:23:40, 0:23:44]: The planning commission, however, has a recommended approval of all fifteen. [0:23:44, 0:23:48]: Staff is recommending approval of all fifteen as well. [0:23:48, 0:23:52]: The reason why we're doing that is based on my previous statement. [0:23:52, 0:24:12]: This particular location preceded your overlay district adoption. Therefore, this particular owner is attempting to make the property look better. So he has two choices: to leave it as it is or make it look better. And so before you tonight, all the 15 variances, and we're asking. [0:24:12, 0:24:19]: Asking that Mayor and Council agrees with the Planning Commission and our staff that you recommend approval of all fifteen variances. [0:24:20, 0:24:28]: Okay, at this time I would like to ask if there's anyone in the audience who is against [0:24:28, 0:24:29]: This [0:24:29, 0:24:32]: um variance request. [0:24:32, 0:24:34]: If there is, please come to the podium. [0:24:37, 0:24:44]: We have no one against. Do we have anyone in the audience uh for this other than the applicant? [0:24:46, 0:24:51]: Or if the applicant's here and they want to come to the podium, they may do so if needed. [0:24:55, 0:24:55]: Okay. [0:24:56, 0:25:02]: Um in that case do we have any discussion from our podium or a motion? Yes, Mayor. I hello. [0:25:03, 0:25:05]: If I can get the applicant to come forward. [0:25:16, 0:25:36]: Yes, ma'am. I had uh sp spoken early but I wanted to do this publicly s because I had a concern um with the Sinoco that's at the Walmart and you'll have the affiliation with that and the concern was the upkeep. I don't want it to bleed knowing that we have two Sinoco's on each end. [0:25:36, 0:25:56]: to bleed into this one um in our downtown area. However, the one by the Walmart that you're familiar with, if you can definitely um help us out with that. And I know Camilla will um be in contact to make sure ensure that the upkeep with that one will be just as this one that we're trying to do. So I just wanted to [0:25:56, 0:26:03]: make that known that I did have a brief conversation when I asked you, but I want to s let everyone be able to hear the same conversation. [0:26:04, 0:26:10]: And sure guys. My name's Dean Dominey. I appreciate y'all's time today, Mayor Neal and Commissioners. [0:26:10, 0:26:11]: Um [0:26:12, 0:26:12]: You know [0:26:13, 0:26:16]: contract. We we actually supply that store up here across from Walmart. [0:26:17, 0:26:20]: Now we don't own the property, but we do supply it. [0:26:20, 0:26:23]: Um initially when it was done it it was great. [0:26:24, 0:26:29]: And you know, it's it's never the land, it's never the brand, it's always the man running it. [0:26:29, 0:26:31]: That he's either going to make it nice [0:26:32, 0:26:32]: He be clean. [0:26:33, 0:26:38]: But in our supply agreements with them we do require them to keep that facility clean. [0:26:38, 0:26:40]: [1600.5, 1601.4]: We can actually [0:26:41, 0:26:43]: Send somebody there to clean it for'em. [0:26:44, 0:26:45]: And we can drive their account. [0:26:46, 0:26:48]: So you know we if [0:26:49, 0:26:52]: Anytime uh we wanna make sure that y'all have our number. [0:26:53, 0:26:57]: So that if y'all see anything out there, you let us know and we'll we'll get it corrected. [0:26:58, 0:27:00]: Uh we want clean facilities. [0:27:01, 0:27:05]: Um and you know we supply probably a hundred and seventy locations. [0:27:06, 0:27:25]: And that's why I said it's always the man or the woman. It's never the land, it's never the brand. So we will make sure that we address that for the city. Uh we want a clean, beautiful facility, especially for the women, and uh we want a well lit facility. So we appreciate y'all's time. We will address it. [0:27:26, 0:27:40]: Thank you. And I just want to add it's uh also for safety. Um that's the main factor because people go in and we're tracked and it's right there at our interest on forty two. So we definitely want to keep safety first. Thank you so very much. [0:27:40, 0:27:40]: Weird direction. [0:27:41, 0:27:42]: Okay, thank you so much. [0:27:43, 0:27:46]: At this time if there are no other comments, do I hear a motion? [0:27:47, 0:27:48]: Mayor Neal? [0:27:48, 0:27:51]: Okay. I move that we approve the um [0:27:53, 0:27:58]: The I'm sorry, the Varence VR seventeen zero two S. [0:27:58, 0:27:59]: I second. [0:28:00, 0:28:02]: Okay, do I hear a second to Ms. Gantt's motion? [0:28:02, 0:28:03]: I second. [0:28:04, 0:28:06]: Okay, we've got a second for Miss Robinson. [0:28:06, 0:28:08]: Any discussion further? [0:28:08, 0:28:10]: On this variance. [0:28:11, 0:28:15]: No discussion, then we will ask for the vote. All in favor? [0:28:18, 0:28:26]: And Mr. Alexander is abstaining. All right, thank you so much. Motion passes. Congratulations. Thank you, Mr. Abstain. Thank you. [0:28:26, 0:28:27]: Thank you. [0:28:31, 0:28:35]: All right, we're m moving on under New Business to um [0:28:36, 0:28:43]: a resolution that is going to be presented by Ms. Gantt that relates to the establishment of a timeline [0:28:43, 0:28:51]: for dissect uh for selecting a design company and rebuilding uh a state of the art community and cultural center. Ms. Gantt. [0:28:52, 0:29:12]: Um yes, thank you, Mayor Neil. Um we were actually we've discussed this several times, um, council, and pretty much where we are today is I'm hoping that we can get an update from our city manager as well as get some type of timeline together. Um, Councilman Alexander [0:29:12, 0:29:32]: actually has spoken on this as well in regards to making um planned arrangements. Um I'm I'm a big uh people who know me know that I've always said let's get some buildings up and let's let's start building. We have um some splash funds and we have different things and [0:29:32, 0:29:48]: And one of the the Cultural Arts Center is something that was our one of our top priorities at our retreat. And so I was hoping that we could have a discussion today um and maybe hear from our city manager in regards to a proposed timeline and where we are right now. [0:29:51, 0:29:55]: I just want to make a statement while he's handing these out that we are out of our [0:29:56, 0:29:57]: Um [0:29:58, 0:30:02]: public hearing and this is just a discussion matter. Thank you. [0:30:15, 0:30:20]: Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, Council again. Um what I've handed out is [0:30:20, 0:30:21]: Actually the [0:30:22, 0:30:26]: timeline is currently being utilized for our public works facility. [0:30:27, 0:30:30]: It gives you a kind of a a number of days in the steps. [0:30:31, 0:30:47]: And I provided this because this is really going to be very similar to the process that we'll take for the new building in regards to the new cultural arts facility as well. So it gives you an idea of from the start to finish how much time we're taking. The steps will will will be about the exact same, you know, in all honesty. Um [0:30:47, 0:31:06]: I would like to give you, Consul McGann, a as you noted, um, an update on where we stand right now with that building, that facility. Demolition actually began on the building last week. They're doing in some of the interior work right now, taking out some of the walls. Once that's completed, we hope this week or next week to actually start with the actual physical exterior of the building, but [0:31:06, 0:31:09]: Um so that's a demo inside the facility has already begun. [0:31:09, 0:31:10]: began last week and [0:31:11, 0:31:15]: I think we're anticipating Mr. Riley forty five, sixty days. [0:31:16, 0:31:20]: sixty days on the on the completion of the demolition work. Um [0:31:20, 0:31:26]: Once that is completed, the first step in the process will really be a site assessment. [0:31:26, 0:31:27]: Um [0:31:28, 0:31:34]: And you'll see some of the things I hear. It talks about the survey and phase one authorized. That'll be one of those first primary steps. [0:31:34, 0:31:54]: Um once we get everything exposed, once we get all the soil exposed, then we can start that process of going through doing the site assessment, doing a soil analysis, and that'll kinda help us to gauge us on what the usable footprint for this building will be. Um once that's done, so the next steps in the process will involve a survey to make determination on exactly what it is [0:31:54, 0:32:14]: what's the council's desire for what they want to see and how that building will be utilized. What we've done with our public works facilities has been very similar process. We've sat down with the end users, in this case our public works department, our facilities people, our IT group as well, and met with them to find out what is it we're needing, what are the storage requirements, what are our office space requirements, [0:32:14, 0:32:34]: requirements, what are our training room facility requirements, outside storage, ins in inside storage, and what are the components that are going to be needed within that facility, what ballpark, what's the what's the physical footprint of that building going to be? And next week what you're going to hear is an update on the status of that process from our public works [0:32:34, 0:32:35]: [1955.7, 1975.7]: Um so we actually we're at the point now, as you can see by this schedule, where we have moved forward with the schematics. We have about the schematics done. So this is a the schedule that was presented back when we first awarded the project to Pond. Um and so we are tracking, we they're having regular update meetings. We've been going through and um developing a master [0:32:55, 0:33:07]: plan for the look of the building, kinda going back and forth. I certainly think there would be another component in in regards to this particular building that would involve some public involvement. Obviously it's gonna be [0:33:07, 0:33:12]: um uh uh facilities can be highly utilized by the public and it's gonna be really for the public use. [0:33:12, 0:33:27]: So adding that component into the schedule as well I think will be important. Um public involvement, uh public meetings, uh pu uh like some public charrettees to help get some input on the the final use. And obviously there are some decisions the council need to make on exactly [0:33:27, 0:33:27]: What [0:33:28, 0:33:30]: uses are gonna be within this building as well, so [0:33:31, 0:33:34]: Again, I presented this as a guideline to kind of show [0:33:34, 0:33:39]: what we anticipate would be the the the steps that we take. And as you can see from here this went from [0:33:39, 0:33:43]: September to August. So you're talking about, you know [0:33:43, 0:33:52]: Anywhere from eight to ten to twelve months, ballpark depending on how fast those processes move forward. And again, part of it is contingent upon um our staff. [0:33:52, 0:34:12]: You know, as they provide information to us, we had surveys we had to go through um for needs assessment. So how quickly we can get that information back to the uh to the um um to the designer as well. So again, right now we are at the process of again going forward with the demolition as no to be about sixty days. Um what we've talked about is [0:34:12, 0:34:23]: starting the process of selecting a consultant to do this work if that's something the council wanna discuss in uh in the subsequent meetings. But um right now, you know, this is the type of schedule that we anticipate. [0:34:24, 0:34:25]: Be happy to address any questions. [0:34:26, 0:34:26]: Manual. [0:34:27, 0:34:37]: Uh yes, Ms. Gamp. Mr. Harris, thank you so much for the presentation. Um in regards to the timeline, I see here we're we're actually still under new business. [0:34:37, 0:34:38]: Um [0:34:39, 0:34:43]: I think it's a a pretty clean cut timeline. Uh I mean is [0:34:43, 0:35:01]: It's self explanatory, um, to the point where we get to the bid documents based on based on authorization to proceed in August um seventeenth, two thousand seventeen. And I would ask my colleagues to um I know this is a tentative timeline, however, you know [0:35:01, 0:35:05]: I would ask my colleagues to support this timeline. Um [0:35:05, 0:35:06]: To a certain degree. [0:35:07, 0:35:10]: in regards to the steps that we have here on paper. [0:35:10, 0:35:20]: I I just want for clarification. This is a timeline for the public works building. Oh. So if you'd like, I can certainly use these same criteria and we can back the dates into [0:35:21, 0:35:23]: um the proposed new facility. [0:35:23, 0:35:27]: So I just want to give this as a tempo. This is something we already have established and that we're currently using. That's why [0:35:28, 0:35:34]: Uh you know, before we uh drafted something, I wanna make sure we had the conversations everyone's clear on what the question issues were. [0:35:35, 0:35:44]: We have a question by Pro Tem Ford. Yes. [0:35:44, 0:36:04]: Good to see that. But need something that says the the carry may hammer a cultural response bill and and the in the timeline for that as well. That's one thing. Number two, Mr. Riley, I know you're not up here but I want you to want you to let me know, let the council know if you could, uh that when they start demolitioning on the outside, when they want to start knocking it down, I'd like to see that. [0:36:05, 0:36:17]: I want to be present when I hit when it first. Exterior work. I'd like to see that. I want to see it come down. So I can jump for joy. Okay. All right. Thank you very much. So again if if the council is is okay with this [0:36:17, 0:36:37]: the the premise of this of this schedule, we can draft this, put something in place, equal, you know, there may be a couple other steps, but it r again it's roughly about eleven months. Um we can look at you know opportunities for tweak. But again this it's a starting point. Um not something necessarily we can hold the the contractor to again some of this is going to be contingent on us getting your information back [0:36:37, 0:36:45]: to them in a timely manner but but as a guide and I think that's what you're looking for, Councilwoman, we can certainly put that in place. [0:36:45, 0:36:49]: Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Do we have any other comments on this discussion item? [0:36:50, 0:36:54]: Yes, Mayor. Okay. Uh Mr Mr Blount. Mr. [0:36:55, 0:36:59]: But as far as Carrie May Hammer building is concerned [0:37:00, 0:37:03]: When we look at um all the components right now [0:37:04, 0:37:14]: We're in line for sixty days to start seeing it come down. Is that what you're saying? Oh no, you'll start seeing it coming down before s it should be completed within sixty days. [0:37:18, 0:37:36]: Yeah, like I said the interiors are work has already begun. So next thing we want to get ever all the interior stuff done and knocked out and then the actual implosion won't take a great deal of time but but we're also taking up all the concrete on and and the site as well so they'll be out there for a while removing all that concrete and asphalt as well. [0:37:37, 0:37:42]: Mr. Harris, real quick, the site study and and things that you were discussing. [0:37:42, 0:38:00]: Is that not something like I know that the n Nova came out and did the study in regards to whether or not we you know, would it be feasible to keep the building or, you know, demo uh demolish the building, basically do a demolition. Um will that [0:38:00, 0:38:20]: be something similar that they could do or is it something that we're gonna have to bid out and and where will that fit in the process so we can go ahead and Yeah, I think as soon as we get the demo and everything is complete and removed, then we can immediately go through and start doing a a level one site site survey. Um and we can get a Nova or other geotech firm to come out there and do that work. [0:38:20, 0:38:24]: So that can be done pretty quickly once we get the demo completed and everything removed off the site. [0:38:25, 0:38:29]: Okay. Uh any other comments? Ms. Robinson. [0:38:29, 0:38:40]: I like the idea of Mayor Pro Tem, if you can just send us all a email when that takes place and that will keep us in line actually what you have going on. See if you can't get your sludge hammers as well. [0:38:40, 0:38:41]: Mm. [0:38:41, 0:38:51]: Thank you. We would uh we thank you very much for that. I know in case the audience doesn't understand or people out watching this on television [0:38:52, 0:38:57]: The building is being taken down because it had excessive mould and [0:38:57, 0:39:07]: other things and it was more costly to repair than to take down and start all over again. So this is one of those things, um [0:39:08, 0:39:24]: When we make quick decisions, sometimes they don't turn out so well. So this council is uh taking that all into consideration and making a wise decision to take the building down and move forward from there. So, any other comments about that before we move on? [0:39:26, 0:39:26]: Okay. [0:39:27, 0:39:32]: At this time we're going to discussion items um that [0:39:32, 0:39:39]: The first one is the council discussion to amend the facade ordinance and that is going to be presented by Ms. Gantt. [0:39:40, 0:40:00]: Thank you. Um I don't have the paperwork here um in front of me, but there we have recently adopted a facade ordinance. Um and during the adoption process we actually discussed some of the possibilities that could come up because of that. Currently as a member of the DVA [0:40:00, 0:40:20]: Board, um, we have a facade grant for businesses that are in our downtown development area. Um one of the grant applicants had made a proposal to what we're looking for in the downtown development area is all break facade basically that is um [0:40:20, 0:40:40]: the original brick or very similar so that there's a cohesive look for our downtown area. The ordinance that was put into place that we voted on did not it was broad enough that it did not list particulars such as whether or not it would allow painting of the brick. [0:40:40, 0:41:00]: brick. And we the very first um time we've received um you know facade grant applications and it was suggested when they submitted it in that they wanted to paint the brick. So I would ask that council please consider um and that we um maybe [0:41:00, 0:41:20]: speak to our council, um our city attorney in regards to and I've also forwarded to Mr. Harris and Mr. Williams a copy of Swanee's example of their facade ordinance, um which was very detailed and had charts and, you know, discussed that you can't just paint on brick. So I [0:41:20, 0:41:26]: I think that we need to go ahead and nip that in the bud so we make sure people are you know, if we want that cohesive look. [0:41:27, 0:41:31]: Okay, so um we'll have our attorney speak to that. [0:41:31, 0:41:35]: Uh yes, Madam Mayor. Um we did have the conversation um [0:41:36, 0:41:43]: What you have in your old downtown overlay is a provision that does not allow painted masonry or painted brick. [0:41:43, 0:41:53]: Um we did not include that section in the uh facade requirements that we adopted recently that apply to commercial city wide. [0:41:53, 0:42:06]: That's a relatively easy fix. We'd already had some discussions at the staff level about taking it to the zoning advisory board and and bringing it back and using the following the the standard uh process for amending your zoning code. [0:42:06, 0:42:10]: and we'll bring back their recommendation at an upcoming meeting. [0:42:11, 0:42:16]: Could you speak to the matter if a building was already painted [0:42:17, 0:42:37]: before this ordinance was adopted that that would be grandfathered in rather than making them have to take the paint off their brick. Yes, Mr. Correct. That was one of the um the variances that we just allowed for the Sinoco building because they had a building, an existing building. That was actually cinder block if I if I'm not mistaken. And [0:42:37, 0:42:38]: It's always been painted. [0:42:38, 0:42:41]: So we allowed them to repaint that and refresh that building. [0:42:42, 0:42:48]: Um and so that that is something typically uh buildings would be grandfathered in [0:42:48, 0:42:55]: um unless they made substantial enough renovations to trigger the need to comply with our ordinance. [0:42:55, 0:43:01]: And in that case it would be a requirement for brick and you couldn't paint it depend again unless they came back for a variance. [0:43:02, 0:43:05]: Uh any other comments about that discussion item? [0:43:06, 0:43:13]: Okay, we'll move on to number five. This is council discussion regarding North Henry Boulevard facade grants. [0:43:13, 0:43:17]: Again, uh this one is going to be presented by Councilman Alexander. [0:43:18, 0:43:21]: Uh hello um everyone. Um I think [0:43:21, 0:43:41]: This council uh has been very aggressive in addressing the needs of the city and the wants that we heard from you, particularly myself, uh on the campaign trail. Uh during the campaign trail there was a great uh deal of discomfort with the appearance [0:43:41, 0:43:50]: of North Henry Boulevard and just the overall image that it projects of the city uh was negative. [0:43:51, 0:44:11]: Uh I've also heard from uh existing business owners uh in our city about our desire, particularly mine, uh to uh push economic development uh in terms of bringing in new business. Um this in this instance uh what I was uh want to propose [0:44:11, 0:44:13]: pose is that we expand [0:44:14, 0:44:25]: uh the city's existing facade grant program for downtown to uh include North Henry Boulevard uh in all aspects of in terms of cleaning up the city. [0:44:25, 0:44:28]: Uh existing business owners deserve our help. [0:44:29, 0:44:39]: They do. If there's something that we can do as far as matching uh facade grants for existing business owners along North Henry Boulevard to put in [0:44:39, 0:44:59]: um some additional funding uh in in matching form uh to precipitate some of these business owners to go ahead and uh make improvements to uh their facades. Because when you see those buildings and when you see what you see uh when you drive up and down North Hemory Boulevard [0:44:59, 0:45:01]: [2702.0, 2705.3]: Uh we can do better than that. And as a city [0:45:05, 0:45:15]: We have to endeavor to do better than that and I have heard you as citizens that you want something done about the appearance of North Henry Boulevard. [0:45:15, 0:45:34]: Uh this facade grant program will go a long way towards doing that and part of cleaning it up uh and and in inclusive of uh beautification in the future and partnerships with with the business owners. I just want the existing business owners to know that I have heard you. [0:45:35, 0:45:55]: I have heard you when you said, you know, we we have not uh been as aggressive reaching out to you uh as we have uh in pursuing uh economic development for the city. And let me assure you today that you do not seek the second place to us recruiting new businesses in. So whatever the [0:45:55, 0:46:15]: is it is that we can do uh to enhance your business as who were already stakeholders into the city, uh we want to do that. I want to expand upon um uh what Councilwoman Gantt said earlier in terms of the downtown. Uh we would want to in my opinion [0:46:14, 0:46:30]: opinion it would be wise of us to uh uh put some increased standards in terms of um color choices and um appearance in the city. You know, uh uh right now someone wanted to come and [0:46:30, 0:46:43]: paint the building pink or red or orange or any um you know color that uh we might deem inappropriate, there's generally nothing that we could do about it to stop it. [0:46:44, 0:46:55]: And that's something that we need to address in terms of updating uh the standards uh in terms of the city so that we do have uh [0:46:55, 0:47:15]: requirements in place uh prohibiting if possible legally prohibiting certain colors and actually encouraging or recommending whichever is appropriate uh neutral colors that might fit in with the scheme. And no, as I spoke earlier, um in terms of the downtown [0:47:15, 0:47:29]: Now, you know, if we had we have a fifty percent brick requirement that we just uh passed as a city, uh it would be a shame if we uh continue down the path of allowing people to paint the brick, which [0:47:30, 0:47:30]: Um [0:47:31, 0:47:50]: kinda defeats the purpose of what we're trying to do. Uh there's been some uh concern brought up, you know, in recent months and um in the past years of, you know, just the appearance and and color choices in other cities throughout America where a business owner got upset uh with the city and painted the building pink. [0:47:51, 0:48:11]: You know, we need to make sure that we have steps in place and that we encourage these business owners by not only talking about we want to clean up North Henry Boulevard, by actually partnering with them. Um I had uh actually sent an email out, uh Mr. Don Dunlap, uh the South Bridge Business Association. [0:48:10, 0:48:30]: was um uh uh responded to that and as well uh showed um sent it out to the business owners and it seemed as though uh they were very encouraged and that uh some are here tonight uh and I would think that uh if it was okay with counsel maybe we could uh maybe hear from some of the business owners or Mr. Donald [0:48:30, 0:48:35]: [2916.1, 2917.8]: Thank you. Any comments? [0:48:38, 0:48:38]: Oh. [0:48:39, 0:48:48]: For Tim Ford. Thank you, Mayor. Uh Councilman Alexander, make sure I understand you're talking about North Henry Boulevard from the Walmart all the way east to forty two. [0:48:48, 0:48:50]: Is that the whole length that we're referring to? [0:48:50, 0:49:10]: I'm talking about all of North Henry Boulevard which would encompass you know, right now we just have the downtown overlay. Everything outside of the downtown uh overlay from where w where that ends at on North Henry Boulevard going both ways toward Highway forty two and toward uh I six. [0:49:10, 0:49:12]: seventy five inclusive of all of it. [0:49:12, 0:49:22]: Okay. Uh Mr Harris, and I know our treasurer's here. If we decide to do this, where would this funding come from?'Cause obviously it wasn't budgeted, so I didn't it's just a curiosity question. [0:49:22, 0:49:40]: Yeah, it'd have to be fund balanced, it's not in the budget. Okay. So um you know and I will say, you know, one of the tools that we're currently utilizing is the overlay for one hundred thirty eight, which extends from the western edge on one thirty eight, ties into Clayton County, extending forward to the Krispy Kreme in that area. [0:49:40, 0:49:41]: Um [0:49:42, 0:49:48]: potential conversation is maybe extending the bounds of of of that of that overlay to [0:49:49, 0:49:52]: also add or do a separate one along North Henry as well. [0:49:53, 0:49:56]: Um good that's a tool that's typically used to help govern and [0:49:56, 0:50:04]: and and and and maintain or d or establish a set of d uh development guidelines, you know, within a particular corridor, so [0:50:04, 0:50:06]: That's another option that the council can consider. [0:50:07, 0:50:11]: Could that also come from grant money that the city could apply for? [0:50:11, 0:50:12]: Yeah, perhaps. [0:50:12, 0:50:22]: Yeah, it you know, w see what's out there. You know, there's L C I grants obviously that that uh the city has applied for and received over the years. Um so that's another option that we can certainly get pursuing. [0:50:24, 0:50:31]: Okay, thank you. Um okay, we're going on to item number six, uh council discussion. Um [0:50:31, 0:50:36]: Reconsideration for council districts presented again by Councilman Alexander. [0:50:37, 0:50:37]: Than [0:50:38, 0:50:41]: Ladies and gentlemen, um thank you again and [0:50:43, 0:50:51]: We just want to show you i in terms of myself and my own personal opinion is that we hear you and that [0:50:51, 0:51:00]: In in in this case, we want to be able to speak to you and address the needs and concerns that you all [0:51:00, 0:51:03]: are bringing forth as citizens. [0:51:03, 0:51:23]: Um in my own personal opinion um part of the uh the the disconnect in uh the citizens pushing for the proposed c city of Eagles Landing is that they don't feel as though that they have a uh representative that represents that particular district that they [0:51:23, 0:51:43]: can go to. Because right now we have at large basically every member up here represents the entire city. So it's almost like we have five five additional mayors. When someone comes to me and they says and they say Mr. Alexander the pothole on North Henry Boulevard or the pothole [0:51:43, 0:51:50]: pothole or East Atlanta, who do I go to? Right now they could go to m any person up here. [0:51:51, 0:51:57]: We're talking about accountability. In accountability. When you cast that ballot [0:51:58, 0:52:10]: for District One and you live in District One and you have a concern in District One, you take that to the District One representative, that person [0:52:10, 0:52:20]: lives in the area is representing now the concerns of those citizens that live in that area as a stakeholder themselves. [0:52:20, 0:52:30]: right now with at large voting uh or representation, you know, it's kinda like someone threw that ball up here right now. [0:52:30, 0:52:32]: Each one of us could reach for it. [0:52:33, 0:52:35]: But who does it really go to? [0:52:35, 0:52:43]: It could go to either one of us. We would hope that one of the members of the staff or one of of us would take it and run with it. [0:52:43, 0:52:51]: But uh generally that is part of uh American uh democracy is, you know, w vote for representation. [0:52:51, 0:53:11]: And voting for that representation uh simply means accountability. Um if we developed uh you know su such as the city of McDonough, uh they have districts and they have a combination of at large. So they do have district representation where you could go to the one individual [0:53:11, 0:53:20]: who represents uh that particular area and then they have at large um representatives that run for the entire city. [0:53:21, 0:53:30]: Um and my thinking of how this would work in terms of the city of Stockbridge is that currently we have five members who sit on the council. [0:53:30, 0:53:39]: If we decided to go with uh three districts in the city, we'd have one council member representing each district. [0:53:39, 0:53:59]: And then if we decided and then we'd have two who would remain uh at large. That would you know give you some representation in terms of both as kind of a hybrid system uh where you could do both. You know, in a uh additional option you could add uh an additional council seat [0:53:59, 0:54:19]: and have four districts in the city and then have two at large uh positions as well. But as we set here t as we sit here today, basically what we could have is a northern stock bridge district, a central stock bridge district, and a southern stock bridge district represented by three [0:54:19, 0:54:24]: members of the council who represent those individual districts. [0:54:24, 0:54:36]: Uh as you look at Henry County right now, you know, I think uh y all the commissioners run in districts. They're held accountable for by voters and citizens behind their performance. [0:54:36, 0:54:46]: How do you hold this council right here accountable for our performance in office when we generally represent the entire city? [0:54:46, 0:55:06]: Also what it does is it ensures that individuals are able to uh you know who's doing what and who's accountable for what and who's bringing um you know progress to the city and who is uh actually moving things forward uh in that particular area. You know, I have desire [0:55:06, 0:55:20]: I live uh personally in the southern end of the city at the southernmost side. Of course there are projects that I would like to work on in that particular area. I'm sure I think uh councilwoman Robinson lives in the north side. [0:55:20, 0:55:40]: uh of the city. Those are streets that you drive every single day. I drive the southern side every single day down Jodico and along that route. So of course I'm gonna be more familiar with that and I'm gonna run into citizens along that work along those routes. There have been bills introduced this year in several um [0:55:40, 0:55:49]: municipalities for to just o uh overcome that. Uh the what the last thing that I would uh like to say in terms of this is that [0:55:49, 0:55:53]: One of the reasons that you propose districts is that if you have [0:55:53, 0:56:03]: one or two communities with a lot of homes in those communities. Literally that that one community could dominate the entire city. [0:56:04, 0:56:24]: And in terms of spreading out the vote, what you would do is if you had two people living in that particular community, one could run at large and one could run uh in the district so there wouldn't be any conflict in that. But uh you have seen that in cities around um the state and around the country where we've [0:56:24, 0:56:44]: had in the uh single single neighborhoods with thousand fifteen hundred homes in there, they got together and they were ba able to basically dominate the city and elect all of the officials on the board.'Cause right now we could have five officials in one neighborhood if everybody got together and that one [0:56:44, 0:57:03]: one neighborhood could basically outvote the rest of the city. District representation means accountability and being able to look you all into the eye and say, This we got a problem. We don't have sidewalks uh along flipping road or we don't have sidewalks along Tie Street. [0:57:03, 0:57:15]: I would then be accountable if I'm the representative to get those sidewalks or to move that initiative forward because I represent those citizens that represent that area. Thank you. [0:57:15, 0:57:22]: Thank you. Uh are there any comments? All right. First I heard from Mr. Blount and then we'll go to Pro Tem Ford. [0:57:23, 0:57:27]: First of all, let me just uh say this, is that uh [0:57:27, 0:57:36]: When we look at and we've always talked about an uh council being aggressive and we've always talked about moving forward with different issues. Um when it comes to the city of Eagles Landing [0:57:37, 0:57:38]: The issue hasn't been [0:57:39, 0:57:48]: who's representing them because we've tried to sit at the table with those that are moving the Eagles Landing project uh for a city forward and no one wants to sit at the table. So [0:57:48, 0:57:56]: I don't know how we find out what their true issues are. But one of the issues for this whole city of Stockbridge is that we be good stewards of the city's finances. [0:57:57, 0:57:58]: That's one thing for sure. [0:57:59, 0:58:09]: And so when we start to talk about different areas and different uh uh components of the city, first of all we have to get focused on uh deannexations and annexations to make the city complete. [0:58:09, 0:58:29]: I think it's a little premature at this time to talk about districts when we have no idea what those dynamics are gonna look like right now and we're working on those dynamics. So in this seat I think it's best for us to stay focused and stay moving forward with those annexations, make the city whole and then then move forward and then have those conversations because [0:58:29, 0:58:32]: As of right now, each and every council member that's sitting up here [0:58:32, 0:58:52]: is tasked with the task of uh of working for the people and the citizens of Stockbridge. And that is first of all being good stewards of this of the city's finances. And if we s if we stay in that area then it doesn't matter if we're district or at large. And you have to remember, most cities that are doing districts, they're dealing with squash funds, they're dealing with millage rates. We don't have a [0:58:52, 0:59:05]: a city tax here in the city of Stockbridge. So how can I come and fight for this this district or fight for that area? Where am I pulling the funds from if all we have is operating uh uh operating our budget? [0:59:05, 0:59:20]: So we have to look at all those different components. That's why I said right now to have this discussion is a little premature until we move forward and do the things that we need to focus on doing uh before we talk about districting. We need to focus on being good stewards of the city's money. [0:59:21, 0:59:41]: Thank you. Uh President Pro Tem Ford. Thank you, Mayor. Appreciate it. First of all, I want you to know that uh I think districts are a good thing, uh without a doubt. But for at least two reasons I think we should not do that. And John hit on it, Councilman Blount hit on it. We're working out the annexation piece here, and you can't establish districts until you get the borders of the city. [0:59:41, 1:00:01]: city finalized and solidified and plug in those holes so then you can be able to have proper amount of folks, whether it's commercial and and citizens in those districts and make it fair and equal as best as possible. So w that's the really the first challenge is is to deal with the annexation piece that we excuse me, that we want to do within the city itself. [1:00:01, 1:00:21]: And the second at least the second reason would be the proposed city of Eagles Landing where it's trying to take away or deannex people that are already in the city limits which is unheard of. So that has to be solved first where you can get into districts so you have a a clear defined city limits in in this and it's uh in this uh then once that happens then you're able to break [1:00:21, 1:00:41]: So that would be the first thing to do, to deal with the annexation piece and to deal with this Eagles Landing proposed city piece and get it finalized and to get it solved. And that won't be solved until sometime next year. So this council district discussion it would be probably good next year at this time to be more serious about it because we should have more defined [1:00:40, 1:00:41]: Yeah. [1:00:41, 1:00:45]: uh guidelines of city boundaries at that point. Thank you. [1:00:46, 1:00:48]: Any other comments? Ms. Gantt. [1:00:48, 1:00:49]: Yes. [1:00:50, 1:00:53]: I agree with Councilman Blount and Mayor Pro Tem Ford. [1:00:53, 1:00:56]: Um and I think we've discussed this before. [1:00:56, 1:01:16]: In regards to districts, I I do believe it's premature. I do believe we should consider first making our city map whole. We have a lot of holes to fill in um and one of our goals, one of the things we did was submit down to let uh to the uh legislative um our legislators. We proposed [1:01:16, 1:01:36]: to fill in those gaps in some of the neighborhoods and some of the commercial properties um in order to make Stockbridge hold. You could go out of my neighborhood, I live in Marnar Village and go right across the street, Brentwood, but the next neighborhood is not in the city limits or um in the school or I mean it could [1:01:36, 1:01:56]: be anything. The church is not in the city limits, but one neighborhood is, one neighborhood isn't in and out on Walt Stevens and beyond. And once we fill in those gaps, um we also uh no one's really hit on this and talked about this, but I don't mind just saying it. Um a lot of times uh you hear the [1:01:56, 1:02:16]: good about districts, but you also have negatives about districts. And some of the negatives about districts are people are clearly competing. They're competing for their area. And right now one of our biggest focuses here in the city of Stockbridge is developing our downtown, making something concrete where we have [1:02:16, 1:02:36]: We have um infrastructure, um beautiful buildings. We've talked about beautification, we've talked about um the things that we want here, the splash pads, the ice rinks, the amphitheaters, the community centers, and we also want more jobs. So those things and and things that we're trying to create here um [1:02:36, 1:02:45]: should come first. I think it's a priority and we as a team can work as a whole. When you start dividing up districts at that point, everybody [1:02:45, 1:02:47]: And I I hate to say it, but [1:02:47, 1:02:47]: You know [1:02:48, 1:03:08]: they're looking out for their district. I don't really look at them as though I've read several articles on it and governing and also um urban cities and living well in cities and what I've found is is that a lot of the at-large government entities tend to work towards their common goals and get more achievements. [1:03:08, 1:03:14]: achieved because everyone's pulling for income on w w what they're gonna do for their particular area. So [1:03:15, 1:03:18]: Any other comments? Ms. Robinson? Yes, ma'am. [1:03:18, 1:03:19]: Thank you, Mayor Neal. [1:03:19, 1:03:39]: The good thing about this, it is a discussion item. Um, so we're discussing it now. Um we do have the Eagles Landing that's going on. So with this council, there's something we need to continue to discuss knowing what's going on. I mean, I have reached out to some of the um residents of Eagles Landing. Um it has pieces of [1:03:39, 1:03:59]: no not knowing you know who they can go to. Um it was some different concerns about, you know, the school boards, what schools they're going to. So it's a lot of miscommunication. So by having the discussion it adds to all of the little pieces. So when we do move forward, we're being proactive now. [1:03:59, 1:04:19]: That's how I look at this, because even with districts, I am for it because a lot of times when you're at large, a lot of times you get into the combating of okay, I said it first or this is mine, when it will have accountability because when our citizens, the constituents are out here [1:04:19, 1:04:39]: They do want to know who they need to who they can go to. They want to know right then who is that direct contact and hold that person accountable. So when we do get to that, I'm all for it, whatever it'll take, because at the end we're all going to come common grounds, like you said, Councilwoman Gantt, to do whatever is best for you. [1:04:39, 1:04:59]: for the city so but at the what we need to focus on is what the citizens are saying and I think since this is a discussion we're being proactive so when we do get to that point when we're meeting with Eagles Landing all of those citizens and citizens that are not in Eagles Landing who are also concerned when we start getting into [1:04:59, 1:05:19]: community will be able to identify and explain to them exactly what's going on and that's needs to take place in twenty seventeen as well because we have to get out there to keep them abreast of what's going on because a lot of them aren't in our meetings. So having a discussion, um there's going to be more I know coming from this council [1:05:19, 1:05:23]: Council, we're gonna be having town halls so that way we can discuss further. [1:05:24, 1:05:26]: Thank you. Any other comments? Yes. [1:05:27, 1:05:37]: Mr. Sander. I would just simply like to add, right, I think Councilwoman H Robinson hit the nail on the head. This uh is the beginning of the discussion. [1:05:37, 1:05:56]: And as part of the City of Eagles Landing debate debate, this needs to be included. This needs to be included so uh residents in their area and all areas of the city know clearly defined that they have a representative that they can go to that are looking out for their interests. [1:05:57, 1:06:08]: So it was my endeavor to get this discussion going today so when those dynamics came together that we will be able to include this discussion. [1:06:09, 1:06:29]: uh amongst the council at this point. So when we do sit down uh with the City of Eagles Landing to talk about what they want to do representatives and even the Walt Stevens area or the Jodico area, whoever we sit down with, we could be able to bring to the table to them that [1:06:29, 1:06:33]: district representation is on the table. It's simple. [1:06:33, 1:06:35]: Fifteen seconds. [1:06:35, 1:06:51]: It's about accountability. I I'm accountable to you. I can't duck it. I can't say she, he, he. I can say I. I represent you. If I didn't get it done, I didn't get it done. It's accountability. [1:06:51, 1:06:53]: Thank you. [1:06:54, 1:07:14]: Uh I'm I would like to um ask the council we we've kinda hashed this out, this is a discussion item. If you have something really important to add to this, let's do that. But most everybody's gone over there normal four minutes and I didn't call you on it. Let's air it out. So if you've got something, let's add [1:07:13, 1:07:19]: add that but let's try to be very succinct with our comments and finish this item up. Thank you. [1:07:19, 1:07:21]: Uh Councilman Blount. [1:07:22, 1:07:24]: The spireman is also Mayor. [1:07:25, 1:07:28]: Um one of the things I live in Eagles Landing. [1:07:29, 1:07:33]: Let me tell you I live in Eagles Landing. When I ran for city councilman [1:07:33, 1:07:45]: People to the left of me could not vote for me. People to the right of me could vote for me. In my community. I could go outside of my community, cross Eagles Landing Parkway, go into another community, and they could vote for me. [1:07:45, 1:07:49]: We have a mapping problem here. We have an annexation problem here. [1:07:49, 1:07:52]: And the reason I say it's premature is because of this. [1:07:53, 1:08:13]: When we try to sit at the table to come to a common goal and common grounds on issues, if you got an entity out there that wants to take this city but don't want to sit at the table and tell us there are issues, then I have a problem with that. So when we sit here we continue to say City of Eagles Landing, no no no, it's Stockbridge. [1:08:13, 1:08:23]: matter what you call it, it's Stockbridge. It's Eagles Landing area in Stockbridge. So we're not sitting here saying, Let me get somebody for a district for the city of Eagles Landing. [1:08:23, 1:08:43]: Then what are we doing bringing proponents for something that that we saying we don't want to happen? We want to see the stop bridge to be vibrant as it can be. And that's why I say it's premature to talk about districts and to talk about meetings because as of right now, neither of us that to my knowledge have had a meeting [1:08:43, 1:08:48]: with anyone that are trying to propose a city of Stockbridge. [1:08:49, 1:09:09]: I would um like to make a comment if everybody's into that. I just want to make a comment for clarity. We actually started out on one subject and we ended up on another. We started out talking about council districts and it worked its way over to the um the rumor mill of the the Eagles Landing City. [1:09:09, 1:09:13]: And I want to clarify just a few things for our audience tonight. [1:09:13, 1:09:15]: For all of us to be aware of. [1:09:16, 1:09:22]: There was a piece of legislation introduced this year in the General Assembly at the request of [1:09:23, 1:09:26]: five to six people who live at Eagles Landing. [1:09:26, 1:09:27]: Asking [1:09:27, 1:09:32]: the legislators to put in the legislation that would allow [1:09:32, 1:09:39]: them to go forward looking into the idea of creating a city of Eagles Landing. [1:09:40, 1:09:55]: That bill did not get out of the um committee. It is uh being held and there will be hearings held all over the state of Georgia this summer. And the reason for that is if you stop and think about it [1:09:56, 1:10:16]: If they could do that to us in Stockbridge, they could do that to um they could go to Atlanta and take off the best of Buckhead and all the high end districts and create a city of Buckhead. So we're not in this battle alone. We may feel like we are, but we're not in this battle alone. We're [1:10:16, 1:10:21]: in a battle with every city in the state being on our side. [1:10:22, 1:10:25]: Because they would be just as concerned as us. [1:10:25, 1:10:37]: In number two, we do have a plan of action. Our council has agreed we're hiring a professional lobbying team, some of the best. [1:10:37, 1:10:42]: on Capitol Hill in Georgia to help us construct a plan of action. [1:10:43, 1:10:55]: And that simply means that once we have that meeting with them, which will be next week, we will have a plan of action and we will be out and about speaking to everybody. [1:10:55, 1:10:59]: I like John Blount, um, live in Eagles Landing. [1:11:00, 1:11:03]: And I see people daily. [1:11:04, 1:11:07]: I have not seen one person [1:11:08, 1:11:12]: that gave it a thumbs up for Eagles Landing. Everybody said we like [1:11:13, 1:11:22]: stop bridge. We don't want to do this. So what we need to do is not get kind of in a um a a little [1:11:23, 1:11:37]: competition, what we need to do is work off the facts and work with the instructions that we're going to build with our team that we're going to uh have help us lobby to make sure that we bury that bill [1:11:38, 1:11:42]: permanently next year when the General Assembly comes to town. [1:11:42, 1:11:49]: So if you have questions before you leave tonight, there are position papers that the city has put together. [1:11:50, 1:11:52]: And they're out front, you can pick those up. [1:11:52, 1:11:55]: And right now our treasurer of the city [1:11:55, 1:12:10]: and our city manager are working and we're going to have even more financial facts and you'll probably get some of those um at our town hall meeting that will be coming up two weeks from now. So there's a lot going on but um [1:12:11, 1:12:14]: I don't think tonight that we need to get off on [1:12:14, 1:12:17]: the Eagles landing thing too much, just know that we are [1:12:17, 1:12:37]: We're kind of marching out with a plan soon and um I just wanted to say that so that those people that are sitting in our audience not knowing what are you talking about, um I hope I laid it out so you can understand that. If you have questions, I would direct those to our city manager or either our city attorney who can answer those for you with questions. [1:12:37, 1:12:40]: Clarity. Okay, we have one more item. [1:12:41, 1:12:58]: We have I I have kind of let this thing go own and own. So let's get to the last one. It's a discussion item regarding the city parks and pocket parks as it relates to the city's upcoming comprehensive plan and that will be Councilman Alexander. [1:12:59, 1:13:06]: Y yes. Um you know, one of the things that we're doing uh here or I'm attempting to do tonight is to look into the future. [1:13:07, 1:13:24]: You can't plan for what is right in front of you short term. You have to plan for what's coming down the road. And you know, we've already uh generally agreed that we are going to develop a master plan uh for the city uh in itself. [1:13:24, 1:13:44]: One of the things that we want to make sure that are encompassed in that in that master plan are the city uh green spaces and park areas. Uh all cities of this size uh genuinely have been moving forward with uh green space protection and parts. [1:13:44, 1:13:48]: You know, the city of McDonough's moving forward with Alexander Park. [1:13:49, 1:14:09]: Excuse me. The City of McDonald's moving together uh with Alexander Park, uh they're moving forward with Big Springs Park, uh the park at Avalon. Uh Commissioner Bruce Holmes has moved forward with a magnificent uh village park up in north uh Henry County. Uh it's a it's a marvel just to go up and take a look at it. [1:14:09, 1:14:20]: uh a city this size as the city of Startbridge, uh we need to make sure that that uh those pocket parks are planned out. Um last year when we set down [1:14:20, 1:14:40]: And we uh went over at our retreat, we identified several areas in terms of pocket parks, uh maybe um in the Jodico area uh or in South Stock Bridge, or we also identified area uh in the Walt Stevens area itself and many areas in the city that we already [1:14:40, 1:15:00]: talked about and discussed, but an overall plan of protecting those green spaces in cities. Because what generally happens is is that without foresight or without planning, as we know the real estate market has rebounded tremendously. The price of putting that [1:14:59, 1:15:01]: [4502.0, 4522.0]: and acquiring said properties are lower now. Should we wait into the future where the development and density increases the square foot of how much these um or the acreage would cost, it could cost the city double in the in the next ten years or the next fifteen years to secure those properties. [1:15:21, 1:15:38]: properties when if we p when we put our comprehensive plan together uh we identified areas now uh that we want to preserve and that we set a policy that we're going to reserve certain amount of space for green spaces and parks. [1:15:38, 1:15:52]: All great cities, all great cities do this, maintain this and secure this, uh for the right of the city. We have you know, we have Clark Park, we have Memorial Park, we have municipal park. [1:15:52, 1:16:02]: I say today that I want to raise the bar on the parks in Stockbridge. Our parks, to me, in my own personal opinion, they're adequate. [1:16:02, 1:16:22]: They're not the uh uh we could we need to raise the bar on what we expect. And I think in North Henry County, Commissioner Holmes has raised the bar to the level that we deserve uh parks and recs on that level uh for our citizens to do something very special for them. [1:16:22, 1:16:42]: And also as we attempt to put the city together uh with the annexations and everything uh that we're attempting to do, we want to make sure that all of the citizens are represented equally and they have a part or pocket part in their part of the city that is maintained and that we guarantee that. [1:16:42, 1:16:50]: Okay, Mr Alexander, thank you. Any other uh comments on that discussion item? If not, we'll move to the one [1:16:50, 1:16:52]: You have a comment? Yes, ma'am. [1:16:53, 1:17:05]: Um what I'd like to say is that yes, we discussed this and um pocket parks, green space for the city, for the citizens is a good idea, a good thing. It's uh it's not a higher priority right now. The higher priority I believe is that [1:17:05, 1:17:10]: is to handle things and develop our downtown area but as we look at the comprehensive plan itself [1:17:10, 1:17:30]: and those neighborhoods and and things and identify uh pieces of land we can look at uh how we can uh pr you know prioritize that and uh figure out how we can fund something like that and might we get a good price. I'm in favor of those type of things but I also wanna uh keep in mind that our higher priority when it comes to that is really our downtown area. Now I don't want us to lose focus [1:17:30, 1:17:31]: Focus on that. [1:17:31, 1:17:36]: Um so and as we work through the comprehensive plan we can keep this in mind as well as those pocket parts. [1:17:37, 1:17:40]: that a aspect. But uh anyway, just wanna mention that. Thank you. [1:17:41, 1:17:43]: Any other comments? [1:17:43, 1:17:51]: If not, we're gonna move on to the uh agenda item eight that we added in which regard is regarding um [1:17:51, 1:17:57]: the public information officer position and that will be presented by I assume our city manager. [1:17:58, 1:17:58]: Is that [1:17:59, 1:18:01]: Are we gonna present that item are we gonna discuss it? [1:18:02, 1:18:03]: Just discussing. [1:18:03, 1:18:05]: All right. Is that your item? [1:18:05, 1:18:11]: Okay. All right. That's uh John Blount. Sorry, I didn't mean to um ignore that fact. [1:18:11, 1:18:13]: Um so comments from [1:18:14, 1:18:15]: Councilman John Want. [1:18:15, 1:18:35]: I wanted this um item placed on the agenda because we have a position open that uh we need to asset to assist the uh mayor and council. And one of the things that we all agreed on is that we had to uh formulate uh some dynamics that was in the uh job description for the assistance to mayor and council. Uh one of the things that [1:18:35, 1:18:40]: things that became conflictual is the uh duties of that position. [1:18:40, 1:19:00]: And one of the things that would to w would uh help that position is that we would hire a PIO officer that would be in charge of all the uh uh um media and web si uh things dealing with the website and uh picture taking and all of these things. Um I I think is a much needed uh position. [1:19:00, 1:19:18]: I had asked our uh human resource uh uh person, Miss Renee Wheeler, to uh come and uh give us a uh a quick overview of how important that position is right now before even hiring a uh a um uh assistant to mayor and counsel, if she would. [1:19:19, 1:19:20]: Be so car. [1:19:33, 1:19:40]: I can give you a copy of the um it's a draft job description that was put together for the uh PIO position. [1:19:48, 1:19:50]: Pani Przewodnicząca. [1:19:58, 1:20:00]: Well, it's true be a draft. [1:20:01, 1:20:05]: of what um are some of the duties and responsibilities [1:20:05, 1:20:08]: um that would take place of a public information officer. [1:20:09, 1:20:12]: Communications specialist communications um [1:20:13, 1:20:20]: coordinator or whatever we the title might end up becoming once we hash out what the essential duties and responsibilities are. [1:20:21, 1:20:28]: Um in this position what we've talked about is that this position would be the spokesperson uh for the city for the city. [1:20:29, 1:20:30]: In conjunction with the city manager. [1:20:31, 1:20:32]: Um that person would [1:20:33, 1:20:34]: Um [1:20:34, 1:20:35]: Basically [1:20:36, 1:20:40]: Ам, хандлір прес релиз, юр авізоріз, незлез. [1:20:40, 1:20:42]: maintained the city's website. [1:20:42, 1:20:43]: Um [1:20:45, 1:20:47]: And things of that nature. Work with the branding firm. [1:20:47, 1:20:50]: when we get ready to develop the marketing strategies. [1:20:51, 1:20:54]: um for the city and coordinate any type of um [1:20:54, 1:20:58]: programs or projects that are public relation endeavors. [1:20:58, 1:21:00]: Um so that person would basically [1:21:01, 1:21:04]: be your spokesperson, be a person out front. [1:21:04, 1:21:08]: um getting the message out to the community based on what the city is doing. [1:21:10, 1:21:11]: Yeah. [1:21:11, 1:21:18]: Okay. Uh comments? Council Robinson. Yes. Um since our HR is here, I just wanna just [1:21:19, 1:21:20]: Touch on this. [1:21:21, 1:21:41]: This is a similar to the same qualifications that we have for our executive assistant. And um as explained, you know, um on here on the second page it says, you know, in quote performs other duties as it as assigned. So with that being stated, I mean that would entail whatever individual can [1:21:41, 1:21:44]: council person required at that time, is that correct? [1:21:45, 1:21:46]: Well [1:21:48, 1:21:49]: It could or it could not. [1:21:50, 1:21:53]: The public information officer is strictly a [1:21:53, 1:21:55]: position and reports to the city manager. [1:21:56, 1:21:57]: and as the spokesperson for the city. [1:21:58, 1:21:59]: So it's not going to be [1:22:00, 1:22:10]: Similar to the executive assistant position at all. What what I was I'm sorry, I don't mean I'm saying for is the duties, not for as the reporting, but it just says [1:22:10, 1:22:21]: the quote for as the performs. So they're totally different um positions'cause like executive assistant to counsel reported to us but it still had that same [1:22:22, 1:22:42]: quote here. Right. So that's why I just wanted to be clear because that was on the duties as well. So of course this would be through the city manager or whoever they're reporting to that that's what that states. So whatever the the duties specific of that, you know, the city manager may have, it would be the same that [1:22:42, 1:22:47]: you know, dealt with counsel individually to our executive assistant. [1:22:47, 1:22:48]: Correct. [1:22:48, 1:22:52]: Yeah, in in a way, yeah, because we had that in in her job description. [1:22:52, 1:22:54]: Well in that in that job description. [1:22:54, 1:22:58]: as well as in all job descriptions, perform other duties as assigned. [1:22:58, 1:23:05]: because there may be other duties that may take place that you may have to perform, but normally they're within the context of your [1:23:05, 1:23:08]: your your skills and abilities of the job that you're currently doing. [1:23:10, 1:23:23]: Yes. And that's the point I was going to make. That is kind of a catch-all that typically there are always going to be duties outside the s specific scope of anyone's um exact job description. But I think what's critical here is that [1:23:24, 1:23:44]: Um in particular for the executive assistant position. I know we're talking about the PIO, but but certainly from the executive assistant to make sure that there is a clear understanding of exactly what the expectations of that position are. Because what you don't want to do, you don't want to, you know, to avoid the redundancy and the overlap. Um right now we have a lot of things that are being done by committee quite. [1:23:44, 1:23:48]: quite frankly. And so I think trying to be specific on on what the [1:23:48, 1:23:51]: majority of their functions will be [1:23:51, 1:23:55]: 'Cause even you know, we've had the discussion about this job description, maybe whittling it down some [1:23:56, 1:24:16]: Um so there's st is still some tweaking that we're looking at making on it, but um I think I think there's obviously going to be some coordination between those two positions. Um certainly I think we have a clear understanding on the PIO's position on what their functions would be, um but I think it will be important going forward for the council to make sure that the council collects [1:24:16, 1:24:26]: collectively has a clear set of expectations and understanding of what that executive assistant, what their role would be, um what the majority of their their their primary roles would be. [1:24:28, 1:24:31]: All right. Uh question from uh Councilman Alexander. [1:24:32, 1:24:52]: Uh yes, Miss Wheeler. Uh while we got you up here, I appreciate that information. I think this council has had discussions uh concerning this. We had it in uh in uh during our budgetary discussions, in terms of uh being good stewards of the citizens' money, uh in terms of a line item, uh in terms of benefits. [1:24:52, 1:24:56]: It's salary, um what is the dollar amount? [1:24:57, 1:25:17]: that we can expect uh by creating this position uh would would it create? And the i the issue that I had with it um last year is that I'm for uh doing something in this aspect, but we prioritize the economic development director and the community director because they [1:25:17, 1:25:20]: brought revenue to the city. Is there anything [1:25:21, 1:25:41]: uh this definitely is not revenue neutral because of the costs uh that are gonna be involved with it. So can you talk about the with benefits and with uh the salary amount, how uh what it would cost and then uh possibly as I said uh you know maybe the issue [1:25:41, 1:25:47]: [5147.8, 5149.8]: Well it depends on um [1:25:50, 1:25:53]: Once the position is finally crafted and [1:25:53, 1:25:54]: We've come up with [1:25:54, 1:25:56]: Exactly what it is that the [1:25:56, 1:26:08]: position will be doing on what the city's needs are for this particular position, you can look upwards to maybe forty two to fifty thousand dollars. The starting salary would be forty two, so once you start adding [1:26:08, 1:26:10]: benefits, you're talking about maybe another [1:26:11, 1:26:13]: Fifteen hundred dollars. [1:26:14, 1:26:17]: fifteen thousand dollars added to the position. [1:26:19, 1:26:39]: Okay. And a and as far as we're doing that, and I think maybe the city manager could speak to it. As we were going on and we were kinda prioritizing things, like I said, I'm not against having a PIO officer, but in terms of the priorities of having uh a PIO officer adding, I guess rough math, maybe about sixty thousand dollars. [1:26:39, 1:26:54]: dollars to the budget or maybe a little bit more at that point. Um some of the things that we're talking about doing, how does it fit into the grand scale of the Economic Development Director and all those positions that we've that we have added and that we've agreed upon? [1:26:56, 1:26:57]: Yeah, I I think you know [1:26:58, 1:27:06]: The the the function of this position would be principally, you know, and I and I've said this over and over again, you know, this this has been a very aggressive council. [1:27:06, 1:27:23]: And there's a lot of things that are going on, there's a lot of information to try and disseminate, um, a lot of events that have taken place and you know, right now, you know, it's far different than uh what than what it was four or five years ago, most certainly, even three years ago for that matter. Um so [1:27:23, 1:27:29]: based on the the demands of the council, we're looking at positions that can help [1:27:29, 1:27:32]: address those comm those demands. Um [1:27:33, 1:27:35]: The everyday work for [1:27:37, 1:27:43]: Ms. Wheeler, Finance, myself, I mean our the things we have to do throughout the course of the day. Um [1:27:44, 1:28:04]: Those are full time. You know, so e every time we have projects or special events that come up, those are ancillary to what our what our what our normal everyday functions are. Um and because there's been so many trying to keep pace with the advertising, the um promoting of um uh the the the pictures and everything that goes along with that, that [1:28:04, 1:28:10]: That's why the conversation initially started with the PIO. [1:28:10, 1:28:30]: I think there'd be obviously a lot of coordination between them and the community development director, Main Street, um economic development as new businesses are coming on board. But a lot of it is gonna be, you know, as stated, the dissemination of information. Um the newsletter that's currently being done by uh Ms. I [1:28:30, 1:28:50]: the executives and to the city manager. Um but I think that's something those are those tasks that they would t be able to take over and they'd be able to assume certainly. Um so again a lot of coordination from a staff level, certainly just like we have right now, I mean as a staff we meet on a you know every couple of weeks and it's not a day goes by that we don't all have interaction in some way, shape or form. Um [1:28:50, 1:28:56]: But again, I think just having a very detailed and distinct, clear understanding of what their function is [1:28:57, 1:29:17]: And then it becomes a matter of what does council even want to do with that executive position if if all those functions w are going to be lopped into what this position would w would have. I think historically when you think about an executive assistant to mayor and council, it's far more administrative than what they're doing. And I think um because there were so many [1:29:16, 1:29:19]: events, things that were taking place. Um [1:29:20, 1:29:29]: there was less focus on the administrative side and more focus on the promotions and and the event side, quite frankly. So looking at a way of trying to [1:29:29, 1:29:32]: create a a clear line of demarcation between the two. [1:29:32, 1:29:52]: Uh I'll follow up just briefly. Now so the public at large understands this position. This position is kinda like the press secretary for the White House, maybe uh Sean Spicer or R. Flasher or somebody like that. That is what to disseminate information to the public, uh correct. So [1:29:52, 1:30:05]: Yeah, it's a fairly common position that a number of municipalities maintain, um public information officer, communications director, it's termed a couple of different ways, but there's a number of jurisdictions, another municipalities um [1:30:06, 1:30:26]: adjacent to us up on the northern side on the southern parts that that that maintain this position for that role. Um you know we've pulled some we've looked at job um descriptions from a number of other jurisdictions and trying to craft it to what we feel is in our best interest. So it's it's what you have there and we're still kinda we're still massaging is [1:30:26, 1:30:44]: is is a you know bit of a hybrid from a number of other jurisdictions because again we are not Milton, Alpharetta or anywhere else. We are Stockbridge. And so we are unique in the things that we do and in the manner in which we want to present the information. So we want to make sure that our approach is unique to the things that we are doing. [1:30:44, 1:30:54]: So that's been the um the the the the work that we've been trying to put in as far as crafting a uh a job description that meets what we feel is to be the desires of the council. [1:30:55, 1:31:08]: Okay, we're gonna move on. I believe Pro Tem Ford has come in. Thank you, Mayor. I appreciate it. Uh Mike, I just want to make sure I believe that I got this right. But this even though we talked about this position, this position is currently not budgeted. Is that correct? [1:31:10, 1:31:30]: Correct. Well I thought. So w so w we would have to take it out of fund balance to fund it for the rest of the year provided we go down this road. All right. So we have a draft job description in front of us. What do you need from us? You need us to look at that, get feedback back? Because I would think I would like to go forward with this. I don't know what quite sure what the council wants to do, and maybe they want to go forward this [1:31:30, 1:31:31]: Yeah. [1:31:32, 1:31:52]: Yeah, I mean I think if if there's specifics in regards to the job description we could certainly like to get your input as soon as possible. You know, it would come forward and and we're doing the the town hall update meeting at the next meeting we will be in um contemplating potential budget amendments at that time. That would be the opportunity to [1:31:52, 1:32:08]: So you would possibly if we wanna have any updates, give updates to Rene uh on this and input and then we can look forward to a b uh budget amendment on this job for us to review to approve or disapprove counts on the twenty fifth. That's correct. [1:32:09, 1:32:09]: All right. [1:32:10, 1:32:10]: Thank you. [1:32:11, 1:32:31]: Comments. Okay, Miss Gann. Um I'm thank you, Councilman Blount, for bringing this to our attention. We've been discussing a PIO officer for quite some time now. Um and a PIO officer is just not uh someone as far as I'm concerned who is uh uh you know, releasing statements in regards to the city. [1:32:31, 1:32:51]: A PIO officer helps to brand the city. It's helping us uh create and get the word out as one city, one voice. Um and I think it's an excellent idea. Um I know that we initially had it in our budget. I was the chair of the finance committee, um, and then we [1:32:51, 1:33:11]: um had to reduce cost from the budget. And now we and we agreed that once we had some transactions completed as well as once we um revisited amending our budget, which should be coming up soon, um we should have a quarterly yeah, okay. Yeah, twenty fifth. [1:33:11, 1:33:26]: um that we would then amend our budget to include those items that we reduced and take and had to take out at the time. So I um I know that it's one of our top on our list of to-dos and um I just want to thank Councilman Blount for bringing that back up to us. [1:33:27, 1:33:29]: Any other comments about that subject? [1:33:29, 1:33:33]: Just for clarity, uh at the very next meeting on the twenty fifth, [1:33:34, 1:33:34]: Um [1:33:35, 1:33:55]: they keep referencing the town hall meeting. There will be a town hall meeting and there will be our first quarter uh update on our finances and at that time if our finances are strong um that's how things get amended into the budget. Sometimes it's called a mid year adjustment, but in our [1:33:54, 1:34:00]: um situation we're gonna do it quarterly so we'll do that at our next meeting. [1:34:01, 1:34:02]: Thank you, Ms. [1:34:02, 1:34:04]: Thank you, Ms. Wheeler. [1:34:04, 1:34:12]: Um and reminding the council if you have comments about this and you want to get'em back to Miss Wheeler, get'em back to her. ASAP. [1:34:12, 1:34:13]: Okay? [1:34:13, 1:34:14]: Everybody good? [1:34:14, 1:34:17]: All right. Okay. Um [1:34:18, 1:34:27]: I believe uh at this point um we'll have comments from our city manager followed by brief comments from our city council. [1:34:27, 1:34:28]: No camera. [1:34:29, 1:34:33]: No comments. Okay. All right, we'll start with Mr. Alexander if you have more comments to make. [1:34:34, 1:34:39]: I always have more comments to make. [1:34:39, 1:34:55]: Well, I just will always thank I never take for granted the citizens that come out and partake in the process and I always thank you so much and all the feedback that I've been getting from all over the city about the improvements. It shows that people care. [1:34:56, 1:35:16]: I love it when I hear from citizens and you telling me, we know, Mr. Alexander, can we do this? So what do you think about that? That is the way that we build the city together collectively. So continue with the feedback and continue to support this council and we trying to move the city forward uh aggressively. So I appreciate everything that you all you all do. [1:35:16, 1:35:18]: [5719.4, 5720.4]: Councilman Blount. [1:35:21, 1:35:25]: God bless you. God bless the city of Stock Bridge. God bless America. Thanks for coming. [1:35:27, 1:35:28]: Uh Councilman Ford. [1:35:29, 1:35:31]: Thank you, Mayor. I appreciate that. Um [1:35:32, 1:35:35]: Citizens I want you to know that everybody in the council is wearing blue. [1:35:36, 1:35:38]: And to include the city manager and attorney. [1:35:39, 1:35:45]: Folks in the audience wearing blue of course because aut support autism month and the uh prevent child abuse month, the month of April. [1:35:46, 1:35:59]: So I encourage you to wear blue as much as you can during the c month of April to support these two uh particular uh uh activities or events there. Uh also like to tell you happy Easter. Hopefully you had a a good Palm Sunday. [1:36:00, 1:36:05]: and uh have an outstanding good Friday and of course the city i is going to be closed on that day. [1:36:06, 1:36:21]: Uh so enjoy your activities, uh religiously that is, and continue to keep faith uh with us, the council, as we continue to work through the issues and do the cities uh the cities or the people's work here in the city of Stockbridge. God bless you all. [1:36:23, 1:36:24]: Housewoman Gamp. [1:36:24, 1:36:44]: Um I just want to thank everyone for coming out today. On May eleventh at five thirty um at the Merrill Manders Conference Center, we'll be having our m the third annual nonprofit mixer. Um it is a great time for all the nonprofits in the community in Henry County to get together. [1:36:44, 1:37:04]: We will have a keynote speaker to discuss with nonprofits the opportunities and different grants that are available. We will also have tables available for those nonprofits and we will invite the community out. We're hoping that nonprofits can there are a lot of nonprofits in the area. We're hoping that they can collaborate together. [1:37:04, 1:37:24]: um and get together sometimes. You may have one person who's giving out clothes and another person who's giving out food. Or you have different church organizations and mentorship programs and it's just a really good time and very educational. Feel free to email me on my city email address if you're interested. [1:37:24, 1:37:31]: interested in it or if you know anyone um that's interested, flyers should be going out soon. Thank you and have a great evening. [1:37:31, 1:37:33]: Councilwoman Robinson. [1:37:33, 1:37:34]: Thank you, Mayor. [1:37:34, 1:37:54]: Um I just wanted to touch base on the Georgia Georgia Cities Week activities that we're gonna have here in Stockbridge. The mayor's probably gonna mention it later, but I wanted to definitely talk about Friday, April the twenty eighth. We're gonna have unity in the community. Actually this is gonna be the sec second annual event. [1:37:54, 1:38:14]: Which is going to be a basketball game between our public safety and the high school seniors that are inside the city limits of Stockbridge to show unity in the community with our youth. And it's going to be held at Stockbridge High School on that Friday, the twenty eighth, at six PM. So we're inviting everyone to please, please, please come. [1:38:14, 1:38:22]: come out. There's flyers out in the foyer, so we would love to have your support um for the young people during um Cities Week. [1:38:23, 1:38:43]: And also wanted to um looking at our agenda um and I do want to apologize to everyone but on our work session I will not be in attendance um because we're gonna do our first quarter update. I had prior engagements, I will be out of the country. So I just know my colleagues, they're gonna definitely um unite and [1:38:43, 1:38:55]: and do the right thing for our citizens. So um I just wanted to let everyone know that, um, so that way when you see that I'm absent on that day, um, everyone would know that I will definitely be out of the country. Thank you. [1:38:56, 1:39:16]: All right. Um at this time uh if all of you picked up an agenda as you came in the room, I want you to flip over to that back page and there are all kind of announcements about upcoming city meetings and events and remind you you can always go to the website to pick up um any instructions about uh [1:39:16, 1:39:17]: Um [1:39:17, 1:39:18]: When to meet the [1:39:18, 1:39:31]: And also if you'll go to the website and sign up, you will automatically be notified about anything that you want to be notified about. You can check off the box. So that is a great uh tool the city has. [1:39:31, 1:39:35]: And also I want to remind everyone [1:39:35, 1:39:55]: If you're visual when you drive through the streets of Stockbridge and you see something that's unsightly, to call that in to the city hall and we will have that message just shot right over uh to our public works department or to our code enforcement and we will take care of that. Our goal is to be a beautiful [1:39:55, 1:39:58]: clean city and we need you to help us do that. [1:39:58, 1:40:02]: At this time if there is nothing else on [1:40:02, 1:40:03]: This um [1:40:04, 1:40:10]: agenda at the moment. We are now going to go to executive session. Our attorney will speak to that. [1:40:11, 1:40:18]: Yes, ma'am, we would need uh a motion to go into executive session for litigation, personnel and real estate. [1:40:18, 1:40:19]: Some [1:40:20, 1:40:22]: All right. We've had um um [1:40:23, 1:40:33]: Okay. The motion was made by Councilman Alexander, the second to go into executive session by Pro Tem Ford. Um is there any discussion? [1:40:34, 1:40:36]: No discussion. All in favour? [1:40:38, 1:40:43]: All right, if you all would excuse us, we'll be gone a few minutes and hopefully we'll get back before too long. [1:49:09, 1:49:17]: So um [1:49:19, 1:49:29]: But see what I'm saying. [1:49:35, 1:49:37]: Yeah, [1:49:37, 1:49:43]: Something's happening. [1:49:51, 1:50:10]: So you call. I'll be hot. Maybe thank you. [1:51:30, 1:51:32]: Yeah, you know, yeah. [1:52:20, 1:52:27]: Okay, uh [1:52:45, 1:52:54]: I don't know why you wouldn't do that. [1:53:00, 1:53:10]: Yeah, and then [1:53:15, 1:53:25]: Yeah, uh [1:53:30, 1:53:50]: [6830.0, 6849.9]: Oh yeah, uh you're a report. [1:54:12, 1:54:15]: [6860.0, 6875.0]: So I mean that's what I mean. [1:54:35, 1:54:55]: Yeah, but that you don't go to the back. [1:54:55, 1:55:15]: I I I don't know, I think we gotta go back and then uh move it to uh maybe have one. [1:55:14, 1:55:24]: [6926.0, 6940.4]: Well you walk over it. Oh no, yeah. [1:55:41, 1:55:45]: Very much. [1:55:56, 1:55:57]: Yeah. [1:56:00, 1:56:20]: [6980.0, 6993.5]: And it's probably used to someone who starts or [1:56:38, 1:56:58]: That's a really good thing. I don't know about the course of your mind. [1:56:58, 1:57:15]: [7037.8, 7057.8]: [1:57:37, 1:57:49]: Um here so [1:57:53, 1:58:12]: [7093.4, 7113.4]: [1:58:33, 1:58:47]: [7128.3, 7139.1]: Who then? Yeah, I'm going to be able to sometimes [1:59:10, 1:59:30]: And you guys are talking about it. [1:59:30, 1:59:38]: I don't think that's the one that's a good thing. [1:59:39, 1:59:48]: [7198.3, 7201.9]: Yeah, yeah, yeah. [2:00:03, 2:00:10]: So anyway, I wouldn't really decide how to run the hair. [2:00:10, 2:00:30]: If that would be set that it's not everything. [2:00:30, 2:00:37]: Oh yeah, yeah. [2:00:42, 2:01:02]: [7261.9, 7265.0]: Oh [2:01:06, 2:01:18]: Wow, [2:01:19, 2:01:32]: [7310.7, 7320.5]: Well that's one of the opportunities. [2:02:01, 2:02:21]: [7341.8, 7350.3]: [2:02:40, 2:02:53]: [7410.0, 7423.0]: [2:03:45, 2:03:53]: [7436.3, 7446.0]: [2:04:09, 2:04:11]: Oh yeah, yeah. [2:04:36, 2:04:44]: Oh yeah. [2:04:58, 2:05:05]: Excellent. [2:05:39, 2:05:46]: I mean the battle is probably going to make it all. [2:05:54, 2:05:59]: Yeah, that's it. [2:06:05, 2:06:09]: How's the bottom of the [2:06:09, 2:06:10]: [7574.2, 7577.6]: Yeah, yeah, yeah. [2:06:29, 2:06:36]: [7597.0, 7601.4]: Then we'll let that [2:06:43, 2:06:46]: But [2:06:47, 2:06:56]: Thank you. [2:06:57, 2:06:58]: Oh [2:07:10, 2:07:12]: [7647.9, 7650.4]: Oh. [2:07:32, 2:07:52]: And then I think the very very good protocol. [2:07:52, 2:08:01]: [7684.5, 7698.8]: Well it's not a good one. I don't think that's right. [2:08:19, 2:08:25]: How certainly uh [2:12:00, 2:12:20]: Oh. Oh, come on. Thank you. Oh, that's very good. [2:12:20, 2:12:22]: Very poor. [2:19:10, 2:19:11]: [10513.1, 10514.6]: Yeah. [2:55:19, 2:55:22]: So what was that? [2:55:23, 2:55:29]: Is that an American? No. Okay. [2:55:30, 2:55:35]: I think you've always had in your own um piece. [2:55:36, 2:55:40]: Kind of search forward and then fail. [3:00:56, 3:01:04]: Yeah. Well I have uh head and I don't know. [3:01:07, 3:01:22]: So um I think I guess that's the um [3:01:24, 3:01:29]: So uh I can do that on the last time. [3:01:32, 3:01:36]: I'll just forget. [3:01:36, 3:01:41]: Oh, you got the man? [3:01:42, 3:01:43]: Okay. [3:01:45, 3:01:47]: But [3:01:56, 3:02:03]: Well number four. [3:02:19, 3:02:22]: All right, would you mind just stepping in there and asking them to come on? [3:02:23, 3:02:24]: Oh, they're just talking. [3:02:41, 3:02:46]: [10967.5, 10971.3]: [3:03:11, 3:03:12]: Pani Przewodnicząca. [3:03:20, 3:03:21]: [11001.8, 11010.0]: Oh thanks. We're back in s session. I need a motion to end the executive session. O'Neill. [3:03:30, 3:03:30]: Okay. [3:03:31, 3:03:35]: Robinson. Second. Second by Pro Tem Ford. [3:03:36, 3:03:38]: Do I have any discussion on ending that? [3:03:40, 3:03:41]: No discussion. All in favor? [3:03:44, 3:03:53]: Right, we don't have anything to vote on, so at this time I need a motion to end the council meeting. No ma'am, we've got to we gotta enter back in to the council. [3:03:53, 3:04:00]: Reconvene. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Didn't reconvene. Okay, I need a motion to reconvene. [3:04:00, 3:04:04]: A second. I need a second and I got that done. [3:04:05, 3:04:07]: I got the second from Miss Gantt. [3:04:08, 3:04:10]: And do is there any discussion? [3:04:11, 3:04:12]: If not [3:04:13, 3:04:14]: All in favour? [3:04:15, 3:04:20]: Now I need a m a motion to end the council meeting tonight. Do I have a motion? [3:04:20, 3:04:22]: [11063.5, 11068.0]: President Pro Gem Ford and I think I heard a second from Mr uh Blount. [3:04:28, 3:04:30]: Is there any discussion? [3:04:31, 3:04:32]: If not, all in favor. [3:04:33, 3:04:35]: Okay. We are adjourned. [3:04:36, 3:04:37]: Okay.