2017-11-28 · City Council · Transcript · Work Session Meeting

--- title: November 28 2017 Work Session Meeting date: 2017-11-28 source: 2017-11-28_November_28_2017_Work_Session_Meeting.wav --- [0:00:06, 0:00:12]: [ 35.0, 55.0]: And people say we're not shooting out. Hey, how are you? [0:01:05, 0:01:23]: I'll speak to you. I'm not going to be a bit more than that. [0:02:49, 0:02:53]: Was he did he here today? [0:02:57, 0:02:58]: Ah yeah. [0:03:05, 0:03:06]: Oh yeah. [0:03:08, 0:03:10]: Yeah, [0:03:33, 0:03:35]: Make from a safe. [0:04:30, 0:04:31]: [274.4, 276.4]: I did. I heard. [0:05:00, 0:05:00]: Yeah. [0:05:48, 0:05:48]: Okay. [0:06:03, 0:06:07]: Is this meeting being aired? They w they're here today, I don't know. [0:06:11, 0:06:13]: We are doing it working on it now as we speak. [0:06:20, 0:06:40]: At this time I would like to call to order the November 28th, Tuesday, 2017 work session meeting of the Stockbridge City Council. And as we begin our meeting, we are delighted to have one of our favorite pastors from the community. [0:06:39, 0:06:55]: We were supposed to have Clinton McFarlane, who is a lead pastor out at Grace Church, but he was traveling, I believe, and so we're having a double honor. We're having the executive pastor come. [0:06:55, 0:07:10]: And I think it's tomorrow. Did I do it right? Tomorrow then. Mara. Carter. And we appreciate you being here and we're gonna ask you if you would to pray for us and then we're gonna ask you to just stay there and we'll do the pledge to the flag before we sit down. [0:07:11, 0:07:12]: And we're so glad you're here. [0:07:12, 0:07:14]: Thank you. Let us pray. [0:07:15, 0:07:20]: Oh God, we thank you now for this opportunity. Lord, we thank you for local government. [0:07:21, 0:07:41]: Lord, we ask your blessings now upon the mayor, the council. Lord, all of the employees that are taking care of the matters of the city. Lord, bless our children as always. And Lord, make certain that our homes are homes of peace. Lord, bless the proceedings here tonight, that they may be done decent and in order. It is in Jesus' name we pray. [0:07:41, 0:07:42]: Amen. [0:07:45, 0:07:57]: The United States of America and to the Republic which stands one nation, under God, indivisible, the liberty and justice for all. [0:08:09, 0:08:12]: At this time we're going to ask our clerk, if she will, to call the roll. [0:08:13, 0:08:14]: Councilman Alexander. [0:08:14, 0:08:25]: Present. Councilman Blount. Here. Mayor Neal. Present. Mayor Pro Tem Ford. Present. Councilwoman Gantt. Present. Councilwoman Robinson. Present. Mayor Neal, you have a quorum. [0:08:25, 0:08:45]: Thank you. At this time we are going to adopt our agenda, but we have a couple of changes to that. So I'm going to call on Ms. Gantt to make those um make a motion to amend the agenda. Yes, Mayor Nara, I'll make a motion to amend the agenda to remove items number one, number six, and number fourteen. [0:08:45, 0:08:46]: Mm. [0:08:48, 0:08:55]: You've heard the recommendation to remove items uh one, six, and fourteen. Is there uh [0:08:55, 0:09:00]: Okay, got a second for that. Is there any discussion on that? [0:09:00, 0:09:02]: If not, all in favor. [0:09:03, 0:09:23]: Thank you. Thank you for your vote. At this time we're going to uh r only review minutes of the following meetings from October 9th, from uh October 24th, and from a work session um also on uh October 24th, and that's just for review only. At this time [0:09:23, 0:09:35]: Madam Clerk, do we have uh any people in our audience who have requested to speak? There are no public comments. No public comments, so we'll move on. At this time um [0:09:36, 0:09:52]: We're going to go into old business and we have an update on our HVAC for the city hall that will be presented by our Public Works Director, Dashus Aaron, and by our city manager, Randy Knighton. [0:09:53, 0:10:13]: Good evening, Madam Mayor and Council. Uh the update on the H SVAC is we're still going through the process of developing the scope. Our engineering, one of our on-call engineers, Carter and Sloop, are preparing the scope of work. So within the next 30 days, we should have scope of work that we can put out for bid for the repair and replacement of, not on the HVAC here at [0:10:13, 0:10:15]: at City Hall but at Merrill Manders as well. [0:10:16, 0:10:21]: Okay, so do you need them to vote on that item? [0:10:21, 0:10:31]: No ma'am, you've already approved the task order f for those services and once we get those that task order completed then we'll come back. Act for the [0:10:31, 0:10:42]: Just ma'am and that. Okay. So you've heard this presentation. Anyone have any questions regarding the um recommendation from our engineering firm? [0:10:46, 0:11:03]: Okay, thank you so much for that. At this time we're going to enter into a public hearing. It's going to be our second public hearing for our proposed 2018 budget. And that's going to be presented by Rashonda Favors, our lead accountant, and also by our city manager, Randy Knighton. [0:11:11, 0:11:13]: Matching. Thank you. [0:11:15, 0:11:19]: Which one did you click on this one right here? Yeah, uhhuh. I guess I didn't do it right. [0:11:21, 0:11:22]: That's a shortcut. [0:11:44, 0:11:45]: Well, the uh PDF. [0:11:46, 0:11:47]: [707.5, 708.5]: What's the video? [0:12:04, 0:12:05]: Oh, it's not responding. [0:12:17, 0:12:19]: Or score. [0:12:21, 0:12:22]: Mm. [0:12:46, 0:12:48]: Like it small? Yes, I can smell things. [0:12:54, 0:12:55]: Good evening. [0:12:55, 0:13:01]: Good evening. Um today I'm just going to present the twenty eighteen proposed [0:13:01, 0:13:05]: budget I'm gonna go through the general fund and just go line by line. [0:13:06, 0:13:07]: For governing body [0:13:08, 0:13:14]: The proposed budget is 293,275. [0:13:15, 0:13:17]: Last year it was 271-1. [0:13:18, 0:13:20]: Um for the executive. [0:13:21, 0:13:24]: It is one million four dollars and four hundred. [0:13:24, 0:13:32]: And then last year it was 739,200 and that is a big change because I believe that includes the assistant city manager position. [0:13:34, 0:13:41]: Um administration is 1,72480. Last year was 1,683,000. [0:13:43, 0:14:03]: Um for business services is 209-680. Now that is a new division that was created before occupational tax fell under financial administration, but now they're under their own department, so the occupational tax clerk as well as the second occupational tax clerk will fall under business services. [0:14:03, 0:14:17]: IT services uh 215-800 last year it was 190-500 uh general government building services 738-525 last year was 702-750. [0:14:18, 0:14:37]: Municipal court one forty nine, two twenty five, last year was two sixty five, two seventy-five, and that's a big drop because of a lot of the court services moved to the state and so we have less court staff. Um we only have one, I think one court employee. [0:14:38, 0:14:51]: court clerk rather. Um police services is three fifty, three hundred fifty thousand, last year was four hundred thousand. Public works, two million four forty five, two thirty. [0:14:51, 0:14:54]: Last year 2 million 134,380. [0:14:56, 0:15:02]: City Events 199-135, last year was 203-815. [0:15:03, 0:15:14]: Um let's see. Parks, the proposed budget is 203,500. Last year it was 65,500. I think that big jump is because of some park improvements. [0:15:14, 0:15:27]: Planning Administration 177900, that's a new department that I believe includes the principal planner, is that correct, Mr. Knighton? Um the principal planner, the new position principal planner. [0:15:28, 0:15:30]: Code enforcement. [0:15:30, 0:15:32]: Uh one fifty one, two eighty five. [0:15:33, 0:15:34]: Lashes 192840. [0:15:35, 0:15:55]: Main Street program 204 950. Last year was 205-445. Planning and development 145,600. Last year, 351,900. And just the other financial services, one 1 million five forty two, nine fifteen, and last year's 1 million four hundred ninety, six forty five. So the total [0:15:55, 0:15:59]: proposed budget is nine million seven fifty five nine hundred [0:16:02, 0:16:04]: Mr. Knighton, do you have any comments? [0:16:08, 0:16:28]: I would I would also like to mention uh as Rishonda um had alluded to, some of the park improvement increases you're seeing is a result of what are some expected improvements at several of the parks, uh including uh Clark Gardner Park and Memorial Park replacing uh some aging equipment. [0:16:28, 0:16:48]: uh some trail bridges at Reeves Creek, repairing walking trails at Clark and Gardner, um also expanding uh storage buildings, parking lots, things of that nature. There's also some increases for security upgrades at several of our uh buildings as well. And one of the increases or significant increases was related to LMIG local maintenance uh [0:16:48, 0:17:08]: improvement grant funds and that's based on some state criteria lane miles and a formula for our match and so we saw a significant increase um uh there as well and as Rishonda alluded to there are a couple of new positions which are proposed uh assistant city manager and then some planning uh positions which is related [0:17:08, 0:17:21]: related to our taking in permitting from Henry County. And so many of those line items increased as a result of those newer responsibilities that we'll be taking on. [0:17:25, 0:17:29]: Okay. Um do we have any questions? [0:17:29, 0:17:44]: Before we move forward, I have one down the end first. Yes, I do. Thank you, Mayor. Um on the m Main Street program, so I could see a jump when we went from t every year it increases. So [0:17:44, 0:17:48]: Are we gonna do anything differently with our main street? [0:17:51, 0:18:05]: I think some of those increases are related to some of the programs we have going on on now, RSVP. Okay. Some of those other programs that we expect to to come to fruition in some way next year. Okay. Uh and so additional uh expenditures are expected to be made. [0:18:06, 0:18:26]: Okay. Do we have any other questions? Mr. Ford I know had a question. Well actually is a more or less a comment. I appreciate the fact that uh Mr. Nighton gave some significant points in reference to the increases. That's what I was really looking for when he mentioned about the increases or decreases. What caused that? And so you gave some some idea what those were. I appreciate that. Probably a couple of more. [0:18:26, 0:18:33]: that were maybe not touched on but uh I'll I'll get to that lady later. I'll I'll figure that out. But thank you for that. Appreciate it. [0:18:34, 0:18:35]: Any other comments? [0:18:36, 0:18:47]: Um I have one first down here. Uh Ms. Gantt. Yes. Um in business services the the new amount of 209-680, what exactly is that for? [0:18:49, 0:18:50]: Camilla here. [0:18:50, 0:19:04]: Sorry, which what I'm sorry. For business services an amount of two hundred and nine thousand six hundred and eighty dollars, what exactly is business services entailing? Well business services occupational tax will now be business services. [0:19:04, 0:19:24]: So was it pulled from occupational tax and it's just it's no longer under the financial administration. It has its own category now. So they have their own budget. So there was no increase or decrease or did that that number decrease from where it was located in the past? Well I think there probably is a slight increase maybe because [0:19:24, 0:19:32]: because there's additional occupational tax clerk now and that wasn't previously budgeted for. So now there's two occupational tax clerks. [0:19:32, 0:19:52]: But the the source of your question was it was moved from finance to its own department now or under administrative and community services. Got it. And in regards to the splots uh in regards to the parks, the the jump and the amount for the parks is pretty significant. It went from sixty five thousand five hundred. [0:19:52, 0:19:58]: hundred to two or three, five hundred because of some of the things we want to do with the park. Does Splot funds not take care of that? [0:20:00, 0:20:18]: Um there are certain items that could be funded out of splost, one of which is expanded parking lot at Reeves Creek Trail. I know that's one of them that was mentioned. But I don't believe some some of the other ones in terms of the expanse that we want to do at the parks could be under SPLOSS. But that's a very good point. And [0:20:18, 0:20:35]: If there are items that could readily be done by SPLOST, obviously we want to tap into the SPLOST fund first before general fund. But these items, as I understand it, are primarily coming from the general fund because they would not be SPLOST eligible. And I'll defer to Descius if he if he has any further comment about that. [0:20:38, 0:20:58]: As well as C D B G. Sorry, I wanna tag that on with it. So as well as C D B G funds as well. I just wanna tag both uh m my biggest concern is making sure that we exhaust the rev you know, revenues from SPLOSS and C D B G funds prior to utilizing any general funds. [0:20:58, 0:21:00]: For um [0:21:00, 0:21:20]: Improvements. Yes, ma'am. Uh new improvements would be eligible like the expanded parking lot at Reed's Creek, but the other things are maintenance issues like the walking trails where the routes are causing the the uh trail to buckle, those would have to be paid for out of the out of the general fund since it's a maintenance issue. But the new [0:21:20, 0:21:40]: items that can be paid for out of splots we'll do that but it's just a a big to do list'cause some of the parts are showing their age and we've got to do some things to make improvements and I know one of the concerns is a lot of people walk Gardner Park and Clark Park and you know, and a lot of'em out there at dusk, some uh out there at dawn and [0:21:40, 0:21:48]: We don't want anybody to stumble or get injured or anything like that. So we just doing some cosmetic and some preventive maintenance work. [0:21:49, 0:21:49]: Thank you. [0:21:51, 0:21:54]: Okay, I believe we had a question from Mr. Alexander. [0:21:55, 0:22:11]: Yes, thank you so much. Uh the what I s observed is a drop in the budget for the code enforcement, uh, from where it was previously, uh where we're looking at going from one ninety two, eight four eight forty [0:22:11, 0:22:15]: to one hundred fifty one two eighty five uh whether [0:22:16, 0:22:36]: Could you kinda l elaborate on that that we're you know that we're not losing any services and I think Miss Moore had previously mentioned uh that we were going to add some new equipment to make the apart department more efficient in terms of um has uh beh having the officers come back here [0:22:36, 0:22:42]: to visit versus being able to do it digitally uh with handheld devices. [0:22:43, 0:22:47]: I know that one reason for the drop is last year we budgeted for vehicles. [0:22:48, 0:23:07]: So that was one reason. Of course we're not budgeting for that this year because we both we have both vehicles. So that was one reason for the draw. Apparently there we there was a vehicle budgeted the previous year and this year. So we won't have any vehicles to purchase in this upcoming year. So we'll have the same we'll have the same staff obviously, but we don't have the the purchase of the vehicle upcoming in this year. [0:23:07, 0:23:25]: Okay, and the equipment that Miss Moore had mentioned to us previously, uh, to help efficiency in that department, is that how is that captured uh in the budget where they would be using the handheld devices or or being able to digitally log in versus returning the city hall? Is she [0:23:30, 0:23:30]: That last year. [0:23:32, 0:23:43]: Yeah, last year I think they also purchased some GIS software. So that was also in the budget for last year. Okay, so it's it's already been captured already. Okay. All right. Second question. Um [0:23:43, 0:23:45]: In terms of uh [0:23:46, 0:24:06]: projects um kinda like the finishing the MLK trail and then um uh uh stuff like that. Is that a separate uh capital improvement project or something like that uh in the budget. Uh I know with the cur currently the trail stops um about halfway through. Uh [0:24:06, 0:24:17]: where it's completion instead of going toward Rock Quarry Road. Uh w is there the s is there gonna be a separate uh capital improvement projects where that might be captured at um going forward? [0:24:19, 0:24:29]: think if it's if it's a new section of a trail it could be potentially captured by splost, a new section, not maintenance. So I think we would look towards splost first for the new section of a trail. [0:24:31, 0:24:37]: Okay. Any other questions or comments? Yes. One more if I could. Okay. Go ahead. Mr. Alexander. [0:24:38, 0:24:58]: In terms of the number that we have um plugged in uh for police services, uh based on where we are in terms of uh with the county and and all of that, go into how we kinda came up with that so the public can kinda understand uh what that number is. [0:24:58, 0:25:13]: represents and prepare them from some fluctuation just in case there was an agreement or something that we were able to hammer out with an SDS agreement with um Henry County. [0:25:14, 0:25:34]: For for the balance of 18, we'd be looking at a same or similar type service with Henry County for Henry County Police. Now, the service delivery strategy uh has to be completed by October of 2018 with Henry County and all of its cities. Uh we've met to myself uh with the other city managers and the county manager uh a couple of weeks ago. [0:25:34, 0:25:46]: we met and in fact we've got a meeting scheduled for uh next week as well to continue our service delivery strategy uh discussions negotiations. Now obviously the police services [0:25:46, 0:25:50]: part of it, component, will be a significant one for us. [0:25:50, 0:26:02]: And as we enter into an area of negotiation, obviously I will keep you all informed about how those discussions go, but that probably would not be experienced until 2019. [0:26:03, 0:26:16]: Okay, I guess to follow up upon that, this four hundred thousand dollar number is based on what? Is that communication that we have received or how's this number calculated that we come up with the four hundred thousand? [0:26:17, 0:26:18]: Yeah, that's well [0:26:19, 0:26:30]: That includes just the regular police policing of the parks, uh, the businesses, uh the city council meetings, the events, that's what that number includes. That's what that is for. [0:26:31, 0:26:32]: Paying the police officers. [0:26:35, 0:26:55]: Okay. I believe Ms. Robinson has a question. Yes, thank you, Mayor. Um the city events. I know I just looking at that we actually decreased that. Um so I just want to make sure that we won't have to uh keep amending the budget like we were doing our, you know, the bridge fest or whatever. Um because I know we had a meeting after the event. [0:26:55, 0:27:05]: But I just don't want us to have to go back later um and to amend because if they're not ready, but we want to still make sure that the city is offering um [0:27:06, 0:27:26]: an event for all the citizens. So can you just tell me a little bit about that? Sure. Councilman, I think that primarily we tried to marry it to this year's expense. I understand your point, which is a certainly a valid one. We'll go back and take another look at it just to make sure, but I think we feel fairly comfortable that that number will carry us forward in the events that we [0:27:26, 0:27:46]: We have determined for next year, have calendared for next year, but we'll go back and take a look at it just to make sure that we we are we feel comfortable that we can be covered. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Mr. Forward. Yeah, in a follow-up to Councilwoman Robinson's um actual comment there. [0:27:46, 0:27:53]: Um when I looked at this under the city events, the biggest step uh discrepancy in the sense or reduction I guess says [0:27:53, 0:28:13]: If I got it right, group insurance, medical-wise, okay. But there is a reduction in advertising. And after having the veterans uh AAR meeting today, we talked quite a bit about advertising across the board uh with the event staff in reference to making sure that we get the word out there more often and better. So I would think that we really want to look at this. [0:28:13, 0:28:33]: per se on the advertising pit for city events to potentially look at it increasing that amount. Right, and that's that's a valid point, Mayor Pro Tem. I think two things I would mention. One is we will have a public information officer going into next year, which I think will help us better leverage media resources to get the word out. [0:28:33, 0:28:37]: about the various events that we have. And um [0:28:38, 0:28:40]: Second point. [0:28:41, 0:29:01]: And that was discussed as well in the meeting earlier today. Absolutely. Okay. Thank you. Um and advertising is budgeted for each individual event has [0:29:01, 0:29:09]: has its own advertising budget. So this is additional advertising. Okay. Okay. All right, thank you. Okay. [0:29:09, 0:29:29]: One one follow up please if I could. Uh yes, Mr Alexander. Yes, in terms of I've we've talked about the PIO officer and that's coming on and we're bringing that on and we had that discussion and Mayor Pro Tem is right on point with um you know making sure that we have during the veterans parade um you know we want as many people [0:29:28, 0:29:39]: out their appreciation of what our veterans do uh serving the country. Um in terms of um whilst one second. [0:29:49, 0:30:09]: Okay, I'm sorry. Um I lost my place there. Um I'm sorry, it will come back to me. Same thing. I'm sorry. I lost my trade of thought there. Okay, well keep in mind tonight's not the last night. This is just our second night to uh go over the budget and we'll I'm I'm sorry, it did come back to me. In terms of the PI [0:30:09, 0:30:29]: old position. We have a salary designated for that particular position. But in terms of marketing, that person is going to need some money in terms to up to in order to do their job. Well they can call the media, they can call the newspaper, but is there a budget for them to spend to uh [0:30:29, 0:30:31]: Help get the message out. [0:30:31, 0:30:51]: Could could I interject a question on piggyback onto that? Even though the advertising money is noted by event, would the PIO officer not have the authority to be in charge of that money? Right. I think when we when we approach events or plan for events, the PIO [0:30:51, 0:31:11]: PIO obviously would be very involved in that whole process with the event staff and the other relevant personnel. And that advertising line item, if you will, would certainly be at the disposal of the staff, including the PIO, to ensure that we are providing enough coverage. [0:31:11, 0:31:16]: throughout uh the city and the county for the events that we uh hold next year. So yes. [0:31:17, 0:31:17]: Okay. [0:31:18, 0:31:21]: Uh any um Mr. Blount I think has a question. [0:31:21, 0:31:28]: Yeah, with the uh increase that we're looking at um which is significant from 2017 to 2018. [0:31:28, 0:31:42]: Uh I'm still doing the checks and balances on my own. So um with residual um funding that's gonna be needed'cause I know s uh right now we're pulling some out of fund balance. Have we looked at whether the fund's gonna be residual funding because [0:31:43, 0:31:50]: Well the out of the budget that we have coming in, we have a set budget and the with the increase that the significant increase for next year. [0:31:51, 0:32:03]: versus what's coming in, how are we gonna be how are we gonna sustain the the increase that is that is late for the I think I understand your question. The budget is balanced. It's ba it the budget is balanced even though there's an increase from last year to this year. [0:32:04, 0:32:21]: Based on the revenue that we expect to um obtain um next year, the budget is balanced. So we would not be pulling from any fund balance based on the current budget that you have before you. One of the significant increases, I believe, if I recall, was um the insurance premium tax, as I recall. [0:32:21, 0:32:35]: We expected a significant increase based on the actuals that we have already received in 2017. We projected that forward in 2018. So we're seeing an increase there in revenue. So the bullet the budget, proposed budget, is balanced for 2018. [0:32:35, 0:32:42]: Without drawing from any fund balance or reserves. Would we not be bringing in our revenue from our new planning [0:32:42, 0:32:45]: Department there would we do expect uh [0:32:46, 0:33:06]: revenue to be brought forward from it. It's kind of it was somewhat difficult to gauge based on the activity we expect we do expect to see receive revenue from our permitting, which we have taken over from Henry County. Now of course we had to outlay some funds to gear up to be able to handle it. [0:33:06, 0:33:11]: Yes, we do expect there to be some revenue which which I I would hope would offset those increases. [0:33:11, 0:33:25]: Um just a quick follow-up and I guess on it it would be on administrat uh administration I believe. So when we start digging into this and then going into it further, we're gonna look at those those uh a lot of positions that we wanted to put in. [0:33:26, 0:33:39]: That's gonna be bringing a residual funding for, uh I guess we'll kinda get into that later on, uh because I'm not clear on all the positions that we're we're adding with this with this one-line item. [0:33:41, 0:33:59]: With and I can I can just mention real quick if if if you like what new positions are proposed. There is a senior instead of principal, a senior planner position that's proposed, an assistant city manager position that's proposed, a wastewater collection operator position that is proposed. [0:34:03, 0:34:04]: Yeah. [0:34:10, 0:34:16]: Second utility clerk, which would be full time, from part time to full time, as I recall. [0:34:17, 0:34:23]: The the public information officer position, of course, is being carried over from this year. Yes. [0:34:23, 0:34:27]: as well as the economic development manager position is being carried over this year. [0:34:28, 0:34:31]: We are um allocating in this budget [0:34:31, 0:34:33]: proposing fifty thousand dollars for [0:34:34, 0:34:35]: Um [0:34:35, 0:34:37]: Uh a Splash manager. [0:34:37, 0:34:39]: uh to help us with our SPLOSS program. [0:34:43, 0:34:44]: But we're talking about it. [0:34:45, 0:34:50]: Excuse me, just a minute. Let's go back and let Mr. Blount finish and then we'll pick up the other questions. [0:34:51, 0:34:57]: So are we when you talk of supplies management, are we talking about the same thing as the project manager system? Yes, yes. Okay. [0:34:59, 0:35:10]: Okay. Uh let's go down to Mr. Ford. Okay, that once again that pro thank you, Mayor. That project manager, is that the that's not the lead planner we're talking about? That is that's a separate. So it's so it's not actually [0:35:11, 0:35:22]: highlighted in yellow on on this. It is off to the I'm sorry, it's off to the left under project manager. You see that off in the blue to the left. Okay. Okay. Apologize for that. That may be difficult to see. [0:35:23, 0:35:38]: And uh the assistant city man the assistant city manager. Yes you have the conference center, those folks reporting to that individual. That's correct. And the admin assistants. I should know this question. Those conference managers right now, and these people that are lined up, they report to who right now? [0:35:39, 0:35:41]: His manager. They report directly to you. [0:35:42, 0:36:02]: Yes. The thought with the assistant city manager position is to provide guidance and support uh for uh events and that that conference center section, but also the assistant city manager position has um um will have much of the authority as the city manager [0:36:02, 0:36:20]: in the city manager's absence and will be provided certain assignments, specific assignments and or special projects that will help the city. And in fact, if the assistant city manager position is approved, they may be assigned over a specific department or another department as well. [0:36:21, 0:36:25]: Because the assistant city manager position is not currently [0:36:25, 0:36:39]: um um budgeted uh or assigned via our organizational chart. I placed it under the city manager. I did have the oversight of the conference center and uh events, but that assistant city manager position will [0:36:39, 0:36:45]: have the latitude under the direction of the city manager to handle other responsibilities as well. [0:36:45, 0:36:47]: Okay. Any other questions? [0:36:48, 0:36:55]: If not, um unless the two of you who are presenting have any further comments, we will [0:36:55, 0:37:02]: uh yield and leave the public hearing on budget and we'll look forward to you coming back in the future. [0:37:03, 0:37:13]: Oh that's right. Thank you for always reminding me of that. Uh is anyone in the room uh wanting to comment or ask a question before we move forward? [0:37:14, 0:37:18]: Uh Mr. Stewart, would you like to stand and ask your question? [0:37:19, 0:37:25]: Uh I think all we all gotta call the those. [0:37:34, 0:37:54]: I'm Ali Stewart, I live at 101 Garden Walk Stockbridge. I met with uh city manager earlier this weekend or last week, I believe it was, and gave him a copy of uh some of my questions in regards to the budget. Uh number one, I want to commend you all a balanced budget is good, but when you can come in under balanced budget is easy. [0:37:54, 0:38:14]: even better yet. I think if and what I could do is still get all the answers to what I asked on these on it here. See we're talking the first page. So we're talking aggregate big monies. But there's a lot of little monies that add up to big monies that don't make sense or that we probably could do a [0:38:14, 0:38:20]: better job on that's the whole purpose of asking some of those questions. For example [0:38:20, 0:38:34]: on TE grants and I think everybody gonna have to go in that story what TE grants are. But for the last two years we haven't applied for any. But as Mr. Alexander asked, what are we gonna do about MLK Senior Trail? [0:38:34, 0:38:54]: Now you can't s we can pay for it out of our pocket, but on one of those, if you understand those grants, you can get those. 80% the city pays for, I mean the state pays for, 20% we pay for. I'll buy a car anytime somebody gonna buy me 80% of it and let me pay 20%. You've got to plan for [0:38:54, 0:39:14]: Forward. There's got to be a plan out there. You just can't we're gonna put that trail in now and all these others. So that's why I was saying something we need a five year I'd like to see and be work uh we have a five year physical plan laid out and this is what you should be spending as you come down the line and and brainstorm and uh have some [0:39:14, 0:39:17]: some of the ideas. For example, the the Veterans Event. [0:39:18, 0:39:21]: We spent zero money on veterans events. [0:39:21, 0:39:31]: after the first year. I raised all the money just going out and asking the people to give us there was thirty five hundred dollars left over the last year. [0:39:31, 0:39:51]: So putting money, you know, always putting money to it is not it. The f the citizens feel better when they know that they've turned around and the businesses that let some, hey, I haven't found anybody that ever turned me down going, hey, would you like to give some money$500 towards the Veterans Day? In a heartbeat, they do it. And it's and it's things like that. But there's some [0:39:51, 0:40:09]: questions in there that need to be answered and stuff uh that I've you know I'm not gonna go through all of them on it there but but uh I'd like to see some of those answered in there like uh so the the T T E grant was one but like there was the somewhere's I missed it somewhere's [0:40:10, 0:40:11]: Oh for the the L make. [0:40:12, 0:40:22]: We always had a list out, because that's one of the big howing stones and I know uh my street needs it. Who, since you're putting out who's gone streets are being paved. [0:40:23, 0:40:40]: Put that list I'm all for it. The bigger the L Mick, the happier I am. But who's gonna get those streets and how's it there should be a prioritized list on that there and that doesn't tell us when that's gonna turn around and be done. But things like the youth council, I am a hundred and ten percent for the youth council. [0:40:41, 0:41:01]: But we we went eighty per went from ten thousand to eighteen thousand and you know, that's it doesn't seem like much money, but uh for the kids, you know, taking them off to the SIG of uh city what all these other uh Liga cities and stuff like that, those are great ideas, but I'm talking about locally, what are we affect and doing [0:41:01, 0:41:21]: And there's ideas of ways to spend that money more locally than go going to conventions and stuff. And there's already in the books, there's three different events and stuff. But I just say w I ask that we that's the reason why I propose this the questions to it and I'm sure Mr. Knight will get me back with all the detailed answers on it there because I want to take up all your time. [0:41:21, 0:41:41]: That was the reason why I I'm I am 110% behind you. I think we've got a group now be considerative spending the money instead of all big land deals and all this other stuff. And that's what I asked you to do. [0:41:41, 0:41:55]: It's just not accounted for or not fully explained. So like when you throw that money out there and and the old rule of thumb in graduate school and military and else, if the budget moves ten percent up or down [0:41:55, 0:42:15]: Explain it, because inflation don't move that much. I had a boss that if they moved five percent, they wanted to know. But when you're gonna make that, that lets us know because my paycheck and my retirement check didn't go up ten percent. So I don't expect the city to be doing the same, spending more than what the average Joe out here is making. Appreciate your time. Thank you. Thank you. [0:42:15, 0:42:16]: Thank you, Mr Stewart. [0:42:19, 0:42:28]: Any other comments from the audience? Anyone have a comment that they want to make about the budget before we leave the uh public hearing? [0:42:29, 0:42:33]: Okay, uh in that case we will leave the public hearing. [0:42:33, 0:42:39]: Thank you very much. Now then we're going to go back to our meeting calendar here. [0:42:40, 0:42:50]: agenda and at this time we're going to be dealing with under new business with item four and this is going to be um [0:42:51, 0:43:10]: Council consideration to approve the City of Stockbridge Annual Splost Report. And this is a requirement by OCGA 48-8-122. And it also will be presented by our lead accountant, Rashonda Favors, and by our city manager, Randy Knighton. [0:43:12, 0:43:30]: Um this is the SPLAS schedule for 2017. Um it's my understanding it has to be published. Is that correct, Vanessa? Um and it just lists the the project and the amounts that are being expended. The first half is SPLOS three, the last, the bottom half is splas four. [0:43:31, 0:43:43]: This is a report that has to be published in the legal organ annually every year, and so uh these are the numbers that are provided for the legal organ uh to meet the statutory requirements. [0:43:44, 0:44:04]: Okay, we thank you. Does um yes, I want to remind Mr. Knighton, soft voice needs to be close to microphone. They say they can't hear you in the back. Um but we um have heard this presentation. We have copies of it in your booklets and I don't think we do we need a vote for this or we just [0:44:04, 0:44:10]: We do need a vote. All right, so um do I hear a motion to accept the spliced report? [0:44:11, 0:44:12]: So moved. [0:44:12, 0:44:13]: I second. [0:44:13, 0:44:16]: Okay, we have a second by Ms. Gantt. [0:44:16, 0:44:18]: Is there any discussion? [0:44:19, 0:44:21]: If not, all in favor? [0:44:22, 0:44:23]: Thank you for your vote. [0:44:26, 0:44:42]: Okay, item number five, council consideration to approve 2017 bad debt write-offs of$24,266.23. This too will be presented by Miss Favors, our lead accountant. [0:44:43, 0:44:50]: And I'm sure as you're presenting you're going to give us a full understanding of what those write-offs are all about. Yes. [0:44:50, 0:45:10]: Um the bad debt write-off this year is 24,266.23 and this is just a annual audit exercise that we do. The auditors recommend. The industry standard for these are usually two to five percent. We're less than one percent, and we are usually always are. Um and this is just fees from when someone [0:45:10, 0:45:30]: Someone moves, uh utility billing fees that aren't being paid, someone moves or just fails to pay. Um, by writing them off, that doesn't mean that we can't collect, we'll still be in collections. Um, but it's just something that we have to do. This is just an identification of how much. Okay. You've heard uh her report of this [0:45:30, 0:45:42]: twenty four thousand two hundred and sixty six dollars that even though they are calling it our write off, they will still be trying to collect some of this money after the fact. Um [0:45:43, 0:45:52]: I'm moving. I move that we approve the 2017 BAT debt write-offs in the amount of$24,266.23. [0:45:53, 0:46:00]: Second. All right, we have a motion and we have a second. Um, do we have any discussion of these this amount of money? [0:46:01, 0:46:03]: Alright, if not, all in favor. [0:46:04, 0:46:06]: Thank you for your vote. [0:46:06, 0:46:22]: All right, item number six council consideration to approve twenty eighteen waste sewer rates and this will be presented by Miss Favors, our lead accountant, and by Dasha Sarin, our public works director. Mayor Neal, that item was removed from the agenda. [0:46:23, 0:46:26]: Beg your pardon. This that item was removed from the agenda. [0:46:27, 0:46:34]: Uh that was item seven. Six. Item six. Yes. Oh sorry. Didn't mark it up. [0:46:35, 0:46:45]: Okay, seven. Let's go to seven. Council consideration to approve 2018 meeting schedule for a city council presented by Vanessa Holliday, our city clerk. [0:46:45, 0:47:05]: Thank you, Mayor and Council. Before you we have options for the twenty eighteen meeting schedule. These the schedule has to be published in the legal organ before January one. Option number one is for the second Monday. [0:47:05, 0:47:25]: of each month to continue to meet at 6 o'clock and the work session meeting also to be held at 6 o'clock. Option number two is for the second meeting Monday of the month, meeting to be held at 6 o'clock. The work session meeting to be held at 3 o'clock [0:47:25, 0:47:28]: and I've also heard the option of poor clock on that one. [0:47:30, 0:47:33]: Option number three. [0:47:33, 0:47:53]: is for your second Monday meeting to be held at three o'clock and your work session meeting to be held at six o'clock. And option number four is for your second Monday meeting to be held at six o'clock and your choice of date and time for the [0:47:53, 0:47:55]: the work session meeting. [0:47:57, 0:48:06]: Okay, we have heard um the options that you have. Do I hear a motion for any one of those four options? [0:48:08, 0:48:21]: I have um uh motion for Mr. Ford. Yes, Mayor, appreciate it. I'll make uh I'd like to make a motion that option one is what we we propose for 2018 for our city council meetings as well as our work sessions. Second. [0:48:22, 0:48:35]: Okay, we have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion? Uh let me go back and ask the clerk if she would for the sake of the audience to read that motion number, I mean that item number one option. [0:48:36, 0:48:42]: So the items are the same thing. [0:48:43, 0:48:44]: Seven. [0:48:45, 0:48:51]: Okay. All right. For those listening, that would be both meetings would be at six o'clock. We have a motion. [0:48:51, 0:49:00]: And we have a second, I believe. Yes, second. All right, we have a motion. We have a second. And we've any more discussion? [0:49:01, 0:49:15]: No discussion then oh Mr. Blount I believe. Let me go. No, you go. Okay, I have one. Um I propose option number two. We're we have uh we've got to vote on the you have to vote on what the option I mean the uh [0:49:15, 0:49:20]: We're in the middle of the state. But I can say that. [0:49:21, 0:49:41]: Um and telling and the reason why is because I want to be able to reach all the citizens. Um in our work sessions such as this, it gives our citizens during the day hours. So if we start at three or four, as um originally was stated, so our seniors or those that are at home or able [0:49:41, 0:50:01]: to come out and participate in what we're discussing. It's no different than what our county is doing. They have nine A.M. meetings, so I don't want the citizens to think that Stockbridge is completely changing things, but we're actually to me would be accommodating all of our citizens. So we're no different than when the county has [0:50:01, 0:50:10]: their meetings at 9 a.m. and then again at 6 30 p.m. They do this every month. So I don't want um [0:50:10, 0:50:30]: this to take place as if we're just trying to not reach our citizens. Because if we're going to do this, I want to say to my colleagues, let's be mindful of our citizens' time. A lot of times we get out of here at 10, 11 o'clock, and I think to me that is selfish and we need to be considerate. [0:50:30, 0:50:50]: of everyone, even our staff. So if we're going to do this, we need to be mindful and considerate of our staff when we're doing this. And that's my take on it. Okay, so we're having discussion on our original motion was to leave both meetings at 6 p.m. [0:50:50, 0:50:51]: Mr. Blount has a comment. [0:50:52, 0:50:53]: Um [0:50:53, 0:51:03]: I think that um talking to some of the citizens that uh they have voiced to me uh about an earlier meeting because excuse me when we look around the room even now [0:51:04, 0:51:18]: There's no citizens here. And so those citizens that are washing themselves and then they have staff already here uh t in full capacity, uh I think uh I'm I'm for option two also, uh, whether it's three or four o'clock. [0:51:19, 0:51:29]: Okay. Um any other discussion on the first original motion which was to keep the meetings at 6 p.m. Any other discussion? Uh Ms. Gantt. [0:51:30, 0:51:50]: Um m m one of my concerns and I don't know if we should go ahead and vote on this tonight or not. Um I wanna speak to counsel a little bit more on this. One of my only concerns is that I I am employed, I do work, and so you know, I would it one easy fix for me is [0:51:50, 0:52:10]: is to file leave of absence on dates that we have meetings in the middle of a day. But I also want the council to consider before we vote on this, considering having our work sessions not so formal, more personal. And I know that, you know, m most people are saying, oh we need [0:52:10, 0:52:30]: For transparency purposes, we need to be in front of the camera. I don't know if that's an easy fix to have a camera in the conference room down in Patrick Henry or wherever the case may be. But to have a round table discussion and really sit down and have a real work session, I think would get us far. [0:52:30, 0:52:50]: Council to consider that. Um I think it's important that we have that. Um I think that it would our meetings would flow a little bit better um on our regular scheduled meeting if we were able to sit down at a work session session and not be so formal like we are right now. [0:52:49, 0:52:57]: And so having said that I'm I'm not prepared today, uh I want council to consider that as well. [0:52:57, 0:53:03]: Okay. Um any more discussion? Did you have another comment, Mr. Alexander? All right. [0:53:03, 0:53:13]: In in in effect, I understand, you know, the argument behind what we're trying to do. But in my own personal case and what I the counsel would be four people. [0:53:14, 0:53:29]: Because I would not be here for about fifty percent of those meetings because of what is going on with my work schedule. When I took this position, I agreed to sign up for the meetings at the time that they were. [0:53:30, 0:53:50]: according to the charter and according to what they had previously been. So, you know, I asked my teammates to to consider that fact that what we signed up for is what we got. Now, if you wanna go to a situation where we're voting on things or we're moving things forward, we have four council members [0:53:50, 0:54:10]: instead of the five elected then that that is your choice in order to make. But I've already gone on record and I think Miss Kent hit it right on the head is that, you know, especially, you know, y none of us know which if we'll have to change positions or not or what we might have to do in terms of our employment, especially asking a new employer [0:54:09, 0:54:29]: to uh accommodate uh a middle of the day meeting on a regular basis. That's something that is not is sometimes frowned upon in terms of the advancement of your career. I've had some concern come through from citizens about uh working people which I am one of that would be able to [0:54:29, 0:54:49]: whether or not they would be able to attend the meeting. I think we've had some discussions in terms of implementing a consent agenda where we bundle items together in order to speed up the meetings, maybe a more effective way in order to speed up the meeting so that we're not discussing every single item. The county uses uh [0:54:49, 0:54:59]: consent agenda and luck and most times people do. I just asked to keep that in consideration and uh I just uh would ask that uh that would be considered. [0:55:00, 0:55:14]: Okay. If there are no uh other comments uh to make on this motion that we have on the floor, which would be uh option number one, both meetings remaining at six o'clock, all in favor of that motion. [0:55:15, 0:55:20]: Okay, the motion has failed. Is there another motion on the floor? [0:55:20, 0:55:26]: May Mayor Neal, you actually need to call for those opposed'cause somebody may all opposed? [0:55:28, 0:55:31]: I abstain. We have one abstaining. [0:55:35, 0:55:38]: Another abstaining? Uh. [0:55:38, 0:55:41]: Anybody opposed? Anybody abstained? [0:55:41, 0:55:43]: All right, we have one opposed, two abstained. [0:55:43, 0:55:45]: I have a Mayor Neal comment. [0:55:46, 0:55:47]: You have to break the tie. [0:55:49, 0:56:09]: You have to break the tie. I've got to break the c tie. Okay, well I have no problem doing that because if you remember a year ago when I first came here, I presented to you an idea to have at least one of your meetings in the afternoon. So the older people like me and others who might um be the silver hair. [0:56:09, 0:56:29]: crowd that would like to come in the evening or people that perhaps do work, odd shifts might like to come. I'm going I'm going to come back. And um and and I presented the idea of having a work session around a table where you can really just put all your great ideas out there and help each other refine ideas. [0:56:29, 0:56:39]: So I have no problem uh breaking the tie to kill the first to point of order. There's not a point of order. I'm sorry. [0:56:40, 0:56:43]: Can I just a moment. Can I let's go to our attorney. He has come in. [0:56:45, 0:57:01]: It's two to one. There is either. Two to one. Okay. As as we said, the motion failed. Okay, now then we're going to get to have another call for a new motion. [0:57:02, 0:57:02]: Yeah. [0:57:04, 0:57:24]: So I can't change it. You can make a chance to ask you to make a motion to change it. Okay. Okay, so now that motion is dead, correct? Per our attorney. First motion on item one, that one's gone. Okay, number uh two, we're gonna take that up. [0:57:24, 0:57:30]: Or we're gonna go to ask if any council member has another motion they want to make on the Mayor Neil. [0:57:31, 0:57:51]: I move that we table this until our next meeting so that the council can discuss where the meetings will be located. I think we have way too many options on the table here to go back and forth on. Unless other councilmen I know that two council members have agreed to one option. I'm still gonna have another vote of abstention and I'm assuming that it will [0:57:51, 0:58:10]: go down the same road. I think that um and my only reason for abstaining is because I feel as though even if I agree to the meetings at six and six, I would like the work session to be in the Patrick Henry and based off of the option one, they're both in the chamber. Okay. Mayor? [0:58:11, 0:58:15]: Uh I'd like to ask our attorney a question. Um [0:58:15, 0:58:19]: Is there a way that they can make a motion? [0:58:19, 0:58:39]: on about the future meetings. Do they have to go exactly by this? No. If you want to make a motion saying that the meeting is the work session is going to be in the um Levi room or the Patrick Henry room, that would be you can make it. So we won't call it items two, three or four. [0:58:39, 0:58:41]: Uh if you want to make a motion. [0:58:42, 0:58:52]: You can make your motion. That actually is option number four where you decide on your work session. All right, read out read um item four again. [0:58:54, 0:59:07]: Madam War, if I may, just to simplify it, item four is having the regular session at six o'clock as we've always done it. And then it allows council members to designate [0:59:08, 0:59:11]: Uh the day of the month, the uh [0:59:11, 0:59:16]: Work. [0:59:17, 0:59:20]: Do that subject to the moving council members' discretion. [0:59:24, 0:59:44]: Do I hear a motion? The motion on the table, I mean on the floor is to table the item. We have we don't have a second yet. It wasn't we haven't called. Okay, we do have um second. Okay, we have a motion to table and a second by Mr. Alexander. Um would you like [0:59:44, 0:59:45]: to discuss that. [0:59:46, 0:59:52]: Well every hold on Mr Alexander, you go first. [0:59:52, 1:00:12]: I would like to say I think Ms. Gann is right. Uh we have not had any public discussion on what we're about to do. So in order for us to talk about implementing something that we're putting together on the fly, some more time should be allowed it for public input. It is should be put out to the public. So [1:00:12, 1:00:31]: so that they could talk about what we're going to do. Because what we're doing here is making up what we're going to do on the fly as during this discussion. I think the full whatever we propose doing should be presented to the public so they can have feedback on it instead of us making it up as we go along. [1:00:31, 1:00:51]: Okay, we have a motion. We have a second. We're having discussion. Any other discussion? Yes, Mayor. Ms. Uh Robinson. Um I think we discussed this the last time. That's why we're back with the option. So we've brought this to the public. So I just want everyone who's watching this to know that this isn't the first time. Um so I understand what [1:00:51, 1:01:11]: and agree with Councilwoman Gantt um when she's stating, you know, doing it in a different area to where we're discussing. Um but I just want to say to my colleagues, we've had time to discuss offline, but if we haven't done that, I I think we just need to move forward. Um I'm okay with two or four. [1:01:11, 1:01:24]: Because four actually gives us the option to discuss, as you stated, Councilwoman Gantt. So I'm with two or four, so I just need to know how I need to make this motion. [1:01:24, 1:01:44]: Okay. Any other comment? Mr. Ford. Thank you, Mayor. Um actually if maybe um if I understand this right, I think what Councilman Gans Councilwoman Gantt was indicating that we need more discussion among ourselves in reference to this process versus I mean engaging the public in this aspect um about the location for the work session and how we go about doing [1:01:44, 1:02:04]: I think that can come. We can still make a decision tonight, and I think that can still come. Now, on that note, I I I will tell you that I'm in favor of option two then, since my option one did not go. Okay. So depending on who wants to make that motion, okay Well, we first have um we have a motion on the floor to table to [1:02:04, 1:02:15]: table so we're gonna deal with that first and I want to find out there's any other discussion on that to table no other discussion all in favor to table [1:02:17, 1:02:18]: All opposed? [1:02:20, 1:02:40]: Okay, that motion motion two has failed. All right. Do we have a next motion? Yes, Mayor. All right. I would like to make a motion for option number two for all of our citizens to be able to be involved and engaged. Option number two is for [1:02:40, 1:02:48]: Your second Monday meeting to be held at six o'clock and your work session meeting to be held at your option three or four o'clock. [1:02:49, 1:03:09]: Okay, now you include the time. Okay. Okay. I'm okay with the four o'clock, allowing my other colleagues um an opportunity to attend as well the later, but it's still early for all of our citizens. Okay. All right, we have a motion on the floor to continue our regular counseling. [1:03:09, 1:03:17]: Council meeting at six o'clock, work session meeting at four. And do you want to include moving that to the conference rooms? [1:03:18, 1:03:36]: I'm fine with that, Mayor. We can move that too. Okay, so you want to restate the whole motion. So I make a motion to choose option two to where our um council meetings will be at 6 P.M. and the work session will be at 4 p.m. and we can use that in the conference room. [1:03:37, 1:03:57]: Okay. All right. Now you've heard that motion. Do we have any discussion? Yes. We need we Alexander. We need a second on it. I'll second that. I thought we had a second. No, we didn't. I'll second that. Go ahead, sir. Okay. Mr. Alexander. I have previously stated that I would not be able to make about fifty percent of these meetings, maybe more than that. [1:03:57, 1:04:17]: And which basically at this point this council has agreed is is about to agree to have a council serve the city of Stockbridge for four with four council members instead of the fifth because I will not be here in order to represent that. As a citizen of the Eagles Landing area, I find that peculiar. [1:04:16, 1:04:36]: But at the s at the same time, I would uh I hold this situation to be what it is in that we're making up a policy on the fly. We have not had any discussions in front of the public of moving the meeting to a different location than where it is. [1:04:36, 1:04:56]: so that it will not air on television. At this point, I think we have media members and we have staff members that actually tune into the work session. Moving the meeting to a alternate location will not allow that meeting to be transparent. It will not allow it to be broadcast. [1:04:56, 1:05:10]: And you citizens who are tuning in tonight, you're just gonna miss out because it's not going to be aired. There's not gonna be a recording. You would not see what is going down here. Mayor. [1:05:10, 1:05:30]: I will simply say to you, I have five minutes to speak uninterrupted. I apologize. Um on any one topic. Now at this time, I will simply say to you, this council talks about transparency all the time. What is transparent what about not airing the work session? [1:05:30, 1:05:50]: For the public to see. What is transparent about taking the meeting from an open session for everybody to see into a small room where the council gets to talk, but there's no official video for the public to see. The school board just moved ahead with moving their [1:05:50, 1:06:10]: Meeting to a later time. We're going in the opposite direction, 100% of what the school board did because citizens complained. The school board just decided to stream all of their meetings. We're going in the absolute opposite direction of that, removing the streaming of a meeting that we [1:06:10, 1:06:14]: already have in place. That's simply backwards. [1:06:14, 1:06:34]: One of the things that uh we should clearly understand here is that voting does take place at work session for emergency items. There will be votes cast where there will not be a video, there will not be a discussion for those of you tuning in, and there will not be a broadcast of that later on for you to see. [1:06:34, 1:06:45]: if this is moved to a different location. This is plain and simply wrong. I disagree with it. I'll vote I'll vote against it and I'll be absent for about 50% of these meetings. [1:06:46, 1:06:48]: Mayor Lee, can I can I just ask a question? [1:06:49, 1:06:51]: Just a moment. Just a moment. [1:06:51, 1:07:11]: Uh Miss Robinson, let's go with her and then we're going to the clerk. Um can I the question is we're talking about can we m have the meeting here? Can we make this table? Can we do it so we can still air it? Um I'm listening at all sides here. I mean if we wanting to have it like a work session [1:07:11, 1:07:25]: Could we not um put tables together and do it here? Okay, we we have done that in the past, but I will tell you that the city manager and I have met and we've gone over and looked at the Levi room and the capability of videoing [1:07:26, 1:07:28]: Is there. Okay. [1:07:29, 1:07:39]: That's thank you, because it's just communicating and and I think um that probably will answer a lot of my colleagues questions in reference to being transparent to the citizens. [1:07:39, 1:07:41]: Mr. Blount, I believe you have a comment. [1:07:42, 1:08:02]: Yes, um I'm also a uh resident of Eagles Landing uh and I do listen to the citizens. Um I could probably go through my neighborhood, especially my surrounding, and probably name thirty people right off the bat. Either I serve them by giving them something I've cooked or talk to them by just chewing the fat, if you will. And so I [1:08:02, 1:08:22]: I do listen to the citizens also. This is not on the fly. If it was on the fly, we wouldn't have it already printed. These have been in our books. It's already been previously discussed. And one of the things this council has to realize, there's a democracy here. Well, when there's a decision to be made, if a consensus has come forward, if you don't agree with that consensus, then you don't belittle. [1:08:22, 1:08:42]: your other colleagues, you just you just take that and you move on. I am a citizen of Eagle Landing, Eagles Landing. And so my decision is option two. And so and I am a working person also. You know, there's not there gonna be meetings n some of us are not gonna even be making even if you work or don't work. [1:08:42, 1:08:43]: You can't be at everything. [1:08:44, 1:08:57]: Your decision making can also st still be put in place. So I'm for option two and I just want to clarify that when we make a decision and have a consensus to do it, is not to sit here and belittle other council members because you don't agree with the decision. [1:08:58, 1:09:18]: Okay. Now Mr. Ford. Thank you, Mayor. I appreciate it. Uh Vanessa, uh I appreciate your comment that you had with uh you said you had with Randy Knighton there, because what I was going to state basically and I'm going to do this now, is that in the Levi conference room, the capability is there. You can actually broadcast that. Correct. [1:09:18, 1:09:38]: I remember that distinctly. So I know it can be broadcast. Correct. And I mean, and if it couldn't, we need to make it happen anyway. I mean real technology. Jeez. All right. So it can be done. Okay. Thank you for that. Appreciate it. Mayor Neil. Uh uh Ms. Gantt. Um, there's a couple of things. I c and I I'm sorry, colleagues, I usually wouldn't even do this, but I cringe [1:09:38, 1:09:58]: every time we acknowledge or or claim Eagle's Landing, period. It's not a city. We're in the city of Stockbridge. So neither here nor there. We are the city of Stockbridge. Particularly we haven't named a particular area either. Although they have made those proposals. That's the first thing I wanted to give [1:09:57, 1:10:17]: get up and get off. But what I wanted to also discuss was another reason I wasn't prepared to vote tonight, and I've asked us to table this and I'll probably abstain again once we do this vote. I'm not n against the six o'clock meetings, six o'clock in work sessions, six o'clock at the meeting. I was more so [1:10:17, 1:10:37]: concerned because I was voting for option one that read the location was to be here in this chamber for both meetings. Um and so I want to clarify that. Also I also wanted an opportunity and a time to really and I and I apologize, we have a lot of things on our agenda and a lot of we're working [1:10:37, 1:10:57]: on a budget so I've been studying that more than I have going back to the staff and asking staff and other people whether or not six o'clock is still okay. What what do they like? What do they want? What do they want to see? How's it affecting them? And what what process and what things can we change? [1:10:57, 1:11:17]: So I have some more concerns and me being forced to vote tonight, I think I would uh we're having a meeting next month in a couple weeks. I think once I get that I'm able to speak to our city manager, our city attorneys, our directors and and head of staff and departments that have to be here along with other citizens. [1:11:17, 1:11:35]: I could make a decision, but I'm not against by no means do I want to have to put in a bunch of leave dates for court hearings or something that I have to do in the middle of the day, but if I can get away with it I will. And so uh, you know, it's it's twofold for me. [1:11:36, 1:11:38]: Okay. Any other comments? [1:11:39, 1:11:59]: All right. No further comments. I'm going to ask our clerk to read the uh option that this motion is based on that would include moving to the conference room. Well there's actually I need to clarify that because option number two [1:11:59, 1:12:08]: is to have the meeting at six o'clock and the that's the Monday voting meeting, second Monday of the month, and the [1:12:10, 1:12:11]: Work session. [1:12:11, 1:12:15]: at three o'clock well four o'clock if that's the option. [1:12:16, 1:12:36]: And it is stated in the option as the leave by room. I think actually the option though that you are selecting is option number four because you get to choose your location. And if that is the case, then that is meeting on your second Monday at six o'clock and your work session meeting at four o'clock. [1:12:35, 1:12:38]: in the Levi Meeting Room. [1:12:38, 1:12:48]: Okay, we've all heard the motion. We've had a second. We've had a healthy discussion about it at this time. All in favor, please raise your hand. [1:12:50, 1:12:53]: The motion passed. Thank you so much. [1:12:55, 1:12:56]: We must stay. [1:12:57, 1:12:58]: All against [1:12:59, 1:13:00]: I abstain. [1:13:00, 1:13:02]: We have one abstaining, one against. [1:13:05, 1:13:09]: Thank you. Thank you. Okay, let's move on to item number nine. [1:13:10, 1:13:18]: This is council consideration to approve selection of an architect for the city presented by our procurement specialist Donald Riley. [1:13:30, 1:13:36]: Good evening, Madam Mayor and Council members. I have three items that I have before you. [1:13:36, 1:13:56]: And the first one is a request for approval of a recommended proposal for public works, RFP, ITBRFP 101817-DRR. This is on a task, it's a per task, per um project with tunnel, spangler, walsh and associate. [1:13:56, 1:14:09]: inside of Atlanta, Georgia, for the purchase of professional architectural and engineering services for the city. This is the agreement is for one year with two one-year renewals. [1:14:10, 1:14:16]: And it's being funded out of out of the uh professional services department. [1:14:17, 1:14:20]: professional services, uh budget. [1:14:20, 1:14:35]: and it's to be determined and this is for uh experienced project manager to provide facilities related planning design engineering assets and architectural services that's my request [1:14:37, 1:14:52]: We do you need to recognize that we're gonna go back. We're gonna go back. Okay, thank you. Um okay, we have heard the presentation about the architect for the city uh presented by our procurement specialist. Uh at this time do I hear a motion to accept. [1:14:53, 1:14:54]: Don't move. [1:14:54, 1:14:56]: Have a motion to hear a second. [1:14:57, 1:14:59]: We have a motion and a second. All in favor? [1:15:01, 1:15:21]: Okay. Is that a vote, Ms. Dylan? Okay. Thank you. Uh that was it. I want to go back. Um when I left here this afternoon we had decided we were taking uh taking item eight off the agenda and I did not realize that between the time I left and I came back eight changed to six or fourteen. [1:15:21, 1:15:25]: I'm not sure. So we need to go back and pick up knot number eight. [1:15:27, 1:15:36]: So that would be council consideration to approve a change order for vault installation for public works that would um [1:15:36, 1:15:44]: I'm gonna let uh Mr. Aaron explain it. It's a little complicated, but he can explain it to us real quick. Yes. [1:15:44, 1:16:04]: Madam Mayor and Council, I kind of came in when this project was already started, but this is for the installation of our AMI metering system. And at three locations, these are large meters and they go in vaults. So I don't know what the scope of work was prior to my arriving here, but these meters have to be put in vaults. [1:16:04, 1:16:18]: just like the residential meter have a water meter box. These are large meters that need to be put in vaults to shield them from weather and things of of that nature. So we're coming tonight asking for this change order to [1:16:19, 1:16:24]: add those three locations to this project so that we can go ahead and complete this AMI metering project. [1:16:25, 1:16:45]: And one of the things conversations I had with the city manager, when I first saw it, I thought it was high, so I had our engineer look at it and he said it was in line with projects that they've done before for meter installations of this size. So he said it was acceptable. So we're just coming forward so we can go ahead and [1:16:45, 1:16:53]: and finish this project. These are the last three meters to be installed. One is at the uh quarry on Rock Quarry. And [1:16:54, 1:16:55]: We are at the [1:16:56, 1:16:57]: Um [1:16:58, 1:16:59]: uh best value in [1:17:00, 1:17:03]: And also at five fifty five, Davis Road, so [1:17:04, 1:17:15]: We're just coming to ask you to approve this change order so we can finalize and finish this AMI metering project. Okay. You've heard the presentation. Do I hear a motion to accept item number eight? [1:17:16, 1:17:26]: So moved. So moved. Do I hear a second? Second. I have a motion and second. Is there discussion on the boxes or the vaults? Yeah. Mr. Ford first. [1:17:27, 1:17:35]: Once again, maybe I missed this. What funding uh aspect is this coming out of? This is coming out of SPLOSS funding for the AMI metering project. Okay, thank you. [1:17:36, 1:17:43]: Okay, Mr. Blount. Yeah, he answered my question. Okay. All right. Any other discussion or questions? If not, all in favor? [1:17:45, 1:17:47]: All right, thank you for your vote. [1:17:47, 1:17:57]: Thank you very much. Okay, thank you. Uh item number 10, council consideration to approve 2017 surplus list. That also will be presented by Mr. Riley. [1:17:58, 1:18:18]: Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor. I have a surplus list for 2017. It's all of our obsolete, unused, uh, it's basically equipment that we have either replaced or is broken or that we need to put on Gov Deals for sale. So this is just a request so that we can go to Gov Deals and put it out. [1:18:18, 1:18:19]: Yeah. [1:18:20, 1:18:24]: Okay. Thank you. Uh do I hear a motion? [1:18:25, 1:18:33]: Mayor Neil, I move that we approve the 2017 surplus list. We have a motion from Ms. Gantt. Do I hear a second? Second. [1:18:33, 1:18:36]: Have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? [1:18:39, 1:18:41]: No discussion. All in favor. [1:18:42, 1:18:53]: Thank you. Item number 11, Council consideration to approve selection of vendor for wage and salary survey. That too will be presented by Mr. Riley. [1:18:53, 1:19:13]: Thank you, Madam Mayor. This is a request for approval of a recommended proposal for our Human Resources Department, RFP number 17, RFP 091417-DRR, in an amount not to exceed$15,500 with the Evergreen Solutions LLC outer tower. [1:19:13, 1:19:33]: Florida. This is for the purchase of wage and salary compensation study for the city for the city of Stockbridge. This agreement is for one year. And what they're going to do is just provide the city, allow the city to attract and retain qualified workers who will be paid equitable salaries. [1:19:33, 1:19:43]: to provide fair salaries for all the workers in the city. So as for our public works, all departments will be actually utilizing this service. [1:19:44, 1:19:50]: Okay, we uh hear this presentation. Do I hear a motion? So we have a motion, do I hear a second? [1:19:51, 1:20:11]: Second. Have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion about the survey? Yes. Uh Mr Alexander. In terms of what we're doing for those tuned in and those uh uh here, uh we one of the things that I personally wanted to see was to see us endeavor to make sure that our staff was paid. [1:20:11, 1:20:31]: adequately as um the top professionals that they are and the only way that we can do that is to make sure that we're paying a competitive wage not just in Henry County but in Metro Atlanta. If you want to have the best staff work for you, you want top quality professionals working for you, then you need [1:20:31, 1:20:51]: to pay them uh what the um uh those salaries that are commensurate with what um those uh positions command. And I think we have embarked as a council upon making uh great hiring decisions uh in the past uh eighteen months and even before then uh with quality staff and our commitment [1:20:50, 1:21:10]: in the city manager in uh his uh budget that he has proposed in terms of decreasing overall salary overall size of the staff because I've heard soon numerous times that we've been working miracles with the size of the staff that we have. Well you know that requires some of our people to be under undue stress. [1:21:10, 1:21:18]: stress and hopefully an appropriate compensation package will help uh alleviate some of that along with expanding the staff. [1:21:19, 1:21:21]: Is there further discussion? [1:21:21, 1:21:26]: Comment, Mr. Ford. Thank you, Mayor. Uh this kind of makes me think that um [1:21:27, 1:21:46]: Once they do their their due diligence here and uh then come back to us and say, Okay, certain staff personnel are maybe not paid properly and then we will have to make some adjustments. So it makes me think that we'll have to go through some type of budget amendment sometime next year to compensate for that in that aspect, I'm assuming. [1:21:46, 1:21:51]: Yes, sir. I d and and to your point, I think what in consultation with HR Director and myself and [1:21:52, 1:22:10]: Uh other relevant staff, I think the plan would be this would probably take a good five to six months or so, at least this entire study, to be completed and then bring back those results. So that would position us or position you as as mayor and counsel going forward for the 2019 budget. [1:22:10, 1:22:15]: for that year in terms of any adjustments that might uh uh warrant being made. [1:22:16, 1:22:16]: Okay. [1:22:17, 1:22:19]: All right. That is helpful. Thank you. [1:22:19, 1:22:21]: Uh Miss Gantt, did you have a comment? [1:22:22, 1:22:30]: I did. Um, we asked for this a long time ago. Why is it just now getting done? Number one. And number two, [1:22:30, 1:22:31]: Um [1:22:33, 1:22:52]: Is it something that could easily be done by basically looking at surrounding areas with the same amount of population in size without us having to hire um another person to do another study of some sort? Or it I mean I I I have questions. [1:23:08, 1:23:28]: We've been doing that with certain positions, but it's better to go out and do a full wage and salary survey to see what the market bears. Most of all of your si major cities are doing it. Um I've talked to a number of cities on the north side, some of the cities on the south side, and m all of them are doing salary survey. [1:23:28, 1:23:48]: As we speak this year. McDonough did theirs a year ago. Henry County embarked on one this year. City of Douglasville is doing one. City of Tybee Island. All of the various cities that I spoke to at a conference just last week have embarked upon it because they're finding that we're not up to uh market trends or changes. [1:23:48, 1:24:08]: We're not paying what the market bears. And in order to attract people, you want to see what your surrounding cities, Metro Atlanta, and South even South of us are offering. So we don't lose people. We haven't done a salary survey here since 2013, and salaries have changed. [1:24:07, 1:24:27]: order for me to find out exactly what the market bears instead of keep reading stuff to see to come with a average. I'd rather go out there, find out exactly what other cities and counties are paying and come back to us to see if we're in alignment or what adjustments need to be made. Well no I I agree. I mean I think we all probably are [1:24:27, 1:24:41]: agree. The question is why is it just now getting done? This is November and I'm pretty sure we've been talking about this for a a long time. We have, but then the thing is we only have one procurement specialist and he has a number of [1:24:41, 1:24:50]: uh RFPs and everything that had to go out, so I had to wait my turn and to get my document out there. Gotcha. Thank you. Follow up please. [1:24:50, 1:25:10]: Okay. Uh Mr Alexander. My point being is I kind of agree with Councilwoman Gantt is that um it's been a while but at the same time I want our people paid now. I don't want them to have to wait until twenty nineteen. Uh we've been discussing these salaries and I don't know what we need to do, whether we need to set some [1:25:10, 1:25:30]: money aside when the survey is finished or well we need to plan on doing a budget amendment but having to wait another full calendar year to impact salaries when I think the general consensus is is we already know that our people are not being paid uh at the ways that they are. In all due respect we corrected that [1:25:30, 1:25:47]: when it deals um you know with our city manager. So we need to um make sure that we are doing that the appropriate thing for the entire staff. So I want to make sure that uh this discussion includes getting our people paid as quickly as possible. [1:25:48, 1:26:08]: Mr. Ford. Thank you. I think uh I appreciate the comments thus far. Definitely. I think that Randy hit it uh in the sense when I asked the question. Once this comes back to us, once you get it done, it'll come back to the council, you'll present it back to us and we'll have discussion at that point, and then we can decide at that point whether or not we're going to implement a plan right then and there, amend the budget and pay people more appropriate. [1:26:07, 1:26:14]: So we'll the the council will get a decision on that maybe five or six months from now, I would think. Thank you. [1:26:14, 1:26:34]: And Mayor Mayor. Uh Ms. Gantt. Well let me let me just clarify some things. I'm not saying that our employees are not adequately paid right now. I'm not saying any of that. What I'm saying is I w out of out of I wanna make sure that our emplo that we are [1:26:34, 1:26:54]: where we need to be. And I think we've all advocated we love our staff and our team and we've all advocated that we just want to make sure because every now and then you'll hear a staff member or someone say, Well they say they're not paid enough or they say you know, or whatever the case may be. And we want to nip that in the bud and do just as you stated that other cities have done it and it's long [1:26:54, 1:27:01]: overdue. But by no means am I saying that our staff is underpaid or anything of that nature. [1:27:03, 1:27:06]: Okay, we have another comment from Mr. Blount. [1:27:06, 1:27:11]: Um one of the things and I I concur with everything that's been said here because [1:27:11, 1:27:31]: You know, there's a there's an extended process when things are seem to be when things are trying to move forward here, but hopefully we can get this done. Uh my concern isn't that everyone is about being adequately paid. I'm I'm more concerned now the process of how we pay is done fairly across the board. [1:27:31, 1:27:51]: and that when those those those positions are funded by the city that it's done in a fair way across the board, that we have a a measuring stick that says this is why, this is why this is done, but it's done across the board because you said that some employees, I want to see all employees. [1:27:51, 1:28:11]: paid here using the same measuring scale that we use for any employee, whether it's from uh uh any level of employees come in. I want a scale put in it put in place that we're seeking now, that we've been saying we want to seek, that they're fairly done across the board. Um and how do you do that is what we're doing now. But I I'm I'm one [1:28:11, 1:28:18]: too to say I don't want to wait another year before we start to cover our employees to adequately pay them for what they're uh what those positions are worth. [1:28:18, 1:28:30]: Well you just need to wait until come back and see what the salary survey um states and what the dollars are going to be in order to implement a plan and then see if you have the monies to do it this year or you'll have to do it the following year. [1:28:31, 1:28:36]: Okay, we've had discussion. Any other discussion? I have one. If not. Mayor. [1:28:36, 1:28:56]: Uh okay and Ms. Robinson. Um thank you, Mayor. I commend um you guys for going outside of the local. Um and like you said, you attended class and is teaching all of us how to make our city better, um, even if it's not just on a local level, um nationally, because our um employees [1:28:56, 1:29:06]: deserve everything that can be offered. So I just want to say I commend each and every one of you to make sure that you're bringing that forth to us. So thank you. [1:29:07, 1:29:11]: Okay, does that conclude our discussion? All in favor? [1:29:12, 1:29:14]: Of item number motion. [1:29:14, 1:29:14]: Yeah, like [1:29:15, 1:29:25]: Mayor Neal, I'm I move that we approve the I made the motion on the second. We were concluding our discussion. All in favor? Item eleven. [1:29:26, 1:29:30]: Okay, there we go. We're good. Move on. Number 12. [1:29:31, 1:29:32]: No, wait a minute. [1:29:35, 1:29:36]: It's number twelve. [1:29:36, 1:29:56]: Yep. We went back and got the other one. Okay, number twelve, and this will be council consideration to approve proposed compensation for Stockbridge Planning Commission members fifty dollars per meeting, chairperson 75 per meeting. This will be presented by Camilla Moore, Community Development Director. Yes, good evening, Mary. [1:29:56, 1:30:04]: Council. The item before you brings your planning commission in compliance and consistent with the other planning commissions across the region. [1:30:05, 1:30:06]: question. [1:30:07, 1:30:27]: Okay. She's made her presentation. We have a question from Miss Robinson. Thank you, um, Ms. Moore and thank you, Mayor. Um, I know we're saying the Planning Commission, but we have other boards that I know that meet more frequently. Is that something that we can look at and you know and bring them all together or how is that being [1:30:27, 1:30:47]: Your this is different from any of your other boards. Your other boards you can have, this you must have. Okay. It is mandated your planning commission, which you call your zone advisory board, okay. It's statutorily required. Okay. You don't have to have a DDA. You don't have to have those other boards. This board is mandated by state law. That's why in every city [1:30:47, 1:30:53]: they are paid a stipend. Thank you. And that's why I wanted to make that known public. Thank you. [1:30:53, 1:30:56]: Okay, now do we have a a motion? [1:30:57, 1:31:04]: I'd like to make a motion to approve the proposed compensation for the Stockbridge Planning Commission members of$50 per meeting. [1:31:05, 1:31:14]: Seventy five dollars for the yeah. And that would include I'm sorry, and seventy-five dollars for the chairperson. I second. Okay, we have a motion. We have a second. Is there discussion among the council? [1:31:15, 1:31:18]: Mayor, quick question. Uh Mr. Blount. [1:31:18, 1:31:28]: Um, because th this is an area that I'm not familiar with them being paid. Um, you saying every uh other cities do pay for this board? [1:31:28, 1:31:36]: Right. In other words, there is a land development act that is created by the state of Georgia and across the United States. As a part of that act, [1:31:37, 1:31:57]: The governing body is supposed to have a planning board that reviews all zoning applications before you make the final decision. So therefore they are a commission and they're statutorily mandated to exist in compliance with the statute that deals with you being able to rezone a case. [1:31:57, 1:32:07]: Uh you had five and I recommend that you go to six, uh'cause you normally have one person to represent to correlate with the number of elected officials that you're having. [1:32:08, 1:32:11]: That's with the chair. So six five six with the chair? Correct. [1:32:14, 1:32:16]: And again they are a commission. [1:32:16, 1:32:18]: Is there further discussion? [1:32:19, 1:32:25]: If not, we've had a motion, we had a second and discussion. All in favor, please raise your hand. [1:32:26, 1:32:46]: Thank you for your vote. Item number 13, Council consideration to approve memorandum of agreement with the Environmental Protection Department. Soil Conservation presented by Camilla Moore, Community Development Director. Yes, ma'am. I'd like to make a clarification. Actually, what we're approving tonight is the model ordinance according to EBD. [1:32:46, 1:32:52]: The MOA will come later. So before you tonight is a model ordinance for EPD. [1:32:53, 1:32:58]: Okay, got it. Uh do I hear any motion to support Ms. Moore? [1:33:01, 1:33:06]: And we have a motion from Mr. Ford. Yeah, I'd like for the the council to to uh [1:33:07, 1:33:08]: Prove the um [1:33:09, 1:33:16]: actual model EPD uh for which is environmental protection department soil conservation [1:33:16, 1:33:17]: Second. [1:33:17, 1:33:20]: We have a motion. We have a second. Is there discussion? [1:33:21, 1:33:22]: So you're removing it I'm sorry I'm sorry, Mayor. [1:33:24, 1:33:36]: Uh go ahead Mr. Bond. But you say you're removing the MOA part? But the MOA is not ready yet. EPD says we have to do this part first before we can send them the MOA. So tonight's adoption of the model ordinance. Okay. [1:33:36, 1:33:43]: Okay. We have uh had the discussion. Any further questions or discussion? If not, all in favor? [1:33:44, 1:34:04]: All right, thank you for your vote. Now we are moving along to item remember we took fourteen off and for discussion informational purposes only, Reeves Creek Trail, additional parking. Pr this um will be presented by Deshus Aaron, Public Works Director. This will be a non voting [1:34:04, 1:34:05]: Yeah. [1:34:05, 1:34:05]: Item. [1:34:09, 1:34:29]: Uh good evening, Madam Mayor and Council. Um the expansion of the parking lot at Reed's Creek Trail, that was a project that was in a development phase when I first got here and we've got some room there that would create between ten and fifteen additional parking spaces. So we want to start planning for that project. We'll go ahead and include [1:34:29, 1:34:49]: those parking spaces so we can finalize we've had the rubberized surface installed so we can go ahead and do the landscaping and everything and complete that project. So we just want to give you some information on that will be coming before you asking for approval to move forward with expanding the parking lot at Reed's Creek Trail because we get a lot of usage there. [1:34:49, 1:34:56]: I've noticed cars parked on the side of flipping road, people trying to get access to it. So we just want to add those additional spaces. [1:34:58, 1:35:18]: Uh thank you. And before you leave the podium, uh I don't you had a question. Okay. Let's go to um Mr. Ford for a question. Yeah, appreciate it. Two things. One is that uh cost you have any idea what the cost would be and where will money come from? Money would come from splots and where and depending on the number of spaces [1:35:17, 1:35:24]: would depend on uh decide the price, but we're estimating I guess the engineers looked at it between fifty and seventy-five thousand. [1:35:25, 1:35:26]: Course yeah. [1:35:26, 1:35:27]: All right, thank you. [1:35:27, 1:35:47]: Okay. Any other questions before we move on? Yes. You have a question, Mr. Alexander. Yes, in terms of uh what I see uh when I go to McDonough and I look at the Alexander Park entrance on Jonesboro Road where they're walking, it's beautiful. It's maintained at a substantial level all the time. [1:35:47, 1:36:07]: Does this include beautification and sustained beautification for the trail? Because the trail is one of the greatest assets that we have and uh the usage continues to skyrocket as we're uh at looking to add additional parking. But my concern has been just, you know, I see us there's an irrigation system. [1:36:07, 1:36:17]: system and all, but is there does this include some uh types of uh beautification to go with it? Yes sir. We're gonna do some landscaping and s and install an irrigation system. [1:36:18, 1:36:21]: from to maintain that landscaping that's put in in place. [1:36:22, 1:36:42]: As a follow-up on this, instead of having I think who maintains it now, the city crew, could this probably property be added to the contractor list versus having the city staff do it to maintain it at the same level where we kind of have city hall at? Is that possible? Well uh Mr. Riley and I, we've been having some discussions [1:36:42, 1:36:58]: we're gonna have an RFP coming out for our landscaping so that could be an area we add to that as well. So but there are several locations that we're gonna add to this new RFP that we'll have going out for landscaping around the city and it and its facilities. Thank you. [1:37:00, 1:37:05]: Okay. Any other questions on item number 15? Yes, Mayor. Oh, we have one, Mr. Blount. [1:37:06, 1:37:10]: Where's actually the parking is gonna be? You took it over on uh flipping? [1:37:10, 1:37:25]: You know at the Reeds Creek Trail at Trailhead, you've got that space between the where the parking lot ends and where the exercise equipment is. There's that bearing space right there. So how many more spaces, parking spaces you think we can get in? Uh we'd get between ten and fifteen spaces right there. [1:37:26, 1:37:27]: Oh okay. [1:37:28, 1:37:38]: Okay, any other questions on 15? Otherwise we're moving on to item 16 for discussion and informational purpose, municipal court renovation update. [1:37:38, 1:37:58]: Uh yes, Madam Mayor. We're uh I met with the city manager earlier to discuss how we start the remediation of the uh municipal court building. So we've we've got a uh commitment or a quote from a a firm that we'll prepare the scope of work of what needs to be done at the municipal court building. [1:37:58, 1:38:18]: so that we can go back into that building. So we'll be coming back before you when we get the scope prepared and we'll be developing an RFP so we can go ahead and and finalize that project. It'll also give us time to ensure that the repairs are completed. So it's not like it we're gonna come back next month and say we [1:38:18, 1:38:36]: ready to move forward. We're just gonna have the scope of work, asking you to approve the scope of work so that we can move forward. So hopefully by the first first or second month of of 2018 we'll move forward with remediating that facility over there so we can reuse, get back in and start using those spaces. [1:38:38, 1:38:42]: Okay, um any questions or discussion on item sixteen? [1:38:44, 1:38:51]: Okay, if n if we have none. Um at this time we're gonna turn to our city manager to ask if he has any comments he'd like to make. [1:38:52, 1:39:10]: I do not at this time, other than uh we certainly uh invite um the public to um access our website for information events and activities upcoming. And uh as always we are are open to uh citizens uh who need to access their staff for information or questions. [1:39:11, 1:39:13]: Thank you. At this time, Madam Clerk. [1:39:13, 1:39:33]: Yes, Mayor. I just wanted to let everyone know about um the Field the Bus campaign that the city is participating in and the bus um is visiting various locations throughout the county and will be here at City Hall on Monday, December fourth from eleven A. M. to two P. M. where you can actually bring your [1:39:33, 1:39:37]: your unwrapped toy and load it onto the bus. [1:39:38, 1:39:44]: All right, thank you. Uh any comments? We'll start with Mr. Alexander that you'd like to make. [1:39:44, 1:40:04]: Yes, uh first of all I'd start like to start out by saying uh issuing my condolences uh to the lives lost uh in the city of Hampton. Uh tragically there was lives lost in uh internet transaction or sales transaction uh where there was some uh merchandise or some shoes that were attempted [1:40:04, 1:40:24]: To be sold. I just want to caution our citizens now. Nothing is worth risking your life over. And here in the city of Stockbridge, we have a safe internet site at the North Precinct, 4545, North Henry Boulevard, where you can conduct your business. [1:40:24, 1:40:44]: safely uh in front of uh the police department. It is monitored twenty four hours a day for any citizens who want to use it. It's absolutely free. And in this time of uh what we are seeing in uh the area, you do not want to be out in the middle of nowhere meeting somebody. [1:40:44, 1:41:04]: To conduct a transaction and lose your life when there's a safe place already designated for that right here in the city of Stockbridge. I would like to further say, you know, as we celebrated, I was attended the Veterans Day meeting today. I was I was, you know. [1:41:04, 1:41:24]: know, very uh touched and overwhelmed about the effort and everything that the veterans put in. The committee really, really uh is meticulous about the work that they that they do and we want to do everything that we can to support them uh in making the parade uh the best that it possibly can be. Uh [1:41:24, 1:41:44]: They bring so much to the table to our community, to America, that we want to do everything possible in order to uh celebrate our veterans and to honor them appropriately uh at at all times. I further thank uh I I I want to thank the staff for doing the great job that they do. [1:41:44, 1:42:04]: really want to thank them as I drove down and see the Christmas door decorations that we have embarked upon on the city. I really love it. We've added uh some touches to that. It really brings something to the city when you drive down there through the uh through it. And we're looking at expanding that. Um [1:42:04, 1:42:22]: uh citywide we're in the process of doing that to include absolutely everybody and that's something that we want to see and having all areas of the city be included is something that we're we're diligently working on uh as a co council and as a staff of the city. And uh I hope everyone had a great holiday. [1:42:25, 1:42:26]: Uh thank you. Mr. Blount? [1:42:27, 1:42:40]: I just want to thank everybody for their support, uh making uh Noelle and November uh a successful event, um and actually supporting uh Susan Crumbley with the uh connecting Henry and uh making the child smile on Christmas. [1:42:41, 1:43:01]: Thank you. Um I'm gonna call on Mr. Ford and he is going to make an introduction for us um also during his comments. Thank you, Mayor. And I'll I'll do this now. I think we've in a sense we may have already done this, but anyway, we recently the the council has recently hired our new assistant to the mayor and council, Miss Jackson. Could you please stand stand up number? [1:43:01, 1:43:04]: Okay. I think you've got what we want. Okay. [1:43:05, 1:43:25]: Good good to see you. Welcome, welcome aboard. Okay. On that note, um thank you for citizens for being engaged with us, continue to do so as we move the city forward. Uh hopefully you had a great uh Thanksgiving uh holiday with your family and friends, and you went out and did your shopping for Black Friday and Cyber Monday and continue to have a wonderful holiday season. All right, and uh give [1:43:25, 1:43:29]: God the glory and because he's going to lead us through all this. Okay? God bless you all. Thank you. [1:43:31, 1:43:31]: Miss Gantt. [1:43:32, 1:43:52]: Thank you all for coming and I want to give an as special thanks to our staff, our team here at City Hall. You guys have been working extra hard for on so several projects for us um for things that need to be completed um this year, uh for next year, early next year. [1:43:52, 1:44:10]: holiday and her staff has went above and beyond as well as Miss Moore. Um I I can't thank you guys enough for the work. And and Shopping Small Saturday, it was a success and I want to thank Main Street for all that they've done to make that happen. [1:44:11, 1:44:31]: And and I I ask our citizens to not just go that Saturday but continue to um you know, shop at these small businesses. Those are the main contributors to our community. They they actually give back your putting your money back right here in your community. So continue to do that. Um we have some great new stores and and great [1:44:31, 1:44:45]: businesses right here in Stockbridge. And happy holidays. Um have a safe holiday season. I look forward to our Christmas gala and events that we have coming up. And um uh feel free to reach out to me anytime. [1:44:46, 1:45:06]: Ms. Robinson. Thank you, Mayor. Just want to thank staff again for all the hard work that you do and hopefully with our change in our schedule that that will be more fitting for you as well during the workday. Also for our youth council. Our youth council for those that don't know all the details, we took our youth council to the national [1:45:06, 1:45:26]: League of Cities in Charlotte, North Carolina. This is the first time ever. A lot of our youth are coming from different schools throughout our city, and this is a program that's no none other than what is done here in Henry County. Stockbridge has actually stepped out. We joined other cities. [1:45:26, 1:45:46]: cities such as Dublin, Makin Bib, a lot of other cities we took, they actually had 15 to 18 students. We only were able to take three this year out of our eight. But I will say even with that, I just want everyone to know that this is an opportunity for our young people. [1:45:46, 1:46:06]: This is a city sponsored youth council, so we're not trying to have them on a local level. We're trying to show them government on a national level so that way they can come back and govern our community as an adult, as adults when they do come back. So I encourage everyone if you can [1:46:06, 1:46:26]: Get involved, get involved with our young people because with the city of Stockbridge, we're trying to take it to another level and we're going to be able to post pictures showing the different programs that they did while they were there. Also, um I do agree and I'm so glad that we have staff that are in place to where we're gonna be able to partner with our business. [1:46:26, 1:46:46]: because as stated there's opportunity there to where they'll be wanting to support what this city has going on and we don't have to actually spend taxpayers money. So um with the different staff that are coming on that'll be an opportunity for us. So I just know with our community development director [1:46:45, 1:47:05]: with our new businesses association. That is something that our citizens will be able to see that this is a new opportunity and it's a new day here in the city of Stockbridge. And to our city attorney, thank you so very much for volunteering your time, making sure that um myself and yourself and this um our youth council [1:47:05, 1:47:25]: arrive safely there and back and also to my um colleagues thank you for getting these young people the opportunity because this again was a first time for the city of Stockbridge. A lot of people were shocked. They were and they were actually shocked and they were very amazed at the young people that we had there. So I want to again [1:47:25, 1:47:45]: and say thank you. They're gonna be come um attending a meeting. They're gonna be able to give you a summary of that trip so that way you all will have that and to see what they did bring back um to be able to give yourself and our citizens um as they're watching as well. So again we have a lot of opportunities. [1:47:45, 1:48:05]: Um and I'm looking forward to our businesses partnering so that way we can move even further um with our young people because the way they have fifteen to eighteen, I want to expand our numbers as well so that way we'll have representation. Also just want to add in there the youth council, they're having to pay back funds um to this [1:48:05, 1:48:25]: So they have a fundraiser that they have going on. So I'm encouraging any of our citizens, please, they're selling popcorn right now at this time. So if you see any of the Stockbridge Youth Council, please offer your support because they are trying to do fundraisers so they way they [1:48:25, 1:48:32]: they can pay some of that money back to the city of Stockbridge. Again, thank you all so very much and happy holidays. [1:48:33, 1:48:41]: Thank you, Ms. Robinson. At this time we will be adjourning to executive session, so I need a motion to that effect. [1:48:45, 1:48:50]: And now I'll move that we go into executive session for personnel, real estate and litigation. [1:48:51, 1:49:00]: Okay, and I would like to ask I believe we have um someone from the Jody Cup project, that's gonna be item number one, if we could take that up first so they can [1:49:01, 1:49:02]: Depart. [1:49:03, 1:49:08]: Second. We have a motion and a second to that effect. Any discussion? [1:49:10, 1:49:12]: No discussion. All in favor? [1:49:13, 1:49:19]: Thank you so much. And for those of you if you'd like to wait until executive session is over. [1:49:20, 1:49:21]: You are welcome to wait. [1:49:26, 1:49:27]: Oh. [1:49:28, 1:49:32]: Sir, any any word from the heavens thate visit that we went on? [1:49:35, 1:49:36]: Uh huh. [1:49:37, 1:49:50]: Okay, you can post it from the picture and good. [1:49:55, 1:50:00]: Yeah, yeah, okay. [1:50:01, 1:50:05]: [6608.4, 6620.0]: Oh, why I want to do questions. [1:50:25, 1:50:37]: What was it? I don't know. That's what you know. [1:50:42, 1:51:00]: I do all of that. [1:51:00, 1:51:20]: No, thank you. I should I should have said that message, but it was my mind slipping on some fancy. Okay, that's that's the final [1:51:20, 1:51:25]: [6689.2, 6690.0]: That's one. [1:51:35, 1:51:55]: [6730.0, 6740.0]: Maybe go to white industry. That's an old one. [1:52:35, 1:52:36]: No. [1:52:37, 1:52:57]: [6777.6, 6778.0]: Okay. [1:52:59, 1:53:10]: [6830.0, 6845.0]: [1:54:10, 1:54:30]: [6871.3, 6890.0]: That's all that's in the world. [1:54:55, 1:55:15]: But I do want to spend time on painting. But let's put a lot of people and that was that you want to keep that. [1:55:15, 1:55:35]: [6935.5, 6955.5]: [1:55:55, 1:56:15]: Uh uh seven region that can imagine. We got one. [1:56:15, 1:56:35]: Yeah, look at the first thing. [1:56:40, 1:56:50]: Don't talk about painting, don't talk about anything else. [1:56:50, 1:57:10]: Yeah, but I don't think why do you make it on the beer? [1:57:10, 1:57:30]: So yes, they have to change the power. Yeah, well she's not. [1:57:29, 1:57:49]: [7069.8, 7080.0]: They are almost there. [1:58:07, 1:58:15]: Okay, we should have been out of the week. [1:58:15, 1:58:35]: Yeah, yeah, so maybe opening a disgrace of clothes or like that. So that would be a good idea. [1:58:35, 1:58:40]: And that based on how much people have to do for that. [1:58:40, 1:59:00]: So we have a place to get rid of the [1:59:00, 1:59:20]: But it wasn't. I would have said you're only getting on the car. But they don't be that way or something. [1:59:19, 1:59:39]: [7179.9, 7190.0]: The rift I want to come all the way to basically far. [1:59:50, 2:00:10]: Yeah. [2:00:10, 2:00:24]: So the left side is right side is not the code is a lot of people have some location. [2:00:25, 2:00:34]: Do we still call it a fashion? [2:00:35, 2:00:50]: I would have put that framework on that. So then that's the ideal place that I'm going to do. [2:00:50, 2:01:02]: We want to trade out and then work. That way it's what you have to know. And if you watch that one do it, you've got to take the train presentation. [2:01:05, 2:01:09]: [7271.3, 7285.3]: I just got them all over the plane. And you tear all the diagnosis and put extra painting in there. [2:01:26, 2:01:35]: [7300.0, 7300.7]: Right. [2:01:42, 2:01:47]: [7307.5, 7327.5]: [2:02:07, 2:02:27]: I can't call it another number on the sitting down for that. [2:02:27, 2:02:44]: That's the heart of it's been recognized. That's like trying to get an argument trying to break well. [2:02:50, 2:02:55]: And now he's like. [2:02:55, 2:03:15]: And then I don't know. [2:03:15, 2:03:25]: Yeah, we're talking about it. And everybody was I was like, [2:03:28, 2:03:30]: Wait, that's [2:03:35, 2:03:46]: I don't know what's up with that. [2:03:47, 2:03:53]: I think it was a bunch of that. [2:03:54, 2:04:13]: Well I think I'm just let me know about that. [2:04:14, 2:04:34]: Water comes from the pipe stuff down out of uh actually wood. That's pretty quite water comes in the door. Then it's spread that's okay. [2:04:34, 2:04:35]: Okay. [2:04:41, 2:04:41]: Yeah, I don't know. [2:04:45, 2:04:53]: [7494.7, 7497.7]: That would be managed for it. [2:05:00, 2:05:15]: But if the big changes [2:05:17, 2:05:18]: That's the one. [2:05:20, 2:05:34]: Yeah, we're not so used to calling it and we have the thing that we're mainly. [2:05:55, 2:06:00]: is the cultural house and flying by some. [2:06:03, 2:06:04]: Yeah, yeah. [2:06:59, 2:07:10]: [7650.0, 7652.0]: Uh [2:07:52, 2:07:55]: Well that's me. [2:08:21, 2:08:24]: Oh, really white. [2:08:29, 2:08:30]: So that's all right. [2:08:35, 2:08:36]: Yeah. [2:08:40, 2:08:53]: And I hope you have to be able to do I'm that way now. [2:08:56, 2:09:00]: And other things. [2:09:01, 2:09:05]: But the important part is not actually used by those are possible. [2:09:15, 2:09:17]: Exactly all the people. [2:09:19, 2:09:20]: So [2:09:47, 2:10:02]: Okay, let's see if we just don't need it. Oh, we can do the power to give it. [2:10:04, 2:10:13]: Yeah. [2:10:15, 2:10:17]: [7918.3, 7919.4]: Oh yeah. [2:12:25, 2:12:29]: Well you can take it up and [2:15:35, 2:15:35]: Mm-hmm. [2:15:45, 2:15:45]: Mm-hmm. [2:17:00, 2:17:02]: But I understand. [2:17:09, 2:17:10]: Yeah. [2:17:23, 2:17:30]: They can't do the training visual students volunteering. [2:18:03, 2:18:06]: You see how they are. [2:20:40, 2:20:42]: All sound. [2:21:15, 2:21:19]: Yeah, so. [2:21:58, 2:22:01]: That's what I want more. [2:25:05, 2:25:06]: So [2:25:11, 2:25:13]: No. [2:25:15, 2:25:16]: [8718.3, 8719.6]: [2:34:57, 2:34:58]: Yeah, I'm sorry. [2:35:33, 2:35:37]: And then [2:35:42, 2:35:43]: I think. [2:36:11, 2:36:16]: [9378.8, 9380.0]: I wish there would be no. [2:36:23, 2:36:27]: Oh absolutely. [2:36:30, 2:36:33]: And the problem is a little bit too. [2:39:56, 2:39:58]: If I can get more shared in our [2:40:05, 2:40:07]: Good to see you. [2:52:52, 2:52:54]: Very important. [2:56:06, 2:56:10]: Is it just sound just we're ha I called in the phone with the case anyone? [2:56:13, 2:56:17]: Um yeah, I just have car no I'm sorry. [2:56:47, 2:56:48]: I wanted it to be called. [2:56:52, 2:57:00]: And all you have to do is. [2:57:47, 2:57:52]: I don't know what she thinks. [2:58:14, 2:58:15]: Yeah. [3:36:32, 3:36:36]: Okay, don't you know? [3:37:40, 3:37:43]: Blood and light. Blood and light. [4:01:51, 4:01:56]: Oh, don't do it all right, brother. We just work our way through. [4:01:58, 4:02:02]: So a half in town, a little more, it should be worthwhile, it should be worthwhile. [4:11:52, 4:11:53]: Yeah, I wanna do that first. [4:11:56, 4:11:59]: Uh uh okay. [4:12:02, 4:12:03]: T I die up. [4:12:03, 4:12:04]: Yeah, yeah. [4:12:06, 4:12:10]: [15132.0, 15133.1]: Yeah, yeah. [4:12:13, 4:12:17]: Oh sorry. [4:12:23, 4:12:25]: Yeah, yeah. [4:13:15, 4:13:20]: Well how they want to do it as well. [4:13:22, 4:13:30]: Well yeah, I'll I'll have to come in and talk with you. Talk with you about that and don't know where I'm saying. [4:14:00, 4:14:04]: Wait one moment, Mayor. [4:14:13, 4:14:25]: Returning from executive session, I need a motion to end the executive session. Mayor, I'll make a motion to end executive session. I have a motion for Ms. Robinson. Do I hear a second? Second. [4:14:26, 4:14:29]: Okay, we have a second from Ms. Gantt. [4:14:29, 4:14:32]: Uh to end the executive session, do we have any discussion? [4:14:33, 4:14:35]: No discussion. All in favor. [4:14:37, 4:14:47]: At this time I need a motion to reconvene the meeting of the evening. Mayor, I make a motion to reconvene the meeting. I have a motion to reconvene. Do I hear a second? [4:14:47, 4:14:48]: A second. [4:14:48, 4:14:53]: Have a second from Ms. Gantt at this time. Is there any discussion? [4:14:54, 4:14:56]: No discussion. [4:14:56, 4:15:01]: Uh all in favor of um ending I mean of reconvening the meeting. [4:15:01, 4:15:02]: Thank you. [4:15:03, 4:15:13]: Since there was nothing in executive session that we need to vote on at this time, I need a motion to end the evening meeting. Mayor make a motion to end the evening's meeting. [4:15:13, 4:15:21]: We have a motion to end the meeting. Do I hear a second? A second. We have a second. Uh I'll uh do we have any discussion? [4:15:22, 4:15:28]: No discussion. All in favor of ending the evening meeting. Thank you so much. [4:15:28, 4:15:33]: Tonight. Oh listen, you have to sit down. [4:15:35, 4:15:36]: So that's the young hands. [4:15:37, 4:15:46]: Yes, I think uh I left you all a note there's some information in there, some reports at the beginning of your book that you may want to review before you turn your [4:15:46, 4:15:48]: Look back into it. [4:15:49, 4:15:53]: Just take a few days to just look at it. I appreciate it.