---
date: 2012-03-12
title: March 12, 2012 Minutes
source: 2012-03/2012-03-12_March 12, 2012_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

March 12, 2012

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
March 12, 2012

The Council Meeting of the Stockbridge City Council was held on March 12th, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. Mayor Lee
Stuart presided and the members present were Mark Alarcon, Harold Cochran, Robin Buschman, Alphonso
Thomas, and Richard Steinberg.

Motion to Convene made by Councilman Cochran, seconded by Councilman Steinberg. The motion passed
5-0.

Invocation made by City Attorney Jack Hancock.

Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cub Scout Troop 1776.

Motion to approve the Council Meeting Minutes for February 13, 2012 was made by Councilman Steinberg
and seconded by Councilman Cochran. The motion passed 5-0.

Motion to approve the Work Session Meeting Minutes for March 6, 2012 was made by Councilman Steinberg
and seconded by Councilman Cochran. The motion passed 5-0.

Motion to approve the Special Called Meeting Minutes from March 6, 2012 was made by Councilwoman
Buschman and second by Alphonso Thomas. The motion passed 5-0.

Mayor Stuart welcomed all guests.

No Old Business items.
Ray Gibson, City Administrator, requested to amend the agenda by adding 217 Shields Road. Mayor Stuart
also requested to amend the agenda adding Laura Luker for the CVB presentation.

Motion to amend the agenda passed 5-0.

No New Business items.

Mayor Stuart reviewed the Consent Agenda process stating that the Council had discussed these items
previously at the Work Session and agreed to have the items placed on the consent agenda for one joint
approval.

CONSENT AGENDA

Resolution - LOST Negotiation: To approve an agreement with Smith Welch Webb &
White for legal representation in connection with the LOST negotiations with Henry
County, and authorizing an agreement with Brown Pelican Consulting, LLC for consulting
services in connection with the same.
Resolution/Agreement - To approve the Intergovernmental Agreement with Henry
County Government for Code Enforcement services.
Resolution - To Sponsor Hands on Henry for the amount of $1000.00.
Resolution - Authorizing the City of Stockbridge to enter into a contract with G & K for
Uniform Services.
Resolution - To enter into a contract with Greystone Grading, Inc. for the Rock Quarry
Road Sewer Replacement Project.
Resolution - To expend up to $1,500.00 to hold a Black History Month event at the Merle
Manders Conference Center.
Motion to approve the Resolutions on the Consent Agenda was made by Councilman
Steinberg and seconded by Councilwoman Buschman. The motion passed 5-0.

Henry County Planning & Zoning – Presented by Stacey Jordan
Applicant: Evangelical Christian Credit Union of Brea, CA

Location: 125 Rock Quarry Road in Land Lot 36 of the 12th District
Request: Conditional Use (CU-11-09-S)
Stacey Jordan of the Henry County Planning & Zoning Department informed the Council
that the Conditional Use is for permission of a church use at 125 Rock Quarry Road. The
Property was rezoned from M-1(Light Manufacturing) on October 21, 1985 for the
purpose of a Restaurant/Club use. It was approved for that purpose as a C-4 commercial
zoning district. The City has since then changed its zoning code and there is no longer a
C-4 zoning district. Part of the Zoning Advisory Boards (ZAB) recommendation for
approval is that the City Council directs staff to update the zoning map to show an
acceptable and appropriate commercial zoning district. The staff has no objection to the
C-3 (Heavy Commercial) zoning district, which fits the character of the area.

In addition, Mr. Jordan continued, the property has developed and does not have the
required buffer of forty-feet (40’) where the subject property abuts residentially owned
property to the north and west. These properties however, have been developed for
industrial uses. The staff has no objection and recommends approval for a variance. This
is important because parking spaces, as well as asphalt parking drives cross the property
line. The ZAB recommended approval of the variance and conditional use with four
conditions as outlined in the staff report. At the work session there was a question of
condition number three. Mr. Jordan noted that the intent of this condition was to require
that any accessory uses be owned and operated by the church. Should the council wish
to approve this conditional requirement, Mr. Jordan requested it read “any accessory use
would be owned and operated by the church.” If the council does not wish to impose that
limitation that condition may simply be removed.

Ray Gibson, City Administrator wanted to inform the council that the City did receive a
letter from the adjacent land owners supporting the church use.

Christina Cusack spoke on behalf of the Evangelical Christian Credit Union and
Ambassadors for Christ Ministries. Ms. Cusack also informed the council that she spoke
with the adjacent land owners who are supportive of the church being at the location as
well as removing the buffer requirement.

Councilman Steinberg asked Mr. Gibson if he had any conditions based on the exception
that Mr. Jordan mentioned. Mr. Gibson stated that he feels the City should lean towards
removing the accessory use recommendation. He feels the City would potentially be
taking the rights of the property owner if the accessory use recommendation was to stay.
If they would like to lease a portion of their building the City would have to allow them to
do so, because they have that right under the current zoning district to do so.

A motion to approve the Conditional Use Permit was made by Councilman Steinberg and
seconded by Councilman Thomas. The motion passed 5-0.

Henry County Planning & Zoning – Presented by Stacey Jordan
Applicant: Evangelical Christian Credit Union of Brea, CA

Location: 125 Rock Quarry Road Land Lot 36 of the 12th District
Request: Variance- VR-11-18-S
Stacey Jordan informed the Council of the request by Evangelical Christian Credit Union of Brea, CA for a
Variance to eliminate the buffer requirements in order to allow the shared parking and to allow the building
to be within the buffer area of twenty feet (20’) that would otherwise be landscaped.

Motion to approve the Variance Permit made by Councilman Steinberg and seconded by Councilwoman
Buschman. The motion passed 5-0.

Mayor Stuart asked the citizens if there was anyone in opposition of the Conditional Use and Variance
requests for a church at 125 Rock Quarry Road. There was no opposition.

Resolutions, Ordinances and Agreements

Resolution - Presented by Ray Gibson, City Administrator to request the City commence the process for bids
and/or request for qualifications and performance data for engineering plans, specifications and design
services relating to the Berry Street Sidewalk Project.

Councilman Thomas thanked the citizens for coming out. He wanted to inform the citizens that there was a
meeting on this issue. There was a compromise on going forward with this project. The meeting did not occur
with a quorum of the council. Mr. Thomas also informed the citizens that there will be a Town Hall Meeting,
March 31st at Trinity United Methodist Church at 112 Wilson Street. At that time the Mayor, City Administrator,
City Attorney and Engineer will come out and attempt to educate the community on this issue.

Mayor Pro Tem Alarcon wanted to make sure the council conveys that the confusion is not that the need is
not there, its how best to move forward. The City has compromised on a Resolution that is going to release
funds from the $200,000.00 line item, get the due diligence done, and find the proper right of ways to move
forward. The Resolution is to do the engineering and scope from Nolan Street up to Wilson Street, behind
the Food Depot. Mr. Alarcon made a motion to move forward with this Resolution and it was seconded by
Councilman Steinberg. The motion passed 5-0.

Agenda Requests

Agent Green, Henry County PD, made a request to do a Presentation on Gang issues. This item was
postponed to the April 2012 Meeting.
Alfred Britt III, Founder of the Cemetery Research Group requested a proclamation be made to recognize
Confederate History Month or Southern Heritage Month (April). No Motion was made. A proclamation will be
put on the April Council Meeting Agenda.

Reginald Wade made a request for a 6 month conditional use permit for 1175 Hwy 138-Spivey Commons. A
motion for approval was made by Councilman Steinberg and seconded by Councilman Thomas. The motion
passed 5-0.

Ray Gibson, City Administrator presented the 217 Shields Road Drainage Issue and began by informing the
Council that during heavy storm events the property continuously floods out. The City consulted with
Stevenson & Palmer to give an estimate of work that is needed on the City right-of-way in order to partially
resolve the problem. We can only resolve the portion that is caused on our public right-of-way. Stevenson &
Palmer came back with a quote of $31,635.00 to put a man hole in the right-of-way and put a pipe from the
manhole to the creek that is at the rear of the subject property. Right now the culvert shoots water onto the
property draining into back yard of the subject property. In the quote it states that if our staff (General
Maintenance Department) was to complete the work it would cost $17,442.50. The item is to gain support for
the $17,442.50 that will come out of the stormwater budget. Mayor Stuart stated that this has been a problem
since 1974. Mayor Pro Tem Alarcon requested to table this item to make sure it is taken through a work
session process to get all proper information before moving forward. The motion was seconded by
Councilman Steinberg and it passed 5-0.

Laura Luker requested to show a presentation explaining more about the Henry County CVB. No motion was
required.

No Business License Requests.

Council Discussion Items

Reschedule Work Session on July 3rd to June 28th due to Fourth of July Holiday- Mark Alarcon made a
motion to approve June 28th as the Work Session date replacing the July 3rd prior scheduled date; Second
by Richard Steinberg. Passed 5-0

Public Comments

• George Espada - Open Records Request Questions

• Kathy Gilbert - Block Grant for Sidewalks

• Mike Moon - Old Henry County/Stockbridge History
• Vanessa Holiday - City Council

• Vivian Smith – Rezoning at 107 Flippen Rd.

No Executive Session.

No Committee Meeting Updates.

Announcements and Upcoming Meetings & Events
ALL MEETINGS WILL BE HELD AT CITY HALL EXCEPT WHEN NOTED

1. Black History Month Gala- Friday, March 16, at 7pm-9pm at Merle Manders
2. Mayor’s Community Bike Ride- Sunday, March 18th, 3:00pm at City Hall
3. Open House - Thursday, March 22nd, 7:00pm Hosted by: Mark Alarcon,
Robin Buschman, Richard Steinberg & Harold Cochran
4. Work Session Meeting- Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 7:00pm
5. Regular Council Meeting- Monday, April 9, 2012 at 7:00pm

A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Steinberg and seconded by Councilman Cochran. The
motion passed 5-0

Meeting Adjourn at 9:00pm

Respectfully submitted by:

Nicol Vasquez, City Clerk Lee Stuart, Mayor
