---
date: 2015-10-27
title: October 27, 2015 2 Minutes
source: 2015-10/2015-10-27_October 27, 2015 2_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

Page [1

APPROVEI5 MINUTES
WORK SESSION
Cl I Y OF STOCKBRIDGE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015 6:00 PM

Mayor & City Council Administration
Tim L Thompson, Mayor Michael Harris, City Manager
Alphonso Thomas, Nlayor Pro Tem Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk
Robin Buschman, Councilwoman Randi Rainey, Deputycity Clerk

Anthony 5. Ford, Councilman Michael Vlnlliams, City Attorney
laKeisha Gantt, Councilwoman
Regina Lewis Ward, Councilworran

Mayor Pro Tem Thomas called the Work Session meeting to order at 6:00pm. City Clerk, Vanessa
Holiday was asked to proceed with a verbal roll call. All members of Council were present except
Mayor Thompson and Councilwoman Buschman, a quorum was confirmed.

Mayor Pro Tem Thomas asked for a show of hands from the Council to confirm the absence of
the Mayor; Councilman Ford and Councilwoman Lewis Ward raised their hands. Councilwoman
Gantt abstained.

Invocation provided by Councilman Ford

Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.

Councilwoman Gantt motioned to adopt the Agenda; second by Councilman Ford; the motion
passed 3-0.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
All persons wishing to speak for public comment must sign in with the City Clerk prior to the
beginning of the meeting. You must sign your name, address, and phone number. You will be
able to address the Mayor and Council for three (3) minutes. Speakers must respect all
members of the elected body, officials, and staff. Defamation, unruliness and/or swearing will
not be tolerated while meetings are in session.

Elton Alexander encouraged Council to continue dialogue to resolve litigation issues within the
City and move forward.

OLD BUSINESS

There was no old business presented for discussion.

October 27, 2015 6:00pm 4640 N. Henry Blvd. Stockbridge, GA 30281 Phone: (770) 389-7900
P a
ge |2

NEW BUSINESS

Item #1 —-
Council Consideration —
2016 Professional Services Fee
Presented by: Dale Hall, Administration and Community Services Director
Mr. Hall noted staff was still in the process of updating the 2016 Fee Schedule, specifically
Occupational Taxes items to ensure the City is aligned with surrounding jurisdictions. Mr. Hall then
introduced the request to increase the annual Professional Services Fee for the City from $250 to
$400. Surrounding jurisdictions charge $400 fee for Practitioners, the limit by the Georgia statute.
Councilwoman Lewis Ward asked if the business owners would receive additional services, and
staffs response was no. Staff did note the fee had remained the same for 10+ years and also
referenced surrounding jurisdictions including Henry County that are currently assessing the $400
fee for Professional Services License. Item will be placed on the Agenda for the November 9, 2015
Meeting for Council consideration.

Item #2— Council Consideration —
Kindness Week Resolution
Presented by: Michael Harris, City Manager
For recognition of “Kindness Works —
Pass It On” week.
Mr. Harris stated that the City has been in Kindness Works week for years in
participating
conjunction with the National Kindness Works week. Kindness Day/\Neek was created to honor
the memory of Hunter Welch, a former Henry County student who passed away in 2004 as a way
of his spirit and the type of person he was. Kindness Works week is November 9
recognizing 15, —

2015. Item will be placed on the Agenda for the November 9, 2015 Meeting for Council
consideration.

DISCUSSION

Item #3 —
Council Consideration —-
GMA City of Ethics Resolution and Ordinance
Presented by: Michael Williams, City Attorney
Attorney Williams stated this is for Council to consider adopting a Resolution to recertify as a City
of Ethics and name members to serve on the Board of Ethics. Councilman Ford stated he is in favor
of establishing Stockbridge as a City of Ethics and establishing the Board. Item will be placed on
the Consent Agenda for the November 9, 2015 Meeting.

Item #4 —

Updates Feasibility StudiesILC| Zoning Code — Master Trail Plan
LMIG - —

Sign Ordinance Annexations
— RFPslBids Sanitation, City Hall and Municipal

Court Repairs. Presented by: Michael Harris, City Manager and Dale Hall, Administration
and Community Services Director
Mr. Harris stated the City is utilizing the existing feasibility concepts on both the LCI, the concepts
for the existingdowntown area, and citizen input to develop an overall plan for connecting the
downtown area with the LCI area to design continuity and making sure it is pedestrian
ensure

friendly. The City is also working with UGA and Georgia Tech to finalize budget and move process
forward. A quiet corridor for the train tracks is also being considered as part of the plan.

Mr. Harris also introduced a Master Trail which is a comprehensive, city-wide, non-motorized trail
plan. Mr. Harris stated we are in the process of gathering plans, citizen input, RFQs, etc. and will
present the outcomes to the Council.

LMIG (Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant through the DOT) The City was awarded a

grant of approximately $182,000 for road improvements and are beginning with resurfacing 3.5
miles of the worst roadways first based on a grading scale. The bid was awarded to E.R. Snell and
the work should be done by the end of this year (weather permitting).

October 27, 2015 6:00pm 4640 N. Henry Blvd. Stockbridge, GA 30281 Phone: (770) 389-7900
Page”[3

Zoning Code technical rewrite and Sign Ordinance The City has contracted with the Strategic

Planning Initiative firm who is working with the City Attorney and Dale Hall. Anticipated completion
date is late January or early February. It will be put on the website and presented for public input.

Annexations -
The report is underway and is slated to be completed in the next 30 ~
45 days at
which time a draft will be presented to the Council.

RFP’s/Bids —
Sanitation services bids closed last week; will be scheduling interviews within the next
two weeks. IT Services bids went out weeks ago, interviews are being scheduled and will present
selected bid to the Council with a contract effective date of January 1, 2016. City Hall/Court repairs
pre-bid meeting was held last week and bids are due next week. South Berry Street sidewalks bid
was awarded at last Council meeting and work is expected to be completed by December 30, 2015.

New Public Works building (part of SPLOST program) bids for design work are due October 28,
2015. Mr. Harris and Councilwoman Lewis Ward have been working in conjunction with the CDBG
program for playground equipment requiring additional guidelines and constraints. The City will be
able to utilize the state contract for one of the parks and will be bidding the other one out.

Councilman Ford inquired as to the timeline for the Sanitation project and whether or not there will
be additional Town Hall meetings before a decision is made.

Councilwoman Lewis Ward asked about a bid approved around October 2014 for the Municipal
Court regarding probation services. Her understanding is that it expires soon. Mr. Harris stated
he’d need to research it and report back to the Council at the next meeting.

Mayor Pro Tem Thomas inquired about grass-cutting initiative. Mr. Harris responded that the City
is considering the integration of Community Service workers along with seasonal workers to
improve upon that service.

Updates will be placed on the November 9, 2015 meeting Agenda.

CITY CLERK'S COMMENTS
Vanessa Holiday Reminded citizens that early voting is in process, and Election Day is November

3, 2015. The Registration and Voters office has relocated to 40 Atlanta Street in McDonough and
asked voters not to go to 345 Phillips Drive.

CITY MANAGER’S COMMENTS
Michael Harris noted he spoke with Captain Gray who heads up the North Police Precinct and is
supporting “No Shave November” to raise funds for Cure for Cancer.

COUNC|L’S COMMENTS
Councilwoman Lewis Ward noted she had met with Mclntosh Trail Early Childhood
Development Council regarding opening a HeadStart program in Stockbridge and is currently In
process of assembling a document outlining responsibilities, possible funding sources and locations
and will present more information in February/March 2016. Councilwoman Lewis Ward also notified
citizens that the Henry County Sheriff's Office is selling fruit baskets to raise funds to take
underprivileged children shopping for Christmas. The deadline for ordering fruit baskets is
December 7, 2015.

Councilman Ford referenced another successful Coffee with Cop event held this past

Saturday at Starbucks; and announced the next Coffee with a Cop event will be held on Saturday,
November 14, 2015 at Best Breakfast on North Henry Boulevard and, thanked everyone for coming
out.

October 27, 2015 6:00pm 4640 N. Henry Blvd. Stockbridge, GA 30281 Phone: (770) 389-7900
Page|4

Councilwoman Ganttthanked everyone for coming out.

Mayor Pro Tem Thomas stated Council expects a resolution to the issues with the Downtown
Development Authority within the next few weeks.

Councilman Ford motioned to convene Executive Session for Items A-E and H; second by
Councilwoman Gantt; the motion passed 3-0.

Councilman Ford motioned to adjourn Executive Session for Items A-E and H; second by
Councilwoman Gantt; the motion passed 3-0.

Councilman Ford motioned to reconvene the Work Session meeting; second by Councilwoman
Gantt; the motion passed 3-0.

Councilman Ford motioned to adjourn the meeting; second by Councilwoman Gantt; the motion
passed 3-0.

Respectfully submitted by:

Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk Alphohso Thomas, Mayor Pro Tem

October 27, 2015 6:00pm 4640 N. Henry Blvd. Stocldnridge, GA 30281 Phone: (770) 389-7900
