Minutes Content
MINUTES
CLARKSTON CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, November 7, 2006 7:00 P.M.
Officials Present: Mayor: Lee Swaney
Council: Wayne Foster, Karen Feltz, Joyce Wade, Hien Nguyen, Pat Davis-Morris,
City Attorney: Jack Rhodes
City Clerk: Tracy Ashby
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Joyce Wade gave the invocation.
Pat Davis-Morris made a motion to approve the minutes for the October 3, 2006 council meeting and the Special Call Meeting held October 20, 2006. Joyce Wade seconded and the motion passed (6-0).
Rosemarie Nelson presented Les Richmond from the DeKalb County Board of Health to give a PowerPoint presentation on Pandemic Flu. His information discussed the various flu varieties, treatment availabilities and options, and the emergency process in the event of a large outbreak. Handouts were provided for the citizen’s present and contact information the DeKalb Board of Health offices were provided. Mr. Richmond answered questions from the citizens.
Rosemarie Nelson provided brochures from the Federal Government that discussed disaster planning on a personal level for the citizens to read.
Zoning and Review Recommendations: None
Planning and Review Report: Rita Thomas reported that on November 8 at 7:00pm there would be another meeting with Pond & Company to discuss the ordinances, the guidelines, the overlays and submitting recommendations from the Planning and Development and Zoning and Review Committees. They will be discussing the procedures for applications, committee reviews, and hearings of rezoning, variances and use permits. If time allows they will discuss civic design issues, and building elements and street environment features. They will be reviewing a flowchart created by Susan Garrett that depicts the current process under the current ordinance. The next meeting with Pond and Company will be December 7th to review the draft ordinances. Ms. Thomas stated the meeting process would continue until all ordinances and issues are finalized and adopted.
Zoning and Review Report: Emanuel Ransom reported on the Zoning and Review meeting held October 30. He stated that the rezoning application for 4292 and 4300 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue has been deferred until the November meeting. The Market Street project has had a stop work order issued as an underground stream that supplied Clarkston drinking water years ago was uncovered and EPD and EPA and Soil and Water Conservation have issued a stop work order. The property owners will have to start from the beginning with the permits to be issued for that situation. Mr. Ransom stated he was informed this would probably cut two to three homes from the project. Mr. Ransom stated that as of November 1 the English Oaks Apartments are now annexed into the City. He reported that he and Mike Shipman attended the Urban Marketplace where he met with many developers who showed interest in the City. Mr. Ransom stated that his committee member Matthew Johnson has resigned due to work conflicts. Mr. Ransom said he had a replacement to submit and Mayor Swaney asked that his resume be submitted through the Mayor’s office.
New Business:
A Resolution to adopt the Community Agenda Plan was presented to the Council. Joyce Wade made a motion to approve the resolution and for the Mayor to sign the resolution. Rosemarie Nelson seconded and the motion passed (6-0).
Correspondence:
The City Clerk read the postcard received from Rosemarie Nelson during her trip to South Africa.
Committee Reports:
Wayne Foster had no report.
Pat Davis-Morris stated the Chief of Police would give the report. She asked Director Shipman on the condition of the drainage at E. Ponce de Leon Avenue and North Indian Creek Drive. Director Shipman reported that on Norman Road citizens could see that DeKalb County has been doing extensive storm water work and this request was submitted one year ago. The location Ms. Davis-Morris questioned was reported to the County six months ago so he felt it would be another eight months before repairs were made but that it is on the docket with the County.
Karen Feltz reported they were considering taking bids to repaint and make minor repairs at the Women’s Club.
Joyce Wade reported there will be a budget work session on November 15 at 5:00pm. Anyone with questions may contact the Finance Officer or the City Clerk and the public is welcome to attend.
Hein Nguyen asked Director Shipman to update on the roof. Director Shipman stated that the public works had repaired a section of the pavilion roof at Friendship Forest and the City is taking bids for repairing the roofs at Milam Park. He said there has been another leak at the pool and his personnel excavated the leak and the plumber should come to repair on Monday. The fall zones for the playground equipment are in place and just the filler material is needed. Joyce Wade asked how many actual leaks have been found in the past few years. Mr. Shipman stated probably four.
Rosemarie Nelson asked for the citizens to read the handouts for the pandemic. She reported she had asked for the Chief to provide information on what actions the City of Clarkston would take in the event of an emergency. She stated that Georgia Power will be placing a light on the pole at the entrance to the park on Clarks Street. She said Trees Atlanta had been trimming trees by Indian Creek and Montreal Road to allow easy pedestrian walking. She asked that citizens help in reporting illegal dumping. Ms. Nelson said that on January 6 they will be having the Bring one for the Chipper program to chip Christmas trees.
City Attorney Report:
Mr. Rhodes reported that the City had extended the Service Delivery Strategy with DeKalb County through August 2007. He said the City he received a document fro DeKalb County that is signed by the CEO that they indicated that it was required by Community Affairs in order to comply with the Service Delivery Strategies Act. The agreement had a provision that stated the City is satisfied with the tax allocations in DeKalb County. Mr. Rhodes stated that to his knowledge, no city in DeKalb County is satisfied with the tax allocations. He said he consulted wit the Mayor Swaney, Mayor Peet in Stone Mountain, Phil Howland, the City Administrator of Pine Lake, Hugh Saxon the Assistant City Manager of Decatur and no one is willing to execute the agreement. Mayor Peet called the Department of Community Affairs and was told it was not necessary that the cities have complied so we will not be executing the Counties documents that stated the City of Clarkston is satisfied with the tax allocation districts.
Mr. Rhodes stated the council had a contract proposal from Altamira for the design and construction oversight and engineering for the drainage and parking facilities to be placed between Hill Street and City Hall. He said the City would only pay on the contract if GDOT funds were received. After discussion the item was deferred.
Mr. Rhodes presented the ordinances to be reviewed.
The first ordinance changes the way building permits are processed. Previously DeKalb County handled building inspections and the City had adopted their building codes. To allow for the City to do their own building inspections, the City would adopt the State minimum codes which are the International Building Codes and covers the process for inspections.
The second ordinance covers general parking regulations for the City. This was requested by Code Enforcement.
The third ordinance makes substandard structures are a nuisance and allows the City to treat it as a nuisance.
The fourth ordinance prohibits animals in Milam Park and Armstead Field except in the designated areas of Milam Park. It requires the owner to clean up after their animal.
The fifth ordinance deals with City Fire Codes. Clarkston had previously adopted the DeKalb County Fire codes and this will change adopted code to the International Fire Code which is what the State requires. It provides the rules and regulations of the Fire Marshall and it states if there is a conflict between the rules and regulations of the State Fire marshal and the International Fire Codes the more restrictive provisions will apply. Mr. Rhodes stated they all must sit for thirty days until the next Council meeting.
Chief of Police Report:
Chief Scipio reported crime was down 69%. For the month of October there were 417 calls, 172 tickets were issued, 31 warnings, 4 felony arrests, 6 misdemeanor arrests, 1 drug arrest, 2 misdemeanor drug arrests, 20 City warrants were served, 4 DUI arrest and only 13 people were taken to jail and of them 8 were juveniles. He reported the City was flooded with the Police Reserves for Halloween night. There are security details patrolling in Cedar Pines and English Oaks Apartments. The Chief detailed incidences with juveniles who were knocking on doors and the homeowners did not come to the door, the juveniles then attempted to enter those residences. Susie Keys, a Clarkston employee helped identify the juveniles with the assistance of the manager at Kentucky Fried Chicken. The Chief reported there had been a change in personnel as officers leave for higher pay and the Chief said he would be sitting with the Mayor and City Council to discuss increasing the salary. There are three new officers in the hiring process. The Chief asked Corporal Bartlett to discuss the City’s Emergency Management Plan for the City.
Corporal Bartlett reported on the Emergency Management Policy for Clarkston. The City of Clarkston does have an Emergency Management Plan and is tied into the Department of Homeland Security via internet and access to the Georgia Emergency Operations Plan. He detailed the processes for managing emergencies, such as natural, man made or biological and the various organizations the City would coordinate with to handle the problem. He answered questions from the citizens.
The Mayor asked Emanuel Ransom to discuss a proposed commemorative coin for Clarkston’s 125th year birthday which is next year. Mr. Ransom said the City needs a new sign for the front of City Hall and the Women’s Club. He felt the citizens would be more proud of these signs if they had paid for them directly. They were reviewing striking a Clarkston Commemorative Coin for the citizens to purchase which would be 99.9% pure silver at a cost of $100 per coin. The profits from the sales of the coin would pay for the new signs. The Mayor said examples of the coins were available to review on the council podium.
Citizens Comments:
Emanuel Ransom said the Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting would be held Saturday, December 9 starting at 6:30pm.
Tracy Bishop asked if the proposed ordinances could be placed on the website for review. The City Attorney stated that is why the ordinances are tabled for 30 days to allow for review. He said several of the ordinances are 30 pages and a copy of the ordinances is always available in the City Clerk’s office and the City will make a copy for interested citizens at a cost of .25 cents per page.
Dean Moore asked if the sidewalks coming from Brockett Road will continue into the City and if crosswalks will be installed at the bus stops. Mike Shipman stated the sidewalks will stop at the city limits and Rosemarie Nelson said DeKalb County will only install a crosswalk at a natural crossing such as an intersection. He also expressed concern on storm water runoff from English Oaks onto the adjacent properties. The Mayor said Mike Shipman would follow up as English Oaks is now annexed into the City.
Jan Gardner asked for the definition of a natural crossing for crosswalks. Ms. Nelson said if cars are traveling at 30 miles per hour there needs to be a natural crossing such as an intersection, stop sign or traffic light. Jan asked if the ordinance for dogs specified a trail for dogs to walk through. Mr. Rhodes stated yes, there would be a designated marked trial trough Milam Park, but not Armstead Field.
Chris Busing addressed petitioning the State for the City of Clarkston to return to paper ballots. Mr. Rhodes said it was not the State of Georgia, but the United States Department of Justice that the City would have to petition to approve the City going back from the machines that the Justice Department has approved to the old system and to prove that the old system is better than the electronic machines and the costs would be several thousand dollars to pursue.
Karen Feltz made a motion to adjourn the meeting and pay council bills. Wayne Foster seconded and the motion passed (6-0).
Meeting adjourned at 9:00pm.