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04-05-2010 April 5, 2010April 5, 2010 The regular scheduled meeting of Mayor and Council was held at Smyrna City Hall. The meeting was called to order by presiding officer Mayor A. Max Bacon. at 7:30 o'clock p.m. All council members were present. Also present were City Administrator Eric Taylor, City Clerk Susan Hiott, City Attorney Scott Cochran, Assistant City Administrator Tammi Saddler, Management Fellow Jered Sigmon and representatives of the press. Invocation was given by Pastor Rich Landers of Log Cabin Community Church, followed by the pledge to the flag. MAYOR' S REPORT: (A) Musical Performance of Anna and Jada Washington Mayor Bacon recognized Mr. Ron Davis, who introduced Anna and Jada Washington. The young ladies performed a musical composition for those present. Mayor Bacon thanked Anna and Jada, who provided additional details concerning their future plans. Council Member Anulewicz commended the Kiwanis members for promoting youth involvement in the arts. Council Member (B) Proclamation in Recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month Mayor Bacon recognized members of the Cobb Alcohol Task Force, and Council Member Anulewicz ~,,, read a Proclamation in Recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month to those present. Mr. Curt Johnston provided details of a young student who recently lost his life in an incident believed to be related to alcohol. (C) Census Report Mayor Bacon recognized Mr. Sigmon, who provided details to those present regarding progress on the 2010 census. AGENDA CHANGES: Mayor Bacon stated item 4 A, Zoning Amendment Z10-007, will be tabled. *MOTION: Council Member Lnenicka made a motion to suspend the rules to add an item to the agenda. The motion was seconded by Council Member Wood. Motion was approved 7 - 0. *MOTION: Council Member McNabb made a motion to add Appointment of Ward 4 Representative to the Tree Board to the agenda. The motion was seconded by Council Member Lnenicka. Motion was approved 7 - 0. LAND ISSUES/ZONINGS/ANNEXATIONS: (A) Public Hearing -Zoning Amendment Z10-007 -Modification to previously approved zoning ,,,~.. stipulations - 3110 Nichols Street - 0.161 acre tract -Land Lot 486 - Wachovia Bank, National Association April 5. 2010 2 Mayor Bacon asked if there is anyone present in relation to this proposed zoning amendment, and there was no response. MOTION: Council Member McNabb made a motion to table Zoning Amendment Z10-007 for modification to previously approved zoning stipulations at 3110 Nichols Street fora 0.161 acre tract in Land Lot 486 for Wachovia Bank, National Association to the April 19, 2010 meeting. The motion was seconded by Council Member Smith. Motion to table was approved 7 - 0. PRIVILEGE LICENSE: There were none. FORMAL BUSINESS: (A) Appointment of Ward 3 and *Ward 4 Representatives to Tree Board MOTION: Council Member Anulewicz made a motion to appoint Sonya Ingle to the Tree Board as Ward 3 representative. Motion was approved 7 - 0. MOTION: Council Member McNabb made a motion to appoint Mary Long to the Tree Board as Ward 4 representative. The motion was seconded by Council Member Pritchett. Motion was approved 7 - 0. (B) Proposed Utility Rate Changes Mr. Taylor stated inspection of the City's water and sewer infrastructure has revealed a need for repairs and upgrades. Mr. Taylor stated increases in wholesale water and sewer rates have been passed along by the Water Authority, and that a new rate structure is proposed to help support the additional costs. Mr. Taylor stated staff recommends approval of the proposed rate change with an effective date of May 1, 2010. MOTION: Council Member Wood made a motion to approve the utility rate changes as presented. The motion was seconded by Council Member Newcomb. Motion was approved 6 - 1, with Council Member McNabb in opposition. (C) Reappointment of Downtown Development Authority Members Mr. Taylor stated Kevin Drawe, Sean Murphy, Kimberly Gangemi, Jim Pitts, Eric Cash, Doug Stoner, Larry Freeman and Max Bacon are eligible for reappointment to the Downtown Development Authority for aone-year term to expire in April of 2011. MOTION: Council Member Lnenicka made a motion to reappoint the Downtown Development Authority members as identified for another one-year term. The motion was seconded. by Council Member Wood. Motion was approved 7 - 0. A~ri15, 2010 COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS: There were none. CONSENT AGENDA: (A) Approval of March 15, 2010 minutes (B) Approval to use Council Chambers on April 20, 2010 from 7:00-9:00 pm for a Bennett Woods HOA meeting (Ward 7) (C) Approve a hardware maintenance agreement with Continuant, Inc. for the city's Cisco network equipment and authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement (D) Abandon the existing drainage easement from Rosa Lee Pilgram dated April 20, 1994 recorded in Deed Book 8400 page 200 in the Cobb County deed records and exchange this easement for a drainage easement in Grady Manor Subdivision as shown on the subdivision plat and authorize the mayor to execute a quit claim deed conveying such easement to Community Bank Of The South, the present property owner (E) Approval of HITECH Act -Business Associate Agreement MOTION: Council Member Wood made a motion to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Council Member Smith. Motion was approved 7 - 0. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Council Member Pritchett yielded the floor with no report. Council Member Newcomb stated the AJC Reach newspaper contains a telephone number residents can call to request discontinuation of delivery of this publication. Council Member Anulewicz encouraged everyone to enjoy the outdoors in the central city area while the weather is pleasant. Council Member McNabb commented favorably about the musical performance by Anna and Jada Washington, and stated he would like to see local talent showcased more often. Council Member McNabb expressed thanks to the members of First United Methodist Church for the floral decoration displayed on Easter. Mayor Bacon commented favorably about similar Easter decoration at Hurt Road Baptist Church. Council Member Smith reminded everyone to drive carefully and respond to the census promptly. Council Member Lnenicka commented on the significance of Easter to the Christian community and the many blessings we all enjoy. Council Member Wood yielded the floor with no report. April 5. 2010 4 Mayor Bacon stated there are many venues in Smyrna suitable for a variety of events and activities. Mayor Bacon congratulated the owners of Jonquil Sporting Goods for many years of service to the Smyrna community. CITIZENS INPUT: Mayor Bacon recognized Ms. Judy Ussing, residing at 1005 Mill Pond Drive, who expressed views concerning what she considers to be limited notification to taxpayers about a 2008 bond issue for the purchase of the Highlands Apartments. Ms. Ussing expressed the view that the amount of the bond issue seems quite high in relation to the value of the property. Ms. Using expressed the view that a lack of citizen input creates an atmosphere of mistrust. Ms. Using expressed the view that the City's public safety personnel should get a pay raise, and that the bond interest rate seems high. Ms. Using enumerated costs associated with the bond issue. Mayor Bacon recognized Ms. Mary Kirkendoll, residing at 1078 Oakview, and Ms. Kirkendoll expressed views concerning an article in the Marietta Daily Journal about economic development. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. April 5, 2010 5 ~~~r~- TERI ANULEWIC ,WARD 3 A. MAX BACON, MAYOR '~-'/ ~ (~ 1 ~ ~~( ~ENY` T HETT, WARD 1 i wD. SMITH, WARD 5 ~ ~~~ ~1 CHARLES PETE WOOD, WARD 7 SU AN D. HIOTT, CITY CLERK ~~~ RON NEWCOMB, WARD 2 WADE S CKA, WARD 6 Cover Memo Page 1 of 1 MEETING OF: April 5, 2010 WARD: Ward 7 COMMITTEE: Finance and Administration $ IMPACT: $1,961,188 AGENDA TITLE: Proposed Utility Rate Changes (PW) ISSUE: Wholesale water rates are increasing 11% annually; wholesale sewer rates are increasing 4% annually. In i~ addition, several years of video review of water and sewer lines have revealed repairs and upgrades needed to many of the older systems, some of which date back to the 1950's and 1960's. BACKGROUND: Increasing utility wholesale rates and system upgrades have added $1.5+ million in costs to the utility fund in FY 2011. To support these additional costs a new rate structure is proposed. This new structure will add an additionnal water tier. The first tier rate will remain at the current rate of $2.95 per thousand gallons for the first 3,000 gallons. The base rate will remain at the current rate of $14.25. The additional tiers are priced as follows: Tier 2 - $3.86 per thousand gallons for 4,000 through 7,000 gallons Tier 3 - $4.83 per thousand gallons for 8,000 through 14,000 gallons Tier 4 - $5.66 per thousand gallons for 15,000 gallons up Multifamily/Commercial rate - $3.86 for all usage The proposed sewer rate is $6.55. The proposed rate structure will cost the residential consumer of 2,000 gallons an additional $1.12 monthly and of 5,000 gallons an additional $4.62 monthly. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the proposed rate structure to cover increasing wholesale and capital upgrade costs. REQUESTED ACTION: Please adopt the proposed rate structure. Viewing Attachments Requires Adobe Acrobat. Click here to download. Attachments 1 click to download utility rate analysis http://muniagendaJIntranet/Bluesheet.aspx?ItemID=2023&MeetingID=277 4/16/2010 City of Smyrna, Georgia