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03152004 March 15, 2004 Council Meeting March 15. 2004 - 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 except Council Member Pritchett. Also present were City Administrator Wayne Wright, City Clerk Susan Hiott, City Attorney Scott Cochran, Assistant Fire Chief Jason Lanyon, Finance Director Claudia Edgar, Public Works Director Scott Stokes, Police Chief Stan Hook, Library Director Michael Seigler, Parks and Recreation Director Steve Ciaccio, Keep Smyrna Beautiful Director Ann Kirk, Human Resources Director Chris Corey, City Engineer Ken Hildebrandt, Community Development Director Chris Miller, Community Relations Director Jennifer Bennett and representatives of the press. Invocation was given by Assistant Pastor Charles Lutz from Smyrna Presbyterian Church, followed by the pledge to the flag. AGENDA CHANGES: There were none. Mayor Bacon stated Council Member Pritchett is absent because of illness. CITIZENS INPUT: ... Mayor Bacon recognized Ms. Kirk, and Ms. Kirk recognized Mr. Reginald Pickett from the U.S. Postal Service and Ms. Sandi Sands representing Keep Smyrna Beautiful (KSB). Ms. Kirk stated the Smyrna Post Office will receive the Image Enhancement Award in recognition of the extensive renovations that have been made at that facility. The Award was presented to Mr. Pickett, and Mr. Pickett expressed appreciation for the Award and provided additional details regarding forthcoming improvements at the Smyrna Post Office to those present. Mr. Pickett commended the staff of Simply Flowers for the landscaping improvements at the postal facility, and praised numerous others for their contributions to the beautification effort. Mayor Bacon recognized Ms. Cathy Fink. Council Member Wood read a Proclamation for Alcohol Awareness Month 2004 to those present. Ms. Fink introduced PT A members and student representatives to those present, and a student representative provided details regarding efforts made to reduce the incidence of alcohol use by underage persons. Council Member Lnenicka expressed appreciation to Ms. Fink and the other individuals associated with the Underage Drinking Task Force for their efforts to reduce the use of alcohol by underage persons. Council Member Lnenicka provided details of an upcoming meeting for discussion of underage drinking prevention to those present. Mayor Bacon recognized Mr. Joe Burgess from Tree City USA. Mr. Burgess provided details concerning the criteria for attaining the Tree City USA designation to those present, and presented the Tree City USA Award to the Mayor and Council Members. Council Member Newcomb stated this award from Tree City USA is a significant distinction the City has garnered and one which is shared by the entire community. Mayor Bacon recognized Mr. Dan Bartlett, and Mr. Bartlett provided details of the upcoming Little League baseball season to those present. Mr. Bartlett expressed appreciation to the City, and particularly to the Parks and Recreation Department staff, for providing assistance. ... March IS. 2004 2 Mayor Bacon recognized Mr. Terry Schultz, and Mr. Schultz stated he is seeking assistance on behalf of Campbell High School (CHS) for some possible improvements to the sports facilities at that location. Mr. Schultz stated he plans to donate $3,000 for the purchase of cypress trees for the ball field area at CHS. Mr. Schultz discussed various other improvements he would like to see at the CHS sports facilities. Mayor Bacon stated that pertinent intergovernmental agreements will be reviewed and discussions will be conducted regarding possible improvements at the school's sports facilities. - MAYOR'S REPORT: Mayor Bacon had nothing to report. LAND ISSUES/ZONINGS/ ANNEXA nONS: There were none. FORMAL BUSINESS: There was none. COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS: There were none. CONSENT AGENDA: (A) Approval of March 1,2004 Minutes - (B) Approval to use the Council Chambers on Thursday, March 25, 2004, from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. for a Ward 6 meeting (Vinings Forest HOA Meeting) (C) Approval to Install Speed Humps on Belmont Avenue It is anticipated that four speed humps will be installed on Belmont Avenue between Davis Street and Reed Street. Belmont Avenue was recently annexed into the City. A petition for speed humps has been received from property owners along Belmont Avenue. The City Engineer has reviewed the petition and recommends approval. (D) Approval of Transfer of Funds from Contingency to the Administrative Travel Account Approval of transfer of $3,398 from Contingency to the Administrative Travel Account is requested to fund moving expenses for the City Administrator. (E) Approval of Transfer of Funds from Contingency to the Community Relations Department Approval oftransfer of $7,624 from Contingency to the Community Relations Department is requested to pay for an advertisement in Georgia Trend magazine regarding the City of Excellence Award. MOTION: Council Member Scoggins made a motion to approve the consent agenda. The Motion was seconded by Council Member Smith. Motion was approved 6 - O. - March 15, 2004 3 COMMITTEE REPORTS: - Council Member Newcomb recognized Mr. MilIer, and Mr. MilIer provided current building permit statistics to those present. Council Member Newcomb recognized Mr. Stokes, and Mr. Stokes provided details of current public works projects to those present. Council Member Newcomb recognized Ms. Kirk, who provided details of recent Keep Smyrna Beautiful activities to those present. Ms. Kirk expressed appreciation to everyone who assisted with these recent projects. Council Member Newcomb thanked Ms. Kirk and Mr. Miller for the efforts they have made which have helped make it possible for the City to receive the Tree City USA Award. Council Member Scoggins recognized Ms. Hiott, who provided details to those present concerning recent annexations, court service operations, and the City's website. Council Member McNabb recognized Ms. Bennett, and Ms. Bennett advised that City of Excellence banners are in place in the Market Village complex. Ms. Bennett stated the new calendars of events were sent out with water bills recently, and that many interesting activities available to citizens are listed therein. Council Member McNabb stated that during the month of May, the City will be hosting a special event by the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association, as well as a Memorial Day Celebration at the Veterans Memorial. - Council Member McNabb recognized Mr. Ciaccio, and Mr. Ciaccio provided details of upcoming youth athletic events to those present. Mr. Ciaccio stated that copies of the current Instructional Classes and Recreational Activities Guide are available at the Community Center and other City buildings. Mr. Ciaccio provided details of an upcoming women's self defense course which will be available, and an outdoor movie event which will be available to citizens at no charge. Council Member McNabb recognized Mr. Seigler, and Mr. Seigler provided details of current library use statistics to those present. Mr. Seigler provided details of upcoming library programs and events to those present, including a town hall meeting with Senator Ginger Collins on Thursday evening. Council Member McNabb stated that the recent town hall meeting at the City Library with Congressman Lewis was a well-attended and successful event. Council Member Smith recognized Mr. Corey, and Mr. Corey provided details to those present regarding positions for which the City is presently recruiting. Mr. Corey stated the employees appreciation luncheon held last Wednesday was enjoyed by all who attended, and Mr. Corey thanked the Mayor and Council Members for making this function possible. Council Member Lnenicka recognized Chief Hook, and Chief Hook presented statistics concerning current City police operations to those present. - Council Member Lnenicka recognized Assistant Fire Chief Lanyon, and Assistant Fire Chief Lanyon provided to those present details regarding a fire department training exercise recently conducted at the Brawner Facility. Assistant Fire Chief Lanyon thanked the Mayor and Council Members for the opportunity to conduct this very realistic and valuable training experience. Council Member Lnenicka provided details to those present concerning measures discussed with Assistant Fire Chief Lanyon for preventing fires such as the one which occurred in a night club in Rhode Island the previous year. Assistant Fire Chief Lanyon commended the Mayor and March 15, 2004 4 Council Members for helping to enable the City's fire department to respond rapidly to emergencies by providing for the department's needs. Assistant Fire Chief Lanyon pointed out that rapid response times can make a critical difference when emergencies arise. Assistant Fire Chief Lanyon stated that efforts to improve the City's fire and EMS service will continue, and that he is glad to be a part of a fire department that is focused on prevention. - Council Member Lnenicka stated that he is looking forward to meeting with residents ofVinings Forest on Thursday evening when they gather for their HOA meeting at City Hall. Council Member Lnenicka stated that it is still possible to support the Veterans Memorial through paver purchases. Council Member Lnenicka stated his mother was recently released from the hospital, and he wished her a speedy recovery. Council Member Lnenicka commented about the recent terrorist attack in Madrid, and stated that this unfortunate event underscores the fact that there are times when freedom must be defended. Council Member Wood recognized Ms. Edgar, and Ms. Edgar stated that citizens can now pay City utility bills online. Ms. Edgar stated that the fiscal year 2005 budget process is currently in progress. Council Member Wood stated the complete impact of homestead exemption on revenues is not yet known, and that the City will be relying on growth to provide new revenues. Mr. Wright stated a reception was recently held for Chief Larry Williams, who will be retiring from the City fire department soon. Mr. Wright expressed appreciation to Chief Williams for his many years of service to the City and his many accomplishments as a fire chief. - CITIZENS INPUT: Mayor Bacon recognized Mrs. Jean Martin, residing at 3435 Lee Street, who expressed the view that properties annexed into the City should have Smyrna mailing addresses. Mayor Bacon stated that zip code boundaries have no real relationship to the corporate limits of a municipality. Mayor Bacon stated it is extremely difficult to change zip code boundaries, although the City's leadership has attempted to work through official channels to accomplish such a change. Council Member Wood provided additional details regarding the efforts which have been made to change the mailing addresses of some City residents. Council Member Wood stated this project has been under way for about seven years, and that considerable effort has been made to try to accomplish this mailing address change. Mayor Bacon thanked Mr. Pickett for attending this meeting. Mayor Bacon provided some details concerning the operations at the Smyrna Post Office to those present. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m. - March 15, 2004 5 - /,:J-o, /' L- ~/ ' ;:;;;::r , A. MAX BACON, MAYOR . ~ SU AN D. HIOTT, CITY CLERK ~,,~ RON NEWCOMB, WARD 2 h~Y~~ . BILL SCOGGINS, I RD 3 - ~;g.:d:J W~ CHARLES PETE WOOD, WARD 7 -