Official minutes of the December 18, 2014 council meeting

Approved by City Council January 15, 2015

 

The council meeting was called to order by Mayor Rozier with Councilman Grizzard giving the invocation.   Councilmembers Grizzard, Key, Myrick, Otto, Attorney Raymond Dickey, City Administrator Charles Akridge and Asst. City Clerk Diane Proudfoot were present.  Councilmembers Kerby and Griffin were absent.

 

Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the draft copy of the minutes of the December 4, 2014 council meeting.  Councilman Otto seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the agenda of the December 18, 2014 meeting with the addition of Item #6 - Executive Session to discuss personnel matters.  Councilman Grizzard seconded the motion and it passed without opposition. 

 

The Public Hearing was opened by Mayor Rozier to receive citizen input on a Zoning Map Amendment submitted by Jimmy DeLoach Highway 80 Gateway, LLC for property located on US Highway 80 to the west of Jimmy DeLoach Parkway from RA-1 “Agricultural Mobile Home Residence” to C-2 “General Commercial”.

Comments were received from:

Parker Morgan, Attorney with Hunter, Maclean, Exley & Dunn who is representing Jimmy Deloach Gateway, LLC.  Mr. Morgan presented councilmembers with copies of the following:  Exhibit A – City of Bloomingdale Proposed Future Land Use for Jimmy DeLoach Parkway; Exhibit B – survey of the 10.93 acre property; and Exhibit C – Amendment to Petition (attached to minutes) 

Mr. Morgan addressed the following points:

1)     The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the rezoning request at their meeting.

2)     The City of Bloomingdale Proposed Future Land Use indicates proposed rezoning to C-2.

3)     The property owner cannot wait on the Jimmy DeLoach extension project.

4)     DOT has indicated they are appraising the property as C-2 for the highest & best use.

5)     The DOT property acquisition would leave approximately 4 acres for development as C-2.

6)     The corridor along Jimmy DeLoach extension would be logical commercial property.

Mr. Morgan requested that the City Council follow the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approve the rezoning of the property to C-2.  Attorney Dickey addressed the following points:  1) There is potential pending condemnation on the property by Chatham County for the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway project; 2) The property has a floodway demarcation and due to flooding issues the City does not wish to waive the right to enforce the floodway; 3) When the application was first submitted it included a “site plan” which indicated proposed buildings and other items that could be interpreted for construction but the process tonight is strictly for the zoning issue and does not deal with a site plan, approval of a site plan or any buildings. 4) There is no water or sewer available to this property and water/sewer issues would have to be negotiated during the development process.  Mr. Morgan emphasized that they are here to change the zoning only and would follow the regulations and develop the property based on the list of allowable uses in C-2 and acknowledged the items pointed out by Attorney Dickey would be addressed.

Mr. Marian Thomas Lanier, III (Jody) owner of the property just wanted to thank the Mayor and Council for considering the rezoning request.

There being no further comments Mayor Rozier closed the Public Hearing.            

 

Administrative & Committee reports:

Councilman Myrick reported that the Christmas Tree lighting was held last week with approximately 80 in attendance; there was also a dedication of the tree to honor former councilmember and business owner Mr. Karl “Bussey” Johnson who grew the tree and donated it to the city. 

 

City Administrator Akridge reported that one of the speed limit monitors arrived and should be seen in the next few weeks.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

1. Consider Planning Commission appointments.  Mayor Rozier stated that all four members serving in seats 1-4 are willing to continue to serve another term.  Councilwoman Key made a motion to approve the reappoints of the four members.  Councilman Gizzard seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.
2. Consider piping in of ditches at Ash and Oak Streets as a part of the Phase III Drainage Project at a cost of $7,996 dollars (Phase III Drainage Fund).  Councilman Otto stated there are issues in this area and the area is part of the Phase III project.  Councilman Otto made a motion to pipe the ditches at Ash and Oak Street as part of the Phase III Drainage Project at a cost of $7,996 from the Phase III Drainage Fund.  Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.
3. Consider entering into an Intergovernmental Agreement with Chatham County for Utility Relocation Design associated with the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway at US 80 Interchange Project.  City Administrator Akridge stated this is an Intergovernmental Agreement that Chatham County has approved and the City will receive $49,000 as part of the contract for the utility design services that are located in the path of the extension project.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the agreement with Chatham County.  Councilman Otto seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.    
4. Consider a Zoning Map amendment request submitted by Jimmy DeLoach Highway 80 Gateway, LLC for property located on US Highway 80 to the west of Jimmy DeLoach Parkway from RA-1 “Agricultural Mobile Home Residence to C-2 “General Commercial.  City Administrator Akridge stated the Planning Commission recommended approval and it is also in line with the proposed future master growth plan.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to support the Planning Commission recommendation and approve the zoning amendment from RA-1 to C-2.  Councilman Grizzard seconded the motion.  Mayor Rozier called for roll call vote of the motion:  Councilman Otto-yea; Councilman Myrick-yea; Councilwoman Key-yea; Councilman Grizzard-yea.  Motion passed. [Attorney Dickey’s comments:  1) There is potential pending condemnation on the property by Chatham County due to the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway; 2) The property has a floodway demarcation and due to flooding issues the City does not want to waive the right to inforce the floodway; 3) When the application was first submitted it included a “site plan” which indicated buildings and other items which could be proposed construction but the process tonight is strictly for the zoning issue and does not deal with a site plan, approval of a site plan or any buildings. 4) There is no water or sewer available to this property and would have to be negotiated during the development process.]
5. Consider rate increase for the Community Center rental fees. Inside City Limits $150 to $200 and Outside City Limits $200 to $250 effective January 1, 2015.  Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the rate increase to the Community Center rental:  Inside City Limits from $150 to $200 and outside city limits from $200 to $250 effective January 1, 2015.  Councilman Otto seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.

Councilman Otto made a motion to adjourn into executive session to discuss personnel issues.  Councilman Grizzard seconded the motion and it passed without opposition. 

At the conclusion of the executive session, Councilman Otto made a motion to return to regular session.  Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.  Councilman Myrick made a motion approve the execution of the affidavit as required by the Open Meetings Act.  Councilman Otto seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.

 

The accounts payables were presented with Councilman Myrick making a motion to pay the bills, Councilwoman Key seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.

 

There being no further business, Councilman Grizzard made a motion to adjourn at 7:38pm.  Councilman Otto seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Diane Proudfoot, Asst. City Clerk

 

Note:  Section § 50-14-1 of the Official Code of the State of Georgia Annotated requires that the minutes shall, as a minimum, include a description of each motion or other proposal made, and a record of all votes.  These minutes meet the minimum requirements.  However, in an attempt to provide as much information as possible to the citizens, the recording clerk has included additional background data and discussion on the subjects presented to council.  The statements of individuals are not verbatim and may be summary in nature.