Official Minutes of the April 21, 2016 Council Meeting
Approved by City Council at the May 5, 2016 Council Meeting
The council meeting was called to order by Mayor Rozier with Councilman Myrick giving the invocation. Councilmembers Griffin, Grizzard, Kerby, Myrick, Otto, Attorney Raymond Dickey, City Administrator Charles Akridge and City Clerk Diane Proudfoot were present. Councilwoman Key was out of town.
Mayor Rozier welcomed everyone to the meeting and took a moment to address a letter in which someone wrote a note stating “a vote will take place at the City Council meeting to change the zoning along Walnut Street that could bring 128 low income rental apartments”, attached it over an official city letter, copied and was distributing it throughout the city. Mayor Rozier informed citizens that a request was submitted from a property owner requesting to change the zoning of their property but there has not been any plans submitted for any type development. Mayor Rozier also expressed that any correspondence being sent out by the City would be official, type written and delivered through the US Postal Service.
Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the draft copy of the minutes of the April 7th council meeting. Councilman Grizzard seconded the motion and it passed without opposition. Councilman Myrick made a motion to approve the agenda of the April 21, 2016 meeting with the removal of items #1 and #2 and add an Executive Session to discuss attorney/client privilege. Attorney Dickey explained that items #1 & #2 involved a rezoning request submitted by Ike LaRoche and Planning Commission held a public hearing at their meeting on April 12th and tabled the issue thus this item was improperly before city council at this time; before Council can take action Planning Commission will either meet again and take action or at the end of 30 days the matter will be deemed approved by the Planning Commission but City Council will make the official decision on the request. This item will be on the Planning Commission agenda for the May 10th meeting and on the Council agenda for the May 19th meeting. The process tonight will be for the Public Hearing but no action will be taken. After that clarification, Councilman Otto seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.
Mayor Rozier turned the floor over to Judge Tom Edenfield who introduced Judge Morse who has been in public office in Chatham County for over 25 years, serving as Assistant DA, State Court Judge and for over 21 years has been Superior Court Judge in Chatham County; he is the first African American to graduate from Country Day, graduated from Mercer University, has been an outstanding Superior Court Judge, is a man of high integrity and is also a Minister. Judge Morse thanked Mayor, Council and citizens for allowing him to introduce himself and stated he has been in Chatham County all of his life and has been in public service for 25 years serving on the bench and 9 years serving as Assistant District Attorney. Judge Morse states he is seeking the Superior Court Judge seat and would continue his work with passion, great integrity, be deliberate without prejudgment and would appreciate it if you would vote for Johnny Morse, Jr. for Superior Court Judge on May 24th.
Judge Edenfield preformed the Swearing-In Ceremony of Bloomingdale Police Chief Ashley Blair Jeffcoat.
Mayor Rozier introduced Kay Ford, with Bank South who introduced Tammie Mosley who is seeking election for Clerk of Superior Court. Ms. Mosley thanked Mayor and Council for allowing her to introduce herself stating that she has been an Attorney for 22 years and has served as Attorney to the Superior Court Judiciary for 13 years. Ms. Mosley stated that the current Clerk of Superior Court, Dan Massey is retiring and she would greatly appreciate your vote on May 24th.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilwoman Griffin stated that baseball, softball and soccer are well underway and the circus came in town Wednesday and are finishing up tonight.
Councilman Grizzard reminded everyone that the senior luncheon will be held on May 10th at noon at the Community Building.
PUBLIC HEARING – Rezoning request submitted by Ike LaRoche for property located at 211 Walnut Street and to the south of Walnut Street.
Mayor Rozier opened the public hearing to receive citizen input regarding a request submitted by Ike LaRoche requesting to rezoning his two properties from R-1 (One Family Residential) to R-3 (Multi-Unit Residential). City Administrator Akridge stated that Mr. LaRoche was unable to attend.
The follow comments were received:
Michael Buss - 203 Cherry Street stated the area is beautiful and he would not like to see this area change.
Craig Arledge - 107 W. Main Street stated he attended and spoke at the Planning Commission and voiced his concern that everything he has spent his life time investing in would be devalued by allowing this type zoning to take place; he has a concern regarding the traffic issues and safety of the children that would be a result of multi-unit residential. Councilwoman Griffin interjected that the letter that was being distributed was a falsified letter and she hopes he does not base his opinion on that letter in which Mr. Arledge stated he has not seen the letter and is strictly concerned about the value of his lifetime investments and safety.
Marie Maddox - 9 Walnut Street who has lived here for over 35 years and wishes to continue living here – her concern is that traffic would be greatly increased with any type of multi-family development and secondly this area has always been single family and doesn’t feel that multi-family would be a good choice; she also stated that there is going to be enough of a change when the Jimmy DeLoach extension goes through.
Joy Larrick – owner of property at 309 Walnut Street questioned if Mr. Kerby should be participating in the discussion and was advised by Attorney Dickey that this was a public hearing only and council is not taking any action; she stated she is concerned about how citizens are notified and Attorney Dickey advised her that law and city ordinance requires that a notice be published in the legal organ of the city and that adjoining property owners be notified; she also questioned the 30 day issue, when City Council will make a decision on this issue and how will citizens know. Ms. Larrick was advised that it would be on the May 19th Council agenda and the May 10th Planning Commission agenda and the agenda will be posted at city hall.
Councilman Kerby stated that he wished to address some of the untrue statements and advised that he has no interest in pursuing Section 8 housing developments nor does he have an interest in purchasing any more property.
Dennis Burgess – 5 W. Cregor Street owner of two lots adjoining Mr. LaRoche’s property stated his concerns are with where the entrance would be and is concerned that should the property be rezoned to R-3 there could potentially be 64 housing units using the dirt road that he lives on and he is frustrated and apprehensive about the potential development and the affect it could have on this area.
There being no further comments Mayor Rozier closed the public hearing.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Consider a preliminary site plan for Continue Care Retirement Community submitted by Coleman Company on behalf of Herb Black. City Administrator Akridge stated that Planning Commission recommends approval of the site plan. Greg Coleman of Coleman Company was available for any questions. Councilman Grizzard made a motion to approve the site plan as recommended by Planning Commission with the addition to note #1 that water and sewer shall be serviced in accordance with the Water/Sewer Agreement and #2 should meet the requirements of the Sign Ordinance. Mr. Coleman acknowledged that this would be added. Councilman Myrick seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.
Councilman Myrick made a motion to adjourn into Executive Session to discuss attorney/client privilege. Councilman Grizzard seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.
At the conclusion of the executive session, Councilman Myrick made a motion to return to the general session and execute the affidavit as required by the Open Meetings Law. 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, Councilman Kerby seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.
There being no further business, Councilman Myrick made a motion to adjourn at 8:17pm. Councilman Otto seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Proudfoot, 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.