City Council

January 29, 2016 STATE OF ALABAMA, LIMESTONE COUNTY, CITY OF ATHENS. The City Council of the City of Athens, Alabama met in special session at the Athens Police Department Court Room, 951 Hobbs Street East in the said City on January 29, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Councilman Wayne Harper, President of the Council. Upon roll call the following were found to be present: Councilmember Chris Seibert, Harold Wales, Joseph Cannon and Wayne Harper. Councilmember Jimmy Gill was absent. Mayor Marks led the Pledge of Allegiance. Annette Barnes, City Clerk, was present and recorded the minutes of the meeting. Joseph Cannon offered the invocation. The Chairperson stated that a quorum was present and that the meeting was open for transaction of business. The following individuals addressed the Council in support of building a new high school and the proposed Council resolution to help finance the cost of construction: 1. Ralph Diggins, 100 Willow Street, Athens 2. Tom Hill, 23368 Piney Creek Drive, Athens 3. Jerry Hill, 14353 Crooked Stock Place, Athens 4. Al Bush, 1421 Redbud Street, Athens 5. Jennifer Kennedy, 17544 Glaze Road, Athens 6. Beverly Malone, Board Member, Athens City Board of Education, 1203 West Elm Street, Athens 7. Tim Green, Board Member, Athens City Board of Education, 17778 Remington Drive, Athens The following resolution was made for introduction only by Councilman Seibert; RESOLUTION NUMBER ____________ A RESOLUTION CONCERNING A NEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR ATHENS CITY SCHOOLS WHEREAS, the City Council and the Athens City Board of Education (the “Board”) have determined that it is necessary and in the public interest that a new high school be constructed to serve the citizens of the City; WHEREAS, the City Council, at the request of the Board, wishes to devote certain already-existing funds and expected revenues to finance the cost of the new capital facilities of the Board, without any increase whatsoever in taxation; WHEREAS, the City Council understands that this Resolution will make certain funds available for use in financing the cost of the new capital facilities, and that any instruments financing those facilities will be brought before the City Council for its review and consideration; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that this action serves a valuable public purpose.  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, ALABAMA on ____________ __, 2016 at _____ p.m., as follows: 1. In addition to any other funds directed by the City to public school purposes and commencing with the 2016-17 fiscal year, the City does hereby appropriate and commit, from the City’s General Fund, no more than $300,000.00 per year for a period of six (6) years to the Board, to be used in connection with constructing and financing new capital facilities for the Board. More specifically, the City hereby appropriates $300,000.00 per fiscal year during such period, unless the City Council has, prior to the commencement of a fiscal year, reduced such amount for that fiscal year upon a recommendation and finding by the City Clerk and Mayor that a lower amount will suffice because the funds are not needed by the Board to support its operational expenses and the debt service related to the Board’s capital facilities. To facilitate the City Clerk’s and Mayor’s assessment of the financial operational needs of the Board on an annual basis, the Board’s Chief School Financial Officer shall submit a copy of the Board’s approved annual budget no later than September 1st prior to the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1st. 2. The City Council has already earmarked 20% of the proceeds from the one cent sales tax levied by Ordinance No. 2012-1861 to the Board, and the City Council (via Resolution No. 2015-1443) has directed that most of those proceeds be used for Phase Three of the Power Up program through September 30, 2016. Beginning on October 1, 2016, all 20% of those proceeds (as identified in City Code § 18-355(a)(3)), including all such proceeds on hand and received thereafter, shall be appropriated and expended by the City for the payment of the City’s debt service associated with the construction and financing of capital facilities for the Board. ADOPTED this the _____ day of ___________, 2016. ___________________________________________ WAYNE HARPER, CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CERTIFICATION OF CITY CLERK STATE OF ALABAMA ) LIMESTONE COUNTY )  I, Annette Barnes, City Clerk of the City of Athens, Alabama, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of a Resolution duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Athens, Alabama, on the ____ day of _______, 2016. Witness my hand and seal of office this ___ day of __________________, 2016. ____________________________________ Annette Barnes, City Clerk * * * There being no further business to come before the meeting, the same was, upon motion by Councilman Wales and second by Councilman Cannon, duly and properly adjourned. /s/ Wayne Harper PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL ATTEST: /s/ Annette Barnes CITY CLERK