Commission Meeting

COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Commission Chamber Tuesday, March 21, 2023 2:00 PM PRESENT Mayor Garnett Johnson Commissioner Brandon Garrett Commissioner Jordan Johnson Commissioner Alvin Mason Commissioner Sean Frantom Commissioner Francine Scott Commissioner Catherine Smith-McKnight Commissioner Stacy Pulliam Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle ABSENT Commissioner Bobby Williams Commissioner Tony Lewis INVOCATION Reverend Terri Degenhardt, Priest in Charge, St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RECOGNITION(S) A. February Years of Service Recognition Presentations are made to the February Years of Service recipients. DELEGATION(S) B. Mr. Kevin Delaigle regarding the status of the City’s Cemetery Perpetual Care Commission. It was the consensus of the Commission that this item be received as information. C. Mr. Moses Todd representing I love Augusta Inc. regarding addressing media misinformation and character assassination by TAP in defense of Commissioner Stacy Pulliam. Presentation is made by Mr. Todd. D. Mr. Christopher Vega regarding funding for his non-profit organization. Presentation is made by Mr. Vega.  CONSENT AGENDA (Items 1-22) PLANNING 1. Z-23-06 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to APPROVE a petition by Saurin Patel on behalf of CSRA Capital Holdings, LLC., – requesting a rezoning from zone A (Agriculture) to zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing approximately 1.39-acres located at 703 & 709 E. Robinson Avenue. Tax Map #078-0-017-00-0 and 078-0-018-00-0. DISTRICT 3 Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 2. Z-23-07 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to APPROVE a petition by Alex Becker on behalf of A Becker Holdings LLC – requesting a rezoning from zone R-1A (One-family Residential) to zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing approximately 1.50-acres out of 3.48-acres located at 1801 Lumpkin Road. Tax Map #111-1-024-00-0. DISTRICT 2 Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 3. Z-23-08 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to APPROVE a petition by Stratosphere Investments, LLC – requesting a rezoning from zone R-1A (One-family Residential) to zone R-1B (One-family Residential) affecting property containing approximately 0.73-acres located at 3029 Cardinal Drive. Tax Map #043-1-104-00-0. DISTRICT 3 Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 4. Z-23-09 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to APPROVE a petition by Jeremy Brackman on behalf of CSRA Homebuyer, LLC – requesting a rezoning from zone R-1C (One-family Residential) to zone R-1D (One-family Residential) affecting property containing approximately 0.43-acres located at 927 Russell Street. Tax Map #045-1-046-00-0. DISTRICT 1 Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 5. Z-23-10 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to DENY a petition by Bourne Properties, Inc on behalf of Debra Bourne– requesting a rezoning from zone R-1A (One-family Residential) to zone R-1E (One-family Residential) affecting property containing approximately 5.33-acres located at 2715 Mayo Road. Tax Map #006-0-013-00-0. DISTRICT 7 Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle PUBLIC SERVICES 6. Motion to approve New Location: A.N. 23-10: request by James Edward Miller for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Circle K Stores, Inc #2707036 located at 1600 Barton Chapel Rd. District 5. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 14, 2023) District 5. Super District 9. Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 7. Motion to approve New Ownership/Existing Location: A.N. 23-11: A request by Pratik J. Patel for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Country Corner 11 located at 4630 Mike Padgett Hwy. District 8. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 14, 2023) District 8. Super District 10. Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 8. Motion to approve a new Commercial Plan Resubmission Fee. (Ordinance 7680 Update) (Approved by Public Services Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 9. Motion to approve Consulting Services Agreement with Alfred Benesch & Company in the amount of $113,600.00 for Rehabilitation of Augusta Regional Airport Existing Long-Term Parking Lot A, Phase 1 Design Services. Approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission on February 23, 2023. (RFQ 22-282) (Approved by Public Services Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 10. Motion to approve allocating funding in the amount of $580,000 in the Recreation Department's budget through SPLOST 7 using the competitive bid process for mold remediation at the Boathouse, to procure other bids for the repairs to the deck and the remainder of the construction/rehabilitation work and to take care of the needs of the Rowing Club. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve referring this item back to the next Public Services Committee meeting in 30 days in order to discuss the costs for the demolition of the present Boathouse building and to determine a path forward to provide for the current needs of the Augusta Rowing Club. Motion made by Guilfoyle, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 11. Motion to approve the Planning & Development to draft potential updates to the occupational tax and alcohol licensing ordinances. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 12. Motion to approve the purchase of one 2023 John Deere 5090E tractor, at a total cost of $66,200 from Blanchard Equipment Company of Augusta, GA (Bid #22-302) for the Utilities Department – Fort Gordon Division.(Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 13. Motion to approve the renewal of the Intergovernmental Service Agreement between Augusta and the Augusta Richmond County Coliseum Authority in the amount of $120,000. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 14. Motion to approve the purchase of two 2023 Dodge Rams, at a total cost of $85,138 from Thomson Motor Centre of Thomson, GA for the Utilities Department – Engineering Division. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle ENGINEERING SERVICES 15. Motion to authorize the execution of a Joint Funding Agreement with the U. S. Department of the Interior U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the operation, modeling and analyzing of monitoring wells to investigate water levels and water quality for Augusta's groundwater production facilities. The request is to include an annual renewal for an additional three years unless the cost increases above $150,000 in any year. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle PUBLIC SAFETY 16. Motion to approve/acceptance – FY 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). (Approved by Public Safety Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 17. Motion to approve the emergency purchase of ammunition for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Training Division. (Approved by Public Safety Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 18. Motion to approve the emergency purchase of ammunition for the Richmond County Sheriff’s SWAT Team. (Approved by Public Safety Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 19. Motion to approve Accountability Court applying for BJA FY23 Adult Treatment Court Grant. (Approved by Public Safety Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle APPOINTMENT(S) 20. Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Maggie Pritchard to the Citizens Small Business Advisory Board representing District 8 Motion to approve.  Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle 21. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Michael Thurman to the Augusta Port Authority representing District 8 beginning April 1, 2023. Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 22. Motion to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting held March 7, 2023 and the Special Called Meeting held March 14, 2023. Motion to approve. Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle ****END CONSENT AGENDA**** AUGUSTA COMMISSION AUGUSTA COMMISSION REGULAR AGENDA (Items 23-25) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 23. Receive as information a presentation from Destination Augusta. (Deferred from the March 14, 2023 Administrative Services Committee) Motion to receive this item as information without objection. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Pulliam. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle PUBLIC SAFETY 24. Motion to approve implementing the program/ presentation by Ms. Carrie Ducote from Best Friends Animal Society regarding an introduction of a new way to manage outdoor cats that is more effective and fiscally responsible than the current method of trapping and euthanizing. Tasking the Director of Animal Services to proceed with the next step to move forward with an ordinance amendment to exempt fixed cats who are not a nuisance from mandatory impoundment. (No recommendation from Public Safety Committee March 14, 2023) Motion to approve referring this item back to the next Public Safety Committee meeting on April 11.  Motion made by Garrett, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Guilfoyle LEGAL MEETING A. Pending and Potential Litigation B. Real Estate C. Personnel 25. Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia's Open Meeting Act.