Commission Meeting

COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Commission Chamber Tuesday, September 19, 2023 2:00 PM PRESENT Mayor Garnett Johnson Commissioner Jordan Johnson Commissioner Bobby Williams Commissioner Sean Frantom Commissioner Francine Scott Commissioner Catherine Smith-McKnight Commissioner Stacy Pulliam Commissioner Tony Lewis ABSENT Commissioner Brandon Garrett Commissioner Alvin Mason Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle INVOCATION Reverend Nadine Ellsworth-Moran, Associate Pastor, Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RECOGNITION(S) A. Congratulations! Augusta's 2023 August Years of Service (YOS) 25-50 year recipients. Presentations were made to the August Years of Service recipients. DELEGATION(S) B. Greater Augusta Arts Council regarding Public Art Update Gateway sculpture at Sand Bar Ferry Road; Murals by storm drains at RCBOE schools and upcoming sculptures and murals funded by private foundations, businesses, and donations. Presentation was made by Ms. Brenda Durant. C. Mr. James Williams regarding support in the renaming of the Augusta Riverwalk. Presentation was made by Mr. James Williams. D. Mr. Rick Johnson regarding the renaming of Augusta Riverwalk, etc. Presentation was made by Mr. Rick Johnson. E. Mr. Brian Green regarding review pre-existing neighborhood ordinances; or to implement more robust or effective ordinances. Presentation was made by Mr. Brian Green. CONSENT AGENDA (Items 1-24) PUBLIC SERVICES 1. Z-23-34 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve with the conditions a petition by Armanda Hemmingway on behalf of A Watson Properties-Southside, LLC requesting a rezoning from zone R-1A (One-family Residential) and B-2 (General Business) to zone B-2 (General Business) affecting properties containing approximately 1.1 acres located at 2300 Milledgeville Road and 1901 Olive Road. Tax Map #072-3-025-00-0 and #072-3-026-00-0. DISTRICT 2 Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 2. Z-23-39 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve with the conditions a petition by AMERCO Real Estate Company on behalf of Augusta Hotel Group, LLC requesting a rezoning from zone R-1A (One-family Residential) and B-2 (General Business) to zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing approximately 3.3 acres located at 1062 Claussen Road. Tax Map #012-0-014-02-0. DISTRICT 7 Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 3. Z-23-37 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to APPROVE with the conditions petition by Drayton Parker Companies on behalf of DOC MOB Augusta III, LLC requesting a rezoning from zone A (Agricultural) and B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing approximately 2.54 acres located at 3645- Wheeler Road. Tax Map #030-0-244-00-0. DISTRICT 3(Deferred from the September 5, 2023 meeting) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Pulliam, Lewis Voting Nay: Smith-McKnight Motion carries 6-1. Substitute motion to disapprove. Motion made by McKnight. Motion dies for lack of a second. 4. Z-23-38 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to approve with the conditions a petition by Drayton Parker Companies on behalf of COLCO Solutions LLC requesting a rezoning from zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing approximately 5.66 acres located at 1924 Barton Chapel Road. Tax Map #068-0-007-00-0. DISTRICT 5 (Deferred from the September 5, 2023 meeting) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. PUBLIC SERVICES 5. Motion to approve New Ownership/Existing Location: A.N. 23-35: A request by Jayendrakumar Suthar for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Country Corner #10 located at 3735 Mike Padgett Hwy. District 8. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee September 12 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 6. Motion to approve New Ownership/Existing Location: A.N. 23-36: A request by Irfan Uddin for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Good to Go 6 located at 3671 Peach Orchard Rd. District 6. Super District 10.(Approved by Public Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 7. Motion to approve New Ownership/Existing Location: A.N. 23-37: A request by Jay Wolszczak for an on-premises consumption Liquor, Beer, &Wine License to be used in connection with First Watch #6023 located at 630 Crane Creek Dr Ste 405. There will be Sunday Sales. District 7. Super District 10.(Approved by Public Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 8. Motion to approve Existing Location: A.N. 23-38: A request by Emanuel Hatzis for a consumption on premise Liquor License to be used in connection with Manny’s Sports Off Broad located at 215 10th Street. There will be Sunday Sales. District 1. Super District 9.(Approved by Public Services Committee September 12, 2023)  Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 9. Motion to approve On-Airport Lease Agreement for the term of October 1, 2023, thru September 30, 2043 with the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission on August 24, 2023.(Approved by Public Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 10. Motion to approve “Use of Property” Agreement for 2024 thru 2027 with Augusta Air Show, LLC for the Augusta Air Show. Approved by the Augusta Aviation Commission on August 24, 2023.(Approved by Administrative Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 11. Motion to approve the Mayor executing an MOU with Ft. Eisenhower (formerly Ft. Gordon) for compatible development criteria.(Approved by Public Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 12. Motion to establish a collaboration with Healthy Augusta Collaborative to create a Health Equity Action Plan for Augusta-Richmond County. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 13. Motion to approve utilizing state contract (#SWC 99999-SPD-SPD0000183-005) for the purchase of two Ford F150 Police Responders, at a total cost of $115,630 from Allan Vigil Ford for the Richmond County Marshals Office. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve.  Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 14. Motion to approve the submission of the FY2023 CoC Application to HUD and grant the Mayor the authority to execute all forms associated with the application, to include but not limited to: Submission of the Consolidated Community Application, Priority Listing and Exhibit 2 Project Applications, Certifications of Consistency (HUD 2991), Conditional Award Technical Submissions, New and Renewal Grant Agreements and Annual Progress Reports (APR). (Approved by Administrative Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 15. Motion to approve submission of Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) grant application for the Reconnect, Rejuvenate and Recharge the Broad Street Transfer Facility planning grant project and grant the Mayor authority to execute the necessary forms required for submission. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 16. Motion to approve renaming one of the Augusta Recreation athletic ball fields, at the Diamond Lakes Regional Park located at 4335 Windsor Spring Rd, Hephzibah, GA, in honor of Fred Ancil “Andy” Cheek, III. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to refer this item to the next Commission meeting. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 17. Motion to approve the renaming the Augusta Riverwalk Park to the name of Edward M. McIntyre, Sr. Riverwalk Park, and the Augusta 8th Street Plaza to the Edward M. McIntyre, Sr. Square at 8th Street, and placing his name on the entrance of the 8th Street bulkhead archway. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to refer this item to the next Commission meeting. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 18. Motion to approve the renaming of the Augusta Utilities/Engineering Building, located at 425 Walker Street, Augusta, GA, in honor of former Utilities Director Thomas D. Wiedmeier P.E. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to refer this item to the next Commission meeting.  Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. ENGINEERING SERVICES 19. Motion to approve the exchange of Water Main Easements on Washington Road. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 20. Motion to approve the dedication of Water and Sanitary Sewer in Porcelain Court. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. FINANCE 21. Motion to approve the Contribution Agreement between the Ga Association of Conservation Districts and Augusta-Richmond County Board of Commissioners. (Approved by Finance Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. 22. Motion to approve allocating funding in the amount of $50,000 to Garden City Rescue Mission using CDBG as the funding source. (Approved by Finance Committee September 12, 2023) It was the consensus of the Commission that this item be added to the agenda to be considered for deletion. Motion to delete this item from the agenda. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. PUBLIC SAFETY 23. Motion to approve VitalCore Health Strategies, LLC for the Richmond County Sheriff's Office Inmate Medical Contract pending execution of contract by the Mayor. The requested motion will be for a three (3) year contract with an option to extend for two (2) additional one (1) year terms. (Approved by Public Safety Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve.  Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 24. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of commission held September 5, 2023 and the Special Meeting held September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. ****END CONSENT AGENDA**** AUGUSTA COMMISSION AUGUSTA COMMISSION REGULAR AGENDA (Items 25-27) PUBLIC SERVICES 25. New Ownership/Existing Location: A.N. 23-34: A request by Urvashiben Patel for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with IN-N-OUT Market Lottery Store located at 2657 Barton Chapel Rd. District 4. Super District 9. (No recommendation by Public Services Committee September 12, 2023) Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Williams. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 26. Discuss and implement new policy for employees physically clocking in including SES employees. (Requested by Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Garrett) Motion to delete this item from the agenda. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Johnson. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 7-0. LEGAL MEETING A. Pending and Potential Litigation B. Real Estate C. Personnel 27. Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia's Open Meeting Act. ADDENDUM ITEM 1. Mr. Dan Funsch regarding the naming the Augusta Riverwalk. It was the consensus of the Commission that this item be added to the agenda without objection. Presentation is made by Mr. Funsch.