Commission Meeting

COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Commission Chamber Tuesday, April 02, 2024 2:00 PM PRESENT Mayor Garnett Johnson Commissioner Brandon Garrett Commissioner Jordan Johnson Commissioner Bobby Williams Commissioner Alvin Mason Commissioner Sean Frantom Commissioner Francine Scott Commissioner Catherine Smith-McKnight Commissioner Stacy Pulliam Commissioner Tony Lewis Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle INVOCATION Reverend Eugene Beverly, Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONSENT AGENDA (Items 1-13) PUBLIC SERVICES 1. Motion to approve A.N. 24-7 – Existing Location: Nader Khatib requesting to add liquor to their existing Beer and Wine consumption on premises alcohol license for Laziza Mediterranean Grill located at 901 Broad Street, District 1, Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee March 26, 2024) Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. 2. Motion to approve A.N. 24-8 - New Location: Rogelio E. Chavez requesting Consumption on Premises for Liquor, Beer and Wine with Sunday Sales for El Paso Tacos & Tequila located at  1167 Broad Street. District 1, Super District 9 (Approved by Public Services Committee March 26, 2024) Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. 3. Motion to approve A.N. 24-9 - New Location: Erika Rodrigues requesting Consumption on Premises for Liquor, Beer, and Wine, with Dance for Vivo Latin Lounge, LLC located at 3110B Washington Road. District 7, Super District 10 (Approved by Public Services Committee March 26, 2024) Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. 4. Motion to approve A.N. 24-10 - New Ownership (Existing Location): Maheshkumar Patel requesting Retail Package Beer, and Wine for A1 Stop Convenience Store located at 2382 Barton Chapel Road. District 5, Super District 9 (Approved by Public Services Committee March 26, 2024) Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. 5. Motion to approve A.N. 24-11 - New Location: Teodosio Estrada requesting Consumption on Premises for Liquor, Beer and Wine with Sunday Sales for Mi Rancho Mexican Restaurant located at 3626 Walton Way. District 3, Super District 10 (Approved by Public Services Committee March 26, 2024) Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. 6. Motion to approve A.N. 24-12 - New Ownership (Existing Location): Deep Patel requesting Retail Package Beer, and Wine for Gas World 21 located at 2320 Peach Orchard Road. District 2, Super District 9 (Approved by Public Services Committee March 26, 2024) Motion to approve.  Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 7. Motion to approve Design Concept Plan for Newman Tennis Center – Phase I, and continue with the Preliminary and Final Design Process. Concept Plans created by Project Manager – ISM. (Referred from March 12 Administrative Services Committee) ( (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 26, 2024) Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. 8. Motion to approve request to enter Agreement with Augusta, GA (c/o HCD) and Community Foundation of the CSRA (CFCSRA). (b) To accept grant funds from CFCSRA. (c.) To instruct the Finance Dept. to add available funding to HCD’s budget for immediate use and implementation (upon receipt and Finance grant application completion). (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 26, 2024) Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. ENGINEERING SERVICES 9. Motion to approve dedication of Water and Sanitary Sewer for Laurel Park, Phase II. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee March 26, 2024) Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. 10. Motion to approve Dedication of Water and Sanitary Sewer from Gun Club Investors commercial subdivision and Dedication of Sanitary Sewer from Rush Trucking. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee March 26, 2024) Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. FINANCE 11. Motion to approve renewal of Augusta POL/EPL Insurance with Premium Quote for 2024 – 2025 POL/EPL coverage with MarshMcLennan Agency, current broker, through insurance carrier RSUI for a premium of $70,760. (Approved by Finance Committee March 26, 2024) Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. PUBLIC SAFETY 12. Motion to approve the acceptance of a $100,000 VOCA Grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. (Approved by Public Safety Committee March 26, 2024) Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 13. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission held Tuesday, March 19, 2024 and the Special Called Meeting held Tuesday March 25, 2024. Motion to approve. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Scott. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. ****END CONSENT AGENDA**** AUGUSTA COMMISSION AUGUSTA COMMISSION REGULAR AGENDA (Items 14-22) PUBLIC SERVICES 14. Consider actions against the business and/or alcohol license of Smart Grocery and Ziden Grocery, LLC (Stop N’ Go) including probation, up to termination. (Requested by Commissioner Bobby Williams deferred from the March 19, 2024 Commission Meeting) Motion to approve placing these businesses on six months' probation. Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Frantom.  No action is taken on this motion due to the passage of the substitute motion. Substitute motion to leave the situation with both businesses as it currently is with no probation. Motion made by Guilfoyle, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Voting Nay: Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom Motion carries 6-4. 15. Motion to rescind the 6 months probation for club Climax AKA Club Rain 1855 Gordon Hwy for failure to comply with ARC alcohol ordinance. (Requested by Commissioner Stacy Pulliam deferred from the March 19, 2024 Commission Meeting) Motion to approve rescinding the action for six months' probation. Motion made by Pulliam, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Johnson, Williams, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Voting Nay: Garrett, Mason, Frantom Motion carries 7-3. 16. Discuss the Augusta Aviation Commission responsibilities and duties, as detailed in the Augusta Code.. (Requested by the Administrator's Office) Motion to approve holding a work session to discuss in detail the duties, powers, and responsibilities of the Aviation Commission under the Augusta Code with the Augusta Aviation Commission present. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Smith-McKnight. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 17. Motion to approve the creation of an “Augusta Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) Taskforce” and give authority to the Office of Administration/HCD to use identified budget funding ($30,000 max @ $15,000/office department) to support the initiative on behalf of Augusta, Georgia. (Requested by the Administrator's Office) Motion to approve. Motion made by Guilfoyle, Seconded by Frantom. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. 18. Request work session with the Augusta Land Bank Authority to discuss their duties, responsibilities and benefits of having a Land Bank Authority. (Requested by Commissioner Stacy Pulliam) Motion to approve with the work session to be held in the next 60 to 90 days.  Motion made by Williams, Seconded by Mason. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle Motion carries 10-0. FINANCE 19. Discuss processes and procedures of expenditure reports by the department heads and who approves the reports. (Requested by Commissioner Sean Frantom) (No recommendation from Finance Committee March 26, 2024) It was the consensus of the Commission that this item be deleted without objection. 20. Update on the Operational Audit. (Requested by Commissioner Catherine McKnight) It was the consensus of the Commission that this item be received as information without objection with an update to be provided on April 30. 21. Motion to complete an audit in 90 days on the Parks & Rec Dept. for 2021-2023 in the following areas: (Requested by Commissioner Sean Frantom) -Lake Olmstead detail expenditures and ledger codes -All Community Centers list of user groups and the dollar amount taken in with each group -River Walk Expenditures from all areas including the additional $150,000 for Eight Street Bulkhead -All Vendor Expenditures and the jobs they performed including consultants, lawn services, etc. -All park expenditures broken down by the park with the ledger codes (including Fleming Park) -All Hotel stays with locations by all employees in the department -Candle Light Jazz money totals for each date and how is the money was collected and used -IT department review of any deleted files for the department that are personnel or financial -Review all contracts of $25,000 or less for department head signature on the document Plus, bring back recommendations of what we can make automated vs. paper (Ex. green notebook situation). Motion to approve having an external audit of the Parks and Recreation Department using the proper procurement procedures. Motion made by Frantom, Seconded by Guilfoyle. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Mason, Frantom, Smith-McKnight, Guilfoyle Voting Nay: Williams, Scott, Pulliam, Lewis Motion carries 6-4. LEGAL MEETING A. Pending and Potential Litigation B. Real Estate C. Personnel 22. Motion to authorize execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of compliance with Georgia's Open Meeting Act. ADDENDUM ITEM 1. A request to approve a consumption on premises for liquor, beer, and wine license for K and J Soulbar and Grill located at 720 East Robinson Avenue. (Requested by Commissioner Alvin Mason) Motion made to add this item to the agenda and approve it. Motion made by Smith-McKnight, Seconded by Mason. Voting Yea: Garrett, Johnson, Williams, Mason, Frantom, Scott, Smith-McKnight, Pulliam, Lewis, Guilfoyle. Motion carries 10-0.