Commission Meeting

COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Commission Chamber Tuesday, January 06, 2026 2:00 PM PRESENT: Mayor Garnett Johnson Mayor Pro Tem Wayne Guilfoyle Commissioner Jordan Johnson Commissioner Stacy Pulliam Commissioner Catherine Rice Commissioner Lonnie Wimberly Commissioner Don Clark Commissioner Tony Lewis Commissioner Tina Slendak Commissioner Brandon Garrett Commissioner Francine Scott INVOCATION Pastor Luke Niday, Assistant Pastor, Local Outreach and Mercy, First Presbyterian Church Augusta PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RECOGNITION(S) A. Congratulations! United Youth Football League Division 2 National Champions (UYFL). The 12U Hit Squad, representing the Trinity Elite Titans Youth Sports Organization, is a championship team built largely from student athletes in Augusta, Georgia. (Requested by Commissioner Lonnie Wimberly) Presentations were made to the organization accordingly in honor of their accomplishment. DELEGATION(S) B. Ms. Debra Estep regarding concerns about unmarked cars showing up and trespassing on neighbor's property without warrant. Method of request for accountability and protection; "Tenant Protection Concerns" Presentation made accordingly. 1  C. Mr. Mario Burch - discuss funding being reinstated for Mach Academy at Fleming Park in Augusta. Presentation made accordingly. D. Mr. Lawrence Brannen relative to the 2026 budget adoption that impacted discretionary NGOs (nonprofits). Request deleted at the request of Mr. Brannen. E. Ms. Linda Williams regarding Public Sewer infrastructure expansion policies and procedures. Presentation made accordingly. F. Mr. Brian Green relative to the Consequences of Consolidation. Presentation made accordingly. CONSENT AGENDA (Items 1-5) PLANNING 1. Z-25-42 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to APPROVE a petition by James Burnon Powell, requesting a rezoning from zones A (Agricultural) and B-2 (General Business) to zone A (Agricultural) for residential use, affecting property containing approximately 3 acres located at 5940 Deans Bridge Road. Tax Map # 286-0-002-12-0. Motion to approve Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Rice Motion carried 10-0 with no objectors. 2. Z-25-45 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to APPROVE a petition by Cranston, LLC on behalf of St. Mary’s Church, requesting a rezoning from zones R-1 (One-Family Residential) and R-3B (Multiple-Family Residential) to zone R-1 (One-Family Residential) for an existing church, affecting properties containing approximately 5.61 acres located at 2500, 2502, 2504, and 2516 McDowell Street, and 1405 Arsenal Avenue, and 1420 Monte Sano Avenue. Tax Map #’s 044-1-059-00-0, 044-1-058-00-0, 044-1-057-00-0, 044-1-056-00-0, 044-1-060-00-0, & 044-1- 055-00-0. 2  Motion to approve Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Rice Motion carried 10-0 with no objectors. 3. SE-25-15 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Planning Commission to APPROVE a petition by Cranston, LLC on behalf of St. Mary’s Church, requesting a special exception per Section 26-1(a) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for an existing church, affecting property containing approximately 1.73 acres located at 2500, 2502, 2504, and 2516 McDowell Street, and 1405 Arsenal Avenue. Tax Map ‘s # 044-1- 059-00-0, 044-1-058-00-0, 044-1-057-00-0, 044-1-056-00-0, & 044-1-060-00-0. Zoned R-1 (One-Family Residential) and R-3B (Multiple-Family Residential). Motion to approve Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Rice Motion carried 10-0 with no objectors. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 4. Motion to accept the resignation of Dr. Dalton Brannen from the Augusta Animal Control Board and approve his appointment to Board of Zoning Appeals due to the resignation of Mr. Jerry Brigham representing District 7. Motion to approve Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Rice Motion carried 10-0 5. Motion to approve the December 2, 2025, Commission meeting minutes. Motion to approve Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Rice Motion carried 10-0 with no objectors. ****END CONSENT AGENDA**** AUGUSTA COMMISSION AUGUSTA COMMISSION REGULAR AGENDA 3  (Items 6-11) PUBLIC SERVICES 6. Receive updates from Redwood, Inc. regarding safety and property improvements at the Bon Air and Richmond Summit Apartment Complexes. (Requested by Commissioners Catherine Rice and Jordan Johnson) It was the consensus of the Commission to receive a report back from the Law Department regarding this matter at the next meeting. 7. Motion to reject the unsolicited proposal for the revitalization of Vernon Forrest Park (25-000). (Deferred from November 18, 2025) Deleted from the agenda without objection ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 8. Recommendation to approve Amendment #1 for CareATC contract for the Wellness Center Provider. RFP 24-237. Motion to approve Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Rice Motion carried 10-0 with no objectors. ENGINEERING SERVICES 9. Consider proposal from Ms. Lashawndra Robinson regarding Segment of Oats Creek Maintenance – 1650 Olive Road. Motion to approve Motion made by Scott and seconded by Wimberly Motion redrawn Substitute motion: Motion to approve the request to cut/mow the area of overgrowth segment of Oats Creek maintenance twice a month. Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Clark Motion carried 9-1 with Lewis voting no. FINANCE 4  10. Motion to approve the final SPLOST 9 Project List and to authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute an Intergovernmental Sales Tax Agreement between Augusta and the cities of Blythe and Hephzibah, in substantially the same form as attached, subject to the inclusion of the approved projects and such reasonable changes as may be approved by the Interim General Counsel. Motion to approve $397M SPLOST 9 Project List. (added $12M for the Boathouse; $35M for Engineering; $2.1 M to Hephzibah and $7M for Utilities; 12.5M Corporate Park and $5 M Landscaping) Motion made by Garrett and seconded by Lewis Motion failed 4-6 Voting yes: Pulliam, Wimberly, Garrett, Mayor Johnson Voting No: Rice, Clark, Lewis, Slendak, Scott, Guilfoyle Motion to cut $5M from Engineering, $5M from Utilities, and 3.5% across each category or each line-item totaling $375M. Motion made by Garrett Motion dies for lack of second. Attorney Plunkett is asked by the Mayor for clarification of the motion. Attorney Plunkett: The project list is #375 million based on the prior schedule with $5M from Utilities, $5M from Engineering and no adjustment to the $5M to the Board of Regents with all other funds being adjusted by a percentage to equal total of $375M Motion to approve Motion made by Garrett and seconded by Guilfoyle Motion carried unanimously 10-0 ADDENDUM AGENDA AUGUSTA COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 6, 2026 2:00 P.M. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES: 1. Motion to reject the unsolicited proposal for the revitalization of Vernon Forrest Park (25-000). (Deferred from November 18, 2025) (Requested by Commissioner Catherine Rice to move item to the January 13, 2026, Public Services Committee Meeting) 5  Motion to approve Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Rice Motion carried 10-0 ENGINEERING SERVICES COMMITTEE: 2. Approve and Authorize Fourth Renewal of the Solid Waste & Recycling Frontload Services Agreement with Coastal Waste and Recycling of Georgia, Inc. (f/k/a Orion Waste f/k/a Inland Waste Solutions, LLC). Bid 13-196 /AE (Requested by Administration) Motion to approve Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Rice Motion carried 10-0. 3. Approve and Authorize One-Year extension of the Augusta Downtown Receptacles and Noncompliance & Illegal Dumping Waste disposal services contract with Coleman Sanitation. Also, approve $450,000 to fund these Services. Bid 19-135/AE (Requested by Administration) Motion to approve Motion made by Garrett and seconded by Scott Motion carried 9-0 J. Johnson and Lewis out 4. Approve and award Construction Contract to The M. Mitchell Group in the amount Not to Exceed $408,731 for concrete flatwork repair related to Hurricane Helene storm damage project. Award is contingent upon receipt of signed contracts, proper bonds, and contract associated documents. AE/ Bid 25-905. (Requested by Administration) Motion to approve Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Rice Motion carried 10-0. 5. Approve and award Construction Contract to Pond Maintenance of Augusta, LLC (PMA) in the amount Not to Exceed $480,960.00 for Hurricane Helene damaged stormwater ponds repairs project. Award is contingent upon receipt of signed contracts, proper bonds, and contract associated documents. AE/ Bid 25-904. (Requested by Administration) Motion to approve 6  Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Rice Motion carried 10-0. 6. Approve supplement funds (SA1) for Construction Contract supplement to Reeves Construction Co. in the amount of $506,533.87 for additional water utility Construction, and $458,207.50 for Damascus Road resurfacing for Wrightsboro Road Improvements (Jackson Road to Highland Ave) Project. This funding is critical for continuity of in progress construction completion by Masters 2026 and supporting Augusta’s adjacent facilities. AE/ Bid 23-238. (Requested by Administration. Motion to approve Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Rice Motion carried 10-0. 7. Approve One Year Renewal of enQuesta for Augusta Utilities Department (AUD). Requested by Administration. Motion to approve Motion made by Guilfoyle and seconded by Rice Motion carried 10-0. /////////////////// 7