Committee of the Whole

COLUMBUS COMMON COUNCIL – COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 – 6:45 PM COLUMBUS CITY HALL 1. Roll Call: Meeting was called to order at 7:01 pm by Council President Ryan. Present: Council President Ryan, Alders Gray (via teleconference), McCabe, Pyfferoen, Reid, Thom; City Administrator Ellefson, City Clerk Goebel, City Attorney Johnson (via teleconference); City Staff (via teleconference), interested citizens. 2. Notice of Open Meeting: Noted as posted. 3. Approve Agenda: Motion by Pyfferoen, second by Gray to approve. Carried voice vote. 4. Citizen Comments: None. 5. Committee Minutes: placed on file: CWL – 2/24/20, 3/19/20, Tourism – 2/3/20, 3/2/20 6. Review & discuss options related to District 3 Aldermanic Vacancy: Discussion whether to appoint or elect. Consensus was to appoint. Candidates submit a letter of interest to the Clerk by May 29. Council will review submissions at June 2 COW and request candidates for Q&A at June 19 Regular meeting. Council members each submit a question. 7. Review alcohol licensing renewal process/Resolution: Consensus to forward the resolution to the May 19 Regular meeting and allow Clerk to include the resolution with the renewal packets. 8. Review & Discuss Street Closing Application – Farmer's Market with Changed Location – Dickason Blvd to Harrison St by Library: Looking for a more "park-like" atmosphere with picnic tables, grass. Would like to close first block of S Dickason Blvd each Wednesday from 3-7:45 pm June through September. Several Council members had concerns with safety, delivery & pickup picnic tables & barricades, funeral home, bank, Library programs, closing the street each week for a season. Members also offered different sites. Consensus was to re-submit application with updated information, distribute to staff for comments, talk to the bank and Library. Return to May 19 COW. 9. Review & discuss address updates within Fireman's Park, Aquatic Center: Tabled at request of Recreation Director Meyers. 10. Review & discuss donation from Lions Club of a Lion Park Bench in Meister Park: Forward to May 19 Regular meeting. 11. Review & discuss donation from Lions Club for planters in Meister Park: Forward to May 19 Regular meeting. Lions to take care of the planters and remove in the fall. 12. Review & discuss DOT Traffic Safety Grant – Police Dept: Forward to May 19 Regular meeting. Police Dept received a $4000 equipment grant from the DOT to be used for traffic enforcement or traffic safety. Will purchase a lazar radar gun and speed gun. 13. Consider & discuss The Woods Development Letter of Credit: Forward to May 19 Regular meeting. Approval would give staff the ability to pull the letter of credit if necessary. 14. Review & discuss site plan for butterfly garden near WWTP: 20 stalls, gravel parking, bus parking; naming contest yielded 27 submissions. Concept included 75' buffer which follows water quality standards. Concerns with the garden in the middle of the lot, makes it difficult to maintain around it. Council to email City Administrator with name suggestions for May 19 COW. 15. Review & discuss Mae Ward Fund application – Downtown planters: Forward to May 19 Regular meeting. 16. Convene to closed session per §19.85(1)(e) deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public properties, the investment of public funds, or conducting other public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, specifically to discuss potential developments in the City of Columbus: Motion by Pyfferoen, second by McCabe to convene to closed session at 9:13 pm. Roll call vote unanimous. Page 2 – Committee of the Whole Council – May 5, 2020 17. Reconvene to open session: Motion by McCabe, second by Thom to reconvene to open session at 10:13 pm. Carried voice vote. 18. Convene to closed session per § 19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved: Motion by Pyfferoen, second by McCabe to convene to closed session at 10:14 pm. Roll call vote unanimous. 19. Reconvene to open session: Motion by Thom, second by Pyfferoen to reconvene to open session at 10:17 pm. Carried voice vote. 20. Convene to closed session per §19.85(1)(e) deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public properties, the investment of public funds, or conducting other public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, specifically to discuss potential purchase of property in the City of Columbus: Motion by Thom, second by Pyfferoen to convene to closed session at 10:18 pm. Roll call vote unanimous. 21. Reconvene to open session: Motion by Pyfferoen, second by Thom to reconvene to open session at 10:38 pm. Carried voice vote. Adjourn: Motion by Pyfferoen, second by Thom to adjourn at 10:38 pm. Carried voice vote. Submitted by: Pat Goebel, City Clerk