City Council

CITY OF EUHARLEE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA JULY 20, 2021 7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Retreat Report and Feedback James Stephens 2. 1st Reading Firearms Discharge Ordinance James Stephens 3. Food Truck Policy James Stephens 4. Farmers Market Greg Free 5. School Board Update Greg Free  CITY OF EUHARLEE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES JULY 20, 2021 Mayor Steve Worthington called the meeting to order. A prayer was led by Council Member David Duncan followed with the Pledge of Allegiance. The following were present Mayor Steve Worthington, Council Members Tim Abbott, David Duncan, Greg Free, Joe Turner, and City Manager James Stephens. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Retreat Report and Feedback James Stephens, City Manager presented council with documentation from the SWOT retreat held on June 16, 2021. The information was prepared by the facilitator from Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, which did a great job with a unique group of citizens. He had not at that time, provided the other stakeholders copies of the documentation. They received two sets of documentation. One was the SWOT Analysis results, and the second document was recommendations prioritized by all the stakeholders present at the retreat. There were so many recommendations the city could take care of with little to no cost. The priority from the stakeholders, was the future of Osborne Park. He asked Council to take the documents with them to read through, and consider allocating some design monies for the plan for Osborne Park based on the output received from the retreat. There were a lot of improvements that could be done from a family standpoint, and worth putting monies into, to get a visual for the possibilities. It would be the elected official’s decision, with hopes to allocate design monies to look at alternatives for Osborne Park. Council briefly discussed the documents, possibilities and opportunities. Mr. Stephens said the documents would be used to formulate some type of strategic plan for the city in the future. His recommendation was for them to review the documents, and follow-up during the August meeting. 1st Reading Firearms Discharge Ordinance – James Stephens James Stephens, City Manager presented council with a copy of the current Firearm Ordinance and the recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission. This is follow-up from the previous meeting, with two property owners who enlightened council on a circumstance involving their property. The P & Z Commission recommended to add item (d) to Section 18-19.3 to read, the discharge of a firearm upon the land of another or across the property line of another without first obtaining written permission of such property owner is prohibited. It would address the main safety concern they heard from the county resident. It does still put the safety on the hunters, if the council decides to adopt the change. It will show they did take action. If they do not make any changes, the wording is already included in the state code should a hunter fire across property lines could be cited for a violation from the state. The commission did discuss increasing the acres from 2 to 10, but decided on the one change. Code Enforcement did recommend the change to 10 acres. Council continued discussion on the pros and cons to the number of acres and the 250 feet to use a fire arm. Several members on the council were hunters, and understood and explained the reasoning for the current acreage and the number of feet to use a firearm. The item was tabled until the next Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to review again. Food Truck Policy James Stephens, City Manager provided council with an updated Food Truck Policy he shared with them at the last meeting. He added an annual permit fee at $150. He also added, Food Trucks may accept invitations from HOA’s and, churches to set up on private spaces. He changed the vendor space from one truck to two trucks. Council discussed and requested change on the policy from weekend and holidays to seasonal, to allow one to three trucks and, to charge $150 per truck each year. Mr. Stephens requested they review the document and add to the August agenda for a vote. Farmers Market – Council Member Greg Free Council Member Greg Free said they reached out to Regina Shaw from the University of Georgia Extension office, who is the individual that runs the Farmers Market in Cartersville and received information on how to start and do it the right way. She shared (3) questions that they should answer. • When, which would be based what is best for the vendors. They considered bi-weekly on Thursday, between 3 pm -7 pm. • Artisan or Farmers Market - Artisan included other homemade items and opens up for everybody to participate. • Central Location – Possibly in the gravel area by the Covered Bridge. After answering the three questions, next would be to contact vendors for planning. Fridays were not good for vendors because of the Saturday markets. He said, one encouraging part was the article in the Daily Tribune about Farmers Markets in Bartow County. They received over 100 applicants for Cartersville, but they could only house 40 vendors. This was a sign that there was a need for other markets. It will be at no cost to the city, but an opportunity for the community to come together. After answering the three questions, would give them a solid road map to get started. The next step would be to survey vendors and receive input on the best time to have and start the project. The best advertisement will be through social media and signage. School Board Update – Greg Free Council Member Greg Free stated after several meetings with the school board in reference to Osborne Park, they received some feedback. They continued to discuss Osborne Park and the repairs needed, the concern of ownership, which has now been cleared up and the school board agreeing to move the tennis team to Joe Cowan Park immediately. Since then, the discussion centered around softball, baseball and the repairs needed to the property at Osborne Park for them to use the fields. It was also brought to the table, the city having basically, two parks with the same usage and tax payers footing the bill. Transportation for softball and baseball to use Joe Cowan Park was still an issue. James Stephens, City Manager provided council with two intergovernmental agreements from the School Board. The first agreement was for softball, baseball and tennis to be held at Joe Cowan Park with a 1- year agreement. The second agreement was for tennis to be held at Joe Cowan Park, and for softball and baseball to continue at Osborne Park in the current condition with a five-year agreement. Mr. Stephens recommended, a one-year agreement at Osborne Park, which will allow the council to deliberate the future for Osborne Park. Council Member Free discussed the importance of providing what is best for the kids. They should be able to interact with each other and provide them with a great facility to have their sports. They can do that at Joe Cowan with no impact on the current tournaments that bring revenue. This can be done with no cost to the school system. It is a fair and good agreement. Council Member Joe Turner stated it has been the same with using the fields in the past at no cost. Council Member David Duncan stated, they should be asked to move to Joe Cowan Park. He does not see a need to have two ballfields. If they can get them to go by the Joe Cowan Park agreement, it will free them up to expand in Osborne Park. It is holding the city up from doing what they want to do for the citizens of Euharlee and have a nice playground. Council Member Free said to conclude, it will give them a year to plan. The agenda item will be added to the August meeting for a vote on the intergovernmental agreement. Council Member Tim Abbott motioned to adjourn the meeting. Council Member Greg Free seconded the motion. The motion carried with Council Members Abbott, Duncan, Free, Turner, and Mayor Worthington all voting in favor. With no further discussion the meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm.