City Council

Minutes Forsyth City Council February 21, 2022 Call to order Mayor Wilson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance, Invocation, and Roll Call Mayor Wilson led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Hewett gave the invocation. In attendance for the meeting was Mayor Eric Wilson, Councilmembers Mike Dodd, Greg Goolsby, Melvin Lawrence, Chris Hewett, and John Howard. Also in attendance for the meeting was City Manager, Janice Hall; City Attorney, Bobby Melton; and City Clerk, Regina Ivie. Five members of council were in attendance for the meeting therefore all unanimous votes will be five votes (Dodd, Goolsby, Lawrence, Hewett, and Howard). Approval of the agenda Mr. Hewett offered a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Seconded by Mr. Dodd; the motion carried unanimously. Approval of the minutes from the February 7, 2022, council meeting. City Clerk, Regina Ivie indicated the time the meeting adjourned needed should be added to the minutes; 9:19 p.m. Mr. Goolsby offered a motion to approve the minutes with the addition of 9:19 p.m. indicated. Seconded by Mr. Hewett; the motion carried unanimously. Approval of application for the sale of alcoholic beverages at QuikTrip at 240 Harold G. Clarke Parkway Mr. Melton stated the application is for a license to sale alcoholic beverages (beer/malt-package, and wine-package); applicant is Joshua Stephen Gracek, proposed location is at QuikTrip at 240 Harold G. Clarke Parkway. The notice was published in the Monroe Reporter on February 9, and 16, 2022. Mr. Goolsby offered a motion to approve the application as presented. Seconded by Mr. Dodd; the motion carried unanimously. Middle Georgia Regional Commission – Joe Black to provide updates to the Joint Comprehensive Plan processes. Mr. Joe Black and Mr. Greg Boike with the Middle Georgia Regional Commission provide background information on the joint comprehensive plan with Monroe County and Culloden. Mr. Black stated the previous comprehensive Plan was adopted in October 2017; updates are required every five years. The plan allows for governments to maintain qualified local government status which enables the city to be eligible to apply for state funding programs including CDBG’s, GEFA water and sewer loans, One Georgia funding. In addition, it allows governments to plan better for future land use; shapes future growth and development by identifying a long-term vision and goals to help the community attain that vision. Mr. Black further reviewed the components of the planning process. Three topics are required by the state: broadband, transportation, and land use. Other topics can be included based on community requests and needs. Economic Development, Housing, Natural & Cultural Resources, Public Safety & Health, Public Facilities and Utilities were included in the 2017 plan update. Mr. Greg Boike reviewed the projected timeline for the comprehensive plan update beginning in February2022 to September 2022, including public engagement, stakeholder engagement, conclusion of the planning process to wrapping up in September with revision and adoption of the comprehensive plan.  P age |2 Approval of Splashpad hours of operation Chief David Herndon provided explanation for the request of a maintenance day for the splashpad. The splashpad runs continuously; maintenance issues occur due to suntan oil, dust, and dirt. The water tank needs to be cleaned on a regular basis as well as the pad. Mr. Dodd offered a motion to close the splashpad every Monday for maintenance. Seconded by Mr. Hewett; the motion carried unanimously. Approval of requisitions greater than $5,000 i. Pete Regular - $6,836.40 Mr. Dodd offered a motion to approve the requisition as presented. Seconded by Mr. Hewett; the motion carried unanimously. City Manager’s Report Ms. Hall provided the following report: • Waste Management update – 20 work orders since 2/7 report for missed pickups, most were recycling missed, some were repeats from previous missed pickups. • Letters mailed certified on 2/4 to adjoining property owners of Big Peach Car Wash for administrative setback variance. Only 1 of 3 responded and they agreed with providing the variance. • Hofstadter & Associates will attend the 3/7 council meeting to review the storm drain project on Adams Street before bid award is made. They will also update council on the USDA projects to upgrade the water and wastewater plants. • Additional projects with Hofstadter: o Replace sewer line that runs below MPHS, behind Virginia Street, down Montpelier Road to SWWTP o Parking on Kimball and Harris Streets o 4-way stops at Adams/Kimball; Adams/Harris; Johnston/Kimball; and Harris/Kimball o Reviewing issues on Hunter Street o Stair removal/replacement on northside of W Johnston at Jackson Street (TPO to Hometown Treasures) o Reviewing previous proposals to resurface and widen Montpelier Road from Lee to city limits o Sidewalk replacement on Kimball between Johnston and Main o Curb stops on East Johnston; some have already been removed due to repeatedly being run over by vehicles and many others are cracked and will soon need to be removed. Discussed with Carl Hofstadter again and we could agree to remove those all while knowing that people will then pull up on the sidewalks causing damage to those. Would recommend additional fine for anyone parking on city sidewalks to include delivery vehicles. • Regional Commission has not provided the revised survey letter for CDBG to go out to residents in the Sunset, Brookwood, and Union Hill areas yet, but as soon as they do, we will get that mailed out. Continue to encourage residents to complete and return the survey letters as soon as they receive it. • Responses are due 2/25 for the Unity Sculpture Grant with the award to be made by end of March. • Vote for annexation with zoning for Manor at Montpelier Phase 3 will come before council at the March 7 meeting. • Received notification Friday that we were not awarded the Recreational Trails Grant which was for upgrades to Park Circle Park in amount of $120,000. Received word today that we were approved for the LWCF for Country Club Park upgrades of $1.2 million total project with $500,000 from grant funding. Would like to move forward with needed upgrades to Country Club and Kynette Park. The playground equipment in Country Club Park was purchased in 1999, most of the benches are in bad shape, the sand at the swing sets needs to be replaced. At Kynette we need a shade cover for the playground and the bleachers and to also replace the bleachers at the ballfield. Quick estimates of at least $100,000-$150,000 for just these items. We currently have just shy of $1.2 million in Special Projects Fund for these upgrades; using $800,000 for our portion of the grant will still leave us with funds to do these necessary projects. • MOU with GDOT has not been signed and returned as I received notification shortly after the last council meeting those changes were being made and a revised MOU would be sent out. • We have two vacant seats on P&Z that need to be filled for unexpired terms. Please let me know anyone that you would like considered for those seats. Forsyth City Council – February 21, 2022  P age |3 Planning & Zoning: • Public hearing for Conditional Use request for a Senior Care Facility at 24 Clearview Avenue was approved by P&Z and will come before council for a public hearing on March 7 • Public hearing for Conditional Use request for a private playground and Variance for five’ chain link fence at 95 West Morse Street was approve by P&Z and will come before council for a public hearing on March 7 • Potential project for 2/28 P&Z for carryout only restaurant in Town Creek Center o Code Enforcement • Spreadsheet from Corporal Malone; separated issues by work and/or type of code violation; twenty-two abandoned houses that need repair that we will work with owner to get them to repair or demolish and if not, will immediately begin process for City to be able to demolish the structures. Most of these have been on this list for quite some time, some have been to Municipal Court for violations as well. City Attorney Report Mr. Melton reviewed two public hearings will be held at the March 7, 2022, council meeting that are currently being advertised in the Monroe Reporter. An ordinance to provide conditional use zoning for 24 Clearview Avenue; for a senior care home. Also, an ordinance for a zoning variance request of First Baptist Church to allow outdoor special events, overflow parking and a playground with a 5-foot chain link fence. Mr. Melton further reviewed that the annexation of Manor at Montpelier Phase III the notice to Monroe County was delivered certified mail; received and acknowledged on February 11, 2022. Mayor’s Report Mayor Wilson stated a letter was sent out on December 2, 2021, to the Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner. Mayor Wilson provided a summary of the response received from the commissioner. Georgia Department of Transportation are committing just over 2.2 million dollars extra to the commercial vehicle lane projects to satisfy some of the requests from the Mayor’s December 2021 letter: bridge upgrades, embellishments at the Juliette Road crossing bridge, painted fascia, decorative fencing and lighting at the Dames Ferry Bridge, and landscape enhancements. Additional Business No additional business was brought forward. Public Comments Mr. Walter Goodson inquired about trees being cut on Hunter Street and the how to file a bias crime report. Executive Session No executive session was held. Adjourn There being no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Forsyth City Council – February 21, 2022