City Commission

ROME CITY COMMISSION Monday, January 8, 2023 The Rome City Commission met at 6:30 p.m. this date in the City Commission Chambers of City Hall, 601 Broad Street. Commissioners Cochran, Bojo, Beeman, Doss, Quick, Collins, and McDaniel were present, along with Commissioners-Elect Brock and Robinson. Commissioner Cochran opened the meeting with prayer and led in the salute to the flag. Oath of Office – Ward 1 and Ward 3 Commissioners Floyd County Chief Superior Court Judge Jack Niedrach was present and administered the oath of office to the Ward 1 and Ward 3 commissioners who were elected (or re-elected) during the November 2023 election. The oath was administered to Jim Bojo, Harry Brock, and Mark Cochran representing Ward 1, and Bill Collins, Craig McDaniel, and Wayne Robinson representing Ward 3. Each of the six commissioners will begin a 4-year term in office. Elect Mayor City Attorney Andy Davis assumed control of the meeting for the purpose of conducting the election for the 2024 Rome City Commission Mayor. Mr. Davis opened the floor for nominations. Commissioner Robinson nominated Craig McDaniel to serve as the City Commission Mayor for 2024. That motion was seconded by Commissioner Collins. With there being no other nominations, Commissioner McDaniel was unanimously chosen as the 2024 Mayor. Elect Mayor Pro Tem Mayor McDaniel opened the floor for nominations for the 2024 Mayor Pro Tem. Commissioner Quick nominated Commissioner Jim Bojo to serve as the Rome City Commission Mayor Pro Tem for 2024. Commissioner Beeman seconded the nomination. There were no other nominations, and Commissioner Bojo was unanimously chosen to serve as the Mayor Pro Tem for 2024. Minutes – December 18, 2023 and December 27, 2023 The Minutes of the December 18, 2023, and the December 27, 2023, Special Called meeting, as submitted in writing by the Secretary, were approved by unanimous consent. Appoint City Manager Commissioner Doss moved to re-appoint Mr. Sammy Rich to serve as the Rome City Manager for 2024. Commissioner Quick seconded the motion. Commissioner Doss extended his praise to Mr. Rich for his excellent service to the City of Rome and reminded the commission that the City Manager is the only employee of the city commission. This motion was unanimously approved, including Mayor McDaniel. City Manager Appointments City Manager Rich recommended that the following officials and authorizing agents, management staff, department directors, and other staff and operators be appointed for 2024: I. Officials and Authorized Agents 1) City Commission Clerk & Secretary Joe Smith 1  2) Assistant City Clerk & Secretary Mark Green 3) City Attorney J. Anderson Davis 4) Assistant City Attorney Frank Beachem Sam Lucas Lee Carter 5) Municipal Court Judge Chris Jackson 6) Assistant Municipal Court Judge John Scott Husser 7) City Physician Atrium Health Floyd Employer Clinic 8) Official Publication Organ Rome News-Tribune 9) Depositories & Investment Institutions: i. Bank OZK ii. Synovus iii. Greater Community Bank iv. First National Community Bank v. Regions Bank vi. River City Bank vii. Truist Bank viii. United Community Bank ix. Wells Fargo x. Local Government Investment Pool – State of Georgia xi. East West Bank 10) Auditor Mauldin & Jenkins Certified Public Accountants, LLC II. Management Staff 1) Assistant City Manager Meredith Ulmer 2) Assistant to the City Manager Kelley Parker 3) Water & Sewer Division Director Vacant 4) Finance Division Director Toni Rhinehart 5) Public Works Division Director/Traffic Engineer Chris Jenkins 2 III. Department Directors 1) Fire Chief – Troy Brock 2) Police Chief – Denise Downer – McKinney 3) Human Resources Director – Kristy Shepard 4) Community Development Director – Bekki Fox 5) City Clerk – Joe Smith 6) Solid Waste Director – Tim Garrett 7) Landfill Director – Lee Stone 8) Purchasing Director – Becky Smyth 9) Building Official – James Martin 10) Cemetery Superintendent – Jody Gonzales 11) Street Department Director – Chad Hampton 12) Transit Director – Courtnay Griffin 13) City Engineer/Engineering Services Director – Aaron Carroll 14) City Arborist – Ernest Watson 15) Water Treatment Facility Director – Wayne Stanley 16) Water Reclamation Facility Director – Jeff Hill 17) Water Billing Director – Bryan Parris 18) Water/Sewer Operations Director – Brandon Cook 19) Office of Technology Services Director – Johnny Bunch 20) Downtown Development Director – Aundi Lesley 21) Rome/Floyd County Planning Director – Brice Wood 22) Rome/Floyd E.C.O. Center/ Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful Coordinator – Hannah Bagley 23) Rome/Floyd E.C.O Center Director – Ben Winkelman IV. Other Staff & Operators 1) Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director – Lisa Smith 2) Rome Tennis Center/Downtown Tennis Center – Cliff Dysdale Tennis 3) Stonebridge Golf Course – Troon/Indigo Sports Commissioner Collins moved to approve these appointments as recommended by Mr. Rich. Commissioner Doss seconded, and the vote was unanimously in favor. 3 Charles Love Mr. Charles Love, 304 Kingston Ave., addressed the City Commission. He urged the new city commission to continue the momentum for the City of Rome. He congratulated the city commission and the citizens of Rome for our city’s progress. He encouraged the city commission to continue to work to improve the entire City of Rome and emphasized the importance of neighborhood participation. He referenced some positive examples from the North Rome area. Rezonings Requests - First Reading Commissioner Quick stated that the following three rezonings were being placed on first reading: a) Z24-01-05 Request to rezone from Community Commercial to High Density Traditional for the property located at 204 W 10th Street. Floyd County Tax Parcel I13Z-213. (Planning Commission recommends approval with conditions, 9-0). b) Z24-01-06 Request to rezone from Community Commercial to Urban Mixed Use for the property located at 1148 N. Broad Street and Davis Street. Floyd County Tax Parcels J13O- 035 and J13O-036. (Planning Commission motioned to deny was defeated, no recommendation, 2-7). c) Z24-01-08 Request to rezone from Community Commercial to Neighborhood Office Commercial for the property at 1908 Maple Ave., Floyd County Tax Parcel J15X-147. (Planning Commission recommends approval, 9-0). A public hearing for these items is scheduled for the January 22, 2024, City Commission meeting. Re-Adopt the Unified Land Development Code and Zoning Maps – First Reading Commissioner Quick stated that the annual process of re-adopting the Unified Land Development Code and Zoning Maps is underway. This item is being placed on first reading and a public hearing is scheduled for the January 22, 2024, City Commission meeting. North Rome Redevelopment Area and Tax Allocation District #5 City Manager Rich explained that the Rome Redevelopment Agency has recommended the creation of the North Rome Redevelopment Area and Tax Allocation District #5. Reference was made to the redevelopment plan for this area, submitted in September 2023 by the KB Advisory Group. The North Rome Redevelopment Area encompasses 1741 parcels, and the North Rome Tax Allocation District (#5) is comprised of 22 parcels. There will be one public hearing held tonight concerning this matter with two separate votes planned for the redevelopment area and the tax allocation district. Mayor McDaniel called a public hearing to order. Speaking in favor of the proposed redevelopment area and TAD was Charles Love, 304 Kingston Avenue. Mr. Love reminded the commission that a lot of work has been put into this process and the efforts to improve the North Rome area, and he feels both proposals are good for North Rome and the City of Rome. Also speaking regarding this matter was Ms. Angela Rubino. Ms. Rubino had some general questions regarding the collection and expenditure of tax allocation district property taxes as opposed to general fund tax collections. Mr. Rich explained the general concept for a tax allocation district and encouraged 4 Ms. Rubino to contact him if she needs more specific information. With there being no further comments, the public hearing was closed. Commissioner Quick made a motion to adopt the North Rome Redevelopment Area as outlined in the September 2023 KB Advisory Group report. This area encompasses 1741 parcels. Commissioner Bojo seconded the motion, and it was approved by the following vote: YES: Bojo, Cochran, Beeman, Doss, Quick, Brock, and Robinson ABSTAIN: Collins Commissioner Quick made a motion to approve the North Rome Tax Allocation District. This will be Tax Allocation District #5 and Commissioner Bojo seconded the motion. This district contains 22 parcels as outlined in the September 2023 KB Advisory Group report. There was general discussion regarding the TAD proposal. Commissioner Collins noted that this tax allocation district is smaller than the surrounding redevelopment area and some of Rome’s other redevelopment areas, the TAD has matched the boundaries of the redevelopment area. Commissioner Collins questioned if adjoining parcels could later be added to the tax allocation district. It was explained that once a TAD is established, the boundaries cannot be amended, however additional TADs within the North Rome Redevelopment Area can be created. City Manager Rich explained that it is best to keep the TAD districts small while accommodating any known developments planned in which TAD funding would be requested. If future projects are planned in the other areas of the North Rome Redevelopment Area, additional TADs can be considered. The proposed TAD area in front of the City Commission tonight contains three potential projects, which are the Home2Suites hotel, a townhome development at 1148 North Broad, and a residential development at the corner of MLK Jr Blvd. and Gibbons Street. There was continued discussion regarding this proposal and reference was made to the presentation and conversation that took place regarding this matter in the Caucus session prior to the beginning of tonight’s meeting. Commissioner Brock stated that he cannot support the tax allocation district as it is currently planned. With the discussion concluded, the motion to adopt the North Rome Tax Allocation District #5 was approved by the following vote: YES: Bojo, Doss, Quick, Robinson, and Mayor McDaniel NO: Cochran, Beeman, Brock, and Collins Any TAD funding for projects within the TAD will require an application, review, and city commission approval before implementation. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday City Manager Rich announced that City Offices will be closed on Monday, January 15th in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Garbage routes will be amended this week due to the holiday closure. Walker Mountain Landfill will be closed Monday, January 15th. 2024 Rome City Commission Meeting Date Changes Mayor McDaniel announced that the following four City Commission meetings schedule dates will be changed due to conflicts: 5  a. Memorial Day – Monday, May 27th to Tuesday, May 28th b. GMA Annual Conference Week – Monday, June 24th to Monday, June 17th c. Veterans Day – Monday, November 11th to Tuesday, November 12th d. Christmas Week – Monday, December 23rd to Monday, December 16th Rome/Floyd County Development Authority Mayor McDaniel announced that the Rome/Floyd County Development Authority will meet Tuesday, January 16th at 9:00 a.m. at 800 Broad Street. Ethics Ordinance and Code of Conduct Mayor McDaniel stated that it is his intention for the City to consider the adoption of a new ethics ordinance and the adoption of a city commission code of conduct. He has asked the City Manager to prepare drafts of these documents which will be sent to the city commissioners. Mayor McDaniel plans for the discussion of these documents to take place at an upcoming City Commission Caucus. Transportation Policy Committee Mayor Pro Tem Bojo announced that the Transportation Policy Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 17th at 10:00 a.m. in the Carnegie Training Room. Historic Preservation Committee Commissioner Beeman announced that the Historic Preservation Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 17th at 2:30 p.m. in the Sam King Room. City Trails Commissioner Doss stated that many people have New Years resolutions which involve more physical activity. He encouraged citizens to use our city trail system to help achieve their goals. He also announced that the Mount Berry Trail Connector will be completed in 2024. Downtown Development Authority Commissioner Quick announced that the Downtown Development Authority will meet on Thursday, January 11th at 8:30 a.m. in the Carnegie Training Room. Alcohol Control Commission Mayor McDaniel announced that the Alcohol Control Commission will meet on Tuesday, January 16th at 5:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers. Northwest Georgia Regional Commission Mayor McDaniel announced that the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission will meet on Thursday, January 18th at 11:00 a.m. at the Rome Civic Center. Rome/Floyd Parks and Recreation Mayor McDaniel announced that the Rome/Floyd Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday, January 16th at 12:00 p.m. at the Shorter Avenue Recreation Center. 6 Martin Luther King Jr Holiday 2024 Mr. Alvin Jackson was present and updated the city commission on the planned activities for the 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday celebration. Mr. Jackson reminded the commission that the city commission designated this holiday via a 5-4 vote in 1985. He also stated that Rome was the first city in the state to have a four day MLK Jr. celebration. Mr. Jackson outlined the events that will take place Friday, Saturday, and Sunday leading up to the 11:00 a.m. parade on Monday, January 15th. Mayor’s Comments for 2024 Mayor McDaniel announced that he will be working to make the 2024 committee assignments as soon as possible. He will also be working with the commissioners and staff to establish a date for a 2024 City Commission Retreat. Mayor McDaniel made comments directed towards the city employees. He praised the staff and thanked them for their hard work, and he extended his expectations that 2024 will be a great year for the City of Rome, and a better year for city employees. Adjourn With there being no further business, Mayor McDaniel adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m. Joseph F. Smith City Clerk 7