City Council Meeting

CITY OF STONECREST, GEORGIA Honorable Mayor Jason Lary, Sr. Council Member Jimmy Clanton, Jr. – District 1 Council Member Rob Turner- District 2 Council Member Jazzmin Cobble – District 3 Council Member George Turner- District 4 Council Member Diane Adoma – District 5 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES August 21, 2017 10:00 a.m. Stonecrest Library 3123 Klondike Road, Lithonia, Georgia I. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Jason Lary II. ROLL CALL: All Members were present III. INVOCATION: Minister Barbara Sommerville IV. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: V. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Charlotte Cain, spoke on the Stonecrest October Fest, held October 2-7, 2017. Bridgett Roberts spoke on the support and partnership with the City from the Savvy Foundation and Savvy Entertainment. Shelton Shantteen spoke on the process for a Personal Care Home A representative for Donna Coleman Stribling of the Dekalb Solicitor’s Office came to greet the Mayor and Council VI. MINUTES: Approval of Minutes of the August 7, 2017 City Council Meeting. Council Member Adoma said she had one change pertaining to the listing of events that were not listed in the minutes. Council Member George Turner made a motion to approve the minutes with the correction with Council Member Rob Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. Council Member Cobble had stepped away during the motion. Council Minutes 08/21/2017  VII. ADOPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: Council Member Adoma said she would like to add the Management of the SPLOST to the agenda as #9. Mayor Lary said he would like to remove from the agenda item number 3 Financial Support for Leadership Training, and add #10 City Internal Auditor. Council Member Adoma made the motion with Mayor Lary providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. VIII. PRESENTATIONS: Al Ferrell, Stonecrest Code Enforcement Manager gave an update of Code Enforcement in the City of Stonecrest. His presentation included the history, goals, issues and duties within the department. Mayor Lary made a presentation recognizing and honoring various females who played a major role in the process of Stonecrest becoming a city and those who continue to help make the city. His presentation started with a brief history of five women of the Bible. Deborah, Lydia, Esther, Queen of Sheba and Mary mother of Jesus. He recognized and honored the following: Representatives Dee Dawkins Haigler, Dar’shun Kendrick, Pamela Stephenson and Karen Bennett, Senator Tonya Anderson Peterson, Council Member Diane Adoma, Edwina Clanton, Stacy Thibodeaux, Vicky Turner, Mera Cardenas, Susan Lee and Valerie Morgan. He also acknowledged the female staff of the City of Stonecrest, Nicole Dozier, Audrey Mays, Tuyanna Daniel, Lillian Lowe, Brenda James and Leah Rodriguez. IX. AGENDA ITEMS: X. Old Business: 1. Adoption of the Ordinance for Gas Franchise Fees in Chapter 8 Franchises of the City of Stonecrest Council Member Rob Turner made a motion to adopt the ordinance for Gas Franchise Fees in chapter 8 with Council Member Clanton providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. New Business: Council Minutes 08/21/2017  2. Appointments to the Zoning Board of Appeals Mayor Lary appointed Erica Williams, Joyce Walker, Stacy Thibodeaux, Swain Watters and Ellen Alexander to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Council Member Adoma made a motion to approve the appointments to the Zoning Board of Appeals with Council Member Clanton providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. 3. Financial Support for Leadership Training – This item was removed from the agenda. 4. Approval of a Master Services Agreement with Comcast Michael Harris, City Manager gave a brief overview of the Master Services Agreement with Comcast. He announced the fee will be in the amount of $1150.00 per month. Council Member George Turner made a motion to approve the Master Services Agreement with Comcast in the amount of $1150.00 per month with Council Member Adoma providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. 5. Approval of contract with Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Michael Harris, City Manager gave a brief overview of the Contract with Georgia Municipal Association. Council Member Adoma made a motion to approve the contract with Georgia Municipal Association with Council Member George Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. 6. Contract with the DeKalb Convention and Visitors Bureau Michael Harris, City Manager gave a brief overview of the contract with the Dekalb Convention and Visitors Bureau. Council Member Clanton made a motion to approve the contract with the Dekalb Convention and Visitors Bureau with Council Member Adoma providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. 7. Letter of Notification to Dekalb County regarding Code Enforcement Services Tom Kurrie, City Attorney explained the letter of notification to be sent to Dekalb County regarding Code Enforcement Services. Council Member Adoma made a motion to approve the Letter of Notification to DeKalb County regarding Code Enforcement Services with Council Member George Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. 8. Swearing in of Code Enforcement Agents Council Minutes 08/21/2017  Mayor Lary administered the following Oath of Office to Al Farrell and William Kirkland. “I do solemnly swear that I will and truly perform the duties as Code Enforcement Officer of the City of Stonecrest, to the best of my knowledge, skill and ability, and as to me shall seem to the best interest and welfare of the City, without fear, favor or affection; that I am qualified to hold the office which I am about to enter according to the laws of the State of Georgia and the Charter of the City of Stonecrest”. 9. Approval of Management Company for the SPLOST Council Member Adoma made a motion to hire Grice Consulting Group with John Funny to Manage the City of Stonecrest SPLOST Program with Council Member Rob Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. 10. Approval of the City Internal Auditor Council Member Clanton made a motion to nominate Joel Thibodeaux as the City Internal Auditor with Council Member Adoma providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. XI. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: City Manager Michael Harris said the City if moving forward. He said now the city is doing Business Licenses, Building Permits, Inspections, Land and Development Permits and asked everyone to visit the city’s website. He announced Arabia Mountain will host an Eclipse event. XII. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS: City Attorney, Tom Kurrie explained the difference in the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. XIII. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS: Council Member Rob Turner stated on August 25th from 1-4pm at Panola Garden Senior Housing, 5710 Snapfinger Drive he will be participating in their annual mission day event. Council Member Clanton said he will be attending Arabia Mountain Eclipse viewing. Council Minutes 08/21/2017  Council Member Adoma said on Tuesday, August 22 at 6:00 to 7:30pm she will host her 5th Townhall Meeting at Stonecrest Library, On October 12th she will host a series of free workshops on the Smart Cities Concepts and there is a Road Closure on Klondike Road and Rockman from August 21 to August 25 from 8:30 to 5:00pm. Council Member George Turner said there will be two 5K Runs. One is September 16th a G-man run and the other is October 28th a run against Hypertension. He said we need to make sure the runs say Stonecrest instead of Lithonia. Council Member Cobble thanked the Willowick Community for inviting herself, and the Code Enforcement Officers Al Farrell and William Kirkland to their Community. Mayor Lary said the Smart Cities will grow fast and that is something Council Member Adoma is currently working with. Also, Film and TV lead by Council Member Rob Turner. He said the city is in a very good situation regarding business entities for public /private partnerships and that is his expertise. He said Council Member Adoma found a small cities challenge and the city has a chance to get a 5-million-dollar grant. XIV. ADJOURNMENT: Council Member Adoma made a motion to adjourn into Executive Session for a real estate matter with Council Member George Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION: WHEN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION IS REQUIRED, ONE WILL BE CALLED FOR THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: 1) PERSONNEL, 2) LITIGATION, 3) REAL ESTATE Council Minutes 08/21/2017