City Council Regular 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 February 19, 2018 6:00 p.m. Stonecrest City Hall 3120 Stonecrest Blvd. Stonecrest, Georgia 30038 I. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Jason Lary at 6:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL: All members were present. III. INVOCATION: Council Member Rob Turner IV. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: V. PRESENTATION: Mayor Jason Lary gave a presentation in honor of Black History Month and he presented commemorative plaques to each of the Council Members. VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Khari Lewis shared information pertaining to the Chinese Government offering fully paid scholarships to students having a 3.0 G.P.A. in high school, under 25 years of age with passport. April 1st is deadline. Dave Marcus inquired about which committees the Mayor shut down, the Economic Development Plan for the city, update on Amazon and contract with Grice Consulting. Lisa Wright commended the Mayor’s presentation for Black History Month and spoke on the city financial statements, budget and road at New Birth Church. Faye Coffield stated Khari Lewis’s assessment of China was correct and spoke on China’s generosity, concerns of financial backing for the Atlanta Sports Center and the need for better restaurants. 1  Louise E. Alexander expressed concerns of Council Member Diane Adoma removal from the position of Mayor Pro Temp and the new road ending at New Birth. VII. ONE ON ONE WITH THE MAYOR Mayor Jason Lary delayed this item until the next meeting. VIII. MINUTES: Approval of Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting January 16, 2018. Council Member Clanton stated that vote for reimbursement to Council Member Adoma for Leadership Dekalb should be a 4-2 vote. Council Member George Turner made a motion to approve the amended minutes with Council Member Rob Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. IX. COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS: Mayor Jason Lary reconstituted several committees. The following committees and their members are as follows: Arabia Mountain Overlay Steering Committee Mayor Pro Tem, George Turner, District 4, Co-Chair Ms. Mera Cardenas, Executive Director, Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, Inc. Co-Chair Council Member Diane Adoma, District 5 Council Member Jimmy Clanton, District 1 Mr. Michael Harris, City Manager Ms. Nicole Dozier, Community Development Director Mr. Kelly Jordan, Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, Inc. Mr. Eric Hubbard, District Outreach Director, Rep. Hank Johnson Ms. Jetha Wagner, Vice President Avila Development, LLC One representative from each of the following: Stonecrest Business Alliance Incorporated. Parks of Stonecrest Community Civic Association (PSCCA), Incorporated Klondike Area Civic Association, Inc. Such other civic associations and businesses as may be designated by Council Member Jimmy Clanton or Council Member Diane Adoma, with the concurrence of the Mayor. Steering Committee to negotiate IGA with East Metro DeKalb CID Council Member Jimmy Clanton, Chair Attorney Bernard Knight, Vice Chair 2  Stacy Thibodeaux Edwina Clanton Matt Hampton Sabrina Wright Education Committee Dr. Barbara Lee, Chairing the team from the Governor’s Commission Vickie Turner, Executive Liaison Film Commission Council Member Rob Turner Finance Council Member Jazzmin Cobble Mayor’s “City of Innovation” Committee Mayor Lary and Assistant City Manager, Plez Joyner had an opportunity to visit Chicago. They had an opportunity to see how cities of the future are combining residents, city staff, legislatures and Mayors together to communicate seamlessly across all technologies. This enables constituents to express their concerns and needs immediately. Mayor Lary gave an example of how this would work and said that he will lead this initiative. X. ADOPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: Michael Harris requested an amendment to the agenda for discussion on a zoning amendment to the Stonecrest overlay. Council Member Rob Turner made a motion to approve the agenda with the zoning amendment added with Council Member George Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. XI. CONSENT AGENDA: The following agenda items shall be considered on the consent agenda. (Before voting on the consent agenda items, the Chair will provide opportunity to add or delete items). Mayor Jason Lary asked the City Attorney to clarify what is meant by “Consent Agenda”. Attorney Kurrie provided a full definition of the term “Consent Agenda”. A. Resolution in Support of Georgia Municipal Association Legislative 7.7. 3  Council Member George Turner made a motion to approve the Resolution in Support of Georgia Municipal Association Legislative 7.7 with Council Member Clanton providing the second. The motion carried with Mayor Lary, Council Members Clanton, Cobble, George Turner and Rob Turner voting yes and Council Member Adoma voting no. B. Approval of Zoning Calendar. Council Member George Turner made a motion to Approve the Zoning Calendar with Council Member Clanton providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. XI. AGENDA ITEMS: 1. Engagement Letter for Professional Auditing (Mauldin and Jenkins) City Manager Michael Harris gave an overview regarding the audit and engagement letter. He said the audit should begin in early March and it due to the State of Georgia by June 30th. Council Member Adoma said she would like to have the audit from when the city began thru December and she is recommending an oversite ethics committee, and she also would like to know when an internal auditor will be hired. The City Manager said the audit is for the year of 2017, so it will start from when the city began and go until December 31, 2017. He also said he will be meeting with a financial person who has had experience working with other cities regarding audits. Council Member Clanton said in October 2017 Mayor and Council appointed an Internal Auditor and was the intent to have that person work with the External Auditor. City Manager, Michael Harris said yes, the internal auditor would audit the day to day and then work with the external auditor when they come. He said the internal auditor previously appointed has withdrawn their name. The City Attorney said the City Charter requires the city have an internal auditor. Council Member Adoma made a motion to approve the Engagement Letter for Professional Auditing with Mauldin and Jenkins with Council Member George Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. 2. Amendment to Pouring Hours (incorporating DeKalb’s recent changes) 4  The Amendment was deferred pending more information and input from local businesses. 3. Chapter 7 of the Stonecrest Ordinance—First Read First Read Only. 4. Planning Commission Items (Public Hearings) A. Zoning Amendment/Special Land Use (SLUP 0002) Child Care Spoke in Favor: Mr. Jim Bow spoke in support of the child care center Ms. Green, human service provider spoke in support Felicia Parker spoke in support Earnest spoke in support Frieda spoke in support Spoke Against: Faye Coffield spoke in opposition Dr. Barbara Lee spoke in opposition Dr. Edwards spoke in opposition Louise Alexander spoke in opposition Dave Marcus spoke in opposition Eloise Alexander spoke in opposition Council Member Adoma expressed concerns if this type of home is not suited for the location. She said she had received emails and Attorney Kurrie requested she forward them to staff so that they can be included in the record. Council Member George Turner stated this is not a good fit for the community and under Georgia law the facility would allow up to three individuals. He also said the way it was presented to him the person who owns the facility would live in the facility. Council Member Rob Turner and Council Member Cobble made a motion to defer this item back to the Planning Commission. Council Member Clanton provided the second. The motion carried with Council Members Rob Turner, Cobble, Clanton and Mayor Lary voting yes and Council Member George Turner and Adoma voting no. C. Zoning Amendment/Special Land Use (SLUP 17-0003) Popeye’s 5  Council Member Clanton made a motion to open the public hearing with Council Member Adoma providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. David C. Kirk representative for the owners RCG Ventures presented the information to the Mayor and Council. Spoke in Favor: None Spoke Against: Dr. Barbara Lee Villicent Maxwell Robert Foster Mudiwa Mbele Dave Marcus Council Member Clanton made a motion to close the public hearing with Council Member Rob Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. Council Member Rob Turner made a motion to deny the Zoning Amendment/Special Land Use (SLUPP-17-003) Popeyes with Council Member Clanton providing the second for discussion. The motion carried unanimously. D. Zoning Amendment/Special Land Use (SLUP 0004) Personal Care Home Council Member Clanton made a motion to open the public hearing with Council Member Rob Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. The applicant and owner, Mr. Willie Jenkins provided information about the personal care home. Spoke in Favor: None Spoke Against: Waldo Bennet Faye Coffield Ben’neel Suhail 6  Council Member Adoma made a motion to close the public hearing with Council Member Clanton providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. Council Member George Turner made a motion to deny the Zoning Amendment/Special Land Use (SLUP 0004) with Council Member Adoma providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. E. Amendment to the Stonecrest Overlay Mayor Jason Lary made a motion to open the public hearing with Council Member Rob Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. Spoke in Favor: None Spoke Against: Bernard Knight Faye Coffield Mera Cardenas Council Member Adoma made a motion to close the public hearing with Council Member George Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Jason Lary made a motion to table the amendment with Council Member Adoma providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. XII. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Mr. Harris stated that going forward the quarterly reports will be available. Mr. Harris provided copies of the fourth quarter report of 2017. XIII. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS: Attorney Kurrie touched on three topics. 1) Economic Development; 2) SPLOST; 3) Ethics Complaint filed. XIV. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS: Council Member Adoma informed the Mayor and Council about the Opportunity Development Empowerment Zone where funding opportunities could be used to attract quality restaurants and businesses to the Stonecrest area. The deadline is March 31. She also spoke on technology she will use to allow for a wider audience to view the town hall meetings. For those who does not use social media technology can also see Council Member Adoma the following day at the Stonecrest Library. 7  Council Member George Turner stated that Salem Middle School’s Mighty Lions have earned a spot to perform at Carnegie Hall on March 26th and asked for support from the community. He also said there will be a community meeting at Big Miller Grove Baptist Church on Thursday, February 22 at 7 p.m. Council Member Clanton stated District 1 has been holding meetings on the 2nd Saturday of every month at Fairview Baptist Church and all are welcome to come and participate. Council Member Rob Turner stated there will be a town hall meeting at the Lou Walker Center at 6:30 on Thursday, February 22nd. Council Member Cobble said since it is late, and Council has an Executive Session, her comments will be in her monthly newsletter. XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Council Member Rob Turner made a motion to adjourn into Executive Session for two potential legal matters with Council Member Clanton providing the second at 9:50pm. The motion carried unanimously. XVI. ADJOURNMENT: Council Member Cobble made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting with Council Member George Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. WHEN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION IS REQUIRED, ONE WILL BE CALLED FOR THE FOLLOWING: ISSUES: 1) PERSONNEL, 2) LITIGATION, 3) REAL ESTATE 8