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 Manager Michael Harris City Clerk Brenda James City Attorney Winston Denmark CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES January 2, 2019 9:00 a.m. 3120 Stonecrest Blvd. Suite 190 Stonecrest, Georgia I. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Jason Lary II. ROLL CALL: All members were present III. INVOCATION: Council Member Rob Turner IV. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: V. ADOPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: Council Member Adoma made a motion to adopt the agenda with Council Member Rob Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. VI. MINUTES: Approval of Minutes of the City Council Special Called Meeting of December 12, 2018 and Regular Council Meeting of December 17, 2018. Council Member George Turner made a motion to approve the Special Called Meeting Minutes of December 12, 2018 with Council Member Adoma providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. Council Member Rob Turner made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 17, 2018 Regular Council Meeting with Council Member George Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. 1  VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mera Cardenas spoke in favor of the Historic Cultural Landmark ordinance. She said this will start the process. Faye Coffield spoke on the cutting of trees in Stonecrest and thanked Council Member Adoma for hosting the Christmas Dinner for the Police at the East Precinct. VIII. AGENDA ITEMS: 1. Appointment of the City Attorneys for the City of Stonecrest Mayor Lary said “In accordance with Section 3.08 or the Charter, I hereby appoint and request that the council confirm the following: Winston Denmark of the law firm Fincher Denmark LLC as city attorney for the City of Stonecrest at the hourly rate currently being earned, effective immediately; and Coleman Talley LLP as assistant city attorney and such other assistant and special city attorneys as may from time to time be necessary to carry out the city’s business and legal affairs.” Council Member Clanton seconded the motion. Council Member Adoma inquired about Attorney client privilege. Council Member George Turner asked is this because of vacancy or is this a new appointment. Mayor Lary responded this is changing Fincher Denmark from assistant city attorneys to city attorneys. Council Member Rob Turner inquired about the rate of pay. Council Member Cobble said there should be a new engagement letter making Fincher and Denmark the City Attorneys. Attorney Denmark replied and said the attorney client privilege belongs to the entire council and his job is to represent the city. He said he serves at the pleasure of the Mayor and Council. He said in response to the rate of pay it is stated in the motion. He also said he will get a new engagement letter for council. After much discussion the motion carried unanimously, 2. Ordinance Setting Work Session and City Council Meeting dates and times Mayor Lary made a motion to approve the Ordinance setting Work Session and City Council Meeting dates and time. He said the meetings will change to the second and fourth Mondays with Work Session at 6:00p.m. and Council Meeting 2  at 7:00p.m. Council Member Adoma provided the second. The motion carried unanimously. 3. An Ordinance for the Creation of the Stonecrest Youth Council Attorney Emily M. Preston gave an overview of the ordinance for the creation of the Stonecrest Youth Council. She explained there are a few blanks in the ordinance where information is needed. Council Member Adoma made a motion to defer this item to the next City Council Meeting with Council Member Rob Turner providing the second. The motion carried with Mayor Lary, Council Members Cobble, Rob Turner, George Turner and Adoma voting yes. Council Member Clanton voted no. 4. An Ordinance for the Creation of the Stonecrest Youth Council Advisory Council Member Adoma made a motion to defer this item to the next City Council Meeting with Council Member George Turner providing the second. The motion carried with Mayor Lary, Council Member Cobble, Rob Turner, George Turner and Adoma voting yes. Council Member Clanton voted no. 5. An Ordinance for the Creation of the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission Attorney Emily M. Preston gave an overview regarding the ordinance to create the Historic and Cultural Landmarks. Council Member Adoma said this ordinance is aligned with State Law and this ordinance will help with federal funding and Council needs to put good policy over bad politics. Council Member Adoma made a motion to defer and wait on further information on funding at the January 14, 2019 meeting. Council Member Rob Turner provided the second. Council Member George Turner said for the record he is in favor of the historic properties, but he does not want to handicap the city regarding blighted properties. Council Member Adoma said for the record this legislation is a good policy and the personal opinions have been vetted and council needs to approve this ordinance. City Manager, Michael Harris said no one has come to the city looking for any funding. 3  Mayor Lary said he does not recall the city has to be the way a nonprofit can receive money. The City Attorney Denmark said this is only one way an organization can obtain funding. Council Member Clanton said for the record the words bad politics has been said on many occasions. He said there is nothing that says council must do this and there are many issues with this item. He said bad politics is just doing things or voting just to vote. He said at some point going back and forth looks like an argument. Council Member Adoma made a substitute motion to defer this item until the first meeting in February with Council Member Rob Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. 6. An Ordinance to Amend the Charter for the Purpose of Amending the Expense Limitations for Mayor and Council Frist Read and sent to next Work Session in January. 7. An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 2 Article II Adding New Departments First Read and sent to Work Session in January. 8. LD Square Professional Services City Manager, Michael Harris gave an overview of the contract for professional services with LD Square Professional Services. Mayor Lary made a motion to approve the contract with LD Square Professional Services with Council Member Clanton providing the second. The motion carried with Mayor Lary, Council Members Clanton, Rob Turner and George Turner voting yes. Council Members Adoma and Cobble voted no. 9. Amendment to Jacobs Contract City Manager, Michael Harris gave an overview of the amendment to the Jacobs Contract. Council Member Rob Turner inquired about item #6 Capital Project Management. 4  Council Member George Turner asked since most of things in the contract do not take place right away is there any reason the contract has to be approved today. He said he needed additional input regarding the acquisition of facilities. Mr. Wainwright of Jacobs Engineering said the contract renews with your fiscal year and the amendment to the contract matches what was adopted in the budget. Council Member Adoma asked when will an audit be done on contractual contracts for amendments or modifications. She said she cannot find a clear comprehensive procurement policy that address the need for a sound audit process for contracts. Council Member Adoma said council should consider and pass a resolution that will act as a temporary authority to grant sole source awards until the policy is in place. City Manager said we have a procurement policy in place and the city has an Internal Auditor who reports directly to the council. City Auditor, Joel Thibodaux said the City of Stonecrest is a city managed by fee for service and CH2M Jacobs is our staff. He said when the city expands its employee base, we adjust the contract and enable the fee for service contractor to expand their services to hire. He said his role is to examine the contract and make sure it is in compliance with all laws. He said after May the setup to purchase the parks for $100.00 per acre will change. Council Member Cobble asked why the City Manager is listed in the contract. Mr. Wainwright said the City Manager was listed in the previous contract as interim and this one removed the interim. Council Member Adoma asked that council consider a resolution for a contract audit with legal compliance. Mayor Lary made a motion to approve the Amendment to the Jacobs Contract with Council Member Clanton providing the second. The motion carried with Mayor Lary, Council Members Clanton, Rob Turner and George Turner voting yes. Council Member Adoma and Cobble voted no. IX. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Michael Harris thanked the Mayor and Council for all of the support to the staff during the first year and half. He said we are developing our Work Plan. X. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS: 5  City Attorney Winston Denmark wished everyone a Happy New Year and thanked the Mayor and Council for appointing him City Attorney. He also said he is a resident of the City of Stonecrest, so this means a lot to him. XI. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS: Council Member Adoma thanked Mrs. Coffield and Cardenas. She announced on January 29, 2019 she will have her second Business League Meeting. Council Member George Turner wished everyone a Happy New Year. He said please continue to put Stonecrest on your mail. Council Member Clanton announced District 1 will have its regular monthly meeting on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 10:00am at the Stonecrest Library. Council Member Rob Turner announced District 2 will have a Prayer Breakfast on January 12, 2019 from 9:00am to 11:00a.m. Council Member Cobble wished everyone a Happy New Years and said she is looking for good things from Council in 2019. Mayor Lary wished everyone a Happy New Year. XII. ADJOURNMENT: Council Member Cobble made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:00a.m. with Council Member Rob Turner providing the second. The motion carried unanimously. XIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION: WHEN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION IS REQUIRED, ONE WILL BE CALLED FOR THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: 1) PERSONNEL, 2) LITIGATION, 3) REAL ESTATE 6