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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-16-2015 regular meeting City Council of Peachtree City Meeting Minutes July 16, 2015 7:00 p.m. The Peachtree City Mayor and Council met in regular session on Thursday, July 16, 2015. Mayor Vanessa Fleisch called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Others attending: Terry Ernst, Eric Imker, Mike King, and Kim Learnard. Announcements, Awards, Special Recognition Mayor Fleisch recognized the 4th of July Parade trophy winners: Grand Marshal's Award-Brian McConnell Mayor's Award-Fayette Hobbies; Most Patriotic -Midwest Food Bank Most Creative -St. Paul Lutheran Church 1st Place Golf Cart-New Neighbors League Club 2nd Place Golf Cart-PTC Garden Club 3rd Place Golf Cart-Bruce Maestre Fleisch announced that the Fire Department had received a new ISO Rating, going from a 3 to a 1. Tim Pierson was recognized as Employee of the Month for May. Terry Blackburn was recognized as the Employee of the Month for June. Scott Pittman was recognized as the Supervisor of the Quarter. Kirk and DeeDee Panayis donated Nubee infrared thermometers to the Police Department, which would help officers in determining the temperature inside a vehicle when there were children or pets left inside. Minutes June 15, 2015, Budget Workshop Minutes June 22, 2015, Budget Workshop Minutes June 18, 2015, Regular Meeting Minutes July 7, 2015, Budget Workshop Minutes King moved to approve the June 15, 2015, budget workshop minutes; June 18, 2015, regular meeting minutes; June 22, 2015, budget workshop minutes; and July 7, 2015, budget workshop minutes. Ernst seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Consent Agenda 1. Consider Support for Participation in Georgia Dept. of Public Health's Closed Pod Program 2. Consider Amendment to Solicitors and Peddlers Ordinance-Time Restrictions 3. Consider FY 2015 Budget Amendment- Kedron Program Instructors Ernst moved to approve Consent Agenda items 1 - 3. Learnard seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Old Agenda Items There were no Old Agenda Items. New Agenda Items 07-15-01 Consider Budget Adjustment for Emergency Tree Work Public Works Superintendent Scott Hicks asked Council to approve an additional $30,000 from the General Fund Reserve to the City's contract for service budget for tree removal. An excess of amount of limbs and trees had come down during the storm on June 27, which had depleted the funding for tree removal for FY 2015. Public Works was still 57 requests behind at this point, and more requests were coming in every day. City Council Minutes July 16,2015 Page 2 Learnard moved to approve the budget amendment to the FY 2015 budget for $30,000. King seconded. Motion carried unanimously. 07-15-02 Public Hearing- FY 2016 Budget Financial Services Director Paul Salvatore gave a brief PowerPoint on the highlights of the proposed FY 2016 budget. He clarified that state law required one public hearing on the budget, but Council was not required to make a decision at this meeting. The general fund was $33.5 million, and the capital budget [Public Improvement Program (PIP)] was $1.2 million. The City had two enterprise funds - stormwater ($2.3 million) and the amphitheater operations ($1 million). Salvatore noted those funds had not been discussed in the workshops, but there were no rate changes planned for next year, no new bonds were anticipated, and the status quo would be driven by current revenue streams. The City had one special revenue fund, hotel/motel tax, currently estimated at approximately $1.5 million split evenly with the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the City. The hotel/motel tax was an 8% tax on lodging, with 4% to the CVB and 4% to the City. The Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for transportation infrastructure was depleted, Salvatore said, adding that had been a key point throughout the budget process and the burden for those expenses was now on the General Fund. Salvatore continued that there would be no change in the maintenance and operations (M&O) millage rate; it would remain at 6.756 mills. A tax increase would be advertised because the tax assessments had increased. There were no across-the-board pay increases included in the proposed budget. Salvatore explained that the original City Manager's budget had included a 2.1% pay increase that had been proposed based on the consultant's recommendation, and that was removed during the workshop process. However, $114,000 had been dedicated for merit raises as needed, which would be looked at on a case-by-case basis. The proposed merit increases were the equivalent of approximately 0.75%, as opposed to 2.1%. It would be a one- time funding source going forward. An additional detective position was included, which was a $79,000 ongoing cost. Salvatore clarified that was not only the salary, but the entire cost. The salary would be the low $40,000s, with the remainder to be used for the cost of the uniforms, service weapon, radios, laptop, vehicle, and everything else. An additional contract employee had been included for the Building Department at $52,000 through the City's SafeBuilt contract, and the expense would be 100% offset by additional Building Department revenues. Salvatore said it was a good sign for the economy - as permanent revenue rose, the City needed that additional contract employee. Also, staff suggested reclassifying a Public Works supervisor position to a heavy equipment operator and adding an additional maintenance tech to the cart path crew, at a cost of about $25,000. Salvatore said that was in response to demand for service levels in maintaining the cart path system. Salvatore reiterated that FY 2015 was the first year the City had no SPLOST funding available for transportation projects, which had been approximately $2 million each year. This current fiscal year, $440,000 had been budgeted for cart path maintenance, and those funds covered only materials and supplies. Staff wanted to increase that amount to $665,000 to increase resurfacing on the cart path system from six miles to nine miles, but that amount did not cover labor costs. It also did not include the contract with Keep Peachtree City Beautiful (KPTCB) for litter cleanup or police patrol. The estimated total cost of maintaining the cart path system was 111 between about $1.7 - $1.8 million annually. To partially offset that additional $225,000 for next year, increasing the golf cart registration fee to $15 annually had been discussed, which was approximately $180,000 in revenue. Street resurfacing was budgeted at $1.8 million, which covered five miles of resurfacing. City Council Minutes July 16,2015 Page 3 Salvatore looked at the five-year model, which showed the use of $769,000 from Cash Reserves in FY 2016. A millage increase of 0.25 mills was programmed for FY 2017 to cover ongoing maintenance needs. No other millage increases were anticipated at this time. Salvatore continued that the projection had been to use approximately $800,000 from Cash Reserves for FY 2015 and to use approximately the same amount in FY 2016, which Salvatore cautioned should not become an ongoing use. Usually funds from Cash Reserves grossed over $1 million, with contingencies added in. Salvatore said that explained the need for a 0.25 millage rate hike in FY 2017, which should maintain the Cash Reserves above the required 25% fund balance. The capital budget highlights included $200,000 for bridge maintenance, plus another $60,000 for the wooden bridges. There would be no police vehicle replacements for the next fiscal year due to the change in the mileage policy, so there was a one-time reprieve for police vehicles; however, there would be routine vehicle and equipment replacements needed. There were also Court software and hardware upgrades, and some money put aside for upgrading the Council Chambers audio-visual system. There had been complaints about the webcasting in particular, Salvatore said, noting that the City was using a free service. Playground equipment upgrades were also scheduled in FY 2016. The items in the 2016 PIP totaled $1,219,291, Salvatore said. Some items would be acquired using five-year financing on a lease purchase. Funds were also included for a storage structure for the Fire Department's public education bus, and $10,000 was earmarked for PIP Contingency. Fleisch opened the public hearing. Jonathan Ciecka asked about something he read in the proposed budget, citing the change in the number of certified versus uncertified police officers. Ciecka asked for clarification on the difference between the two. Ciecka said that, on the personnel changes page, there was something about losing 12 corporals/certified officers, and gaining 11 uncertified officers. He asked why the shift was occurring. Assistant Finance Director Kelly Bush said that number was always a moving target. Interim Police Chief Stan Pye explained that they usually hired uncertified officers, who had to attend the police academy before going out on the road. The academy could be a 10-week academy or a six-month academy. Once the officers completed the academy, they could work as a certified officer. They were actually hired in as uncertified. Pye continued that the shift in the numbers was due to the turnover rate, which fluctuated from year to year. There was currently a very high turnover rate. No one else spoke. Fleisch closed the public hearing. Imker followed up on Ciecka's question, saying the officers would be uncertified at the beginning of the fiscal year, and by the end of the fiscal year, those that were identified as uncertified would be certified. Pye said that would absolutely be the case. Fleisch asked Council if anyone had comments on the proposed FY 2016 budget. lmker said he would not propose any changes in August, saying the majority of Council had spoken, and that was not going to change unless Council heard something dramatic from the City Council Minutes July 16, 2015 Page 4 public, which he did not see happening this year. He was quite satisfied with the way the budget process had gone this year. A vote was not required at this meeting. 07-15-03 Public Hearing-Consider Approval of Fayette County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Fire Chief Joe O'Conor explained that the Hazard Mitigation Act of 2000 required counties and their municipalities to adopt a plan in order to continue efforts for drainage and flooding project improvements and reduce communities' vulnerability from both manmade and natural disasters. Fayette County had always been on the cutting edge. A plan had been in place since 2000, and the County was charged with updating it every five years to ensure that it reflected the current hazards and the programs and projects to potentially mitigate those hazards. This made the projects eligible for any available grant or other public funding. The Fayette County Emergency Manager had led a very cooperative process, according to O'Conor. Members of the City's department participated, along with the City Engineer and someone from the Stormwater Utility. This provided the opportunity to include City projects within the county-wide list. Adoption of the plan did not commit the City to spend any money to perform any of the maintenance or any of the construction projects that were referenced in the plan. Adoption just affirmed the county's update efforts, and acknowledged the City's support of the process. O'Conor said the City's projects were clearly laid out in the plan. His recommendation was to support the county's effort in this area. II Fleisch opened the public hearing. No one spoke either for or against the Fayette County Hazard Mitigation Plan. Fleisch closed the public hearing. Learnard asked what it meant to have a project on the list. O'Conor said if grant funding became available, the plan helped to establish projects as a community priority and deserving of available funding. There was no funding right now for such projects, but it did open from time to time. O'Conor added that because there was a plan and there had been a plan on the books, the City was reimbursed for some of the expenses that occurred during the ice storm when assistance was required locally from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The level of reimbursement was actually higher than a typical community the same size because there was an adopted hazard mitigation plan on the record. It was a proven program that had helped the City in the past. O'Conor encouraged Council to adopt it. Learnard moved to approve the resolution in support of the 2015 revision of the Fayette County Hazard Mitigation Plan. Ernst seconded. Motion carried unanimously. 07-15-04 Consider Resolution of Support for Charter Change to Allow for Even Year Election of Mayor and Council Members City Attorney Ted Meeker said a draft resolution and proposed legislation was before Council, which would work to do two things - eventually change the terms of office so elections would occur in even-numbered years and provide for a referendum to be held in November of 2017 to reduce the terms of office for posts one and two, which would be elected in November 2016. To get on the even-year cycle, those terms would need to be reduced from four years to three years. Meeker noted a correction had been made in the resolution regarding the posts, which had originally been posts three and four. Meeker said that, after the last time Council discussed this matter, Council Member Imker had contacted him about the term limits and successive terms. Imker said someone could stagger City Council Minutes July 16, 2015 Page 5 the change in terms and defeating the current limits of two consecutive four-year terms. Meeker said he changed that paragraph to the limitation of two successive four-year terms, or one successive three-year and four-year term. That change was not currently reflected in paragraph F of the legislation. King said that, in the last five elections, four out of five eligible voters actually voted during even- year elections. During odd-numbered year elections, only one in five voters went to the polls. It was time to make this change. Although the process was going to take a little bit of time, King said this would make it easier for the public to vote. It was common sense that the City needed to have the members of Council and the Mayor elected by a majority of the electorate. King moved to approve the resolution of support for the Charter change to allow for even year elections of both Mayor and Council Members. Learnard seconded. Motion carried 4-1 (Fleisch) Council/Staff Topics Interim City Manager Jon Rorie said he had a few topics that he had asked various staff members to discuss, saying Recreation Administrator Cajen Rhodes would speak first. Rhodes reported he had reached out to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division to see if they could provide assistance in the revitalization of Lake Peachtree. They were more than willing to jump on board, and they had an extensive history with Lake Peachtree, Lake Kedron, Lake McIntosh, and Lake Horton. Rhodes met with a fisheries technician and the fisheries biologist, saying they definitely knew what they were doing, which was why he reached out to them. The first thing was there was still a body of water out there, Rhodes said. They wanted to initiate electro-fishing for a good sample of what was currently in the lake. Rhodes expected the people from the Wildlife Services Division to be in the City within the next few weeks, and he would accompany them as they discovered what was in the lake. Rhodes explained that in electro-fishing, positive and negative charges were sent out into the water, which shocked the fish so they would float to the top. The fish were then netted and placed in a live well. They would be weighed, measured, and put back into the lake. It was completely safe for the fish. They were just shocking them so the fish came to the top, and the information could be recorded. Rhodes said snakes would be included, adding they were actually looking for both predators, like a bass, and prey, such as brim. There had to be both predators and prey for a healthy lake and a healthy environment. The DNR would also help to identify the types of weeds, and then provide a recommendation regarding the numbers of grass carp that would be needed. Typically, five carp per acre of lake was the average. They would do a complete assessment, then write a plan with recommendations. Rhodes continued that DNR had its own fisheries and would be able to provide what was needed at little or no cost to the City. They did not provide the sterile grass carp, but had a list of recommended vendors from which the City could purchase the carp at approximately $10 per fish. Rhodes continued this was not going to be a situation where the lake was filled with water one day and the fish were thrown in the next. It would be a gradual process once the lake was full. There had not been water in the lake for some time, so all the non-aquatic plants had to die off, then the fish would be introduced. Rhodes said he was counting on the professionals for guidance and recommendations. City Council Minutes July 16, 2015 Page 6 Rhodes said there was no cost for the assessment. He continued that the DNR had provided the City with fish in the past. Luther Glass Park, also known as Three Ponds, had been stocked with 4,000 catfish at no charge to the City. They had also put over 4,000 fish in Lake McIntosh at no cost to the county. They were public lakes and were used by the public. They could provide more assistance for publicly-owned waters. Rorie said it was worth noting that the Recreation Department had a line item in their budget for restocking fish in the various lakes and ponds throughout the City, which was why Rhodes was handling this project rather than Engineering or Stormwater. It was a logical choice for Rhodes to handle the project. Rhodes said he had worked with DNR directly on restocking the ponds at Luther Glass Park in the past. An annual fishing event for children was held at the park that was free and open to the public. As long as the ponds were healthy, the DNR was willing to come and put fish in them. It was a great service. Rorie asked Public Information Officer/City Clerk Betsy Tyler to provide an update on something that had recently been in the news. Tyler reported that a local news station was currently investigating and reporting on problems around metro Atlanta with a pool management and lifeguard contracting company called USA Pools. The City had contracted with USA Pools of Georgia to manage its pools at Kedron, Glenloch, and the fountain in City Hall plaza. This might cause some citizen confusion. Last year, the owners of USA Pools of Georgia, the City's contractor, advised the City that they had terminated one of the sons/brothers involved in the business. However, that son had continued to do business using versions of the USA Pools' name. Although the business being investigated by 11 Alive News had a similar name, and similar names for the principals, it was not the City's contractor. USA Pools Company of Georgia was taking legal steps to change their name to United Pools, but it would take some time to go through that process. Staff wanted to make the announcement at the meeting to prevent any public confusion moving forward. Tyler added that the same people from USA Pools of Georgia were still working at Kedron, reiterating that the City's contract had never changed nor had the people working with the City. Imker said he had three quick things. He noted there were Boy Scouts at the meeting, and asked those attending for citizenship in a community to raise their hands. He commended them for coming to the meeting. Imker pointed out that former Fire Chief Stony Lohr was also at the meeting. He asked Salvatore to explain the upcoming hearings on the millage rate. Salvatore said he first had to get the tax digest from the County Tax Commissioner, saying he had spoken with the commissioner that day with the hope of getting some preliminary numbers. Based on the preliminary numbers, the projections in the FY 2016 budget appeared to be accurate, and that was good news if the numbers did not change much. Once the City had the digest, the five-year history of the digest had to be advertised least two weeks before Council adopted the millage rate. Since there was going to be a tax increase due to the assessment increases, three public hearings had to be held. Two could be held on the same day, with one a week later. Salvatore said he tried to time the hearings with the meeting at which Council would adopt the actual budget and the millage rate. He expected the whole process should be complete by the second meeting in August if the City received the tax digest in the next day or two. City Council Minutes July 16, 2015 Page 7 Learnard asked why Council had a July 30 meeting date on the calendar. Salvatore explained that, per the regulations of the Department of Revenue, the millage rate setting process was supposed to be completed by August 1. Staff liked to publish a schedule that showed the City planned to be in compliance. Since it was July 16 and the City had not received the digest, the tentatively scheduled July 30 meeting would not be held. There were advertising guidelines to be met and public hearings to be scheduled. Salvatore said he understood the County's deadline had been extended to September 4, so the City would be able to complete the process in August. Learnard clarified that she could remove July 30 from the calendar, and Salvatore confirmed that. Imker noted three hearings on the millage rate were required, and the first one would probably be held at the first council meeting in August, with the last one held 14 days later on August 20. There would be one in the morning, and one during the regularly scheduled Council meeting to qualify for the three millage rate hearings. Salvatore said that was correct, adding there would be a separate agenda item to adopt the millage rate right after the third public hearing. Learnard moved to go into executive session for real estate and pending or threatened litigation at 7:51 p.m. Ernst seconded. Motion carried unanimously. King moved to reconvene in regular session at 9:09 p.m. Learnard seconded. Motion carried unanimously. There being no further business, King moved to adjourn. Learnard seconded. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. C---tazehL, Pamela Dufresne,/puty City lerk Vanessa Fleisch, Mayor