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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-19-2017 regular meeting City Council of Peachtree City Meeting Minutes October 19, 2017 7:00 p.m. The Mayor and Council of Peachtree City met in regular session on Thursday, October 19, 2017. Mayor Vanessa Fleisch called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Others attending: Terry Ernst, Mike King, Kim Learnard, and Phil Prebor. Announcements, Awards, Special Recognition Proclamation-Retired Educators Day Fleisch read a proclamation declaring Sunday, November 5, 2017, as Retired Educators Day in Peachtree City. She thanked retired educators for their service to the community and urged Citizens to observe the day in an appropriate manner. Recognition of Paul Salvatore-Government Chief Information Officer Certification The Mayor recognized Finance Director Paul Salvatore for completing the University of Georgia's Government Chief Information Officer program, offered by the University's Carl Vinson Institute of Government. She noted that the program was strenuous, and applicants were required to meet education and experience requirements to apply, and then complete online and in-person classes, assignments, and a comprehensive project to earn the certification. Recognition of Financial Services - GFOA Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting The Finance Department was honored for earning its 19th Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association, a national organization. Presentation by the North Georgia Water Planning District Katherine Zitsch, Director of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, gave Council an overview of the district's work. She explained that the district included 15 counties and 95 cities, totaling about 5.7 million people. The area covered relied on surface water for its needs, she noted, leaving it at the mercy of a cycle of rainfall and droughts. Drought conditions were currently prevailing, meaning that smaller reservoirs,such as in Peachtree City,were in good shape,while larger ones were recovering from last year's rainfall deficit. Zitsch explained that the district's board members, composed of representatives from each jurisdiction, along with stakeholders, formulated a regional plan with action items that each government had to implement. Zitsch noted that although the region's population had increased over the past decade, water use was down. She also pointed out that sewer overflows were on the decline. Metro Atlanta relied on a wastewater management system that treated wastewater and returned it to the system for use by consumers downstream. In response to a question from Learnard, Zitsch told Council the district was working on action items to encourage communities to return wastewater to the basin from which it came. City Manager Jon Rorie said the 2017 update to the water plan led to other actionable items the City would have to address through its stormwater plan. Zitsch said Senior Planner Robin Cailloux had identified items that applied to Peachtree City. Cailloux noted that one of the goals in the City's comprehensive plan was to maintain water quality. She said one focus would be on getting all water policies in line with the regional district's action items,County water regulations,and inter-departmentally within the City. Public Comment There was no public comment. City Council Minutes October 19, 2017 Page 2 Agenda Changes There were no agenda changes. Minutes October 5, 2017, Regular Meeting Minutes King moved to approve the October 5,2017,regular meeting minutes as written. Ernst seconded. Motion carried 4-0-1 (Learnard). Quarterly Reports-Third Quarter Prebor noted that the new format for the reports looked good. Consent Agenda 1. Consider Alcohol License - NEW -The Fit Kitchen, 109 Lexington Circle 2. Consider Cancellation of December 21, 2017, Regular City Council Meeting 3. Consider FY2018 Budget Amendment(Overtime) 4. Consider FY2018 Budget Amendment(Bucket Truck) Learnard moved to approve Consent Agenda items 1-4. Prebor seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Old Agenda Items 10-17-01 Consider Contract for Amphitheater Recreation and Special Events Administrator Quinn Bledsoe presented Council with a recommendation for management of the Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater for 2018.She said for the past year,she, Rorie, Salvatore, Purchasing Agent Angela Egan, and Amphitheater Business Manager Mary Camburn had been formulating a management plan that would enable the Amphitheater to continue and possibly improve its operations. She noted that 2017 was a year of change, with long-time Amphitheater Manager Nancy Price retiring, temporary management taken over by The Show Business, and the transfer of Amphitheater oversight to the Recreation and Special Events Department. Bledsoe explained that the management search team wrote a request for proposal (RFP), and the group scoring highest was PRT LLC,a joint venture consisting of Premier Events, RCS Productions,and Ticket Alternative. Premier Events, which had contracts with venues including the Chastain Park Amphitheater and numerous outdoor festivals. including Atlanta Pride and the Atlanta Dogwood Arts Festival, would handle concessions, marketing, and sponsorships. RCS Productions would be responsible for talent acquisition, production and technical services, and day-of-show management. They work with several area cities, including Alpharetta, Duluth, and Marietta, as well as with the Sweetland Amphitheater in LaGrange and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Bledsoe reported that being in a group gave The Fred more bargaining power in contracting with acts. Ticket Alternative, the current ticket provider, would remain as part of the management venture, she remarked. Bledsoe went on to say the City would continue to supply a business manager to oversee financials, and would approve talent lineups and maintain the facility.She pointed out that PRT was aware of the desires of the community and had been told to select acts with those standards in mind. Bledsoe noted that PRT and the City had approved a budget in line with what was allotted in the FY 2018 budget, and the contract had been approved by City Attorney Ted Meeker.She added that these firms received glowing references from both the Sweetland Amphitheater and the City of Alpharetta. Learnard clarified that although the Amphitheater fell under the Recreation Department, it was still financed through the Enterprise fund. Rorie confirmed this and went on to explain that one of the goals was maintaining the feel of a hometown venue. However, additional purchasing power could draw bigger acts. Learnard said she was familiar with RCS Productions through her work with the annual artists fundraising gala at West Georgia Tech. Ernst reminded the companies that this was Peachtree City's City Council Minutes October 19, 2017 Page 3 amphitheater and inquired if concert goers would still be able to bring coolers. Bledsoe assured him that would still be allowed. King moved to award the contract for management of The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater to PRT LLC. Learnard seconded.The motion carried unanimously. New Agenda Items There were no new agenda items. Council/Staff Topics Public Information Officer/City Clerk Betsy Tyler presented two proposed ordinance amendments. She asked for Council input and said staff would bring the amendments for consideration in the coming weeks. Proposed Ordinance Amendment-Commission /Authority/ Board Appointments Tyler explained that this would update language regarding the appointment process to City boards and commissions, which had not been changed for many years. She noted that the ordinance currently stated that applicants to City boards should not be council members or members or staff, and, technically,that was not followed,since some boards,such as the Public Facilities Authority,were made up of the Mayor and Council. Tyler said the amendments clarified this by referencing the enabling legislation that allowed council members to serve or to appoint members to boards. Other changes would clarify the application process. Language was added to note that members of the Planning Commission could not be City Council members because Council heard appeals of Planning Commission decisions, Tyler reported. Tyler said they had also removed language that implied the Planning Commission had a budget and could appoint staff or enter into contracts. She told Council if they had any questions or wished to make suggestions, they could contact her or Rorie. Proposed Ordinance Amendment-Alcoholic Beverages-Manufacturer's License Tyler said this ordinance amendment was drafted by a private attorney representing a company interested in opening an alcoholic beverage manufacturing business in the City. She said recent changes in State law made it necessary to amend the City's ordinance to add a licensing category for these manufacturers and to incorporate definitions that corresponded with State law. The City Attorney had reviewed the ordinance, Tyler reported. She added that suggestions for fees for the new licenses would be included in the final proposal to Council. Other changes included eliminating outdated language and updating the section on excise taxes to reflect the operations of a manufacturer. Tyler said it provided for a manufacturer to pay sales tax instead of excise tax when product was sold at the facility, as permitted under the new State laws. A new section covered rules for manufacturers and incorporated State law, she noted. Rorie clarified that these amendments were driven by changes in State legislation regarding craft breweries. There being no further business, Learnard moved to adjourn. King seconded. Motion carried unanimously.The meeting adjourned at 8:43 P.M. Ma Barksdale, Recording SecretaVanessa Fleisch, Mayor