Minutes from June 11, 2007

Mayor Burgess called the meeting to order with the following Council Members present: David Terry, Angela Porter and Anne Peppers. Also present were City Attorney, Joe Reitman, City Manager Doug White and City Clerk Susan Roper. Traysa Price was unable to attend.

Mayor Burgess led the pledge of allegiance.

Mayor Burgess presented a plaque to Shane Parham and thanked him for his service to his country during his recent tour in Iraq.

Council Member Terry made a motion, seconded by Council Member Peppers to approve the agenda with the following deletions:

8e. Corridor Overlay Ordinance – Waiting on maps from RDC

10 Adult Entertainment – Waiting on maps for RDC.

All were in favor.

Council Member Terry made a motion, seconded by Council Member Peppers to approve the minutes for May 2007 as presented. All were in favor.

Council Member Porter made a motion, seconded by Council Member Peppers to approve the financial statements for May 2007. All were in favor.

City Manager Doug White reported that Emory Thompson had filed an application to rezone for 586, 600, 612, 624 and 642 N. Cherokee from R15 to OI for a Mixed Use development of retail on ground level and condo’s above. He also reported that the request had been heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission on May 29, 2007 and they recommended approval with stated conditions.

Mayor Burgess opened a public hearing giving both sides 10 minutes to speak. Speaking in favor of the request was Dana Sorrow representing the applicant. Ms. Sorrow gave a brief report on the project. Speaking against were

1. Jerry Hendrix, Clegg Farm Road. He pointed out concerns for traffic on highway 11N stating that the acel/decl should be on 11 not Annie P. Henderson.

2. Greg Smith, 346 Richmond Drive. He stated that he thought the design should be Victorian like our town and asked should we approve this because there were already empty locations for retail.

There being no others to speak for or against Mayor Burgess closed the public hearing. Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Porter to approve the request for rezone with the following conditions:

Retail space on the first floor not to exceed 5000 sq feet.
Acel, decel on Annie P. Henderson
Development plan to be shown to P&Z and M&C as part of plan review by Walton County.
Limit 800 sq feet for 1 - bedroom and 1100 sq ft for 2 - bedroom.
Condo fee simple use for residential above commercial.
Owner agrees to all.

All were in favor.

City Manager Doug White reported that Louis VanDyke had filed an application to rezone the property at 255 Dogwood from R12 to GC for parking for the Blue Willow. He also reported that the request had been heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission on May 29, 2007 and they recommended approval.

Mayor Burgess opened a public hearing giving both sides 10 minutes to speak. Speaking in favor of the request was applicant Louis VanDyke. Mr. VanDyke gave a brief description of the whole Blue Willow Project and reported that the property would be graveled and used for parking. There being no others present to speak for or against Mayor Burgess Closed the public hearing. Council Member Terry made a motion, seconded by Council Member Peppers to approve the request for rezone as presented. All were in favor.

City Manager Doug White reported that Mike and Teresa Martin had filed an application to rezone the property at 855 N Cherokee from R15 to OI. He also reported that the request had been heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission on May 29, 2007 and they recommended approval with conditions.

Mayor Burgess opened a public hearing giving both sides 10 minutes to speak. Speaking in favor of the request was applicant Mike Martin. Mr. Martin reported that he had tried to sell his house for 3 years. Every time he had an interested buyer they were turned off by the Citgo across the street. He stated he had a contract currently on his property pending this rezone for office use. There being no others present to speak for or against Mayor Burgess closed the public hearing. Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Porter to approve with the following conditions:

No change to appearance or structure as exists.
Ok with DOT to use existing driveway,
Expand parking in front yard.

All were in favor.

City Manager Doug White reported that Jimmy Bryant had filed an application to rezone the property at 758 N. Cherokee from R15 to NC. He also reported that the request had been heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission on May 29, 2007 and they recommended approval with conditions.

Mayor Burgess opened a public hearing giving both sides 10 minutes to speak. Speaking in favor of the request was applicant Jimmy Bryant. Mr. Bryant stated that he was building a new house on Mill Road. He said that he had commercial all around him and thought a commercial zoning would fit. There being no others present to speak for or against Mayor Burgess closed the public hearing.

Council Member Peppers made a motion, seconded by Council Member Terry to approve with the following conditions:

current structure would not be torn down

All were in favor.

City Clerk Susan Roper reported to Mayor and Council that the computer server in City Hall had reached a critical state and needed replacement immediately. She gave Mayor and Council a brief report on performance for the last few months. After some discussion Council Member Terry made a motion, seconded by Council Member Peppers to approve up to $20,000 for a new Computer/Server for City Hall. The budget will be amended to take the money from General Fund reserves. All were in favor.

Mayor Burgess welcomed Senator Douglas and reported that he had been named one of the Legislators of the Year by the Georgia Chamber. Senator Douglas reported that he was having a luncheon at the Blue Willow on Friday June 15^th at 11:30 for EMS Appreciation and there would be a reception at Magnolia Hall on June 26, 2007 from 6 to 8 PM.

Gregory Gibbs 358 Elm Avenue, reported to Mayor and Council that he was having trouble again with the Section 8 property adjacent to his property. He said that he has called the police several times, but is fearful when he does because of what happens to his property. He recently had all the tires slashed on all the cars in his yard. He said he had been cited by the City to remove the cars from his yard and was doing so. He did say that he had until June 22 to get them all moved, but was not going to be done by then because he has to buy new tires for all of the cars before he can sell them. He requested an extension. Council Member Porter stated that she had spoken to Mr. Gibbs previously and was working with City Manager Doug White and the Public Safety Department to get the problem worked out. Council Member Porter made a motion, seconded by Council Member Peppers to give Mr. Gibbs a 90 day extension to move the cars. All were in favor.

Sara Emma Norrington asked Mayor and Council if they could get the empty lot on Dogwood cleaned up as it was causing her problems with snakes and rodents.

Terry Wood, representing the Robby Baldoni Skate Park reported that he had volunteered his time to the Skate Park. He said that as project manager he would be having monthly meetings so the public could stay aware of the progress of the park. He said that he would be working with City Hall to reserve the Community Room. He said that there were a number of items that came out of the last Council Meeting that the park committee was working to resolve. He mentioned the following:

Safety/Security – Looking to install a pay phone and set up web camera’s for public view.
Location/Covenants – He reported there would be no bleachers or lights that would break the covenants and that there would be a fence put up, although short, to give a clear picture of the park parameters.
Draft Rules of the park were being drafted for public review and they would include requirements for protective wear.
Liability has been research and since this will be a daylight to dusk with no charge for admission there would be no liability for the city. He asked for confirmation from the City Attorney.
Sidewalks were discussed as was a reduction in the speed limit.

City Manager Doug White reported that he expected a notice to proceed from USDA for the streetscape project.

Mayor Burgess asked that he contact the City Engineer, R. J. Wood regarding the progress on widening Memorial Drive.

Meeting adjourned.