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| The following summary minutes have not been approved by Simpsonville City Council. An official copy of the minutes will be available after adopted by City Council at City Hall 118 NE Main St. Simpsonville. Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, notice of this meeting date, time, place and Agenda was posted on the bulletin board at City Hall and faxed to the newspapers, radio stations, television stations and any concerned citizens. |
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SIMPSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL Business Session January 13, 2009 6:30 p.m. City Council Chambers – 118 N.E. Main St .
CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor: Call the January Business meeting of the Simpsonville City Council to order.
ROLL CALL: Ms Zeller would you call the roll please?
Ms Zeller: Councilmember Bridges: Councilmember Garrett: Here Councilmember Sanders: Here Councilmember Bagwell: Here Councilmember Curtis: Here Councilmember Larson: Here Mayor Waldrop: Here
INVOCATION:
Mayor: Is there anyone here who would like to ask blessings upon this meeting in your own personal way? All right hearing from no one Ms Sanders would you ask blessings on this meeting in your own personal way please?
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Mr. Curtis makes a motion to approve the minutes with some typo type corrections he has already discussed with Ms Zeller. Ms Bagwell seconds, the Mayor calls for the vote and it passes unanimously.
REVIEW OF MONTHLY REPORTS:
Council Members have the monthly reports provided to them by the Department Heads. The Mayor thanks the Department Heads for providing those, acknowledges they have been or will be reviewed and Council appreciates the information.
CITIZEN COMMENTS:
Mayor: This is the portion of the program where we invite citizen comments. This is the business meeting so Council will listen to citizen comments but will not respond. If you called ahead and asked to be placed on the agenda you will be given four minutes to speak and if you signed up at the door you will be given two minutes to speak on any topic. We will begin with those who called ahead and asked to be placed on the agenda. Pat Thomas Perry Eichor Gene Norris Doris Nabors Barnett Nancy Bass Mark Rodeffer CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
Mr. Hawes covered the responses to Ms Thomas’ questions which were posted on the website the prior week. Mr. Hawes covered President Obama’s proposed economic stimulus package. Projects he has submitted for funding include: Highway 14/Pelham Street Extension, West Georgia Road widening ( Nelly Ferry Road to Fork Shoals Road), West Georgia Road widening and new section to connect with Jones Mill Road (I-385 interchange to Maple Street , new section from Maple Street to Jones Mill Road ), Simpsonville Arts and Civic Center and Citywide sewer upgrade projects.
The City is the recipient of a $54,000 Parks and Recreation Development state grant for a new concession / ticket building at the entrance to the amphitheater to serve athletic events at the football field and amphitheater. The City’s match will be in-kind labor, not cash.
The City Council and Planning Commission will hold a joint meeting January 20 th at 6:30 PM to discuss the overall direction, philosophy and goals for the planning and development in the city.
Upcoming events the next City Council meeting is January 27 th and we have a Budgeting Workshop on January 22 nd in the Community Building at 6:30 PM.
Also, one additional item, The Simpsonville City Police Department has moved to electronic ticketing.
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Ms Bagwell asked to verify the City’s match to the Parks and Recreation Development grant would be in-kind labor. Mr. Hawes confirmed and stated she might also hear from Mr. Carter who ran the bids on the project. Mr. Carter stated as long as everything goes as planned and there were no changes we should be in good shape. Ms Bagwell also asked for the status of the tub grinder. Mr. Hawes stated it was operating and in a temporary location waiting on permit approval for the permanent location. Mr. Larson asked to verify the recycling program was stopped because there was not a location to accept the material we were picking up with the exception of aluminum. Mr. Hawes confirmed and stated there had been a change in the approach from the people who accepted the materials and they were no longer paying for them. Also the cost to tip that material at Greenville County when they put the tipping fees in eliminated the benefit we were getting from the recycling program. Mr. Hawes stated the 25% participation was not enough to justify the cost being incurred by the City for the service. The City has recycling containers at the old Bi-Lo, Wal-mart, an aluminum can recycling location that goes to the burn center at the Fire Department and we recycle oil at the Public Works Department. Curbside pick-up of recycling was eliminated in these tight times because it was just not cost effective. The City will put out additional flyers listing the recycling locations and post those on the website as well. Mr. Larson and Mr. Curtis asked for the minutes to be distributed and posted in a timelier manner. Mr. Hawes said that had always been a goal and would be addressed.
Mr. Larson wanted to know if any open positions due to the reduction or openings not being filled were affecting coverage, overtime or efficiency. Mr. Hawes stated we had coverage in dispatch and efficiency was not affected but overtime was a factor due to the openings in dispatch not being filled.
Mr. Larson asked if it was correct the Neighborhood Housing Authority could not excavate or take down trees in the lower parts of the lots on Tebblewood because of the floodplain. Mr. Hawes stated, after checking with GCRA, it was his understanding they could not develop the areas in the floodplain.
Mr. Larson asked if we had an update on proposed scheduled for the amphitheater. Mr. Hawes stated SMG is working diligently to book shows and provide quality entertainment but there have been no contracts signed at this time.
Ms Bagwell asked to hear from Chief Reece regarding staffing in dispatch. Chief Reece stated the Police Department is short two dispatchers who were terminated before the reductions in force and those positions were critical positions and needed to be filled. He went on to say if someone calls in sick he did not have anyone to replace them.
Mr. Curtis commented on some of the concerns being raised regarding the current financial situation. NEW BUSINESS:
Councilmember Larson makes a motion to accept the Amendment – FY 2008 – 2009 Operating Budget and Mr. Garrett seconds. Ms Bagwell asked this be reviewed in the upcoming Budget Workshop before taking a vote. Mr. Larson withdraws the motion.
Mr. Hawes presented a Resolution to change the delinquency fees on Hospitality and Accommodations tax from 5% to 15% per month. Ms Bagwell makes a motion to accept the Delinquency Fees on H&A Tax and Mr. Curtis seconds. On the first of two readings it passes unanimously.
ACTION ITEMS:
Ms Judy Bishop , Interim Financial Director, presented the Monthly Financial Report.
Mr. Hawes asked City Council to authorize the transfer of $11,000 from the Sewer Fund to cover the immediately due and remaining balance of the 12/31 debt service on the Certificates of Participation. Ms Sanders makes a motion and Mr. Curtis seconds. The Mayor calls for the vote and it passes unanimously.
Mr. Hawes discusses the PARD Grant Project to construct a ticket booth and concession stand at the amphitheater. Mr. Larson makes a motion to accept the PARD Grant and Ms Bagwell seconds. The Mayor reminds Council that this requires one reading. Mr. Holmes reminds everyone that the motion on the floor is the PARD Grant Acceptance. The Mayor calls for the vote and it passes unanimously.
The Mayor asked Mr. Hawes if he received letters requesting reappointment from the Attorney, City Clerk and Judges. Mr. Hawes confirms he did receive the letters. Ms Bagwell makes a motion to accept the recommendation of Staff for the appointment of City Attorney, City Clerk and Judges and Mr. Curtis seconds. The Mayor calls for the vote and it passes unanimously.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Mr. Hawes explained the C-Fund Project Match. C-Fund’s are the monies from the collections of the statewide gas tax and they are allocated to counties and redistributed through a committee. Simpsonville requested and was awarded a $600,000 grant for the purpose of the Davenport Road Project. The match from the City of $300,000 would be split to $125,000 next fall in the form of a GO Bond proceed and another $125,000 in January 2010 and $150,000 in January 2011.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Dyrhaug discussed 2 nd reading for a petition for a 9 acre tract of land located at the intersection of West Georgia Road and Westwood Drive owned by Jack and Joyce Pendarvis. The property owner has requested that their property be rezoned from industrial to neighborhood commercial and multifamily residential. Ms Bagwell makes a motion to accept AXZ-2008-09 and Mr. Larson seconds. The Mayor calls for the votes and it passes unanimously.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
The Mayor announced a need to go into executive session to discuss a contractual matter related to the Fire Department, a contractual matter related to Public Works and a Contractual Matter related to Administration. Ms Bagwell makes a motion to go into executive session to discuss those three contractual matters and Mr. Curtis seconds. The Mayor calls for the vote and it passes unanimously.
The Mayor thanks everyone for coming and their courtesy and invites everyone back.
ADJOURNMENT:
The Mayor announced Council came out of executive session at 9:59 PM and no action was taken. The Mayor calls for a motion to adjourn. Ms Sanders makes a motion to adjourn and Ms Bagwell seconds. The vote is unanimous and the meeting is adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Melinda Zeller City Clerk |
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| 118 N E Main Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681 |
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