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City Council - 12 February 2007 Minutes

WORK SESSION OF THE
MAYOR AND COUNCIL

PRESENT:
Mayor Lasseter, Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan, Hall
City Administrator, Department Directors, City Attorney

A work session was held prior to the regular scheduled meeting to allow the elected officials to discuss and ask questions of department directors regarding this evening’s agenda items.

OTHER ITEMS DISCUSSED:
Jennifer Freeman presented the proposed design of the mosaic art for the new City Hall.

Mayor Lasseter announced the annual DMA fundraiser will be held on April 19, 2007 at Wild Bills and all proceeds will go to the Living Memorial fund. Tickets are $60.00 each.

MINUTES OF THE
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
CITY OF DULUTH, GA

7:00 P.M. - CALL TO ORDER:   Mayor Shirley Fanning-Lasseter
INVOCATION/PLEDGE:            Mayor Lasseter
WELCOME RESIDENTS:            Harris Mill/Rogers Creek

  1. CERMONIAL MATTERS
    1. NTDTV CHINESE NEW YEAR PRESENTATION
      Representatives from New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) attended the meeting to show a short excerpt from last year's performance of the Chinese New Year spectacular. Their upcoming 2007 performance will be held on February 20th at Atlanta Civic Center. Attending the meeting were Public Relations Manager Becky Yao, camera operators Diane Su and husband YanWang, her parents Mr. and Mrs. Su, and dancers in costume.
    2. ROCLAMATION - ARBOR DAY & TREE CITY RECOGNITION
      Mayor Lasseter announced that an Arbor Day proclamation was issued in December, and that

      Duluth was named a 2006 Tree City USA. Duluth was the first city in Gwinnett County to receive this honor back in 1989. The annual Arbor Day Planting will be held at Bunten Park on Friday February 16, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. as a remembrance ceremony and living memorial.
    3. RECOGNITION – PEACHTREE RIDGE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
      Mayor Lasseter presented a plaque to Bill Holleman, Athletic Director, and Blair Armstrong, Head Football Coach for Peachtree Ridge in acknowledgment of their achievements as co-champions in the 5A state championships last December. Team members Mitchell, Chris and Bobby were present to receive congratulations from the Mayor.
    4. LETTER OF APPRECIATION – POLICE DEPARTMENT
      Mayor Lasseter read a letter of appreciation from the Foster Children’s foundation to the Duluth Police department for their 2007 Mentoring Program.
  2. CONSENT AGENDA
    1. APPROVAL OF JANUARY 17, and 22, 2007 MINUTES
    2. AUTHORIZATION – AMENDED AGREEMENT
      Approval of this item authorizes the Mayor or City Administrator to sign an amendment to the contract with Bron Cleveland Associates on the consulting work for the four LCI projects underway. This amendment would extend the number of hours provided for working on these grants up to a maximum of $310,000 from the current maximum of $262,000. The authorization would also approve an additional contract service in the amount of $5,000 to prepare the more detailed documents for the $4,000,000 requested in LCI funding for Highway 120 improvements that includes an additional lane from the Hospital Connector and straightening the roadway as accounted for in CD-47 using SPLOST funding and LCI grants.
    3. ACCEPTANCE OF DONATION - $2,500 – WALMART
      Approval of this item accepts a grant/donation for COPS programs from Wal-Mart in the amount of $2,500. Funds will be deposited into 100-863-38923 (COPS Donations)
    4. AUTHORIZATION AND WAIVERS – 2007 CITY EVENTS
      The following downtown events are deemed sponsored by the City of Duluth. Approval of this item waives food service requirements per Section 26-2-370 of the Official Code of GA, which exempts food vendors from having to obtain said permits provided that the event lasts 120 hours or less. It also waives signage fee and location requirements provided that the City Clerk and Public Works Director are given a list of where signs will be erected throughout the City for promotion of approved events. (Alcohol will be permitted only for events or portions of events denoted with asterisks.) The following are scheduled events thus far:

      General Events: Battle of the Bands (April), Barefoot in the Park/Fine Arts Festival** (April), Memorial Day Services (May), Duluth Celebrates America** (Hudgens Park, July), Brown Bag lunches (Thursdays, May-August), Duluth Fall Festival (September), annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast (Bunten Road Park, October), 9-11 Olympix Foster Children’s Foundation (Hudgens Park, September), Winter Magic (December), and Annual Holiday Festival/Tree lighting (December).

      Flicks on the Bricks 2007 Family Film Festival: Duluth Revisited (May), Star 94 movie (June), The Sword and the Stone (August), Night at the Museum (September), and Bed knobs and Broomsticks (October).

      SummerStage Concert Series: Dueling Piano Show** (June), SummerStage Concert** (July), Radio station sponsored Concert** (Aug), and Fall Festival Concert** (Sept).

      Friday night Concert Series: Friday evenings from June 1st through August 31st, artists TBD and alcohol allowed per contract with Bridgeworks Productions.

      A motion was made by Councilmember Bomar, seconded by Councilmember Dugan, to approve the Consent Agenda as modified to reflect changes in maximum amount for Item 2.

      Those voting for: Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick,
      Dugan, and Hall
      Motion carried.
  3. NEW BUSINESS
    1. WAIVER REQUEST – GWINNETT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
      Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity has requested a wavier of all fees associated with the construction of a house located at 3614 South Street Duluth, GA. Staff recommends approval.

      Mayor Lasseter noted that this house is being built by all the Rotary clubs in Gwinnett County, with the Duluth Rotary taking the lead. She was truly appreciative of all the civic clubs in Duluth but especially grateful for Rotary for their work on this project.

      A motion was made by Councilmember Hall, seconded by Councilmember Kirouac, to approve, the request to waive fees for the construction of the Habitat house as requested.

      Those voting for: Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan, and Hall
      Motion carried.
  4. MATTERS FROM CITIZENS
    1. Ms. Anita Ferri of 3927 Pinehurst Way requested information about performing in the City’s Amphitheatre, possibly as an opening act for the Friday night concerts.
  5. MATTERS FROM COUNCIL/DEPT HEADS/CITY ATTORNEY
    1. CITY HOLIDAYS - MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
      Councilmember Mundrick referenced diversity as shown, and noted that through his non-violent dream, Martin Luther King Jr. stood as a champion of civil rights for all people. This country has long recognized his birthday as a federal holiday, and he suggested that the City officially recognize this significant date as well.

      A motion was made by Council member Mundrick, seconded by Council member Bomar to designate Martin Luther King Day as an official City holiday.

      Those voting for: Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan and Hall
      Motion carried.

      Mayor Lasseter also recommended that the Capital Reserve and Retirement Benefits Investment Committee evaluate all City holidays and make further recommendations.

      A motion was made by Council member Mundrick, seconded by Council member Bomar to recommend Investment Committee evaluations of all holidays.

      Those voting for: Council members Kirouac, Bomar, Mundrick, Dugan and Hall
      Motion carried.
    2. MISCELLANEOUS CITY EVENTS
      Councilmember Kirouac reported that she had attended the Seniors Valentine Dinner/Dance sponsored by the Parks & Recreations Department on Saturday February 10th and that it was a wonderful event.

      Councilmember Bomar mentioned the Town Hall meeting held at the Red Clay Theatre on the 10th and felt that it was very successful, and thanked Russ with Main Street Coffee Shop for providing refreshments. Councilmember Bomar also mentioned the Duluth High School Mock Trail being held at the City’s Court Facility, who was scrimmaging against Milton High School tonight. She said they were very thankful that the City had allowed them to use the actual courtroom, and announced that the actual competition is February 23rd and 24th.

      Mayor Lasseter mentioned that she spent Saturday judging the Women in Construction “Block Kids” competition at Duluth First Methodist Church, where 87 children participated this year.
  6. ADJOURNMENT
    1. A motion was made by Councilmember Hall, seconded by Councilmember Bomar, to adjourn at 7:35 p.m.

      All for. Motion carried unanimously.