Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
RECESS MEETING OF APRIL 15, 2008
Be it remembered that the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Ocean Springs met in a Recess meeting at the Ocean Springs City Hall in the City of Ocean Springs at 6:00 p.m. on April 15, 2008. The Mayor presiding, Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Weaver, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan were present. Also present were City Clerk Shelly Ferguson and City Attorney John Edwards.
The Mayor gave the invocation. The Mayor led the pledge of allegiance.
PROCLAMATION
The Mayor read a proclamation declaring the week of May 4-10, 2008, as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week.
OLD BUSINESS
No one was present on behalf of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bike Fest. No action taken.
NEW BUSINESS
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute a Video Services Agreement between BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Mississippi and the City of Ocean Springs, Mississippi (Exhibit 4-a).
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to waive rental fees of the Civic Center on Friday, June 6, 2008, for the Domestic Violence Division of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office for the purpose of supporting social and community service programs (Exhibit 4-b).
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Clay Williams, 122 Halstead Road, spoke concerning the speeding traffic issues on Halstead Road.
Mr. Scott Walker, 104 Temple Terrace, spoke concerning the speeding traffic issues on Halstead Road.
Mr. Herb Moore updated the Board concerning the Renaissance Festival and the parking issues during the event.
Mr. John Godsey, 502 Martin Avenue, asked for the status of the building permit for Ocean Pointe Condominiums and further spoke against the project.
Dr. Bill Lucas, 203 Front Beach Drive, spoke concerning the run-off on the beach and the density issues with The Admiralty at Front Beach project.
Mr. Mark Spicer, 107 Augustine, thanked the Mayor and Board of Aldermen for their support in the Relay for Life.
Ms. Mary Marr Beckham, 1209 Cove Avenue, asked about demolition of 1305 Cove Avenue. She further spoke against the school bond issue.
Mr. Frank Geyser, the architect for The Admiralty at Front Beach, advised that the preliminary plat is the identical design as the sketch plat which has been previously approved.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan, and unanimously carried to adopt the Addendum to the Agenda. Alderman Gill abstained from the vote.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of items (o) and (r) which were pulled by Alderman Hagan, items (n) which was pulled by Alderman Dalgo and items (A-1a) and (A-1b) which were pulled by Alderman Lloyd. Alderman Gill abstained from the vote.
Alderman Dalgo pulled item (n) asked why the vote of the Planning Commission was not unanimous. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Weaver, and unanimously carried to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission to approve the preliminary plat approval for Front Beach Associates/The Admiralty at Front Beach (Exhibit 6-n). Alderman Gill abstained from the vote.
Alderman Hagan pulled item (o) for an address correction. Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to accept the Planning Commission recommendation to approve a lot reconfiguration of Lots 2 & 3 of Gulf View Subdivision (Exhibit 6-o).
Alderman Dalgo pulled item (r) to allow Alderman Denyer to recuse himself from the vote. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Hagan, and unanimously carried to accept the Zoning and Adjustment Boards recommendation to approve square footage variance at 106 Shady Oaks Lane. Alderman Denyer left the room and recused himself from the vote.
Alderman Lloyd pulled item (1a) for clarification concerning the Contract. Motion was made Alderman Weaver and seconded by Alderman Denyer to authorize the Mayor to execute the Agreement between the City of Ocean Springs and the Mississippi Forestry Commission for the Hurley burn site. Motion carried with Alderman Gill, McDonnell, Weaver, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan voting aye and Alderman Lloyd voting nay (Exhibit A-1a).
Alderman Lloyd pulled item (1b) for clarification concerning the revised Contract with Elizabeth Veglia for the mosaic art work for the panels on the beach. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Weaver, and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute the revised Contract between the City of Ocean Springs and Elizabeth Veglia Mosiacs, Inc. (Exhibit A-1b).
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor:
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Hagan, and unanimously carried to accept the Mitigation Plan for Mississippi Highway 57 Sports Complex (Exhibit 7-a).
Community Development & Planning:
The Community Development Director gave an update on filling the Inspector position. They have begun advertising the inspector position in-house.
He further updated on the Human Resource cottage. The cottage is on blocks and the electrician has begun his work. The staff is to determine what interior renovations are to be done.
Parks & Leisure Services:
The Parks and Leisure Director expressed interest in pursuing options to acquire the Armory site to be used as a boxing facility for a boxing club. The Building Official and the Parks and Leisure Director were instructed to determine what repairs need to be done to the building and the costs for the renovations and repairs.
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize up to $6,000.00 from the Ward 5 Capital Improvements Account for beautification at Bienville Place, Phase 1 and 2.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize up to $10,000.00 from the Ward 5 Capital Improvements Account for decorative street signs on Government Street.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman McDonnell, and unanimously carried to authorize the Community Development Director and the Police Chief to submit a proposal for five (5) speed signs at the next Board meeting.
Motion was made Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to transfer $204.75 from Ward 4 Capital Improvements Account to Public Works Account for black spray paint.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to donate $1,000.00 to the Ocean Springs Athletic Foundation to advertise the resources of the City.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo, and unanimously carried to draft an Ordinance to install a 4 way stop sign at Brumbaugh and Davidson. The Board asked for a recommendation from the City Attorney, Police Chief and Community Development Director concerning the placement of stop signs.
Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Denyer, and unanimously carried to authorize the City Attorney to draft an Ordinance to implement a Residential Parking Permit Plan to be issued to the residents through the City Clerk’s office.
Alderman Lloyd had a request from a citizen to place speed bumps on Davidson Road. The Community Development Director, the City Attorney and the City Engineer will research all of the traffic calming devices available to the City.
Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Denyer, and unanimously carried to authorize up to $5,000.00 from the Ward 3 Capital Improvements Account for a planter at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center.
Alderman Lloyd asked to send a letter to the Mississippi Department of Transportation concerning the new traffic light at Washington Avenue and the Gulf Hills entrance at Shore Drive.
Alderman Lloyd asked the City Attorney to research if smoking can be prohibited at all City parks.
Alderman Lloyd asked why there were signs on Highway 90 heading West directing citizens to Porter Avenue and First Street and another sign indicating a bicycle lane.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to waive the rental fees of the Civic Center for the Ocean Springs Elks Lodge for their annual 2009 Mardi Gras Ball to promote the resources of the City.
Alderman McDonnell expressed concern about maintaining the police station located at Dewey Avenue as a satellite station after the new public safety center is open. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to direct the Mayor to make recommendations to the Board for approval on all priorities and projects to be funded with the 2% tax levy.
Alderman Gill asked the City Engineer about the drainage issue at Churchill Drive. The City Engineer advised that they will video the pipe to determine the necessary repairs and also whether or not emergency repairs need to be made.
Alderman Gill asked for clarification concerning the process of the selection of the architect for the public safety center. There was discussion by the Board whether or not to interview the top 3 architectural firms chosen by the Selection Committee for the public safety center. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell and seconded by Alderman Gill to award the Contract for the Architects for the Public Safety Center and renovations to the Dewey Avenue police station to Bolton, Lack, Furr Architects. Motion failed with Alderman Gill, McDonnell and Dalgo voting aye and Alderman Lloyd, Weaver, Denyer and Hagan voting nay. A special call meeting was set for Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at 5:30 p.m. to interview candidates for architects of the public safety center.
Alderman Denyer asked the Assistant Public Works Director to begin laying sidewalks down Halstead Avenue.
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to go into closed session to determine the necessity of going into executive session.
ALDERMAN GILL LEFT THE MEETING.
The City Clerk returned to the meeting and announced that a motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss potential litigation for Ocean Pointe Condominiums and annexation.
ALDERMAN WEAVER LEFT THE MEETING.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to adjourn until 6:00 p.m. on May 6, 2008.
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City Clerk Mayor
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