Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
RECESS MEETING OF APRIL 20, 2010
Be it remembered that the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Ocean Springs met in a Recess meeting at City Hall in the City of Ocean Springs at 6:00 p.m. on April 20, 2010. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Ross, Gill, McDonnell, Cody, Dalgo and Denyer were present. Also present was City Clerk Shelly Ferguson and City Attorney John Edwards. Alderman Hagan was absent.
Alderman Cody led the invocation and the Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Moran requested an amendment to the agenda. Motion was made by Alderman Ross, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to add the addendum to the agenda.
PROCLAMATION
The Mayor announced the week of April 4-10, 2010 as Junior Auxiliary Week (Exhibit 3-a).
The Mayor read a Proclamation of Accomplishment honoring Ms. Grace Dougharty as Miss Mississippi Senior Division Titleholder 2009-2010 (Exhibit 3-b).
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ms. Juliet Jowett, President of the Friends of the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center thanked the Mayor and Board of Aldermen and introduced Ms. Anita Arguelles as the Culinary Arts Director at the Mary C. O’Keefe. Ms. Anita Arguelles also thanked the Mayor and Board of Aldermen for their support of the Culinary Arts Café. Ms. Melanie Allen, Vice President of the Mary C. O’Keefe, also thanked and stated they were very appreciative of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
Ms. Linda Bloom introduced herself as the new Executive Director of Walter Anderson Museum of Art and invited everyone to the 20th Annual GALA, their major fundraiser of the year, to be held on Saturday, April 24th.
Mr. Shannon Strunk, owner of a real estate development company, stated he signed a Contract to purchase the Bienville Landing Plaza, the shopping center west of the Walmart parking lot. Mr. Strunk requested permission to cross city property to connect these two shopping centers, due to poor access to the shopping center; limited ability to travel from one area to the other and poor visibility. The Mayor advised the City has an easement over the drainage ditch. The Mayor asked Mr. Strunk along with his architect, to provide engineering plans to the Public Works and Planning Departments and City Engineers and if necessary, to determine if this item should be discussed in Executive Session at the next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Supervisor John McKay advised the County is beginning construction of the new harbor master office. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to waive all fees including tap fees to run a temporary water line to the temporary office during the construction of the new harbor master office less and except the cost of materials.
Supervisor John McKay asked the City for one-third (1/3) of the cost of a set of plans for the road improvements at the new high school on Old Spanish Trail. Mr. McKay stated the County has authorized Neel Schaffer, Inc. to draw up plans for road; traffic signals and drainage improvements. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer and seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to participate up to $33,000.00 for a set of plans done by Neel Shaffer, Inc. for road work, drainage and traffic signal improvements at the new high school. After further discussion, Alderman Denyer amended his motion and Alderman Gill amended his second to approve the motion pending the City Clerk allocating the funding from the current budget.
OLD BUSINESS – ADDENDUM
The Mayor presented the Drainage and Infrastructure Committee Report and update on the drainage projects (Exhibit A-1a).
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to approve the Drainage and Infrastructure Committee minutes from April 19, 2010 (Exhibit A-1a).
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to allocate up to $25,000.00 from the drainage bond funding towards clearing out debris and tree roots from the areas identified from the video (Exhibit A-1a).
Motion was made by Alderman Ross, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize advertisement of bid specifications to repair the drainway east of Halstead between Englewood and English Drive (Exhibit A-1a).
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to accept $75,000.00 matching grant from Pat Harrison Waterway District for the three (3) drainage improvement projects at Hanley-Halstead; Hickory Circle and Simon Boulevard (Exhibit A-1a).
Motion was made by Alderman Ross, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to obtain cost estimate for sliplining of the drainage pipe between Londonberry and Wellington once the debris is cleared from pipe (Exhibit A-1a).
Alderman Hagan arrives at the meeting at 6:52 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to accept the Consent Agenda with exception of item (i) which was pulled by the Mayor; item (j) which was pulled by Alderman McDonnell and item (ee) which was pulled by the City Attorney.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to approve payment to Joe Gill Consulting, LLC in the amount of $3,357.50 for lobbying services and fees. Alderman Gill abstained from the vote (Exhibit 6-i).
Alderman McDonnell pulled item (j) to ask why the Contractor was tearing up the improvements made on Washington Avenue. The City Engineer answered there was some unacceptable work done by the Contractor and they were completing a punch list. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute Change Order #6 for Downtown Streetscape Project – CDBG Round 1 to extend the deadline for substantial completion to April 23, 2010, per the Engineers recommendation (Exhibit 6-j).
Alderman McDonnell also asked if the Contractor was repaving Cash Alley. The City Engineer stated the Contractor is cleaning the street to determine what the surface looks like and the decision about repaving will be made after that time. The Contractor is obligated to remove a 2-3’ wide strip adjacent to the sidewalk where the edge of the pavement is raveled. The City Engineer also stated they must fix the road to the City’s standards.
The City Attorney pulled item (ee) to recommend removing paragraph 7 from the Contract. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute the Contract with J&M Display, Inc. for the annual 4th of July fireworks show and deleting paragraph 7 per the recommendation of the City Attorney (Exhibit 6-ee).
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor:
The Mayor presented the letter from the Mississippi State Rating Bureau advising the improved fire insurance classification of Fifth Class, effective April 5, 2010.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to award the bid for the Front Beach lighting to A&Z Muni-Dot Company in the amount of $156,675.00 and authorizing the Mayor to execute the Contract and Notice to Proceed pending legal approval (Exhibit 7-b).
Human Resources and Risk Management:
The Human Resources Director stated the Human Resources committee proposes to enact a hiring freeze to accomplish the recommendation during the budget process last year to reduce ten (10) positions over the next four (4) years. She further stated that during the current fiscal year 2-1/2 positions have been added and since Hurricane Katrina 27-1/2 positions have been added. Motion was made by Alderman Gill and seconded by Ross to enact a hiring freeze. After further discussion, Alderman Gill amended his motion and Alderman McDonnell seconded the motion to enact a hiring freeze on creating new positions and authorize the Human Resources Director, Human Resources Committee and the Mayor to meet with the Department Heads to determine the essential personnel by job title. Motion failed with Aldermen Gill and McDonnell voting aye and Alderman Cody, Ross, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan voting nay.
Fire Department:
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize Mayor to execute all necessary documents to purchase a 2010 Pierce Custom Contender fire truck in the amount of $301,405.00, financed using annual insurance rebate monies from the Mississippi Insurance Bureau, pending legal approval (Exhibit A-1b).
Community Development & Planning:
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to adopt Resolutions Accepting Recommendations of Ocean Springs Planning Commission and Adopting Ocean Springs the Amended Comprehensive Plan; Downtown Master Plan; Front Beach Master Plan and Bienville Boulevard Master Plan (Exhibit 7-d, 7-e, 7-f, 7-g).
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Alderman Gill stated he asked the Police Chief to check every crosswalk and button and reported the buttons at Bristol Boulevard and Martin Luther King Boulevard were not working. The Mayor answered she would follow up on this matter.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize up to $1,500.00 from Ward 1 Capital Improvement Account for landscaping and painting at the three (3) Fort Bayou Estates Subdivision entrances.
Alderman Gill stated he had a request from several people to be on the Seamen’s Memorial. Alderman Cody stated he served on the Seamen’s Memorial committee. There was discussion concerning what the criteria was to have a name placed on the plaque and whether it was all seamen or just those serving in the Merchant Marines. Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to reform the Seamen’s Memorial committee and appoint Aldermen Gill, Cody and Dalgo along with any other citizens interested to serve on the committee.
Alderman McDonnell asked the Building Official for a status on Jan Walker’s house on Front Beach. The Building Official stated he had not been briefed on this matter. Alderman McDonnell requested a firm timeline be established on the repairs of this residence and presented by the next meeting.
Alderman McDonnell asked for clarification on the notices posted on some of the residences on Front Beach. The Building Official stated it was part of the lot cleaning process. He also reported two (2) slabs on Clark Avenue were not on the slab removal list. The Building Official stated he would report the progress on slab removal at the next meeting.
Alderman McDonnell asked the Parks and Leisure Services Director to finish the fence adjacent to Keyes Municipal Park and to utilize and pick up the lumber that was left over and located at Keyes Municipal Park.
Alderman McDonnell asked the Parks and Leisure Services Director to contact Ms. Michelle Hale regarding the Renaissance Faire at Freedom Field to coordinate any needs they may have before and during this event. The Parks and Leisure Services Director advised she has already met with Terry Armstrong and the Public Works Director to work out all of the details for this event.
Alderman McDonnell stated there is a procession on Friday before the Renaissance Faire from Marshall Park to St. John’s and asked the Police Chief to contact Michelle Hale concerning the staging of this event.
Alderman McDonnell asked the Fire Chief to meet with him and Cindy Ladnier at the Villa Maria on Monday, April 26th at 10:00 a.m. concerning issues requiring some attention from the Fire Department.
Alderman Cody asked the Assistant Public Works Director when the section of street by the railroad track at Washington Avenue would be paved. He answered it would be paved next week.
Alderman Ross asked the Parks and Leisure Services Director if the pest control treatment was done on Monday. She reported it was done on Sunday.
Alderman Denyer reminded the Police chief to use salaried personnel for special events which was discussed during the budget process.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize $500.00 to promote the resources of the City at the Mississippi Special Olympics.
Alderman Denyer reported he spoke to the Mr. Richie, the owner of the property between Kwitsky’s Dugout and Henrietta’s, regarding renting the lot to the City for parking. He was interested in renting the property for $850.00 per month. Alderman McDonnell reminded the Board approximately 24 additional parking spaces would be added when Keyes Municipal Park is complete and suggested the surrounding business owners such as Kwitsky’s Dugout, Mosiacs and The Office may pursue the rental of this property since they would be the direct recipient of the activity. Alderman Denyer stated he would ask the surrounding business owners if they are interested in renting this property from Mr. Richie for parking and report back at the next Board meeting.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize up to $400.00 from Ward 6 Capital Improvement Account for the Strong Kids Campaign at the YMCA.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to go into closed session to determine the necessity of going into executive session.
The City Clerk returned to the meeting and announced a motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss annexation; economic development and potential litigation regarding East Beach.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to adjourn until 6:00 p.m. on May 4, 2010.
Meeting ended at 10:16 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor
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