Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 3, 2007
Be it remembered that the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Ocean Springs met in a Regular meeting at City Hall in the City of Ocean Springs at 6:00 p.m. on March 3, 2007. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen McDonnell, Lloyd, Denyer and Hagan were present. Also present were City Attorney John Edwards and City Clerk Adrienne Howell. Aldermen Gill, Weaver and Dalgo were absent.
The Mayor gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Mayor removed item 4-a from Old Business for the staff to review and 8-a to discuss when more Board members are present. She also announced that an Executive Session will follow the Public Comment portion of the agenda.
PROCLAMATION
Mayor Moran read a proclamation declaring March 30, 2007 as Doctor’s Day (Exhibit 3). Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to place the proclamation in the minutes.
OLD BUSINESS
The Mayor announced that the 2% tax for recreation and the Public Safety facility successfully passed through the legislature (Exhibit 4-b). She proposed forming an advisory committee and invited the Alderman and the Parks Advisory Committee to appoint two members each. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to appoint an advisory committee with two members appointed by each Alderman, the Parks Board, the Police Chief and the Fire Chief.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Jim Francis of Mississippi Mud Works presented a petition of Government Street business owners that are opposed to closing the street for May Fest (Exhibit 5-a). He urged the Board to have the festival in Marshall Park and not close down Government Street. Alderman McDonnell asked Alderman Hagan to work with the festival organizers and come back with a report to include an itinerary and map at the next Board meeting.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to request Jackson County to pave the city parking lot on Desoto Avenue with limestone or gravel (Exhibit 5-b).
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. John Cobb announced that the Youth Basketball of America will hold a national tournament in Ocean Springs on April 20 – 22, 2007 with thirty five teams participating.
Mr. Robert Barq of Biloxi said that he supports the 2% tax which he considers good for the community and volunteered to help in any way he can.
Ms. Claire Brou, 313 Jackson Avenue, requested a ban on boomboxes on the beach like the one adopted by the City of Gulfport. Alderman McDonnell asked the City Attorney to study the Gulfport ordinance to see if something similar could be done.
Ms. Mary Marr Beckman, member of the Planning Commission, said that the Harris Harbor project is in a C-4B zone and includes a ‘marine way’ without a special use permit across a public street and also includes a restaurant, deli or café which is not permitted. The Mayor said there is a current stop work order on the project until Mr. Harris can provide the proper information.
Mr. Doug Denehie requested that the walking track at the Civic Center be made elderly friendly with a rubberized surface or pea gravel.
Mr. Bill Tash, Parktown resident, asked when the lighting and basketball goals will be restored at Lemoyne Park on Groveland and the Parks Director said that it should be done next week. Mr. Tash suggested that a Public Facility Master Plan be posted on the website.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell 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 that a motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss personnel matters in the Police Department and Community Development & Planning Department, economic development and the purchase/sale of property.
A motion was made in Executive Session by Alderman Lloyd and seconded by Alderman Denyer to authorize the Civil Service Commission to retain an attorney and court reporter to represent them in an upcoming personnel appeal matter. Motion carried with Aldermen Lloyd and Denyer voting aye, Aldermen McDonnell and Hagan voting nay and Mayor Moran voting aye and breaking the tie.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of item (m) which was pulled by Alderman Hagan and item (w) which was pulled by Alderman Lloyd.
Alderman Hagan pulled item (m) and said that the computers are too expensive. Alderman Denyer asked what kind of computers they are. Interim Police Chief Lionel Cothern replied that they are much more powerful Dells and this will be paid by the Homeland Security grant. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer and seconded by Alderman Lloyd to authorize the purchase of four computers from state contract in the amount of $11,636.16 and four printers in the amount of $806.96 to be paid from the building grant. Motion carried with Aldermen Lloyd and Denyer voting aye, Aldermen McDonnell and Hagan voting nay and Mayor Moran voting aye and breaking the tie.
Alderman Lloyd pulled item (w) and objected to the cost of the decorative street signs. Alderman Hagan said that these signs are paid for out of the Aldermen’s Capital Improvement funds. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell and seconded by Alderman Hagan to authorize the award of bid for decorative street signs to Dynamic Lighting in the amount of $682.00 each. Motion carried with Aldermen McDonnell, Denyer and Hagan voting aye and Aldermen Lloyd voting nay.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to accept the participation by HOSA for several projects (Exhibit 8-b).
City Clerk
The City Clerk said that the Finance Committee discussed the 2006 MDOT Youth Corp Program amendment and recommended that the budget for this account be increased from $8,000.00 to $42,000.00 (Exhibit 8-c). Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to accept the budget amendment and continue the program for thirty days until the new program begins.
Fire
Chief Hare said that he received a request from PBS&J to place a temporary housing office next to the Champ Gaye fire station. This company is coordinating the delivery of cottages to serve as alternative housing to transition people out of the FEMA trailer sites. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell to authorize the Mayor to set up a meeting with PBS&J to discuss what terms of enumeration they are willing to offer. Following further discussion, motion was withdrawn by Alderman McDonnell. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell and seconded by Alderman Denyer to task the Mayor with fact finding about PBS&J as to what the extent of their jobs are going to be, how long they are going to stay and what type of funds they have available to pay for rent. Motion carried with Aldermen McDonnell, Lloyd and Denyer voting aye and Alderman Hagan voting nay.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell and seconded by Alderman Denyer to provide fire protection to Sunplex and allow the Mayor to execute a memorandum of agreement with Fountainbleau Volunteer Fire Department. The City Attorney said that the agreement should first be approved by the Fountainebleau Volunteer Fire Department. Motion was withdrawn by Alderman McDonnell.
City Engineer
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute the contract for the water certificate (Exhibit 8-f).
Public Works
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the Arborist to respond to the Public Works Department to inspect any dead protected trees and authorize them for removal through the FEMA right of entry tree guidelines (Exhibit 8-g).
Parks & Leisure Services
Parks & Leisure Services Director Sean Campbell said that he received three estimates for the Armory roof repair which range from $38,000.00 to $105,000.00. He explained that there may be an opportunity to submit a project worksheet to FEMA for the roof repair because the building is leased to the National Guard and when they are called into federal service which they were during Hurricane Katrina the responsibility of maintenance of the building falls to the City. The Mayor said that she met with the National Guard and reviewed the terms of the lease and determined that there is a stipulation in the lease that the City is in charge of the building whenever the Guard is called into federal service and because during Hurricane Katrina they were called up, the City did have control of the building during the storm which justifies the City to submit a project worksheet to FEMA as opposed to the National Guard. The estimates for the roof repair need to be gathered in order to write the project worksheet.
City Attorney
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to accept the recommendation of the Selection Committee to allow the Mayor to enter into negotiations with Neel-Schaeffer for the Comprehensive Drainage Plan.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to accept the Friends of the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center contract as written pending the approval by their board.
Facilities
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to accept the proposed changes to the rental fee schedules as presented for the Civic Center, Community Center and the Senior Citizens Center with two tiers for profit and non-profit and add a non-profit rate (Exhibit 8-k).
ALDERMAN’S FORUM
Alderman Lloyd said that it appears that two more cottages are underway at the Cottage Square project and he wonders what is taking place there because the area is zoned commercial so no one can reside there unless it is rezoned and they do not appear to be built to commercial standards. They Mayor said the owners intend to erect more cottages to use as a showcase neighborhood for prospective buyers to tour. Alderman Denyer said that the building of residential cottages in a commercial zone under residential standards must be stopped or the area should be rezoned as residential. The Mayor said that the cottages are being built to commercial standards. Alderman Denyer asked the Mayor to meet with the Chief Building Official to determine if there is any violation at this point and if there is stop work there and if there is not to report back to the Board.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to block off the east end of Robinson Street at Blunt Street from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on April 8, 2007 for an Easter egg hunt and to coordinate with the Chief of Police.
Alderman Denyer asked that a date be set for a meeting of the Planning Commission, the Board of Aldermen and the City Attorney to discuss the Waterview Ordinance. The date was set for Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 5:30 p.m.
Alderman McDonnell said that he has received numerous complaints about a property on Jackson Avenue. The Mayor said that she has spoken to the owner and the property will be cleaned very soon.
Alderman McDonnell asked the City Clerk if the 1699 Celebration was funded this year. The Mayor said that it was not budgeted because there will not be a function this year. Alderman Denyer suggested that someone from the organization come to the Board to discuss the matter.
Alderman McDonnell said that very little progress has been made on the Design Review Guidelines and asked when the matter can be resolved. The Assistant Planning Director said that she plans to finish this project before her resignation date.
Alderman McDonnell said that the type of people appointed to serve on the 2% Tax Committee is very important because they will have to sell the concept to the citizens. He also commended and thanked our lobbyist, Mr. Joe Gill, for staying on top of this issue as well as many others.
Alderman Denyer said that he would like to approach the school district to locate a Little Children’s Park at Pecan Park Elementary. Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to approach the school district to locate a Little Children’s Park at Pecan Park Elementary.
Alderman Hagan would like to have some discussion about the selection of the Chief of Police. The Mayor said that the cut off date for applications is April 10, 2007. The Civil Service Commission has recommended that the top candidates be interviewed and then the top three to five will take the Civil Service test.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the City Attorney to study the Gulfport noise ordinance to see if the City of Ocean Springs can adopt one that would be similar.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan and seconded by Alderman Denyer to hire Mr. Kyle Smith as the Assistant City Planner, annual salary $36,000.00, effective May 29, 2007. Motion carried with Aldermen McDonnell, Denyer and Hagan voting aye and Alderman Lloyd voting nay.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to accept the recommendation by the Tree Committee to remove the tree at the Noblin property with the stipulation that a similar tree is planted on the site.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to recess until 6:00 p.m. on April 17, 2007.
