Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 6, 2010
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 April 6, 2010. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Ross, Gill, McDonnell, Cody, Denyer and Dalgo were present. Also present were City Clerk Shelly Ferguson and City Attorney John Edwards. Alderman Hagan was absent.
Alderman Cody gave the invocation and the Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PROCLAMATION
The Mayor read a proclamation declaring the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month (Exhibit 3-a).
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Dax Alexander and Mr. Jack Holt from Brown & Mitchell, Inc. gave an update on the Front Beach Sidewalk project. Mr. Alexander stated they developed a drainage plan; proposed a change order concerning the drainage and also the sidewalk portion of the project is basically complete. The park benches and trash receptacles would be installed soon. The trash receptacles will be bolted to the surface and placed close to the seawall by the bollards to allow easy access for emptying. Alderman Denyer stated his concerns about the number of change orders. Mr. Holt explained that a majority of the proposed change order was originally in Phase 2 of the project and should have been included in Phase 1. Alderman McDonnell questioned the color of the sand and asked to look for a different type of fill. The Planning Director stated the cost difference of the grades of sand. Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to approve Change Order #7 for the Front Beach Sidewalk Project – CDBG Round III subject to review and approval by the Public Works Department (Exhibit 5-b).
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ms. Jan Waterhouse spoke on behalf of the YMCA to request funding for the Strong Kids Campaign, a program for needy children to use before and after school. Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize up to $500.00 from Ward 1 Capital Improvement Account; $500.00 from Ward 3 Capital Improvement Account and $500.00 from Ward 4 Capital Improvement Account.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to accept the Consent Agenda with exception of item (b) which was pulled by Alderman Denyer and item (e) which was pulled by Alderman Dalgo.
Alderman Denyer pulled item (b). Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to remove item (b) from the Consent Agenda since it was discussed under Old Business.
Alderman Dalgo pulled item (e) at the request of the City Clerk. The City Clerk stated a banner will be placed at the event to promote the resources of the City. Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to authorize request to waive rental fees for Ocean Springs Community Center for special birthday party for Sophia Mohler to be held on May 5, 2010 to promote the resources of the City (Exhibit 5-e).
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor:
The Mayor presented a letter from MDOT concerning the Front Beach Drive Street Lighting (Exhibit 6-a).
The Mayor stated the Mayor’s Youth Council were recognized by the MS Department of Environmental Quality for leading the state in cell phone recycling at the MML Youth Leadership Conference in Jackson (Exhibit 6-b).
Community Development & Planning:
The Planning Director explained the changes to the Comprehensive Plan recommended by the Ocean Springs Planning Commission. He also presented the Master Plans for Front Beach, Bienville Boulevard and Downtown. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Ross to adopt the Resolutions Accepting the Planning Commission Recommendation to adopt the Amended Comprehensive Plan; Downtown Master Plan; Front Beach Master Plan and Bienville Boulevard Master Plan. Alderman McDonnell withdraws his motion and Alderman Ross withdraws his second. Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to table items (6-c); (6-d); (6-e) and (6-f) until the next Board meeting on April 20, 2010.
Parks and Leisure Services Department:
Mr. Joey Furr gave an update on the Alice Street Tennis Court Project. Mr. Furr stated the Contractor is making corrective measures this week and moving forward.
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Alderman McDonnell stated he has 15 slabs located in Ward 2 from damaged homes during Hurricane Katrina. He stated the City needs to take a tougher stance and stronger position to require property owners to clean up their properties. He has received many complaints concerning this matter. His goal is to have all of the slabs removed in Ward 2 before August 29, 2010. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to begin the lot cleaning process on the Katrina damaged properties and notify neighbors that we will begin the cleaning of the property within 30 days if there is no response from the property owner.
Alderman McDonnell stated construction was started on a home located at 213 Front Beach but there has been no activity in a long time. He asked for a timeline from the property owners as to when project will be complete. He further asked it be updated at the next board meeting on April 20, 2010.
Alderman McDonnell asked for an update on Jan Walker’s house on Front Beach. He asked when the fill dirt would be leveled. He further stated the property is an eyesore to the surrounding neighbors and asked the Board to instruct the Building Department to follow the ordinances and bring the house up to code.
Alderman McDonnell stated the Rehage property by the harbor is overgrown and residents are complaining about rodents coming from this property.
Alderman Gill advised the Cemetery Board met to discuss the hiring of a surveyor to mark the gravesites in Evergreen Cemetery. The City Clerk advised a purchase order was issued to the surveryor.
Alderman Gill asked about the progress of the installation of the pedestrian walkway button at the intersection of Highway 90 and Bristol Boulevard. The Mayor advised she has called and written letters to MDOT concerning this matter and she would follow-up with MDOT.
Alderman Gill asked if vendors could be allowed to set up on the Fayard property on Front Beach. The Planning Director, City Attorney and the Mayor will look into this matter.
Alderman Hagan arrives at the meeting.
The Mayor advised she met with Supervisor Brodnax to ask when the City would meet with him concerning his district for the roads to be paved. She further advised Supervisor McKay has insisted the City pay 1/3 of the engineering design costs for Old Spanish Trail by the new high school in the amount of approximately $100,000.00 and the City’s share would be $33,000.00. She also stated Supervisor McKay advised if the City did not agree to do this, the monies would be taken out of the road paving money from the County. The Mayor advised this would impact District 4.
Alderman Denyer asked the Building Official for an update on the Pine Hills Drive property and also the properties on Brumbaugh Road and Stennis Avenue.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize up to $500.00 from Mayor’s Capital Improvement Account; $1,000.00 from Ward 4 Capital Improvement Account; $1,000.00 from Alderman-at-Large Capital Improvement Account and the balance of $2,354.40 from Public Works Department for replacement of a concrete panel on Park Place.
Alderman Denyer asked for clarification concerning the percentage designated to the restaurants and lounges for advertisement from the 2% tax levy. It was clarified that the intent was to designate up to 10% for advertising for the restaurants and lounges but no specific percentage was allocated.
Alderman Dalgo asked for a list of all of the slabs in the City.
Alderman Denyer asked the Code Enforcement Official to provide a list of code enforcement issues to be reviewed by the Board.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Dalgo 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 Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss land acquisition; potential litigation regarding the public safety center; potential litigation regarding Alice Street Tennis Court project; potential litigation regarding permitting; litigation regarding East Beach; personnel issues in the Court Department; and Annexation.
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor and the City Attorney to release notice of intent to terminate contract with Calmar Construction regarding the Alice St. Tennis Courts project, based upon the recommendation of Joey Furr, architect, Geri Straight, Parks and Leisure Director, and the Mayor and City Attorney.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize to settle claim with Harlie and Diane Kreger, 203 General Pershing, and authorize Public Works to proceed with replacement of sewer line grinder pump system, cost not to exceed $4,000.00.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to write a letter of offer of $1.45 million contingent upon approval of grant funding, for up to 12 months.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to recess until 5:00 p.m. on April 8, 2010.
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City Clerk Mayor
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