Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
RECESS MEETING OF JULY 17, 2007
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 July 17, 2007. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan were present. Also present was City Clerk Adrienne Howell. Alderman Weaver and City Attorney John Edwards were absent.
The Mayor gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PROCLAMATION
Mayor Moran read a proclamation declaring July 3, 2007 as Asguard Motorcycle Club Day (Exhibit 3).
The Mayor presented the Addendum to the Agenda. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer and seconded by Alderman McDonnell to accept the Addendum along with the Consent Agenda. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan voting aye and Alderman Lloyd voting nay.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Herman Neese presented a request for revised preliminary plat for Bienville Commons (Exhibit 3-a). Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to approve the revised preliminary plat for Bienville Commons.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to follow the consensus from the Board retreat for Fort Maurepas Park to reduce lighting to low level, move the board walk out of the marsh to the shores edge, add fencing, add pervious surfaces to the parking areas and the walkways, reduce the pavilion from two stories to one story open air with restrooms, include a covered stage platform and present the bid specification package to the Board of Aldermen for final approval.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to invite Greg Cantrell, Inc., Compton Engineering and Cowart Architects to the next board meeting to present a sketch or Power Point presentation of the Fort Maurepas Park for public comment.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill and seconded by Alderman McDonnell to authorize the Mayor to contact the necessary organizations to see if the grant funding for the Fort Maurepas Park can be used elsewhere at the Seaman’s Memorial or a Hurricane Katrina Memorial (Exhibit A-1c). Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan voting aye and Alderman Lloyd voting nay.
NEW BUSINESS
Ms. Vanessa Lopez presented a request for a Special Event Permit to hold a wedding at sunrise on East Beach (Exhibit 4-a). Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to approve the Special Event Permit.
Ms. Greatha Heathcox and Ms. Sueann London with FEMA presented a request to extend the termination date of August 15, 2007 for the FEMA Park at the Civic Center (Exhibit 4-b). Motion was made by Alderman Denyer and seconded by Alderman McDonnell to table the issue until the next meeting to allow the Police Chief to prepare a report of calls from the Park and allow the Fire Chief to identify addresses. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd and Denyer voting aye and Aldermen Dalgo and Hagan voting nay.
Ms. Cammie Carroll, 102 Johnson Street, presented pictures of her property which she said has flooded several times and complained about the condition of the ditch behind her house. The Public Works Director said that work has been done in that area to address the problem. The Mayor will set up a meeting with Ms. Carroll, the Public Works Director, the City Engineer and herself to discuss the issue.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Melanie Allen, President of HOSA, presented the July and August Community Award to the City in recognition of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen’s efforts in landscaping and preservation of the green canopy.
Mr. Adam Gautier, 125 Lafayette Circle, presented a study he prepared regarding the proposed 2% Tax for restaurants and lounges.
Ms. Debra St. Andrew said that her Mother lives on Pabst Road and asked when that area will be able to receive sewer services. The Public Works Director said that a plan is being formulated to get sewer to that area.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of items (a), (b), and (c) which were pulled by the Alderman Denyer and item (n) which was pulled by Alderman Lloyd.
Alderman Denyer pulled item (a) of the Consent Agenda and expressed his concern about the relocation of the Community Pier to Fort Maurepas and the ecological studies that may be required which could delay the process. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to table the item of the relocation of the Community Pier until the next board meeting and authorize the remaining four items of exhibit 6-a which are as follows; approval to solicit RFQ for engineering services to revise the preliminary design for an improved or ‘hardened’ pier, authorize City staff to negotiate with FEMA/MEMA for a Hazard Mitigation Project (HMP) to ‘harden’ the new pier with concrete construction, request Compton Engineering to prepare a bid specification package for the demolition of the remaining pier debris at Martin Avenue and begin advertising and authorize the Mayor and City staff to contact the permitting agencies related to the relocation of the pier and accept the items on the second page of the memorandum.
Alderman Denyer pulled items (b) and (c) of the Consent Agenda and asked that they be discussed in Executive Session since they involve personnel issues. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to hold items (b) and (c) of the Consent Agenda for Executive Session.
Alderman Lloyd pulled item (n) regarding the bid for grass cutting and asked what the dollar figure represents. The Public Works Director explained that the cost is $1,475.00 per cut. Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to award the bid to Turf Ryder LLC in the amount of $1,475.00 for grass cutting.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor
The Mayor presented a memorandum from the Jackson County Utility Authority which said that the wastewater billing will increase a projected 25% to 30% and explained that the cost will be reflected on the customer rates. Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the City Clerk, the Public Works Director and the Finance Committee to design a proposed ordinance change to present to the Board to reflect the increase in the wastewater costs.
The Mayor presented a letter from Compton Engineering regarding Hurricane Katrina damage to additional Federal Aid Roads (Exhibit 7-b).
Fire
Alderman McDonnell asked that the issue of residential water sprinklers be deferred to allow himself and Alderman Weaver to discuss the matter with Interim Fire Chief Patrick Williams.
Public Works
The Public Works Director presented an update on FHWA streets (Exhibit 7-d). Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to request the City Clerk to prepare for the next board meeting a recommendation of possible ways to fund street paving before it is reimbursed by the Federal Highway.
Parks & Leisure Services
The Parks Director presented cost estimates to repair or reconstruct the Armory building (Exhibit 7-e).
ALDERMAN’S FORUM
Alderman Gill said there has been problems at the boat ramp in Fort Bayou Estates involving graffiti, destroyed benches, fires in the port-o-lets and asked the Police to double the patrol in the area and the possibility of installing a security system. The Parks Director said that a security camera that could be monitored by the Police Department would cost about $6,000.00. The Police Chief said that cameras might be secured from the Public Safety grant.
Alderman McDonnell asked if a FEMA project worksheet was submitted for replacement of the Elephant Walk on Front Beach and the Public Works Director said that it was and once it is approved the construction will begin.
Alderman McDonnell asked if findings have been made regarding the request to demolish a house on Iberville Drive and the Community Development Director replied that the applicant has been notified that the house must be inspected and their consent must be given but they are not interested in having an inspection at this time.
Alderman McDonnell said that one side of the Biloxi-Ocean Springs Bridge is slated to open on November 1, 2007 which may cause additional traffic on Porter Avenue and Washington Avenue and asked the Police Chief and Community Development Director to consider the possible consequences due to the traffic limitations for a brief period until the entire bridge is opened.
Alderman McDonnell said that there was a comment made by a Jackson County Supervisor regarding the Harbor being turned over to the City from the County. Before the City can made any determination there would have to be some information gathered that may require a public records request to the County to obtain their operating budgets, the profit and loss, the revenue stream, major expenses that are forthcoming, major projects on the drawing board, funding sources, etc. Alderman McDonnell asked the Mayor to request the information from the County and report back to the Board.
Alderman McDonnell asked that the City Attorney prepare a report of legal expenses incurred regarding the Concerned Citizens and Friends of anyone that are concerned about anything so the public can be made aware of the high cost.
Alderman Lloyd said that a statement was made by one Jackson County Supervisor regarding turning the Harbor over to the City which was not official and may be the opinion of one person.
Alderman Lloyd said that there was a request from the City to the County to form a jetty from the remains of the old fishing bridge which is no longer necessary. Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to send a letter to the Jackson County Board of Supervisors withdrawing the request for a jetty from the ruble of the old fishing bridge and request the financial documents of the Harbor and the seriousness of their intent to consider turning the Harbor over to the City.
Alderman Lloyd said there is a gentleman on Pine Drive that has built a metal garage and had agreed to face the building with residential materials which has not occurred and the Community Development Director said that he is working with the City Attorney on the matter.
Alderman Denyer asked the Mayor to contact the Highway Commissioners about naming the new bridge in honor of Governor Haley and Marsha Barbour. The Mayor said that she would like to form a committee along with the county and neighboring cities to plan the opening activities for the bridge and asked the Aldermen and anyone interested to serve.
Alderman Dalgo presented a request for assistance from the Bayou Sauvolle Homeowners Association (Exhibit 8-b). Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to contribute $2,000.00 from the Ward V Capital Improvement Account to the Bayou Sauvolle Homeowners Association for a landscaping project.
Alderman Hagan suggested that if builders and developers that are working on more than one project and are not willing to do what they should on one project then stop all of their projects.
Alderman Hagan said that that he has received a complaint that the Katrina Cottage Village is rampant with code violations and asked that it be inspected.
Alderman Hagan asked the City Clerk to provide updates to the Aldermen every two weeks of the budget process.
The Mayor said that she received a request from the media to waive the 25¢ per page fee for a public records request.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, 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 that a motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss personnel issues in the Administration Department, Police Department and Human Resources Department.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the Police Chief and the Mayor to advertise for the position of Deputy Police Chief internally.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan and seconded by Alderman McDonnell to remove the position of the Administrative Assistant to the Mayor as of July 31, 2007 and pay out personal leave time. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd and Hagan voting aye and Aldermen Denyer and Dalgo voting nay.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan and seconded by Alderman Denyer to end contractual services with Tara Skelton for media relations effective July 31, 2007. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Denyer and Hagan voting aye and Alderman Dalgo voting nay.
Motion was made by Aldermen Hagan and seconded by Alderman McDonnell to create the position of Public Information Administrator Officer, on a contractual basis for a period of one year not to exceed $33,000.00 with no benefits. Following discussion of whether the position could be filled on a contractual basis, motion was withdrawn by Alderman Hagan. Alderman Denyer suggested tabling the issue until the next meeting to study the job description and discuss with the City Attorney.
Aldermen Dalgo and Lloyd left the meeting at this point.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell and seconded by Alderman Gill that pending legal findings, if the Public Information Administrative Officer position needs to be full time, authorize advertising the position at a salary not to exceed $30,000.00 plus benefits. Motion carried with Aldermen McDonnell and Gill voting aye, Aldermen Denyer and Hagan voting nay, and the Mayor breaking the tie voting aye.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to adjourn until 6:00 p.m. on August 7, 2007.
