| Minutes – June 3, 2008

Aldermen Minutes

MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS

REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 3, 2008

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 June 3, 2008. The Mayor presiding, Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Weaver, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan were present. Also present were City Clerk Shelly Ferguson and City Attorney John Edwards. Alderman Lloyd was absent.

The Mayor gave the invocation. The Mayor led the pledge of allegiance.

OLD BUSINESS

Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Weaver and unanimously carried to authorize the City Attorney to file the Conservation Easements with Exhibits “A”, “B” and “C” as the legal descriptions and authorize the Mayor to execute any associated documents and that these easements are being given to a bona fide 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation for the preservation of pristine lands and is in the best civic, cultural and environmental interest of the City.

The Mayor gave an update on construction timelines for projects at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center, Community Center and Fort Maurepas (Exhibit 3-c).

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to accept the Planning Commission recommendation to accept the preliminary plat for Madison Place (Exhibit 3-d).

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mr. Francis Mitchell, 2515 Ridgewood Drive, expressed his disappointment concerning the duplexes to be built on Halstead Road.

Ms. Jane Beaugez, 213 Halstead, spoke against the duplexes to be built on Halstead Road.

Ms. Donna Doolittle, 54 Choctaw Circle, spoke against the duplexes to be built on Halstead Road.

Don Curry, 904 Handy Avenue, asked to have trash removed. Mr. Curry was asked to bring the trash to the City dumpster.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of item (g) which was pulled by the Alderman Hagan; item (j) which was pulled by Alderman Denyer and item (n) which was pulled by Alderman Weaver.

Alderman Hagan pulled item (g) to authorize removal of Brad Chennault from probationary status and place on full-time status, annual salary $29,000.00, effective June 4, 2008. Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize Item (5-g) with the correction.

Alderman Denyer pulled item (j) to explain why the budget will be amended due to the participation in the Mississippi One-Call system. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to adopt the Mississippi One-Call System and amend the budget accordingly (Exhibit 5-j).

Alderman Weaver pulled item (n) to show pictures of the house to be demolished. Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to approve the demolition at 623 Jackson Avenue (Exhibit 5-n).

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to adopt the Addendum to the Agenda.

Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to accept Items A-1a and A-1b of the Addendum to the Agenda.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Mayor
The Mayor gave a status report on the community pier project funded by FEMA (Exhibit 6-a).

Community Development & Planning
The Community Development director gave a power point presentation on the Downtown and Front Beach Master plan.

Parks & Leisure Services
The Parks and Leisure Services Director asked for authority to close a portion of Front Beach from 2:00 p.m. on July 3rd until approximately 10:00 p.m., July 4th. The Parks and Leisure Services Director will meet with the staging company to consider re-positioning the stage in order to keep the road open. There was discussion to post a sign at the harbor announcing the closing of the road.

Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to request $5,000.00 from the Jackson County Board of Supervisors for the 4th of July festivities.

Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize the rental of the barge and operator from Matthews Brothers Marine, Inc. for the 4th of July fireworks presentation in the amount of $8,500.00. A finding was made that after contacting numerous other companies, no other quotes were available.

City Attorney
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver and seconded by Alderman Hagan to adopt Ordinance No. 2-2008 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 13-1976 REZONING PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED FROM I-2 TO C-2 (Exhibit 7-e). The motion passed with a roll call vote as follows:

Alderman Weaver Voted Aye
Alderman Gill Voted Aye
Alderman McDonnell Voted Aye
Alderman Lloyd Absent
Alderman Denyer Voted Aye
Alderman Dalgo Voted Aye
Alderman Hagan Voted Aye

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan and seconded by Alderman Weaver to adopt Ordinance No. 3-2008 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 13-1976 REZONING PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED FROM C-3 TO C-2 (Exhibit 7-f). The motion passed with a roll call vote as follows:

Alderman Weaver Voted Aye
Alderman Gill Voted Aye
Alderman McDonnell Voted Aye
Alderman Lloyd Absent
Alderman Denyer Voted Aye
Alderman Dalgo Voted Aye
Alderman Hagan Voted Aye

Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to approve the Contract between the City of Ocean Springs and Architect Bruce Tolar to design the Gay Lemon Recreational Facilities of the Ocean Springs Recreational Master Plan (Exhibit 6-h).

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to appoint a Recreational Facilities Steering Committee consisting of Mayor Connie Moran; Alderman Julia Weaver; Alderman Curtis Lloyd; Alderman James Hagan; Andre Kaufman, Public Works Director; Sean Campbell, Parks and Leisure Services Director and 2 representatives from the Parks Advisory Board.

Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute a Right of Entry for the Army Corps of Engineers for the Shearwater bridge project.

Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize the extension of contract to lease property on Front Beach from Alice Martin for temporary parking at the Harbor.

ALDERMEN’S FORUM

Alderman McDonnell deferred to Alderman Hagan concerning the Ocean Springs 2008 5-A State Championship sign. Alderman Hagan asked for 3 entrance signs recognizing the Ocean Springs High School baseball team for winning the 2008 5-A State baseball championship. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to send a letter asking the Ocean Springs Athletic Department to coordinate with the City to design three (3) entrance signs to recognize the baseball team.

Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the purchase of 10 decorative street signs from the Ward 1 Capital Improvements Account.

Alderman McDonnell asked for the status on the lettering for the caboose. The Assistant Public Works Director advised that the letters were in and would be installed on the caboose.

Alderman McDonnell asked for the status on the parking plans for the bridge walkers. The City Planner will provide an update at the next meeting.

Alderman McDonnell asked for an update on the cottage. The Contractor will begin work next week and the electrician will begin work tomorrow.

Alderman McDonnell asked for an update on the Resolutions to the Ocean Springs School District and the Jackson County Board of Supervisors concerning the millage.

Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize overtime pay for extra police patrol at the harbor on Saturday and Sunday for 2 weekends until a permanent solution is in place.

Alderman McDonnell reported a rodent problem at 1305 Cove Avenue. The Building Official will give a status report at the next meeting.

The Mayor reported littering and junk vehicles at Robinson and State Street.

Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the purchase of a trash receptacle from the Mayor’s Capital Improvement Account to place in the right of way at Porter Avenue.

Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize up to $4,000.00 for landscaping improvements at Little Children’s Parks around the oak tree.

Alderman Weaver asked for a status of the elephant house located at 900 Robinson. The building official is in communication with the owner and will update at the next board meeting.

Alderman Weaver asked for the status of signage on the bridge for the pedestrians and the cyclists and also whether or not to allow dogs on the bridge.

Alderman Weaver asked for a status on the repairs to Levoyager. The Assistant Public Works Director stated that Graham Construction will begin work on Levoyager in approximately 3 weeks.

Alderman Denyer reported a drainage problem at 2514 Parkwood Place.

Alderman Denyer reported the ditch behind Parkwood Place is overgrown and that the homeowners’ need to be notified it is their responsibility to keep the ditch mowed and clean.

Alderman Denyer asked for the status on stop signs at Brumbaugh and Alice Street. The City Engineer advised that those locations did not meet the qualifications for placing stop signs.

Alderman Denyer asked the Assistant Public Works Director for a cost estimate for paving from Government Street to Parkwood on Halstead; Englewood Drive, Saratoga Drive, Shadowlawn Circle and Pine Court.

Alderman Denyer asked for the status of sidewalks on Colonial to Davidson.

Alderman Denyer asked for the status of paving on East Beach Drive and Halstead Road. The City Engineer expects approval in 2 or 3 weeks.

Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo to approve the placement of a 4-way stop sign at Brumbaugh and Halstead Road. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Weaver, Denyer and Dalgo voting aye and Alderman Hagan voting nay.

Alderman Dalgo asked if it was against City ordinance to place advertisement/sale papers in the yards of homeowners.

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to purchase 6 digital speed readers/counters and amend the budget accordingly.

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize up to $2,000.00 for entry signs at Baywood Homes and Woodlands Subdivision.

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Gill 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 Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss personnel in the Parks and Leisure Department, land acquisition, threatening litigation by a vendor, threatening litigation by a former employee and personnel in the Police and Fire Departments.

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.

Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan to authorize to advertise for bids for sidewalks from Colonial to Davidson. After further discussion, Alderman Denyer withdrew his motion.

Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to recess until 6:00 p.m. on June 17, 2008.

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City Clerk Mayor

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