Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 3, 2009
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 October 6, 2009. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Ross, Gill, McDonnell, Cody, Dalgo and Hagan were present. Also present were City Clerk Shelly Ferguson and City Attorney John Edwards. Alderman Denyer attended via telephone conference.
Alderman Cody gave the invocation and the Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to pull off item (5-a) from the agenda.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to add an Old Business item – East Beach Walkway and move item (5-m) to be heard after Public Comments.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to add the Addendum to the Agenda as presented.
OLD BUSINESS
The Mayor gave an update on the East Beach Sidewalk Project. She stated the Mississippi Department of Transportation conducted a field visit wherein they advised the Holcomb Boulevard leg of the project would probably not be approved because the bridge is too narrow. She further stated the City Engineers advised that they recalculated cost estimates for the sidewalk on the beach and there would not be enough funding for either the Holcomb Boulevard project or extending down East Beach. The pedestrian pathway will begin at Halstead Drive from Brambaugh to East Beach Drive and along the southside of the seawall from Halstead Drive to Holcomb Boulevard. The City will continue to seek other funding to complete the project.
Residents asked the Board to complete the pedestrian pathway along East Beach for the safety of the walkers and bikers.
Mr. George Conwell, 107 Ashley Place, asked that the pathway be extended all the way down East Beach when funding is available.
Ms. Susan Warren, Halstead Bayou Drive, asked for clarification on the pedestrian pathway priorities adopted by the Board.
Ms. Helen Effinger, Watersedge Drive, spoke against the vote concerning the priorities of the pedestrian pathway and asked the Board to re-visit their decision.
Ms. Julia Weaver, Lovers Lane, asked when the Board voted on the priorities on the East Beach Sidewalk project. The Mayor advised the Board voted on the priorities on July 7, 2009.
Ms. Mary Sablich, spoke of her concern of a safety issue near the strip of East Beach.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Scott Ratcliff spoke on behalf of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Sports Commission to ask for funding for the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Football Game. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize $2,500.00 to advertise City resources at the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Football Game pending receipt of letter from Ocean Springs School District stating their commitment to the logistics of the event and the use of their facilities.
PUBLIC COMMENT
A representative from the Ocean Springs High School Community Service Class requested permission to hold a canned food drive for the benefit of the Lord is My Help throughout the neighborhoods in the City on November 15, 2009. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize the Ocean Springs High School Community Service Class to hold a canned food drive for the benefit of the Lord is my Help.
Mr. Mickey Williams, 1101 Halstead Bayou Drive, commended the City for the many projects ongoing in the City.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Mayor pulled item (5-m) for discussion. The Planning Director advised the Applicant requested construct a masonry fence along the eastern property line of 311 Lovers Lane. The Community Development and Planning Department recommended approval and the Historic Preservation Commission recommended denial of the COA to construct fencing citing neighborhood aesthetics and safety concerns. The Planning Director further advised they were of the impression the bollards would be removed.
Mrs. Julia Weaver, 334 Lovers Lane, spoke against the construction of the fence at 311 Lovers Lane and spoke of her concerns about the precedent it would set by allowing the construction.
Ms. Herrington, 314 Lovers Lane, spoke against the construction of the fence at 311 Lovers Lane.
Mr. Aultman, 318 Lovers Lane, spoke against the construction of the fence at 311 Lovers Lane.
Mr. Fred Moran, spoke in favor of the construction of the fence at 311 Lovers Lane.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to reverse the decision of the Historic Preservation Commission and approve a COA to construct fencing at 311 Lovers Lane within the Lovers Lane Historic District based on fact that the Applicant will construct the fence 6 feet from the property line; landscape in front of the fence; fence is set back further than many in the area; in keeping with the height of fences on Lovers Lane and Applicant has made appropriate compromises to protect the trees and reduce the height of the bollards to match those in the area (Exhibit 5-m).
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
City Clerk:
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to adopt the Resolution Finding and Determining that the Resolution Declaring the Intention of the Mayor and Board Of Aldermen of the City of Ocean Springs, Mississippi to Issue General Obligation Bonds, Series 2009, of the City of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, in the Maximum Principal Amount Not to Exceed Four Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,600,000) Adopted on the 6th day of October, 2009, Was Duly Published as Required by Law; that No Sufficient Protest Against the Issuance of the Bonds Described in Said Resolution Has Been Filed by the Qualified Electors; and Authorizing Issuance of Said Bonds (Exhibit 6-b).
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of item (c) which was pulled by Alderman McDonnell.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize Mayor to execute Contract with Joe Gill for lobbying services. Alderman Gill abstained from the vote (Exhibit 5-c).
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor:
The Mayor asked the Board to consider having the Board of Aldermen meetings at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center on a quarterly basis. No action was taken.
Community Development & Planning:
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer and seconded by Alderman McDonnell to adopt Ordinance No. 2009-22 AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE NO. 13-1976 REZONING PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED FROM R-5 TO R-4 WITH CONDITIONS (Exhibit 6-c). The motion passed with a roll call vote as follows:
Alderman Ross Voted Aye
Alderman Gill Voted Aye
Alderman McDonnell Voted Aye
Alderman Cody Voted Aye
Alderman Denyer Voting Absent
Alderman Dalgo Voting Aye
Alderman Hagan Voting Aye
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Ross and unanimously carried to adopt the Resolution to determine paved drives commonly referred to as Herrin Street and Saxon Drive as private drives or otherwise abandoned (Exhibit 6-d).
Parks and Leisure Services Department:
The Parks and Leisure Services Department presented the facility rules for a sign to be posted at Fort Maurepas Park. Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize posting the facility rules for Fort Maurepas Park (Exhibit 6-e).
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Motion was made by Alderman Ross, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize up to $2,000.00 from Alderman at Large Capital Improvement Account; $4,000.00 from Ward 4 Capital Improvement Account and $500.00 from the Mayor’s Capital Improvement Account for the Watersedge Subdivision entrance sign.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize up to $375.00 from Alderman at Large Capital Improvement Account and $375.00 from Ward 1 Capital Improvement Account for a bulletin board for Fort Bayou Little Children’s Park.
Alderman McDonnell thanked the Police Chief for using forfeiture money to purchase a vehicle.
Alderman McDonnell stated he toured the parking lot at the Depot and said the finest parking lot on the Coast. He encouraged all of the Aldermen to look at all of the improvements. Alderman McDonnell asked the Public Information Officer to issue a press release concerning the Depot parking lot improvements.
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize up to $7,000.00 from Ward 3 Capital Improvement Account for decorative sign posts.
Alderman Cody asked the Public Works Department to take down and store the temporary power pole used during Cruisin’ the Coast event. The Assistant Public Works Director stated he will discuss this matter with the Public Works Director and report back to Alderman Cody.
Motion was made by Alderman Cody, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize City Engineer to determine the need for light at Bechtel Boulevard.
Alderman Cody thanked the Fire Chief and the shift on duty at Central Station for their help with an event on Sunday.
The Mayor thanked all of the departments for their hard work during the Fort Maurepas Park opening.
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Cody and unanimously carried to authorize Page, Mannino & Peresich, P.L.L.C. to serve as Bond Counsel in connection with the $4.6M General Obligation Bonds of the City of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Series 2009.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell and seconded by Alderman Ross to authorize the Mayor to reject and re-advertise the public safety facility project pending no other solution based on the bids received. Motion carried with Alderman Gill, McDonnell, Cody, Ross and Dalgo voting aye and Alderman Hagan voting nay.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to recess until 6:00 p.m. on November 17, 2009.
Meeting ended at 9:05 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor
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