Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
RECESS MEETING OF OCTOBER 21, 2008
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 October 21, 2008. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Weaver, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan were present. Also present were City Clerk Shelly Ferguson and City Attorney John Edwards.
Alderman Weaver gave the invocation and the Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Mayor removed item 6-y from the Consent agenda.
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to amend the agenda to add an item under Old Business – Street Closure for Trick or Treat Down the Street – Ms. Taranto; add 3 items under Mayor’s Department Report – Little Children’s Park; City Museum and HOSA; add an item under Fire’s Department Report – Surplus Equipment; add an item under New Business – Website Agenda and to accept the Addendum to the Agenda.
OLD BUSINESS
Alderman Gill spoke concerning the Fort Bayou drainage problems. Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize the City Engineer to obtain cost for potential solution to the Fort Bayou drainage problems.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Steven Dick spoke on behalf of his client, Larry Cosper, concerning the parking issues in downtown Ocean Springs along with the off-street loading and unloading problems.
Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the Planning Commission to review and make recommendations concerning the parking problems in the downtown Ocean Springs area.
Mr. Benjamin Goldmann, Seashores Plaza, LLC, requested an amendment to the Sign Ordinance allowing for a “large shopping center” category with district signage criteria. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize the City Attorney to draft an Ordinance for Planning Commission review to allow for a “large shopping center” category.
Mr. Charles Minner spoke concerning the voter registration process. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to direct the City Clerk to contact the Secretary of State regarding voter registration requirements.
OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Tori Taranto Davidson from Art & Soul asked to change the road closure for the Trick or Treat Down the Street from Government Street to Handy Avenue to allow more businesses to participate in the Halloween event on October 31, 2008, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to close Government Street to Handy Avenue on October 31, 2008, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Alderman Denyer asked for clarification concerning the abbreviated agendas on the website. The City Clerk explained that you can click on the date to see full version or “click here to view full version”.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Weaver and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of items (h) and (w) which were pulled by the Mayor; items (d) (e), (f), and (g) which were pulled by Alderman Dalgo, item (t) which was pulled by Alderman Lloyd and items (c) and (n) which were pulled by Alderman Gill.
Alderman Dalgo pulled item (d) to ask if the additional survey services were CDBG funded. The Grants Coordinator advised that it was grant funded. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute Amendment to Contract with Compton Engineering for services related to the CDBG-funded streetscape project, pending legal review (Exhibit 6-d).
Alderman Dalgo pulled item (e) to ask if the additional conservator services were grant funded. The Grants Coordinator advised that it was grant funded. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 1 to Professional Services Agreement with Patricia Kamm, pending legal review (Exhibit 6-e).
Alderman Dalgo pulled item (f) to ask if this was grant funded. The Grants Coordinator advised that it was grant funded. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to adopt the Resolution to provide formal offers for pump station site acquisition (5), DEQ/CDBG Water Sewer Extension Project (Exhibit 6-f).
Alderman Dalgo pulled item (g) to ask if this was grant funded. The Grants Coordinator advised that it was grant funded. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to adopt the Resolution to provide formal offer for off-street parking site acquisition CDBG Round 1 (Exhibit 6-g).
The Mayor pulled item (h) to include additive alternate #1 at no cost. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to award base bid to M&W Construction in the amount of $52,000.00 for City Hall renovations and additive alternate #3 for library exterior repairs in the amount of $22,793.60 (paid from library millage) for total of $74,793.60 (Exhibit 6-h).
Alderman Gill pulled item (c) to recuse himself. Motion was made by Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the Mayor to execute one-year contract with Joe Gill Consulting, LLC for lobbying services, pending legal review. Alderman Gill recused himself from the vote. (Exhibit 6-c).
Alderman Gill pulled item (n) to recuse himself. Motion was made by Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize payment to Joe Gill Consulting, LLC in the amounts of $5,692.50; $537.50 and $1,750.00. Alderman Gill recused himself from the vote. (Exhibit 6-n).
Alderman Lloyd pulled item (t) to ask for clarification. The City Attorney asked that it be discussed in executive session. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to discuss items 6-t and 6-w in Executive Session.
The Mayor left temporarily and the Mayor Pro tem took control of the meeting.
ADDENDUM
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Weaver and unanimously carried to accept the recommendation of the tree committee with the exception of 4000 Lacroux Court – Application request to remove one Live oak tree. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Weaver and unanimously carried to authorize the applicant’s request to remove one Live oak tree at 4000 Lacroux Court and require applicant to plant three (3) protected trees of his choice in a 50 gallon range (Exhibit A-1a).
The Mayor returned to the meeting and assumed control.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to make improvements along Washington Avenue to make parking more functional near Little Children’s Park.
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize to hire Dennis Walker for one day at $125.00 per day to train on collection management for the city museum (Exhibit 7-a).
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to allow HOSA to use six (6) round tables and chairs from the Community Center during the Peter Anderson Festival to be picked up and returned by HOSA.
Fire Department
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize the Fire Department to declare the surplus fire equipment of no value and allow the disposal of the equipment (Exhibit 7-b).
Parks and Leisure Services Department
The Parks and Leisure Services Director announced that the annual Halloween Festival would be held on Saturday, October 25, 2008, from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. at the Parks building.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Weaver and unanimously carried to place trash receptacles at Heron Bayou walkway and be maintained by Parks and Leisure Services Department.
ALDERMEN’S FORUM
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to authorize up to $5,000.00 from Ward 1 Capital Improvement Account for beautification and landscaping at Maurepas Landing Subdivision.
Motion was made by Alderman Weaver, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to authorize up to $1,000.00 from Alderman at Large Capital Improvement Account for beautification and landscaping at Maurepas Landing Subdivision.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize up to $1,000.00 from Alderman at Large Capital Improvement Account for beautification and landscaping at Maurepas Landing Subdivision.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Weaver and unanimously carried to include letter from Maurepas Landing Homeowners’ Association to be spread on the minutes.
Alderman McDonnell stated that Cruisin’ the Coast was a tremendous success for the businesses and asked the Mayor to send a letter to the Cruisin’ organization and the Jackson County Board of Supervisors after the survey results are complete stating that the City would like to continue to be a Cruisin’ site in the future.
Alderman Lloyd announced the Jackson County Board of Supervisors agreed to in-kind funding up to $50,000.00 for road improvements to Colonial Drive.
Alderman Denyer asked the Police Chief to move speed sign to Parkwood Place.
Mayor Moran presented options for the disposal of dog waste on the bridge.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Hagan 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 Denyer, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to remain in executive session to discuss an appealable issue that might arise from consent items (t) and (w); potential litigation regarding school taxes and potential purchase of property.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to come out of executive session and return to regular session.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to accept the Planning Commission recommendation to approve use permit for Ground-Floor Residential within Highway Commercial (C-3) District for Bienville Commons provided that the entire project be built in one phase and not in two phases as recommended by the Planning Commission and also that for the approval the board gives great consideration to the unique characteristics of this project and the parcel which is with minimal Highway 90 frontage, the property is subject to railroad right of way on its entire southern border, that the adjacent land use includes residential as well as commercial and that there is a public need for residential adjacent to commercial in this portion of Highway 90 in that the railroad inhibits the traffic flow between the City’s main East West thoroughfares – Government Street to Highway 90.
Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to table item (6-w) until the next meeting.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to adjourn until 6:00 p.m. on November 4, 2008.
Meeting ended at 9:52 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor
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