Aldermen Minutes
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
MINUTES
MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS
RECESS MEETING
November 21, 2006 – 6:00 p.m.
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 November 21, 2006. Mayor Moran presiding, Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Denyer, Dalgo and Hagan were present. Alderman Weaver, City Attorney John Edwards and City Clerk Adrienne Howell were absent. Deputy City Clerk Shelly Ferguson was present.
Mayor Moran gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to accept the addendum to the agenda.
PROCLAMATION
Mayor Moran presented a proclamation and key to the City to the family of Mr. Al Hammond in memory of his hard work and dedication to the Submarine Veterans Memorial (Exhibit 3-b).
NEW BUSINESS
Ms. Jane Beaugez read a letter voicing her concerns about the format of board meetings and several other issues (Exhibit 3-a). Motion was made by Alderman Gill, seconded by Alderman Lloyd and unanimously carried to spread her letter upon the minutes.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Kim Pham, owner of Kim Jewelry, said that the sign for her business was destroyed in the storm and complained that it must be cut down to ten feet in height. She would like it to be replaced at its previous height. Mr. Scruggs said that her application for a sign variance has been received and will be reviewed for a hearing to be held in the first part of December.
Mr. Charles Burns, 1201 Desoto, expressed his opposition to the proposed rezoning of 1316 Government Street from C-1 to C-2 which he feels will have a negative impact on the character of the neighborhood.
Ms. Pam Dalton, 4084 Groveland Road, expressed her opposition to the development proposed at Groveland and Deena Road. Her home backs up to the site and she is very concerned that the development will cause her property to flood and feels that the three story homes will change the character of the neighborhood. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to spread the pictures she presented upon the minutes (Exhibit 4-a).
Ms. Carol Jones, 4077 Groveland Road, opposes the proposed rezoning at Groveland and Deena Road and presented a petition signed by neighbors of the property. Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to spread the petition upon the minutes (Exhibit 4-b).
Ms. Claire Brou commended Ms. Beauguez and Ms. Jones on their presentations and said that she feels that citizens are left out of the loop.
Ms. Marie Pleasant, 1201 Desoto Avenue, opposes the proposed rezoning of 1316 Government Street which she feels will adversely effect the character of the community.
Dr. John Godsey expressed his concern that the proposed rezoning of 1316 Government Street from C-1 to C-2 would cause parking and traffic problems.
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 (e) which was pulled by Chief Belk and items (h) and (i) which were pulled by Alderman Denyer.
Chief Belk pulled item (e) and requested that the Part-Time Police Officers be removed. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to approve item (e) excluding the Part-Time Police Officers. Alderman Hagan abstained from the vote.
Alderman Denyer pulled item (h) and Chief Hare said that a key word was left out of the job descriptions for the Fire Training Officer and the Fire Inspector/Investigator. On the first page of each description under duties it should read, “Include but not limited to the following”. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to approve item (h) with the corrected wording.
Alderman Denyer pulled item (i) and Chief Hare explained that Jackson County is asking for $2,448.00 for a replacement cost for two employees while they were at the Training Academy whether they were paid for by the County or by the City. Chief Hare does not agree with the computation by Jackson County. Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to table item (i) until the City Attorney can investigate and give a written opinion as to whether it should be paid.
Mayor Moran asked that item (l) which has been approved be rescinded and explained that there is a grant into the USDA for the last item, a 24CY Boom Diesel Trash Truck, and the chances are good that it will be awarded within the next thirty days. Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Dalgo and unanimously carried to rescind the approval of the last item of item (l) which will be deferred for thirty days.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Mayor
Motion was made by Alderman Lloyd, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to authorize the waiver of rental fee of the Community Center on December 7, 2006 for the OSHS Junior Civitan Club Winter Celebration to honor veterans and senior citizens to promote the benefits of the City (Exhibit 6-a).
City Clerk
Deputy City Clerk Shelly Ferguson explained that the Department of Labor Grant employee program will end on December 31, 2006 and presented a listing of positions requesting that they be approved for addition to staff (Exhibit 6-b). Alderman Hagan asked which of these positions existed prior to the storm. The Mayor said that those positions are the two Meter Readers, the Police Records Clerk and the Public Works Clerk. Motion was made by Alderman Gill and seconded by Alderman McDonnell to approve for advertising the positions that existed pre Katrina which are the two Meter Readers, the Police Records Clerk and the Public Works Clerk. Following further discussion, motion was withdrawn by Alderman Gill. Motion was made by Alderman Hagan and seconded by Alderman Gill to approve the following positions that are budgeted: City Clerk’s Office – (1) Administrative Assistant, (2) Meter Readers, (1) Computer Technician, Community Development & Planning – (1) Planning Clerk, Parks & Leisure Services – (1) Clerk, Police – (1) Records Clerk and Public Works – (1) Clerk. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, Lloyd and Hagan voting aye, Aldermen McDonnell, Denyer and Dalgo voting nay and Mayor Moran breaking the tie and voting aye.
Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to task the Mayor to bring back to the Board a detailed accounting of the annual costs to include the fringe benefits of the positions requested for addition to staff.
Community Development & Planning
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to table the adoption of the amendments to the Waterview Preservation Ordinance (Exhibit 6-c). Alderman McDonnell asked that the height of the Tree Canopy be determined in the Waterview areas of Lovers Lane, East Beach and Front Beach. He also requested that a brief survey be done through registered mail of homeowners on Lovers Lane, East Beach and Front Beach that they can answer and give feedback as to how they feel about the rules being changed on property they own and their ability to build back. Motion was made by Alderman McDonnell, seconded by Alderman Denyer and unanimously carried to task the Community Development & Planning Department with the assistance of the Planning Commission to come back with a survey of the height of the Tree Canopy in the Waterview District, come back with a survey of the homes that were destroyed in the Waterview District as well as the ones that are still standing and a survey of the property owners which would be a one page questionnaire to find out what their feelings are, what their intent is and whether or not they would like rebuild.
Motion was made by Alderman Gill and seconded by Alderman Hagan to adopt Ordinance No. 28-2006 AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE NO. 13-1976 REZONING PROPERTY HEREIN DESCRIBED FROM I-1 TO C-3 (Exhibit 6-d). The motion passed with a roll call vote as follows:
Alderman Weaver Absent
Alderman Gill Voted Aye
Alderman McDonnell Voted Aye
Alderman Lloyd Voted Aye
Alderman Denyer Voted Aye
Alderman Dalgo Voted Aye
Alderman Hagan Voted Aye
Mr. Scruggs presented the Planning Commission’s tie vote to deny the rezoning of 1316 Government Street from C-1 to C-2 (Exhibit 6-e). Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to deny the rezoning of 1316 Government Street from C-1 to C-2.
Mr. Scruggs presented the appeal of the Planning Commission’s denial of the rezoning of the property situated at the intersection of Deena and Groveland Roads from I-1 to R-4 (Exhibit 6-f). Mr. Gerald Hopkins, Architect for the Development, displayed a drawing of the project which has changed and now includes thirteen single family lots around the perimeter and 119 townhomes in the interior. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer and seconded by Alderman Lloyd to send the project back to the Planning Commission for a recommendation of the new plan as well as a Public Forum if it is approved. Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Denyer and Dalgo voting aye and Alderman Hagan voting nay.
City Attorney
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to accept the Standing Dead Tree Removal document (Exhibit 6-g).
ALDERMAN’S FORUM
Alderman Denyer asked Mr. Scruggs to have the properties on the Jamaica and Hunter followed up on.
Alderman Denyer asked for an update on paving and Mr. Groue said that the four year road plan has been submitted to Jackson County and they require assistance from the City for milling which should begin in January or February.
Alderman Lloyd said that he understands that the National Guard may be relocating to St. Martin in the next year and that the Armory was damaged in the storm which the National Guard has no intention of repairing. He suggested that if the building is given back to the City in the near future, it may be to our advantage to invest in fixing the roofs and keeping it from deteriorating any further. Alderman Denyer suggested that the Public Works Director assess the buildings for damages and speak to the National Guard. The Mayor asked Chief Hare to contact the National Guard.
Alderman McDonnell reported that a streetlight is out on Ocean Avenue.
Mayor Moran reported that there on domes on streetlights on Holcomb that are missing or broken.
Alderman Gill asked Mr. Groue to walk the drainage ditch on Nelson Road.
Alderman Hagan requested that some lights in the front and two basketball poles be removed at Lemoyne Park.
The Mayor announced that December 2, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. is the Kaboom Park build day and 200 volunteers are needed.
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo and seconded by Alderman Gill not to approve any new projects in the Waterview District pending all legal issues until the Waterview Preservation Ordinance has been addressed. Following discussion, motion was withdrawn by Alderman Dalgo.
ADDENDUM
Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to accept the letter to the Governor regarding objections to the Regional Utility Infrastructure Plan (Exhibit A-1b).
The Mayor presented a memorandum regarding the Human Resources position (Exhibit A-1c). Motion was made by Alderman Dalgo and seconded by Alderman Lloyd to advertise for Human Resources Manager. Motion failed with Aldermen Gill and Dalgo voting aye and Aldermen McDonnell, Lloyd, Denyer and Hagan voting nay. Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman McDonnell and unanimously carried to advertise for Human Resources/Risk Manager.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer and seconded by Alderman Dalgo to authorize the mayor to pursue a $250,000.00 grant for a Front Beach Master Plan from the Economic Development Agency, with no matching funds required from the City (Exhibit A-1d). Motion carried with Aldermen Gill, McDonnell, Lloyd, Denyer and Dalgo voting aye and Alderman Hagan voting nay.
Motion was made by Alderman Denyer, seconded by Alderman Hagan and unanimously carried to authorize participation in the Household Hazardous Waste Event on December 9, 2006 and contribute up to $3,000.00 (Exhibit A-1e).
Motion was made by Alderman Hagan, seconded by Alderman Gill and unanimously carried to adjourn until 6:00 p.m. on December 5, 2006.
