ROME CITY COMMISSION AGENDA
Monday, May 5, 2008
Caucus: BUILDING INSPECTION/CODE ENFORCEMENT PRESENTATION
Chief Building Official Howard Gibson said the department issued 1,402 permits since Jan. 1 — although only 54 of them were for new residential construction — and performed 3,288 inspections.
Officers issued 282 notices for violation of the property maintenance code and 53 citations to those who ignored the notices. Gibson said 23 were found guilty and fined in Municipal Court; 18 cases are still pending; and 12 made the repairs before their court dates.
Regarding the sign ordinance, the department issued 66 notices of violation along Martha Berry Highway and Turner McCall Boulevard. Gibson said only one business was cited for failing to address the violation, although four others have received extensions.
John Gaines, of Coosa Valley Sign Co., spoke to the board during its caucus session. Gaines asked commissioners to back Gibson in enforcing the 8-year-old code, despite complaints from a few business owners.
“We have made great progress and I don’t want to see a knee-jerk reaction,” Gaines said. “If we get rid of all the illegal clutter, the regular signs won’t have to compete for attention.”
Mayor Wright Bagby Jr. said the city and county commissions have agreed for at least 2 years to target visual clutter — including litter and temporary paper or plastic signs — along the major traffic corridors.
Commissioner Duane Reid said he was dropping plans to ask the board to suspend enforcement. Reid said Gibson’s presentation made it clear that city businesses are complying with the code.
“The ordinance was first enforced in the city,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a problem here.”
Regular Meeting:
1. Invocation and Pledge to the Flag - Commissioner Wachsteter
2. Roll Call: Present: Mayor Wright Bagby Jr., Commissioners Buzz Wachsteter, Jamie Doss, Duane Reid, Kim Canada, Evie McNiece, Bill Collins, Bill Fricks, Milton Slack III
3. Approved Minutes: April 21, 2008
4. Presented Certificate of Appreciation to Carlos Spivey for six years of volunteer service on the Alcohol Control Commission
Announced the appointment of Rhonda Wallace, who replaced Dr. Paul Ferguson on the Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission effective with the May 1 meeting.
5. Proclamations:
Trail of Tears 170th anniversary
Get Active Rome! week May 12-17
6. Guests:
Employee Scholarship Committee Presentation
Employees’ children who are starting college this year received $750 scholarships funded through a voluntary payroll withdrawal program.
“We wanted to help out each other,” said Eric Lindberg, who chairs the committee.
7. Approved resolutions:
City Support for Education SPLOST Referendum - September 8
Awarded bid for $6.5 million in Series 2008 Tax Anticipation Notes to low-bidder Wachovia Bank at a net interest cost of 2.1 percent.
The city uses TANS to pay operating costs until the bulk of its tax revenue comes in at the end of the year.
8. Held First Readings on the following items, with second readings and public hearings slated for the May 19 meeting:
For location maps and other details on the following land-use items, click here.
FILE #34-2008SUP, Request a Special Use Permit to construct duplex dwelling in H-TR High Density Traditional Residential Zoning District on property located at 1706 Nelm Street.
FILE #52-2008Z, Request rezoning from L-TR Low Density Traditional Residential to C-C Community Commercial for marketing of property located at 33 Watson Street.
Revise or Delete Article 6.9.3 regarding inter-parcel access easements.
For location maps and other details on the following alcohol-related items, click here.
Issue a New Beer, Wine and Liquor Package License at the North Rome Liquor Store, 301A Calhoun Ave., to Nizarali Sundrani
Transfer the Beer Pouring License at Taqueria Jaliciense #2, 1800 Redmond Road, from Regelio Sanchez to Jose L. Reyes
Issue a new Beer, Wine, and Liquor Pouring License at Laredo’s Mexican Bar and Grill, 311 Riverside Parkway, to Eva E. Santos.
9. Second Reading: None
10. Continued on First Reading: None
11. Public Hearing: None
12. City Clerk: No report
13. City Manager:
A) Discuss Financial Participation in North Georgia Air & Car Show
City commissioners opted not to provide a requested $25,000 guarantee to cover costs if the annual event fails to break even due to rain or other reasons.
Commissioners indicated during their caucus session they could provide some in-kind offset such as police services because the event is an economic boost.
However, they noted that revenues are down and a Floyd County Commission guarantee includes money provided by city residents as well as those in the unincorporated area.
They also cited other nonprofit events such as the Coosa Valley Fair that operate without a government funding guarantee.
“If you open that door, who determines who gets to come in,” Reid asked.
B) Discuss 2008 Budget Reductions
City Manager John Bennett said the city will fall about $560,000 short of meeting its $27 million budget, based on revenues for the first three months of the year.
The board backed a plan to cut spending now in areas ranging from capital projects and equipment purchases to training and travel, cell-phone usage and perks including the annual city-wide picnic.
“We intend to do this without layoffs,” Bennett said, although some vacant slots will go unfilled and merit pay raises are being reduced.
Employees are due to get letters in their Thursday pay envelopes explaining the cutbacks.
Bennett said property tax revenue is slightly higher than projected but revenue from sales tax, real estate and interest on investments has dropped significantly. Meanwhile, costs have risen.
“When we drew up the budget last fall, we never dreamed diesel fuel would be in excess of $4 a gallon,” he said.
Commissioner Evie McNiece said the economic downturn is hitting cities across the state and she is pleased that Bennett and Finance Director Sheree Shore are being proactive.
The city of Atlanta recently announced a massive layoff and the city of Dalton is expected to follow suit shortly.
Bennett said sales tax collections are down 2.5 percent from 2007 but Vidalia officials have said their collections have dropped 9 percent during the same period.
14. City Attorney: No report
15. Mayor:
GMA District 1 Officers - Election Ballot
Commissioner Jamie Doss will be one of the Georgia Municipal Association District 1 officers this year.
16. Public Safety Committee: No report
17. Planning Commission: No report
18. Community Development Committee will meet Wednesday, May 14, at 8:30 a.m. in the Sam King Room at City Hall
19. River Development Committee: No report
20. Tourism: No report
21. Water and Sewer Committee:
A Wastewater Treatment Plant Dedication BBQ at the Blacks Bluff Road facility is set for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, to mark substantial completion of $38 million in improvements.
22. Traffic/Transit Committee: No report
23. General Administration:
Ethics SubCommittee Report
Click to view 'the current Ethics Code section and the proposed change'
Commissioner Jamie Doss distributed a proposed change to the board’s code of ethics. The amendment is slated for a first reading at the board’s May 19 meeting with adoption expected at the June 2 session.
“We tried to take the City Commission out of the (investigation) process,” he said.
Under the current code, sitting commissioners review any ethics complaints filed against a board member. The revision would send the review to an outside panel of elected officials from nearby participants in the Certified City of Ethics program.
Doss said the committee considered a suggestion to include citizens on the panel but opted to use officials trained in the stringent requirements of the program.
Penalties could range from a reprimand to a recommendation the offender resign.
The original ordinance was voluntarily adopted by the City Commission “to raise awareness of the importance of ethics in local government,” Doss said.
No complaints of violations have ever been filed, according to City Clerk Joe Smith.
24. Committee on Committee: No report
25. Alcohol Control Commission: No report
26. Clean Community: No report
27. Downtown Development Authority will meet Thursday, May 8, at 8:30 a.m. in the Carnegie Building
28. Parks and Recreation: No report
29. Redevelopment Committee: No report
30. Public Works Committee:
Approved committee recommendation to hire Wilmer Engineering to Complete the Solid Waste Management Plan update at a cost of $9, 500.
31. Finance Committee: No report
32. Joint Development Oversight Committee: No report
33. Adjourn
By Diane Wagner, staff writer
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