Unapproved Council minutes

MINUTES OF MEETING

OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL

CITY OF WATKINSVILLE

January 10, 2007

PRESENT: Mayor Luken, Council members Link, Purcell, Brodrick, Walsh and Walter and City Attorney Reitman.

VISITORS: See attached sheet.

QUORUM CHECK: Mayor Luken acknowledges a quorum is present. Mayor Luken also asks those with non-emergency cell phones to turn them off or down. All speakers are asked to approach the lectern and address Council.

Mayor Luken also notes the passing away of former president, Gerald Ford. President Ford was a guy with great communication skills and ethical standards, per Mayor Luken.

MINUTES: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the December 13, 2006 Council meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

JOHN MURRAY: Tiffany Murray represented John Murray in his absence. Councilman Walter moved and Councilman Brodrick seconded the motion to approve a business license for Engineered Site Solutions at 74 Thrasher Drive. Motion carries. Councilman Link abstained from voting due to being a relative of Mr. and Mrs. Murray.

MANDY FELTMAN: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Link seconded to motion to approve a business license for The Purple Paintbrush Kids Art Studio at 8 School Street. Motion carried unanimously.

JUSTIN DUNCAN: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to approve a business license for Southern Floor Covering at 395 Jerry Smith Drive, Suite A. Motion carries 4 to 1. Councilman Brodrick opposed.

DONNA WOOD: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to approve a business license for Stage Door at 73 N. Main Street contingent upon outdoor sales will be held only on two (2) Saturdays a month to include vintage clothing and art with no more than a total of four (4) tables and/or racks. Motion carries 3 to 2. Councilman Link and Councilman Walsh opposed.

RENE HAMMOND: Steve Hammond represented Rene Hammond in her absence. Councilman Walter moved and Councilman Walsh seconded the motion to approve a building permit for a 20’ x 28’ addition to the existing residence at 1041 Williamsburg Place. Motion carried unanimously.

NORM GRAYSON: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Brodrick seconded the motion to approve a request to approach Oconee County regarding the sewer capacity for 1 North Third Street. Motion carried unanimously. This property is already served by the Oconee County sewer system and is currently zoned R3.

SCOTT BOSWELL: Councilman Brodrick moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to table the request for a beer and wine license for Floyd’s Grill at 64 North Main Street until the February Council meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

RECONCILIATION REPORT: Councilman Brodrick moved and Councilman Link seconded the motion to approve both the October and November Reconciliation Reports as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Luken explains we have paid to Oconee County for maintaining the 53/15 intersection plus the Durham Street design the following: $15,000 (2004-2005);

$28,333 (2005-2006) and $28,333 (2006-2007). A final payment is due 2007-2008; however, there has been a delay in the project and Mayor Luken would like to talk with Chairman Davis regarding this matter.

Further, the Department of Transportation has given a verbal agreement to allow us to reduce the large signs installed during streetscape regarding the crosswalks. Everyone loves the street lights, plantings and etcetera, but the signage needs some improvement.

Over the past twelve months, we have negotiated from the request for billboards with 12 faces double stacked to a total of 3 billboards eliminating the double stacks. All three (3) will be south on Highway 15 and will be trimmed in black the same as streetscape.

Flo Wilkes has invited all council members to the ground breaking ceremony for Oconee Pre-School Academy II on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.

James Marshall has landscaped his property on Barnett Shoals Road. It looks really nice.

Councilman Walter asks if we will be keeping all current street lights near the new traffic signal. Mayor Luken notes we will be checking into that.

Chief O’Dillon adds that the Watkinsville Police Department looks forward to getting the signage taken care of downtown. We would like to get the crosswalks under control before someone gets hurt.

Councilman Walsh asks about traffic signal comments. Mayor Luken notes there have been several comments, all positive. Mayor Luken further explains we desperately need a connector from Highway 15 to Highway 441. The traffic signal has good reviews; however, we may want a left turn arrow for the turn lane onto Barnett Shoals Road.

Councilman Brodrick asks Chief O’Dillon the impact of the beer and wine ordinance. Chief O’Dillon notes there has been absolutely none – “the town is still standing”.

Councilman Link has received a request for speed humps on Thrasher Drive (between White Street and Third Street). Mayor Luken explains he will take that up with Chief O’Dillon.

Councilman Link adds that where Pecan Bluff is located the road is sinking. He understood the developers agreed to keep the road in the same condition as when they started the project. Mayor Luken agrees with Councilman Link that the developers have been promising to put another layer of asphalt down and he will ask them to do so.

OLD BUSINESS: Councilwoman Purcell notes the water tower, which Athens Seed and Feed have agreed to donate to the City was built in 1945. A survey of the tower was done in 1998 by the Pittsburg Tower Company, showing the cost to be approximately $20,000 to sand blast and paint. At the next meeting, Councilwoman Purcell will provide an update on the pricing. Additional discussion was held; however, no action taken at this time.

Councilman Walsh has agreed to update the welcome signs, which have been neglected for a long time. Councilman Walsh asks for suggestions and volunteers.

Concept Plan and Future Land Use Map Consideration: Mayor Luken reiterates the billboard situation and explains the concept plan and future land use map is the product of one and a half years of work. Lee Carmon, with the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center, summarizes the concept plan and the future land use map stating this lays out a number of character areas in the community. Ms. Carmon notes that a public hearing was held back in September and both the concept plan and the future land use map were approved by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) after review. This will be sent for final DCA approval if approved by Council. Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Walsh seconded the motion to adopt the City of Watkinsville 2006-2026 Concept Plan and Future Land Use Map as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Carmon adds we are in the process of creating developmental codes to correspond with this concept plan/future land use map.

Councilman Brodrick notes that all are a little frustrated that it is taking so long to get the developmental codes done; however, he plans to try and arrange a called meeting with the Oconee County Planning Commission to address this issue – see attached time frame chart.

Citizen Mary Moore asks can we bypass the review from the Oconee County Planning Commission? Councilman Brodrick explains the new codes do not require Oconee County Planning Review; however, our initial code development has to go before Oconee County Planning Commission for review. Our goal is to establish our own planning commission, per Councilman Brodrick. City Attorney Reitman explains our current zoning ordinance requires any amendments to go before the Oconee County Planning Commission for review and recommendations. We must comply with our current zoning ordinance. No action necessary at this time.

Citizen Kate McDaniel explains Mr. John McNally has expressed to her concerns about the planting of the bicentennial tree. Councilwoman Purcell asks Ms. McDaniel to have John McNally contact her and she will assist to schedule the planting.

Councilman Brodrick expresses concerns about the cutting of the trees in front of Mike Thornton’s property. Mayor Luken explains the code enforcement officer is investigating details of this. Citizen Cindy Jerrell adds that Georgia Power asked if they could cut down all of the trees along her property. She told them no; however, did allow them to cut two of them. Citizen Johnny Lay states one of his neighbors tried to get them to cut one of the Bradford Pear trees along her property and they refused. Mayor Luken asks for any input regarding this matter be provided to him after the meeting to assist him in writing a composite report for Georgia Power. City Attorney Reitman notes that Georgia Power has a total of a 30 foot right of way, which is 15 feet on each side. He adds that Georgia Power likes to cut down as much as possible to eliminate power outages, costs, etc.

Councilman Brodrick notes that Georgia Power is politically sensitive and will work with us. Mayor Luken says we will try again; however, the initial talk with them has been disappointing.

Councilwoman Purcell notes she has concerns about the “don’t walk” signs at the new traffic signal. She feels they are confusing and negative. Mayor Luken explains we are checking on those also.

ADJOURN: Councilwoman Purcell moved and Councilman Walter seconded the motion to adjourn the January 10, 2007 Council meeting at 8:43 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

JULIE A. SANDERS

CITY CLERK