Mayor Satori called
the
PRESENT:
Mayor Satori and
Aldermen DeVito, Dozier, Money,
ALSO PRESENT:
Bill King, Mary Jean
Sell, Linda Roberts, Bill Roberts, Carrie Sellers, David Stoppel, Carol Greer,
Kim Dickens, Bill Ames, and Clerk Lee.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Satori led in
the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE
AGENDA:
The motion was made
and seconded to approve the agenda. All
were in favor, 6/0/0.
APPROVAL OF THE
MINUTES:
The minutes of
The motion was made
and seconded to approve the minutes from the
COMMISSION,
COMMITTEE, AND AUTHORITY REPORTS AND VACANCIES:
None.
DEPARTMENT HEAD
COMMENTS:
None.
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
The vote on the
amendment was 6/0/0.
The vote on the
motion was 6/0/0.
Discussion of the option of an in-town deer hunt, (bow only):
Mr. Simon made the motion to have a hunt from
Mr. Simon said if we do this, we need to give our full
support to it, so it can be successful.
Mr. DeVito said he has not had one phone call, and he is
not convinced that there are so many deer that we need a hunt. We could always leave it up to the voters on
the November ballot.
Carrie Sellers spoke that there must be a more humane way
to kill deer.
(Long discussion).
Linda and Bill Roberts both spoke and they were against
the hunt but said somebody had already hunted by spot light by night and killed
two of the deer they were used to seeing.
(Another Long discussion).
Carol Greer said she
has a problem and that her neighbors feed the deer outside their fence. She said the deer go through her yard and eat
everything as they go to the food put out for them. She said deer are susceptible to bovine
tuberculosis which is passed by diseased animals feeding at the same feeding
station, and when cattle get it they have to be destroyed. Feeding deer increases the chances of them
passing diseases to each other.
Mike Johnson said
that if there is a bow hunt it will be done by hunters who do it right. We are pushing them out of their natural
habitat, and thinning is necessary.
He said that if we
don’t thin them out they will starve on their own, which is much worse than
killing them.
The vote was taken on
the motion on the floor to have a controlled hunt. The vote was
Mr. DeVito made the
motion to put this subject on the ballot.
Ms. Harrison seconded.
More discussion
ensued. Mr. Sumpter said he had no problem with putting the hunt on the
ballot. Carrie Sellers asked why the
hunt couldn’t be with guns instead of bows.
Mr. Sumpter said that the State had determined that it was by far the
cleanest and safest way to hunt within the City. The hunters would be working from blinds, and
shooting down. Bullets are much more
dangerous.
Mr. Dozier said he
will vote whichever people want him to but they have to let him know.
Mr. Simon said the
deer are so tame in his back yard, they forget to be afraid. They are wild animals but they have lost a
lot of their instincts.
Mr. DeVito was still
not convinced that there is an over population.
Mr. Sumpter made the
motion to call the question. Ms. Money
seconded. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
The vote on the
motion was
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion
regarding Ordinance No. 1891, an ordinance for the levy of a one-half of one
percent sales and use tax to be used for parks and recreation:
It was explained that the Parks Commission is not finished with the plans it has been working on. Also they will need money to maintain the projects they have done. This tax would be all the money the Parks Commission would need. They would not have to ask the City for money.
Mr. Sumpter made the motion to place Ordinance No. 1891 on its first reading in its entirety. Ms. Harrison seconded. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
Ms. Dickens read the ordinance in its entirety.
Mr. Sumpter made the motion to approve. Mr. Simon seconded.
Discussion followed.
Mr. DeVito said he thought ¼ of a cent is too much. He said 1/8 of a cent would be plenty.
Mr. Sumpter said the Parks should show the community what they intend to do with the money.
Mr. Simon said that when they start talking facilities at
Mr. Levine from the Parks Commission gave a run down of the plans they see in the future. He said they are committed to finishing what they have started. Here are some of the projects:
Concession stands; adult soccer field (world class size); youth soccer field, (the project will cost about $280,000, and a grant for half of that is possible); finish Leatherwood fields, Phase III; enhance the basic springs; more activities such as the Fat Tire race; miles of trails; and increasing activities.
He said that Rotary Club may be interested in helping to fund a feasibility study of Black Bass Lake.
The commission would like to do recreational programming to provide recreational and educational programs and complete summer programs for kids.
Mr. Levine is pleased to see how far Parks has come. He said some civic groups have shown an interest. He said the commission has even considered renting mountain bikes (which cost from $1000 to $3000 each. They receive some donations, but they cannot operate on just donations.
The vote to approve was 6/0/0.
Discussion
regarding Ordinance No. 1892, an ordinance calling for a special election
(November 5, 2002) to levy a city wide one-half of one percent sales and use
tax for the operation, maintenance and capital improvements of parks and
recreation:
Mr. Sumpter made the motion to place Ordinance No. 1892 on its first reading in its entirety. Mr. Simon seconded. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
Ms. Dickens and Mayor Satori read the ordinance in its entirety.
Ms. Money made the motion to approve. Mr. Simon seconded. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
Discussion
regarding Ordinance No. 1893, an ordinance authorizing short term financing as
relates to the purchase of ambulances and declaring an emergency:
Mr. Sumpter made the motion to place Ordinance No. 1893 on its first reading in its entirety. Mr. Simon seconded. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
Ms. Dickens read the ordinance in its entirety.
Ms. Money made the motion to approve. Mr. Simon seconded. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
Mr. Sumpter made the motion to suspend the rules and place Ordinance No. 1893 on its second reading by title only. Mr. Simon seconded. By roll call, the vote was 6/0/0.
Mayor Satori read the ordinance by title only.
Mr. Sumpter made the motion to approve. Mr. Simon seconded. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
Mr. Sumpter made the motion to further suspend the rules and place Ordinance No. 1893 on its third and final reading by title only. Mr. Simon seconded. By roll call, the vote was 6/0/0.
Mayor Satori read the ordinance by title only.
Mr. Sumpter made the motion to approve. Mr. Simon seconded. The vote was 6/0/0.
Mr. Sumpter made the motion to read the Emergency Clause.
Mr. Simon seconded. The vote was 6/0/0.
Mayor Satori read the emergency clause.
Mr. Sumpter made the motion to approve. Mr. Simon seconded. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
The short term financing for the ambulances is 60 months. Also the price for three ambulances was less than expected.
Discussion
regarding amending the 2002 budget to hire a deputy building inspector:
Mr. Dozier made the motion to table the discussion until the 2003 budget.
Mr. DeVito seconded.
Mr. Dozier said if we didn’t have the money before, how come we have it now?
Mayor Satori said there are additional funds left in the operating budget.
Mr. DeVito said that consumer confidence is down, retail sales are down, and he is not confident about the projections for 2003, either.
Mayor Satori said it is a failure to our community to not have this service and he spoke in favor of doing this now.
Mr. Simon made the motion to table this subject until the mid-year budget review.
Mr. Sumpter seconded.
Mr. Sumpter said by that time we will have a better grasp of the figures for the mid-year. Mr. Simon said we will need a definite job description.
The vote was 6/0/0.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Mr. Simon asked Ms. Dickens what the attorney says about commissioners serving past their term of office, until someone is chosen to replace them. Ms. Dickens said she had not gotten an answer yet but will put it in the boxes when she finds out.
Mr. DeVito reported that the CAPC had held an event at a private facility, which is owned by a CAPC commissioner. He felt it was an unwise use of City money. The perception of the public is not good.
Mr. Sumpter said the council should consider looking into staggered 4 year terms of office. There is the possibility that all of the Council members could be unseated, which could be really difficult.
Mr. Sumpter made the motion to ask Ms. Dickens to investigate the procedure.
Mr. Dozier seconded. There was no vote.
Mr. Simon requested that the City cell phones receive itemized bills.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
Mr. DeVito should talk to the CAPC Special Events people about this kind of a situation, and check with them when they have an event.
The motion was made and seconded to adjourn. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
The meeting was adjourned at
This is the signature sheet for the
APPROVED:
_____________________________
Mayor Beau Z. Satori
ATTEST:
___________________________
Mary Ann Lee, City Clerk-Treasurer