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| The following summary minutes have not been approved by Simpsonville City Council. An official copy of the minutes will be available after adopted by City Council at City Hall 118 NE Main St. Simpsonville. Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, notice of this meeting date, time, place and Agenda was posted on the bulletin board at City Hall and faxed to the newspapers, radio stations, television stations and any concerned citizens. |
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SIMPSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES BUSINESS SESSION January 9, 2007 6:30 P.M.
TAPE ON THIS COUNCIL SESSION DID NOT RECORD
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor: Mayor called the council meeting to order and welcomed everyone into the New Year, hoping everyone had a happy holiday season.
ROLL CALL: Mayor and Council were all present
INVOCATION: Invocation was given by Pastor J. T. Cromer.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 12/09/2006 Motion to approve minutes was made by Geneva Lawrence with a second by Mike Zitricki. Minutes of 12/09/2006 were approved unanimously.
MONTHLY REPORTS Mayor thanked all the Department heads for the monthly reports and stated they appreciated the hard work they did.
CITIZEN COMMENTS Three people had signed in to speak: Mr. Harris Campbell, Pastor Brad Whitt and Mr. Tom Patterson. All spoke against the City changing the Alcohol Ordinance to allow Beer and Wine on city property at Heritage Park for Freedom Weekend Aloft.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Mr. Hawes discussed the Downtown Streetscape Project and stated it would begin January 15 th . Phase I involved placing overhead utility lines underground along NE and SE Main and Curtis Streets. Work will be done in segments to minimize lengthy lane closures and lessen disruption to the businesses. Phase I to be completed in April.
Sewer Redirection at the Arbors – engineering is complete on design for rerouting the Arbors sewer line. Reviewing construction bids on the project. This project will take a substantial amount of sewage flow off Hunters Woods line. Installation of back flow preventers continues for properties identified along Hunters Woods line.
City Council is scheduling a Strategic Planning Retreat to be held in February. Will be using a facilitator through the Institute for Public Service and Policy Research at USC.
Freedom Weekend Aloft – Design and grading plans for new amphitheater at Heritage Park are complete with bids received January 8th. Beginning site upfit work this week at the parking facilities to be used during the event. Transportation ingress and egress plans are taking shape with Chief Reece spearheading that effort.
COUNCIL COMMENTS Mr. Gecy raised concerns that it had been decided that the work on the amphitheater was to be done by outsourcing the work to contractors. He is concerned that Public Works crews are working on this project and not able to attend to their normal routine duties, thereby depriving citizens of services. Mr. Hawes explained that they were really doing minimal work at Heritage Park and even the work they did do on the parking lots and the amphitheater for Freedom Weekend Aloft was a service to the community and residents.
Mr. Zitricki requested that Mr. Hawes speak with CVS and ask them if they might consider using pervious concrete or asphalt at their new structure. Mr. Hawes stated he had not spoken to them about that but he would do so.
Mr. Larson indicated he had received a letter from a citizen praising the work the Police Department had done, in particular Sgt. Donnelly on a recent stolen vehicle.
NEW BUSINESS: • Amphitheater Grading & Drainage Construction Bids Mr. Hawes indicated that bids had been received on January 8 th for the grading and grassing of the amphitheater at Heritage Park . The low bid was Chambers Construction for the grading and grassing in the amount of $216,900. The low bid on the sewer and plumbing was from Whiteside in the amount of $39,917.50. Council approved the City to proceed on those bids.
• General Fund Reimbursement Discussion Mr. Gecy moved to spend $200,000 of the money that was repaid to the General Account from Heritage Park , and set aside $100,000 as a match for the LDTC paving program this summer. Ms. Lawrence seconded. The motion failed 4-3 with no votes from Mr. Bridges, Mr. Garrett, Mr. Larson and Mayor Waldrop. Ms. Lawrence, Mr. Gecy and Mr. Zitricki voted in the affirmative.
ORDINANCES – 2 ND READING • Freedom Weekend Aloft Beer and Wine Sales This amendment to the Alochol Ordinance would allow beer and wine to be sold only at Heritage Park during Freedom Weekend Aloft. Mr. Gecy stated that he could not vote to change this ordinance because e signed contract with Freedom Weekend Aloft before they voted for beer and wine.
Ms. Lawrence stated: I need to get something on the record. When this first came up I spoke with Pastor Whitt and asked him what he thought. He said his concern was that it would allow for drinking anywhere in town. I told him that I would not allow that to happen. He said if it was limited to Heritage Park he would not fight it. In Executive Session, I told Council that I would never vote for it if Pastor Whitt was not happy and they told me to make the change in the ordinance. Mr. Bridges went to visit Pastor Whitt and reported back to us that he said he would not get on his “Soap Box”. As late as Friday, before the Council Meeting I called Pastor Whitt and e-mailed him the ordinance. He said it was better than he expected. I don’t know what happened between Friday afternoon and Tuesday night. I also don’t know why I was the only one singled out in the newspaper article written by the former Pastor of Temple Baptist Church, but I guess it doesn’t matter. Thank you.
Motion made by Brown Garrett to amend the ordinance to allow beer and wine at Heritage Park for the Freedom Weekend Aloft event only. Second by Mr. Larson. Motion passed 5-2. Mr. Garrett, Ms. Lawrence, Mr. Zitricki, Mr. Larson and Mayor Waldrop voted in the affirmative and Mr. Bridges and Mr. Gecy were opposed.
ANNEXATIONS AND REZONINGS – 2 ND READING Mr. Dick Witkowski, Chairman of the Planning Commission presented for 2 nd reading Z-2006-10 Hughes Commercial Properties, the Burdette Property. Mr. Witkowski stated that nothing had changed since he had reported to them at first reading and the Planning Commission was very excited about the project and felt it would be a great asset to the downtown area. Planning Commission recommended approval on the 2 nd and final reading.
Brown Garrett moved to approve Z-2006-10 on 2 nd and final reading with a second by Geneva Lawrence. Bruce Larson abstained from voting as he had a potential financial conflict of interest. Vote was unanimous to approve on final reading with the exception of Mr. Larson abstaining.
EXECUTIVE SESSION Geneva Lawrence moved to go into Executive Session to discuss a contractual matter regarding the Administration Department and to discuss a personnel matter regarding the Administration Department. Second by Ron Bridges. Vote was unanimous to adjourn into Executive Session.
ADJOURNMENT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
Geneva Lawrence moved to adjourn the meeting with a second by Ron Bridges. Vote was unanimous to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted,
PAMELA J. BODKINS City Clerk |
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| 118 N E Main Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681 |
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