CITY OF BERKELEY LAKE
4040 BERKELEY LAKE ROAD
BERKELEY LAKE, GA 30096-3016
PUBLIC HEARING/COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES – August 10, 2000
Those in attendance for the Public Hearing and Council Meeting were as follows:
Mayor – Lois SalterCouncil Members:Liz Branstead
City Attorney – Richard CarothersDelicia Reynolds
Clair GrimesPhil Cuttino
Ken Massaroni
Citizens Present:8
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Salter called the public hearing to order at 7:06 p.m. at 4043 South Berkeley Lake Road.
There were no citizen comments regarding setting the millage rate.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Salter reported on Athens/Clark County’s grants for greenspace and asked Councilmember Cuttino to pursue similar funding sources for Berkeley Lake. The Gwinnett Planning Committee will meet Wednesday, August 16, at 9:00 a.m., and the agenda will be Georgia Greenspace Program and Watershed.
Mayor Salter said there was a citizen concern that Mr. Dunlap serving on the Arbitration Board might be seen as a conflict of interest because he is paid by the City. Mr. Dunlap said when he is serving on the Arbitration Board he donates his time, he is not paid for it. Councilmember Reynolds noted that it also could be applied to Marcia Zielazienski as well as Mr. Dunlap as she is employed by the City. In a show of hands of those present, the majority said they saw no problem with them serving on the Arbitration Board until replacements were found, if that was the final solution.
Mayor Salter called the council meeting to order at 7:16 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mayor Salter offered three amendments to the minutes. On page two under Meeting Reports, in the first line after “Berkeley Walk” insert “and reported concerns expressed by Berkeley Walk residents to the Council for their consideration”; and, on page three under Sidewalks, line four after “sidewalk to” delete the rest of the paragraph and insert “be completed the length of Berkeley Lake Road. Phase two would be from the beach up to Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and phase three would go along Bush Road to the city limits.” Councilmember Branstead moved to approve the minutes as corrected and Councilmember Cuttino seconded. The minutes were approved as amended.
APPROVAL OF FINANCIAL REPORT
Councilmember Massaroni moved to approve the financial report. Councilmember Reynolds seconded. Approval was unanimous.
STAFF AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mayor Salter stated she has received the following reports: Conservation Committee Minutes; reports from the Arbitration Board; BLEMA; Interagency Liaison and Community Affairs Committee; a report from Officer Dunlap; and a report of no report from the Financial Affairs Committee, Communication Committee and the Watershed Committee. No report has been received from the Public Works Committee. Councilmember Branstead reported the Gwinnett County Tree Advisory Committee met with the continuing topic of conservation overlay district. Tom Kitchens reported on the material to be used for the dam repairs.
MEETING REPORTS
Mayor Salter reported she had attended a SPLOST meeting given by the County. She spoke that night and confirmed in writing that if a tax were levied, Berkeley Lake’s priority for any tax money would be (1) money for greenspace acquisition, and (2) money for sidewalks. She met with the Georgia Municipal Association to explore financing possibilities for buying greenspace. She also met with some citizens and some council members to discuss how to make the ordinance enforcement process better. She attended a meeting at the GJAC regarding removal of the billboard adjacent to the Holben property. She commended all the citizens who attended wearing their green shirts. Berkeley Lake did prevail, but Crown Media wants to negotiate and if there is no negotiation, they will sue the county. Mayor Salter announced she would attend a meeting with Brooks Coleman to discuss issues significant to the City, she will be meeting with the presidents of all the home owners associations, and will meet with Tull Metals regarding property they own near the City.
APPOINTMENTS
Mayor Salter appointed Kathy Strickland to the Conservation Committee to replace Ms. Henderson who could no longer serve. Councilmember Reynolds moved to approve the appointment. Councilmember Branstead seconded. Approval was unanimous.
OLD BUSINESS
Grants - Cuttino
Councilmember Cuttino reported that on August 15 he and Councilmember Branstead would go sign for a Forestry Commission Grant. The pavilion grant and the Department of Natural Resources grant are in committee at this time. He also is working on getting a list of ordinances and fines and has some information from the GMA web available if anyone wants to review it.
Mediaone - Carothers
The representative was willing to come to the meeting, but Mayor Salter could not get enough interest from citizens to warrant him being on the agenda. She has a phone number for complaints.
Roadside maintenance – Arakawa
Mayor Salter reported the new contractor is doing the work on right-of-way cleanup and various other roadside maintenance activities. The contract comes up for renewal in January.
Billboard
Mayor Salter thanked Attorney Carothers and Mr. Adams, the reporter from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, for their assistance with the billboard issue.
Ordinance Chapter 3, 2nd read - Massaroni
Councilmember Massaroni distributed copies of Ordinance Chapter 3 saying that all the comments have been addressed. He discussed three sections that were left in even though some of the duties are shared out into other departments. To give the councilmembers time to review the ordinance, the vote will be tabled until the next council meeting.
Waste management disposal specifications, 1st read - Arakawa
There was a question about the need for a solid waste ordinance. Attorney Carothers said in order to coordinate what is in the code with what is being proposed he had sent a rewrite of Ordinance 12. He asked that the rewrite of the Ordinance be put on 1st read, but that the disposal specifications can be passed and sent out at the next meeting. Councilmember Branstead moved to put the waste management disposal on first read. Councilmember Massaroni seconded. Approval was unanimous.
Character city – Cuttino
Councilmember Cuttino reported he has requested more information on the procedure. Mayor Salter has additional material that she hasn’t had a chance to review. Councilmember Massaroni said he also had some information on character city that he would give to Councilmember Cuttino.
Curbing – Flaherty
Rain has delayed the curbing completion at the intersection of Ridge Road and North Berkeley Lake Road. It is expected to be completed next week. Mr. Flaherty reported that as of August 1 any development of 5 acres or greater will be subject to a state permit which complies with the Clean Water Act.
Littering
The wording on the sign to prevent littering was discussed. The amount of the fine was also discussed. It was agreed that the sign say, “fines up to $500”. Mayor Salter stated she would like the signs to be posted by next month.
There was discussion about Duluth sharing the costs of sidewalks. Councilmember Cuttino will contact them.
NEW BUSINESS
Ordinance revision, Chapter 22, 1st read – Massaroni, Branstead
Councilmember Branstead reported that the revision is mainly concerning buffers. Discussion followed regarding approval of landscaping in the undisturbed buffers. The general consensus was that rather than have two separate committees have to approve the landscaping, to have the local ARC pass it and then have the OEO sign off on it. There was considerable discussion as to undisturbed buffers. This ordinance will be on 2nd read next month.
Post Office
Mayor Salter reported she is concerned that the post office may declare that Duluth instead of Berkeley Lake will need to be used in addresses. She would like Berkeley Lake to stay in the addresses. She asked for an informal vote from the citizens present, who unanimously agreed. She will pursue this issue.
Fines Comparison Study – Cuttino
This will be reported next month.
Millage rate – Reynolds
Councilmember Reynolds discussed the final figures that will be used for the bill. She has e-mailed each Councilmember a table showing what the taxes would be at various rates. After additional discussion, Councilmember Massaroni moved the millage rate be set at 5.8 mills for the year 2000. Councilmember Reynolds seconded. Approval was unanimous.
Other
Councilmember Branstead reported she had checked into the Parks and Recreation Project Administration Project. She discussed that the amount was proportionate as to the population in the City to the population in the County, and the specific rules for the application might be tedious. Councilmember Massaroni stated he would look at the proposed requirements.
CITIZENS COMMENTS
Max Polishenko, 3246 Chase Court Had a question about whether the entire pool of money from the Parks and Recreation Project is divided to the portion of the population, or to the money that is actually requested. Also, he requested the City put a no littering sign on the PIB side of the subdivision.
Jeff Paul, 881 Lakeshore Stated he was a fairly new resident and wanted to thank the Conservation Committee for the green flyer placed in the mailbox reminding him there is a tree ordinance. He asked where he could get copies of various ordinances. Mayor Salter directed him to City Hall where copies can be made.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER NEW BUSINESS, COUNCILMEMBER REYNOLDS MOVED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR LAND ACQUISITION, LITIGATION, AND PERSONNEL ISSUES. COUNCILMEMBER CUTTINO SECONDED. THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:35 P.M.
After executive session there were 3 citizens present.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, COUNCILMEMBER CUTTINO MOVED AND COUNCILMEMBER REYNOLDS SECONDED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:02 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia A. Gilbert, PLS
City Clerk Assistant
