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PUBLIC HEARING AND COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF BERKELEY LAKE
4040 BERKELEY LAKE ROAD
BERKELEY LAKE, GEORGIA 30096
Full Minutes for
September 21st, 2006
Those in attendance for the Council Meeting were as follows:
Mayor: Lois Salter
Council Members:
Walter Anderson, Debbie Guthrie, Tom Kitchens and George Sipe
City Clerk- Jackie Wall
City Attorney- Ron Bennett
Citizens Present- 4
CALL TO ORDER
Salter opened the meeting at 7:30 pm at 4043 South Berkeley Lake Road.
I. APPROVAL OF OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
Salter said that two other reports had been received. Also the City Attorney had requested that items 39.404 Adult commercial establishments and Ch 20 Streets, Curbs and Sidewalks be tabled until the next meeting.
Kitchens motioned to approve those additions to the agenda, Anderson seconded the motion and all were in favor. The motion passed.
II. PUBLIC HEARING
There were no citizens comments regarding the possible amendments to Chapter 39.404 or Chapter 39.1201.
III. MINUTES
Guthrie motioned to accept the minutes from the August 17th 2006 meeting. Kitchens seconded the motion and all were in favor. The motion passed.
IV. REPORTS
Salter noted that council had received a report from the police, OEO and clerk.
Guthrie said she had been asked, as liaison to the Events Committee, to present a 50th Anniversary commemorative paddle to the city, which the committee would like to have hung in City Hall.
Barbara Carroll, liaison to Urban Collage and Chair of the Facilities Committee, noted that a report had been received from Eric Boseman regarding the meeting on September 14th. There was some discussion as to which council members wished to meet with Mr. Boseman to discuss their ideas for a new City hall as part of the planning process. It was agreed that they would meet on Monday October 3rd. They would also meet city hall staff in a separate meeting that day.
Kitchens motioned to accept the unaudited Financial statements for August 2006, Guthrie seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.
V. MAYOR'S MESSAGE
Salter submitted a written report to council which said the following:
'I have attended one Community Leadership Meeting led by Partnership Gwinnett and will go to another one on 9-26-06. Much of the information presented at the first meeting is available to anyone interested at their website, www.partnershipgwinnett.com
I have spoken further with Beth Gilbert about her desire to support cohesiveness in our city. The avenue she has chosen for that is to serve as the new president of BLOSOMS.
I want to remind everyone about the "Art by the Lake" Show on Sat. Sept. 30 from 10:00am until 6:00pm. There will be about 20 resident artists participating. Five artists will be showing in their artist studios and the rest will be in the chapel.
Our Fall Festival will be on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 22, 2-4pm. As always, BLOSOMS will coordinate this and the City will pay for it. It’s for kids of all ages with games and a bluegrass band, as well as hot dogs, popcorn, and other goodies to eat. Volunteers are welcome and can contact Beth Gilbert to get involved.
Fall Earth Day in Berkeley Lake will be on Saturday, October 28. We expect to follow the usual format.
I would like to remind our citizens that they can register to vote in City Hall. Jackie is an official voter registrar for city, county, state, and federal elections. I point this out now because on September 26 there will be a voter registration drive throughout the county. I want citizens to know that they can register conveniently on that day or any other when City Hall is open.
Thanks to all who participated last Thursday in our Community Vision Session for the new City Hall. For the benefit of citizens who were unable to attend, the meeting began with a quick summary of the planning process as previously explained to council and community leaders in the earlier kickoff session. This was followed by a 'brainstorming' session led by Eric Bosman of Urban Collage. He asked the group to identify the strengths and challenges we face in our city, the desired form and character of a new City Hall, and desired locations and functions of a new City Hall. All citizens attending were then asked to 'vote' for the three most important aspects to them personally of all the ones listed during brainstorming. The most votes were recorded for a flexible building, located in the 'city center', the current location of City Hall.
I have received a communication from Eric Bosman of Urban Collage requesting to “Meet with Mayor Salter and 1 or 2 Council members to discuss Council meetings and Council needs.” I suggest that one member be Debbie Guthrie for 2 reasons: she is Mayor Protem and she has valuable experience in this area as liaison to the Facilities Committee. Does Council agree? If not, whom would you prefer? If so, is there any other member you want to send as well? The meeting would probably take place on Friday, September 29 (morning) or on Monday, October 2 (afternoon).
Please note that the spraying of plant killer that some citizens have remarked about was not done by our city. Ga. Power did this under their power lines. I made a complaint about how unusually extreme this was and the gentleman to whom I spoke was very responsive. I asked that they send another crew to trim back all the unsightly dead vegetation, which they have been doing.
The city ROW trimming for safety along roadsides, plans for which I have described to you before, is in process. Where this has been completed, our roadsides are much safer. Visibility of oncoming traffic has been increased and room for pedestrians to step off has been created. Council members are asked to let me or Jackie know if you see any place that you think needs additional attention.
Problems with geese continue to be a concern for some of our citizens. Some have suggested to me that we create a new ordinance that not only forbids feeding them but establishes fines for doing so. Does Council wish me to pursue that? You have read the copy of Mr. Rolader’s most recent letter to Mr. Carothers. Is there any response you would like him to make? Would you like me to explore the possibility of constructing a goose fence along the water edge of the dam? Mr. Anderson has asked me to put “Geese” on the agenda, so we can discuss these issues as well as his concerns there.
The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association’s president has invited me to attend their meeting at Simpsonwood Retreat Center on Sept. 25, 2006 at 7:30 PM to hear Dr. Doug Bachtel of UGA speak about demographic changes in their area. Since it is so close to our city, I do plan to go and see if I can learn anything of interest to us. I believe they would welcome any of our council members as well. Would any of you like to attend?
Our city entertained elected officials and other leaders from throughout Gwinnett County at a dinner meeting here last week, the cost of which was paid by those attending. I would like to thank Kay Lee who coordinated that event for us, as well as Jackie and Sandy who helped her.
I would also like to thank Carol Seitz and her Events Committee and all those from BLHA who worked so hard on our 50th Anniversary Regatta and Luau last weekend. That was one of the most festive events I can ever remember at Berkeley Lake, and I’m sure it was the culmination of tremendous effort on the part of many. Thank-you all!
Our City Engineer held a pre-bid meeting for our major stormwater infrastructure project on Sept. 13 and 7 companies took applications at that time. Bids are due on Oct. 12 and will be publicly opened at City Hall that day at 3 PM. Council members who would like to view this opening are welcome to do so. Rich Edinger will then study them and vet the bidders in order to have a recommendation for Council on Oct. 17. If any council member would like to review the plans in detail, the documents are available in City Hall, and our Public Works chairperson has agreed to meet with you there to explain and answer your questions. Call Randy Kirkus to set a time to do so in the next 2 weeks. He says he will meet with you day or evening, whichever is more convenient for you. He has studied the project thoroughly with Rich Edinger who says he’s confident Randy can explain this well. Rich and Randy have already reviewed the plans with the Public Works Committee.
Much effort has been expended to obtain signed easements for these sites. In an effort to answer all questions and respond to any concerns, our engineer has met individually with any who so desired and, where possible, made changes so that they would be more comfortable. Jackie has spent huge amounts of time trying to help people work through whatever issues they had. In spite of all this, we do, as I write this, have a very few people who are refusing to sign. I will report on those Thursday night at our meeting and ask that you authorize our attorney to begin condemnation proceedings. I regret that the city should be forced to bear this expense and lost time, but I have spoken with our attorney about the time necessary to move through these legal channels, and unfortunately we must begin that process. Every reasonable and responsible effort has been made to meet these citizens’ concerns.
I have asked Jackie to send you a Clerk’s Report separately about other things she has been doing'.
There was some discussion about a response to Mr Rolader's recent letter regarding geese.
Salter added that she had been invited to a meeting at the Peachtree Corners Civic Association regarding demographic changes to their area. She invited any other members of council to join her.
Salter said she had also had a letter from the East Metro Health District saying that some ponds at tested positive for West Nile virus and she reiterated her previous advice to empty standing water from plant pots etc.
IV OLD BUSINESS
a) 39-1201 Building permit required O-43-06b
Sipe motioned to put the ordinance on second read and adopt, Kitchens seconded the motion.
After some discussion the motion was withdrawn subject to P and Z reviewing the final wording.
b) Ch 43 Building and Building Regulations O-42-06d  Ch 43 Building_and_Building Regs.pdf
Sipe motioned to put the ordinance on second and adopt. Anderson seconded the motion. All were in favor of the motion and the motion passed
c) Geese- Anderson
Anderson described some research he had completed regarding the geese situation as part of his role as a liaison to BLHA. He also described some research he was suggesting the City undertake in order to determine how the geese impact the community and what part of the problem, the city could alleviate, such as putting up a goose fence on the city owned dam based on its attractiveness to the geese.
There was some discussion about whether an ordinance should be enacted to stop people feeding the geese. It was suggested that citizens opinions should be sought as to what should be done using the web site and mayors message. It was also suggested that costs for the geese fence should be investigated. There was other discussion about how such measures would impact the geese and other wildlife that lives on and in the lake. There were also concerns that coordinated efforts may push the geese the geese onto other private property and create a further problem.
There was a consensus that Anderson should continue to coordinate some research with BLHA.
d) Emergency Preparedness- Prepare First proposal
Salter said that the discussion would have to be postponed as Guthrie had already recused herself from the decision as she still had links with the company. That would leave only three members of council able to vote which was not a quorum.
e) Road safety survey - Streetsmarts proposal
Salter said this discussion would also have to be postponed as Anderson was recusing himself from the decision too. Anderson noted that the Proposal had a final date of August 31st and that needed to be updated.
NEW BUSINESS
a) Chapter 3 Administration- suggestions from ordinance committee O-45-06 Ch_03_Admin_Ord.pdf
Council agreed to review the suggestions for consideration at the next meeting. The committee were thanked for all their work.
b) Septic tank extension forms
Anderson said he would like to work with the clerk first on her suggestions. It was suggested that this could be dealt with administratively.
c) Condemnations for the Stormwater project.
It was noted that 21 out of the 29 easements had been signed for the stormwater project. Rich Edinger, City Engineer, explained all the different situations surrounding those that have not yet been signed. It was suggested that a final date needed to be set in order for a decision to be made as to what would be done if they were not signed. If condemnation was necessary, a declaration of taking is a quick process but the full process would take much longer. After much discussion Council agreed that a letter should be sent to each person who had not signed as of September 21st giving them a deadline of October 4th as a deadline. It was also agreed that a special council meeting should be called for Thursday October 5th at 7 pm at City Hall to discuss the possibility of condemnation of those who had not signed by then. It was agreed that Rich Edinger should also attend that meeting.
d) Ch 11.103 Parking on city streets O-44-06.
Council agreed that more work needed to be completed on this ordinance before it was considered for first read.
e) Fun Runs.
There was consensus that both the Chapel and Elementary School fun runs should go ahead as planned in the same manner as usual.
Kitchens motioned to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing land acquisition. Anderson seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Kitchens motioned to exit the executive session. Anderson seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, KITCHENS MOTIONED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT APPROXIMATELY 9.55 PM. ANDERSON SECONDED THE MOTION, AND ALL WERE IN FAVOR. THE MOTION PASSED.
Respectfully submitted by Jackie Wall
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