COUNCIL WORK SESSION
CITY OF BERKELEY LAKE
4040 SOUTH BERKELEY LAKE ROAD
BERKELEY LAKE, GEORGIA 30096
Full Minutes for
January 03, 2008

Those in attendance for the Council Meeting were as follows:
Mayor: Lois Salter
Council Members:
Walter Anderson, Tom Kitchens, Frank Lombardi, Rebecca Spitler
City Attorney and Associate: Dick Carothers, Amy Cowan
P&Z Chair – Bob Herb
City Administrator – Tom Rozier
Deputy City Administrator – Leigh Threadgill
Citizens Present - 0
 

CALL TO ORDER
Salter opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m. at 4040 South Berkeley Lake Road.

I. APPROVAL OF OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA

Anderson motioned to add O-64-07 regarding cable tv franchising. Kitchens seconded the motion and all were in favor.  The motion passed. 

II. OLD BUSINESS

a.) O-61-07 Chapter 78 (former Chapter 39) Zoning Ordinance – Discussion of Changes

Council, the City Attorney, the P&Z Commission Chair and the Deputy City Administrator discussed the proposed changes in the order in which they appear in the document.

The document will be edited accordingly and submitted for Council consideration at the January 17, 2008 Council meeting.

Bob Herb departed.

III. NEW BUSINESS

a.) Committee Appointments

Salter indicated that we’re down from 10 to 5 committees.
Public Works: We’re in the process of losing the Public Works committee Chair.

Conservancy: Salter reported that she is in the process of finding a committee chair.

BLEMA – Salter indicated that we continue to need that committee.

Building Process Review Committee:  Salter reported that Wayne Mitsch thinks the BPRC can wrap things up soon and go out of existence, so that committee will stay for the time being.

Financial Affairs: Salter reported that the committee will continue and that she is currently in the process of finding committee members and chair.

Salter inquired whether the City is at the point where we can rely on Staff and paid engineers guiding us in ways which Citizen volunteers have guided us in the past.

There was discussion regarding whether the Public Works committee was needed as an ongoing committee or whether Staff can undertake review of citizen requests as needed.

Anderson indicated that it might be useful and easier to get citizens for a Public Works committee when an ad hoc project is to be undertaken.

Salter indicated that the County will be asking for a SPLOST request in the coming year and that Staff indicated an Engineer will be needed to develop that request along with estimates.

Spitler indicated that the subdivisions will begin pressing for repaving.

Salter recapped the discussion to indicate that Council desired a professional in this position and that it would be left up to Mayor and Staff to find that person.

Lombardi indicated that it is important that we have a paid professional Public Works person on an as-needed basis to ensure consistency from year to year, indicating, as an example that we would not ask for a volunteer to do our legal work. Spitler agreed.

Lombardi referenced the LARP study performed in the past and indicated that similarly we need professional advice as to the need for Public Works improvements rather than relying on volunteer guidance.

b.) O-64-07

Kitchens motioned to put O-64-07 on first read.  

Anderson inquired as to whether there are any time constraints on when the ordinance would have to be put on second read. Carothers indicated that there is not but that it is on the agenda tonight so that it could be put on second read at the regularly scheduled Council meeting on 17th of January, 2008.

Kitchens reiterated his motion to put O-64-07 on first read.   Lombardi seconded the motion.

Anderson expressed concern about having billed the current meeting as a work session and making motions on issues during that work session meeting. He indicated that Guthrie probably would have made an extraordinary effort to be at the meeting if she had known that motions and voting were going to occur.

Lombardi indicated that there would be an opportunity to discuss the ordinance prior to second read and adoption.

All Council members in attendance were in favor. The motion passed.

IV. CITIZEN COMMENTS

No citizens were present to comment.

Salter presented the following news items to Council:

Salter presented the new Police service offered by Gwinnett.

Salter discussed with Council current fining options as well as the possibility for amending those fining options in the future via the Home Rule Amendment to the City Charter option. Kitchens recommended increasing the current maximum fine from $500.00 to $1000.00. Carothers noted that $1000.00 fines are the maximum allowed by the State of Georgia. All present were in agreement that the maximum fine should be increased to $1000.00. Carothers agreed to prepare the required documentation to present to Council at the January 17, 2008 Council meeting.

V. ADJOURNMENT

Kitchens motioned to adjourn at 09:50 p.m. Anderson seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.

(Respectfully submitted by Tom Rozier, Approved by Council on January 17, 2008)