Those in attendance for the Council Meeting were as follows:
Mayor: Lois Salter
Council Members:
Bernie Cohen, Debbie Guthrie, Delicia Reynolds, George Sipe and Marcie Zielazienski
City Clerk- Jackie Wall

Citizens Present- 6

CALL TO ORDER
Salter called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM at 4043 South Berkeley Lake Road.

MILLAGE RATE PUBLIC HEARING
Mayor Salter described to citizens and council how this hearing had been advertised as required by law, and invited citizen comment. There was none.

Jackie Wall explained that a number in the advertisement had been slightly off. She had made this mistake on the suggestion of someone and then found upon talking with Steve Pruitt of Gwinnett County that her original number had been correct. Mr. Pruitt advised that the misadvertised number had not altered the essential percentages and that accordingly the advertisement was OK, but Jackie has since adjusted everything to 100% accuracy.

Introduction of Mayor’s guest- Major Joy Parish
The Mayor introduced Major Parish as the new superior officer of Gwinnett Co. Police’s Central Precinct, which includes Berkeley Lake, saying that she thought it helpful that our City know and maintain relationships with the precinct personnel who serve us daily in addition to the officers who are paid directly by our City for extra coverage. She encouraged citizens to ask questions or express concerns. Citizen interaction ensued with Major Parish. Citizens asked if we do still receive county patrols aside from the ones we pay for with City taxes. Major Parrish affirmed that we do, but acknowledged that they must deploy their patrols most often where there is the most crime, which is not in Berkeley Lake. She offered free crime prevention sessions to any community groups in the City which may want them

MINUTES
Guthrie moved that the minutes of the meeting on May 20th be accepted as presented. Zielazienski seconded. Council approved unanimously.

Sipe moved that minutes of the meeting on May 25th be accepted with one correction, which he suggested. Zielazienski seconded. Council approved unanimously.

Reports
The Mayor announced that she had not yet received a Police Report or Finance Report but they will be presented soon. As this meeting fell so early in month, all numbers necessary for Finance Report were not available in time.

She directed attention to the Ordinance Enforcement Officer’s Report and then asked Cohen to deliver a brief report from the Ordinance Committee to which he is liaison. He discussed studies being made for a business license tax including arrangements that have been made for the committee to meet with a visiting consultant from the Carl Vinson Institute Of Government. The committee also plans that all existing ordinances will be reviewed.

Citizen Dana Nigh asked for clarification about the possible business license tax as it might relate to home businesses.

Cohen explained that if a resident’s sole office is his or her home, the City can require such a tax. Different ways to do it are being studied by examining patterns in other cities. He indicated that 6 categories of businesses are currently set by the state and the amount of tax could be fixed by these categories. Licenses would be renewable annually. Not enough information is available at this time to make thorough decisions. More will be reported as exploration develops.

MAYORS MESSAGE
The Mayor reminded everyone of the planned meeting schedule. She referred them to dates published in Mayor’s Message, which was mailed recently to every home. She announced that Council will extend the Public Hearing regarding proposed millage rate on June 10th to 7:00 PM as well as 7:30 PM.

She asked for volunteers to help prepare for the City’s July 4th celebration. She hopes to see participants in the planning process from all neighborhoods in the City as this promotes citywide cohesiveness and urged those interested to call City Hall.

She reported that comments regarding Greenspace paths and improvements are being received in City Hall and reminded everyone that only signed comments will be considered. There have been 3 comments so far, 2 preferring no change to Greenspace and 1 supporting the plans offered by our local scout, Greg Roberts.

June 10th will be our next full Council meeting and the one after that should be July 15th, unless business necessitates an additional meeting in the interim.

OLD BUSINESS
Auction House Guthrie updated her previous investigative report to council. Carothers has written and mailed a certified letter to the owners regarding our concern. There has been no responsive communication, but the AJC advertisement stopped and mention of the auction was removed from the company’s web site. There is still internet advertising on Proxybid.com and the company’s answering machine still states that the auction is scheduled for June 26th . Guthrie is attempting to find out if seat reservations are being taken for the auction. Carothers also filed formal complaint with the County.

Illicit Discharge and Illegal Connection Ordinance
George Sipe moved to put this on second read. Bernie Cohen seconded.
In discussion Marcie Zielazienski suggested that this needs more comment from our City Attorney and that we need more clarification. Salter asked her to contact him with her specific concerns and Cohen to apprise Ordinance Committee and solicit their input also. They agreed to do so.

Council agreed to postpone consideration on this at present.

Millage rate
Cohen moved to put this on second read at 4.35 and Sipe seconded. All were in favor.

NEW BUSINESS
Solid waste short term work program.
Salter thanked Zielazienski for representing our City at multiple meetings with County and Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful representatives, which resulted in a joint plan among neighboring localities for the handling of solid waste. Marcie reported on this plan briefly and explained that there have been 2 advertised public hearings. She motioned that our City adopt the resolution supporting this joint plan. Cohen seconded, and all councilmembers approved.

CITIZEN COMMENTS
The Mayor solicited any additional comments from citizens present. There were none.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, COHEN MOTIONED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8 PM. ZIELAZIENSKI SECONDED THE MOTION, AND ALL WERE IN FAVOR. THE MOTION PASSED.

Respectfully submitted by Lois Salter (Correct as of June 7, 2004)