Dec 07, 2021 City Council

>> SPEAKER: COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE IS ADJOURNED.

[00:00:04]

LINDSAY, ROLL CALL. (VOICE VOTE)

(ROLL CALL) >> SPEAKER: PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. (RECITAL OF PLEDGE OF

ALLEGIANCE). >> SPEAKER: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. (SILENCE)

[4. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS.]

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING OF THE MONTH SO AT THIS TIME WE WILL START OFF BY RECOGNIZING OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AS WELL AS OTHER SERVICE AWARDS.

(VIDEO PLAYING). >> SPEAKER: NIGHT WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR DECEMBER DECEMBER EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AND OTHER EMPLOYEES WHO DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB FOR THE CITY OF AUBURN. I'M MAYOR RON ANDERS I'M PROUD TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR DECEMBER EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

I HAVE A MEMORANDUM WRITTEN BY KRISTEN REED OR THE HUMAN RESOURCES TO PUT DIRECTOR TO MEGAN CROUCH OUR CITY LEADER.

CLARINDA JONES JOIN THE CITY OF AUBURN IN JUNE 2020 AS THE TRAINING AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AND HAS EXCELLED IN HER ROLE. CLARINDA CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AND PASSION FOR DEVELOPING OUR EMPLOYEES.

SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT WITHOUT INNOVATIVE HIGH-PERFORMING EMPLOYEES, OUR ORGANIZATION WOULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL AND SHE EMBRACES HER ROLE IN PROVIDING THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS PURPOSE. ONE EXAMPLE OF CLARINDA'S GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND EXPECTATIONS IS THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF OFFERING MICROSOFT OFFICE CERTIFICATIONS. WORKING WITH A THIRD PARTY VENDOR, AND OUR OUR IT DEPARTMENT, SHE BROUGHT CERTIFICATIONS IN HOUSE, GIVING OUR EMPLOYEES ACCESS TO BECOMING CERTIFIED IN OUTLOOK, POWERPOINT, EXCEL AND WORD.

THE TRAINING ALLOWS EMPLOYEES TO WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY AND CREATE BETTER WORK PRODUCTS. CLARINDA IS DOING AN EXEMPLARY JOB FOR THE CITY AND IS COMMITTED TO HELPING THE ORGANIZATION SUCCEED IN ITS SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

IT IS FOR THESE AND OTHER REASONS THAT I AM HONORED TO NOMINATE CLARINDA JONES AS THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER 2021. CONGRATULATIONS.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(MUSIC PLAYING) >> SPEAKER: CONGRATULATIONS TO CLARINDA FOR BEING OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR SERVICE AWARDS AND ALL OF THE BEST TO LINDA GIVENS AND MICHAEL MARSHALL AS THEY RETIRE AND MOVE ON AND THANK YOU FOR HOW YOU HAVE SERVED YOUR CITY OVER THE YEARS. JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE. WE HAD A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON IN AUBURN THIS PAST WEEKEND WITH A JINGLE JOG AND HOLIDAY MARKET AT A CHRISTMAS PARADE. IT APPEARED EVERYTHING WENT OFF AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE AND I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF COORDINATION AND PARTNERSHIPS INVOLVED IN ALL OF THAT AND I THANK EVERYBODY FROM THE CITY AND ALL OF THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT VOLUNTEERED TO HELP MAKE THOSE EVENTS GO REALLY, REALLY WELL.

RECENTLY WE HAD AN SGA BREAKFAST AND WE WERE PROUD TO HAVE CHIEF ANDERSON AND ASSISTANT CHIEF STUART THERE WITH US THAT MORNING. IT WAS A VERY HEALTHY MORNING AND GREAT Q&A BETWEEN THE STUDENTS AND OUR LEADERS OF OUR POLICE DIVISION AND I APPRECIATE THEM GIVING THEIR TIME.

THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY OCCURRED AFTER OUR LAST MEETING I THINK THE UNIVERSITY PROGRAM COUNCIL ON CAMPUS FOR MAKING THAT EVENT A SPECIAL EVENT. IT WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE AS WELL AS COLLEGE STUDENTS.

IT WAS A NICE CROSS-SECTION OF AUBURN AT THE TREE LIGHTING AND A MENORAH LIGHTING. A COUPLE OF SUNDAY NIGHTS AGO.

A LOT OF GREAT MUSIC FROM OUR STUDENTS AND CHILDREN AND IT WAS A GREAT EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK THE WATER RESOURCE DEPARTMENT FOR HAVING A THANKSGIVING MEAL AND INVITING

[00:05:01]

THE FOOD WAS GREAT AND THE FELLOWSHIP WAS EVEN BETTER.

TOMORROW I GET TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS SINCE I HAVE BECOME THE MAYOR AND THAT IS THE FIREFIGHTER GRADUATION.

A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF HARD WORK RECENTLY WILL GRADUATE TOMORROW AND BECOME CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTERS. I'M PROUD TO BE A SMALL PART OF THEIR CELEBRATION WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND I CONGRATULATE ALL OF THEM FOR MAKING IT THIS FAR. THIS FRIDAY NIGHT I WILL BE JOINING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AS THEY CELEBRATE THE YEAR AND OF ALL OF THEIR GREAT WORK.

I THINK THIS GROUP OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IS FOR WANTING TO HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY AND TO LEARN HOW TO SERVE AND TO MAYBE CHART THEIR OWN PATH FOR THEIR FUTURE AS THEY LIVE IN AUBURN, WORK IN AUBURN AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES IN AUBURN AND I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT.

THERE WAS A PRESS RELEASE THAT WAS SENT OUT YESTERDAY ABOUT A COOL NEW COMPANY IN AUBURN CALLED TO AND ABIDE TO GET CAMPUS WITH SOME GREAT ENTREPRENEURS AND WE AT THE CITY HAVE ASSISTED THEM THROUGH OUR INCUBATOR PROGRAM AND THEY HAVE JUST RECEIVED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A COMMUNITY AND THE CITY AND THE UNIVERSITY AND ENTREPRENEURS CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AND WORK TO MAKE SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING, THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO GO LOOK AT THAT PRESS RELEASE IT'S ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

HE DID APPEAR IN SOME OF OUR LOCAL NEWS.

AND FINALLY, WE THOUGHT WE WERE THROUGH TALKING ABOUT THIS.

BUT I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT AGAIN, THE SAFEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE VIRUS IS TO GET A VACCINE.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU IF YOU HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT TO GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT, TALK TO YOUR OWN DOCTOR, TALK TO YOUR OWN FAMILY. IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD FOR YOU THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE AS WE GO INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND SPEND A LOT OF TIME AROUND PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE AND CARE ABOUT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK INTO RECEIVING A VACCINE.

DURING THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TONIGHT WE APPOINTED TWO MEMBERS OF THE CEMETERY ADVISORY BOARD.

WE APPOINTED MS. GRAND CHUTE -- GWEN REID FOR SECOND TERM AND SHANNON WALTON FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WILLING TO SERVE OUR CITY AND APPLY FOR THESE SPORTS -- BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND WE THANK THE OTHERS THAT DID THAT. THANK EVERYBODY THAT IS SERVED THE CEMETERY BOARD HERE. MR. CANNILY AND THANK HIM FOR HIS TIME. WE ALSO HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING A WORK SESSION IN OUR DECEMBER 16 CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING. THAT WOULD INCLUDE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE OLD SANFORD PROJECT AND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR AN AIRPORT SAFETY ZONE AND HOW IT WOULD IMPACT INDIAN PINES.

WE ALSO MADE A REQUEST OF THE PARKS AND ADVISORY BOARD AND THE LIBRARY BOARD TO GIVE US AN UPDATE FOR THEIR CAPITOL MASTER PLAN AND THEIR PRIORITIES AS WE MOVE INTO 2022.

AND THEN WE ALSO GOT AN UPDATE ON HOW THE OPELIKA RD. PROJECT IS GOING. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE

CITY COUNCIL? >> SPEAKER: I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO GAVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SENIOR CITIZENS DISABLED AND HOMELESS THANKSGIVING DINNER AT BOYKIN THE SUNDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. I WANT TO SEND A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO MS. -- HER CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU AND THEY ALSO SEE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WAS ABLE TO HELP.

AND AUBURN FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO ALSO CAME OUT TO HELP DISTRIBUTE MEALS. BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE MS. HE'LL HAD ALREADY DISTRIBUTE ALL OF THE MEALS.

BUT I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR SHOWING UP AND BEING ON TIME AND BEING A PART AND THEY WANT TO THANK AL DAVIS FOR OPENING THE BOYKIN CENTER FOR THE SENIORS AND THE HOMELESS AND THE DISABLED. WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT AND THEY ENJOYED THE MEALS AND WE HAD PLENTY, PLENTY. THANK YOU AGAIN, MS. ANNA FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION EXPECT THANK YOU, CONNIE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

LOOK LIKE YOU'RE YOU ARE HAVING FUN IN THE BRAID.

>> SPEAKER: WAS. THE KIDS REALLY HAD THE BEST

TIME. >> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE FROM

COUNCIL? >> SPEAKER: DO TO THE BILLING CYCLE I DO NOT HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE COST OF COUNCILMAN DIXON'S LAWSUIT. HOWEVER IT WAS $37,065.31 AS OF THE 31ST OF OCTOBER. THESE REPORTS ARE IN RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES FROM THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO MR. GRISWOLD COMMENTS. RELATED TO THE SHORT TERM RENTAL SUIT THAT I HAVE AGAINST THE CITY.

MR. GRISWOLD FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, YOU HAVE GIVEN COMMENTARY REGARDING THE COST OF LITIGATION OF THE CITY.

THIS LITIGATION WOULD HAVE NEVER BEGAN IF THIS COUNCIL DIDN'T ADOPT ONE OF THE MOST DISCRIMINATORY AND UNLAWFUL

[00:10:01]

MR. GRISWOLD, YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS LAWSUIT IS COSTING THE CITY OVER $37,000. I ASKED THE QUESTION IF THE CITIZENS OF AUBURN ARE TRULY BENEFITING FROM THIS ORDINANCE THAN THE EXPENSE OF THIS LAWSUIT IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT AND YOUR COMPLAINTS ARE THEN UNWARRANTED. IF THE LAWSUIT IS NOT WORTH THE INVESTMENT FOR THE ORDINANCE TO STAND, THEN THIS ORDINANCE SHOULD NOT EXIST. MR. GRISWOLD, THIS SUIT IS FAR FROM OVER. BUT IT CAN END VERY QUICKLY IF THE COUNCIL WOULD DECIDE TO AMEND THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE TO BE FAIR AND EQUITABLE FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF AUBURN. I WOULD NOT HAVE FILED THIS LAWSUIT IF THE ORDINANCE WAS FAIR AND EQUITABLE FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY. THIS COUNCIL DECIDED TO PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT BENEFITS SOME AND DISCRIMINATE AGAINST OTHERS, WHILE ALSO TAKING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AWAY FROM THE CITIZENS OF AUBURN. MR. GRISWOLD, I WOULD NOT INVEST THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THIS SUIT IS COSTING ME IF I WASN'T CERTAIN THAT I AM GOING TO WIN.

I READ EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THE PAPERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT ME , AND THERE IS ONE FACT THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW.

THIS LAWSUIT IS NOT ABOUT ME. IN FACT, I AM NOT EVEN GOING FOR FINANCIAL DAMAGES. THIS LAWSUIT IS STRICTLY ABOUT GETTING RIGHT BACK TO THE CITIZENS OF AUBURN AND I WILL FIGHT THIS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM TAKING IT ALL THE WAY TO THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT IF I HAVE TO.

MR. GRISWOLD, IF YOU WANT ME TO STOP MY LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF AUBURN, DO WHAT IS RIGHT, BRING THIS BACK UP FOR A VOTE TO MAKING SHORT-TERM RENTALS FAIR AND EQUITABLE FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF AUBURN. THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL I DROP MY SUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF AUBURN.

>> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT?

>> SPEAKER: I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING. STEPHEN, YOU ARE OFF BASE WHAT YOU PULL. HE HAS A RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY, JUST LIKE YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SUE.

IF YOU WANT TO. BUT TO YELL LIKE YOU JUST DID, THAT'S TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL AND THAT'S NOT AUBURN.

I'M WORKING ON MY 35TH YEAR SERVING THE CITY AND YOU ARE NOT THE SHIP -- SHOWING YOURSELF TO BE AN HONORABLE PERSON TONIGHT.

IF YOU WANT TO SUE, GET YOUR ATTORNEY AND SUE.

I WILL NOT SIT IN HERE AND LISTEN TO YOU BROWBEAT EVERYBODY BECAUSE YOU DON'T AGREE WITH. THE MAJORITY VOTED IN AND THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WORKS. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT THEN YOU GET ENOUGH VOTES AND DO IT YOUR WAY.

YOU DON'T DO A LAWSUIT. BUT YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO DO THAT.

I SUPPORT YOUR RIGHT TO DO THAT. JUST LIKE I SUPPORT HIS RIGHT TO AS THEY HAVE AS MANY OF THE CITIZENS IS BEEN SPENT.

PITCHING A FIT DOESN'T GET IT. THAT'S WHAT YOU DID.

YOU HAD A LITTLE TEMPER TANTRUM BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE IS DOING. I SUPPORTED YOU FROM DAY ONE AND YOUR RIGHT TO DO IT BUT I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WANT TO DO IT YOU'RE DOING BUT I SUPPORT YOUR RIGHT TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S AMERICA AND YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT. YOU AND I GO WAY BACK, STEPHEN.

AND I HAVE TRIED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM BUT WHAT YOU JUST DID WAS OUT OF LINE.

WAY OUT OF LINE. NOW MY ANNOUNCEMENT WAS I APPRECIATE WHAT THE CITIZENS -- EMPLOYEES HAVE DONE -- I'M SO MAD RIGHT NOW I CAN'T SPEAK PLAIN.

I APPRECIATE WHAT ARE EMPLOYEES DID AS A ANOTHER FOOTBALL SEASON COME TO CONCLUSION. ARE POLICE AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DIRECT TRAFFIC. HOURS UPON HOURS AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. FOLKS THAT KEEP THE STREET CLEAN I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. I HAVE YET TO DRIVE-THRU TOWN AND SEE WHERE IT'S NOT CLEAN AND DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.

A LOT OF GAMES WHEN I WAS WORKING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND WE DID ONE OF THE BEST JOBS ANYBODY EVER DOES AND I JUST APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GO THROUGH EVERY YEAR DURING THE FOOTBALL SEASON AND AS IT COMES TO A CLOSE EYE I THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND WHAT YOU DO. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, CHIEF. WE HAD A GREAT IRON BOWL WEEKEND AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TOWN. EVERYTHING WENT WELL.

COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT ARE POLICE AND ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES. ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE

ANNOUNCEMENT? >> SPEAKER: IS A QUICK SHOUT-OUT TO THE FOLKS AT THE GUICE CENTER.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE NUTCRACKER THREE TIMES BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER WAS IN IT THIS WEEKEND.

I AM AN EXPERT IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NUTCRACKER. UNG AND VARIATIONS AT THE DANCE STUDIO A LOT OF KIDS, A LOT OF DANCERS ALL AGES, A LOT OF FOLKS AND PEOPLE I SAW THERE WATCHING THEIR KIDS, JUST A FANTASTIC -- IT WAS NICE. THE WHOLE FAMILY GOES AND ENJOY.

THAT'S A GREAT THING TO HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS FANTASTIC BUT WE HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME AND I WAS REMINDED OF HOW WONDERFUL IT IS THAT WE HAVE THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY AND VERY THANKFUL WE HAD A GOOD TIME AT THE NUTCRACKER.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER ABOUT THE NUTCRACKER.

>> SPEAKER: YOU ARE A LUCKY MAN.

[5. AUBURN UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS.]

[00:15:03]

UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS. >> SPEAKER: HOPE YOU'RE ALL DOING WELL. I WAS IN THE NUTCRACKER MANY YEARS SO I LOVE THE NUTCRACKER. STUDENTS ARE WRAPPING UP THE SEMESTER. THIS IS EXAM WEEK SO WE ARE TRACKING ALONG GETTING THROUGH IT THE BEST WE CAN.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW OCTAVIA SPENCER SEASON ACADEMY AWARD WINNING ACTOR AND ALUMNI. IS PROVIDING FREE WILLS -- FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS. THAT IS REALLY GREAT OF HER TO DO THAT. GRADUATION IS THIS WEEKEND DECEMBER 10 AND 11. IS AT THE STADIUM AND I THINK IT STARTS AT 5 PM ON FRIDAY. IF THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TRAFFIC THE NORMAL THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT THAT IS FOR.

AND OUR MARKETING MATERIALS WHICH IS THE 10 PERCENT OFF AND A LOT OF PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES IN AUBURN THOSE ARE COMING IN JANUARY SO WE WILL GET THOSE OUT TO BUSINESSES NO LATER THAN THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY. WE ARE EXCITED TO DO THAT.

WILL HAVE A LOT OF NEW -- LASTLY I WANT TO THANK FOR IT LAST WEEK WE HAD A PRODUCTIVE MORNING AND WE ARE EXCITED TO START CONNECTING AUBURN STUDENTS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR IN THE SPRING. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>> SPEAKER: GOOD LUCK AND FINALS.

WE WILL SEE YOU IN JANUARY. THIS OPPORTUNITY IS FOR CITIZENS TO SPEAK TO THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

REMEMBER THIS IS ONLY ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ORDINANCES AT THE END OF THE AGENDA TONIGHT THAT WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING INVOLVED WITH THAT. PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THEN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE ORDINANCES. IF THERE'S ANYTHING ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO SPEAK AND WE ASK YOU TO COME FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

[7. CITY MANAGER’S COMMUNICATIONS]

CITY MANAGERS TO MEDICATIONS. >> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. UNDER CITY MANAGERS COMMUNICATIONS WE HAVE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF TWO VACANCIES ON THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS. ONE REGULAR VACANCY AND ONE SUPERNUMERARY VACANCY. THE THREE YEAR TERMS BEGIN JANUARY 21, 2022, AND JANUARY 20, 2025.

[8. CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA.]

OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IS ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WISH TO REMOVE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND DEAL WITH THAT ITEM INDIVIDUALLY?

>> SPEAKER: ITEM EIGHT MAC EIGHT 8D1.

>> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE? >> SPEAKER: YOU SAID 8D IS IN DELTA? ANYONE ELSE.

>> SPEAKER: AUTHORIZES THE WAIVER OF RESIDENTIAL TRASH FEES THAT ARE NORMALLY ASSESSED FOR TRASH SLASHED A TO BRIEF PILES THAT EXCEED 5 CUBIC YARDS. WE ALSO CALL THAT TRASH AND MISTY PERIOD. THAT WOULD RUN FROM MARCH 14,

2022, THROUGH APRIL 9, 2022. >> SPEAKER: MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

>> SPEAKER: I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT FOR FOLKS IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING THIS IS SPRING CLEANING TO DO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY PAY A FEE TO GET THAT OUT OF THERE.

>> SPEAKER: ARE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES TEAM IS BEEN DOING THIS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THEY TRY HARD TO SCHEDULE IF WE PUT IT OVER SPRING BREAK PEOPLE THEN SAY IT WAS OVER SPRING BREAK AND WE COULDN'T DO IT.

AND WE WORKED HARD TO GET THE SCHEDULE POST -- WE HAD A WINDOW AND WE DID SHORTEN IT SLIGHTLY THIS YEAR SIX WEEKS.

PREVIOUSLY AND WE ARE BACK TO ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AND THAT IS ALSO TO KEEP OUR CREWS PICKING UP THE REST OF THE CITY.

WE NEEDED TO SHORTEN THE TIMELINE SLIGHTLY BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND FROM THE VOLUME OF LEAVES LATELY. THEY HAVE ALL FALLEN AT ONCE AND OUR TEAM IS DOING ALL THEY CAN TO KEEP ON SCHEDULE.

YOU ARE ALSO HAVE LATER ON IN THE CONSENT SOME NEW EQUIPMENT FOR THEM THAT WILL HELP TREMENDOUSLY.

WITH GETTING CAUGHT UP. THIS IS A GREAT THING WE DO IN

OUR CITIZENS APPRECIATE IT. >> SPEAKER: IN WATCHING RECYCLING AND TRASH PICKUP, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST PROFESSIONAL CREWS, AT LEAST IN MY AREA. I'VE SEEN TRASH COME OUT, I'VE SEEN GUYS STOP AND PICK IT UP AND NOT LEAVE STUFF ON THE ROADS. WITH DEBRIS WITH PEOPLE PUTTING LEAVES, IT'S AMAZING THE EFFICIENCY AND PROFESSIONALISM AND CUSTOMER SERVICE, ALWAYS WAVING, VERY NICE.

IT'S A NICE THING. IF IT WASN'T DONE RIGHT IT WOULD BE A MESS. THE CITY WOULD BE A MESS.

THIS IS REALLY NICE AND WE HAVE GOOD FOLKS DOING IT.

>> SPEAKER: YES, WE DO. >> SPEAKER: I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN SMITH SAYS. THAT'S SO TRUE.

THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB AND HAVE FOR YEARS.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK.

>> SPEAKER: THEY WORK IN ALL KIND OF WEATHER, ALL KIND OF

TEMPERATURE. >> SPEAKER: IT SHOWS GREAT LEADERSHIP IN THAT DEPARTMENT SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT.

>> SPEAKER: THEY DO AND THEY ARE ALSO DEALING, NEXT WE -- NEXT YEAR WE ARE CHANGING THE THANKSGIVING SCHEDULE BECAUSE CITIZENS GET MUCH CONFUSED. THEY WILL TAKE THURSDAY OFF WORK FRIDAY TO WORK THROUGH. THESE MEN AND WOMEN WORK ONE A

[00:20:03]

>> SPEAKER: ALL IN FAVOR? AND HE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. D1.

>> SPEAKER: AUTHORIZES ADDITIONAL MATCH FUNDING FOR THE RESURFACING WHITENING TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ON SOUTH COLLEGE SAMFORD AVE. GAY STREET AND REESE AVE. AND MILLER AVENUE SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED. THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE $6.6 MILLION AND THE TOTAL CITY MATCH FUNDING IS ESTIMATED TO BE AT THIS TIME $3,009,413.

THIS CITY MATCH AMOUNT IS 585 -- $585,004 HIGHER THAN WAS

APPROVED IN THE BIENNIAL BUDGET. >> SPEAKER: MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> SPEAKER: SECOND. >> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND.

QUESTIONS? MS. TAYLOR?

>> SPEAKER: I WOULD JUST WANT TO PULL THIS OFF THE AGENDA BECAUSE I WANT TO EXPLAIN MAYBE TO THE PUBLIC THIS $3 MILLION

COST AND WHAT IT ALL ENTAILS. >> SPEAKER: I WILL HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS AND CITY ENGINEER FRASER WILL GIVE YOU A SCINTILLATING UPDATE ONCE AGAIN ABOUT WHAT IT IS.

(LAUGHTER) IT IS HER NIGHTS.

IN GENERAL AND IN ENGLISH BECAUSE THE STAFF SOMETIMES LIKE TO SPEAK TECHNICAL, WE ARE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL SOUTHBOUND LANE ON SOUTH COLLEGE. RIGHT NOW THERE IS A RIGHT TURN LANE, ONE THROUGH LANE AND ONE LEFT TURN LANE.

WE ARE ADDING A SECOND THROUGH LANGUAGE WILL HELP WITH TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN THAT AREA TREMENDOUSLY.

AT SANFORD AND COLLEGE YOU WILL GET SOME PRETTY DECORATIVE CROSSWALKS AND YOU ARE GOING TO GET A REALLY NICE SIDEWALK BEHIND THE PRESIDENT'S MANSION THAT WE HAVE WANTED TO BUILD FOR YEARS. THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE ARBORETUM. THERE IS A SIDEWALK ON THAT SIDE OF COLLEGE ST. THAT ALSO MEANS WHEN YOU'RE AT THE INTERSECTION OF SANFORD AND COLLEGE PEDESTRIANS CAN CROSS IN ALL FOUR DIRECTIONS. RIGHT NOW THERE IS ONLY CROSSWALKS IN TWO DIRECTIONS AND THAT WILL HELP TREMENDOUSLY WITH SOME TRAFFIC FLOW. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO PARK AND WALK IN THAT AREA. YOU ARE ALSO GOING TO GET AN IMPROVED SIDEWALK ALONG SANFORD BETWEEN SANFORD AND GAY GAY WE ARE REDOING THE INTERSECTION. INCLUDING SOME DRAINAGE.

WE HAVE HAD DRAINAGE CHALLENGES FOR YEARS IN THAT AREA AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE HAD ALL OF THIS FANCY UTILITY WORK GOING ON FOR MONTHS ON END AND WHY PEOPLE CALL CITY HALL PRETTY FREQUENCY -- FREQUENTLY AND ASK WHEN WE ARE GOING TO RESURFACE SANFORD AND GAY. WE ARE WAITING FOR THIS VERY PROJECT. THE ROADS ABOUT TO GET TORN UP AGAIN IF WE PROCEED WITH THIS PROJECT WE ARE ALSO PUTTING UP A NICE MEDIAN ON SOUTH COLLEGE ST., A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT THE HEART OF AUBURN DEVELOPMENT. IF YOU EVER EAT LUNCH AT BURGER FIVE YOU WILL NOTICE PEOPLE PLAY CHICKEN ACROSS SOUTH COLLEGE.

THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS. RIGHT AROUND FROM PUNCHES IS WHERE THAT WOULD BE AND THAT IS BEEN A MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENT.

I ALSO BELIEVE WE ARE DOING A DECORATIVE CROSSWALKS DOWN AT MILLER AVENUE AND THEN YOU ARE ALSO NOT IN THE BASE BID BECAUSE OF PRICING WE WILL REDO A LOT OF LIGHTING.

THE ELECTRICAL CONDUIT IS GOING IN FOR THIS PROJECT TO ALLOW SOME CHANGES TO THAT. AND THINGS LIKE AT THE GAY STREET INTERSECTION IT WILL BE TURN ARROWS.

THAT WE DON'T HAVE TODAY WHICH WILL HELP WITH OUR PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC FLOWS. WE HAVE GAINED SOME TIMING CHAINS WITH THE UNIVERSITY COINCIDING WITH THEIR TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND IT IS MUCH IMPROVED. A FUTURE VASE THE AREA AT PEAK HOURS BUT HAS A WAYS TO GO. AND THEN YOU'LL GET SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN OTHER SMALLER SECTIONS OF SIDEWALK NEAR THE ALUMNI CENTER AND OTHER THINGS THAT DON'T EXIST TODAY.

IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE AND MASSIVE PROJECT AND HALF OF THE FUNDING FOR THIS IS COMING FROM GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION AND THE OTHER HALF IS COMING FROM THE CITY. BUT IN 2016, WE APPROVED I THINK IT WAS ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $900,000 IN MATCH FUNDING AND THOSE COSTS ESCALATED INTO THE TO ME AND DOLLARS RANGE THAT YOU PROVED IN THE BIENNIAL BUDGET. AND A LITTLE OVER TWO MAIN DOLLARS AND NOW WE ARE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL $585,000.

CITY ENGINEER FRASER DID DID AND WE HAVE BID NUMBERS.

>> SPEAKER: HAD ONE BID ON DECEMBER 3.

>> SPEAKER: THESE NUMBERS ARE ACCURATE TO OUR MATCH AT THIS

TIME MINUS PEDESTRIAN LIGHTS. >> SPEAKER: YES.

>> SPEAKER: PEDESTRIAN LIFE WHO WOULD LIKELY PUT IN THE BIENNIAL BUDGET TO COME BACK TO YOU LATER THEY WERE VERY EXPENSIVE UNDERTAKING AND WE THOUGHT WE COULD GET THEM FOR ABOUT HALF THE PRICE OF WHAT THEY WERE ON THE BID SO WE HAD TO REBID THIS

TO GET THAT ITEM OUT. >> SPEAKER: WHAT ABOUT RESUBMITTING -- REESE? BACK THAT'S WERE SOME

IMPROVEMENTS ENDED. >> SPEAKER:

>> SPEAKER: SIDEWALK RESURFACING AND DRAINAGE BUT WE IN THE PAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS WE HAVE RESURFACED GAY STREET UP TO REESE. THIS WOULD BE THE NEXT SECTION.

>> SPEAKER: SO MILLER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS LIST.

[00:25:04]

>> SPEAKER: MILLER THERE IS IMPROVEMENTS.

THIS IS JUST WHAT IT IS TITLED IN A DOCUMENT BUT THE IMPROVEMENTS GO DOWN TO MILLER. YOU'VE SEEN THE MEDIAN IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY AND THIS CARRIES MEDIAN IMPROVEMENT ALL DOWN AND IT WILL COMPLETE THE MEDIAN ON COLLEGE FROM SANFORD ALL THE WAY TO MAGNOLIA SPECIAL IT IS

INCLUDED IN THAT 3 MILLION? >> SPEAKER: THAT'S ALL THE

QUESTIONS I HAD. >> SPEAKER: ANYBODY ELSE ON THE

COUNCIL? >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN TAYLOR. I WAS GOING TO DO THE SAME BUT FOR SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT REASONS. RECENTLY IN WARD SIX RESIDENTS ON MARION CIRCLE, WHICH RUN OFF OF GAY STREET, THE TIMING IS INTERESTING INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME DRAINAGE ISSUES THERE IS A SECTION OF WATERSHED THAT RUNS FROM THE INTERSECTION OF REESE THROUGH PRIVATE PROPERTY DOWN PARALLEL TO GAY STREET AND ACROSS HIS GAY, GOES THROUGH THE 600 AND 800 BLOCK OF GAY STREET AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPLICATION OF THESE STREET IMPROVEMENTS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THE DRAINAGE. THEY ALREADY IN HEAVY RAIN GET FLOODED. THE BASEMENT OF ONE OF THE RESIDENCE ON MARION CIRCLE HAS A SUMP PUMP AND OCCASIONALLY IN HEAVY RAIN IT DOES GET FLOODED. THE DRAINAGE IS SUCH, IT'S LIKE AN OPEN NATURAL NEARLY LIKE A CREEK BED BUT IT IS SMALL.

IT DOES GET OVERWHELMED AND WITH THE INCREASING DEVELOPMENT ON THE HILL FROM SANFORD THROUGH THERESE, THE INDICATIONS OF THIS DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT TYPE OF LOAD -- EXTRA LOAD IT PUTS ON THIS WATERSHED IS OF GRAVE CONCERN TO THESE RESIDENTS.

I WAS HOPING THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ENGINEER FRASER, GIVE ME A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HOW YOUR RECENT MEETING WENT AND DID THEY VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND WERE THEIR CONCERNS LEGITIMATE IN

RELATION TO THIS DEVELOPMENT? >> SPEAKER: REAL QUICK, AND AN OVERVIEW, AND A GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DRAINAGES, THERE ARE NATURAL DRAINAGE AREAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OR LONG EXISTING ONES WERE PEOPLE WERE CITIZENS GET CONFUSED AND SAY YOU DON'T HAVE AN EASEMENT AND WATER FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY IS GOING THROUGH HERE. AND YES THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS OF AUBURN WHERE PROPERTY WAS DEVELOPED WELL BEFORE MAJOR STORM WATER REGULATIONS WERE IN PLACE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS THAT WATER HAS BEEN RUNNING THROUGH FOR MANY YEARS. PEOPLE'S PROPERTY.

THERE ARE OPEN DISHES -- DITCHES AND TIME TO HAVE DEALT WITH CITIZENS WHERE WE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ON THEIR PROPERTY TO MAINTAIN NOR TO GET EASEMENTS FROM THEM TO DO BETTER.

SO THERE IS MUCH THAT GOES ON IN OUR OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS AND CHALLENGES WITH DRAINAGE. IN TERMS OF NEW DEVELOPMENT, IGNORE THE INTERSECTION PROJECT RIGHT NOW AND SAY THERE IS A CONTEMPLATED DEVELOPMENT THERE. THEY WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEIR WATER AND ADDITIONAL WATER AND A LOT OF THAT AS IT IS AT THE HEART OF AUBURN DEVELOPMENT AS IT STANDS TODAY IS UNDERGROUND TENSION SYSTEM. THEY HAVE BIG ORANGE CORRUGATED PIPE THAT IS UNDERGROUND THAT RETAINS OR DETAINS THEIR WATER FOR PERIODS OF TIME. WE HAVE LONG HAD MAJOR DRAINAGE ISSUE AT SANFORD AND GAY STREET TO THE EXTENT IT HAS FLOODED THE ADJACENT BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY SOME THAT ARE ON THE LOWER END OF THE SOUTH SIDE RETAIL STRIP. SO PART OF THE WHOLE INTENTION OF THE DAY AND STANFORD IMPROVEMENT PIECE WAS IF WE ARE GOING TO TEAR UP AS INTERSECTION WE MUST FIX THE DRAINAGE.

>> SPEAKER: AS MEGAN MENTIONED, PART OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE TO REROUTE WATER COMING DOWN SANFORD FROM THE HEART OF AUBURN THAT CURRENTLY GOES UNDER THE WILLIES WINGS AND AMSTERDAM BUILDING. IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT OF WATER IN RESPONSE TO THE RESIDENCE'S CONCERNS, WE ARE GOING TO REVISIT -- NOT TO SPEAK ENGINEER, EXIT VELOCITY TO MAKE SURE THE WATER IS NOT ANY FASTER.

HOPEFULLY THAN THE CURRENT CONDITIONS.

BUT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY MORE WATER JUST A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO GET TO WHERE IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOING.

>> SPEAKER: AND THAT ROUTES, WILL IT INCLUDE REESE THROUGH THAT LITTLE WOODED LOT THERE BETWEEN REESE AND MARION?

>> SPEAKER: I BELIEVE WE ARE UPGRADING THE PIPE UNDER REESE BUT THERE IS CURRENTLY A PIPE THERE NOW THAT DISCHARGES THROUGH A DITCH THAT EVENTUALLY GOES UNDER MARION CIRCLE.

AS YOU MENTIONED DOWN GAY STREET TO WOODFIELD AND BEYOND.

>> SPEAKER: ARE THERE POSSIBILITIES FOR RELIEF IN THOSE -- IN THAT SECTION THAT RUNS PARALLEL WITH GAY STREET ON

[00:30:01]

POINT? >> SPEAKER: NOT AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, BUT IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL LOOK AT.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VIABLE THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD PUT IN A REQUEST TO THE CITY COUNCIL NEXT YEAR.

>> SPEAKER: OKAY. HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

IN TERMS OF THE TIMELINE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, I NOTICED THAT THEY ARE NUMBERED ONE THROUGH FOUR. IS THAT A CHRONOLOGICAL NUMBER IN TERMS OF YOU WILL BEGIN THE PROJECT OF ONE BEING ON THE

COLLEGE, THE COLLEGE MEDIAN? >> SPEAKER: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR CONSTRUCTION AND WHEN THEY WILL

BEGIN? >> SPEAKER: YES, THIS WHOLE PROJECT. SORRY IF I WASN'T CLEAR ON THAT.

>> SPEAKER: ONE TO FOUR SUBMITTED ON THE PACK.

>> SPEAKER: BEST OF THE DIAGRAM TO SHOW WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE. THE CONTRACTORS -- WE HAVE PUT A TRAFFIC IN THE ASSEMBLY BUT WE WILL WORK WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO ACTUALLY GET A PHASING AND ISSUE MULTIPLE PRESS RELEASES AND FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WILL BUILD IT.

>> SPEAKER: THE DIFFERENCE OF THIS PROJECT IS YOU APPROVED A CONTRACT MONTHS AGO THAT WE HAVE A PROJECT MANAGER, A PRIVATE SECTOR PROJECT MANAGER, ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IN CITY ENGINEER FRASER HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO MAKE THESE PROJECTS MOVE ALONG, THESE PROJECTS GET A LITTLE SLOW, WE INTEND TO HAVE SOMEBODY ON SITE EVERY DAY THAT THAT IS THEIR JOB AND WE ARE PAYING THEM TO DO IS KEEP THIS PROJECT MOVING. AND FROM A STAFF CAPACITY STANDPOINT, WE OFTEN HIRE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO DO THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE SUGGESTED EARLY ON WAS WE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY ON STAFF THAT IS IN THE CONTRACTOR CONTRACTORS HERE WATCHING TRAFFIC CONTROL, WATCHING ALL OF THE THINGS ALL DAY EVERY DAY. IS A HUGE COORDINATION WITH AUBURN UNIVERSITY. THE EBB AND FLOW OF FOOTBALL SEASON, GRADUATIONS AND OTHER THINGS ARE NOT LOST ON US BUT THERE IS NO GOOD TIME TO DO THIS WORK.

LIKE MOST WORK. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF COORDINATION AND WE ALSO HAVE A NEW AND EXCITED LAYER TO DO WITH UP WITH ALDOT THAT BECAUSE OF THE GRANT FUNDING THAT IS ALSO WHY WE HIRED THE THIRD PARTY CONSULTANT WHAT TO HANDLE THE PAPERWORK LOAD OF THAT, TO GET THAT $3 MILLION MUCH GOES INTO

IT. >> SPEAKER: JUST THESE RECENT FEW DAYS, IT HAS BEEN COINCIDENTAL THAT THIS ITEM IS BEFORE US. THESE QUESTIONS HAVE ARISEN.

THEY ARE QUITE SEPARATE TO ONE ANOTHER AND MANY OF THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN CONTACTING ME OR TO WHERE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM BEFORE TONIGHT -- BEFORE US TONIGHT.

SO I WAS WONDERING, I HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.

ONE RESIDENT ON THE 600 BLOCK OF GAY STREET ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF GAY STREET HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH WATER RAN SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT THREATENED TO UNDERCUT HIS FOUNDATION OF HIS HOME. I WAS WONDERING, WHAT TYPE OF RELIEF -- IN WHAT WAY CAN RESIDENTS SEEK RELIEF IN THE EVENT THAT EXCESS WATER DOES STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OR EVEN COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THEIR PROPERTY, TO THEIR HOMES?

>> SPEAKER: ANYONE IS WELCOME TO REACH OUT TO US AT ANY POINT.

THEY CAN CALL OUR OFFICE TO ASK US TO COME AND EVALUATE A SITUATION. IF IT IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IT IS NOT THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY, BUT OUR STAFF IS ALWAYS WILLING TO LOOK AT AND OFFER SUGGESTIONS IF THERE IS A PROBLEM. WE TYPICALLY LOOK AT FLOODING AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE DIFFERENTLY THAN JUST IF

SOMEONE'S YARD IS FLOODED. >> SPEAKER: THE RESIDENTS MAY ARGUE THAT THE WAY THAT THE WATER IS ROUTED IS AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINEERING DONE BY THE CITY.

IS -- DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? IS THAT A VALID ARGUMENT FOR A RESIDENT WHOSE RESIDENCE HAS

BECOME OVERWHELMED BY WATER? >> SPEAKER: PEOPLE TEND TO THINK -- THIS WILL SOUND BAD -- THAT EVERYTHING IS THE CITY'S FAULT. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS HAVE CHANGED, MEGAN MENTIONED THAT. ALMOST WHAT HE FIVE YEARS AND REGULATIONS HAVE CHANGED CONSIDERABLY.

SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE. WHAT WAS DONE PROBABLY 50 YEARS AGO COULD NOT BE DONE TODAY. WE HAVE MEASURES IN PLACE TO MITIGATE SHOULDER IMPACTS, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTS, THOSE THINGS ARE CURRENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES THAT WE HAVE.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO HOW THINGS OUGHT TO HOW THEY ARE, BUT WE ARE DOING OUR VERY BEST NOT TO EXACERBATE DOWNSTREAM CONDITIONS

OR MAKE SITUATIONS WORSE. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.

I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION. AS THESE TWO ISSUES CAME UP SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR ME, I THINK THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF CONCERN FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT THE VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT SEAL

[00:35:03]

RESIDENTS? >> SPEAKER: I WOULD SAY THESE ARE TWO VERY SEPARATE QUESTIONS. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS SINCE 2013. IT IS VERY SURPRISING TO ME THAT THE RESIDENTS DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED AS A ROUND THREE PROJECT FOR THOSE OF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR AWHILE, 2013 WENT THROUGH FUNDING CHANGES WHEN THE RICHMOND BRIDGE CAME ABOUT.

THE FUNDING THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO THIS PROJECT WAS SHIFTED AND I THINK THAT WAS THROUGH THIS BODY.

I WOULD SAY THOSE TWO THINGS ARE VERY SEPARATE AND FOR ME I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT SEPARATE. ALDOT WOULD LIKE THIS PROJECT, THEY WILL PROBABLY CALL ME BEFORE THE END OF THIS WEEK TO ASK WHAT IS THE CITY'S DECISION. TO BE EITHER MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD. WHEN WE HAVE THE BID IN SEPTEMBER THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT IF WE DELAY THE PROJECT A LONG TIME THEY WOULD NOT HAVE THEIR MATCH FUNDING, WHICH WOULD THEN PUT US INTO ANOTHER CYCLE OF WAITING ON ALDOT TO GET THEIR

PORTION. >> SPEAKER: CITY ENGINEER FRASER, FROM THE FUNDING STANDPOINT, ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE MAYOR ON THIS AND THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, THE OAK LIKE THE AREA SUFFERS FROM -- WE HAVE THIS MONEY EARMARKED WITH ALDOT BUT JUST BECAUSE IT IS EARMARKED DOESN'T MEAN IT IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE TO US AT THE TIME IN WHICH WE NEEDED.

WE ARE IN A VERY CHALLENGING TIME AND CRUNCH AND I AM ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY WE REJECTED THE INITIAL BIDS BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL UP ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF OUR CITY ENGINEER THAT I COULD COME TO YOU WITH A $1.8 MILLION PRICE TRACK ON SOME PEDESTRIAN LIGHTS FOR THIS PROJECT THAT WE NEEDED THE INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD COST WHAT IT WOULD COST BUT WE KNEW WE COULD SAVE A MILLION -- $800,000 TO A MILLION DOLLARS ON THIS THAT'S WHY WE REBID TO SAY THAT MONEY.

BUT TIMING WISE THIS OTHER ISSUE DOES RUN PARALLEL.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN WITH SOME OF THE RESIDENCE THAT HAVE REACHED OUT LATELY THERE HAVE BEEN LONG TERM DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THINGS AND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. THERE IS MUCH AND SOME OF THIS AREA BROUGHT INTO PLAY COMES FROM THE EAST SAMFORD SCHOOL AREA AND THERE IS MUCH MORE IN THE DRAINAGE BASIN.

I THINK LONGER DISCUSSIONS WILL NEED TO BE HAD ABOUT THE DRAINAGE BASIN AND WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU ALDOT REVIEWS ALL OF OUR PLANS AGAINST VARIOUS -- VERY STRINGENT STANDARDS AND IF THEIR NAMES ON IT IT HAS TO BE -- ME TO THOSE STANDARDS OR WE WOULDN'T HAVE

BEEN OUT TO BID. >> SPEAKER: SO WHEN YOU ARE SAYING YOU SEE THEM AS TWO SEPARATE ISSUES, YOU SEE THE FIRST ISSUE BEING THIS DEVELOPMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALDOT, AND THEN ADDRESSING DOWNSTREAM CONCERNS OF THE BOARD SIX RESIDENCES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> SPEAKER: I WOULD ASK MEGAN TO FOLLOW UP TO THAT AND SOMETHING THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS. THROUGH NOT BEING RECTIFIED BY STANDARDS AS THEY'VE BEEN UPDATED BECAUSE NOTHING HAS GONE ON OVER THERE. COULD THIS PERHAPS BE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT NEW WORK GOING ON TO FIX SOME OF THESE OR BRING THESE UP THE STANDARD THAT HAVE BEEN -- UP THE STANDARDS THAT ARE CURRENT THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE

OVERLOOKED. >> SPEAKER: WE HAVE A LARGE PROJECT LOOMING AT SANFORD IN GAY STREET AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME HOMES THAT WERE MOVED THAT HAD WATER LOW-LYING WATER AND ACTUALLY WHEN HARV WAS -- SOME OF IT IMPROVED SLIGHTLY BECAUSE THEY WERE HOLDING ONTO WATER THAT PREVIOUSLY WAS SHEET FLOWING EVERYWHERE. I THINK ALSO THERE IS SOME MERIT IN SOME OF THIS GETTING CORRECTED AND DONE THE RIGHT WAY

TO MODERN STANDARDS. >> SPEAKER: RATHER THAN EXASPERATING A PROBLEM MAY BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SOLVE SOME BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO REDEVELOPMENT OR WORK GOING ON IN THIS AREA. , TO THE RESIDENCE.

>> SPEAKER: RESIDENCE IN THAT VICINITY HAVE ALSO HAD A NEVER VIVID -- NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH THE WORK THAT IS GOING ON TODAY WHICH THERE HAS BEEN OPEN TRENCHES, THERE HAS BEEN AT&T FIBER LINE THAT PUT A BIG CHUNK OF AUBURN OUT FOR WEEKS AT A TIME. IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING AT BEST AND A LOT OF UTILITIES IN THIS AREA ARE OLD AND UNKNOWN.

I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED WITH SOME THINGS. FORTUNATELY THE UTILITIES RELOCATION IS BASICALLY DONE AND WE HAVE ALSO HIT A -- THERE'S BEEN A GAS MAIN HIT, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

I THINK YOUR POINTS, COUNCILPERSON HOVEY, IS THAT WE WILL BE HOPEFUL BUT WE WILL BE EVALUATING THOSE THINGS AND THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING OTHER THINGS IN THE WRIGHTS MILL ROAD AREA THAT

WE NEED TO LOOK AT MORE CLOSELY. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.

[00:40:02]

>> SPEAKER: WE MAKE THESE STREET IMPROVEMENTS, CAN WE LOOK AT USING THOSE BRIGHTER REFLECTORS? WHY DO WE USE THOSE? SPECIALLY COLLEGE ST.

>> SPEAKER: BRIGHTER REFLECTORS?

>> SPEAKER: I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH WITH -- (INDISCERNIBLE) THAT AREA SO WELL LIT WITH REFLECTORS THAT AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT AROUND AUBURN. CERTAINLY GEORGIA CAN'T BEAT US IN THAT AREA TOO. (LAUGHTER)

>> SPEAKER: THEY JUST REDID THAT WHOLE ROAD, CHIEF.

THEY WIDENED IT TO FOUR LANES AND THEN WHERE IT NARROWS

DOWN -- >> SPEAKER: WE GET THOSE YELLOW REFLECTORS IN AUBURN? TO SEE WHAT COSTS?

>> SPEAKER: YES. IT'S NOT LIKE OUR SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT IS SCRAPING THEM OFF THE ROAD.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOCATE SOME ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> SPEAKER: I APPRECIATE CHIEF BRINGING UP THOSE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR.

AND HE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

MOVE TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA?

>> SPEAKER: SO MOVE. >> SPEAKER: ALL IN FAVOR.

[9. ORDINANCES]

(VOICE VOTE) >> SPEAKER: ORDINANCES.

>> SPEAKER: UNDER ORDINANCES ITEM 9A IS IN THE REQUEST OF THE CITY OF AUBURN PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO MAKE VARIOUS ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENTS TO CORRECT REFERENCES TO ZONING ORDINANCE SECTIONS AND CITY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS TO RELOCATE CERTAIN REGULATIONS TO MORE LOGICAL SECTIONS.

THIS IS THE SECOND READING OF THIS ITEM.

A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED. >> SPEAKER: MOVED TO PROVE.

>> SPEAKER: SECOND. >> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND.

AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

YES, SIR? OKAY.

ANYONE? CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?

SEEING AND HEARING NONE,. >> SPEAKER: SORRY.

I HAVE SOMETHING MR. MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY VOICE SOME OF MY INTERPRETATIONS OF THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT I AM UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

THE PARKING REGULATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN ALTERED BUT SIMPLY MOVED TO MORE APPROPRIATE SECTIONS. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> SPEAKER: CORRECT. >> SPEAKER: THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD -- I KNOW IT IS TANGENTIAL TO THE ACTUAL CHANGE, THE AMENDMENT HERE, BUT I WONDER IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN THE ORIGINS OF THE PARKING SECTION CONCERNING LEASING WITH THE CITY.

I REMEMBER IN A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN THE PAST, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT IN THIS PARTICULAR AGREEMENT WHERE PARKING WOULD OCCUR BECAUSE THERE WAS A COMPROMISE MADE IN THE DEVELOPING AGREEMENT THAT REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF MANDATORY PARKING SPACES. AND AT THAT TIME IN THE DISCUSSION THE CITY WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL PARKING PER THAT PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. IN A DOWNTOWN HOTEL SITUATION.

BUT YET IN THIS, THE LANGUAGE OF THIS, THE PARKING SECTION CONCERNING LEASING WITH THE CITY, IT SEEMS TO SPEAK CONTRARY

TO THAT. >> SPEAKER: THIS LANGUAGE WAS INSERTED. AT ONE POINT IN TIME IN THE URBAN CORE NO PARKING WAS REQUIRED FOR RESIDENTIAL WHATSOEVER. IT HAD BEEN IN THERE AND IT WAS REMOVED SOMETIME IN THE EARLY '90S.

AND THEN IT WAS PUT BACK WHEN SOMETHING CALLED THE PARKER BUILDING WAS BUILT IN DOWNTOWN AUBURN WHERE CAST FITNESS USED TO BE. AND THE NOTION WAS, OH MY GOSH, NEW RESIDENTIAL BUSINESS WHAT UP WITH 16 UNITS AND ZERO PARKING FOR. AND SO THE COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE TIME ASKED STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND WANTED A PARKING REQUIREMENT TO BE PUT BACK IN.

WELL, REWINDING WAY BACK TO WHEN MAGNOLIA PLAZA WAS BUILT, ONE OF THE REASONS THE CITY BUILT THE PARKING DECK WAS WE HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH MAGNOLIA PLAZA THAT THEY WOULD LEASE SPACES IN THERE. AT THE TIME A PARKING DECK WAS UNPRECEDENTED AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY SLATED TO BE THREE MORE STORIES? SLATED TO BE A FIVE STORY PARKING GARAGE AND CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME AND OTHERS WERE CONCERNED IF WE BUILT A FIVE STORY PARKING GARAGE IN THE GAY STREET AREA PEOPLE WILL THINK WE WERE CRAZY.

BACK IN THE '80S. SO FAST FORWARD WE ARE ALMOST 80,000 PEOPLE AND HERE WE ARE. WHEN WE LOOK AT PUTTING PARKING REGULATIONS BACK, WE HEAVILY STUDIED THAT'S.

[00:45:01]

AND THAT NOTION DIDN'T COME TO FRUITION BUT THIS IS IN HERE SAYING IF WE DECIDED IN THE FUTURE TO LEASE PORTIONS OF THE RIGHT STREET PARKING DECK LONG TERM OR THE EXISTING MUNICIPAL PARKING DECK WE COULD DO SO. RIGHT NOW ANY LEASE THAT WE HAVE INCLUDING WITH MAGNOLIA PLAZA TENANTS IS MONTH-TO-MONTH AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL AT ANY TIME BECAUSE THAT ALSO GIVES US THE ABILITY TO REDEVELOP THE PROPERTY SHOULD THE CITY DECIDE TO DO SO. SO WHY THIS IS IN HERE, IT HAS NOT BEEN INVOKED BECAUSE WE DID NOT FEEL WE HAVE THE EXCESS PARKING TO DO SO. ALSO THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A SENTIMENT ABOUT MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE AND THE NOTION THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUILD IT YOU SHOULD BUILD YOUR OWN PARKING BECAUSE THE PUBLIC THEN WON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THIS PARKING. SO THAT IS HOW WE ARE STICKING.

THIS REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN LEFT IN AS A POSSIBILITY BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW AS THINGS CHANGE AND CONTINUE TO REDEVELOP WE MAY WANT THIS OPTION AND RIGHT NOW WITHOUT IT WE MIGHT NOT BE ALLOWED. YOU WANT TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SHARE IN PARKING AND CREATE IT IN THE URBAN AREAS OFF-SITE AND THAT INCLUDES OURSELVES IF THAT IS SOMETHING WE CHOOSE TO DO.

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: BUT TO CLARIFY, THERE IS NO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS IN THE URBAN CORE HOTEL. NONE.

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? LINDSAY?

(ROLL CALL VOTE) >> SPEAKER: ITEM NINE MAYBE IS A FRANCHISE RENEWAL REQUEST FROM ZAYO GROUP LLC.

UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS NECESSARY AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED

>> SPEAKER: INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AND ASKED FOR

UNANIMOUS CONSENT. >> SPEAKER: SECOND.

>> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND. 'S DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD WITH A VOTE ON THIS THIS EVENING? WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

SEEING NO ONE WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? LINDSAY, ROLL CALL. (ROLL CALL VOTE)

>> SPEAKER: MAYOR, WE HAVE NO RESOLUTION SO THOSE ARE ALL THE

[12. CITIZENS’ OPEN FORUM]

>> SPEAKER: AT THIS TIME WILL OPEN THE CITIZENS OPEN FORM.

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE ON YOUR MIND.

YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO DO THAT TO.

WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

REMEMBER THAT YOUR COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COUNCIL AND NOT TO A MEMBER OF THE STAFF FOR THE CITY MANAGER.

>> SPEAKER: I HAVE TRIED TO COME UP THREE TIMES.

WHEN YOU GET OLD LIKE ME AS PART OF LIFE.

I WANTED TO REITERATE THE STUFF. >> SPEAKER: NAME AND ADDRESS.

>> SPEAKER: ROBERT WILKINS, 261 DIXON DRIVE AUBURN.

I WANT TO ADDRESS THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE AGAIN.

I REALIZE YOU VOTED ON IT AND SO FORTH BUT I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE SOME THINGS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MR. GRISWOLD FOR CORRESPONDING WITH ME I THINK FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES. I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THEN YOU DID RESPOND AND ON -- I OWN 14 BUSINESSES SO I KNOW ABOUT LEGAL ISSUES AND WHY YOU COULDN'T RESPOND.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, NOT TRYING TO BE UGLY TO THE MAYOR, BUT THE ST ARE, SHORT TERM RENTAL TASK FORCE, SOMETHING I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND IS THE TASK FORCE INCLUDED THE MAYOR, TWO COUNCILMEMBERS, TWO PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THREE CITIZENS.

TWO OF THOSE ARE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS.

THE OTHER ONE IS SOMEONE WHO IS AT THE PHARMACEUTICAL PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY. I HEARD THAT MAYBE SHE DID SOME SHORT TERM RENTAL AT SOME TIME. I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE DESPISED TO THE IDEA OF ANYTHING LIKE AN AIRBNB OR ANY OF THE OTHER ONES. I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS AN AWFUL ONE-SIDED WHEN YOU RAN FOR TRANSPARENCY.

I DON'T CONSIDER THAT TRANSPARENCY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD WAY TO RUN THAT.

I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW. ALSO, NATIONWIDE THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF THAT SAYS, DON'T HOTEL OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M IN 100 PERCENT AGREEMENT. 100 PERCENT.

I DON'T WANT MY COMMUNITY DONE AS A HOTEL.

[00:50:01]

I THINK MR. DIXON HAS A ONE BEDROOM SUITES.

HOW CAN THAT BE A HOTEL? AND YOU TALK ABOUT COMMERCIAL, TECHNICALLY YES IT'S COMMERCIAL BECAUSE THERE IS -- WE ARE GETTING MONEY FOR SERVICE, BUT THERE IS ALL KIND OF THINGS THAT ARE IN COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DONE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

WHEN I WAS A KID I TOOK MUSIC LESSONS WITH MY BAND DIRECTOR WHO TAUGHT ME PIANO AT HIS HOUSE.

WE HAVE YARD SALES. I'VE HAD A YARD SALE.

CHANGING MONEY. IT IS COMMERCIAL BUT IS IT REALLY COMMERCIAL? THIS THING IS A COMMUNITY ACTIVITY. IT IS GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE -- I HAVE TO GO.

I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT -- I WISH YOU COULD GIVE ME THREE MINUTES BUT I CAN'T DO THAT. THE ORDINANCE, THERE ARE TOO MANY ORDINANCES IN ANY CITY. IF YOU WANT TO BE THE GREATEST MAYOR AND THE GREATEST COUNCIL EVER COME GET RID OF A LOT OF THE ORDINANCES. EVALUATE EACH ONE AND GET A REAL TASK FORCE THAT AFFECTS THOSE PEOPLE AND GO THROUGH THOSE AND GET RID OF THEM. BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE EASIER FOR THE CITY. AT THE SAME TIME WE WANT ORDINANCES TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS AND DO NOT CAUSE PROBLEMS. I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK -- I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO BRING BACK IN TWO WEEKS BECAUSE MY TIME IS UP.

THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: MR. WILKINS, IF YOU CAN STAND RIGHT THERE. I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING.

WHEN WE WERE ALL ELECTED, THIS WAS A BIG ISSUE.

I TOLD THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY AND I TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO WHAT WE COULD TO GIVE AUBURN A PHILOSOPHY AND GIVE AUBURN A RULE ON THIS WHICH AT THAT TIME WE WERE OPERATING WE WEREN'T OPERATED WITH ANY RULES.

HE WAS JUST GOING ON. I'VE NEVER BEEN A MAYOR BEFORE.

IT WAS MY OPINION THAT FORMING A TASK FORCE WAS THE BEST WAY TO GET THIS COMMUNITY INVOLVED, TO GET THE COUNCIL INVOLVED AND US TO FIND SOME KIND OF GROUND ZERO THAT WE COULD BUILD FROM SO THAT ULTIMATELY AUBURN COULD HAVE A RULE THAT WAS PROBABLY GOING TO CHANGE OVER TIME. I WAS NEVER A MAYOR BEFORE.

AND SO MY THOUGHT WAS, I WILL FORM A TASK FORCE.

I PUT TWO COUNCILMEMBERS ON THERE, ONE WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS PROBABLY A BELIEVER IN AIRBNB AND BRB OH AND ANOTHER WAS MORE RETICENT TO IT. THEY HAD THE LIBERTY TO FIND PEOPLE TO FIND ONE PERSON TO JOIN THEM.

ONE ASKED SOMEBODY WHO WAS PRACTICING IN SHORT-TERM RENTALS, ONE GOT SOMEONE WHO IS NOT AN ME AS THE MAYOR, I ASKED A THIRD PERSON WHO WAS IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL BUSINESS BUT HAD BEEN OPERATING A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.

IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE THREE EXTRA PEOPLE THAT WERE BROUGHT IN, TWO OR IN FAVOR OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND ONE WAS NOT. THERE WERE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS THAT WERE ASSIGNED TO THIS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY. THEY LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT EVOLVE IN AUBURN AND THE WAY WE PLAN THINGS THAT GO ON IN AUBURN. IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAD PLANNING REPRESENTATION. I CAN'T TELL YOU IT WAS THE PERFECT WAY TO SOLVE THIS. WE HAD PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE HAD DRAFT ORDINANCES, WE GAVE THE PUBLIC A LOT OF TIME TO OPINE ON THIS. ULTIMATELY WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION. HISTORY WILL SAY WHETHER WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION OR NOT. I HAVE TOLD PEOPLE ADD NAUSEA AND THAT THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST TIME AUBURN WILL EVER DEAL WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS. WE WILL DO WITH IT AGAIN.

YOU WILL COME UP AGAIN. BUT WE TRIED TO GET WOULD BE GETTING GROUND. I'M SORRY YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH THAT. AND YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE.

AND I RESPECT THAT. BUT DON'T COME UP HERE AND TELL ME I'M NOT TRANSPARENCE. BECAUSE YOU ARE WRONG THERE.

THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO RESPOND TO MR. WILKINS, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.

YOU MENTIONED THAT ONE OF THE CITIZENS WAS VEHEMENTLY AGAINST AND I'M PRESUMING THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MY CHOICE ON THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL. TASK FORCE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I AM BY NO MEANS ANTI-SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

I THINK THE BUSINESS MODEL IS EXCELLENT.

MY PICK ON THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TASK FORCE ALSO SHARES THAT OPINION. THERE IS NO WAY THAT WE CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS ANTI-SHORT-TERM RENTAL.

WE ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING FOR THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO FIND A PLACE WITHIN OUR CITY THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, AND WE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO GUIDING DOCUMENTS SUCH AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT GOES WHERE IN OUR CITY.

THAT WAS THE FUNDAMENTAL GUIDING DOCUMENT THAT BOTH MYSELF AND MY PICK USED IN FORMULATING POLICY, TRYING TO FIND A WAY IN WHICH

[00:55:02]

WE WORK VERY HARD TO FIND A WAY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

I JUST FELT THE NEED TO ANSWER YOUR ASSESSMENTS OF MY PICK AND MYSELF ACTUALLY BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY THAT I AM ANTI-SHORT-TERM RENTAL. BUT I AM VERY DELIBERATE IN HOW I GO ABOUT TRYING TO FIND A WAY FOR EVERYBODY TO GET SOMETHING FROM THIS POLICY. I DID MY VERY BEST TO DO SO.

THE IDEA THAT COUNCILMAN DIXON HAS GONE TO THE PAPER RECENTLY AND SAID WE SAT AROUND AND DID NOTHING IN THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TASK FORCE HER TO ME PERSONALLY BECAUSE I HAVE INVESTED COUNTLESS HOURS COMPARING OTHER CITIES' ORDINANCES, COUNTLESS HOURS IN MEETINGS WITH PRIVATELY WITH MY PICK.

PUBLICLY IN WORK SESSIONS, ANSWERING COUNTLESS E-MAILS.

THE IDEA THAT I DID NOTHING AND GLEEFULLY SAID HA HA HA, IT'S HURTFUL. IT IS NOT AT ALL WHAT WAS TRANSPIRING IN MY PROCESS. I WAS VERY DELIBERATE, I TOOK THE TASK TASKED TO ME BY THE MAYOR VERY SERIOUSLY, AND I LOOKED FOR THE BEST FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR CITY.

I THINK I GOT AS CLOSE AS I COULD TO DOING THAT.

AND I ALSO AM SORRY THAT IT HAS AFFECTED YOU IN THE WAY THAT IT

HAS. >> SPEAKER: I WILL BE -- THE JUDGE WAS KIND ENOUGH WITH MY WIFE IS NOT ABLE TO COME.

WE ARE DOING A ZOOM ROOM. I WAS THINKING ABOUT CARS.

WE WILL BE DOING THAT SO I APPRECIATE IT'S.

I'M NOT SURE WHY IT IS A MISERABLE COURT BECAUSE ALL OF YOU VOTED FOR THAT JUDGE AND I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURTS. BUT THAT IS NEITHER HERE NOR THERE. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND I APOLOGIZE. I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WAS NOT AIRBNB PEOPLE, WHY THEY WERE NOT OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE AFFECTED GREATLY. THERE IS NOT REALLY A DISRUPTION. MOSTLY ZONINGS WERE DONE 20 OR 30 YEARS AGO. SO YOU ARE BUILDING ON THEM BUT YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INTERNET 30 YEARS AGO. WE DIDN'T HAVE AIRBNB 12 YEARS AGO. YOU NEED TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES. AND SAID YOU DECIDED TO TO DIVIDE IT. ONE SAYING WE DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK OF THE OTHER ONE IS I'M CONCERNED BUT IT'S TIME FOR THE -- FIND FOR THE CONSERVATIVE AREA.

WE ARE OLDER PEOPLE OR WHATEVER. WE SHOULDN'T BE DISRUPTED.

I JUST THINK THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THOUGHT.

AND I APOLOGIZE. I CAME HERE IN 2018 WHEN YOU HAVE THE FIRST MEETING. I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER THE MONEY.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WAS GOING TO GET INTO THIS WHERE YOU ACTUALLY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ONE PART OF THE TOWN TO THE OTHER. I HAD NO IDEA.

I SHOULD HAVE COME. THAT WAS MY FAULT.

BUT THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK LONGER.

>> SPEAKER: I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE REFRAMING THAT YOU ARE DOING USING THE WORD DISCRIMINATE.

I THINK WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT WE ARE GUIDED BY ZONING AND THE RHETORIC OF DISCRIMINATION IN THIS POLICY IS

A WORD THAT I TAKE EXCEPTION TO. >> SPEAKER: IN MY COMMUNITY.

>> SPEAKER: WE APPRECIATE THAT. WE NEED TO LEAVE OFF.

>> SPEAKER: I'M GLAD THAT SHORT-TERM RENTALS -- RENTALS -- STUDENT HOUSING TASK FORCE HAD AN EASY LAYUP AND MOVED ON.

(LAUGHTER) >> SPEAKER: AND THEN WE SLAM

DUNKED IT ON THE COMMISSION. >> SPEAKER: YES, SIR?

>> SPEAKER: MAYOR ANDERS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HERBERT WALTERS 412 OPELIKA RD. APARTMENT 111.

MY COMMENTS THIS EVENING ARE CONCERNING THE CITY REDISTRICTING PLAN THAT YOU ARE PLANNING TO VOTE ON OF THE NEXT MEETING. I LIVE IN WARD FOUR ON THE BYRON'S SIDE OF OPELIKA RD. IT IS ACROSS OPELIKA RD. FROM UNCLE CHARLIE'S AND THE SALON WHICH IS PRESENTLY IN WARD

[01:00:02]

ACCORDING TO THE PROPOSAL IT IS GOING TO BE IN WARD TWO.

NOTHING AGAINST ANY OF YOU ALL ON THIS.

I DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL PUTTING THAT TOGETHER IN ONE COMPACTNESS. THERE IS THE QUESTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC MAKEUP COMPARED TO 2010.

WHICH LEADS ME TO MY CONCERNS ABOUT AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, THE SITUATION INVOLVING WORD ONE.

I THINK IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY, THE AREA OF MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK IS NOT WARD ONE.

PRESENTLY. THE NEW PLAN PUTS MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK IN WARD ONE AS WELL AS THAT AREA ON THAT SIDE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK. THAT'S WHERE STUDENT HOUSING IS WORK CONCERNED ABOUT THE MAKEUP OF THAT AND I NOTICED IN THE MEMORANDUM THAT YOU ALL RECEIVED FROM THE CITY MANAGER DATED NOVEMBER 9, WE HAD A CHANCE TO GET A COPY LAST NIGHT AT THE COMMUNITY FORUM AND I THANK EVERYBODY WHO SETTING THAT UP AT BOYKIN. I DID NOT -- IT DOES NOT HAVE A DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN FOR THE WARDS BASED ON THE 2010 CENSUS.

SO NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA WHAT PERCENTAGE WAS BLACK, WHAT PERCENTAGE WHITE, WHAT PERCENTAGE ASIAN, WHAT PERCENTAGE WHATEVER. I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD ASK FOR THAT INFORMATION BEFORE YOU MAKE THE DECISION.

HOPEFULLY AT YORK DECEMBER 16 SESSION, I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO KNOW. OR IF THERE IS INFORMATION ALREADY AVAILABLE ON THAT, LET US KNOW WHERE WE CAN FIND IT IN THE CITY WEBSITE. IN MY AREA THERE IS A MIXTURE, TO SAY THE LEAST. THANKFUL AGAIN.

AND ALSO FOR THE RECORD, SOME OF MAYOR ANDERS COMMENTS, I GOT THE BOOSTER SHOT LAST FRIDAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> SPEAKER: WHO WILL BE NEXT? >> SPEAKER: COULD BE THE EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LAKISHA KHALIFA AND I WAS I THAT 2262 HERITAGE RIDGLEA HILLS IN AUBURN AND I'M THE FIRST VP OF THE LOCAL NAACP CHAPTER HERE IN LEE COUNTY.

I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR THE MAP THAT YOU PROPOSED. AS I SHARE WITH THE MEMBERS AT THE PUBLIC HERE LAST NIGHT, I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT WAS PUT FORTH. SPECIFICALLY, TO BE REASONABLY COMPACT, TO NOT PUT MORE THAN ONE INCOME BUT IN THE SAME DISTRICT TO PRESERVE THE CORE OF THE EXISTING DISTRICTS AS WELL AS TO PRESERVE THE COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST.

ALL OF THAT IS GREAT STUFF. HOWEVER, WE WOULD BE DOING OUR COMMUNITY A DISSERVICE IF WE DID NOT TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, AUBURN'S POPULATION HAS GROWN 42.6 PERCENT IN THE LAST TEN YEARS SINCE THE LAST CENSUS.

AS A RESULT OF THAT POPULATION GROWTH, AUBURN'S MINORITY POPULATION IS NOW 36.8 ALMOST 3L POPULATION.

MATHEMATICALLY SPEAKING, IF WE WERE TO TAKE A 37 PERCENT AND MULTIPLY IT BY THE EIGHT WARDS WE GET TO .96.

AND THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE NEED AT LEAST TWO SKI COUNCILMEMBERS TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF A NON-WHITE RACIAL MINORITY GROUP. GIVEN THAT, AUBURN NOW HAS A SIGNIFICANT BLACK POPULATION, A SIGNIFICANT HISPANIC POPULATION, AND A SIGNIFICANT HISPANIC AND ASIAN POPULATION.

SO I AM ASKING YOU TO LOOK AROUND.

IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION, DOES THE CURRENT COUNCIL LOOK LIKE WHAT THE DATA NOW SAID IT LOOKS LIKE IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE?

[01:05:05]

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS ALSO THE LAW.

IN THE 1960S, THE SUPREME COURT HELD THAT THE 14TH AMENDMENT GUARANTEED EQUALITY OR VOTING POWER ONE PERSON ONE VOTE. IT ALSO HELD THAT STATES THAT FAILED TO ALLOCATE BASED ON THE BASIS OF POPULATION, IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. WE KNOW THAT IS NOT WHERE WE ARE TODAY. BUT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO SLOW THIS PROCESS DOWN, MEET WITH US AND LET'S DISCUSS A NEW MAP.

CAN IT BE DONE? CAN WE GET TO MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICTS? ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY.

IS IDEAL? MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

BUT WHAT WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY IS THAT WE HAVE SIMPLY PROVEN THAT IT CAN BE DONE. PROOF OF CONCEPTS.

SO WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE, BUT WE FEEL LIKE YOU CAN DO MORE AND WE WANT TO HELP BECAUSE COLLECTIVELY, WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN GET TO A MAP THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY COLLECTIVELY. FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS BILL LEE. I LIVE AT 1652 ST. ANDREWS LANE IN AUBURN. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THE SAME ISSUE. AS A CITIZEN HERE IN THE CITY, I BELIEVE, AS LAKISHA POINTED OUT, THAT WE SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER WHAT WE CAN DO TO BE FAIR AND EQUITABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, GIVEN THE VAST CHANGES OF THE 2020 CENSUS.

AND SO, AS CONCERNED CITIZENS, WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA FROM THE 2020 CENSUS AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE WAYS TO BE ABLE TO BE MORE EQUITABLE AND MORE FAIR.

WE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE SAME CONCERNS.

WE HAVE INDEED HIRED A CARTOGRAPHER.

I'M NOT SURE IF I KNOW WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS.

A MAP DRAWER. SOMEONE WHO HAS A PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN THIS AREA. WITH THAT, WE DID NOT KNOW IN THE BEGINNING WHETHER OR NOT THE POPULATION WOULD PERMIT A SECOND MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICT. BUT INDEED IT DOES.

SO WITH THAT, WE ASK YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR A MEETING WITH THOSE OF US WHO HAVE WORKED ON THIS FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND CONSIDER HOW WE CAN REPRESENT THE POPULATION MORE FAIRLY AND IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE CITIZENS WILL BENEFIT.

THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE?

>> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING. HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. IT'S A LONG NIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MY NAME IS TABITHA EISNER AND I LIVE AT MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA. I CAN GIVE YOU MY ADDRESS IF YOU

REALLY WANTED TO. >> SPEAKER: WE NEED FOR THE

RECORD. >> SPEAKER: I WASN'T SURE IF THAT WAS LIMITED TO AUBURN. 4349 WHITE ACRES RODE, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA. 36106.

I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M WORKING WITH THE LEE COUNTY CHAPTER OF NAACP ON THE REAPPORTIONMENT PROCESS HERE IN THE CITY OF AUBURN. I HAVE A MASTERS IN PUBLIC POLICY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND NINE YEARS OUT OF TEN I WORK AS A POLICY DATA AND TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT FOR STATE GOVERNMENTS. MOSTLY IN THE ROUND OF CHILDCARE POLICY AND CHILD WELFARE POLICY. BUT ONCE A DECADE I DEVOTE MY ATTENTION TO REDISTRICTING AND REAPPORTIONMENT.

THIS YEAR I AM WORKING WITH A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY GROUPS, BOTH IN MUNICIPALITIES AND STATEWIDE, TO BECOME MORE ENGAGED CITIZENS AND TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS CRITICAL PROCESS. DRAWING MAPS OR EVEN TALKING ABOUT MAPS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY INTIMIDATING TASK.

MOST PEOPLE DO NOT CONSIDER THEMSELVES CARTOGRAPHERS AND DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE EVEN LOOKING AT A MAP.

[01:10:01]

SO MUCH ABOUT GOVERNMENT IS INTIMIDATING.

WE HAVE HEARD LOTS OF ENGINEERING TERMS, SCINTILLATING ENGINEERING TERMS, LOTS OF TECHNICALITIES, LEGALITIES, COMPLEX ISSUES DISCUSSED AS PART OF GOVERNMENT.

BUT THIS PROCESS HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO BE DIFFERENT.

THIS PROCESS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE INTIMIDATING, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE US AND THEM. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO ENGAGE WITH CITIZENS AND TALK ABOUT WHERE IS YOUR COMMUNITY? HOW DOES YOUR COMMUNITY THINK ABOUT ITSELF? HOW DOES IT WORK? HOW CAN WE DRAW DISTRICTS THAT MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT HOW YOU AS A CITY UNDERSTAND YOURSELVES? THINK OF YOURSELVES AS A COMMUNITY. SO I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE NAACP AND OTHER GROUPS LOCALLY AND MAKE THIS A MODEL OF HOW GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO PRODUCE SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING. I'M ELIZABETH HILL, 274 BRAGG AVENUE. I'M WANT WHAT TO SPEAK ON REDISTRICTING. I WILL HAVE TO SAY SINCE I GOT ON THE NAACP COMMITTEE IN MARCH ABOUT REDISTRICTING IT HAS BEEN A FUN PROCESS. IT HAS BEEN A PROCESS OF LEARNING SOMETHING NEW, OF LEARNING NEW PROCESSES, OF SPENDING TIME WITH OUR LOVELY TABATHA CARTOGRAPHY ON HOW TO DRAW MAPS, HOW TO MOVE THINGS AROUND AND IT IS BEEN A VERY ENGAGING FUN PROCESS AND WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS WHAT TABATHA SAID. IT IS NOT AS INTIMIDATING AS YOU THINK. WE CAN MAKE A MAP THAT WILL REFLECT OUR CITY. SO WHEN WE GOT THIS CENSUS DATA, WE WERE LIKE, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING DATA.

THE MINORITY PERCENT OF MINORITY POPULATION IN AUBURN GREW.

THAT SHOULD BE REFLECTED. THEN WE GOT THE CITY MAP AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS AND LOOKING AT THIS AND LOOKING AT THAT AND GOING, WE DON'T THINK THE CITY MAP ACTUALLY CURRENTLY DOES WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY. CAN WE DO BETTER? SO WE CALLED TABATHA. TABATHA SAYS, WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THE DEMOGRAPHICS LIVE. BECAUSE HE CAN'T JUST GO PICKING AND CHOOSING EVERYWHERE, WE NEED TO MAKE A MAP IT LOOKS REASONABLE. AND WERE LIKE, CAN WE DO THAT? SO TABATHA DRAWS SOME OF DEMOGRAPHICS.

SHE'S LIKE, YEAH, WE CAN. WE HAVE GIVEN YOU A MAP.

WE ARE NOT SAYING THIS MAP IS PERFECT.

WE ARE NOT SAYING YOU NEED TO VOTE ON THIS MAP.

WE ARE SAYING THAT WE HAVE PROOF OF CONCEPT THAT TWO MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICTS CAN BE DRAWN IN THE CITY.

WE THINK THAT MORE FAIRLY REPRESENTS WHAT THE CITY IS COMPRISED OF NOW IN 2020. THROUGH THIS PROCESS WE ARE LIKE, OKAY IT CAN BE DONE. WE HAVE PROOF OF CONCEPT.

SO NOW WE ARE HERE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP, YOUR COLLABORATION ON THIS PROCESS TO SAY, WE HAVE A PROOF OF CONCEPT IN FRONT OF US, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS INFORMATION NOW? SO WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.

WE ARE ASKING YOU TO PAUSE IN THIS VOTE COMING UP ON THE 21ST AND SAY, WAIT A SECOND. MAYBE WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE ON THE 21ST, MAYBE WE NEED TO TAKE MORE TIME, MAYBE WE NEED TO REVIEW THIS. MAYBE WE NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN OFFERED, LOOK AT WHAT THE CITY IS DONE.

CAN WE FIND A WAY TO COLLABORATE AND MOVE FORWARD ON THIS MAP? OUR REQUEST IS THAT YOU DELAY THE VOTE ON THE 21ST AND THAT YOU RETURN TO THE MAP AND SEE IF THE REQUEST THAT WE HAVE MADE FOR TWO MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICTS CAN BE DONE.

>> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOSHUA LEWIS I LIVE AT 1106 STAGE ROAD. THAT IS IN AUBURN, ALABAMA.

I AM A GETTING UP HERE AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE NAACP CONCERNING REDISTRICTING AND REDRAWING THE MAP.

THEY HAVE GIVEN YOU MY COLLEAGUES GIVEN YOU KUDOS AND YOU'RE AT A BOYS, AND ALL OF THAT.

AND THAT IS DUE. THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN DONE.

BUT IF WE CAN KIND OF TIE THIS TOGETHER AND LEAVE YOU WITH SOME THOUGHTS ON YOUR MIND HERE. WE WANT TO BE CLEAR.

LEE COUNTY, NAACP IS REQUESTING THAT THE AUBURN CITY COUNCIL TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME TO COLLECT PUBLIC AND LEGAL INPUT INTO THE REAPPORTIONMENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND COMMIT TO

[01:15:04]

IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION TWO OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, WHICH IS THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, THE MAPS THAT ARE BEING MADE, PRACTICES ARE NOT PROHIBITING VOTERS OR DENYING VOTERS EQUAL POLITICAL POWER ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR OR MEMBERSHIP, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO WANT TO MAKE MENTION -- NOT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO BUT MAKE MENTION OF WHAT AUBURN CITY MANAGERS STATED IN THE MEMO.

THAT OFTEN TO BE EQUITABLE, IF I CAN SAY THAT, THIS MEANS DRAWING ONE OR MORE MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICTS DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF A JURISDICTION'S MINORITY POPULATION.

AUBURN DOES NOT HAVE A BLACK POPULATION THAT IS SUFFICIENTLY LARGE ENOUGH TO RESULT IN A DISTRICT WITH THE VOTING AGE POPULATION THAT IS MAJORITY BLACK.

HOWEVER AUBURN DOES HAVE A SIGNIFICANT BLACK POPULATION, A SIGNIFICANT ASIAN POPULATION AND SIGNIFICANT EIGHT HISPANIC POPULATION. AS STATED BEFORE, THERE HAS TO BE TWO DIFFERENT GROWTH. I WOULD CLAIM IT TO BE SIGNIFICANT. WITHIN THE LAST TEN YEARS ESPECIALLY WITH THE MINORITY POPULATIONS.

MOVING FROM 26.5 PERCENT TO 36. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THAT IT IS NOT PROPER REPRESENTATION TO HAVE 12.5 PERCENT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF 36.8 PERCENT.

FROM 2010 TO 2020, MINORITIES SAW SOMETHING IN AUBURN THAT MADE THEM WANT TO MOVE HERE, WHETHER IT WAS IN THE SITE, WHETHER IT WAS IN THE SOUNDS OR IN THE SCHOOLS, EITHER WAY I KNOW THAT THEY DIDN'T MOVE HERE TO BE SILENCED.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THERE IS NOT A MAP THAT IS DRAWN OR REDRAWN WITH MINORITY MAJORITYIES IN MIND.

NOT TO SAY EXCLUDING ANYONE ELSE, BUT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS PROPER REPRESENTATION. THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT FROM 20222020 THERE HAS BEEN EXPONENTIAL GROWTH.

WHAT I'M SAYING HERE IN CLOSING IS THAT AS GOOD AS 12.5 PERCENT CAN BE, 12.5 PERCENT CANNOT SPEAK LOUD ENOUGH TO COVER 36.8 PERCENT. SO WE NEED TWO MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICTS. THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, MR. LEWIS.

>> SPEAKER: WARNS TIDWELL 1654 PIEDMONT DRIVE.

I APOLOGIZE. YOU HAVE MY BOOTS EARLIER TODAY AND SO THE STATEMENT PROBABLY WON'T BE AS SCINTILLATING AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN. (LAUGHTER)

I WANT TO START OFF. >> SPEAKER: YOU ARE NOT AN

ENGINEERING BY TRADE ARE YOU? >> SPEAKER: NOT AT ALL.

I OFFER AN APOLOGY TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY TIME I SHOW UP IS WHEN SOMETHING BIG HAPPENS.

I WORK IN THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

I AM A PROBLEM SOLVER SO THE FACT THAT YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ME IS A GOOD THING AND I APPRECIATE THE JOB YOU'VE DONE SO FAR. THAT BEING SAID, AUBURN IS MY HOME. IT IS A HOME AND PEOPLE AND PLACE THAT I LOVE AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD FOLKS WITHIN THE CITY REPRESENTATIVES WHO WANT TO GET THE REDISTRICTING RIGHT. AND OF COURSE THAT IS WHY I'M HERE. I'M SPEAKING IN MY POSITION -- NOT FEELING WELL -- AS A COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND OUTREACH FOR OUTREACH PROJECT. THERE IS ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH THE ALABAMA ELECTION PROTECTION NETWORK TO ENSURE FAIR AND EQUITABLE MAPS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

I KNOW THAT WE ALL WANT THAT TOO.

IT'S A VERY SIMPLE THING THAT I COME TO YOU ALL TODAY WITH IS REQUESTING THAT WE TAKE THE TIME THAT IS AVAILABLE TO GET TO DO THIS AND GET THIS RIGHT. AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE SO FAR. I AND SINCERELY APPRECIATE THAT.

I KNOW THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AND THAT IS WHAT THIS PROCESS IS FOR, TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING. I'M KIM WEITZ MY ADDRESS IS 228 CONROY DRIVE IN WARD FIVE. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF EAST ALABAMA, IT IS A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION THAT ENCOURAGES INFORMED AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT WITH A FOCUS ON ISSUES AFFECTING VOTING AND THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS GENERALLY. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF EAST ALABAMA WOULD LIKE TO VOICE ITS SUPPORT FOR THE NAACP'S PROPOSAL TO CREATE AT LEAST TWO MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS IN AUBURN. HAVING AT LEAST TWO OF THE DISTRICTS WOULD BE EXPECTED GIVEN THAT AUBURN HAS A 36.8 PERCENT MINORITY POPULATION ACCORDING TO THE 2020 CENSUS.

THE NAACP'S WORK DEMONSTRATE THAT IT IS FEASIBLE TO DO SO

[01:20:04]

I AM ALSO ASKING THAT YOU DELAY THE VOTE EXPECTED TO OCCUR ON DECEMBER 21 TO ALLOW TIME TO FULLY CONSIDER THIS ALTERNATIVE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING EARLIER THE MAYOR MENTIONED THAT SOME OF THESE BIG DECISIONS TAKE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME TO CONSIDER FULLY. THIS DECISION IS GOING TO AFFECT THE WAY THAT WE VOTE FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

SO I THINK IT IS TOO IMPORTANT TO RUSH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CITY STAFF MAP AND THE OPEN HOUSES THAT WERE HELD. I WENT TO THE FIRST ONE THAT IT WAS GREAT AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MAYOR ANDERS, COUNCILPERSON SMITH.

MY NAME IS DR. JOE AND ABRAM, I LIVE AND RESIDE AT 206 TUBERVILLE COURTS. MALVERN -- AUBURN.

AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INC.

WE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 1978. AS THE PRESIDENT I WOULD SAY THAT I ALSO HAVE RESIDED HERE SINCE THE '70S AS WELL.

I DATE MYSELF BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WENT TO BOYKIN WHAT IS NOW CALLED THE RECREATION CENTER I WENT THERE IN THE FOURTH OR FIFTH GRADE SO I DATE MYSELF THERE.

IN SAYING THIS TO BE ABLE TO SAY >> SPEAKER: SO THAT I.

>> SPEAKER: (LAUGHTER) I WOULD DATE MYSELF TO SAY THAT IN REFERENCE TO WATCHING HOW DOES I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHAT YOU HAVE DONE SO FAR. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE AWAY AND BEEN IN THE MILITARY FAMILY MYSELF AND CAME BACK AND I LIVE HERE AND HAVE RAISED OUR CHILDREN HERE.

IN SAYING THIS I AM HEAVILY CONCERNED PERSONALLY AND INVOLVEMENT REGARDING WHAT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN OUR FUTURE HERE. AND HOW IT WILL BE BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN AS WELL BECAUSE THERE ARE THEY ARE ALSO PLANNING TO RESIDE HERE. I COME BEFORE YOU NOW ASKING THAT YOU CONSIDER THE VOICES AND THE WORDS AND THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE COME FORTH THUS FAR. THAT YOU TAKE IT TO HEARTS WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE SAYING AND TAKE THE TIME, ACTUALLY TAKE THE TIME TO DELAY THE VOTE UNTIL YOU ARE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN HERE. I SAY THAT AND SPEAK ON THIS MATTER BECAUSE THE MORE WE HEAR THE MORE QUESTIONS WE HAVE AND WE WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO HEAR YOUR HEART TO WHY YOU DID WHAT YOU DID. SO THAT WE CAN FAIRLY UNDERSTAND WHY THE CHOICES WERE MADE SO THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND US AND WE CAN UNDERSTAND YOU. SO AGAIN, AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUBURN CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA SORORITY WE ASK THAT YOU DELAY THE VOTE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BROUGHT FORTH TONIGHT.

YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? >> SPEAKER: ARE YOU GONNA CLOSE

COMMUNICATIONS? >> SPEAKER: GO AHEAD, CONNIE.

>> SPEAKER: I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

JUST FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT.

BACK WHEN WE HAD OUR MEETING ABOUT THESE MAPS AND EVERYTHING, I WAS ALMOST CONVINCED THAT THE CITY DID THE RIGHT THING AND I AM STILL -- I'M NOT DOUBTING WITH THE CITY DID, BUT I HAVE MORE UNDERSTANDING AS TO HOW THESE MAPS WERE DRAWN UP.

I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ON SOME OF THESE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE HERE TONIGHT.

THE FIRST QUESTION IS, IS THERE TIME TO REVIEW THE MAPS PROPOSED BY THE NAACP? I KNOW THERE IS A SIX MONTH PERIOD BETWEEN THE TIME THAT WE RUN AGAIN, IF WE ARE GOING TO RUN, THOSE OF US THAT WILL RUN OR WON'T RUN.

WHAT IS THE TIME LAPSE? WHAT IS THAT TIME FRAME? THE SECOND QUESTION IS, WAS IT CONSIDERED BY THE CITY TO CONSIDER ANOTHER MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICT? WAS EVER CONSIDERED? AND THE THIRD QUESTION IS, HOW DO THE PROPOSED -- HOW DO WE POSTPONE THE VOTE? CAN WE POSTPONE OUR VOTE ON DECEMBER 21? I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT I JUST WANTED TO BE SAID ON RECORD.

[01:25:01]

I AM REALLY CONFUSED NOW AND IT SORT OF BREAKS MY HEART TO KNOW IF THAT WAS NOT CONSIDERED, THAT THERE CAN BE ANOTHER MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICT. CAN WE -- CAN I -- I DON'T HAVE THE OTHER COUNCIL FEEL ABOUT IT -- CAN WE HAVE SOME SORT OF EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS WAS NOT CONSIDERED OR WAS IT CONSIDERED? THAT'S MY MAIN QUESTION.

THAT WAS THREE QUESTIONS BUT THAT'S THE MAIN ONE.

>> SPEAKER: GO AHEAD, MEGAN. >> SPEAKER: AS WE DISCUSSED IN THE WORKSHOP WHEN WE EMBARKED ON THIS PROCESS, WE FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS WE HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED AND WE WERE FOLLOWING FEDERAL GUIDELINES OF BEING REASONABLY COMPACT BUT NOT PUTTING MORE THAN ONE INCUMBENT IN THE DISTRICT, PRESERVING THE COURSE OF EXISTING DISTRICTS AND PRESERVING COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST WHILE DEALING WITH THE FACT THAT OUR EXISTING WARD HAD A CHANGE. THAT WAS THE CRITERIA STAFF FOLLOWED. TO CLARIFY FOR EVERYONE IN THE ROOM, THIS CITY COUNCIL DID NOT PROPOSE THIS MAP.

I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT AND INTENTIONAL.

A MAP IS PROPOSED BY STATE LAW BY THE CITY MANAGER.

THE CITY MANAGER USES A TEAM OF EXPERTS ON HER STAFF TO GENERATE THAT MAP WITH ONLY FEDERAL CRITERIA WE WERE ASKED TO UTILIZE AND THAT IS WHAT WE FOLLOWED PERIOD.

WE DON'T GET TO INSERT OUR OPINIONS, WE DON'T GET TO LOOK AT DEMOGRAPHIC DATA DIFFERENT. WE CAN LOOK AT HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE HERE OR THERE OR WHATEVER. WE HAVE TO PURELY FOLLOW THE CRITERIA AND THAT IS WHAT THE STAFF DID.

NOW, AT THE CROSSROADS OF THINGS, IT IS UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS.

STAFF DOESN'T MAKE THAT. WE JUST RECOMMEND AND FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THINGS AND THAT ABSOLUTELY WILL BE DONE.

KIND OF JUMPING IN YOUR QUESTIONS I WILL MAKE SURE WE GET THEM ANSWERED. THE DECEMBER 21 TIME FRAME WAS TO START THE DISCUSSION. YOU REALLY NEED TO BE FINISHED WITH THIS BY THE FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE PUBLISHED LEGALLY, THE NEW DISTRICTS AND THAT IS LENGTHY LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS ONCE THEY ARE FINALIZED.

IT HAS TO BE PUBLISHED FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE ON THE SIX MONTHS OUT THAT COUNCILPERSON TAYLOR MENTIONED PRIOR TO THE ELECTION.

SO THE DECEMBER 21 DATE AND THE REASON I AM MOVING THAT FORWARD AND IT IS LEGALLY ADVERTISED BEGINNING TOMORROW, AS THE DATE OF A POTENTIALLY FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, IS TO GET THIS OUT THERE THAT A PROCESS NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED.

AS COUNCILPERSON TAYLOR INDICATED, SHE CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS THE PROCESS BUT WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT I SPEAK TO IT. THAT IS A UNANIMOUS CONSENT ORDINANCE SITUATION. THERE ACTUALLY ISN'T A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BUT ABSOLUTELY I'M GOING TO ADVERTISE A PUBLIC HEARING AND STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT TO BE PLACED ON YOUR AGENDA THAT WAY YOU HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY STAUNCH AS A COUNCIL ABOUT THAT AND THE STAFF IS AS WELL. THAT WILL BE THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY. YOU CAN DENY ANONYMOUS CONSENT.

UNANIMOUS CONSENT. IF THAT IS WHAT ANY OF YOU CHOOSING TO DO. THAT ORDINANCE AUTOMATICALLY COMES BACK AT YOUR JANUARY 4 MEETING.

YOU CAN CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE WITH THAT AT THAT TIME.

YOU CAN VOTE ON IT. A MAJORITY OF YOU CAN POSTPONE, TABLE OR OTHERWISE. BUT I DO STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU CONSIDER FINALIZING WHATEVER YOUR DECISION IS NOT LATER THAN

THE FEBRUARY 1 MEETING. >> SPEAKER: OF THE DON'T, THEN THE AUGUST 23 VOTE MUNICIPAL ELECTION WILL BE VOTE -- PLACED

ON THE CURRENT WARD. >> SPEAKER: WILL HAVE AWARD TO OVER 14,000 PEOPLE. THAT'S CORRECT.

COUNCILPERSON GRISWOLD IT'S AWARD THAT IS QUITE LARGE.

ALSO IN CONSIDERING COUNCILPERSON TAYLOR ASKED AND I TOUCHED ON THAT, THE MAJORITY MINORITY, WHEN RETAINING THE EXISTING COURSE OF DISTRICTS AND MAKING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAP AND YOU ARE MAKING FOLLOWING ARTERIAL ROADS, CREEKS, RAILROAD TRACKS, WHAT HAVE YOU AND MAKING A MAP THAT PEOPLE CAN FOLLOW AND NEIGHBORHOODS ADJACENT TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, LOTS OF TIMES ARE ALTOGETHER. IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT PRESERVING COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS, NEIGHBORHOODS AND OLDER PARTS OF TOWN HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES AND CONCERNS AS WE HEARD ABOUT TONIGHT FROM COUNCIL PERSONS ABOUT STORM DRAINAGE AND WHAT HAVE YOU. ALL OF THOSE THINGS WENT IN.

AND WHILE IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE, IT ALSO IS PRETTY CLEAR WHEN YOU START REDRAWING THE WARDS FROM THEIR EXISTING CORES, YOU WILL ALSO PUT TWO CITY -- SITTING COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE SAME WARD WHICH IS STRONGLY COMMITTED AGAINST.

[01:30:03]

THIS IS THE FIRST WE HAVE RECEIVED OF IT.

THERE WAS MENTION OF THE LAST NIGHT AT THE TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS. I COULD TELL YOU WE HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 27 PEOPLE DROP BY, TWO, THREE HOUR SESSIONS.

OF THOSE 27 PEOPLE, THREE OF THEM ATTENDED BOTH SESSIONS.

WE HAD AMPLE STAFF TO BE SURE THAT WE COULD COVER ANY GROUP OF CITIZENS TO TRY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

THEIR WEBSITE HAS BEEN LIVE AND ACTIVE.

YOU WILL BE GETTING SPREADSHEETS THAT HAVE EVERY COMMENT WE HAVE RECEIVED BY PHONE, BY E-MAIL, VIA THE WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE CAN TRACK. YOU WILL GET SPREADSHEETS THAT HAVE EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE ASKED.

IF THEY WANTED TO RESPOND, WE HAVE GIVEN -- WE WILL GET ALL OF THAT TO YOU AND THEY TEND TO GET ALL OF THAT TO YOU NEXT WEEK.

WE WILL CAP IT COMMENTS AS A FRIDAY AND SEND OUT THE FIRST MIX OF THAT'S. THERE IS NO PRESSURE ON DECEMBEU TO BEGIN A DIALOGUE AS A COUNCIL WHERE YOU WANT TO GO WITH THIS.

TO THE POINT OF THE NEW MAP, WE WILL NEED A LOT MORE THAN THIS PAGE HERE. IT HAS NO STREETS ON ITS AND OTHER THINGS FOR US. WE WILL NEED A LOT MORE WHICH I'M SURE AS WE HAVE HEARD THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PROVIDE.

THAT WILL HAVE TO BE EVALUATED. WE HAVE A CONSULTANT THAT IS RETAINED THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

IT IS AN EXPERT ON REDISTRICTING AS WELL THAT REVIEWED ALL OF THIS AND SAID THAT WE MADE AND MET EVERY FEDERAL AND STATE STANDARD THAT WE NEEDED TO MEET OR I WOULDN'T HAVE MOVED FORWARD IN MY RECOMMENDATION TO YOU. WE WILL EVALUATE ANY ALTERNATIVE MAPS THAT ARE PUT FORWARD AGAINST THE CRITERIA THAT WE USED IT AND PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.

IN TERMS OF THE CHOICE OF WHERE WE GO WITH THAT, THAT WILL BE UP TO YOU. STAFF WILL JUST PROVIDE YOU EVERYTHING THE PUBLIC PROVIDES AND WE WILL EVALUATE THAT AGAINST THE CRITERIA AND PROVIDED INFORMATION TO YOU AND THAT WILL BE UP TO THE COUNCIL FROM THEIR.

>> SPEAKER: THE PROCESS BASED ON THIS NOT BEING AN ARBITRARY PROCESS BUT A DELIBERATE PROCESS.

A LOT OF VENTING THROUGH FEDERAL AND STATE LAW.

WHAT IS THE TURNAROUND LOOK LIKE? DO WE HAVE A HARD LINE TO GET THIS INTO PLACE BY THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY? WE CAN'T GIVE ANY CHANGES TO THE

DAY BEFORE THAT? >> SPEAKER: CORRECT.

>> SPEAKER: TWO WEEKS, THREE WEEKS?

>> SPEAKER: YES IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED THAT TONIGHT IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN THE MAP. WE HAVE BEEN OUT THERE WITH OUR INFORMATION SINCE NOVEMBER 10 AND OBVIOUSLY HARD WORK IS GOING IN TO LOOKING AT SOMETHING ELSE BUT WE WILL EVALUATE EVERYTHING AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN WHEN WE GET ENOUGH DATA TO EVALUATE.

RIGHT NOW THIS WOULD BE HARD-PRESSED TO FOLLOW BECAUSE OF CERTAIN DATA. WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK IT OVER AND MAKE GUESSTIMATES THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT AND MATCH IT AGAINST CRITERIA. AS THE CITY ATTORNEY TOLD YOU AT YOUR NOVEMBER 10 MEETING, WE WILL REVIEW THIS THROUGH WITH THE CONSULTANT TO MAKE SURE ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN VETTED AND WE HAVE ALL INFORMATION AND WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU.

WHEN YOU MOVE ONE LINE IT SHIFTS EVERYTHING AND -- IN MULTIPLE AWARDS AND MULTIPLE CRITERIA WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

>> SPEAKER: IF YOU SHIFT LINES THAT WILL CAUSE THAT RECOMPILATION OF EVERYTHING AND START OVER.

>> SPEAKER: DEVIATIONS AND ALL OF THE ABOVE.

THAT'S CORRECT. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: CAN WE GIVE THE NAACP AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS TO US AT A MEETING? LIKE YOU SAID, FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN THIS MAP. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE PRESENTED TO US TODAY AND I THINK THAT WOULD HELP US MAKE A DECISION.

>> SPEAKER: YOU HAVE THE ABILITY IN PUBLIC HEARINGS.

YOU DON'T HAVE A TIMELY RATE -- LIMIT WHEN YOU'RE IN PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT IS OPEN TO ALL CITIZENS.

>> SPEAKER: WHERE WHEN THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A PRESENTATION ON OUR COMPUTER SCREEN AND THAT KIND OF THING SO

WE CAN -- >> SPEAKER: A PROCEDURE SET FORTH. IF THAT IS A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING DAY AND IS A BIG POWERPOINT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THEM AND TYPICALLY IT IS YOUR PROCEDURES BY NOON ON A COUNCIL MEETING DAY BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS AND THAT ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS.

THAT IS UP TO YOU. USUALLY THE COUNCIL -- BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS A PUBLIC MEETING, IT WOULD BE AT THE COUNCIL DISCRETION THAT YOU WOULD GIVE ANY GROUP.

SO THAT'S WHY WE RECOMMEND THE PUBLIC HEARING REALM THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT UNLESS YOU WANT TO CALL A WORK SESSION WITH AN OPEN PUBLIC HEARING. THAT IS FOR DIALOGUE WITH THE COUNCIL. IT'S UP TO YOU.

>> SPEAKER: OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER: ONE OF THE QUESTION I WANT TO ASK.

JUST MAKE THE UNDERSTAND. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE DECEMBEE OR SOMEONE ON THIS COUNCIL DECIDES THEY WANT TO TABLE IT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE TABLED ONCE IT IS ON THE AGENDA.

>> SPEAKER: CORRECT. WE ARE LEGALLY ADVERTISING TO START THEIR AND THE ASK IS THAT YOU HAVE MADE SOME FORM OF DECISION ON FEBRUARY 1 AND STAFF IS HERE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO YOU. OUR RECOMMENDATION --

[01:35:03]

MAJORITY OF YOU. >> SPEAKER: IF WE DENY UNANIMOUS CONSENT AT DECEMBER 21 , WE WOULD NOT HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING THAT EVENING. IT WOULD BE MOVED TO POTENTIALLY

DASH -- >> SPEAKER: THAT'S UP TO THE YOUR DISCRETION. THAT'S UP TO THE MAJORITY OF YOU WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO. TYPICALLY YOUR PROCEDURE IS WHEN YOU DENY UNANIMOUS CONSENT IT MOVES AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING TO THE NEXT MEETING.

>> SPEAKER: BECAUSE WE ARE NOT VOTING OR DELIBERATIONS.

>> SPEAKER: RIGHT. >> SPEAKER: I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. I THINK I JUST NEED TO HEAR IT SAID MORE THAN ANYTHING. IF WE HYPOTHETICALLY REDO THE MAP TO ACCOMMODATE THIS TYPE OF REQUEST AND IT WAS POSSIBLE, THAT DOESN'T PRECLUDE ANYBODY ELSE FROM RUNNING IN THAT WARD,

CORRECT? >> SPEAKER: CORRECT.

>> SPEAKER: A DEMOGRAPHIC MAJORITY COULD RUN IN ANY WARD, REGARDLESS OF HOW IT'S DRAWN? TAKE MYSELF, FOR EXAMPLE.

I APPEAR TO BE THE MAJORITY, BUT AS SOON AS I OPEN MY MOUTH, I AM A MINORITY. I AM AN UP SCORE MINORITY IN THAT I AM AN IMMIGRANT AND I ACT ACCORDINGLY.

I THINK THAT IS A WRINKLE ALSO TO CONSIDER, THAT ALL WARDS ARE UP FOR GRABS IF YOU WANT TO RUN. AS I DID.

AS I AM -- AS UNLIKELY EDIT AS IT IS, I DO ADD TO THE DIVERSITY OF HIS BODY SIMPLY BECAUSE I AM NOT BORN HERE.

>> SPEAKER: THAT IS CORRECT. IF YOU MEET THE CRITERIA, WHICH IS ALSO OUT THERE ON ARKWRIGHT ON A WEBSITE.

IT TALKS ABOUT QUALIFYING FOR THE ELECTION IN JUNE, IT TALKS ABOUT HOW LONG HAD TO LIVE SOMEWHERE, WHICH IS A PRETTY SHORT TIME PERIOD. WE HAVE DEALT WITH THAT IN THE PAST. TO QUALIFY.

BUT IT TALKS ABOUT THAT. AS LONG AS YOU MEET THOSE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED IN STATE LAW, ANYBODY IS WELCOME TO RUN INTO ANY WARD AND FOR MAYOR, WHICH IS THE ONLY AT-LARGE

POSITION WE HAVE. >> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE?

>> SPEAKER: I HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL.

AT SOME POINT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE ON A MAP.

THE END PRODUCT MAP. YOU HAVE RECEIVED LOTS OF INPUT ON VARIOUS CHANGES HERE AND THERE, A WHOLE NEW CONCEPT REPRESENTED THIS EVENING. HOW DO YOU ENVISION US GETTING TO THAT BOTTOM LINE MAP THAT WE ARE GOING TO WIND UP VOTING ON? ARE YOU GOING TO SAY THESE ARE THE LIST OF COMMENTS AND WE RECOMMEND THIS ONE WHICH GOES IN AND THIS ONE DOESN'T GO IN? AT SOME POINT DO WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO VOTE ON?

>> SPEAKER: UNDERSTOOD. TO MY KNOWLEDGE IN THE PAST, WE HAVE BROUGHT A MAP FORWARD THAT COUNCIL HAS VOTED ON AND THAT HAS BEEN THE MAP. IN RECENT MEMORY I HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE A LITTLE OVER 24 YEARS, BUT THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS IN 2011, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

WE HAD A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND SO ON AND WE WENT TO THE PROCESS. WE CAN WALK THROUGH THAT WITH YOU. I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE ALL OF THESE FORMS FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND YOU SEE THE COMMENTS. HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME FROM DAY ONE AND I KNOW WHAT THAT I KNOW THAT YOUR EXPECTATION. YOU SEE THAT AND OUR RESPONSES.

I AM HERE AT ALL TIME TO TALK TO.

ULTIMATELY I WILL GIVE YOU A LAUNDRY LIST OF CHANGES AND THE MAJORITY OF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE IF THERE ARE FIVE OF YOU IF ALL NINE ARE PRESENT WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A CHANGES. AT THIS TIME, AND BASED ON THE ADVICE OF OUR LEGAL COUNCIL, AND OUR CONSULTANT, THE ONLY MAP THE STAFF IS PROPOSED AT THIS TIME IS THAT DISTRICT MAP.

I DON'T EXPECT -- UP WITH THAT OUT THERE AND HERETOFORE IT WILL BE UP TO YOU. WE WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE LEGAL MERITS OF CHANGES AND IF THEY MEET CRITERIA AND TO WHAT WE GOT TONIGHT AS SOON AS WE SHARE THIS WITH OUR LEGAL COUNCIL IMMEDIATELY, BUT UNTIL WE GET MORE DATA WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS BEEN STATED IS FORTHCOMING, WE CAN'T GIVE YOU TRUE ANALYSIS OF IT. ULTIMATELY WILL BE UP TO YOU AND YOU WILL HAVE THAT CHANCE TO HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH OUR

ATTORNEYS ABOUT IT AS WELL. >> SPEAKER: YOU ANTICIPATE US SEEING A MAP DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED?

>> SPEAKER: YOU HAVE THIS SECONDARY MAP AND WE WILL DO AS YOU HAVE IT ALREADY BUT WE WILL GET MORE DETAILS AND PROVIDE OUR ANALYSIS OF THAT'S. IF FIVE IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE TO THAT MAP AFTER YOU HAVE HEARD ALL OF THE IMPACT FROM STAFF AND LEGAL COUNCIL, THAT IS UP TO YOU.

>> SPEAKER: STAFF WILL RECOMMENDED CHANGES, PER SE,

[01:40:02]

>> SPEAKER: LOOKING AT THIS MAP, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF SOME STREETS, THE PROPOSED MAP THAT THEY BROUGHT BEFORE TONIGHT, AND EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE DOESN'T HAVE ONE, BUT IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THERE WERE STREET NAMES ADDED TO THIS MAP.

>> SPEAKER: I THINK YOU HEARD A COMMENT THAT THEY HAVE MORE DATA COMING WHEN HE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS.

I'M SURE THEY WILL SHARE THAT WITH US AND WE WILL EVALUATE ITS AND GET IT TO YOU. THE MAP PROPOSED AND WHAT IS ADVERTISED LEGALLY RIGHT NOW IS THE MAP I PROPOSED TO YOU ON NOVEMBER 9 AND TENTH. IT WILL BE UP TO YOU IF YOU WILL

MAKE CHANGES. >> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE? THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HOW THE MINORITY POPULATION HAS GROWN IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT YOU LOOK AT THE WARDS THAT ARE PROPOSED AND THE MINORITY POPULATION HAS REALLY SPREAD OUT OVER ALL THOSE WARDS EXCEPT FOR MAYBE WARD ONE WHICH IS ALMOST 50 PERCENT AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

THAT'S NOT THE AUBURN I GREW UP IN.

BUT I THINK IT IS GREAT THAT THAT'S THE AUBURN I LIVE IN TODAY. I THINK IT IS GREAT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM MULTIPLE NATIONALITIES WITH MULTIPLE SKIN COLORS THAT LIVE DOWN THE STREET FROM EACH OTHER.

AND LIVE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE ALL WANT FROM OUR AUBURN.

IS FOR AUBURN TO LOOK THAT WAY. I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE SPREADING OUT AND MOVING INTO ALL KINDS OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY FEEL WELCOME ALL OVER AUBURN.

I PERSONALLY THINK THAT'S A VERY POSITIVE STEP FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. THIS WILL COME BACK UP ON THE 21ST. IN THE MEANTIME, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH THE COUNCIL TO DO THAT INTENTIONALLY HERE OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE 21ST WHETHER THEY WANT TO POSTPONE VOTING ON THIS.

IF WE DENY UNANIMOUS CONSENT IT WOULD MOVE TO THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE FOURTH.

AND THEN THE COUNCIL WOULD CONSIDER THAT.

IF UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS DENIED, TRADITIONALLY WE HAVE NOT HAD A PUBLIC HEARING THAT NIGHT SO THERE WOULD NOT BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION. THAT EVENING.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AT THE END OF THE MEETING TO TALK TO US ABOUT ANYTHING ON YOUR MIND SO I DON'T WANT TO DENY YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.

BUT IF THERE IS SOME GOOD HEALTHY DISCUSSIONS THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS , CERTAINLY WE ARE ALL AVAILABLE TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE ON THE COUNCIL? >> SPEAKER: LET ME SAY THIS.

I JUST WANT TO CLOSE WITH A REMARK.

I HEAR YOU, MAYOR ANDERS, WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS LOOK LIKE AND WE WELCOME EVERYBODY IN EACH ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

BUT I THINK THE MAIN CONCERN AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAME FORWARD TONIGHT, BUT I THINK THEIR MAIN CONCERN IS MORE OR LESS NOT THE NEIGHBORHOODS REFLECTING THE MINORITIES THAT HAVE MOVED INTO THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO THIS COUNCIL. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS UNDERSTOOD ALSO. THAT EVERYBODY MORE OR LESS LOOKING -- BECAUSE OF THAT CHANGE, AND I HEARD BOB AND WHAT HE SAID, WHAT HE SAID ABOUT HIM BEING A MINORITY ON THE COUNCIL.

I WISH YOU HAD SPOKEN OF EARLIER BECAUSE THE THING ABOUT IT IS, THAT'S NOT THE WAY I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT IT AS WE DO HAVE TWO MINORITIES ON THIS COUNCIL.

WE DON'T WANT TO GET IT TWISTED, BUT IT IS OUT OF FAIRNESS.

I AM ALL ABOUT FAIRNESS AND DOING THE RIGHT THING, SITTING ON THIS COUNCIL. I JUST WANT THAT TO GO ON THE RECORD. IT IS ALL ABOUT BEING FAIR.

FAIR TO THE PEOPLE AND TO OUR CITY.

>> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE? MOVED TO ADJOURN?

>> SPEAKER: SO MOVED. >> SPEAKER: WE ARE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.