[00:00:05]
>> WE WILL CALL TO ORDER TONIGHT'S AUBURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR JUNE 20, 2023. WELCOME, EVERYBODY, THAT IS JOINING US TONIGHT. ALSO EVERYBS JOINING US BY AID RADIO AND CERTAINLY THROUGH OUR STREAMING SERVICES.
THE ROLL CALL, LINDSEY IN. >> ADAMS? -HERE. .
>> PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND REMAIN STANDING
FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. >> 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. >> PLEASE BE SEATED.
[4. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS]
>> A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS I WANT TO MAKE BEFORE WE GET STARTED. WELL, BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANT TO SAY WE HAD NO ACTIONS OR ACTIVITY.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MS. RICHARDSON AND THE TENNIS CENTER FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AS A PREMIER FACILITY.
WE WERE GIVEN-- FRIDAY, THEY SAID THERE IS ONLY FIVE OF THOSE FACILITIES IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THAT RECOGNITION.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE GREAT RACE IS THIS SUNDAY.
IF YOU WANT TO GET DOWNTOWN, JUST KNOW THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF OLD CARS THERE. MOST OF THE DAY.
IT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN. AND VERY INTERESTING.
YOU WILL BE-- YOU KNOW, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK AROUND AND SEE THESE OLD CARS AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DRIVING THESE CARS. IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING THOSE PEOPLE. JUNETEENTH WAS GREAT OVER THE WEEKEND. I'M GOING TO LET MS. TAYLOR SPEAK TO IT. I WANT TO TELL HER THANK YOU FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, YOUR COMMITTEE'S ORGANIZATION.
CERTAINLY ALL THE CITY STAFF THAT HELPED MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I THOUGHT THE PARK LOOKED GREAT. I CERTAINLY THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED YOU. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
NEXT YEAR, INSTEAD OF GIVING AWAY T-SHIRTS, YOU NEED TO GIVE
>> IT WAS A GOOD TIME OUT THERE. CONGRATULATIONS FOR.
THAT I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT OUR NEXT MEETING IS ON JULY 11. JULY 4 IS ON A TUESDAY NIGHT.
IF YOU ARE IN TOWN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE FIREWORKS SHOW. OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON THE 11TH. WE WILL MEET ON THE 11TH AND 18TH NEXT MONTH. THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE AN UNUSUAL SCHEDULE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL?
LY TURN IT OVER TO YOU. >> OKAY.
WELL, I DON'T WANT TO BE LONG. I DO WANT TO THANK SOME PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY MADE JUNETEENTH-- WHEN I TELL YOU A JOYOUS OKAYS OCCASION, ESPECIALLY THE TWO DAYS IN APP P AUBURN.
I WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR ANDERS FOR THE PROCLAMATION AND FOR THE-- FOR GRISWOLD AND PARSONS FOR BEING IN ATTENDANCE. I KNOW THE OTHER COUNCIL MEM MEMBERS, MAYBE YOU HAD OTHER THINGS TO DO.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I HAVE SO MUCH SUPPORT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO JUNETEENTH.
NOW, I'M FIXING TO START ON MY LIST.
OKAY. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT-OUT TO AUBURN PARKS AND RECREATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR STAFF AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY DID TO MAKE IT A GOOD OCCASION. EVERYTHING WAS CLEAN AT THE PARK. I WANT YOU TO ALSO LET YOUR ATTENDANT JOE KNOW THAT HE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
HE WAS ALWAYS THERE. HE WAS READY TO PUT CHAIRS OUT, TABLES OUT. WHATEVER WE NEEDED HIM TO DO.
HE ASSISTED WITH HELPING THE CLEANUP.
I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE SOMEBODY ELSE THE CREDIT.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FROM PARKS AND RECREATION THAT PLAYED THEIR PART.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE AUBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
NOT ONLY FOR BEING OUT THERE YESTERDAY AND HELPING OUT.
THEY WERE ALSO VERY, VERY GENEROUS AND VERY NICE TO THE PUBLIC AT THE PARADE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ACTUALLY, WE HAD SOME OFFICERS THAT ACTUALLY LED THE PARADE.
WE HAD ONE IN THE BACK OF THE PARADE.
THEY BLOCKED OFF THE STREETS. THEY MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER. I WANT TO THANK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I GUESS PUBLIC SAFETY.
FOR THEIR JOB IN JUST BEING THERE AND, YOU KNOW, QUICHING EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL. I WANT TO ALSO THANK ALL THE STAFF FROM THE CITY OF AUBURN. I KNOW EVERYBODY HAD TO PLAY A PART IN IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR PART WAS.
I THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THAT GOES TO ALL THE CITY STAFF. OKAY.
THE AUBURN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I JUST SOMETIMES-- I JUST REALLY
[00:05:06]
GET A LITTLE TEARY-EYED. BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED ON ANNA, SHE IS ALWAYS THERE. SHE IS ALWAYS JUST, JUST, WHAT DO YOU NEED? WE GOT YOU THIS YEAR AGAIN.YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT US.
ANNA, THANK YOU AND THANK YOUR STAFF FOR BEING SUCH GREAT SUPPORTERS OF JUNETEENTH. I WANT TO THANK THE AUBURN TOURISM. THEY PROVIDED ALL THE T-SHIRTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE AWAY. THEY PROVIDED OVER 500T-SHIRTS FOR ME TO GIVE OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
AND THEY HAD THEIR NAME AND LOGOS ON THEM.
THEY HAD JUNETEENTH LOGO ON THE BACK.
AND THOSE T-SHIRTS, THEY GAVE US SOME LAST YEAR.
AND I SAW PEOPLE WITH THOSE T-SHIRTS ON AGAIN THIS YEAR.
AND ALL 500T-SHIRTS ACTUALLY WENT.
PEOPLE WERE STILL CALLING ME ABOUT T-SHIRTS.
ONCE THEY ARE GONE, THEY ARE GONE.
OKAY? I WANT TO THANK THE AUBURN HOUSING AUTHORITY. SHARON PLAYS A ROLE.
YOU KNOW, SHE MAKES SURE WE HAVE THINGS WE NEED, INCLUDING FOOD AND WHATEVER TABLES, TENTS, AND ALL OF THAT.
SHE IS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, VERY INSPIRATIONAL WITH JUNETEENTH.
THE CHURCH OF THE HIGHLANDS. IF THERE IS ANYBODY HERE FROM THE CHURCH OF THE HIGHLANDS. THEY STEP UP.
THEY BRING ALL THE WATERMELON YOU CAN EAT.
THEY BRING WATER. I'M GLAD THE BATHROOMS WERE WORKING OUT THERE. SO I WANT TO THANK THE CHURCH OF THE HIGHLANDS. I WANT TO THANK THE OMEGAS.
BOTH COMMITTEES GOT TOGETHER AND MADE SURE THEY HAD EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED. AND EVERYTHING.
I WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THIS YEAR, AUBURN UNIVERSITY CAME ALONG AND HELPED US OUT.
THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM WAS OUT THERE.
THEY PUT UP ALL THESE TABLES. THEY PUT UP ALL THE CHAIRS.
THEY TOOK WATER. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM. THEY DID EVERYTHING.
AND THEY HAD A GOOD TIME. BECAUSE IF YOU SEE THE VIDEO, THEY DANCED. THEY DANCED.
AND THEY REALLY HAD A GOOD TIME. SO WE HAD THE AUBURN UNIVERSITY DELTA SIGMA. THE N.A.A.C.P.
I WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
FAMILY, FRIENDS. EVERYBODY THAT SHOWED UP.
AND MADE THE TWO DAYS IN AUBURN A JOYOUS OCCASION.
THANK YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS.
WE WILL MOVE AHEAD. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL THIS AFTERNOON THAT THERE ARE MEMBERS OF AUBURN UNIVERSITY THAT USUALLY COMMUNICATE TO US, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT. WE WILL MOVE TOWARDS CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA ITEMS. YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT ANYTHING ABOUT TONIGHT'S AGENDA. THIS WOULD BE YOUR TIME TO COME FORWARD. WE WOULD ASK YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. ANYONE?
[7. CITY MANAGER’S COMMUNICATIONS]
OKAY. WE WILL MOVE AHEAD.CITY MANAGER'S COMMUNICATIONS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
FIRST ITEM TONIGHT IS THE BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE GREEN SPACE ADVISORY BOARD HAS TWO VACANCIES.
TERMS BEGIN AUGUST 8, 2023. THEY END ON AUGUST 7, 2027.
THERE ARE TWO INCUMBENTS. ONE IS ALREADY INDICATED THAT THEY WILL NOT REAPPLY OR SEEK REAPPOINTMENT.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE OTHERS AS OF YET.
>> GOOD. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT
INFORMATION. >> NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDERATION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE WISH TO REMOVE ANY ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND DEAL WITH THAT ITEM
>> YES, PLEASE. I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE 8-C.
[8.c. Business license penalty waiver request. GFL Solid Waste Southeast LLC.]
WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH 8-C. >> #-C IS A BUSINESS LICENSE PENALTY WAIVER REQUEST FOR GFL SOLID WASTE SOUTHEAST LLC.
>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
MR. GRISWOLD? >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
I NOTICED IN THE PACKET, THERE IS A FORM.
IT IS A CITY-GENERATED FORM. IT DOESN'T SAY ANYWHERE ON THE FORM THE BASIS FOR THE REQUEST. IT SAYS IN THE MEMO THAT IT WAS SIMPLY BECAUSE A LATE PAYMENT. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL-- I KNOW IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ME IF WE HAD MORE INFORMATION ON THE FORM AS TO WHY THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. YOU KNOW, WAS IT AN ACCOUNTING ERROR? WAS IT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY DOES THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THEIR
[00:10:02]
REQUIREMENTS? IS IT A CHANGE OF PERSONNEL? A CHANGE IN, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR BOOKKEEPING SYSTEM OR WHATEVER? I KNOW IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ME TO HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. I TALKED TO MEGAN ABOUT IT.SHE SAID THAT THE REASON CAN'T BE MADE PUBLIC BECAUSE THE PETITIONER HASN'T AGREED FOR THAT INFORMATION TO BE MADE PUBLIC. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I ASSUMED THAT THE STAFF WAS MADE AWARE OF THE REASON.
I ASSUMED THAT. BUT ANYWAY, I WOULD PROPOSE THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDER A REQUEST THAT THE FORM PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION IN THE FUTURE. I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING.
THAT IS SOMETHING I WANTED TO BRING TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION.
>> OKAY. COULD YOU GIVE US OR HAVE THEM GIVE US A BACKGROUND ON HOW THIS CAME INTO PLACE? I KNOW THIS IS TEN YEARS OLD. THIS POLICY.
AND WHEN IT WAS DETERMINED WHAT THE COUNCIL WAS THINKING AND WHY
IT WAS DONE THIS WAY. >> BASIC INFORMATION.
THE REVENUE MANAGER GAVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS.
COUNCILMAN GRISWOLD, YOU ARE CORRECT.
WE ARE AIR WARE OF THE-- AWARE OF THE REASONING FOR THE LATE PENALTY BEING ASSESSED. ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, THE COUNCIL APPROVED A ONE-TIME COURTESY WAIVER FOR ALL BUSINESSES, AND THAT ONE-TIME COURTESY WAIVER COULD BE FOR ANY REASON.
AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO NAME A SPECIFIC REASON BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND FIGURE OUT DOES THIS MEET, DOES THAT MEET? THERE IS ALREADY A STIPULATION IN THE STATE CODE THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T WAIVE PENALTIES UNLESS REASONABLE CAUSE EXISTS OR THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE GOVERNING BODY APPROVES IT. SO THE CITY DECIDED THAT THE GOVERNING BODY'S APPROVAL WOULD COME FOR ANY PARTICULAR REASON ONE TIME WITHIN A THREE-YEAR PERIOD.
AND THAT WAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT THAT REASON IS. BUT ANY PENALTIES OVER $1,000 WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER REASONABLE CAUSE WAS THE REASON. AND IF REASONABLE CAUSE EXISTED OR THE TAXPAYER-ASSERTED REASONABLE CAUSE, THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL. AT THAT TIME.
AND THAT WOULD NOT COUNT TOWARDS THAT ONE-TIME PENALTY WAIVER FOR THE TAXPAYER. SO IF A TAXPAYER COMES TO US AND REQUESTS A PENALTY WAIVER OF $1,000, IT IS BECAUSE THE OWNER WAS SERIOUSLY ILL WITHIN TEN DAYS OF THE BUSINESS TAX BEING DUE. THAT IS REASONABLE CAUSE ACCORDING TO THE STATE LAW. AND THAT PENALTY CAN BE WAIVED.
IF THAT SAME TAXPAYER CAME BACK SIX MONTHS LATER AND HAD A PENALTY FOR JUST FORGETTING TO FILE THE TAX, THAT QUALIFIES AS A ONE-TIME PENALTY WAFER-- WAIVER.
SO WHEN WE HAVE A PENALTY WAIVER THAT JUST A COURTESY WAIVER, THAT IS WHAT WE PRESENT. THE COURTESY WAIVER.
AND NO OTHER INFORMATION WAS GIVEN AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THE COUNCIL DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW-- I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR THEM.
THAT IS WHAT THE INTENT WAS. FOR WHATEVER REASON IT WAS.
IT DIDN'T HAVE TO MEET THE REASONABLE CAUSE.
>> OKAY. SO THIS FORM, THE CITY-GENERATED FORM IS TEN YEARS OLD. BASED ON THAT POLICY.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF SOME OF THE THINGS BACKING UP THIS MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT IS DESIRABLE.
IS THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS PERHAPS ONE ON ONE?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO MEGAN FOR THAT.
IF THAT IS WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO.
THAT IS WHAT I WOULD PREFER. TO HAVE SOME MORE INSIGHT INTO WHY WE ARE WAIVING THIS PENALTY. I KNOW PEOPLE EXPECT THE TAXES TO BE PAID ON TIME. AND I KNOW PEOPLE THAT COLLECT MY TAXES ARE EXPECTED TO BE PAID ON TIME.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD REASON FOR IT TO BE OTHERWISE.
I BELIEVE SONNY HAS SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY ON THIS.
>> A COUPLE OF POINTS, IF I MAY ASK THEM.
JUST FOR CLARIFICATION. WE USE THE TERM "ONE TIME." THEN WE USED THE TERM "EVERY THREE YEARS." I ASSUME THOSE ARE CONSISTENT. IT IS ONE TIME EVERY THREE YEARS
[00:15:02]
THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A REASON.IS THAT THE WAY I'M READING THAT?
>> YES, SIR. THAT IS WHAT'S IN THE CITY CODE.
ONE TIME WITHIN A THREE-YEAR PERIOD.
YYOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A REASO. YOU CAN ASK FOR A PENALTY TO BE
WELL, I WON'T SECOND-GUESS THAT. AND COUNCILMAN GRISWOLD DID A GREAT JOB OF POSING THE ISSUE. AND I'M-- I GUESS I'M CONFUSED THAT WE WOULD ENACT SUCH A-- YOU KNOW, I LOVE THESE GUYS.
I CALL THEM UP. I JUST CHATTED WITH THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY DID. THEY ARE DUMPSTER PEOPLE.
THEY PROVIDE A GREAT SERVICE IN THE AUBURN COMMUNITY.
I'M GLAD WE HAVE THEM HERE. I'M GLAD WE HAVE A POLICY THAT CAN FORGIVE THIS. IT JUST SEEMS STRANGE THAT ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT.
AND THEY CAN EFFECTIVELY HAVE A GOOD REASON ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GIVE ONE.
I JUST WISH THAT WE KNEW A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I MEAN, LIKE COUNCILMAN GRISWOLD SAID.
I APPRECIATE THEIR BUSINESS RECORD.
I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY GOOD. AND PROBABLY IS SPOTLESS.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION ON THAT. >> SO WE ARE NOT WAIVING THE BUSINESS LICENSE FEE OR THE INTEREST.
ONLY THE PENALTY PORTION. >> YES.
THAT IS CORRECT. ONLY THE PENALTY.
>> SO I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
SO NOW YOU TALK ABOUT WITHIN THREE YEARS EACH PENALTY TO WAIVE. WITHIN THREE YEARS.
OKAY? SO THE FIRST THREE YEARS, YOU CAN WAIVE THE FIRST PENALTY. AND THEN THREE YEARS LATER, YOU CAN WAIVE THE OTHER PENALTY. IN BETWEEN TIME, IF THEY GET A SECOND PENALTY WITHIN THAT IN THOSE THREE YEARS, THEN WHAT
HAPPENS THEN? >> IT DOES NOT MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A ONE-TIME PENALTY WAIVER.
>> OKAY. >> THEN WE ASSESS THE SITUATION TO SEE IF IT FALLS WITHIN THE CATEGORY OF REASONABLE CAUSE.
AND THAT IS A SERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE OWNER WITHIN TEN DAYS OF THE TAXES BEING DUE OR NATURAL DISASTER.
JUST THINGS LIKE THAT, YEAH. IT IS LAID OUT IN THE STATE CODE
AS TO WHAT REASONABLE CAUSE IS. >> FOR THE ONE TIME.
>> NO. >> THAT WO WOULD BE WITHIN THAT THREE-YEAR PERIOD. IF THERE IS A ONE-TIME WAIVER, AND THEY CAME BACK WITHIN THREE YEARS, THEN THAT WOULD BE EVALUATED ON REASONABLE CAUSE. WOULD THAT BE PRESENTED WITH THE
CASE IF IT CAME TO COUNCIL? >> IF IT WAS OVER $1,000, YES.
>> OKAY. THAT WAS MY QUESTION.
THANK YOU. >> THAT WOULD BE LAID OUT.
THEN IT WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED AS A COURTESY WAIVER.
NOW IT MUST MEET REASONABLE CAUSE, AND WE HAVE TO PRESENT IT AS REASONABLE CAUSE. AND THE TAXPAYER WOULD BE MADE AWARE THAT ALL OF THAT WILL HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.
>> WOULD THE STAFF CARE CHARACTERIZE THIS POLICY AS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OR BEEN ABUSED OVER THE LAST DECADE SINCE IT HAS BEEN INSTITUTED?
>> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING NEGATIVE TOWARDS THAT. I MEAN, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF THESE THAT COME TO YOU. THINGS DO HAPPEN.
YOU KNOW, WITH PEOPLE'S PLANNING.
AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THIS COULD COME ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THEY DID MEET THE REQUIREMENTS TO PAY WITHIN 90 DAYS, I THINK. YES.
>> YES. >> THEY DID MEET THE REQUIREMENTS TO PAY WITHIN 90 DAYS.
PAID THE LICENSE FEES AND THE INTEREST.
AND WITH THAT, THEY WERE REQUESTING THE WAIVER.
WHICH IS GRANTED BY THE CODE. >> THE POLICY IS THEY HAVE TO REQUEST THE WAIVER WITHIN 90 DAYS OF RECEIVING THE PENALTY.
>> IS THERE A LOT OF PRECEDENCE OF THEM COMING BACK AFTER THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD AND ASKING FOR A WAIVER AGAIN?
THERE IS NOT. ARE THERE SOME? THERE IS NOT A LOT THAT WILL ASK.
YOU HAVE A HANDFUL THAT ARE HABITUAL LATE-PAYERS.
THEY WILL SCMENT. WE WILL STATE YOU DON'T MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS. YOU HAVE HAD A ONE-TIME WAIVER WITHIN THREE YEARS. IT IS NOT ALLOWED.
FOR ANOTHER WAIVER WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME.
>> THEN AFTER THE THREE YEARS, PEOPLE WANT TO COME BACK AND ASK
FOR ANOTHER WAIVER? >> NOT REALLY.
NO. I MEAN, IT MAY HAPPEN EVERY SIX YEARS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GONE BACK AND WE SEE PEOPLE THAT-- OH, YEAH, THEY DID HAVE ONE.
THAT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO, THAT WAS ZETSCHE YEARS AGO.
PRIOR TO THIS BEING ENACTED, WE HAD A NO-PENALTY WAIVER.
[00:20:02]
THERE WAS NONE WHATSOEVER EXCEPT FOR REASONABLE CAUSE.LAID OUT BY THE STATE CODE. AND WE HAD A LOT OF BUSINESSES ASKING, YOU KNOW, THE CITY MANAGER OR COUNCILPEOPLE, WHY CAN'T I GET MY BUSINESS LICENSE WAIVED? SO THERE WAS A REQUEST TO ALLOW JUST A ONE-TIME WAIVER.
>> IF THIS CAME BACK, IF THIS COMPANY CAME BACK AFTER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD, THEY WOULD KNOW THEY HAD A WAIVER BEFORE?
>> YOU COULD ASK THAT QUESTION. >> WE COULD KNOW THAT.
>> I MEAN, YOU COULD ASK THAT QUESTION.
SURE. WE WOULDN'T TELL YOU UNLESS IT
WAS WITHIN THE THREE YEARS. >> OKAY.
>> AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, SO EVERYONE IS CLEAR ON THIS TONIGHT. NOW, WE ARE ONLY WAIVING THE PENALTY. THEY PAID THE TAXES.
THEY ARE CAUGHT UP. THEY PAID THE INTEREST RATE.
THE PENALTY IS THE ONLY THING WE ARE WAIVING.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I SEE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL. I HAVE DON'T LIKE PAYING TAXES.
I FEEL FOR OUR BUSINESSES HERE IN TOWN.
HAVING A TOUGH TIME. THEY NEED SOME HELP.
IT IS ONLY THE WAIVER. IT IS NOT THE TAXES.
THEY PAID THE TAXES. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T BEAT A DEAD HORSE SO MUCH. (LAUGHTER).
>> COULD YOU TELL US, GIVE AN ESTIMATE HOW MANY OF THESE HAVE WE LOOKED AT OVER THE LAST YEAR, TWO YEARS?
>> THAT ARE OVER $1, 000 A? >> YES.
THAT HAVE COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, AND WE HAVE LOOKED TO
EXTEND THIS WAIVER. >> WE DID IT IN SEPTEMBER.
AND PRIOR TO THAT, MAYBE ONE OR TWO.
DURING COVID, WE HAD -- >> SURE.
ABSOLUTELY. THAT WAS AN UNUSUAL TIME.
>> WE HAD A LOT OF PENALTIES FOR THOSE.
WE MAY HAVE HAD THREE OR FOUR. >> OKAY.
>> IF THAT. >> YOU KNOW, TO ME, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS, I HATE TO PERSONALIZE IT, BUT I DO.
MY FAMILY WERE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN THIS TOWN FOR A WHILE.
AND MY WIFE IS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AS WE SPEAK.
THE CFOS WERE NOT EDUCATED CPAS. THEY WERE JUST PART OF THE FAMILY. THEY WERE TRUSTED WITH KEEPING UP WITH ALL THE MONEY AND THE INCOME AND THE EXPENSES OF THE BUSINESS. AND TIMES SOMETIMES ARE BUSY.
AND I'M SURE THAT MY MOTHER AND MY GRANDMOTHER MADE MISTAKES ALONG THE WAY. I WOULD-- IT WOULD SADDEN ME UNLESS SOMEBODY WO WAS A CHRONIC CHALLENGE FOR THE CITY FOR US TO EXPOSE THEIR WEAKNESSES AS A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING THE TOTALITY OF THEIR ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY, IF IT BECOMES A CHRONIC PROBLEM AND WE ARE HAVING TO MANAGE THAT ACCOUNT AND THAT BUSINESS AND THAT RELATIONSHIP, THAT IS A DIFFERENT STORY. FOR A ONE-TIME, FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS GRINDING, TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING, BUSY AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR, MAYBE SOMETHING SLIPS PAST THEM, I DON'T KNOW.
I HAVE A HARD TIME EXPOSING THEIR FAULTS.
THAT IS JUST ME. >> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN LEGALLY KNOW-- I WOULDN'T WANT TO KNOW IT PERSONALLY.
>> TO SUMMARIZE THAT, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. I BELIEVE IT IS SERVING US THE RIGHT WAY. IT IS, YOU KNOW, HELPING US BE ASSISTANT TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT NEED A LITTLE GRACE. BUT IT ALSO HOLDS THEM ACCOUNTABLE. IT DOESN'T ALLOW THEM TO
PERPETUATE A BAD HABIT. >> I WOULD ECHO THAT AS WELL.
SMALL BUSINESS-FRIENDLY IS WHAT WE STRIVE TO BE.
ANY BUSINESS-FRIENDLY IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I DON'T THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO EXPOSE THOSE REASONS.
I CERTAINLY FEEL LIKE IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS ABUSED, YOU KNOW, AT ALL. I CERTAINLY DON'T SEE A REASON FOR US TO DIG INTO THOSE REASONS FOR ANY REASON.
>> ANYONE ELSE ON THE COUNCIL? HAVE A THOUGHT? OKAY. IF I COULD JUST HAVE A SHOW OF-- WHO IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE CURRENT POLICY THAT WE ARE NOW SEEING ON THE-- FROM THE CITY? OKAY.
THAT IS FINE. >> HOW TO GET MORE INFORMATION.
>> IF IT IS NOT ON THE FORM, THAT IS FINE.
IF WE CAN GET IT THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, THAT IS FINE.
>> THAT IS A QUESTION WE CAN ASK.
>> WE HAVE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE PAST.
IF WE NEED MORE INFO, WE CAN GET IT.
THAT IS ALL. >> WE CAN CERTAINLY ASK THAT QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW THE LEGALITIES OF.
THAT WE CAN ASK. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW MY REQUEST TO HAVE THAT PULLED OFF
THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> I'M OKAY WITH IT AS IS.
[00:25:08]
>> YOU GOT THAT, LINDSEY? OKAY.
>> 8D-5. >> THAT IS WHAT YOU REQUESTED.
>> I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE AMOUNT OF THE OFF-SET --
>> HOLD ON. DID WE GET A MOTION AND A
>> YOU WANT ME TO READ IT FIRST? >> WHY DON'T YOU READ IT, TOO.
[8.d.5. Twin Oaks Environmental. HC Morgan Streambank Stabilization Project. $62,711.13. ]
>> 8-D-5. >> TWIN OAKS ENVIRONMENTAL, A CONTRACT WITH TWIN OAKS ENVIRONMENTAL FOR AC MORGAN FACILITIES, THE STABILIZATION PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF
$62,711.13. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> SECOND. >> A MOTION AND A SECOND.
JUST A QUESTION. WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE GRANTS THAT POTENTIALLY CAN GO TOWARDS THIS. I WONDER HOW MUCH ARE THE GRANTS AND HOW MUCH OF AN OFF-SET IS TO THE CITY? WE HAVE $62,000 ON THE CONTRACT. WHAT ARE WE REALLY ON THE HOOK
FOR? >> SO I'LL DEFER TO MATT DUNN, THE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.
HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT FROM AN EARLY STAGE.
YEAH. COUNCILMAN GRISWOLD, THE $62,000 PURCHASE IS OUR MATCHING FUND OR A PORTION OF OUR MATCHING FUND ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PROJECT. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT GRANT AMOUNT. WITH THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILELIFE FOUNDATION. THE GRANT APPROVED BY COUNCIL BACK IN MARCH. I WANT TO SAY WE RECEIVED AROUND $5,000 TO $38,000 ON THAT GRANT. $35,000 TO $38,000 ON THAT GRANT. THIS IS A PROJECT WE HAVE HAD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THIS PROJECT AND THE GRANT APPLICATION IS BEING DONE AS PART OF OUR MATCH ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. IT IS A BUDGETED PROJECT.
>> OKAY. SO THE CITY IS GOING TO PAY
$62,700 TOWARDS THIS CONTRACT? >> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> AND THEN THE TWO GRANTS WILL PROVIDE MONEY OVER AND ABOVE
THOSE GRANTS ARE BEING USED TO FACILITATE SOME OTHER THINGS TATTHE PLANT. SOME RETENTION AREAS.
>> OKAY. THEY DON'T GO TOWARDS THIS.
THAT IS ALL I WANT TO KNOW. >> GOOD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> JUST A LITTLE MEMORY JOG HERE. WE SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT NOT THAT LONG AGO. I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE DETAILS. WE ARE RECLAIMING LAND AND PLANTING TREES. I CAN'T REMEMBER EVERYTHING.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. ESSENTIALLY, WHEN THE PLANT WAS CONSTRUCTED BACK IN THE EARLY 80'S, THERE WAS A STREAM THAT WAS REROUTED ALONG THE SOUTHERN PERIMETER OF THE PROPERTY.
TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANT.
OVER THE YEARS, PARTICULARLY THE LAST DECADE, WITH SOME OF THE INTENSE RAIN EVENTS WE HAVE HAD, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A GOOD BIT OF EROSION ALONG THAT STREAM. TO THE POINT THAT IT'S POTENTIALLY COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, SOME OF THE TANKS AND THINGS THAT ARE NEAR THAT STREAM ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE PLANT.
SO THIS RESTORATION WILL BE PART OF THAT.
YOU ARE CORRECT. IT IS PART OF A LARGER PROJECT WHERE WE ARE DOING SOME STORMWATER RETENTION AND SOME WILDFLOWER PLANTING. SOME OTHER THINGS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. DUNN.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE.
[8. CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA]
>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT
>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[9. ORDINANCES]
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED. ORDINANCES.>> UNDER ORDINANCES, WE HAVE TWO TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNS AND DEVICES TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT.
ITEM 9A1 IS ESTABLISHING ONE STOP SIGN AT GLENWOOD FARMS SUBDIVISION PHASE TWO. UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS NECESSARY.
>> I'LL INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AND ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
>> SECOND. >> MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD WITH A VOTE ON THIS THIS EVENING? ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
HEARING NONE, ROLL CALL. >> ADAMS?
>> YES. >> ITEM 9A-21 ESTABLISHING TWO STOP SIGNS AND ONE 25-MILE-PER-HOUR SIGN AT A SUBDIVISION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS NECESSARY.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS THIS EVENING?
>> BY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
>> YES. >> ITEM 9B IS AN ANNEXATION
[00:30:05]
REQUEST FROM TRAE HAMM AND MARY HAMM.THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF LEE ROAD 146.
THAT IS WEST OF CIDER HILL ROAD AND EAST OF STATE DRIVE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL AT THE JUNE 8 MEETING. UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS NECESSARY.
>> I'LL INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AND ASK FOR THE UNANIMOUS
>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. DOES ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD WITH A VOTE ON THIS THIS EVENING? OKAY. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> PLEASE.
>> IN LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY THAT IS BEING REQUESTED ON THE MAP, THE DOTTED LINE, IT APPEARS TO BE WITHIN A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WOULD STILL REMAIN IN THE COUNTY.
IS THAT OWNED BY THE SAME PROPERTY OWNERS?
>> CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT, PLEASE? >> YES.
YES. IT IS ACTUALLY INST A SEPARATE PARCEL. IT IS SHOWN ON THE AERIAL MAP.
NAWBL NAWBL (INAUDIBLE) IT IS A UNIQUE CARVING-OUT FROM THE PROPERTY ON THAT LOT. THE PIECES STILL WITHIN THE COUNTY, THAT ONE-- WHAT WE ARE SEEING AS ONE LOT.
ONE TRACT. YOU ARE SAYING IS IT STAYING WITHIN THE COUNTY? (INAUDIBLE).
>> DO WE KNOW WHY THEY ARE REMAINING IN THE COUNTY?
THE REASON I'M HYPERSENSITIVE ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE THIS IS CREATING COUNTY ISLANDS. WE ARE EXPERIENCING THAT TO GREAT LENGTHS WITH VERY STRONG UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF BILLBOARDS POPPING UP. YOU ARE TELLING ME THESE ARE SEPARATE PROPERTY OWNERS AT THIS TIME.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> YES, MR. MAYOR.
>> PLEASE. >> ON THE CHART OF THE ANNEXATION REQUEST, IT IS SHOWING THAT BOTH THE EAST AND THE WEST ARE RURAL WITH OVERLAY. THE CHART ALSO SHOWS THIS UNIQUE CUTOUT THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN WITTEN WAS REFERRING TO.
WHO IS THE OWNER OF THAT LITTLE WHITE STRIP BETWEEN RURAL AND
THE SUBJECT PROPERTY? >> SO THE PROPERTY KIND OF TO THE LEFT, THAT WHOLE STRIP YOU HAD MENTIONED, THAT IS SEPARATE OWNERSHIP FROM THIS PARCEL. THE PARCEL REQUESTING
I GUESS MY QUESTION, THEN, IS WHY IS THE EAST AND WEST PROPERTY OWNERS ON THE SURROUNDING ZONING USE NOT STAYING OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. INSTEAD OF STAYING RURAL WITH
COD OVERLAY. >> THE ONE TO THE LEFT (INAUDIBLE) ACROSS THAT LITTLE FINGER THAT GOES TO THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, ALL OF THAT PROPERTY IS WITHIN THE CITY.
>> SO THAT LITTLE SLIVER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CHART, ON THIS HAMM PROPERTY ANNEXATION REQUEST MAP IS IN THE COUNTY.
>> CORRECT. >> AND WHERE THE OWNERS OF THAT LITTLE SLIVER CONSULTED ABOUT THIS ANNEXATION.
>> YES. THEY WOULD HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE.
>> OKAY. THIS CHART HERE IS A LITTLE BIT
WE SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED THAT. >> OKAY.
THAT HAD ME CONFUSED. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I'M GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT. YES BECAUSE IT IS A SEPARATE PROPERTY OWNER. HAD THIS BEEN THE SAME PROPERTY OWNER FOR THAT ENTIRE PIECE, I WOULD BE BETTING NO.
[10. RESOLUTIONS]
>> RESOLUTIONS? >> ON RESOLUTIONS, ITEM 10-A-1 IS A CONTRACT WITH GENERAL MAINTENANCE CONTRACTORS OF EAST
[00:35:02]
ALABAMA INCORPORATED FOR OUR FY2023 FIBER EXPANSION PROJECT.IN THE AMOUNT OF $377,622.75. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> SECOND. >> A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
MOTION CARRIES. >> ITEM 10-A-2 IS A CONTRACT WITH TEMPLE INCORPORATED FOR MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE CITY'S TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER. IN THE AMOUNT OF $25 3RBGS 196.
>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> SECOND.
>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? OKAY.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
>> THAT IS ALL THE ITEMS WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA.
[12. CITIZENS’ OPEN FORUM]
>> AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE THE OPEN FORUM.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO TALK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT ANYTHING.
PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> SUSAN BOLT. 1188 UNIVERSITY DRIVE.
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR RAGED FROM 1775 THROUGH 1783 WITH THE COLONISTS FIGHTING AND DYING FOR THEIR FREEDOMS, RIGHT, AND INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN.
SOME OF THOSE FREEDOMS INCLUDED POLITICAL FREEDOM, ECONOMIC FREEDOM TO CONTROL THEIR OWN TRADE AND COMMERCE, AND INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES SUCH AS FREEDOM OF SPEECH, RELIGION, AND ASSEMBLY. EQUALITY AND JUSTICE TO TREAT ALL INDIVIDUALS FAIRLY. AND PROPERTY RIGHTS.
THE COLONISTS BELIEVED THAT THEIR LAND, POSSESSIONS AND RESOURCINGS SHOULD BE SECURE FROM UNJUST SEIZURES OR CONFISCATIONS BY BRITISH AUTHORITIES.
THE COLONISTS BELIEVED THAT THESE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS SHOULD BE PROTECTED. AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO ARBITRARY ACTS BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS COMPRISED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COLONIES ADOPTED THE DECLARDECLARATION OF INDEPENDENO FORMALLY EXPRESS THEIR GRIEVANCES AGAINST OVERREACHING BRITISH RULE AND TO DECLARE THEIR INTENTION TO FORM AN INDEPENDENT NATION. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS ADOPTED ON JULY 4, 1776. WE NOW CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY TO COMMEMORATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OUR FREE AND INDEPENDENT NATION. THESE ITEMS WERE LATER INSTRUMENTAL IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS. THE CITY OF AUBURN WILL CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY ON TUESDAY.
I HOPE YOU PLAN TO ATTEND. WHEN YOU FEEL THE PERCUSSION FROM THE FIREWORKS EXPLODING, I HOPE YOU REALLY FEEL IT AS IT PENETRATES YOUR BODY. IT REPRESENTS THE DEATH OF SOMEONE WHO DIED FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOMS. THEN ENJOY THE COLORFUL EXPLOSION OF CELEBRATION, WATCH AS THE EMBERS FALL TO THE EARTH AND EXTINGUISH.
THEN NOTICE THE SMOKE TRAILS AND THE SKY WEEP AS IT CRIES FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT FIVE OF YOU GAVE BACK TO THE OVERREACHING AUBURN CITY GOVERNMENT WITH YOUR VOTE ON ORDINANCE 3288.
FEEL THE NEXT EXPLOSION. SOMEONE ELSE DIED FIGHTING FOR A FREEDOM YOU CASUALLY VOTED AWAY FROM A SUB-SET OF PEOPLE BASED ON YOUR EMOTION. WATCH THE SKY WEEP.
DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS. WATCH AND REFLECT AS PART OF MY PROPERTY RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS WERE EXTINGUISHED BY YOUR ACTIONS. A CELEBRATION OF OUR COUNTRY'S FREEDOM? WELL, WHAT ABOUT ME AND THE OTHERS YOU STOLE PROPERTY RIGHTS FROM? DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS. AND A PRIOR MEETING, COUNCILMAN GRISWOLD REFERENCED THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE PRIOR COUNCIL HAD CHOSEN TO ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THE COMMENT LANDED AS A VEILED THREAT THAT YOU COULD AND WOULD TAKE THAT AWAY. MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS. ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS QUOTED AS SAYING "THOSE WHO DENY FREEDOM TO OTHERS DESERVE NOT FOR THEMSELVES." I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THAT
STATEMENT. >> WHO WILL BE NEXT?
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS WILLIAM FOWLER.
1425 AUBURN, ALABAMA. YOU CAN'T TURN RIGHT UP TO COX ROAD. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE OR TWO, TWO OFFICERS SITTING DOWN THERE, SITTING THERE AND WATCH HOW MANY PEOPLE OR AT LEAST AN UNDERCOVER OFFICER SIT DOWN AND WATCH HOW MANY PEOPLE TRY TO TURN LEFT.
BECAUSE I'M NOT SAYING NOTHING BAD FOR MR. MAYOR.
YOU KNOW, PLEASE SIT DOWN THERE AND WATCH HOW MANY PEOPLE FLY DOWN THERE OFF THE INTERSTITT AND ALMOST GET HIT.
I SAT THERE IN THE PARKING LOT. I WATCHED 90 PEOPLE ALMOST COME
[00:40:02]
TO A CLOSE CALL. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.I KNOW THEY HAD A WEIRD THING ACROSS THE STREET.
I WISH WE HAD THE FOCUS ON THAT. I DOENT WANT-- I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET HURT. THESE CHARTER BUSES COME IN FROM OUT OF TOWN. YOU KNOW, WITH 400 PEOPLE ROLLING IN WITH THE CHARTER BUSES, DO YOU WANT THOSE BUSES TO GET SMASHED? WE JUST HAD JUNE 19.
PEOPLE OUT OF TOWN-- LIKE, I SAW ONE BUS FROM HUNCHVILLE.
YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE KILLED. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT IN MY CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO BE HURT. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING OUR EYES
I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS. I NOTICE IT MYSELF.
I BELIEVE WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT.
>> WE ARE. WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO ADD SOME DEVICE THAT IS WILL HELP DISCOURAGE
THANK YOU. >> WHO WILL BE NEXT?
>> ROBERT WILKINS, 261 DENSEY DRIVE.
AUBURN, ALABAMA. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.
GOOD EVENING, DOWNSY. I WANT TO MAKE TWO CORRECTIONS IN THE LAST MEETING. I ACCIDENTALLY SUBSTITUTED MAYOR ANDERS FOR MEGAN'S NAME. SORRY, MAYOR.
MEGAN GETS THAT KIND OF DEAL. NOT YOU.
>> I'M WELL AWARE. >> I MADE THAT MISTAKE.
I SAID I WANTED TO INCREASE OUR CITY GROCERY SALES TAX BY 1%.
I MEANT TO SAY DECREASE LIKE THE STATE OF ALABAMA IS.
PLEASE DON'T RAISE OUR TAXES. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE E-PACKETS? MY EXCEPTION IS TO GIVE AN ADVANCED COOPY WITH SUPPORTED MATERIALS AND THE AGENDA TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITIZENS. MAYOR, AFTER I SPEAK, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANSWERS TO THREE QUESTIONS.
HOW DOES THE AGENDA GET DEVELOPED? WHO IS INVOLVED? WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PUTTING AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA? EXPLAIN HOW AUBURN CITIZENS ARE SIGNED OUT UP FOR THE E-PACKETS AGAIN. I HAVE OBSERVED WHERE THERE IS A TOUCHY SITUATION ON THE AGENDA LIKE GIVING THE CITY MANAGER A $5,000 RAISE, THE AGENDA IS BRIEF WITH NO SUPPORT MATERIAL.
LET'S BE ADULTS. GIVE ALL THE INFORMATION.
WHAT FREEDOM IS ALL ABOUT. THIS PAST MAY 16, AT THE COUNCIL MEETING, WE WERE REPRIMANDED AND SCOLD BY COUNCILMAN GRISWOLD.
"ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, WE HAVE NO REQUIREMENTS FOR PEOPLE TO COME UP WITH, UNLESS IT IS FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
PRIOR COUNCIL AND THIS COUNCIL PROVIDING TWO OPPORTUNITIES." ACCORDING TO ALABAMA STATE LAW, DOES IT REQUIRE THE CITY TO PASS ORDINANCE 3288, SHORT-TERM RENTALS BY CAUSING HARDSHIP FOR 151 AUBURN FAMILIES AND TAKING AWAY THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND PROPERTY RIGHTS? ACCORDING TO LAW, DOES IT REQUIRE THE CITY OF APP AUBURN TO PAY 20 EMPLOYERS HIGHER SALARIES THAT THAN THE GOVERNOR. DOES IT REQUIRE THE CITY TO DESTROY THE SMALLTOWN QUAINTNESS OF AUBURN BY BUILDING THESE MASSIVE, UGLY CONCRETE BUILDINGS.
I CAN GO ON AND ON. THE STATE OF ALABAMA HAS GIVEN THIS COUNCIL MUCH POWER. WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES. A QUOTE BY WILLIAM LAM IN 1819.
RECENTLY USED BY PETER PARKER'S UNCLE BEN IN SPIDERMAN.
I THINK THE COUNCIL SHOULD SPEND TIME WITH ITS CONSTITUENTS AND GETTING THEIR OPINION. NOT JUST DURING THE ELECTION PROCESS. OKAY? YOU MIGHT LEARN A LOT. THANK YOU.
>> WHO WILL BE NEXT? >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.
SO I WANT TO TALK TO Y'ALL TONIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAS REALLY BEEN ON MY HEART A LOT LATELY.
IT IS THAT TARGET DOWNTOWN. AND IT IS RED AND CRIMSON COLORS IN OUR BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN APP AUBURN.
IF YOU HAVE SEEN ON-LINE, THERE IS A VIRAL POST OF A WHATABURGER IN DOWNTOWN TUSCALOOSA. IT WAS REQUIRED TO REMOVE ITS ORANGE FOR BEING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
I WONDER IF IT IS A POSSIBILITY TO DO THE SAME HERE WITH THE TARGET. WITH IT RESEMBLING AS WE ARE ALL AWARE, OUR BIGGEST RIVAL'S COLORS.
RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU LIKE-- NOT ALABAMA.
[00:45:01]
LET'S SHOW AUBURN SOME LOVE. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?>> WE LOVE AUBURN. I GREW UP THERE IN MY WHOLE LIFE. IT MAKES ME SAD WALKING DOWNTOWN. GOING TO GET SOME ICE CREAM.
GOING TO THE YARD, A MILK SHAKE. ALL THESE SMALL BUSINESSES.
I KNOW TARGET BRINGS A LOT OF TAX DOLLARS.
THOSE COLORS. THAT RED, THAT CRIMSON.
OH. JUST MAKES ME SHIVER EVERY TIME I WALK BY IT. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE I DID NOTICE THAT THE LASTTIME I CAME HERE WAS IN NOVEMBER.
YOU DID REPAVE THE STREET ON TIMBER STREET.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK WITH THAT. I KNOW YOU WERE GETTING BERATED LEFT AND RIGHT. I WANTED TO GIVE APPRECIATION FOR OUR WONDERFUL REPRESENTATIVES.
I WANTED TO LEAVE YOU ALL WITH, IMAGINE THEY WENT VIRAL IN US THE CAN LOOSA. IT CAN HAPPEN HERE.
MAYOR ANDERS STANDING UP FOR THE APP AUBURN PEOPLE.
NOT LETTING THAT CRIMSON COLOR TAKE OVER OUR CITY.
IMAGINE THAT. KAY IVY IS NOT ABOUT TO BE BE UP FOR REELECTION. (LAUGHTER).
>> YOU GIVE A GREAT PEP TALK. >> THOSE COLORS, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING NICE TO LOOK INTO FOR THE PEOPLE OF AUBURN.
>> WHO WILL BE NEXT? >> LET THAT GUY GO AGAIN.
>> ACTUALLY, ON THAT NOTE BEFORE THE NEXT PERSON COMES UP, IS THERE ANYTHING-- I SAW THAT. IT IS GOOD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE IT. I MEAN, IT IS TARGET'S LOGO.
>> NOT TO DEBATE OUR YOUNG FAN OUT HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
IT IS BRIGHT RED. IT IS PROBABLY MORE OF A GEORGIA COLOR THAN IT IS AN ALABAMA COLOR.
(LAUGHTER) I DON'T DISAGREE. >> JUST AIN'T AUBURN.
>> TO ANSWER MS. TAYLOR'S QUESTION.
I MEAN, THERE WERE SOME DISCUSSIONS.
TARGET HAS SOME POLICIES THERE. MR. HOWARD, I DON'T KNOW IF HE
COULD ANSWER THAT OR NOT. >> KEVIN CAN HANDLE THAT.
YOU ARE RIGHT. >> I WILL SAY IT HAS CERTAINLY COME UP IN DISCUSSION. WE CERTAINLY TRIED TO TALK THEM DOWN A LITTLE BIT. I WON'T GET INTO SOME OF THE PETTINESS IN WEST ALABAMA. I THINK EVERYONE CAN ENJOY CAN
THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF AUBURN GEAR AND TOILET PAPER.
AN AN ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LICENSE AFTER TONIGHT.
>> MARTHA SHEMP, 07 CAMELIA DRIVE.
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE DISPLACED THEIR UTTER DISGUST AND BOYCOTTED THE STORE TARGET. TARGET RECREATED REVOLTING LGBT BABY CLOTHES, CLOTHES ADVERTISING PERVERSION.
THEY WANTED TO LURE CHILDREN INTO UNNATURAL VICE.
PARENTS OF DECENT SI REVOLTED. BUDLITE, BUD LITHE RECEIVED A GIGANTIC BACKLASH AND BOYCOTT AGAINST THEIR FREAKISH HERO, A HOMOSEXUAL MALE NAMED DYLAN MULVANEY.
HIS FRIVOLOUS ANTICS, DANCING IN PINK DRESSES AS HE PRETENDS TO BE FEMALE, HAVE DISGUSTED BUDLITE'S CUSTOMER BASE.
ANHEUSER BUSCH HAS LOST BILLIONS.
WE SEE THE AMERICAN MAJORITY DETESTS THE BUD LITE PERVERT AND TRANS-VULGARITY AND ALL ITS DEMONS.
TRANSGENDER INSANITY HAS BEEN REBUFFED.
THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY NEEDS TO BUDLITE THEIR TRANSGENDER BOOKS, THEIR RAUNCHY DEGRADING SEXUAL BOOKS IN THE YOUNG ADULT AND GRAPHICS BOOKS SECTION. I CHALLENGE THIS COUNCIL TO FIND A WAY, FIND A WAY TO REMOVE THIS TRASH FROM THE LIBRARY.
BUDLITE, THESE OFFENSIVE BOOKS. IT IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
IT'S TIME TO BUDLITE THE LIBRARY'S REPULSIVE SPECTACLE OF BAD BOOKS. PLEASE PROTECT THE CHILDREN.
[00:50:05]
PLEASE FIND A WAY. THANK YOU.>> I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT WE MADE BUDLITE A VERB AND THAT WE ARE USING AN ALCOHOL ANALOGY WHEN WE ARE DISCUSSING CHILDREN.
THAT IS MY COMMENT ON THAT. >> ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. WE WILL CLOSE CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS. MR. MAYOR, CAN I MAKE A
>> A COUPLE OF REF REPSES TONIGHT OVER MY COMMENTS FROM LAST COUNCIL MEETING. I VIEWED MY WORDS NOT AS A VEILED THREAT OR AS A SCOLDING. I VIEWED MY WORDS AS GOOD NEWS STORY. THAT THIS COUNCIL AND THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL HAVE TAKEN THE STEPS TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL.
SO IF YOU TOOK THAT AS SCOLDING OR AS A VEILED THREAT, MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT. CERTAINLY NOT THE INTENT.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU.
>> I DO HAVE-- MR. CUMMINGS. THE AGENDA IS DEVELOPED WITH SPECIFIC GUIDELINES. CAN YOU WALK THROUGH THAT VERY
AND STAFF PREPARES THE AGENDA BASED ON THE PLAN THAT IS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL WITH OUR BI-ANNUAL BUDGET AND THE ITEMS THAT WE PROPOSE ON HERE ARE IN LINE WITH US BEING ABLE TO FUND SERVICES AND PROVIDE THE PRODUCTS AND GOODS AND SERVICE THAT IS WE PROVIDE. YOU KNOW, AS WE GO THROUGH AND DO OUR PLANNING, YOU KNOW, ON A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS AND LOOKING AHEAD, I MEAN, THESE CONTRACTS ARE COMING IN.
THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF EFFORT THAT GOES INTO FROM EACH DEPARTMENT. TO ROLL THE ITEMS UP THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR RECOMMENDATION.
WHAT GOES ON THE AGENDA. A LOT OF THAT IS FOCUSED ON THE TIMING. TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGIC PLAN YOU PASS WITH THE ANNUAL BUDGETS.
>> A COUNCIL MEMBER CAN'T JUST PUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
WE GO THROUGH A FAIRLY, SOME WOULD SAY LABORIOUS PROCESS TO GET APPROVAL CONSENT FROM THIS COUNCIL.
CONSENSUS REMARKS THEY ARE, TO THEN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. AND IN YOUR POLICIES, YOU ESTABLISH THAT ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO DEBATE AN ITEM OR CONSIDER AN ITEM TO GO ON THE AGENDA AT A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING. THAT DISCUSSION CAN BE PUBLIC.
ONCE YOU DECIDED TO ADD THAT I EMITEM TO THE AGENDA, WE WOULD ADD THAT ITEM TO THE FOLLOWING MEETING.
>> THEN LASTLY, ANY CITIZEN CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE AN E-NOTIFICATION THROUGH E-NOTIFIER.
TO RECEIVE THE E-PACKETS. >> YES, THEY CAN.
THEY CAN SUBSCRIBE ON-LINE. DAVID CAN PROBABLY HELP US WITH THAT. THERE IS A PROCESS.
YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE AND GET ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION THAT WE
>> MAYOR, IF I MAY. >> PLEASE.
>> IN ALL FAIRNESS TO COUNCILMAN GRISWOLD.
I REMEMBER THAT MEETING. HE WAS RESPONDING TO SOMETHING ELSE SOMEONE SAID. I DID NOT TAKE IT AS A THREAT.
IN NO WAY DID I THINK HE WANTED TO STOP THAT AT ALL.
IT IS A BIT UNFAIR. I WILL TAKE THE NEXT STEP-- THAT
IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
IS THERE A MOVE TO ADJOURN? >> SO MOVED.
>> WE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.