[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
WE'LL CALL TO ORDER TONIGHT'S YOU A TURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WE WELCOME EVERYBODY THAT'S JOINED US LIVE HERE AND WELCOME THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING ON WNAI AS WELL AS THOSE WATCHING THROUGH OUR STREAMING SERVICES. ALLISON.
>> WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT SILENCE.
[4. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS]
>> EARLIER DURING THE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE THE COUNCIL TOOK NOTE ACTIONS, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME AGENDA ITEMS THAT HAD SUFFERED A FEW MINOR MISTAKES THAT WERE CORRECTED AND PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL TONIGHT.
JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM -- AS FAR AS MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS, IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I'VE HAD THE BLESSING AND THE FORTUNATE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND CHRISTMAS PARTIES OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS, OUR POLICE FIRE, AND PARTICULARLY THE FIRE TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND WITH POLICE, TO BE WITH THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, AND I REMAIN STEADFAST AND PROUD OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROTECT US EACH AND EVERY DAY THAT ALLOW US TO LIVE FREELY IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT WAS FUN TO BE WITH THEM IN A FUN, CASUAL SETTING AS THEY ENJOYED THEMSELVES HERE AT CHRISTMASTIME, BUT I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THEM AND CERTAINLY WISH ALL OF THEM A MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS.
ANYONE ELSE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THEY'D LIKE TO
MAKE TONIGHT? >> YES, SIR, I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
WON'T SEE YOU AGAIN UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
AND I HOPE WE WILL REMEMBER THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.
OFTEN WE FORGET WHY WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. SO JUST MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL THE COUNCIL AND A GOOD YEAR AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL -- MEGAN, ALL YOUR STAFF, AND THE ENTIRE CITY OF AUBURN.
I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME -- ONE THING I'M DETERMINED TO DO AT COMING OF THE YEAR IS TREAT EVERYONE LIKE I WANT TO BE TREATED. I THINK IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER.
TREAT OTHERS LIKE YOU WANT TO BE TREATED, AND I HAVE CAUGHT MYSELF RECENTLY AND GETTING READY TO DO SOMETHING AND I SAID, NO, WAIT A MINUTE, WOULD YOU WANT IT TO BE DONE THAT WAY.
NO, I WOULDN'T. SO KEEP IN MIND AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO DO THAT THIS YEAR PARTICULARLY TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND COUNCIL. SO THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU SPEAK, WOULD YOU WANT SOMEONE SPEAKING TO YOU IN THAT TONE AND TREAT FOLKS HOW WE WANT TO BE TREATED AND WE'LL BE A MUCH BETTER COMMUNITY FOR HAVING DONE SO.
I'M NOT EXPECTING EVERYONE FROM AUBURN UNIVERSITY TO BE WITH US FOR AUBURN UNIVERSITY COMMUNITIES.
WE'LL MOVE TO CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS OF ITEMS TONIGHT'S AGENDA. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT AN ITEM ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME FOR YOU TO SPEAK. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND WE'LL ASK YOU TO GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA THAT MAY HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ATTACHED, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THOSE PARTICULAR ITEMS, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS
[7. CITY MANAGER’S COMMUNICATIONS]
ARE OCCURRING. >> ANYONE? OKAY. WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH CITY
MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS. >> MAYOR, WE HAVE TWO VACANCIES IN THE CEMETERY ADVISORY BOARD, FEBRUARY 5, 2024 AND FEBRUARY 4, 2028. APOINTS WILL BE MADE AT THE JANUARY 16TH MEETING AND THE APPLICATION WILL BE SUBMITTED ON
THE PORTAL TOMORROW MORNING. >> ALL RIGHT, THE CONSENT AGENDA, ANY COUNCIL WISH TO REMOVE ANYTHING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND DEAL WITH THAT ITEM INDIVIDUALLY.
>> YES, SIR. MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO REMOVE ITEM 8 BRAVO 1. AND ITEM 8 BRAVO 7.
[8.b.1. Ashberry Landfill, LLC. Auburn Police Department Firing Range Improvements – Tire Removal and Disposal. $40,000.]
WE'LL START WITH 81... >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> SECOND. >> A MOTIONS AND A SECOND.
MR. WARREN. >> YES, SIR, THANK YOU.
>> I'VE TRIED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A GOOD DEAL FOR US AND IT'S TOUGH TO GET A PERSPECTIVE ON HOW MANY TIRES ARE INVOLVED, BUT I THINK WE'RE TALKING THOUSANDS SO THE
[00:05:06]
CHARGE FOR A DISPOSAL IS $3 A TIRE.IT'S WHAT THE TIRE RETAILERS IN THE AUBURN AREA PAY, AND THEY PAY $8 TO GET RID OF A TRUCK TIRE.
SO BEST I CAN TELL WE'RE GETTING A GOOD DEAL ON THE DISPOSAL OF THESE TIRES AND I PRESUME THAT ASHBURY LAND PHIL AN APPROVED
FACILITY YEAH, TRANSPORTERS IN. >> WE GOT ONE OTHER QUOTE OF
DIVERGENCE THERE. AND I HEARD THAT THERE MAY AN POSSIBILITY OF SOME REIMBURSEMENT FOR ADM FOR SCRAP TIRES. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY TRUTH TO THAT BUT I THOUGHT I'D RAISE THAT JUST IN CASE THERE
WAS SOME POSSIBILITY. >> SO ADM DOES OFFER A SCRAP TIRE PROGRAM. AS FAR AS THE ELIGIBILITY ON THIS PROJECT FOR ANY REIMBURSEMENT, I'M UNCERTAIN.
WE CAN DO A LITTLE HOMEWORK ON THAT AND SEE BUT NOT THAT I'M
>> ANYONE ELSE HAVE A QUESTION OR A THOUGHT?
>> I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY ON THIS PARTICULAR -- THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO. I'M GLAD TO SEE IT HAPPEN, I'M GLAD TO SEE WE'RE GETTING RID OF THOSE THINGS AND I THINK IF YOU SAW IT, MR. SONY, YOU'D REALIZE WE'RE GETTING A DEAL.
>> I DID. MEGAN -- THE CITY MANAGER SENT ME TWO PICTURES AND IT WAS IMPRESSIVE.
AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIRES. I WOULD GUESS THAT THERE'S -- IT'S HARD TO SAY FROM PICTURES BUT SEVERAL THOUSAND.
>> YES, SIR. >> SO THE ESTIMATE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AN EXACT COUNT. ANYWHERE BETWEEN 6,000 AND 8,000 TIRES OUT THERE COMFORTABLY, UP TO 10,000 IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ADDITIONAL PILES AS THEY'RE OFF TO THE SIDE.
>> AND WHERE DO THOSE -- ARE THOSE TIRES STORED AT THIS TIME?
>> THEY'RE OUT AT THE POLICE FIRING RANGE.
CHIEF AUSTIN KNOWS ALL ABOUT THEM.
>> OH, YEAH. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND, PHASE.
[8.b.7. Noble Supply & Logistics. Purchase twenty-five (25) Pitagone F-18 Mobile HVM Barriers (portable modular traffic barriers). $58,256. ]
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. >> AB7 (7) NOBLE SUPPLY & LOGISTICS. PURCHASE 25 PITAGONE F-18 MOBILE HVM BARRIERS. $58,256.
>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> SECOND.
>> WE CALL THESE NASTY FLIP YOUR CAR BARRICADES.
WE DON'T EVER WANT TO HAVE TO SAY HOW COULD THAT HAVE HAPPENED AT AUBURN. SO I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS PURCHASE, AND I PRAY THAT IT WILL KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE WHEN WE GATHER ON SPECIAL DAYS AND FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
AND I FULLY SUPPORT THIS PURCHASE.
>> WE'VE ALREADY PURCHASED THIS --
>> CORRECT. THIS IS THE SECOND GROUPING.
THIS COMPLETES THE NEEDED BARRICADES.
THIS ALLOWS US ON THE PARADE ROUTES WE HAVE DOWNTOWN WHICH INCLUDES CLOSURES TO BARRICADE WHEREVER WE NEED TO BARRICADE WITH THESE. WILL.
>> 25 LAST YEAR AND 25 THIS YEAR.
>> AND THESE WERE OUT AT THE CHRISTMAS PARADE THIS YEAR?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> AND THESE ARE ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON, BECAUSE WE LOOKED AT THE STREETS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
THESE CAN BE DEPLOYED QUICKLY. THEY'RE NOT TERRIBLY HARD FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM TO MOVE THEM INTO PLACE AND TAKE THEM OUT OF PLACE. BUT AS COUNCILMAN ORMON SAID THEY WOULD IF A CAR TRIES TO GET THROUGH, IT WOULD FLIP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. I THINK YOU'VE WATCHED YOUTUBE
VIDEOS ON THAT. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
THESE DON'T REQUIRE A FORKLIFT OR ANY HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO PUT THEM IN REPLACE AND REMOVE THEM LIKE THE CONCRETE OR WATER BARRIERS WE'VE USED IN THE PAST. MUCH MORE FLEXIBLE.
>> DO WE HAVE A DELIVERY DATE FOR THESE?
THANK YOU. >> AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER REMINDER OF THE GREAT ATTEMPT THAT WE GO THROUGH AS A COMMUNITY AND AS CITY STAFF TO PROVIDE SAFETY AND SECURITY WHEN WE HAVE DOWNTOWN EVENTS, PARTICULARLY PARADES.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND A GREAT TIME OF MEMORY AND LAUGHTER FOR OUR FAMILIES, BUT BOY, THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT THAT IT GOES TO TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL Y'ALL'S HARD WORK.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
[8. CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA]
>> AYE THE MOTION CARRIES. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT SNAGGED.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[9.a. Franchise agreement renewal. Alabama Power Company. Unanimous consent necessary.]
[00:10:03]
APPROVED. ORDINANCES.I ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT. SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> SONY. >> YES, MA'AM AND YES, SIR.
WE DON'T SEE THESE GRIEVANCES VERY OFTEN.
I'LL BE 102 WHEN THIS ONE RENEWS.
JUST TO SUMMARIZE WHAT I THINK THIS IS ABOUT, THERE ARE NO FEES OBLIGATED BY THE CITY OF AUBURN IN THIS AGREEMENT.
THE AGREEMENT GRANTS MONOPOLY STATUS TO THE POWER COMPANY IN THE FORM OF A FRANCHISE IN AUBURN.
ULTIMATELY -- ALABAMA FIRE COMPANY IN TURN PROVIDES POWER AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND CHARGES THE USERS FOR THE SERVICE AND ALTERNATIVELY THE SURROUNDING GOVERNMENTS.
LEE COUNTY USES DIXIE ELECTRIC. OPEN LACK CAME HAS THEIR OWN
POWER SERVICE. >> OPEN LICK CAME.
>>> AND THERE'S NOT A MONOPOLY IN THE ELECTRICAL SERVICE TERRITORIES THAT WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION YEARS AGO. SO WITHIN THE SERVICE TERRITORY THAT THEY ARE THE SOLE PROVIDER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LARGE INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS THAT CAN INVOKE A PROVISION CALLED CUSTOMER CHOICE, AND IF YOU'RE A LARGE ENOUGH USER, THAT'S UP TO LARGE-POWER USERS TO DO THAT, WE ALSO HAVE TALAPOOSA ELECTRIC AND DIXIE ELECT NICK PARTS OF OUR INDUSTRIAL AREAS AS WELL AS THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CITY, AND THEN THOSE TWO FRANCHISES ARE UP FOR RENEWAL IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS AS WELL.
SO YOU'LL SEE MORE OF THAT. ALSO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTIFIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRANCHISE ARE REGULATED.
THIS IS BY STATE LAW BUT COMES IN THE FORM OF BUSINESS LICENSE, AND THEY DO PAY TREMENDOUS FEES FOR THIS, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE SIDE OF IT, AND ALL OF THAT IS SET FORTH
BY STATE LAW. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WAS NOT AWARE OF ALL OF THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT.
ALABAMA FIRE COMPANY OBVIOUSLY DOES A VERY FINE JOB IN RE-ESTABLISHING POWER AND -- IN MY AREA FOR SURE.
WE GET TELEPHONE TECHS AND WHAT NOT, AND I ASSUME THAT WE'VE HAD A COST AND BENEFIT ANALYSIS MUCH LIKE OPEN LACK CAME HAD TO GO THROUGH AND I SUPPOSE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AROUND IT THAT DON'T USE ALABAMA POWER, BUT IT WAS MUCH LIKE OPA WEATHER ACKA.
WE HAVE A LARGE CONCERN TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FIRING NEEDS AND DON'T SEE A NEED COST WISE OR BENEFIT WISE OF HAVING OUR OWN POWER COMPANY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT DROVE THAT DECISION. BUT IT IS STARKLY DIFFERENT WITH OPELIKA. AND I SUPPOSE WE WENT TO A COST ANALYSIS TO GET TO THE POINT OF THIS TWO-PAGE AGREEMENT.
>> THE TWO-PAGE AGREEMENT ITSELF, I HAD THE SAME QUESTION FOR OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR BECAUSE THIS IS MUCH SHORTER THAN SOME OTHERS, 30 PAGERS, THIS IS MORE BECAUSE STATE LAW STRICTLY MANDATES HOW ELECTRIC FRANCHISES ARE DONE.
IN TERMS OF THE CITY'S HISTORY RELATIVE TO WHY DID HE HAVE OUR OWN ELECTRIC AUTHORITY, I DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF MY STAFF PROBABLY DOES.
THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS WHEN OP ALOCKA HAD THEIR OWN INTERNET. THE CITY OF AUBURN DIDN'T HAVE THEIR OWN HE TERRITORY. AND CURRENTLY THE WAY THE SERVICE TERRITORIES ARE DRAWN OUT, I'M PRETTY SURE IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE GAME NOW, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GETTING IN THE GAME BECAUSE SERVICE TERRITORIES HAVE BEEN DEFINED, AND THEY WERE DEFINED BY THE EQUAL DISTANT BETWEEN TWO CURRENT PROVIDERS.
THEY WENT SMACK DAB TO THE MIDDLE AND CUT LOTS AND DID ALL KINDS OF THINGS. MY VAST INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE IS WHY I KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT TERRITORIES BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE COULD STEP IN ANYMORE IN THIS DAY IN AGE AND ESTABLISH OUR OWN BUT I'M HAPPY TO CHECK IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ON
>> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? >> I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE POWER. EVERY TIME THE LIGHTS GO OUT, REMEMBER I SAID THAT.
>> THEY DO A FINE JOB AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU MEAN TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU TO YOUR SERVICE, AS WELL.
[00:15:01]
>> YES, MA'AM. >> CARSONS, YES.
[9.b.1. Initial Outfitters Rezoning. Approximately 6.1 acres from Industrial (I) to Comprehensive Development District (CDD). Property located at 3325 Skyway Drive. ]
>> TAYLOR, ANDREWS, YES. >> UNDER ORDINANCES ITEM 9B1 IS A REQUEST TO RE-ZONE APPROXIMATELY 6.1 ACRES FROM INDUSTRIAL TO COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3325 SKY WAY DRIVE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED AN APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST. UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS NECESSARY AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQ REQUIRED.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING BOARD THIS EVENING? SEEING AND HEARING NONE, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU'LL HAVE 5 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL.
>> BRAD BASKIN WITH THE FORESIGHT GROUP REPRESENTING --
>> SORRY, HE'S FIXING THE TIMER. >> I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, THAT'S A QUICK ONE. I GOT KNOCKED OUT.
COMING TO ADDRESS YOU ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, I HAD SOME SLIDES, BUT ESSENTIALLY ALL OF GLEN FROM THE OPA LOCKA CITY LINE AND ALONG THE FRONTAGE, PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY FEW THAT IS NOT CDC ZONING. THE ACTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS THE STREET FROM US WAS IN C- 20, I THINK.
THERE WAS A PARCEL ON THAT FRONTAGE RECENTLY RE-ZONED FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO. I KNOW BECAUSE I DID IT.
ALL WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS THIS IS AN OLD PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED INDUSTRIAL BUILDING. THE INDUSTRY IN THIS AREA FOR INDUSTRIAL USE HAS KIND OF MOVED WITH HOW THE AIRPORTS KIND OF REDID THEIR INTEREST ON THAT SIDE OF TOWN.
WE FEEL LIKE THIS USE ON THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING HAS BEEN VACANT. WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL CHURCH USER WHO'S CURRENTLY IN A LARGE SHOPPING CENTER IN TOWN AND WOULD LIKE TO RELOCATE AND REN STATE THERE EXISTING BUILDING AND TO SERVICE IT FOR THAT. AND WE JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S A GOOD USE THAN WITH AREA. THAT AREA FOR THE MOST PART, ALL THOSE PROPERTIES ALONG SKYWAY ARE ZONED INDUSTRIAL.
ALMOST ALL OF THOSE BUILDINGS IN THERE ARE USED AS OFFICE.
IT'S BASICALLY TURNED INTO AN OFFICE PARK.
FUTURE LAND USE PLAN SHOWS FOR AN OFFICE PARK.
AND WE FEEL LIKE THE CHURCH USE IS COMPATIBLE WITH THAT.
THE WAY THE SITE IS SET UP, THAT BUILDING -- THERE'S A TWO STORY BUILDING. WE WOULD UTILIZE THE TWO.
>>> AS WELL. THE PREVIOUS SITE PLAN ALLOWED FOR EXPANDED -- A 25,000 SQUARE FOOT ADDITION TO THAT BUILDING, SO THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM, AND WE'VE ALSO TALKED WITH ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS. I HAVE LETTERS FROM THREE OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS, SCOTT, VANDY AND THE GENTLEMAN BACK BEHIND US THAT SUPPORTS OUR PROPOSED USE.
WE'VE TALKED WITH THEM. WE HAVE PLENTY OF PARKING ON SITE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. BUT IN THE EVENT WE GROW, A LOT OF THOSE ADJACENT PROPERTIES WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, AND THEY'RE OPEN TO US UTILIZING THEIR PARKING LOTS, ESPECIALLY IN THESE OTHER OFFICE LOCATIONS ON SUNDAYS FOR WHEN WE HAVE SERVICES JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE USED FOR THAT TIME AS WELL. THAT'S THE QUICK AND SHORT OF IT. BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I HAVE THE PASTOR HERE THAT COULD SPEAK IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL HAS IN REGARDS TO CHURCH, CHURCH GROWTH AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
>> IF IT'S ALREADY WITH THE COUNCIL WHY DON'T WE HEAR OTHERS WHO LIKE TO SPEAK AND IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS WE'LL ASK TO YOU COME BACK FORWARD. IS THAT OKAY?
>> ANYONE ELSE? >> I THOUGHT I SAW SOMEONE STAND UP BACK THERE. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL AND.
>> INSTEAD OF RE-ZONING, IS IT NOT POSSIBLE TO ASK FOR AN
[00:20:02]
CONTINUAL USE INSIDE AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE FOR A CHURCH?>> IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. >> OKAY.
>> BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE TABLE OF PERMITTED USES.
>> DOES IT HAVE TO BE 10 ACRES? >> THAT'S FOR A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. YOU'D HAVE TO BE 10 ACRES.
IN THE INDUSTRIAL ZONE, TABLE 41 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCES FOR CHURCHES ARE NOT SHOWN AS CONDITIONAL, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED AT ALL. THE THEORY IS INDUSTRIAL ZONES ARE FOR INDUSTRY'S AND CHURCHS CAN GO IN MANY OTHER ZONES IN THE CITY SO THOSE ARE LEFT TO BE INDUSTRIAL USES BECAUSE THEY'RE SPECIFIC TO WHERE THEY ARE TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND OTHER
THINGS. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS,
QUESTIONS? >> I APPRECIATE COUNCIL PERSON WITTEN. GOT ABOUT HALF A MIND BUT THE REST OF MY COMMENT IS I WAS OVER THERE AND LOOKED AT IT AND I THINK A CHURCH FITS NICELY. THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING, THE REASON THAT THIS IS DIFFICULT AT ALL IS BECAUSE THIS STAFF DOESN'T RECOMMEND IT. THE STAFF DOESN'T RECOMMEND IT, I THINK, BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT THE INDUSTRIAL ZONE IS A GOOD FIT FOR THAT AREA OVER THERE. THE THINGS THAT ARE THERE MAKE SENSE. BUT I THINK A CHURCH FITS NICELY IN THERE, AND IT FITS NICELY BECAUSE OF A LOT OF REASONS.
CHURCH IS A GOOD NEIGHBOR. CHURCH IS TRAFFIC ON THE WEEKENDS, AND THE REST OF THE OFFICE PARK TRAFFIC IS GENERALLY DURING THE WEEK. BUT IF WE RE-ZONE IT TONIGHT TO CDD OR COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, THIS MAY ALLOW A WHOLE HOST OF USES AND MAYBE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES DOWN THE ROAD. AND I THINK THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS DIVIDE ON THIS PROBABLY FOR THAT VERY REASON.
SO IN THIS CASE, I'M NOT SURE THAT OUR ZONING REGULATIONS SERVE THIS WELL. I MEAN, WE WOULD THINK THAT IT'S A GOOD USE OF THE PROPERTY. I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT, BUT IT'S HARD TO FIT IT INTO THE ZONING REGULATIONS.
EVEN THOUGH I DON'T REALLY WISH TO RE-ZONE IT, I DO SUPPORT THE CHURCH AS A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND I THINK WILL WORK FINE.
AND I GUESS I'M WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK.
I THINK THEY'RE -- I NIGHT DISAGREE WITH THE CITY STAFF ON THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO IN THIS CASE.
>> ANYONE ELSE? >> MR. MAYOR, I WANTED TO SAY I FULLY SUPPORT THE USE HERE. I THINK IT'S A GREAT LOCATION FOR THIS CHURCH. I THINK IT'S A GREAT USE OF THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY, AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND YOUR POINTS AND CITY STAFF'S POINTS ABOUT THE USE OF THE BUILDING, BUT TO ME, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A GREAT FIT AND I'VE KIND OF THOUGHT THAT FROM THE BEGINNING, SO I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A GREAT PLACE AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, AM EXCITED TO SEE GRACE AUBURN CHURCH CONTINUE TO GROW AND THANKFUL THAT THEY ARE CONTINUING TO STAY HERE. SO THANK YOU.
>> MS. CROUCH, THE USES THAT COULD COME UP IN CCD, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE USES THAT THE STAFF IS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT?
>> THEY'RE ON PAGE 2 AND 3. THE CHALLENGE IS -- THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN, THIS WASN'T THE STAFF MAKING A RECOMMENDATION PURELY BASED ON THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN THAT ISN'T -- CURRENTLY ZONED INDUSTRIAL AND THEN IT'S SLATED TO BE MORE OFFICE, AND SO THE LAND USE PLAN IS A REMINDER THAT'S ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. SO THAT MEANT THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME AGREED WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION AS WELL.
AND SO THAT IS WHY STAFF IS CONSISTENT IN WHAT IT RECOMMENDS. THE ONLY OTHER WAY YOU RECTIFY THIS IS YOU CREATE A ZONE FOR THIS THAT IS NOT THE CCD ZONE.
CONCERNS LIE MULTIFAMILY REBEL, IT IS ACROSS THE STREET.
THERE IS SOME FRONTAGE HERE AND THERE'S A NATURAL GAS LINE AND RETENTION POND ON THE DIRECT FRONTAGE OF GLEN AVENUE, MAKING, UNLESS YOU REMOVE THE TENSION POND, IMPOSSIBLE TO BUILD ON.
AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES DON'T SPEAK TO CHURCHES.
THEY'RE IN A TIGHT SPOT HERE. THE PRUDENT THING TO DO IN THE LONG TERM, NOT SAYING FOR THIS CASE, IS TO ACTUALLY CREATE A ZONE THAT ADDRESSES THE LAND USE PLAN.
WE HAVE THIS NOT JUST HERE IN MANY OTHER POCKETS OF THE CITY, I WAS TALKING TO MR. KHAN THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT THIS, AND THAT'S ONE OF HIS INTENTIONS AS HE GETS HIS FEET ON THE GROUND WE HAVE GOT TO CREATE MORE ZONES TO MATCH THE LAND USE PLAN, SO THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNERS AND FUTURE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE IN A VERY TOUGH POSITION AND CCD IS THE ONLY ZONE THAT THEY CAN ASK
[00:25:07]
ABOUT. AND IT PUTS NEW A TOUGH POSITION AS WELL BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A WAY TO DO THIS IN A NEAT BOX.IT HAS TO GET OUTSIDE OF PARAMETERS.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS IT'S NOT NECESSARY, AND NOT THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO PUT THERE, BUT SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED HOUSING WOULD NOT BE WELCOME HERE, ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT, ADJACENT TO OTHER INDUSTRIAL USES AND THE HIGH VOLUME TRAFFIC ON GLEN AVENUE, YES, IT EXISTS ACROSS THE STREET BUT THAT'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME. AND SO THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE AKIN, BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER ZONING CHOICE FOR THEM TO AND YOU CAN'T GET A USE VARIANCE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALLOWED. THEY'RE IN A TIGHT SPOT AS THE STAFF IS. THE ULTIMATE FIX TO STUDY THIS AREA, TO CREATE A NEW ZONE FOR IT, AND IF YOU DO APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, IT WOULD ALSO PLACE THIS PROPERTY IN THE NEWEST ZONE ASSUMING IT ALLOWS CHURCHES TO MAKE IT AKIN TO EVERYTHING ELSE DOWN THE STREET, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE THIS LIGHT COMMERCIAL OFFICE PARK, NOT HEAVY INDUSTRIAL, AND AKIN TO OFFICE AND WITH A FEW OTHER MATCHING USES ONCE THE STAFF GETS A CHANCE TO STUDY IT. BUT IT DOESN'T HELP YOU FOR TONIGHT. THAT'S THE END GAME.
>> WHERE WOULD AN OFFICE PARK GO? DO WE NOT REALLY HAVE A ZONING FOR THAT?
>> SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, CURRENTLY THE EXISTING USES OVER THERE REALLY DO ASSEMBLE AN OFFICE PARK.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT STAFF RECOMMENDED AGAINST THE RE-ZONING. BECAUSE INDUSTRIAL DOES ALLOW
FOR THESE OFFICE PARK USES. >> AND SO OTHER ZONES, THERE'S LIMITED, DEPENDING, AND ALSO COUNCILMAN MORMON'S POINT, IT'S ALLOWED OTHER AREAS AS WELL, LDD LIKELY.
HE WILL CHECK. BUT THERE ARE PLACES WHERE IT'S ALLOWED, AND THE BANNING HARPER BUILDINGS WERE ALSO BUILT ORIGINALLY AS PART OF AN INDUSTRIAL SIDE OF THINGS AS WELL AS THE CONCRETE OPERATION THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE A LONG TIME. ALL OF THAT WAS INDUSTRIAL AROUND THE AIRPORT. MUCH HAS CHANGED TO MR. BASKUM'S POINT. A NUMBER OF THINGS IN THE CITY ARE CUT UP IN A DESIRED LAND USE DESIGNATION, WHICH IS ACCURATE, BUT THE ZONING DOESN'T MATCH BECAUSE THE THEY ALLOW EVERYTHING FROM ATTACHED HOUSING TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, VIRTUALLY, AND THAT'S WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS. SO IT'S NOT TO GRACE CHURCH, BUT IF THEY WERE TO SELL, WHATEVER IS ALLOWED IN THAT ZONE WOULD BE
ALLOWED TO GO ON THAT PROPERTY. >> SO I GUESS IT'S PRETTY MUCH PERMITTED -- IT'S CONDITIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL, IT'S CONDITIONAL AND CID DISTRICTS, RRD DISTRICTS, RURAL DISTRICT AS WELL. SO IT'S PERMITTED IN WRITING ACROSS SEVERAL ORDINANCES BUT THIS IS HOW IT WAS DEVELOPING, IT DIDN'T MATCH THE EXISTING LAND USE.
THAT'S WHY STAFF RECOMMENDED AGAINST IT.
>> I'M NOT SURE IF MR. DEAN OR MR. BASKUM, IF YOU CALL COULD COME FORWARD, I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
IS Y'ALL PLAN TO POTENTIALLY MAKE THIS MOVE -- YOU CAN KIND OF GIVE ME AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE Y'ALL ARE AS FAR AS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WITH YOU NOW AND WHAT'S THE CAPACITY OF THE CHURCH AS IT STANDS, AND MAKE THIS ADDITION AND THEN KIND OF GO INTO THE PARKING THAT YOU HAVE AROUND THERE.
>> HAPPY TO. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT. CURRENTLY WE HAVE 400 ADULT MEMBERS AND 224 CHILDREN THAT WE COUNT AS MEMBERS TOO.
SO WE'RE A CONGREGATION JUST OVER 600 PEOPLE.
AND WE ON TYPICAL SUNDAY ALSO GATHER ANYWHERE FROM 700 TO 800 PEOPLE SPREAD OUT OVER THREE SERVICES.
AND OUR LEASE ON OUR CURRENT FACILITY IS UP AT BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR, JUST A FEW MONTHS AWAY.
SO THIS MOVE WOULD HELP US SIGNIFICANTLY AS FAR AS PLANNING FOR OUR FUTURE AS AUBURN CONTINUES TO GROW AND THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO GROW. BUT NOT AT RECORD-BREAKING PACE.
OUR GROWTH HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT GROWTH BUT NOT ASTRONOMICAL OVERNIGHT. SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, OUR CHURCH GROWTH HAS BEEN HEALTHY, AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL FACILITY, IT WILL BE ABLE TO QUALITY HOST US FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME, AND TRUTHFULLY I'M NOT EVEN ENVISIONING SELLING THE PROPERTY DOWN THE LINE AS THAT CONCERN WAS RAISED, IF IT WAS GOING TO ANOTHER PROPERTY.
WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO IS KEEP THAT AS A CHURCH AND PLANT ANOTHER CHURCH IN ANOTHER LOCATION AS AUBURN CHURCH CONTINUES TO GROW. OUR GOAL IS NOT TO BECOME THE BIGGEST CHURCH IN AUBURN BY ANY MEANS BUT REALLY SERVE OUR CITY
[00:30:06]
COMPREHENSIVELY AND TRY TO CATER TO THE GROWING NEEDS OF THE CITY, AND JUST FOR CONTEXT, WE HAVE BEEN ON A TWIG-POSSIBILITY JOURNEY. WE HAVE WALKED LAND, BUILDINGS.WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE MALL, TO LOCAL BANKS, TO WHEREVER.
AND AT THE END OF THIS PROPERTY IN PARTICULAR, BOTH ON A COST AND OPPORTUNITY BASIS, REALLY IS SUITABLE FOR OUR NEEDS AND WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT HELP FOR US AS WE CONTINUE TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY AT LARGE. >> AND YOU'RE CURRENTLY IN A
RETAIL LOCATION? >> WE'RE IN THE -- YEAH, THE TIGER ARM GAME WE RENOVATED JUST BEFORE COVID.
AND IT'S TOUGHLY 10,000 SQUARE FEET.
THIS MOVE WOULD PUT US AT JUST UNDER 60,000 SQUARE FEET AND SO IT WOULD ACCOMMODATE OUR NEEDS FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF
>> MR. BASKUM DID YOU LOOK AT THE 700 PEOPLE SOUND MORNING GETTING IN AND OUT ON GLEN? AS AN ENGINEER, DO YOU SEE
CONCERNS WITH THAT? >> WELL, NO.
ESPECIALLY WITH A 5 LANE SECTION.
AND WE HAVE A SIGNAL THERE NOW. SO IT'S -- YOU KNOW, GLEN CAN HANDLE THAT AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC. A LOT OF PLACES, THERE ARE VERY FEW PLACES OTHER THAN UNLESS YOU'RE ON EAST UNIVERSITY AND SHOWED. THERE'S A FEW PLACE WHERE IS WE HAVE A FIVE-LANE SECTION TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT KIND OF TRAFFIC. WE DON'T HAVE A FIVE LANE SECTION ON NORTH DONAHUE OR -- REALLY IT'S JUST COLLEGE GLEN, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. IN REGARDS TO LOCATION, BEING ABLE TO GET PEOPLE IN AND OUT, YOU KNOW, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE AT THIS LOCATION TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE.
ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS YOU TALKED ABOUT IS PARKING ON SITE.
THERE'S AN EXISTING 215 SPACES ON SITE.
AND, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE AUDITORIUM IN THIS THING WOULD SIT PROBABLY AROUND 500 PEOPLE. SO IT -- THERE'S REALLY ALMOST, YOU KNOW, TWO SPACES TO ONE SEAT.
TWO PEOPLE TO ONE SPACE WHEREAS THE CODE ENVIRONMENT ONE FOR FOUR. SO WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE TWICE AS MUCH PARK AND THEN AVAILABILITY FOR PARKING --
>> IS DOES THAT INCLUDE ACROSS THE STREET, MR. SCOTT'S OFFICE
PARK RIGHT THERE? >> THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF THIS -- 215 IS ALL INSIDE. THERE'S ROOM THAT WE COULD ADD MORE. LIKE I SAID, THERE WAS ROOM TO ADD MORE PARKING ON SITE. BUT THERE'S 215 THERE NOW ON SITE WITHOUT EVEN HAVING TO USE ANYTHING ON SITE.
-- WITHOUT HAVING TO USE ANYTHING OFF-SITE.
>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I DO. IF THIS IS -- IF WE AS A CITY AND COUNCIL DEVELOPED A NEW SHEENE WOULD INCORPORATE MORE OF WHAT THIS SHOULD BE WOULD YOU ENTERTAIN US COMING TO YOU AND YOU AGREEING TO HAVING IT RE-ZONED TO THAT FOR FUTURE USE.
>> I PERSONALLY -- YEAH. I THINK -- WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS. THE LONG TERM OF THIS, FOR THIS TO BE THEIR PERMANENT HOME, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
AND I THINK THAT WE'D BE OPEN TO, THAT YOU KNOW.
I DON'T THINK IT'S -- I ENVISION, RIGHT, SIMILAR TO WHAT IS DONE ALONG SOUTH COLLEGE WITH THE SOUTH COLLEGE ZONING THAT BASICALLY ALLOWS YOUR FRONTAGE ON TO BE COMMERCIAL, BUT YOU GIVE UP YOUR RIGHTS FOR, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTIAL USE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I WOULD SEE THAT COMING IN ALONG GLEN, SOMETHING SIMILAR TO PREVENT.
EXACTLY WHAT MEGAN WAS TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
>> RIGHT. >> SO I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE -- THAT WE'RE OPEN TO THAT, YOU KNOW.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENT AS SOON AS. >> OKAY, THANK YOU, GUYS.
APPRECIATE IT. >> ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE
COUNCIL? >> I THINK MAX PUT IT WELL HOW
HE FEELS ABOUT IT. >> ANYONE ELSE? FLIGHT TOW WELL MAX AND TOMMY ON THIS ONE.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT USE OF THE SPACE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING GRACE CHURCH CONTINUE TO GROW.
>> THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN EMPTY FOR A WHILE AND IT IS A UNIQUE PLACE. IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE IT IS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHERE IT IS NEXT TO OPA LOCKA, I WANT TO BE VERY HONEST WITH EVERYBODY HERE, MY SON GOES TO THIS CHURCH AND HE'S A MEMBER THERE AND HE'S A PROUD MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH.
BUT I AM THANKFUL FOR WHAT THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE WORKED HARD OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS TO TRY TO FIND A PLACE TO LOCATE THEIR NEW FACILITY, AND I THINK IS A GOOD CONCLUSION FOR THEM TO LAND HERE AND I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE
OF THIS TONIGHT. >> ANYONE ELSE?
[00:35:04]
>> HOPLITS, DAWSON. GRIZWALD, ORMON.
[9.b.2. Reese Property Rezoning. Approximately 2.8 acres from Rural (R) to Limited Development District (LDD). Property located at 1729 Old Wrights Mill Road.]
>> ANDERS, NORTHEAST YES. ITEM 9-2
>> I'LL INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AND ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
>> SECOND. >> A MOTIONING AND SECOND.
ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING BOARD A VOTE ON
SEEING AND HEARING NONE. WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING. IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS
FOR THE RECORD. >> CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?
[10.a.1. 539 Airport Road Warehouse. Commercial support use (warehouse). Property located at 539 Airport Road.]
>> ITEM 10A1 IS A REQUEST FOR CONTINUAL CONDITIONAL USE APPROVAL FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 539 AIRPORT ROAD IN THE COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT ZONING DISTRICT, THE PLANNING COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST AT THE DECEMBER 4TH MEETING AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS
REQUIRED. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> SECOND. >> A MOTIONS AND A SECOND.
THIS TIME I'LL OPEN PUBLIC HEARING IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL. YOU'LL HAVE 5 MINUTES, PLEASE COME BOARD YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
SEEING NO ONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL AND ALL THOSE IN
[10.a.2. Beehive Park Lots 6 & 7 Conditional use. Commercial support use (warehouse distribution facility). Property located at 3151 & 3201 Hive Commerce Parkway.]
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
>> 10B2 IS THE REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SUPPORT USE FOR A WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION FACILITY FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3151 AND 3201 HIVE COMMERCE PARKWAY. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED,.
>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> SECOND.
>> I HAVE A MOTIONS AND A SECOND.
THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
YOU'LL HAVE 5 MINUTES. SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY "AYE."
[10.b. Contract. Floyd Service Company, Inc. Installation of Musco Sports Lighting System at various Parks and Recreation facilities. $834,700. ]
MOTION CARRIES. >> AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS ITEM 10B, AUTHORIZES A CONTRACT WITH FLOYD SERVICE COMPANY INCORPORATED FOR THE INSTALLATION OF MUSCO SPORTS LIGHTING SYSTEMS AT VARIOUS PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES
IN THE AMOUNT OF $834,700. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> SECOND. >> A MOTIONS AND A SECOND.
THERE'S NO PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS, RIGHT?
>> NO, SIR. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY "AYE." >> AYE
>> ANY OPPOSED? >> THE MOTION CARRIES.
[12. CITIZENS’ OPEN FORUM]
>> MAYOR THOSE ARE ALL OF THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS WE HAVE FOR
AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN UP CITIZENS OPEN FORUM.
HAVE YOU 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE ON YOUR MIND. WE'D ASK THAT YOU SHARE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND PLEASE DIRECT ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND DO NOT CALL OUT ANY NAMES OF OUR
STAFF AND EMPLOYEES. >> ROBERT WILKINS, 261 DENISON DRIVE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
COUNCILWOMAN TAYLOR, THANKS FOR BRINGING YOUR DAUGHTER OVER TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO LEARN ABOUT OUR CITY GOVERNMENT FROM TIME TO TIME. THANK YOU FOR CARING FOR RELATIVE IN YOUR HOME. I DON'T -- I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THAT IS. ALSO DRIVING TO THE UNIVERSITY EVERY DAY FOR WORK WHILE BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER.
I ASSUME YOU, COLONEL GRIZWALD AND LIEUTENANT COLONEL ORMOND, REMEMBER YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS AWAY.
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SUPPORTING OUR FREEDOM SUCH AS RELIGION AND SPEECH. COUNCILWOMAN WITTEN, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO MY WIFE AT CHRISTMAS MARKET, INTRODUCING YOUR TWO LOVELY DAUGHTERS.
I ENVY YOU, COUNCIL ADAMS, WITH YOUR TWO GIRLS AND COUNCILMAN KOBALITZ WITH YOUR THREE CHILDREN.
THE ATMOSPHERE THAT'S CREATED BY CHILDREN THAT TIME OF YEAR IS SO WONDERFUL. MY DAUGHTER'S 34, SO I'M UNFORTUNATELY AT A LOSS FOR THAT.
COUNCILPERSON CARSONS, I KNOW IT MUST HAVE FELT GREAT 30 YEARS
[00:40:02]
AGO TO CELEBRATE YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS IN THE UNITED STATES.I REMEMBER MY FIRST CHRISTMAS. THAT WAS 61 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS AGE 6 IN THE UNITED STATES AS A NATIVE GERMAN.
I WAS LIVING WITH MY GRANDFATHER, ADOPTED FATHER IN EDGEWATER, ALABAMA. MY FATHER GAVE ME AN OLD RUSTY BICYCLE AND A NEW HANDLEBAR. WE USED ALUMINUM FOIL AND IT MADE THE BICYCLE LOOK GREAT. A CHRISTMAS I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER. CHIEF DAWSON, I APPRECIATE YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AS A FIREMAN AND --
>> YOU NEVER WERE A FIREMAN? >> NO.
>> FORGIVE ME. >> I GUESS I WAS THINKING FIRE CHIEF. ASSOCIATION MAYOR.
AND I HAVE SEEN YOU WORK SOME CHRISTMAS DAYS WHEN YOU WERE
POLICE CHIEF. >> I TRIED TO WORK EVERY ONE I COULD BECAUSE I GET TIME AND A HALF.
>> OKAY, GREAT. WELL, I REMEMBER MY FIRST CHRISTMAS AT THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH'S HOME.
THEY HAD A CLASS AT THE ALABAMA AVENUE METHODIST AND GAVE OUT THESE SMALL CARDS, SHEETS DUE PUT IN SLOTS FOR QUARTERS AND NICKELS AND ALL THOSE TYPE THINGS, AND I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, BAB THEN MOVIES WERE 25 CENTS AND POPCORN AND ALL THAT WAS 5 CENTS A PIECE. SOMETHING THAT I -- I FILLED ALL OF MY SLOTS AND ONE OF MY FRIENDS ASKED WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT SINCE YOU LIVE AT THE CHILDREN'S HOME, AND I SAID, WELL, IT WAS MY FIRST TIME TO GIVE BACK TO A PLACE THAT HAD
GIVEN ME A REAL FAMILY. >> THANK YOU, MR. WILKINS.
>> YOU HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS. >> YES, SIR, MERRY CHRISTMAS.
>> THANK YOU. >> WHO WILL BE NEXT?
>> GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING.
>> MY NAME IS JOHNNY AND I LIVE AT 1216 COMBS AVENUE.
MY CONCERN TONIGHT IS THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON ON MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE. I LIVE -- WHEN I TURN OFF COMB AND GET ON TO JORDAN, I CANNOT SEE THE TRAFFIC THAT'S COMING TO THE RIGHT. IT'S VERY HARD TO SEE.
SO YOU HAVE TO GET ALMOST OUT IN THE STREET TO MAKE THE LEFT, AND THAT'S DETRIMENTAL. IT'S REALLY -- BECAUSE I DID THAT ONE MORNING AND I GOT BEEPED.
BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE TO THE RIGHT. AND YOU CAN'T SEE ON BURR STREET EITHER WHEN YOU GO THAT WAY, NOR FOSTER, NOR BORKIN AND ALL THE WAY TO MAYOR BROOKS DRIVE. MY CONCERN IS THAT COULD WE HAVE SOMEONE TO DIRECT TRAFFIC BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S KIND OF DANGEROUS. NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR OTHERS THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL.
SO I BELIEVE, I'M JUST ASKING CAN WE HAVE SOMEONE TO DIRECT TRAFFIC. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
>> HMM-MM. >> MS. CROUCH JUST A GENERAL UPDATE HOW THAT PROJECT IS GOING? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LANDMARKS WE'VE INSPECTED IN THE FUTURE AS FAR AS IT FINISHING AND BEING COMPLETED?
>> I HAVE TO ASK MR. WOOD, HE'S OUR ENGINEERING SERVICE DEPARTMENT FILLING IN FOR THE CITY ENGINEER TO SPEAK TO THAT.
I WASN'T PREPARED TO GIVE YOU A FULL UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS.
WE DO KEEP IT UPDATED ON OUR WEBSITE RELATIVE TO COMPLETION.
I CAN SAY WITH SITE DISTANCE BLOCKING SOME OF THAT WOULD HAVE TO DO WITH CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, BARRELS AND OTHER THINGS THAT WILL BE MOVED, AND THERE'S BEEN SURFACE THINGS AND OTHER THINGS GOING ON THAT CAUSE YOU THAT.
SO ON A GIVEN DAY, ABSOLUTELY THERE CAN BE EQUIPMENT BLOCKING VIEWS. BRIAN, DO YOU HAVE A GENERAL
WE ARE IN LINE WITH THE -- WE DO NOT HAVE AN ANTICIPATED END DATE BUT ARE ON TRACK. I'LL BE SURE TO CHECK IT OUT IN THE MORNING. THERE MAY BE A HAZARD ON MLK BUT
THANK YOU. >> WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK MOSTLY HE-- WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THE QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT SOMEONE CAN BE -- YOU KNOW, WHEN THAT DOES HAPPEN AND YOU GOT EQUIPMENT THERE, IS THERE ANYBODY THAT CAN DIRECT TRAFFIC EVEN IF IT'S THE PERSON THAT'S
ACTUALLY DOING THE CONSTRUCTION. >> SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO. IF THEY'RE NOT DOING CONTRACTUAL THINGS THAT REQUIRE THE CONTRACT WEIR NOT BE REQUIRED TO DIRECT
[00:45:03]
TRAFFIC. IT'S USUALLY WHEN THEY'RE BLOCKING LANES AND MOVING TRAFFIC AROUND.AND WE DO NOT TYPICALLY HAVE EXTRA POLICE OFFICERS AVAILABLE TO DO THIS. SO THAT'S WHY MR. WOOD NEEDS TO GO LOOK AND SEE WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND SEE HOW WE CAN ADDRESS WITH THE PARKING EQUIPMENT AND THINGS AND HELP THAT OUT.
INJURES WHEN THEY'RE WORKING IN THE AREA IS THE ONLY TIME IT WILL SHOULD BE BLOCKED AND IF THEY'RE ACTIVELY WORKING AND BLOCKING THINGS THEN LOGISTICALLY THERE SHOULD BE
SOMEONE THERE DIRECTING TRAFFIC. >> WE'LL LOOK INTO IT THIS WEEK.
307 CAMILLA DRIVE. SEXUALLY GRAPHIC, IMMORAL AND INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS REMAIN IN THE AUBURN LIBRARY, SUCH AS "WELCOME TO ST. HELL" "MY TRANS TEAM ADVENTURE" "ACTIVE DUTY" HOMOSEXUAL ROMANCE" "G8 MILITARY HOMO" THAT'S ALL WE NEED.
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. THIS BOOK IS ABSOLUTELY FILTHY.
INSIDE ARE DRAWINGS OF YOUNG MEN HAVING HOMOSEXUAL SEX AND DOG-LIKE SEX AND ADVISED TEENS TO USE PORN.
>> MS. SHAM, I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO STATE BUT CAN YOU -- I UNDERSTAND THE POINT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE, BUT KNOWING YOUR AUDIENCE, WE HAD YOUNG EARS IN THIS AUDIENCE TODAY, AND THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOUR POINT IS, AND I THINK YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SAY YOUR PEACE AND SO FORTH, BUT WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR PARENTS DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY.
AND THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE POINT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE.
SO NOW THEY ARE GONE, THEY GOT UP AND LEFT, BUT --
>> GOOD. >> I WOULD JUST ASK IN THE FUTURE WHEN YOU MAKE THESE REMARKS, WHICH I'M NOT SAYING YOU SHOULDN'T, BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR BELIEF AND YOUR FEELINGS.
>> YES. >> BUT PLEASE LOOK AROUND.
BECAUSE YOUNG EARS THAT YOU REMOVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND CHOICE FROM WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> YOU'VE PROVIDED FOR ALL THE YOUNG CHILDREN.
YOU BOUGHT THESE BOOKS, NOT ME. >> NO, MA'AM.
YOU ARE REMOVING THE CHOICE FROM THEM HEARING WHAT YOU JUST STATED, NOT THEM MAKING A CHOICE.
>> I AM VERY SORRY IF A CHILD HEARS THIS STUFF.
>> YOU HAD THREE CHILDREN IN HERE.
>> HOW DO I KNOW AGE AS SOON AS. >> WELL, YOU LOOK AROUND, YOU
CAN TELL -- >> NO NEED TO AGENT POINT.
THE KIDS ARE GONE, LET HER SAY WHAT SHE WANTS TO BE SAYING AND
THEN WE'LL BE THROUGH. >> OKAY.
CONTINUE. >> WELL, MA'AM, CONTINUE FREELY?
THIS -- THESE BOOKS ARE FILTHY, PERVERTED, DISGUSTING, AND VILE.
THE QUEER PRINCIPALS OF KENT WEBB, A HOMOSEXUAL ROMANCE AMONG MANY, MANY OTHERS, THESE ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
THIS FOLDER SHOWS YOU A SMALL SAMPLE OF THE FILTH THAT'S ON THE SHELVES. WHO BUYS THESE BOOKS? YOU DO. THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR BUYS THEM.
YOU PAY AND SIGN THE CHECKS, SEND OUT MORE MONEY TO BUY MORE OF THIS. FOR CHILDREN, AND WE CAN'T EVEN SPEAK OF IT. THE CITY COUNCIL THEY APOINT THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR, THE MANAGER, YOU INHERITED HIM, AND YOU CONTINUE TO RETAIN HIM KNOWING THE FILTH THAT HE HAS PROVIDED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS SINCE 2020.
THE CITY COUNCIL ASSIGNS THE LAND, THE BUILDINGS AND THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE LIBRARY. YOU OWN IT.
YOU HOLD THE PURSE STRINGS. YOU WRITE THE CHECKS FOR ALL OF THESE FILTHY BOOKS. I'VE GOT -- THIS IS NOTHING.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEM IN THERE.
NOT ME. YOU'VE SEEN THE TOXIC EFFECTS THEY HAVE, I WOULD THINK, ON YOUNG CHILDREN, SO ANY CHILD AGE 12 AND UP CAN ROAM THE LIBRARY WITHOUT A PARENT, AND SEE THIS MATERIAL. WHY DO YOU BUY THESE BOOKS? WHY? YOU HAVE THE PURSE RINGS AND YOU'RE PAYING FOR THESE BOOKS AND MAKE EXCUSES.
[00:50:03]
NOTHING'S BEEN DONE IN A WHOLE YEAR.>> MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SAY COMMENTS THAT I HAD EARLIER, I HAD NOTHING AGAINST FIREMEN, PLEASE DON'T -- I'M JUST SAYING I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO A BURNING HOUSE, BUT IF I CALL YOU AT NIGHT, I WANT YOU TO GET THERE IN A HURRY.
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT JOB.
IT JUST WASN'T FOR ME. >> CERTAINLY WISH OUR COMMUNITY A WONDERFUL MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND I CERTAINLY ECHO WHAT CHIEF DAWSON SAID, THERE'S A PRIMARY REASON THAT WE GET TOGETHER WITH OUR FAMILIES ON MONDAY CELEBRATE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AND I HOPE WE ALL TAKE TIME TO REFLECT ON THAT AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY WE WILL NOT HAVE OUR NORMAL WORK SESSION A WEEK FROM THURSDAY AS WE PREPARE FOR THE JANUARY 2ND CITY COUNCIL MEETING, SO THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN THAT DAY AT 4:00.
BUT OUR NEXT MEETING IS ON JANUARY THE 2ND.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.