9.a. Zoning Ordinance amendments. Article IV. General Regulations. Rural Conditional Uses. Planning Commission recommendations. Unanimous consent necessary. Public hearing required.

[9.a. Zoning Ordinance amendments. Article IV. General Regulations. Rural Conditional Uses. Planning Commission recommendations. Unanimous consent necessary. Public hearing required.]

ITEM NINE A AMENDS ARTICLE FOUR GENERAL REGULATIONS, TABLE FOUR.

ONE OF THE CITY OF AUBURN ZONING ORDINANCE TO EXPAND COMMERCIAL USES THAT MAY BE ALLOWED CONDITIONALLY IN THE RURAL ZONING DISTRICT.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM, WITH THE CONDITION THAT THE USES BE LOCATED ON AN ARTERIAL OR COLLECTOR ROAD DESIGNATED BY THE CITY OR ANOTHER APPROPRIATE GOVERNING BODY.

UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS NECESSARY AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED.

I'LL INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AND ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND AT THIS TIME.

EXCUSE ME. DOES ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD WITH A VOTE ON THIS THIS EVENING? HEARING NONE AT THIS TIME.

I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL. ROBERT WILKINS, 261 DENSON DRIVE, AUBURN, ALABAMA. WE CITIZENS REQUEST THAT THIS ORDINANCE VOTE TO BE POSTPONED FOR 90 DAYS OR DENY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

THERE'S SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. THIS COULD BE SPOT ZONING, BUT THE COURTS HAVE SAID THAT THIS TERMINOLOGY WAS A LITTLE AMBIGUOUS.

US, BUT IT REMINDS ME A LITTLE BIT OF ORDINANCE 3288 SHORT TERM RENTAL, WHERE YOU CAN DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ONE NEIGHBOR WHILE THE OTHER ONE CAN CAN DO A SHORT TERM RENTAL. SEVERAL COUNCIL MEETINGS. IT HAS BEEN STATED THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE PROPER SEWAGE CAPACITY IN RURAL AREAS.

IS THE CITY IS THE COUNCIL WAY OF TRYING TO ENCOMPASS ALL THE 744 PARCELS THROUGH PROVIDING LENIENCY TO PAY FOR THE NEEDED SEWAGE CONNECTIONS, OR WHAT HAVE ALL THE AUBURN CITIZENS THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED IN THESE RURAL AREAS BEEN CONTACTED? WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO CREATED EXCITEMENT AMONG AUBURN CITY STAFF WHILE REVIEWING PUD PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA FOR THIS MEETING AND THEIR POSITIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. MAYOR ANDERS, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CITY MANAGERS HAVE AN INCREDIBLE APPETITE TO DEVOUR THE RURAL LAND SURROUNDING AUBURN AND FEEDING THIS INSATIABLE AUBURN REVENUE MACHINE. PLEASE POSTPONE RULE CONDITIONAL USES ON THE 744 PARCELS FOR 90 DAYS OR DENY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? I HAVE ONE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. ALL CONDITIONAL USE REQUEST WOULD COME BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. AND ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE PROPOSED BY THIS ITEM TONIGHT WOULD HAVE TO COME AS A CONDITIONAL USE. THAT'S CORRECT.

ANYTHING MARKED C IN THE TABLE FOR ONE PERMITTED USES AND IS ANY ORDINANCE IT'S C IT'S CONDITIONAL.

AND ALSO THAT MEANS COUNCILMAN MORMON I THINK.

AND YOU MAY BE HEADED THERE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE ADEQUATE UTILITIES AND OTHER THINGS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THAT USE.

YOU CAN'T JUST PUT A USE ON A LOT THAT CAN'T HANDLE IT.

SO EVEN DOWN TO A SEPTIC TANK. TANK. IT HAS TO PERCOLATE OR WE'VE GOT ISSUES.

YOU CAN'T GET A PERMIT FOR IT. SO MOST RURAL AREAS DO NOT HAVE CITY SEWER AVAILABLE.

THEY WOULD BE ON SEPTIC TANK. BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE MORE IN TOWN THAT ARE ON SEPTIC TANK TWO PERIODICALLY IF WE DON'T HAVE SEWER AVAILABLE.

ARE ALL THE USES IN TABLE 4-1 CONDITIONAL USES? NO, SIR. ARE THEY? YOU MEAN FOR THIS USE OR USES IN GENERAL? WHAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING TONIGHT? WELL, I SAW SOME ANNOTATION THERE OF R AND C, AND THE R IS LOOK LIKE HEADINGS MORE THAN ACTUAL

[00:20:08]

USES. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS ALLOWED BY RIGHT IN THESE RURAL ZONES.

SO WHAT THE IF YOU'RE REFERRING TO THIS THAT'S IN IN YOUR PACKET THE ORDINANCE THE R STANDS FOR RURAL ZONE BECAUSE IT'S AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE AND THE C IS FOR CONDITIONAL.

IT'S CARRYING BECAUSE NORMALLY IT GOES ACROSS THE TOP OF THE WHOLE PAGE, ALL THE ZONES. AND SO THIS IS JUST A SUMMARIZED VERSION OF IT.

AND THEN IF YOU SEE THE SDS, THAT'S IF IT HAS A XBOX BY IT OR THE THE BOX IS MARKED.

THAT IS SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT HAS TO MEET IN ANOTHER SECTION OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE SHOULD IT PROCEED.

SO NO USES OTHER THAN CONDITIONAL REALLY ARE BEING DISCUSSED.

CORRECT. THAT'S ADDING THOSE USES THAT AREN'T CURRENTLY ALLOWED IN THE RURAL ZONE AND NOW ALLOWING THEM CONDITIONALLY IF THEY MEET CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

THERE ARE PERMITTED USES IN THE RURAL ZONE LIKE FEED AND SEED STORE AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

I'LL HAVE OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR SPEAK TO THAT THAT ALREADY EXIST THAT THIS WOULD BE TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL ONES, BUT CONDITIONALLY BECAUSE, SAY YOU TAKE THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION OF IT NEEDS TO BE A BUSIER ROAD.

AND I YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

AND SOME OF YOU HAVE DEALT WITH IN COUNCILMAN DAWSON'S WARD, WE HAVE RURAL EVENT CENTERS THAT GO ON AND WE MIGHT IN IN MAYOR PRO TEM WINTON'S WARD.

AND THAT WAS A BIG DISCUSSION AT THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME TO ALLOW A AN EVENT CENTER, IN ESSENCE, OUT ADJACENT TO PEOPLE'S PROPERTY. SOMETIMES THERE'S TWO ACRE LOTS AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE CLOSE.

AND SO THE GOAL OF ADDING THEM CONDITIONALLY IS COUNCIL GETS TO REVIEW ALL THAT AS PLANNING COMMISSION DOES.

AND IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO PUT, YOU KNOW, A BREW PUB AND ALL OF THEIR NEIGHBORS COME OUT AND SAY, THIS ISN'T A GOOD THING AND THIS IS WHY, AND IT'S GOING TO CREATE AN ISSUE. YOU GET TO LOOK AT ALL OF THAT AT THE THEN TIME.

JUSTICE. YOU MAY HAVE SOME MORE USES THAT ARE ALREADY PERMITTED OUT IN THE RURAL AREA.

KNOW PRETTY MUCH I MEAN, EVERYTHING IS JUST I MEAN, YOU GOT A LOT OF CONDITIONAL USES THAT ARE AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT.

I MEAN, REALLY THE ONLY PERMITTED USES THAT YOU HAVE IN RURAL ARE TIED TO RESIDENTIAL.

AND SO THIS WAS REALLY JUST KIND OF AN SO EVEN A FEED AND SEED IS CONDITIONAL. CORRECT. YEAH.

AND THE USES THAT ARE PROPOSED TO BE CONDITIONAL IN THIS ORDINANCE, WOULD YOU ESTIMATE THAT THERE WOULD BE INTENSE USES.

NO. SO SO THESE ARE DESIGNED TO BE LOW INTENSITY USES.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S A CAP ON SQUARE FOOTAGE. THERE'S ALSO BY PUTTING THIS IN RULE.

THEY'RE KIND OF SELF-LIMITING FROM THE CONSTRAINT ON UTILITIES OUT IN THESE AREAS.

AND ALSO YOU'RE RECOMMENDING CONVENIENCE STORE, BUT NOT THE GAS THAT GOES WITH IT.

IT WOULD BE A 3000 SQUARE FOOT IN DOWN. THE ONE THING THAT'S OUT THERE, THE ALL OTHERS.

DO YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND WHY THAT HAS TO BE INCLUDED AS OPPOSED TO EXCLUDED? YES. AND SO THAT'S A GREAT POINT. SO WE PURPOSELY PUT THAT UNDER ALL OTHERS UNDER COMMERCIAL AND ENTERTAINMENT.

AND SO THAT'S NOT ALL OTHERS OF ALL OTHER USES THAT ENCOMPASSES THE REST OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE OR THE REST OF THE USES TABLE.

IT'S JUST ALL OTHER COMMERCIAL USES. JUST BECAUSE WE MAY NOT THINK OF WHAT SOME PEOPLE MAY WANT TO DO.

AND SO INSTEAD OF IT NOT BEING ALLOWED AND THEN HAVING TO COME BACK WITH ANOTHER AMENDMENT OR SOMETHING, WE'D RATHER JUST KIND OF THE ALL OTHER USES, AS LONG AS IT FELL UNDER THE COMMERCIAL AND ENTERTAINMENT DESIGNATION IN THE USE TABLE.

YEAH. IF IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY ALREADY IN THERE AND IT DOESN'T HAVE A CONDITIONAL BY IT BEING RECOMMENDED BY THE STAFF, IT WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED THE ALL OTHER ARE THINGS THAT DON'T CURRENTLY EXIST IN THE TABLE.

SO THE NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, THE NAICS CODES ARE WHAT WE USE TO DEFINE THOSE USES.

THOSE ARE ALSO TIED TO OUR BUSINESS LICENSES AND HOW USES ARE DEFINED.

BUT PEOPLE CAN COME UP WITH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SAY, WELL, PICKLEBALL COURTS YEARS AGO NOBODY KNEW WHAT THOSE WERE.

BUT THAT'S A TREND. AND I'M NOT SAYING ANYBODY'S TRYING TO PUT THEM OUT THERE. BUT AS AN EXAMPLE OF WE CAN'T ALWAYS ANTICIPATE.

SO THIS GIVES YOU THE CHOICE AT THE END OF THE DAY OF WHETHER OR NOT A USE COULD GO OUT THERE.

SO IT ADDS SOME FLEXIBILITY TO WITHOUT HAVING A HARD NO FOR FOR APPLICANTS, USE VARIANCES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO TO THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT.

THIS IS THE ONLY ARBITER OF USES, AS THE TABLE PERMITTED USES IN THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEIR REVIEW OF CONDITIONAL USES.

I WONDER IF WE'VE KIND OF JUMPED INTO THE DETAILS WITHOUT STEPPING BACK.

I ENJOYED VERY MUCH WATCHING THE JUNE 12TH, I THINK, PLANNING COMMISSION DELIBERATION ON THIS ITEM.

I WONDER IF DIRECTOR COTTON COULD GIVE US A QUICK OVERVIEW FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE SEEN THAT MEETING IN THAT DISCUSSION AS TO HOW WE GOT HERE. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH, CERTAINLY. THANK YOU. SO WE HAD A WE HAD A STAKEHOLDER MEETING FOR OUR ORDINANCE.

AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT IS THAT ORDINANCE WAS KIND OF DRAFTED TO HAVE CREATIVE USES AND CREATIVE PLACES.

NOT A LOT OF CONSTRAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. BUT WE GOT IN THAT MEETING WAS, WELL, IF THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO BE OFFERING WHERE WE CAN LOCATE THESE IN DIFFERENT

[00:25:02]

PLACES, AND AT THE TIME WE WERE JUST KIND OF TALKING ABOUT THIS COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE CITY WITHOUT THE CURRENT CONSTRAINTS THAT ARE IN THE ORDINANCE. THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN CAN WE LOCATE THESE IN RURAL AREAS, AND CAN WE HAVE SMALL SCALE COMMERCIAL ONES? AND WE WERE LIKE, WELL, WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT? AND THEY'RE ALL SAYING, WELL, WE HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST FROM GUYS WHO THEY WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE INTERSECTIONS. THESE ARE HIGH. THESE ARE HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES IN TOWN THAT NOW, INSTEAD OF THESE BEING THESE RURAL OUTPOSTS WHERE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC, THESE ARE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES FOR PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT OF THE CITY EVERY DAY WHERE THEY'D LIKE TO LOCATE SOME OF THESE AREAS.

AND SO OUR IDEA WAS, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GO THROUGH A 6 TO 8 MONTH PROCESS OF THE PUD ORDINANCE, OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE MORE APPLICABLE TO HAVE A CONDITIONAL USE TO LOOK AT ON A CASE, ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS FOR DIFFERENT PLACES IN TOWN THAT MIGHT MAKE SENSE, THAT MIGHT BE AT SOME OF THESE INTERSECTIONS OR ALONG THESE HIGH TRAFFIC CORRIDORS AND ROADWAYS. AND SO THAT WAS KIND OF THE CATALYST FOR US LOOKING AT IT THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS BEYOND THE PUD ORDINANCE.

AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT AND KIND OF BROUGHT THIS TO PLANNING COMMISSION IN ITS FIRST ITERATION, IT WAS, WELL, WE'LL JUST ADD THIS AS A CONDITIONAL USE IN THE RURAL SECTION.

SOME OF THEM THOUGHT THAT WAS A LITTLE PERVASIVE. YOU HAVE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE RURAL. PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT THAT THEIR NEIGHBOR WITHIN A NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE ABLE TO DO IT, BUT THEY THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE WE CAN PUT SOME CONSTRAINTS AROUND THIS.

IS TIED TO ROAD TRAFFIC. THESE INTERSECTIONS CAN WE SEE ARTERIALS? CAN WE SEE COLLECTORS. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO WE PUT TOGETHER THE MAPS THAT ARE THE EXHIBITS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ITEM.

AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THE CONDITION OF MUST BE IN A OR ALONG A ARTERIAL OR COLLECTOR ROADWAY.

AND THEN ALSO WE PUT THE CONDITION ON WITH A LOT OF THE RURAL AREAS, A LOT OF THE RURAL ZONING DISTRICT JUST KIND OF BEING OUTSIDE WHERE WE HAVE OUR MAJOR STREET PLAN OR SOME OF THOSE LANDS NOT BEING ANNEXED.

SO ALREADY THAT'S WHY THE CONDITION IS THERE FOR ANY GOVERNMENTAL BODY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

I GUESS AN APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENTAL BODY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY WOULD BE ABLE TO DESIGNATE A COLLECTOR AS WELL. SO THAT KIND OF ENCOMPASSES ALL THE ROADS KIND OF AROUND THE CITY THAT FROM A CLASSIFICATION STANDPOINT. SO LIKE I SAID, THERE WAS A LOT OF THOROUGH THOUGHT.

A LOT OF THIS CAME FROM INPUT THAT PEOPLE THAT WE DEAL WITH KIND OF POINT OUT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE INTERSECTIONS AND THESE ARTERIALS AND COLLECTORS AND LOOKING AT THE HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS.

AND THEN JUST KIND OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT BEING SO OPEN TO EVERYBODY IN THESE RURAL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY WANTED IT ALONG THESE HIGH TRAFFIC CORRIDORS. SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE CONDITION ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THANK YOU, MR. COTTON. WOULD IT BE? IS IT TOO EASY TO SAY THAT IF IF WE WERE TO ALLOW SOME OF THESE, THAT WE WOULD HAVE CITIZENS THAT WOULD BE STOPPING TO GO TO THE STORE OR STOPPING TO DO WHATEVER THEIR NEED MIGHT BE INSTEAD OF, AS OPPOSED TO TRAVELING ALL OVER THE CITY, AND, I DON'T KNOW, POTENTIALLY CREATING TRAFFIC EXACERBATING TRAFFIC ALONG THE CITY.

IF THEY COULD JUST STOP SOMEWHERE NEAR THEIR HOUSE AND PICK UP WHATEVER THEY MIGHT BE PICKING UP.

THAT IS CORRECT. AND SO THIS IS A THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE INTENT TO PROVIDE AMENITIES AND ALLOW AMENITIES TO LOCATE IN PROXIMITY TO TO ROOFTOPS.

AND LIKE I SAID, KIND OF THE SHIFTING DEMOGRAPHICS OF AUBURN, OF WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT MORE ROOFTOPS AND OUR RURAL DESIGNATION AREAS THAN WE THOUGHT, WE HAVE AN ENTIRE RURAL SUBDIVISIONS, PLACES THAT ARE HIGH TRAFFIC CORRIDORS THAT FROM OUR ZONING DISTRICT IS JUST EXCLUSIVELY RURAL.

BUT NOW JUST KIND OF WITH THE TRAFFIC THAT THEY'RE SEEING, THEY KIND OF EMBODY MUCH MORE OF A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR IN SOME OF THESE ASPECTS. AND THEY'RE NOT, BUT THEY DON'T REALLY MEET THE STANDARDS OF A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA LIKE A HAMILTON OR OGLETREE OR, YOU KNOW, DONAHUE AND SUGAR OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. IT'S JUST MUCH MORE JUST KIND OF THE DAILY COMMUTER TRAFFIC IN AND OUT AND SOME OF THE MORE RURAL AREAS. AND SO IT WOULD BE PROVIDING AMENITIES AND A LOT CLOSER PROXIMITY TO SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE RURAL OUTPOST IN THE FRINGES OF TOWN. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DIRECTOR COTTON. IF WE OR, I GUESS CITY MANAGER, MORE APPROPRIATELY, IF WE JUST DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A GOOD FIT, IF THEY CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND WE JUST THOUGHT IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA, ON WHAT BASIS WOULD WE MAKE THAT DECISION? HOW WOULD WE DENY THE BASIS THAT IS OUTLINED IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE? AND REMIND ME, JUSTICES, IT'S ARTICLE EIGHT. IT'S IT'S IT'S OUTLINED.

I MEAN, IT'S HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE, BUT IT'S IT CAN BE A NUISANCE.

YOU HAVE TO DECIDE. YOU'VE TURNED DOWN SOME CONDITIONAL USES AND RECENT TIME AND STATED VERY SUCCINCT REASONS.

IF YOU CAN'T MITIGATE IT WITH LANDSCAPING, TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS, WHAT HAVE YOU.

AND THAT WAS THE CHALLENGE FOR THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT DEALT WITH THE RURAL EVENT CENTERS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF VERY ROBUST, STICKY DISCUSSION.

CHADWICK LANE WAS SQUARELY IN QUITE A HEATED DISCUSSION AMONG BOTH NEIGHBORS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT HOW THAT WORKED.

AND THAT'S STILL A CHALLENGE. IT'S WHETHER OR NOT IS IT A IS IT A NUISANCE OR SOME SORT OF CHALLENGE FOR NEIGHBORS, AND CAN IT BE MITIGATED OR NOT? OR IS THERE A HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE THAT IS CREATING SOME MAJOR ISSUE THAT COULD BE AN ISSUE?

[00:30:08]

I WOULD RECOMMEND IF YOU DO PROCEED WITH THIS, ANYTIME THAT HAPPENS, WE ALWAYS VET LEGALLY AND ALL OF YOU ARE VERY GOOD ABOUT THIS.

IF IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO GET BEHIND SOMETHING, WE USUALLY TALK TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THAT AND BE SURE THAT YOU'RE TRACKING WITH WHAT THE LAW SAYS. AND SOME USES HAVE SOME PEOPLE HAVE APPROACHED YOU WITH VARIOUS USES AND YOU'VE TURNED THEM DOWN IN THE RECENT PAST? IS THAT CORRECT? YES. AND WE'VE ALSO HAD PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THE DESIRE THAT THEY WOULD BUY PROPERTY AND ANNEX IT INTO THE CITY, BUT THERE WAS NO MEANS FOR THEM TO ACHIEVE THE COMMERCIAL USES THAT THEY SOUGHT TO PUT, BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO PURSUE A USE VARIANCE, WHICH WE HAD TO SAY NO, NO FOR. WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE RECENTLY TURNED DOWN? SO I GUESS KIND OF ON THE INTERSECTION OF SOCIETY HILL AND MOORE'S MILL, THAT WAS A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION OF JUST THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN, HEY, THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS AT THIS CORNER THAT THAT WE'D LIKE TO DO. IS THIS A POSSIBILITY? AND IT'S IT'S A HARD NO, BECAUSE, I MEAN, THE ONLY THINGS EXCLUSIVELY ALLOWED OUT THERE ARE RESIDENTIAL AND, AND DOG KENNELS, PRETTY MUCH. AND THEN I GUESS KIND OF WHEN YOU GO FURTHER OUT AND SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS WITH OUR TRAFFIC IT'S THE SAME THING WHERE THEY WOULD AND I WAS KIND OF THE CATALYST MIGHT BE WHAT THE CURRENT OWNER MAY BE DOING.

AND I GUESS WE'VE HAD HAD INPUT FROM SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY OF, HEY, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CITY CAN DO ABOUT THIS? I KNOW PEOPLE MAY BE LOOKING TO ACQUIRE THIS, BUT DO THEY HAVE AN OPTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A DIFFERENT PLAN? AND LIKE I SAID, I MEAN, OUR ANSWER ALWAYS HAS HAD TO BE NO BECAUSE IT'S ONLY CAN BE RESIDENTIAL OR DOG KENNEL.

AND SO JUST DIFFERENT INTERSECTIONS, I GUESS, JUST KIND OF AT THE FRINGES WITH SOCIETY HILL AND MOORES MILL OTHER PLACES KIND OF WHEN WE PUSH FURTHER NORTH JUST KIND OF INTO THE CITY OR OUT ON THE FRINGES ON THE, ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE CITY, BUT JUST KIND OF A LOT OF THOSE MAJOR INTERSECTIONS WHERE YOU GOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC COMING INTO THE CITY AS THE MAJOR CORRIDORS, JUST KIND OF FROM THE RURAL SIDES OF TOWN. MR. GRISWOLD, WHERE WOULD A GROCERY STORE FALL IN THESE? IN THIS TABLE OF USES? NOT ALLOWED. YEAH. SO NOT A GROCERY STORE.

CONVENIENCE STORE UNDER 3000FT². I ALSO WANT TO ADD WE'VE HAD SEVERAL I THINK OVER THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ANY INQUIRIES ABOUT POP UP FARMERS MARKETS FOR, I THINK, MY FIRST YEAR AND A HALF.

AND THEN I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL FOR A LONG SAND HILL ROAD THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO DO THEM.

AND SO IN THE PATHWAY THAT WE LAST LEFT, THAT CONVERSATION WAS PETITION IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THEY HAD TO GET A PDP AMENDMENT AND THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION AND COUNCIL FOR THEM TO FOR THAT TO BE AN ALLOWED USE.

AND THEN THEY'D HAVE TO GO BACK WITH THE ACTUAL PLAN TO PUT THAT FORWARD AND THEN EXECUTE THAT AND GO BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND COUNCIL.

SO SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, GROCERY STORES WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED. IT'S JUST A CONVENIENCE STORE UNDER 3000FT². IT WAS JUST WE'VE HAD OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT POP UP FARMERS MARKETS AS WELL. JUST KIND OF HAPPENING. ALL RIGHT. SO IT'S CONDITIONAL USE FOR CONVENIENCE STORES LESS THAN 3000, BUT A REGULAR GROCERY STORE WOULDN'T COME IN AS A CONSIDERATION.

UNDER. UNDER ALL OTHERS? NO. ALL OTHER SOUNDS PRETTY WIDE OPEN.

IT'S. IT'S DEFINED. AND SO WHAT YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT.

AND AGAIN WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH TABLE FOUR.

ONE HAS A LOT OF USES DEFINED IN IT. FUNERAL HOMES GARDEN SUPPLY GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORE GROCERY STORES HARDWARE STORES.

NONE OF THAT IS ALLOWED PER PER WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.

ONLY THE THINGS WITH C BY IT IN OTHER CATEGORIES THAT ARE NOT COMMERCIAL AND ENTERTAINMENT.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA LIKE COMMERCIAL RECREATIONAL USE, THE RURAL ZONE ALREADY ALLOWS CONDITIONALLY AN AMPHITHEATER, AMUSEMENT PARK, FAIRGROUND, MINIATURE GOLF, DRIVING RANGE, RACETRACK OR STADIUM OR ARENA THAT'S ALREADY A CONDITIONAL USE THAT'S LONG BEEN ALLOWED IN THE RURAL ZONE. THIS IS ADDING. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT ALL OTHER USES.

COUNCILMAN GRISWOLD. IF IT IS NOT CURRENTLY LISTED IN THIS TABLE FOR ONE UNDER COMMERCIAL ENTERTAINMENT, WHICH HAS A SPECIFIC DEFINITION IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF HOW ONE DEFINES WHICH ARE MAINLY RETAIL USES THAT YOU THINK OF.

THEN IT COULD FALL IN THE ALL OTHERS CATEGORY.

WOULD A LARGER THING SAY WHOLE FOODS OR WHATEVER? IS THAT A GROCERY STORE AS A SPECIALTY FOOD STORE? NO. I MEAN, IT'S A IT'S A SEPARATE, YOU KNOW, CLASS OF GROCERY STORE, OBVIOUSLY.

YEAH. SEPARATE THING. AND I THINK ALSO JUST, JUST KIND OF FOR EVERYBODY HERE AND I GUESS FOR THE AUDIENCE, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, KIND OF A SELF-LIMITING FACTOR THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE WRITTEN IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T SEEK TO LOCATE OUT IN THIS AREA. THEY WOULDN'T THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THE UTILITIES TO LOCATE OUT IN THIS AREA AND PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MEET THE SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS OR SOMETHING OF THAT INTENSITY. WOULD WE WOULD PUSH TO LOCATE SOMEWHERE ELSE AND NOT NOT IN THESE AREAS.

SO THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE SELF-LIMITING THINGS OF ALLOWING THE FLEXIBILITY IN THE RULES ZONING DISTRICT.

AND ALSO THIS IS REALLY LOOKING AT KIND OF SMALL SCALE DESTINATION COMMERCIAL TYPE DEAL, NOT SOMETHING WHERE THIS IS GOING TO BE LIKE A DAILY

[00:35:09]

THING. SO LIKE A, LIKE A HIGH INTENSITY USE, SUCH AS A GROCERY STORE, LIKE A WHOLE FOODS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE AN ABILITY TO ADD OR MAYBE IT'S ALREADY WRITTEN IN BASED OFF OF CERTAIN TYPES OF USE LIKE ACREAGE MINIMUMS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED SETBACKS, BUFFERING.

IS THAT DIFFERENT IN A RURAL ZONE THAN IT WOULD BE IN A CBD OR.

YES. AND SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THE SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.

SO WE HAD AN INTERNAL DISCUSSION WITH STAFF ABOUT HOW WE'D WANT TO HANDLE THAT. FOR A LOT OF THESE WE ALREADY HAVE SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS IN DIFFERENT ZONING DISTRICTS. I THINK WE'LL TRANSFER THAT OVER TO THIS OR TRY TO APPLY THOSE TO THE SITE PLANS.

SO LIKE WHEN THEY DO COME IN, BUT THE ACRE LOT MINIMUMS FOR THE THREE ACRES WILL STILL APPLY.

THIS IS NOT ANYTHING WHERE YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE HAVING HALF ACRE, HALF ACRE LOTS OR SUBDIVIDED INTO HALF ACRE LOTS IN RURAL ZONING DISTRICT, THE SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS WILL APPLY AND I GUESS IF WE SEE FIT THAT MORE SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE THESE USES CONFORM MORE AND BE MORE COMPATIBLE WITH THINGS AROUND THEM THAN WE WILL DO THAT.

BUT BUT THERE ARE SPECIAL DEVELOPMENTS TO STANDARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.

SO FOR RURAL, THERE'S ALREADY FOR COMMERCIAL ENTERTAINMENT USES.

THEY'VE GOT A MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA RATIO OF 0.12, A MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA RATIO, I MEAN IMPERVIOUS SURFACE RATIO OF 30%, MINIMUM SIDE AREAS, ALL THAT'S ALREADY BUILT INTO THE ORDINANCE AS A BASIC.

AND HE'S SAYING THAT A SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARD, WE MAY TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER AND APPLY THAT TO MORE USES.

AND THAT MAY BE COMING IN THE FUTURE IF NEEDED.

SO IT'S STILL BE A THREE ACRE MINIMUM, CORRECT.

BUT THEORETICALLY YOU COULD HAVE A LOT THAT IS IN THE CITY LIMITS ALREADY BECAUSE IT SAYS 40,000 SQUARE FOOT IN A DIFFERENT TABLE.

IF IT WAS A NON-CONFORMING LOT, IT STILL COULD BE POSSIBLE.

YEAH. SO SO SO I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

SO WE HAVE SO WE DO HAVE NONCOMPLIANCE NON COMPLIANT PARCELS THAT NON-CONFORMING PARCELS THAT DO ANNEX INTO THE CITY THAT DO NOT MEET THE MINIMUM.

WE'VE HAD 2.5 ACRE LOTS ANNEXED INTO THE CITY, AND THEY'RE AUTOMATICALLY GIVEN THE DESIGNATION OF RULE.

I GUESS THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN IN SOME PLACES WHERE WE HAVE NONCONFORMING LOTS THAT DO NOT MEET THE THREE ACRE MINIMUM. THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SUBDIVIDE AND GET ANY SMALLER, BUT THEY COULD COME INTO THE CITY SMALLER THAN THREE ACRES. WE HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH. THIS TEXT AMENDMENT, IT CAN BE IN NO WAY CHARACTERIZED AS SPOT ZONING IN MY ESTIMATIONS.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. THIS IS AN AMENDMENT. SPOT ZONING WOULD BE IF WE WERE TO GO INTO THE RURAL DESIGNATION, YOU KNOW, WILLY NILLY AND JUST DROP SEED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ARTERIAL, NOT AT AN INTERSECTION.

AND I GUESS ALSO NO MENTION IN OUR PRIOR PLANS, NO MENTION IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, COMP PLAN OR ANYTHING.

SO THERE WAS NO REZONING HAPPENING HERE. THIS IS REALLY JUST AN AMENDMENT TO A ZONE TO ALLOW CONDITIONAL USES, NOT REZONING ANYTHING. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, LINDSAY WITH THE ROLL CALL. GRISWOLD. YES, MA'AM.

YES, MA'AM. PARSONS. YES. TAYLOR. YES. WHITTON.

YES. ADAMS. YES. COBLENZ. YES, MA'AM. DAWSON.

YES, MA'AM. ANDERS. YES. ITEM NINE B AMENDS THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET.

[9.b. Amend FY2025 budget. Fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2025. Unanimous consent necessary.]

UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS NECESSARY. I'LL INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AND ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD WITH THE VOTE ON THIS THIS EVENING? ALL RIGHT.

HEARING NONE. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. LINDSAY MORMAN.

YES, MA'AM. YES. TAYLOR. YES. WHITTON. YES. ADAMS. YES. YES, MA'AM. DAWSON. YES, MA'AM. GRISWOLD.

YES, MA'AM. ANDERS. YES. ITEM NINE C ADOPTS THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND FISCAL YEAR 2027.

[9.c. FY2026-FY2027 Biennial Budget. Unanimous consent necessary.]

BIENNIAL BUDGET. UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS NECESSARY.

I'LL INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AND ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD WITH THE VOTE ON THIS THIS EVENING. YES, SIR. I WOULD LIKE TO DENY UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS CONSENT.

WE'LL BRING THIS FORWARD IN TWO WEEKS. ABSOLUTELY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. RESOLUTIONS. ITEM TEN A IS REQUEST FOR PURELY

[10.a. Outdoor Café Permit. Purely Bowls. 211 W. Glenn Avenue. Public hearing required.]

BOWLS FOR AN OUTDOOR CAFÉ PERMIT. IT'S FROM PURELY BOWLS.

SHOULD I SAY FOR AN OUTDOOR CAFÉ PERMIT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 211 WEST GLENN AVENUE.

AN OUTDOOR CAFÉ PERMIT WAS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED FOR THIS ADDRESS, BUT THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP.

A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED. MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

SECOND. MOTION SECOND. THIS TIME WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THIS, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. AND YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES. SEEING NO ONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? WILL THERE BE? I NOTICED IN THE DRAWINGS IN HERE. WILL THERE BE ANY GATING OR FENCING AROUND THIS AREA LIKE THERE IS ON MAGNOLIA AND

[00:40:06]

COLLEGE. NO, THERE IS NOT. THIS IS GOING TO BE JUST KIND OF AS WHEN THEY'RE OPEN, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A PERMANENT INSTALLATION.

SO REALLY JUST KIND OF DURING THEIR HOURS OF OPERATION. AND TYPICALLY IF YOU'RE NOT SERVING ALCOHOL OKAY.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. OKAY. GOTCHA. YEAH THERE'S A REQUIRED YEAH BARRIER FOR THAT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM TEN B ONE AUTHORIZES A CONTRACT WITH HAZEN AND SAWYER FOR THE TOWN,

[10.b.1. Hazen and Sawyer. Town Creek and Moores Mill Sewer Basins Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey (SSES) – Phase I. $250,000.]

CREEK AND MAUMELLE SEWER BASINS. SANITARY SEWER EVALUATION SURVEY PHASE ONE.

IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000 FOR APPROVAL. SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. COUNCIL. HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM TEN B TWO AUTHORIZES A CONTRACT WITH W.W.

[10.b.2. W.W. Compton. Public Safety Training Site: Electrical addition and alternates. $418,412.50.]

COMPTON AND THE AMOUNT OF $418,412.50 FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING SITE.

ELECTRICAL ADDITIONS AND ALTERNATES THAT INCLUDE DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ORIGINAL REST AREA. INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC GATE ACCESS, INSTALLATION OF A CHAIN LINK FENCE, DEMOLITION OF EXISTING SIDEWALKS, AND INSTALLATION OF NEW SIDEWALKS TO DIFFERENT TRAINING AREAS, AND TWO 72 INCH CEILING FANS FOR OUTDOOR PAVILIONS.

MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND MOTION AND SECOND. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? YES, MR. MAYOR, PLEASE. YOU KNOW, WE'VE RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR FUNDING FOR THIS PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER, AND IT'S A FANTASTIC ADDITION. WE HAD ONE IN THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT, AS A MATTER OF FACT, FOR 48,000 SOMETHING. AND THIS WAS 418,000. CAN DO WE KNOW YET WHAT THIS WHOLE THING IS GOING TO COST US? YEAH, I HAVE DIRECTOR MATTHEWS GO OVER THAT. THE THE DRAFTING PIT THOUGH THAT YOU APPROVED IN THE CONSENT AGENDA IS CALLED OUT SPECIFICALLY IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AS A STANDALONE PROJECT AS THE OTHER TOWERS DRILL TOWER.

AND BURN BUILDING. AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE CALLED OUT SEPARATELY AND INDIVIDUALLY IN THAT.

BUT DIRECTOR MATTHEWS CAN TALK TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER BUILDING ITSELF AND ASSOCIATED WORK, BUT WE'VE GOT AN AGGREGATE TOTAL OF ALL IN OR THOSE INDIVIDUALLY OR WHATEVER YOU WISH.

MR. MATTHEWS? SURE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE TRAINING CENTER.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT ADDITION AND AN ASSET FOR OUR DEPARTMENT ALREADY FOR REGIONAL TRAINING.

ALL IN. IF YOU LOOK AT PHASE ONE, WHICH WAS INFRASTRUCTURE, PHASE TWO, WHICH WAS CLASSROOM BUILDING AND THEN THE TRAINING PROPS.

CURRENTLY THE BUDGET BUDGETED AMOUNT IS SIX POINT JUST OVER 6.25 MILLION.

FOR EVERYTHING UP TO DATE AFTER EXPENDITURES, WE ARE $54,065 TO THE GOOD IN THE BLACK. AND SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS THESE ARE SOME OF THE ONE OFF OR ONE OFFS THAT WE DIDN'T INCLUDE IN THE BIG PROJECT TO BEGIN WITH, BECAUSE WE WEREN'T SURE AT THE TIME IF WE WERE GOING TO HAVE OVERAGES.

AND SO THE, THE FENCING, THE GATES TAKING ELECTRICAL TO THE TRAINING PROPS ON THE TRAINING GROUNDS REFURBISHING THOSE THE PAVILIONS THAT ARE ON THE TRAINING GROUNDS, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE WANTED TO BRING FORWARD FROM THE BEGINNING, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO CHANCE THE OVERAGES. AND SO THEY WERE SEPARATE AND APART.

SO THIS IS US GOING BACK AND PICKING UP SOME OF THOSE LAST MINUTE THINGS TO SECURE THE FACILITY PROPERLY AND TO MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT AND USEFUL WHEN YOU'RE ON THE TRAINING GROUNDS WITHOUT HAVING TO GO OVER THE HILL TO THE CLASSROOM BUILDING. AND IT WILL STILL FALL WITHIN BUDGET BUDGETED FUNDS.

ALL THOSE THINGS ARE FANTASTIC AND VERY USEFUL AND NEEDED.

I JUST SOMETIMES WE GET NICKEL AND DIME, SO TO SPEAK, ON VARIOUS BIG PROJECTS.

YOU KNOW, THE THE PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER, YOU KNOW, ONE DAY WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE CENTER, THE NEXT DAY WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE FURNITURE. THE NEXT DAY WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. IT JUST IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL WHEN WE FIRST INTRODUCE A PROJECT.

I KNOW IT'S A SWAG, BUT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT'S THIS THING REALLY GOING TO COST US.

I KNOW WE HAVE TO CONTRACT IT IN PIECES AND INCREMENTS, BUT HAVING A BIG PICTURE UPFRONT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL.

DON'T WE GET THAT INFORMATION IN THE CIP REPORT YOU DO IN THE CIP? AND COUNCILMAN GRISWOLD SPEAKING TO WHAT'S HARD IS FURNITURE.

FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT, F-F-A AND OTHER THINGS.

AND IT'S IT DOES. IT BRIDGES MULTIPLE FISCAL YEARS AND SOME HITS THE CIP AND SOME SOME WILL HIT CAPITAL OUTLAY.

AND SO WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH THE AGGREGATE NUMBER. AND ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS TO NAIL DOWN IS DESIGN BECAUSE IT HAPPENS EARLIER.

AND SO HE LET ME KNOW EARLY THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT THIS QUESTION.

AND WE HAVE THAT'S WHAT STEVEN KRANTZ, WHO IS OUR BUDGET LEADER THAT'S SITTING NEXT TO WILL.

[00:45:05]

STEVEN HAS THIS DATA AT HIS FINGERTIPS ALL THE TIME AND PULLS THIS FOR ME ON THE REGULAR.

SO WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT TO THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS WE HAVE FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

OKAY? THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN CITIZENS OPEN FORUM. IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT ANYTHING,

[12. CITIZENS' OPEN FORUM.]

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL. WE'D ASK THAT YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

ROBERT WILKINS 261 DENSON DRIVE, AUBURN, ALABAMA.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WHY? WHY HAVE I BEEN DENIED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FUND FINANCIAL RECORDS BY THE CITY OF AUBURN? ALL I HAVE REQUESTED IS AN AUBURN CITIZEN IS A TWO LINE ITEM FROM THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FUND, WHICH THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. ONE OF THE LINE ITEMS IS SALARY AND WAGES.

AND THE OTHER IS EMPLOYEE BENEFIT. FOR THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025.

AND I'VE ALSO ASKED FOR THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES FOR EACH YEAR OF 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, AND 2025. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR. THAT'S IT. INSTEAD OF HELPING ME UNDERSTAND THE EXCESSIVE DEFICIT OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FUND, THE MAYOR PRO TEM TELLS ME SHE IS HAPPY WITH THE NUMBERS.

THE OVERPAID CITY MANAGER HAS DECIDED TO RELINQUISH HER RESPONSIBILITIES TO PAUL CLARK, AUBURN CITY ATTORNEY, WHICH WILL COST THE CITY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS PER HOUR TO HAVE HIM CORRESPOND WITH ME.

WHY? EVEN MY CITY COUNCILMAN HAS NOT HELPED IN THIS ISSUE.

WHAT IS GOING ON? WE CITIZENS HAVE THE LEGAL AND MORAL RIGHT TO KNOW WHERE EVERY DOLLAR IS SPENT BY THE CITY OF AUBURN.

EVERY DOLLAR. WE HAVE THAT RIGHT. THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT I HAVE REQUESTED FROM CITY MANAGER, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS KIND OF LIKE TRYING TO TO MAKE A CHOCOLATE CAKE.

I'VE BEEN GIVEN A BOX OF BAKING SODA, 5 POUNDS OF SUGAR, 10 POUND BAG OF FLOUR, A POUND OF BUTTER, A POUND OF CHOCOLATE, COCOA POWDER. EXCUSE ME, A BOX OF SALT, A CARTON OF EGGS, A HALF A GALLON OF BUTTERMILK AND SIX OUNCES OF OIL AND A BOTTLE OF VANILLA EXTRACT.

BUT THEY WON'T GIVE ME THE RECIPE. BUT THEY TOLD ME WE HAVE GIVEN YOU ALL THE INGREDIENTS, BUT I NEED THE THE RECIPE. WHAT THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SAYING IS WE DO NOT CARE ABOUT A CITIZENS CONCERN, JUST YOUR OWN. WE AS CITIZENS HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND THE RIGHTS THROUGH PUBLIC RECORDS.

REQUEST TO REQUEST ANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

THE TEN EXCEPTIONS UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST DO NOT APPLY TO THE REQUEST AT ALL.

THAT I HAVE DONE IN THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT IS WITHIN ITS PAGES.

A LEADERSHIP DIAGRAM WHERE CITIZENS ON THE TOP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, NEXT THE CITY MANAGER, AND THEN THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. BUT THE CITY HAS REVERSED THE DIAGRAM.

WE CITIZENS ARE ON THE COTTON PICKING BOTTOM.

I AM REQUESTING THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FUND.

GIVE THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT I HAVE REQUESTED.

SIMPLE. THANK YOU. WHO'LL BE NEXT? MY NAME IS JORDAN VAN HORN. JOJO VAN HORN AND I LIVE AT 299 COUNTY ROAD 88.

I'M SUPER NERVOUS. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE TIME, THE ENERGY, THE EFFORT THAT Y'ALL PUT IN ALONG WITH OUR CITY EMPLOYEES TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY. HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW THE FRACTION OF WHAT YOU ALL DO, BUT I IMAGINE IT'S A RELATIVELY THANKLESS JOB, SO. THANK YOU. MY WIFE AND I MOVED HERE. WE LIVE OUT IN THE COUNTY ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS, KIND OF BETWEEN WAVERLY AND THE FARMVILLE AREA.

WE MOVED HERE THREE YEARS AGO AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME DURING COVID AT LAKE MARTIN, AND THAT'S WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TO FREQUENT THE AUBURN OPELIKA COMMUNITY AND REALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH WHAT WE FOUND. SO WHEN WE REALIZED WE CAN BUY A MODEST HOUSE ON SOME LAND OUT THERE ON THAT SIDE OF TOWN AND STILL ENJOY THE AMENITIES OF THE CITY, BUT HAVE SOME PEACE AND QUIET IN THE COUNTY. WE REALLY WE JUMPED ON IT.

AND SINCE 2022 WHEN WE MOVED HERE, WE WE'VE BEEN VERY GRATEFUL AND HAVEN'T LOOKED BACK, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT WHAT BRINGS ME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO TODAY BRINGS ME BEFORE YOU TODAY.

SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE'RE A BIT SURPRISED LAST MONTH WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT A LARGE TIMBER TRACT BORDERING US, WHICH IS OWNED BY AN INVESTMENT COMPANY IN ATLANTA,

[00:50:04]

WAS IN THE BEGINNING PHASE OF WORKING WITH SOME DEVELOPERS IN NASHVILLE TO PUT IN A HIGH DENSITY, MIXED USE, KIND OF URBAN STYLE DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD START WITH A PHASE ONE OF ATTEMPTING TO PUT 60 HOMES ON 40 ACRES, BUT COULD POTENTIALLY SPAN UP TO 800 ACRES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO THEIR PLANS.

AND WHILE I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS AND FREE MARKETS AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, A DEVELOPMENT OF THAT SIZE BROUGHT SOME CONCERN TO MYSELF AND SOME NEIGHBORS, AND IT'S MY BELIEF THAT THERE'S A TIME AND A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING.

AND SO SOMETHING OF THAT SIZE IN THE COUNTY, OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, COMING INTO FARMVILLE OFF A DIRT ROAD WAS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNING TO US, BUT I HAVE NO REAL ESTATE BACKGROUND. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I COULD DO.

SO A LITTLE GOOGLE SEARCHING. I REALIZED THAT WE'RE WITHIN THE CITY'S PLANNING JURISDICTION BASED ON OUR PROXIMITY TO THE CITY LIMITS.

SO SINCE THEN, I'VE ATTENDED TWO COUNCIL MEETINGS, A CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. I'VE CHATTED BRIEFLY WITH A FEW MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN NOTHING BUT IMPRESSED AT THE PROFESSIONALISM, THE GENEROSITY OF TIME, AND THE CALIBER OF FOLKS AND THE PROCESSES THAT I'VE OBSERVED.

I'VE SEEN SPIRITED DEBATES ABOUT DEVELOPMENT. I'VE HEARD HARD QUESTIONS BEING ASKED, I'VE HEARD THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS BEING GIVEN, AND I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE SPLIT VOTES ON THINGS, WHICH TO ME IS A GOOD SIGN OF A DIVERSITY OF OPINION WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

DON'T GET ME WRONG, I KNOW NOT EVERYTHING IS PERFECT. I'M CERTAINLY NOT PERFECT. BUT I DON'T THINK THE GOAL HERE IS PERFECTION.

I THINK IT'S A COMMITMENT TO SLOW, STEADY RELATIONAL ENGAGEMENT AND HARD WORK FOR FOLKS THAT ARE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY, PROTECT WHAT WE LOVE, AND MAKE INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS WHERE IT'S NECESSARY.

AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING TOWARDS THOSE ENDS. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES ARE DOING TO THOSE ENDS. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU GIVE A VOICE TO A NEW GUY TO TOWN LIKE ME TO BE HEARD. IF THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR PROGRESS, I'M SURE YOU'LL HEAR MORE FROM MYSELF AND MY NEIGHBORS DOWN THE ROAD.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHO'LL BE NEXT? OKAY, WE'LL CLOSE CITIZENS OPEN FORUM. MISS CROUCH, THE PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT THAT MR. VAN HORNE WAS MENTIONING, THAT IS THAT STARTED THROUGH OUR SYSTEM.

AS WE KNOW, THAT DEVELOPMENT IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO START THROUGH OUR SYSTEM.

IT'S OUTSIDE, IT IS IN OUR PLANNING JURISDICTION.

SO IT WILL HAVE TO DO ONE PIECE WITH PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT IT IS OUTSIDE THE OPTIMAL BOUNDARY.

I WILL BE HAPPY TO BRIEF THE COUNCIL AT ANOTHER TIME.

ABOUT THIS. WE'RE JUST BEGINNING TO LOOK AT THIS, AND I WILL BE VERY CLEAR THAT WE STAFF SHARES THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT TO OUR CITY LIMITS. THIS IS OUT. LEE ROAD 86. THERE ARE SOME DESIGN SHREDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE GOING ON IN THE LOCAL AREA.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE BEING HELD IN THE CITY LIMITS.

AND WE HAVE BEEN CLEAR THAT THIS PROPERTY IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANNEXATION.

I MEAN, THEY THEY CAN SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, BUT IT IS OUTSIDE THE OPTIMAL BOUNDARY.

AND SO WE'LL BE TALKING TO YOU MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS LIKELY STILL JUST A SUBDIVISION REGULATION ITEM THAT WILL ONLY RESIDE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

OKAY. WHERE IS IT AGAIN? OUT LEE ROAD 86, OFF OF FARMVILLE ROAD.

HE IS LEE ROAD 88. THAT BRANCHES OFF OF THAT IN THE.

IT'S BETWEEN PEAR TREE ROAD AND WAVERLY BUT FAIRLY CLOSE TO PEAR TREE ROAD, BUT AGAIN STILL OUTSIDE OUR PLANNING JURISDICTION.

I THINK THE COUNCIL IT IS APPROPRIATE TO KNOW AND BASED ON YOUR RECENT DECISIONS, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PARCELS IN THAT VICINITY THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE OPTIMAL BOUNDARY THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE IN THE OPTIMAL BOUNDARY AND IN THE CITY LIMITS.

WE ARE NOT PREPARED WITH INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT VICINITY BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT OF THE OPTIMAL BOUNDARY, AS WE'VE RECENTLY DISCUSSED A TON, BUT YOU MAY START HEARING FROM SOME FOLKS ABOUT IT, AND THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

BUT STAFF IS WORKING OFF THE CURRENT PLANS THAT WE HAVE AND THE LONG RANGE PLANS THAT WE MADE SOME TIME AGO, AND WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT LARGE SCALE, DENSE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA AT THIS TIME.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO SAY? BEAR WITH ME JUST FOR A SECOND. THIS WEEKEND IS THE BEGINNING OF FOOTBALL SEASON.

IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY ECONOMICALLY FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND IT'S JUST FUN. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO TOWN THAT DON'T LIVE WITH US AND THAT ARE VISITORS, AND THEY SPEND THE WEEKEND AND WE WELCOME ALL THOSE VISITORS.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THEM SUPPORTING OUR RESTAURANTS AND, AND OUR BUSINESSES HERE IN TOWN AND HAVING A GREAT TIME.

BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY NIGHT THAT IS, THAT IS.

THAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE. AND SOMEONE FROM ANOTHER CITY, ANOTHER COUNTY CAME TO OUR TOWN AND FIRED A GUN. SCARED OUR CITIZENS, CREATED A DEMAND FOR OUR POLICE TO FIND THIS PERSON, ARREST THIS PERSON, AND BRING THEM TO JUSTICE. AND SO MY COMMENT TONIGHT IS, IF YOU WANT TO COME TO AUBURN AND BE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY,

[00:55:05]

WE WELCOME YOU. IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY THE THINGS THAT MAKE AUBURN GREAT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT IF YOU COME TO OUR COMMUNITY AND YOU QUESTION OUR SAFETY AND YOU THREATEN OUR WAY OF LIFE, THEN KNOW THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO HAS BEEN PROVIDED THE BEST TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM THE BEST TRAINING THROUGH A NEW TRAINING COMPLEX CAN PROVIDE THEM THE BEST TOOLS. AND I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF A COUNCIL THAT HEEDS THE CALL WHEN THEY ASK FOR THINGS AND NEED THINGS.

KNOW THAT IF YOU COME TO TOWN AND YOU CREATE PROBLEMS FOR US, AND WE HAVE TO COME FIND YOU, THAT WE WILL AND WE WILL ARREST YOU AND WE WILL BRING YOU TO JUSTICE.

PLEASE DON'T COME TO AUBURN IF THAT'S YOUR INTENT, OKAY? YOU'RE NOT WELCOME. LET US ENJOY OUR FOOTBALL WEEKEND.

LET US ENJOY OUR WAY OF LIFE HERE IN AUBURN. IF YOUR INTENTIONS ARE BAD, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

YOU'RE NOT WELCOME TO AUBURN. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE? WELL SAID. MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THOSE WORDS. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE ENTIRE COUNCIL FOR THE SUPPORT YOU GIVE TO OUR POLICE DIVISION.

IT GOES A LONG WAYS TO KEEPING US SAFE. AND Y'ALL HAVE CERTAINLY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND PROVIDED A REVENUE TO FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT.

AND I SINCERELY APPRECIATE IT. FROM AN OLD, WORN OUT COP.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. CHIEF. AND WE DO LIKE THE PINK SHIRT.

ANYONE ELSE? IS THERE A MOVE TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.

WE'RE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Sep 02, 2025 City Council

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