Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-26-2015 City Council Work Session MinutesSTATE OF ALABAMA )( COUNTY OF BALDWIN )( The City Council met in a Work Session at 4:30p.m., Delchamps Room, 161 North Section Street, Fairhope, Alabama 36532, on Monday, 26 January 2015. Present were Council President Pro Tern Michael A. Ford, Councilmembers: Diana Brewer and Kevin Boone, Mayor Timothy M. Kant, City Attorney Marion E. Wynne, and City Clerk Lisa A. Hanks. Council President Jack Burrell and Councilmember Rich Mueller were absent. Council President Pro Tern Ford called the meeting to order at 4:35p.m. The following topics were discussed: • Keith Hoffman, President of the Sandy Ford Property Owners Association, addressed the City Council regarding skateboard bombing in his neighborhood. Mr. Hoffman mentioned YouTube videos of kids skateboarding in Fairhope. He said skateboard bombing is at a high rate of speed and dangerous to everyone. City Attorney Wynne said that the two sections of the Code of Ordinance did not meet the definitions for a skateboard. He said a lot of Cities pride themselves as being skateboard friendly. The definitions may need to be addressed. Mayor Kant explained he too has kids skateboarding in his neighborhood, but these kids are wearing helmets. He said the City Council may want staff to draft an ordinance for skateboards; and our streets need to be safe. Councilmember Brewer reiterated our streets do need to be safe and this needs to be addressed. This is a danger to both skateboarders and people. Mayor Kant said kids are skateboarding from after school until dark; and on Saturdays from around 9:00 a.m. until dark. It was recommended that this be sent to and reviewed by the Street and Traffic Control Committee. • Chuck Erickson with Glide N.E.W. LLC, d/b/a Glide the Gulf, addressed the City Council regarding a franchise agreement for guided segway tours in Fairhope. He said the most there would be on these tours is 8 people; and the segways speed is 12-1/2 miles per hours. The consensus was to put the franchise agreement on the next City Council meeting agenda. The route was mentioned that it did go through the Central Business District. • Sherry Sullivan, Community Affairs and Recreation Director, addressed the City Council and explained the proposed "Tennis Rules and Guidelines" that were recommended by the Recreation Board and City staff. The one hour rule was questioned by Councilmember Brewer. Ms. Sullivan explained that this was not during league play or if no one was waiting on the courts. Council President Pro Tern Ford replied that one hour is sufficient. Monday, 26 January 2015 Page -2- Ms. Sullivan also discussed and explained the new Soccer Complex plan; and now we are ready to move forward. The Recreation Board and the Soccer Association both have approved this plan; and it should be within budget or close. John Avent with Preble-Rish briefly went over the plan which includes 9 soccer fields, 433 paved parking spaces, and 77 grassed overflow parking spaces. He commented this will be a first class soccer complex; and we should be able to play on these in Spring of 2016. • Councilmember Boone addressed the City Council and mentioned the sailboat at the Yardarm is still down; and questioned who is not responsible since the lease has been assigned to Gambino. We need an agreement to have this removed. James Gillespie, General Superintendent, replied he would talk to Bob Pope. • Councilmember Brewer addressed the City Council and said Kerry Flowers, Hank Burch, Bob Riggs, and she had met with Robbie Owen and John Wilson regarding the school funding. She mentioned a vacancy needing to be filled on the Education Advisory Board. Councilmember Brewer also mentioned that Mr. Owen will meet every third month with just the feeder pattern principals. She said that they have requested that Baldwin County give us ACT scores over the past few years. Mayor Kant commented that the Fairhope did very well on the ACT scores and ranked in the top three following Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills. Ms. Brewer stated this was the ACT Plans which give us a baseline for students. • Councilmember Ford addressed the City Council regarding the Recycling Committee; and stated we may soon have a recommendation for either single stream or mixed for recyclables. • Jill Cabaniss, Finance Director, addressed the City Council and mentioned that the CAFR/audit will be presented by Earl Blackmon at the Council meeting. • Dan McCrory, Water and Sewer Superintendent, addressed the City Council and said the Waste Water Treatment Plant is moving along as planned. • Jennifer Fidler, Public Works Director, addressed the City Council and gave an update on Knoll Park and said we are within budget. Councilmember Brewer mentioned the winter bum that is needed and was approved in the Maintenance Plan. • Scott Sligh, Electric Superintendent, addressed the City Council and briefly explained the new lights that have flashing caution arrows. Monday, 26 January 2015 Page -3- • Jonathan Smith, Planning Director, addressed the City Council and said as part of the Comprehensive Plan update we will be sending out a questionnaire and it will also be posted on the City's website. He said we are waiting on Neel-Schafer for the "Traffic Study Update." • The Roundabout for Fairhope has been pushed back further due to the delay in resurfacing of Fairhope Avenue being also pushed back until May. There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was duly adjourned at 5:29p.m.