Minutes of the
REGULAR MEETING
For the
City Council of Lookout Mountain, Georgia
February 21, 2008
PRESIDING: Thomas G. Gifford, Mayor
PRESENT: Council Members Dennis Eischeid, Daniel Pettway, Sandy Gothard, Ray Seipp, City Clerk Dana Driver, City Attorney Bill Pickering, and Chief Wallace Taylor.
ABSENT: Catherine Kelley
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Gifford called the meeting of the City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1214 Lula Lake Road, Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the called meeting held on January 21, 2008 were approved as submitted.
CATHERINE FOX – REPORT/TECHNINCAL SERVICES PROPOSAL – Ms. Catherine Fox, the city’s storm water consultant, gave her report on the City meeting and exceeding the annual storm water report requirements for 2007. She commended the city for successfully submitting a report without any errors or comments. She presented her plan for the city for its 2008 storm water goals and objectives. The plan includes: 1) public education and awareness; 2) tightening & enforcing regulations for new subdivisions; 3) finalizing a pollution prevention plan; 4) continue mapping the city’s storm water system; 5) inspect 20% of the storm water sewer system. Ms. Fox suggested that the City consider having a storm water utility fee to cover the additional costs for the increasing storm water management requirements. Sandy Gothard seconded Daniel Pettway’s motion to approve the contract with Ms. Fox for the amount not to exceed $17,235 for another year of Ms. Fox’s services.
2nd READING OF ORDINANCE FOR STATE & CABLE FRANCHISE FEE
City Attorney Pickering read in its entirety an ordinance to obtain up to a 5% franchise fee from any cable company that chooses to obtain a State franchise as opposed to a local franchise. Upon motion duly made, seconded and unanimously passed, the ordinance was approved and adopted on second reading. City Attorney Pickering is still working out the details of the 10 year Franchise Agreement with Comcast.
CITY PLANNING – The city planning is moving along as the Mayor and a subcommittee met with 2 firms that specialize in small town city planning. They plan to make a firm recommendation at next month’s Council Meeting with a detailed proposal. Both firms would develop a long range plan though a series of meetings with the stakeholders and hold public forums as well.
STOP SIGN PETITION PETER PAN RD. – Vice Mayor Eischeid presented the Council with a signed petition from residents of Peter Pan Road to approve a stop sign at the intersection of Peter Pan & Mother Goose Trail. After some discussion, motion was made, seconded and approved for the new stop sign.
REDUCING SPEED LIMIT ON LULA LAKE ROAD – Chief Taylor proposed the idea of reducing the speed limit to 15 mph on Lula Lake Road from Red Riding Hood Trail to just north of the Garden Walk Inn. City Attorney Pickering will prepare an ordinance for first reading at the March City Council meeting.
MONTHLY STORMWATER & SEWER REPORT. Copies of the current storm water activity report were distributed to the Council and discussed in the previous section under Catherine Fox. A copy of which is attached. A sewer pump will need to be replaced at the pump station and will approximately cost the City around $20,000.
1) MAYORS REPORT
1) New stop signs at Red Riding Hood and Lula Lake Rd. will have “3 way stop” added on them.
2) Pedestrian pathway – The Pathway should be completed in the next few weeks. The lampposts were bid again for the amount of $25,980.00 which should arrive sometime in April. The bridge handrails are being fabricated and will be installed soon.
3) The Dixie Youth State Baseball Tournament will take place in July.
4) New state laws have changed that will change our auditing procedures. This means a customized auditing system that will cost the City $1500 to $2000 more to comply with the new laws.
5) Worn or damaged street signs are being replaced with new wood. The mayor has authorized Public Works Director Daniel Cates to purchase new stop signs spending no more than $700.
6) SPLOST – The referendum for the next SPLOST tax will by July 15th. Initial projections show a revenue increase for the city if this passes.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Dana Driver