Good evening.
Good evening, Stone Crest, and welcome
to today's work session. Today is
Monday, August 10th, 2026. The time is
now 6:02. I am now calling the meeting
to order. Madame City Clerk, can you be
so kind and take the role?
>> Yes, ma'am. Good evening, everyone.
» Yes, ma'am. Good evening, everyone.
Mayor Jasmine Cabbell,
Mayor Pro Tim, Tara Graves
>> here,
» here,
>> council member Alicia Washington
» council member Alicia Washington
>> here.
» here.
>> Council member George Turner
» Council member George Turner
>> here.
» here.
>> Council member Carisha Smith
» Council member Carisha Smith
>> present.
» present.
>> You have a quorum. Thank you madam city
» You have a quorum. Thank you madam city
clerk. Council, after reviewing today's
agenda, are there any proposed
adjustments?
Hearing none, I entertain a motion.
» Pro Tim. Councilman Turner.
>> Move to approve the agenda as written.
» Move to approve the agenda as written.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> The motion has been properly moved and
» The motion has been properly moved and
second by Councilwoman Washington. Are
you ready for the question? All those in
favor of the motion, please respond with
yay. All those opposed, nay. Starting
with district three,
>> yay.
» yay.
>> District four?
» District four?
>> Yay.
» Yay.
>> District five,
» District five,
>> yay.
» yay.
>> District one is yay. The agenda is now
» District one is yay. The agenda is now
approved. Motion carries four to zero.
Next on the agenda
is the June monthly financial update by
Director Kesha Franklin.
Good evening
The June 2026 financial summary update
contains for the month of June, we did
have expenditures that exceeded revenue,
but overall
we still have a surplus of $2.3 million.
One of the highlights um of this month
is that we met with Barry Dunn. Barry
Dunn actually handles our opera
reporting for the city. And so during
that meeting, we got an update from
Barry Dunn that we could potentially use
reclassify some of the expenses from
prior fiscal years where the audits
aren't complete into qualified ORPA
expense categories. And so that would
assist us in um fulfilling that $3
million
additional remaining amount that we have
to spend for ARPA.
So I I have informed the city engineer
and we met and we will start to identify
different funds that qualify
that could have qualified for ARPA that
we actually spent from the general fund.
And as we do that, we'll submit those to
be approved. And then once those are
approved, we'll bring those back before
council to decide whether or not that
those adjustments is something the city
wants to do.
Then also noted on fund 300 where you
see it's a reported deficit that is a
timing issue. We do have a project
called CDBG related to Fington
sidewalks. It is a reimburseable grant.
So it's the timing of us spending those
funds versus requesting reimbursement
for for those funds.
And also wanted to add an update that
the midyear budget adjustment, it should
be posted by the end of this week. I
believe it's available for signature
tonight.
Any questions?
>> Council member Tim.
» Council member Tim.
>> Yes. Council Washington.
» Yes. Council Washington.
>> Yes. Could you repeat the surplus
» Yes. Could you repeat the surplus
balance again for me, please? Thank you,
Kesha. $2.3
million.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Thank you,
» Report Tim.
>> Councilman Turner,
» Councilman Turner,
>> continuing down that same line of
» continuing down that same line of
thought, um projection for the year,
we're looking at probably
how much of a uh fund balance?
I do not have the fund balance printed
out right now, but we do have a healthy
fund balance. I can bring that um I can
provide it via email this evening and I
can also make sure I make that part of
the presentation next time.
>> The numbers I'm looking at indicate that
» The numbers I'm looking at indicate that
we could be between four and $5 million
surplus if we continue at the same
trend.
And I know we just um
laid forth a budget adjustment. So there
might be opportunities for us to do some
other things. That's not for you to
decide. I'm just saying
>> that if we are confident that this is a
» that if we are confident that this is a
real possibility that we're looking at a
$4 to5 million surplus.
>> Well, we have to look at the timing of
» Well, we have to look at the timing of
revenues and expenditures. We do have a
lot of expenditures that we do need to
um get paid before the end of the year.
So that will affect the surplus.
um say for example right now it's a $2.3
million surplus but we do know we have
to expand at least $3 million. So right
now it's more so of a a timing. um we
can do a forecast based on prior years
but um based on right now I wouldn't
necessarily say that but fund balance
and the surplus are two separate things
on a month-to-month basis but at the end
of the year if you have a surplus it
will increase your fund balance and at
the end of the year if you have a def
deficit it'll reduce your fund balance.
>> Got it.
» Got it.
Um,
hate to ask you to repeat yourself, but
I was looking at the ARPA
>> funds as a $3.5 million.
Can you explain how that may not be as
much of um being at Flint as it was? You
you said something up front about you
and Barry Dunn looking at something. Can
you repeat yourself, please? So when we
met with Barry Dunn, there is a new
stipulation that applies to cities that
have open audits.
So since we have open audits, we could
go back and look at some of our
expenditures that would have qualified
as ARPA funds and reclass them as ARPA
funds, which would reduce this $3
million balance here as being due back
at the end of the year if we don't
expend them.
So say for example we had a shared cost
project one year and so we paid a
million ARPA a million from the general
fund. We could potentially recclass the
amount that we paid from the general
fund. So once we identify those amounts
we can get Barry done to confirm they do
qualify and then when we get that list
we could bring it forward because that
would have to be it would be crossing
funds. So, of course, council will have
to approve those journals.
>> How far back can we go?
» How far back can we go?
>> As long as we have open audit. So, we
» As long as we have open audit. So, we
can go back to 23.
>> Good.
And
there was something in the budget about
parks and recreation. You mentioned
getting with our engineering
to bring that up to date because we're
way behind
>> parks and rack.
» What I um I was referring to the ARPA
funds when I spoke about the city. Uh
yes, under it says that the parks
upgrade
uh uh $2.9 million obligated and we've
only expended u less than a million
dollars. So there's the remaining 2.2.
So there's a plan to uh again I'm going
out of a year round. I'm just looking at
these numbers.
>> So are we saying that
» So are we saying that
we expect to expend that or not?
We do expect to expend it. It's just
meeting with to see to keep the status
of the projects to see how the projects
are progressing so that we can spend
those funds. So, we meet with the city
engineer to get a status of how the
projects are moving along.
>> Okay. And I know you're working with me
» Okay. And I know you're working with me
here. Uh I expect things to be even kill
all the way down, but I know that's not
always the case is that we're midyear. I
expected 50% to be expended, but I know
that that's it's not realistic. But I do
want to get a feel for where we are
>> and if there are some real threats to us
» and if there are some real threats to us
achieving the uh budget goals. And I
think as far as timing is concerned from
my perspective, we probably started a
little behind on some of those projects
because um in the beginning of the year
they were not able to get POS because
they did not have funding. So and as a
result the vendors cannot start working
if they don't have POS. So that probably
pushed some of the deadlines back some
from the original anticipated deadlines.
But everything that needed POS that we
received from the city engineer
beginning of the year around March, I
believe that was we did a budget
amendment for. And all those are cut and
those projects are underway.
>> Okay. And some things we're doing
» Okay. And some things we're doing
catchup.
>> Mhm.
» Mhm.
>> Okay.
And for the sake of the public,
there's an acronym S Lf R
S L F RF
associated with Barry Dunn.
I've got it.
>> Lost lost, I guess. State local fiscal
» Lost lost, I guess. State local fiscal
recovery fund.
>> Right. Right.
And I made a note here that I'm going to
get probably with Miss Cow on the
quality trees and tree bank.
Don't answer that. I I'll I'll get with
Miss Kowi on it. Okay. I know you
monitor the tree bank um funds and
whatnot and uh I made note quality trees
versus treebank and uh I don't know what
I made that note for. So you're free.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> All right. Thank you very much.
» All right. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
Any questions?
Council, do you have any other questions
for Director Franklin?
Thank you so much, Director Franklin,
for your time.
>> Thank you.
» Next on the agenda is
a dis from the city manager office.
Update,
city manager Katherine Turner.
Good evening, mayor. In her absence,
Mayor Pertim and members of city
council.
I'm excited to share a few initiatives
and updates that are currently underway
to improve our day-to-day operation and
help position the city to greater
efficiencies, accountability, and
transparency. There's a lot of positive
work that's behind the scenes, and I
simply cannot wait until the next
council meeting to share some of these
updates with you. Payroll audit. We're
in the process of partnering with an
external firm to do a to do a
comprehensive payroll and personnel
audit. The goal is to ensure that the
city's payroll system is accurate,
properly controlled, compliant, and
protected from errors, frauds,
inconsistency, or or potential issues. I
have identified a few areas that warrant
a further review, and I believe it's
important to be proactively address
these matters now to strengthen our
internal controls and protect the city's
financial integrity.
uh director Franklin has already shared
with you as far as our audit update. Uh
director Franklin and I have established
an excellent working relationship with
with to ensure that we remain aligned
regarding the city's financial position
priorities and the overall fiscal
health. We meet regularly to review the
city's financial status, discuss
emerging issues, and ensure that we're
making informed decisions that support
sound financial management and
accountability.
The clerk's office. The clerk's office
and I met with Mayor Pro Tim to improve
our internal agenda posting process and
establish a more timely, consistent, and
transparent process for citizens to
review the upcoming agenda items. This
process improves will help the public
with greater opportunity to review and
understand items before council meeting
and will help reduce the number of
walk-on agenda items. Code enforcement.
I have assigned an employee to work
alongside our core enforcement team to
ensure the count's the council's
beautifification initiative to help make
Stone Crest a cleaner, safer, and more
desirable place to live, work, and do
business. His role is to proactively
travel throughout the city. He's going
to identify beautifification
opportunities and property management
concerns. He's document them and report
them to the department, the appropriate
department, and when necessary, Dicap
County for followup. He will also help
us identify areas where the property and
business owner may need to address
conditions and their property and ensure
that equable requirements are being
followed. This proactive approach will
help us identify issues before they
become larger problems and promp improve
the overall appearance of our city, hold
property and business owner accountable
for maintaining their property. And our
goal is to work collaboratively with
code enforcement and our community
partners to preserve the quality,
appearance, and desiraability of stone
crest
public works. We're in the process of
elaborating on the details with the
director of the cab county public works
road and drainage division. We're trying
to establish a workflow of our work
orders and how can we track the status
of what's considered in progress and
what is considered done. This will allow
us to be more proactive on our work
orders. human resource department. We
have partnered with the consulting firm
that start helping us assist the city as
they transition from their previous
role. They're helping to support us in
the interim of our HR department and
city manager's office. They bring over
35 years of experience working with the
public and private organization and
providing uh executive leadership and
organization and development skills. She
also will be responsible uh for doing
our internal audit because they're MD
110 EOCC certified. And the last thing I
want to share is security. We are well
on our way to ensure that we have the
best possible security measures in place
at the Stone Crest City Hall. We're
working closely with Major Bearing and
the Sheriff's Office to strengthen the
safety and security of our faculty,
employees, and visitors. Major Bearing
has been out for the past few weeks, but
we wanted to take a moment to welcome
her back. And we also want to recognize
her for the tremendous work she has done
throughout this process. She has been
absolutely amazing and we truly
appreciate her partnership, her
responsiveness, her commitment to
helping us make city hall a safer and a
better place to be. As the old saying or
what my grandmom used to say, give her
flowers while she's still here to smell
them. So, welcome back, Major Baron. We
appreciate you and look forward to
continuing to support you and the
positive work that you bring to city
hall.
Come on up. Come on. Come on. [laughter]
So, behalf on all the city employees at
Stone Crest, the mayor, Mayor Pro Tim,
Council, attorney, city clerk, we have
something special we want to give you.
If you'll turn around,
[laughter]
just a little token to tell you. He
should come on up here. Just a little
token. Tiffany,
just a little token to tell you thank
you. We can't keep our employees, this
building, the city when they the staff
members, the city when they come up
here, we can't keep them safe without
you and your team and the sheriff's
office. We're so thankful that you're
back. We thank God that he covered you
and protected you and you brought us
back to us safe. So, with those flowers,
we want to just tell you thank you and
that's a small token of our
appreciation.
know that's what this was about.
>> It wouldn't have been a surprise if we
» It wouldn't have been a surprise if we
would have told you.
Yes, please.
>> Um, thank y'all so much. Um,
» Um, thank y'all so much. Um,
what we do is not for this and I know
you all know that. uh we come, we serve
because it's our passion, it's our
commitment to the city, to all who come
work, play here,
um and live here. And so we I thank you
so much. Um
when city manager Turner reached out to
me uh while I was on FMLA,
you text me
and there are some texts I I can't
answer with a text. I have to answer by
calling and I told her I said you just
brought tears to my eyes
because um
to know that it's just beyond this badge
that I'm thought about
it means everything and it truly helped
me and the officers feel like we are
truly
the stone crest.
I thank you all for this. I really do
because you didn't have to because this
is not what we do what we do for. We
don't do it to, you know, be rewarded.
We do it the reward is making sure you
all are safe every day. So, I do truly
thank you all for this. And y'all some
sneaky people. [laughter]
I want to join.
Yeah. Why you so Yeah.
» You look like you sound like me.
» I know.
>> Oh, we do like this.
» Oh, we do like this.
>> You know, stand up at least or something
» You know, stand up at least or something
so
>> Oh, you can't
» come down. Come on down.
You too.
They can't see you way back.
» Uh, director
back over here
real quick.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
trying to go crazy.
Okay.
council.
Do you have any questions for our city
manager?
>> I wanted to say my ending.
» I wanted to say my ending.
>> Are you serious? [laughter]
» Are you serious? [laughter]
>> Again, thank all I have for today. I
» Again, thank all I have for today. I
want to thank you again for your time
and for allowing me to share these
updates in the work session. I'm excited
about the progress we're making and I
look forward to the continued work that
we're doing. Thank you,
>> council. Now, do you have any questions
» council. Now, do you have any questions
for your city manager?
>> Tim,
» Tim,
>> Councilman Turner,
» Councilman Turner,
>> how's the fire holes going?
» One thing that's required of you is a
financial report by the 15th of each
month. And I know that's going to be a
challenge, but um we can talk about how
it fits in either work session or the
it's got to be council meeting because I
don't think we ever have a work session
before the 15th. So, we're still looking
forward to getting that financial report
from the city manager's office.
>> Yes, you will have that financial report
» Yes, you will have that financial report
as well as an update on all the progress
we're making as well.
>> Excellent. And um budget
» Excellent. And um budget
is in your court as well. And there's a
budget calendar that I think has already
been put together and I was having
trouble putting my hand on it. I'm not
sure if there going to be any
adjustments, but as soon as we could
take a look at the budget calendar
because the end of the year is near.
>> Absolutely. I've been working with
» Absolutely. I've been working with
Deputy City Manager Michael McCoy and
our director of finance. They've already
met with some of the teams already, some
of the departments getting their budget
request for the year that lines up with
some of the initiatives that the city
that the council has requested. So,
we're working through that process so
that we'll be ready for the final
approval by the council.
» Good. And um at some point you will give
us a summary of the vacancies
and if there going to be any
recommendation to staff adjustments.
This is not for an answer tonight but
just something we want to take a quick
look at.
>> Yes, I will have that in my report as
» Yes, I will have that in my report as
well as when we have uh not asking for
one today but when we go in executive
session I'll have that information for
you.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
And I made the same note I made in the
finance area. If there's a $4 million
surplus,
can we take a look at projects that we
can get done FY26
if that is a solid projection?
>> Absolutely. I heard Director Franklin
» Absolutely. I heard Director Franklin
mention, and I totally agree, if there's
a surplus, we want to get some of our
projects complete. So, as many that we
can get done during this time before the
year's out, we'll work toward it. Good.
>> All right.
» All right.
There's more, but I will yield. May
prom.
>> Thank you, Councilman Turner. Council,
» Thank you, Councilman Turner. Council,
any other questions?
>> Mayor Pro 10.
» Mayor Pro 10.
>> Councilwoman Washington.
» Councilwoman Washington.
>> Um, I know you mentioned the payroll
» Um, I know you mentioned the payroll
audited. Um, how long will it take for
that to go forth?
>> I plan to have them engaged by the week
» I plan to have them engaged by the week
of the 24th. And they told me they could
have what's in the agreement is for two
years. 2024 and 2025 will be completed
in two weeks.
>> And you can are you going to give us an
» And you can are you going to give us an
update u as they move forward with this
audit?
>> Yes, I'm sometimes
» Yes, I'm sometimes
>> how often?
» how often?
>> Yes, I will give you some updates I can
» Yes, I will give you some updates I can
via email if we're not having a work
session or a council meeting. Okay.
>> And then I'll give you the other updates
» And then I'll give you the other updates
during the meeting.
>> Thank you. I yield.
» Thank you. I yield.
>> You're welcome.
» You're welcome.
>> May I pro him? Councilwoman Smith,
» May I pro him? Councilwoman Smith,
>> city manager Turner. Hello.
» city manager Turner. Hello.
>> Hello.
» Hello.
>> Um, I just have a question as it
» Um, I just have a question as it
relates, you mentioned public works that
you guys are um trying to make some
efforts on the things that we submit
from a public works perspective. I know
that we've done a little bit here and
there, Mayor Pro Tim, myself trying to
talk to or speaking with Commissioner
Marita Davis Johnson and her office to
see how they can help us get feedback on
things that we've had open for a while.
Have you guys been able to make any
leeway on getting some direct um access
to the the orders or the tickets that we
put in from a city perspective
um as it relates to updates on anything
that's been in? Have you had a chance to
make any leeway on that?
>> We haven't made a lot of leeway, but
» We haven't made a lot of leeway, but
we're in the process. Uh, Councilman
George uh, Turner is going and I going
to meet with Miss Davis to go over some
of the concerns that has been brought
forth and I also spoke with the director
of public works office today and we are
setting up a meeting with them as well
as our project engineer, Mayor Pro Tim.
We're all coming to the table with what
our issues are and what are the items we
put in the work in their system to see
how fast we can get some of those
expedited. What we want to do is
understand the process meaning when we
put in a work order, how long does it
take it to get work? when will we know
that it's been done and what are any
challenges they're experiencing. So,
those are the things we're going to
bring to the table. We're gonna have a
list of items. So, if you have some and
that you've identified you want to share
with me, we'll make sure it's included
in that list.
>> Okay. Thank you. And on to the
» Okay. Thank you. And on to the
beautifification
um effort that we've announced that we
would like to see happen. Um you
mentioned that we have someone who's
going to be helping in that area. Now,
um my question is
if we see something, say something. Does
our who we say something to change any
or do we still just reach out to code
enforcement director Kowi and team if
there is something that we see or ideas
that we have as it relates to the
beautifification initiative.
We always welcome your ideas because
that's how we're trying to move forward
with some of these initiatives. I will
share with you an email because I don't
know if I can share it on this mic who's
going to be working alongside of
director Q and then that way you can
send it to both of them.
>> Okay?
» Okay?
>> And we plan to work on those issues. So
» And we plan to work on those issues. So
starting he's here but I don't know if
it's okay to say it but he's going to
start on them this week.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Um and so as fast as you get some issues
» Um and so as fast as you get some issues
that you've already seen,
>> right?
» right?
>> Pass them along. Uh, I'll send you the
» Pass them along. Uh, I'll send you the
email contacts to everyone to tonight.
You'll have it in your email by in the
morning and then that way we can store
go ahead and go and give a list of
things that we need to work on.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> We're excited about it because we know
» We're excited about it because we know
some of the businesses that we need to
work with to help them clean up some
things as well. So, I think this is
going to be a great initiative and you
all can let us know when it's over.
>> Okay. Sounds good. Thank you.
» Okay. Sounds good. Thank you.
>> You're welcome. Mayor Pro Tim, why are
» You're welcome. Mayor Pro Tim, why are
you
council? Any other questions?
Madam city manager, do you have do you
happen to know how many work orders um
we have pending currently?
>> Uh no, not at this time. I'll have to
» Uh no, not at this time. I'll have to
find out what the total number is and I
can get back with you.
>> And I also want to say thank you for
» And I also want to say thank you for
joining our meeting um agenda meeting on
Friday along with the city clerk office.
Um, if you notice, we did not have a
walk-on today. So, thank you so much for
being proactive in getting everything in
so we can post it for the public. So, I
appreciate that.
>> You're welcome.
» You're welcome.
>> Um, as far as the payroll audit, you
» Um, as far as the payroll audit, you
mentioned it's going the payroll audit
supposed to start on August 24th.
>> Week of August 24th. Yes. We're just
» Week of August 24th. Yes. We're just
waiting for um our attorneys to finish
reviewing the contract and all the
documentation to ensure it's aligned
with our our policies and charter. And
once they approve it, then we'll get all
the signatures. They're ready to start.
They're waiting on us.
>> They're waiting on us.
» They're waiting on us.
>> Mayor Pro Tim,
» Mayor Pro Tim,
>> Councilwoman Smith,
» Councilwoman Smith,
>> that's the question along the same
» that's the question along the same
lines. Um, city manager Turner, can you
let us know, let all of us, the public,
everybody know what our goal is and u
what we plan to accomplish with the
payroll audit.
» What we plan to accomplish is to ensure
that all the employees that are being
paid are actually employees of the city.
That there's no ghost employees out
there. to ensure that the payroll is
done according to people are getting
paid what they should be being paid.
Ensure that all the taxes are lined up
as they're supposed to, all the
retirement. We're just going to audit
everything when it comes to payroll
because like I said, I've seen a few
things that's concerned me. So, I want
to ensure that we had an external
auditor to come in and review those
things. They have a scope of work that
they've been given and everything will
be lined up in that scope of work to
ensure that nothing is missed. And once
they give us a comprehensive report,
then we'll go back and see if there's
anything else we need them to dig any
deeper. They will be able to provide
that as well.
>> Okay. Thank you.
» Okay. Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
» You're welcome.
>> Mayor Ban,
» Mayor Ban,
>> Councilwoman Washington.
» Councilwoman Washington.
>> Yes. Uh will the payroll audit, since
» Yes. Uh will the payroll audit, since
we've been having some issues with
supplemental pay, will the payroll audit
uh give us an evaluation on that also?
Yes, I've asked them to take a look at
supplemental pay. I mean, they're going
to evaluate the entire payroll. Anything
that is doesn't look like it's it's
supposed to be will be evaluated, but I
did ask them specifically about
supplemental pay because it's been
discussed here, but we also are going to
drill down on supplemental pay when we
do our audit with Maldin Jenkins.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> You're welcome,
» madam city manager. In regards to
supplemental pay, um is it customary to
have promotions
under supplemental pay? Because I
noticed in the packet we received um at
our last meeting, it was noted as a
promotion, but it was filled out on a
supplemental pay form. Is that customary
or is that a question for Director
Franklin?
Uh, from my understanding that is not
customary. Uh, from some follow-up that
I've already done, that was stated
incorrectly. That was a promotion. It
was not supplementary pay.
>> Director Franklin, do you have anything
» Director Franklin, do you have anything
else you want to add?
I will have to look at the exact item in
question that you're referring to.
Um I'm not sure.
Oh,
on the on the back end, the the
information that's attached by HR is all
that finance has to refer to. I'm not
sure exactly what they go about using on
the front end for supplementing pay. I
don't know if it was a shortcut or the
item type didn't get created, but there
is a difference even within the
pay, not the payroll, but the um HR
manual, it describes supplemental pay
and salary increase and promotion
differently. So why
supplemental pay would be used for all
three, I'm not sure why that was chosen
on the front end, but if you look in the
manual, those three things are defined
differently.
» Okay. I guess we'll find out more about
it.
>> Yes, I plan to uh I've already followed
» Yes, I plan to uh I've already followed
up on that because I did realize that
that was stated incorrectly. So I will
be providing the council an update. um
to get that corrected.
>> Council, any other questions for madam
» Council, any other questions for madam
city manager?
>> Tim,
» Tim,
>> Councilman Turner,
» Councilman Turner,
>> just one um internal auditor.
» just one um internal auditor.
Barrett done fulfilling parts of that or
is that totally separate and we're going
to pursue getting an internal auditor?
» Oh, you mean an internal auditor for
payroll or which internal auditor you
speaking of? is for uh city operations
period.
>> Well, the we have an internal audit that
» Well, the we have an internal audit that
we're getting for the payroll and then
once we dig deeper into that one and see
if there's any other issues, then we'll
have a further audit. We have one for
the audits that needs to be done and the
one for payroll. At that point, we will
determine if we need any other audits
done.
>> Okay. I know we had issues with getting
» Okay. I know we had issues with getting
that position filled either as an
employee or as a contract person and I
wanted to know that we had resolved all
of that and the necessary steps were
being taken to get it filled.
>> I think the internal auditors are
» I think the internal auditors are
council uh appointed but we'll be more
than happy to work to get us an internal
audit because we see some opportunities
we want to make better. So if I have
that opportunity to be able to move
forward with it, then I will.
>> Okay. I'll get with you.
» Okay. I'll get with you.
>> All right. Thank you, sir.
» All right. Thank you, sir.
>> Thank you.
Next on the agenda is resolution for the
matrix fee study by director Q and city
manager Katherine Turner.
April 10.
This is the marvelous
matrix feast study,
citywide fee study for the city of
Stonecraft.
The study objectives was were to
streamline fee structure, time
assumptions,
the fully burden hourly rates in each
department, um comparative survey, legal
compliance, and a master fee schedule.
The fee study results. The matrix
consulting team reviewed 293
fee line items which included a
department the divisions of um building
finance, land development, planning and
zoning and parks and recreation.
The fee calculation method was again the
time estimate time the fully burdened
hourly rate for each employee equals the
full cost fee
which is the maximum justifiable fee
that can be assessed.
This um attached a snippet of the master
fee schedule for the building department
listed um in your your packets. This
view could be a little bit different. We
only submitted the current fees, the
consultant proposed fees, city proposed
fees, and if there is an a phasing
option, you will see um phase year one
and phase year two for the matter of
this discussion for tonight.
Our
next steps will be to adopt the fee
schedule and to re-evaluate in five to
seven years the fees.
April,
>> thank you, Miss Q.
» thank you, Miss Q.
This is our favorite item.
>> Magnificent.
» Magnificent.
>> Council, do you have any questions?
I want to say thank you so much for my
um for my email for I guess the Excel
spreadsheet to show um our current fees
exactly pretty much what you um showed
off
>> just to simplify it a little bit better
» just to simplify it a little bit better
not to interrupt you may pro Tim but you
it is the same information that is in
your packet is just summarized so you
can focus more on what the consultants
proposed those fees are based on what
the city's proposing and if there is an
amount that is over a percentage. There
was a recommendation
um a few meetings ago that we would
phase those fees up to five years. But
again, for the matter of this
discussion, we only went to 2027. And of
course, if you don't see the city's
proposed fee, um, for example, we see
for um the um fee study that I had
earlier, it was um a proposed fee of
$175.
If that's a $175,
that's what it would be in 2026. And of
course, that fee will remain for 2027
through the duration until the
re-evaluation. But if there's an
increase of fees, for example, um for
$4,000,
that will be a phased approach. And on
that matrix, you will see the numbers
that will be phased until we get to that
proposed cost. Of course, if you like,
it is at your discretion that you could
just assess those fees in any year
before we re-evaluate during that
five-year um period. Council,
do you have any questions for director
Q?
>> Yeah,
» Yeah,
>> Timman Turner.
» Timman Turner.
>> Voluminous, I think is a word we're
» Voluminous, I think is a word we're
looking for here. That's quite a bit to
digest and maybe I'm just the slow one,
but uh
it takes it takes a lot to digest all of
this. And I do appreciate the time spent
putting it together, but when you look
at the resolution itself, it's a
two-part resolution.
Uh the heading, if I could go back to
it, speaks to
the study
and part two speaks to
adopting this uh the feast study.
Well, having a study in place is really
great
is something that we can reference
when it comes to making the adjustments.
But adopting it in totality
says that we accept everything that is
in it
is my interpretation of it. So I'm
looking to have it done in two parts.
It would be my suggestion and that is
that the the study was a great study but
it compares
I think some of the full service cities
to what we're doing in Stonerrest and a
lot of what we're doing in Stone Crest
might not
be on the same
level as what they're doing in full
service cities. And I know we don't
recoup penny for penny for what we put
into
uh providing some of these services, but
that's why we're a city.
We provide services
to attract business to Stone Crest. And
I don't want our fees to be a deterrent
if it is not necessary to raise them
simply because some other city has fees
at a higher level. I want it to really
be
justified
and say that uh we're doing it for the
benefit of Stone Crest and not just
because other people are doing it. So,
we need to jack our I won't say jack our
fees up, but to increase our fees to
match some other city because um I look
at who we compared ourselves to and
service-wise we're not a comparison
and some cases we might be we might
excel but uh overall these are cities
that have been established for quite
some time and they have and they're full
service cities. So, I would hate to do a
wholesale adoption of a resolution
without considering that some of these
items might not fit yet. And having the
study shows us what it could be
when we get there or if we think we are
already there. So, I would want to look
at this as a two-part resolution.
The study is a great study. They did a
good job on the study, but are we ready
to adopt these fees in a wholesale
manner is my biggest concern and I would
also draw your attention to the end of
the
um presentation. In fact, it basically
says that
when it does in in conclusion,
it says overall song generally has
current fees that are lower than the
fees of other survey jurisdiction. And
the last line says as much
the results of this survey should be
used as a secondary decision making
tool.
and I'd rather treat it that way.
That's coming from your consultant
» and you can
>> Thank you. Um the feedback that we
» Thank you. Um the feedback that we
received um on the interviews that staff
actually um had these conversations
directly with the consultant team did
reiterate that last sentence, but also
economically um making the city of Stone
Crest a little bit more feasible um in
the fees that we um currently assess to
um some of the services that we provide.
It could go again phased as we have
recommended or we can just allocate
those fees to stay as they are. So
either we can update our current um fee
study fee schedule I'm sorry which is
currently in our ordinance or we can um
again phase it um to be more
economically um stable and feasible for
the city of Stone Crest.
>> All right. Well, that's my two cents. Do
» All right. Well, that's my two cents. Do
I have any change coming?
>> We don't have any change.
» We don't have any change.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Thank you, Councilman Turner. Council,
» Thank you, Councilman Turner. Council,
any other questions for Director Q?
» Miss Q? No, I have a question. Miss Q.
So, when I look at the um spreadsheet
that um you forward me myself, it has
I want to say I agree with Councilman
Turner
as far as some of the Because here it
says minor and major like modification.
What is is there a place where that
defines the difference between the minor
and major modification? Because I know
prior or our current fees now is 250 but
we're looking to increase it to 3,000.
» Yeah, that's amazing. The
recommendations are um to your to your
point u Mayor Pro Tim they are in the uh
modified and major is in the report. The
the difference between major are a
significant increase in those fees based
on again they the calculation the fee um
of how the uh fees were assessed. uh
modified as you will see on the uh
spreadsheet as well is usually you will
see a percentage. The modification could
have been a percentage and that we just
included a whole number instead of a
percentage and some of the values of
some of those fees could not be assessed
because there are other internal
calculations that need to be done um for
those particular processes. And um we
just move those fees over As far as the
discussion is concerned for today, just
move those over because there weren't
any changes in those.
So, you will see duplications
and um from the proposed or current. Um
if it's new, most of the new fees did
come from um parks and recreation. So
you will see new but modifications would
be percentages
um to whole to whole number fees and not
the percentages.
I hope that helps.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Okay. Thank you.
» Okay. Thank you.
>> Well, council I know this is what the
» Well, council I know this is what the
fifth time.
>> No, it's like um Okay.
» No, it's like um Okay.
So, um I can share this uh email with
you so you can look at the fees um based
on where they are now and what the
proposed fees are and then we can talk
about it so we can be ready to move
forward with uh either approving or
denying.
We're ready to move forward. But now is
our time to ask whatever questions we
have for Miss Q because she do not want
me to put this back on this agenda.
>> That would be correct. And um I'm
» That would be correct. And um I'm
seeking what information that you're
seeking so we can make sure that the
next time I am before you, I can answer
those questions.
>> I suggest they ask you the questions
» I suggest they ask you the questions
before you come back before.
>> I really appreciate that as well. and I
» I really appreciate that as well. and I
can send you the um updated simplified
version of the Excel sheet so you can
focus mostly on the recommended fees,
the current fees, the recommendation and
if there's a fee that may have been a
major modification, you can see that it
was phased.
Pro Tim,
>> Councilman Turner.
» Councilman Turner.
>> Uh, Miss Kawi, at some point there was
» Uh, Miss Kawi, at some point there was
discussion about the fees for in the
area of the arborist, the tree cutting
piece.
>> Yes, as you will see that those fees um
» Yes, as you will see that those fees um
there was an error on the first um sheet
or the first spreadsheet that we gave.
We we've modified those fees and um
corrected them. So, they should also be
in the current um Excel sheet that you
do have. U tree permits are $80.
not the 4,500 that was listed.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> But I do want to tell you that there is
» But I do want to tell you that there is
a difference between a residential
property owner cutting down a tree
compared to a major development. So if
you see those fees, those are u
calculations based on land disturbance.
So those fees will be higher based on a
full development compared to tree
cutting on your single family
residential lot.
>> And that's where I not necessarily make
» And that's where I not necessarily make
a disconnect, but accepting the study is
easy. Yeah, we accept the studies. get
steady like I said but uh adjusting the
fees and getting the blanket acceptance
versus talking about them in the
categories for which they exist
uh before we accept the adjustment in
the fees. So accepting the study is one
thing and that's what this resolution
calls for and acceptance of the study
and
fee adjustment
and all I'm suggesting is chop chop two
different resolution. One to accept the
study and we'll deal with the fees
adjustments
in whatever categories we find
necessary.
That's my observation of it.
Thank you for that feedback.
>> Okay,
» Okay,
>> Tim.
» Tim.
>> Councilwoman Smith,
» Councilwoman Smith,
>> I have a question. Director Kawi. Um, so
» I have a question. Director Kawi. Um, so
my question is Oh, sorry. My question is
if
a resident myself, if I had a um a fence
variance, I recall coming to a meeting
where a young lady wanted to um modify
where her line is, fence line or the
height of the fence or something. I
think it was the height of the fence. um
for those type instances. To me, and you
can correct me if I'm wrong, according
to this matrix, it looks like it used to
cost $250
and it goes to $4,000.
» Do you see?
>> And I could be wrong.
I wrote it down, but I didn't write what
page. So, let me try to find it.
Well, Councilman Councilwoman Smith,
while you are um searching for the
variance request, I'm thinking I'm
assuming that is under um variances so
that it will be not only uh to the
advantage of someone to continue to uh
process variances in the city, but to uh
deter
in the way because a variance is outside
of what our ordinance lists. Um there
are special um exceptions um for a
variance, but we can go back and assess
those um fees because as it is listed,
it does say city proposed. So, if you
see any fees that you do not want at
that number, I'll just say, or at that
um fee,
please provide us that feedback so we
can um update the information. Again,
these fees are proposed. You will also
see what is currently assessed by the
city. So, the current fees are listed on
the matrix as well for comparison.
And as council men Turner said that the
fee schedule is here for uh review and
comparison um also with the matrix
itself for current fees,
the consultants proposed fees, the
city's proposed fees and again if
they're high enough we tried to phase
them out and not assess that fee in one
in one year. No.
>> Um, so I found I found it on page 67.
» Um, so I found I found it on page 67.
Um, residential single family zoning
districts base and it is listed under
variances.
Any variance whether it be me as a
residential or person residential
homeowner or if it's a commercial
variance the the cost is the same. Is
that what I'm seeing?
you probably have that updated um
variance on your because I don't have it
the packet so I don't have the matrix
here with me.
>> Okay. Yeah, it says that our current um
» Okay. Yeah, it says that our current um
current cost
uh current fee is $250
and then
um the proposed or city's proposed fee
is $4,000.
And of course, you have in year 1, I
want to say it was in the 700 range. Why
did I take my glasses off? Cuz I can't
see.
Yes, based on the matrix, it does have
the the current fee of $250
and it says the $4,111
as we discussed today and it's 4,000.
But of course, again, that's a proposed
request. The consultants did recommend
$4,11.
The city is proposing 4,000, but of
course, we did not assess those fees for
2027. They are phased, so it goes to
$785,
1,321
until it gets to the five years if you
want to assess that way. So, if you do
not want to assess the $4,000,
you can recommend another fee for us to
recommend in this matrix.
>> And again, for clarity,
» And again, for clarity,
uh me as a resident or a commercial
builder, we pay the same amount when it
comes to variances like such. That
that's what I want to make sure I
understand properly. it because of the
changes in the fees and the consultant
we we did use the consultant's um
recommendations even with our proposed
fees we did re do the recommendations
you will see a base fee and you will see
um additional variances on the same
property you know the the cost will
increase as well so yes that is a
correct yes answer
>> okay I agree with Councilman Turner that
» okay I agree with Councilman Turner that
we may want to have this resolution
divided into two. Um, one, you know,
accepting the the fee study and then
discussing
or determining how we
phrase and phase um, the increase in
fees moving forward. And thank you. I
think I was one of the per I think I was
the person who recommended maybe we do a
phased approach and you guys came back
with some phased approaches. [laughter]
>> So I appreciate that.
» So I appreciate that.
>> So just be mindful if you do accept the
» So just be mindful if you do accept the
um the study these fees that are being
proposed or recommended are in the study
as well. So we didn't create them on our
own just for just for your information.
I think the thought behind it and I'll
let Councilman Turner speak from his
thought process is that a the m the fee
study was done and we received it. We
understand that it was done. Somebody
gave us some numbers. The other piece is
us determining how we're going to accept
what was given to us and implement what
was given to us via the feast study. I
think that's my thought process behind
breaking it up into the two pieces, but
I'll let Councilman Turner speak on his.
You are correct, ma'am. Um,
the study
makes suggestions,
but it's up to us to accept those
suggestions or to implement those
suggestions.
And we can fully implement them as
outlined or we can make adjustments
to
those numbers that have been suggested.
>> That is our request all along.
» That is our request all along.
>> Okay. But to do it blanketly, you say
» Okay. But to do it blanketly, you say
you don't want to see this again.
>> Well,
» Well,
>> it would take us a
» it would take us a
>> for you.
» for you.
>> Okay. It would take quite some time to
» Okay. It would take quite some time to
do the whole matrix. And that's why I'm
saying we need to address the parts that
are most critical to what you have to do
on a day-to-day basis and uh address
that. But the rest of it is good to have
handy done by a professional and it's up
to us to accept them line by line, dot
by dot.
So I still say two parts accept the
study make the adjustments separately.
>> Mayor Pro Tim Councilwoman Smith
» Mayor Pro Tim Councilwoman Smith
>> Director Kawi are there any items in
» Director Kawi are there any items in
this matrix study that you and staff
feel need to be prioritized and changed
like yesterday?
You don't have to tell me if there's you
don't have to tell me the exact items. I
just want to know are there things in
here that you feel that we are we should
change as soon as possible.
>> That's correct. We in our opinion we
» That's correct. We in our opinion we
feel like all the fees should be updated
or amended but yes there are priority
issues in the study that we need to
address.
We don't think that the fees increasing
will be a deterrent. I can just say that
part.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
We can discuss a little further. Great.
>> Okay. Thank you,
» council. Any other questions?
Um, Mayor Pro Tim, I think once she send
the updated report that she has that has
the different columns in it that you'll
see it a little bit better than how
detailed this one is. I think that will
help. And then what the varian is
that point what needs not revised. We
all met on it today.
>> Mike, please.
» Mike, please.
>> She has a revised report that we all met
» She has a revised report that we all met
today on to discuss to make it a little
more cleaner and more user friendly. I
had some questions too and so she's
going to forward that report to you.
It's different than the one that you
have may prom. We've even broke it down
a little further and hopefully that'll
help. It's a lot of information but I
think the streamline will make it much
easier to see the var.
>> Thank you. Yes, it is a lot of
» Thank you. Yes, it is a lot of
information and I understand and see the
information that's in the report. It's
just um
I don't feel the most comfortable
approving or agreeing to a phased
approach where um the approach is I see
two years of the phased approach. So how
do we move forward after the phased
approach? So if if we're going to
um approve what we have,
then what we have is two years, you
know, are you coming back to us um after
the two years to to follow up on this?
Oh yeah, two. Am I reading properly?
Yeah, it says two years. The current has
two years because again as um city
manager Turner did state it's a lot of
information and we did not want you to
be overwhelmed or caught in the weeds
with this cost this and it's going to
you know you just see two years but some
of the columns are hidden for the matter
of this discussion. So we do have the
numbers for all the way up to five years
and then the assessment some of the
numbers go beyond the five years if
we're gradually phasing the cost to not
be overwhelmed in one year.
So but again that's at your
recommendation that you accept our um
proposed fees and your recommendations
you know will help us.
>> Okay. Again, I'll follow up with you
» Okay. Again, I'll follow up with you
offline because I would like to know and
understand some of the ones that you
feel you and staff feel are a priority.
» Miss Q, if I remember correctly, I know
parks
um definitely wanted their fees adjusted
um so they can move forward with some of
the programming. Yes. that they wanted
to
>> and they to submit a justification for
» and they to submit a justification for
those and um all of them were not on
there because they did hear the
recommendations from the last meeting.
So you will see new mostly um on the
summarized one you will see the new fees
and you won't see any additional fees
because they're new. So, it was at their
recommendation that they included these
fees in here or at your recommendation
of what they heard before that they
either lowered the fee or kept the fee
as it was um currently being assessed.
» Council, do we have do you have any
other questions for Director Q, Director
Kowi?
» Thank you so much. I appreciate you.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
Next on the agenda
is the cooperation agreement with Stone
Crest Lonia Industrial Park CI by
Councilman Turner District 4
The Storm Crest Latonia Industrial Park
T is
up and running and they're ready to hit
the ground running.
And with that, we need to make sure
there are some guidelines in place or
what's known as a cooperation agreement
because they are functioning within the
limits of the city of Stone Crest.
And with that comes
an understanding as to what they can
cannot do, will or will not do or what
the city can or cannot require of them
and uh vice versa.
Um there was a simple draft that follows
a draft of the cooperation agreement we
have with the East Metro CD
and our attorney has looked at it and
it's been shared with council and staff
and some tweaks have been offered and uh
we pretty much have them all fine-tuned
except for just a couple of items and uh
I believe that's going to be all in
place by the next council meeting. But
if you look at your package, you'll see
it highlighted
as to what some of the concerns are.
And some of those concerns have already
been addressed.
And uh without going into a lot of
detail, it's just a matter of
understanding that
this organization
is a body that is quasi
governmental
and uh they work within the bounds in
this case within the bounds of Stone
Crest and uh
some of the things that they will be
doing may well parallel what Stone Crest
is doing. There's got to be some
guidelines as it relates to that and as
partners, we're working together on
certain items. So, there's an
understanding with that as to how we
shall accomplish certain
um objectives here. Give you an example.
uh code enforcement. If they um
deal with code enforcement issues within
the CD itself, they may well be able to
assist the city and getting some of that
done. But to do it without cooperation
with the city would not be the best
approach. So to have this agreement as
to what we can and cannot do as a
partnership, so to speak. So, uh, the
document is there. Uh, we've gone
through it and our city attorney, as
Miss Thompson, had the last version of
it and was, uh, updating
the comments last received, and I'm not
sure as to exactly what the status is of
as of today because I did not discuss it
today, expecting her to be here with it.
But, um, Mr. City attorney, do you have
any updates?
I'm not 100% sure where she's at in the
review process, but I can follow up with
her in the morning and give you an
update.
>> Good. We want to have it ready for the
» Good. We want to have it ready for the
next agenda
uh item, mean for the next um council
meeting as an agenda item so we can
>> And I want to say attorney Thompson
» And I want to say attorney Thompson
should be online.
>> Is she online? She's not online. Okay.
» Is she online? She's not online. Okay.
Thank you.
>> Okay. But that's all I have on that
» Okay. But that's all I have on that
unless there are some additional
questions. And I know we've talked to
council about getting your concerns
either through me or to Miss Thompson so
we can make sure that we talk about it
and fine-tune it. And uh again, it's in
your package. That which is highlighted
in yellow
is what's being uh discussed and being
uh worked out.
Any questions?
Mayor Pro Tim Councilwoman Smith.
>> Um, Senate City Manager Turner. Uh, have
» Um, Senate City Manager Turner. Uh, have
you received any feedback on the CD? A
constituent called me and said that she
was going to reach out to you because
she had some questions and concerns as
it relates to something I actually
raised in the first meeting. Um, the
commitment of the staff to
the time commitment of staff. So, have
you received any calls on this?
>> I haven't received any calls, but if you
» I haven't received any calls, but if you
can let me know who it is, I can follow
up.
>> So, in our previous meeting when we
» So, in our previous meeting when we
talked about the C, I mentioned um there
was no stipulation surrounding how much
time would be required from the staff.
And I asked that the city attorney take
that action item to kind of determine
how much time commitment you could
provide and the frequency of the
meetings for you guys to kind of have a
discussion on that piece and provide
some feedback on it. So that's an action
item for you please. Um and we can
discuss it a little bit further.
If I may follow up on that.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> It's a matter of how much time will be
» It's a matter of how much time will be
required of the staff. It's how much
time is requested of the staff. And uh
again, it's up to us as to how much we
can uh up to staff and city managers to
how much we can provide. But to be
requested is one thing and to be able to
deliver is another. And I can appreciate
the zealousness and ready to go get it.
But at the same time we have to be in a
position to deliver because uh our time
is demanded from a lot of agencies.
>> My sentiments exactly
» My sentiments exactly
>> my sentiments. Exactly.
» my sentiments. Exactly.
>> Okay. Then we're on the same page. Okay.
» Okay. Then we're on the same page. Okay.
>> Um and then
» Um and then
I I do have a couple other things. Um
Councilman Turner. Um but I will we can
have a dialogue. Um because I see some
things in here like I mentioned in our
last meeting um the agreement being the
50 years. However, either of us can
decide to
um terminate in 30 days. So
maybe we should um discuss a bit
further. Um the 50-year agreement like I
mentioned many of us will be might be
might not be here in 50 years but if 50
years is something that we want to hold
fast to or if there's something that
that's something that we would like to
or may want to discuss adjusting.
Um, that's what I think for the
attorneys and that is that I know that
when you enter into certain operation
that might involve bonding or long-term
commitment with other legal entities,
uh, that 50 or 100year
uh, stipulation is common. Is that not
true?
>> I think it would depend on the nature of
» I think it would depend on the nature of
the agreement.
>> That's a lawyer answer. Okay.
» That's a lawyer answer. Okay.
And um just like you know marriage, you
enter a marriage, you don't expect
anything negative to happen. So
sometimes there are prenuptuals
that are put in place. What happens when
the CI and the city don't agree on a
project? How conflict resolution like
how do we handle those things? Do we
outline that in um the resolution that
we're prop proposing? Is there another
document or process somewhere that
regulates that interaction? Where does
where where do we
>> I would say that city trumps because C
» I would say that city trumps because C
can't do anything without cooperation of
the city if it overlaps city operations.
Say for instance they want to change uh
something that has to do with the
streets.
uh unless the city agrees to it, they
cannot change um anything within the
rightway.
No, there there are limits and and this
is not new. We have I think about 12 or
13 CS within the cav county and these
are typical agreements. Uh so I don't
think there's any risk of one violating
the space of the other. That's why we
need these cooperation agreement and if
regular communication but the C cannot
trump city operation. It can't go out
there and take down your traffic light
or change the direction of traffic on
the street. Um if there's a concern with
it, it has to be worked with in uh with
the city city engineering and city staff
to get anything done that impacts city
operation. I think that's in the first
part of that agreement and that is that
they cannot um I forget the word used
but they cannot trump city operation.
Okay. Um, the other question that I
have, and again you can tell me where
this typically lives, is the what we're
requesting of the CI as it relates to
reporting um the as it relates to the
taxes, financial documents that they
have. What are we requesting of them?
And what should they be providing to us?
I don't see that in here. Um, so is that
something that goes into this or is
there another place where those
requirements live?
>> They have a board of directors and that
» They have a board of directors and that
board of directors has a set of
guidelines that they must adhere to in
order to remain um
what you say uh in compliance
and uh they will be audited on a regular
basis.
I mean regular I would say annually they
will be audited and uh we have two
members on that board well two
appointees on that board and they're
following the guidelines and regulations
of all CIDs within the CAB county or
probably within the state of Georgia. So
have no fear. Those guidelines must be
adhered to if they are to remain
bonafideed as a CD.
Understood.
I just want to ensure that if there's
something that transparency again um
transparency is important and I want to
ensure that if we're requesting
transparency that we're able to actually
receive transparency and if that means
that we have to have something
documented in order to ensure we get
that transparency or not. You can get it
document if you're so inclined to get it
and I was told it's not in writing but I
can get it in writing that we will get a
copy of each agenda item I think about
six to seven days in advance and will be
published in uh the uh public uh
newspaper as to when that meetings will
take place. The minutes of their
meetings will also be uh published as
well and uh I'm not sure whether will be
broadcast live or not but uh you will
have access to attend and like I said we
have two members that we appoint to give
us an upto-date and to participate in
the process so we'll have access to know
what's going on with the C and um you
can attend if you're so inclined because
they
been volunteered that that information
will be made available to not just the
council but to the general citizens of
the city of Stone Crest.
>> Yes. And that is the expectation not
» Yes. And that is the expectation not
just the council but to the citizens of
Stone Crest. And um my plan is to attend
the first meeting um if my schedule
permits. I attend I plan to attend. So,
um, any other discussion or questions I
have, we can kind of exchange offline.
Thank you.
>> Thank you very much,
» Thank you very much,
>> council. Any other questions
» council. Any other questions
for Councilman Turner,
Councilman Turner? Um,
who established what are the baseline
city services? Do we have a list of the
baseline city services?
I really can't address. You said
baseline city services,
>> right? That's what's listed in the
» right? That's what's listed in the
agreement. They said it would help
alongside supplement the baseline city
services. So, I wanted to know if we had
a list of what those baseline city
services were. Uh we can get that
through our engineering and uh I'm open
to our city manager's office uh as well.
But um that's rather general as to
baseline. Uh what are the three services
that we provide?
>> So that's what we're referring to.
» So that's what we're referring to.
>> That's what I would uh interpret. But uh
» That's what I would uh interpret. But uh
don't hold me to that. Let me uh give
you a clearer answer
at a later date.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
Any
other questions for Councilman Turner?
Next on the Thank you, Councilman
Turner. I appreciate you as well. Next
on the agenda is for discussion economic
development department update by
Director Lance Randall.
Thank you. Sorry about that. I'll start
over. Um,
I want to thank Mayor Cobble in her
absence,
Mayor Pro Tim, city council members, and
the city manager, those in the audience,
and also online for the opportunity to
share information about the economic
development department of Stone Crest.
Uh, I want to start off with a brief
introduction. U, this is the first time
I've had a chance to present
and some people may not know who I am
and may not know who my colleague is
that that works with me. So I want to
very quickly introduce myself. I'm Lance
Randall. Been doing economic development
for about 32 years on the east coast and
the west coast. Work for several several
different municipalities and nonprofit
organizations.
And now here in Stone Crest, I'm very
proud to be in Stone Crest being the
leader of the department.
Uh my colleague Katrina McClendon
um has been doing economic development
for about 20 years. U most of her
background is in higher education,
but she um has been doing economic
development with with technical colleges
around the area um in the south part of
the of the state here in Dicap County
and also in the state of Col state of
South Carolina and Colombia. So um we're
looking forward to um bringing on
another person that will be a business
development manager also. Um let me back
up just a little bit. Katrina focuses on
recruiting, retention and expansion and
also workforce development. The new
person that we want to bring on
we also focus on recruiting, retention
and expansion and tourism which is part
of our target industries in the work
that we do.
Just want to show you a definition of
economic development as given to us by
the international economic development
council. I won't read through all of it,
but the one thing that I wanted to
highlight at the end of the statement
about economic development and our role
as a city,
our role is to create the conditions
that better enable businesses to compete
and thrive. which means that we are to
be prepared to receive
any businesses from around the globe who
decide they would like to operate here
in the city of Stone Crest.
We are dedicated to attracting,
supporting, and retaining businesses and
industries that drive the city's
economic growth and community vitality.
That is our mission. That is what we do
every day. And that what's that is what
we thrive to make happen on a regular
basis.
Just remind you our um target industries
consist of well the things that we do.
I'm sorry business retention expansion
which is taking care of the businesses
that we already have here to make sure
that they can overcome their challenges
as they continue to try to operate. We
also work with businesses that looking
to expand in the community.
Business traction and recruiting is only
5% of our work, but it's very important
as many businesses from around the the
world to be honest may have an interest
in Stone Crest and it's our job to make
sure when we're on the list that they
are considering but locating their
businesses that we stay on the list as I
mentioned earlier by providing things
that they need are required in order to
be able to operate their business here
in Stone Crest. We also focus on
workforce development. It's important
that our students have opportunities for
employment once they graduate.
And we also want to make sure incumbent
workers who lo lose their jobs have
opportunity to get restrained so that
they continue to work. and tourism,
agro tourism in specific which is one of
the prides of our area with um Arabia
Mountain and other trails that walk
around the city. It's very important
that we focus on tourism to bring people
here to enjoy the natural beauty beauty
of Stone Crest.
Now I want to talk briefly about our
target industries which are film and
entertainment, professional services,
healthc care, light manufacturing and
transportation and logistics.
Um we focus on these industries to make
sure that we're taking advantage of the
assets that we have that will attract
these type of businesses to our
community. So, it's important that we um
understand what these sectors consist of
and that we work very closely with the
existing businesses that are already
here that are in these sectors to make
sure they stay in place. And we also
depend on these businesses in these
sectors to help us recruit businesses
that are interested in coming to Stone
Crest. What better way to encourage
others who have an interest than to
present those that are already here and
let them speak of the things we're doing
to keep them in place.
We um also I want to talk about the
Sunrest Film Commission which is a very
important part of our department.
This commission was created
um as a response to the Georgia
Entertainment Industry Investment Act of
2008 that provided 30% of tax credits
toward any qualified entertainment
projects want to come to Georgia. So it
was established to make sure that we
could take advantage of that. We do have
some beautiful sites and locations where
filming can take place.
Originally um the responsibility of the
commission was to assist with filming
locations
also doing the permitting providing
incentives
things of those nature but uh we have a
relationship with the cab county film
commission and they on behalf of all the
13 cities here in Dicap County they take
care of all those things for us which
means that our role is very limited when
it comes to the film industry But since
we are the only film commission in Dicab
County, other cities do not have one, we
have one. We want to make sure that when
people do decide to come and film or
produce in Stone Crest, that we are
there to provide support to make sure
that their time here while they were
filming was enjoyable and productive.
We've somewhat shifted gears and focused
a lot on the entertainment portion of
the commission.
They're working with aspiring filmmakers
and entertainers and they're hosting
events here in Stone Crest with our
youth and adults to prepare them from
opportunities in the film and
entertainment
sector. Um they've been very active
already. They've held a couple of events
for our youth and have scheduled more
events for the rest of the year.
We've established or reestablished our
relationship with our key partners
through the Department of Economic
Development. We're now working very
closely with them to assist us with
information and also referrals to bring
businesses to here here to the um city
of Stone Crest.
Georgia Power Economic Development work
working very closely with them as well.
We've had meetings with them about some
industries that have shown interest in
coming here to Stone Crest and they are
um waiting for us to reach out to them
when we have opportunities and they're
providing opportunities as well. They
may ask questions about buildings,
infrastructure needs, things like that.
So, we are prepared to receive
businesses that are interested in coming
to Stone Crest that have power needs. Um
we are we continue to build and
cultivate our relationship with the side
the cab. We depend on them to provide us
information on sites help us connect
businesses with key people around um the
city and even the county and the state
with Georgia Power as well and they also
provide us assistance when it comes to
finding buildings and sites for
potential prospects.
The CAB chamber provides different
events for those businesses that land
here and different activities to get
them tied into the network. Discover the
cab with tourism business alliance of
Stone Crest East Metro and of course the
newest partner which is the Lonian
Industrial Park Community Improvement
District. We're going to be working with
them to provide whatever we support we
can to make them successful, but we also
are going to rely on them to help us
recruit um manufacturing light
manufacturing businesses to the area. I
want to give you a snapshot
of the businesses in Stone Crest.
Currently, we have about 1,110
businesses
that we were able to verify through the
revenue department that have business
licenses to operate in Stone Crest.
Of those businesses, the industry
clusters, the majority of the businesses
are in retail
and the second largest is restaurants.
and then the rest of you see um on the
graph shows you the breakdown of the
industry clusters that are operating
here in Stone Crest.
The other thing I thought was quite
interesting for council to see is the
number of businesses that are in your
district. Of course, the majority of
districts are in district one
and the least amount of businesses that
are registered to operate are in
district five,
but we do have um a database where we
keep this information and other
information that we can provide on these
businesses.
We want to talk about some stone press
projects that we're working on.
U most times projects want to remain
confidential but these particular
projects did not have a problem with us
mentioning them what they have going on.
Um the old Crystal location that caught
on fire some years ago at the corner of
Evans Mill um there was discussion with
the owner of the Crystal to have a
Dunkin Donuts and another restaurant to
come to that location. The question they
asked us with, could they keep the
drive-thru? And working with Director Q,
we determined they could keep the
drive-thru since one was there before.
So, we're waiting on them to
work out the lease arrangements
with the um property owner so that they
can move forward with the appropriate
process. Marshall has a warehouse here
in Stone Crest. They're looking to
expand the operation by adding another
parking lot for their trucks. We're
working with them trying to find that
property. Director Q and I met with
them. We identified a piece of property
that would require that would require an
easement. So, they may not be looking at
that property, but they're still looking
at something here in Stone Crest, and we
want to make sure that we keep them
here. Chipotle has submitted their um
application to set up a location on
Coington Highway. Um we're waiting for
them to finish their due diligence and
other things they need to do with the
company to get that going. And then
three projects that that's come to us as
of recently. Carver Jones is a market
that reached out through the Stone Crest
Chamber, Mr. Thomas Ford who was trying
to get the chamber reestablished, but
while he's doing that thought enough of
us to send us Carver Jones as a
potential opportunity. We get did get a
chance to meet with the owner as well as
JL Collins which is a beverage
distributor. Had an opportunity to meet
with them as well. They're taking a look
at Stone Crest looking at property where
they can set up their locations here.
And then just a couple weeks ago,
um Dr. McClendon, my my counterpart,
brought in Pin and Feathers, which has
about nine restaurants around the area.
They are interested in setting up here
in Stone Crest.
want to talk a little bit about the new
businesses that came in this year and
part of last year. Busy be Play Cafe
which is off of M Parkway set up
operations just recently. Sweet Pepper
Kitchen
over there um in the um plaza with Ross
just set up excuse me and we're still
waiting in the New York pizza
um establishment to open up. They've
been doing a lot of construction. It's
my understanding that they're trying to
get some things through the Cab County
Fire Department.
As you know, we we lost several
different businesses. Most of them are
retail and restaurants.
Um here's the list. I'm pretty sure
everyone is aware of it, but a lot of
people ask the question, how did it
happen and why did it happen?
Um there's some national trends that are
going on with the economy
and we are not immune to those trends.
Um we are also being impacted when it
comes to national national restaurant
change. Um inflation and the rising cost
has reduced the margins of these
businesses. Customers are choosing not
to go and eat out as much because of the
of the economy.
Um there's been a lot of mergers and
investments from venture capitalists and
hedge fund managers in purchasing
different restaurants and merging them.
Those are not doing very well right now.
They're falling apart. So they're
starting to to offload because of cash
flow issues and we're still having some
effects from the pandemic. People still
trying to recover. When you talk about
retail again, rising cost, here's
something that's interesting. Too many
retail retail stores are offering the
same thing which means that people have
different choices of where to go. So now
you have a price wars on similar
products and some can compete and others
cannot and those who can't compete they
shut down.
Stoppers are also purchasing at bulk,
which means that they're looking more
toward the large warehouse operations
like Costco and BJs and Sam's and not so
much with the retail operations.
And then international retailers are
starting to come in. All these are
international companies. Others are
coming in from outside the United States
and they're bringing their supply chain
with them and they are competing with
our domestic domestic businesses that
are here. and of course the overall
economy.
So when you talk about the the closings
of these businesses, majority of my
restaurants and retail chains, it's part
of a national trend. However, when they
bounce back, we want to be able to be
prepared to receive them with the
business climate they deserve.
So I want to talk about some stone crest
development projects that are very
important. One of the things I was
charged with
in the
comprehensive plan was the town center
and we are working with the Allen
family,
a um confidential broker and a
confidential
development group.
We put together the Stone Crest Town
Center master plan which will include
everything from government buildings,
private buildings, mixeduse retail,
entertainment,
educational institutions, and possibly
some healthc care institutions as well.
Those are the thing that we've discussed
about having into the strategic plan of
the master plan for the town center.
We're are meeting weekly to try to work
this out and as soon as we get something
in place. We have to go through a
process with the development authority
and then we'll come back to council with
the final say. So just know that we are
now moving forward. We're putting that
master plan together with a contingent
of people that's can make it happen.
New Black Wall Street has shut down.
This is also Allen property. All the
contents inside have been auctioned off.
So now we're working with the family and
their broker to figure out the next use
for the building.
Had one that came through that did not
meet the zoning requirements
and um it was really not a good fit. I'm
not going to say what it was, but just
not a good fit for our community. So we
want to make sure that as we try to fill
this space working with the family that
we are bringing something here that's
going to bring people to the city that's
going to create jobs that's going to be
sustainable and fits within the desires
of the leadership in the city and also
the community. So we will keep you
posted on the effort to do that. We've
had several different proposals that's
been presented. We take a look at them
to make sure that they meet the zoning,
but also to make sure that
that they meet the requirements of the
city. So, you'll be getting more
information about that as we begin to
narrow down what we think work best in
that building, but something will be
coming um in the near future.
Um, also working with the Allen family
properties, they have about 487 acres.
I'm pretty sure you're familiar with it.
Um, I've been here not even a year yet.
And one of the most important things I
had to do is try to figure out what is
going on with the property. Um, there
was an arrangement with the development
authority, but they have title of the
property and the family still has the
property. But we had to make sure we get
everybody on the same page. Of course,
um, Mr. Allen, when he was still living,
um, he was still working with this
situation, but since he's passed, he was
transferred over to his daughter. So, we
had to have a meeting with her, her
broker, the attorney, and also um some
potential developers so that we can make
sure we understand what has to happen
before anything can be done on this
property. So, now that we have an
agreement among all parties, we're now
working together to try to bring
development to all those properties that
Allen family owns um in the area closest
to the interstate.
Um, just want to mention real quick, we
did have a prospect
that was uh, brought to us by a
site selector
out of Massachusetts and they want to
purchase the Sam's building. We did get
an appraisal on the building um, for
them. They were looking to bring a large
retail operation here and it would have
brought 125 jobs. We were the last two
in contention for the um project, but
then we find out we have a long list of
prohibited prohibited uses that was
given to us when we bought the Sam's
building that limits a lot of
opportunities for us to bring certain
commercial operations here. So, we lost
that project,
but um we will be having a discussion
hopefully with the urban development
authority to determine the path forward.
Do we continue to try to recruit a
commercial user
um or do we take a look at some
alternative uses?
So, what I've done is given you a
snapshot of what we're working on, a lot
of big projects. Um we are doing a lot
of touch points with businesses in the
community.
maintaining, building more relationships
and doing what we have to do to keep
Stone Crest in the forefront of the
economic development efforts. Want
people to keep in mind we are still a
young city of all the cities in Dicap
County
and we still have a long way to go, but
I think um we have what it takes, the
assets, the ability, and the drive to
make it happen. And we're going to
continue to work hard to lead the effort
to um bring the things here to Stone
Crest. So we can continue to be stone
Chris proud. So if you have any
questions, be more than happy to answer.
» Council, do you have any questions for
Director Randall?
>> Mayor Pro.
» Mayor Pro.
>> Councilwoman Smith.
» Councilwoman Smith.
>> Thank you, Director Randall, for that.
» Thank you, Director Randall, for that.
We appreciate it. Um do you have any
idea how many businesses
um we have attracted this year and how
many we have lost this year?
>> Well, we only we only attracted one that
» Well, we only we only attracted one that
actually had a serious interest. You
look at different levels. You have tire
kickers who may reach out, ask some
questions, but then we don't hear from
them again. You have some that would go
as far as looking at property and we
won't hear from them again. The only one
that that went all the way through the
process was the confidential prospect
that was interested in the Sam's
building. However,
we do have
as I mentioned before
in the pipeline some smaller retail
restaurant businesses. I mentioned
Chipotle
has already committed to come to going
through the process. Dunkin Donuts is
committed to the setup as well. They're
working out the lease agreement, but
then they'll be going through the
process. And Marshalls um well, that's
more of retention expansion, but they're
going through the process as well. The
two that I mentioned earlier that came
in from Mr. Ford at the Stone um Crest
Chamber, those um he connected us with
those businesses and now we're in
discussions with them about trying to
find property. So, it's still early. Um,
council member retention, I mean,
recruiting is only 5%. Because it's
really a waiting game. They have so many
tools and things that they can use to
evaluate us. And the name of the game
when they reach out to us is to stay on
the list because once you get kicked off
the list for whatever reason, you may
not have a building,
you may not u have something, it may be
a permitting issue, it could be a zoning
issue. There a lot of things that we can
control, some we can't. But we're
gaining traction through our
partnerships with Georgia Power and the
Georgia Department of Economic
Development and through Decide the CAP.
They are the leads that will be bringing
us opportunities for recruiting and we
just have to be ready to receive them
and do the best we can to bring them
here with what we have.
>> Okay. You mentioned the
» Okay. You mentioned the
Stone Crest Film and Entertainment
Commission and you said that Dicap
County handles pretty much most of that.
What is it that our committee is
responsible for?
What's their purpose?
What we're pushing them to do now is to
focus more on bringing entertainment
events to Stone Crest that will bring
people here and also provide
opportunities for aspiring filmmakers
and entertainment mainly our youth to be
exposed to people already in the
industry. So if they want to go down
that path through workshops,
throughmies, through different things
like that that they're hosting to make
sure that people understand the industry
and have opportunities to talk to those
who are in the industry to learn what's
going on so they can make a decision if
they want to do it or not. Um also
supporting other events. Um they will be
supporting the mayor's um
um um what you call it um screen on the
green event. And then are trying to
bring some other events here, mainly
outdoor events because of the limit of
having a building to have something
inside. So, they're focusing more on the
entertainment piece, but when it comes
to film, whenever a producer or
filmmaker comes to Stone Crest, they're
charged to going out on site to make
sure that they serve as a welcome
committee. No one else is doing that
because they don't have a commission
like us. So, we will be making sure that
when they come here that that their time
here is pleasant and productive. Um, and
we will meet any needs that they have
while they're shooting. So, that is
their role to make sure that the city of
Stone Crest is one of the most desirable
and proactive places to do filming and
entertainment.
>> Okay. So, we're focusing on the um not
» Okay. So, we're focusing on the um not
on the film part, but more on the
entertainment piece of it. Our committee
is focusing more on the entertainment
piece.
>> Yes. And um as it relates to the film
» Yes. And um as it relates to the film
piece, if I'm hearing properly, we're
just the welcome committee.
>> Yes. Um Dicab County has a portal that
» Yes. Um Dicab County has a portal that
all 13 cities are in. So when people
contact the Georgia State Film
um department, they refer them to DICE
County, which is our economic
development lead organization in Dicap
County. So, it makes sense that they're
the ones that process all the permits
and when someone wants to come to Stone
Crest, then um the money from processing
permits come to us and we have to make
sure we approve the application before
they can come in and film. So they do
most of the background work on on behalf
of all the cities to [snorts] make sure
that everything is covered when it comes
to film making and production here in in
Dicap County and we're on the list with
the other cities. So they serve us and
everybody else.
>> Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim. I yield.
» Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim. I yield.
>> Thank you, Councilwoman Smith.
» Thank you, Councilwoman Smith.
Council, any other question?
>> Pro Tim. Councilman Turner,
» you mentioned the Allen property.
>> Yes, sir.
» Yes, sir.
>> And within that map, I see you also have
» And within that map, I see you also have
the Allen property on Woodro and Evans
Mill. Uh is that a part of
>> it's not part of the abatement that um
» it's not part of the abatement that um
the most of the property is along with
um Black Wall Street, but we are working
with the um family and potential
prospects who are looking at that
particular compound. There's some
challenges with it because of the zoning
going back to R100 because it has not
been used in six months or more. So, um,
as people are expressing interest in it,
um, we're trying to figure out a way.
Well, they would like to use the
buildings as they are, but because of
the zoning, they can't. So, director Q
and I are trying to figure out the
creative way that we can preserve that
compound where people can use it. Um,
we'll be talking more about that with um
with the city council, of course, about
some ideas to try to see what we can do
to to make it usable. Those are those
are historic buildings. They're good
buildings for filming. Um, they do need
some cleaning up, but they could still
be functional and we would hate to have
to destroy those buildings for single
family housing if we don't have to.
>> Okay. Um maybe this for the attorney and
» Okay. Um maybe this for the attorney and
that is that you mentioned the project
with the formerly Sam's Club building
and some roadblocks that are there and I
know that they were there when the city
purchased that property and I don't know
if we've ever challenged whether or not
those restrictions
are enforcable or not. I know that Sam
said that there's a list of things that
we could and could not use the building
for or could and could not dispose of it
for. Um, but
when we purchased it,
uh, I think that's kind of like one of
those uh, like lifetime easements or
something restriction. Is there any way
to work beyond that?
Obviously, we would have to take a look
at the agreement to determine um which
covenants apply and I'm happy to to meet
with you.
>> There's a there's a hand in the sky
» There's a there's a hand in the sky
there from one who may have a little
more experience with that.
Is that true?
>> Attorney,
» Attorney,
>> good evening.
» good evening.
>> Good evening. Um just and thank you,
» Good evening. Um just and thank you,
Orlando. You're right. Um thank you, Mr.
Mayor Pro Timmeritus and um Attorney
Pearson. Um and he's right um there is a
list of restrictions that we would have
to review. Um we've looked at them
previously and um they are part of the
the documentation that was used to
secure the land. And just for
clarification also this the Sam's Club
building is under the URRA. So it's it's
not a city-owned property. So this um
this discussion would be um a little bit
more relevant um within the urban
redevelopment ay's meeting, but there
are list of restrictions that are that
were bound to um as far as who can own
the property in the future.
>> Yeah, that was a question. Are we firmly
» Yeah, that was a question. Are we firmly
bound or is there a way to wealle out?
Well, we can have discussion and see,
take a look at the documents. I will say
something else that that has happened.
The building has been there for quite
some time. It's been vacant. Um, as a
result, we've had some people who have
come and done damage to the building.
Um, the air conditioning unit is
completely destroyed. So, it's going to
cost about a million dollars to replace
that. And there there's some things on
the inside of the building where people
have broken in and done some things. So
um we have to really take a look at the
building to make a determination which
direction do we go. Do we try to
continue to go down the path of
commercial with the both um prohibited
uses and the condition of the building
or do we take a look at some alternative
uses? Well, I know it requires another
discussion, but um if the building is
demolished, would those restrictions
still apply to the land if we were to uh
go in that direction? Because with it
being the damage to the point that it
might cost more to repair it than it
would be to just raise it and start
over. Uh so I think those questions have
to be asked in terms of the uh
and the details of the agreement. Does
that apply strictly to the building? Uh
does it also apply to the land and any
future land use of that site? So, that's
something for another discussion. Just
wanted to put that out there that that's
something we're going to have to deal
with because that is a very valuable
site and uh I'd hate for those
restrictions to hold us up forever.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
agurism. Speak to that again as to what
we are looking at.
>> Well, you know, we have some natural
» Well, you know, we have some natural
beauty here. I mean, we have Arabia
Mountain, we have walking trails, all
those different things. Um, we have the
South River and we want to make sure
that um we promote uh natural beauty
here in Stone Crest. Although we're a
city, we are a city with a lot of
natural beauty and we need to promote
that to get people to come here. Um, as
we move forward with our town center and
other things, we still want to maintain
that agurism. So, we'll be focusing a
lot in working with discover the cab to
make sure that we are advertising Stone
Crest as a top agurism place. You have
places where you can, you know, I think
we talked about the the sunflower
contest. You have places where you can
pick berries. You have a lot of natural
beauty which is something that a lot of
people appreciate. So
>> I was trying to get a clear definition
» I was trying to get a clear definition
of agurism and I don't know somehow I
had combined uh agriculture and tourism
to get to agurism and I see the tourism
and the um nature trails but I don't see
any agriculture hardly
uh that uh we can really promote. Did I
miss something?
>> No. Well, well, agriculture can also be
» No. Well, well, agriculture can also be
natural things that um that just grow.
Um you're talking about gardens, you
think about fields where people are
growing things, but as you walk the
trails, you will find different types of
berries and things that you can just
pick.
>> Okay. Okay. I just wanted to understand
» Okay. Okay. I just wanted to understand
what we were defining as agurism.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> You know, I was looking to walk through
» You know, I was looking to walk through
a potato field and
>> and you got feral hogs, too.
» and you got feral hogs, too.
>> Oh, okay. Now that's agubis.
» Oh, okay. Now that's agubis.
>> But yeah, we're going to really focus on
» But yeah, we're going to really focus on
that to make sure that um
because we are working hard to maintain
this natural asset that we have and it's
important that um we promote it to every
means necessary.
>> Okay. Okay. Thank you. That was very
» Okay. Okay. Thank you. That was very
thorough.
Council, any other questions for
Director Randall?
Director Rando, I want to say thank you
for this presentation. It was very
detailed. Um, but I have a couple of
questions. As far as the new businesses,
um, most of these are in district one.
Um,
I I wasn't aware of some of these new
businesses um, outside of getting a call
from a constituent or just riding past
the new business myself. So, how is
council notified when a new business
is here in Stone Crest? And how do we
welcome them to our city to show that we
appreciate them choosing Stone Crest and
maybe do a do a ribbon cutting and say
thank you and help promote them so they
can stay.
>> As a matter of fact,
» As a matter of fact,
>> good question. Well, I I submitted a
» good question. Well, I I submitted a
report to the city manager and mentioned
the new businesses that are here. Um, I
think what we need to do, well, what we
also do, I forgot to mention this, is we
working with the communication
department and they are currently now
going out doing videos of businesses
around the community. Um, think what
what I need to do is to make sure that,
um, in addition to sending information
to the city manager,
um, I can make sure we can send
something um, when a business shows up.
A lot of times they're coming in and we
didn't know they were coming. So they're
working directly with brokers
um on particular space like uh Sweet
Pepper Kitchen. They just showed up. We
just happened to go over and we find out
that they were there. Um so that that
will happen a lot that they will not
have to come to the city. They know what
they need looking for the space and they
work with the broker and then once we
find out we we cap capture the
information. So, what we'll try to do is
make sure that we um we find out that
we'll get information out and we'll work
with the communications department to
try to set up some type of ribbon
cutting in order for city council to be
there.
>> Got it. And that broker, do we have a
» Got it. And that broker, do we have a
partnership with these brokers?
>> Actually, we don't. Brokers love
» Actually, we don't. Brokers love
economic development departments because
um they're representing their clients
and their role is to try to lease or
sell their property. Um, we do have a
website where that some of them have
access to it where they can just post
whatever properties that they have,
commercial properties onto that to that
platform. And it's we're starting to get
more and more every day because um
they're more people are inquiring. Um,
we get most of our information from
decide the cab because they have co-star
and we had it but it's an expensive
tool. So to save money, we decide to
work with them and make requests to them
to get information on sites. So um
you know, businesses will locate the
Stone Crest without us knowing about it,
but then those that that need our help
reach out and we want to make sure as we
do that, we let you know so you can be
part of the celebration when they come
in.
>> Do you know what um what's holding New
» Do you know what um what's holding New
York pizza from opening? There's they're
dealing with per permit issues with the
um the Cap County Fire U Marshall.
» How are we notified when business are
closing?
>> Well, um we are constantly going through
» Well, um we are constantly going through
our database. Um we've been going
through the database the past couple
weeks and we are searching businesses
and we're finding a lot of them are
closed permanently. looking at Google,
um word of mouth, of course, um you get
information on social media and in some
instances when you pass by. So, if a
business is closing, um especially if
it's a a well-known business, popular
business, people going to know about it
because when they go, it's not there.
But then there's some smaller ones that
never really get off the ground. They
open and they close. We may never know
who they are, but um it's just a matter
of going through a database and we get
it information from Department of
Revenue every year preloaded and then we
go through the database to check
businesses against Google and their
websites. um if they don't have that
then we pass by and see what's going on
and then we make those um reports into
the system and I can provide you a
report of businesses that are registered
with the city to do business have a
business license but since
sometime this year they shut down
and we don't know what happened and most
businesses um will not contact us unless
they
feel that we can help them but a lot of
things out of our role as far as helping
sale.
» So, with the broker, I think it might be
helpful if we reach out to some of our
local brokers just to see how they can
assist get a list of all of our vacant
buildings. And of course, they work on
commission, so they'll be more than
happy to help you, but help us to get
some of those buildings filled. Do you
have a list of all of the buildings that
are vacant currently?
>> We don't have a list, but um any time a
» We don't have a list, but um any time a
prospect or anyone's looking for a
building. We do use CoStar with decide
the cab and they do a search and they
can tell us what buildings are
available. There are other tools online
that we can use like loop.net.
And then I said some brokers just
automatically put stuff in the system.
they ask for access to put it into our
database and we allow them to do that
and we go to that that list to take and
see what's available. It's kind of hard
to keep up with a list like that because
you know businesses are in a space and
they're out of space. Um, some
businesses, some some spaces are not
listed
and it's up, it's really the broker's
responsibility to try to fill that
space. And it's our responsibility when
they have someone that wants to go into
that space to make sure that we can help
them with permitting and all those
different things to get into the space.
Um, we don't own any of those buildings.
All we can do is when someone says, "I'm
looking for a certain size," we talk to
a broker or we look to look at a
database or contact inside the cab and
they let us know um we have these many
buildings available that will meet the
needs of this particular prospect
and then what we do is get with the
prospect, show them the list, and if
there's anything they have an interest
in, then we put them in the car. We take
them to see it and the brokers are there
to meet us to let us in so they can look
around, what have you.
Do you know what's going on with Bank of
America?
>> Um, I do know they had an auction. Um, I
» Um, I do know they had an auction. Um, I
don't know who purchased the building,
but I'm pretty sure that that would that
will come up pretty soon. Um, and since
we were talking about other buildings,
um, with Smoky Bones, they are in
bankruptcy.
And when the buildings in bankruptcy
like that, um, they're off limits until
it's completed because they take they
seize all the different assets. So, a
lot of buildings that you see that were
vacated by these national chains, um, we
can't touch them just yet.
Um, the American Signature Building has
decided they want to have another
furniture company to come in. And the
reason why just makes sense because
they're already set up for a furniture
company. And if another use comes in,
then you got to have a discussion about
tenant improvements.
So they're laser focused on another
furniture company. I f I went to them
about an idea that says no, we want a
furniture company. So the bottom line is
a lot of these properties are controlled
by the owners and they can determine
what they want into it. But I will say
my concern that I have is that a lot of
the property owners and the brokers are
not keeping the properties up the way
that they should be. And that's why I'm
glad that you initiating this effort to
have one of my colleagues ride around
and take a look to see so we can get
code enforcement on it because it's
difficult to bring businesses in
look at space and the space doesn't look
very good and it's not functional.
So, let's see if we can make some
improvements there.
» Council, do you have any other
questions?
>> Mayor Pro Tim.
» Mayor Pro Tim.
>> Councilwoman Smith.
» Councilwoman Smith.
>> Um, I do have one more question. Mayor
» Um, I do have one more question. Mayor
Pro Tim asked about welcoming the new
businesses in. And when a new business
comes in, I understand the whole broker
process, but when a new business comes
in, they should be um obtaining a
business license from the city of Stone
Crest. Correct.
>> Correct.
» Correct.
>> Okay. So, that's one way for us to track
» Okay. So, that's one way for us to track
them. But if I understand correctly from
some of our previous meetings, they
don't always come and get a business
license from the city of Stone Crest.
That could be possible. There are some
businesses that are out there that
signed the lease
and there's no way that the landlord
knows that they don't have a business
license unless they tell them. And I
think we had a discussion, me and the
city manager, might need to take a look
at some type of policy consideration
where
um any property owner that wants to
lease out their space to a business,
they must verify that they have a
business license. Because if they don't
and code enforcement begins to spec and
they find out that that business is
operating in a space without a business
license, then not only will the business
be sanctioned, but the property owner
should also be sanctioned knowing that
you're allowing a legal business to
operate in your space. So that's
something that we we need to look at.
>> Agreed. Okay. Thank you.
» Agreed. Okay. Thank you.
I yield.
>> Thank you, Councilwoman Smith. Um, Mayor
» Thank you, Councilwoman Smith. Um, Mayor
Proin,
>> Councilwoman Washington,
» Councilwoman Washington,
>> um, I know you were mentioning about the
» um, I know you were mentioning about the
businesses coming and I know for a fact
that there was supposed to be a 24-hour
fitness um, used to be a furniture
store. Did you hear anything else about
that? They've been advertising a couple
of times at some of our events, but I
haven't heard anything from them. So, do
you know what's happening with that?
>> I don't. I reached out to him a couple
» I don't. I reached out to him a couple
times. We talked and said they were
going through the process, but
apparently something's holding them up.
Um, I will say that I think a lot of the
challenges is that we have to go to
Dicab County, go to the fire marshall to
get things done and that could take a
lot of time because we don't have our
own fire marshall. So, we have to depend
on them and there's no way to jump the
line.
It's a long line of people trying to get
approval through the fire marshall. They
have to take a look at those plans in
detail to make sure that everything's in
place, that people are safe, and it
takes time. So, um I've talked to a lot
of businesses that just waiting on that.
Uh I wish there was some something we
could do,
but when you're in the queue, all you
can do is wait till your turn and um
it's it's a challenge that we have to do
that, but that's just how it is.
Um I also was curious uh I know how we
said the importance of tourism is here
in Stone Crest. Uh Discover the cab um
do they give you a uh update on the
things that they do for us here in the
city
>> or do can you can they give us what they
» or do can you can they give us what they
do to help us in tourism?
>> I I have yet to receive anything from
» I I have yet to receive anything from
them. I do know that we give them a lot
of money more than
>> Yeah, we give them money. Right. Exactly
» Yeah, we give them money. Right. Exactly
right.
>> We should receive some type of update
» We should receive some type of update
from them about what it is that they do
to help help tourism here in the city of
Stone Crest.
>> I do know they market the Cab County as
» I do know they market the Cab County as
a whole and include us. But you're
right. We we need to know exactly what
you're doing to support us.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> And again, we don't have a lot of stuff
» And again, we don't have a lot of stuff
right now, but it's coming. But we do
have the agro tourism. So, I will make
it a point to meet with them and say,
"Listen, you know, we're still building
the city, but we do have this asset,
this natural asset, and we need to know
what are you doing to help get the word
out about this asset, and depending on
the answer will determine how we go
forward. um nothing's being done, then
we got to put something in place to make
sure that they understand the money that
we're giving you, we need you to invest
to market what we have, which is higher
tourism.
>> Yes. Thank you. Appreciate that. I
» Yes. Thank you. Appreciate that. I
yield.
>> Thank you, Councilwoman Washington.
Director Lance, you mentioned you're
having um or we're having issues with
the fire marshal with the cat and that's
what's holding up. Yeah, in a lot of
instances, um, a lot of businesses have
to go when you go into a new space, the
previous use may not, um, and the
changes that you're going to make will
have to be approved by the fire
marshall. Like, like for example, let's
take, um,
let's take the Black Wall Street
building. Um, it was a Target. And when
you look at most large retail box stores
like that, you see a bunch of shelves
that are not permanent inside the
building and they're made out of metal.
When you take all those fixtures out,
it's just an open space typically with
metal bars holding the building up. With
that being the case, they don't need the
level of fire suppression because they
don't have the wood, the walls, and
stuff like that that burns. But if
someone were to come in and say that
they were going to renovate the space,
add a bunch of rooms, offices, and
things like that, then the fire
suppression system is going to have to
be improved tremendously because you
have to make sure that the new use is
safe, which means that they have to
present some type of fire prevention
plan based on the drawings and they have
to submit that to to the Cap County Fire
Marshall and they go through those plans
with a fine tooth comb And it's very
frustrating because there's so many
people that are in the queue trying to
get their plans approved, including
ours. And it is a challenge for some
businesses who have been waiting for a
very long time. They're ready to go. But
until they get the okay, that the
building is safe, then they have to
continue to wait until they get it
approved.
But it's not a slap or anything at at
the fire marshall. It's just that's just
the way it is. Um they're trying to
service all the cap county and other
cities do the same things as we do, rely
on them to do the fire marshall work.
» And my last question, have you had a
chance to tour Flat Rock?
Flat Rock,
you know, um I drive through there every
day.
Um I haven't had a chance to
walk the trails and all that type of
stuff, but I've done a lot of research
on it, which I had to do before coming
here to get this position.
I think it's it's fascinating. Um I was
playing golf yesterday, no Saturday of
the Polola Mountain Golf Course and was
able to see pondola mountain for the
first time on the golf course. So I will
say that um one of the biggest assets
that we have that we have to capitalize
on when it comes to tourism
is the flat rock community which has a
very significant historical perspective
which which the first settlers were
black on flat rock. That's very
important perspective and how it's
remain maintained that beauty and and
the granite and all this type of stuff.
But eventually I will get a chance to to
make that walk and really tour the area
because um I think it's beautiful place
to see.
>> Absolutely. I guess you can reach out to
» Absolutely. I guess you can reach out to
Mrs. Cheryl Matthysse more and she can
do that tour with you.
>> You're right. I think I will do that.
» You're right. I think I will do that.
>> Yeah, absolutely. Well, thank you so
» Yeah, absolutely. Well, thank you so
much for your presentation unless
council have some additional questions.
>> Mayor Pim, I just have one more. Uh
» Mayor Pim, I just have one more. Uh
we're talking about fire and the fire uh
inspections and things like that. It
brought to mind the um down the street
uh where they're going to do the new
fire. I know it's a Dicab County
project. Have you heard anything about
when they're going to I know they
cleared the land. Uh have you heard
anything more about when they tend to
build or start that project?
>> Um I haven't heard anything but I do
» Um I haven't heard anything but I do
know that's part probably part of the
capital budget. So, um it's probably a
question we need to ask to see where it
is as far as the capital budget plan um
when it's going to be done, but um I
don't know, but I can try to find out or
ask some questions to see if we can get
a timeline of when it's going to be
done.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you, Mr. Randall. I appreciate
you.
>> Yes, ma'am.
» Yes, ma'am.
Next on the the agenda is for
discussion. Code enforcement department
update by director Q.
» Oh, I'm sorry. Good evening. We're going
to give Director Q a little break.
[laughter]
>> Well, thank you, Miss White. I
» Well, thank you, Miss White. I
appreciate you. Code enforcement
assistant director.
>> Yes. Um, Director Buck couldn't be here
» Yes. Um, Director Buck couldn't be here
this evening, but he sends his regard.
Okay. [laughter]
Good afternoon, uh, council. Um, I'm
Tasha White. I'm the assistant director
for code enforcement. Um, so to get
started, um,
So, I'm going start off basically um
just with our cases um to just kind of
give you all some of our challenges that
we're having as far as the post because
I know that comes up a lot with council
um just questioning us about a lot of
things that happen. Um but initially um
we get um our inspections either from
the officers being out in the field um
seeing the inspection uh seeing
violations or we get the calls, emails,
stopped in the street etc. um about
different uh issues going on with the
city. Um it starts with initial
inspection. Um if there's a violation um
usually a notice is uh issued to the
property owner. Um there are cases where
we will go straight to citation. It just
depends on if we've been to that
property numerous time about the same
thing. Um
then uh but normally it goes through our
notice. We get get a notice of violation
and they have a date to comply. We also
offer um extensions for those who have
hardships or anything like that. They
have to submit um an extension form
requesting that time frame, you know,
requesting additional time. Um sometimes
we're allowed to give that just depends
on what the situation is and if they've
cleared any other violations on the
property as well. Um and if they have it
completed by the time that the uh
compliance date come, a citation is
issued.
Um are for the the owner to appear in
court um to answer to those charges. Um
and then if they are in compliance is
that's where our issue comes where we
have repeated uh citations back to court
citations back to court if they even
appear in court. One of our biggest
problems that we definitely have are our
FTA which is our failure to appear.
And I didn't I couldn't get a a
approximate number, but um just to kind
of give you an idea, we have over 600
active cases overall and the 75% of them
are going through the cycle of repeat
citations, repeat violations or never
have been resolved at all.
Okay. Uh we have been successful with
some of our egregious properties, but
that is usually after continuous
continuous uh citations or new owner
pops up and they're willing to get the
property into the flight. That's usually
how we get some of those involved. Um so
that's one of our things that we we we
constantly deal with with um addressing
violations.
Okay.
So, um we have identified our first
group of abatement properties. Um since
the abatement process went through, um
that's something we'll probably have to
get with our uh city manager now because
that's where held up the last time that
uh that we they um we were asked to
recite the properties and basically
bring them forth to say what if they
were what you all wanted to go forth
with a bait.
Um but um the most we've had to do is
identify them, show the reasons, and
then it is more so a movement of getting
in front of a judge him or her uh
approving those viol proving that that
they should go through abatement that
that we have just cause and then going
forward with them. Um
over the time frame at least about a
year and a half uh we have addressed
over 340 businesses kind of um that had
have either had no business license or
expired business license. Um some of
those businesses um have closed because
they uh just don't want to hear to the
to the the ordinance of getting a
business license. They feel they need to
have a business license. Um, so we uh we
work with those who uh do attempt to try
to get their business license. Um, we do
also know that there there are a lot of
things that's held up with the fire
department and we work with those
businesses as well. Um, we attend
numerous community meetings, events just
to educate citizens. Um, we even go out
to property to talk with the the the
violators as well as the concerned
citizens to see if some of the things
are even enforceable. Some things are
enforceable, some aren't. Some some
don't fall into our purview, but we'll
try to assist as much as we can with
anything that they have issues with. Um,
one of the newest ones that I think
we've come across is the detention ponds
and those retention areas that were I
guess one m once maintained by the cab
county
and for some reason they're no longer.
But um what we're finding is that the
property owners own those where that
those uh yeah retention ponds are. So
it's kind of getting left on them. Um I
have I've had at least three in the last
two weeks. So I know that's probably
going to be a concern that does come
your way. Um I'm not sure what we do
with those. Those are one of the
challenges that we do have and we're not
sure where those are supposed to go
other than with the property owner, but
I know for sure that they're going to
raise some some concerns with that. Um,
we were able to reduce the number of
illegal vendors um significantly around
the the city, mostly because we
collectively and continuously cighted
the owners until they've either hired um
staff to monitor the property to get
people to leave. Um because one of the
issues we have come across is that um we
cannot we can only persuade vendors to
leave a property. We have no legal right
to tell them to leave. Um because it is
private property. When it's private
property, we have to deal with the owner
as we would for grass, trash, or
anything else. We have to notify them
that they're vendors. And of course, by
the time they get there, the vendors are
gone. So, um, a lot of times we're just
telling them that they may want to get
someone to monitor their property and be
the responsible party to contact the
cab. Uh, we do try to connect them with
the cab county so they can come into
some type of agreement about who can be
on their property, who they're allowing,
so that it's a little bit uh, smoother
to get that done. Um, because we can't
be
the ones that say they have to go.
So it has to be a property owner. We
have come across that the way it has to
be a property owner that states that. Um
so we have worked with um because I
think one of the incidents I think was
on a Waffle House property off of uh
Canola
and I think uh there was a gentleman
that was living on the property and um
so we had to get them connected with the
cab in order to make those reports. So
that way if we're seeing we can just
notify them but they already have the
agreement to have that person removed.
So a lot of things like that we uh we
have been working with property owners
um to resolve a lot of the issues that
they have. Um one of the other issues
that we've come across is of course the
truck parking. That's one that is
brought up to us a lot. Um
the newest issue is uh the tow companies
not wanting to move commercial vehicles
in a short period of time. Our code does
allow them overnight does not allow them
overnight. So,
how we look at it as officers is
basically if you allowing a vehicle to
be parked there and you are closed,
there's no reason for that vehicle to be
there. Um
cuz it's cuz we know the the parking
lots that usually have these trucks that
they they just go park and then they go
home and they leave them there. So, we
have been working with each of the lots
that we have the most complaints about.
Basically, um just trying to get them
connect. We can't really connect them
with the tow truck companies. They have
to find their own. And then there's only
thing that we require is that they have
to have some type of signage letting
those who park those vehicles there
notice that they can be told at their
own expense. Um,
another issue that comes up um would be
vehicles on the street.
Vehicles parked on the street, there's
no way for us to identify those
vehicles, the owner of the vehicles. Um,
we rely on the residents to uh state
that yes, that's my vehicle. After we um
put our stickers on it, sometimes
they'll call us and say, "Yeah, that's
my vehicle." and then we find out where
they are and we can issue a proper
notice. But the tagging is really just
to get them to contact us. Um we we do
not remove the vehicles. um we uh send
those over to the cab county um to have
them removed and that's mostly for
vehicles that are inoperable, expired,
tag, abandoned and that type of thing
because they have the resources to find
the owners and who who owns that
particular vehicle.
Um well I've mentioned a couple of our
challenges which is the um failure to
appears having to do numerous repeat
citations to the owners and some of them
who pay the fine and and continue to
keep their property in the conditions
they are. Um
we um the the the only thing that we see
work is to continue to to site them and
that's the ones that show up. Um we're
able to normally
that citation
assists with uh persuading them to um
get the property in compliance because
they see that we we're not going to let
up. Um but the time frame that it's
taken has as has a lot most times have
been years. It is not something that's
months. It is it's usually the
cooperation of the person who owns the
property. If we don't have that
cooperation, we we're talking years.
Like I said, a lot of times it's when
decides they want to do something with
the property or buy the property and
that kind of thing. But other than that,
we we face a lot of um
standill with with getting those cases
into compliance. Um
also businesses that are allowed to
operate illegally. Um we get a lot of
calls from the businesses here about the
businesses that they know are operating
illegally. Um and we we're doing our is
all of the ones that are operating
illegally, but some of them will come
pay their fine and continue to operate
illegally. Um so that's something we
have been working on solutions for. Um
we tried some things but they are there
are people who will just pop up with any
type of business and go to operate. Um
we do uh
with businesses um I think it was
mentioned I think in um Mr. Randle's uh
presentation that we basically we we we
do go after the owners of the property
as well as the business owners.
Um
because basically they're allowing the
land to be used without proper approval.
Um and that's how we can get the
business owners for that as well as the
tenants the tenant or the business owner
as well. We try to get them both and a
lot of times the owners aren't even
aware that it's not allowed and that
type of thing. So, a lot of that um
falls into the education part of it. Um
just being able to educate these uh
property owners as well as the business
owners on what has to happen. Um we do
hold the property owners responsible um
if it's because a lot of times we might
not even know the name of the business.
We may just get the person's name of who
rented the property, but there's no
indication of what type of business it
is. Um, so we have run into some of
those issues, but we've been able to
kind of iron those out in court. Um, but
that's that's one of the biggest issues.
Um, one of the things that I I believe
that we should have is a rental
registry. A rental registry would assist
with us knowing who's at the location,
who's renting from you. um us just even
going out door to door just addressing
business license. We've come across
businesses that have basically allowed
two or three other businesses to run
businesses within one. Um so we come
across a lot as we are going out to the
properties and um addressing those
things.
So, I know the rental registry is one.
Um, having a lean process that kind of
eliminates us having to go back out to a
property numerous times for the same
thing and we know they haven't done
anything. Um, because they end up on our
docket and we have to go take a look at
to see what their current status is on
the properties and then many times
they've done nothing and it's
continuous. We've done amnesty to the
court and still not much has moved um
from those efforts.
Um
I'll open it up for any questions you
already have because I know you don't
have
>> Thank you, Miss White. Council, do you
» Thank you, Miss White. Council, do you
have any questions for Miss White? Mayor
Pro Tim Smith.
>> Thank you, Miss White. Um, you talked
» Thank you, Miss White. Um, you talked
about the illegal vendors.
Would those be those people who bring
their barbecue pits to the different
properties and set up on the weekends?
>> Yes, those will be our vendors. Um, the
» Yes, those will be our vendors. Um, the
car wash people that decide to just
choose the parking lot, water, the
people who sell the food and all that.
>> The car wash is in a parking lot. Okay.
» The car wash is in a parking lot. Okay.
So what I heard was
code enforcement cannot h make those
people move. It has to be the property
owner.
>> That is correct.
» That is correct.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> We try to persuade them when they are
» We try to persuade them when they are
willing to hear from us. Um we have had
some incidents in in the past. Um we
haven't had any recently. Um but um that
they they they kind of know some of them
know that you can't tell them anything.
So they they they'll try to intimidate
our officers and that kind of thing. So
a lot of times we are just taking
photographs of what's going on on the
property and just kind of holding that
property owner to barricading the area,
fencing the area. Anything that we can
get them to do temporarily until they do
something additional with that
particular property.
>> I think there is and I see Major Baron
» I think there is and I see Major Baron
in the back of the room. Um, she and I
discussed a program that Stone Crest
could opt into. Um, I think it happens
in the cab
county now where the owners can sign
something saying that, you know, if
somebody's on their pro property
illegally that the cab can take action.
But I think because we're our own
municipality, we needed to have
something to issue to the the businesses
in the city of Stone Crest. Have we
looked into
>> Yes, we we connect them with with the
» Yes, we we connect them with with the
Decap Police Department. Um we try to
make those connections all the time.
That's how like I said with the Waffle
House was my example. Um just bringing
that owner to the cab and just to gap
police department and saying, "Hey,
they're having this issue." You know,
because it's it's sometime sometimes
it's a twostep process because if they
just bending on the property, that's one
thing. They're vending and then they
brought the trash with them.
>> That's two different things. So now we
» That's two different things. So now we
have to first get the person to see if
they're going to remove their trash with
them and then also the the next step of
just making sure everything is taken
care of. Um that one was um an unhoused
person. So that one was we couldn't just
call it trash and debris because that
was somebody's belonging but we knew
that it was going to take you know some
time but the I spoke with the
facilities people for the company and
connected them with major barren and
matter of fact major and major barren
had talked about you know what can be
done and is it okay that that that we're
sending them to you all and and then we
made that connection that that was fine
and if anything was immediate that we we
could work out some things to get that
done. So, we work with um PJ Baron and
Lieutenant Morris who comes to our
building a lot who is our liaison
through the cab that we send a lot of
our uh requests through when we need
assistance with certain things. So,
that's what we've been utilizing to get
that. Um so, they do have something that
they use, but um it's just getting the
property owner to to um to respond and
to get that done because a lot of things
we're having to do with mail is not to
talk to because especially if it's at
vacant land or like the properties from
G dot that you know so it's it's just
trying to find out somebody who's going
to give you that answer or respond and
and be willing to do the work.
>> Okay. I was just wondering if that
» Okay. I was just wondering if that
program because it allows the property
owner sign off and say okay the cab
county if you see something then you can
act up on it. So I was wondering if that
was um something that we could um
utilize for these type situations.
>> Definitely we definitely try to open all
» Definitely we definitely try to open all
avenues that we can.
>> Okay. And my other question
is the lean process because that was one
of the things I thought about like if we
we continue having these issues with
these property owners um then what's the
process? What do we have to do in order
to opt into some type of lean process?
even if we have to go and you know cut
grass at a property, we should be able
to
um put that cost on that property owner
who has not responded to the numerous
citations that have been given to them.
So, do we have we started looking into
the the lean process
and what what it would take for us to be
able to do that? Um we have um had a lot
of conversations but not much movement
um because um we've we've had them in
our other jurisdiction. So, we brought
that information to just get those
orders to say that a lean is on this
property. Um, because that's one of the
main issues that the constituents have,
especially when those properties where
they move out and the owner don't can't
touch the property for a certain time.
But, um,
most of the time it's it's ones like
that that we really want to be able to
just go cut that grass or especially um
emergency borders. Um, that's another
one of the things. um just getting with
having a stronger um connection with the
fire department so we know when those
where those fires happen. Um a lot of
times we're on the back end when we find
out about uh a building that has caught
fire and um we do not have a we have a
code that allows us to uh well the
building department to um do an
emergency boarding. Um I just believe we
probably just have to have funds and be
able to allocate to that. But we do have
a process there. That's within our um
unfit abatement building so that we have
a where where they can do emergency
boarding. It's just a matter of us
having what we need to be able to do. So
um and they probably have to go through
some type of bidding process. So we're
just getting that with the right
departments and getting that connected.
I think we can make that happen.
>> Okay. And um Mayor Pro Tim
» Okay. And um Mayor Pro Tim
um Attorney Thompson had her hand up.
She wanted to comment on the lean
process.
Thank you. Um, Madame Mayor Pro Tim, I
was just going to state that we did
adopt some ordinances a year, maybe two
or three years back that addresses
um, how the city can either, you know,
go on to properties and like you said,
um, Council Member Smith, cut grass or
um, take action if the property owner
um, is not responding to,
um, the city's ask request to tend tend
to their property. And then of course
that lean would be attached to um that
parcel. So we do have um some ordinances
in place so I can share those with you u
so you can review them and you know and
see how the process kind of works.
» Thank you
mayor prom.
>> Thank you counciloman Smith. Council any
» Thank you counciloman Smith. Council any
other questions? Mayor Pro Tim,
>> Councilwoman Washington,
» Councilwoman Washington,
>> um, how you doing? [clears throat]
» um, how you doing? [clears throat]
I want to ask a question. I was
addressed with a question today. What do
you do like I heard what you were saying
about
um when there's uh trucks on private
property, uh, the limited things that
you can do when it's happened like that.
But today, I went to Walmart and the
manager of Walmart was really concerned.
He said that every and and maybe even
Major Baron can help me with this also
is that he was concerned with the fact
that every time he pulled up every
morning there's like 10 or 15 trucks
just in his parking lot. And that's like
way past what he can do himself. So he
wanted to know what it is that he has to
do to keep these trucks from coming on
his private property and parking
overnight and then he comes and they're
all there. So, uh I don't know what to I
told him I would inquire on whether
maybe there is something that code
enforcement or even uh the cab police
can help him with this type of situation
is kind of big for him. He he's his
hands are tied with how much he can do
to make sure that because he has such a
big lot and such all of this space
they're just taking advantage. So, uh
what could he do? Um, that's one of the
one of the things that we are working on
to find out some different solutions for
that. Um, I even had uh a property owner
who just has a a vacant lot and it's in
a residential area and there would be
trucks parked and I I issued I gave him
a notice so he could, you know, know
that they were parking on his property.
Um, his the issue he has because he is a
um because it's not like a commercial
lot or something like that. I think they
it seems like the tow companies do
different agreements with different
people. So, um the the gentleman I
talked to his property is on I think
it's Brownsville Mill and Klondike and
he just has a flat lot that used to have
a house on it and he stated that when he
contacted the tow company, they told him
it had to be out there 24 to 48 hours.
That's two days that something's on his
property and he cannot get told. Um
because I think initially he just had to
put signage up. He put signage up and it
still um became an issue. I mean he it
took him by the time that a tow truck
would have come out the truck's gone.
Right.
>> Um we've had officers, you know, try to
» Um we've had officers, you know, try to
talk to some of the the um truck drivers
as we see them. Um,
and it's we just get the excuses of, oh,
I'm just going home for a second. But
this, you know, this is not your
property. You can't even be parked here.
And
they just take the risk of, well, we'll
see what happens because a lot of them
know that it's going to take a while for
a a troll truck for that size vehicle to
come and remove them. So, I think a lot
of them have found these little
loopholes to to get around that. And
like I said, the we've had um another uh
I think the one is on um the food depot
plaza. They're having that same issue.
And um we have been working with that
property um manager because he got the
vendors under control, but now we have
the issue of the parking the commercial
vehicles along the back of his property
along the side. And um that's the that's
the biggest thing of the time frame that
the tow truck companies are offering.
But see Walmart had one that they said
they could do. I think one Walmart
stated that they could have them gone in
a few hours. So it's like conflict of
information. So I'm I'm going to have to
probably try to reach out to some of the
tow truck companies, but just as you
know just to see what their actual
procedures are if they're getting just
different answers because talking to
different people or what have you. But
that is one of the the issues that has
come up that um just recently about
those trucks. So we we're working with
them as much as we can. I'm not sure
what um if there's anything Major Baron
knows that that that can happen for for
those particular issues, but um we we
definitely
>> sound like it's hard to find something
» sound like it's hard to find something
to assist because you know even though
you know we want to make the property
owners fully accountable of everything,
but we do have to be somewhat
understanding if if they're not able to
do what we're asking. um we have to have
some kind of consideration and um for
those things, but some of the things we
we we have to do, we have to do. But
some of the the issues that they come up
with is it's it's it's putting them in a
hard place. So yeah,
it being on private property is a big
challenge because it's private property.
However, one of the things that um we
have found is quite helpful to us when
we're dealing with um um heavy trucks on
private property is a lot of those
trucks are not owned by the drivers. So,
what we do in those instances, we as the
police to help the business like this
with Walmart because you don't want to
find Walmart because they're coming
overnight. So, what we do is get in
contact with the company. All those
drivers have overnight dispatchers for
the company. We get in contact with the
company and we tell them that the car
the um truck is going to be told if it's
not removed within and we try and give
people time within an hour or so. And
that typically works because they know
it's going to cost them a lot of money
to have a um a truck that size towed.
Now also you know there is a law that's
called criminal trespass. If you ask
someone to leave the property and they
refuse to leave or they return back
after leaving. So other action can be
taken when you do have someone that is
not wanting to u follow the requests or
the orders of the property owners. But
um one of the things that we do find
also with businesses is they're not
consistent. And you do have sometimes
management is saying yes. Oh, you just
want to park here for an hour saying
yes. And then now and that is one of the
reasons why we stopped having to take
action without property management or a
owner or a representative thereof
because we have found in the past where
we have been taking action against
people and kind of find out they were
telling the truth. I was allowed to be
here. The manager gave me permission. So
that's one of the things that um we push
consistency but making sure that um you
know we do have that buy in from the
companies that we are able to come out
and make those calls and give those
warnings and then take action. And
you're going to have property management
or owners or representative to be there
with you to take that action because a
lot of times we are left by ourselves
trying to fight their battle.
Thank you,
» Mayor Pimp.
>> Councilman Turner,
» Councilman Turner,
>> Miss White, I know one in another area,
» Miss White, I know one in another area,
probably legal, and that is that we have
some illegal dumping going on in the
city, quite a bit of it. And uh the
question is, can we use cameras to
identify some of the culprits? Is that
legal now or did the gap county allow
such to happen?
>> Without looking at the county
» Without looking at the county
ordinances, I couldn't tell you. I'd be
speculating, but I can definitely look
into that for you, Councilman.
>> Okay. Because I can give you about five
» Okay. Because I can give you about five
locations at the regular dump sites and
it seemed as if we can do nothing about
it. It's been that way for before I was
on council and uh it continues to go on
and on and on and we need to identify
the culprits. Uh the other area you
mentioned there 400 cases you uh city's
working there and all that. Did you say
75 cases or 75%?
>> 75%
» 75%
>> 75% of them are repeat offenders. So
» 75% of them are repeat offenders. So
we're not getting our message across.
And where is the failure to communicate
here? Is that within our court system?
Um the fines are not stern enough.
>> They don't come to court. That's that's
» They don't come to court. That's that's
the the main issue. The ones that come
to court, we end up getting to find
them. Um
and and we even have probation. We have
people on probation and still not in
compliance. I mean, I was told
>> for years years on probation and still
» for years years on probation and still
not in compliance.
>> So that if I got a seat belt violation
» So that if I got a seat belt violation
and don't go to court, the seat belt's
no longer the issue. The failure to
appear
>> is the issue. So who takes care of the
» is the issue. So who takes care of the
failure to appear?
» That would be the court system. I They
would have to be because they're not
appearing to their court.
>> So we're talking to the wrong entity
» So we're talking to the wrong entity
here. Yeah, once we get them to court,
that's that's like, hey, we've done
everything that we can do to comply, get
these people to comply. Now, we're
getting the enforcement part of the our
compliance. Um, and that part isn't
happening.
>> I know a couple of chop shops that's
» I know a couple of chop shops that's
been operating in the city for the last
>> agreed seven years.
» agreed seven years.
>> I know exactly which one you're talking
» I know exactly which one you're talking
about, too.
>> And it appears as if we can do nothing
» And it appears as if we can do nothing
about it.
>> Yeah, we did get one that did appear. um
» Yeah, we did get one that did appear. um
that is the chop shop and has caused us
a lot of issues and I think in our last
um I think it was like a couple of weeks
ago the judge said hey if the plea does
not have jail time uh don't bring it
back to me. So that was one of the ones
that we got. So he he pled not guilty so
we have to go to trial for that one. Um
and he wanted to consult getting a
lawyer because he was going to have to
agree to jail time. Um, so we we're for
the ones that appear we can we can
we get some it still takes years. It
it's not been a easy process at all.
Some of these properties I work for the
Cab County code enforcement 11 years ago
and these are some of the same
properties I dealt with hearing about in
in that code enforcement. So it is not
something that that's gone on that we we
hear about it. We know about it and
there has been nothing that makes people
want to
comply or appear in court. Appearing in
court is
the amount of I I wanted to get a number
of failure to appears. Um but the
failure to appears are are like we may
have a hund and something docket and we
may have 20 30 people that appear
>> just ignoring no more.
» just ignoring no more.
>> Yeah. All together we have them that
» Yeah. All together we have them that
show up one time and don't come back. I
mean, we have a range of different
failure to appears that that just really
is is it takes a lot of our time to have
to go see these failure to appear and we
just have
>> if I fail to appear, I fear someone
» if I fail to appear, I fear someone
knocking on my door before long. Uh, how
do we get that fear in the
heart of these violators?
>> That's going to have to be through a c
» That's going to have to be through a c
process. I know we did a a um court a
court. Yeah, we had a No, we had an
analyst that go went over the court
procedures and our procedures to see if
we could bring them together, but um we
haven't I haven't seen those results as
what what should be implemented or what
else additionally we can do. But bench
warrant will be great and um or and and
even with the even with the fines if
they get on probation, one of the
conditions of probation should be
property must be in compliance so you
get off probation. anything that holds
them to it, we give them fines. Some of
them pay fines and come back when we
cite them again. So, it's a it's a and
they just some people I guess it feels
like it's a cost of doing business
paying their fines.
>> I know if I get a $50 fine once every 50
» I know if I get a $50 fine once every 50
months. Yeah.
>> But if I get a $100 fine per day until
» But if I get a $100 fine per day until
it's corrected, there's a different
matter. I know I can't dictate what the
fine shall be, but
>> at the same time, we can use um whatever
» at the same time, we can use um whatever
limits we have
>> and take it to the max
» and take it to the max
>> and do what is reasonable to force
» and do what is reasonable to force
compliance.
>> It's not about the money.
» It's not about the money.
>> It's about compliance.
» It's about compliance.
>> It's about compliance.
» It's about compliance.
>> And that's why we feel like we're
» And that's why we feel like we're
spinning because of the fact that we we
come to court and they don't appear. And
then if we get them to some of them that
get to court, um it's the ones that
don't that never appear and the ones
that come to court, pay their fines and
gladly come back to play it again.
>> Again, I mean, what element are we
» Again, I mean, what element are we
missing here? Are we missing the element
of not having
uh the necessary agreement with the cap
county to pick them up on what some
would consider minor charges, but for
us, this is major.
>> Yeah. A lot of a lot of the ones that we
» Yeah. A lot of a lot of the ones that we
have the problems with are major um and
they are repeat violators because like
we have some companies that have
properties and they may have we may have
four or five different properties under
that one owner and they are doing
nothing with any of the properties and
and they don't come to court at all. So
that would be a challenge as far as
finding who who do you arrest from the
corporation.
>> Okay. then we need to deal with this in
» Okay. then we need to deal with this in
another arena because we've been talking
about this since we've been a city and
really you catch the fish but there's
nobody to clean them.
This is this is ridiculous.
Uh, I'll mention a couple of not direct
cases, but trucks being parked on the
streets of the Cap County
and it appears as if they're not being
addressed because they repeat, repeat,
repeat, repeat. I get the same call week
after week, commercial truck parked on
the street, and I know that's the cap
county, not you. But we pass it on. So,
we'll have to deal with the Cab County
about
getting those trucks removed.
>> Correct.
» Correct.
>> Okay. And the other one would be the uh
» Okay. And the other one would be the uh
retention ponds. Um, how did that happen
that this is no longer uh the Cap
County? They gave that to us. We bought
it. Uh,
>> that's that's the part that's unclear.
» that's that's the part that's unclear.
Um, one of the ones I looked at um just
the maybe about a week ago
I don't I don't know. She said that
every they have been cutting it for
years and um I've tried to track down
everything that I can and it when I pull
up the map it shows is hers which even
when I she was explaining to me on the
phone I was like do you have a drain in
your backyard? And then she was like no.
I was like okay. So, I said, "I won't
come out. We'll come out there to see
it." We go out to see it and it's it's
it's fenced in.
>> Well, I guess we need our engineer here
» Well, I guess we need our engineer here
because when you build a subdivision,
there's a retention pond that goes with
the subdivision, I would think.
>> Right.
» Right.
>> And I would think that either the county
» And I would think that either the county
is responsible for it or the subdivision
is responsible for it.
>> Right.
» Right.
>> And you're now saying that it's deed to
» And you're now saying that it's deed to
one of the property owners.
>> Yeah. And that property owner is
» Yeah. And that property owner is
responsible for maintaining the
retention fund.
>> Right.
» Right.
>> And Peggy to do so results in a
» And Peggy to do so results in a
citation.
>> No, I told her I will not I mean she
» No, I told her I will not I mean she
called it in. I
>> But the process is Yeah. The process I
» But the process is Yeah. The process I
told her that if I went went forth with
it, that's who I would have to address
with her. So, um, I I gave her a couple
of departments to contact and I told her
to run it up the chain to a supervisor
or management to find out to get actual
answers and then if she needed other
assistance, she could contact me back.
But, um, it's been about at least three
for this past week that out of the blue
that they've come across and they've
contacted the cab first and then they
come to us and then that's what we find
after doing our research and finding.
So,
>> you know how many retention ponds are in
» you know how many retention ponds are in
Stone Crest?
>> About three 400.
» About three 400.
>> So, we just we just got the first group.
» So, we just we just got the first group.
Um, so I'm pretty sure they're coming
because if those three popped up and
they were getting them done and now they
having an issue, I'm sure the other ones
will. That's why I did want to bring it
to y'all's attention is because that is
coming and I'm not sure what we do with
that.
>> Madam city manager,
» Madam city manager,
you got a problem.
Okay.
All right. I'm going to
move on. We need to put this in another
category in terms of uh
making this
out of receipt, but bring about
compliance. And you guys have done a
tremendous job in terms of bringing this
many uh complaints to the courts. But
when they get there, if they go nowhere,
at some point you beating your head
against the wall.
And I'm not saying stop doing it cuz you
got to continue to
sound the alarm. But if we're not doing
our job on the other end, I understand
your frustration. I am frustrated
extremely
>> frustrated for Yeah. all of you in the
» frustrated for Yeah. all of you in the
residents that that call. Yeah.
are you?
>> Thank you, Councilman Turner.
» Thank you, Councilman Turner.
Council, do you have any other questions
for Miss White?
» Mayor Pro Tim.
>> Councilwoman Smith,
» Councilwoman Smith,
>> I don't have any additional questions
» I don't have any additional questions
for Miss White, but is this the closure
of the um code enforcement update? Is
that all you guys have?
That that's it. Okay.
Okay. Well, I would like to take a
moment to give Director Kawi and um
Officer Nixon and everybody who is
involved in getting one of the property
owners that has
become a a nuisance or had become a
nuisance not only for the city but for
the people who lived in the city. They
were not taking care of the property for
the betterment of the people who lived
in the property. And Officer Nixon along
with others in code enforcement held
their feet to the fire and got them
together, the owners of the property,
the property management team. um Dicab
County came out um in order to talk to
them about the many citations that they
had received and doing something about
those citations, what they were cited
for. So, I would like to and I've seen
the updates and the progress that has
been made. So, I would like to recognize
Officer Nixon, um, Director Kawi and
team along with Decap County for coming
out and helping us move this into a
positive direction. So, thank you all so
much.
Thank you, Councilwoman Smith. Thank
you, Miss Cowie, and the team. I
appreciate you
and thank you for all the work that you
do here in the city. Thank you, Miss
White. Next on the agenda is for
discussion Stone Crest Development
Authority SDA update.
Mr. Randall
back again. U most of the information um
in reference to the
development authority UR talked a little
about that information.
Um I'm not sure what the mayor was going
to report on but the only thing I need
to mention about the SDA
is
there is a project that we're working on
with Dope Coffee.
Um we're still trying to um help them
get up and running. They are in the
space trying to renovate, but they have
made a request um a proposal
um
sort of delay
um some payment on the lease because the
original investor that they had bailed
out on them. So they're trying to um
handle everything on on their own. So,
um we are
going to be having some conversations at
the next development authority meeting
um being led by the attorney as what
we're going to do in reference to dope
coffee and the space occupied. So,
we'll have more information on that once
we have that discussion with the
development authorities month.
And um
I think everything else I pretty much
talked a little bit about the
development authority and the URA in my
presentation. So if you have any further
questions about
any projects or anything with the URA or
SDA more than happy to answer those
questions.
Council, do you have any questions for
director?
» Tim,
>> are you covering both the URA as well as
» are you covering both the URA as well as
the uh development authority in this
presentation?
>> Um, in my last presentation, I did talk
» Um, in my last presentation, I did talk
about the things that we're talking
about because I do work with both.
>> I was just going to have different
» I was just going to have different
question for the UR versus the uh the
SDA.
>> Okay, that'll be fine.
» Okay, that'll be fine.
>> You got both of them now?
» You got both of them now?
>> Yes, sir. Oh, okay. Um, same question I
» Yes, sir. Oh, okay. Um, same question I
had before about the Allen property and
the uh the SDA is involved with the
home. I mean the property at Evans Mill
and uh Woodro. You're saying that's not
a part of the SDA,
>> right? But when it comes to dealing with
» right? But when it comes to dealing with
the
whole situation that is included in it,
>> no, the the the property at the compound
» no, the the the property at the compound
is not part of the baitment that's on
the property along Interstate 20 and
also the Black Wall Street building.
Those are two separate resolutions that
we issued in n 2019 and 2020.
Um but the the property at the compound
is not included in any of those
abatements. However, there is a zoning
challenge when it comes to people who
are interested in that property because
it has not been used in so long that the
ordinance says after it has been dormant
to six months, it reverts back to R 100.
I think we called it a nonconformative
use
until the six months um came up. So now
it reverted back. So the challenge now
is how can people who are interested in
the property to use those buildings as
they exist. How can it happen when it's
own or 100 now when it reverted back?
>> Yeah. Well, my concern is that when I
» Yeah. Well, my concern is that when I
look at the map, it seems like this is
one conversation, but in uh reality,
this is three different conversations.
uh the SDA property that's a part of the
abatement
>> and as in you're saying that the new
» and as in you're saying that the new
black wall street is not a part of the
uh abatement
>> the new black black wall street is part
» the new black black wall street is part
of the abatement that's one one project
>> the 400 plus acres along the interstate
» the 400 plus acres along the interstate
>> so there are two abatement uh
» so there are two abatement uh
>> exactly so those are two and then the
» exactly so those are two and then the
third property by the Allen family is
the compound which is not under an
abatement
>> not under abatement so it's it's a
» not under abatement so it's it's a
separate conversation
>> yes sir but we're trying to help out as
» yes sir but we're trying to help out as
as much as we can to try to see how we
can do something on that.
>> Yeah. In terms of marketing, I
» Yeah. In terms of marketing, I
understand, but in terms of reality and
legalities
and that is not a part of it.
>> That's correct.
» That's correct.
>> Okay. All right. Just wanted to be
» Okay. All right. Just wanted to be
clear.
Um
the URRA
well I had some properties for the
chair of the URA but I will say most of
that and that is versus the city own um
parks plus so the URRA owns
» club building
>> this building and what else
» this building and what else
>> believe that's it just those two
» believe that's it just those two
properties is the URA
>> yeah I know. I'm just trying to bring
» yeah I know. I'm just trying to bring
that out for benefit of the newbies. And
>> yeah, this those are two buildings that
» yeah, this those are two buildings that
the URA owns. This current building
here, the city hall and the old Sam's
building is owned by the RA.
>> Okay, good. Um
» Okay, good. Um
the URRA meetings occur twice a year
regularly.
That is the first of the year and the
middle of the year. And there are
records maintained uh by the secretary
which just happens to be yours truly. So
uh those records are there of the
meetings and the minutes once they are
approved. So if you and there are
written bylaws for those who need to
take a look and that that should be
online as well the bylaws for the urra.
I'm not sure about the SDA. uh they
should be there someplace but I'm not a
part of that. So uh but I am a part of
the UR and those bylaws are available
online for those who need to know.
Um
that's it.
» Okay. I will hold the other questions
for the chair
» council. Any other questions?
Mayor Proim, I do.
>> Councilwoman Washington.
» Councilwoman Washington.
>> Um, there's no I know we're talking
» Um, there's no I know we're talking
about property that we own, right? And
there's no mention and I'm not sure if
it's under the UR or the SDA, but the
botanical garden is 66 acres.
What does that fall up under?
>> Um, that's a good question. Um, I'm not
» Um, that's a good question. Um, I'm not
sure. Um I think it may fall up under um
director Kawi
if I'm correct.
>> Um the Botanical Gardens who does that
» Um the Botanical Gardens who does that
follow up under
» Madam Oh.
» Yes. Attorney Thompson.
>> Uh the Botanical Gardens is a city
» Uh the Botanical Gardens is a city
project. It's not under the URA or the
SDA.
Attorney, should that be considered in
the same vein as parks property?
I'm not
>> I believe so. I know um probably um
» I believe so. I know um probably um
expenses come from that account. So
that's more um I know Mr. U Car Craran
can can answer that directly, but I
believe um spending is under the city's
uh budget and within the general fund
and or their capital funds.
» Okay. So, it being up under parks, but
it still would be considered property
that the city owns, correct?
>> Yes, ma'am.
» Yes, ma'am.
>> Okay. That that was what I was show.
» Okay. That that was what I was show.
Okay. Thank you. Are you
Council, any other question?
» Director Lance Randall, what did you say
about Dope Coffee? Can you repeat that
for me?
>> Um, yes. So, Dope Coffee, um, the lease
» Um, yes. So, Dope Coffee, um, the lease
has been signed and we'll get the
attorney to chime in as well. And they
have
began to do renovations on the space.
Um, initially they had an investor that
was going to be a part of the project
that walked away which left Dope Coffee
trying to move this project along by
themselves which they've been trying to
do. Um, they sent us a proposal asking
for some type of forbearance on the
lease payments while they're trying to
recalibrate
to get things in order to get into the
space. And um, they've made the request
a formal request. So, we're supposed to
have a discussion about that proposal
and um we're going to have that
discussion at the development authority
meeting as to what we're going to do. Um
I'll let attorney Thompson chime in if
she wants to chime in a little bit on
that.
I won't I don't have anything to add to
that, but I will say I would um maybe
that conversation can be left to
um the SDA and then also if um I know
the city has an interest there and maybe
that's something we can discuss um
on another date.
» When is the um next SDA meeting?
>> August the 27th.
» August the 27th.
But we should be able to get an update
in September.
>> I'm hoping for that.
» I'm hoping for that.
Um,
and by the way, this meeting, typically
the meetings are virtual, but this
meeting um will have to be in person
because um of some things we need to
discuss and some people that may be
coming in to have a conversation with
us.
Council, do you have any other questions
for Director Randle?
Actually, I do have another question.
Um, as far as URA, this this building,
um, what do we or have you discussed
what we plan on doing with the space
um that is vacant?
>> Well, it's on commercial. We did have a
» Well, it's on commercial. We did have a
prospect that looked at it. And then if
you just mentioned about the long list
of prohibited uses, we talked about the
damage to the building.
>> I'm referring to city hall.
» I'm referring to city hall.
>> Oh, the city hall. Oh,
» Oh, the city hall. Oh,
>> madam.
» madam.
>> Oh,
» Oh,
>> yes.
» yes.
>> I was going to say uh maybe that is
» I was going to say uh maybe that is
something we can discuss in the UR
executive session. Um as far as the
potential tenants, is is that what
you're discussing about?
I wasn't necessarily asking about any
tenants, but just kind of an update on
anticipation of what we plan on doing
with the space or did they discuss um
what we are we planning on written the
space out or we going to expand city
hall? What was the
>> Oh, you're talking about city hall
» Oh, you're talking about city hall
>> plans. Absolutely. Yes.
» plans. Absolutely. Yes.
>> Okay. Um
» Okay. Um
I do know that um
some of the things that are being done u
there's a second floor renovation going
on
and um it's my understanding there's an
interest from company that wants to take
a look at moving into that space. So
that's a discussion that needs to happen
with the RRA. So when the meeting is
scheduled, which I hope will be soon,
that needs to come up along with the
sounds building about the space that's
available. So we do have someone that's
interested in that.
>> Now, do we currently have the URA
» Now, do we currently have the URA
meeting scheduled?
>> Um I don't know. Um I staff the
» Um I don't know. Um I staff the
development authority and that was one
thing that I was talking to some council
members about. Um I wouldn't mind being
the staff also for the URA.
um since I do work with the RA and we
were able to do something over the
spring to bring some money in by using
the SAM space, but it's discussion that
you probably need to have um since I do
staff the SDA
and I do work with the RA, but I'm not
an official staff person. So, um I
really don't know, but I do work with
the um chair of the development
authority to put together the agenda for
the SDA, but I haven't worked with
anyone with the URA, but would like to
do so.
» Well, lucky for you, you have the vice
chair here tonight. Maybe she's
listening and noting.
Councilwoman Smith.
Any other qu any other questions for
Director Randall?
» Director Randall.
>> Um I think it's a good idea for us to
» Um I think it's a good idea for us to
have a staff person. It's a conversation
like you said we would need to have in
our meeting. Um we've requested that the
chair organize a meeting. I will send a
request again to the chair requesting a
meeting for us to discuss all the topics
that we have been anticipating
discussing.
>> Sounds good.
» Sounds good.
>> Report two.
» Report two.
>> Councilman Turner.
» Councilman Turner.
>> Uh the council well to vice chair Smith.
» Uh the council well to vice chair Smith.
I believe the same rules apply that
apply to city council that a certain
number of members of the UR can call the
meeting without
necessarily being scheduled. So you are
at that leisure if so inclined.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> I mean at the proper time.
» I mean at the proper time.
>> Thank you Councilman Turner.
» Mayor Pro Tim. Madam, city manager,
>> I was going to ask Councilwoman Smith if
» I was going to ask Councilwoman Smith if
she would be willing to host a meeting
since we do have a potential tenant. We
don't want to miss out on that
opportunity uh that would better support
the city.
But you have asking we get something on
the calendar.
Yes, I will send a additional message to
the chair and if we are not able to um
get the chair who's mayor Cowell to get
the meeting schedule then I will move
forward with getting a meeting scheduled
since we have um the consist consensus
of the members that a meeting is needed.
>> Thank you.
So we had the discussion about the SDA
and URA. Thank you so much Mr. Randall.
>> Welcome
» Welcome
>> for the update. Um is there any need for
» for the update. Um is there any need for
executive session?
» Not on behalf of the city attorney.
>> Thank you so much. I will entertain a
» Thank you so much. I will entertain a
motion.
Tim,
>> Councilman Turner move for adjournment
» Councilman Turner move for adjournment
of the work session city of Stone Crest.
>> Second. Okay.
» Second. Okay.
>> The motion has been properly moved and
» The motion has been properly moved and
second by Councilwoman Smith. Are you
ready for the question? All those in
favor of the motion, please respond with
yay. All those opposed, nay. Starting
with district three,
>> yay.
» yay.
>> District four,
» District four,
>> yay.
» yay.
>> District five,
» District five,
>> yay.
» yay.
>> District one is yay. This meeting is now
» District one is yay. This meeting is now
adjourned. Thank you so much for
attending and Stone Crest have a
wonderful week. Good night.