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[music]

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It's 6:00. We going to start our uh city
council meeting for

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July 20th, 2026. We're going to stand
for invocation and remain standing for

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the pledge of allegiance.

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» [clears throat]
>> Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come

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this afternoon in the most ominous
manner that we know how. Father God,

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thanking you for all thank thanking you
for the last night lying down this

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morning. You so graciously allowed us to
rise. You brought us out to the city to

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take care of the business of the city
this afternoon. We ask you to lead us

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and guide us in the way that you would
have us to go. It's these blessings and

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all blessings we ask in Jesus Christ
tonight. Amen.

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» Amen.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the

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United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation

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under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.

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» Roll call, please.
>> Mayor Campbell,

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» here.
>> Council member Bruner,

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» here.
>> Council member Figuel,

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» here.
>> Council member Hall,

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» here.
>> Council member Lacer,

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» present.
>> Council member Mars,

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» present. and council member Ruez.
[clears throat]

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» Now I'm going to open up the floor for
anyone who want to come up and speak for

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three minutes. Not on property tax, just
want to speak on anything. I give you

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three minutes. Anyone want to come
forward?

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» No one move. Sir, close this part.
>> Oh, he was about to get [clears throat]

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up, sir.
>> Huh?

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» About to get up.
Can you state state your name and your

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address, please, ma'am?
>> My name is Linda Treywick. I live at 207

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Main Street

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» in Garden City.
>> Yes, ma'am. Okay.

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» All right.
Mr. Mayor, when you first came into

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office, your salary was $800 a month.
And then you raised it in 24

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to $15,600
a month. That's just for you. That's not

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for everybody else. All of your raises
went up, too. So

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now you're discussing the possibility
of raising your pay again.

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Your vision says that thriving

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said a Can you read my own writing?

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a thriving community set on continual
improving the community's quality of

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life.
I don't see that not for 88%.

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So here's the thing.
You have

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average one to two hours
every two weeks per month.

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very rarely over that. That averages out
to $325

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for you.
And I don't get it. So now you're

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raising our taxes and we can't even
afford to pay taxes.

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» Anything but taxes, ma'am. You know, you
can talk about anything but taxes.

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» That's what I'm here for. Is this
>> Well, it's not that time yet. That's why

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that's why I say I'm giving anybody 3
minutes to speak but not on anything

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except taxes for right now.
>> Well, we going to get to the taxes part.

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» I'm sure.
>> Okay. Anybody else want to get up and

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speak for three minutes on anything
other than taxes?

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Okay. Well, we're going to close that
part.

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[clears throat] Okay. And now we got
three public hearings and that's on a

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military receive a public comments for
the mayor and council to intensively set

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the Avalorin tax rate. Now anyone want
to get up and speak on taxes? Now you

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got three minutes to come up and speak.

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Okay, you've already heard everything I
got to say except

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per meeting
you

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get paid $325
per meeting.

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And yet you want to raise our prices,
our our taxes,

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property taxes to I don't even know what
you want that for. 88%

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and you lost your mind.
I mean, I'm serious about this. I can't

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afford a a tax rate. Not for 88%.
And I'm sure there's not many people in

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here that can.
I've said enough. I said what I want to

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say.
>> Thank you, ma'am.

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Mr.
>> Anyone else? Anyone else?

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» By the way, uh I just wanted to make a a
point. There's been no resolution or

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motion or any paperwork at all about
raising the salary of the mayor and

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council. Uh so I don't I don't know
where you got your information from, but

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» I had an old line on line.
>> Okay. Well, it's incorrect or you

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misunderstood it because there's been no
move to increase the salary of any

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council person,
>> especially not 15,000 a month.

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» Let him speak, Jim.
>> Yes, ma'am. State your name and your

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address, please. Ma'am,
>> my name is Amy Blackchman. I live at 73

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G um Lynn Avenue. So, I reviewed the
slide deck that's online, but it left me

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with a lot of questions. It's pretty
vague. I'm wondering if you can provide

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a reconciliation showing the city's
total recurring revenues by source for

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fifth fiscal year 25 compared to fiscal
year 26, including property taxes, fire

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fees, sales taxes, franchise fees,
business taxes, licensing, permits,

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charges for service and transfers, and
identify exactly how much new recurring

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revenue the city expects to collect
under the proposed budget as compared to

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last year.
>> Bon has

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Did you I'm sorry. Have you looked at
the PowerPoint that has been presented?

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» Yeah, it's pretty big
>> because there's budget numbers in there

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that show the 2025 [clears throat] and
the 2026.

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» It doesn't give a bottom line comparison
and it and there's like about a 4.9

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million difference over the fire fee
costs that isn't clearly explained and

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it it doesn't show where they're coming
from. Is it just on property owners or

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what what part of that is being, you
know, being attributed to our local

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business taxes, sales taxes?

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» I think it's going to slide.
>> Yeah, it's not going to

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Okay. Of the 2026 budget, only $3
million was budgeted for property taxes.

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As of yet, the budget has not been
changed to reflect the proposed property

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tax rate because it hasn't been approved
yet.

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» It goes back to there's not a clear line
by line comparison though.

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» The the 2026 budget is online.
>> I've reviewed it and I reviewed the

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2025.

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Those are my comments.
Mr. Mayor, can I say something?

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» Yes.
>> Um, I didn't catch your name, but the

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2025 and 2026 city's budget is online.
It's open records. All expenses and all

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income as part of the open records. That
is online. It's nothing that we're

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trying to hide or anything.
>> Anyone else want to come up and speak?

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I got something to say.
>> Good afternoon, council.

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» Good afternoon.
>> Uh, Shagari Williams, 59 Barnado Avenue.

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» Mhm. And my question to the council is
uh to the finance person, the uh city

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manager, whoever um the surplus that the
audit say we had, have y'all uh decided

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is there any thing that can be allocated
to cut that 88%.

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» We do allocate some of our surplus
appropriation of fund balance. We do

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that every year. So, we do use some of
our surplus.

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» Okay. But I'm saying the auditor said
and I'm Did he say 16 million surplus?

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Was that the number?
>> No, he was talking about the days that

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we have the months that we have to
operate

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» in case of an emergency.
>> Yes, ma'am.

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» That's what he was talking about.
>> Okay. So, what is our surplus? Well, we

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have a surplus and then we borrow from
it to appropriate in the budget. In our

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budget, if you'll see what the revenues
are, we have an appropriation of fund

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balance.
If you go online and look at our actual

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budget,
>> okay, I I'm listening to you.

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» Yeah,
>> but you're not answering my question.

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» I asked you what is our surplus? What's
the number?

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» Well, the surplus, what is our number?
>> I don't know. I don't have it in front

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of me. She doesn't have it in front of
her, but

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» I know from the last year for 2020 2025,
we had we appropriated 3.7 million out

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of our surplus to the budget to balance
the budget. And this year, we

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appropriated for the proposed budget for
the adopted 3.9.

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And if you add the fire department in,
when you move it from your enterprise

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fund to your general fund, we're going
to have to appropriate over five million

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out of the surplus. And if you keep
appropriating out of the surplus, you're

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going to use all your savings. So it's
just like your personal um accounts. If

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you keep using your savings, you're
going to deplete it.

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So we do offset it.
>> Okay. uh you gave me some numbers from

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2025 and I understand that if you keep
taking and not replacing then you you

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drill it. I understand that.
>> But what I'm saying is in for this

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military increase.
>> Can't we use some of the surplus to cut

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some of that idiot?
>> We still we still will be using some of

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the surplus to cut that amount. Yes, we
still will be to balance the budget. We

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are not covering the whole amount with
the fire department. moving over because

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you have 13 departments already in the
general fund and now you're moving

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another department a major department in
with over five million just about close

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to 5 million in expenditures. So you've
got to increase revenue.

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Three minutes is up.
>> Finish.

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» You You can finish answering the
question, Rhonda. But three minutes.

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» So you do have the surplus. So we are
subsidizing it. Yes, we are.

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» 3 minutes up. I I still don't feel like
I got a a good answer.

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» Okay.
>> Um but thank you.

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» Anyone else want to come up and speak?

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» Mr. Mr. Mayor, may I ask one question
regarding the uh question that was just

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asked? If the millage rate is set at the
7.581 as proposed, how much

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appropriation of funds will be
appropriated for this year at that point

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compared to what we initially had as the
3.5?

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» You're talking about if you did a lower
>> right now as proposed, what will the

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appropriation of funds
be? Well, at your 7.581, now this is

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just an estimate, you're still going to
have to appropriate over about 700,000,

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maybe up to a million depending on on
how the budget comes in. If you did six

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mills, you're still going to you're
going to have to appropriate

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approximately 2.2 million. And if you
did 5.5 mills, it's going to be

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approximately 2.7 million.
>> Okay? And when the budget was approved

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last year, um whenever it was adopted,
it was adopted with an appropriation of

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3.538 million. Is that correct?
>> Yes.

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» Yes.
>> So you're looking to reduce that number

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drastically.
>> Probably to around Well, it depends what

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you adopt.
>> The number increased um 1.7 million. So

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it's at 5.3 right now. So we are looking
>> correct. But with the 7.581 millillage

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rate, it will reduce that appropriation
of funds down to about $700,000.

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Correct.
>> Yes.

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» Thank you.
>> Thank you.

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» All right. So, state your name and your
address, please.

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» Miles Gerorado, 76 Lyn Avenue.
Uh, I should have got up here a little

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quicker, but y'all close it out so fast
and I kind of a little bit on the tax

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situation, too. Um, I love my
neighborhood. I think it's one of the

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best neighborhoods in Garden City and be
so close to Savannah

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District 5.
Uh, but the thing is, anytime we go to

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do something in Garden City, we got to
leave the city to go shop. It don't

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matter what it is. U, the food line up
here is okay. It's convenient, whatever.

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No deli, no bakery. We had three grocery
stores when I moved here at one time

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when Dixie was here, but way before my
time. But anyway, uh 88% increase and

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the assessment values keep going up.
That means more property taxes for the

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county and so on and so on, you know,
and it's just my bill just went up $50

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this month. And I don't know how much
it's going to go up with the 88%

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increase. I just think it's unreal to be
that high. I know they're trying to take

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care of the fire department and so on,

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not take care of each other. We have
services and everything.

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» That's all I have to say.
>> Thank you, sir. [clears throat]

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» Anyone else want to come up and speak?

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How y'all doing today?
>> Fine. You sir [clears throat]

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Elliser 5228 Augusta Road Highway 21
over there.

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So I guess what I'd like to ask is um
the reason we're here. We're talking

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about this tax increase, but this has
been evidently creeping up on everybody

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for some time now. I think the fire fee
was implemented back in what 2009.

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Does that sound correct? Something like
that. I know it's something like that.

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It's on your site.
>> No,

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» excuse me.
>> Oh, excuse me. Okay. Okay. Okay. So,

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what I'm trying to figure out though, so
we just went through the court. We read

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everything in the papers. Garden Se was
found. they have to pay X amount of

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dollars towards a lawsuit that the
people that were being charged are going

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to receive 20 some odd percent of what
they actually paid in which that's a

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whole different story here. But what I'd
like to know is what part of this is

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Garden City? What part are y'all owning
with all of this? And instead of trying

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to pass it all off to the citizens and
businesses, what part are y'all owning?

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If we've got money in the bank, that
sounds like y'all need to take and

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appropriate that money. Y'all need to
exhaust all areas of here prior to

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passing it off to the citizens and
making them pay for mistakes. And I'm

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not saying this council did it. I'm
saying there may have been pre because

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2011, I don't even know if any of y'all
were on this council then. But my thing

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is is can't you can't tax your way out
of a problem. I know that's what they

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want to do. You'll never tax your way
out of it. You're going to have to have

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more physical responsibility and
financial responsibility. And we're

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going to have to cut things that we
don't need. And if you look right over

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here, right to the side, that library
right there. I don't know what y'all pay

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00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:10,240
to fund that, how it's funded, if Garden
City has any kind of financial

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obligation to it, but
If we have a dollar going to that, that

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00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:20,400
don't need to be there. If we have $1
going in there. So, and the other way I

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00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:26,160
look at this too, whether you're from a
certain district or an area

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00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:31,520
representative represented, it doesn't
matter. You y'all are our mouthpiece.

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00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:36,400
So, that means when you listen, when we
come up here and we say something or we

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00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:40,799
talk about it, you're supposed to,
you're an elected official. You're the

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00:17:38,559 --> 00:17:44,640
mouthpiece of the people that are here.
Not up here for your own we're going to

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00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:48,960
do this or we're going to do this.
Doesn't work that way. That's how you'll

218
00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:55,760
get voted out.
>> So, what I'm saying is the citizens

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00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:59,679
register their complaints.
You listen to them and you don't say,

220
00:17:57,360 --> 00:18:02,960
"Oh, well, we have to do this." If this
needs to be put off again, it needs to

221
00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:08,080
be put off because this ain't going to
sit well. We're paying for any and

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00:18:05,679 --> 00:18:11,200
everything from a local level.
>> Thank you, sir. You're three minutes.

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00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,720
» There you go. Right there. I can't even
talk, can you?

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00:18:11,919 --> 00:18:15,280
» Okay.
>> Three minutes, sir.

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00:18:13,679 --> 00:18:18,160
» Yeah. There you go. That'll be one of
the reasons you'll be one of them gone.

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00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:25,440
» Thank you.
>> So be it. Anyone else? on this fire fee

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00:18:22,799 --> 00:18:31,840
on this fire fee issue. When council
passed the fire fee in 2011,

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00:18:28,799 --> 00:18:36,880
it was legal and there were courts in
Georgia that upheld the fire fee.

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00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:42,960
Unfortunately, through time, judges
decide cases differently and in recent

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00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:49,440
years a lot of judges have determined
that the fire fee in the form that we

231
00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:55,280
were charging is is not proper. Uh so
it's not a matter of us doing something

232
00:18:52,160 --> 00:19:00,960
by mistake initially. It's the fact that
the laws have changed to which question

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00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:07,120
the practice that was done a number of
years ago. A court did not tell us to

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00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:13,679
pay the fee. We settled the case based
on the fact that we anticipated that a

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00:19:09,679 --> 00:19:19,360
court may agree that the tax is invalid.
No court has stated that we agreed to

236
00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:26,880
settle. I think the claim, whole claim
was almost $5.2 million that we were

237
00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:32,320
being asked to pay. Um, and we reduced
that amount, I believe, to 1.4.

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And I the council thought that was the
most economical and and wise thing to do

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00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:45,200
where you have a court that might issue
an order against us for 5.2 and we have

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00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:49,840
a chance of settling the case for 1.4. I
think that if most people had that

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00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:54,880
option, I think they would choose
settling the matter for that's that

242
00:19:51,919 --> 00:20:01,039
relatively smaller amount. But the laws
change and we have to

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00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:07,520
uh counter those changes by doing things
in the future and courts have stated

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00:20:03,679 --> 00:20:13,039
that fire fees should be part of adorum
taxes that we shouldn't be collecting

245
00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:19,200
them separately as a use tax. The reason
that the fire protection fees came into

246
00:20:15,039 --> 00:20:23,600
effect is because a lot of jurisdictions
believe that the people who used the

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00:20:21,039 --> 00:20:30,000
fire department should be paying for it.
So, the ones that had the bigger houses

248
00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:35,280
or uh were charged more fire fees than
people that just had vacant lots. Um,

249
00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:40,240
but the courts have determined that no,
you shouldn't do it based on that

250
00:20:37,679 --> 00:20:45,600
method. you should lump it into the ad
voluorum tax and and do it that way. And

251
00:20:42,799 --> 00:20:50,159
that's what we're doing. Um so it's not
a matter of anybody making a mistake.

252
00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:54,960
It's a matter of the laws changing to
where we need to do things differently

253
00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:57,960
as most other cities have that same
problem.

254
00:21:00,159 --> 00:21:04,760
» Okay. Anyone else want to come up and
speak?

255
00:21:05,679 --> 00:21:08,679
Okay.

256
00:21:19,919 --> 00:21:26,799
Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name
is Don Mthoon and I reside at 2621

257
00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:32,799
Woodlon Avenue. and and my first
comments I would like to address to

258
00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:40,240
council member Bruner in a council
workshop um I don't know maybe a couple

259
00:21:36,159 --> 00:21:47,360
of months ago um you brought up the fact
that um 28 years ago when your side of

260
00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:50,080
town was annexed into Garden City you
were promised

261
00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:54,559
» I wasn't annexed in 28 years ago sir
it's only been about 18 years I wasn't

262
00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:56,880
annexed in 28 years ago it's only been
about maybe 18 years since we were

263
00:21:56,159 --> 00:22:01,679
annexed in.
>> Well, it was 28 years ago. I got the

264
00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:08,240
information from the city and I actually
looked online and actually um Dean

265
00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:16,960
Kicklder was the mayor and so it was 28
years ago. So you said um we were

266
00:22:13,039 --> 00:22:23,679
annexed in get we were annexed in and we
were promised um water and sewer, no

267
00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:30,960
property taxes
and more services.

268
00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:37,600
And in those comments I felt a little
buyer remorse. So I can't say what

269
00:22:36,159 --> 00:22:43,280
would have happened with the water and
sewer. I'm sure there would have been

270
00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:49,120
some cost with it for 15 years. You
didn't pay anything. So to your comment

271
00:22:47,360 --> 00:22:53,919
that
that side of town, this side of town

272
00:22:51,600 --> 00:23:02,000
doesn't have better services. So I took
a look. So your personal residence, you

273
00:22:57,039 --> 00:23:06,799
pay $44 a year in Garden City taxes.
$44.

274
00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:12,960
This group is going to decide on a
millage rate of 7 and a half meals. So

275
00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:20,400
if we could change time and you were in
the special services district

276
00:23:17,360 --> 00:23:25,120
and the village rate in Garden City is
7.5.

277
00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:30,000
So what would you pay if you were still
in the county? Because you would pay

278
00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:36,640
county taxes and you would also pay an
extra tax. So, what does that tax

279
00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:45,360
consist of? First thing you would pay is
$85 dry trash fee. The second thing is

280
00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:52,400
you would lose your $40,000
homestead exemption that Garden City

281
00:23:48,480 --> 00:24:00,159
gives you. And the second thing is the
millage rate for the UNC unincorporated

282
00:23:55,200 --> 00:24:05,120
county is 6.5 mills. So, you indicated
you have better services. So, what would

283
00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:09,520
the county be giving you? Um, you would
have county police protection. The

284
00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:15,919
county would be cutting your rideways
over there. I'm sure that we've all seen

285
00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:21,360
a county maintained right away. And the
fire department would be serving you.

286
00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:27,760
That's all you get.
So, it's your opinion that you're paying

287
00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:33,520
$44 Garden City taxes and you get
nothing for it? I can't understand that.

288
00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:40,000
Next person, Mayor.
>> May I get how much?

289
00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:47,679
» Next would be
Council Member B. So in September of

290
00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:54,559
2020, he came to the senior center to
speak uh tied his uh business

291
00:24:52,080 --> 00:25:01,840
experience, managed millions of dollars
in budgets, and in my hand, I have a

292
00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:07,679
copy of the 2025-year budget. And in the
next two weeks, I'm going to dig dissect

293
00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:12,960
that and I'm going to tell you all the
wasteful money. Can you identify

294
00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:15,679
anything in that budget that you could
cut?

295
00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:18,880
» Were we speaking about from five years
ago?

296
00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:23,360
» 10 10 months ago. You said, "I'm going
to look at the 2025-year budget and in

297
00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:28,240
two weeks I'm going to tell you about
all the wasteful spending." So my

298
00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:31,600
question is, you've had the budget for
10 months. Can you identify?

299
00:25:31,120 --> 00:25:36,000
» I will.
>> Three minutes up, sir.

300
00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:41,919
» Only one thing. I would like the fire
chief and the police chief to come up

301
00:25:38,799 --> 00:25:45,679
and explain because
Chris said he would eliminate

302
00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:47,600
» three minutes. Three minutes up three
minutes up, sir.

303
00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:50,320
» I would like three minutes.
>> Say, sir, I I will say my my voting

304
00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:53,679
record is public.
>> Chris,

305
00:25:51,679 --> 00:26:00,000
» Michael,
>> um with all due respect, uh some of that

306
00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:03,840
information is that may be correct for
my homestead, but I own multiple

307
00:26:01,679 --> 00:26:07,520
properties in Garden City. I pay
multiple fees to Garden City and I

308
00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:13,600
promise you I pay more to Garden City
than Mr. Bthoon has paid. Uh I pay storm

309
00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:17,760
water fees of over $300 a month. I was
paying the fire fee of another $200 and

310
00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:22,000
something dollars a month. And I have
several other properties that I pay

311
00:26:19,279 --> 00:26:28,240
property tax to Garden City on that are
way more than $46 a year. So thank you.

312
00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:31,200
» Thank you.
>> Yeah. No, I was just going to say my

313
00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:34,159
voting record is public. Um, you know,
as you said, I I said that I would vote

314
00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:36,960
against wasteful spending, and I think
I've done that in my time on council.

315
00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:39,600
There have been, I don't know, four or
five different things that have come

316
00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:44,640
across that I voted against because I
didn't feel that we needed them.

317
00:26:41,679 --> 00:26:48,698
» Anyone else want to come up and speak,
>> but we're going to close this part of

318
00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:53,039
public hearing.
[clears throat]

319
00:26:49,919 --> 00:27:00,360
Now, we have village point, town home,
final subdivision map.

320
00:26:56,159 --> 00:27:00,360
Anyone want to speak for it?

321
00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:13,120
U my name is Travis Bazemore. I'm an EMC
engineering. I'm here tonight on behalf

322
00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:18,600
of the applicant. Um just here mainly to
answer any questions if you have them.

323
00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:18,600
Um, don't have.

324
00:27:27,279 --> 00:27:34,720
» Good afternoon, Mayor Council. Uh, Carl
of ours for planning and zoning. Um,

325
00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:38,880
this is I just like to ask um open
public comments for this final plat.

326
00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:46,320
This was this came up front front of you
in 20 2022 for the uh the initial uh

327
00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:52,080
plat subdivision. This is behind city
hall if you know with 76 U town homes

328
00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:57,039
trying to being built. This is just
public comment and for uh the final

329
00:27:54,480 --> 00:28:00,399
plat. Nothing has changed. All the
infrastructure has been put in place.

330
00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:05,760
They also paid for the new roadway to
extend Constantine that the city will

331
00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:10,880
take on after uh the final inspections
as well as we've received all the bonds

332
00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:15,600
and warranties for this development uh
initially for 30 30 months of uh

333
00:28:13,279 --> 00:28:19,919
warranty and bonds set in place. City
staff doesn't have uh no concerns or

334
00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:25,120
objections on it and just recommend for
approval. So just like to open up for

335
00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:29,120
any public comments. Okay.
>> Anyone want to speak against this

336
00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:34,809
project? Anyone else want to speak for
it? Anyone want to speak against it?

337
00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:38,640
We'll close this part of the
[clears throat]

338
00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:45,600
Now we have a general development plan
129 St. Joseph Avenue recip recipant

339
00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:53,760
Jonathan Austin seeking to approve for
the construction of a 6,000 square ft

340
00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:58,559
metal building petition in 4500 square
ft. Anyone want to speak for that?

341
00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:07,919
Good morning or good afternoon again. Um
just give you an update. This mix came

342
00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:14,080
in front of uh planning commission um
and their recommendation was denied due

343
00:29:10,559 --> 00:29:18,720
to traffic concerns um existing
conditions on St. Joseph's Avenue and as

344
00:29:16,799 --> 00:29:22,399
well as the commercial being on a
residential area. city staff's

345
00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:27,760
recommendation. Um obviously they meet
all of the zoning uh requirements, any

346
00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:34,159
zoning laws, buffers and the permitting
use based on that zoning. Um so based on

347
00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:37,840
the zoning appro zoning laws, city staff
has recommendation. Now there is some

348
00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:42,960
concern [clears throat] with u obviously
the public on that side repeating into a

349
00:29:39,919 --> 00:29:48,640
residential area. Um we like to open for
open um for public. The petitioner is

350
00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:54,480
here and property owner. I'll let him
speak on behalf of him as well as um any

351
00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:57,480
anybody against opposing on that.
>> Okay.

352
00:29:57,679 --> 00:30:07,039
» State state your name and address,
please, sir.

353
00:30:02,559 --> 00:30:11,520
» Austin Page, 129 St. Joseph Avenue.
Um I bought this property a while back

354
00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:14,799
um with the intentions of um I own own a
business. I was going to run my business

355
00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:20,000
out of the property and have three other
three other spaces um at it. Um, I

356
00:30:17,679 --> 00:30:24,080
bought it at a higher price because I
believe it was it was because of the

357
00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:27,760
zoning. Um, so I figured I could do, you
know, somewhat what I wanted to do. Um,

358
00:30:26,815 --> 00:30:34,080
[clears throat]
and there was a lot of people opposing

359
00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:38,720
it. Um, at the last meeting, uh, I know
it's my lot faces it's right right uh

360
00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:42,799
faces the back of the Family Dollar.
They had uh and I and I know there's

361
00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:47,919
semis that pull in there that that that
drop stuff off all the time. Um, also

362
00:30:45,039 --> 00:30:53,120
I'm right behind uh the uh in market.
Um, and I mean half the time when I go

363
00:30:51,279 --> 00:30:56,159
over there to clean up the lot, I mean
there's trash everywhere, beer bottles,

364
00:30:54,960 --> 00:31:01,039
all that kind of stuff. So I was trying
to trying to trying to improve it to

365
00:30:58,159 --> 00:31:04,480
make it make it a nice spot. Um, I know
somebody mentioned residential, but as

366
00:31:02,799 --> 00:31:07,120
far as zoning goes for that area, I
don't even think you can build that,

367
00:31:06,116 --> 00:31:10,399
[clears throat] you know, build a house
in that spot. The zone commercial. Um,

368
00:31:09,391 --> 00:31:15,120
[snorts]
also down the road there's a 7200 ft

369
00:31:13,039 --> 00:31:20,880
building on a smaller lot than what I
have. Um, and it's right up against the

370
00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:27,279
house. Um, I wouldn't even be close to
any houses. Um, so I was just trying to

371
00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:32,240
figure out, you know, what um, you know,
what I can do to to uh to actually build

372
00:31:30,559 --> 00:31:35,760
this build this spot.
>> I have a question, sir. Mhm.

373
00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:41,039
» How would the ingress and degress work
when it comes to like public safety

374
00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:46,960
getting into their in in the event that
something happens without impeding

375
00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:51,120
normal flow of traffic in their area?
>> I mean this this small 1500 foot spots I

376
00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:54,960
mean it's not going to be I mean my
business myself I have four employees

377
00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:58,080
where I I would be there maybe two three
days a week. I would it would just be

378
00:31:56,399 --> 00:32:01,200
basically a place to store my equipment
so it wouldn't be a bunch of traffic

379
00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:05,120
going in and out of there.
>> But I thought you like

380
00:32:03,519 --> 00:32:07,760
cutting down to four different units.
>> Yeah, I am cutting down to four

381
00:32:06,159 --> 00:32:13,120
different units, [clears throat]
>> but uh I can't speak for for what what I

382
00:32:10,559 --> 00:32:16,159
mean, but it's a small it's small 1500
foot spot, so I wouldn't I wouldn't

383
00:32:14,799 --> 00:32:20,159
think that there would be a lot of
people there. I mean, I was kind of

384
00:32:18,559 --> 00:32:23,360
thinking there would be people that
would use it for similar use to what I'm

385
00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:27,039
using it for.
>> But there's no guarantee, sir, in

386
00:32:25,519 --> 00:32:30,880
regards to what you're going to um put
in those spots. Am I correct? No,

387
00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:35,120
there's I mean there's there's like I
said there's 1500 square feet. It'd be I

388
00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:38,240
mean possibly a small office or just
storage for some for somebody which is

389
00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:40,559
basically what I'd use it for.
>> Any idea what you'll be storing in

390
00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:43,919
there?
>> Uh I'd be I own an elevator business.

391
00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:48,039
I'd be storing elevator equipment.
>> Elevator equipment.

392
00:32:44,799 --> 00:32:48,039
» Yes, sir.

393
00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:57,919
» I've got a a question. Um your
development goes through a city lane.

394
00:32:55,760 --> 00:33:00,880
Um, you didn't get title to that strip,
did you?

395
00:32:59,039 --> 00:33:04,480
» I have not gotten title for that.
>> I think that

396
00:33:03,039 --> 00:33:09,200
» I think what you're going to need to do
is petition the city to abandon that

397
00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:14,960
lane and then they've got the option of
selling it to you. That's the the rule

398
00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:19,120
under Georgia law, but you just can't
uh cover up a city lane without actually

399
00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:23,840
getting the city to abandon it.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, I think that probably

400
00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:28,960
needs to be done before
we approve the site plan because your

401
00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:33,679
site plan actually has your project
going over the city lane, doesn't it?

402
00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:36,559
» Yes. Yes. And I spoke with Carlos about
about that before as well.

403
00:33:35,679 --> 00:33:41,320
» I'm sorry. What?
>> I spoke with Carlos about that before as

404
00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:41,320
well.

405
00:33:44,559 --> 00:33:52,799
» Okay. Thank you, sir. All right. Anyone
else want to speak for it? Do we have

406
00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:57,519
anyone want to speak against it?
>> I'm the engineer on his project. I I'd

407
00:33:55,679 --> 00:34:02,640
be happy to answer any questions related
to engineering if you had if you have

408
00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:07,279
any. I mean, I'm obviously for the
project. I mean, these kind of flex

409
00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:12,320
space units are very beneficial to the
local economy. It allows mom and pop

410
00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:16,720
shops to be able to transition into
something smaller.

411
00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:22,720
uh a lot of the stuff that they brought
up at the planning commission

412
00:34:19,599 --> 00:34:26,159
uh and the reasons why they denied it,
you know, were were related to

413
00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:31,440
engineering issues that we were going to
address anyway with the engineering. So,

414
00:34:28,720 --> 00:34:36,560
I don't think they understood that. So,
uh anyway, I'm for it. If you have any

415
00:34:33,919 --> 00:34:39,359
questions, I'll be happy to answer.
>> Okay.

416
00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:42,639
» I I don't know whether the city can
approve something that that goes over

417
00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:45,599
its throttway. So,
>> I mean, it happens all the time in

418
00:34:43,839 --> 00:34:49,040
Savannah. I mean, we we get
encroachments

419
00:34:46,879 --> 00:34:54,000
» and I've always gone before city council
to get city council to abandon lanes

420
00:34:51,679 --> 00:34:57,680
before I had clients.
>> We do that too. A lot of times they make

421
00:34:55,679 --> 00:35:03,760
the homeowner buy it just like you guys
are happens all the time.

422
00:35:01,839 --> 00:35:08,800
» I would suggest the matter be tabled
until the issue of the lane can be

423
00:35:05,599 --> 00:35:12,760
worked out rather than the rather than
the site plan being denied.

424
00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:22,119
Is that it?
>> Thank you, sir. Have anyone want to

425
00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:22,119
speak against me?

426
00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:28,640
» State your name and your address,
please, sir.

427
00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:34,160
» Good evening. My name Julius Bryant. I
live 15 St. George Avenue.

428
00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:37,839
And uh I'm against
this warehouse or whatever they want to

429
00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:43,440
put on here. We got a one way, a oneway
street. One way in and one way out. We

430
00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:49,440
don't need nothing like that up there.
And everybody against it.

431
00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:54,800
I don't care what side he say. We don't
need it. Period. If you going to put a

432
00:35:51,040 --> 00:36:00,079
house there, okay. But a business, no.
We got a enough traffic as it is. We

433
00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:06,079
don't need it there.
And I'm not the only one against it.

434
00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:09,040
Everybody on the street against it.
>> Thank you.

435
00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:12,680
» Thank you, sir. Anyone else want to
speak against it?

436
00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:20,880
State your name and your address,
please. M.

437
00:36:16,880 --> 00:36:27,200
» Hello, my name is Angela Vaughn and I
have a resident at 116 St. Joseph's. I

438
00:36:23,760 --> 00:36:32,320
agree with Julius on not having it
because it's going to block up a lot of

439
00:36:29,440 --> 00:36:36,480
space and people going in and out. So,
I'm against it. Also,

440
00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:43,520
» thank you. One of the things I need to
point out is is that the property is

441
00:36:39,359 --> 00:36:49,119
zoned heavy commercial and when the
applicant bought it, he relied on it

442
00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:53,839
being able to be used for heavy
commercial. In fact, the city's

443
00:36:50,960 --> 00:37:00,640
comprehensive future use plan had it as
as commercial, too. So,

444
00:36:57,440 --> 00:37:06,480
legally, uh commercial use can go on the
property. Uh how he plats it out on the

445
00:37:04,720 --> 00:37:13,440
property is a different issue that the
site plan would determine as far as

446
00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:18,160
buffers and setbacks and how dense the
activity is going to be on the on the

447
00:37:15,280 --> 00:37:23,920
flat. City council can work on that with
the applicant. But as far as his right

448
00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:28,280
to put something commercial there, I
mean, he's got the right to do that.

449
00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:33,040
» Anyone else want to speak against it?

450
00:37:34,160 --> 00:37:43,280
Shagari Williams, 59 Barnado Avenue.
This uh St. Joseph Street property and

451
00:37:40,960 --> 00:37:47,599
you say it's zone for heavy
>> No, just this one piece,

452
00:37:44,960 --> 00:37:52,640
» right? So why don't y'all reszone that
area for residential?

453
00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:56,880
Cuz if I lived on that street, I don't
want to hear that noise. I don't want

454
00:37:54,079 --> 00:38:01,359
stuff coming up and down the street. And
I believe don't the street flood or

455
00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:06,000
something when it's heavy rain.
So y'all want to go up on taxes and

456
00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:12,560
y'all want to put noise in. How much
will this new business contribute to

457
00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:16,800
this 88% to help relieve the citizens?
Also the warehouses that's being built

458
00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:21,920
around Garden City, how much will they
put towards to help the citizens relieve

459
00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:29,400
some of that 88%.
So I'm against it.

460
00:38:24,560 --> 00:38:29,400
Thank you, sir. Anyone else?

461
00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:48,079
State your name and your address,
please, ma'am.

462
00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:53,280
» My name is Tracy Campbell. I stay at 119
St. Joseph Avenue, and I am against it.

463
00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:57,119
We already have one commercial property
at the end of the street, and we deal

464
00:38:54,800 --> 00:39:00,480
with a lot of traffic with that. So to
put another commercial property at the

465
00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:06,079
top of the street, plus you got in
market, you got Family Dollar. They come

466
00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:11,680
in and out and it's just a lot of heavy
traffic. So I'm against it.

467
00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:15,560
» Thank you, ma'am.
Anyone else want to speak?

468
00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:28,000
» State your name and your address,
please, ma'am.

469
00:39:29,920 --> 00:39:38,240
Hello, my name is Tammy Allen and my
parents reside at 115 St. Joseph Avenue

470
00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:44,079
and I grew up there and I just wanted to
speak to the council

471
00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:49,520
um when they reszone that area to
commercial property if I'm not mistaken

472
00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:53,760
sometime back in 1959.
The residents didn't have a voice. They

473
00:39:52,000 --> 00:40:00,240
didn't tell the residents that they were
going to reszone it to commercial.

474
00:39:57,520 --> 00:40:04,720
» So, and then when they put the warehouse
down there because it was already

475
00:40:02,079 --> 00:40:09,599
commercial, unbeknownst to the
residents, when they told them this

476
00:40:07,359 --> 00:40:15,920
meeting was going to happen, the
residents were told 7:00. when they got

477
00:40:13,520 --> 00:40:21,599
here at 7 o'clock, the meeting had
adjourned at had was already over and

478
00:40:19,359 --> 00:40:27,760
they didn't even get a chance to vote.
So, I only think it's fair that the city

479
00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:32,160
council hear the residents
uh concerns and take that into

480
00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:38,880
consideration
um about reszoning as the gentleman said

481
00:40:35,599 --> 00:40:43,359
here and about putting another
commercial property down there. It's a

482
00:40:40,960 --> 00:40:50,480
one-way street. you already have traffic
coming and going um from the warehouse.

483
00:40:47,119 --> 00:40:57,280
You have the traffic from in market and
um Family Dollar with their 18-wheelers.

484
00:40:54,320 --> 00:41:03,119
And you also have I don't know if it's a
sign up there. Um I can't re remember if

485
00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:08,079
there's a good sign, any signage that
says it's a dead end street because

486
00:41:05,359 --> 00:41:12,560
people constantly come down. some big
trucks come down because they think they

487
00:41:09,920 --> 00:41:18,079
can go straight through to uh Bmpton
Road. So, I just ask that you all please

488
00:41:15,359 --> 00:41:24,560
take all of that in consideration when
you decide on this commercial property

489
00:41:21,040 --> 00:41:27,680
or even possible reszoning it. Thank
you.

490
00:41:25,119 --> 00:41:31,599
» Thank you, ma'am.
Anyone else?

491
00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:34,978
» So, we going to close this part of the
hearing. [clears throat]

492
00:41:36,720 --> 00:41:44,800
Approval of the city council minutes
concerning the minutes from July 6

493
00:41:41,359 --> 00:41:51,920
pre-aggenda section and city council um
meeting minutes of July 13th workshop

494
00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:55,040
minutes. Entertain a motion.
>> May I make a motion for approval of

495
00:41:53,359 --> 00:41:58,079
previous minutes?
>> Second the motion.

496
00:41:56,400 --> 00:42:00,079
» Roll call vote on the motion.
>> Council member Bruner,

497
00:41:59,359 --> 00:42:02,000
» approve.
>> Council member Figale,

498
00:42:01,359 --> 00:42:03,839
» approve.
>> Council member Hall,

499
00:42:03,119 --> 00:42:08,160
» approved.
>> Council member Lacer,

500
00:42:05,119 --> 00:42:10,960
» abstain. Council member Mars
>> approve

501
00:42:09,119 --> 00:42:15,680
» and Mayor Campbell
>> approved. Motion carried. Res

502
00:42:13,440 --> 00:42:19,359
resolutions
military.

503
00:42:17,680 --> 00:42:22,160
Uh can you read that by hearing on it
please? Ma'am

504
00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:28,400
» a resolution of the mayor and council of
Garden City, Georgia adopting adopting

505
00:42:24,720 --> 00:42:31,920
the adorum tax millage rate for the 2026
fiscal year and for other purposes.

506
00:42:30,640 --> 00:42:35,760
» Entertain a motion.
>> Mr. Mayor, before we entertain a motion,

507
00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:41,040
I'd like to speak for a couple of
minutes if that's okay.

508
00:42:38,480 --> 00:42:44,319
There you go. Good. I I I've had
concerns with this. I mean, I've I've

509
00:42:42,480 --> 00:42:49,440
gone back over it. I had to sit in the
office with the city manager to try to

510
00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:54,640
understand exactly where
this uh proposal would go as far as

511
00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:59,680
where all of that money would be
allocated. And I have concerns on it

512
00:42:57,200 --> 00:43:04,560
with there's been an appropriation of
funds every year for the last several

513
00:43:01,680 --> 00:43:10,800
years. And most of the mayor and council
that's here now adopted the uh budget

514
00:43:08,960 --> 00:43:17,839
for last year with an appropriation of
funds of $3.538 million. And you adopted

515
00:43:14,800 --> 00:43:24,640
one the year before that with $3.312
million with the expectations that the

516
00:43:22,240 --> 00:43:28,960
revenues were underestimated. the
expenditures were overestimated and

517
00:43:26,319 --> 00:43:34,240
you'd make up for that uh appropriation
of funds. And now we're looking to,

518
00:43:32,640 --> 00:43:39,119
you know, it was said that this millage
rate increase was necessary to cover the

519
00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:43,040
fire fee um loss, which was the $1.46
million um which would not require

520
00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:49,200
anywhere near that type of millage rate
to cover just that loss of revenue. Um,

521
00:43:46,640 --> 00:43:56,720
so I kept asking, hey, where is the rest
of uh, you know, this almost uh almost

522
00:43:53,359 --> 00:44:03,359
$5 million, $4.5 million increase over
what was anticipated uh, from when you

523
00:44:00,720 --> 00:44:09,119
created the budget for 2025. And it came
down to that it was going to be covering

524
00:44:06,560 --> 00:44:14,079
the appropriation of the prior year's
funds or the majority of it down to I

525
00:44:11,440 --> 00:44:18,319
think uh we just said $700,000 would be
what was left in that appropriation of

526
00:44:15,599 --> 00:44:23,440
funds. So why is it that now it's a big
concern to cover the majority of that

527
00:44:21,599 --> 00:44:28,000
appropriation? I mean it was not a
problem at the end of last year whenever

528
00:44:25,520 --> 00:44:32,240
the budget was voted on to have, you
know, $3.5 million and appropriated

529
00:44:30,640 --> 00:44:35,440
towards the budget. So, why is it a
problem now that all of that has to be

530
00:44:33,599 --> 00:44:41,520
covered? Why couldn't we consider a
little bit lower

531
00:44:37,599 --> 00:44:46,400
millage rate increase um to cover the
actual loss of revenue and and maybe

532
00:44:44,640 --> 00:44:51,760
consider bringing it down a little bit?
I think even at 5 mills. Um, city

533
00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:56,319
manager, you said it would bring it the
appropriation down to 2 something

534
00:44:53,359 --> 00:45:00,400
million at 5 mills. Is that correct?
>> 5.5 mills.

535
00:44:57,839 --> 00:45:06,160
» Okay. 5.5 mills would bring it down to
>> about 2.7. That's an estimate.

536
00:45:03,520 --> 00:45:10,160
» Okay, which is, you know, getting close
to a million dollars less than what was

537
00:45:07,680 --> 00:45:15,520
adopted already. So why do we need to go
to

538
00:45:11,760 --> 00:45:20,000
7.581 and cover that if if we were
thinking we would be okay with

539
00:45:17,680 --> 00:45:25,920
appropriating $3.5 million to begin
with. So um

540
00:45:22,960 --> 00:45:29,760
that's that's my question and comments
on it. you know, would would there be a

541
00:45:27,440 --> 00:45:33,920
consideration of possibly going to a
little bit lower increase on the mill

542
00:45:31,760 --> 00:45:37,079
rate versus, you know, going straight to
a 7.581?

543
00:45:37,359 --> 00:45:42,160
» We'll [clears throat]
entertain a motion and every man b his

544
00:45:41,280 --> 00:45:44,400
heart.
>> Mr. Mayor, can I say something?

545
00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:48,319
» Sure.
>> Um, Mr. Bruner, you are correct in what

546
00:45:46,880 --> 00:45:54,960
you were saying. However, if you
remember, initially we talked about 8 ms

547
00:45:51,839 --> 00:46:00,560
before we came up with the um come down
to 7.5 ms, but

548
00:45:58,560 --> 00:46:04,160
I did a calculation on some of the
properties that I own in Garden City. I

549
00:46:02,160 --> 00:46:08,400
have an empty lot.
And right now on that empty lot, I pay

550
00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:14,720
$23.95
tax per year on that empty lot. I do not

551
00:46:11,760 --> 00:46:20,400
have any homestead exemption on that
uh because there's not a home there. My

552
00:46:17,200 --> 00:46:28,319
fire fee, I was paying $6.50
per month on fire fee, which comes to

553
00:46:24,000 --> 00:46:34,319
$78 a year. The $78 plus the $23.95
comes to $11.95

554
00:46:31,359 --> 00:46:40,000
a year. Now, I know this doesn't apply
to everyone situation, but it applies to

555
00:46:37,040 --> 00:46:48,800
a lot of situations. If my property tax
goes up to proposed amount of 7.581%,

556
00:46:44,560 --> 00:46:55,920
I'll be paying a total of $726
per year rather than paying the $11,

557
00:46:52,720 --> 00:47:01,040
which is actually saving me in this
incident on this piece of property $30 a

558
00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:05,599
year.
There are a lot of citizens, senior

559
00:47:04,240 --> 00:47:09,920
citizens that have the homestead
exemptions and would fall in this

560
00:47:08,000 --> 00:47:14,720
category. Now, there are some people
that will not fall in the category, but

561
00:47:12,160 --> 00:47:20,800
this is structured so that the higher,
more expensive homes and businesses

562
00:47:17,280 --> 00:47:26,079
would pay more.
And our citizens are accustomed to

563
00:47:23,359 --> 00:47:32,079
having fire protection, police
protection, storm water drainage, water

564
00:47:29,040 --> 00:47:36,960
and sewage, recreation. They've become
accustomed to it and we've got to

565
00:47:33,599 --> 00:47:40,880
continue to provide it. A lot of people
have said, "Cut the budget. Go into the

566
00:47:38,800 --> 00:47:45,280
savings." If you go into our savings,
the city will lose its bond ratings.

567
00:47:43,280 --> 00:47:48,800
Which means if we go to get loans, if
you've got a good bond rating, we get a

568
00:47:46,960 --> 00:47:55,880
cheaper rate. Had a get a better chance
of getting the loans. If our bond rating

569
00:47:51,040 --> 00:47:55,880
is down, we lose that opportunity.

570
00:47:56,240 --> 00:48:03,119
It is a gut-wrenching decision to make,
but it has to be made. And I would like

571
00:48:01,200 --> 00:48:07,760
to provide our citizens with the service
they are accustomed to using.

572
00:48:05,520 --> 00:48:14,240
» Mr. Mayor, I will interject something as
well before we take the vote. Um, as

573
00:48:11,359 --> 00:48:19,520
everyone has of opinion, of course, and
I just want to point out sitting up here

574
00:48:17,359 --> 00:48:24,240
being elected to make decisions to be
the voice for the people. We hear the

575
00:48:21,839 --> 00:48:30,319
people. We hear exactly what you're
saying. No one likes to talk about tax

576
00:48:27,440 --> 00:48:34,079
increases, including me. I'm a resident
of Garden City, too. Pay taxes. Just

577
00:48:32,240 --> 00:48:38,960
like Councilman Hall mentioned,
everybody has their rate and all their

578
00:48:36,240 --> 00:48:44,079
factors. But again, you have the
homestead exemptions, you have other

579
00:48:41,599 --> 00:48:48,720
exemptions like the school taxes. Those
could be waved after a certain age. You

580
00:48:46,640 --> 00:48:54,880
have the disability taxes that can be
waved on your um tax assessors

581
00:48:51,760 --> 00:48:59,359
um statements if you qualify. But again,
these are different angles that you can

582
00:48:56,640 --> 00:49:04,800
go through in order to get those I call
those expenses offset. But again, it's

583
00:49:02,720 --> 00:49:10,960
our responsibility to ensure that this
city is able to continue to provide the

584
00:49:08,160 --> 00:49:15,680
essential services to our citizens rely
on every day. With the elimination of

585
00:49:13,839 --> 00:49:20,240
the fire fees, we've talked about that,
how that went about, how that started

586
00:49:17,520 --> 00:49:25,760
and everything, we still need to
consider cost of living increases, cost

587
00:49:22,880 --> 00:49:29,839
for staff, cost for benefits, cost for
equipment, all those things taking

588
00:49:28,079 --> 00:49:33,520
effect. Just like you get a cost of
living increase on your social security

589
00:49:31,440 --> 00:49:40,079
checks or just like you get a cost of
living increase on your um jobs for

590
00:49:37,040 --> 00:49:45,920
wages, all those things pay a factor. We
have to look at that being a city. So

591
00:49:42,800 --> 00:49:52,400
with people looking at what we can cut
and what we can't cut, we cannot sit

592
00:49:48,720 --> 00:49:58,160
here and be stewards of your monies and
say that we can vote to discontinue

593
00:49:56,240 --> 00:50:02,800
those services you're used to. It's just
no way. And yes, we've looked at all

594
00:50:00,480 --> 00:50:06,880
angles that everybody's addressed as far
as cutting budgets. That's been looked

595
00:50:04,480 --> 00:50:10,640
at at the beginning. Okay? Of course,
you're going to look at that first.

596
00:50:08,480 --> 00:50:15,680
That's not going to be after the fact.
But as an elected official, it's my duty

597
00:50:13,119 --> 00:50:19,599
to make these difficult decisions. And I
know they're difficult. And I recognize

598
00:50:18,079 --> 00:50:24,720
the impact this increase is going to
have on some taxpayers. But again, we're

599
00:50:22,559 --> 00:50:28,800
here to vote on what's going to make the
city of Garden City grow. What's going

600
00:50:26,960 --> 00:50:34,640
to make it continue to be the place you
want to work, live, and play. Again,

601
00:50:31,760 --> 00:50:37,440
we've got a great police department, so
you want police services. You're going

602
00:50:36,000 --> 00:50:42,160
to want fire services. You're going to
want the new recreation complex, those

603
00:50:40,240 --> 00:50:46,240
services, and I know everybody's looking
at what Garden City don't have, but

604
00:50:44,319 --> 00:50:50,240
again, if we continue to grow and build
this city, we'll get those things

605
00:50:47,920 --> 00:50:54,160
eventually. They they left. They were
here, excuse me, and they left us for

606
00:50:52,160 --> 00:50:59,200
whatever reason. But again, they will be
back because again, we are pushing and

607
00:50:56,400 --> 00:51:03,280
we are looking for all other avenues to
bring back the grocery stores other than

608
00:51:01,599 --> 00:51:08,319
the one grocery store. We're looking at
bringing back some more restaurants. Of

609
00:51:06,079 --> 00:51:11,359
course, we can't guarantee anything.
People have to want to come to Garden

610
00:51:09,839 --> 00:51:15,200
City, but we have to make it attractive
for them to come want to come to Garden

611
00:51:13,200 --> 00:51:19,280
City. So, please, ma'am, please, sir,
please understand that this decision

612
00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:23,520
we're about to make is not easy. We all
recognize that. Thank you so much,

613
00:51:21,359 --> 00:51:27,839
» Mr. Mayor.
Citizens of Garden City, this is a tough

614
00:51:25,440 --> 00:51:32,960
decision. Uh
I was restless ever since last week

615
00:51:29,920 --> 00:51:38,400
because I know [cough and clears throat]
a lot of citizens that will be affected

616
00:51:35,359 --> 00:51:44,240
by this. you know, a lot of seniors,
even people in my age group who will be

617
00:51:41,200 --> 00:51:49,839
affected by this for various health
reasons that they they won't be able to,

618
00:51:47,200 --> 00:51:54,760
you know, sustain the regular lifestyle
they they they have now. However,

619
00:51:55,280 --> 00:52:05,760
everything around us is getting higher.
We cannot as a city want to be better,

620
00:52:03,520 --> 00:52:11,440
want to grow and everything with the
subpar level we was at before. If you

621
00:52:08,960 --> 00:52:18,720
take a look at Port Wentworth Pula,
everybody around us is growing for many,

622
00:52:15,760 --> 00:52:27,760
many, many years. If you read the
digest, we have been rolling taxes back.

623
00:52:23,280 --> 00:52:33,839
» So in retrospect, we are behind. Mhm.
>> We have to catch up and we have to be

624
00:52:30,559 --> 00:52:39,040
great stewards of the money in order to
in order to even just maintain

625
00:52:36,480 --> 00:52:44,160
» if we we can't stay at the same level
and maintain Garden City. It just won't

626
00:52:41,520 --> 00:52:49,200
work. Especially talking about the going
into the the balance and you know taking

627
00:52:47,280 --> 00:52:54,240
away from the savings, we'll be broke
before we know it as a city. So we have

628
00:52:51,520 --> 00:52:58,400
to increase and make things better.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

629
00:52:55,520 --> 00:53:03,280
» Thank you. Entertain a motion.
>> Make a motion for approval.

630
00:53:00,800 --> 00:53:08,480
» Second the motion.
>> Roll call vote on the motion.

631
00:53:05,359 --> 00:53:12,160
» Council member Bruner.
>> Council member Figale.

632
00:53:10,720 --> 00:53:14,559
» Council member Hall
>> approve.

633
00:53:13,200 --> 00:53:16,880
» Council member Lacer
>> approve.

634
00:53:15,359 --> 00:53:18,720
» Council member Mars
>> approve.

635
00:53:17,599 --> 00:53:26,079
» And Mayor Campbell
>> approve. Motion carries.

636
00:53:22,480 --> 00:53:29,040
Resolution Village Point Town as final
subdivision. Can you read it by hand on

637
00:53:27,920 --> 00:53:33,280
it, please? M.
>> A resolution of the mayor and council

638
00:53:31,200 --> 00:53:40,640
approving the final subdivision map for
the subdivision of a 17.69 acre track

639
00:53:37,200 --> 00:53:45,920
located at zero Constantine Road into 76
proposed town home lots owned by Simco

640
00:53:43,520 --> 00:53:49,839
at Mosswood LLC.
>> Entertain a motion.

641
00:53:48,240 --> 00:53:53,440
Make a motion that we approve the
resolution for the Village Point Town

642
00:53:51,359 --> 00:53:55,359
Homes final subdivision map on Constine
Road.

643
00:53:54,319 --> 00:53:58,240
» Second.
>> Roll call vote on the motion.

644
00:53:57,040 --> 00:54:00,240
» Council member Bruner,
>> approve.

645
00:53:59,040 --> 00:54:02,000
» Council member Figale,
>> approve.

646
00:54:00,960 --> 00:54:04,079
» Council member Hall,
>> approved.

647
00:54:02,800 --> 00:54:06,160
» Council member Lasser,
>> approved.

648
00:54:04,800 --> 00:54:07,760
» Council member Morris,
>> approve.

649
00:54:06,720 --> 00:54:12,800
» And Mayor Campbell,
>> approve. Motion carry. Resolution,

650
00:54:09,839 --> 00:54:15,920
general development plan for 129 St.
Joseph Avenue. Can you read that by

651
00:54:14,319 --> 00:54:19,280
heading only, please, ma'am? A
resolution by the mayor and council

652
00:54:17,520 --> 00:54:24,480
approving the general development plan
application of Ashley Mosley as

653
00:54:21,920 --> 00:54:30,240
authorized agent for Jonathan Austin for
the construction of a 6,000 ft² metal

654
00:54:26,960 --> 00:54:35,200
building partitioned into four 1500 ft²
units to be used andor lease for heavy

655
00:54:33,040 --> 00:54:41,040
commercial use on a project site
measuring 0.42 acres at 129 St. Joseph

656
00:54:38,960 --> 00:54:43,599
Avenue in Garden City, Georgia.
>> Make a motion to table this for further

657
00:54:42,960 --> 00:54:47,119
discussion.
>> Second motion.

658
00:54:45,760 --> 00:54:52,480
So what they're going to do is they're
going to table this until pent notice.

659
00:54:51,280 --> 00:54:57,119
They're not going to make a decision
tonight.

660
00:54:54,000 --> 00:54:58,800
Enter enter entertain a motion on it.
>> Motion has been made.

661
00:54:58,160 --> 00:55:01,520
» Yes, sir.
>> Roll call vote on the motion.

662
00:55:00,240 --> 00:55:03,359
» Council member Bruner
>> approve.

663
00:55:02,240 --> 00:55:05,119
» Council member Figale
>> approve.

664
00:55:04,000 --> 00:55:07,040
» Council member Hall
>> approve.

665
00:55:05,839 --> 00:55:08,960
» Council member Lacer
>> approve.

666
00:55:07,599 --> 00:55:10,559
» Council member Mars
>> approve.

667
00:55:09,520 --> 00:55:14,800
» And Mayor Campbell
>> approve. And motion carry. Entertain a

668
00:55:12,400 --> 00:55:17,920
motion for adjournment. Make a motion to
adjourn.

669
00:55:16,079 --> 00:55:21,480
» Second.
>> Meeting is ajourned.

670
00:55:31,368 --> 00:55:33,388
[music]