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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2014 City Council Work Session MinutesSTATE OF ALABAMA )( COUNTY OF BALDWIN )( The City Council met in a Work Session at 4:30p.m., Del champs Room, 161 North Section Street, Fairhope , Alabama 36532, on Monday, 13 January 2014. Present were Council President Jack Burrell , Councilmembers : Rich Mueller, Diana Brewer (arrived at 4:41p.m .), Michael A. Ford, and Kevin Boone, Mayor Timothy M. Kant, and City Clerk Lisa A. Hanks. City Attorney Marion E. Wynne was absent. Council President Burrell called the meeting to order at 4:30p.m. The following topics were discussed: • Don Druse and Rob Cowden (President) with Safety Plus , Inc. did a presentation of their web-based Quas i Loss Control Management program which gives access to training, SDS items , JSA 's, Tool Box Talks , a large selection of required forms , IH requirements (monitoring), and four monthly site inspection ; and Safety Plus will train the City 's administrative personnel to enter and remove data. Three options were ex plained along with the cost of each . Council President Burrell stated we must have buy-in from supervisors and the Mayor or this will not work. Pandora Heathcoe, Human Resources Manager, gave the following figures from Workers Compensation claims: 2010 -47 claims ; 2011 -21 claims; 2012-75 claims ; 2013 -68 claims ; and there have been five already this year. • Julie Brent and Chester Schmidt addressed the City Council and gave a brief description of the proposed franchise agreement and gave a demonstration. Store front location was questioned by Councilmember Brewer. Ms. Brent replied there is not one at this time . Mayor Kant commented he was concerned with other businesses doing the same thing. Solicitation and holidays were both addressed . Mr. Schmidt said they are making the community of the type of service they are providing which would help the other businesses as well. • Councilmembers Brewer and Ford both mentioned their committees will begin again this week. Mr. Ford commented the Recycling Committee is in full force . • Councilmember Boone discussed the Harbor Board ; and the need to repair exposed electric wires and take care of the abandoned boats. Mayor Kant is working on this issue . Then, Councilmember Boone passed around a picture of what Knoll Park from the 1960s. He said this is now an eye sore that needs to go away . Mayor Kant replied that it is fifty/fifty for clean look ing or natural looking . Councilmember Mueller commented we need to make it an appealing park ; and the 108 acres we just bought is going to be kept natural. The property on County Road 44 and County Road 13 are natural. Monday, 13 January 2014 Page-2- Jennifer Fidler said the Knoll Park land is an ecosystem perfect for wildflowers and long leaf pines (sandhill ecosystem). Ms . Fidler did mention the Knoll Park Committee took the buffer of the plan which is what the City requested. Councilmember Brewer stated this is in the transition phase and we need to see the plan. • Councilmember Mueller commented he was looking for dates to have the Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board meetings. • Council President Burrell said the . Paul Myrick has revised the personnel handbook; the Personnel Board has reviewed it and made some recommendations. He asked Pandora Heathcoe, Human Resources Manager, to send the Councilmembers a copy for them to begin their review. • Jonathan Smith, Planning Director, addressed the City Council and mentioned the following projects in his department: Zoning Ordinance Amendments Traffic Study is to be updated ACE Report to be presented; then begin Comprehensive Plan revisions Sign Ordinance revised to be a stand-alone Ordinance Low Impact Design (LID) -working on incentives for the developers Sub-committee being formed to look at this issue and report back to the Planning Commission. Councilmembers Brewer and Mueller volunteered for the Sub-committee. • Jennifer Fidler, Public Works Director, addressed the City Council and said her department is working on the storm water management on the bluff. She announced that the widening of Fairhope Avenue should be completed by mid- February. • Jill Cabaniss, Finance Director, addressed the City Council and stated that the CAFR would be presented at the next City Council meeting by Dennis Sherrin from Hartmann, Blackmon & Kilgore. • Council President Burrell announced there would be a Strategic Planning meeting on January 14 , 2014 at 4:30p.m. in the Delchamps Room. There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was du1y adjourned at 5:44p.m.