City Council - Regular Meeting

5:30. Everybody ready? We're going to go ahead and call the March 3rd, 2026 city council meeting to order. Uh we're going to start with a roll call. We have ward one, two, five, six, and at large present. I'm going to ask Councilman Smith to lead us in the invocation.

Father, let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you with gratitude for the opportunity to gather in service to our community. We recognize the responsibility entrusted to us and ask for wisdom, discernment, and the unity as we undertake the business set before this council tonight. Grant us clarity of thought, civility, and discussion, and shared commitment of the common good. We also pause to remember our former colleague Jeffrey Reed. We give thanks for his service, his dedication to the city, and the time and effort he invested in strengthening our community. His contributions help shape the path that we continue to walk today, comfort his family and loved ones in their loss, and let his example of public service remind us of the lasting impact one life can have. As we move forward this evening, guide our decisions so that they may reflect integrity, fairness, and compassion. Help us to listen well, to lead humbly, and to act in ways that honor both those we serve and those who have served us and who have served before. In your name we pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all and justice for all.

Thank you Councilman Smith.

We now have ward three and four present as well. Okay, moving on to approval of the agenda. Are any agenda amendments needed? Okay. No, sir.

Not I'll move on to announcements. We do have a big announcement for March 4th, which is tomorrow. We have our zoning ordinance workshop. March 17th is our next city council city council meeting. We do not have any guest. So, we'll move on to our public forum regarding agenda items. Just waiting on the sign up. Chief, nobody signed up. Okay, we'll we'll move on to uh the minutes approval. I'll call for a motion to approve the minutes of February 18th, 2026. Do I have a motion? Motion.

Motion by Councilman Smith. Do I have a second? Second. Davis seconds. Any discussion? both motion. I I I I I I I motion carries 70. I'm moving on to the consent agenda. Did anyone have any questions or want to remove anything for discussion?

I'd like to just make a comment if I could on C. When I in last meeting, we approved uh a reduction of about 37,000. John and had a little extra time found it even cheaper for us. So instead of I think it's 37,000 we end up saving 77,000 insurance. Any other items to discuss or remove before asking for a motion to approve the consent agenda? All right. I'll ask for a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Do I have a motion? Motion. Motion by Councilman Smith. Do I have a second? Mo seconds. Any discussion? Vote the motion. I I

I I I I I motion carries 70. Okay, moving on to project updates. Uh there are none. And as far as ordinances, there are none. We'll move on to city clerk report. Uh, I'll call for a motion to approve the docket of claims 26-012 in the amount of 1,ion1,8962 dated March 3rd, 2026. Do I have a motion? Motion. Motion by Councilman Smith. Do I have a second? And seconds. Any discussion? Vote the motion. I I

I I motion carries 70. Council woman Holmes has left the room. 5:35. I'll call for a motion to approve the docket of claims 26-013 special in the amount of $465 dated March 3rd, 2026. Do I have a motion? Motion Salvo. Motion by Councilman Dalvo. Second by Councilman Smith. Any discussion? Vote the motion. I I motion carries 6. Thank you. Councilwoman Holmes has re-entered the room at 5:35. We'll move on to mayor's update.

All this is just a quick heads up. You know, we're getting signs made. We'll start uh we've created I guess be the east side water side uh in between Main Street and the Mason where there'll be no parking I think 4 to 10 in the morning and that will be for unloading the truck. We'll go down Main Street along the bank to be the same thing there. No parking there. That whole area keep unloading trucks and we'll go down uh Port Street and do the same down there for ways and this labor big truck, you know, with school in and everything. It'll give them an opportunity to to get off the road and park the big 18 wheels and all in there. So, we'll pass that on and try to get the vendors and all on the same page as well. It might take a little bit to get all them, you know, on it to readress their routes and all, but hopefully that's going to take care of that.

What say was it four to 4 to 7 on weekends. That area will be 4 to 7 on weekends. So it's 4 a to 10A weekdays, 4 to 7 Saturday, Sunday. Okay. And and main reason that we do have places opening on weekends that's open for breakfast and everything, but it'll still serve the same purpose. Give them time to get there and and you know, again, you know, we set out to do three things and I think that's going to take care of that's Friday, Saturday, and Sunday or just Saturday and Sunday for the change. Saturday and Sunday is 7 4 Monday through Friday is 4 to 10. Yes. Are there any businesses that open before 10? Huh? Are there any businesses during the week that open before 10?

Well, there'll still be parking on that side and then down in front the bank. I was wondering about the bank down in that way and all that. We we've looked at all that and we think we're pretty good on that. So, they will have some parking. Yeah. Oh, yeah. They have parking down there. Just normal parking. Okay. Mr. Mayor, do we have anything scheduled for the depot area as far as No, but we we're going to try to get them to contact that vendor so that they are there early and not blocking traffic and all back there as well. Yeah, because they'll park right in the street right in front right on that corner. That's a it's a tough corner because you got a crosswalk back here and then you got the stop sign right above it and then you're in there and all. Yeah.

Right. And you can't people who park in there can't get out and people can't park you in. All right. So, so that's just an update. The only other thing I wanted to say was the CAO position applications be accepted until Friday this week. We'll put something together on that. And then the other thing, uh, you know, Reverend Reed was a councilman, served as counselor, served eight years as mayor with him as the council. Very good friend, known Reverend Reed for over 50 years from time we've in school together and everything. His visitation is going to be on the 10th. 10 to 11 be visitation. 11 o'clock start the services. So yeah. Okay. So this where what location?

Community center. Community center. Yes. They they have booked a community center for this. We'll also do a proclamation for them. Um we'll probably do it out of services I think. And you know uh one of the things want to look at couple other thing I think council council lady Fal brought up about um you know possibility of his street you know like we did for Chief Williams and all back there. That's something we can look at coming up in our time. Same thing with a star backed by MLK. So okay keep everybody updated.

Thank you. Okay. Moving on to uh council business. Start with Councilwoman Morning. Uh yes. I' I'd like to thank uh Mike mayor for um really, you know, starting this uh loading zone and being serious about it and and committed to it. I think it's going to help a great deal in Oldtown for deliveries. Um, and also give a shout out to public works for once again uh getting the lighting situation uh rectified at the pickle ball courts. So the neighbors are happy.

Good. I'm happy. Thank you. Public works. Appreciate it. I had a list of things, but in absence of Riso, I would like to say thank you to Ronnie. He has been amazing in helping getting the things issued, taken care of in W three. So, everything on my list has been checked off. So, again, thanks to public works and to Ronnie as well. Uh Mike, couple things. Um, where do we stand with the SMPPD, the road evaluation study? Uh we have a meeting tomorrow. Tomorrow. Who's we? Who has a meeting?

Yeah, I think there was three or three on the council sat in the original meeting with them and all. I think those three Ronnie said he was calling them to see about coming back, right? What's the meeting pertaining to? Just uh whatever they can do and all. I don't think they quite through with grading the roads out. So they have they started? Yeah. So and the meeting tomorrow is to go over some of for what they have found so far, different services and this and that and all. When will that be presented to the council with what they do tomorrow? Probably hopefully we'll have something for next meeting and I we'll find out the timeline when they going to finish grading all the streets out.

Okay. All right. Uh where do we stand? I know a couple meetings ago we talked about the the depot and we've discussed and thrown different scenarios around. I think where we left at N were you going to get a proposal to the council? Where we stand on that? I think he adopted that you're going to do some kind of proposal for the use of the depot. Yeah. Okay. Is that is that still ongoing? Yes, it is. Okay. Okay. Hopefully we can maybe have some next meeting on that. You think? For sure. Yeah. And that's just for the bottom, correct? Yes. We'd still need to go out the top. Okay. So, want to see what the proposal is on the bottom and see how that would coincide with Yeah. Okay. Yeah. All right.

I'll get it to you before the next meeting. Perfect. Okay. All right. just kind of echo public works. Some of the drainage work they've been doing in preparation for the roads to be paved with TBST is some of the best them ditches have looked in probably 25 years. So it's really looking good and it's going to make a big difference when we get some rain. and they they would have been through with that project, but you know, we we approved uh I mean was they received half of it and they're unable to deliver other half and I think if you look on here there's an amendment to buy from a different vendor and all to finish that job up. So yeah, hopefully they can get them in. They used

they got a portion of them in already in there. I think they've already installed them. So yeah, they're doing good. It's looking great. And thanks to council for approving it also. Thank y'all. That's all I have.

I also wanted to just touch base on uh this past Friday. Uh had a town hall meeting. I want to thank Councilman Smith for joining me. It was a a great turnout. Um really got a good feel on some of the items the public's requesting to help them get through this, but also was able to hear a handful of concerns. Um and also um I just wanted to bring it up because I think the turnout every chair in the room was taken turned into standing room only. Uh I think some awareness about what's going on. So probably 70% of the room didn't know about it or even start looking at it. Uh so I strongly encourage each council member to um host one of those. I think it was very beneficial. Um, but just wanted to bring that out there just from from my viewpoint how I thought it was very successful. Um, but anyways, that's all I have.

Have we received the individual maps that we had requested yet? No, not yet. So, that overlay is ongoing. Okay. Anything else? We will move on to public forum regarding non-aggenda items. We have Mr. Cliff Raise your time with me, man. I don't have that much to say tonight, but everyone's going to disappoint Nancy. She said she was looking for me tonight. I'm going to see y'all tomorrow night. I hope. Yes, sir. Okay, good.

Uh, in all what I did in my business, I dealt with people. People a lot easier than machinery. I dealt with a lot of contract. You guys are dealing with a contract. I can tell you across the board, it doesn't matter what you're doing. Software, rebuilding a paper machine, building a boiler, putting in a turbine, a contractor always wants to demo what's there and start fresh because then he doesn't have to think about what he's doing. He's in total control. Think about that. think about this PNZ order because I said it before, what's sad is we're getting a ready to have a public meeting and they've already issued the first draft. I think y'all heard from both uh I forget their names, Tad and and Miss Anita who were on the comprehensive plan. If there was public input, it it was uh I don't know where it came from. So, I would ask one of the questions and I'mma forewarn you. I'm going to ask where who provided input for this first draft. I think that's a legitimate question, don't you guys? Who provided input for this first draft? Because the analogy I used last time is we were at the 60 yard line. We wanted to get to the 90 yard line. We paid a lot of money and now we're at the 30 yard line. What y'all going to do tomorrow is going to start what should have been done before this first draft was ever issued. So five minute limit tomorrow night. I understand Jordan.

That's correct.

You realize it's going to be very limited what you can get. So I will bring written comments and I will ask that they somehow be put in there because you know we go online I can't see what other people have put on there. Not very easy. Ohio put in some, some other people put in some, but and seeing what other people say triggers things. It triggers like the commercial district along Highway 90 being the only place you can sell liquor unless you have 50% of your income coming from food. Well, that's a great idea except it's going to shut down the entertainment district. And last question, uh, is it going to be here or at the civic center? I know that was brought up, uh, last Friday. Yeah, I think we were going to host it here. Going to do it here for recording capabilities. I think we had some uh some of the concerns were

That's right. Well, it hopefully it's a full room, guys. Honest to God, I hope that a lot of people get in here and and voice opinion. I'm I know I'm kind of shy and y'all come to know that, but uh I hope a whole lot more public comes in. Thank you. Thank you very much. Has that invitation been sent to Ploning as well? Like, will they be here tomorrow? They were here. We had several um Friday was right.

And just remember they are also a public body. So we have to watch they can't participate in the meeting as members of planning and zoning if they get a quorum here. I think yeah Michaela was more so here just as a resident set up with her information. Yeah. Right. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Cliff. Uh, moving on to the attorney's report. Uh, just want to let you guys know that the LNH holdings bill of exceptions or or notice of appeal has been dismissed. That's the one when you go over the Bay Bridge, take a right, property to the left, that's that's finalized and and out the way. So, good news there.

Oh, good. Thank you. Welcome. Any need for executive session? I do not. Okay. I will call for a motion to adjourn the meeting of March 3rd, 2026 in memory of Jeffrey Reed. Have a motion. Motion. Motion by Councilman Smith. Do have a second. Davis. Second. Any discussion? Vote. The motion. I I I I I motion carry