City Council - Regular Meeting

that's going on in the city. So again, we welcome each and every one of you. Uh we have an agenda that's a cop hard copy from our clerk if you wish to get a copy. Uh at this time, I will uh officially call this meeting to order and ask if there's a motion for the agenda. Got to have an open prayer. Oh, I'm sorry. I do apologize. At this time, I've asked Councilman Hoffman to give us our opening prayer. Would you please, sir? And then we ask that you would stand and cite our pledge of allegiance and begin this meeting.

Our heads. Heavenly Father, we gather tonight as a city council un united in our commitment to serve the people of our community. We ask for your guidance and wisdom as we deliberate on the important issues before us. Grant us clarity of mind to understand the needs of all of our citizens, the young and the old, the prosperous and the struggling. inspire us to make decisions that are just, equitable, and beneficial for everyone. Help us to listen to one another with open hearts and to find common ground even when our perspectives may differ. Give us the courage to act with integrity and the humility to remember that we are here to serve, not to be served. May our work be a testament to our dedication to the well-being of our city and many of our actions today contribute to a stronger, more vibrant community for generations to come. Amen.

Amen. Please stand. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I want to thank Councilman Hoffman. That was quite an appropriate u prayer and request. Um as we this city council stands united as we uh deal with the issues of our city but cannot help but be affected by the issues of our nation. So thank you very much Councilman Hoffman. Now we have the agenda that has been provided and the question is what was your pleasure with the agenda?

Move to approve. Second. properly moved and second. Hearing no unreiness, call for the vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposes? Name. The approval of the minutes of the August 19th, 2025 uh joint strategic meeting at this time. Is there a motion? Move to approve. Second. Properly moved and second. Any unreiness? Abstain. Call for the vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I and abstain by councilwoman Glover. Approval of the minutes for the August 21st, 2025 regular city council meeting. What is your pleasure?

Move to approve. Second. Properly moved and second for approval. See any un readiness? Call for the vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposes? Name. And the approval of the minutes of the August 28th city council work session. Move to approve. Second. Okay, properly moved and second. Any unreadiness? Call for the vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I.

Any abstainers or any not? Okay. Recognitions and presentations. Ladies and gentlemen, uh telling our story video series, building a vibrant downtown dealing with our 38 acres vision, presented by our director of economic development, Miss Lori Fund.

Good evening. Good evening, mayor and council. Um, tonight I want to share with you a video premiere. That's the fourth video in our 10-p part series of telling our Fagetville story. It's a very short video reel. We're going to be releasing it on Monday of next week, which it talks about our efforts to build a vibrant downtown core in Fagatville and also our efforts to attract new businesses and investment into the city. Uh our goal as you know I think is to sh as you do know is to share the vision of revitalization in Fagetville and how it's being shaped today how we're creating opportunities to improve the quality of life in Fyville. So I do want to thank Melody Green and my economic development staff for managing this project as well as our communications team for helping us get the word out with our videos that we're releasing every two weeks. So without further ado, roll the tape please. that 38 acres when that's developed and finished, that's a $300 million project. When you start putting that kind of money in a downtown, that says you are what you are and you mean what you say.

I tell you that 38 acres is something that I wanted to start from day one. It's next to City Center Park and this is a new great mixeduse development project. We're going to bring in new businesses, restaurants that the community wants to see.

The goal is to provide a quality of life. We are trying to make our citizens feel like they have everything they need here in Fedville. It makes me feel excited. I know that what we're doing is working. It makes me feel that we have accomplished something that we have been trying to accomplish for a very long time. Fitville is doing an excellent job bringing diversity and change and big business as well as small business to the area. It's a wonderful opportunity to continue to add growth and revitalization into our downtown area. The possibilities are just endless and crazy of what we could get into this area.

Excellent. Thank you, Lori, and to the staff who had any part in it. It's excellent um bill a video. Hey, I finally made a video. Yeah.

Yeah, he felt excluded in the last the first one. So, we're glad that you got Councilman Hoffman in that one. Okay. All right. Any comments from the citizens on that hearing? None. At this time, we'd like to move on to public hearings. First item on the agenda for public hearings is consider ordinance number 2521, excuse me, 2521, the amendment to the unified development ordinance or UDO to reestablish the amended plan community district or PCD zoning presented by our planner, Miss Katherine Prick. Hello, Katherine.

Good evening, mayor and council. The city's former zoning ordinance included three zoning districts which were intended to encourage and allow for innovative use planning and building arrangements under a unified plan of development rather than lot by lot restrictions. Those three zoning districts were the planned unit development the PUD, the planned community district, the PCD, and the planned development project the PDP. With the adoption of the UDO, these zoning designations were repealed and parcels that were previously zoned PUD, PCD, and PDP were retained as legacy districts with the understanding that they could not be considered for future developments. While mixeduse developments are currently permitted in the downtown mixeduse district, they would not be permitted in other areas of the city without pursuing split zoning. So, how does this relate to the comprehensive plan? The plan identifies four activity centers and each with a vision statement referencing mixed use. The downtown core, the vision is for this area is to encourage pedestrianoriented retail, office, service, community facility, and residential uses. The vision for the north 85 corridor is to encourage a mix of aesthetically pleasing and well-maintained mixeduse developments. The medical center vision includes a neighborhood that encourages people who live and work. The innovative mixed use. This land use category is intended to facilitate office, retail, restaurants, residential, community facilities, and highquality industrial that is compatible with neighborhood uses. As staff continue to familiarize

themselves with the UDO and utilize the document in our review of project submitts, we are finding ordinances that need to be clarified, simplified, and even expanded. Although vision statements for each of the four activity centers that I just read, although they encourage mixeduse developments, they are currently restricted. They are currently restricted the downtown mix district. This pres is brought to you by Kelvin.

You in trouble. To ensure that the provisions of the UDO align with the goals and objectives of the city's comprehensive plan, staff is proposing to reestablish the PDC, the planned community district. The planning and zoning commission voted unanimously to forward the proposed amendments to city council with a favorable recommendation on their meeting on September 9th. Since that meeting, staff has met with the city manager, staff including the building official and the fire marshal. As it has been determined, the additional fire requirements proposed by the fire marshall would require an amendment to the IRC by the DCA. So, an amendment to the International Residential Code via the excuse me, the Department of Community Affairs and the building official made us aware that several local jurisdictions have attempted that amendment and failed. So, our our pro our resolution for that is to remove that extra language from the fire marshall and revert back to what was originally in the PCD. So, the other additional amendments that you see on the screen were um that are being proposed tonight are to permit an active adult community along with the definition for active adult community. And we're also proposing to redefine open space requirements. [Music] Well, staff recommends uh ordinance 255021 to amend chapter 200 of the UDO and reestablish the plan community district.

Is he any help or is he hurting his presentation? To be determined. To be determined. What's that buzzing sound? Okay. I thought it was us. You need to go to the end.

I guess that's it.

So, I'm I'm ready for questions or public comment or Okay. The next step. Thank you very much, Katherine. Council members, do you have any questions or comments for Miss Prickett on this uh proposal? Hearing none. May I have a quick comment? Want to make sure that you're all aware that once we get a consultant on board, we may end up tweaking this a bit more throughout that process. So, but it's an initial attempt to align it with actually what we want. So, okay. Are there any questions from the citizens on this item? Hearing none. Council members, what is your pleasure?

Move to approve ordinance 2521, amendment to the UDO uh to reestablish the amended plan community district zoning. Second. Probably moved and second. Call for the vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposes? Nay. Thank you very much, Katherine. The next one is to consider ordinance number 2524, the amendment to the future land use map from parks conservation and open space for activity senate presented by Miss Katherine Pricket.

Thank you. Items six and seven on the agenda um can be heard together and discussed together but voted on separately. So to give a brief background, 22 years ago, a portion of 340 East Laneir Flash Foods tract was reszoned to C3 Highway commercial. 3 months later, an adjoining track was uh that's highlighted on your screen was reszoned to C1 downtown historic mis mixed use district. The resoning included a condition stipulating that the remaining portion of 145 North Jeff Davis Drive would be donated to the city for open use open space. The warranty deed that was recorded August 19th, 2004 stated no portion of the above described property shall be used for private commercial development for a period of 20 years. So at least 20 years has passed. The deed restriction has expired and the property is eligible for redevelopment aligning with our current downtown revitalization strategy. Additionally, adjoining property owners have shared a desire to provide additional parking for the pregnancy resource center and to combine the property with attractive land fronting on East Linear Avenue. So, this brings us to why staff is requesting a reszoning and a future land use map amendment for this parcel. The surrounding parcels are all zoned downtown mixeduse mixeduse core and are all designated activity center on the future land use map. This tract remains an outlier in both land use and zoning. The request, if approved, would align the property as it supports the strategic plan goals to strengthen downtown sense of place and aligns with the 2022 comprehensive plan directives

for infill, redevelopment, and pedestrianoriented mixed use. The planning and zoning commission voted unanimously at their meeting, the same meeting September 9th, and Ford uh excuse me, proposed future land use amendment and the resoning to city council with favorable recommendation. So staff is recommending to amend the future land use map from parks conservation open space to activity center for parcel 052401012 and to reszone part the same parcel from downtown mixeduse boulevard commercial to downtown mixeduse mixeduse core with the following understandings and conditions. one that any development plans for the property must be first submitted to city staff for review and approval subject to the provisions within the UDO and number two that no land you no land disturbance shall occur until such time as a site plan a site development plan is approved excuse me

thank you very much captain are there any questions for Miss Prickett from the council hearing none are there any questions from the citizens on these these two items, items six and seven. Seeing hearing none, council members, what is your pleasure with item number six, ordinance number 2524? Move to approve. Second, properly move and second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposes name and ordinance number 2525? What is your pleasure? Move to approve. Second properly moved and second. All those in favor signify by saying I.

I. Any opposes? Nay. Hearing none. We're going to move on to item number eight on the agenda. Consider ordinance 2527. Amend the fiscal year 25 fiscal year 25 budget for a splash 2017 fund and splash 2023 fund to include interest earnings and reimbursement from the board of education presented by our system director of finance administrative services. Well, it's going to be presented by me. We had a change of plans. I'm Karen Austin.

Y'all had a plan. Okay. Missing. Okay. Go ahead, Karen. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Tonight, we're presenting to you to amend the fiscal year 2025 budget for SPLAS 17 as well as SPLS 2023. These amendments include interest earnings year-to- date for fiscal year 25. Um, for SPLS 2017, we had an adopted budget for fiscal year 25 of 31,547,000. We're asking to increase the budget by $420,000 to amend the budget to 31,967583. And in that budget, that is just interest income year-to- date for f 25. We're asking to increase the budget for SPLAS 2023. Our adopted budget for fiscal year 25 is $40,380,000. are proposing to increase the budget by $459,399 to amend the budget to 40,839399 in the SPLAS 2023 budget that includes investment income increase of $185,000 that was year to date for interest as well as reimbursement from FT County Board of Education for SRO vehicles that we purchased in the Splash program. And that is essentially the budget amendment for fiscal year 25. Thank you, Karen. At this time, ladies and gentlemen, are there any questions from council members? Hear none. Are there any questions from the citizens? Council members, would your pleasure with audience number 2527? Move to approve 2527 amendments to fiscal year 2025, fiscal year budget for SPLAS 2017 fund and SPLAS 2023 fund. Do I have a second?

Second. Properly moved and second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposes? Nay. All right. Consider ordinance 2528 amend the fiscal year 2026 fiscal year 26 budget for SPLAS 2020 2017 fund and the splash 2023 fund and for solid waste fund. You presenting that as well? Yes sir. Okay.

All right. So um adopting the 2025 budget, we had to present it for the fiscal year 2026 budget as well. So for SPLAS 17 and SPLAS 2023, those are the exact budgets that we're asking to amend for fiscal year 26. So that is the explanation for the same for the spl3. We're also asking to increase the solid waste fund from 1,332,000 um for an increase of $34,458. Um, as you all know, we just implemented bulk pickup for the water and sewer fund. Um, so this is the $4 increase for the residents and we're asking to amend the budget to 1,636458.

All right. Any questions from council? Are there any questions from the citizens? Council members, would it your pleasure with ordinance 2528? Move to approve. Second. Properly moved in and second. All those in favor signify by saying I. Any opposes? May. Karen. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. L Cara looks so well, you know.

All right, ladies and gentlemen, we'd like to move on to new business. Consider resolution number 25 R55, a request from Faget County Development Authority or the FCDA for an extension on their step one indexation approval presented by Miss Nicole Gilbert. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Hello, Nicole.

Staff has received requests to extend step one annexation approvals for one year. As a reminder, annation requests are reviewed using a two-step process. The step one is intended to allow the applicant an opportunity to provide a general overview of their project and identify how the request complies with the established goals of the city's comprehensive plan. Approval of a step one application does not indicate city's council support of the proposal. It simply allows an applicant to proceed with submitting their step two application. Step two applications must be spended submitted within one year of a step one application. If not, the applicant may request a one-year extension from council. So, the first request is from the Faget County Development Authority. In April of 2024, they submitted a step one annexation application for a 177.81 acre track south of Banks Road and a budding Highway 54 East. their application did not identify the intended zoning classification or the proposed use of the property. That request was approved in April of 2024 by city council. However, at this time, staff has not received a step two annexation application. So the applicant is requesting a one-year extension as they have surpassed their step two deadline and inexation step one applications do not come with a recommendation from up staff.

Thank you very much Nicole. Council members any questions on this item? Does the applicant have anything applicant here wish to add anything? Are there any citizens who wish to raise any questions or anything to add? I have a question, mayor. Yes, sir.

Um, it's for Patrick, our city attorney. Is if we approve a request for extension, are we opening up are we throwing out the process because everyone else will be able to get a second an extension on theirs? You know, to me, the notion of the step one and step two annexation suggests that they follow one right after the other. The fact that this thing has sat for a year and you you still I'm presuming we still don't have any information about the proposed use or the proposed zoning, it sounds to me like, you know, with with all apologies to the development authority, they're not really ready to proceed with an annexation. you're not ready to proceed with an annexation. So my recommendation, especially under this set of circumstances, is is that you you don't accept you don't extend it. If they when they become ready to annex, let them bring that to you with all of the information you need to make a determination about whether to proceed to step two. So that's that's my recommendation. I would concur with our attorney that what that was the purpose of setting up a two-step annexation. You know, if you're not ready at the first step, then you have to go back and start all over again. So, questions, other questions or comments from the council. Seeing hearing none and there's the applicant is not here and there are no comments on this from the citizens. What is your pleasure with resolution 25 or 55? move to deny uh resolution 25R55 for a one-year extension for the FA County Development Authority uh for their step one annexation.

Second. Second. Proper move and seconded that we uh deny resolution 25R5. Call for the vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposes? Nay.

All right. Moved on to item number 11. Consider resolution 25R56, a request from Funspot America of Atlanta for an extension on their step one annexation approval. So, Funspot, their request came in in September of 2024 for the annexation of 1675 Highway 85 North for Funspot to they have plans to extend the activities and add extra amenities and they required to connect to city council not to city council, I'm sorry, to annex to the city to connect to city sewer. They also have not submitted a step two application at this time.

Okay. Can you give any reason for not going through step two? They state that they need they believe they need an extra year. Uh we'll give them the time they need to ensure all requirements are met and submit a complete and accurate application. Are there any fees associated with step one? Uh 250. No. Okay. Change.

Okay. Any other questions from council? Any questions from the citizen or is the applicant here wish to add anything? Seeing and hearing none. Council members, what is your pleasure with resolution 25 R56? Move to deny resolution 25-R56. Second. properly moved and second for the denial of resolution 25R56. Call for the vote. All those in favor signify by saying I.

I. Any opposers? Name. Ladies and gentlemen, next items are consent agenda items. Resolution 25R49. We will take these in order and then call for a motion for all of them to either be uh approved or agenda motion for them to approve be be approved. R25R50, R2551, R2552, and R2557. Council members, would your pleasure with this consent and agenda items? Move to approve consent agenda items R 20 25R49, 25R50, 25R51, 25R52, and 25R57. Second. properly moved and second. Any unreadiness? Call for the vote. All those in favor of the consent agenda items signify by saying I.

I. Any opposers? Nay. Ladies and gentlemen, as we wind down, we now call for reports and comments. First of all, from our city manager. Thank you, mayor and council. Am I on? Yeah.

Okay. Um, first of all, the we had a wonderful Main Street golf tournament on Tuesday, uh, September 16th. We had a great turnout. We had 108 golfers. We raised over $17,000 for mental health awareness initiatives and Main Street Fateville programs. A big thank you to Michelle Holmes and Caitlyn Perkins. Wonderful job on uh on setting up that event because it was kind of last minute and they did a wonderful job setting it up. And also a big thank you to our our volunteers who showed up, turned up and helped helped out a lot. And a big thank you to our sponsors. Presenting sponsors QTS, um, Comprehensive Program Services, uh, GFL Environmental, Brent Scarbor Company, South Tree Commercial, Sunny's Liquor Emporium, and Alpha Insurance. So once again, thank you Lori to you and your team for a wonderful job. And September 16th was also National IT Professionals Day. So Kelvin, you and your team, thank you for all you do, even though we get mad at you sometimes. Um, our mental health advisory uh board, the next webinar is Tuesday, September 30th at 6 PM and the topic is suicide prevention in recognition of September being National Suicide Prevention Month. As well for mental health advisory board, the next board meeting is Tuesday, October 7th at 5:30 p.m. up in the training room on the second floor. and two other meetings. Our economic development committee meeting is next is uh Thursday, October 9th at 5:30 and our work session is next Thursday at 6 p.m. here in count uh actually upstairs in the training room. And that's it.

Thanks, city manager. City attorney, you got anything you want to Nothing for me tonight. Thank you.

Nothing for you tonight. Okay. Council members, anything to report? Anything you want to share? No, no, no. Okay. All right. Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, uh, we going to open the floor for public comments. This is an opportunity for the citizens who wish to come and address the council with concerns, compliments, accommodations, anything that lays on your heart. Our rule and policy is that you allow three minutes. And uh we ask if you are coming behind someone who is also stating uh addressing an issue that you try not to be repetitive in repeating what the person ahead of you stated. So at this time we open up the floor for citizen comments. Please come to the microphone, give us your name and your address and state what's on your mind. Good evening.

Yes, ma'am. Barbara Edwards, 380 Hunters Glenn. Fant Barbara Edwards, 380 Hunters Glenn. Hi, mayor. How you doing? Hadn't been here in a while. Hi, council members. Hello. I'm a little dizzy today. But see, I don't come out in the heat in the evenings, but I'm going to use all my time just uh thinking. Oh, the reason I'm here. I think I know why you're here.

I I know you know why I'm here. It's called a retention pond. But I have a resolution. So, since part of the fence that's down is on my property, I'm just going to take it away, remove it, and I'm going to plant some cedar hedges, cedar trees, and make a fence line for myself. That's that's my resolution. Unless you have something more to contribute. Chris, what was the process we were going through for this? Was working to get us a right of entry to get in there. That's That's where we were at. Whose right of entry do you need? Mine. We need all the right.

All the property own. Well, the fence line and it's right behind my house. Yeah, but we need to get access to all. Oh, no problem. I'll talk I'll talk to my two neighbors. Yeah, we're just waiting for the documents to get to the Okay. Okay. Ready? So, just hold off and we'll we'll try and come up with a solution. Okay. All right. Thank you. You all have a good evening. Thank you.

Anyone else wish to come address the council? Seeing and hearing none, again, I would like to add my kudos or congratulations to the all of the staff and those who supported the uh annual first annual golf tournament. I participate in a lot of golf tournaments and for this to be our first annual was extremely successful, enjoyable, good weather thanks to my prayer. I'm just kidding. Thanks to a lot of prayers, but uh but it really was enjoyable and I'm glad to hear we did uh you know raise a substantial amount of money in next year. Hopefully it will get better and better. So ladies and gentlemen, we have no need for an executive session tonight. So, that concludes the business that needs to come before the council. Um, again, we thank you all for being here, especially if you're a citizen, but we also thank our staff. And, uh, at this time, I will entertain a motion for an adjournment.

So, moved, second, properly moved and second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Ladies and gentlemen, we are adjourned. Thank you very much.