This is an informal rundown of what happened at the Statesboro City Council meeting on June 4, 2024.
Call to Order by Mayor Jonathan McCollar – All council members present
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance by Councilmember Ginny Hendley
Recognitions/Public Presentations
Presentation of a Proclamation recognizing June 10- 14, 2024 as Municipal Court Clerks week.
Public Comments (Agenda Item): No one present to speak
Consideration of a Motion to approve the Consent Agenda
A) Approval of Minutes
a) 05-14-2024 Budget Work Session Minutes
b) 05-21-2024 Work Session Minutes
c) 05-21-2024 Council Minutes
d) 05-21-2024 Executive Session Minutes
B) Consideration of a motion to approve the cancellation of the July 2, 2024 regularly scheduled Council meeting.
Public Hearing to solicit input on the proposed FY2025 Budget for the City of Statesboro.
State law requires the City of Statesboro to have a Public Hearing on the proposed budget, at which time any person wishing to be heard on the budget may appear. The public hearing must be held at least one week prior to the meeting of the governing authority at which adoption of the budget resolution will be considered.
- Total budget is $ 108,973,791
- Operating budget is $55 million
- 63% of this budget is personnel
- Budget is less than FY 2024 due to changes in grants, ARPA funding, and GDOT funds.
- Expected $8 million in tax dollars. City Manager said that is less than the budget for the police department alone, which he said was about $11 million
- The budget proposal requires $1.7 million in Fund Balance, whcih would drop the General Fund balance below the required 25% of the General Fund Budget
- Penny said once the full tax digest is known, the city will have a better idea of whether or not a tax increase is necessary. “We won’t know until we get that.”
- Penny also said part of the increase in the budget is due to the pay plan implementation. “You’ll see the full impact of the pay plan. The pay plan increase is $2.3 million. Any tax increase in revenue is needed to increase personnel costs. The other thing impacting the General Fund is the fire fund. That budget still falls short almost $1 million so we will have to account for that with all the fire operations that go in as well.”
Public hearing and consideration of a motion to approve first reading of:
At the February 20, 2024 work session, TSW provided recommendations to introduce a new code language in Chapter 70 regarding shareable dockless (personal) mobility devices (ie, scooters) and to update language in Ordinance Chapter 78-9 pertaining to non-motorized vehicles (ie, roller skates, skateboards, bicycles, electric scooters, etc) and include additional language related to mobility devices. TSW prepared this information concurrently with the new Unified Development Code (UDC), but is not included in the UDC. Chapter 70 pertains to “Streets, Sidewalks, and Other Public Places.” Chapter 78 pertains to “Traffic and Vehicles.”
- A) Ordinance 2024-06: An Ordinance amending Chapter 70 of the Statesboro Code of Ordinances regulating the use of Shareable Dockless Mobility Devices.
- B) Ordinance 2024-07: An Ordinance amending Chapter 78 of the Statesboro Code of Ordinances amending Non-Motorized Devices
Consideration of a motion to approve the Statesboro Police Department Towing Rotation and Wrecker Agreement for FY 2025.
The City maintains a Wrecker Agreement with local businesses that conduct motor vehicle tows. The Agreement provides companies with requirements in order to be used by the City to tow vehicles at the City’s request. In order to be placed on the wrecker rotation, companies must agree to, and abide with, the Agreement. As an example, if the police respond to a motor vehicle crash and a driver requires a tow from the scene, and that driver does not have a personally preferred towing service, the City will contact the next wrecker available under the rotation. This Agreement has been adopted annually by City Council.
There are no proposed changes to last year’s Agreement aside from the dates. No budget impact.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the Youth Career Commission to provide residential development opportunities to underserved juvenile and young adult citizens of the City of Statesboro.
Reverend Wayne Williams, CEO of Youth Career Commission and citizen, requested City support for conducting this year’s developmental programs.
One-time payment of $3,500 from the General Fund.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to authorize the Mayor to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Statesboro and Lake Sal Home Owners Association for access to Lake Sal infrastructure for stormwater maintenance
The City of Statesboro proposes install a continuous monitoring and adaptive control system, and a new emergency spillway at the Lake Sal Dam. These items are part of STM-36 Northlake Flood Control Project. Staff and the HOA have been working on a permanent easement for access and maintenance of these items along the dam. The HOA has asked for an MOU with each party’s responsibility in order to agree to the easement. Once this MOU is signed, the easement will be recorded and give the City access to the Lake Sal dam for installation of the project items to control flooding events in the area of Northlake Subdivision.
Approved unanimously.
Consideration of a motion to award the contract for $237,207.00 with, Swindell Construction Company, Inc. for North College Street sidewalk improvements, project # ENG-122i. This project will be funded from the 2018 TSPLOST Fund.
This project will consist of 5' sidewalk from Proctor St. to Northside Dr. This area is commercial and residential adjacent to downtown. Currently, pedestrians walk in the roadway due to no sidewalks in this area; this project will provide a safe connector from Northside Dr. to the downtown sidewalk network for greater connectivity within the City.
The bid submitted by Swindell Construction Company, Inc. is above the budgeted amount set or construction at $175K. The overages will be funded from the 2018 TSPLOST Fund. The overage is primarily due to increase construction cost since the initial cost estimate.
Approved unanimously.
Other Business from City Council
City Managers Comments
Public Comments (General)
Marcus Toole was present to speak on matters of Habitat for Humanity.
Consideration of a Motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss “Personnel Matters” “Real Estate” and/or “Potential Litigation” in accordance with O.C.G.A 50-14-3(b)
Council entered executive session at 9:53 a.m. to discuss personnel.
