[*Portions of the meeting do not contain audio*]
          [I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]
          [00:00:12]
          WELCOME TO THE APRIL 6TH, 2026 EASTPOINTE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. MADAM CITY CLERK, ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCILMEMBER FLEMING. PRESENT. COUNCILMEMBER. PRESENT. PRESENT. I DIDN'T HEAR MY NAME. 
          OKAY, OKAY. MY MICROPHONE WASN'T ON. SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER CUMMINGS, PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. CALDWELL. COUNCILMEMBER MARTIN ROCHESTER, MAYOR CHAPMAN, WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. AND DO WE HAVE SOMEONE FOR INVOCATION TONIGHT? OKAY. THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. SO IN THAT CASE, WE'RE GOING TO DO A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 
          [V. ANNOUNCEMENT OF SERGEANT-AT-ARMS - Capt. Robinson]
OUR SERGEANT OF ARMS TONIGHT IS CAPTAIN ROBINSON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 
          [VI. ADOPTION OF THE COUNCIL AGENDA]
YOUR SERVICE, SIR. COUNCIL, MAY WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA? SECOND. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? YES. DISCUSSION, COUNCILWOMAN. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. BEFORE WE ADOPT THE ADOPT THE AGENDA. I HAVE A FEW BRIEF MOTIONS. I'D LIKE TO ADD AN ITEM TITLED APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS. RIGHT BEFORE COUNCIL. COMMENTS. DO YOU WANT ME TO DO ALL OF THEM? OKAY. THE SECOND THING IS, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE THREE HONOREES PRESENT THIS EVENING. AND SO I MOVE TO HAVE THE THREE PROCLAMATIONS TO BE PRESENTED RIGHT AFTER THE APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES. AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO ADD AND NOTE FOR THE AGENDA THAT OUR LAST MEETING LASTED UNTIL 3 A.M. AND SO FOR SOME OF US WHO HAVE FULL TIME JOBS, I WAS A 16 HOUR PLUS WORK DAY. WE'RE GETTING LARGE AGENDAS WITH LIMITED OR MISSING MATERIALS ATTACHED TO THEM, WHICH MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO BE A PREPARED COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE PREPARED HAVE TIME TO REVIEW, ASK QUESTIONS AND BE READY. AND SO WITH THAT, I WOULD ASK THAT WE, PURSUANT TO RULE 15, WOULD REMOVE ANY ITEMS OR DEFER RATHER ANY ITEMS, INCLUDING PRESENTATIONS THAT HAD NOT BEEN PROVIDED TO US WITH SUFFICIENT SUPPORTING MATERIAL UNTIL THOSE MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED AND COUNCIL HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW. SO TO REVIEW MY THREE MOTIONS ARE FIRST TO ADD AN ITEM TITLED APPOINTMENTS, BOARDS AND AUTHORITY. EXCUSE ME, APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS BEFORE COUNCIL COMMENTS TO MOVE THE THREE PRESENTATIONS OF THE PROCLAMATIONS TO AFTER THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, AND FINALLY TO DEFER ANY ITEMS, INCLUDING PRESENTATIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED TO COUNCIL BY THE DEADLINE WITH SUFFICIENT SUPPORTING MATERIALS. HAVE A SECOND, SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. DISCUSSION. OKAY, SO. SO WE HAVE ONE AMENDMENT TO MOVE THE. FIRST AMENDMENT IS TO MOVE THE APPOINTMENTS. I'M SORRY, MOVE THE PROCLAMATIONS AFTER COUNCIL MINUTES. YES, MA'AM. ALL THOSE IN ACTUALLY I HAD DISCUSSION. DO YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR DISCUSSION? SO MADAM CITY ATTORNEY SO THIS BE BROKEN UP IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ALL OF THEM. I THINK THESE WOULD BE THREE SEPARATE MOTIONS. 
          AND THEN HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT WAS TO BE TAKEN OFF AND WHAT NOT? I THINK THAT'S JUST A LOT. I THINK THE AGENDA HAS ALREADY BEEN HAS ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC. I'M NOT SURE WHAT SYSTEM YOU'RE USING TO DETERMINE WHAT'S GOING TO STAY ON AND WHAT'S GOING TO COME OFF. I THINK, FIRSTLY, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE THREE SEPARATE MOTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT ALSO MAYOR'S DOING. SHE'S 
          [00:05:03]
TAKING FIRST THE PROCLAMATIONS TO MOVE THEM ON THE AGENDA. AND THEN YOU'RE RIGHT. I THINK SHE NEEDS TO TAKE EACH OF THEM SEPARATELY AS SHE HAS STARTED TO DO ALREADY. AS FAR AS THE ITEMS THAT THE. ITEMS DO NOT HAVE SUPPORT, THAT'S GOING TO BE A POLICY DECISION BY THIS BOARD. IF IT CAN GET MAJORITY SUPPORT TO REMOVE THOSE ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA. YES, AND YOU'LL GET DISCUSSION ON EACH OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING PROMOTED BY THE MOTION. EVEN I THINK MOVING FORWARD, THAT SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF POLICY SET IN PLACE. I KNOW OUR MEETINGS HAVE BEEN PROLONGED JUST LIKE YOU STATED EARLIER, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH TIME WE'RE GOING TO SPEND DISCUSSING THAT. SO AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT I GUESS THE POINT OF MOVING THE PROCLAMATIONS ARE. I THINK THAT. SO, COUNCILWOMAN, I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILMAN MITCHELL, ARE YOU DONE? YEAH. I'M DONE. THANKS. ANYTHING FROM COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS? YES. 
          OKAY. ALRIGHT, SO WHAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS FOR. I KNOW ONE OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE ON HERE IS A COLLABORATION EFFORT FOR PRESENTATION ITEM NUMBER SIX, THE MARTA PRESENTATION. IF YOU LOOK IN THE AGENDA, THIS WAS PROVIDED TO THE CITY CLERK MAYBE TWO WEEKS AGO WITH THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION. I DO THINK THAT THIS PRESENTATION, I'VE DISCUSSED IT WITH MARTA. 
          THEY ARE HERE TONIGHT AND READY TO PRESENT. SO I'M GOING TO ASK THAT THIS STAY ON BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHANGES TO MASS TRANSIT THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT THE RESIDENTS OF EAST POINT. I HAVE ADVISED THEM THAT THEIR PRESENTATION SHOULD NOT EXCEED 15 MINUTES, AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO THAT. BUT I WOULD LIKE THAT ITEM TO REMAIN BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING WITH MARTA. ALL RIGHT. I WILL ADDRESS THAT DISCUSSION WHEN I GET TO. OKAY. SECOND, BUT NOTED. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO ANY MORE COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS. YES. 
          THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MY QUESTION WOULD BE IN TERMS OF A DEADLINE, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMINGS SPOKE ABOUT HAVING MATERIALS IN FOR DEADLINE. WHAT IS OUR POLICY REGARDING THE DEADLINE FOR MATERIALS TO BE IN TO THE CLERK? ARE YOU MADAM MAYOR? ARE YOU ASKING ME TO RESPOND, THE CLERK OR THE CITY ATTORNEY, WHOMEVER MAY KNOW IT'S RULE 15 DOESN'T SPECIFY THE DEADLINE. IT DOES NOT. WE DO. HOWEVER, MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY. YES, WE DO HAVE A HAVE A WORK SESSION POLICY THAT DOES NOT ADDRESS REGULAR MEETING, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE IN. SO THAT WOULDN'T BE APPLICABLE. SO IT IS SILENT UNLESS THE CITY CLERK HAS SOME INTERNAL POLICY AS TO WHEN SHE'LL ACCEPT ITEMS FOR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA. OKAY, SO MY QUESTION WITH THAT, WITH THAT PARTICULAR POINT IN YOUR MOTION, COUNCILMEMBER HEMMING, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A POLICY, THEN NO ONE WOULD KNOW THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS. SO WOULD THAT BE A POINT IN TERMS OF YOUR YOUR MOTION THAT WE ALLOWED THAT TO BE WORKED THROUGH? THERE'S AN AGENDA ITEM AROUND THE WORK SESSION AGENDA. AND I ALSO ASK THAT WE INCLUDE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA. SO WE SET THAT POLICY AND THEN ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF WHAT THE DEADLINE IS. I THINK ABSENT THAT, THEN NOBODY KNEW WHAT A WHAT THE DEADLINE WOULD BE. OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. 
          AND WITH REGARDS TO PULLING ITEMS OFF OF THE AGENDA TODAY, DO WE KNOW WHICH ITEMS DON'T HAVE SUPPORTING DO NOT HAVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. THE ONES THAT ARE ON HERE. THAT QUESTION WAS PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED AND WE WILL DISCUSS THAT WHEN WE GET TO THAT SECTION. NO WORRIES. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S APPROPRIATE. I WAS GOING TO MENTION FOR ITEMS TO COME OFF. I DO HAVE AN ITEM TO COME OFF OF THE AGENDA. SO. 
          OKAY. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. RIGHT. SO JUST ONE SECOND. I'M JUST GOING TO GET THE VOTES ON. 
          ONE AND TWO, THE APPOINTMENT AND PROCLAMATION. SO WE ARE STILL ON THE APPOINTMENT MOTION. 
          WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION. SO THERE'S A VOTE TO AMEND THE AGENDA TONIGHT TO PUT THE APPOINTMENTS. AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, MADAM MAYOR? YES. THAT'S NOT THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS TO MOVE BOARDS UP BOARD 
          [00:10:05]
APPOINTMENTS TO BEFORE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. OKAY. I'M SORRY. OKAY. SO THE MOTION IS TO MOVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS BEFORE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. WAS IT TO ADD THAT TO THE AGENDA, TO ADD BOTH APPOINTMENTS TO ADD IT? OKAY. THANK YOU. SO THE MOTION IS TO ADD THE BOARD, THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD, THE APPOINTMENTS TO BEFORE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. AYES HAVE IT. WE WILL MOVE THE APPOINTMENTS BEFORE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. THE NEXT MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO MOVE THE PROCLAMATIONS AFTER THE APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES. IS THERE ANY SECOND? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. WE HAD THE. SHE HAD. SHE PRESENTED THE MOTION. SO THE SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. OKAY. SO THE PROCLAMATION WILL BE MOVED. PROCLAMATIONS WILL BE MOVED TO. AFTER THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES. AND WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR OR AN AMENDMENT TO REMOVE ITEMS THAT DID NOT HAVE TIMELY MATERIAL FOR COUNCIL REVIEW. MADAM MAYOR, YES, TO PERFECT THAT MOTION, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ADDRESS COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS POINT. SURE. WHICH ITEMS THAT WOULD INCLUDE. OKAY, SO WE WILL REMOVE ITEMS, BUT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHICH ITEMS NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM WHICH NUMBERS WOULD YOU LIKE TO REMOVE FROM THE AGENDA. SO. DO WE HAVE THE DO WE HAVE A SECOND ON THAT? THANK YOU. ANNOUNCE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE. SO I'M GOING OFF OF THE AGENDA THAT WE RECEIVED FRIDAY AT 4:44 P.M. I HAVE AN AGENDA IN FRONT OF ME THAT DOESN'T MATCH THAT. SO I CAN ONLY READ FROM THE AGENDA THAT I PREPARED AND REVIEWED FROM. SO THERE IS AN ITEM AND I APPRECIATE DOCTOR MARTIN ROGERS COMMENT. SO. ITEM FOR MARTA. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO KEEP THAT. 
          ALTHOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE IT IN THIS PACKET, THERE WAS AN ITEM DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THERE WAS NO SUPPORTING ATTACHMENTS THERE. AND ITEM NUMBER. THE PRESENTATION 13 WAS 13 AND AND ITEM NUMBER 13, WHICH WAS I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS ON THE AGENDA. THERE WAS NO TRAVEL POLICY ATTACHED. THOSE ARE THE ITEMS. CAN WE ADD 14 TO THAT AS WELL? 14 AS WELL. AND THEN, COUNCILWOMAN, DO YOU HAVE MORE? YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HEMING IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT FOR ITEMS 13 AND 14, COUNCILMEMBER MARTIN ROGERS AND I HAVE WORKED ON THESE BOTH OF THESE POLICIES HERE. WE'VE MET FOR AT LEAST EIGHT HOURS OUTSIDE OF HERE, AND WE HAD PLANNED TO MEET LAST WEEK, MONDAY TO FINALIZE EVERYTHING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE IT TO OUR COLLEAGUES. BUT SOMETHING CAME UP AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT. I AM A CRITIC OF ASKING TO TAKE ACTION ON SOMETHING THAT I'VE NOT SEEN EITHER. SO THEY ARE READY, BUT THEY WERE NOT A PART OF THE PACKET AND I'M COMPLETELY FINE WITH THOSE TWO BEING REMOVED. THE ONLY THE ONLY ACTION I WOULD ASK FOR THIS EVENING IS FOR THE CREDIT CARD POLICY TO BE REFERRED TO BUDGET AND FINANCE. I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD IT SHOULD GET ANOTHER SET OF EYES ON IT, AND THEN WE COULD BRING IT BACK AT OUR THIRD MEETING. BUT IT IS READY BECAUSE SHE AND I HAVE WORKED ON IT. WE'VE ALSO ASKED COLLEAGUES FOR ANY INPUT AND THEY'VE SUBMITTED THAT BY EMAIL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS AND I HAVE TRIED TO INCLUDE ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD DUE PROCESS FOR IT TO GO TO BUDGET AND FINANCE. THAT'S 13 OF THE CREDIT CARD POLICY, 14 MADAM MAYOR, I THINK FOR EFFICIENCY AND EASE OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THESE THREE ITEMS, AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CALDWELL ALSO HAS AN ITEM THAT SHE WANTED TO SEE REMOVED. YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE THEM SEPARATELY. 
          SO SO FAR YOU HAVE 913 WHICH IS BEING SUGGESTED TO GO TO BUDGET AND FINANCE, AND THEN 14 TO BE 
          [00:15:01]
REMOVED ALTOGETHER AND APPEAR ON SOME LATER AGENDA AND THEN WHATEVER ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER CALDWELL IS GOING TO REFER TO, TAKE THOSE AS SEPARATE MOTIONS. AMEN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MITCHELL. YES. SO FOR MY ITEM IS NUMBER 13 ONE. I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WHO'S ALLOWED TO REMOVE ITEMS. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT COUNCIL IS ONLY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO CAN REMOVE THEIR ITEM. AND WE GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT. I'M SORRY, WHO'S A QUESTION DIRECTED TO MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. COULD YOU ELABORATE? ABSOLUTELY. SO COUNCIL MEMBERS OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO ADD ITEMS TO THE AGENDA. WE ARE NOW AT THE ADOPTION OF THE COUNCIL AGENDA ON THE AGENDA. AND SO TO ADOPT THE AGENDA REQUIRES MAJORITY VOTE. SO RIGHT NOW, MADAM MAYOR IS CONSIDERING WHICH WHICH MOTIONS WILL GET MAJORITY VOTE TO ADOPT THE AGENDA WITH ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS. OKAY. SECONDLY, MY ITEM IS A PRESENTATION. YES. ARE WE REQUIRED? WE'RE NOT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. THERE'S NO SUPPORTING DOCUMENT. IT'S FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES. SO THERE'S NOTHING TO THIS IS NOT WE'RE NOT MAKING A JUDGMENT ON ANYTHING ON THIS ITEM. IT'S A PRESENTATION. SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT TYPE OF THE PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE OF THE ITEM IS TO PRESENT INFORMATION. I THINK THEN THAT'S BEST ADDRESSED TO COUNCIL MEMBER. OKAY. SO THAT SHE. SO YES, COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL, EVEN FOR PRESENTATIONS, I TYPICALLY HAVE A PRACTICE OF REVIEWING SO THAT I CAN FORM THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS, GETTING MATERIALS THAT WE AREN'T ABLE TO REVIEW DOESN'T ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW THOSE ITEMS EITHER, SO THAT THEY CAN ENGAGE WITH THE CONVERSATION. SO RULE 15, IF MADAM CITY ATTORNEY WANTS TO READ IT, THE PURPOSE IS TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE IN THE MEETING, AS WELL AS TO ALLOW THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE PREPARED FOR ALL ITEMS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED. SO THAT'S THE SPIRIT BEHIND MY RIGHT MOTION. I'M STILL IN, IF NECESSARY. OKAY. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT OR DO YOU WANT DO YOU WANT ME TO MOVE FORWARD? IT'S UP TO YOU. IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO HEAR RULE 15, I'M CERTAINLY PREPARED TO READ IT. OKAY, SO WE SEPARATE THESE MOTIONS ON EACH ITEM. DO WE HAVE A SEPARATE MOTION FOR EACH ITEM? YES, WE HAVE A SEPARATE MOTION FOR EACH ITEM. OKAY. SO EVERYTHING THAT'S BEING REMOVED, THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT MOTION. EVERY EACH ITEM WILL HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENT MOTION. OKAY. I HAVE COUNCILMAN FREELY. AND THEN BACK TO COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I JUST HAD A POINT TO MAKE ON ITEM 13 TO COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS COMMENT. WE DID HAVE THE CREDIT CARD POLICY AND WE WORKED ON THAT FOR TWO YEARS. SO WHILE I DON'T OPPOSE IT, GOING BACK TO BUDGET AND FINANCE FOR A REVIEW, I MEAN, I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE AMENDING THE TITLE OF THAT ITEM TO JUST TAKE OUT THE TRAVEL POLICY, MOVE FORWARD ON CREDIT CARD. BUT IF PEOPLE PREFER THAT, IT GO BACK TO BUDGET AND FINANCE, I DON'T HAVE AN OBJECTION TO THAT. BUT IF WE WANT TO CHECK IT OFF AFTER TWO YEARS OF WORK AND DELIBERATION, WE CAN CERTAINLY I WOULD BE OPEN TO THAT. I MAY RESPOND. YES, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FRIEDLI. I'M COMPLETELY OKAY WITH THAT AND I CAN GO THROUGH WHAT WE HAVE WORKED ON TOGETHER. THERE WERE SOME CHANGES, AND BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS AND I HAVE WORKED ON THIS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD IT READY FOR PRESENTATION, AND THERE ARE FEW CHANGES OVER THE WEEKEND THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO COLLABORATE ON. I DID WANT TO GIVE HER THE COURTESY AND HER GIVE ME THE COURTESY OF FIGURING OUT ANYTHING THAT WE MAY HAVE CHANGED. BUT IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE BODY, I'M VERY HAPPY TO GO THROUGH THE HIGHLIGHTS. I'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY PREPARED IT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT AS A PERSON WHO IS AN OPPONENT OF GETTING DOCUMENTS AT THE LAST MINUTE, I DID NOT WANT TO BE A HYPOCRITE AROUND THAT. AND SO THAT'S WHY I DECIDED THAT IF THE BODY IS OKAY, WE CAN SEND IT TO BUDGET AND FINANCE. IF THE BODY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO DO IT THIS EVENING, I'M COMPLETELY FINE WITH THAT AS WELL. I'M I'M FINE EITHER WAY. SO IT WAS JUST AN OPTION. THANK YOU. I HAD A QUICK QUESTION. OKAY. COUNCILMAN MITCHELL, I'M SORRY I SAID 13. MY ITEM IS NUMBER NINE. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU. 
          OKAY, SO WE HAVE AT THIS I'M SORRY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO REMOVE ITEM NINE FROM THE PRESENTATIONS. DO I HAVE A SECOND? NO. YEAH. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. COUNCILMEMBER. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IN OUR MARCH 28TH, I THINK IT WAS THE DATE OUR ONBOARDING 
          [00:20:07]
IS THIS, YOU KNOW, IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE DID ON THAT DATE? COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL SO THIS IS BASICALLY I KNOW WE'VE BEEN, I THINK THE LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA. I JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONCERNS AROUND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND WHO CAN BE HIRED AND WHO CANNOT BE HIRED. SO I THOUGHT THIS PRESENTATION WOULD BE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES TO HELP CLARIFY SOME OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS. SINCE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, WE'RE NOW IN APRIL, AND WE DON'T HAVE STAFF IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. SO I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. SO SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL WE CAN GET A FUNCTIONING MAYOR'S OFFICE OR SOMEBODY STAFF. SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA. OKAY, SO IT'S FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC AND IT'S PROBABLY THE SAME INFORMATION. 
          IT'S FROM THE CHARTER. SO. THE PROBLEM IS NOW EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN PERCEPTION OF HOW THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SHOULD FUNCTION. SO WITH THIS PRESENTATION IS TO GET ALL THE COUNCIL ON THE SAME PAGE. SO WE CAN ACTUALLY HIRE THE MAYOR'S EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR THREE MONTHS NOW. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THIS IS TO BRING CLARITY. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN HEMMINGS, MADAM MAYOR, THERE'S ITEM NUMBER 16 THAT SAYS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION. EXCUSE ME. 18 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT TO AUTHORIZE AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR. MY REQUEST WOULD BE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL, ALLOW THAT TO BE A PART OF THAT DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION. 
          SINCE YOU SAID THAT THESE ITEMS ARE CONNECTED, I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO HAVE THAT RELATED TO THAT DISCUSSION. COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS, COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL, WILL YOU KEEP YOUR PRESENTATION WITHIN THE 15 MINUTE ALLOTMENT? YES, WE CAN SET THE TIMER AND EVERYTHING. SO. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CUMMINGS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. WITH THAT BEING SAID, CAN WE MOVE ITEM 18 UP TO NINE SINCE THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE TOGETHER? OKAY, OKAY. JUST 15 MINUTES FOR 15 MINUTES. OKAY. DO YOU. SO IS THAT WOULD THAT MAKE A MOTION TO SO THAT A MOTION WOULD DEFEAT THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR. AND SO THIS MOTION WOULD NEED TO FAIL FOR YOUR MOTION TO THEN WORK, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS FOR NINE TO BE REMOVED. OKAY. YOUR MOTION IS TO COUPLE 18 AND NINE TOGETHER. AND SO UNLESS THE MAKER OF THE MOTION TO REMOVE NINE WANTS TO WITHDRAW IT, THEN WE CAN ENTERTAIN YOUR MOTION. BUT AN AMENDMENT TO A MOTION CAN'T DEFEAT THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR. I'M TRACKING, MADAM MAYOR. I'M HAPPY TO RESCIND MY MOTION AND MOVE NUMBER 18 AND NINE TO BE ONE JOINT DISCUSSION OF A POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT TO AUTHORIZE AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR. HAPPY TO MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR NOW WE HAVE A MOTION FOR NUMBER NINE TO REMAIN ON THE SCHEDULE. 
          AND B COM BINED WITH NUMBER 18 AS IT IS FOR 15 MINUTES. AND SO THEN NUMBER NINE WILL NOW BE ADDED TO NUMBER 18. THE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE, AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. NUMBER 18 AND NUMBER 19 WILL BE COMBINED NINE NINE. 
          NUMBER NINE. NUMBER NINE AND NUMBER 18 WILL BE COMBINED. OKAY, SO FOR ITEMS NUMBER 13, CITI CREDIT CARD POLICY. THIS WILL THE MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR TO AMEND THE. THE MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR TO REMOVE THE ITEM FROM THE AGENDA AND REFER TO THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. THERE WAS ALSO A MOTION TO REMOVE TRAVEL POLICY FROM THE TITLE. SO IF YOU JUST OPEN THE FLOOR FOR A MOTION WE CAN SEE WHICH ONE GETS SUPPORT. OKAY, SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THE ITEM, TAKE THE CREDIT CARD AND POLICY CREDIT CARD AND TRAVEL POLICY TO THE BUDGET AND 
          [00:25:04]
FINANCE COMMITTEE. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT? SO HAVE A SECOND. I HAVE A I HAVEN'T MADE THE MOTION. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO START WITH THE CLEANEST THING. NUMBER 14. I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA. CREDIT CARD, CITI CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS REIMBURSEMENTS AND REPORTING. WE CAN REMOVE THAT FROM THE AGENDA. THAT'S MY MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. NUMBER 14 WILL BE REMOVED FROM TODAY'S AGENDA. MADAM MAYOR, FOR ITEM NUMBER 13, I'D LIKE TO STRIKE THE WORDS AND TRAVEL POLICY FROM THE AGENDA SO THAT THAT ITEM WILL JUST READ CITI CREDIT CARD POLICY. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. DO WE WANT TO GO BACK THROUGH THE. WE DIDN'T GET A MOTION FOR REFERRED TO THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. DID WE GET A CLOSE. YEAH. I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY NOW. OKAY. SO. ALL RIGHT. SO FOR THE ADOPTION THE COUNCIL HAS. SO IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA WITH THE. WE ALREADY DID THAT. SO OH, WE'RE MOVING WE'RE REMOVING ITEMS. NUMBER NINE ADDING NUMBER 18 TO NUMBER NINE. WE ARE REMOVING NUMBER 14 COMPLETELY. NUMBER 13 WILL BE REFERRED TO THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. NUMBER 13 WILL NOT WILL HAVE. WE WILL REMOVE THE TRAVEL POLICY FROM THE TITLE. SO WITH THAT, MADAM MAYOR, YES, I ALSO HAD AN ITEM THAT I WANTED TO REMOVE. WE'VE ALREADY COVERED THE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, THE COMMERCIAL THE C PACE FINANCING PROGRAM. IT JUST WE'VE ALREADY COVERED THAT ONE IN A MEETING A WHILE AGO. SO THAT CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA. SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED ITEM NUMBER SEVEN WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA. 
          JUST A MOTION TO THE AGENDA THAT ALL CHANGES HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT TO. THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE. THE. CHANGE THE AGENDA. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE AGENDA WITH THE EDITS AS PRESENTED AND VOTED UPON. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? YES, MADAM MAYOR. I THINK I STILL HEARD RELATED TO ITEM 13, A REFERRAL TO BUDGET AND FINANCE, WHICH I THOUGHT WE WERE NOT DOING. DID I MISS HERE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. GOT IT. THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY, SO MOVING ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY 
          [VII. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES]
COUNCIL MINUTES. MADAM MAYOR. YES, COUNCILMEMBER, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 2ND. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. WE WILL. 
          APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, MADAM MAYOR. YES, COUNCILWOMAN CUMMINGS? YES? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING ON MARCH 9TH, 2026 AT 6:30 P.M. SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR WORK SESSION MARCH 9TH, 2026. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE PROCLAMATIONS. NO, THE CITY COUNCIL. HOLD ON. NO, NO, NO. I'M SORRY. IT IS THE PROCLAMATIONS. OKAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS PUBLIC. ALRIGHT, SO OUR FIRST PROCLAMATION FOR THIS 
          [Items XI.2 & XI.3]
EVENING IS GOING TO DOCTOR WILLIAM H. BRYANT. IS MR. BRYANT HERE WITH US TODAY? DOCTOR BRYANT? OKAY, ALRIGHT. THE SECOND PROCLAMATION THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA IS TO MISS LOLITA L HIGGINS HIGGINBOTHAM. MADAM MAYOR, BEFORE YOU GO TO THE SECOND ONE, IS IT THE 
          [00:30:02]
DESIRE OF THE COUNCIL TO NOT DO THE PROCLAMATION BECAUSE MR. BRYANT IS NOT PRESENT? IS IT? DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THAT, MADAM CITY? WELL, YES, WE WILL, BECAUSE IT'S ON. YOU ADOPTED THE AGENDA WITH IT ON THERE. AND NOW IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT, WE NEED TO MOVE IT. 
          DISPOSE OF IT. OKAY. MADAM MAYOR. YES? GIVEN DOCTOR BRYANT'S ABSENCE, I MOVE THAT WE MOVE THIS ITEM TO OUR REGULAR MEETING APRIL 20TH. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND DISCUSSION? OKAY. DISCUSSION? YES. THAT OUTREACH BE MADE TO BOTH RECEIVERS OF THAT PROCLAMATION AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO HAVE THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE COMPLETE OUTREACH, BUT NORMALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE SLATED TO RECEIVE A PROCLAMATION ARE PRESENT AND IT GIVES THEM TIME TO COME AND BE RECOGNIZED. SO I CAN REMOVE THE I CAN REMOVE THE TIME CERTAIN. 
          SO MY MY MOTION IS THAT WE MOVE THIS ITEM TO A TIME THAT'S AMENABLE TO DOCTOR BRYANT. 
          AFTER THE CITY CLERK REACHES OUT TO HIM TO CONFIRM HIS AVAILABILITY AND. AND THE PROCLAMATION FOR MISS LOLITA HIGGINBOTHAM. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ADKINS. SO I'M SORRY THAT I THINK IT'S ALREADY BEEN SECONDED. IS THAT CORRECT? IT HAS BEEN SAID. WE ARE IN DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW AND I DON'T HAVE DISCUSSION. I AGREE, YES, AND MAY I ASK THE CITY CLERK WAS THE. DID WE ATTEMPT TO REACH OUT TO MISS DOCTOR BRYANT AND MISSUS HIGGINBOTHAM? AND I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THEY ALREADY HAVE BEEN REACHED OUT TO. THAT'S WHY I WAS PROVIDED WITH THE PROCLAMATIONS TO. CONSTRUCT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO MOVE THE PROCLAMATIONS HONORING DOCTOR BRYANT AND THE PROCLAMATION HONORING MISSUS HIGGINBOTHAM TO ANOTHER TIME WHEN THEY CAN BE AVAILABLE TO JOIN US IN COUNCIL. 
          DO WE HAVE A ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ARE WE ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE TWO 
          [XI.4. Proclamation Honoring Mrs. Andrea Harris Wynn for Historic Contributions to East Point]
PROCLAMATIONS WILL BE REMOVED FROM TODAY'S AGENDA. MOVING ON TO THE PROCLAMATION HONORING MISS ANDREA HARRIS. WINE FOR WIN. I'M SORRY. WIN FOR HISTORIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO EASTPOINTE. MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU. SO IN 2027, EAST POINT WILL CELEBRATE 140 YEARS SINCE IT WAS CHARTERED. AND AN IMPORTANT THING AS YOU THINK ABOUT CELEBRATING 140 YEARS IS THIS IDEA OF THE SANKOFA PRINCIPLE. THE SANKOFA PRINCIPLE SUGGESTS THAT IN ORDER TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING, YOU MUST KNOW FROM WHERE YOU HAVE COME. TODAY'S PROCLAMATION TO HONOR MISS ANDREA NGUYEN IS IN THAT SPIRIT. AS YOU WILL HEAR IN THE PROCLAMATION, SHE HAS MADE HISTORIC CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO IN PRESERVING ITS HISTORY, WHICH IS CRITICAL AS WE THINK ABOUT WHO WE ARE WORKING TO BECOME COLLEAGUES. YOU HAVE RECEIVED A DRAFT. SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL FIRST MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITS LANGUAGE AND PRESENT A PROCLAMATION HONORING MISSUS ANDREA HARRIS WIN FOR HIS FOR HER HISTORIC CONTRIBUTIONS AND LASTING IMPACT ON THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. AND THE SECOND PART OF THAT MOTION IS TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY CLERK TO AFFIX THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE CITY OF EAST POINT, SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. NOW, IF I MAY, I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN ASK MISS ANDREA WHEN TO COME FORWARD TO SHARE A FEW WORDS. SO THERE'S A PROCLAMATION FROM THE CITY OF EAST POINT, GEORGIA, IN HONOR OF MISSUS ANDREA HARRIS WIN, THE FOUNDER OF THE LEGACIES AT WASHINGTON ROAD. WHEREAS MISSUS ANDRE HARRIS WIN IS A VISIONARY LEADER, ENTREPRENEUR AND COMMUNITY BUILDER WHOSE WORK HAS STRENGTHENED THE CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND HISTORICAL FOUNDATION OF EAST POINT, GEORGIA. AND WHEREAS A PIONEER AS A PIONEERING AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESSWOMAN, SHE CO-FOUNDED A AND D. W REALTY INCORPORATED AND WIN WORKS INCORPORATED AND HAS HELPED TRANSFORM THE ATLANTA AREA REAL ESTATE LANDSCAPE WHILE INVESTING IN EAST POINT WHEN FEW OTHERS DID. WHEREAS THROUGH WIN WORKS INCORPORATED, MISSUS WIN AND HER FAMILY HAVE DEVELOPED HOMES AND COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY, STABILITY AND GROWTH FOR COUNTLESS FAMILIES ACROSS THE 
          [00:35:06]
REGION. AND WHEREAS IN 2018, SHE FOUNDED THE WIN LEGACY HOUSE AND DEVELOPED THE LEGACIES AT WASHINGTON ROAD, PRESERVING AND UPLIFTING AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE IN EAST POINT. AND WHEREAS A CONFIDANT TO THE MAYOR, PATSY JO HILLIARD, THE FIRST WOMAN AND FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ELECTED MAYOR IN EAST POINT AND IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, MISSUS WIN SUPPORTED TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP AND PROGRESS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS SHE HELPED TO FACILITATE THE COMPLETION OF BLACK AMERICA SERIES EAST POINT, GEORGIA BY DOCTOR HERMAN SKIP MASON JR, PRESERVING THE CITY'S RICH HISTORICAL LEGACY. AND WHEREAS HER WORK REFLECTS A DEEP COMMITMENT TO EDUCATING THE YOUNG, HONORING THE ELDERS, AND INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS. WHEREAS, THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THIS CITY COUNCIL WOULD REQUIRE TO BE PROCLAIMED THAT WE HONOR MISSUS ANDREA HARRIS WIN FOR HER HISTORIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EASTPOINTE COMMUNITY, BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED THAT HER WORK STANDS AS A LASTING EXAMPLE OF VISION, PERSEVERANCE. COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY, AND ENDURING LEGACY. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, THE SIXTH DAY OF APRIL 26TH DAY OF APRIL 2026, THE MAYOR HAS SET HER HAND TO THE. TO THIS DOCUMENT AND CAUSED THE CITY SEAL TO BE AFFIXED. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL AT THIS TIME? AND THEN WE'LL GO DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY THAT I'VE WORKED WITH. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT USED TO DOING ALL THIS. SO BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. I BROUGHT WITH ME SOMETHING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, AND IT'S A PICTURE OF MY HUSBAND AND I, BECAUSE WE TOGETHER HAD VERY LITTLE, BUT WE DID A LOT OF THINGS OVER THE YEARS AND HE'S BEEN. HE'S BEEN GONE FOR OVER TEN YEARS NOW. AND I AM JUST, YOU KNOW, DOING WHAT I CAN TO KEEP THINGS GOING. AND I HAVE FAMILY HERE. I HAVE FRIENDS HERE. I THINK THIS WHOLE SIDE OVER HERE IS HERE TO REPRESENT THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY CARE ABOUT EASTPOINTE. WE'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME, DONE A LOT OF THINGS, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU EVERYBODY. OKAY. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE EASTPOINTE CONTINUE TO BE WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. DO WE HAVE ANY MORE COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMAN ADKINS AND THEN COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS? YES. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, MISS LINH, THIS IS WELL DESERVED AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. AND I HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE, AND INDEED, IT'S BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE OF MEETING YOU AND WORKING WITH YOU AND KNOWING YOU FOR OVER TWO AND A HALF DECADES IN THIS CITY. AND I JUST JOINED MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER HEMMING, AND SAYING, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE TO POUR INTO THIS CITY. YOU HAVE BEEN TRULY A GEM TO US AND TO THIS CITY, AND IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN MIKE ROGERS. MRS. WYNNE, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO STAND ON YOUR SHOULDERS. I'VE HEARD SO MANY GREAT THINGS ABOUT YOU AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU, YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING EASTPOINTE BE GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DESERVED HONOR. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE. MRS. NGUYEN, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AS MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR GREAT CITY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          [00:43:41]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR PRESENTATION. NUMBER FIVE, SOLID WASTE PRESENTATION ON RATE STUDY PRESENTED BY NEW GEN STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS. YES, YES, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. WE NEED TO GO BACK UP TO ROMAN NUMERAL EIGHT. OKAY, 
          [VIII.1. Use Permit with Concurrent Variance to Operate an Ice Manufacturing Company within 5,280 Ft from Residential Properties Located at 1240 Oakleigh Drive In the I-1 (Light Industrial) Zoning District PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED]
AWESOME. ALRIGHT, SO WE DO. I'M SORRY. NOW WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC THE PUBLIC HEARING YOU SUBMIT WITH THE CONCURRENT VARIANCE TO OPERATE AN ICE MANUFACTURING COMPANY WITHIN 5280FT FROM RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 1240 OAK DRIVE IN I ONE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE PRESENTED BY OUR PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO OPEN IT ON A MOTION. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? MADAM MAYOR, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. I MOVE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND CONCURRENT VARIANCE AT 1240 OAKLEY DRIVE. A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. MADAM MAYOR, IT'S CUSTOMARY THAT I READ THE PUBLIC HEARING 
          [00:45:02]
RULES. CAN I DO THAT AT THIS TIME? THANK YOU. BEFORE ADOPTING ANY CHANGE TO THE ZONING MAPS OR TEXTS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE, THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING. FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARING BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, WHERE A RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE ON THE PETITION. PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL SHALL BE CONDUCTED AS FOLLOWS. THE PRESIDING OFFICER WILL CALL FOR A MOTION TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HEARING. YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THAT ALREADY. THE PRESIDING OFFICER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE WILL INTRODUCE THE PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL. STAFF WILL THEN BE CALLED UPON TO PRESENT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION AND SUMMARIZE THE STAFF'S WRITTEN REPORT. PERSONS BOTH FAVORING AND OPPOSING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL THEN BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, THE APPLICANT FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT OR APPLICANT'S DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE, IF ANY, WILL BE ENTITLED TO SPEAK FIRST, FOLLOWED BY OTHER SPEAKERS IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL FOR A TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES. THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT WILL THEN BE PERMITTED TO SPEAK FOR A TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES. BY MAJORITY VOTE. THE COUNCIL MAY INCREASE THE TOTAL TIME FOR SPEAKERS, PROVIDED THAT EACH SIDE IS GIVEN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME. 
          IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE SPEAKER FOR A SIDE, THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY LIMIT THE TIME ALLOTTED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER. OTHER THAN THE ZONING APPLICANT, THE ZONING APPLICANT MAY RESERVE A PORTION OF HIS OR HER TIME ALLOTTED FOR REBUTTAL. SPEAKERS MUST ADHERE TO THE RULES OF DECORUM PRIOR TO SPEAKING. EACH SPEAKER SHALL IDENTIFY HIMSELF OR HERSELF AND STATE HIS OR HER CURRENT ADDRESS. EACH SPEAKER SHALL SPEAK ONLY TO THE MERITS OF THE PROPOSED ZONING DECISION UNDER CONSIDERATION SHALL ADDRESS REMARKS ONLY TO THE COUNCIL, AND SHALL REFRAIN FROM MAKING PERSONAL ATTACKS ON ANY OTHER SPEAKER. THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY REFUSE THE SPEAKER THE RIGHT TO CONTINUE. IF, AFTER FIRST BEING CAUTIONED, THE SPEAKER CONTINUES TO VIOLATE THE RULES OF DECORUM. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, AND WILL THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COME FORTH, PLEASE? GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND FELLOW COUNCIL, KIMBERLY SMITH WITH PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. JUST WANTED TO STATE IN REFERENCE TO THIS CASE ITEM KNOWN AS P2025 .001 DASH 12. IN CASE NUMBER P2025.001-12. PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1240 OAKLEY DRIVE. IN REFERENCE TO THIS ITEM THE STAFF RECEIVED ON MARCH 5TH A REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF THIS APPLICATION. 
          STAFF HAS NO OBJECTIONS TO THE REQUEST TO WITHDRAW. I HAVE A MOTION TO. I'M SORRY. ARE YOU DONE, MISS? ARE YOU FINISHED WITH YOUR. THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION TO. YES. REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW REQUEST. TO AFRICA THIS YEAR. THEN ANY COMPONENTS IN THE. MOTION TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. OKAY, SO WE WOULD NEED TO HEAR FROM THE PERSON. BUT HE'S NOT HERE. 
          CORRECT. THE APPLICANT IS NOT PRESENT. OKAY. SO YOU NEED TO GO GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS FOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. OH RIGHT. OKAY. THAT'S ABOUT TO HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE IS IT. RIGHT NOW FOR THE APPLICANT OR PROPONENTS OF THE APPLICATION? OH, IS THERE ANYONE EVEN IF IT'S IS IT IN FAVOR OF THE OR OPPOSED THE. OKAY. ARE THOSE IS THERE ANYONE HERE IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION. MADAM MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I'M IN FAVOR OR AGAINST. I DON'T HAVE MY BACKUP. OH, IT WAS NOT POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN HAND. I DON'T SEE ANYBODY OUT HERE WHO HAS ANYTHING IN HAND TO EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PERSON WHO WANTS IT. SO WHERE IS THE BACKUP? ALL I KNOW IS WITHIN A MILE OF A RESIDENTIAL HOME ON OAKLEY. THAT IS IT. NOT ANYTHING WAS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE ON THURSDAY. NO AGENDA. ANYTHING ELSE, LET ALONE BACK UP FOR THIS. OKAY. I'M SORRY. NOW HOW AM I TO MAKE A SOUND INFORMED OPINION ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS GOOD OR NOT GOOD FOR THE CITY? LET'S CLEAN OUR HOUSE BEFORE WE START SWEEPING 
          [00:50:07]
OUT TRASH. THAT MAY BE A JEW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE OPPOSED? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT IS. IS THERE ANYONE OPPOSED TO THE. ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR? THERE ARE NO OTHER PROPONENTS OR OPPONENTS. I MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE USE PERMIT AND CONCURRENT VARIANCE FOR 1240 OAKLEY DRIVE IN THE I ONE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT. THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? HAVE IT. OKAY. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION ON INFORMATION THAT THE APPLICANT HAS WITHDRAWN THE APPLICATION FOR USE PERMIT AND CONCURRENT VARIANCE AT 1240 OAKLEY DRIVE AND THE I ONE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT. SO WE HAVE A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. ANY DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION, DOCTOR MARTIN ROGERS YES, AND I JUST WANTED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT THAT THIS ITEM WAS A PREVIOUS AGENDA ITEM IN THE ATTACHMENTS AND DOCUMENTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THAT PREVIOUS ITEM FOR. I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE, ON OUR AGENDA FOR LAST MONTH'S MEETING, BUT WE WERE ADVISED THEN. WAS IT THE WORK SESSION, THE PREVIOUS WORK SESSION? BUT WE WERE ADVISED THEN IN THAT WORK SESSION THAT THE APPLICANT HAD WITHDREW THE APPLICATION. SO I JUST WANTED TO GO ON RECORD TO SAY THAT WE DID HAVE THE DOCUMENTS. IT IT APPEARED ON OUR WORK SESSION, OUR LATEST WORK SESSION. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC 
          [IX. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
COMMENTS SECTION OF THE AGENDA. SO I WILL READ THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION. THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE AGENDA. THE CITY CLERK SHALL MAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT FORM AVAILABLE IN THE CITY HALL LOBBY PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. ALL SPEAKERS MUST COMPLETE A COMMENT FORM AND PROVIDE A COMPLETED COMMENT FORM TO THE CITY CLERK BETWEEN 6 P.M. AND 6:25 P.M. PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. SUBJECT MAY INCLUDE ANY SUBJECT OF CHOICE. THERE WILL BE THREE MINUTE. A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR EACH SPEAKER SHOULD THE SPEAKER DESIRE TO GIVE HIS OR HER. SHOULD THE SPEAKER DESIRE TO GIVE HIS OR HER TIME TO ANOTHER SPEAKER, HE OR SHE HE OR SHE MAY DO SO BY NOTATING WHAT SPEAKER SHALL RECEIVE THE TIME ON HIS OR HER COMMENT FORM, PROVIDED THAT THE SPEAKER GIVEN SPEAKER GIVEN HIS OR HER FORM THAT HE OR SHE GIVES ALL OR PART OF HIS OR HER TIME, THE COUNCIL ONLY. THE COUNCIL ONLY WANTS. DURING THIS TIME OF THE. I THINK I SKIPPED THE WHOLE THING, I'M SORRY. LET ME STOP. PROVIDED THAT THE SPEAKER GIVEN HIS OR HER HIS OR HER FORM, THAT HE OR SHE GIVES ALL OR PART OF HER TIME UP TO THREE MINUTES TO ANOTHER SPEAKER FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES OF SPEAKING. SPEAKING SPEAKERS SHALL ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ONLY ONCE. DURING THIS TIME OF THE AGENDA. SPEAKERS MUST IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AND THEIR ADDRESS PRIOR TO SPEAKING. QUESTIONS FROM THE SPEAKER MAY NOT BE ADDRESSED DURING THE PUBLIC SPEAKING SECTION OF THE AGENDA. EASTPOINTE RESIDENTS WILL HAVE PRIORITY OVER OTHER SPEAKERS. 
          THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF NOT MORE THAN 60 MINUTES FOR THE PUBLIC SPEAKING SECTION OF THE AGENDA. SPEAKERS MAY ALSO ADDRESS THE PRESIDING OFFICER. SPEAKER SHALL OBSERVE ALL RULES OF DECORUM. NO DEBATE, DISRESPECT OR OBSCENITIES SHALL BE TOLERATED. THE PRESIDING OFFICER SHALL RULE ANY SUCH INDIVIDUALS OUT OF ORDER THAT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING. MADAM CITY CLERK, OUR SPEAKERS PLEASE. FIRST WE HAVE MISS GORICA, CONNIE. AND MY APOLOGIES IF I MISSPELLED YOUR NAME. EXCUSE ME. MISSPOKE. YOUR NAME? IT'S PRONOUNCED. 
          EVERYBODY CALLS ME GARCIA. NATURALLY. SO THAT'S BETTER THAN GARCIA. SO THANK YOU. I START MY THREE MINUTE CLOCK NOW. OKAY. JUST SAY YOUR ADDRESS TO PLEASE. SURE. SO MY NAME IS GARRETT. I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF EASTPOINTE, 3116 MACKENZIE ROAD, EAST POINT, GEORGIA. MIDDLE SCHOOL. ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL I GOT GRAY HAIRS RIGHT HERE. YES, I WENT TO WOODLAND AND TRI-CITIES, SO I HAD THE SAME, YOU KNOW, ME AND MY MOM WERE IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD THAT WE'VE BEEN IN SINCE I'VE BEEN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, SO IT'S AN OLDER HOUSE. 
          [00:55:01]
I'M SORRY TO COME HERE WITH A COMPLAINT, BUT I GOT A LITTLE COMPLAINT, SO I HAD TO MEET A READING DONE THAT WAS ASSESSED. SO NOW I FEEL LIKE IT'S A MAN, YOU KNOW, AGAINST THE MACHINE TYPE SITUATION. SO THE HOUSE IS 1955, NO HVAC. I'M A TRUCK DRIVER GONE, YOU KNOW, TURNED EVERYTHING OFF. OF COURSE, THE OBVIOUS APPLIANCES, WHICH IS THE REFRIGERATOR, YOU KNOW, STOVE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND THEY'RE SAYING, WELL, THIS IS FINE. AND I'M LIKE, I CAN'T AFFORD IT. I'M NOT WE AIN'T EVEN MAKING NO MONEY OUT THERE. YOU KNOW, I WAS OUT THERE $200 FOR EIGHT DAYS OUT THERE. SO I HAVE TO DO A CAREER CHANGE. I'M OFF, YOU KNOW, NOW. BUT RIGHT NOW I'M GOING THROUGH A LOT. SO THAT'S NOT FEASIBLE FOR ME. WHAT I'M SEEING, YOU KNOW, SO I'M A PERSON THAT PAYS MY BILLS. I WON'T BE IN NO TROUBLE. I WANT THE WATER ON. I WANT MY ELECTRICITY ON. BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK FOR TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY DONE THE READING. BUT IT'S LIKE MAN AGAINST A MACHINE. LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY, OH, THIS IS FINE. BUT NO, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THAT LONG IN THE SAME RESIDENCE. IT'S NOW IT'S MOSTLY JUST ME THERE. NOW WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THERE AND IT WAS LESS THAN WHAT IT IS NOW WITH ME THERE WITH NO WORKING STUFF. SO I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON, WHY THEY SAYING, OH, THIS IS FINE TYPE THING. SO I JUST WANT TO NOT FEEL STRESSED OUT BECAUSE I'M THE TYPE OF PERSON, YOU KNOW, I'M A GROWN LADY. I KNOW HOW TO USE MY APPLIANCE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW HOW TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO I DON'T WANT TO FEEL LIKE IN MY HOME AND IN MY CITY I GREW UP IN FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE OR TIP TOEING, WALKING ON EGGSHELLS IN MY OWN HOME. AND THAT'S HOW I FEEL NOW. SO I JUST CAME HERE SO I CAN BE HEARD AND HOPEFULLY SOMEBODY CAN EMPATHIZE WITH MY SITUATION. AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. SO EVERYTHING ELSE I'M SATISFIED WITH, I MEAN, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY CAN APPROVE. NOBODY'S PERFECT. BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO JUST CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT ALSO TO JUST, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS WORK ON IMPROVEMENT. I DON'T HAVE NOTHING NEGATIVE TO SAY, BUT PRETTY MUCH I JUST WANT TO BE HEARD. LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WANT TO UPDATE THE SYSTEM, IF IT'S AN INFRASTRUCTURE THING, YOU KNOW, LIKE MAKE STUFF, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT'S LIKE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AI DRIVEN OR SOME OTHER KIND OF WAY. WE CAN TRACK WHERE IT'S MORE TRANSPARENT TO US INSTEAD OF JUST THESE SURPRISES, YOU KNOW, AND WORKING ON IT. 
          I'M LIKE, OKAY, NOW IT'S ALMOST MAKING ME FEEL LIKE AFTER ALL THIS TIME, I WANT TO GO TO A PLACE WHERE IT'S NOT CITY, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHERE THE CITY DON'T CONTROL IT, YOU KNOW, WHERE I CAN JUST GO BACK TO GEORGIA POWER? LIKE I WAS IN MY APARTMENT A FEW YEARS AGO BEFORE I CAME BACK TO THE CITY. SO I JUST WANTED TO BE HEARD. AND I'M QUITE SURE, YOU KNOW, I'M OTHER PEOPLE MAY HAVE THE SAME CONCERN, BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ME HERE. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. SO THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. SORRY IF I WALK AWAY AT THIS POINT, BUT THANK YOU. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR HEARING ME. THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE HAVE MISS STEPHANIE GORDON. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. STEPHANIE GORDON, 4564 PARKWAY CIRCLE. I AM I LIKE IT FROM THIS VIEW. IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM BEING ON THE OTHER SIDE. I'M SIMPLY HERE TONIGHT TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO AMENDING THE CITY CHARTER REGARDING THE HIRING OF THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANT. QUITE SIMPLY, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN UNRESOLVED FOR FAR TOO LONG. WHILE THE DEBATE CONTINUES MONTH AFTER MONTH, THE MAYOR IS BEING PREVENTED FROM HAVING BASIC ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE IN HER ROLE AS MAYOR. PURSUING A CHARTER AMENDMENT IS NOT A SOUND NOR TIMELY SOLUTION AT THIS POINT. 
          AS PER STATE REQUIREMENTS, THE CITY MUST HOLD TWO HEARINGS, PROVIDE PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THREE WEEKS, AND FILE THE AMENDMENT, ALONG WITH AN AFFIDAVIT FROM THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE BEFORE THIS AMENDMENT. AMENDMENT WOULD EVEN TAKE EFFECT, WHICH AT THIS POINT IN LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR, WILL LIKELY BE AS EARLY AS JUNE. AND AGAIN, THAT IS JUST ENTIRELY TOO LONG. WE DID NOT ELECT ANY ONE PERSON. OR FACTION OF THIS DAIS TO BE THE CHARTER POLICE OR THE RULES POLICE, OR TO CREATE BARRIERS FOR BASIC OPERATIONS FOR YOUR COLLEAGUES. SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN PUT THIS TO REST EVEN TONIGHT, IF POSSIBLE. WE ELECTED EACH ONE OF YOU TO WORK TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. THAT IS NOT ONLY OUR EXPECTATION, IT IS OUR STANDARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. 
          NEXT, WE HAVE MISS ERNESTINE PITTMAN. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ANY OF YOU GOT THE IDEA THAT THE MAYOR THAT WE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE HAS TO WAIT UNTIL YOU ALL COME TOGETHER. YAY OR NAY? AS TO HOW TO RESOLVE YOUR PROBLEM WITH HER HIRING HER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANCE, ANY LAW ON THE BOOKS IN A PRACTICE OF POLICY MUST BE UPHELD UNTIL APPEALED OR AMENDED OR REPEALED. NOT ANY OF THAT HAS HAPPENED. 
          [01:00:09]
WHY ARE YOU ALL SITTING AROUND HERE? AND WHY IS YOU, MADAM MAYOR, SITTING, ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE WHAT WE HAVE GIVEN YOU AT THE BALLOT BOX, THE AUTHORITY TO BE OUR MAYOR, TO REPRESENT US WITH SOME HOGWASH ABOUT. WE HAVE TO WAIT TO DO THIS AND WAIT TO DO THAT. YOU BETTER BE GLAD I WAS NOT ELECTED THIS TIME, OR THAT COUNT OF MAYOR HILLIARD WAS NOT. 
          THIS CITY IS RIDICULOUS. THREE MONTHS AND THE MAYOR OFFICE CLOSED THAT. LET ME TELL YOU. 
          YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS YOU'RE DOING. AND TO COME IN HERE AND TALK ABOUT BACKUP. YOU HAVEN'T HAD BACKUP FOR A SINGLE AGENDA ITEM ON THAT TABLE OUT THERE. FOR ANY RESIDENT WHO WANTS TO SEE IT. AND THAT IS STATE LAW. YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE BACKUP FOR ANY AGENDA ITEM. THE PUBLIC IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION TOO. 
          AND YOU DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING POSTED ON THURSDAY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUR TIME GETS TO BE SO MUCH MORE VALUABLE THAN MINE THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE MY WHOLE WEEKEND ON MONDAY TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS. AND I STILL DIDN'T GET IT. AND YOU COME IN HERE TAKING ALL THIS TIME JUST TO KEEP ME FROM SPEAKING. YOU KNOW, THAT WON'T HAPPEN BECAUSE I. I CALLED TOM JOHNSON. WE'LL BE OUT THERE IN FRONT OF CITY HALL OR I CALLED TOWN. I DON'T CARE. DOBBINS. 
          EASTPOINTE IS NOT GOING TO BECOME WASHINGTON, D.C. YOU ALL ARE NOT GOING TO BECOME THAT INEPT, INCOMPETENT, NON-REPRESENTATIVE SENATE THAT WE HAVE IN DC IN THE HOUSE. 
          BECAUSE YOU HERE, YOU LIVE TOO CLOSE TO US. YOU MAY SEE ME IN MY POSSE SIGNS IN FRONT OF YOUR DOOR ANY DAY NOW. YOU WILL NOT TAKE A RIGHT. TAKE AWAY ANY RIGHT THAT YOU HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH US GETTING. AND WE DID EVERYTHING IN OUR YOUTH AND YOUNGER YEARS TO KEEP IT AND MOVE IT FORWARD. AND YET YOU STILL. YOU. I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. YOU SITTING UP THERE TRYING TO DO DENY DUE PROCESS. I'LL BE BACK WITH MY BLOWHORN. UP NEXT WE HAVE MISTER TOM WARDLOW. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS TOM WARDLOW. I LIVE AT 1301 MERCER AND THIS BEAUTIFUL TOWN OF EAST POINT, GEORGIA. I REALLY HAVE TWO THINGS. THE FIRST ONE IS I WAS PRIVILEGED TO VIEW AN ETHICS HEARING ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR OF A ONE OF THE COUNCIL PEOPLE, BUT THE ETHICS COMMITTEE ADJOURNED TO THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE THEIR DEBATE COULD NOT BE PUBLIC. AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF THAT ETHICS COMMITTEE? DID THEY, IN FACT, FIND AN ETHICAL. A FINDING OF GUILTY OF AN ETHICAL PROCESS OR PROCEDURE THAT PERSON MAY. ANYWAY, I WANT TO KNOW, DID IN FACT, THE ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST MY CITY COUNCILMAN GET DROPPED? APPROVED? WHAT'S THE RESULT? WHAT ARE YOU DO WHEN SOMEBODY. DECIDES THEY'RE ABOVE THE ETHICS? OKAY, THAT'S NUMBER ONE. 
          NUMBER TWO, YOU ALL KNOW THE STORY OF THE FOX, FOX AND THE HENHOUSE, RIGHT? YOU DON'T SET THE FOX OUT TO GUARD THE HENHOUSE. WELL, OKAY. THE RECENT FORENSIC AUDIT POINTED TO A NUMBER OF IRREGULARITIES AND FINANCIAL RECORDS OF THE CITY OF EAST POINT. ONE SUCH IRREGULARITY WAS APPROVAL OF PAYMENTS OF CHARGES WITHOUT VALID RECEIPT. AND RECENT OPEN RECORDS REQUEST. THE CITY RECORD CONTINUES TO SHOW PAYMENT APPROVED WITHOUT RECEIPT. THAT IS FOR CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE. I KNOW SINCE YOU SINCE SINCE ONE OF YOUR COUNCILORS JUST GOT HER CREDIT CARD, SHE IS NOT REMISS IN FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIVE, BUT IT'S A SURPRISE TO ME AS A CITIZEN OF EASTPOINTE, THAT YOU DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE 
          [01:05:05]
RECEIPTS, THAT WE SHOULD JUST GIVE YOU MONEY BECAUSE YOU WANT IT. OKAY, I UNDERSTAND THE CITY CLERK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROVING REQUESTS FOR PAYMENT. INTERESTING. THE CITY CLERK WORKS FOR YOU. THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVING YOUR. THAT'S KIND OF WEIRD, BUT ANOTHER PROBLEM. THE CITY RECORD SHOWS A CONTINUING PRACTICE OF REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT WITHOUT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. MAY I SUGGEST FOR THE CITY CLERK TO REFRAIN FROM FURTHER APPROVAL OF UNSUPPORTED REQUESTS, AS WAS SUGGESTED IN THE FORENSIC AUDIT? I'M ALSO NOT SURPRISED AT. 
          ITEMS 13 AND 14 WAS SUGGESTED BY THE COUNCILMAN TO BE REFERRED OUT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT CREDIT CARD POLICY IN THE PUBLIC FORUM. AS I SAID, FOX AND HENHOUSE. I'M VERY CONCERNED. THANK YOU. THIS EVENING. UP NEXT, WE HAVE SASHA FRIEDMAN. HEY, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SASHA FRIEDMAN. I LIVE AT 1907 MONTROSE DRIVE. I AM COMING TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCING ROAD SAFETY CHECKS. THIS WAS SOMETHING I WROTE TO COUNCILMAN HEMMING ABOUT WHO RESPONDED TO ME. I APPRECIATE THAT AND REFERRED ME TO CHIEF BUCHANAN, WHO SAID THAT THIS IS A PART OF REGULAR PRACTICE. IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, BUT THAT THERE COULDN'T BE MORE INFORMATION SHARED WITH US. AS MANY OF YOU SAW, AN ENGAGEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, FOLKS WERE CONCERNED, HAD LOTS OF QUESTIONS. IT WAS INCREDIBLY OPAQUE. AND EVEN IF THE INTENTION WASN'T TO PURSUE ANY SORT OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE OF HB 1105 THAT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR, ALL POLICE AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA ARE DEPUTIZED AS PART OF A 287 G PROGRAM. THAT MEANS IF THEY PULL SOMEBODY OVER, THEY HAVE TO CHECK THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS AND HAVE TO NOTIFY ICE IF THEY CANNOT PROVE THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. THIS HAS REAL IMPLICATIONS FOR NOT JUST PEOPLE LIVING IN EASTPOINTE, BUT PEOPLE WHO COME HERE TO DO WORK, PEOPLE WHO DRIVE THROUGH. IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT COBB AND GWINNETT COUNTY WHO HAVE HAD 287 G PROGRAMS FOR YEARS, IN ONE OF THE YEARS, OVER 500 PEOPLE WHO WERE SUBJECT TO ICE DETAINERS ENDED UP IN ICE DETENTION SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WERE DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE AND THEY COULDN'T GET THE LICENSE BECAUSE THEY WERE EITHER PURSUING OR DID NOT HAVE THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. YET. LAST JULY IN GEORGIA, WE RANKED FOURTH IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES FOR ICE ARRESTS. AS MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN, WE HAVEN'T HAD A SURGE IN ICE PRESENCE. SO HOW DID WE DO THAT? IT WAS THROUGH THIS 287 G AGREEMENT THROUGH POLICE OFFICERS MAKING ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOPS, HAVING TO CHECK THE ICE DATABASE, REFERRING PEOPLE TO ICE DETENTION. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE CONCERN FOR ALL OF US, FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PROCESS OF SEEKING RESIDENCY OR ASYLUM STATUS, BUT FOR FAMILY, FOR FRIENDS WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL TURN UP, WHO HAVE SEEN REPORTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEGAL RESIDENCY, WHO HAVE GREEN CARDS, WHO HAVE VISAS, WHO HAVE STILL BEEN SUBJECT TO ICE DETENTION. EASTPOINTE IS ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES THAT PEOPLE COME TO WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN IN THIS CITY, WHEN THEY FLY INTO THE AIRPORT, AND IT IS ONE OF THE LAST PLACES THEY SEE WHEN THEY LEAVE, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SET THE STANDARD TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS IF IT IS IN FACT, ROAD SAFETY CONCERNS. LET'S ASK WHAT'S A SYSTEMIC WAY WE CAN ADDRESS THAT? CAN WE PUT IN TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES? CAN WE LOOK AT DIFFERENT SPEED SIGNS OR LIGHTING? JUST HAVING ADDITIONAL POLICE PRESENCE FOR ONE MONTH DOES NOT ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE AT ITS CORE, AND JUST CREATES FEAR AND CONCERN AND FRANKLY, AVOIDANCE OF OUR CITY. I URGE YOU ALL, YOU CAN BE THE ONES WHO MAKE THIS CHANGE AND ACTUALLY HOLD OUR DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO DO THE THING THAT ADDRESSES THE CORE ISSUE, RATHER THAN SOWING THIS KIND OF FEAR. THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE HAVE NORAH SANCHEZ. 
          HI. AS SASHA SAID, I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE PRACTICES OF EASTPOINTE POLICE REGARDING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. AND I WOULD LIKE SOME TRANSPARENCY CONSIDERING THE OPAQUENESS OF. UNDER HB 1105, LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE MANDATED TO APPLY TO ENTER 
          [01:10:02]
287 G AGREEMENTS WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER OR NOT EASTPOINTE POLICE HAS A PLAN TO APPLY, OR UNDER WHAT MODEL THEY WOULD BE OPERATING IF THEY DID APPLY. THEY ARE ALSO MANDATED TO VERIFY IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THOSE THEY PLAN TO ARREST. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW DURING THESE ROAD SAFETY CHECKS WHAT THEIR PLAN WOULD BE IN COOPERATING WITH THAT LAW, AND JUST MORE TRANSPARENCY ON THESE ROAD SAFETY CHECKS AND WHY THESE NEED TO BE PERIODIC, AND WHY THERE CAN'T BE A MORE SYSTEMIC SOLUTION TO THIS. LASTLY, WE HAVE DARBY MCNALLY. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. I'M DARBY MCNALLY, AND I LIVE AT 2496 CONSTANT STREET AND A JEFFERSON PARK. AND I ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY REGARDING THESE SAFETY CHECKS. I HAD SOMETHING WRITTEN OUT, BUT I DON'T THINK I COULD SAY IT BETTER THAN THE THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME BEFORE ME. SO I JUST WANT TO SPEAK FROM A PLACE OF EMPATHY THAT I DON'T WANT EASTPOINTE TO BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO COME UP AND AFRAID TO LIVE. AND I DON'T THINK IT IS THAT, BUT I FEAR THAT IT COULD BECOME THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE MOVING FORWARD. AND I DO FEAR THAT THESE TRAFFIC STOPS ARE SEEN AS A PRECURSOR TO KIND OF IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKING WITH ICE. SO JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO THE BODY'S ATTENTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THOSE ARE ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WE HAVE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. NOW WE HAVE TO MOVE TO THE APPOINTMENT OF 
          [Additional Item]
COMMITTEES. COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING, I MOVE TO APPOINT MISS TERESA UDO TO THE EAST POINT PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD. TERESA HAS PROUDLY CALLED EAST POINT HOME SINCE 2003, AND SHE REFERS TO EAST POINT AS HER FOREVER COMMUNITY. SHE HAS BEEN DEEPLY ENGAGED IN EAST POINT'S ATHLETIC AND RECREATIONAL LIFE FOR OVER TWO DECADES, WHILE RAISING HER NOW 19 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, TERESA COACHED YOUTH SOCCER AND BECAME FAMILIAR BECAME A FAMILIAR PRESENCE AT JEFFERSON PARK RECREATION CENTER. IT WAS THERE THAT SHE DISCOVERED A PASSION FOR TENNIS, A PASSION THAT GREW FROM BEGINNER TO LEADERSHIP. SHE CAPTAINED HER 2.5 USTA TEAM TO A GEORGIA STATE FINALIST FINISH IN 2019, EARNING RECOGNITION FROM THE CITY OF EAST POINT AT THE EAST POINT TEAM CHAMPIONS MEETING. SHE SINCE LED AN ALT A LTA WOMEN'S TEAM TO TWO CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS AND MOST RECENTLY AB1 CITY FINALIST FINISH. SHE CONTINUES TO GIVE BACK THROUGH TENNIS, PICKLEBALL, COACHING AND VOLUNTEER WORK, AND SHE CARES DEEPLY ABOUT HER NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY AND IS EAGER TO SERVE. SECOND. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT, COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL. OH, I HAVE ONE MORE, MADAM MAYOR. GO AHEAD, COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING. OKAY. I MOVE TO APPOINT MISS MARVELLE MCHALE TO THE CULTURAL ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE. SHE'S WORKED ON ALL LEVELS OF STORYTELLING AND HAS A STRONG PERFORMANCE SLASH PROGRAMING BACKGROUND. HER SKILLS INCLUDE TEACHING, CREATIVE WRITING, STORYTELLING PRESENTATIONS, AND DEVELOPING AUDIO PROJECTS. SHE HAS HAD A NUMBER OF CLIENTS TO INCLUDE THE IMAGINE IT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM LIBRARY, EXCUSE ME, CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, THE ATLANTA FULTON COUNTY LIBRARY, BARNES AND NOBLE, AND MANY MORE. SHE HAS HOSTED AND FACILITATED MANY FESTIVALS TO INCLUDE THE HOOSIER STORYTELLING FESTIVAL, THE ETHERIDGE KNIGHT FESTIVAL OF ARTS, AND SHE HAS SEVERAL BOOK RECORDINGS AND THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES. IT IS BECAUSE OF THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WORK WITH THE AMERICAN FOLKLORE SOCIETY, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN PERFORMING ARTS NETWORK AND THE KUUMBA K U M U B A THAT I WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT MISS MARVELLE MCCALL TO THE CULTURAL ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE. SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY, THE AYES HAVE IT. COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I AM PLEASED TO APPOINT ANGELA DOUGLAS AS A MEMBER TO THE ETHICS BOARD. SHE BRINGS A TON OF VALUE, VALUABLE EXPERIENCE, AND STRONG COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. I DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO ANGELA'S 
          [01:15:05]
CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORTING THE BOARDS AND THIS BOARD'S MISSION AND INITIATIVES. SECOND, AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? COUNCILWOMAN CUMMINGS, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND I'D LIKE TO I'D LIKE TO APPOINT MISS TERESA JONES TO THE ETHICS BOARD. MISS JONES, SHE HAS 22 YEARS, 22 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE WITH GRADY, INVOLVED IN MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AS A DIRECTOR OF TRAINING. SHE'S WORKED WITH HUMAN RESOURCES, UNION GRIEVANCES, ETC. SHE HAS EIGHT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN MANAGEMENT AT CRACKER BARREL COMPANY AND IS ALSO INVOLVED IN SEVERAL STAFF ISSUES AS WELL AS EEOC HEARINGS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN MAKE MY APPOINTMENT TO THE ETHICS BOARD. MISS TERESA JONES, SECOND. THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THANK YOU. COUNCIL. DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTEE? OKAY. AND COUNCIL. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT MISS MELISSA GEORGE TO THE ETHICS BOARD. MISS GEORGE HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON OUR ETHICS BOARD AND HAS BEEN A SERVANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE HER CONTINUED SERVICE ON THE ETHICS BOARD. MAY I HAVE I MAKE. THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THANK YOU. OKAY, NOW 
          [X. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL]
WE CAN MOVE ON TO COUNCIL COMMENTS. FIRST UP, MISS, I MEAN, COUNCILWOMAN FREELY. 
          THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO EXTEND CONDOLENCES TO COUNCIL MEMBER ZEIGLER AND HER FAMILY ON THE LOSS OF HER FATHER RECENTLY. SO I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO KEEP HER IN YOUR THOUGHTS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ADKINS. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MENTIONING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FREELY. SO THAT WILL TAKE ONE OFF OF MY PLATE. I'VE GOT THREE, MADAM MAYOR, THE FIRST THAT I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS THE WARD B WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS INFORMATIONAL MEETING. STARTING LATER THIS MONTH. THERE WILL BE SEVERAL IMPROVEMENTS ALONG A FEW MAIN STREETS AND WARD B, ONE OF WHICH WILL BE WINBURN DRIVE. THE OTHER IS DAUPHINE STREET AND THEN ALSO SYLVAN ROAD. THE. THESE PROJECTS WILL BE A REPLACEMENT OF WATER MAINS AND SEWER MAINS AND THEY ARE INTENDED TO LAST FOR MONTHS AND SO THERE WILL BE SOME INCONVENIENCES AND SOME PAIN POINTS. AND SO COUNCIL MEMBER ZIEGLER AND I WILL BE HOSTING THIS INFORMATIONAL MEETING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WATER RESOURCES TEAM ON THURSDAY, APRIL 16TH FROM 6:30 P.M. TO 8 P.M. IN THE JEFFERSON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL. 
          I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT THERE WILL BE A HEALTH FAIR CALLED KNOW YOUR NUMBERS. THAT WILL BE DONE IN PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN WELLSTAR AND THE GENTLEMEN OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED. THAT EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18TH FROM 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AND IT WILL BE AT 1100 CLEVELAND AVENUE, SOUTHWEST. SO THE SITE OF THE FORMER WELLSTAR HOSPITAL. THEY WILL HAVE LOTS OF VENDORS THERE, LOTS OF ACTIVITIES AND LOTS OF RESOURCES SO THAT EASTPOINTE RESIDENTS CAN KNOW THEIR HEALTH NUMBERS AND THEN FIGURE OUT A PATH TO ADDRESS ANY OF THOSE ISSUES. AND LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO MENTION THE 2026 SENIOR SUMMIT THAT IS BEING PUT ON BY FULTON COUNTY. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SENIORS TO LEARN A GREAT DEAL ABOUT COMPUTERS. SO IT'S A DAY OF EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 5TH FROM 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. THERE IS A REGISTRATION PROCESS. 
          IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE GEORGIA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER AND IT IS FREE OF CHARGE. IF YOU NEED TRANSPORTATION, YOU COULD ALSO SIGN UP FOR TRANSPORTATION AS WELL. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT THE FULTON COUNTY'S WEBSITE. THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS. ALL RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION POLICE, FIRE, WATER AND SEWER AND ELECTRIC DEPARTMENTS, PARENTS AND CHILDREN FOR A GREAT AUTISM MONTH KICK OFF CELEBRATION. I ALSO WANT TO DISCUSS ME RECEIVING TELEPHONE CALLS FROM RESIDENTS ON FRIDAY IN REFERENCE TO THE SUMMER RATES TAKING EFFECT NEXT MONTH. 
          THE CHARTER ESTABLISHES AUTHORITY AND IS THE CITY'S LAW. IT GIVES LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WHAT IS LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY? ANYTHING THAT SETS OR CHANGES FEES, TAXES, RATES OR OTHER UTILITIES. POLICY CHANGES ARE THE COUNCIL'S JOB. AS A MEMBER OF THIS CITY COUNCIL, I WAS INFORMED OF THIS CHANGE THAT COUNCIL DID NOT VOTE ON THROUGH A SOCIAL MEDIA POST IN THE PAST, WHEN CONSIDERATIONS LIKE THIS WERE BEING MADE THAT WOULD 
          [01:20:05]
IMPACT RESIDENTS, THERE WAS ALWAYS A PROPER DISCUSSION AND A VOTE OF CITY COUNCIL. I KEEP HEARING ABOUT DEFICIT SHORTFALLS AND BUCKETS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT HAD A BUDGET AMENDMENT. WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS FOR THE THE YEAR END SETTLEMENTS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS? HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN GENERATED FROM THE P, C A AND E C C R? HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS ON FIXED INCOMES WILL BE IMPACTED AND NO ADDITIONAL OPTIONS HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO COUNCIL. GIVEN THAT THIS MATTER DIRECTLY AFFECTS OUR RESIDENTS UTILITY BILLS, I ALSO BELIEVE IT WARRANTS TRANSPARENCY AND, IF NECESSARY, FORMAL CONSIDERATION BY THE GOVERNING BODY PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION. UNTIL THIS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED AND REVIEWED, I AM NOT IN SUPPORT OF PROCEEDING WITH THE TRANSITION TO SUMMER RATES. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING. THANK YOU. I WANT TO SAY TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I HEARD YOU, MISS CONEY, ABOUT YOUR SITUATION, AS WELL AS MISS GORDON AND MISS PITTMAN, ABOUT THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANT. WE INTEND TO DISCUSS THAT TONIGHT. MR. WARDLOW, WE ARE WORKING HARD TO GET THAT CITY CREDIT CARD POLICY UPDATED, AND IT'S NOT BEING DEFERRED TO BE IGNORED. IT'S. SO I WANT YOU TO MAKE NOTE OF THAT. AND THEN ALSO MISS FRIEDMAN, MISS SANCHEZ, MR. SANCHEZ AND MISS MCNEELY. I HEARD YOU ABOUT THE CONCERNS. I ALSO WANT TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT OR APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT TO MY FIRST BUDGET TOWN HALL. WE HAD OVER 28 PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, AND I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THE UPCOMING BUDGET TOWN HALL THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 14TH AT 6:30 P.M. HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. IF YOU WEREN'T THERE AT THE FIRST ONE, PLEASE COME TO THE SECOND ONE. THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING MATTER TO YOUR POCKETBOOK. THE NEXT THING I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IS THAT WE ARE COMING UP ON A GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION. SO THESE ELECTIONS DETERMINE WHAT'S ON YOUR BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT EVERYONE PARTICIPATE. YOU CAN GO TO V P S O S TSA.GOV TO CONFIRM YOUR STATUS AND FIND OUT WHAT'S ON YOUR BALLOT. NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE DOCTOR MORET AND THE TRI-CITIES HIGH SCHOOL VISUAL ARTS SENIORS ON A SUCCESSFUL SENIOR SHOWCASE. IT WAS A FABULOUS SHOW OF THEIR CREATIVITY AND DEDICATION. MANY OF THEM ARE GOING ON TO DO GREAT THINGS. I WANT TO THANK THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY CLERK, ALONG WITH THEIR TEAMS WHO HOSTED OUR FIRST EVER COUNCIL ORIENTATION ON MARCH 28TH. IT WAS A ROBUST MEETING WHERE WE LEARNED FROM YOUR EYES HOW THE CITY OPERATES. 
          THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. I'M THRILLED ALLOWING US TO GROW TOGETHER IN OUR ROLE. AND THEN FINALLY, I JUST I THINK I WENT OUT OF ORDER, SO I'LL JUST REITERATE, PLEASE MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE. REMEMBER THAT EVERY VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION MATTERS. SO PLEASE BE PREPARED FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION DAY ON MAY 19TH. EARLY VOTING STARTS APRIL 27TH THROUGH MAY 15TH. THANK YOU. SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SET OF THE PRESENTATIONS. BUT BEFORE WE DO, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO QUICKLY ADDRESS THAT. YES. AS COUNCILWOMAN HEMMINGS SAID, WE WILL HAVE SOME DISCUSSION AROUND THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND THE STAFFING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT. FOR CLARITY AND. I THINK I WILL LEAVE THAT INFORMATION ONCE WE GET TO THAT DISCUSSION. AND AND WE WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUES AT THAT POINT IN TIME. AS MAYOR, I CAN SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN COME TO A RESOLUTION, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, I WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE BECAUSE MY COMMITMENT IS STRONG TO THIS CITY. AND I RAN ON TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. AND SO WE WILL MOVE FORWARD IN SOME WAY TOGETHER. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS SO THAT WE CAN RESTORE PROPER OPERATIONS TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR THE SAKE OF OUR RESIDENTS. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND WE CAN MOVE ON TO NOW THE SOLID WASTE PRESENTATION. I'M SORRY, DO I HAVE TO DO A 
          [XI.5. Solid Waste Presentation on Rate Study Presented by NewGen Strategies & Solutions]
MOTION TO CLOSE THE NO SOLID WASTE PRESENTATION ON RATE STUDIES PRESENTED BY NEW GEN STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS. 
          [01:25:04]
THANK YOU. MADAM CITY CLERK, CAN WE PLEASE SET THE TIMER? THANK YOU. 
          IT'S 15 MINUTES TOTAL WITH DISCUSSION AND QUESTION DISCUSSION. I'M SORRY MIKE WASN'T ON. GOOD EVENING. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT. 
          MY NAME IS SETH CUNNINGHAM WITH NEW STRATEGIES, STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS. JUST A QUICK NOTE ABOUT ME AND NEW GEN. NEW GEN IS A CONSULTING FIRM FOCUSED ON UTILITY STUDIES AND THE ENERGY, WATER, WASTEWATER AND SOLID WASTE INDUSTRIES. AND WE DO FINANCIAL STUDIES AS WELL AS OTHER TYPES OF PLANNING STUDIES. AND I'VE GOT ABOUT 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK. AND SO WE ARE BRINGING THIS EXPERIENCE TO THIS PROJECT FOR THE CITY OF EAST POINT. SO JUST REAL QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENTATION WHICH OUTLINES OR WHICH FOLLOWS OUR SCOPE OF SERVICES, WHICH IS WE INITIALLY LED OFF WITH A PROJECT KICKOFF MEETING AND SOME ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS. WE FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH BENCHMARKING WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES, VALIDATED THE COST OF SERVICE ANALYSIS, AND THEN FINALLY THE RATE DESIGN AND RATE SCENARIOS. SO SOME KEY GOALS OF THE STUDY WERE TO IMPLEMENT RATES THAT RECOVER COST, WHILE ALSO REMAINING COMPETITIVE WITH PEER COMMUNITIES TO SET RATES THAT ARE EQUITABLE BETWEEN DIFFERENT CUSTOMER CLASSES AND ALIGNED WITH THE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED TO PLAN FOR OPERATING COST INCREASES AND REPLACEMENT OF CAPITAL, AND PARTICULARLY GARBAGE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING COLLECTION VEHICLES, AND ENSURE THE SOLID WASTE IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND, IS SELF-SUFFICIENT AND CAN MEET ITS RESERVE REQUIREMENTS. SO THESE ARE THE THE CURRENT RATES THAT ARE IN PLACE. THE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSEHOLD RATE IS $21.50 PER MONTH. THERE'S ALSO ADDITIONAL $6 PER MONTH FOR AN EXTRA CART. THERE'S RATES FOR SMALL COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE COLLECTED IN THE SAME MANNER. THERE'S ALSO THE MULTI-FAMILY CUSTOMERS. THERE ARE $18 PER UNIT PER MONTH AND ROLL OFF CUSTOMERS, WHICH IS FAIRLY LIMITED SERVICE IN THE CITY. BUT EVERY TIME YOU PULL THE LARGE ROLL OFF CONTAINERS, $275 PLUS THE COST OF DISPOSAL. 
          SO ONE WAY RATE I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL RATE, WHICH IS $21.50 PER MONTH. THIS WAS THE FOCUS OF OUR BENCHMARKING EFFORT. SO THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS WE LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION AND COMPARED RATES AND SERVICES AND ACROSS THESE COMMUNITIES, AND INCLUDING EASTPOINTE, THE AVERAGE WAS 2696 PER MONTH. SO EASTPOINTE IS AT THE LOWER END OF THAT RANGE, BUT ALSO SEVERAL OF THE COMMUNITIES BELOW EASTPOINTE, SOUTH FULTON AND COLLEGE PARK DO NOT HAVE A CURBSIDE RECYCLING PROGRAM. AND SO WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE SERVICES THAT ARE BEING RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR A FAIRLY LOW RATE CURRENTLY. AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IS THE CASE IS THAT, AS I'LL SHOW IN A FEW MINUTES, IS THE COST BEING CHARGED IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO FULLY RECOVER YOUR CURRENT COST. SO GETTING IN THE TO THE RATE DESIGN PIECE OF IT, JUST REAL HIGHLIGHT QUICK VIEW OF WHAT WE CALL THE BILLING UNITS. SO HOW MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF CUSTOMERS YOU HAVE. AND SO WE HAVE THE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS WITH OVER 11,000 HOUSEHOLDS. WE ESTIMATED ABOUT 1600 EXTRA CARTS THAT ARE BEING COLLECTED, APPROXIMATELY 5000 MULTI-FAMILY UNITS. AND THEN AS I MENTIONED, JUST A FEW ROLL OFF POLES AND THEN JUST PUT IN THERE THE DISPOSAL AMOUNTS AS WELL. SO YOU CAN GET A SENSE OF THE TONNAGES BEING DISPOSED BY THOSE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. SO THE, THE FIRST COLUMN IN THIS TABLE AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE I'LL WALK THROUGH IT IS THE SERVICE CATEGORY. SO THESE ARE ALL THE SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED BY THE CITY ADMINISTRATION. COVERS RECOVERS. 
          SORRY, INCLUDES THINGS LIKE FUND TRANSFERS AND OVERSIGHT OF THE OPERATION. BUT MOST OF THE OTHERS ARE DIRECT COST. SO RESIDENTIAL REFUSE IS AN EXAMPLE. THE MULTI-FAMILY REFUSE. AND THEN THE FISCAL YEAR 27, THAT'S OUR FORECAST OF WHAT THE COST IS FOR EACH OF THOSE SERVICES. AND THEN THE NEXT THREE COLUMNS ARE THE THREE PRIMARY CUSTOMER TYPES SINGLE FAMILY, RESIDENTIAL, MULTI-FAMILY, RESIDENTIAL AND ROLL OFF. AND SO SOME OF THESE 
          [01:30:04]
ARE ALLOCATED DIRECTLY TO A CUSTOMER CLASS. SO PICKING UP A CART AT A HOUSEHOLD IS 100% ALLOCATED TO THE SINGLE FAMILY, RESIDENTIAL VERSUS OTHER COSTS. SAY FOR EXAMPLE, THE COST OF ILLEGAL DUMPING WAS WAS DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE CUSTOMER CLASSES BASED ON THE SIZE OF THOSE OPERATIONS. SO SOMEWHAT PROPORTIONAL SHARING OF THOSE COSTS. SO THE TOTAL FOR THE REVENUE REQUIREMENT HERE IS ALMOST $4.5 MILLION. AND THIS IS THE TOTAL EXPENSES MINUS SOME NON RATE REVENUE THAT YOU GET LIKE LEASE REVENUE AT THE TRANSFER STATION FOR EXAMPLE. AND SO THIS SLIDE WE WERE JUST TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S COST INCREASES THAT THE CITY FACES EACH YEAR FOR PROVIDING THIS SERVICE. THERE'S THINGS LIKE THE COST OF COLLECTION VEHICLES HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY. THE COST OF HIRING AND RETAINING PEOPLE HAS GONE UP, AS WELL AS JUST INFLATIONARY COSTS OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF, YOU KNOW, MATERIALS AND ITEMS YOU USE IN THE SERVICE. BUT THEN ALSO YOU HAVE TWO LARGE COMPONENTS AS PART OF YOUR COST. THE DISPOSAL COST AND RECYCLING COST IS SET TO A CPI ADJUSTMENT, SPECIFICALLY THE WATER SEWER TRASH ADJUSTMENT. AND SO THAT WENT, FOR EXAMPLE, OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS HAS AVERAGED OVER 4% PER YEAR INCREASE AND OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAS BEEN ALMOST 5% PER YEAR INCREASE. SO EVEN THOUGH THE RATE HAS NOT INCREASED, THE COST OF PROVIDING THE SERVICE HAS CERTAINLY INCREASED OVER TIME. SO WITH THIS GRAPH SHOWS IS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WHAT THE PROJECTED WE CALL OVER AND UNDER RECOVERY IS FOR EACH OF THE THE THREE MAIN CUSTOMER CLASSES. AND SO YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A ZERO BAR, ANYTHING BELOW THAT IS ESSENTIALLY OPERATING AT A DEFICIT. AND ANYTHING ABOVE THAT IS GENERATING A POSITIVE. AND SO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, AS I MENTIONED, IS OPERATING AT A DEFICIT. AND IF YOU KEEP THE RATE CONSTANT AND DON'T CHANGE THAT, THAT DEFICIT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AS THOSE COSTS CONTINUE TO INCREASE. AS FOR OPERATING, WHEREAS MULTIFAMILY STARTS OFF AT A POSITIVE, AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE FIVE YEARS, WE'RE PROJECTED TO GO NEGATIVE AND THEN ROLL OFF IN THE GREEN, JUST IS CLOSE TO BREAK EVEN AND STAYS POSITIVE EACH OF THE FIVE YEARS. SO WE LOOKED AT THREE DIFFERENT RATE SCENARIOS. THESE ARE JUST POTENTIAL SCENARIOS THAT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERED FOR THE FUTURE. BUT ONE THING I WANTED TO MENTION BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT IS THE THE RESERVE REQUIREMENTS IN THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POLICIES. AND SPECIFIC TO SOLID WASTE, IT STATES THAT THE CITY WILL MAINTAIN A MINIMUM OF FOUR MONTHS OF EXPENSES AND THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, OR WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE RESERVE. AND THE RESERVES SHOULD BE NO LESS THAN $1.6 MILLION. AT THE TIME WE STARTED THE PROJECT, IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT THE SOLID WASTE HAD ABOUT $200,000 IN RESERVE. AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE FISCAL YEAR 26 TEST YEAR REVENUE REQUIREMENT, WHICH WAS 4.3 MILLION, THAT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN THE NUMBER IN THE PRIOR SLIDE, BECAUSE THAT WAS AA1 YEAR PROJECTED FORWARD. SO 4.3 MILLION IF YOU TAKE FOUR MONTHS OF THAT, THAT'S 1.43 MILLION. AND SO BASED ON THAT, YOU SHOULD HAVE $1.6 MILLION IN RESERVE JUST BASED ON THE EXISTING FINANCIAL POLICY. SO IN ALL THE RIGHT SCENARIOS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY IS A BASELINE. WE LOOKED AT, INCLUDING A SMALL INCREMENTAL CPI TYPE ADJUSTMENT EACH YEAR TO THE RATE JUST TO HELP KEEP UP WITH THE RATE INCREASES THAT ARE THAT ARE THAT THE UTILITIES EACH EACH YEAR. BUT THEN WE LOOKED AT SOME TARGETED INCREASES ABOVE THAT. AND WE LOOKED AT THREE SCENARIOS. SCENARIO ONE, TWO, AND THREE ALL ACHIEVE EVENTUALLY THE SAME GOAL, WHICH IS TO GET TO THE RESERVE. THEY JUST ACHIEVE IT OVER DIFFERENT TIME FRAMES. SO SCENARIO ONE IS THE MORE AGGRESSIVE SCENARIO TRYING TO GET TO THE TARGET RESERVE BALANCE BETWEEN 4 TO 5 YEARS, SCENARIO TWO AND 6 TO 7 YEARS, AND SCENARIO THREE IN 9 TO 10 YEARS. A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THIS SLIDE. SO WHAT I WHAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON IS, YOU KNOW, THAT 2.5% IS WHAT WE'RE SHOWING FOR IS KIND OF THE BASELINE. BUT EACH SCENARIO YOU CAN SEE SCENARIO ONE, THERE'S FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT RATE INCREASES IN 2027. AND THOSE ARE THOSE ARE BOLDED WITH A BOX AROUND IT. BUT THEN IT JUST GOES TO 2.5% AFTER THAT SCENARIO TWO 
          [01:35:01]
STRETCHES THOSE OUT A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE RATE INCREASES COME DOWN. AND SCENARIO THREE THE RATE INCREASES COME DOWN FURTHER, BUT THEY STRETCH OUT FURTHER. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT SINGLE FAMILY RATE IN 2020, SORRY, IN 2031 THEY'RE ALL FAIRLY SIMILAR. 29, 30, 29, 20, 29, 40. THEY'RE JUST GETTING THERE OVER A DIFFERENT PERIOD OF TIME. AND SO WHAT THAT DOES NOW, THESE BARS REPRESENT THE THREE SCENARIOS. SCENARIO ONE, IMMEDIATELY YOU'RE OVER RECOVERING AND THAT OVER RECOVERY THEN ALLOWS YOU TO START TO BUILD UP THAT THAT RESERVE BALANCE TO TRY TO MEET THE TARGET ZERO TWO RAMPS UP A LITTLE SLOWER, BUT THEN ALSO AGAIN, GETS YOU TO THE TO A POSITIVE SITUATION EACH YEAR, BUT ALSO ALLOWING YOU TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE RESERVE BALANCE. AND THEN SCENARIO THREE WOULD ACTUALLY STILL BE NEGATIVE IN 2027, SLIGHTLY POSITIVE IN 2028. AND THEN TO START TO POSITIVELY GROW AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE RESERVE BALANCE. AND SO WHAT THIS SHOWS IS THOSE PROJECTED YEAR END RESERVE BALANCE PROJECTIONS. AND SO THE GREEN DASHED LINE REPRESENTS THE TARGET. AND SO IT'S FLAT IN THE FIRST PART OF IT BECAUSE THAT'S THAT $1.6 MILLION MINIMUM. AND THEN IT STARTS TO GROW AS THE THE COST OF THE OPERATION GROWS OVER TIME. AND SO WHAT THIS SHOWS IS THAT THE BLUE BAR SCENARIO ONE MEETS THAT RESERVE BETWEEN YEAR FOUR AND FIVE. SCENARIO TWO WOULD GET THERE BEYOND WHAT THIS GRAPH SHOWS. BUT OUT THERE, YEAR 6 OR 7. AND THEN FINALLY SCENARIO THREE IS IS MUCH SLOWER. IT'S STILL TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IT IT TAKES LONGER TO GET THERE. AND SO IT WOULD BE EVEN FURTHER OUT BETWEEN YEARS NINE AND TEN. SO ONE, WHAT THIS SLIDE SHOWS IS AN UPDATED BENCHMARKING. AND THIS MAY HAVE ONE CORRECTION COMPARED TO WHAT YOU MAY HAVE IN YOUR POCKETS. THE THREE COLORED BARS THAT HAVE THE YEARS BY THEM. YOUR PACKET MAY SHOW FISCAL YEAR 2027. THAT SHOULD HAVE READ FISCAL YEAR 2029, WHICH IS WHICH IS CORRECTED HERE ON THIS SLIDE. AND SO WHAT THIS DOES IS IT LOOKS OUT THREE YEARS FROM NOW, IF YOU IMPLANTED ONE OF THOSE RATE INCREASE SCENARIOS, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE COMPARED TO THE CURRENT DAY BENCHMARKING. AND I EMPHASIZE CURRENT DAY BECAUSE ALL OF THESE COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO UNDER PRICE PRESSURES TO INCREASE RATES AS WELL. AND SO I WOULD EXPECT MANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES TO ALSO BE LOOKING AT RATE INCREASES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. AND FOR THAT AVERAGE TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE AS WELL. BUT EVEN AT CURRENT RATES, THOSE THREE RATE INCREASES, THOSE THREE SCENARIOS AFTER THREE YEARS WOULD STILL BE FAIRLY CLOSE TO THE AVERAGE AND STILL GETTING A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE. ONE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION REGARDING MULTIFAMILY IS RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, EVERYTHING IS CHARGED PER UNIT, AND THERE'S SOME UPS AND DOWNS WITH THAT REVENUE BECAUSE AS OUR VACANCIES AND TURNOVER, THE CITY IS NOT GETTING REVENUE WHEN THERE'S THOSE VACANCIES. 
          AND SO AN ALTERNATIVE THAT COULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED IS CHARGING BASED ON SERVICE LEVEL. 
          SO SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF AN APARTMENT UNIT HAS A EIGHT CUBIC YARD CONTAINER COLLECTED THREE TIMES A WEEK, THE APARTMENT OWNER WOULD BE CHARGED AT THAT SERVICE LEVEL RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL UNITS. AND SO IT MAY ALSO, YOU KNOW, BE LESS TURNOVER IN THE BILLING SYSTEM AS WELL BY BY LOOKING AT IT AT APARTMENT LEVEL. SORRY, I'M JUST KEEPING AN EYE ON MY TIME OVER HERE. SO IN SUMMARY. YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT SINGLE FAMILY RATE IN PARTICULAR IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO RECOVER THE COST OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES IN THE CITY. AND THE CITY IS NOT CURRENTLY MEETING THE FINANCIAL POLICY REGARDING SOLID WASTE AND ITS RESERVE REQUIREMENTS. THE THREE RATE SCENARIOS WE OUTLINED TONIGHT WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO FULLY RECOVER ITS COST OF SERVICE AND MEET ITS RESERVE REQUIREMENTS, BUT OVER DIFFERENT PERIODS OF TIME. AND THEN LAST, THE CITY COULD CONSIDER A RATE STRUCTURE CHANGE TO MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES, PROVIDE MORE STABLE REVENUE. 50S TO SPARE. THAT'S THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. COUNCIL COUNCILMAN FREELY. THANKS, MA'AM. I'M SORRY. PARDON ME FOR A SECOND. IS IT? CAN WE SET THE 
          [01:40:05]
TIMER FOR TEN MINUTES FOR QUESTIONING, PLEASE? IS THERE. OH, I'M SORRY. COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS WOULD LIKE TO SET A TIMER FOR QUESTIONS FOR TEN MINUTES. DO WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THAT? DO WE HAVE TO VOTE? AGAIN? THERE'S NOT A THERE ISN'T A RULE FOR. THERE ISN'T A RULE OR POLICY ON YOUR REGULAR MEETINGS. SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO GET A VOTE SO THAT IT CAN BE THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO THERE'S. DO YOU WANT. 
          OKAY. SO WE DO NOT WANT TO VOTE FOR TEN MINUTES AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO LET IT GO FOR. OKAY. 
          I'M SORRY SIR, DOES ANY COUNCILWOMAN COUNCILMAN FREELY YOU'RE UP FOR DISCUSSION AND FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, MR. CUNNINGHAM, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. IT WAS VERY CLEAR AND VERY THOROUGH. AND WE HAVE KNOWN THAT OUR RATES WERE NOT SUFFICIENT FOR MANY YEARS. SO NONE OF THIS IS SURPRISING. BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL OBVIOUSLY COME UP IN PEOPLE'S MINDS AS PART OF THIS REVIEW AND THE STUDY THAT YOU DID, DID YOU CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOMEHOW CUTTING COSTS OR SOME SORT OF OPERATIONAL COSTS THAT WOULD OFFSET THIS? I'M I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I EXPECT THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL. DISCOVER THIS. MIKE. MIKE TURNED OFF THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY WAS WAS A FINANCIAL STUDY. AND SO WE DID NOT DO WHAT WE CONSIDERED OPERATIONAL REVIEW IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, GETTING OUT IN THE FIELD AND, AND DOING A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE OPERATIONS. I MEAN, THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE IN OTHER SCENARIOS. BUT, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S HARD TO SAY EXACTLY, BUT GIVEN THAT THE SIZE OF THE CITY AND THE LEVEL OF RESOURCES WE SAW, WE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT SEEMED OUT OF THE ORDINARY BY ANY MEANS. I MEAN, WE DO SEE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A PURELY FINANCIAL STUDY, IF SOMETHING JUST SEEMS ABNORMALLY HIGH, WILL USUALLY BRING THAT UP TO THE THE STAFF THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH. SO AGAIN, I GUESS THEN I WOULD ASK, MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO JUST SORT OF DIRECT THAT QUESTION TO THE CITY MANAGER OR POSSIBLY OUR SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR. YES, YOU CAN DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS. THANKS. 
          IS AND ACCEPTING WHAT MR. CUNNINGHAM JUST SAID ABOUT THE NATURE OF THIS STUDY. IS IT YOUR OPINION? DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE THAT THERE ARE COST CUTTING MEASURES WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD SOMEHOW OFFSET THE NEED FOR THIS RATE INCREASE? FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, I WOULD SAY RECYCLING WOULD BE A COST EFFECTIVE BECAUSE WE'RE OUTSOURCING IT. BUT IF WE WAS TO BRING IT IN-HOUSE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A COST EFFECTIVE. THAT IS A LARGE CHUNK OF WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW. OKAY. SO THAT SHIFT TO IN-HOUSE RECYCLING AS OPPOSED TO CONTRACTING IT, IS SORT OF THE ONE AREA YOU MIGHT IDENTIFY. YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN ADKINS. YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. CUNNINGHAM. AND ALSO MR. WHITEHEAD. THIS IS ALSO IN LINE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FREHLEY'S QUESTION. MY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE AROUND COST CUTTING AS WELL. I HEARD YOU ABOUT THE RECYCLING, SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT. AND THE OTHER QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS ABOUT THE ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND THEN ALSO THE REROUTING THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO US. THAT WAS ALSO TO SAVE ON FUEL. SO THE PRESENTATION THAT MR. CUNNINGHAM GAVE US, DOES IT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ANY OF THE SAVINGS FROM THE REROUTING? AND ARE WE ALSO BEEFING UP ILLEGAL DUMPING? IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT I GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM CITIZENS. I DRIVE BY AREAS, I SEE TIRES AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS. WHEN WE GET THOSE COMPLAINTS, WE TRY TO MITIGATE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ABATE ALL OF THOSE. BUT THERE'S A COST TO US AND IN ESSENCE, A COST TO OUR CITIZENS. SO IF WE'RE ASKING THEM TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELT TO CONSIDER A RATE INCREASE, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING ISSUES LIKE ILLEGAL DUMPING? AND THEN ALSO, IF YOU CAN JUST SPEAK TO IF IT IF YOUR PRESENTATION CONSIDERS THE SAVINGS FROM THE ROUTE CHANGES. 
          SO THE SAVINGS FOR THE ROUTE CHANGES MORE EFFICIENT WITH THE FUEL CONSUMPTION AND TO CONGEST THE ROUTE. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE SCATTERED OVER THE EAST POINT, SO WE'RE BURNING MORE FUEL AND 
          [01:45:03]
DOING MORE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE'RE RUNNING THE ROUTES. SO ONCE WE CONGEST THE ROUTES, WE'RE LOOKING AT MORE EFFICIENCY OF NOT FUEL COSTS, LESS MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THE TRUCKS. AS FAR AS THE ILLEGAL DUMPING PART, IT'S NOTHING. I WON'T SAY THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S A COST EFFECTIVE TO SOLID WASTE BECAUSE IT'S COMING OUT OF OUR BUDGET. WE GO OUT THERE AND WE PICK UP ILLEGAL DUMPING AND WE TURN AROUND. WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT COST. SO WE'RE TAKING THAT LIT ALL OVER THE CITY AND HOW WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT. NOW WE'RE HAVING LESS CALLS IN ILLEGAL DUMPING BECAUSE WE WE PUT A PLAN TOGETHER WHERE I HAVE MY SUPERVISORS GO OUT ON A WEDNESDAY AND THEY PINPOINT ALL ILLEGAL DUMP STATIONS THAT WE CALL HOTSPOTS AS THEY GO. LOOK AT THAT ON A MONDAY, WE'LL GO RIGHT BACK AND WE'LL SURFACE THAT AREA. SO WITHIN THAT SAME WEEK, YOU HAVE A RIGHT BACK ILLEGAL DUMPING. SO WE'RE TAKING THAT COST AND WE'RE NOT GETTING FUNDED FOR THAT. RIGHT. SO I CAN'T SAY WE CAN CUT THAT OFF BECAUSE IF WE CUT THAT OFF NOW WE GOT A DIRTY CITY, RIGHT. SO NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE CUT IT OFF. BUT IF I'M AN ILLEGAL DUMPER AND I COME TO DUMP TIRES AND THEN I SEE THAT THEY'RE REMOVED THE FOLLOWING WEEK, NOTHING HAPPENED TO ME. TWO WEEKS LATER, I'M PROBABLY COMING BACK. RIGHT, RIGHT. SO THE CITIZENS, THE CITY WE ARE, WE ARE ABSORBING THAT COST. THE QUESTION IS AROUND ANY STRATEGIES OR TECHNIQUES, HOWEVER WE DO IT SURVEILLANCE, LICENSE TAGS, ANY OF THOSE THINGS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GOING AFTER. AND IF WE KNOW THE HOTSPOTS THAT TERM, I GOT CEDRIC MADDOX RIGHT. THOSE HOT SPOTS BECAUSE WE DEALT WITH THOSE A LOT. IF WE KNOW WE HAVE HOTSPOTS, WHY AREN'T WE ADDRESSING ANY TYPE OF SURVEILLANCE IN THOSE AREAS SO THAT WE CAN CRACK DOWN AND MAKE THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE DUMPING PAY THEIR SHARE FOR THAT, WHATEVER THOSE FINES MAY BE, BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING ON ALL OF THAT COST. SO I'M NOT GOING TO OVERSTEP MY BOUNDARIES ON THIS. BUT CHIEF, YOU CAN AND IS TRYING TO PUT OUT CAMERAS TO SURVEILLANCE TO CATCH THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE DUMPING ILLEGAL. SO ON MY BEHALF, MY JOB IS TO REMOVE EVERYTHING THAT'S OUT THERE. SO WE ARE DOING THAT. WE DO GO AROUND AND WE USE OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT, ALONG WITH MY SUPERVISORS TO MONITOR THESE AREAS. BUT WHEN THESE PEOPLE DOING ILLEGAL DUMPING, THEY ILLEGAL DUMPING TWO, THREE, FOUR IN THE MORNING WHERE EVERYBODY SLEEP. SO I AGAIN, I CAN'T OVERSTEP CHIEF BUCHANAN JOB BECAUSE HE IS TRYING TO PUT THE CAMERAS OUT THERE TO CATCH THE. AND I CAN SHED A LITTLE LIGHT ON THAT. SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DEPLOYING WHAT WE CALL HUNTER CAMERAS. THESE CAMERAS ARE TYPICALLY USED BY HUNTERS TO CHECK WILDLIFE WHEN THEY MOVE. THE CAMERA ONLY CUTS ON WHEN IT PICKS UP MOVEMENT. SO NOT TO GO INTO TOO MUCH OF TACTICS AND STRATEGIES, THEY ARE PLACING THOSE NOW. THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED TO OUR CAM SYSTEM, OUR REAL REAL TIME CRIME CENTER. 
          BUT THEY ARE HAVE DOWNLOADABLE. AND SO I WILL CHECK WITH THE CHIEF ON HOW THE STATS AND WE STARTED THAT PRACTICE. SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT WENT OUT THAT WE JUST STARTED THAT PRACTICE WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. SO I WILL ASK FOR A STATUS ON HOW THAT'S GOING. OKAY. IN ADDITION, MR. CITY MANAGER, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WHEN YOU ASK FOR THE STATUS, COULD YOU ALSO ASK FOR THE ANALYTICS? SO HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THEY? I'M JUST A HUGE BELIEVER THAT THAT WHICH IS NOT MEASURED CANNOT BE IMPROVED. SO IT WOULD BE ONE THING FOR US TO HAVE THE CAMERAS. BUT IF WE'RE NOT MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT, THEN I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD IMPROVE IT. SO THE ANALYTICS WOULD BE GREAT AROUND THAT AS WELL. SO TO PIGGYBACK ALSO, I'M SORRY, WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW, THE AREAS THAT THEY KNOW WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY DUMPING THESE ILLEGAL TIRES NOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING THERE ANYMORE. THEY'RE GOING TO CHURCHES. LIKE WE JUST CLEARED UP A CHURCH OFF OF. OKAY, IT'S A CHURCH OVER. I'M SORRY, I FORGOT THE ROAD. 
          BUT ANYWAY, WE CLEARED UP ALMOST 200 TIRES BECAUSE THEY DUMPED IN THIS CHURCH PARKING LOT IN THE BACK. AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN DEKALB COUNTY, THEY DID THE EXACT SAME THING. THEY GOING TO CHURCHES NOW. SO THEY KNOW THE AREAS WHERE YOU ACTUALLY PUTTING UP CAMERAS. SO PEOPLE RIGHT NOW TO SAY, OKAY, IT'S NOTHING HERE, IT'S NOTHING HERE. NOBODY GOING TO PUT UP CAMERAS AROUND CHURCHES OR THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE THINKING. BUT THIS IS WHERE ALL ILLEGAL DUMPING IS HAPPENING AT RIGHT NOW. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. CAN WE THE COUNCILWOMAN 
          [01:50:03]
MARTIN ROGERS. I WAS AIMING AT KIM. DO YOU WANT ME TO MOVE ON TO COUNCILWOMAN? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND I DID HAVE A LITTLE TIME TO LOOK AT IT OVER THIS WEEKEND. 
          BUT HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO GO ON RECORD WITH. AND MR. CITY MANAGER, WHILE YOU'RE GETTING THAT INFORMATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS, PLEASE MAKE SURE, MADAM CITY CLERK, THAT THIS IS WRITTEN DOWN AS WELL. YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT COST CUTTING, YOUR ADMINISTRATION COSTS ARE ALMOST $1 MILLION. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE JOB DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS FOR THAT DEPARTMENT. ALSO FOR NUMBER TWO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TRUCK INVENTORY. WHAT DO WE HAVE THE YEAR, THE MAKE AND THE MODEL. AND THEN A BRIEF DESCRIPTION ON HOW LONG WE KEEP THOSE TRUCKS. BECAUSE MY EXPECTATION IS, AND I SPOKE TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THIS, IF WE COULD HAVE FOUR TRUCKS DOING LITTER PICKUP CONSECUTIVELY FIVE DAYS A WEEK IN EACH WARD TO HELP US MAINTAIN THE CLEANLINESS OF THIS CITY. SO I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON THAT. 
          AND THEN NUMBER THREE, OVER THE YEARS, I FOLLOWED OUR SANITATION DEPARTMENT. I WAS ON COUNCIL WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE RECYCLING CONTRACT. BUT IT'S THREE BUCKETS THAT I DON'T SEE LISTED HERE IN THIS STUDY. AND ONE OR IT MAY BE THE FRANCHISE FEES FROM FRANCHISE FEES FROM PRIVATE HAULERS. I WOULD LIKE TO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THE CITY IS RECEIVING FOR THAT. I WILL ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THE LEASE PAYMENTS FROM THE EASTPOINTE TRANSFER STATIONS, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE PAYING LEASES TO BE A PART OF THOSE TRANSFER STATIONS. AND THEN THE CITY ALSO RECEIVES ROYALTY FUNDS OR ROYALTY FEES FOR ALL GARBAGE THAT COMES TO THAT STATION. I WOULD LIKE THOSE NUMBERS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. THOSE ARE, I THINK FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS WOULD GIVE US A BETTER LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST. THE OTHER THING THAT WAS MENTIONED HERE WAS SINGLE FAMILY VERSUS MULTI UNITS. AND AS I WAS DOING RESEARCH ON THIS, I MEAN, I'M A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, BUT I KNOW THAT I PAID $21.50, BUT I GET TWO BULK PICKUPS A YEAR WITH RECYCLING AND ALSO GARBAGE. BUT IF WE LOOK AT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING WITH THOSE APARTMENTS, APARTMENTS GET PICKED UP WHAT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, AND THEY HAVE A DUMPSTER AND THEY'RE ALL PAYING ABOUT $18 MAYBE, OR I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY'RE PAYING. I'LL HAVE TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER. I THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE. IF WE INCREASE THE MULTI UNITS VERSUS PUTTING THIS ON SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, MULTI UNITS WILL PROBABLY WHERE WE'LL GET MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK. AND THEN WE DID APPROVE A ROUTE CHANGE. I WANT TO KNOW THE FUEL CONSUMPTION WITH THAT ROUTE CHANGE. HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND IN FUEL FOR THE PAST ROUTE CHANGES. AND WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT TO SPEND WITH THE NEW ROUTE CHANGES. AND THEN LASTLY, THE TOTAL COST OF RECYCLING IN HOUSE. GOING BACK TO THAT, I WAS ON COUNCIL WHEN WE DID THE OUTSOURCING OF RECYCLING. AND I THINK THAT THE MAJOR CONCERN WITH RECYCLING IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE DOING IT WAS WE COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT CAPABILITY. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S OUTSOURCED. 
          BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT WOULD COST THE CITY TO DO THEIR OWN RECYCLING VERSUS SOMEONE ELSE'S, VERSUS A COMPANY DOING THE RECYCLING FOR US. SO DO YOU HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS, MADAM? CITY CLERK, THE MAJORITY OF THEM. BUT YOU KNOW, WE GET ALL OUR VERBATIM MINUTES FOR YOU ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DON'T EXPECT AN ANSWER TONIGHT BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE A BIT OF RESEARCH, BUT I DID WANT TO GO ON RECORD AS I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND JUST KIND OF RESEARCHING WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING. THANK YOU. AND, AND I WILL WORK WITH WITH ROBERT TO FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE. I DID WANT TO JUST MENTION THAT THE, THE LEASE PAYMENTS OF ROYALTIES AND FRANCHISE FEES, THOSE ARE WHEN WE SHOW THE REVENUE REQUIREMENT. SO I PUT THE SLIDE UP THERE FOR 27 IS THE TOTAL EXPENSES ARE GREATER THAN THE 4.48. AND THEN WE'RE SUBTRACTING THOSE COSTS AS IN SAYING, OKAY, WHATEVER'S LEFT OVER IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE RECOVERED FROM RATES. AND SO THEY IT IS IN THE ANALYSIS. IT'S JUST NOT BROKEN OUT THE WAY YOU ASKED FOR IT. BUT WE WILL GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU. YEAH. COUNCILWOMAN. OH, COUNCILWOMAN HEMMINGS, MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY, TO THE PRESENTERS, PLEASE. YES. THANK YOU, MR. CUNNINGHAM, AND THANK 
          [01:55:01]
YOU, MR. WHITEHEAD. I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TIME. SO HOW LONG HAS EASTPOINTE SANITATION BEEN AT THE 2150? FOREVER SINCE. I KNOW THEY NEVER CHANGED THE RATES. 
          SO WHENEVER EASTPOINTE STARTED. SOLID WASTE. I GUESS THAT'S HOW LONG IT'S BEEN. AND, MR. CUNNINGHAM, HOW FREQUENTLY DO CITIES TYPICALLY LIKE THAT HAVE HEALTHY BUDGETS? HOW OFTEN DO THEY REASSESS AND RECALIBRATE THE RATES BASED ON CURRENT NEEDS? YEAH, I MEAN, IT VARIES BASED ON KIND OF THE CURRENT, THE SITUATION, HOW DYNAMIC IT IS. BUT OFTENTIMES WE'LL WORK WITH CLIENTS EVERY 3 TO 5 YEARS TO LOOK AT IT. AND IF THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGES, IT MIGHT BE MORE THAN THREE YEARS. IF THINGS ARE A LITTLE MORE STEADY, IT MIGHT BE EVERY FIVE YEARS TO JUST TAKE A LOOK AT IT, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS STILL IN BALANCE AND, YOU KNOW, ARE THE CUSTOMERS, YOU KNOW, RECOVERING THEIR RATES AS INTENDED OR NOT. AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF A RULE OF THUMB. OBVIOUSLY, IT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY. MR. CUNNINGHAM IN THE PLAINEST LANGUAGE, LIKE 10TH GRADE LEVEL. YEAH. PLEASE DESCRIBE TO ME WHAT THE RISK IS TO THE CITY IF THIS RESERVE IS NOT BROUGHT UP TO THE STANDARD. AND WHAT'S THE RISK TO THE RESIDENTS AND THE RATEPAYERS IF THIS RESERVE IS NOT BROUGHT UP TO THE STANDARD THAT'S OUTLINED IN THE POLICY RIGHT NOW? EFFECTIVELY, IT'S OPERATING AT A DEFICIT, WHICH MEANS THAT THAT HAS TO BE COVERED SOMEWHERE. AND SO RIGHT NOW IT'S BEING COVERED, I BELIEVE, THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND. AND SO SO THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH HAS OTHER PURPOSES, IS HAVING TO SUPPLEMENT THE SOLID WASTE FUND. AND THE SOLID WASTE FUND IS SET UP AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND, WHICH IS TO MEAN THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO RECOVER ENOUGH REVENUE TO TO PAY FOR ALL THE COSTS OF PROVIDING THE SERVICE. AND SO IT IS A POLICY DECISION AT THAT POINT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A FINANCIAL POLICY THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE TO SAY THAT THERE WOULD BE A RESERVE, THE CONSEQUENCE OF MEETING THAT, NOT MEETING THAT FINANCIAL POLICY. THAT MAY BE A QUESTION FOR THE THE CITY MANAGER OR CITY ATTORNEY. I'M NOT SURE IN YOUR PARTICULAR CASE, IF THE IF IT'S IF THERE'S ANY REAL CONSEQUENCE OF NOT MEETING THAT VERSUS JUST YOU'RE NOT MEETING A POLICY THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE. SO, MR. CUNNINGHAM, IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT IF WE HAVE TO COVER THESE COSTS BECAUSE WE HAVE SANITATION SERVICES, BUT WE ARE SUPPLEMENTING THEM FROM THE GENERAL FUND, WE ARE SHIFTING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN FROM RATEPAYERS TO TAXPAYERS. SO IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IF I'M BOTH A RATEPAYER AND A TAXPAYER, I'M PAYING FOR SOLID WASTE $21.50 A MONTH, BUT ALSO BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING THESE MONIES FROM THE GENERAL FUND, I WOULD ALSO BE PAYING FOR IT THROUGH MY TAXES. CORRECT. I YIELD. AND DOCTOR MARTIN ROGERS. COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. SO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WILL SAY I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF EASTPOINTE OVER 16 YEARS AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT. I TYPICALLY HEAR A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS. SO FOUNDATIONALLY DONE SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS TO TO CONSISTENTLY DELIVER A GREAT SERVICE TO THE CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. 
          SO ONE, WE ARE STEPPING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES. SO RIGHT NOW, LIKE REALLY LOOKING AT ANY TYPE OF POTENTIAL RATE INCREASES TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT APPROACH. I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BOTH THE CITY AND POTENTIALLY THE RESIDENTS. SO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED A REQUEST TO SEE FORMAL DOCUMENTATION AROUND, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP OURSELVES INTERNALLY. SO LOOKING AT OPERATIONAL COSTS, LOOKING AT ANY OF OUR ASSETS TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN INCREASE REVENUE AND HELP DRIVE DOWN SOME OF THAT COST. WE'RE ALSO YOU JUST ANNOUNCED A PRETTY BIG CHANGE THAT'S COMING WITH ROOTS, RIGHT? AND SO I'M, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ON HOW WE CAN MAKE SUCH A DRASTIC CHANGE. AND YOU MENTIONED THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME BENEFITS, COST SAVINGS THAT ARE COMING FROM THAT, BUT IT'S NOT REFLECTED HERE. I DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE AND HOW THAT IS GOING TO REFLECT IN THIS OVERALL COST, BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE CONCERNING THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A MASSIVE CHANGE AFTER, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, 30, 40 YEARS OF ROOTS REMAINING THE SAME, AND ALSO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY AT THE SAME TIME. SO WE KIND OF NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE APPROACH THERE. ONE OR THE OTHER TYPE OF SITUATION, BECAUSE I JUST DON'T SEE THE CONNECTION. IT'S A DISCONNECT FOR ME AROUND THE 
          [02:00:02]
ROUTE CHANGES AND ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS. I MEAN, I THINK EVERYONE HAS SAID MOST OF THE SAME THINGS HERE. I JUST WANT TO SEE MORE FORMAL NUMBERS AROUND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO HELP OURSELVES. AND THEN ALSO WHAT WE'RE THE COST BENEFIT THAT'S GOING TO COME FROM THESE ROUTE CHANGES TO BE REFLECTED IN IN THIS. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PUT ALL THIS ON THE RESIDENCE. OKAY. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A RATE INCREASE. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PUT THIS ALL ON THE RESIDENT WITH THE BUSINESSES. WE'RE SAYING BUSINESSES, MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT COMPLEXES, WHICH SOMEONE JUST MENTIONED UP THERE, WE DID LOOK AT TALKING TO THEM FIRST, INCREASING THE REVENUE BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE THAT WE'RE GIVING THEM. IF YOU GO TO A PRIVATE COMPANY, PRIVATE COMPANY CHARGING 4 OR 5 TIMES WHAT WE'RE CHARGING RIGHT NOW. SO IN ORDER FOR US TO EVEN THINK ABOUT AN INCREASE, I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT SHOULD START FIRST, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH THE BUSINESSES, THE MULTIFAMILIES WHERE WE OVEREXERTING OUR TEAM, WE KILLING THE EQUIPMENT WHOLE NINE YARDS, BUT WE'RE GETTING PAID LESS. SO IN ORDER TO GENERATE OUR FUNDS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FIRST. NOW FOR THE RESIDENTS. YES, WE WAS TALKING ABOUT A RATE INCREASE, BUT WE WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT THIS ZILLION DOLLAR RATE INCREASE. WE DON'T KNOW. THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT IN THE RATE STUDY SO WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN INCREASE AT THIS TIME. 
          BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT MOVING TO MULTIFAMILIES AND THAT SORT AS FAR AS YOUR ROUTE ROUTE CHANGES, ALL THE ROUTE CHANGES IS A DAY CHANGE. SO INSTEAD OF SCATTERING OUR ROUTES, WE CONGESTING EVERYTHING. SO IF WE WERE TO BREAK DOWN WITH TRUCKS OR PERSONNEL, WE CAN JUST SLIDE SHIFT THE TRUCKS RIGHT OVER AND WE CAN HELP ONE ANOTHER INSTEAD OF CROSSING OVER THE CITY OF ATLANTA, CITY OF EASTPOINTE. I'M SORRY. THE ONLY CONCERN AROUND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S 10,000 I THINK YOU MENTIONED 10,000 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, RIGHT? YOU ARE COMING TO THESE MEETINGS AND MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENTS. YOU'VE DEFINITELY COME TO OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, BUT THERE'S PROBABLY A FEW HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT JOIN ONLINE TO WATCH THE MEETINGS. WE PROBABLY HAVE A FEW HUNDRED PEOPLE IN OUR MEETINGS. THERE'S STILL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT GET THIS MESSAGE. AND SO THERE'S GOING TO JUST BE SOME TRIAL AND ERROR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE PEOPLE RECOGNIZED THERE'S BEEN A ROUTE CHANGE AND POTENTIALLY SOME HIDDEN COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND PICK UP TRASH IN AREAS THAT THAT WE. SO I'M SORRY. SO I'M JUST MAKING SURE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN WHAT IT IS. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL. SO IT WON'T IT WON'T BE THAT ISSUE. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AS ME AND MY TEAM AND MYSELF START TALKING WITH ALREADY PLANNING ON PUTTING OUT FLIERS TO THE ROUTE TO, TO THE DATE CHANGE. WE AIN'T GOING TO SAY ROUTE CHANGE. WE GOING TO SAY A DATE CHANGE BECAUSE THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE A DATE CHANGE FOR THESE CITIZENS. WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUT FLIERS. I CONSTANTLY ASK EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER ON THIS BOARD TO LET ME KNOW WHEN YOUR HOA ARE OR YOUR MEETINGS. I DEAL WITH HOA PRESIDENTS. 
          THEY CALL ME. SO I TRY TO GET INTO EVERYBODY. HOA MEETINGS OR. HOWEVER, JUST TO PUT THE WORD OUT AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED THE CHANGES THAT ARE OUT YET. BUT THAT'S JUST TO GIVE THEM AN IDEA THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS CERTAIN DATE FOR US TO MAKE THIS CHANGE. AND BEFORE MY TRUCKS EVEN START ON THAT DAY, WE'RE DOING DRY RUNS. SO WE'RE SAYING MAY, JUNE, MY TRUCK STILL TO BE GOING IN THE AREAS BEFORE THEY EVEN START THE ROUTES. SO IF IT WAS ANYTHING THAT WAS MISSED, WE ARE OBLIGATED TO GO BACK FOR THAT. WE ALREADY GOT THAT IN PLAN. SO IT IS A PLAN OF ACTION TO PUT IN PLACE SO EVERYTHING RUNS SMOOTHLY ONCE ALL THESE CHANGES COME ABOUT AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE WHERE WE'RE NOT SPENDING AS MUCH MONEY. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AHEAD OF TIME, MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME. OKAY. CAN CAN I MAKE ONE OTHER QUESTION TO THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY? CITY ATTORNEY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE THERE'S A RATE INCREASE, JUST TO CONFIRM THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME BEFORE COUNCIL IN A VOTE BEFORE. OKAY. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AND THEN CITY MANAGER, IF WE COULD HAVE A FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION WHERE WE FORMALLY GET SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE REQUESTED AROUND JUST UNDERSTANDING OPERATIONAL COST EFFICIENCIES, MAKING SURE THAT THE ROUTE CHANGES, THE BENEFITS THAT WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM THE ROUTE CHANGES. THAT'S ALL INCLUDED IN THIS NUMBER. BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION ON THAT. YES. THANK YOU. CERTAINLY. 
          WAS THAT A REQUEST TO BE BEFORE THIS WHOLE CITY COUNCIL, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE 
          [02:05:06]
SUFFICE IN ONE ON ONE MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE? I THINK IT SHOULD BE IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL IN PUBLIC. ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS? OH, ROGERS. ALRIGHT. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION WAS WHEN WAS THE LAST RATE CHANGE? DO WE HAVE THE YEAR THAT IT WAS A RATE CHANGE? IT NEVER WAS. ONE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AND SPEAKING WITH THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR, THEY NEVER HAD BEEN THE RATE CHANGE. IT ALWAYS BEEN 2150. OKAY, I WOULD LIKE THE HISTORY ON WHEN THE LAST TIME IT WAS BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN 2008, 2009. I'M NOT REALLY SURE. 
          BUT MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS, THE CITY MANAGER HAS ASKED THAT 10% OF DEPARTMENT BUDGETS BE CUT ACROSS THE BOARD. MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WAS CUT IN THIS DEPARTMENT SO YOU CAN BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK AS WELL. WHAT WHAT CUTS WERE MADE IN SANITATION. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN. YES. JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP TO COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS QUESTION. AND I THINK I REMEMBER HIM BEING ASKED AS WELL. I DO RECALL THE MONTHLY RATE AT $19. IT WAS EITHER $19 OR 1950, AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN AROUND. THE CHANGE MAY HAVE COME AROUND THE TIME THAT YOU SAID, BUT IT WAS AROUND $19 BEFORE 1950, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. YES. TO COUNCIL MEMBER CALDWELL'S POINT, THE RATE IS IN AN ORDINANCE, SO FOR IT TO BE CHANGED REQUIRES THE ORDINANCE, A NEW ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE TO BE ADOPTED BY THIS BODY. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS? AND SO JUST IN CLOSING, WHEN YOU COME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND WHEN YOU RETURN WITH THE PRESENTATION, CAN YOU PLEASE INCLUDE A COMP PLAN OF THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT WILL BE SHARED WITH THE RESIDENTS? PLEASE LEVERAGE OUR WEBSITE AND IF WE CAN FIND ANY OTHER TOUCH POINTS THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT ON OUR WEBSITE, EVEN IF THEY'RE WATCHING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, LIKE TONIGHT, MAYBE, IS THERE A POP UP THAT YOU CAN PUT? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO THAT, BUT TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KIND OF OVERCOMMUNICATE IF ANY CHANGES THAT WE HAVE, BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY NEED TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS INFORMED. NOT A PROBLEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND FOR OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, I THINK WE WILL MOVE ITEM NUMBER SIX. 
          WE ARE ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. I BELIEVE SIX OVER SIX CIRCLE FOR. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER. THANK YOU. 
          [XI.6. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority MARTA and the City of East Point, Georgia]
ITEM NUMBER SIX, THE METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. COUNCILWOMAN COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL. OH. 
          PERFECT. GOOD EVENING. OH. THAT'S LOUD. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CAROLINA RAMOS. I'M A GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MANAGER AT MARTA. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROGERS, FOR ASKING US TO SPEAK TODAY. AND AND COUNCILMEMBER CALDWELL. YES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T GO OVER 15 MINUTES. SO I'LL GET RIGHT INTO IT. JUST WANT TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATES. 
          AS MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN, THERE'S BEEN CONSTRUCTION BEGINNING ON THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN R, T AND EASTPOINTE. WE WILL. AND WE'VE STARTED TO PREP AROUND THE CITY AND WILL BE BEGINNING IN THE CITY CONSTRUCTION. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE CONSTRUCTION TARGET IS AT THE END BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. AND TO GIVE YOU SOME MORE DETAILS, WE ARE GOING TO BE, WE ANTICIPATE, STARTING AT BAYARD STREET, WORKING EAST BOUND TOWARDS SPRINGDALE ROAD. 
          OUR CONSTRUCTION TEAM AND OUR PROJECT TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DIVISION FOR THE CITY. WE HAVE ALL OF OUR PERMITS, AND WE'VE SUBMITTED MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC PLANS TO THE CITY AS WELL AS WE MOVE FORWARD. IF THERE ARE ANY MAJOR IMPACTS, I'LL BE YOU'LL BE GETTING AN EMAIL FROM ME LETTING YOU KNOW WHERE THOSE IMPACTS ARE. AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, FEEL FREE TO LET ME KNOW. 
          ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL BE DOING WORK OR CONSTRUCTION THROUGH THE WORLD CUP. SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT MOVING FORWARD. SOME MAJOR IMPACTS WE HAVE. THERE YOU GO. 
          [02:10:10]
I WANT TO MAKE SURE GONE THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THROUGH THE LAST FEW YEARS REGARDING OUR BUS NETWORK. SO WE HAVE NOT DONE A TRANSFORMATIVE NETWORK REDESIGN SINCE OUR INCEPTION. WE HAVE ADJUSTED ROUTES HERE AND THERE. BUT OVERALL, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, FOLKS HAVE MOVED, DENSITY HAS CHANGED. WE HAVE COMPLETELY REDONE OUR ENTIRE BUS NETWORK. JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN OVERVIEW OF HOW MUCH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. IT WAS PRETTY EXTENSIVE. WE DID A LOT OF COMMITTEE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AROUND ALL OF OUR SYSTEM, MOVING FORWARD, WANT TO SORT OF HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE FREQUENCY CHANGES ALONG EAST POINT AROUND AND IN. SO AS YOU ALL CAN SEE HIGHLIGHTED, THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGES WITH FREQUENCY. SO 15 MINUTES ARE BETTER AND 30 MINUTES AS WELL. 
          SOME KEY CHANGES FROM EAST TO WEST. SO ROUTE 78 AND 84, WE'RE CONSOLIDATING AND ENSURING THAT IT'S MORE FREQUENT SERVICE EVERY DAY ALL WEEK. THAT INCLUDES SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. 
          ALSO MORE CONNECTION TO A FULTON INDUSTRIAL EAST POINT STATION, GREENBRIAR MALL, FULTON INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD. WE ALSO AS. I'LL GO BACK TO IT REAL QUICK. SO AS YOU ALL CAN SEE, WE HAVE A VERY LARGE REACH ZONE. AND SO JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT AROUND THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDE. SO. ALL RIGHT, I'LL GO BACK SO YOU GUYS CAN SEE IT BETTER. PARTIALLY FOR THE REACH ZONE ARE A SEVERAL FACTORS. ONE IS WHETHER THE ROADS THERE WERE TOO TIGHT FOR THE BUSSES TO THERE WASN'T ENOUGH RIDERSHIP. AND SO WE, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A PRETTY LARGE REACH ZONE. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS. IT IS CURB TO CURB SERVICE. AND SO I HATE GOING BACK AND FORTH. SO I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU GUYS ALL ON THE ONE SO YOU CAN VISUALIZE IT. SO ANYONE WITHIN THAT ZONE, IF YOU LIVE THERE OR YOU WORK THERE, YOU CAN CALL AND YOU CAN USE THE MARTA REACH APP, YOU CAN USE THE PHONE NUMBER OR YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO BOOK A RESERVATION. AND WITHIN 30 MINUTES A MARTA REACH VEHICLE, WHICH I'LL SHOW LATER, WILL COME PICK YOU UP. AND SO THEY'LL TAKE YOU ANYWHERE WITHIN THAT ZONE. SO IF YOU LIVE THERE AND YOUR PHARMACY'S THERE, YOU CAN GO FROM YOUR HOUSE TO THE PHARMACY. IF YOU, YOU KNOW, COMMUTE TO WORK IN THAT ZONE, YOU CAN GET PICKED UP AT YOUR HOUSE AND BE TAKEN TO THE NEAREST ROUTE OR TO THE EAST POINT MARTA STATION. SO IT IS A SHARED EXPERIENCE. SO THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL UBER FOR FOLKS. WE HAVE WE DID LAUNCH ON MARCH 7TH AND OUR TEAM HAS SAID THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS. THIS IS A NEW MODE OF SERVICE. AND SO WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE HICCUPS. SO WE ARE ENCOURAGING OUR RESIDENTS AND RIDERS IF THEY HAVE ANY FEEDBACK OR CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH MARTA, REACH TO PLEASE REACH OUT TO US BECAUSE WE CAN'T FIX A PROBLEM IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THE SAME ALSO GOES FOR THE BUS SERVICE. SO AGAIN, IT WAS ALL THROUGHOUT THE NETWORK. AND SO IF YOU CAN SORT OF VISUALIZE HOW FAR MARTA EXPANDS. AND SO OF COURSE, THERE MAY BE SOME ROUTES OR SOME AREAS THAT WE MISSED. IT'S NOT PERFECT. BUT AS OUR INTERIM CEO SAYS, YOU KNOW, CAN'T BE CAN'T LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD. SO AGAIN, WE ARE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO REACH OUT TO US IF THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR ANY ISSUES WITH NEXTGEN OR MARTA. REACH FOR MARTA, REACH. 
          WE LAUNCHED SERVICE MARCH 7TH, LIKE I SAID, AND THERE WILL BE COMPLIMENTARY RIDES THROUGH MAY 2ND OF THIS YEAR. MOVING FORWARD. SO AS IF YOU ALL RIDE THE SYSTEM, YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THAT WE ARE REPLACING ALL OF OUR FARE SYSTEM AND OUR FARE GATES ALL ACROSS OUR SYSTEM. SO WE ARE COMING TO THIS CENTURY AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO TAP TO PAY. YOU CAN USE YOUR WATCH, YOU CAN USE YOUR PHONE, YOU CAN USE YOUR CREDIT CARD, OR IF YOU LIKE A BREEZE CARD, YOU CAN DEFINITELY PURCHASE ONE OF THOSE AND USE THOSE. WE ARE ENCOURAGING FOLKS IF THEY DO HAVE A CARD. AND LET'S SAY YOU GO TO THE FALCONS GAME AND YOU BOUGHT SEVERAL TRIPS FOR THE FALCON FALCONS SEASON TO HOLD OFF, AND STARTING MAY 5TH, IF YOU HAVE A REGISTERED CARD AND 
          [02:15:04]
YOU GET A NEW CARD, YOU CAN TRANSFER THE BALANCE. SO WE'RE NOT TAKING FOLKS MONEY, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE FOR FOLKS TO REGISTER THEIR CURRENT CARD AND REGISTER A NEW BREEZE CARD. WE DID LAUNCH THIS PAST WEEKEND, TWO WEEKENDS AGO, AND THE FULL LAUNCH IS ON MAY 2ND, SO THAT THE OLD SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK. WE ARE ENCOURAGING RIDERS TO TAP THEIR CARD AS THEY GO OUT, JUST TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING THAT NUMERICAL COUNT, BUT WE'RE SUPER EXCITED FOR THIS. AND ALWAYS WANT TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. SO MARTA, YEAR OVER YEAR CRIME IS DOWN 21%, WHICH WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF. WHEN OUR INTERIM CEO JONATHAN CAME IN, HE DID COMMIT TO HIRING ADDITIONAL OFFICERS AND FIELD PROTECTIVE SERVICES SERVICE OFFICERS. SO WE HAVE REACHED THAT ALLOTMENT. WE ARE ALSO ENCOURAGING ONCE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO WITH THE NEXT GEN BETA BREEZE, ALL THESE THINGS IS GOING TO ENCOURAGE RIDERSHIP. BUT WE ALSO HAVE A KASSA APP. SO IF FOLKS HAVE ANY CONCERNS WITH THEIR SAFETY ON THE SYSTEM TO REPORT THINGS THROUGH THE APP, AND WE'LL HAVE ALL OF OUR OFFICERS, HOPEFULLY WITH THE NEW TRAIN. I DON'T HAVE A PICTURE HERE WITH THE OPEN GANGWAY. WE HAVE COMMITTED TO HAVING OFFICERS ON EACH ONE OF THOSE TRAINS SO THEY CAN JUST WALK FRONT TO BACK. SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND THOSE WILL BE GOING INTO REVENUE SERVICE ON JUNE 5TH OF THIS YEAR. AND OF COURSE, CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE WORLD CUP WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT MARTA. SO OF COURSE WE ARE PREPARED FOR THE WORLD CUP. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE TOP RIGHT, THOSE ARE OUR AMBASSADOR SHIRTS. SO NONE OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, WILL HAVE ANY VACATION OVER THE SUMMER. WE WILL ALL BE ON THE SYSTEM, ENSURING THAT FOLKS KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING FROM POINT A TO POINT B, AND ALSO WE WILL HAVE TWO OF THOSE BREEZE CARDS. SO THOSE ARE OUR FIFA WORLD CUP BREEZE CARDS THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO ROLL OUT. WE ARE READY FOR THE WORLD CUP. YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT OF EVENTS EVERY WEEKEND AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE PUT TO THE TEST. BUT THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. ANY QUESTIONS? FIRST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, COUNCILWOMAN HEMMINGS. MISS REYNOLDS, HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE, THERE WAS A SLIDE WHERE YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE SAFETY STATS, AND I WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD SOME INCIDENTS IN EAST POINT THAT DON'T SEEM TO MAP ONTO THIS. AND SO ARE THESE THE MOST UP TO DATE NUMBERS? THOSE ARE AS OF MARCH 2ND IS WHEN I PULLED THESE. YES. OKAY. OKAY. AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE SOME CITIZENS WHO LIVE AT THE HILLCREST. YOU MENTIONED IT IN YOUR PRESENTATION WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ROUTE CHANGES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IS COVERAGE FOR THE THE BUS SHELTER. SO ARE ALL OF THE ROUTES AS YOU DO THESE CHANGES, ARE THEY GOING TO GET SHELTERS? NOT ALL OF THEM. SO THE WAY THAT WE ARE PHASING OUR NEW SHELTER. SO OF COURSE THERE ARE STOPS THAT ARE BEING CANCELED, I GUESS FOR A WORD I CAN'T FIND RIGHT NOW. SO WE'LL BE MOVING THOSE SHELTERS FROM THOSE STOPS TO THE TOP 70% RIDERSHIP. SO WHERE THERE'S THE HIGHEST RIDERSHIP, IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC SHELTER, THERE IS A LIST THAT'S ONGOING IN MY EMAIL. AND SO I CAN CHECK TO SEE IF, IF YOU HAVE THE STOP ID NUMBER, I CAN ASK OUR TEAM IF THERE WILL BE A SHELTER THERE FROM ANOTHER LOCATION. THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE IT, BUT I WILL GET IT. I'M REALLY THRILLED AND EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION, AND I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT MAINTENANCE LOOKS LIKE LONG TERM. SO ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE IN EASTPOINTE IS THAT OUR MARTA STATION HAS HAD ITS FAIR SHARE OF CHALLENGES. SO I RIDE THE MARTA AND SO I'M SEEING THE CHANGES HAPPENING. IN FACT, I'M A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED BECAUSE IT MAKES THE WAY I WALK A LITTLE BIT MORE CHALLENGING. 
          BUT I'M GRATEFUL BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING. HOWEVER, AS A WRITER, ONE OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT I OFTEN HAVE HAD IS THAT OUR STATION DOESN'T TYPICALLY GET THE ATTENTION IT FEELS. THIS IS A FEELING, NOT A FACT. THE ATTENTION THAT SOME OF THE OTHER STOPS GET. SO I'M THRILLED ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION, AND I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE SO THAT OUR TVS ARE WORKING AND OPERABLE SO THAT WE GET REGULAR CLEANING, FOR EXAMPLE, SO THAT THE BATHROOMS ARE UP TO DATE AND ALL THOSE THINGS. SO COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MAINTENANCE OVER TIME THAT IS ON PAR WITH SOME OF THE OTHER STOCKS THAT ARE ON THE THE MARTA LINE FOR EAST POINT STATION SPECIFICALLY? 
          [02:20:03]
YES. SO MAINTENANCE, I WILL SAY AT LEAST ONCE EVERY OTHER WEEK, THERE IS A DEEP CLEAN. AND I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR SENTIMENT. MY STATION IS ASHBY AND I'VE SEEN FOLKS CLEAN IT. AND THEN TWO DAYS LATER IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE SOMEONE JUST CLEANED IT. SO DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT. 
          SO OUR FACILITIES TEAM DOES GO OUT THERE A GOOD BIT IN TERMS OF. I KNOW THAT WE'VE RECENTLY DONE SOME LIGHTING FIXTURES AND OTHER ITEMS FOR THAT STATION. WITH OUR BUDGET MOVING THROUGH, I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS SLATED EAST POINT SLATED. AS FOR SOME SORT OF PARTIAL REHAB, AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, I CAN LOOK AT OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. BUT WE DO TRY TO TREAT EVERY STATION, YOU KNOW, EQUALLY. AGAIN, THERE'S WEAR AND TEAR. A LOT OF THESE STATIONS HAVE SUBWAY TILES THAT ARE 40 YEARS OLD, RIGHT? SO NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU CLEAN THEM, IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK HOW YOU WANT IT TO. SO I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT SENTIMENT SO I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU. AND LIKE I SAID, OUR STATION DOES DO A DEEP CLEAN AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH AT EACH STATION ACROSS THE SYSTEM. 
          MY FINAL QUESTION IS, MAYBE IT'S A STATEMENT. I WAS REVIEWING SOME DOCUMENTS, AND I READ THAT EAST POINT HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RIDERSHIP, LIKE IN IN THE AREA. AND SO I GUESS I WOULD OFFER THAT, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE SUCH HIGH RIDERSHIP, THAT WE MIGHT BE A PRIORITY ON MARTA'S LIST OF PRIORITIES, GIVEN HOW MUCH OF OUR RESIDENTS FREQUENT MARTA AND HOW BENEFICIAL IT IS. WE'RE A CITY ON THE MOVE, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT HAVING, YOU KNOW, TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT COMING DOWNTOWN. SO I'M JUST HOPEFUL THAT THAT IS REFLECTED IN HOW MARTA ENGAGES WITH EAST POINT. AND I ALSO WANT TO GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION SO I CAN SO I CAN SHARE SOME OF THESE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY THOSE IN MY COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS RAMOS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. OKAY, WE HAVE COUNCILMAN FREELY. THANK YOU, MISS RAMOS. JUAN, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING RESPONSIVE. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH A LOT RECENTLY ABOUT THE CLOCK AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS VERY RESPONSIVE. SO THAT WAS MY PRIMARY THING. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER HEMMINGS POINT ABOUT THE HILLCREST STAUNTON ROAD SITUATION. I HAD REACHED OUT TO MISS LAROSA BACK IN 24, 2024. I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STOP 213750, WHICH IS THE SENIOR RESIDENCE SIDE. AND THEN THE CEMETERY SIDE IS STOP 213747. 
          JUST FOR YOUR REFERENCE. AT THAT TIME, SHE INDICATED THAT THE STOP ON THE SENIOR SIDE HAD SUFFICIENT RIDERSHIP FOR A SHELTER THAT THE ONE ACROSS THE STREET DIDN'T ACTUALLY EVEN QUALIFY FOR A BENCH, BUT THEY WENT AHEAD AND PUT ONE IN. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY UPDATE SINCE THEN. THAT WAS IN, I THINK, JANUARY OF 24. I WILL CERTAINLY CHECK ON THAT FOR YOU. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL WOMAN CALDWELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. 
          THANK YOU ALSO FOR TAKING SOME TIME OUT TO COME OUT AND GIVE US SOME UPDATES. MY QUESTION IS REALLY AROUND COMMUNICATION. HOW HAVE YOU COMMUNICATED TO THE RESIDENTS ABOUT THESE CHANGES, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE WE MAY HAVE STOPS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE STOPS ANYMORE? SO WHAT'S BEEN THE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY THERE FOR ALL THE BUS STOPS THAT WE ARE CLOSING? AS OF APRIL 18TH, WE WENT OUT AND PUT SIGNS ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE STOPS THAT SAID THIS YOUR ROUTE IS CHANGING OR THIS BUS STOP IS CLOSING. AND SO FOR THE ROUTES THAT ARE CHANGING, IT WILL SAY LIKE, HERE'S A NEW NUMBER. AND THEN ALONG WITH WHETHER IT'S CHANGING THE THE ROUTE NUMBER OR IF IT'S CLOSING, THERE'S A QR CODE FOR FOLKS TO GET MORE INFORMATION. SO THAT'S ONE WAY WE'VE DONE THAT. A SECOND IS WE'VE DONE A LOT OF EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AT ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR. STOPS OR, OR ANY ROUTES THAT ARE CHANGING. SO WE'VE HAD TEAMS THAT ARE GOING OUT DURING, YOU KNOW, PEAK HOURS BETWEEN 4 TO 7, 4 TO 9 WHEN FOLKS ARE ON THE SYSTEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW, HEY, YOUR ROUTES CHANGING OR THIS STOP IS CLOSING. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAD SEVERAL POP UPS AT EASTPOINT STATION BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS USE THAT STATION TO ENCOURAGE THAT. AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF TRY TO DO TV AND TARGETED ADS AND THAT SORT OF THING. BUT OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, FOLKS MAY HAVE MISSED IT. YEAH. 
          MY ONLY QUESTION IS IF YOU HAVE ANY LIKE MATERIAL QR CODES, SOMETHING THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, WE COULD MAYBE HELP. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD DO, BUT HELP GET THE MESSAGE OUT AS WELL. YES, I 
          [02:25:02]
WILL DEFINITELY BE SENDING YOU GUYS SOME TOOLKITS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGES FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS. AND SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE THAT INFORMATION. 
          PERFECT. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN ATKINS. YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU, MISS RAMOS. JUST VERY QUICKLY, JUST A FEW THINGS. THE REACH PROGRAM BACK AT OUR WARD B COMMUNITY MEETING, YOUR COLLEAGUE MISS THORNTON PRESENTED THAT PROGRAM TO US, AND IT WAS, I DON'T THINK HAD ROLLED OUT, BUT IT WAS GOING TO BE ROLLING OUT SOON. AS A RESULT, SOME OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE WARD UTILIZED THE SYSTEM, AND THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LONG TIME, THE LONG WAIT TIME. SO I'M HOPING THAT SOME OF THAT HAS IMPROVED SINCE IT WAS JUST ROLLING OUT. DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATES ON SORT OF SERVICE TIME FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM? I DON'T AT THIS MOMENT, BUT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE 30 MINUTES OR LESS. SO ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT, WE LIKE I MENTIONED, WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS, IF YOU HAVE CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE THOSE CONCERNS, LET ME KNOW. I'M HAPPY TO RELAY THAT TO THE TEAM. IT'S A BRAND NEW MODE OF SERVICE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WE'RE EXPECTED IS MET. OKAY. AND THEN I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS AROUND SAFETY AND THE PERCEPTIONS OF SAFETY. WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EAST POINT TRAIN STATION. AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT IT IS ONE OF THE STATIONS WITH VERY HIGH RIDERSHIP, I WOULD HOPE THAT MARTA WOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADEQUATELY STAFFED FOR THAT. BUT WE DO GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAFETY AND EQUIPMENT NOT WORKING. AND SO I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME UPDATES FOR THOSE THINGS. AND MARTA WASN'T PLANNING TO INVEST DOLLARS TO FIX BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO REPLACE. SO I HOPE THAT THOSE THINGS WILL BE COMPLETED SOON. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO COUNCIL. THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL. IT REALLY SHOWS HOW WE ARE MOVING THE CITY FORWARD AND PROVIDING AN ELEVATED LEVEL OF SERVICE. THE OTHER ONE THING I WANT TO ASK ABOUT YOUR 21% CRIME RATE THAT'S DOWN, IS THAT SPECIFIC TO THE EAST POINT LOCATION OR IS THAT ACROSS MODERATE? AND IF I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. AND IF SO, DO WE HAVE STATISTICS SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE EAST POINT STATION BY CHANCE? SO THE STATISTIC IS OVERALL ON THE SYSTEM. I DON'T HAVE IT SPECIFICALLY FOR EAST POINT, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY ASK AND GET THAT OVER TO YOU. ALL RIGHT, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS IN TERMS OF THE RIDERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE? AND IN EAST POINT, I KNOW YOU SAID JUST TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MANY OF OUR CITIZENS ARE ACTUALLY USING THAT EXTENDED SERVICE DATA POINTS I DO NOT HAVE, BUT WE HAVE A GREAT RNA TEAM, SO I'M SURE I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU AS WELL. OKAY. AND LET'S SEE, ONE MORE QUESTION I HAD IN TERMS OF THE MARTA CARS THAT WILL BE USED DURING FIFA. ARE THOSE NEW MARTA CARDS? CAN ARE THEY CURRENTLY ABLE TO APPLY TO YOUR APPLE WALLET OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU STILL HAVE? YOU CAN'T SEE IT APPLIES TO THE APPLE WALLET AS WELL. OKAY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE SERVICE AND THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU ALL. HAVE A GREAT EVENING. THANK YOU. HEY STRATEGIC REALIGNMENT AND OKAY. 
          [XI.8. Strategic Realignment of Cultural Affairs & Housing for Community Impact & Growth]
YEAH, STRATEGIC REALIGNMENT AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS. HOUSING AND COMMUNITY IMPACT GROWTH. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. WHILE THE CITY CLERK, MADAM CITY CLERK BRINGS UP THE PRESENTATION, I SHARED THE SLIDES WITH COUNCIL. THEY WERE ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE AGENDA PACKET THAT WAS PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY. THE INTENTION OF. CAN YOU HEAR ME? SORRY, SORRY. I'LL SPEAK MORE CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE. THE INTENTION OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO ALLOW US, AS A CITY TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE, MORE EFFICIENT WITH SOME OF OUR PRIORITY PROJECTS. AT PRESENT, WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS AROUND CULTURAL ARTS, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT AND ENGAGEMENT THAT RIGHT NOW ARE, I WOULD SAY, OUT IN THE ETHER, THE RESPONSIBILITY, THE AUTHORITY, THE ACCOUNTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY LINES ARE NOT CLEAR. AND THEN SECONDLY, I THINK ONE OF OUR MORE UNDERUTILIZED PROGRAMS THAT HAS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE RAISED AS A BODY IS THE 50 WORST PROGRAM AND SOME OF OUR OTHER PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THE BLIGHT AND THE CONDITIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, MADAM CITY 
          [02:30:01]
CLERK, PLEASE. WHAT I'M YOU CAN GO ONE MORE. THANK YOU. IF THAT WORKS, I DON'T MIND CLICKING FROM HERE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO I'LL JUST BE CLEAR. THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN BEEN VERY CLEAR WITH US THAT THEY WANT TO SEE OUR DOWNTOWN AND OTHER SPACES ACTIVATED WITH LIFE, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, ACTIVITY, ETCETERA. WE ALSO KNOW THAT AS WE ARE THINKING ABOUT SOME OF OUR HOUSING OPTIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT EASTPOINTE HAS NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE GROW SUPPORT ACROSS THE LIFE STAGES FROM SENIORS, YOUTH AND TO FAMILIES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THIS IS THE PROPOSAL. THE PROPOSAL IS TO ALIGN EXISTING EFFORTS INTO TWO FOCUSED DIVISIONS, REPORTING TO THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPROVE THEIR EXECUTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND THEIR IMPACT. SO THE DIVISIONS WOULD BE, ONE, CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC ARTS. THE SECOND WOULD BE A COMMUNITY STABILIZATION AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I'LL SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT EACH OF THOSE DIVISIONS WOULD DO. AND JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO COLLEAGUES, THESE WOULD BE DONE BY ORDINANCE, NOT EMOTION, BUT AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD SUBMIT THESE FUNCTIONS IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. SO THE DIVISION OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC ARTS WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE FOCUSED ON THESE ACTIVITIES ACTIVATING PUBLIC SPACES, BRINGING MORE PUBLIC ART. WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED KIND OF PUBLIC ART CAMPAIGNS IN IN THE AREA, AND I THINK THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD ALLOW US ACTUALLY TO DRIVE WHAT I'M CALLING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY FURTHER TO EASTPOINTE, IF WE MAKE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT AND PRIORITIZE, I THINK ALL OF THE MEMBERS ON THIS COUNCIL KNOW THAT THAT FORMER COUNCIL HAVE PREVIOUSLY PASSED A PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN, AND WE'RE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THAT TODAY. WE ALSO HAVE A VERY THRIVING AND ACTIVE PROGRAMING THAT HAS REALLY BROUGHT OUT LOTS OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND AND ELSEWHERE TO ENJOY OUR CITY SPACES. AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS DIVISION TO HAVE A MORE PROMINENT ROLE IN THAT. AND I'D LIKE TO ALSO SAY THAT I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, BUT IN 2027, THE CITY TURNED 140 YEARS OLD. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE THREADING THE NEEDLE BETWEEN OUR PAST AND OUR PRESENT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 
          THE DIVISION WILL DO, OBVIOUSLY, THINGS THAT I'VE ALREADY NAMED. WE WOULD HAVE THEM MANAGE ANY CONCERT SERIES, CONNECTING WITH OUR VISITORS BUREAU AND OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CONCERT SERIES ARE WELL ATTENDED AND THERE'S A CLEAR RETURN ON INVESTMENT. THEY WOULD ALSO MANAGE ALL OF OUR SEASONAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS. IMPORTANTLY, THEY WOULD CONTINUE ACTIVATING PUBLIC ART AND PLACEMAKING. THERE'S SUFFICIENT DATA THAT SAYS THAT A COMMUNITY THAT HAS SUBSTANTIVE PLACEMAKING ACTUALLY GROWS IN ITS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ITS INTERACTION WITH EACH OTHER AND GOVERNMENT. THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF DATA THAT SUGGESTS THAT WE ARE DEALING IN THE CITY OF EAST POINT AND ELSEWHERE, WITH LOTS OF SENIORS AND YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY, VERY ISOLATED. SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT BEYOND JUST A PROGRAM THAT IS IS NICE TO HAVE. 
          I WOULD ARGUE THAT SOME OF THIS PLACE MAKING IS NECESSARY. ANOTHER FUNCTION OF THIS DIVISION WOULD BE THAT THEY WOULD COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS. 
          IF I JUST RATTLED OFF THE NUMBER OF REALLY FINE ASSETS WE HAVE IN THE CITY, WE ALL KNOW THEM. BALLET, BLACK ART IN AMERICA, ARTS EXCHANGE, THE WINDMILL ART CENTER, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE THOSE ENTITIES ARE SUPPORTED AND THAT WE MIGHT ATTRACT OTHER ENTITIES LIKE THAT TO OPEN BUSINESS AND SUPPORT ACTIVITY HERE IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. AND THEN LASTLY, I WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS DIVISION'S RESPONSIBILITY IS AROUND SECURING GRANTS AND CULTURAL INVESTMENT. MY HOPE IS THAT WITH A VISION AND A CLEAR DIRECTIVE, THIS DIVISION WOULD FUNCTION ACTUALLY TO DECREASE THE DEPENDENCY ON THE GENERAL FUND FOR SOME OF OUR EVENTS AND OTHER PROGRAMING. AND I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THIS KEY FOR ME, WHICH IS AROUND PRESERVATION. WE HAVE SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN EASTPOINTE THAT LIKELY SHOULD BE ON SOME HISTORIC REGISTRY, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A CONTAINERIZED AND STRUCTURED PROCESS, THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE MISSING OUT ON GRANT BENEFITS THAT THEY COULD BENEFIT FROM, AS WELL AS OTHER INVESTMENTS THAT WOULD ALLOW THOSE COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE. SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I BELIEVE I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE STRUCTURE AND IMPACT. HERE'S WHAT I'M PROPOSING. I'M PROPOSING IN THE DIVISION, A 
          [02:35:04]
MANAGER THAT WOULD BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CITY MANAGER, AND THEN ALSO A GRANTS AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR. THE OUTCOMES THAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE IS INCREASED ATTENDANCE TO OUR EVENTS. WE WOULD SEE MORE EASTPOINTE PEOPLE ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES. I WOULD ALSO HOPE TO SEE SOME EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL VENDORS, ARTISTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. AGAIN, I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS CREATIVE ECONOMY AS I HAVE TRAVERSED THIS CITY. I HAVE LEARNED THAT WE HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF ARTISTS AND ARTISANS WHO LIVE IN THE CITY, AND SO MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD SPUR AND SUPPORT SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITY. I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THE CULTURAL ASSET ASSETS. THERE IS A LOT OF DATA THAT SUGGESTS WHEN YOU HAVE HISTORICAL ASSETS AND PRESERVATION, IT ACTUALLY INCREASES TOURISM TO YOUR CITY. AND SO THAT WOULD BE A KEY MANDATE AND AN OUTPUT OF THIS DIVISION. AND THEN FINALLY, I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT THE GOAL HERE IS TO DECREASE RELIANCE ON TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND TO FIND OUTSIDE SOURCES TO FUND AND MANAGE A LOT OF THESE ACTIVITIES. NEXT SLIDE, I BELIEVE, IS THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY STABILIZATION AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. SO TWO THINGS THAT ARE CLEAR AND IMPORTANT TO ME. THIS IS THE DIVISION THAT WOULD REALLY FOCUS ON BLIGHT AS WELL AS HOUSING STABILIZATION AND REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. AND WHEN I SAY STABILIZATION, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PROPERTY CONDITIONS. I'M TALKING ABOUT ENSURING THAT WE DON'T HAVE GREAT TURNOVER FROM EVICTIONS. 
          I'M TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS LIGHTS CAN STAY ON, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. 
          IMPORTANTLY, BECAUSE WE ARE AWARE OF STATE AND FEDERAL POLICY, THIS DIVISION WOULD THRIVE OFF OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO ESTABLISH THIS COORDINATED NETWORK FOR HOUSING STABILITY. THEY WOULD HAVE A SIMILAR FUNCTION AND FOCUS TO THE DIVISION OF CULTURAL ARTS AND AFFAIRS, WHICH WOULD BE TO INCREASE OUTSIDE INVESTMENT IN THESE ACTIVITIES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD DELIVER AND EXPECT TO SEE BLIGHT ELIMINATION, REDUCTION IN VACANT AND UNSAFE PROPERTIES IN THE CITY. WE WOULD IMPORTANTLY SEE MORE TO, TO EXPAND KIND OF HOUSING OPTIONS ACROSS INCOME LEVELS WOULD BE A FUNCTION OF THIS. SO MAKING SURE THAT EASTPOINTE RESIDENTS CAN STAY HERE AND ALSO BEGIN TO OWN HERE. ONE I'M SORRY, I HAVE ONE MORE ITEM ON THAT ONE. OKAY, I ALREADY SAID THIS ONE. MADAM CITY CLERK SAID I NEED TO MOVE ON, SO I'M GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE. IT'S OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE IS FINE. OKAY. WHAT I'M ASKING FOR NOTICE THAT I AM TRYING TO REMAIN NET NEUTRAL AND NOT CREATE NEW POSITIONS IN THE CITY. SO IT WOULD BE THREE DISTINCT DIVISION MANNERS MANAGERS SUPPORTED BY ONE PROGRAM COORDINATOR. AND YOU ALL LIKELY SEE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THESE FUNCTIONS IN THE CITY. THEY'RE JUST NOT ORGANIZED. SO THE BLIGHT AND PROPERTY STRATEGY, THAT WOULD BE A REBRAND OF THE 50 WORST PROPERTIES. THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE A REBRAND OF THE OFFICE OF EQUITY IMPROVEMENT. WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE OFFICE HOUSING MANAGER. AND THEN FINALLY THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND HOUSING STABILITY AGAIN, WOULD BE A REBRAND OF ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS IN THAT OFFICE. WE SHOULD SEE STRONGER CONNECTIONS WITH PARTNERS. WE SHOULD SEE INCREASED HOUSING UNITS. ET CETERA. ET CETERA. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO I THINK I'M ALMOST DONE AND I WANT TO CLOSE SOON. YOU NOTICE THAT THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY IDEAS THAT I HAVE PICKED OUT OF THE SKY. THESE ARE THINGS THAT THE CITY HAS ALREADY COMMUNICATED. WE WANT TO DO. WE ARE FACING LEGAL CHALLENGES GIVEN HOW THE ADMINISTRATION HAS CHANGED, AND OUR US HAVING TO ATTEST TO HOW WE SPEND OR ATTEST TO HOW WE SUPPORT CERTAIN ACTIVITIES BY CERTAIN NAMES, YOU WOULD SEE THAT THIS IS AN ELEVATION IN SOME WAYS, MAKING SURE THAT THESE DIVISIONS ARE REPORTING TO THE CITY MANAGER AND OBVIOUSLY REPORTING TO US. AND IMPORTANTLY, YOU WOULD SEE THAT THIS THIS REBRAND AND THIS REFOCUS WOULD HELP US COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE GEORGIA GRATUITIES CLAUSE. I THINK I'M ALMOST FINISHED. MAYBE 1 OR 2 MORE SLIDES. HERE'S MY FINAL SLIDE. THIS IS WHAT I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO TONIGHT. I WOULD BE ASKING YOU ALL TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO RETURN A FORMAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AT THE APRIL 20TH MEETING. IN THAT PLAN, HE WOULD GIVE US THE STRUCTURE, STAFFING PLANS AND COMPENSATION OF THESE TWO DIVISIONS. HE WOULD TALK TO US ABOUT A FUNDING STRATEGY AND IMPORTANTLY, MOVING AWAY FROM RELIANCE ON THE GENERAL FUND. 
          HE WOULD RECOMMEND WHAT EXISTING PROGRAMS AND FUNCTIONS NEEDED TO BE RECALIBRATED TO ACCOMMODATE THIS. IMPORTANTLY, THE EVENT'S FUNDS OUT OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES WOULD BE A KEY REVENUE SOURCE OR KEY SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND ARTS. AND THEN MY SECOND ASK WOULD BE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT THE APPROPRIATE ORDINANCES THAT 
          [02:40:04]
ESTABLISH THE DIVISIONS, INCORPORATING THE RELEVANT PROGRAMS AND HELPING US TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND INITIATIVES. AND THE TIMELINE IS HERE. THE REASON WHY I'M PRESENTING THIS TONIGHT IS BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE MOVING CLOSE TO HAVING A PRESENTATION FROM THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THE BUDGET. I DID A BRIEF, ABBREVIATED PRESENTATION, BUT HOPEFULLY THE POINTS ARE CLEAR AND RESONATE WITH YOU. COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, DOCTOR MARTIN ROGERS YES. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO CHIME IN ON. FIRST. I WANT TO PAY HOMAGE TO CHIEF ROSEMARY CLOUD. SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FIRE CHIEF IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. BUT THE 50 WORST PROGRAMS WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE HEAVILY ADVOCATED FOR. I THINK THAT BEING THAT WE HAVE A NEW CITY MANAGER, HE PROBABLY NEEDS TO GET THE HISTORY OF THE 50 WORST PROGRAM, BECAUSE FROM WHAT I WAS ABLE TO GATHER AND READ THROUGH IT, COMPOSED OR IT ALIGNED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY SOLICITOR, AND ALSO THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS BLIGHT, IDENTIFY PROPERTIES, HAVE INSPECTIONS AND VIOLATIONS, OWNER NOTIFICATION, COMPLIANCE, DEMOLITION AND FINANCIAL RECOVERY AND REDEVELOPMENT AND REUSE. THE OTHER THING IS THE CITY DID GIVE MONEY TO THIS DEPARTMENT, TO THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE. I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS A LITTLE OVER 100,000, BUT THE 50 WORST PROPERTIES WAS ALSO A REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE CITY IN WHICH THEY COLLECTED LIKE OVER $500,000. THERE WERE A LOT OF MOVING PIECES TO THE 50 WORST. SO WE MAY NEED TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE THAT HAS A HISTORICAL INFORMATION, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT APPEARED OVER THE COURSE OF A NUMBER OF YEARS WITH HOW THE DEPARTMENT CHANGED FROM IDENTIFYING TO, I THINK THE LAST THING THAT I TALKED ABOUT WITH THE THEN SOLICITOR WAS SQUATTING. THERE WAS AN INITIATIVE TO END FOR SQUATTING, LIKE THERE WAS INITIATIVE. THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO THE SOLICITOR, THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPONENTS TO THIS PROGRAM, AND THE LAST ONE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS SQUATTING AND ALSO CORPORATIONS BEING ABLE TO COME IN AND GET A NUMBER OF HOMES IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. SO WE DEFINITELY NEED THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THAT. ALSO, WITH THE OFFICE OF EMPOWERMENT, WE JUST HAD SOMEONE EMAIL US LAST WEEK IN REGARDS TO HELP WITH THEIR UTILITIES. BUT I THINK WHAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU DID MENTION IN HERE IS WE NEED A GRANT WRITER. WE NEED SOMEONE. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF DEPARTMENTS THAT GO AFTER THIS GRANT FUNDING. BUT IF WE ARE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HOUSING, YOU HAVE HUD THE C, D, B, G. IS IT LEAHB FOR HOUSING THAT EXTENDS BEYOND BLIGHTED PROPERTY AND CAN ALSO BE INCORPORATED WITH THAT EMPOWERMENT OFFICE AS WELL? SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS IS LIGHTUP. IS IT? LIGHTUP. 
          LIGHTUP. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS IS ON OUR AGENDA. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO HEAR WHAT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS. AND I ALSO, I GUESS MY QUESTION WAS. AND I'D ASK ATTORNEY WIGGINS TO WEIGH IN. WELL I'LL YIELD. GO AHEAD. OKAY, LET'S SEE COUNCILWOMAN COMING. 
          YOU STILL OKAY? YOU'RE NOT READY YET. OKAY. COUNCIL. MR. COUNCILMAN, I'M SORRY. MITCHELL. 
          COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER. YES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THREE NEW MANAGERS. WERE THERE NEW MANAGERS YOU'RE MENTIONING? ARE THESE NEW POSITIONS OR. THEIR EXISTING POSITIONS IN IN THE CASE OF THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY STABILIZATION, IT WOULD REQUIRE ONE NEW POSITION IN THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND. 
          I'M BLANKING ON THE NAMES THAT I EVEN ASKED FOR. AND PUBLIC ART SO SIMILAR TO WHAT MR. CHRIS WAYNE DOES, I'M NOT SURE. I'VE HEARD HE'S ON PARKS AND RECS, BUT WITH THIS POSITION BE SIMILAR TO, I WOULD SAY, HIS JOB DESCRIPTION. WELL, CORRECT. I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE MAKING 
          [02:45:08]
COMMENTS ABOUT HOW THE CITY MANAGER MIGHT OPERATIONALIZE THIS, BUT MY EXPECTATION WOULD BE TO YOUR POINT THAT WE DO HAVE AN EXISTING PUBLIC ARTS COORDINATOR AND THAT THAT ROLE WOULD BE CONSIDERED IN REORGANIZATION AND RESTRUCTURING TO ACCOMMODATE THESE GOALS. SO WITH THAT, SOMEONE BE A DUPLICATE POSITION THAT WE HAVE. IF WE ALREADY HAVE SOMEONE IN THAT ROLE OR THAT'S KIND OF HAVE THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES ALREADY, I WOULD PUBLICLY SAY THAT MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT. MR. THAT THAT POSITION WOULD BE ELEVATED TO THE MANAGERIAL LEVEL, AND THAT THE COORDINATOR POSITION WOULD BE FILLED BY A NEW PERSON. SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS RESTRUCTURING IS TO SAVE MONEY. I THINK I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THAT. 
          OR IS THAT A GOAL ALSO? YES. SO CREATING THESE NEW SO I'M HEARING THIS TWO NEW MANAGERIAL POSITIONS ONE ONE. AND WHAT TYPE OF SALARY WOULD THAT HAVE? DO YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE A PAY AND COMP COMPENSATION PLAN. IMPORTANTLY THAT'S WHY I HOPE THAT THE CITY MANAGER WOULD RETURN THESE THIS INFORMATION BACK TO US. I DO NOTE THAT SOME OF THESE POSITIONS EXIST. THERE ALSO COULD BE DEPENDING ON. LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS SAID, DEPENDING ON HOW IT IS STRUCTURED, IT MAY ABSORB OR COLLABORATE WITH OTHER POSITIONS. SO I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION OF EXACTLY HOW THIS WOULD BE OPERATIONALIZED. HENCE MY REQUEST TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT SOMETHING FOR US TO ALLOW US TO REACT TO. BUT I WILL SAY THAT MY GOAL WAS TO BE NET NEUTRAL AND NOT TO BLOW OUR STAFFING LINES. CORRECT. SO I THINK MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THIS IS IF WE HAVE A SIMILAR POSITION AND WE WANT TO CREATE ANOTHER POSITION THAT'S SOMEWHAT OF A DUPLICATE, BUT THE GOAL IS TO SAVE MONEY. 
          I'M NOT SURE IF WE COULD MAYBE PUT THAT ENERGY TOWARDS SOMETHING ELSE, OR BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE I'M NOT SURE IF THE SAVINGS I THINK THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR WOULD IT WOULD SOMEWHAT ZERO BE ZEROED OUT BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A NEW SALARY TO TAKE. SO FOR THE RECORD, I'LL JUST PLAINLY STATE THAT CURRENTLY IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2726 BUDGET, THERE'S A DEPARTMENT 1110. I THINK I ADDED TOO MANY ONES. THAT'S CALLED COUNCIL COMMITTEES. THAT COUNCIL COMMITTEES BUDGET HAS $943,000. MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT WITH THIS REORGANIZATION, WE WOULD BE MINIMIZING THOSE COSTS BECAUSE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SCALE OPERATIONS BETTER BY HAVING A CLEAR DIVISION THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THESE EVENTS. THEY WOULD HAVE ECONOMIES OF SCALE. SO TO YOUR POINT THERE, IT'S A COMPLEX DISCUSSION TO TALK ABOUT COST SAVINGS WITHOUT SEEING THE FULL PLAN, BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER WOULD NEED TO RECOMMEND HOW THIS BECOMES NET NEUTRAL. BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL, THAT WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT EXPANDING OUR CITY STAFFING WITHOUT HAVING A CLEAR RETURN ON INVESTMENT. 
          THANK YOU. ALSO, I THINK THIS WOULD BE GOOD FOR A WORK SESSION. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WERE TRYING TO TAKE ACTION TONIGHT, BUT I KNOW IT'S LISTED AS A PRESENTATION AND IT'S NOT LISTED. MADAM CITY CLERK, COULD YOU. YEAH, THAT'S THE REQUESTED ACTION. SO IN ORDER FOR IT TO GO TO A WORK SESSION, WE WOULD NEED TO SEE STRUCTURE, STAFFING PLANS, COMPENSATION FUNDING STRATEGY, RECOMMENDED REALIGNMENT. SO THAT AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE AT WORK SESSION AND THE ORDINANCES. SO AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE AT WORK SESSION, WE ARE DELIBERATING IN ORDER TO MOVE TOWARD A DECISION. RIGHT. SO, I MEAN, YOU CAN EASILY PUT THIS ON THE WORK SESSION AGENDA. 
          MY POINT WAS, I MEAN, IT'S LISTED ON THE AGENDA AS A PRESENTATION, SO I'M NOT SURE I THINK THIS HAS COME UP BEFORE. I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE ALLOWED TO TAKE ACTION. IF THIS IS LISTED AS A PRESENTATION, THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. I KNOW THIS HAS COME UP BEFORE. RULE 15 I THINK WOULD BE THE RULE WE SHOULD CONSULT TAKE IT TO WORK SESSION. 
          RULE 15 WOULD BE THE RULE THAT WE COULD CONSULT. IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO WORK SESSION BEFORE WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE ACTION ON IT. CORRECT. SHE'S. I THINK SHE'S LOOKING OKAY. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, CAN YOU CONFIRM RULE 15, PLEASE? RULE 15 PROVIDES THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY PLACE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PROVIDED THE ITEM HAS FIRST BEEN TO A WORK SESSION OR PRESENTED TO COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION AT A PRIOR COUNCIL MEETING, AND ALL ASSOCIATED PAPERWORK WAS SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE BY THE ESTABLISHED DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING INFORMATION. SO THANK YOU TO THE POINT. IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, WE WOULD NEED 
          [02:50:02]
SOMETHING TO REVIEW SO WE'RE NOT DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT THESE DIVISIONS WOULD EXIST. WE ARE, AS A BODY, DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY SHOULD TAKE THE ACTION TO DRAFT THE THINGS THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO CONSIDER THIS AT A FUTURE MEETING. I MEAN, OKAY, I THINK THIS HAS COME UP BEFORE AND I MEAN, I THINK INSTRUCTING THEM TO COME BACK WITH THIS INFORMATION IS SOMEWHAT TAKING ACTION. AND AS YOU JUST READ, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO TAKE ACTION UNLESS THESE ITEMS HAVE GONE TO WORK SESSION. SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE IN CONCORDANCE WITH OUR OWN RULES AT THIS POINT, BUT I YIELD. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SHE COULD CLARIFY WHETHER THIS ITEM AS A PRESENTATION COMING ON FOR THE FIRST TIME? CAN YOU CAN YOU SPEAK UP? I'M SORRY, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, CAN YOU CONFIRM? I KNOW YOU READ RULE 15. SO BASICALLY THIS PRESENTATION. 
          THERE'S NO ACTION TO BE DECIDED ON IT TODAY. AND SO IT SHOULD MOVE TO THE WORK SESSION FOR THE NEXT PRESENTATION FOR REVIEW AND THEN TO A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING FOR A VOTE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PRESENTATION. IS THAT ACCURATE? SO IT'S PRESENTATION WORK SESSION FOR REVIEW, REGULAR MEETING FOR US. DECISION. IS THAT ACCURATE? GIVE ME ONE SECOND. OKAY. I WAS JUST CONSULTING A DIFFERENT RULE JUST TO SEE IF IT WOULD GIVE US SOME MORE CLARITY BASED ON RULE 15, THERE COULD NOT BE ANY DECISION ON THE SUBSTANCE, RIGHT? YOU CANNOT DECIDE TONIGHT WHETHER TO CREATE THESE NEW DIVISIONS OR NEW POSITIONS. 
          THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEED TO GO TO WORK SESSION OR BE ON SOME PRIOR MEETING WITH ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION. RIGHT. THAT'S SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER TODAY. WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD DRAFT THOSE DOCUMENTS FOR THIS COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION REVIEW AND THEN A DISCUSSION AND ULTIMATELY A VOTE TO CREATE THESE POSITIONS, CREATE THESE DIVISIONS. THANK YOU. AND SO IF IT'S THE WILL OF THIS BODY TO TASK US WITH DOING THAT, YOU GUYS WOULD NEED TO HAVE THAT DECIDED BY MAJORITY VOTE. OTHERWISE THOSE DOCUMENTS WOULD WOULDN'T EXIST FOR YOU GUYS TO HAVE IT ON A MEETING, WHETHER IT BE A WORK SESSION OR SOME, BECAUSE RULE 15 TALKS ABOUT THE ITEM HAS TO FIRST GO TO A WORK SESSION OR BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION AT A PRIOR COUNCIL MEETING, AND ALL ASSOCIATED PAPERWORK WAS SUBMITTED. SO FOR IT TO EITHER IT EITHER IT GOES TO A WORK SESSION FROM TODAY, RIGHT? SO THAT THERE CAN BE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS OR ADD THOSE DOCUMENTS TO COME RIGHT BEFORE I TAKE MINE OFF. SO. SO ALL THE DOCUMENTS WOULD NEED TO ACCOMPANY IT AT THE NEXT MEETING FOR IT TO BE WORK SESSION OR PRESENTED FOR A VOTE. YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE THE DOCUMENTS. WHAT I UNDERSTAND, COUNCILMAN, COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING IS ASKING FOR A VOTE OF THIS BODY TO TASK MYSELF AND THE CITY MANAGER. RIGHT. WITH THAT MICROPHONE. 
          I'M SORRY, TASKING YOU WITH THAT TONIGHT, BUT ACCORDING TO RULE 15, THAT TONIGHT IS NOT THE TIMING. I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE. I'M NOT TRYING TO JUST SHUT YOU DOWN, SIS. I'M JUST ASKING. IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT HAS TO GO TO WORK SESSION. OKAY. IN ORDER TO DO THE DIRECTIVE FOR YOU GUYS TO MOVE FORWARD, THAT'S OKAY. THIS PRESENTATION NEEDS TO GO TO WORK SESSION. NO. NO. CONFUSED. SO WHEN IT GOES TO WORK SESSION IT NEEDS THE DOCUMENT. RIGHT? RIGHT, RIGHT. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER YOU GUYS AGREE THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND I TRACK THOSE GUYS. OKAY, TONIGHT. TONIGHT OR SHOULD WE GO STRAIGHT TO WORK SESSION AND YOU DECIDE. WORK SESSION SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BRING. WAS PRESENTING YOU WITH US TONIGHT TO, YOU KNOW, HERE AT THE NEXT MEETING. YES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. BACK IN. OKAY. DOCTOR 
          [02:55:11]
MARTIN ROGERS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I DO THINK THAT MOVING FORWARD WITH UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, THE DOCUMENTS OR HAVING CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY PULLING TOGETHER THOSE DOCUMENTS FOR A WORK SESSION FOR US TO REVIEW WILL GIVE MORE INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN TRULY CONSIDER AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM. SO BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING TOGETHER THE PRESENTATION. ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS AROUND THE EVENTS PIECE IS THIS EVENTS PIECE FOR ALL COUNCIL EVENTS, OR IS THIS FOR CITY LED EVENTS VERSUS COUNCIL MEMBER EVENTS? MY GOAL IS THAT THE COUNCIL MOVE INTO THEIR LEGISLATIVE KIND OF FUNCTION. SO IF A COUNCIL MEMBER REALLY DESIRED TO HOST EVENTS AND DO THAT, THEY WOULD, BUT THE EXPECTATION WOULD NOT BE FOR THE BODY TO HAVE TO DO THESE TYPES OF EVENTS. SO, YOU KNOW THAT I INHERITED SEVERAL LARGE SCALE EVENTS. I DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DELIVER THESE EVENTS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE. I THINK THAT SOMEONE WITH A PUBLIC ARTS CULTURAL BACKGROUND WOULD BE FAR BETTER SUITED TO DO THESE ACTIVITIES. OKAY. OKAY. 
          I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD MAINTAIN A LITTLE BIT OF LEVEL OF FLEXIBILITY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS IF WE CHOOSE TO DELIVER, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMITMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH AN EVENT THAT WE HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY TO DO SO. OKAY, COUNCILMAN. FREELY. YEAH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER HEMMING. REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE THOUGHT AND WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. I THINK IT ADDRESSES A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT ISSUES FROM TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT THIS IN BOTH OF YOUR DIVISION PROPOSALS, IS THAT IT KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS THE COLLABORATIVE AND CONVENING NATURE OF THESE OFFICES, AS OPPOSED TO CONTENT CREATION, EVENT STAGING, AN ACTUAL SERVICE DELIVERY. I THINK THAT HAVING AN OFFICE THAT WORKS WITH THE EXISTING ARTS AND CULTURAL AGENCIES IN THIS CITY TO PROMOTE THAT AND GROW THAT AS A CONVENING ORGANIZATION IS A IS A MUCH BETTER ROLE FOR A CITY THE SIZE OF EAST POINT'S. SIMILARLY, WITH THE THE COMMUNITY STABILIZATION, I THINK PERFORMING THAT KIND OF COLLABORATIVE CONVENING ROLE ALSO MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE FOR US. AND THEN FINALLY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I, I SIT ON THE PROPERTY TASK FORCE. WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE MEETING SO FAR, BUT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SORT OF THE ROLE OF THE 50 WORST PROPERTIES. I THINK THIS WOULD ALSO CENTER THAT IN A MUCH MORE FOCUSED WAY, WHICH IN JUST IN IN MY YEARS OF OBSERVATION, WE NEED THAT ON THAT PROGRAM. AND I THINK IT WOULD REALLY MAKE THE BLIGHTED PROPERTY TASK FORCE. IT WOULD GIVE US A LOT MORE DIRECTION AND SOME FOCUS WITHIN AN ACTUAL DIVISION, BECAUSE I THINK THAT PROGRAM HAS FLOATED AROUND. I THINK IT'S SORT OF CITY ATTORNEY KIND OF HAD IT AND THE CITY SOLICITOR, AND IT WAS KIND OF LIKE, WHO, WHO REALLY OWNS THIS? SO I THINK THIS PROVIDES SOME SOME GOOD FOCUS. SO VERY EXCITED TO HEAR MORE AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT ASKING THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER TO PULL THAT TOGETHER. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN ATKINS YOU UP? THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. COUNCIL MEMBER FLEMING, HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CITY ATTORNEY. REALLY? I'M A BIT INTRIGUED BY THE COMMUNITY STABILIZATION PIECE AND WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT IS NOT ONLY STRUCTURE, BUT I THINK HUMAN SERVICES ARE PROBABLY EMBEDDED IN THAT AS WELL. AND SO I THINK THAT THAT COULD BE A WAY FOR US TO ADDRESS BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. 
          I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT HOUSING IS FOUNDATIONAL. YOU CANNOT PROVIDE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE TO THRIVE WITHOUT THEM BEING IN STABLE HOUSING. YOU SPOKE QUITE A BIT ABOUT PRESERVATION, AND THE CITY HAS ATTEMPTED TO DO THAT MANY YEARS AGO, THE LATE 90S, BEGINNING 2000. AND SO, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, MADAM ATTORNEY, WE WOULD HAVE TO FIRST ESTABLISH A 
          [03:00:04]
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION. CITIZENS WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO APPEAL IF THEY WERE DEEMED WITH SOME KIND OF NONCOMPLIANCE. YEARS AGO, THERE WAS THIS THING ABOUT CONLEY HILLS OR HISTORIC CONLEY HILLS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND IT BROKE THE COMMUNITY UP BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SET, ESTABLISHED COMMISSION TO DECIDE WHAT DETERMINES WHAT IS HISTORIC AND WHAT IS NOT HISTORIC. AND THERE WAS ALSO AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED BY THE CITY IN JEFFERSON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH GOT CITED. IT WAS AN OVERLAY ORDINANCE AROUND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. ONE, IT WAS A GRATUITY BECAUSE THEY SPECIFICALLY NAMED THE PAINT COMPANY. BUT TWO, WE HAD NOT ESTABLISHED A HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION FOR THE CITY. SO CITIZENS ARE DUE DUE PROCESS. AND SO THEY CAN BE A PART OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER OR PERHAPS A STATE REGISTER. BUT I THINK THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A LOCAL REGISTER. WE WOULD HAVE TO KNOW, IS IT HISTORIC LANDMARK CONTRIBUTING ANY OF THOSE THINGS AND CLEARLY DEFINED TERMS AROUND THAT? AND WHAT DESIGNATES SOMETHING HISTORIC SO THAT CITIZENS WILL KNOW AND THE CITY IS NOT JUST RUNNING AROUND ISSUING CITATIONS WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO APPEAL. SO VERY INTERESTED IN THAT PIECE AND WHAT YOU'VE PROPOSED HERE WITH THE TWO DIVISIONS. OBVIOUSLY, I'M A HUGE PROPONENT FOR THE CULTURAL ARTS PIECE AS WELL. I THINK A CITY OF THIS SIZE WITH SOME OF THE INSTITUTIONS THAT WE HAVE HERE ALREADY, WE COULD REALLY BE A WONDERFUL ARTS COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE. 
          COUNCILMAN ATKINS, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR JUMPING AHEAD OF MY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. 
          I'M WORKING ON THE CULTURAL PRESERVATION PIECE, AND I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. AND IMPORTANTLY, I'VE BEGUN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE EAST POINT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. IMPORTANTLY, WE WOULD NEED TO STRUCTURE OUR PROGRAM SO THAT IT IS NOT PUNITIVE IN NATURE, BUT THAT IS SUPPORTIVE, WHICH WE THEN COULD UNLOCK THE GRANTS THAT WOULD SUPPORT THESE HISTORIC SITES. AND TO YOUR POINT, THE FUTURE PROPOSAL THAT WILL COME BEFORE THIS BODY IS TO ESTABLISH A FIVE MEMBER CULTURAL ARTS PRESERVATION. 
          EXCUSE ME. PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE. COMMISSION. THAT WOULD DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING. ALLOW FOR APPEALS. ALSO, THERE ARE COSTS AND THERE THERE'S SOME COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS. WE WOULD NEED TO DECIDE DO WE WANT TO GO FOR STATE PRESERVATION OR CITY PRESERVATION ENOUGH BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED, DEPENDING IF WE GO ALL THE WAY TO STATE? YEAH, I THINK THAT. DO WE HAVE TO ALSO HAVE A LOCAL IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WE HAVE TO ESTABLISH A LOCAL COMMISSION? YES, SURE YOU DO. THERE ARE SOME STATE LAW AROUND IT IN CHAPTER 44. I'M SORRY, TITLE 44 OF THE GEORGIA CODE, BUT YOU WOULD NEED SOME BODY, A BODY, I SHOULD SAY. 
          YEAH. TO DETERMINE WHAT THOSE WHAT THE CRITERIA IS FOR BEING HISTORIC, RIGHT? WHETHER IT'S COLORS, WHETHER IT'S A DISTRICT, ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED IN OVERSAW BY A BODY. AND I THINK THAT THE BODY HAS TO HAVE SPECIFIC DISCIPLINES ON IT. HISTORY, LAW, THOSE THINGS HAS GOT TO HAVE THOSE DISCIPLINES AS WELL. SO THAT'S WHAT THE STATE LAW DICTATES. IF YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE IT, THIS IS WHAT IT IS REQUIRED FOR IT AT THAT TIME. MAYOR, FORMER MAYOR HILLIARD, BECAUSE THIS WHOLE ISSUE CAME UP, HAD APPOINTED MYSELF AND THE LATE LINDA SHELDON TO PRESENT THE FEASIBILITY ON THAT. AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF SOMETHING HAD CHANGED, BUT I KNEW THAT WE HAD NOT ESTABLISHED A COMMISSION. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE DID NOT HAVE HISTORIC DISTRICTS OR AREAS OR ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN THE CITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE THE PRESENTATION AND WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF TASKING TO LEARN MORE FOR OUR WORK SESSION DISCUSSION. COUNCIL COUNCILMAN MITCHELL, SORRY. THANK YOU. I JUST HAD ONE MORE COMMENT. SO THIS ACTUALLY MIGHT I'M NOT SURE IF CREATING POSITIONS IF THAT GETS INTO OPERATIONS, CREATING POSITIONS. I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A POSITION ON AT LEAST ONE POSITION. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S OPERATIONAL WOULD BE MY ONLY CONCERN. THE CREATION IS NOT OPERATIONAL. THE STAFFING IT AND SUPERVISING IT WOULD BE RIGHT. SO ONLY THE CITY COUNCIL CAN CREATE A POSITION, OKAY, ONLY THE CITY COUNCIL CAN RIFF OR TAKE AWAY A POSITION. BUT ONCE YOU CREATE IT, THEN IT'S UP TO THE CITY MANAGER TO STAFF IT. SUPERVISOR. RIGHT. I'M ASSUMING IT'S THE SAME WITH THE THE DIVISION. IT'S CREATING THE DIVISIONS. ARE WE? YES. THAT'S 
          [03:05:03]
YOU TWO. I'M GUESSING THAT'S MY OTHER QUESTION I HAD ABOUT THE DIVISIONS. WE'LL BE USING THE SAME STAFF THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. AND I GUESS I WAS A LITTLE LOST ON THAT. WE'LL BE REGROUPING THEM. AND I KNOW YOU SAID REBRANDING, BUT WE. BUT THAT WOULD BE WE'D BE CREATING THESE DIVISIONS USING STAFF THAT WE ALREADY. THAT ARE ALREADY EMPLOYED. COUNCILMAN MITCHELL, I'M NOT PROPOSING ANY OF THAT BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, THOSE ARE OPERATIONAL DECISIONS. MY PROPOSAL IS THAT WE HAVE POLICY THAT WE CAN CONSIDER AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY. IT WOULD BE UP TO THE CITY MANAGER THEN TO MAKE DECISIONS AROUND STAFFING AND HOW THOSE POSITIONS ARE MOVED. I THINK MAYBE WE COULD MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO HIM SHOULD WE WANT TO PRESERVE CERTAIN PEOPLE OR POSITIONS, BUT THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE PURVIEW OF THIS BODY. WE NEED THE WE NEED THE POLICY. AND THEN WE EXPECT THAT THE CITY MANAGER WOULD OPERATIONALIZE IT. 
          AND IF WE WE WOULD HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE TO DO THAT. SO I'M I MEAN, I'M TRACKING. I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GOAL IS. SO WHEN YOU. SO EVEN DRAFTING THE ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH. I'M READING IT NOW, BOTH DIVISIONS. COULD YOU ELABORATE ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK I DON'T I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, COULD YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT WHAT AN ORDINANCE WOULD DO? MADAM MAYOR, IS IT APPROPRIATE IF I RESPOND? I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, BUT SO LET ME JUST GO TO. IN YOUR CHARTER, THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD NEED TO CREATE THE POSITION. I'M SORRY, THE POSITIONS AND DIVISIONS. RIGHT. SO IT WOULD TECHNICALLY BE A CHANGE TO YOUR PAY AND CLASSIFICATION PLAN TO ADD A POSITION OR TAKE AWAY A POSITION, OR TO STRUCTURE THE DEPARTMENT. IN A WAY THAT LOOKS DIFFERENTLY FROM TODAY. THAT'S AND THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS AND STOPS FOR THE COUNCIL. SO THE ORDINANCE WOULD DO THAT. A LOT OF TIMES YOU SEE IT IN THE BUDGET ORDINANCE WHERE POSITIONS ARE CREATED AND FUNDED IN A BUDGET ORDINANCE. THAT'S ONE APPROACH. AND THEN ONCE IT'S CREATED. SO SAY IF YOU CREATED THE POSITION OF STREET SWEEPER, RIGHT, ONCE IT'S CREATED, COUNCIL IS OVER, CITY MANAGER PICKS UP TO DETERMINE AND YOU FUND IT TOO, RIGHT? YOU PUT MONEY TO IT. 
          THAT'S Y'ALL'S DECISION AS WELL. THEN THE CITY MANAGER TAKES OVER TO THEN GO SEEK. WHO'S GOING TO BE WHO'S GOING TO FILL THE STREET SWEEPER POSITION? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I MEAN, SO WE CREATE THE POSITION OR CREATE THE DIVISION. BUT THEN ONCE THE DIVISION IS CREATED, I MEAN IT MIGHT BE A MISSION FOR THAT DIVISION. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S UP TO THE THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY MANAGER TO RUN THAT DIVISION TO RUN IT. YES. SUPERVISE IT. SO WHAT IF YOU FEEL IT SHOULD BE RUN ANOTHER WAY OR ANY DIFFERENTLY FROM HOW IT'S BEING RUN NOW? I THINK WE'RE JUST CHANGING, POSSIBLY JUST CHANGING THE NAME. I MEAN, THAT'S BUT THAT'S THAT'S Y'ALL'S DECISION FOR POLICY IS TO TELL HIM WE WANT IT TO LOOK DIFFERENTLY. THAT'S Y'ALL'S DECISION TO TELL THE CITY MANAGER. IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS, RIGHT, YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH THIS, BUT IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS, YOU WOULD BE SAYING, HEY, CITY MANAGER, WE WANT THIS DEPARTMENT TO LOOK DIFFERENTLY. SO WE ARE PASSING AN ORDINANCE TO ADD POSITIONS, TAKE AWAY POSITIONS, CREATE DIVISIONS, CHANGE DIVISIONS. AND THAT'S YOUR POLICY SETTING. THAT'S HOW YOU SET THE POLICY. AND THEN HE WOULD THEN GO OUT AND CARRY THAT POLICY OUT BY STAFFING THOSE POSITIONS AND SUPERVISING THE WORK. AND ALSO, YOU UNDERSTAND THE POSITION IS NOT ONLY JUST CREATED IN NAME, BUT IT'S CREATED IN DUTIES. AND SO IN ADDITION TO CREATING THE POSITIONS, THEY WOULD NEED TO BE A JOB DESCRIPTION. SO YOU GUYS COULD KNOW WHAT IS THIS NEW POSITION DOING. SO THAT WAS MY QUESTION. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING, ARE WE USING STAFF? THESE DIVISIONS ARE GOING TO BE FILLED WITH STAFF THAT WE ALREADY HAD. ARE WE POTENTIALLY BECAUSE I THINK I THINK IT WAS ONLY MENTIONED CREATING ONE POSITION. YES, SIR. SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE WOULD BE USING OUR CURRENT STAFF CHANGING THE NAME. HOWEVER, IT'S STILL AT THE CITY MANAGER'S DISCRETION HOW HE WANTS TO RUN IT. THAT'S RIGHT. 
          SO FOR THE PURPOSES IT WOULD JUST BE A NAME I, I GUESS THEY CALL IT REBRANDING. WE CALL IT 
          [03:10:04]
REBRANDING, BUT YET. UNDER THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY MANAGER, HOW IT WAS RAN AND THE REBRANDING PART, THOUGH I WOULD SUBMIT, IS IT'S REBRANDING THAT ENTIRE. ARTS. THAT'S YOUR DECISION. THAT'S THE POLICY DECISION THAT IS LEFT UP TO. I KNOW YOU GET IT. I KNOW WE MIGHT LOSE. WE STILL HAVE ENOUGH, MADAM MAYOR, FOR SAKE, FOR SAKE OF TIME. I THINK THAT WE ARE DELIBERATING THE MECHANICS OF THIS. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO AT THIS MOMENT. WE CAN'T DELIBERATE ON MECHANICS OF SOMETHING THAT ISN'T BEFORE THE BODY. SO AT THIS TIME, IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, I MOVE TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO RETURN WITH THE FORMAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AT THE APRIL 20TH MEETING. I THINK I STILL HAVE THE FLOOR. I WAS GOING TO GET TO THAT IN A SECOND. THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S NOT REGULAR PROTOCOL FOR THE PRESENTATION BEFORE THE WORK SESSION. THAT'S NOT NORMAL, BUT THIS EXACT REASON, I THINK AFTER WE HAVE GONE TO A WORK SESSION AND HAD TIME TO DISCUSS IT, I THINK THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR US TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT WE CAN DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO DO THESE THINGS, BECAUSE NORMALLY WE WANT TO SAY LIKE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, BUT NORMALLY THAT'S HOW WE GO TO WORK SESSION BEFORE WE DO PRESENTATION BECAUSE. SO WE CAN HAVE PROPERLY DISCUSSED. COUNCILMAN MITCHELL, WE CAN'T DISCUSS ANYTHING WITHOUT ANY DOCUMENTATION. ALL I HAVE IS AN IDEA AT THIS POINT. THE GOAL IS TO GET THE DOCUMENTATION SO WE CAN HAVE THE IN-DEPTH, ROBUST CONVERSATION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE. THAT'S EXACTLY THE GOAL OF THIS ITEM. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO. I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN CUMMINGS. I'M SORRY. COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILWOMAN MITCHELL, ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR. OKAY, COUNCILWOMAN. COMING. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I AM I TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES SENTIMENTS. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS, I THINK. BUT WHAT IT IS, ALL OF THESE POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY HERE. I THINK IT'S KIND OF MORE OF A, JUST A, A RESTRUCTURE OR REALIGNMENT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A 50 WORDS. WE HAVE THE OFFICE OF EQUITY INCLUSION AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE, I THINK IT'S JUST KIND OF REALIGNING IT AND PUTTING IT ALL UNDER ONE UMBRELLA. IF I'M NOT THAT, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT IS. AND I THINK TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL IS SAYING, I THINK INITIALLY HE THOUGHT THAT THAT WE WERE RECREATING SOME POSITIONS. THESE POSITIONS ARE ALREADY HERE. IT'S JUST A REALIGNMENT OF WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE. AND TO HIS POINT, HE'S JUST SAYING I SEE WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. YOU'RE TRYING TO DO HERE WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO DO. AND I THINK IT'S GOOD TO BRING ALL OF THIS KIND OF UNDER ONE, YOU KNOW, UNDER ONE UMBRELLA. BUT IT NEEDS TO, TO, TO GO FURTHER IN DEPTH TO JUST SEE WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IF YOU HAVE TO CREATE A POSITION, BECAUSE WE MAY USE WHO WE ALREADY HAVE INTERNALLY WITH REGARDS TO WHAT IS IT GOING TO, ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A DEPARTMENT OR DIVISION HEAD OR WHATEVER IT'S GOING TO BE WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE. AND HE'S SAYING FOR THAT, IT SHOULD BE A DISCUSSION AND WORK SESSION JUST TO SEE WHAT EVERYTHING LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING. BUT FOR US TO EVEN GO TO WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS IT, WE NEED SOME PAPERWORK, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT. SO I THINK NOW KIND OF ONCE EVERYBODY SORT OF UNDERSTANDS WHAT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO GO TO WORK SESSION SO WE CAN HAVE SOME SORT OF ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. SO THAT ALL GOES BACK TO WHAT WE NEED FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER NOW, I GUESS, TO GIVE US SOMETHING TO EVEN DISCUSS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. 
          THIS IS A GOOD START HERE, YOUR PRESENTATION, AND MAYBE THEY CAN JUST KIND OF TAKE THAT AND MAYBE TO PLUG IN. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AT THE END OF THE DAY? WHAT WOULD IT COST? YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD BE IN WHAT POSITION OR WHATEVER. NOT NECESSARILY NAMING PARTICULAR PEOPLE, BUT JUST WHAT IT IS. BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I THINK ALL THE STUFF IS ALREADY IN HOUSE THAT WE HAVE. 
          WE'RE JUST KIND OF RECLASSIFYING IT, JUST KIND OF MOVING SOME, SOME PIECES OF THE PUZZLE IN A DIFFERENT AREA. SO I THINK WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF WE. PUT A PIN IN IT, HAVE IT TO GO TO WORK SESSION JUST SO WE CAN HAVE MORE OF A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT IT, WHERE WE'LL HAVE SOME ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IF WE BUILT THIS OUT, WHAT IT IS THAT YOU HAVE HERE, WHAT YOUR WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE. SO IS THAT A MOTION? CAN I MAKE? I MEAN, BECAUSE I MEAN, I KNOW WE COULD BECAUSE WE COULD, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO GO ABOUT IT. SO I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK I SEE WHAT EVERYBODY'S 
          [03:15:02]
SAYING AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GREAT. AND I THINK IT'LL TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, SORT OF LINGERING ISSUES THAT WE DO HAVE HERE WITH REGARDS TO THIS. SO, I MEAN, I'M FOR IT. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE, SOME TEETH TO IT JUST TO KIND OF SEE. AND IT'S JUST, I THINK NOW, I THINK IT'S HOW WE GO ABOUT GETTING THAT DONE. SO I THINK IT DOES NEED TO GO TO WORK SESSION SO WE CAN KIND OF TALK, TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE. SO THE THING IS, WHAT KIND OF WHAT DO WE NEED? LIKE, SO DO YOU WANT ME TO CHANGE THIS TO FOR TO PRESENT WITH THE FORMAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THIS INSTEAD OF APRIL 20TH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY APRIL 14TH? WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE NEXT WORKS? I THINK THIS IS WHEN IS THE NEXT WORK SESSION OKAY? YEAH, YEAH. SO INSTEAD OF IN APRIL 20TH, I CAN SLIDE IT IN FOR THE WORK SESSION DATE, THE WORK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NEXT. 
          DO WE HAVE TIMING FROM THE CITY MANAGER? FOR HOW LONG DO WE NEED TIME TOGETHER ABOUT HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO DO? HE SAID HE CAN'T PULL IT TOGETHER. SO DO YOU. I'M SAYING MY QUESTION IS I'M GOING TO GO LAST. BUT ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR QUESTION? BECAUSE I WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS. AND WE'RE ON ROUND TWO OF THIS DISCUSSION. 
          ARE YOU STILL IN? OKAY. OKAY. CAN I GO IN? ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN STARR, COUNCILWOMAN MARTIN ROGERS. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND AGAIN, THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION, BUT I THINK THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO REALLY MOVE FORWARD, WE PROBABLY DO NEED THE CITY MANAGER TO COME BACK WITH WHAT HE ALREADY HAS IN PLACE. COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS, TO THE NEXT WORK SESSION, BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, WE DO HAVE THE 50 WORST PROPERTIES AND SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE MAY STILL LIKE THE CHIEF IS STILL HERE, RIGHT? BOTH CHIEFS ARE STILL HERE. AND THEY WORKED ON THAT PROGRAM. WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS WHAT IS STATED HERE. THE STAFFING PLANS, THE DIVISION STRUCTURES. LIKE WE'RE GOING TO NEED THAT INFORMATION AT THE WORK SESSION TO MAKE A DECISION. RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS DRAFTING THE ORDINANCE, MAYBE THAT PART CAN WAIT, BUT MAYBE THAT FIRST BULLET POINT, WE'LL PROBABLY NEED THAT TO HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION. BUT IT MAY BE A DECISION MADE AT THE WORK SESSION THAT, OKAY, MAYBE WE CAN USE A RESOLUTION INSTEAD OF AN ORDINANCE, BUT I THINK WE PROBABLY DO NEED THE CITY MANAGER TO GIVE US THE PLAN. I MEAN, IF HE'S ABLE TO BY THE NEXT WORK SESSION, NO ONE HAS REALLY ASKED MR. JONES, CAN HE PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION? BUT I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN WITH THAT AND I'LL YIELD. BUT HAVE YOU GONE. OH, OKAY. LET'S SEE, COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL. THANK YOU. I JUST SO A COUPLE OF CLARIFYING POINTS AND MAYBE YOU CAN CONFIRM THIS FOR ME, BUT THE 50 WORST PROPERTIES IS JUST THE BOARD TODAY. AND SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS. BUT I THINK WHERE IT'S FALLING SHORT IS EXECUTING ON THOSE IDEAS BECAUSE. IT'S A PROGRAM. 
          IT'S SO THE 50 WORST PROPERTIES, THEY HAVE STAFF TO EXECUTE ON THEIR IDEAS TODAY. IT'S A, IT'S A PROGRAM THAT CITY MANAGER. SO THE FIFTH, IS IT MAYOR, I SHOULD LAST MEETING IT WAS A FUNCTION OF THE CITY AND IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF RESOURCES TO KEEP UP WITH. I THINK YOU HAVE ONE PERSON DESIGNATED RIGHT NOW THE 50 WORST PROPERTIES. IS THAT CORRECT? THERE'S ACTUALLY SEVERAL. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO IT IS THE LAST 50 WORST PROPERTIES MEETING I SET ON. THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SAID IS TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH IDEAS AND THEN PASS THAT OFF. 
          SO IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS A DISCONNECT THERE. THE OTHER THING THAT I, I THINK I HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMINGS SAY IS THAT CHANGING THE NAME OF SOME OF THE THE OFFICE OF INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT MAY WORK BETTER WITH TO TO ENSURE THAT WE RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. SO SOME OF IT REQUIRES A LITTLE BIT OF A RESTRUCTURE, WHICH IS WHY THIS IS BEING RECOMMENDED. AND YES, THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE FOR CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, TO GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AT THE NEXT WORK SESSION, SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ACTUALLY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH. ARE THESE CHANGES THAT WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT? OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL. AND NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILMAN ADKINS. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM IN FAVOR OF TASKING THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO US, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IF WE JUST MOVE 
          [03:20:04]
THIS TO A WORK SESSION, WE'VE HAD THE PRESENTATION. WE'RE STILL WORKING IN ABSTRACT. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE FOR THE RESTRUCTURING, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO. MY QUESTION IS, IS MR. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE THE BANDWIDTH AT THIS TIME, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF BUDGET SEASON AND THOSE THINGS TO MEET A WORK SESSION DEADLINE OF NEXT MONDAY? AND COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING, DO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING CONSIDERED FOR THE FY 27 BUDGET? CORRECT. THAT WAS MY HOPE. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO MAKE FEDERAL ATTESTATIONS THAT SAY THAT WE ARE OR ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH EXECUTIVE ORDERS. SO THIS HAS TIME SENSITIVE SERIOUSNESS, RIGHT? AND WHAT ARE THOSE DEADLINES? BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO THE BUDGET. SO SO THE TIMELINE HERE, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE IT PRESENTED TO US. COUNCIL WOULD EITHER VOTE. COUNCIL WOULD EITHER CONSIDER TO TAKE IT ON TO THE MAY 4TH MEETING SO THAT IT COULD COME IN CONVERSATION WITH THE BUDGET. MR. CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET HERE SOON, AND SO IF HE HAS THESE EXISTING FUNCTIONS IN THE BUDGET, YES, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. YES, I'M ANTICIPATING ALL OF THOSE THINGS. IT'S JUST I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GOT THE BANDWIDTH TO HAVE IT READY FOR NEXT MONDAY FOR THE WORK SESSION. SO TO RESPOND TO THAT, I THINK THERE WERE MULTIPLE LAYERS. IF IT IS TO PRESENT WHERE WE ARE WITH, WITH THE NUMBER OF OF PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE IN 50 WORKS, WHAT WE HAVE IN CULTURAL AFFAIRS OR CULTURAL ARTS, THE OFFICE OF EQUITY, INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT, THE NUMBER OF STAFF I CAN PROVIDE THAT AS A AS A DISCUSSION POINT, BUT TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT WAS LAID OUT IN THE PRESENTATION, THAT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE IN THE WORK SESSION NEXT MONTH IF THAT HAPPENS. SO YOU COULD GIVE US SOME PRELIMINARY INFORMATION NEXT WEEK FOR WORK SESSION. AND IF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS TO MEET ALL OF THE REQUESTS OR THE INFORMATION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMING PUT IN THIS PRESENTATION, YOU WOULD NEED FOR THAT TO BE MAY'S WORK SESSION. DOES THAT STILL GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME? IF THIS BODY DECIDES THAT, YES, PLEASE MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE DIVISIONS TO INCLUDE THOSE THINGS IN THE BUDGET. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE POSITIONS ARE ALREADY FUNDED. THEY JUST ARE IN A DIFFERENT REPORTING STRUCTURE OR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE. SO IT'LL JUST BE IN A MATTER OF CREATING THE STRUCTURE FOR THEM. 
          THAT'S CORRECT. SO AS AS THE DISCUSSION WAS GOING ON, I THINK A TIMELINE COULD BE THE APRIL 20TH IS WHEN MY GOAL IS TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET. THAT'S NOT A A VOTING SITUATION OUTSIDE OF JUST ACCEPTING THE BUDGET. YOU HAVE UNTIL JUNE 1ST TO ACTUALLY APPROVE THE BUDGET. SO IF THERE ARE, I CAN WORK IN MY RECOMMENDED BUDGET. THIS STRATEGY, IF I HEAR THAT THERE'S CONSENSUS AND THEN THE COUNCIL CAN CHOOSE TO DO ALL THE SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE REQUIRED TO SET UP THOSE DIVISIONS IN THE LEAD UP OR AT THE JUNE 1ST BUDGET AMENDMENT OR BUDGET ADOPTION MEETING. OKAY, SO FOR NOW, THAT COULD BE A STRATEGY. SO, COUNCILMEMBER, I HAVE A QUESTION. SO FOR NEXT WEEK WORK SESSION, YOU CAN PROVIDE US SOME PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ON. THESE ARE THE POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY A PART OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE. AND THEY RELATE TO THE POSITIONS THAT YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED IN THIS PRESENTATION. CORRECT. AND THEN IN THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS ON THE 20TH, IF THIS BODY WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, YOU WILL THEN BE ABLE TO BAKE THAT INTO YOUR PRESENTATION TO US. AND YOU WOULD HAVE THE BANDWIDTH. AND THAT'S MORE PALATABLE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT THAT WAY. I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SORRY. 
          ABOUT. I'M SORRY. SHE'S MOVING. MADAM MAYOR, MAY I MAKE A MOTION SESSION? YES. I MEAN, YEAH, I MOVE THAT THE CITY MANAGER PROVIDE THE PRELIMINARY STAFFING THAT RELATE TO THIS PROPOSAL AT THE IN HISTORY AT THE APRIL. IS IT 14TH WORK SESSION? 13TH WORK SESSION. 
          YEAH. THAT'S MY THAT'S MY FIRST MOTION. AND THEN I HAVE A SECOND FOLLOW UP MOTION. SECOND. 
          [03:25:01]
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? WE WILL MOVE THIS ITEM TO THE APRIL 13TH WORK SESSION. A PRELIMINARY THE THE PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS ON THE STAFFING POSITIONS. CAN WE CALL DISCOVERED DISCOVERY. DISCOVERY WILL MOVE THIS ITEM NUMBER THROUGH THE APRIL 13TH WORK SESSION FOR DISCOVERY REPORT. CORRECT. BUT I HAVE A SECOND MOTION BECAUSE THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS. WHATEVER, WHATEVER DIRECTION WE MAY BE WANTING TO WALK IN, THE CITY ATTORNEY IS GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH IN ON US COMING INTO COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL DIRECTIVES AND STATE GRATUITIES CLAUSE. I WOULD ALSO THEN MOVE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY PRESENT TO US. SOME ANALYSIS OR PERSPECTIVE OR LEGAL OPINION THAT'S BETTER ON THE ALIGNMENT WITH THE FEDERAL DIRECTIVES AND STATE GRATUITIES CLAUSE. SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY, SO WE WILL. IS THAT TO BE PRESENTED ON THE SAME DAY? YES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. IT'S ON THE SAME DAY. OKAY. IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? COUNCILWOMAN HEMMING THIS IS A GOOD PRESENTATION FOR FORWARD THINKING. THANK YOU FOR THAT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM THE CITY MANAGER IS, IS THERE A OPPORTUNITY TO. IN IN DOING ALL THIS, DO WE HAVE ROOM FOR A PROJECT MANAGER, I THINK, OR AS A PART OF THIS EXERCISE TO KIND OF WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TODAY IS A IDEATION, RIGHT? IT'S A PRESENTATION OF IDEAS, THOUGHTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT TOGETHER. ONCE THAT GOES FROM THE NEXT TO THE NEXT PHASE, THEN IT'S DISCOVERY IN MY MIND IS JUST GOING BACK TO LIKE SOME TYPE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT, SCOPE OF WORK KIND OF SITUATION THAT KIND OF OUTLINES WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE AT EVERY ITERATION OF THE PROCESS. I SEE THAT COUNCILWOMAN HEMMINGS HAS SOME OF THESE HIGH LEVEL DATES THERE, BUT IS IT CAN WE IS THIS ALREADY A PROCESS THAT IS IN PLACE, OR IS THIS TYPE OF. ARE WE ARE WE IS THIS A A PROCESS IN ITSELF AS WE'RE USING THIS IDEATION AND PRESENTATION, THEN MOVING IT TO WORK SESSION, THEN MOVING IT TO THE ACTUAL VOTE? IT'S A LOT TO UNPACK. WE'LL, I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT IN THE EMAIL TO KEEP THINGS MOVING. 
          ALRIGHT, SO WE WILL NOW MOVE ON. OH, WE HAVE TO VOTE. DID WE GET THE VOTE? WE GOT THE VOTE. OKAY, 
          [XI.9. Duties and Responsibilities of the Mayor and the Mayor’s Office]
SO NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM. WHAT ITEM ARE WE ON? NINE YEAH, IT SHOULD BE NINE. ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. SO I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK. I PLACED THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE WE'RE NOW IN APRIL AS IT WAS STATED EARLIER. PART OF ME. COUNCILMAN MITCHELL, I'M SORRY. 
          PARDON ME FOR A SECOND. OKAY. DO WE HAVE A TIMER ON THIS PRESENTATION? YEAH, WE SPENT THE HOUR ON THAT. OKAY. AM I GOING YET OR AM I WAITING? OKAY. 
          AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, HOLD ON. I'LL GIVE YOU AN INTRODUCTION. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN INTRODUCTION. OKAY. DO MY INTRODUCTION. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE CONTEXT TO THIS. I'M NOT SURE, BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE PLACED THIS ITEM ON THE ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE IT'S NOW APRIL AND CURRENTLY WE DO NOT HAVE A FUNCTIONING MAYOR'S OFFICE. I BELIEVE A LOT OF THAT RESISTANCE IS COMING FROM OUR COUNCIL. ADDITIONALLY, I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. I SAY THAT BECAUSE I'VE OBSERVED MULTIPLE ACTIONS THIS YEAR THAT RAISED CONCERNS THEY MAY NOT FULLY ALIGN WITH OUR CITY CHARTER. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ALL OPERATING WITH CLEAR AND SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE ROLES, SO WE REMAIN CONSISTENT, TRANSPARENT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR GOVERNING FRAMEWORK. IT'S DIFFERENT TO. 
          IT'S DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE A TIME THAT WHEN A MAYOR HAS STRUGGLED THIS MONTH TO SIMPLY SECURE BASIC ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, THE. THE POSITION BEING DISCUSSED IS JUST AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. IT'S NOT A DEPARTMENT HEAD. IT'S NOT ANY POSITION WITH ANY AUTHORITY. 
          [03:30:04]
THIS ROLE DOES NOT SUPERVISE STAFF, DOES NOT HAVE ANY AUTHORITY OVER CITY OPERATIONS, DO NOT HAVE ANY AUTHORITY OVER FUNDS. IT EXISTS SOLELY TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR IN CARRYING OUT HER DAY TO DAY RESPONSIBILITIES. IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN PROPOSED THAT WE CHANGE OUR CHARTER. SO THE AMERICAN HIRE AND ASSISTANCE THAT SHE'S ALLOWED TO HAVE PER OUR CHARTER, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. FIRST, I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARY TO AMEND OUR CHARTER. 
          SECONDLY, THE PROCESS WOULD ONLY DELAY HIRING OF AN ASSISTANT BY AT LEAST ANOTHER TWO MONTHS. AND LASTLY, I DON'T THINK THE COUNCIL CAN DICTATE WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DOES OR HOW IT OPERATES. AT THIS POINT. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE HAS GROWN, GONE, GROWN BEYOND WHAT IT SHOULD. SO TO HELP BRING CLARITY AND PERSPECTIVE, I REACHED OUT TO FORMER MAYORS TO GET THEIR INPUT, AND I'M PLEASED THAT ONE HAS AGREED TO JOIN US THIS EVENING TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND INSIGHT. MY HOPE IS THAT THIS PRESENTATION WILL HELP CLEAR UP ANY MISCONCEPTIONS AND PROVIDE THIS COUNCIL WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO SOMEONE WHO'S ACTUALLY SERVED IN THE ROLE AND UNDERSTANDS ITS PARTICULAR NEEDS, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN TRY TO RESOLVE THIS TONIGHT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE FORMER MAYOR ERNESTINE PITMAN TO THE PODIUM TO PRESENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MITCHELL. I'M ONLY STANDING HERE BECAUSE I AM THE ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM THAT HAS EVER BEEN A PART OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION. BUT QUESTIONS WERE ASKED ABOUT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, MAINLY MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND WHAT COULD OR COULD NOT BE DONE IN OUR POWERS THERE. AND I'M THE ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S ELECTED MAYOR IN THIS ROOM, AND THE FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER IN MODERN TIMES TO BE ELECTED MAYOR, WHO TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY AT THAT COUNCIL CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, I LEARNED THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS MORE THAN THE MAYOR BEING IN THE IN IN IT, IN A SPACE IN IT. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO READ TO YOU. EACH POINT CITY WAS GRANTED ITS FIRST CITY CHARTER ON AUGUST THE 10TH, 1887. OVER 138 YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN 34 MAYORAL ELECTIONS EVERY FOUR YEARS. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN EXACTLY ONE MAYOR'S OFFICE DESIGNATION THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND A CITY HALL ARE REQUIREMENTS, AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN CITY HALL, CITY HALL, AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPALITY MAY HAVE REPRESENT THE FACE OF THE CITY. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS THE FIRST PLACE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS CAN GO TO FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS WITH ADMINISTRATIVE CONCERNS WILL GO TO CITY HALL FIRST. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS A DESTINATION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DAILY FROM 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. IT IS STAFFED AND MAINTAINED BY THE CITY. THE NUMBER OF STAFF POSITIONS IS DETERMINED BY THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT THE CITY HAS. 
          EACH POINT HAS A COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT. EACH POINT. MAYOR IS A PART TIME ELECTED OFFICIAL. THAT MEANS HE OR SHE. HE OR SHE IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DAILY FROM 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. THE MAYOR ALSO HAS, QUOTE, NO MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY OR RESPONSIBILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIONS OF CITY GOVERNMENT. QUOTE, CLOSED. HENCE, THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE FULL TIME PAID STAFF POSITION. A PART TIME MAYOR DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE CITY HAS A PART TIME MAYOR'S OFFICE. THE ONE FULL TIME PAID STAFF POSITION IS TOTALLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE MAYOR AND IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LISTING OF COUNCIL APPROVED POSITIONS AS AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT FORMERLY CALLED SECRETARY, THE MAYOR CAN BYPASS THE POSTING OF THE POSITION FOR AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT BY PRE-SELECTING HIS OR HER CHOICE, OR REQUESTED A TRANSFER OF A CURRENT EMPLOYEE 
          [03:35:09]
WHO HAS AGREED TO ACCEPT THE POSITION IF IT CAN BE ARRANGED. A CURRENT EMPLOYEE HAS THE OPTION OF RESIGNING AND THEN BEING REHIRED BY THE MAYOR WITH NO LOSS OF BENEFITS. WITH PROPER NOTICE TO THE CITY, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ABSOLUTELY NO AUTHORITY OVER THE PERSON WHOM THE MAYOR HIRES, SELECTS OR POINTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. 
          THE CITY MANAGER, UPON REQUEST FROM THE MAYOR, MAY HELP ASSIST THE MAYOR WITH HIRING, SELECTING, APPOINTING A CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEE UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION'S SUPERVISION OTHER THAN A REQUEST FROM THE MAYOR, THE CITY MANAGER HAS ABSOLUTELY NO AUTHORITY OVER WHOM THE MAYOR HIRES, SELECTS, OR APPOINTS THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. TALKING ABOUT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, NOT THE PERSON THE MAYOR'S OFFICE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT INCLUDE BASIC OFFICE OPERATIONS FOR SETTING UP THE OFFICE, WITH EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES PROVIDED BY THE CITY. THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IS THE CITY'S OFFICIAL PUBLIC GREETER AND AMBASSADOR. IN THE ABSENCE OF THE MAYOR, HE OR SHE PROVIDES GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY, SUCH AS ONE THE OPERATION AND DUTIES OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, TWO TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE TRANSFERRING CALLS TO A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT. THREE MAINTAINING A DIRECTORY OF MANAGERS OF ALL DEPARTMENTS, ALL APARTMENTS AND TOWNHOMES. THAT'S IN THE CITY OF EAST POINT FOUR. MAINTAINING A DIRECTORY OF ALL CHURCHES. THE TELEPHONE FIVE THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE CITY'S LIBRARY AND THE BIDEN CENTER. THESE ARE IMPORTANT. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO BE COMING IN AND VISIT THE. SEEKING THE BASIC MAYORAL DUTIES. NOW, THESE ARE THE MAYORS, THE BASIC MAYORAL DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS ARE SPECIFIC TO THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MAYOR, WHICH ARE STATED IN THE CITY CHARTER. THE MAYOR SHALL SERVE AS THE CHIEF SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CITY AND CHIEF ADVOCATE OF FORMALLY APPROVED AND ADOPTED CITY POLICY. IN ADDITION, THE MAYOR SHALL PRESIDE AT ALL MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND SHALL BE RECOGNIZED AS THE HEAD OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT FOR ALL CEREMONIAL PURPOSES AND BY THE GOVERNOR FOR PURPOSES OF MILITARY LAW. THE MAYOR SHALL SIGN ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTIONS ONLY ON THAT PASSAGE TO SIGN DEEDS, BONDS, CONTRACTS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AS REQUIRED BY LAW, AND SHALL APPOINT CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND SUCH OTHER COMMITTEES SUBJECT TO CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL AND AS PROVIDED BY LAW, THE MAYOR SHALL SERVE THE CITY IN A PART TIME CAPACITY UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED BY LAW OR THIS CHARTER. THE MAYOR SHALL HAVE NO VOTE ON ANY QUESTION BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, EXCEPT IN CASE OF ATTACK. NOW, BASED ON THE CHARTER, THE MAYOR'S EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE ONE KEEPING TRACK OF THE MAYOR'S CALENDAR, TWO MAINTAINING COPIES AND TRACKING OF ALL SIGNED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS, DEEDS, BONDS, CONTRACTS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AS REQUIRED BY LAW THREE NOTIFYING THE COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER OF ALL CHECKS SENT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND FORWARDING THE CHECKS TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. A COPY OF THE CHECK IS KEPT ON FILE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. FOUR MAINTAINING A RECORD OF OUR REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC APPEARANCES AT VARIOUS EVENTS IN THE CITY AND FOR THE CITY AND THE CITY. THE MAYOR SHALL SERVE AS THE CHIEF SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CITY AND 
          [03:40:02]
CHIEF ADVOCATE OF FORMALLY APPROVED AND ADOPTED CITY POLICIES. FIVE PLANNING FOR THE SOUTH FULTON MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION DINNER MEETING HOSTED BY THE MAYOR, SOUTH FULTON MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. VOTING. MEMBERS OF MAYORS, COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN COME, BUT SHE. AS A MEMBER, SHE WOULD HAVE TO BE A PART OF THAT. SIX PREPARING ALL REQUESTS FOR PROCLAMATIONS. THE MAYOR'S JOB IS COMMUNITY BASED. CITY CIVIC RELATIONSHIP TIED TO THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE AND THE COMMUNITY. BUSINESSES INTO. 
          THE MAYOR SHALL BE RECOGNIZED AS THE HEAD OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT FOR ALL CEREMONIAL PURPOSES. AND OUR HOPE TONIGHT IS THE LAST TIME IN THIS CHAMBER THAT A PERSON IS RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY OF EAST POINT. IT IS DONE BY THE ELECTED MAYOR AND NOT A COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBERS ONLY STAND IN AS A DESIGNEE IF ASKED BY THE. THE MAYOR. AND THAT IS IN CASES WHERE A WHOLE LIST OF ITEMS COME UNDER AND SHE CAN'T MAKE IT, THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL IS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. THEN SHE WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL MEMBER, WOULD YOU GO. DAYCARE CENTERS LOVE TO HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS COME WHEN LITTLE FREE KINDERGARTENS GRADUATE TO GO TO KINDERGARTEN, THEY GO HOME AND TELL THEIR PARENTS, MAYOR CAN'T GRADUATED ME, MARY GRADUATED ME. 
          THIS ENCOURAGES BUSINESS FOR THAT DAYCARE CENTER, BUT IT ALSO OCCURS BRINGS ABOUT AN AWARENESS. WE HAVE A MAYOR AND SHE NEEDS TO START ACTING LIKE IT. THAT MEANS ALL PROCLAMATIONS BEARING THE MAYOR'S SIGNATURE MUST BE PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL'S CHAMBER, OR BY HIS OR HER DESIGNEE. IF THE MAYOR IS PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO DO SO. IF THE PROCLAMATION IS FOR ONE OF THE EVENTS LISTED BELOW, IT WILL BE UP TO THE ORGANIZER TO IDENTIFY THE PRESENTER OF THE PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR. WITH THE MAYOR'S APPROVAL. PROCLAMATIONS NOT GIVEN BY THE MAYOR ARE PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR. ARE YOU ANY GOOD MAYOR? YOU DON'T LET ANYBODY USE YOUR TITLE, YOUR NAME, WITHOUT YOUR APPROVAL. ALRIGHT, NEXT, A PROCLAMATIONS FOR APPROVED EVENTS. YOU WILL BE RECEIVING SO MANY REQUESTS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENTS. GRANDSON GETS A FIRST TIME DEGREE IN SOMETHING FROM A FIRST TIME THERE. THEY WANT A PROCLAMATION OF IT. IN THE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES YOU DO SOMETHING, THEY WANT A PROCLAMATION FOR IT. THIS IS HOW YOU BUILD TRUST AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS AND THE RESIDENTS AND SHOW THAT WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS IMPORTANT. GRAND BUSINESS OPENINGS, RECITALS, ANNIVERSARIES, RETIREMENTS, FUNERALS, ACADEMIC PROGRAMS EVERYBODY THINK THAT LITTLE CHILD, OUR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN CAN DANCE. SO THEY HAVE DANCE RECITALS. THEY WANT YOU TO COME AND PRESENT THEM WITH A PROCLAMATION WHEN THEY GRADUATE OR WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING THEIR THEY DON'T REALLY FULLY EXPECT THE MAYOR TO COME ALL THE TIME OR EVEN MOST OF THE TIME, BUT JUST SENDING IN SOMEONE IN THE PLACE OF THAT OF THE MAYOR THAT ADDS STATURE AND PRESTIGE. 
          ANNIVERSARIES. EVERY CHURCH HAS AN ANNIVERSARY, A BIG NUMBER, EVERY PASTOR HAS A BIG NUMBER FOR HIS ANNIVERSARY. THEY WANT YOU TO COME. I TOLD HIM. I GO TO MY CHURCH, YOU GO TO YOUR CHURCH. I'M ABOUT OUT OF TOWN. RECITALS, ANNIVERSARY RETIREMENTS. I ATTENDED A FUNERAL FOR A FORMER POLICE OFFICER AND I HAD TO SPEAK. I DID NOT GIVE A PROCLAMATION. 
          THEY ASKED ME WOULD I SPEAK BECAUSE THE PROCLAMATION WOULD BE FORTHCOMING. WELL, MY TIME IS UP, BUT THESE ARE MY ITEMS. THEY WILL BE POSTED ON MY WEBSITE AND SENT OUT ON MY E-BLAST FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. NOW THAT QUESTIONS, DO I JUST SIT MY FINE SELF DOWN? COUNCILWOMAN MITCHELL YEAH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, MISS PITTMAN. JUST REALLY QUICK, 
          [03:45:01]
I WANTED TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS. SO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA IS NUMBER 18, DISCUSSING A POSSIBLE ACTION ON PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. 
          TO THE MAYOR ON PAGE FOUR. NUMBER 18. I JUST WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT BECAUSE THAT'S NEXT UP IN DISCUSSION. NOW PUT PAGE NUMBERS THERE. THIS IS ON PAGE NUMBER THREE. 
          IT'S ON THE AGENDA. OH, NOW. YEAH. THAT'S GOING NOWHERE BECAUSE NUMBER ONE NOT ENOUGH YOU UP. YOU ARE EQUIPPED TO COME UP WITH ANY RESOLUTION TELLING THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, GIVING HER DUTIES AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES. YOU NEVER BEEN MAYOR. YOU NEVER TALKED TO ME. YOU DIDN'T TALK TO ME OR HILLARY TONIGHT. YOU DIDN'T TALK TO MAYOR PETERS. WE HAVE MAYOR INGRAM. YOU HAVE FOUR CITY MAYORS STILL IN THIS CITY. DID YOU ASK US HOW MANY OF YOU KNEW ALL THESE THINGS THAT I PRINTED HERE? DID YOU KNOW THAT THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT HAS TO KEEP A FILE? IF SHE OF ALL DOCUMENTS THAT COMES IN WHEN THE CITY MANAGER WANTS A CONTRACT AGREEMENT SIGNED, IT COMES ON THE TRACKING LIST, AND IT TELLS EVERYBODY UP THERE BEFORE WHO HAS SIGNED IT, WHEN IT CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND THE DATE WHEN THE MAYOR'S SIGNATURE GOES ON THERE TO SIGN THAT CONTRACT, A COPY IS MADE. THEY DON'T TELL YOU THIS IN IN ANYWHERE ELSE. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU LEARN BY TALKING TO OTHER MAYORS AND OTHER CITIES THAT SAYS, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE DO. WE GOT THE CITY RECEIVED A $300,000 REFUND. 
          CHECK BACK FROM THE COUNTY FOR THE ELECTIONS. WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER CLYDE MITCHELL WAS ON COUNCIL, HE JUST UPPED AND SAID ONE DAY, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE $300,000? NOBODY KNEW. IT WAS NEVER ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE IT NEVER CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. SO THE CHECK WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN EXPECTED REVENUE. NO. FROM THAT POINT ON, WE DEMANDED THAT THE MAYOR TAKE A PICTURE, EMAILED IT OUT AND SEND IT TO THE CITY MANAGER. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THE $300,000 CHECK YOU GOT. IT WAS CASH, BUT WE DON'T KNOW. AND THAT IS WHAT YOU DO. THAT EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT HAS TWO ROLES. ONE FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE OTHER FOR THE MAYORAL OFFICE, OF DOING WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE THE CITY RUN SMOOTHLY WHEN IT COMES TO HER, I HAD I WAS INVITED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR A LUNCHEON MEETING. ALL THE MAYORS AND TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE INVITED. I WENT. COBB COUNTY HAD A CONSORTIUM OF BUSINESSES AND ALL THAT THEY WANTED TO KNOW. WITHIN 25 MILE RADIUS WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS AND COMMUNITIES WERE THERE. AND THEY WANT TO TALK TO THE MAYORS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE. SO I WENT TO THAT, AND I GET A PROCLAMATION TELLING ME THEY WANT ME TO COME AND TO FOR MINISTER'S ANNIVERSARY. I TOLD THEM ALL IN THE BEGINNING WITH THE CHURCHES, TELL THEM I GO TO MY CHURCH ON SUNDAY. THEY GO TO THAT CHURCH ON SUNDAY. DON'T DO PROCLAMATIONS ON SUNDAYS. THAT IS UP TO THE MAYOR. HOW DO YOU WANT YOURSELF TO BE REMEMBERED AS MAYOR? BUT WHEN IT COMES UP TO CHANGING ANYTHING IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, YOU ARE TRYING TO CHANGE OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT. THAT WON'T FLY. YOU WILL HAVE TO GET A CHARTER REVIEW JUST LIKE WE DID. FIRST YOU GOTTA FIND A REPRESENTATIVE AND A SENATOR WHO WAS SPONSORED IT IN BOTH AREAS. AND WHAT IS IT? YOU KNOW, THIS THIS IS REALLY RIDICULOUS. HERE WE ARE SITTING HERE THREE MONTHS AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS CLOSED. AND WHY? I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE LISTENED TO ALL THIS OTHER. YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. EVEN IF IT'S COUNCILS UP AND PASSES SOMETHING AS RIDICULOUS AS WHAT IS STATED. YOU CAN'T IMPLEMENT IT. ARE YOU GOING TO DO IS HAVE THE CITY TO PAY MONEY FOR AN ATTORNEY TO GO TO COURT AND HAVE IT THROWN OUT, AND YOU CAN'T EVEN TAKE IT TO COURT? YOU KNOW WHY? IT'S A WRIT OF MANDAMUS. WHICH ONE ARE YOU GOING TO GO TO? TAKE CARE OF THAT, TO CODIFY. ALL OF YOU SIGNED FOR IT. STOP. TAKE A 
          [03:50:05]
DEEP BREATH. YOU ARE A NEWLY ELECTED. YOU ARE EXUBERANT, BUT YOU ALSO CARE A LOT OF BAGGAGE FROM THE PAST. AND IT'S JUST NOT THE PAST. ADMINISTRATION, PAST RESIDENTS AND ALL TOO. 
          IT'S FLOWING THROUGH HERE. WHO EVER HEARD OF THE CLAMOR BEING MADE ABOUT THE MAYOR HAVING AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT? AND I EVEN HEARD THAT CAN'T BE BECAUSE SHE'S IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. 
          SHE CAN'T BE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. I'M UNION. I WAS ATLANTA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS PRESIDENT. I AM UNION TO THE CORE. EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE CITY OF EAST POINT IS A CIVIL SERVANT. UNLESS THEY ARE IN MANAGEMENT, IT IS NOT THE SUPERVISOR THAT MAKES THEM A CIVIL SERVICE. IT IS THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND WHERE IT IS. THANK YOU. SO JUST IN SHORT. SO YES, BECAUSE THIS IS UP FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION. SO IN SHORT, DO WE NEED TO AMEND OUR CHARTER SO THE MAYOR IS ABLE TO APPOINT AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IN LAYMAN'S TERMS. CAN WE DO THAT. AND IS THAT IN LABOR TERMS? YES. THERE'S NO NEED FOR THAT ORDINANCE. 
          THERE'S NO NEED FOR A RESOLUTION. THE STATE WILL TELL YOU THE COUNCIL DOES NOT MAKE ANY KIND OF DECISIONS. BUT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ALSO JUST REALLY, REALLY QUICK? I KNOW ON POLITICAL APPOINTEES, I DON'T THINK YOU GOT TO THAT. THAT'S NOT A POLITICAL APPOINTEE. OKAY. SO WHAT KIND OF THE CITY MANAGER PRESELECTS HIS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, AS HE SHOULD. SO DOES EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD. THEY DON'T POST IT IF THE POST IS JUST DOING IT JUST BECAUSE YOU SAID WE HAVE TO POST. THAT'S WHAT DECISION MADE. ANYBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND SHOULD RESPECT THAT. IF YOU AS CLOSE, GOT TO BE AS CLOSE TO ME AS THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO REPRESENT ME IN MY ABSENCE, WE NEED TO BE GETTING ALONG AND I NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRUST YOU. RIGHT. AND YOU, YOU ALSO MENTIONED JUST REALLY QUICK MY LAST STATEMENT ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY. AND NOW THAT THAT'S OVER OPERATIONS, AS YOU STATED IN HERE, OH, THE MAYOR HAS ABSOLUTELY NO ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OVER ANY OPERATIONS FOR THE CITY OF EAST POINT. THAT BELONGS TO THE CITY MANAGER. SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND ADMINISTRATIVE, I GUESS, AUTHORITY OVER AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT? CAN YOU SPELL OFFICE? YES. ALLISON. THOSE THINGS HERE? NO, I'M JUST SAYING. CAN CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE? IT'S REALLY CLEAR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OVER OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE HAVING ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OVER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. ALRIGHT. AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, THE THE NUMBER ONE THIS. EXECUTIVE OF THE CITY, THE MAYOR ONLY HAS SUPERVISORY MANAGEMENT OVER THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. THAT IS THE SAME FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD, INCLUDING THE CITY MANAGER. NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO THE OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAMS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND ALL YOU YOU DON'T. AND NEITHER DOES THE MAYOR HAVE ANY KIND OF AUTHORITY TO DO THAT. 
          THAT IS A CITY MANAGER. SO WHEN HE MENTIONED ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY IN THE CHARTER, IT'S NOT PERTAINING TO HER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT WHEN PERTAINING TO WHATEVER. I JUST LIKE TO TEAR THAT UP AND MOVE ON. YES, MA'AM. AND GET ON WITH OPENING UP CITY HALL, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT CITY, I MEAN, MAYOR, MAYOR'S OFFICE BUSINESS THAT IS NOT BEING DONE, THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE PURVIEW OF WHAT THE MAYORAL DUTIES FOR HER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. PROCLAMATIONS ARE GOING UNANSWERED. THANK YOU. CALLS ARE BEING UNANSWERED. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. SUPPORT EACH OTHER. ARE YOU? I'M. WONDER IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS. ANYTHING ELSE? BUT NO. THE PERFORMING THESE DUTIES RIGHT HERE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH GOES ON IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. AND HE CAN TELL YOU THAT. THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU. YOU CAN ANSWER ME, MADAM MAYOR. ASK ME PLEASE. I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK DIRECTLY TO HIM. I HADN'T FORGOTTEN THAT. YOU SAID, IF ANY. THERE ARE. THAT IS NOT A SINGLE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT. OPERATIONAL OPERATION THAT HE IS 
          [03:55:02]
RESPONSIBLE FOR. LISTED HERE. NONE WHATSOEVER. YEAH. I THINK. THANK YOU. AND I KNOW WE HAVE TO GO. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION AND FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT. I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT. AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. I DO WANT TO ALLOW COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL TO CHIME IN. I THINK SHE HAD. DID YOU HAVE YOUR LIGHT ON? OKAY. 
          OKAY. IS. EXCUSE ME. YES, MA'AM. YOU'RE YOU'RE EXCUSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS ANY LONGER THAN IT HAS TO. JUST TO SAY THAT IF ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT FORMER MAYOR PITTMAN HAS LISTED ARE, ARE ACCURATE IN IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT WE HAVE FOR OUR MAYOR'S OFFICE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM GRAVELY DISAPPOINTED. I'M TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE MANNER IN WHICH. IF THINGS ARE PUT IN PLACE THAT PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND IN. THIS IS THE STUFF THAT WE SAID THAT WE WERE DONE WITH, AND WE'RE NOT. AND WE NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT THAT. AND THAT'S OKAY. BUT BE HONEST ABOUT IT AND WE WILL MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THIS COUNCIL AND FOR THE CITY. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HUMANITY. WHEN I WAS IN TIFTON, I WAS RUNNING, I WAS SPEEDING A LITTLE BIT, AND THE COP PULLED ME OVER AND HE SAID, WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHAT DID YOU DO? WHY ARE YOU HERE? I SAID, I'M HERE FOR MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. I'M RUNNING A LITTLE LATE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. DRIVER'S LICENSE REGISTRATION GAVE IT TO HIM. HE CAME BACK TO THE CAR. 
          HE SAID, MA'AM, THIS IS A WARNING. YOU CAN PROCEED. HE DIDN'T GIVE ME A TICKET. HE DIDN'T TAKE ME TO JAIL. WE DO HAVE RULES TO ABIDE BY AND I HAVE PLANNED. I PLAN ON ABIDING BY THOSE RULES. MY INTENT WAS NEVER TO CIRCUMVENT ANY RULES. WHEN IT COMES TO THIS. I HOPE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY, BECAUSE IF I SAY ANYTHING ELSE, IT'LL BE INAPPROPRIATE AND I'M DONE. OKAY. WITH THE ASK OF THAT, I'M ASKING TONIGHT IS FOR THE PERSON THAT WAS THE TEMPORARY OR FULL TIME PERSON THAT I ASKED TO HAVE IN THE POSITION, BE MOVED BACK TO HER POSITION WHILE WHATEVER ELSE THAT COUNCIL WANTED TO HAVE HAPPEN WITH THE RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I AM HERE FOR US TO DO THINGS RIGHT AND DECENCY AND ORDER, YES, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF NOT HAVING SOMEBODY IN IN OFFICE TO SUPPORT ME. THAT'S ALL THE SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. SO THAT'S IT. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I NEED TO ASK OR HOW THAT NEEDS TO BE IN MOTION OR WHAT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW. BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. SO MY MOTION IS I MOVE THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AFFIRMS THAT THE MAYOR HAS SOLE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, AND THAT COUNCIL SEND OUT SHALL NOT DELAY, CONDITION OR INTERFERE WITH THE AUTHORITY WITH THAT AUTHORITY. SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? YES, DISCUSSION. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THIS MOMENT, BUT THE MOTION THAT'S BEFORE US, COULD YOU WEIGH IN ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT MOTION WOULD STAND, GIVEN WHAT YOU'VE OUTLINED FOR US AS A COUNCIL RELATED TO THE CHARTER PROVISIONS AND THE RESOLUTION, THAT WOULD DO EXACTLY WHAT'S BEING ASKED OF COUNCIL TONIGHT, WHICH IS TO ALIGN THE AUTHORITY SO THAT THE MAYOR CAN GET THE THINGS THAT SHE NEEDS. MADAM MAYOR, IS IT APPROPRIATE? I RESPOND, COUNCILMAN MITCHELL, I'M JUST GOING TO REPEAT THE MOTION AS I THINK I HEARD IT. OKAY. IT WAS A MOTION TO FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONFIRM, RIGHT. THE I MOVE TO EFFECTIVELY GO IT AGAIN. I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. I MOVED THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THE CITY COUNCIL AFFIRMS THAT THE MAYOR HAS SOLE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, AND THAT COUNCIL SHALL NOT DELAY, CONDITION OR INTERFERE WITH THAT AUTHORITY, SOLE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, A FIRM RIGHT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AFFIRM THAT THE MAYOR HAS SOLE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, AND THE COUNCIL SHOULD NOT DELAY THAT AUTHORITY. RIGHT. AND BASICALLY INTERFERE. YES. 
          OKAY. MY QUESTION BEFORE SO THAT I CAN ANSWER COUNCIL MEMBER HEMMINGS QUESTION IS, 
          [04:00:07]
HOW DO WE RECONCILE THAT WITH 2-4012C OF THE CHARTER? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN PUT IT UP ON THE BOARD ON THE SCREEN HERE. AND RECONCILING THAT. I THINK WILL GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS THAT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND THAT MISS PITTMAN JUST OUTLINED IN HER PRESENTATION. OKAY. 
          2-4012C IN THE CHARTER, NOT IN THE ORDINANCES. SO JUST GO TO THAT DIVISION ONE. YOU SEE THAT, GO TO THAT AND THEN YOU KNOW IT'S UNDER GOVERNANCE. THERE YOU GO. RELATIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP AMONG MAYOR. YOU SEE THAT SAYS CHAPTER FOUR. YEP. RIGHT THERE. ROLE DELINEATION. 
          YOU GOT IT. AND THEN SCROLL UP TO SEE. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. 
          PRESS THE BUTTON. MA'AM, WHEN YOU SAID EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OTHER THAN THE CITY MANAGER. 
          THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY. BECAUSE THE CITY HAS TO PAY FOR ALL BENEFITS AND SALARIES. THE MAYOR HAS NO PERSONAL MONEY. SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BE SPENDING. THAT IS THAT AS FAR AS BEING AN EMPLOYEE UNDER CIVIL SERVICE, SHE IS NOT IN THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IS NOT IN MANAGEMENT. SO IT'S A CIVIL SERVANT PERSON. WHOEVER IS HIRED BY THE MAYOR IS GOING TO BE UNDER CIVIL SERVICE STATUTES. NOW, YOU STILL CHECK WITH THE STATE OF GEORGIA. WE DO OUR LABOR STUDY. WHEN IT COMES TO EMPLOYMENT, THE CIVIL SERVICE. 
          SHE IS A CIVIL SERVANT. SHE'S NOT IN MANAGEMENT BECAUSE THE THE MAYOR DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY THAT HE HAS. NO DEPARTMENT HEAD HAS AN EMPLOYEE. THEY HAVE A PERSON THAT THEY SUPERVISE WHO HAPPENS TO BE AN EMPLOYEE. YOU CANNOT BE WORKING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY WITHOUT BEING HIRED THROUGH EITHER A CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT ABOUT THE CITY. THEREFORE, THE EXECUTIVE POSITION IN ALL THESE YEARS, THROUGH ALL THESE ELECTIONS, IN EVERY CITY IN GEORGIA, GO ON G M A RACEMIC. WHO ELSE WOULD BE IT BE EXCEPT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY? IF THE EMPLOYEE GAVE THE MONEY TO THE SAID, OKAY, GO AND DO A CONTRACT. THE MONEY IS COMING FROM THE CITY. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO, THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS. THIS SAYS THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SHALL NOT GIVE DIRECTIVES TO ANY CITY OFFICERS OF OUR EMPLOYEES OTHER THAN THE CITY MANAGER. THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE GIVING ANY DIRECTIVE TO HER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. THE ONLY PERSON WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAT IS THE MAYOR. SO WHERE'S THE PROBLEM? AND NOT ANY OF THEM, INCLUDING THE MAYOR. SO BE GIVEN ANY DIRECTNESS TO THE CITY MANAGER'S EMPLOYEES SO THAT THERE'S NO CONFLICT THERE. THAT CAME UP WHEN WE WERE SAYING, WELL, WHO THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A PERSON HIRED AS AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, SUPERVISED BY SUPERVISED BY IT IS WHO YOU'RE SUPERVISED BY. YOU ARE THAT PERSON'S SUPERVISOR AND ONLY YOU. AND YOU DO IT YOURSELF. KNOW THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. HERE 
          [04:05:06]
COMES CIVIL SERVICE, JUST LIKE IT DOES FOR ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY. SO SO THAT THAT THAT THAT'S WHY I ASKED TO COME TONIGHT. IF ANYBODY DON'T BELIEVE ME, ALL THIS, THE BOXES OF ALL THE CONVERSATIONS AND ALL OF THE CHILD REVIEW COMMISSION ARE STORED HERE IN THE CITY. IT ADDRESSES THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU. I'M IN FOR DISCUSSION. YES. SO IF WE JUST HAD A PRESENTATION, IF THAT WAS THE PERFECT TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS, I THINK IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED. WELL, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME IN EASTPOINTE HISTORY THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS ISSUE, AND WE DON'T HAVE A FUNCTIONING MAYORAL OFFICE. WITHOUT A GOOD REASON. SO THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON TO OUR FOURTH MONTH. THE MAYOR NEEDS ASSISTANCE. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE NEEDS TO BE OPEN. CITIZENS NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT AND SPEAK WITH THE MAYOR. SO I BEG YOU, I JUST LET'S DO IT LIKE IT'S BEEN DONE FOR THE PAST. HOW MANY YEARS? 140 SOME YEARS. AND ALLOW THE MAYOR TO HAVE HER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT? I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE Y'ALL PLAN ON DOING DRAWING THIS OUT ANOTHER TWO MONTHS. I'M IN THE CHARTER. THIS IS THIS IS REALLY CRAZY. OTHER THAN THAT, I, I MEAN, I THINK THE MOTIONS ON THE THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. YEAH. MADAM MAYOR, I'M IN. I'M HAPPY TO SHARE MY SILENCE. MY SILENCE IS BECAUSE THERE'S MISINFORMATION. MY SILENCE IS THERE'S MISCHARACTERIZATION OF THE GOAL AND THE INTENT OF THIS BODY. AND SO RATHER THAN ENGAGE WITH IT, I'M TRYING TO GET TO RESOLUTION. HENCE THE REASON I EMAILED ALL OF COUNCIL AND SAID THAT I WOULD BE ASKING TONIGHT FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE A FORMAL LEGAL, WRITTEN OPINION. I DO NOT THINK THAT WHILE THAT LEGAL OPINION IS BEING WRITTEN, THAT SHOULD STOP YOU, AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE NOTED FOR THE RECORD THAT THE. IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SEVERAL CONCESSIONS WERE MADE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS EXACT POSITION THAT WE'RE IN. THERE WAS A COMMENDATION FROM THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. THERE WAS A COMMENDATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND SO THE THE THE CONVERSATION THAT THIS BODY IS TRYING TO PREVENT YOU FROM HAVING A CITY, AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IS UNEQUIVOCALLY FALSE. AND IT'S DISHEARTENING THAT WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION ON WHAT THE PRESUMED MOTIVES OF COUNCIL ARE, WHEN THE PRESUMED MOTIVES ARE OF COUNCIL, IS TO COME IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMBIGUITY IN THE CHARTER AND AT THE SAME TIME ADVANCE AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS SILENT. MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I WILL CALL ON COUNCILWOMAN CUMMINGS AND COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL AND THEN COUNCILMAN ADKINS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. SO MY QUESTION IS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. SO I THINK WHERE THE WATER IS KIND OF GETTING MUDDY IN, THIS IS THE POSITION. AND I THINK JUST OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS, THE NAME HAS CHANGED FROM EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, CHIEF OF STAFF. SO THE WATER'S KIND OF GOTTEN MUDDY WITH REGARDS TO THAT. SO IF WE GO BACK TO WHAT'S IN THE CHARTER, IT SAYS THAT MAYOR COUNCIL, WE CAN'T GIVE DIRECTIVES TO CITY OFFICERS. AND THE KEY WORD IS EMPLOYEE. SO IF WE ARE BASED ON WHAT MISS PITTMAN IS SAYING, AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IS CONSIDERED TO BE AN EMPLOYEE, IS THAT THAT'S WHERE THAT'S THE HEARTBURN IN THIS WHOLE THING. BUT IF IT'S JUST AN APPOINTEE, IF WE JUST RETAIN IF WE CHANGE THE NAME TO AN APPOINTEE, THAT IS HER PERSON, CORRECT? YES. 
          HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T RECONCILE WITH WHAT WAS PRESENTED, WHICH WAS THE PERSON RESIGNED FROM THAT POSITION. AND IS BEING HIRED AS AN EMPLOYEE. SO IT SEEMS LIKE AND THAT'S. THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE THING THERE. IF WE HAD A CLEAR IF IT WAS JUST THE APPOINTEE, THE APPOINTEE, THEY'RE NOT A CITY EMPLOYEE. IT'S NOT A PERSON THAT RESIGNS. THIS IS JUST SOMEBODY THAT THIS IS HER PERSON. THIS IS MY APPOINTEE. THIS IS WHO'S IN THIS POSITION. 
          THE MICROPHONE WOULD BE CIVIL SERVICE. AN APPOINTEE WOULDN'T BE. EMPLOYEES ARE RIGHT. AN 
          [04:10:05]
APPOINTEE WOULDN'T. SHOULD IT BE THE APPOINTEE? SHOULD IT BE THAT IF IT'S AN APPOINTEE, IT'S NOT A CIVIL SERVICE PERSON, BUT IT WOULD BE THE PERSON THAT WOULD ALLOW THAT WOULD AFFORD HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT HER PERSON IN THERE? CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. THERE HAS BEEN CONVERSATION, HOWEVER, BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THAT EVEN AS AN APPOINTEE, THEY WANTED THE APPOINTEE TO GO THROUGH THE HIRING PROCESS. IF YOU REMEMBER THOSE. RIGHT? RIGHT, I REMEMBER THAT. OH, WE GOING TO BE ALL DAY DOING THIS. OKAY, SO IT HAS CREATED THIS, RIGHT? YES. OKAY. 
          I ALSO HAVE I FOUND IN THE CITY'S FILES FROM YEARS AGO, IT'S A 2013 MEMO WHEN THIS BODY WAS CONSIDERING HIRING AN AUDITOR TO REPORT DIRECTLY TO CITY COUNCIL. AND YOUR CITY ATTORNEY AT THE TIME HAD A OUTSIDE COUNSEL DOING OPINION FOR YOU. AND IT'S ANALOGOUS SOMEWHAT TO THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A POSITION THAT WOULD BE DIRECTLY SUPERVISED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. SO I'M PASSING THAT AROUND SO YOU CAN HAVE ONE. I MADE A COPY FOR YOU AS WELL. YOU WANT A COPY, MA'AM? OKAY, WE'LL GET YOU ONE. YOU CAN. HERE YOU GO. 
          THANK YOU, MISS PITTMAN. FOR MY THAT AT THAT TIME, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD INTERVIEW. 
          PEOPLE WHO WERE CONCERNED. THANK YOU. WHO WERE BEING CONSIDERED TO BE HIRED FOR OUR EXTERNAL AUDITOR. THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR IS HIRED BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AND THAT IS WHOM THE THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR REPORTS TO THE INTERNAL AUDITOR REPORTS TO THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND THE CITY MANAGER, BECAUSE HE'S OVER THAT BOSS AND THEY WORK TOGETHER. THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR WERE COMING TO THE CITY SO MANY TIMES DURING THE YEAR AND WORK WITH THE INTERNAL AUDITOR AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND THEN HE THEN WOULD COME WHEN REQUESTED TO BUDGET MEETINGS TO STATE WHERE WE WERE, AND HE WOULD WRITE THE LETTER AT THE END OF THE YEAR AS TO WHAT THINGS NEEDED TO BE FIXED OR WHAT THINGS DID NOT. AND WHEN IT COMES TO THAT MOTION THAT I RAISED MY HAND FOR, FOR THIS COUNCIL TO EVEN CONSIDER ANY MOTION CONCERNING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ISN'T AN IMPROPER MOTION BECAUSE OF THE DIVISION OF HOW OUR GOVERNMENT IS. THAT'S AN IMPROPER MOTION. ONE CANNOT. THAT'S WHY I SAID, YOU CAN TAKE THE LITTLE THINGS AND DO WHAT YOU WANT TO GO AND HIRE YOURSELF A PERSON. IF THE CITY REFUSED TO PAY, I WILL PAY FOR YOUR ATTORNEY AND GET MY FEES BACK. SIX MONTHS NOW. NOW THIS IS GONE. ALL THESE YEARS WE HAVE HAD MAYORS AND SECRETARIES AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS ALL AT ONCE. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE CONFIRMATION FOR THIS EXIST. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WORD EMPLOYEE. NOBODY'S GOING OUT AND ALL YOU CAN CALL IT BY ANY OTHER WORD. SELECT A POINT. HIRE. SHE HIRES HER OWN. AND HOW I MEANS BY WORDS. THIS IS THE PERSON THAT I WANT HIRED BY THE CITY TO PAY FOR SALARIES AND BENEFITS. THAT'S ALL I. I DON'T THINK THERE'S A OPPOSITION TO WHAT MISS PITTMAN IS SAYING, THAT THE MAYOR HIRES HER OWN. I THINK THAT'S ACCURATE. SHE HIRES HER OWN. 
          THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD BRING TO THIS COUNCIL'S ATTENTION WAS THAT CODE SECTION THAT JUST DID NOT GIVE OR. IT DID NOT EXPLICITLY SAY THAT THE MAYOR OR COUNCIL COULD SUPERVISE AN EMPLOYEE. SO THAT THAT DOCUMENT THAT WAS SENT AROUND TO THE COUNCIL BACK IN FEBRUARY, IT SIMPLY FIXED THAT TO GIVE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND COUNCIL THE ABILITY TO SUPERVISE SOMEONE. SO IT DID NOT INTERFERE WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S DUTIES. THAT SAYS HE 
          [04:15:10]
SUPERVISES EVERYBODY. SO I, I AGREE, AND I THINK Y'ALL AGREE THAT THE MAYOR PICKS WHOEVER SHE WANTS, HIRES WHOEVER SHE WANTS. BUT CLEANING UP THAT ONE SECTION THAT WAS PUT ON THE BOARD A SECOND AGO TO GIVE THE ABILITY FOR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO SUPERVISE SOMEONE. IT IS NOT STATED IN YOUR CHARTER TODAY. I DO AGREE, JUST BASED ON THE LIMITED INFORMATION I HAVE, THAT THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED BEFORE BECAUSE THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. WHAT I RECALL HAS LEFT AT THE TIME THE MAYOR DEPARTED. AND SO NOW THAT HASN'T HAPPENED. AND TO PROTECT PERSONNEL CONVERSATIONS, I WON'T GO MUCH FURTHER IN THAT. SO I DON'T THINK THIS HAS EVER COME UP BEFORE BECAUSE THAT HASN'T HAPPENED THIS TIME. ONE MORE THING, AND I'M SURE BECAUSE I GOTTA GO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE, IF YOUR JOB LIKE IN FAMILY LEAVE, FAMILY PROTECTION, LEAVE, IF YOU YOU LOSE YOUR JOB. BECAUSE OF ILLNESS OR SOMEONE ELSE TAKEN IT WHILE YOU WERE OUT OR WHATEVER, OR A TRANSFER WHEN YOU COME BACK TO WORK, YOU UNDERSTOOD THE SERVICE NOW. THE CITY MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PLACE YOU IN A POSITION SHORT OF CREATING ONE TO ACCOMMODATE YOU OR YOUR DISABILITY. NOW THAT'S IT. NOW, ANYONE WHO GOES TO WORK OVER IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, IT'S NO DIFFERENT FOR ANYONE. AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT GOING TO WORK FOR THE CITY MANAGER HERE. WHEN HE LEAVES, WHAT HAPPENS TO HIS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO DEPARTMENT HEADS? EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT? WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM? ARE THEY TRANSFERRED? ANOTHER JOB PLACE IS FOUND FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE THE NEXT CITY MANAGER COMING IN. ASSISTANT. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I WANT I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS WORD HERE BECAUSE I BROUGHT IT UP TO HER WHENEVER WE READ ORDINANCES OR THE CODE OF WHATEVER, THE CHARTER, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED COMMON INFERENCE. IT'S INFERRED IMPLICITLY OR EXPLICITLY IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT IS PRINTED THERE AS THE RULE OF THE LAW. IF YOU HAVE A MAYOR AND SHE HAS AN OFFICE, WHO'S GOING TO DO THE WORK IN THERE, SHE'S GOING TO DO HER OWN WORK. NO NO NO, NO, NO, NO, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. SO SHE HAS AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT THAT SHE SUPERVISES. WHO ELSE IS GOING TO SUPERVISE HER? NO ONE ELSE. 
          AND WHETHER THERE'S AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR AT WHETHER OR NOT THAT PERSON IS ALREADY OVER THERE WORKING IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THAT MAYOR'S OFFICE IS SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN TO STAFF RIGHT NOW, UNDER STATE LAW, IT IS NOT. EVEN IF THE PERSON JUST GOES IN AND SITS IN THERE. WHO ARE YOU? I'M THE MAYOR'S OFFICE EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. 
          YOU ONLY GET THAT KIND OF DISCUSSION AND INFERENCE WHEN YOU ARE TALKING TO CONSULTANTS. 
          DURING A REVIEW OF RINGING UP ON THE TELEPHONE AND ASKING, LIKE I DO, THAT OFFICE IS SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN FROM 8 TO 5. MISS PITTMAN, ONE MORE QUESTION. PREVIOUSLY, SOMEONE MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT BEING IT BEING APPROVED IN THE BUDGET. SO IN THE BUDGET NOW LET'S LET'S GET THAT STRAIGHT. THESE BUDGET LINE ITEMS ARE SOMETHING THAT'S MADE UP BY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CITY MANAGER. WHEN YOU WANT TO PUT SOMETHING IN IT. LET'S TALK ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FEES. 
          OUR SERVICES. WHEN I WAS MAYOR, PROFESSIONAL FEES, THEY KNEW GOOD AND WELL. I WAS NOT BUYING ANY SUBSCRIPTIONS. I WAS NOT GOING TO GO AND JOIN ANY OTHER GROUP OTHER THAN THOSE THAT CAME UNDER NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITY. AND THEY, I WAS NOT GOING TO ANY CONFERENCE AND GET ON ANY KIND OF COMMITTEE. THAT IS WHAT THAT IS. THAT'S WHAT THAT IS. IF YOU ALL WANT TO 
          [04:20:01]
SUBSCRIBE TO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP YOU DIRECTLY WITH YOUR JOB AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, THOSE ARE PROFESSIONAL FEES ARE THE ONLY THING WITH THAT IS YOU GOTTA DECIDE HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING TO BE ASKED TO BE PUT IN THE BUDGET BASED ON EXPECTED REVENUES FOR TRAVEL, TRAINING, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATING WITH CONSTITUENTS. YOU HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WITH CONSTITUENTS. I THINK THAT'S $2,500. IT'S TOO LITTLE. IT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY SCRUBBED OUT AND GO IN WITH THE ALLOWANCES. STATE SAYS YOU MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL CONFERENCE, FOR ALL COMPENSATION. I MEAN, FOR FOR ALL RECEIPTS AND ALL THAT YOU HAVE FOR ALLOWANCES THAT WAS DONE FOR THE CITY TO DO YOUR JOB. NOW, THE CITY SAID, WE CAN'T AFFORD THE ONE TRIP TO ONE CONFERENCE, ONE THIS OR TWO OF THAT. IF IT WERE $10,000 LAST YEAR, IT MAY BE 7000 THIS YEAR. INSTEAD OF YOURS COMING DOWN, IT'S GOING UP AND YOU'RE NOT LEARNING. YOU'RE TOO SLOW. IT SHOULDN'T TAKE $42,000 IN TWO YEARS FOR YOU TO KNOW WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU TONIGHT. AND I NEVER ATTENDED A CONFERENCE OR A SEMINAR OR WORKSHOP THE WHOLE TIME I WAS MAYOR OR COUNCIL MEMBER. DID I WILL I G M A DOWNTOWN ON THE COMPUTER NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. RING THEM UP. EMAIL. I HAD SPEED DIAL ON EVERY PERSON IN PARTNERS IN GOVERNMENT ON THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL. DIDN'T CARE WHO THEY WERE. BUT YOU ARE. YOU'RE BURNING YOURSELVES OUT FOR NO GOOD REASON. AND YOU GOT TO TELL THE JUDGE, WELL, WHY CAN'T SHE HAS HAVE THE PERSON OF HER CHOICE AS HER EXECUTIVE SESSION AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, IS SHE NOT. NOR NO, NO, NO PUN INTENDED THAN THE CITY MANAGER. YOU ARE THE ELECTED PERSON. YOU ARE MY MAYOR. WHETHER I VOTE, WHETHER I VOTED FOR YOU OR NOT, AND I NEED. AND WE'RE GOING TO STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT TOO, BECAUSE I'M GOING HOME AND I'M GOING TO CHANGE WHAT I HAD ALREADY STARTED WRITING. NOW THAT PAUSE AND PEN COME BACK AROUND AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE HARD ON COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE. I TRUST YOUR GOODWILL THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE. DO NOT BRING A MOTION TO THE FLOOR TO CONFIRM ANYTHING IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. 
          YOU DON'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY. THAT'S AN IMPROPER MOTION. THAT'S JUST LIKE BRINGING A MOTION TO THE FLOOR TO CONFIRM WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SAYS TO DO. YOU CAN ONLY CONFIRM HIS APPOINTEES AS DEPARTMENT HEADS. THAT'S THE ONLY CONFIRMATION YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING ELSE. 
          IT'S HIRING, NOT EVEN APPOINTING. THANK YOU. AND YOU ALL ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY. 
          THAT'S WHAT THE STATES BY THE STATE SAID. YOU HAVE TO BE COMPENSATED. AND WHO COMPENSATES YOU TO SIT UP EACH POINT? GEORGE'S NAME IS NOT ON THAT CHECK. SO WHAT ABOUT YOU? ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU, WHAT HAPPENS? YOU CAN'T GO TO CIVIL SERVICE BOARD. YOU CAN'T GO TO THE CITY MANAGER. BETTER GET YOU A LAWYER. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CALDWELL. OKAY. 
          WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN? OKAY. YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. I JUST HAD A COMMENT IN A STATEMENT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I, TOO, WANT TO GET THE MAYOR THE SUPPORT THAT SHE NEEDS IN THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY. AND I SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION. WE DON'T NEED A MOTION THEN. WE DON'T NEED A MOTION. IF IF WE DO, THEN I SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT MOTION AND GET YOU THE SUPPORT YOU NEED IMMEDIATELY. 
          IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BUDGET, WHEN WE APPROVE THE BUDGET, THAT POSITION WAS NOT ONLY ESTABLISHED, IT WAS ALSO FUNDED. AND SO THEREFORE IT CAN BE STAFFED. AND AS MISS PITTMAN SAID, TONIGHT WE ARE PART TIME. THIS OFFICE NEEDS TO BE OPEN AND IT NEEDS FULL TIME STAFF. 
          THAT'S BEEN THE INTERPRETATION FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, AND IT SHOULD CONTINUE. AND WE WE WE JUST DON'T NEED TO STAND IN THE WAY OF THAT. OKAY. I GUESS MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHEN THE 
          [04:25:01]
SUPPORT THAT I ASKED FOR WILL BE IN. MOTION. OKAY. COUNCILMAN ATKINS, THANK YOU, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, THE THE ITEM THAT YOU DRAFTED, THE ORDINANCE WHICH WAS REFERENCED IN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 18. CAN YOU PLEASE GO OVER THIS AND WHAT THIS WOULD ALLOW TO DO SO THAT AND HOW IT CORRELATES OR ALIGNS WITH THE CHARTER. START BY SAYING THAT I AM NOT A DECISION MAKER. I'M AN ADVICE GIVER. RIGHT. AND SO THIS IS JUST A RECOMMENDATION TO CLEAR UP WHERE IT SAYS THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL DO NOT SUPERVISE EMPLOYEES. IT NOW SAYS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT THAT PROVISION THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING SAYS THE MAYOR CAN SUPERVISE AND EMPLOYEE. THAT'S IT. SO THAT'S ALL IT SAYS. THE MAYOR OR ANY COUNCIL MEMBER TO HIRE WHOMEVER THEY LIKE WITH THEIR WITHIN THEIR BUDGET, WITHIN THEIR BUDGET, THEIR LINE ITEM BUDGET, RIGHT? SO THE, THE MAYOR COULD HIRE WHOMEVER AND THEN IT WOULD NOT BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE CHARTER. 
          RIGHT? IT WOULD JUST CLEAR UP THAT GAP IN THE LANGUAGE, BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE CURRENTLY DOES NOT SAY THAT ELECTEDS CAN SUPERVISE ANYONE. IT JUST DOESN'T SAY IT. AND SO WITHOUT IT SAYING IT, I WROTE SOMETHING THAT SAYS IT SO THAT OKAY. IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT THE WHO IT HAS TO BE OR IT JUST SAYS, AND I DON'T, I'M NOT SURE WHY IT HAS COME DOWN, BUT TWO C'S SAYS THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL CANNOT TASK. RIGHT. SO THAT WOULD BE SILLY TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT SHE COULDN'T SUPERVISE. THAT'S SILLY. CORRECT. THAT IT'S HER PERSON. SO THE, THE THE AMENDMENT WAS SIMPLY TO SAY AN ELECTED CAN SUPERVISE AND HIRE WHOEVER THEY WANT, WHATEVER THEY WANT WITHIN THEIR BUDGET. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES. 
          YES. THAT'S WHAT IT ATTEMPTED TO DO. AND THIS WAS AFTER MANY CONVERSATIONS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND AT THE REQUEST OF THIS BODY OF ME TO DRAFT SOMETHING TO ACHIEVE THIS. 
          RIGHT, CORRECT. AND THE ONLY REASON WHY I HANDED OUT THAT MEMO IS BECAUSE IT APPEARS THAT 13 YEARS AGO, ANOTHER ATTORNEY AGREED WITH THAT APPROACH. YES. QUESTION ONE AND ANSWER ONE IN THIS MEMO. I'M SORRY, SIR, QUESTION ONE AND ANSWER ONE IN THIS MEMO, I THINK IS WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO. YES. THE MEMO I PASSED AROUND. YES, YES. AND AND I THINK IF YOU GO TO PAGE TWO OF THAT MEMO, IT. SO THE REASON WHY YOU DON'T HAVE A WRITTEN LEGAL OPINION FROM ME, AS COUNCIL MEMBER, HEMMINGS SAID, IS BECAUSE THAT REQUIRES A VOTE OF COUNCIL. RIGHT? THAT'S RULE 36 OF. SO I DIDN'T DO ONE, BUT I FOUND SOMEBODY ELSE THAT DID. ONE JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE ON POINT. SO IT OUTLINES THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER. AND THEN IT COMES TO A CONCLUSION, I THINK ON THE SECOND TO LAST PAGE. IN THAT LARGE PARAGRAPH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE. TO SEE, I THINK IT IS PAGE TWO. THE I'M SORRY, IT IS PAGE THREE AT THE TOP OF PAGE THREE. IT JUST SAYS, AND I'M READING FROM A MEMO THAT SOMEONE ELSE WROTE, GRANTED, BUT IT SAYS THAT IF THE MAYOR COUNCIL IS TO COMMUNICATE WITH AN EMPLOYEE OR AN OFFICER OF THE CITY, IT MUST BE THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER OR FOR A PURPOSE AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 2-02 OF THE CITY CHARTER, AS PERTAINING TO INVESTIGATIONS AND INQUIRIES. SO. THE CONCLUSION AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE FIVE SIMPLY SAYS, IF THE PROCEDURE IS OUTLINED IN 3630 53B, THAT'S THE HOME RULE. CHARTER AMENDMENT RULE IS FOLLOWED AND THE MEASURE PASSES, THEN THE GOVERNING BODY WOULD BE ABLE TO REQUIRE THE CITY'S INTERNAL AUDITOR TO REPORT DIRECTLY TO IT, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO ALLOWING AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY TO REPORT DIRECTLY 
          [04:30:03]
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
          [04:35:08]
YOU DIDN'T GET THE MOTION. SO THE MOTION WAS TO CONFIRM YOUR AUTHORITY. IF YOU'RE MOVING FORWARD, PERIOD. IF YOU KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE TO APPARENTLY CAN'T STOP YOU. SO THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T NEED THE CONFIRMATION FROM THEM AND THEY, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CONFIRM IT. 
          SO THEY CAN'T, THEY CAN'T STOP YOU FROM DOING WHAT? THIS IS JUST A PROCEDURAL COMMENT. THE MOTION WAS WITHDRAWN. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED. THE MOTION HAD DISCUSSION AND THERE'S BEEN A VOTE. WE NEED THE VOTE. ALRIGHT. MOTION IS ONLY DIFFER FROM THE FIRST TIME IT WAS JUST ASKED FOR IT TO BE REPEATED. CERTAINLY. I THINK MADAM CLERK CAN REPEAT THE MOTION THAT YOU GUYS VOTED ON. YEAH, I THOUGHT I WAS ABOUT TO DO THE ROLL CALL. THE MOTION WAS TO AFFECT. 
          EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL AFFIRM THAT THE MAYOR HAS SOLE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, AND THAT COUNCIL SHALL NOT DELAY, CONDITION OR INTERFERE WITH THAT AUTHORITY. YES, IT'S BASICALLY TRYING TO AFFIRM TO KEEP THEM FROM INTERFERING WITH HER SELECTING AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. SO NOT SO I GUESS IT DIDN'T MAKE IT. SO I GUESS THEY WILL. OH, OKAY. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO INTERFERE. ALRIGHT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER HAMMOND. NO. PURSUANT TO THE MEMO THAT WE RECEIVED. COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER FREELY. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS, NO. COUNCIL MEMBER. CUMMINGS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. MITCHELL. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CALDWELL. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE ROGERS. YES. THE MOTION FAILED. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM. SO CAN WE GO TO THE ITEM THAT WAS ACTUALLY ON THE AGENDA? YEAH. WE HAVE ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM ABOUT THE CHARTER. WE HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE VOTED ON. WE DON'T WE'VE NOT VOTED ON THIS. WE DIDN'T VOTE ON THE AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS THE ORDINANCE TO DO WHAT THE MAYOR NEEDS. RIGHT? THAT WAS INTERPRETATION. THAT WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. YES. NUMBER 18, DISCUSSING A POSSIBLE ACTION AND POSSIBLE CHARTER AMENDMENT TO AUTHORIZE THE ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR. 
          MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. OH. HOLD ON. I'M SO SORRY. WAS IT ADVERTISED PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF TITLE 36? SO IN MY EMAIL, IT WAS VERY CLEAR WHAT THE STEPS WERE TO ACHIEVE THIS, IT REQUIRES TWO READINGS. IT REQUIRES THE ADVERTISEMENTS. 
          AND SO BEFORE YOU MAKE THAT MOTION PROCEDURALLY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROPER. 
          SO I GUESS IT WASN'T. IS THAT CORRECT, MADAM CLERK? THAT'S CORRECT. NOW I NEED TO SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S IT'S DISHEARTENING THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE THAT COUNCIL MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE WANTED THIS TO BE ADVERTISED SO THAT WE COULD EFFECTIVELY DO THIS, WHICH WOULD ALLOW EXACTLY WHAT THE MAYOR NEEDS, WHICH IS TO APPOINT THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN HAPPENED, BUT WHY? WHY ARE WE NOT ALLOWED? IS THERE ANY VOTE THAT WE CAN TAKE TONIGHT TO CONTINUE MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION? BECAUSE I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT MY MOTIVES ARE. 
          MY MOTIVES ARE TO COME IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CHARTER AND TO AFFORD THE MAYOR THE SUPPORT THAT SHE NEEDS. AND SO IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THIS BODY CAN DO TONIGHT TO ACCOMPLISH THAT? YOU JUST SAID THEY VOTED IT DOWN. I MEAN, SO AND IT'S NOT IN ITS FINAL FORM. IF SEVERAL I THINK ISSUES WITH THE ORDINANCE THAT'S WRITTEN. JESUS CHRIST, Y'ALL, THIS IS NOT THAT HARD. 
          OKAY. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS NO DISCUSSION OR MOTION ON THE FLOOR AT THIS TIME. SO ARE WE ARE WE IS THE BODY READY TO MOVE FORWARD TO ITEM NUMBER TEN? IS I THINK COUNCILMAN CUMMINGS 
          [04:40:07]
HAS HER HAND OUT. OKAY. AND THEN SPEAK. YES, MADAM MAYOR. SO AND I'LL ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER IF WE CAN AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO TEMPORARILY APPOINT OR ASSIGN. THE, I GUESS, THE PERSON THAT YOU HAD BEFORE AS THE ASSISTANT. SECOND. I'M SORRY, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, SARAH, TO MY TO MY UNDERSTANDING, HE DOES NOT NEED A VOTE TO DO THAT. IT'S BEEN REQUESTED, I HAVE. WE JUST ESTABLISHED THAT THE MAYOR HAS A RIGHT TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO HER OFFICE. THANK YOU. SO I'M JUST. BUT I MEAN, THIS WAY. I THINK WE WOULD STILL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH WITH. YEAH. IF IF WE PUT IT ON RECORD THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO TEMPORARILY ASSIGN, I'M ASSUMING THE PERSON THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY HAD TO BE YOUR ASSISTANT, I GUESS UNTIL WE OR UNTIL WE WORK OUT OR CLEAR WHATEVER IT NEEDS TO BE CLEARED UP, THAT WOULD GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED IMMEDIATELY. SECOND, SO CAN WE DISCUSSION? YES. DISCUSSION. AMEN. OKAY. I'M TRYING TO. YEAH, I HEAR YOU. 
          ARE YOU DOING OKAY? SO WE SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT BEING IN COMPLIANCE. THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. I THINK MISS PENSION MENTIONED MISS MISS PITTMAN MENTIONED IT EARLIER. I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE BEING CLOSED, BECAUSE HE SAID THAT WAS SOMEWHAT ILLEGAL FOR THE OFFICE NOT TO BE OPEN. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THIS OR FAMILIAR? I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT SHE WAS REFERRING TO. OKAY. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE BEING OPEN OR CLOSED EITHER. OKAY. AND I THINK I DID READ THE ORDINANCE AND THE RESOLUTION, AND I HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. I DON'T THINK WE CAN ACTUALLY DICTATE THE MAYOR'S BUDGET AS A COUNCIL. I THINK THEY WERE TRYING TO USE MONEY FROM WHAT WAS IT PERSONAL? I FORGET THE PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL FEES AND TRYING TO DICTATE WHAT THAT CAN BE USED FOR AND THIS, THAT. AND THE THIRD, I FOUND KIND OF SEVERAL ISSUES IN THE PREMISE AND A LOT OF THAT STUFF. AND. I THINK TO PASS IT WILL HAVE TO BE ADVERTISED. IT WOULD NEED TO BE IN THE SPINAL FORM. THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT. MADAM MAYOR, I'LL CALL FOR THE ORDERS OF THE DAY. I'M STILL TALKING. I'M SORRY. WELL, POINT OF ORDER. POINT. OKAY. GO AHEAD. POINT OF ORDER. WHAT'S YOUR POINT? AND, MADAM. GOD, I'M CALLING FOR THE ORDERS OF THE DAY. WHAT IS THE VOTE THAT WE'RE TAKING RIGHT NOW? WHAT NUMBER IS THAT? THE VOTE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CUMMINGS MADE WAS TO TEMPORARILY DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO ASSIGN SOMEONE TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHILE WE RESOLVED THE THE LEGALISTIC PART OF THIS. WHAT'S THE POINT? AND I HAVE A SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND. WHAT WAS YOUR POINT OF ORDER? IT'S STILL DISCUSSING. I'M CALLING FOR THE ORDERS OF THE DAY. I'M ASKING THE MAYOR FOR THE ORDERS OF BUSINESS. IT'S A ROBERT'S RULE. I'M CALLING FOR THE ORDERS OF THE DAY. WHAT ARE WE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW, MADAM MAYOR? IT'S DISCUSSING. MADAM MAYOR, WE DID NOT VOTE ON NUMBER 18. NUMBER 18? WE VOTED ON A MOTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL MADE THAT WAS NOT CONCURRENT WITH THE CHARTER. SO FORMAL. A FORMAL MOTION WAS NEVER MADE. 
          YOU. SECOND, WHILE SHE WAS TALKING, A FORMER. A FORMAL MOTION WAS NEVER MADE. SHE WAS DISCUSSING THE IDEA OF EMOTION. SHE NEVER SAID, I MAKE A MOTION FOR THIS. SO AS I TAKE THE FLOOR BACK, PLEASE. THANK YOU. SO JESUS. OKAY, SO I MEAN, IT IS WHAT IT IS, Y'ALL. THIS IS THIS IRRITATING. AND MADAM MAYOR. DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW. SO THIS ISN'T GOING NOWHERE. 
          WILL THAT HAPPEN? AND THEN WHAT CAN I DO? 
          [04:45:36]
SO CAN I HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IF I MOVE THE IF I MAKE A REQUEST TODAY TO MOVE THE PERSON INTO THE OFFICE TOMORROW, CLARIFICATION REQUESTING FROM THE CITY MANAGER, WHAT CAN I DO AND WHAT WILL BE. WHAT WILL HAPPEN? OKAY, SO IT'S UP TO WHO THAT'S THAT'S I'M ASKING WHAT WILL HAPPEN TOMORROW. IF I HAD ASKED FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, BASED ON THE PERSON THAT I ASKED TO HAVE MOVED OVER TOMORROW, AND I WE START TO WORK FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, NEXT WEEK. WILL THAT WILL THE ACCESS BE REVOKED? WILL SHE BE MOVED AS SHE. WILL SHE BE REMOVED FROM THAT OFFICE? THAT'S ALL I WANT TO KNOW. THIS PAST SATURDAY. THANK YOU. AND AND NOT TO BELABOR THE POINT, BUT I THOUGHT WHEN I WATCHED THE VIDEO OF SATURDAY THAT CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT COUNCIL'S VOTE, THAT AT LEAST THAT WAS THE LEGAL OPINION THAT WAS PROVIDED. CORRECT. I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE ASKING ME, WAS THE LEGAL OPINION BOARDING WITH THE CITY MANAGER? BE ABLE TO ASSIGN DUTIES TO A CURRENT EMPLOYEE? SURE. THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE COUNCIL VOTE. OKAY. THANK YOU. MY QUESTION IS, IF I ASKED THE PERSON TO PUT A CALENDAR MEETING AND OR ACCOMPANY TO AN EVENT, WHAT WOULD BE THE OBSTACLES THEN THAT I WOULD FACE? IS THAT FOR THE PERSON? I BELIEVE? I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE ISSUE, I WANT TO PUT SOMEONE IN THERE. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THAT. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM DIRECTIVES AND TELL THEM WHAT I NEED DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO SUPPORT THE OFFICE. WHAT? BECAUSE WHEN I DID, IF I DO IT, WHAT I'M ASKING IS I DON'T WANT TO WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING OR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AT 9:00 AT NIGHT. HEARING THAT PEOPLE HAVE CONTACTED THE CITY MANAGER AND ASKED HIM TO UNDO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. I MEAN, THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO GET TO. I DON'T WANT TO WAKE UP ANOTHER MORNING AND HAVE A PERSON THAT I THOUGHT WAS IN, OUT. THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO GET TO. SO IS IT THAT THERE'S NOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR ON THE TABLE? IS THAT IS THAT THE POSITION THAT WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW? YES. IF I MAY. I THINK THAT THE QUESTION IS REALLY WHAT THIS GETS TO. I THINK THE MAYOR WAS ASKING WHAT HAPPENS IF SHE DIRECTED THE PERSON WHO WAS THERE TO COME BACK? AND THE WHOLE THING ABOUT THE DISCUSSION IS THAT AS PER OUR CHARTER, NONE OF US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DIRECT A CITY EMPLOYEE. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE DECISION OF THE CITY MANAGER TO THEN MAKE THE DECISION FOR SOMEONE TO TEMPORARILY GO OVER UNTIL THIS HAS PASSED. SO COUNCIL, I UNDERSTAND THAT WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY MANAGER TONIGHT, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PUTTING THE PERSON IN THE OFFICE AND ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO THAT PERSON SO THAT I CAN GET THINGS DONE IN THE OFFICE. 
          COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THAT. NOT DOING THAT WILL BELABOR IN DELAY. SUPPORT AND MAYOR'S OFFICE. OKAY. I THINK THAT THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER HAS THE ABILITY TO MOVE SOMEONE TO THE OFFICE. THE MAYOR OR ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DIRECT SOMEONE TO COME FROM ONE DEPARTMENT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, WHICH IS THE WHOLE REASON WE'RE HAVING THE DISCUSSION. I'M NOT ASKING THE CITY MAKING A DECISION TO MOVE HIM. I'M ASKING HIM TO MAKE A DECISION TO MOVE HER. OH, I, I THOUGHT THAT WHAT I HEARD IS THAT YOU WERE JUST GOING TO TELL THE PERSON TO COME BACK. NEVER HAS THAT IN THIS CASE, I SAID. I THOUGHT SO, I CLARIFIED, SO OKAY, SO IF I THOUGHT THEN I HEARD INCORRECTLY, BUT I KNOW THAT THE MEETING IS RECORDED. OKAY? IT HAS NOT. IT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE. AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU ALL SINCE THE BEGINNING. IT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE. SO STOP. 
          [04:50:05]
STOP WHAT? JUST STOP. YOU, YOU YOU SIT UP HERE AND ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING, WHICH I AM VERY CLEAR ABOUT ASKING MY QUESTIONS. I AM VERY CLEAR. AND MY COMMENT WAS, I THOUGHT THAT THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. OKAY. YOU SAID THAT. YOU SAID THAT I WILL DO WHAT? I WILL JUST MOVE FORWARD TO MY ORDER. POINT OF ORDER, POINT OF ORDER. I'M SUPPOSED TO ASK WHAT MY POINT OF ORDER IS. DECORUM. YES, MA'AM. YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SORRY. THANK YOU, I APOLOGIZE. OH, I PROVED, IS THAT. YES. YES, EXACTLY. YES. THANK YOU. I HAD A QUESTION REALLY QUICK. AND THEN WE LIKE I SAID, WANT TO BELABOR THIS, BUT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AN EMPLOYEE, IF WE USE THE TERM EMPLOYEE, THAT WOULD BE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE CITY MANAGER AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSISTANT, FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, SHOULD NOT BE UNDER HIS SUPERVISION. NOW, I HEARD THERE'S A CASE WHERE THE CITY MANAGER CAN TAKE AN EXISTING EMPLOYEE AND KIND OF DELEGATE THAT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. I'M HEARING THAT'S AN OPTION. BUT WHEN WE USE THE TERM EMPLOYEE EARLIER, THAT WOULD IMPLY THAT THAT PERSON IS UNDER THE CITY MANAGER'S SUPERVISION. THAT'S WHY I WAS JUST CURIOUS. I ACTUALLY WANT TO SAY THIS EARLIER. I DON'T THINK AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT OF YOUR CHOOSING WOULD BE UNDER THE CITY MANAGER'S SUPERVISION. 
          HOWEVER, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE AN EXISTING EMPLOYEE, I THINK HE WOULD HAVE THAT DISCRETION AND BE ABLE TO APPOINT SOME, I GUESS, SOMEBODY TO YOU. I THINK THE ISSUE IS THAT HOW DO I SAY THIS? YOU HAVE YOUR OWN DISCRETION ON WHO YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN EXISTING EMPLOYEE, BUT THAT'S WHO YOU WANT. I BELIEVE YOU MAY HAVE TO GO THAT ROUTE WITH GOING THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER. OKAY, I GOT YOU. OKAY. THAT BEING THE SITUATION. OKAY. 
          RIGHT NOW UNTIL BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT I'M ASKING FOR IS QUALIFIED WHEN I'M ASKING FOR IS QUALIFIED TO BE IN THAT POSITION. SO I'M ASKING FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. IF YOU WANT ME TO CC YOU ON EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS, COOL. BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING TELLING ME THAT THE PERSON CAN NO LONGER BE AT MY ASSISTANCE. IF YOU WANT ME TO CC YOU, IF YOU WANT TO REPORT TO HER. I MEAN, YOU SEE ALL MY EMAILS, TEXT MESSAGES. I MEAN, I'M TRANSPARENT AS. YOU WANT ME TO CC Y'ALL ON ALL THE EMAILS THAT I SEND TO HER. I'LL DO THAT TOO. COOL. NO PROBLEM. I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. AND WE CAN BE IN COMPLIANCE BECAUSE I WOULDN'T BE SPEAKING TO HER DIRECTLY. HE WILL BE CC'D ON ALL COMMUNICATIONS. IS THAT NOT WHAT THE CHARTER SAYS? MADAM MAYOR, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? THAT SHE NEEDS US TO VOTE ON? CAN WE TABLE THIS AND COME BACK TO IT SO WE CAN VOTE ON HER ITEM EVERY DAY? DO YOU MIND? GRACIOUS. LET ME JUST ASK THIS ONE QUESTION. I JUST WANTED PROCEDURE. PROCEDURE. OKAY, I. 
          THIS IS US MAKING. I BELIEVE I HAVE THE NUMBER. YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. CAN I GUESS TABLE THIS. I STILL WOULD LIKE TO KNOW VIA EMAIL BY TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00. IF SOMEONE IF I HAVE SOMEONE COMING TO THE OFFICE, YOU CAN BE CC'D ON ALL COMMUNICATIONS CAN GO THROUGH EVERYBODY IN THIS, WHATEVER CAN SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. IF YOU JUST HAVE THAT PERSON IN MY OFFICE TO GET HELP ME GET THE SUPPORT THAT I NEED. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR. I THINK THAT JUST NEEDS TO BE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. AND WE CAN LOOK AT THIS ITEM AND THEN COME BACK TO ENSURE THAT IF YOU CC AT LEAST CITY MANAGER ON THESE COMMUNICATIONS, IS THAT IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE OR CODE WE LOOKED AT EARLIER? THANK YOU. AND THE ONLY REASON WHY I KEPT COMING BACK TO ASK THIS IS BECAUSE THIS BODY WILL NOT RECONVENE AGAIN UNTIL LIKE 
          [04:55:04]
THE NEXT WEEK. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THIS SQUARED AWAY RIGHT NOW SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR, I WOULD SAY. SO YOU EVEN HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO KICK SOMEBODY OUT TO CITY HALL, ONE OF YOUR APPOINTEES. I GUESS THAT'S A LEGAL QUESTION. I MISSED IT, THE QUESTION. SO THE QUESTION WAS IF THE IF MADAM MAYOR WILL COPY AT LEAST THE CITY MANAGER ON ANY COMMUNICATIONS WITH A CITY EMPLOYEE THAT IS IN SUPPORT OF HER OFFICE, DOES THAT MEET THE QUALIFICATION OF THE CODE WE LOOKED AT EARLIER BECAUSE IT WAS A TWO PART CODE. ONE SAID NO DIRECTIVES. BUT THEN THE LAST PART OF THAT SENTENCE SAID THAT THE CITY MANAGER NEEDED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNICATION. SO WHAT? BUT AND WHILE YOU'RE GOING BACK TO THE CODE, CAN WE LOOK AT THE ITEM FOR. I MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THAT FOR THE MOMENT. I. I MISS. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO NUMBER ITEM 11. YES. TO REVIEW. GO 
          [XIII.11. Council Review of Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for Federally Funded Project to Replace Deteriorating Raw Water Supply Lines]
AHEAD. YES. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECTS TO REPLACE DETERIORATING RAW WATER SEWER SUPPLY LINES. 
          SECOND DISCUSSION QUESTION ON THIS. JUST TO FOCUS ON GIVING. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. JUST TO GIVE YOU A BACKDROP AND THE SUMMARY. SO THE EASTPOINTE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2025 AUTHORIZES EXPANDED INVOLVEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IN THE CITY'S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WITH SUPPORT FROM SENATORS JON OSSOFF, RAPHAEL WARNOCK, AND CONGRESSWOMAN NIKEMA WILLIAMS. THIS LEGISLATION ENABLES CONGRESS TO ALLOCATE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CRITICAL WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS, STRENGTHENING RELIABILITY AND SERVICE FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE COUNCIL AND MAYOR HAS ALREADY REVIEWED AND APPROVED THE DRAFT CONTRACT. THE FINAL CONTRACT, EXCUSE ME, PRESENTED TONIGHT HAS NO CHANGES. THE SIGNED AGREEMENT MUST BE SIGNED AND RECEIVED BY THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BY APRIL 10TH, 2026, IN ORDER TO RETAIN THE $15 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING. 
          THIS AUTHORIZES US UP TO $20 MILLION. AND WE RECEIVED THE CONFIRMED WORD OF $15 MILLION ON JANUARY 31ST, 2025. THE LOCAL MATCHES 25%, BRINGING THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT TO $19.9 MILLION. CONSTRUCTION. ONCE APPROVAL OF THE EXECUTED CONTRACT WILL END IN 2029. SO THE NEXT STEP TONIGHT IS FOR COUNCIL TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE AGREEMENT WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO RECEIVE THE $15 MILLION OF FUNDING TO REHABILITATE OUR WATER LINES FROM BEN HILL RESERVOIR TO OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANT. THANK YOU. AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO NUMBER TEN. OKAY. NUMBER 
          [XIII.10. Resolution Accepting GICH Recommendation for Letter of Support for Vecino Group]
TEN. I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING BECAUSE. GO AHEAD FRANK. SORRY. I'M SORRY. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE VOTE TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING WHAT THE GICC COMMITTEE IS RECOMMENDING FOR A LETTER OF SUPPORT. JUST FOR QUICK BACKGROUND, THE CITY OF EAST POINT IS A PART OF THE G I C H INITIATIVE, WHICH IS THE GEORGIA INITIATIVE FOR COMMUNITY HOUSING, WHERE OUR OUR CITY WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM IN 2020. WE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM IN 2023. AND WHAT THAT ALLOWS FOR IS FOR COMMUNITY, FOR DEVELOPERS WHO WANT TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EASTPOINTE, THEY IF THEY'RE APPLYING FOR 9% LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS, THEY GET ADDITIONAL POINTS. IF OUR COMMITTEE PROVIDES A LETTER OF SUPPORT. THE PRACTICE HERE IN EASTPOINTE HAS BEEN. THIS COMMITTEE, WHICH IS FORMED WITH A GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS, REAL ESTATE AGENTS, LENDERS, COMMUNITY FOLKS. I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN ATKINS USED TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE BEFORE HE WAS ON 
          [05:00:03]
COUNCIL. THIS COMMITTEE REVIEWS PROPOSALS AND AND THEN MAKES A VOTE FOR TO TO PROVIDE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE PROPOSALS. AND THEN IT COMES TO CITY COUNCIL AND YOU ALL DECIDE ON IF YOU AGREE WITH THAT AND WILL ADOPT IT. SO TODAY WE HAVE THE THE WESLEY BROWN FROM THE VECINO GROUP AND THEY WERE THE GROUP THAT WAS CHOSEN. THERE WAS THREE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED. 
          THE DEADLINE WAS MARCH 18TH AND THE VECINO GROUP, ONE OF THE APPLICATION APPLICANTS WITHDREW AND THERE WERE TWO APPLICANTS LEFT. VECINO GROUP PRESENTED AND THEY RECEIVED UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE. SO I THANK YOU, WESLEY, FOR WAITING AROUND. PLEASE COME ON UP. AND YOU SHOULD. WE. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD EMAIL EXCHANGES. I SENT AN EMAIL MARCH 26TH. 
          WE'VE HAD A LOT OF EMAIL EXCHANGES. I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, TO, TO THE VECINO GROUP BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF TAKING IN THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU ALL HAD ABOUT THIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY. 50 HOUSING UNITS RIGHT ON MAIN STREET, JUST SOUTH OF THE BP. 
          AND IT'S REALLY GOING TO TAKE A VACANT LOT AND BE ABLE TO PRODUCE LIFE ON THAT SITE. AND A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN, THEY'VE INCORPORATED. SO I WANT TO PASS IT TO MR. WESLEY BROWN FROM THE VECINO GROUP. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. MY NAME IS WESLEY BROWN. I AM WITH THE VECINO GROUP. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR SOUTHEAST OPERATION. I'LL JUST QUICKLY RUN THROUGH THE PRESENTATION TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, BUT WE CAN DIVE INTO AS MANY DETAILS AS YOU'D LIKE. THIS. THIS IS OUR TEAM. 
          WE ARE A TEAM OF ABOUT 100 FOLKS. WE'RE VERTICALLY INTEGRATED. WE DO DEVELOPMENT DESIGN, ASSET MANAGEMENT AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT IN-HOUSE. WE ARE SPREAD ACROSS APPROXIMATELY 12 STATES AND WE HAVE ABOUT 45 UNITS, 4500 UNITS, EXCUSE ME. UNDER MANAGEMENT. 
          ONE THING TO NOTE IS OUR MISSION. WE ARE A MISSION DRIVEN ORGANIZATION. WE STRIVE TO BE STRIVE TO DO GOOD IN EACH COMMUNITY THAT WE WORK IN. AND SO ESSENTIALLY, WE DON'T WORK THERE UNLESS WE'RE ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO IN EASTPOINTE. PREVIOUSLY, WE'VE HAD SUCCESS IN EASTPOINTE BY PARTNERING WITH THE EASTPOINTE HOUSING AUTHORITY. MANY OF YOU WERE THERE ON OPENING DAY AT AIA TOWER, AND WE ARE PROPOSING A SIMILAR DEVELOPMENT FURTHER UP THE STREET ON MAIN. A COUPLE INTERIOR SHOTS OF AIA, JUST TO GIVE YOU A FLAVOR OF SOME OF OUR OTHER METRO ATLANTA DEVELOPMENTS. THIS IS IN TORONTO WEST SIDE, WHICH IS ON DONNELLY HOLLOWELL IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA. THIS IS OUR SOLACE GROVE COMMUNITY THAT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AT GRESHAM ROAD AND DECATUR. IT RECENTLY OPENED, BUT WE'VE GOT A COUPLE SHOTS OF THE PROGRESS OVER THE LAST YEAR. IT'S 125 UNITS FOR SENIORS IN THAT COMMUNITY. THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR OUR SECOND DEVELOPMENT IN EASTPOINTE IS. LIBERTAD, EASTPOINT, LIBERTAD BEING OUR FAMILY BRAND, A FAMILY ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. THE PARCEL NUMBER YOU'LL SEE BELOW THE ADDRESS IS SOMEWHAT FICTITIOUS AND THAT THE. THE PARCEL DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE AN ADDRESS, BUT YOU CAN USE THAT TO NAVIGATE ON YOUR COMPUTER TO THE ADDRESS. 
          IT'S IMMEDIATELY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 166 NEAR THE BP GAS STATION ON MAIN. IT'S ONE OF THE LAST PARCELS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF EASTPOINTE. OUR PARTNER IN THE DEVELOPMENT IS AGAIN THE EASTPOINTE HOUSING AUTHORITY. THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS AT IAD AND WE'D LIKE TO RETAIN THAT PARTNERSHIP. AS FRANK MENTIONED, WE ARE FINANCING THIS DEAL WITH HOUSING TAX CREDITS. WE'RE LOOKING TO DO 50 UNITS WITH ROUGHLY 31 BEDS AND 22 BED PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP WITH BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. AND WE'RE LOOKING TO SPAN BETWEEN 30 AND 100, 120%. 
          AMI THAT WAS A CONVERSATION THAT WE'D HAD WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS AND A PREVIOUS PROPOSAL HERE IN EASTPOINTE, AND ONE THAT FRANK AND HIS TEAM REALLY REITERATED TO US THAT THE RANGE OF AFFORDABILITY WAS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND SO WHEN WE FIRST CAME, WE HAD A MUCH LOWER AMI. AND JUST HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, RECEIVING THAT INPUT, WE WE IMPROVED IT. 
          I THINK THAT IT'S A STRONGER DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL AS A RESULT OF THAT. AND WE CAN DIVE INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT HERE. HERE IS OUR PROPOSED UNIT MIX. AGAIN, WE'VE GOT 30, 60, 80 AND 
          [05:05:01]
100% AMI ACROSS ONE AND TWO BEDROOM UNITS TOTALING 50 UNITS. AND ONE THING I JUST REALLY WANTED TO TO TOUCH ON IS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. THE, THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE EASTPOINTE COMMUNITY, THE ARE THE ONES THAT WE LOOK TO SERVE. YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS THE OPTION. THIS ISN'T THIS ISN'T PUBLIC HOUSING. SO WE ARE A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND WE HAVE TO ATTRACT OUR TENANTS. AND SO THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT ARE LOOKING TO ATTRACT. RESIDENTS OF ALL INCOME RANGES. SO THAT I JUST I PUT THIS SLIDE IN HERE JUST SO AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT SOMEONE AT 30% IS, THAT'S SOMEONE WORKING AT EITHER THE LIBRARY OR A CAFETERIA PERSON AT TRI CITIES HIGH SCHOOL VERSUS THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM THAT WORKS HERE AT CITY HALL. SO JUST I THINK THAT THAT'S HELPFUL INFORMATION TO BE THINKING ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS. AGAIN, REALLY DIVING INTO THE SITE. AS I MENTIONED, IT'S ON MAIN WITH NO PROPER ADDRESS, BUT 2171 MAIN STREET WILL PULL IT UP. IF YOU LOOK THERE. 
          THAT'S WHAT THE SITE LOOKS LIKE TODAY. IT'S ADJACENT TO THE BP GAS STATION AND IT'S ABOUT 1.7 ACRES. I BRING THIS SLIDE JUST FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY. SO WE ARE AND WE HAVE THE SITE ONE UNDER CONTRACT. WE ARE IN CONVERSATION WITH THE ADJACENT PARCEL WHICH IS ALSO FOR SALE. 
          WE ARE AMBITIOUS THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO PULL OFF A TWO PHASE DEVELOPMENT. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE CURRENT PROPOSAL, WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT PHASE ONE, BUT PHASE TWO IS SOMETHING THAT OUR TEAM IS CLOSELY MONITORING, AND WE ARE GOING TO MARK MONITOR THE MARKET CONDITIONS TO SEE IF THE MARKET WOULD ALLOW US TO DEVELOP A SECOND PHASE. THE NEXT COUPLE IMAGES ARE JUST A REFERENCE TO WHAT THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE COULD POSSIBLY BE. WE ARE NOT BEHOLDEN TO ANYTHING THAT YOU SEE HERE, ASIDE FROM HONESTLY, WE'RE NOT BEHOLDEN TO ANYTHING THAT YOU SEE IN THIS IMAGE. BUT IT WAS OUR DESIGN TEAM'S FIRST TAKE AT A CAPACITY STUDY UNDER UNDERSTANDING HOW, HOW BIG OR WHAT THE SCALE, THE THE LOOK AND FEEL NEEDED TO BE IN ORDER TO FIT INTO THIS SITE. I THINK THAT GIVEN THE. THE SIZE OF THE SITE, WE'RE NOT REALLY WORRIED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO FIT. SO THAT'S. ADVANTAGEOUS. AND SO THERE'S BEEN A HANDFUL OF CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE. SO WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO FEEDBACK. AND OF COURSE, ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE BUILT WOULD COME BEFORE CITY OF EASTPOINTE BUILDING STAFF. AND THAT'S THAT'S REALLY THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION. HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS. HELEN, PLEASE. YES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO MR. WHITFIELD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. YES. ALL RIGHT. SO I WANT TO SAY, MR. WHITFIELD, LET ME FIRST SAY THAT I SUPPORT ATTAINABLE HOUSING. I THINK TO YOUR POINT, WHEN PEOPLE HEAR AFFORDABLE, IT KIND OF CHANGES THE TRAJECTORY TRAJECTORY OF THE CONVERSATION. WHEN I READ THOSE EMAILS, I WAS OFFENDED. SO I WANTED TO GO ON RECORD AND SAY THAT I WAS OFFENDED. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT. 
          IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF BUILDING STRONG, DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. IT'S HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE THAT THIS HOUSING OPPORTUNITY BRINGS A NEGATIVE ELEMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PEOPLE ARE UNFAIRLY STIGMATIZED. SO I WANTED TO SAY THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS IN THAT EMAIL EXCHANGE, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO ON RECORD WITH. WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2020. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FOUND OTHER LETTERS OF SUPPORT, BUT A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH I WAS ABLE TO SEE WAY BACK FROM 2020, THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BY THE G I, C, H IN THE COMMUNITY OF EASTPOINTE. SO WHAT I JUST WANTED TO SAY FOR THE PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME IS THAT G I H C MY APOLOGIES. YOU ALL HAVE STRATEGIC HOUSING PLANNING, INCLUSIVE COLLABORATION, AFFORDABLE MIXED INCOME HOUSING AND FUNDING AND 
          [05:10:04]
GROWTH AND SUPPORT. SO I FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GO ON THE RECORD WITH THAT INFORMATION. AND I ALSO WANT TO STATE THAT IT RAISES A QUESTION WHEN POLICY MAKERS RESIST POLICIES THAT PROMOTE HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY, NOT TO ANY FAULT OF YOU, BUT JUST MAYBE, SOMEONE'S PERCEPTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT WHAT I FOUND MOST INTERESTING WAS ALONG THE BELTLINE. IT WAS AN ARTICLE IN AJC EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT THEY HAVE MIXED INCOME HOUSING UNITS, WHERE PEOPLE ARE ALONG THE BELTLINE THAT ARE PAYING LESS THAN $100 IN RENT, JUST SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE BELTLINE. SO I DO THINK THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY. BUT WHAT I ALSO WANT TO RECOMMEND, MR. CITY MANAGER AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER, CALDWELL AND I WERE ON THE PHONE WITH THE. RIGHT NOW WE'RE REWRITING ZONING ORDINANCES. AND WHAT I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND I'M GOING TO EMAIL TOMORROW IS THAT WE ADOPT A MIXED USE INCOME DEVELOPMENT POLICY. I THINK THAT THAT WILL HELP CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF. 
          WHEN DEVELOPERS COME IN. WE JUST HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT. THIS IS THIS, THIS IS THIS, AND THIS IS THIS. BUT I THINK THAT THAT AS I WAS DOING THE RESEARCH ON OUR OWN POLICIES, WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THAT PIECE. AND I THINK AS WE CONTINUE TO DO MORE DEVELOPMENT, WE'LL HAVE A MORE SOLID FOUNDATION BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE IT IN WRITING. SO THAT POLICY SHOULD ENCOURAGE NEW PROJECTS TO INCLUDE BOTH MARKET RATE AND INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS TO MAKE MIXED INCOME DEVELOPMENT MORE ATTRACTIVE, WE CAN OFFER INCENTIVES SUCH AS DENSITY BONUSES OR TAX CREDIT, AND ADDITIONALLY, WE SHOULD EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE BENEFITS OF MIXED INCOME COMMUNITIES AND LEVERAGE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO DRIVE DEVELOPMENT ALONG KEY GROWTH CORRIDORS. SO I DO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR. DID YOU WANT ME TO RESPOND TO THAT? OKAY, OKAY. I KNOW IT'S LATE, BUT I JUST IT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CUMMINGS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. SO I SEE WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUT UP AS A POSSIBLE RENDERING, BUT NOT NECESSARILY. ARE THERE ANY AMENITIES? I KNOW, I KNOW SOME OF THE EMAIL EXCHANGE THAT I SAW, IT WAS THERE WAS A QUESTION REGARDING STOREFRONTS ON THE ON THE BOTTOM FLOOR. BUT YES, 15, 20 EMAILS LATER, IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE THAT. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHAT AMENITIES ARE GOING TO BE? I MEAN, BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT THE TREND IS. SO AS A, AS AN APPLICATION FOR THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT ASSOCIATED BASED ON YOUR TENANCY AND ALSO BASED ON YOUR NUMBER OF UNITS. SO WE FEEL LIKE THE BAR FOR THAT IS REALLY LOW. FOR A 50 UNIT DEVELOPMENT, YOU NEED TO HAVE FOUR AMENITIES, WHICH CAN BE LIKE AN EXERCISE ROOM, COMMUNITY ROOM. COMMUNITY GARDEN, REALLY BASIC BLAND AMENITIES FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT. AS OUR TEAM REALLY GOT THE WHEELS TURNING ON. THINKING ABOUT THE RANGE OF AMIS, WE ARE LOOKING TO MIRROR A PROPERTY OR BE COMPETITIVE WITH A PROPERTY THAT WOULD BE FULLY MARKET RATE. AND SO AS WE LOOK TO OUR MARKET RATE COMPETITORS, YOU BEGIN TO SEE THINGS LIKE I HAVE GOT ON THE SCREEN. SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING IN A DOG WASH AREA OR A PET WASH STATION, A PODCAST ROOM, AND EVEN I'M STILL TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THIS SUGGESTION, A GOLF SIMULATOR. IT IS IN SOME OF THE MARKET RATE COMMUNITIES. 
          THERE'S BEEN, I'D SAY, A 50% INTEREST IN THAT. BUT WE, WE HEAR YOUR INTEREST AND WE ARE LOOKING TO DO. WE HAVE TO DO THE BASICS AS STATUTORY. WE ARE GOING TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND AND MAY EVEN BE ABLE TO INCLUDE A ROOFTOP DECK AMENITY THAT WAS SHOWN. I SAW THAT ON ONE OF THE. 
          IN THE GRAPHICS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO INCORPORATE IN SOME OF OUR DEVELOPMENTS, JUST BECAUSE IF YOU GET A GOOD SPOT WITH TOPOGRAPHY, I THINK IN ONE OF OUR IMAGES WE SHOWED AT AIA, THE VIEW ON TOP OF THE BUILDINGE OF THE HIGHER FLOORS. SO THAT WOULD ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION. BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO GO ABSOLUTELY COVER BASIC AND THEN 
          [05:15:01]
REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES SENSE. AGAIN, WE HAVE TO ATTRACT OUR RESIDENTS, RIGHT? SO WHAT AMENITIES ARE GOING TO ATTRACT THOSE RESIDENTS? OKAY. I LIKE THE PET SPA. DO YOU HAVE A DOG? I DO, YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU, I YIELD. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL YES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I MIXED KIND OF MIXED FEELINGS. ONE, I WANT TO SPEAK ON THE HOUSING DIVERSITY IN OUR CITY. SO I'M PRETTY SURE YOU'VE DONE YOUR RESEARCH AND, YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR HOUSES IN EASTPOINTE ARE PRETTY MUCH QUOTE UNQUOTE, AFFORDABLE. 
          THAT'S ONE THING I'M KIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S, I KNOW ONE WAY TO RAISE OUR MEDIAN INCOME IN THE CITY IS TO HAVE HOUSING DIVERSITY. SO ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW ARE, ARE WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BE AT MARKET RATE OR HOW WOULD THAT WORK? 10% WOULD BE AT MARKET. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TO THINK ABOUT. SO WE DO HAVE A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EASTPOINTE. THAT IS TRUE. BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE AVERAGE RESIDENT IN EASTPOINTE, THE INCOME IS AROUND $38,000 PER HOUSEHOLD. AND SO WHAT THIS DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSING IS SOMETHING THAT EXPANDS THAT. AND SO IT IS STILL AFFORDABLE. 
          BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE UP TO 120, 20, 120,000. SO IT IS STILL AFFORDABLE, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE IN EASTPOINTE, BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE IS BELOW MARKET RATE. I THINK. 
          SECONDLY, I KNOW WE ARE STILL CONTEMPLATING BUILDING OUR COMMONS AREA, AND THIS IS KIND OF LIKE OUR PRIME DOWNTOWN, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE CITY THAT WE HAVE. I'M THINKING MOVING FORWARD AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. IF MAYBE IF WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT MAYBE THE HOUSING IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA MIGHT NOT NEED TO BE QUOTE UNQUOTE, AFFORDABLE, WE'RE ATTRACTING A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE TRYING TO ATTRACT THEM TO THIS AREA. YEAH, I, I DEFINITELY WAS SAYING WE HAVE OUR CHOICES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT PROBABLY FOR THE PAST 20, 30 YEARS. I THINK AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO SWITCH GEARS, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT 20 OR 30 YEARS. 
          I KNOW IT'S NOT A POPULAR STANCE. OF COURSE, WHO DOES NOT LIKE AFFORDABILITY? BUT THEN WE LOOK AT OUR HOUSING DIVERSITY. WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THE OTHER KIND OF HIGHER END COMPLEXES. I KNOW WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE COMMONS, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW WELL THAT WILL MESH TOGETHER. 
          ONCE WE DO COME UP WITH A CONCEPT, YOU KNOW, A NICE ROOFTOP BAR OR, YOU KNOW, MIXED USE AND ALL THAT MOVING FORWARD. SO I'M JUST A LITTLE HESITANT. ONCE AGAIN, I KNOW IT'S NOT A POPULAR OPINION, BUT. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE ENOUGH RIGHT NOW. AND THAT'S MY ONLY THING. I AM WORRIED ABOUT OUR MEDIAN INCOME. YOU KNOW, THAT DICTATES THE AMENITIES THAT THE STORES THAT WE CAN WE CAN ATTRACT TO THE CITY. SO PEOPLE MIGHT WANT A HIGHER END GROCERY STORE. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T COME CLOSE TO HIGH END SHOPS DOWN HERE, BUT BECAUSE OF OUR MEDIAN INCOME, WE DON'T COME CLOSE TO SOME OF THAT STUFF. I HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, WHY CAN'T WE GET A, YOU KNOW, A TRADER JOE'S OR WHOLE FOOD OR, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE AVERAGING AROUND 100,000 PER AT LEAST I THINK PER HOUSEHOLD FOR THEM EVEN LOOK THIS WAY. BUT THAT'S JUST MY TAKE ON IT. I'M OPEN TO IT. HOWEVER, I JUST KIND OF HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT SOME OF THIS MOVING FORWARD. BUT YEAH, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY OPINION. ARE YOU? YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. BROWN, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I JUST WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU SAID THIS IS IS THIS A 9% APPLICATION? YES, YES. ALL RIGHT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THIS IS ALSO IN WARD B. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS THIS PROJECT IS SOCIALIZED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S MOST IMMEDIATELY THAT IT IS MOST IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THAT'S COLONIAL HILLS. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AMENITIES, OBVIOUSLY 
          [05:20:04]
WITH AYA, I WAS WHEN DEBORAH WAS PUSHING THAT PROJECT, IT WAS COMING THROUGH PLANNING AND ZONING. I WAS PUSHING FOR A ROOFTOP BECAUSE OF ITS HEIGHT AND THE VIEWS AND BECAUSE IT BECAME A. I THINK IT'S ALSO A MIXED, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR RANGE IS, BUT IT CONVERTED FROM A SENIOR COMMUNITY TO A JUST A MULTIFAMILY COMMUNITY. AND THOSE ARE PART OF THE AMENITIES THAT ARE IN MOST MARKET RATE COMMUNITIES, ROOFTOPS AS IT RELATES TO LIBERTAD. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT COLONIAL HILLS HAS BEEN THERE FOR SUCH A VERY LONG TIME, AND BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEIGHT AND VOLUME, THAT WE ARE NOT MITIGATING THE PRIVACY THAT THEY'VE ENJOYED, NOT HAVING SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK OVER INTO THEIR BACKYARDS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S COME UP BEFORE. 
          I THINK THAT ESPECIALLY REGARDING PHASE ONE, WE'RE RELATIVELY FORTUNATE THAT IT'S AS FAR AWAY FROM THE EXISTING COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE IN THAT NORTHEAST CORNER. ONE ITEM THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND THIS WAS ACTUALLY FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ZIEGLER, WHICH IS ALSO GOING TO BE ADVANTAGEOUS, IS THAT THERE IS A LIKE A BIKE PATH PLANNED ALONG MAIN STREET. 
          AND SO ORIGINALLY THE PLAN WAS TO HAVE THE CROSS SECTION WAS STREET PARKING BUILDING AND THE BUILDING WAS DEEP INTO THE LOT. INSTEAD WE HAVE FLIP FLOPPED THAT. AND NOW IT'S PULLING THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING AWAY FROM THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL. AND FORTUNATELY FOR THAT PART, IT. ADJACENT. IT ABUTS TO THE ARTS EXCHANGE. YES, VERSUS THE RESIDENTIAL. PHASE TWO WOULD BE MORE OF A CONCERN REGARDING THE ROOFTOP. YEAH. THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD MENTION, I OF COURSE, ALSO THE AMENITIES. I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THOSE AMENITIES. I THINK THAT FOR THE GOLF SIMULATOR ROOM, I THINK THAT'S SORT OF VERY SPECIFIC. I THINK THAT THERE'S TECHNOLOGY WHERE IT COULD BE AN ARRAY OF SPORTS, IT COULD BE TENNIS, IT COULD BE PICKLEBALL, IT COULD BE GOLF. I PREFER IT TO BE WHATEVER. SO I THINK THAT'S JUST BASED ON THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL GO IN THE ROOM. SO IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE ONE. IT COULD APPEAL TO MANY IF IT'S A VARIETY OF SPORTS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT THE CLOSEST PARK TO THIS IS UNITY PARK, THE COLONIAL HILLS PARK. AND BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE TO EITHER GO ALL THE WAY AROUND ON KNOTS TO GET THERE OR CLAREMONT TO GET THERE, HAVING NOT ONLY A PET WASH, BUT A DOG RUN ON THE PROPERTY SO THAT AT LEAST IF THEY HAVE PETS, THEY CAN ALLOW THEIR DOG TO RUN WITH A COUPLE OF BENCHES. THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA AS WELL. I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT I FORGET. BUT THAT'S IT FOR NOW, SO I YIELD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I THINK THIS LOOKS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE COMMENT. I THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN INCREASE THE WEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S IT'S REALLY A TWO PART APPROACH BECAUSE THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE APPROVED WAREHOUSES DEVELOPMENT IN OUR AREA THAT ARE GOING TO PRODUCE, YOU KNOW, JOBS. AND AROUND THIS SAME BRACKET THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED. AND SO WE DO NEED TO PRODUCE HOUSING FOR THE JOBS THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO EAST POINT. I THINK THAT THIS STANDS OUT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY FROM THE TRADITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT WE MAY HAVE BROUGHT IN, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE AMENITIES THAT YOU MENTIONED. 
          AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN START TO BRIDGE THE GAP AND INCREASE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN OUR AREA BY BRINGING THESE ADDITIONAL AMENITIES WHILE STILL MAKING THE WHILE STILL MAKING THIS ATTAINABLE FOR PEOPLE IN OUR AREA. ONE THING I WANTED TO ASK IS IN THE PHASE TWO, OR IF THERE IS A PHASE TWO, IS THERE A WAY TO POTENTIALLY BUMP UP THE. AM I JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THAT SECOND PHASE OF THE PROJECT? IT WILL LARGELY BE DRIVEN BY THE HOUSING POLICY THAT'S ISSUED BY THE STATE. OKAY, SO WHAT'S HAMPERING US NOW FROM BEING ABLE TO INCREASE AMI IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO STAY UNDER. I THINK IT'S 58% ON AVERAGE. SO WHEN YOU AVERAGE ALL OF THE UNITS TOGETHER, YOU'VE GOT TO BE BELOW 58. AND EVERY FOR EVERY MARKET RATE THAT GOES IN, YOU REALLY HAVE TO THROW SOMETHING AT THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM. AND IT BECOMES HARD TO SUPPORT THE OTHER SPECTRUM WITHOUT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT BALANCING WHAT RESOURCES WE HAVE AND WHAT THE DESIRES ARE, AND HAVE FOUND THE HEALTHY MIX AT ABOUT ABOUT 50 UNITS. GOT IT. THANK YOU. NOW, 
          [05:25:04]
I THINK THAT IF WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THESE TYPE OF AMENITIES, I LOVE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ATKINS MENTIONED ABOUT THE MULTI SPORTS PIECE AS WELL. AND ALSO THE DOG SPA. HOPEFULLY MAYBE WE CAN ALL USE IT. BUT NO. SO I LOVE THE AMENITIES AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A WAY TO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN ATTAINABLE HOUSING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE AMENITIES ARE EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS. SO THANK YOU. ALL OF THAT. THE, THE DELIVERABLES THAT WE HAVE SHOWN ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE COLLABORATION WITH EASTPOINTE. YES. AND IN CLOSING, I JUST WANTED TO SAY $91,000 A YEAR FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR QUALIFIES FOR LOW INCOME. YEAH, IT HAS CHANGED QUITE A BIT. AND I'M GOING TO ALSO REITERATE THAT WE NEED TO TIGHTEN UP ON OUR MIXED INCOME DEVELOPMENT POLICY AS A CITY. BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THANKS FOR HANGING WITH US. I KNOW THAT THE HOUR IS LATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE THERE'S A ASK. THERE'S A ASK FOR THIS FOR THE SUPPORT LETTER. SO, SO AND THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR, FOR EVERYTHING. THE ASK IS THAT YOU ADOPT THE GIC'S RECOMMENDATION AND WE I PASSED OUT A LETTER FOR YOU ALL THAT WILL BE OFFICIALLY FROM YOU ALL. AND IT INCLUDES SOME OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WE HEARD FROM OUR DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THAT. WHEN THEY SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION MAY 8TH, IT'LL HAVE YOUR DOCUMENT HERE AS WELL AS THE GIC'S LETTER WITH IT AS WELL. YEAH. SO IT'LL BE SIGNED BY THE MAYOR ON BEHALF OF YOU DON'T HAVE A LETTER. THIS IS THE LETTER THAT YOU DID. DID IT START? I KNOW WAS PASSING AROUND. DID IT START? DID IT FINISH GETTING AROUND. WE HAVE WE HAVE THE LETTER. WHAT I'M SAYING, MR. WHITFIELD, IS THAT THERE'S A RESOLUTION ALSO. SO DO WE NEED TO ACT ON THE RESOLUTION THIS EVENING, MADAM ATTORNEY? SO WE NEED THAT. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THE ASK IS. YES. SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS WANTING TO MAKE SURE. MADAM MAYOR, WITH THAT, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM APPLICATION FOR THE EAST POINT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT BY VECINO GROUP. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. ITEM NUMBER 12. YES, MADAM 
          [XIII.12. Council Discussion and Possible Action on Amending the Current Contract with Lexis for a Reduced Monthly Rate]
MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AMENDING THE CURRENT CONTRACT WITH LEXUS FOR A REDUCED MONTHLY WAIT RATE. SECOND, FOR DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION? YES, COUNCILMAN ATKINS. YES, MADAM MAYOR, JUST LIKE FOR MADAM CITY ATTORNEY TO JUST REVIEW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE APPROVING. AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO THE CITY, PLEASE, SIR. SO THE CURRENT CONTRACT WITH LEXISNEXIS HAS. ABOUT FOUR USERS ON IT, WHEN IT REALLY IS ONLY 1 OR 2. THAT WOULD BE MYSELF AND USUALLY THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE. AND THE AMOUNT THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR USERS THAT ARE NOT UTILIZING THE SERVICE, I THINK IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. AND SO WE WORKED WITH LEXISNEXIS TO AMEND OUR CURRENT CONTRACT WITH THEM TO ALLOW FOR THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF USERS, AND WE REDUCED IT TO ONE ONLY BECAUSE THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE USES IT VERY INTERMITTENTLY. AND IF THERE IS A NEED FOR HER TO USE IT, SHE CAN USE MY PASSWORD SO THAT WE ARE NOT PAYING FOR A SERVICE THAT'S ONLY PRIMARILY USED BY ONE AND A HALF PERSONS. THIS IS A MOVE TO AMEND THE CONTRACT NOT ONLY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF USERS, BUT TO REDUCE THE RATE. WHAT IS OUR COST SAVINGS WITH THAT? OF COURSE, I THINK RIGHT NOW WE PAY ABOUT 1600, SO IT'LL BE $1,200. A YEAR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I YIELD IT'S NOW 407 WITH THIS CHANGE. 
          ALL. THE CREDIT CARD. BECAUSE WE JUST TOOK OFF TRAVEL. YES, YES. MADAM MAYOR, AS I 
          [XIII.13. City Credit Card Policy & Travel Policy]
MENTIONED BEFORE, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER OUTSIDE OF THE COUNCIL MEETINGS, TAKING ALL OF THE INPUT FROM THAT WAS GATHERED FROM THE EMAILS AND 
          [05:30:05]
ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WANTED TO ADD TO THIS POLICY. MY ASK WAS FOR THIS TO GO TO BUDGET AND FINANCE SO THAT IT GETS ANOTHER SET OF EYES, BUT I WOULD JUST READ SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHIME IN, PLEASE DO SO. 
          IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CREATE OR AT LEAST STRENGTHEN OUR CREDIT CARD POLICY FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. BUT SPECIFICALLY, THE STATE REQUIRES ANY CITY WHICH ISSUES GOVERNMENT PURCHASING CARDS TO PROMULGATE SPECIFIC POLICIES REGARDING THE USE OF SUCH GOVERNMENT PURCHASING CARDS OR GOVERNMENT CREDIT CARDS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND THAT IS A PART OF THE OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA, ANNOTATED 36-8024C. AND SO IT TALKS ABOUT THAT, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE LAW. IT ALSO GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC INSPECTIONS. STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMPLIANCE WITH GEORGIA CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS REGARDING PUBLIC EXPENDITURES, THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE SHALL IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING REVIEW PROCESS FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL PURCHASING CARD ACTIVITY. SO IT TALKS ABOUT WHAT THAT TRANSACTION AND THAT TRANSPARENCY LOOKS LIKE, WITH THE CITY CLERK COMPILING THOSE EXPENSE REPORTS MONTHLY. 
          AND THEN IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT AN AUDITING PROCESS THAT WOULD HAPPEN BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT QUARTERLY. AND THEN THOSE THINGS WOULD GO THROUGH TO BUDGET AND FINANCE FOR APPROVAL. AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO UPLOADED TO THE CITY'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE. SO CITIZENS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO DO OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS. IT'S JUST THEIR BUDGET AND FINANCE WOULD REVIEW ANY OF THOSE THINGS. AND IF THEY'RE QUESTIONABLE EXPENSES, THEY COULD REQUEST ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION. SAME WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. DURING THE AUDITING PROCESS. I HAVE NOTED HERE THAT THERE'S A PART WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL TRANSACTION LIMITS. 
          AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS AND I CAME UP WITH 1500, AND WE WERE UNSURE OF WHAT THE MONTHLY AMOUNT IS BECAUSE MINE HAS CHANGED. I'VE GOTTEN TO TWO CONFERENCES IN MY CAR, DIDN'T WORK, AND SO THEN FINANCE JUST RAISED THE LIMIT. SO I BELIEVE THAT SOMEWHERE THERE'S A POLICY THAT TALKS ABOUT WHAT THAT LIMIT MAY BE. WE DID NOT KNOW THAT AT THE TIME. SO BUDGET AND FINANCE CAN DO THAT DUE DILIGENCE AND INSERT THAT. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS. I'LL ALSO SAY THAT UNDER NUMBER THREE ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS IT TALKS ABOUT ALL PURCHASING CARD TRANSACTIONS SHALL BE SUPPORTED WITH DETAILED RECEIPTS, INVOICES OR EQUIVALENT DOCUMENTATION, CLEARLY IDENTIFYING THE VENDOR, THE DATE, THE AMOUNT AND THE PUBLIC PURPOSE OF THE EXPENDITURE TALKS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS. 
          FAILURE TO IF YOU FAIL TO DO THAT, AND IT GOES ON TO GIVE THE PROCESS BY WHICH THOSE MONTHLY REPORTS THEN ARE AUDITED QUARTERLY AND THEN SENT TO BUDGET AND FINANCE, AND THEN TO COUNCIL FOR CONSENT AGENDA AND APPROVAL. COUNCILOR MARTIN ROGERS, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I'VE MISSED. YES. ARE YOU CALLING ON ME, MAYOR? YES. ALRIGHT. YES. AND I HAVE ADDED A PORTION FOR THE PUBLIC INSPECTION. I ADDED THIS TODAY GOING ON ITEM NUMBER 123456. MY RECOMMENDATION IS STATEMENTS AND EXPENSE REPORT FOR EACH ELECTED OFFICIAL SHALL BE POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE UNDER THE RESPECTIVE OFFICIALS SECTION. THE POSTING SCHEDULE WILL CORRESPOND TO THE OFFICIAL ELECTION CYCLE, INCLUDING BOTH GENERAL ELECTIONS AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS. REPORTS WILL BE INITIALLY POSTED IN THE OFFICIAL'S ELECTION YEAR. OH, I'M SORRY, POSTED ON THE OFFICIAL'S ELECTION YEAR AND UPDATED. I HAVE ANNUALLY SLASH QUARTERLY. THEREAFTER, INFORMATION WILL REMAIN PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE OFFICIAL'S TERM UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE, ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. 
          I KNOW THAT ACCOUNTABILITY WAS SOMETHING BIG FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE DID HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT PREVIOUSLY SHARED THEIR CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS, BUT WITH THIS ADDED ADDITION, IT ALSO PROVES OR IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT TRANSPARENCY DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS NAME ON THEIR WEBSITE ALSO INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING VIOLATIONS FOR GOVERNANCE LEVEL CONSEQUENCES. BUT THIS IS STILL A LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. BUT FOR UNDER THAT SECTION OF THIS, I PUT PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF 
          [05:35:02]
VIOLATION AND MEETING MINUTES, MANDATORY FINANCIAL CONTROLS BRIEFING REQUIRE THE OFFICIAL MEET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY OR INTERNAL AUDITOR FOR POLICY REVIEW AND COMPLIANCE CLARIFICATION. WRITTEN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE POLICY VIOLATION. TEMPORARY SLASH PERMANENT SPENDING LIMIT REDUCTIONS, ETHICS REFRESHER OR GOVERNANCE TRAINING WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME FRAME. ANY MISUSE OF THE CITY ISSUED CREDIT CARD, INCLUDING UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL EXPENDITURES, MUST BE REIMBURSED IN FULL BY THE RESPONSIBLE EMPLOYEE OR OFFICIAL. SO SINCE THIS CREDIT CARD RELATES TO US, IT WILL BE THE OFFICIAL. THE CITY MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATIVE OR LEGAL ACTION TO RECOVER MISUSE FUNDS NOT LIMITED TO PAYROLL DEDUCTION, WRITTEN REPAYMENT AGREEMENT OR A COLLECTION DEMAND LETTER. I BELIEVE THAT WAS ALREADY ADDRESSED IN THE POLICY, BUT DUE TO THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, I WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE OUTSIDE WORK. SO THOSE ARE MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE POLICY. I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO PUT THIS BACK ON THE WORK SESSION AGENDA, OR IF COUNCIL IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT IS WHAT I PUT INSIDE THE POLICY. BUT I GUESS YOU KNOW WHAT, IN ALL FAIRNESS. MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT IT GO TO A WORK SESSION, BUT WE DEFINITELY VOTE ON THIS POLICY BY THE THIRD MEETING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE APPETITE OF COUNCIL IS. DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT FOR. WELL, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BEST IF IT WENT TO BUDGET AND FINANCE FIRST. COUNCILMAN MARTIN ROGERS. YES. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. SO I THINK THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM THE COMBINED WORK THAT WE'VE WORKED ON, AND THEN THEY CAN BRING IT BACK AND THEN WE CAN VOTE ON IT. ALRIGHT, SO MY MOTION, I MOVE THAT WE TAKE THE PROPOSED CREDIT CARD PURCHASING CARD POLICY AND REFER TO BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW AND ANY ADDITIONAL EDITS THAT THEY'D LIKE TO MAKE. SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION NUMBER 21ST. ALL RIGHT. NUMBER 14, CITY COUNCIL'S CREDIT CARD. WE TOOK THAT OFF. YES, MADAM MAYOR. YES, MA'AM. HI. I'M SO SORRY. SO I KNOW WE HAVE A MOTION ITEM THAT WE LAID ON THE TABLE THAT NEEDS TO COME OFF THE TABLE. AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE A COUPLE OF TIME SENSITIVE LEGAL ITEMS, AND I CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT TO IGNORE OR DISREGARD THE REMAINDER. THE REMAINING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. BUT I DO NEED TO LEAVE BY 1230. OKAY. AND SO I AM ASKING BECAUSE I HAVE A PROPOSAL TO ADDRESS THE WHOLE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ISSUE. I HAVE A PROPOSAL TO ADDRESS SO WE CAN TAKE THAT MATTER OFF THE TABLE. AND IF COUNCIL MEMBER MARTIN ROGERS, WHO ARE THE WHO IS THE REMAINING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA IS OKAY, IF I CAN ADDRESS MY ITEMS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO THANK YOU FOR 
          [Items XIII.15 - XIII.17]
BRINGING THAT. I WOULD LIKE MY REMAINING ITEMS BECAUSE THEY DO NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT I WOULD LIKE THEM PLACED ON THE WORK SESSION AGENDA AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA. I MEAN, IT IS. 
          12 09A SO I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO BE ITEMS ONE, TWO AND THREE, PLEASE. SECOND, THE MOTION. OH, I WAS JUST. YES, JUST A MOTION. I SECOND ANY DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE 
          [XIII.18. Discussion and Possible Action on a Proposed Charter Amendment to Authorize Executive Assistant to the Mayor]
OPPOSED? THANK YOU, MADAM CITY. MOTION TO. YEAH. MOTION TO MOVE. ITEM NUMBER 18 OFF THE TABLE. 
          SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. 
          MOTION IS THE ITEM IS MOVED OFF THE TABLE. 
          DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO. IF YOU DON'T MIND. OKAY. 
          [05:41:04]
THAT THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THIS ORDINANCE. IT WILL REQUIRE YOU TO WAIVE THE FIRST READ. 
          AND APPROVE IT TONIGHT FOR IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION. AS HAS BEEN EXPRESSED BY A MAJORITY OF YOU. ALL OF YOU REALLY OF GETTING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. WHAT HAS TO BE RECTIFIED IS THAT WE HAVE A COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE THE CHARTER THAT PROVIDES THAT CITY COUNCIL. THE MAYOR DOESN'T SUPERVISE EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE THOSE VARIOUS SECTIONS IN THE CHARTER THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT TALKS ABOUT. LET ME JUST GO BACK TO THE OTHER DOCUMENT THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW THE CITY MANAGER IS IN CHARGE OF. EMPLOYEES. THE CITY MANAGER IS. I'M JUST GOING TO THE SECTION. THERE ARE. ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE SUBJECT TO. 
          AND NOT ONLY THE EMPLOYEES, BUT ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO THE CITY MANAGER SUPERVISION. 
          WE SAW THAT IN SECTION 2-401, THE ROLE DELINEATION SECTION OF OUR CHARTER, IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO GET US TO RESOLVE. I AM PROPOSING THAT YOU GUYS CONSIDER THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE, WHICH SIMPLY SAYS THAT. ONCE THE POSITION IS ACTUALLY CALLED CHIEF OF STAFF IN YOUR BUDGET, IT IS NOT CALLED EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. THAT'S A RIGHT. AND SO WE NEED TO REFER TO IT AS WHAT IT IS ALREADY CREATED UNDER THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. I JUST CONFIRMED THAT WITH THE CITY MANAGER. WE NEED TO ESTABLISH THAT THAT POSITION IS A NON-CLASSIFIED. BASICALLY, IT'S EXEMPT FROM CIVIL SERVICE. IT SERVES AT THE PLEASURE OF THE MAYOR, AND IT'S NOT INTENDED TO CIRCUMVENT THE CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORITY OVER ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES. OBVIOUSLY, THE POSITION IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT THE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WITHOUT INFRINGING UPON THE CITY MANAGER'S RESPONSIBILITIES. AS NOTED ELSEWHERE IN THE CHARTER. SO THIS ORDINANCE. WOULD BASICALLY SAY THAT. OKAY, SHE'S GOT IT UP. NOW, Y'ALL CAN FOLLOW ALONG. THIS ORDINANCE WOULD BASICALLY PROVIDE, OBVIOUSLY, THAT THIS IS A COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT. THE CITY MANAGER IS HEAD OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH. YOU KNOW, IT CERTAINLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE MAYOR'S ROLE AS THE ELECTED HEAD OF THE GOVERNING BODY, AND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL FINDS THAT THE DESIGNATION OF. AND I JUST SLASHED IT. EXECUTIVE SESSION, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SLASH CHIEF OF STAFF, BECAUSE YOU MAY WANT TO CHANGE THE NAME FROM CHIEF OF STAFF TO EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IN THIS NEW BUDGET. RIGHT. SO IT CAN BE CLEAR THAT IT DOESN'T THAT THAT POSITION DOESN'T SUPERVISE ANYBODY. SO IT TAKES SOME OF THE DUTIES AND PUTS IT IN THE ORDINANCE TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT PERSON WOULD DO. COORDINATE BETWEEN THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, RESIDENTS, REGIONAL PARTNERS AND EXTERNAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AGENCIES, WHILE PRESERVING THE CHARTER AUTHORITY OF THE CITY MANAGER. 
          AND SO LET'S GO TO SECTION ONE. CAN YOU ALL SEE THAT? SECTION ONE TALKS ABOUT THAT THE POSITION ALREADY EXISTS IN THE FY 2026 BUDGET. IT PROVIDES THAT THE POSITIONS WILL SERVE AS THE PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND POLICY ADVISOR TO THE MAYOR. IT TALKS ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT 
          [05:45:06]
THAT IT'S APPOINTED BY YOU, SUBJECT TO THE CONFIRMATION BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF CITY COUNCIL. 
          IF Y'ALL HATE THAT, IT CAN COME OUT. THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SLASH CHIEF OF STAFF ROLE SERVES AT YOUR PLEASURE AND CAN BE REMOVED BY YOU AT ANY TIME, AND THAT THE POSITION IS UNCLASSIFIED AND SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE CITY'S CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM. AND THAT INCLUDES THE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF THAT COMES WITH CIVIL SERVICE APPEALS TO THE CITY MANAGER. WHEN THERE'S ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTION THAT GOES AWAY, THE REPORTING RELATIONSHIP IS OUTLINED, THAT THAT POSITION SHALL REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR. AND AGAIN, IT UNDERGIRDS THE CITY MANAGER'S RESPONSIBILITY THAT THIS POSITION DOES NOT DIMINISH, IMPAIR, SUPERSEDE HIS AUTHORITY. AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF THE CITY, IT INCLUDES THAT THIS POSITION HAS NO SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY OF OVER ANY POSITION, AND THAT THERE ARE SOME DUTIES. YOU CAN READ THEM THERE ONE THROUGH EIGHT, AND THEN IN SOME OF THOSE DUTIES WE HEARD EARLIER TODAY FROM FORMER MAYOR PITMAN, SECTION FIVE TALKS ABOUT THE LIMITATION OF AUTHORITY. I THINK THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SECTION THAT THAT PERSON AND I NEED TO SLASH CHIEF OF STAFF THERE UNDER SECTION FIVE, THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SLASH CHIEF OF STAFF SHALL NOT DIRECT THE OPERATIONS, SHOULDN'T ISSUE ANY ORDERS, CANNOT APPROVE ANY PERSONNEL ACTIONS, CAN'T BIND THE CITY, CAN'T EXERCISE ANY BUDGETARY CONTROL, CAN'T INTERFERE WITH THE CHARTER AUTHORITY OF THE CITY MANAGER AND ANY REQUESTS FOR OPERATIONAL ACTION SHALL GO THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. COMPENSATION SHOULD BE AS PURSUANT TO THE BUDGET LINE ITEM. AND SO, WHILE YOUR CHARTER DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO SUPERVISE EMPLOYEES, THIS ORDINANCE TRIES TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION THAT THIS IS AN EMPLOYEE SEPARATE AND APART FROM ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT THE CITY MANAGER SUPERVISES. IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO CLEAR IT UP TONIGHT QUICKLY WITHOUT DELAYING OR THE DELAY THAT COMES WITH A CHARTER AMENDMENT, WHICH I THINK YOU STILL NEED. BUT THIS ORDINANCE CAN STAND IN THE PLACE. THE ONLY ISSUE THAT I THINK YOU WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH, IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE OKAY WITH, IS WHETHER OR NOT THE PERSON YOU HAVE IN MIND IS WILLING TO MOVE INTO A POSITION THAT HAS. NO MERIT PROTECTION, RIGHT? THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER DAY. BUT THE ORDINANCE WOULD AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE POSITION IS SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S EMPLOYEES. THE POSITION IS YOURS. IT'S APPOINTED BY YOU. IT'S SUBJECT TO THE BUDGET APPROPRIATION THAT'S ALREADY THERE. AND IT'S YOUR POSITION FOR YOUR HIRING, FIRING AND ALL OF THAT. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO GET YOU THERE. OBVIOUSLY IT WAS QUICK, BUT IT'S HOPEFULLY ADDRESSING ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT. 
          AMEN. THANK YOU, ATTORNEY WIGGINS. DO WE NEED TO BEFORE I CLOSE OUT THE MEETING, DO WE NEED TO HAVE THIS ADVERTISED RIGHT NOW? DO WE NEED TO GIVE A DIRECTIVE FOR THIS TO BE ADVERTISED? I'M NOT SURE. YOUR QUESTION IS AN ORDINANCE. THERE'S NOT AN ADVERTISING REQUIREMENT. YOU'RE RIGHT. THERE IS A TWO READ REQUIREMENT. BUT A LOT OF TIMES YOU GUYS WAIVE THE FIRST READ. OKAY. SECOND. DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE? NO. I'LL YIELD. 
          RIGHT. OH, COUNCILMAN. YES. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, MADAM ATTORNEY, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. SO THIS WOULD BE THE BRIDGE. AND YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE STILL NEED TO PASS THIS SO THAT THEN OUR CHARTER WOULD ALLOW THE MAYOR TO APPOINT WHOMEVER THEY WOULD LIKE IN THE POSITION, AND IT'LL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE CHARTER. 
          [05:50:06]
IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, I THINK THE TWO CAN LIVE TOGETHER. BUT THE OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THE CHARTER REQUIRES ADVERTISING AND ALL THAT. THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT COULD BE ADOPTED IMMEDIATELY THAT RECOGNIZES THE POSITION IS SEPARATE AND APART FROM CITY MANAGER'S POSITIONS. 
          OKAY. AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ACT ON THIS BECAUSE IT WASN'T ADVERTISED IN SUBJECT TO RULE 36. IS THAT CORRECT? OR 36 WAS LEGAL OPINION. IT REQUIRES MAJORITY VOTE. IT WASN'T ADVERTISED SUBJECT TO TITLE 36, TITLE 36, CHAPTER 35. AND YOU STILL COULDN'T ACT ON IT TONIGHT IF IT WAS ADVERTISED BECAUSE IT REQUIRES IT HAS TO HAVE TWO READS. YOU COULDN'T WAIVE THE FIRST READ, AND IT HAS TO BE ADVERTISED FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE WEEKS. SO EVEN IF IT'S IT DID, WE COULDN'T ACT ON IT TONIGHT ANYWAY. OKAY, SO YES, YES, WE JUST HAVE TO WAIVE THE FIRST READ FOR THIS AND THEN WE'D HAVE TO ADVERTISE THIS APPROPRIATELY. THAT'S CORRECT. AND THEN THAT COULD, THIS COULD TRAVEL. OKAY. AND THEN AT THAT TIME WITH THIS REPEAL. NO THE BRIDGE I THINK THEY CAN LIVE TOGETHER. OKAY, OKAY. COUNCILMAN MARK ME. OH, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S THE CHARTER AMENDMENT. SEAN. THAT'S. HE'S OKAY. OKAY, SO. BUT WOULDN'T THIS SUFFICE? AREN'T WE FILLING OUT THE LANGUAGE? RIGHT? IT DOES SUFFICE, BUT I STILL THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR CHARTER, BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE CAN'T OVERRIDE A CHARTER. RIGHT. SO I THINK YOU JUST NEED THEM BOTH. BUT THIS GETS YOU THERE TONIGHT. AND I WILL SEND YOU. NOT TO CONFUSE ANYBODY. I BEEFED UP THE CHARTER AMENDMENT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE ORDINANCE THAT'S ON THE SCREEN NOW, SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE TOGETHER NICELY. BECAUSE THIS IS BASICALLY CLARIFYING ALL OF THE ISSUES WE WERE HAVING EARLIER, OR WHAT WAS SAID OR WHAT WAS NOT WAS SAID. OKAY. YES, SIR. AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO WAIVE THE FIRST READING TONIGHT. YOU WOULD TO PROVE THIS TONIGHT. YOU HAVE TO RAISE THE FIRST READ. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. ARE WE AT THAT POINT? WE CAN BE. IF THE MAYOR. MADAM MAYOR, IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS. I'M SORRY. IF YOU GET. THAT'S FINE. SO WITH THIS BEING APPROVED TONIGHT, TOMORROW. SO IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO HIRE WHOMEVER SHE WOULD LIKE. 
          AND LISTEN, THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS ON THE FLOOR BEFORE ABOUT THE CITY MANAGER SENDING OVER SOMEONE. THAT CAN STILL HAPPEN IF YOU GUYS NEED MORE TIME TO CHEW THIS, RIGHT? LIKE I'M NOT TRYING TO FORCE IT. I JUST WANTED TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING QUICKLY HERE. YEAH, I THINK THIS IS A BETTER A APPROACH, YOU KNOW, AND SECOND TIME I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE FIRST READING OF THIS ORDINANCE. OF ORDINANCE TO DESIGNATE THE POSITION OF A EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SLASH CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE MAYOR AS AN UNCLASSIFIED AT WILL MAYORAL APPOINTEE EXEMPT FROM THE CITY CIVIL SERVICE. EXCUSE ME. CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM TO DEFINE THE DUTIES, AUTHORITIES AND REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS OF SUCH POSITION IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY CHARTER TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMPENSATION NOT TO EXCEED AN ANNUAL APPROPRIATION IN THE FY 2026 BUDGET TO REPEAL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND FOR OTHER LAWFUL PURPOSES. SO THAT WAS THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE FIRST READING. SO THAT'S GOING TO NEED A SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSIONS? SO MICHAEL. SO BY GOING WITH THIS. WHOEVER YOU PUT IN PLACE, MADAM MAYOR, THAT WILL BE LIKE YOUR PERSON. IT WON'T BE BRINGING SOMEONE FROM THE OTHER DEPARTMENT OVER TEMPORARILY UNTIL. THAT IS ACCURATE, UNLESS THAT WHOEVER SHE WANTS TO BRING WANTS TO COME IN THAT FORMAT. RIGHT? IF THEY WANT TO COME AS A APPOINTEE, APPOINTEE, NON-CIVIL SERVICE, THEN IT COULD BE WHOEVER, THEY JUST WILL BE COMING UNDER WITH THIS ORDINANCE, WITH THIS NEW IF Y'ALL APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE. 
          [05:55:03]
NO, THIS IS IT. YEAH, THIS THIS WILL BE IT. SO. RIGHT. NO, THIS ORDINANCE WOULD BE IT. BUT FOR ALIGNING THE CHARTER WITH THIS ORDINANCE THAT'S ON THE SCREEN. BUT IT AS IN THIS WILL BE THE RESOLUTION THE PERMANENT RESOLUTION. SO THIS IS AN ORDINANCE HERE? YES, MA'AM. DO WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE IT? NO, MA'AM. OKAY. IT DOES NEED TWO READS, BUT YOU WAIVE IT. THAT'S THE ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR YOUR ORDINANCES. OKAY. JUST TWO READS AND WE WAIVE THE FIRST ONE. MADAM MAYOR. OKAY. ARE YOU GOOD WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S IN HERE? YES, THAT'S AS BEST AS I CAN. YES. OKAY. JUST A QUICK QUESTION, MADAM MAYOR FOR CITY ATTORNEY, I JUST WANT TO ON RECORD AS THIS THIS STILL COMES WITH ALL OF THE SAME BENEFITS, PENSIONS, ALL THAT TYPE OF STUFF IS STILL INCLUDED WITH THIS. I DIDN'T TOUCH ANYBODY'S PENSION OR BENEFITS, BUT IT CAN STILL BE OFFERED TO A PERSON. NO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSION ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. 
          BENEFITS PENSION, ALL OF THE ABOVE. YEAH. AND IF YOU WANT ME TO PUT THAT IN THERE, SO IT CAN BE EXPLICIT THAT THIS DOES NOT EXEMPT THE PERSON FROM CITY BENEFITS, I THINK THAT WE CAN WRITE. YES, PLEASE IF YOU CAN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL. SO DOES THIS NEED TO BE IS THIS A RESOLUTION OR AN ORDINANCE. DOES IT NEED TO. I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE. OKAY. 
          CAN IT BE A RESOLUTION OR. IT HAS TO BE AN ORDINANCE. IT HAS TO BE THIS HAS TO BE AN ORDINANCE. SO IT HAS TO BE AN ORDINANCE CANNOT BE A RESOLUTION. ON THE CIVIL SERVICE QUESTION. WE NEED TO I NEED TO RESEARCH THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF IF SOMEONE LONG TENURED WAS TO SWITCH OVER TO THIS TYPE OF CLASSIFICATION, THEY WOULD BE PROTECTED WITH THE TIME SERVED IN THE PENSION SYSTEM. I JUST NEED TO. I JUST NEED TO. THAT'S FINE. WE CAN, I CAN, I MEAN, I, I JUST DON'T WANT THAT TO BE THE SITUATION. YEAH. IF THAT'S THE ROUTE THAT I HAVE TO GO. YEAH. AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT SURPRISE COME AFTER I HAD A PROCEDURE QUESTION. CAN WE WAIVE THE READING AND APPROVE IT IN THE SAME NIGHT? BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO FIND OUT. HE NEEDS TO GET CLARITY ON. WE DON'T WANT TO NOW BECAUSE THERE'S A QUESTION ON THE FLOOR ABOUT THE PENSION. OH, OKAY. WELL, SO I CAN WITHDRAW MY MOTION. ALRIGHT. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW MY MOTION. SO HE'S HE'S ON. SO CAN YOU CALL ME PLEASE? I HAVE A MOTION THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ADVERTISEMENT OF. THE ORDINANCE THAT WE WANT. 
          THE AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE THAT WE WANT. YES. SUBJECT TO TITLE 36. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. ADVERTISEMENT. AND CAN I ADD ONE THING? AND IN THE MEANTIME, THE CITY MANAGER RESEARCH, DO THE RESEARCH AND ALSO BUT BUT TEMPORARILY APPOINT, ASSIGN, APPOINT, ASSIGN, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. THE YOUNG LADY. YES. SO THAT SHE WILL HAVE SOMEONE TOMORROW. YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT? BECAUSE IF I SAY SOMETHING TO HER, THEN I'LL BE IN VIOLATION OF THE CHARTER. SAY SOMETHING TO HER, BUT I CAN. I CAN ASSIGN ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT. OKAY. CAN SHE BE ASSIGNED? PUT PUT ON SPECIAL? YES. JUST NEED A SECOND TO THAT MOTION. SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY. 
          DO YOU HAVE THAT, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY? THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE ADVERTISED? CITY CLERK. CITY CLERK. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND. NO, I WON'T BE ABLE TO STAY FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. YES. I'M SORRY, MADAM CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. MOTION TO ADJOURN THE COUNCIL MEETING. SECOND. I.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.