The Council of Hamlets meets tonight in Valdosta!

The Valdosta City Council regular meeting is tonight. You remember them, the council that may or may not be able to say whether or not they can or cannot speak during, at the end of, or after their council meetings. Tonight they appoint people to boards that decide who can put up how big a sign, and that spend millions in your tax money.

I want to see if Mayor Fretti will keep to his word to expand the Wiregrass Solar plant.

Also, maybe now this city council can do what Gretna, Florida, did: put out a proclamation saying there will be no biomass plant. Or they could sit on their hands some more and wait until some Sonny finds a way to do it anyway.

They have lots of other stuff on their agenda for tonight, including an appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBOA), and an appointment to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority.

ZBOA decides on variances to Valdosta’s LDR and Lowndes County’s ULDC, including sign variances, much to the annoyance of some local entitled rich people and of McDonald’s.

Parks & Rec receives 1.5 mil of tax money, about $4.5 million dollars a year, more than the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA). Parks and Rec board members get to spend that tax money that you pay.

AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE VALDOSTA CITY COUNCIL
5:30 PM Thursday, June 9, 2011
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
  1. Opening Ceremonies

    5:30 PM Call to order of the regular meeting of the Valdosta City Council. June 9, 2011 at COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 216 East Central Avenue, Valdosta, GA.

    1. Call to Order

    2. Invocation

    3. Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag

  2. Awards and Presentations

    1. Consideration of the June, 2011 Employee of the Month Award (Johnathon Voss, Police Department).

  3. Minutes Approval

    1. Thursday, May 19, 2011

  4. Public Hearings

    1. Consideration of an Ordinance for a Conditional Use Permit to allow a mini-warehouse facility in a Highway-Commercial (C-H) Zoning District as requested by Bart Butler (File No. CU-2011-03). The property is located at 1406 Madison Highway. The Planning Commission reviewed this request at their May Regular Meeting and recommended approval with two conditions (9-0 vote).

    2. Consideration of an Ordinance for a Conditional Use Permit to allow an outdoor recreation (paintball) facility within the Urban Commercial Corridor Overlay District (UCCOD) as requested by Travis and Margaret Anne Newsome (File No. CU-2011- 04). The property is located at 2103 West Hill Avenue. The Planning Commission reviewed this request at their Regular May Meeting and recommended approval with three conditions (9-0 vote).

    3. Consideration of an Ordinance for a Conditional Use Permit to allow expansion to an existing church facility and its accessory uses in a Single-Family Residential (R-10) Zoning District as requested by Christ Episcopal Church (File No. CU-2011-05). The property is located at 1521 North Patterson Street. The Planning Commission reviewed recommended approval with two conditions (9-0 vote).

    4. Consideration of an Ordinance for a Conditional Use Permit to allow an outdoor recreation (paintball) facility within the Urban Commercial Corridor Overlay District (UCCOD) as requested by Travis and Margaret Anne Newsome (File No. CU-2011- 04). The property is located at 2103 West Hill Avenue. The Planning Commission reviewed this request at their Regular May Meeting and recommended approval with three conditions (9-0 vote).

    5. Consideration of an Ordinance for a Conditional Use Permit to allow expansion to an existing church facility and its accessory uses in a Single-Family Residential (R-10) Zoning District as requested by Christ Episcopal Church (File No. CU-2011-05). The property is located at 1521 North Patterson Street. The Planning Commission reviewed this request at their Regular May Meeting and recommended approval with three conditions (9-0 vote).

    6. Consideration of an Ordinance to rezone 0.11 acres from Community-Commercial (C- C) to Single-Family Residential (R-6) as requested by Johnny McCloud (File No. VA- 2011-11). The property is located at 214 South Troup Street. The Planning Commission reviewed this request at their May Regular Meeting and recommended approval (9-0 vote).

    7. Consideration of an Ordinance to rezone 1.56 acres from Single-Family Residential (R- 6) to Multi-Family Residential (R-M) as requested by Jim Sineath (File No. VA-2011- 12). The property is located at 409 West Mary Street. The Planning Commission reviewed this request at their May Regular Meeting and recommended approval (9-0 vote).

    8. Consideration of an Ordinance to rezone 0.29 acres from Highway-Commercial (C-H) to Single-Family Residential (R-6) as requested by Mikel Wisenbaker (File No. VA- 2011-13). The property is located at 111 Wells Street. The Planning Commission reviewed this request at their May Regular Meeting and recommended approval (9-0 vote).

    9. Consideration of an Ordinance for Text Amendments to the Land Development Regulations (LDR) for Chapter 106 – Definitions, Chapter 218 – Use Regulations, Chapter 202 – General Provisions, Chapter 222 – Off-Street Parking Standards, Chapter 206 – Base Zoning Districts, Chapter 230 – Sign Regulations, Chapter 210 – Overlay Zoning Districts, Chapter 242 – Zoning Procedures, Chapter 214 – Standards Applying to All Districts, and new Chapter 212 – Planned Development Approval as requested by the City of Valdosta (File No. VA-2011-14). The Planning Commission reviewed this at their Regular May Meeting and recommended approval (9-0 vote).

  5. Ordinances and Resolutions

    1. Consideration of a Resolution authorizing the approval and acceptance of the Policies and Procedures, the MBE/WBE Plan, and the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Plan for the Community Home Improvement Program (CHIP) Grant No. 2011-828. The Resolution was postponed by Mayor and Council at the May 5, 2011 regular Council Meeting until the June 9, 2011 regular Council Meeting.

    2. Consideration of an Ordinance to amend the City of Valdosta’s Charter to re-define City Council Districts as required for re-apportionment based upon the 2010 Census. (Second Adoption)

    3. Consideration of an Ordinance prohibiting Sweepstakes Parlors in the City of Valdosta. (First Reading)

    4. Consideration of a Resolution to adopt an Amendment to the March, 2007 Greater Lowndes Solid Waste Management Plan.

  6. Bids, Contracts, Agreements and Expenditures

    1. Consideration of bids for oils and lubes for the City of Valdosta.

    2. Consideration of bids for the Annual Filter Contract for the City of Valdosta.

    3. Consideration of bids for the Electrical Services Contract for the City of Valdosta.

    4. Consideration of bids for the Air Conditioning Services Contract for the City of Valdosta.

    5. Consideration of bids for the Gas and Diesel Fuel Contract for the City of Valdosta.

    6. Consideration of bids for the Hand Tool Contract for the City of Valdosta.

    7. Consideration of bids for janitorial supplies for the City of Valdosta.

    8. Consideration of bids for ready mix concrete for the City of Valdosta.

    9. Consideration of bids for the redevelopment and rehabilitation of Wells 6 and 7.

    10. Consideration of bids for replacement of a culvert on Park Avenue at One Mile Branch.

  7. Local Funding and Requests

    1. Consideration of a request for final payment on the Mud Creek Treatment Plant Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Interceptor Project.

    2. Consideration of a request to accept a Deed from the Bray Company to the City of Valdosta for property located on Green Street.

  8. Boards, Commissions, Authorities and Advisory Committees

    1. Consideration of appointments to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority. The appointments were postponed by Mayor and Council at the May 5, 2011 regular Council Meeting for 30 days in order to gather some additional information.

    2. Consideration of an appointment to the Zoning Board of Adjustments & Appeals. The appointment was postponed by Mayor and Council at the May 5, 2011 in order to re- open the application process.

  9. City Manager’s Report

  10. Council Comments

  11. Citizens to be Heard

  12. Adjournment