November 20, 2007 Agenda Minutes

Mayor Mullin called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. In attendance were Mayor Mullin, Vice Mayor Wilkerson, Commissioner Allis, Commissioner Burkett, City Manager Edwards, City Attorney Elliott, Codes Officer Larry Jenno, Intern Hilary Lyons, RPA’s Yuen Lee and Vern Thomas. Commissioner McPherson was absent.

Dr. Amanda and Becky spoke about a Feral Cat Program. Feral cats don’t bond with humans and can reproduce up to 118 kittens a season. Colony areas can be identified, several traps can be used to trap cats who are then spayed or neutered, wormed, given shots and marked and returned to the same area. Cats are territorial and will defend their area from other cats. Caregivers can continue to feed feral cats but their life span is 2-3 years. The cost is $25 per cat. If feral cats go to the Humane Society they are euthanized as they cannot be socialized. Cats are often abandoned especially in apartment areas. Meetings can be set up if there is an interest. Volunteers will be needed to coordinate, feed the colony and locate any new cats and report them.

City Manager Edwards gave out a financial report and said the City is in good shape. There is money for a Feral Cat Program if there is interest. Monies from a CD in a Georgia bank were removed.

Compensation for the sto on City Hall will probably not be available because Attorney Elliott said it has a four year statute.

City Manager Edwards checked on a breakaway sign post for a City entrance sign. The 2" by 4" posts are $946 and are aluminum. They are of an ornamental nature such as for mailboxes. He didn’t think they were appropriate for an entrance sign. If the sign were on private property, breakaway posts would not be needed. Attorney Elliott said approval from TDOT needs to be done on any signs. This project will be tabled for now.

Hilary Lyons said she was working on about 20 small local businesses to expand to Lakesite rather than focusing on big retail businesses.

Mayor Mullin said the Sign Ordinance needs a majority vote to pass. Findings will be adopted in the Ordinance for an emergency provision to make the Ordinance effective immediately.

Resolution 76, Fair Housing Resolution and Resolution 77, designating a Code Enforcement Official will be adopted.

Mayor Mullin said a letter was mailed by Attorney Elliott to Ms. Donilon concerning an adjustment to her lot lines.

Mayor Mullin said Adam Driver still needs tenants in his building on Hixson Pike.

Mayor Mullin said in attending a workshop concerning grants for the TVA park property on Hixson Pike it did not seem feasible that we could be successful in an application. A trail grant may be available. GPS flags were placed on the property to possibly locate road sites. The City will send drawings to TVA and a narrative on our proposals for the area. Mayor Mullin and Hilary Lyons visited a Rhea County/TVA park to see what had been done there. Lakesite would most likely get an easement for 25 years rather than a lease. An application will be made for $5000 and then a finalized concept will be done.

Mayor Mullin said a meeting was held with Mr. Freeney concerning the speed table in front of his home. No solution was made.

Mayor Mullin said the old BiLo embayment jurisdiction was TDEC.

Mayor Mullin said the Rails to Trails project would appeal for seed money for an engineering study. The Barge, Waggoner group will do a sketch.

Mayor Mullin said the Barge, Waggoner group will also get information on a compost restroom which will be considered for the park.

Mayor Mullin and Vice Mayor Wilkerson met with Kelly Alkins concerning the marina property. Better communications will be set up.

Mayor Mullin said the toll bridge project may not be a top project. TDOT is not a toll agency. There is a need for investment bankers, however there is enthusiasm.

The Fire Department has a new truck. The boat is out of service until January 2008. A personnel policy was adopted by the Department.

Vice Mayor Wilkerson said there should be a December saturation of officers to catch speeders. The Sheriffs Department may go to 8 hour shifts. The home with domestic issues will be watched.

Vice Mayor Wilkerson said the marina has had problems with vacancies, thefts and vandalism. Fifteen of 67 units are vacant and will not be repaired. Increased patrols will be asked for. Commissioner Burkett asked if the City could be liable or have problems because of their issues. Do they need to be condemned? Larry Jenno can write up violations and send to the landlord from the Slum Ordinance if it is a safety issue. Commissioner Burkett said the problem should be headed off and property vacated should be secured. Attorney Elliott said unless it is a public health problem or nuisance, the City should not get involved. It is not a City liability but the owners liability.

Commissioner Allis said Little Chickey looks better but there are logs in the far end that should be removed.

Commissioner Burkett said he is waiting for Qore plans on the roads. Winter items are crack sealing, etc. He said the drainage problem on Wood/Glengerrie needs to have something further done as it is still not draining properly.

Larry Jenno said the citation books are nearly ready. He will get court dates quarterly from Judge Stulce.

Yuen Lee, RPA, explained changes made to the PUD area of our Zoning Ordinance. It will be titled PRD (Planned Residential Development) Zone. Townhomes are encouraged to be owner occupied, although ownership can’t be regulated. There will be a limit of 4 attached units.

            .07 Criteria are listed for maximum density.

            .09 Landscaping required for all property lines.

            .10 Staging- development must be approved as a whole then can be done in phases.

C-PRD Zone-need approval on conditions before final PRD

            .12 Expiration of the approval is set.

            .13 It is not legal to change or modify the final PRD plan after approval unless a new petition for rezoning is done.

            .15 Reasons to deny a PRD plan. A condition can be removed and then be brought back for approval.

Vern Thomas said the marina boat ramp is on a stretch of Hixson Pike and old Hixson Pike. The present owner of the marina intends to move the ramp further away from Hixson Pike however so the ramp won’t be repaired now.

Vern Thomas reported the TDOT traffic count average for 2006. Daisy Dallas was 5243 cars per day and Dallas Hollow was 6294 cars per day.

As far as annexation suggested by the Harbor Lights Marina manager, Mr. Thomas said the City twenty year growth plan does not include that area.

Mayor Mullin adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m. .

Minutes:       Approved ( )                __________________________________

                      Amended ( )                                             Recorder

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                      Date                                                Mayor.