A Special Call Meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Ocean Springs was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Jalanivich at 4:00 p.m. on June 11, 2003, at City Hall in the City of Ocean Springs. Present were Aldermen Lloyd, McDonnell, Cody and Gill, City Attorney Oscar Jordan and City Clerk Adrienne Howell. Mayor Ainsworth and Aldermen Carvin and Dalgo were absent. As Mayor Pro Tem Jalanivich chaired the meeting, he did not vote on any issues unless otherwise indicated.
Mayor Pro Tem Jalanivich read aloud the following Special Call:
(Special Call)
Mayor Pro Tem Jalanivich said that after speaking with the Mayor, City Attorney and other Aldermen, he felt it was best to back off purchasing the Groveland Rd. property and move forward with development of the Hwy 57 property.
Alderman Gill read aloud the following statement. “I’m here today to still support the sports complex. But public opinion has forced a different approach to achieve our goal to acquire a sports complex. There are two issues we need to consider. The first issue is the Groveland Rd. complex site is too close to a well-established residential area that could experience enormous traffic, lighting and noise conditions. I feel we should move the complete sports complex, gym and fields to the Hwy 57 site and diligently work toward requiring a permit as soon as possible. The second issue is I feel like we should have a referendum that should be presented to the public with the following projects: (1) a sports complex; (2) a public safety and fire building; (3) Mary O’Keefe Project; and (4) infrastructure improvements”.
Motion by Gill, seconded by Cody, to rescind the motion made on June 3, 2003, regarding acquisition of the property on Groveland Rd. from Louis Breland.
At this time discussion was held regarding the motion. Mayor Pro Tem Jalanivich explained that the Baywood Subdivision Homeowners Association would file a lawsuit against the City if the Groveland Rd. property were rezoned to allow for the sports complex. He asked if the Board was willing to purchase the Groveland Rd. property, only to have development postponed for several years due to litigation.
Parks Superintendent Damian McKay wanted the Board to continue with plans to purchase the Groveland Rd. property and build the sports complex that he felt everyone wanted, except the Baywood Subdivision residents.
Milton Jenkins told the Board that the entire city was concerned about the expense and that a petition was circulating in his area with plenty of signatures on it.
After hearing all discussion on the issue, the question was called, said vote being as follows:
VOTING AYE Aldermen McDonnell, Cody and Gill
VOTING NAY Alderman Lloyd
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Carvin and Dalgo
Motion by Gill, seconded by Cody, to rescind the motion made on June 3, 2003, that the City go out for a no protest $7 million bond issue.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Carvin and Dalgo
Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Cody, that the Finance Committee be reformed to include the City Clerk and Mayor, and that they determine the dollar figure that the City can afford to borrow and report back to the board by the July 1, 2003, Board meeting so the Board can determine what projects can be presented to the people in the form of a referendum.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Carvin and Dalgo
Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Cody, that the Mayor and Alderman Jalanivich report back to the Board with as accurate as possible cost estimates of the proposed projects that they want to include in the bond issue.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Carvin and Dalgo
Damian McKay told the Board that he would support the city with whatever way they wanted to go with a sports complex.
Alderman Lloyd asked the City Planner what the Hwy 57 property was zoned. The City Planner said that he was unsure because the property was outside of the city limits, but that it abutted C-3 zoned property to the south and abutted county property to the northwest and east. He stated that the only affected property owners in the area would be a few developers along the highway and the church property. He asked that the Board keep in mind that the only people who have standing in rezoning issues are those property owners that are within 150 ft. of the property to be rezoned. Alderman McDonnell asked if there were any current residential neighborhoods close to the property. The City Planner stated that he was not aware of any. He reminded the Board that the criteria for rezoning property was (1) a change in the character of the neighborhood and (2) a mistake in the original zoning.
Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Cody, to authorize the City Planner to begin the process to rezone the Hwy 57 property, if necessary.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Carvin and Dalgo
Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Cody, to allow Alderman Gill to assist the Mayor and Alderman Jalanivich in securing the permits for the Hwy 57 property.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Carvin and Dalgo
Motion by Cody, seconded by Gill, to adjourn.
VOTING AYE ALL
VOTING NAY NONE
ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Aldermen Carvin and Dalgo
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City Clerk Mayor
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