REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 2, 2003

A Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Ocean Springs was called to order by Mayor Ainsworth at 6:00 p.m. on September 2, 2003, at City Hall in the City of Ocean Springs. Present were Aldermen Jalanivich, Lloyd, McDonnell, Cody, Carvin, Dalgo and Gill, City Attorney Oscar Jordan and Deputy City Clerk Diane Northrop.

Alderman Cody gave the Invocation.

Mayor Ainsworth led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Consent Agenda

City Clerk:

a) Approve Minutes of Recess Meeting of August 11, 2003

b) Pay Docket of Claims and spread docket summary upon the Minutes:

(Docket Summary)

c) Accept Action Report

Police Dept.:

d) Accept Police Report for July 2003

e) Allow Wal-Mart check no. 815510 to be deposited into Ocean Springs Police Officers Association account:

(Wal-mart Check)

f) Allow Jeremy Miller, student of University of South Mississippi Gulf Coast, to serve his Field Practicum/Student Internship of 144 hours at Ocean Springs Police Dept.:

(Miller Intern)

City Engineer:

g) Pay bills from Moran, Seymour and Associates totaling $21,982.25:

(City Engineer Bills)

h) Approve Pay Request No. 7 from Compliance EnviroSystems, LLC ($37,482.77) regarding Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey:

(Compliance Invoice)

Public Works:

i) Authorize Public Works Director and City Attorney to attend Damage Prevention Conference in Tampa, FL on December 2-6, 2003, and pay all reasonable and actual expenses:

(PWD/CA Travel Memo)

j) Pay invoices from Compton Engineering, P.A. totaling $20,265.50 for engineering services regarding State Transportation Program Grant:

(Compton Invoice)

k) Pay invoice from Graham Construction Co., Inc. ($8469.00) regarding sewer repairs on Groveland Rd. Lift Station (EPA Grant):

(Graham Invoice - ($8469.00)

l) Pay invoice from Graham Construction Co., Inc. ($1,628.80 – retainage) regarding sewer rehab on Eastland Blvd. (Part 2):

(Graham Invoice – ($1,628.80)

m) Pay invoice from Graham Construction Co., Inc. ($5,062.27) regarding drainage repairs at 4111 Yosemite Dr.:

(Graham Invoice - $5,062.27)

Community Development & Planning:

n) Begin lot cleaning process regarding 1306 Churchill Dr.:

(Lot Clean Letter)

o) Authorize Mayor, Planning Director and Public Works Director to select and procure engineering firm to assess existing infrastructure capacity with regard to new developments in Groveland Rd./Ocean Springs Rd./Deena Rd. area:

(Engineering Firm Letter)

Risk Manager/HR Director:

p) Accept Option 1 for renewal of insurance on E-One Fire Truck with Scott Insurance through January 16, 2004 ($1,340.70 prorated) and authorize payment of invoice:

(Fire Truck Insurance)

Miscellaneous:

q) Authorize Mayor to travel to Washington, D.C. on September 24-27, 2003, to represent city at opening of Walter Anderson Exhibit in Smithsonian Institution and pay all reasonable and actual expenses

r) Release $1,391.00 in budgeted community promotion funds to HOSA as requested:

(HOSA Letter)

Item i was removed from the Consent Agenda for further consideration.

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Carvin, to approve the Consent Agenda, excluding item i.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

Alderman McDonnell was temporarily absent at this time.

Department Reports

City Clerk

(Budget Hearing Memo)

Motion by Dalgo, seconded by Carvin, to reschedule the public hearing on the proposed FYE 2004 Budget for Monday, September 15, 2003, at 5:00 p.m.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

TEMPORARILY ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman McDonnell

Alderman McDonnell was present at this time.

Police Dept.

Alderman Dalgo reported that Jackson County would be here tomorrow with their equipment to start on the Government St. sidewalk project. He said Magnolia Bayou residents had expressed concern about speeding if Magnolia Bayou Blvd. would be used as a cut-through. He asked that the digital speed machine be set up along Magnolia Bayou Blvd.

Public Works

At this time discussion was held regarding item i of the Consent Agenda.

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Gill, to authorize the Public Works Director, Mayor, City Attorney and any and all Aldermen interested to attend the Damage Prevention Conference in Tampa, FL on December 2-6, 2003, and to pay all reasonable and actual expenses, and that the Aldermen’s expenses be paid from their ward discretionary funds.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

Alderman Jalanivich asked about the status of the street paving. The Public Works Director reported that the county trucks that were to haul the mill materials and milling machines were allocated to the Government St. sidewalk project and that the city would have to wait until the sidewalk project was complete before paving could begin.

Community Development & Planning

(Dudte Invoice)

Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to pay the invoice from Joshua Dudte (LMI) in the amount of $640.00 regarding services related to the Urban Youth Corps Program.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

Alderman Dalgo reported a dip in the road on Government St. in front of Canebrake Subdivision and wondered if the water line installed during construction of the subdivision might be the cause. The Public Works Director replied that about three years ago a contractor working for Canebrake was attempting to bore under the road for the water line and that the dip was probably due to constant settling. He said he could place asphalt in the dip to build the road back up.

Mayor

(Friends of Mary C. O’Keefe – Management Funds)

The City Attorney advised that the city could not pay for services before they were performed and could only pay for the months of July and August at this time.

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Gill, to pay the management fees in the amount of $3,200.00 to the Friends of Mary C. O’Keefe for management of the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center for the months of July and August 2003.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

Mayor Ainsworth announced that the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center was scheduled for Friday, September 5, 2003 at 6:30 p.m. and that a performance by members of the symphony would be held in the theatre.

Mayor Ainsworth addressed the following letter from Todd Adams of Jackson County Civil Defense and recommended that Fire Chief/Civil Defense Director Mark Hare be appointed to the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

(Jackson County Civil Defense Letter)

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Gill, to appoint Fire Chief/Civil Defense Director Mark Hare to the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

Alderman Dalgo stated that, in light of the resignation of City Clerk Adrienne Howell, the Finance Committee needed the services of Mark Toups over and above his specific audit duties.

Motion by Dalgo, seconded by Gill, to authorize Mark Toups to perform the following services: (1) help compile assessments as furnished by Jackson County to facilitate the budget process, including city and school; (2) to help compilation of the FYE 2004 budget; and (3) to work with the Finance Committee during the remainder of the budget process.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

Old Business

The cost estimate for Hastings Rd. was held over until the next meeting.

Motion by Dalgo, seconded by Gill, to remove the Government St. traffic study from the agenda until a later date.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

The FYE 2004 budget request from the1699 Historical Committee was referred to the Finance Committee.

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Dalgo, to remove the request of the 1699 Historical Committee for FYE 2004 budget funds from the agenda.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

All appointments were held over until the next meeting.

New Business

(Ocean Springs Walking Track Petition)

Motion by Gill, seconded by Dalgo, to accept the petition regarding the Ocean Springs Walking Track and spread it upon the minutes.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

The Parks Superintendent was asked to contact Ocean Springs Hospital to see what their annual level of maintenance was for their wood chips walking track.

Alderman Jalanivich asked about the status of the permits for the recreation property and complained that he had not received a response from Solutions, Inc. after having called several times. Mayor Ainsworth reported that the city would receive a Fed-Ex with a copy of the application and environmental assessment and that the original would be going to the BMR.

Alderman McDonnell asked about the status of the restrooms for the Little Children’s Park. Parks Superintendent Damian McKay said he had already received approval from everyone and had found funding for the project – 1/3 from the Park Commission, 1/3 from the City and 1/3 from Jackson County. He said he was waiting on plans from the architect, Carl Germany, before proceeding.

Alderman Lloyd asked who was responsible for maintaining the restrooms at Inner Harbor Park. The Mayor was asked to speak to Jackson County about any plans they may have for renovations of the restrooms.

(Baggett Resignation)

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Carvin, to accept the resignation of Kay Baggett from the Tree Committee and send her a letter of appreciation for her service to the city.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

Lana Robinson of the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce submitted the following budget request for Main Street for FYE 2004 and thanked the Board for their consideration. The request was referred to the Finance Committee.

(Main Street Budget Request)

Mrs. Robinson told the Board that the Chamber was currently obtaining bids on the proposed plan for the entrance signage and expected to present the plans to the Board early in October 2003.

Steve Robinson of 3307 Government St. commended the Ocean Springs Police Dept. for their aggressive presence on Government St. to address the speeding problem.

Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Dalgo, to authorize the Building Dept. and City Attorney to amend the city ordinances regarding fees associated with building, mechanical and similar permits, and contractor licensing to come in line with those of our sister cities.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

Audience Request

No one addressed the Mayor and Board of Aldermen at this time.

Motion by McDonnell, seconded by Gill, to go into Closed Session to determine the necessity for an Executive Session.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

TEMPORARILY ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Dalgo

Motion by Jalanivich, seconded by Cody, to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel in Supervision and Finance and potential litigation.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

TEMPORARILY ABSENT AND NOT VOTING Alderman Dalgo

The Deputy City Clerk announced to the audience that the Board had elected to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel in Supervision and Finance and potential litigation.

The Board began the Executive Session at 6:40 p.m. and was joined by the City Attorney and Alderman Dalgo. The Executive Session ended at 7:45 p.m.

Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to resume the Regular Session.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

Motion by Cody, seconded by Jalanivich, to recess until 5:00 p.m. on September 15, 2003.

VOTING AYE ALL

VOTING NAY NONE

______________________________ _____________________________

City Clerk Mayor

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