REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2010 AT 5:00 P.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Smith.

 

Present:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Parks & Recreation Director Mark Naylor and followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the agenda for this meeting with an amendment to: remove R-1; add as P-1a a presentation by the Meridian High School cheerleaders.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated May 04, 2010.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14772       ORDER CONFIRMING THE RE-APPOINTMENT BY THE MAYOR

                                    OF DR. RONNYE PURVIS TO THE MERIDIAN COMMUNITY

                                    COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14773       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF STATEWIDE MUTUAL

                                    AID COMPACT (SMAC) BETWEEN THE MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY

                                    MANAGEMENT AGENCY (MEMA), THE LAUDERDALE COUNTY

                                    BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

And, Councilwoman Henson seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5663                        RESOLUTION REQUIRING MINIMUM GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE

                                    FOR LICENSED ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, GAS AND PLUMBING

                                    CONTRACTORS

 

And, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5664                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER RECEIVED

                                    FROM DOROTHY BROWN FOR PURCHASE OF SURPLUS TAX FORFEITED

                                    LAND AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF QUITCLAIM DEED FOR

                                    REVERTING AND CONVEYANCE

 

And, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14774       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT FOR

                                    PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BETWEEN KEMP ASSOCIATES, LLC

                                    AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

And, Councilman Thomas seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

            The hour of 5:15 p.m. having arrived, the hearing as called for in Resolution #5658 regarding the appeal by Tehran and Jeanette Jackson of the decision of the Meridian Planning Commission to deny their request for rezoning property located at 40th Avenue and 33rd Street was opened with motion by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council.  Planner Don Jemison appeared and gave the history of the request from Tehran and Jeanette Jackson to have property located on 40th Avenue & 33rd Street rezoned from R-1 to B-1.  The Community Development Department recommended that the rezoning request be denied due to no change in the character of the neighborhood and that no evidence was presented to support the need for a restaurant in the area.  The Meridian Planning Commission voted to deny the rezoning because it is spot zoning, no change in the character of the neighborhood and lack of evidence to support the need for a restaurant in the area.  A letter of appeal was received and the City Council called a zoning hearing.  Those who appeared to speak were: 1) Tehran Jackson, 1424A 29th Avenue – asked that the City Council approve this rezoning request so he and his wife can put a restaurant in an un-used building.  2) James Moultrie, 3906 34th Street – requested that the City Council deny the appeal because of the traffic it will bring to the community.  3) Gary R. Smith, 3718 40th Avenue – requested that the City Council approve the rezoning.  Councilwoman Henson said Mr. Jackson touched on public need but that it was an assumption.  The legal criteria for rezoning is a change in the character of the neighborhood and public need.  Those would be the reasons the Council could make a decision according to law.  Attorney Bill Ready stated this was correct.  Council President Smith asked if this was spot zoning and Attorney Ready stated it could be.  Councilman Smith asked what the city’s ordinance said about spot zoning.  Planner Don Jemison stated that spot zoning is discouraged and that is why they did not recommend the rezoning.  Councilwoman Perry asked about a list supporting the rezoning.  Mr. Jackson stated he had surveys asking people what they wanted in that area.  Councilman Thomas stated that the plans are great but what he was asking them to do does not meet the code.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Thomas and unanimously passed by the Council to close the hearing.  Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14775       ORDER DENYING APPEAL OF TEHRAN AND JEANETTE JACKSON

                                    TO RECLASSIFY CERTAIN LANDS IN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN FROM

                                    DISTRICT R-1 TO DISTRICT B-1 (40TH AVENUE & 33RD STREET)

 

And, Councilman Smith seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  Perry.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5665                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION OF

                                    APPLICATION TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

 

                                    COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FOR

                                    SANITARY SEWER REHABILITATION

 

And, Councilman Thomas seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5666                        RESOLUTION AND ORDER RELATING TO THE SEVENTY-FIFTH

                                    ANNIVERSARY KEY BROTHERS ENDURANCE FLIGHT AIR SHOW

 

And, Councilwoman Henson seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14776       ORDER RELATING TO THE BUILDING DEMOLITION PROGRAM

                                    AND PROCESS

 

And, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Perry offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #14777       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A COOPERATIVE

                                    AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI

                                    AND LAUDERDALE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI PROVIDING CERTAIN

                                    RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AT HIGHLAND PARK, SKEWES

                                    PARK AND LAKEVIEW GOLF COURSE

 

And, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated May 13, 2010 in the amount of $4,710,760.63.

 

 

            At this time Patricia Flowers with the Meridian Transit System appeared before the Council to give an update on the transit system.  She stated that ridership has gone up 15% during the past two months.  They will be receiving three new buses which were purchased with stimulus money.  The largest bus will be used for the route to the Navy Base.

 

 

            CAO Mark McDonald gave the Mayor’s report in her absence.  He reminded everyone of the Key Brothers air show to be held this coming weekend.  A Mississippi country music trail marker will be place at Jimmie Rodgers’ grave on June 1st.  The Run for the Wall will be coming up soon.  President Smith stated a work session will be held on Thursday, June 10th at 5:30 p.m. at the Union Station regarding the Lakeview golf course.

 

 

            Since the Meridian High School cheerleaders did not show up for their presentation, Councilman Thomas stated that they were going to come and ask for donations from the public to help purchase state championship rings for their winning the cheerleading state championship.

   

 

            President Smith called for citizen comments.  No one appeared.

 

 

             President Smith called for Council comments.  Various comments were made.

 

 

            There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned.  Sine die.

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,  

 

 

                                                                        Pam McInnis, Clerk of Council