Minutes of the REGULAR MEETING For the City Council of Lookout Mountain, Georgia September 18, 2008
PRESIDING: Thomas G. Gifford, Mayor
PRESENT: Council Members Dennis Eischeid, Daniel Pettway, Sandy Gothard, Catherine Kelley, City Attorney Bill Pickering, Police Chief Wallace Taylor and City Clerk Dana Driver.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Gifford called the meeting of the City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1214 Lula Lake Road, Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the regular meeting held August 21, 2008 were approved as submitted.
GOLF CARTS – A contingent of citizens came before the Mayor and the Council to request that the Council consider drafting an ordinance that would allow and regulate the use of golf carts on Lookout Mountain, GA city streets. Mr. Randy Wilson, an attorney, addressed the Council on behalf of those citizens requesting a golf cart ordinance. Golf carts are considered motorized carts and are not the same as low-speed vehicles which are legal, when properly registered and tagged, on Georgia streets with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. Mr. Wilson stated that the ordinance could be drafted with certain regulations such as the driver must have a valid driver’s license and the motorized cart must have certain safety features. The Mayor stated that it is impossible under Georgia law to modify a golf cart into a low speed vehicle. A VIN number on a golf cart would not be recognized as a low speed vehicle. The Council stated they would revisit their discussion of golf carts at the next meeting and would consider the impact on the rest of the community, safety issues, and the potential for enforcement if an ordinance were to be passed to allow the motorized carts.
VACANT COUNCIL SEAT – Motion was made by Councilman Daniel Pettway to nominate Phillip Whitaker, Jr. to fill the Council seat formerly held by Ray Seipp. Mr. Seipp resigned in July due to a job transfer to another state. The motion was seconded and a vote was taken. The vote was 2-2. Mayor Gifford was called on to vote to break the tie vote and voted no. The motion failed. Vice Mayor Dennis Eischeid nominated David Fussell to fill the vacated Council seat. The vote was 2-2. The Mayor was called on again to break the tie vote. The Mayor voted yes and the motion was passed. David Fussell was elected to fill the vacant term.
2ND READING OF PROPOSED SEWER RATE INCREASE – An ordinance was passed on second reading to increase sewer rates to reflect the 3% increase.
CHAPELBROW PUD – The motion was made, seconded and approved to authorize Mayor Gifford to hire attorney Michael Stewart of Chambliss, Bahner and Stophel law firm to draft a Planned Urban Development (PUD) ordinance for the proposed Chapelbrow development for an estimated cost of $5,000 and a “not to exceed” cost of $6,500.
MONTHLY STORMWATER & SEWER REPORT - Copies of the current storm water activity report were distributed to the Council. A copy of which is attached.
MAYOR’S REPORT
1) The Mayor announced the architects have some preliminary sketches of city hall and have asked department heads for feedback. The Mayor will also be meeting with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to discuss the potential downtown redevelopment.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Dana Driver