City Council takes first Vote on revising outdated City Codes at Tuesday's meeting

Mayor Pro Tem Shari Barr presided over the bi-monthly meeting of Statesboro City Council on Tuesday morning, September 5, 2023. Mayor Jonathan McCollar was under the weather and could not attend the meeting.

Council Member Paulette Chavers opened the meeting with prayer and pledge of allegiance.

The council covered several first readings including the first reading for the unified code revisions. The code revision process has continued for almost two years. The last time the City underwent a Unified Code revision was 40 years ago. Caleb Racicot with TSW the company who assisted the city with the process made a presentation at the Council highlighting the updates.

CLICK HERE to see Mr. Raciocot's presentation to Council.

CLICK HERE To review the full revised code.

APPROVED - Consent Agenda

Approval of Minutes

08-15-2023 Work Session Minuets
08-15-2023 Council Minutes
08-15-2023 Executive Session Minutes

Public Hearings

APPROVED FIRST READING - 5) Public Hearing and First Reading of Ordinance 2023-08: An Ordinance amending Chapter 18 Businesses of the Statesboro Code of Ordinances in order to implement Article XI creating licensing and operational requirements for event spaces.

Mayor and Council voted to advance Ordinance to First Reading at the June 20, 2023 work session. Amendment was also be presented at the August 15, 2023 work session and requested to return for First Reading.

APPROVED 6) Second Reading and Consideration of a motion to approve Ordinance 2023-07: An Ordinance amending Appendix A Zoning of the Statesboro Code of Ordinances in order to implement Article XXXII creating security requirements for apartment complexes, namely camera systems and controlled vehicular access.

Mayor and Council voted to advance Ordinance to First Reading at the June 20, 2023 work session. Amendment was moved forward to second reading at the August 15, 2023 regular session.

APPROVED FIRST READING 7) Public Hearing and First Reading of Ordinance 2023-11: An Ordinance amending Chapter 18 Businesses of the Statesboro Code of Ordinances in order to implement Article XII creating a regulatory structure to allow for mobile public vending on City right of way.

Mayor and Council voted to advance Ordinance to First Reading at the June August 15, 2023 work session. This creates a framework for Ice Cream Trucks and the sale of prepackaged foods in the public right of way.

APPROVED FIRST READING 8) Public Hearing and First Reading of Ordinance 2023-12: An Ordinance adopting the Statesboro Unified Development Code.

At the request of City Council in 2022, the City hired TSW as consultants for the creation of a new Unified Development Code, which incorporated items both directly and indirectly related to zoning. It is now requested that Council adopt this newly created Unified Development Code.

APPROVED FIRST READING 9) Public Hearing and First Reading of Ordinance 2023-13: Ordinance amending Chapter 22: Cable Communications.

APPROVED FIRST READING 10) Public Hearing and First Reading of Ordinance 2023-14: Ordinance amending Chapter 26: Cemeteries.

APPROVED FIRST READING 11) Public Hearing and First Reading of Ordinance 2023-15: Ordinance amending Chapter 38: Environment.

APPROVED 12) Public Hearing & Consideration of a Motion to approve application for an alcohol license in accordance with The City of Statesboro alcohol ordinance Sec. 6-13 (a)

Parkers #20
141 Lanier Dr Statesboro, Ga 30458
License Type: Package Sales (Beer & Wine only)

No new alcoholic beverage license to sell, dispense, pour or offer to sell, dispense or pour any distilled spirits, alcoholic beverages, wine, beer or malt beverages within the corporate limits of the City of Statesboro shall be issued to a new owner or new location until the application has been approved by the mayor and city council after a public hearing.

APPROVED 13) Public Hearing & Consideration of a Motion to approve application for an alcohol license in accordance with The City of Statesboro alcohol ordinance Sec. 6-13 (a)

Birdies at the Mall
325 Northside Dr East Statesboro, Ga 30458
License Type: Bar with Kitchen

New Business

APPROVED 14) Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-40: A Resolution to adopt the first amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 budget for each fund of the City of Statesboro, Georgia, appropriating the amounts shown in each budget as expenditures/expenses, adopting the several items of revenue anticipations, and prohibiting expenditures or expenses from exceeding the actual funding appropriated.

Enclosed is the First Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2024. The amendment is to Carryforward Capital items budgeted for in Fiscal Year 2023 but not completed as of June 30, 2023. I recommend the approval of the proposed budget amendment.

APPROVED 15) Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-41: A Resolution to adopt the Standard Operating Procedures and Policies for city boards and commissions.

The City of Statesboro has several boards and commissions that provide vital services to the community. The City does not currently have procedures in place to provide general guidelines and responsibilities to maximize the board's and/or commission's efficiency, output, and uniformity with the City's goals and objectives. The attached documents provide standard operating procedures and attendance guidelines for the boards and commissions.

APPROVED 16) Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2023-42: A Resolution updating the Language Access Plan for the City of Statesboro.

The City of Statesboro has been awarded the Employment Incentive Program Community Development Block Grant in order to assist with the development of the Aspen Aerogels facility on I-16. As a part of Special Condition #1, the City of Statesboro must update the Language Access Plan which was approved as a part of the 2019 Community Development Block Grant. Approval of this new LAP will satisfy additional conditions for receipt of grant funding.

APPROVED 17) Consideration of a motion to approve the guidelines and application for the Security Enhancement Incentive Program.

The attached documents include guidelines and an application for the Security Enhancement Incentive Program. This incentive program is open to property owners who have multi-family or rental housing units that are rented and not owned inside the city limits and are in targeted areas experiencing high incidences of crime. The objective of the program is to aid in crime prevention and assist law enforcement with investigations.

APPROVED 18) Consideration of a motion to approve the purchase of required equipment to “upfit” 8 patrol cars in the Statesboro Police Department not to exceed $286,000.00.

During a regular session of the City Council in August, 2023, Council approved the purchase of 8 new patrol cars as part of the annual vehicle purchase to keep the patrol fleet in working order. We were unable to get accurate information on the cost of equipping (or “upfitting”) these cars at that time but now have received the necessary information. Upfitting includes all of the equipment that turns a vehicle into a patrol car: onboard computer (and associated software and mounting hardware), cameras (integrated dash cams and body cams), push bumpers, emergency lights and siren systems, prisoner compartment, exterior graphics, etc and the labor to install all of this equipment. This equipment will be purchased following the city’s purchasing policy, and includes prices obtained through the state bid process, a sole source contract (Patrol PC), and by “piggy-backing” on existing government contracts. Cost to upfit these 8 cars will not exceed $286,000. These funds are budgeted through SPLOST.

APPROVED 19) Consideration of a motion to amend the Development Agreement with L&S Acquisitions LLC to provide a time extension for installation of infrastructure associated with Fernhill Farms subdivision.

City entered into Development Agreement with Developer L & S Acquisitions for installation of public infrastructure with dedication date of October 5, 2023. Attached Amendment would allow for a six month extension for installation as requested by Developer.

Rainy weather has caused problems on the site for the 80 lot subdivision inside the city. This will extend their time limit for six months until April 5, 2024 to get infrastructure in place.

20) Other Business from City Council

Council Member Phil Boyum recommended revisiting the commercial property blight tax which sets a multiplier on commercial property tax that is vacant for a long period of time. He feels that the blight tax penalty should be increased to 10 times the current property tax amount to incentivize property owners to develop vacant buildings in the City. He asked staff to review options and bring back for the next work session to discuss. He feels that we need to find ways to encourage business owners to lease vacant property inside the city.

Council Shari Barr encouraged citizens to pay attention to the COVID risk levels which has increased to medium for Bulloch.

21) City Managers Comments

City Manager Charles Penny announced that on September 25, 6 pm they will hold the first public meeting for the Transportation study.

The City has awarded 15 contracts for the housing rehabilitation program and hope to see these started soon.

The tax rate public hearings will be a week from today at noon at 6 pm. The final public hearing will be at the Council meeting on September 19th.

The City staff is moving forward with the proposed changing the name of Brown Street to Loretta's Way. They will start the process of the renaming.

In regards to the Elk's Lodge alcohol license he offered as a suggestion to consider allowing non profits to offer brown bagging for a specific location. This may be a way to work with the Elks Lodge loss of alcohol license. Council Member Boyum raised concerns about implementing a brown bag policy. Mr. Penny said that this would apply only to a non-profit agency.

City Attorney Cain Smith also suggested allowing brown bagging for a specific location only as an alternative to Council Member Boyum's concerns. They will research it more and bring forward at the next work session.

22) Public Comments

Miss Virginia Smith addressed City Council saying that they are really enjoying the City's new bus service. They are catching the bus now at Newport Trace along with many of their friends who are enjoying riding the bus as well. They would like a covered bench to sit while waiting for the bus. She said they just need somewhere to sit to be out of the weather while waiting for a bus. They would like one at the social security office as well.