MINUTES WAYCROSS CITY COMMISSION PLANNING & INFORMATION SESSION MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2025, 5:00 P.M. WAYCROSS CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS (417. PENDLETON STREET, WAYCROSS, GA) I. CALL TO ORDER: The Waycross City Commission Meeting was called to order on Monday, January 6, 2025, at 5:00 pm by Mayor James. The meeting was held in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. Present were Commissioners Katrena Felder, Sheinita Bennett, Shawn Roberts and Alvin Nelson A. Invocation: City Manager Invocation led by Pastor William Simmons B. Pledge of Allegiance II. GUESTS: III. TRAVEL/TRAINING SCHEDULE AND REQUESTS A. Eggs & Issues January 13-14, 2025 - Atlanta, GA B. GMA = Cities United Summit - January 24-27, 2025 - Atlanta, GA The city manager announced that all commissioners, the mayor, and himself, will be attending. one or both of these conferences. IV. PLANNING & INFORMATION SESSION A. Bids: n/a B. Discussion Items: ***SEE DISCUSSION NOTES*** 1. Finance Update: a. Fire Department: Replacement ofMonitor and Nozzle on Ladder Truck b. ARPA Update 2. Infrastructure: a. Army Corp of Engineers Meeting Page 1 of5 b. GDOT District 11 Meeting C Streets, Roads, and Parks Update d. Standard Utility Agreement e. Leche Collection 3. January Committee/Board Appointments: a. Election of Mayor Tempore' b. Pronouncement of City Officers (Presented by Mayor and Confirmed by Commission) 1. City Attorney: Huey W. Spearman 2. Assistant City Attorney: 3. Official Organ: Waycross Journal-Herald 4. City Depository: Ameris Bank Waycross Bank & Trust 5. City Auditor: Mauldin & Jenkins CPAS 6. City Engineer: ESG Engineering 7. Municipal Court Judge: Judge Douglas W. Gibson 8. Municipal Court Judge Pro- Andrienne Gibson Tempore': 9. Insurance Agents: Gallagher/Five Points Oakbridge Insurance Company Cigna Health, Anthem Vision, New York Life & AD&D Gallagher Insurance Travelers Liability & Workers Comp 10. City Election Superintendent: Ware County Board of Elections and Registration C.. Appointment to Executive Positions Recommended by Mayor and Confirmed by the Commission: (Mayor and/or City Manager are Automatic Appointees to the Southern Georgia Regional Commission, Waycross-Ware Development Authority, Transportation Planning Coordinating Committee and Chamber ofCommerce, Downtown Waycross Development Authority) 1. Downtown Waycross Development Mayor Authority 2. Library Board ofTrustees: Ex-Officio: Board Member: 3. Waycross Convention & Visitors Post 2: Clint Bowman Bureau: (Reappointment) 4. South Georgia Regional Mayor Commission: 5. Transportation Planning Mayor Coordinating Committee: Page 2 of5 6. Ware County Board ofHealth: Mayor 7. Waycross-Ware Co Development Mayor Authority: 8. Waycross-Ware County Chamber of Mayor Commerce: d. Pension Committee for Retirement Fund* Recommended by Mayor and Confirmed by City Commission) (Mayor; City Manager, City. Attorney, and PersomelAnalys & Risk Management Employee are Automatic Appointees: 1. Mayor Michael-Angelo James 2. City Manager Ulysses D. Rayford 3. City Attorney Huey W. Spearman 4. Finance Director Greg Smith 5. City Commissioner (Appointment) 6. Human Resources Director Marissa Hendrix 4. Handbook Adoption 5. Ethics Board: a. Ethics Board Annual Appointments b. Ethics Board Decision Shawn Sanders V. Comm. Diane Hopkins and Comm. Katrena Felder, Case No. 2024-002 C. Ethics Board Recommendations - Clayton Nelson V. Comm. Katrena Felder, Case No. 2024-001 6. Charter Changes 7. Qualifying Fees 8. Reschedule City Meeting on January 20, 2025. C. Privilege Licenses Renewals: 1. Pop Bellies Seafood Steak & Grill, J. Mitchell, 1195 Ossie Davis Pkwy, Waycross GA 31501, Beer, Wine, and Liquor, Consumption on Premises. 2. Hampton Inn, K. Thomas, 1720 Brunswick Hwy, Waycross Ga 31501, Beer and Wine, Package Sales Only 3. Laxminarayan 13 LLC DBA Bunky's, C. Patel, 1545 Ossie Davis Pkwy, Waycross, Ga 31501, Beer and Wine, Package Sales Only 4. Shri 13 LLC DBA Wally's, N. Patel, 1565 Ossie Davis Pkwy, across GA 31501, Beer and Wine, Package Sales Only. 5. My Place Lounge, A. Wilson, 1007 Albany Ave, Waycross GA 31501 Beer, Wine and Liquor, Consumption on Premises. D. Privilege Licenses: n/a E. Proposed Ordinances: n/a Page 3 of5 F. Proposed Resolutions: 1. A Resolution Pledging to Promote Civility in the City of Waycross, Georgia. 2. A Resolution to Establish Qualifying Fees For The City of Waycross Elections For 2025. There was a consensus to move this to the Tuesday Agenda. 3. A Resolution of the City of Waycross, Georgia to Reschedule City Work Session Due to the MLK National Holiday; and for Other Purposes. There was a consensus to move this to the Tuesday Agenda 4. A Resolution of the City of Waycross, Georgia To Approve Standard Utility Agreement Contract Item Agreement With The Georgia Department of Transportation ("GDOT") To Relocate City Facilities In Connection With the Ossie Davis Parkway Overpass Project; and for Other Purposes. There was a consensus to move this to the Tuesday Agenda 5. A Resolution of the City of Waycross, Georgia, To Formally Appoint Certain Designated and Qualified Members To The City's Board of Ethics; and for Other Purposes. There was a consensus to move this to the Tuesday Agenda G. City Attorney Report: H. City Managers Report: I. Last Call J. Adjourn to Executive Session There was a motion made by Mayor Pro Temp, Alvin Nelson to go into executive session for the purpose of personnel. Seconded by Commissioner Bennett. All voted in favor and the meeting adjourned to go into executive session at 6:10pm K. Adjournment Page 4 of5 CITY OF WAYCROSS BY: * Mudabolagken MICHAEL-ANGEIO SAMES, Mayor ATTEST: Jasswtai Su JACQUALINE POWELL, City Clerk # 4 Page 5 of5 ***DISCUSSIION NOTES*** 01/06/2025 WS DR. BUSSEY: And that, responded Felder. District three support. Responded Hopkins by publicly offering disingenuous explanations. The complainant also alleged that Respondent Felder coerced the city employee to provide her with a government produced document for free. After acknowledging that she was required to pay for it in violation of Official Code of Georgia Annotated section 45 1105 Extortion by Public Officer. Lastly, the complainant alleged that Respondent Hopkins had free use ofthe City Auditorium for several weeks for her personal use to host her daughter's wedding. Evading payment in violation ofOfficial Code of Georgia Annotated section 45 1110. Coercion of other officer or employee to give anything of value for political purposes. Legal standards. The City of Waycross Code of Ethics does not squarely address a situation where a commissioner might question the free use of the city auditorium or other city facility. However, the ethics code does provide that the proper government and administration of the city requires that its officials conducting official city business a serve other and not themselves, and d treat all people fairly. City code section two Dash 11 116 A, one A and D. The City of Waycross Code of Ethics addresses coercion by stating no official or employee shall use his position in any way to coerce or give the appearance of coercing another person to provide any financial benefit or other reward to him or persons with his immediate family or those with whom the Commissioner has business or financial ties. Thai City Code, section 2-1 21. Official Code of Georgia annotated regarding offenses concerning public officers and employees. Define extortion as an unlawful taking by aj public officer from any person or any money or thing of value that is not due to him, or more than is due to him. Further, any public officer demanding or receiving other and greater fees than by law are allowed. OCGA Section 4511 5-5 be the official code of Georgia annotated regarding offenses concerning public officers and employees. Define coercion as it shall be unlawful for any officer or employee ofany county municipal corporation to coerce or attempt to coerce or command, directly or indirectly, any other officer or employee of such That political subdivision to pay land to contribute, or any part ofhis salary, or to kickback any sum of money or anything of value to any party for political purposes. Discussion. In applying the above legal standard to the allegations of the Sanders complaint, the board concluded that inquiring about the free usage of the City auditorium is not a per se violation of the city code ofethics. Rather, given the circumstances ofthe sacrifice made by Sergeant Kennedy L Sanders for her country and the loss of a daughter by the Sanders family. The inquiry. The inquiry into the. Whether the Sanders family had free use of the City auditorium where Sergeant Sanders was honored, was clearly insensitive. The board has reviewed the transcript. Transcript of the City Commission budget meeting on October the 8th, 2024, with a question regarding the free use of the City auditorium was allegedly made by respondent Hopkins and supported by respondent Felder. DR. BUSSEY: Thei transcript reveals that on page six, Respondent Hopkins began questioning City Finance Director Greg Smith about City Auditorium funds and having a negative balance. Respondent Hopkins goes on to state that she noticed that there were some people on the list that used it for free and asked, why did we allow that? On page seven, the city manager responded by stating that, sO nobody got it for free, and that we had some events that were led as far as the city. Respondent Hopkins continued to press the issue of some people on that list who are not qualified to use it for free. On page eight, the discussion shifted to general to the General Fund, but respondent Felder stated that she wanted to go back to the city auditorium and question whether there were rental agreements that any renter would have to review and sign and be kept on file. Then Commissioner Bennett stated the following. These are questions Page 1 of9 ***DISCUSSIION NOTES*** 01/06/2025 WS that need to be directed to Mr. Simmons. And the only one that I knew ofthat if anybody didn't pay, was the Kennedys. Other than that, that shouldn't be an issue. While respondent Hopkins did not specifically mention the Sanders family by name during her dialog with the city finance director and city manager, she did question the free use of the City auditorium by persons whose name appeared on the list of users, which the board believes included the Sanders family. Moreover, the board received a sworn statement from Patrick Simmons Business Integration and Information System Director, City of Waycross, also dated for December 19th, 2024, 24, providing in part the following. I am writing to provide a detailed explanation ofthe phone call I received from Commissioner Diane Hopkins on June 28th, 2024. Commissioner Hopkins called me on my cell phone and asked me if the Sanders family had paid for the auditorium. I didn't specify ifshe meant the memorial service or the banquet, or both. Itold her no; they did not pay because a proclamation and ordinance were approved by the commission to honor Sergeant Kennedy Sanders annually with the banquet. She said she did not vote on it. Itold her that the rest ofthe commission did, and it was approved. Commissioner Hopkins said that only the Board of Education was supposed to get it for free. The sworn statement from Patrick Simmons leaves no doubt that Commissioner Hopkins did, in fact, question the free use of the city auditorium by the Sanders family, although the Although the phone call to Mr. Simmons on his cell phone was not a public statement, given the question raised by Commissioner Hopkins during the budget hearing regarding the list of people who use the city auditorium for free, and the comment by Commissioner Bennett that she only knew of the Sanders family who had access to the same list. The board believes that responded. Hopkins was questioning the free use of the City Auditorium by the Sanders family during the budget hearing, as well as during her phone call to Mr. Simmons, which was explicit regarding the second allegation in the complaint. The response that Respondent Felder coerced the city employee to provide her with a government produced document for free, acknowledging that she was required to pay for it in violation of City Code of Georgia Annotated section 45 Dash 11 five extortion by a Public Officer. The board dismisses this claim for two reasons. First, this is a third party claim which Mr. Sanders made on behalf ofsomeone else. The person who was allegedly affected or impacted by respondent's Felder's alleged conduct was and is free to file their own complaint against Commissioner Felder. Moreover, the complainant uses the language ifthis information is factual, is a clear indication that Mr. Sanders is not even sure if the conduct he is alleging respondent Felder allegedly engaged in towards a city employee is even factual or true. The board cannot entertain a third-party complaint on behalf of someone else, and the one that is based primarily on hearsay. Second, the offense of coercion is defined by the city code, and Georgia state law does not appear to apply to the facts of this matter. There is no indication of any receipt or demand for money by respondent Felder for political purposes. The third and final allegation was that respondent Hopkins had free use of the City Auditorium for several weeks for her personal use to host her daughter's wedding. Evading payment in violation of Official Code ofGeorgia Annotated section 4511 Dash ten version of other officer or employee to give anything of value for political purposes. The board dismisses this claim for two reasons. First, the claim is not timely. The City Code provides that all complaints of ethical violations must be filed with the City clerk in writing no later than 90 days after the alleged act occurred, unless the complainant, by exercising reasonable diligence, failed to discover the alleged ethical violation within such 90-day periods. City code section 2- 1 60 7B1. In no event shall an ethical charge be filed with the City Clerk more clerk more than two years from the date of the alleged ethical violation. City code section 2-1 60 7B3. The board learned during the public meeting that respondent Hopkins daughter got married around or about 2010, which is well outside ofthe 90-day time limit, or the two-year limitation period for filing a complaint with the city clerk. Second, the claim is not supported by the Georgia Page 2 of9 ***DISCUSSIION NOTES*** 01/06/2025 WS Code cited by Mr. Sanders. Official Code of Georgia Annotated section 4511 Dash ten. There is no evidence that respondent Hopkins coerced any employee or other officer to give anything ofvalue for use ofthe City Auditorium. This statutory provision seems to be misapplied to the facts of this case and in any event would not be timely. Anyhow, order of the Board of Ethics. For all ofthe above and foregoing reasons, the board hereby dismisses the Sanders complaint in its entirety. The complaint does not allege a violation ofthe City ofWaycross Code ofEthics. However, the board finds that the probing question of city staff regarding the free use of the city auditorium to honor a hometown hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for her country was insensitive. Recommendation to the City Commission. Having found that the questioning of city staff regarding the free use of the city auditorium to honor Sergeant Kennedy Sanders was insensitive. The board recommends that the mayor and the Commission of the City of Waycross issue a formal letter ofapology to Sergeant Kennedy. Sanders family SO ordered this third day of January 2025. Board of ethics. City of Waycross, Georgia. Albert Bussey, chairman. Earl Martin. Doctor. Earl Martin, board member. Catherine Brinson, board member. Lorene regular board member. Sean Taylor, board member. Signed by this same submitted to the City Commission for the record. MAYOR: Mr. Attorney. HUEY SPEARMAN: Yes, Mr. Mayor. Now that the Board ofEthics has rendered its decision regarding the Sean Sanders complaint against Diane Harkinson, Katrina Felder, there's a ten- day appeal period that either party has, um, if they wish to appeal, uh, that decision, uh, to the full city commission, and they have to do SO within ten days by filing the appeal with the city manager. So, after that ten-day period has expired, then the matter will be back before this commission, uh, to, uh, either accept the recommendation of the Board of Commissioners, or to reduce the recommendation, um, or to send the matter back to the board for further findings. So that's where we are at this point. HUEY SPEARMAN: Now, the other matter, uh, what I just said is a segue to where we are now with the other complaint that was filed by Clayton Nelson against, um, Commissioner Katrina Felder. Case number 2024 001. Uh, this decision by the Board of Ethics was presented to the commission, I believe, at the last meeting. Um, and now, uh, this board has to decide whether or not you're going to accept the recommendation ofthe Board of Ethics, which was, um, to refer the matter to city court for prosecution. And, uh, you have your three choices again, which is either to accept that their recommendation or reduce their recommendation for a lesser punishment, or to send the matter back to the Board of Ethics for further findings. And the matter is up for your discussion. Uh, today or and it is also, uh, it will also be on the agenda tomorrow night for you to actually vote on which one of those three options the commission wants to want to pursue. MAYOR: So, for clarity. Do the commission at this point need to give what decision they are planning to make for tomorrow, today, or will they need to do that tomorrow night? HUEY SPEARMAN: Well, you can discuss it today at your option or you cannot discuss it and just discuss it tomorrow night. I mean, it's on the agenda for you to be aware ofit. And we wanted to remind you of what your options were. And we. just did that. And SO, um, ifyou feel inclined to discuss it today, that's fine. But you have to vote on it tomorrow. Page 3 of 9 **DISCUSSIION NOTES*** 01/06/2025 WS MAYOR: So I'll open the floor to the commission for discussion, and I'll open the floor for them to speak to it based on their recommendations. Is open, district one. ROBERTS: Uh. I guess my recommendation would be in the. Case of. Yes, for her to step down. Um, that's all I have. District two. BENNETT: My Recommendation for Commissioner Felder is to step down. And Possibly be held responsible. To pay the money back, ultimately to step down. HUEY SPEARMAN: I don't know, you have to vote on one of those three options, which is to affirm the decision of the Board of] Ethics to refer it to, uh, to city court for prosecution, um, or reduce the recommendation for a lesser punishment or send it back. So it has to be one of those three options. Um, now, having said that, um, ifyou, um, ifyou want to have a discussion with Miss Felder about resignation, you can do that. But, uh, in terms of what is before you is whether or not you're going to which one ofthose three recommendations you're going to vote on. MAYOR: And stepping down is not one of those recommendations. HUEY SPEARMAN: No MAYOR: That would be the lesser of that. HUEY SPEARMAN: Right. MAYOR: That's the that went higher. HUEY SPEARMAN: Right. NELSON: And Commissioner Nelson I move that we take it to tomorrow and to vote. On their recommendation of prosecution. FELDER: Mayor. I thank you Mr. attorney. Please repeat those three recommendations. HUEY SPEARMAN: Yes. The recommendations affirm the board can affirm the decision of the Board of Ethics. The Commission can affirm the decision of the Board of Ethics. The Commission can, um, reduce the recommendation for a lesser punishment, or the Commission can send the case back to the Board of Ethics. Uh, For further consideration. HUEY SPEARMAN: And we did pass those options out to you at the last meeting. We'd be happy to pass them out to you again. MAYOR: We had a call that was to. Forego tonight and push it for tomorrow and go by the recommendation ofthe ethics board. So going to look to the commission. And this is not a not a motion. But just a recommendation for tomorrow. Okay. And I'lI give each of you the opportunity to either agree with Commissioner Nelson, or to either speak of. Producing it or sending it back. So district one. Page 4 of 9 ***DISCUSSIION NOTES*** 01/06/2025 WS ROBERTS: Ijust have a question. So you're saying for her to step down as punishment? How do you punish me? Well, I guess we can just talk about it. MAYOR: Then. Okay. And district two. BENNETT: We can discuss it tomorrow. MAYOR: Okay. Sure. SPEAKER 2: Right now. Okay. All right. HUEY SPEARMAN: And just to remind the board of the options that were before the. To remind the commission that the options were that were before the board of Ethics. Uh, the penalties were no administration. Uh, I'm sorry. No punishment admonishment or no further action. A public reprimand and admonishment not to violate the ethics code in the future. A formal reprimand or public censure. Recommendation for termination. Resignation or recall in the last one was recommendation for prosecution in city court, which is the one that they recommended. Of those six options, and now that the recommendation is before the City Commission, then your three options are affirming the decision ofthe Board ofEthics. Reverse the decision oft the Board of Ethics, and enter a decision of a less severe nature, or remand the case to the Board of Ethics for further consideration. NELSON: Mr. Mayor. MAYOR: Commissioner Nelson. NELSON: I'm just searching for a point of clarification. IfWe were to ask for a resignation as a lesser penalty. If she does not accept that recommendation for resignation, will the prosecution stand? HUEY SPEARMAN: Well, you're going to have to vote on one of those three options. Now, the Board of Ethics did not recommend resignation. But if you vote for an example to uphold the decision ofthe Board ofEthics, which is prosecution, and in the city court, that that will be your final decision. Ifyou want to have a discussion with Commissioner Felder about resigning in lieu of going forward with prosecution, that's something you can do. But that's but that's not your vote. Your vote is to go is to decide on one of those three options. NELSON: Gotcha. That's all Mr. Mayor. MAYOR: Thank you. CITY MANAGER: All right, let's move on to agenda items changes. As you recall, Itold you that we didn't have enough time to get the majority of the charter changes that were needed. But we did find out in the operational changes we could do that at the city level. Um, we still have the rest of the month before they go into session. The other changes, which I present the next meeting. So today I'm presenting one ofthe major changes that we were requesting before. And that's the vacancy slot. And we'll let you all read that. You should have a copy ofyou. If not, you can now you can read this but in your packet. But currently as read in the event ofa vacancy occurs on the Commission for any reason other than expiration. Page 5 of 9 ***DISCUSSIION NOTES*** 01/06/2025 WS ofthe term ofoffice, It is in those mountains that a special election to elect a member to serve in the remainder ofthe unexpired term. The commissioner elected to fill the vacancy must meet the qualifications set forth in paragraph one section and shall be elected by a majority of the qualified electors voting within the election district in which the vacancy occurs. The special election shall be held and conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter three oft title 21 of the GMA. So before I read the revised version, Mr. Mayor, um, it's not much different than the revised version. It's just, uh, we're asking to give the commission the ability to put somebody in that vacancy. And this isj just based offofthis last year when we got down to three commissioners and then we had district one goes for, um, I think eight months. Um, and we could have gone ahead and filled it those two days we had. But, you know, we weren't able to do that. So now I'm asking, um, pretty much in the key terms in here is um, and I'lI read a little bit, but the main thing is, uh, giving the commission the ability, um, especially in a situation like this where they fill over halfthe commitment as commissioner, they would go in and vote somebody in. But I agree with you before, um, just to make sure we got the right qualified person in and the citizens also have a vote that once y'all made that recommendation or nomination, then that that person would have to come back and they need to get a petition signed by them down there, uh, collecting 10% ofthe voters who voted in the previous election prior to them taking the seat. Uh, this way, it gives that district the ability to have a vote on who represents them. And, um, depending on the makeup of the commission, we don't put anybody in there who they don't want to be in there. Um, the city attorney was gracious enough to look at about 15 other cities policies on this, uh, to include the county. And I researched all myself as well. And I kind of felt this would be the best thing for us to do. Um, uh, moving forward, uh, hopefully this never happens again. We'rein a situation. Um, but it's our goal right now to have the ability to, um, respond better in case it does. And I'll let you all read, um, the current revised version, if you have any question, Mr. Mayor, I'll take some questions on the current version and the revised version. CITY MANAGER: And while you're reading, Mr. Mann, we did speak to the elections board about this matter. Um, sO they were they were on board with it, too. Um, as far as changing the verbiage and definitely adding these citizens, uh, petitions SO they can get the voters with them. MAYOR: I'm sure you've had an opportunity to read over the revised version. Any questions of our city manager or our city attorney? MAYOR: Yes. Mr. Mayor. FELDER: Commissioner Felder? Yes, Is um, and this question is directed to our city attorney. Um, regarding the qualifications to run for office here in the city of Waycross. Um, our qualifications are very loose. Um, and clearly, anybody that wants to run for office does not truly have to live in the city of Waycross based upon that is written in the charter. I think that is something that needs to be reviewed and also revised, SO that there are stipulations in place SO that not just anyone can run for office in the city. HUEY SPEARMAN: No, you have to reside in the election district in which you intend to run at the time you qualify. FELDER: That is correct. Page 6 of9 ***DISCUSSIION NOTES*** 01/06/2025 WS HUEY SPEARMAN: There is no six months residence requirement or a year requirement. You just have to be a resident at the time you qualify, and you have to remain within that district. Ifyou are elected during the entire, uh, term that you are in office. FELDER: Have you compared our qualifications to other cities? HUEY SPEARMAN: Yeah, other cities have some residency requirements 30 days, sometimes it's six months, sometimes it's a year. I didn't see any others that said that you have to only reside at the time in the district at the time you qualify. FELDER: I'll provide you some information. Thank you. Okay. ROBERTS: Thank you. How about criminal background? MAYOR: Criminal? HUEY SPEARMAN: Well, you can't be convicted of a of a felony. Of course, you have to be a registered voter. CITY MANAGER: Mr. mayor, ifI can get back to, um. Because we do have a executive session tonight right now we have to put all this together. It has to be a majority vote. Um, if you want to get this in time for you all to take it to the session at the state level. Um, and like I said, this will probably like it never happened again. We have to unfortunately transition. But just because in the past, there's a few other things that you'll get next week that I'm trying to put in place for precautionary reasons and then emergency reasons. Like I said, like I stated previous meeting that we want to have in place. MAYOR: Sojust hearing this conversation today, can we get consent to at least have this one put on the agenda for tomorrow? And SO we can go on up to the General Assembly. Yes, yes. Due to the fact that there is at some given point a need and the same thing could happen to a mayor. Wej just had remarriage to pass away within the last this year or last year. And SO they had to be replaced immediately. But because our code does not allow for certain things, but I think we were in good standing at the time we had, maybe we were right on the day of48 hours. Yeah. So we could have done it, but we just didn't get quorum. The other side of that is we don't have quorum for either oft this. I think this addresses it. Yes. CITY MANAGER: And this is Mr. Mayor. So, Commissioner Davis transition, you know, that same time period we had six other commissioners die within that same week. That's right. So this is a strong possibility. Um, based on what some of the commissioners being on the commission SO long and as far as age. So definitely something in the toolkit in case it happens again because we don't ever want to go unmanned for that long when they don't have to. MAYOR: And I mean, we've had mayors, 45 years old who passed away in the last month or SO. So just looking at the looking at this, I'll open the floor for consent to put this on the agenda for tomorrow. And I'lI just start with district one. Yes, sir. District two. Yes, sir. District three. Yes. And district five. Yes, sir. So we'll put on that. CITY MANAGER: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Uh, next, Mr. mayor, we're moving to qualifying fees. I'm going to touch us a little bit on the deadline for the next listing for Page 7of9 ***DISCUSSIION NOTES*** 01/06/2025 WS districts one, two and three. January 21st, uh, for publishing the qualifying fees. And we got to have, I think, a resolution signed on that. Yes. Um, pretty much tonight or tomorrow night. Uh, and get it out to the public for those wishing to run for those seats coming in November. So that and we need any questions on that. Mr. Mayor, I think everybody's tracking that already. MAYOR: I think we understand that we need to do that. I normally sign this one early in the the beginning ofthe year, sO that we can go ahead and make sure that takes place. So that would be good. HUEY SPEARMAN: We have the resolution ready to go. Okay. CITY MANAGER: Thank you. Any questions on this Mr. Mayor? MAYOR: II have none, but I was looking forward to the commissioners' district one. Did you have any questions? No, sir. District two no sir, District three no and district five. No question sir. No. District one, two and three are going to be the most affected by it because this is their year to actually run again or to run. We'll say that. CITY MANAGER: Okay. Next, we'll move into the rescheduled work session. As we know, Martin Luther King Holiday is January 20th. We currently had a work session scheduled for that day, where we asked to move the working session to the next day, and we'll do that normally start at 3:00 and do both sessions during the 20 on the 21st. I think we have resolution paid off for that already as well. So correct. MAYOR: And I'll open it up to the Commission to give consent for our purposes ofour record. District one. Yes, sir. District two. Yes, sir. District three. Yes. And district five. Yes, sir. Very good. So we have consent to move it to the 21st from three for the work session, and then five at the end of the session. CITY MANAGER: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We're going to have five privileged license renewals. We're going to have no privilege licenses, no proposed for audiences. We're going to have five proposed resolutions, and Ithink we pretty much discussed all of them SO far tonight as well. And with that, I'll turn it over to the city attorney for his report. HUEY SPEARMAN: Uh, right. Um, we didn't discuss the resolution pledging to promote civility in the city of Waycross, Georgia. So that's another resolution. And that one is coming from where the GMA. Right. Um, I think it's a standard resolution that cities adopt to promote civility. So we'll have that one. That's the only thing I wanted to emphasize, Mr. Mayor. MAYOR: And I see that's what we have just been awarded. Correct. We want to make sure we maintain that. That's correct. CITY MANAGER: Okay. And for my report, I'm still trying to rework the city manager's report. Like I said, we got some feedback from the community. Was it being too long. And, you know, we went to the to the one-page document and we're trying to capture our daily operations on there. We're going to make some modifications to that as well. You get it every day. And we're trying to post it every day. But getting some more citizen feedback. Not that we want more information. So I got to find the happy medium between that one page document Page 8 of 9 ***DISCUSSION NOTES*** 01/06/2025 WS and the 40 page document. So they get what they want to stay informed. So we're still working on that. And hopefully we have a better version in the next couple of months. But that's being worked right now. And with that, Mr. Mayor, we do have an executive session on personnel and I will turn it back over to you. Thank you. MAYOR: Sir. With that being said, will you entertain a motion for. The executive session on personnel. So, we have a motion from our commissioner Nelson. Is there a second? Second from Commissioner Roberts. All in favor? Aye. All those opposed. Motion carries. Thank you everyone. Page 9 of9