Elliott Powell and Forest Acres Appearance Commission Chairwoman Carol Kososki discuss details before the meeting. The May 13 meeting of Forest Acres City Council was called to order at 5:15 pm. Attorney Holloway, Councilwoman Ginger Dukes, Mayor Pro Tempore Curtis Rye, Mayor Brunson, Councilman Fetner, Councilman Shell Suber, and City Manager Mark Williams were all present.

Mayor's issues

• City Signs - An order for 25 reflective signs was put on order until the prototype is received and examined.

• Quinine Hill Park - The base bid for the proposed plan was approved. Cherokee was low bid.

New business

• First Reading approval was given to a proposal to annex 5845 Lakeshore Drive; TMS 16708-02-11 and a portion of 16707-01-01 into the city of Forest Acres.

• A decision to amend the city sign ordinance was deferred.

• A request for a streetlight at the intersection of Percival Road and Northshore Road received unanimous approval.

• First reading approval was given to an added section to the budget for the 2008- 2009 fiscal year.

• Elliott Powell gave an update on the Gills Creek Watershed Association activities. One hundred forty thousand constituents are affected by the Gills Creek Watershed. The association is worried about siltification causing flooding in the watershed. Barriers of natural vegetation have been proposed to stop or slow siltification.

• $25,000 in Hospitality Tax funds was given to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce to continue the Friends of our Forces marketing program.

• A request for a streetlight outside the Laureate was denied.

Old business

• Second reading approval was given to a proposal to rezone 4128 Forest Drive.

• An ordinance to annex 5620 Lakeshore Drive; TMS 16707-03-03 was approved.

City Administrator's Report

• The matter of the employee handbook was deferred pending continued review by Council.

• Health and dental insurance were renewed with Carolina Care plans with Eastern Life dental.

• A nature trail through the Gills Creek Watershed is being planned. Up to $50,000 in Hospitality Tax funds for site development planning was four to one with Suber dissenting.

• Forest Acres is contributing 3.3 mils to a county wide storm water management effort.

• The sign ordinance concerning political signs was deferred.

• Three thousand dollars was approved for a website refresh.

• Discussion of spotty radio reception inside Midtown at Forest Acres ended with the City Manager agreeing to inform the mall ownership there is a reception problem with police and EMS radios within the structure and liability associated with their failure to remedy the situation.

• More details are being sought concerning a DAV land donation.

• The city attorney will check into rules for a referendum concerning Sunday alcohol sales in the city of Forest Acres. Community Forum

• Betty Hilliard is worried about traffic problems near 4128 Forest Drive. She is concerned that the traffic study was not done by a licensed traffic engineer and ignored the difficulties that the commercial development on that site will cause at the intersections of Forest Drive with Verner, Gamewell, Willingham, and Falcon where there have already been a number of automobile crashes this year.

• Travis Butler asked that Council take the developer up on the offer of speed bumps on Brentwood to slow through traffic. Other citizens raised concerns about habitual speeding on Northshore, Fernwood, and Sylvan. Chief Sealy will have officers assess the situation.

• Mike McIntosh resurrected the previously discussed issues of using Hospitality Tax funds to pay for health club memberships for city employees, purchase of city vehicles from out of state vendors, and the Safe Walks to Schools Program. Williams indicated that the Safe Walks to Schools Program grants will not be written because the school declined to participate, preferring the constructions of sidewalks which is not a possible use for this particular grant. Williams agreed to detail Council's previously stated position on and reasoning for vehicle purchase in writing. Discussion of health club memberships was tabled due to concerns by the city's labor lawyer. Council items

• Councilwoman Dukes praised everyone involved in the recent Forest Acres Festival. It was well attended, and Council has received much positive feedback about the free rides and activities for the children.

Council adjourned for an executive session. No action was taken after that session so the meeting officially adjourned. Council meets next at 5:15pm on Tuesday, June 10.