Let’s catch up with the Bay Council, starting with the Sept. 8 meeting. These are highlights from the official minutes:

Listed below are the actions taken by the City Council at their meeting September 8, 2015.

Planning & Zoning Applications
EARL & KATHERINE MARLOWE – Application for Variance to the Zoning Ordinance. The applicants’ intentions are to construct a single family residence. The residence will front on Bay Oaks Drive. Where a lot is a corner lot fronting on two existing streets that intersect, the lot shall have two front yards. The applicants will need a 17’ variance to the front yard for an 8’ setback to the front yard fronting on Third Street. The property in question is located at 147 Bay Oaks Drive and the corner of Third St., Parcel #161A-1-01-020.000, described as Lot 241V & 241 W, 4th Ward, Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, Mississippi. The property is zoned R-1, Single Family District which requires a 25’ front yard, 8’ side yard and 20’ rear yard. P&Z recommended approval 5-0.
Motion to Approve the Application made by Council Member Favre, seconded by Council Member Reed and approved 6-0 (Compretta absent).

EDWARD MADDEN – Application for Special Subdivision Plat Approval and Variance to the Zoning Ordinance. The applicant would like to subdivide this parcel of land into three (3) new parcels of land. Parcel 1 will meet all requirements set forth for Subdivision of Property. Parcel #2 will need a 4,614 sq. ft. variance to the minimum lot area and will also need a variance of 22.5’ to the minimum lot width. Parcel #3 will need a 4,614 sq. ft. variance to the minimum lot area and will also need a variance of 22.4’ to the minimum lot width. Parcel 2 and Parcel 3, will be fronting on St. George Street. The property is located at 420 Carroll Avenue and extends to the 400 Block of St. George Street. Parcel #149E-0-29-093.000, described as Part 59, Carroll Subdivision, Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, Mississippi. The property is zoned R-2, Two-Family District which requires a minimum 75 foot lot width and a total square footage of 10,500 square feet. P&Z recommended denial 2-3 (Leblanc, Labat, Weber).
Motion to Approve the Application made by Council Member McDonald, seconded by Council Member Favre and 6-0 (Compretta absent).

CHARLES TAYLOR – Application for Special Subdivision Plat Approval and Variance to the Zoning Ordinance. The applicant would like to subdivide this parcel of land into 2 new parcels of land identified as parcel A and parcel B. Parcel A will meet the requirements set forth for Subdivision Regulations. Parcel B which fronts on Church Street will meet the minimum lot area of 12,000 sq. ft. but will need a variance of 54.88’ to the minimum lot width for a proposed 45.12’ lot width. The property in question is located at 808 North Beach Boulevard and inter connects with Church St, Parcel #144P-0-19-051.000, described 1st Ward, Part 124 & 126, Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, Mississippi. The property is zoned R-1, Single Family District. P&Z recommended tabling 3-2 (Tate, Manieri).
Application was tabled.

MR. & MRS JOHN BLITCH – Application for a Variance to the Zoning Ordinance. The applicants would like to construct a 3’ high concrete retaining wall along the front property line and a 4’ high aluminum fence on top of the retaining wall for a total height of 7’ for placement of a fence. The applicants are asking for a 3’ variance to the fence height for the front yard property line and a 50’ setback to the front yard setback to the fence regulation to allow a 7’ high fence to the front of the property where the maximum fence height is 4’ high. The property in question is located at 916 S. Beach Blvd. Parcel #149N-0-30-226.000, described as 198B, 4th Ward, Lot 42, and Parcel #149N-0-30-227.000 described as 4th Ward, Part 198A, Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, Mississippi. The property is zoned R-4, Residential Beach Front District which requires a 50’ Setbacks to the front yard setback. P&Z recommended approval 5-0.
Motion to Approve the Application, noting that the fence is a 4 foot high fence bronze aluminum that looks like rod iron, made by Council Member Favre, seconded by Council Member McDonald and 6-0 (Compretta absent).

KEVIN McKAY – Application for Special Subdivision Plat Approval and Variance to the Zoning Ordinance. The applicant would like to subdivide this parcel of land into four new parcels of land. The applicant’s intention is to build a single family dwelling on each new parcel of land. Lot 1 (405 S. Toulme St.). The applicant is asking for a 40.98’ variance to the required 75’ lot width; the applicant is also asking for a 9,300 sq. ft. variance to the minimum square footage of 10,500 sq. ft.; a 23.7’ variance to the front yard for a 1.3’’ setback; a 8’ variance to the north side yard for a setback of 0’ and a 16’variance to the rear yard for a 4’ setback. Lot 2 (403 S. Toulme St.). The applicant is asking for a 35.98’ variance to the required 75’ lot width; the applicant is also asking for a 9,071 sq. ft. variance to the minimum square footage of 10,500 sq. ft.; a 22.5’variance to the front yard for a 2.5’ setback; a 3’ variance to the north side yard for a setback of 5’; and a 16’ variance to the rear yard for a 4’ setback. Lot 3 (401 S. Toulme St.), the applicant is asking for a 40.83’ variance to the required 75’ lot width; the applicant is also asking for a 9,028 sq. ft. variance to the minimum square footage of 10,500 sq. ft.; a 20.3’variance to the front yard for a 4.7’ setback; a 5’ variance to the south side yard for a 3’ setback; and a 17’ variance to the rear yard for a 3’ setback. Lot 4, the applicant is asking for a 18.30’ variance to the required 75’ lot width; the applicant is also asking for a 9,875 sq. ft. variance to the minimum square footage of 10,500 sq. ft. The property is located South of CSX Railroad Track, North of Union St. and fronts on the East side of South Toulme Street. Parcel #149L-0-29-165.000, described as Lot 235, 2nd Ward, PT, Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, Mississippi. The property lies in an R-2 Two-Family District. P&Z recommended tabling 4-0.
Application was tabled.

CHARLES OLIVER, JR – Application for a Variance to the Zoning Ordinance. The applicants’ intention is to construct a single family residence on this parcel of land. The applicant is asking for a 20’ setback to the front yard; therefore the applicant is asking for a 5’ variance to the front yard. The property in question is located at 410 Ulman Ave. Parcel #149E-0-29-055.000, described 1st Ward, Lot 338-A, Bay St. Louis, Hancock County, Mississippi. The property is zoned C-2, Neighborhood District, which for a single family use, the setbacks are a 25 foot front yard, an 8 foot side yard and a 20 foot rear yard. P&Z recommended approval 5-0.
Motion to Approve the Application made by Council Member Favre, seconded by Council Member Reed and 6-0 (Compretta absent).

CITY OF BAY ST LOUIS – Requests a public hearing for public comment and the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the Ordinance for short term vacation rental properties. P&Z recommended tabling 5-0.
Application was tabled.

City Clerk’s Report
Motion to approve the Docket of Claims (Exhibit “A”) as follows:
Docket of Claims 09-08-15
General Fund $12,202.07
Debt Service Fund $4,934.31
Municipal Harbor Fund $449.89
Total $17,586.27

Made by Council Member Favre, seconded by Council Member McDonald and approved 6-0.

Motion to approve the Docket of Claims (Exhibit “B”) as follows:
General Fund $1,797.98

Made by Council Member Seal, seconded by Council Member McDonald and approved 6-0

Motion to approve the Consent Agenda made by Council Member McDonald, seconded by Council Member Seal and 6-0 (Compretta absent).

Motion to approve update to Utility Code of Ordinances, Ordinance No. 601-09-2015 (Exhibit “F”), Section 94-11, “Pro rate payment for less than a whole month of usage and/or consumption” – made by Council Member Seal, seconded by Council Member Favre and approved 6-0 (Compretta absent).

Listed below are the actions taken by the City Council at their recessed meeting September 9, 2015.

Bond Bid Decision
Motion to accept the bid offer from Butler and Snow in the amount of $19,500.00, including all expenses, excluding court cost, advertising fees and state bond attorney fees – made by Council Member Favre, seconded by Council Member Falgout and approved 5-0 (McDonald and Compretta absent).

Wright, Ward, Hatten, Guel, PLLC Audit Presentation
No action taken.

Council Discussion and Actions Regarding the Audit
Motion to establish credit card accounts by October 1, 2015 for the Utility and Harbor, with the General fund credit card account maintained for rentals, with the money for each being placed directly in the respective accounts – made by Council Member Favre, seconded by Council Member Reed and approved 6-0 (Compretta absent).

Motion to divide the pooled cash into the General Fund and set up a separate Utility Fund by October 1, 2015 and all money from the Utility Department to be deposited into that account – made by Council Member Favre, seconded by Council Member Falgout and approved 6-0 (Compretta absent).

Motion to approve a Resolution for the State of Mississippi State Auditor’s Office, Performance Audit Department to complete a Performance Audit of the Audit findings of the Independent Audit, the resolution shall be typed by Clerk of Council – made by Council Member Falgout, seconded by Council Member Favre and approved 5-1 (McDonald) (Compretta absent).

Listed below are the actions taken by the City Council at their Special meeting September 15, 2015.

Old Business
Motion to Authorize Mayor Fillingame to execute a construction contract with Meranto Construction on the Old Spanish Trail Sidewalk Project – made by Council Member Reed, seconded by Council Member Favre and approved 6-0 (Seal absent).

Motion to defund the Enforcement Officer under the Building Department and create a Community Affairs Code Enforcement Officer under the direction of the Bay St. Louis Police Department at rate of $13.65 per hour with an 8 hour increase for 38 maximum hours per pay period – made by Council Member Favre, seconded by Council Member Falgout and failed 3-3 (McDonald, Compretta and Reed) (Seal absent).

Motion to approve the Resolution to Establish the Tax Levies for the City of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi – made by Council Member McDonald, seconded by Council Member Favre and approved 6-0 (Seal absent).

The next City Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22, 2015.