HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes CC - 11/17/2014 - MINS 11 17 14 REG (Migrated from Optiview)Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday , November 17 , 2014 at 6:00 pm
Page I of 16
This summary is provided as a convenience and service to the public, media, and staff It is not the
intent to transcribe proceedings verbatim . Any reproduction of this summary must include this notice.
Public comments are noted and heard by Council, but not quoted. This document includes limited
presentation by Council and invited speakers in summary form. This is an official record of the Milton
City Council Meeting proceedings. Official Meetings are audio and video recorded.
The Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton was held on November 17,
2014 at 6:00 PM, Mayor Joe Lockwood presiding.
INVOCATION
Reverend Calvin Odhner, Morning Star Chapel, Milton, Georgia.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Joe Lockwood called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmember Thurman, Councilmember Kunz, Councilmember Lusk, Councilmember
Hewitt, Councilmember Longoria and Councilmember Mohrig.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (Led by the Sons ofth e American Revolution)
APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
(Agenda Item No. 14-303)
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Longoria moved to approve the Meeting Agenda. Councilmember
Mohrig seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
PUBLIC COMMENT
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17,2014 at 6:00 pm
Page 2 of 16
CONSENT AGENDA
l. Approval of the October 13,2014 Work Session Meeting Minutes.
(Agenda Item No . 14-304)
(Sudie Gordon, City Clerk)
2. Approval of the October 20, 2014 Regularly Scheduled Council Meeting Minutes.
(Agenda Item No. 14-305)
(Sudie Gordon , City Clerk)
3. Approval of a Professional Services Agreement between the City of Milton and Edwards
Pittman Environmental, Inc. for Crabapple Environmental Re-Evaluation.
(Agenda Item No. 14-306)
(Carter Lucas, Assistant City Manager)
4. Approval of an Amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement with MARTA for the Use of
Offset Funds for the Installation of Sidewalks.
(Agenda Item No. 14-307)
(Carter Lucas, Assistant City Manager)
5. Approval of a Construction Services Agreement between the City of Milton and Martin-Robbins
Fence Company for Guardrail Replace or Repair on Cogburn Road, Hamby Road and Mountain
Road.
(Agenda Item No. 14-308)
(Carter Lucas, Assistant City Manager)
6. Approval of the Acquisition of 0.024 Acre of Construction and Maintenance Easement at 12645
Crabapple Road from PWREO Crabapple, LLC for a Combined Purchase Price of $9, I 00.
(Agenda Item No. 14-309)
(Carter Lucas, Assistant City Manager)
7. Approval of the Acquisition of Real Estate Requiring the Relocation of Mobile Home Sales
Office at Branyan Trail and Itaska Walk by The Providence Group, LLC for a Combined
Purchase Price of $1 0,154.
(Agenda Item No. 14-310)
(Carter Lucas, Assistant City Manager)
8. Approval of the Acquisition of 958.11 SF of Construction and Maintenance Easement at
Hopewell Road and Birmingham Road from Maria and Oswaldo Lozano for a Combined
Purchase Price of$1 ,648.
(Agenda Item No. 14-311)
(Carter Lucas, Assistant City Manager)
9. Approval of the Acquisition of45l.98 SF of Construction and Maintenance Easement at 15712
Hopewell Road from Margaret O ' Connor and David Velutini for a Combined Purchase Price of
$4 ,511.
(Agenda Item No. 14-312)
(Carter Lucas, Assistant City Manager)
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17 , 2014 at 6:00 pm
Page 3 of 16
10. Approval of the Audit Engagement Letter with Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC to Audit the City's
Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2014 .
(Agenda Item No . 14-313)
(Stacey Inglis, Assistant City Manager)
11. Approval of the Termination of a Contract with Tyler Technologies, Inc. for Energov
Software.
(Agenda Item No . 14-314)
(Stacey Inglis, Assistant City Manager)
12. Approval of an Amendment to the Contract with Tyler Technologies, Inc. for Incode Software to
Add the Business License Module.
(Agenda Item No. 14-315)
(Stacey Inglis , Assistant City Manager)
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Lusk moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember
Kunz seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS (None)
FIRST PRESENTATION
1. Consideration of an Ordinance Reaffirming and Establishing Chapter 46 of the Milton Code of
Ordinances Governing Solid Waste Collection Services within the City of Milton; Providing for
the Scope and Nature of the Operation; Providing for the Disposal of Garbage, Solid Waste and
Refuse; Requiring the Execution by Service Providers of a Non-Exclusive Agreement with the
City of Milton; Providing Procedures for the Handling of Complaints; Providing for an
Infrastructure Maintenance Fee; Requiring Indemnity Insurance; Providing for Revocation and
Amendment; Prohibiting Assignment and Subletting without Consent ; Providing for Forfeiture;
and for Making Other Provisions.
(Agenda Item No. 14-316)
(Chris Lagerbloom, City Manager)
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Thunnan moved to approve the First Presentation Item.
Councilmember Lusk seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
PUBLIC HEARING (None)
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November J 7, 20 J 4 at 6:00 pm
Page 4 of 16
Zoning is transcribed verbatim
ZONING AGENDA
1. RZ14-14 -Consideration of an Ordinance to Amend Section 64-1596 Event; Special
Indoor/Outdoor, of the City of Milton, Georgia Code of Ordinances to Include
Provisions of Chapter 34, Article III, Division 2, to Streamline the Existing
Regulation of Special Events; and to Limit Sales from Vehicles at Special Events;
to Provide for the Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances; to Provide an Effective
Date; and for Other Lawful Purposes.
ORDINANCE NO. 14-11 -22 7
(Agenda Item No. 14-297)
(First Presentation at November 3,2014 Regular City Council Meeting)
(Discussed at November 10, 2014 City Council Work Session)
(Jason Wright, Director ofInnovation and Engagement)
Jason Wright, Director of Innovation and Engagement
Hello. Thank you very much for your time today. Before you, you have the special events code which
is moving into the zoning section which is why it is before you in the zoning code process. Just a little
bit of history. In September, the City Manager asked the Communications Department, now the
Innovation and Engagement Department, to take over the permitting of special events. So, we took the
process and kind of beat it up and talked with everybody that it touched and essentially established sort
of a concierge service through Angela Thompson. As part of that process, we discovered that the code
language for a lot of special events was in Parks and Recreation only they had not been involved in
special events for about two years at that point. So, the thought was just to simplify it and move all code
into the same section which happened to be in the zoning section. So, that is what you have before you.
I will entertain any questions if anybody has some.
Mayor Lockwood
Does anybody have any questions on that for Jason?
Councilmember Lusk
Jason, down in article 3H, I think it refers to, well, it says "sales from vehicles are prohibited unless
approved for the special event by the Special Event Coordinator for the City of Milton." Sales from
vehicles, I would assume that includes food trucks?
Jason Wright
Yes, that was one of the interesting kind of wrinkles that we discovered. In our code section, food
trucks are actually illegal according to what was in the zoning code, or rather the special events code.
So, what we did was we simply said clearly any food truck that is going to come to a special event that
requires a permit we are going to need to know about and they will have to have everything they need
for food trucks. I mean, you can't just pull up a truck and start selling hotdogs and hamburgers out of
the back of it anymore. So, that is really the aim of that section is to simply contemplate food trucks.
For most special events, they tell us what food trucks are going to be there and we can say, "yea" or
"nay".
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17,2014 at 6:00 pm
Page 5 of 16
Councilmember Lusk
Refresh my memory now, did we not ask for the revision to an ordinance to allow for food trucks in the
city?
Jason Wright
Yes, this is simply fixing a wrinkle in the code . Because there are also other kinds of sales that can be
made from trucks. I know at Crabapple Fest there was, you know, they pull up a trailer and they sell
light up swords and little noise makers and things like that, so, we would allow that. What we are trying
to keep away is someone bringing a trailer and just setting it up on the side of the road without any
permit selling clothes or selling saddles, you know, any number of things like that.
Councilmember Lusk
Article 6 refers to performance bonds. Can you explain that whole article?
Jason Wright
So, essentially, what this is for is that, now are you asking about the message of the special event or the
content of the speech?
Councilmember Lusk
I think I understand what they are getting at with a performance bond. Apparently , it is going to be
issued for 150% of the anticipated cost of the event which is going to allow, now that the City Attorney
is here I will restate my question , perhaps that is more in his manner, Ken, we are on the special event
ordinance, down in Article 6 on performance bond, I understand the first part of it. It is 150% bond to
cover the cost, I believe, incurred by the city to provide police coverage, emergency services, whatever
other costs that my come up, maybe some ultimate clean-up cost or something like that, but , if that is not
right, is that your interpretation?
City Attorney Jarrard
I am catching up with you right now.
Jason Wright
Article 6, Subsection A.
City Attorney Jarrard
You can go on to the next, I will be looking Councilmember Lusk, and get that answer for you .
Councilmember Lusk
Okay, in about the third sentence it says, "for purposes of calculating total estimated costs and the actual
cost of the special event, no consideration shall be given to the cost of providing security or traffic
control." So, if the bond is for the purpose of covering emergency services, including police, which I
assume are participating in traffic control and the other emergency services like the fire department and
EMS, I don't understand that part of it.
Mayor Lockwood
Would that be not including regular police protection or public safety that would possibly be typical
versus additional for hire public safety for the event; would that be the separation of them?
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17,2014 at 6:00 pm
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Councilmember Lusk
Well, they further go on in another article there to say, "you must use City of Milton emergency services
such as police and fire at some determined cost."
City Attorney Jarrard
To the extent that you are asking about the performance bond and the, are we talking about the fact that
it does not anticipate that the cost of security or traffic control is part of the bond cost? Is that the
concern?
Councilmember Lusk
I guess I need an explanation of that sentence .
City Attorney Jarrard
It is a constitutional concern. Here is the thought. There is case law that suggests that if you set a
monetary bond that is in any way tethered to the need for security then what can occur is that unpopular
speech that may engender a lot of disruption, things that are unpopular may generate a lot of need for
security. Well, the courts concern is that if you therefore base a permitting fee requirement on just the
fact that their speech is unpopular, it will detrimentally impact those sorts of organizations. Does that
make sense? Even if you don't agree with it, I am saying that is what the law suggests which is why we
were trying to make sure that we didn't set a fee or a bond requirement that was based upon whether or
not the speech was popular.
Councilmember Lusk
Okay, then I guess it continues from there, "furthermore, no consideration may be given to the
relationship of the applicant to any assumption or prediction as to the amount of hostility which may be
aroused by the public in the content of speech or message conveyed as part of the special event."
City Attorney Jarrard
It is just reemphasizing the point; that is correct. We are trying to make sure that whenever you access a
fee that is needed for people to gather, you have to make special accommodations to a reviewing court
because candidly we are drafting this for a court to review to make sure that Milton understood that in
no event can we base this fee based upon the hostility or the adverse reaction of those assembled. That
was the whole point of doing this. And, going further , and Councilmember Lusk you are a student of
some of these points, if you need us to provide some case law study for that or just want to see the
rational, I will be happy to provide it to you.
Councilmember Lusk
That would be neat if you could.
City Manager Lagerbloom
I'm not sure what kind of delay we are in on Granicus but I can tell you I was watching the meeting in
my office getting a couple of things done and I heard your question related to the law enforcement or
security. Did that question get answered sufficiently?
Councilmember Lusk
Yes.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17 , 2014 at 6:00 pm
Page 7 of 16
City Manager Lagerbloom
Okay, it did; good enough.
Councilmember Thurman
I just have a quick question. On 3A it says, "no more than two special event permits shall be granted per
year and no permit shall be effective for more than 14 consecutive days for a single event on the same
property." Does that mean that a husband can get two special event permits, a wife can get two, an
organization can get two permits? Who is it that can only get two per year?
Jason Wright
It would be tied to the property itself. So, if you wanted to have more than the two special events on the
same piece of property, you would need to then get a use permit so that you are not running a special
event facility by circumventing the law . So, a single event on the same property; it doesn't really matter
who applies for it...
Councilmember Thurman
As long as it is on the same property.
Jason Wright
Yes.
Councilmember Longoria
So, some places are well suited for special events and I would like to think that the city has an
abundance of those places which we may very well, but if one place is more popular than others, let's
say the common parking spaces for a shopping center, and that is just the place where people like to
have these kinds of things, are you saying that we would limit it to two per year?
Jason Wright
Well, I can tell you from historical data that we have never had to use that because really, I think, what
you are looking at there is they wouldn't necessarily need a special event permit because it is not going
to adversely affect the use of the property. In fact, some would argue it increases the use of the property
for everyone there. And, it is not going to affect the traffic around it or anything like that. There are all
sorts of events that people have. We are actually in kind of a unique situation where we have homes big
enough with property large enough to have some, in what other cities, would be some pretty massive
events but no one would ever know because they have tons of space for parking, no neighbor has ever
complained about the sound, so this just contemplates that if you have to come and get a special event
permit because you want to shut down a road, because you want to use the property in a different way
than it has previously been used.
Councilmember Lusk
That brings up further the question then, we approved Little River Farm awhile back, would this
preclude them from having more than two special events in a year. Say they have an event that supports
North Fulton Charities and then the next one they are supporting Canine Assistants or something like
that, would that preclude them from having other events.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday , November 17,2014 at 6:00 pm
Page 8 of 16
City Manager Lagerbloom
It wouldn't and the reason it wouldn't is because you granted upon them a special use permit as a rural
event facility. So, you have granted upon them the ability to perform a function on that property that
wouldn't travel within the special event code. You have allowed them to be an event facility and you
have given them the parameters, if you remember, by the days of the week and the hours of the day that
they can operate in a certain capacity.
Councilmember Lusk
Should we include clarification to provide for that provision in this ordinance?
City Manager Lagerbloom
Do we need clarification to suggest that a special use permit can travel outside of this code as a matter of
law?
City Attorney Jarrard
I don't think we need to. I think we are okay on that.
Councilmember Thurman
I'm a little bit confused because I thought that anytime you had more than 100 people had your house
you had to get a special event permit. This may be going back 4 or 5 years but I thought we had
discussed the fact that anytime you had more than 100 people you had to have a special event permit for
it regardless of whether or not your neighbors are in support of it or not.
City Manager Lagerbloom
Admittedly, my brain is the first thing to go, but I don't recall there ever being a requirement on the
number of persons, I could be very wrong on that.
Councilmember Thurman
We discussed that at one time and it was 100 people.
Councilmember Lusk
I remember it had to do with a tree farm on Wood Road.
Councilmember Thurman
I think it did too. And, they were having a big church retreat or something there.
City Manager Lagerbloom
It would take me a little bit of time to research that. I don't have that information on the top of my head.
I know of the tree farm.
Councilmember Thurman
This was dealing with the bam that was being used for a church youth group. That is what it was
dealing with.
City Manager Lagerbloom
That was on Redd Road.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17,2014 at 6:00 pm
Page90fl6
Councilmember Thurman
It was in Sunnybrook Farms Subdivision.
City Manager Lagerbloom
Okay, I do remember, now I remember the context; I would have to do some research.
Councilmember Thurman
That was because of the number of kids attending and we told them they had to get a special use permit.
So, we need to make sure we are not in conflict with this ordinance.
City Manager Lagerbloom
Okay, so the fact that you were saying special use permit and I am going to qualify by saying I am
thinking out loud which is dangerous to do, but I remember that discussion to the point that it was
functioning as a religious facility in the fact that it was a Young Life group if I remember correctly and I
believe the interpretation from our attorney's office at that point was because it was functioning almost
as an extension of the church and the church is something that is permitted by the Milton Council in the
form of a use permit that this secondary location because of the type of use that was being conducted
there was one that would require ...
Councilmember Thurman
But, we specifically discussed the fact that they would have to get a use permit. We need to go back and
look at that.
City Manager Lagerbloom
And, that is what I am suggesting why I think there was a use permit required in that case because of the
condition of it being an extension of a religious facility which is allowed by use permit in Milton.
City Attorney Jarrard
That sounds right. I would have to go take a look at it as well and pull our analysis. I'm sure we issued
the city an opinion on it.
CouDcilmember Thurman
Make sure you are consistent.
City Attorney Jarrard
Absolutely. When I think of special use permit, I think that is a product of typically your zoning
ordinance, as where this is a special event permit. I think those are different concepts at least in my
head. When you talk about a special use permit, those are concepts that once they are adopted they run
with the land, they are typically undertaken by way of a public hearing process etc., whereas, to me, I
view this differently. This, to me, is more of an accommodation for a one-off sort of event that may
involve city infrastructure or city streets but it is not anything that is a permanent duration. That, to me,
is one of the big differences.
CouDcilmember Longoria
So, we can clear that up by not calling it a special use permit a permit. It is special use zoning. The
permit sounds like a permit.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17,2014 at 6 :00 pm
Page lOofl6
City Manager Lagerbloom
Because a pennit has the connotation that it could be revoked which we all know that it is difficult to
revolt a special use pennit.
Councilmember Hewitt
Ken, do you feel comfortable that we act on this today or do we need to put it off until you ... ?
City Attorney Jarrard
No, I don't think , I think at the end of the day , you are not going to find any overlap between analysis
pertaining to a special use pennit, as sloppy as that language may be, and a special event pennit. I think
they are totally different concepts and I am very comfortable that you can take action. As long as the
council is comfortable, but from a legal perspective, I am.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Hewitt moved to approve Agenda Item No. 14-297.
Councilmember Mohrig seconded the motion. The motion passed (7-0).
End of verbatim transcription
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Consideration of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 46 , Solid Waste, Article II, Littering, Section 46
24, to Require Construction Site Operators to Properly Dispose of Building Materials and Waste at
a Construction Site that may Cause Adverse Impacts to Water Quality.
ORDINANCE NO. 14 -11 -228
(Agenda Item No. 14-298)
(First Presentation at November J, 2014 Regular City Council Meeting)
(Carter Lucas, Assistant City Manager)
Carter Lucas, Assistant City Manager
This is simply an addition to our solid waste ordinance that allows us to control construction sites a little
bit better. It is mandated under our NPDS pennit that we include this language. We are bringing this
forward to you in order to comply with our pennit.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Kunz moved to approve Agenda Item No. 14-298. Councilmember
Thunnan seconded the motion. The motion passed (7-0).
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17,2014 at 6:00 pm
Page II ofl6
NEW BUSINESS
1. Consideration of a Resol ution Adopting the 20 IS City of Milton City Council Regular Meeting
and Work Session Schedule.
RESOLUTION NO . 14-1I-3J8
(Agenda Item No. 14-317)
(Sudie Gordon, City Clerk)
Sudie Gordon, City Clerk
This is brought to you for your consideration of the 2015 Regular Meeting and Work Session Schedule.
In front of you is an oversized calendar indicating the 36 upcoming council meetings for 2015. The blue
highlighted dates are regular meetings and the red highlight dates indicate the work sessions. There are
three regular meeting dates that will occur on a Wednesday due to holidays being on a Monday. These
holidays are Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, and Labor Day. In preparing the calendar, we
took into consideration the city's eleven observed holidays which are highlighted in green, the Mayor's
Day Conference in January, and the GMA Conference in June. Our first regularly scheduled meeting
for 20 IS will be held on January 5 th
• If this calendar is approved tonight, it will be put on our website
for all our citizens.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Mohrig moved to approve Agenda Item No. 14-317.
Councilmember Longoria seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
2. Consideration ofa Waiver Regarding Joint Representation of the City of Milton and Milton
Public Building and Facilities Authority Related to Revenue Bond.
(Agenda Item No . 14-318)
(Ken Jarrard, City Attorney)
Ken Jarrard, City Attorney
This is the reciprocal waiver with respect to my providing joint representation to both the Milton Public
Building and Facilities Authority and the City Council in respect to the current revenue bond that you
have in front of you for consideration this evening. I will be representing both entities in that
transaction but respectfully request that you waive any conflict of interest based upon that
representation.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Longoria moved to approve Agenda Item No. 14-318.
Council member Lusk seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
----~------~--
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17, 2014 at 6 :00 pm
Page 12 of 16
3. Consideration of a Supplemental Resolution Authorizing the Execution, Delivery and
Performance of an Intergovernmental Contract Relating to the City of Milton Public
Buildings and Facilities Authority Revenue Bond, Series 2014.
RES OLUTION NO. 14-11 -319
(Agenda Item No . 14-319)
(Ken Jarrard, City Attorney)
Ken Jarrard, City Attorney
At the previous Public Buildings and Facilities Authority meeting, you heard Roger Murray speak
regarding this resolution. I am asking him to approach the podium again and if the council has any
questions that were not previously answered then he can answer them at this time.
Roger Murray
You approved the execution of the Intergovernmental Contact earlier in June, but Ken and I thought it
would be prudent to come back and ask you to approve the contract again now that the final interest rate
has been set.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Kunz moved to approve Agenda I tern No. 14-319. Councilmember
Thurman seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
4. Consideration of a Home Office Payment Agreement between the City of Milton, Georgia, the
City of Milton Public Buildings and Facilities Authority and Ameris Bank.
(Agenda Item No. 14-320)
(Ken Jarrard, City Attorney)
Ken Jarrard, City Attorney
This is also an item that was previously discussed in the earlier Public Building and Facilities Authority
meeting, Mr. Murray is here to answer any additional questions you may have.
Motion and Vote: Council member Hewitt moved to approve Agenda Item No. 14-320.
Councilmember Thurman seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
5. Consideration ofa Waiver of Conflict Regarding Jarrard & Davis, LLP's Representation of the
City of Milton in Connection with an IGA between the City of Milton and Forsyth County
Regarding the Extension of County Water and Sewer Services into Certain Parts of the City of
Milton.
(Agenda Item No. 14-321)
(K en Jarrard, City Attorney)
Ken Jarrard, City Attorney
This waiver pertains to a transaction in the north part of Milton for a small parcel that Mr. Howard
Carson has approached both the City of Milton and Forsyth County and requested to maintain the
densities with respect to the parcel at whatever they would be with respect to septic but has nonetheless
I
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17,2014 at 6:00 pm
Page 13 of 16
requested that they be provided sewer by the Forsyth County sewer plant called the Manor plant. Since
I represent Forsyth County and the City of Milton, I am requesting this waiver because this will require
an Intergovernmental Agreement for Forsyth County to have permission to provide additional sewer
service within Milton. I would not approach either jurisdiction if I believed there would be any conflict
between the two governments; however, I know that the City of Milton is very protective with respect to
sewer and that Forsyth County is very respectful of the city's position. This is a very limited
introduction of additional sewer in the northern portion of Milton with this singular subdivision only.
do not see a conflict with respect to this transaction. Forsyth County has already approved this
transaction.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Longoria moved to approve Agenda Item No. 14-321.
Council member Mohrig seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
6. Consideration of LEED Certification for the New City Hall Facility.
(Agenda Item No. 14-322)
(Carter Lucas, Assistant City Manager)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jack Lindon, 14810 East Bluff Road, Milton, Georgia 30004
When I read that this item was on the agenda, the first thing I thought of was the new ball fields that are
being built at Bell Memorial Park. The city was being asked by Jim Cregge to increase the budget by
$300,000 to put in artificial turf on one of the fields. The justification was that it would save the city
significant funds over the lifetime of the field. You approved that request and I thought it was a good
idea. The LEED certification is similar in the fact that it will cost some money to implement it but it
will save money in the long run . I have a report that was put together by the u.S. Green Building
Council in 2012. This report claims that the yearly operating costs of government buildings built to
LEED standards decrease by an average of 13.6% for the life of the building. It calculates the payback
to be about eight years for the total cost of the additional funds to be recouped. It also calculated that the
total cost per employee is about $675 less on average per year than traditional building costs. I would
like you to seriously consider building the new City Hall to LEED standards even though the cost will
be significantly more in the initial build-out, we will be able to recoup those costs in the long term.
Carter Lucas, Assistant City Manager
In 2012, as part of our sustainable practices policy that we adopted, one of the components stated that
for any new buildings that we built or purchased over $5,000 square feet, we were required to follow the
LEED practices and actually be LEED certified. However, if the certification cost more than $25,000,
we were required to receive council approval to move forward. We have brought this item before you
tonight to see if you wanted to move forward with acquiring LEED certification based on the additional
costs it will entail. At this point, the estimated cost for the administrative and corrunissioning
components for LEED certification will be a little over $58,000. That does not include any of the
construction costs associated with the building to meet the LEED standards. On these facilities in the
past, we have followed the standards to the extent that we can and we have done all of the energy
modeling and life-cycle costing and evaluations as if it were going to be a LEED certified building, but
we have not moved forward with the commissioning and we have not done some of the administrative
things that are required on behalf of the LEED certification to receive the plaque. We are here tonight to
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Pagel4of16
find out if you would like us to spend the additional funds to obtain LEED certification or continue to
follow our standard procedure that we have done in the past.
Councilmember Kunz
So, we would be spending $58,000 for a plaque?
Mayor Lockwood
Carter, what is your opinion on this?
Carter Lucas
Well, my opinion is that we would be better off spending $58,000 within the facility to better improve
our work environment versus on LEED certification administrative costs . Of the $58,000, a little over
$23,000 is for commissioning of the building. In other words , for a commissioning agent to come in and
make sure the facility is up and running the way it is supposed to be. We have a city architect on staff
that has a lot of experience in this area. We would direct our architect and their engineers to help us
through that process . We would go through this process as if we were obtaining LEED certification;
however, we wouldn 't have a commissioning agent involved in the process. The administrative and
paperwork is another $23,000 and that is something we would not necessarily do but through our normal
course of business evaluate each of the practices that we would be reviewing to make sure that they are a
cost benefit to the city and we are not just chasing points to get a plaque. We look at the life cycle costs
and we can choose some areas that have a better long term return rather than up front costs. In reality ,
we are going through the certification process but we are not paying the administrative costs that a
LEED certification plaque would require.
Councilmember Lusk
I agree with you, Carter, and in order to receive a LEED certification plaque every finite detail of where
supplies come from, who does the work, etc. has to be documented and submitted in a very detailed
manner and the process is extremely time-consuming. We can build a green-friendly sustainable
building without having to obtain a certain number of points to receive a plaque.
Councilmember Longoria
I agree that spending $58,000 on a plaque is not a good use of funds; however, this might be a good
opportunity to be leaders in our community and show our support for sustainable practices. In the
overall costs associated with building the new City Hall, this may be a relatively small amount, in
comparison to the overall project , in order to have proof that we support the green way of life. It might
be an opportunity to send a positive message to the community that we are in favor of long term
sustainable practices. I realize that we will diligently oversee the project and ensure that the building is
sustainable in every way possible, but we need to take into consideration any long term effects that may
be advantageous to us as a city if we are LEED certified. We need to ask if we will we be losing out on
any incentives that may be offered in the future by not being LEED certified.
Councilmember Lusk
The total cost is not just $58 ,000. There is a buried cost associated with becoming LEED certified. The
contractor has to assume greater responsibility and spend more time documenting all the steps that are
taken to become certified.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Page 15 of 16
Mayor Lockwood
The council is in agreement not to spend the funds necessary to pursue actual LEED certification, in
other words -obtain a plaque -but continue to explore all methods of building the most energy efficient
and sustainable building possible using LEED standards.
No Motion and Vote was taken on Agenda Item No. 14-322.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS
STAFF REPORTS
Chris Lagerbloom, City Manager
In front of you is infonnation regarding Highway 9. We have three large pine trees on this site and the
recompense value is $7,200 if they had to be removed. The billboard company has moved forward in
obtaining a pennit to construct a billboard at the Sweetapple business on Highway 9. The company
wants to know if our future development plans contemplated the trees being removed. Under the current
plan for our new Public Safety complex, they would be removed. The billboard company would like an
agreement with the city to remove the trees at their expense now instead of waiting until 2019. If we
allowed them to remove the trees now, they would be willing to recompense to the city $5,000. If we
want them to wait until 2019, they would recompense $7,200. However, if we decided not to develop
on the property then their offer of the recompense would not be a viable option at that point.
Direction from the council was to leave the trees in place.
In addition, there are trees on our site off of Broadwell Road. There is one very large 36 inch white oak
at the front of the property which is in very good health . There are two trees on the back of the property.
One is a 48 inch post oak and one is a 58 inch post oak. The 58 inch oak has dual trunks. We had the
trees inspected and we have a certified arborist report that, unfortunately, the 58 inch oak has root decay
at 38%. When root decay becomes larger than 30%, then the tree becomes a potential hazard. The
recommendation is that we either not put anything underneath it or that it be removed. The play set was
supposed to be placed under this tree. For the safety of the park, we need to act upon the reliable
infonnation of the arborist and remove the tree. The 48 inch oak only has 21 % root decay so it is not in
the dangerous category yet. Therefore, unfortunately, the 58 inch oak will need to be removed.
I would also like to talk about Transfer of Development Rights. As you know, we have been talking
about TDRs for several months. There is a public bid that we have released from the city that would
contemplate the option for people to bid on development rights that we own at Bell Memorial Park. The
council has indicated that the first transaction would be better coming from a private seller to a private
buyer. We are currently working with Jim Bell. We learned today the ten acres that is currently
conserved as a cemetery probably does not have any development rights to sell. There is easement that
the Secretary of State would have to consent to a conservation easement if the ten acres was going to be
used. That leaves 3.12 acres on Mr. Bell's property which is what the current developer that has come
forward would need to complete the project on Highway 9 . The code is very clear and states that in the
AG-1 zoning there has to be a 5 acre minimum. I need your direction because I have a transaction that
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, November 17,2014 at 6:00 pm
Page 16 of 16
certainly travels with the code and that is the transaction that we have brought forward at Bell Memorial
Park which is to offer up the development rights that exist to a public bid. It does not require any
variances and allows us to move forward in a very systematic way. In addition, the code allows for
either a variance or potentially an administrative warrant to the five acre requirement to allow either the
Director of Community Development or the Board of Zoning Appeals to allow the five acres to come
down to whatever number they feel it should come down to. After a very professional and thorough
thought process of creating a TDR code, we ultimately decided upon a 5 acre minimum. It is ironic that
the very first TDR transaction that has been brought before us requires an exception to the 5 acre
minimum that we established in our code. I am looking for your direction in how we should proceed
with this TDR request.
Lastly, I learned this morning that our Police Chief, Deb Harrell, is leaving employment with the city
and moving to the private sector. She has accepted an executive job with AT&T in their investigation
department. Her last day with us will be December 4th. She has done a lot of great things for the city.
She has been in law enforcement for 20 years. I will name an interim police chief before the end of the
week and we will start the recruitment process for her replacement.
ADJOURNMENT
(Agen d a Item No. 14-323)
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Lusk moved to adjourn the Regular Meeting at 7:48 p.m.
Councilmember Kunz seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
After no further discussion the Regular Council Meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
Date Approved: December 15,2014.
Sudie AM Gordon, City Clerk