HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes CC - 03/09/2015 - MINS 03 09 15 WS (Migrated from Optiview)Work Session of the Milton City Council
Monday, March 9, 2015 at 6 :00pm
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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 Work Session of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton was held on March 9, 2015 at
6:00PM, Mayor Joe Lockwood, presiding.
Councilmembers Present: Councilmember Karen Thurman, Councilmember Bill Lusk ,
Councilmember Matt Kunz , Councilmember Burt Hewitt, Councilmember Joe Longoria, and
Councilmember Rick Mohrig .
Mayor Joe Lockwood:
• Work Sessions are an informal setting to update Council on business items.
• No votes will be taken during these sessions.
• There are three (3) items on our Agenda tonight.
• Public comment is allowed that is germane to an Agenda Item.
• If you wish to speak you are required to fill out a comment card and turn it into the City Clerk
staff.
• Public comment will be allowed for a total of 10 minutes per agenda item and no more than 2
minutes per person.
• Public comment will be heard at the beginning of each Item.
• Once the item is called, no other comment cards will be accepted.
Agenda Item #1 was read.
1. Discussion Regarding Milton Grows Green.
(J ack Lindon, Ch a irp erson)
Jack Lindon, MGG Chairperson
MGG began in February 2008. After we had several meetings throughout 2008 to discuss the name of
the committee, the logo , etc. we were ratified by the city in October. Our mission statement states:
"Milton Grows Green is a citizen's volunteer committee advocating the responsible management of
growth, conservation of natural resources and the preservation of Milton 's heritage and natural
landscape for future generations ."
We do not require that members of our committee be appointed by a councilmember. Board members
are elected by the committee and then the board is ratified by the city council. There are two main
issues that we are passionate about. One is our clean up and recycling programs and the other is our
community education and support of community programs.
Work Session of the Milton City Council
Monday, March 9 , 2015 at 6:00pm
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Clean-up and Recycling Programs
Adopt-a-Road Program
Rivers Alive Program
Adopt-a-Stream Program
Bring One for the Chipper
Paint and Chemical Collection
Bulky Trash Recycling Event
Electronics Recycling (in conjunction with the Boy Scouts)
Community Education and Programs
Earth Day
Evergreen Schools Program
Margaret Lamb, MGG Director of Education and Outreach
Evergreen Schools is a North Fulton Program that includes Roswell , Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Johns
Creek and Milton. Most of the city representatives go into the schools and give programs. The City of
Milton is unique in that it has a grant to get more schools involved. If the school is an Evergreen School
they can appl y for grants to support conservation, especially water quality which is heavily focused
upon.
Jack Lindon
Continuing with our Community Education and Programs:
National Wildlife certified community-An ongoing program, requiring 40 new households to be
certified every year to maintain status as a National Wildlife refuge.
ARC 's Green Communities program-The city is certified as a Bronze member
Storm drain marking program
Ride Share program
Community education workshops (e.g. Septic Workshop)
Those are all the programs we are involved in. If you have any other suggestions we could get involved
in, we would love to hear about it.
Margaret Lamb
Another great program we started with the schools is the Recycling program. The Fulton County School
System does not pay for any recycling programs nor do they have any recycling system set up in the
schools. I contacted the trash haulers and they agreed to pick up the recycling at several Milton area
schools for free for at least the past five years. Starting this year, the schools will have to pay for that
service. I negotiated with the waste haulers to $50/month to have a recycling program at these schools .
The schools that are implementing this program do not mind the new cost because they want to keep the
program and educate the children about recycling. This will be a continuing program at these schools.
Mayor Lockwood
I want to thank you all for what MGG has been doing. All these programs are great for our community.
We want you to know that we support MGG. Are there other ways we can support your committee?
Jack Lindon
I have been pleased with the help from the city 's Staff on these programs. A board has been formed that
handles most of the work along with the assistance from the city 's Staff which has helped immensely. 1
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Work Session of the Milton City Council
Monday, March 9 , 2015 at 6:00pm
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Mayor Lockwood
Does Council have anything else?
Councilmember Lusk
Who is keeping up with the monitoring of the recycling side of the waste haulers agreement?
Jack Lindon
I do not know the answer to that. Cindy was the person who was tasked with monitoring the various
waste haulers and if they were paying their fees.
Councilmember Thurman
To me it is very important and we need to find a way to make sure it is monitored and everyone is in
compliance. Recycling is a simple thing to do and makes a big difference.
Mayor Lockwood
I would like Staff to handle this issue.
Robin McDonald, City Planner
We handed this particular responsibility over to Code Enforcement. Code Enforcement is monitoring
the waste haulers if they do recycling.
Jack Lindon
We had a huge outcry for paint registration again this year and had to cut off registration. One thing that
you as a Council could help us with is provide two events. The event collects latex and oil base paint.
For the oil base paint, they combine it and sell it to a trash energy conversion facility. The latex paint is
separated in light and dark colors and then given away to Habitat for Humanity. If we could get enough
money to provide this event twice a year , that would be helpful. It costs $3,500 for the event set-up .
Last year it cost us less than $8 ,000. This year will be around $10 ,000 which is within our $12 ,000
budget. This year we limited it to ten gallons of paint per person.
Another area we would like to discuss is the role ofMGG in the formulation and advocacy ofMilton's
conservation initiatives/efforts.
• MGG would like to be at the forefront of helping Advanced Disposal "grow" since Advanced
Disposal is the only recycling program for Milton.
• MGG feels they have some expertise in the area of conservation. MGG would like to be part of
the discussion and more importantly part of the education. MGG wants to work in conjunction
with Laurel Florio having her guide them and provide assistance where needed. MGG feels they
can encourage landowners with more alternatives /incentives instead of building houses
(development) and is working on ways to educate the landowners on different alternatives they
have at their disposal.
Mayor Lockwood
I would like to suggest that MGG funnel ideas thru Jack Lindon to our City Manager for better
communication of items of importance with this conservative effort.
Work Session of the Milton City Council
Monday, March 9 , 2015 at 6 :00pm
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Jack Lindon
Moving on with other items regarding MGG:
• New Conservation person on City staff-Since we lost our part-time staff person dedicated to
MGG, we would like to see the city hire a full-time "Land Conservationist" who would also be
the liaison to MGG that would work on trail-plans , "green print", etc. Personally, I would like to
see Laurel Florio be hired for this position.
Mayor Lockwood
I would like to explore a full-time person for this effort of land conservation. We would need someone
who has the skill set to fill this position, preferably a city employee or resident who has Milton 's best
interest at heart, which would resonate with the landowners as well.
Margaret Lamb
You need someone for MGG who can balance the land/conservation side with the admin/procedural
side .
Jack Lindon
There is such a huge interest in these programs that we need someone dedicated to conservation.
There is not a sustainable coordinator for the city right now and it would be nice to show the residents
we have a person designated for this and who they can call for issues related to conservation.
Councilmember Thurman
I think the challenge is to get one person who has the very technical skillset that we need for
conservation but also the procedural and sustainability skill set required . We need a good balance of the
two skillsets for this position.
Mayor Lockwood
I suggest we have City of Milton staff look into staffing "balance" challenge.
Chris Lagerbloom, City Manager
I have met with MGG, with Laurel and our staff working on the right formula for Milton. We are seeing
there are very different backgrounds and skills that go along with sustainability versus land
conservation. Even though they both protect or conserve something, the y really do not overlap in very
many places. We have come up with a part-time sustainability coordinator job listing/posting and want
to move forward with that. Bringing something back for Council on the conservation side is still in the
works . After meeting with Laurel last week , she wants to remain a consultant. This is going to be a
harder position to fill.
Jack Lindon
Next item for MGG is:
• Birmingham Park activities and maintenance. There has been vandalism from cars and four
wheel vehicles in that park on the fields. A gate and fence have been put up so vehicles are not
allowed on that side of the park. Another issue at Birmingham Park is handicap accessibility.
We would like to see handicap accessibility at Birmingham Park dealt with this year so MGG
can use Birmingham Park for Earth Day 2016. We would like to propose a citywide picnic
during the summer and a trail hike in the fall at Birmingham Park. We feel people are not aware
of this park and we think hosting these types of events will make people more aware. Another
way to make more people aware of the park is to put the Birmingham Park trail maps on the
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Work Session of the Milton City Council
Monday, March 9, 2015 at 6 :00pm
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city's website. Also, posting the trail maps on map holders at the trail heads behind glass would
be an added benefit. We also need to look at linear parks and trail systems.
• The benefits of MGG programs to the city and community is that a lot of folks appreciate what
we do and have been very supportive of our committee.
Agenda Item #2 was read.
2. Update on "Welcome to Milton" City Signs and Discussion of Design of the Thomas S. Byrd
House Sign.
(Michele Mcintosh-Ross , Prin cipal Plann er)
Michele Mcintosh-Ross, Principal Planner
I would like to give you an update on all the "Welcome to Milton Signs" that we have been putting up
for the past few years. Since our last meeting , we have put a sign at Webb Road and Highway 9, as well
as, on Birmingham Highway at the Cherokee County line. We also put a smaller sign at the Broadwell
Pavilion. The next big sign will go at the intersection of Cogburn Road and Windward Parkway. Also ,
we are in the process of putting a sign on Highway 9 at the Forsyth County line. Please let me know if
you have any other ideas of where you would like a sign.
Councilmember Lusk
How about putting a sign at 372 and Green Road?
Councilmember Thurman
I would like to see a sign at Arnold Mill , on 140 , when you are leaving Crabapple going toward
Cherokee, north of the Kroger.
Michele Mcintosh-Ross
I would now like to discuss the sign for the Thomas S. Byrd House which will be our Senior Center.
The sign will read , "Thomas S. Byrd, Sr. House and Home of the Milton Senior Center". It will be
located on the northwest comer of the roundabout.
Mayor Lockwood
Is there any way we could add, in small type , an explanation of why it is named the Thomas S. Byrd, Sr.
house?
Councilmember Lusk
Maybe that information could be put on an historical marker and located closer to the house.
Kathy Field
We are going to put a dedication plaque inside the house as you walk in the door.
Councilmember Thurman
I would like to see more colors other than brown.
Work Ses s ion of the Milton City Council
Monday, March 9, 2015 at 6:00pm
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City Manager Lagerbloom
I want to do a little more research to make sure the name is definitely Thomas S. Byrd, Sr. I am not
sure about the "Sr." part of the name. I want to confirm that information before we have the sign made.
Agenda Item #3 was read.
3. Discussion of Amendments to the Personnel Policy Handbook Regarding Social Media Policy.
(Sam Tra ger, Human Reso urces Director)
Ken Jarrard, City Attorney
The first City of Milton Social Media Policy was adopted in March 2014. It was good but there was
room for improvement. Therefore , we hired a consultant who provided some guidance to improvement
the content. Then , my office reviewed the directives and language revisions. I could not get
comfortable with the new language for several reasons. When you refer to a social media policy , you
are really referring to speech and so it contains numerous first amendment implications. Since we are
government, we have to be very careful about how we impact the speech of our employees as well as
when they are away from work. However, the revisions brought forth some concepts that needed to be
incorporated in our social media policy in a lawful manner. Megan , a lawyer in my office , put together
a very long list of incidents where social media has made the news. The City of Milton , along with most
other jurisdictions , does not want to make the news with respect to our social media policy. Therefore ,
it is better to get on the front end of this issue. We are hoping to protect the City of Milton as well as all
of the various rights of individuals such as our staff and elected officials. Milton has a substantial social
media presence with Facebook , Twitter, Flickr , and Y ouTube. Most jurisdictions do not have such a
large social media presence. One of the major changes that we made to the policy is that we have
created another class referred to as "officials." This term refers to our "elected officials." In addition , it
addresses regulations with respect to the use of social media when you are not under the city designated
site or as part of your city designated role , in other words , when you are acting as a private citizen . In
addition to the posting aspect of social media , there are also open record and record retention
implications. In other words , are postings on social media sites subject to open records? Yes , they are .
Georgia law is probably about ten years behind the social media times. Social media is expanding too
rapidly for states to keep up. It is challenging for governments to keep up. Some of the major changes
to the policy are as follows:
For personal social media sites and content
• Use common sense . Electronic content is almost impossible to completely remove once it is put
out there .
• Employees may use social media on their own time with their own equipment as long as they do
not negatively impact the city's policy or business. The following are not allowed:
1. Hate speech
2. Sexuall y harassing speech as defined by local , state , or federal law
3. Statements, photos , video , or audio that could reasonably be viewed as malicious ,
obscene , threatening , or intimidating that may constitute harassment or bullying.
4 . Obscenity
5. Fighting words , extortion
Work Session of the Milton City Council
Monday, March 9 , 2015 at 6 :00pm
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General Guidelines
If discussing city related issues , but not posting online content as an approved representative of the city ,
all personnel must make it clear that they are speaking for themselves and not on behalf of the city by
displaying a disclaimer.
One very important aspect of this policy that everyone needs to understand is that if a citizen , or
individual , posts information on a city sponsored site , such as Facebook, that information is subject to
the Open Records Act.
Jason Wright, Director of Innovation and Engagement
All an employee or elected official has to do is put a disclaimer on their social media profiles which will
serve as an official notice to the public that the y are not representing the city and the information the y
post is their own personal opinion.
Councilmember Longoria
Not every employee at the city should have the authority to post city information on social media sites.
Only designated employees should have that authority. Every other employee who posts information
should be stating their personal opinion -not official city information.
City Manager Lagerbloom
Can we add to the disclaimer that elected officials are approved representatives of the city? That will
clean up the language of the disclaimer. Or, we can remove elected officials all together from the
disclaimer. Either way , it will be a clearer message.
Councilmember Longoria
I do not have a problem with this policy. I thought it was fine when I read it. The policy is not going to
keep anybody from doing something stupid. The policy is there to let employees know that if they do
something stupid , and we have listed the things that are unacceptable , then there are consequences.
And , the policy has to be enforced appropriately.
Councilmember Lusk
I think elected officials should have the ability to express differences of opinion. It may not be the
consensus of the entire city council , but as elected officials, we should be able to voice our opinion.
That is why we are elected. We all don 't think alike.
City Manager Lagerbloom
So , in summary, it sounds like the elected officials want to be included in unprotected speech and
exempt from protected speech. In what manner do we have them maintain their protected speech posts
for the purpose of responding to open records requests ?
City Attorney Jarrard
If an elected official is commenting on social media about City of Milton issues , their social media sites
are subject to the Open Records Act.
Work Session of the Milton City Council
Monday, March 9, 2015 at 6:00pm
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City Manager Lagerbloom
This was a good discussion. I think we can all agree that it is difficult to regulate speech; however, this
social media policy will certainly be beneficial and is extremely necessary to have in place. We will
schedule training for all our employees as well as board members so everyone will understand the social
media policy and the parameters that have been put forth.
Date Approved: April13, 2015
Sudie AM Gordon, City Clerk JoeLocc;J{
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