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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - CC - 07/22/20191 1 I MILTON111 ESTABLISHED 2006 Joe Lockwood, Mayor CITY COUNCIL Peyton Jamison Matt Kunz Laura Bentley Carol Cookerly Joe Longoria Rick Mohrig CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS City Hall Monday, July 22, 2019 Regular Minutes 6:00 PM INVOCATION - Sarah LaDart Mayor Joe Lockwood: Good evening, everybody. And, uh, before we get started, I'd like to welcome Sarah LaDart to lead us in our invocation. Thank you, Sarah. Sarah LaDart: Good evening Mayor and council. If you'll pray with me, please. Dear Lord, we are gathered tonight to serve and to represent all members of our community and to make decisions that promote the common good. We thank you for the ability to be involved in useful work, for the honor of bearing appropriate responsibilities, and for the freedom to embrace you and your boundless and gracious nature. Persons needing special accommodations in order to participate in any City meeting should call 678.242.2500. MILTON CITY COUNCIL_ REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22 2019 We pray for our Mayor, for the various levels of city officials and in particular for this assembled council. We ask that you would graciously grant them confidence in their knowledge in what is good and fitting. We pray for the agenda set before them this evening. Please give an assurance of what would please you and what would benefit those who choose to make Milton their home. It is in your name we pray. Amen. 1) CALL TO ORDER Mayor Joe Lockwood: Thank you, Sarah. I'd like to call the regular meeting of the Milton City Council for Monday, July 22, 2019 to order. And Stacy, if you would please call roll and make general announcements. 2) ROLL CALL Stacy, city clerk interim: Good evening, Mayor and council. We have been call rolled for the July 22, 2019 regular meeting. I would like to remind those in attendance to please silence all cell phones at this time. Those attending the meeting who would like to make a public comment, you are required to complete a public comment card prior to speaking on the item. Your comment card must be presented to the city clerk interim, me, prior to the agenda item being called. All speakers, please identify yourselves by name, address, and organization before beginning your comment. If you're representing an organization, an affidavit is required stating you have the authority to speak on behalf of that organization. Demonstration of any sort within the chamber is prohibited. Please refrain from any applause, cheering, booing, outbursts, or dialogue with any person speaking. Anyone in violation will be asked to leave. As I call roll this evening, please confirm your attendance. Mayor Joe Lockwood? Mayor Joe Lockwood: Here. Stacy, city clerk interim: Council Member Peyton Jamison? Peyton Jamison: Here. Page 2 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 Stacy, city clerk interim: Council Member Matt Kunz? Matt Kunz: Here. Stacy, city clerk interim: Council Member Laura Bentley? Laura Bentley: Here. Stacy, city clerk interim: Council Member Carol Cookerly? Carol Cookerly: Here. Stacy, city clerk interim: Council Member Joe Longoria? Joe Longoria: Here. Stacy, city clerk interim: Council Member Rick Mohrig? Rick Mohrig: Here. Stacy, city clerk interim: Would everyone please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. 3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (Led by Mayor Joe Lockwood) Group: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 4) APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA (Add or remove items from the agenda) (Agenda Item No. 19-154) Mayor Joe Lockwood: Good evening, and we want to welcome everybody here tonight. And uh, for those of you, um, that may have public comment, um, Stacy is acting, is interim, uh, city clerk tonight, so if you would bring your public comment card up here to Stacy. All right, our first item, if you could call that, Stacy, is the approval of the agenda. Stacy, city clerk interim: Approval of the meeting agenda. Agenda Item No. 19- 154. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay. And on advice of legal, we're recommended that the consent Agenda Item No. 3, approval of a Page 3 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 right-of-way and field mowing agreement between the City of Milton and Ashford Gardeners, Inc., Agenda Item No. 19-157, be postponed to the next regular meeting agenda. Is there anything else on the agenda that uh, anybody has? If not, I'll open for motion. Matt Kunz: Mayor, I'll make a motion that we approve the meeting agenda with the changes that you mentioned. Laura Bentley: Second. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, I've got a motion for approval as amended by Council Member Kunz. Second from Council Member Bentley. All in favor, please say aye. All council members: Aye. 5) PUBLIC COMMENT (General) Mayor Joe Lockwood: That's unanimous. Okay, the next item is public comment. Public comment is the time for citizens to share information with the mayor and city council and to provide input and opinions on any matter that is not scheduled for its own public hearing during today's meeting. Each citizen who chooses to participate in public comment must complete a comment card and submit it to the city clerk. And again, that would be Stacy, sitting over here to my left. Please remember this is not a time to engage the mayor or members of city council in conversation. When your name is called, please come forward and speak into the microphone, stating your name and address for the record. And you'll have five minutes for remarks. Stacy, do we have any general public comment? Stacy, city clerk interim: We do not, sir. 6) CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, they're specific to an item, okay. Um, we'll move on to the consent agenda. Uh, if you could please read - read those items. Stacy? Approval of an Emergency Construction Services Agreement between the City of Milton and HAD Enterprises, Inc. dba Banks Septic for the Installation of a New Septic System at Fire Station 42. (Agenda Item No. 19-155) Page 4 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22, 2019 (Sara Leaders, Interim Public Works Director) Stacy, city clerk interim: Consent Agenda No. 1. Approval of an emergency construction services agreement between the City of Milton and HAD Enterprises, Incorporated, doing business as Banks Septic for the installation of a new septic system at Fire Station 42. Agenda Item No. 19-155 2. Approval of an Automatic Aid and Mutual Aid Agreement between the City of Milton and the City of Roswell to Provide Supplemental Fire Suppression and Emergency Services for the City of Milton and the City of Roswell. (Agenda Item No. 19-156) (Robert Edgar, Fire Chief) Stacy, city clerk interim: No. 2. Approval of an automatic aid and mutual aid agreement between the City of Milton and the City of Roswell to provide supplemental fire suppression and emergency services for the City of Milton and the City of Roswell. Agenda Item No. 19-156. 3. Approval of a Right of Way and Field Mowing Agreement between the City of Milton and Ashford Gardeners, Inc. (Agenda Item No. 19-157) (Sara Leaders, Interim Public Works Director) Stacy, city clerk interim: No. 3 was deferred. 4. Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement between Fulton County, Georgia and the City of Milton, Georgia for Freemanville Road and Providence Road Roundabout Project. (Agenda Item No. 19-158) (Sara Leaders, Interim Public Works Director) Stacy, city clerk interim: No. 4. Approval of an intergovernmental agreement between Fulton County, Georgia and the City of Milton, Georgia, for Freemanville Road and Providence Road Roundabout Project. Agenda Item No. 19-158. 5. Approval of the Mayfield Road Regional Storm Water Management Facility Use Agreement between the City of Milton, Stan W. Sparrow and Taylor Morrison of Georgia, LLC. (Agenda Item No. 19-159) (Sara Leaders, Interim Public Works Director) Page 5 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 Stacy, city clerk interim: Approval No. 5 is approval of the Mayfield Road regional stormwater management facility use agreement between the City of Milton, Stan W. Sparrow and Taylor Morrison of Georgia, LLC. Agenda Item No. 19-159. 6. Approval of the Mayfield Road Regional Storm Water Management Facility Use Agreement between the City of Milton, Crabapple Ventures, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Georgia, LLC. (Agenda Item No. 19-160) (Sara Leaders, Interim Public Works Director) Stacy, city clerk interim: No. 6 is approval of the Mayfield Road regional stormwater management facility use agreement between the City of Milton, Crabapple Ventures, LLC, and Taylor Morrison of Georgia, LLC. Agenda Item No. 19-160. 7. Approval of the Mayfield Road Regional Storm Water Management Facility Use Agreement between the City of Milton, Red Barn Crabapple, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Georgia, LLC. (Agenda Item No. 19-161) (Sara Leaders, Interim Public Works Director) Stacy, city clerk interim: No. 7. Approval of the Mayfield Road regional stormwater management facility use agreement between the City of Milton, Red Barn Crabapple, LLC, and Taylor Morrison of Georgia, LLC. Agenda Item No. 19-161. 8. Approval of the Mayfield Road Regional Storm Water Management Facility Use Agreement between the City of Milton, Strawberry Fields Milton, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Georgia, LLC. (Agenda Item No. 19-162) (Sara Leaders, Interim Public Works Director) Stacy, city clerk interim: No. 8. Approval of the Mayfield Road regional stormwater management use agreement between the City of Milton, Strawberry Fields Milton, LLC, and Taylor Morrison of Georgia, LLC. Agenda Item No. 19-162. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay. Do I have a motion on all items read, with the exception of Item No. 3? Page 6 of 46 1 1 1 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 Rick Mohrig: Mr. Mayor, I make a motion that we accept the consent agenda - or approve the consent agenda as read. Carol Cookerly: Second. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, I've got a motion for approval from Council Member Mohrig with a second from Council Member Cookerly. All in favor, please say aye. All council members: Aye. Mayor Joe Lockwood: That's unanimous. 7) REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, we'll move on to reports and presentations. Um, Stacy, if you'll please sound the first item. 1. Discussion of Milton Trails Project Kick Off (Parag Agrawal, Community Development Director) Stacy, city clerk interim: First item is discussion of Milton Trails Project Kick Off. Parag Agrawal? [Cell phone rings] Stacy, city clerk interim: Got walk up music. [Laughs] Mayor Joe Lockwood: Come on down. Matt Kunz: He's got his own soundtrack, all right. Parag Agrawal: Uh, hi. I'm Parag Agrawal, city's community development director and today we are here to formerly launch the city's trail and master plan project to the city council members. As you know, a few months back, the city decided to launch the trail master plan project to update the existing creative planning initiatives and to seek more community input. Since the last couple of months, the staff has been very busy, and they have been working very hard to roll out this very important planning initiatives for the city. We have hired Kimley-Horn as the project consultant. We have formed a 20-member trail advisory committee and we have some of the trail advisory committee Page 7 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 members with us here today. Thank you, Brian, thank you, Paul, for coming here. Uh, this trail advisory committee represents people from various neighborhoods and also from various business groups. We have also scheduled a number of community meetings in the month of August and in September to seek more community input from the residents of Milton. We also scheduled an open house, uh, today, just before the city council meeting - city council hearing, and we did receive some very good input from the community. The first meeting of the trail advisory committee was on June 20 and was -we received some good feedback. The second meeting of the trail advisory committee is on July 30 of this month. The trail master plan project has been presented to the equestrian committee earlier this month. As I initially mentioned, the focus of this plan is to seek maximum input from the community. We want this project to be community -driven and community - focused. Michelle McIntosh -Ross and Teresa Stickles are the project planners who are working on this project from the city's side. So, with this very small introduction, I will invite Christina from Kimley-Horn, who will give a very small presentation today. The goal of this presentation is like to - basic, basically introduce this project to the city council members. We are not asking you to vote on anything. I received a couple of phone calls today, saying that, okay, the city of - the city council will adopt the plan today. So, again, it's not about plan adoption. It's basically an introduction of the plan and to seek your input. So, with this, I will invite Christina. Christina, Kimley-Horn: Good evening, Mayor and council, and thank you, Parag, for the introduction. So, I'm happy to be here again this week. It's good to see everyone. Um, as Parag mentioned, we are just beginning the process of looking into specifically the Milton trails and taking them a step further than some of the previous planning Page 8 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JuLY 22, 2019 efforts. Uh, so, we wanna just, Charlene and I will give you a very brief introduction, uh, to what we are planning to accomplish with this project. So, just a really, really high-level overview. There are three phases, three tasks, in this overall project. We're looking to be wrapped up towards the end of the year, but where we are now is the existing conditions, it's really understanding what exists today. There's been a good amount of inventory that's already been done, specifically within the Crabapple area and some of the green spaces that we'll talk about. Um, and we are now in the process of also some of the public engagements, so we've met with the Milton Charles advisory committee, um, the open house tonight, the council briefing and we'll be moving into the next task where we will do additional technical analysis, development of some trail concepts, and then also having those target group meetings with some of the different stakeholders, the different community members. We've actually already met with the equestrian advisory committee. We had a great meeting with them last week. And then moving forward beyond that will really work, as we all know and we've talked about this before, that there's never quite enough money to be able to do everything that we would want to do, and so the third task really gets into some of that prioritization and developing an action plan based on the funding that we believe we have available. So, that's an overview of the overall process, and as I mentioned, we'll be looking to try to wrap up towards the end of this year. So, many of you, I'm sure - I'm sure many of you have specifically been on the council now for a long time are aware of the tremendous amount of planning that has gone into trails within Milton. Some of them have been more recreationally focused; some of them have been more transportation -focused. So, what you can see here is a list of all the different trail planning activities, beginning with the original Milton trail plan back in 2007. Page 9 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22, 2019 And so, some of the members of the original trail committee are serving on our committee again for this process, so it's great to bring their institutional knowledge to this effort. So, we know that there is a desire for trails in Milton. We've seen that through some of the different survey processes that have gone on over time. The 2016 update to the Milton Comprehensive Transportation Plan, we heard from the community and we had great, a great participation in that online survey. Fifty percent of the people that took the survey told us they use sidewalks. Forty-two percent use trails and eight percent use the bicycle facilities. And 94 percent of the population that took the survey told us they would do more walking and biking if they had more infrastructure to be able to do that. There's also been some stated desire for trails through some of the comprehensive parks and recreation master planning efforts. Once again, you can see 85 percent of the respondents use walking, hiking, and biking trails in the last year from that survey. And 77 percent of the households had an unmet need for that, those types of infrastructure. So, lots of great support in terms of people surveying, but we also have seen through the voting of members in Milton, and in some cases, the larger Fulton County, we can see that there's also a desire for trails, some of that through the T-SPLOST that was passed by Fulton County in 2016. Some of the dollars that are raised through that SPLOST effort can be used for transportation -related trails, so, there's a desire through some of that voting. And then of course, in 2017, your residents voted to pass the Greenspace Bond Fund that have resulted in new green spaces throughout the city. So, we also see some real true voting in terms of moving forward with some trails throughout the city. So, we met, as I mentioned, with the trails advisory committee, uh, a few weeks ago and talked about what some of the priorities were. And what we heard, Page 10 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22, 2019 were there were kind of four overarching priority areas where we should be focusing our efforts in this process. And it's a little bit different than what we walked into the process doing, so we've actually gone back and kind of reoriented the direction of the study to make sure that we are moving in the direction of the residents and the committees. And so, what we heard was walking within and connecting to the Crabapple area, so that walking and biking. So, there's already a lot of great momentum here really building upon that. We also heard that we have all these new green spaces that are coming online, it would be really great if we had some recreational opportunities within them. So, you'll see in a little bit, Charlene's gonna talk about some of the work that we've been doing to really understand what is in some of the green spaces that have been recently purchased. We also heard some areas of safety concern, that people would really like us to focus on. So, those might be specific intersections, or corridor segments, and we're looking to get more feedback there. And then also, within connecting to the Deerfield area, where we also have a large population center within the city. So, that's the feedback that we have received from the committee. Part of what we did tonight was to also try to gather feedback from the community to understand from the broader community, where are those priorities? So, very quickly on the existing conditions front, we look at how we all layered all of these different pieces together. So, we start with our parks. From there, we add on the Greenspace Bond properties, including the two recent purchases along Hamby and Webb. Then we start layering on - what are the places that we want to be able to connect to? In addition to having recreational trails within, where can we be connecting to, and so we start adding on the schools, some of the different public community assets, as well as some of the private community assets. Page 11 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22 2019 The activity centers. Then we start layering on, where do we have sidewalks today? Where do we have side paths currently in the city? Where are the trails that we already have within the parks? And then also, when we start thinking outside of Milton, where do we potentially want to be connecting to? Places like the Big Creek Greenway and some of the other neighboring North Fulton sidewalks and facilities. So, really, when we start putting all these pieces together, we can start talking about where are the places that we want to be connecting when it comes to trails and sidewalks, and where are the places where we want to be providing better infrastructure within? So, Charlene's gonna talk a little bit more about the facility types. Charlene, Kimley-Horn: Good evening. Um, so, the facility types that we're looking at, as Christina has mentioned, is we're looking at for user types; biking, walking, and equestrians. And so, those facilities tend to be sidewalks, which are typically classified as eight feed wide or less. They can be concrete or asphalt. Um, and legally, um, the only people who can bike on these eight feet or under facilities are children under the age of 12. Um, the other facility type are sidepaths, which are somewhere near sidewalks. They're next to the road. They're wider though, so the need to be eight feet or wider, which allows, um, people to walk and bike on them. They can also be concrete or asphalt. Um, typically they have a buffer between, so there's some really good examples. Um, the greenways, um, are within facilities, so within parks. They could be within, um, a green space or they could be connecting, um, kind of meandering, typically further away from the road. Um, they can be a variety of material types. So, uh, they could be the more natural surface trails, like were proposed for the Mountain Country Club, so that decomposed granite, which is more within the Merritt - Milton character. Or they can be concrete, which can also be dyed to, uh, give it a more natural appearance. Or they can be asphalt. And as we Page 12 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 mentioned in our last presentation, they all have different maintenance needs and different costs for installation. Um, and the other facility type are hiking trails. So, some of these greenways that I'm gonna talk about in a little bit have existing hiking trails that were put in previously. Uh, these tend to be dirt. They can also have wood chips on them. They can vary greatly from eight feet to fourteen feet. Um, the 14-feet width ones are kinda unique for the Milton area. They're the old logging roads, so they tend to be a little bit wider. Those offer great opportunities for equestrian use, uh, with that wider width as well. Um, let's see. And then equestrian trails specifically. Um, these need to be a little bit wider to allow for two-way traffic with equestrians. Um, the material needs to be considered to be appropriate for equestrian use, so you wouldn't want concrete or something like that. Um, so it would need to be more of the native soils or gravel or something like that. Okay, so the focus areas, which we had discussed briefly earlier are the Crabapple area, which you're familiar with. It's about 998 acres. Um, this area, the map on here shows our catalog of existing sidewalks, which are eight feet or under. Or, um, sidewalks or sidepaths that are eight feet or over. And then we've identified areas where they may be gaps in the system. And the next one is Birmingham Park. You can see with the circle around it. Um, this is an existing park which has old logging roads, they're being used in hiking trails. It's well used by the equestrian community. It's also used by hikers and joggers. Um, let's see. We met with the equestrian committee last week and we heard from them that Birmingham Park is a very valued asset in the community for the equestrian community, and they would love to see improvements potentially made to really see it flourish and come to its full potential. So, here's some images from our site visit out there at Birmingham Park. Very beautiful, we didn't get to go to Page 13 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22 2019 some of the trails, there's a lot out there. Um, there are reports that there are summer erosion issues and things like that to consider, so we'll continue to look at that. Uh, the other property is a green space, one of the six green spaces that the City of Milton has purchased. So, it is about 109 acres. This has got kind of a more hilly topography. It's got existing hiking trails from the previous owners. So, you kinda see a beautiful lake on the property, there's a creek that goes through. A lot of the hiking trails are kinda those more narrow dirt trails. Um, they're a little challenging with the hilliness. But they're also really nice, so there's potential for different user types. Right now, it's more built for, um, people to hike on. Not quite wide enough, maybe, for equestrian use. And also, we're looking at the preserve at Cooper Sandy, which is where Providence Road and Bethany Road meet. Um, that's 88 acres and this property, kinda like Birmingham Park, has some of those logging roads in it. They're a little bit more overgrown. It's not really been used frequently. There's been, um, kind of wildlife paths set through there. Those are pretty small. So, it's a more informal, uh, more kinda natural setting. There's a portion of it that's a little more swampy, and if can see in that top right photo, that's actually a beaver dam, uh, which when we went out for a site visit, was identified. Uh, so that shows really good natural, uh, healthiness there. We did a catalog of the trails. Um, well, the old logging roads and the informal trails. So, we have those catalogued, so that when we do our, um, additional analysis, we'll be able to see what's there to work with. So, the next steps? Um, we have met with the Milton equestrian committee, so we're taking what we've heard from them. And we're gonna take what we heard tonight and bring that to the trails advisory committee meeting on July 30. Um, we are also conducting a series of target group meetings with different areas. So, the Crabapple area, Page 14 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22, 2019 the Deerfield area, um, and so on. And then we'll come back, um, and do another open house in a council briefing. And the focus of that open house and council briefing, at that point we'll kind of have the proposed trails, some of the initial costing, and things like that. Any questions? Mayor Joe Lockwood: Any questions? Laura Bentley: Just on the - Mayor Joe Lockwood: Laura? Laura Bentley: I don't have a question I just want to make a couple comments. Um, thank you very much, um, first of all to the committee that's here, some of you all are here and Brian for heading it up. Um, I think - in my opinion, I think they're right on, trying to close the loop with the trails and the Crabapple and Deerfield areas that are more densely populated. I think those, um, areas are ready for connectivity. Um, and also, I'd just like to, um, ditto the equestrian committee in focusing on Birmingham Park. I think with some very minimal improvements, that can continue to be a great asset for equestrians, hikers, water trailer turnarounds, and then, uh, you know, some sort of corral or holding pen in case there's an emergency. Um, thank you so much for your work on it. Christina, Kimley-Horn: Thank you. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, anybody else? Again, thank you very much and Christina, Kimley-Horn: Yup. Mayor Joe Lockwood: And ditto on the - thank you to all the folks have volunteered on our trail planning committee, so thank you guys for being here. Christina, Kimley-Horn: Great, thank you. Page 15 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22 2019 8) FIRST PRESENTATION (None) Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, tonight we don't have any items under First Presentation, so, um, Stacy, if you'll please sound the public hearing item. 9) PUBLIC HEARING l . Consideration of a Resolution Transmitting a Draft Capital Improvements Element (CIE) 2019 Annual Update, Relating to the City's Impact Fee Program to the Atlanta Regional Commission for Regional and State Review. (Agenda Item No. 19-163) (Discussed at the July 15, 2019 City Council Work Session) (Parag Agrawal, Community Development Director) Stacy, city clerk interim: First public hearing item is consideration of a resolution transmitting a draft capital improvements element, CIE, 2019 annual update relating to the city's impact fee program to the Atlanta Regional Commission for regional and state review. This is Agenda Item No. 19- 163. This was first discussed at the July 2000 - um, July 15, 2019 city council work session. Parag Agrawal. Parag Agrawal: Uh, the first item of the public hearing is consideration of resolution to transmit the annual update to the capital improvement element, that's CIE, to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and to the Atlanta Regional Commission, that's ARC. As we know, the City of Milton adopted and backed the ordinance on October 5 of 2015 and the state requires the communities that have an impact fee program to submit an annual update to the CIE five-year project scheduled for review. We made a very small presentation last week at the work session. We have our project consultants. We do have a project manager, Michelle McIntosh -Ross with us. If you have any questions, we can, uh, we are here to ask, or respond to any questions. This item will again be on the agenda and at that time you will be voting on it. But this is simply a public hearing. We are here, we are to respond to any questions. Page 16 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay. Do we have any public comment on this? Stacy, city clerk interim: No, sir, no public comment. Mayor Joe Lockwood: I'll close the public hearing. Is there any questions for Parag on this? Okay, thank you. Will the city clerk please call the final public hearing item? 2. Consideration of an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton, Georgia, to Establish the Ad Valorem Tax Rate of the City of Milton for Fiscal Year 2020; and for Other Purposes. (Agenda Item No. 19-152) (First Presentation at July 22, 2019 9:00 AM Special Called City Council Meeting) (First Public Hearing Held at 9:00 AM July 22, 2019 Special Called City Council Meeting) (Bernadette Harvill, Finance Director) Stacy, city clerk interim: The final public hearing item is consideration of an ordinance of the Mayor and council of the City of Milton, Georgia, to establish the ad valorem tax rate of the City of Milton for fiscal year 2020 and for other purposes. This is Agenda Item No. 19-152. This is under first presentation at the July 22, 2019 9:00 special called city council meeting. The first public hearing was held, um, also at the 9:00 meeting this morning. Bernadette Harvill. She'll be here in a minute. Bernadette Harvill: Good evening, Mayor and council. We're here this evening for the second of three public hearings regarding the setting the millage rate for 2019. We are going to go over the presentation the same exact way that we did this morning, for those of you who may not have been in the chamber to hear it or watching it online. First, we'll go over the agenda. Um, we're going to over some important definitions to help understand, the millage rate and how it's set. The public hearing and advertising requirements, as required by state law. We will discuss some of the millage rate options that we have set for 2019. We'll go over a breakdown of the maintenance and operating digest by category. We'll explore some anticipated revenues. We'll also look at ways that, um, property owners can reduce their tax liability, how to calculate a tax bill, and the value of their tax dollars to the City of Page 17 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22 2019 Milton. And lastly, we'll discuss some service level improvements that staff has recommended for this coming fiscal year. First, we have our definitions. A mil. A mil is one dollar per $1,000.00 assessed property value or .001 times your assessed value. Your fair market value's an estimate of the market value of your property, as determined by Fulton County Board of Assessors. Your assessor taxable value is the value that is equal to 40 percent of that fair market value. And property taxes are calculated multiplying the millage rate by that assessor taxable value. And then you adjust for any exemptions you may have. We have the rollback rate. The rollback rate is the previous year's millage rate, minus the millage equivalent to the total [inaudible] [00:27:42] value added by reassessments. And then we have that millage equivalent definition, which is the equation where reassessments of existing real property is divided by the current year's net digest and multiplied by the prior year's millage rate. Now, those definitions are a little cumbersome, so we have some math later in the presentation to explain that a little better. Here are the three required public hearings for 2019. We are in the second public hearing this evening and we will have one more public hearing and a vote on August 12 at 5:45's special called meeting. Any time the millage rate is recommended to be above the computed rollback rate, um, it triggers a requirement for those three public hearings. And here we have the advertisements that you may have seen in the paper or on the city website, um, indicating those increases. This is a snippet of the PT 32.1, which is the calculation spreadsheet we use to determine the millage equivalent, the rollback rate, and the property tax increase. You can see that real and personal property taxes have increased, but the exemptions now in place, um, with the CPI floating exemptions have actually brought the overall net digest down over $141 million. Page 18 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 So, here's the math behind those ads. First, we have the, uh, notice of property tax increase. That's where we took that millage equivalent, calculated that out and then we took our - you use that millage equivalent to calculate a rollback rate. But I'd like to point out, that if the city had stayed at 4.731, that, um, increase would only be 3.02 percent, as opposed to the 11.02 percent we're seeing now. So, that increase can be triggered based on either a millage change or reassessment changes. So, last year's was based on reassessments, this year's looking like the millage. The other advertisement we're required put in, out in the paper and the city website is the five-year history and current digest. That compares year over year total net digest, and you'll see that we've had a 2.4 percent increase when you do the math according to those rules. So, before you, you have three millage options. Council may adopt any millage rate up to the cap of 4.731 for maintenance and operating. Um, today we're gonna talk about all the options based on that cap, the current millage of 4.39, and the calculated rollback of 4.261. At the bottom there, you'll see the currently calculated millage rate for the Greenspace Bond. The Greenspace Bond, um, covers current year's principal and interest due on the bond payments. And I did a little bit of math here, quickly in the corner, to kind of tell you, let you know what that looks like. Some of the exemptions we're gonna talk about this evening don't apply to the bond. So, if you have a property value, fair market value, of $400,000.00, you look to pay about $94.00 on that bond. If you have a property value of $1 million, about $235.00 and a property value of $2 million, that's all fair market value, you'll be paying about $470. So, that kinda shows you what goes towards the bond. Here we have the maintenance and operating digest breakdown. Our net digest is $2,690,495,162.00. Page 19 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22 2019 We levy, or bill, taxes based on 100 percent collection rate. We budget based on a different rate that we'll talk about a little later this evening. But at 100 percent collection, we would bill at 4.731 mills, $12,728,733.00. If we stayed at 4.39 mills, we would bill at $1 1,81 1,274.00. And if we went to the computed rollback rate of 4.261 mills, we would bill at $1 1,464,200.00 Here we have the general fund revenue and justifications. So, as I was talking about, we don't typically budget at 100 percent collection, as we don't typically see 100 percent collections within the first year. There are several reasons behind that. Some are due to the appeals and how they come in and when they are, uh, finalized. Sometimes exemptions have to be adjusted, different things of that nature. So, we've seen typically, around 95 percent to 97 percent collections in year one for real property, 65 percent for personal, and 50 percent for motor vehicle. Motor vehicle, again, is that birthday tax that is going away. It's moving more towards the title ad valorem tax, which is not calculated on the digest. So, eventually we'll see this gone. The 4.731 mills versus the 4.261 is 1 1 percent difference. As you can see, as you do the math between those, um, bottom line budge revenue numbers. And the difference between the 4.39 and the 4.261 is three percent. At the very bottom of this slide, I've given you some current data about FY19's real property tax collections, that is our largest, um, revenue. And our amended budget is projecting $1 1,613,628.00 and we've collected to date, $1 1,484,435.00 of that. So, here before you, you have, um, some comparisons of the current FYI revenue projections that will be before you in the final amendment in September. And our preliminary budget projections, which will be included in FY20 budget that be will - be before you in September as well. You can see that at a 4.731 millage rate, we are looking to increase overall revenues for the city for the general fund by .9 percent. If we were to rollback to 4.2 Page 20 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22, 2019 - or stay at 4.39, we'd be looking at a two percent about decrease. And if we went back to 4.261, it would be about a 3.1 percent decrease in overall revenues. Right now, let's take an opportunity to talk about some tax savings for property owners. Um, the city has several homestead exemptions available. First, is the basic homestead exemption category. Um, for these two exemptions, you apply at the county. We have the primary residence, no age or income restrictions, which we refer to as the basic homestead exemption here, for $15,000.00. The newly -passed floating homestead exemption, I'm gonna go over the math for that on the next slide. That is where it is taking your base year, and your current assessed value and creating an exemption for the difference between the two. Then we have some senior exemptions that you apply for right here at the city. If you're 65 and older, the city offers an additional $15,000.00 on top of that basic homestead exemption. If you're 65 and older and meet our income requirements, it's $25,000.00. If you are 70 and older and meet the income requirements, it is a full -value exemption here at the city and also a full - value exemption for those with a disability who meet those income requirements. Here is the floating homestead exemption math. So, the floating homestead exemption applies to your primary residence and five contiguous acres of land. You take your base year, which is the lower of the appraised values from 2016, ' 17, or ' 18. And then you take that and multiply it by the current year multiplier of 1.0423. In the next few years, it - that will increase either to the lower of the consumer price index calculation or three percent. This year, it's only 1.0423. That gives you your adjusted base year, times that multiplier, is your adjusted base year for 2019. When you take your assessed value of the current year and you reduce that from your assessed value of the base year, you come up with your floating homestead exemption. That is a reduction of the tax liability of your property. Page 21 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22 2019 And I'll have some slides later with some math that show how that works out. Laura Bentley: Let me jump in real quick, here. Um, I just wanna make sure that that it was clear that the 1.0423 multiplier that is in there, that is what it was, um, in the bill when it passed the house and the senate? This is the CPI between December 2015 and December 2017. It wasn't a one-year jump, it was a two-year jump. So, I just wanted to make sure that was clear. Bernadette Harvill: Um, next we have the conservation use value assessment. You can apply for this at the county. Um, if you qualify, this will be, uh, an assessment based on your land use as opposed to your market value of your property. There are no minimum acreage required, but there is a maximum of 2,000 acres. And also, this, um, what this value reduction you're agreeing to maintain your property at that, um, level of conservation for ten years. So, here we are in calculating your tax bill. We took the average home value from the 2018 digest, and that was $400,000.00, and we showed it here with just a basic homestead exemption, no floating exemption. At the three different millage rates you would pay $686 at 4.731; $636.55 at 4.39; and $617.85 at 4.261. This next slide, while a little cumbersome, I hope will help everyone understand how the floating homestead exemption is impacting, um, the tax bills. So, the very top row, we have three different fair market values: $400,000.00, $1 million, and $2 million. So, you see your assessed value of the 40 percent of those numbers. And the top row's just showing you with the basic homestead exemption that we offered last year and prior. What your tax bill would have been at those different millage rates. And I went through the assessed value information sent over by Fulton County and picked out three properties at these fair market values and showed you what their current floating homestead exemption is showing, as calculated by the county. Page 22 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 So, you can see where the floating homestead exemption for a house that was not keeping with market may be higher than those that may have kept with market the whole time. So, this particular $2 million property is seeing a $16,594.00 exemption for the floating homestead exemption, while the $400,000.00 property is seeing $59,439.00. So, there you'll see the difference savings amount along the bottom and what those properties would be paying with their particular floating homestead exemptions at the new - the three millage rates we are talking about this evening. I just wanted to note that each homestead exemption for each property for that floating exemption will be unique. It will be dependent upon your values in those three years. These are our 2016, ' 17, and another ' 16 house, um, one that went back to those values. If you had any improvements on your property, if you finished your basement, if you had an addition added on, since ' 16, ' 17, or ' 18, those values will be taxed separately. They will not be rolled into that old value. So, you will pay on your new additions to your property. So, next we have your value of your tax dollar. We took that same average fair market value, $400,000.00, with the basic $15,000.00 homestead at 4.731 mills. They would pay annually $686. Monthly, that's looking at $57.17. And daily, that's $1.88 that they pay for the array of services we provide here at the city, including public safety, police and fire, municipal court, public works, infrastructure, parks and recreation, community development, the general administration here at city hall, and as well as our current capital Paygo program. These distributions here are based on FY19's current amended budget. Here is another look at that by the different millage rates we're talking about this evening. Again, at 4.731, you would pay $686 annually; 4.396, $630.55; and 4.261, $617.85. Once again, that's with no CPI exemption included, that's just a basic $15,000.00 homestead. So, here we have the rationale for 4.39. The current millage rate would allow the city to maintain existing base level services for maintenance and operating. Page 23 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22 2019 We'd be able to have no staff layoffs, continue minimum maintenance, um, might not be able to look as closely at some of the proactive maintenance that some of the staff had requested or some service level improvements that they requested, but we'll talk about it later this evening. But an offset to that, is you can look at the possibility of having a variable millage rate approach. You can reduce the city's Paygo program, and maybe move towards more, um, voter -approved bond program. So, that's the different, just a different option way to fund the city's programming. The rationale for 4.731 is that we would have the ability to fund the city's current capital improvement projects as planned with our Paygo program of savings until we can afford the project. We'd have a timeline to implement the completed master plans. This evening we talked about the trail plan, it had a lot of different opportunities, and we'd be able to fund some of those opportunities though the 4.731. Um, there are . challenges to a capped millage rate. While some other cities can increase their millage when needed in economic downturns, the Milton cannot. With the current cap, we have only 4.731. Um, we have a limited commercial tax base and commercially - zoned footprint. Many cities have about 40 to 50 percent of their tax digest as commercial. Milton has 13 to 15 percent in any given year recently. We have assessed property values that have not kept up with the markets since 2008. And now, the floating homestead exemption has actually capped those at those ' 16 levels. So, we have, um, little less growth than we'd normally have as any other city without that cap. Also, we have our community vision to retain our rural character, which again, is just gonna keep that commercial tax base at bay, as the community had so desires. So, the result of some of the short-term capital maintenance deferrals could possibly be more costly repairs and capital replacements that would have to be done sooner than anticipated. Here we have our current operations versus new initiatives. So, the city, as Page 24 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 always, our first priority is to maintain existing operations and services. And once corresponding funds have been allocated across those services and projects, we then look to the request made by staff for new initiatives and increased levels of service. And below's kind of an example of that to put to light exactly what we mean. So, on current operations, we'd say repave roads as scheduled. And then enhanced level of service could mean repave additional roads that we really know need attention but may not be on the current schedule for the year. Or maybe do a full declamation and build up that road again, as opposed to just patching and repaving. A new initiative would be something like construct and entirely new road, maybe here like Heritage Walk, to ease congestion. So, here are some of our service level discussions we've had as a staff. Um, these are our opportunities to increase service levels, based on some of the citizen feedback that each, um, department has received over the year. As well as some abilities to consider some new initiatives. We have acquired over 350 acres in, um, green space and now we're looking to maintain those green spaces. There's some of them that have infrastructure on them, some of them have some trails. We have to keep up with hazard mitigation to make sure they're safe to open to the public. And we'd like to keep them mowed and landscaped to be visually appealing. We'd like to improve debris management. Um, increase curb and gutter cleanings, as well as keeping the right-of-way clean of any trash or debris. We looked at manicured landscaping in certain public areas. We've gotten a lot of feedback about maybe some of the areas looking a little too rural, and maybe being able to mow them more often, or more manicured like a residential area. We also have enhanced public safety technology requests that would aid in solving cases, reducing crime, and enhancing search and rescue capabilities. Page 25 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22 2019 Um, we also have the ability to maybe look at timely implementation of some of the city plans we talked about on the last slide, including Providence Park, the former Milton Country Club, and also the parks and recreation ten-year master plan. Um, additional service level requests were more frequently mowed right-of- ways, capital contributions to the local school facilities. Currently, we have an IGA between the schools in Milton. We are allowed to utilize their field space and in turn, we typically sold them, maybe do lighting, bleachers - things like that. Um, and also the paving schedule - the ability to repave additional roads ahead of schedule and then efforts to attract and retain a highly talented workforce. Not only is this out of wages and benefits, but we have some smaller departments where a loss of one may halt that department for a time being, in order to replace those people. So, that this evening, is our discussion. Some of the things that we've been talking about in FY20 and some of the millage rate options we have, uh, for 2019 tax year. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, any questions for Bernadette? Joe? Joe Longoria: So, Bernadette, that was a lot of information, I appreciate - Bernadette Harvill: I tried to slow it down. Joe Longoria: Yeah, no. And that's the second time I've heard it, so, I've got no excuses, right? Bernadette Harvill: (Loughs] Joe Longoria: I'm trying to, sorta in my head, classify the different millage rates that we have. And I want to make sure that I'm not misunderstanding. Bernadette Harvill: Sure. Page 26 of 46 11 1 L� MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 1 Fi L77 Joe Longoria: So, I would call the 4.731 millage rate our historic millage rate. It's been the millage rate for 12 of the last 13 years, right? Bernadette Harvill: That is correct. Joe Longoria: The 4.390 millage rate, that would be a rate neutral, because it's the same rate that we had last year, so we wouldn't change it, it just stays the same. Bernadette Harvill: That is correct. Joe Longoria: And then the 4.261, the rollback rate, that's actually a revenue neutral rate because it makes sure that the income that we receive from the tax digest best approximates exactly what we had last year. Is that correct? Bernadette Harvill: Yes, it is attempting to make a revenue neutral based on the reassessed values of existing property. Joe Longoria: Right. Now all of this is sorta guesswork, right? Because we're not real sure who's going to pay. We're not real sure how the assessed values are really gonna turn out, so, so, there's a little bit of gray area in there, but that's in general what we're - those rates are trying to establish? Bernadette Harvill: That is correct. Joe Longoria: Okay, thank you. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, did anyone have questions, other questions? Matt? Matt Kunz: Yeah, Bernadette and I talked before the meeting, as well, but the local optional sales tax increases we've had since we've had our census in 2010 and negotiated with Fulton County in 2012. Um, you know, that's been a large increase over time. Obviously, we don't get all our revenue from property taxes, so, but I think it's important to notice how that has increased and how that contributes as well to the overall of what Page 27 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22 2019 we're doing. Um, so, if you could provide that at the next meeting, whatever, that'd be great. Bernadette Harvill: Certainly. I've brought some figures, um, with me per your request earlier this evening - Matt Kunz: Okay. Bernadette Harvill: And I just wanted to talk about really quickly on that the five-year history ad, you can see where we calculated out a millage rate rollback for loss. So, that's basically saying if we did not have lost revenues, the additional millage we would have to charge to have collected the same revenues for the city. Um, this year it would be 8.171 as opposed to 4.731. Matt Kunz: Mm-hmm. Bernadette Harvill: We have seen some increases, especially after the renegotiations, that it's going to be up for renegotiation again, here. And last year, we had $9,077,345.00. The year before, $8,617,970.00. So, it is, um, our second largest revenue next to real property taxes at this time. Matt Kunz: Right. And we started with roughly five, I think. Bernadette Harvill: We started down closer to three and four. Matt Kunz: Right. Bernadette Harvill: The renegotiations were really in the city's favor. Matt Kunz: Right. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay. Anybody else? Um, do we have any public comment on this item, Stacy? Stacy, city clerk interim: Yes, we do. We have three public comments and one to be read in the record if the person is still here. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay. Call the first speaker, please. Stacy, city clerk interim: The speaker is Eric J. Edstrum. Page 28 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 Eric J. Edstrum: Good evening. Eric J. Edstrum, 120 Stone Orchard Court, Milton. Thank you for the time this evening, appreciate the presentation that was just delivered. This is the second time I heard it. Heard the first one this afternoon online, so figured I'd come in and talk more intelligently about it after reviewing it. A few things that I have just as basic notes. Um, understand the direction that folks are headed in and why they'd like to head in that direction. However, some of the things that I'm a little bit challenged with as a homeowner here in the community. I moved down here from the Northeast in 2014. Um, and folks moving from the Northeast, and I've lived in multiple cities across the United States, this is not my first place, nor is it my last residence, I'm sure. But in the interim, I'm gonna try and protect my tax bases as much as practical. And to that end, what I don't care about is that I've seen Northeasterners move down to other - into other communities, again, I've lived in Cleveland - talk about taxes. Um, I've lived in the Midwest, as well. Central Midwest and down in Texas and other areas of the country. Have not lived in California, however, suffice to say that would be a train wreck for me, personally, from a tax point of view. Um, with respect to the property taxes, um, Northeasterners have this great opportunity, or theory, that well, we're gonna move to a new area, we're not gonna make it as detrimental as it was in the Northeast. My opinion is thus far since moving down here, particularly in Fulton County, um, is that the county tax in particular, certainly no, it's not applicable here, I want to clearly state that. However, it is combined. As the assessed value of my property adds an additional bedroom that I have been trying to work with the tax assessor on, because the person with whom I purchased the home from, um, unfortunately his realtor allowed slippage of an additional bedroom to be affected into the house and cost. Therefore, it's costing me money indirectly at the 40 percent basis rate, in terms of the calculation of my tax bogey back to both the county and the City of Page 29 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22 2019 Milton, right? So, that's a problem for me, because even though I'm trying to fight it, the tax assessor is saying that's great, Eric, have a good day, see you later. So, I am filing a lawsuit with the county, just to let you know in general, over that issue because it's not appropriate. And we're making millage expense requirements, or changes now, with respect to Milton County, as well as Fulton, all from my opinion and my theory and practicality as actual of a false number and a false assessment because of an additional bedroom, which doesn't exist. So, for me, it's a bit of a challenge from the assessed value perspective. The other comments that I would have with respect to the overall tax at this point, I'm gonna continue to do the research, but one thing in the presentation that I followed both in the historical online view, as well as this evening and my own reading of it, is I'm not quite sure of the correlation of the $14 million, um, in the line item, and I forget which chart it was, uh, in the presentation to that of the $1 1 million-ish. The gentleman over here, I believe, mentioned, I think it was Mr. Mohrig, am I pronouncing your last name correctly? Sorry, if I'm - I don't want to mispronounce anybody's last name. Trust me, people abuse mine enough. Um, so my understanding is that the 4.39 from that dialogue and that 4.61 - pardon me, 4.261 millage would be quote revenue neutral. So, what I would ask the council to do is propose for the citizens - because right now I can't say I'm affirmatively behind it or affirmatively opposed to the millage rate. Because I don't think I have enough information, quite honestly and candidly, to make that decision, despite let's stipulate for the moment that my square footage calculation is not correct, right? That's gonna be its own issue of and by itself, and I recognize that. And it's outside of this community, this conversation mostly. However, um, we haven't seen kind of the flat -rate budget. My assumption is, and maybe it's a poor assumption, which I don't like because I'm a math Page 30 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22, 2019 person, is that the $4.8 million I believe in that budget line that we saw in that particular chart, really is a representation of the wish list as opposed to reality. And I don't like playing in wish lists and reality, so I'd like to see a stand -by -stand budget, in terms of what are the actual expenses versus the wish list. And then on top of that, you can then calculate in whatever the millage expectations is, or would be, that you would like to see. However, I would also like to see a corresponding depreciation in terms of where did the council consider opportunities to really scale back its budget in lieu of just running right away, like the Northeasterners typically do. And I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, so I know what I'm talking about, um, and lived there for many years. Is, the reality is that they can't do it better, this is a unique environment, this is its own ecosystem and we have to operate in that capacity. And I don't want to get into at the first genuflection of gee, we wanna, we wanna reset the budget, is always to dip into, um, the taxpayers' pocket. On any level, whether it's personal tax, the commercial taxes, sales tax, et cetera. Let's really take a hard look at our budget and opportunity to cut first versus just saying well, historically the budget is always been at 4.31 as the millage rate, gee let's go ahead and go back there. And with that, I'll allow the council to continue its conversation. But thank you for your time this evening. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, thank you. Stacy, if you'd please call the next speaker? Stacy, city clerk interim: The next speaker is Gary Jablonski. Gary Jablonski: Gary Jablonski, 2680 Raspu Drive, Milton. I speak only for myself, don't represent any organization. Reading the agenda item wording, it says ad valorem tax rate for Milton for fiscal year 2020 and for other purposes. To me, that agenda item is vague. Now, maybe the intent of that was - the answer to that was in this presentation, but I didn't see it. Page 31 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22 2019 So, I wanna have some access to somebody to tell me what was meant by other purposes. Maybe you're gonna host a big party? I don't know, but, um, I'm just seeing other purposes is too vague for me to support any type of ad valorem tax rate. Thank you. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, thank you. And Stacy, if you'd please call the next speaker. Stacy, city clerk interim: The next speaker is Miss Judy Burds. Judy Birds: Judy Birds, 1 165 Bream Drive, Milton, Georgia. First, I'd like to thank Bernadette for the preparation of the presentation. I was here to hear it this morning, it's a lot to absorb. I also had a chance to try and glance through it again. One question, and I'm not following the numbers on, is on page 13, the general fund revenue anticipations? So, and some of this might be leakage, but I'm not connecting the dots and I like to connect dots. So, at 4.39, the total budgeted revenues are $1 1 million, however, at 4.39, the current millage rate for fiscal year 2019, we're anticipating $1 1.6, which is a good ways toward getting to what you're proposing for 4.731. So, I'm having trouble connecting why do we need to raise the millage rate? Do we really have that much - do we really have that much leakage, um, between ' 19 anticipated at the 4.39 rate. And I imagine some of the other numbers go. That said, lots, lots to absorb. Lots to question. But I think the biggest question we have to have is really to carefully examine the expenditures of the city, much like I had to do in private industry. Course, I always went in asking for as much as I could, but I knew I wasn't going to get it. Um, and I would ask that some of the same scrutiny be allowed - be allowed to happen here. You know, we pride ourselves of trying to be good business people here in the city. I think we need to look at how we can be lean and mean. Page 32 of 46 1 1 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22, 2019 Given that 2019 had some rather significant investments in personnel, I think we really have to look hard at the anticipated 2020 expenditures. What I'm about to say may seem radical. The Greenspace Bond did not anticipate all the funds to make the space usable. Even for passive purposes. If we don't have the money to care for this land, I'd think hard about buying any more. Because we're gonna have to come up with the money to care for that land. And if we don't have it, if we don't think we can get it, I'd look hard about doing that. And I realize that's controversial, but it was kind of a mistake in the first place when we put the bond in but didn't think about how we're going to maintain this. So, some really tough choices need to be made, both on some of the bond -related purchases as well as some of the expenditures. Um, I trust that you all will work to make that. I look forward to working with you to discuss it further. Thank you. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, thank you. And you have one more to be read into record? Stacy, city clerk interim: I do, is Denise Upton here? Okay. Um, she would like this comment read into the record. This is on this agenda item. She said she would like assurances that a critical review of city expenditures is made and necessitate an increase in the millage rate. Mayor Joe Lockwood: And could you, is, uh - Stacy, city clerk interim: That her - her, um, address is 15370 White Collins Drive. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay. And that's just for the record. Thank you for your comments. Okay. Are there any other questions from council? Okay. 10) ZONING AGENDA (None) Mayor Joe Lockwood: So, we don't have any items on our zoning agenda, so Stacy, if you'll please sound the first unfinished business item. Page 33 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22 2019 11) UNFINISHED BUSINESS Consideration of An Ordinance to Amend Article 1, Section 5.4 of the Milton Tree Canopy Conservation Ordinance to Extend the Date for Mandatory Compliance. (Agenda Item No. 19-146) (First Presentation at July 8, 2019 City Council Meeting) (Parag Agrawal, Community Development Director) Stacy, city clerk interim: The first unfinished business item is consideration of an ordinance to amend Article 1, Section 5.4 of the Milton Tree Canopy Conservation Ordinance to extend the date for mandatory compliance. This is Agenda Item No. 19-146. First presentation was at the July 8, 2019 city council meeting. Parag Agrawal. Parag Agrawal: Uh, so the proposed amendment will extend the time that applicants may apply either their density -based tree preservation ordinance or the canopy tree conservation ordinance from July 22, 2019 to January 20, 2020. As we all know, when the city was incorporated in 2006, we had a density -based tree preservation ordinance, which we basically adopted from the Fulton County. Uh, around two years back, the city started, uh, bidding its tree preservation ordinance and in April of 2018, the city adopted canopy -based tree preservation ordinance. In the first couple of months we did realize there were some specific issues with the new adopted tree preservation ordinance, and we have been updating our tree preservation ordinance these last few months. Uh, I will say we are in the home stretch for updating our tree preservation ordinance. Uh, the tree - the citizens advisory committee that was formed, they did adopt, they did approve the draft last month. We did send it to our legal department for review. The legal department, they did give us their feedback. We have incorporated their feedback. Uh, it is going in front of the planning commission on July 24. Once it goes in front of the planning commission on July 24, we Page 34 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22, 2019 will incorporate their feedback. And it will be in front of the city council in August, in your August work session. We were planning to present the tree preservation ordinance in July's work session, but we wanted to basically make sure that the planning commission members also get the opportunity to give us their feedback. So, again, thank you for all your patience. Uh, we are in the home stretch and we will be presenting the tree preservation ordinance to you next month. Thank you. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay. Thanks, Parag. Um, any questions on that? Then I'll open it up for a motion. Laura Bentley: Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve Agenda Item No. 19-146. Matt Kunz: Second. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, I have a motion for approval from Council Member Bentley and I believe a second from Council Member Kunz. All in favor, please say aye. All council members: Aye. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Any opposed? That's unanimous. Okay, will the city clerk please sound the next unfinished business item? 2. Consideration of an Ordinance of the City Council to Authorize Fulton County to Conduct Election (Agenda Item No. 19-148) (First Presentation at July 8, 2019 City Council Meeting) (Ken Jarrard, City Attorney) Stacy, city clerk interim: The next unfished - unfinished business item is consideration of an ordinance of the city council to authorize Fulton County to conduct election. Agenda Item No. 19-148. This is under first presentation at the July 8, 2019 council meeting. Ken Jarrard. Ken Jarrard: Mr. Mayor and members of the council, uh, good evening. This is something that you all have seen Page 35 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22 2019 before. It is an ordinance and proposed intergovernmental agreement between the City of Milton and Fulton County, the Fulton County Board of Elections and Registrations, with respect to the conduct of the City of Milton elections under Georgia law. Jurisdictions like the City of Milton are authorized to contract with the Board of Elections for the county to be, and act as basically the de facto elections supervisor or superintendent for the elections and we are no different. We have done this, uh, repeatedly. The rates are a little bit higher this time. I don't mind, uh, suggesting that to the council. This is an off year, so there is no general county -wide election. If there's a general county -wide election under this anticipated intergovernmental agreement, basically it's done at no charge. If there are special county -wide elections, then there is a basically an invoiced, pro-rata percentage payment that we pay, plus the 10 percent administrative fee and then of course, if there are neither of those, and it's purely a City of Milton election, then we pay the actual cost. I think we fit into the middle category, here, where there are other special elections that Fulton County will also be overseeing, and so they have attached the breakdown of the fees plus the 10 percent surcharge. Their estimate based upon the two anticipated elections in November and December is $152,848.00 for the Fulton County Board of Elections to run our election. Now, if the cost is actually less, they'll give us a refund. If the cost is actually more, then we'll have to make up the difference. Uh, but this is a little higher than what we're used to, but I will say this is what Milton's historic practice has been and it is my recommendation, following first presentation and this presentation this evening, that the council adopt, if that is a will. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Is there any thoughts on why it's higher? An explanation? Page 36 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22, 2019 1 Ken Jarrard: Uh, I don't have any thoughts on why it's higher. Bernadette Harvill: They're estimating, from what I understand, they were going back and forth about estimating about how much it's actually costing. I believe there's some extra training and some additional personnel that's needed for the actual voting. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay. And that's November and December - Ken Jarrard: Correct. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Assuming a runoff, so, again, it could be much less than that if there's not the second election. Ken Jarrard: That is correct. These costs are speculative at this point. It could be less. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay. Bernadette Harvill: Yes. And I wanted also to mention too, um, we do not have to pay the full $152? We are - that is for both elections. We're gonna pay for the first general election and then, um, and then see if we need a runoff. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Yeah, if there's runoffs, it's about 70, $76,000.00. Okay. Any questions? Um, okay. Then I'll open it up for a motion. Joe Longoria: Mayor, I move that we approve Agenda Item No. 19- 148. Peyton Jamison: Second. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, I have a motion for approval from Council Member Longoria, with a second from Council Member Jamison. All in favor, please say aye. All council members: Aye. Mayor Joe Lockwood: That's, uh, unanimous. Stacy, if you'll please sound the next item on unfinished business. Page 37 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22 2019 3. Consideration of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 52, Taxation Sections 52-22 (Due Date) and 52-23 (Fines for Delinquent Payments) of the Code of the City of Milton, Georgia. (Agenda Item No. 19-147) (First Presentation at July 8, 2019 City Council Meeting) (Bernadette Harvill, Finance Director Stacy, city clerk interim: Next item is consideration of an ordinance to amend Chapter 52, taxation sections 52-22, due date, and 52- 23, fines for delinquent payments of the code of the City of Milton, Georgia. This is Agenda Item No. 19-147. First presentation was at the July 8, 2019 city council meeting. Bernadette Harvill. Bernadette Harvill: Mayor and council, before you this evening we have a couple of ordinance updates. Um, the first is to change the bill date for property tax bills to align with generally accepted accounting principles. Um, our current laws state that we would bill right after we receive the digest from the county. Um, that was creating an unavailable revenue line item on our financial statements. If we bill October 1 of each year, then it would just be current year revenues and that would forego that issue. Um, the second cleanup is just updating the interest and penalty language to match the newly -passed state law. That is the five percent, um, penalty accrues every 120 days and that interest will accrue, um, after the 601h day at bank prime loan rate set at the beginning of the calendar year, times three percent, um, distributed monthly. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Do we have any questions? Matt Kunz: Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we approve Agenda Item No. 19-147. Laura Bentley: Second. Mayor Joe Lockwood: We have a motion for approval from Council Member Kunz with a second from Council Member Bentley. Any discussion? All in favor, please say aye. Page 38 of 46 1 1 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22, 2019 All council members: Aye. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Any opposed? That's unanimous. All right, Stacy, if you'll sound the final unfinished business item. 4. Consideration of An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton, Georgia, To Adopt Amendments to the Fiscal 2019 Budget for the General Fund of the City of Milton, Georgia Amending the Amounts Shown as Expenditures, Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Appropriations, and Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Actual Funding Available. (Agenda Item No. 19-149) (First Presentation at July 8, 2019 City Council Meeting) (Bernadette Harvill, Finance Director) Stacy, city clerk interim: The final item is consideration of an ordinance of the mayor and council of the City of Milton, Georgia, to adopt amendments to the fiscal 2019 budget for the general fund of the City of Milton, Georgia, amending the amounts shown as expenditures, prohibiting expenditures to exceed appropriations, and prohibiting expenditures to exceed actual funding available. This is Agenda Item No. 19-149. First presentation was at the July 8, 2019 city council meeting. Bernadette Harvill. Bernadette Harvill: Um, mayor and council, before you this evening you have a small handful of budget amendments for fiscal year 2019. Each of these requests, if approved, will be funded using general fund contingency line item in FY19. The first two requests are related to currently approved programs, while the other two requests are related to staffing. Um, so detailed initiative requests have been included on those two items. Here you'll see the first request as the implementation and setup of the city's [inaudible] [01:07:34] program. Um, this is including dedicated hours for I-T and onsite training by the provider MCCi. Um, this phase would go beyond record retention to workflow management and a public -facing portal, so we can, um, have fewer open records request by having more information available to the public readily. The second request you see there, is increased funding to address trail maintenance, require - um, needed as requested by Page 39 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22 2019 the Milton equestrian committee. That would be at Birmingham Park. And then here, you'll see the other two requests. The first one is for clerical support through Community Connections. This is an initiative that is very unique to the City of Milton. We have the opportunity for a mutually beneficial partnership. This initiative would allow the city to hire a part time clerk with special needs, helping furthering the city's mission of being inclusive and engaging of persons of all ability levels. This employee will be given tasks applicable to their abilities and will aid and improve upon current clerical capacity of staff. And then the second request is to reinstate the accounting manager position. Um, as the city has grown, so have the duties related to the accounting position. This would allow for a dedicated experienced professional to maintain daily oversight over the city's books and being GAP compliant. Um, it would also allow for myself to focus a little more on long-range planning, enhance budget processes, and employee advancement. And also allowing our current, um, payroll and revenue manager to focus on the property tax category as we see all of these issues coming forth to be able to keep an eye on those. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay. Are there any questions? All right. Laura Bentley: Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve Agenda Item No. 19-149. Carol Cookerly: Second. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, I have a motion for approval from Council Member Bentley with a second from Council Member Cookerly. All in favor, please say aye. All council members: Aye. Mayor Joe Lockwood: That's unanimous. Thank you, Bernadette. Bernadette Harvill: Thank you. Page 40 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22, 2019 12) NEW BUSINESS Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, Stacy, if you'll please sound our new business item. 1. Consideration of a Resolution Transmitting a Draft Capital Improvements Element (CIE) 2019 Annual Update, Relating to the City's Impact Fee Program to the Atlanta Regional Commission for Regional and State Review. (Agenda Item No. 19-163) (Discussed at the July 15, 2019 City Council Work Session) (Public Hearing Held on July 22, 2019 City Council Work Session) (Parag Agrawal, Community Development Director) Stacy, city clerk interim: First item under new business is consideration of a resolution transmitting a draft capital improvements element, CIE, 2019 annual update, relating to the city's impact fee program to the Atlanta Regional Commission for regional and state review. This is Agenda Item No. 19-163. This was discussed at the July 15, 2019 city council work session and a public hearing was held earlier this evening. Parag Agrawal. Parag Agrawal: So, as we discussed in our earlier presentation, this item is the consideration of a resolution to transmit the annual update of the capital improvement element the - to the state department of community affairs and to the Atlanta Regional Commission. We did give a presentation last week in the city council work session and at this time we will be requesting a vote from the city council members. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay. Any questions? All right, I'll open it up for a motion. Peyton Jamison: Mayor, I'll make a motion to approve Agenda Item No. 19-163. Matt Kunz: Second. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, I have a motion from Council Member Jamison and a second from Council Member Kunz. Um, so, if it's Page 41 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22 2019 okay with council, I'll wait just a moment for Council Member Cookerly to join us for the vote. [Pause] Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, we have a motion and a second on this new business item. All in favor, please say aye. All council members: Aye. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Any opposed? That's unanimous. 13) MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, we'll move on to reports and presentations. Uh, is there anything that council would like to report on? Comments? Okay, then we'll move on to staff, starting with Community Development. STAFF REPORTS Department Updates 1. Community Development 2. Finance 3. Information Technology Parag Agrawal: I made a folder this time. Uh, just want to present some highlights from the department the last couple of weeks. The trail master plan community meetings, as we basically mentioned in our previous presentation, we have scheduled a number of community meetings. I do have a handout with all the dates and the locations, which I'm just giving to Stacy now. So, we have scheduled a number of community meetings, a number of stakeholder meetings that are scheduled, and the venues are basically going around. Please let us know if you have any feedback. We will, uh, we will be working with our communications department to publicize these community meetings, if you have any Facebook page or something, please post them. We do want more community feedback. So, any ideas or any suggestions which you may have, just let us know. Page 42 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, I just, um, again to your point, and I'm sure, uh, we can, the city can publicize this - Parag Agrawal: Sure. Mayor Joe Lockwood: To make sure the community has plenty of notice. So... Laura Bentley: And I just wanted to add to that, that I know I get a lot of calls from people that want to participate that say, can I come? Or participate if I'm not on the committee. So, you might wanna just include that option, as well. That folks, you know, can come and listen in on that committee and provide public comment? Parag Agrawal: Yes. Laura Bentley: Okay. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Sure, they're all - Parag Agrawal: So, again, all the community meetings are in this room and the reason why we are having them in this room, so that they can be streamed live. So, again, even if they cannot come, they can watch it from the comfort of their homes, so that's there. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay. Parag Agrawal: Community zoning and information meetings, CZIM meeting - we have a CZIM meeting scheduled for tomorrow, starting at 7:00. We have one item on the agenda. That is the Matilda's Under the Pines, which is located at 85875 Hickory Flat Road. Uh, this item will be in front of the city council as the first presentation on August 5. And we will be having a public hearing on this on August 19. Planning commission -we have a planning commission meeting on July 24, 2019. And as I mentioned, that the main item on the agenda is the tree preservation ordinance. A recent green space bond acquisitions on July 5, 2019. The city will make the following prop - make the following purchases. The first one was the Page 43 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JURY 22 2019 preserve at Redd Road, which is a 44.82-acre property and we bought it for $1.6 million. The second is the preserve at Hamby Road, which is the south side of Hamby Road. It's a 28.2-acre property, uh, and we bought this by $1.05 million. The land disturbance permit? The city did issue a land disturbance permit for that - for the expansion of the Aldi grocery store, which is located at the corner of Highway 9 and Webb Road. And the [inaudible] [01:16:29] approval of this renovation was, was adopted last month. So, these are some of the main highlights. I'm happy to answer any questions. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Are there any questions for Parag? Okay, thank you. Parag Agrawal: Thank you. Mayor Joe Lockwood: All right. Bernadette? If you can still talk. Bernadette Harvill: I can still talk, if you can still listen. Um, tonight I just have a few updates that are outside of the millage rate and the budget we've been speaking about. Finance is working with code enforcement, um, to bring the remaining delinquent businesses into compliance for the 2019 occupational tax renewals. Also, the intent to [inaudible] have been mailed. Payments on delinquent parcels for 2018's taxes are due by August 19 before we go into the tax sale process. Um, we have some preliminary revenue projections have you seen in the project and we will be tweaking those a little more for you and bringing them forth in the budget workshop on August 12. Um, you will also see before you all of the recommendations, um, at that time for the initial budget review for FY20. Um, currently working with Steve and Stacy on all of those requests and going through them. So, in addition to that millage rate vote, we will have, um, a work session if everyone would be willing to come in. And then we have begun work on updating the budget book for FY20, which will be available for first presentation of the budget in September. That is a Page 44 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22, 2019 1 more detailed book that goes into all the details behind the information. Um, the request this evening was a very good point. The revenue line items we showed are a rolled -up summary. Um, in the budget book, and I can bring it with me to the next meeting, is a more detailed layout of line item by line item revenue, so that property tax line includes other things, including franchise fees, um, real estate transfer tax and tangible tax, so a few other line items that are not just real and personal motor vehicle. And we can see that in the detailed explanation of revenues. Um, we also have a team of evaluators that has been established to review our banking services RFP. Our current contract expires at the end of the fiscal year, so you'll have a new contract for your review for you around that time. And we're also, um, evaluating enhanced investment opportunities at this time, in order to further leverage our current [inaudible] [01:18:40] funds. So, we're working on those few projects in finance. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Okay, are there any questions? All right. Bernadette Harvill: Thank you. Mayor Joe Lockwood: Thank you, Bernadette. Uh, information technology next. Stacy, city clerk interim: I don't believe the, um, they're ready for information technology, unless Dave, are you? Dave: I am not. Stacy, city clerk interim: [Laughter] We will make sure that they get on the next council meeting. 14) EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed) Page 45 of 46 MILTON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MINUTES JULY 22 2019 15) ADJOURNMENT (Agenda Item No. 19-164) Mayor Joe Lockwood: All right, so is there anything else? If not, I'll, uh, adjourn the meeting. Do I have a motion to adjourn? Peyton Jamison Carol Cookerly: Motion to adjourn. Second. Mayor Joe Lockwood: I have a motion and second to adjourn. All in favor, please say aye. All council members: Aye. Mayor Joe Lockwood: That's unanimous. Thank you, all. Sudie AM Gordon, City lerk Joe Lo kw d, ayor Page 46 of 46 1