HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - MGG - 03-13-2014o ORIGINAL
MILTON GROWS GREEN COMMITTEE
MARCH 13, 2014 MINUTES [ApPROVED]
Date: March 13, 2014, 6:30 -8:00 PM
Place: Executive Conference Room, Milton City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Milton GA 30004
Attendees: Jack Lindon, Francia Lindon, Cindy Eade, Barbara Peck, Lynna Lee, Teresa Stickels,
Jennifer Griffiths, Gail Gill, Joe Lamp'l and Laura Rencher from Preserve Rural Milton.
I. Agenda: It was posted on the City's web site.
II. Minutes: October 2013 minutes were approved.
III. Updates and Old Business:
• Preserve Rural Milton: Laura Rencher provided an update saying that a conservation
subdivision ordinance is gaining traction with the City. It has to be written so developers will
want to use it. Getting real estate comps will be a challenge because there is no appraisal basis
in the area. Across the country, homes in conservation subdivisions generally sell at a higher
price. They are like golf course communities without the golf course. Randall Arendt, an
expert in the field, has written many books on conserving open spaces and has been a source
of information for Laura. Growing Greener: Putting Conservation Into Local Plans And Ordinances
by him is a great background resource. There is a whole new language involved in
conservation discussions. It isn't unreasonable to have impact fees on development that could
be use to fund green space purchase.
Across the board, Milton residents value the rural character and open land. Doing a
"GreenPrint" can compliment the City's comprehensive land use plan. In the GreenPrint
Process (a model of the Trust for Public Land), they look at detailed information on land uses.
They also look at other options for the land use, other then just subdivision development.
There may be some farms we might want to save. There are Conservation Easements, which
give the landowner significant tax benefits. A land trust would hold a conservation easement
(conserved for perpetuity). The City could further develop the Milton Trail system that has
already been started. PRM is trying to develop options and a conservation subdivision model
for land-owners. Would like to get Greg Ramsey/Village Habitat Designs to Milton to talk at
a community meeting. This is a community process that needs a consensus to succeed.
If the City decides to do a "GreenPrint," it has the potential to save what we have but won't
keep all development out. An education program can help address these questions. PRM is
trying to do outreach to every land-owner with over 5 acres of property. There is resistance at
City Hall because of the cost of land in Milton. It is perceived as being too expensive for the
City alone to purchase outright. The City of Suwanee has an amazing green space plan where
the community passed a $17 million bond to fund green space. Our goal is to get people here
involved.
• Earth Da Festival: Teresa Stickels, Chairman of Earth Day updated the committee on
some activities: Clearing brush at Friendship Park and making signs to glue. Need people
to set up at 8 AM and also take down after event. MGG booth being coordinated by Barbara
Peck -we need people to staff our booth. Gail Gill will be with the Sierra Club. MGG will
Milton Grows Green Committee Meeting Minutes, March 13,2014 [APPROVED]
Au MILTON GROWS GREEN DoCUMENTS ARE PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER WITI-I AT LEAST 35% POST -CONSUMER CONTENT.
have a 15x15 tent and include a table for Arbor Day, National Wildlife Federation and
signup for Adopt-A-Stream.
• Ever reen Schools Pro ram: No report.
• Ado t-A-Road: No report.
• BSA TrooR 3000 Recycling Event: Jack reported the event is March 15 th at the BSA
compound. They will be recycling metal and doing docwnent shredding. We are
supporting/ partnering with the Scouts by providing publicity and volunteers but they will be
collecting all donations.
• Household Chemical Waste and Paint Collection: Was held February 22nd. ECOFLO Corp.
handled the collection and removal by providing a professional crew and heavy equipment.
Cindy reported that we served about 175 residents. There were about 20% who registered but
then didn't show up. We need to incorporate a way of sending reminders in the registration
process. We came in under budget. Young Mens' Service League was awesome and thanks to
the MGG folks who helped.
• Adopt-A-Stream (GA Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program): Jennifer Griffiths
reported that she is developing a procedure for checking out kits and coorclinating stream
monitoring and scheduling training for volunteers. Next training will be end of May, after
school is out, at Birmingham Falls ES. Maybe able to have a few extra people trained. Sharon
Smith, Environmental Education Coordinator with the Fulton County, Dept. of Water
Resources, is doing the training.
IV. New Business:
• MGG Structure Governing Board Reorganization: Jack reported that he would like to start a
committee to look at establishing Bylaws and a new organizational structure for a governing
board that would meet separately and report back to the committee. Lynna Lee volunteered
to be on the committee and Jack mentioned Marc Arrington had offered to help.
• Bulk Trash and Rec c1in : Cindy reported the March event is all planned for March 22nd
with the City of Roswell by their recycling center. We need some MGG volunteers to man
check-in for Milton residents.
• Septic System Community Education: Would like everyone to consider an educational
program for the community on how to properly maintain septic systems. Resources are
available from Fulton County and also the UGA extension service.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:10 PM
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Francia Lindon, Secretary
Milton Grows Green Committee Meeting Minutes, March 13,2014 [APPROVED1 2