HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - MGG - 11-13-2014Milton Grows Green Committee Meeting Minutes, November 13, 2014 [APPROVED]
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MILTON GROWS GREEN C OMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 13, 2014 MINUTES [APPROVED]
Date: November 13, 2014, 6:30 PM-8:15 PM
Place: Executive Conference Room, Milton City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Milton GA 30004
Attendees: Jack Lindon, Francia Lindon, Cindy Eade, Teresa Stickels, Jennifer Griffiths, Margaret
Lamb, Laura Rencher, & Bruce Langston and special guest, Frank Lamb.
I. Agenda: It was posted on the City’s web site.
II. Minutes: Oct. 2014 minutes were approved with additions from Lynna and Cindy.
III. Updates & Old Business:
• Evergreen Schools: Middle and High Schools teachers met with STEM curriculum
coordinator Susan Baker. Teachers got information on Adopt-A-Stream and talked about the
program. Jennifer Shamps, Tom Sewell’s replacement at Hopewell, is no longer there and
there isn’t anyone taking over the program at that school so the momentum there has been
lost.
• Milton’s Conservation Initiatives: Cindy introduced Laura Rencher to the committee. Laura
reported that the city has hired a consultant recommended by Randal Arndt, to help it write a
conservation subdivision ordinance. The consultant will be holding a public meeting Dec.
10th. There was also momentum on finally getting a Transfer Development Rights deal in
place with the Jim Bell property on Birmingham Road. The current rate is $80K per T.D.R. but
the cost/price is dependent on an appraised value of the locations. The transfer ratio will vary
– 4 to 1 ratio for Deerfield and 2 to 1 for Crabapple. She talked about the need to educate the
community so residents understand the options and benefits. With the Green Print in place,
it’s about creating a green corridor or connectivity that allows for passive recreation, wildlife
habitat, and creating a green heritage.
Laura said that Laurel Florio gave an update to City Council November 10th on conserving
private land and that they seemed supportive. Talked about a need to balance competing
interests – development of 300 to 350 acres per year with land preservation. Development is
moving very quickly. If we want to keep pace with development, Milton needs to conserve
about 5000 acres over the next 16 years. Parks and Public Works are doing their part, but the
City needs to do more. We are already behind. Food plains and wetlands should be left as
open landscape or buffer areas. Suggestions from the Tom Daniels, the GreenPrint author,
was to establish a Land Preservation Advisory Committee to identify appropriate parcels that
could be protected and assist the City in making decisions. Goals should be set to determine
how much we could protect in a given length of time and what the plan will be going
forward. Incentive tools to accomplish this could be TDRs, PDRs, and donation of
conservation easements to City or to a land trust for federal and state tax benefits.
Landowners have several options to get economic gain from their land and also conserve it. It
is important for landowners to know all the options available including limiting development
to only a portion of a large parcel. There are even investors who will buy land for
conservation to reap tax benefits. The City needs to look at long-term financing for
acquisition. Kathy Johnson said the idea of using impact fees for public land acquisition had
Milton Grows Green Committee Meeting Minutes, November 13, 2014 [APPROVED] 2
been brought up at the impact fee committee meeting and the consultant said that was an
acceptable use of revenues.
• MGG Executive Board: The slate of officers was voted on and accepted unanimously. They
will be presented to the City Council for ratification at the December 15th City Council
meeting.
• Rivers Alive: Event was considered successful. There were about 60 volunteers and we were
able to clean up most of the pre-identified sites. A Boy Scout troop has done storm drain
marking. It was suggested that Adopt-A-Stream signup be added. Also suggested was that
initial instructions be kept to a minimum. People come to get a job done and get impatient if
talk goes on too long.
• Adopt-A-Road: Cambridge H.S. is going to take over Cogburn Road.
• Trees of Milton Photo Contest: Details of the contest were given with the winner being
announced at the Earth Day Festival next April. There was some discussion on how the
deadline would limit submissions but the photos only have to be taken in Milton and there is
no time restriction. Joe Lamp’l will help Mark Law with this effort.
• Household Paint and Chemical Collection: No date or location has been established although
Home Depot is a good possibility and indicated an interest in the event. Also suggested was
Cambridge H.S.
• New MGG Webpage: The City is replacing its web page software next April 2015 to make the
site more interactive and user friendly. The current setup has limitations on format and
layout. With this in mind, Jennifer and Francia have revised the MGG content but not with a
permanent layout in mind. We will be looking for more options for video and linking to other
environmental content in the future.
IV. New Business:
• Septic System Education Meeting: Meeting has been set for November 20, with UGA
Cleanscapes Program Director and Fulton County extension agent from 7:00-8:30 at City
Hall Council Chambers. This will be in partnership with Better Together. MGG is
involved because of water quality standards and has developed a tri-fold brochure of
“Dos & Don’ts” for septic system owners.
• Bulky Trash Amnesty Day: Is set for December 6th at the Roswell Recycling location.
YMSL has offered to volunteer at this event again.
• Bring One for the Chipper: Is scheduled for Jan. 3, 2015 at 3 different Milton locations –
Milton H.S. Lacrosse field, Scottsdale Farm and Garden Center and Home Depot. There
was discussion about making MGGs sponsorship more visible at Scottsdale Farm and
also the problem with recycling trees that are flocked. The flocking material doesn’t
make desirable mulch.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:05 PM
______________________________________ ATTEST: ______________________________________
Jack Lindon, Co-chair Francia Lindon, Secretary