HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - CC - 02/17/2021Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
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CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lockwood: Okay, I'd like to call the regular meeting of the Milton City
Council for Wednesday February 17, 2021 to order. The City
strongly recommends that you review tonight's agenda carefully.
And if you wish to talk or speak on any item on the agenda, then
please bring your comment card to the City Clerk as soon as
possible.
While the Milton rules allow a speaker, to turn in their comment
card up until the Clerk calls the Agenda Item; once the Agenda
Item is called no more comment cards can be accepted. Will the
City Clerk please call roll and make general announcements?
City Clerk: Good evening Milton Council, I'll be happy to call roll for the
February 17, 2021 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 prior to the agenda item being called.
All speakers please identify yourself by name, address, and
organization before beginning your comment. If you are
representing an organization, an affidavit is required stating you
have the authority to speak on behalf of that organization. Please
review tonight's agenda, and if you would like to make comment,
please bring your comment card to me now.
Demonstration of any sort within the chamber is prohibited, please
refrain from any applause, cheering, booing, outburst or dialogue
with any person speaking. Anyone in violation will be asked to
leave. As I call roll this evening, please confirm your attendance.
Councilmember Laura Bentley?
Ms. Bentley: Here.
City Clerk: Councilmember Paul Moore?
Mr. Moore: Here.
City Clerk: Councilmember Rick Mohrig?
Mr. Mohrig: Here.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
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City Clerk:
Mayor Joe Lockwood?
Mayor Lockwood:
Here.
City Clerk:
Councilmember Carol Cookerly.
Ms. Cookerly:
Here.
City Clerk:
Joe Longoria.
Mr. Longoria:
Here.
City Clerk: And for the record, Councilmember Peyton Jamison is absent for
tonight's meeting. Would everyone please rise for the Pledge of
Allegiance?
Councilmembers Present: Councilmember Laura Bentley, Councilmember Paul
Moore, Councilmember Rick Mohrig, Mayor Joe Lockwood, Councilmember
Carol Cookerly, and Councilmember Rick Mohrig.
Councilmember Absent: Councilmember Peyton Jamison.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (Led by Mayor Joe Lockwood)
Several: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
And to the republic for which we stand, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay, I want to welcome everybody here tonight. We appreciate
you being here. And I'm gonna ask the Clerk to call the next item.
APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
City Clerk: That item is approval of a meeting agenda. Agenda Item 21-029.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay, on the agenda. I want to recommend that we remove, on the
Consent Agenda, Item No. 21 — 043, for the Uniquely Fitt
program. And also move the New Business Agenda Item No. 21 —
050, the appointment of the Parks and Recreation Board member,
to after the reading, and vote on the Consent Agenda. Is there any
other changes on the agenda? Okay, I'll open up for motion.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
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Mr. Longoria: Mayor, I move that we approve the agenda as provided with the
additional edits that you just mentioned.
Mr. Mohrig: Second.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay I have a motion from Councilmember Longoria and a second
from Councilmember Mohrig. All in favor please say, `Aye.'
Councilmembers: Aye.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Longoria moved to approve Agenda Item
21-029 as amended. Councilmember Mohrig seconded the
motion. The motion passed (6-0). Councilmember Jamison
was absent from the meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Lockwood: Any opposed? Vote unanimous. Okay, we will move on to public
comments. Do we have any Public Comment?
City Clerk: We do not have any, Mayor.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Lockwood: Okay, then I'm not gonna read the general public comment rules.
We'll move onto the Consent Agenda, if this City Clerk will please
sound those items.
City Clerk: The first item is approval of the January 20, 2021 City Council
meeting minutes, Agenda Item No. 21-030.
Our next item is approval of the February 1, 2021 City Council
meeting minutes, Agenda Item No. 21-031.
Our third item is approval of the Financial Statements and
Investment Report, for the period ending December 2020, Agenda
Item No. 21-032.
Our fourth item is Approval of the Construction Services
Agreement with Pavement Technology, Inc. for Asphalt
Rejuvenation Applications on Milton Streets, Agenda Item No. 21-
033.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
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Our fifth item, Approval of a Vehicle Maintenance and Repairs
Agreement between the City of Milton and North Fulton Express
Oil, LLC during doing business as Express Oil Change and Tire
Engineers, Agenda Item No. 21-034.
Our next item, approval of the Vehicle Maintenance and Repairs
Agreement between the City of Milton and the Extra Mile Auto
Tire and Services, LLC, Agenda Item No. 21-035.
Our seventh item Approval of the Vehicle Maintenance and
Repairs Agreement between the City of Milton and Speed Auto
Repair, LLC, Agenda Item No. 21-036.
Our next item is Approval of the Construction Services
Agreement, with King's Ridge Christian School for Cogburn Road
Sidewalk, Agenda Item No. 21-037.
Our ninth item, Approval of Subdivision Plats and Revision the
name of the development is Aldi, the Shops of Windword Village
at 12990 Alpharetta Highway, Land Lots 1041, 1042, 1047 and
1048. District 2, Section 2. It is a recombination plat to revise
expanded footprint of the Aldi grocery store. Total acres is 3.657,
Agenda Item No. 21-038.
Our tenth item is Approval of Agreement for Outside Providers
and Facility Use Agreement between the City of Milton and
Halftime Sports, LLC to Provide Youth Basketball Programing
and Camps, Agenda Item No. 21-039.
Our 11 cn item is Approval of an Agreement for Outside Providers
and Facility Use Agreement between the City of Milton and Milton
Tennis Center to Provide Youth and Adult Tennis Programming
and Camps, Agenda Item No. 21-040.
Our 12th item, Approval of an Agreement for Outside Providers
and Facility Use Agreement between the City of Milton, and North
Georgia Recreation Inc. to Provide Youth Boys Lacrosse, Agenda
Item No. 21-041.
The next item is Approval of an Agreement for Outside Providers
and Facility Use Agreement between the City of Milton and Rush
Union Inc. to Provide Adult Soccer Programming, Agenda Item
No. 21-042.
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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
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Our next item is Approval of an Agreement for Outside Providers
and Facility Use Agreement between the City of Milton and Starr
Petronella Photography, LLC doing business as Capture Your
Light to Provide Recreation Photography Classes. I will also note
this is going to be a new d/b/a, they've just changed to let us know.
It will be Your Photo Creative. It is Agenda Item No. 21-044.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay, do I have a motion on the items?
Ms. Bentley: Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve the Consent Agenda
as read.
Mr. Moore: Second.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay I have a motion from Councilmember Bentley with the
second from Councilmember Moore. All in favor please say,
`Aye'.
Councilmembers: Aye.
Mayor Lockwood: Vote's unanimous. Okay, if the City Clerk will please call the next
item, and i be]ieve we moved an item to that.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Bentley moved to approve the Consent
Agenda as read. Councilmember Moore seconded the
motion. The motion passed (6-0). Councilmember Jamison
was absent from the meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
City Clerk: We did, Mayor. This is our New Business item that we moved, it is
Consideration of a Resolution Appointing or Reappointing
Members to the City of Milton's Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board by Appointing a Board Member at Large, Agenda Item No.
21-050, Mayor Joe Lockwood.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay, let's see. Give me just one second here. Didn't change my
paperwork. If you guys will bear with me for second. [No
dictation] [00:08:05 — 00:08:31] Okay, sorry. Moved it on the
agenda here. This appointment for the Parks and Recreation Board
member, it would be for my appointee and I would like to appoint
Ms. Jami Tucker.
I don't believe — is she in the room? Okay, good - to the Parks and
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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
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Recreation Board. I know Jami has moved here to Milton, has
children and has expressed interest to be involved and we've had
some nice discussions and whatnot. So, I am proud to nominate to
appoint Jami for my representative on Parks and Recreation Board.
So, if I could get a motion.
Ms. Bentley: Mayor, I move that we approve your appointee to Parks and
Recreation Board.
Ms. Cookerly: Second.
Mayor Lockwood: All right. So have a motion to appoint Jami Tucker to Parks and
Recreation Board for my appointee from Councilmember Laura,
with a second from Councilmember Cookerly. All in favor please
say `Aye'.
Councilmembers: Aye.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Bentley moved to approve Agenda Item
No. 21-050. Councilmember Cookerly seconded the motion.
The motion passed (6-0). Councilmember Jamison was
absent from the meeting.
Mayor Lockwood: Any opposed? That's unanimous. So, I think at this point I would
ask Jami to come forward and I will swear her in really quick.
Raise your right hand and repeat after me. I solemnly swear and
affirm.
Ms. Tucker: I do solemnly swear and affirm.
Mayor Lockwood: That I will faithfully perform the duties of.
Ms. Tucker: That I will faithfully perform the duties of.
Mayor Lockwood: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
Ms. Tucker: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
Mayor Lockwood: [Inaudible] [00:10:28]
Ms. Tucker: Member of the city
Mayor Lockwood: [Inaudible]
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Ms. Tucker: And I will support and defend the charter thereof.
Mayor Lockwood:
As well as the Constitution.
Ms. Tucker:
As well as the Constitution.
Mayor Lockwood:
And the laws of the state of Georgia.
Ms. Tucker:
And the laws of the state of Georgia.
Mayor Lockwood:
And of the United States of America.
Ms. Tucker:
And of the United States of America.
Mayor Lockwood:
I'll give you an air shake.
Ms. Tucker:
Air shake.
Mayor Lockwood:
For obvious reasons, but I just want to thank you. Not only Jami,
but everybody that volunteers and a lot of the times people talk
about the City, and the reason our city is so great is because of all
of our volunteers. People that really care and wanna make a
difference. So, thank you for doing that.
Ms. Tucker:
Do I sit back here?
Mayor Lockwood:
Back here, so if you wanna sign your name —
Ms. Tucker:
Sure.
Mayor Lockwood:
And then I'll sign this. There are two things that bring up more
people and more — let's call it discussion in the City of Milton.
And that is zoning issues and youth sports.
City Clerk:
And this one too.
Mayor Lockwood:
We appreciate — Everyone here comes up. Thank you, Jami.
Ms. Tucker:
Thank you very much.
Mayor Lockwood:
Do we wanna take a picture with Council? —00:11:56_ Do you
wanna? Council wanna come down here, or we could stay up here.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
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Mr. Botelho: You could stay up there, that's fine.
Mayor Lockwood: I'll stand here —
Mr. Botelho: Yeah, that's perfect. Hold it. And everyone is in the frame, this is
great. Perfect, thank you.
REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
Mayor Lockwood: Thank you. All right, if I could ask the City Clerk to please call the
next item.
City Clerk: The next item is Proclamation Recognizing Arbor Day 2021,
Agenda Item No. 21-045
Mayor Lockwood: Okay. It's always an honor to present this Proclamation. I think
trees as we all know are very important to our City and to all of our
citizens. So, I have a Proclamation for Arbor Day 2021. Whereas
in 1872, where J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board
of Agriculture, that a special day be set aside for the planting of
trees. And whereas, this holiday called Arbor Day was first
observed with the planting of more than a million trees in
Nebraska. And whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the
nation in the world.
And whereas trees can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil
by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the
temperature, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, and provide
habitat for wildlife. And whereas, trees in our City increase
property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas,
beautify our community, and are a source of joy and spiritual
renewal. And whereas, the city of Milton has been recognized as a
Tree City USA community each year since 2009.
And whereas the City of Milton and her citizens committed to the
stewardship of our natural resources. And therefore, we the Mayor
and City Council of the City of Milton, hereby recognize and
proclaim for the year 2021, February 19 as Arbor Day and urge all
citizens to celebrate Arbor Day, and to support efforts to protect
our trees and woodlands, to make Milton an even greater place to
live, work, and raise a family.
And furthermore, we urge all citizens to plant trees to promote the
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
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well-being of future generations. This is given under my hand, and
the seal of city of Milton, Georgia on the — what's today, the 17d'
day of February 2021. So, and yes — 17a. I know Sandra's here, is
there anybody else here with Arbor Day? Teresa's here, yet if you
guys want to come forward. Do I have the Proclamation? Tammy's
got it. [No dictation) [00:15:18 — 00:15:551
Female Speaker 1: Now we're all smiling.
Mayor Lockwood: We're all smiling, I promise. Thank you, guys, for everything you
did.
Ms. Dewitt &
Ms. Stickels: Thank you.
Mayor Lockwood: Appreciate it. Okay, if I can ask the Clerk to please call the next
item.
City Clerk: The next item is discussion of breweries and distilleries in
Crabapple and Deerfield, Agenda Item No. 21-046, Economic
Development Manager, Ms. Sarah LaDart.
Ms. LaDart: Good evening Mayor and Council. Tonight, we are seeking
direction on our recommendation to add breweries,
microbreweries, distilleries, and micro distilleries as uses in certain
zones of the Crabapple and Deerfield form -based codes. We
currently permit light manufacturing, which includes these uses by
warrant and T5 in Crabapple.
As Milton has grown and developed. We have been presented with
the opportunity to expand these uses beyond T5 in Crabapple, and
have two microbreweries actively looking. I have worked with the
Community Development department on how to allow these uses
in Milton, while ensuring proper oversight, and not creating undue
hardship on these new businesses. Tonight, we are looking for
feedback on these options. A.) I'm sorry — does Council want to
maintain and only allowed these uses in T5 by warrant in
Crabapple?
Or B.) Does Council want to expand on this opportunity? And if
the answer is to expand, there are two follow-up questions. What
zones do we want to include? And do we want to include the entire
zone into how do we want to permit these uses - by right, by
warrant, or by use permit?
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Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
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As I stated, in Crabapple. We currently permit light manufacturing
by warrant in T5, which is kind of the orange -y color on this map,
which includes all four of these uses and we recommend adding
the specific language that permits these as uses —
Mayor Lockwood: Do we have the map? Is it on-screen?
Female 2: It's coming up.
Ms. LaDart: It was on there.
Female Speaker 2: It's coming up.
Mayor Lockwood: I was feeling like the Emperor who has no clothes, looking around
as anybody else not see this?
Ms. LaDart: When I pointed out it y'all didn't and see where I pointed? Sorry.
So, where light manufacturing is currently allowed is in that
yellow-orange T5 section. And we are recommending adding
specific language that permits all of these uses by warrant in the T4
open and T5 sections of Crabapple. So, at this point what is the
feedback on adding those and, if yes, by what use?
Mayor Lockwood: Paul?
Mr. Moore: A couple questions — with the theoretical applications you have
before you, are either of those outside the current T5 area?
Ms. LaDart: Yes, sir.
Mr. Moore: They are? So, would it require — because of that particular
application that we explore the expansion?
Ms. LaDart: So, one of them, they are looking to compromise and put the
microbrewery in the T5 with the T4 being more of the tap room
type situation. The other one is looking and it would be completely
in T4 open.
Mr. Moore: Okay. I'll have more questions, but that's sufficient for now.
Thank you.
Ms. LaDart: Okay.
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Mayor Lockwood: Joe?
Mr. Longoria: Sarah, well, you might not know the answer to this question; but
why did we eliminate or why did we not include T4. When we
originally set this up? Why just T5?
Ms. LaDart: So, that was an oversight on my part. I thought we included this
were qualified, all uses licensed or permitted. I didn't realize a part
of the qualifications would be the allowance of manufacturing.
Mr. Longoria: Right.
Ms. LaDart: So, then when we came back the original form base code of
Crabapple, only permitted light industrial by warrant in T5.
Mr. Longoria: Okay. Because I would agree it doesn't make sense to me why we
would exclude T4 from that use as well. I do have some questions,
oh it's my phone — sorry. Intensity abuse. When we talk about a
microbrewery and micro distillery, a brewery and a distillery, and I
don't even know if the term brew -pub is in our dictionary. And it's
just not included in here because it's covered under some other
component.
Ms. LaDart: It's covered, yes sir.
Mr. Longoria: Okay. So, what is the big difference between those two, and is
intensity of use, is there one that really is better suited for one area
or the other? Or do they all really need to be included in both T
zones 4 and 5?
Ms. LaDart: So, that is why I sectioned them out so you could choose, but if
you look at this picture from the first slide. The top one is Old
Fourth Distillery down an Old Fourth Ward in Atlanta. It produces
about 20,000 barrels, and they started about 1,200 square feet.
They've now grown to about 20,000 square feet. Our code
identifies a microbrewery at 15,000 barrels or less.
Mr. Longoria: Per year?
Ms. LaDart: Per year, yes.
Mr. Longoria: Okay.
Ms. LaDart: But on the same token, a brewery like Sweetwater brewery, at
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500,000 barrels a year; they're on eight acres. So, when we think
about the development and redevelopment of Deerfield, that would
be — and I hate to say the word cool but that would be really cool
thing for us to have in Deerfield. And we have the land for it, so it
would be disappointing to have that excluded as a possibility for a
full-blown brewery.
Mr. Longoria: I think it's a good idea to open that up.
Mayor Lockwood: Would it be safe to say of the realities of development. Like you
said, Deerfield — for example, a microbrewery and for lack of
better terms, really there almost like an accessory type restaurant.
It's part of the experience or whatever, but a brewery itself could
grow into something, but the reality is that areas that are the T4
open and the T5 in Crabapple. There's really no way a large
distillery or brewery — there's not the land.
Ms. LaDart: Correct.
Mayor Lockwood: But again, if there were an open area and whatnot in the T5 or the
T4, which is commercial anyways, mostly commercial, high
density.
Ms. LaDart: Correct.
Mayor Lockwood: So, I certainly missed it too, I don't think this infringing on, and
when we get out to more residential areas and whatnot, having an
issue with that.
Mr. Longoria: The reason we went with the warrant access as opposed to the by
right?
Ms. LaDart: So, the reason we recommended that is because it's currently a
very similar intention is allowed by right in Crabapple, I'm sorry
by warrant in Crabapple.
Mr. Longoria:
Ms. LaDart:
Okay.
But we're open —
Mr. Longoria: But when we put this together. There was a reason we decided by
warrant made the most sense because by right, they would never
need any kind of permit. They would've just needed to occupy the
space.
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Ms. LaDart: Correct.
Mr. Longoria: And so, by warrant, you're saying, `Well, hold it there something
about the intensity of use that we deserve to be notified that it's
gonna take place.'
Ms. LaDart: Correct. As a warrant is processed the same way as an
administrative variance.
Mr. Longoria: Right.
Ms. LaDart: And must satisfy the 10 considerations stated in section 641552.
`The warrant process ensures the professional oversight of the
community development director. And gives he or she the
responsibility to determine if the use and land is appropriate.'
Mr. Longoria: Right, so it doesn't have to come before the Council for approval,
it's something that — like you said — it's administrative. But it's
recognizing that it's maybe a little outside the ordinary.
Ms. LaDart: Correct.
Mr. Longoria: Okay.
Mayor Lockwood: Paul?
Mr. Moore: I want to follow-up with what Joe was talking about intensity of
use. That was one of the things that was a concern for me, too. And
that is when we're trying to create a live, work, play environment
in Crabapple is the best example of that right now? What I would
want — if it's going to be by warrant, and its administrative
variance, which is done by the Director of Community
Development, that individual.
In this case Bob, would have to have the oversight to say, `what is
the intensity of that use when it comes to hours of operation?
Kinds of deliveries? If it's going to be at a certain level of
production, is it one truck a week right now because it's new,
versus seven to ten trucks a week, and they come at 2:00 in the
morning.'
Well, all of a sudden, were infringing on the live, work, play
environment, where you've got a residential component to our
hopefully successful total experience in Crabapple. So, just ask
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you to comment on that first.
Ms. LaDart: So, I have a slide. I thought that might come up. So, these are the
conditions that have to be presented to the Community
Development Director for consideration, and they include traffic
flow, parking, the location, the hours and manners of operations,
the outdoor lighting, and the ingress and egress of the property. So,
all of these things have to be presented to the Community
Development Director.
Mr. Moore: I think about, there was a constituent that used to call me on a
regular basis prior to her leaving her Crabapple homestead, and
had to do with the delivery of beer to a restaurant. The truck used
to come at the crack of dawn and idle on the street just outside her
home. It was immensely interruptive to her lifestyle.
It was way early, and the gentleman had the right to be there, but it
was an infringement on the quality of life that she had been
accustomed to prior to that particular delivery being scheduled. I
just want to make sure that we give that consideration.
And the only other thing that I would propose as a consideration is
as the fact that this is an alcohol production, I don't want to lose
the oversight that the Council has when it comes to alcohol
placement, and its role in creating an environment in our city. Can
you talk to me a little bit about that?
Ms. LaDart: So, when they apply for the manufacturing license. All the alcohol
permits all of those, types of licenses, those do still come before
Council.
Mr. Moore: They do? Without it just being granted by one?
Ms. LaDart: Correct. Right.
Mr. Moore: Great, thank you.
Ms. LaDart: And I would say if there were delivery hours, that would be
something that we could communicate to the Community
Development Director to take into consideration when talking
about issuing one of these warrants.
Mr. Moore: In the issuing of those alcohol licenses, they would have to be
compliant with our current?
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Ms. LaDart: Yes.
Mr. Moore: List of requirements today anyway, right?
Ms. LaDart: Well, one of the things that came up was what happens if a
distillery decides to go into market district? The state doesn't allow
retail sales that close to a school. So that wouldn't be allowed per
state guidelines. That would not be an issue, a brewery or a
microbrewery. Yes. Because that's beer and wine, or beer.
Distillery wouldn't be allowed to because of state law.
Mr. Moore: Okay. Thank you.
Mayor Lockwood: Anybody else?
Ms. LaDart: Is that the direction to move forward? And are there any specific
zones that Council does or does not want to see it in, or would like
to see limitations on the map? So, this is the Deerfield map and
were proposing allowing it by warrant in the purple, orange, and
blue zones.
Mayor Lockwood: Is it safe to say, and I know were talking about Deerfield in
Crabapple, that everywhere goes into add to the T4 open areas that
that would be inappropriate and approved restaurant?
Ms. LaDart: Yes, sir.
Mr. Moore: You could go in one of those areas right now, is currently zoned?
Ms. LaDart: I have another slide for that. So, right now in all of the zones that
were proposing in both Crabapple and Deerfield, hotels,
restaurants, dry cleaners, and gymnasiums are allowed by right.
And warrants are the liquor, retail establishments, conference
centers and gas stations.
Mr. Moore: Sarah, just to confirm. This is your last, T4 open T5 and T6.
Ms. LaDart: Yes, in Deerfield. And Crabapple. The T4 open and T5.
Mr. Moore: Great, okay.
Mr. Longoria: Let's go back to those the previous slide that showed Deerfield.
Ms. LaDart: Yes. There it is.
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Mr. Moore: When you get to the north end of the T5, near Cambridge high
school. Obviously, there would probably be restrictions there too,
correct?
Ms. LaDart: For a distillery, yes.
Mr. Moore: Yeah.
Ms. LaDart: That's liquor retail.
Mr. Longoria: Which is state.
Ms. LaDart: Yes.
Mr. Moore: Who wouldn't want beer production right across the street from the
high school? Right? I'm kidding.
Mayor Lockwood: Paul, kids are different nowadays than when you were in high
school.
Mr. Moore: That's right.
Mr. Longoria: You're right, it was legal when I was in high school.
Mayor Lockwood: Right.
Mr. Moore: Go ahead.
Mr. Longoria: I think it makes sense to do that, I think that it was probably our
intention to do it originally. It was an oversight that it wasn't, I
think by warrant makes sense. The controlled alcohol licensing
itself, still comes under our jurisdiction in terms of the Council. So,
I think those all make perfect sense.
Ms. LaDart: Okay, thank you.
Mayor Lockwood: I think what I'm hearing, based on the comments I've heard that
the Council would want to go forward with that, unless is there
anybody else that may be feels differently? Okay.
Ms. LaDart: Okay. Thank you, moving forward. This will hopefully be back in
front of Council for approval in June.
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FIRST PRESENTATION
Mayor Lockwood: Thanks Sarah. All right will move on to our First Presentation, and
Tammy, if you will please sound the first item.
City Clerk: That item is consideration of RZ21-O UVC21-O 1 - 13085 Morris
Road to rezone from T5 Limited (Deerfield Form -Based Code) to
AL (Apartments Limited) by WRPV XIV, Deerfield Village
Milton, LLC to Correct a Legal Nonconformity with Regard to
Density of a Multifamily Project that was Built in 2001. No
Changes to the Existing Development are Proposed. Total of 554
Units at a Density of 18.43 Units Per Acre on 30.05 Acres and a
Two -Part Concurrent Variance to Allow Existing Tennis Courts,
Fencing, and Existing Swimming Pool and Fencing as Shown on
Site Plan. (Section 64-1602(v)(2) and Section 64-1609(b)(3),
Agenda Item No. 21-047.
The next item is of Consideration Text Amendment RZ21-02
Section 64-2 Definitions as it Relates to Driveways and Large Lot
Incentives, Agenda Item No. 21-048.
Our next item is Consideration of text amendment to Chapter 50 of
the City Code — Subdivisions, as it relates to modify driveways and
large lot incentives, Agenda Item No. 21-049.
Mayor Lockwood: Do have a motion on the first presentation?
Mr. Mohrig: Motion we approve the first presentation as read.
Mr. Moore: Second.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay, I have a motion from Councilmember Mohrig and a second
from Councilmember Moore. All in favor please say, 'Aye'.
Councilmembers: Aye.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Mohrig moved to approve the First
Presentation Items. Councilmember Moore seconded the
motion. The motion passed (6-0). Councilmember Jamison
was absent from the meeting.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
Page 18 of 46
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mayor Lockwood: That's unanimous. Okay, we don't have any items under public
hearing, or zoning agenda. So, I asked the City Clerk to sound the
first Unfinished Business item.
City Clerk: That item is Consideration of the Resolution and Ordinance
Amending Section 3.22 (b) (10) Powers and Duties of the Mayor
and Section 7.18 Charter Commission of the Charter for the City of
Milton, Georgia, Agenda Item No. 21-026.
Female speaker: Number one, right?
City Clerk: I'm sorry, hold on. I'm sorry thought that was item that we moved.
So, I went down, my apologies. Bear with me.
That first item under Unfinished Business is Consideration of an
Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton,
Georgia to amend Chapter 2, Article VI, Division 11, and Article
VIII Division 4 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Milton,
Georgia to Align the Sections with Regards to Conducting
Business with City Employees and Officials, Agenda Item No. 21-
024. Mr. Ken Jarrard.
Mr. Jarrard: Mayor, thank you very much for this evening. I'll go over this, this
was a product of the first presentation after last meeting. It was
actually a modification of two ordinances, think of them as your
purchasing policies and then your ethics code. Obviously, with
respect to the ethical propriety, I know for a fact that the City of
Milton wants to do everything on the conservative side, and lately
with respect to a couple recent events we were reviewing this
language in the purchasing section that is the guidelines about how
the city purchases services and goods and then comparing that to
the ethical code and found that there were some inconsistencies or
at least scenarios where they needed to be harmonized better.
And so, the task was given to me to look at the legal aspects of
this, I work on the staff. We made a judgment call, and the
judgement call was if we were going to tighten it up, let's tighten it
up in a way that is more conservative than it is now on the right
side of ethical propriety.
So, that's what we're doing this evening. Simply trying to
harmonize two code provisions and in the meantime, move them
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even a little farther on the better side of being appropriate and
transparent. So, that's what we're doing. So, the first section
pertains to — if you'll look the ordinance attached to the packet,
you'll see section one and it down you'll see two subparagraphs
one and two.
This pertains to the ability of the City of Milton to actually acquire
and make purchases with members of its staff or officials. And so,
there's language there that will actually allow that to occur with
the approval of the Council. That's great, that's transparent, I
recommend it be taken away. I would recommend that even with
the approval of Council, you're not going to engaging or
transacting business with City officials or City staff. So, that's why
you see a line through that, and that's my recommendation before
you, I think that's the most conservative approach.
Now, so that's the only change with respect to purchasing. Now,
I'll go to ethics, again that's in section two, that's pertaining to
your ethics code. And if you'll turn the page with me, because if
your book's like mine, it's on the second page where you get to the
changes. This too, provide some language with respect to engaging
in business transactions with officials or city employees.
We'll read from B, `The city of Milton shall not enter into any
contract involving [inaudible] [00:34:39] or property with a city
official or employee, or with a business entity in which the city
official or the employee has an interest.' Very nice, succinct,
consistent with state law, I like it. Provided that there's slow sure
in [inaudible] [00:34:52] obtention provisions set for here are
followed, that paragraph, that prohibition, doesn't apply to the
following; and then it goes through a series of different,
tremendously unlikely exceptions that will invariably never occur
in the history of Milton.
And I'm okay with those staying in, talking about doing business
with banks and trading institutions, and these large organizations.
But then it says in four, `Contracts for services entered into the
business which is the only available source for such goods or
services.' So, basically, it's sole source. If there is a City employee
that is the only source of the good or service, this provision under
ethics code, would allow that to occur.
I don't like that either, so I'm recommending we take that out, at
least with respect to goods. I don't want there to be any situation
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where the City of Milton is acquiring either something that is in the
nature of personal property or real property from a City official or
City employee. Services? I can get there, because that would be
consistent with state law, there might be a situation where a service
would be okay, if it's a sole source, but not a good.
So, that's why I've taken that out as well, and then I've stricken
No. 5. So, my recommendation is to strike 5 in its entirety, which
is basically, we can throw all these rules out if it's an emergency. I
don't like that item, I think that needs to be [inaudible] that is my
recommendation, that's what this does; harmonizes the purchasing
and ethical rules so that they fit nicely together. And moves them a
step, even further, towards ethical propriety. Mayor?
Mayor Lockwood: Any questions? I just had a question, and I think it's covered in the
exceptions of the list of things. For example, if and I know this is
way out there, but let's say an employee or a Councilmember had a
family member that was the manager or worked for — let's say
Walmart or Home Depot — and Home Depot was the best place for
the City to buy certain materials, I think that's so far removed that
I think —
Mr. Jarrard: Right. That's a fair question, and that question does come up but
the good news is, is that government's have the ability to engage in
those large corporations even if there happens to be a family
member that works there. What the ethic rules are concerned about
is if there is some sort of direct, financial reimbursement to the
individual, the city employee, or their spouse, or their relative. At
Walmart or Home Depot, their paycheck is the same, with respect
with the fact that there has to be procurement by the City of
Milton. So, it doesn't affect them financially, so the ethic rules
aren't really concerned about that.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay. Joe?
Mr. Longoria: I'm a little bit interested in why we leave services in there? I can
certainly understand a part-time employee for the City might have
time that they can devote to providing services that fall outside of
their employment agreement with the City.
Mr. Jarrard: Sure.
Mr. Longoria: And so, there is a potential that they could be both a City employee
and have the ability to offer services that we could purchase. I'm a
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
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little bit concerned with why we just don't block that out because
that seems to be an extreme exception.
And what I would say is a matter of example, if I were a part-time
City employee and had a cybersecurity business as well, and the
City was somehow impacted and in need of cybersecurity services,
why would I even be considered for that? Because there's some
real challenges..
Mr. Jarrard: The only reason that I did not strike it altogether was because it
was for situations where it was the only source of procurement, but
I will tell you Councilmember Longoria, I was taking a scalpel, not
a Bush Hog to it, but if the Council wants to strike services as well,
effectively striking that entire subfloor, you're not going to hear
any pushback from me. I was simply trying to do everything I
could to take what needed to be taken off to make sure that we
were completely consistent with state law.
Mr. Longoria: And we've been doing such a good job of protecting ourselves at
even the appearance of conflict, that I would hate to think that as
we are being surgical, we just miss out.
Mr. Jarrard: And again, you're not can hear any concern from me. I don't want
to speak for the City Manager, but it's not causes me any legal
concern if you strike that altogether.
Mr. Longoria: I would be in favor of taking that piece out.
Mr. Jarrard: It's one word and I can fully agree with it.
Mayor Lockwood: Any other thoughts or comments? I'll open it up for motion.
Mr. Longoria: Mayor, I move that we approve agenda item 21-024 with the edit
to strike out services from I4, I think that was section 8.
Mr. Jarrard: That's right, and that's a perfectly in order motion. I will tell you
the practical effect of that if it is seconded, will be that entire
subparagraph will be removed.
Mr. Longoria: Yeah. So, what's on the paper is being bullet number four?
Mr. Jarrard: Yes.
Mr. Longoria: Okay.
Mayor Lockwood: So, I have a motion for approval but removing item number four?
Mr. Longoria: Removing item number four.
Mayor Lockwood: Per the discussion with Ken. And a second from Councilmember
Cookerly. So, motion from Councilmember Longoria, as amended
with a second from Councilmember Cookerly. Any discussion? All
in favor please say, 'Aye'.
Councilmembers: Aye.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Longoria moved to approve Agenda Item
21-024 as amended. Councilmember Cookerly seconded
the motion. The motion passed (6-0). Councilmember
Jamison was absent from the meeting.
Mayor Lockwood: The opposed? That's unanimous. Thank you. Okay, if our City
Clerk could please call the next item?
City Clerk: That next item is Consideration of a Resolution and Ordinance
Amending Section 3.22(b)(10) Powers and Duties of the Mayor
and Section 7.18, Charter Commission of the Charter for the City
of Milton, Georgia, Agenda Item No. 21-026, Mr. Ken Jarrard.
Mr. Jarrard: Mr. Mayor and members of the Council, thank you very much.
This is an item you have seen before, because we did in fact look
at it, and voted on it at the last regular meeting. This is a home rule
modification to the City's charter. The purposes of this home rule
modification are fairly modest cities, municipalities, just like
counties' in Georgia have the statutory authority to modify their
own enabling legislation and for municipalities that's called your
charter.
And once again the changes here are fairly minor in content.
You're basically changing by way of home rule two provisions of
your charter. Section 3.22 and Section 7.18, and what the statutes
allowing home rule charter modifications anticipates is that you
will have to approve the ordinance doing so at two consecutive
meetings. In other words, these amendments what we are
proposing does not become effective unless it's approved this
evening. That's just the way the statute works and if in fact you do
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Ms. Cookerly: Seconded.
Mayor Lockwood: So, I have a motion for approval but removing item number four?
Mr. Longoria: Removing item number four.
Mayor Lockwood: Per the discussion with Ken. And a second from Councilmember
Cookerly. So, motion from Councilmember Longoria, as amended
with a second from Councilmember Cookerly. Any discussion? All
in favor please say, 'Aye'.
Councilmembers: Aye.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Longoria moved to approve Agenda Item
21-024 as amended. Councilmember Cookerly seconded
the motion. The motion passed (6-0). Councilmember
Jamison was absent from the meeting.
Mayor Lockwood: The opposed? That's unanimous. Thank you. Okay, if our City
Clerk could please call the next item?
City Clerk: That next item is Consideration of a Resolution and Ordinance
Amending Section 3.22(b)(10) Powers and Duties of the Mayor
and Section 7.18, Charter Commission of the Charter for the City
of Milton, Georgia, Agenda Item No. 21-026, Mr. Ken Jarrard.
Mr. Jarrard: Mr. Mayor and members of the Council, thank you very much.
This is an item you have seen before, because we did in fact look
at it, and voted on it at the last regular meeting. This is a home rule
modification to the City's charter. The purposes of this home rule
modification are fairly modest cities, municipalities, just like
counties' in Georgia have the statutory authority to modify their
own enabling legislation and for municipalities that's called your
charter.
And once again the changes here are fairly minor in content.
You're basically changing by way of home rule two provisions of
your charter. Section 3.22 and Section 7.18, and what the statutes
allowing home rule charter modifications anticipates is that you
will have to approve the ordinance doing so at two consecutive
meetings. In other words, these amendments what we are
proposing does not become effective unless it's approved this
evening. That's just the way the statute works and if in fact you do
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approve it this evening, then we will send copies of this to the
Georgia Secretary of State, and this truly becomes part of your
law.
The General Assembly also has the right to do this because again,
your charter was actually drafted and approved by the General
assembly. But the home rule provisions do allow us to modify it
locally. So, with respect to section 3.22, this pertains to some
language about how you prepare your agendas. That is very
granular to be in your charter. Really, it's too much detail.
So, my recommendation working with your City staff was that
what we really need to have, is just have that done by local
ordinance and all your charter needs to say is that the agenda will
be prepared pursuant to internal rules, that you adopt and prepare
at the local level. Your charter doesn't need to dictate how you set
up your agenda, we want maximum flexibility for that.
If you were to approve this, we have now basically said that the
agenda for each meeting shall include the business items submitted
pursuant to those internal rules of City County procedures, duly
adopted by the mayor and council. In fact, I believe Miss Inglis at
the next meeting or the next one after that we have those changes
coming to you, should you be comfortable with this. The next
section we are modifying is section 7.18 which is the mandatory
charter commission.
This was something that I think you found — or at least I saw — in
most of the small, the new cities that occurred in 2006 John's
Creek, Milton, Sandy Springs, etcetera. Requiring that for every
five years, they would have to assembly charter commission, the
charter commission met, walked through the charter, made
recommendations, and then those recommendations either went to
the Council for modification by way of home rule, or more likely,
went to the General Assembly so the charter could be modified
itself.
So, for a new city, my respectful evaluation, having a mandatory
five year let's review the charter from stem to stern, makes some
good sense. Like anything that is put down on paper, once you
actually give it a road test, sometimes there needs to be some
modifications to it to make it work better.
And we have done that. We did that — thinking off the top of my
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
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head here, but around 2011 and 2016, those were done, and action
taken accordingly, and I believe I was part of both of those. So, I
know what those look like. However, you're what I would call a
mature municipality now, you all have been around a long time,
you have a good culture, you've got a good way of conducting
your official business, I don't see you — and again I'm not the final
arbiter — but I don't see anything systemically wrong, or
challenging with your charter, except these issues that we are
modifying here on your agenda.
So, what we have done is draft some language, that rather than
have a mandatory `Every five years, thou shalt.' We simply have
language that says, `the Mayor and City Council may, when
deemed necessary, call for a charter commission to review the
City's experience, and recommend to the General Assembly, or
City Council as appropriate any changes to the City charter.
The Mayor and City Council, when calling for a charter
commission may provide limitations as to those portions of the
charter that are to be reviewed.' So, you always have the right to
amend your charter as we are doing now. You have the right to
summon together a charter commission, and have them take a stem
to stern look. All this would really do, would be to shut down the
mandatory, `this shall happen every five years.'
That's what this does. That's my presentation, Mr. Mayor, the
Council I think has heard this before. If you adopt this evening, it
does become effective, operative and they send it to the State.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay, I'll open up any questions for Ken.
Ms. Bentley: I have a question, for the other cities that have had charter
commissions that are young, is that about the same? Have they also
taken this move to not mandate every five years? I don't expect
you to know what all the other cities. But have you worked with
any city where this is been done and in what timeframe?
Mr. Jarrard: Right, good question, Councilmember Bentley. And I don't know
so I don't want to act like I do and say something wrong.
Ms. Bentley: Okay.
Mr. Jarrard: I'm not sure. And I can probably find that out by looking at their
charter quickly, and seeing if they've taken this out, but I could not
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on -the -fly tell you.
Ms. Bentley:
As I recall, in our last one, it was a lot of housekeeping items and I
don't expect anyone to remember that from 2016. But I'm just
trying to remember if it was anything of significance. We usually
hear about those things way sooner than five years.
Mr. Krokoff:
I recall it well, it was —
Ms. Bentley:
The same?
Mr. Krokoff:
It was housekeeping items.
Ms. Bentley:
Okay. Thank you.
Mayor Lockwood: Yes, Joe?
Mr. Longoria: Ken, and I agree with everything you said. We could probably
have a great debate over whether not the City of Milton at `M' plus
years is a mature city. And what makes a mature city?
Mr. Jarrard: Fair.
Mr. Longoria: But I would agree that we've been operating long enough, that any
serious flaws would've been identified, and we would've been able
to react to those by now. Okay? The thing that I think we lose by
dismissing the requirement for a charter commission is that it
doesn't give us any compulsion to take a look when things are
going okay. It's not that it's only when things go okay that you
have the time to take a look at what would you change if you could
change. But a lot of times, in gosh, the last 18 months may be a
good example of this.
There is a dramatic change in how people think about what
government is, and what government needs to do that could benefit
from some citizen input to this whole process. When we take out
the charter commission, what we're really doing is we're saying
that the Council then, is in charge of making sure that any reviews
that need to take place, take place, and any modifications that need
to be made are gonna be made, right?
If they're required, but it doesn't give us an opportunity to have
engaged citizens take a look and say, `You know what? This was
great in 2015, but it's really not appropriate today.' Or `We could
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do better than this.' And we ought to think about tweaking it this
way or that. It's not so much that we need to have it, it's that we
lose this opportunity to — it's sort of like hitting the snooze bar,
right? On your alarm clock.
Yeah, I know it went off at 7:00, but I really don't need to be
anywhere until 7:15, so I'm just gonna hit the snooze bar one more
time. We want to have something that is a call to action for us to
review something when things are okay. We have great examples
of when the wheels came off, we needed to make a change, we
made the change. I'm cool with that.
I'm just trying to figure out is there way for us to change the
language that would say, rather than requiring the commission to
actually meet, that the council has the opportunity to say, `Is this
one of the years where we say, we need the charter commission to
meet.' Or can we say, `You know what? We don't have any real
outstanding issues, nothing's been brought up in the last few years,
we're good to go.' You know what I mean?
Mr. Jarrard: I do. We didn't draft it that way, we drafted it using a lot of
language you see in other statutes, basically saying, `When
necessary.' A lot of statutes say that when the government believes
it's necessary, the Council believes it's necessary. So, we could do
that. We could for instance, I mean just in your realm of
opportunities, you could just elongate the time period. Maybe it's
not five, maybe it's 10.
Or you could have an internal rule that on the first meeting in
January of every year, the council will have as a mandatory agenda
item; `Do we need a charter commission this year?' You could do
it that way. This would give you — what is in the charter right now,
the proposed language gives you maximum flexibility but if you
wanted, as a council, to still have an internal rule that says, `Thank
you in the Charter, that's great.'
Because the charter, it's our skeleton. It controls us, it's huge. But
if you wanted to have, sort of a lesser order like an ordinance that
said, `We hereby, shall have an agenda item on the necessity for
the appointment of a charter commission at least once annually.'
Or once biannually, you could still do that, and that would be
consistent with this language. In other words, Councilmember
Longoria, if you're saying, `This may make some sense, but I still
want us to have the discipline because I think you're almost taking
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the position out of sight, out of mind.' If we never have to think
about it again, we'll never think about it again.
Mr. Longoria: Right. That's exactly what I mean. And the thinking about it won't
come from an engaged citizenry, it'll come from the people that
are essentially being managed by the very document that they
would consider changing.
Mr. Jarrard: So, with respect to the agenda, my recommendation was to take
how you put your agenda together, out of the charter, and merely
make the charter reference something you do locally by way of an
ordinance. Why couldn't you do it the same here? Take the
mandatory five years out of here, but then if you all wanna adopt a
`We shall consider a charter commission every year, at least have it
on an agenda.' You could do that, if that is a concern that you're
having. Throw that our there.
Mayor Lockwood: I may add to that, which to your point, Joe, that makes sense. And I
think that's technically what we can do at any point, from what I
understand, we can bring that back up. But maybe that's a win-win
scenario where say once a year, once every two years, right now
it's every five years. But where we just have a tickler that
basically, it's on the agenda. I think we're gonna have a short
discussion, everything good, everything's fine.
Don't take any action, don't have a charter revision. That way,
from the citizen's side if it's on our agenda, and there's citizens
that are really concerned about something, they have an
opportunity to bring that up then, and then the council can discuss
that. Okay, we've gotten all this feedback, we feel at this point, we
probably should have a charter commission review, this year. If
that makes sense. Is that kinda what you're —
Mr. Longoria: Yeah, actually I think that's a good back up because it would allow
us to, it would compel us to put that on our agenda every year, or
every two years, instead of every five years. And it probably would
have a better outcome for us.
Mayor Lockwood: I mean, I'd be willing to support maybe every two years, or
whatever have that come up, that way if everything's going fine,
and the public's happy and whatnot, it's not a big deal. And if
there are some things that come out, it kinda publicizes that there's
an opportunity to speak on it. If there are some issues, we'd wanna
change it, I say we — future councils would wanna address them
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anyways. Paul do you have?
Mr. Moore: I do have a question for Ken, then I have a comment. Ken, is the
path to the decision to assemble a charter commission that is then,
the way that we're constructing it now, a majority vote of council,
that would initiate that action, then? After it's prompted on our
agenda?
Mr. Jarrard: Yes, sir.
Mr. Moore: Okay. So, that being the case. So, we're still sort of self-governing
to get to the point of the choice to create a charter commission. Not
quite sure I buy into the argument that it needs to be more frequent
than it is today. Five years has served us well and that's typical of
a charter commission formulation.
Why would we need to shorten that timeline? Is there any
comment, Ken, as to why we would choose to go more frequent? If
five years is a typical format and has served us well? I can see the
understanding of importance of putting it on as a prompter for us,
but I don't understand why we would be interested in shortening
the timeline.
Mr. Jarrard: The only distinction I see is that the five year has been a
benchmark for mandatory. So, five years we must put one together,
whereas since it's discretionary, it's just an exercise in being
purposeful. That's the best I've got. I mean, I understand
Councilmember Longoria's policy position, I do understand it. The
temporal debate is purely for the Council. Just how often do you
think it needs to bubble to the top, for you to sort of — have the
citizen engagement that Councilmember Longoria and the Mayor
are talking about.
My concern was, and I'll just tell you — these charter commissions,
having been a part of two of them, they're a lot of work. And that's
not — I'm not saying that's not a good thing, but I'm simply saying,
I don't think the City should do something simply because the
charter says do it, when it's that much effort, when you have the
right to do it anyway.
And can do it when the Council believes based upon citizen
feedback or community support, you need to do it. I agree with
your Councilmember Longoria, we can, of course, debate mature
municipalities, but I do think that you are a sober, upright, good
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faith jurisdiction, is my point.
Mr. Longoria: I get that, I agree.
Mayor Lockwood: I like that point too, because let's face it, I know there's some
discussions well, are we a board governing ourselves, with our
charter, but I think we've proven over the years that citizen input,
we take seriously.
So, if there is an issue, I think part of the problem and I know our
legislators have recommended for the last several years that we
take it out, and actually we were planning on doing that, but
certainly as we talked in our meetings and whatnot, we wanted to
do a local so it's more transparent. I do think that part of the
problem, if you just have it arbitrarily every five years, sometimes
people try to fix something that's not broken.
Obviously if you set up a charter commission and whatnot, and are
tasked with something, you're going to make some changes it's
kinda like lawyers. One of them will look at something, one of
them has to change something else just because they can bill. I'm
kidding. But, so my point. I like this discussion where we're at and
maybe it is somewhere, five years is what we had.
Maybe it's somewhere between 1 to 5 years or whatever, but on
the flipside as Ken says, we have the ability at any point to engage
a charter commission and I think with our citizenry and their
involvement, if there are some issues, they're going to bring them
to us and we are certainly going to take heed to that and request
one. So, I'm open anywhere in between there.
Mr. Moore: I think Joe, I think that one to two years is overkill for certain in
my mind. I would be fine with anything north of two years,
whether it's three, four, five, becomes immaterial. It shouldn't
exceed five, but I think three, four, five would accommodate my
take on it.
Mr. Longoria: Yeah, I see it a little differently. Because what we would be
moving to is the option for, not the requirement of. And so, the
option, having the option on the agenda as a decision that we need
to make every year, that's no big deal. In a year where we don't
need to wont' about it, it takes what, five minutes on the agenda to
vote for it.
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So, it's not like it's got a real cost, but yet it makes us think about
it, and it gives our citizens an opportunity to say, `You know what?
This is been bugging me for a while, I know that meetings coming
up in January, I'm to be there to let them hear why I think we
should do this, this year.' I think having it on somewhere in in
agenda, every year make some sense. But we don't have to vote on
that tonight because that's not on the agenda. What would need to
vote on is whether or not we're going to take it out of the charter.
Mr. Jarrard: That's correct.
Mayor Lockwood: Anybody else have any?
Ms. Bentley: Yeah, I just have a comment. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to — I having
been so involved in the CPAC this year, I feel like we have so
many different mechanisms for our citizens to engage. I don't hear
that many comments about wanting to change the structure of our
city.
So, I'm comfortable with this, especially with the police chief's
advisory council, all these different mechanisms for our citizens to
plug in. I, like everyone on Council, is all about making sure that
our citizens have every opportunity to be engaged, but I'm
comfortable. I don't get a lot of feedback about wanting to change
the skeleton of our City, so. That's my comment.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay. Anybody else? I'll open up for a motion of some sort.
Mr. Longoria: So, prior to making a motion, would it be possible for us to get that
on a future agenda where we can discuss how do we give ourselves
this option of talking about do we need to review the charter, at
least once a year? Okay.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay, I'll open up for a motion.
Ms. Bentley: Mayor had like to make a motion, to approve agenda item No. 21-
026 with the direction to also have a future agenda to discuss the
review of the charter.
Mayor Lockwood: How would you word this?
Mr. Jarrard: Absolutely, may I respectfully interject. Here's what I would
request. I would request, I'm perfectly comfortable with this being
done this evening, that second portion. But we've gotta send these
1
1
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
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minutes down to the Secretary of State, so I would request
respectfully, just a one vote on the ordinance. And then if we need
to do another motion on putting the charter review on a future
agenda, I'm perfectly comfortable with that. But I would ask for
two.
Ms. Bentley: Okay. All right. Mayor like to make a motion to approve Agenda
Item No. 21-026.
Mr. Moore: Second
Mayor Lockwood: Okay. I have a motion for approval from Councilmember Bentley,
with the second from Councilmember Moore. Any discussion?
Hearing none, all in favor please say, 'Aye'.
COLInCIlnlernbers: Aye.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Bentley moved to approve Agenda Item
21-026. Councilmember Moore seconded the motion. The
motion passed (6-0). Councilmember Jamison was absent
from the meeting.
Mayor Lockwood: That's unanimous. Other than give staff direction to bring it back,
do we need to formalize this, Ken, as you said —
Mr. Longoria: I don't think we need to formalize it; I mean I do want to take
option. Laura if you intend on doing that. If it was directed at me?
I'm cool with having staff come back to it, set a future date so that
we can talk about it, and at least it'll be published as an agenda
item, and people can comment on it.
Ms. Bentley: Do we need to make a motion though, to do that? That's just an
action item, that we will see it on a future agenda?
[Cross talk]
Ms. Bentley: Okay, that's great. Thank you.
NEW BUSINESS
Mayor Lockwood: Good, good discussion. All right, we'll move on to New Business.
Tammy, if you'll please?
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City Clerk: Yes, that item is Consideration of the Issuance of an Alcohol
Beverage License to Persis Biryani Indian Grill. Located at 631, N.
Main St. in Milton 30009, Agenda Item No. 21-051, Ms. Stacey
Inglis.
Ms. Inglis: Thank you, Tammy. Good evening Mayor and Council, so what
you have before you tonight are a license for new owner. This has
been an existing establishment; they just have a new owner and
they have to get a new license because of the new ownership. This
is for wine and malt beverage and Sunday sales. The applicant has
met all of the legal requirements to get this license, and the staff
recommendation is for approval. I'd be happy to answer any
questions.
Mayor Lockwood: Are there any questions on this item? Do I have a public comment
on this?
City Clerk: We do not.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay. Alright I will open it up for motion.
Mr. Longoria: Mayor, I move that we approve Agenda Item No. 21-051.
Mr.Mohrig: Second.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay, I have a motion from Councilmember Longoria, and I
believe a second from Councilmember Mohrig. All in favor please
say, 'Aye'.
Councilmembers: Aye.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Longoria moved to approve Agenda Item
21-051. Councilmember Mohrig seconded the motion. The
motion passed (6-0). Councilmember Jamison was absent
from the meeting.
Mayor Lockwood: Excuse me. That's unanimous.
Ms. Inglis: Thank you.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Lockwood: Okay, we'll move on to reports. Is there anything Council wants to
report on? Paul?
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Mr. Moore: Mr. Mayor, I just like to report about an experience that I had this
week. That was a very positive one. Via the Milton website and
social media, it was advertised that we have a couple staff
members that are offering assistance to the senior community, to
which I now unfortunately qualify.
And with regard to Covid assistance in managing the perils of all
the things that are before us, as we are, in particular right now
seeking vaccines. So, in the fact that I had personally experienced
a lot of toil and trouble trying to find a vaccine for myself, I
thought, `well, I'll call the helpline.' and see what the experience is
both for me personally and what our citizens might experience.
And I can't tell you how pleased I am to be able to report a
positive experience it was.
I interacted with Milton Fireman Christopher Say, I think, is how
you pronounce his last name. And he was nothing less than
spectacular in offering of guidance he was able to provide to me.
The City doesn't provide vaccines, but he happens to be a resource
to somewhere that did have vaccines available, I ended up driving
to Rome, Georgia to get my vaccine. But it would not have
happened without the guidance provided by him. So, it was a
spectacular experience for me personally. They were very helpful,
and I applaud the effort we are making as a city and Christopher's
efforts, in particular to serve my needs.
Mayor Lockwood: Sounds good. Anybody else? Okay, we'll move onto staff and start
with Community Development.
Mr. Moore: Hey, Joe. One more quick thought?
Mayor Lockwood: Absolutely, Paul.
Mr. Moore: I would just like to point out, Christopher did not know that I was a
City Councilman, so the experience that I had [audio cuts out]
[01:06:19] calling in, but he was just providing terrific service to
another citizen of Milton.
Mayor Lockwood: That says a lot for you. Paul.
Mr. Moore: That's good. I subject myself to all the ridicule that comes with
that.
Mayor Lockwood: Gotta work on your PR.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
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STAFF REPORTS
Department Updates
1. Community Development
Mr. Buscerni: Good evening Mayor and Council, quick update of the section. We
just got a couple little things, so what we're gonna do is it's a
quick section update, number trying to do something I call `around
the town' so we're just gonna take some slides of different projects
that are occurring so that you can kinda see the progress of all of
these little areas. So, we're just go around the city, just to keep you
up-to-date on progress.
Our planter one is starting March 1, just wanted you to know that
that is going to be extremely helpful in our section. CPAC we did
have a meeting recently on that, we gave you the updates. We're
going to be doing additional informational videos we're sending
out this week on form -based code, which the CPAC committee
requested. We're trying to send out informational material to the
CPAC board ahead of time, so that when we do the next meetings,
they'll be more, I'm gonna call it 80/20.
They talk 80% and staff only needs to do 20%, because we've
given it to them ahead of time. I think that will be a good addition
to those meetings, get more feedback. We have the February 25th,
CPAC meeting, it's next week. We have a community educational
session, tomorrow. Just so that everybody knows. Plots and
permits items are really high, we're still getting quite a bit, there's
still a lot of applications coming in and I just want you to know
we're up to date on all of them.
Meeting all of our thresholds and metrics. So, what's happening,
we have Arbor Day, which you just did. Basically, that they're
planting a Chinese Friends tree, they have the Phase Three which
is occurring at the Arboretum, any additional signage trees along
the natural trail, and they are updating the interactive map. It's nice
to do there. Glass recycling, wanna come up Teresa? Teresa's been
really working hard on glass recycling, so we're just gonna give
you a little update on what we're doing with glass recycling. Go
ahead.
Ms. Stickels: Just a quick update, Mayor and Council. Several years ago, the
materials recovery facilities nationwide banned glass from the
single -string recycling. I'm sorry. Because of this, it meant that
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glass could no longer be put in the bin with the other recyclables at
the curbside. Making it very inconvenient, and I'm sure I don't
need to tell you that glass can be recycled over and over. So, it was
a real loss to have a lot of people not be able to recycle at the
curbside. At this point, some residents would discard their glass in
their household trash, and others began taking their glass to the
Roswell Recycling Center.
Fast -forward to March 2020, when Covid forced the closing of
many businesses, and municipal facilities including the Roswell
Recycling Center, after some months, I'm sure you're all aware,
because of sure you've heard from residents, the center did reopen
but participation has been restricted to Roswell residents only. For
now, Milton residents who wish to recycle their glass can take it to
the keep North Fulton Beautiful Recycling Center in Sandy
Springs, and while I am immensely grateful that we at least have
that option at this time, you can well imagine that driving glass
down to Sandy Springs has become a dealbreaker for many of our
residents.
We've been seeking out a more convenient option for our residents
ever since. So, in the summer of 2020, a couple of local high
school students came to the city via Councilmember Jamison, with
the proposal to partner with a glass recycler to offer a drop-off
location for glass in Milton. The glass recycler was offering us a
dumpster along with associated hauling for not charge.
All we needed to do was find a location that could work, but that's
actually turned out to be harder than it sounds. City staff have
looked at city assets as well as private options. The original plan
that was brought to us by the students, would actually have the
dumpster located at the high school. But that option has been put
on hold indefinitely because the schools have quite frankly a lot
bigger fish to fry right now. So, we have a variety of options, we
believe we are considering.
We think we have some good ones, right now. Staff are working
with legal regarding an agreement between the city and the
recycler. So, this update is just to tell you that we feel like we're
really close to having a local option for glass drop-off in the city of
Milton.
And as I said I know you've heard from your constituents and we
have heard from them, and it's something that we take very
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seriously, and we've been working very hard on it. It just turns out
it's not been super easy to self. But we're really close. So, thank
you.
Ms. Bentley: Teresa, could we consider a fire station? I guess you're thinking
about that.
Mr. Buscemi: We've got some good locations. Where trying to get them
geographically dispersed across the city. We think we have some
locations that will do.
Ms. Bentley: Great, that's very exciting. And I know you're thinking of
everything. I'm sorry that I haven't got back to you, I forget that
y'all are down here now. I'm sorry.
Mayor Lockwood: Thank you for doing that. I know we all have heard the need. But I
also know that there's more to it involved with getting a location
and whatnot. I remember we had a remote location for aluminum
cans, which at a fire station sounds great.
But what was happening, people were dumping stuff there,
dumping to the side that was going into the neighbor's yard, so you
have to be - it's one thing you have a recycling center, and you're
monitoring up but if you have a dumpster somewhere and it's self -
policed, there could be a lot of other trash thrown in there too, I'm
sure.
Ms. Stickels: And that's a really important point that if the recyclables are
contaminated, then they're useless. So, that makes it a bigger
problem.
Mr. Buscemi: And our website pages are being updated and we're creating new
links and we're trying to make it more user friendly for the for the
community to visit the website and navigate through Com Dev;
there's quite a bit of stuff, all the different activities that are going
on, so we're really working with the rest of the city staff.
We have Courtney, Jen, everybody's been helping us out to try to
really pull this website together and make it nice, consistent, user
friendly between departments and what not. So, that really worked
out nice. And when we're doing with that, I'll give you an update
on that. All right, so just a quick around Milton. So, just around
Milton, I have Tracey, put this together. So, you wanna give them
a quick around Milton?
1
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Ms. Wildes: Absolutely. So, Lakeside at Crabapple, the final plat for this
project was approved late last year. But to date, they have
submitted 23 active building permits, seven of which we have
issued, and there are seven that are under construction right now.
They're fast tracking this project; they're moving and there is a lot
of activity out there. We visit the site; Josh Rogers are inspector
goes out. So, they're really — you're beginning to see that project
really come to life. So that's Lakeside at Crabapple.
Our next plat, this plat for Deer Haven Preserve, which is on
Freeman Hill Highway, between the two entrances of White
Columns, it was approved late last year as well. It was our larger
lot plat and they have actually sold three lots. Building three, or lot
three is under construction right now. And would encourage all of
you to just stop and ride through there.
They've done a nice job on some elements; their gas lanterns are
really — It's just a great look. So, it's been neat to watch this
development come to life. The next plat, again, that was approved
late last fall was Cross Roads at Birmingham. There's been some
change in their project updates.
They have secured a new architect, they've also secured a new
landscape constrictor, and of course we talked in the last council
meeting about the proposed medical building on the corner. I
visited the site yesterday, and they had actually begun form
structure on two of the lots. We should see a lot of activity really
over the next couple weeks at Cross Roads.
Mr. Buscemi: Robyn, wanna give an update on the winery?
Ms. MacDonald: Good evening, so I just want to give you an update. I know many
of you were interested in the status of the Painted Horse and
Winery. It's a situation where our City Attorney met with the
property owner's attorney and basically came to a conclusion of
wanting them to submit, come to an agreement to submit some use
permit applications by I think it was January 30th.
With that said, that did not happen, but I've been in weekly, almost
daily contact with Pam's attorney, and they have — there's a lot of
moving pieces to it. And they are working very hard to get it in for
this next cycle. So, what they're gonna be looking to submit is a
rural event facility that would allow weddings, corporate events,
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etcetera.
The second use permit would be agriculturally related activities,
which I don't think we've ever done that in the pigsty of the city.
But that includes the summer camps, the birthday parties, the horse
painting, kinda the kids stuff. I kinda put it all together there. And
lastly, the festivals or events, outdoor/indoor, which would
encompass the concerts that occur on the property.
So, that's similar to what Matilda's had been granted a couple
years ago. So, again they've hired Kimley Horn to do their land
planning, I'm familiar with them, they're great. It's gonna come in,
it's gonna be exactly what we need them to do and if they get it in,
I'm very hopeful that they will by next week. The deadline, the
series of meetings would be the CZIM, March 23rd and then I don't
know why I'm looking up here, it's right here. Sorry.
The design review board is April 13th, the planning commission is
April 28th, and then it would come to you for a final decision. If
there are no deferrals at planning commission on June 7th. So, I just
wanted to let you know that they're working hard with staff, and I
feel really confident that they will submit a quality application that
we would like to see. Anyway. Also, I've been involved with is
Bloom, which I know everybody's been anticipating opening over
across from Bell Memorial Park.
The building itself is pretty much done as far as the interior
finishes, they are just finishing up their parking lot and they had —
hopef illy once the parking lot is done, we can wrap it up and they
can be open for business very soon. Just wanted to let you know
about that. It's Bob's building.
Ms. Wildes: So, good even Mayor and Council. We had the Public Safety
complex was finished in August, and it was blazing hot. So, I
convinced Bob to hold off on planting the trees, and we actually
waited until January/February, when it was better time to plant the
trees. So, the trees are in, and they look great.
The pictures don't do it justice yet because the leaves are not on
yet, but when it blooms in the spring it will look even better. And
just to give you an idea of the trees that were planted out there,
there's some American Holly, Crate Myrtle, Willow Oak, Red
Maple, Trinity Maple, London Plain Tree, Princeton Elm, which is
a variety of the American Elm, Red Bud and Foster Holly.
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These trees are gonna give us some great fall color too, a variety of
golden yellows and reds. So, it'll look really nice in the spring and
in the fall.
Mr. Buscemi: It's quite an array of trees. I think it's gonna really give the final
touch to the complex. Okay, Station 42 just a quick update. The
demolition contract was on the street, so it's out there. We're
waiting for some asbestos removal to be done in the existing
building and once that's done and all the utilities have been
disconnected the building will come down.
We did order a sign to put out there to notify the general public, on
the 3/1 council meeting you'll see a change order to universal for
this project. Universal engineering, it's a no cost change order.
We're just trying to get them to reanalyze the soil sheer. And if we
can get that in our favor, I think it will save the city a whole lot of
money on reducing some of those code requirements that we have
to do. So, we're going through that excursive.
That's looking pretty good. We're also working with the adjoining
neighbor, who's purchased the property recently, it's a nice track.
It wraps all around this lot, and we're trying to work with him to
utilize some of his land for septic leeching field, which would help
us. The original thought was to bring it all the way down, that's
what we always anticipated, but if he steps up and we're working
with him, if he's willing to give it to us, again that would save us a
whole lot of money. And he'd be willing to do it.
We'll maintain it but at least it would save us the money of
bringing it down. The other project Milton Country Club, I've
finalized all my review of the contract documents, did all my
redlining, so as soon as the designers incorporate all my comments
on this final literation, then we'll go to pricing and then we're
going to construction. So, I guess in short — by late spring we'll see
this building under construction.
I'm really hoping to get it done as soon as I can because I'd like to
get the bathrooms open, so we don't have to stand — gotta get the
bathrooms done. I promised Steve I would concentrate on doing
that. We're pushing on this one. But it'd be nice by summer. We
should have this open. Of course, I don't have a name for this
facility. I think we're working on that. But it's the same thing with
the late park names. All right, this one I just wanted you to know
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this one's Shrubby Fields right here on the roundabout. You can
see those two buildings, building one and two are actually
constructed. I just want everybody to know that March 1St, which is
rapidly approaching the Starbucks on the lower level of the left
building will be open. And we're gonna have a grand opening on
that. And the other floors are sold and they're just trying to get into
a closing mode on those, so we'll have those done and get
occupied.
Those will be businesses, so we'll be bringing more employment
into the area, which I'm really looking forward to. And then the
other building of course, the second floor has got a restaurant so
that's already been taken up too. So, we're really working hard to
maximize these and get them open. And then the last slide is, I did
an inspection on the Orkin downtown here, and I'd say within
about 45 days, he should be complete. All his work will be done.
And then just the tenant build outs will start, which he told me
they're gonna come right in after he's done.
There's a lot of really neat stuff' going on here, we have a lot of
outdoor firepits, and fireplaces. We have second story dining; we
have a lot of nice plazas. Of course, we've got the parking garage,
so there's a whole bunch of plazas between those mixed-use
buildings. All those buildings on the left of the curve, the top left,
these buildings here are mixed use buildings. So, they have retail
on the ground floor and two stories residential above.
These are buildings where we're looking to maybe potentially do a
brewery with an outdoor firepit and some lights, second story
dining. This here's a whole big plaza in here with another fireplace
coming across here. These are just one-story buildings, they look
like they're just — they look two, but they're really one. They're
just really high. And then of course the parking deck is in the back.
So, you can access it directly from here.
So, Orkin also, the city put in three crosswalks along Heritage, and
Orkin voluntarily agreed to put in the fourth crosswalk right in this
area here. And he's constructed that crosswalk. He's also,
expressed a lot of interest in taking care of this roundabout, from a
landscape perspective and all of this median along Heritage, on
both sides of the street. Because he wants to keep it consistent.
So, we're working with him now to do that, and he's looking to
enhance and put more landscaping and really kinda dress that up.
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Heritage would look very nice and I wanted to make sure in front
of City Hall it always looks like it's the best it could look. That's I
believe, my last slide and I just wanna give you quick updates each
month when I do it, I'll give you different areas and show you
what's going on.
Mayor Lockwood: Thanks, Bob.
Mr. Buscemi: Any questions?
STAFF REPORTS
Decartment Updates
2. Parks and Recreation
Mayor Lockwood: Nope, thank you, Tracey, and Robyn, too for your presentation.
Tom, Parks and Rec.
Mr. McKlveen: Good evening Mayor and Council, I'm gonna start with some new
additions to the department. We have hired a Parks and Recreation
specialist; her name is Emily Growth. She lives locally, but
recently worked in Aiken, South Carolina as an Athletic
Coordinator over there. Brings a lot of passion and knowledge for
outdoor recreation, too. So, she has a lot of skill that's going to
really boost the department.
And also thank you, Mayor, I'm excited to work with Ms. Tucker
on the Parks and Recreation advisory board. Out of the parks,
we've got a new lightning detection system out at Bell Memorial
Park, and Cox Road. Cox Road did not have one previously, and
we upgraded the one at the Memorial Park for the safety of our
participants out there. And we are also working with community
outreach, and GIS. We're looking to remark and map the trails out
at Birmingham Park. Going on to programming, Kim Joyful Souls
preparations are underway and in full swing already for the special
needs summer camp.
Registration is already open and we have 20 kids registered, those
20 kids equal 87 registrations already. Registration is going very
well there, as far as winter basketball goes; we had roughly 600
games scheduled, and only 26 were not played due to Covid
related reasons. So, overall, we got the vast majority of our winter
basketball season in. Our best ball program worked extremely hard
to make sure the gyms and the participants were safe. They were
n
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sanitizing the entire gymnasium before each game.
The gym was empty, their staff went through, wiped everything
down before they let anyone else back in. So, I was very proud that
our winter basketball went so well. As far as Springs sports go all
of our Spring athletics started January, end of January early
February. Baseball has over 800 kids, back in baseball again, that's
where they were last spring. And we're still in a pandemic so, very
happy there. And next time you look at Bell Memorial Park, you
might notice on one of the turf fields, we've actually got a fence to
be able to play baseball on a portion of one of the rectangular
fields to help accommodate baseball.
Not only for their growth, but also to give them access to turf that
the other sports get. Boys and Girls Lacrosse, they're a tick over
500 players, which is also pre-Covid numbers again, so that's
great. As far as adult programming goes, winter soccer they're
trying to wrap up.
We allowed them to go to Bell Memorial Park, for the turf fields
when youth sports weren't happening. So, we've moved them back
over Cox and all this weather has caused a lot of cancellations but
they've got a couple games left, we'll get them in. And then
spring, the spring adult soccer's gonna be kicking up in the next
six weeks or so. Any questions?
Mayor Lockwood: No? Thanks, Tom.
Mr. McKlveen: Appreciate it.
Mayor Lockwood: All right. Next, David IT. Or IS.
STAFF REPORTS
Department Updates
3. Information Services
Mr. Frizzell: I'll tell you what, I think I need to be like Bob and bring visuals
with me. I'm always impressed, I just gotta think of something to
put in a visual. All right, good evening Mayor and Council. I'll
start off with the ever -loved stats. Our average number of tickets
has been about 44 tickets being opened every week and about 45
tickets being closed every week, that's a little over 100% closure
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and that's bringing the queue down.
Right now, we're about 29 tickets, so that's all that Information
Services, that's IT and GIS. So, it's looking really good in the
queue right now. Also, the average response time and resolution
times on all the tickets were under the service all agreement, so
very happy with the team there. On project levels, we were just
doing continuing improvement, just like we've always done. We're
working on network redundancy, we're expanding our VM wear
licensing to enterprise.
Actually, we did that just last month, so we're building up our
network management capabilities so we can monitor better, we can
manage better, and fix better. We're going to a new backup system
as well. We're going to a product called VEEM, which is gonna be
replacing our Barracuda backup system, which we've had for quite
a long time. But we're happy with the way that VEEM works, it's
got some improvements over Barracuda, so we're looking forward
to seeing how that works as well. And also, employing some new
security measures. Networks will be coming online pretty soon for
network auditing, security and so on. So, always improving on that
as well. One thing I've been working on recently, too.
As records management circling around to the laser fish system.
Which I'm sure you've all heard my talk about before. We're
bringing more historical records from when the city was first
incorporated and adding new records as well, and adding more GIS
functionality, too. So, that's one thing we're moving forward on
and making more available to the public as well. We'll have more
update on that as time goes on. And finally, I just want to let you
know about our team.
You know we lost Robert back in December. We actually got two
new members on the team, Nico Smith, who joined us I think in
November. And he's like the energizer bunny, he just works his
tail off. And gets tickets done. He gets in there, he's making
progress. And just this last month, we brought on Kalev Karo, who
comes to us from an IT background working for the Department of
Defense. He's been with a couple contractors both on the federal
and the state level.
And also, been in the national guard at Fort Benning, so — he's got
quite a lot of talent there. The whole team has talent. John Rider,
who's been with us for almost a year now, he's also got a military
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
Page 44 of 46
background. He comes to us form the Marines, with an IT focus
back then. So, very happy with the team we have right now,
looking forward to kinda building up, give them the resources they
need and definitely got the talent, and looking forward to what we
can do with them this year. So, any questions?
Mayor Lockwood: Any questions for David? All right, thanks sir.
Mr. Frizzell: Thank you.
STAFF REPORTS
Department Updates
4. Community Outreach
Mayor Lockwood: Courtney?
Ms. Spriggs: Good evening Mayor and Council. Despite the effects of the
pandemic I'm (inaudible) 101:33:291 the Community Outreach
team as part of the Communications department, and was deployed
from all other departments under Milton citizens has continued to
work on a number of projects. You heard about some of them
tonight, Community Development, Parks and Rec; but I'm gonna
take just an opportunity to thank our team for being so flexible,
creative, and excellent to work with.
Their commitment, is in all the projects that we've worked on. In
November, since we last met, in November, instead of our regular
Veteran's Day Breakfast, which we normally have here in Council
Chambers, we pivoted and has a social media campaign including
posts of Milton employees who are veterans. That was well
received, one is actively serving abroad now. So, it was great to
introduce those employees to the residents they serve and celebrate
their service to our country.
In December, we had a lot of pivoting to do. Trisha Wolfe, one of
our Special Events Coordinators worked with Sarah in Economic
Development to support the holiday shop mill event to boost
support of those businesses. Thanks to Santa Claus and Mayor
Lockwood we were able to film our annual tree lighting and
present that on social media.
We also added a Santa reading the night before Christmas. Instead
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
Page 45 of 46
of pancakes with Santa we had a `Get Fired Up, Santa's Coming to
Milton' where Santa visited various neighbor hoods in a firetruck
escorted by police, it was great to work with Police and Fire on
that project. And create a new event which probably will stick,
Covid or not. It was well received. We also helped _01:34:54 of
North Fulton hold their Menorah lighting at Broadwell Pavilion.
They had a limited event with a small number of people, so we
helped continue that tradition. Also, with a virtual engagement
portion.
I continue working with our Village Volunteers, our special needs
group that meets weekly. We host it, but Diane Stewart, a
volunteer Milton resident runs it, and as part of their Christmas
celebration, Anita Jupin our other Special Events Coordinator,
coordinated the creation of a recipe book with all the recipes that
they had made when they could meet in person.
Created that book, presented it, printed it, and presented it to them
to be distributed. Which they appreciated. We continue to work on
the comprehensive plan and improve and increase engagement on
that. Encouraging all Milton residents to engage virtually and
provide input at our community education sessions. Then our team
is also working on making Milton special events permit process
more streamlined and collaborating with all departments to
improve the process.
The Milton Equestrian Committee which is meeting right now,
across the way, elected a new chair the beginning of the year, Tony
Rich. And they are reviewing tonight, their 2021 goals and
priorities. And there are countless other ways we are behind the
scenes and helping with the event and engagement portion of every
project with every department.
As much as we can. So, through phone calls, emails, social media,
and of course Zoom and Teams, we have worked to ensure
continued engagement with our community in as many aspects as
possible. Our upcoming events are still to be determined, but we
are in the early planning stages for Crabapple Fest in October. Real
Crabapple Fest, in person on the street, with some changes if need
be, but I hope not too many. And again, continuing to work with
all of our departments. Thank you, as always for your time, trust,
and attention.
Mayor Lockwood: Thank you, Courtney.
1
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 pm
Page 46 of 46
Ms. Spriggs
ADJOURNMENT
Thanks. See y' all.
Mayor Lockwood: Appreciate all the updates. And if anybody has anything else, or
any comments? If not, that will conclude our regular meeting. So,
do I have a motion to adjourn?
Mr. Longoria: Motion to adjourn.
Mayor Lockwood: Okay, I have a motion to second to adjourn. All in favor please
say, 'Aye'.
Councilmembers: Aye.
Mayor Lockwood: That's unanimous. Thanks, you guys.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Longoria moved to adjourn the City
Council meeting at 7:38 pm. Councilmember Mohrig
seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0).
Councilmember Jamison was absent from the meeting.
Date Approved: April 26, 2021
Tammy L. L wit, tity Clerk
— ( 3= -
Joe Lockwoo , Mayor