HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - CC - 04/26/2021City Clerk: When you 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 a
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.
Mayor Pro Tem Peyton Jamison.
Mayor Pro Tem: Here.
City Clerk: Councilmember Paul Moore.
Mr. Moore: Here.
City Clerk: Councilmember Laura Bentley.
Ms. Bentley: Here.
City Clerk: Councilmember Carol Cookerly.
Ms. Cookerly: Here.
City Clerk: Councilmember Joe Longoria.
Mr. Longoria: Here.
City Clerk: And Councilmember Rick Mohrig.
Mr. Mohrig: Here.
Mayor: Mayor Lockwood absent. Mayor Pro Tem Peyton Jamison present.
Councilmembers Present: Councilmember Paul Moore, Councilmember Laura
Bentley, Councilmember Carol Cookerly, Councilmember Joe Longoria, and
Councilmember Rick Mohrig.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 1 of 35
ROLL CALL
City Clerk: When you 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 a
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.
Mayor Pro Tem Peyton Jamison.
Mayor Pro Tem: Here.
City Clerk: Councilmember Paul Moore.
Mr. Moore: Here.
City Clerk: Councilmember Laura Bentley.
Ms. Bentley: Here.
City Clerk: Councilmember Carol Cookerly.
Ms. Cookerly: Here.
City Clerk: Councilmember Joe Longoria.
Mr. Longoria: Here.
City Clerk: And Councilmember Rick Mohrig.
Mr. Mohrig: Here.
Mayor: Mayor Lockwood absent. Mayor Pro Tem Peyton Jamison present.
Councilmembers Present: Councilmember Paul Moore, Councilmember Laura
Bentley, Councilmember Carol Cookerly, Councilmember Joe Longoria, and
Councilmember Rick Mohrig.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 2 of 35
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
City Clerk: For the record Mayor Joe Lockwood is absent for tonight's
meeting. Would everyone please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance?
All in unison: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and
to the republic for which it stands, one nation- under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Will the city clerk please say on the next item.
City Clerk: That next item is approval of the meeting agenda. Agenda Item
No. 21-117.
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. I am requesting one change and one addition. I would
like to move up the following agenda item. Agenda Item No. 21-
127. Resolution appointing a member to the Milton Equestrian
Committee to after consent agenda. I'd like to add an agenda item.
A proclamation recognizing the 52nd Annual Professional
Municipal Clerk's Week, May 2nd through May 8d', 2021. It's kind
of a surprise.
City Clerk: [Inaudible] [0:01:57].
Mayor Pro Tem: Any [inaudible].
City Clerk: I did not know that was coming.
Mayor Pro Tem: It kinda threw me for a loop a little bit too.
City Clerk: But yeah, let's do it.
Mr. Longoria: Mayor Pro Tem, I'll move that we accept the agenda as modified.
Mr. Moore. Second.
Mayor Pro Tem: Okay. I have a motion from Councilmember Longoria, second
from Councilmember Moore. Any discussion? All in favor, please
say aye.
All in unison: Aye.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 3 of 35
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Longoria moved to approve the Meeting
Agenda with the following amendments:
Move up Agenda Item No. 21-127 - Resolution appointing a member to
the Milton Equestrian Committee.
Add a Proclamation recognizing the 52n1 Annual Professional Municipal
Clerk's Week, May 2nd through May 8'h, 2021.
Councilmember Moore seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0). Mayor
Lockwood was absent from the meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem: Oppose? Okay. That's unanimous. And public comment. Do we
have any public comment?
City Clerk: I do not Mayor Pro Tem.
Mayor Pro Tem: Okay. So, we will waive the public comment information and ask
clerk to call the next item.
City Clerk: The next item is - I'm sorry.
Mayor Pro Tem: It'd be on the consent agenda.
City Clerk: Yes. We're gonna go ahead and go to consent. Approval of the
February 171, 2021, City Council Meeting Minutes. Agenda Item
No. 21-118.
The next item is approval of the March 111, 2021, City Council
Meeting Minutes. Agenda Item No. 21-119.
Our third item, Approval of the Financial Statement and
Investment Report for the Period Ending February 2021. Agenda
Item No. 21-120.
Our fourth item, Approval of a Professional Services Agreement
between the City of Milton and the ECS Southeast LLP for
Geotechnical Exploration for the Morris Road Widening Project.
Agenda Item No. 21-121.
Our fifth item. Approval of a Professional Services Agreement
between the City of Milton and Pond & Company Inc for Former
Milton Country Club Stormwater Management. Agenda Item No.
21-122.
Our next item. Approval of the Service Agreement between the
City of Milton and Property Masters Commercial Landscaping
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 4 of 35
LLC for Tree Installation on Milton City Hall and Milton Fire
Station #43. Agenda Item No. 21-123.
Our final consent agenda. Approval of a Professional Services
Agreement with Davis Engineering and Surveying LLC for Survey
of Mayfield Road for Sidewalk Extension. Agenda Item No. 21-
124.
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Do I have a motion?
Ms. Bentley: Mayor Pro Tem, I'd like to make a motion to approve the Consent
Agenda as read.
Ms. Cookerly: Second.
Mayor Pro Tem: I have a motion from Councilmember Bentley and a second from
Councilmember Cookerly. All in favor please say aye.
All in unison: Aye.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Bentley moved to approve the Consent
Agenda as read. Councilmember Cookerly seconded the motion. The motion
passed (6-0). Mayor Lockwood was absent from the meeting.
Mayor Pro Tern: Oppose? Okay. That's unanimous. If we will move on to our New
Business item.
NEW BUSINESS
City Clerk: And that New Business item is the Consideration of a Resolution
Appointing a Member to City of Milton Equestrian Committee by
Appointing a Board Member for District 3, Post 2. Agenda Item
No. 21-127. Mayor Pro Tem.
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Before I open it up for a motion, I'll introduce
Councilmember Moore's appointee. Would you like to say
something?
Mr. Moore: Sure. Tonight it's my pleasure to nominate Nan Buckner for the
Milton Equestrian Committee for District 3, Post 2. Nan's lived in
what is now Milton since 1996 when relocating to Georgia. She's
originally from the Dayton, Ohio area. She owns five horses that
she boards on her property — her farm — in northeast Milton. Her
farm is named Woodland Farm when she named the farm in honor
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
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of her great grandparents from which the name was registered with
the State Department of Agriculture in 1960.
Nan started riding horses at a very young age at 4. And she's been
an active shower and competitor since the age of 8. Nan is a third -
generation horseman. Her father had been quite active in fox
hunting and racehorse communities. Her grandfather ran a local
livery in her hometown around the turn of the century in 1900. Nan
is a graduate of Meredith Manor — a school of horsemanship — with
a riding master's degree with emphasis in teaching and training.
She also is a graduate of Salem College — Salem West Virginia —
with a Bachelor of Science in equine science equine veterinarian
degree.
She was head trainer at Pipe Dream Farms in Findlay, Ohio after
she graduated from college. And she taught college -level programs
at both Findlay College and Bowling Green State University. Since
relocating to North Fulton — or Milton area — she has returned to
amateur status with the United States Equestrian Federation —
USEF — and has campaigned her mare — Lou Savanna — to many
state, zone, and national Horse of the Year titles with both at
Georgia Hunter Jumper Association and the USEF and has served
as a past member of the Georgia Hunter Jumper Association.
She also was very involved in the — and I thought this was
interesting — the Shamrock Hounds in Rome, Georgia. A foxhunter
recognized by the Master of Foxhounds Association of America
and received the honor of the Hunt Colors and a Master's Button.
In 2005 Nan started her business — the Snooty Fox Tack Exchange
— which recently relocated to Milton. She prides herself on
providing quality apparel, tack, and stable equipment including
consignment services. And many people from our area — the
surrounding area — actually go to Nan's shop.
She brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm with her, if
accepted for this position. And as you heard Nan has been involved
in the equestrian community for years. She currently owns horses
on her farm in Milton. She's dedicated in various aspects of the
sport. And she's also an owner of an equestrian business in our
own city. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem and Councilmembers it's my
pleasure to nominate Nan Buckner to become a member of the
Milton Equestrian Committee.
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Well, that sounds very qualified. Well, I will open up
for a motion.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 6 of 35
Ms. Bentley: Mayor Pro Tem, I'd like to make a motion to approve Nan
Buckner to fill the District 3 vacancy on the Milton Equestrian
Committee.
Ms. Cookerly: Second.
Mayor Pro Tem: All right. I have a motion from Councilmember Bentley and a
second from Councilmember Cookerly. Is there any discussion on
the motion? All in favor please say aye.
All in unison: Aye.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Bentley moved to approve Agenda Item No.
21-127. Councilmember Cookerly seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-
0). Mayor Lockwood was absent from the meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem: Opposed? All right. That is unanimous. And I know, Nan, I know
you wanna say a few words before you do the formal swearing in.
Ms. Buckner: Thank you Council. I know quite a few of you personally and I
know you know me. I live and breathe horses. I wake up in the
morning and I'm thinking about them. I go to sleep at night and
I'm thinking about them too. And somewhere in-between I'm
probably thinking about horses too. So, this is a real honor for me,
and I can't thank you enough. I hope I do a good job. Thank you.
City Clerk: Yeah, fun fact about Nan Bucker, another fun fact is that she also
shows dogs. Right? Just in her spare time. Yeah. Nice job.
REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
Ma%or Pro Tem: All right. We're gonna move on to reports and presentation. Will
the City Clerk please say on the first item?
City Clerk: That first item is appreciation plaques for City of Milton board
members. Larry Covington with the Milton Equestrian Committee
and Tim Bryan with the Design Review Board. Councilmember
Rick Mohrig.
Mr. Mohrig: Thank you City Clerk. Tonight it's my pleasure to recognize and
say thank you to two of our longstanding volunteers on two of our
committees. The first person I'd like to recognize is Larry
Covington. Larry's been a member of the Milton Equestrian
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 7 of 35
Committee, which now Nan is filling the void that Larry has left.
He has been on the Milton Equestrian Committee since March 601
,
2017. He was on the Inaugural Committee. So, he served up until
this point in time.
He has been a long-term member of the Milton community for
years while he and his wife raised their family here. Larry became
my representative when we first formed the Milton Equestrian
Committee. And Larry's decided to retire from the Milton
Equestrian Committee to spend more time with his grandchildren
and to do some traveling with his wife now that the country is
starting to open with COVID.
So, I'd like to say thank you to Larry. And I'll call you up in just a
second after I read the second one. And I'd like to really say thank
you for your service and what you brought to the committee. And I
know Larry also is involved in other community organizations
even in the Milton. So, even though he's retiring from this he's
gonna be involved in other things helping us.
The second person that I'd like to recognize would be Tim Bryan.
Tim is an architect and owner of Bryan Home Planning. Tim has
served on the Milton Designer Review Board since 2011. He's
been a critical member lending his expertise to the design area of
the board when reviewing applications. And also making
suggestions on where things can be improved both in design and
material usage. And Tim's business has been located in Crabapple
for 22 years. But he recently has relocated. And I think he's
relocated still in Milton. Originally we thought it was gonna be
Cherokee County, but he's up in the Birmingham Crossroads area.
So, he's still keeping his business within Milton.
And Tim, for your years of service as volunteer of the city of
Milton, I'd like to thank you and have both you and Larry come
forward. And I'd like to present you with a plaque for your service.
For your service, Larry.
Mr. Covington: Thank you.
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you Tim and Larry. You all have been two of the best
volunteers this city has had. And we're gonna miss you greatly. So,
thank you both. If City Clerk will sound the final — or no — that's
sound the next item.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 8 of 35
City Clerk: That next item is Milton Arts Council Inc presentation. Ms. Sarah
LaDart.
Ms. LaDart: Good evening Mayor and Council. We have Bill Purdy who's the
chairman of the Milton Art Council here tonight to give Council an
update on what we've been up to the last couple years and what to
look forward to in 2021.
Mr. Purdy: Thank you Sarah. Thank you Council for your time this evening.
We want to give our special thanks for Sarah. She's been a great
asset to us with these four years in helping us any place with the
city. She's a very valuable asset and we appreciate her time also.
Just a bit of history. I'm also president of the Milton Arts Council.
It's a Georgia corporation 501(c)(3). And we were transitioned
from the Milton Cultural Arts Committee — if you remember that
from the early days in 2016. And we did that through ways private
in government funding for our organization to build a launch
program here in Milton.
The topics of this presentation include our organization's past
projects and plans for the future. We're hoping tonight will be the
first of our biannual reports to Council. And we're looking for
Council to provide input to us on arts projects moving forward.
Over the past three years we have learned the following. There is
an abundance of artistic talent in our City, especially in the
performing arts. High school theatre is a good example if you've
seen some of those productions. There's also a lot of community
interest in the arts as supported by our recent survey by the City
showing that 71% of the respondents are in favor of public art,
theatres, plays, and performances.
Once Council has demonstrated its capability of developing an arts
program in our City is evidenced by our successful arts projects.
We have an active board of directors and dozens of volunteers. We
also learned that arts projects are rarely self -funding and most
always rely on public funding, donors, volunteers, and sponsors. In
2018 we staged our first Milton's Got Talent contest. We had 24
applicants. Two judges selected three winners in each of two age
categories. There were cash awards for the two first -place winners.
The winner's performance award ceremony was planned for the
outdoor Milton Beach Bash, but we rained out as some of you may
have learned. That provided us a lesson in scheduling outdoor
performances. Jordan Thorne — one of our winners of that contest —
has since performed at several local City events. You may have
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 9 of 35
seen her. Had had one of her original songs professionally
recorded. That song is a thrill to discover young talent in our City
and help them pursue their dreams.
In 2019 we staged our first Milton Community Theatre production.
We had a budget of $14,000.00, cast and crew of 14, and 10
volunteers. So, over 400 people saw the performance. There was
six productions over two weeks. We also had our first creative
writing contest. We had 30 applicants and awarded a total of
$500.00 to the winners. We had our first elementary school heart
painting contest. 75 young people participated in that, and their art
was exhibited at the 2018 Crabapple Fest.
Also as an experiment we tried something at this Crabapple Fest
called a Children's Music Experience. One of our directors bought
keyboard, drum sets, guitars. And 75 to 100 young people came up
and helped play. We taught them a few things. And you just
wonder which of those might go home and say, gee, I'd like to
learn to play one of those things. We also participated in the
Milton's Tree Lighting Contest.
Jordan Thorne — again — performed for us. In 2020 — the year of
COVID — we thought we were doomed. However, we were able to
stage our second local community theatre project with a budget of
$18,000.00. We had a cast and crew of 12 and 10 volunteers. We
could not sell tickets. We could not have an audience. But through
a grant from Fulton County Cultural Arts called a Virtual Arts
Initiative, that grant was given to us and that was what funded it.
And that production was put on Fulton County website 2D. And I
sent all of you some links to that through an email.
We were also honored to participate as a sponsor at a Mark Law
Memorial. Over $10,000.00 was raised for that and dozens of
donors participated. We also participated in a Milton School
playwrighting contest recently. We made a video production of the
seven entries as part of the Fulton County grant, the Virtual Arts
Initiative. 40 students participated by writing three-minute plays.
One of the entries in musical comedy became a Georgia State
contest winner. So, we encouraged those two students who wrote
the winning play to expand their performance to an hour. And it
will premiere as the third Milton Community Theatre production
this July. We invite you to come see it. Obviously, they were pretty
excited to have this opportunity. It was just another demonstration
of helping our local talent pursue their artistic goals.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 10 of 35
We also had our second Milton's Got Talent contest. It just
wrapped up in February. We had 12 participants. We did this
through an online voting. We received 7,000 votes. We were
stunned at that large number. The award ceremony was streamed
via a live Facebook page. And we're planning a third Milton's Got
Talent contest this fall. We also just completed our second creative
writing contest. We had 47 entries — middle school and high school
— and awarded $1,000.00 to those winners. The third contest will
be in spring 2022. 2020 was quite a year anyway. We also forged
an alliance with Mill Springs Academy to rent their stage for our
productions. And they've hosted us twice already in the last year.
We are currently exploring a contractual relationship with the City
to become the provider of theatre programs in Milton. We are
unlike other not-for-profit corporations that work ,with the City.
We were founded by the City to create an arts program for Milton.
And that is our only focus. These have been our funding sources
the last few years. In 2018 and '19 we received private donations
from two individuals totaling $15,000.00. In 2020 Fulton County
Arts had gave us two grants totaling $21,000.00. And in 2021 I
have applied for two grants also. However, these grants require
matching funds, which we currently do not have.
There had been some recent discussions about branding our City.
How do we wanna be perceived? I would like to see our City be
the center of cultural arts for North Georgia. So, in conclusion, we
see great potential in our City for the arts. And we ask — what do
the arts mean to the residents and the City Council? And we seek
your guidance in how your Milton Arts Council can better work
with the City. So, this concludes my presentation. I'd be happy to
take questions or comments.
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Bill. I know you spent a lot of time over the last few
years on this. I know my wife has helped you out over the years
too. She was a great help.
Mr. Purdy: And it's been a lot of fun.
Male Speaker: I attended the last Milton's Got Talent, and it was fantastic. So,
thank you for all your hard work.
Mr. Purdy: You're welcome. Questions. Council?
Ms. Bentley: I just have a comment. Just giving feedback. I received a lot of
positive input about the Mark Law stallion out there. The horse.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 11 of 35
And I think it's really in keeping with Milton and I know that other
people on the other side of town are eager to have their horses
installed in all the roundabouts. So, I think we've got something
going. So, we're gonna have to be bringing a lot of these horses for
other roundabouts. So.
Ms. Cookerly: I'll just pick a live one there. Handpicked.
Ms. Bentley: It can be an ornament over in the roundabout. Anyway.
Mr. Purdy: Yeah.
Male Speaker: I think it's great what you're doing, especially as a volunteer
organization. And I appreciate you sending out — I wasn't able to
attend the last Milton's Got Talent. But I did watch the videos
online. And it was exciting to actually see the talent. The young
talent that we actually have in Milton. I appreciate what you're
doing.
Mr. Purdy: Thank you.
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Bill. And as you can tell, you know, your
organization's growing. And I see it growing. You're putting on all
these great events. And so, I know you're working with the comp
plan, I think. Maybe working that in. So.
Mr. Purdy: Yes.
Mayor Pro Tem: You have a long-term plan for the arts. And so, I think as the City
grows, arts council can grow with it. So, I appreciate all your hard
work.
Mr. Purdy: Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for your time.
Mayor Pro Tem: Okay. I will now read a proclamation of the surprise to both of us,
Tammy.
City Clerk: Do you want an extra microphone? Just in case everybody can hear
you.
Mayor Pro Tem: I will be screaming into it.
City Clerk: Thank you. Talk slow so we can get all.
Mayor Pro Tem: I will give it all. So, this is a proclamation that is recognizing the
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 12 of 35
52"d Annual Professional Municipal Clerk's Week May 2nd
through May 8th, 2021. So, this is whereas the office of the
professional municipal clerk. A time honored and vital part of local
government exists throughout the world. And whereas the office of
the professional municipal clerk is the oldest profession among
public servants and whereas the office of the professional
municipal clerk provides the professional link between the citizens,
the local governing bodies, and agencies of government at other
levels. And whereas professional municipal clerks have pledged to
be ever mindful of their neutrality and impartiality rendering equal
service to all.
Whereas the professional municipal clerk serves as the information
center on functions of local government and community and
whereas professional municipal clerks continually strive to
improve the administration of the affairs of the office of the
professional municipal clerk for participation in education
programs, seminars, workshops, and the annual meetings of their
state. Provincial identity. Class on that one. County and
international professional organizations. Whereas it is most
appropriate that we recognize the accomplishments of the office of
the professional municipal clerk.
And now therefore we, the Mayor Pro Tem, and City Council of
the City of Milton recognize the week of May 2nd through May 8th,
2021, as Professional Municipal Clerk's Week and further extend
appreciation to our professional municipal clerk Tammy Lowit and
to all professional municipal clerks for the vital services they
perform and their exemplary dedication to the communities they
represent. Given under my hand and sealed, the city of Milton,
Georgia, on this 26th day of April 2021. There we go. We have to
take a picture.
City Clerk:
I'm tickled. I had no idea this was happening.
Ms. Cookerly:
So, you've only had the job for a couple months and you get a
whole week.
Mayor Pro Tem:
Yeah. A whole week.
Ms. Cookerly:
A whole week. How good are you?
Mr. Longoria: A whole week off.
City Clerk: Joe, thank you, the whole week. Can I stand up here with y'all?
1
1
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
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Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah. Do you wanna take a picture down there or — wherever Greg
prefers.
City Clerk: Greg, where do you think it would —
Mr. Botelho: Yeah. Otherwise, we'll all have to mask up and disinfect and —
Mayor Pro Tem: I see you got your signing bonus. Or your bonus.
Ms. Bentley: I think in the future we just abbreviate that acronym. PMC.
FIRST PRESENTATION
Mayor Pro Tem: PMC. All right. I will move on to the first presentation. Will the
City Clerk sound the first item.
City Clerk: That first item is consideration of RZ21-04VC21-02. It's located at
13555 Blakmaral Lane. Jim Rosenberger to rezone from CUP —
which is Community Unit Plan — to AG -1 on 10.80 acres of a
density of .092 unit per acre to construct a new single-family
residence and to allow the existing accessory structure to be in the
front yard. Section 64-41 6 (I). Agenda Item No 21-125.
The next item is Consideration of an Ordinance of the Mayor and
Council of the City of Milton, Georgia to Adopt Amendments to
the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget for Each Fund of the City of Milton,
Georgia. Amending the Amount Shown in Each Budget as
Expenditures Amending the Several Items of Revenue
Anticipations Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Appropriations
and Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Actual Funding Available.
Agenda Item No. 21-126.
Mayor Pro Tem: All right. Thank you. Is there a motion?
Ms. Bentley: Mayor Pro Tem, I'd like to make a motion to approve the First
Presentation items.
Mr. Moore: Second.
Mayor Pro Tem: All right. I have a motion from Councilmember Bentley and
second from Councilmember Moore. All in favor please say aye.
All in unison: Aye.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
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Mayor Pro Tern: Oppose? And Councilmember Mohrig is out of the room. So. He
says it's fine.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Bentley moved to approve the First
Presentation items. Councilmember Moore seconded the motion. The motion
passed (5-0). Mayor Lockwood was absent from the meeting. Councilmember
Mohrig momentarily stepped out of the room.
PUBLIC HEARING
City Clerk: Thank you.
Mayor Pro Tem: Moving onto Public Hearing. Will the City Clerk sound the item?
City Clerk: That item is Consideration of an Ordinance of the Mayor and
Council of the City of Milton, Georgia to Adopt Amendments to
the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget for Each Year Fund — er, I'm sorry —
Each Fund of the City of Milton, Georgia Amending the Amount
Shown in Each Budget as Expenditures Amending the Several
Items of Revenue Anticipations, Prohibiting Expenditures to
Exceed Appropriations, and Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed
Actual Funding Available. Agenda Item No. 21-126. Finance
Director Ms. Bernadette Harvill.
Ms. Harvill: Good evening Mayor and Council. Before you this evening we
have the proposed amendments to the fiscal year 2021 budget. The
budget for this fiscal year was approved back on September 21St,
2020. And the amendments before you represent adjustments
resulting from current circumstances, opportunities,
recommendations, and requests made by staff.
Here we have the general fund budget summary. You'll see the
original anticipated revenues for fiscal year 2021 at $29.5 million.
There's an increase of $5.2 million in projected revenues being
proposed, which will result in $34.7 million in general fund
revenues for fiscal year 2021. I will go over the revenue
adjustments in detail in just a moment. But I would like to point
out one significant adjustment here in the interfund transfers in
from the operating grant fund in the amount of $1,651,649.00. This
represents the Cares Act grant funds the city received in fiscal year
2021 that will reimburse the general fund for expenses incurred in
FY 2020.
Moving on to the expenditure summary, you will see the original
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 15 of 35
FY 2021 budget at $31.1 million with a proposed amendment in
the amount of $7.8 million, which will result in an overall
expenditure budget of $38.95 million. While the expenditure
adjustments are made up of both fund balance and current year
amendments, staff is proposing transferring 99% of the adjusted
total — or $7.7 million — to the city's Pay As You Go program in
the capital project's fund. Again, we will go over this in detail later
in the presentation and I will outline the recommendations for
these funds.
After all of these amendments the ending fund balance is projected
to be $8.8 million, which puts the city well within its required fund
balance of 25% of the subsequent year's revenues. By taking a step
back I would like to go over the more significant changes to
anticipated revenues for fiscal year 2021. There is a requested
increase to the current year real property tax line by $727,859.00.
This represents the difference between the revenues Milton
projected utilizing the consolidation and evaluation of digest
provided by Fulton County back in July 2020 and the most
recently updated digest provided by Fulton County, which includes
finalized appeals through March 2021.
Title on the loan tax where the tax you pay when you purchase a
new vehicle is also coming in higher than expected, with
anticipated increases related to the change of the municipal share
of the distribution. And as a result we are forecasting an additional
$650,000.00 in revenues for this category. Intangible tax is the
city's share of the tax one pays on a new real estate loan including
refinanced loans. With rates remaining low the city has received
more revenue than originally anticipated in this category. And a
result to amend the budget by $625,000.00 has been included here.
Another revenue source that has rebounded faster than expected is
the local option sales tax. You'll see a request for an increase of
this line item in the amount of $708,000.00. Another category I'd
like to discuss is building permits. This estimated increase includes
an adjustment for revenues to date as well as anticipated revenues
related to the council's direction to seek enough staffing for these
services. The City will now retain 100% of all building permit
revenues and they will be accounted for in this line item to offset
associated expenses for providing these services in house.
While many of the City's revenue sources are recovering there are
a few areas that remain impacted. With interest rates remaining
low the City has not earned as much interest as anticipated on its
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 16 of 35
current investments. Here you will see a request to decrease these
projects — these projections — by $64,000.00 and you will see
similar decreases across other funds as well.
Finally, I would like to mention once again the $1.65 million in
Cares Act grand funds that the City received in FY 2021 for
expenses incurred in FY 2020. This transfer in from the operating
grand fund is required to recognize the reimbursement of these
expenses that were covered by the general fund last year. Again,
the total amendment request for revenues adds up to
$5,165,425.00. Before we move on to the expenditures I will pause
to answer any questions you may have regarding the revenue
amendments proposed.
So, on the general fund summary that we went over earlieryou
saw the changes in expenditures broken down by department. Here
you will see them broken down by proposal category. Within this
amended document our proposed staffing changes that were
outlined in detail on page 11, the annual budgetary impact for these
changes — excluding the staffing additions related to bringing the
building inspection and plan review services in house — will be
approximately $4,126.00.
Before you on this page are the FY `21 amendments required to
make those changes this year as well as to bring in the staff for
those positions related to building inspection and plan review
services. Some of the expenses will be covered by department
savings from vacancies experienced this year in the internal
amendment. Moving on to the strategic planning initiatives, in
September Councilapproved a sum of $200,000.00 to be set aside
to address year one initiatives that would come out of the strategic
planning process.
Here you can see the recommended allocation of those funds
across various departments to get started on these initiatives.
$35,000.00 will remain in the City Manager department to address
a marketing plan for the five-year strategic plan, a staff
development program, and an advanced level emergency
management drill. $20,000.00 will be transferred to the
information services department to initiate planning for the City's
internet and produce an IT life -cycle plan and related inventory
system. $2,500.00 will go to HR to enrich the onboarding plan for
boards and committee members. An additional $2,500.00 will be
transferred to Communications to complete a website transparency
measurement so we can ensure that information is being conveyed
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
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in the most efficient and understandable way to the public.
There is a recommendation to transfer $20,000.00 to Parks and
Recreation to perform an active park analysis and cover acquisition
costs associated with any potential related land purchases. And
finally, $120,000.00 will go to the passive parks and greenspace
department to address improvements at Birmingham Park to
potentially include trail cleanup and widening, an equine watering
station, and improvements to the gravel parking lot there. Please
note that none of these requests will either increase or decrease the
overall budget. This is simply an allocation of funds already
approved to begin addressing the initiatives that were born into this
strategic planning process.
On the next page we have another interdepartmental transfer that is
to reallocate the budget for expenses related to the post implanted
benefits plan that council will be reviewing later this year. After
review has determined that benefit expenses were more
appropriately tied to HR than Finance. So, we are just transferring
those funds over to the HR department. You will also see the
beginning of the list of other department requests. There's
$20,000.00 increase related to the credit card convenience fees that
will be directly offset by an increase to revenues related to this
service.
As you will recall the City transitioned to a new merchant setup
that will have credit card related fees going directly to the
merchant from the payee. And Milton will no longer collect and
then redistribute those funds as a middle step in that process. This
request will allow for the collections through the transition period
to that new platform. We have Fire, Police, and Public Works with
a request related to equipment for the emergency operations center
to ensure redundancy and other capabilities needed for emergency
response. And these requests are a total in the amount of $6,981.00
will be covered by contingency funds. Fire also has increase of
$4,539.00 related to insurance proceeds received to cover expenses
associated with the lightening strike at Fire Station #41 and
$7,500.00 for a radio for the Assistant Fire Marshal position,
should it be approved.
Next we have more insurance proceeds and donation related
request that we're recognizing the increase in revenues across the
appropriate expense accounts and a request for $9,029.00 to
address the final costs associated with the title policy, title search
and plan review related to the end of the lease with Fulton County
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
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for the land adjacent to Fire Station #43 in Birmingham Park. And
finally we have the request from contingency for the AOC items
we discussed earlier and the proposed breakdown of the $7.7
million that would be transferred out to the Pay as You Go
program in the capital project's fund.
Within that $7.7 million is $300,000.00 that will go towards
funding the bid alternates for the pavement management project,
$1,350,000.00 to the fire department to obtain a new ladder truck
for Fire Station #44, a vehicle for the assistant fire marshal
position, and funding to maintain the current replacement reserve
at $450,000.00 per year. On page 13 you can see that the new
ladder truck purchases- are recommendation of the city's new fire
chief and his command staff as an alternative to the original plan to
purchase a quick response vehicle and fulfill the staffing proposal
outlined here.
This alternative approach will require a larger apparatus that has
capabilities of both a ladder truck and a •pumper and will further
leverage the City's interagency partnerships with surrounding
jurisdictions but will not require that staffing at this time. Also
included in the $7.7 million is $60,000.00 towards two additional
vehicles for Community Development for the Chief Building
Official position and the Building Inspector position.
And finally we have the recommended transfer of $4 million to set
aside for future active park land acquisition. So, funds will be
available should the City identify a piece of property that could be
purchased for those activities. $1 million for passive park
improvements to be allocated across the City's passive and
greenspace properties to address trails, parking, and other
identified needs in those parks.
And $1 million for traffic calming. So, there will be funds
available to address the recommendations that come out of the
local road safety plan project that Sarah Leaders and Chief Austin
are collaborating on.
And with that we come to the end of the detailed explanation of the
expenditure amendments. And if you have any questions I'll pause
here before I move on to the other funds. Okay.
Moving on the special revenue funds. Here we have the special
events fund. The adjustments in these funds are straightforward.
As COVID-19 continues to impact interest revenues it is also
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Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 19 of 35
impacting hotel/motel tax revenues. You will see a decrease of
$4,000.00 associated with the decrease in taxes projected for FY
'21 as well as a decrease of $7,500.00 from the cancellation of
Crabapple Fest back in October 2020. A corresponding decrease
has been made to the related expenses for that event to balance the
fund. In the hotel/motel tax fund, again, we are just recognizing
that $4,000.00 decrease in hotel/motel taxes coming in lower than
anticipated.
In the confiscated assets fund we are allocating a budget for fund
balance for a purchase go straight into this account for federal
funds. In the E911, fund fees are coming in higher than anticipated
and we are recognizing that increase as well as an adjusted
increase to the associated expense account. Please recall that under
the current IGA, 100% of these fees are transferred to the city of
Alpharetta to support Milton shared E911 Center and its
dispatchers. And, again, here we have that Cares Act grand
funding, which is recognizing this fund to transfer out to the
general fund to cover those expenses.
Next we will move on to the capital projects funds. Before you are
the revenue adjustments for the capital projects funding fee and the
$7.7 million we went over transferred in from the general fund.
Here we have a breakdown of the expenditure amendments. First
we have the four related changes to the vehicle replacement
reserve budgets for the general administration, Police, Fire, and
Community Development. We spoke about Fire and Community
Development earlier. And now we have the general administration
request of $13,672.00 from contingency, which will allow the city
to purchase a new pool car for administrative staff to use for
transportation to meetings and offsite training opportunities.
And Police are requesting us to recognize the insurance proceeds
received for a total loss in order to replace the vehicle in the fleet.
We also have the request for $67,072.00 for two new Lifepacks.
These purchases will go towards the Fire department's initiative to
enhance emergency response services in Milton.
And as we discussed there's a pavement management and traffic
calming increases. A total of $1.3 million we discussed earlier.
And then $20,000.00 of that is coming from the contingency fund
and balance of fund balance. We discussed planned acquisition and
passive site improvements that are part of the operating transfer.
And you will also see the allocation of $45,722.00 in funds for the
future capital repairs related to the stormwater facility on Mayfield
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
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Road.
For the agreements approved between the City and the developers
of the adjoining parcels, these funds are restricted to those types of
improvements in the future. We also have the disbursement of fund
contingency and the transfer out of $45,528.00 to the TSPLOST
fund. The developer here opted to pay for the drainage
infrastructure improvements rather than install them themselves.
And the amount shown was taken directly from the City's bid
process and will cover the cost associated with the developer's
responsibility and will be completed by the awarded vendor that
handles the drainage related work for the City's portion of the
project. Again, at no cost to the City.
In the greenspace bond fund there are amendments related to the
digest as build versus the original projections just as we spoke
about in the general fund. And a reduction in anticipated interest
revenues and a corresponding decease to the land conservation
fund for investment revenues coming in lower than anticipated in
prior years as well as that recognition of the change expected for
FY '21. And just a reminder all tax related revenue in this fund is
directly tied to paying off the debt associated with the 2017
greenspace bond issuance. So, the fund balance related to these
revenues will be taken into consideration when calculating the
2021 greenspace bond millage rate later this year.
We have the TSPLOST fund. We're almost there. And here was
similar to the general fund. Sales taxes are coming in higher than
anticipated while interest revenues are still trailing behind
anticipations. You will also see a transfer in from the capital
projects fund and the capital grant fund to recognize the Big Creek
Greenway Project and the Cogbum Road Sidewalks Project that
have multiple funding sources including TSPLOST. According to
a uniformed trade of accounts we just need to account for those in
the TSPLOST funds. So, those funds will transfer in.
On the expenditure side construction related bids are coming in
higher than anticipated. You will see the distribution of those
higher than expected revenues as well as fund balance across
Hopewell at Bethany and Morris Road widening projects to
account for the construction related increases. The capital grants
fund. All made funds were coming in — or were received less than
anticipated. So, we're adjusting that budget as well as moving out
the Big Creek Greenway to the TSPLOST fund as we just
discussed.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
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And finally we have impact fees fund. These amendments here are
to recognize revenues that came in over anticipated budgets in FY
2020. Please note the City is currently working on an update to the
methodology behind the impact fee calculations, so no revenue
projections have been included at this time. We will bring those
forth when the study is complete. I know that was a lot. I will be
happy to answer any questions you may have related to these
[inaudible] [0:47:20].
Mayor Pro Tem: Any questions for Bernadette?
Ms. Bentley: As always, very thorough. Thank you. Appreciate your time.
Mayor Pro Tem: Any public comments or are there not?
City Clerk: There are none.
Mayor Pro Tem: The Council will close the Public Hearing. And there are no items
under Zoning Agenda. So, we will now move on to Unfinished
Business. Will City Clerk sound the item?
City Clerk: That item is Consideration of an Ordinance Found in Article 2 of
Chapter 36. Door-to-door sales of the Code of the City of Milton,
Georgia. Agenda Item No. 21-111. Chief Rich Austin.
Chief Austin: Greetings, Mayor Pro Tem, members of Council. For quite some
time Milton Police Department has experienced rashes of calls
regarding door-to-door sales. Milton already has a solid ordinance
that requires full -profit businesses to be permitted through a
vetting process conducted by the Police Department. And we've
not really significantly had problems with properly permitted
business in [inaudible] folks.
However, Milton has not required non-profit organizations to be
registered. And some organizations without ties to our area have
utilized that to specifically target Milton for sales. Most of the
organizations that we receive calls about are not local charitable
organizations, but operations that often span across many states.
Some with a long list of complaints in other jurisdictions,
including some that rise to a criminal level.
While the ordinance change before you would still not require
charitable organizations to obtain a permit, it does clarify that
charitable organizations that wish to solicit in Milton must be
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 22 of 35
registered as such with the Secretary of State's office as already
been required by State law. There are a few exemptions with
educational institutions, political entities, and solicitation activity
by religious organizations being the most common.
The proposed ordinance change also clarifies the definition of a
bona fide charitable organization and religious organization.
'Collectively these changes would work to ensure that entities that
conduct non-profit solicitation in Milton have been properly vetted
through the. Secretary of ,State's office or have the appropriate
credentials to be exempt from being registered .by the State.
Overall, this change would more fully help the City to ensure that
only reputable organizations solicit within Milton and allow
options for our officers when organizations do not meet the
ordinance standard.
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Any questions?
Male Speaker: I've got a question. And it may be to Ken or to you. A number of
subdivisions. This seems like it happens a lot in subdivisions. I
have posted Partner Homeowner Association. And they may have
a sign posted at the front that says, "No solicitation." Is that
enforceable if you've got that posted at a subdivision? Hey, let me
try that one. So, the question is — and maybe I'll reframe the
question Council. The question is can an HOA put a sign at the
front of their subdivision that's — real question is, on a citation.
Basically, that homeowner's single sign as acting as a
disqualification. Every residence of the subdivision. That's a much
tougher question. Advocates law. Because it remember -
solicitation is a [audio cuts out] [0:51:02]. A case who does in
fact have some degree of — so, the position that I would take that I
think — the decision is household. Yeah. Now is that a case — if that
occurs — if somebody puts an impression on their property where
there is — I don't know if they're like that all' day long. I don't want
this activity. That's clear to me Council. [inaudible]. That's much
a closer — run a file if we are assigned ordinance. If I start putting
signs in the base by everybody's mailbox.
Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah. I mean, you may. I don't know. But if that was the case we
should check.
Male Speaker: I know some subdivisions would also say, you know, no. Just for
the signs. But during the political season we can't restrict that.
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Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
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What people put for that period of time. They can put signs in their
yard.
Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah. Again, that's gonna get into [audio cuts out] [0:52:35].
There he is. About the first time I've heard this. I mean, I will tell
you now because we're having this conversation. I don't really see
how in the year [audio cuts out]. Strictly for commercial
transactions. On their front porch. That's — that we're going too
far. I feel like a fairly comfortable place whether we are right. Also
recognizing everybody's first amendment rights. One side, you're
done.
Ms. Bentley: So, if a business comes to Milton and they want to get a permit. Do
we issue a card or — okay. So, when they come to your door — I get
asked this a lot — when they come to your door, they should present
the card.
Mayor Pro Tem: Right.
Ms. Bentley: If you ask.
Mayor Pro Tem: Correct.
Ms. Bentley: To see if it's a legitimate business or non-profit. Do we require —
Chief Austin: We do not require that for non -profits. But if it is a full -profit
business, we do require that.
Ms. Bentley: Okay. So, what we are gonna require with this change is that the
non-profit be recognized by the Secretary of State.
Chief Austin: Correct. And they have a very stringent vetting process.
Ms. Bentley: Okay.
Chief Austin: Within the [inaudible] [0:54:24].
Ms. Bentley: Isn't that —
Chief Austin: And there's also an active database with that so an officer can
check out in the field if the organization is indeed registered with
the Secretary of State.
Mayor Pro Tem: Any other questions for chief? Let's put up for a motion.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 24 of 35
Ms. Bentley: Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve the Agenda Item No.
21-111.
Mr. Mohrig: Second.
Mayor Pro Tem: All right. I have a motion from Councilmember Bentley and a
second from Councilmember Mohrig. Is there any discussion on
the motion? All in favor please say aye.
All in unison: Aye.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Bentley moved to approve Agenda Item No.
21-1 1 1. Councilmember Mohrig seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0).
Mayor Lockwood was absent from the meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem: Opposed? Okay. That's unanimous. If the City Clerk — thanks
Chief. If the City Clerk will call the next item.
City Clerk: The next item is Consideration of an Amended Emergency
Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton,
Georgia. Under Section 3.18 of the Charter of the City of Milton,
Georgia to Provide for the Operation of the City of Milton,
Georgia during the Public Emergency Known as the Novel
Coronavirus Disease 2019 Global Pandemic to become Effective
as Stated to Supersede the Existing Emergency Ordinance and for
Other Purposes. Agenda Item No. 21-128. Mr. Ken Jarrard.
Mr. Jarrard: Mr. Mayor, members of the Council, I'll be brief. Mentioned of
our emergency ordinance. The only thing that's the least bit
strange about this is because when we drafted this the governor
had just renewed the emergency statewide declaration for, like, 24
days, which was the first time it had been sort of a curious number.
And so, we attempted to sort of meet.
And I added some language because I was thinking that might
portend the termination of — or in other words — the governor was
beginning to really bat it off into smaller and smaller chunks. And
so, I added some language in here that's saying that if at any time
the governor finally terminates it, this terminates automatically at
that time. So, I did add some language like this. However, just a
few days ago, the governor has now extended, again, through May
30th for a full 30 -day block. So, I think my thought on that is likely
not gonna be the case. You don't need to change any language in
this. But I'm just telling you, you'll probably see it.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 25 of 35
Mayor Pro Tem: All right. Any questions for Ken?
Female Speaker: But is there any reason we couldn't take action if it's necessarily
relevant to us anymore?
Mr. Jarrard: No. Yes. We could. I mean, I get it. We're not controlled by the
state. If we don't wanna declare a local emergency any longer we
don't have to. And, you know, there may come a time,
Councilmembers, now Councilmembers because — that's it's not.
We need to really have that discussion. I've been continuing to do
this just from a prophylactic position. I don't think any funding —
both federal and state — that may be dependent on both a local and
state [inaudible] [0:57:21].
Mayor Pro Tem: Any other questions? All right. I'll put in for a motion.
Mr. Mohrig: Mayor pro tem, I make motion that we approve Agenda Item No.
21-128.
Mr. Moore: Second.
Mayor Pro Tem: All right. I have a motion from Councilmember Mohrig, a second
from Councilmember Moore. Any discussion? All right. All in
favor please say aye.
All in unison: Aye.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Mohrig moved to approve Agenda Item No.
21-128. Councilmember Moore seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0).
Mayor Lockwood was absent from the meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem: Oppose? Okay. That's unanimous. All right. Tammy, if you'll
sound the next business item.
City Clerk: Final New Business item is Consideration of the Issuance of an
Alcohol Beverage License to Milton Tavern LLC located at 13800
Georgia Highway 9, Suite #3031, Milton. Agenda Item No. 21-
129. Ms. Bernadette Harvill.
Ms. Harvill: [Audio cuts out] [0:58:13] this while they have finished on their
construction. They have received their CL and now they are before
you for their alcohol beverage license with no conditions. They are
in compliance and staff recommends approval.
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 26 of 35
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Is there any public comment on this, Tammy?
City Clerk: No. There are none.
Mayor Pro Tem: Okay. Hearing none, I will approve for a motion.
Mr. Longoria: Mayor pro tem, I move that we approve Agenda Item No. 21-129.
Mr. Mohrig: Second.
Mayor Pro Tem: All right. I have a motion from Councilmember Longoria and a
second from Councilmember Mohrig. Any discussion on that
motion? All right. All in favor please say aye.
All in unison: Aye.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Longoria moved to approve Agenda Item
No. 21-129. Councilmember Mohrig seconded the motion. The motion passed
(6-0). Mayor Lockwood was absent from the meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem: Oppose? That's unanimous.
Ms. Harvill: Thank you.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Now we will move along to any Council reports. All
right. We'll move on to Staff Reports.
STAFF REPORTS
Department Updates
1. Community Development
Mr. Buscemi: Good evening Council. So, each month I come before you and I
pride myself trying to keep it short and abbreviated. But I have to
tell you that things are going on pretty well [inaudible] [0:59:38].
We have a lot of great stories to tell. I'm gonna share some of
those with you tonight. Things are looking really good. The staff is
working really hard. It's almost hard for us to sit there and try and
do an abbreviated staff summary because there's so many items.
All right.
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Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
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So, first, the CPAC. Everybody, you know, we did have a quick
Council update last week. This week we're working on — for the
April 20 — is gonna be solid waste, which is a heavy topic. The
character areas. And we're going to be presenting the RTG study
that was done a little over a year ago. We're gonna get that in
because it addresses the field, so we'd like to look at that. I'm also
— Thursday night — into a shorter CPAC, so of the littler place and
middles that we've gotten in.
We've gotten three large projects in to make a site. 26 -area site.
They're a combined aggregate of a 38 -acre site at this point. And
all in relative proximity. So, it's kinda neat because they're all
coming in at the same time. So, not only could we look at and
really design each one of them independently, but I'm starting to
look at all three of them collectively to say, wow, could we have
trail plans that interconnect. You know. Uses. How do we, you
know, get from one — you know, connectivity — from one to the
other.
So, we're gonna show that to CPAC on Thursday evening. So, I
think that — next month — I'll present that to you all. I just wanted
to give you some metrics. You know. Basic metrics. So, I'm pretty
proud of some of these metrics. We had 140 pools last year. And in
the first quarter of this year, we've done 80. If you look at the
statistics of how many we're producing in the first quarter — it's the
first three months — it's incredible.
Residential building permits. We had 367 issued last year in its
entirety. And we've done 226 just in the first quarter. The volumes
are just staggering. People are coming in and everybody's looking
to live and reside in Milton — somehow — in pools. I think at some
point I'm hoping I can come in and say, okay, every single house
in the City of Milton has a pool. And I will never see another pool
permit. There's gonna be a point, right, where we just kinda hit a
threshold. All right.
So, in other news, at the DRB meeting, we have some historic
buildings down here in Crabapple and Mayfield. And one of them
came in for a demolition. The one next to the library. And the DRB
denied that application because they said it's a real historic
landmark in Milton and they wanted to maintain it. And then the
one that Tim Bryan worked out of — the one that's next to the
flower shop — the person who purchased that one actually came to
the same DRB meeting to get up and tell the DRB that she's
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 28 of 35
converting it into a dental office. And she bought it because it's
historically. She wants to retain that historic. And she moved into
Crabapple because of the historic nature of these buildings. And
she's going to sit there and, you know, just restore this to its glory.
So, I thought that was really nice to see that that strip is gonna
maintain. I know there was a period where we came in and said,
oh, should we do a historic district? It was kinda shot down. But in
a sense we are maintaining that historic character along that strip.
And I thought that was important to know.
The next thing I'd like to talk about is Jarrard & Davis. I would
like to throw a shoutout to an outstanding legal team and the way
they support staff. This is serious. I mean we are really, really
busy. We are doing easements and all sorts of questions. And
we're really going 200 miles an hour. And I have to do the
shoutout because I couldn't be at this level of performance without
Ken's office supporting us. We're on the phone with them
constantly. We are connecting with them, and they are responding
instantly. I mean, I never call twice. I call up, immediately I'm
getting responses. Okay, Bob, this is what you need to do, and this
is how you need to do it. Let's keep it moving. That's amazing.
Mayor Pro Tem: They better be responding.
Ms. Bentley: Bob, negotiate the fees and —
Mr. Buscemi: Negotiate with fees. I better watch it, or he'll raise his fees. All our
boards — I mean, there aren't a whole lot of boards advising our
boards. And we're having all these meetings and things. So, Paul,
of course, is amazing. Jeff has been absolutely amazing on the
work he's been doing for us. And Sam, every single contractor
goes through Sam. We're doing contracts, like, just — crazy.
Contract reviews, bids that are coming in. Everything gets
reviewed. It's all, like, every email we send to Sam is, "Sam, this is
a rush." He's gonna finally say, "Chief, which one isn't a rush?"
Don't tell him I said that.
But I want you to go back and really thank the staff. Please. It
means a lot to us. The level of performance and the level of real
professionalism that we get from your staff is just something that I
just think is worth noting and really recognizing at this meeting.
Yes. All right. What's happening. Fire Station #44. So, I just
wanted you to know the City of Sandy Springs has reached out to
the Chief. And the Chief has invited me. They'd like to come and
til
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tour the station. They think we've done a great job with it.
So, you know, all these counties and cities that surround us are
constantly coming in asking to see what we're doing here in
Milton and to try to replicate what we've done. And they wanna
know how we built it and how it's done and how did we get it
done. You know. They're really looking for the answers somehow
to see what they can improve. So, we're gonna be doing that
touring visit. Fire Station #42. The drawings are in right now. And
regulatory staff is reviewing those drawings.
So, that will be on the street very soon. Market District — which is
over here — you'll see some of the buildings have gotten built and
some of them you just see big holes in the ground. But they're
actually coming in this week for building three and four which is
the void area. So, these buildings will be getting done. We're
working with them very diligently to kind of finish off that whole
strip. Lakeside of Crabapple. You know, we've been going through
it. But, again, with the help of Ken's staff, we have secured and
recorded the deed.
So, the City's owner of that park at this point. So, I'd like to ask
the Council to look at maybe a grand opening and maybe
convening it. And just to figure out what to do with it. It's ours.
And all of the improvements are done. It was no cost to the city at
all to do that whole park. Any improvements, of course, we now
own so we have to maintain it. But the maintenance of the actual
pond and lake — what we did was we charged a fee to all of the
developments that feed into it because it's a regional detention
pond. So, they're all paying us a fee. And then that fee is set aside.
Bernadette set that money aside so that in the future when we need
maintenance to the lake or the dam we have the funding to do that.
So, we kinda projected that.
And, again, Ken's staff helped us write that all up. He did an
awesome job with it. And everybody's very happy with it. And
actually, they are because they don't have to do detention on their
properties. So, it's actually a win-win for everybody. NCC. The
community building. We're publishing that bid on Thursday, so
that will be out on the street. 30 days. And then we'll know where
we are with that. So — all these projects that we're working on —
we're really pushing them to get them started and get them going.
All right.
So, I wanna put another shoutout to Tracie. We've been working
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 30 of 35
on large lots. And Tracie's been working at every single meeting.
And I told her tonight's like her victory lap. This is for the first
quarter. We've had some big projects come in. And I really want
you to see the success that we've had as a [inaudible] [01:09:08]
on what we're doing. It's your vision. It is your — Bob, we want
this. This is what we're looking for. This is the incentives we
wanna give. And I just wanna show you what actually we've done.
So, Tracie, you wanna get up and take a few of these?
Ms. Wildes: I am excited to present tonight and highlight some of the projects
that we've been working on. And I really want the Council to
know that staff's really worked hard. Bob's worked hard. I've
watched him. I'm partnering with him. But we've worked hard to
remain in concert with not only the comp plan but for Council's
desire of encouraging these large developments. And so, the first
one we've got here is on Thompson Road. It's just before you get
to the roundabout.
So, just before you get to Bloom on the left. Adjacent to Fire
Station #42. It is a 20.52 acre site. And we've .. met with the
developer multiple times. And he is extremely interested in three -
acre lots. Large lots. So, he's actually marketing it as that right
now. You know, when he came in, he was prepared to do the one -
acre lot. Or right. But once we engaged with him and we've met
with him — and we've really educated him on all of these
incentives. He's marketing the site. And we expect to hear from
him this week. And I'm excited to see when they will come in with
a conceptual design. And you know what? Even if he can't get the
three acres then he's gonna provide data to us. He's gonna provide
that feedback of why he can't so we can better understand his
challenges or what he's hearing out in the site.
Our next large -lot development is also on Thompson Road. This
development is north of the Grass Valley subdivision and it's just
south of Dinsmore. It is 23 acres. And the site plan on the left — the
applicants came in and they sat down, and they presented this. And
by right, it's the 15 one -acre lots. And so, Bob and I began telling
them — educating them — about the incentives of large lots. They
were extremely interested. And guys, they went back to the
drafting table. They put pencil to paper. And within two weeks we
had this concept plan on the right. And they were excited — very
excited actually — that they had the seven three -acre lots. They're
marketing the three -acre lots. And I'm expecting — if it's not in
today — this afternoon — tomorrow we should have a formal
submittal on this three -acre lot.
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So, that's exciting. Especially to see what we started with on the
left and what they're coming in with for a formal submittal on the
right. The next community is north of the Manor. So, if you see the
illustration on the right — hole No. 11 and hole No. 12 — this site is
nestled in between those two holes. It is a 19.52 acre site. Again,
the developers came in by right asking about AG -1 and one -acre
lots. And we sat down. We started educating them on the large -lot
incentive. They immediately went back to the drafting table. They
come up with this concept plan.
And this developer, specifically, they are so excited. Not only that,
they have large hardwoods on site. And they're excited to — how
can we partner with the City? How can we mill the wood? Is there
something that the City can use the wood to repurpose to use in
other buildings? They've sort of seen that effort at Public Safety
and some of these other historic areas that we're trying to
incorporate some of the old materials. So, they're extremely
excited. And they've been really fun to work with. And too,
they're finalizing their drawings to bring this large -lot
development in.
Finally, I'm most excited about this one. This is Providence Pointe.
And it's actually in right now as an LDP. And they came in as an
LDP with the site plan on the left. Five one -acre lots. And the total
area is only 6.55, so this site has been a little challenging. And so,
we've been in constant communication with the developer. Really
educated them. And so, they called us two weeks ago and they
said, "You know what? We're gonna hold on LDP. We're gonna
go back. And we're really looking at this site as a larger lot." And
now they're gonna consider two three -acre lots.
So, it's validating that when we're talking to them and we're
educating them they're actually going back to the drawing table
and coming back in with some really cool stuff. Any questions or
comments?
Mayor Pro Tem: Any questions? Very good. Thank you. Thank you both.
Mr. Buscemi: Yeah. So, it's just good news. We're pretty happy with this.
Especially impact. And everybody's happy. It's not like we're —
came in. And it's voluntary. It's an incentive. They don't have to
do it. And I tell them that right up front. So.
All right, so this one here is really nice. This is Waterford property.
Waterford Homes brought the development right behind Anna
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 32 of 35
Markin's development here right off the roundabout. So, Orkin &
Associates is doing all the ones that are in front of Heritage. And
then we have the land in the back. Originally in his concept plan he
had more 4ousing on it approved. But we sat with the neighbors,
and they said, geez, can you cut down on the some of the numbers
because we don't like all that density. And we sat with Waterford
and we kind of reduced the density to this.
So, we have 14 homes here. But the nice part about this is that
they're in front of Green. And that's really a nice concept for
downtown. So, having public spaces, Greenspace, all of this is
really the kinds of things that we're trying to encourage. So, we
really work with them. It's still got a legal street in the back.. But
we have that central common green which will also be used by the
general public at .large. So, that was a really nice development.
That will finish off most of what Orkin' has been doing on the
downtown. Most of Crabapple's already summed up, but by next
month I will show you almost every login Crabapple is identified
in development or coming in for development.
All right. This one here, everybody's familiar with that. That ,is
John Gaston's project on Mayfield Road. He built the building on
the left and now has come back to us with a proposal. This is it. Of
course, we have to tweak the proposal a little bit to make sure it
meets code. There's a couple of things there I gotta tweak. But the
point is, is that he came in with another building, which would
finish off that whole frontage. And then the, lot you're seeing on
the right, Dennis Lowell has come in already with a proposal I'll
show you next month with a building for that corner which also
has a public parking garage.
And this one will have a public parking garage underneath it.
They're making it a public. structured parking. And so will the one
on the corner. So, I think the property values are going up. And
we're encouraging people to do structured parking and some
surface parking, so they have a mixture" of both which is really
what we're looking for. And both of these developers are coming
in with that. So, that whole corner will get finished. Taylor
Morrison will finish their side. And then I'll show you next month
the property across from the library on the other side in the
opposite corner diagonally. It came in for two medical buildings.
And the DRB has approved those. We've worked with them very
hard, and we got those developed. They came out really, really
nice.
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So, that whole intersection will be finished and developed. So, that
came out really good. And this one we're flipping up to
Birmingham Crossroads a little bit. I just wanted to look up and let
Council know that they are starting to go vertical. Those are the
pictures on the right. So, some of the houses are just getting framed
and they're starting to go vertical. But the key here is the picture
on the left. So, originally this developer came in and presented a
real unique — where he wanted a park. We wanted something nice.
We made the retention clause into a park. There's an upper pond
that then fills up and then flows underneath this boardwalk. Like a
Greenspace kind of walkway that's elevated. And the water just
trickles down to the lower lake.
So, it's really gonna look quite dynamic as it fills up and the
water's flowing. It's gonna have a lot of life to it. But the secret
here is that we've met with the landscaper. And we really named
into detail on the species list to make sure we get really, really nice
trees — year-round color. Which we really analyzed it. And we
went for seasonal interest. We went for organic surround, native
plants. And we went to a very rural pass in design. It's gonna have
natural stone steps. It's gonna have seating walls. It's gonna have
places, pasture, to either just kinda play in the field or with a ball.
This was one of the big amenities.
And I told the developer that I'd like him to start working on this
now while the houses are going up because I think everybody
would like to see this finally get done. So, I wanted to let you
know that we are really pushing on this and getting it started. And
this was the first step. So, I think that will be a really, really nice
attraction up there. I think that will be nice. And I believe that's
what we had for tonight.
Mayor Pro Tem: Any questions? Thanks Bob. Any questions? All right. Well,
Bernadette.
STAFF REPORTS
Department Updates
1. Finance
Ms. Harvill: Okay. Earlier this evening you heard the proposed budget
amendments for the fiscal year 2021. As we enter May staff will be
focused on the development of the five-year financial plan as
identified in the outcome measures of the new strategic plans goal
Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 34 of 35
on ensuring Milton's long-term financial sustainability. This will
be a team effort across all departments and will set the framework
for the FY 2022 budget cycle and will guide all requests over the
next five years.
I also wanted to mention that the transparency portal is live. We
have demographics, financials, and project updates available to the
public. And over the next few months we will work to build out the
department dashboards including recommendations made by
Council. And we'll begin tracking efforts and accomplishments
related to the strategic planning process. We are currently on track
for revenue collections for occupational taxes compared to the past
few years. We have approximately 24% of active businesses that
have not yet renewed for 2021. But this is typical for this time of
year. And we will work with Code Enforcement to get reminders
out to those businesses that have not yet renewed.
Any outstanding property tax notices went out in the mail in
March. And the next set of reminders will go out in May, which
will begin the City's official lien process notification. Other than
that it's pretty much business as usual. I gave you an earful earlier,
so I'll cut it short there tonight.
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Any questions for Bernadette? All right.
Ms. Harvill: Thank you.
Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. All right. Well, that will end our meeting. I'll ask Paul
to motion for adjournment.
Mr. Longoria: Approved.
Mr. Mohrig: Approved.
Mayor Pro Tem: All right. I have a motion from Councilmember Longoria and
second from Councilmember Mohrig. All in favor please say aye.
All in unison: Aye.
Mayor Pro Tem: Oppose? All right. That's it. Thank you.
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Longoria moved to adjourn the meeting at
7:23 PM. Councilmember Mohrig seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-
0). Mayor Lockwood was absent from the meeting.
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Regular Meeting of the Milton City Council
Monday, April 26, 2021
Page 35 of 35
Date Approved: June 21, 2021
Tammy L. Lo t, le
Joe Loc ood, r