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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes CC - 01/17/2008 - MINS 01 17 08 WS (Migrated from Optiview)Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 1 of 16 Won This summary is provided as a convenience and service to the public, media, and staff. It is not the intent to transcribe proceedings verbatim. Any reproduction of this summary must include this notice. Public comments are noted and heard by Council, but not quoted. This document includes limited presentation by Council and invited speakers in summaryform. This is an official record of the Milton City Council Meeting proceedings. Qf cial A4eetings are audio recorded Work Session of the Milton City Council held Thursday January 17, 2008 at 5:55 pm. Mayor Joe Lockwood presiding. All Council members were present Mayor Lockwood • Agenda item number 6, Traffic Summit has been removed and will be rescheduled. • Work sessions are a more informal setting to update the council on business items. • No votes will be taken. • Public comment is allowed if it is germane to an agenda item. • Speakers are required to fill out a public comment card and turn it in to the City Clerk. • Public comment will be allowed for a total of 10 minutes per agenda item, 2 minutes per person. • Once item is called no other comment cards will be accepted. City Clerk Marchiafava read the next agenda item. Legislative Update State Representative Jan Jones • Update on transfer of Special Service District Funds from Fulton County including time frame. • Approximately $5,000,000.00 sitting in the fund. PON • County expending some of those funds on the mediation of Providence Park • Because Milton got "up to speed so quickly" the county could not spend all the money fast enough. h" "" • According to interpretation of House Bill 36, they can return the money today. • Three alternatives 1) Transfer the money to Milton. 2) Expend the money on the services they supply, which is the same as City of Milton supplies. 3) Rebate the taxpayers that paid them. • Fulton County wants to give the money to Milton, but needs clarification from the legislative council and we are working on a letter for that now. • We will not get all of the money in Milton because some people self annexed into Roswell and Alpharetta. • Will work closely with Mark Scott and Johns Creek to make sure the letter is worded just right. • Hopefully, by June we will have those funds. • Provided an update on progress concerning Insurance Premium Tax situation. • Setting up meeting next week with Mark Scott on whether we can make a retro -active bill. • Appears Insurance Premium Tax will be collected by the Insurance Commissioner. The question being if we can have that directed to the City of Milton. • No answer for that as yet, but if we can get it through, we will. • Do not foresee any changes in the City of Milton Charter unless Council directs otherwise. • She provided an update on the GREAT Plan. • There are a lot of practical considerations on how to begin taxing services. There are twenty five states in the union that do tax. She will not vote for anything that is not in our best interest. • She believes we will have some sort of tax reform, probably in a different form than what we see now. • Several Representatives, Tax Attorneys, Former Mayors and all types of people are on the committee. • Information on Bill Board Legislation. P"M • Passed around copies of the Bill introduced today to Councilmembers and City Manager. • The Bill addresses the "egregious" decision by Fulton County to force billboards on us that we do not want, `„ r and it goes beyond billboards. Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 2 of 16 • Bill states it is unlawful for any County, Municipal Corporation or any other issuing authority to issue any back dated license permit or other authorizing document including, but not limited to, any Building Permit, Sign Permit, Occupation Tax Certificate, Zoning Action, Subdivision of land, Final Plat or other similar authorization in any territorial or geographical area which due to formation of any county, incorporation of municipality, annexation or de -annexation of territory or other action is no longer within regulatory jurisdiction of said issuing authority. • She understands how strongly Milton opposes this on behalf of the residents of City of Milton. " • She discussed funding for Milton, and is happy to look at any proposed grants. • Big give last year was the $450,000.00 that the governor did not veto for the study of Milton County. • Have a couple education things she would like to do with our High Schools • Working on outdoor environmental class rooms and road transportation. • The new budget by the Governor does have some considerable new LARP money in it. • Will be actively lobbying for that and she would like Council's input. • Would like your priority on intersections, bike path, etc. Would like to try and get to Phase I. Would like to set a date so anyone who would like can come down and we can have a meeting with a variety of agencies including the D.O.T. She also would like to make that a priority. Councilmember D'Aversa • Had a lot of commentary from the middle school, (Northwestern and Hopewell) asked about tying in to the pedestrian bike path. They want to make sure they tie into what we are doing and not try and do something on their on. State Representative Jones stated she would leave that up to Council to put into the bike path plan. • Regarding the Milton County issue, she is working with Georgia State and the University of Georgia since August. • Georgia State physical policy group is working on the school viability and what this would mean. • The University of Georgia (Carl Vinson Institute) is working on the governance. • So far the study shows that not only is Milton County viable, but we believe we would have significant tax cut. The remaining part of Fulton County would be equally viable. • We have to convince voters statewide and believe it will be in the best interest of all Fulton County residents, not just Milton. • Running the City and showing that we can create a government and do it right is the best thing we can do. • They will be voting tomorrow on the water plant. • You will not see the immediate effect. • There is $140,000,000.00 in the budget for reservoirs and that is just the beginning. It will really take a lot more than that. • She believes the water plan will pass. • It will create eleven or twelve water planning districts. • We are in the North Georgia water planning district. • We will continue to be in that water planning district • That water planning district will work with local governments to create planning for conservation, reservoirs, and any changes. • Believes 30% of each water planning district will be made of representatives of local government. • She believes it will pass tomorrow. Councilmember Tart Asked if House Bill 36 would be retroactive. No Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 3 of 16 Representative Jones Stated a retroactive bill cannot be passed. Mayor Lockwood thanked Representative Jones for the legislative update. Key to the City Presented to Representative Jan Jones. Representative Jones was presented with a Key to the City. Mayor Lockwood moved agenda item number seven to next item and asked the City Clerk to call the next item. City Clerk Marchiafava read the next agenda item. Discussion on a No Sewer Extension Policy Community Development Director Tom Wilson • Mentioned to the Council that he needed confirmation regarding a no sewer policy other than the Inner Basin Transfer Policy. • After extensive research, he has found no reference to a "no sewer policy." • He needed to know exactly what is meant by the "no sewer policy" and make sure that the policy is being executed the way Council wants it. • When we mention "no sewer policy" what we really are saying is no extension of sewer in the Little River Basin. • There are Two basins in the City of Milton: Big Creek Basin and Little River Basin • This is the first time being presented with a plat that has not been started in Fulton County and finished up in pow the City of Milton. A plat has come to him for approval that does have sewer extension on it. • Is it meant that we do not extend sewer trunk lines in the Little River basin, but we do extend them in the Big i WO Creek basin? • Fulton County has continually issued sewer extension trunk lines in the Big Creek basin. • The Big Creek basin is a very small part of Milton. • The plat that has been presented to us is in that basin. • It has sewer line on the property. • It is requested to extend the trunk lines to serve two new lots. • Need to clarify what is meant by not extending sewer. • Showed and explained map of current sewer lines. • Fulton County and the state have policies that state if a new development is within 1,000 feet of available sewer, you must tie on to it and a single family home within two hundred feet of the sewer, you must tie on to it. • Asking for verification that we do not extend sewer in the Little River Basin. Councilmember Zahner Bailey asked if this fronts on Hopewell Road. Community Development Director Wilson stated yes. Councilmember Zahner Bailey asked where on Hopewell Road. Community Development Director Wilson stated it is just south of Brookshade Parkway on the opposite side of the road, toward Alpharetta. PWO Councilmember D'Aversa asked Mr. Wilson if he could again state what his comments were about this particular `m request. Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 4 of 16 Community Development Director Wilson • We have talked about no sewer extension in the City of Milton. • To me no sewer extension in The City of Milton means we don't extend trunk lines period in The City of Milton. Now • While I believe that is what your intent is in the Little River Basin, I do not think that is what your intent is in the Big Creek Basin, but I am not absolutely sure of that. • I do not want to go down the road without councils support on that. Mayor Lockwood asked Mr. Wilson if he could explain the difference in the Littler River and the Big Creek, the reason being, the Big Creek does have sewer lines there. Community Development Director Wilson said yes it does and showed on the map the existing lines that could be extended and were extended. Councilmember D'Aversa • There are other reasons not to extend sewer other than there is the opportunity to extend them. Community Development Director Wilson yes and that is what he needs council to tell him, if it is Council's intent not to extend trunk lines. Councilmember D'Aversa • We do not have formal policy. • There are some areas in the City where sewer exists currently on Hwy 9. • Just because there is availability of sewer to be extended within other areas, does not mean we need to do it. • We have gone down the path of not wanting to extend sewer in very similar circumstances to this and have not had anything to come before a vote of the council. • I have heard very clearly from every councilmember that we would not want to support extending the sewer. woo • I don't think it is as cut and dry as there is availability of sewer, there is a trunk line, therefore we can extend sewer. • I think it has to be that there are certain areas where there is sewer but in the interior of Milton, I think we have made it clear, just not in writing or formally what all of our intentions are. • I think it now behooves us to make it formal. Community Development Director Wilson stated yes and asked if council understood when he mentioned that in the Little River Basin there is no sewer and we are not talking about sewering any of the Little River, we are not even talking about running sewer from Little River across the bridge into the Big Creek, which was the inter basin transfer. We are talking about just filling out gaps in the Big Creek Basin where sewer is available. Councilmember Zahner Bailey • Important to have this discussion as a body and remove any mystery as to what each of us might mean. • The fact that it is in Big Creek is not all of the distinction. • She asked what is the distance to the first and second lot? • Want to clarify that there is nothing that legally requires us today to extend that public trunk line. • Perception was that just because the trunk line was there did not mean automatically that Fulton County could extend it. • She would like to distinguish between legally what may be a requirement in the Big Creek Basin as to when someone is required to be connected versus when it gives us authority as a body. rum Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 5 of 16 Community Development Director Tom Wilson • Fulton County Sewer regulations are the same as the State of Georgia's sewer regulations, which require that if a development is within 1,000 feet, you do connect to that sewer and if a single family lot is within two hundred feet that you connect. Those are Fulton County Ordinances and those are State Ordinances. Councilmember Zahner Bailey • As relates to this plat, it sounds as if the lots in question are not within those required distances. Community Development Director Wilson • The development itself has sewer on it so there is no question that the development itself is within 1000 feet of the trunk line. • The residential lots are not created until the end of this process so what we have now in this situation is an eight acre lot that has sewer on it that meets the criteria of being within 1,000 feet of a sewer and would seem to be required by state law and county ordinance to tie on to it. Councilmember Zahner Bailey • Just the fact that it is in Big Creek does not make her comfortable that we would want to extend a trunk line that is not already extended. • The fact that the one lot already has the man hole is one issue. • She thinks that is within that two hundred feet • She is uncomfortable legally that we start to generally define a development. • Again once you extend it to that second and third lot further and further and therein lay the issue with the extension of sewer. Councilmember D'Aversa stated she thinks they need to understand what that county law is and what our options are. how Mayor Lockwood • Need a professional opinion on what the state and county law means. Community Development Director Wilson • In this particular case it truncates in the middle of the property. • Fulton County's Ordinance also requires that you run it upstream to the highest point so the next neighbor up stream can tie onto it, so there is the domino effect. • In this particular case it is not relevant, but it would be in other cases. Councilmember Zahner Bailey • Will you restate that there is a domino effect when we start to extend public trunk lines that we start to create a mechanism for sewer to be extended into what historically may have been a non sewered area? Community Development Director Wilson • That is how these were made (referring to sections on map). • They started at the bottom of this basin and extended right up to the edge of the basin and in some cases it even went beyond the basin before we had the Inter Basin Transfer Policy that stopped it. • We do need a definite stated policy .•. Councilmember Zahner Bailey • She would not be comfortable having a blanketed statement that said we can extend public sewer or private sewer as long as it is in the blue area. it Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 6 of 16 • As we just heard from our Representative Jones, we have not only the opportunity but the responsibility to create those policies and ordinances which clearly are not just someone else's interpretation but a clear and decisive definition for our citizens as to what that policy is. • I believe the citizens expect the majority of our area to remain non sewer and I would like to see us move forward with a policy that makes that clear. Public Comment Mayor Lockwood invited Public Comment. Tom Kuehn, 105 Providence Oaks Pointe, Milton, stated that he wants to make sure we have a clear policy that can be enforced and that when talking about a policy we do not limit ourselves to talking about a public sewer policy, but also make sure we have a clear policy that relates to any kind of private sewer proposals that come up to the City. Carol Lane, 14890 East Bluff Road, Milton, wanted to remind Council of the City of Milton's rural aspect and maintaining the rural characteristics of The City of Milton. If you allow the sewer in and try to zone it at one acre, and we are guaranteed if it maintains septic that it will be a one acre minimum. Caryl Alfaro, 16285 Laconic Lane, Milton, stated that she was a professional geologist by trade and thinks it is great that Council is looking at this type of growth issue, but one thing that wasn't mentioned and is very important to this discussion is the capacity of the sewer plant. Ms Alfaro stated that it was her understanding that facilities are near capacity and with any significant rain fall in our basins there is over flowing that takes place and she feels that council should bring some outside professionals in to look at it and structure some policy to maintain the rural character. Jahnee Prince, 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite 220, Duluth GA 30097 stated she represents the Council for Quality Growth and a couple of things to think about in long term planning is that with one acre lots when the septic tanks start to fail, you may have a problem relocating it given the configuration of the lot. She suggested that Council look at the state water plan where they are calling for fewer septic tanks. Septic tanks are viewed as a consumptive use of water, which means it does not immediately put the water back into the natural system, so they are moving away from that, and she cautioned the Council to look long term. Community Development Director Wilson referenced the map and said he colored the only areas that were even questionable that is in The City of Milton Councilmember Zahner Bailey stated that it would be helpful to define within those areas, what it means in terms of acreage, in terms of number of lots, and current zoning. She said she would like to verify within a policy that even in the Little River Basin that not only does that mean we would not have inter basin transfer or sewer extension within the Little River Basin with regards to Big Creek, but make clear we also intend not to extend or reach out to connect to sewer outside of the boundaries of The City of Milton. She spoke briefly about the statement that was made about septic tanks. She said she was aware of the water plan and the fact that septic tanks in some instances can be perceived as consumptive. In other work sessions we have talked about the ability for Milton to "go green" and for Milton to educate our citizens about better conservation of water use, so septic tanks alone are not the issue. Councilmember Tart asked if there was a time line being established for finding out the legal issues involved. Since these cases are coming before us we need to have the legal opinions in place in regards to what the state and county laws are governing this. Community Development Director Wilson stated that he now has good direction on how to proceed. City Clerk Marchiafava read the next agenda item: and Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 7 of 16 Discussion on a Volunteer Policy There was no public comment on this item. Interim City Manager Chris Lagerbloom • Debate at last Council Meeting about what is appropriate attitudes or activities for Boards and Commission Members and what code of conduct they might be governed by. • Wanted to see if there was any further discussion on this topic and to see if there is any guidance from Council to have staff work toward additional policies and procedures as it relates to conduct of our appointees of Boards and Commissions. Councilmember Tart • Could you explain what happened at the meeting that lasted until 2:00 a.m.? • Not clear on what the issue was. Mayor Lockwood • We had a committee member that came up and made a comment as a citizen, but referenced some names of our City Councilmembers. • It was not appropriate. • We stopped at that point and asked the person to leave. Interim City Manager Lagerbloom • There was a motion made to suspend the meeting and add an item to the agenda for a motion to remove the person from the Planning Commission. • It did receive a second, but failed in a tie. • There was debate as to what was an appropriate attitude or activities for Board and Commission members. Councilmember D'Aversa • Why was it inappropriate? • Would you be suggesting we have some policy of appropriateness in regards for Council? • As public officials, we are under the microscope of our citizenry and they can come before us in public comment and comment to us about us. City Attorney Scott • Thinks the danger is when members speak ill of other members of the Council or the City; it is bad press. • Another issue is a policy question. Do you want these people saying these things? • Of course they have a right to say those things. • The question is what you folks as a body considers to be conduct that is becoming of someone in a position such as that. • His experience is that you are guarded in your words when you are speaking on behalf of the City. • It is almost a contractual type situation. • You can certainly contract to infringe on your own rights to a certain extent. Councilmember D'Aversa • We cannot request our appointees to bite their tongues. Councilmember Thurman • Thinks we can request it. Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 8 of 16 • Anyone who is a public servant, whether or not they are elected or appointed as representing the City would not want to do something that is detrimental to the City. 00" Mayor Lockwood .ter' • Would be open to discussing some guidelines on what we expect from our volunteers and what we would like to see. City Attorney Scott • At Johns Creek, the city attorney has instructed the board and commission members that they are not to go to either Council meetings or other board and commission meetings and make comments. • He thinks that is going too far and would not be comfortable doing that even if he was asked to. Mayor Lockwood • Interested in some guidelines. • As we go forward, he would be glad to look at some recommendations and guidelines to give these board members. Councilmember Lusk • A year ago, we passed a resolution outlining and defining conduct of City Councilmembers at Board and Commission meetings. • Board members and committee members should be held to the same standards. • They are also representatives of the City. • Thinks it is time to set some guidelines and put an end to this kind of thing. • Need to act like the civilized people we claim to be. Councilmember D'Aversa • Our Ethics Board asked us to reconsider the resolution we passed last year. • We have not done that yet, but we should. • It does violate first amendment rights. • We are here on behalf of our citizens and they do have the opportunity to come forward and speak. • We do not condone foul language or things that might be deemed defamatory, and if there is a way to articulate that in a policy, she would support that. She does not support a policy against people being able to come before us and tell us what they think we have done right or wrong. • We became a City because we wanted a voice. Councilmember Tart • We are elected to take the positive and negative criticism. • Unless he is defamed or his character is hurt outside this building, he feels it is free speech. • Our Councilmembers and appointed officials, give enough of their lives to do what they do for the City of Milton. • The last thing we need to do is take away their freedom of speech. Mayor Lockwood • Would entertain the idea of the City Attorney or staff looking at what other cities are doing in regards to this issue. 0% • He does not want to micro manage, but as we train them or swear them in we can go over the policies. • Obviously, we have to allow them free speech. V1 Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 9 of 16 Councilmember Zahner Bailey • As a point of clarification everyone has a different perception about what is appropriate and what is not. • We need to be extremely cautious that we do not impose the perception that we are removing freedom of speech from people that serve this community and this City. Mayor Lockwood • In general moving forward have a general policy that everyone knows about so if someone does go over that line then we have something to stand on. Five -Minute Break: At this time Mayor Lockwood called for a Five -Minute Break: Reconvene: Mayor Lockwood reconvened the meeting at 7:25 pm. City Clerk Marchiafava called the next agenda item Discussion on a Memorandum of Understanding with the Board of Education There was no public comment on this item. Community Development Director Tom Wilson • Permitting new schools in the City of Milton • Wanted to issue a land disturbance permit that would assure compliance with the overlay district and would get blessing by the transportation department. • He also wants to issue a building permit. .�. • Review the building drawing for compliance with the building codes before issuing the building permit. • Want to allow them to use private inspectors. • Want to issue the Certificate of Occupancy. • Board of Education has already applied for building permit. • The permit has been to the Design Review Board. • The Design Review Board has some recommendations. • School Board says they will accommodate recommendations when they can. • Do not have great expectations they will comply with all of the wishes of the Design Review Board. • Will issue a building permit once they are compliant with all of the building codes. Mayor Lockwood • We know citizens are concerned about our new schools. • Be involved as much as we can to benefit the residents. Community Development Director Tom Wilson • We do a rap up of the Design Review Board and make it public. • The Design Review Board asked to increase the buffer to 75 feet and add screening where sparsely vegetated. • They need to comply with the North West overlay requirements. • No parking in front of the building. • Building orientation no further than 20 feet back from the edge of the sidewalk. �,... • Break the building down into smaller units. • Make sure no spill over of any lighting on any recreation field. • Entry design is too contemporary and out of place for the design of the area. Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 10 of 16 • Bus stop drop off in front of building does not present itself very well to the community. • Possibly add additional landscaping. • Natural detention pond is a plus • Design a building that is more in harmony with the community. • This is one of the two prototypes they have. Councilmember D'Aversa • Talked with the gentleman representing the Board of Education • A lot of this is correct. • If you flip that same prototype, which is Cogburn Woods and have the bus entry on the opposite side, then it will be absolutely in harmony with the community. Councilmember Zahner Bailey • Talked to architects about roof. • Add metal roof for example that was used for station 43. • It is less industrial. • They said they could do that. • Want to be careful that we do not say the prototype as is, is ok. • We can not force them, but we can ask them. • When asked about the metal roof, they said they didn't see an issue because it is not more expensive it is just a different roof. • They indicated they were receptive to a different brick with a different mortar type. • The third element was because of the large pane windows, which is not in concert with the overlay, they indicated they would be willing to break those windows up even if it is with a false divide. • That simple change can make it look less industrial • She does not want to lose what they verbally said they would consider. • She requested staff continue to follow up with the BOE and to make sure the DRB recommendation are provided in writing to the BOE Community Development Director Wilson • Ideally, they should have gone through this and we should have signed an M.O.U. with them and we would have had that off the table. • He will work on the M.O.U. and when it comes for Council's review and signature, we can ask about ways they did not comply with the Design Review Board. • He thinks they will come back with some modifications. Mayor Lockwood asked the City Clerk to call the next item on the agenda. Discussion on Property Tax Collection Finance Manager Stacey Inglis • Regarding delinquent tax collection she has been in touch with a company to help us with the delinquent tax collections at no cost to the City or the citizens. • The only cost is to the people with delinquent taxes. • The fee charged to us will be added onto the delinquent taxes owed. • Stage one deals with address verification. • They have a system that can search each property in delinquent status. • We have complete control over what they would send to property owners. • Fee for phase one is sixty five ($65.00) dollars. • They only get paid when we collect the delinquent tax money. Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 11 of 16 • We would run a report at the end of each month and issue them a check based on the taxes they have helped us collect. • There is an additional fee of $100.00. • The total is $175.00. • Stage three consists of taking the property all the way to tax sales if needed • She asked how aggressive does Council want to be in delinquent tax collection. • She stated that 7% of taxes are still outstanding which equates to $596,000.00. • Primarily real property. Mayor Lockwood • Suggest sending letters in stages. • Maybe if the first letter was worded a little nicer saying that maybe they overlooked it, then in sixty days send a litter tougher letter. Finance Manager Stacey Inglis • The first letter sent is basically a form letter that the state of Georgia has and it has all the legal requirements. • Could have been worded a little nicer and it does say that a lien may be issued if not paid within 30 days not that it will be filed. • Would like some input from Council as to whether we send out a second and third letter before we actually put a lien on the property. • Taxes are due October 31St • The first letter was dated December 31' and sent January 2"d • Typically, once tax is delinquent is when we send the first letter. WOW Councilmember D'Aversa • Stated she does not feel the letter sent was aggressive. • After ninety days, send another letter and after 120 days, we have to get aggressive. Councilmember Thurman • Recommend sending one more letter out on February 15 saying due by February 28th • Two weeks is enough time. • Let the officials handle anything not collected after that. Finance Manager Stacey Inglis • Due to a glitch in the system there were twenty five letters sent to people that had already paid their taxes. • That was a mistake and we have received some e-mails about it. Councilmember Zahner Bailey • Send letter to those twenty five people explaining what happened. • Asked about sending other letters certified mail Councilmember Thurman • Probably collect a lot more by the end of January. • Consider sending the second letter by certified mail. Finance Manager Stacey Inglis • The fee for the certified letter would be charged to their account. • The next letter will be sent out around the 10th of February and we will give them until the end of the month `rr saying pay your tax bill or we will file lien against property. Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 12 of 16 • If we still do not get response, then we will start procedures with company previously discussed. • Each letter can get more and more aggressive in the future, but for this year (2008) we want to send out a gentle letter right after taxes are due and then start getting more aggressive from there. Councilmember Tart • Clarified that in November we sent out the first letter. • On February 15th we will send second letter certified. Finance Manager Stacey Inglis • For 2007 we are sending the second letter around February 10`h or by the 15th • For future years (2008) and beyond, we will start after they are due, sending "a little fluff letter" and start getting more aggressive from there - Maybe 30 days in between each time. • First letter will be sent around November 15. • Second letter some time in December. • Third letter can be in January. • After ninety days past due it is one time 10% penalty and that is added to the account, plus any fees incurred trying to collect. Councilmember Lusk • Recommends we do send the third letter certified just to ensure the person gets it. Councilmember Thurman • Recommends we send the one for February 10th certified. Mayor Lockwood asked the City Clerk to call the next agenda item Discussion on Special Events Project Coordinator Linda Blow • Three events so far. • One was the Roundup that happened in the fiscal year 2007 • She wants to make sure she is on the right track and doing the right things. • Venues are really hard to come up with here in Milton. • It has been mentioned to check on schools and using there parking lots. • Fulton County controls those. • She needs to hear from Council because we have two more events this year. • One is in the spring and it is still an idea. • The other is the Roundup for 2008. • It has been suggested that we move it somewhere else. • It is huge undertaking and need to start earlier this year. Councilmember Thurman • Like to see the Roundup eventually being held at Birmingham Park, but does not know if it will be ready to be held there this year. Councilmember Tart • Would like to see it on City venue when appropriate. • The Birmingham Church was a ready made venue for us and probably saved us a lot of money and they are certainly willing to host that event again this year. > Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 13 of 16 Councilmember Thurman how • Working with Mark Law on the Resolution for Arbor Day. • Decided on National Arbor Day which is April 26. Project Coordinator Linda Blow • She did not know how Council wanted to tie it in. • She needs your input on what Council wants and will do her best to make it happen. Councilmember D'Aversa Does anyone have a problem with having the Roundup at the Birmingham Church again this year? We can move it when we get one of our parks open. Mayor Lockwood • Suggested to let the committee work on the details. Project Coordinator Linda Blow • For the Spring Fling - she needs ideas. • Stated we need a parade in Milton • Time to flaunt our stuff. Councilmember Zahner Bailey • Liked the idea of combining Arbor Day and Earth Day. • Some of the schools do Earth Week and this is another way to engage the youth in our community. Project Coordinator Linda Blow • Sprucing up Milton • One of her ideas is to have a "Get your junk out of your garage day." • Working with the hauler to do a special pick up. • Get people to donate or plant flowers at the fire departments. • Maybe have a picnic at the end of the day. Councilmember Tart • Likes the idea of engaging the Boy Scout Troops, churches, Junior High and Elementary Schools to do volunteer projects leading up to those events. Project Coordinator Linda Blow • Maybe have a picnic at the end of the day. Councilmember Zahner Bailey • Look at dates for "Hands on America" • Seems it is always in the spring. Project Coordinator Linda Blow �,,.., • Good time to incorporate "Keep Milton Green." Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 14 of 16 Councilmember Zahner Bailey thanked Ms Blow for the segway and said it does go back to a work session from several months ago. • She does intend to pursue it. aw • She said she would like to talk to Ms Blow about getting a separate committee together to pursue Greening Milton or "Milton Goes Green." • Depending on timing, this may or may not coordinate to it in terms of recycling and Arbor Day. • Maybe that committee can help with the planning. Councilmember Thurman • Would love to see the day that is celebrating our resources. Councilmember Thurman • Discussed with Mark Law about Milton becoming a Tree City USA • Will require funds which right now we do not have at this time. • $40,000.00 will have to be set aside that would go toward the trees. Councilmember Lusk • Agenda item number ten (Discussion of flag pole) is not really a discussion of the flag pole, but discussion of celebrating Flag Day on June 10. • This year it falls on Saturday. • As a member of the VFW, American Legion and SAR, he knows that those organizations are willing to participate in a Flag Day ceremony and might even incorporate a parade along with that event. • Like to see us celebrate Veterans Day. • Both events are low cost events. Project Coordinator Linda Blow • The only thing that ties her to four events is the money. • Only spent a little over $10,000.00 for two and $30,000.00 is budgeted. • Money for Milton Roundup came out of the 2007 budget. • Came up with thirteen five sponsor's money. • Have nineteen plus for the fiscal year. • Other than the Roundup, we could have smaller celebrations to keep the momentum going. Councilmember Thurman • Another event we are looking into is the City sponsoring with someone some type of self defense class for women. Project Coordinator Linda Blow • Cost approximately $20,000.00 to refurbish the Crabapple Community building. • The Girl Scouts in Milton want to help take that on as a fundraiser. Mayor Lockwood thanked Linda Blow for all the hard work and effort. Reconvene Executive Session Councilmember Tart moved to reconvene into Executive Session. Councilmember Thurman seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. a" Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 15 of 16 r' Reconvene the Work Session iimw Councilmember Thurman moved to reconvene the Regular Work Session. Councilmember D'Aversa seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Staff Report by the City Attorney City Attorney Mark Scott • In December, he and the mayor attended a meeting with a consulting firm called Tower Advisory Services that provides consulting services for billboard and cellular phone and tower site auditing. • They have worked for those industries before. • They have ideas about personal and real property taxes on such sites. • They know the mechanics of these things. • From what they have told us, people frequently add accessories, new uses, new amplifiers, transformers, pieces of equipments, generators, without getting proper building permits. • They audit facilities in the city and charge the fees to the companies and the City gets a cut. • Not sure we need to do this now because: a) we do not have any billboards, but if we end up getting any billboards, what we may need to do is engage them at that point. • Will send you all their proposal letter • Might be worth talking to them about cell towers and facilities. • Could help us with the enforcement. • When they go out to a site, they will know what has been added and will document so they can look at again in the future. pow Councilmember Lusk • At what point could we charge them for devices? ��" • Would it be from the day first permitted? City Attorney Scott • They would probably go back and analyze that and tell them they need to get a permit. Councilmember Tart • Would it not be cheaper to send code enforcement personnel to training? City Attorney Scott • That could be a possibility. Mayor Lockwood • On the pro side, each one had their expertise. • They would know what to look out for and generate revenue. • On the down side, it is self generating revenue for them. • It does not cost us money to keep them going. • Basically, you pass the ordinance that if someone has a billboard then we are allowed to charge all fees that it costs us to monitor the billboard. City Attorney Scott ,.,.,, • Their proposal is designed so the cost of their service is fully borne by the billboard and self site owners themselves and not local taxpayers. y The cost depends on what the entire City has and what all they have to do. Work Session of the Milton City Council Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:00 pm Page 16 of 16 • Would like to get more information form them before he makes a recommendation. • This proposal is really very sketchy. • Will ask for references. After no further business, Mayor Lockwood adjourned the Work Session. Date Approved: March 3, 2008 N-O'� J YkO, V—egadette R. Marchiafava, City Clerk C Joe Lockw od, Mayor 0