3/4/2024 Meeting Preview
You’ll see below the agenda highlights for our first meeting in March. I’ve added information from the council agenda memos and background on items that may be of particular interest. You can watch the meeting on the city’s Facebook or YouTube pages. Our meetings are on the first and third Mondays of the month. Workshop session begins at 6:00 pm; regular session begins at 7:30 pm; executive session takes place at the conclusion of the regular session.
You can access the full agenda packets here.
We welcome your attendance at our meetings and public comment is available near the start of the meeting, before any actions are taken. You can sign up to speak if you’re at the meeting in person, or you can submit an e-mail with your name, address, and comment or remark to pcomment@collegeparkga.com no later than 7:30 pm on March 4, 2024. The City Clerk will read your name, address and comment into the official record. If you have feedback for Mayor and Council directly, you can e-mail us.
Workshop Session
1. Brownfield Update
Since 2017, the City of College Park has received approximately $2.7 million in brownfields grants. This presentation will highlight some of the projects that have benefitted from the funding.
2. Report of Lighting Levels for Apartments and Hotels
Staff will be sharing their assessment of properties throughout the city. In their view, several apartments and hotels do not meet parking area lighting levels that are safe. They have checked several apartments and hotels and the majority have failed or are borderline on the suggested lighting levels as recommended by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).
Regular Session
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4. Presentation Of Minutes Of City Council
A. Special Called Meeting Minutes dated January 5, 2024
B. Special Called Meeting Minutes dated January 22, 2024
C. Regular Session Minutes dated January 16, 2024
D. Regular Session Minutes dated February 5, 2024
E. Regular Session Minutes dated February 19, 2024
F. Workshop Session Minutes dated January 16, 2024
G. Workshop Session Minutes dated February 5, 2024
H. Workshop Session Minutes dated February 19, 2024
In meetings that took place earlier this year, council requested verbatim minutes. Our City Clerk addressed this issue in her portion of the November 6, 2023 Strategic Performance Report. She wrote:
“By providing a summary style of minutes, the City can save approximately $25,000 annually. After polling the cities in the State of Georgia, it is found that verbatim minutes for City Council meetings have become obsolete in most cities. Word for word dialogue can always be obtained from the live streams and recorded audio of City Council meetings on the City’s website and social media sites.”
We discussed this at our retreat over the weekend and I believe the body is open to further discussion regarding this issue with the hopes of providing clear direction for staff.
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7. Public Hearing
A. Request to set the Public Hearing Date for consideration of and action on a Conditional Use Permit application at 2539 Sullivan Road (Parcel ID 13 0036 LL1240) in Ward 2 to allow for a private transloading metal recycling facility serving Georgia Power. The Planning Commission heard this case at their January 29, 2024 meeting and voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Conditional Use Permit.
From staff and the applicant:
The applicant is requesting to use the property to store electric utility material from Georgia Power in response to emergency storm restoration, field operations and in support of grid modernization projects. The applicant is in the process of securing a business license to operate as a container storage facility until the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application and approval process is complete. An approved CUP is necessary for the applicant to convert the vacated facility to a metal recycling and transloading operation of the recovered Georgia Power materials in order to serve the needs of Georgia Power in improvement of service provision.
The property has been vacant for the last three years. There are no residential neighborhoods in the immediate vicinity within a 1000 foot diameter from the subject site and therefore no resident population that would be impacted by the proposed use.
Staff recommends APPROVAL of a CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT to allow for use of 2539 Sullivan Road as a metal recycling/transloading facility, in addition to the current use of the subject M2 (heavy industrial) property as a Georgia Power materials storage facility, subject to the following conditions:
1. The City Planner recommends the removal of concrete within portions of the required front setback and installation of landscaped buffers to improve compatibility with the M2 along Sullivan Road in front of the subject property and screen the proposed storage uses and dismantling areas from Sullivan Road. A Landscape Plan will be required to be submitted as a condition of issuance of the permit.
2. Landscaped islands and lighting poles shall be installed in the interior of the parking lot to provide proper lighting and minimize large areas of unshaded pavement.
8. Other Business
A. Consideration of the approval of the 2024 Federal Legislative priorities for formal submittal to the Federal Delegation via a Resolution. This item is requested by Airport and Governmental Affairs Director, Brecca Carter. This affects all Wards.
The 2024 Federal Legislative Priorities draft has been updated since the release of the agenda packet. We received the update late Friday. You can see it here. Staff has outlined possible sources of funding and historic information about particular areas of federal funding here.
B. Consideration of and action on a request from the Grady Health Foundation to host "Rules of The Road" fundraiser bike ride on April 27, 2024 from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A portion of bike course is within the City of College Park city limits. This item is requested by City Clerk, Shavala Ames.
Staff has recommended approval. This is not a budgeted item but the event organizer will be required to obtain off-duty officers to help with traffic. About 2 miles of the ride will go through College Park. It will start in Atlanta in the Summerhill neighborhood. Cyclists will have the option of doing a 20-mile ride or a 62-mile ride. You can see the entire race route here, including the parts that would go through College Park.
C. Consideration of and action on a request to approve invoice from Proof of the Pudding at the Georgia International Convention Center, for Police Department's 16th Annual Valentine's Seniors’ Social in the amount of $23,356.50. This is a budgeted item. This item is requested by Connie Rogers, Chief of Police.
Staff has recommended approval. This is a budgeted item and it was a wonderful event.
D. Consideration on and action of a request for approval of Resolution No.2024- 03 amending the budget for Fiscal Year 2024 for the General Fund, Special Revenue Funds and Enterprise Funds. This item is requested by Althea Philord-Bradley, Director of Finance.
Staff has recommended approval. This was on the last agenda as well. A motion was made to approve it but the motion died for lack of a second.
From staff:
The Budget amendment is amending the budget for the following funds:
1. General Fund: An appropriation of $2,780,859 for several previously approved initiatives by the Mayor & Council. Please refer to the attached Budget Modification Summary spreadsheet for details.
2. Hotel/Motel Tax Fund - The Hotel/Motel Tax Fund is reallocating $145,964 to the General Fund for the implementation of the Citywide Access Control project, which received prior approval for $145,964.
3. Car Rental Tax Fund: Allocating $1,009,124 for three projects approved by the Mayor & Council. This is a transfer to the General Fund.
(a) Phillips Park Basketball Court (Ward IV): The total project cost was approved for $336,632. This project is partially funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in the amount of $214,125. The General Fund will finance the remaining $122,507 in cost.
(b) Barrett Park Restrooms (Ward I - $567,901)
(c) Brady Center Roof Replacement (Ward I - $318,716)
4. CDBG Grant: Allocating $214,125 for Phillips Park Basketball Court expense. This is a partial funding. The remaining balance of $122,507 is appropriated in the General Fund budget.
5. MOST Tax Fund: A reduction of $750,000, transferring the budget to the Water & Sewer Fund where revenue and expenses should be accounted for. This is strictly a reclassification of funds.
6. Water & Sewer Fund: Appropriating $5,500,000 and recognizing collected revenues to date.
7. BIDA Fund: Appropriating $700,000 for the Six West land acquisition, previously approved by the Mayor & Council. Funded by the General Fund.
General Fund revenue sources have been identified to cover the $2,780,859 budget modification, outlined in the attached worksheet. These include:
• An increase in revenue from Business Licenses, which generated over $4 million in FY2023, leading to a conservative budget increase of $550,000.
• Ad Valorem Motor Vehicle Tax revenue exceeded the FY2023 budget by $431,124 compared to the 2024 budgeted amount.
• Additional revenue from sources like Local Option Sales Tax and interest earnings, exceeding budgeted figures, providing further financial support.
Moreover, the budget amendment for the General Fund is backed by transfers from the Hotel/Motel Tax and Car Rental for one-time expenses.
The budget amendment will result in an increase in the City's total budget from $170,883,362 to $180,337,470.
E. Consideration of and action on Resolution No. 2024-04, to impose a 1% Municipal Option Sales Tax within the City and to direct the municipal superintendent to call a special election for the purpose of submitting the question of the imposition of the tax to the voters of College Park. This item is requested by Director of Finance, Althea Philord-Bradley.
The Municipal Option Sales Tax (“MOST”) is a one (1%) tax imposed by a municipality that applies to the majority of retail sales of tangible personal property purchased and/or delivered within a municipality’s jurisdiction. On May 10, 2021, Governor Kemp signed House Bill 160 into law, which extended the ability to levy a MOST for water and sewer projects to College Park, East Point and Hapeville, all of which have a wastewater system that connects to the City of Atlanta’s wastewater system. The City of Atlanta has had a MOST since 2004.
In May of 2022, the voters of College Park passed a referendum implementing a one percent (1%) Municipal Option Sales Tax (MOST I) through a special election. The Georgia Department of Revenue Commissioner has assessed that by March 31, 2024, MOST I will have generated revenues surpassing the predetermined maximum amount of net proceeds from the tax.
When the city initially projected the collection amount for the 4-year period, there wasn't enough data to accurately predict the actual receipts. The Georgia Department of Revenue, prior to the Tri-Cities having a MOST, only provided municipal point of sale data to the City of Atlanta. Everyone else throughout that state only got information on the county level.
Our present resolution confines our collection to $13,086,347. As of January 30th, 2024, we've collected $12.2 million, commencing from a distribution date of November 2022. It's anticipated that we'll reach up to $15 million by the end of March 31st, 2024, when the levy expires. Proposing a referendum for the reinstatement of a one percent (1%) Municipal Option Sales Tax specifically earmarked for water and sewer projects is in the City's best interest, considering the need for infrastructure improvements. The referendum is scheduled to occur on May 21, 2024.
These funds allow visitors and business people who use the City’s water and sewer infrastructure but do not pay City water/sewer bills to help pay for upgrading and maintenance of the infrastructure. This is NOT a new tax; it is the reauthorization of a tax that is scheduled to sunset. Because we now have data from which to base estimates, staff projects that over the course of the entire 4-year period, the MOST will generate approximately $50 million for water and sewer projects in the city.
F. Consideration of and action on a request for approval of the proposed Mayor and Council Departmental Budget Meeting Schedule for Fiscal Year 2024- 2025 as well as an opportunity for general policy direction by elected leadership. See attached draft Departmental Budget Meeting Schedule for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. This item is requested by Director of Finance, Althea Philord-Bradley.
You can see the proposed schedule here. All of the meetings start at 6:30 pm in the City Council Chambers. The seven sessions are proposed to take place from April 9-24.
G. Consideration of and action to adopt Ordinance No. 2024-05, adopting regulations concerning the boarding of doors and windows. See attached Ordinance and memorandum. This item is requested by Marcus Robinson, Chief Building Inspector. This item affects all Wards.
Staff recommends approval. I think this is proposed ordinance is sound. The highlights include:
If a house is to be boarded up for longer than ten days, a permit must be obtained.
The permit is $150 and is good for sixty days.
One thirty day renewal is permitted for $500.
In the event an emergency situation requires a building or structure to be boarded up for more than ten days, the owner of the building their authorized representative must obtain a valid building permit for repair or a valid Window and Door Boarding permit.
All boarded openings shall be used with a “wood material” and shall be painted with a minimum of two coats of exterior paint, in a color compatible with the exterior color of the structure.
In addition to the fee, the owner must also submit:
A proposed plan to repair the structure, including a detailed description regarding the manner and materials.
A proposed maintenance plan detailing the monitoring and maintenance of the structure and premises in conformance with this article.
An acknowledgment that if such repairs are not made prior to the expiration of the permit, the owner shall face a penalty of $1,000.00 per violation.
H. Consideration on and action of a request to approve On-Demand contractor, Kemi Construction to install 160 feet of 18-inch HDPE Storm Sewer Pipe. This pipe will discharge into the creek bed on Frontage Road, aiming to prevent flooding at the intersection of Potomac Drive and Camp Creek Parkway. This item is being requested by Highway, Streets and Storm Water Superintendent, Raymond Cotton. This request will support drainage issues within Ward 2. This is a budgeted item.
Staff recommends approval. They determined there was no drainage invert at the intersection of Potomac Drive and Camp Creek Parkway. This caused excessive flooding at the intersection and has become a nuisance for the traveling public. If approved, Kemi Construction will install 160 feet of 18-inch high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe that will extend from the existing curb and gutter section on Potomac Drive and allow discharge into the creek bed on Frontage Road. Additionally, two double drainage inlets and an 18-inch flare end with Rip Rap (a layer of large stones that protects soil from erosion in areas of high or concentrated flows) will prevent erosion at the creek level. Staff solicited bids from both On-Demand contractors, Jewel of the South and Kemi Construction. Jewel of the South was contacted on several occasions but never responded. Kemi Construction has responded bidding at $14,850.00.
The Council Agenda Memo (CAM) transmission indicates a price of $14,850.00. However, the quote on the page following the CAM from Kemi Construction lists a total price of $42,650.00. I will attempt to raise this issue at the meeting, but enforcement of Ordinance 2024-01 may prevent me from speaking on this matter.
3/4/2024 update from the Interim City Manager, Dr. Emmanuel Adediran: “This agenda item will be pulled from tonight’s meeting. It was an input error by the executive assistant. It will be resubmitted for the March 18th. meeting.”
I. Consideration of and action on a request to approve payment of the emergency Insert, 12-inch valve in the amount of $39,025.00. utilizing our On Demand Contractor Kemi Construction., Inc., at Jefferson Street and Columbia Avenue. This item is being requested by Water & Sewer Superintendents Timothy Lewis & Antwan Dorsey. This item affects Ward 3. This is a budgeted item.
Staff recommends approval. Several people reached out to me about this leak because it took quite a while to get it fixed. In the meantime, we had a persistent water leak. Our team was unable to handle the job in-house because they could not get a complete shutdown on a water main to make necessary repairs, but our On-Demand Contractor fixed it.
J. Consideration of and action on a request to approve the emergency Insert, 12-inch valve in the amount of $88,875.00 utilizing our On Demand Contractor Kemi Construction., Inc., at Temple Avenue and Lee Street. This item is being requested by Water & Sewer Superintendents Timothy Lewis & Antwan Dorsey. This item affects Ward 3. This is a budgeted item.
Staff recommends approval. This was a similar situation as Item I. We had to use an outside company because we were unable to completely shut down the water main to make repairs.
K. Consideration on and action of a request to pay J.W.C. Environmental for an emergency purchase of 2 Muffin Monsters. This equipment was purchased June & July 2023 under the direction of Jackson Myers, Interim Director. This item is being requested by Water & Sewer Superintendents Timothy Lewis & Antwan Dorsey. This will affect all Wards. This is a budgeted item.
Staff recommends approval so the invoices may be paid. Both Items were purchased in Summer 2023 and are currently in place and working. Muffin Monsters grind up all solid waste before it enters the booster pumps at the Southeast Lift Station, which in turn allows the booster pumps to operate more efficiently. The Public Works Department Water Sewer Division identified the need to purchase these items for continuous control of solid debris entering the wet wells. Without that continuous control, pump failure, inaccurate readings within the flow monitoring system and sewer spills can occur.
L. Consideration of and action on a request to select a voting delegate for consideration of Three Statewide Georgia Opioid Settlement Advisory Commission Members (GOSAC) and Regional Advisory Council (RAC) Members. This item is being requested by the Interim City Manager, Dr. Emmanuel Adediran.
Part of Georgia’s participation in the National Opioid Distributor and Janssen Settlements requires the creation of the Georgia Opioid Settlement Advisory Commission (GOSAC) and Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) to assess grant applications and recommend funding for the regional portion of the opioid settlement funds. As part of the settlement, Participating Local Governments are required to vote on three GOSAC representatives and the RAC members for their respective regions. Each Participating Local Government will receive one vote as part of this process. This vote will be held at regional, in-person meetings, and the voting delegate must be present to cast his or her vote on behalf of the Participating Local Government. The slate will be approved if the majority of the voting delegates present vote in favor of it.
