Politics & Government
City Of Milton: City Council To Review - And Likely Vote On - 5-Year Strategic Plan
City Council will review – and likely vote on – Milton's next 5-year Strategic Plan when its meets again Monday night.
03/12/2021 2:37 PM
Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
City Council will review – and likely vote on – Milton’s next 5-year Strategic Plan when its meets again Monday night.
A draft of that Strategic Plan can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.
Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The March 15 agenda also includes a host of other matters, including pursuing the potential purchase of firefighting equipment and a revision to the City’s coronavirus-related Emergency Ordinance affecting the process for temporary signage and restaurants’ to-go beer and wine sales.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers. People can attend in-person, with COVID-19 precautions in place including spaced-out seating and available masks. Or they can participate virtually via Zoom following this link: https://zoom.us/j/94377991469. Monday’s meeting will also be streamed live on the City’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/thecityofmiltonga/.
As is customary, this “Regular Session” is divided into distinct parts. They are three main ones Monday:
- CONSENT AGENDA – which consists of typically non-contentious items not involving major expenditures that the Council considers (without debate) on a single, collective up-and-down vote
- FIRST PRESENTATION – where the Council and public can get an initial look at certain items (including through corresponding documentation) that cannot be voted on until appearing on a future Council agenda
- NEW BUSINESS – a place for items that will be discussed, often at length, and voted upon the first (and usually only) time they appear on a Council agenda
Below are summaries for each of the items the Council will consider Monday.
- Approval of the Financial Statements and Investment Report for the Period Ending January 2021.
The Council will vote whether or not approve the City government’s financial statements and investment report for January.
- Approval of an Agreement between the City of Milton and Municipal Code Corporation (“Municode”) for Meeting & Agenda Management.
If this agreement is approved, the City would use Municode software to create and manage its City Council agenda and meeting “packets.” Municode is also a leading publisher of local government codes (including Milton’s, found here: https://library.municode.com/g...), though this agenda item is about Milton’s agenda management process and not related to its City Code.
- Approval of Subdivision Plats and Revisions.
This request is to divide a single 23.204-acre plat around the intersection of Thompson and Hopewell roads into two separate tracts.
The City is looking to finalize an agreement with Allied Paving Contractors to resurface roadways around Milton during the current fiscal year, which ends on September 30, 2021.
The City of Milton has drafted a safety policy that – if approved by Council – aims to provide an even safer workplace for all employees while also meeting requirements to qualify the City for two grants from Local Government Risk Management Services (LGRMS). LGRMS provides risk management services through the Georgia Municipal Association to cities throughout the state.
The City of Milton plans to replace its current Fire Station 42, off Thompson Road, with a newer, better building at the same site. If this agreement is approved, Southern Environmental Services would demolish the existing Station 42 so that construction can begin on a new one.
There are many steps involved in replacing the current Fire Station 42 with a newer version. This agenda item would address one of them – the safe removal of things related to the fuel tank at that site before the building is demolished.
If this agreement is approved, KCI Technologies will be the City’s consultant that begins the process for developing plans for additional intersection improvements in Milton funded through TSPLOST. Voters approved the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST), a 0.75% (3/4 cent), five-year referendum that brought in a projected $36.5 million to the City of Milton to fund transportation projects. You can learn more about TSPLOST in Milton by clicking here: https://www.cityofmiltonga.us/....
The City of Milton annually enters into agreements with outsider groups on its Parks and Recreation programs. With this agreement, the Milton Mustangs would continue its partnership with the City in running youth swim programming (including a swim team and clinics) out of the City Pool at the former Milton Country Club.
The City has begun looking into ways to make it safer and easier for people to bike and walk from Milton to the Big Creek Greenway, a run of trails that extend from Roswell north through Forsyth County. You can learn more about this project by going to: www.cityofmiltonga.us/Greenway.... The City recently conducted a survey asking for citizens’ input on this effort. If this Task Order is approved, Pond and Company, Inc. will provide engineering services for the Big Creek Greenway Connector including creating preliminary design plans, environmental documentation, environmental site assessments, and geotechnical engineering.
The Hopewell Youth Association has run the baseball program out of Bell Memorial Park for years in partnership with the City of Milton. The annual agreement, if approved, would formally continue that relationship through this year.
The City of Milton owns a house at 13760 Hopewell Road; this is roughly opposite Bethany Bend, where the City is planning an intersection improvement project. If this agreement is approved, Universal Engineering Services would check the house for asbestos.
FIRST PRESENTATION
In February, the City Council approved a revision to the Charter that removed language determining how items are added to the council agendas. Instead, the Charter now points to internal policies that direct the setting of council agendas. This new ordinance, if approved, would spell out these new internal policies.
“Flag lots” are properties with thin strips of land that connect with the road in one direction and with a heftier, typically rectangular or square piece of land on the other. (If sketched out, they’d resemble flags on paper from above.) On February 24, the City’s Planning Commission discussed zoning language specifying where a Milton homeowner with a flag lot can place a pool, specifically in the “front yard” of a flag lot. The Council will now consider the same proposal.
NEW BUSINESS
The City of Milton’s next Strategic Plan aims to outline the municipal government’s values, its strategic priorities accompanied by supporting goals, as well as specific outcomes measures to assess the City’s progress in achieving its goals. City Manager Steve Krokoff will present a draft of this critical document on Monday in partnership with Michelle Kennedy, a consultant who has worked hand-in-hand with the City on this Strategic Plan. It incorporates the perspectives of elected officials, City committee and board leaders, City staff, a diverse array of external stakeholders, as well as citizens, business owners, and others who care about Milton’s future. To learn more, go to www.cityofmiltonga.us/StrategicPlan. And review the draft plan by CLICKING HERE.
This relates to a final plat proposed by Brightwater Homes, which is seeking to add nine single-family homes in the southwest corner of Milton. If approved, these homes would be along Ebenezer Road in a neighborhood tentatively called The Grove at Sweetapple. The nine lots would be spread across 9.71 acres.
Firefighters use certain equipment to help them safely battle fires, some to ensure they can breathe satisfactorily and others to protect against toxins. This agenda item, if approved, would give the Milton Fire-Rescue Department the official OK to seek FEMA grants to help fund: 1) a high-pressure breathing “cascade” system and 2) an extractor and dryer to remove toxins from firefighters’ turnout gear (which is what they wear in the case of a fire).
Last March, the City of Milton – like many other municipalities around Georgia – enacted the first of what would be many Emergency Ordinances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These ordinances provided for additional flexibility, potential access to outside funding, and suitable supports for Milton businesses. The Emergency Ordinance continues in that same spirit, with much of the same language as previous versions. The difference is that it removes two longstanding measures. One relates to a provision allowing businesses to put up reasonable, temporary signage; if this is approved, such establishments will need to go through the City’s normal sign permitting process. The other has to do with certain restaurants offering to-go beer and wine sales; recent revisions to Chapter 4, the part of City Code on alcohol-related businesses, means this may still be possible through another process. If this Emergency Ordinance approved, it would take effect April 8 and continue for 30 more days.
The Council will vote whether or not to issue an alcohol beverage license to the proprietor of the Exxon Foodmart on 13020 Morris Road in Milton’s Deerfield district.
This relates to another request for an alcohol beverage license allowing beer, wine and liquor to be sold at 13093 Highway (in the Target/Dollar Tree/PetCo complex) out of a business to be called the Milton Package Store.
* * * * *
People can attend the March 15 City Council meeting in person at City Hall. The space has been reconfigured, masks are available, and other measures have been taken there to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
Anyone should be able watch Monday's meeting on the City of Milton's Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/thecityofmiltonga/, as the meeting will be available using the Facebook Live feature.
A third option is to both watch and "participate" (by offering public comment) over Zoom. Here's how to do so:
Download Zoom.
You can do this now and don't have to wait until the day of the meeting.
On a computer:
+ In a Web browser, go to https://zoom.us/download, click on "Zoom Client for Meetings," and follow the prompts.
+ In a Web browser, you can click on this webinar link -- https://zoom.us/j/94377991469 -- and again, follow the prompts. This should launch the app.
On a smartphone:
+ Go to your "App Store" (or wherever you get applications), enter Zoom, and download/get the "ZOOM Cloud Meetings" app.
Give yourself at least 10 minutes before the meeting starts to log on and make sure the technology is working for you.
'Join' the Council meeting
On a computer using Zoom:
+ Click on the meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/94377991469 (Or enter this Webinar ID in your Zoom app: 943 7799 1469)
+ If you've already downloaded the Zoom app, it should launch automatically.
+ If you haven't downloaded the Zoom app yet, a small application file will open. It may take a little time to process.
On a smartphone using Zoom:
+ Click on the meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/94377991469
+ If you've already downloaded the Zoom app, it should launch automatically.
+ If you haven't downloaded the Zoom app yet, you'll be prompted to download it when you click on the link. Download the app.
On a phone not using Zoom:
+ Dial this number: 1-301-715-8592. The Webinar ID is 943 7799 1469.
You should be able to hear the meeting (once it starts) as well as participate, even if you won't have all the same options as someone who downloaded Zoom.
Follow and participate in the meeting
On a computer or smartphone using the Zoom app:
+ When the meeting starts, you should be able to see and hear the Mayor, City Council members and City staff.
+ There will be an opportunity for citizens to provide their "public comment." Mayor Lockwood will reference such opportunities during the meeting.
Here is how to make a "public comment"...
+ Click on "Raise Hand" in the Zoom app.
+ The moderator will call on commenters based on the order in which they "raised their hand."
+ Each commenter should unmute themselves and then speak. Please state your name and address before giving your comment.
+ As in a regular Council meeting, people will have a maximum of 5 minutes per person to speak.
On a phone not using the Zoom app:
+ When the meeting starts, you should be able to hear the Mayor, City Council members and City staff.
+ You will be able to "comment" the same times as those using the Zoom app. Here's how to do it:
+ To make a "comment," dial *9. (This is equivalent to the "Raise Hand" feature.)
+ Wait to be called upon. The moderator may reference the last 3 digits of your phone number.
+ In order to speak, you'll need to unmute yourself by pressing *6.
On whatever device:
Once the "public comment" portion concludes for a particular item, no one (outside the mayor, Council members, and City staff) will be able to make remarks about it.
+ If you wish to comment on a different item, you will need to "Raise Hand" or dial *9 when that item comes up.
If you have technical or procedural questions before or during the meeting, you can ask them using the Q&A component in the Zoom app.
This press release was produced by the City of Milton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
