City Of Milton: Council To Mark 20th Anniversary Of 9/11, Highlight Mental Wellness

09/07/2021 9:01 AM

Milton’s City Council on Wednesday will recognize and remember the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, while also shining a spotlight on mental wellness and suicide prevention.

These proclamations are two of many items on a packed agenda for the September 8 meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers. Council members also will get the opportunity to weigh in on boardwalks in “Phase 1” of the former Milton Country Club trail project, the future of the Clarity Road bridge, and possible revisions to part of City Code dealing with alcohol-related businesses.

People can attend in person, or they should be able to watch live on the at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WchqrvV2rA&list=PLpkXg669ndraOKwljbKfRZ5MnBf0jWSIL&index=31. (If there are technical difficulties, video of this meeting should be viewable on the City’s YouTube page within 48 hours.) The meeting is taking place on Wednesday, rather than Monday as usual, due to the Labor Day holiday.

Customary for Regular Meetings, the Council agenda is divided into distinct sections – each with their own parameters. They are:

• The CONSENT AGENDA, for typically routine items that the Council considers collectively in one up-and-down vote;
• REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS, a place for proclamations and presentations after which Council members do not vote but can offer direction to City staff;
• FIRST PRESENTATION for items appearing for the first time on a Council agenda that needed to be considered (and approved) at a future meeting to become official;
• PUBLIC HEARINGS, which is a special opportunity for citizens to weigh in on a certain subject – such as certain budget matters – before the Council; and
• NEW BUSINESS, for items set to be considered and voted upon their first time on a Council agenda.

Before you’ll find summaries of every item on the September 8 Council agenda.

• Approval of the July 19, 2021, City Council Meeting Minutes.

  This relates to the “minutes” – or the official written record — for the City Council’s July 19 meeting. At this meeting, the Council voted to defer two items related to use permits and the Painted Horse Winery to a future meeting. In other items, City Conservation Project Manager Teresa Stickels presented a proposal for the Southern Conservation Trust to develop a “land management plan” for the 130 passive acres in the former Milton Country Club. A recap of this meeting can be found here: https://www.cityofmiltonga.us/Home/Components/News/News/933/1351. And you can watch the entire nearly 6-hour meeting by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAN3dRhteVc  

   

• Approval of the August 16, 2021, City Council Meeting Minutes.

  This item pertains the approval of another set of minutes from a Council meeting, this one on August 16. At this meeting, Council members voted unanimously to submit the City’s Capital Improvement Element Annual Update, a document that outlines Milton’s collection and use of impact fees. They also approved a number of other items such as a contract to repair a sinkhole in the Bethany Green neighborhood, agreements to install equipment to better protect computer servers at City Hall and the Milton Municipal Court, and a contract for a preliminary design of extended sidewalk from Mayfield Road from downtown Crabapple north/east to the Alpharetta line. Watch video of the meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ou4eHPrXkU&list=PLpkXg669ndraOKwljbKfRZ5MnBf0jWSIL&index=1&t=1917s. And you can read a recap by clicking here: https://www.cityofmiltonga.us/Home/Components/News/News/971/1351.

   

• Approval of the Financial Statements & Investment Report for Period 10 – July 2021.

  The Council will vote on the City of Milton government’s financial statements and investment report for the month of July.

   

• Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Practical Design Partners, LLC for State Route 140/Arnold Mill Road at Green Road Intersection Survey.

  This relates to a professional services agreement with a company called Practical Design Partners to survey the intersection of Green Road and State Route 140/Arnold Mill Road. It is part of an effort to explore potential upgrades there.

    

• Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Practical Design Partners, LLC for State Route 372/Crabapple Road at Green Road Intersection Survey.

  This is another potential agreement between the City and Practical Design Partners to survey an intersection of a City road and State route. The intersection in question is State Route 372/Crabapple Road and Green Road, where the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) – which controls state routes – recently removed a design feature called the “Florida T.” The City has partnered with GDOT on past improvements. And this survey, if approved, would continue this partnership with GDOT and inform further discussions on the next best steps for this intersection.

   

• Approval of an Agreement between the City of Milton and Premier Collision Center, Inc. for Automobile Body Repair Services.

This agreement would allow for Automobile Body Repair Services to make repairs if part of the City of Milton’s automotive fleet – including police vehicles – needs collision work done. The City has contracted with Premier Collision on such services for the past three years.

 

• Approval of an Agreement for Outside Providers & Facility Use Agreement between the City of Milton and GGLeagues, Inc. to Provide Online Gaming Leagues for Youth and Adults.

  The Council will vote whether or not to approve this agreement with GGLeagues to run “eSports” (or competitive online games) leagues in partnership with the City of Milton’s Parks and Recreation Department.

   

• Approval of a Purchase Agreement with Ten-8 Fire & Safety, LLC, for the Purchase of a Rescue-Ambulance.

  This relates to the Milton Fire-Rescue Department’s possible purchase from Ten-8 Fire and Safety of a new ambulance that will be used to serve people with medical needs around our community.

   

• Approval of a Change Order with Granicus SaaS, LLC to Make Improvements to the Homepage of the City of Milton’s Website.

  This change order would pave the way for Granicus to redesign elements of the homepage of the City of Milton’s website. The alterations are aimed to better showcase “news” stories, new developments and projects on the mainpage.

   

• Approval of an Agreement with Intradyn to Provide Social Media Archiving Services for the City of Milton.

  Local governments in Georgia are legally required to archive what appears its social media channels, including all edited versions and comments. This agreement would authorize Intradyn to provide this service for the City of Milton.

   

• Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Milton and Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District Regarding the Pier Construction at Providence Park.

  Work is underway to improve Providence Park, upgrades that will include a new pier overlooking Providence Lake. This item is an intergovernmental agreement with the Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation related to that pier and its relation to the lake. You can review the plans, financial details and more for Providence Park here: https://cleargov.com/georgia/fulton/city/milton/projects/1244/providence-park.

    

• Approval of a Contract Amendment to Transfer Assignment of a Contract from Wolverton & Associates, Inc to CHA Consulting, Inc.

The City of Milton’s Public Works Department has had several contracts over the years – one of them still active — for concept design and other engineering services with a consulting company called Wolverton. Wolverton has since changed its name to CHA Consulting. This contract amendment would take into account that name change.

 

• Approval of an Amendment between The City of Milton and the Department of Natural Resources to Amend the Scope of Work and Extend the Completion Date of the Project’s Agreement to March 31, 2022.

  Currently, only portable restrooms are available at Providence Park – though the park’s master plan calls for permanent ones. The City had been given a grant by Georgia Department of National Resources to help pay for new restrooms. After reconsidering the initial facility design in light of budgetary factors, this agreement would amend the scope of work and give the City until the end of March 2022 to use the grant funds targeted for restrooms. You can learn more about the upgrades underway at Providence Park by clicking this link: https://cleargov.com/georgia/fulton/city/milton/projects/1244/providence-park.

   

• Approval of a Change Order #1 to Task Order for BM&K, P.C. to Provide Construction Inspection Services for the Cogburn Road Sidewalk Project.

  The City has undertaken a TSPLOST project to add sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and drainage improvements along both sides of Cogburn Road from Bethany Bendy to Devonshire Farms and Oakstone Glen. (Learn more about this project here: https://cleargov.com/georgia/fulton/city/milton/projects/1197/cogburn-road-sidewalks-_-tsplost.) BM&K has been contracted by the City to inspect work on this project. The task order was set up early in this process and, due to the extension of the project’s timeline, a change order is needed to fulfill the remainder of the inspection services.

   

• Approval of a Change Order #1 to Task Order for BM&K, P.C. to Provide Construction Inspection Services for the Hopewell Road at Thompson Road and Hopewell Road at Hamby Road Intersection Improvement Projects.

  This summer, the City opened two new roundabouts along Hopewell Road – one at the Hamby Road, the other at Thompson Road near Bell Memorial Park – several months of schedule. BM&K was charged with inspecting the work on these TSPLOST projects. The task order was set up early in the project to get the inspections started. A change order is now needed to fulfill the remainder of inspection services for the projects’ closeout.

   

• Approval of a Construction Services Agreement with Federal EC, LLC for Oakhurst Leaf Drive Stormwater Pipe Lining.

  This is for a contract with Federal EC to add lining to City-maintained stormwater pipe along Oakhurst Leaf Drive, a road located within the Brookshade subdivision.

   

• Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Emergency Care Medical Group, P.C. for the Provision of Medical Direction Services for Milton Fire-Rescue.

  The Milton Fire-Rescue Department’s mission includes providing excellent emergency medical care to people in our community. If this agreement is approved, Emergency Care Medical Group would assist Milton firefighter/EMTs and paramedics in providing such services. Specifically, it fulfills the requirement that the Fire-Rescue Department provide emergency medical services under the direction of a licensed medical doctor to set treatment protocols, allow for the provision of medications, conduct advanced training, and generally ensure quality control.

   

   

  REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

• Proclamation Recognizing National Suicide Prevention Week.

  People of all ages, vocations, backgrounds, and places – including Milton – struggle with mental health issues. This proclamation and the City’s related monthlong social media campaign shine a spotlight on mental wellness in hopes of informing people about the vast scope of these issues while sharing valuable tips and resources. This is the third consecutive year that the City of Milton has embarked on such an effort in partnership with the LRJ Foundation, a non-profit focused on suicide prevention and improving mental wellness.

  This proclamation, specifically, raises awareness about suicide in hopes of reducing the stigma surrounding talking about it and getting people the help that they need. The City officially will recognize September 5-11 as Suicide Prevention Week as part of this effort. It speaks to the overarching goal of reminding those suffering that they are not alone, help is available, and, step-by-step, their days can get better.

  For more information, go to www.cityofmiltonga.us/MentalWellness.

   

• Proclamation Remembering and Recognizing the 20th Anniversary of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks.

  This coming Saturday is the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Nearly 3,000 people died after four hijacked commercial airplanes crashed into the Pentagon, a Pennsylvania field, and the two World Trade Center towers in downtown Manhattan. Millions more were impacted in countless other ways. Afterward, Americans rallied together while pledging to “never forget” that horrific day.

  People in Milton were among those affected, from those having direct ties to victims to involvement in the Ground Zero recovery effort to deciding to enlist in the military to being generally shaken by what transpired. The lessons of 9-11 hit home particularly for Milton firefighters and police officers, reminding all of the dangerous, heroic acts that First Responders can be called upon to do. This proclamation reflects on all that, as well as Milton’s commitment to always remember that day. 

   

• Presentation of an Update on Clarity Road Bridge.

  Built in 1954, the Clarity Road bridge is a 48.5-foot long and 13.8-foot wide single-lane bridge spanning Little River. It was closed on March 20, 2021, for safety reasons after a bridge railing and post were damaged. A team from Heath and Lineback Engineers inspected the Clarity Road bridge in July, then reported back to the City on August 6 with repair recommendations. The alternatives on what to do next include:

  1. Doing nothing and leaving the bridge closed
  2. Repair the railing by replacing with guardrail system and other cleanup so the bridge can reopen for about $22,500 (with a full replacement possible within 5-10 years or as determined by future evaluation)
  3. Bridge deck replacement
  4. Improve the Milton approach curve to the bridge to prevent future railing damage
  5. Replace the bridge in full

   

  At Wednesday’s meeting, Council members will be presented with these options and can share their input on how the City should proceed.

   

• Presentation of Former Milton Country Club Trail Construction and Boardwalks.

  Acting Public Works Director Sara Leaders will update Council members on trail construction progress at the former Milton Country Club – including erosion control measures as well as the removal and reuse of old concrete golf cart paths – while seeking their feedback on the location of a boardwalk there. 

  To the last point, one boardwalk over a wet weather ditch area near the cul-de-sac end of Highgrove Club Drive originally had been proposed for stormwater purposes in “Phase 1” of trail construction. City staff will recommend having a pipe crossing with aesthetic enhancement (so it blends in more naturally) at this site while installing a 50-foot boardwalk not far away by one of the FMCC’s ponds near Chicken Creek. This recommendation comes after assessments determined that a boardwalk was needed at the proposed new location because of the floodplain and to guard against emergency overflow of the north pond.

  Council members can offer direction Wednesday on whether the City should proceed with that approach, have two boardwalks, or offer up other ideas. No additional funding will be needed if the Council favors the City staff proposal of a pipe crossing and one boardwalk (at the recommended location).

  You can learn more about plans to improve the “passive” portion of the former Milton Country Club – including the current trail construction effort – by clicking here: https://cleargov.com/georgia/fulton/city/milton/projects/1199/former-milton-country-club-passive-park.

   

• Discussion of Craft Beer and/or Wine Market License: Business Community Feedback and Proposed Revisions.

  The City of Milton has been approached with new business concepts that are currently restricted under Chapter 4, Alcoholic Beverages, of the Milton Code of Ordinances. Specifically, these involve the consumption on-premises of beer and/or wine in businesses that do not qualify as eating establishments, limited food service restaurants, or fall under the other limited consumption on-premises licenses the City offers.

  After discussion with City Council, at the regularly scheduled work session, on August 9, 2021, staff reached out to the City’s business community to gather feedback on potential revisions to the ordinance. At Wednesday’s meeting, City staff will relate this input and present ordinance revisions addressing the new business concepts that still reflect Milton’s desire to restrict bars.

   

  FIRST PRESENTATION

• Consideration of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 4 (Alcoholic Beverage Licenses) and Appendix A of the Milton Code of Ordinance to Update and Clarify Requirements for the Craft Beer and/or Wine Market License.

  This item reflects the agenda item directly above related to potential changes to the City’s alcohol-related ordinance in light of new business concepts received by the City. If enacted, these changes would allow for such establishments while clearly defining what their “primary purpose” would be (consistent with the City’s desires to not have conventional bars). This change would have to be voted upon at a second Council meeting to become official.

   

• Consideration of an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton, Georgia, to Adopt Amendments to the Fiscal 2021 Budget for Each Fund of the City of Milton, Georgia Amending the Amounts Shown in Each Budget as Expenditures, Amending the Several Items of Revenue Appropriations, Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Appropriations and Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Actual Funding Available

  As the City budget is a dynamic rather than static plan, it requires amending from time to time. The proposed budget amendments enclosed are an update to the Fiscal Year 2021 budget (which runs from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021). This Ordinance reflects recent changes recommended as a result of certain circumstances, opportunities, and recommendations. This same item must appear and be voted upon at a future Council meeting to become official.

   

• Consideration of an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton, Georgia, to Adopt the Fiscal 2022 Budget for Each Fund of the City of Milton, Georgia Appropriating the Several Items of Revenue Appropriations, Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Appropriations and Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Actual Funding Available

  This relates to City staff’s proposal for the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. The fiscal year runs from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022. It is in line with a presentation made by Assistant City Manager Bernadette Harvill at an August 9 Council “Work Session.” You can view her presentation HERE. This budget proposal lays out estimated revenues and anticipated expenditures across all City funds. The spending proposals will address:

  • The costs of continuing operations at current service levels across all funds

  • Maintenance and Operating – or M&O – initiatives, which are new proposals that would require distinct funding (relative to previous years)

  • Capital initiatives, which are significant new City construction projects and other capital-related purchases of equipment and vehicles

   

   

  PUBLIC HEARING

• Consideration of an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton, Georgia, to Adopt Amendments to the Fiscal 2021 Budget for Each Fund of the City of Milton, Georgia Amending the Amounts Shown in Each Budget as Expenditures, Amending the Several Items of Revenue Appropriations, Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Appropriations and Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Actual Funding Available

  This public hearing is an opportunity for citizens to offer feedback on proposed amendments to the Fiscal Year 2021 budget, which ends September 30, as outlined above.

   

• Consideration of an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton, Georgia, to Adopt the Fiscal 2022 Budget for Each Fund of the City of Milton, Georgia Appropriating the Several Items of Revenue Appropriations, Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Appropriations and Prohibiting Expenditures to Exceed Actual Funding Available

  Similarly, citizens can share their views on City staff’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget proposal during this public hearing.

   

   

  NEW BUSINESS

• Consideration of Final Consent Order to Settle Condemnation Action Re: Hopewell @ Bethany Bend – Parcel 4 Stepanek (Civil Action File No. 2021CV351579).

  For certain road projects, a City like Milton often must acquire property from local landowners. When purchase agreement settlements are not reached or when required lender releases are not obtained, the acquisition of such land are known as “condemnations” and they go through the court system. This particular case is a friendly condemnation, as there is a mutual agreement on price between the property owner and the City but a timely lender release was not able to be obtained for the City to close on the property. This parcel is located near where the City is improving the intersection at Hopewell Road and Bethany Bend. For more on this TSPLOST project, click here: https://cleargov.com/georgia/fulton/city/milton/projects/1210/hopewell-road-at-bethany-bend_or_bethany-way-_-tsplost. 

   

• Consideration of the Issuance of an Alcohol Beverage License for Ancillary Tasting to Rihaan Liquors Inc dba Milton Package Store, 13093 Hwy 9 Suite 1010, Milton, Georgia 30004.

  This relates to an alcohol beverage license for “ancillary tasting” – or offering small samples of beverages – at the Milton Package State on Highway 9.

  

• Consideration of a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Milton and the City of Alpharetta to Waive Non-Resident Fees Associated with Football Programming.

If this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is approved, residents of both Milton and Alpharetta would pay the same lower resident fees to participate in the North Atlanta Football League (NAFL), a program for young football players. Currently, NAFL teams play at two Alpharetta fields and one Milton field at Bell Memorial Park. The City of Alpharetta’s City Council already approved an identical MOU, meaning this will become official if and when Milton’s City Council does the same.

This press release was produced by the City of Milton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.