2022-03-08 · City Council · Transcript · Council Retreat Day 1

--- title: Council Retreat Day 1 date: 2022-03-08 source: 2022-03-08_Council_Retreat_Day_1.wav --- [0:00:04, 0:00:07]: Yeah. [0:00:15, 0:00:21]: Well Senator Jones is gonna kinda go give a overview. So if you guys wanna make sure you record what you okay. [0:00:21, 0:00:41]: Good afternoon, Mayor and City Council. I am State Senator Emmanuel Jones, and uh thank you for this opportunity to come and meet with you today to discuss an issue that I think is very important to all of the residents of not just the residents of Stockbridge, but also the residents of Henry County, the neighboring communities. [0:00:41, 0:00:42]: Yeah. [0:00:43, 0:00:46]: I want to go back a few years ago. [0:00:46, 0:00:47]: We're [0:00:48, 0:00:51]: Residents of his area declined to. [0:00:51, 0:00:58]: split up Stockbridge into two cities when there was an effort to create a new city of Eagles Landing. [0:00:59, 0:01:01]: During that time and after the feat of that initiative. [0:01:02, 0:01:06]: I worked with some of my colleagues in the legislature to come up with what we thought would be an [0:01:07, 0:01:08]: Better idea. [0:01:08, 0:01:10]: But a city of stock bridge. [0:01:10, 0:01:13]: Since that time, I've had an opportunity to present. [0:01:13, 0:01:14]: His proposal [0:01:15, 0:01:17]: Two the mayor and city council. [0:01:18, 0:01:22]: And I believe that mayor and city council is excited about this opportunity. [0:01:22, 0:01:32]: And what I would like to share with you is Senate Bill 612. Senate Bill 612 was first read in the legislature this morning. [0:01:34, 0:01:50]: So it's already gone through that first step. In addition to that, there's a really good chance that this bill would pass the legislature within the next couple of days. There's two sponsors. I am the primary sponsor for Senate Bill 612. [0:01:50, 0:01:59]: And the co-sponsor is the senator from the 17th District, who also represents a small part of Socridge, and that's Senator Brian Strickland. [0:02:01, 0:02:09]: Based on the communications and conversations I've had with mayor, city council, and members of the community, particularly going back three and four years. [0:02:10, 0:02:14]: There was some conversation about how do we clean up the boundaries of [0:02:14, 0:02:17]: Stock bridge what I want to show you. [0:02:17, 0:02:23]: As highlighted in this kind of pinkish red area is the existing boundaries. [0:02:24, 0:02:33]: for Stockbridge. And what you can see, I kind of describe the existing boundaries of Stockbridge as being more spaghetti-like than more like a city. [0:02:34, 0:02:40]: The areas that you see surrounding Stockbridge and the lighter blue area. [0:02:40, 0:02:46]: Is the proposed annexation area that would create a much larger city. [0:02:46, 0:02:50]: For stock bridge. Currently the population based on the twenty twenty census data. [0:02:51, 0:02:53]: The stock bridge is about twenty eight thousand. [0:02:54, 0:03:03]: This proposal, which would require referendum in November of this year, 2022, would increase the population of [0:03:03, 0:03:06]: stock rates to roughly fifty one thousand. [0:03:06, 0:03:15]: In addition to the increase in population, it also includes creating district voting for the city council members. [0:03:15, 0:03:35]: So I wanted to be here today, Mayor and City Council, to show you Senate Bill 612. And that bill is quickly moving through the state Senate. And once it goes through the Senate, it then goes over to the House of Representative. I've had an opportunity to speak with the chair of the delegation. [0:03:35, 0:03:55]: Representative Demetrius Douglas about Senate Bill 612. And again, this is a bipartisan legislation, but I can share with you that Representative Demetrius Douglas, as well as the other members of the delegation, is excited about this opportunity to do something positive on the South. [0:03:55, 0:04:04]: Outside of Atlanta, something positive for the city of Stockbridge by cleaning up its boundaries, as outlined as follows. [0:04:07, 0:04:08]: And I would hope [0:04:08, 0:04:14]: that we would have an opportunity to answer any questions that anyone would have. I know [0:04:14, 0:04:21]: We're there's members out there watching it live and if they can capture any of those comments, I'd be more than glad to answer them at this time as well. [0:04:22, 0:04:23]: But this is the [0:04:24, 0:04:24]: News. [0:04:25, 0:04:26]: Yeah. [0:04:27, 0:04:40]: That again, cause for a referendum, those residents that live in these unincorporated areas of Stockbridge would have to vote in a referendum in November on a November ballot. [0:04:41, 0:04:43]: To incorporate themselves into [0:04:45, 0:04:49]: This new city or the new boundaries of the new city. [0:04:50, 0:04:56]: And uh with that that kind of concludes my remarks. And if there's any questions that I can [0:04:57, 0:04:59]: Answer, I would be more than glad to do so at this time. [0:05:01, 0:05:02]: Okay, so [0:05:02, 0:05:06]: I didn't like to make a statement. I like to thank you so much for [0:05:06, 0:05:09]: Uh this forward thinking idea. [0:05:09, 0:05:12]: Of unifying the city in one. [0:05:13, 0:05:33]: As you took the forefront and made the battle to keep the city together, and now you're taking it to the next level and putting everything together because so all people say, I'm in the city, I'm not in the city. The people that right in the middle of the city that are surrounded by the city that don't get to vote for mayor. [0:05:33, 0:05:38]: Council. They have no representation, even though they're engulfed by the city. [0:05:38, 0:05:46]: And in these actions where we've been very proactive to start the police department with concerns over public safety. [0:05:46, 0:05:47]: And also [0:05:48, 0:05:48]: Oh. [0:05:48, 0:06:00]: We have been very proactive in measures such as limiting rental subdivisions and those types of efforts. This offers these residents the opportunity to have stepped up. [0:06:00, 0:06:06]: public safety and uh they can have representation uh with a vote. [0:06:06, 0:06:25]: uh for the mayor and city council like they never had before. So I certainly want to appreciate you for uh coming forward with this bold idea because at this time of the 21st century, it really takes bold ideas like this to be able to uh you know take things to the next level. So I just want to thank you. [0:06:25, 0:06:28]: Uh for for bringing this to us and allowing us to finally [0:06:29, 0:06:31]: Dalmanize the area into one. [0:06:32, 0:06:43]: Well thank you, Councilman. One of the things that encouraged me and other members of the General Assembly, including my colleague in the Senate as well as members of the House, was the progress that Stockbridge has made. [0:06:43, 0:06:46]: You've built you all built out a beautiful entertainment venue. [0:06:47, 0:06:49]: I've had an opportunity to visit this entertainment venue. [0:06:50, 0:06:53]: And the concert was uh very, very nice by the way. [0:06:53, 0:06:56]: And I see that your city has moved forward with [0:06:58, 0:07:11]: standing up their own police department, which is I think is a positive for the members in this community because law enforcement is now much closer to members of the community. And all those are positives and I believe that and very hopeful. [0:07:11, 0:07:15]: That those residents that live in this area will embrace the good work. [0:07:15, 0:07:19]: That your mayor and city council is doing so that you can continue to grow this city. [0:07:19, 0:07:20]: Certainly [0:07:20, 0:07:24]: The way Stockbridge is positioned, like centrally within. [0:07:24, 0:07:28]: Henry County, particularly with the interstate exchanges that you see here. [0:07:29, 0:07:33]: I believe that Stockbridge is better positioned than any other city in Henry County. [0:07:33, 0:07:36]: to capitalize on this booming economy. [0:07:37, 0:07:57]: I'm gonna also think without doubt uh stuff for bringing this forward and also what this does too is it allows the citizens not only to vote but also look at having equal representation and particular district uh representation that they that I think they also need to be great. So great activities. Look forward to a great uh pass passing of this referendum to go back. [0:07:58, 0:08:05]: That's correct. And uh thank you, Mayor Ford. And certainly um this referendum would not pass without the support. [0:08:05, 0:08:11]: the city council and of course the mayor. I don't want to leave here today without asking for your support for Centerville Six Fair. [0:08:12, 0:08:16]: We haven't seen what I'll do. Thank you, Mayor. Members of City Council. [0:08:17, 0:08:21]: Uh gentlemen, without a doubt, um we talk about [0:08:22, 0:08:25]: The residential portion of the inclusion. [0:08:26, 0:08:27]: Uh in the history. [0:08:27, 0:08:29]: Have we been able to? [0:08:29, 0:08:38]: as of yet to delineate the um potential commercial other businesses, the business owners that would now be coming into the city of Taco. [0:08:39, 0:08:51]: Oh absolutely. What you can see in this entire area is that those businesses that are within this area are included in this annexation. [0:08:52, 0:08:52]: Yeah. [0:08:53, 0:09:04]: The way the law states is that any area that has more than 500 residents, the only way to incorporate that area into the city would be with a referendum. And because this map [0:09:05, 0:09:21]: almost doubles the size of Stockbridge. There was no other way around it than to include it all in one referendum that would be in November. The referendum referendum in November does not spit out presidential from commercial. It speaks to all of it. [0:09:23, 0:09:23]: Sure. [0:09:24, 0:09:24]: Okay. [0:09:27, 0:09:28]: Senator Jones. [0:09:29, 0:09:30]: Um, I wanna thank you. [0:09:31, 0:09:33]: Or making less whole. [0:09:33, 0:09:46]: uh it's actually needed um it's something that our community needs we're in and out again i have neighborhoods across the street that aren't in the city and then we go to a stop sign and we're back in [0:09:47, 0:09:57]: Um, I think this will be great for our constituents. It'll be great for our city, it'll be great for Hemley County. And I wanna thank you so much for your leadership and taking the lead on this. This is something. [0:09:58, 0:10:09]: that um our constituents need to know that we 100% support and we're doing recurve them and we want to do this for the betterment of the county itself. Thank you. [0:10:09, 0:10:14]: Thank you, Councilwoman again. And I would certainly encourage um both the mayor and the city council. [0:10:15, 0:10:35]: Uh once this bill is finally passed, which should happen within the next week or two. And because of the bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, I'm very confident that the governor is going to sign this legislation. But it's really going to be up to you all as leaders of this community to explain and to market and essentially [0:10:35, 0:10:45]: to sell the residents of these unincorporated areas into the benefits of being in your city. Just being here today, I've seen many benefits. [0:10:45, 0:10:47]: Um of being part of [0:10:47, 0:10:59]: uh this great movement called Stockbridge. And I'm sure there's a lot of other reasons out there other than those that's been mentioned here today where the residents in this community would want to be part of your city. [0:11:01, 0:11:10]: Sister, can you sort of give us a timeline as to when the deal will actually take movement? [0:11:11, 0:11:12]: Yeah. [0:11:12, 0:11:23]: Well, the bill is all is already moving. It's already been first read. I've already signed off on the copy, which essentially means it's gone through slogo committee, city and local government committee. [0:11:23, 0:11:28]: So it's clear committee, that bill will be put back on the calendar for a full vote by the Senate. [0:11:29, 0:11:33]: Uh, which should happen within the next two to three days. [0:11:33, 0:11:40]: Once that happens, I'm gonna move for immediate transmissal over to the house. That be able to go over to the house. [0:11:40, 0:11:44]: And it would go through the same process as it gone through on the Senate. [0:11:44, 0:11:47]: Uh it just requires the majority members of [0:11:47, 0:11:53]: your delegation for Stockbridge in the House to sign off on the legislation. I believe that's five votes over there. [0:11:53, 0:12:04]: I've confirmed already that more than five members in the House supports this legislation. I do not anticipate any problem. Certainly I expect this bill in the next two weeks to be on the governor's desk. [0:12:05, 0:12:08]: [728.4, 748.4]: In terms of this, this gives the city uh ball land, which is we've been kind of land like in terms of the city limits available. You know, we got the burgeoning film and TV industry, which is something I'd like to see us uh take advantage of. Do you have any thoughts about how we might feel to [0:12:28, 0:12:37]: uh explore that without development authority of tracking those types of new jobs which uh really determine traction and uh quality of life. [0:12:37, 0:12:43]: Well, I think that industry has been booming all over the city. I remember when Governor Dio put out the [0:12:43, 0:12:53]: tax breaks that attracted a lot of that industry to state of Georgia some twelve years ago. They built uh huge facilities. As we know, a lot of movies are being made and [0:12:53, 0:13:00]: I understand that a part of Black Panther was even made in Stockbridge. So that industry is gonna continue to grow. [0:13:00, 0:13:05]: And I believe that with the way your boundaries are now delineated. [0:13:06, 0:13:12]: Uh rather than being more spaghetti-like in tentacles, you now have a city that's more concentric. [0:13:13, 0:13:17]: And I think that's gonna bode well for those who want to invest in your city. [0:13:17, 0:13:22]: And those who wanna, you know, worship and play and even be entertained at your [0:13:23, 0:13:25]: Um new venue in the city. [0:13:25, 0:13:44]: So I think this is a positive. And I think it would also help considering the size of the city, that when you have a conversation with prospective businesses, that they would now see that the city has enough density, if you will, where they would want to be a part of. [0:13:46, 0:13:50]: your city and perhaps relocate some of their [0:13:51, 0:13:51]: Offices here. [0:13:53, 0:14:13]: Senator, there's a question that is coming in asking if the map includes Valley Hill Road. Can you know? Yes, it does. Yes, it does. I'm not an expert on the city. I'm glad I have a lot of here that represent those areas. And what the mayor is telling me is that. [0:14:13, 0:14:15]: Yes it does. Okay, thank you. [0:14:16, 0:14:26]: And certainly may I I would uh I would plan to leave this with you and we can get to smaller copies as well. And uh I would so uh I encourage you to share with members in the community. [0:14:26, 0:14:33]: I'm available for any town hall meeting to come and speak to anything that I presented here. [0:14:33, 0:14:40]: I absolutely so appreciate that. Uh big copy and we'll get small copies and actually put it on a website and get uh get passed out absolutely. [0:14:41, 0:14:45]: And I can't leave here without thanking the city of Stockbridge for their support because [0:14:45, 0:14:50]: This legislation wouldn't have moved as fast as it did without the council's support on this initiative. [0:14:50, 0:14:51]: So thank all of you. [0:14:51, 0:14:52]: Thank you so appreciate it. [0:14:55, 0:14:57]: [900.3, 901.0]: Is that