---
date: 2018-08-16
title: August 16, 2018 City Council Budget Retreat Minutes
source: 2018-08/2018-08-16_August 16, 2018 City Council Budget Retreat_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

Stockbridge
Mission: To provide visionary leadership and superior municipal services that enhance
the quality of life for citizens while creating a welcoming business atmosphere focused
on sustainability and expansion of tourism and cultural events.

ACTION MINUTES
BUDGET RETREAT
THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018 8:00 A.M.
Mayor & City Council Administration
Mayor Anthony S. Ford Randy Knighton, City Manager
Councilman Elton Alexander Camilla Moore, Asst. City Manager
Councilman John Blount Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk
Mayor Pro Tem LaKeisha Gantt Randi Rainey, Deputy City Clerk
Councilwoman Neat Robinson Michael Williams, City Attorney
Councilman Alphonso Thomas
I. Call to Order - Mayor Ford

II. Invocation – Councilman Blount

III. Pledge of Allegiance

IV. Roll Call Present Absent

Councilman Thomas ___X___ _______
Councilman Blount ___X___ _______
Mayor Ford ___X___ _______
Mayor Pro Tem Gantt _______ ___X___
Councilman Alexander _______ ___X___
Councilwoman Robinson ___X___ _______
V. Motion to adopt the Agenda: Blount/Robinson – Passed 3-0.

Councilman Alexander joined the meeting at 8:40 a.m.

Mayor Pro Tem Gantt joined the meeting at 10:45 a.m.

August 16, 2018 8:30 a.m. Location: 201 Aberdeen Pkwy. Peachtree City, GA 30269
Day One

Facilitated by: Randy Knighton, City Manager
1. Identifying & Prioritizing the goals for the remainder of FY2018
Mr. Knighton spoke to the remaining goals of FY2018 to include:
The City of Stockbridge remaining strong and continuing to educate and
inform the public regarding the De-Annexation issue.

The Amphitheater development with construction beginning by the end of
the year.

The Campground Road Extension project.

Proposing a GDOT MOU setting aside $50,000 to maintain gateways to the
City and additional funds for Nuisance and Abatement issues.

Upon review of the Police Services Agreement, it was noted the City had
agreed that HCPD would cease enforcement of the City’s Municipal Code
Ordinances effective

2. Short-Term Work Program and Capital Improvements Plan Annual Update:
2018-2022 Presented by: Camilla Moore, Asst. City Manager and
Hope Pendergrass, CPA Mauldin & Jenkins, CPAs

Ms. Moore noted the STWP/CIP item would be presented on August 17th.

Ms. Pendergrass reviewed the City’s FY2017 Audit noting Unmodified
“Clean” opinions, the best you can get, with no findings. Ms. Pendergrass
commended Rashonda Favors, the Lead Accountant, and the Finance
team for their efforts. Ms. Pendergrass noted the City’s long-term liabilities
of $13 million dollars and referenced the City’s potential uncertainties.

3. Wage & Salary Analysis – Presented by: Renee Wheeler, HR Mgr. &
Nancy Berkley, Evergreen Consultants, LLC.

Ms. Berkley presented the 2018 Wage and Salary Analysis Results noting
the City’s current system to be an Open-Range Plan and were constant at
48% with some anomalies, noting not all pay grades were being utilized.
The analysis included the salary ranges of and data from 17 peer cities and
counties: Brookhaven, Chamblee, Douglasville, Duluth, Dunwoody,
Fayetteville, Griffin, McDonough, Milton, Suwanee, Henry, Clayton, Cobb,
DeKalb, Fayette, Gwinnett and Spalding. The report offered two options for
implementation - Option 1 – Capped at Midpoint affecting 27 employees
with a cost of $87,593 and Option 2 - affecting 23 employees with a cost of
$22,793. The consensus of the Council was to move forward with Option
No. 2.

August 16, 2018 8:30 a.m. Location: 201 Aberdeen Pkwy. Peachtree City, GA 30269
Ms. Wheeler presented the requests from each department for staff
recommendations for the FY2019 Operating Budget.

Finance Department made a request for an Inventory Clerk and Part-Time
Grant Writer.

Planning Department made a request for a Permit Coordinator.

The Governing Body tasked staff with providing a comparison to a P/T Staff
and Contract Grant Writer; asked for clarification of the Charles Abbot
Associates Permit Technician and proposed Permit Coordinator and
requested proposed Pay and Classification and proposed salaries of each
of the positions.

It was noted that (4) Public Works staff employees would be assigned to the
Events/Initiatives team.

4. Staff Presentations
Governing Body – Presented by: LaQuinda Jackson, Executive Assistant to
Mayor & Council
Ms. Jackson presented the proposed FY2019 Governing Body Budget.
The consensus of the Council was to amend the current FY2018 and
FY2019 Hospitality Budget to purchase dinner for the Governing Body
effective immediately for both the Council and Work Session meetings.

Councilwoman Robinson made a request to the Council for funding to allow
for the Vice-Chair of the Youth Council Advisory Committee to attend the
NLC National League of Cities Conference in Los Angeles, CA; and to also
allow for travel funds in the amount of $3,000 to be re-allocated towards to
NLC National League of Cities Conference in Los Angeles, CA.
Mr. McFarland, Youth Council Advisory Committee Chair also spoke
regarding the Youth Council and the desire for the group to attend the LA
Conference; noting travel arrangements would begin on Monday, and they
would need an answer from Council by that time.
No Action was taken.

Executive/ Financial & Administration – Presented by: John Wiggins,
Interim City Treasurer & Rashonda Favors, Lead Accountant
Mr. Wiggins presented the proposed FY2019 Executive & Financial &
Administration Budgets noting a Contingency Emergency Fund in the
amount of $75,000; $50,000 for ROW (Right-of-Way) Improvements and
$50,000 for Nuisance and Abatements.

There was a consensus of the Council to move forward in 2018 for
Directional Signage in the City and to purchase vehicles in 2018 to be
added to the Administration Fleet with the Governing Body having priority
use of the newly purchased vehicles (to include a larger SUV for multiple
passengers). Mr. Wiggins noted the increase in the Travel/Training budget
due to new staff coming on board.

August 16, 2018 8:30 a.m. Location: 201 Aberdeen Pkwy. Peachtree City, GA 30269
5. Staff Presentations from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Information Technology – Presented by: Ashley Smith of InterDev
Mr. Smith with InterDev presented the proposed FY2019 IT Budget and
referenced areas of improvement and upgrades for the City.
Mr. Smith noted the City needs to go from a Flat to a Layered System.

Consensus of the Council was to move forward with technology upgrades in
2018 for the Merle Manders Conference Center, Ted Strickland Conference
Center and the City Hall Levi Conference Room.

Public Works – Presented by: Decius Aaron, Public Works Director
General Maintenance
Facilities Maintenance
Parks
Water & Sewer
Wastewater
Stormwater

Mr. Aaron presented the proposed Public Works FY2019 Budget.

Mr. Aaron noted the results of the First Well testing and the Consensus of
the Council was to move forward with find the results of Well No. 2.

6. Staff Presentations
Downtown Development Authority – Presented by: Mayor Pro Tem
Gantt
Mayor Pro Tem Gantt made a request for the same budget amount for
FY2019 as was issued in FY2018 in the amount of $45,000; and noted
Mildred Reed’s resignation from the Board.

Economic Development – Presented by: Randy Knighton
Mr. Knighton noted the Economic Development information would be
presented on 8/17/2018.

Executive Session for Personnel, Litigation and Real Estate:
Robinson/Gantt – Passed 5-0. Mayor Pro Tem Gantt exited the meeting
and did not join the Council in Executive Session.

Motion to adjourn Executive Session: Robinson/Thomas – Passed 4-0.

Motion to reconvene meeting: Alexander/Thomas – Passed 4-0.

Motion to adjourn: Alexander/Thomas – Passed 4-0.

August 16, 2018 8:30 a.m. Location: 201 Aberdeen Pkwy. Peachtree City, GA 30269
