---
date: 2013-07-16
title: July 16, 2013 Minutes
source: 2013-07/2013-07-16_July 16, 2013_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

July 16, 2013

SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 6:00 pm

City Council
Administration
Mark Alarcon, Mayor
David A. Milliron, City Manager
Richard Steinberg, Mayor Pro Tem
Rhonda A. Blackmon, City Clerk
Robin Buschman, Councilwoman
Bill Linkous, City Attorney
Harold Cochran, Councilman
Shirley Dabney, Councilman
Alphonso Thomas, Councilman

Call to Order by Mayor Alarcon at 6:15 pm

Adopt Agenda Richard Steinberg made a motion to amend the Special Called Meeting
agenda to include adding an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance; a second was
made by Harold Cochran; the motion passed 5-0.

Invocation was provided by Robin Buschman

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison
NEW BUSINESS

Item # 1 – Presented by Mark Alarcon, Mayor
Agreement – Service Delivery Strategy Intergovernmental Agreements; Mayor Alarcon
provided a brief overview of the Service Delivery Strategy Intergovernmental
Agreements. The County has signed off on the LOST. There is also a Service Delivery
Strategy. The facts are outdated and when we became aware we had to act. We will
address all items this evening and have a question and answer session at the end of
the meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Steinberg, Henry County Police Chief Nichols along with
County Manager Fred Auletta spoke for several hours on how to move forward on some
of the items. The Mayor stated for the record, it was recommended by the Chief and
City Manager Mr. Auletta to do our due diligence because there is an issue for the
perceived sweetheart deal. Police services is the one drawing the most attention. We
have offered several packages up to $800,000 plus, to benefit our police officers, radars
and top of the line police vehicles to service this community. We have been doing our
due diligence since February. David Milliron provided a brief overview of the Service
Delivery Strategy Act. He said this is the contracts that govern the services of the City
and how the city operates. Mr. Milliron said himself, the Mayor and the City Attorney
have delved into these contracts to come up with decisions tonight. There are several
reasons why we are here and there are four triggers in the law and H.B. 49 that states
we have a responsibility to review contracts on an annual basis. One trigger is the
Comprehensive Plan Update. Secondly, when revenue distribution arrangements
changes such as LOST. The Mayor and Mayors’ of other cities are reviewing all of our
SDS and working on a draft document that will be presented as the consolidated SDS.
In order to move forward we need council action. Finally, when there is the
consolidation of local government which has not occurred county and municipalities
agree that it is time to look at the agreements. For those of you that have following
SPLOST and who watch on channel 14 or via internet you may recall a meeting where
our SDS was discussed regarding this. There are over 40 agreements and Mr. Milliron
spoke about these agreements. Under Georgia law there is no double taxation and the
SDS Act came about for that purpose. The act states if you are taxed as a citizen you
are not paying twice for services. You cannot duplicate services and it also states why
cities can only provide services in the city limits and services that are authorized to
provide. SDS will allow cities to outsource services and still operate as a city as long as
they is not a duplication of services. David Milliron provided a recommendation for each
SDS item.

Review of Administration; pay for administration out of general fund. No suggested
changes for administration; Annexation there is no recommendation from staff other
than Council to review Exhibit 4-a Joint Land Use; Buildings and Grounds; lease
executed between the City and County on November 16,1992; recommendation is for
Council to authorize City Manager and City Attorney to review and propose, revise and
update lease agreement for all buildings and grounds maintenance available to Henry
County: Cemetery; no recommendation; Code Enforcement; no recommended
changes; Courts no change; Development Authority; bond payment on City Hall and we
have a Downtown Development Authority independent city authorities, no changes;
Elections Municipal; county is under contract to provide city to run election in the City;
no changes to the agreement; Electric; SDS agreement because there is a city within
Henry County with electric services. They are uniform for all four cities, but for us it does
not apply; no suggested changes; GIS; no suggested changes; Investigation of Public
Officials uniform across all cities; GBI has full authority; no suggested changes; Park
Construction and Maintenance; no suggested changes; Prison Detail; no suggested
changes; Purchase of Fleet; no suggested changes; Roads and Streets Construction;
no changes, the City is participating in the Comprehensive Transportation Plan; the
County and City will divide; Solid Waste; city will do a RFQ in residential recycling is
important; no changes; Stormwater Management; we have it in the city with two (2)
employees; no changes; Vehicle Maintenance and Repair; no changes; Water and
Sewer services; lowest rates in town; no changes.

Review of Henry County contract services; Building Permits and Inspection Impact
Fees; David Milliron stated that on the books we have verbiage that refers to building an
impact fees. Henry County retains all fees for providing the service. Recommendation
from staff is to assume responsibilities of building permits and impact fees. We will
provide stellar service without a change in fees; City Prisoners; Staff recommendation is
to verify cost; no other changes to the agreement; City Prisoner Transport; To provide
50 passenger Ford E350 vans to sheriff department and provide service until December
16, 2013; no change to the agreement; Comprehensive Plan; Staff recommendation is
to take responsibility of the comprehensive plan. The next comprehensive plan is due
until the current expires. If council elects to bring in building permits, it make sense to
take full responsibility of Comprehensive Plan. Your Comprehensive Plan should be the
driving force for all actions of council; Coroner; no changes; Courts; no suggested
changes to the agreement; Court Security; no suggested changes; Detention and
Collection animal control; no changes; Detention Facility; no changes; Development
Authority; no changes; Development Plan Review; Staff recommendation is for the COS
to assume responsibility. Election; no suggested changes; E-911; COS is entitled to 911
fees. Emergency Management; no changes; EMS; no suggested changes;
Environmental Health; no changes to the agreement; Fire Protection; no suggested
changes; Housing Authority; Service Delivery Agreement. Planning Zoning; Staff
recommendation is for the COS to assume responsibility; Police; City of Stockbridge will
assume responsibility. He said the Service Delivery Strategy in place valid through
2014. Service Delivery Strategy incorporates an intergovernmental agreement which
expired on December 31, 2012. A part of the agreement was for a renovation of the old
city hall in the amount of $1.2 million dollars. Beginning in 2010, $300,000 paid
$400,000 and $500,000. He said the city continues to be billed and making the quarterly
payment. The agreement is now expired. The county is to provide the same level of
services as unincorporated Henry County. There will be 2 police officers per shift in the
City of Stockbridge. He addressed the perceived sweetheart deal. Staff
recommendation is for the COS to assume responsibility and create a Stockbridge
Police Department; Senior Citizens Center; No suggestions; Senior Citizen Transport;
no suggested changes; Soil Erosion and Control Inspections; recommendation is to
assume soil erosion and control inspections. City Manager David Milliron concluded his
presentation on the Service Delivery Strategy.

Mayor called for question and answer session for council members only. There was no
public comments.

Richard Steinberg referred to City Prisoners. He pointed out pricing discrepancies under
the exhibits. He wanted to know if there was a typo; David Milliron executed a revision
that was made the original stated $32.58 and the edited version $37.58 the red lined is
the current version. Richard Steinberg referred to Planning & Zoning. Do you feel
confident that we can bring that in house? David Milliron said the recommendation in
the 2014 budget to increase Planning & Zoning by 1 additional person to increase
Planning & Zoning by 1 to cover the services. We can provide all of the services and
meet the requirement.

Item #3-Service: Building Permits, Inspections and Impact Fees; Robin Buschman
made a motion to move forward with Building Permits, Inspections and Impact Fees; a
second was made by Harold Cochran; the motion passed 5-0.

Item #9- Service: Comprehensive Plan; Richard Steinberg made a motion to bring the
Comprehensive Plan to the City of Stockbridge; a second was made by Shirley Dabney;
the motion passed 5-0.

Item #18- Service: Development Plan Review; Robin Buschman made a motion to
move forward with the Development Plan Review; a second was made by Harold
Cochran; the motion passed 5-0.

Item #32- Service: Planning Zoning; Harold Cochran made a motion to have the City
of Stockbridge becomes the service provider of Planning & Zoning; a second was made
by Shirley Dabney; the motion passed 5-0.

Item #33- Service: Police Services; Richard Steinberg made a motion to accept staff
recommendation to bring City of Stockbridge Police Department into existence; a
second was made by Harold Cochran; the motion passed 4-1. Alphonso Thomas
opposed.

Item #39-Service: Soil Erosion Control; Shirley Dabney made a motion for approval;
a second was made by Robin Buschman; the motion passed 5-0.

MOTION TO ADJOURN
Shirley Dabney made a motion to adjourn; a second was made by Richard Steinberg;
the motion passed 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:13pm.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY:

Rhonda A. Blackmon, City Clerk Mark A. Alarcon, Mayor
