---
date: 2023-07-11
title: Citywide Development Authority Agenda Packet
source: 2023-07/2023-07-11_Citywide Development Authority_Agenda Packet.pdf
pages: 1
---

City of Stockbridge
Citywide Development Authority

STOCKBRIDGE Citywide Development
Development Authority Authority Meeting
Ariel Shaw, Chair
Agenda
Samantha Samuels, Vice Chair
July 11, 2023 6:00 PM
Dr. Cathy Hill, Secretary

Gadson Woodall, Treasurer

Mark Glenn, Board Member

Kalpesh Patidar, Board Member

Kim Allonce

Economic Development Director

Randi Rainey

Recorder STOCKBRIDGE CITY HALL

4640 NORTH HENRY BLVD.

STOCKBRIDGE, GA 30281

Website: www.cityofstockbridge.com

Phone: 770-389-7900

Fax: 770-389-7912
AGENDA
CITYWIDE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
TUESDAY, JULY 11, 2023 6:00 PM

I. Call to Order
1. Invocation Followed by Pledge
2. Roll Call
3. Approve Agenda
II. Officers and City Staff Reports
III. Old Business
4. Review and Approval of June Meeting Minutes
5. IG Update from Attorney
6. Marketing Video Update & Website
IV. New Business
7. Chair Updates- Development Update, State Partners Update, Training
Opportunities, Letter to Council, Citywide Vacant Property List and
Update, MOU
8. Economic Development Update- DA Director
9. Finance & Budget Update- Gadson Woodall, Treasurer
V. Executive Session (if needed)
VI. Adjourn
Page |1

CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING
SUMMARY MINUTES
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 6:00 P.M.

Ariel Shaw, Chair Mark Glenn, Board Member
Present Absent

Samantha Samuels, Vice-Chair Kalpesh Patidar, Board Member
Arrived at 6:44pm Absent
Dr. Cathy Hill, Board Member- Vacant – Board Member
Secretary
Present
Gadson Woodall, Treasurer
Present

Other Guest in attendance: Bridgette Freeman of B Free Consulting; Mike Tallant,
Commercial Assets Group; Kim Allonce, Economic Director; and Attorney
Latonya Wiley of Fincher Demark LLC.
Due to lack of a quorum, Chairwoman Shaw allowed Bridgette Freeman of B Free
Consulting to present without action.
Board Member Samuels arrived at 6:44 P.M.
Chairwoman Shaw called the meeting to order at 6:45 P.M.
Board Member Dr. Hill made a motion to amend the agenda to move New
Business ahead of Old Business. The motion was seconded by Board Member
Woodall. The motion passed unanimously.

Old Business
Location: Stockbridge City Hall 4640 North Henry Blvd. Levi Meeting Room Stockbridge, GA 30281
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Presentation-Samir Abdullahi, Atlanta Regional Marketing Alliance
The presenter did not present. No action taken.

Commercial Realtor- Mike Tallant
Mr. Tallant gave a brief presentation to the board; noting having over 37 years of
experience as a commercial broker who has worked with developers on building
medical centers and buildings around Eagles Landing, Locust Grove, Athens, and
Albany.

Chairwoman Shaw inquired on having worked with ambulatory care centers in the
area. Mr. Tallant noted being involved with companies in Cherokee County.

Attorney Wiley inquired if Mr. Tallant had any bond financing experience. Mr.
Tallant noted he has not and typically worked with straight forward deals with
private investors.

Chairwoman Shaw inquired about Mr. Tallants preference for being paid. Mr.
Tallant noted if the property is being leased it will be commission based; if the
property is being developed it would be fee-based. Mr. Tallant noted marketing
would cost $1,000 and commission would be split 50/50.

Presentation from Financial Consultant
Mr. Wall, the City’s Financial Advisor noted working with multiple municipalities
including the City of Stockbridge for over 38 years on bonds, tax abatements, and
numerous Development Authority (DA) boards.

Chairwoman Shaw requested Mr. Wall to inform the board on their previous
conversation. Mr. Wall informed the board of the Anti-Gratuities Clause which
states under the State of Georgia’s Constitution, no government in the state can
dispose of property without getting fair market value for it. Mr. Wall also noted
due to that, the state created a Development Authority (DA) which offers tax
abatements and authorizes counties to levy 1 mil of property tax and cities to levy
up to 3 mils of property tax for the public purpose for which the development
authority was created. Mr. Wall also pointed out that the Development Authority
(DA) mission is the promotion of trade, industry commerce, offers employment
opportunities as well offers tax abatements for projects and plans.

Chairwoman Shaw inquired on what 3 mils was worth. Mr. Wall noted 1 mil is
worth $1.8 million and 3 mils is worth $5.4 million for the city of Stockbridge who
would pledge instead of levying and allow the Development Authority (DA) to
formulate a business plan through sales of property to help pay back the debt
Location: Stockbridge City Hall 4640 North Henry Blvd. Levi Meeting Room Stockbridge, GA 30281
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services borrowed.

Attorney Wiley inquired about the typical budget for other Development
Authorities. Mr. Wall noted the City of Hampton has both a Downtown
Development Authority (DDA) and a Development Authority (DA) with each
having a budget of $50,000 each; City of College Park Development Authority
(DA) has a budget of $450,000; City of South Fulton Development Authority (DA)
has a budget of $200,000; and Dekalb County’s Development Authority (DA) has
a budget of $800,000 with a matching $800,000 tax abatement.

Mr. Wall recommended that the Development Authority (DA) hire a marketing
firm to promote the city and would need a vision or master plan for the
Development Authority. Board Member Samuels inquired on what the vision
would look like as a starting foundation. Mr. Wall noted the city is a part of both
the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and Georgia Municipal Association
(GMA) and suggested having them come to the city to formulate the vision. Mr.
Allonce, Economic Development Director noted Council tasked staff to develop a
Unified Development vision for the city; staff put out a Request for Proposal (RFP)
in April to award a contract to a firm to help, the proposals were reviewed in May
and will be awarded in July.

Board Member Dr. Hill noted being confused with the outline of the agenda and
the presenters who presented; noted having no conversation on selecting a financial
consultant or commercial realtor. Attorney Wiley mentioned the firm
recommended Mr. Wall provide an update on how the Development Authority
finances projects.

Board Member Samuels noted reaching out to someone to present and did not
know there would be presenters at tonight's meeting. Chairwoman Shaw noted
asking the board to submit a commercial realtor to be presented to the board
collectively. Attorney Wiley included the board is a statutory development
authority with no restrictions unlike the Downtown Development Authority; noted
Mr. Walls purpose was to educate the board.

Chairwoman Shaw noted the presenter for the Atlanta Regional Marketing
Alliance informed her due to the city and county being at odds, they would not be
able to present.

Board Member Dr. Hill noted two considerations: establishing a vision, presenting
a plan to receive help, being educated on financial considerations that would help
develop the plan, and having a broader discussion on bringing professionals to
assist when looking for a commercial realtor. Board Member Dr. Hill also inquired
Location: Stockbridge City Hall 4640 North Henry Blvd. Levi Meeting Room Stockbridge, GA 30281
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if the board wanted to limit itself to only entities within the county and not with
Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL's) or Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis (CBRE), which have
relationships nationally and are able to bring projects to the city. Board Member
Dr. Hill noted having a more formalized process to identify commercial realtors.
Chairwoman Shaw inquired if Board Member Dr. Hill was suggesting putting out
bids for a commercial broker. Attorney Wiley noted formulating a pre-vetted list of
qualifications to choose from. Chairwoman Shaw noted board members have the
authority to make a request and noted Board Member Woodall was the only to
submit a request.

IGA- Attorney Presentation
Attorney Wiley noted only being a draft copy; noted an Intergovernmental
Agreement (IGA) is where two public entities can enter in Intergovernmental
Agreement (IGA) for up to 50 years which allows both parties to have assurances
on, they would work together to fulfill the common mission. Attorney Wiley
mentioned the city has three (3) public entities to serve the purpose of fostering
economic development; noted the law allowing the city to fund the entities in
which the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) sets up funding parameters.
Attorney Wiley noted adding in the pre-amble clause and after the sixth whereas
section pursuant to O.C.G.A §48-5-350 “The City may pledge up to 3 mils of Ad
Valorum tax to the authority for the purpose of support or promoting the
authority’s economic development activities”.

Attorney Wiley noted under Article 2- Economic Development; the law allows
cities to designate an exclusive or non-exclusive agent and noted adding the
language of having the Citywide Development Authority (CDA) as the principal
development agency. Attorney Wiley noted the Intergovernmental Agreement
(IGA) can be amended and revised.

Chairwoman Shaw requested a 5-minute recess at 8:00pm.

Chairwoman Shaw noted the recess was over at 8:03pm.

Mr. Allonce requested being included in communications between the board.

Attorney Wiley noted to consider having the board submit any concerns and
corrections will be made.

Board Member Dr. Hill inquired on the difference between appointing staff and
loaning staff. Attorney Wiley noted that the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA)
states the Authority Board may have access to reasonable staff time and shall
appoint one staff member to function as its clerk. The city will provide "loaned"
Location: Stockbridge City Hall 4640 North Henry Blvd. Levi Meeting Room Stockbridge, GA 30281
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staff to the Authority Board, which does not have the authority to fire; however,
the authority board can choose to hire their own staff using their own funding.

Mr. Allonce noted serving as the staff liaison for the authority board; noted having
future discussions on what the relationship should look like.

Board Member Dr. Hill noted having a concern with the loaned staff and how the
board would not be able to manage their performance. Attorney Wiley noted if the
loaned staff was not working out for the board, a conversation with the city
manager should be held to recommend someone else. Board Member Dr. Hill
noted offering language in the IGA that references annually or periodic
performance evaluations for the loaned staff.

Executive Session
Attorney Wiley suggested going into Executive Session for the purpose of Real
Estate.

Chairwoman Shaw made a motion to convene into executive Session at 8:10pm for
the purpose of Real Estate. The motion was seconded by Board Member Samuels.
The motion passed unanimously.

Chairwoman Shaw made a motion to adjourn and reconvene back into the regular
meeting at 8:26pm. The motion was seconded by Board Member Dr. Hill. The
motion passed unanimously.

Board Member Dr. Hill made a motion to approve the executive session affidavit.
The motion was seconded by Board Member Samuels. The motion passed
unanimously.

No action taken.

Chair Update
Chairwoman Shaw noted withholding updates; noted wanting to have a call with
the sub-committee to update the marketing plan. Chairwoman Shaw noted the
State of the City would be on June 15th with Mayor Ford.

Chairwoman Shaw noted video interviews will be on June 15th.

Finance & Budget Update
Chairwoman Shaw noted sending out updated emails to the board on the proposed
budget and has requested to meet with the Finance Director to discuss the
Development Authority (DA) budget; noted majority of funding going towards
Location: Stockbridge City Hall 4640 North Henry Blvd. Levi Meeting Room Stockbridge, GA 30281
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legal fees.

Economic Development Update- DA Director
Mr. Allonce noted bringing forth to council the approval of the economic
development strategic plan at the July 10th Meeting; noted council approved the
Building a Resilient, Innovative and Connected Stockbridge (BRICS) initiative at
the June 12th meeting. Mr. Allonce noted the initiative includes several programs
such as a Citywide Façade Grants, Downtown Business Assistance, Special Events
Grants, Stockbridge Business Partnership, Keep Stockbridge Beautiful, Marketing,
and Workforce Development/Training Program.

Mr. Allonce noted the economic development newsletter will be available June
16th. Board Member Dr. Hill requested the board to receive the newsletter.

New Business
Review and Approval of April and May Meeting Minutes
Board Member Woodall made a motion to approve the April minutes with
corrections made. The motion was seconded by Board Member Samuels. The
motion passed unanimously.

Board Member Dr. Hill made a motion to approve the May minutes with
corrections made. The motion was seconded by Board Member Woodall. The
motion passed unanimously.

Other Business
Chairwoman Shaw suggested reprieving the month of July and to come back
August.

Board Member Dr. Hill noted having the IGA signed if approved by council.
Chairwoman Shaw noted submitting revision of the IGA by a certain timeframe.
Attorney Wiley noted the board could approve the chair to sign the IGA but would
still need to hold a meeting for the approval of the IGA once approved by council.
Chairwoman Shaw inquired on approving a sub-committee that would oversee the
back and forth. Attorney Wiley noted still need public notices and having an open
meeting for the sub-committee to meet; noted leaving July open or call a Special
Called Meeting.

Chairwoman Shaw requested the board impower the chair to cancel the July
meeting no later than July 6th. The board agreed.

Adjourn
Board Member Dr. Hill made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 pm. The
Location: Stockbridge City Hall 4640 North Henry Blvd. Levi Meeting Room Stockbridge, GA 30281
Page |7

motion was seconded by Board Member Woodall. The motion passed
unanimously.

Minutes prepared by: Randi Rainey, Deputy City Clerk
Location: Levi Meeting Room
Stockbridge City Hall 4060 North Henry Blvd. Stockbridge, GA 30281

Location: Stockbridge City Hall 4640 North Henry Blvd. Levi Meeting Room Stockbridge, GA 30281
