---
date: 2024-02-06
title: 02-06-2024 Minutes
source: 2024-02/2024-02-06_02-06-2024 _Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

Where Community Connects

COUNCIL RET REAT
57 85 Peachtree Dunwo 0 dy Rd .

Sandy Springs, GA 3 0 24 2
February 6, 2024
10:00 a.m.
S ummary Min ut es
Mayor & cm Council Administration
Mayor Anthony S. Ford Frederick Gardiner, City Manager
Mayor Pro Tem Kyle Berry Sr. Vanessa Holsday. C ity Clerk
Councilmember Elton Alexander Vacant. City Treasu rer
Councilmember Yolanda Barber Quinton Washington, City Attorney
Councilmember LaKeisha Gantt Samantha Embry, City Attorney
Councilmember Alphonso Thomas

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,

Staff Present: Decius Aaron, Public Works Director and Kim
Allonce, Economic Development
Director.

DAY ONE AGENDA

Mayor Ford called the meeting to order at 10:31 am

lnvocatiOn by Mayor Ford

Pledge ofAllegiance recited by all in attendance

City Clerk, Vanessa Holiday was asked to proceed with the roll call. All members were
present except
Councilmember Alexander and Councilmember Gantt.

Motion to adopt the Agenda made by Councilmember
Thomas; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Berry
The motion passed unanimously 3-0

Mayor Ford read the Civility Pledge that has been adopted by the City: The
way we govern ourselves
is often as important as the positions we take. Our collective
decisions will be better when differing
views have had the opportunity to be
fully vetted and considered. All people have the right to be
treated with respect, courtesy, and
openness. We value all input. We commit to conduct ourselves
at all times with civility and
courtesy to each other.

Mayor Ford notified the Council of his sole appointment to the Stockbridge Ethics
Committee,
Attorney Alicia Barney-Duck, who will be sworn in on February 9, 2024.
CouncilmemberAlexanderjoined the meeting at 10:40 am.

Mr. Gardiner gave an overview of meeting Agenda, including Homestead Exemptions, the
Downtown Alleyway Project, Mixed Use Projects, Wayfinding, and an Economic Development
update;
and suggested the Council consider a 5-day retreat to cover all of the information and projects.

Homestead Exemgtions
Mr. Gardiner noted Senator Jones has requested the Homestead Exemption List remove the

redundancy of the exemptions and re-submit the information to the Legislature for approval and to
be placed on the November 2024 ballot.

Motion to approve the revised Homestead Exemption List made by Councilmember Alexander;
seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Berry. The motion passed unanimously 4-0.

Downtown Prolects
Mr. Allonce reviewed the Vision Statement and gave an overview of the department staffing of
four members and the structure of the department, including the Main Street Program and
Economic Development; highlighted the 4th Quarter successes noting business visits,
increased business participation, networking events, increased Small Business Blitz participation,

awarding of BRlCS incentives, and the business newsletter, fostering partner collaboration,
promoting Stockbridge as a Destination, the Stockbridge Fast Trac Entrepreneurship with 17
enrollees scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2024.

Councilmember Thomas asked what has been the feedback from business owners and is there a
concern regarding code enforcement, crime, or police patrolling?

Mr. Allonce noted the workforce seems to be the greatest issue with businesses
struggling with
hiring and maintaining staff, along with grants and loans.

Downtown Allemay Pro'ect
Mr. Allonce noted offer letters have been signed by property owners and noted there is a
meeting
planned with Falcon Design Consultants to discuss the utilities.

Councilmember Alexander asked what is needed to start the Alleyway Project, and asked who is

responsible for relocating the utilities.

Mr. Aaron noted the Economic Development Director has changed hands a number of times
during
the project from James Touchton to Alan Peterson and now Kim Allonce, and that has slowed down
the project.

Mr. Gardiner noted the Economic Development Director, Kim Allonce, is the Project
Manager, and
commended Mr. Allonce on the progress made in his short tenure.

Councilmember Thomas stated the importance of the City Council being kept informed on the

progress and/or delay of projects with bi-weekly updates from the City Manager. All members
agreed.
Downtown Mixed-Use Pro'ect
Mr. Allonce noted there had been an RFP issued in the 3rd Quarter of 2023 and he and the
City
Manager have met with a number of interested developers, noting parking and the impervious
surface continue to be an issue, and that parking would need to be increased substantially, and that
the TAD could help facilitate with the cost of building a parking deck.

Mr. Gardiner noted the TAD has the oldest homes within the boundaries and date back to the

Councilmember Barber noted her support for redevelopment of the downtown but does not support

pushing residents out, noting District 4 was drawn without her input.

Mayor Ford noted Districts were drawn by the legislature and each District is based on population
and was presented to the Council at the Retreat.

Councilmember Thomas noted for the record that he had no input into the drawing of the District
lines and referenced the change in the boundaries when Senator Strickland removed subdivisions
from District 5.

Mr. Gardiner noted the city could freeze the taxes and protect legacy homeowners without

gentrification.

Councilmember Barber recommended the City re-draw the District lines based on the number of

developments that have been approved in District 4, accounting for a significant increase in
population.

Councilmember Alexander referenced the DDA Marketing Report which calls for high-dollar quality
housing.

Mr. Gardiner noted the hospital has a problem with recruiting doctors who are
looking for new
housing in the Stockbridge area, also noting the city needs to strike a balance to also include
affordable housing.

Downtown Util Art Box Proiect
Mr. Allonce noted (4) residents were selected for the utility art box community contest and the next

step is to obtain encroachment permits.

Pro'ect
Mr. Allonce noted the RFQ was issued in November 2023, with two Qualified Vendors selected in

January 2024, and the RFP scheduled to be released in February 2024; noted staff has met with
Sky Design and a cost and timeline to be presented.

Councilmember Alexander noted it was his understanding that Sky Design had already presented
the city with a timeline and the Council agreed the Wayfinding was a Priority project.

Councilmember Thomas noted the Annexation Referendum was effective January 1, 2023, yet the

city limits signs are not reflective of the current boundaries.

3|Page
Councilmember Barber requested the deadline to award the Wayfinding be made known to the full
Council.

Mr. Gardiner noted the GlS staff is working on the new maps and boundary lines, and

designing parking similar to what you see in downtown Locust Grove.

Downtown We Icome Center

Mr. Allonce noted the building currently houses the Economic Development Offices, the Main Street

Program Offices and a Conference Room meeting space, noting it bears the name, Ted Strickland
Community Center, and noted staff receives a number of drop in visits from the community inquiring
to rent the facility, as was done in the past; and noted the Main Street
Advisory Board has worked to
rename the facility as has landed on Stockbridge Connection and would like to
make a presentation to the Mayor & Council to support the name change, noting a marker would be

placed at the facility in honor of Ted Strickland.

Mr. Gardiner suggested the city meet with the community regarding the name
change, similar to
what is done when changing a street name.

Motion to approve the name change of the building to: Downtown
Stockbridge Connection Center
with a presentation by Main Street at the February 27th Work Session
meeting made by
Councilmember Thomas; seconded by Councilmember Alexander. The motion passed
unanimously
4-0.

Downtown Beautification
Mr. Allonce noted the bridge is one of the biggest complaints of the downtown business
owners,
noting it is if face of the downtown and Main Street District and there needs to be a mechanism in
place that routinely cleans the bridge and keeps it clean.

Mr. Aaron was tasked with reaching out to GDOT (Georgia Department of
Transportation) to
coordinate routinely pressure washing the bridge.

Mr. Allonce spoke about the proposed of downtown storefronts in the downtown area
utilizing the Facade Grant Program and loans.

Downtown Business Incubator
Mr. Allonce proposed bringing in a Downtown Business Incubator and asked for Council
support

Mayor Ford agreed with the concept and members of Council agreed as well.

Mr. Allonce noted the idea would be presented at the next DDA
meeting in February.

PATH Foundation Professional Services Agreement
Mr. Eric Ganther of the Path Foundation noted the will provide the City of
Stockbridge services for
the development of the Stockbridge Strategic implementation and Master Plan for Trails which will

verify the feasibility of all proposed trails and identify additional trail opportunities within the city
limits; noted during the strategic implementation and master planning process, the scope of basic

4|Page
services will be completed by PATH within eight months; and reviewed the Scope of Basic Services,

Project Kick Off, Deliverables, Timelines and Implementation of the Master Plan for Trails.

Mr. Ganther noted the next step is to go from Plan Ato Action and referenced the Reeves Creek
Trail Expansion; referenced the SPLOST List noting there are restrictions; noted that overall,
trails contribute to the health and wellness of your citizenry, and the quality of life; and noted the
PATH Foundation wants to work in coordination with the county and would start with

city/county/state-owned land.

Mr. Gardiner noted the city bonded funds for trails, and noted there is funding in TSPLOST and will
be included in the SPLOST Vl List and staff will also seek grant funding; and noted there will be at
minimum three meetings with Council to determine where the project will start.

Motion to approve the Professional Services Agreement between the City of Stockbridge and the
PATH Foundation, Inc. in the amount of$121,425 made by CouncilmemberAlexander; seconded

by Councilmember Barber. The motion passed unanimously 4-0.

Falcon Desion End. & Consultants Proiects Update Price. John Palmer & Mike Crawford

LMIG Resurfacing Proiect
Mr. Adam Price noted there was a Change Order issued for East Coast Grading whereas they will

begin the resurfacing of Walt Stephens Rd. 0 February 20, 2024 and has until the end of March to
complete the project; and noted the increase in funding at the state level, and the LMIG List
may need to be adjusted if additional funds are distributed.

Amghitheater Pon Regair Pro'ect
Mr. Price noted the Amphitheater Pond has been repaired by the On-Call Engineers, Site
Engineering in the amount of approximately $40,000 replacing the rockets and noting the
vegetation is also being replaced.

Mr. Gardiner noted the clay was not put in initially, and that there is now a depth meter installed,
and there is also a water source to tap into the water line, and that was not the case before

Councilmember Thomas asked if this is something that should have been known

Mr. Price responded yes, noting the clay layer was on the drawings, however, never installed

East Atlanta Rd./Lee St reet Road Wideninq Proiec t
Mr. Price noted the East Atlanta Rd./Lee Street/N. Lee Street projects are expected to be completed

by April 20, 2024, if not before; noting there are wide sidewalks on Lee Street with stairs.

Councilmember Barber expressed the importance of rebuilding relationships with members of the
First Baptist Church and other members of the community.

5|Page
