City Council is set to meet twice on Monday – first in the morning for an initial Public Hearing on Milton’s upcoming millage rate, then again in the evening to discuss that and vote on several other matters, like prohibiting consumable hemp sales and adding support at Milton Municipal Court.

People can attend either meeting in-person at City Hall’s Council Chambers. The video link for the 9 a.m. Special Called meeting is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsLg1yIElTg. To watch the Regular Meeting beginning at 6 p.m., click HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFaSnZRpzI8.

The morning Special Called meeting consists of two identical items – one listed under First Presentation, the other under Public Hearing. Both read:

Consideration of an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton, Georgia, to Establish the Ad Valorem Tax Rate of the City of Milton for Fiscal Year 2025; and for Other Purposes.

The same item is also part of the evening Regular Meeting and described below. This year, there must be three Public Hearings before the City Council can set the millage, or ad valorem, rate affecting property taxes (in accordance with State law).

As is customary, the Regular Meeting’s agenda is divided into distinct sections that have their own ground rules. They are:

• The CONSENT AGENDA, which is for routine items that the Council considers collectively (so one vote that covers all the items)
• REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS, which is where you’ll find proclamations, presentations, and other reports during which the Council may offer direction but can’t take official votes
• PUBLIC HEARING, which offer special opportunities for public comment on certain types of items (in some cases followed by a vote)
• ZONING AGENDA, the home for zoning-related items that appeared on a previous agenda (under First Presentation) that can be voted on conclusively
• UNFINISHED BUSINESS, which similarly is for certain types of items (although not zoning ones) that were under First Presentation in the past and can now be voted on
• NEW BUSINESS, the place for items appearing on a Council agenda for the first time that can be discussed and then voted on decisively

Below are summaries of every item that’s on the Regular Meeting agenda.

• Approval of the July 22, 2024, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.

  The Council will vote on approving the “minutes,” or official written record, from its last Regular Meeting on July 22. At this meeting, Milton’s Mayor and Councilmembers offered direction Monday on the fee schedule for impact fees – which are collected on new developments – specifying when they thought amended fees should go into effect and at what rates. To read a recap of what happened on July 22, click HERE: https://www.miltonga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2504/1351/.

   

• Approval of the Financial Statements & Investment Report for the Period Ending June 30, 2024.

  This item is to approve the City of Milton government’s financial statements and investment report for this past June.

   

• Approval of Council Ratification of a Due Diligence Period Extension for 12875 Arnold Mill Property Acquisition Contract.

  The City of Milton is in the process of acquiring 10.488 acres at 12875 Arnold Mill Road, which is roughly opposite Five Star Dog Resort and Legacy Park and not far from the Arnold Mill Road/Cox Road intersection. This agenda item is a housekeeping matter to take into account a temporary (and now lapsed) extension of the due diligence period before the purchase is finalized.

   

• Approval of a Services Agreement between the City of Milton and BAM Sales, Inc. for On-Call Tree Removal Services.
• Approval of a Services Agreement between the City of Milton and One Two Tree, LLC for On-Call Tree Removal Services.
• Approval of a Services Agreement between the City of Milton and LTRCOPS, Inc. dba LTRC-Tree Specialists for On-Call Tree Removal Services.

The three preceding items have the same purpose: to have experts available, under agreed-upon terms, for when fallen, damaged, decaying, or otherwise hazardous trees need to be removed from any City property for safety reasons. The agreements with BAM Sales, One Two Tree, and LTRC-Tree Specialists extend for one year with an option of additional annual terms through September 30, 2028.

• Approval of a Modification to the Blanket Right of Way Acquisition Approval for the Bethany Road at Providence Road Roundabout Project.

  The City plans to upgrade the Bethany Road-Providence Road intersection to improve safety and alleviate congestion over the short- and long-term. The City must acquire small portions of nearby properties for right-of-way and easements for this project, just like most other ones of this scale.

  City Council did approve funding for this purpose in November 2023. This agenda item modifies the available funding for “blanket right of way acquisition” to reflect increased land costs as well as a determination that three additional parcels will need to be impacted.

   

   

  REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

• Proclamation Recognizing the Friends of Mayfield Park’s Contributions to Our Community.

  The Friends of Mayfield Park is a group that has selflessly volunteered their time and effort to maintain and improve the 5-acre City park in downtown Crabapple. These citizens are reliable, productive partners with the City who have gone above and beyond in refurbishing Mayfield Park’s trail, staining the pier, and otherwise ensuring the park is accessible, useful, and beautiful. This proclamation recognizes this group’s many contributions.

   

• Proclamation Recognizing the Cambridge High School Girls Lacrosse Team.

  Last spring, the Cambridge High School girls lacrosse team won the first state championship in that program’s 12-year history. Led by five seniors, the Bears came from behind to defeat a talented Blessed Trinity squad to earn the Class 5A-6A title. This proclamation celebrates that victory and, more importantly, these young women who are credits to their community on and off the field.

   

• Presentation of Comprehensive Summer Internship Final Projects.

Every summer, the City of Milton brings aboard two college students for its Comprehensive Summer Internship. These interns learn about all aspects of Milton’s government, spending time with every department. They also tackle numerous hands-on projects that benefit those who live and work in Milton. 

The 2024 Comprehensive Summer Interns, Morgan Cellilli and Jack Verill, were particularly busy. They’ll share with Council some of the projects they tackled over 10 weeks, including:

• Creating a packet related to field and facility rentals
• Taking pictures and surveying about 100 business to assess compliance with City Code
• Producing an economic development packet with information about Milton for developers and businesses
• Working on an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Transition Plan and exploring how Milton complies with this legislation
• Partnering with the City Clerk on a “how to guide” for Municode, the City’s agenda-making program
• Contributing to the organization and success of Milton’s Independence Day celebration
• Making a brochure explaining and promoting Community Connect, with which residents and businesses can input basic information that can save firefighters critical moments in an emergency

• Consideration of the Issuance of an Alcohol Beverage License to Dae Pak Ichiban LLC dba Ichiban, 5306 Windward Pkwy, Milton, Georgia 30004.

  The Council will vote on issuing an alcohol beverage license for Ichiban, an existing restaurant that’s under new ownership at 5306 Windward Parkway just west of Deerfield Parkway.

   

• Consideration of the Issuance of an Alcohol Beverage License to Zest JBA Ventures LLC dba Bombay Republic, 13020 Morris Road, Suite J, Milton, Georgia 30004.

  This request for an alcohol beverage license, which the Council will vote on Monday, is for Bombay Republic. This is a new Indian restaurant at 13020 Morris Road, near the Exxon station at the Webb Road intersection.

   

• Consideration of the Adoption of Impact Fee Ordinance and Fee Schedule Amendment Relating to the City of Milton's Impact Fee Program.(1st Public Hearing at 7.22.24 Regular City Council Meeting) (2nd Public Hearing at 8.05.2024 Regular City Council Meeting)

  Like other local governments, the City of Milton collects impact fees from those creating new developments to help pay for upgrades to roads, bridges, parks, and City buildings. This process is regulated within the state of Georgia, including annual reviews by the Atlanta Regional Commission and the State’s Department of Community Affairs.

  On Monday, there will be the second of two public hearings at City Council meetings (the other having occurred July 22) related to Milton’s Impact Fee Ordinance and related fee schedule. The ordinance details regulations on imposing impact fees; fee assessments; payments, exemptions, credits, refunds, appeals, and penalties; and periodic reviews and amendments. The Impact Fee Schedule table – which specifies fees associated with each land use category – is part of that same ordinance.

   

• Consideration of an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton, Georgia, to Establish the Ad Valorem Tax Rate of the City of Milton for Fiscal Year 2025; and for Other Purposes. (1st Public Hearing at 8.05.2024 Special Called Council Meeting) (2nd Public Hearing at 8.05.2024 Regular City Council Meeting) (3rd Public Hearing at 8.12.2024 Special Called Council Meeting)

  This is the second of three public hearings (the first occurring during Monday morning’s Special Called meeting) related to the City of Milton’s millage rate for the coming year. These hearings are held annually before the City Council sets the millage rate, which can impact what people pay in property taxes.

  City staff will present the current millage rate of 4.389 mills as well as options with lower millage rates. Council has participated in several budget input meetings in recent months that, in part, are helpful to determining how much revenues – which the millage rate can impact – are needed to support desired programs, personnel, and activities. Milton’s City Council has adopted a reduced millage rate for two years in a row. For Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill's MILLAGE RATE PRESENTATION, click HERE. For her FINANCIAL METRICS COMPARISON, click HERE.

   

  ZONING AGENDA

• Consideration of a Text Amendment RZ24-01 to the Unified Development Code for the City of Milton, to Prohibit the Sale of Consumable Hemp products and/or Unregulated Marijuana Products.

  The Council is set to vote Monday on this item, which appeared in the “First Presentation” portion of the agenda at its July 22 Regular Meeting. The proposed text amendment includes definitions for “retail consumable hemp products” as well as “unregulated marijuana substitutes retail shop.” It also outlines law enforcement’s role enforcing the sale of prohibited products and the prosecution of potential offenders.

   

   

  UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• Consideration of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 22 – Fire Prevention and Protection of the Milton Code of Ordinances to Article III Fire Code, Division 1.-Generally, Sec. 22-43 Authority to Amend Article.

  This proposed amendment – by changing one word (replacing the word “article” with “chapter”) – would give the City’s Fire Marshal and Fire Chief the power to modify provisions in Chapter 22, the part of the City Code related to fire prevention and protection. The intent is to give these professionals the capability to make changes when the strict letter of the code is impractical and the modification is still in compliance with the spirit of the code. The aim is to help ensure public safety is secured and substantial justice is done. 

   

• Consideration of the Adoption of Impact Fee Ordinance and Fee Schedule Amendment Relating to the City of Milton's Impact Fee Program.

  This item pertains to a City Council vote on whether or not to adopt the Impact Fee Ordinance and Fee Schedule Amendment that’s described above under Public Hearing.

   

   

  NEW BUSINESS

• Approval of a Conflict Waiver with Jarrard & Davis, LLP for An Amendment to the Alpharetta and Milton Municipal Court IGA.

  Approval of this conflict waiver would give the City of Milton’s OK to Jarrard & Davis – the law firm that represents Milton as well as the City of Alpharetta – to work on an amended Intergovernmental Agreement for court services for both cities. The agreement is explained in the next item.

   

• Consideration of the Second Amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement Between the City of Milton, Georgia and the City of Alpharetta, Georgia Regarding Shared Municipal Court Facilities and Services to Include Sharing an Administrative Assistant.

The cities of Milton and Alpharetta have a multi-faceted Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) related to court services.  Both courts operate out of the courtroom in Milton’s Public Safety Complex, plus the two cities share a court clerk and court solicitor. The IGA amendment would add another shared employee – an administrative assistant who’d dedicate 40% of their work to Milton Municipal Court and 60% of their work to Alpharetta – to help address increasing case dockets for both cities.