City Council on Monday will discuss potential ordinance revisions related to developers utilizing private building inspectors and plan reviewers in compliance with State law.

That’s one of the items on the agenda for the Work Session on September 9, which will begin at 6 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers. People can attend in-person or watch online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLxy2z3RNiI.

Since this is a Work Session, the Council cannot cast any binding votes. They can, however, listen to and offer direction to City staff.

Below are summaries of every item on Monday’s agenda:

• Strategic Plan Update – Communications.

For months, City departments have shared regular updates to inform the Council – and the public – about progress in tackling initiatives outlined in Milton’s Strategic Plan and elsewhere. Communications Director Greg Botelho will present Monday on what’s been happening in the Communications Department, which works extensively with other departments to inform, educate, and engage the public about a wide range of projects. 

Botelho will showcase two of these support initiatives in Everbridge (City news text alerts that anyone can sign-up for at www.miltonga.gov/Notifications) and the Deerfield Implementation Plan (with information shared in many places, including www.miltonga.gov/Deerfield). He will also discuss the Communications Department’s role, and successes, when it comes to being responsive, positive, reliable, and informative for the Milton community.

• Strategic Plan Update – Police

Police Chief Jason Griffin will talk Monday about elements of what the Milton Police Department has done recently related to the Strategic Plan. For example, he will reference significantly reducing the average time it takes to respond to calls as well as efforts to reduce accidents (including 15 fewer year-to-year crashes). (Police-related quarterly statistics since mid-2022 can be found at https://www.miltonga.gov/government/police/police-quarterly-statistics.) 

Training is also central to the Milton Police Department’s mission and its long-term success. Griffin will tell the Council about a joint Police-Fire active shooter training exercise that took place in July. He will also outline ongoing progress in offering advanced crisis response training to department members.

• Priority Projects Update

At least once a month, City staff have been informing the Council on what’s happening with a handful of important projects. On Monday, those will include:

- The Deerfield Implementation Plan, which is primarily focused right now on gathering feedback from key stakeholders and community members. To that latter point, the City invites all to an “Open House” from 6 to 8 p.m. on September 17 at Stonecreek Church. People can drop in to view visuals and share thoughts on preferred landscaping, architectural styles, transportation, and other elements for the Deerfield area, which includes the Milton segments of Highway 9, Windward Parkway, Deerfield Parkway, Morris Road, and other places in that vicinity.

- Large Lot Incentives, which are ways to give citizens (and developers) reasons to keep parcels that are 3 acres or bigger. 

- Active Parks, specifically the latest on the City-owned 21.4 acres off Deerfield Parkway. City staff are reviewing proposals from companies to assist in the design of a park with athletic fields on that property, a process that – along with more opportunities for public input – should be fully underway in the coming months.

• Discussion of Third-Party Inspection and Plan Review for Prequalification of Private Permitting Review and Inspection.

This discussion relates a proposed addition to City Code that will foster Milton-specific guidelines in accordance with Georgia law. Specifically, it pertains to a measure adopted by the State legislature to allow developers to use city inspectors or retain private building inspectors and plan reviewers.

On Monday, Community Development staff will share highlights – and seek the Council’s feedback – on a proposed customized Milton ordinance that would authorize and regulate such third-party plan reviewers and building inspectors. Among other provisions, it would require that private inspectors and plan reviewers be properly licensed and certified, as well as apply with the City annually. Fees would be paid to the City even for private inspections, with the expectation that Milton would end up collecting about 100% of what is currently charged.

After Monday, the City Council is next scheduled to convene for a Regular Meeting on September 16.