Deerfield will be a major focus of the City Council’s meeting Monday, with presentations both on plans for a new active park there as well as potential City Code text amendments to align with the forward-looking Deerfield Implementation Plan.

The April 28 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers at 2006 Heritage Walk. Citizens can attend in-person or watch the meeting online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g6nl7ibyGY.

As is customary for Regular Meetings, the agenda is divided into distinct sections with their own ground rules. For Monday, they are:

• The CONSENT AGENDA, which is home to routine items that the Council votes on collectively (so one yes-no vote covers all items)
• REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS, where you’ll find proclamations and presentations, during which the Council may ask questions and offer direction but not take binding votes
• FIRST PRESENTATION, which is the place for certain types of items appearing on a Council agenda for the first time that cannot be voted on definitively until a future meeting

Below are summaries of every item on the April 28 agenda.

• Approval of the April 14, 2025, ReNgular City Council Meeting Minutes.

  The City Council will vote on approving the “minutes,” or official written record, from its April 14 meeting. At this meeting, the Council approved a partnership so people calling 911 can get prompt, effective telehealth services rather than an ambulance ride to a hospital – saving them money and time, while freeing up first responders to address other emergencies. The evening also saw dozens in attendance accept proclamations including 911 dispatchers, Citizens Government Academy graduates, nature-lovers helping the City mark Earth Day, and advocates of autism acceptance. To read a recap of this meeting, go to https://www.miltonga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2921/1351.

   

• Approval of the April 21, 2025, City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes.

  These “minutes” are from when the City Council last convened for a Work Session on April 21. The Council discussed (but, since this was a Work Session, didn’t take conclusive votes on) several items like elements of the draft Arnold Mill Small Area Plan as well as a related text amendment, the prospect of a conservation easement for Birmingham Park, and potential text amendments related to advanced notice requirements regarding demolitions and the prolonged parking of “heavy construction” vehicles in residential areas. Video of the April 21 meeting can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrqCpkAltO8.

   

• Approval of the Financial Statements & Investment Report for the Period Ending February 28, 2025.

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

   

• Approval of a Recreation Provider Agreement Between the City of Milton and Happy Kidz Yoga, LLC. to Provide Youth Recreational Fitness Programming.

  With approval of this item, Happy Kidz Yoga will become a program provider with Milton’s Parks and Recreation Department. They plan to offer yoga classes and camps at City facilities that can help children improve their flexibility, balance, and coordination.

   

• Approval of a Recreation Provider Agreement Between the City of Milton and Roman's Kicks and Tricks, LLC to Provide Youth Recreational Martial Arts Programming.

  This item is for another recreation provider agreement with Milton Parks and Rec, in this case with Roman’s Kicks and Tricks. Roman’s will offer no-contact martial arts and fitness programs for kids at Milton facilities aimed at building skills, character, and self-confidence.

   

• Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Milton and the NOC Adventure, LLC. to Provide Transportation and Outdoor Recreation Opportunities to Milton Residents in Summer 2025.

  Last year, the City began partnering with NOC – which stands for the Nantahala Outdoor Center, one of the premiere outdoor recreation companies in the Southeast – to connect residents with exciting opportunities for active adventures in nature. This memorandum of understanding would continue that relationship, outlining details in which NOC would run three weeks of summer camp – featuring kayaking, rafting, ziplining, and mountain biking – for residents ages 10 to 15. Participants would be bused to-and-from City Hall to NOC outposts, several of which are on the Chattahoochee River.

   

• Approval of a Construction Services Agreement between the City of Milton and Blount Construction Company, Inc. for the FY 25 Reconstruction and Resurfacing Contract.

  Roughly between after the school year ends and the next one begins, the City embarks on its annual reconstruction and resurfacing of public roads. These are done on a rotating basis, with connector and neighborhood streets evaluated and prioritized for repaving each year. This item makes official an agreement for Blount Construction to undertake this year’s roadwork to improve the conditions of roads around Milton.  

   

   

  REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

• Proclamation Recognizing April 20 through 26 as Georgia Cities Week in Milton.

  Milton joined communities statewide in celebrating Georgia Cities Week, an annual campaign spearheaded by the Georgia Municipal Association to highlight services, programs, and people in local governments. In addition to enlightening social media posts, Milton marked Georgia City Week with a family-friendly Earth Day celebration at Milton City Park and Preserve as well as “Chillin’ with the Chiefs,” when citizens mingled with the City’s Police and Fire chiefs over smoothies and acai bowls.

  Monday’s proclamation will retroactively recognize Georgia Cities Week, with City employees on hand to formally accept it.

   

• Presentation of the City of Milton FY 2024 Annual Audit.

  Milton’s annual financial audit is a high-level overview of the City government's financial standing and financial activity . On Monday, Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill and Will Derzis from Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC (an accounting firm) will discuss the audit for the most recently Fiscal Year 2024, which ran from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. 

  The City produced a pair of documents chronicling the City’s finances – including revenues and expenditures across various funds – during this time. The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) offers a deep, technical, exhaustive look and can be viewed at https://www.miltonga.gov/home/showdocument?id=8270. Milton’s Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) presents much of the same general content in easier-to-follow language and format including graphics and images. That can be seen via this link: https://www.miltonga.gov/home/showdocument?id=8238.

   

• Deerfield Active Park Update.

  Last year, the City purchased more than 24 acres along Deerfield Parkway with the intention of turning them into Milton’s next active park. This has been followed by an extensive, multi-faceted effort to solicit the feedback of community members and key stakeholders to determine what should go in this park and where.

  The City’s project team solicited feedback on three proposed concept plans at an Open House in March. Each of them include two rectangular and four diamond/baseball fields, though the other features (including things like a playground, splash pad, a picnic area, and trails) vary between the concepts. You can see these proposals and learn more about this effort at www.miltonga.gov/DeerfieldActivePark.

  On Monday night, Project Team leaders will present and invite Council’s feedback on these concept plans. They will also share relevant background as well as potential next steps for this project.

    

• Presentation of Destination Deerfield - RZ25-07 Text Amendments Deerfield Form-Based Code.

  The City has been working for months to chart a vibrant, sustainable, uniquely Milton, community-guided future for Deerfield – a vital area in southeastern Milton. For details on this multi-faceted and critical Deerfield Implementation Plan project, visit www.miltonga.gov/Deerfield.

  The proposed set of text amendments to City Code that will be discussed Monday would help make it possible for the vision articulated in this nearly completed plan to become a reality. These include a range of potential changes to the Deerfield Form-Based Code like the creation of “Sub Districts” to spelling out incentives to further community goals to specifying requirements, and much more.

  The Council will have the opportunity to offer feedback on these suggestions at Monday’s meeting. At the earliest, they could vote on these text amendments at a May 19 Regular Meeting.

   

• Consideration of U25-01 Located at 12900 Arnold Mill Road zoned AG-1 (Agricultural) to Request a Use Permit for a Rural Event Facility (Sec. 8.7.1.H of the UDC) for a Maximum of 300 Attendees Within the Existing 23,000 Square Foot Activity Center on a 6.61-Acre Property.

  The newly constructed Pardue Family Center is on the Ebenezer Methodist Church property at the intersection of Arnold Mill and Cox roads. This facility features a large hall, stage, a commercial and warming kitchen, conference/meeting rooms, plus an outdoor pavilion, stage, and amphitheater seating.

  The applicant is seeking a “rural event facility” Use Permit for the Pardue Family Center that, if granted, would allow certain gatherings with no more than 300 attendees. The events could include weddings and receptions, concerts and plays, community and company gatherings, and classes.

   

• Consideration of RZ25-01 - A Text Amendment to Article 6 Special Purpose District of the Unified Development Code for the City of Milton, Georgia to Add Regulations with Respect to a New Arnold Mill Road Hamlet Overlay.

  The City has been working for months on an “Arnold Mill Small Area Plan” outlining a community-driven vision for this special section of southwestern Milton. Among other things, the draft version of this plan recommends two activity nodes that could contain commercial elements along with more traditional rural, residential elements that encompass the majority of this corridor. To learn more about this Small Area Plan initiative, go to www.miltonga.gov/ArnoldMill.

  Approval of this item would establish an Arnold Mill Hamlet Overlay (which is within the current Rural Milton Overlay) that addresses site and building design plus streetscaping requirements in the Arnold Mill area. (It would not alter zoning or density.) The proposed text amendment has been reviewed by Milton’s Planning Commission and Design Review Board.

   

• Consideration of RZ25-03 Article 12 Administration, Sec. 12.8.6.E Demolition Permits, Public Hearing to Amend Notification Requirements to the Unified Development Code for the City of Milton.

  This text amendment, if approved, would reduce from 30 days to 15 days the advanced public notice (as published in the Milton Herald, the City’s legal organ) required before requested demolitions can be considered by Milton’s Design Review Board. This revised timetable would be in accordance with local Zoning Procedures Law. The City Council discussed this proposal at its April 21 Work Session.

   

• Consideration of RZ25-04 Article 9 Site Development, Specifically Adding 9.1.4.A.8 to Clarify Parking of Commercial Vehicles and Equipment within Agricultural and Single-Family districts and Modifying Sec. 9.1.6.C. Heavy Construction to the Unified Development Code for the City of Milton.

This item was also discussed at the Council’s recent Work Session. This potential text amendment, if approved, would restrict overnight parking of “heavy construction” commercial vehicles within AG-1 and single-family residential districts. Specifically such vehicles could only be parked in such area for sustained periods if related to an active building permit. (This would not apply to smaller commercial vehicles – such as a plumber’s truck – owned by whomever lives at that property.)