City Council on Monday night unanimously enacted a 30-day moratorium – which can be extended with future votes – on any application to create or operate data centers in Milton. 

City Attorney Ken Jarrard acknowledged prior to Monday’s vote that “data centers are one of the most talked about land uses” of late, noting “they present all sorts of concerns and opportunities, depending on where you stand.”

“It would not be unusual for a local government with zoning power to take a pause to stop the potential for a data center to come in,” Jarrard said. “… This is a very common sort of thing.” 

The moratorium applies to data center-related applications for rezoning, land disturbance permits, building permits, special use or conditional use permits, business licenses, certificates of occupancy, and other permits. The Council could decide to continue the moratorium at a meeting in July. 

The City’s exploring this matter during the moratorium period will help “make sure that we’re prepared, should we receive an application,” the City Attorney said.

THE CODER SCHOOL TO LEAD CLASSES FOR ALL AGES

This vote capped a meeting that began with the Council’s approval of a Consent Agenda that included an agreement between the City and a company called Family Hug, which does business as The Coder School. Its instructors can now lead classes at City of Milton facilities related to coding, robotics, game development, and other technology-based activities for people of different ages and skill levels.

As part of the same Consent Agenda, the Council approved the City once again partnering with Premier Events on Crabapple Fest. Premier works hand-in-hand with City staff while providing operational and logistical support (including vendor management, sponsor recruitment, and equipment rentals) for what is annually Milton’s most popular event. The next edition will take place October 3 in downtown Crabapple.

Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill then gave a presentation, as part of a Public Hearing, regarding proposed amendments to the City’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Amendments such as this are routine for local governments, given that budgets are dynamic plans that can merit adjustments based on changes, needs, and opportunities.

Harvill went through the latest data on revenue collections, noting that some categories are coming in higher than anticipated (like those from Local Option Sales Taxes) while others are lower (such as for real property taxes). She went in detail through proposed expenditure modifications for various funds, accounting for adjustments to health insurance premiums, a Destination Deerfield initiative, a generous donation by Children’s Charities for new playground equipment, and more.

The Council is set to vote on whether or not to approve these proposed budget amendments at its July 6 meeting.

COUNCIL APPROVES JAIL HOUSING AGREEMENT WITH ALPHARETTA

City Manager Steve Krokoff and Police Chief Jason Griffin on Monday jointly presented – and the Council unanimously approved – an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Alpharetta to house Milton inmates in that neighboring city’s jail.

Currently, Milton Police officers must transport arrested people to the Fulton County Jail on Rice Street in Atlanta. An officer can spend up to five hours per arrest when you account for travel time, waits, medical clearances, and other factors, according to Griffin. By contrast, they can be in-and-out of the Alpharetta jail – which is located just down the road – in about 20 minutes. 

Partnering with Alpharetta on the jail “keeps our officers where” City leaders, the Milton Police Department, and the community wants them – in or at least very close to Milton, according to the Chief.

Another rationale for utilizing the Alpharetta jail is that it can accommodate those arrested for violating City of Milton laws or probation violations. Such individuals cannot be jailed at the Rice Street facility. Having access to the Alpharetta jail gives the City another tool to address repeat violations and ensure local cases can be handled more effectively. 

The Council supported the jail arrangement with the City of Alpharetta. Councilmember Brian Dolan called this “a huge morale boost” for Milton officers, as they’ll no longer have to spend long periods of time going back-and-forth to Atlanta.

FIRE DEPT. GETS GO-AHEAD TO PURSUE FEMA GRANT

The other item on Monday’s agenda was the City Council giving its blessing for the Milton Fire-Rescue Department’s application for a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

Fire Chief Gabe Benmoussa explained that his department wants the grant to pay for a significant portion of a Mobile SCBA Compressor Trailer. SCBAs (which stands for self-contained breathing apparatus) provide breathable air for those battling fires, addressing hazardous material incidents, and immersed in extended emergency operations. 

Presently, firefighters must leave incident scenes to get replacement cylinders or refill depleted air bottles using a more time-consuming, labor-intensive fixed-location compressor systems. By contrast, Benmoussa said the SCBA Compressor Trailer can replenish up to six tanks right on-site. 

The deadline to submit the application to FEMA is the end of June. The Chief explained that the department hopes to learn within six months if its application was successful.

The Council will next convene for a Regular Meeting on July 6.