Board of Mayor & Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Everybody ready? Okay. So, uh, Commissioner Smith will be joining us via Zoom initially and I think he will be here a little later in the meeting. So, uh, anyway, uh, this is the city of Aenddale Estates, Georgia. Uh, this board of mayor commissioners regular meeting. It's April 15th, 2026. Is 5:30. I would like to call the meeting to order. Uh, we have an agenda before us. Do I have a motion to adopt? So moved. That was Graham. Do I have a second? Second. That was Louie. All in favor say I. I. Okay.

Uh, Commissioner comments. Uh, Commissioner Steen. Uh, welcome the few of you who are here tonight. Not quite as big a crowd as last time. I really don't have uh Oh, I thought State of the City was put on very well. Thank you staff for your hard work on that. Um, the plaza's looking great and um, you know, keep trucking. Yes. Thank you, Commissioner Suez. Sorry.

What is your name? Speaking of the plaza, Dewey Brown Plaza, today the county hosted a regenerative land use green space program. The county hosted it, right? And it was with participants from our subcontractors and consultants for our regenerative land use. There were a lot of representatives from Dunwoody. Uh some I met someone from Clarkston, from Shambbley. There were a variety of different types of people including some members of the public and it was really interesting and we got to sort of show off our downtown and our complete street and our uh redeveloped plaza. So that was a good it was nice to be sort of the host without having to do the work of hosting, right? And folks got to enjoy the the walk and across and had lunch at Little Hippo.

Nice. So very nice. Good deal. Mayor Pro.

Uh, just some thank yous. Uh, I thought the state of the city was awesome. Um, lots of fun. Uh, I want to thank Mayor Elmore and Chairman Deers for their speeches and especially the city staff who were all there, all helping out. Uh, it was really, really fun, nice evening to celebrate our city. Uh, so thank you for that. Uh my next one is uh thank you for the electronics recycling that the city put on on Saturday. It couldn't have come at a better time for me personally as I uh was in the middle of cleaning out a bunch of stuff. So I certainly contributed uh some things there and it and I think I saw we had something like 3,000 pounds of electronics turned in that morning. So um that was really really cool. And then the third is just thank you again for an awesome weekend windown on Sunday night. The band was great. Uh the weather was great and it was a good turnout. Uh it was lots of fun. So that's all I got.

Thank you. And I too would like to say thank you to staff and Mr. Manager on the state of the city. I know you guys worked very hard. I think I saw everybody there doing something and uh every year it kind of gets bigger and better and I appreciate it. Um, it kind of caused my nerves a little bit that I get a little nervous on that one, but uh, thank you so much. It was a great state of the city and appreciate all your efforts. So, um, and I hope everybody's doing okay with the pollen. I think the pine the pine pollen wave is arriving. So, uh, you know, just hang in there. Um, that's all I got, Mr. Manager.

Yes. So, uh, thank you for all of the commentary. uh staff did put in a whole heck of a lot of work to produce the state of the city event. Um we are grateful to all of our partners who helped us uh make that event uh as special as it was. So really want to extend thanks to the Avon Theater, uh to Emily Holden for acting as MC uh for Little Hippo uh providing the food and for Banjo providing a bar service. Uh it's a wonderful event. Uh we're going to have to come up with a some new stuff to try next year because like like like said, it just keeps getting bigger and better. So uh thank y'all. really appreciate that. Uh also uh uh Mayor Pro Tim Rainey uh mentioned the e-recycling event that we held uh this past weekend and in fact it was 3842 pounds

of electronics to the landfill uh to that to speaking of uh diverting uh things away from the landfill. Um, and again, that's 3,842 lbs of electronic waste that did not go to the landfill. Other stuff that didn't go to the landfill are materials that we composted as a community throughout our uh compost pilot program with the county and compost now. Well, this past weekend, Ellen and I uh went to the Clarkston public library for the delivery of some of our composted material. uh to be used in their library garden to support uh the growth of their fruit trees uh which will provide fruit to underserved persons in the Clarkston community. Uh so we were really happy to see kind of the end result of um all of the community's work over the past year. It was it was great. Um we have uh um um another Shakespeare event coming up this weekend as well uh from 2 to 5 on the town green. Uh we're partnering with the county specifically uh Ted Terry's office to uh provide um that entertainment to the public free of charge. So uh weather should still be good. Um uh so while while our drought continues and there's no threat of rain until the following weekend, please enjoy another Shakespearean performance.

Okay. Thank you. Uh Commissioner Smith, I apologize. You are online. Uh did you have any comments this evening?

Yeah, just mainly echoing uh state of the city was fantastic event and and I'm glad you mentioned it. Uh Patrick, just having a a venue such as the Avon Theater to to to host an event and just have it really be a special occasion is is really neat to see. Uh the all the the speeches were wonderful. Uh hearing all the the various accomplishments by the by the city and city staff was was great to hear. Great recap and thanks all for all you did to make a wonderful event and thanks for all your hard work. Just Aenddale got is on the up, you know, upswing and I'm it's I'm happy to be here for it.

Good deal. Thank you. All right. All good. Okay. All right. Uh item number four, public comment. Does anyone have any comment? Kathy

the light at Lakeshore Drive. Y'all are shaking your head. You know, there were 10 cars lined up on my way here. We all ended up turning left on red and it's been contin going on for the last two weeks. So hopefully if you're on aware of it, you'll get that's a county responsibility. Have we contacted the county? Thank you. Okay, thank you. Any online? Okay. Uh, seeing no other comment. Back up here. All good up here. Yeah.

Okay. All right. So, uh, first item of business, uh, we have before us the meeting minutes of the March 25th, 2026 regular meeting and the March 25th, 2026 work session. Do I have a motion to engross the minutes? So moved. That was Graham. Do I have a second? Second. That was Lou. All in favor say I. I. I didn't get a chance to read them, so should I abstain or I can't answer that. Um I I don't know. I I Okay, I approve them. Okay. All right. That's for Commissioner Smith.

I Okay, so that's five. Okay. Thank you. All right. Did you mean one second? Okay. Uh Mr. Manager, would you like to tee this up for us before we make a motion? Sure. this next item which is item number six.

Yes. And if and if you'll allow before that I just wanted to brief the board on um the comment uh on some information related to the comment made by Miss Kingsberry. Um yes we are aware of the uh traffic signal issue at Lakeshore and Covington. Um the county is well aware that their the vendor who handles uh traffic signal resetting and synchronization also is aware. Um there it's it's somewhere on their schedule. We don't know exactly when that's going to happen yet. Uh and and in addition to um the work that needs to be completed on that signal, uh we still have two um uh uh signals, signal loops that need to be synchronized in concert with the rest of the flow of traffic on 278. That work is also um scheduled and will be done uh soon. Uh once that's completed, uh the signal synchronization, if you will, of of all of the traffic signals along 278 will be complete.

Okay. Thank you. All right. Okay. Now, the T. Yes. Yes, please.

Okay. So the the first item is um a resolution uh before you to approve uh um a disclaim of a right to property via a quick claim deed. This property, and we we discussed this at our previous work session, is a little 183 square foot triangular shaped piece of land uh on the very north end of property currently owned by Mr. Dave Leay. Uh and uh uh will be um once the relinquish of the right to that property which we have never um assumed in the first place and uh do not have a a public claim to it um will be a part of the transaction between that property owner and the development entity of Aval.

Okay. All right. So, um, well, I'll go ahead and make the motion and then if we got any questions or comments. So, um, do I have a motion to approve a resolution by the city of Aenddale Estates to approve executing a quick claim deed to Maple 278 Ventures LLC in order to clear title for certain real property known as 2820 Franklin Street. So moved. That was Graham. Do I have a second? That was Laida. Uh questions, comments up here. Oh, none. Okay, Mike, I mean, Commissioner Smith, sorry.

Uh, none from here. Okay. All right. Uh, seeing none, um, like to call a vote. All in favor say I. I. What? I. Okay. That's five. All right. Very good. Thank you. All right. Give me one second. Okay. Item number seven. Uh, same thing. Mr. Manager, would you like to tee this up for us?

Yeah, sure thing. Um, and I'm going to provide some additional context uh for um the ease of understanding this process and potentially future processes that uh staff will bring to uh the board for consideration. So, um, currently there is a street that goes by three names, um, Franklin, Potter, and Elm that exists as a public thorough affair in the downtown. Um the road begins west of Olive Street and terminates uh at Maple Street. Uh a portion of that roadway as it's currently constructed sits upon private property uh currently owned by Mr. Dave Leay just as the previous property we were discussing. um and uh is going to be uh exchanged to the development interest of Abala Hedgewood uh in the near future.

Question, is it just the portion that's on his land, not the street? It's going to be part of

I I'll get to that. Yes. Yeah, I I I think I know exactly what you're saying, so just bear with me. Um, okay. So, the portion of the roadway that exists on Mr. Leay's current property is proposed to become uh a different use once acquired by the Abala Headquin development. We also as a city have adopted previously as part of our zoning code um a a a proposed street grid uh to provide for uh multiple avenues of vehicular connectivity through the downtown. One of the major components of that street grid plan is the creation of a second east west thorough affair um through the downtown in addition to highway 270. Uh and that is the extension of what is currently known in the downtown as Washington Street. So now through various connections uh if if Washington Street is constructed, a vehicle will be able to get from Laredo Drive uh to Maple Street through this connection. And of course once that connection were to terminate at Maple Street, the the uh the road that was constructed as a part of the uh Traml Crow development known as the Jade will provide connectivity through um the remainder of the downtown uh and into Decay.

So in order to facilitate that plan, which is to construct the extension of Washington Street according to the specifications outlined in our zoning code there and to satisfy the Avala Hedgewood development's desire to close that portion of the roadway that exists on their private property. Uh we believe it wise to go through a multi-step process of first abandoning and then disposing of the public strip of Franklin Potter. That strip is highlighted in a map on exhibit A in your patent. Okay. So what is abandonment? Abandonment means that we are considering abandoning the right of way or vehicular transportation on that stretch of property. So if you were to vote to abandon the property, the public at large would no longer have the right to use that property for the purposes of vehicular travel. Wow. That does not mean that we no longer own the right to the property. So in essence, if we abandon that right of way for vehicular travel, we could come back tomorrow and reestablish that right of way for vehicular travel if we wanted. Okay. The second step in the process and a step that is not being considered tonight would be the disposition of that property.

The disposition works like this. The abuing properties that adjoin that rightway would have the opportunity to acquire the property from the city and they can either accept that or deny that. Um, in this case, discussions have already been held amongst or between the two property properties that would have a legal disposition interest in the property if the city were to dispose of that property. And those two property owners are Oakhurst Realy who own the property at 120 Olive Street. 120 Olive Street is oriented north to south at the intersection of Olive and Franklin. And then Advalyn Hedgewood who is acquiring the property formerly owned by Dave Leidday which resides to the north of that very same intersection at Olive and Franklin. Now, uh, a question was posed to, I guess, both the board and staff at our previous meeting whereby this item was first discussed regarding a utility interest uh, from a property owner who is near located near the site that of this right of way. We are asking you to consider to abandon Those utility rights

were when while the property is is publicly available as a rightway for vehicular use governed by our franchise agreements with those utilities. Once we abandon that right ofway, the franchise agreement no longer serves to provide for easement to the utility companies for those utilities. So this resolution that we've proposed to you tonight contains the authority to grant the easement to those utilities to those utility companies which exist as Atlanta Gas Light and Decab uh County Water. The utilities themselves will not ever be disturbed as a part of any of the action you were take to not. So there is no utility impact to the property who is near this abandonment proposed abandonment who is served by those utilities. So, I I just want to make that clear to the board that there is literally no impact in utility service to that property and that property does not have a legal plane to the abandoned ride of way that we will soon propose to you for disposition. Um once disposition is brought forward to it and you determine a first whether you you abandon the rideway and b whether you move forward with a disposition, that roadway will still be open for vehicular traffic until the time that the new

Washington Street Extension will be constructed. And I also want to say um that uh this is a benefit to the community at large for two reasons. One, Franklin Potter Elm is what you would considered to be a substandard street meaning that that sorry,

yeah, that it's not built to specification. The Washington Street extension will be what you consider a standard street, right? Built to specification. So the street will improve and the connectivity will improve because it will be a straight connection from the existing Washington Street all the way to Maple. That's the story. Happy to answer any questions you might have. Also, did I mix anything? I don't think so. Okay, good. Yes, ma'am.

Okay, thank you for all that additional information. I appreciate it very much. Um, I do have a couple of questions. Um, one is on here the means property kind of hits here at the end of Franklin right there. Do they have any claim on this or a chance to participate in that? They don't, but I'll have Stephen explain to you why. Okay. And then the other thing um is this part here road is turning into a pathway right in the plan for Avala when it all gets built and everything. This little portion that connects Elm to Washington. Um yes. Okay.

There's two Well, there's kind of two things I think to keep in mind. That and the area formally which would formally be known as Franklin Potter. Mhm. will actually become a private drive into a parking uh area for the ABA project. Correct. Will this property over here have access to it too? Access to the private drive? No. Okay. No. And they're they are that property is not um subject to private access. Right. So um for municipalities uh we have a requirement right

to provide access to every single property within the city right uh that access still remains uh to that property with the new connection as proposed. Okay another question on the same subject um so there there is a house here and there's another building back here. So with all this closed, it doesn't look like there's any access to this back building. Uh that act the access is to the property not we the city is not required to provide access building specific that is for the property owner to uh determine themselves.

Okay. So that's kind of a hard could be a hardship for them. I don't. Yeah, we don't believe so legally speaking. Okay. And then on the street part of the abandonment, are we I'm assuming it's going to Abala because their properties mostly connect. Um, so are we getting paid for it or are we doing a land swap or um is that

So when we bring the item back to you for disposition, assuming that the abandonment consideration is approved, it will be part of a package of property exchanges between the city and the development interest Advala Hedgehog and uh you know that exchange is governed by its own set of legal requirements um you know like the city cannot um uh exchange property that is valued higher than the property that it's receiving um so uh and so stay tuned for that but yes but Stephen do you want to explain the uh the the means means family property interest.

Sure. And if you need to look at this. Um well, so if I understand the property we're talking about that's owned by Mr. means it is to the west of the north south substandard portion of what appears to be a road called Elm or Potter and is used as a road but is actually in private ownership. So that you're saying this portion right here is under private ownership. The part that runs north and south connecting Elm to the yellow highlighted part is a road in the sense that people drive on it,

but it's not a road in the sense that the city does not own that. Okay. It's part of the private parcel that extends to the east there.

Okay. So my understanding is that Avala has that property under contract and that they don't intend to continue to allow that private property to be used for public transportation anyway. So what the city has in yellow is a deadend street that runs to the west from Olive. Um, the property that is further to the west there, my understanding is owned by Mr. Means, and that's what you asked about. And the specific question was, will he be offered an opportunity to purchase a portion of the uh, Potterfranklin rideway proposed for abandonment tonight? The answer is no. The reason is that's an east west rightway. And the way the disposition works is um the neighboring property owners are offered a chance to acquire the part that abuts their parcel between the center line of the rideway and their property. So if you draw a line down the middle of the yellow rectangle, you go north and south and those are the folks that are offered the property, not this uh property to the west because of the orientation of the like the the owner of the property where the dead end terminates just doesn't have that opportunity under the state.

law procedure for offering abandoned rideway property to the neighbors. It just seems like they're they're kind of getting surrounded. Well, yeah. I mean, they're getting I mean, you know, this is all private property under other than the yellow.

Yeah. And so those private property owners are exercising their property rights. I mean, I don't personally see that as a concern for the city primarily because well, number one, those folks have the opportunity to use their property. I mean, that's fundamental to the Georgia Constitution. Secondly, every property on this map will still front on a public street, including the one that we're speaking about, which has Elm Street to the north, and eventually that Elm Street will connect to the new Washington Street. No, that'll be part of Washington.

So, yeah, I mean, there's there will be a connection from Washington into Elm as it exists there um to the north of the parcel we were discussing. And then you know also regarding the back um the back structure shown on this tax map would it be considered a hardship that that back structure will not be able to exit and enter to the east where the abandoned rideway used to be. I mean, I I wouldn't categorize it that way. I think someone could. Um, you know, I have a and many people have a accessory dwelling unit in the rear of their residence and in order to access that you have to go to the public street in this case. So, I don't really see that as a hardship. guess perhaps in any

it just doesn't look like there's room to to put a drive in his property to go back there. But, you know, I understand. Yep. Questions,

Mr. Smith? Any questions, comments? uh not at this time. Uh thanks guys, Stephen, Patrick for the elaboration. That was very informative and thorough. Thank you. I uh also do know to to to provide y'all with a little more context um that uh there is an offer on the table uh to that property owner that would provide easy access to that side of the property. Okay. That's just not a city concern. Okay,

I get it. So, I'm going to make the motion. Um, let's see. Yeah, that's it. Okay. So, uh, do I have a motion to approve a resolution by the city of Aenddale states to abandon a portion of the right of way known as Franklin Street, a aka Potter Avenue, and to create a general utility easement? That was Lou. Do I have a second? Second. That was Graham. Any other questions, comments, Commissioner Smith? No, sir. Okay. All right. So, all in favor say I. I. I.

I. That was five. All right. Thank you. All right. So, that concludes the items we're voting on the business part of the regular meeting. Um, any closing comments? M manager. All good. All right. So, do I have a motion to adjurnn? So, moved. That was Laida. Do I have a second? Second. That was Graham. All in favor say I. I. I. All right. So, with our new process, we're going to take a 10-minute break. We're going to reconvene down at the table for the work session. I realize the seating arrangement is not ideal. Did we get any mics?

Maybe we can do something about that in the future. No, we don't. We we we are still trying to figure out a solution to that need. Okay.

Well, this is pretty Thank you.

All right. This is city of middle states board of mayor commissioners. This is our work session. Uh it's April 15, 2026. It's now what's that? 6:15. 6:15. I'd like to call the meeting to order. Uh before we get started, I've had a request to move item number six up to the top of the agenda. Um do I have a motion to move item six to the Maya? Do I have a second? All say I. Okay. So um do I have a motion to adopt the agenda as submitted? So move that was do say I. I.

Okay. Off we go. So our first item is actually number six. Uh review the view of an between city and downtown development authority and transfer funding for the purpose of completing Washington Street. Hello.

Yes. Uh thank you Mr. Mayor. Um, so we we've kind of teed up some of this in our regular meeting tonight as we discussed the um, you know, kind of the plan or the steps that need to be taken in order to facilitate the construction of the Washington Street Extension. Uh, per our street grid. Um the Washington Street Extension uh has been deemed the highest priority of the remaining connections and to that end we have provided for uh monies in our capital program for several years to facilitate that construction. uh now that uh the development interest known as Avala Hedgewood has proposed uh you know their their development um uh which is of course located on two sites uh of blight in our community and uh valued at an estimated $350 million of investment. Uh they have um as a part of the process agreed to construct infrastructure that will be dedicated to the city and available to the public for public use in a number of places on the two development sites. And we've talked about these before. Uh um the public infrastructure that the city and DDA

have contemplated providing funding for are um the creation of the new east west thoroughare at the very north end of the Oak Street site uh which we have referred to in the past as new street. uh the storm water uh detention amenity located in the northwest corner of the Oak Street site uh which will not only provide to contain all storm water runoff from their development site but also storm water runoff uh in that is from other areas of the downtown. Um so that amenity will be a public good that that helps us address storm water runoff um in areas outside of the development site. Uh and that's another project for which we have uh contemplated to provide funding. The third piece the third major piece of infrastructure of course is the aforementioned Washington street. At one point in time, uh, the thought was that the best location, um, for the Washington Street Connection would be at a property located north of the proposed Maple Development site, uh, property that is, um, currently owned by Mr. Joe Garulo. uh we actually went through a process to attain the value of that site um in order to facilitate an offer for acquisition. However, during the course of that process uh we learned from um uh engineers that the cost to construct the

Washington Street Extension on that property would be rather prohibitive um because of the grade. So, Avala Hedgewood uh came back to us and proposed constructing that uh that uh piece of roadway upon their own property and then of course upon completion dedicating that to the city. That's the third piece of the contribution puzzle. Right. So, um the the the the the proposed contribution or the request from the development interest that we've talked about at various stages um is a $7.2 million request to assist with the construction of those three things. Okay.

7.2 million total. Correct. From the city DDA and grants

just the city DDA. So here and of that 7.2 um 5 million of that is proposed to be directed to the entity for that construction via the DDA from the TAD source. The remaining 2.2 2 was uh uh theorized to be a contribution from the city uh given that we had held funds available for that purpose in our capital program for a while and now it's it is time to execute. So, the DDA recently, uh, it's been several months now, um, entered into a, uh, a an agreement, uh, to disperse the $5 million in TAD collections through, um, a given date um, for the purposes of making sure that these infrastructure projects happen. and the city would then transfer its contribution to the DDA for the purpose of the DDA executing the contract with the developer to provide for that infrastructure. Um what we're proposing here tonight is the legislative document governing the transfer of those resources from the city to the DDA for the purposes of making that happen. The DDA approved the IG unanimously at their meeting last night. So the only remaining thing that needs to happen in order to execute this transfer would be the approval from the

the BOMC uh which is scheduled for consideration at our next meeting next Wednesday night. Okay. Now, previously, and I and I I want to be clear about this, the DDA had agreed, but there is no contractual agreement in place, right? This is more like a agree to at one point make a contractual agreement to execute this which is to provide financial resources to assist with the completion of the city's market pavilion located at the town grid. The cost of which was $780,000. this legislative document that y'all have received, uh, which is an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the DDA, um, acknowledges that the DDA had previously agreed to commit those funds for that purpose. Um, so instead of the city transferring $2.2 2 million in cash to the DDA. The city would transfer through the bounds of this document $2.2 million less than the 780,000 that the DDA had proposed to commit to the market. This agreement is the record of that consideration. So if executed by you guys at our following meeting, the city would transfer 1.42 million in splice 2 funds

to the DDA to ex to facilitate the construction of the Washington Street Extension. Those funds are already budgeted and splashed in two line items. One is the Washington Street Extension line item. The other is Franklin Street. Now, Franklin Street and the monies contained therein was for a match component if we were to obtain a transportation alternatives grant for the purpose of the of completing that shared street concept over seven blocks in the downtown. The DDA has also graciously uh unanimously uh approved distributing the 20% required local match to that grant via TAD funds. So there is no longer a need for the city to use those funds it had previously budgeted for that purpose. That is that it what's that

matching which grant? the transportation alternatives grant.

Correct. So we have currently available for transfer an amount in our budget not not associated with other projects of four of 1.44 million. And what we're proposing tonight is a transfer of 1.42 for 2 million and therefore uh not requiring any uh additional legislative appropriation if you will of those monies as they are already available for that source. Uh, in addition, and I believe I I I'll use this opportunity to remind you now, um, that when we bonded those Splast proceeds, uh, what we committed to the, um, in the deal was that, uh, we would reasonably expect to expend 85% of those bonded proceeds by October of 2027. this transfer gets us well on our way to meeting that requirement. Um, so and that requirement only pertains to those proceeds that were bonded, not to the additional 2 million that the county uh um distributed to the city via an IG. Um, so um this is coming from borrow.

Well, yes, that is correct. So, the way that that splast bonding process works, of course, is you're allowed to bond uh as much money as you expect to collect through that legislative process or that legislative agreement, which was an IGA between all of the municipalities and cab county. Um, and so that allowed us to bond a pro, I think it was like $3.8 million. Um, so This would be a portion of that 3.8 which we have also uh invested uh and because as a small issuer uh we were allowed to collect interest on the proceeds to offset the interest that we would otherwise have to incur to make the debt payment. So it's really a zero sum aura or actually we come I think we're going to come out on the plus but regardless the 1.42 42 proposed to be transferred in this IGA comes from SPLAS 2 if executed goes to the DDA. The DDA then distributes that money to the development entity for the express purpose of building this road. And there are uh or will be um criteria in a in a contract between the development entity and the DDA that uh specifies how the development entity will receive those funds, when it will receive those funds, and the requirements they have to meet in order to uh invoice the DDA for those funds. I I Shannon Dave, you know, did I miss anything? I just want to make sure that all of our bases are covered there. Stephen, that sound good? That sounded

accurate to me. The IGA is simply the vehicle by which funds can be transferred to the DDA 1.42 million and those funds are then you know they have to be dedicated to the development entity based on whatever terms we finalize. That's all the IG.

Okay, I have questions. Okay, thank you. Um, okay. So, why is the DDA managing this instead of the city?

The facilitation of the construction. uh because the DDA can enter into a contract with the developer to execute that project where the city is not um legally uh capable of doing that. It would have to bid out the project and the public works project that's governed by state law. So this facilitates the ability of the developer who is already going to be in the area and mobilize to perform the infrastructure construction and thus save the city and or DDA the public taxpayer money um and assure u quality to spec u for the purposes of of the development.

Okay. Yeah. Thank you. Um, so now basically I mean is is there a specific project manager? Are we just turning over these lump sums of 5 million and 2.2 to Abala? Are we going to get progress reports on, you know, expenditures and how this money is being spent? It's all public funds. Um, I'd like to see that incorporated into the IG that we will get these rece you know the these kind of uh information uh back uh so that the board knows how and the public knows how the money is being spent. Um I'd like you know clear transparency on on the project. Okay. So that wouldn't be an IDA

clause. However, um all of those expectations will be included and contemplated in the agreement between the DDA and the development entity. Have they already done a development agreement?

They have not. So this is step one. So the de can't do a development agreement till you have the money. Um so step one would be to transfer the money. Step two, if that happens, is the DDA will um enter into a contract with the developer for the express purpose of making sure that the the infrastructure gets built the way we want, how we want, in the right time, at the right quality, all that jazz that will be in their contract and it's on a reimbursement basis. So the developer has uh certain milestones that they have to accomplish as judged by a qualified neutral third party before they get reimbursed for the work.

Okay. And we're going to receive reporting on all this. Yes, indeed. Yeah, this is why I'm concerned about turning over our, you know, our oversight and and everything to the DDA and um with it being a public street and everything, I I hate to relinquish

um it is integrated because the reviewer would be safe though. So, we're doing the review on the planning design review side. So that is a city document and a city requirement and then that comes to the DDA as a reporting mechanism so that we know whether to reimburse them but that they have to go through that process in two different ways

and I I am more than happy to provide the board with regular updates on all those processes. I think maybe one way to think of it is that the DA is handling the money aspect, but the city the city is still fully involved in the actual work like Shannon said. But where where are those guarantees?

Well, it's also in the docu. Yeah, it's in the zoning code and it's in the development agreement with between the DDA and the developer which says first you got to build it. Then the city's building official safe build has to look at it and confirm that you did it the way you're supposed to according to our adoptive criteria and then you get reimbursed. So that's actually that's actually a really important point because it it while the agreement is still being finalized that being was really important to us that approval that yes you know this has been built yes it's okay that's a decision that we would strongly prefer to rely on the city's representative to say so that was a big deal to us to

yeah Not to mention that's the back end. On the front end, they have to go through that process for approval for a permit to begin the work to do the work. And all that aspect would be the same if the city and the DDA were paid nothing. If this was just a private subdivision, they'd have to submit the plans, get them approved, build it, get the work approved before we would accept the program. So, all that's still happening.

Okay. There this is this is a lot. uh you know because you know for me to feel comfortable you know that I understand what's going on. Um I just uh I I I I'd like some kind of Well, I'd like to see a full plan of the project with the Washington Street in it is attached. Well, no. That's only a portion. That's only the portion. So, are we just paying for that portion of Franklin? Washington. Washington. You mean the the the portion that's outlined in that site plan that's attached to the IGA? Yes, that's correct.

Okay. But the whole project is what about the list of the Washington Street project? You mean the the shared streets? Is that what it that's a completely different project? No, I'm talking about uh Well, Washington Streets coming from Larredo all the way to here. Yeah. And I don't see that. Um that is not part of that project. That's already who's paying for that project that it already did. Wait a minute. I don't think you can talk about the same thing. What are you talking about?

I'm talking about the complete Washington Street. So Washington Street starts at Laredo. It winds through the our entire downtown and it meets up here. This is just a small section. That's the section that they're constructing. The rest of the Washington Street already exists, but improvements will be made to it. The uh completely separate project, which is the which is the shared street project that is that is funded by the transportation alternative. Are you affirming the new the new street that's running? No, I I know what she's talking about. Okay. Yeah. Well, this covers just that. So, from what was that again? Olive.

Olive. Yeah, right there. Some of this exists, but it'll get rebuild. That's new, right? I get that. That's part of what a bad Well, we just did the band right away. So, this covers this. Yeah. I just feel like we're looking at it in pieces when it would be nice to see the whole We can't though because we don't have approval rights. So, you you got instead. I do not have approval rights on Washington when it's our street. No, you're okay. If y'all allow me to explain you, Kathy, please. We can only get this part done now. I mean, this will get done in the future, but I mean,

it's a it's a completely different project. You can't take the two of them. Yeah. Okay. So, the 7.2 million is just for this se the 2.2 just for that. It's just for the Washington Street Extension. The remainder is TAD funds which are controlled by the DDA. Yeah. Which will be governed by an agreement between the developer and the DDA. But this is still I mean we still have control because we've got it in our street grid. We've got a topology defined. I mean

we still effectively will control the construction of that. It's just it has to happen in pieces. That's just how all of it's happen. Well, I just want to be clear that that's a building of a brand new segment of road. The other thing that we're talking about that is a completely separate project that has nothing to do with Ada Edgewood. No, it's outside of the property that they own outside of their projects. No, it's just improvement of existing street funded by the transportation attorneys which we will handle. It's a city which is completely city.

Is that grant enough with a 20% match to do what y'all need to do there? I mean, is the city going to be on the hook for any more than this 2.2 million? I mean, what if what if things cost more than we think? I mean, who who bears that?

Well, the developer does. We have we are just essentially agreeing to provide a portion of the cost to build this stuff. Um the developer estimates that the cost of all of the public infrastructure that they're building to be three times this amount. So they're essentially putting in 14 million and we're putting in seven and the collective public infrastructure to be built is 21 million. And that includes storm water facilities, not just streets. Yeah. And what about utilities?

Yes. and utility relocate Georgia coach. That's included in the 21 million. That's included in the seven um well that's for that section. What about the rest of it's all cover? Okay.

Just not the other Washington like what I'm trying to say is what you're talking about now. The monies that we're talking about now in this IGA are only for infrastructure improvements on the two development sites. Any improvements outside the development sites themselves would have to be undertaken by us using a different means. and the Washington Street, Franklin Street, uh, uh, uh, Pine Street, seven block section of the shared street is a separate thing that is being funded through different means and handled exclusively by the Senate. Has nothing to do with that.

Um, okay. Um, I wanted to make a comment about the netting of the 780. I mentioned that number, but I feel like it should be very clear that the DDA gave us the 7780,000 and then we transferred 2.2 million. I think that that is the proper way to show it. Otherwise, you know, down the road, somebody just makes the city put in 1.4 or whatever. So, I would like to see those transactions handled separately. Well, here's the thing. We there's no legislative document. Essentially, the DDA's agreement for the 780 is a gentleman's agreement. Now, did they

was a budget allocated the capital budget amount, but it does not appear on our books. So, that's why there is no need to do a two from and then another two from, but it's public record. I mean, we talked about written in this this kind of qualifies it approximates it whatever you want to say it makes it I'm talking about the accounting records uh you know u

right but those it's not on our books there's no need to account for it because there is no record legislative record other than a budgeting agreement for that money to be distributed back to the city so there's no need to account for it on the books it's accounted for in this document legislatively and will be facilitated and th this language will be facilitated by the 1.42 bank transfer from the city.

Um so uh what else did I have? Um so on the on the you know procurement aspect or you know th those kind of activities are the DDA is the DDA um bound by our city policies financial policies policies

no that's what I was that's what I was trying to explain earlier so if the city were to construct this segment of right? Then it would have to bid the project out per the terms of the state code. The DBA is not subjected to that same legal requirement. The DBA can enter into a contract with an entity that it chooses and that's what happens here. And the reason for it again is because it is twofold. one, the development entity is is proposing to construct a whole bunch of public infrastructure. Right.

Right. And and they're already mobilized to do it. And because of that, the cost to build the infrastructure is reduced from us having to bid it out and then remobilize a different crew, especially while they're out there working themselves. It becomes a real logistical nightmare. So that's why we're proposing having the DDA facilitate this work. And we're seem to be in a hurry to move this money to the DDA. Why? So we could begin the work.

Because they're ready. They won't begin until they have a development agreement. And we can't do the development agreement until they get the money. Yeah. Why? Why do they have to have the money to get the development agreement? Well, I mean, you it's hard to execute a development agreement if we haven't first made available the funds that would be accessed through the agreement itself. The agreement would if we weren't able to give the funds, the agreement would be invalid. Okay.

Um, and yes, they want to begin very soon. um they are getting ready to submit their land disturbance permit to the county and uh just to let you know I I can't remember if you're touched on it already but the entity uh would like to build this public infrastructure at the very onset of of the construction of the project so that it'll come first. Um, okay. I have one request. Um, I since we are having a meeting in just a week, I would request that we have one more work session on this before we take it to a vote.

I do not recommend based on our timeline. Um, I don't know if are are any of you uncomfortable with any of this? Um, no, we've been talking about aspects of this for a long time. Talking about more specifics of it recently. I'm I'm with it. And um, you know, in my mind, we've we've been working on this for years. It has changed a lot.

No, but we've been able put something in B 12 years ago almost. I didn't like that.

But but that doesn't matter. I mean, we've been working with them for 12 years to get here and um I think this is very well thought out. It's I can't even imagine how many hours it's been talking about. I'm I'm excited about it. I do not think we're moving too fast. I don't think we're moving too slow. I think we're moving forward. We're very thoughtfully, intelligently, moderately skilled. And I I'll add to that too. uh you know we've got a working group which is everybody involved in the project meet weekly that includes Stephen and Kyle and their attorney. So I mean all of the heads have been placed on this. We considered all of the options, consequences, unintended consequences, costs, you know, all

I get that, but I think my my thing is is that I think the public is it may not be aware of all of that because y'all are having those discussions and they're not in public. So, in order for the public to feel comfortable with what they're do, what we are doing, I think it's important that they have the opportunity to hear all this stuff and we're in public. Well, we are, but this is the first that's come up. That's not true. What? We've discussed in at least two open DDA meeting. Well, that's DDA meetings. I know just to let you know, we Okay. But what was when was last night? was last time.

But we've also been discussing elements of all of this for multiple years. I understand. But tying it together is Yeah. I mean, this is not any different than what Avala has already proposed to the public. I mean, it's all nothing's changed. This is just the mechanism by which we execute. There's no B there's no bait switch here. Oh, I'm not suggesting that. I, you know, I just am all about transparency and people understanding what's going on.

Well, I don't like that word being used because there is nothing here that has not been transparent. And when you say something like that, it implies Well, I didn't mean to imply that. Okay. But it but it does. But what I'm talking about is I think it's been talked about more in pieces than comprehensively. And that way people can't really tie it necessarily all them. I mean I'm new to the board so I haven't had been a part of some of these discussions and stuff. So I'm not saying anything's being hit. That is not what I'm suggesting out. It has a lot more to do with just understanding it.

And I and I hear you and we will endeavor um to keep y'all incredibly informed with every step taken so that y'all are not um ignorant or blindsided by anything. Uh, one of the reasons we have to do it in pieces is just that's how the law works. We can't do it all at one swoop.

All right. So, uh, we will vote on this in a week. Yes. questions, comments before we move on to the next and and uh Commissioner Stein just for maybe some ease of mind you know next Friday at our strategic session we will be given a very comprehensive look at options for financial resources um you know we have the leg to worry about you've got I mean the the dam

just depends on Yeah, I we'll we'll we'll get into all that. Okay, so just close the slide. Everybody good? I'm good. All right. So, just so everybody knows, we will be voting on item number six, the IGA. We've just been discussing uh at the next meeting, which is on 22nd. Okay. Good. Thank you. All right. So the next item is item number three for updates in the city's final six.

Yeah. And really and truly uh items four and five can be looked at as kind of a package. So um every so often and we've seen this before three and four

formerly three and four they are now four and five. Um so uh every so often um there are updates to policies and laws uh that we are required to affirm or adopt in order to receive uh grant awards from certain entities. One of those entities that we frequently collaborate with and seek grant funding from is JA. Um and G dot of course gets a lot of their funding from the federal government and so they have to adhere to them. Uh so in order for them to continue to distribute funds including funds that we already have been awarded i.e. the transportation alternatives grant which we talked about multiple times. um in order for those to be released to us for the purposes of executing those projects, we have to affirm these policies and laws. The first is to affirm that we will remain in our bid procedure uh compliance with federal title six of for uh non-discriminatory purposes. Uh and you all been provided the language that we are affirming. um in the two documents that are attached to those two items. The second uh is affirming that we would adhere to the language contained in G dot's procurement scheme. So they're both related to procurement of contracting or execution of construction following receipt of grant. So basically, you know, if we're bidding projects out, we're not saying, you

know, uh, we're only going to give this project to, you know, white people, lack of a better explanation. Were there any changes to it or is it still reaffirming? It's just reaffirming them. So our government policy is in in line with this already. Is that what you say? Yeah. So we throughout the history of the city in order to receive these funds we have at periods of time had had to affirm that we would adhere to their policy. That's all business because we just got all this DOT money, right? And after correct assumed we would have we got all the Okay. If we want to continue to get cheap money in the future, we got to do this.

Okay. Yeah. It's just largely perform. Okay. But we do it here. Let's let's be really clear about that. So um to really well per this agenda items three and four will be voting on this next meet correct. All right. So that really covers those two items. Yes.

Is that good? Uh so moving on to item number five which is really item number six u agreement to grant power to use but for utility infrastructure and just to reaffirm I mean just to reiterate we're going to vote on that April 22nd these two items and procurement and title six. That's right. Okay. So last item.

Yes. Okay. So I think we touched on this when I was given the update at the last meeting to um the Georgia Power grid integrity work. So just to kind of rep provide context, um the circuit that provides power to um the south side of the hedge and adjacent neighborhoods is among the bottom cortile in reliability in the country. And to that end, uh the the federal government has said, "Y'all need to various power companies across the nation uh uh fix this and so and start with the bottom port." And then so the public service commission of Georgia has authorized the distribution of funds to Georgia Power for this express purpose. And so they in order to um bring the the circuit up to snuff are undergrounding the main service line that provides power via through this. And that main service line essentially runs the length of Wiltshire um from Memorial to Horus. And so in order to accomplish what they wanted to do, um they had to obtain easements from private property owners along the service line location and an easement from us along the service line location. And what the easement does is allow them to work in an area to perform the undergrounding and relocation of

transformer apparati uh to to strengthen the um so what you have before you now is a easement an an easement agreement from Georgia Power to be made with the city to provide for um easement access uh to place transform formers uh to um um assist with the project execution and in in in exchange for granting this easement uh Georgia Power will provide us with

um just the two spots right here and here like it's the corner of Wilshire and Lake Shore and then just that drive. Yeah, it's just it's just this backwards like this is where the chim and then the corner just three. It's three three

collaboration with them. But yeah, we're concerned. Let me rephrase that. We're aware, right? We're not concerned because we're not going to let them do. It's been It's been attempted before. for me to call that out. But uh I have had they aren't they do not want to do that. So they're they are then they have to fix those. So um I think that we're they're all on the same page with us. So we're going to have a conversation.

I was just you know and I'm all for putting utilities underground. I wish they'd done that 50 years ago, but uh I'm happy that they're strengthening the grid because we do have frequent joking. You hear the one transformer go and you're like, "Okay, there's the second one, there's the third one's out."

Well, yeah. I mean we have uh you know among the bottom 25% of power customers in the country in terms of reliability and reliability means duration and frequency of outers. Okay. So you guys comfortable with this good any stuff will be this job

and the rest of it is going they have to go through the whole pering system. They got a list of 700 things they have already. So it's a process but what this is and and they need this in order to finish what they want to do. here. Okay, that's Wilshire. That's the damn right. They mislead these screens and they have the north arrow and point the wrong way. Now, that's just me being picky. Louis, you

That's right. That's north. Yeah. No, north is correct. That's Berkeley. That's like and the north is going opposite direction. I mean that person. Well, sorry. It's just like is this am I am I like I don't