3/18/2024 Meeting Preview
You’ll see below the agenda highlights for our second meeting in March. I’ve added information from the council agenda memos and background on items that may be of particular interest. You can watch the meeting on the city’s Facebook or YouTube pages. Our meetings are on the first and third Mondays of the month. Workshop session begins at 6:00 pm; regular session begins at 7:30 pm; executive session takes place at the conclusion of the regular session.
You can access the full agenda packets here.
We welcome your attendance at our meetings and public comment is available near the start of the meeting, before any actions are taken. You can sign up to speak if you’re at the meeting in person, or you can submit an e-mail with your name, address, and comment or remark to pcomment@collegeparkga.com no later than 7:30 pm on March 18, 2024. The City Clerk will read your name, address and comment into the official record. If you have feedback for Mayor and Council directly, you can e-mail us.
Workshop Session
1. Mayor & Council's FY2024-2025 Budget Initiatives
From staff: The purpose of this workshop is to review the Proposed FY2024-2025 Budget, focusing on current departmental capital and personnel requests. The goal is to provide the Council with an understanding of these requests to align the budget with the community's needs and the Council's priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. The session will cover an overview of the proposed budget, detailed discussions on departmental requests, and a platform for Council members to outline their initiatives and priorities. This discussion is important to shape a budget that reflects both the Council's vision and addresses key community concerns.
This discussion will include further detail on the Interim City Manager’s directive to departments to make a 6% cut. I am looking forward to learning more about the rationale behind this move.
2. South Fulton Stops on Clayton Southlake MARTA BRT Route
From staff: Colleen Kiernan, MARTA Assistant General Manager, External Affairs will present information to the Mayor and City Council on the Clayton Southlake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project regarding the original alignment and the result of a direct Airport connection.
Ms. Kiernan will also discuss plans in anticipation of the closure of the Airport station for six weeks starting in April, along with safety concerns that have developed recently at the College Park Station.
3. 360 Total Marketing Presentation
From staff: We did not renew the contract for Hemsworth Communications. Therefore we need a temporary PR firm to assist with city wide Public Relations.
Hemsworth Communications had a yearly contract of $45,600 for their PR work. 360 Degree Total Marketing has developed a proposal for on-boarding, which includes historical data development, a communications plan and media training for the governing body and department heads that would be $18,000.
They estimate additional charges of $10,000-$15,000 per month for the first 90 days, which would include:
1. Minimum of 2 media pitches per month
2. Weekly or bi-weekly meetings
3. Media monitoring & reports
4. Situational advice and strategies
5. 2 reactive message crafts per month
6. Advice on promotion of in-house agendas
The maximum charge for 90 days based on the scope of work would be $63,000.
REGULAR SESSION
Note: I anticipate we will have at least one item added to the agenda: Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Fulton County to conduct election services for the Municipal Option Sales Tax referendum approved at our last meeting. There is no additional cost to the City for this IGA, however the IGA must be formally adopted by the City. You can read the proposed IGA here.
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5. Presentation Of Minutes Of City Council
We have eight sets of minutes to approve going back to January.
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7. Public Hearing
A. Public Hearing for consideration of and action on a Conditional Use Permit application from United Scrap Metal at 2539 Sullivan Road (Parcel ID 13 0036 LL1240) in Ward 2 to allow for a private transloading metal recycling facility serving Georgia Power.
From staff and the applicant:
The applicant is requesting to use the property to store electric utility material from Georgia Power in response to emergency storm restoration, field operations and in support of grid modernization projects. The applicant is in the process of securing a business license to operate as a container storage facility until the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application and approval process is complete. An approved CUP is necessary for the applicant to convert the vacated facility to a metal recycling and transloading operation of the recovered Georgia Power materials in order to serve the needs of Georgia Power in improvement of service provision.
The property has been vacant for the last three years. There are no residential neighborhoods in the immediate vicinity within a 1000 foot diameter from the subject site and therefore no resident population that would be impacted by the proposed use.
Staff recommends APPROVAL of a CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT to allow for use of 2539 Sullivan Road as a metal recycling/transloading facility, in addition to the current use of the subject M2 (heavy industrial) property as a Georgia Power materials storage facility, subject to the following conditions:
1. The City Planner recommends the removal of concrete within portions of the required front setback and installation of landscaped buffers to improve compatibility with the M2 along Sullivan Road in front of the subject property and screen the proposed storage uses and dismantling areas from Sullivan Road. A landscape plan will be required to be submitted as a condition of issuance of the permit.
2. Landscaped islands and lighting poles shall be installed in the interior of the parking lot to provide proper lighting and minimize large areas of unshaded pavement.
8. Other Business
A. Consideration of and action on a request to amend the date of the Mayor and City Council meeting from Monday, May 20, 2024 to Wednesday, May 22, 2024. This item is being requested by the Interim City Manager Dr. Emmanuel Adediran. This will impact all Wards.
I am not aware of the reason for this change. I asked the Interim City Manager what scheduling conflict led to this request but he has not provided that information to date.
B. Consideration of and action on a request to purchase ten OpenGate Magnetometers for venue security purposes at the Gateway Center Arena. This is a request from GICC, Gateway Arena and Historic Golf Course Executive Director Mercedes Miller. This is in Ward 2. This is a budgeted item.
From staff: This increases our monitoring capabilities and the security staff's ability to move patrons securely and effectively into the facility. The OpenGate System was selected over Evolv and Garrison Systems, as it best suits the needs of the Arena both functionally and cost effectively. CEIA USA, the vendor selected, best meets our requirements.
The Arena used the General Services Administration's (GSA) Federal Supply Service to compare products. The OpenGate System replacement will enable the security staff to increase weapon detection and identify prohibited items as sanctioned by the NBA and the WNBA. This purchase is mandatory in order to meet NBA requirements. The Evolv and Garrison systems considered did not meet the criteria. The budgeted amount for this purchase is $200,000. CEIA has quoted $176,487.00.
Staff recommends approval.
C. Consideration of and action to accept Fulton County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award park improvements in the amount of $214,125 for Phillips Park basketball court in Ward 4. This is a request from Department of Recreation and Cultural Arts Director Michelle Johnson. This is a budgeted item.
From staff: On July 17, 2024 the City of College Park Mayor and Council approved the bid award from S.T. English in the amount of $336,632.15 to build the Charles E. Phillips Park basketball court. Funding for the project was provided by Fulton County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the amount of $214,125 for park improvements and with car rental tax funds in the amount of $150,000.
Accepting the CDBG award and signing the contract will allow the City of College Park to submit for reimbursement for the $214,125 for this approved project.
Staff recommends approval.
D. Consideration of and action on a request for approval to purchase one (1) set of Jaws of Life extrication tools for the Fire Department. This is a request from Fire Chief Wade Elmore recommending Municipal Emergency Services, Inc. (MES) at a total approximate cost to the City of $38,313.85. This will serve all Wards. This is a budgeted item.
From staff: This purchase includes Hurst Jaws of Life extrication tools consisting of a cutter, spreader, ram, six (6) batteries, and three (3) chargers. We are also requesting to use Municipal Emergency Services (MES) as the selected vendor per the Sourcewell membership which provides national piggyback pricing for goods and services. eDraulic Jaws of Life tools are used to extricate victims from vehicle entrapments during accidents and structure fires where burglar bars are present. The new eDRAULIC® spreaders’ enhanced performance makes it 16% lighter than the previous models and gives 14% more power than its predecessor making rescues much quicker. This equipment will be housed on the new ladder truck currently being manufactured and will be available for use citywide providing impact coverage to all four wards.
Staff recommends approval.
E. Consideration of and action on a request to purchase a Fire Department Command Vehicle purchase of a 2024 Chevy Silverado at state contract pricing from Hardy Fleet Group in the amount of $49,542.80, plus $25,072.80 to complete the 1st responder's package for a total cost of $66,372.80. This is a request from Fire Chief Wade Elmore. This will serve all Wards. This is a partially budgeted item.
From staff: This recommendation includes a request of approval by Mayor & Council to utilize existing budgetary funding to provide the cost difference in the purchase price increase of the vehicle and items needed to outfit it as a 1st responder unit (paint, camper and cabinets for equipment storage, light & siren package, radios and departmental markings/decals). The department budgeted for the purchase of a new vehicle based on a standard state contract pick-up truck capable of carrying necessary tools and equipment for the command officer to operate on an emergency scene. The selected vehicle chassis will be upgraded by a third party vendor to paint, provide decals, emergency lighting & sirens, install radios and cabinet work on the vehicle for operation. The approved budget of $41,300.00 was for 2023 pricing. The fleet inventories were depleted and due to supply chain issues, 2024 costs were unavailable until December 2023, and upon receipt, price increases were applied. As the Command Unit, this vehicle will be utilized Citywide providing impact coverage to all four wards.
$41,300.00 was budgeted for this purchase; the total cost is $66,372.80, leaving a balance of $25,072.80 that is unbudgeted.
Staff recommends approval; I am unclear at this point if the funding to cover the unbudgeted amount would come from within the department from a separate line item or if it would come from another source such as the general fund.
F. Consideration of and action on a request to approve replacement purchases of units 289 and 290, for two Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vehicles for Storm Water from Hardy Automotive Fleet Group under State Contract at a total cost of $87,950.00 under the 2022 - 2023 current budget. This is a request from Raymond Cotton, Highway, Streets and Storm Water Superintendent. The will serve all Wards. This is a budgeted item.
From staff: The 2002 Ford F-150, specifically unit #290, is 22 years old and has 83,789 miles on it. This truck was powered by natural gas, which made finding replacement parts quite challenging. Many of the necessary components were either obsolete, difficult to locate, or very expensive due to the vehicle’s unique fuel system. Unfortunately, the cost of maintaining this aging natural gas vehicle now exceeds its operational value.
Similarly, unit #289 is a 27-year-old vehicle with 142,713 miles. It faces similar issues when it comes to finding suitable replacement parts. In contrast, the new 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 offers a more cost-effective solution. By minimizing repair expenses and maintenance costs associated with older vehicles, these vehicles can save money in the long run.
Staff recommends approval.
G. Consideration of and action on a request to purchase a replacement vehicle for the Water & Sewer Division from Griffin Chevrolet in the amount of $49,300.00. This a request from Tim Lewis, Public Works. This will serve all wards. This is a budgeted item.
From staff: The Department of Public Works, Sewer Division is requesting a 2024 Chevrolet 1500 4X4 Pick-up truck for the Sewer Superintendent, utilizing the State of Georgia Contract pricing for purchase. This vehicle is utilized for meeting with contractors and taking care of city business and picking up material for the division.
Staff recommends approval.
