Milton News from Julie Zahner Bailey

Dear Milton Citizens, Friends and Neighbors -

Summer is in full swing.  The 4th of July is just around the corner and your City of Milton will have its' first July 4th citizens parade.  Families and children are encouraged to decorate their bikes, wagons and horses and join in the fun.  The parade starts tomorrow, Friday July 4th at 10:00 at City Hall. 

Great news too, regarding tax dollars coming back to Milton from Fulton County soon.  Thanks to the Schaefer Amendment, in combination with legislation passed this year, funds from the North Fulton Special Services Districts which were dissolved with the creation of the new cities of Johns Creek and Milton, will be coming back to Milton to benefit its taxpayers.  Exact figures are being finalized, but an estimated $4-$5 million in funds will be returned to Milton and will be a part of the next budgeting cycle whereby citizens can help determine how their tax dollars should be allocated.  Thanks to our North Fulton Delegation and everyone involved who helped ensure these dollars are coming back to Milton to benefit the areas from where the taxes were paid.  On July 2 the Fulton County Commission voted to release these funds in line with the legislation.  

City of Milton meetings and forward movement on a variety of topics continues.  Last week our Bike and Pedestrian Committee continued their work on the much desired Milton Trail network; the new Tree Commission met to kick-off efforts tied to revising a Milton specific Tree Preservation Ordinance; the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee (CPAC) met Monday as the important Comprehensive Land Use Planning (CLUP) update process continues; the Milton Disability Awareness Committee met to further their efforts on behalf of all citizens; and the Milton Grows Green Committee met to further their efforts and recommendations re: Milton "going green" (which includes recycling, water, air and energy conservation, an adopt-a-road program, possible development standard reviews for encouraging "green" approaches where possible). Meanwhile, the Mayor and Council continue with their regularly scheduled Council meetings and work sessions as noted in the right margin. A Special Called Work Session re: the issuance of permits on Highway 9 for the Sembler project specifically takes place Thursday, July 3rd. See right margin.

Given the sensitivity to the issue of sewer, please scroll down for a general summary of my position on the subject of sewer vs. no-sewer, maintaining the lower density, more residential and equestrian/agricultural elements of our special community while also balancing the needs of the existing and growing commercial areas of Milton.  My position remains consistent with those citizens and stakeholders I pledged to represent when you elected me to City Council and as reflected in the survey results from across Milton.  As always, I welcome and encourage your input on this important issue as the City of Milton moves towards a more defined policy surrounding sewer.

The importance of this issue on all that is Milton highlights how critical it is that all citizens continue to stay tuned, stay involved and continue to voice your desires and expectations on this critical topic - and related issues -- given the pressures surrounding this topic and the potential resulting higher density have not gone away, but instead remain very much present.  A transparent government requires open discussions with the public fully apprised and engaged.  Links to some recent articles on this topic also are provided.  A summary of upcoming meetings and the various layers of this issue also are outlined below in an effort to keep you informed.  

There is much great work underway in Milton on many fronts.  We have much to be proud of and most importantly should be thankful for the terrific citizens that make this community what it is - a truly unique place to call home!

I hope the information within this release is helpful.  And as always, I consider it an honor and a serious responsibility to represent your interests.  

Happy early 4th of July!
 
All my best,

Community Survey Results

Almost 3,000 of you returned the community surveys.  Thank you!  This was an important part of the Comprehensive Land Use Planning process.  Results of the survey as provided by the consultant, BRPH, indicate that the majority (well over 87%) of those who responded wanted to maintain the no-sewer policies and the lower density way of life provided within the City of Milton. 

This citizen specific input in addition to the visioning sessions is invaluable in affirming, again, the expectations of our community on topics ranging from density and land use, to infrastructure and design sensitive approaches for those commercial areas already in existence. Please view the survey results by using this link.

Milton 4th of July Parade

Milton residents are invited to join in the fun on Friday, July 4 as the City hosts its very first parade.

The parade route will begin at City Hall at 10am., and will proceed along Deerfield Parkway.

Decorate your bikes, wagons and pets and come help us celebrate our nation's birthday!

Sewer vs. No-sewer

My pledge to you has been and continues to be that I will work hard every day to uphold the long standing no-sewer policies where appropriate as we endeavor to protect and preserve the unique characteristics of Milton while also appropriately planning for the future of our collective community.  And, of course, there are areas where limited public sewer is appropriate in very defined areas and in areas where it is available now. However, those areas must be better defined in legal terms and not left to creative interpretation.  As such, Milton is in the process of reaffirming the sewer vs. no-sewer policies in a variety of ways including specific permit reviews, the current Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Fulton County re: sewer service delivery areas, the potential of a revised IGA and an overall sewer/no-sewer policy for all of Milton.

Below are a few more details on the various layers of this issue:

• Special Called Work Session - Thursday, July 3, 3:00 p.m. - Review permits for Sembler development only.

• Milton needs to address certain properties along Highway 9 that are at various stages of permitting.  Certain of these properties may not be included in the current Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Fulton County.  Therefore, Milton has to evaluate options for these narrowly defined properties and how to balance legally certain permit requests with the need to uphold the long standing no sewer policies while also allowing sewer to some properties that may be okay to be served by sewer based on the fact they may have received earlier permits from Fulton County and based on their location, the basin in which they are located, etc.

• Separately, Milton City Council has to evaluate the overall Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Fulton County regarding the service delivery options for sewer.  Even though a proposed revised IGA was brought forward for possible consideration at an earlier council meeting, it was subsequently taken off the table for a variety of reasons (there had been no 7 day advance publication of the resolution, there had been no work session to discuss the proposed IGA, the public had not been apprised and the initial proposed revision included land lots not previously contemplated for sewer).  Following this occurrence, it was discussed and agreed to at the June 16th Mayor and Council meeting that no IGA would come forward without adequate and thorough discussions at a work session when the Mayor and all council members can be present.  This work session has not yet been scheduled.

• Beyond the IGA itself, there is the need to solidify a legally enforceable and easy to implement and understand sewer/no sewer policy that takes into account the long standing No Inter Basin Transfer Policies, the distinction between basins and the need to reaffirm where sewer is appropriate as in some specifically defined areas as noted by parcel and land lots. Such areas should parallel existing commercial areas that are located where sewer exists already such as along certain areas of Highway 9 and certain areas of Crabapple as an example.  This should not be, however, an exercise to expand sewer to areas not currently served by sewer.  This is a much broader, more involved discussion that deserves the detailed attention of the many.  This, too, must include very public discussions during work sessions with adequate time for the public to be engaged and for all members of the Milton Council to participate.  The overall sewer/no sewer policy discussions have to take place before a revised IGA can be finalized.

Recent articles in the AJC, the Milton Herald and the Milton Beacon have been published on this pressing topic.  Links to some of the more recent articles on this community important topic are provided here:

AJC 7/2/08 - Article: Milton to decide on controversial sewer request

AJC 6/22/08 - Article: Milton's septic tanks keep growth in check

AJC 6/15/08 - Article: Septic tanks a defense for Milton's rural charm


Stay tuned for more details as these sewer vs. no-sewer policies evolve.

The opinions expressed in this release are those of Julie Zahner Bailey and may not reflect official positions of the Milton City Council.  No City funds were used for this communication.  Paid for by Friends of Julie Zahner Bailey.

City of Milton Meetings

Thursday, July 3 - City Council Special Called Work Session, 3pm agenda,
Permitting and authority to proceed for the Sembler development on State Route 9 in accord with site development permit. (Presented by Ken Jarrard, Jarrard and Davis, City Attorneys)

Monday, July 7 - Regular City Council Meeting, 6pm

Monday, July 14 - City Council Work Session, 6pm
 
City of Milton Contacts

_______________________________

All meetings held at City Hall unless otherwise noted.

City Hall

13000 Deerfield Parkway
Suite 107
Milton, GA 30004
Phone: 678.242.2500
Fax: 678.242.2499

Click here for a map and directions to City Hall

Welcome Alice Wakefield  Community Development Director

Please join me in officially welcoming Alice Wakefield as the City of Milton Director of Community Development.  Alice spent many years with Fulton County Environment and Community Development and has much history with this area.  She also spent time more recently with the City of Atlanta.  Should you have any questions for Ms. Wakefield, she can be contacted at Alice.Wakefield@cityofmiltonga.us

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