January 2, 2024-Strategic Performance Report

BIWEEKLY STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE REPORT JANUARY 2, 2024

STANLEY D HAWTHORNE CITY MANAGER

I am pleased to transmit the 12th installment of the Community Building Leadership Team’s (CBLT’s) Strategic Performance Report (SPR). I welcome this opportunity to introduce our new Council Members to this continuing series of comprehensive biweekly interdepartmental reports. Alternative viewing to the email content is the attached pdf version document.

The Strategic Performance Report showcases activities and information across the full range of College Park’s operations and administration coinciding with the regular meetings of the Mayor and Council. The format and its content are topical based; concise in nature; accented with images and illustrations for more relatable reading; organized by the alphabetical ordering of offices and departments; and follows a lead topic(s) from the City Manager in the opening pages of the report.

ORGANIZATIONAL ORIENTATION FOR NEW COUNCIL The Community Building Leadership Team and I are looking forward to an initial orientation during the Mayor and Council Workshop Session on January 2, 2024. We have a lot of information to share over the next several months on City operations and administration but will keep it limited to an approximate 90-minute session on Tuesday.

I believe it to be of utmost importance that we are on the same page, according to the requirements of the City Charter, in working to fulfill our important roles serving this deserving community of neighbors, visitors, and businesses of College Park.

My part of the orientation on Tuesday begins there followed by a reintroduction of the City of College Park Organizational Chart within the new realignment directed by your predecessor body. I also look forward in a soon to be scheduled session with the new Council Members and others who choose to participate on the unfinished business of budget modifications needed to empower the realigned organization.

Finally at Tuesday’s workshop, Department Directors will briefly introduce their functional organization highlighting departmental missions and changes from the realignment. Please find an updated illustration of the City of College Park, Georgia Organizational Chart from the link below following “We Build Community.”

“We Build Community.”

City of College Park, Georgia Organizational Chart (4).pdf

AIRPORT AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AIRPORT PROJECTS & COLLABORATIONS This week, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, ATLNext team and consultants have been issued appropriate permits and received stamped plans for their utility improvements project along Sullivan and Riverdale Roads, and Airport Boulevard. This has been a team effort between College Park’s Airport & Governmental Affairs, Building & Property Sustainability, Engineering, and Public Works Departments!

The on-site Pre-construction meeting was held on December 6, 2023, where the contractors, Airport staff and pertinent City employees worked collaboratively to walk the job site, and answer any questions both sides (College Park & Airport) had about the project regarding flow metering, repaving, traffic flow, including safety measures. This project is within Ward 3. Collaboration which yields quantifiable results happens when there is clarity of the goal at hand. The College Park team understands this concept well.

Concourse D within Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a $40 million project scheduled to commence in 2024 to widen and improve operations. Learn more at www.next.atl.com (Plans and Projects).

End of year events consisted of the 9th Annual State of the Aerotropolis on December 8, 2023 at the Hapeville Academy Theatre which focused the panel discussion on the upcoming Blueprint 2.0 document, human infrastructure, economic development, mobility & transportation, and workforce development.

BUILDING AND PROPERTY SUSTAINABILITY

PERMITS BY THE NUMBERS 1529 Permits issued for 2023.

2826 total inspections completed for 2023.

CODE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION With the support of the City of College Park Information Technology Department, our code enforcement teams have started a new process of performing inspections by way of mobile inspections. Mobile inspections are performed with the aid of smart tablets. Using these tablets, the inspectors can use the SagesGov mobile application to help streamline the inspection process. Using the mobile tablet, the officers and inspectors can send instant reports with in-depth data analysis, notes, photos, geo-tagging, and data collection. Mobile Inspection tablets help reduce paper-related costs such as copying, distributing, and storing paper inspection documentation.

OCCUPATIONAL TAX DIVISION The licenses or permits a business may need to depend on city, county, and state laws. Some of the most common licenses and permits include Business licenses, home occupation permits, and Food permits. Please check with our planning department for any restrictions on business activities that can be conducted within your ward. Certain occupations, like lawyers, doctors, general contractors, pre-schools, and daycares, require a special license. Consult the State of Georgia Agency for Consumer Affairs regulations. If your business exports goods to other countries, your business will be subject to federal regulations. The federal Department of Commerce will provide you with more information.

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANNUAL CITY HALL BREAKFAST

For the past few years, the City Clerk's Office has organized the annual holiday breakfast for City Hall employees. Traditionally held during the work morning, this event also includes our Secret Santa gift exchange. This year, the City Clerk's team chose to patronize a local and new business in the City of College Park, Buttermilk Biscuit, to cater the breakfast for staff. In addition, the City Manager whipped up two dishes to add to the spread which was enjoyed by all.

JUSTFOIA PORTAL ENHANCEMENT: Collaborated with the Police team earlier in the year to upgrade the JustFOIA portal, enhancing its tracking capabilities. This portal serves as a crucial tool for managing Freedom of Information requests, commonly known in the State of Georgia as Open Records Requests, receiving over 2,999 requests by December 28th, with a total collection of $1,288.32.

Plans are underway to explore further upgrades, including accepting payments and implementing active charging for requestors.

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS: The City of College Park's Instagram Facebook account reached over 87,000 individuals over the course of a year. That is a 21% increase from 2022. The City’s Instagram account surged to an impressive 3,000 followers from 2,115 which also showcased exceptional growth over the year. This milestone underscores the effective engagement, compelling content, and impactful collaborations spearheaded by the Strategic Communications Office, fostering a stronger connection with the College Park community.

Additionally, since January 5, 2023, 100 media requests have been submitted to the Strategic Communications office. This number does not accurately reflect the workload as the Strategic Communication team receives media requests via emails and phone calls that fall outside the standard submission method. Despite the initial requested timeframe of 14 days for communication coverage, the team has adeptly managed numerous last-minute requests, some of which have come in with as little as a day's or even an hour's notice.

CONVENTION CENTER, ARENA, AND GOLF ENTERPRISE The Gateway Center Arena opened the month of November with Red Bull Culture Clash. This event was fully sponsored by Red Bull and had a fantastic turnout. The event included many captivating activations for fans to participate in. They showcased a welding station in front of the Arena, where fans could watch a designated welder create the trophy for the winner of the event. They also created a photo opportunity with an inflatable igloo housing a large ice sculpture chair inside.

Red Bull Culture Clash had remarkable ticket sales, ending the night with the event being sold out. We received great feedback from patrons who attended the event and look forward to hosting similar events.

The College Park Skyhawks 2023-2024 season kicked off with back-to-back home games on November 18th and 19th. We are ecstatic to have the Skyhawks return for their 3rd season in College Park.

The week prior, was busy with team practices, building preparations and a staff meet and greet for opening weekend. The Skyhawks organization hosted a “Meet & Greet” at the Arena where they came together with The Gateway Center Arena staff to introduce everyone prior to the home opener.The Skyhawks organization presented our General Manager, Yanous Barner, with an official limited edition, Hawks preseason game ball, donning the Gateway Center Arena’s logo.

ELECTRIC POWER DEPARTMENT SHARP INCLINE OF ELECTRIC POWER SALES College Park Power (CPP) is one of the 52 City-owned electric power companies in Georgia and serves a territory primarily within the city limits. CPP also serves two large power customers outside the territory – Fedex Ground in Ellenwood and the At Home store in Stockbridge.

In College Park, 82% of the electric sales are to commercial customers including many hotels, restaurants, stores, businesses, and data centers.

The largest jump in electric use has been due to the continuous consumption of high energy by 2 data centers. These customers came on-line in 2018 and have steadily added more units to their operations.

What does the growth in electric sales mean to our citizens? Added revenues give us some flexibility to adjust rates. For example, the senior citizen residential rate was reduced by 10% starting in November 2022 and starting in July 2023, the summer rate for all residential customers was reduced by an average of 7.7%.

The College Park Power staff will continue to monitor rates and make recommendations for future adjustments to better serve our citizens.

Electric rate design supports the Strategic Plan Goal I: Local Economy and Growth, Section 1.6: Maintain structures for rates, fees, fines and penalties that are both sustainable and in keeping with price points in surrounding communities.

ENGINEERING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

ENHANCING FLOOD PREPAREDNESS: INSIGHTS FROM NFIP - CRS TRAINING The City Engineer has recently concluded mandatory training as a designated floodplain manager within the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and Community Rating System (CRS). This intensive training was conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) in Richmond, Virginia. It delved into crucial aspects of engineering and public works, emphasizing the imperative for enhancements to meet elevated standards. The training discussions revolved around key topics such as community engagement, floodplain management, infrastructure development, public relations, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), website and social media utilization, information brochures, and organizing events to raise awareness of flood hazards.

Implementing these improvements will demand significant coordination, particularly between the communication and public works teams, presenting a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. In 2002, the City of College Park achieved a NFIP - CRS Rating of Six, resulting in a 20% discount in flood insurance premiums for residents. The Engineering and Infrastructure Department now aspires to elevate the City to a Rating of Five, aiming for a 25% reduction in insurance premiums. This transformative process will necessitate infrastructure upgrades and proactive measures in flood insurance.

The training also underscored critical aspects of the maintenance and upkeep of public works projects and Capital Improvement projects (CIP). The NFIP emphasizes the importance for jurisdictions to actively encourage residents to purchase flood insurance, as FEMA assistance could be limited in the event of a catastrophic situation Enhancing Safety Measures at Intersection of Hospitality Way and Sky Train Way.

FIRE RESCUE CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR) TRAINING The Fire Department will offer free CPR Training starting in January. An online registration link has been developed for community sign-up. There is a $30 fee for the 2-year certification card.

CAR SEAT SAFETY INSTALLATION / CHECKS The Fire Department has twelve (12) trained and certified Car Seat Technicians and will offer free Car Seat Training starting in January. An online registration link will be developed for community sign-up. Residents will also be able to stop by Station 1 for unscheduled appointments.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT The warming station will be open until notice. The shelter is located at the Public Safety Building, located at 3737 College Street, College Park Georgia 30337. The hours of operation are 7:00 PM to 9:00 AM. Blankets and water are available, while supplies las

HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT TALENT MANAGEMENT VACANCY REPORT AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2023

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PHONE UPGRADE DEPLOYMENT I am happy to report we have deployed new phones in the following areas: Brady, Police (precinct 2), Fire stations (2 and 3). The extension numbers have changed according to Windstream new dial plan. The main extension for each location remains the same and can be reached externally. We will continue to deploy phones at the other sites after Jan. 2nd.

SAGE GOV. Great news we live with Inspections, and Code Enforcement, with the new Sage Gov. software. This software will take the place of New World for these units. We will also set up a station in the lobby to assist citizens who may want to pay or apply for services when they come to city hall. We have also gained notoriety; we were mentioned in a social media magazine several weeks ago.

PARKS RECREATION AND CULTURAL ARTS GYMNASIUM FLOOR’S REFINISHED

Gymnasium Floor’s Refinished Each year the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department budgets to refinish the gymnasium floors. The floor refinish includes the Brady Recreation Center, City Auditorium and Tracey Wyatt Center Red and Blue gymnasiums along with the City Auditorium stage.

With the rich history of the City Auditorium and the recent upgrades to the facility by State Farm and Atlanta Hawks, the refinished floors complete the facility upgrade and look fantastic.

For a building built in the early 1900’s, it is well maintained and is a building the City is proud of.

The City Auditorium is used for recreation programming to include Artesia’s Baton Twirling, basketball practice for both girls’ and boys’ basketball programs, and Atlanta Hawk’s former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Charlie Criss for youth basketball training. Besides recreation programming, the space is rentable and is used for dance recitals, plays and other organizational events seven days a week. The space is used for Cultural Arts programming for City-wide events to include the Black History Program and is used for any request for official needs of the City like swearing in or town hall meetings and is a voting poll for registered voters in Fulton County. There is not typically a day that the facility is not used throughout the year.

It is such an amazing, centralized space for the City that the demand may warrant a discussion that the space be used for specific events and rentals and a discussion for space for recreation programming needs may need to consider another Parks, Recreation Center and a Cultural Arts Center for the City in the future.

POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The College Park Police Department’s Annual Shop with a Cop was a huge success. The Shop with a Cop is a program that provides students whose families were having financial issues during the holidays with a great shopping experience.

Fourteen families with kids who range from 3 to 13 years old and reside in the City of College Park. Families were selected based on financial need, staying in school, avoiding fighting, bullying, and avoiding criminal activity.

The “Shop with A Cop” program reinforces the ideas of sharing and giving and promotes the idea that role models of all ages are crucial to the development of our youth. The positive oneon-one experience each student will get from “Shop with A Cop” is one that is never forgotten.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WATER AND SEWER DIVISION The Water and Sewer division replaced a fire hydrant located on 1886 Walker Creek Road due to a severe water leak.

SANITATION DIVISION

As of the 18th of December, the Sanitation Superintendent and the Director of Public Works made the decision to remove the enclosure and dumpsters that service the businesses on Main Street.

Instead, the businesses will continue their light commercial services by purchasing an herby curby and receiving door to door pick up.The goal is to stop the illegal dumping issues we were experiencing so that outsiders have nowhere to dump bulky debris. Moving forward, businesses and our sanitation staff will be able to keep the area better maintained. Below you will find the type of debris being dumped, how we were able to get the area cleaned up, and why this change was the best.

Before and After the clean up and removal of the enclosure.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT On January 8th, 2024, Sustainable Development will be hosting the first community charrette for Price Barbershop at 12:00 pm in the Brady Recreation Community Room during the monthly PHOAA meeting.

The project team will present the findings of the historical assessment and receive input from stakeholders on future uses for the proposed site. Following this event, the team will hold two meetings (each virtual and in-person) Tuesday January 30th and Tuesday March 12th, to give all stakeholders an opportunity to \ give their voice and vision into the future development of the project. The City of College Park recognizes the importance of legacy and heritage and wants to capture our rich cultural heritage in the future development of the City.

MAIN STREET AND VIRGINIA AVENUE ASSOCIATION BOARD: TINSEL TRAIL Congratulations to everyone who came together for the Tinsel Trail celebration. Our 2023 winner was the Resurgence Hall Girls Scouts! The Main Street Manager Ginger Melton is currently focused on preparing our annual re-certification reporting requirements.

Preparation is also underway for orientation of new Board members and a review of our calendar year events schedule. In January, Ms. Melton will meet with the Strategic Planning Coordinator for the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to plan an assessment of the program. This will aid the CPMSA as it prepares its bi-annual Strategic Plan required to be updated in Summer 2024.

The full and complete City Manager's biweekly Strategic Performance Report is available online at: www.collegeparkga.com

Very truly yours,

Stanley D Hawthorne City Manager | City of College Park 3667 Main Street | College Park, GA | 30337