May/June 2021
ADVOCACY. SERVICE. INNOVATION.
Union City Mayor Vince Williams Shares Message as Outgoing GMA President Columns & Features In This Issue American Rescue Plan Resources | Cities’ Recreational Infrastructure DOT Projects in Review | GMA Annual Convention Guide
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May/June 2021 Volume 1 • No. 12 Editorial and Advertising Offices: 201 Pryor Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404.688.0472 Fax: 678.686.6289 E-mail: gacities@gacities.com EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Larry Hanson PUBLISHER Kelli Bennett GRAPHIC ARTIST Lindsay Podrid COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Berto Horne, ShotByTPG ADVERTISING SALES Lynne Norton EDITORIAL BOARD Amanda Coyne Charlotte Davis Emily Davenport Alan Dickerson Cindy Eidson Dana Goodall Tom Gehl Gwin Hall Aileen Harris Chris Higdon Holger Loewendorf Kay Love Chris Obenschain Rusi Patel Kristian Seranno Brian Wallace GMA OFFICERS President: Union City Mayor Vince Williams First Vice President: LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton Second Vice President: Tifton Mayor Julie Smith Third Vice President: Marietta Councilmember Michelle Cooper Kelly Immediate Past President: Dublin Mayor Phil Best Subscription $36.00 per year. Single copies $4.00. Advertising rates upon request. Approximately 7,000 copies of this issue printed. Our policy is to distribute Georgia’s Cities to Mayors, City Councils, City Managers and other key City Officials. Georgia’s Cities reserves the right to decline advertising it deems unsuitable for its audience or market.
Table of Contents FEATURES SPECIAL SECTION: AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN............................................... 6 HOW TRAILS ARE CONNECTING CITIES...................................................... 20 RECREATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN GEORGIA’S CITIES.............................. 32 DOT PROJECTS IN REVIEW........................................................................ 44 CITYSCAPES....................................................................................................... 8 + GMA President + GMA Executive Director + Expert Editorial: Trust for Public Land CITY DESK.........................................................................................................12 + Small Town, Big Impact: Eatonton Youth Council + City Spotlights: Warwick + Cities United: Assisting Newnan in Tornado Recovery + Covington Treatment System Protects the Water While Feeding the Land + Professional Municipal Clerks Week in Review INSIDE GMA......................................................................................................18 + GMA Named Top Workplace + GMA Annual Convention Update + GMA Training Schedule + Facing Our Sustainability and Resiliency Challenges + Advocacy: Legislative Session Review + Service: Information Technology as Critical Infrastructure + Innovation: Newly Elected Officials Institute Goes Online + Embrace: Fire Chiefs Study Emotional Intelligence + The Value of Cities Data Dive ADDITIONAL + Federal Focus: Agency Spotlight..................................................................... 41 + Towns & Law: Can Cities Require Vaccines?....................................................... 42 + Downtown Developments: Promoting Downtowns as a Visitor Attraction.................... 46 + ENGAGE: Teaching Reading and Leadership.....................................................48 CITYLITES......................................................................................................... 50 + Fairs & Fests + Georgia Gem: Kolomoki Mounds State Park
FOLLOW GMA ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook & LinkedIn: Georgia Municipal Association | Twitter: @GaCities
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FEATURED REPRESENTATIVE
Michelle Arrington, Director, State and Local Government Affairs
What is Verizon’s philosophy? At Verizon, we don’t wait for the future. We build it. Our purpose is powerful: we create the networks that move the world forward. We’re committed to making the world better than yesterday. It’s a pillar of our corporate credo and a passion of our employees. It’s why we use technology and assets to build a brighter future—for our customers, our communities, and the world around us.
complex, they are facing new challenges. They have to maintain high standards of livability, resiliency and sustainability. At Verizon, we recognize that city leaders and public safety entities are turning to technology to help meet the social, economic and environmental demands that population growth has on city economies. Verizon is committed to helping communities become centers of innovation and sustainable growth.
Why does Verizon support cities, and why do you have a vested interest in the success of cities? Over the past year, we saw how cities needed to adapt and change to not only protect their employees and constituents but also to continue to operate efficiently. Additionally, we witnessed and experienced how social and racial injustice affected everyone nationally, and how families and schools navigated through technology gaps. Verizon remains committed to moving cities forward through “Citizen Verizon,” which is our plan for economic, environmental and social advancement. Our goal is to move the world forward for everyone by expanding digital access, protecting the climate, and preparing people for the jobs of the future. Verizon wants to improve the quality of life for people living in cities and increase the ways and efficiency in which cities operate. As cities grow bigger and more
What’s on the horizon for your company? Verizon is committed to ensuring all Americans have access to affordable broadband and are equipped with the skills to use it. We work with other partners to support digital inclusion in a variety of ways, including, equipping under-resourced schools with STEM education tools and free internet access, partnering with school districts to provide discount broadband service to support distance learning and hosting digital literacy training for communities in need. Additionally, we’re also proposing a new public policy approach that asks Congress to provide long-term financial support for broadband services in three areas: affordability, adoption and access. This comprehensive approach, which builds on prior efforts to close the digital divide and supplements existing programs, will help empower all Americans to thrive in the digital age.
May/June 2021 | gacities.com 5
INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES & FEDERAL RESOURCES FOR CITIES For many years, GMA has worked with city officials to document the scope of municipal infrastructure needs for water, sewer, transportation, public safety, parks and recreation, and other priorities.
“Data gathered from cities in GMA Capital Needs Surveys has been essential to keeping members of Georgia’s Congressional delegation informed, along with your local stories and examples of how federal funds can be used to support local resources to complete muchneeded repairs and new facilities,” said GMA Director of Federal Relations and Research Becky Taylor. “Prior to the pandemic, cities estimated their five-year capital improvement needs would exceed $20 billion. COVID-19 required local leaders to adjust local priorities to address unanticipated, urgent public health and economic issues, causing many cities to scale back or postpone infrastructure projects. Those needs haven’t gone away, and GMA and city leaders are eager for Congress to agree on federal legislation that will allow cities of all sizes to take care of critical capital improvements.”
GEORGIA REPORT CARD & A CLOSER LOOK AT TRANSPORTATION According to the latest American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Report Card for Georgia, the state received a C+ overall, with a C- for parks, recreation and trails; D+ for wastewater; and D+ for transit. The state’s score for roads increased to a C+ thanks to the Georgia General Assembly passing the Transportation Funding Act of 2015. “There is still a need to improve pavement conditions statewide and relieve congestion, particularly in the metro Atlanta region,” Taylor said, citing the November 2020 TRIP national transportation research
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report, which shows Georgia only spent 52% of the amount needed on roads, highways and bridges; only 12% of county-maintained roadways in need of resurfacing were resurfaced in 2020; and only 8% of county roads in need of reconstruction were reconstructed in 2020. At the same time, Georgia’s population is continuing to grow, placing more demands on the transportation system—with an estimated 18% increase in vehicle miles traveled in Georgia from 2014-2018. Investments in transportation improvements in Georgia play a critical role in the state’s economy.
REBUILDING FOR THE ECONOMY A report by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association found that the design, construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure supports the equivalent of about 110,000 full-time jobs across all sectors of the state’s economy, earning these workers nearly $4 billion annually. Spending by employees and companies in the transportation design and construction industry supports an additional 55,000 full-time jobs in Georgia. Transportation construction in Georgia contributes an estimated $703 million annually in state and local income, corporate and unemployment insurance taxes and the federal payroll tax. About 1.9 million full-time jobs in Georgia in key industries like tourism, retail sales, agriculture and manufacturing are dependent on the quality, safety and reliability of the state’s transportation infrastructure network.
SKIN IN THE GAME: LOCAL GOVERNMENTS INVESTING IN THEMSELVES Georgia’s local governments are investing in themselves. Since 2001, local voters have approved 94% of SPLOST referenda, choosing to increase their own taxes to pay for roads, water, parks and other local priorities. Between 2016 and 2020, $7.1 billion dollars in SPLOST revenues were distributed to Georgia cities and counties to pay for voter-approved capital projects. A total of 28 counties have a single-county TSPLOST, and four regions have implemented a regional TIA; nearly 60% of Georgia’s counties now have either TSPLOST or TIA. According to Taylor, local governments also invest significant amounts in loans to ensure infrastructure can be maintained and expanded. Local funds will not be enough—a long-term, strong local-state-federal partnership is needed to address our state’s infrastructure needs.
FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING On March 31, President Joe Biden announced the American Jobs Plan to rebuild the country’s economy and create good-paying jobs for workers in America’s cities through investments in infrastructure and workforce development. The administration’s proposed framework would include two recovery packages, with the first focused on traditional infrastructure needs and supporting the workforce to complete these projects; and a second focused on additional recovery priorities, including but not limited to helping families with challenges such as health care costs, childcare, paid leave and education. “Infrastructure investment has bipartisan support and GMA looks forward to Congress and the Administration developing a bipartisan solution that will help the country rebuild and create jobs to strengthen the economy,” said Taylor. “This injection of federal funds on the heels of the pandemic will be important to leverage local dollars going towards infrastructure needs.” In addition to the infrastructure package, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) will provide some opportunities for necessary investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure. Additional details will be released soon through Treasury’s guidance on the ARP.
TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION IN 2021
2021, city leaders weighed in with their members of Congress on local priorities and emphasized the need to get funds directly to cities. “Local leaders know best where federal transportation dollars can be put to work most quickly,” Taylor said. Recently, city leaders had the opportunity to meet virtually with Rep. Hank Johnson, Rep. Nikema Williams and Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux, the three members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation who serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to discuss transportation needs from Districts 4, 5 and 7, and how the new transportation bill can support these efforts. During the discussion, participants emphasized the importance of a long-term solution that addresses a broad scope of transportation infrastructure needs and supports sustainable and equitable investments in public infrastructure. As the nation emerges from the pandemic, city leaders are focused on rebuilding and ensuring the best possible future and quality of life for residents and businesses in our communities. “Now is the time for city officials to talk with your members of Congress about your local infrastructure needs and why your city needs access to federal resources,” Taylor said.
RESOURCES GMA Capital Needs 2020-2024 www.gacities.com ASCE Georgia Infrastructure Report Card: www.infrastructurereportcard.org TRIP Moving Georgia Forward Report: www.tripnet.org ARTBA 2015 U.S. Transportation Construction Industry Profile: www.transportationcreatesjobs.org/ pdf/Economic_Profile.pdf
In addition to the federal infrastructure bill that’s in the works, Congress is also working on reauthorization of the federal transportation bill. During early May/June 2021 | gacities.com 7
CITYSCAPES
Moving Forward with Respect BY VINCE WILLIAMS, GMA PRESIDENT
This is my last editorial as GMA president. As I’ve thought about what to say to you this last time, I must admit that it’s been a little difficult to figure it out. WHY? BECAUSE WE’RE STILL stuck in the middle of the story—the story of the pandemic, the ongoing need to ensure equity and inclusion for all residents in our communities, and the never-ending work of advocating for and protecting the role of cities in our democracy. It’s hard to feel a sense of closure when we’re still in the midst of figuring things out. So instead of trying to provide a nice, neat summary of the past year, I’d like to offer my thoughts on how we might be able to move through and beyond these challenges. What’s needed, among many other ingredients, is what the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, pointedly spells out for us, and that’s R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Regarding COVID-19 and the pandemic, it’s the need for us to respect the power of nature and the hard truth that we’re not in control of things, certainly not as much as we’d like to think we are. When it comes to equity and inclusion, a lack of respect of our differences—be it race, color, class, sex, religion—undermines equality. Respect is foundational to the equal and inclusive treatment of individuals and is a basic tenant of our Constitution. And as we navigate our intergovernmental system, it is incumbent upon us to always hold high and respect what we as cities and city officials bring to the table. Without our own self-respect and support of each other, we will not succeed.
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As I survey the challenges we’re in the middle of, one thing is clear: The lives we live are interconnected. The actions we take, or don’t take, clearly affect others, often in profound and life-altering ways. Respect, that call and response between us all in our daily lives, is key to our collective future. To find the common ground from which we can then proclaim the common good, we as leaders must show respect to others, and we must respect the reality that our individual and collective decisions impact those we serve. As I close out my time as GMA president, I’d like to leave you with these words I shared when I took office last June. I believe they describe how we can best model the respect that the people we serve deserve. Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can. It’s been an honor to serve you as GMA president. Thank you. Remember that I love you and there ain’t nothing you can do about it!
The Right Road: Planning for The Future BY LARRY HANSON, GMA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
We all know the saying, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.”
DID YOU KNOW THAT SAYING IS paraphrased from Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s tale Alice in Wonderland? The Cheshire Cat in Carroll’s tale shares with Alice that it “… doesn’t matter which way you go,” after Alice admits she doesn’t care where she goes—as long as it’s out of Wonderland. This exchange is timely and relevant as we plan for our future, whether as an individual, a leader, a family or a city. To be successful, we must plan. One message I always share in training is the relationship between both patience and trust. We can be in a hurry and create a failure or be patient and create a success. One common element to successful cities and organizations is a commitment to planning. Of course, it takes time and often funding. But its time and money well spent so that we create a roadmap that points us in the right direction and down the right road. Taking the right road leads to prosperity and success. Success is built upon the heavy lifting of an engaged, informed and involved citizenry, open and transparent conversation and minds, respect for the ideas of every interested individual, and a commitment to serve the needs of ALL citizens in a way that is fair, equitable and inclusive. Serving to achieve “the greatest good for the most people” is something we should all commit ourselves to as we plan for our cities and our future. As the rollout of the American Rescue Plan commences, GMA is here to support all 537 cities as they
plan to expend those funds. This again shows the importance of developing plans that are based upon the needs of cities and citizens, plans that make wise use of precious funds aimed at helping those most impacted by the pandemic, and to help cities meet their operational needs and address revenue losses. I encourage you to make plans with the input of citizens, so these investments are felt across your city. This planning will lift those that have been harmed through no fault of their own, support businesses, help prevent homelessness, and invest in your infrastructure to poise your city for growth and prosperity in the future. Alice went on to say that it didn’t matter where she went, so long as she got somewhere. The cat’s reply, “Oh, you’re sure to do that, if you walk long enough.” The message here is to ensure positive outcomes for our cities, and to secure true equity of opportunity and excellence in outcomes for all citizens, then the road we take must include planning and be selected deliberately. We must solicit feedback, use data as the bedrock for decision making, develop strategies for success and be intentional and committed to the road ahead. The journey to success may be long, but the intentionality of planning will ensure we take the right road to reach a destination of accomplishment, as opposed to our destination being “somewhere” or “anywhere.” I know your city will follow the road to success and we stand ready to support you.
May/June 2021 | gacities.com 9
BUILDING PARKS AND TRAILS
WITH CREATIVITY AND COLLABORATION BY GEORGE DUSENBURY, GEORGIA STATE DIRECTOR FOR THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND AND COMMISSIONER, CITY OF DECATUR
EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC, IT became clear that the outdoors was the safest place to exercise, play and interact with friends and family. Many of us have found solace in nature. In fact, green spaces have seen record usage over the last year. One year into the pandemic, all signs indicate they will stay that way. Growing appreciation of the outdoors has increased residents’ expectations of municipal leaders to provide high-quality, accessible outdoor spaces. Investments in parks, trails and natural areas will ensure that Georgia’s cities and towns continue to be the kinds of places where people want to live, work and play.
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Communities are more vibrant, more connected and safer when residents are outside. People are healthier and happier when they have easy access to well-maintained parks with diverse amenities. According to the American Heart Association, every $1 spent on walking trails saves approximately $3 in medical expenses. Natural areas help reduce flood risk, filter stormwater, keep trees clean and cool the air. Recent research from The Trust for Public Land shows that parks—especially those with lots of trees—can counter urban temperatures exacerbated by heat-trapping buildings, pavement and concrete. Across cities and towns nationwide, areas within a 10-minute walk of a park are as much as six degrees cooler than areas beyond that
range—which means less energy consumption and lower risk of the health impacts from extreme heat. Despite the positives, creating new parks and natural areas can seem out of reach as city budgets are stretched thin, particularly as local economies recover from the pandemic. But with creativity and collaboration, this could be a defining moment for Georgia.
CREATIVITY: USE WHAT YOU HAVE
Schools and parks are gathering spots where friendships are made and social bonds strengthened. The Trust for Public Land brings these two spaces together through our Community Schoolyards program. We work with local leaders and schools to invest in existing schoolyards so that they can serve as public parks when school is out. Creating schoolyard parks is a cost-effective approach to increasing recreation amenities because it uses land already owned by the public. By combining resources and opening school grounds to the community through shared use agreements, municipalities and school districts both can better serve their constituents. Across the country, The Trust for Public Land has transformed hundreds of schoolyards, which has helped us hone a design process that invites students, teachers, neighbors and local groups to envision how a schoolyard can become a place that reflects what’s important to the whole community. Designs include features such as native gardens, shade structures and benches to encourage more frequent outdoor education opportunities for students and for neighbors to sit and get to know each other. Reimagined schoolyards also include more trees and plants to make spaces more welcoming, and they offer the added benefits of reducing stormwater runoff, cooling and cleaning the air, and attracting pollinators. Many of Georgia’s cities and towns would benefit from this approach. Of the 100 million people in the United States who do not have a park within a 10-minute walk of home, almost 20 million of them do live that close to a public school. The Schoolyards program is
already improving communities in Georgia, with six schoolyard conversions in Atlanta and several other jurisdictions beginning the process.
COLLABORATION: WE CAN DO MORE, TOGETHER
In addition to on-the-ground efforts to increase access to public spaces, we also need to invest in collaborative planning, like creating a statewide trails master plan. States that have taken on this initiative are working across city, county and state agencies to plan for using resources efficiently to connect people and communities. Access to walking and jogging trails consistently ranks among the top amenities sought by U.S. homebuyers. In 2019, The Trust for Public Land convened representatives from cities and regional commissions, nonprofit leaders, outdoor retailers and others to launch the Georgia Outdoor Recreation Coalition. The Coalition aims to tackle statewide initiatives such as developing a trails master plan. We will gather in Augusta on Nov. 7 and 8 for the Georgia Outdoor Recreation and Trail Summit to inspire new partnerships, share resources and tools and grow the movement toward a cohesive vision for connecting Georgians. We invite Georgia’s Cities readers to join us. The challenges of the past year have pushed cities to innovate and people to seek solace in the outdoors. Collaborative, creative investment in public spaces exist at the confluence of these two trends. The resulting social, environmental and economic benefits will improve the quality of life for all Georgians.
To learn more about The Trust for Public Land’s Schoolyards program, visit tpl.org/schoolyards or contact george.dusenbury@tpl.org. Find out more and register for the Georgia Outdoor Recreation and Trail Summit at www.gaoutdoors.com.
May/June 2021 | gacities.com 11
CITY DESK
Small Town,
Big Impact Eatonton Youth Leadership Council Trains for the Future By: Amanda C. Coyne EATONTON HAS ITS EYE ON THE FUTURE. THAT’S not limited to safe roads and up-to-date infrastructure. With the Eatonton Youth Leadership Council, the city is also investing in human infrastructure, training local leaders of tomorrow. “We believe that leaders are made not born, that every person possesses leadership potential, that leaders have a responsibility to develop other leaders,” begins the city’s establishing document for the council. Eatonton is putting that belief into action through the group, which mixes leadership training, community service, team building and educational classes. The council was initially approved by the Eatonton City Council in late 2019, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the inaugural class did not convene until January 2021. The group of 13 high school students completed a four-month curriculum and graduated May 5. Future youth council programs will last most of a year; the pandemic was also to blame for the abbreviated inaugural class, said Eatonton Councilmember Janie Reid. All who participated in the first class intend to join the second, starting in September, she said. The youth council met multiple times each month, with each session having a balance of practicality and fun. On the same day they took a CliftonStrengths Assessment, which examines a person’s personality traits and skills, the council members also worked together to solve an escape room. They had a class about municipal government, led by Eatonton elected officials, and then the council elected officers among themselves. Youth Councilmember Jha’myia Gorley, a junior at Georgia College Early College, said the program has 12
shown her that she doesn’t have to wait to start making an impact in her community. “I have learned to make a difference; age does not matter,” Gorley said. “No matter how big or small, I will make a difference, and being on this youth leadership council shows how we will represent the youth of this city and what we as a council should seek to change.” Participants must be high school students living in Eatonton city limits and commit to performing at least 10 hours of community service while in the program. There are no requirements for GPA or past leadership roles, but those interested in becoming a member of the Eatonton Youth Leadership Council must answer application questions about their leadership qualities and what they hope to take away from the experience. Luckily, it won’t be hard for Eatonton students to apply. Applications will be given to all eligible students— Eatonton residents in grades 9 through 12 who are homeschooled or attend Putnam County High School or Gatewood School.
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City Spotlight
Warwick
Grits lovers have something to look forward to in the city of Warwick next year. The small city, about 25 miles from Albany, is the host of the National Grits Festival, which began in 1999 and was revived by Mayor Juanita Royal Kinchen in 2017 after a four-year hiatus. The 2017 festival attracted about 3,000 attendees, and the funds were used to expand electricity on the Warwick city square. The festival exponentially expands the city’s population for one day a year —3,000 attendees have been recorded at past events, seven times as many as the city’s 423 residents. POPULATION:
423
MAYOR:
Juanita Royal Kinchen GMA DISTRICT:
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Unfortunately, the festival has been put on another hiatus thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the 2020 and 2021 festivals were cancelled because of the public health crisis. However, plans are already in the works for the 2022 festival, expected to be held in April. After two years without the festival, the grits will taste better than ever.
Cities United:
Assisting Newnan in Tornado Recovery BY ALIA HOYT
An EF-4 tornado rocked the normally quiet city of Newnan during the overnight hours of March 28 and 29. A MILE-WIDE TORNADO CARRYING 170-MPH winds damaged more than 1,700 homes, wreaked havoc on utilities and spread an estimated 800,000 cubic yards of debris all over the city. By some miracle, no one was killed directly by the tornado, although one resident did suffer a fatal heart attack during the storm. For many, the damage to one of Georgia’s most picturesque historic towns, known as the “City of Homes,” is heartbreaking. “The visual change is jarring,” said Hasco Craver, Newnan’s assistant city manager. “The loss of tree canopy and building damage is tough to get used to.” Despite this, the Coweta County city is well on its way to physical and emotional recovery, thanks in large part to helping hands from cities across Georgia. “As the sun rose that Friday morning, it was evident that the extent of the damage far surpassed our standard capabilities,” Craver said. “Fortunately, that’s when the phone started ringing.” Newnan was immediately deluged with assistance from cities near and far coming to help with everything from traffic control, debris pickup and utility repair. One of those was the city of East Point, led by Electric Director Shawn Dowe. Leaving a skeleton crew to cover needs at home, the rest of the team headed to Newnan with bucket and pickup trucks and the know-how to get the area back on track. With teams from other cities, the 14
East Point crew spent four days making critical repairs to more than 250 poles in varying states of disrepair, many snapped clean in half. East Point worked closely with a team from the city of Marietta to form a well-oiled machine during this time. “We would change out the broken poles, then Marietta would come behind and frame the poles and string the wires,” Dowe said. “Within those couple of days we set more than 20-something poles back to working order. The electric crews banded together to help a city in need. It was a great sight to see.” A flood of assistance from law enforcement partners also had a tremendous impact on the city’s impressive bounceback. “We knocked on every single door to check on citizens,” Craver said. “Without the help of our partners in public service, it would have taken exponentially more time. It could frankly have resulted in loss of life or greater loss of public or private property, had we not had those reinforcements.” Although Newnan will long remember the terror of the tornado of 2021, they won’t soon forget the kindness of strangers they now call neighbors during their time of need. When the situation is reversed in the future, it’s a safe bet that Newnan crews will be the first on the road to help.
Covington Treatment System Protects the Water While Feeding the Land BY NIKKI PERRY
In the 1970s, Lake Jackson in the Upper Ocmulgee River basin suffered high nitrogen levels and phosphorous, resulting in excessive lake algae. AS A RESULT OF CHANGES INDUCED BY THE federal Clean Water Act of 1972, the city of Covington and Newton County Water & Sewerage Authority constructed a land application system to irrigate treated wastewater. David Croom, Covington’s Water Reclamation Division manager, was the first to oversee the new system in 1985. “They gave me a key to the gate, a map and a dog, and said, ‘Good luck,’” Croom said, laughing. The stray dog came with the property. Croom will retire next year from a job that he loves and a system that he has shepherded through four expansions. The land application system has more than doubled in size to 2,000 acres and is now permitted for 9.6 million gallons per day of wastewater treatment capacity. A lush forest, riparian and wetland areas, and grasslands cover 1,200 acres, soaking up the treated water and benefiting from the nutrients that would damage the lake. A conventional sewage treatment plant uses chemicals to pre-treat wastewater before depositing it into a lake or stream. Newton County treats the wastewater, and then Covington sprays it onto 15 fields and lets Mother Nature do the rest. Here is how the process works, according to the Georgia EPD’s “Guidelines for Slow-Rate Lane Treatment by Spray Irrigation”: Wastewater is sprayed onto the land, where it evaporates or enters the groundwater. Soil bacteria stabilize the remaining organic components. Soil and plants take up the ammonia, nitrogen and phosphorous, and a minimal amount of those
nutrients reach the groundwater. “Properly designed and operated land treatment systems produce a percolate water of high quality and thus protect ground and surface water resources,” Croom said. Soil quality is monitored by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, along with the quality of discharge, storage pond effluent, groundwater and adjacent surface water. While land application is common, systems this size are not, Croom said. The water is distributed through 100 miles of pipe, 9,000 sprinklers, two 400-HP pumps and two storage ponds. Staff is dedicated to maintaining the infrastructure as well as the greenspace and its inhabitants. Their priorities are soil and water protection, wildlife, aesthetics and timber production, which has earned the system a Forest Stewardship certification from the Georgia Forestry Commission. The city has harvested over $1 million in timber over the decades. Though some may frown upon the harvesting of timber, Croom said the city replants every tree and continues the cycle. “We like to think of this site as being sustainable,” he said. In addition to the timber revenue, municipalities with conventional treatment systems may be jealous of Covington’s good relationship with the neighbors. There are no odor complaints, Croom said. “It takes about five minutes to convince them that we’re the best neighbors you can ever have,” Croom said. On a day-to-day basis, “you’d never know it was a wastewater treatment plant.”
May/June 2021 | gacities.com 15
Georgia Joins Celebration of 52nd Professional Municipal Clerks Week Municipal clerks from several of Georgia’s cities joined thousands across the U.S., Canada and 15 other countries to celebrate the 52nd Annual Professional Municipal Clerks Week from May 2-8. IN 1984 AND IN 1994, PRESIDENTS RONALD Reagan and Bill Clinton, respectively, signed a proclamation officially declaring Professional Municipal Clerks Week the first full week of May and recognizing the essential role municipal clerks play in local government. “There are many responsibilities of the municipal and deputy clerk that the public takes for granted, such as keeping the council advised of legislation that affects them,” said International Institute of unicipal Clerks (IIMC) President Mary Johnston, MMC. “Most people who understand what clerks do recognize that we serve as a central resource for our cities, both within our organizations and in our relationships with the public,” said Fargo City Clerk Lisa Johnson, Georgia Municipal Clerks Association President. 16
“Municipal Clerks Week is a time to remember and celebrate the ‘invisible’ part that is often overlooked in the day to day of serving in that capacity, and that is that we are, above all, the Keepers of History.” IIMC sponsors Professional Municipal Clerks Week. Founded in 1947, IIMC is the professional association of 14,700 city, town, township, village, borough, deputy and county clerks. “As clerks, we are preserving the records that will tell our story, the story of our people, and our society to future generations. That story describes how far we’ve come, and what we have overcome to get here.” “This year’s week of celebration made us stronger, better, and helped us remember who we are and what we are here for. It really is a great time to be a Municipal Clerk—not always easy, but great!” Lisa Johnson said.
Valdosta’s Awareness Training Unites Employees Valdosta has long worked to address equity and inclusion within its own workforce, a diverse group of 650 employees from city hall to the fire department. THIS YEAR, EACH ONE OF THOSE 650 participated in a cultural awareness and anti-discrimination training program. “We all must be committed to keeping the city of Valdosta a great place to work to be successful. This is why I am so proud to put on training programs such as this and look to expand them in the future,” said City Manager Mark Barber. “When an organization is inclusive, it makes it more dynamic, energetic and productive. True inclusion removes all barriers of discrimination and intolerance.” The training, “Reaching New Heights Together,” focused on defining workplace diversity and inclusion and discussing the value of a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Sheba Phillips, a licensed social worker and owner of Hedera Counseling Center, led the training, giving examples of biases, microaggressions and discrimination, and common scenarios in which they could occur. Phillips also provided employees examples of how the diversity of characteristics, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives can increase an organization’s success. “The goal of this class may have been to educate staff and make improvements in the workplace, but if the information is absorbed and used, it not only improves the workplace, but it will also improves our interactions with family and friends, and ultimately has an impact on improving our
community,” said Valdosta Budget Manager Amy Hall. The training will not only contribute to an inclusive workplace,but improve the service delivered to all Valdosta residents Deputy City Manager Catherine Ammons said. “I am a firm believer that it takes all of us here at the city of Valdosta to deliver great service to our wonderful citizens. I also believe it is important that our employees understand we are all different, and because of all of our differences, we collectively are better together,” Ammons said. “It is known that when an organization’s staff feels respected and included, they are motivated to contribute. Cultural competence encourages the acknowledgment and acceptance of differences in appearance, behavior and culture.” This will not be the last class that Valdosta employees take; more are in the works for the future. Creating an inclusive workplace is an ongoing effort—there’s no clear finish line to be reached. “The Inclusion/Cultural Awareness training educated Valdosta’s employees on how a diverse workplace can be an attributing factor to the growth, success, and development of a healthy municipality,” said Valdosta Fire Department Lt. Marcus Haynes. “This is imperative because I feel that more can be accomplished and attained when we all are working together.”
INSIDE GMA
GMA NAMED TOP WORKPLACE
BY ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION BY AMANDA C. COYNE
FOR THE SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, GMA HAS was formed to decide on mural designs for the buildbeen named one of metro Atlanta’s top workplaces. ing’s exterior walls, and input from employees was conIn the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s annual rankings, sidered in furniture choice and the addition of a gym GMA ranked 16th among 86 companies with 150 emand recording studio. With a return to the office in sight, ployees or fewer. The rankings have been published for employees’ opinions are being sought about what 11 years, and GMA has been climbing since first making post-pandemic work looks like. the list in 2014, when the organization was ranked 46th While most GMA employees have been working reamong small companies. GMA cracked the top 20 for motely for more than a year, there have been programs the first time in 2020, and this year’s ranking is its highdesigned to keep people connected, including virtual est yet. get-togethers and fitness classes. “It really says a lot about what a GMA has also taken steps to en“Staff is encouraged to great place GMA is to work, and I, sure an inclusive workplace, namparticipate and provide input for one, believe that’s because we ing Freddie Broome as director of on a variety of committees that have so much more than a work enequity and inclusion in September. impact our association.” vironment,” Executive Director LarSince then, an internal task force has ry Hanson said. “We have a family convened, and monthly equity and environment that includes work.” inclusion roundtables are open to all. The 2021 results were announced in a virtual event Hanson said he hopes GMA can continue improvon March 18. The rankings are based on an annual suring and make it to the top 10 workplaces in 2022. vey completed by workers across the metro Atlanta region. That survey is not just a tool to tally GMA’s successes, but to look for additional room for improvement, said Mark Baggett, director of human relations. Every year, GMA uses the survey results from the AJC Top Workplaces rankings to find opportunities to make the employee experience even better. “I believe GMA is a Top Workplace because we listen to our employees,” Baggett said. “Staff is encouraged to participate and provide input on a variety of committees that impact our association.” Employees on all levels have had the opportunity to contribute to major projects, including offering feedback on plans for the new GMA building. A committee
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See You in Savannah! Wordmark
GMA 2021 Annual Convention August 6-10 Georgia’s cities from across the state are invited to safely join hundreds of city leaders for GMA’s highly anticipated five-day Annual Convention held in historic Savannah at the Savannah Convention Center.Icon The convention will provide city officials and Secondary Logoguests with access to continuing education, specialized forums, networking and social events, and industry solutions for municipal governments.
Registration Details: Registration Opens: June 8 Register online at: show.jspargo.com/gma21 No registration will be processed without payment. Advance registration ends July 7. Colors (HEX)
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Convention attendees will have the opportunity to attend more than 30 different training Autography BRANDON GROTESQUE BLACK Brandon Grotesque Black classes. View all class descriptions on the training program page on GMA’sBodywebsite: Decorative (Primary) Headings (Secondary) copy (Primary) www.gacities.com • The Awards Ceremony will be held on Monday afternoon, and training certificates will be presented during this program. • Registration Packets: Registration packets will be mailed to all attendees two weeks before the convention. • Exhibit Hall: The Exhibit Hall will be open on Saturday from 3:15-6 p.m. and on Sunday from 8-9 a.m. and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. • Annual Business Meeting and Installation of Officers and Board of Directors: This year, the Business Meeting and Installation of Officers and Board of Directors will take place on Sunday afternoon. During the Business Meeting, GMA’s 2022 Legislative Policies will be voted on and the Board of Directors and district officers will be elected and installed. • Shuttle Transportation: Shuttle service will begin each morning at 7 a.m. and run continuously throughout the day from hotels to the Savannah Convention Center.
How Trails are
Connecting Cities BY NIKKI PERRY
While the Atlanta Beltline and Silver Comet Trail are the most high-profile multi-use trails in Georgia, dedicated pathways for walking, jogging and biking now crisscross the state. Communities are pursuing linear parks to encourage exercise, promote alternative transportation and connect residents to their favorite spots in their cities.
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The popularity of the rails-to-trails movement is a reminder that the success of these projects is more about the journey than the destination. Author and landscape architect Randall Arendt called greenways “an essential component of truly civilized, healthful community design,” in the Congress for New Urbanism’s Public Square journal. “However, even when a site is level and virtually featureless, a touch of imagination and a strong interest in providing green connections are all that are needed to produce a community layout that rises well above the distinctive new urban pattern of blocks and neighborhoods,” Arendt said.
The city of Newnan’s LINC multi-use trail is designed to connect historic downtown west of Interstate 85 to the new growth east of I-85. The first 1.4 miles of LINC opened in 2019, with a pedestrian bridge following in January 2021. The second phase will bring the constructed mileage up to 5 miles. The glowing blue “NEWNAN” on the pedestrian bridge spanning I-85 highlights the union formed by LINC—which is not an acronym but a nod to the links created by the trail. “Not only has it renewed an interest in wellness overall for members of our community—visitors and residents alike—it’s actually created a connection opportunity,” said Newnan Assistant City Manager Hasco Craver. That said, LINC is a trail for casual exercise rather than transportation. Picture moms with strollers, retired couples, and leisure cyclists who seek uninterrupted trails. With that audience in mind, the city decided not to allow motorized vehicles, Craver said.
May/June 2021 | gacities.com 21
Kim Learnard, director of Friends of LINC in Newnan, future, because it really does increase property values,” lives in Peachtree City, which made a name for itself by Learnard said. creating over 100 miles of golf-cart-friendly multi-use In addition to the economic, health, environmenpaths. She said the use of a trail system is designed to tal and community benefits of multi-use trails, there meet the unique needs of each community. In Newnan, is the potential to connect cities and even different “It’s better without the golf carts,” she said. “They have a regions of the state. The Chattahoochee RiverLands much stronger, much more robust bicycle community.” Greenway Study released in 2020 proposes 125 miles Running groups, friend groups and even yoga stuof uninterrupted multimodal trails from Buford Dam to dios use LINC for gathering and socializing. Friends of Chattahoochee Bend State Park, encompassing a netLINC holds events and promotes work of greenways, blueways and the trail to increase awareness in destinations. “Not only has it renewed an the community. The group also Led by the Atlanta Regional interest in wellness overall for raises funds to enhance the trail Commission, The Trust for Public members of our community— with amenities and public art. Land, Cobb County and the city visitors and residents alike—it’s “Having that advocacy arm is of Atlanta, many Georgia cities are actually created a connection beneficial,” Craver said of Friends part of a stakeholder group creatop p ortunity.” of LINC. “Anyone that is ever coned in 2018. The Sugar Hill trailhead sidering a path system like this, I would encourage a friends’ group,” he said, adding that the group’s mission should be tailored to each community’s particular needs. A total of 26 miles is planned for LINC. Though only 1.4 miles has been constructed, Learnard said it is already impacting economic development. “Real estate people are very interested to know where the trail is and where it is headed in the
near Ga. 20 would be the northernmost entrance to the RiverLands and would connect to the Sugar Hill Greenway, according to the most recent design. The National Park Service released a draft trails master plan for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area that omits sections of the Chattahoochee RiverLands.
View an interactive map of Newnan’s LINC at arcg.is/1eafrz. Learn more about Friends of LINC at friendsoflinc.org/. 22
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2021 GMA Training Schedule The Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute will offer eight live, online classes this May and June. June 3 *Ethics, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
June 25 Navigating the Future: Thinking, Planning, and Acting Strategically, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
June 4 *Municipal Finance, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Please see the GMA website for registration information.
June 24 Municipal Law Update 2021, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
*This class is on the required list for the Municipal Training Institute Certificate program
The following is a tentative class list for in-person classes. Please check online registration information for the latest information. Descriptions are provided for new classes, and full class descriptions are available at www.gacities.com under the Training & Education section.
Annual Convention The Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute will offer 31 classes during the event: 12 classes on Friday, nine classes on Saturday and ten classes on Tuesday. The following classes are tentative, and some may change. Please check the convention registration information for the latest information. August 6-10, Savannah Friday, August 6 Three-hour Classes 1-4 p.m. 1. Effective Practices for Municipal Operations 101 2. Municipal Courts Post Ferguson Part II: Promoting Justice, Protecting City Assets 3. Municipal Electric Systems 101 24
4. Municipal Gas Systems 101 5. How to Attract and Retain Young Professionals in Your Town (new) There are approximately 79 million millennials in the U.S. today, according to Pew Research, and they are currently transforming American life, including the workforce, schools, housing, transportation and technology. This class is designed to help participants understand the economic, cultural and civic benefits and challenges to a city that is attractive to young professionals. The class includes discussion on the different generations who are currently in the workforce and what sets them apart. In small group sessions, participants will be asked to express various traits they believe each generation possesses and identify their community’s existing assets that could attract young professionals. A panel discussion will provide participants with successful examples of public policy, engagement, promotion, lifestyle enhancement, and community design cities have used to attract and retain young professionals. 6. Building Bridges Between Cities and Colleges (new) This class is designed for municipal officials who serve cities with at least one college or university in its boundary. It will introduce
participants to the formal practice of town and gown relations. Participants will learn tactics to help address the challenges colleges/ universities present, build mutually beneficial relationships and ease past tensions with college and university stakeholders. Six-hour Classes 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 1. Building Community Capacity Through Tourism (new) It is important to learn about tourism’s benefit to our economy in creating jobs, attracting businesses, developing new attractions, bolstering new market segments, enhancing quality of life and inspiring creativity. This course will feature class discussions about what local officials can do to create a cohesive community tourism-based economy through working with partners; policies that support tourism; navigating through crises, funding sources available for tourism projects; and best practices from around the state. Presentations of real-life success stories will enhance your learning experience and help you think about ways to build community capacity through tourism! 2. *Economic Development 3. *Making Citizen Engagement Work in Our Communities 4. Money, Money, Money…Money! Funding City Projects through Grants and Loans 5. Municipal Long-Term Budgeting 6. Managing Growth: Economic and Natural Resource Issues Saturday August 7 Three-hour Classes 12:30-3:30 p.m. 1. Human Trafficking: Georgia’s Role and Response (new) Human trafficking is a crime that can affect anyone. As a result, the role of local governments is crucial in providing an appropriate response to this multifaceted issue and protecting local communities. This course will introduce participants to the concept of human trafficking, Georgia’s response, and what role local governments play in this fight. 2. Municipal Annexation Growing Pains and Growth Spurts (new) Annexation is an important and unique power of city governments. It often can be a difficult and complex undertaking. This class will describe the different methods of annexation permitted by Georgia
law, the steps for zoning annexed territory, and handling county objections to annexation. Participants will discuss why cities annex property and the potential impacts of annexation to the cities, newly annexed stakeholders, and the county government. 3. *Open Records 4. Let’s Get Social 5. *Practices for Successful Meetings 6. Economics of Education 7. Trends in Urban Design 8. Excellence in Customer Service 9. *Municipal Taxation 101—The Basics Tuesday, August 10 Three-hour Classes 8-11 a.m. 1. Entrepreneur Friendly Cities 2. Municipal Taxation 102—The Basics Continued 3. Recreation and Parks: Building Communities 4. Risk and Insurance 101 5. Succession Planning: Preparing for Tomorrow’s Workforce Today Six-hour Classes 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 1. Building a Hometown Connection: GMA Lobbying 101 2. Making Cultural Diversity Work 3. *Public Problems, Democratic Solutions—The Governing Role of Mayors and Councilmembers 4. Water Management—An Introduction for Local Governments 5. Service Delivery Strategy—Efficiency & Tax Equity for Local Governments
Georgia’s Downtown Conference and Training Friday, August 20, Brasstown Valley Resort, Young Harris Downtown Development Authority Basic Training DDA, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Creating a Downtown Renaissance Advanced Training, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
May/June 2021 | gacities.com 25
Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute September 28-October 1, 2021 LaGrange (tentative)
Fall Training - Athens Classic Center Thursday, October 28 The following classes are tentative. Please check GMA registration information website for the latest updates. 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Downtown Development Authority Basic Training 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. *Ethics *Governing the Commons *Community and Media Relations : Collective Decision Making in Complex Systems”
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Friday, October 29 *Conflict Resolution *Municipal Law *Municipal Finance II *How Shall We Live *This class is on the required list for the Municipal Training Institute Certificate program
Newly Elected Officials Institute 2022 Feb 23-25, 2022, Athens March 16-18, 2022, Tifton
Facing Our Sustainability and Resiliency Challenges BY NIKKI PERRY
IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE terms “sustainability” and “resiliency” have taken on renewed significance. Though Georgia’s changing weather patterns do not pose an immediate threat like the pandemic, the trend is a slow-brewing crisis that necessitates long-term changes for municipal governments. During an April 1 webinar with GMA and the Georgia Conservancy, panelists discussed the potential impacts of droughts, storms, heat waves, hurricanes and other weather events on cities, as well as big and small ways that cities can prepare. “I think sometimes it can be a little overwhelming to sit and listen to all of the potential issues that cities and counties will be facing in the future as it relates to changing climate,” said Courtney Reich, vice president of Goodwyn Mills Cawood, an architecture and engineering firm that manages sea level rise mitigation projects on the Georgia coast. Panelist Pam Knox manages the University of Georgia’s statewide weather network and is climatologist for the state’s agricultural industry. She provided data showing how precipitation patterns are changing across the country, forecasting periods of heavier rain and more dry spells for Georgia. Infrastructure planning is key if cities are to prepare for increased flooding, erosion, water supply shortage, heat-related energy demands, and impact on outdoor workers and underserved populations.
“A lot of the solutions to these problems can also save cities money,” Knox said. “If you can do something that saves you money and is good for the environment, then that’s a win-win.” The panelists suggested that cities take advantage of existing planning and permitting processes to identify infrastructure weaknesses. Hazard mitigation planning, water withdrawal permitting, stormwater infrastructure inventory, and comprehensive planning are all opportunities to pinpoint small and large projects to prepare for the future. Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz also recommended that communities keep an eye on density. “In any cityscape, if people have to drive long distances, if people are spread out, you’re creating new costs and new challenges for your community— increased road maintenance, increased vehicle consumption and fuel consumption,” Girtz said. The consolidated government is investing $45 million in affordable housing and revitalization adjacent to downtown. Involving members of the community has also been a strategic way to bring some energy to these initiatives. Many communities like, Athens-Clarke County, have citizen advisory boards that monitor the government’s work and generate community support for SPLOST-funded projects.
May/June 2021 | gacities.com 27
ADVOCACY
GMA Priorities See Gold Dome Successes The 2021 General Assembly legislative session has ended as Georgia slowly emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, with GMA achieving a number of legislative accomplishments at the capitol. A MAJOR REVENUE BOOST FOR CITIES IS EXPECTED due to the passage of House Bill 317, which requires online platforms that facilitate short-term rentals to collect and remit local hotel-motel taxes. “Georgians and tourists will be looking for shortterm rental stays in Georgia,” said GMA Governmental Relations Associate Ryan Bowersox, “and HB 317 is estimated to bring in an additional $32.1 million for local governments in fiscal year 2022 and an additional $34.9 million by FY 2024.” This law will apply to large online facilitators like Airbnb, VRBO and others if the total charges across their platforms in Georgia are at least $100,000 in the previous or current year. Another successful GMA priority was Senate Bill 145, which replaces cities to call for a ballot question on liquor package sales by resolution or ordinance rather than the cumbersome petition requirement. HB 98 also passed; it would explicitly grant local governments the authority to hold virtual public hearings, such as budget or zoning proceedings, in emergency situations. Three more cities could have a new revenue source with the passage of HB 160, which would extend the ability to levy the 1% Municipal Option Sales Tax (MOST) for water and sewer projects to any municipality with a wastewater system connecting to the city of Atlanta’s waste-water system.
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“Should Gov. Kemp sign this bill into law,” said Bowersox, “I anticipate other cities expressing an interest in accessing a MOST to pay for infrastructure costs in the future.” GMA achieved another policy goal with the passage of HB 479, which would repeal the citizen’s arrest law that allowed for a private citizen to detain another private citizen based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
Defending Home Rule One negative measure, HB 328, would have reduced the rates owed to municipalities for the usage of the public rights-of-way for laying linear miles of fiber in cities where no retail customers are receiving broadband services. The bill failed to pass on the last day of the session but will be eligible for a vote in the 2022 session. Under current law, due compensation for cities is based on the same rate structure as the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), which has established rates at $5,000 per mile in urban areas and $1,000 per mile in rural areas. “It is important that House members hear from city officials before the 2022 session begins,” said GMA’s Deputy Director of Governmental Relations Charlotte Davis. “Since HB 328 is poised for a final vote in the House next year, municipal leaders need to continue to educate their representatives on the value of municipal rights-of-way.”
The one fight GMA lost was on HB 286, which would restrict a city or consolidated government with a police department from reducing annual appropriations for the police force by more than 5% of the previous fiscal year’s appropriations. However, GMA’s legislative staff was able to work with the author to amend the bill to add exemptions to this requirement, including exemptions for cities with 25 or fewer law enforcement personnel and local governments that hold a public hearing to specifically discuss the police department’s budget proposal.
Stay Engaged and Connected “The legislative success of GMA is largely due to the engagement of city officials across the state,” said Tom Q. Gehl, GMA’s Director of Governmental Relations. “On behalf of GMA’s legislative team, thanks to the city officials who were actively participating in the legislative session. The work is not over. GMA’s legislative staff wants to hear your policy priorities for the next session, and I encourage city leaders to continue building relationship with their legislators now that they have returned home.”
Work Ahead of the 2022 Session There will be work on city-focused legislation in the interim before next year’s session, and it will be imperative for city officials to remain engaged with their legislators on municipal priorities. Annexations will be a focus of the General Assembly, with emphasis on the annexation dispute resolution process. There is a growing contingent of elected officials who want to make it harder for cities to grow through annexations. “As chair of the Legislative Policy Council, I know firsthand the importance of staying up to date on the actions of the General Assembly,” said LaGrange Mayor and GMA First Vice President Jim Thornton. “We can make a real difference when cities are united in asking legislators for support on the principles of home rule and local control.”
May/June 2021 | gacities.com 29
SERVICE
Information Technology As Critical Infrastructure:
Steps to Create the Right Foundation During the first week of February in Oldsmar, Fla., a hacker tried to poison the city’s water supply by increasing the amount of lye to dangerous levels. WHILE THE CITY FENDED OFF THE ATTACK, SOME areas of concern with password security and outdated operating systems were revealed that demonstrated the importance of IT to a city’s infrastructure in 2021. While this example may seem extreme compared to a typical city’s day-to-day worries, Oldsmar’s situation illustrates how a deficient IT foundation can potentially compromise the security and operations of a city. Municipalities oversee unique services to residents—from public safety to public works—while also nurturing business growth and quality of life. During the process of serving residents, cities must meet high operational standards, handle sensitive information, and comply with federal, state, and local laws. According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, “The Information Technology Sector is central to the nation’s security, economy, and public health and safety as businesses, governments, academia, and private citizens are increasingly dependent upon Information Technology Sector functions.” Cities should address IT infrastructure by focusing on a few basics. • Modernize hardware, software and equipment. Modernization lessens the risk of equipment breaking down, becoming so slow as to
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bring city functions to a near stop, and opening a city up to cyberattacks as vendors no longer patch or support the equipment. • Deploy a comprehensive data backup and disaster recovery solution. To prevent permanent data loss, a solution needs an onsite and offsite data backup component—with periodic testing. • Proactive IT support and planning. It’s important that experienced IT professionals monitor systems and provide notifications when something seems wrong. This way, cities start to proactively get ahead of security and operational IT issues. GMA has recognized the need for all cities (especially smaller cities) to have easy, affordable access to the above IT resources. By developing IT in a Box with association partner, VC3, GMA addresses these key areas. Currently, GMA is also piloting Security Awareness Training for cities to address the people side of IT. City employees need to be aware of the latest ways that hackers attempt to trick them and learn to practice good “cyber hygiene” that makes cities more secure. For more information about GMA’s IT in a Box, call Darin Jenkins at djenkins@gacities.com or visit the Services section at www.gacities.com.
INNOVATION
Newly Elected Officials Institute Goes On in Different Format Things looked a little different in 2021 for the annual training that the Carl Vinson Institute of Government and GMA present to help newly elected municipal officials learn more about municipal government.
WITH COVID-19 PANDEMIC ONGOING, THE two organizations decided to live-stream the event on March 29-31 from GMA’s new headquarters in Downtown Atlanta, allowing city officials to safely participate from home. Presenters came to the GMA office one-by-one and all staff followed CDC safety guidelines. Approximately 120 newly elected officials took part in the training. The three-day training included topics on staff and employee relations; legal foundation; ethics; resources for municipal services, meeting management, elected officials’ roles and responsibilities with personnel; land use; and, new this year, Introduction to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Introduction to Transportation and Public Works. GMA President Vince Williams, mayor of Union City, provided remarks and tips on being a successful city official. A simulated council meeting was also presented. More than 60% of the participants said the training exceeded their expectations, and 100% said it met or exceeded their expectations. “Thank you for an excellent program last month. I was dreading the long days sitting in front of my laptop, but the time went by without notice,” said Sky Valley Councilmember Tony Allred. “The topics were pertinent and well developed.”
The 2022 Newly Elected Officials Institute is scheduled for Feb. 23-25 in Athens and March 16 -18 in Tifton. Registration is scheduled to open in the fall.
Georgia Municipal Association | New Headquarters, Renovation, and Parking Deck
Pickens County | Courthouse
City of Douglasville | Public Safety Complex
Recreational CITIES INVEST IN
INFRASTRUCTURE BY BECCA J.G. GODWIN
When families want to spend time together, celebrate a happy occasion or just blow off some steam, they often look to their community’s parks and recreational activities. Georgia’s cities are investing in infrastructure that provides these facilities and services in creative ways—and the payoff is rewarding for both residents and city leaders.
IN MARCH 2020, THE CITY OF DUNWOODY’S parks department staff started working from home due to the pandemic. That left Recreation Program Supervisor Rachel Waldron facing a big question: “How do we still engage with people without physically being present, like we’re used to doing?” The answer, Waldron and her counterparts would learn, is that there are many ways for parks to engage virtually. In fact, before the year was over, Dunwoody would win an award from the Georgia Recreation and Park Association for one of its campaigns. That effort involved transforming their planned one-day senior health and fitness event at their annex into an entire community outreach project. They partnered with a local assisted living facility, where they 32
offered exercise classes weekly and connected about 100 pen pals with the facility’s residents to keep them engaged with the outside world. “It’s been really cool to see us and other agencies get really creative,” Waldron said. The pandemic pushed many departments to think about park boundaries differently. The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department did just that by moving to virtual and distanced leisure services amid quarantines. The area’s Sandy Creek Nature Center’s annual Snake Day moved to video. The Lyndon House Arts Center created contemporary art kits for children to use at home. Athens Creative Theatre offered online classes and productions.
Cathy Padgett, the department’s community relations specialist, said when Athens residents would get disappointed after calling to ask if a playground was open, staff members were able to redirect them to the alternative activities in which the city had invested. “People really appreciated it, and it kept them engaged, and it kept them active,” said Padgett. “And I think maybe to some degree, maybe being locked up made people value their parks even more — because they couldn’t get to them.” Now that vaccines are available, Acworth is seeing more people return to Logan Farm Park after it was closed last year. The park, whose features include trails, a half-acre pond and an inclusive playground, was part
of the city’s redevelopment of its downtown area that began in the late 1990s. James Albright, Acworth’s parks, recreation and community resource director, said the investment was important because in addition to being a family-friendly place, it also generates regular traffic to the community. “It’s taken 20 years to get there, but we’ve assembled close to 140 acres that is Logan Farm Park, and now we have restaurants that connect to it, we have cultural arts facilities, we have outdoor interpretive history areas,” Albright said. “So really, it was the synergy that brought everything together from an economic development perspective.” Another draw to the park is lots of space for walking, running and cycling.
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Like park infrastructure, bike lanes are Trail, a multi-use 11-mile stretch that weaves alongside a significant investment area for cities. former rail lines. The League of American Bicyclists has Elliott Caldwell, Executive Director of recognized Columbus as a bicycle-friendly communiGeorgia Bikes, calls safe bike lanes a ty, along with 11 other jurisdictions in the state, includ“crucial part of transportation infrastructure.” Without ing Atlanta, Savannah and Carrollton. them, people who don’t own a car or live near tranCities looking to start building bike infrastructure sit services may have trouble getting to vital locations into their planning can start by conducting a needs such as work, school or government institutions. assessment for people who are already biking in the “No matter where you go in the state, I think peoarea, Caldwell said. They can also start small by simply ple want to ride bikes,” Caldwell bringing bike education into local said. “A lot of the polling that schools or starting a bike-share “Focus on the people, don’t just we’ve done over the years has reprogram. focus automatically on the ally indicated that people not only “Some of the best planners infrastructure.” want a bicycle as a part of their who work on bike-pedestrian actransportation and recreation, but they’re also willing to put a small bit of their city or county budget towards building bike infrastructure.” The importance of bike lanes was underscored when the pandemic forced many essential workers to find new ways to get to work after changes in their transit routes, Caldwell said. Biking allowed people to commute alone, outside and on their own schedule. At a tense time when many gyms were closed, children weren’t getting recess time and screens were becoming increasingly dominant, biking also helped provide families with a physical and mental health reset. Many Georgia cities have invested in such infrastructure over the years. Columbus has the Dragonfly
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tive transportation issues, they’ll always say: ‘Focus on the people, don’t just focus automatically on the infrastructure. Really center people and their needs in the conversations when you’re starting on these issues.’” Caldwell hopes they begin by contacting Georgia Bikes. “I really want cities and communities to know that if they’re interested in bikes, come talk to us,” Caldwell said. “We will help find resources and help make those connections. That’s one of our primary roles in the state.”
Fire Chiefs Practice Emotional Intelligence at GMA Workshop ON A LOVELY SUNNY DAY IN Savannah, as cargo ships cruised the Savannah River and visitors walked the cobblestone streets, more than 170 fire chiefs attended a diversity, equity and inclusion trainBroome ing class. The training was during the Georgia Association of Fire Chief’s Executive Spring Training Conference. Freddie D. Broome, GMA’s director of equity and inclusion, presented “Emotional Intelligence: Creating an Inclusive Workplace by Embracing Emotions and Diversity.” “The training session on diversity, equity and inclusion is beneficial for the fire service, especially in today’s ever-changing world,” said Waycross Fire Chief David Eddins, who serves as the Georgia Association of Fire Chief’s first vice president. “We become better because we value and welcome each other’s differences.” During the training, everyone participated in several exercises, from an emotional intelligence assessment to demonstrating the importance of equity. To demonstrate how difficult, it is to create inclusivity, the final exercise involved getting the participants up and dancing to “Whoomp! (There It Is).” “When we identify our differences, it is easier to embrace equity and inclusion and celebrate differences,” Broome said.
First-year attendee Deputy Chief Latosha Clemons from the city of Forest Park enjoyed the emotional intelligence training. “Emotional Intelligence creates a higher level of influence with how we view and value one another,” Clemons said. Attendees received CEU’s for attending the classes. Georgia Fire Academy Director Ike McConnell also attended the emotional intelligence class. “The approach to the presentation easily led participants to discuss a topic that could be uncomfortable. The lesson on Emotional Intelligence vs. Cognitive Intelligence can assist fire service leaders in understanding how to manage their members,” said McConnell. Another topic of discussion was the “Platinum Rule.” Broome expressed the importance of treating everyone the way they wish to be treated. “The fire service has always provided challenges when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion. This training is almost a requirement with today’s climate,” said St. Mary’s City Manager Robert Horton, who is also a former fire chief. To learn more about emotional intelligence training, contact Freddie Broome at fbroome@gacities.com or visit the Equity & Inclusion section on www.gacities.com. May/June 2021 | gacities.com 35
City Leaders Increase Engagement and Knowledge with ‘Talk It Up Thursday’ GMA MEMBERS FROM ACROSS GEORGIA ARE finding educational, fast and free training opportunities from GMA’s monthly “Talk It Up Thursday” virtual meetings. All city leaders are invited to join GMA’s Member Service team on the last Thursday of each month for this opportune time of engagement and education. Each virtual session is one hour and covers a new topic each month. These topics are designed specifically for elected officials and city staff and provide educational information that is coupled with information on GMA services or programs, resources available through state and federal agencies, and more.
Talk it Up Thursday Schedule • June 24: Infrastructure Asset Management • July 29: Leadership Development • Aug. 26: Campaign & Finance Rules • Sept. 30: Building Your Team • Oct. 28: Onboarding New Elected Officials • Nov. 18: Preparing for Your Audit • Dec. 30: Using Emotional Intelligence to Improve Workplace Culture
Here’s What City Leaders are Saying About ‘Talk It Up Thursday’ Brian Boutwell, City of Valdosta, Fire Chief “Georgia’s cities around the state, including Valdosta, are seeing an influx of growth and investment. As public safety departments look to the future, we are challenged to find creative funding sources for capital investments and the purchase of gear, tools and assets. One of GMA’s ‘Talk It Up Thursday’ sessions earlier this year focused on Purchasing Capital Assets in Public Safety. The session also highlighted funding sources such as SPLOST and low-interest loans through the GMA Lease Pool Program. In the past five years, the city of Valdosta and Valdosta Fire Department have utilized these funding source to purchase four engines and two ladder trucks, replacing outdated equipment in a fiscally responsible way. Updating our equipment helps us meet the current National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and the fire safety needs of our city.” China Agu City of Waycross, Finance Director “Public safety capital is a major expense for every city. It is refreshing to hear and interact with people like Freddie Broome and Darin Jenkins of GMA on different programs, including GMA’s Brick and Mortar program and Direct Lease Financing.”
To learn more about the topics, view previous sessions or register, visit the “Talk It Up Thursday” section under the Events page at www.gacities.com. 36
Connecting Towns to Gowns:
GMA and UGA’s College of Public Health Collaborate on Fellowship Program
This year, both the pandemic and social unrest exacerbated many existing inequities, including differences in health outcomes for Georgians. WHILE CITIES ARE USUALLY NOT DIRECT healthcare providers, they can influence their residents’ quality of life in many ways. That is one of the main reasons why GMA’s Equity and Inclusion Commission identified health as an important component of its work. It is also why GMA partnered with the University of Georgia when its College of Public Health launched a new Health Equity Fellows program earlier this year. Dean Marsha Davis and Grace Bagwell Adams, assistant dean for outreach, engagement, and equity at UGA’s College of Public Health, led the inaugural cohort of five fellows. Each student was paired with a faculty mentor and a city in Georgia to provide learning opportunities and form new partnerships. Their work directly addresses health inequities and serves as an advertisement for the mutual benefits produced by the cooperation between cities and universities.
The Projects Harrison Huang compiled a substance abuse report and developed treatment options in Young Harris to reduce stigma and overcome barriers to care. The centerpiece of his research was a youth leadership program with the potential to drive local workforce development, provide positive socio-cultural norms, and fill service gaps. Mayor Andrea Gibby applauded him for being able “to bring our worlds of knowledge together and to help us formulate where we are going to go next.” Carlyncia McDowell researched the importance of health equity in Milledgeville. She built a dataset on the current state of health in Baldwin County and identified initiatives in other communities that can be adapted locally, particularly programs addressing mental health in the criminal justice system. City Manager Hank Griffeth appreciated her work: “City leaders will soon look at best practices” to plan for the implementation of a mental health public safety initiative or diversion program.
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Jennifer Quezada’s project for Moultrie focused on provide research that can inform policy. Christina Graconnecting people to public health resources after ham, executive director of the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Polfinding many residents use the local hospital’s emericy Council for Children and Families, is excited about gency room as a clinic. She created a health resourcthe possibilities. es directory in English and Spanish and developed a “Finding out what people’s experiences are will distribution plan. City Manager Pete Dillard intends to give us lots of new directions to go to improve the update this publication regularly and emphasized its community,” Graham said. equity component. Given the positive reactions from city officials, “To have a directory in one place that we can now GMA and UGA’s College of Public Health will convene link to our website, that we can a second cohort in the fall. disseminate to many places, is “The leadership role of local govern“These efforts dovetail perinvaluable because there are so fectly with GMA initiatives includments is critical to move us forward many who don’t have access,” Dil- together in improving health equity.” ing the Equity and Inclusion Comlard said. mission, Georgia City Solutions, Dr. Grace Bagwell Adams, Assistant Amber Bullard worked with Dean for Outreach, Engagement, and and COVID vaccine campaign,” College Park on the health effects Equity, UGA College of Public Health said Becky Taylor, GMA’s Director of airport noise. Combining quanof Federal Relations and Research. titative data with interviews of local officials, she rec“This is the first time cities have had access to the exommended conducting a local needs assessment and pertise provided by this outstanding group of Fellows. forming health education teams to provide information Their research serves as a model for work underway about noise mitigation efforts. Gary Young, College in cities across Georgia, and we are grateful to UGA’s Park’s director of airport affairs, praised Bullard for capCollege of Public Health for bringing this opportunity turing the complex interplay between stakeholders. to Georgia’s cities. We look forward to our continued “We truly appreciate her and all the faculty at UGA partnership.” for creating this dialogue,” Young said. “She did a great job understanding the various perspectives—airlines, developers, airports, local jurisdictions.” Kenya Murray, the cohort’s only Ph.D. student, A video of the Fellow’s presentations is explored the adoption of a free medical clinic model available on GMA’s website. To submit project in Fitzgerald. Her qualitative study intends to show ideas from your city, please contact Becky Taylor the lived experience of public health inequities and to at btaylor@gacities.com.
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Planning for a Life after COVID:
GMA’s Local Government Practicum Seeks New Projects As Georgians get vaccinated and prepare for their emergence from the coronavirus pandemic, cities may find that they have a lot of work ahead of them—either because projects were put on hold or because the pandemic has led to new ideas. In any case, GMA is here to help. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PRACTICUM BRINGS together graduate students looking for practical experience and cities that need assistance with research-driven projects. GMA encourages its members to visit our website and submit a brief application that describes the scope of work. There is no cost to cities, no deadline to apply, and the program guidelines are minimal. Since most students participate in the practicum for the summer or a single semester, the duration of a project should not exceed four months. Students will select projects according to their educational background, expertise and professional goals. They are also expected to familiarize themselves with the location and staff of the city they choose, which can still be done remotely to accommodate
public health concerns. Unlike an internship, the student works independently and does not require a manager to provide day-to-day supervision. At the end of the semester, the city will receive a report, usually delivered in a formal presentation before the city council. Throughout the project, GMA serves as a support system and liaison between the city, the student and university faculty.
For more information contact Holger Loewendorf at hloewendorf@gacities.com.
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The Value of Cities Data Dive: Daytime Population Changes COVID-19 reduced our range of motion in many ways. Based on GPS data from mobile devices, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that work-related travel dropped by more than 50% in April 2020 and currently hovers around 70% of normal activity. “SINCE MOBILITY AND ECONOMIC HEALTH ARE correlated, the decline in the former has led some to predict the hollowing out of our cities,” said GMA Research Manager Holger Loewendorf. “Prior to the paralyzing effects of the pandemic, most Georgians moved around quite a bit during the day. Cities should hope and plan for a time when they will do so again.” American Community Survey data from 2019 shows that the daytime population in Georgia’s cities increased by 27.5% due to commuting. Looking beyond this aggregate value, 286 cities gained a total daytime population of about 1.4 million (or an average of 4,922) commuters, while 251 cities lost about 142,000 commuters (or 567 on average). Why does this data matter? According to Loewendorf, cities deliver services—such as water, sewer, fire and police protection—to both daytime and resident populations and need to have the capacity to accommodate fluctuating demands. But more importantly, cities can provide a service to commuters that is not only measurable in fiscal terms. Thirty years ago, the sociologist Ray Oldenburg described “third places” as public spaces where people can gather and interact. Unlike “first places” (home) and
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“second places” (work), third places facilitate “regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals.” By convening and welcoming people from all backgrounds, Oldenburg explained that main streets, restaurants, bars, post offices and similar sites determine a community’s social vitality, promote equity, create habits of public association, and support a vibrant democracy. “The pandemic has made the availability of ‘third places’ more challenging by relocating many of our interactions to the virtual realm. But cities have several options to prepare for a different and possibly better normality,” Loewendorf said. Loewendorf encouraged city leaders to consider these questions: Does your zoning accommodate mixed-use functions in residential areas to create more third places? Are your third places accessible via different modes of transportation? Do you provide free Wi-Fi to attract people in an otherwise unlikely meeting location? Can you retrofit public places and make other design changes to encourage interactions between groups? “To paraphrase a seasonally appropriate movie, if you build any of these things, the commuters will come—and stay for a while,” he said.
FEDERAL FOCUS
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Interim Safe Opening & Operation Work Eligible for Public Assistance Policy FEMA has issued interim guidance for the framework, policy details and requirements for determining the eligibility of safe opening and operation work and eligible costs under the FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Program. THIS PROGRAM, INITIALLY AUTHORIZED IN March 2020, was extended by President Joe Biden on January 21, 2021, to provide funding to PA applicants to cover work conducted from Jan. 21-Sept. 30, 2021. Under the March 13, 2020 Coronavirus (COVID-19) nationwide emergency declaration and subsequent major disaster declarations for COVID-19, state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) government entities and certain private nonprofit (PNP) organizations are eligible to apply for assistance under the FEMA PA Program. This policy generally applies to safe opening and operation work conducted from Jan. 21 to Sept. 30, 2021. Assistance for eligible costs will be provided at 100% federal funding. In determining eligibility, FEMA will pay for measures used by local governments to protect life, public health and safety. Funds may also be provided to local governments to reimburse private and nonprofit organizations when necessary, to carry out eligible emergency protective measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Costs must be determined to be reasonable and necessary to respond to the pandemic, and applicants must document costs in sufficient detail for FEMA to evaluate their compliance with federal laws, rules and program requirements. The Jan. 21 executive order also included an emphasis on emergency protective measures made eligible to
support communities of color and other underserved populations that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. As a condition of receiving PA funds, recipients and subrecipients must focus on the use of FEMA funding on the highest-risk communities and underserved populations and prioritize resources to ensure an equitable pandemic response. PA applicants must demonstrate funds will be used to pay for measures implemented to facilitate the safe opening and operation of eligible facilities in response to the pandemic. Examples of eligible costs include assistance for face masks; PPE, cleaning and disinfection; COVID-19 testing; screening equipment; temporary barriers; and other supplies. PA funding may be considered concurrently with other federal agency programs and sources. A list of federal funding for COVID-19 is available at: www.usa.gov/coronavirus. Federal programs may not be used to pay for the same work twice, and applicants must certify assistance is not being duplicated.
For more details and instructions on how to apply visit gema.georgia.gov.
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TOWNS & THE LAW
Time to Take a Fresh Look at Workforce Vaccination Promotion Programs? BY ALISON EARLES, CIPP/US, GMA SENIOR ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL
The availability of vaccines to everyone 12 and over, President Biden’s call on employers to help promote vaccination, the availability of reimbursement for paid time off from April 1–Sept. 30, 2021 under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and President Joe Biden’s praise for Kroger’s incentive arrangement may cause cities to consider workplace vaccine promotion programs. BELOW ARE COMMON LEGAL concerns, information to consider, and examples of how Georgia’s cities are promoting vaccines to employees. Please consult with employment counsel or the city attorney when developing a COVID-19 vaccination promotion program for employees. Concerns about extra paid time off and other vaccine incentives: Possible discrimination against those who cannot be vaccinated; creating an “involuntary” wellness program. It is unlikely that allowing vaccinations during work hours without taking leave or getting extra sick leave to recover will be viewed as discriminatory. For monetary and vacation pay incentives, cities should offer the same incentive to those unable to be vaccinated due to medical or religious reasons after completion of an alternative activity, such as scheduling vaccines or promoting workplace masking and social distancing. Information to consider: President Biden’s “call” to all employers and the ARPA’s provision of 100% reimbursement to most employers for paid vaccination leave granted through Sept. 30, 2021; President Biden’s public praise of Kroger’s incentive program (which includes an alternative for those unable to get vaccinated); January 2021 withdrawal of EEOC regulations 42
prohibiting wellness incentives of more than “de minimis” value (such as water bottles); EEOC’s stated intent to issue guidance on vaccination incentives. All cities contacted through an informal survey emphasize to employees that vaccination is voluntary. Cities that let employees get the vaccine during work hours without taking leave: Alma, Blairsville, Brookhaven; Byron, Commerce, Decatur, Duluth, Griffin, Hinesville, Hogansville, Milton, Oakwood, Powder Springs, Royston, Shiloh, Valdosta. Cities offering incentives upon receipt of proof of full vaccination: Woodstock ($200 gift card usable at local businesses); Acworth ($200 gift card); Hogansville ($100 gift card); Decatur (extra vacation day, raffle entry, wellness program points); Duluth (extra vacation day); Commerce (wellness program points). Concerns about on-site vaccination clinics: possible violation of rules against medical inquiries; possible HIPAA obligations; possible workers’ compensation claims. Hosting a vaccination clinic at or near the workplace is one of the most effective ways to promote workforce vaccination. The CDC offers guidance about on-site vaccinations for employers.
A vaccination clinic that is open to the community does not become an “on-site clinic” simply because it is operated on city property or partly staffed by city employees. If a city hosts a vaccination clinic for employees and their family members only, it should document the arrangement with the partner health care provider or public health department. Pre-screening forms must be used only by health care providers or staff authorized to administer vaccines, and only to administer vaccines. To prevent the clinic from becoming a “HIPAA covered entity,” no city employee should send electronic documentation or claims to a health insurance plan. As with on-site flu shot clinics, if employees are encouraged to go and are paid while attending, an adverse reaction could result in a workers’ compensation claim. Information to consider: many employers, including cities, have vaccinated employees through on-site vaccination clinics. Clinical trials and ongoing surveillance of vaccinations indicate the risk of adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine is very low. Several cities reported significant employee/family participation in city-sponsored vaccination clinics, and credited ease of access. Cities providing vaccination clinics on city property in partnership with a health care provider or department of public health include: Brunswick, Cordele, Decatur, Dublin, Griffin, Hogansville, Milton; Thomson; Valdosta, Vidalia, Savannah, and Woodstock. Concerns about privacy: Should the city know who has been vaccinated? Can employees discuss their vaccinations at work? When offering incentives, employers may request and retain proof of vaccination or why vaccination is prohibited. Employers should not ask about underlying medical reasons. Records should be stored securely by the human resources representative (like sick/disability leave records) and the information used only to administer the incentive program.
Employees may always discuss their own vaccinations. The success of wellness programs (including those involving flu vaccines) often depends on “Champions” who discuss their participation and encourage others to participate. Information to consider: Many individuals post about their vaccinations on social media and share information with coworkers. GMA’s “It’s Worth A Shot” campaign encourages city leaders to share their personal experiences as a powerful vaccination promotion tool.
G DOT
ENH AN C E M E N T S
TAKING SHAPE IN GEORGIA’S CITIES BY AMANDA C. COYNE
One agency that can’t work from home is the Georgia Department of Transportation. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, GDOT crews have been hard at work across the state to improve roadways and airports.
AS AIR TRAVEL AND COMMUTING START TO PICK up again, improvements are being made to ensure those trips go smoothly. Local governments are also utilizing funds from the agency to enhance their own infrastructure, whether it’s adding sidewalks for safe pedestrian travel or walk and bike trails for recreation and alternative transportation. Here are just some of the projects GDOT and local governments have in the works. UPGRADES AT THE VIDALIA REGIONAL AIRPORT A rehab project on the Vidalia Regional Airport’s apron is currently underway,
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funded by a state and local grant from GDOT. It’s expected to be complete—ahead of schedule—in June, according to Vidalia City Manager Nick Overstreet. The project will expand the pavement around the airport’s taxiway in front of existing hangars. Once complete, the airport will be able to better accommodate the types of aircraft that regularly use it. Vidalia Regional—or, in aviation terms, VDI—is not an airport where you can hop on a Delta flight. Most of its traffic comes from private air travel, recreational pilots and flight training. But that doesn’t mean it’s not busy. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the airport averages 52 take-offs and landings each day—nearly 19,000 flights per year.
MORE WAYS TO TAKE A WALK (OR RIDE) GDOT is currently accepting applications for its Transportation Alternatives Program. In partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, GDOT funds projects that will add new pedestrian and bike trails, or improve walkability in downtowns, historic districts and routes where children walk to school. The deadline for 2022 applications is July 31, but the 2021 projects are already getting started. Macon-Bibb County received $500,000 through TAP to create the final link in a massive Middle Georgia trail system. The Connector Trail will be a two-mile stretch of pedestrian and bike trail along the Ocmulgee
River in downtown Macon. It will connect the 13mile Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, which runs through Macon-Bibb County starting at Amerson River Park and ending near Central City Park and Ocmulgee Mounds National Monument. In Cartersville, more than a mile of sidewalk will be installed between a busy retail district and residential area. The city received $1.9 million through TAP to add new, safe walking routes near many homes. The sidewalk route begins on a busy stretch of Ga. 20 (Joe Frank Harris Parkway), near apartments, restaurants and businesses. The path will go along Grassdale Road, an artery connecting many residential neighborhoods and subdivisions.
CITIES INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THE 2022 ROUND OF TAP FUNDING CAN LEARN MORE BY VISITING WWW.DOT.GA.GOV/IS/FUNDING/TAP
TRAFFIC HUB UNDERGOING TRANSFORMATION A long-term project tackling a regular traffic nightmare for metro Atlanta commuters is close to completion. Transform 285/400 started in 2017, an ambitious undertaking to improve 4.3 miles of Interstate 285 and 6.2 miles along Ga. 400, centering around where the two highways meet. Before the COVID-19 pandemic relegated many office workers to remote work, the top of the Perimeter was a choke point for drivers leaving large office buildings in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs. Transform 285/400 aims to alleviate some of that daily traffic frustration.
The project includes new distributor lanes along I-285 and Ga. 400, a new diverging diamond interchange and new paths and sidewalks to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. Once complete—GDOT projects early 2022 as the finish line—the agency expects to reduce delays by over 12,500 hours daily (spread across the thousands of drivers). The average commuter is expected to save eight hours of traffic time annually. Not only will commuters have an easier ride, but residents in surrounding cities—Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and Brookhaven—will have less congestion to deal with and more opportunities for walking and biking.
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DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENTS
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENTS PROMOTING DOWNTOWNS AS A VISITOR ATTRACTION BY CHERYL HARGROVE, CULTURAL HERITAGE TOURISM SPECIALIST BASED ON ST. SIMONS ISLAND
COVID-19 knocked our economy to its knees last year, as businesses shuttered and tourism screeched to a halt. TO HELP NAVIGATE COVID’S negative impacts and keep our communities—and particularly small businesses downtown—operating during the pandemic, some tourism bureaus shifted their focus from external marketing to promote hyperlocal activities to regional residents. When Georgia College in Milledgeville went to remote learning last fall, downtown merchants and businesses were particularly devastated by the absence of students. To help stimulate patronage and sales for the holiday season, the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) launched a special sweepstakes for shoppers. Customers were
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encouraged to bring in their receipt from one of the downtown businesses to the visitor center during the period of Small Business Saturday (right after Thanksgiving) until Christmas Eve. The incentive? Automatic registration for a drawing of several merchant prizes— from coffee every month to a Traeger Grill—all valued at $150 or more. The sweepstakes tracked more than $14,000 in spending at downtown venues and garnered a great deal of awareness for local businesses. As visitors get vaccinated and restrictions drop on gatherings, tourism bureaus seek to attract more day and overnight travelers, particularly from nearby drive markets, to stimulate local economies. Promotions often showcase the unique attributes of downtowns
to enhance the destination’s brand. For instance, the Milledgeville CVB website features 10 women-owned businesses (eight of whom are downtown) and six Black-owned businesses. Two of the Black-owned businesses are downtown; the others are located around the county—a great opportunity for getting visitors to linger longer in the area. The Thomasville Visitor Center pre-packages special itineraries focusing on themes including historic sites, a Taste of Thomasville Food Tour, a spa and wine experience and golf. Each Getaway Package includes $20 in “Downtown Dollars” to spend like cash on shopping and dining in Thomasville’s award-winning downtown. On its website, Visit Beaufort (SC) offers downloadable coupons for discounts at downtown merchants and attractions. Not only do these promotions encourage patronage at downtown businesses, they are also measurable. Outdoor activities now rank high on traveler’s list of preferences, so many tourism bureaus throughout Georgia and the U.S. promote their natural assets in tandem with downtown experiences. The Woodstock Visitor Center describes “a place to escape, gather and refresh with colors, sounds and tastes vibrant and diverse” with the energy and spirit of a community revitalized. The CVB markets its retail district with recreational activities accessible from downtown—such as the Noonday Creek Trail. The Holland (Michigan) Area Visitors Bureau has seen an uptick in self-guided walking tours. As tourism director Linda Hart said, “(Visitors) want to explore downtown and the historic district. They’re asking about the banner exhibit downtown. It’s almost as if people are realizing that our downtown area is a canvas for public
art.” From murals to sculpture, public art is the centerpiece of many downtown promotions—combining walking tours, shopping and culture. The Downtown Frederick Public Art Trail is promoted by Visit Frederick (Maryland) as an “outdoor gallery” with 20 sites interspersed among shops, historic sites and parks. With CVBs shifting marketing to out-of-town audiences, the local perspective is still valued. In Arkansas, the “Little Rock Like a Local” campaign encourages visitors to discover downtown and its unique neighborhoods to fully appreciate the city’s heartbeat. The CVB offers downloadable maps and information to encourage exploration. Other destinations use local “insider information” to build apps linking history, culture, nature and commerce. The Amelia Island Tourist Development Council (FL) includes a digital travel guide for Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach on its website. Then, visitors are encouraged to download the free DISTRIX app for the latest downtown offers and promotions, parking information, list of businesses and upcoming events. #LoveAmelia also offers $100 “Island Perks” incentive cards for visitors to spend around town—all designed to help support local small businesses and the community. As we enter a post-pandemic “reopening” phase, visitors still want many of the same experiences as preCOVID: to feel welcomed and safe and experience unique shops and activities they cannot find at home. Our downtowns provide many of these desired destination attractions. Ensuring visitors are aware of how to explore downtown and support local businesses through tourism spending is now a great opportunity for destination marketers.
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Connecting with Georgia’s
Children
By Sara Baxter
Youth
ENGAGE is a series of stories by GMA and Georgia City Solutions that highlights how cities and city officials are engaging and connecting with children and youth in their communities and addressing the issues they face. Each issue will feature excerpts from the ENGAGE stories. To read the full features, visit www.gacities.com.
Get the Children Reading
Promoting literacy helps protect the health, well-being and economy of communities, and it’s a great way to engage young readers. According to literacy campaign Get Georgia Reading, nearly six out of 10 children are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade, a critical time when children shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Luckily, through the efforts of campaign partners at both the community and state levels, the needle is moving. Reading proficiency for Georgia third graders has increased from 37% in 2015 to 42% in 2019. Columbus is one community doing its part. Randalette Williams, president of Chattahoochee Valley Parent2Parent, LLC and program manager for Real Dads Read ColGa, launched a Real Dads Read Mobile Unit in the city after Atlanta-based Fathers Incorporated launched the program. The Columbus and the Muscogee County Schools police departments enthusiastically agreed to participate. Williams estimates the mobile unit program has given out at least 500 books. Just like Williams, Hahira Main Street Director Jennifer Price was stocking Little Free Libraries around the
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city. The little boxes were emptying out on a regular basis—a pleasant surprise. She and Main Street board member Leanne Griffin discovered StoryWalk®, a program created in Vermont promoting literacy and physical activity by placing individual pages of a book along a path. They started a similar program in Hahira last March. Each month, they pick a book, tear out the pages, laminate each one and place the pages in the windows of businesses. Young readers can then read the story as they walk through downtown. “When communities get involved, we’re more likely to have kids succeeding in school and being able to succeed in life,” Williams said. “That can have a huge return on investment in terms of workforce development, economic development and creating a literate society.” To read the full article on promoting literacy, visit the Reference Articles section at www.gacities.com
Preparing Today’s Youth to Be Tomorrow’s Leaders
Youth engagement programs can come in many shapes and sizes and are vital to youth development. Across Georgia, cities and organizations are working to engage youth, from guitar lessons with police to mentorship and chess. Children and teens are given opportunities to learn about recycling and how to become future leaders. Strategies vary, but the goal is the same: educate, inform and engage. Learning to Play the Guitar and So Much More On Wednesday afternoons in Newnan, it’s not unusual to see young kids filing into the police station carrying guitars. They gather in the department’s training room for an hour-long guitar lesson as part of the city’s Guitars Not Guns program. The Newnan Police Department adopted the program in 2015 as part of its Community Resource Unit. Sgt. Edward Lee, who oversees the program, filled the first class by getting the word out however he could— through the school system, the housing authority and even knocking on doors. Lee says nearly 300 children have completed the program since 2015, and some have returned to teach. He’s seen nothing but positive results. Leveling up for Success Setting students up for success is also the goal for Dalton’s “LevelUP” program created by Audrey Simmons, assistant manager at the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department. The group—12 students ranging in age from seventh through eleventh grades—meets three times a week, with a different focus each day. On Mondays, they work in groups and discuss what Simmons calls the “Four Pillars of Leadership:” integrity, commitment, attitude and vision. On Wednesdays, leaders focus on academic skills such as SAT vocabulary, math games,
word problems and learning activities like playing chess. They also meet with mentors, a vital component of the program. Saturday sessions are reserved for community service. Making Environmental Education Fun When she is visiting a classroom, Nikki Belmonte, Roswell Public Works Department environmental education coordinator and executive director of Keep Roswell Beautiful, likes to ask children where their water comes from. “It’s an interesting exercise” Belmonte said. “Probably half don’t know or give the wrong answer.” Through free educational outreach programs, Belmonte answers that question and many others about the environment and ways to protect it. She provides hands-on, grade-appropriate activities to schools, community groups and civic organizations. She offers classroom activities and teacher training, and visits after-school programs and summer camps to incorporate environmental lessons. Promoting Civic Engagement While the above programs are city-specific, the goal of the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement is to impact students of all ages across the state. Located in Cartersville, the center provides statewide programs that promote self-esteem, leadership skills, a sense of civic responsibility and community improvement through school and community service projects. Programs include Model United Nations, mock elections, Youth Assembly and Model State Legislature. They also reach thousands of elementary, middle and high school students through their more than 100 chapters in 80 Georgia counties. To read the full article on youth engagement programs, visit the Reference Articles section at www.gacities.com
May/June 2021 | gacities.com 49
CITYLITES
Fairs and Festivals June 3 Summer Movies at the Ritz Toccoa
June 17 Summer Movies at the Ritz Toccoa
June 4 First Friday Brunswick
June 18 Suwanee Summer Porch Jam Suwanee
Magnolia Drive-In @ Legion Field Brunswick
June 24 Summer Movies at the Ritz Toccoa
Candler Park Music Festival Atlanta June 5-6 Butterfly Festival Roswell Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival Douglasville June 5-13 Georgia Renaissance Festival Fairburn June 10 Summer Movies at the Ritz Toccoa June 10, 11, 12 Copper Creek Sunflower Festival Calhoun
June 26 BeerFest Suwanee Independence Day Celebration Social Circle Made in Georgia Festival Young Harris June 27 Atlanta Bloody Mary Festival Atlanta July 1 Summer Movies at the Ritz Toccoa July 3 Duluth Celebrates America Duluth
June 12 Cave Springs Arts Festival Cave Springs
Newnan Summer Market Day Newnan
Market Days Carrollton
4th of July Parade Colbert
June 12-September 11 Downtown Nights Ringgold
Marietta Fourth in the Park Marietta
June 12 Valdosta Makers Market Valdosta
July 4 Acworth Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks Acworth SpringsFest Powder Springs
July 4th Fireworks! Hiawassee Celebrate Braselton 4th of July Festival Braselton Cartersville Fourth of July Celebration Cartersville July 8 Summer Movies at the Ritz Toccoa July 15 Summer Movies at the Ritz Toccoa July 22 Summer Movies at the Ritz Toccoa July 24 Back to School Bash Hoschton July 29 Summer Movies at the Ritz Toccoa July 30 Toast of the Town Columbus August 5 Bowdon Founders Day Run Bowdon August 6 Magnolia Drive-In @Legion Field Covington August 7 Bubble Fun Day Hoschton August 13 Concerts @Legion Field Covington
To place a free Fairs & Festival listing contact gacities@gacities.com. Please submit listings at least eight to ten weeks ahead of publication date. 50
GEORGIA GEMS KOLOMOKI MOUNDS STATE PARK IF YOU HAVE EVER WONDERED ABOUT THE first Georgians, take a trip to Kolomoki Mounds State Park. The park houses the oldest and largest Woodland Indian site in the Southeast, dating back as far as 350 A.D. Visitors come to the park—and the nearby city of Blakely—to learn about the aboriginal Georgians who built the 57-foot-high great temple mound, hauling tons of dirt, clay and stone without the help of wheeled carts or pack animals. The park’s popular Kolomoki Festival was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, however, recent reports show more park visitors and interest in overnight camping. The latest figures show 87,000 annual visitors, said Kim Thatcher, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division. The 1,300-acre park offers 25 campsites plus group campgrounds, two lakes with a boat ramp and fishing dock, miniature golf and geocaching. A hammock campsite and lakeside amphitheater are some of the unique offerings.
For history lovers, a museum built around an excavated mound gives insight into the lives of the Woodland Indians. The park offers a guided hike to learn how Native Americans used trees, vines and plants for utilitarian and medicinal purposes. Park-goers can experience hands-on activities, such as making a gourd rattle or corn husk doll. The 51st annual Kolomoki Festival is scheduled for Oct. 9, 2021. The festival includes live music, a Fly-Board performance, food and craft vendors, primitive skills demonstrators and other outdoor activities.
Visit www.gastateparks.org/KolomokiMounds to learn more.
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Have you used GMA’s COVID-19 vaccine toolkit, yet? The “It’s Worth a Shot” public information campaign was designed to provide all of Georgia’s cities—regardless of their size, location or communications resources—with resources to educate residents about the COVID-19 vaccine. This campaign was launched to contribute to Gov. Kemp’s and the Georgia Department of Health’s goal to vaccinate as many Georgians as possible during spring and early summer 2021 to reach a 70-80% vaccination rate. “It’s Worth a Shot” is packed with operational details and actionable steps for receiving the vaccine, communications tools to dispel myths surrounding the vaccine and effectively communicate with your entire community.
Through the “It’s Worth a Shot” campaign, you have access to: Talking points in English and Spanish Vaccine Q&A Social media posts
Expert resources Press release templates Editorial scripts PSA scripts in English and Spanish
Vaccine site trackers COVID-19 dashboards And more
Access the toolkit: www.gacities.com/covidvaccine