July/August 2021
ADVOCACY. SERVICE. INNOVATION.
Columns & Features In This Issue An Inside Look into GMA’s New Headquarters | 2021 Annual Convention Guide Teamwork Drives City Success | Summer of Infrastructure
Page 20 Georgia’s cities, this courtyard in GMA’s new headquarters is waiting for you! This issue includes more about GMA’s upgraded home and new 29,000-square-foot building with a five-level parking garage.
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July/August 2021 Volume 1 • No. 13 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 ADVERTISING SALES Lynne Norton EDITORIAL BOARD Amanda Coyne Charlotte Davis Emily Davenport Alan Dickerson Cindy Eidson Dana Goodall Gwin Hall Aileen Harris Chris Higdon 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
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Table of Contents FEATURES 2021 ANNUAL CONVENTION GUIDE........................................................... 5 GMA’S NEW HEADQUARTERS PROJECT..................................................... 20 PARTNERSHIPS SHOW PROMISE IN GEORGIA’S CITIES................................ 28 CITYSCAPES...................................................................................................... 11 + GMA President: A Brighter Future Starts Today + GMA Executive Director: Building Strong Communities Through Partnerships + Expert Editorial: Beyond Youth: The Promise of Young Adults in Cities CITY DESK.........................................................................................................16 + Small Town, Big Impact: Dacula Saves on Recycling + City Spotlights: Statesboro’s Youth Connect Summer Program INSIDE GMA......................................................................................................18 + GeorgiaForward Update + Georgia City Solutions Update + GCF Continues to Serve + It’s Worth a Shot: GMA’s Vaccine Awareness + Consultants at Your Service + Advocacy: The Road to GMA’s Policy Priorities + Innovation: Cities Invited to In-Person Training + Service: Workforce Development: It Starts with Me + Service: Cities See Cash with Home Depot ADDITIONAL + Federal Focus: The Summer of Infrastructure.....................................................40 + Towns & Law: Sovereign Immunity & Nuisance Claims........................................45 + Downtown Developments: Macon Rocks................................................................ 46 + ENGAGE: It’s Not Easy Being Young................................................................48 CITYLITES......................................................................................................... 50 + Fairs & Fests + Georgia Gem: Providence Canyon
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Convention Guests to be Inspired by the ‘Spirit of Cities’ “The GMA 2021 Annual Convention themed: “The Spirit of Cities: Connecting. Collaborating. Caring.,” will take place at the Savannah Convention Center from Aug. 6-10, 2021. “At GMA, we’re putting great emphasis on the spirit of Georgia’s cities and their impact on our state as a whole,” said Executive Director Larry Hanson. This year’s convention will provide city officials and guests with access to continuing education, specialized forums, networking and social events,
and industry solutions to make Georgia the best place to live, work and play. If you’re joining GMA in Savannah this year, remember to save this section of the magazine to reference during the convention for tips and highlights.
GMA 2021 ANNUAL CONVENTION GUIDE
Annual Convention Schedule Friday, August 6 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Municipal Training Institute Classes
8:00 am – 9:00 am 9:45 am – 11:00 am Legislative Policy Council Meeting General Session Featured speaker: Gov. Brian Kemp 9:30 am – 11:00 am
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Municipal Training Institute Classes
Opening General Session Keynote Speaker: Andy Andrews, New York Times best-selling author and speaker
11:15 am-12:15 pm Federal Policy Council Meeting
11:15 am – 12:15 pm Concurrent Sessions • Let’s Make a Deal: Best Practices for Economic Development Deal Making • Open Government: Practical Issues Primer • Creating a Pipeline for Your City’s Future Workforce • Preparing for 2022 LOST Negotiations
11:15 am – 2:15 pm Lunch break – on your own or Exhibit Hall
12:15 pm – 2:15 pm Lunch break – on your own
9:30 am – 10:30 am Policy Committee Meetings • Public Safety • Transportation
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm City Managers Session
*ARPA session begins at 1:45 pm
10:45 am – 11:45 am Policy Committee Meetings • Municipal Government • Revenue & Finance
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Equity and Inclusion Commission Training Session
4:15 pm – 5:45 pm Board of Directors Meeting Saturday, August 7 8:15 am – 9:15 am Policy Committee Meetings • Community Development • Environment & Natural Resources
12:30 pm – 3:30 pm Municipal Training Institute Classes 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Workshop – Trails and the Trust for Public Land 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm Mentor/Mentee Meet and Greet
11:15 am – 3:15 pm City Attorneys Session and Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm MAMA Meeting
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm Rapid Fire Sessions 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm Voting Credential Pickup 3:45 pm – 5:00 pm Business Meeting and Installation of Officers and Board of Directors
3:15 pm – 6:00 pm Exhibit Hall Opening and Reception
Monday, August 9 8:30 am – 9:30 am Concurrent Sessions Sunday, August 8 • Equity and Inclusion Forum 7:30 am – 8:15 am • Building and Maintaining Trust between Worship Service Law Enforcement and Citizens • Preparing for 2022 LOST Negotiations 8:00 am – 9:00 am Exhibit Hall Open for Breakfast
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GMA 2021 ANNUAL CONVENTION GUIDE
1:45 pm – 3:15 pm ARPA: Ideas for Your Community 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm Concurrent Sessions • Equity and Inclusion Forum • Managing a Crisis Event in a Modern World • Supporting Theatres and Commercial Downtown Districts 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Awards Ceremony (including presentation of training certificates) 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm Closing Event Tuesday, August 10 8:00 am – 11:00 am Municipal Training Institute Classes 8:00 am – 3:00 pm Municipal Training Institute Classes
Safety Precautions GMA LEADERSHIP AND STAFF BELIEVE IT IS EXTREMELY important to be transparent in our plans to allow each member to make an informed decision based on their individual needs, concerns and expectations. We recognize that it is impossible to develop guidelines to meet everyone’s desires, which is why we are relying on CDC guidelines, state executive orders, and policies of the convention center and hotel properties. Please find a list of frequently asked questions below. Will GMA require all attendees and staff to wear face masks/coverings and practice social distancing during the 2021 Annual Convention? All attendees, regardless of vaccination status, are strongly urged to wear a mask throughout the convention, except when eating meals. GMA will make a special convention mask available to everyone. We highly encourage all convention attendees to be courteous of other’s personal space and social-distancing preferences. Does GMA Know how many convention attendees will be fully vaccinated? While we will not know if specific attendees have been vaccinated, a pre-convention survey of city officials indicated that more than 80% of expected attendees would be fully vaccinated by the time they arrive in Savannah. Will I have a way of knowing if attendees are comfortable shaking hands or accepting hugs? Upon arriving at the convention center, attendees will be encouraged to place a colored sticker on their badge. A green sticker will indicate that the person is comfortable shaking hands or accepting hugs. A yellow sticker will indicate that a person is being cautious but open to limited physical contact. A red sticker will indicate a person is not comfortable shaking hands or engaging in any other physical contact with other attendees.
Has GMA made any schedule changes to enhance safety for convention attendees? This year’s convention will host less than normal food service, which will allow members more freedom of choice to make dining decisions to their comfort level. Events with food will be served in a safe manner consistent with CDC and DPH recommendations. We have also canceled the attendee-wide Awards Luncheon, which requires indoor, banquet-style seating for an extended period. In addition, we transitioned our city managers lunch to a meeting and the scheduled lunch events during the convention will consist of buffet and boxed lunch options to allow attendees to be more flexible in their eating locations. What happens if attendees start to feel sick? Attendees should not attend any events, training classes, sessions or other activities if they are not feeling well. Please seek a test if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 while in Savannah is requested to immediately contact a GMA staff member. By doing so, staff can assist in contacting other individuals who might have had close contact with the person who is not feeling well. Please note that contacting GMA is strictly voluntary. Please rest assured that we fully understand that these are challenging times, and we are taking every consideration into account to plan an event that is as safe as possible. We continue to think of other possibilities and encourage you to share your input with us. We will continue to update guidance for the 2021 Annual Convention based on CDC and state guidelines. We strongly urge city officials who may have hesitations about attending the convention to seek advice from their doctor, as well as use their own judgment based on their medical history and tolerance for risk. If you have fears about attending, please consider cancelling your registration. The cancellation policy has been waived, and full refunds will be provided no matter when a cancellation is received.
July/August 2021 | gacities.com 7
Annual Convention Highlights Convention attendees will have the opportunity to attend more than 30 different training classes. View all class descriptions on the training program page on GMA’s website: www.gacities.com. • The Awards Ceremony will be held on Monday afternoon, and include the announcement of this year’s Municipal Government Hall of Fame inductees, the presentation of the Georgia Cities Foundation’s Renaissance and Starr awards, recognition of the Clerk of the Year and the new and recertified Cities of Ethics, the announcement of GeorgiaForward’s 2022 Young Gamechangers host city, and the presentation of municipal training certificates. • The Opening Session on Sunday morning will feature a keynote address by Andy Andrews, an inspirational speaker and New York Times best-selling author. Clarence Anthony, CEO and executive director of the National League of Cities, will also address attendees. • The Monday morning general session will feature remarks from Gov. Brian Kemp and a pre-recorded presentation from Secretary Pete
Buttigieg of the U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition, a panel of city officials including College Park Mayor Bianca Motley Broom, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson and Ocilla Mayor Matt Seale will discuss future challenges and opportunities facing Georgia’s cities. • 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 and a number of minor GMA Bylaws amendments will be voted on. In addition, 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. Shuttle schedules can be found at your hotel or around the convention center.
Make Plans to Visit the Exhibit Hall & Attend the Closing Event EXHIBIT HALL HOURS: Saturday from 3:15-6 p.m. Sunday from 8-9 a.m. and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Be sure to visit the GMA Exhibit Hall while in Savannah. This year, we will welcome more than 150 different companies who are excited and ready to showcase their products and services to you. This one-stop shop is a great opportunity to see the latest technology and products to assist you in making purchasing decisions for your upcoming projects.
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GMA 2021 ANNUAL CONVENTION GUIDE
CLOSING EVENT HOURS: Monday from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Make plans to attend the highly anticipated closing event for this year’s convention. Enjoy a night of food, fun and entertainment, which will begin with the popular “Taste of Savannah” dinner featuring local Savannah restaurants in the Exhibit Hall followed by music and dancing with the Emerald Empire Band upstairs in the Chatham Ballroom.
Tips for Delegates
Notify your constituents and local media about your purpose and goals in going to the Convention. Explain the benefits of GMA training and the opportunity to learn more about city government issues and network with other officials. You should also follow up with your news media to report on what you learned at the Convention and how it has helped you and your city. Share what you are learning at convention on social media outlets like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Use the hashtag #GaCities to join the conversation. Bring a good idea or an example of a recent accomplishment from home to share with other convention attendees. Use the convention program and the official Georgia Municipal Association phone app as a guide to plan your daily schedule. Wear your name badge and keep track of your event tickets. Bring a sweater. It’s hot in August in Savannah, but meeting room temperatures can vary. Wear comfortable walking shoes. You’ll cover a lot of distance at the Savannah Convention Center! Be courteous. Please turn off cell phones or put them on silent mode during meetings. Take notes at meetings. Your notes will help you remember the ideas you heard about and want to follow up on when you get back to your cities. Are you a voting delegate? Be sure to pick up your credentials in time for the business meeting. Pick up reference materials in concurrent sessions and collect business cards of those people with whom you want to follow up. Keep track of your personal expenses.
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GMA Thanks the 2021 Annual Convention Sponsors! PRESENTING
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CITYSCAPES
A Brighter Future Starts Today BY JIM THORNTON , GMA PRESIDENT
I am thrilled to be serving as GMA’s president for the next 12 months. The future of Georgia and of our cities is bright, and much of the credit for the optimism we share is due to the leadership of Georgia’s mayors, councilmembers and city officials. EVEN AS WE PUT THE COVID-19 pandemic in our rearview mirror, we know that it’s not over yet. But we also know that things are better now than a year ago. Cities led our state out of the worst of the pandemic by encouraging best practices during the challenging days, by sharing and following expert medical guidance and by supporting our citizens and businesses in their recovery. The struggles of the last year also included the pervasive issue of racial injustice, and we are making real and meaningful progress at building a more equitable and inclusive state. Again, our cities are leading the way by adopting programs and policies that ensure that no citizen is left out of the promise of that brighter future. Pope John Paul II once observed, “The future starts today, not tomorrow.” Let’s get started today, doing the work that will make that brighter future a reality for all. Now is the time to take the lessons of the past year of struggle and use them to hone our focus on the future. GMA and our member cities are battle-tested, but we’re not weary. Instead, we are fully engaged in the hard work of growing and improving our communities.
We are working to build more just and inclusive communities; we are engaging our youth and children and finding better ways to support them; we are developing municipal workforce initiatives to ensure that all our cities have the employees they need to carry out their mission; we are improving public safety by strengthening our police departments and connecting them to the people they serve. And in all these ways, GMA cities are leading the state. The future of our state and our individual communities is bright, and I am bullish on our collective future. It will require the leadership of all of our cities to make that better future a reality. We will continue to connect with each other through GMA, to collaborate with each other on our common issues and opportunities, and to care for our citizens and communities. We will continue to work together for the betterment of our individual cities but also the whole state. Georgia’s own Travis Tritt sings, “It’s a great day to be alive.” I agree. Let’s embrace this great day and use it to make tomorrow even better for all our citizens, neighbors and friends. I’m excited about the future. I hope you are.
July/August 2021 | gacities.com 11
Building Strong Communities Through Partnerships BY LARRY HANSON, GMA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Community building is hard work and takes everyone coming together in a spirit of cooperation and coordination. Partnerships allow us the take the strengths, ideas and resources of many and mold them into a plan of action that brings about positive change.
WHEN WE THINK OF partnerships, we must think not just of those in our immediate surroundings, but all those around us that can be force multipliers to help us achieve our goals. As your city looks at ways to form and benefit from partnerships, the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Act is a great place to start. Our partners include those we serve, and listening to their voices is critical to achieving the greatest impact and success. We also have state partners like the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Gov. Brian Kemp’s office and the funding his administration is setting aside from the state’s ARPA funds for local projects. The Governor’s Office for Planning and Budget will be accepting local project requests in several categories including broadband and water and sewer beginning Aug. 1-3. This information is available on the OPB website. DCA is administering rental assistance and mortgage assistance programs that should be shared with residents to include home and business owners, renters and landlords. DCA has a large sum of funding, and it is certainly wise to steer citizens to the state funding in these areas and then use local ARPA funding for other needs. 12
GMA benefits from the partnership with our members. We exist to serve the needs of our members and offer many programs and services for that purpose. With your input and guidance, we continue to work to be sure we meet your needs. One such example is our new headquarters facility, parking deck and renovated Burgess Building. Through your support and partnership, we now have facilities to serve you in ways we could only hope for in the past. Please come and visit your new facilities and let us know how your city can utilize them in the future. Our shared future is bright indeed! Our Annual Convention is another partnership where we listen to input of our members to build training and sessions to prepare you to be better and more informed leaders. We can’t wait to be together in Savannah Aug. 6-10, and we have a great convention planned for you. Partnership also means working with our state agencies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. As much as we want to be on the other side of COVID, it is not ready to leave us. As I write this, the Delta variant is becoming a real issue in the U.S. and is growing in Georgia at a very concerning rate. This variant is becoming a major issue among the unvaccinated and, according
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to health officials, approximately 97% of the cases and 99% of the hospitalizations are unvaccinated individuals. GMA has developed tool kits and resources to be a partner with you to educate and inform your residents of the importance of vaccination. “It’s Worth a Shot” to return to a normal life and ensure our cities can return to a healthy and prosperous future. We cannot allow this or future variants to derail the great progress that has been made. COVID is an equal opportunity health risk that can be prevented with over 90% efficacy by a safe and effective vaccine. When we gather in Savannah soon, let’s be a community of immunity. As we build for the future, let’s do so through partnerships with counties, state and federal agencies, non-profits and all others who share a common interest in improving the quality of life of those we serve. Let’s continue to be Cities United and always know GMA is grateful for your membership.
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BEYOND YOUTH
THE PROMISE OF YOUNG ADULTS IN CITIES BY: YOUTH COMMISSIONED BY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES JUQUA BETHEA, ANDREA CAMPOS, ALIJANDRINA MARTINEZ, JACON SNIPE
YOUNG ADULTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 26 are arrested and jailed at higher rates than other age ranges -representing 9.5% of the U.S. population, yet accounting for 23% of all arrests. We are frequently portrayed as violent or irresponsible by the media and, by the many systems that overwhelmingly fail us. However, in many cities, systems are changing to recognize our promise instead of spotlighting our struggles. Programs like PowerCorpsPHL, their sister program, PowerCorps Camden and Young Adult Courts (in San Francisco and Albuquerque) are some of the places where we can feel safe, respected and move toward new ways of life. As a part of NLC’s Young
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Adult Council—a subgroup of the Young Adult Justice Community of Practice—we came together to answer several questions in hopes of inspiring more cities to create opportunities for young adults like us. What do local leaders need to know about young adults and what they need to be successful? Local leaders need to know that many young adults see our cities much like a dysfunctional home—we see no love, support, help, understanding or opportunity. We want to do better and succeed but with no support, we tend to fall into traps of desperation. Despite our trauma, we are capable, confident and hardworking.
We hope to see more young, honest, relatable elected officials that look like us and care to involve us in their work. We can succeed with sustainable jobs and opportunities to get on track. These opportunities need to be specifically focused on young adults because most are not catered to us and therefore, we fail within them. We need the opportunity to eat well, sleep at night, and learn in enriching environments. We need opportunities that lead to attaining skills and careers that interest us. Young adults need authentic, nonjudgmental, understanding and caring support. We need free access to quality mental health services while also making living wages to sustain ourselves and our families. And most importantly, we need respect and guidance from those who serve us. How can the justice system better serve young adults? For the justice system to better serve young adults, it needs to focus on trauma recovery rather than incarceration and include us in every step of every process. If the system focuses on making young adults whole after they have done something wrong, it will help us avoid repeated mistakes and recidivism. Also, we have mental health needs, unique to our age group, that many of us do not know how to properly address. Stronger partnerships are needed with nonprofit, government, healthcare and for-profit organizations. We also want to see cities divert funding from police/ incarceration to specific services and life-sustaining opportunities. Tell us about the programs you represent. PowerCorps trusts us to not only to be ourselves but to serve our communities. Most people see a young adult and automatically want to count them out, but PowerCorps always provides a pathway to promise.
The combination of environmental stewardship and workforce support, along with strong wraparound and reentry services, changes lives. Many who thought they would never have a career end up with living wage jobs because every single person involved cares about people authentically. In Young Adult Court, we met weekly with a judge and our team of probation officers and therapists to discuss our week. We problem solve and plan for the next week. Court is not a scary place or a place of punishment, but a place to connect with people who support you and help you overcome hurdles. When you see news/media articles that highlight young adults engaged in crime, violence, or other negative behaviors, how do you feel? We feel disappointed in our communities, our cities and in the media itself. Most of the time, these articles show young black and brown adults engaged in behaviors that are the result of systems that have failed us. In reality, we feel that the community itself failed us because there are very few viable options to steer us away from the crime, violence or other negative behaviors. We want support in breaking the narrative that we are up against. We feel judged by the color of our skin, our age our zip codes and often the way we speak, dress or communicate. Highlighting how we thrive, how we survive and amplifying/funding the changes to systems happening—could change our trajectory. We are strong, resilient and despite obstacles, capable. Cities can support us by creating new and innovative approaches to justice and re-thinking hiring practices for city positions. Our hope is that our cities thrive with us and not against us. Through our work with National League of Cities, we can guide elected officials looking to better serve and engage young adults.
THIS ARTICLE WAS REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. July/August 2021 | gacities.com 15
CITY DESK
Small Town,
Big Impact Dacula Saves on Recycling By Nikki Perry
THE CITY OF DACULA RECENTLY LAUNCHED ITS own recycling service aimed to improve customer satisfaction and save taxpayer money. To say that residents are passionate about sanitation may be an understatement. Mayor Trey King recalls Saturday mornings spent answering phone calls from Dacula residents whose recycling cans were missed during pickup. The subcontractor was located out of state, and customers wanted someone local to call when problems arose. “The first opportunity we had, we were going to make some changes and make some improvements,” King said. Facing a 17% cost increase with the city’s recycling subcontractor, the Dacula City Council agreed to invest in localized service. Planning the new system was a yearlong effort that involved all levels of the city government, King said. “This wasn’t a decision from the top. Everybody got on board with us, and I think for any city to make it work, this is what it’s going to take,” he said. The city spent over $300,000 on a recycling truck and 2,500 bins and hired another full-time sanitation employee. Having a supportive council is critical if other cities are to embark on a similar endeavor, according to City Administrator Joey Murphy. “We have a city council that supports those heavy cash outlays to support the service for the next three to four years,” Murphy said. Murphy expects a three-year absorption of the startup cost and a $90,000 annual savings for taxpayers. The city managed to cut its cost per ton to approximately one-third of the subcontracted rate. 16
“Until we took on service ourselves, there was no way we could control that cost,” Murphy said. Since the service started June 1, the city has focused on a six-month public education campaign to educate residents about the new recycling process. The service is single-source with no separation, but there is a narrow list of what can be included: number 1 and 2 plastic, and metal cans. No Styrofoam. No broken metal lawn chairs. No grocery bags. “The key is going to be getting the schools to educate the kids,” King said. “Once we get them on board, they’re going to make it happen at home, just like when we were kids we made that happen.”
City Spotlight
STATESBORO HAS CREATED A NEW PROGRAM TO connect high schoolers with city government. This summer, 19 high school students participated in the first Statesboro Youth Connect program, learning about leadership, career opportunities and public service. The idea started with Mayor Jonathan M. McCollar and District 1 City Councilmember Phil Boyum, who sought mentorship opportunities for young students. “They were really interested in the city initiating a program which would connect with students when they were in their middle to high school years and providing experiences that would help develop them as they make it through their high school career, workforce, military or secondary education, which would help them be successful,” said Human Resources Director Demetrius Bynes, who leads Statesboro Youth Connect. City Manager Charles Penny likens the program to “friend raising” for local government. “The hope is that we are going to reach some young people who never thought about careers in local government, and that might pique their interest in working for a city,” Penny said. The students—who must be Statesboro residents in grades 9-12 or a city employee’s dependent—spend 12 hours a week with the human resources team. They learn about leadership, soft skills and other employability topics. After a morning training session, they walk to a work assignment within the city government or program partner Georgia State University.
The assignments range from filing, to assisting walk-in customers, to riding on calls with firefighters. Participation from city departments is critical to the success of any youth mentorship program, Bynes said. “They need to have buy-in from city departments, because ultimately the departments are responsible for creating a meaningful work assignment for the student,” Bynes said. City council investment is also critical, Penny said. The Statesboro City Council dedicated $25,000 to this year’s program, which funds stipends for the students. After receiving 70 applications for the pilot program and seeing the start of a successful summer session, the council earmarked $35,000 for next year. It’s money that will have a far-reaching impact, Penny said. “This is an opportunity for local government to get some work from young folks, but more than that it’s a good way to keep kids off the street. They’re making money that they are spending in our community, and they’re gaining some important experience that will help them the rest of their lives,” Penny said. “Hopefully, the relationships they have established during these five weeks will last a number of years, and they will be able to lean on supervisor and these individuals as they navigate high school, because those are challenging years,” Bynes said.
July/August 2021 | gacities.com 17
INSIDE GMA
GMA WELCOMES
NEW EMPLOYEES SINCE JANUARY, GMA HAS BEEN PLEASED TO welcome three new staff members. These highly qualified individuals come with experience from respected institutions including the American Cancer Society, the CDC Foundation and Ernst & Young. “As we welcome our workforce back into the office and into our new building, we are excited to see these new faces,” said GMA Executive Director Larry Hanson. Monica Thornton joined GMA on June 1 as the director of association advancement. Thornton has more than 20 years under her belt as a successful fundraising and marketing professional, most recently serving as the CDC Foundation’s senior advancement officer. Thornton has also served in leadership positions at the Piedmont Park Conservancy, where she raised more than $60 million in 10 years, Women In Technology and the Georgia Conservancy. A Georgia State University graduate, she has spent her career in Atlanta, starting in marketing and community affairs at local news stations before moving into fundraising and advancement. In her new role with GMA, Thornton will be leading fundraising and philanthropic strategies, including GMA’s Business Alliance and sponsorship programs, along with GMA’s 501c3 and subsidiaries including Georgia City Solutions, GeorgiaForward and the Georgia Cities Foundation. Sharon Collins began her role as director of conferences and management services on July 1. Collins has more than 25 years of event planning experience, most recently having spent 14 years with the American Cancer Society. She began there as a conference and event manager, working her way up to the role of managing director, meetings and travel management. In addition to her bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg
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University, Collins is a Certified Meeting Professional and Digital Event Strategist and has a Certificate in Meeting Management. Collins replaced Janice Edison who retired in March after 25 years of dedicated service to GMA. Janice joined the GMA team in 1996 as GMA’s first professional meeting and events planner. “She did a remarkable job overseeing the planning and execution of the association’s conferences during her tenure,” said GMA Deputy Executive Director Bill Thornton. Under her leadership, she also helped build GMA’s association management services, which resulted in GMA now managing five local government associations. In addition, earlier in her career Janice played an instrumental role in building the association’s municipal officials training program offered in partnership with the University of Georgia. As GMA’s staff liaison to the city youth advisory councils, she helped organize various training events and compile resource guides to enhance their effectiveness. Noah Carness joined GMA on June 15 as a senior accountant. Most recently, Carness served as a staff accountant at Fusion Connect, a business communications company. He has also worked in EY’s Atlanta office in the assurance department, supporting clients and preparing audit documentation. Carness is a graduate of Florida State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in accounting.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH RESOURCES
ADDED TO GMA WEBSITE
CITY OFFICIALS LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON children and youth issues now have one central place to visit on the GMA website. “With GMA’s Children and Youth Advisory Council continuing to move forward and with Georgia City Solutions having a youth leadership component to its work, it made sense for us to consolidate information around children and youth into one place on the website,” said Brian Wallace, GMA’s director of strategic initiatives. Branded as “ENGAGE: Connecting with Georgia’s Children and Youth,” city officials will find the latest edition of GMA’s youth council guidebook, a map and listing of youth councils across the state to include contact information as well as data about each council, funding opportunities, as well as stories and resources that focus on children and youth issues and how cities are addressing them.
“With GMA’s new focus on these issues, we hope city officials will find the information here useful,” Wallace said. “And we will be adding to the resources currently on the site as we move forward.” To visit the site, please go to www.gacities.com/ engage.
GMA HOSTS SUCCESSFUL
IN-PERSON DISTRICT MEETINGS
GMA WAS PLEASED TO HOST MORE THAN 500 elected officials and city staff in June during the 2021 Spring District Meetings. These in-person meetings were a great time to reconnect with neighboring cities, GMA staff and state leaders in their district. During each meeting, attendees heard updates from GMA President and Union City Mayor Vince Williams and GMA Executive Director Larry Hanson on important topics to cities including a legislative update, American Rescue Plan Act details, GMA’s COVID-19 vaccine awareness campaign, “It’s Worth a Shot,” and much more. Attendees were also invited to enjoy a GMA-sponsored meal in a local small business after each meeting.
The GMA team will soon begin planning Fall District Meetings and share details as soon as they are available.
July/August 2021 | gacities.com 19
GMA Hosts Ribbon Cutting for Expanded Headquarters GMA celebrated its newly renovated and expanded Downtown Atlanta headquarters with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 23. “WITHIN THESE WALLS, GMA STAFF WILL continue to work hard on the behalf of cities to provide the services, training and advocacy to make Georgia’s cities healthy, economically vibrant and run with efficiency and effectiveness,” said GMA President and Union City Mayor Vince Williams. “This campus, where we stand today and celebrate, will provide GMA’s leadership and staff the tools and flexibility to meet the current and future needs of Georgia’s cities.” The upgraded headquarters has an entirely new 29,000-square-foot building with a five-level, 146-space parking deck on the site of a former parking lot. The new building is connected to the fully renovated Burgess Building, GMA’s home since 1984, via a new break room. Office space has been more than doubled, going from 24,000 to 51,000 square feet.
on and Jim Burgess Former GMA Executive Directors Jim Higd on Hans with current GMA Executive Director Larry
Several leaders from across the state attended GMA’s ribbon cutting ceremony, including Commissioner Christopher Nunn, Georgia Department of Community Affairs; Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore; Rob Gordon, Director, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia; A.J. Robinson, President, Central Atlanta Progress; Kevin Perry, CEO and Executive Director, Georgia Beverage Association; Mara Shaw, Associate Director, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia; Atlanta Councilmembers Cleta Winslow and Dustin Hillis; Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Jon Keen; and Pam Sessions, President, Georgia Cities Foundation. As GMA’s staff has grown to exceed 100, the need for additional office and parking space became evident. Efforts to expand GMA’s footprint began during the 2014 term of former GMA President and Newnan Mayor Keith Brady, and the project broke ground in January 2020.
GMA’s upgraded headquarters includes: • A large conference room (capacity 140) • A recording studio for audio and video needs • Fourth-floor terrace with views of the Georgia Capitol • Custom mural by Atlanta graffiti artist Mr. Totem • Outdoor courtyard connecting the new building and the Burgess Building • Adjustable standing desks for all employees GMA employees on all levels of the organization shaped the expansion project. Their feedback led to 75% of workspaces being personal offices instead of open-concept cubicles, the furniture that was chosen for common spaces and the inclusion of a fitness room. The increased space allows GMA to do more under its own roof; a new conference room capable of holding up to 140 people made it possible for the Board of Directors to meet at GMA headquarters for the first time on June 23. Previous space limits forced board meetings offsite. GMA also held its first in-person staff meeting at headquarters on June 21; all staff had not been able to gather in one space before the expansion. GMA’s headquarters expansion comes as additional development is underway in the south downtown neighborhood. Projects at nearby sites including Underground Atlanta and the Gulch promise new residential, retail and office space in the near future. “While we are excited about this incredible facility and the role it will play in the redevelopment of the south downtown Atlanta area, what I am most excited about is that it gives GMA the ability to better serve the needs of Georgia’s cities for generations to come,” said GMA Executive Director Larry Hanson. Architect SSOE | Stevens & Wilkinson designed the new facility to fit in seamlessly with the existing building, which dates back to 1903. Comprehensive Program Services was the program manager, and the construction was done by NewSouth Construction. Truist (formerly SunTrust Bank) provided financing.
n Cutting GMA Officers and Executive Director at Ribbo
GMA would like to thank the Property Committee: • Mayor Phil Best, Dublin; Immediate past president • Mayor Vince Williams, Union City; President • Mayor Jim Thornton, LaGrange; First Vice President • Mayor Julie Smith, Tifton; Second Vice President • Mayor Linda Blechinger, Auburn; Past President • Mayor Boyd Austin, Dallas; Past President • Mayor Sam Norton, Dahlonega • Mayor Joe Walter, Zebulon
Non-Profit Leaders Plan for the Future At their May 12 meeting, the Georgia City Solutions (GCS) Board of Directors received an update from fundraising strategy consultant firm, Coxe Curry & Associates, on the status of the feasibility study phase of the strategy to secure approximately 5 million over a three-year period for programs and initiatives in support of the adopted strategic plan. THE AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE EQUITY AND Inclusion (E&I), Municipal Workforce Development, and Youth Leadership and Engagement. “An important tool in the fundraising planning process is establishment of the Feasibility Study Committee,” said GCS Managing Director Kay Love. “The role of the Committee is to provide input and strategic guidance on the feasibility study materials and the preliminary case for support.” The Committee members include GCS Chair, Kirby Thompson; GCS Vice Chair, Yvette Pugh; GCS Secretary & Treasurer, Larry Hanson; GCS Board member, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson; GMA Deputy Executive Director, Bill Thornton and, GCS Managing Director Kay Love. The Committee met with Coxe Curry & Associates at the end of June. Guided by the committee’s input, the feasibility study is expected to be completed in late August. The next step in the fundraising strategy will be the fundraising campaign and is expected to get underway in the fall. At the May 12 meeting, the GCS Board also received an update on Phase 1 of the Municipal Workforce Development Needs Assessment project funded by GCS. This assessment kicked off on June 14 with a 22
meeting of GMA’s Municipal Workforce Development Advisory Council where they heard a project overview from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government who will be performing the work. The advisory council will serve as the steering committee for this project and will inform the GCS Board about priority issues in the focus area of municipal workforce development. Additionally, The GCS Board heard from GMA’s Children and Youth Advisory Council Chair, East Point Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham, about the priorities of the council and initiatives in support of the GCS strategic plan. The Sugar Hill Golf Club is host to the 2021 GMA Golf Tournament to benefit Georgia City Solutions on Monday, Oct. 18. Registration for the event is open. Join more than 100 golfers to help raise awareness and funds for GCS program and initiatives. Find out more about being a sponsor or playing in the tournament at https://gcs.gacities.com/. The next GCS Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Aug. 18, where the board is expected to receive updates and a status report from the Feasibility Study Committee.
GeorgiaForward Aims to Unite the State GeorgiaForward is continuing their 2021 series, “Two Georgias No More: Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide.” Reframing the discussions on healthcare, education, housing and broadband, this series demonstrates how deeply linked and interconnected Georgians are. Addressing these statewide challenges starts with understanding the State of our state. A panel discussion on June 17 focused on education and featured four education experts from across the state: Chief of Staff Matt Jones at the Georgia Department of Education, Superintendent Keith Simmons of Griffin-Spalding County School District, Superintendent Michele Taylor of Calhoun City School District, and Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris of DeKalb County School District. Dana Rickman, president of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, moderated and opened the session by grounding it in three questions for the panelists and listeners: What opportunities for collaboration exist, not only government-led but also citizen-led, public-private partnerships, nonprofit initiatives, etc.? What common ground can we find to move forward? How can we continue this discussion? Topics included lessons learned from COVID, particularly in regard to rapid decision-making and
resource-building; mental health for teachers as well as students and preparing to welcome back a student population in August with increased mental health needs; and how the pandemic underscored already-existing challenges in digital connectivity or lack thereof. The webinar is available at georgiaforward.org. Also available for viewing is the series kickoff on May 12 focused on health care in partnership with Georgia Health News. CEO and Editor of Georgia Health News Andy Miller moderated the expert panel featuring Dr. Patrice Harris, Immediate Past President of the American Medical Association, Matthew Hicks, Chief Policy Officer of Grady Health System, and Jimmy Lewis, CEO of Hometown Health. Stay tuned for a session on housing in August and one on broadband in October. “We all want the same things—safe communities, good schools, accessible healthcare, dependable connectivity. It’s time for rural and urban Georgia to have these conversations and work toward solutions together,” said GeorgiaForward Managing Director Brenda Belcher.
Georgia Cities Foundation Continues to Serve The mission of the Georgia Cities Foundation (GCF) is to assist cities in their community development efforts to revitalize and enhance underserved downtown areas by serving as a financing partner and to provide other programming and training to help local leadership with their community and economic development initiatives.
GCF AWARDED GRANT TO BENEFIT CITIES GCF, which is a Community Development Financial Institution, recently received a $1,826,265 grant from the Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions Rapid Response Program (CDFI RRP). The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 (Section 523 of Division N; Pub. L. No 116-260) was enacted on December 27, 2020 to provide $1.25 billion for grants to support, prepare for and respond to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is designed to quickly deploy capital to Certified CDFIs through a streamlined application and review process. Funding awarded to CDFIs will be used to help distressed and underserved communities respond to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Georgia Cities Foundation Programs and Initiatives GEORGIA CITIES FOUNDATION REVOLVING LOAN In 2021, four loans were closed totaling $825,993 with a total project investment of $4,830,703. Additionally, 12 loan commitments have been made, totaling $2,600,200 with a total project investment of $18,292,924. To date, 162 loans have closed totaling $178 million in private investment. The total program impact includes 323 new downtown businesses, 2,059 new downtown jobs created, 321 new downtown housing units, eight downtown cultural facilities, 183 downtown hotel units,
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1,530,234 redeveloped square footage, and 207,467 new construction square footage. Please send inquiries to Chris Higdon at chigdon@gacities.com or 678-651-1018. GEORGIA ECONOMIC PLACEMAKING COLLABORATIVE The Georgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative is a three-year-old place-based economic development program that provides participating communities with education, facilitation, technical assistance, networking, peer learning and incentives to help identify their community assets and develop a locally based placemaking strategy. The Georgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative emphasizes the importance of equitable and inclusive community engagement in the development project process. The Collaborative is designed to work for cities with differing demographics. The participating cities vary in size, population, racial makeup and socio-economic status. The partners are: GMA, Georgia Cities Foundation, Georgia Power, Georgia Cities Solutions, UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, Georgia Conservancy and Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Currently, there are 11 participating cities and one county (with seven cities).
In conjunction with the program’s signature retreat, the second PlaceHinesville making Plenary quarterly series focused on using the place-based • Requested design assistance for a proposed multi-building, mixed-use approach to address community issues surrounding workforce develinfill concept opment. The plenary series is a partnership with Georgia City Solutions Chickamauga and Georgia Power and is focused on using the place-based approach • Requested significant design assistance for SPLOST funds dedicated to to address community issues. The next retreat will be for all 13 commudowntown development. nities and will take place the first week of September in person. More Please send inquiries to Chris Higdon at chigdon@gacities.com BY NIKKI PERRY details to come soon. RENAISSANCE STRATEGIC VISIONING AND PLANNING Please send inquiries to Stephanie Russell at srussell@gacities.com Hawkinsville: • Completed and report is in the process of being printed. GEORGIA DOWNTOWN RENAISSANCE PARTNERSHIP DESIGN Most comprehensive report to date at 166 pages. ASSISTANCE UPDATE • First RSVP to date that integrated a charette by 13 students from GCF partners with CVIOG to utilize technical assistance funds from the UGA’s College of Environment and Design existing partnership to fill a small portion of the demand for design • Significant partnership effort with the regional commission services due to the closing of the DCA downtown design program. LaFayette: Work underway includes: • Much of scope includes a downtown property the city has spent Bainbridge: $750 thousand in acquisition in the last three months and is deeding • Façade rendering for mixed-use project on Main Street – work already that to the DDA completed on building in accordance with design. • The public input and visioning to date through the RSVP process • Infill concept for mixed-use building completed on riverbank across drove the decision to acquire the property from new city park. Fort Oglethorpe: • Food cart plaza concept design completed • Visioning/Planning for the city kicked off in June Cordele: • Façade design for existing historic building complete Please send inquiries to Chris Higdon at chigdon@gacities.com DOWNTOWN FELLOWS DESIGN PROGRAM UPDATE The cities participating in the fellows program for 2021 are Colquitt and Gainesville. Colquitt: • This fellowship effort is expanded beyond the normal scope and includes more significant assistance from within CVIOG due to scope and needs. • Creating plans for how to best utilize impacts from nearby hospital expansion • Multiple façade and streetscape designs Gainesville: • Focus for fellowship is the Athens Street Corridor, a historic Black neighborhood • Assessment, analysis and recommendations with a goal for the city to do right-of-way improvements and work with the community to determine what the improvements need to look like
THE DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS The monthly development sessions continue to be a hit with GMA member cities and sister organizations’ development professionals. Best Practices & Success Stories: Georgia Historic Theatres Registration link: http://www.georgiacitiesfoundation.org/home.aspx
July/August 2021 | gacities.com 25
GMA’S MEMBER SERVICES CONSULTANTS AREAS OF EXPERTISE
PAM HELTON, DIRECTOR phelton@gacities.com
TERRELL JACOBS tjacobs@gacities.com
SHERRI BAILEY sbailey@gacities.com
MICHAEL MCPHERSON mmcpherson@gacities.com
478-232-0939
404-295-6247
470-755-1357
404-556-3661
— City Administration, Financial Management and Revenue Administration, Operational Reviews, Utilities, Elections
— City Administration, Human Resources, Credentialing Management, Utilities
— Financial Management, Grants (DCA, HPD, JAG), Contract Negotiations, Capital Improvements, Economic Development
— Intergovernmental Relations, Legislative Process, Municipal Revenues and Taxation, Environmental Resources, Community Development
STAN BROWN sbrown@gacities.com
EMILY DAVENPORT edavenport@gacities.com
ARTIFFANY STANLEY astanley@gacities.com
HERE TO SERVE GEORGIA’S CITIES!
470-553-5248
404-852-1638
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— Strategic Planning, Public Transportation, Public Works, Solid Waste, Fleet Services/ Facilities
— Stormwater Management, Environmental Resources, Community Involvement & Marketing, Downtown/ Main Street
— Certified Human Resources Professional-SHRM-CP, Youth & Internship Programs, Special Event Planning, FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program
— 404-688-0472 www.gacities.com msconsulting@gacities.com
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TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK:
How Georgia’s Cities are Leveraging Partnerships to Achieve New Heights BY ALIA HOYT
There’s no shame in asking for help, especially when something as important as a city’s future is at stake. Several of Georgia’s cities are setting a new standard for how to utilize partnerships to truly thrive. Here are their stories.
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FAYETTEVILLE’S NEW CITY CENTER IS A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP The city of Fayetteville has blossomed in recent years, but as a result, the area experienced significant growing pains. “In 2016, the downtown district was nearly at full occupancy and needed to find options for expansion of its downtown footprint,” said Economic Development Director Brian Wismer. “Meanwhile, maintenance costs on the existing city hall building, built in the 1930s, were on the rise, and staff had outgrown the land-locked property.” The city was able to purchase property from the local board of education and sought development proposals from the private sector on how to reinvigorate the space while maintaining historical significance. The ideas were innovative, and local investors were excited to help the process along. Today, what was previously the original Fayette County High School gymnasium and a bus fleet servicing center is now known as “Triumph Station.” Located within is a 10,000-square-foot event space called “The Dottie,” a subsidiary location for Line Creek Brewing, a barbeque joint, a wine and bourbon bar and an ice cream shop, among others. The partnership also successfully produced a 34,000-square-foot, two-story city hall facility, as well as City Center Park, which is approximately eight acres of recreation space featuring a variety of passive and active amenities. The new city hall location, in particular, was strategic to the future of Fayetteville.
“It’s connected to the historic downtown, and creates new opportunities for the private sector to contribute to the growth of Fayetteville’s downtown core,” said Wismer.
TWO CITIES, ONE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL The cities of Rossville and LaFayette are taking an unconventional route to get the most bang for their buck. Neither city has enough budget for a full-time economic development professional, so both North Georgia cities contract with the same expert, Rossville native Elizabeth Wells. Rossville, Wells quickly realized, was long overdue for revitalization. “Because of globalization and lack of diversification, Rossville’s economy surrendered to economic hemorrhaging,” she said. Local leaders put together a volunteer group called the Rossville Redevelopment Workshop to figure out how to inject the area with economic vitality. “Time and policy had passed by Rossville,” she said, noting that the perception in the North End community especially was that it was not worth investing in. “The community had gotten very desensitized to its continued decline.” Wells and her partners worked to dispel that perception by coming up with an urban redevelopment plan with regional partners. They also established a relationship with Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute, which did an economic development strategic priorities assessment for Rossville. “They build a roadmap for how we’d go forward, noting opportunities, challenges and liabilities,” she said. To bring Rossville squarely into the here and now, Wells and her team also worked to have legislation passed to allow Sunday alcohol sales in stores and restaurants. Zoning regulations also became more progressive, and a plan for a 36-acre mill site was
July/August 2021 | gacities.com 29
created, so that people will hopefully stop driving next level, while maintaining its historic charm. To do straight through Rossville without a backward glance. so, they engaged the services of Kirby Glaze, who has “We want people to park their cars, get out and enworked with a number of small cities in Georgia over gage,” Wells said. the last couple of decades via his company, Public-PriIn LaFayette, Wells was pleased to encounter a vate Partnership Project Management, Inc. community fully ready for change, in large part thanks to Primarily, the Zebulon Downtown Development dynamic leadership. The main challenge for LaFayette Authority was looking for a way to preserve a historic is location, as the city is 45 minutes from the interstate, elementary school building situated right behind the Chattanooga and Rome. “They needed to see some downtown courthouse square. The school was in such growth and commercial success and general updatdisrepair that a portion of the roof had collapsed into ing,” Wells noted. the basement. HAVING LOCAL GOVERNMENT To that end, Wells and her team Although the COVID-19 panOFFICES IN YOUR DOWNTOWN were able to obtain grants to fund demic put a temporary stop to the AREA IS OFTEN A CRITICAL PART projects, particularly related to the progress, one idea that Glaze is OF MAINTAINING THE VIABILITY downtown area. In fact, both Rossworking on with the city is to conOF THE AREA. ville and LaFayette face a challenge in vert part of that building into a new the form of dilapidated housing, so they joined togethCity Hall (much like Fayetteville, Zebulon has outgrown er to apply for assistance from the Georgia Initiative for their current structure). This would also bring City Hall Community Housing. Now, both communities are ininto downtown, rather than the edge of town where volved with the group, and are doing massive housing it currently sits. City operations would not require the assessments. “This created a really sweet team between entire space, however, so they are considering the the two cities,” Wells said. “They’re so encouraging and possibility of leasing out the remainder for private purnot competitive with each other. They have different opposes, like office space, restaurants, an auditorium or portunities and challenges” an event venue. According to Wells, cities are starting to see new This plan meets a number of objectives, according private investments for which the community, the electto Glaze. ed body and city administrators have been longing, “If I “Obviously, it preserves a historic piece of properdo nothing else I want the people in these communities ty that’s significant to the community,” he said. The reloto understand that they’re worthy of being invested in.” cation of city hall is also key. “Having local government offices in your downtown area is often a critical part of DOWNTOWN OVERHAUL ON DECK, maintaining the viability of the area. This is because govFROM A TO ZEBULON ernment offices are placing that people frequent, drivAbout 45 miles south of Atlanta, the city of Zebuing traffic to the adjacent local retail square.” lon is home to just over 1,100 residents. City officials in small but mighty Zebulon want to take the area to the
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GMA SPEARHEADS VACCINE AWARENESS GMA’s “It’s Worth a Shot” public information campaign was designed to Toomey and four elected officials who all had their own personal provide all of Georgia’s cities with resources to educate residents about COVID-19 stories to share, including Hawkinsville Commissioner Shelly the COVID-19 vaccine. This campaign was launched to contribute to Gov. Berryhill who was the first confirmed case in his county and nearly Brian Kemp’s and the Georgia Department of Health’s goal to vaccinate as passed away from the virus. They were also joined by GMA Director many Georgians as possible during spring and early summer 2021. Larry Hanson; Union City Mayor Vince Williams, GMA President; and Phase one of the campaign was all about preparing accurate LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton, GMA First Vice President. messaging. This press conference garnered media coverage from top news “We hosted several focus outlets, including Fox 5, 11 Alive, groups with elected officials WSB, WSB Radio, CBS 46 and across the state and their conWABE. stituents to ensure we were The GMA team dubbed phase crafting messaging that spoke three, “Reach Everyone” and worked to [versus at] all Georgians,” to identify the top 10 counties with said GMA Director of Commuthe lowest vaccination rates. From nications Kelli Bennett. “We there, GMA identified over 50 cities developed simple, yet memoraand made direct phone calls to those ble campaign imagery, talking mayors and/or city managers. points in English and Spanish “After talking with these city leaders, and built a comprehensive so- Dr. Kathleen Toomey joins city leaders during GMA press conference we published a second set of talking . cial media guide.” points that directly address vaccines Phase one also included our rollout to GMA’s membership. and pregnancy, vaccine hesitant teens and parents, and the need for Phase two was dedicated to leveraging media attention statewide community vaccine awareness efforts,” said Amanda Coyne, GMA comand sharing the importance of the vaccines in more traditional ways. munications associate. “During this phase we hosted an expert-led media training, drafted press Phase three of the “It’s Worth a Shot” campaign also include the release, editorial and PSA (in English and Spanish) templates and provid“Teens & Vaccines Challenge,” which launched June 1 as a way for teens ed clear ways to engage with media entities of all sizes,” Bennett said. to creatively spread the importance of getting the vaccine to their As an association, GMA also hosted a press conference featurcommunities. ing Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen
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CITIES LEAD IN VACCINE AWARENESS Georgia’s city leaders activated their influence each day to create communities of immunity by encouraging their residents to get vaccinated and to help their neighbors who are running into access issues. Because of these examples, GMA titled a portion of the “It’s Worth a Shot” campaign, “Cities Lead,” which highlights city officials leading by example. Some of these examples include: • The city of Bogart tailored their outdoor city hall sign to raise vaccine awareness. • In addition to using the “It’s Worth a Shot” campaign assets, the city of Cedartown partnered with the city of Rockmart, Polk County and Floyd Medical Center to hold a vaccine clinic at Polk Medical Center campus.
• The city of Cairo printed more than 4,300 “It’s Worth a Shot” PSAs in English and Spanish and distributed them throughout the schools for students to share with their parents. • Leaders in the city of Smyrna created their own vaccine awareness campaign titled, “Give it a Shot Smyrna.” The city also hosted mobile vaccine opportunities and utilized their fire department to distribute more than 1,000 vaccines. • The cities of Doraville and Dunwoody partnered with the Latino Community Fund and We Love BuHi to offer vaccine clinics for non-English-speaking residents. The Doraville City Council also authorized $26,000 in vaccine-related outreach to Spanish-speaking residents,
while the city of Dunwoody documented (via a behind-the-scenes video) Mayor Lynn Deutsch getting her vaccine to encourage the community. • City leaders and staff in Brunswick were featured in an official newsletter getting their vaccines and over 100 employees and their families received their shots at a city-sponsored event. • The city of Acworth activated a COVID-19 vaccine information page on the city website, produced weekly awareness events for social media and weekly emails. • Among the city of Dublin’s vaccine awareness efforts was an onsite vaccine day for city employees and their families.
• The city of Vidalia offered paid time off for city staff to receive their vaccines and partnered with East Georgia Healthcare at a local community center to host several vaccine clinics. City leaders also assisted by doing outreach including email, website, radio and an announcement at city council meetings with the media in attendance. • The city of Valdosta engaged the local media to share more about their efforts to encourage city-wide vaccinations and their involvement in GMA’s “It’s Worth a Shot” campaign. • The city of Commerce also instituted a health rewards program, which allowed staff to earn points for getting vaccinated. • The city of Moultrie’s community outreach event in March safely hosted local doctors who were trusted by the city’s minority population. • The city of Decatur’s COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive Program for city staff offered extra vacation time, automatic entry into a gift card raffle and health credit for the city’s voluntary wellness program. In addition to the incentives, the city of Decatur also provided educational materials to all city employees about the COVID-19 vaccine.
July/August 2021 | gacities.com 33
The Decatur City Commission also hosted employee appreciation events to share more about their personal vaccine experiences and the importance of the vaccine to the city of Decatur.
• The city of East Point was very intentional about partnering with community organizations to serve their residents by making vaccines available at local community centers and churches. The city also provided COVID-19 Lunch Bags for Kids, which included PPE, nonperishable snacks, hand sanitizer, antibacterial hand wipes, tissues and a travel first aid kit, and hosted a White Flag Ceremony to honor those residents and loved ones who passed away from the coronavirus.
City of Decatur
• The city of Rome hosted a virtual town hall in Spanish with trusted doctors and healthcare professionals to reach the city’s Hispanic population. • Officials in the city of Austell are leading by example in sharing their vaccines on social media.
ACCESS THE TOOLKIT TODAY! There’s still time and a great need to use the “It’s Worth a Shot” campaign toolkit. This resource 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.
• The city of Fort Valley hosted vaccine drives right in its city hall and in local churches. • To further support vaccination effort in Gainesville-Hall County, the city of Gainesville offered discounted WeGo rides through June for those traveling to get the vaccine at applicable clinics in or near Gainesville city limits. • LaGrange officials wrote editorials for local newspapers; coordinated social media posts between city, public health and medial sites; made telephone calls to community leaders and pastors; and hosted virtual town halls with local physicians. • The consolidated government of Augusta, hosted more than a dozen vaccination events including a partnership with the EMS Zone Provider Gold Cross and elected officials, as well as on-site vaccinations in partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health at the city’s municipal building. Augusta city officials also lead by example through public vaccinations and sharing on social media. 34
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
ADVOCACY
THE ROAD TO GMA’S POLICY PRIORITIES Join GMA on an inside look into how we establish our legislative policies based on valuable membership engagement and feedback.
STOP 2:
APRIL: GMA Listening Sessions City officials in each district provide policy feedback to GMA’s governmental relations staff following the legislative session.
STOP 1:
JANUARY-MARCH: The Legislative Session of the Georgia General Assembly Each legislative session hundreds of bills impacting municipal governments are considered by legislators.
STOP 3:
MAY: Spring Legislative Policy Council Meeting GMA’s Legislative Policy Council (LPC) reviews all the policy feedback provided by members and makes further recommendations.
STOP 4:
JUNE: Annual Convention Policy Committee Meetings: GMA members review the slate of proposed policies, make additional changes or recommendations, and adopt the platform for each policy area.
STOP 5:
FALL-WINTER: City officials, along with GMA’s governmental relations team, prepare for the following legislative session by meeting with legislators and hosting Hometown Connections across Georgia.
Legislative Policy Council Meeting: GMA’s LPC meets to review the policies approved by the six policy committees and votes to advance the slate of proposed policies to the full membership for their consideration. Annual Business Meeting: GMA’s full membership, with one vote per city, adopts the full slate of proposed policies. July/August 2021 | gacities.com 35
INNOVATION
Cities Invited to In-Person Training The Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute has scheduled the following upcoming in-person training classes. As part of the Georgia Downtown Conference, the basic and advanced downtown development classes will be held on Friday, Aug. 20, at Brasstown Resort in Young Harris. Classes are $275-$285. Downtown Development Authority Basic Training DDA, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Creating a Downtown Renaissance Advanced DDA Training, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Please see the event page on GMA’s website to register and for more information.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29 • Building Community Capacity Through Tourism This class provides an overview of the state legislative process and helps city officials understand how they can be effective advocates of issues important to their community and cities throughout the state.
Fall Two-Day Training Event
• *Conflict Resolution This class explores strategies and techniques for successfully resolving conflict through negotiation and mediation.
GMA will hold the two-day Fall Training Event on Oct. 28-29 at the Classic Center in Athens. Classes are six hours each and the fee for each class is $275. Those eligible for training certificates will receive six hours of credit for completing each class. Please see the event page on GMA’s website to register and for more information.
• *Municipal Finance II This class emphasizes the importance of establishing sound financial policies and provides participants with a better understanding of how to read and understand audited city financial statements and more.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. • Downtown Development Authority Basic Training (this class ends at 4:30 p.m.) This class is primarily directed at those who serve on Downtown Development Authorities, but it is open to all city officials. • *Governing the Commons: Collective Decision Making in Complex Systems Completion of the Certificate of Achievement is a pre-requisite. In this class, participants explore first-hand some of the critical leadership challenges involved in collective decision making. • Municipal Long-Term Budgeting (tentative) Topics will address long-term budget requirements for capital asset renewal and replacement, capital improvements, pension and other employment benefit costs and compensated absences.
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• *Municipal Law This class provides an overview of the major sources of municipal authority and the limitations on that authority, including constitutional and statutory law.
• *How Shall We Live? Practical Ethics for Public Life Completion of the Certificate of Achievement is a pre-requisite. In this class, participants explore the advantages and limitations of codified ethics and more. *This class is on the required list for the Municipal Training Institute Certificate program.
PLEASE SAVE THE DATE: NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS INSTITUTE 2022 Feb 23-25, Athens March 16-18, Tifton Registration will open in the fall.
‘Starts With Me’ boosts Cedartown’s Recruitment Efforts GMA’s “Starts With Me!” workforce development campaign was developed for use by Georgia’s cities. It was created to help address the growing talent acquisition and retention challenges faced by Georgia’s cities and focuses on the heartwarming side of working in city government. The city of Cedartown has been using the campaign resources for over a year. In this Q&A with GMA’s director of strategic initiatives, Cedartown City Manager Edward Guzman talks about how the city uses the Starts With Me! resources and the benefits the city has experienced from using them. Brian Wallace: Before Cedartown began using the Starts With Me! recruitment campaign resources, what was the city doing to advertise for available positions? Edward Guzman: We would put our job postings on our website, Facebook page, and any other job hiring websites like GLGPA and our local chamber of commerce. These were generic “Now Hiring” posts and listings. If there were any pictures included in the job posting, it was usually just the city logo. BW: Tell me how the city changed the way it recruited because of the resources available in the campaign. EG: It allowed us to be more creative with how we handled job recruitment. I think we live in an age of information overload where so much detail is available at a click of a button. Our job postings look more attractive now that we use the “Starts With Me!” campaign resources, and that gets more eyes to actually read our job postings. BW: Was it difficult to begin using the resources? Does someone on staff create the ads or do you outsource it? EG: Luckily, Aimee Madden, who is the city’s public information officer knew how to use the resources right off the bat! She manages the city’s Facebook page and website, so I knew we would be able to use the resources inhouse. It takes some expertise in using Adobe for the design files. If she had not been savvy at using the files, we would have outsourced it, though. BW: How does the city use the resources? Print ads? Online ads? EG: Print and online! They both look great. We just participated in a job fair and it was nice seeing pictures of our staff at the fair with the “Starts With Me!” campaign resources. I felt like it gave our booth an attractive look.
BW: Once the city started using them, what results did you see? EG: We noticed, through Facebook’s analytics, that our posts were getting a lot more interaction. Before using “Starts With Me!”, the city barely got any interaction with our job postings. Once we started using the resources though, we noticed a huge uptick in views, clicks, and comments. That translated into more job applications and a greater pool of applicants to choose from. BW: I know you’ve spoken about how the “Starts With Me!” campaign has helped with more than job recruitment. Tell me about that. EG: Cedartown has a population of about 10,000, so you definitely have that small town feel of everyone knowing each other. We would highlight our employees with the “Starts With Me!” resources, and noticed employees’ friends and family comment on the Facebook posts. I think one of the best things I observed about using the resources is the happiness that comes from highlighting our people. On a post advertising a police officer opening, we used a picture of one of our officers in her police vehicle. Her mother commented on the post and said “That’s my baby girl.” I know that was a great moment for our officer and seeing the goodwill that comes from these resources has been awesome to see. BW: It sounds like you’re going to continue using “Starts With Me!” EG: Definitely! We have been happy with the results. If there’s a city that feels intimated by the amount of design materials that are available for use, I would say don’t let it dissuade you from using them. The campaign resources can be outsourced to a company that knows how to work with the materials. It may also be a great opportunity for your city to connect with the students at a local high school, college or vocational school that teaches graphic design. Give it a shot!
July/August 2021 | gacities.com 37
THE VALUE OF CITIES DATA DIVE:
Jobs and Agglomeration Economies CITIES COMPRISE ONLY 9.2% OF THE LAND AREA IN GEORGIA, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but they provide 68.9% of all jobs in the state. Georgia’s jobs are further concentrated in the 14 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs): Atlanta and the 13 Hub Cities were home to 78% of Georgia’s jobs in 2017, with Atlanta’s share at 56%, or more than half of the state total.
Data from the same year also shows the uneven distribution of jobs by industry across the state. While wholesale retail trade provides the highest number of jobs in Georgia (a trend driven primarily by the Atlanta region), healthcare and social services is the leading category in the Hub Cities, and manufacturing is at the top of the list for rural Georgia.
TOP FIVE JOB RANKINGS BY INDUSTRY AND LOCATION RANK
GEORGIA STATEWIDE
ATLANTA METRO
HUB CITIES
RURAL GEORGIA
1
Wholesale Retail Trade
Wholesale Retail Trade
Manufacturing
2
Health Care and Social Services Leisure and Hospitality
Health Care and Social Services Leisure and Hospitality
Health Care and Social Services Wholesale Retail Trade Leisure and Hospitality
Management and Admin Services Manufacturing
Management and Admin Services Finance and Insurance, Information, and Real Estate Rental and Leasing
Manufacturing
Health Care and Social Services Education Services
Education Services
Leisure and Hospitality
3 4 5
Cities tend to concentrate the assets that support the functions of an advanced economy, a process that economists describe as “agglomeration.” More specifically, urban agglomeration and density provide a larger, more specialized labor force, capital, and services while enabling knowledge spillovers that generate new ideas. The causal mechanisms of agglomeration economies can be described in three categories: 1. Sharing: Sharing economies include sharing of infrastructure, facilities, suppliers and workers (labor pooling). 2. Matching: Large and diversified labor and supplier markets facilitate better matches between employers and employees, or between firms and intermediate suppliers.
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Wholesale Retail Trade
3. Learning: Jane Jacobs in the early 1960s was among the first to link the serendipity of random encounters to innovation and economic productivity gains. More recent research also suggests that knowledge exchange, both formal (think of GMA’s Annual Convention) and informal (the meeting at the water cooler), is critical to innovation in rapidly changing industries such as high tech or finance. The most frequently cited example of an agglomeration economy is Silicon Valley, but Georgia has a few of its own: the carpet industry in Dalton, car manufacturing in West Point and the film industry in various locations come to mind. The bottom line is the same across the state: cities are unique in their ability to bring people together to live, work, and play – and not always in that order.
SERVICE SERVICE
Cities See Cash with Home Depot Government Solutions Headquartered in Georgia, Home Depot is a Fortune 50 company that’s also one of the most trusted businesses in many of Georgia’s cities. GMA HAS WORKED WITH HOME DEPOT’S government leadership team to provide exclusive discounts, volume pricing and annual rebates to Georgia cities. The Home Depot Government Solutions program helps cities save money on many critical items needed to maintain city property. Using GMA’s Home Depot Government Solutions program is not only good for a city’s bottom line, but it also provides specialized services—from dedicated Home Depot support to tax exemptions. Program Perks: • No cost to participate • No minimum spending requirements • Special discounts when buying Home Depot products through GMA (e.g. 20% off paints, volume pricing for orders over $1,000)
Top 10 Home Depot Government Solution Rebate Amounts of 2020 1. City of Austell: $2,180.08 2. City of LaGrange: $1,735.19 3. City of Roswell: $1,443.84 4. City of Peachtree City: $1,297.16 5. City of Bainbridge: $1,223.40 6. City of Forest Park: $1,159.36 7. City of Marietta: $1,050.79 8. City of Commerce: $1,036.31 9. City of Griffin: $840.48 10. City of Smyrna: $786.75
Why GMA? GMA has set up a working relationship with Home Depot that helps cities save money and acquire goods in a more efficient manner. Through using the Home Depot Government Solutions Program, cities are entitled to discounted government pricing that lowers costs even more. City of Peachtree City
July/August 2021 | gacities.com 39
FEDERAL FOCUS
The Summer of Infrastructure In late June, President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators announced a deal on a federal infrastructure package. THIS HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY FOR GMA AND our member cities for many years, with cities reporting they needed over $20 billion for capital improvements in a survey conducted prior to the pandemic. The agreement includes $1.2 trillion over eight years for investments in transportation, water infrastructure, broadband infrastructure and an infrastructure financing program. Highlights of the proposal include the largest dedicated bridge investment since the interstate highway system; the largest federal investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak; and the largest investment in addressing legacy pollution. The proposal would pay for these priorities through a combination of mechanisms including direct pay bonds, repurposing 2020 COVID-19 relief funds, unused unemployment insurance, sales from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and other measures. Now that a framework has been identified, the real work begins. This will be the Summer of Infrastructure, and it is imperative for city officials to reach out to federal leaders to share information about your local
capital needs. Across the country, cities are asking for a long-term investment in infrastructure; policy changes that will truly benefit municipalities; and direct aid to cities whose leaders know best about how to address local priorities. As Congress and the Biden Administration continue to work on a bill, GMA is asking cities to stay in touch with senators and U.S. House members on this issue. GMA is continuing to monitor the proposal – we need more details on the implications of how this framework will impact cities, as well as clarification on issues such as how broadband funds may be used. GMA also believes workforce investment will be necessary to prepare skilled workers to do the jobs necessary to complete the infrastructure improvements. GMA is urging cities to tell your stories and advocate for your needs. Reach out to let us know how GMA can amplify your stories to Georgia’s delegation members. The White House Fact Sheet outlines additional details on the framework.
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE FRAMEWORK
40
CATEGORY
AMOUNT (BIL)
Airports
$25
Total
$579
Ports & Waterways
$16
Transportation
$312
Infrastructure Financing
$20
Roads, bridges, major projects
$109
Other Infrastructure
$266
Safety
$11
Water infrastructure
$55
Public transit
$49
Broadband infrastructure
$65
Passenger and Freight Rail
$66
Environmental remediation
$21
EV infrastructure
$7.5
Power infrastructure incl. grid authority
$73
Electric buses / transit
$7.5
Western Water Storage
$5
Reconnecting communities
$1
Resilience
$47
ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE FACT SHEET, THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE FRAMEWORK WILL: • Improve healthy, sustainable transportation options for millions of Americans by modernizing and expanding transit and rail networks across the country, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The plan is the largest federal investment in public transit in history and is the largest federal investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak. • Repair and rebuild our roads and bridges with a focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, equity, and safety for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework is the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system. • Build a national network of electric vehicle (EV) chargers along highways and in rural and disadvantaged communities. The largest investment in EV infrastructure in history, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework will accomplish the president’s goal of building 500,000 EV chargers. • Electrify thousands of school and transit buses across the country to reduce harmful emissions and drive domestic manufacturing of zero emission vehicles and components. • Eliminate the nation’s lead service lines and pipes, delivering clean drinking water to up to 10 million American families and more than 400,000 schools and childcare facilities that currently don’t have it, including in Tribal nations and disadvantaged communities. The plan is the largest investment in clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in American history.
• Connect every American to reliable high-speed internet, just as the federal government made a historic effort to provide electricity to every American nearly 100 years ago. The framework will also drive down prices for internet service and close the digital divide. • Upgrade our power infrastructure, including by building thousands of miles of new, resilient transmission lines to facilitate the expansion of renewable energy, including through a new Grid Authority. The plan is the single largest investment in clean energy transmission in American history. • Create a first of its kind Infrastructure Financing Authority that will leverage billions of dollars into clean transportation and clean energy. • Make the largest investment in addressing legacy pollution in American history, a cleanup effort that will create good-paying union jobs and advance environmental justice. • Prepare more of our infrastructure for the impacts of climate change, cyber-attacks, and extreme weather events. The framework is the largest investment in the resilience of physical and natural systems in American history.
FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR CITIES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE In June, the USDA announced a $2.6 million investment in rural Georgia community facilities and essential services. This includes grants and loans for high ticket items like fire trucks, police vehicles and public works equipment. Twelve Georgia cities were included in this investment. Visit rd.usda.gov for more information about USDA’s Rural Development programs.
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BROADBAND READY COMMUNITIES
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GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS - RENTAL ASSISTANCE Georgia has received $552 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which will be used to provide relief to tenants and landlords who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds from this program will bring past due rent up-to-date and will be given directly to landlords. Eligible applicants will receive up to 12 months of assistance. Visit georgiarentalassistance.ga.gov for more information.
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Georgia cities can apply to be designated a Broadband Ready Community through DCA. Cities must demonstrate that they have adopted a plan to promote broadband service deployment. This designation promotes rural communities for potential economic development opportunities and can help the expansion of internet access. Nine Georgia cities—Byron, Claxton, Fitzgerald, Fort Valley, Hagan, Hiawassee, Ocilla, Summerville and Woodbury—have already achieved this designation.
Albany has received $330,000 from the EPA for the cleanup of brownfield sites. The city had previously received an $800,000 revolving loan fund grant from the agency for this project. A brownfield is typically a former industrial or commercial site that may be contaminated with environmentally harmful substances; cleaning them up alleviates the environmental stress and provides a new site for economic development.
Visit broadband.ga.gov for more information.
Visit epa.gov/brownfields for more information.
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DNR is currently accepting requests and applications for two grant programs. The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program, open for requests as of Aug. 1, allows cities to request grants funding construction, renovation and maintenance of boating infrastructure. The Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program opens its 2021-2022 funding cycle on Aug. 2. This program funds park and trail projects that help conserve environmentally critical areas. Visit gastateparks.org/grants for more information.
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THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE! City leaders, we must remain vigilant in the fight against COVID-19 by increasing vaccine awareness and access! As of July 15, Georgia maintains the seventh lowest vaccination rate in the country with only 37% of Georgians over age 12 being fully vaccinated. It’s Worth a Shot to protect our communities, families, businesses and our state’s economy and healthcare systems!
WHAT WE KNOW: A PANDEMIC OF THE UNVACCINATED. • The upward trend in Georgia and national statistics is being driven almost entirely by outbreaks in places with low vaccination rates. Unvaccinated people are accounting for over 97% of hospitalizations. – CDC • ICUs across the nation are filling up with younger patients (20s, 30s, and 40s), with many health experts pointing that elderly people getting vaccinated leaves the new highly contagious COVID-19 variants with a younger pool of vulnerable hosts. • Those who are vaccinated and contract COVID-19 typically have symptoms much less severe than those who are unvaccinated and contract the disease.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: • Lead by Example. Get vaccinated and share the news! • Combat Misinformation. Use the talking points and resources found in GMA’s “It’s Worth a Shot” vaccine awareness toolkit to boost your efforts. Visit page 34 for more information. • Build Trust. Partner with trusted community organizations, residents, local healthcare professionals and influencers to increase vaccine awareness and decrease harmful misinformation. • Increase Access. Use innovative ways and meeting locations to bring the vaccine to your hard-to-reach and hesitant populations. Visit page 33 for examples from other cities.
Georgia’s cities, now more than ever, your diligence and leadership in this global pandemic will help us save Georgians’ futures and families! Can we count on you?
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TOWNS & THE LAW
Sovereign Immunity and Nuisance Claims: Gatto v. City of Statesboro BY GWIN HALL, GMA SENIOR ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL LEGAL BRIEF BY: REGINA GRESHAM
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a long-standing principle that the doctrine of sovereign immunity protects cities from liability for not addressing nuisances that are caused by private parties on private property. The case, Gatto v. City of Statesboro (June 21, 2021), concerned the tragic death of Michael Gatto, an 18-year-old college student who died from injuries he suffered while being thrown out of a bar in the University Plaza area of town (the bouncer pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter). It was undisputed that the altercation resulting in his death occurred at the hands of a private individual on private property that was controlled by a privately owned business. However, Mr. Gatto’s parents sued the city claiming it was liable under nuisance laws for not taking action to curb violence and enforce laws against underage drinking at bars in the University Plaza area, when there was evidence businesses operating in that area had reputations for both. The Gattos claimed that by renewing business and alcohol licenses for the bars in the University Plaza area, despite the area’s reputation for unlawful activities, the city perpetuated a nuisance which, ultimately, led to the death of their son. Essentially, the Gattos argued that since the area was known for allowing unlawful activity, the city should not have allowed the businesses to stay open, and that the city’s decision to allow the businesses to stay open led to the death of their son. In considering the case, the court noted that cities can be held liable for harm to others that results from
the city’s operation of a nuisance, and that a city cannot lawfully create a nuisance situation that is dangerous to life or health, or damage private property for a public purpose without compensation. Examples of nuisances for which a city could be liable might include flooding of private property caused by construction or maintenance of a water or sewer system or failing to fix a malfunctioning traffic light that the city knows is causing confusion and leading to accidents. In these examples, the city is in charge of and is to some degree responsible for the activity or situation causing the harm. However, there have not been any Georgia cases in which cities have been responsible for harm caused by circumstances outside of the city’s control, such as those in the Gatto case. Ultimately, as tragic as Mr. Gatto’s death was, the city did not cause his death or own or control the property where it occurred and was not responsible for it. Without deciding whether the environment at University Plaza actually counted as a “nuisance”, the court held that the city did not have a positive duty to abate a nuisance caused by a private party on private property and that the city was immune from the Gattos’ nuisance claim. If the court had decided differently, cities across Georgia would be in the impossible position of needing to determine when each and every business in their jurisdiction violated the law to the extent it could make the city liable for a nuisance. July/August 2021 | gacities.com 45
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENTS
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENTS
MACON ROCKS Macon Rocks Climbing Gym opened its doors to the public on March 22, 2021, in the heart of downtown Macon.
THE 3600 SQUARE FOOT ROCK CLIMBING GYM features a 39-foot climbing wall, 10-to-14-foot boulder walls, a fitness center, and space to host birthday parties and teambuilding events. The facility houses all the modern amenities that any avid climber would relish within the walls of an iconic historic structure in the setting of a vibrant downtown. Bryan Nichols and Kevin Reaves, owners of Macon Rocks and some of downtown Macon’s most aggressive real estate developers, acquired two buildings on D.T. Walton Sr. Way six
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years ago when no other developer would consider saving the dilapidated structures. Nichols remembers feeling challenged by former NewTown Macon CEO and president, Mike Ford, to buy the buildings and give them a new life. Nichols crunched the numbers and knew immediately the project would be an incredible risk. Being a historic preservationist and passionate leader of downtown’s revitalization, Nichols committed to the uncertain venture because he believed in saving a piece of Macon’s history.
Nichols soon learned the building at 527 D.T. Walton Sr. Way was a gathering place for African Americans in downtown Macon’s historic black business district, known as Cotton Avenue. The building formerly housed a black-owned shoe shop, newspaper offices, and most notably, the Melba Lodge. When renovating the building, Nichols found photos and video reels of African Americans visiting the Melba Lodge, which are now available for the public to view at the Washington Memorial Library. “When you go to rock climbing gyms, they’re normally in warehouses that are not architecturally interesting or close to other attractions climbers enjoy,” said Nichols. “At Macon Rocks, you get to see a cool, historically significant building while you climb and you’re just a short walk from everything downtown has to offer.” Nichols and Reaves plan to expand the rock-climbing gym into the former Capricorn Records office building next door. They will preserve the building’s facade so tourists can experience what Capricorn looked like when it was in operation. Once the expansion is complete, visitors will be able to kick off their tour of Macon’s music history at an unlikely location: a state-of-the-art rock-climbing gym housed in a structure that once served as an entertainment venue for the African American community as well as the headquarters of Southern rock. The historic significance of the buildings as a contributing structure to Macon’s black business district and the former home of Capricorn Records makes Macon Rocks
Climbing Gym one of the most unique rock-climbing facilities in the nation. Nichols reports that 60% of the climbers visiting the gym are not Macon-Bibb County residents. The nearest rock-climbing gyms are located in Atlanta and Columbus, positioning Macon Rocks as a destination for the Middle and South Georgia regions and even Florida. Being in downtown Macon serves as an extra incentive for non-Maconites to visit. Purchasing a day pass allows visitors to take a break from climbing and visit downtown’s 55 restaurants, four breweries, and 41 retailers, all within a 5-minute walking distance from Macon Rocks. Climbers can turn their day trip into an overnight stay and visit attractions like Studio A at Mercer Music at Capricorn or watch live music at one of downtown’s 35 entertainment venues. “In designing Macon Rocks, Bryan and Kevin spared no expense in creating a destination attraction,” said Gary Wheat, President and CEO of Visit Macon. “We have already experienced visitors coming from Atlanta and beyond just to test their skill at rock climbing. We are excited for the future tourism impact that Macon Rocks will have on the Macon-Bibb economy.”
July/August 2021 | gacities.com 47
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.
It’s Not Easy Being Young
Today’s youth face a litany of challenges on their way to adulthood. But luckily there are ways to help. Childhood isn’t always carefree. Children and young adults across Georgia are grappling with mental health issues and “disconnects” from education and work that are exacerbated by economic struggles. “We went into the pandemic with hundreds of thousands of children in Georgia facing food insecurity and housing insecurity,” said Erica Fener Sitkoff, the executive director of Voices for Georgia’s Children (Voices). ‘What we are layering onto that with the pandemic is loss of instruction, social isolation and grief and loss.” More than 113,000 Georgia students in grades 6 through 12 anonymously reported thoughts of selfharm in a 2020 state Department of Education survey. Almost 80,000 of those students reported seriously considering suicide. Across the country, 4.3 million people between the ages of 16 and 24 are considered “disconnected youth” – neither in school or employed – according to Measure of America, a project of the Social Science Research Council.
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The good news is that there are things adults can do to help, both individually and collectively. Mental Health Impact “There is not one community in Georgia that is not impacted by mental health issues,” said Sitkoff. “Kids are feeling sad, stressed, angry and overwhelmed. It impacts their functioning every day, their ability to concentrate, their motivation, as well as their ability to maintain friendships and relationships.” These issues can be caused or exacerbated by larger issues: poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, and more recently factors created by the pandemic. Importance of Remaining Connected Measure of America found that the disconnected youth rate in Georgia is 12.6%, above the national average. Contributing factors include poverty, race, ethnicity, attending an under-resourced school and poor economic conditions. “Being disconnected has long-term scarring effects; it can cast a shadow across your whole life and lead to a lower trajectory of achievement,” Lewis said. “The longer you are disconnected, the worse the outcomes.”
Taking an “All In” Approach The challenges children face are not in isolation; they all are interconnected, and solving them takes a concerted, coordinated effort. “When looking at health and wellness, the focus should be holistic,” said Sue Pechilio Polis, director, health and wellness at the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education and Families. “When cities take a holistic, comprehensive approach, a lot of these problems can be solved. Having partners at the table with expertise creates momentum, and the buy in is there to forge ahead.”
To read the full article visit the Reference Articles section at www.gacities.com
Setting Youth Up for Success
Walking in Authority Teen Council teaches Clayton County’s youth leadership, civic engagement, networking and much more. When Aneesa Najeeullah showed up for her first day as a student intern in the Walking in Authority Teen Council office, she was wearing the typical teen uniform of a hoodie and jeans. She was told that the next time she returned to work, she would need to be dressed in “office attire.” That directive came from Sparkle Adams, the Walking in Authority Teen Council (WIATC) founder and executive director. Adams launched the organization to empower teens to advocate for themselves, develop leadership skills and become agents of change in their communities. The high school senior took Adams’ advice to heart. “I went home after work that day and researched just what acceptable office attire was,” recalls
Najeeullah, who bought herself a suit and has since built a work wardrobe. Combining Civic Engagement with Life Skills The organization originated as the Forest Park Teen Council, which Adams, then serving as Forest Park Mayor Pro Tem, created in 2009 to help teens understand how local government works. In 2013, after leaving city government, Adams wanted to continue the council’s work. Adams named the new non-profit organization Walking in Authority Teen Council and changed the programming to add a focus on life skills alongside local government. “This program exposes teens to what I like to call ‘mindful leadership,’” said Forest Park Mayor Angelyne Butler. “It teaches them discipline, civic engagement and how to advocate for themselves. It’s grooming the next generation of leaders.” The program evolves year after year to give new opportunities. One year, the teens worked on the community garden and learned about healthy eating and sustainable initiatives. They made a presentation to the school system’s nutrition board, which led to changes in breakfast and lunch menus. They have also attended National League of Cities (NLC) conferences. Building on Success Since 2009, 547 teens have come through the teen councils. Adams would like to see this program in other Georgia cities and nationwide. “I’ve never been one to sit around and watch things happen,” Adams said. “If I can help affect change in a positive manner, I will. I am building a legacy of longlife learners. If the members say ‘Miss Adams taught me that,’ then I consider that a success.”
To read the full article visit the Reference Articles section at www.gacities.com
July/August 2021 | gacities.com 49
CITYLITES
Fairs and Festivals August 13-21 Georgia Mountain Fair Hiawassee August 18 Lemonade Days Dunwoody September 3 Magnolia Drive-In @ Legion Field Covington September 3-5 Labor Day Weekend featuring Hot Air Balloons Pine Mountain September 4 Nicholson Labor Day Fireworks Celebration Nicholson
Music Midtown Atlanta
September 25-26 Duluth Fall Festival Duluth October 1 Gopher Tortoise Festival Douglas Magnolia Drive-In @ Legion Field Covington Concerts on the Square Covington Hoschton Fall Festival Hoschton October 1-2 Oktoberfest Atlanta
September 4-6 Marietta Art in the Park Marietta
Tyrone Founders Day Tyrone
September 10 Omega Pepper Festival Omega
October 1-3 Great Locomotive Chase Festival Adairsville
Concerts @ Legion Field Covington
Fall Festival Hoschton
September 11 Pizza, Pints and Pigskins Acworth
October 2 Fair on the Square Millen
Fuzz Run Covington
Pine Lake Lakefest Pine Lake
September 16 Elvis Tribute Festival Brunswick
October 2-3 Indian Summer Festival Suches
September 17 Imagine Music Festival Fairburn
Norcross Art Splash Festival Norcross
September 18 Suwanee Fest Suwanee
October 3 Roswell Wine Fest Roswell
October 5-6 Suwanee Fine Arts Festival Suwanee October 6-27 Oktoberfest Helen
October 7-17 Cumming Country Fair & Festival Cumming Georgia National Fair Perry October 8 Tifton Rhythm & Ribs Festival Tifton Concerts @ Legion Field Covington October 8-9 The Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival Lyons October 8-10 Mule Camp Gainesville October 9 St. Mary’s Rock Shrimp Festival St. Mary’s Fiddlin’Fest Between the Rivers Rome Lilburn Daze Lilburn October 10-13 Tybee Island Pirate Fest Tybee Island October 15 Concerts on the Square Covington October 15-30 Ringgold Haunted Depot Ringgold
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GEORGIA GEMS CANYON DIG THIS GEORGIA STATE PARK? BY: NIA I. WILLIAMS
YOU DON’T HAVE TO TAKE A CROSS-COUNTRY trip to see the Grand Canyon—well, at least a version of it. Georgia has its own “Little Grand Canyon,” a hidden gem and nature-lover’s paradise. Providence Canyon State Park, as it’s officially known, is in Lumpkin, Georgia, not far from the Alabama border. The canyon is 1,003 acres, contains 16 canyons and has gullies as deep at 150 feet. In the 1800s, families exercised poor farming practices in the same spot each year. That led to soil erosion, and regular rains helped to form what is now Providence Canyon. The canyon has been able to maintain its form since then and remains intact for all visitors, though it does still get between three and five feet of rain annually. When visiting Providence, go in expecting to see the Grand Canyon, but on a smaller scale – that’s what draws 249,000 visitors each year. There are many hidden treasures that adventurers can seek out. Experts recommend keeping an eye out for the rare Plumleaf Azalea, which grows in the late summer and early fall.
In the fall and winter seasons, the canyon soil layers become more visible with colorful hues of ruby red, purple, pink and orange. “The nature and beauty of the canyon is what you would want a first-time visitor to really see,” said Alison Powell, assistant manager of Providence Canyon State Park and Florence Marina. “You just don’t see this kind of beauty anywhere. It’s a great place for hikers who want to explore the different trails and have different views of the canyon.” The canyon has up to 10 miles of hiking routes, with two main trails. The canyon’s unique natural beauty helps boost tourism and development in Lumpkin. Marketing in metro Atlanta helps attract day trippers, and the canyon gets on many to-visit lists through social media and word of mouth. Providence Canyon is open year-round and charges $5 for parking. To commemorate your visit, experts recommend taking photos at the canyon between 4 and 5 p.m. for the best backdrop.
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Georgia Cities
October 3-9, 2021
Sign up to participate in Georgia Cities Week 2021! Each city that signs up will receive a comprehensive resource kit that includes suggested activities, planning tips, helpful handouts and other valuable information to make planning easier. Email gacities@gacities.com to register your city.