March/April 2022

March/April 2022

ADVOCACY. SERVICE. INNOVATION.

Columns & Features In This Issue:

Cities Invest In EV Chargers

Staffing Up for Sustainability

GMA Adopts Equity and Inclusion Commission Report

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March/April 2022 Volume 1 • No. 17

WASTE

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 Amanda Coyne GRAPHIC ARTIST Lindsay Podrid ADVERTISING SALES Lynne Norton EDITORIAL BOARD Charlotte Davis Emily Davenport Alan Dickerson Cindy Eidson Dana Goodall Gwin Hall Aileen Harris Chris Higdon Kay Love Chris Obenschain Rusi Patel Kristian Seranno Monica Thornton Brian Wallace GMA OFFICERS President: LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton First Vice President: Tifton Mayor Julie Smith Second Vice President: Perry Mayor Randall Walker Third Vice President: Madison Mayor Fred Perriman Immediate Past President: Union City Mayor Vince Williams

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Table of Contents FEATURES RESOURCES FOR CITIES: SUSTAINABILITY AND TECHNOLOGY....................... 5 CITIES INVEST IN SUSTAINABILITY STAFF AND PROGRAMS .......................... 16 DOWNTOWN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS............................................. 32 CITYSCAPES .....................................................................................................10 + GMA President: Action on Equity and Inclusion + GMA Executive Director: Advocacy, Service and Innovation + Expert Editorial: Taking a Smart Approach to Sustainability CITY DESK ........................................................................................................14 + ARC Green Communities Program Certifications + City Spotlight: Fargo, Georgia INSIDE GMA .....................................................................................................21 + Equity and Inclusion Final Report + Cities United Summit Recap + LOST Training Recap + Small Cities Conference Preview + Georgia Clerks Update + Georgia Cities Week Preview + HRAC Update + Newly Elected Officials Train in Athens and Tifton + Georgia City Solutions Update + GeorgiaForward Update + CVIOG Jobs with Purpose Assessment Report ADDITIONAL + Downtown Developments: Historic Preservation and Sustainability ..................... 42 + Towns & Law: Technology Access in Rural Communities ....................................44 + Federal Focus: Growth Across Georgia ...........................................................46 CITYLITES ........................................................................................................ 48 + Fairs & Fests + Georgia Gem: Skidaway Island

FOLLOW GMA ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook & LinkedIn: Georgia Municipal Association | Twitter: @GaCities

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SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION RESOURCES FOR GEORGIA’S CITIES

ACCORDING TO THE 2015-2019 AMERICAN Community Survey Estimates, 15% of Georgia’s households lack Internet access, 23% do not have a laptop, 19% do not have a smartphone and 10% have no computing device whatsoever. As the pandemic further exposed gaps in the digital divide, the state still has a ways to go to ensure all Georgians can afford reliable, high-speed Internet – for work, school and play.

In addition to broadband deployment or expansion, cities should also gear up to invest in more sustainable infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events, public health crises and other external shocks.

The resources and contacts below may be helpful as Georgia’s cities build a more connected, equitable and resilient future.

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 5

FUNDING IS HERE, WITH MORE ON THE WAY Through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the White House is calling on cities to make generational investments in broadband infrastructure as well as clean energy, water and sewer and the environment.

From the get-go, the U.S. Treasury has specified broadband and water/sewer infrastructure as eligible uses of ARPA dollars. It even broadened the scope of appropriate investments, such as for cybersecurity and

lead remediation, under its latest guidance released Jan. 6.

In November 2021, the White House passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) that will pave the way for communities to invest in their infrastructure, workforce and future. Georgia is slated to receive at least $100 million for broadband and $135 million for resilient infrastructure, including electric vehicle charging stations.

LOOK OUT FOR THESE BROADBAND AND CYBERSECURITY PROGRAMS IN THE BIL: • ReConnect Program (next round expected Q3 2022) • Middle Mile Grants Program, NTIA, Department of Commerce (expected Q2 2022) • State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, Department of Homeland Security (expected Q3 2022) • Smart Grid Investment Grant Program (expected end of 2022) • Energy Sector Operational Support for Cyber Resilience Program (expected summer 2022)

LOOK OUT FOR THESE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS IN THE BIL: • Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program, Federal Emergency Management Agency (expected no later than Sept. 30) • Flood Mitigation Assistance, FEMA (expected no later than Sept. 30) • Brownfields Remediation Program, Environmental Protection Agency (expected spring 2022) • Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants, Department of Energy (expected fall 2022) • Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas, Department of Energy (expected fall 2022) • Grants for Energy Efficiency and Resilience Code Adoption (expected by end of 2022)

BOOKMARK GMA’S ONE-STOP SHOP FOR THE LATEST ON ARPA (GACITIES.COM/ARPA) AND THE BIL (GACITIES.COM/BIL).

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STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES – BROADBAND Georgia Broadband Program broadband.georgia.gov A joint effort between the Georgia Technology Authority and the Department of Community Affairs, this state program oversees the nationally hailed Georgia Broadband Availability Map, the Broadband Ready Community Designation and other resources such as an AT&T-powered speed test and the state’s annual broadband report.

Georgia Technology Authority gta.georgia.gov GTA delivers managed network services to more than 1,200 state and local government entities, and establishes state IT policies, standards and guidelines based on industry best practices and federal requirements.

Contact: Jessica Simmons, Deputy Chief Information Officer for Broadband and Special Projects, jessica.simmons@gta.ga.gov

National Telecommunications and Information Administration broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov NTIA will administer a majority of the $65 billion in BIL broadband funds. A program within NTIA, BroadbandUSA provides local governments with funding opportunities, resources and workshops to expand broadband connectivity through interagency coordination.

Contact: Scott Woods, Senior Broadband Program Specialist, swoods@ntia.gov U.S. Department of Agriculture usda.gov/reconnect USDA’s ReConnect program serves to bring internet service to traditionally hard-to-reach parts of rural America through grants, loans and grant/loan combinations. Related programs targeted at telemedicine, for example, are available through the Rural Utilities Service.

Contacts: Andrew E. Hayes, General Field Representative (covers FL, GA, PR, VI,) andrew.hayes@usda.gov

13 OF GEORGIA’S 41 BROADBAND READY COMMUNITIES ARE CITIES: Woodbury, Claxton, Hiawassee, Fitzgerald, Dublin, Hagan, Ocilla, Summerville, Byron, Fort Valley, Bellville, Ellaville and Milledgeville. Nine of these cities joined the last since October 2021, which is a hopeful trend.

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 7

STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES – SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY

MISSION

Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency

GEMA is the state’s preparedness, • Homeland Security Grant response and recovery agency *apply by April 1 working with public and private • Emergency Management sector organizations to prevent and Performance Grant *apply respond to natural and man-made

by April 29 emergencies.

• Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant (w/FEMA) Infrastructure and Local Government Assistance

Georgia Environmental Finance Authority

GEFA provides loans for water, wastewater and solid waste infrastructure; manages energy efficiency and renewable energy programs; and manages and monitors state owned fuel storage tanks.

GRANTS AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR CITIES

WaterFirst Community designation Septic-to-Sewer Program Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds

WEBSITE AND CONTACTS gema.georgia.gov hsgrants@gema.ga.gov | 404-635-7095 publicassistance@gema.ga.gov Find your Field and Homeland Security Coordinators here: gema.georgia.gov/locations gefa.georgia.gov Ben Cowart Senior External Affairs Manager 404-584-1059

Financing for water and sewer, water conservation and energy conservation Georgia Environmental Protection Division

EPD is charged with protecting Georgia’s air, land and water resources.

Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source epd.georgia.gov Implementation Grant *apply

by April 30 Blue Cole Grants Administrator Regional Water Plan Seed blue.cole@dnr.ga.gov Grant 470-938-3383

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

DNR has statewide responsibilities for the management and conservation of Georgia’s natural and cultural resources.

• Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program • Land and Water Conservation Fund • Recreational Trails Program • Outdoor Recreational Legacy Partnership Program • Wildlife Viewing Grants Program • Coastal Incentive Grant Program

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gadnr.org gadnr.org/grants Antoinette Norfleet Grants Program Manager antoinette.norfleet@dnr.ga.gov 404-463-8629

Atlanta Regional Commission

Coordinates regional planning for the metro Atlanta area.

Green Communities Program *apply by May 26

atlantaregional.org

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA helps state, local, tribal and territorial governments and select private nonprofit organizations respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.

Public Assistance, Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants

State Contact:

Environmental Protection Agency

EPA works to advance environmen- • Local Government tal justice with a focus on enforceReimbursements Program ment and compliance, air quality, • Local Climate and Energy water quality, land revitalization Program and chemical safety.

• Brownfields Program – technical assistance and various grants • More grants for air quality, environmental education, pollution prevention, etc.

Stephen Clark GEMA stephen.clark@gema.ga.gov 404-635-4573 epa.gov/ga epa.gov/brownfields Kenny Richardson Grants Management Specialist for Georgia richardson.kenny@epa.gov 404-562-9021 Camilla Warren Brownfields and Land Revitalization, Region 4 (SE) warren.camilla@epa.gov 404-562-8519

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OTHER RESOURCES To help municipal leaders adequately assess the needs and skills gaps in their area, the National League of Cities has put together the “Digital Equity Playbook: How City Leaders Can Bridge the Digital Divide.” It includes a handy tool for cities to gather foundational metrics on the levels of affordability, accessibility and skills in their community. Find the playbook here: nlc.org/resource/digital-equity-playbook-how-city-leaders-canbridge-the-digital-divide/?id=2 Georgia Tech Partnership for Inclusive Innovation: pingeorgia.org

Mark your calendars!

• NLC: What Do City Leaders Need to Know About the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program? (Free webinar, April 20, 2022, 2 –3 p.m. EST) • NLC: Doing it Yourself: Municipal Broadband Networks for Beginners (Free webinar, May 18, 2022, 2 – 3 p.m.)

• Georgia Smart Communities Challenge Call for Proposals (Application period: March 1 – April 15, 2022; Information webinar: March 21, 2022; Contact: InclusiveInnovation@gatech.edu)

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 9

CITYSCAPES

Taking Action on Equity and Inclusion

BY JIM THORNTON , GMA PRESIDENT

As city leaders, we are all committed to ensuring that every resident of our city has the opportunity to thrive.

WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS for our neighbors, we strive to do what is best for the entire community.

Our goal is to make sure that everyone in our city feels included and feels like they belong. When incidents occur that demonstrate how some are or feel excluded, our commitment to inclusion is tested.

We were all troubled by the incidents of racial injustice during the summer of 2020 that reminded us of our nation’s and our communities’ failure to realize full inclusion. Witnessing the pain and suffering of friends and strangers occasioned by these incidents of racial injustice disturbed us, but it also inspired many to take action to make things better.

I am proud to report that the Georgia Municipal Association took action. Our Equity and Inclusion Commission spent 18 months developing a series of specific action items and goals that will move our cities toward a more just, equitable and inclusive world.

I was honored to preside at the GMA board meeting in January, at which time the final report of the Equity and Inclusion Commission was unanimously adopted. I hope every GMA member will take time to review this final report and see how some or all of the recommendations can be adopted in your city. The GMA board also created an advisory council to oversee the implementation of those recommendations.

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In a comment attributed to the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, it is often noted that “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” This report of the Equity and Inclusion commission certainly doesn’t complete the journey toward full inclusion, but it is a first step. Many of the action items recommended by the Commission are already underway; the goals and aspirations set forth in the report are all realistic and achievable.

I have seen the passion of city leaders across Georgia, including those on the commission, who are committed to this work. I have witnessed the dedication of the staff at GMA who have made this work part of their vocation and their mission. I know the overwhelming desire in the hearts of Georgians is to displace past divisions with the loving embrace of each other in all our wonderful diversity.

Therefore, I am confident that things are going to get better in our cities and throughout the state. I expect that this work will bear fruit for years to come.

Commission Co-Chair Mayor Hardie Davis of Augusta and I have described this work as a journey that we have undertaken together. The journey may take time. I hope the initial work by GMA and the commission will inspire us all to continue this journey together.

Advocacy, Service and Innovation

BY LARRY HANSON, GMA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

At GMA, we consider our bedrock priorities to be advocacy, service and innovation THESE KEY WORDS ARE AT THE core of everything we do to serve you, our city leaders and members.

We advocate for Georgia’s cities year-round, but especially during the legislative session under the Gold Dome. To this point, we are having a good session thanks to our governmental relations team and you, our members. GMA staff and leaders have testified on various bills, and your voice and influence has made a huge difference. Member engagement leads to positive results. Thank you for what you have done.

Our staff also works hard to deliver results on the federal side, particularly over the past year. We worked to ensure every city received ARPA funds and supported the passage of infrastructure funding. Recently, we have worked successfully to prevent “clawback” of ARPA funds designated for state and local governments. We will need to continue to be vigilant to ensure your city receives 100% of what it was promised, and we need your success stories to demonstrate the good work and positive outcomes for your city and citizens.

Service is at the heart of GMA’s mission. We exist to serve our 537 member cities. We do so by listening to you, the issues you face and the services and programs you need to address them. This means we must be open to change as the issues you face change. Government cannot be static or become comfortable with just doing what we have always done. Likewise, we at GMA must enhance and expand our services to reflect changing times and needs. You have shared with us

that workforce development; housing; LOST training; diversity, equity and inclusion; webinars on use of ARPA funds; planning retreats; and small city conferences are among the areas in which you need assistance. We are stepping up to meet your needs, and we encourage you to continue to share your ideas with us.

Finally, we must be innovative. Innovation means thinking outside the box, anticipating needs, being creative in delivering services and programs and always thinking forward. When you share with us your dreams and aspirations, your greatest needs, your challenges, then together we can brainstorm and allow innovation to be the engine that drives us forward. Programs we have and are building in our non-profit Georgia Cities Foundation, Georgia City Solutions and Georgia Forward/Young Gamechangers provide us with an innovation model to deliver programs to stimulate downtown development, to address the root causes of intergenerational poverty and to help cities create the sense of place and experience that will make them a magnet for growth and opportunity. With hard work and innovation, cities are driving the state’s economy, creating communities of great culture and quality of life to both attract and retain residents, and through wise use of funds for capital investment, preparing for a prosperous future.

Together, lets keep advocating, let’s keep a servant’s heart and a commitment to broaden our services, and let’s keep that innovative spirit so that we are always thinking of ways to improve to meet the challenges of today and the opportunities of tomorrow.

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 11

TAKING A SMART APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY TIM ECHOLS, VICE-CHAIR OF THE GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Every Thursday I produce a live stream featuring a di�erent Georgia city called “Community Focus.” Usually, we have the mayor or city manager along with a clean energy expert from the community. This issue of Georgia’s Cities is dedicated to technology, sustainability and innovation — and there couldn’t be a better time to talk about it. Here’s why.

FIRST, NEW TECHNOLOGIES bring the potential of increased operational efficiency, cost savings and reduction in human error when technology is able to perform certain functions. Smart meters, digital thermostats and iPhone auto-correct are three simple examples. The designers and manufacturers of these and many other potential solutions are striving for products and services that deliver those efficiencies and cost savings.

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However, new technologies also introduce new risks.

Recently, at our annual Regulatory Commissioner Conference, CEOs from pipelines and utilities shared how these operational efficiencies were offset by cyber-attacks that had not been properly addressed throughout the supply chain — in the design, manufacturing or distribution of such new technologies. Their clarion call to the audience was to bring the supply chain for chips and other technology back to America. Some of the companies presenting shared about how a lack of

vigilance put them at risk against multiple forms of cyber threat — and they paid an expensive price. I know many Georgia cities and counties are ramping up their training and systems to make sure attacks are unsuccessful. I know that we at the state are.

Second, sustainability is being prioritized by both governments and businesses. The word “sustainability” definitely gets thrown around often, and can mean a lot of things. For me, it speaks to longevity. For example, most of Georgia Power’s renewables acquired to date have been built or procured under PPAs priced at or below the Georgia Power’s long term projected avoided costs, with the goal of creating long-term savings for customers. That is a win.

I describe sustainability as being more like a “puzzle” than a “gearbox”— in which every gear is critical to operation. You don’t have to have all the puzzle pieces in order to be able to recognize the puzzle picture, and that is true with sustainability. Maybe you have a composting or recycling program, a rainwater collection effort, urban gardens, EV chargers, bike paths, energy efficiency programs, or solar. Getting started is most important and you can add to your sustainability programs as you go. And hopefully, they are financially sustainable too so they can endure the test of time.

Third, innovation is craved by everyone, but it can be a trap. The lure of innovation is that no one wants to be last or left behind. By being innovative, we appear to be “in the know” and we receive the admiration of our peers, constituents and others. But that is not always the case. Being on the bleeding edge can often be costly. Innovative products don’t always work exactly as advertised, or maybe the costs to deploy the innovation is more expensive than we bargained for.

Building Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 is a great example. Many states had signed up to build AP1000s, but the accident in Japan scared most off. A tight

fixed-and-firm contract gave Georgia co-owners the assurance to move forward, but then the unspeakable happened. Toshiba bankrupted Westinghouse voiding our contract and putting co-owners in a very difficult situation. Knowing the importance of carbon-free energy, co-owners moved forward. It is as innovative as a spaceship, but the unexpected has put all parties in a difficult situation for now.

Other slippery innovative ideas await adoption.

Will utility-scale batteries or microgrids deliver on their promise of extending solar power or increasing resilience? These containerized batteries are made of the same material as your battery in the cell phone and computer — and in my electric car. They promise a certain number of cycles, but I am always disappointed in my computer battery performance. Will utility-scale batteries on our grid be any different? What happens if the two air-conditioned units on the sides of any given container of batteries malfunction and we have a “heat” incident? What if the batteries are depleted before their nameplate says they should be? Every innovation comes with a downside, and I tell constituents we can only adopt a limited number of innovations at a time. “But what about hydrogen?” they ask? “Can we not put solar in the roadways?” And can we not get rid of all of these old energy sources and plants? There is a balance in adding innovation, and you have to know your constituency to serve them best.

Implementing technology, sustainability and innovation is not easy. If I can ever be of help to you as you consider any of these, please reach out to me.

Tim Echols is Vice-Chair of the Georgia Public Service Commission. He was first elected in 2010. Reach him at techols@psc.ga.gov

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 13

CITY DESK

Metro Cities Honored as Green Communities Five of Georgia’s cities have been recognized for their leadership in sustainability by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC).

DOUGLASVILLE, MILTON, NORCROSS, ROSWELL and Woodstock have all been named Green Communities for 2022.

The Green Communities Program, started by ARC in 2009, recognizes local governments that invest in projects and policy that help further sustainability efforts. Those that receive the designation are examples of how local governments can contribute to a more environmentally friendly future.

Douglasville, which received a silver certification, was recognized for its effort to capture rainwater and well water for irrigation at Hunter Park and West Pines Golf Club. This helps save 30 million gallons of water annually while keeping local recreation areas lush.

Milton also received a silver certification. The designation was earned after Milton became one of Georgia’s first cities to be certified as a National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat.

Norcross has been certified platinum, the highest possible designation. The city was recognized for building a community garden within a local park. The garden helps residents grow with their plants from

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seed to plate; not only can produce be planted, but the garden also has cooking equipment, educational materials and a community pavilion.

Roswell is another platinum certified city. New permeable pavers on a road in the Hog Waller Creek watershed helped Roswell earn this recognition. Permeable pavers reduce the volume of harmful runoff that enters waterways when it rains, and helps direct rainwater into the ground. The final recognized city, Woodstock, earned platinum certification for its switch to a virtual server system. This seemingly small change helped achieve an 87% energy use reduction and saved the city $500,000 in energy costs.

“The hard work, innovative thinking, and dedication of our Green Communities serve as a model for other communities in the region,” said ARC Natural Resources Managing Director Katherine Zitsch in a press release.

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Cash Receipting Summit Code Enforcement And many more!

Fargo

Fargo is located in the heart of South Georgia’s swampland, with two major destinations for outdoor enthusiasts. The city is one of the gateways to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, one of Georgia’s natural treasures. The refuge, home to 621 species of plants and 424 species of animals, sees almost 400,000 visitors per year and has an economic impact of $67 million on Charlton, Ware and Clinch counties. It covers much of the Okefenokee Swamp, which is fed by the nearby Suwannee River. Fargo is the nearest city to the refuge’s West Entrance.

That entrance is also on the land of Stephen C. Foster State Park. The park also covers parts of the Okefenokee Swamp and Suwanee River, wth camping, cottage rentals, nature trails and waterways open to the public. While small, Fargo is the key to hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine natural land and outdoor recreation.

CITIES INCREASE COMMITMENTS TO

SUSTAINABILITY

BY NIKKI PERRY

Georgia’s cities are investing in sustainability to alleviate the impact of climate change. Local governments are developing innovative plans to help do their part to create a sustainable future.

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 17

building development, and green infrastructure — and CREATING A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY GOES ecological systems, where the built environment interbeyond installing some solar panels and purchasing a sects with the natural environment,” Wharton said. few electric vehicles. From a government perspective, it Athens is one of several Georgia communities to encompasses solid waste recycling, littering reduction, adopt a 100% clean and renewable energy plan over water conservation, stormwater management, green the past few years, along with Atlanta, Savannah, Auspace preservation, tree ordinances, energy-efficient gusta, Clarkston and other cities and counties. The plans housing, urban planning, transportation and more. set benchmarks for government and community use of It’s a tall order, which is why most cities spread clean, renewable energy sources these responsibilities among varin the coming decades. Staff memious departments. Some cities “You have to be sensitive to bers dedicated to sustainability are have found benefits in centralizing understanding where your becoming an essential tool for imthese efforts. residents are at, finding what’s plementing these ambitious plans.

“In sustainability, you look at relevant to them and really While Savannah formed a suseconomics, environment and socilistening to them.” tainability office in 2014, Sustainety, and how you pull those three ability Director Nick Deffley said together. Where they all cross the addition of an energy analyst in the summer of 2021 over, that’s where sustainable communities are,” said was critical to shepherd its 100% plan through commuMichael Wharton, Athens-Clarke County sustainability nity engagement and council approval. Now, the susofficer. tainability office plans to continue growing as it impleIn Athens-Clarke County, a sustainability office was ments the 45 strategies outlined in the plan. Internally, formed in 2017 and reports to the city manager. Wharthey are focused on changes such as solar panels on city ton said this structure allows his staff to break through facilities, shifting toward an electric vehicle fleet, and departmental silos, facilitating more comprehensive improving energy efficiency of city buildings. Externally, planning and coordination. It also allows the governthe city will host community events on April 22, Earth ment to track the aggregate impact of its sustainability Day, at three city parks around Savannah, educating resefforts. idents about energy efficiency and renewable energy.

“Our two major thrusts are focused on energy related projects — which would include transportation,

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Check out “Green Minds,” a podcast hosted by the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network. The Feb. 28, 2022, episode examines sustainability staffing structures of four different size cities in the SSDN network.

WWW.SOUTHEASTSDN.ORG

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COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT IS KEY

GOVERNMENTS LOOKING TO CREATE sustainable communities may be hard-pressed to communicate the urgency and importance of these initiatives to residents.

“Going forward with our energy plan, we found that it was hard to engage the community, starting with the fact that it wasn’t relevant to most of the community,” Wharton said. “They turn their light switches on and electricity runs their homes. They say, ‘We have electricity, so what is there to do?’”

Athens-Clarke County is currently in the community engagement phase of its 100% plan. The city has learned from past experience that essential needs must be met before residents are ready to talk about energy efficiency or water conservation.

In 2018, the consolidated government and Athens Land Trust received a grant from the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network to bring low-flow showerheads and toilets, smart thermostats and insulation to a low-income, predominantly Black neighborhood.

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 19

However, the residents were struggling to afford basic home repairs. The trust and the city were able to pivot and create a solution for these essential needs, paving the way for energy efficiency improvements.

Deffley echoed that lesson, saying that Savannah has also learned that community engagement is key in the sustainability process.

“You have to be sensitive to understanding where your residents are at, finding what’s relevant to them, and really listening to them,” Deffley said. “Coming in and telling them ‘This is what the city wants to do,’ doesn’t set well and doesn’t stick.”

In tandem with the environmental goals of sustainability, cities are prioritizing the social justice issues

tied into climate change. According to United Nations research on “Climate Change and Social Inequality,” social inequality disproportionately affects disadvantaged groups through “increased exposure…to climate hazards, increased susceptibility to damage caused by climate hazards, and decreased ability to cope with and recover from the damage.”

“The [Savannah] city council really focused on making sure that as we make this energy transition, we are addressing racial equity issues and some historic inequities that Savannah has had, and making sure that this transition is not on the back of some of our more vulnerable populations,” Deffley said.

RESOURCES There are plenty of resources available to help cities as they navigate these issues. As related industries flourish in Georgia, the network of sustainability professionals has steadily grown. One such network is the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network, along with the

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national organization, Urban Sustainability Directors Network. The Southeast Sustainable Recovery Center, launched in August 2021, helps local governments access federal funding opportunities for equitable climate resilience and sustainability projects.

INSIDE GMA

Working Toward a More Equitable and Inclusive Georgia After more than a year of work, GMA’s Equity and Inclusion Commission has presented its final report, titled “Our Journey Together.”

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IT WAS ADOPTED BY THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS DURING THE CITIES UNITED SUMMIT IN LATE JANUARY.

THE SEEDS OF THE REPORT WERE PLANTED during the summer of 2020, a turbulent time for our nation.

The public health and economic fallout from COVID-19 highlighted disparities in our most vulnerable populations, including ones that existed long before the pandemic. A concurrent pandemic of racial injustice and prejudice caused further despair across the nation.

All across the country, in cities big and small, citizens from all walks of life expressed their frustration with inequities and injustice and demanded change. We at the Georgia Municipal Association saw clearly that this was an opportunity to take a hard look at how we

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could improve equity and inclusion in Georgia’s cities and how we, as an organization, could lead not with mere words, but with actions.

The GMA Equity and Inclusion Commission was created in July 2020 to demonstrate our commitment to the ideals of justice, equity and inclusion and to step up to meet the moral imperative of this moment in time.

Now, nearly two years later, that commission has produced a roadmap for GMA and Georgia’s cities to do just that. This is the first undertaking of its kind by any municipal league in the country, and GMA is proud to have gotten out in front of the challenge.

After more than 18 months of work with stakeholders across Georgia, GMA’s Equity and Inclusion Commission has compiled a 54-page report with recommendations for cities and GMA alike. These recommendations include: • The creation of a standing GMA Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council to oversee the implementation of the commission’s recommendations and recommend additional equity and inclusion initiatives in the future • A Municipal Equity and Inclusion Certification Program for cities focused on seven categories, including workforce housing; education; health and wellbeing; public safety and restorative justice; community and economic development; municipal workforce development and employment; and community dialogue/stakeholder engagement • Annual diversity, equity and inclusion training for municipal elected officials and employees • Model government and workplace policies promoting equity and inclusion and reflecting equitable practices The report also discusses the new Excellence in Policing initiative, created by a complementary committee.

This new certificate designation will enable cities to be

recognized for implementing recommendations focused on four key areas: • Personnel policies • Critical task policies • The role of technology in policing • Criminal justice reform.

Excellence in Policing is focused on assisting local police departments and local governments to ensure the highest level of professional services are offered for the citizens they serve. The program will develop a culture of awareness, training and organizational development to ensure leaders and agencies are engaged with and reflective of their communities and commit themselves to the ideals of excellence in public safety.

Georgia’s cities now have an accessible resource they can apply to fit their needs regardless of size and financial situation. Instead of going through the time and expense of building an equity and inclusion plan from the ground up, here is a blueprint to follow that each of Georgia’s 537 cities can customize based on local political and citizen expectations and aspirations.

Read the full report and learn more about our Equity and Inclusion work at gacities.com

Members of GMA’s Equity & Inclusion Commission join GMA staff for a “Valuing Differences” exercise.

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 23

Is your City designated as a GMA Certified City of Ethics?

TO INQUIRE ABOUT HOW YOUR CITY CAN BE designated as a Certified City of Ethics, please visit www.gacities.com/About/Awards-and-Certifications/ Cities-of-Ethics.aspx. If your city is already a Certified City of Ethics, the city must re-certify in the program every four years by submitting a recently adopted resolution by majority of city council. The deadline for submission approvals is due to GMA by April 30. Please forward all re-certification documents to Gina Gresham via email to rgresham@gacities.com.

Please forward all new submission documents and the one-time $85 fee via U.S. Mail to: Gina Gresham GMA Legal Assistant Georgia Municipal Association P.O. Box 105377 Atlanta, GA 30348 If you have any questions, please fee free to give Gina a call at (678) 686-6258.

GMA Elects Madison Mayor as Third Vice President Longtime Leader Fills Mid-Year Vacancy GMA HAS ELECTED MADISON Mayor Fred Perriman as third vice president.” This puts Perriman, who has served in municipal government for nearly 40 years, in line to become GMA president in 2025.

“I am honored to accept this leadership role with GMA, and humbled to be elected by my peers,” Perriman said. “As a longtime public servant, I look forward to helping GMA continue to serve Georgia’s cities.”

GMA’s leadership is typically elected at the Annual Convention, held during the summer in Savannah.

However, the third vice president position became

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vacant after former Marietta Councilmember Michelle Cooper Kelly’s council term ended Jan. 1. Cooper Kelly was elected second vice president in August, but members of the GMA Board of Directors must be current municipal officeholders. Perry Mayor Randall Walker assumed the role of second vice president, and his former role of third vice president became vacant.

GMA’s membership elected Perriman on Saturday, Jan. 22, at the Cities United Summit in Atlanta.

The summit is a four-day event that provides mayors, councilmembers, city staff and special guests access to advocacy tools, policy committee meetings, as well as unrivaled training and networking opportunities.

Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Training

Training Update

With the release of the 2020 Census data, cities must start planning to negotiate with counties for the re-distribution of Local Option Sales Tax (LOST). Per Georgia law, the timeline for the re-negotiation is as follows: •

•

•

July 1, 2022: Deadline by which a county must notify the DOR commissioner in writing that renegotiation proceedings have begun. If county does not issue the call by that date, any eligible municipality can do so.

60 Days Following the Start of Negotiations: Parties must submit to nonbinding arbitration, mediation, or such other means of resolving conflicts if a renegotiated distribution is not reached.

Dec. 30, 2022: Deadline to file certificate with DOR.

If an agreement is not reached by the deadline, LOST will cease to be collected until a new referendum authorizing LOST is approved.

To assist cities in preparing to negotiate their fair share, GMA developed and provided a training program including an overview of LOST, review of negotiation criteria, negotiation requirements and tips, lessons learned from past negotiations, dispute resolution options and recommended practices.

A LOST Boot Camp was held Jan. 24-25 at the GMA offices in Atlanta with 40 participants. GMA staff has also provided 13 Regional LOST training sessions, in person, at locations in every GMA district during the February and March. More than 330 city officials have participated in the regional training.

If your elected officials and staff want to increase their knowledge of LOST and the negotiation process and were unable to attend the regional training sessions, or if you have questions or need additional information about LOST, please contact Stan Brown, GMA Member Services Consultant at sbrown@gacities.com.

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 25

Small Cities Conference Convening in Dublin CITIES IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA WITH A population of 5,000 or less make up over 75% of all Georgia cities. Those with a population of less than 10,000 make up over 83%. Small cities are the foundation of our state’s economy, history, and sense of community. GMA’s 2022 Small Cities Conference will be like no other. Last held in 2019 due to the pandemic, this year’s theme will be “Connecting for Success”.

During this two-day conference, to be held April 28-29 at Oconee Fall Line Technical College in Dublin, Georgia, cities will make connections with key organizations and our sessions will focus on topics that can help small cities revitalize, grow, and prosper while preserving their history and sense of community.

The Small Cities Conference will focus on the following topics: • Redistricting: GIS Mapping and Overview of Regional Commission Services • Georgia City Solutions • FEMA/GEMA Disaster Mitigation: What You Need to Know to be Prepared

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• Downtown Development/Economic Development 101 and Development Success Stories • Community Designations, What They Mean and How They Can Help Your City • Environmental Overview and Impacts • How to Stay Out of Hot Water: Legal Overview of Most Common Mistakes Cities Make • Budgeting and Compliance GMA is partnering with other state agencies to present this information including the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), Georgia Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), Department of Audit and Accounts (DOAA) and Middle Georgia Regional Commission (MGRC).

To register visit GMA’s Calendar of Events at gacities.com. Registration is $175 and space is limited to 150 attendees.

For Faster Registration and Housing Reservations, register on-line at https://show.jspargo.com/gma20 No registration will be processed without payment. Advance Registration ends May 25.

The full registration fee for the GMCA Conference is $675.

(If purchased individually, these sessions total $795.)

The fee includes: • Friday afternoon training course (3 hours credit) • Saturday training session (6 hour credit) • GMA Exhibit Hall Reception on Saturday afternoon • GMA General Session on Sunday morning • Sunday Luncheon Session • Sunday training course (3 hour credit) • Monday morning training course (3 hour training) • Monday GMA and GMCA Awards Luncheon Ticket

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday, June 26 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Training Courses

Saturday, June 27 8:15 am – 3:15 pm 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Training Courses Exhibit Hall and Reception

New Officers Elected for Georgia Municipal Clerks Association

Sunday, June 28 7:15 am – 8:00 am Worship Service (optional) 8:00 am – 9:00 am Breakfast in Exhibit Hall 9:15 am – 10:45 am GMA Opening General Session 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Business Meeting and Luncheon 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Training Courses Monday, June 29 8:30 am – 11:30 am Training Courses 12:00 pm – 1:45 pm GMA and GMCA Awards Luncheon 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm GMA Closing Event (Separate Ticket Required)

NEW OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE Georgia Municipal Clerks Association (GMCA) were installed for 2022-2023 at the organization’s annual meeting, held on Feb. 7 at Jekyll Island during the Georgia Clerks Education Institute offered by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

The new officers are: President: Vicki Wainwright, Butler Vice President: Regina Russell, Acworth Treasurer: Deborah Walker-Reed, St. Marys Secretary: Vernice Thompson, Hazlehurst Immediate Past President Lisa Johnson, Fargo.

Current GMCA Board Members: District 1: Nikki Lundeen, Ringgold District 2: Marilyn Chastain, Helen District 3: Shandrella Jewett, Union City District 4: Richard McCoy, West Point District 5: Sandra Haggard, Commerce District 6: Telina Allred, Byron District 7: Vacant District 8: Margaret Shelley, Vienna District 9: Angie Conner, Metter District 10: Malinda Crook, Blakely District 11: Vacant District 12: Naomi Atkinson, Brunswick

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 27

Showcase Your Successes During Georgia Cities Week It’s the best time of year: Georgia Cities Week!

IF IT SEEMS LIKE IT HASN’T YET BEEN A YEAR since the last Georgia Cities Week, you’re right – it was in October last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year, it’s back in its normal April time slot.

Georgia Cities Week, which will run April 24 through 30, is an opportunity for cities to celebrate their achievements, recognize the hard work of city employees and showcase what the city does every day to make its residents’ lives better. Every year, hundreds of Georgia’s cities find innovative ways to celebrate

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their work, including social media posts, volunteer opportunities and special events.

Resource kits for Georgia Cities Week have already been mailed, but if your city wants to join in the festivities, it’s not too late. The resource kit is available to download at gacities.com/Events/Annual-Events/ Georgia-Cities-Week.aspx. Any questions about Georgia Cities Week can be directed to Dana Goodall (dgoodall@gacities.com).

Latest Round of HRAC Classes Underway It’s time for GMA’s Human Resources Administration Certificate (HRAC) classes!

THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES FIVE CLASSES specifically designed to provide tools necessary to successfully recruit, train and retain talent for your community. Upon completion of all five classes, participants will receive a certification and should understand all relevant employment laws; the importance of recruiting, onboarding and professional development; how to compensate and provide benefits to employees; how to develop personnel policies; and how to address employee performance and workplace culture.

This round of classes will be held in Cornelia, Georgia from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will cover specific topics on the following dates: • March 23: Personnel Law • March 30: Compensation & Benefits • April 6: Personnel Policies • April 13: Talent Management • April 20: Performance Management

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Newly Elected Officials Convene in Athens and Tifton

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THE HAROLD F. HOLTZ MUNICIPAL TRAINING Institute, operated through a partnership between the Georgia Municipal Association and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) trained more than 450 newly elected city officials during the recent sessions of the Newly Elected Officials Institute on the University of Georgia’s campuses in Athens and Tifton. This state-mandated training provided the newly elected city officials with

information on municipal legal foundations, structure, charters and policies; ethics; building collaborative relationships; successful meeting management; diversity, equity and inclusion; financial resources; transportation and public works; land use; roles and responsibilities for city officials in personnel matters; and financial policies. Instructors and presenters included CVIOG faculty, GMA staff and former staff and veteran city officials and GMA leaders.

GMA President Jim Thornton kicked off the Newly Elected Officials Institute with some sage advice for municipal officials.

Walt McBride (left), interim leadership development unit manager for the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, and Union City Mayor Vince Williams, GMA immediate past president, provided useful tips on successful meeting management during the Newly Elected Officials Institute in Athens.

Georgia’s Cities

Asks:

Why did you run for municipal office and what are your goals?

“I left Washington D.C. as a legislative aide in Congress to run successfully for city commissioner in Albany, GA because I felt that I could make a greater impact on individual lives at the local level. My calling is to help others in any way that I can, and I believe that effective leaders in local government have the ability to positively change lives for the better. I believed that I had to step up and take on the responsibility of serving my community. My generation deserves a seat at the table, and I refuse to sit idly by.”

Jalen Johnson, Commissioner, Albany “I specialize in a background of affordable housing, and my goal for the city of Union Point is to develop key focus points and strategize plans as a team to help the city to thrive in growth developments, economics and developing long lasting relationships with the community and agencies. While serving my term on the city council, I would like to assist with creating incentives to recruit new businesses, jobs and affordable housing to the city.

Teneisha Pinkney, Councilmember, Union Point.

What advice do you have for newly elected city officials?

“A successful leader is someone who people want to follow because they fight for the highest good of others. They are secure, confident and humble. Leaders achieve their vision for the community’s highest and best good by building trust. Trust is built when leaders are learners, likeable, clear and competent. Be a learner by seeking to understand before being understood. Be likeable by being authentic and transparent. Be clear by setting realistic expectations and be competent by doing what you say you’ll do every time.”

Linnea Miller, Councilmember, Suwanee, eight years as an elected official “Remember, it is not about you; it’s about the council you serve with and the community you represent. Speak life and speak positive things about your community. Be a peacemaker, not a troublemaker. Avail yourself, take time to listen, remember people are watching and be truthful!”

Kenneth Carson, Mayor, Adairsville, eight years as an elected official “First, read your charter. Second, learn how to play in the sandbox together. Third, respect and decorum. Fourth, love each other. Your community depends on collaborative efforts to make sure it is uplifted, not divided. God bless you; I love you and there ain’t nothing you can do about it.”

GMA Immediate Past President Vince Williams, Mayor, Union City, 15 years as an elected official

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Georgia’s Cities Amped Up to Provide EV Charging Stations

BY ALIA HOYT

The electric vehicle (EV) industry is booming, and a number of Georgia’s cities are taking measures to keep it that way by making sure that residents have convenient charging opportunities at their fingertips.

ALTHOUGH THE WORLD’S DEPENDENCE ON gasoline isn’t likely to go away anytime soon, there’s little doubt that electric vehicles are making a dent in the automotive industry. In 2020, the United States registered more than 295,000 new electric vehicles, per the International Energy Agency (IEA). This large sale volume came despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic hammered the industry as a whole, with a

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23% decline in U.S. car sales that year. Fortunately, some of the impact was offset by tax incentives.

Savvy cities have long seen the train coming down the tracks, however, which is why many have added EV charging stations in recent years. Here, we profile a few cities that are lit up with enthusiasm for this helpful amenity.

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Why Cities Install EV Chargers Much like a gas-powered car requires the occasional pit stop, electric vehicles need to be charged regularly.

Although drivers have chargers at home, public EV stations in the public arena help them “top off.”

While electric vehicles’ environmental friendliness is part of their appeal, many drivers hesitate to make the switch “because of the fear of inadequate charging infrastructure,” said Brandon Branham, assistant city manager of Peachtree Corners. “So to do our part as a city, we knew we needed to be a leader in this space to best serve our residents, businesses and visitors.”

Although sustainability is certainly enough of a reason, there’s more to it than that from a tourism perspective. The small middle Georgia city of Washington recently installed two chargers smack in the middle of downtown. Mayor Bill DeGolian sees it as a “win-win,” for everyone involved.

“It’s easy enough to do, and encourages people to visit your town,” DeGolian said, noting that the downtown vendors were very much in favor of adding the amenity. In fact, the new stations are currently being sponsored by a local merchant, raising their business profile and saving the city money all at the same time.

EV stations provide a boost to local economies.

Peachtree Corners has been a trendsetter of the movement, having installed their first EV chargers back in 2014. Today, the city boasts 32 Level 2 charging ports

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located across the city. The city also partnered with Tesla and Electrify to construct the largest DCFC (direct current fast charging) charging hub in metro Atlanta, with 16 fast chargers in the downtown area.

As a certified Green Community, Peachtree Corners encourages electric vehicle use from a sustainability perspective. However, it’s also designed to invigorate the local economy.

“We have seen an upward trend in our downtown area. Since installing the fast chargers, they have generated over 2,000 new trips a month,” said Branham, noting that more than 3,000 people charge on the city’s infrastructure every month. “This will only continue to grow as more electric vehicle models are available for consumers, and is why we are continuing to expand our charging infrastructure.”

The south Georgia city of Brunswick added to its existing slate of charging stations to encourage economic stimulus, but also to make the charging experience more pleasant for drivers. Prior to their recent addition of 10 downtown chargers, the only options were close to Interstate 95.

“Those locations are in less populated areas with few things for customers to do while their vehicle charges,” said Matthew Hill, executive director for Brunswick’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA).

“Now, with the stations in the downtown area, customers have shopping and dining within an easy two or three block walk.”

Also in south Georgia, the city of Thomasville experienced near instant return on investment with their charging stations.

“Within minutes of installation, we spotted visitors from Tallahassee using the charging station, and they were thrilled to be able to experience downtown Thomasville while they were charging up to complete their day trip,” said April Norton, managing director of marketing and communications with the city.

Since installation, the stations have seen a 500% uptick from 2020 to 2021 in charging hours, a sign that demand is on the upswing.

Moving Forward with EV Chargers Many private sector partners are only too happy to help cities install EV charging stations. For example, Brunswick received theirs thanks to the Georgia Power “Make Ready” program, says Hill.

“Communities served by Georgia Power should definitely contact their GPC community and economic development representative to discuss ways they can assist with the project,” Hill said.

Through this program, Georgia Power will own, install and maintain the electrical infrastructure, which

“removes the biggest financial hurdle of installing electric chargers at your location,” according to the program’s website.

Once that’s all squared away, cities are wise to anticipate the future of EV charging needs. Not surprisingly, Peachtree Corners is on the forefront of this, with a new “mobility hub” opening up this summer to expand charging opportunities. Also, the city is working closely with the business community to ascertain fleet charging requirements and help them meet their needs as they convert from gas to electric.

As price points on electric vehicles come down and interest goes up, more and more Georgia cities could hop on board this environmentally-conscious trend.

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Welcoming Leadership, Supporting Youth Georgia City Solutions welcomed Odessa Archibald to the Board of Directors in January.

ARCHIBALD WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPOINTED BY the GMA Board of Directors at their January 22 meeting. Archibald is the community development manager at Georgia Power. In this role, she provides leadership and direction to the team of regional community and economic development managers as they work to support local communities through leadership development, strategic planning, industry expansion, retention and recruitment. Her background and experience add tremendous value to the GCS Board and its important work. Archibald filled the board seat vacated

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by Kristy Rachal, who recently moved into a new role at Georgia Power as director of community and economic development.

In other news, GCS congratulates the city of Carrollton for recently standing up the Carrollton Youth Council. Youth representatives from Carrollton attended their first Youth Leadership Program held during GMA’s Cities United Summit in Atlanta in late January.

“Learning about the good and the bad of being a leader, how to work with others, and doing things for our community helped us gather so many new ideas,”

said Kiara Wilbanks, a youth council member who attended the program.

During the two-and-a-half day program, approximately 40 youth and 12 adult leaders participated in a variety of youth leadership activities, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. GCS is pleased to report that a $150 scholarship was awarded to the city of Carrollton to offset the registration fee of one youth participant.

Youth councils are one of the most direct ways in which cities and city leaders can engage with the youth in their community.

If your city is interested in starting a youth council, check out the ENGAGE resources and promo video on the GMA website at gacities.com/ENGAGE and let us know how we can be of assistance.

The mission of GCS is to establish and support innovative programs and initiatives aimed at building vibrant, economically prosperous and well-managed cities, and improving the quality of life of communities in Georgia. The strategic plan is the foundation on which we build a course of action to support the mission and priorities set by the board. It is important to review and update the plan on a consistent schedule to keep it relevant and focused. At their meeting on Feb. 11, the GCS Board reviewed and revised the strategic plan with a new emphasis on building awareness of the GCS mission and direct engagement with cities and potential donors to support programming in the key focus areas of Youth Leadership Development, Workforce and Economic Development, and Equity and Inclusion.

Georgia Municipal Association | New Headquarters, Renovation, and Parking Deck

City of Milton | Public Safety Complex

City of Fayetteville | City Hall

Young Gamechangers Cohort Kicking Off GeorgiaForward recently announced the 50 young professionals from across the state that will serve as the organization’s 2022 Young Gamechangers (YG).

THE 2022 COHORT OF GAMECHANGERS WILL be hosted by Dalton-Whitfield County. Their work will begin on April 27 and culminate with a community presentation of their findings and recommendations in late September.

The Gamechangers are accomplished professionals under the age of 41 from across the state who wish to make an impact through civic engagement, economic development and community partnerships.

They will develop specific, actionable recommendations for the community. Dalton leaders have formulated four “Challenge Questions” that the 2022 cohort will be charged to answer through the five-month program. These questions center around redevelopment, education, community engagement and tourism.

Twenty members of the class are from the Dalton-Whitfield County area, another fifteen are from the metro Atlanta region, and the remaining fifteen are from greater Georgia. Bringing together young leaders from various regions helps to unite our state, strengthen communities, and create a talent pipeline within Georgia.

Who is on the Team: Dalton/Whitfield County Amanda CM Brown Christopher Brown Rosa Cuna

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Dalton/Whitfield County (cont’d) Chelsea DeWaters Candace Eaton Reed Fincher Gita Harden Anna Hart Amber Hefner Brooklyn Herrera Marisa Kelley Alana Langford John Minor Jorge Paez Mallory Safley Luzmila Sanchez Alexandria Sanford Mitchell Snyder Travis Taylor Andrew Thomas II Metro Atlanta Brittany Anderson (Canton/Cherokee County) Claudia E. Colichon (Brookhaven/DeKalb County) Kara Keene Cooper (Atlanta/Fulton County) Morgan Davis (Atlanta/Fulton County) Joseph Goldstein (Marietta/Cobb County) Patrick Ledford (Atlanta/Fulton County) Tori Kerlin (Marietta/Cobb County) Laura Mitchell (Atlanta/Fulton County)

Aprille Blair Moore (Decatur/DeKalb County) Matthew Pepper (Norcross/Gwinnett County) Gabrielle Rogers (Stone Mountain/DeKalb County) Trey Smith (Woodstock/Cherokee County) Aaron Szarowicz (Smyrna/Cobb County) Chelsea Tucker (Decatur/DeKalb County) JT Wu (Norcross/Gwinnett County) Greater Georgia Sarah Andrews (Villa Rica/Carroll County) Ross Burger (Chatsworth/Murray County) Sarah Carnes (Athens/Clarke County) Kayla Cooper (Martinez/Columbia County) Hasco Craver (Newnan/Coweta County) Natalie Crawford (Flowery Branch/Hall County) Livvy Davis (Baxley/Appling County) Asher Dozier (Covington/Newton County) Carolyn Gibson (Carnesville/Franklin County) Ashlyn Johnson (Valdosta/Lowndes County) Tara Pearson (Thomasville/Thomas County) Leah Poole (Hinesville/Liberty County) Sarah (Gracie) Preston Rigby (Warner Robins/Houston County) Ashlan Webb (Covington/Newton County) Tonya Woolfolk (Kathleen/Houston County)

“We are delighted to return the GeorgiaForward program to the communities of Georgia after a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said AJ Robinson, chair of GeorgiaForward’s board of directors. “This program has proven beneficial to every locale in which it has taken place, bringing new and fresh ideas to cities and counties across the state. It is a premier leadership development opportunity which produces results on many levels.”

Previous Young Gamechangers host communities are Americus-Sumter County, Dublin-Laurens County, Douglasville-Douglas County, Augusta-Richmond County, LaGrange-Troup County, Milledgeville-Baldwin County, Albany-Dougherty County, and Monroe-Walton County. For information about hosting a Young Gamechangers Team, please contact managing director Sadie Krawczyk by email: skrawczyk@gacities.com or cell: 404-455-7992.

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 39

Needs assessment informs GMA’s Job with Purpose Initiative

BY MARGARET BLANCHARD

With an eye on the rapidly changing workforce, the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) has partnered with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) at the University of Georgia to identify current and future talent needs for municipal governments across the state.

THIS COLLABORATION IS JUST THE LATEST between two organizations that have worked together for decades to provide municipalities with the necessary resources to govern effectively and efficiently.

A municipal workforce needs assessment released in January is the first phase of Jobs With Purpose, an initiative by GMA and Georgia City Solutions, the 501(c) (3) subsidiary of the organization. More than 500 cities of various sizes across the state were invited to participate in a survey about current practices in recruitment, retention, compensation and planning.

“I applaud GMA for proactively seeking solutions to grow the talent pipeline for local governments,” said Greg Wilson, unit manager for workforce

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development & economic analysis at CVIOG. “Jobs With Purpose identifies human resource issues that elected officials and administrators can address to ensure they have a sustainable, high-quality workforce.”

An advisory council of local municipal government representatives and statewide stakeholders—including partners from the Georgia Department of Education, the Technical College Association of Georgia and the University System of Georgia — are leading the workforce strategy project.

One key finding showed more than 85% of municipalities reported difficulty recruiting qualified candidates. Although hard-to-fill positions varied according to city size and function, all respondents cited

problems finding workers for electricity or sanitation/ landfill departments.

That news was a relief for Emily Beeman, an advisory council member and director of human resources for the city of Tifton.

“Knowing other local government entities are struggling to find talented applicants in police, finance and landfill areas eased the burden,” Beeman said.

“But it also made clear that the resources we use to recruit for these positions need to be tweaked or completely reinvented to attract talent.”

In addition to recruitment challenges, the report found that municipal government workers tend to be slightly older than the U.S. average of 42 years.

However, the turnover rate for Georgia municipal government employees is much lower than the national average.

The finding also resonated with Beeman, who noted that when older employees retire, so does their institutional knowledge — leaving organizations struggling to find comparable replacements.

“If we want to keep up with the private sector, we must change our practices to attract more qualified candidates,” Beeman said. “Understanding what other entities are doing and staying abreast of trends in the workforce will help in better planning.”

Fellow advisory council member and Brunswick City Manager Regina McDuffie said Jobs With Purpose highlights the need for cities to invest in what keeps them moving: people.

“We are a labor-driven industry, and no level of automation can fully guide our services,” McDuffie said.

“We rely heavily on the productivity of our workforce; having proper resources is critical to our viability and sustainability.”

In the coming months, the steering committee will use the Jobs With Purpose needs assessment results to begin developing strategies in planning, investment opportunities and training to be shared at the Annual Convention this summer.

Half of Georgia municipalities have a skill shortage or expect one in the next 12-24 months.

Total rewards vary in competitiveness—health benefits, retirement, and vacation are very competitive while pay is not as competitive.

Despite recent and expected growth, few municipalities are undertaking intentional planning around workforce planning or succession planning

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DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENTS

GEORGIA HISTORIC THEATRES: HISTORIC PRESERVATION & SUSTAINABILITY

BY LEIGH BURNS, DIRECTOR, FOX THEATRE INSTITUTE, FOX THEATRE, ATLANTA GEORGIA’S HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACHIEVEments continue to include advances in sustainability practices. Beyond the preservation slogan “the greenest building is the one already built,” we continue to approach each circumstance selectively during preservation planning. We must also remember each project may not require the same level of intervention. The call to preserve downtown historic landmarks, including historic theatres, might have challenges with sustainability in practice. However, those difficulties lessen with further education, professional knowledge, general awareness, and helpful partnerships.

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We believe that Georgia has more than 100 active historic theatres and performing arts venues. From as far north as Summerville ‘s Tooga Theatre to the Tybee Post Theatre on the coast, our Fox Theatre Institute (FTI) team offers financial and technical assistance. Currently, our financial assistance includes making historic theatres “greener.” FTI assistance is not just directly to theatre rehabilitation, but, we hope, also increases positive impacts for economic and community development in historic landmark cities. When beginning the historic building’s necessary modernization, we pursue as non-invasive approach as possible, but even

more to trust sustainability experts. Theatre patrons and preservationists alike will agree that the greatest benefit of energy conservation is the bottom-line savings often spent to expand educational programs and performances.

The most obvious component of sustainability is to reuse a building, which of course provides the greatest climate-related savings. According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), reusing a historic building offers a greater environmental savings than the financial costs of demolition and construction — it may take 10 to 80 years for a new building, through efficient operations, to overcome the climate change impacts from construction. Additional practices for reducing collective carbon impact during construction include the scale of the building and the design.

In recent publications, the NTHP also stressed that historic buildings should modify to more efficient systems to reduce energy consumption and often this happens with minimal impact. Solutions include increasing insulation, upgrading to efficient appliances, adhering noninvasive shading devices, and incorporating deciduous shade producing trees.

From our National Historic Landmark building here at 660 Peachtree St. to more than two dozen historic theatres we are currently assisting, we hope these theatres implement similar practices we have found beneficial in our own 1929 building. Seven years ago, the Fox Theatre began a major lighting overhaul that included upgrades to LED lighting, advances for restroom fixtures, and a future massive chiller replacement. In partnership with Southface Institute, the Fox received Grants to Green funding and implemented

identified tasks reducing our consumption by approximately 20%. Through our firsthand experience, we knew that our National Historic Landmark building allowed this “greener” work to happen while maintaining historic integrity.

Today, we are continue to carry the message of sustainability to FTI’s network of more than 60 theatres. We have assisted other Georgia historic theatres with LED conversion for lighting of stages, auditoriums, and administrative areas. In 2018, the Colquitt County Arts Center (CCAC) completed an LED upgrade in their auditorium to decrease energy cost.

Built in 1929, the same year as the Fox Theatre, this unique, historic theatre is just one programming area of the regionally celebrated arts center.

Please note that the FTI grant program annually awards funding for sustainability projects.

To date, FTI has funded more than $2.2 million in financial investment for Georgia’s historic theatres. In January 2020, FTI began partnering with the Southface Institute’s GoodUse program.

This partnership has allowed FTI to continue sustainability practices for historic theatres, even amidst the pandemic. We have been fortunate to assist theatres with financial funding, sometimes matching our own partners investments. Historic theatres include the Southside Theatre Guild, Historic DeSoto Theatre, Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre and Douglass Theatre. We look forward to helping our theatre network expand savings. For more information about historic preservation and sustainability, please note the resources follows this article. To learn more about FTI grants to improve your own theatre’s “greener” energy, please see our website at www.foxtheatreinstitute.org. We hope these resources encourage a path toward more sustainable landmark buildings in your own city.

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 43

TOWNS & THE LAW

Accessing Technology in All Communities

BY GINA GRESHAM, GMA LEGAL ASSISTANT

Many Georgians live in cities and towns with full access to technology and the progression of continuous innovative growth.

TECHNOLOGY CAN PROVIDE A great deal of sustainability in cities and lead to good paying jobs and improved quality of life. Georgians from all walks of life enjoy technology in a variety of ways, from broadband internet to smart devices, to business owners finding innovative ways to provide services to their customers.

The challenge of providing new technologies, however, becomes more pronounced in rural areas.

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Nearly 100 years ago, powering rural communities with reliable and affordable electricity was essential to sustaining the economic well-being of the quality of life for rural residents. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 allowed the federal government to make low-cost loans, grants and other energy financing to farmers who had banded together to create non-profit cooperatives for the purpose of bringing electricity to rural America that serves its customers.

Additionally, many rural areas in Georgia don’t have Technology infrastructure has made an impact in the aubroadband service. Without this basic service, wages tomobile industry with the invention of hybrid and eleccan be depressed, education becomes harder, creattric vehicles. Georgia is currently on track to welcome a ing new jobs becomes more challenging, there is less large and innovative electric automobile manufacturer access to public services, and rural areas are being left to our state. With the growth of electric vehicles fedbehind. To create sustainability for growth in rural areas eral, state, and local laws and investments will need to for families, businesses and a growing, thriving commube responsive. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of nity, a great improvement in infrastructure is needed.

Transportation released a toolkit to help stakeholders, The recently enacted federal Bipartisan Infrastructure including local governments, plan and fund rural electric Law included an investment of $65 billion to help close mobility infrastructure. Included within this toolkit is inthe digital divide in these rural formation on federal funding communities. programs and other resourcTo create sustainability for Georgia’s cities would es that can help rural cities growth in rural areas for families, be wise to take advantage reduce the burden of implebusinesses and a growing, thriving of these and many other opmenting new and innovating community, a great improvement portunities made available electric vehicle infrastructure. in infrastructure is needed. to their local communities Similarly, earlier this year, through federal and state law the federal government, to help bring innovative technologies to their comthrough the USDA, created a program called the Rural munities. GMA often provides key information about Energy Pilot Program. This program offers financial asmany of these opportunities in our weekly communisistance to rural communities to further develop renewcations in hopes of providing avenues for Georgia’s able energy. The grants available through this program cities the ability to be innovative and responsive to could be used by rural cities to support community entheir community’s needs. ergy planning, capacity building, technical assistance, efficiency and weatherization, and installation and equipping of community-scale renewable energy technologies and systems.

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 45

FEDERAL FOCUS

Turning Federal Assets Into Local Investments ON FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022, GMA HOSTED coffee and a conversation about rural housing issues with key officials from USDA Rural Development, including Joaquin Altoro, administrator of the Rural Housing Service; Reggie Taylor, USDA Rural Development state director for Georgia; and Jamal Habibi, chief of staff with USDA’s Rural Housing Service. DCA Commissioner Christopher Nunn and Tonya Curry, DCA Deputy Commissioner for Housing, were also on hand for the discussion.

“It was a pleasure to welcome USDA and DCA leadership to GMA’s new headquarters,” said Larry

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Hanson, GMA Executive Director. “This was a great opportunity to discuss critical issues of housing and workforce development, two of the biggest challenges facing Georgia’s communities, with these leaders.

GMA’s work in nurturing relationships with federal and state agency partners gives us significant access to provide insight into what is happening on the ground in our cities, and provide suggestions about how these agencies can support strong and vibrant communities.”

Administrator Joaquin Altoro, USDA Rural Development Rural Housing Service speaks with GMA Executive Director Larry Hanson.

(from left) Administrator Altoro; Director Taylor; Chief of Staff Habibi

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

(ARPA SLFRF)? Some examples from around the state are below. Please share your story with GMA! Email Becky Taylor at btaylor@gacities.com. And check out our archived webinar series on ARPA reporting at https://www.gacities.com/Trending-Topics/American-Rescue-Plan-Act/Events-and-Webinars.aspx.

GMA’s website now features a resource page for everything city officials need to know about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which was signed into law in November 2021.

This legislation is responsive to the call from local leaders across the country to bring critically needed long term investments for infrastructure to our communities. Georgia is slated to receive a minimum of $8.9 billion for roads; $225 million for bridges; $100 million for broadband; $1.4 billion for public transportation; $619 million for airports; $8 million for the Port of Savannah; $135 million for resilient infrastructure including EV charging stations; and additional funds for resilient infrastructure for the electric grid. Cities will be able to tap into these funds to address a variety of local needs.

Looking for a searchable database of grant programs? Visit BUILD.GOV and scroll to the matrix at the bottom of the page.

ARPA SLFRF Roundup Wondering how other cities are spending American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

• Premium pay: Athens, Augusta, Baldwin, Clarksville, Conyers, Cornelia, Demorest, Douglas, Kennesaw, Louisville, Mt. Airy, Rome • Vaccine incentives/ testing/ public health: Athens, Augusta, Blairsville, Camilla, Carrollton, Chattahoochee Hills, Conyers, Decatur, Douglas, Fort Oglethorpe • Grants to businesses, nonprofits, or individuals: Atlanta, Brunswick, Clarkston, Columbus, Conyers, Douglas, Peachtree Corners • Housing: Atlanta, Gainesville, LaGrange, Louisville, Macon-Bibb, Norcross, Rome, Statesboro • Water/ Sewer/ Stormwater: Berkeley Lake, Braselton, Cave Spring, Claxton, Duluth, LaGrange, Lula, Oakwood, Tallulah Falls • Recreation: Camilla, Dunwoody, LaGrange • IT/ Cybersecurity: Kennesaw, Newnan

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 47

CITYLITES

Fairs and Festivals April 8 – April 9 Barnesville BBQ & Blues Festival Barnesville

April 16 Watkinsville Police Department’s Second Annual Easter Egg Hunt Watkinsville

April 8 – April 17 City of Rincon Spring Fair Rincon

Grayson Easter Egg Hunt Grayson

April 9 Spring Into Spring Powder Springs

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April 16 – 17 Artsapalooza Sandy Springs

Spring Chicken Run Powder Springs

April 20 – April 24 Oglethorpe City Fair Oglethorpe

April 9 – April 10 Big Shanty Festival Kennesaw

April 21 SpringPhest Fair Stone Mountain

April 9 – May 30 Georgia Renaissance Festival Fairburn

April 21 – April 23 Rose Show & Festival Thomasville

April 13 Wednesday Wind Down Lawrenceville

April 22 – May 8 Sister Act Woodstock

April 29 Spring on the Farm Clermont April 29 – May 1 Shaky Knees Music Festival Atlanta April 30 Backyard BBQ Bash & Dirt Road Festival Rome Sharon Shenanigans Sharon Johns Creek International Festival Johns Creek West Georgia Jazz Festival Villa Rica Wine & Art Night Farmers Market Kickoff Ringgold Toast of Toccoa Toccoa

April 30 – May 1 Inaugural Chattooga River Fest Lyerly Duluth Arts Festival Duluth Tiny House Festival Conyers May-Retta Daze Marietta May 7 Free Comic Book Day Lawrenceville Toccoa Train Day Toccoa

May 13 Friday the 13th Feature Friday Lawrenceville

May 26 Family Movie Night Powder Springs

May 13 – May 15 Bringing the Sea to the Springs Seafood Festival Powder Springs

May 27 – May 28 1890s Day Ringgold

May 14 – May 15 Suwanee Arts Festival Suwanee May 20 Summer Concert Series Lawrenceville Food Truck Friday Perry

Art in the Park Perry

May 21 Taste of Douglasville Douglasville

Cops and Bobbers Fishing Tournament Watkinsville

May 25 Wednesday Wind Down Lawrenceville

June 3 Feature Friday Lawrenceville Open Streets Perry June 4 Ida Cox Music Festival Toccoa

To place a free Fairs & Festival listing contact gacities@gacities.com.

Please submit listings at least eight to ten weeks ahead of publication date.

March/April 2022 | gacities.com 49

GEORGIA GEMS SKIDAWAY ISLAND STATE PARK SKIDAWAY ISLAND STATE PARK IS RIGHT OUTSIDE Savannah and has preserved marshland and wildlife that would have otherwise been threatened by development in the popular vacation destination. Camping, biking and other recreation offerings are available, and nature-curious visitors can explore salt marshes and look out for wildlife including deer, fiddler crabs and egrets.

One of Georgia’s inner coastal islands, Skidaway is surrounded by marsh, tidal creeks, and the barrier islands of Tybee, Wassaw and Ossabaw. The islands have appeared and disappeared into the Atlantic Ocean over the past 40,000 years with the rhythm of climate change. Thanks to the protection of the barrier islands, Skidaway is a haven for fossils including mastodon, camel, native horse, and giant sloth, according to “A Short History of Skidaway Island” by V.E. Kelly.

Also preserved on the island are some of the earliest monumental structures discovered in the United States: large ceremonial rings with walls made of shells, constructed by prehistoric aborigines. The park’s visitor center offers more information about area history.

Visitors are transported back to ancient times when walking through the park’s maritime forest of palm trees, longleaf pines and massive live oaks dressed in Spanish moss. Top trails include the 1-mile Sandpiper Nature Trail and the 3-mile Big Ferry Interpretive Trail at

the state park, along with the 0.7-mile Jay Wolf Nature Trail at the UGA Marine Education Center.

Much of the island’s activities center around the abundant wildlife. At the state park, guided marsh and birding hikes and activities are scheduled regularly.

The UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium was Georgia’s first saltwater aquarium and houses 16 exhibit tanks. Registrations for the center’s popular Summer Marine Science Camp are accepted through April 11, 2022.

MORE INFORMATION Skidaway Island State Park: https://gastateparks.org/SkidawayIsland Colonial Coast Birding Trail: georgiabirdingtrails.com Southeast Coast Saltwater Paddling Trail: gawatertrails.org Georgia State Parks GeoTour: gastateparks.org/Geocaching UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium: gacoast.uga.edu/uga-aquarium

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