January/February 2024

January/February 2024

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Columns & Features In This Issue Hopes for 2024 | 2024 Legislative Session Preview | Meet GMA’s Governmental Relations Team | Local Government Practicums

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Table of Contents FEATURES 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION PREVIEW............................................................... 5 MEET GMA’S GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS TEAM.............................................. 8 HOW YESTERDAY INFORMS TODAY.................................................................14

CITYSCAPES......................................................................................................12 + GMA President: My Hopes for 2024 + GMA CEO & Executive Director: Legislative Success Is a Partnership CITY DESK.........................................................................................................18 + Douglasville Named One of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America + City Spotlight: Bremen INSIDE GMA..................................................................................................... 20 + Updates Around GMA + New Year, New Requirements + National Leadership Group, Inc. and Georgia Single Parent Coalition Invites Georgia’s Cities to Participate in Single Parent Day, March 21 + Consultant Q&A: Michael McPherson, District 3 + The Georgia Municipal Association’s Municipal Hall of Fame + Teeing Off for a Cause: 2023 Georgia City Solutions Golf Open ADDITIONAL + Federal Focus: Local Government Practicum: It’s Not An Internship................ 38 + Towns & Law: Love thy Neighbor: Tense Local Government Negotiations Spark Legislative Attention........................................................................ 32 + Downtown Developments: City of Bainbridge Hosts Georgia Cities Foundation’s Heart and Soul Downtown Workshop...................................... 34 CITYLITES......................................................................................................... 37 + Fairs & Fests + Georgia Gem: Milledgeville

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

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2024 Legislative Session Preview GMA GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS TEAM

Housing A key concern leading into the 2023 legislative session was preemptive housing legislation, which had the potential to significantly impact local governments. As anticipated, several housing-related bills were introduced, and GMA supported or remained neutral on many.

However, House Bill 517, known as the Georgia Homeowner Opportunity Act, drew strong opposition from GMA. HB 517 aimed to restrict local governments from adopting regulations related to one-or-two family dwellings. It garnered support from influential organizations like The Home Builders Association of Georgia, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Association of Realtors, among others. They argued that local regulations were a primary driver of housing costs. GMA vehemently disagreed and tirelessly worked to dispel this notion. City officials, including Mayor Julie Smith of Tifton and Mayor Randall Walker of Perry, joined forces with GMA staff to convey their commitment to housing policies that would improve affordability. Ultimately, thanks to robust advocacy, HB 517 did not pass. However, the work was far from over.

Following Sine Die, GMA embarked on a series of statewide listening sessions, where housing supply and affordability emerged as primary concerns across all twelve GMA member service districts. In response to these concerns, GMA worked with key stakeholders to form the Housing Access and Affordability Task Force. This task force, comprising municipal and county officials, developers, realtors, and business representatives, has held several meetings to discuss various facets of housing policy.

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In the cities of Dalton, Macon, and Augusta, task force members engaged in discussions on zoning reforms, public-private partnerships, and the adaptive reuse of blighted structures. They also tapped into insights from think tanks and consultants to understand how housing policy solutions could be tailored to individual communities.

Notably, they explored creative interpretations of zoning regulations, focusing on density as a means to maximize land utility.

During the Augusta meeting, State Representative Spencer Frye shared his bipartisan efforts to develop legislation that would encourage zoning and land use reform at the local level. This legislation is expected to be introduced in the 2024 session, and task force members were encouraged to provide feedback.

The task force convened in December to formulate policy recommendations for state leadership. Their dedication to addressing housing supply and affordability reflects the commitment of Georgia’s municipalities to find innovative solutions.

LOST and SDS Another pressing issue for GMA has been the negotiation process between cities and counties over Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) and Local Option Sales Tax (LOST). These negotiations often lead to contention and strained relationships. Recognizing the need for improvements, GMA and ACCG have been diligently working to develop recommendations that could streamline negotiations and provide a meaningful dispute resolution process. Recognizing the need for improvements, GMA and ACCG have been working diligently to develop recommendations that could streamline

negotiations and provide a meaningful dispute resolution process. While these proposals have yet to be finalized, there is a general consensus that they could significantly enhance the negotiation process, fostering better collaboration between cities and counties.

GMA’s Legislative Policy Council GMA’s Legislative Policy Council (LPC) plays a pivotal role in guiding the organization’s advocacy and legislative policy. Led by Madison Mayor Fred Perriman, the LPC meets regularly during the legislative session and in person during the interim. An annual joint meeting with ACCG’s policy council in the city of LaGrange saw productive discussions on housing issues and SDS and LOST negotiations. The commitment to maintaining strong working relationships between GMA and ACCG, two organizations aligned in their pursuit of local control, was evident.

responders. A coalition, including GMA, has been working on a legislative proposal that would require public employers to provide benefits to first responders diagnosed with PTSD. This proposal is pending before the House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. Additionally, GMA is advocating for changes to public works bidding, rental registries, and options to reduce municipal election costs. These issues reflect GMA’s continuous commitment to improving the efficiency of Georgia’s municipalities.

Staying Connected During the season, which kicks off Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, sign up for GMA’s weekly Gold Dome Update and be sure to tune in to our Friday Focus calls. These resources will allow you to stay informed of the legislature’s activity and make sure your voice is heard.

Other Issues Looming Several legislative issues remain on GMA’s radar. The expansion of the Municipal Option Sales Tax (MOST) has been a topic of interest. Legislation introduced in 2023 sought to grant additional cities eligibility for a MOST referendum. GMA supports giving all cities the authority to call a MOST referendum, and discussions are ongoing. Regarding the specifics of this expansion, another vital concern is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) insurance for first

January/February 2024 | gacities.com 7

Meet GMA’s Governmental Relations Team

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As we embark on another legislative session, your GMA Governmental Relations team remains a steadfast presence beneath the iconic Gold Dome, advocating for Georgia’s cities. Eager to collaborate closely with local government leaders and state legislators, we are committed to ensuring that the policies reaching the governor’s desk genuinely serve the best interests of our cities. Join us in getting to know the individuals driving this advocacy forward – let’s meet the team!

Jim Thornton, Director of Governmental Relations Jim joined GMA as the Director of Governmental Relations in November 2022, but he has been a member of GMA for years. Before joining the GMA staff, Jim was the mayor of the city of LaGrange for nine years, following time as a city councilmember. He served as GMA’s president from August 2021 until June 2022, and served on GMA’s board as immediate past president from June 2022 until resigning as mayor to join GMA. As a longtime GMA board member, Jim has chaired the Member Services Advisory Council, Federal Policy Council and Legislative Policy Council. He also served as co-chair of the Equity and Inclusion Commission and was instrumental in the development of GMA’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives. Jim is also an attorney, having worked at his own law firm for more than 20 years. He earned his undergraduate degree from LaGrange College and his law degree from Emory University. Jim’s unique combination of professional experiences makes him ideal to represent the interests of Georgia’s

cities, as he can speak to legislators with authority as a former public official and longtime attorney.

Contact Jim at jthornton@gacities.com.

Noah Roenitz, Governmental Relations Associate This is Noah’s third legislative session with GMA. He joined GMA in November 2021 as a legislative outreach associate and moved into his current role during summer 2022. His areas of expertise include community development and transportation policy. Before joining GMA, Noah worked for the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission as an economic resilience coordinator, helping local governments with COVID-19 recovery planning. Prior to that, Noah served as a senior political fellow at Common Cause in Washington, D.C., working as a project coordinator with the Georgia Foreign Trade Zone, and as a legislative aide to GeorgiaLink Public Affairs Group, a contract lobbying firm. Noah earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University.

Contact Noah at nroenitz@gacities.com.

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Leona Rittenhouse, Governmental Relations Associate Leona joined GMA in late 2022 and is in her second legislative session as an advocate for Georgia’s cities. Her area of expertise is revenue and finance.

She previously served in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB), where she worked as a fiscal policy analyst for four years. There, she focused on the Department of Public Health, State Board of Workers Comp, and Community Health Attached Agencies. Prior to her time at OPB, she did government relations work for the Georgia Cable Association and held internships at Troutman Sanders and Massey, Watson, Bowers and Hembree, which is now known as Impact Public Affairs. Leona earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and her Master of Public Policy from the Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. She is a native of Smyrna and lives in Mableton, which is Georgia’s newest city.

Contact Leona at lrittenhouse@gacities.com.

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DJ Waller, Governmental Relations Associate DJ joined GMA in September 2023 and is in his first legislative session as an advocate for Georgia’s cities.

His area of expertise is public safety. Before joining GMA, DJ served as the Community Development Manager for the city of Covington for three years, where he was responsible for community partnerships, events, film permitting, downtown development, tourism, and placemaking. DJ earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science as well as his Master of Public Administration from Georgia Southern University.

Contact DJ at dwaller@gacities.com.

Kendall Daniels, Governmental Outreach Specialist Kendall first joined GMA in August 2022 as an association development intern, and just a few months later was promoted to a full-time member of the Governmental Relations team. As GMA’s governmental outreach specialist, Kendall oversees the weekly Gold Dome Update and Friday Focus calls, keeping members up to date on what’s happening at the capitol and how it may affect Georgia’s cities. For her second legislative session, Kendall has additionally taken on a policy area, focusing on environment and natural resources. Kendall earned her bachelor’s degree in public policy from Georgia State University.

Contact Kendall at kdaniels@gacities.com.

Rusi Patel, General Counsel While Rusi leads GMA’s legal department, he regularly supports governmental relations team, testifies under the Gold Dome and works with legislators and state agencies on issues concerning Georgia’s cities. He has been GMA’s general counsel since 2019, when he was promoted from the previous position of senior associate general counsel. Before his time at GMA, Rusi served as assistant city attorney and city solicitor in Brunswick, Georgia. A Double Dawg, Rusi received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia.

Contact Rusi at rpatel@gacities.com.

Ryan Bowersox, Assistant General Counsel Ryan first joined GMA in late 2020 as a governmental relations associate. In August, he was promoted to the role of assistant general counsel. While he is no longer officially part of the governmental relations team, he is still actively involved in GMA’s advocacy work and continues to work on behalf of Georgia’s cities under the Gold Dome. Before joining GMA, Ryan worked in the Georgia State Senate Research Office, where he was a senior policy analyst staffing the Senate Finance and Banking and Financial committees. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and his law degree from Wake Forest University.

Contact Ryan at rbowersox@gacities.com.

January/February 2024 | gacities.com 11

CITYSCAPES

My Hopes for 2024 RANDALL WALKER, GMA PRESIDENT

In the movie Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne, a prisoner wrongly imprisoned for murder, sums up the overarching theme of the movie in a letter he leaves for his friend, Red. IN IT HE WRITES, “HOPE IS A good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” It’s a powerful statement in a compelling movie. As we transition from the holiday season, navigate the early weeks of the New Year, and approach the rejuvenating season of Spring, my thoughts have been focused on the hopes I hold for Georgia’s cities.

My hopes for Georgia’s cities, city officials, and GMA are diverse.

I hope the 450 city officials newly elected in 2023 wholeheartedly engage with GMA through participation in the association’s training program, policy process, meetings and events.

It is my hope that our Embrace Civility initiative continues to grow with the aim of expanding the designation of Cities of Civility from 110 to 536 cities in the state. City officials, whether newly elected and seasoned, have a unique opportunity to set the standard on how to engage in effective public service during these hyper-partisan times.

I maintain hope that more Georgia mayors will join the Mayor’s Reading Club, a program of Georgia City Solutions, GMA’s 501(c)(3). Currently, over 80 mayors actively participate in the program, offering encouragement, support, and leadership to enhance literacy skills and early reading success among children and youth in Georgia cities.

I also hope that the Georgia Cities Foundation continues to flourish in its mission to invest in businesses

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in Georgia’s downtowns and that the Young Gamechangers leadership program of our GeorgiaForward nonprofit continues to be a success.

And I hope that the services GMA provides continue to be embraced, as they are created and developed for the sole purpose of helping cities be more effective, efficient, and responsible stewards of local taxes.

However, it is in the ideal of Home Rule that I place my greatest hope, trusting in the knowledge and experience of city officials. As the stewards of our communities, there’s no doubt in my mind about the ability of city officials to meet the challenges we face. In fact, I believe the expertise found at the local level is second to none.

The important thing to remember about hope, however, is that it transcends wishful thinking. Hope is an action word, not merely a feeling. It is rooted in the actions taken to reach the places or goals we aspire to achieve.

My hopes for GMA, cities, and city officials are grounded not in wishful thinking but in tangible actions that drive positive change. As we work together in 2024 to address meaningful challenges, I am confident that the collective dedication to progress will transform these hopes into tangible realities, creating a brighter future for our cities and the residents we’re privileged to serve.

Legislative Success Is a Partnership LARRY HANSON, CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

As we begin the new year, we start with a clean slate, except as it relates to the Georgia General Assembly.

WE HAVE BIENNIAL LEGISLATIVE term in Georgia, and 2024 is the term’s second year. All legislation introduced last year and not acted upon is still alive when the session starts. Of course, there will also be hundreds of new bills and hot topics we know will be on the front burner.

Being involved in local government my entire adult life, I know the importance of local leaders making their opinions known and voices heard. Here at GMA, we make a conscious effort to be the clearinghouse of ideas; we serve as the sounding board to hear various perspectives, work to build consensus, and advocate for member-driven legislative priorities. It’s always a challenge as the 40-day legislative session moves fast.

We are fortunate to be led by a Governmental Relations team of professionals, including Director Jim Thornton, Noah Roenitz, Leona Rittenhouse, Kendall Daniels, DJ Waller, and, during the session, Ryan Bowersox. Each covers specific policy areas, and together, they work in every local government area that impacts cities.

Our process is to listen to our members. We begin each year immediately after the legislative session with 12 district listening sessions. This year, we asked over 600 attendees in attendance to rank their highest priorities and discuss them in depth to help us prepare. Interestingly, in all 12 districts, housing was the number one issue, and there were many other areas of concern. We work with our Legislative Policy Council of over 50 city officials representing all 12 districts to develop a legislative platform in 6 areas – Revenue and Finance, Transportation, Municipal Government, Environment and Natural Resources, Public Safety,

and Community Development. We seek approval of that legislative package from our Board of Directors and all GMA members in our June business meeting at the Annual Convention in Savannah. We again gather at fall district meetings and update members on our priorities and the issues we believe we are most likely to encounter.

And that brings us to the legislative session starting in January, where the real action will occur. While Jim and his team are at the Gold Dome daily during the session working on your behalf, we are most successful when you, our city leaders, are directly engaged.

You must stay in touch with and regularly communicate with your state legislators and us. Legislators have shared with us that most prefer personal visits from city officials, but texts and phone calls are also effective. State leaders listen to local elected and appointed leaders. They want to know your position on bills and, most importantly, how proposed legislation will impact your city, either positively or negatively.

There will be no shortage of bills that will impact your city. When our city leaders are with us, we have a high success rate. You are the force multiplier, and we absolutely need you to be involved and committed to having a successful 2024 legislative session.

At GMA, we take great pride in representing you.

We know from experience when we are united, we are a powerful force under the Gold Dome. So please, let’s remain “Cities United” and continue to work together for shared success and to advance the needs and dreams of cities and those who call them home.

January/February 2024 | gacities.com 13

How Yesterday Informs Today NOAH ROENITZ, GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS ASSOCIATE & KENDALL DANIELS, GOVERNMENT OUTREACH SPECIALIST

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and many other problems with which they have to deal, unless this Association is maintained…” has worked to advocate on behalf of Georgia’s In 1933, GMA was created and represented municipalities. That’s over ninety legislative sesjust thirty-five cities. The explicit impetus behind sions, thousands of committee meetings attendour creation was to organize municipal advocacy ed, and hundreds of thousands of hours spent and to concentrate the voices of thirty-five maytraversing the often-crowded halls of the Gold ors against an onerous taxation proposal that Dome. You may be left asking: Why is advocacy would have bankrupted many municipalities. a core tenant of the association?; Why do we emNinety years later our objective has not faltered; ploy numerous lobbyists?; and why do we care? rather it has scaled. Today, we are proud to repTo begin to answer these questions, I’d like to resent 536 municipalities throughout the state provide you with an excerpt of the presidential of Georgia and work to amplify the voices of all address provided by GMA President and Blue municipal elected and staff officials statewide.

Ridge Mayor William Butt at GMA’s 17th Annual Unlike other lobbyists under the Gold Convention in 1950: Dome, GMA does not rely upon financial or cam“…permit me to impress upon the mempaign contributions to legislators in order to conbers of the Association the absolute necessity vey messages. Our brand of maintaining this orgaof grasstops advocacy is nization [GMA] and to use TODAY, WE ARE PROUD TO REPRESENT built upon a network of every effort possible to get 537 MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT city officials and the repevery other city and town THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND WORK TO utation our association in Georgia which is eligiAMPLIFY THE VOICES OF ALL ELECTED has developed over time. ble to become members OFFICIALS AND STAFF STATEWIDE. Our legislative policies are of this Association. The derived in a manner that average person in the muworks to balance the interest of rural vs. urban, nicipalities of this state will never know the great large vs. small, and ultimately leaves us with a benefits and blessings [that] have been brought comprehensive yet cohesive plan of action that to them by and through the Georgia Municipal works to benefit each and every city. GMA is also Association. As you know, it is a day of blocks, strictly non-partisan and has strong working reorganizations and combinations seeking to get lationships with both the majority and minority from the federal, state, county, and municipal parties. governments their demands satisfied. This is esLegislative sessions in Georgia are held in pecially true in legislative matters, and the munictwo-year increments known as biennials, meanipalities of this state can never be protected nor ing legislation introduced in the first year that have very much influence of any consequence fails to pass through the chambers can be taken in having their problems solved and seeing that up in the second year. Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 will they are treated justly in the matter of taxation

SINCE 1933, THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION

January/February 2024 | gacities.com 15

mark the start of the second year of Georgia’s legislative session, which means the 581 House Bills, and 236 Senate Bills that failed to find final passage in 2023, will become immediately eligible for consideration. The second year of legislative sessions always presents challenges to advocates, but can provide more in the form of opportunity for those that are prepared. GMA is prepared.

Since Sine Die of the 2023 session, GMA’s Governmental Relations team, the General Counsel’s office, Member Service consultants, and executive team have been working tirelessly to understand the most pressing concerns of our member cities. Between study committees, task forces, ad-hoc working groups, and the 12 district meetings, GMA continually represents the interests of cities urban, rural, large, and small.

The 2024 Georgia Legislative Session promises to be a pivotal moment for municipalities across the state. With focuses on service delivery negotiations, transportation, affordable housing,

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environmental sustainability, public safety, economic development, broadband access, and municipal revenues, this session will shape the future of Georgia’s cities and towns. Regarding the 236 members that serve in the Georgia General Assembly, our advocacy work will provide them with a constant consciousness and continued understanding of the social, cultural, and economic needs, hopes, and aspirations of Georgia’s cities and their citizens.

As state lawmakers work to address the critical issues 2024 will bring, the outcomes of the session, as well as our successes or failures, will be marked by how well your voices as city officials were heard. Georgia cities and their leaders will need to be actively engaged in advocating for policies and funding that support the needs and aspirations of their communities. These efforts are essential for influencing state policies, securing funding, collaborating on complex issues, and safeguarding local autonomy.

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CITY DESK

Douglasville Named One of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America The city of Douglasville has been recognized in the 2023 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America, an awards program created to honor people-first organizations prioritizing their employee population’s well-being. The city placed #10 out of 100.

COMPANIES WERE SELECTED AND RECOGNIZED because of their commitment to workplace health and wellness and benefit offerings.

The city of Douglasville offers many initiatives through the “D-Fit” Wellness Program. They include: wellness challenges encouraging employees to get active and maintain healthy habits, monthly HITT classes, weekly yoga, complimentary gym at the Police Department, Mindful Minute Seminars, walking step challenges, an annual employee health fair; and much more.

The city also operates an onsite Employee Wellness Center. The center serves as an opportunity for employees, their dependents, and city retirees to conveniently attend appointments, get an annual check-up, COVID testing and the vaccine, fulfill prescriptions, and more.

“The city of Douglasville has long committed to being a leader in health and wellness programs for our employees,” said Human Resources Director, Dr. Teaa

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Alston-Bing. “We are dedicated to offering a variety of wellness initiatives that focus on optimal health and quality of life. To be named #10 out of 100 healthiest workplaces in America is a testament to employee engagement and leadership support in our wellness program goals. We are beyond honored for this recognition!”

Award applicants were evaluated across six key categories: Culture and Leadership, Foundational Components, Strategic Planning, Communication and Marketing, Programming and Interventions, and Reporting and Analytics.

Completed assessments were ranked with the proprietary Healthiest Employers®: Index, a 1,000 rubric for wellness programming. The survey is scored and powered by Springbuk, a health intelligence platform that simplifies data-driven decision-making with an intuitive user experience, predictive modeling, and curated action steps.

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City Spotlight

Bremen

History: Nestled in the heart of western Georgia, the city of Bremen stands as a charming testament to Southern hospitality and community spirit. Celebrating its rich history and embracing a forward-looking approach, Bremen has become a haven for residents and visitors alike.

Despite its small-town feel, Bremen is a dynamic hub with a thriving local economy and a strong sense of community engagement. The city hosts various events throughout the year, including the popular Bremen Towne Festival, drawing crowds from near and far. Residents take pride in their schools, with the Bremen City School District earning accolades for its commitment to academic excellence and community involvement.

POPULATION:

7,185

MAYOR:

Sharon Sewell GMA DISTRICT:

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Nature enthusiasts find solace in Bremen’s green spaces, like the scenic John Tanner State Park. The park offers a picturesque lake, hiding trails, and recreational activities making it a favorite spot for outdoor enthusiasts and families. Bremen also boasts a vibrant arts and culture scene, with local artists contributing to the city’s creative tapestry.

The city of Bremen is not just a snapshot of the past; it’s a community evolving with the times, Its commitment to preserving its heritage while embracing progress creates a unique blend of tradition and innovation, making it a city that captures the hearts of all who experience its warm hospitality.

Fun Fact: Thomas B. Murphy, who held the speakership of the House of Representatives of the Georgia General Assembly for twenty-eight years, the longest tenure for a Speaker in any state legislature, was born in Bremen on March 10, 1924. Murphy served during the terms of five governors, including – Jimmy Carter, George Busbee, Joe Frank Harris, Zell Miller, and Roy Barnes.

INSIDE GMA

Updates Around GMA 1

RMEBS Honors Linda Blechinger and Kenneth Usry for 12 Years of Dedication to RMEBS

The RMEBS Board of Directors extends its sincerest gratitude to Linda Blechinger and Kenneth Usry as their 12-year tenure on the Board of Trustees comes to an end. Their contributions have played a pivotal role in shaping the success of the RMEBS programs and services. We are grateful for their collective knowledge and insight, which will continue to have a positive impact on our members for years to come. Thank you to Linda and Ken, for their unwavering dedication and outstanding service.

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Metro Atlanta Mayors Association (MAMA) Hosts Fall 2023 Meeting

Mayors across the metro Atlanta region convened at the GMA headquarters on Dec. 4 for the Metro Atlanta Mayors Association Fall Meeting. Housing was the topic of the day. The Atlanta Regional Commission’s Manager of the Research & Analytics Department Mike Carnathan provided an overview of the housing market in the Atlanta region. A panel featuring Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett, Suwanee City Manager Marty Allen and South Park Cottages® Founder & CEO Booker T. Washington discussed solutions to housing challenges that they are working on in their communities. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs Division Director of Housing Finance and Development Tommy Lowmon gave an overview of state housing funding resources and GMA’s Governmental Relations Associate Noah Roenitz provided a legislative report.

GMA’s Conferences & Management Services Yalonde Tanner Receives International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) Chapter Merit Award 3

Yalonde Tanner, Deputy Director of Conferences & Management Services for the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) was recently awarded the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® Chapter Merit Award.

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The Chapter Merit Award recognizes IAEE members whose ideas and/or work have benefitted IAEE as an organization in some special way and is generally reserved for those who have stepped forward at the chapter/local level.

IAEE was organized in 1928 as the National Association of Exposition Managers to represent the interests of trade show and exposition managers; the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® is the leading association for the global exhibition industry. Today, IAEE represents over 12,000 individuals over 50 countries who conduct and support exhibitions around the world.

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Georgia Mountains Regional Commission Hosts Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner

The Georgia Mountains Regional Commission (GMRC) recently held its 61st Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner on Dec. 1 at the Dillard House in Dillard. Several cities from across GMA’s District 2 were in attendance, including the city of Dillard.

The Georgia Mountains Regional Commission is a public sector, non-profit planning and development agency that serves a 12-county region in the Georgia Mountains and includes the following counties: Banks, Dawson, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White.

Pictured (L-R): Pete Pyrenzski, GMA Member Services Consultant for District 1 & 2; Gary Fesperman, Interim City Manager for the City of Dillard; Mayor Claude Dillard and Glenda Enloe, City Clerk

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GMA’s Member Services Hosts First Clerk’s Lunch and Learn for GMA District 5

GMA’s Member Services recently held the first Clerk’s Lunch and Learn for GMA District 5 on Nov. 9 at the Historic Train Depot in Winterville.

Following a discussion on the topics of budget and finance, Alex Daniel provided an overview of GMA’s Cybersecurity & Technology services (powered by his firm VC3) and how they can be of assistance to local governments.

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New Year, New Requirements MEGAN ESTES, DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS AT GEORGIA 811

Many are familiar with the requirements that utility owners and operators have in maintaining membership with Georgia 811 and locating their facilities prior to excavation that occurs near the utility.

WATER, GAS, ELECTRIC, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, and sewer systems have comprised the bulk of Georgia 811’s membership body and play a significant role in helping to maintain Georgia’s underground infrastructure. However, a new membership category was added in the Georgia Underground Facility Protection Act (GUFPA) that mandates membership for traffic systems, with a starting date for enforcement to locate both traffic control devices and traffic management systems beginning Jan. 1, 2024.

Traffic control devices are defined as electronic or electrically powered roadway signs, sign structures, or signals of a local governing authority or the Department of Transportation and all associated underground infrastructure on which the public relies for informational, regulatory, or warning messages concerning the public rights of way. Traffic management systems differ in that they serve as a network of traffic control devices, monitoring sensors, and personnel and include all associated communications and power services, system control, and management centers.

With the enforcement of traffic membership, both traffic control devices and management systems must be listed on locate requests issued by Georgia 811. Telecommunication traffic devices/systems will be marked 22

with orange paint, stakes, or flags, while electronic devices/systems will be marked in red.

Local governments owning traffic devices or systems who are not yet signed up as a Georgia 811 member should contact Georgia 811 Customer Connections Department at CustomerConnections@Georgia811. com or 770-623-5786. To confirm ownership, local governments are encouraged to contact their local Georgia Department of Transportation District Traffic Engineer. Typically signals located on numbered State Routes are owned by the state, but the local city or county may still hold responsibility for maintenance and operations. The responsible party on a power bill generally indicates who is responsible for the signal.

However, the state often provides funds for repairs to locally maintained signals, so a paying entity may not always represent ownership. To contact your district GDOT traffic engineer, visit DOT.GA.GOV and select Districts from the About GDOT dropdown menu.

For more information on Georgia 811 please visit Georgia811.com.

National Leadership Group, Inc. and Georgia Single Parent Coalition Invites Georgia’s Cities to Participate in Single Parent Day, March 21 For more than 15 years, the National Leadership Group has demonstrated a track record in business, supporting single parents throughout Georgia through its advocacy efforts and working with diverse individuals and families that face unique challenges.

THE ORGANIZATION’S DEDICATION TO promoting the well-being of single parents, empowering them to overcome obstacles, and fostering a supportive community has been a driving force in the organization’s journey.

On May 7, 2018, Governor Nathan Deal signed into law House Resolution 279 which was championed by the lead author, Representative Valencia Stovall, which designates March 21 of every year as Single Parent Day in Georgia in combination with National Single Parent Day. The National Leadership Group provides an array of programs and services on March 21st to single parents across the state, including: • The Legacy Builders Recognition & Awards, an award that honors single parents who have accomplished extraordinary achievements while raising children. Nominations take place in October-January 13, 2024, and are awarded in March 2024.

Awardees are recognized at the Georgia State Capitol during the legislative session.

• Georgia Single Parent Coalition Membership Program, a program that provides free training and education workshops to support parenting education, financial literacy, business coaching, job interview skills and civic engagement.

The organization encourages elected officials to nominate a single parent in their district that is doing an outstanding job.

The National Leadership Group, Inc. is a Georgia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing poverty awareness strategies that impact generations, education and training to single parents, and resources and referrals for the residents of Georgia. The organization was founded in 2007 by Beverly Brewster, Founder/Executive Director.

For more information about the National Leadership Group and the Georgia Single Parent Coalition and its organization’s mission, visit www.nationallg.org or call 912-312-8863.

January/February 2024 | gacities.com 23

Consultant Q&A: Michael McPherson, District 3 GMA has a team of member services consultants dedicated to helping Georgia’s cities solve problems and seize opportunities.

EACH CONSULTANT HAS A UNIQUE background in municipal government in municipal government and a particular area (or areas) of expertise. In this issue of Georgia’s cities, we’ll learn more about Michael McPherson, who serves District 3.

What did you do before you became a member services consultant at GMA? I served on the Governmental Relations team for several years, where I began my tenure responsible for Revenue & Taxation, then moved to Economic Development, and Natural Resources & Environment policy areas. I had come to GMA from the private sector where I worked as a contract lobbyist supporting clients in the fields of mental health, affordable housing, local government, the courts, higher education, and healthcare.

I also managed and helped manage several non-profit professional support organizations. Prior to my work at the state capitol, I was on the city of Roswell’s payroll for more than 10 years in the Parks and Recreation department. I was hired by the city due to my efforts advocating for a skate park. I was asked to develop a lesson plan and to instruct weeklong skateboarding camps during

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the summer of 1996, and the city’s skate park opened two years later.

How does your background help you serve cities in your districts?

Each year lots of good and bad ideas are held up as solutions for countless governmental issues and each proposed change to the structure of the code potentially impacts many different parties. When a bill like one of these is introduced, it is the Governmental Relations team’s job to survey the impact (both real and perceived) to each group involved. It is a constant education, and through this learning experience my understanding of the departments, councils, commissions, committees, task forces, and working groups of the state positions me well for the role, especially when city officials are in need. In my role I am a connector, an educator, and facilitator, which sometimes makes me feel like the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future wrapped into one.

By getting staff and elected officials on the right path to a resource quickly or offering them perspective they may be too close to focus on, they are freed up to do the million

other things that they are responsible for…time is money and I like to think I have saved a lot of time for our members over the years.

What are some common issues that you assist cities with?

Everyday is something new. Officials may be in search of a code citation, a model ordinance, grant funds, or other contacts that may not be easy to find. Oftentimes, especially with newly elected officials, I will get questions that are covered in many of our resources, like the Handbook for Mayors and Councilmembers.

Planning retreats, orientations on roles and responsibilities, and best practices presentations are very popular and very important. Sometimes I find myself in a position to help city staff with issues impacting specific residents or families in my cities—I have killed more bad legislation than I can remember, pushed lots of good bills across the finish line, and helped to “perfect” bill language while lobbying at the capitol—but nothing is more satisfying than knowing you made a difference in someone’s life, even if its just for that moment. I tell the groups that I speak in front of that I am very proud of my work and the work of GMA, as I know it positively impacts my family, friends, and neighbors every day. City officials (both council and staff) should be constantly aware that their actions reflect not only on their city and its staff, but their actions also reflect on all cities in our state—both positively and negatively.

What would you recommend a city official keep in mind when working on partnerships in their cities, communities and across the state or even the nation?

To be supportive and keep their legislators close. The members of a city’s legislative delegation should be kept informed on the city’s needs, their financial position, and regarding legislation that is helpful or harmful to local government processes. At least once a year they should plan a Hometown Connection with their legislators and invite the GMA Governmental Relations team to be there for the discussion. They need to keep their congressional delegation informed as well. Both of our US Senators represent the entire state – they serve on different committees and have differing expertise (including their staff), so its very important to have a good relationship with all the congressional offices. Legislators always want examples of what goes on back home, and they appreciate being kept informed.

Do you teach any of GMA’s training classes? If so, which ones?

I have taught each of the portions of our Tax 101 and Tax 102 classes at one time or another. I have also taught our Lobbying 101 class and variations on it for different groups. Lately, I have been teaching Customer Service, Budgeting, and Accountability courses associated with our Supervisory Leadership track.

January/February 2024 | gacities.com 25

GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION’S

MUNICIPAL HALL of FAME In 1992, Alfred Franks of Dublin, Don Mendonsa of Savannah, Tracy Stallings of Carrollton, and James Stephens of Brunswick were the first inductees to GMA’s Municipal Government Hall of Fame for extraordinary contributions to municipal government and great support of GMA.

SINCE THEN, OFFICIALS FROM TOWNS LARGE as large as Atlanta and as small as Lumpkin have been honored.

Isaiah Hugley, Columbus Consolidated Government City Manager was inducted in 2021. Hughley has worked for Columbus Consolidated Government for 39 years and has spent 18 years as city manager.

For his work, he has been recognized with awards, including the 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Award, presented by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Iota Lambda Chapter; the 2016 Black History Legacy Leadership Award, presented by United States

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Congressman Sanford D. Bishop; and the Georgia City-County Management Association’s 2015 Pillars of Professional Management Award. Hugley serves on GMA’s Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council, Legislative Policy Council, and Workforce Development Advisory Council. He has also served as the chair of GMA’s Transportation Policy Committee and as a member of the GMA Member Services Advisory Council, Audit Committee, and the City Manager’s Advisory Group.

Myrtle Figueras, former Mayor and City Councilmember of Gainesville was inducted in 2012. She began her career as a French teacher for Gainesville

City Schools. After teaching for 30 years, Myrtle Figueras served as an Adjunct Professor at Brenau University. She served as Mayor of Gainesville from 2001-2002 and 2008-2009 and was on the Gainesville City Council for almost 20 years. Figueras was a member of the Board of Directors of GMA, the Municipal Training Board, the Hall County Family Connection Board, and the Gainesville Planning Board.

Jim Elliott, City Attorney for the cities of Hawkinsville and Cochran, was inducted into the Municipal Government Hall of Fame in 2017. He served as City Attorney with the city of Warner Robins from 1985 to 2019. Elliott serves as a member of GMA’s Legislative Policy Council and Federal Policy Council. He served as president of the GMA City Attorney’s Section and was a member of the GMA Board of Directors. He continues to serve as a classroom instructor for GMA and UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

The GMA Municipal Government Hall of Fame recognizes municipal officials who have made extraordinary contributions to municipal government and have been a strong supporter of GMA. Both elected and appointed city officials with at least fifteen years of municipal government service in Georgia are eligible.

All past presidents of GMA are members of the Municipal Government Hall of Fame and are automatically inducted.

Georgia Municipal Association Headquarters

Milton Public Safety Complex

Fayetteville City Hall

100% FINANCING FOR YOUR CITY’S REAL ESTATE PROJECT AND EQUIPMENT WITH GMA Bricks & Mortar Program: Real estate projects including City Halls, Police/Fire Stations and Public Parks, Theaters and Greenspaces

Direct Lease Program: Eligible essential equipment including police and fire vehicles, heavy equipment, computer servers and other asset classes.

Program benefits include: • Flexible finance terms • Attractive interest rates and competitive terms • No upfront fees or prepayment penalties* • Real estate project compliance with Section 36-60-13 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated Contact: Philip Potter ppotter@gacities.com to learn more *terms determined during RFP process, other restrictions may apply

Teeing Off for a Cause: 2023 Georgia City Solutions Golf Open KAY LOVE, GCS MANAGING DIRECTOR

While Georgia is home to many exceptional nonprofits, we firmly believe that none have a mission more vital for the future of our communities and state than Georgia City Solutions (GCS).

OUR CORE MISSION IS TO HELP CITIES AND THEIR residents reach their full potential. It is this statement that motivates us and guides our strategic actions to deliver programs and initiatives that help cities address the challenges of intergenerational poverty. To do this, it takes strategic collaborations, strong partnerships, and continued funding support. Our ability to expand and amplify our programs and initiatives is directly tied to our fundraising efforts.

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GCS takes the trust that our partners, funders, and supporters place in us very seriously and we carefully allocate funds to programs in the focus areas of Youth Leadership and Engagement, Equity and Inclusion (E&I), Municipal Workforce Development, and Literacy Improvement. GCS is helping cities to create a path forward with a unique approach of scaling, replicating, and customizing programs to suit the needs of each municipal government and partner organization we work with.

One of the ways we raise funds and awareness about our mission is through an annual golf tournament.

In 2023, GCS hosted the tournament in the city of Winder. The Chimneys Golf Course’s lush fairways and beautiful greens were host to 112 golfers on Oct. 16th.

Golfers of all skill levels participated in a purpose-driven, fun-filled golf day. The event featured the traditional 18hole tournament and interactive contests, such as the longest drive and closest-to-the-pin challenges, adding an extra layer of excitement and friendly competition for participants.

As the tournament concluded, the real victory was not in the number of birdies or bogeys or the great BBQ dinner, but in the collective effort to make a tangible impact in the lives of those who call Georgia cities their home. The combined efforts of the tournament will resonate far beyond bragging rights and trophies.

Thanks to the help of our sponsors, volunteers, and the City of Winder, the tournament was successful in raising $40,000 for GCS programs and initiatives. This event exemplifies how a simple game of golf can become a powerful force for good when played with purpose and passion.

A huge thank you to our 2023 tournament sponsors and supporters who share our belief that every city deserves the opportunity to reach its full potential.

Event Sponsors: Drew, Eckl & Farnham Elarbee, Thompson, Sapp & Wilson, LLP Oliver Maner LLP Platinum Sponsors: Corvel Fulcher Hagler, LLP James Bates Brannan Groover LLP

Silver Sponsors: Alexander & Vann Bennett Law Firm Carothers & Mitchell, LLC Chambless, Higdon, Richardson, Katz & Griggs, LLP Consolidated Pipe Gallagher Bassett Goodwin Mills Cawood Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett & Brieske, LLP Lockton Companies Lokey Mobley & Doyle Swift, Curie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP Other Sponsors: Parker Young Construction, Georgia Beverage Association; Akins Ford; Bradford Settlement Company; Brown, Readdick, Bumgartner, Carter, Strickland & Watkins; ESG Operations; Falcon Design Consultants; Keck + Wood; Georgia 811; Genex; Georgia Administrative Services; Arnall Golden Gregory; CBIZ Valuation; Turner Consulting; Streamline In 2024, we will move the annual golf tournament to a spring date to better align with our other major fundraiser, GCS Community Impact Awards, that will now be held each fall. Continuing with the plan to move the tournament location around the state to highlight municipal golf courses, the 2024 tournament will be held on Monday, May 13th at Bull Creek Golf Course in Columbus. Look for more info soon at www.gacitysolutions.org/events. We hope we can count on your support in 2024 fundraising events!

FEDERAL FOCUS

Where Your City Becomes the Classroom NIKKI PERRY

STUDENT INTERNS MAY BE A HELPFUL ADDITION TO CITY Hall staff if the city is interested in providing ongoing supervision to an intern on an array of projects over the course of the semester. However, practicum students spend the semester tackling a specific problem or goal defined by the city, often working independently and with supervision from their professor.

“This is a perfect opportunity to work with outside consultants and get a deliverable,” said Keith Lee, Program Coordinator for Public Administration & Organizational Leadership at Valdosta State University.

In 2007, GMA began the partnership with the University of Georgia and has since added Valdosta State, Georgia Southern and Georgia State universities. Master of public administration (MPA) students are paired with cities who submit project requests. Since its inception, the program has churned out well over 100 projects that can be viewed at gacities.com.

In the two years since Valdosta State joined GMA’s university partners, Lee has overseen several projects with cities, including with the cities of Marietta, Milton, Meigs, as well as Georgia City Solutions and Georgia Forward. At Valdosta State’s fully-online MPA program at

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Valdosta State, students range in age from 22 to 65, live throughout the state and nation, and work in city government or plan to enter the field. They have a lot to offer, such as • Help with labor-intensive data collection and surveying.

• A fresh perspective on processes and policies.

• An objective researcher to lead public engagement efforts.

“While the Practicum students won’t have all the answers, they add capacity and bring their individual expertise and skills to the table where hiring a consultant might not be feasible for the city,” said Claire Chan, who coordinates the program under GMA’s department of Federal Relations and Research.

Wish List Granted Every city administrator or department director has a wish list of projects that never quite rise to the top. The best practicum projects fall in the “schedule for later” quadrant of the Eisenhower Matrix: important but not urgent. The ideal project length is 12-16 weeks, to fall in line with the spring and fall semester schedules. Project proposals may be submitted year-round at gacities.com.

There is no fee for member cities to participate in GMA’s Local Leake said the experience was eye-opening.

Government Practicum.

“It’s one thing when you’re in class to hear about housing policies “You’ve got nothing to lose,” Lee said. “Worst case scenario--and and development policies. But it’s another to be on the ground, to see this doesn’t happen often--you work with a class and things don’t go the amount of work that it takes,” he said. as planned and that back burner item...goes back on the back burner.

Students walk away with real-life experience in local government, Best case scenario, which I think is oftentimes the case, you move a in addition to a project to add to their portfolio. project forward.”

“For any student that’s looking for a career in local government, For the South Georgia city of Lyons, the practicum results I think having some practicum experience is really important to get an exceeded the city’s expectations. UGA students spent Maymester understanding of what it’s like to actually do the work,” Leake said.

2022 assisting the city with a housing assessment. City Manager Following the practicum, Leake interned at GMA and is continuJason Hall said the group asked for ing his local government career as an “CITIES COME AWAY WITH A SET OF little more than a place to work.

ICMA Fellow at the city of Covington.

RECOMMENDATIONS THEY CAN USE TO They were knowledgeable, friendly to With the wave of Baby Boomers SUPPORT THEIR DECISION-MAKING AND TO residents while conducting surveys, retiring, it’s important for governDRIVE A PROJECT FORWARD.” and self-sufficient. ments to be proactive in recruiting — “The data they gathered over people like MPAs who have demonCLAIRE CHAN, GMA SR. RESEARCH ANALYST three days would have taken my staff strated a heart for public service, months to gather. The data has been Lee said. The practicum is a way to useful in three different projects to date. We felt that the practicum develop leaders who will serve not only one city, but the entire local was an exceptional investment for our small city,” Hall said. government sector, in the future.

“I advise any city using this program not to underestimate the abilities of the students. In retrospect, we could have gathered a few more pieces of data during the inventory,” he said.

WHAT’S ON YOUR CITY’S WISH LIST? HERE ARE SOME Lee said he would like to see more rural communities participate LOCAL GOVERNMENT PRACTICUM PROJECT IDEAS. SEE in a practicum. With today’s ease of conducting research and commuALL PAST PROJECTS AND SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST AT nicating remotely, and with faculty support, any city in Georgia could GACITIES.COM. benefit from the program.

• Conducting a housing inventory “If city administrators look to these remote opportunities, it will • Executing citizen satisfaction surveys open up a whole world to them,” Lee said.

• Evaluating stormwater utility

Valuable Connections Made A practicum is an avenue for cities to make connections with the next generation of public servants.

As an MPA student at UGA, Langston Leake worked on a practicum project in May 2021 with the city of Valdosta. Assisting the community development department, the group of students were tasked with analyzing the quality of housing stock in certain areas of the city.

They walked the neighborhoods and made notes, then they compiled and organized data which would be used to develop policies, apply for grants, and direct spending.

• • • • • • •

billing procedures Assessing police department workloads Developing social media/ communications plan Streamlining business licensing process Developing a performance measurement system for specific projects Performing revenue analyses Conducting benchmarking of permitting fees Undertaking feasibility studies

January/February 2024 | gacities.com 31

TOWNS & THE LAW

Love thy Neighbor: Tense Local Government Negotiations Spark Legislative Attention RYAN BOWERSOX, ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL

Within Georgia it is easy to imagine cities and counties operating as neighbors within their respective areas. But as G.K. Chesterson said “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.”

WHILE CITIES AND COUNTIES ARE CERTAINLY not enemies; it can often be difficult to not imagine the different sides as adversaries when provisions of law require them to negotiate in contentious areas. While these negotiations are often tense, most local governments throughout the state successfully complete the process by allotted deadlines and move forward. Unfortunately, some negotiations reach an impasse, the fights can be brought into the public eye, and the courts may even be required to become involved. This was the 32

case regarding recent negotiations over Local Option Sales Tax distributions and Service Delivery Strategy.

Local Option Sales Tax, more commonly known as LOST, is a one percent sales tax levied county-wide with the revenue of the tax being distributed to the county governing authority and the governing authorities of the qualified municipalities within the county.

These funds are used for general operation of the local government and assist in property tax reduction and are distributed to the eligible local governments

according to a distribution certificate agreed upon and services and competition between local governments filed with the Department of Revenue. This distribution and to provide a mechanism to resolve disputes over certificate must be periodically renegotiated following local government service delivery, funding equity, several prescribed triggers, one of which recently ocand land use.” While the required negotiation under curred - the decennial census. the Act creates efficient service delivery for residents Following the 2020 census, counties and cities and reduces city resident double taxation, it can lead levying a LOST were required to complete their reneto disagreements between cities and counties. One gotiations and file a new distribution certificate with such significant recent SDS disagreement, between the Department of Revethe City of Winder and Bar“The SDS Act strives to “provide a flexible nue by the close of 2022 or row County, involved severframework within which local governments LOST would no longer be al issues concerning service in each county can develop a service delivery collected within the coundelivery responsibility and system that is both efficient and responsive ty. While many of these nefunding, most notably, road to citizens in their county” and “minimalize gotiations were completed maintenance in the unincorinefficiencies resulting from duplication with little obstacle, within porated area of the county. of services and competition between local several counties across the The City of Winder and Bargovernments and to provide a mechanism to state, negotiations became row County’s disagreement resolve disputes over local government service combative, drawing the inevitably led to the court delivery, funding equity, and land use.” attention of the public, the system where it escalated to media, and members of the state legislature. As a rethe Supreme Court of Georgia. sult, during the 2023 legislative session of the Georgia Influenced by the events in Barrow County, General Assembly, Senate Resolution 147 by Senator during the 2023 legislative session, Senate ResoluDerek Mallow (D-Savannah) created the Senate Local tion 175 was passed which, in part, created the Joint Option Sales Tax Study Committee to study the LOST Study Committee on Service Delivery Strategy, jointly renegotiation process and propose potential legischaired by Senator Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville) and Replative recommendations. The Study Committee met resentative John LaHood (R-Valdosta). This joint study twice during the legislature’s interim period, once in committee was comprised of members of the Senate Atlanta and once in Savannah, hearing from GMA, and House of Representatives as well as two county ACCG, local elected officials, and members of the commissioners and two mayors. The study commitpublic. As the Study Committee considers the testitee held meetings in Atlanta, Valdosta, and Braselton mony and input received, they will potentially provide hearing from GMA, ACCG, DCA, and local elected ofrecommendations which could result in legislation ficials. As the study committee wrapped up their work during the 2024 legislative session amending the rein December, they recommended changes to the SDS quired LOST negotiation process.

Act involving improved mapping and revised dispute Similarly, the Service Delivery Strategy Act, or resolution process and related sanctions.

SDS, requires counties and cities to negotiate which As the 2024 legislative session of the Georgia local government authorities will provide which serGeneral Assembly progresses, city officials should vices where and how those services will be funded. keep an eye out for legislation concerning LOST or The SDS Act strives to “provide a flexible framework SDS as a result of the work of these study committees within which local governments in each county can during the interim.* develop a service delivery system that is both effi*The information contained in this article is accucient and responsive to citizens in their county” and rate as of December 21, 2023. “minimize inefficiencies resulting from duplication of January/February 2024 | gacities.com 33

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENTS CITY OF BAINBRIDGE HOSTS GEORGIA CITIES FOUNDATION’S HEART AND SOUL DOWNTOWN WORKSHOP Bainbridge recently hosted the Heart and Soul Downtown Workshop, a partnership with the Georgia Cities Foundation (GCF), the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

THIS WORKSHOP ALLOWED PARTICIPANTS TO view actual plans and projects with officials from the city of Bainbridge, discussing their downtown and neighborhood strategies, success stories, and lessons learned. The workshop utilized city officials and downtown practitioners who had first-hand experience with downtown development and what resources they used to fund their projects.

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“The city was honored to host this year’s Heart and Soul Workshop and tour. It is always rewarding to showcase our city to colleagues from around the state and it was especially gratifying to get such positive feedback on the projects and advances that Bainbridge has undertaken. In Bainbridge, we firmly believe that a strong city core is critical to the overall success of any community.” During Hobby’s presentation, he commented

on the fact that city leadership must show support for their Downtown Development Authority for it to be truly successful.

Following presentations at City Hall, Bainbridge Downtown Development Director, Amanda Glover provided the following mobile tours for attendees, highlighting three areas of downtown Bainbridge: 1. Chason Park + Loft Apartments 2. Downtown “Upstairs” Tour: The Alderman, The Willis Park Hotel, and Grollman Building 3. Historic Post Office + Southern Philosophy Brewing Co. Participants saw the newly developed Chason Park & Riverwalk which included playgrounds, a splash pad, green space, and a grand staircase connecting these play areas to the riverfront. This new park connects downtown Bainbridge to the Flint River.

Participants also toured the newly constructed 3-story 21-unit loft development along the park and riverfront, providing incredible views of the park and the Flint River from the balconies.

Another stop on the tour was the Willis Park Hotel. The Willis Park Hotel tour provided participants with an example of a redevelopment project of a hotel that had been a vacant space since the 1950s. The How To’s on funding the rehab of this historic building back to its original use were outlined during a presentation by Amanda Glover, Director of the Downtown

Development Authority in Bainbridge. The hotel consists of six stylized rooms and a balcony providing incredible views of Bainbridge’s town green.

Another site visited along the tour included the redevelopment project of the historic Alderman. This building once housed a hardware store, but now contains three ground floor commercial retail spaces plus four apartments on the second floor.

Other visits through the city included seeing the functional design of the downtown bathroom facilities, the newly developed parklet right out front of the Willis Park Hotel, and the redevelopment of an existing alleyway into a cool gathering spot.

Following the tours, workshop attendees commented that they enjoyed seeing the PowerPoint presentation of before photos of the projects in different states of disrepair or projects not even built and then getting to walk through the completed projects was eye opening experience for so many.

The city of Bainbridge’s redevelopment activities has taken time, but just in the last five years, the city has seen incredible success with the creation of: • 46 new businesses • 225 new jobs • 38 residential units • 70 new private projects with a $13,348,539 economic impact • 38 new public projects with a $11,724,128 impact

The redevelopment of the downtown area takes time. How did Bainbridge do it? The city started with a plan along with local leadership that truly cared about the city and through the Renaissance Strategic Visioning and Planning (RSVP) program and support of leadership, they encouraged partnerships that led to impactful redevelopment projects.

Bainbridge was one of four cities that participated in the inaugural 2013 RSVP program. The RSVP program provides downtown strategic visioning, planning, design, and technical assistance. Major success has occurred since the vision was set through the RSVP plan along with Bainbridge completing a refresh of their RSVP plan in 2019.

Bainbridge’s downtown renaissance is an excellent example of rural economic development. It’s predicted on 30 years of commitment to downtown redevelopment principles and practice. The commitment from local elected officials, city staff, and citizen-led committees have all worked together to remake downtown a thriving place to live, work, play, shop, eat, drink, vacation, build and invest.

UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s Senior Public Service Associate and head of the RSVP program, Danny Bivins commented, “Bainbridge’s downtown economic development approach to support small, locally owned businesses is an essential pillar of sustainable rural economic development. The kind of investments in community infrastructure that small businesses need such as sidewalks, street trees, water, sewer, wi-fi, parks, also support the quality of

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life for residents and create economic opportunities.

This is a community and economic development approach that focuses on people and place. It has led to a thriving downtown.”

Participants walked away with many takeaways from the workshop. For example, the importance of having a Downtown Development Authority and how that Authority can play a significant role in encouraging dealmaking opportunities and helping the developer find ways to incentivize their redevelopment projects. Another take away for a city leader, don’t forget about your existing assets, like a river or empty historic building that can be reenergized into a community gathering spot or a future downtown business.

And most importantly, continue familiarize yourself with what downtown financial resources are available to assist local leaders with redeveloping a city’s central business district. For example, Bainbridge developers used the Georgia Cities Revolving Loan Fund program to help provide gap financing for eight of their projects in downtown Bainbridge. For more information about the Georgia Cities Foundation Revolving Loan Fund program, please contact Chris Higdon at chigdon@ gacities.com or by phone at 404-293-6359.

The Georgia Cities Foundation will be hosting another Heart and Soul Downtown Workshop in Spring 2024. Be on the lookout for more information about this workshop opportunity. For more information, please contact Cindy Eidson by email at ceidson@gacities.com or by phone at 678-686-6207.

CITYLITES

GEORGIA GEMS MILLEDGEVILLE: EXPLORE ONE OF THE STATE’S OLDEST CITIES, A POLISHED BLEND OF PRE-CIVIL WAR HISTORY AND THE VIBRANCY OF A COLLEGE TOWN IN THE CITY OF MILLEDGEVILLE. LOCATED NORTHEAST OF MACON AND bordered on the east by the Oconee River, sits the city of Milledgevile, a place that stands as a testament to the state’s rich history, particularly, as the inaugural capitol of Georgia. Established in 1803, the city served as the political epicenter of the state until 1868. Today, Milledgeville preserves its antebellum charm, offering visitors a captivating journey through time as they explore the remnants of its past.

Milledgeville, named after John Milledge, a Georgia governor and U.S. Senator, was chosen as the capitol in 1804, succeeding Savannah. The city’s strategic central location and proximity to the Oconee River contributed to its selection. During its tenure as the state capitol, Milledgeville witnessed pivotal moments in Georgia’s history, including the establishment of the University of Georgia in 1801 and the adoption of Georgia’s first state constitution in 1798.

The city boasts an array of antebellum architecture that transports visitors back to the 19th century. One of the crown jewels is the Old Governor’s Mansion, a National Historic Landmark and one of the finest examples of High Greek Revival architecture. Built in 1839, this grand mansion served as the residence for Georgia’s governors until the capitol moved to Atlanta. Visitors can tour the lavishly adorned rooms

and gain insight into the lives of the state’s leaders during this transformative period.

The Old Capitol Building, a stately structure completed in 1807, remains a prominent symbol of Milledgeville’s historical prominence. This red-brick edifice with white columns housed the state legislature and hosted significant events such as the swearing-in of Georgia’s first elected governor, Jared Irwin. Today, the Old Capitol Building stands as a museum, providing an immersive experience of Georgia’s political past through exhibits and guided tours.

Milledgeville isn’t just a repository of political history; it’s also a cultural hub. The Andalusia Farm, the former home of renowned Southern author Flannery O’ Connor, is located just outside the city. Visitors can explore the farmhouse and grounds that inspired O’Connor’s literary works, gaining a deeper understanding of the cultural landscape that influenced one of the South’s most celebrated writers.

Milledgeville, Georgia’s first state capitol, stands as a living testament to the state’s evolution. Through its historical landmarks, architectural marvels, and cultural treasures, the city invites visitors to embark on a journey through time, experiencing the legacy of Georgia’s formative years.

Fairs and Festivals February 9 Chocolate Crawl Toccoa

February 15 Savannah Book Festival Savannah

February 9-10 St. Mary’s Mardi Gras Festival Kingsland

February 17 Fire & Ice Chili Cook Off and Craft Beer Festival Blue Ridge

February 10 SWEETHEART SHOW 2024 Young Harris Dublin Soul Food Expo Dublin February 10-12 Woodstock Arts Film Festival 2024 Woodstock February 11 Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday Chatsworth

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February 23 Savannah Boat Show Savannah March 8 Jekyll Island Arts Festival Jekyll Island March 9 Forsythia Festival 2024 Forsyth Azalea Festival Valdosta

Rattlesnake & Wildlife Festival Hagan 5K Parade & Festival 2024 Columbus The 2024 Atlanta Science Festival Atlanta March 11 Peach Road Race Fort Valley March 15 Fitzgerald Wild Chicken Festival Fitzgerald International Cherry Blossom Festival Macon March 21 Georgia Food + Wine Festival Marietta

March 21 2024 Brunswick Georgia Tribute Festival Brunswick

March 26 Mardi Gras Family Friendly Festival Lincolnton

March 23 Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival Conyers

March 28 Savannah Music Festival 2024 Savannah

Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival Concert Brookhaven Mulberry Street Arts & Crafts Festival Macon Wing & Rock Fest Canton

April 13 Suwanee Arts Festival 2024 Suwanee Acworth Art Fest Acworth

March 30 Sandy Springs Artsapalooza Sandy Springs March 31 ACA Spring Fair Riverdale

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

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

April 6 Festival on Ponce Atlanta

March 24 Woodstock Arts Film Festival Screening 2024 Woodstock January/February 2024 | gacities.com 39

201 Pryor Street, SW Atlanta, Georgia 30303

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Save the Dates GMA’s Small Cities Conference allows city officials and staff to meet, network, and discuss issues or solutions most relevant to small cities.

Expanding upon last year’s theme, the conference will be filled with informative sessions and ample opportunities to connect with agencies that provide essential resources to help streamline city operations.

Pre-Conference Training: May 1, 2024 Small Cities Conference: May 2-3, 2024