[00:00:05]
I'M EMBARRASSED. I BROUGHT IT. THE TIME FOR CONVENING HAS ARRIVED. WE WILL START THIS EVENING'S MEETINGS. WE'RE STARTING WITH. WITH OUR WORK SESSION. FIRST ITEM ON THE
[I. Staff Discussion Items]
AGENDA IS THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE CENTER UPDATE, MR. HORTON. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO COME AND JOIN YOU TONIGHT AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A REPORT ON WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE FUNDS THAT THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS HAS PROVIDED TO US. YOU GUYS KNOW COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE CENTER. AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN HELPING THE CITIZENS, THE RESIDENTS OF SANDY SPRINGS, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING SO IN A WAY THAT MAINTAINS DIGNITY AND RESPECT OF THOSE CLIENTS. YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF THAT ALONG THE WAY. YOU'VE HELPED US THROUGH THAT. YOU'VE HELPED US HELP FOLKS IN SANDY SPRINGS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. THAT MISSION THAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR THAT 40 YEARS IS TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND ALLEVIATE HUNGER. AT THE SAME TIME, ENABLING OUR CLIENTS TO THRIVE. THOSE SERVICES ARE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TODAY AS THEY EVER HAVE BEEN. THE ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK TELLS US THAT 1 IN 9. 1 IN 9 RESIDENTS OF NORTH GEORGIA ARE FOOD INSECURE.
IF THAT'S NOT SHOCKING ENOUGH, IT'S 1 IN 6 CHILDREN WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE. SO WHY AM I TALKING ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY? WE DO A LOT OF THINGS AT CAC RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND TEACH ENGLISH AND CAREER CENTER A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. FOOD INSECURITY IS AN INDICATOR. IT'S AN INDICATOR OF WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE. IF THEY'RE FOOD INSECURE, THEY'RE INSECURE IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL. THEY'RE HOUSING INSECURE, THEY'RE CHILDCARE, INSECURE, HEALTHCARE INSECURE. AND SO THAT'S AN INDICATOR OF WHAT THEIR LIFE IS LIKE.
HOLISTIC NEEDS REQUIRE HOLISTIC APPROACH, AND THE NEEDS ARE GROWING AND SPREADING INTO OTHER AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, 50% OF THE CLIENTS THAT HAVE COME TO US WERE NEW, BRAND NEW, NEVER ASKED FOR HELP BEFORE. THEY'RE FINDING IT NECESSARY TO COME AND HELP ASK FOR HELP FROM US. NOW, EVEN MORE SHOCKING TO ME IS THAT 77% OF THEM ARE WORKING AT LEAST ONE JOB. IT'S THE WORKING POOR THAT ARE COMING AND ASKING FOR HELP AT CAC THESE DAYS. THAT REQUIRES A HOLISTIC APPROACH. ALL OF OUR SERVICES WORKING TOGETHER TO TAKE A FAMILY FROM NEEDING A LITTLE HELP WITH RENT TODAY TO FINANCIAL SECURITY IN A LATER TIME, A FAMILY LIKE MARK'S MARK CAME TO US. HE'S A SINGLE DAD OF THREE. HIS WIFE LEFT, TOOK HER INCOME WITH HER, AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR MARK TO REALIZE THAT WITH EXPENSES OF LIFE, HIS $23.50 AN HOUR JOB WAS NOT ALLOWING HIM TO MAKE ENDS MEET. HE GOT BEHIND IN HIS RENT AND HE CAME TO SEE CAC FOR A LITTLE BIT OF HELP. HE DIDN'T WANT TO, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF HIS CHILDREN, HE CAME TO ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A BOOST. WE WERE ABLE TO HELP HIM WITH RENT. WE ALSO POINTED HIM TOWARD OUR FOOD PANTRY WHERE HE COULD GET SOME FOOD FOR HIS KIDS, AND HE SAID, NO, I DON'T NEED FOOD CHARITY. I JUST NEED A LITTLE HELP WITH RENT. THE CONVERSATION CONTINUED, AND WE HAVE WE SHARED WITH MARK THAT IT'S NOT FOOD CHARITY, IT'S ACTUALLY AN SUPPLEMENT TO HIS INCOME BECAUSE IF HE GOES TO THE FOOD PANTRY AND TAKES ADVANTAGE OF IT, HE CAN SAVE UP TO $800 A MONTH. THAT GOES A LONG WAY TO PAYING RENT. NEXT MONTH, HE WENT TO THE FOOD PANTRY. HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT. HE ALSO STOPPED BY THE THRIFT STORE, REDEEMED SOME VOUCHERS THAT WE HAD GIVEN HIM, AND GOT SOME CLOTHES FOR THE KIDS. WE ALSO REFERRED HIM TO OUR CAREER CENTER, WHERE WE HOPE THAT HE CAN TAKE THAT NEXT STEP. BEYOND THAT $23.50 JOB AND MOVE HIS KIDS AND HIS FAMILY TOWARD FINANCIAL STABILITY OUT THERE. THE FINANCIAL STABILITY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS GETTING PEOPLE FROM A PLACE WHERE THEY JUST NEED A LITTLE HELP TODAY TO WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT TOMORROW. SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? WE DO THAT WHEN THINKING IN THREE DIFFERENT BUCKETS. THE FIRST IS ACTIVATING HOPE, AND THIS TRACKS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AS WELL.
ACTIVATING HOPE IS THAT THOSE CORE NEEDS FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER. IF SOMEONE IS HOMELESS AND HUNGRY, THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT MUCH ELSE. SO WE GOT TO KEEP SUPPLYING THOSE THOSE CORE NEEDS, THOSE BASIC NEEDS IN LIFE TO HELP PEOPLE GET OVER THAT HUMP. YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN HOW WE HAVE DIVIDED THAT UP BETWEEN ALL OF OUR AREAS OF SERVICE AND SANDY SPRINGS RESIDENTS. AND SO CLIENTS SERVED WAS 9633 OVERALL, BUT 7987 OF THOSE WERE RESIDENTS OF SANDY SPRINGS. I APOLOGIZE THAT ON THIS SLIDE, I MADE ONE MISTAKE, AND THAT'S IN THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GIVEN I FLIPPED THOSE TWO NUMBERS OVERALL AT 689,422 FOR SANDY SPRINGS RESIDENTS, IT'S $557,000.26. THE BASIC NEEDS ACTIVATING. HOPE WE HAD A MAN COME IN OUR PLACE BACK IN
[00:05:05]
DECEMBER. HE APPROACHED OUR RECEPTION DESK. IT WAS MET WITH, GOOD MORNING, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU TODAY? HE SAID, I DON'T REALLY NEED YOUR HELP TODAY. HE SAID, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A FOOD DONATION, TALK THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH HIM AND HELPED HIM UNDERSTAND WHERE AND HOW TO DO THAT. AND IN THE CONVERSATION, HE TOLD US IN 2011, CAC FED ME, REALLY KEPT ME ALIVE DURING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME AND I WANT TO MAKE A FOOD DONATION SO YOU CAN DO THAT FOR OTHERS. THAT HOPE THAT WAS ACTIVATED IN 2011, WAS STILL ALIVE IN 2025. WE HAVE TO ACTIVATE HOPE IN OUR CLIENTS.AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S REALLY THE BUSINESS THAT WE'RE IN IS HOPE. THAT'S THAT FIRST BUCKET ACTIVATING HOPE AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT DIVIDES UP. THE SECOND BUCKET IS EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CLIENTS. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP OUR CLIENTS NOW THAT WE HELP THEM OVER THE HUMP TO STAY BEYOND THE CRISIS, TO MOVE TOWARD TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILY IN A WAY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RENT EVER AGAIN. YOU CAN SEE OUR EDUCATION, OUR CAREER CENTER, THOSE ACTIVITIES, THOSE THOSE SERVICES THAT WE PERFORM IN THOSE TWO AREAS ARE VITAL TO SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, MAKING FOLKS MORE MARKETABLE OUT THERE IN THE MARKET. AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE BRINGING THOSE TWO FUNCTIONS TOGETHER. TEACHING ENGLISH, TEACHING COMPUTERS, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, COMBINED WITH CAREER ADVOCATES, HELPING WITH RESUMES, INTERVIEW SKILLS. OUR CAREER EXPO, WHICH, BY THE WAY, ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, OUR NEXT ONE IS RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM. I INVITE YOU ALL TO COME BY AND SEE WHAT THAT'S ALL ABOUT, BRINGING THOSE TWO FUNCTIONS TOGETHER IN WHAT WE CALL THE EMPOWERMENT CENTER. THE EMPOWERMENT CENTER IS DESIGNED TO TAKE A FAMILY LIKE MARC'S TO A PLACE OF FINANCIAL STABILITY, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT ANYMORE. AND WHAT DO HIS KIDS LEARN ALONG THE WAY AS WELL? CASEY CAME TO US AND SHE WAS A CLIENT ALREADY. SHE HAD TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE PANTRY. SHE'D TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE THRIFT STORE. AND SO THOSE THOSE BASIC NEEDS WERE MET. CASEY'S PRIMARY CHALLENGE WAS SHE WAS HOMELESS. MOST NIGHTS SHE'S FOUND HERSELF SLEEPING IN HER CAR. ONE MORNING SHE WOKE UP IN THE BACK SEAT AND SHE THOUGHT, THINGS HAVE GOT TO CHANGE AND I'M THE ONE THAT CAN CHANGE IT.
I'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE MY LIFE DIFFERENT. SHE CAME TO OUR CAREER CENTER AND SHE GOT ASSIGNED TO A CAREER ADVOCATE. THEY WORKED TOGETHER ON A RESUME. THEY WORKED TOGETHER ON SOME INTERVIEW TIPS. THEY TOGETHER WORKED OUT SOME VERY SPECIALIZED, PERSONALIZED JOB SEEKING STRATEGIES. JUST FOR CASEY, THAT PROCESS NOT ONLY GAVE HER SOME TOOLS TO GO OUT AND FIND THAT JOB THAT SHE'S ALWAYS WANTED, BUT IT ALSO GAVE HER THAT CONFIDENCE THAT SHE COULD GO AND ACTUALLY SELL HERSELF TO AN EMPLOYER. CASEY NOT ONLY LANDED ONE ASSOCIATE SALES JOB, SHE LANDED TWO WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS IN THIS AREA. CASEY IS DOING MUCH BETTER THESE DAYS. WE'RE EXPANDING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CLIENTS. THAT THIRD BUCKET IS MOBILIZING COMMUNITY. YOU GUYS KNOW WE USE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS. A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE VOLUNTEERED WITH CAC. I ONCE AGAIN INVITE YOU AS A COUNCIL TO COME DOWN AND TAKE A SHIFT IN THE PANTRY OR THE THRIFT STORE, MOBILIZING MORE THAN 400 VOLUNTEERS A MONTH. WE ARE A VOLUNTEER DRIVEN, ALL SETS OF SKILLS, ALL STAGES IN LIFE. WE CAN USE FOLKS AT CAC. WE ALSO VOLUNTEER. WE ALSO MOBILIZE OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY LIKE COMPANIES, CONGREGATIONS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, OTHER NONPROFITS. IN FACT, ONE OF THOSE IS SANDY SPRINGS EDUCATION FORCE, AND WE PARTNER WITH THEM TO PROVIDE A TEACHER SUPPLY CLOSET ALL YEAR LONG, PROVIDING SUPPLIES TO TEACHERS FOR THEIR CLASSROOM THAT IMPACTS THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN EVERY YEAR.
MOBILIZING COMMUNITY TO HELP THE RESIDENTS OF SANDY SPRINGS. SO TO SUM IT UP, FOR SANDY SPRINGS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP ALMOST 8000 RESIDENTS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS. ALL THESE NUMBERS THAT I'M GIVING YOU ARE PARTICULAR TO THE CYCLE OF THIS GRANT. JULY 2024 TO JUNE 2022. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CONTRIBUTION THAT CAC THAT THE CITY HAS MADE TO THIS PROCESS. THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU'VE MADE HAS HELPED US TO DO THESE THINGS. BUT THE QUESTION YOU SHOULD HAVE FOR ME RIGHT NOW, THE THING THAT YOU SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT, IS SO WHAT? NUMBERS ARE GOOD. THE STORIES ARE REALLY KIND OF CUTE. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE KIND OF COOL, BUT SO WHAT WHAT DIFFERENCE HAS IT MADE? HAS IT MADE AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY? HAS IT MOVED THE NEEDLE? ANY ON THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY? IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. IT'S A QUESTION THAT WE REGULARLY ASK OURSELVES. IN FACT, WE ASK OUR CLIENTS AT 180 DAYS AFTER SOMEONE GETS HELP FROM US, WE CALL THEM, HOW ARE
[00:10:03]
THINGS GOING? HOW'S THE HOME LIFE? ARE YOU STABLE IN YOUR HOUSE? HOW'S THE FOOD SECURITY PORTION OF YOUR LIFE? ARE THE KIDS DOING OKAY IN SCHOOL? HOW'S WORK GOING? WHAT THAT HAS TOLD US IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS IS THAT 93% HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STABILIZE THEIR HOUSING AT 180 DAYS, 62% HAVE TOTALLY RESOLVED WHATEVER CRISIS BROUGHT THEM TO US, 60% HAVE BECOME FOOD SECURE. NOW WE OUR DESIRE IS FOR ALL THOSE NUMBERS TO GO UP, FOR SURE. BUT I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU TONIGHT, THAT AIN'T HALF BAD. WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE DO AT CAC, WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT WORKS. SO HOW DOES THE IMPACT CONTINUE? THE IMPACT CONTINUES THROUGH CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY. THAT WORD COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE CENTER MEANS SOMETHING. WE WANT TO BUILD COMMUNITY IN EVERY CONSTITUENCY THAT WE TOUCH. THE COMMUNITY OF SANDY SPRINGS HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE IN STEPPING UP TO THE KNEES, AND THEY'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO. I KNOW THAT WE'RE ALSO KICKING OFF A CAMPAIGN THAT'S GOING TO TAKE US INTO THE NEXT DECADE. WE ALSO NEED INCREASING INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS. WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SANDY SPRINGS. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THAT. LET ME LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. EVEN YESTERDAY WE WERE TALKING TO ONE OF OUR CLIENTS, AND SHE MADE A STATEMENT THAT I THOUGHT WAS PRETTY COOL AND PRETTY INCREDIBLE, AND I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU TONIGHT, SHE SAID THE MEN AND WOMEN AT CAC REALLY HELP YOU, AND THE WOMEN ARE LIKE GRANDMA. THEY GIVE YOU A GIANT HUG WHENEVER YOU NEED IT. THAT IS CAC. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE INVESTING IN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO TRY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. THANK YOU. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF CAC AND ALL THAT IT DOES FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND HOW YOU TAKE THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE AND LEVERAGE THEM ACROSS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO REALLY MAKE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY AMONG THOSE WHO ARE THE LEAST THE LOST AND LEFT BEHIND AND WHO NEED THAT HELP. AND WE'RE JUST SO THANKFUL THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF ARE THERE TO HELP WHEN IT'S NEEDED. SO THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS, MR. BAUMANN? THANK YOU. FRANCIS. IMPRESSIVE. APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO. JUST A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE TRAJECTORY OF THE SITUATION YOU'VE NOW BEEN HERE FOR FOUR YEARS, ROUGHLY. KIND OF CAME ON THE HEELS OF COVID. HOW ARE YOU SEEING THE OVERALL SITUATION AND THE TRAJECTORY OF THE CLIENTS YOU SERVE? IS IT TRENDING BETTER? IS IT THE SAME? IS IT MAYBE THERE MORE CHALLENGES OR IS THAT JUST TOO COMPLEX A QUESTION? IT IS A COMPLEX QUESTION. HOWEVER, SOMETHING I SHARED A MOMENT AGO GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF HOW THE PROFILE OF OUR CLIENT HAS CHANGED. IT'S THE WORKING POOR NOW THAT ARE COMING TO GET HELP FROM US. THE ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK PREDICTS THAT IN THE FOOD SECURITY BUSINESS, NEEDS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RISE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THAT PLAYS OUT AT OUR SHOP EVERY DAY.WE'VE SEEN THOSE IN IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, VISITS TO OUR FOOD PANTRIES HAVE INCREASED 77%. WE SEE THOSE ON THE RISE. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS LOOKING ABOUT THE SAME AS WELL. WE DON'T SEE THAT SLOWING DOWN MUCH OVER THE NEXT YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF OR SO. SO I THINK THE NEEDS WISE, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE THERE AND EVEN GROW. OUR BUSINESS AT THE END OF THE DAY IS HOPE. WE DO SEE HOPE PLAYING OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE EMPHATICALLY IN OUR CLIENTS THESE DAYS. I TELL OUR STAFF THAT IF SOMEBODY COMES INTO OUR SHOP AND THEY LEAVE WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE HOPE THAT TOMORROW'S GOING TO BE BETTER THAN TODAY, THAT'S A GOOD DAY'S WORK, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT DRIVES EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. A SECOND QUESTION. ARE THERE ANY AND YOU MAY HAVE ADDRESSED THIS A LITTLE BIT. ARE THERE ANY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT QUOTE, THE POOR IN SANDY SPRINGS? I SAW YOU HAVE 8000. I ASSUME THOSE ARE 8000 DISTINCT PEOPLE, NOT 8000 TOTAL SERVED. AND THAT'S 2004 TIMES. THAT'S 8000 UNDUPLICATED OUT OF OUR CITY OF 107,000. ARE THERE ANY MISCONCEPTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE UTILIZING THE SERVICES OF CAC? ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE. THINK ABOUT, SOME OF OUR LESS FORTUNATE FOLKS, IS THAT MOST OF THEM ARE SITTING ON THE COUCH AT HOME WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO SEND A CHECK, YOU KNOW, 77% OF OUR FOLKS ARE WORKING AT LEAST ONE JOB. THAT IN AND OF ITSELF DISPELS THAT.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THESE ARE THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE INGENUITY. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DRIVE. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE PERSISTENT IN
[00:15:02]
TRYING TO HELP THEMSELVES AND HELP THEIR FAMILY. THERE'S BEEN A BAD BREAK IN LIFE. SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED, A CRISIS HAS HAPPENED IN THEIR LIFE AND THAT IS INTERRUPTED. THEIR ABILITY TO DO THAT, ALL THEY NEED IS A BOOST, A HAND UP, AND THEN THEIR RESILIENCE KICKS IN AND THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILY. WE'RE THERE TO PROVIDE THAT BOOST. ANYBODY ELSE? FRANCIS, THANK YOU AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. WHO INVEST YOUR LIVES IN TRYING TO HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ITEM IS THE CITY-WIDE DESIGN GUIDELINES PROJECT UPDATE, MR. ANSPACH. THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL TONIGHT. WE ARE WE HAVE OUR DISTINGUISHED GUEST HERE. SECURITY GO. SHE'S GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE UPDATE WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THESE DESIGN GUIDELINES, WHICH OF COURSE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT'S JUST AN ESTHETIC EXERCISE WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE ARE THERE PLACES IN TOWN THAT WE LIKE TO SEE AND THAT MAKE US FEEL GREAT? AND WHEN WE WALK OUT THERE, WE HAVE A GREAT TIME? ARE THERE PLACES IN OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE THAT, AND WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE COMMUNITIES GREAT AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITY GREAT, AND HOW DO WE REPLICATE THAT AND DUPLICATE THAT IN CERTAIN AREAS? SO AS WE ENTER PHASE TWO OF THIS PROCESS AND WRAP UP PHASE ONE, I'LL HAND IT OFF TO SECURITY TO KIND OF GIVE YOU THE DETAILS ON THAT UPDATE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. HAPPY TO BE BACK HERE. MY NAME IS SECURITY JOSH.I'M A PRINCIPAL AND URBAN DESIGNER WITH RE ROSEN AND HARWELL. WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER TEN YEARS. WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE WORKED ON THE NEXT TEN PLAN AND HAPPY TO BE BACK HERE WORKING ON THE DESIGN GUIDELINES. TODAY WE ARE GOING TO BE GIVING YOU A QUICK UPDATE OF WHERE THE PROCESS IS CURRENTLY. SO WE'LL SHARE WITH YOU WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY. WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK, SOME OF THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THOSE. WE'LL FOCUS ON THE STAGE ONE AND STAGE TWO AREAS. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK FROM THOSE? AND THEN THE NEXT STEPS? WHAT ARE WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS OF THE PUBLIC MEETING, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, POP UPS, ETC? QUICKLY, AS MATTHEW MENTIONED, WE ARE MIDWAY THROUGH THE PROCESS. AS YOU CAN SEE, STAGE ONE AND STAGE TWO, ESSENTIALLY STAGE ONE ARE THE AREAS NORTH OF 285. STAGE TWO ARE THE AREAS SOUTH OF 285. THERE IS A MAP, A COUPLE OF SLIDES DOWN. YOU'LL SEE THAT AGAIN. SO WE COMPLETED THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR THE STAGE ONE AREAS ESSENTIALLY CITY SPRINGS NORTH END AND PERIMETER. AND WE HEARD FROM THAT COMMUNITY AND WE ARE LAUNCHING INTO STAGE TWO A COUPLE OF DAYS FROM NOW WHEN WE HAVE THE PUBLIC MEETING. AND THE STAGE TWO ARE CROSSROADS NEIGHBORHOOD VILLAGE AND POWERS FERRY. AND DESIGN GUIDELINES, IF YOU RECALL, ARE ONLY GOING TO BE APPLICABLE TO THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS OF THE CITY. IT INCLUDES THE COMMERCIAL AREAS AS WELL AS THE MULTIFAMILY AND THE TOWNHOME AREAS. WE HAD A ROBUST, ALREADY, A ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. WE HAD COUPLE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, ONE IN MARCH AND ONE IN MAY. WE HAD SEVERAL POP UP MEETINGS DURING THE MONTHS OF MAY AND JUNE, AND THEN WE HAD ONLINE, TWO ONLINE SURVEYS, AND WE MET WITH LEADERSHIP GROUPS, MET WITH YOU A COUPLE OF TIMES, INTRODUCTORY MEETINGS AS WELL AS DURING THE RETREAT. WE HEARD A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL, AND YOU WANTED US TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH THE DESIGN GUIDELINES SO THAT IT NOT ONLY PROMOTES THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS AND ENHANCES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS, BUT ALSO PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR OWN BRAND AND IDENTITY WHEN THEY'RE DEVELOPING PROPERTIES. AND THIS IS ONLY GOING TO BE APPLIED TO DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. WE ALSO MET WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AS WELL AS THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND THEIR RETREAT. WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THE CORE TEAM, WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND THEY'RE GUIDING US THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND THEN WE ALSO MET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF PUBLIC WORKS, RECREATION AND PARKS AND FACILITIES AND GOTTEN GOOD FEEDBACK FROM THEM WITH REGARDS TO THE NUMBERS, AS YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN, WE MET WITH THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. WE HAD VERY ROBUST DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM, AND IT INCLUDED RESIDENTS, HOMEOWNERS, SLASH PROPERTY OWNERS, REAL ESTATE FOLKS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OFFICIALS. WE MET WITH OVER 50 OF THEM. WE HAD ALMOST 50 PARTICIPANTS IN THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND THEN WE ALSO HAD OVER 82, OUR OTHER 80 SURVEY RESPONSES SO FAR IN THE TWO SURVEYS. AND THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN SO FAR IS THROUGH THE POP UP MEETINGS. WE HAD POP UP MEETINGS AT THE
[00:20:04]
SATURDAY FARMERS MARKET, HAMMOND PARK AND THE OUTLOOK OVERLOOK PARK, AND WE HAD OVER 90 PARTICIPANTS TOTAL. THIS QUICK WORD CLOUD SHOWS YOU SOME OF THE DESIGN CHARACTERS THAT THE COMMUNITY PROVIDED TO US. THESE ARE KIND OF FAVORED BY THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS AND THE FRONT AND CENTER. IT'S KIND OF A LITTLE HARD TO SEE, BUT EVERYBODY WAS OF THE OPINION THAT THE DESIGN CHARACTER SHOULD FOCUS ON THE UNIQUENESS OF SANDY SPRINGS, THAT IS, THE OFF SANDY SPRINGS. SO FIND OUT WHAT ARE THOSE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS AND BUILD UP ON THOSE. THERE SHOULD BE SOME UNIFYING CHARACTERISTICS, BUT ALSO THERE SHOULD BE SPECIFIC CHARACTERS FOR THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS. THEY ALSO MENTIONED ABOUT CREATING THE WARMTH AND INVITING NATURE OF THE PUBLIC REALM. AND THE BUILDINGS KIND OF CREATE A TIMELESS NATURE TO IT, AND IT HAS TO HAVE A CLASSIC ARCHITECTURE AND ELEGANCE TO IT.AS I MENTIONED, THE FOCUS AREAS ARE THOSE SIX FOCUS AREAS DIVIDED INTO TWO. STAGE ONE ARE AREAS ROUGHLY NORTH OF 25 AGAIN, CITY SPRINGS PERIMETER AND NORTH END, AND STAGE TWO AREAS WHICH WE ARE GOING TO BE LAUNCHING IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. WITH THE PUBLIC MEETING ARE THE POWERS FAIRY CROSSROADS AND NEIGHBORHOOD VILLAGE. SO WE ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON THREE DIFFERENT REALMS. FIRST IS THE BUILDING, NEXT IS THE PRIVATE REALM, WHICH IS THE AREA BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS AND THE SIDEWALK AREAS, AND THEN THE PUBLIC REALM. ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE COMPONENTS OF SOME OF THOSE THREE REALM AREAS. I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE EXPANSIVE LIST, BUT SOME OF THE ELEMENTS WOULD INCLUDE IN THE PUBLIC REALM, LIKE PAVING AND FURNISHINGS AND TREES AND LANDSCAPING, AND A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN SO FAR FOCUSED ON. WE HAVE TO LANDSCAPE THIS THING OUT SO THAT IT FILLS SCREEN, IT FILLS SAFE, IT FILLS WALKABLE. SO WE'RE FOCUSING ON THAT. ON THE PRIVATE RAIL, THE BUILDING ZONE, WHAT HAPPENS AT THE OUTDOOR DINING SPACES OR WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PARKS JUST ACROSS FROM THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER? WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT. THEN ON THE BUILDING SIDE OF THINGS, WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON THE MASSING OF THE BUILDINGS. HOW ARE THE BUILDINGS ARTICULATED? WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT MATERIALS THAT ARE GOING TO BE APPLIED TO THE BUILDINGS, AND THEN THE TRANSPARENCY WITH REGARDS TO WALKABILITY AND PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLINESS OF THE CITY? SOME OF THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR THE THREE PHASE ONE AREAS, STARTING WITH THE NORTH END, THE IMAGES ARE KIND OF SHOWING SOME OF THE PREFERRED IMAGES FROM THE VISUAL PREFERENCE SURVEY THAT WE HAVE DONE DURING THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, THE POP UPS AS WELL AS THE SURVEY. SO ON THE NORTH END YOU CAN SEE DEFINITE CHARACTERISTICS OF IT'S BEING INVITING WARMTH, THE LANDSCAPE, THE TREES, LARGER SETBACKS, LARGER WINDOWS. AND THEN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE YOU WILL SEE THE ITEMS THAT ARE MARKED IN BLACK. THOSE ARE KIND OF APPLIED TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT AREAS. EVERYTHING IN THE PINK AND RED ARE SPECIFIC TO THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS FOR NORTH END. SO THINGS THAT ARE UNIFYING TO THE WHOLE CITY IS CERTAINLY A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, A SEPARATION OF DIFFERENT SPACES, TREES AND GREENERY. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, SHADE AND THERMAL COMFORT IS VERY IMPORTANT. THE OTHER THING THAT CAME OUT REALLY IMPORTANTLY DURING THE BUILDING MATERIAL DISCUSSION WAS CREATING A SELECTING A WARM TONE COLOR MIX, NOT GOING TO THE DIFFERENT TWO EXTREMES, BUT BEING IN THE MIDDLE AND SELECTING A WARM TONE COLOR MIX WITH THE CITY SPRINGS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE IMAGES THAT WERE FAVORED BY THE COMMUNITY, THERE IS A CERTAIN SENSE OF ENERGY, EXCITEMENT, AND VIBRANCY. THIS IS OUR CORE. THIS HAS TO SHOW US WELL. SO THERE IS HAS TO BE TRANSPARENCY AT THE GROUND LEVEL SO THAT IT'S SAFE AND PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY. AND SOME OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS ARE UNIQUE TO SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS. SO TREES AND GREENERY, SHADE AND THERMAL COMFORT AND THE COLOR, TONE AND MIX. WITH REGARDS TO PERIMETER, WE ALL KNOW THERE IS A CERTAIN CHARACTER TO THE PERIMETER.
RELATIVELY TALLER BUILDINGS, MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY STYLE WITH STILL HAVE SOME SIMPLE VARIATIONS IN DESIGN CHARACTER. INTRODUCING OPEN SPACES BECAUSE YOU ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF ROADS AND BIG ROADS AND PUBLIC SPACES. BUT INTRODUCTION OF OPEN SPACE IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT, AND BUFFER FROM THE STREETS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT, SO THAT IT FEELS SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK ALONG THE PUBLIC REALM AREAS. WITH ALL OF THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT, WE ARE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO PULL THIS DOCUMENT TOGETHER. AND THIS IS A QUICK FRAMEWORK OF SHOWING THAT,
[00:25:02]
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE ARE FOCUSED ON THREE DIFFERENT REALMS THE PUBLIC REALM, THE SIDEWALK AREAS, PRIVATE REALM, THE AREAS BETWEEN THE BUILDING AND THE SIDEWALK, AND THE BUILDING THEMSELVES. AND WE'LL START WITH THE DESIGN PRINCIPLES OF EACH ONE OF THOSE THREE REALMS. WE'LL GET INTO THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, A COUPLE OF SLIDES BACK AND ALSO ENLISTED HERE. AND THEN FROM THOSE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS, WE'LL FOCUS ON WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF PAVING. IS THE PAVING GOING TO BE CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY? ARE THERE SPECIFIC TREATMENTS IN CITY SPRINGS OR PERIMETER OR CROSSROADS? SO WE HAVE TO THINK THROUGH ALL OF THAT. AND THEN WE'LL DEVELOP THE GUIDELINES. AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE UNIFYING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OBJECTIVES AND THE GUIDELINES. AND FROM THERE WE'LL FOCUS ON THE AREA SPECIFIC GUIDELINES OF THOSE SIX DIFFERENT AREAS. SO THAT'S KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF THE DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION WITH REGARDS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DESIGN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOING TO BE BASED ON THE VISION THAT WAS DEVELOPED IN THE NEXT TEN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND IT IS GOING TO BE ENHANCING THE DEVELOPMENT CODE. BUT WE ARE TALKING WITH THE CITY STAFF RIGHT NOW TO THINK THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION PART OF IT. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS. AND WHEN WE HAVE THOSE DIFFERENT OPTIONS CLEARLY DISCUSSED AND VETTED, WILL BRING THOSE OPTIONS BACK TO YOU DURING THE NEXT MEETING. WITH REGARDS TO THE NEXT STEPS, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE ARE HAVING A PUBLIC MEETING A COUPLE OF DAYS FROM NOW. AUGUST 21ST, THURSDAY 6 TO 8 P.M. IT'S AT THE LOBBY OUTSIDE. AND WITH REGARDS TO THE OTHER NEXT STEPS, WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING A BRIEFING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TOMORROW, A VERY SIMILAR KIND OF A BRIEFING, AND THEN WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH POP UPS FOR STAGE TWO AREAS, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID FOR STAGE ONE. THAT WILL BE LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL. THEN WE'LL DEVELOP THE DRAFT GUIDELINES TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING TO SHARE ALL OF THOSE. AND OF COURSE, BEFORE WE GO TO THE PUBLIC, WE'LL SHARE EVERYTHING WITH YOU. AND TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK BEFORE WE GO TO THE PUBLIC. SO WITH THAT, THE WEBSITE IS THERE. THE TINY URL IS SBR DESIGN. ALL OF THE MEETINGS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, THE SURVEYS, AND ANY OTHER UPDATES ARE UPLOADED TO THAT WEBSITE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BROWSE THAT AND I'M HERE TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE TODAY. ANY QUESTIONS, MR. PAULSON? THANK YOU. YOU'RE PRETTY FAR ALONG IN A GOOD PART OF THIS, WHICH I FIND FASCINATING. WHEN DO YOU THINK THESE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FORMALLY FOR RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT. SO WITHIN THE SCHEDULE WE HAVE EARLY 2026 AS THE HEARING AND THE ADOPTION TIME. MISS MUELLER. SO I DIDN'T KNOW FROM ALL THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED, HAVE YOU DONE ANY HEAT MAPS? ARE THEY FROM CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY OR DO YOU THINK IT'S THROUGHOUT? WE HAVEN'T DONE A HEAT MAP, BUT WE HAD A MAP IN ALL OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS AS WELL AS THE POP UPS, AND WE ASKED THE QUESTION, WHERE DO YOU LIVE WITHIN THE CITY OR WHERE DO YOU WORK WITHIN THE CITY? AND IT IS MAINLY IT WAS SINCE THE POP UPS AND THE MEETINGS WERE HAPPENING MOSTLY IN THIS CORE AREA. A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE FROM THIS, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE NORTH END, NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM PERIMETER, BUT WE HAD SOME PEOPLE COMING FROM THE CROSSROADS OR NEIGHBORHOOD VILLAGE, BUT MOSTLY IN THE CITY SPRINGS AREA. OKAY. THANK YOU.ANYBODY ELSE? MISS DOCTOR KELLY? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ON YOUR SLIDES, THE KEY TAKEAWAY SLIDES.
WHAT ARE YOU INDICATING WITH THE PINK COLOR? THE PINK TEXT. THE PINK COLOR? I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE. THE PINK COLOR ARE UNIQUE TO THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS. SO IF YOU'RE TALKING LOOKING AT THE PERIMETER, ALL OF THE PINK COLORS ARE FOCUSED ON THE PERIMETER ONES. EVERYTHING IN THE BLACK COLOR ARE FOCUSED ON CITYWIDE. ALL RIGHT. SO WHEN WE SAY SEASONAL COLOR YEAH SEASONAL COLOR IS IN BLACK. WHAT WHAT IS THAT MEAN FOR YOU ALL. SO THAT WAS MAINLY RELATED TO TREES AND LANDSCAPING. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT PROVIDING THE SEASONALITY TO SHOW THE DIFFERENT SEASONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO THAT CAN BE SELECTED THROUGH THE DIFFERENT TREE AND THE PLANTING MIX THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENT AREAS, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE MAIN ROADS. SO THAT WAS THAT COMMENT WAS MAINLY TOWARDS THE SEASONALITY THROUGH THE LANDSCAPING. OKAY. SO FOR THE NORTH END, I SEE YOU HAVE LARGER SETBACKS. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S SPECIFICALLY CAME FROM STAKEHOLDERS THAT THEY IT WAS FROM THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK
[00:30:06]
AND THEY COMMENTED ON THE EXISTING CHARACTER RIGHT NOW. AND WHAT THEY SEE IS YOU YOU HAVE MORE OF A PARKWAY LIKE A CHARACTER ON ROSWELL ROAD WHEN YOU GO TO THE NORTH END, AND THERE IS A LOT OF SETBACK AND TREES AND LANDSCAPING, SO THEY LIKE THAT. SO THEY WANTED TO ENHANCE THAT AND BUILD UP ON THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE. ALL RIGHT.WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM, REVIEW OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO CHANGE THE ALCOHOL FOOD SALES RATIO WITHIN THE DEFINED CITY SPRINGS AREA. MR. BURNETT, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT. I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF IN THIS PRESENTATION. SO YOU ALL THAT WERE ON COUNCIL BACK WHEN THE CITY SPRINGS PROJECT WAS DEVELOPED. YOU'LL RECALL THAT AT THAT TIME, WE PUT IN PLACE AN ORDINANCE THAT SET THE ALCOHOL SALES TO FOOD SALES RATIO AT 50 OVER 50 FOR ANY RESTAURANTS OPERATING REALLY CITYWIDE, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN THE CITY SPRINGS DISTRICT. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH A RESTAURANT CALLED TASTE WINE BAR AND MARKET. THEY HAVE A LOCATION IN THE WEST MIDTOWN AREA IN A DEVELOPMENT CALLED THE WORKS, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT RESTAURANT CONCEPT HERE AT CITY SPRINGS TO GO INTO THE TURN SPACE. OF COURSE, YOU'LL ALSO RECALL THAT THE ORIGINAL LEASE AGREEMENT, WHICH SEELIG AT THE TIME, WHO WAS THE MASTER LESSOR AND WAS HANDLING THE LEASING, HAD AS A PROVISION THAT THE ALCOHOL FOOD SALES RATIO WOULD BE LIMITED TO 50 OVER 50. WHEN THOSE ASSETS WERE ACQUIRED BY GREYSTAR, GREYSTAR STEPPED IN TO SEELIG SHOES, AND THEY'VE BEEN HANDLING THE LEASING SINCE THAT TIME AND CONTINUE TO USE THE SAME LEASE FOR LEASE FORMAT THAT CALLS FOR A 50 OVER 50 ALCOHOL TO FOOD SALES RATIO. WHEN YOU LOOK AT A RESTAURANT LIKE TASTE AND YOU CAN GO TO THEIR MENU, I'D RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO IF YOU GET A CHANCE, AND GO VISIT THEM.
THEIR AVERAGE ENTREE ITEM IS GOING TO BE BETWEEN 15 AND $20, BUT IF YOU HAVE TWO GLASSES OF A GOOD WINE, THOSE COULD BE $15 BY THEMSELVES. AND SO YOU COULD SPEND $15 TO $20 ON AN ENTREE AND PERHAPS $30 ON TWO GLASSES OF WINE, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO THE 50 OVER 50 FOOD SALES TO ALCOHOL SALES RATIO. SO IN ORDER TO IMPART ACCOMMODATE OUR DESIRE TO BRING TASTE TO CITY SPRINGS AND PUT THEM INTO THE TURN SPACE, AND ALSO TO LOOK FORWARD TO OUR DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FUTURE, PARTICULARLY AT CITY SPRINGS 2.0, WHEN WE MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO TO BRING ANOTHER CONCEPT LIKE TASTE IN, OR PERHAPS A MICROBREWERY THAT WOULD BE MORE BEER SALE ORIENTED THAN FOOD SALES ORIENTED IN THE CITY SPRINGS DISTRICT ONLY, WE ARE ASKING MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO CONSIDER WHETHER YOU ALL WOULD GO TO A 35% FOOD SALES, 65% ALCOHOL SALES IN THE CITY SPRINGS DISTRICT, AND ALCOHOL SALES WOULD BE LIMITED, LIMITED TO BEER AND WINE ONLY, NOT DISTILLED SPIRITS. AND AGAIN, IT WOULD BE. AND YOU'LL NOTICE A MAP. AND THIS IS THE EXPANDED CITY SPRINGS DISTRICT OF COURSE INCLUDES OUR CAMPUS HERE AT CITY SPRINGS, BUT ALSO INCLUDES THE LAND THAT THE CITY OWNS FOR THE FUTURE CITY SPRINGS 2.0 DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO INCLUDES THE WILLIAM PAYNE HOUSE. SO IT WOULD GIVE US SOME POTENTIAL FLEXIBILITY IN WHO GOES INTO OUR NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN 2.0 AND PERHAPS WHO WE BRING IN TO THE WILLIAM PAYNE HOUSE, WHICH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'RE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING USERS FOR THAT PROPERTY. SO WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO VOTE TONIGHT, BUT WE DO WANT TO PUT IT IN CONSIDERATION. AND IF YOU ARE INCLINED TO, TO GIVE US GUIDANCE TO MOVE FORWARD, THEN WE WOULD BRING IT BACK TO YOU AT OUR MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 2ND FOR A FORMAL RECOMMENDATION AND RATIFICATION. OKAY. YOU'VE HEARD THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, ANY ANY PARTICULAR OPINIONS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER? MISS ROCHELLE. SO, CHRIS, IS THIS THE TIME THAT WE OR MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION THAT WE TALK ABOUT EXPANDING OUR OPEN CONTAINER DISTRICT BECAUSE HILLCREST IS COMING AND BROOKLYN CAFE THAT AREA AND CITY SPRINGS TO COUNCIL CAN CERTAINLY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. CITY SPRINGS TO THAT LAND IS INCLUDED IN OUR OPEN CONTAINER DISTRICT ALREADY. WE DID INCLUDE THAT I BELIEVE, YEAR BEFORE LAST WHEN WE MADE THAT CHANGE. BUT WHAT WE WERE BRINGING TONIGHT WAS SIMPLY TO CHANGE THE FOOD TO ALCOHOL SALES RATIO. BUT IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE US TO COME BACK WITH SOMETHING RELATED TO FURTHER EXPANSION OF OPEN CONTAINER, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. I'D BE INTERESTED IN THAT. MAYOR PAUL. MR. PAULSON, THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU CHRIS. SO IT'S AN INTERESTING CONCEPT YOU PRESENTED HERE. AND I WENT BACK TO THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES. MY WIFE AND I WENT OUT TO DINNER AND DON'T TELL ANYBODY, BUT WE ACTUALLY DRANK MORE THAN WE ATE. SO I GET IT. OKAY. OUR OTHER RESTAURANTS IN
[00:35:03]
THIS AREA AND OTHER AREAS HAVE THEY COME TO THE CITY AND SAID, THIS IS PROBLEMATIC OR I'M NOT TOO SURE. WE'RE EVEN CHECKING OTHER RESTAURANTS TO SEE WHAT THEIR PERCENTAGES ARE. BUT ARE YOU HEARING THIS FROM EXISTING ESTABLISHMENTS AS WELL? SO. SO JOHN AND DAN ARE YOU MAY CORRECT ME, BUT THIS IS SELF-REPORTING. AND SO THERE ARE THOSE SELF-REPORTED ON MY LAST OUTING.SO I EXPECT IN FACT I THINK I SAW YOUR NAME ON THEIR THEIR LIST JOHN. THEY SAID WE'RE, WE'RE OVER 50% EXCEPT WHEN THE PAULSONS COME IN. SO IT IS SELF-REPORTING. AND HONESTLY WE DON'T THE CITY DOES NOT AUDIT THIS. SO WE'RE NOT SENDING PEOPLE INTO THE FIELD TO DETERMINE THE ALCOHOL, THE FOOD SALES RATIO, TO THE CREDIT OF TASTE, THEIR, THEIR OWNERSHIP AS THEY WERE REVIEWING THE LEASE AGREEMENT. PICK THIS OUT AND BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION. BUT YOU'VE NOT HEARD IT FROM THEY DID NOT WANT TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO SOMETHING THAT THEY KNEW WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE BUSINESS MODEL THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY COMMIT TO.
OKAY, WELL, I GET IT. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS 5050 WAS SO THAT WE DIDN'T BECOME JUST A BUNCH OF SALOONS. SO AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT COMPROMISING ON THAT FUNDAMENTAL, I CAN SEE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THIS MAYBE WARRANTED. SO I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THIS NECESSARILY. OKAY. ANYWAY, ANY OBJECTION TO BRINGING THIS BACK AS AN ORDINANCE? ALL RIGHT. PROCEED. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR.
ALL RIGHT, MR. LEE, TALK TO US ABOUT VEHICLE IMMOBILIZATION, BETTER KNOWN AS BOOTING. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'VE RECEIVED THEM. I KNOW I'VE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR ALSO ABOUT COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOOTING. THE CITY HAS MANAGED BOOTING IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THAT SAME AREA THAT WAS JUST POINTED OUT IN THE CITY SPRINGS AREA. BOOTING IS NOT ALLOWED AND IT'S NOT ALLOWED AS A COVENANT AND RESTRICTION WITH OUR CO TENANT OVER HERE NEXT DOOR. SO THE CITY HAS A HISTORY OF PROHIBITING BOOTING IN CERTAIN PLACES, LIKE AROUND CITY HALL AND THE CITY PARKING AND TRYING TO MANAGE SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND SOME OF THE RESEARCH, WE FIND THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT WAS JUST SETTLED BY THE BIGGEST PLAYER IN THE FIELD. JUST AS AN ANECDOTE, THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN 2016. THEY JUST SETTLED IT ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. SO $5 MILLION AGAINST EMPIRE MOBILITY. AND THAT LAWSUIT HAD TO DO WITH SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS WE'VE RECEIVED ABOUT LACK OF NOTICE. OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE REQUIRES A SIGN I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU. IT'S WOEFULLY TOO SMALL, EVEN FOR MY YOUNG EYES. IT WAS A JOKE, JOHN, AND WHEN I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT IN THE LAWSUIT AS IT RELATED TO THE CITY OF ATLANTA, THEIR CURRENT SIGN IS TWICE THE SIZE OF OURS, AND THAT SIGN WAS FOUND TO BE DEFICIENT FOR THE LAWSUIT PURPOSES. SO ONE OF THE PROPOSALS I MAKE TO YOU TONIGHT IS THAT WE INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE SIGN TO 48IN BY 36IN, AND THE ORDINANCE ALREADY CONTAINS THE INFORMATION THAT HAS TO BE CONTAINED ON THERE, WHERE AN AFFECTED PERSON CAN GO TO GET THE BOOT OFF AND THEY HAVE TO REACT IN SO MANY IN A TIMELY FASHION. THE SECOND PART OF IT IS A LITTLE MORE UNIQUE. THE CURRENT ORDINANCE REQUIRES THAT ANYBODY THAT SEEKS A PERMIT AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PERMIT TO BOOT CARS AND THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS, IT REQUIRES THAT YOU HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER WHERE YOU DO THE BOOTING. THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT YOU DELIVER THAT CONTRACT TO THE CITY. ONE OF THE CHANGES I PROPOSED THAT WE MAKE IS THAT THOSE CONTRACTS HAVE TO BE DELIVERED TO THE CITY, AND AS PART OF THAT CONTRACT, THE ADDRESS WHERE THE BOOTING CAN OCCUR IS LISTED. AND I'VE TALKED TO STAFF. WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF POSTING THOSE ADDRESSES ON THE WEBSITE SO THAT THERE WOULD BE DOUBLE NOTICE TO FOLKS THAT DON'T PARK HERE. YOU MAY GET BOOTED AND THE CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENT, WHILE IT MAY SEEM ONEROUS, SOMETIMES THE BALANCE THAT WE TRY TO STRIKE IS THAT PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY AND NOT HAVE UNWANTED PEOPLE PARK THERE. BUT WE, WE, THE CITY AND THE FOLKS THAT ENFORCE THE ORDINANCES HERE MUST GUARD AGAINST PREDATORY BOOTING. WE FIND INSTANCES NOT IN SANDY SPRINGS, BUT IN JURISDICTIONS AROUND US WHERE SOME COMPANIES WILL PLACE CAMERAS. AND TECHNOLOGY IS SO WONDERFUL TODAY, THEY CAN PLACE A CAMERA AT A PLACE WHERE THEY KNOW FOLKS ARE FREQUENT TO PARK, EVEN IF THE PROPERTY OWNER DOESN'T CARE, AND THERE AN ALERT IS TRIGGERED AND THEY'LL GO BOOT THE CAR WITHOUT ANY PERMISSION FROM THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND OF COURSE, FROM THE CAR. SO REQUIRING THIS CONTRACT AND THE ADDRESS WHERE THIS CAN OCCUR IS
[00:40:04]
A, I THINK, A GREAT STEP FORWARD AND TO GIVING EVERYBODY NOTICE. IF YOU PARK SOMEPLACE THAT YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO PARK, THAT THE REAL PROPERTY OWNER DOESN'T WANT YOU THERE. BOOTING CAN BE A HELP TO YOU, BECAUSE IF YOUR CAR IS TOWED IN, THE TOWING PLACE IS DOWNTOWN ATLANTA. OR WE'VE HAD ONE HERE THAT WAS IN COLLEGE PARK. IT'S A TOUGH RIDE AND IT COSTS MORE. SO ALLOWING BOOTING SOMETIMES CAN BE A CONVENIENCE TO THE ONE WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE MISPLACED PARKING. BUT AND WE FEEL LIKE THESE TWO MEASURES MAKE THE SIGN BIGGER 48 BY 36. THAT INCLUDES ALL THE LANGUAGE THAT WE NOW REQUIRE. AND THEN ADDING A REQUIREMENT THAT EVERY APPLICANT AND WE WOULD RETROACTIVELY APPLY THIS TO GET WE HAVE LIKE 40 PERMITS FOR BOOTERS IN SANDY SPRINGS RIGHT NOW. WE WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO LIST THOSE PROPERTIES, AND WE COULD PUT THOSE ON THE WEBSITE TO HELP CITIZENS BETTER UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY CAN AND CANNOT PARK. I ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. ALL RIGHT. YOU'VE HEARD THE REPORT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS FOR SOME TIME AND FELT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE SOME ACTION BECAUSE PARTICULARLY LIKE THE EVENING OF THE FIREWORKS, PEOPLE WERE PARKING AND CAME BACK AND WERE SHOCKED TO FIND THAT THEIR CARS HAD BEEN BOOTED. AND THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF SURPRISE THAT WE WANT TO HAVE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE THE PROPERTY OWNER'S RIGHT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM PARKING WHERE THEY'RE NOT WANTED, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO MAY INADVERTENTLY NOT KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO PARK THERE ARE THEN SUBSEQUENTLY BOOTED, AND THE RESULTING DISRUPTIONS THAT THAT CAUSED. SO ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE PLAN IS, MISS ROCHELLE? THANKS, DAN. I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT SUBJECT. TWO QUESTIONS. IS THERE A REQUIREMENT FOR THE NUMBER OF SIGNS THAT NEED TO BE POSTED? AND ALSO WHAT IS THE I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY CAN CHARGE. THE THOSE ARE TWO GREAT QUESTIONS. AND THE CURRENT ORDINANCE REQUIRES A SIGN AT BOTH ENTRANCES OR ONE IN A PREDOMINANT SPOT IF THERE'S ONLY ONE. AND THAT THAT MAY BE SOMETHING ELSE WE WANT TO TWEAK ABOUT IT. BECAUSE THE TWO TARGET PLACES THAT I KNOW OF IN SANDY SPRINGS, WHERE MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS I'VE GOTTEN CAME FROM, IF YOU PUT IT IN THE WRONG SPOT, NOBODY WOULD SEE IT. AND SO THAT THAT'S A GREAT POINT THAT WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT. THE LEGISLATURE HAS KIND OF DABBLED IN THIS A LITTLE BIT THIS PAST SESSION. AND $75 IS THE MAX. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL PROCEED TO BRING THE ORDINANCE BACK AT A FUTURE MEETING THAT ENDS THE WORK SESSION. MAYOR
[II. City Council Discussion Items]
PAUL, MR. PAULSON, AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION ITEMS, MAY I COMMENT, IF I MAY? SURE. THANK YOU. TODAY WE HAD A PRESENTATION FROM CAC, WHICH IS A FANTASTIC ORGANIZATION. THEY DO GREAT WORK FOR THE CITY. WE HAVE OTHER NON-PROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE THAT ARE CLOSELY TIED TO THE CITY IN ONE REGARD OR ANOTHER, AND WE'VE TALKED INFORMALLY ABOUT THIS FOR A WHILE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITHOUT OBJECTION, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CITY MANAGER GO TO SOME OF THESE FOUNDATIONS AND HAVE THEM COME BACK AND REPORT TO US ABOUT THINGS THEY'RE DOING. AND THE THREE THAT COME TO MIND ARE OBVIOUSLY THE SANDY SPRINGS BENEVOLENT FUND. THE BENEVOLENT FUND HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME, AND I KNOW THEY DO GOOD WORK. THEY HELP FAMILIES OF OFFICERS AND FIREMEN WHO ARE HAVING TROUBLES OR WORSE. AND I, I KNOW THEY DO GOOD WORK. I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DID THEY DO LAST YEAR? WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FORWARD TO? LIKEWISE, THERE'S A NEW SANDY SPRINGS POLICE FOUNDATION THAT BECAUSE OF THE NEW LAW THAT THE STATE PUT TOGETHER, THE SANDY SPRINGS POLICE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN FORMED WITH AN EYE TOWARDS FUNDING PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND THEN, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S THE SANDY SPRINGS FOUNDATION THAT IS INVOLVED WITH THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY. SO MY REQUEST IS, IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE EDITOR OR SOMEBODY FROM THESE ORGANIZATIONS COME IN AND GIVE US AN UPDATE ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING? WHAT DID THEY DO LAST YEAR? WHAT ARE THEY PLANNING ON DOING NEXT YEAR JUST TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THEIR ACTIVITIES ARE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF US AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO I'M REQUESTING THAT THAT BE DONE AT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FUTURE WORK SESSION MEETINGS. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL ASK CITY MANAGER TO ARRANGE THAT. NOT A* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.