 DeKalb Development Services Fiscal Oversight Committee Elects Officers, Scheduled to Meet on Monday |
The DeKalb Development Services Fiscal Oversight Committee, tasked with providing subject matter expertise and assisting with recommending process improvements within the DeKalb Development Services office, has now elected a Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary to preside over the committee.
The newly elected officers include:
- Chair: Greg Catoe (Selig Enterprises; appointed by the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors)
- Vice Chair: Timothy Paul Thomas (Double T Contracting; appointed by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Georgia), and
- Secretary: Matthew S. Rendle (Selig Enterprises; appointed by the Council for Quality Growth)
The next Fiscal Advisory Committee meeting will take place Monday, August 3, at 8:30am in Conference Room A at 330 West Ponce de Leon Avenue. The meeting is open to the public and will discuss future goals as well as an analysis into the history and trends of the development fund's revenues and expenditures. For financial data used in the analysis, click HERE, and for the official meeting agenda, click HERE.
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The Evolution of the Use of TADs in Georgia
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As more local governments consider tax allocation districts (TADs) and the use of tax increment financing, it has become necessary for taxing jurisdictions to educate themselves on this issue. Though there is a growing body of research concerning the legal process and policy implications associated with TADs, analysis on the actual financial performance of existing TADs is limited.
In an effort to shed more light onto the practical applicability of TADs in the metro Atlanta region, the Council for Quality Growth researched where the region currently stands in its use of TADs, and explored what can be learned from earlier TAD projects.
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Allowable Construction Time Limits and Citations
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Counties and cities around the Atlanta Region have different requirements when it comes to allowable time for construction. Some municipalities have codes specifically addressing the issue while others embed construction limitations under a noise and nuisance restriction, due to the disruptive nature of construction. There are no real generalities; each city and county has a different range of allowable construction hours, varying by day, though most restrict or highly discourage construction work on Sundays.
Enforcing these codes is difficult because the code enforcers generally are only on duty during allowable construction times. Violations are usually reported to the local police department to handle when such violations occur after working hours.
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Policy Highlight: The Widespread Impacts of Cigarette Butt Littering on Local Governments and the Development Community
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Cigarette Butt Littering has widespread negative impacts beyond the damaging environmental effects. Local governments throughout Georgia have crafted and implemented varying policies concerning cigarette butt littering. However, many critics contend that the existing policies fail to adequately establish a clear and effective framework for tackling this issue. Considering the impact that littering has across municipal and county lines, developing uniform policies through state legislation would not only eliminate confusion but also achieve homogeneity assisting in the achievement of this goal.
Local governments and developers have carried the burden of the cleaning and maintenance associated with cigarette butt littering. For example, one San Francisco Public Works study conducted an audit of the economic impact that tobacco product littering had on the overall city budget. That study found that tobacco product litter cost the city $7,487,916.
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Council Seeks Fall Interns
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It is that time of year again when many undergraduate and graduate students are finalizing their spring semester schedules. The Council is currently seeking independent, dedicated individuals to serve in fall unpaid
internships with our organization These internships will be structured learning opportunities geared to teach "real world applications" of public policy development.
Those seeking a bachelor's or master's degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Political Science or other Public Policy related areas of study will be most successful. Other areas of study including Economics, Environmental Studies, Environmental Design or Engineering, Real Estate, Business Administration, and Geography are also welcome. Interns will be expected to research various public policy issues affecting the agency, write articles for newsletters, and assist regular staff with formulating real public policies affecting our members.
Please Note: This is an unpaid internship.
Working schedule is flexible due to the responsibilities classes demand.
For a complete overview of the Council internship requirements and description, click HERE or contact James Touchton at JT@CouncilforQualityGrowth.org
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 Register TODAY for the Cobb Redevelopment Forum - limited seating available! |
2015 Four Pillar Tribute Honoring Dan T. Cathy - October 1, 2015
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Update on the Funding of the Metro Region's Transportation Infrastructure
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The Metro Region has and continues to suffer from a lack of
funding for critical transportation and infrastructure projects. While a few larger projects such as the Northwest Corridor Managed Lanes and the I-285/ Ga. 400 interchange reconstruction move along, many other projects of regional impact have been slow to develop due to the high upfront costs and funding uncertainty.
Accordingly, the state of Georgia passed HB 170 back in April to raise the revenue for GDOT funding by approximately $900 million, according to state lawmakers. The bill's major source of new revenue is by revamping the state gas tax formula and allocation. The state gas tax was changed to 26 cents-per-gallon excise tax in July 2015 with all the revenue dedicated to transportation funding, opposed to the previous 7.5 cents-per-gallon excise tax and a 3% sales tax with 1% of the sales tax returned to the State General Fund.
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Update on City of Atlanta's Technical Advisory Committee
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In 2012, the Atlanta City Council, with the support of the Council for Quality Growth and MARTG partners, passed an ordinance that created the Office of Buildings Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), with Mayor Reed appointing a key advisory committee to oversee the Enterprise Fund, a provision left from the overhaul of Atlanta's Building Permit Reform package.
The TAC, chaired by Scott Selig, of Selig Enterprises, is composed of nine members appointed by the Mayor, with seven of the appointments stemming from recommendations of interested stakeholder groups. It is charged with advising and making recommendations to the Mayor, the Commissioner of Planning and Community Development and the Director of Office of Buildings on service levels, procedures, fees and staffing, along with providing insight into the permitting process and monitoring revenues and expenses for the Office of Buildings Enterprise Fund. The committee meets monthly to discuss updates, reports, and potential reforms to the City's operations.
Read More
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Join the Council's City of Atlanta Advisory Committee Meeting with Atlanta School Board Member Jason Esteves on August 5th
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Don't forget, in August, we resume our Advisory Committee Schedule. To see a full schedule,
Click HERE for a listing of speakers
There Advisory Meetings are open to Council Memebrs, Elected Officials and Staff only. To learn more about the purpose and mission of the Council's Advisory Committies, scroll to the bottom of this email for an overview in the Atlanta Business Chronice.
Register Below for the August 5th Atlanta Advisory Committee Meeting with Atlanta Boar d of Education Member Jason Esteves
Jason Esteves was elected to the Atlanta Board of Education in 2013 and is serving his first term as the board member for At-Large Seat 9.
After graduating from the University of Miami, Jason devoted himself to teaching at a public middle school in the Houston Independent School District as part of Teach for America. Today, Jason is Senior Director and Corporate Counsel at Equinox, Inc. Jason has also served on the boards of KIPP South Fulton Academy, Georgia Appleseed's Young Professionals Council, and the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association.
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Join the Council's DeKalb Advisory Committee for an Overview of the Tucker-Northlake CID Master Plan on August 6th
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Council Members
Don't forget to Register Below!
The Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District recently approved its comprehensive Master Plan which will serve as a blueprint for the future commercial development of the area.
The overall goal of the Master Plan is to identify opportunities to create a vibrant, walkable and economically thriving Tucker-Northlake. The plan builds on the findings of previous Livable Centers Initiatives, and includes ideas for transportation improvements and multi-modal transportation options throughout the community, along with re-development ideas within three distinct areas: the Northlake retail and commercial district, downtown Tucker and the medical/industrial district near the Lawrenceville Highway/I-285 interchange.
The master plan identifies one- and five-year priorities for the 2,600-acre study area, as well as suggested long-term projects and potential funding sources. Among the recommendations are re-designing the Northlake Parkway and LaVista Road/I-285 interchanges into one connected interchange, attracting a regional conference center and hotel, creating a wellness trail within the medical/industrial district, enhancing downtown Tucker with vibrant shops and restaurants and improved streetscaping and creating a walkable, mixed-use destination within the Northlake retail and commercial center.
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The ARC Region's Plan to "Win the Future" Open to Public Review
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The goal of The Region's Plan is to "win the future" by using the unique characteristics of the Atlanta area in order to continue to develop it into a global city. In 2014, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) created a policy framework for this plan that includes three overarching ideas, which are building an innovation economy, providing-world class infrastructure, and ensuring the availability of healthy, livable communities.
The ARC also created six key goals relating to this threefold vision, each of which have supporting objectives to actively work towards these goals. The Policy Framework recognizes the importance of equity in trying to build a prosperous region as a whole and, therefore, is an element in all of the plan's policies. The policies are open to public review until July 27 and will then be reviewed by the ARC Board for approval in August.
To view the full presentation of the Working Draft of the policies created by the ARC, click HERE.
To visit The Region's Plan website, click HERE.
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July 30, 2015
What are Council Members saying about their investment in the Council for Quality Growth?
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Join the Council for the 2015 Redevelopment Forums!
Contact Amanda Janaskie, aj@councilforqualitygrowth.org, for sponsorship opportunities
Registration is open for Cobb and North Fulton. More details coming soon for Gwinnett.
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Atlanta Business Chronicle Highlights Council Advisory Committees |
In a special section featuring the Council for Quality Growth and its Four Pillar Tribute, the Atlanta Business Chronicle featured the work of the Council's seven advisories and the role that they play in helping to shape the continued growth of the Metro Atlanta Region. The article features examples of the types of policies that have been influenced by Council Advisory committees, as well as quotes from Council members on the benefit that Advisories provide to their businesses.
To read the article, click HERE.
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Click HERE to view the 2015 Advisory Committee Schedule.
Click HERE to view a PDF of the 2015 Advisory Committee Schedule and Speaker Lineup
The 2015 Calendar is updated weekly with new Speakers. Be sure to go to the Council's Website at www.CouncilforQualityGrowth.org and click on the Events Calendar link for the most up-to-date 2015 calendar. |
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Events, Policy Highlights & Advisory Updates
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Join The Council for Quality Growth!
To view a Membership Brochure, Click HERE
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