Register now for 6th Annual CID Recognition Event.
Only 23 Seats left!
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Join us Monday, November 9th as we recognize the incredible accomplishments our Community Improvement Districts are making across our Region. Congressman Rob Woodall, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will speak on the nation's infrastructure challenges and the impact of a new federal transportation bill. We will also hear from a panel of experts on how Metro Atlanta CIDs continue to develop these dynamic hubs through the cultivation and development of technology and innovation centers. Keynote Speaker, Congressman Rob Woodall Our regions CID's are the confluence of physical and intellectual infrastructure, housing opportunities, and job creation. Join us in celebrating their recent successes as well as current and future plans to continue improving these essential economic centers and spur growth across the metro area. Seats are filling up fast so REGISTER now to reserve your spot.
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Tuesday's Election Keeps Some Incumbents, Brings New Leadership, a New City and More
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As the polls closed on Tuesday, the Metro Region found itself with new Mayors in Kennesaw (Derek Easterling), Powder Springs (Al Thurman), Douglasville (Rochelle Robinson), Brookhaven (John Ernst), Snellville (Tom Witts), Fayetteville(Ed Johnson) and Dunwoody (Dennis Shortal), while Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon, Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson, Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood, Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins, College Park Mayor Jack Longino, Doraville Mayor Donna Pitman, Tyrone Mayor Eric Dial and Riverdale Mayor Evelyn Wynn-Dixon and Hapeville Mayor Alan Hallman all held of challengers to continue another term in office.
Additionally, DeKalb County will see another city formed, as the City of Tucker was overwhelmingly approved by 74% of the voters and will begin full operations on July 1, 2016. Lavista Hills did not see the same fate as it failed to incorporate by a mere 136 votes. The city of Tucker will have an approximate population of 36,000 and will feature a Council - City Manager form of government.
Gwinnett County voters with 75% of the vote in favor, overwhelmingly extended their 1% E-SPLOST, which is expected to generate close to $1 billion dollars and will continue to pay for education projects in the County and Buford school systems. This is a great win for Gwinnett and we commend the voters for continuing to support a great system like Gwinnett County Schools.
A number of new councilmembers will be sworn in this coming January, including Smyrna's Doug Stoner and Derek Norton, Kennesaw's Jim Eaton, Yvette Daniel and Jimmy Dickens. Austell, Powder Springs, Woodstock, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Douglasville, Fayetville, Lilburn, Norcross, Peachtree City, East Point, Hapeville, Johns Creek and Roswell all will welcome new members in January as well.
The Council for Quality Growth commends all those who were elected to serve and thanks all those who have served and will be moving on to new ventures.
To view a comprehensive listing of all elections and results, Click HERE
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Forsyth County Proposes Highest Impact Fees in Region
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On Monday, November 2nd the Impact Fee Advisory Committee reconvened to discuss how the proposed impact fees will impact economic development in Forsyth County. The Council for Quality Growth and Forsyth Cumming Chamber arranged for members of the residential, commercial and industrial development community to explain how the impact fees are detrimental to current and future development in Forsyth. Speakers included Paul Corley, CEO of Edward Andrews Homes, Rob Good of the Good Group, John Decker of Childress Klein, commercial broker Scott Hutchison and Chairman of Forsyth Development Authority, David Seago. James Touchton, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, also addressed the committee and provided additional information and concerns about the proposed fees. To view the Council's document listing major issues with the proposed fees, click HERE.
The committee discussed at length how Forsyth County is currently challenged to attract commercial development and adding the proposed impact fees will only hurt that effort. The committee unanimously voted to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to exempt all non-residential development from the roads impact fee (proposed at $9,392 per $1,000 sq.ft.). Members of the development community on the committee made additional motions to lessen the initial impact of the proposed fees on residential development as well. Rusty Whitlow made a motion to vest or exempt all developments which have an LDP, Preliminary Plat or approved rezoning from the new fees for a period of 24 months. Rusty Whitlow, Chris Cole of D.R. Horton, Lamar Wakefield of Wakefield Beasley and Associates, and Jeff Hoza of Beazer Homes voted in favor of the motion; however, Planning Commissioner Greg Dolezal, Claudia Castro, Liz Shaw, and Forsyth County CFO, David Gruen, voted against the motion and it unfortunately failed with a tie. Chris Cole introduced a subsequent motion to reduce the residential fee by 50% (from $8,961 to $4,480) and review the program in 24 to 36 months. This motion also failed with the same tie vote. Therefore, the committee's original recommendation to phase in the fees at 50% in the first year, 75% in the second year and 100% in the third year will remain in place and apply only to residential development.
The Impact Fee Ordinance is currently being drafted by the County and will be presented to the Board of Commissioners at a public hearing on November 19th. The Council for Quality Growth will continue to work with the Commissioners and attend the hearing in an effort to protect vested projects that have been zoned and platted as well as reduce the impact fee for residential development.
Click HERE to read more about the proposed fees.
For any questions or concerns regarding Impact Fee proposals please contact Policy Analyst, Chelsea Hagood at 770-813-3374 or ch@councilforqualitygrowth.org.
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Cobb County Transportation Director Accepts Position with City of Atlanta
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Faye DiMassimo, Director of Cobb County Department of Transportation announced her resignation Monday, November 2nd. After a very successful five year tenure at the head of Cobb DOT, DiMassimo has accepted a position with the City of Atlanta to lead the administration of the City's infrastructure bond program, where she will be a key asset to the City's leadership. During her time in Cobb, she played a critical role in increasing collaboration with State and Federal transportation programs to move major regional improvement projects forward with record breaking efficiency, including Windy Hill Road improvements, I-285 interchange at Atlanta Road and the widening of US-41.
Cobb County Manager, David Hankerson appointed Deputy Director, Jim Wilgus, as the Interim Director of Cobb Department of Transportation. Wilgus has served in his current role since 2014, and has over 25 years of transportation engineering experience in both public and private sectors. Jim Wilgus, Interim Director, Cobb DOT The Council for Quality Growth congratulates Faye DiMassimo on her new role in Atlanta and looks forward to working with Jim Wilgus in Cobb County.
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Six Year Federal Surface Transportation Act Passes House Today
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The House of Representatives successfully passed the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (H.R. 3763) today. The bill, which was introduced on October 20th, authorizes $325 billion in surface transportation and infrastructure improvement spending over six years ($261 billion to highways, $55 billion to transit and approximately $9 billion to safety programs) from fiscal years 2016 through 2021. The bill authorizes the funding for six years, however funding is only guaranteed for the first three years and in order to release funding for years 3 through 6, congress must identify and approve new or additional funding mechanisms.
New Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, was influential in moving the bill through the House this week. Members of the House have spent the past three days debating and voting on over 100 amendments before successfully passing the bill today. Congressional conferencing will begin next week in an effort to pass the bill through Congress by the November 20th deadline.
To view the T&I Committee summary of the bill, click HERETo view the full text of the bill, Click HERE
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Valuable Roundtable Discussion at Atlanta Advisory Committee Meeting
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On Wednesday, November 4th, the Atlanta Advisory Committee held a dynamic discussion on how the Technical Advisory Committee and upcoming Office of Buildings Business Plan from consultant BKD will improve the department's efficiency. Michael Nagey, Interim Director of Office of Buildings provided an update on BKD's progress in auditing the department. The customer survey results are in and currently being compiled while external stakeholder interviews are being held over the next two weeks. These discussions have included everything from changing the fee structure from Table 100 to a local cost structure to complete code overhaul and addressing the need for department consistency. BKD will then provide an initial report identifying immediate changes that can be made to improve efficiency, or "low hanging fruit," in December followed by a full report with recommendations and a complete business plan in January.
Please reach out to Policy Analyst, Chelsea Hagood at ch@councilforqualitygrowth.org or 770-813-3374 if you have any comments regarding the Office of Buildings you would like included in the stakeholder interviews next week. The Council thanks Holt Ney Zatcoff & Wasserman for sponsoring this month's advisory meeting and look forward to hearing from State Representative Stacey Abrams in December.
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 Council Seeks Spring Policy & Marketing 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 spring unpaid internships.
Policy Interns
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. 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.
For a complete overview of the POLICY internship requirements click HERE or contact James Touchton at
Marketing Interns
Will work on a variety of projects that leverage and develop creativity and communication skills in a real world environment. Applicants studying Marketing, PR, English or related fields are preferred.
For a complete overview of the MARKETING internship requirements click HERE or contact Amanda Janaskie at
Please Note: Internships are unpaid. Working schedules are flexible due to the responsibilities classes demand.
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November 5th, 2015
What are Council Members saying about their investment in the Council for Quality Growth?
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Contact Amanda Janaskie, aj@councilforqualitygrowth.org, for sponsorship opportunities.
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