Following several laudatory proclamations, City Council voted Monday night to lower speed limits on three Milton roads – the second such batch of reductions, with more potentially on the horizon.

The same Council just over a month ago submitted these proposed changes to State of Georgia agencies for their review. Such State action is required for revised speed limits to be on the “radar permit” so they can be enforced.

Those prompt State approvals paved the way for what happened Monday. Mayor Peyton Jamison noted “the turnaround time is getting quicker,” as the process that culminated about a year earlier with speed limit reductions on four other roads was more drawn out.

All these moves stem from Milton’s community and data-driven Local Road Safety Plan, which recommended looking closely at lowering speed limits on certain streets to help improve safety for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

It will likely take many weeks for these latest changes to go into effect, including updating the signage. Regardless, the Council’s vote ensures that maximum speeds eventually will drop from 45 to 40 mph on Batesville Road, Hamby Road, and Hickory Flat Road.

With these out of the way, Public Works Director Sara Leaders said Monday, “We’ll be preparing for the next round of (potential) speed limit reductions.”

CITY TO GIVE STORAGE TO MILTON ARTS COUNCIL

This vote came near the end of a meeting that began with an invocation by City Church Pastor Billy Lowe, followed by “roll call” and the pledge of allegiance. There were three public comments – one an introductory message from a Fulton County intergovernmental affairs official.

This was followed by the City Council’s unanimous approval of a Consent Agenda that included agreements with:

• Sawnee Electric so its workers can relocate and reconfigure power lines around the future home of Milton’s Fire Station 45 by the Birmingham Highway/Providence Road roundabout
• UES Professional Solutions to conduct an asbestos survey of houses in Lakhapani Preserve and at a City-owned property at 2545 Bethany Bend (bordering North Park) before the City bids both buildings’ demolitions
• The Milton Arts Council allowing this non-profit to store house props and other production materials at no cost in the basement of Milton City Park and Preserve’s Community Center

A modified “blanket right of way” acquisition approval for the Birmingham Road middle bridge project and minor plat for a large-lot subdivision off Freemanville Road called The Enclave were part of the same Consent Agenda.

MGAC CHAIR, CAMBRIDGE YOUTH TRACK HONORED

The Council then honored Colt Whittall – the first and, until his recent move out of Milton, only chairperson of the Milton Greenspace Advisory Committee (MGAC) since its inception after voters in 2016 overwhelmingly approved a $25 million bond to purchase greenspace in the city.

In that time – guided by the efforts and recommendations of MGAC -- the City has spent more than $20 million to acquire nearly 407 acres for passive parks, trails, conservation, and wildlife habitats. Mayor Jamison credited Whitttall for his “leadership (and) dedication” to help make this happen.

“What that committee has done over the years has set up this city for success for years to come,” the Mayor said before thanking Whittall for his service.

Then came a proclamation that helped pack Council Chambers: saluting the Cambridge Youth Track Team. Formed about three years ago, this organization now is home to scores of young athletes – some of them beginners, others among the best in the nation – who train and compete in running and field events like shot put, long jump, and pole vault.

“It’s amazing what this team has done in just three short years,” said Jamison. “… It really shows what this community can do when we all come together.”

A third proclamation recognized September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer survivors and relatives of local families who have lost children to cancer were among those who formally accepted the proclamation. They included the family of a late Milton resident named Mary Elizabeth and those behind the Mighty Millie Foundation, named after Millie Mracek who died of cancer at just 3 years old.

UPDATE ON DEERFIELD IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Members of the Deerfield Implementation Plan team then gave a presentation about progress on that project, as well as a preview of what’s to come.

This plan aims to articulate “a clear vision that guides development cohesively” in the focus area, according to Allison Bickers from Cooper Carry, which is working with the City on this project. For these purposes, Deerfield encompasses the Milton segment of Highway 9, Windward Parkway, Deerfield Parkway, Morris Road, Webb Road, and other places in that vicinity.

Already, the City has launched a webpage – www.miltonga.gov/Deerfield -- and begun collecting citizens’ feedback. The project team will hold its in-person Public Kickoff event at 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 25, at Milton Municipal Court. In addition, project team members will meet with stakeholder groups like HOA leaders, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, developers, and business leaders.

These engagement efforts correspond to the fact this project is now in the “listening” phase, according to Bickers.  The ultimate goal is to craft a plan that encompasses everything from ideal landscaping to architectural styles and more in a way that aligns with how the community wants this area to look and feel like over the next 20 to 30 years.

The Mayor and Council appeared pleased with the project’s progress so far, with Councilmember Jan Jacobus saying, “It’s a good start.”

VOTE TO TRANSMIT IMPACT FEE ANNUAL UPDATE

In other action, the Council voted to submit the City’s Capital Improvement Element (CIE) Annual update to the Atlanta Regional Commission for regional and state review. The CIE relates to impact fees collected in Milton (like in other places) from those behind new developments to help pay for projects related to bridges, roads, parks, and government buildings.

Paige Hatley, from the City’s partners at ROSS+associates, explained that the State wants to know what was spent, what was collected, and what’s the fund balance for the impact fee program.

State and regional authorities now have up to 40 days review the City’s CIE transmittal. The final, approved version must be adopted by October 31 by Milton’s City Council in order for the City to be eligible for certain programs.

The agenda’s other items were for “stream credit” and “wetland credit” purchases tied to the widening of Morris Road (through its connection to the GDOT-led McGinnis Ferry interchange project).

The City needs to fill slopes and extend the culvert that’s under the road to accommodate four lanes (instead of the current two), explained Engineering Project Manager Rob Dell-Ross. In the process of doing that, 0.04 acres of stream and 0.03 acres of wetlands will be impacted.

Federal regulations require that “credits” must be purchased to offset environmental impacts for such projects. Dell-Ross noted that the City had accounted for these costs when budgeting for this project, calling it “the cost of doing business.”

As with all other votes on Monday, the Council’s decision was unanimous in favor of these credits.

After an extra long break because of Labor Day, the City Council is next scheduled to convene the evening of Wednesday, September 4.