BIWEEKLY STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE REPORT JANUARY 16, 2024
STANLEY D HAWTHORNE CITY MANAGER
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Weekend, Mayor, and Councilmembers, I am pleased to transmit the 13th installment of the Community Building Leadership Team’s (CBLT’s) Strategic Performance Report (SPR). The Strategic Performance Report showcases activities and information across the full range of College Park’s operations and administration coinciding with the regular meetings of the Mayor and Council. The format and its content are topical based; concise in nature; accented with images and illustrations for more relatable reading; organized by the alphabetical ordering of offices and departments; and follows a lead topic(s) from the City Manager in the opening pages of the report. In fulfilling our respective duties and responsibilities, as prescribed by the City’s Charter, it is important to have a mutual understanding of how the members of the governing body, chief administrative officer (CAO), and department directors should interact and communicate. I believe that an ineffective role of the City Manager would be serving as messenger between the five members of the governing body and more than 16 officials of the Community Building Leadership Team who report directly to the City Manager or CAO. Such a limited communication scenario would consume most of the CAO’s time with little time and effort to address other important and substantive responsibilities, as prescribed by the City Charter. However, with such an interpretation, we have a responsibility of not confusing the distinguishing lines of authority, roles, and interaction between the governing body, CAO, department heads, and all other employees of the organization. To provide practical clarification, last summer, I memorialized and shared the following amended terms of communication between the members of the governing body and the members of the administrative team:
Finally at Tuesday’s workshop, Department Directors will briefly introduce their functional organization highlighting departmental missions and changes from the realignment. Please find an updated illustration of the City of College Park, Georgia Organizational Chart from the link below following “We Build Community.” COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY Communication between members of the governing body and staff is often organic based on questions, interests or circumstances as may relate to functional responsibilities and expertise. There is no reason to be hesitant or uncomfortable with any natural occurrence of discussion between staff and a member of the governing body. Occasionally, members of the governing body may ask a question(s) that staff doesn’t know the answer or request information that staff does not have readily available. If you know the answer or have the information, provide the answer or information requested. If an answer to a question or request is unknown, answer accordingly. If approached by an elected official for consultation or a request, staff is encouraged to always listen respectfully and advise the City Manager, particularly if the request or discussion is questionable or makes you uncomfortable. When communications may not be comfortable or may even seem inappropriate, unless you have initiated the questionable communication, there is no cause for you to be concerned.
Staff may ask that any request from a member of the governing body be put in writing, preferably by email copying the City Manager, so that you can fully assess the request and also copy the City Manager and others, if applicable. Email affords all applicable parties an opportunity to not only memorialize questions and requests but to better ensure proper inclusion, assessment, and response. Staff is strongly discouraged from initiating communications of substance with only some member(s) of the governing body. Substantive communications that you deem worthy to communicate should be shared with all members of the governing body.
AIRPORT AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AIRPORT AFFAIRS & NEWS Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been voted as North America’s Best Airport by Business Traveler USA. Singapore Changi International Airport was voted World’s Best Airport. Learn more at The Business Traveler North America Award Winners 2023: Airports - Business Traveler USA. Additionally, as reported on several news media sources, the expansion construction project of Atlanta’s airport plans to modernize and widen Concourse D is underway Improvements include expanded waiting areas, larger restrooms, an expanded central concourse corridor and better access for passengers with disabilities. This will be a $40 million project investment by the Airport. Homelessness within the Airport has been of concern and the Atlanta City Council has tasked Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s General Manager with submitting a comprehensive plan to address homelessness. The Blueprint, an Aerotropolis Alliance document, entails an Atlantaregion strategy to leverage Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as an asset to drive job growth, economic development and quality of life in and around the Airport, is the plan and plight of the organization. Blueprint 2.0 is an update to the initial plan and will be released in Q2 2024. Blueprint 2.0 seeks to strengthen the local economy by focusing on the following six (6) target sectors: Transportation & Logistics, Food & Agri-Business, Advanced Manufacturing, Health Care, Multimedia Production, and Aerospace. The Board Retreat will be conducted in January 2024. Stay connected to the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance at Aerotropolis Atlanta - Aerotropolis Atlanta (aeroatl.org).
BUILDING AND PROPERTY SUSTAINABILITY PERMITS BY THE NUMBERS 119 Permits issued for January to the present. 21 Multifamily inspections completed for January to present. 5 Plan Reviews completed for January to present. 8 Commercial Plan Reviews. 4 Residential Mini Plan Review. 1 Sign Permit. 1 New Construction Plan Review. Total Fees Collected: $11,375.52 for January to date. 78 Building Inspections completed. CODE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION BY THE NUMBERS 64 Code Enforcement violations issued from January to the present. 17 notices of violations were issued. 34 Code Enforcement Investigations completed. OCCUPATIONAL TAX DIVISION The 2024 Business License renewal season is underway. All businesses located within the City of College Park will have until March 31, 2024, to renew with no penalties or interest fees. The Immigration Reporting for the State of Georgia has been completed for 2023. The business license division has completed the 2024 alcohol renewals. There were 14 new business licenses issued in December 2023. All approved businesses in the State of Georgia that have alcohol licenses must have a City of College Park alcohol license before selling alcohol within the City. Our team will work with Code to issue any citations for those who are not in compliance with the ordinance.
CONVENTION CENTER, ARENA, AND GOLF ENTERPRISE DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW December ended the year with a very diverse combination of events on our campus. We hosted everything from Cheer Sports, Comedy Shows at the Arena, several Galas including one for Chick Fil A and other gala events including Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral’s 32nd Anniversary featuring gospel recording artist, Yolanda Adams. We look forward to an active 2024 as well. The Georgia International Convention Center.
As the final chapter of 2023 came to a close, the Gateway Center Arena ended with another successful month. December was packed with three College Park Skyhawks games. The Skyhawks game on December 1st was held at 11:00 am and themed Education Day. The Gateway Center Arena came alive when all of the school buses of students and educators packed the stands. They enjoyed every minute of their visit at the Gateway Center Arena! The Skyhawks had a variety of themed games, trivia, and educational activations ready for the many schools across the Southside that were able to attend. The students were fascinated by the basketball game itself and the full game-day atmosphere at the Arena. Outback Presents, the 85 South Show returned to the Gateway Center Arena for a second year in a row, for two jampacked comedy shows. The 85 South Show featured comedians DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, Chico Bean, Clayton English and others. The two-night show packed the house both nights. We look forward to our partnership with Outback Presents.
ELECTRIC POWER DEPARTMENT ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION UPDATE Nuclear power, despite its initial cost, is very important in the fuel mix of electric power sources. College Park Power receives the majority of its power needs from the two nuclear facilities, Plant Hatch located near Baxley, Georgia, and Plant Vogtle located near Waynesboro, Georgia. Plant Hatch has 2 nuclear units and Plant Vogtle has just added new units to total 4. Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle is now under commercial operation. Unit 4 is scheduled to come on-line the first quarter of this year. The first two units of Plant Vogtle suffered the same controversy in the 1980s as units 3 and 4 during the past few years. High construction costs and delays almost caused both units to be canceled but the generation of power is now underway. Will the cost of units 3 and 4 cause the rates of College Park Power to increase? The answer is no, not yet. The City of College Park sold the capacity of those units to out-of-state power providers for a term of 20 years, so in year 2043, customers may start seeing an increase in the power cost adjustment.
Plant Vogtle located near Waynesboro, Georgia now has four nuclear units with three in commercial operation.
FIRE RESCUE TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all floodrelated drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters. People underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in cars swept downstream. Many of these drownings are preventable. Never drive around the barriers blocking a flooded road. The road may have collapsed under that water. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters.
HEATING SAFETY Use caution around heating equipment such as space heaters and fireplaces. Keep anything that could catch fire at least 3 feet from the heat. ELECTRICAL SAFETY Use caution with electrical equipment. Always plug appliances directly into wall outlets, Extension cords are for short-term use. Check power cords. Make sure they are not across doorways or under carpets where they might get pinched or worn out. Have all electrical work done by a certified electrician.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PHONE UPGRADE DEPLOYMENT The last report indicated the following locations have new telephones: Brady, Police (precinct 2), Fire stations (2 and 3). The new phones have been deployed at Conley rec. center, and Godby road rec. center, Next week the following locations will receive new phones: Public Works, and Power. Our Public Safety building will take some time because of 911 and dispatch. I want to be sure the extension numbers and call patterns are correct. The final location will be City Hall, most notably “Customer Service” I will report more on this upgrade in my next Strategic Performance Report. SAGE GOV. Great news we live with Inspections, and Code Enforcement, with the new Sage Gov. software. This software will take the place of New World for these units. We have moved the upgrade of Business License to the week of Jan. 15th. Once we migrate Business License we will have all of Inspections team moved from New World to SageGov. PHONE UPGRADE DEPLOYMENT The last report indicated the following locations have new telephones: Brady, Police (precinct 2), Fire stations (2 and 3). The new phones have been deployed at Conley rec. center, and Godby road rec. center, Next week the following locations will receive new phones: Public Works, and Power. Our Public Safety building will take some time because of 911 and dispatch. I want to be sure the extension numbers and call patterns are correct. The final location will be City Hall, most notably “Customer Service” I will report more on this upgrade in my next Strategic Performance Report. BACKUPS At our January 2nd Mayor/Council meeting our backup appliance was approved.
PARKS RECREATION AND CULTURAL ARTS OPENING DAY OF YOUTH BASKETBALL December 2, 2023 was the opening day of boys’ and girls’ youth basketball program. Games were hosted at the Wyatt Recreation Center and Brady Recreation Center. For the youth boy program there are twohundred and forty-two participants and for the girls’ youth basketball there are ninety participants. The College Park basketball program is well known for its excellent program and the program relies on dedicated long-tenure volunteer coaches. The season runs from December until March. Practices and games for the program take place for the boys at Wyatt Center and Brady Center for the girls. The College Park Auditorium is used for practices for both the boys and girls. Games for the program are on Saturdays at both the Wyatt and Brady Center through March.
POLICE DEPARTMENT BACKGROUND AND RECRUITMENT In our continued efforts to recruit for the College Park Police Department, Command Staff along with other members of the police department held a hiring board January 4, 2024. The board recommended two (2) Certified Police Officers for hire and one (1) Police Officer Recruit for hire. These individuals will undergo an intensive background check. Once they meet all background and hiring guidelines, we look forward to them joining the College Park Police Department Family. [Strategic Connection: Public Safety and Security]
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
The College Park Police Department started the new year with “Coffee with a Cop” at the Breakfast Boys on Main Street. Special thank you to the Breakfast Boys owners and staff for providing an excellent venue for us to engage the community. The College Park Police Department is still giving away free steering wheels locks to College Park residents who own a Hyundai model manufactured between 2016 and 2021 and a Kia model manufactured between 2011 and 2021. Note: Free steering wheels locks and gun locks can be retrieved at the College Park Police Department, 3717 College St, College Park, GA 30337, between 10:00 am -4:00 pm
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT BUILDING AND GROUNDS Recently, the team has started restoring park grills. Although this may seem like a small task, park grills are an important addition to our parks, attracting visitors to our community in large numbers. Since park visitors look for this popular amenity, restoring these grills was an easy decision. The restoration process has already begun in Phillips Park, and the other park grills within our city will be serviced next. See below a before and after.
HIGHWAY, STREETS AND STORM WATER
Our recent heavy rainstorm caused havoc for our Highway, Streets and Storm on-call team. Heavy rainstorms are becoming synonymous with tree falls, and over-flooding of our drainage systems. Utilization of the city’s Backhoe equipment is used to facilitate tree removal and branches from debris from the fallen tree. This team knows how to respond quickly to such environmental changes.
The full and complete City Manager's biweekly Strategic Performance Report is available online at: www.collegeparkga.com
Very truly yours,
Stanley D Hawthorne City Manager | City of College Park 3667 Main Street | College Park, GA | 30337