Suwanee News

by Scott Sowers / Appen Newspapers

August 21, 2008 11:25 AM

The following items were discussed at the Suwanee City Council special called meeting and work session held Thursday Aug. 14:

• Voted to authorize Mayor Dave Williams to sign an intergovernmental agreement between the city and Gwinnett County for the distribution of proceeds generated from the 2008 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) if approved by voters Nov. 4. Williams was set to go the following morning to a meeting with all Gwinnett mayors in order to sign the agreement.Suwanee is set to receive at least $12,861,571 from the five year tax which will go towards a myriad of proposed projects.At the top of the list is a 46 percent allocation ($5,919,017) for transportation improvements including street resurfacing, intersection improvements and sidewalks. An approximate $2.5 million (19 percent) is slated to build a new parking facility at Town Center, although it is yet to be determined what sort of facility that would be.

• Council discussed the possibility of establishing a Police and Citizens Together (PACT) group for businesses in Suwanee Gateway area. This would be the first such program for businesses in the city, after the PACTs in neighborhoods across the city have proven to be so successful. At least 20 businesses as of press time have expressed interest in this program.City staff is in the process of creating a decal to identify participating businesses as well as signs demarcating the area under the program.This program would establish a direct relationship between the businesses and police department by assigning an officer to the businesses who would meet directly with them periodically and would always be available to hear concerns.

• In continuing discussion about the gateway, Denise Brinson, the director of economic and community development, said that businesses would have to sign an agreement over use of the gateway logo. Businesses would be permitted to use it, but the agreement would prevent any misuse or prevent other businesses from using it. This is part of the tier 2 branding which calls for more ads promoting the development.

• Authorized an agenda item for the next city council regular meeting for the purchase of four police radios for approximately $35,000 using additional SPLOST funds.These radios would allow more inter-operations with other jurisdictions, such as Forsyth County.

• Discussed a proposal by Gov. Sonny Perdue to end the Homeowners Tax Relief Grant Program where the state gives a subsidy to municipalities for them to put a public service announcement on tax forms. Suwanee currently receives $113,000 which results in a tax credit of approximately $32 per family in the city.According to City Manager Marty Allen, the state legislature has talked about reviving the program, but if not indicated that the city should just move forward as if it were still going and eat the amount if needed.

• Went over change orders for equipment at the new City Hall currently under construction. This includes an additional $71,000 to Turner Construction to ensure that the building is LEED certified, $530,000 to McDean for electronic equipment such as the audio and video components for council chambers and security systems, among other items as well as a $291,000 bid for a company to provide furniture for the building.Allen said the bid for furniture was not the cheapest, but he and city staff felt that the cheapest company's furniture quality was not quite up to snuff.Additionally, council decided to double the public art budge for the new City Hall to $70,000, roughly 1 percent of the construction cost of the building. The newly appointed Public Art Commission will be charged with examining the new building and seeing what will best fit in the space and under the budget.