2014 Annual Report

Our vision will be driven by : • Innovative Proven Leadership

• Solid Planning and Preparation

• Balance

• Community Involvement

• Safety First

• Performance Excellence

• Accountability

Oakwood Vision

A City of Excellence…

Building the Future Together

City Overview

• Population: 3970 (2010 census)

• Tax Digest: – 86% Commercial/Industrial

– 14% Residential/Agricultural

– 4.0 millage rate

• Council-Manager Government:

– Stable Political Environment (Mayor has served for 40 years)

– Consistent Vision and Direction

– Strong Trust Relationship Between Council and Staff

• $3.7 M General Fund

City Services

Major Services (Delivered In-House)

• Police

• Streets

• Stormwater

• Solid Waste & Recycling Collections

• Planning & Development

• Engineering & Project Management

• Community Services (Park, Cemetery, Events)

City Services

Intergovernmental

• Fire & EMS / 911

• Jail Services

• Transportation Planning & Traffic Systems Mgt

• Solid Waste Recycling

• GIS

• Water

• Sewer

Private

• Parks and Recreation

• Economic Development

• Engineering Design

• IT & Web Site

Major Services (Delivered thru Partnership)

Current State of the City • Past and present growth has been focused along

the major highways and corridors

• Strong commercial and industrial tax base

• Strong elected leadership – Visionary

– Unified

– Determined

– High Sense of Ethics, Integrity and Stewardship

• Primed for a high rate of growth

• Key to Long Term Success and Sustainability – Focus on the “Triple Bottom Line”

Key to Future Success Triple Bottom Line of Sustainability

Economic

Development Community

Environmental

Stewardship

Our goal is to balance these three interests.

2014 Major Goals

Maintain Highest Level of Services Without Tax Rate Increase

Continue Economic Development Strategy (to include selling City-owned Properties)

Continue to Enhance Community Appearance

Increase Awareness of Fire Tax Inequity for City Property Owners

Continue Oakwood Downtown-Commercial Center Project

Continue Sewer Projects

Annex Unincorporated Islands

Oakwood Strategy

Policy

Administration,

Advisory, Execution

(Triple Bottom Line of

Sustainability)

Vision

(Mayor and Council)

Goals, Objectives, Programs & Services, Master Plans

(Staff, Partners, Boards, Commissions, Authorities)

Infrastructure Dev Parks & Rec

Economic

Development

Planning & Dev

Environmental

Stewardship

Human

Resources

Code Enforcement

Organizational

Infrastructure

General Administration and Support Services

(Staff & Partners)

Why?

What?

How?

Finance

Budget

Purchasing

Assets Mgt Information

Technology

Public Ed.

& Outreach

Municipal

Code,

SOP’s

Community

Public Works Police

Economic Development

• Goals

• Strategy

• Results

Economic Development Goals

• Job Creation and Retention

• Strong Tax Base with Emphasis on

Commercial and Industrial property

• Enhance Quality of Life for our Citizens

• $$$ - Keep our Dollars Local

Economic Development Strategy

• Land Planning/Standards

• Land Investment

• Infrastructure Investment (Transportation & Sewer)

• Partnerships

Economic Development Land Plan

Oakwood Industrial Park

•Located on W. White Road

•28 +/- Acres

•Zoned M2 (Heavy Industrial)

•Excellent Access to I-985 via

Thurmon Tanner Pkwy

•Utilities (includes water and sewer)

•Positioned as a part of Tanners

Creek Business Park

•Listed with Radial Property Group

Oakwood

2030 Town

Commons •Downtown Oakwood

•27 +/- Acres

•Zoned PCD (Planned

Commercial

Development)

•Utilities (includes

water and sewer)

•Public Private

Partnership Options

Land Investment

4515 Allen

Street

•5.85 Acres

•Direct Access to

Thurmon Tanner

Parkway

•Adjacent to Oakwood

Elementary School

•Utilities (includes

water and sewer)

•Listed with Radial

Property Group

Infrastructure

Investment

Transportation

Transportation Investment

I-985 Exit 16/17

SR 53 (Winder Hwy)

Widening

Transportation Investment

Thurmon

Tanner

Parkway

Transportation Investment

Future Transportation Investment – Exit 14

Exit 14 – Purpose & Need

• This is a new interchange on I-985 near the Atlanta

Falcons Complex and will connect Martin Road on the

east and HF Reed Industrial Blvd on the west and will tie

into the recently completed Thurmon Tanner Parkway.

• This proposed interchange has been a factor in the

decision for expansions and investment with 9 new

companies located in Oakwood South Industrial Park and

Tanners Creek, creating more than 1100 new jobs. That

is huge from an economic development perspective.

Transportation Infrastructure:

• I-985 Exit 16/17 Interchange

Improvements (GDOT)

• SR 53 (Winder Hwy) Widening (GDOT)

• HF Reed Industrial Parkway

(Oakwood/GDOT)

• Martin Rd Re-alignment (Hall County)

• Thurmon Tanner Parkway Phase 1/2

(Hall County SPLOST/GDOT)

• Thurmon Tanner Parkway Phase 3

(Oakwood/GDOT)

Utility Infrastructure:

• Mud Creek Sewer System (west of I-985) (Hall

County SPLOST/Oakwood & Flowery Branch)

• Upper Mulberry Creek Sewer System (east of I-

985) (City of Oakwood/Hall County)

Community Facilities:

• Martin Rd Fire Station (Hall County)

• Mulberry Creek Community Center (Hall County)

• Martin Rd Elementary School

Economic Development:

• Oakwood South Industrial Park Phase 1/2

• Tanners Creek Business Park

• Atlanta Falcons Complex

Significant Investment /Development

in Close Proximity to Exit 14

Oakwood Sewer Strategy…

Providing Sewer Service Without

Operating a Wastewater Plant!!

Infrastructure Investment

Sewer Master

Planning • Balus Creek Basin

(Oakwood North)

• Mud Creek Basin

(Oakwood South)

• Upper Mulberry Creek

Basin

(Oakwood East -

Winder Hwy Corridor)

Oakwood Wastewater Treatment Strategy

Area

Build-out

Capacity

(gpd)

Current

Capacity

(gpd)

Capacity

Shortfall

(gpd)

Oakwood’s

Shortfall Strategy

Oakwood North

1,200,000

650,000

550,000

Gainesville

Oakwood South

600,000

150,000

450,000

Flowery Branch

Mulberry Basin

2,500,000

150,000

2,350,000

Braselton

Totals:

4,300,000

950,000

3,350,000

Partnerships

• Railroad Sewer

• Winder Hwy Sewer

Extension Project

• Upper Mulberry

Sewer System

• Oakwood-Braselton

Sewer Pump Station

and Force Main

Infrastructure Investment - Sewer

Economic Development Partnerships

• Gainesville-Hall County Development Authority

• Oakwood Development Authority

• TAD (Tax Allocation District) – special taxing district authorized financing of public facilities and infrastructure.

• CID (Community Improvement District) – special taxing district authorized to enhance infrastructure within the district.

• Economic Incentives (case by case basis)

• Partnerships with:

– Cities, County (Government and Schools), State Agencies (Lanier Technical College & University of North Georgia)

– Greater Hall Chamber Economic Development Council and South Hall Business Coalition, Lake Lanier Convention and Visitors Bureau

– Private Sector (Pattillo, Tanners Creek Business Park, and others)

“Together We’re Better!!!”

Economic Development

Partnerships

Existing Businesses

Economic Development Results

Oakwood is an Economic Engine for Hall County

• Tax base of 86% commercial/industrial property

• Solid revenue generator for the County Government

and County School District

• Extremely low City tax rate

• More Jobs than Population!!

Thurmon Tanner Parkway

Development

VA Medical Office

Thurmon Tanner Parkway

Development

Bitzer Plant Expansion – 30 Acre Site

Thurmon Tanner

Parkway Development

Mundy Mill Rd

Recent Openings/Renovations

Legacy Link

• Oakwood City Council has been

preparing since 2000 for intense

growth moving north up I-985 from

Atlanta

• Envisioning a bold new future,

Oakwood 2030 focuses on the

development and preservation of

a small-town way of life echoed

throughout County’s Vision 2030.

• Supports Vision 2030 goals for Hall County to become a “community of towns”

• Seeks to connect residents, workers and visitors in Oakwood, across county, and eventually to Atlanta

• Promotes community wellness

• Protects green space

Oakwood 2030….

Key Advantages for the Community • Focuses on enhancing

“small-town” quality of life

• Protects community from out-of-control growth and haphazard, unplanned development

• Sets high standards for quality growth and development

• Will enhance property values for homeowners and land owners

Key Advantages for the Community • Strengthens commercial tax

base, keeping residential property taxes low

• Preserves large amounts of green space within the city limits

• Connects community with walking trails and bike paths throughout the city as well as linking areas across Hall County

• Sets stage for future commuter rail access to Atlanta

Oakwood 2030 Update •2009 Georgia Planning Association Outstanding

Planning Document Award

•SPLOST VI Referendum Passed in 2008

•Tax Allocation Agreement with Hall County (using TAD

for Town Commons Phase 1 and TTP lighting &

landscape)

•Thurmon Tanner Parkway Completed

•City Purchased and Zoned approx 38 Acres

•Infill Annexation Initiative (approx 70 parcels)

•Oakwood 2030 Gateway Initiative (Exit 16/17)

•Oakwood Soccer Complex (under development)

•Adopted Downtown Overlay District Design Standards

Environmental Stewardship

• Vision, Mission, & Goals

• Strategy

• Results

Environmental Stewardship

Vision To be a model community where:

• Actively caring for the environment is second nature.

• Citizens, businesses and government unite to put their passion for

environmental issues into action.

• Environmental quality, economic development and community

engagement intersect to achieve a higher quality of life.

• We have a clean and healthy environment free from pollution to

air, water and land.

• We exceed expectations across all sustainability issues and

proactively reduce our environmental impacts.

Environmental Stewardship

Mission

To engage our community and inspire

environmental action to create a greener

footprint and healthier economy.

Environmental Stewardship Land and Water Goals

• Preserve our sense of place through the conservation, protection,

replenishment and master planning of our parks, green

space, view sheds, tree canopy, forest, and water resources.

• Foster sustainable development that enhances the economic

viability, preserves the character of Oakwood, and encourages a

sense of connectedness.

• Strengthen the image and charm of Oakwood through

coordinated efforts to enhance property conditions and

community appearance.

• Create a greener community of national renown through a model

waste management plan that engages all our citizens.

Environmental Stewardship Air and Energy Goals

201als

• Air Quality: Maintain and enhance air quality through sound,

acceptable, achievable clean air practices.

• Energy: Support and encourage improved energy use and

performance through identification of resources, innovative

practices, and opportunities.

• Foster sustainable development, programs and practices that

enhance the economic viability, enhance air quality and

encourage energy efficiency.

Environmental Stewardship

Strategy

• Environmental Program Management

• Land and Water Stewardship

• Energy and Air Stewardship

Environmental Stewardship Program Management Results

• Hall County Green Alliance: Provided local government support

and leadership for the Alliance which currently consists of over 30

public/private/non-profit partners with common vision of environmental

stewardship)

• Project Paperless: o Paperless meetings thru use of WiFi, laptops and flat screens

o Electronic files stored in cloud/ease of access from anywhere

o Eliminated one of two main copy/fax/printer machines at City Hall

o Scanning documents (building/civil plans/project files/etc.)

o Reduced office supply expenditures by 23%

o Electronic banking (statements, deposits, credit card payments, drafts)

o Relocated Police Department to City Hall due to the creation of vacant space

gained through Project Paperless initiative

Environmental Stewardship Land and Water Results

• Illegal Sign Abatement Efforts

• Implementation of Special Items Pickup Program

• Implementation of Vacant/Abandoned Structure

Abatement Program

• City Contract with GDOT for Maintenance of State R/W

• 1st “Complete Streets” Policy adopted within Hall

County

Environmental Stewardship Land and Water Results

6th Annual Community / Stream Cleanup

Environmental Stewardship Land and Water Results

Exit 16 Gateway Project

Environmental Stewardship Land and Water Results

Oakwood Wayfinding

Sign Program

Environmental Stewardship

Sustainable

Development

Practices

Oakwood

Pavement

Management

(includes asphalt

reclamation and

reuse)

Environmental Stewardship

2014 Pavement Condition Summary

Road Type Very Good (70-100) Good (50- 69) Poor (25-49) Very Poor (0-24)

Arterial 3.51 .80 0 .28

Collector 11.93 .86 .70 .26

Local 4.86 .73 .30 0

Total Road Miles 20.30 2.39 1.00 .54

% 83.75. % 9.86% 4.13% 2.26 %

Environmental Stewardship Air and Energy Results

• 1st Government in Hall County to adopt Idle Reduction

Policy

• Reduced City facility energy use by 27%.

• Energy savings used for:

o Motions switches

o LED Parking Lot Lighting

Community

• Vision & Goals

• Strategy

• Results

Community

Vision and Goals

Create a community and sense of place by providing:

• Law enforcement services with adequate and efficient response

times and crime prevention programs

• Quality parks, recreation, and community event opportunities

• Effective residential solid waste collection and recycling services

• A unique family-oriented destination for fellowship and interaction

Community

Strategy

• Provide quality police services

• Provide quality community services to

include:

o Facilities (Parks & Cemetery)

o Programs (Oakwood Family YMCA &

Community Events)

Community

Results

• Enhanced Police Services

o Relocation to City Hall

o Utilization of Council Room for Municipal Court

o Better access and service to citizens

o Police car replacement and refurbishment program

Oakwood Family YMCA

Partnership

Community Results

Community Results

Community Events

City Government Day

Community Results

Community Events

Secret Santa Car Show

Community Results

Community Events

Christmas in the Park

2015 Major Goals

Maintain the highest level of services in the most cost-effective manner.

Continue economic development strategy to include selling City-owned Properties, implementation of the Downtown-Commercial Center project, and annexations on unincorporated islands.

Continue to enhance community appearance and environmental stewardship efforts.

Identify and address tax inequity for City property owners.

Continue sewer projects.

2015 Community Events (currently planned)

4/11/15 7th Annual Community/Stream Cleanup

5/2/15 Oakwood Family YMCA Healthy Kids Day

5/8/15 City Government Day

10/3/15 Oakwood Secret Santa Car Show

12/11/15 Christmas Celebration in the Park

City of Oakwood …

A Government of Trust & Integrity

• Stable, unified, local government

• Open, honest, and straight forward

• Trustworthy with a record of performance

Stan Brown, P.E.

City Manager

City of Oakwood

P.O. Box 99

Oakwood, GA 30566

Ph: 770-534-2365

Mobile: 770-243-0811

Fax: 770-297-3223

sbrown@cityofoakwood.net

www.cityofoakwood.net