Tom Hogan Opposes New City of Brookhaven

Over the past several months I have been asked what I think about the proposed City of Brookhaven, and until now I have been mute on the topic.  As a citizen of Chamblee, I have been a part of a city for the past 10 years, and as a member of Chamblee’s City Council, I have given the concept of self-determination and Home Rule more thought than the average citizen.  I support the philosophy of Home Rule as one of the key foundations of American governance, and in that light I support anyone that wishes to organize with their neighbors to form a city.

I don’t want to say that my support is conditional, but as the concept of the City of Brookhaven has taken shape, the effort seems to have moved far away from the concept of self-determination, and become a commercial tax base “land grab” in effort to provide economic justification to support the efforts of a small number of people in the study-area.

I live in the part of Ashford Park that also lies in the city limits of Chamblee, so I often feel that I have one foot in Chamblee and the other in Brookhaven. Also, as someone who has been extremely involved in our community, few know as well as I the brand inequity between Chamblee and Brookhaven.  Never mind the recent Atlanta Magazine cover article naming “Bramblee” as one of the top 5 neighborhoods in Atlanta.  While Chamblee continues to see positive movement in the eyes of those in the Metro area, I believe Brookhaven enjoys the benefit of being a top-tier brand in the entire Metro area (on par with Vinings, but not quite Buckhead or Dunwoody).  As such, with localized services, I am sure incorporating as Brookhaven would strengthen/increase property values. 

However, as a policy maker, I view the situation a little differently.  I am a true believer of efficient and effective delivery of government services.  Taking the “name” out of the equation, I think forcing the creation of a city where there are really only neighborhoods is not the best choice to make.  Moreover, the notion of a rallying around a brand name to me is short-sighted and presents a false sense of political representation.  I don’t think it represents the foundation that an area needs to truly grow long-term.  I believe any argument boasting a resulting increase in property values is short-sighted and harshly underestimates the value of a 3-minute 911 response time.

If the residents of the unincorporated area want to produce a truly powerful result from this summer’s activities, with leverage at the Capitol and access to state resources for real economic development and improved public spaces, I think they should envision the long-term benefits of a larger City of Chamblee, with new found political influence to parallel other Metro Area cities, instead of potentially duplicating a government administration that is already in place, resulting is 2 relatively less significant DeKalb cities.

I am not suggesting that I have a perfect solution, and this letter to the editor cannot possibly approach the many topics this raises with the depth they deserve, however, I want to put my position on the record.  While annexing a new area almost always brings a short-term financial burden to the “old area”, I also currently believe that the City of Chamblee would benefit greatly in the long-term by being a bit larger, and I would currently support an effort to that end.

I welcome your thoughts.

Thomas Hogan
thogan@chambleega.com

Chamblee Business Association Releases Roundtable Summary

The Chamblee Business Association hosted a Economic Development Roundtable at its July General Meeting.  The Roundtable was part of the City of Chamblee's continuing process to update it's Comprehensive Development Plan.

Chamblee City Council voted in December of 2010 to budget the funds necessary to produce a Major Amendment to the CDP due to the recent annexation, the changing economic climate, and the requirement that an update be provided to the 2006 document.

The summary of the Chamblee Economic Development Roundtable has been prepared by Pond & Co., and is available on the Chamblee Business Association website.

You can view the report at the site: 
http://chambleebusinessassocia​tion.com/economic-development-​roundtable-discussion/

YOUR ACTION NEEDED
Please read the report and voice your opinion.  Comments can be left on the CBA site.  The more comments, the more value!

Be a Part of the Visioning Process for The City of Chamblee

The City of Chamblee announces important meetings for citizens and area residents. Throughout the summer of 2011, the City of Chamblee will be holding meetings to allow for the community to participate in a Major Amendment to the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

What is a Comprehensive Plan?
The Comprehensive Plan is a road map for the future. This official public document provides long range policy guidance for land use, transportation, economic development, housing, public facilities, and intergovernmental agreements. It serves as a guide for elected and public officials by providing the framework for evaluating development proposals. Some consider the Comp Plan the “will of the City”.

Why is Chamblee conducting a Major Amendment to the Comp Plan?
In 2006 Chamblee prepared a complete update of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Since then, the area has undergone sever economic change and significant growth through the recent annexation of surrounding area. It is the goal of Chamblee’s City Council to have one plan that represents the vision of our entire city.

What will the Comp Plan Amendment process include?
• Assessment of the newly annexed area (data collection, analysis, issues and opportunities)
• Community meetings focused on the needs of Community Members and The Businesses Community
• City-wide data collection and assessment of economic climate relevant for updating the Economic
Development component of the Comprehensive Plan
• Consideration for existing and potentially new Character Areas
• Prepare amendments according to results and present amendments for review and adoption
• An update to the Short Term Work Program

Who Should Get Involved?
City Residents, Area Neighbors, Business Owners, Business Managers, Service Providers, Land Owners, and Real Estate Professionals, Educators, and Developers.

Where Can I Get a Copy of the Current Comprehensive Plan?
A copy of Chamblee’s Comprehensive Plan can be found on the City’s website at http://www.chambleega.com/client_resources/departments/development/Comprehensive%20Plan.pdf

How Can I Participate?
Please read the Comp Plan and bring your ideas and recommendations for change to one of the planned meetings. The meetings are being conducted by Pond & Co., the City’s contracted City Planner. All questions about the Amendment process should be directed to Michelle Alexander at alexanderM@pondco.com. Any questions about the City of Chamblee can be directed to Niles Ford, PhD, Chamblee City Manager at 770-986-5010.

Schedule:

Community Meeting - June 23, 2011 - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Chamblee Civic Center, 5480 Broad St., Chamblee, GA 30341

Business Community Roundtable - July 21, 2011 - 8:00am to 10:00am
Chamblee Civic Center, 5480 Broad St., Chamblee, GA 30341

Council Vision Workshop - August 2011 - Details TBD
Public Hearing for submitted plan August 11, 2011 - Detials TBD
Work Session September 15, 2011 - Details TBD

Chamblee City Manager Finalists Announced

(From City of Chamblee)

On February 28, 2011, the Chamblee City Council selected two finalists in their search for a new city manager.  Those finalists are Gary Adams, Village Administrator of Oswego, Illinois; and Niles Ford, Ph.D., Fire Chief of Lincoln, Nebraska.

The City retained the services of Colin Baenziger & Associates to conduct a national search to fill the position vacated by former city manager Jim Gleason last November. The firm received 107 applications and recommended nine to the City for further consideration. The City Council narrowed the list to five and invited them to interviews on February 26th and 28th.

The City Council anticipates selecting the next city manager at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday evening, March 15, 2011. That meeting will be held at 7:30 pm in the Chamblee Civic Center located at 3540 Broad Street.

The resumes of the two candidates are available on the City of Chamblee’s web site at http://www.chambleega.com/.

As required by state law, a copy of all documents in the possession of the City of Chamblee regarding the two finalists is available at City Hall for public inspection during normal business hours.

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Mayor Clarkson Suggests Tax Rate May Come Down

(from the Brookhaven Reporter)

2/24


If all goes well, the city of Chamblee may be able to reduce its tax rate this year, Mayor Eric Clarkson said in his “State of the City” message.


“My hope is that the millage number can come down,” Clarkson told members of the Chamblee Business Association on Feb. 17. “It’s a shame we’ve had to balance our budget on the backs of our property owners. I think it’s time for it to come back down.”

Clarkson said the city historically had imposed a tax rate of about 5 mills, but that in recent years the rate had risen to cover city costs. The millage now is 7.95, he said. Taxes are calculated by multiplying a property’s assessed value by the millage. A new city tax millage will be set in May or June, the mayor said.

Chamblee city officials may be able to reduce the millage, he said, because the city is rebuilding its reserves to acceptable levels. In recent years, the reserves had fallen to near zero, he said, but this year the city’s reserves reached $1.7 million.

The budget projects revenues of about $13.7 million and expenditures of about $13 million, he said, meaning the city can add about $700,000 to its reserves. Clarkson said the total could still be below the amount city officials would want to keep in reserve funds. He said the reserve should equal about a quarter of the operating budget.

“One thing the city of Chamblee has always done is be fiscally responsible,” Clarkson said after the speech. “We intend to keep it that way.”

Clarkson said the annexation that took effect Jan. 1 will increase the population of the city by about 50 percent, to about 18,000 from about 12,000. The area annexed increases the size of the city to about 5 square miles from about 3.5 square miles, he said.

The city added 12 police officers, four communication officers and employees in public works in order to provide services to the area, he said. The city now has 104 employees, he said.

Residents of the annexed area began getting city services except garbage pickup on Jan. 1. The city contracted with DeKalb County to continue garbage pickups in the area for up to three years.