Minutes City Council Meeting September 25th, 2023 6:30pm  ORG  Baldwin Courtroom, 155 Willingham. Avenue, Baldwin, GA, 30511  Acting Mayor Alice Venter, Council Member Larry Lewallen, Council Member Theron Ayers, Council Member Stephanie Almagno, and Council Member Maarten Venter were  all in attendance. Calll Meeting to Order Invocation and Pledge ConsentAgenda  Acting Mayor Alice Venter called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.  a. Approval of Minutes: Council Meeting 08/28/2023.  Action: A motion was made by Maarten Venter to approve the August 28th, 2023 council meeting minutes as presented with a second by  Theron Ayers. Motion Carried 4-0. Bradley Cook - "Safe. Park. Habersham"  Bradley Cook, President oft the Habersham Rotary Club, addressed Council regarding an initiative to address homelessness ini the County. Safe Park Habersham is designed tol help mothers living in their cars with their children by giving them a safe place to park their vehicle and provide resources to acquire housing. The initiative is going live on October 1st. Cook encouraged Council to  reach out tol him ift they have any questions.  Citizen Comment  Jim and Lisa Hebin of Demorest addressed Council regarding their interest in a 12-acre parcel at 115 Industrial Park Road. The Hebins proposed a joint venture with the City and finding a dividing line of three or four acres for the residential house currently on the property and the rest of the acreage to the City. Acting Mayor Venter suggested the Hebins contact ReveSolutions (who is leasing an adjacent property from the City) and meeting with City stafft to discuss ideas. Action: A motion was made by Stephanie Almagno to amend the agenda to add a public hearing for Chitwood Development Ordinance #2023-08130Z  with a second by Maarten Venter. Motion Carried. 4-0.  Public Hearings  Chitwood Development Ordinance 2023-08130L  Acting. Mayor Alice Venter opened the public hearing at 6:541 pm. CAO Emily Woodmaster recapped thel history behind the Chitwood  Council Meeting Minutes  September 25th, 2023  Page : 1    Development'si request and the. need to providel Lula Capital with an additional year (four years total) to develop a plan for thea additional land acquired and to  present a plat tot the City.  Reports  Police Department - Chief Chris Jones and updates (see attached report).  Police Chief Chris Jones presented Council with a report of August 2023 statistics  Old. Business  1. Consideration/APprova. of 1st Reading of Chitwood Development Ordinance Acting Mayor Venter opened thei floor for discussion regarding the Chitwood  #2023-08130Z Development. In Favor: None. build on it.  In Opposition: Habersham County Commissioner Jimmy Tench stated his opposition to the development due to the land being stolen and that no onec can  Acting. Mayor Venter closed the public hearing at 7:22 pm.  Action: A: motion was made by Maarten Venter to approve the 1st Reading ofChitwood Development Ordinance #2023-08130Z as presented with a second by' Theron Ayers. Motion Carried 3-1 (Aye:  Ayers, Almagno, Venter; Nay: Lewallen). 2. Consideration/APproal of] LeadsOnline Agreement  Assistant Chief. Justin Ferguson recapped thel LeadsOnline Agreement presented at the. August 28th council meeting with the updated one-year agreement and no Action: A motion was made by Larry Lewallen to approve the LeadsOnline. Agreement as presented with a second by Stephanie  additional changes.  Almagno. Motion Carried 4-0.  New Business  3. Comsideration/Aprova. of Entertainment District Resolution #2023-09131R In: 2022, the. Alcohol Ordinance was amended to allow for an entertainment district for the Fall Festival, and then implemented a "floating district" per event by resolution. This implements thei floating district for the Fall Festival on October 21st, 2023 and authorizes Los Cerritos to serve alcohol at this event. Action: A motion was: made byl LarryLewallen to approve the Entertaimment District Resolution #2023-09131R as presented with a second by Stephanie Almagno. Motion Carried 4-0.  4. Discussion of 2023 Millage Rate  Council Meeting Minutes  September: 25th,2023  Page 2    Woodmaster presented Baldwin's five-year millage rate history and options to set the 2023 millage rate. She also reviewed Governor Kemp's Property Tax Relief Grant, which provides additional relieft toj property owners. 2023 showed an increase in both Habersham and Banks County's digests due to additions and Almagno stated that while much was accomplished with the millage rate increase last year, she would not advocate for having no rollback and that Council needs to provide relieft to property owners. Council Members Lewallen and Venter voiced Council was in consensus to discuss the: 2023 millage rate further ati the October  reassessments.  their support for ai full rollback.  work: session. No formal action was taken.  Executive Session Amnouncements  a. Join us fori thei final 2023 Movie In the Market on October 20th at 7:30 pm! Bring your chairs and blankets to the Baldwin Farmers' Market for a free screening of "Coco." Light concessions will be available with all proceeds going to our "Shop b. The City of Baldwin is accepting vendors for our Sixth Annual Fall Festival on October 21st! We welcome food trucks, crafters, and non-profits to sign up fora booth and be aj part of our yearly celebration of Baldwin and our surrounding community. The vendor application is available online at www.cityobaldwin.org Almagno addressed a citizen complaint about trash services and delay of service. She requested that the City speak with FC: Sanitation about a marked decrease in the quality of service as the company has widened their service area. Woodmaster said she would invite the owner of] FC: Sanitation to the next meeting to address d. Council Member Larry Lewallen announced that he would be resigning his post  With a Hero" program!  or by emailing baldwinevents@cityofbaldwin.org.  the concerns.  on the city council upon completion ofthe meeting.  Adjournment  Action: A motion was made by' Theron Ayers to adjourn the meeting withasecond by Maarten Venter. Motion Carried 4-0 at 8:171 pm.  10/ID/2023 BAPe Approved by Council  OF CITY 0 SEAL IN GA  rin Gathercoal,  Clerk  S  Council Meeting Minutes  September 25th, 2023  Page 13