Oct 19, 2026 City Council

MR. MAYOR.

[00:00:01]

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

THIS IS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR OCTOBER 19TH, 2026.

AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

WE HAVE ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR EXCEPT FOR COUNCILWOMAN REEVES AND COUNCILMAN BRADY.

AS ALWAYS, WE BEGIN OUR MEETINGS WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

SO IF YOU'RE WILLING AND ABLE, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN US.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND IN CASE YOU WERE WORKING OFF OF THE PRINTED AGENDA, WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE ITEM CONSIDERING THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 26-118, NORTHWINDS PARKWAY IN ALPHA LOOP STORMWATER BMP DESIGN HAS BEEN DEFERRED UNTIL OCTOBER 26TH.

SO IF YOU JUST HAPPEN TO BE HERE FOR THAT ITEM, YOU MIGHT HAVE SAVED YOURSELF A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

AS I MENTIONED, WE'VE ALREADY DONE THE ROLL CALL, WE'VE DONE THE PLEDGE.

AND WE'LL

[A. Georgia Municipal Association Award Presentation: Representative Chuck Martin]

THERE YOU GO.

OKAY.

HERE WE GO.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS KATRINA COCHRAN, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION TO RECOGNIZE REPRESENTATIVE CHUCK MARTIN WITH THE 2026 CHAMPION OF GEORGIA CITIES AWARD.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH GMA, WE ARE THE STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR GEORGIA'S MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.

WE SERVE AS THE UNIFIED VOICE FOR CITIES AT THE STATE CAPITOL WORKING TO PROTECT LOCAL AUTHORITY AND ADVANCE POLICIES THAT HELP OUR CITIES SERVE THEIR RESIDENTS.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THAT WORK IS BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH US ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE CHAMPION OF GEORGIA CITIES AWARD IS PRESENTED AT THE END OF EACH TWO-YEAR LEGISLATIVE TERM TO RECOGNIZE THE LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED MUNICIPAL PRIORITIES DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THIS YEAR, WE ARE RECOGNIZING EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THEIR WORK DURING THE 2025-2026 LEGISLATIVE BIENNIUM.

REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN IS RECEIVING THIS AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF HIS WORK ON ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT GEORGIA'S CITIES.

HE SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO ADVANCE NE- NEXT GENERATION 911, HELPING STRENGTHEN GEORGIA'S EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND SUPPORTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS THEY PREPARE TO TRANSITION TO MODERNIZED 911 TECHNOLOGY.

HE ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH GMA AND MUNICIPAL LEADERS DURING DISCUSSIONS SURROUNDING PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX POLICY, HELPING ENSURE THAT FINANCIAL IMPACTS ON CITIES AND LOCAL SERVICES THEY PROVIDE WERE PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

THAT KIND OF ENGAGEMENT MATTERS.

DECISIONS MADE AT THE STATE CAPITOL HAVE A REAL IMPACT ON OUR CITIES FROM FUNDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO MAINTAIN THE LOCAL AUTHORITY NEEDED TO RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS.

HAVING LEGISLATORS WHO ARE WILLING TO LISTEN TO MUNICIPAL LEADERS AND CONSIDER THOSE IMPACTS AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE'RE ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO PRESENT THE AWARD HERE IN FRONT OF THE ALPHARETTA CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY THAT REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN SERVES.

ON BEHALF OF THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION, THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH GEORGIA CITIES.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER ON ISSUES THAT MATTER TO ALPHARETTA AND TO MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT, UH, REPRESENTATIVE CHUCK MARTIN WITH THE 2026 CHAMPION OF GEORGIA CITIES AWARD.

CONGRATULATIONS, REPRE- REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A PARTNER TO GEORGIA CITIES.

DO WE HAVE TIME FOR A PICTURE, MR. MAYOR? OKAY.

IS THAT APPROPRIATE IF WE - IS THAT OKAY? DO YOU MIND IF WE APPROACH THAT? THANK YOU.

IF WE COULD HAVE EVERYONE TOGETHER.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

BEAR WITH ME.

I'M GONNA DO ONE HERE, ONE HERE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

LAST ONE.

[00:05:01]

THANK YOU.

MAYOR, MAYOR, I, I JOKED ABOUT 38 MINUTES, BUT WOULD YOU GIVE ME ONE MINUTE? UM, I, I DO.

I WANNA THANK GMA AND I VALUE MY RELATIONSHIP WITH NOAH AND KATRINA, KATRINA, RYAN, ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT, THAT WORK DOWN THERE.

UH, I CERTAINLY VALUE THAT AND I, I VALUE IT WITH YOU ALL MORE, UM, UH, EV- EVEN MORE.

I MEAN, I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE GROWN UP HERE AND STILL LIVE HERE AND, YOU KNOW, FOR A TIME LONG, LONG AGO, UM, GET TO SERVE THE, THE CITIZENS, UM, AS A LOCALLY ELECTED OFFICIAL.

I KNOW THE, THE WALK YOU HAVE TO WALK.

I KNOW EVERY MONDAY NIGHT, UM, YOU, YOU KIND OF FORGOT WHAT MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL LOOKS LIKE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE UP HERE.

SO I JUST WANNA TELL YOU ALL HOW MUCH I VALUE THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WORKING TOGETHER.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO DO THAT.

UH, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UM, ALL THE TIME YOU SPEND UP HERE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

NEXT

[5. CONSENT AGENDA]

CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING CONSISTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM THE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2026 AND THE RATIFICATION FOR THE FULTON COUNTY LAND DIVISION INDEMNIFICATION MAINTENANCE AND LAND USE AGREEMENT FOR PRIVATE IMPROVEMENT AT FARMHOUSE HERITAGE PARK.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO REMOVE ANYTHING FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE.

MR. SHAPIRO, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS? WE DO NOT, MR. MAYOR.

HOWEVER, IF ANYONE WANTS TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, NOW'S YOUR CHANCE.

DON'T SEE ANYONE COMING FORWARD, SO WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL? MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT.

SECOND.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HIPES.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DORITO.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE YES.

AND IT DOES PASS UNANIMOUSLY.

SO WE'LL MOVE RIGHT

[A. Intergovernmental Agreement: Tax Allocation District #3 - North Point Mall and Activity Center
Consideration of approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Alpharetta and Fulton County regarding Fulton County's inclusion of certain County ad valorem taxes in the computation of the Alpharetta Tax Allocation District #3 - North Point Mall and Activity Center Increments and with authorization for the Mayor to execute all necessary documents.]

FIRST ITEM UNDER NEW BUSINESS IS INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT, TAX ALLOCATION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE, NORTHPOINT MALL AND ACTIVITY CENTER.

MR. LAGERBLUM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'LL, UH, TRY TO KEEP THIS CONCISE BUT COMPLETE.

UM, BUT I WANNA START BY JUST SAYING THAT YOU'VE GOT, UH, SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE JUST AS WE GET INTO THE QUESTION AND, QUESTIONS, UH, AND ANSWER PORTION.

UM, GARY MANGIONE FROM, UH, KB ADVISORS THERE WHO'S, UH, WORKED WITH US AS A TAD CONSULTANT.

UH, DAVID DUBB AND GEORGE SHEPHERD, BOTH WITH TROUTMAN PEPPER LOCK, UH, WHO WORKED WITH US AS SPECIAL COUNSEL.

UH, WOODY VAUGHN WITH HOLLAND KNIGHT, UH, WHO'S WORKED WITH US AS BOND COUNCIL, UM, AS WELL AS CHARLIE AND TOM AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS, OF THIS PROCESS.

I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY I GOT THE LUCKY POSITION OF TRYING TO DO THE STAFF PRESENTATION, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN SUPPORTIVE OF, OF ME AND OF US AS, UH, AS WE EXPLORE THIS IDEA TONIGHT.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, YOU ALL ADOPTED TAD THREE AROUND THE NORTH POINT AREA, ROUGHLY 646 ACRES OF LAND AREA, WELL BENEATH THE 10% MAXIMUM THAT WE COULD HAVE.

UM, AND OF THAT, ABOUT 95 ACRES IS WHAT WE KNOW AS NORTH POINT MALL.

UM, YOU ALL PUT THE TAD THREE IN PLACE, UM, IN HOPES THAT WE WOULD HAVE A REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE COULD MAYBE PLEDGE THE INCREMENT IN THAT TAD TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ITSELF.

UM, YOU ALSO ARE AWARE, AND I'LL JUST SAY FOR THE RECORD, THAT THE OTHER TWO ORGANIZATIONS OR ENTITIES THAT CAN PLEDGE THEIR INCREMENT IS BOTH FULTON COUNTY AS WELL AS THE FULTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.

WHAT IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH, UH, FULTON COUNTY FOR THEM TO PLEDGE THEIR INCREMENT, UH, TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF NORTHPOINT MALL.

I WANNA WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN THIS IGA.

UM, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS ARE THE WAYS THAT TWO GOVERNMENTS CAN FORM A RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER.

UH, THAT'S WHAT THIS SEEKS TO DO TONIGHT.

UM, I'M GONNA WALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE, UM, PIECES OF IT, UM, BUT I WANNA START BY SAYING VERY RECENTLY, UH, FULTON COUNTY HAS ESTABLISHED POLICY ON HOW THEY PARTICIPATE IN TADS.

IF YOU FOLLOWED ALONG WITH THE, UM, FULTON COUNTY AND ATLANTA TADS, WE PROBABLY FOLLOWED THAT IN THE MEDIA MORE THAN WE FOLLOWED IT NECESSARILY AT THEIR MEETINGS, BUT, UM, THERE WAS SOME POLICY SET IN THAT, UM, ENCOUNTER BY RESOLUTION, AND ANY INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT THAT WE WOULD PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT FOR THEM TO AGREE TO IT AS WELL, NEEDED TO COMPORT WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT POLICY.

UM, YOUR ACTION TONIGHT, SHOULD YOU TAKE ACTION, UH, TO APPROVE THIS OR TO GIVE US A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, UM, DOES NOT MEAN THAT THIS IS DONE.

UM, WE'RE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE, UH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER THORNE HAVE JOINTLY SPONSORED THIS INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT ON THE COUNTY'S WEDNESDAY MEETING OF THIS WEEK, AND THAT'S WHY THE TIMING IS TONIGHT, UM, IN HOPES THAT WE CAN THEN TRANSMIT A, A POSITION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO,

[00:10:01]

UM, THIS INTERGOVERNMENT AGREEMENT WOULD SECURE FULTON COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION I - WITH THEIR INCREMENT INTO OUR TAD, AND THEIR INCREMENT WILL BE COLLECTED IN ALL 646 ACRES, UM, BUT THE INTERGOVERNMENT AGREEMENT SPECIFIES THAT THEN THOSE REVENUES, THAT INCREMENT HAS TO BE USED WITHIN THE 95 ACRES WE KNOW AS NORTH POINT MALL.

SO VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON THE NORTHPOINT MALL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

JUST AS YOU ALL ADOPTED IN YOUR REZONING, UM, A CONDITION THAT REQUIRED THAT A FRANCHISE BE AWARDED FOR THAT REZONING TO, FOR THOSE, FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, THIS INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT IS CONDITIONED EXACTLY THE SAME, UM, FOR, UH, FOR FULTON COUNTY THAT IF, IF THERE IS NO F - NHL FRANCHISE, THEN THIS AGREEMENT, UM, IF IT WERE TO APPROVE, WE WOULD BE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND ANY ADDITIONAL OR FUTURE PARTICIPATION BY FULTON COUNTY WOULD REQUIRE A DIFFERENT AND SEPARATE ACT.

SO, UM, IF WE TAKE AN ACTION ON THIS IGA AND IT DOES, PROJECT DOESN'T HAPPEN, UM, WE'D BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU AND BACK IN FRONT OF THEIR BODY ON ANY FUTURE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UH, UM, THE BASE LEVEL OF, UH, THE TAXABLE BASE HAS BEEN SET IN THIS INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT, UM, AS OF DECEMBER THE 31ST, 2025 AT 261, UH,.

22 MILLION.

UM, WE BELIEVE THAT, UH, BASED UPON CALCULATIONS THAT THE COUNTY'S CAP OR THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT THIS TAD COULD GENERATE IN THEIR INCREMENT OVER THE 30-YEAR PERIOD IS $192.42 MILLION.

UM, THE IGA DOES CONTEMPLATE THAT IF, IN FACT, THERE WERE OTHER PROJECTS THAT EITHER THE CITY COUNCIL WANTED TO EMBARK UPON, I CAN'T IMAGINE AN EXAMPLE THAT THE COUNTY WOULD DRIVE ONE OF THOSE, BUT IF, IF THERE WAS A, A PROJECT IN THE BALANCE OF THE TAD THAT YOU ALL CHOSE THAT YOU WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, WE COULD GO BACK TO FULTON COUNTY AND ASK THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT AS WELL.

UM, THIS IGA, AS IT'S PRESENTED TONIGHT, IS VERY SPECIFIC IN THAT IT COLLECTS THE INCREMENT IN THE WHOLE AREA, BUT IT HYPER-FOCUSES IT INTO THE 95 ACRES KNOWN AS NORTH POINT MALL.

THERE WERE FIVE CRITERIA THAT, UH, FULTON COUNTY HAD IN PRESENTING ANY IGA TO THEIR BOARD FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION, WHICH WE HAD TO ACCOUNT, UH, FOR AS WELL.

AND I WANNA RUN THROUGH WHAT THOSE ARE, JUST SO YOU, UH, KNOW WHAT THOSE, HOW, HOW THOSE ARE SPECIFIED.

THEY HAVE A REQUIREMENT BY THEIR RESOLUTION, UM, AND ACTUALLY STATE STATUTES THAT NO MORE, UH, THAN 10% OF THE DIGEST CAN BE INCLUDED IN, UM, IN THIS IGA.

WE'RE AT 2.77, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, SO WELL BELOW THE 10%.

UM, THEY REQUIRE A PROJECT SPECIFIC REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE THAT.

UM, THEY REQUIRE A MEASURABLE TIME-BOUND OBJECTIVES, UM, AND WE BELIEVE WE HAVE THAT TO MATCH WITH THE ZONING, UH, REQUIREMENTS AND ZONING CONDITIONS.

THEY REQUIRE AN ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION CAP.

I MENTIONED THAT NUMBER BEFORE, THE 192.42 MILLION IS A CUMULATIVE CAP, UM, DISPERSED OVER AN ANNUAL BASIS.

WE ACCOUNTED FOR, UH, BEING ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THAT REQUIREMENT AS WELL.

AND THEY WANT TO HAVE INDEPENDENT AUDIT RIGHTS FOR ANY MONEY THAT THEY WERE INVEST OF THEIR INCREMENT INTO OUR PROJECT, UH, OUR PROJECT.

UM, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE, A- AT LEAST FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, AS WE WERE TRYING TO PUT THIS IGA TOGETHER, UM, WITH THEM AUDITING WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO AUDIT, UH, JUST SO LONG AS THEY PAY FOR WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO, TO, TO DO IN THAT CAPACITY.

UM, I DON'T HAVE TO REHASH THE, UH, THE REASONS WHY WE'RE, WHY WE'RE HERE.

UM, O- OBVIOUSLY, THE MALL HAS DECLINED.

THE VALUE'S DOWN ALMOST 45% SINCE 2019.

UM, I DON'T HAVE TO EVEN MAKE A SALES PITCH TO Y'ALL TO, TO PUT THE TAD IN PLACE BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY DONE THAT.

SO THIS, THIS IS REALLY JUST THAT FIRST STEP TOWARDS SECURING THE PARTICIPATION OF, UH, ANOTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITY.

UM, I WANNA SAY FOR THE RECORD, WE DON'T HAVE AN ASK FROM THE DEVELOPER.

WE'RE NOT HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE'S AN ASK IN TRYING TO GET TO A CERTAIN NUMBER.

UM, THERE'S NOT AN ASK IN US TRYING TO GET TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SERVICE OR ANYTHING ELSE.

THIS IS SIMPLY AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT THAT WILL, UM, IF THEY AGREE TO IT AS WELL, WE'LL LOCK DOWN THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE WITH US IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF NORTHPOINT MALL BY INVESTING THEIR, INVESTING THEIR INCREMENT BACK INTO THE PROJECT ITSELF.

UM, I'LL STOP THERE AND SEE WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

AGAIN, WE'VE GOT, UH, UM, PLENTY OF EXPERTS THAT I WILL LIKELY DEFER QUESTIONS TO IF, UH, BUT I'LL, I'LL PARSE THOSE OUT AS, AS YOU ALL ASK THEM.

UM, IN CONCLUSION, JUST WRAPPING IT UP, IF THIS TAKES ACTION TONIGHT WITH US, WE'LL BE DOWN ON WEDNESDAY WITH FULTON COUNTY SEEING WHAT THEY, UM, DO WITH IT.

UH, I BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE, I BELIEVE THEY'RE FAVORABLE TO IT.

I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.

YOU NEVER WANNA, NEVER WANNA ANTICIPATE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH AN ELECTED BODY UNTIL YOU'RE THERE IN FRONT OF THEM, BUT, UH, UM, WE'RE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I BELIEVE, UM, THAT THE GROUP OF EXPERTS THAT HAVE ASSEMBLED TO PRESENT TO YOU SOMETHING THAT'S FAVORABLE TO ALPHARETTA, UM, WE'RE AT THAT POINT, AND I BELIEVE, UH, FULTON COUNTY'S AT THAT POINT AS WELL.

WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS COULD WE ANSWER FOR YOU? COUNCILMAN HYDES? I, I APPRECIATE THE TIME STAFF, YOURSELF, YOUR OFFICE, OTHERS

[00:15:01]

IT'S IN EXHIBIT E, UH, WHICH IS DEFINED IN THE AGREEMENT AS COUNTY RESOLUTION.

IT'S THE BOTTOM OF PAGE FIVE UNDER 1.5.

IT SAYS, "WHEN THE TAD ENDS, ANY REMAINING SPECIAL FUND BALANCE IS DIVIDED AMONG THE CITY, COUNTY, AND SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPORTION TO THEIR MOST RECENT TAX SHARE." UH, THAT WOULD APPLY ONLY IF THOSE GOVERNING BODIES PARTICIPATED IN THE TAD? I'M GONNA HAVE TO...

I, I WENT TO EXHIBIT E AND I SEE EXHIBIT E AS FULTON COUNTY'S RESOLUTION TO WHICH THEY HAVE NOT ADOPTED A RESOLUTION.

OKAY, WELL, I'M, THEN I'M IN THE DOCUMENT AFTER EXHIBIT E.

IT, IT IS A, A, A ALPHARETTA DOCUMENT.

IT'S JUST A TAX ALLOCATION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE.

IT HAD EXHIBIT E PRIOR TO THAT.

SO I, I MISLABELED IT IN TERMS OF HOW I READ IT.

SO WITHIN OUR, UH - COUNCIL MEMBER...

TAX ALLOCATION...

THAT MAY BE WITHIN THE PROPOSAL DOCUMENT.

YEAH.

AND SO IT, IT MAY BE THAT THIS WAS, UH, UH, NOT SOMETHING THAT'S BINDING IN THIS IGA, BUT RATHER THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS BEING DISCUSSED WHEN WE WERE, UH, UH, EVALUATING THE TAD TO PASS IT ORIGINALLY.

BECAUSE IT, THE RETURN OF ANY S- SPECIAL FUND BALANCE, UH, WHEN THE TAD ENDS WOULD ONLY GO TO THOSE JURISDICTIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE TAD.

THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY.

AND THAT CLARIFIES IT THEN.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, THERE, THERE WERE TWO ATTACHMENTS TO THE AGENDA ITEM ITSELF.

ONE WAS THE PROPOSAL WE SENT TO FULTON COUNTY JUST SAYING, "WE'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE THIS UP TO SEE WHAT KIND OF A RESPONSE WE WOULD GET." UM, AND THE IGA THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED THIS AFTERNOON IS MOST RECENT AFTER MR. DOVE SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR ON THE PHONE TODAY WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, UH, TIDYING UP SOME LAST MINUTE REQUESTS THAT THEY HAD.

UM, SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT THE TWO DOCUMENTS ARE.

AND WHILE I HAVE THE MICROPHONE ON, I'VE, I'VE SEEN THE, UH, A- AMENDED IGA AND, UH, THE CITY IS PROTECTED IN THE SENSE OF THE, THIS INITIAL DOCUMENT THAT THE, UH, IF ANY BONDS ARE ISSUED, UH, THE, THE TENANT WILL AGREE TO, UH, STAY IN THE ARENA, UH, FOR THE LENGTH OF ANY BONDS SO THAT THERE'S A REVENUE SOURCE TO REPAY ANY BONDS, UH, THAT THEY'RE CO-EXTENSIVE.

IS THAT...

YES.

UM, BUT, AND THAT WOULD BE A DOCUMENT THAT WOULD BE F - NEGOTIATED IN THE FUTURE - YEAH.

WHEN, WHEN THERE'S ACTUALLY SOMEBODY TO NEGOTIATE THAT WITH.

BUT YES, THERE IS LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT WOULD SUGGEST, AND IT LIKELY WOULD HAPPEN IN THE FORM OF A LIQUIDATED DAMAGES PENALTY THAT IF A TEAM WERE TO DEPART BEFORE THE BONDS WERE RETIRED, IT'S VERY ROUTINE TO HAVE THE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES RETIRE THE BONDS AS, AS, UH, AS THEY WERE TO EXIT.

WE HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, BUT YES, THERE'S PROTECTIONS IN THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT, UH, WE'RE NOT STUCK HANGING WITH A ARENA THAT DOESN'T HAVE A TEAM IN IT AND WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF DEBT.

UH, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS AND WEIGHING IN WITH THOSE OF US WHO VOTE ON THESE THINGS, UH, IT, THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE, UH, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT GOING TO INCUR DEBT AND THEN HAVE A TEAM MOVE ON US WITHOUT ANY PROTECTION.

UH, IN THIS INITIAL DOCUMENT, IT'S ADDRESSED AND IT'S CONTEMPLATED IN A FUTURE DOCUMENT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

UH, COUNCILMAN DORITO.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, CHRIS, I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD ASK YOU OR MR. LOVE THIS QUESTION, BUT, UM, IN THE STAFF REPORT ON THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT HEADING, UH, PARAGRAPH THREE UNDER THAT, IT TALKS ABOUT THE COUNTY'S CONSENT TO, TO PARSI - PARTICIPATE IN THE TAD TERMINATES AUTOMATICALLY WITH UNPLEDGED INCREMENT RETURNED.

IF CONSTRUCTION IS NOT COMMENCED, UH, OR ALTERNATIVE DEMOLITION OF 150,000 SQUARE FOOT OF THE MALL TOGETHER WITH THE START OF THE ARENA CONSTRUCTION.

UM, SO IS THAT IT? BECAUSE WHEN I READ THE, UM, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT DRAFT, IT TALKS ABOUT, UM, AT LEAST THE WAY I READ IT, THAT, THAT IT REQUIRES THE, UH, SECURING OF THE HOCKEY LEAGUE FRANCHISE AS WELL AS, UM, EXECUTION OF A LEASE FOR HOME GAMES TO MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS AT THE ARENA, RIGHT? SO IS THE, WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, AND MAYBE I'M MISREADING THIS, BUT IT TALKS ABOUT, UM, UH, IT WILL TERMINATE UNLESS, UM, LET'S SEE, LAND DISTURBANCE PERMITS ISSUED FOR DEMOLITION AT LEAST HALF OF THE MALL WITH 5% OF THE COST SPENT, AL- ALTERNATIVELY, DEMOLITION OF 100,000 SQUARE FEET OF THE MALL TOGETHER WITH THE START OF THE ARENA CONSTRUCTION.

SO IS THAT IN CONFLICT WITH WHAT THE AGREEMENT'S SPEAKING TO OR IS IT - NO, THE INTENT - AM I MISREADING THAT? YEAH, THE INTENT OF THAT WAS TO MATCH VERY SIMILARLY THE REQUIREMENTS YOU HAVE IN THE, UH, CONDITIONS OF ZONING, WHICH VERY SIMILAR LANGUAGE THERE WITH, WHICH - OKAY.

YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE FIVE YEARS TO PURSUE THIS NHL FRANCHISE,

[00:20:01]

THIS, THIS, THESE DATES MATCH THAT SO THAT THE COUNTY HAS KIND OF A BACKSTOP, JUST LIKE WE HAVE A BACKSTOP THAT IF ALL OF A SUDDEN NOTHING MATERIALIZES IN FIVE YEARS, IT - SO JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE NHL HAS TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEY'RE COMING TO ALPHARETTA AND SHOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA DO HOME GAMES HERE AND HAVE THAT CONDITION PLACED BEFORE THIS TAD GETS EFFECTUATED, RIGHT? CORRECT.

EVERYTHING, JUST LIKE YOU'RE, JUST LIKE THE REZONING, EVERYTHING WITH THIS TAD IS CONDITIONED UPON THE FACT THAT THE NHL A- A- AWARD A FRANCHISE THAT INTENDS TO PLAY IN ALPHARETTA FOR THE BALANCE OF THE, OF THE BOND.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? IS THAT A NO? NO AT THE MOMENT.

WAITING TO HEAR IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS.

IF THERE ARE NONE, I'VE GOT ONE TOO.

WELL, I'VE JUST GOT ONE QUESTION.

COUNCILMAN DRISCOLL.

THANK YOU.

SORRY.

UM, TO MAKE SURE THE MO - ALL THE MONEY IS BEING COLLECTED IN THIS, IT'S NOT, IT, THERE'S NO BENEFIT OUT TO THE OTHER, THIS 646.3 ACRES FROM THE FULTON COUNTY PIECE.

IF THIS WERE TO PASS HERE AND PASS BY THEM, IT'S GOING, THE BENEFIT FROM THIS IS BEING DIRECTED TO THE, TO JUST THE NORTH POINT SITE, SO...

CORRECT.

THE, THE COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION WITH THEIR INCREMENT IS BEING DIRECTED TO THE NORTH POINT SITE, THE 95 ACRES OF THE NORTH POINT SITE, YES.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN DORITO.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, COUNCILMAN.

UM, J- JUST FOR CLARITY, THE CITY'S PORTION CAN BE USED IN THE ENTIRE 600 PLUS ACRES, RIGHT? YES, YOU ALL HAVE TO - IT'S JUST A COUNTY PORTION THAT'S BEING ISOLATED FOR THE 95 ACRES FOR THE ARENA SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY.

THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK WE'RE GOOD.

MAYBE IF I COULD JUST, CAN I TAKE THAT ANSWER JUST ONE STEP FURTHER AND JUST ALSO SAY, JUST SO IT'S ON THE RECORD, IS THAT IS THE REASON THAT THE BASE, THE TAXABLE BASE IS SET, IS BECAUSE BOTH ORGANIZATIONS, THE COUNTY AND THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO COLLECT WHAT IS THE BASE.

IT'S THE LEVEL THAT'S COLLECTED ABOVE THAT BASE THAT IS CONSIDERED THIS INCREMENT.

SO THERE'S NOT A, THERE'S NOT EVEN A, THERE, THERE'S NOT A NEGATIVE TO THE CITY OR TO THE COUNTY, UM, AT THIS POINT, OTHER THAN TO DETERMINE WHAT TO DO WITH THAT INCREMENT WHEN IT FINALLY EXISTS.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN RITA? ONE MORE QUESTION, SORRY.

NO, YOU'RE GOOD.

THIS IS KIND OF IMPORTANT, BUT - IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE TAKING THE TIME - OH, I' SORRY.

MAKE SURE WE ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

LET'S SAY THEY DON'T COME HERE, THE NHL, OKAY? THE AGREEMENT ALLOWS FOR RENEGOTIATION WITH THE COUNTY, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THE TAD NEGOTIATION COULDN'T BE DEAD IF FOR SOME REASON WE REDEVELOP IT AND THEY STILL WILL POTENTIALLY PARTICIPATE THROUGH NEGOTIATION, CORRECT? THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

SO I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE AGREEMENT AS WELL.

THE THING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'D NECESSARILY OBJECT TO IT, IS THAT THIS IS SO VERY FOCUSED THAT IF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT DOESN'T HAPPEN, THEY JUST WANT TO HAVE A, ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE WOULD PROPOSE NEXT IS SOMETHING THEY WOULD WANNA PARTICIPATE IN.

JUST LIKE WE WOULD.

CORRECT.

RIGHT.

UH, I MEAN, THE MALL NEEDS TO BE REDEVELOPED.

WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THAT.

SO I, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT TO LIGHT, JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE AND ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC THAT MAY HAVE QUESTIONS.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL AT THIS TIME? COUNCILMAN DRISCOLL? ONE LAST ONE, BECAUSE I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS, UM - ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU WANT, LIKE I SAID.

IF, UH, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS ON THE RECORD THAT THE INCREASE IN ALLOCATION THERE IS NOT BACK TO THE BENEFIT.

SO I HAVE AN INTEREST IN A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S LOCATED IN THE TAD.

AND SO WE, WE, WE LIVE IN THE CITY, OWN PROPERTY IN THE CITY, BUT IT'S A, IT'S A NOTICEABLE PERCENTAGE OF THE 646.3 ACRES.

IT, IT'S A NOTICEABLE, UM, PERCENTAGE.

THE INCREASE IN WHAT WE'RE VOTING, THERE'S NO BENEFIT BACK TO THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS

[00:25:01]

BUT AS I'M LOOKING AT THIS AND, AND REVIEWING IT AND PREPARING FOR THE VOTE THIS EVENING ON IT, THERE'S NO DIRECT BENEFIT TO THE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT I'M ASSOCIATED WITH.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A, IT'S A STATEMENT THAT I NEED TO MAKE OR VERIFICATE.

I HAVEN'T BEEN PUT IN THIS POSITION BEFORE, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S, THAT, THAT IT'S...

YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, TYP- TYPICALLY THE THRESHOLD QUESTION THERE IS IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING FINANCIAL TO GAIN, RIGHT? UM, IN THIS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE, BASED UPON WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED, IT WOULD SEEM AS THOUGH THE PROPERTY YOU MAY OWN MAY END UP, UM, PAYING MORE, PAYING PART OF THAT INCREMENT IN THE FUTURE.

UM, BUT WITH THIS PARTICULAR INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT, ANY OF THOSE REVENUES, UM, RECEIVED WOULD HAVE TO BE DIRECTED TO THE 95 ACRES NORTHPOINT MALL TO WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST.

THAT'S MY NON-LAWYER OPINION AND RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, BUT LET ME SEE IF MR. DOVE MIGHT WANNA, UM, TAKE THAT ONE STEP FURTHER SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY RELY UPON IT AND NOT JUST HAVE CHRIS'S HUNCH.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, SO COUNCILMAN, AS I BELIEVE YOU BROUGHT UP PREVIOUSLY, THE TAD WAS, UH, ADOPTED PRIOR TO YOU JOINING COUNCIL.

UH, THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT TONIGHT ONLY LIMITS THE PROJECT, UH, THAT WOULD BE BENEFITED FROM THE INCREASED INCREMENT, UH, TO THE NORTH POINT REDEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS, UH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU DON'T OWN ANY PROPERTY WITHIN THAT PROJECT.

SO THE BENEFIT OF THE TAD, THEREFORE, IS NOT ACCRUING TO YOUR PROPERTY.

I THINK TO, UH, ADMINISTRATOR LEGERBLOOM'S COMMENT, THE, THE INCREASE IN INCREMENT THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY WOULD BE BY VIRTUE OF YOUR PROPERTY VALUE GOING UP.

IT WOULDN'T BE ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE'LL TAKE YOUR TAX BREAK.

STILL ROLL FROM LAST WEEK.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? OKAY.

WELL, IF WE HAVE NO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? UM, MR. MAYOR, IF WE COULD - PUBLIC COMMENT.

YES.

WE HAVE ONE CARD THAT'S BEEN SUBMITTED THIS EVENING, UH, DONNA MURPHY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD.

MM-HMM.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS DONNA MURPHY.

I LIVE AT 2001 COMMERCE STREET, ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA.

I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING, I FULLY SUPPORT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF NORTH POINT MALL.

AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN REAL ESTATE, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF REVITALIZING AGING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT.

BUT SUPPORTING REDEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORTING THIS PROPOSED TAD ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.

MY FIRST CONCERN IS THE SHEER SIZE OF THE DISTRICT.

WE'RE DISCUSSING A REDEVELOPMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 95 ACRES, YET THE PROPOSED TAD ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN 646 ACRES.

WHY SHOULD HUNDREDS OF ACRES OF SURROUNDING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE ALREADY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES, HAVE THEIR FUTURE PROPERTY TAX GROWTH COMMITTED TO SUBSIDIZING THIS ONE DEVELOPMENT? MY SECOND CONCERN IS THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNER.

MAYOR, YOU'VE PUBLICLY EXPRESSED YOUR CONFIDENCE THAT NEW YORK LIFE WILL NOT ALLOW THIS PROJECT TO FAIL.

BUT I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK, WHERE HAS THAT CONFIDENCE BEEN DEMONSTRATED? SINCE NEW YORK LIFE ACQUIRED NORTHPOINT MALL, THE PROPERTY'S ASSESSED VALUE HAS REPORTEDLY DECLINED BY MORE THAN 50%.

THAT RAISES A SERIOUS QUESTION.

IF THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS ALLOWED SUCH A SUBSTANTIAL DECLINE IN THE VALUE UNDER ITS OWNERSHIP, WHY SHOULD TAXPAYERS NOW BE ASKED TO ASSUME PART OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF ITS REDEVELOPMENT? AND IF NEW YORK LIFE IS FINANCIALLY CAPABLE AND COMMITTED TO ENSURING THIS PROJECT SUCCEEDS, WHY IS SUCH AN EXPANSIVE PUBLIC FINANCING DISTRICT NECESSARY? FINALLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY COMMITTING DECADES.

OF FUTURE REVENUE

[00:30:01]

TAX ALLOCATION FINANCING CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL, BUT IT SHOULD ADDRESS A DEMONSTRATED FINANCING GAP, NOT SIMPLY TRANSFER FINANCIAL RISK FROM A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER TO THE PUBLIC.

I WANT NORTH POINT MALL TO SUCCEED.

I WANT ALPHARETTA TO SUCCEED, BUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHOULD CREATE PUBLIC VALUE, NOT SIMPLY USE PUBLIC VALUE TO PROTECT PRIVATE INVESTMENT.

BEFORE APPROVING THIS TAD, I URGE YOU TO NARROW ITS BOUNDARIES, INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE FINANCIAL NEED, AND ENSURE THAT TAXPAYERS ARE PROTECTED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME? DON'T SEE ANYONE COMING FORWARD, SO WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

DO I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL? YES, MR. MAYOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE SUPPORT APPROVAL OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT TAX ALLOCATION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE, NORTHPOINT MALL ACTIVITY CENTER IS PRESENTED THIS EVENING.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS A INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT.

THE TAD WAS APPROVED IN 2025.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HIVES, A MOTION BY COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM MERKEL.

ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMAN DORITO.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, THANK YOU MR. MURPHY FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

UM, I, I WANT TO, BEFORE WE VOTE, I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHERE I STAND ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.

AT THE SAME TIME, UM, WE'RE GOING TO NEED A TAX ALLOCATION DISTRICT FUNCTIONAL IN THIS AREA OF THE CITY IF WE'RE EVER GONNA SEE A REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT AREA OF THE CITY, WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

I SAID THIS DURING THE NORTH POINT MALL ZONING, UH, DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD ON THE COUNCIL AND, UH, ATTENDED THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING AND, UM, UM, STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THAT, BUT I, I GUESS THE GOOD NEWS IS, UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TIME TO DISCUSS HOW THE TAD INCREMENTAL REVENUES ARE EXPENDED.

UM, THAT DEBATE'S STILL YET TO COME.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE FINAL SITE PLAN IS GONNA LOOK LIKE, WHETHER THE NHL IS COMING HERE.

UM, SO I'M SUPPORTING THIS, THIS, THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE TO GET THE COUNTY ON BOARD, HOPEFULLY THE SCHOOL BOARD AT SOME POINT, IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, UM, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA NEED THIS REVENUE SOURCE TO BE ABLE TO INCENTIVIZE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF NORTH POINT MALL.

UM, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU.

I THINK THE OWNER OF NORTH POINT MALL, UM, FRANKLY LET THE MALL GO TO THE CONDITION THAT IT'S IN.

UH, I WAS WITH MY FAMILY YESTERDAY AT PERIMETER MALL AND I WALKED AROUND LIKE, "THIS PLACE IS THRIVING." IT'S BECAUSE THAT OWNER, THAT MANAGEMENT COMPANY DID EVERYTHING THEY DID TO BUILD AN ENVIRONMENT THERE TO HAVE PEOPLE COME AND SHOP, THE RIGHT STORES, ALL THAT STUFF.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS OWNER.

UM, AND SO IT'S UP TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO REVITALIZE THIS AREA.

AND I THINK, UM, WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.

I DON'T THINK A DEVELOPER WOULD COME IN HERE AND, AND, AND BUILD THE TYPE OF PROJECT THE CITY WOULD WANT WITHOUT ANY SUPPORT OF A TAX ALLOCATION DISTRICT.

AND I THINK, UM, UM, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IF WE'RE GOING TO REDEVELOP NORTHPOINT MALL AND, AND THE SITE PLAN IS WHAT THE SITE PLAN IS NOW, I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S DONE RIGHT AND TO THE QUALITY AND LEVEL THAT THE CITY EXPECTS.

AND SO THIS IS A VERY KEY COMPONENT TO MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

AND SO, UH, JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN MY POSITION TONIGHT, BUT CERTAINLY HEAR YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS AND, UM, UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.

COUNCILMAN HYPES.

THERE'S A, THERE'S

[00:35:01]

FOR, FOR ME, IT, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO KNOW THIS IS ABOUT REDEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL MALL.

AND WHEN ONE STUDIES REGIONAL MALLS AND THE PROBLEMS CITIES HAVE HAD REDEVELOPING REGIONAL MALLS, UM, YOU, YOU QUICKLY FIND OUT THAT THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS OUT THERE FOR THE OWNERS, FOR THE CITIES.

UH, IT WAS RECENTLY IN DENVER, THEY USED TO HAVE 17 REGIONAL MALLS, THEY NOW HAVE SIX.

UH, THE COMPARISONS TO PERIMETER, UH, I THINK ARE, IS A GOOD COMPARISON.

UH, THE, THE DAY WHEN WE NEEDED, UH, YOU KNOW, 15 PLUS REGIONAL MALLS IN METRO ATLANTA, SO WE WERE WITHIN A 20-MINUTE DRIVE IS GONE WITH THE DAYS OF AMAZON, BUT YOU DO NEED ONE THAT'S WITHIN A 45-MINUTE DRIVE.

SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THE MALL OF GEORGIA THRIVE AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PERIMETER MALL THRIVE, BUT YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE REGIONAL MALLS AND 1.3 MILLION SQUARE FEET, UH, RETAIL SPACE UNDER ONE ROOF SURVIVE 15, 20 MINUTES UP THE ROAD FROM ANOTHER REGIONAL MALL.

AND, UH, THAT'S DOUBLY SO WHEN YOU BUILD AN OUTDOOR MALL RIGHT UP THE ROAD THAT TAKES FROM THAT INDOOR MALL.

UH, SO, UH, THERE, THERE ARE THINGS OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF THE OWNER.

UH, WHEN, WHEN YOU READ THE DATA ON THIS TAD, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ALPHARETTA TO KNOW, UH, THAT, UH, IT SAYS HERE THIS, THE CERTIFIED, UH, THAT THE TAX BASE OF 261 MILLION, UH, TO 1.24 BILLION WITH THIS PROJECT.

UH, THAT'S A $976 MILLION INCREASE IN THE TAX DIGEST FOR THIS ONE PROPERTY FOR ALPHARETTA, A 374% INCREASE FOR THIS ONE PROPERTY.

AND THAT PROPERTY PAYS FOR OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE, PAVES OUR ROAD, MAINTAINS OUR STORMWATER, BUILDS OUR PARKS AND OUR TRAIL SYSTEM.

IT MAKES US THE BEST CITY IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

THE CITY WAS BUILT NOT ON THE BACKS OF RESIDENTS, BUT ON THE COMMERCIAL TAX BASE.

WE HAVE THIS BLACK HOLE OVER AT NORTH POINT MALL, UH, FOR REASONS, YOU KNOW, UH, THAT AREN'T WITHIN OUR CONTROL.

AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, ONCE AVALON WAS BUILT, IT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL.

FOR ME, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ME TO FIND THE BEST OUTCOME TO REDEVELOP THIS MALL.

AND WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY COMES, LIKE THE NHL, I HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY MAY NOT COME ALONG.

SO SUPPORTING THIS WITH, AND I, YOU KNOW, AND I HOPE MY FULTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE ALSO, YOU KNOW, HEARING AND SEEING THESE NUMBERS ABOUT WHAT IT WILL DO FOR FULTON COUNTY'S, UH, TAX BASE.

UH, AND WE WANT THAT REVENUE HERE IN FULTON COUNTY.

WE DON'T WANT THAT REVENUE IN FORSYTH COUNTY.

WE WANT THAT REVENUE HERE BENEFITING OUR COUNTY AND OUR CITY.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THE VERY NEXT BULLET POINT HERE IN THE PACKET IS THIS PROJECT, IF AND WHEN COMPLETED, AND WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE, BUT IT WILL SUPPORT 5,000 TO 6,900 JOBS ON THAT ONE PROPERTY.

THAT'S PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS.

THAT'S, THAT'S OUR CITY THRIVING IN AN AREA RIGHT NOW THAT HAS FIVE AND DIME DISCOUNT STORES INSIDE THAT MALL.

SO, UM, FOR ME, UH, THIS IS ANOTHER, UH, ASPECT OF FINDING A WAY TO REDEVELOP THAT PROPERTY, WHICH I PROMISED THE RESIDENTS OF ALPHARETTA WHEN I TOOK THIS SEAT THAT I WOULD FIND A WAY TO DO THAT IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.

UH, THERE WAS A PRIOR OFFERING OR APPLICATION FOR THIS THAT WAS NOT THE RIGHT ONE.

IT WOULD NOT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THOSE GOALS.

I STILL BELIEVE IN THIS PROJECT, AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, OUR LEGAL COUNSEL AND OUR THIRD FLOOR ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB

[00:40:02]

SO, UH, UM, I SUPPORT THIS AND I CERTAINLY HOPE, UH, OUR FULTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL SEE THE VIRTUE OF THIS PROJECT.

MAYOR PRO TIM.

THANK YOU.

UM, TO MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN HEIFES, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW YOU.

YOU TAKE ALL THE GOOD BULLET POINTS UP FRONT, SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU PARTIAL DITTO.

UM, A- AS FAR AS THE, THE, THE FACT THAT, THAT COUNCILMAN HIKES POINTED OUT, THE REVENUE TO THE CITY WILL OUTWEIGH THE COST OF THE CITY TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT WITH THE BONDS IN, IN, IN MULTIPLES.

AND I THINK IT, IT CAN GET COMPLICATED AND I RESPECT, UH, THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THE, THE DETAILS AND HOW IN DEPTH IT IS.

BUT ONE THING THAT IS TRUE THAT WE'RE SEEING WHEN, WITH THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, AND, AND NORTHPOINT MALL IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE IN THIS SPOT, IS THAT WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL, WE WERE AT 60 / 40, 60% OF OUR TAX BASIS WAS COMING FROM COMMERCIAL COLLECTIONS, 40% FROM THE RESIDENTIAL.

WE'VE SEEN THE NEWS WITH, WITH OUR NEIGHBORING CITY THAT, THAT, THAT HAS AN 85% RESIDENTIAL, UH, POPULATION.

IT'S 85% OF THEIR TAXES COME FROM SINGLE FAMILY, MULTI-FAMILY HOME, UH, PROPERTIES, AND ONLY 15% FROM THE COMMERCIAL.

SO, UH, WHAT WE WOULD BANG OUR CHEST ON BEING 60 / 40 IS NOW DOWN TO 49, 51.

AND FOR EVERYBODY WHO DOESN'T WANT ANY DEVELOPMENT OR THEY SAY THEY WANT IT DEVELOPED, BUT NOT LIKE THIS, OR...

I MEAN, I RESPECT THAT.

AND I, I RESPECT MS. MURPHY ON, ON HER POINTS THIS EVENING.

I'VE JUST BEEN DIGGING INTO IT SO MUCH DEEPER THAN MOST PEOPLE HAVE, AS HAVE MANY PEOPLE UP HERE, UM, TO, TO SEE WHAT IS POSSIBLE ON THAT PROPERTY.

AND AS IT WAS MENTIONED, THERE'S NOT A LOT.

WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS THING FOR FIVE YEARS.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS ON THERE IS A BUNCH OF APARTMENTS, A COUPLE OF STORES, MAYBE A THEATER.

THEY WANT, THEY WANT THE RENTAL.

AND WITH THIS PROJECT, WHICH I'VE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, NO HOCKEY, NO RENTAL.

IT, IT'S COMPLETELY START OVER FROM SCRATCH, AND I'M NOT GONNA REHASH, UH, THE, THE MEETING FROM AUGUST ON, ON THE APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT.

BUT I DID WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE TAXES ARE SHIFTING, AND IT'S A VERY DELICATE BALANCE IF YOU DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT AND GET OUT OF FRONT OF IT.

AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THIS PROJECT, IF THE NHL COMES, WILL BE EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.

AND I DO UNDERSTAND FROM RESEARCHING OTHER PROJECTS SIMILAR TO THIS AROUND THE COUNTRY, EVERY SINGLE ONE THAT WE SAW OR TALKED TO, UH, HAD SOME SORT OF CITY OR MUNICIPAL SUPPORT.

SO WE'RE USING THESE PROFESSIONALS WHO'VE SEEN THIS STUFF.

THEY, THEY'VE CONSULTED ON IT.

UM, AND, AND THIS IS NOT JUST AN INSURANCE AGENT AND A RETIRED LAWYER AND A REAL ESTATE GUY TRYING TO FIGURE THIS THING OUT.

WE, WE'RE SURROUNDED WITH, WITH EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL FOLKS.

SO, UM, I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT, THAT THIS IS THE PIECE WE NEED, UH, IN PLACE WITH AN AGREEMENT WITH FULTON COUNTY, SO THIS INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WILL GIVE US A BETTER SEAT AT THE TABLE AT THE NHL.

I, I REALLY THINK THAT YOU'RE NOT HEARING ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE WAITING ON IT.

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT, UH, WE, WE PROMISED THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD BE COMING.

SO IF I WERE THEM, I GUESS I'D BE SITTING AND WAITING TO SEE HOW MUCH THE CITY SUPPORTS IT.

SO FOR A LOT OF THOSE REASONS, I, I DO SUPPORT THIS INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SO THIS IS A PIVOTAL MOMENT.

I KNOW PREVIOUS MAYORS AND DIFFERENT COUNCILS OVER THE LAST 20 AND 30 YEARS HAVE TRIED TO REDEVELOP DOWNTOWN AND NOW WE'RE TRYING TO DO NORTH POINT MALL'S REDEVELOPMENT BASED ON A TAD.

TO THIS POINT, WE'VE NEVER, AS A CITY, SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED A TAD TO DO THE, THE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OUR COMMUNITIES OF NEED.

AND, AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH FULTON COUNTY AND OUR REPRESENTATIVES, THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS ISN'T JUST GOOD FOR ALPHARETTA, IT'S GOOD FOR THE COUNTY, IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE SCHOOLS.

WHETHER THEY PARTICIPATE OR NOT IS UP TO THEM, BUT THINK HOW MUCH THEY WOULD APPRECIATE HAVING A $1.2 BILLION PROJECT THERE INSTEAD OF WHAT'S THERE NOW.

SO I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT THING FOR US TO DO.

I THINK, THANK GOD, THAT MR. LAGERBLOOM HAS BEEN ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER INCREDIBLE TALENTED TEAM TO ADVISE US THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

WE CAN NEVER FORGET THE FACT THAT HE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS BEFORE AND SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT THE FLORIDA PLANT, FLORIDA PANTHERS TO SOUTH FLORIDA.

AND, AND I DON'T

[00:45:01]

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THAT BEING SAID, IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE YES.

AND IT DOES PASS UNANIMOUSLY.

SO

[B. HGACBuy Interlocal Contract for Cooperative Purchasing
Consideration of an Interlocal Contract between the City of Alpharetta and HGACBuy to allow Alpharetta to utilize their catalog of competitively procured goods and services.]

DIRECTOR TOM HARRIS.

SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UM, UH, WE COME BEFORE YOU, UH, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE TO, UH, BRING FORWARD SOME, UH, COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAMS SO THAT, UM, THESE, THESE ENTITIES EXIST OUT THERE.

WE HAVE USED QUITE A FEW OF THEM OVER OUR, UM, 10, 20 YEARS HERE.

AND THAT IS, UM, A PROGRAM BY WHICH THIS ONE IS, UH, HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL.

UM, WE UTILIZE THESE, UH, WE USE PARTNERS.

WE USE SOURCEWELL.

WE USE GSA COOPERATIVE PURCHASING, GEORGIA DOS STATEWIDE CONTRACT.

SO WE HAVE VERY SIMILAR TYPE ARRANGEMENTS WITH OTHER ENTIT- ENTITIES LIKE THIS THAT THEY GO OUT AND THEY PROCURE CONTRACTS FOR, UH, SERVICES AND PRODUCTS.

AND THEN AS A MUNICIPALITY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS AGREEMENT WITH THEM, YOU CAN FIND THAT SERVICE OR FIND THAT PRODUCT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY'VE ALREADY DID A COMPETITIVE BID AND ET CETERA, AND THEN SORT OF QUOTE UNQUOTE PIGGYBACK OFF THAT OR USE THAT CONTRACT, UH, TO BRING FORWARD THE SERVICES.

WE STILL WOULD HAVE THE REQUIREMENT BASED ON OUR CODE.

IF IT'S OVER $50,000, WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL, BUT THIS AGAIN IS A, IS A, IS A PROGRAM THAT THE CITIES AROUND US, UH, USE, WE USE, AND IT JUST HELPS US IN THE LONG HAUL BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH OUR PROCUREMENT.

SO THERE'S NO COST, UH, ET CETERA.

THANK YOU, SIR.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? MUST HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.

YEAH.

NO QUESTIONS.

BAFFLED.

YES.

MS. SHAPIRO, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS? NOT FOR THIS ITEM, SIR.

HOWEVER, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, NOW'S YOUR CHANCE.

I DO NOT SEE ANYONE COMING FORWARD, SO WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL? YES, MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A, MAKE A MOTION THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE HGAC BUY COOPERATIVE PURCHA - PRO - PURCHASING PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE INTERLOCAL CONTRACT FOR COOPERATIVE PURCHASING WITH THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HIPES AND A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM MERKEL.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE VOTE YES.

AND IT DOES PASS UNANIMOUSLY.

MS. SHAPIRO, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS? I DO NOT HAVE ANY, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

HOWEVER, IF ANYONE CAME TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC, NOW'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY.