Community Engagenent Subcommittee Meeting Minutes April 14

Community Engagement Subcommittee Meeting Minutes
April 23, 2014
The April 23, 2014, meeting of the Community Engagement Subcommittee was held in the
MILRA offices at 1794 Walker Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA 30310.
ATTENDEES:
Subcommittee Members
Councilmember Joyce Sheperd – Committee Chair
Gamba Stewart, Sylvan Hills
Ricardo Jacobs, NPU-R
Rosslyn Baughn, CANO
Shirley Gomez, Westridge/Sandtown/Venetian Hills
Glenda Knight, MACC
Joe Shekarabi, Jefferson Park, New Appointment
James Harris, CVNA
Wil Miller, East Point Ward B, New Appointment
Ruben Burney, Perkerson Civic
Alonzo Ross, NPU-X,
Judy Walker, OCCO
Anitra Favors, Semmes Park
Robbie Hunter, NPU-S
Senator Nan Orrock, MILRA Ex Offico
Chase Randall, NPU-X, New Appointment- Alternate
(attended in orientation, participated from the audience)
Murjan Rasheed, OCCO New Appointment-Alternate
(attended orientation, participated from audience)
STAFF
Darlene Hawksley - MILRA
James McCormick, MILRA
Sandra Tennyson, MIRA
Jocelyn Bivins – Councilmember Sheperd’s office
GUESTS:
None
Joyce Sheperd, Councilmember for District 12 and Chair of the Community
Engagement Subcommittee, acknowledged the new appointees who attended
the orientation prior to the meeting: Joe Shekarabi -Jefferson Park, Chase
Randall-NPU-X, Wil Miller-East Point Ward B, and Murjan Rasheed -OCCO. She
also welcomed the new MILRA CES appointments to the meeting and expressed
pleasure for the increased participation . Also, Ms. Sheperd welcomed and
acknowledged Senator Nan Orrock’s attendance.
The meeting began at 5:40P. A quorum was present and the minutes from
March 26 th and January 23 rd were approved with corrections. Glenda Knight
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Community Engagement Subcommittee Meeting Minutes
April 23, 2014
was added to the attendance for March and Robbie Hunter’s representation was
changed to NPU-S on January minutes.
MILRA CES A PPOINTMENTS
Joyce Sheperd, Chair, conducted a roll-call from the current CES appointment
list to confirm participation from the identified communities. Also, she
reiterated the primary role of the community representative is to update and
report to their respective communities on the MILRA progress and activities.
An updated list of any new appointments will be provided monthly with the
meeting minutes.
MILRA UPDATES:
 STATUS OF PROPERTY CONVEYANCE
Darlene Hawksley, MILRA Staff, began by clarifying that the “security” package
referenced in prior meetings is a financial document required by the D epartment of
Defense. The financial backers provide D epartment of Defense (DOD) with
assurance that MILRA can pay for the property. The city will work with banks and
MILRA to get the financial security needed for the E conomic Development
Conveyance (EDC).
Questions from CES members:
Q1: Is the consultant hired to do parcels and/or science, technology and
biomedical?
Ms. Sheperd: Both
Ms. Hawksley: The original vision was for biomedical. Our main focus is to
validate if the earlier focus is still valid and advise on the direction to continue
our marketing.
Q2: Is there a TAD?
Ms. Hawksley: Yes, there is the Campbellton Road TAD . Also, a Opportunity
Zone and a HUD Zone as well.
Q3: How will the TAD be utilized if it is almost 25% finished …?
Ms. Sheperd: The challenges are that Commercial TADs are pay as you go with
less than 20 years remaining. Ft. McPherson will make the Campbellton Road
Commercial TAD a successful TAD. Invest Atlanta can market as a bond TAD
versus pay as you go. Some TADs will be closed out since they are very
successful in jump starting neighborhoods.
Q4: Is interim leasing available and when —immediately or July?
Ms. Hawksley: Interim leasing can begin when the property is transferred to
the Local Redevelopment Authority.
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April 23, 2014
Q5: Has the school board signed off?
Ms. Sheperd: No, 50% of your taxes are for Schools.
Q6: Will the study [... conducted by the consultants] be presented to the ES?
Ms. Hawksley: Yes
Q7: What is the anticipated complete date […consultant study] ?
Ms. Hawksley: Within 3 months…around July or August. A basic update will be
given at a MILRA board meeting.
Ms. Sheperd continued with the discussion by reviewing the basic requirements
for base closures:
1. A board is created to manage the base closure process, thus the
McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority (MILRA) was
created.
2. Bids go out to Federal agencies first to see if there is any interest in
locating their resources on base.
Ms Sheperd stated that the Veterans Administration Hospital responded with
their interest to locate on the base. In the last MILRA meeting, they committed
to provide an update quarterly. Ms. Hawksley added that the VA has bought
approximately 10.5 acres and Mr. Rosa da-VA agreed to conduct tours of the
facility. It is opening for men with mental and health issues, provides a one stop
shop for veterans needing substance abuse treatment and programs for
homeless veterans. The VA hospital is partnering with various local agencies
for the vast needs of veterans. One of the providers is Traveler’s Aid and they
have 2 fulltime workers at the VA complex.
Additionally, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires that the
LRA addresses homeless services.
In 2007, six providers were identified. Since 7 years have pas sed, the
committee (Homeless Provider Subcommittee) chaired by Ms. Khanna, will
reconvene. The committee will meet with the providers who have executed a
Legal Binding Agreement (LBA). The committee will assess if this project is still
something they want to continue. After the assessment, the pared down list will
reviewed with CES and interviews will be scheduled.
Q8: Can two representatives from CES be on the committee?
Ms. Sheperd: The request will be submitted to MILRA.
Q9: Will veteran services and children of veterans include counseling to
families of veterans and other services?
Ms. Sheperd: CES will invite them to a future meeting to address.
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Ms. Sheperd suggested that a reassessment of MILRA board members be
conducted. The Governor of Georgia makes appoi ntments and Mayor of Atlanta
and East Point make recommendations as well. Every 5 -10 years, reappointments to the board should be considered . The CES will make a request
to the MILRA board to consider a representative from the community. The
current community representative lives in Mid-town Atlanta, Chandra Houston.
Chairman Ward will provide a response. Also, CES needs to review the
legislation which created the MILRA board.
Action Item: Next CES meeting, Ms. Hawksley will email or confirm website.
2014 P RIORITIES
A. Presentations
The Georgia Historian will be contacted to confirm if he can present at the next
CES meeting. In June, the Fulton County Health Services Rapid Assessment
conducted last year.
B. MILRA CES Tours of Ft. McPherson
Gamba Stewart recommended the May 16 th and May 30 th for the CES tours of Ft.
McPherson. Since the base closes at 3:30P Monday through Friday, the group
decided that Friday, May 16 th is a beginning at noon. The next date will be
determined in a subsequent meeting.
Session will begin with a brief orientation, box lunch and combination walk -ride
tour. The committee will decide on the areas to be toured and package about the
sites will be provided.
Question from CES member:
Q10: Will the canceled Tiger grant or rescinded federal funds affect any
activity on the base or developing neighborhoods on Lee Street?
Ms. Sheperd: Tiger grants are not an issue for the CES subcommittee.
O LD B USINESS :
No discussion
N EW B USINESS , P UBLIC C OMMENTS , AND S UGGESTIONS :
No discussion, public comments or suggestions
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April 23, 2014
M EETING ADJOURNED
APPROXIMATELY AT
7:05P.
THE NEXT FT. MCPHERSON CES MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, MAY 21ST. EMAIL
NOTIFICATION WILL BE PROVIDED.
AGENDA TOPICS FOR FEBRUARY:
 Presentation by Dr. Clifford Kuhn, Atlanta Historian
 MILRA Board Meeting Update
April 23, 2014 minutes approved in May 21, 2014 meeting
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