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CI2 TY OF DOUGLASVILLE
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Mayors message Welcome everyone! This year has certainly been a “Year to Remember ” as the City has been adjusting to the new normal. It is my hope that throughout this publication you will see how much your C ity government has accomplished even in the face of adversity.
Mayor Q&A
We are so happy to have welcomed Bang Energy and Microsoft to our community during the past year. Already receiving nationwide recognition, Bang
Energy
was
selected
Rochelle Robinson Mayor
for
the
Silver
Shovel Award for Non-Manufacturing Project
Q: What was your favorite subject? A: My favorite subject in school was English.
of the Year in the state of Georgia by Area Development, the leading publication covering site selection and facility planning. Area Development recognizes twenty states with its Gold and Silver Shovel Awards annually, to those that have achieved the most success in terms of new job creation and company capital investment. Our Town Green Amphitheater project has continued to move forward this year bringing our dream of a downtown Town Green Amphitheater closer to reality. We are so excited to have started construction and cannot wait to see this project come to fruition.
This long-awaited
venue will be a huge asset to the Douglasville community. I look forward to continuing to work alongside all of you to make a lasting impact on our great community. May God bless you, your families, and the great City we call home! I M PAC T R EP O R T 2 0 21
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A YEAR IN REVIEW
Council Q&A Q: What do you miss most about High School?
Dr. LaShun Burr Danley Councilwoman WA R D 3, POS T 1
A: I miss participating in music competitions at Lithia Springs High School. C I4T Y O F D O U G L A S V I L L E
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Human Resources The City of Douglasville employs approximately 300 full-time, part-time, seasonal and temporary employees. The mission of the Human Resources Department is to provide the following quality services to the City of Douglasville employees:
•Recr uitment and selection of qualified s. individual •Retention of valua ble employees. •Training, development and education to promote individual success and increase overall value to the organization.
t. •A safe and healthful working environmen high a for ent •Inspiration and encouragem level of employee morale through recog nition, effective commu nication and constant feedback. on, •Resources for administering compensati . dures proce and ies polic benefits,
These services are achieved through a teamwork philosophy that is inspired through effective organizational skills, proactive efforts and a balance between professionalism and servanthood. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Human Resources department collaborated with the City Manager’s Office to develop and promote the Douglasville Employee Student Program, which began in August 2020. This program provided a safe environment for employee’s children to participate in virtual learning while their parents continued to serve our community. The program provided designated study rooms at city facilities with appropriate city staff in each room to monitor children as they worked.
Resources department and Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority to provide a communitywide career fair. This career fair provided face to face meetings with recruiters, informal interviews, and indepth insight into approximately 20 available positions for immediate hire. Also in March 2021, Human Resources collaborated with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to develop a re-entry employment opportunity program. This comprehensive program provides those with background issues, tools for becoming more employable and viable citizens. This is accomplished by offering opportunities for employment in specialized areas according to the need of that particular applicant. The goal of the City of Douglasville’s re-entry program is to assist ex-offenders in becoming positive contributors within the communities which we all inhabit. The Human Resources department resumed the summer internship program for 2021. Six interns were selected across various Georgia colleges, universities, and technical schools to get practical work experience that compliments academic studies. This paid internship program is the third installment and has provided permanent employment opportunities at the city.
The Human Resources department initiated a community outreach initiative in March 2021 to include Douglas County Human
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Police department “One with our Community” Chief Sparks’ motto for the Douglasville Police Department holds true throughout the organization. The Douglasville Police Department is a state certified full-service law enforcement agency that provides police services in the city limits on a 24/7 basis. The Department consists of multiple divisions from Patrol, Detectives, Special Operations, to Training, Traffic, and several others. There are 101 full-time and four part-time Certified Police Officer positions, in addition to 19 civilian support staff positions. The Department is constantly looking for the most qualified and diverse applicants to join the team. Applications can be found online at the city of Douglasville’s website www.DouglasvilleGA.gov/jobs. Each year, the Douglasville Police Department compiles agency data and creates an End of the Year Report.
These numbers decreased from the year prior, as did criminal activity overall, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic subsides and people start getting back into their routines, law enforcement activities are expected to return to previous levels. Criminal activity overall was also down from the year before. The Douglasville Police Department does its best to be proactive in crime prevention and investigators work hard to solve reported crimes to hold criminals accountable. Chief Sparks recently
6 CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE
created a new Crime Suppression Unit to provide proactive policing and to target specific crimes and problem areas. The agency is committed to providing the most thorough and professional law enforcement services possible to the community. The Douglasville Police Department takes pride in showcasing employees’ awards and accomplishments and always strives to be the best. This year, several officers and employees have been recognized for their accomplishments, including City Core Value awards, community awards and participation in the Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Douglas program. The Department itself was also recognized for renewing their State of Georgia Law Enforcement Certification, confirming that the Department’s policies and procedures are sound and effective. This certification is an outstanding achievement in the law enforcement profession. Additionally, the Department has begun the process to become nationally accredited by CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies), a standard of professional excellence in the law enforcement field. Douglasville Community Outreach Program, (DCOP), is a constant effort by the members of the department to bridge the gap between the community and the officers by strengthening relationships with those the department serves. With social distancing guidelines in place, the Department was still able to host several outreach programs, including the 2021 Summer Festival and Safety Expo, food giveaways, community enrichment meetings, DEA pill take backs, the Hollis Street Jamboree, Youth Against Violence, Shop with a Cop, the Justice and Accountability Rally, and more. The Department strives to show citizens that Chief Sparks means it he says, “One with our Community”. DouglasvillePolice
Douglasville_PD
DouglasvillePolice
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Q: Who was your favorite teacher? Terry S. Miller
A: Mr. Salvadori, my Biochemistry teacher.
Mayor Pro Tem WA R D 1
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Council Q&A
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COMM UNIT Y
DEVE LOPM ENT
The past fiscal year was an extremely productive and busy year for the city as it relates to zoning matters. Staff provided many hours of technical assistance while meeting with numerous developers and applicants. There was a variety of development activities in the city including several major companies settling within the city limits, including Amazon, Bang Energy and Microsoft, mini storages, townhome and apartment developments that included senior housing units and retail establishments. We continued to make improvements to the City’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to make the document more efficient and more tailored to the specific needs of the City of Douglasville. The UDO is referred to as a “living” document. It will require amendments to meet the future challenges and changing conditions of zoning in the city. This past year the city enacted four new text amendments to the UDO. In the upcoming year, the city will focus on enhancing the aesthetics of the downtown area, along with major corridors, by incorporating planning techniques and concepts through several new upcoming projects.
The city received over 101 zoning verification letters from external requests looking to develop parcels here in the city. Along those lines, the city received: 2 Annexations requests 10 Rezoning application 2 Special Land Use Permits (SLUPS) 4 Right of ways abandonments (ROW) 13 Outdoor events
DALLAS HWY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT At the adoption of the Dallas HWY LCI Plan in late 2019, the City of Douglasville was awarded funding for preliminary engineering in late 2020. Over the next two years, the city will work with Croy Engineering, stakeholders, and residents to develop a conceptual design for a shared-use path and roundabout for Dallas HWY, from Brown Street to McCarley Street. The Dallas HWY Improvement Project aims to build upon the Dallas HWY LCI plan by laying the framework for public and private investment. Using the “complete streets” approach, the city will examine the best options for connection, traffic calming measures, easy/safe pedestrian access and wayfinding and gateway signage placement. HIGHWAY 5 TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE STUDY The Highway (HWY) 5 Transportation and Land Use Study project will seek to analyze, study, and verify existing land use conditions and transportation infrastructure in the HWY 5 study area. The HWY 5 study area was developed over 20 years ago and thus has presented several growth challenges for residents, visitors, and business owners. While the area continues to grow, the City of Douglasville is looking for a plan that will address the continued growth patterns in the area while also developing traffic calming measures such as intersection improvements, redevelopment opportunities and the enhancement of the I-20 bridge.
21 Sign permits 21 Development plans and plats 7 Variance requests
C I8 TY OF DOUGLASVILLE
Information regarding the current studies being conducted by the City of Douglasville can be found at www.douglasvillega.gov.
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2020 presented multiple challenges to small and large businesses alike. Main Street Douglasville Family-owned and small businesses in historic downtowns across the country found themselves scrambling to adjust to social distancing restrictions, payroll concerns, health concerns, and dealing with a dwindling staffing pool. Downtown Douglasville businesses were no exception. Thankfully, no downtown business closed its doors due to the COVD-19 pandemic. This is a testament to the quality, perseverance, and grit that the Douglasville business community possesses. Two downtown businesses (Kuumba Coffee and Tito’s Lounge) opened during 2020, while the city worked with three additional businesses toward the end of the calendar year 2020 to open during the first and second quarters of 2021. The City of Douglasville understands the importance of the business community. The Mayor and City Council have and continue to support those downtown businesses by continuously investing public dollars into the downtown district. Their commitment to the National Main Street Program and partnership with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs has been key in maintaining public property and creating a business-friendly environment. To the right is a snapshot of the impact those investments and partnerships made by the Mayor and Council have had on our downtown district in 2020:
Council Q&A Q: What was your favorite school lunch? A: My favorite lunch was fried fish and slaw. Samuel Davis Councilman
WA R D 3, POS T 2
Beautification Project I-20 & Fairburn Rd With the completion of the Fairburn Rd/I-20 Interchange Landscape Improvement project, preparation to install the gateway signage adjacent to the I-20 westbound off-ramp has begun. The design professionals have submitted the engineered drawings. Also, the material procurement process has been initiated, and the GDOT permitting process is ongoing. Fabrication began in July of 2021. The city is one step closer to enhancing the gateway entrance into the community. I M PAC T R EP O R T 2 0 21
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CONFERENCE
CENTER
& TOURISM
CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU(CVB) INITIATIVES • Free Seed Program • Wallpaper Wednesday
CVB HIGHLIGHTS
• Weekly Summer Itineraries • Capture Outside the Lines Fence Gallery
• Awarded Tourism Product Development Grant Monies to support “Love Where You Live” heART Project • Awarded $40,000 in Tourism Marketing Recovery Grant Monies
CVB SIGNATURE EVENTS • Reunion Workshop • Behind the Veil Bridal Showcase • National Travel and Tourism Week • Recognition for the 2021 Spirit and Hospitality Worker of the Year Award • Travel Rally • Hospitality Heroes Recognition
CENTER DOUGLASVILLE CONFERENCE • New Conference Center Brochure • Audio Visual Upgrade
• Frontline Hospitality Training • Launch of Douglasville Discount Cards
NEW ORGANIZATIONS
Luckie and Company Carros Metal Dawco Southern A & E (Southern Architects and Engineer) Motorola Advanced Surfaces American Business Women’s Association University of West Georgia
C1 I T0Y O F D O U G L A S V I L L E
MET AGAIN IN DOUGLASVILLE Atlanta Beverage Company/Coca Cola Georgia Farm Bureau American Red Cross Harrison Contracting United Way of Atlanta Georgia Plumbers Association NPDES Training Institute
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S N O I T A L E R Y T I N U M COM The unprecedented challenges of the last year caused the Community Relations Department to completely rethink how to host City events and programs. One of the major outreach efforts that came out of the pandemic was the “Take Care Douglasville” campaign. The City distributed free masks, buttons, yard signs and promotional materials to the community encouraging kindness, to help citizens show their support for one another. The campaign helped to maintain a positive message in the community during a particularly trying time.
and distribute candy to children and families while still maintaining proper safety measures. Christmas had a different look as well. Instead of the annual festivities of the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting the City created a “Celebration of Lights” with the “Deck the Homes” holiday decorating contest. It was introduced as a way to allow citizens to express their creativity and get into the holiday spirit. O’Neal Plaza and Jessie Davis Park in the New Horizons community also joined in the celebration and received new holiday light displays. Ultimately, allowing the City to still enjoy the holiday season safely, and walked away with some successful ideas that will continue in the years to come. In 2020 the City of Douglasville was named an All-American Cities finalist.
As the Department embraced how to host events For more information regarding the City of where attendees still enjoyed a fun and safe Douglasville, please visit www.douglasvillega.gov. environment, many were converted to a virtual platform. “Douglasville Live!” an online trivia series hosted on the City’s Facebook page, created an opportunity for citizens to still connect and interact with City staff and other Q: What advice did you members of the community. receive in High School that
Council Q&A
The City also altered the way it approached holiday activities and celebrations. New to the event calendar was Honk-O-Ween” a drive thru “Trick or Treat” event held at Hunter Park. The event had an overwhelming attendance and created an opportunity for local organizations to decorate booths I M PAC T R EP O R T 2 0 21
has stayed with you?
A: One of my Math teachers once told me, as you continue through school and through life, try to look for opportunities to use those gifts to help others who may not be as fortunate. To this day, I continually try to fulfill that advice.
Howard M. Estes Councilman WA R D 5
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PUBLIC SERVICES “Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes them meaningful.” -Anonymous The City of Douglasville Public Services Department has four distinct divisions – Sanitation, Fleet Maintenance, Street Maintenance and Facilities Maintenance – each employs a variety of techniques to ensure the highest quality, public services are provided to the City of Douglasville. The Department’s goal is to operate as a customer oriented and results based leader in providing services. While the past year has been filled with unique challenges it has also created opportunities for the community to tackle many obstacles.
Public Services Facilities Update The renovations of the Administrative Office located at 8485 W. Courthouse Square have been completed and the building now serves as the headquarters for the Public Services Administrative, Facilities Maintenance and Keep Douglasville Beautiful personnel. The renovation was designed to maintain the historic integrity, preserve the structure, and enhance the overall functionality without compromising the overall character of the building.
Recycling Recycling services were reinstated in May 2021 after almost a year of being suspended due to COVID-19 constraints. Although, recycling has resumed, there have been some notable changes in items that are now considered acceptable recyclable items. Acceptable items include:
Chris “Coach” Watts Councilman WA R D 4
Q: What sports did you play in High School? A: My main sport was football, but I played basketball as well and ran track.
Council Q&A C1 I T 2Y O F D O U G L A S V I L L E
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Sanitation Update
In January 2021 the Public Services Department implemented an approved 15% rate increase across for the board for all residential and commercial sanitation customers. The increased fees will help offset the projected increase in operational, maintenance and equipment costs; as well as, the changes to recycling costs resulting from global recycling market changes. Future rate increase schedules have been established for subsequent years to account for these factors.
Mark Adams Councilman
WA R D 2, POS T 2
Council Q&A Residential Sanitation provides curbside, sanitation services to over 9000 residents. During the past fiscal year, crews have collected and disposed of over 12,996.73 tons of solid waste, yard waste and recycling materials.
Q: What was your favorite part about school?
A: I was nicknamed “Adam Ant” since I was the fastest runner at Beulah Elementary School.
Commercial Sanitation provides a full complement of sanitation services to over 797 businesses including open-top, compactor and front load services for commercial and industrial waste - ensuring consistent, safe and reliable service for our community.
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PA RK S
&
RE CR EA TI ON
GENERAL UPDATES The Parks and Recreation Department adapted and strategically maneuvered throughout the past year despite the ongoing pandemic. Even with this challenge the Parks & Recreation Department was successful in providing services to the community and continued implementation of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan. The silver lining of the pandemic was the Department being forced to think outside of the box. As an essential service, new methods were developed to continue serving the community safely and fulfill its mission to enhance the quality of life for all who interact with the City of Douglasville park system, programs, and services.
PROGRESSION ON AN PARKS MASTER PL Established three years ago, the Parks Master Plan identified 54 “High Priority” recommendations in the following areas: • Parks and Facilities • Staffing and Operations • Programming Based on the recommendations of the Master Plan, the Department has completed 76% of the high priority recommendations outlined. Major goals completed are as follows: Strategic Area: Parks and Facilities •Goal: Renovate, upgrade and take care of current inventory
CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE
•Completion of Mill Village Park renovation plans •Design Willing Workers Park renovation plans and implementation Strategic Area: Staffing and Operations •Goal: Provide tools, plans and standards to support and sustain safe parks and facilities •Develop a parks maintenance plan with parks maintenance standards •Create and implement a preventative maintenance plan Strategic Area: Programming •Goal: Offer innovative and diverse programs that optimize the use of the facilities •Develop a Recreation Program Plan based on CAPRA standards •Develop and implement an evaluation survey for program participants Evidence of the progression and completion of Master Plan recommendations is reflected in all facets and operations of the department.
PARK RENOVATIONS Hunter Park Capital projects that were completed at Hunter Park is continued proof of our Master Plan recommendations and initiative. Utilizing feedback collected through community engagement and guidance from our Parks Advisory Board has led to the following projects completed at Hunter Park.
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•The Thrive 900 Outdoor Exercise Equipment installed at Hunter Park adds a new amenity that enhances our focus on the health and wellness for the community. This project was funded using SPLOST funds and was completed in August 2020. •Completed in July 2020, new basketball courts were installed in Hunter Park next to the Boys and Girls Club. This project provided a new amenity and opportunity for the community to play basketball at Hunter Park. This project was funded using SPLOST funds. Mill Village Park Renovation Renovations of Mill Village Park were successfully completed in July 2020. This project was the first of three park renovations recommended from the Parks Master Plan. The groundbreaking for this project was in January 2020 and impacted by the pandemic. The newly designed park reflects the needs and feedback gathered from the community through community engagement meetings.
CAPRA ACCREDITATION On October 19, 2020 the Douglasville Parks and Recreation Department joined the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies across the country by earning accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). This mark of distinction indicates that the City of Douglasville Parks & Recreation Department met rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety and services. This process helped identify efficiencies and heighten areas of accountability, all of which translate into higher quality service and operation to benefit the community. This distinguished accomplishment was awarded virtually during the 2020 NRPA Annual Conference.
Council Q&A
Nycole N. Miller Councilwoman WA R D 2, POS T 1
Q: What was your favorite elective? A: History/Government Classes & Agriculture
Despite the pandemic, the past year was record setting for West Pines Golf Club. Not only did the course provide refuge with the ability to operate and serve the community in a safe manner, during the pandemic, it celebrated several major accomplishments. In July 2020 West Pines hosted its first ever Georgia PGA santioned event.
WEST PINES GOLF CLUB
West Pines saw a drastic increase both in revenue and in number of rounds played in July 2021. These were record numbers since the City took over management of the course. In FY 21 over 32,000 rounds were played accounting for over $1M in revenue. An increase of nearly 25 % from the year before. I M PAC T R EP O R T 2 0 21
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FINANCE
GENERAL FUND REVENUES $36,530,325 TAXES
$28,215,978 59%
LICENSES & PERMITS
$12,278,763 26%
CHARGES FOR SERVICE
$1,307,683
3%
FINES/FORFEITURES
$1,357,194
3%
INVESTMENT INCOME
$102,584
0%
MISC
$297,441
0%
OTHER FINANCING SOURCES
$2,208,269
5%
INTERGOVERNMENTAL
$1,799,403
4%
CONTRIBUTIONS/DONATIONS
$13,900
0%
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES $36,530,325 GENERAL GOVERNMENT
$12,648,977
35%
COURT SERVICES
$890,141
2%
PUBLIC SAFETY
$13,937,320
38%
PUBLIC SERVICES
$3,034,997
8%
CULTURE/RECREATION
$3,625,652
10%
PLANNING/DEVELOPMENT
$1,991,933
6%
DEBT SERVICE
$401,305
1%
CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE
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VISION STATEMENT Douglasville is a unique blend of small-town charm coupled with metropolitan amenities. We offer the ideal environment for startups and small businesses, providing high tech centers and fortune 500 companies the infrastructure for growth.
TACT LIST CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE CON
CityofDouglasvilleGA @DvilleImpact cityofdouglasvillega douglasvillecititv Comcast channel 22 CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE
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