Mayors message Welcome! The past year has sure been full of major peaks, some really low valleys, and definite uncertainty. It is my Rochelle Robinson hope that this publication shows just Mayor the amount of Impact that your city government has accomplished, even through the most trying of circumstances. We at the city remain resolute to ensure the health and safety of all, while also ensuring that every voice is truly heard. This year has shown us how wonderful our community is, and that together, we can overcome any obstacle. I look forward to continuing to work alongside each and every one of you to make lasting Impact on our great community. May God bless you, your families, and the great city we call home! -Mayor Rochelle Robinson
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THE CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE
CITY COUNCIL Terry S. Miller
Nycole Miller
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Mayor Pro Tem
Mark Adams Councilman
WA R D 2, POS T 2
Chris “ Coach ” Watts Councilman WA R D 4
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Dr. LaShun Burr Danley Councilwoman WA R D 3, POS T 1
Councilwoman
Samuel Davis Councilman
WA R D 3, POS T 2
Howard M. Estes Councilman WA R D 5
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FINANCE
REVENUES $35,794,049 TAXES
$27,796,934
78%
OTHER SOURCES
$4,129,392
12%
MISC REVENUE
$185,329
1%
INVESTMENT
$325,000
1%
FINES/FORFEITURES
$1,246,497
3%
CHARGES FOR SERVICE
$1,246,122
3%
LICENSES/PERMITS
$859,250
2%
CONTRIBUTIONS/DONATIONS
$5,525
0%
EXPENDITURES $35,794,049
C I4T Y O F D O U G L A S V I L L E
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
$13,152,593
37%
JUDICIAL
$801,896
2%
PUBLIC SAFETY
$13,529,690
38%
PUBLIC SERVICES
$2,232,779
7%
CULTURE/RECREATION
$3,622,954
10%
PLANNING/DEVELOPMENT
$1,835,308
5%
DEBT SERVICE
$528,829
1%
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human resources The City of Douglasville employs approximately 300 fulltime, part-time, and temporary employees. The mission of the Human Resources Department is to administer human resources, benefits, wellness, retirement and risk management programs. The department of five is comprised of a Director, Senior Human Resources Generalist, Human Resources Generalist, Benefits Specialist and Administrative Assistant.
Fiscal Year 2020 Accomplishments The Human Resources department collaborated with senior leadership to introduce an innovative and interactive new hire orientation class for newly hired employees. This new onboarding initiative allows employees the opportunity to complete required employment forms, to receive a realistic job preview, and to meet various leaders city-wide. The Human Resources department successfully implemented a human resources information system through Automatic Data Processing (ADP) in October 2019. This implementation included a new recruitment, benefits administration and open enrollment module to streamline processes with self-service features. The ADP system is instrumental in expediting position requisitions to fill vacancies and to promote within.
The City of Douglasville has opened its first ever on-site employee wellness center in partnership with CareHere, LLC. This wellness center will assist employees with managing acute and chronic illness with the convenience of onsite access to a doctor and registered nurse. The wellness center will also provide pre-employment services, work injury treatment, and follow up visits. One of the benefits of this new center is integrating city-wide wellness initiatives with onsite care. Employees will have access to the wellness center during or after work hours.
The Human Resources department collaborated with Georgia Archives University System of Georgia to complete its first records retention audit of personnel records. This comprehensive audit provided the proper retention and disposal of records, reduced wasteful storage of unnecessary records, and the reduction of liability through proper and planned destruction of city employment records. In February of 2020, the City of Douglasville received a Safety and Liability Grant in the amount of $14,163.46 from the Georgia Municipal Association. This grant provides a financial incentive for the city to improve employee safety and general public liability loss control efforts through the purchase of training, equipment, or services. The city’s proactive approach to loss control has helped to curb employee and public injuries. I M PAC T R EP O R T 2 0 2 0
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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 consisting of several divisions that serve the citizens on a 24/7 basis. The department’s largest division is the uniformed patrol division. Officers in marked police cars respond to calls for service and patrol the city limits of Douglasville 24 hours a day. The detective division consists of investigators who follow up on cases usually generated by the patrol officers. The department also has an administrative division, I.T. department, SWAT team, special operations division, records division, motor/traffic division, training division/OPS, and a support services division that provides security for the Douglasville Municipal Court. There are 101 full time and four part time certified law enforcement officer positions that make up these divisions along with 19 civilian support staff. Hiring is a constant focus as the police department is committed to selecting only the most highly qualified applicants to work with the agency.
accident reports, 2,564 arrests, 10,511 traffic stops, and 8,014 citations issued. The FBI compiles data on reported crimes that occur within each jurisdiction. In 2019, the City of Douglasville had one reported homicide, 18 reported rapes, 35 reported robberies, 95 reported aggravated assaults, 137 reported burglaries, 1,845 reported larcenies, 73 reported motor vehicle thefts, and 6 reported arsons (note: these stats reflect reports of criminal activity and further investigation may reveal no crime was committed, or a different crime was committed than was originally reported). The Police Department’s End of the Year Report contains a vast amount of information in addition to crimes and agency data. In the report, you can find department employee demographics, hiring, use of force, disciplinary, training, complaint statistics, and much more. You can find the full report on the DOUGLASVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT Facebook page or on the city website at DouglasvilleGa.gov.
Each year, the Douglasville Police Department compiles agency data and creates an End of the Year Report. In 2019, the department had 67,885 citizen contacts for service, 12,037 reports written, 2,991 The past few months have been challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Policing during these unprecedented times posed new challenges daily. Officers adapted to new ways of accomplishing the same mission while having minimal contact with people, including each other. Masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and thermometers were all part of the changes in the day to day operations of the Police Department but staff was able to adapt to the new normal. In addition, the citizens and business community really came forward to show their support of the department by donating cleaning supplies, PPE 6
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and providing meals for those working during the pandemic. The support was overwhelming and very much appreciated! Now more than ever is the bond between the citizens and law enforcement so important. The Douglasville Police Department employees strive to be leaders in the law enforcement profession by continuous training, holding employees accountable for their actions, and abiding by the department’s Core Values. Obedience to the United States Constitution and state laws, respect for the I M PAC T R EP O R T 2 0 2 0
dignity of all, compassion, fairness, integrity, accountability, leadership, and vigilance are the framework by which the department operates. Any actions contrary to these core values are not acceptable and will be dealt with because the community deserves only the highest quality service from their Police Department. That is why the motto of the Douglasville Police Department remains to be “one with our community�. 7P G 5
Community development In 2019, the city of Douglasville established a Tax Allocation District known as Douglasville TAD #1 - Downtown and North Side. The city’s first TAD was created to encourage commercial revitalization in the City’s downtown area, to capitalize upon the recent realignment of SR 92, to make selective public improvements that will support reinvestment in the city’s “North Side” neighborhoods and to encourage reinvestment in aging apartment complexes. The TAD includes 1,367 parcels and approximately 1,760 acres located mainly along Highway 78 (Veterans’ Memorial Highway), Church Street, Fairburn Road, and areas to be impacted by the relocation of Highway 92 (Dallas Highway), which by passes Downtown Douglasville and connects directly to Fairburn Road, just above its intersection with Interstate 20. The City Council adopted a resolution establishing TAD #1 in September of 2019. The District was later certified by the Georgia Department of Revenue, effective December 31, 2019.
TAD #1 was created to offer incentives to attract private reinvestment, both directly through financial assistance to developers and indirectly by funding targeted public improvements that support revitalization. Among authorized uses are reducing a developer’s cost to replace or upgrade deficient public infrastructure, rehabilitating or demolishing existing blighted structures, constructing supportive C I8 TY OF DOUGLASVILLE
public amenities, or defraying other costs as needed to make redevelopment economically feasible. Following the adoption of the policies and procedures in summer of 2020, the TAD can begin to operate.
Mayor and Council selected Sky Design, a creative design firm, in late 2019 to create a Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan. The plan helps to provide clear navigation and promote economic prosperity by way of creating a destination mentality of “to, not through” the city. In addition, the signage system will aid in elevating the identity of the city and reinforce a sense of place in Douglasville. The Wayfinding and Gateway Signage Plan takes inventory of current city signage, the new city branding, and wayfinding destinations to create a comprehensive master plan. The study recommends various gateway/wayfinding policies and criteria, design standards, and provides a full site-specific implementation plan with detailed design options for each signage category. A steering committee made up of city staff was created to assist in creation and review of the project. The project meetings with Sky Design and the steering committee concluded in mid-April 2020. The plan and final design selections were approved by Mayor and Council in June of 2020. Sky Design is currently working on bid documents to meet the deadline of late summer for Gateway signage installation.
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DDA/ Main Street Program DDA Initiatives • Façade Grant • Opportunity Zone • Georgia Cities Foundation • Downtown Development Revolving Loan Fund • Historic Tax Credit Opportunity • Façade Design Assistance Program
Public Engagement Activities • Downtown Restaurant Week Video Campaign • Shop Small Saturday
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• Economic Development Lunch and Learn Series • Downtown Love Gift Card Campaign • Social Media Impressions -Facebook Group
Total Annual Number of Active Economic Development Projects • Downtown Master Plan and 10 Year Strategic Plan (Old Jail Site) • DDA owned property – sold! • Downtown Art Master Plan • Wayfinding and Gateway Plan • Design Based Project, Plaza East
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Downtown Occupancy Rate •85% Public/Private Investment in Downtown • $352,300 Promotional Events • 75 Attendance at events Downtown • 22,950 Number of New Businesses Opening or Expanding •3 Number of Jobs Created •8
DDA Public/Private Partnerships • Chapel Hill News & Views • Greystone Power • Douglas County Sentinel • Douglas County Chamber of Commerce • Douglas County Economic Development Authority • Small Business Development Center • National Small Business Association • Keep Douglasville Beautiful • Douglasville/Douglas County Cultural Arts Council
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Tear-Off Maps & Perks Card (Grant Funded)
Money from this grant was used to produce Tear-Off Maps and Perks Cards. The Perks Card is a doublesided rack card that offers discounts to local restaurants and attractions to our visitors. Funded by the Regional Visitor Information Center Grant.
Heroes of Hospitality Program
Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) Initiatives Free Seed Program
Keep Douglasville Beautiful provided the Douglasville CVB with a variety of flowers and vegetables to share with the community. The CVB launched a virtual push on their website and social media outlets offering free seeds to the Douglasville community. Over 1,000 seed packets were mailed out during this program.
O’Neal Plaza Fence Gallery
The O’Neal Plaza Fence Gallery featured fine art & photography on O’Neal Plaza! This initiative showcased images from Douglasville & Douglas County and was a public display of art for all to enjoy.
The Heroes of Hospitality Program recognizes individuals who provide excellent customer service. The Douglasville CVB wants to recognize the individuals that go out of their way to make sure visitors to Douglasville have a great experience.
CVB Signature Events • Family Reunion Workshop • Behind the Veil Bridal Showcase • National Travel and Tourism Week
Rain Art
Rain Art was another public art project that the CVB partnered with the CAC on. Rain Art was created on O’Neal Plaza, the Douglasville Conference Center, Tributary, Arbor Place Mall, West Pines Golf Club and Jessie Davis Park. Each location has their own design and it only appears when it’s raining!
DOUGLASVILLE CONFERENCE CENTER New Organizations Dollar General Kellogg’s Georgia State University Bright from the start GA Dept of Early Care Georgia Libertarian Party Annual Conference Careers Centers of the Carolinas NPDES Training Institute NAACP of West Metro Georgia Municipal Association Atlanta Community Services Woolfson Eye Institute C1 I T0Y O F D O U G L A S V I L L E
Returning Meetings at the Douglasville Conference Center CEI Aetna Kaiser Georgia Automotive Manufacturers Association Fortune Builders Benton-Georgia Douglas County School System West Georgia Board of Realtors United Way of Atlanta Harrison Contracting Gordon Foods P G10
Community relations The primary focus of the Community Relations Department is to be the information link between Douglasville City Government and the citizens and stakeholders it serves. The Community Relations Department used 2019 to strategize the most effective ways to execute that focus. The tools and innovation developed, and ultimately perfected, allowed the department to effectively communicate with the public during the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in 2020. The new website that was developed in 2019 has been an essential tool throughout 2020. The website enhancements have made it easier to pass along important information about operational closings, COVID-19 testing sites, and updates from the Governor’s Office. The increased functionality of the website also allowed the Community Relations Department to create the COVID-19 Information Center. A “breaking news” banner atop the homepage was utilized as a guide to take visitors to the COVID-19 Information Center, which was updated each day. The Community Service Resource Center was also added to the site and provided detailed information on all organizations that provide social services within the Douglasville Community.
sheltering in place. The presentation of the Podcast was altered to a “quadcast” format where the panelists and guests were broadcast on the same screen and could be heard and seen at the same time. Special guests included senior-level Douglasville staff who provided operational updates, leaders from local businesses and community organizations, and doctors and administrators from local healthcare organizations like WellStar Douglas and Cobb and Douglas County Public Health. With listeners from across the United States, Europe, and Asia, the Douglasville Impact Community Podcast has been recognized as a leader in the government podcasting world. In 2020, the show earned an Award of Excellence in the Government Podcasting category from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts’ 26th Annual Communicator Awards! Perhaps the most efficient way the department has been able to inform and engage the Douglasville community is through its heightened social media presence. Except for the Police Department, Visit Douglasville, and the Douglasville Conference Center accounts, all the City’s Facebook pages were consolidated into one page. Separate groups for the Parks and Recreation, Keep Douglasville Beautiful, and Main Street Douglasville departments were created, while also creating groups for each City Ward. This allows members to follow a group that provides information targeted for their individual interests. In addition to the Facebook changes, the Community Relations Department has also expanded its following on other social media platforms. The City’s Instagram and Twitter pages have garnered a larger following as well as the City’s NextDoor platform. The Community Relations Department is committed to both telling and promoting the Douglasville story. It is focused on providing informative and engaging content, inclusive of everyone. We love hearing from the community and have room for everyone to contribute to the next chapter of the Douglasville story.
Despite being closed to the public for over half of 2020, the Community Relations Department was still able to interact with residents virtually. It was during this time that the Douglasville Impact Community Podcast emerged as a crucial tool. It provided accurate and up to date COVID-19 information, but it also served as a fun and positive escape from the anxieties associated with COVID-19 and
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public services “Teamwork divides the task and multiplies success,” Emma Taylor The City of Douglasville Public Service Department has 4 distinct teams – Sanitation, Fleet Maintenance, Street Maintenance and Facilities Maintenance – each with specific roles and responsibilities but all working together to provide the highest quality, public works services to the City of Douglasville. As part of this commitment, Public Services has made some improvements which will enhance the delivery of public works services to our community.
Public Services Facilities Update And…that’s a wrap – Public Services has moved into our two new facilities. The Maintenance Facility located at 8145 Cedar Mountain Road serves as the headquarters for the city’s Street, Sanitation and Fleet personnel and operations. The 22,830 sq. ft facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art ventilation system which automatically detects and removes harmful gases from the air; 14 ft bay doors and service pit which allows our largest fleet to be repaired inside during inclement weather; a 20,000 lb. equipment lift; an on-site wash bay and fueling station; standby generators which service the entire facility; a dedicated work area for street and traffic sign maintenance; and security cages/fire cabinets to house tools and materials.
Public Services implemented a department-wide, work management system utilizing processes which standardize information, incorporate task tracking, reduce redundancy and increase efficiency. To date, over 12,000 calls/email inquiries and requests have been entered with over 8,000 work orders generated. The Fleet Management department maintains and repairs all City of Douglasville vehicles and equipment ensuring a safe, efficient city fleet in support of operating departments. Assets managed include over 300 vehicles and specialty equipment consisting of automobiles, trucks, vans, backhoes, loaders, tractors, boom trucks, sanitation trucks and street sweepers. The department has implemented new fleet management technology designed to increase maintenance service tracking and scheduling; provide reliable maintenance cost tracking and identify repeat repairs. To date, over 737 work orders have been entered and completed. The new facilities and the innovative technology will help ensure our employees have the knowledge, tools and support - empowering them to provide the service and attention that every City of Douglasville resident, business, visitor and employee deserves.
The Administrative Office located at 8485 W. Courthouse Square houses the Public Service Administrative and Facilities Maintenance personnel. The renovation was designed to preserve the historical exterior of the building while integrating interior upgrades, creating a facility that is more functional and energy efficient. Technology Upgrades for Public Services C1I T2Y O F D O U G L A S V I L L E
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SPLOST PROJECTS UPDATE Contractors have completed the resurfacing of 85 streets citywide, improving driving conditions, safety and the overall aesthetics of the city’s roadways. Fairburn Road/I-20 Interchange landscaping project is underway with grading and landscape installation designed to create a more visually appealing corridor into the City of Douglasville. Once completed, the landscaping will include large trees, flowers and other hardscape features. Both projects were funded through Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) dollars.
SANITATION UPDATE Residential sanitation provides curbside, sanitation services to over 9,100 residents in our community. During the current fiscal year, crews have collected and disposed of over 13,650.00 tons of solid waste, yard waste and recycling materials. Two times each year, the Sanitation Department provides curbside collection of excess trash or items that are oversized. These special Spring and Fall Clean-up events are scheduled for the same weekday as the regular collection day for a City of Douglasville resident. Commercial sanitation provides a full complement of sanitation services to over 800 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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Parks and recreation The Parks Master Plan has proven to be a road map on the path of providing optimum recreational facilities and quality programs for the citizens of Douglasville. Based on the recommendations provided by LOSE Design, the department has completed 21% of the items outlined in the implementation plan. This plan outlines specific goals and objectives in areas of community engagement, programming, staffing, operations and park/facility assessment. Major goals completed are as follows: • Development of the Recreation Program Plan • Revamped the organizational structure of the department • Design renovation plans for Jessie Davis Park, Willing Workers Park and Mill Village Park With the development of the Recreation Program Plan, the department developed new innovative programs for the Spring and Summer season. Unfortunately, COVID-19 forced the department to postpone or cancel the majority of these programs. However, to ensure the citizens of Douglasville had safe programs and activities during the pandemic, several new programs were developed for the community. • #RecAtHome Campaign – a social media campaign that engaged followers to join in on daily activities they were able to perform at home. • Rec-in-a-Bag – Staff delivered bags filled with recreational activities to various neighborhoods for kids to enjoy at home. • Virtual Summer Camp – due to social distancing guidelines, summer camp was held virtually. This program allowed kids the opportunity to participate in their favorite camp activities while at home. Campers received a package of camp materials for each week to enjoy as they would at a physical summer camp.
Park Renovations HAWTHORNE RECREATION CENTER RENOVATION Following the 2019 restroom renovation, the Alice J. Minor Hawthorne Recreation Center located at Jessie Davis Park had a complete upgrade throughout the entire facility. Utilizing SPLOST funds, the following upgrades were completed before May 2020. Gymnasium: Complete refinishing of the existing maple wood floor displaying the name of the facility, city logo and creative artwork bordering the basketball court. Replacement of the basketball goals/backboards, mesh partition, scoreboards and permanent bleachers. These upgrades will enhance the experience of anyone utilizing the gym. Flooring: The sheet vinyl tile flooring, initially installed throughout the facility at opening, has been upgraded to luxury vinyl tile (LVT). LVT is a highperformance vinyl tile that adds depth, character, durability and ease of maintenance for high volume traffic areas. Kitchen: The kitchen appliances (oven range, ice machine) have been replaced with more modern equipment. The cabinets and countertops have been replaced with Corian solid surfaces. Ceiling Tiles/Paint/Lighting/Furniture: The entire facility has been painted. Light fixtures have been upgraded to energy efficient LED lighting. The ceiling tiles have been replaced with modern tiles that enhance the appearance as well as the acoustics of the rooms. Longtime residents and visitors to the facility will also notice the demolition of the original receptionist area being replaced with a new receptionist station and new furniture in the lobby. MILL VILLAGE PARK RENOVATION The groundbreaking for Mill Village was held on January 30, 2020. Mill Village Park is one of several park renovations outlined in the Parks Master Plan. The newly designed park includes a walking path, benches, a new playground and new pavilion. Mill Village Park is scheduled for completion July 2020.
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WEST PINES GOLF PERFORMANCE CENTER Completed in March 2020, the West Pines Golf Performance Center is the new hub for golf lessons, custom club fittings, club sales and club repairs/modifications. Prior to this project, lessons were weather dependent and seasonal, club sales were virtually non-existent, and most club repair requests had to be sent to other facilities. This amenity will provide visitors and club members the convenience of having any and all golfing needs at the same location JESSIE DAVIS PARK (OUTDOOR BASKETBALL COURTS) The Outdoor Basketball Courts project was a component of the overall renovation concept for Jessie Davis Park which will be implemented in the near future. This project included demolition of the existing courts and site preparation for new basketball courts with 4� inch thick concrete surfacing, basketball striping, colored acrylic surfacing and new basketball goals. These new basketball goals will provide more playable space and opportunity for the community than the original basketball courts. This project was completed in March 2020. CAPRA HIGHLIGHTS/TIMELINE The Parks and Recreation Department has been working diligently with the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) to obtain accreditation through the National Recreation and Park Association. This process began with a review of the 151 standards required to become an accredited agency. Over the past year, the parks team has worked hard compiling evidence of compliance to support each standard. The accreditation process is comprised of 4 phases. As of June 2020 the department completed Phase 3 of the accreditation process. The accreditation hearing will take place in October 2020. During this hearing the department will have the opportunity to receive feedback from the CAPRA visitors and find out if the agency is accredited. 1 P5G 1 5
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