Norcross Policy Work Session, Special-Called Meeting: Monday, July 22

The Norcross City Council and Mayor Bucky Johnson will meet Monday (July 22) for a special called meeting and the council's monthly policy work session.

The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. in the second-floor conference room of Norcross City Hall, located at 65 Lawrenceville St. 

The special-called meeting calls for a decision to be made on which company and how much money will be spent for constructing Norcross' citywide Sidewalk Accessbility improvements though the Community Development Block Grant. Five bids have been received, and the council notes summarize the three with the lowest bids. The city recommends accepting the lowest bidder, whose offer is $490,000.

Here are a few highlighted agenda items for the police work session (Read the full agenda here): 

• The Millage Rate: City Manager Rudolph Smith suggests that the property tax millage rate be increased from 6.424 mills to 6.552 mills for 2013 due to the decrease in personal property value. Last year, the rate stayed the same. The increase would allow the city to collect the same amount of taxes collected in 2012, the agenda says.
• The Hotel/Motel Fund Discussion: For some years, the city has been using the Hotel/Motel fund to pay $3,000 for certain events, such as the Norcross Car Show and the Norcross Arts Fest, held in the city. It's being proposed that those funds no longer be available to the same events so that newer events that aren't as established can take advantage of it. The topic has created some heat among event planners and those running the events, with many speaking out against the fund being taken away from them at the June policy work session. 
• Cotton Gin Uses: The Downtown Development Authority is proposing it lease the old Cotton Gin, which the city just purchased. Under the DDA, members can figure out how best to utilize the Lawrenceville Street building. Their proposal in the work session agenda outlines what different businesses could go in there: small, art-centric businesses; an upscale art supplier; a production house; a professional building for doctors, architects and the like; and more.
• The old Norcross Art Center proposal: Lionheart Theatre is proposing to use the old Rectory, where the Norcross Art Center had been until December 2012, as an "education and arts nexus ... [that] will bring new and unique classes, events and innovative ideas and approaches to arts and culture." , Anna Balkan Gallery also is in the mix, and the proposal states that the jewelry business will sponsor ongoing marketing efforts, donate $500 of products for the gift shop monthly and pay for rent. An outline of the business plan can be viewed in the agenda.
• New Proposed Gateway Signage Projects: The idea of adding an LED sign has not died out completely. Community Development Directory Chris McCrary has set up a proposal to put in static, non-electronic panels at two locations: Holcomb Bridge Road and Buford Highway, and North Peachtree Street and Medlock Bridge Road. While it wouldn't initially be digital, the city could later internally wire the signs to install LEDs.