City Government

City Council Passes Resolution Strongly Urging Everyone to Wear Face Masks

Published

5 years ago

July 27, 2020

On Thursday, July 23, during a Special Called Meeting, the Peachtree Corners City Council unanimously passed a resolution urging residents to wear a face mask or face covering when visiting public places, such as retail shops, grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants and other venues where people cannot practice or maintain social distancing.

Additionally, the resolution urges all businesses and organizations located within the city to require employees and customers to wear cloth face coverings in accordance with the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommendations and CDC guidelines. Those guidelines include social distancing, washing hands frequently and wearing a face mask or face covering.

By encouraging residents to wear masks while inside public places, or where maintaining a 6foot social distance is not possible, the city council hopes that residents will do their part to stop the recent surge in cases, both within the county and statewide. This resolution does not require people to wear a face covering but is designed to encourage people to do so while visiting enclosed public places and where social distancing is not possible.

“The resolution is intended to protect our citizens and those who work in the city,” said Mayor Mike Mason. “Everyone has a right to feel safe and comfortable in public, whether it’s to go to work or to shop. Simply put, wearing face coverings in public will help protect the health of our community by reducing the spread of the coronavirus.”

Gov. Brian Kemp’s Executive Order dated April 2, 2020, while it was written to protect the health, safety and welfare of the state’s residents and visitors, it does not require face masks or face coverings be worn. However, the White House Coronavirus Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), maintains that one of the best ways to mitigate exposure to and the spread of COVID-19 is to wear a face mask.

On July 15, 2020 the governor issued an executive order that restricts local and county governments from passing an ordinance or law that is more restrictive that the state’s executive order. Thus, the governor’s order effectively preempts a local government from passing laws requiring that face masks be worn within its borders.

The city’s resolution also expresses strong support for the State of Georgia to either join the increasing number of states requiring residents and guests to wear face masks or to recognize the constitutional and statutory authority of local governments to enact and enforce orders, ordinances or regulations that are necessary to protect the public during a declared public health emergency, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The resolution does not apply to those engaged in solitary outdoor activities such as walking, running or bicycling, riding in a personal vehicle and while drinking and eating. Other exceptions to wearing a face covering include children under the age of 8. The resolution also makes an exclusion for situations in which wearing face coverings would create a greater health, safety or security risk.

The resolution is effective July 23, 2020.

See full resolution below.

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PEACHTREE CORNERS, GEORGIA

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the City of Peachtree Corners (“City”), Georgia, are charged with the protection of public health, safety, and the welfare of the citizens of the City; and

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic; and

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020 the President of the United States announced a national emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, on March 14, 2020 Governor Brian Kemp declared a public health state of emergency to address the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, on April 2, 2020 the Governor signed an Executive Order to Ensure a Safe and Healthy Georgia (Executive Order 04.02.20.01) that requires, inter alia, residents and visitors of the State of Georgia to practice social distancing and sanitation in accordance with guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and makes the failure to practice social distancing and sanitation in accordance thereof a misdemeanor offense; and

WHEREAS, on April 3, 2020the White House Coronavirus Task Force and the CDC announced that, in addition to practicing social distancing and sanitation, wearing a cloth face covering in public settings represented one of the best ways to mitigate exposure to and the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, subsequent to Executive Order 04.02.20.01, the Governor has issued a series of Executive Orders which amend and revise the temporary action necessary and appropriate to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Georgia’s residents and visitors; however, to date, there is no requirement for Georgia’s residents and visitors to wear a cloth face covering in public settings in accordance with White House Coronavirus Task Force recommendations and CDC guidelines; and

WHEREAS, on July 15, 2020 the Governor issued Executive Order 07.15.20.01, that purports to suspend, with the exception of orders issued pursuant to Georgia Code Section 38-3-60 et seq., any state, county, or municipal law, order, ordinance, rule, or regulation that requires persons to wear face coverings, masks, face shields, or any other Personal Protective Equipment while in places of public accommodation or on public property, to the extent they are more restrictive than the aforementioned Order; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) reports that on March 14, 2020, the date the Governor declared a public health state of emergency, there were 1,729 cumulative COVID-19 cases recorded in Georgia; and

WHEREAS, GDPH reports that as of July 23, 2020 the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Georgia has increased to 156,588, with 14,442 of those cases recorded in Gwinnett County; and

WHEREAS, as of July 23, 2020, orders requiring face covers in total or in part are in place state-wide in at least twenty-eight (28) states and in many local communities in the United States; and

WHEREAS, in increasing numbers, Georgia’s largest retailers, grocery stores, and other commercial establishments, many having locations within the City’s corporate limits, are requiring workers and patrons to, among other COVID-19 mitigation measures, wear cloth face coverings in accordance with the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommendations and CDC guidelines; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the City of Peachtree Corners have determined a city-wide standard on the wearing of face coverings by the City’s residents and visitors, is a paramount necessity to protect the community from the COVID-19 pandemic which threatens the safety and health of residents and the local economy.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Mayor and Council of the City of Peachtree Corners express strong support for the State of Georgia to either join the increasing number of states requiring residents and guests to wear cloth face coverings in accordance with the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommendations and CDC guidelines, or to recognize the authority of local governments, pursuant to their statutory powers delegated by the legislature, and the inherent power of local governments to enact and enforce orders, ordinances, rules, or regulations necessary for emergency management purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic, to include those requiring persons to wear cloth face coverings in accordance with the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommendations and CDC guidelines; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Mayor and Council of the City of Peachtree Corners urge all businesses, establishments, corporations, non-profit corporations, and organizations located within the City to require employees and customers to wear cloth face coverings in accordance with the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommendations and CDC guidelines; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Mayor and Council of the City of Peachtree Corners urge all residents and guests to wear cloth face coverings in accordance with the White House Coronavirus Task Force and CDC guidelines in any indoor or outdoor environment in which people cannot practice or maintain social distancing.

Reasonable exceptions to the wearing of cloth face coverings include:

Children under the age of eight (8)
People who cannot wear face coverings due to diagnosed medical conditions
People whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a face covering
While eating or drinking
When complying with the directions of law enforcement or for the purposes of verifying someone’s identity while banking, purchasing alcohol, tobacco, or prescription drugs
With family or household members in a domestic setting
While in a personal motor vehicle
While in a swimming pool
While speaking for a broadcast or an audience

SO RESOLVED AND EFFECTIVE, this the 23rd day of July, 2020

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City Government

Councilmember Eric Christ: 2025 Peachtree Corners Municipal Elections

Published

4 weeks ago

March 3, 2025

Peachtree Corners Magazine staff

A white man with glasses, wearing a dark colored jacket walking in the road alongside a line of vintage cars.

Source: Peachtree Corners Post 2 Councilmember Eric Christ’s recent newsletter.

Peachtree Corners Municipal Elections Tuesday, November 4 in white font on a blue background.

On Tuesday, November 4, we will have municipal elections here in the City of Peachtree Corners for three council seats. [And] for the first time since 2013, there will be a state-wide election on the same day as our city general election.

The state-wide election is to fill two seats on the Public Service Commission, which regulates Georgia Power and other utilities.

For the PSC election, the Gwinnett County Board of Elections will have all 156 county precincts open on November 4. Historically, Peachtree Corners has had a single voting location for city elections — at City Hall.

If we do the same this year, citizens who want to vote in both the PSC and the City Council elections will need to go to two places to cast their ballots.

A few years ago, I convinced the County Board of Elections to remove their prohibition against the Gwinnett Elections Department managing city elections. (Every county surrounding Gwinnett already offered this service to their cities.)

This means there is the potential of adding our city council elections to the county ballot.

I would like to hear your thoughts on the pros and cons of combining our city council races with the county’s for this year’s elections.

Please complete my brief survey by clicking here.

To sign up for Councilmember Christ’s newsletter or find him on social media, visit linktr.ee/votechrist.

You can read more from his latest newsletter updates here and here.

City Government

City of Peachtree Corners Receives Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

Published

2 months ago

January 31, 2025

Peachtree Corners Magazine staff

For the eighth year in a row, the City of Peachtree Corners has been esteemed with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. This award was presented by the Georgia Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the City’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget submission.

The award represents a significant achievement by the entity. It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. To receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a:

policy document
financial plan
operations guide
communications device

Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories and in the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories to receive the award.

Certificate of Recognition

When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual(s) or department designated as being primarily responsible for having achieved the award.

“Congratulations to the entire finance team on receiving this award,” said City Manager Brian Johnson.

“This recognition is a testament to our team’s hard work, professionalism and commitment to excellence.”

There are over 1,700 participants in the Budget Awards Program. The most recent Budget Award recipients, along with their corresponding budget documents, are posted quarterly on GFOA’s website.

Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

About the GFOA

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources and practical research for more than 21,000 members and the communities they serve.

About the City of Peachtree Corners, Georgia

As the heart of what is being called #SiliconOrchard in the metro Atlanta region, Peachtree Corners is a vibrant municipality that’s home to more than 45,000 residents and an innovation hub that houses some of the world’s most disruptive technology companies.

As the United States’ premier smart city powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G, Peachtree Corners serves as the model for how government and private industry can better collaborate to create a better future for society and business.

From the world’s first deployment of teleoperated e-scooters to fully autonomous shuttles being utilized by actual residents, and from a solar roadway to the largest electric vehicle charging hub in the region, Peachtree Corners is where the most future-forward Internet of Things (IoT) and sustainable technologies come to life for the benefit of its people and the world.

For more information, visit peachtreecornersga.gov.

City Government

BRACK: How one city operates without property tax

Published

2 months ago

January 30, 2025

Courtesy of Elliott Brack's Gwinnett Forum

Peachtree Corners City Hall in the evening with flag display, signage and lights.

Some people lament paying taxes. They don’t understand that taxes allow us to live in a more civilized manner, helping and protecting us all along. That’s why I don’t mind paying reasonable taxes for the safety of everyday living.

Many don’t recognize it, but you are often paying a small tax without realizing it as you go about your everyday business….but it’s not called a tax.

White man with white hair and glasses wearing a suit with a red tie, smiling. Beside the image is the name Ellliott Brack in all-caps blue letters on a white background.

It’s called a “fee.” Each time you pay your power or utility bill and cable bill, your insurance premium, when you rent a hotel room or car…and other ways…you are providing a few cents or dollars to help fund mostly local government.

The newly-minted City of Mulberry (and previously Peachtree Corners) will run its government without taxing property owners paying a tax to fund its operations. How so? Entirely from fees.

Let’s visit what the other city without property taxes, Peachtree Corners, is doing.

White man with short brown hair and facial hair wearing a suit, smiling at the camera with an American flag behind him. — Salley

We talked with Cory Salley, who is the finance director for Peachtree Corners. He sent along a graphic which shows where Peachtree Corners gets its funding, as well as how it is spent. (See graphic.)

For the most part, Peachtree Corners is funded by fees. The biggest comes from Georgia Power Company, paying $2.8 million in fees for the city for 2025. Other utilities include $450,000 from Atlanta Gas Light Company; $250,000 from Comcast; $70,000 from Direct TV; and $42,000 from AT&T. (That last figure was interesting, in effect, showing how few people have land-line telephones anymore.) Altogether, utility fees brought in $4.3 million in Peachtree Corners for 2024.

Another bucket of fees include $3.8 million in insurance fees. This comes in one check from the Department of Revenue, which collects insurance fees for all cities.

Each business in Peachtree Corners pays an occupational business license tax. With lots of professional offices in the city, these businesses contribute $4.4 million to the city coffers.

Infographic of the FY2025 Budget at a Glance for Peachtree Corners

Other fee collections for 2024:

Alcoholic licenses and sales: $1 million.
Zoning and land development permits: $1.4 million.
SPLOST funds on sales within Peachtree Corners: $10 million.
Automobile and vehicle purchases: $1.7 million. This is interesting: no matter where you buy an automobile in Georgia, part of the sales tax reverts to the city where you live.

Then there are other funds coming to the city; stormwater fees, grants, solid waste, etc. Altogether, it added up to approximately a $40 million income to run the city.

Some specifics and the way they are figured:

Real estate transfer taxes: This tax is imposed at the rate of $1 on the first $1,000 and 10 cents on each additional $10 on any conveyance of real property when the value of the interest transferred exceeds $100.
Distilled Spirits—up to 22 cents per liter on package sales and up to 3 percent of the sale price of a drink on sales to the public;
Wine—up to 22 cents per liter; and
Malt Beverages—up to $6.00 per bulk container (no more than 15.5 gallons) to be paid by the wholesaler and up to 5 cents per 12 ounces when sold in bottles, cans or other containers.
A municipality may levy a business license tax on depository financial institutions (such as a bank.) The maximum rate of this tax is 0.25 percent.
Hotel-motel tax: a municipality may levy a hotel-motel tax at a rate of 3 percent or less or at a rate of 5, 6, 7, or 8 percent. (Yes, let the out-of-towner pay!)

Perhaps this gives you an idea of how a city, like Mulberry in the future, can operate without property taxes.

Have a comment? Send to: elliott@elliottbrack

Written by Elliott Brack

This material is presented with permission from Elliott Brack’s GwinnettForum, an online site published Tuesdays and Fridays. To become better informed about Gwinnett, subscribe (at no cost) at GwinnettForum.