The Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 was a positive game-changer for the 2008 Park Bond and for the Braves Stadium financing plan. 

1. The millage rate approved by the Board of Commissioners respected Park Bond 2008 funding without a tax increase.
 
2. The BoC restructured how the Braves stadium bond will be financed with the millage rate, so it can no longer be asserted that Cobb County is using all the Park Bond funds for the Stadium Bond.   

Thank you for your efforts to email, call and encourage the county to do the right thing with the $40 million Park Bond Cobb citizens voted for and overwhelmingly approved on November 4, 2008.  Your actions made a difference!

Chairman Boyce has championed the Park Bond voter-approved referendum that 2 previous Chairmen and the Board of Commissions neglected to fund for over 8 years. We thank Chairman Boyce and the current Board of Commissioners for the July 25 meeting results.  Chairman Boyce and other Commissioners have promised to fund the remainder of the Park Bond in a future budget, which is also possible without a tax increase simply by a continuation of the millage already available.

​The Finer Details:  On July 25, 2017, the Board of Commissioners decided to shift only a portion (.1 mills instead of .23 mills) of the Debt Service Fund millage toward the Braves stadium bond and fund the remainder from a diffferent source in the budget.   

Also at the July 25 meeting, $27.5 of the $40 million Park Bond 2008 Referendum was officially funded from the remaining millage of the Debt Service Fund (.13 mills), without a tax increase, and without shifting all the millage to the Braves stadium bond as had been planned since 2013 in the Cobb County - Braves stadium finance plan. That plan would have used the entire millage rate of the Debt Service Fund as one of the funding sources for the $400 million Stadium Bond, but before using a portion of that millage to fund the $40 million Park Bond as intended since 2008. 

To summarize, millage will stay for Park Bond 2008 funding as planned since 2008, when voters approved $40 million to preserve land as parks in our beautiful county.

For the past 8 years the county has delayed, denied and then actually diverted the exact millage funds intended to fulfill the 2008 Park Bond voter referendum into the Braves Stadium Bond.  ​There may be challenges in the county budget; however, to point to Park Bond 2008 as the root cause of a millage increase in 2017 is misleading and doesn't make any sense given the millage rate history.   

Video on the Millage Rate Increase Proposal:  Start around minute 4:00 to see the explanation of the .23 millage rate transfer intended for Park Bond 2008 into the new Braves Stadium Bond. ​

Letter to the Editor from the Marietta Daily Journal:  A park should be within a 10-minute walk for everyone

May 1, 2017

DEAR EDITOR:

Napoleon III came up with a plan to rebuild Paris. He was responsible for the great boulevards and the building and rebuilding of museums such as the Louvre, opera house, clean water and sanitation. But what really impressed me was his devotion to developing great, beautiful parks. He had an edict of a maximum 10-minute walk by any resident to the nearest park.

I have been advocating for this goal thinking that it was established by an enlightened community such as Minneapolis-Saint Paul. But this goal was established a bit earlier than I thought. It was in 1850. This should also be a goal for Cobb County.

We should also establish a goal of having all parks connected by trails. To fulfill the10-minute walk goal, it’s my thought that neighborhood parks of two to 10 acres should be given priority for purchase (as opposed to 100 acre-plus parks).

Because of overbuilding in east Cobb it will probably be difficult to construct the trails that join the parks or even the required number and location of the parks. Some creative thought may be required to do so. I would much rather have a neighborhood park within 10 minutes walking distance from anywhere in Cobb than the Braves Stadium.

Napoleon III wanted these parks so that Parisians could reduce their stress level by walking to, and relaxing in, a beautiful park. We should be provided with the same. Also, parks close to home provide a sense of community and an appreciation thereof.

If you agree, please contact your district commissioner and let him/her know. Also, please let me know of any of your suggestions or recommendations for improvement of Cobb parks and green space or any other item. Let me know by providing an online comment below.

Robert Roth
Marietta

By attending these upcoming meetings (see dates below), people can really impact the future direction Cobb takes on parks, trails and greenspace!  If you can't make any of the meetings, please answer this 2-question form and email it to Ed Czyscon.  

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 – Drop-in Open House
Open House
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Cobb County Civic Center
548 South Marietta Parkway
Marietta, GA  30060
 
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 – District 1
Public Input Meeting
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
North Cobb Senior Center
3900 South Main Street (inside Kennworth Park)
Acworth, GA  30101
 
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 – District 2
Public Input Meeting
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
East Cobb Library
4880 Lower Roswell Road
Marietta, GA  30068
 
Thursday, February 23, 2017 – District 3
Public Input Meeting
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
East Cobb Senior Center
3332 Sandy Plains Road
Marietta, GA  30066
 
Thursday, February 23, 2017 – District 4
Public Input Meeting
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Ron Anderson Community Center
3820 Macedonia Road
Powder Springs, GA  30127
  
Monday, February 27, 2017
Public Input Meeting
6:00 to 7:30 pm 
Northeast Cobb Community Center (Shaw Park)
3100 Jaycee Drive
Marietta, GA 30062 
 
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Public Input Meeting
6:00 to 7:30 pm
South Cobb Community Center (Lions Park)
620 Lions Club Drive
Mableton, GA 30126 

Here's the flyer listing all 7 dates.

Lose & Associates is a consulting firm Cobb County hired to help create a new Master Parks Plan.  In 2001, the same company helped Cobb create a Master Parks Plan, and it's time for an update.  At the public input meetings, the consulting firm will present a power point presentation where they talk about the master plan process, and discuss what a modern parks system looks like.  They will have boards displayed around the room (i.e. examples of parks facilities such as community parks, ball fields, recreation centers, etc. ) where attendees can “vote” with stickers for facilities that they would like to see in Cobb County parks.  Attendees will also have an opportunity to provide feedback in other ways – talking to the consultants one-on-one, and there will be comment cards where they can leave other comments. If you can't make any of the meetings, please answer this 2-question form and email it to Ed Czyscon. ​
 
Interested to Learn More?  Check out these resources!
A Cobb Parks Coalition summary of Cobb's parks & greenspace goals
​
Lose & Associates 2001 Parks Master Plan (sections 1-3)
Lose & Associates 2001 Parks Master Plan (sections 4-6)
Lose & Associates 2001 Parks Master Plan (sections 7-9)

It may be too soon to celebrate parks bond
January 19, 2017

DEAR EDITOR:
Cobb commissioners unanimously approved the new/old park bonds for $24.7 million, plus additional millions in fees and interest, however much that will be. New Chairman Mike Boyce said this is the only tax increase he will approve so the county can honor the 2008 park referendum approved by voters.

For those celebrating, what we are told will be the permanent addition of new green space to the county, I offer four points for your consideration.

First, at public meetings Cobb officials encouraged the “nomination” of properties for consideration by staff, whether the property owners happened to want to sell their land or not. I assume commissioners will use the hammer of eminent domain against any recalcitrant property owners who do not wish to part with their land for the public good. Anyone owning anything should think about this power of government to seize private property.

Second, I hope that speculators who bought land during the building boom will not succeed in unloading on the county economically worthless properties, such as flood plains, as has happened in the past. And I hope county staff and commissioners will not choose such properties for parks while bypassing authentic wilderness areas for future commercial and residential development with the intent of increasing economic development and the county tax base.

Third, I hope any new parks will actually remain parks and green space, that forests will not be bulldozed to make way for parking lots, tennis courts and baseball fields. If that happened, we would not have the acquisition of green space but only more of what Cobb already has in abundance.

Fourth, this project should give pause about the millions of dollars the school system spends for ball fields, stadiums and performing arts centers. This money is supposed to be earmarked for education, not sports. Now we are stuck with, “The recently completed (performing arts) center, part of a nearly $20 million dollar project at the school which also includes a new gym and upgrades to athletic facilities ...” There is $20 million for school athletics facilities and a glorified meeting room, which have nothing to do with academics, while the commissioners fret over raising not much more than that for permanent parks everyone can enjoy?

It may be too soon to celebrate the green space bonds and the honor and wisdom of government.

​Tony Cain
Austell

AJC Article:  Split vote likely over $24.7 million in Cobb County park bonds
By Meris Lutz

The Cobb County Commission appears divided over a proposal to issue $24.7 million in bonds to buy land for new parks.

The commission is scheduled to vote on the bond issuance at its regular meeting Tuesday.

Greenspace advocates have been pushing the county to issue $40 million in park bonds approved by voters in a 2008 referendum. Those bonds were never issued, and county officials say they cannot retroactively collect funds from previous years.

A list of potential properties was presented to commissioners behind closed doors last week. Although the list has not been made public, a copy obtained by the Marietta Daily Journal contains 13 properties throughout the county for consideration.

The list includes the 50-acre Rosewood Goat Farm on Baker Road in northwest Cobb. Absent from the list is a large East Cobb tract owned by Wylene Tritt that many residents hoped to see turned into a park.

Commission Chairman Tim Lee issued a statement cautioning against the bond issuance, saying it would require a millage increase and the county has not identified the land it would buy yet.

“There are simply too many unknowns attached to a $25 million commitment,” Lee said. “I believe it is reckless to rush to issue debt without a clear plan.”

According to estimates by interim County Finance Director Bill Volckmann, the bonds would necessitate a hike of .13 mills, though he said it could be less.

Commissioner Bob Ott had no comment but has previously stated his opposition to approving the bonds before the final properties have been identified for purchase.

Commissioner Lisa Cupid said she was supportive of buying more greenspace, but declined to indicate how she would vote.

“I’m supportive of funding what we do have, which is better than not funding anything at all,” Cupid said.
Commissioner JoAnn Birrell also said the bonds should be issued, even if it means raising taxes.

“To me, the voters spoke in 2008,” Birrell said. “I don’t want to raise taxes either but when you have a referendum, the voters are aware that there’s a bond money tax that’s going to be associated with that.”

Jennifer Burke of the Cobb Parks Coalition called the proposed bond issuance a great “first step,” and that her organization would continue to push for the $40 million voters approved.

“The referendum has to be honored,” Burke said.

Burke said it was especially concerning that the county would not issue the full amount after shifting debt service on existing park bonds to pay for the new Braves stadium, rather than issuing a new set of bonds for greenspace.

Commissioner Bob Weatherford could not be reached for comment.
 

Marietta Daily Journal article:
13 properties on county parks list
Jon Gargis

TIER 1

1. 2820 Baker Road, 54, Charline Cambron, 1
2. 5151 Brownsville Road, 82.8, Gerald & Beverly Wallace, 4
3. 3801 Ebenezer Road, 50, Thomas & Betty Phillips, 3
4. 4331 Burnt Hickory Road, 88.4, Tommy Kemp, 1
5. 1260 Cheatham Hill Road, 58.4, Albert & Saundra Fleming, 1
6. 675 Smyrna-Powder Springs Road, 10, Lester Wiley, 4
7. 3155 Village Lane Place, 5, Wesley Leach, 4
8. 3156 Village Lane Place, 6.3, Gene & Myra Brookshire, 4
9. 1065 Villa Rica Road, 29.9 Gregory & Howard Chastain, 1

TIER 2
10. 451 Anderson Road, 33, Suzanne Schmidt, 1
11. 4700 Dallas Highway, 30, James B. McCloud, 1
12. 4701 Post Oak Tritt Road, 14.1, Kenneth Clary, 2
13. 201 Fowler Road, 31.9, Mike P. Fowler, 4

Nearly 494 acres of land across Cobb County is being eyed to become some of the county’s newest parks and green space, according to a list of properties obtained by the MDJ.

The list includes 13 parcels scattered across the county, the largest of which is an 88.4-acre piece on Burnt Hickory Road near Pinewood Drive. It’s one of the six listed properties within Commissioner Bob Weatherford’s District 1, which includes most of the northwestern portion of the county. Those six properties total 293.7 acres, or nearly 60 percent of the total acreage on the list.

The list divides the 13 properties into two tiers, likely to indicate the priorities for obtaining the properties. Nine properties are listed in Tier 1, totaling 384.8 acres. Four of the Tier 1 parcels are in Weatherford’s district, while District 4, which includes the southwestern portion of the county and is represented by Commissioner Lisa Cupid, has four properties.

Commissioner JoAnn Birrell’s District 3, which includes northeast Cobb, has just one property — a 50-acre parcel on Ebenezer Road near Blackwell Road — while Commissioner Bob Ott’s District 2, which includes Cumberland and parts of east Cobb, has no properties listed on the Tier 1 list.

Four properties totaling 109 acres are listed in Tier 2, the largest of which is a 33-acre Anderson Road parcel near Burnt Hickory Road in Weatherford’s district.

Ott’s district’s sole piece of land on the entire list is on Tier 2 and is a 14.1-acre parcel on Post Oak Tritt Road not far from McPherson Road. It’s also not far from Tritt Elementary School.

The list’s second tier also includes a 30-acre piece on Dallas Highway in Weatherford’s district, and a nearly 32-acre plot on Fowler Road in Cupid’s district; no properties from Birrell’s district are on the list’s second tier.

The smallest properties on the entire list are two pieces on Village Lane Place, of 6.3 and 5 acres, near Smyrna Powder Springs Road and Birney Elementary School. Both of these properties in Cupid’s district are in Tier 1.

Absent from the list is the nearly 54-acre Tritt property, which is located adjacent to East Cobb Park on Roswell Road. The parcel had been at the center of a lawsuit against the county after Cobb commissioners in March 2015 denied Atlanta-based Isakson Living’s request to rezone the land for a senior living project.
The suit was dropped in September. A day earlier, the property’s owner, Wylene Tritt, sent a letter to county officials asking that the county consider purchasing her property to use as a park. Several green space proponents have also called for the county to buy the land and turn it into east Cobb’s next park.

County commissioners last week were made aware of the list of properties recommended by the county’s recreation board to become Cobb’s next parks.

The county held a public nomination process from late January through April 15, with 166 properties nominated for purchase by the county to increase green space. The recreation board was tasked with narrowing that list down and presenting its recommended properties to commissioners.

That pared-down list was presented to Cobb commissioners behind closed doors following their Oct. 24 morning work session. The next evening and prior to the MDJ obtaining the list, Commission Chairman Tim Lee said county officials would not be releasing the list in the near future.

“Neither the nominated properties nor the recommended properties will be released to the public at this time to ensure that the properties can be properly reviewed and that the potential purchase of real estate will remain economical for our citizens,” Lee said, according to a copy of his remarks provided by the county. “We are committed to proceeding in a manner that does not bring the property owners any unwanted attention or artificially drive up land values.”

Lee later in the week told the MDJ that the timeline for releasing the list of recommended properties would depend on the amount of time it takes for commissioners to agree on properties to visit, actually visiting them, coming to a consensus on a final list for potential purchase and negotiating a final purchase price with property owners.

“It is unlikely that all of this can be accomplished in the next eight weeks,” Lee said.

Such a timeline would extend the process into Lee’s expected successor’s term in office. Mike Boyce is expected to succeed Lee in January after topping the incumbent in July’s Republican primary runoff; no Democratic candidates qualified for the office, leaving Boyce unopposed in the Nov. 8 general election.

The compiled list, which was obtained by the MDJ Wednesday, is meant to be used to guide the county’s purchase of parkland using a voter-approved bond issuance. In November 2008, two-thirds of Cobb voters approved a $40 million parks bond, but the bonds were never issued by then-county Chairman Sam Olens due to a tanking economy and a tax increase he said would come as a result of the bonds’ issuance.

Because of the passage of time and the language of the 2008 referendum, the county’s finance director has said Cobb would no longer be able to collect the full $40 million for park land from the 2008 bond were it issued today.

Cobb residents who have been proponents of increased green space said the county’s choice to not release the list bucks the trend set in previous years. In the most recent example, the public in October 2009 got to see the list of 29 properties recommended for purchase by the parks bond citizen advisory committee.
But Cobb Support Services Director Eddie Canon said the 2009 list was not released until the decision was made not to issue the bond, while a similar list of properties in 2006 was released only after properties had been purchased.

County officials have also said that this year’s list of recommended properties is not being released as the information remains privileged because it deals with real estate matters.

West Cobb resident Paul Paulson, who founded the Cobb Parks Coalition to promote the county’s $40 million parks bond, said he would like to see the list of properties be made public.

“The argument that they’re using now, basically that when they’re involved in real estate negotiations they can keep the negotiations quiet because they don’t want the prices to go up, only applies when they’re actually involved in the negotiations. There are no negotiations — this is simply a list of properties for consideration,” Paulson said. “Once they start the negotiations and choose one of those properties, then they can keep that quiet.”

Paulson said he believes the county’s holding back of the details of the recommended properties shows a lack of importance placed on the issue of acquiring green space.

“For (the county) to now keep it quiet, to me, indicates that this is not a high-priority issue, to go ahead and save some of the rapidly disappearing tracts that give people a sense of place, especially in west Cobb County, there are all kinds of rezonings for them out here — pastures and beautiful spots where people on their way home from a busy day fighting traffic get a little bit of solace and see what it was like 100 years ago,” Paulson said. “It’s part of their home.”

​An open letter to the Cobb Board of Commissioners on parks bonds​
Sep 21, 2016

Mr. Chairman/Commissioners:

As a supporter of the 2008 Parks Bond initiative since day one and having heard the proposed 2017 budget discussions of Aug. 23 and no response to public comment on the matter at the Sept. 13 Board of Commissioners meeting, I am concerned about the lack of results in putting Cobb County voters’ authorization of November 2008 back on track. As you understand better than I, this is mighty “late in the game” of finalizing the 2017 budget, having nothing to show for all that’s been written and said about making good on county leadership’s commitment established by the 2008 referendum decision.

Unless I am mistaken, only two commissioners have expressed any real support for finding the solution in 2017. As I understand the others’ views: A do-over on the referendum is not right; packaging it into a SPLOST initiative that can’t be voted on before March next year and then actually resourced many months later is nearly as wrong as the idea of starting all over; and then leaving it entirely for the next chairman to deal with ... what is up with that?

In a way, it’s unfortunate that the recreation board’s effort you directed won’t be complete before late October. But that’s not to say that you can’t commit funding in the 2017 budget to act on their findings and recommendations. And God forbid that another cycle of volunteer citizen effort of this scale at your behest could be wasted.

As I pointed out earlier, the decision was made in 2008: $40 million. A millage rate increase to cover it is not anathema to me and surely a majority of Cobb taxpayers would share that view if that’s what it were to come to. Wouldn’t you go for it rather than cut a different line on the budget to accommodate it? The only question remaining should be which properties to save from development.

So I wrap this up with a plea to make the $40 million dollar green space acquisition happen without further delay and a thank you in advance. I am confident you will come up with the right answer. Thank you for your time.

Dave McDaniel
Mableton

​

Full $40M park bond should be funded immediately
Sep 8, 2016

RE: Funding of $40 million Park Bond - MDJ Around Town, Aug. 6

Dear Commissioner (JoAnn) Birrell,
​
I could not agree with you more. The full $40 million Park and Greenspace bond should be funded ASAP! You state that $19 million is left in the 2008 bond so just divert $21 million from some other source such as the water system or our property taxes to fully fund the bond. The BOC obviously had no problem diverting funds from the water system to the general fund. Also, absconding with, without our permission, almost $9 million per year for 30 years to a private organization, the Braves, from our property taxes. With the Park Bond, you were given our permission with an overwhelming vote of 67 percent in favor of the $40 million. Since the BoC funded the Braves with $400 million it should be a snap for the BoC to come up with (divert) a paltry $21 million.

In a recent opinion article in the MDJ, Mr. Yarbrough compared Chairman Lee with Mr. Iacocca of Ford Motor Co. He said that the Braves may turn out to be Lee’s Mustang. Am now beginning to believe that it may be his Edsel!
​
Robert F Roth
Marietta
​

A question of honor
Sep 6, 2016

DEAR EDITOR:

Eight years ago, a promise was made by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners to its citizens to abide by the results of a referendum which unambiguously asked whether the board ought to issue a bond of indebtedness in the amount of $40 million for the purchase of land to be used for public parks. Sixty- seven percent — a supermajority — of those voting answered in the affirmative. Yet eight years later, no action has been taken to comply with this mandate, and the latest working budget allocates no money for park land. The promise has not been kept.

This is a question of honor. A promise has been made by Cobb County which it can and must keep. Failure to do so flouts the will of a supermajority.

Norman Fagge
​
​

Marietta Daily Journal Letter to the Editor: A question of honor

DEAR EDITOR:

Eight years ago, a promise was made by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners to its citizens to abide by the results of a referendum which unambiguously asked whether the board ought to issue a bond of indebtedness in the amount of $40 million for the purchase of land to be used for public parks.

Sixty- seven percent — a supermajority — of those voting answered in the affirmative. Yet eight years later, no action has been taken to comply with this mandate, and the latest working budget allocates no money for park land. The promise has not been kept.

This is a question of honor. A promise has been made by Cobb County which it can and must keep. Failure to do so flouts the will of a supermajority.

Norman Fagge
Marietta

Question: How can the County have their cake & eat it too? Put another way, how can the County fully fund $40 million Park Bond 2008 Referendum and fund the $400 million Braves stadium bond?   


Answer:  Although the Braves stadium deal has a unique & complex payment plan that shifts tax money from the not-yet-funded 2008 Park Bond into the Braves bond, the Board can still fund Park Bond 2008 with taxes recently reduced in July 2016 by restoring those earmarked taxes in September for the 2017 Budget.  

Call or send a quick email to the Commissioners here.  The public is also invited to comment on the 2017 Budget on September 13 at 9:00 AM and September 27 at 7:00 PM.  Members of the Cobb Parks Coalition will be there, so please join us!

• The preliminary 2017 Budget was presented on August 23, 2016 at the Board of Commissioners Work Session. In the proposed budget, the Debt Service in the General Fund increases by 14,293%  but only for the $400 million Braves Stadium Bond.  See the county's PowerPoint image below.  

= You can watch the entire 2017 Budget presentation here, and view the entire 2017 Budget PowerPoint here.  Park Bond 2008 discussion starts at 1:07 on the video =​​
​

• As it happens, the $40 million Park Bond 2008 obligation is not included in the proposed budget.  Many Commissioners voiced some support during the August 23 meeting for adding Park Bond 2008 funding into the 2017 Budget, but it isn't included yet.  Call or send a quick email to encourage the Commissioners to do the right thing. 
  
  
• As we know, Cobb County connected taxes from 'repaid' Park Bonds to the Braves stadium.   However, the $40 million Park Bond 2008 Referendum approved by 65% of the electorate has not yet been funded.  

​From the Cobb County Braves FAQ Page:  
"Will my property taxes be used to pay for this (the new Braves stadium)? Currently .33 mills of your property taxes pay for the parks bonds that were issued in 1996, 2007 and 2008. The last of those bonds will be paid off in 2017 and 2018.  The millage will then be shifted to the General Fund when these bonds expire to raise an equivalent amount of revenues of $8.67 million. Those monies will then be used to pay for bonds to finance SunTrust Park construction. The average amount of .33 mills per household is $26 per year and this shift of funding will not impact other government services such as police, libraries, parks and other services."
​

​

• The full $40 million Park Bond 2008 amount can & should be issued. We maintain that any assertion that only a percentage of the $40 million is available is incorrect because Park Bond 2008 Referendum was not funded and no bonds have been issued yet, so there is no repayment schedule to follow.  The Park Bond was delayed due to the economy, so the bonds should simply be funded now to purchase property.  See the front page MDJ article from last Sunday.
  
  
• Park Bond 2008 should be started this fiscal year with a new repayment schedule beginning on October 1 to be ready for purchasing properties the Parks Department selects this October. 

• When the Budget is adopted on September 27, the Board can have both Park Bond 2008 & the Braves stadium fully funded, if the earmarked Park Bond 2008 tax money is restored to the 2017 Budget.  Send a quick email to the Board of Commissioners asking them to do the right thing by voters.
  
  
• ​Park Bond 2008 would save hundreds of acres of ideal parkland yet add only $8 a year for the average homeowner.