AlZ Regional Commission 2005 Annual Report

HT394 .A8 A9a 2005 ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sam Olens — Chair Randy Mills —Vice Chair Shirley Franklin — Secretary Dave Williams — Treasurer Judy Waters — Parliamentarian

Julie Keeton Arnold Gene Hatfield Charles Bannister Gene Hobgood Phillip Beard Vernon Jones Eldrin Bell Tad Leithead Kip Berry Lorene Lindsey C. J. Bland Roy Middlebrooks Clark Boddie Jim Millirons Mike Byrd Clair Muller Leonard Church Gary Peet Tread Davis Dan Post, Jr. Bill Dewrell Roger Santi Greg Dunn David Sjoquist Todd Ernst Ken Steele Davis Fox Mickey Thompson Rob Garcia Aaron Turpeau Karen Handel Jere Wood Jason Harper Tom Worthan

Charles Krautler — Director ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION 40 COURTLAND STREET, NE ATLANTA, 30303

February 7, 2006

Dear Regional Partner:

I am pleased to enclose the Atlanta Regional Commission's 2005 Annual Report for your review.

The theme of this report, "Engage for Regional Success," captures the spirit of civic vision and engagement that has made the Atlanta region such a vibrant, growing and successful metro area.

The Atlanta region continues to grow, adding nearly a 100,000 new residents in the past year, alone. While managing this rapid growth, ARC has made great progress towards key regional goals including convening a task force that led to fonnation of the region's first Transit Planning Board, expanding the successful Livable Centers Initiative, providing job training and assistance to displaced workers and Katrina evacuees, serving older citizens and assisting thousands with Medicare Part D and insuring clean and adequate water supplies for our future growth.

We appreciate your continued support of the work the Atlanta Regional Commission is doing on behalf of all regional citizens. If I can ever be of service to you, please do not hesitate to call upon me.

Sincerely,

Charles Krautler Director

404-463-3100 FAX 404-463-3105 WWW.ATLANTAREGIONAL.COM "Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labors of my fellow men, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to as

much as I have received." —ALBERT EINSTEIN

Since the early days of this community, it's been the culture of our citizens to get involved to make things better. Business success was always a goal, but civic engagement became the true measure of inspired leadership in metro Atlanta. Today, that commitment to civic engagement is more important than ever before, as the Atlanta region braces for some 2.3 million additional residents during the next 25 years. In planning for a world-class region, ARC undertook some ground-breaking efforts in 2005 to engage others for regional progress.

Through ARC's ENVISION 6 planning initiative, citizens are helping to determine the best scenarios for designing our communities and region through 2030, when we forecast our population to reach 6 million. ENVISION 6 will then determine how to link that land planning more closely with transportation systems to best serve our citizens. It's remarkable to think that only about 50 percent of the built environment of metro Atlanta 2030 exists today. We have the chance through this planning effort to enhance and elevate our region.

On another critical front, the year-long Regional Transit Institutional Analysis convened all major transit system representatives and related agencies, yielding recommendations including formation of the region's first Transit Planning Board. We believe that the level of cooperation exhibited through this analysis bodes very well for the future of transit in our region.

ARC's Livable Centers Initiative expanded to continue its support for quality growth studies and enhancements in not only town and employment centers, but entire corridors. To date, nearly 50 communities have received grants to engage residents in study and improvement of their mobility and livability. Also, local communities continued to benefit from ARC's Community Choices programs and resources, including the Community Planning Academy and Quality Growth Toolkits.

ARC[s Aging and Workforce professionals continued to break new ground in providing services to those in need, whether they be seniors grappling with the new Medicare Part D options or Gulf Coast evacuees looking for job search assistance.

-A" new quarterly TV show, "The Shape of Things to Come," was launched to better inform regional citizens about the top issues facing our region and how they might get more involved. It's airing on all county and city cable stations, COMCAST and WPBA-TV, Channel 30.

ifi 2006, ARC will continue its work in collaboration with many other regional partners to be a catalyst for regional progress. Our leadership building efforts through the Regional Leadership Institute, the LINK city visits program and the Model Atlanta Regional Commission youth leadership program will continue to involve as many citizens as possible ih the quest to make our region the best.

The state of our region is strong, but each of us must actively search for opportunities to best engage our individual and collaborative talents and energies in this ever-evolving metropolis.

Sam Olens Charles Krautler Chairman Doctor

2005 ANNUAL REPORT Regional Growth Trending Upward

4 Rapid growth has defined metro Atlanta for years and that growth will continue well into the future. Examining the trends, exploring different future scenarios and planning for a desirable place for people to live are critical charges of the Atlanta Regional Commission.

A GROWING AND CHANGING REGION | The Atlanta region grew in 2005 at its fastest rate in five years, according to ARC population estimates. The io-county regional population reached 3,813,700 as of April 2005, growing by 97,600 during the past year. In the 1980s and 1990s, over 70 percent of the region's growth took place in the northern sectors, but in 2005 that is no longer the case. Since 2000, growth has quickly accelerated south of I-20, with 44 percent of the region's population increase occurring in the southern sectors, fueled by robust growth in Henry, Douglas and south Fulton counties.

Henry County again led the region in terms of percentage rate AVERAGE ANNUAL POPULATION INCREASE of growth, with a seven percent average annual population increase between 2000 and 2005. But Gwinnett County still reigns as the leader in net population increase, as it has for the past 25 years, with an average increase in population of 21,090 persons per year since 2000. 1970 to 1980 Even so, the "core" sector of the region, which includes the City 1980 to 1990

of Atlanta, captured approximately four times as much growth 1990 to 2000

since 2000 as during the 1990s. The City of Atlanta added 2000 to 2005 almost 26,000 new residents between 2000 and 2005. Of cities with greater than 10,000 populations in 2005, both Stockbridge and Canton almost doubled their population since 2005.

Fulton County remains the region's largest county with 874,100 residents in 2005. DeKalb is second with 700,500 residents, Atlanta Region but Gwinnett is quickly closing the gap with 693,900.

HOUSING TRENDS | In 2005, the trend continued toward redevelopment and infill in existing neighborhoods, particularly in the City of Atlanta. The Atlanta region added 226,500 housing units between 2000 and 2005 — an average of 45,312 each year — a far faster pace than the building activity of the 1990s. Gwinnett County has led the region's home construction, with one in every four new units built in the region since 1990 located there. Single- family construction continues to dominate the region's housing market. Although multi-family construction has increased dramatically since 2000, accounting for 32 percent of new units, seven out of every 10 housing units in 2005 were single-family.

ECONOMIC TRENDS | 2005 presented a mixed picture for businesses and workers in the Atlanta region, and offered continuing challenges for employers and job seekers alike. Unemployment in the io-county region edged somewhat higher (5.4 percent as of November 2005), and far fewer jobs were created than during the years of

ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION economic expansion in the 1990s. Furthermore, job quality continues to be a serious issue. The new jobs created generally pay substantially less than the jobs lost, and the region continues to lose high-wage paying jobs. High-paying jobs are identified as manufacturing, information, air transport, management, accounting, scientific, computers, finance and insurance.

OUR CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS | ATLANTA REGION 60+ POPULATION GROWTH The average age of metro Atlantans 1,400,000 is lower than the national average. Although a healthy economy will 1,200,000 continue to draw young adults to the region, the percentage of residents 1,000,000 over age 60 is projected to double 800,000 over the next two decades or so.

600,000 This trend will greatly affect the way we design our communities, • • 400,000 our houses and our transportation networks. The region will have 200,000 to rise to the challenge of creating age-friendly communities that provide 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 the amenities and services that allow older adults to live independently.

MORE CHANGE IS COMING | The next 25 years will certainly bring tremendous change. The challenge will be to look at how we can best maintain and enhance the quality of life and economic vitality in the region as we grow. It will be more important than ever for our citizens to work together and engage with cooperation and coordination to best plan how to develop our communities.

The goals of ARC's Envision 6 initiative — to improve our collective regional vision; to better anticipate substantial growth; and to make better choices with limited funds — are striving to make the Atlanta region prosperous and successful for years to come.

ATLANTA REGION POPULATION GROWTH

Change 1970 1990 2000 2004 2005 2004-2005

Atlanta Region 1,500,823 2,557,800 3,429,379 3,716,100 3,813,700 97,600

Cherokee 31,059 91,000 141,903 169,300 179,300 10,000

Clayton 98,126 184,100 236,517 258,900 263,900 5,000

Cobb 196,793 453,400 607,751 632,900 643,700 10,800

DeKalb 415,387 553,800 665,865 695,100 700,500 5,400

Douglas 28,659 71,700 92,174 106,300 112,900 6,600

Fayette 11,364 62,800 91,263 98,900 101,500 2,600

Fulton 605,210 670,800 816,006 852,500 874,100 21,600

Gwinnett 72,349 356,500 588,448 670,800 693,900 23,100

Henry 23,724 59,200 119,341 156,300 167,000 10,700

Rockdale 18,152 54,500 70,111 75,100 76,900 1,800

City of Atlanta 495,039 415,200 416,474 434,900 442,100 7,200

2005 ANNUAL REPORT Envisioning a Great Metropolis

6 Over the past year, ARC has embarked upon a new long-range planning initiative called Envision 6 to involve residents in designing the 2030 region. Newcomers continue to be drawn to metro Atlanta for its robust economy and superior quality of life — some 2.3 million more during the next 25 years for a total of 6 million. Developing a blueprint for community design, greenspace, transportation, housing and community services is critical to future success.

LIVAB K CE ; RS INITIATIVE (LCI) I The LCI program continues to be one of ARC's most successful initiatives for promoting smart growth in the Atlanta region. The groundbreaking LCI program provides funding for investment studies and transportation projects and encourages communities to pursue projects that promote increased residential development, mixed-uses and connectivity in these areas.

Now in its 7th year, LCI was so successful in its first five years that the program was extended and expanded for an additional five years as part of Mobility 2030. In addition to its traditional focus on town centers and activity centers, the expanded LCI program now provides grants in corridors and emerging centers as part of its overall focus.

Evidence of the need for and success of LCI has been exhibited by the sheer number of applicants for these planning funds. In the program's six years, 181 studies were proposed and 59 were funded. Nine communities completed plans using other funds. Communities in the region now embrace the principles of smart growth as never before, and examples of new and exciting community designs abound.

DEVELOPMENTS OE REGIONAL IMPACT (DRI) | ARC reviews large-scale development projects that may have an impact beyond the jurisdiction of the local government in which it is located. These Developments of Regional Impact (DRI), defined by state law, receive a determination as to whether the project is in the best interest of the state. Projects are reviewed based on their consistency with local and regional plans, and the projected 7 impacts on surrounding land uses. Other criteria include the impacts on historic or environmental resources, as well as traffic in the area.

2005 saw a boom in population in the City of Atlanta, and at the same time, a vast increase in the number of large-scale development projects, including eight high-rise buildings. With a total of nine, Atlanta had more Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs) than any other jurisdiction in the region. In 2005, there were a total of 41 DRI projects in the Atlanta region, versus 31 in 2004.

DEVELOPMENTS OF EXCELLENCE | ARC, along with the Regional Business Coalition, recognized the best of the year's most innovative development projects in the Atlanta region. The 2005 Developments of Excellence Awards, presented at ARC's 2005 State of the Region breakfast, showcased new developments that are improving the quality of life throughout the metro area, and recognized developers who are pursuing cutting-edge growth practices in the region.

Winners of the 2005 Developments of Excellence Awards were:

• Green Street Properties, LLC, for Glenwood Park 2003 Development of Excellence Award

• Kairos Development Corporation for The Aramore Exceptional Merit Award for Mixed-Use Development

• McConnell Homes for Lampkin Street Cottages Exceptional Merit Award for Context-Sensitive Neighborhood Infill Design

ATLANTA REGIONAL HOUSING FORUMS | In looking at future development and population increase in the region, the issue of housing must be addressed. ARC plays a strong role in planning for adequate housing, which is an essential need for all citizens of the region. The Atlanta Regional Housing Forum is one of several ways that ARC continues to work with other agencies and community members to investigate strategies for expanding housing options in the Atlanta region.

BE INVOLVED IN PLANNING HOW OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD GROW

Great regions don't just happen by accident. Careful planning, difficult choices and public input are key to designing a livable, vibrant community. Preparing our region for the growth that's coming requires a carefully crafted plan for community design, housing, greenspace and historic preservation and much more. Here are some ways you can get involved.

• Envision 6 is an initiative to help plan for a successful and thriving region through the year 2030, when the population will reach six million. Please take part in this initiative by providing your opinions in an online survey about the region's future growth. Pease visit ARC's Web site at www.atlantaregional.com, and go to the Envision 6 section. • Another way to engage in the future of the Atlanta region is to participate in the quarterly Atlanta Regional Housing Forums. For information about the housing forum and about how you can learn about quality growth and land use planning in the Atlanta region, go to the Land Use/Quality Growth section at www.atlantaregional.com.

2005 ANNUAL REPORT Keep it Moving

8 Transportation has long been a major part of the Atlanta region's success. The rail line that ended at Terminus, brought people and goods that built the booming City of Atlanta. Metro Atlanta has continued to grow due to great leadership and foresight in transportation planning. Now, the Atlanta region stands at another sort of crossroads. As the region grows, it faces challenges in how transportation will continue to play an integral role in promoting the region's economy and quality of life. Efficient and effective transportation systems will continue to be the key to maintaining the region's success.

ARC has provided leadership with the development of a blueprint for taking the region's transportation boldly into the next quarter century. Mobility 2030, ARC's $53 billion Regional Transportation Plan, adopted in late 2004, has already begun to make headway in meeting the region's transportation challenges. The plan provides strategies for improving mobility in terms of roadways, transit and bike and pedestrian travel, as well as upgrading technology to best deal with traffic congestion.

As ARC promotes implementation of these comprehensive strategies, a number of groundbreaking initiatives and studies are providing direction for improving our transportation future.

REGIONAL TRANSIT INSTITUTIONAI ANALYSIS | In 2005, ARC took the lead in bringing the major players in regional transit services to the table to craft a plan to address transit institutional challenges and a seamless, integrated public transit network.

As a result, the Regional Transit Institutional Analysis Task Force unanimously adopted an historic resolution recommending a regional Transit Planning Board (TPB) composed of representatives from metro counties and transportation agencies to more effectively shape the future of transit in the Atlanta region.

During an initial two-year phase, the TPB will act as an advocate for additional regional transit funding; oversee integration of fares, marketing and customer information across systems; develop a Regional Transit Plan; and measure system performance. Eventually, a regional Transit Services Board (TSB) will be implemented.

CONGESTION MITIGATION TASK FORCE | In March 2005, Governor Sonny Perdue called for formation of a Congestion Mitigation Task Force to examine ways to better manage metro Atlanta's traffic congestion. The Task Force was chaired by ARC Chairman Sam Olens and composed of representatives of ARC, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and the State Road & Tollway Authority.

GET INVOLVED WITH REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

Are you interested in how you can help with solving traffic congestion and mobility challenges in metro Atlanta? There are several publications that address the basics of transportation and planning:

• The Citizen's Guide to Regional Land Use & Transportation Planning • The 2004 Atlanta Region Transportation Planning Fact Book

These publications are available by calling 404.463.3272 or by visiting the Transportation section of ARC'S Web site. To get involved:

• Take the Envision 6 survey on the Land Use section of the ARC Web site. • Check the Transportation section regularly for notification of public meetings.

ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION This task force issued its recommendations to the Governor in December, which included refining the current project selection process for the Regional Transportation Plan to increase the weighting of the congestion factor to 70 percent; developing and implementing a technically consistent and transparent methodology for cost/benefit analysis; and instituting a Travel Time Index be used to measure improvement in congestion. The task force recommends a regional Travel Time Index goal of 1.35 by 2030 for the Atlanta nonattainment area, which means travel time would increase by only 35 percent during congested times, as opposed to today's 44 percent.

DOWNTOWN MIDTOWN BUS CIRCULATION STUDY | Through this ARC study, the Atlanta region's transit operators and transportation planning agencies created a new bus routing plan in the downtown and area. Study recommendations included moving all express bus service off and creating two-way bus service on West Peachtree and on Avenue. With the completion of the study, the initiative now moves forward with a "Green Light" implementation team made up of a smaller group of stakeholders and traffic planners to develop a more detailed plan of action.

ONGOING TRANSPORTATION STUDIES | ARC began work in 2005 on three important transportation studies, each of which involve alleviating traffic congestion and improving mobility in the Atlanta region. The Southern Regional Accessibility Study focuses on mobility issues in the southern portion of the Atlanta region including six counties and 34 municipalities. The 18-month, $i-million Regional Freight Mobility Study concentrates on current trends and future challenges of freight movement in the region by truck, rail and air. And, the Multi-Modal Corridor Planning Program will be an ongoing study to evaluate and make recommendations for better mobility on several of the region's most critical corridors. Buford Highway (SR 13) and Tara Boulevard (SR 19/US 41) were the first corridors chosen for the Corridor Planning program.

2005 ANNUAL REPORT Protecting and conserving water in the region is everyone's job, and ARC works with stakeholders throughout greater Atlanta in the effort to address the issues of water supply, conservation and watershed protection.

Protecting Water Quality | For some 30 years, ARC has been responsible for administering the provisions of the Metropolitan Protection Act. This important legislation safeguards the Chattahoochee River and protects the region's principal water supply by maintaining a 2,000-corridor on both sides of the Chattahoochee River from Buford Dam to the Fulton-Douglas County line. ARC reviews all permit applications for land-disturbing activity within the corridor to ensure compliance with the Chattahoochee Corridor Plan. During 2005 ARC conducted 20 reviews of permit applications in the corridor (see page 20).

ARC is leading the effort to address nonpoint sources of pollution in that portion of the Basin that lies within , Cobb and North Fulton counties. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) identified the and other water bodies that do not meet water quality standards and the types of pollution found. ARC is working with local governments to develop plans for reducing bacteria levels in identified streams and Chlorophyll A in the Little River embayment of . Final plans will be delivered to EPD by the end of March 2006.

Septic systems were the focus of considerable study during 2005. There are an estimated 550,000 septic systems in the 16-county area, more than a third of which are more than 20 years old. Septic tank failure can lead to contamination of nearby streams. Under the auspices of the Metropolitan Water Planning District's Septic System Subcommittee, representatives from local water and sewer departments, county environmental health offices and the on-site wastewater industry have come together for the first time to recommend a more coordinated approach to addressing septic systems. - — . ^

ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION ^ UNjVCRStTY MANAGING WATER SUPPLIES | For some 15 years, ARC and affected jurisdictions in the region have closely monitored negotiations and litigation between Georgia, and over the allocation of water from the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa and Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint basins. ARC has provided leadership and coordinated the responses of local governments to the legal proceedings. The region received some good news at year's end when the nth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted an injunction, thus allowing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin the environmental assessment necessary to allow additional water withdrawals from .

CONSERVING PRECIOUS RESOURCES | Since the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District was created 11 in 2001, ARC has staffed the District's work and partnered with local governments to implement plans that govern the management of water resources in the 16-county area. The District's Water Supply and Water Conservation Management Plan calls for intensive water demand management and aggressive water conservation. Included are 10 water conservation measures that are intended to reduce future demand to help the region meet its water needs through 2030 and beyond.

All of the District's water providers are required to adopt a multi-tiered rate structure by 2006. During 2005, the District provided technical assistance to help local utilities implement required conservation pricing.

The District partnered with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Pollution Prevention Assistance Division to present a workshop encouraging local water providers to conduct audits of industrial, commercial and institutional water users. The workshop provided guidelines for conducting audients and recommendations for how these large customers can incorporate conservation measures into their operations.

REACHING THE NEXT GENERATION AND THEIR PARENTS | The fourth annual Clean Water Campaign/Water Use It Wisely Essay Contest generated more than 1,000 entries from middle school students throughout the District. Essays addressed creative ways to reduce pollution and conserve water. Kelley Miller from North Hall Middle School was the District-wide winner and received $100 for her award-winning essay.

The District also engaged in extensive public outreach to homeowners to heighten awareness of both the importance of conserving water and the need to reduce pollution. The Clean Water Campaign's "You're the Solution to Water Pollution" and "Water! Use It Wisely" campaigns gained ground in 2005, reaching an estimated two million viewers. WXIA, Channel 11, aired more than 600 spots between July and October. The station also produced additional spots featuring chief weather reporter, Paul Ossman. A billboard campaign, funded in part by the Alcoa Foundation, complemented the television advertising.

The Clean Water Campaign backed up this mass media campaign with a series of workshops. Topics included tree planting, rain gardens, lawn care, Xeriscaping, composting, septic system maintenance and auto service.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE WATER POLLUTION

• Pick up after your pet. • Check your car for leaks and repair them promptly. • Dispose of household chemicals and paint properly. Never pour them down the drain or storm drain. • Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly. Do not use if rain is expected. • Wash your car at a commercial car wash. (This will save water as most car washes recycle water.) • Maintain your septic tank regularly. • Bag or compost grass clippings, leaves or other yard wastes.

For ideas on ways to conserve water at home or at work, visit www.wateruseitwisely.org.

Through the Clean Water Campaign, ARC participates with other organizations around the region and the state to clean up area streams. Alive engages nearly 25,000 Georgians annually during the month of October in clean-ups around the state. To find out how to get involved, visit www.riversalive.org.

2005 ANNUAL REPORT Delivering Workforce Solutions

12 A well-prepared and trained workforce is essential to the region's continued economic prosperity and future growth. ARC, as the administrative agent for the Atlanta Regional Workforce Board, provides a comprehensive workforce system, including workforce planning, resource-building and workforce services management. The division operates a network of Career Resource Centers serving Cherokee, Clayton, Douglas, Fayette, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties. During 2005, new satellite centers opened in Rockdale and Douglas counties to better serve job seekers in those areas.

SERVING JOB SEEKERS | During 2005, more than 42,000 individuals sought assistance with job searches at ARC's Career Resource Centers. Of those, 1,772 customers received customized career counseling and financial assistance to obtain needed training to achieve career goals. Ninety percent of those who completed training or left the program obtained employment earning an average starting wage of $16.76.

ARC also served 633 disadvantaged teens and young adults (ages 14-21) during 2005. These young people sought help in obtaining employment, earning a high school diploma or GED, returning to school or continuing their education past high school. Seventy-nine percent of those who completed or left the program accomplished one or more of their goals. MEETING THE DEMAND FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS | Healthcare continues to be a high-growth industry. The Atlanta region became the first metro area in Georgia to implement School at Work (SAW), a distance learning program that offers participating employees training to move up within their organization. St. Joseph's Hospital was the first to sign on, with 19 students. St Joseph's has begun a second class, and the program is being implemented at the Atlanta Veterans' Medical Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING | ARC offers businesses on-the-job training programs through Workforce Investment Act funds. Businesses are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in training reimbursement expenses as well as other 13 substantial tax breaks. Jobs must pay a minimum of $8 per hour to qualify. Vital Technologies was the first business to seek assistance to create an OJT program during 2005. ARC's Gwinnett Tech Career Resource Center staff worked closely with Vital's owners to develop a job description and a training oudine and program activities for a new employee.

A MODEL FOR OTHERS | A delegation from Japan visited metro Atlanta twice during 2005 to leam about voucher programs for job training, specifically Individual Training Accounts (ITAs). The Georgia Department of Labor, ARC and the Northwest Georgia Workforce Investment Board developed one of the nation's first ITA-eligible training provider lists in 2000. More recently, ARC and Northwest Georgia Workforce Board received a U.S. Department of Labor grant to explore contrasting methods of assisting customers with career advisement and freedom of choice. The Japanese government is particularly interested in these findings, as they begin to shape their own national system and policies.

RESPONDING IN TIME OF NEED | After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast with such devastating fury, Governor Perdue and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency called the region to action, and ARC responded.

The agency set up a mini career resource center with eight computer stations, staffed seven days a week, at the Gwinnett Recovery Center. Between Labor Day and mid-October, nearly 3,000 individuals received workforce assistance at the Gwinnett center. Some 400 more evacuees received information at the College Park center about filing for unemployment insurance and other Georgia Department of Labor resources. ARC coordinated with the DeKalb, City of Atlanta and Fulton workforce boards in providing information at sites and staff job fairs for evacuees in Atlanta and Henry and Rockdale counties. ARC helped individuals with professional or occupational licenses, such as cosmetologists, LPNs and RNs, obtain Georgia licenses.

The Atlanta Regional Workforce Board received two grants to provide assistance to individuals displaced to the Atlanta region due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. One grant provides for additional staff and funds to help evacuees find a job; find a better, more permanent job; or obtain free training to return to work. A second grant has enabled ARC to hire staff to provide professional counseling and case management services for evacuees struggling with any type of problem, including transportation, housing, grief and post traumatic stress as well as employment. |

PREPARING THE TODAY'S WORKFORCE FOR TOMORROW'S JOBS 1 The Atlanta Regional Commission, as administrator for the Atlanta Regional Workforce Board, works with business, education and government concerns to make sure that the region's workforce meets the needs of area businesses. ARC is continually seeking input from business leaders, human resource managers and others to identify employment trends, skill shortages, anticipated job growth and training needs.

• To find a Career Resource Center in your area, visit ARC'S Web site at www.atlantaregional.com or call the Training Hotline at 404.463.3327. • To find out how you can become engaged in preparing today's workforce for tomorrow's jobs, contact Jo Simon, Atlanta Regional Commission, 404.463.3336 or [email protected]

2005 ANNUAL REPORT Commitment to Community Excellence

14 The Atlanta region is an exciting and diverse area with 10 counties and 64 cities. From Canton to Fayetteville, Conyers to Douglasville and the bright lights in between - our communities are on the move with quality community-building efforts. Local government is truly government "by the people" and the epitome of grassroots. It is at the local level that residents can contribute and collaborate with their local leaders to make their communities highly livable and attractive. Helping to support the efforts local governments and encouraging effective, capable leadership is one of the primary missions of ARC.

LINK | Last year 150 local leaders traveled to Portland, Oregon as part of the 9th annual LINK Leadership Exchange Program. The purpose of LINK, which stands for Leadership, Involvement, Networking, Knowledge, is to give leaders from the Atlanta region the opportunity to learn about challenges faced by leaders of other cities and new ideas for moving the Atlanta region in a successful direction.

REGIONAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | The 16th annual Regional Leadership Institute (RLI), attracted more than 50 participants for a week-long series of sessions focusing on regional issues and leadership challenges and opportunities. More than 900 local leaders have participated in the RLI program since its inception in 1991. In addition to leadership training, classroom sessions, group interaction and team-building activities, participants learn from each others' experiences and become better able to work together to address regional issues.

BUILDING FUTURE LEADERS | Area teens are making their "MARC" on the region through ARC's Model Atlanta Regional Commission youth leadership program. The 8th annual, 2005-2006 class includes 50 students in the 10th and nth grades from all 10 counties in the region. MARC involves five months of study, hand-on activities and presentations by regional leaders and ARC planners. The students work together to develop resolutions to make the Atlanta region a better place to live, which are then presented to the entire ARC Board.

COMMUNITY PLANNING ACADEMY | Some 275 planners and community leaders from across the Atlanta region, and many from outside the region, participated in training courses designed to help citizen planners and community leaders better understand local planning processes. With two, three-day workshops offered in the spring and fall, and several one-day sessions, these workshops help provide the tools necessary to better equip local elected officials and government employees to make effective decisions regarding the future of their communities.

BECOME A LEADER IN YOUR COMMUNITY

ARC offers a number of ways to get involved in the success of our region, whether you are a concerned citizen, a government employee or an elected official.

• Community Planning Academy (CPA) — Learn more about the planning process in the Atlanta region. • The Regional Leadership Institute (RLI) — Meet other regional leaders and share ideas about how to meet some of metro Atlanta's greatest challenges. • LINK (Leadership, Involvement, Networking, Knowledge) —Travel to other cities to learn about their challenges and successes. • MARC (Model Atlanta Regional Commission) Youth Leadership Program — Join other teens from throughout the 10-county region and propose your own solutions for regional challenges.

Please consult ARC'S Web site for more informtion about these programs.

ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION TRACKING REGIONAL PROGRESS | ARC's Platforms for Progress tracks regional progress in critical areas as identified by citizens. Platforms measures progress toward regional goals in five key areas: community involvement, regional prosperity, educational excellence, transportation and air quality and environmental sustainability. The 2005 Platforms survey revealed:

• More than 70 percent of citizens in the region volunteered their time at least once in 2004.

• 46 percent of seniors in the region believe their opinions have little influence on public policy.

• 23 percent of citizens in the region have easy access to public transportation. Of this 23 percent, 60 percent said they choose to never use public transportation.

The complete 2005 Platforms for Progress report, including all survey and statistical results, is available at www.atlantaregional.com.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE | ARC also provides a resource for local governments on a range of subjects from developing ordinances and reviewing proposed ordinances, to educating the public about proposed policies. Four metro communities — Rockdale, Henry and Cherokee counties and the City of Marietta — were selected in 2005 for the Local Government Implementation Assistance program, which is part of the Community Choices initiative that provides a range of community planning tools and resources to promote greater livability. Community Choices provides a toolkit to help inform officials about the choices available to them to enhance and sustain quality communities.

2005 ANNUAL REPORT And, the Best is Yet to Come

16 Beginning in January 2006, the first of the baby boom generation will turn 60, and during the next 25 years the older adult population in the Atlanta region will triple. As the Area Agency on Aging for the io-county region, ARC has been preparing for this demographic shift for many years. Our goal is to help encourage wellness among and provide support to the healthiest, most active and most productive generation of seniors in history.

LIVING LONGER, LIVING BETTER | As new drugs and medical technologies enable individuals to live longer, remaining healthy and fit becomes more important than ever before. In the fall, ARC became the first Area Agency on Aging the state to roll out Governor Perdue's "Live Healthy Georgia: Seniors Taking Charge." This program provides coaching and educational materials to help older adults eat right, exercise, quit smoking and have regular check-ups. As part of this effort, ARC is working with some 550 older adults to help them better manage their diabetes in order to reduce the likelihood of complications and the need for in-patient treatment.

With funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prevent Blindness Georgia has partnered with ARC to conduct vision screening clinics for persons over 55 with limited incomes who do not have access to regular eye exams or glasses. Between October 2004 and September 2005, the partnership screened 213 individuals for vision problems, conducted 208 eye exams and helped 195 persons obtain glasses at little or no cost.

RESPONDING TO INCREASED DEMANDS | When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit, ARC sprang into action to help displaced seniors and others. Aging Division staff volunteered more than 800 hours at centers in Clayton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties to help evacuees obtain emergency assistance. Response was immediate and effective. Several thousand older adults were able to find temporary housing and other services, ranging from health care to home-delivered meals.

Another large challenge of 2005 was planning for the new Medicare Prescription Drug benefit. More than 300,000 persons in the Adanta region must make decisions regarding the new plans by May 15, 2006. ARC took the lead to train staff and volunteers with county-based agencies, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, churches and others who serve older adult clients and persons with disabilities. With call volumes increasing from an average of 60 per day to more than 500 per day, staff developed new procedures to respond in a timely manner and to help callers choose a plan that best meets their needs.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

There is more to a successful retirement than having sufficient resources. It requires knowing how you will spend your time, where you will live and what you will do in the event of health problems.

"Mapping Your Future" can help you plan. It is workplace program offered by the Atlanta Regional Commission to help employees begin thinking about life on their own terms after retirement. It begins with a short quiz to measure retirement readiness in five core areas: health, work and leisure, finances, housing and relationships. Then, participants explore priorities, identify needs and learn how to meet those needs to achieve retirement goals.

• Ask about bringing "Mapping Your Future" to your company. Call Maureen Kelly at the Atlanta Regional Commission, 404.463.3222, for more information. • Assess your own retirement readiness by visiting the ARC Web site, www.atlantaregional.com/aging/retirementplanning.html • Want more information about services for older adults? Contact ARC'S AgeWise Connection at 404.463.3333 or visit www.agewiseconnection.com.

ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION CREATING AGF-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES | Older adults desire to remain in their communities, but traditional 17 zoning regulations encourage subdivisions with homes of similar size and price. With the help of ARC, Cobb County became the first county in the state to implement a senior housing ordinance. Cherokee County and the City of Woodstock are following suit.

To address the needs of older adults who can no longer drive, ARC partnered with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and Fulton County to develop and test a transportation voucher program for older residents in East Point. As a result of this pilot project, seven other jurisdictions have asked ARC to help create transportation voucher programs for their community.

Metro Atlanta was one of seven communities nationwide honored in September when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging presented its "Livable Communities for All Ages" awards. Metro Atlanta and ARC were recognized for creating a comprehensive, coordinated set of programs to address livability and "aging in place" issues for seniors in the Atlanta area. The award acknowledged a number of programs that address livability for all metro residents, older adults in particular: The Aging Atlanta partnership, a coalition of more than 50 organizations coordinated by ARC; Community Choices; and ARC's "Aging in Place Toolkit."

I Financial Report

Funding for ARC's programs and activities comes from a variety of sources. Constituent local governments 19 contribute $i per resident annually for ARC operations. Additional funding comes from grants from federal and state agencies and from private sources. These grants, primarily for set purposes specified by the grantor, support the annual work program of ARC.

Estimated receipts for 2005 are $43,059,330, an increase of $4,666,394, or 12.2 percent over 2004. Expenditures increased by 16.4 percent, for an estimated total of $43,467,738 in 2005. Receipts and expenditures for 2005 are preliminary estimates, subject to adjustment after year-end close-out and audit.

FINANCIAL COMPARISONS (GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS)

REVENUES 2005 ESTIMATED 2004 ACTUAL 2003 ACTUAL

Regional Appropriations $3,738,100 $3,691,300 $3,633,600 State RDC 0 0 0 Investments 109,191 61,987 36,516 Grant Revenue 38,227,465 33,314,608 33,935,398 Other 42,399 1,114 0 In-Kind 942,175 1,323,927 1,959,014 TOTAL $43,059,330 $38,392,936 $39,564,527

EXPENSES

Salaries 7,143,099 6,072,144 6,043,937 Benefits 4,123,402 3,471,332 3,262,755 Travel 199,565 145,627 163,848 Equipment 254,945 163,950 135,082 Supplies 88,365 66,136 76,224 Contracts 26,492,701 22,521,043 23,991,532 Indirect Net 533,271 -827,108 -561,387 Capital Outlay 99,894 95,972 29,892 Other 3,590,321 4,308,491 3,441,882 In-Kind 942,175 1,323,927 1,959,014

TOTAL $43,467,738 $37,341,514 $38,542,779

Net -408,408 1,051,422 1,021,748

Interfund Transfers -96,221 -120,892 -56,889

Net change -504,629 930,530 964,859

Fund Balance $5,099,000 $5,603,629 $4,673,099

2005 ANNUAL REPORT Reviews & Development Guides

20 2005 DEVELOPMENTS OF REGIONAL IMPACT

Cherokee County Cherokee Village Square City of Alpharetta The Forum at Alpharetta Mixed-Use Development City of Atlanta Coventry Station 55 Ivan Allen Stratford on Peachtree Phipps Tower Americas Mart Expansion 166 16th Street Lindmont Redevelopment 7th Street 1033 Jefferson Street Ponce Park Twelve 14th Street City of Canton Hickory Log Creek Reservoir City of Conyers Allied Recycling Solid Waste Transfer Station City of Duluth Sugarloaf Village West City of East Point Cascade Village City of McDonough Southpoint Mall City of Union City Opus South Corp Royal 85 Maiestic Airport Center III City of Villa Rica Panattoni Industrial Development Cobb County Colonial Pipeline Company Cumberland Boulevard Regent Riverwood Vinings West Trinity Chapel Church of God Cobb Galleria Performing Arts Center Paces Ferry Commons The Mill at Covered Bridge Expansion The Goodman Project, Whisper of the River DeKalb County River Village Fun World Palace and Resort _ Douglas County Douglas Hill Business Park Expansion Fulton County Oakley Township Expansion Corporate Campus Concourse III, IV, and VII Cosmopolitan North D7 Webb Road Gwinnett County Brookwood Village Brogdon Road Industrial Site Poole Mountain Henry County Mill Road Tract Kingston Village West Erma (JamDat Development)

ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION 2005 INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION REVIEWS

State Agencies Georgia Department of Transportation GDOT Draft FY 2006 Transportation Work Program and Cost Estimate

Regional Agencies Atlanta Regional Commission ARC Draft Strategy 2006 Annual Work Program and Budget

Local Agencies DeKalb County EA/lnternational Women's House — Renovations Gwinnett County Gwinnett County Habitat for Humanity-Founders Promise Subdivision City of Chamblee 3400 Malone Drive Miller Station Condominiums

2005 LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVIEWS

Cherokee County Cherokee County Capital Improvements Element (CIE) and Short-Term Work Program (STWP) 2005-2009 City of Acworth City of Acworth STWP and CIE Update City of Alpharetta City of Alpharetta Comprehensive Plan 2025 City of Atlanta City of Atlanta 2006 STWE City of Canton City of Canton Road Impact Fee (CIE) City of Clarkston City of Clarkston Comprehensive Plan 2025 City of Decatur City of Decatur Comprehensive Plan Update 2005 City of Duluth City of Duluth STWE 2005-2008 City of Fairbum City of Fairburn Community Assessment and Community Participation Plan City of Fayetteville City of Fayetteville Comprehensive Plan Update 2005 City of Fayetteville CIEUpdate City of Grayson City of Grayson 5 Year STWE City of Hampton City of Hampton STWE 2004 City of Hampton STWP 2005-2009 City of Hapeville City of Hapeville Comprehensive Plan Update 2025 City of Kennesaw City of Kennesaw CIE and STWP Update City of Lawrenceville City of Lawrenceville STWP Update 2005-2008 City of Locust Grove City of Locust Grove Future Land Use Element and Map Amendment City of Locust Grove CIE City of Marietta City of Marietta Comprehensive Plan 2006-2030 City of McDonough City of McDonough 2005 CIE/STWP Update City of McDonough CIE and STWP Update 2004 City of Palmetto City of Palmetto Comprehensive Plan Update 2005 City of Peachtree City City of Peachtree City CIE and STWP Annual Update City of Riverdale City of Riverdale Comprehensive Plan 2005-2025 City of Rosweli City of Rosweli 2025 Comprehensive Plan City of Stockbridge City of Stockbridge CIE and STWP 2005-2009 City of City of Stone Mountain Comprehensive Plan Update City of Sugar Hill City of Sugar Hill Land Use Amendment Fayette County Fayette County, Towns of Brooks, Tyrone, and Woolsey Annual Update of CIE and STWP Fulton County Fulton County 2005-2009 STWE and CIE Fulton County Comprehensive Plan 2025 Henry County Henry County STWP and CIE Annual Update 2005-2009 Town of Tyrone Town of Tyrone CIE and STWP 2006-2010 City of Tyrone CIE and STWP Update 2005-2009 Reviews & Development Guides

22 2005 METRO RIVER REVIEWS

City of Atlanta RC-05-01AT 4427 Sentinel View /Lot 9E City of Berkeley Lake RC-05-02BL 3769 Berkeley Lake Road RC-05-01BL River District City of Roswell RC-05-05R 210 Hillcrest Drive RC-05-03R 275 South Atlanta St. RC-05-01R Johns Creek Environmental Campus Cobb County RC-05-01 CC 809 Atlanta Country Club Drive RC-05-02CC Cochise by the Chattahoochee RC-05-03CC 5640 & 5641 Aven Road Douglas County RC-05-02DC Thornton Ridge Estates — Unit Two RC-05-01 DC Thornton Ridge Estates — Unit One RC-05-01 DC River Edge Fulton County RC-05-07FC Palmetto Farms RC-05-05FC 7200 Riverside Drive RC-05-02FC Lot 42 Spalding Hiils Subdivision RC-05-01FC Lot 41 Spalding Hills Subdivision RC-05-08FC The Enclave at Jett Ferry RC-05-04FC Dekalb Public Works Raw Water Pumping Station RC-05-06FC 1025 Mountain Creek Trail Gwinnett County RC-05-01 GC Holcomb Bridge Park City of Atlanta RC-05-01AT 4427 Sentinel View /Lot 9E City of Berkeley Lake RC-05-02BL 3769 Berkeley Lake Road RC-05-01BL River District City of Roswell RC-05-05R 210 Hillcrest Drive RC-05-03R 275 South Atlanta St. RC-05-01 R Johns Creek Environmental Campus Cobb County RC-05-01 CC 809 Atlanta Country Club Drive RC-05-02CC Cochise by the Chattahoochee RC-05-03CC 5640 & 5641 Aven Road Douglas County RC-05-02DC Thornton Ridge Estates — Unit Two RC-05-01DC Thornton Ridge Estates — Unit One RC-05-01DC River Edge Fulton County RC-05-07FC Palmetto Farms RC-05-05FC 7200 Riverside Drive RC-05-02FC Lot 42 Spalding Hills Subdivision RC-05-01FC Lot 41 Spalding Hills Subdivision RC-05-08FC The Enclave at Jett Ferry RC-05-04FC Dekalb Public Works Raw Water Pumping Station RC-05-06FC1025 Mountain Creek Trail Gwinnett County RC-05-01 GC Holcomb Bridge Park

2005 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PUN REVIEWS

City of Atlanta City of Atlanta Draft Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan City of Hapeville City of Hapeville Solid Waste Management Plan City of Palmetto City of Palmetto Solid Waste Management Plan 2005 City of Roswell City of Roswell Solid Waste Management Plan City of Smyrna City of Smyrna Solid Waste Management Plan 2006-2015 City of Union City City of Union City Solid Waste Management Plan 2005 Dekalb County Dekalb County Joint Solid Waste Management Plan 2005-2014 Fulton County Fulton County Solid Waste Management Plan Henry County Henry County, Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough, Stockbridge 2004 Update Solid Waste Plan STWE

ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION DEVELOPMENT GUIDES 23

Annual Estimates of the Population (August 2005) | Estimates of the population of each of the region's 10 counties and the city of Atlanta as of April 1, 2005. Published as "A Resolution by the Atlanta Regional Commission Approving Annual Population Estimates."

FY 2004-2007 Area Plan on Aging (March, 2003), as amended through March 2005 | Policies, goals and objectives as the development guides for aging programs within the Atlanta region. Published as "Resolution (1) Approving the Atlanta Regional Commission as the Atlanta Area Agency on Aging (2) Authorizing Submission of the Fiscal Year 2006 Area Plan on Aging Update and (3) Adopting Policy Section of the State Fiscal Year 2006 Area Plan on Aging."

Atlanta Regional Transportation Improvement Program, FY 2005-2010 (December 2004), as amended through December 2005 | Priority transportation projects to receive federal transportation funds over the next three years. Published as "Atlanta Region FY 2003-2005 Transportation Improvement Program."

2005 Unified Planning Work Program (January, 2005) | Discussion of the planning priorities facing the metropolitan planning area and description of all metropolitan transportation and transportation related air quality planning activities anticipated within the area regardless of funding sources or agencies conducting activities. Published as "A Resolution by the Atlanta Regional Commission Adopting the 2005 Unified Planning Work Program."

Regional Agenda for the Atlanta Region (December, 2005) | The work program for the Regional Development Plan communicating to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs the activities ARC plans to undertake to implement the Regional Development Plan. Published as "Resolution by the Atlanta Regional Commission to Transmit the 2005 Regional Agenda Work Program Update."

Policy on Development of Regional Impact Reviews in Small Water Supply Watersheds (April, 2005) | The DRI procedures for application of the resolution will result in ARC staff reviewing for either an indication that the project is meeting the minimum criteria for watershed protection, that the local government has a method for monitoring the 25 percent impervious surface area maximum for the watershed and that the project will work within these limits, or that the local government has or is working toward alternate criteria that have been approved or will be submitted for approval by DCA and that the project will abide by those alternative criteria. Published as "Resolution by the Atlanta Regional Commission concerning Small Watersheds in the io-county Atlanta Region."

Policy on Coordination of Greenway and Trail Planning (September, 2005) | A process to corrdinate greenspace and trail planning in the Atlanta region to enable better integration of these systems, communication among local governments, seek new sources of funding and more construction of more trails and greenways for the region's citizens. Published as "Resolution by the Atlanta Regional Commission Supporting Coordination of Greenway and Trail Planning."

2005 ANNUAL REPORT • .

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Atlanta Regional Commission 404.463.3100

40 Courtland Street, NE • Atlanta, Georgia 30303 www.atlantaregional.com