ross COfficial newsletter R ads of the August 2012 Big. Bold. Game-changing. Those adjectives might describe the Suwanee of the past decade as well as the newly adopted 20/20 Vision strategic plan that will guide the community that Suwanee will become in the next decade. Through a year- long process, 20/20 Vision activities engaged some 800 people in strategic planning for our community, which culminated in a Band to bring ‘Everything vision for the future You Want’ to August concert in the form of seven guiding principles, 33 goals, and 140 potential strategies. The full strategic plan, which was adopt- Alternative rock band Vertical Horizon will be the fea- ed by City Council in June, is available at tured performer in Suwanee’s annual Concert in the Park www.suwanee.com. But inside this issue of CrossRoads, you Saturday, August 11. The band, which will take the Town can find a quick reference that provides a synopsis of the Center stage at about 8 p.m., is best known for its hits plan’s principles and goals, overview of the process, and an “Everything You Want,” “You’re a God,” and “Best I Ever outline of where we go from here and how strategies may be Had (Grey Sky Morning).” implemented. Formed in 1991 by Georgetown University undergrads Please take a look at some of the exciting goals our Matthew Scannell and Keith Kane, Vertical Horizon experi- community wants to achieve over the next decade and plan enced meteoric success with its 1999 Everything You Want to be an active participant in making Suwanee’s vision a album, which eventually went double platinum, selling more 20/20 reality. than 2 million copies. The band’s most recent album is 2009’s Burning the Days. Music will begin at 6 p.m. with performances by other bands hosted by Wild Wing and Moondance Restaurant and INSIDE THIS ISSUE… Lounge. Run, Suwanee, Bring chairs, blankets, picnics, and friends to this free con- run…p. 8 cert. No alcohol may be brought into Town Center Park, but beer and wine may be purchased on site and from licensed Town Center merchants. Food may be purchased from on- site vendors and Town Center businesses as well. Meet your new Public art finds Limited parking is available at Town Center and along Main Councilmember Street. Off-site parking and a free shuttle service will be avail- its mojo…p. 2 …p. 9 able beginning at 7 p.m. from Shawnee North Business Center, 305 Shawnee North Drive (at Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road). Page 2 August 2012 www.suwanee.com Kiplinger: Kid-friendly Suwanee one of country’s best In a May posting, Kiplinger.com named Suwanee one of the best communities in the country in which to raise chil- dren. In its list of "10 great cities to raise your kids," Kiplinger rated Suwanee number 3, behind only Omaha, Nebraska, and Richland, Washington. The personal finance site looked for metropolitan areas with high household incomes relative to living costs, a large per- centage of families with children under 18, and low crime rates. Then, Kiplinger considered educational and fun factors within each of the top 10 metro areas in order to hone in on a specific city. Kiplinger says of Suwanee: "The town's highly regarded schools make it a par- ticularly good place for raising children…. The [C]ity itself boasts a massive public playground called PlayTown and a downtown fountain called Big Splash, where kids are encouraged to play." “Since 1997,” says Stoneridge resident Angie O’Farrell, “I have watched Suwanee grow from a small residential area to a forward- thinking, thriving community filled with high performing schools, amazing parks, recreational facilities, and activities for kids of all ages. When you throw in a low crime rate, affordable housing, and oppor- tunities in and around the community to get involved, you find your- self in an area not only where you want to raise your kids, but also where they can grow as individuals.” Public art momentum, impact gaining ground in Suwanee Public art seems to have its mojo going in Suwanee as more and more public art pieces have become permanent elements of the Suwanee landscape through purchases made by the City as well as private businesses and individuals. Just four years after establishing the Public Art Commission and declaring public art a key ele- ment in Suwanee’s quest to become a cool, identifiable “Public art is making community, the City of Suwanee is hosting its second Suwanee even more annual SculpTour, a walkable exhibit of 15 sculptures in and around Town Center, and adding public art pieces to remarkable.” additional locations throughout the community. – Denise Brinson “Public art is catching momentum,” says Economic and Community Development Director Denise Brinson. “We’ve achieved a sufficient mass of public art pieces. People are really starting to pay attention and developers are realizing that the City is tak- The art factor Suwanee is adding ing this seriously. public art pieces throughout the com- “Public art is making Suwanee even more remarkable,” she adds. “It’s a differentiating munity. This sculpture, ‘Instinctual Center’ by Aaron Hussey, will be factor in where people want to spend time. It’s making a place and making it special.” located at the new police training Continued on page 5 facility in the Gateway. August 2012 Page 3 www.suwanee.com FY2013 budget proposes significant tax cut The City of Suwanee began operating under the fiscal year 2013 budget on July 1. The approximately $12 million general fund budget is about 4.6 percent less than the amended budget for fiscal year 2012, which ended June 30, and proposes that a millage rate of 4.93 – 0.72 mills less than last year – be adopted. Overall, both the City’s revenues and expenditures are expected to remain stable, although property tax revenues are anticipated to decline slightly due, in part, to falling home values. The 2013 budget of $12,002,440 focuses primarily on maintaining existing service levels, and there are few new projects planned beyond those provided for through the City’s $25.6 million capital budget. The anticipated decrease in Suwanee’s millage rate is made possible by terms of the service delivery agreement reached earlier this year between Gwinnett County and its cities. Over the next six years, Suwanee anticipates receiv- ing about $660,000 annual- ly from the county through FY 2013 General Fund Revenues this agreement. The City of Suwanee has maintained or decreased its millage rate each of the past Various Business Taxes include: * alcoholic beverage 10 years. The rate has been * business decreased each of the past * hotel/motel * licenses and permit taxes three years, though the pro- posed 2013 millage decrease Miscellaneous Revenues include: is the largest in recent mem- * motor vehicle * other taxes/penalties ory. City Council is expect- * charge for service ed to officially set the City’s * fines and forfeitures * investment income millage rate at its August 28 * contributions meeting, after the City * intergovernmental receives the property tax digest from Gwinnett County. One of the most significant cost increases this coming year is Expenditures for employee healthcare coverage, Department % of Budget with costs expected to climb about 10 percent. The City made several adjustments to its health- care providers and benefits pack- age in order to manage these increases. City employees will receive a 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment. “Suwanee is a special place, both as a government organization and a community,” notes City Manager Marty Allen. “We’re pleased that despite the extended economic slowdown our country is facing the City of Suwanee has continued to thrive, thanks to strong past development trends and the City’s sound financial policies.” Page 4 August 2012 www.suwanee.com Police training facility to open next month The public is invited to tour the City’s new police training facility/substation, located just off I-85 on Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road in the Suwanee Gateway, during a grand opening ceremony September 10. Check www.suwanee.com for specific time and more information about the ceremony. The 7,100-square-foot building provides the Suwanee Police Department with office space for its training and community rela- tions officers, a firing range, and training facilities that will serve law enforcement personnel from throughout the region, but most importantly, says Chief Mike Jones, the substation also makes a physical statement about the City’s commitment to public safety. The City has worked to enhance the building’s visibility, con- structing it close to the road and clearing land around the north- bound interstate exit ramp, for example. “We’ve done everything we can to make the building as visible as possible,” says Jones, “and this should have a “Citizens getting off I-85 and those positive impact on crime rates,” which, the chief adds, have ticked upward recently traveling through the Gateway area in the Gateway area. will see that Suwanee has a police “Citizens getting off I-85 and those traveling through the Gateway area will see that Suwanee has a police department and that department and that our community our community is concerned about public safety and how it impacts is concerned about public safety and our residents,” says Jones. While the substation will not be staffed 24-7, the facility does how it impacts our residents.” provide direct access to the police department’s dispatcher, a safe – Chief Mike Jones zone for those in need, and work stations that can be used by officers on patrol to complete reports or meet with citizens.