A person with 20/20 vision can see what an average individual can see on an eye chart when they are standing 20 feet away. An eye chart measures visual acuity, which is the clarity or sharpness of vision.

However, 20/20 vision is not perfect vision. A person can have 20/15 vision, which is sharper than average. If you have 20/15 vision, you can see a line in the eye chart at 20 feet that the average person can only see when they are 15 feet away.

Looking ahead through the “eyes” of the City, our leadership strives to have 20/15 vision when it comes to planning for a strong, healthy city. Using real-time data enables us to accurately assess problems

and apply solutions. The tremendous growth that the metropolitan areas of Atlanta are facing will affect future lifestyles making it even more important to have visual acuity when planning for the future Duluth.

It’s not easy to predict the future. Best practices in procedures, policies and ordinances are well documented and available to study. As we plan for the future, we must stay clear of costly trends and rely on predictability of leadership. Yes, we strive for 20/15 vision when predicting future Duluth’s atmosphere while growing the economy and population.

20/20 Vision or 20/15 Vision? by: Mayor Nancy Harris

MONDAY • JANUARY 27, 2020

Tracks is intended to organize and convey information from the City in an easy to follow format. The way it is set up will serve as a starting point for dialogue between residents, our businesses and community at large about where Duluth is and where it is headed. We hope this dialogue spurs interest in learning more and inspires an interest in getting involved.

Duluth is a special place blending a small community and metropolitan area into a thriving, diverse town. Use this information to start conversations and become a part of making Duluth the best place it can be.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

IN THIS ISSUEDevelopment ProjectsFinancial InformationSPLOST Projects

Duluth

NEWSBREAKING

CITY OF DULUTH’S 2019 ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE CITY

How you can use the Tracks Report

DULUTH 20/20 • 2 CITY OF DULUTH’S ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE CITY • 3

Per usual, Duluth is growing through both construction and adaptive reuse. Nine residential units were approved for construction or completed in 2019. The Courtyard by Marriott with municipal parking deck and South on Main projects have made grand strides in the way of construction. The downtown restaurant district continues to thrive and expand.

2019 began with the opening of Local on North and ended with construction completion of Sweet Octopus, who opened officially on New Year’s Day 2020.

Downtown Duluth will also welcome 6S Brewing, Falling Rabbit, and Realty One in 2020.

2019 brought tremendous growth, but also terrible sadness, as three businesses were affected by a fire in the Main Street Mediterranean restaurant in October. We remain grateful for not only the first responders who worked hard to protect Downtown Duluth, but also for the Nacho Daddy patrons who initially reported signs of the fire. Because of the 100-year-old tin ceilings and their original design, the flames did not spread into the

attached businesses. Crave Pie and The Farmhouse suffered smoke damage and are temporarily closed for cleaning and repairs. Both businesses believe Downtown to be their homes and are expected to return in early 2020.

VomFASS and VIOLAS’ opened in 2019 next door to Truck & Tap, and features oils, vinegars, gourmet foods and gifts. Spool School, another newly opened business, won the 2019 Amazing Entrepreneur Contest through Partnership Gwinnett and the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center. Spool School is located trackside under Duluth Yoga.

While there is more “new” to come, you can still enjoy O4W Pizza, Dreamland BBQ, Good Word Brewing, Maple Street Biscuit Co., Noona Steakhouse & Oyster Bar, Epicurean Café, PURE Taqueria, 2 Smith Gallery, Eye Candy Art Studio, Hello Rainbow, Rain the Salon, Red Clay Music Foundry, French Door Salon, Simply Done Donuts, Personify Shop and The Chocolaterie.

Duluth Downtown update 2019

Proposed Gwinnett County Library Duluth

Gwinnett County Library site demo began January 2020

Completed units at Sherwood Crossing on Buford Hwy

Municipal parking deck and 100-room Courtyard by Marriott under construction late 2019

Courtyard by Marriott with municipal parking deck artist concept

Gardendale 55-unit townhome development site on Hwy 120

Gardendale townhome artist concept

economic development

UPDATE

A: South on Main: 99 UnitsB: Home South DevelopmentC: Future Gwinnett County Library DuluthD: Everleigh Active Adult Residential: 180 UnitsE: Park at Parsons: 36 UnitsF: Downtown Infill ProjectsG: Parsons Alley Restaurant DistrictH: Coleman Middle SchoolI: District at Duluth: 371 UnitsJ: SODO: 260 UnitsK: Courtyard by Marriott: 100 rooms, 200 parking deck spaces

Sherwood Crossing at Buford Hwy nearing completion

Mostly vacant corner strip center Buford Highway and DavenportFuture site of Residential Group multifamily project

Residential Group will construct 260 units of market rate multifamily on 6.4 acres Construction to begin 2020 with estimated completion date of late 2021

Vacant home removed for the construction of the new Willbrooke Trail

Everleigh 55+ residence site under construction (former Dennis Taylor property)

Rendering of Everleigh residential project

Realty One Edge new office space opening early 2020

Nacho Daddy opened 2019

vomFASS and VIOLAS’ opened 2019

Spool School opened 2019 in the basement trackside under Duluth Yoga

Sweet Octopus opened on New Year’s Day 2020

Local on North at Parsons Alley opened 2019

Falling Rabbit restaurant on West Lawrenceville St coming 2020

DULUTH 20/20 • 4 CITY OF DULUTH’S ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE CITY • 5

6S Brewing currently under construction on Main St

Ariel view of the Willbrooke Trail Connector

DULUTH 20/20 • 6 CITY OF DULUTH’S ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE CITY • 7

LOOKING AHEAD THROUGH THE “EYES” OF THE CITY20 projects on tap for 2020 and beyond

GROUND BREAKINGS IN 2020Gwinnett County Library DuluthEncore residential community on Chattahoochee River (Ashton Woods)SODO Apartment Project on Buford Highway/Davenport Road (Residential Group)Everleigh Duluth Senior Apartments on Hill Street (Greystar)Annabelle on Main Senior Apartments on PIB/Main (Watkins Properties)Train Viewing PlatformFalling Rabbit Restaurant

CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION IN 2020Greysolon (townhome community)Gardendale (townhome community)Sherwood Crossing (townhome community)South on Main (residential community)Traffic Signal at SR 120/DHSTraffic Signal at Main/Rogers BridgePleasant Hill Road widening projectCourtyard by Marriott and municipal parking deck

GROUND BREAKINGS PAST 2020Rogers Bridge over Chattahoochee RiverDavenport Road extensionSilent RR CrossingsNorthside Medical Duluth Campus ExpansionLidl Shopping CenterCrane lifts a section of the parking deck into place at the Courtyard by Marriott on Hill St

Property Tax - 40%

Other Revenues - 13%

Court Fines - 13%

Franchise Tax - 9%

Insurance Premium Tax - 9%

Intergovernmental Revenue - 4%

Occupational Tax - 5%

Motor Vehicle Tax - 4%

Alcohol Beverage Tax - 3%

OTHER REVENUES:Garbage Bag RebateIntangible TaxCampsTransfer from Police Tech FundBuilding Permits CommercialBuilding Permits ResidentialOther Revenue Sources

Salaries & Wages - 45%

Employee Benefits - 17%

Utilities & Supplies - 6%

Intergovernmental Transfers - 12%

Insurance, Communications, Training, etc. - 6%

Building & Equipment Maintenance - 4%

Professional Services, Legal, Engineering, etc. - 4%

All Other Expenditures - 6%

Governmental revenues totaled $22,121,217 for fiscal year 2019

Governmental expenses totaled $20,490,051 for fiscal year 2019

PlanFirst Designation from the Department of Community Affairs

Duluth was ranked number 6 on the National Council for Home Safety and Security list of Safest Cities in Georgia

Duluth was number 12 on the Home Security Advisors list of Safest Cities in Georgia

Best Creative Idea GOLD Award for Free Uber Thursdays from the Southeast Festivals and Events Association (SFEA)

Best Children’s Programming SILVER Award for S’mores ‘N Snores from the SFEA

Best Social Media Marketing BRONZE Award for Howl on the Green from the SFEA

Best Supplier/Vendor SILVER Award for Dustin Grau Photography from the SFEA

Best Creative Idea BRONZE Award for Tweet & Seek from the SFEA

Best Print Ad SILVER Award for Duluth Fall Festival from the SFEA

Best Event Website BRONZE Award for Duluth Fall Festival from the SFEA

Distinguished Budget Award for FY2019 Budget from the Government Finance Officers Association

Duluth Visitors Guide Silver Davey Award for the Best Design & Print Collateral Brochure presented by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA)

Appointment of associate judge, Honorable Tiffany P. Porter, to the Duluth Municipal Court

Celebrating 30 years of Tree City U.S.A. – Duluth is in the top 15 cities to be recognized by the State Arbor Association for tree ordinances Willbrooke Trail won the runner up award from Metro Atlanta Redevelopment Summit (MARS)

Rogers Bridge was a finalist for a GPTQ (Georgia Partnership for Transportation Quality) award for “Context Sensitive Planning and Design Including Public Participation Plan”

SPLOST PROJECTS STARTED OR COMPLETED IN 2019:• Completed design and started construction for a new signal at SR 120/ Abbotts Bridge Road and George Rogers Ave/Duluth HS Drive – anticipate completion in early 2020• Completed design and started construction for a new signal at Rogers Bridge Road and Main Street – anticipate completion in early 2020• Completed construction of 1.2 mile sidewalk along SR 120 from Buford Highway to Claiborne Drive, including pedestrian upgrades at the traffic signal at Claiborne Drive• Started design for the Main Street enhanced sidewalk project which will start at Brock Road and continue to Peachtree Industrial Blvd• Started design for the Pine Needle Drive intersection improvement at SR 120/Abbotts Bridge Road• Completed concepts for a new sidewalk along Bunten Road from Old Peachtree Road to Bunten Road Park• Completed Buford Highway Median Project from just north of Davenport Road to just south of SR 120• Completed design, property acquisition, demolition, and construction for the Willbrooke Trail and Pocket Park• Completed design and construction of the safety, operational, and beautification project at the Buford Highway/Pleasant Hill Rd interchange• Completed design and permitting for the trailhead/restroom facility at Rogers Bridge Park• Completed bridge/trail renovation at Bunten Road Park• Completed a technology upgrade for Bunten Activity building• Completed 5.23 miles of pavement preservation – 37 streets treated• Completed almost one mile (three streets) of full depth reclamation completed  (River Summit Drive, Thornbrooke Place, Thornbrooke Court) ONGOING SPLOST PROJECTS:• Continued the environmental documentation and design efforts for Rogers Bridge (replacement) which is expected to start construction in 2020• Completed concept design for Davenport Road Extension with preliminary design to continue through 2020 and project will now include a signal at Davenport Road and Buford Hwy• Western Gwinnett Bikeway – managed by Gwinnett County DOT• Put out bid for resurfacing up to 13 streets, with patching of three more - slated to start in spring of 2020

BeforeAfter

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2019accolades

FY 2019revenuesources

FY 2019 expenditures by category

DULUTH 20/20 • 8 CITY OF DULUTH’S ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE CITY • 9

STORMWATER PROJECTS STARTED OR COMPLETE IN CALENDAR YEAR 2019:• Annual sweeping of city streets• Olde Towne Drainage Improvements – preparation of construction documents• McClure Bridge – preparation of construction documents• Downtown Main Street parking – drainage improvements• Carriage Gate Drive/Bridlewood – structure repair• Irvandale Road/Craig Drive – ditch maintenance• Main Street/North Street – ditch maintenance• Norman Circle – ditch maintenance• North Street – ditch maintenance• South Street/Main Street – structure repair• Peachtree Walk – Stormwater Repair & Replacement Project• Windsor Gate Run – structure repair• Wyesham Circle – structure and sidewalk repair• Heath Lane – Stormwater Repair & Replacement Project• Romulus Drive / Augustus Drive – Stormwater Repair & Replacement Project• Highbrooke Trail – structure and sidewalk repair• Church Street – ditch maintenance• Leeds Way – Stormwater Repair & Replacement Project• Bunten Park – Stabilization Project• Kenwood Court – preparation of construction documents• Kenwood Drive – Stormwater Repair & Replacement Project• Lodge Alley – structure repair• Clean and CCTV pipe systems at the following locations:

• River Green Parkway• Heath Lane and Victoria Way• Pinecrest Circle• Castlemaine Subdivision• Leeds Way• Riverbrooke Subdivision• Rogers Bridge Road• Peachtree Walk• Kensington Drive• Enfield Lane• Benthollow Lane• River Mill Drive• Rogers Mill Subdivision• Carriage Gate SubdivisionBeautification project at Pleasant Hill Rd and Buford Hwy

Rogers Bridge project rendering

NUMBER OF 2019 EVENTS: 612019 FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS: 182019 PARTNERSHIPS: 142019 TOTAL ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE: 150,000

The Duluth Police Department provides professional services through aggressive law enforcement, education and by creating partnerships within the community. We are committed to enhancing the quality of life for our citizens by protecting and serving our public with fairness, courtesy and respect. Through vigorous enforcement of traffic law, and zero-tolerance to crime approach, our officers are able to make Duluth a safe place to live, work or travel through.

Calls for Service – 60,910

Accidents – 1,770Accidents with Injuries - 151Accidents on Private Property - 317

Traffic Stops – 16,049Traffic Citations – 14,459Traffic Warnings – 1,805Parking Violations – 283

Passing School Bus Citations – 37“Move Over Law” Citations - 355

Arrests (Total) – 1,414DUI Arrests - 51Residential/Business Checks – 26,552Residential/Business Alarm Calls – 2,054

Murder - 3Robbery - 5Assault - 154Burglary – 70 Larceny/thefts - 388

AWARD WINNING EVENTS, INCLUDING:• Duluth Celebrates America features a fabulous firework display, rockin’ bands, and activities for all to enjoy. Enjoy food trucks, children’s activities and more on Duluth Town Green!

• Howl on the Green features food trucks, trick-or-treating, costume contests, crafts, live entertainment and music, oh my! The night turns to fright with spooky entertainment with fire dancers, aerialist and more!

• Deck the Hall features live entertainment, festive decorations and a tree lighting ceremony with a brand new laser show. Children can also enjoy other free activities including crafts, a snow playground, snow slide, train ride with Mrs. Claus and more on Duluth Town Green.

27,000+FOLLOWERS

9% increase from 2018

5,200+FOLLOWERS

5.5% increase from 2018

6,300+FOLLOWERS

79% increase from 2018

Council readopted the City of Duluth fee schedule to maintain Duluth’s competitiveness in the region while accounting for the costs related to reviewing, permitting and inspecting a variety of permits

Hired an additional code compliance officer

Held the 4th annual community clean up

The City of Duluth was one of four Georgia communities to receive statewide distinction in the PlanFirst program, a very competitive award which recognizes excellence in community planning

The City of Duluth adopted a major update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, FORWARDuluth - a long-range planning document designed to tell Duluth’s story and guide the future actions of our City

Staff implemented the first year of the Multifamily Housing Inspection Program

Staff launched ERSI online web based GIS (Geographic Information System) maps on the City’s website which provides access to the City’s GIS data to anyone with internet

balanced GROWTHAnalyzed and revised stormwater fees that allow the City to catch up on repairing infrastructure over the next 15 years and remain competitive in the region

CODE ENFORCEMENT:

Officers obtained Criminal Justice Information System training and certification

Officer Bradshaw obtained Level 1 Certification in Code Enforcement Officer Training through Georgia Association of Code Enforcement

Officer Shepphard obtained Code Enforcement Officer Leadership and Management Certificate through Georgia Association of Code Enforcement

STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE:

Structure Repairs/Replacements:  38 each

Pipe Repairs/Replacements: 1,137 LF

CCTV/Cleaning Length: 21,621.6 LF

Ditch Maintenance:  1,712 LF

2,837 building inspections721 permits issued18 certifications and re-certifications related to plan review and inspectionsPermit revenue over $1,150,000

1,346 code enforcement inspections140 citations issued

duluthPOLICE2019 STATS

EVENTS

DULUTH 20/20 • 10 CITY OF DULUTH’S ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE CITY • 11

PARKS & REC INFOGRAPHIC

300ANNUAL

PROGRAMS

30,000ANNUAL

PATRONS

6PARKS

144PARK ACRES

dog park

AMENITIES

canoe launchplaygrounds

pavilionstennis courts

baseball/softball fields

soccer fields

activitycenter senior center

walking/nature trails

CAPTURETHE

SPIRITOF PLAY

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DULUTH Parks and

Recreation

The Duluth Public Art Commission (DPAC) was very busy in 2019 with the completion of a third mural project on Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Duluth Identified was finished in February by artist Katie Burke, paying homage to both local flora and famous Duluth purple.

An exciting interactive art initiative was installed in March at W.P. Jones Park near the playground. This larger-than-life musical instrument experience, titled Melody Lane, will surely inspire

and entertain musical prodigies of all ages for years to come. Unique project signage was created in December by the talented students of SKA Academy. Stop by to check it out!

Our first ever Poetry Slam was held in Parsons Alley, and a temporary “Community Canvas” on the future home of 6S Brewing brightened up Main Street with a lively splash of color. Several other new and interactive art initiatives are proposed for 2020.

In further celebration of musical appreciation, Fanfare was installed on the back of the Red Clay building. Duluth definitely loves music! Stay tuned for art news on long-term projects as well!

Once again, we are thankful for our Public Art Partners. DPAC recently received donations from Goodwill of North Georgia and 2 Smith Art Gallery in Downtown Duluth. The myriad of artful offerings you see happening all around us would not be possible without the generosity

of the development community and private sponsorships.

DPAC meetings are the second Wednesday of every month at 5:30pm in the Community Room of City Hall. All are welcome!

for the ART ENTHUSIASTS

DULUTH 20/20 • 12

Melody Lane interactive art installation at W.P. Jones Park