Columbus Consolidated Government

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TO: Mayor and Councilors

Date: 3/21/2006 12:00:00 AM

TO: Mayor and Councilors

Date:

Created:

3/17/2006 12:20:00 PM

THRU: Isaiah Hugley, City Manager

FROM: David Arrington, Deputy City Manager

Subject: BRAC Planning

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No attachments for this document.

On Thursday March 16, 2006, I attended the Valley Partnership Group meeting in

Manchester. In the meeting the group passed the following two resolutions

relating to planning for BRAC. Both resolutions are critical components in the

BRAC planning process and the opportunity to pursue future grant funding for

local improvements.



Joint Land Use Study Resolution - Authorizing the organization to apply to the

Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) for a grant to fund the Regional Joint Land

Use Study. Further to accept an offer from the Fort Benning Futures

Partnership to fund the expense of a grant writer for the application.



Description - The Joint Land Use Study is a cooperative planning effort between

local communities and the military installation to solve existing encroachment

problems and prevent futures ones. The final product will help guide local

jurisdictions in the application of planning and development controls in

support of the ongoing military mission.



Growth Development Plan Resolution- Authorizing the organization to apply for a

grant to fund a Growth Management Planning Program which will involve all

communities in the development of planned growth. A Task Force (each county in

the Partnership will be represented on the Task Force) will be appointed to

lead the region in this effort and to formulate recommendations.



Description - The Growth Management Plan assesses the likely effects of the

timing and influx of new personnel and the local capacity to absorb the influx

(public services, housing, education, transportation, employment, health care,

etc.) The plan will be used in planning and developing implementation

strategies for infrastructure, land use, transportation, education, and housing.



According to Jay Sweat, the OEA representative at the meeting, it is critical

that each community express their local needs in the scope of services for both

studies. As the specifications are developed for the RFP process, Rick Jones

and I will be working with our representatives in the Partnership to insure our

interest and needs are addressed.