Peachtree Corners facing city charter revisions

Peachtree Corners City Manager Brian Johnson will provide an overview and answer questions regarding a recent report by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government indicating revisions to the City Charter are necessary to make it fully compliant with state law.

Peachtree Corners City Manager Brian Johnson will provide an overview and answer questions regarding a recent report by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government indicating revisions to the City Charter are necessary to make it fully compliant with state law.

Peachtree Corners City Manager Brian Johnson will hold a Q&A session with the community at 7 p.m. Jan. 10 in the Council Chambers of the city’s new City Hall location at 310 Technology Parkway.

Johnson will provide an overview and answer questions regarding a recent report by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government: www.tinyurl.com/PCCharter indicating revisions to the City Charter are necessary to make it fully compliant with state law. The city council has passed a resolution requesting the Georgia General Assembly pass legislation to revise the charter per the recommendations of the report. At the city’s council meeting Jan. 2, the city council is expected to pass ordinances to replace the charter language that has been determined to be legally deficient.

The problems stem from a belief that a ‘city-lite’ is not in compliance with the Georgia Constitution. Peachtree Corners was originally conceived as a ‘city- lite’ that would only provide a limited number of services. There is no requirement that cities provide a wide range of services, in fact, to continue to exist, a municipal corporation in Georgia need only provide three services either directly or by contract from a list in the state code.

The General Assembly has recently enacted general law addressing services provided by newly incorporated cities including ownership and maintenance of county roads within the city, recognition of city managers, and millage rate caps.

The public is encouraged to attend the Jan. 10 meeting to understand the charter revisions and to ask any questions about this or other city related topics.

Information: www.peachtreecornersga.gov.