Lula Planning Commission meets the first Tuesday of the Month at the Lula “DEPOT “, 6 PM. Come Join Us!

This Month Agenda Includes hearing Public Comment on the proposed Future Land Use Map amendment being considered for adoption.

Public Comments will be heard to the proposed future land use map amendment being considered for adoption!

6 Pm Tuesday Sept 7 at the Lula “DEPOT”, all are welcome. Comment will be heard during the open  meeting of the Lula Planning Commission. Join Us!

Conner Evans

The Times

Updated: Jul 28, 2021, 8:41 AM

Published: Jul 27, 2021, 7:15 PM

Lula hired its first full-time code enforcement officer this week in response to growth in the city and issues with derelict property. 

Doug Forrester, who has more than 25 years of experience in law enforcement, is the city’s new code enforcement officer. (Code Enforcement Officer Ms. Smith will continue her role as the transition takes place.) 

“We’re all about compliance; we’re not about fines,” City Manager Dennis Bergin said. 

For example, Bergin said, if a house hasn’t had its grass cut in several weeks, they might get a courtesy notice, and most people respond to those notices within a few days, resolving the issue. Having a full-time officer will help the city respond to issues much faster, Bergin said. 

“The larger we get, the more these issues are harder to resolve,” he said. 

In addition to the new officer, the city is amending its “Lula Derelict Property Ordinance” to clear up language related to chain of command for the code enforcement officer and to give the city authority over properties deemed derelict or abandoned in court. 

In the ordinance, the definition for property that is a “public nuisance” includes property that is constructed in violation of the minimum building standards in the city, property unfit for human habitation or commercial use, abandoned property or that which poses an imminent harm to life or other property due to fire, flood or other natural catastrophe. 

The ordinance sets up a process for the city to intervene if a court orders them to make improvements on a property, and it gives both the city council and city manager authority over the new code enforcement officer. 

“In the event that a property owner doesn’t improve a property that’s required by law then the city is ordered by a judge to make the improvements and a lien can be placed,” Bergin said. “So really this is a method of means.”

City Attorney Joseph Homans said other cities, including Buford and Braselton, that have adopted a similar ordinance have reported that it has been effective. 

“The whole idea of this was to get to the abandoned properties in the city that are not only creating an eyesore but are creating a health issue and a public safety issue,” Homans said. Mayor Jim Grier said the city most often has issues with unoccupied properties. Derelict properties can affect the value of nearby homes, he said. 

“Many times there are title issues with the properties, and we don’t know who to contact,” Grier said. 

The City Council will give the ordinance further consideration in August, according to the city’s website. 

City of Lula

Public Notice

Date: Posted Wednesday, August 11, 2021

To:               General Public, Media 

From:           Dennis Bergin

File:             File in Minute Book

Cc.               Mayor and Council, J. Homans, City Clerk R. Totty

Subject:          Public Notice Special Called Meeting of the Lula City Council Meeting /Work Session  /Thursday 6:00 PM, August 12, 2021, at the Lula “DEPOT”

Requirements as prescribed by law have been met allowing for the scheduling of a “Special Called Meeting” of the Lula City Council for August 12^th  at the Lula “Depot”, 5911 Wall Street, Lula, Georgia 30554.

Opening / Welcome Mayor Grier

Pledge and Invocation

Citizen Comments

Work Session Agenda/ Draft

1. Approval of Council Minutes July 16^th , and Special Called Meeting July 27^th   2021.
2. Yard of the Month,
3. Finance
   1. Current Conditions
   2. American Rescue Plan/Status
   3. Capital Improvement Budget Development

1. Water Sewer Current Conditions /
2. Code Enforcement/
   1.  Derelict and Blighted Property Ordinance,
      1. Public Hearing Monday August 16^th , at the Depot 6:00 PM
3. City Clerk / Elections Superintendent
4. Municipal Election
   1. Qualifying Aug 16^th through Aug 18^th  during the hours of 8:30 AM till 4:30 PM, Location Lula City Hall
   2. Mayor,
   3. District 2,
   4. District 3
5. Planning Commission /
   1. Vape Shops /
   2. Brewpubs
   3. Proposed Changes to Comprehensive Future Land Use Map/
   4. Ordinance Amending permitted uses of the Agricultural District in the adopted Zoning  Ordinance.
6. Petition for road abandonment / Tim & Harriet Williams 6049 Main Street./ Status/ Public Hearing
7. Reminder “Lula Ladies” Gathering at the “DEPOT”, Wednesday Aug  at  Noon (Lunch) and 6:30 PM (Dinner)
8. FYI- Quarterly Hall County SPLOST Meeting Tuesday Aug. 25th  4:30 PM at the DEPOT
9. FYI – EDC Meeting at the DEPOT Oct 8^th

Citizen Comments

Council Comments

All requests to be placed on the regular agenda should come in writing (forms available) and should encompass all supporting documents in advance of the work session.  The Regular Monthly Council Meeting is normally the Third Monday of the Month, preceded by a work session on the prior Monday @6:00 PM. All meeting of the Council are open to the Public and the public attendance is encouraged. In the event of a Special Called Meeting of the Council, such meeting shall be posted for Public View 24 hours in advance, with stated agenda.

Please note the change of location to the Lula “DEPOT” rather than City Hall!

The Mayor and Council encourage and welcome public attendance at all meetings of the city council.

Latest Draft August 2ndUpdate Derelict and Abandoned Property Ordinance  Available for review

As most of the community is aware the city has been addressing “Code Enforcement” violations for over the last ten years. The challenge that all communities face over time is “how to ensure compliance in a fair and equitable way?” the success of our current program is only as good as the tools you must ensure compliance.

During the recent budget development process many in the community expressed the need for the city to expand compliance for those properties in the city that were abandoned and or dilapidated. The City Council addressed the issue for additional means to gain compliance from your city attorney, allowing for consideration of a specific ordinance that would allow for the means under state law to address the issue of compliance. Based upon the direction of the council and the city attorney the budget was adopted so to enhance compliance of the current ordinances for nuisance and code violations ensuring a method designed with the enhanced resources and specific process to remove or correct some of the neglected properties in Lula. In this process the city attorney has brought forward the “Derelict Property Ordinance” for consideration, giving the community a much-needed means to process neglected properties in a structured manor under the approval and direction of state law and the municipal court judge.

There’s been a lot of misinformation regarding the proposed ordinance, first the community needs to know NO ONE is taking away any rights of a property owner, just the opposite is true when you consider the ordinance assures the property owner a process for resolution, further No One from the city is going to enter a house or home without the consent of the owner or the occupant unless a judge has issued a warrant to inspect the interior of the property with just cause through the court process as allowed by state law and if required it would be  by the “POST Certified  City Marshall” who handles Code Enforcement.

This type of ordinance being considered has been found to be successful in many surrounding cities assuring that the communities (Buford, Braselton )have a method to resolve issues of compliance and property values are protected from the effects of dilapidated properties.

We would encourage the community to come by city hall and pick up a copy of the latest draft (July 22) and see for yourself how the city is addressing your expectations.

The city council is still evaluating the ordinance and will give this matter further consideration in August.

City of Lula

Public Notice

Date: Monday, July 26, 2021

To:               General Public, Media 

From:           Dennis Bergin

File:             File in Minute Book

Cc.               Mayor and Council, J. Homans, City Clerk R. Totty

Subject:          Public Notice Special Called Meeting of the Lula City Council Meeting /Work Session  /Tuesday 9:00 AM July 27^th, 2021, at the Lula “DEPOT”

Requirements as prescribed by law have been met allowing for the scheduling of a “Special Called Meeting” of the Lula City Council for Monday July 27th, 9:00 AM at the Lula “Depot”, 5911 Wall Street, Lula, Georgia 30554.

Opening / Welcome Mayor Grier

Pledge and Invocation

Citizen Comments

Work Session Agenda

1. Finance
   1. Current Conditions
   2. American Rescue Plan/Status “ARPA” Resolution 071921-A
   3. Capital Improvement Budget Development/
2. Code Enforcement/
   1.  Derelict and Blighted Property Ordinance 2^nd Draft,
3. Executive Session/ potential litigation and land acquisition