Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 6
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Commission Districts
To approve a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and DeKalb County, Georgia to further GDOT’s “Color Your Roads/Wildflower” Initiative for Roadside Enhancement and Beautification of Public Roads through the establishment of pollinator habitat sites.
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Edward C. “Ted” Terry
Phone Number: 404-371-4909
PURPOSE:
To approve an MOA between GDOT and DeKalb County, Georgia to further GDOT’s “Color Your Roads” Initiative for roadside enhancement and beautification of public roads through the establishment of pollinator habitat sites. This includes establishment and maintenance of a one-acre wildflower pollinator habitat in State right-of-way located in DeKalb County using a mix of perennial and annual reseeding wildflower species.
The DeKalb County Law Department has worked with GDOT to vet the attached MOA as to form.
NEED/IMPACT:
DeKalb County is committed to protecting our eco-system and understands the importance of providing habitat for pollinators. Pollinator decline is attributed to urbanizations and use of pesticides. The Georgia Department of Transportation’s “Color Your Roads/Wildflower” initiative provides an opportunity to create a colorful roadside experience that gives Georgia citizens a sense of pride, visitors another good reason to visit our beautiful state, and importantly a safe and attractive natural landscape for pollinators to habituate to.
The approval of this MOA will allow DeKalb County and GDOT to partner together on enhancing and beautifying roadsides in DeKalb County. This not only beautifies public landscapes with wildflowers but also provides crucial pollinator habitat. These wildflowers will sustain and protect pollinators, which are crucial to Georgia’s ecosystem and ensure a healthy agricultural system.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$2,400 for 2023, $2,400 for 2024 and $2,400 for 2025, not to exceed amount of $7,200.00 based on the MOA end date of December 31, 2025. Under no circumstances will DeKalb County be responsible to compensate the Georgia Department of Transportation more than the total amount designated as the annual contact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the attached MOA between GDOT and DeKalb County, Georgia to further the initiatives for roadside enhancement and beautification of public roads in DeKalb County and authorize the Chief Executive Officer or his designee to execute the MOA and all necessary documents in a form acceptable to the County Attorney.