Meeting was opened by Travis

• HBNPA Board members in attendance were acknowledged
• Approximately 38 people were in attendance. It was a packed house with lots of member input.
• Remember to sign in on the HBNPA sign in sheet.  Stay informed of HBNPA meeting etc.
• Bollywood Restaurant has not yet applied for a liquor license.
• There is a new coffee shop, Wandering Spirals, opening around the corner from Daddy Cates coffee shop.  They will have different open hours.

• Several attendees voiced their appreciation and respect for the chief.
• Angela Smith has been named Interim Chief
• Officer Bailey is the community service officer and will be attending NPA meetings

Chief Jones’ final report:

• Crime stats: crime is down 5% in 2024 and down 60% since the 1990s
• If homeowners have home security cameras please register with BPD to assist them
• Teen violence has seen an increase
• Guns are the ‘currency’ not money  ‘they are looking for guns’  if you have a weapon take it inside with you/keep a record of the serial number(s) in the event of theft/loss and always lock your car

Per Officer Smith- we are working on teen crimes.  These are targeted acts of violence.

• There will be a community meeting to address this matter on 2/13.  Officer Daniels asked for ideas from the audience to help with such events.

City Commissioner Lance Sabbe spoke on the “Blight Tax” and “Homestead Exemption Bill” Lance provided a handout from John Hunter, City of Brunswick Planning, Development and Code officer which summarizes the Blight Tax:

1. Added the International Property Maintenance Code to our list of adopted State Codes.
2. Provides more ability to address property conditions then our previous City Ordinance.
3. Added requirements for Vacant Structures (mothballing and registering) and provides enforcement provisions.
4. Derelict Property Ordinance
5. Updates the Nuisance Properties process
6. Clarifies the ability of the City to add related liens to the City Tax bill
7. Adds “General Cleanliness of Premises” and “Disorderly House”

Blighted Property Ordinance—

1. Provides process for staff evaluation and determination that a property is “Blighted”
2. Establishes a Notification Process, remediation process, and appeal process for property owners
3. Enables the City to increase City Property Taxes 7 times the current millage rate for properties determined to be Blighted
4. Owners who address Blighted Conditions are eligible for a property tax reduction once conditions are remedied.

The Homestead Exemption bill passed in March 2024 to provide tax relief at the state level.

• Georgia House Bill 581 (HB 581) is a bill that was passed in 2024 to provide property tax relief and reform. The bill includes a statewide homestead exemption, a new local sales tax option, and property tax process changes. This bill supercedes the Brunswick City efforts to create a city homestead tax exemption. 
• CALL TO ACTION:
  The city of Brunswick plans to hold three informational meetings and public hearings on a statewide homestead exemption that it has the option of adopting. The city will host public hearings at 6 p.m. on Feb. 26 and at noon and 6 p.m. on Feb. 27. All three public hearings will be at Old City Hall in downtown Brunswick.

Chris Moline spoke to the school redistricting matter.

• A new Superintendent, Mike Blackerby, starts on July 1.  The BOE steering committee on redistricting is in a holding pattern. It is unclear when or if there will be an opportunity for public input regarding the proposed redistricting.

Other business:

•   GA Power reports that 70% of residents lost power during the recent ice storm.  Brunswick was restored before Saint Simons. This is attributed to the difficulty in discerning where the outage is specifically in underground utilities. Dialo Cartwright, Area Manager for GA Power will be attending the next HBNPA on March 18.
• The subject of odors and particulates in Old Town Brunswick was again brought up.  There are no state regulations against odors. Complaints have been coming in since 2021.
• CALL TO ACTION: In order to detect the cause/location of the source, wind direction and weather conditions are needed.  The Glynn Environmental Coalition has an air quality form that can be filled out on line: https://www.glynnenvironmental.org/airquality

• The next NPA meeting is March 18, 2025