Politics & Government

Alpharetta City Council Will Fill November Ballot

Voters to decide on Sunday alcohol sales, a $29 million bond referendum for the city's downtown project and five elective offices.

The November Alpharetta municipal election would have been full enough with just four elected positions on the ballot–three City Council posts and the mayor's seat. But it's going to be a bit longer ballot after council adds more on Monday night.

During the July 18 City Council meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m., a measure is planned to add an election for the unexpired term of Councilman Doug DeRito in Post 1. DeRito is expected to qualify for the mayor's seat in August.

Candidates who have declared they also will qualify are Jim Paine, whose council seat is up for election also; and former councilman David Belle Isle.

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Council Posts 4, 5 and 6–held by Cheryl Oakes, Jim Paine and D.C. Aiken–expire at the end of the year and were planned for the ballot. In addition, Mayor Arthur Letchas has reached his term limit and a new mayor will be selected by voters.

But if picking four City Council members and a new mayor wasn't enough, two ballot measures will be given to voters.

Find out what's happening in Alpharetta-Miltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

City voters will decide if they want to allow retail sales of liquor, beer and wine on Sundays. Currently restaurants can serve by the drink on Sundays.

And with a fourth public input meeting about the downtown city center project planned on Thursday, it should come as no surprise that the City Council has a $29 million bond referendum to put on the ballot.

The bond measure has two stated purposes:

(1) the acquisition, development, construction and equipping of a new city hall, a related parking structure and surrounding green space;

(2) paying the costs and expenses related to such bonded indebtedness.

On Monday night, city residents get their first chance to comment on these ballot measures after a first reading of each ordinance. But they'll have the ultimate say at the polls on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 8.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here