Warner Robins council approves Plan First MOA and routine contracts to support development

The Warner Robins City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Londa W Patrick to execute a memorandum of agreement with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to formalize the city's Plan First designation.

Councilman Lawrenson, who presented the motion, said Plan First status positions Warner Robins as a model community in Georgia and provides practical benefits for economic development, including bonus points for projects, eligibility for certain state grants and a 1% reduction on some state loan products. Council members and staff credited Community Economic Development Director Kate Hogan and city employees for preparing the application.

As part of the consent agenda the council also approved several routine agreements by voice vote: an engagement letter with Gerard and Davis LLP to provide personnel training on harassment and discrimination, a professional services agreement with Schneider Geospatial LLC to maintain the city's qpublic.net site, and a natural-gas sales agreement allowing Anchor Glass Container Corporation to purchase firm natural gas from the city. Each motion passed unanimously with no recorded dissent.

Council members described the approvals as part of routine governance that supports workforce training, city services and economic development work. The mayor noted the Plan First recognition was the first such designation for Warner Robins and said the city will continue to pursue projects that leverage the designation's benefits.

The council asked staff to continue implementation work and to return with any necessary follow-up items to support these agreements and the Plan First program.