Upscale restaurants may soon find Flowery Branch a more attractive place to do business.

Flowery Branch City Council discussed a resolution Thursday morning that would give restaurants with a liquor license a break on sewer reservation fees.

Instead of charging all restaurants a flat $10 per gallon fee, the council is exploring the possibility of maintaining that reservation rate for restaurants with liquor licenses, but raising it for restaurants that do not serve alcohol, such as fast food restaurants.

"The goal is to bring in higher quality restaurants to Flowery Branch city limits, which will provide more eating opportunities for residents and more revenue for the city," said Bill Andrew, Flowery Branch city manager.

The resolution could set sewer reservation fees at $16 per gallon for restaurants with a beer and wine license, and $22 per gallon for restaurants that do not serve alcohol.

The City Council will review the resolution at its next meeting on May 1.

In his quarterly report to the council, Flowery Branch Police Chief Gerald Lanich said incidents of burglary, theft and criminal trespassing have increased considerably from January to March due to the rising price of metals.

He said burglars have resorted to stealing car parts and ripping wires from homes to sell them for their valuable metal components.

"It’s really caused turmoil in law enforcement, because they’re going around pulling wires out of houses so they can sell the copper," Lanich said.

He added that incidents involving juveniles also increased in March, which is typical as the weather warms.

Also, the city showcased its new planning and administrative office buildings at 5512 and 5514 Main St. Wednesday in conjunction with the Georgia Cities Week program.

The city is leasing the new office buildings for $2,200 per month.

Flowery Branch Mayor Diane Hirling said she hopes the hardwood floors and high-ceiling offices will make the city more attractive to high-end developers.