(a) The district staff shall consist initially of the existing staff of the Environmental Planning Division of the Atlanta Regional Commission. Additional staff may be added or the staffing modified as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the district. The district may contract for such additional staff and consulting services as the board in its discretion may determine to be necessary from time to time.

(b) The Atlanta Regional Commission, the Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center, the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center, the Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Development Center, and the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center shall cooperate with the district and shall assist it in its efforts.