Dec 05, 2022 Work Session & City Commission

OKAY, NOW WE'RE READY TO GO.

[00:00:03]

[WORK SESSION – 5:00 P.M]

SO, WELCOME, KRISTEN.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT FOR THE MISSING MIDDLE ZONING POLICY RECOMMENDATION WORK SESSION.

MY NAME IS KRISTEN ALLEN.

I AM A PLANNER FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND ALTHOUGH I WILL BE GIVING THE BULK OF TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION BASED ON THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE AROUND THIS TOPIC, I ALSO HAVE ASKED TWO EXPERTS HERE TONIGHT TO HELP PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT TO THE DISCUSSION BASED ON THEIR EXTENSIVE EXPERTISE IN THE SUBJECT MATTER RELEVANT TO THE CONVERSATION TONIGHT.

SO ONE PERSON IS HERE ALREADY, DR.

DAN IMMERGLUCK, AND ONE IS ON THE WAY.

MR. MIKE ALEXANDER.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO INTRODUCE THEM BRIEFLY SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING OR WHO WATCH THE RECORDING LATER KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BOTH OF THEM AND WHY WE'VE ASKED THEM HERE TONIGHT. SO MIKE ALEXANDER IS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION, AND HE MANAGES SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES, RESEARCH AND ANALYTICS, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, MOBILITY SERVICES, AGING AND INDEPENDENT SERVICES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY FOR THE ARC, AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE WATCHING AND ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION OR THE ARC, THIS IS ATLANTA'S REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY FOR THE 11 COUNTY METRO REGION.

THE JRC SPECIALIZES IN USING PLANNING BEST PRACTICES AND DATA TO HELP INFORM LOCAL LEADERS IN THEIR DECISION MAKING.

SO MIKE ALEXANDER HAS OVER 20 YEARS OF PUBLIC POLICY EXPERIENCE FOCUSED ON REGIONAL AND LOCAL COMMUNITY PLANNING.

AS THE COO OF THE ARC, HE LEADS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROFESSIONAL STAFF IN THE FIELDS OF TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING, COMMUNITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMICS, AGING, SURFACE AND DEMOGRAPHIC FORECASTING.

HE HAS A DUAL MASTER'S DEGREE FROM AUBURN AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNITY PLANNING.

SO DR. DAN IMMERGLUCK IS ALSO HERE TONIGHT.

HE IS A PROFESSOR OF URBAN STUDIES AT THE GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY IN ATLANTA, AND HIS AREA OF SPECIALIZATION IS HOUSING MARKETS AND HOUSING POLICY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GENTRIFICATION, SEGREGATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

HE HAS WORKED FOR OVER 30 YEARS IN THE ARENA OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BOTH AS A PRACTITIONER AND AN ACADEMIC.

HE'S ALSO WRITTEN MULTIPLE BOOKS, OVER FIVE BOOKS, MORE THAN 120 SCHOLARLY ARTICLES.

PRIOR TO HIS TIME AT GEORGIA STATE, HE WAS AT GEORGIA TECH FROM 2005 TO 2017, AS A PROFESSOR OF CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING AT GEORGIA TECH. HE ALSO SERVED ON ATLANTA MAYOR, ANDRE DICKENS' TRANSITION COMMITTEE IN 2022.

SO DAN IS HERE TONIGHT AND MIKE IS ON THE WAY TO HELP AS WE DISCUSS THE MISSING MIDDLE ZONING, POSSIBLY TO HELP ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS AND THEN QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP AT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WILL BE ASSISTING WITH A PORTION OF TONIGHT'S WORK SESSION.

SO I WANT TO START OFF TONIGHT BY TALKING KIND OF REFRESHING OUR MIND ON WHAT OUR MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING GOALS ARE.

SO WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE BY ALLOWING DUPLEX TRIPLEX AND COMPLEXES IN SINGLE FAMILY ZONING DISTRICTS? SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE GOALS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF DIFFERENT SESSIONS WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS AND THEN DIFFERENT REPORTS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

SO WE WANT TO PRESERVE A COMMUNITY THAT'S INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING FOR ALL, A DIVERSITY OF HOUSING, FOR A DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE.

WE WANT TO HAVE HOUSING CHOICES AT VARIED INCOME LEVELS, FLEXIBLE HOUSING OPTIONS, INCLUDING RENTAL AND OWNERSHIP.

INCREASED SUPPLY OF SMALLER HOUSING UNITS FOR ATTAINABILITY AND TO ENCOURAGE SUBSIDIZED AND MARKET RATE HOUSING TO DIVERSIFY HOUSING PRICES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO WHEN WE'RE IN PLANNING, WE TAKE THOSE GOALS AND TRY TO DRILL THEM DOWN INTO POLICIES.

SO HOW DO WE CREATE POLICIES TO ACHIEVE THESE DESIRED GOALS? SO SOME IDEAS ARE TO ENABLE SMALLER SIZED HOMES TO BE BUILT OR SUBDIVIDED, TO RECOGNIZE THE ABILITY FOR REDUCED LAND COST OVER TOTAL DEVELOPED UNITS, WHICH WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IN FUTURE SLIDES TO ALLOW AFFORDABLE AND MARKET-RATE HOUSING, WHICH IS UNSUBSIDIZED TO MAINTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER THROUGH MAINTAINING SCALE AND HEIGHT OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, AND TO TAKE COMMUNITY INPUT INTO CONSIDERATION AS POLICIES ARE CRAFTED.

SO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WE'VE HAD AND ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ARE COMING INTO OUR FINAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.

ONE THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT AS FAR AS DIVERSITY OF HOUSING VERSUS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT ON THE RIGHT REALLY TALKED ABOUT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING AND THE NEED TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING AND FOCUSED ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL.

SO WHEN WE ADD A POLICY FOR MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING THAT ALSO ALLOWS MARKET RATE OPTIONS.

SO THE OUTREACH THAT WE'VE DONE, THE POSTCARD ON THE LEFT HAS BEEN ABOUT HOUSING DIVERSITY EQUALING A HUMAN DIVERSITY.

SO IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A POINT OF QUESTION THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, BUT JUST TO POINT OUT THAT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING CAN ENABLE MARKET RATE AND AFFORDABLE OPTIONS, AND

[00:05:03]

I WANTED TO REVIEW THE ZONING POLICY PROCESS AS WELL.

SO I HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN KIND OF THE FIRST STAGE OF THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND THAT WAS STARTED IN JANUARY OF 2021.

UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2021, AND THEN ACTUALLY UP UNTIL ALMOST THE VERY BEGINNING OF 2022 WITH THE DRAFT AMENDMENTS.

SO THE FIRST PHASE OF PUBLIC OUTREACH INCLUDED CREATING THE NEW WEBSITE WITH A STORY, MAP AND VIDEO TO PROVIDE EDUCATION.

WE SENT A POSTCARD TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD ARTICLES IN THE DECATUR FOCUS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AN ONLINE SURVEY, A HOTLINE AND THREE PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS.

AFTER THAT, WE DID THE DRAFT AMENDMENT CREATION, AND THEN I'LL MOVE ON TO THE OTHERS IN A SECOND.

SO THERE ARE SOME PRIORITIES AND CONCERNS THAT CAME OUT OF THE PHASE ONE PROCESS THAT I'VE HIGHLIGHTED HERE.

SO SOME OF THE PRIORITIES WERE TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN DECATUR.

I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM, BUT SOME OF THE CREATE DIVERSITY AND DECATUR TO ENSURE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME TO KIND OF PRESERVE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER, TO INCREASE TINY HOME OPTIONS AND DIFFERENT HOUSING OPTIONS SUCH AS COTTAGE COURTS.

WE ARE ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

OK. THANK YOU.

TO MAKE EXISTING HOMES IN DECATUR AFFORDABLE THROUGH REDUCED TAXES AND OTHER MEANS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO FORM MODERATE HOME INCOME OWNERSHIP.

THOSE WERE SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT CAME OUT FROM THAT, AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS WERE HOW TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY, ADDRESSING TEAR-DOWNS AND THE WASTE THAT THEY CREATE COMMUNITY IMPACTS, SUCH AS TAXATION, SCHOOLS, TRAFFIC AND HISTORIC DISTRICTS, HOME OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE OF MULTI UNITS.

LOOKING AT THE FLOOR AREA RATIO AND MAKING SURE THAT UNITS--WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE TASK FORCE WAS 0.6 FAR--SO MAKING SURE THEY WEREN'T BIGGER THAN WHAT A SINGLE FAMILY HOME COULD BE. SO WE'VE TAKEN THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WITH THE DRAFT DEVELOPMENT.

DEVELOPER INTEREST, SHORT TERM RENTALS, RENTING VERSUS OWNER AND LOSS OF EXISTING MULTIFAMILY.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF OUR FIRST ROUND OF PUBLIC OUTREACH.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT FAR IS? YES. SO FAR IS FLOOR AREA RATIOS; IT'S THE RATIO OF HOW BIG A HOME IS COMPARED TO THE LOT.

SO OUR STANDARD FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IS 0.4 IN MOST R-60 DISTRICTS, AND IT CAN VARY A LITTLE BIT DEPENDING ON IF IT'S A SMALLER.

LOT SIZE, BUT THE RECOMMENDATION, SIMILAR TO WHAT ATLANTA DOES, WAS TO GO UP TO A 0.6 FAR AND WE DID NOT INCLUDE THAT IN THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE THE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS TO KEEP MISSING MIDDLE IN THE SAME FOOTPRINT OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.

A STEP FURTHER, IF I HAVE A THREE STORY BUILDING, THEN I WOULD ADD EVERY FLOOR AND THAT WOULD BE THE RATIO TO LOT.

OR I'D ADD THE SINGLE BOTTOM FLOOR, THE BIGGEST FOOTPRINT FOR FAR? IT'S JUST THE FOOTPRINT OF THE BOTTOM, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE HEIGHT YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AND SETBACKS.

SO THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS OTHER THAN FLOOR AREA RATIO.

YEAH. YEAH.

THANK YOU. SO THE DRAFT AMENDMENTS WERE VERY SIMPLE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT MISSING MIDDLE.

SO THE UDO AMENDMENT ONE WAS BASICALLY TO ALLOW UP TO FOUR UNITS IN R-85 R-60 R-50 AND R-17 SINGLE FAMILY ZONING DISTRICTS, AND WE ALREADY HAVE DUPLEX AND WALK UP FLAT DEFINED IN THE UDO.

SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADD DUPLEXES IN THESE ZONES AS WELL AS WALK UP FLATS WITH 3 TO 4 UNITS.

SO WE SPECIFIED THE AREA.

SETBACKS, HEIGHT AND COVERAGE OF A 2 TO 4 UNIT HOUSE CANNOT EXCEED THE REQUIREMENT OF A DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY HOME.

THE SECOND PART OF THE AMENDMENT WAS TO ALLOW 50% OF THE PARKING IF IT QUALIFIES TO BE ON STREET FOR DUPLEX AND WALK UP FLAT DWELLINGS.

SO IF THERE WAS 15 FEET OF STREET FRONTAGE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, THAT WOULD BE ONE QUALIFYING ON STREET SPACE.

SO WITH A QUADPLEX, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WOULD STILL NEED TO HAVE ONE SPACE PER DWELLING UNIT.

SO YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE FOUR SPACES.

THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR CODE FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, BUT 50% WOULD BE ABLE TO BE SATISFIED ON STREET.

SO THOSE WERE THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE THEN WENT INTO PHASE TWO OF THE OUTREACH THAT STARTED IN JANUARY OF 2022 AND WENT TO OCTOBER OF 2022, AND NOW THE SECOND PART IS ALMOST IN DECEMBER, BUT THE PHASE TWO OF THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WAS ANOTHER POSTCARD TO EVERY HOME ARTICLE, INDICATOR FOCUS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER SURVEY.

I DID COMMUNITY MEETINGS OUT IN THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND TALK TO PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK.

I HAD A FEW TABLES AT PUBLIC EVENTS.

WE HAD A HOUSING FORUM ON AUGUST 17TH AND CONTINUED THE RESEARCH.

WE HAD A WORK SESSION WITH PLANNING COMMISSION.

ANOTHER DECATUR FOCUS ARTICLE WE POSTED SIGNS ALL AROUND DECATUR IN COMPLIANCE WITH A NEW STATE BILL HB 1405 TO ADVERTISE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, WHICH WAS THE PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING AND THE CITY COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING.

[00:10:03]

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE NOW.

SO AFTER THIS WORK SESSION, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER DECATUR FOCUS ARTICLE TRYING TO DRIVE PEOPLE TO WATCH THE WORK SESSION FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES, AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER POSTCARD GOING OUT TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD AND WE'LL WORK ON THE FINAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THE FINAL VOTE FOR THE COMMISSION WILL BE JANUARY 17TH AND FEBRUARY 6TH OF NEXT YEAR, 2023, AND SOME PARTIES AND CONCERNS THAT CAME OUT OF THE PHASE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE TO AGAIN INCREASE STARTER OPTIONS AND DECATUR AND TO BUILD WEALTH THAT WAS A PRIORITY TO ALLOW MORE HOUSING TYPES AND TINY HOMES AND COTTAGE COURTS TO PARTNER WITH NONPROFIT BUILDERS TO TRY TO MAKE THESE UNITS AFFORDABLE.

TO PRESERVE OUR MISSING MIDDLE.

THAT CAME UP QUITE A BIT.

TO DESIGN MULTI UNITS THAT FIT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE ALSO HAD SOME PEOPLE WANTING TO ELIMINATE PARKING MINIMUMS TO GO FURTHER THAN WHAT WE HAD IN THE DRAFT AMENDMENTS, AND TO ENABLE MORE OPTIONS FOR DOWNSIZING FOR OLDER RESIDENTS, TO ENCOURAGE NEW HOUSING TYPES NEAR TRANSIT AND TO CREATE MORE ADA AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING.

SOME CONCERNS THAT AROSE WHERE THE INCREASED DENSITY COULD LEAD TO MORE TRAFFIC PEOPLE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, AND WE COVERED THAT EXTENSIVELY IN THE FORUM.

SO SOME OF THESE PEOPLE CAN GO BACK TO THE FORUM AND READ THAT OR WATCH THAT ONLINE.

THAT WAS POSTED ON THE DECATUR GA AFFORDABLE HOUSING WEB PAGE, BUT THAT'S BEEN COVERED.

INVESTOR PURCHASES OF HOMES AND SHORT TERM RENTALS.

WE COVERED THAT A BIT IN THE FORUM AS WELL, ESPECIALLY THE INVESTOR OWNED HOMES.

WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER THAT MORE TONIGHT.

TAXATION OF SINGLE FAMILY VERSUS MULTIFAMILY HOMES.

I'LL COVER THAT TONIGHT.

POTENTIAL RISE IN LAND VALUES AND HOME VALUES.

WE'LL DISCUSS TONIGHT IMPACT ON CITY SERVICES, TREES AND STORMWATER.

WE ADDRESS THAT IN THE FORUM.

TEAR-DOWNS OF OLDER HOMES AND DISPLACEMENT OF LEGACY RESIDENTS, WE WILL DISCUSS TONIGHT.

STREET PARKING AND SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS WE DISCUSSED DURING THE FORUM ON AUGUST 17TH INCREASED GENTRIFICATION, NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AND HISTORIC DISTRICTS WILL DISCUSS TONIGHT AND CODES, ENFORCEMENT AND SAFETY OF PROPERTIES WE DISCUSSED DURING THE FORUM.

SO TO SUMMARIZE, TONIGHT'S WORK SESSION IS THE TRAJECTORY OF DECATUR AFTER MISSING MIDDLE WAS DISALLOWED IN 1988.

I HAVE SOME MORE IN-DEPTH NUMBERS TO SHARE WITH YOU.

FUTURE OUTLOOK, INCLUDING POPULATION GROWTH AND HOUSEHOLDS.

ADDRESSING CONCERNS THAT AROSE DURING THE PUBLIC, THE COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARINGS, SOME PROFESSIONAL STUDIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

A LOOK AT PEER CITIES AND MISSING MIDDLE ZONING REFORM.

EXAMPLES OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.

THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO DATE AND NEXT STEPS.

SO WHY WAS MISSING MIDDLE DISALLOWED IN 1988? I THINK THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DON'T REALIZE THAT IT ACTUALLY WAS ALLOWED , AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU'LL SEE DUPLEXES AND QUADPLEXES THERE.

THEY'RE NOT CONFORMING, THEY'RE NOT LEGAL CONFORMING STRUCTURES BECAUSE THEY WERE DISALLOWED, BUT THEY WERE ALLOWED UP UNTIL 1988 WHEN DUPLEXES WERE KIND OF THE LAST HOUSING TYPE TO BE DISALLOWED, AND JUST TO POINT OUT THAT THIS WAS NOT DECATUR-SPECIFIC, THIS HAPPENED ALL ACROSS THE US IN RESPONSE TO SOME THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING DURING THAT TIME, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE REAGAN ERA, AND THERE'S AN ARTICLE THAT I'VE LISTED HERE (TOO) EASY MONEY FUELS A NEW BUILDING BOOM.

SO THERE WAS A BUILDING BOOM AND RENTALS WERE SEEN AS A TAX SHELTER.

SO THERE WAS SOME OVERBUILDING OF MULTI-UNIT PROPERTIES AND THEN THERE WAS A BUST IN 1986.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WENT IN TO COMMUNITIES LIKE DECATUR AND BUILT MULTI UNIT HOUSING PULLED OUT.

THIS LED TO A HOUSING CRASH.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS SUCH AS ZONING BEING USED AS A BARRIER.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF ORDNANCES AND FAIR HOUSING, THAT KIND OF LEAD POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE LED TO SOME MORE STRICTER ZONING REFORM AS WELL, BUT JUST TO POINT OUT ALSO FROM THIS SLIDE, THAT COMMUNITIES GO THROUGH STAGES.

SO LIKE A LIFE CYCLE, THEY CAN DO DISTRESSED AND DETERIORATING OR STABILIZING, REVITALIZING, GENTRIFYING, AND THE DIFFERENT STAGES REQUIRE DIFFERENT APPROACHES.

SO THIS IS SOME DATA THAT ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION HELPED ME GET DATA GOING BACK TO 1990, BECAUSE I WAS ASKED AT THE COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO LOOK AT TRY TO LOOK AT THE DATA AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THAT 1988 DATE WHEN THE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING WAS DISALLOWED.

SO WE HAVE DATA FROM 1990 TO 2020.

SO I'LL START WITH THE HOUSING UNIT CHANGE TRAJECTORY AND YOU CAN SEE OVER TO THE RIGHT THAT FROM 1990 TO 2020, WE LOST 224 TWO UNIT HOUSEHOLDS OR TWO UNITS AND 3 TO 4 UNITS, WE LOST 183 AND 5 TO 9, WE LOST 152.

SO IN THAT SAME TIME WE GAINED 988 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS THE ONE UNIT DETACHED AND 459 TOWNHOMES, WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS THE ONE UNIT ATTACHED , AND THEN ON THE HIGHER END, THE TEN PLUS UNITS, WE GAINED 944, AND THAT'S WHY WE CALL THIS MISSING MIDDLE, BECAUSE THE TWO, THREE, FOUR AND 5 TO 9 UNITS ARE KIND OF THAT MIDDLE

[00:15:08]

THE SECOND SLIDE IN THE SUBJECT IS AROUND THE AGE CHANGE IN TRAJECTORY, AND I TALKED A LOT AT MY LAST COUPLE OF SESSIONS ABOUT THIS AGE 18 TO 24 AND 25 TO 34 AND HOW WE JUST DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE IN THIS AGE RANGE, AND WE'VE SEEN A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OF THAT AGE RANGE AND SO THIS GOES BACK TO 1990 AND SHOWS IN THE AREA THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED WITH THE GREEN DASHED SQUARE, THE DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN DECATUR 18 TO 24 AND 25 TO 34, AND IF YOU LOOK OVER AT THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE WAS A DECLINE IN 914 PEOPLE AND THAT 18 TO 24 AGE BRACKET AND ALMOST 1800 IN THE 25 TO 34, AND WE'VE ALSO LOST POPULATION IN OUR 75 TO 84 AND 85 YEARS AND OLDER POPULATION AND THEN GAINED PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY IN SOME OF THE OTHER AGE GROUPS, AND WE THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE THINK THAT A LOT OF THE REASON OF THIS IS THE LACK OF THE STARTER.

I MEAN, THAT IS A BIG REASON I THINK, THAT PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE GETTING INTO DECATUR.

THIS IS AN AGE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE AND WANTING TO MOVE IN, GETTING THEIR FIRST JOB, AND WE'VE SEEN SUCH A DECLINE IN THAT AGE.

THIS SLIDE TALKS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF BEDROOM CHANGE IN TRAJECTORY.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF TWO BEDROOMS IN THIS TIME PERIOD HAVE DECLINED BY 603.

SO WE'VE LOST A LOT OF TWO BEDROOM UNITS IN DECATUR AND WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE FOUR BEDROOMS AND THE FIVE ARE MORE BEDROOMS, AND IT'S NOTABLE THAT THE FIVE OR MORE BEDROOMS IS INCREASED BY ALMOST 300% IN THIS TIME RANGE AND WE'VE HAD A DECLINE IN ABOUT 20% IN OUR TWO BEDROOM UNITS.

FOR HOUSEHOLD INCOME, WE'VE TALKED A GOOD BIT ABOUT INCOME, BUT THIS IS A LOOK GOING BACK AGAIN TO 1990 TO SHOW THE DIFFERENCE IN THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS AT 100,000 AND 150,000 OR MORE AND HOW THAT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME.

SO YOU CAN SEE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING UNDER 99,999 HAS DECLINED OVER THAT TIME PERIOD, EXCEPT FOR OVER 100,000 AND OVER 150,000 AND OVER 150,000 HAS INCREASED BY OVER 300% AS WELL, AND ALL OF THIS IS TO POINT OUT.

JUST THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW HOUSING AND INCOME, HOW THIS IS ALL CHANGED OVER TIME, YOU KNOW, RELATED TO A LOT OF THINGS, BUT ALSO AROUND THIS MISSING MIDDLE DECREASE.

SO HOUSEHOLD INCOME BY RACE AND WEALTH GAP.

THIS IS TO POINT OUT THAT WE STILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT WEALTH GAP IN DECATUR BY RACE, AND THIS IS A SLIDE FROM THE CITY OF DECATUR CLEAN ENERGY PLAN, AND IT SHOWS THAT BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICANS, THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN DECATUR, GEORGIA, IS JUST OVER $24,000 A YEAR.

THE OTHER RACES ARE ALL OVER $100,000, AND THE WHITE WHITE PEOPLE ARE AT $141,014 FOR THEIR MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

SO IT REALLY SHOWS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A WEALTH GAP, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THIS DIFFERENCE IN THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME BASED ON THE RACE OF HOUSEHOLDERS, AND JUST TO POINT OUT AS WELL THAT THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS BEEN DOING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DECATUR FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A WAITLIST THAT'S 12 OVER 12,000 PEOPLE LONG AND I WANTED TO BRING UP RELATED TO THE WEALTH GAP, THE IMPRINT OF REDLINING.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY GONE INTO THIS EXTENSIVELY, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND SO WE'LL BE ADDRESSING REDLINING AND GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT AND A LOT OF THOSE TOPICS TONIGHT.

WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT HERE IS THAT MANY PEOPLE THINK OF REDLINING IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN OUR PAST, BUT THE STRUCTURES THAT SHOW UP FROM REDLINING ARE VERY ACTIVE TODAY , AND THERE'S A BOOK CALLED THE COLOR OF LAW.

IF PEOPLE GO BACK AND WATCH THIS ON THE RECORDING OR IF THEY'RE LISTENING NOW, IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST BOOK OUT THERE TO TALK ABOUT REDLINING AND EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS, BUT BASICALLY, IT WAS JUST A WAY TO SEGREGATE COMMUNITIES BY WHAT WAS DESIRABLE FOR REALTORS TO HAVE PEOPLE BUY, AND SO SO IT WAS HAD TO DO WITH THE HOUSING MARKET, BUT, YOU KNOW, REDLINING SHOWS UP TODAY IN HOME APPRAISALS AND LENDING.

IT SHOWS UP IN THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR CITIES AND WHO IS ABLE TO LIVE IN OUR CITIES AND ACCESS THE SCHOOLS AND AMENITIES THAT THEY BRING, AND I REALLY WANT TO POINT OUT HERE, TOO, THAT REDLINING WAS CREATED THROUGH POLICY THAT LED TO THESE OUTCOMES AND THAT POLICY CHANGE, FOR EXAMPLE, MISSING MIDDLE IS ONE WAY TO SHAPE OUR CITIES IN A MORE INCLUSIVE WAY. THE HOME PRICE TRAJECTORY INDICATOR.

I HAVE SOME NUMBERS JUST FROM 2010 TO 2020.

SO IN 2010, YOU SEE DECATUR'S AVERAGE SALE PRICE WAS $356,824 AND THAT JUMPED UP TO $811,217

[00:20:08]

SO THAT WAS OVER DOUBLE IN THAT TEN YEAR PERIOD, AND WE LOOK AT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES ARE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO DOWNTOWN ATLANTA.

YOU CAN SEE MORNINGSIDE STARTED AROUND 572K AND 2010, JUMPED UP TO 1.2 MILLION IN 2022, AND THEN ANSLEY, WHICH IS THE CLOSEST TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA, IS $951,106 IN 2010 AND JUMPED UP TO 2.2 MILLION.

SO WE KIND OF SEE AS PEOPLE KIND OF MOVE A LITTLE FURTHER OUT THAT RING OF HOME SALE PRICES AND THE TRAJECTORY THAT WE'VE GONE IN AND MOST LIKELY ARE CONTINUING TO GO IN AS FAR AS HOUSING PRICES.

IF MIKE IS READY, I WAS GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO HIM A LITTLE BIT TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT AROUND POPULATION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND JUST SOME THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE REGION AS FAR AS SHRINKING HOUSEHOLDS AND GIVE A LITTLE CONTEXT FOR THE REGION AND FOR DECATUR.

THANK YOU. PLEASE WELCOME MIKE ALEXANDER.

AS YOU COME FORWARD, I JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT ARE HERE AND THAT ARE ALSO WATCHING ONLINE THAT WE DON'T TAKE PUBLIC INPUT DURING A WORK SESSION, BUT WE WILL TAKE INPUT DURING OUR USUAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING.

OR FEEL FREE TO EMAIL US OR CONTACT US AFTER OUR WORK SESSION, BUT WE WE DON'T HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC DURING WORK SESSION. SO JUST WANTED TO--I FORGOT TO SAY THAT AT THE BEGINNING.

SO THANK YOU. GLAD YOU MADE IT.

THANK YOU. I WAS IN GWINNETT COUNTY.

APOLOGIES, IT TOOK LONGER TO COME BACK DOWN 78 THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD.

MIKE ALEXANDER, THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION, A RESIDENT OF DECATUR, 208 [INAUDIBLE] RD, YEAH, WE HAVE BEEN OBVIOUSLY THINKING A LOT ABOUT NEWER REGIONAL FORECASTS.

THIS MAP IS FROM A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE DID OUR LAST SMALL AREA FORECAST PROCESS TO COMPLETE OUR REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

IT SHOWS WE EXPECT DECATUR TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 PEOPLE BY 2050.

WE WOULD EXPECT WHEN WE UPDATE OUR FORECAST IN A FEW MONTHS, THOSE SMALL AREA FORECASTS, IT'D BE A VERY SIMILAR NUMBER GIVEN THE HISTORICAL CHANGE FROM 2000 TO 2022, YOU HAD ACTUALLY MORE OF AN INCREASE THAN WAS SHOWN BY THESE NUMBERS.

NOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING A LOT WITH THE CITY STAFF ON HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND IN FACT, DECATUR IS RUNNING COUNTER TO REALLY NATIONAL AND REGIONAL TRENDS ON HOUSEHOLD SIZE, AND MANY OF YOU KNOW, JIM SKINNER, HE JUST RAN SOME ADDITIONAL NUMBERS FOR ME.

IF I CAN PULL MY LAPTOP OUT ONCE I GET SETTLED, I'LL PULL THE EXACT NUMBERS.

BUT THE REALITY IS HOUSEHOLD SIZES CONTINUE TO FALL AND ITS BASIC DEMOGRAPHICS, RIGHT? WE ARE AN AGING PLANET.

WE ARE AN AGING PLANET AT THIS POINT, WHICH MEANS HOUSEHOLD SIZES WILL FALL AS A RESULT OF THAT NATURALLY OCCURRING PROCESS OF GETTING OLDER.

DECATUR IS RUNNING COUNTER TO THAT TREND.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE SHARE OF FOUR PERSON HOUSEHOLDS IN THE DATA THAT WE JUST LOOKED AT, THAT SHARE HAS GONE UP DRAMATICALLY FOR DECATUR AS A SHARE COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER POTENTIAL HOUSEHOLD SIZES.

THAT SHARE HAS FALLEN FOR THE REST OF THE REGION, AND AGAIN, I THINK IT ONLY RECOGNIZES ALL THE STUFF WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THE INFLUX OF NEW PEOPLE IN DECATUR SEEKING THAT HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WHAT THAT HAS REALLY MEANT.

SO IT'S HARD TO SEE TRENDS COUNTER TO NATIONAL TRENDS, BUT DECATUR IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE PLACES THAT'S EXPERIENCING IT, AND AGAIN, THAT TREND TOWARDS MORE POPULATION GROWTH IS SOMETHING WE EXPECT TO BE CONSISTENT IN OUR FORECAST.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MIKE.

SO WHERE DOES THE MISSING MIDDLE FIT IN OUR OVERALL HOUSING GOALS? THERE ARE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AND ARE STARTING TO PUT IN PLACE FOR ACCESSIBILITY, AFFORDABILITY AND EQUITY.

SO MANDATORY INCLUSIONARY HOUSING.

I WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SOME COMMENTS DURING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT PEOPLE WISH THAT WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND PUT IN AN ORDINANCE SIMILAR TO SOME OTHER CITIES, INCLUDING NEW YORK, WHERE A NEW DEVELOPMENT WOULD NEED TO HAVE A PERCENT AFFORDABLE UNITS AND THAT ACTUALLY WAS PART OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT, AND THAT DID PASS BACK IN 2020.

SO THAT IS A POLICY OF THE CITY OF DECATUR RIGHT NOW, AND THAT WAS A RECOMMENDATION OF THE TASK FORCE, AND WE HAVE ONE OF OUR FIRST PROJECTS THAT HAS INCLUSIONARY HOUSING OR AFFORDABLE UNITS IN IT IS IN PERMITTING RIGHT NOW.

THE DECATUR LAND TRUST WAS ALSO SET UP, ALONG WITH THE DECATUR HOME REHAB PROGRAM, AND THE DECATUR LAND TRUST IS A NONPROFIT THAT CAN KEEP LAND AND HOMES AFFORDABLE PERMANENTLY.

SO WE'VE HAD ISSUES AND THIS WAS BROUGHT UP AGAIN IN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WHERE WE'LL HAVE HOUSING THAT'S AFFORDABLE, BUT THEN IT EVENTUALLY ROLLS TO MARKET RATE, AND THE LAND TRUST IS THE WAY TO KIND OF TAKE THOSE PROPERTIES OFF THE MARKET AND CONTROL THE PRICE OF EITHER THE RENT OR THE SALE PRICE, AND TO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE FOR 100 YEARS WITH A 100 YEAR

[00:25:02]

SO THE HOME REHAB PROGRAM I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IN FUTURE SLIDES, BUT THAT'S A HOME REPAIR PROGRAM THAT WILL BE RUN THROUGH THE DECATUR LAND TRUST.

WE ALSO HAVE A HOUSING TRUST FUND FOR DECATUR, THE DECATUR HOUSING TRUST FUND, AND WE'VE CREATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, A DRAFT OF THOSE THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH OUR SYSTEM AND WE'VE GOTTEN BETTER AT OUR PARTNERSHIPS.

AS FAR AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE COTTAGE COURTS WILL BE OUR FIRST EXAMPLE OF SIX AFFORDABLE HOMES AND WE HAVE SOME EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES.

MISSING MIDDLE ZONING POLICIES WILL REALLY HELP.

AN EXAMPLE IS 600 COMMERCE DR HOME THAT THE CITY OWNS.

IT COULD BE DIVIDED INTO FOUR INTO A TRIPLEX OR QUADPLEX POTENTIALLY WITH AN ADU TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THEN OWNED BY THE LAND TRUST.

SO THERE'S SOME REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE WITH MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.

SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DR.

IMMERGLUCK TO GO THROUGH A FEW SLIDES ON SOME COMMUNITY CONCERNS THAT CAME UP THAT HE REALLY HAS EXPERTISE ON TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES.

THANKS, KRISTEN. HI, FOLKS.

ALSO A DECATUR RESIDENT, I THINK, GOING ON 18 YEARS.

YEAH, THIS TOPIC GENERALLY CALLED UP-ZONING.

ZONING REFORM IS A VERY HOT TOPIC RIGHT NOW IN URBAN PLANNING, URBAN STUDIES, LITERATURE , BUT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ON IT FOR THIS KIND OF BROAD BASED ZONING REFORM, WHICH IS WHAT YOU ALL ARE CONTEMPLATING, AND THE REALLY THE ONLY COMPARABLE STUDY SO FAR AND THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS, OTHERS IN THE WORKS IS A STUDY OF MINNEAPOLIS, KIND OF BEFORE AND AFTER IT RELAXED ZONING TO GO FROM ONE UNIT TO 1 TO 3 UNITS.

SO FAIRLY SIMILAR, AND IT WAS BROAD BASED.

THAT STUDY SHOWED A REALLY COMPLETELY CONSISTENT WITH THEORY, A ONE TIME INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES BECAUSE WHEN YOU DEREGULATE LAND VALUES, YOU EXPECT PROPERTY VALUES TO GO UP BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN DO OTHER THINGS WITH THAT PROPERTY BUT THOSE INCREASES WERE VERY MODEST, 3 TO 5%, AND WHAT THEY DID IS THEY COMPARED SIMILAR PROPERTIES AT THE BORDER OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ITS SUBURBS AND CONTROLLED FOR CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE PROPERTIES.

SO, I WOULD EXPECT A SMALL, MODEST INCREASE IN SINGLE FAMILY HOME VALUES IF A PROPOSAL LIKE THIS WAS PASSED, BUT OVER TIME, AS YOU DEVELOP UNITS, YOU ADD TO SUPPLY.

SO THIS FIRST INCREASE IS NOT ABOUT SUPPLY ACTUALLY COMING ON LINE, IT'S ABOUT DEREGULATING LAND USE.

THEN OVER TIME YOU CAN ADD TO SUPPLY, AND THE SUPPLY IS TWOFOLD.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF IT, WHICH IS KIND OF THE MOST OBVIOUS, IS YOU ALLOW DEVELOPMENT TO HAPPEN AT DIFFERENT SIZES.

YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO DEVELOP.

1400 SQUARE FOOT HOMES, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THREE OR FOUR INSTEAD OF ONE 4500 SQUARE FOOT HOME.

RIGHT, AND THAT EVEN IF LAND VALUES GO UP, EVEN IF DEVELOPER MARGINS ARE HIGHER ON MISSING MIDDLE, WHICH I HAVE NO EVIDENCE THAT THEY SHOULD BE.

YOU WOULD STILL SEE SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER PRICE POINTS BECAUSE EVEN IF SQUARE FOOTAGE, DOLLARS PER SQUARE FOOT GOES UP.

A 4500 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE IS GOING TO COST A WHOLE LOT LESS THAN A 4500 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE AND GENERALLY PER SQUARE FOOT COSTS ARE HIGHER FOR SMALLER HOUSES, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS ANYWAY.

SO OVER TIME, THE ADDED SUPPLY, I EXPECT IT WOULD BE PRETTY MODEST AND I THINK THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH KRISTEN'S NUMBERS.

SHOULD, OVER A FEW YEARS, START HAVING SOME SLOWING OF THE RATE OF INCREASE ON PROPERTY, BUT IF YOU'RE ONLY DEALING WITH A 3 TO 5% INCREASE IN THAT INITIAL VALUE, HOME PRICES ARE GOING UP GENERALLY, AT LEAST BEFORE THE FED GOT INVOLVED AT. 10 TO 20% A YEAR.

SO A ONE TIME 5% INCREASE IS SIX MONTHS OF INCREASE.

SO IT'S NOT A VERY LARGE INCREASE, AND IF YOU SLOW THAT TO INSTEAD OF BEING 10% A YEAR TO BEING 8% A YEAR OVER A FEW YEARS, YOU WILL RECOUP THAT AFFORDABILITY AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE MORE AFFORDABILITY GOING FORWARD.

[00:30:01]

SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO TEST THAT.

THE GENERAL EVIDENCE, THOUGH, ON LARGE MULTIFAMILY AFFECTS ON PROPERTY VALUES IS VERY SMALL.

SO EVEN WHEN APARTMENT BUILDINGS ARE BUILT LARGER, THEY HAVE VERY MODEST, SOMETIMES POSITIVE EFFECTS, ESPECIALLY IN LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, WHEN YOU SEE NEW CONSTRUCTION GOING IN, IT TENDS TO ACTUALLY INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES.

VERY SMALL NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE ORDER OF 2 TO 3% FROM APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND FRANKLY.

I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF NOT A BAD THING WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH 10% INCREASES A YEAR.

HAVING SOME SMALL DECREASES WILL WASH OUT AS MORE MODERATE INCREASES.

I THINK, GOING FORWARD, GIVEN WHERE DEMAND IS FOR THIS TOWN, YOU SHOULDN'T BE TOO SCARED OF SMALL NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON PROPERTY VALUES THAT ACTUALLY WILL BE MORE SUSTAINABLE AND WILL HELP YOUR DIVERSITY GOALS.

SO, NO, THERE'S NO SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE.

THE OTHER STUDIES THAT I'VE SEEN MENTIONED STUDIES IN NEW YORK, STUDIES IN CHICAGO, THESE ARE TARGETED ZONES OF REALLY TRANSIT INTENSIVE PLACES IN CHICAGO AND NEW YORK, VERY DENSE, HIGH DEMAND PLACES THAT ARE TARGETED RIGHT AROUND TRANSIT STATIONS.

SO, YOU KNOW, ATLANTA, THE CITY OF ATLANTA, PROPOSED SIMILAR KIND OF PROPOSALS LAST YEAR , AND OF COURSE, ATLANTA IS NOWHERE NEAR AS DENSE AS THOSE TWO CITIES, BUT THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF PROPOSALS THAT MIGHT BE THAT THIS LITERATURE MIGHT BE RELEVANT FOR THIS KIND OF PROPOSAL FOR UNIT PROPERTIES.

ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY.

THESE STUDIES JUST AREN'T RELEVANT.

SO AND EVEN THOSE DON'T SHOW HUGE INCREASES.

THEY SHOW 10 TO 15% INCREASES, BUT AGAIN, IN VERY DENSE, HIGH DEMAND TRANSIT CORRIDORS.

ANOTHER CONCERN THAT I'VE HEARD BROUGHT UP BOTH IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA AND IN DECATUR, IS THIS WILL ALLOW BIG INVESTORS TO MOVE IN WHAT ARE CALLED INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS, AND I'VE STUDIED INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS.

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS AREN'T INTERESTED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

THEY'RE INTERESTED IN SOUTH DEKALB.

THEY'RE INTERESTED IN HENRY COUNTY.

THEY'RE INTERESTED IN RIGHT NOW IN A KIND OF POST FORECLOSURE CRISIS PERIOD.

THEY WERE INTERESTED IN GWINNETT AND COBB BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE $200,000 AND $300,000 HOMES AND BELOW WERE.

NOW, OF COURSE, PRICE POINTS HAVE MOVED UP.

THE NUMBERS DON'T WORK FOR THEM GIVEN WHAT KIND OF RATES OF RETURN THEY WANT.

IF THEY HAVE TO PAY $500,000 FOR A PROPERTY, THEY JUST DON'T WANT THOSE HOMES.

SO THE KINDS OF PROPERTIES--I DO HOPE THIS ACTUALLY INCREASES SMALL INVESTOR INVESTMENT IN THE CITY BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WHO WILL CREATE RENTAL HOUSING.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO HAVE THE KIND OF SELF MANAGED SWEAT EQUITY KINDS OF INVESTORS TO MAKE THAT MODEL WORK, I DON'T THINK, AND THEY ALSO DON'T WANT FOUR UNIT BUILDINGS.

THEY WANT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR MODEL AND THEY WANT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES PRICED AT $300,000 AND BELOW.

SO I DON'T THINK THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN.

GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.

THIS GENERALLY IS, I THINK, WHERE THE MORE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS WERE WITH THE CITY OF ATLANTA'S UP-ZONING PROPOSALS LAST YEAR, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THE NOISE WAS MADE IN BUCKHEAD AND ANSLEY PARK, THE REAL CONCERN SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE WEST SIDE AND PLACES WHERE GENTRIFICATION WAS A REAL CONCERN BUT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH HOMEOWNERS.

MAYBE YOU HAVE AN ELDERLY HOMEOWNER WHO'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME AND THEY ARE SITTING ON A HOUSE WORTH $1,000,000, $800,000. IF THAT HOUSE GOES UP TO $850,000, THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, MEANING THEY'RE EITHER GOING TO BE PRESSURED TO SELL OR NOT. MODEST INCREASES IN LAND VALUES ISN'T GOING TO BE--MEANING WE'RE WAY PAST THAT POINT IN DECATUR.

[00:35:02]

I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF A DEPRESSING POINT.

DAN, I READ AN ARTICLE THAT YOU WROTE SOME TIME BACK AND YOU MENTIONED SUPER GENTRIFICATION.

WOULD YOU EXPAND ON THAT? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT DECATUR IS GOING THROUGH.

THIS IS I THINK I CITED AN ARTICLE IN THE LETTER I SUBMITTED LAST WEEK THAT TALKS ABOUT BROOKLYN.

BROOKLYN WAS GENTRIFIED 30 YEARS AGO.

AT LEAST PARTS OF IT, AND OVER TIME, PARK SLOPE AND PLACES LIKE THAT, THE ENTRY POINTS TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR PURCHASE ARE OVER $1,000,000, SOMETIMES OVER $2 MILLION.

SO IT'S THE TRANSITION FROM MIDDLE INCOME AND UPPER MIDDLE INCOME TO SUPER AFFLUENT, BASICALLY, AND WHEN YOU'RE SEEING PRICE POINTS OVER $1,000,000, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE AT.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO RESPOND TO THAT IS CREATE SOME OPTIONS FOR MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS.

NOW, MY THIRTY YEARS OF CAREER HAVE BEEN MOSTLY ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME FOLKS.

SO FRANKLY, THIS ISN'T MY MAIN CONCERN, BUT TWO THINGS.

ONE IS WE'D LIKE MIDDLE INCOME PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN DECATUR, I ASSUME, AND SECONDLY, IF YOU HAVE UNITS THAT ARE 500,000 INSTEAD OF A MILLION, THEN IF THE PRICE POINT FOR A TRUE AFFORDABLE UNIT IS 250, WHICH IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT NOW, THEN IF I COULD COME UP WITH A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN SUBSIDY, I CAN TURN THAT UNIT INTO A DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNIT.

I CAN'T DO THAT WITH MILLION DOLLAR HOMES.

SO BUILDING MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING BOTH ALLOWS YOU TO ACCEPT, HAVE A SUPPLY OF MIDDLE INCOME AND UPPER MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING AND A SUPPLY OF POTENTIALLY SUBSIDIZABLE, SMALLER PROPERTIES, WHICH YOU KNOW FOR [INAUDIBLE] FOR WHATEVER IT IS OR FOR CREATIVE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST APPROACHES, JUST HAVING MORE PLACES TO BUILD AND ADD TO THE CLT.

I MEAN, ONE THING ABOUT CLT (COMMUNITY LAND TRUST) IS SCALE.

IF YOU CAN ONLY FIND A FEW PARCELS A YEAR, IT'S GOING TO REALLY BE HARD TO SCALE THAT UP TO HAVE IMPACT.

THIS SHOULD PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND PROPERTIES TO PUT INTO THE CLT.

MR. IMMERGLUCK? YES? WE COULD TALK ABOUT GENTRIFICATION A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I THINK IT'S SO INTERESTING AND HAS ALL THESE DIFFERENT FACETS THAT WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH, WHICH IS MY UNDERSTANDING IS BECAUSE IT'S BOTH AN ECONOMIC AND A SOCIAL PROCESS COMBINED AND IT'S DYNAMIC AND CAN BE VOLATILE BUT IF WE'RE IN THIS LATE STAGE OR SUPER STAGE, IT CAN STILL KEEP GOING ON, RIGHT? AND THEN DOES IT NOT JUST DIG DEEPER INTO SOCIETY AND IT TAKES KIND OF THE NEXT LAYER? WELL, THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK I POINTED OUT, I WROTE THAT LETTER WAY TOO LATE, MEANING IN THE EVENING.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF TYPOS IN IT.

GENTRIFICATION IS GENERALLY TALKED ABOUT AS INCOME, AND THAT'S APPROPRIATE.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S ALSO A CONCERN ABOUT RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE CITY, AND 80% OF THE GROWTH IN THE METRO IS NONWHITE GROWTH.

PROBABLY HIGHER THAN THAT NOW.

THAT'S A RETROSPECTIVE NUMBER.

SO IF YOU WANT TO BE A WELCOMING PLACE TO PEOPLE COMING INTO THE REGION.

EIGHT OR NINE OUT OF TEN OF THEM ARE FOLKS OF COLOR.

THOSE FOLKS ARE NOT ULTRA AFFLUENT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM; THEY'RE MOSTLY MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS.

THEY'RE COMING FOR JOBS.

THERE ARE LOW INCOME PEOPLE MOVING INTO THE REGION, BUT IT'S MOSTLY MIDDLE INCOME PEOPLE , AND THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE NOT LOOKING AT THE CATERER ENOUGH BECAUSE.

RIGHT. SO IF RACIAL DIVERSITY IS PART OF THE GOAL, THEN MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF, SOME PEOPLE CALL THAT THE TRANSITION OF DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS TO WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS.

ALSO CALL IT GENTRIFICATION, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT REALLY THE RIGHT WORD.

SO I'M GOING OFF A LITTLE BIT ON A TANGENT, BUT I THINK IT'S IN TERMS OF SOCIAL STABILITY, DOES DECATUR WANT TO BE 95% WHITE IS A QUESTION.

AND SO WE'RE SAYING THAT THIS PROCESS DOESN'T STOP.

YOU CAN SHORE IT UP OR DO MITIGATING POLICY EFFORTS.

WE HAVE BECOME THE ACTUAL ACADEMIC LINGO IS AN AREA OF CONCENTRATED AFFLUENCE.

[00:40:02]

THAT'S RIGHT, AND HOW PLACES CHANGE IS ABOUT HOW PEOPLE COME IN AS MUCH AS WHETHER PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED, MEANING IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU WANT A COMMUNITY TO LOOK LIKE TEN YEARS FROM NOW.

THE PRICE POINT OF REAL ESTATE IS THE DRIVING FACTOR, SO YOU'RE JUST NOT GOING TO HAVE A DIVERSE PLACE, AND THEN AGAIN, THE ABILITY TO HAVE 400,000 UNIT MARKET RATE UNITS SO THAT YOU CAN SUBSIDIZE THEM DOWN TO 300,000 OR 250 IS IMPORTANT, AND THERE REALLY ARE WAYS TO DO THAT WITH FEDERAL STATE, AND I MEAN, MY HOPE IS THAT THE STATE CATCHES ON TO THE FACT THAT IT'S.

NEEDS TO START GETTING IN THE GAME OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIKE MOST AFFLUENT STATES, BECAUSE WE NOW ARE REALLY AN AFFLUENT STATE.

THANK YOU.

I THINK I'VE COVERED THAT.

THANKS. BEFORE YOU LEAVE, I JUST WANT TO.

SORRY. THOUGHT OF ANOTHER COMMENT.

BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND YOU MENTIONED IT LIKE WHAT PEOPLE PAID FOR THEIR HOUSE AND THEN WHAT THEY COULD SELL IT FOR HAS CAUSED A LOT OF THIS ABILITY FOR THIS SUPER GENTRIFICATION AND THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE INVESTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SUPPORTED OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FOR YEARS WERE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO REAP SOME OF THOSE BENEFITS BY, BUT WHAT HAS COME BEHIND THAT, I THINK, IS WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS THAT THEY HAVE PURCHASED THE HOUSE FOR UNDER $100,000 AND MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SELL A SMALL HOUSE FOR OVER $500,000, BUT THEN WHAT COMES BEHIND THAT IS $1,000,000 HOUSE, AND I THINK IT'S [INAUDIBLE] I MEAN, THE CHOICE HERE IS BETWEEN JUST SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO SELL.

NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO CAUSE PEOPLE TO SELL.

IT GIVES THE CHOICE OF THE NEXT PROPERTY TO BE A 4500 SQUARE FOOT BEHEMOTH THAT COST $2 MILLION OR THREE OR FOUR UNITS THAT COST $400,000.

THAT'S THE CHOICE YOU'RE REALLY DEALING WITH.

THE OTHER STUFF IS EITHER PROPERTY TAX POLICY, WHICH I KNOW HAS BEEN DEALT WITH TO SOME DEGREE IN TERMS OF ALLOWING PEOPLE TO STAY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. OR FRANKLY, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WOULD REQUIRE STATE POLICY FROM MY KNOWLEDGE, WHICH IS LINKAGE FEES WHICH SOME CITIES DO MEANING TAX THOSE REALLY HIGH PROPERTIES AND USE THAT MONEY TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT THAT'D PROBABLY REQUIRE STATE POLICY.

A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. WHAT ROLE DO CONDOMINIUMS PLAY IN PROVIDING AN AFFORDABLE PRICE POINT FOR PEOPLE COMING TO THE COMMUNITY? AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS, ARE THERE POLICY LEVERS FOR ENCOURAGING NEW APARTMENTS TO BE MORE AFFORDABLE? WHEN YOU SAY NEW APARTMENTS, LIKE THE ONES THAT ARE SPROUTING UP? THE BIGGER APARTMENT? YEAH, OR ANY APARTMENT? I GUESS I WAS THINKING MORE ON A LARGER SCALE.

SO THE CONDOS ARE DEFINITELY.

THE CONDOS ARE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.

I WOULD CONSIDER THEM, WHETHER THEY'RE SMALL SCALE CONDOS OR LARGER SCALE, THEY, TOO, PROVIDE A LOWER ENTRY POINT FOR FOLKS, BUT THEY'RE IN A MARKET LIKE DECATUR WITHOUT SUBSIDY.

IT'S GOING TO BE MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS, NOT LOW INCOME FOLKS, BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO SUBSIDIZE THOSE, EITHER THROUGH A LAND TRUST. THERE ARE CITIES THAT PUT CONDOS INTO LAND TRUSTS.

YOU CAN DO DEED RESTRICTED HOUSING ON CONDOS.

THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WAYS TO TURN CONDOS INTO AFFORDABLE CONDOS, BUT YEAH, THEY ARE A FORM OF MISSING MIDDLE.

THE APARTMENTS, THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

YOU HAVE THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING LAW.

I HAVE PUSHED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND I KNOW ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS SOUTHEAST OFFICE IN ATLANTA AND OTHERS HAVE PUSHED FOR POLICIES THAT BASICALLY MAKE OWNING AN AFFORDABLE APARTMENT LOWER COST TO

[00:45:09]

SO THE IDEA WOULD BE IF I SET ASIDE 50% OF MY UNITS, 25%, SOME MINIMUM, MAYBE 25% OF MY UNITS TO BE AFFORDABLE AND THEY GET INSPECTED EVERY YEAR AND PEOPLE ARE INCOME QUALIFIED, THEN I GET MY PROPERTY TAXES LOWERED FOR IT'S USUALLY A COMMITMENT OF TEN OR 15 YEARS OVER TIME, AND I KNOW ENTERPRISE HAD FLOATED SOME LEGISLATION TO DO THAT.

I HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH IT.

KRISTEN MAY KNOW MORE WITH WHERE IT'S GONE, BUT RIGHT NOW, CITIES DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

I MEAN, ONE BIG THING THAT CITIES DON'T HAVE AND BY THE WAY, IF I COULD PUSH YOU ALL TO PUSH ON THE GMA.

IT'S REALLY A BAD ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOESN'T DO MUCH, BUT IF THAT'S ONE POLICY, ANOTHER IS JUST THE ABILITY THAT I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW IS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE PROPERTY TAXES INCOME BASED, NOT JUST FOR SENIORS, BUT FOR FAMILIES OF ANY KIND.

THAT'S NOT ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW.

SO THERE ARE TOOLS THAT COULD BE PROVIDED, BUT I'M AFRAID THEY REQUIRE STATE LAW.

I MEAN, I THINK YOU GUYS WITH THE HOUSING COMMISSION HAVE COME UP WITH A GREAT SLATE OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO LOCALLY.

YOU KIND OF ARE HITTING THE WALL AND WHAT CAN BE DONE.

SO TO REITERATE THAT ADJUSTING PROPERTY TAXES FOR APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT HAVE A [INAUDIBLE], WE CAN'T DO THAT.

YEAH. OKAY.

I MEAN, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO PUT LEGISLATION IN TO ALLOW A NEW TAX CLASSIFICATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THE NEXT PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION, I'D LIKE TO GO OVER SOME EXPERT OPINIONS ON MISSING MIDDLE ZONING RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE LOOK TO AS PLANNERS TO INFORM DECISIONS.

SO THE APA, THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION, IS REALLY WHO WE LOOK TO AS PLANNERS TO GUIDE POLICIES AND DIRECTIONS, AND SO THIS IS FROM THEIR TWO 2019 HOUSING POLICY GUIDE.

SO SOME OF THE POLICY POSITIONS THAT THE APA HAS ARE TO MODERNIZE STATE AND LOCAL LAWS TO ENSURE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE, ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE TO ALL.

TO AMEND OR DISMANTLE EXCLUSIONARY ZONING RULES AND PRACTICES AND EXCLUSIONARY ZONING, FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING OR WHO AREN'T QUITE AWARE, IS WHAT PEOPLE REFER TO WHEN THERE IS ONLY SINGLE FAMILY ZONING ALLOWED AND OTHER HOUSING TYPES ARE NOT ALLOWED.

THAT'S REFERRED TO AS EXCLUSIONARY ZONING.

SO THE APA ACTUALLY RECOMMENDS TO AMEND OR DISMANTLE THOSE ZONING PRACTICES.

TO ADOPT BYLAWS OR ORDINANCES, POLICIES AND INCENTIVES THAT FACILITATE A RANGE OF HOUSING TYPES AND DENSITIES THAT SERVE A DIVERSITY OF HOUSING NEEDS.

SO THAT FALLS INTO OUR DIVERSITY OF HOUSING FOR A DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE.

AND TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE MINIMUM LOT SIZES, REDUCE MINIMUM DWELLING UNIT REQUIREMENTS, ALLOW GREATER HEIGHTS AND DENSITIES, AND REDUCE OR ELIMINATE OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS. THE APA ALSO HAS AN ARTICLE CALLED FIVE PRACTICAL ZONING HACKS FOR MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING FROM MARCH OF 2022, AND IT CALLS FOR, AND SO THESE ARE JUST BASICALLY FOR PLANNERS DIFFERENT WAYS TO KIND OF MOVE FORWARD ON MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.

SO IT CALLS FOR REDUCING MINIMUM LOT SIZES, ALLOWING FOR MORE HOUSING TYPES AND REVISITING STRUCTURE SIZES, LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD FOR SMALLER UNITS, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION.

REDUCING OR ELIMINATING PARKING MINIMUMS AND ALLOWING MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING EVERYWHERE IF POSSIBLE.

THE APA IS ALSO HAS A DRAFT POLICY COMING OUT.

DRAFT EQUITY AND ZONING POLICY GUIDE.

THE DRAFT CAME OUT IN OCTOBER 4TH OF 2022 AND THIS IS A DRAFT, BUT A SECTION 2.1 SAYS THAT ENDING DISPROPORTIONATE EXCLUSIONARY IMPACTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, REMOVING A BAN ON MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING OR RENTAL HOUSING, OPENING SOME NEIGHBORHOODS TO NEW TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT WHILE PROTECTING OTHERS WHO FACE GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT. SO THESE ARE GUIDES FROM THE APA, AND I'LL REFER IT BACK OVER TO MIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL COMMISSION.

THIS IS ANOTHER TOOL THAT WE'VE USED IN DECATUR FOR MANY YEARS, AND THEY HAVE A METRO ATLANTA HOUSING STRATEGY THAT HELPED INFORM OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT.

YES, AND AGAIN, WE RECOGNIZED IN THE DATA MANY YEARS AGO THAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT NATIONALLY IN HOUSING MARKETS.

I REMEMBER THE GREAT RECESSION.

I WAS MAKING FORECLOSURE MAPS AND PRESENTING THEM TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

I WAS THEN MAKING UNDERWATER MAPS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE'VE FORGOTTEN THAT HISTORY ALREADY, AND THEN VERY QUICKLY, PRICES STARTED TO

[00:50:01]

WE WERE OVERBUILDING IN SOME CASES DURING THE GREAT RECESSION.

SO WE STARTED THE METRO ATLANTA HOUSING STRATEGY WORK AT THE ARC TO REALLY START TO PUT SOME INFORMATION, DATA BEST PRACTICES TOGETHER THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COULD USE ACROSS THE REGION, AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE AND THE WAY WE'VE DONE OUR ANALYSIS, IT'S REALLY AT THE HEART OF IT ABOUT NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL HEAR ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION COME AND WE'VE GOT VERY SPECIFIC IDEAS ABOUT WHAT EACH COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE.

THAT'S NEVER BEEN THE CASE.

IT'S WILL NEVER BE THE CASE FOR US, AND SO THE DIFFERENT COLORS, IF YOU GO ON THE WEBSITE, RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENT CONDITIONS THAT EXIST IN COMMUNITIES, AND WE'VE SCALED ALL THIS INFORMATION TO BE FUNCTIONAL FOR A COUNTY OR A CITY.

SO YOU CAN SEE AT THE CITY LEVEL WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK ON THE NEXT SLIDE, MAYBE YOU'VE GOT THE CHARACTERISTICS FOR DECATUR UNLESS YOU CHANGED IT, BUT THIS IDEA REALLY BOILS DOWN TO WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT EACH COMMUNITY NEEDS TO DO? THERE ARE SOME CITIES WHERE THE HOUSING STOCK IS STILL RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE.

DECATUR, AS NEAR AS I CAN TELL THROUGH SRI'S DATA, NOW, HAS THE HIGHEST MEDIAN HOME PRICE VALUE UNDER SRI'S 2022 DATA.

SO THERE'S BIG VARIATIONS.

YOU'VE GOT SOME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE STILL AT $119,000 BY THAT REPORTED DATA, DECATUR IS WELL OVER 550 FOR A MEDIAN HOME VALUE, AND SO WE CAPTURE ALL OF THAT, AND THEN WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THAT, BUT NATIONALLY AND HERE REGIONALLY, THE SHORT STORY IS WE'RE NOT BUILDING AT THE RATES WE NEED TO BE BUILDING COMPARED TO PREVIOUS DECADES.

SO IF YOU JUST SAY BUILDING PERMITS PER 100,000 PEOPLE AND CONSIDER THAT RATE FROM THE SEVENTIES, THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES, 2000S TO 2010S, THE 2010S, THE RATES LITERALLY LIKE A THIRD OF WHAT IT WAS IN THE PREVIOUS DECADE, AND THAT'S BASICALLY A PER CAPITA MEASURE, RIGHT.

SO WE STILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD HOUSING AND WE HAVEN'T DONE IT IN THE PREVIOUS DECADE, WHICH MEANS DEMAND HAS GONE UP FOR A MORE SCARCE RESOURCE IN THE SIMPLEST SENSE, AND FOR COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL THIS DEVELOPMENT, PRESSURE LIKE DECATUR IT'S THAT MUCH HARDER TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HOUSING.

SO THE STRATEGY WE'LL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THIS.

WE ARE DOING HOUSING STUDIES FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES, LITERALLY DOING THAT WORK AT THE STAFF LEVEL, AND THIS IS THE CORE INFORMATION WE WE ARE USING TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING. DECATUR IS OBVIOUSLY IN A PLACE DR.

IMMERGLUCK AND EVERYBODY HERE, I THINK GENERALLY UNDERSTANDS THE ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES OF DECATUR AND OF COURSE, FINDING THESE SOLUTIONS, AND IT'S A SUITE OF SOLUTIONS TO TRY TO PROVIDE SOME HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE MIDDLE INCOME IS VERY MUCH A PLACE WHERE DECATUR IS GOING TO BE WITHIN THIS STUDY.

THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM A PLACE THAT'S MORE OF A GREENFIELD AREA WHERE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MORE NATURAL PRODUCTION TYPE HOUSING TO INCREASE OUR HOUSING SUPPLY, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE FORGET THE GENERATIONS, RIGHT? THE BABY BOOMERS' KIDS ARE ALMOST AT THEIR PEAK YEAR FOR HOUSING PURCHASE.

THEY'VE BEEN FORMING HOUSEHOLDS LATE, BUT THEY ARE HERE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO BUY HOUSING, AND AGAIN, THERE ARE ANOTHER WAVE OF PRESSURE AND THEIR OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT THE SAME AS THE BABY BOOMERS AND GENERATION X IN THIS REGION.

IT'S A CRITICAL STRUGGLE.

MANY YOUNG PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO BE IN COMMUNITIES NOT JUST LIKE DECATUR, BUT OTHERS LIKE BROOKHAVEN, PEACHTREE CORNERS, WHERE PRICING AFFORDABILITY IS A VERY DIFFERENT PICTURE THAN IT IS IN THE EXURBAN AREAS, AND AGAIN, FOR US, THAT BECOMES A TRAVEL ISSUE AS WELL.

THE RESOURCES HERE FOR THREE MARTA RAIL STATIONS IS A VERY DIFFERENT PICTURE FROM BEING IN ONE OF OUR EXURBAN COUNTIES IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TO HIGH QUALITY, HIGH PAYING JOBS.

SO AGAIN, THE HOUSING STRATEGY IS JUST ONE PART OF THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AT THE ARC TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE ISSUES TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN HAVE THAT QUALITY OF LIFE, GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND FIND REASONABLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING GIVEN THEIR ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCE.

GO AHEAD. SO, MIKE, LAST YEAR AT A WORK SESSION, YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OR MAYBE ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES TALKED ABOUT THE HOUSING PRESSURES IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP PACE WITH OVER THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF DECADES OR SO, SOMETHING LIKE 1000 UNITS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT MY QUESTION GOES BACK TO WE KNOW WE'RE NOT MEETING THAT DEMAND.

WHAT KIND OF DEMAND DOES THAT PUT ON OUR EXISTING INVENTORY HERE IN DECATUR IF WE'RE NOT BUILDING THAT TYPE OF HOUSING? DOES THAT ADD MORE SORT OF STRAIN TO WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE UNAFFORDABLE? YEAH, GENERALLY THE ECONOMICS I THINK WOULD BE CLEAR.

IF YOU LIMIT THE SUPPLY, THE PRICES WILL OBVIOUSLY REFLECT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN INCREASING FOR A VERY, VERY LONG PERIOD AT RATES THAT HISTORICALLY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN ALL THE

[00:55:06]

THE CORE OF OUR REGION IS EXPERIENCING PRICE INCREASES PER SQUARE FOOT AS WE'VE BEEN MEASURING THROUGH OUR ANALYSIS AT RATES THAT AGAIN, HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED OUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN PRICE CHANGE IN OUR HOUSING MARKETS, AND AGAIN, THERE ARE PLACES WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT OCCURRING, BUT THE REALITY IS THE RATE OF UNIT CONSTRUCTION OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN IT WAS IN ALL THE PREVIOUS DECADES, AND WE'RE IN THAT SITUATION AND I DON'T SEE THAT SITUATION CHANGING ANY TIME SOON.

I WATCH THE EXURBS.

THE EXURBS MATTER TO DECATUR AS WELL.

THE RATES OF PRODUCTION ARE NOT NEAR WHAT THEY WERE PRIOR TO THE GREAT RECESSION.

EVEN IF YOU TRY TO TAMPER THAT DOWN AS BEING SOME OF IT WAS OBVIOUSLY UNREASONABLE AND NOT LIKELY TO GET BUILT, AND THEN IT EVENTUALLY DID COME BACK AROUND, AND I KNOW I'M REALLY GOING AROUND ALMOST IN A CIRCLE AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, BUT YOU HAVE TO THINK OF THE WHOLE REGION, AND WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT DECATUR AS WELL, AND SO GIVEN THAT AND GIVEN THE QUALITY OF LIFE HERE, THE PRESSURES ARE GOING TO BE THAT MUCH, I THINK, GREATER FOR US, AND WE EXPECT INTEREST RATES WILL TAMPER SOME OF THIS ENTHUSIASM DOWN.

I THINK IT'LL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENT IN THIS REGION, WHICH AGAIN IS A NEW MARKET FOR US BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T SEE AND ALL THE ECONOMISTS THAT I READ, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE REAL PRICE DEFLATION.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE PRICE INCREASE SLOWDOWN IS WHAT WHAT I'M READING, AND I'D EXPECT THAT TO CONTINUE.

DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? I APOLOGIZE COMMISSIONER.

SO I WENT TO A PRESENTATION AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES BY A PROFESSOR AT CORNELL.

HER NAME IS SUZANNE CHARLES.

SHE DID A SORT OF A CASE STUDY OF ATLANTA, THE METRO REGION, AND IT WAS CALLED THE FINANCIALIZATION OF SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL HOUSING, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS KRISTEN SAID PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT.

WAS THERE GOING TO BE THE BUYING UP OF INEXPENSIVE HOUSES AND THE DATA AND THE GRAPHS WERE VERY SPECIFIC. THEY SHOWED THIS OUTER RING OF WHERE ALL OF THOSE HOMES ARE BEING PURCHASED AT THAT LOWER PRICE POINT.

WHAT HOW IS THAT OR WHAT DO YOU THINK AS A DATA PERSON, HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT HOUSING SUPPLY IF ALL OF THESE AND THEY CALL THEM LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, THE MEGA LANDLORDS AND THEY'RE BUYING UP LOTS AND LOTS OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN THESE OUTER AREAS AND THEN THEN RENTING THEM, AND I KNOW WHEN COMMISSIONER WALSH AND I WENT TO COUNCIL FOR QUALITY GROWTH THIS PAST WEEK, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON FOR A SECOND WITH THAT BURDEN US, I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL TO.

OH, YOU'RE ON A DIFFERENT.

YES. TRY TO [INAUDIBLE].

21% OF THE HOUSES SOLD IN THE LAST FEW YEARS SOUTH OF MEMORIAL DRIVE HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY THESE MEGA LANDLORDS.

YEAH, IT'S TRUE.

I MEAN, FOR ME, THE REAL QUICK JOKE IS REMEMBER THE CENTURY 21 BOULEVARD COMMERCIALS? YOU GET IN THE CAR, YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND LOOKING AT THE HOUSING.

WELL, THE LAST SUPER BOWL.

REDFIN HAD A COMMERCIAL.

WE UPDATE OUR DATABASES EVERY 15 MINUTES.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE IN TO WIN.

SO WE WENT FROM DRIVING AROUND IN THE SLOW CAR THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS TO DATABASES THAT ARE CONTINUALLY RUNNING QUERIES ON PEOPLE CLICKING AND SEARCHING AND MAKING DETERMINATIONS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOMEONE TO GET AN EMAIL OR A PHONE CALL ABOUT A POTENTIAL PURCHASE. YOU DON'T BEAT THE MACHINES WHEN IT COMES TO THAT TYPE OF STUDY AND ANALYSIS.

THE OLD WAYS ARE GIVING WAY AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUY.

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.

OUR ANALYSIS, IF SHE CAN PULL IT UP, OF JUST THE BIG SIX INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS WHO OWN MORE THAN 5000 HOMES IN OUR REGION. THE COMPANIES HAD BOUGHT 5000 HOMES.

I MEAN, THEY'VE GOTTEN REALLY GOOD AT MAKING THE TRANSACTIONS HAPPEN, AND THAT'S A CRITICAL THING TO REMEMBER, AND IT IS VERY MUCH AN EXURBAN PATTERN GENERALLY, AND THAT'S THE THING THAT WE'VE BEEN MAPPING WITH OUR OWN DATA TO REALLY CAPTURE THAT.

[01:00:02]

DR. IMMERGLUCK IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THE PRICE POINTS ARE JUST COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, AND IT'S A TALE OF TWO STORIES.

TALE OF TWO REALLY AREAS WITHIN THIS REGION, IF I'M BEING SPECIFIC, MAYBE WE'LL AT LEAST GIVE YOU THAT POWERPOINT AGAIN SO YOU CAN SEE IT.

I THOUGHT MAYBE MIKE CORNETT[INAUDIBLE] MY COMPADRE HAD SHOWN IT TO YOU, BUT THAT IS THE CRITICAL WORK AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT WORK, BUT WE EXPECT IT TO SLOW DOWN, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE A HOME OWNERSHIP GAP IN THIS REGION.

JUST GO AHEAD AND CLICK A FEW SLIDES BETWEEN A WHITE HOUSEHOLD AND A BLACK HOUSEHOLD.

THE HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE IN THIS REGION, THERE'S A 25 PERCENTAGE POINT GAP, AND DR.

IMMERGLOCK MENTIONED THE FACT THAT ALMOST ALL OF OUR NEW GROWTH IN POPULATION IS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THE WHITE POPULATION IN THE PREVIOUS DECADE DECLINED BY ABOUT 6000 PEOPLE IN THE REGION BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020.

SO GO BACK A FEW.

YEAH, YOU'RE TOO FAR.

YOU'LL SEE KIND OF A DOT MAP.

ALL RIGHT, SO THERE'S THE PRODUCTION SLIDE IN CASE YOU WANT TO SEE THAT.

SO WHAT WE DID IN THE PREVIOUS DECADES TO SHOW YOU DRAMATICALLY HOW MUCH FEWER HOUSING WE BUILT.

I'M SORRY. LET'S CLICK UNTIL WE SEE THE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENT BECAUSE WE DO LIKE OUR DATA AT THE ARC, AND AGAIN, WELL, GO BACK TO JUST A SECOND.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRICES AND THIS IS AGAIN MARKET INSIGHT DATA WHERE NEW UNITS HAVE BEEN SOLD AND WHAT THEIR PRICES ARE.

CHAMBLEE, GRADY, DECATUR, AND THESE PRICES ARE JUST THOSE ARE NEW UNITS, RIGHT? YOU HAVE TO PHYSICALLY BUILD SOMETHING, NOT RESALE.

SO WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU ALL THIS INFORMATION.

SO LET'S CLICK UNTIL WE SEE THE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR SLIDE.

YEAH. HERE'S THE PRICE CHANGE FROM 13 TO 20 JUST SO YOU CAN SEE THE CORE GOING UP.

LET'S CLICK THROUGH THOSE 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.

SO ALL THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NOW OVER 500,000.

UNAFFORDABLE FOR MOST METRO PLANNERS WORKING AT THE ARC.

SO KEEP GOING.

SO DATA THAT WE'VE LEARNED TO MAKE FROM KRISTEN, AND SORRY IT'S TAKEN A SECOND TO GET THROUGH THIS. THANK YOU FOR BEING FLEXIBLE.

ONE MORE, I THINK. YES.

OKAY, SO THIS IS A SHARE OF BIG SIX BY COUNTY IN PAULDING COUNTY.

TRUTHFULLY, A LONG TIME AGO, WE WERE WITH EUGENE JAMES AND HE WAS TELLING US THAT SOMEONE HAD PROPOSED A SUBDIVISION IN PAULDING COUNTY.

THIS WAS RIGHT AFTER THE GREAT RECESSION.

THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BUILD A SUBDIVISION FROM SCRATCH FOR RENT, AND WE WERE LIKE, WHAT? NEVER HEARD OF THAT, AND AGAIN, NOW THAT IS VERY MUCH A THING, AND SOME OF OUR OUR COUNTIES ON THE SOUTH SIDE HAVE ENGAGED IN MORATORIUMS TO TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING THOSE KIND OF PROPOSALS.

SO THAT'S THE [INAUDIBLE] SAW PAULDING COUNTY, 6.7% OF ALL THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NOT PURCHASE, BUT ALL OF IT IS NOW IN AN INSTITUTIONAL RENTAL CONDITION, AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP.

NEXT SLIDE.

SORRY WE WENT OFF ON THIS, BUT AGAIN WORK THAT I'M REALLY PROUD WE'RE ABLE TO PROCESS THIS AND WE'VE GOT PEOPLE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO BUILD QUERIES ON LOTS OF DATA TO FIGURE OUT ALL THE OWNERSHIP STRUCTURES.

YOU'RE SEEING DOTS AND YOU THINK IT'S A SIMPLE MAP, BUT IT'S REALLY A SET OF QUERIES TO MAKE SURE WE CAPITALIZE ON SEARCHES THAT FIND ALL THE LLCS THAT REALLY ARE THESE COMPANIES, AND SO THAT'S THE PATTERN, AND AGAIN, YOU DON'T SEE IT.

YOU MENTIONED SOUTH DEKALB.

CLEARLY THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, BUT PAULDING, GWINNETT COUNTY, THIS IS WHERE THE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENT HAS BEEN REALLY HAPPENING.

AGAIN, BRING IT BACK, SO THEY'RE BUYING HOMES IN AREAS AT PRICE POINTS AND OFTEN A YOUNG HOUSEHOLD OR MAYBE A SINGLE PERSON WITH A GOOD JOB COULD HAVE BOUGHT THAT HOUSE AND GONE INTO HOME OWNERSHIP, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG.

IT'S ALL VERY LEGAL, BUT I WONDER IF THERE REALLY ISN'T A FRICTION THERE AND A MISSED OPPORTUNITY AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT BIG HOME OWNERSHIP GAP RATE DIFFERENCE AND WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE ACTUAL EQUITY OF A WHITE HOUSEHOLD AND A BLACK HOUSEHOLD IN THIS REGION AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE, ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, WE KNOW THEIR EQUITY IS OFTEN IN THEIR HOME, MORE SO THAN A WEALTHY HOUSEHOLD AND A SHARE OF LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THAT OWN THEIR HOMES HAS BEEN FALLING.

[01:05:03]

SO THAT'S THE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENT, AND THERE'S MORE DECKS IN THERE.

WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GUYS [INAUDIBLE]. WE'RE NEVER SHORT OF DECKS, RIGHT? [CHUCKLING] NO, WE'VE GOT THE DECKS.

JUST TO GET BACK TO WHERE IT WAS.

OKAY, SO LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT AARP IS ANOTHER EXPERT THAT WE LOOK TO FOR RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOUSING, AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUPPORTERS OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING FOR OLDER RESIDENTS TO ENABLE THEM TO DOWNSIZE POTENTIALLY, OR TO STAY IN THEIR HOUSING.

OKAY, SO NEXT I'M GOING TO GO INTO AN OVERVIEW OF OTHER COUNTIES AND CITIES AND MISSING MIDDLE ZONING TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A BASELINE OF WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED MISSING MIDDLE ZONING OR LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT IT, AND THE CODE IS VERY EXTENSIVE FOR ALL OF THESE CITIES.

I'VE TRIED TO SUMMARIZE IT INTO KIND OF A BLOCK.

SO IT'S A LITTLE SIMPLIFIED, BUT IT'LL GIVE AN IDEA OF KIND OF HOW OTHER CITIES ARE APPROACHING MISSING MIDDLE ZONING.

SO RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, THEY ALLOW TWO FAMILY HOMES IN ALL DISTRICTS AND TOWNHOMES IN SOME DISTRICTS PERMITTED BY RIGHT, WHICH MEANS WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF CONDITIONAL PERMIT. SO BY RIGHT PERMITTING BUT THEY ALSO ALLOW FLAG LOTS.

SO THEY ALLOW A SINGLE LOT TO BE DIVIDED INTO TWO LOTS AND THEY ALLOW A DUPLEX ON EACH LOT, AND ALLOWING THE FLAG LOT CAN ENABLE OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE EACH PART OF THAT LOT COULD BE OWNED.

SO THEY ALLOW BASICALLY UP TO FOUR UNITS ON A LOT.

THEY JUST ALLOW FLAG LOTS TO DIVIDE THOSE.

THEY ALSO ALLOW TINY HOMES AND ADUS.

THEY REMOVED THEIR UNIT PER ACRE RESTRICTIONS AND THEY ELIMINATED PARKING MINIMUMS FOR UP TO THREE UNITS.

YES? WHEN DID THEY DO THAT? I DON'T HAVE THE DATE UP HERE.

I BELIEVE IT WAS IN 2020.

I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S THE TC-5-20.

OKAY.

SO DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, IS VERY SIMILAR.

THEY ALLOW DUPLEXES AND ADUS BY RIGHT.

THEY ALSO ALLOW FOR FLAG LOTS AND LOTS OF DIVISIONS.

SO TWO DUPLEXES ON ONE ORIGINAL LOT.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE PARKING MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR SINGLE FAMILY OR DUPLEX RESIDENCES.

HOWEVER THEY HAVE A DRIVEWAY THAT MUST BE PROVIDED FOR EACH LOT.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, THEY ALLOW UP TO FOUR UNITS PER BUILDING IN SINGLE FAMILY LAND USE CATEGORIES BY RIGHT AND THEY ELIMINATED PARKING MINIMUM CITYWIDE.

MINNEAPOLIS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, I BELIEVE, THE FIRST CITY TO ALLOW MISSING MIDDLE ZONING.

SO YOU CAN SEE UP IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER, THEY HAVE KIND OF THIS MID KIND OF MID AREA.

IT'S ABOUT A FIVE MILE BLOCK AREA AROUND THE CORE OF THE CITY, AND THEY ALLOW UP TO FROM SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TO MULTI UNITS UP TO APARTMENTS, UP TO 20 UNIT APARTMENTS IN THIS AREA, AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK A LITTLE FURTHER AWAY BELOW THAT FROM THE CITY CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS IS 11 MILES.

SO YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A FIVE MILE BLOCK IN THE CENTER, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT KIND OF YOUR UPPER AND LOWER EDGE.

SO IN THE FURTHER AREAS FROM DOWNTOWN, THEY ALLOW UP TO THREE UNITS ON ANY RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PARCEL BY RIGHT.

THEY ALSO ELIMINATED MINIMUM OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS CITYWIDE.

PORTLAND, OREGON, PROBABLY HAS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE OF THE POLICIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY ON THEIR SECOND ROUND OF MISSING MIDDLE POLICIES.

SO THEY DID ONE BIG ROUND, IMPLEMENTED IT, MADE TWEAKS, AND NOW THEY'RE ON THEIR SECOND ROUND.

SO THEY HAVE INCREASED THAT FLOOR AREA RATIO FOR MULTI UNITS.

SO YOU CAN ADD BASICALLY A BONUS SIZE TO A HOUSE FOR AFFORDABILITY.

THEY ALSO ALLOW OLDER HOME RENOVATIONS AND A BONUS FAR FOR THAT AND THEY ALLOW NEW CONSTRUCTION, THREE PLUS UNITS.

IN THREE PLUS UNITS, ONE MUST BE VISIBLE, BUT THEIR POLICY ALLOWS BY RIGHT DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES COMPLEXES, MIXED INCOME SIXPLEXES THAT MUST HAVE SOME AFFORDABILITY CO-LIVING HOMES AND DOUBLE ADUS.

YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT THE UPPER PICTURE, IT'S AN OLDER, SMALLER HOME WITH A DOUBLE ADUS BEHIND IT AND THERE ARE 800 SQUARE FEET EACH.

NO PARKING IS REQUIRED FOR HOUSEHOLD LIVING USES IN SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING ZONES AND THEY ALLOW THOSE FLAG LOTS, WHICH IS A PORTION OF THE LOT TO BE SOLD OFF IN TWO OF THEIR ZONING DISTRICTS. SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, THEY HAVE A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD HOMES INITIATIVE.

WHAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT SOUTH BEND IS ON THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THEY HAVE A VERY EXTENSIVE PRE DESIGNED HOME PLAN.

SO THEIR PLAN IS TO LOWER DEVELOPMENT COSTS AND ENCOURAGE MULTI UNIT AND THEY HAVE AN OWNER PLUS LANDLORD GOAL.

[01:10:05]

SO THAT COULD BE IN HOME CONVERSIONS OR IN NEW UNITS.

SO THAT'S A GOAL OF THEIRS IN SOUTH BEND.

SO THEIR BUILD SOUTH BEND PROGRAM CALLS FOR PRE APPROVED PLANS.

THEY CALL IT A SEARS CATALOG OF HOUSING OPTIONS.

SO KIND OF BRINGING BACK THAT CRAFTSMAN SEARS CATALOG IDEA, THEY HAVE PRE DESIGNS FOR FASTER PERMITTING FOR ADUS, STACKED DUPLEXES AND 4 TO 6 UNIT APARTMENTS THAT WILL FIT ON A SINGLE FAMILY OR A SINGLE LOT.

THEY WAIVE SOME UTILITY CONNECTION FEES FOR UP TO FIVE UNITS AND THEY'VE ELIMINATED MINIMUM OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS CITYWIDE.

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA, IS IN THE PROPOSAL STAGE OF THEIR TEXT AMENDMENT.

SO THIS IS FROM OCTOBER OF 2022.

THEIR PROPOSALS ARE TO ENCOURAGE GENERAL DENSITY BY ALLOWING SMALL SCALE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS UP TO FOUR UNITS BY RIGHT IN MOST ZONING DISTRICTS.

THEY WANT TO REMOVE DENSITY LIMITATIONS IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS AND INSTEAD FOCUS ON REGULATING THE SIZE AND THE SETBACKS AND THE HEIGHT RATHER THAN THE NUMBER OF UNITS.

SO THEY WANT TO ALLOW MORE UNITS WITHIN A FOOTPRINT OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.

THEIR GOAL IS TO INCENTIVIZE ANY DUPLEX, TRIPLEX OR QUAD WITH 60 TO 120% AMI RENTAL OR SALE PRICE AND 30% OR MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS.

SO THEY'RE WORKING ON WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE AFFORDABILITY AND THEY URGE STAFF TO REMOVE PARKING MINIMUMS. YES? IN WHICH ZONING DISTRICTS DO THEY NOT ALLOW FOR UNITS BY RIGHT? WELL, THIS IS ALL PROPOSED.

I THINK THEY'RE JUST STILL IN THE PROCESS OF KIND OF LOOKING AT WHICH DISTRICTS WILL OR WON'T HAVE THEM.

SO THEY DON'T ACTUALLY ALLOW OR DISALLOW AT THIS POINT, BUT IT'S IN THE PROPOSAL STAGE.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND.

I PULLED THIS ONE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY'VE INTRODUCED A BILL TO ALLOW MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING OR DUPLEXES, TOWNHOMES AND SMALL APARTMENTS IN THEIR R-60 ZONES WHICH ARE SIMILAR TO OURS BECAUSE THE 60 IS A 60 FOOT FRONTAGE.

SO TO ALLOW THEM IN THEIR R-60 ZONES WHERE ONLY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES CAN BE BUILT AS LONG AS IT'S WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE COUNTY'S 13 METRO STATIONS, AND AGAIN, THIS IS A PROPOSAL, SO THIS ISN'T IN PROCESS, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THEY HAD PICKED THAT ONE MILE DISTANCE FROM THE METRO STATIONS AND YOU'LL SEE WHY IN A SECOND.

SILVER SPRINGS, MARYLAND.

I ALSO THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SOME TALKS ABOUT DENSITY AND THE DENSITY OF DECATUR VERSUS ADDING MORE DENSITY OF MISSING MIDDLE ZONING.

SO SILVER SPRINGS, MARYLAND, IS ALSO IN THE PROPOSAL STAGE, BUT IT'S A CITY THAT IS AN EDGE CITY TO WASHINGTON, D.C., SIMILARLY TO DECATUR IS AN EDGE CITY TO ATLANTA.

IT'S 7.91 SQUARE MILES AND OVER 81,000 RESIDENTS.

SO IT HAS A DENSITY OF A LITTLE OVER 9000 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE, AND DECATUR IS AT ABOUT 5400 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE.

SO THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT REDUCING BARRIERS TO PROVIDING MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THAT'S A PLANE CALLED THE SILVER SPRINGS DOWNTOWN ADJACENT COMMUNITIES PLAN, AND NEARBY, ANOTHER PROPOSAL IS ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY.

SO IN APRIL OF 2022, THEY HAD A MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING SCAN BY A COMPANY CALLED OPTICS WHO CAME UP WITH 30 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ATHENS ON MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.

SO THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS TO DEVELOP ZONING STANDARDS AND INCENTIVES TO DEVELOP AND OR REDEVELOP HOUSE SCALE MULTIFAMILY OPTIONS, INCLUDING MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES AND WALKABLE ENVIRONMENTS.

SO THE PLACES THAT THEY PINPOINTED FOR ATHENS WERE TO ALLOW MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING BETWEEN OR AROUND IN WALKABLE AREAS, INCLUDING URBAN CENTERS, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS. SO THEY DEFINED THOSE ANY AREA THAT HAS FOOD, EMPLOYMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, PARKS, RECREATION OR SCHOOLS, AND THEY DEFINED WALKABLE TO BE ANYWHERE THAT'S 5 TO 10 MINUTE BIKE OR WALK TO THESE AREAS WHERE IT DOESN'T MEAN EVERY TRIP IS WALKED, BUT SOME ARE DRIVEN AND SOME ARE WALKED.

SO TO POINT OUT SOME COMMON THREADS BETWEEN THESE DIFFERENT CITIES AND COUNTIES, THE DENSITY MOSTLY RANGES FROM 2 TO 6 UNITS ON A SINGLE LOT.

ALL OF THESE DO BY RIGHT CONSTRUCTION AND HOME CONVERSION STANDARDS THAT MATCH SINGLE FAMILY HOME OR ALLOW FOR MORE SIZE FOR MULTI UNITS OR BONUS FAR BASED ON AFFORDABILITY.

SO THEY EITHER ARE IN THE FOOTPRINT OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME OR THEY ALLOW SOME MORE SPACE OR DENSITY IF THERE IS AFFORDABILITY.

THEY ALL REDUCE OR ELIMINATE PARKING MINIMUMS, ALLOW ADUS OR MULTIPLE ADUS, ALLOW LOT DIVISIONS OR FLAG LOTS, AND THEY LOOK AT MISSING MIDDLE AND THE PROXIMITY TO TRANSIT AND COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.

YES? I THOUGHT I NOTICED THAT IN ALL THE CASE STUDIES WHERE IT'S BEEN PASSED, THEY DO NOT HAVE A PARKING MINIMUM.

RIGHT. VERSUS JUST REDUCING.

RIGHT, SOME OF THEM RECOMMEND REDUCING OR ELIMINATING, BUT THE ONES WHO HAVE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED IT HAVE ELIMINATED PARKING MINIMUMS. OKAY.

AND TYPICALLY IT'S ACTUALLY NOT JUST FOR THE MISSING MIDDLE ZONING, IT'S CITYWIDE, AND THAT'S A RECOGNITION OF THE TIME THAT IS SPENT KIND OF REGULATING OVERALL.

SO HERE'S A MAP OF JUST BASED ON THE ONE MILE TO TRANSIT.

THIS IS A MAP OF DECATUR SHOWING IN THE OUTER LOOPS ONE MILE FROM OUR TRANSIT STATION.

SO IT SHOWS THAT PRETTY MUCH COVERS ALL OF DECATUR, AND IF YOU GO DOWN TO HALF A MILE, THE NEXT CIRCLE IS HALF A MILE, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE 0.25 MILE.

[01:15:05]

THIS IS A MAP. SO THE PINK SHOWS THE PROXIMITY TO OUR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS AROUND DECATUR AND THEN THE PURPLE SHOWS PROXIMITY TO PARKS AND SCHOOLS.

SO IT SHOWS HOW ACCESSIBLE AND WALKABLE DECATUR IS, AND SOME COMMUNITIES.

I DIDN'T BRING THIS UP EARLIER, BUT SOME OF THEM LOOK AT BEST LINES.

SO JUST FOR ARGUMENT'S SAKE, I PULLED UP OUR BUS LINES.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BUS LINES THAT RUN THROUGH DECATUR, THIS IS A MAP OF 0.25 AND 0.5 MILES TO BUS STOPS THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO COME FROM MARTA ABOUT EVERY 15 MINUTES.

SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND THEN THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ESTIMATED IMPACT.

THIS IS ESTIMATED TO BE A VERY GENTLE DENSITY IMPACT.

THAT MEANS THAT EVEN IF WE ALLOW MISSING MIDDLE ZONING TO HAPPEN, THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE RELATIVELY SMALL.

SO WE HAVE SOME EXAMPLES.

PORTLAND, OREGON IS ONE.

SO WE HAVE CASE STUDIES NOW ON HOW MANY UNITS PORTLAND HAS CREATED SINCE THEY ALLOWED MISSING MIDDLE ZONING, AND SO THAT'S 289 NEW MULTI UNITS OR 0.2% OF SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING OVER A YEAR, AND THEN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ALLOWED THERE, ALSO HAS SOME DATA.

SO THEY HAVE 64,000 SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS OVERALL AND THEIR NEW DUPLEX AND SMALL LOT PERMITS FROM 2019 TO '22 IS 73.

SO THAT WOULD BE 0.11% OF SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING OVER TWO YEARS.

SO JUST TO BREAK IT DOWN, THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT 3 TO 11 UNITS FOR DECATUR BASED ON THESE TWO NUMBERS WHERE PORTLAND IS DEFINITELY LOOKING TO BE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN WHAT WE ARE IN DECATUR WITH WHAT THEY ALLOW AND THE LARGER NUMBER OF UNITS.

MINNEAPOLIS IS ALWAYS A REALLY GOOD ONE TO STUDY AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY HAVE DATA, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING MISSING MIDDLE AND TRACKING IT.

SO PERMITS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FROM JANUARY 2020 TO 6/30/2022.

YOU HAVE 191 NEWER CONVERTED UNITS.

SO THAT'S 0.25% OF SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING OVER TWO AND A HALF YEARS, AND SO IN DECATUR, THAT WOULD EQUATE TO A GENERAL DENSITY, LIKELY ABOUT 5 TO 6 UNITS PER YEAR, AND I PULLED A QUOTE FROM THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS THAT I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT, AND HE WAS QUOTED AND THIS IS JASON WITTENBERG.

HE'S THE MANAGER OF CODE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, AND HE SAYS OUR GOAL WASN'T REALLY TO DRASTICALLY CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OF OUR PRIMARILY SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS. IT WAS ALWAYS OUR EXPECTATION THAT DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES WOULD BE ADDED IN A VERY INCREMENTAL WAY, WHICH IS HOW THIS HAS PLAYED OUT.

I ALSO WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PEOPLE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN AT THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, BUT WHO HAVE REACHED OUT KIND OF ABOUT THEIR HOUSING NEEDS, PUT A LITTLE BIT OF A FACE TO WHO WHO WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNITS OF HOUSING.

SO ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO IS A FORMER DLT (DECATUR LAND TRUST) BOARD MEMBER, VERY ACTIVE PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SHE RENTED A HOME FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN DECATUR FROM THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND THEY WERE READY TO BUY A HOME.

THEY OWN THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

THEY HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD.

SO THEY HAD TAUGHT THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD TO RIDE THE MARTA, AND THEY WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT LOOKING FOR HOUSING OPPORTUNITY IN DECATUR.

WELL, THEY COULD NOT FIND SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD AFFORD WHAT THEY WERE APPROVED FOR, WHICH IS AROUND $350,000, AND THEY MOVED 40 MINUTES AWAY TO BUY A HOME, AND I ASKED IF SHE WOULD HAVE POTENTIALLY LOOKED AT SOMETHING LIKE A QUADPLEX UNIT AND SHE SAID THAT, YES, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ATTRACTED TO HER, ATTRACTIVE TO HER WITH THE SITUATION THAT HER CHILD IS IN.

ALSO A GRADUATE STUDENT AND SPOUSE WHO ARE IN THEIR LATE TWENTIES, WORKING AT ONE OF THE LOCAL CHURCHES INDICATORS, MINISTERS LOOKING FOR A STARTER HOME IN DECATUR, AND I ALSO ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE A QUAD UNIT AS THEIR STARTER HOME, AND THEY SAID, YES, WE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN GET AS A STARTER HOME, AND ALSO A FEW TEACHERS WHO WANT TO OWN A HOME HAVE BEEN TO SOME OF OUR DECATUR LAND TRUST MEETINGS.

SO THEY REALLY WANT TO HAVE THAT STABILITY OF EITHER A HOME OWNERSHIP OR STABLE RENT IN ORDER TO LIVE NEAR WHERE THEY WORK, AND ALSO I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO JUST MENTIONED THAT WE ARE GOING BACK TO OUR ROOTS.

MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING PROVIDES RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES AND INCOME FOR HOMEOWNERS ALREADY IN DECATUR.

WE HAVE IT ALREADY AS A MODEL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUILT AS NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT CAN PROVIDE LOWER PRICES THAN THE ALTERNATE SINGLE FAMILY HOME, LIKE DR.

IMMERGLOCK MENTIONED, CONVERTED HOMES TO MULTI UNITS ARE TYPICALLY MORE AFFORDABLE DUE TO AGE, WHICH I'LL GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN A FEW SLIDES AND THAT NONPROFITS SUCH AS THE DLT CAN CREATE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE MISSING MIDDLE IF ALLOWED.

SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME EXAMPLES HERE.

SO I PULLED THIS OFF LINE, I THINK THIS IS FROM MINNEAPOLIS.

THIS IS A QUADPLEX, A NEW QUADPLEX, A 3600 SQUARE FEET.

SO WHO MIGHT THIS SERVE? A NEW CONSTRUCTION QUADPLEX PROVIDES THE MOST AFFORDABLE OF THE NEW MARKET RATE UNITS.

THAT'S WHY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING UP TO QUADPLEX UNITS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET SMALLER, YOU GET MORE AFFORDABLE.

SO THE QUADPLEX SETUP COULD ALLOW FOR TWO OWNERS.

IT COULD BE EITHER FOUR OWNERS OR IT COULD BE TWO OWNERS AND TWO RENTERS.

SO THE OWNERS COULD HAVE SOME EXTRA INCOME FOR RENT.

COULD ALSO ENABLE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS TO PURCHASE HOMES AND DECATUR, CAN ENABLE WEALTH CREATION AND CAN PROVIDE EMPTY NESTERS A PLACE TO DOWNSIZE AND HAVE RENTAL INCOME.

[01:20:07]

SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT AN ACTUAL QUADPLEX WOULD LOOK LIKE IN DECATUR.

SO THIS IS A HOUSE KIND OF OVER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE LOT SIZE IS 49 WIDE BY 176 FEET DEEP.

THE EXISTING NEW CONSTRUCTION DECATUR HOME IS A FIVE BEDROOM, FIVE BATH, 4700 SQUARE FEET.

SHE DROVE A QUADPLEX, RENDERING FOR THIS HOME AS FOUR UNITS, WHICH ARE TWO BEDROOM, ONE BATH EACH AND 864 SQUARE FEET.

SHE HAS TWO CAR PARKING HIDDEN ON SITE AND THERE IS AN ON STREET FRONTAGE PARKING LENGTH OF 36 FEET, WHICH WOULD ACCOMMODATE TWO CARS.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT A NEW DUPLEX, WHO MIGHT THIS SERVE? SO SIMILAR TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, THE MONTHLY RENT FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION DUPLEX WILL MOST LIKELY INCENTIVIZE OWNERSHIP OF EACH SIDE OF THE DUPLEX, BUT IT COULD ATTRACT EXISTING DECATUR RESIDENTS WHO WISH TO DOWNSIZE.

HOMEBUYERS WHO ARE LOOKING AT DECATUR FOR A NEW HOME BUT ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD A PRICE TAG FOR A NEW HOME OVER $1,000,000, AND IF AN OWNER WERE TO PURCHASE THE WHOLE PROPERTY AND OWN ONE SIDE AND RENT THE OTHER, THIS COULD HELP MAKE THE MORTGAGE ATTAINABLE, AND THIS IS AN ACTUAL DECATUR EXAMPLE.

THIS IS A PROPERTY OVER ON MEAD STREET, A 60 FOOT WIDE BY 142 FOOT DEEP LOT.

SO THE EXISTING NEW CONSTRUCTION DECATUR HOME IS A FOUR BEDROOM, FOUR AND A HALF BATH AND 3600 SQUARE FEET, AND THE ARCHITECT DID A DUPLEX RENDERING.

SO EACH UNIT IS THREE BEDROOM, TWO BATH AND 1698 SQUARE FOOT EACH.

SHE HAS TWO CAR SIDE YARD PARKING ON SITE, AND THERE'S 48 FEET OF FRONTAGE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

HOME CONVERSIONS. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE INDICATOR THAT JUST WENT ON THE MARKET TO RENT.

SO I WAS ABLE TO CALL AND GET SOME INFORMATION ON THIS HOME CONVERSION.

THIS IS A TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATH, 1300 SQUARE FOOT DUPLEX.

SO ONE SIDE OF THE HOUSE, 2545 A MONTH, AND SO WHAT THE 2545 A MONTH EQUATES TO, IS 120% OF AMI.

SO THE INCOME REQUIRED FOR TWO PEOPLE AT 120% AMI IS 92,640 OR THE INCOME REQUIRED FOR A TWO PERSON HOUSEHOLD IS 92,640.

SO TWO PEOPLE MAKING 46,300 EACH WOULD BE ABLE TO RENT THIS DUPLEX UNIT.

SO WE MIGHT NOT LOOK AT 2545 A MONTH AS BEING AFFORDABLE IN SOME PEOPLE'S MINDS, BUT REALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT HAVING TWO PEOPLE AT 46,300 EACH, THAT IS OUR WORKFORCE.

SO THAT IS REALLY WHO THESE HOME CONVERSIONS SERVE.

YES? HOW MUCH DOES A TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATH COST IN THE NEW APARTMENT BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN BUILT.

WE HAVEN'T BUILT ANY YET.

SO WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE ABLE TO RENT.

TALK TO ME ABOUT [INAUDIBLE].

I'M PRETTY SURE MY KIDS ARE PAYING ABOUT THAT MUCH.

I'M SORRY. LIKE A NEW CONSTRUCTION TOWNHOME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? NO, LIKE EXISTING [INAUDIBLE] FAMILY, WHATEVER THOSE [INAUDIBLE] TO RENT THEM.

OH YEAH, SO THE STUDIOS ARE CLOSER TO LIKE 2,000-2,500.

STUDIOS ARE ONE BEDROOM. SO WHEN YOU GET UP INTO TWO BEDROOMS, YOU'RE USUALLY AROUND 3000 A MONTH, AND SO THEN THE NEXT TIER DOWN IS SUBSIDIZED AFFORDABILITY.

SO SUBSIDY FOR NONPROFIT ENTITIES FOR HOME OWNERSHIP OR RENTAL.

THAT ALLOWS AFFORDABILITY.

SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE LAND TRUST OR THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.

SO WITH SUBSIDIZED AFFORDABILITY, WE COULD GET OWNERSHIP IN A RANGE AT 60 TO 100% OF AMI.

SO THAT'S ABOUT $156,000 TO AROUND $260,000 FOR A TWO BEDROOM UNIT.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE AFFORDABILITY SUBSIDIZED RANGE WOULD BE.

THE RENT RANGE OF 60 TO 80%, AMI IS AROUND 1300 A MONTH TO 1700 A MONTH FOR A TWO BEDROOM.

SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME RENTS THAT ARE VERY HARD TO ACCESS INDICATOR THAT WE COULD HAVE WITH SUBSIDIZED MULTI UNITS.

THERE WAS ALSO A QUESTION ON TAX APPRAISALS.

SO I PUT A SLIDE IN HERE JUST LOOKING AT FOUR DIFFERENT HOMES.

THESE ARE ALL OVER ON SYCAMORE STREET.

SO THERE ARE TWO TRIPLEXES AND TWO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES JUST TO KIND OF GIVE AN ILLUSTRATION OF HOW THE TAXES ARE, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFRAID, I THINK, THAT THE TAXATION IS DIFFERENT ON MULTI UNITS VERSUS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

SO THE FIRST ONE, NUMBER ONE IS A TRIPLEX AND YOU CAN SEE THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE WAY THE DEKALB COUNTY CLASSIFIES IT.

SO THEY'RE ALL UNDER DEKALB CLASS R-3, BUT THEN WHEN YOU GET INTO THE LAND, USE CODES, 103 IS A RESIDENTIAL THREE FAMILY AND 101 IS A RESIDENTIAL ONE FAMILY.

SO THAT'S THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THAT I FOUND IN THE APPRAISING.

SO THE 100% APPRAISED VALUE OF THIS TRIPLEX IS 372,700 AND THAT EQUATES TO THE CITY OF DECATUR TAX ESTIMATE AMOUNT OF 6643 AND IF YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE SINGLE FAMILY HOME NEXT TO IT.

THAT HOME, THE RESIDENTIAL ONE FAMILY IS APPRAISED AT 383,600, AND THE ESTIMATES FOR THE TAXES ARE 5362 BUT JUST TO NOTE THAT PARCEL NUMBER ONE, THE TRIPLEX DOES NOT TAKE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, BUT PARCEL NUMBER TWO DOES.

SO THAT'S KIND OF ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES IN THE AMOUNT THERE.

[01:25:01]

SO IN THAT CASE, NUMBER THREE DOES TAKE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

SO THE TRIPLEX ACTUALLY TAKES THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND THE SINGLE FAMILY HOME DOES NOT.

I WAS GOING HAVE DAN TALK A LITTLE BIT WITH ME ABOUT RENTAL AND OWNERSHIP.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN CLASS WITH HIM AT GEORGIA STATE, HE WAS REALLY GOOD ABOUT KIND OF DRILLING DOWN WHY PEOPLE RENT AND WHY PEOPLE OWN, AND WHY RENTAL IS A NECESSARY HOUSING TYPE. SO I'LL GIVE THIS TO HIM FOR A FEW MINUTES.

KRISTEN WAS THE NUMBER ONE STUDENT IN THAT CLASS.

[CHUCKLING] SO THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PROS AND CONS.

I THINK THE BASIC POINT IS IDEALLY TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY INTO A CITY.

YOU WANT A MIX OF RENTAL AND OWNERSHIP BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, AND WHEN PEOPLE SAY, IS RENTING BETTER THAN OWNING OR OWNING, I ALWAYS SAY IT DEPENDS AND IT'S LIFE CYCLE AND IT'S CONTEXT, BUT, YOU KNOW, RENTAL OBVIOUSLY GIVES FLEXIBILITY, ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS WHO MAY WANT TO MOVE IN A FEW YEARS.

THEY AREN'T GOING TO PAY THE COST OF A REALTOR.

THEY AREN'T GOING TO PAY THOSE FIXED COSTS.

FOLKS WHO AREN'T HANDY MAY WANT TO RENT, AS MANY OF US HAVE LEARNED, YOU DON'T HAVE THE DOWN PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS.

YOU DO HAVE SOME OTHER UPFRONT COSTS, OF COURSE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL--I MEAN, THE INSURANCE IS BASICALLY CAPTURED IN YOUR RENT, BUT IT'S CHEAPER FOR A MULTI UNIT BUILDING TYPICALLY PER UNIT AND RENTAL CAN HIGHER DENSITY PLACES OFTEN HAVE THE AMENITIES AND THE ACCESS TO TRANSIT, AND FINALLY, THERE'S DIFFERENT KINDS OF FINANCIAL RISK, SOMETIMES OWNERSHIP MITIGATES THOSE BETTER, SOMETIMES RENTAL RENTAL.

OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOT PUTTING YOUR DOWN PAYMENT AT RISK.

YOU DO HAVE THE RISK OF YOUR RENTS GOING UP EVERY YEAR VERSUS A FIXED RATE MORTGAGE.

SO IN TERMS OF OWNING, YOU KNOW, HOME EQUITY AND THE ABILITY TO BUILD THAT.

I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY OVERPLAYED A BIT, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR LOTS OF FOLKS AND OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE BOUGHT A LONG TIME AGO IN DECATUR, IT CAN BE A HUGE BENEFIT, BUT FOR MOST PEOPLE IT'S REALLY JUST ABOUT FIXING YOUR HOUSING COSTS AND PAYING THOSE DOWN OVER TIME.

MOST PEOPLE ACTUALLY DON'T BENEFIT THAT MUCH FROM THEIR HOME VALUE GROWTH.

THEY BENEFIT A LITTLE BIT, BUT MOST PEOPLE AREN'T LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAPPEN TO BUY IN PLACES LIKE DECATUR WHEN IT WAS CHEAP.

STABILITY IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON PEOPLE CHOOSE HOMEOWNERSHIP.

IT'S REALLY NOT FINANCIAL.

ALL THE SURVEYS ARE CONSISTENT.

PEOPLE WANT TO CONTROL WHERE THEY LIVE AND WHEN I MOVED TO DECATUR 18 YEARS AGO, WE RENTED FOR A YEAR AND THEN WE GOT BOOTED AND I DIDN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN, YOU KNOW, MY KIDS WERE IN SCHOOL.

SO PEOPLE WANT CONTROL OVER THEIR ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE KIDS.

PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP IS IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK IT'S OVERPLAYED.

TAX DEDUCTIONS, INCREASINGLY, THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS ACTUALLY PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME PEOPLE, BECAUSE NOW THE TAX DEDUCTIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL HAVE BEEN SKEWED JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO ITEMIZE, AND THAT'S AN INCREASINGLY SMALL SHARE OF THE POPULATION.

POTENTIAL FOR WEALTH CREATION.

AGAIN, I THINK IT'S MORE ABOUT PAYING DOWN THAT EQUITY AND THAT FOR SAVINGS THAN IT IS ABOUT SPECULATING ON HOMEOWNERSHIP, BUT, REALLY BACK TO THE POINT.

THE NICE THING ABOUT MISSING MIDDLE, IT ALLOWS FLEXIBILITY OF SHIFTING UNITS BETWEEN OWNERSHIP AND RENTAL, AND KRISTEN'S ALREADY TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE EXAMPLES AND IT ALLOWS--I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN CHICAGO AND THE CHICAGO MODEL FOR 1 TO 4 UNIT OR 1 TO 6 UNITS IS REALLY OWNER OCCUPIED, MEANING ONE OF THE UNITS IS USUALLY OWNED AND THEN THE REST, AND IT CREATES A GREAT INCOME GENERATING SOURCE.

IT CREATES LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOWER MIDDLE INCOME PEOPLE TO GAIN WEALTH AND GAIN INCOME AND IT ALSO WOULD CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY AGAIN TO PUT MORE UNITS INTO THINGS LIKE A LAND TRUST OR MORE UNITS INTO SOME KIND OF RENTAL SUBSIDY.

DR. IMMERGLUCK. YES? IS THAT MIXED OWNERSHIP RENTAL MODEL IN CHICAGO BY REGULATION OR IT'S AN ORGANIC OUTCOME?

[01:30:02]

BOSTON IS THE SAME WAY.

OLDER CITIES HAVE LOTS OF THAT STOCK.

ATLANTA WAS KIND OF DEVELOPED, RIGHT.

WE HAD SOME OF THAT STOCK.

DECATUR HAS SOME OF THAT STOCK, BUT MOST OF THE GROWTH IN ATLANTA HAPPENED POST 1970 WHEN RENTAL DEVELOPMENT WAS BIG SUBURBAN PROJECTS AND THEN WE HAD DOWN ZONING, WHICH MADE IT HARD TO DO THE MORE ORGANIC OWNER OCCUPIED.

SO I DO THINK IT HAS LOTS OF BENEFITS FOR ESPECIALLY PEOPLE OR HANDY.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE SKILLS, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE LANDLORDS BUT DON'T WANT TO GET INTO [INAUDIBLE] BUSINESS SO MUCH , AND SO JUST TO KIND OF FINISH OUT THAT CONVERSATION WITH OWNER OCCUPATION OF RENTALS, DECATUR IS CURRENTLY 67% OWNER OCCUPIED.

SO WE HAVE A VERY HIGH OWNERSHIP RATIO AND A LOT OF THESE ARE LOCAL OWNERS, LOCAL RENTAL COMPANIES, AND IT'S A NECESSARY OPTION, LIKE DAN JUST MENTIONED, DUE TO THE LACK OF STARTER HOMES. SO THERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF DOING AN OWNER OCCUPATION REQUIREMENT, SUCH AS HOW WOULD THE OWNER REGULATIONS APPLY TO CURRENT PROPERTIES LIKE OUR OLDER DUPLEX TRIPLEX AND QUADPLEXES THAT EXIST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS? WHAT ABOUT HOMES MULTI HOMES CREATED BY THE DLT WHERE THE DLTIS THE OWNER OR A SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OR SOMEONE LIKE THE DHA OR NONPROFIT HOUSING OWNERS? ALSO THERE'S A POTENTIAL TO RUN INTO THE FAIR HOUSING ACT.

SO GENERAL DISCOURAGEMENT OF INCREASED RENTAL HOUSING IN A CITY MAY BE VIEWED AS A VIOLATION OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, WHICH PROHIBITS DISPARATE IMPACT POLICIES.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON THAT MOST CITIES DON'T REALLY HAVE IN THEIR HOUSING STOCK AND OWNER OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT DUE TO THOSE REASONS UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT. QUICK COMMENT.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

I WAS A LITTLE UNNERVED AND TROUBLED BY ONE OF THE POINTS ON THE SLIDE BEFORE UNDER WHY RENT THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY REFERENCE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO BUILD WEALTH TO HAVE A DOWN PAYMENT FOR A HOME, AND SO THAT BULLET POINT ABOUT INCREASED RENTAL HOUSING MAY BE A VIOLATION OF THE FAIR HOUSING ACT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DOES RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO, BECAUSE OF SYSTEMIC ISSUES, HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THE TYPE OF WEALTH THAT IS REQUIRED TO PUT DOWN FIVE, TEN OR 20% ON A HOME.

DEFINITELY, AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK WITH THE LAND TRUST, BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THINGS LIKE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO REALLY UTILIZE THE MISSING MIDDLE ZONING TO ENCOURAGE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

ABSOLUTELY, AND 5% OF 250,000 OR 300,000 IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM 5% OF A MILLION.

THAT IS VERY TRUE. SO I TALKED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD BETWEEN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND MULTI UNITS, AND THERE ARE SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF REGULATION. SO A SPECIAL OR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WOULD END UP GIVING ADVANTAGE TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENT OVER MULTI UNITS.

I THINK THIS IS WHY YOU DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THE OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE PUT FORTH THE MISSING ZONING POLICY HAVING THAT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AS PART OF THEIR RECOMMENDATION, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE A BUILDER AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CONDITIONAL USE PROCESS, THAT ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF COMPLEXITY AS OPPOSED TO JUST GOING OUT AND BUILDING A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. SO AFFORDABILITY MANDATES WITHOUT A SUBSIDY OR WITHOUT A PLAN FOR THOSE CAN ALSO ADVANTAGE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENT OVER A MULTI UNIT.

SO INSTEAD OF AFFORDABILITY MANDATES, MOST OF THESE CITIES HAVE LOOKED TO GIVING BONUS FAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, GIVING MORE SIZE SO MORE OF A INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABILITY VERSUS A MANDATE FOR AFFORDABILITY.

ALSO AS FAR AS QUADPLEXES MULTI UNITS AND ADUS GIVE MORE ABILITY FOR LOWER PRICE UNITS.

THAT'S A SLIDE THAT I HAD ON THE QUADPLEXES, AND WHY STAFF IS ENCOURAGING UP TO QUADPLEXES IS MORE FLEXIBILITY THERE.

SO CAN WE JUST PAUSE FOR ONE SECOND AND I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING BACK IT UP ON TIME, SO I'LL SPEAK QUICKLY, BUT BACK TO THAT AFFORDABILITY MANDATE WITHOUT THE SUBSIDY, THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE POINT OF CONTENTION FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INDICATOR, BUT MAY HAVE EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO US MOVING FORWARD WITH WITH THIS INITIATIVE AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR AFFORDABILITY IN A DUPLEX, AND THIS IS FOR MYSELF TOO, BECAUSE I HAD THE SAME JUDGMENT, MAYBE MISJUDGMENT, BUT IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS AN AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT FOR A DUPLEX, TRIPLEX OR QUAD, THE LIKELIHOOD HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED THAT THE EASY ROUTE OF SINGLE FAMILY HOME IS WHAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD GO WITH, AS OPPOSED TO MOVING FORWARD WITH BUILDING SOMETHING.

[01:35:01]

IMMERGLUCK CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHOUT A SUBSIDY.

SO THAT IS WHY MISSING MIDDLE ZONING ENCOURAGES THE ALTERNATIVE TO JUST A LARGE SINGLE FAMILY HOME AT THE MARKET RATE AND AFFORDABLE OPTIONS.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT AFFORDABILITY MANDATES ONLY WITHOUT A SUBSIDY, IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT THOSE WOULD ACTUALLY GET BUILT.

SO IF YOU GO WITH AN AFFORDABILITY, IF YOU GO WITH THE MISSING MIDDLE ZONING IN THE MARKET, THAT ALSO ENABLES SMALLER DEVELOPERS AND NON-PROFITS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO SOME SUBSIDY TO BE ABLE TO BUILD SMALLER UNITS, WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN ASKING A ONE OR 200 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX TO COMPLY WITH MANDATORY INCLUSIONARY ZONING.

EXACTLY. MS. ALLEN, CAN YOU ELABORATE, GO DEEPER ON THE SPECIAL CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS AND WHAT YOU MEAN BY THERE'S UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF REGULATION THAT ARE TO APPLY CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS TO TO WHAT? TO CERTAIN CLASSES OF MISSING MIDDLE OR TO JUST I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE.

RIGHT, SO WHEN ALL OF THE SLIDES THAT I WENT THROUGH FOR DIFFERENT CITIES, ALL OF THEM ARE APPROACHING THIS IN A BY RIGHT CONSTRUCTION, WHICH MEANS WHEN THEY ALLOW THIS HOUSING TYPE, THEY ARE HOPING THAT IT ACTUALLY GETS BUILT, AND AS WE SAW, THE GENTLE DENSITY MEANS THAT EVEN IF IT'S ALLOWED, YOU'RE MOST LIKELY ONLY SEEING A FEW PER YEAR.

SO IF A CITY WANTS THESE UNITS TO GET BUILD BUILT AND THEN APPLIES A SPECIAL OR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ON TOP OF THOSE, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH A WHOLE PROCESS, INCLUDING GOING THROUGH THE PLANNING PLANNING COMMISSION, GOING THROUGH THE ZONING BOARD, GOING TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR A VOTE AND THOSE LAYERS.

I MEAN, ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, REALLY TALK ABOUT REMOVING BARRIERS, AND SO THAT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS JUST PLACING A BARRIER TO BUILDING THIS TYPE OF HOUSING. SO IT'S JUST A DECISION POINT AND I'LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE ON MY SLIDES, BUT SOME OF THE DECISION POINTS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE ARE DO WE WANT A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT WILL WILL INEVITABLY BE A BARRIER TO SOME OF THIS HOUSING OR IS IT MORE DESIRABLE TO ALLOW THEM BY RIGHT.

DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH, SO AS IT STANDS, ALL THE USES FOR ALL THE APPLICATIONS DUPLEX TRIPLEX, TRIPLEX WITH ADU AND QUAD WITH ADU, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, ARE PROPOSED TO BE DONE BY RIGHT? YES, AND YOU'RE SEEING THAT IN LOTS OF THESE OTHER CASE STUDIES WHERE AND NONE OF THEM NEED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR ANY OF THESE TYPES OF MISSING MIDDLE. YES, THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PROPOSING AT THIS TIME ELIMINATING PARKING MINIMUMS. WE HAVE TWO COULD BE SATISFIED ON STREET.

THAT'S WHY THERE IS A LIMITED REVIEW FOR THE PARKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH FRONTAGE THERE.

SO THAT'S THE ONLY SLIGHT DIFFERENCE, WHICH IS THE SAME AS WHEN YOU HAVE WITH AN ADUS IT'S NOT A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, IT'S JUST A REVIEW OF MAKING SURE THE PARKING IS SATISFACTORY. OKAY.

SO ADUS WERE APPROVED FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN 2014 AND THEY'RE ALLOWED IN.

THEY WERE ALLOWED IN THE 17 DISTRICTS IN 2021.

SO THEY'RE NOW ALLOWED IN ALL OF OUR SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICTS.

THERE IS AN OWNER OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT IN PLACE FOR ADUS.

SO IF A QUADPLEX WERE TO HAVE AN ADU, THAT WOULD TRIGGER AN OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT SO THAT THERE HAS TO BE AN OWNER IN ONE OF THOSE PLEX UNITS.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING KIND OF INTERESTING ABOUT WHERE OUR POLICY IS, AND THIS POLICY WAS DRAFTED BACK IN 2014, BUT BECAUSE THAT REQUIREMENT IS IN PLACE, A DUPLEX TRIPLEX OR QUADPLEX WITH AN ADU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE AN OWNER ALSO LIVING EITHER IN THE ADU OR ON SITE.

SO AS FAR AS ADUS, IT IS RECOMMENDED TO ALLOW ADUS WITH NEW DUPLEX TRIPLEX AND QUADPLEX CONSTRUCTION AS A LIMITED USE, WHICH IS HOW IT'S ALLOWED RIGHT NOW, OR EXCUSE ME, ANY OF THE EXAMPLES BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER THAT ALLOW A QUADPLEX PLUS AN ADU BY RIGHT.

SO IS THAT.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING, OR IS IT IN SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT YOU GAVE OR I DIDN'T USE ADU AS AN EXAMPLE OF ANY OF THOSE, BUT IF YOU HAD A QUAD, FOR EXAMPLE, BUILT IN THE FOOTPRINT OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.

THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOME IF AN ADU COULD FIT IN THAT YARD, THEN WHAT WE'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW IS IF YOU HAD A QUADPLEX THAT'S IN THAT SAME FOOTPRINT, THAT YOU COULD HAVE AN ADU ON THAT PROPERTY AS WELL.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE [INAUDIBLE] ALL OF OUR OTHER LIKE FLOOR AREA RATIO, LOT COVERAGE, TREES, [INAUDIBLE] WOULD HAVE TO MEET EVERYTHING. SO IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME SCENARIO, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE DUPLEX TRIPLEX AND QUADPLEX ARE IN THE SAME FOOTPRINT OF THE SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT WE WENT AHEAD AND RECOMMENDED INITIALLY THAT THE ADU WOULD ALSO BE ALLOWED.

SO SHORT TERM RENTALS.

SO WHAT WOULD THE GOALS BE? THIS HAS COME UP A LOT, THE SHORT TERM RENTALS, AND THIS IS A SEPARATE POLICY.

[01:40:03]

SO SOME OF THE GOALS WE'VE IDENTIFIED ARE JUST KNOWING HOW MANY SHORT TERM RENTALS WE HAVE IN THE CITY AND ENSURING THAT STRS OPERATE IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT DISRUPT THE LIVES OF NEIGHBORS, THAT INCLUDES NOISE ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS AND FINES, AND THAT NEIGHBORS ARE ALSO AWARE THAT THEY EXIST.

SO THOSE TWO THINGS CAN BE DONE PRETTY EASILY WITH THE CODE THAT WE HAVE POTENTIALLY BY HIRING A THIRD PARTY.

THEN WE GET INTO A LITTLE MORE COMPLEXITY WHERE THE SHORT TERM RENTAL COMPLIES WITH HAS INSPECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE COMPLYING WITH FIRE AND SAFETY.

SO THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNER WOULD GET A SEPARATE PERMANENT INSPECTION AND THEN FURTHER REGULATION WOULD ACTUALLY REQUIRE A REGISTRATION SYSTEM SIMILAR TO POTENTIALLY AN OCCUPATION TAX OR WHAT WE CALL A BUSINESS LICENSE.

SO THAT SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE SET UP.

THAT IS A LITTLE MORE COMPLEX.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT WHAT LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY IS NEEDED WITH THE GOALS OF A SHORT-TERM RENTAL POLICY, AND THIS WILL PROBABLY BE ANOTHER SEPARATE WORK SESSION, BUT AND ALSO HOW LONG IT MIGHT TAKE THE CITY TO SET UP THESE PROCEDURES AND POLICIES, BECAUSE STARTING A WHOLE REGISTRATION PROGRAM AND MONITORING PROGRAM FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS AS OPPOSED TO JUST MONITORING THEM AND TAKING NOISE COMPLAINTS, IT'S KIND OF A DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

I THINK WE'D ALSO HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THE STATE IS.

I BELIEVE FOREST PARK TRIED TO IMPLEMENT A REGISTRATION PROGRAM AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THAT.

SO WE MAY HAVE TO WORK TO GET SOME STATE SUPPORT [INAUDIBLE].

THERE'RE DEFINITELY THINGS YOU CANNOT DO AS SHORT TERM RENTALS, YOU CANNOT PROHIBIT THEM.

SO THERE ARE THINGS AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT AIRBNB WILL PRESS LEGAL ACTION AGAINST AND THAT THE STATE MAY COME AND PREEMPT.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT WHEN DOING OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL POLICY, BUT WE CAN POTENTIALLY DO THE ZONING PERMANENT INSPECTION.

WE DEFINITELY CAN MONITOR THEM.

WE DEFINITELY CAN TAKE NOISE COMPLAINTS AND MONITOR HOW MANY OF THOSE THAT WE GET, AND THOSE ARE RELATIVELY A LITTLE EASIER TO DO THAN A FULL PERMITTING SYSTEM BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS POSSIBLE AND IT JUST MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE LONGER AND THERE'LL BE A LITTLE MORE COMPLEXITY IN THAT SYSTEM.

SO PARKING--I'M ALMOST DONE--PARKING THERE IS A MOVEMENT, LIKE I'VE SAID, AWAY FROM PARKING MINIMUMS DUE TO THE COST OF PARKING WHAT IT CONTRIBUTES, ESPECIALLY WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE AVERAGE CAR IN THE US IS 14 FOOT SEVEN INCHES.

THE CURRENT POLICY PROPOSES 15 FEET.

THERE IS AN OPTION TO MODIFY THIS TO BE A LITTLE BIT LARGER BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS A CONCERN FOR PEOPLE.

SO WE COULD POTENTIALLY GO UP TO 18 FOOT, WHICH IS KIND OF THE NEXT LEVEL IN THE UDO, AND LIKE I SAID, WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE PROPOSAL A LIMITED REVIEW PROCESS FOR THE PARKING. SO THIS BRINGS US TO KIND OF WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR FINAL GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEN I'LL GO THROUGH SOME DECISION POINTS.

SO OUR FINAL POLICY GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO JUST SIMPLY GO AHEAD AND ALLOW THESE UNITS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXISTED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ALLOW THE BUILDING TYPES THAT EXISTED TO BE CREATED AGAIN, NEW OR CONVERTED DUPLEX TRIPLEX QUADPLEX BY RIGHT CONSTRUCTION OR HOME CONVERSION IN R-60 R-50 R-85 AND RS-17.

THEY'RE REQUIRED TO CONFORM TO THE UDO SIZE, HEIGHT, FAR AND LOCK COVERAGE OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.

WE IMPLEMENT ANNUAL METRICS TO REPORT ON THE NUMBER CREATED, THE PERCENT RENTAL, THE SALE PRICE, THE ON STREET PARKING UTILIZATION AND THE PERCENT THAT BECOME SHORT TERM RENTALS.

WE HAVE A LIMITED REVIEW OF THE ON STREET PARKING FOR 50% OR MORE OF THE PARKING.

WE CREATE A NEW POLICY FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS AND WE ALLOW THE ADU WITH A DUPLEX TRIPLEX AND QUADPLEX.

SOME DECISION POINTS FOR THE FINAL POLICIES ARE WHAT TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT IS QUITE RIGHT FOR DECATUR DO WE INCREASE THE STREET PARKING DIMENSION TO 18 FEET OR DO WE KEEP IT AT 15 FEET? DO WE HAVE A BY RIGHT AS LIMITED USE AS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION STATES? OR DO WE GO TO MORE OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT DEPENDING ON THE DENSITY? DO WE ALLOW THINGS LIKE A LOT LINE SUBDIVISION FOR MULTI UNITS THAT COULD BETTER ENABLE FOR SALE UNITS LIKE YOU'VE SEEN WITH SOME OF THE EXAMPLES WHERE THEY HAVE FLAG LOTS? DO WE INSTITUTE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS ADDED AN IZ TYPE OF POLICY DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF UNITS OR AFTER A PERIOD OF STUDY, DO WE LOOK AT SOME AFFORDABILITY MEASURES AND THEN ALSO SOME NEW POLICY CREATION TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND SOME OF THESE ADDITIONAL POLICY RESEARCH THAT CAN BE DONE SEPARATE FROM THE MISSING MIDDLE ZONING POLICY WOULD BE A RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAM.

SO WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT POTENTIALLY HAVING A RENTAL REGISTRATION FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT MINNEAPOLIS HAS A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE FOR LONG TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION AS WELL, EXPLORING INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABILITY.

SO INSTEAD OF GOING THE MANDATE DIRECTION, WE EXPLORE HOW WE INCENTIVIZE AFFORDABILITY, WHICH IS WHAT MOST OF THE OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE.

WE CONSIDER PRE-APPROVED DESIGN FOR FASTER PERMITTING PROCESS AND REEVALUATE OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT, POTENTIALLY PAIRING THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM FOR OLDER NOAH UNITS.

[01:45:09]

WE COULD PAIR THAT WITH OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM AND OFFER OWNERS A LOW INTEREST LOAN TO DO A NEW PAINT JOB OR DO SOME REPAIRS THAT MIGHT BE DEFERRED . LASTLY, SOME ADDITIONAL POLICY RESEARCH IS WE ARE ALREADY EXPLORING METHODS TO MAKE ADU CONSTRUCTION AND FINANCING EASIER SO THAT ADUS CAN ALSO BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK.

DETERMINING APPROPRIATE POLICY DIRECTIVES TO ENCOURAGE PRESERVATION OF EXISTING HOUSING STOCK, INCLUDING SMALLER HOMES THAT COULD BE THROUGH OUR HOME REHAB PROGRAM.

WE COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK INTO POLICY TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS WITH TEARDOWNS.

THERE ARE SOME CITIES AROUND METRO ATLANTA THAT DO HAVE POLICIES WHERE IF A HOUSE IS TORN DOWN, THERE'S SOME RECYCLING THAT GOES INTO THAT INSTEAD OF JUST THROWING THE WHOLE HOUSE AWAY. ALTHOUGH, WE ARE NOT LEGALLY ALLOWED TO PROHIBIT TEARDOWNS AND ALSO EXPLORING POLICIES FOR TAX EXEMPTIONS OR REDUCTIONS.

DAN MENTIONED THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING WORKED ON AROUND THE METRO ATLANTA AREA, AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE CONSIDERING POTENTIALLY THE ABILITY TO PASS LEGISLATION AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR REDUCTIONS AND TAXES FOR 2 TO 4 UNIT AFFORDABLE, NON-PROFIT OWNED HOUSING IS HOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT THAT.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT WILL END UP BEING THE FINAL DRAFT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH; I KNOW THIS IS A VERY IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND LET ME KNOW LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

WE'RE SHORT ON TIME.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD BRING FORWARD AND I WOULD LIKE AT SOME POINT TO GET FEEDBACK ON IS THAT PARKING REQUIREMENT GOING FROM 15 TO 18 FEET, I THINK WE REQUIRE 20 FEET FOR OTHER PROPERTIES.

MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK AT BOTH OF THOSE GOING TO BE THE SAME THING, AND IT DOES ALLOW FOR I MEAN, THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN BROUGHT FORWARD, IS THAT 15 FEET IS A PRETTY TIGHT SPOT FOR--I MEASURE BOTH OF MY CARS.

MY LITTLE CAR WILL FIT IN A CRACKER BOX, BUT A MORE MEDIUM SIZED CAR WOULD NEED IT'S ABOUT 14 AND A HALF FEET.

IT'D BE A TIGHT WAY FOR ME TO GET INTO A 15 FOOT PARKING SPACE.

SO JUST BRINGING THAT FORWARD AS A THOUGHT AND A CONSIDERATION SO THAT WHEN WE'RE SAYING WE ALLOW TWO PARKING SPACES WE ARE ALLOWING TWO PARKING SPACES OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS, SO, THANK YOU, AND THEN I GUESS IF WE HAVE FURTHER--I'M GOING TO SAVE MY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS UNTIL THE END OF THE MEETING [INAUDIBLE] I WAS GOING TO TAKE MY TIME TO DO IT THEN.

THAT WOULD BE PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A BETTER TOGETHER PRESENTATION THAT WE WANT TO GIVE ADEQUATE TIME FOR.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK AND RECONVENE, AND I THINK WE'LL STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME FOR THE BETTER TOGETHER IF WE TAKE ABOUT A SEVEN MINUTE BREAK.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AND THANKS TO MIKE ALEXANDER AND DAN IMMERGLUCK.

WELCOME BETTER TOGETHER.

[WORK SESSION – 6:45 P.M.]

ABSOLUTELY, I HOPE YOU'RE PROPERLY NOURISHED [CHUCKLING] AND ALL OTHER ASSORTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL NEEDS.

SO WE WANTED TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD, BUT TO DO THAT IN FOUR CHUNKS OF INFORMATION.

FIRST, WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH WE SEE WHAT WE DO.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, THE SORT OF DRIVING FORCE, AND THEN SECOND, TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE CORE COMPONENTS OF INITIATIVES THAT WE'VE ENGAGED IN, AND THEN THE THIRD THING IS TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE OF WHERE DO WE SEE HOW THE ORGANIZATION UNFOLDS? AND THEN FINALLY, TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE BOTH CURRENTLY AND PROBABLY INTO THE FUTURE.

SO I'M ED I AM ONE OF THE CO-CHAIRS AND I'M JEREMY NEW CO-CHAIR.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AT A WORK SESSION, SO, GOOD TO BE HERE.

SO WE TEND TO THINK OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AS FALLING INTO THREE CATEGORIES.

THE FIRST IS THAT WE SEE OURSELVES AS CONVENERS THAT REALLY WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO BRING TOGETHER VARIOUS PARTS OF THE CITY TO ENGAGE EACH OTHER, WHETHER THAT'S IN CONVERSATION, WHETHER THAT'S IN PLANNING, THAT WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CAN FACILITATE CREATING SPACE AND

[01:50:03]

SECOND, WE SEE WHAT WE DO AS BEING CONNECTORS, THAT CONNECTING, WHETHER IT'S DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, BUT BEING A NODE THAT SERVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THOSE DIFFERING COLLECTIONS OF PEOPLE TOGETHER.

ALSO IN THAT CONNECTING ROLE, WE SEE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AS BEING A CONDUIT OF INFORMATION, WHETHER IT'S INFORMATION FROM THE CITY COMMISSION TO OUR OTHER VARIOUS PARTS OF THE CITY, OR IDENTIFYING PLACES WHERE THERE ARE PARTS OF THE CITY THAT MAY NOT FEEL AS IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO YOU OR OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY GOVERNANCE.

HOW CAN WE BE A CONDUIT OF INFORMATION FROM THOSE PARTS OF THE CITY INTO THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE REST OF THE CITY? THE THIRD IS WE SEE OURSELVES AS BEING ADVISORS TO THE CITY AROUND POLICIES THAT WE BELIEVE THAT EQUITY AND INCLUSION HAS TO BE IN ALL OF OUR POLICIES, PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES, AND THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXPERTISE IN THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING, BUT THEY HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH INCLUSION PLAYS OUT WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR WORK.

HOW COULD WE BE ADVISORS AND SUPPORTIVE UNITS FOR THOSE PARTICULAR PEOPLE IN PARTNERING AND DOING THAT PARTICULAR WORK? AS WE GO THROUGH, THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF THIS THAT WE THINK THAT WE'RE DOING PRETTY WELL.

THERE ARE OTHER AREAS OF THIS THAT WE THINK THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE AND SOLICIT SOME THOUGHTS FROM YOU ABOUT DIRECTIONS THAT WE CAN GO IN. GREAT, SO, I'LL START WITH KIND OF THE CURRENT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

WE'VE WORKED ON A LOT OF ISSUES OVER THE YEARS, BUT THE ISSUE OF WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ENSURING ONGOING COMMITMENT TO RACIALLY EQUITABLE POLICING IS OBVIOUSLY HIGH ON OUR AGENDA AS A BOARD, AND OUR OVERARCHING OBJECTIVE IN THIS WORK IS REALLY TO CONTINUE TO BUILD AND WHERE NEEDED REBUILD TRUST BETWEEN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CITIZENS.

WE OBVIOUSLY ARE VERY FORTUNATE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND A LOT OF WAYS, BUT EVERY CITY AND EVERY COMMUNITY IS ONE INCIDENT AWAY FROM MAJOR ISSUES, AND SO WE WANT TO BE IN FRONT OF THAT: PROACTIVE, RATHER THAN REACTIVE.

SO JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WORKING WITH THE CHIEF.

WE MEET WITH HIM REGULARLY, QUARTERLY, IF WE CAN TO JUST SORT OF WORK TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND HIS PRIORITIES AS THE NEW POLICE CHIEF AND TALK ABOUT OURS, AND WE ADVOCATE FOR THINGS LIKE SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WHICH IS A THERE'S A PROGRAM WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT'S BEING USED, AND I THINK THE STATE OF OREGON AND THIS COMPANY, THERE'S MANY COMPANIES.

SO THIS IS NOT LIKE, I'M NOT PUSHING FOR THIS COMPANY, BUT I KNOW THE NAME OF THIS COMPANY, WHICH IS GUARDIAN SCORE, AND IT'S A COMPANY THAT WORKS WITH POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO CREATE A BUSINESS CARD FOR POLICE OFFICERS, AND ON THE BACK OF THE BUSINESS CARD IS A QR CODE, AND THAT QR CODE, OBVIOUSLY, YOU SCAN IT AS A CITIZEN AND IT TAKES YOU TO A ONE MINUTE SURVEY, WHICH IS SORT OF LIKE A CUSTOMER FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS, AND THE IDEA IS IF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ADOPTS SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT A POLICE OFFICER EVERY TIME THERE'S AN ENCOUNTER WITH A CITIZEN, WOULD HAND OUT THIS CARD AND SAY ON THE BACK OF THIS CARD IS A QR CODE WHERE YOU CAN GIVE ME A SURVEY.

THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN TERMS OF BUILDING SYSTEMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY, DATA COLLECTION, SO THAT WE CAN SEE HOW THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR CITIZENS ARE HAPPENING AND HOW CITIZENS ARE FEELING ABOUT THOSE THINGS. WE'RE ALSO WORKING TO RECRUIT A MEMBER OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR OUR BOARD, AND WE THINK THAT'LL JUST STRENGTHEN THE TIES WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT , AND WE'RE WORKING, OBVIOUSLY WITH CHIEF RICHARDS TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN PROMOTE THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER THAT'S ON THE TEAM, BECAUSE WE THINK FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THERE IS THAT POSITION TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AS THEY COME UP, AND SO WE SEE THAT AS A ROLE FOR US.

SO JUST A FEW THINGS TO EXPLORE IN THE FUTURE.

WELL, I GUESS I SHOULD PROBABLY GET TO THAT LATER.

SO LET ME JUST STOP THERE WITH THE POLICE AND I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU.

SO THE SECOND AREA THAT WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IS BOARD RECRUITMENT, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN WE WERE LAST HERE THAT YOU ENCOURAGED US TO THINK ABOUT WERE WHAT ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE OTHER BOARDS AND HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ALL OF OUR BOARDS, BUT ALSO THE DIVERSITY OF ALL OF THE BOARDS THAT IF WE ARE TRULY COMMITTED TO THE NOTION THAT INCLUSION AS IT HAS TO BE PART OF ALL OF OUR POLICIES,

[01:55:02]

THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IS FROM A FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF ACCESSIBILITY, THAT WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM APPLYING TO BOARDS, SEEING THEMSELVES AS BEING PART OF THEM, AND WANTING TO LEND THEIR TALENTS AND ENERGIES TO THE BOARD, AND WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF INFORMATION, HOW ARE WE GETTING INFORMATION OUT? AND WE DID SOME WORK AROUND THINKING ABOUT THE WEBSITE, SOME WORK AND THINKING ABOUT THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS AND APPLICATION PROCESSES THAT WE ENGAGE IN. WHAT ARE WAYS IN WHICH THERE ARE POTENTIAL DELAYS IN PEOPLE SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS AND WEIGHING TIME AND ENERGY THAT THEY HAVE BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, AND HOW DO WE CONNECT WITH PEOPLE ONCE THEY IMMEDIATELY VOICE A LEVEL OF INTEREST IN BEING A PART OF THE BOARD? SO RETHINKING ALL OF THAT SORT OF ACCESS TO COMMUNICATION, THE OTHER SET OF ACCESSIBILITY PLAYS ARE RELATIONSHIPS.

HOW CAN WE TAP INTO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY CONNECTED IN SOME WAYS WITH PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE CITY, FOLKS WHO ARE ALREADY ON OTHER BOARDS? HOW DO WE MINE THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THOSE NETWORKS THAT EXIST? AND ALSO THINKING ABOUT SPACE? AND THIS IS ONE THAT WE WOULD BE VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT WE TOYED AROUND WITH NOTIONS OF WHERE DO WE HAVE MEETINGS, THAT MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE INSTEAD OF EXPECTING PEOPLE TO SHOW UP TO WHERE WE ARE HOLDING MEETINGS AS ONE OF THE WAYS OF IMPROVING THAT NOTION OF ACCESSIBILITY.

SO WE'RE VERY MUCH INTERESTED NOT ONLY FROM THE BETTER TOGETHER PERSPECTIVE OF DIVERSIFYING BOARDS, INCREASING THE NUMBERS, BECAUSE AS WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER ON, THAT SORT OF FLUCTUATION OF NUMBERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE BOARD WE THINK IS IMPACTING THE WORK AND THE QUALITY OF WORK AND QUANTITY OF WORK THAT WE CAN DO, AND WE SENSE THAT IS ALSO TRUE FOR SOME OF OUR OTHER BOARDS.

SO HOW CAN WE DO WORK IN SUPPORTING EACH OTHER AND IMPROVING QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE VARIOUS BOARDS? THE THIRD AREA IS IN OUR NAME, OUR ADVISORY CAPACITY, AND THIS ONE'S EASY IN THE SENSE THAT WE'RE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER ADVICE TO THE CITY AS DIFFERENT ISSUES EMERGE, AND SO IN THE LAST YEAR WE OFFERED OUR THOUGHTS AND HAD A LONG, I THINK, TWO PART DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TREE ORDINANCE AND WE OFFERED SOME AMENDMENTS TO THAT WERE ADOPTED.

WE'VE HAD INPUT ALREADY INTO THE PARKS AND REC MASTER PLAN ON THE FRONT END, BUT WE ALSO HOPE TO COME IN AS THE PLAN IS MORE FULLY DEVELOPED AND BRING THAT EQUITY LENS TO THE PLAN, AND WE WERE CERTAINLY PART OF KRISTEN CAME TO THE BOARD AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE MISSING MIDDLE AND HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT ISSUE AS WELL. SO THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT OUR ADVISORY CAPACITY IS I THINK WE HAVE EVEN MORE CAPACITY TO DO MORE OF THAT AS A BOARD.

I THINK WE ENJOY IT.

I HOPE WE'RE GOOD AT IT, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD OTHER THAN IT'S CLEARLY AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR US, AND WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO LOOK AT MORE THINGS IN 2023.

A FEW YEARS AGO, ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE WE FELT LIKE WE WERE LACKING WAS OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THAT ALL TOO OFTEN THE WAY IN WHICH WE THINK ABOUT BUSINESSES, COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE IS THAT WE SEE THEM AS THE PROBLEM.

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE BEING EXCLUSIVE.

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE BEING DISCRIMINATORY.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IT MEANS TO COMMUNICATE IN WAYS THAT ARE TRUSTING, THAT CREATE HIGHLY PARTICIPATORY ENVIRONMENTS, AND WHAT WE WANT IT TO DO IS TO SAY, NO, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF DECATUR WHO ARE TAKING SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP ROLES IN DEMONSTRATING AND SERVING AS EXAMPLES OF WAYS OF BUILDING INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES AND SO YOU'VE WORK WITH THE DECATUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION TO CREATE WHAT WE CALL THE WELCOMING BUSINESS AWARD.

WHO ARE THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE CREATING WELCOMING COMMUNITIES TO ALL ASSORTMENT OF FOLKS? SOME OF THOSE WERE BUSINESSES WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, WHO LENT THEIR TIME AND ENERGY AND RESOURCES TO HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE TRANSITION DOING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

[02:00:01]

AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK AND WE ARE EXCITED AT ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE WE THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME WORK TO BE DONE IS IMPROVING.

ONCE AGAIN, THE ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE LARGER DECATUR COMMUNITY WHO SEES THE VALUE OF THAT PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE AND WANT TO BE MORE ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS. SO IN TERMS OF OUR FUTURE WORK IN 2023 OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE BIG THINGS ON OUR MINDS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS IS WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE BRINGING ON OF THE NEW EQUITY DIRECTOR.

FORGIVE ME FOR NOT KNOWING THE EXACT TITLE, BUT I THINK OUR BOARD HAS BEEN ASKING OURSELVES, HOW DOES OUR ROLE CHANGE AS THIS NEW PERSON COMES ON? BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE, SUPPORTIVE OF AND WORKING WITH, OF COURSE, THIS NEW PERSON, BUT ALSO, WE WANT TO BE PROVIDE AN OVERSIGHT ROLE, NOT OF HER JOB--HIS OR HER JOB--BUT OF JUST AN EXTERNAL CITIZENS BASED ADVISORY ROLE AS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PLAY, AND SO I THINK WE'RE STILL WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT AS WE GO AND AS THE POSITION IS HIRED.

ONE OF THE NEW IDEAS THAT I THINK WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT, IF THERE'S TIME IS THE OTHER ISSUE WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IS HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS? AND IT'S HARD VOLUNTEER BOARDS ARE HARD TO ENGAGE OVER TIME AS FOLKS GET BUSY, AND ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT REALLY HAS JUST COME UP IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS IS THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD ASSIGN EACH OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AS A LIAISON TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE CITY, AND THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE IN BETWEEN EACH OF OUR MEETINGS FOR HAVING A MEETING WITH SOMEONE WHO IS ASSIGNED ON THE OTHER SIDE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY, AND THEY WOULD HAVE HOPEFULLY A MONTHLY MEETING SORT OF CHECK IN, AND WE HAVE TO WORK OUT SOME OF THE LOGISTICS AND THE DETAILS OF THIS SO THAT FOLKS DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S LIKE AN OUTSIDE OVERSIGHT ROLE.

THIS IS MORE A RELATIONSHIP BUILDING ROLE AND AN UNDERSTANDING WHAT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY ARE DOING AROUND EQUITY.

SO THEN WE COME BACK TO OUR MEETING EVERY MONTH AND EACH OF OUR LIAISONS CAN REPORT BACK ON WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED THAT MONTH THAT HOPEFULLY WILL ALLOW US TO CONNECT DOTS, TO SEE GAPS, TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNICATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT WAS ED'S BRILLIANT IDEA.

SO I'VE NOT DONE THE BEST JOB.

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD ON IT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT FROM A FUTURE PERSPECTIVE.

SO WE BRIEFLY MENTIONED PLACES THAT I THINK THAT WE THINK THAT WE'RE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES, THAT WE THINK THAT YOU CAN BE HELPFUL IN HELPING US THINK THROUGH SOME OF THIS WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE HAVE AND HOPEFULLY FUTURE CONVERSATIONS.

THE FIRST IS JUST PRIORITIZING DUTIES THAT THE NOTION OF BEING A CONVENER AND ADVISOR AND A CONNECTOR ROLE WE ACTUALLY THINK IS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED WITH THIS NOTION OF ENGAGING VARIOUS PARTS OF THE CITY, BUT THERE'S ALSO THIS QUESTION OF BALANCING THE VARIOUS OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED, AND SO HAVING SOME IDENTIFYING AND HELPING US TO THINK ABOUT WHERE ARE THE TIERS OF IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN SUPPORTING YOUR AGENDA AND HOW WE GO? WE THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

THE SECOND IS THAT WITHIN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED TACKLING THAT NEEDLING ISSUE AROUND REPARATIONS.

WE VERY MUCH BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO PLAY SOME ROLE WITHIN THAT PROCESS, BUT WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT ROLE IS THAT WE SHOULD BE PLAYING AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT THE CITY, THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING AROUND THOSE PARTICULAR EFFORTS.

[02:05:05]

HAVING A CONSTANT FLOW OF ENERGY AND PEOPLE GETTING INVOLVED AND HELPING TO THINK ABOUT MORE STREAMLINED PROCESSES THAT CAN BE PUT IN PLACE IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THAT, AND I'LL STOP THERE BECAUSE WE'RE INTERESTED IN THE BIT OF TIME THAT WE HAVE, WHICH I THINK IS ABOUT 8 MINUTES, PROBABLY LESS IN CASE SOMEBODY ELSE NEEDS TO [INAUDIBLE] A LITTLE BIT.

GET YOUR THOUGHTS.

THANK YOU. WHAT A GREAT BACKGROUND AND PRESENTATION TO US.

I'LL OPEN IT UP AND SEE WHAT THOUGHTS OTHERS HAVE.

I HAVE THOUGHTS.

OH, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT.

[CHUCKLING] ALL RIGHT, I HAVE THOUGHTS.

OKAY, TIERS OF IMPORTANCE.

SO LET'S START WITH THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF NEXT YEAR.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE BETTER TOGETHER BOARD BEING ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN ENSURING THAT EVERYTHING FROM THE 200 STORIES PROJECT TO THE EVENTS THAT ARE HOSTED ARE EQUITABLE AND ACCESSIBLE.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO GIVE INSIGHTS OVER THE NEXT YEAR ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING WITH THE LOSS OF OUR DOWNTOWN GROCERY STORE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR MOST MARGINALIZED RESIDENTS.

ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON REPARATIONS, BUT IT WILL TAKE ME A LOT LONGER THAN 8 MINUTES TO HASH THOSE OUT WITH YOU.

SO I'LL PUT THAT TOGETHER IN AN EMAIL OR WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT ANOTHER TIME, BUT I HAVE MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY THOUGHTS ON THAT.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO ME THAT AS WE LOOK AT OUR MASTER PLANNING PROCESSES, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN SOME CAPACITY IN THOSE PLANS.

THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN IS COMING UP.

IT IS REALLY CHALLENGING TO ALWAYS HAVE AN EQUITY LENS ON, BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE SOME OF US THAT JUST HAVE TO DO THAT. SO IN EVERY FACET OF THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, THE RECREATION MASTER PLAN, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU ALL BE THE, THE EYES ON EQUITY, INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY WHEN IT COMES TO THAT PLANNING PROCESS, COMMUNICATING WITH WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY AS TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.

YOU MENTIONED MEETING OUR RESIDENTS WHERE THEY ARE.

FINDING A WAY TO DO THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

I LOVED THE IDEA ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CARDS WITH THE QR CODE ON THE BACK, BUT THEN I KNOW A LOT OF SENIORS WHO STILL USE FLIP PHONES, SO WE WOULDN'T WANT TO ALIENATE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE ONES THAT MAY NEED THAT TYPE OF RESOURCE THE MOST, AND I WILL PAUSE THERE JUST TO BE RESPECTFUL, BUT I HAVE MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY MORE. [CHUCKLING] SO LET ME JUST JUMP RIGHT IN ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED WAS RECRUITMENT.

I THINK BOARD RECRUITMENT, WHEREVER YOU ARE, IS A DIFFICULT THING AND IT'S DIFFICULT IN THIS CITY.

SO I AM PARTICULARLY KEEN ABOUT HOW WE GO ABOUT THAT.

WE'VE JUST COMPLETED A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS FOR OUR BOARDS, ARE APPOINTED BOARDS HERE, AND GET A LOT OF THE SAME COMMENTARY FROM THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.

SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME STRATEGIES I THINK PART OF IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE THE FIVE OF US TO NETWORK OUR CIRCLES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET PEOPLE AND ALSO KNOW WHAT YOUR GAP ANALYSIS IS, WHAT TYPES OF PEOPLE, WHAT ARE THE SKILL SETS THAT YOU LACK AS YOU LOOK FOR NEW PEOPLE ON YOUR BOARD, BUT I THINK THAT WILL BE REALLY INCUMBENT UPON US TO REALLY BROADEN OUR SPHERES OF INFLUENCE, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU NEED.

BECAUSE I SEE IT EVERY DAY, EVERY TIME WE INTERVIEW, IT'S LIKE YOU ALWAYS SEE A GAP.

I LOVE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

COMMISSIONER MAYER, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF TIME THAT WE COULD SPEND EMAILING SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE ANNIVERSARY.

I THINK THERE ARE STORIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO MISS NEXT YEAR THAT WE SHOULDN'T MISS, AND WE NEED TO CAPTURE THESE STORIES BECAUSE.

THERE'S A LOT TO THIS CITY THAT HASN'T BEEN PASSED ON, AND WE NEED OUR CITY TO KNOW SORT OF THE STORY BEHIND THE STORIES AND WHY THE CITY IS AT THIS JUNCTURE THAT IT IS, AND I THINK BETTER TOGETHER WILL BE INTEGRAL IN SORT OF TELLING THAT STORY, BECAUSE THERE USED TO BE A TIME WHERE ON A TUESDAY NIGHT AT 6:00, YOU KNEW WHERE EVERYBODY IN THIS TOWN WAS GOING TO BE, AND THAT'S CHANGED.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL OPEN IT UP.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION, AND WE NEED TO HAVE A COFFEE.

[02:10:03]

SO I REALLY THINK THE FOLKS ARE OUT THERE.

THEY'RE ENERGIZED BY THE WORK.

IT'S ON US TO GO THAT EXTRA MILE TO FIND THEM AND WORK WITH THEM, AND WE COULD THINK OF TACTICAL THINGS, BUT I HAVE IDEAS AND JUST FROM OTHER BOARD WORK, BUT I DO THINK IT'S ABOUT MOVING ASIDE SOME OF THIS CONSTRUCT THAT IS THE PERCEPTION OF WHAT IT MEANS OR WHAT'S REQUIRED AND JUST GETTING WITH PEOPLE AND BEING LESS FORMAL SOMETIMES, AND IF THE BOARD CAN AGREE ON WHAT MAYBE THAT LOOKS LIKE IN SOME AND NOT TO DILUTE WHAT IT IS TO BE A BOARD MEMBER OR DO THAT SERVICE, BUT IF YOU CAN, I HAVE THE IDEA OF WHAT THAT MEANS TO MOVE OFF OF THAT CENTER FOR SOME THINGS, I THINK YOU GET A LOT MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN IN, AND I'D LOVE TO SUPPORT THAT WORK. I ALSO THANK YOU.

LISA TOOK ONE OF MY TWO SUGGESTIONS.

THAT'S OKAY. WHAT WERE THEY? WELL, THAT WAS THE, I WOULD TELL YOU.

[CHUCKLING] [INAUDIBLE] THERE'S BRILLIANCE HERE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SPOKEN.

I WILL NOT STEP ON IT.

[CHUCKLING] I THINK I MEAN, APPLYING THE EQUITY LENS TO THE PLANNING EFFORTS, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

WE CALLED YOU IN WITH THE PREORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY, BUT I THINK EVERY TIME WE DO A PLAN, WE SHOULD JUST BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT THAT.

SO THAT WAS ONE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER TO THIS IS, BUT JUST IN TERMS OF ENGAGING YOUTH IN SCHOOLS IN THE CONVERSATION AND I WASN'T AND I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO SAY WHAT THAT COULD BE, BUT I THINK THAT'S REALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

YES, [INAUDIBLE] ON THE BOARD HAS BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE AND I USE THAT IN ALL OF THE POSITIVE CONNOTATIONS THAT CAN BE BROUGHT TO THAT IN ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A YOUTH VOICE THERE. SO RECRUITING STUDENTS FROM DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL, THERE ARE TWO OF THEM WHO ARE NOW ON THE BOARD, WHO ARE HERE, WHO ARE ENGAGED, AND SO I THINK THAT YOU'RE RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK THAT TWO IS SUFFICIENT.

I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A STRATEGY, ONE THAT IS CONTINUOUS IN DOING THAT.

YEAH, THEY SAY YOUNG PEOPLE CHANGE THE WORLD AND BY THE TIME YOU GET TO MY AGE, WE'RE JUST ALL OUT OF ENERGY [CHUCKLING].

I HEAR YOU.

YEAH, SO THOSE ARE MY TWO THOUGHTS.

WELL, YOU TOOK ONE OF MINE TO LEGACY.

I THINK WE HAVE SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY WITH OUR 200TH ANNIVERSARY TO REALLY FIND THOSE STORIES, AND I, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR REPRESENTING BETTER TOGETHER YOUR ENTHUSIASM, YOUR LEADERSHIP YOU SAID YOU HAVE CAPACITY AND YOU CAN DO MORE.

WE'RE GIVING IT TO YOU, WHICH WE APPRECIATE, AND I THINK ESPECIALLY WHEN WE LOOK AT LIKE REPARATIONS, I WANT TO ALSO MAKE SURE AS WE IDENTIFY AND HIRE THE EQUITY DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY, THAT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT ROLE AS WELL.

SO WORKING WITH THE PERSON WHO TAKES THAT AND I THINK I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF US AS WE SEND EMAILS THAT WE SEND THEM THROUGH LINDA AND RENAE, ANDREA AND LET US, SO THAT THE STAFF IS ALSO AWARE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT THERE, BECAUSE IT'LL BE UP TO YOU ALL TO SORT OF MASSAGE AND LOOK AT THAT AND FIGURE OUT I THINK YOU HEAR FROM US THE PRIORITIES, BUT THEN YOU MAY HAVE TO PRIORITIZE THE WORK WITHIN THOSE PRIORITIES, AND I THINK ONE OF THE PRESSING THINGS, I THINK IS BECAUSE WE ARE DOING A LOT OF THE PLANNING AND HAVING THAT LENS AND WE HAVE SOME MAJOR PLANS HAPPENING, AND I DON'T KNOW, I HOPE YOU'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT OUR CLEAN ENERGY PLAN.

I'M NOT SURE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DIRECTLY REACHED OUT FOR BETTER TOGETHERS, BUT FOR US TO BE ATTUNE EVERY TIME WE'RE LOOKING AT A PLAN IN ANY AREA TO HAVE YOU ALL LOOKED THROUGH THAT EQUITY AND INCLUSION LENS.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING ASKING FOR HELP, GIVING US THAT UPDATE, AND I LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING WAYS TO ENGAGE INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS TO ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH WITH OUR ACTIVE LIVING PARKS AND REC FOLKS AND IN OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THE AREAS SO THAT HOWEVER THAT CAN BE FACILITATED WITH WITH CITY STAFF.

SO WE CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON YOU ALL TO BRING GOOD, RICH, DEEP IDEAS TO US AND APPRECIATE THE WORK, AND I

[02:15:10]

SO THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH . IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE TAKING ABOUT A TWO OR THREE MINUTE BREAK.

[CHUCKLING] [INAUDIBLE] OKAY, ALL RIGHT, OUR MICS ARE ON NOW.

[I. Call to Order by Mayor.]

[II. Approval of the Minutes]

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? SO MOVED. ALL RIGHT, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? MAYOR, I WILL ABSTAIN.

THIS IS MY FIRST MEETING IN FIVE YEARS, SO I WILL NOT BE VOTING ON THESE.

ALL RIGHT, SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL? OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE.

I WAS IN ATTENDANCE VIRTUALLY.

SO IT'S NICE TO BE BACK IN PERSON.

SO NEXT WE HAVE SEVERAL AGENDA ACTION ITEMS THIS EVENING, AND I WILL ASK THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON

[III. Public Comment on Agenda Action Items.]

ITEM B IS THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 AMENDED BUDGET ITEM C IS THE COVID-19 LEAVE POLICY ITEM D FUNDING FOR THE DECATUR HOUSING REHAB PROGRAM.

ITEM E IS A SECURITY CAMERA RECOMMENDATION FOR BOTH THE PARKS AND THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT.

ITEM F IS THE COMPUTER SERVER FOR THE SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM.

ITEM G IS THE CLAIRMONT, COMMERCE, CHURCH STREET, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND CYCLE TRACK IMPROVEMENTS, A CHANGE ORDER.

SO IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ANY OF THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, IF YOU WILL COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

WE'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FIRST, THOSE WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF THERE IS ANYONE PARTICIPATING ONLINE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ABOUT AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. WE'LL TAKE ALL OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT A LITTLE LATER DURING THE MEETING, SO I'LL OPEN IT UP NOW AND INVITE ANYONE TO COME FORWARD.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.

I'M JOHN LAKE, 25 WEST PARKWOOD ROAD, DECATUR.

I HAD A COMMENT ABOUT ITEMS E AND F WHICH IS THE SECURITY CAMERAS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING A PURCHASE OF THIS KIND, TO LOOK AT THE OPTIONS OF BEING ADAPTABLE, FLEXIBLE, AND BY THAT, I MEAN DO THEY HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE A CAMERA CAN BE MOVED FROM ONE PARK WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S NOT NEEDED TO AN INTERSECTION THAT MAYBE THERE'S SUSPECTED DRAG RACING OR STREET RACING AND YOU CAN WATCH IT FOR A WHILE.

MY NEIGHBORHOOD YESTERDAY WAS PARKWOOD ROAD.

TRAFFIC WAS LINED UP BUMPER TO BUMPER FROM ABOUT NOON PROBABLY BEFORE THEN WHEN I NOTICED IT UNTIL NIGHTTIME, BECAUSE SOMETHING HAPPENED AT THE OVERPASS ON PONCE DE LEON, AND NO CARS COULD GET THROUGH THAT OVERPASS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL DO OR NOT, BUT THAT GAVE ME THE IDEA THAT HAVING A CAMERA SYSTEM THAT YOU COULD MOVE AROUND TO DIFFERENT AREAS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CAMERAS LIKE YOU'VE USED ON MY STREET TO MONITOR TRAFFIC, BUT MORE OF THE KIND OF SECURITY AREA WIDE CAMERAS TO SEE JUST WHAT'S GOING ON.

I'M SURE WITH THE BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY, THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICE WOULD BE ABLE TO OPEN IT TO THAT, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO ASK THEM TO. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD THAT ARE PRESENT IN OUR COMMISSION MEETING? SEEING NONE. WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING THE MEETING ONLINE, AND SO IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND WE WILL CALL ON YOU AND ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR

[02:20:05]

ARE YOU SEEING ANY HANDS? ALL RIGHT, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION FOR THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, AND WE'LL LOOK FIRST AT CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES.

[IV.A. Contracts for Services]

GOOD EVENING [INAUDIBLE] QUICK LEAD IN.

YOU'RE FINE. YEAH, STAY RIGHT THERE.

JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT TONIGHT WE'RE CONSIDERING RENEWING CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES WITH THREE LOCAL NONPROFITS.

WE'RE LOOKING TO RENEW THESE CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES WITH THE DEKALB HISTORY CENTER, THE WILD CENTER AND THE GLOBAL GROWERS NETWORK.

IN EACH OF THESE CONTRACTS, THE NONPROFIT IS PROVIDING A SERVICE ON OR WITH CITY PROPERTY AND IS DIRECTLY PROVIDING A COMMUNITY SERVICE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AND I JUST BELIEVE THAT TONIGHT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOWCASE THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH THESE NONPROFITS AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED AT A FRACTION OF THE COST IF THE CITY WERE TO TAKE ON THESE SERVICES AND RESPONSIBILITIES DIRECTLY.

IN MOST CASES, ACTUALLY, IN ALL CASES, THESE NONPROFITS HAVE A LEVEL OF EXPERTISE THAT WE DON'T HAVE IN-HOUSE AT THE CITY AND IT REALLY IS THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF US BEING ABLE TO LEVERAGE, I THINK, A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF SERVICE WITH A REALLY SMALL INVESTMENT AND I THINK RECOMMEND THAT WE'LL JUST TAKE THESE ONE BY ONE, AND AS YOU STATED, THE FIRST CONTRACT FOR SERVICE IS WITH THE HISTORY CENTER AND MELISSA CARLSON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FROM THE HISTORY CENTER IS HERE , AND WELCOME YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS RELATIONSHIP.

GOOD EVENING. I'M DELIGHTED TO SEE YOU, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, ANDREA, HAPPY TO BE HERE ON THIS BLEAK NIGHT.

WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE PAST SUPPORT OF THE CITY AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE VARIOUS WAYS WE PARTNER WITH YOU AND WORK WITH THE CITY.

THE DEKALB HISTORY CENTER HAS CONTINUED THAT RETURN TO NORMAL THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WORKING ON, AND OUR FIRST THING WAS AN IN-PERSON EVENT FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH. WE DID A CELEBRATION OF SOUL FOOD, WHICH WAS REALLY FANTASTIC, AND THERE WERE CITY FOLKS THERE, THE MAYOR, I BELIEVE, AND PEOPLE FROM DECATUR TOURISM BUREAU FOR A REALLY NICE IT WAS A SMALLER EVENT, BUT FUN, FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP.

WE EMPHASIZED WALKING TOURS THIS YEAR AND A LOT OF WELL, THEY WERE ALL IN DECATUR.

WE DID A NEW WALKING TOUR OF THE MAK DISTRICT, WHICH FOCUSED ON THAT FEMALE ARCHITECT, LEILA ROSS WILBURN AND WE'VE BEEN CONTINUING TO OFFER OUR DECATUR WALKING TOUR, AND THEN I ACTUALLY DID A POP UP BRUTALISM TOUR IN DECATUR, WHICH WENT OVER REALLY WELL, BUT ALL TOLD, WE HAD ABOUT 250 GUESTS OR RESIDENTS OF THE CITY ATTENDING THESE WALKING TOURS. MUCH OF OUR FOCUS WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE COUNTY'S BICENTENNIAL.

WE DID AN EXHIBIT TO CELEBRATE THAT.

ACTUALLY THE BIRTHDAY IS DECEMBER 9TH, AND WE KNOW THAT THE CITY IS CELEBRATING THERE'S NEXT MONTH OR NEXT YEAR.

AS THE COUNTY SEAT, DECATUR IS FEATURED, OF COURSE, IN THE EXHIBIT WITH THE STORIES OF POLITICIANS, INDIVIDUALS, EVENTS AND INSTITUTIONS.

WE ALSO INCLUDED THE RECENT STORY OF THE REMOVAL OF THE CONFEDERATE MARKET MARKER, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S JUST RECENT PAST THAT IS PART OF THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE GOING FORWARD WITH.

NEXT YEAR, WE INTEND TO HOST AN EXHIBIT ON THE UNITED METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOME.

SO THAT WILL BRING A GREAT FOCUS TO LEGACY PARK THERE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO REOPEN ON SATURDAYS, FINALLY POST-COVID, SO THAT FREE RESOURCE IS AVAILABLE ON SATURDAYS TO CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE.

WE RESTARTED OUR HISTORY QUEST IN A SMALL WAY THIS YEAR.

WE ONLY DID ONE DAY, BUT BOY, WAS IT A DECATUR DAY.

WE HAD FOURTH GRADERS.

WE HAD EVERY SINGLE DECATUR FOURTH GRADER THERE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE A REQUESTED REDUCTION FOR TITLE ONE, AND IT IS THROUGH SUPPORT LIKE YOURS THAT WE CAN DO THAT KIND OF A SERVICE

[02:25:03]

WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK DOWN THERE, BUT NEXT YEAR THE SWANTON HOUSE NEEDS TO BE PAINTED.

WE'VE HAD THE PAINT CONTRACTOR THAT WE WORK WITH LOOK AT THAT, AND THAT WILL BE ABOUT $8,000.

FUNDING FROM YOU WILL HELP ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THAT.

THERE ARE MANY SMALL WAYS WE PARTNER WITH THE CITY.

WE WORK WITH YOU ON FESTIVALS.

WE PROVIDE A HOME FOR WATERING CARTS FOR YOUR LANDSCAPERS.

I BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT, AND WE OPEN OUR KITCHEN FOR HOT COCOA ON TERRIFIC THURSDAYS, AND THAT'S JUST A FEW OF THE TINY WAYS WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP THE CITY AND CITY STAFF WHENEVER THEY NEED US.

ALSO TALKING TO COMMISSIONER MAYER TODAY, WE TOOK IN ELIZABETH WILSON'S PERSONAL ARCHIVES, MAYOR EMERITA'S, AND OF COURSE, OUR PRESERVING THAT FOR POSTERITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

SO THAT WAS A VERY EXCITING ADDITION.

WITH MUCH COMMUNITY INPUT.

WE COMPLETED A THREE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.

I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S A LONG EVENING, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR VISION AND OUR VALUES, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD THOSE TWO THINGS BEFORE.

KIND OF A MODERN BOARD TOOL, BUT WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT AND WE'RE PROUD TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU.

WE ENVISION A COUNTY CONNECTED, ENRICHED AND ENERGIZED BY PEOPLE WHO SEE THEMSELVES IN THE HISTORIES WE SHARE AND WHO ENGAGE WITH THE STORIES OF ALL THE PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT SURROUND THEM.

THE DEKALB HISTORY CENTER MAINTAINS THE FOLLOWING VALUES.

WE BELIEVE EVERYBODY'S STORY IS WORTH COLLECTING AND TELLING.

WE BELIEVE A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR PAST IS SUPPORTED BY DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND NEW EVIDENCE.

WE BELIEVE IN PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO CONFRONT THE PAINFUL LEGACIES OF INJUSTICE.

WE BELIEVE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION HELPS US DISCOVER AND PRESERVE UNTOLD HISTORY, AND WE BELIEVE HISTORY CAN AND SHOULD BE USED TO MOVE US TOWARDS A MORE JUST FUTURE.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I KNOW THE KITCHEN WAS BUSY LAST THURSDAY NIGHT.

IT WAS COLD AND THERE WAS A LOT OF HOT COCOA BEING MADE.

OH, GOOD, EXCELLENT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE DEKALB HISTORY CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000.

SO MOVED. MOTION'S BEEN MADE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND I'M THRILLED TO FIND OUT ABOUT MAYOR WILSON'S ARTIFACTS AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WILL BE PRESERVED AT THE DEKALB HISTORY CENTER.

SO AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWCASING THE UNITED METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOME NEXT YEAR AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP.

SO I THINK NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM YOU AND THEN FROM MISS VAN PARIS.

THE NEXT RECOMMENDATION IS A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE WYLDE CENTER, AND THE WYLDE CENTER DOES MANAGE MULTIPLE GREEN SPACES THAT ARE OWNED BY THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS STEPHANIE VAN PARIS.

SO IF YOU COULD COME UP AND JUST SAY A FEW WORDS, WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THANKS FOR HAVING US THIS EVENING.

SO THE WYLDE CENTER IS CELEBRATING ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR.

WE STARTED OFF WITH THE OAKHURST COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT 25 YEARS AGO AT 435 OAK VIEW, AND WE HAVE GROWN TO FIVE GREEN SPACES, TWO OF WHICH ARE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND ONE OF THEM THAT IS ADJACENT TO DECATUR, RIGHT ON FIRST AVENUE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S EXCITING THAT WE'RE DOING THAT WE KICKED OFF LAST FALL QUIETLY WE'RE IN THE QUIET PHASE, BUT WE ARE DOING A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE $2.5 MILLION FOR THE ORGANIZATION, AND WE'RE 30% TO GOAL AT THIS POINT.

SO THAT'S EXCITING, AND OUR PRIORITY PROJECTS ARE RENOVATING THE BUILDING AT 435 OAK VIEW.

SO THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE GOAL RIGHT THERE, IS TO RENOVATE THAT BUILDING, AND WE'VE MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY AND THEY HAVE LOOKED OVER SOME INITIAL PLANS.

THEY'RE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING.

ANOTHER MAJOR PIECE OF THAT IS AT OUR HAWK HOLLOW GARDEN, WHICH IS OFFICIALLY IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, BUT IS ADJACENT TO DECATUR, WILL BE ADDING A STRUCTURE THERE

[02:30:08]

WILL THEY? A COUPLE OF THEM THEY'LL COME A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT HAVING A STRUCTURE AT THAT SITE WILL ALLOW US TO NOT CANCEL FIELD TRIPS IF THEY'RE IN CASE OF RAIN.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT RAISING THOSE FUNDS AND MAKING THE IMPROVEMENTS TO ALL OF OUR SITES AT OAKHURST IN PARTICULAR, WILL BE ADDRESSING OUR FLOODING THAT WE HAVE OVER THERE AND MAKING THE ENTRANCE TO THE GARDEN MORE ACCESSIBLE.

SO AND THE DRIVEWAY WILL HOPEFULLY BE EASED SO THAT THE KIDS WHO ARE LEARNING HOW TO RIDE THEIR BIKES WON'T SEE THAT AS THEY'RE LIKE WOO HILL.

IT'LL BE LESS STEEP, BUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS WE'VE BEEN INCREASING OUR FIELD TRIPS AT LEGACY PARK OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND SO WE'RE HELPING FULFILL A GRANT THAT LEGACY PARK RECEIVED, AND THEY HAVE TO REACH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FOURTH GRADERS.

SO WE WERE JUST ABLE TO SCHEDULE IN DECEMBER, 224 1ST GRADERS WILL BE COMING OVER FOR A FIELD TRIP TO LEGACY, AS WELL AS 231 3RD GRADERS. SO VERY SPECIFIC NUMBERS THAT WILL BE COMING OVER FOR A FIELD TRIP IN DECEMBER.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE ALSO DID A STRATEGIC PLAN.

OUR THREE MAINSTAYS OF THE ORGANIZATION HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND GREEN SPACE.

WE ADDED RESILIENCE AS OUR FOURTH, I GUESS, LEG OF THE CHAIR, NO LONGER A TRIPOD, BUT RATHER REGULAR CHAIR OF AN ORGANIZATION, AND WE'RE ALSO FOCUSING ON ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE GOALS FOR THE ORGANIZATION SO THAT WE'RE MORE EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE GOALS. SO LOTS OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING AT THE ORGANIZATION, CONTINUING TO WORK WITH SCHOOLS.

I LOOKED AT THOSE NUMBERS BEFORE I CAME OVER.

SO FAR, MY EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR FOR 43 HOURS.

THEY'VE SERVED 82 CLASSES AND A TOTAL OF 4500 STUDENT INTERACTIONS HAVE BEEN RECORDED WITH DECATUR SCHOOL.

SO WE ARE BUSY, WE ARE BACK.

WE ARE IN THE SCHOOLS.

SO IT'S GREAT STUFF, AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM YOU.

IT MAKES THIS WORK POSSIBLE AND WE ARE HAPPY AND GRATEFUL TO BE PARTNERS WITH YOU.

SO THAT'S OUR UPDATE.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

ABOUT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, HAS THAT BEEN RESTARTED SINCE? OH, YES, YES, YES.

THAT WAS ONE OF MY BULLET POINTS, BUT IT WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

SO I WAS TRYING TO LOOK AT YOU ALL.

SO, YEAH, WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.

WE GO OVER THEIR TWO AFTERNOONS A WEEK AND WE ALSO WORK WITH THE SENIOR CITIZENS AT OLIVER HOUSE ONCE A WEEK, AND WE RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH THEM TO REFURBISH THEIR GARDEN AT THE PATIO AND WAS THERE WERE SOME NICE TREES GROWING UP THERE, BUT THEY GOT REMOVED AND NEW SOIL AND PLANTS WENT IN INTO THAT GARDEN.

SO YEAH, WE ARE A LONG TIME PARTNER WITH DJ, AND CONTINUE TO BE ONE.

YEAH, SO IT'S A PRIORITY PROJECT FOR US, PARTNERSHIP RATHER.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

OR THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

OKAY, ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE WYLDE CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000? SO MOVED.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES. AYE.

SO THANK YOU, AND THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT THE CENTER CONTINUES TO DO, AND THE GROWTH HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

SO. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, AND NEXT, AND THE LAST RECOMMENDATION IS A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE GLOBAL GROWERS NETWORK AND THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 AND ACTUALLY MAY RECALL THAT THIS WAS THIS WAS A VISION EVEN BEFORE THE CITY OWNED THE PROPERTY BACK IN 2011, WE STARTED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOME AND GLOBAL GROWERS TO HAVE AN URBAN GARDEN, AND SINCE THEN, WE WE NOW OWN THE PROPERTY AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH GLOBAL GROWERS AND A COUPLE OF THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE ON THE PROPERTIES THAT THEY DO MAINTAIN. THE ORCHARD THAT WAS PLANTED, THE DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL, AND THEY ALSO WORK WITH OUR SUMMER CAMPS.

IN THE SUMMER CAMP ATTENDEES PARTICIPATE IN THE OUTDOOR EDUCATION SPACE BY VISITING AND WORKING IN

[02:35:07]

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND.

THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO SEND A BOARD MEMBER HERE.

SO I DON'T SEE ANYBODY HERE FROM GLOBAL GROWERS, BUT NONETHELESS, I'VE BEEN IN BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEIR INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EMILY HENNESSY, AND AGAIN, SHE WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING, BUT NONETHELESS, THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE VALUE, AND AS I SAID, WE ARE CONTRACTING WITH GLOBAL GROWERS TO OPERATE THE URBAN GARDEN IN ADDITION TO PARTNERING WITH OUR.

OUR SUMMER CAMP AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AS WELL AS MAINTAINING PROVIDING THE MAINTENANCE ON ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE FOR THE ORCHARD.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR MS. ARNOLD? I DID NOTICE WHEN WE HOSTED OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE DAIRY BARN.

THAT'S KIND OF A NATURAL, AND MANY SEVERAL OF THEM WALKED DOWN THERE TO SEE THAT SPACE, AND IT'S KIND OF A NATURAL INVITING SPACE THAT'S CLOSE TO THE DAIRY BARN ON AT LEGACY AND TO I THINK THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAKING PEOPLE MORE AWARE OF THAT, BOTH OF THOSE SPACES AND HOW THEY'RE BEING USED. SO.

ALL RIGHT, IS THERE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH GLOBAL GROWERS NETWORK AND THE AMOUNT OF 15,000? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES AYE AND WE'RE THRILLED TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH ALL THREE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

[IV.B. Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Amended Budget.]

GOOD EVENING.

I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO ASK YOU TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION THAT WILL AMEND THE GENERAL FUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND CEMETERY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND 2013 URA BOND FUND, PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY FUND AND THE TREE BANK FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 TO REFLECT CHANGES IN EXPENDITURES SINCE THE REVISED BUDGETS WERE ADOPTED ON JANUARY 21ST, 2022, THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE GENERAL FUND.

HOWEVER, THERE WAS A TRANSFER OF OR MOVEMENT OF $50,000 FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT BUDGET TO THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT TO COVER AN OVERAGE IN OUR CITY ATTORNEY DIVISION.

THE OTHER FUNDS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CEMETERY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT 2013 URA A BOND FUND, PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY FUND AND THE TREE BANK FUNDS DID HAVE SOME CHANGES IN EXPENDITURES OR IN THEIR INTER FUND TRANSFERS THAT RESULTED EITHER IN A CHANGE IN THE AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE NEEDED OR JUST THEIR FUND BALANCE IN GENERAL.

SO THIS PROCESS FORMALIZES THE CLEANUP OF FISCAL YEAR END BUDGETS IN A MANNER THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW.

ADDITIONAL FISCAL YEAR AND THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE UPON COMPLETION OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU IN JANUARY OF 2023, AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

ALL RIGHT, ARE THERE.

I DID ASK ABOUT THIS SPECIFICALLY LIKE DEBT SERVICE IS USUALLY NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SEE THAT BIG OF CHANGE OR REVISION IN.

SO COULD YOU MAYBE ADDRESS THAT UNDER THE PFA? I'M GOING TO ALLOW THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE THAT ONE.

I'LL BE GLAD TO RESPOND TO THAT, AND YOU'RE CORRECT, NORMALLY THE DEBT SERVICE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BUDGET PRETTY ACCURATELY FROM YEAR TO YEAR , BUT YOU MAY RECALL THAT IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ISSUED BONDS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO PURCHASE ABOUT SEVEN ACRES FROM THE PFA ON THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE PROPERTY, AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE PFA AT THE CITY'S BEHALF ALSO REFINANCED THE REMAINING 48 ACRES, AND SO WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE OR THE ISSUANCE OF THE HOUSING BONDS AS WELL AS THE REFINANCING THAT CREATED WHAT'S CALLED COST OF ISSUANCE, AND SO ALL OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES AND SO THAT WAS NOT BUDGETED FOR WAS NOT I MEAN, IT WAS ACCOUNTED FOR, BUT IT WASN'T BUDGETED, AND THOSE EXPENSES ARE THE COST OF ISSUANCE ARE PART OF THE OVERALL BOND ISSUES.

[02:40:02]

SO JUST BUT ALSO THE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE POINT THAT WITH THE REFINANCING, IN ADDITION TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BONDS, WE'RE SAVING ABOUT $1.6 MILLION OVER THE OVER THE LIFE OF THOSE BONDS.

THANK YOU, AND THAT WAS ONE THAT JUST SORT OF STOOD OUT TO ME.

SO WHERE DID THE PAYMENTS FOR THOSE BONDS? ARE THEY ON THIS LINE, TOO? UM, LIKE YOU SAID, WE'D SAVE $1.6 MILLION.

THIS ONE LINE ITEM THAT REFLECTED IT.

OR IS IT THE $1.6 MILLION IS OVER THE TERM OF THE BONDS, SO OVER 25 YEAR PERIOD, BUT IN TERMS OF THE LINE ITEM FOR THE DEBT SERVICE, THE DEBT SERVICE, 2.5 MILLION AND WE HAD BUDGETED 2 MILLION, 2,000,071 , AND SO THAT DIFFERENCE WAS THE COST OF ISSUANCE.

AND SO IN THE FUTURE THAT DEBT SERVICE WOULD BE LOWER.

IT WILL BE MUCH.

OTHER QUESTIONS.

SO WE'RE JUST. WE'RE TRUING THINGS UP.

CORRECT. SO BUT DOESN'T AFFECT THE OVERALL BUDGET THAT WE ARE PRESENTED WITH.

I THINK WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR, SO.

ALL RIGHT, OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION.

R-22-XX THAT AMENDS THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 BUDGET AS PRESENTED.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO NEXT, I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE COVID 19 LEAVE POLICY.

[IV.C. Covid-19 Leave Policy]

I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND AN EXTENSION OF THE COVID 19 LEAVE POLICY TO PROVIDE LEAVE BENEFITS OUTSIDE THE CITY'S PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS. THIS IS SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE SICK LEAVE AND VACATION LEAVE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES ACCRUE.

THE ATTACHED POLICY HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY THE CITY CITY'S LABOR ATTORNEY.

THE POLICY PROVIDES PAID LEAVE FOR FULLY VACCINATED EMPLOYEES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.

THE POLICY ALLOWS TWO WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE FOR FULLY VACCINATED FULL TIME AND PART TIME EMPLOYEES WHO BECOME ILL.

ARE REQUIRED TO QUARANTINE OR NEED TO CARE FOR A FAMILY MEMBER.

THE POLICY ALLOWS PART TIME EMPLOYEES WHO DO NOT NORMALLY EARN LEAVE BENEFITS TO RECEIVE LEAVE EQUAL TO WHAT THEY WOULD EARN THEY WOULD BE EARNING DURING THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED WORK PERIOD.

FOR PURPOSES OF THIS COVID 19 LEAVE.

A PERSON BECOMES FULLY VACCINATED AT LEAST TWO WEEKS AFTER THEIR FINAL DOSE OF A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE, INCLUDING ONE BOOSTER DOSE. THE CURRENT POLICY IS EFFECTIVE THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2022, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVE THE EXTENSION OF THIS POLICY THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2023.

THE END OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

IF CHANGES CONTINUE TO BE NEEDED, FURTHER AMENDMENTS WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS? I THINK AS I UNDERSTAND THIS, THIS IS FOR ADDITIONAL PAID LEAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND THAT IF YOU'RE FULL TIME, IT'S TWO WEEKS.

AND THEN IF YOU'RE PART TIME, IS THE UP TO THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT YOU WOULD SCHEDULE DURING THAT PAY PERIOD, DURING TWO WEEKS.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY, DO WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE USING THIS? WE HAVE NOT HAD A LOT OF CASES RECENTLY, BUT PEOPLE THAT ARE BOOSTED DEFINITELY DO USE THIS.

IT'S REALLY HELPFUL FOR PART TIME WHO DON'T HAVE TIME OFF AS WELL AS FOR NEW HIRES BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T ACCRUED ENOUGH TIME TO COVER TWO WEEKS.

IS THIS A POLICY YOU'RE SEEING IMPLEMENTED STILL IN OTHER CITIES? I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

YEAH, I THINK WE AS THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM, AS A GROUP, WE'VE BEEN TRACKING OUR DATA AND WE DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED THIS

[02:45:03]

IS A PUSH TO GET PEOPLE BOOSTED IT'S THE ONE INCENTIVE WE HAVE TO.

TO PROMOTE THE BOOSTER.

ALL RIGHT, OTHER QUESTIONS? RIGHT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXTENSION OF THE COVID 19 LEAVE POLICY THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2023? SO MOVED THERE.

A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND.

FURTHER QUESTIONS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OPPOSED THE CHAIR VOTES I AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO I BELIEVE NEXT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT FUNDING FOR THE DECATUR HOUSING REHAB PROGRAM.

BEFORE YOU DO THAT, I BELIEVE MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT AND RECOGNITION OF

[Additional Item]

YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO WITH US TONIGHT, I THINK WE HAVE FRANK MANAGER FROM THE DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO CALL THEM OUT WHEN THEY'RE IN THE MEETING AND LET THEM COME TO THE FRONT AND JUST BE RECOGNIZED.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL YOUTH COUNCIL IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE DOING SOME FANTASTIC WORK, AND PART OF THAT WORK I WILL BRING FORWARD A LITTLE LATER TONIGHT, BUT FRANK, COME ON UP. JUST SAY HELLO AND WHO YOU ARE.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? HELLO, Y'ALL.

I'M FRANK BANACH.

I'M A SENIOR AT DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL.

YEAH, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ON THE YOUTH COUNCIL? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ON THE YOUTH COUNCIL? OH, THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR.

FIRST YEAR. ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING.

SO LET'S GIVE HIM A THANK YOU, AND NOW, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

[IV.D. Funding for the Decatur Housing ReHAB Program. ]

IS IT OKAY IF I HAND OUT A COUPLE? I THINK WE HAVE.

SO KRISTYN ALLEN PLANNER AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES, AND I'M HERE TO REQUEST THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION APPROVE RESOLUTION HOUR DASH 22-5 TO COMMIT $300,000 IN FUNDING FOR THE NEW DECATUR HOME REHAB PROGRAM.

THE FUNDING WILL SUPPORT HOME REHABILITATION GRANTS THROUGH THE DECATUR LAND TRUST, AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT CORPORATION TASKED WITH IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM.

SO I'LL GO THROUGH SOME OF THE BACKGROUND OF THE PROGRAM AND SOME SPECIFICS AROUND THE DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED.

SO THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS PROGRAM BEGAN WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE.

IS THIS AS THE GOALS OF THE TASK FORCE ARE BEING DEVELOPED IN 2019? THE TASK FORCE DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR SERVICE PROJECT, WHICH HARNESSES COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST LONG TIME DECATUR RESIDENTS AND SENIORS WITH HOME MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR, AND THE NEED TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM TO A YEAR ROUND AND PROFESSIONALLY STAFFED PROGRAM.

THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION NUMBER SEVEN IN THE TASK FORCE REPORT INCLUDED FUNDING, FORMALIZING AND EXPANDING THIS PROGRAM INTO A YEAR LONG EFFORT, AS WELL AS CONTINUING THE M.K. JUNIOR SERVICE PROJECT.

THE RECOMMENDATION INCLUDED THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY TO HELP INFORM THE STRUCTURE OF THE NEW PROGRAM.

TO FACILITATE THE STUDY, EILEEN DE LA TOUR PLANNER AND HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, APPLIED FOR THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION SEAT PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

FOR ASSISTANCE AND UNDERSTANDING NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

EXAMINING THE EXISTING CONDITIONS AND PRESENTING FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM.

THE STEERING COMMITTEE WAS FORMED AND INCLUDED THE CITY OF DECATUR STAFF EILEEN DE LA TORREE AND LILLIAN HARVEY, WHO IS A LIFELONG COMMUNITY MANAGER.

JEFF COBURN, WHO IS ON THE MLK SERVICE PROJECT LIAISON.

DOUGLAS FOUST, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DA.

COMMISSIONER WALSH DISTRICT ONE.

COMMISSIONER AND SEVERAL COMMUNITY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE MEMBERS.

THE FIRST STEP FOR THE REPORT WAS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHEREIN COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WERE CONTACTED TO PROVIDE INSIGHT FOR THE PROGRAM.

A WIDE ARRAY OF REPAIRS WERE CITED BY THE RESIDENTS INTERVIEWED, INCLUDING ROOF REPAIRS, WINDOW REPLACEMENT, STRUCTURAL REPAIRS AND WEATHERIZATION.

THE EXISTING CONDITIONS PORTION OF THE REPORT INCLUDED HOME REPAIR PRICE RANGE AND AN AVERAGE COST FOR EACH TYPE OF REPAIR.

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS INCLUDED CASE STUDIES FROM MARIETTA'S HOME REPAIR PROGRAM AND FUNDING RESOURCES, INCLUDING SOME OF THE FUNDING RESOURCES COULD BE GENERAL FUNDS, HOUSING TRUST FUNDS IN LIEU FEES AND CDBG FUNDING.

THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION INCLUDED STEPS TO FORMING A PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND BEST PRACTICES FROM PEER CITIES AND COUNTIES, INCLUDING MARIETTA, AUGUSTA, FULTON COUNTY, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND OTHERS.

THE STAFF REPORT WAS FINALIZED AND PUBLISHED FOR USE BY THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND THE INITIAL STEERING COMMITTEE WAS WORK WAS COMPLETE.

[02:50:01]

THE NEW DECATUR HOME REHAB COMMITTEE FORMED UNDER THE DECATUR LAND TRUST AND A NEW WEB PAGE AND BRANDING WAS DEVELOPED.

THE PROGRAM DETAILS HAVE BEEN FINALIZED AND THE WEBSITE CURRENTLY INCLUDES A STATEMENT OF INTEREST FORM FOR INTERESTED HOMEOWNERS.

THE PROGRAM GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION ARE ALSO COMPLETE AND WILL BE POSTED WHEN FUNDING IS CONFIRMED, SO THE PROGRAM MAYBE MAY BEGIN, AND I'VE LISTED THE WEBSITE FOR THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, WHICH IS ON THE DECATUR LAND TRUST PAGE, AS WELL AS A COGNITIVE FORMS LINK TO THE PROCEDURES AND APPLICATION AND ELIGIBILITY.

AT THIS TIME, EIGHT HOME OWNERS HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND LISTED NEEDED REPAIRS.

THE REQUESTED REPAIRS INCLUDE ROOF REPAIRS, NEW FURNACE, STRUCTURAL DAMAGE SIDING AND DECK REPAIR, DUCT REPAIR, NEW WINDOWS FOR STRUCTURAL REPAIR AND TILING TO INITIATE THE DECATUR HOME REHAB PROGRAM.

THE FIRST STEP IS TO HAVE PROSPECTIVE PARTICIPANTS FILL OUT THE ONLINE APPLICATION AND PROVIDE INFORMATION, INCLUDING AN INCOME VERIFICATION FOR THE FIRST GROUP OF APPLICANTS WHO QUALIFY. AN INITIAL INSPECTION WILL BE COMMISSIONED BY THE DECATUR LAND TRUST TO SURVEY EACH HOUSE, TO CONFIRM OR TO INSPECT EACH HOUSE TO CONFIRM NEEDED REPAIRS AND COST ESTIMATES. THE PROGRAM IS ENGAGED WITH A LOCAL INSPECTION COMPANY THAT PROVIDES THE SERVICE TO DEKALB COUNTY AND FULTON COUNTY AND OTHER AREAS AS PART OF THEIR CDBG REPAIR PROGRAM. THE INSPECTION REPORTS WILL BE USED TO SOLICIT BIDS FOR THE WORK AND TO FINALIZE THE FUNDING AMOUNT THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR THIS INITIAL GROUP OF REPAIRS.

WHEN THE FUNDING IS SECURE, THE DECATUR HOME REHAB COMMITTEE WILL SOLICIT BIDS FROM CONTRACTORS AND WILL SELECT THESE WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE HOMEOWNERS AT COMPLETION OF THE REPAIR. THE INSPECTION COMPANY WILL ASSESS THE REPAIRS AND BEFORE PAYMENT IS REMITTED.

FOR FUNDING ESTIMATES, THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS FUNDS TO REPAIR 30 HOMES OVER THREE YEARS, WITH AN ESTIMATED ESTIMATE OF $10,000 PER HOME FOR A TOTAL COST OF $300,000.

THE FUNDING SOURCE WILL DETERMINE IF THE FUNDS ARE GRANTS OR ZERO INTEREST FORGIVABLE LOANS.

THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO PARTNER WITH THE DEKALB CDBG PROGRAM AND WILL WORK TO REFER HOMEOWNERS TO THIS PROGRAM IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE SERVICES.

REPAIRS THAT CAN BE COMPLETED DURING THE JUNIOR SERVICE PROJECT WILL BE REFERRED TO THAT PROGRAM.

LASTLY, THE PROGRAM WILL WORK WITH OTHER RESOURCES WHO MAY PROVIDE WEATHERIZATION.

THE DELTA WILL ALSO EMBARK ON FUNDRAISING IN ORDER TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM FUNDED AFTER THE INITIAL GENERAL REQUEST.

IT IS THE HOPE OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE DELTA BOARD THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL ENABLE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN DECATUR TO REMAIN HERE BY ASSISTING WITH IMPROVING THEIR HOMES AND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

THANK YOU FOR THEIR QUESTIONS.

WAS ALAN. I HAVE ONE.

JUST SORT OF CHANNELING COMMISSIONER MAYER.

IS THERE A WAY TO APPLY IF YOU CAN'T APPLY ONLINE? SO IS THERE A PHONE NUMBER THAT IS PROVIDED OR ASSISTANCE TO MAKE APPLICATION? YEAH. THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO REQUIRE SOME OUTREACH.

ONCE WE ARE READY TO GO AHEAD AND GET THIS PROGRAM RUNNING, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS OUT THERE, LIKE WE MENTIONED, THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET. SO WE'VE COLLECTED A FEW STATEMENTS OF INTEREST FROM PEOPLE.

THOSE ARE NOT BINDING, AND SO WE THE LAND TRUST GOAL IS TO SET UP A PROGRAM WHERE WE CHECK WITH HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SERVED BEFORE FROM THE MARTIN LUTHER KING WEEKEND OF SERVICE AND ALSO POTENTIALLY HOMEOWNERS WHO TAKE THE G THREE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT IS INCUMBENT AGE BASED.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER POTENTIAL RESOURCE, AND ALSO THROUGH PEOPLE THAT THE CITY WORKS WITH, SUCH AS THE BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD POTENTIALLY COME UP WITH SOME STRATEGIES TO FURTHER REACH HOMEOWNERS. THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE DOES, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT ONCE WE HAVE FUNDING AND WE HAVE INTERESTED PARTIES, IT WILL BE MOSTLY A NEED BASED ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE MOST URGENT NEEDS ARE.

WITH THE LIFELONG COMMUNITIES BOARD ALSO PLAY A ROLE, AND WITH I KNOW THAT LEANN HARVEY REACHES OUT TO OUR SENIORS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REACHES OUT TO OUR SENIORS, OR I'M ASSUMING WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE A LOT OF AVENUES TO GET THE WORD OUT.

YES, AND BECAUSE LEON IS ACTIVE ALSO ON THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR SERVICE PROJECT, SHE'S REALLY BE A LIAISON BETWEEN THAT BOARD AND THE LIFELONG COMMUNITIES PEOPLE.

SO WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED KIND OF HOW THE TWO PROGRAMS CAN WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKEN CARE OF WITHIN THE CITY.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.

SO WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA TO QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM? THAT DEPENDS SOMEWHAT ON THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDING.

SO DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES REQUIRE DIFFERENT POSSIBLY AGE OR INCOME REQUIREMENTS.

SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE IT SET UP TO COMPLY WITH WHERE THE ARPA FUNDING GRANTS WERE, WHICH IS 65 YEARS OF AGE AND 60% OF AM-I.

THAT'S THE REQUIREMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE INITIALLY SET THIS PROGRAM UP USING THOSE GUIDELINES, BUT WE COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE AM-I UP TO SOMEWHERE MORE LIKE 80% OF AM-I IF IT'S NOT TIED TO THAT TYPE OF FEDERAL FUND.

[02:55:04]

IF I COULD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KRISTEN.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT IN THE SECOND SIX MONTHS OF THE WORK, AS IT MOVED UNDER OVER UNDER THE LAND TRUST, COMMISSIONER MAYER WAS A VALUABLE PART OF THE COMMITTEE AND GAVE US A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK AND ADDED A LOT OF VALUE, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU FOR STAYING THE COURSE, AND YOU REALLY KEPT THE WHOLE PROJECT OF THE INITIATIVE FROM GETTING POLITICIZED, FROM GETTING OFF TRACK TIME WISE, AND REALLY STAYED FOCUSED AND ALSO ALLOWED FOR A LOT OF GOOD DIALOG.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK WE ALL LEARNED A LOT AND IT WAS A GOOD GROUP TO TO WORK ON THIS WITH, SO IT'S NEAT TO SEE IT FINALLY HERE.

JUST ONE QUICK COMMENT TO ADD.

IT WAS RECOGNIZED BY THIS WORKING GROUP AND STEERING COMMITTEE THAT THERE WAS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE POTENTIAL APPLICANTS FOR THIS PROGRAM MAY HAVE SOME LITERACY CHALLENGES AND ALSO COULD HAVE SOME CONCERNS BECAUSE OF PREDATORY PRACTICES WHEN IT COMES TO OLDER HOMEOWNERS WHO MAY BE OF LOWER INCOME.

AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I HOPE WILL REMAIN ON THE FOREFRONT OF THIS EFFORT, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A GAP TO BRIDGE WHEN IT COMES TO MANY OF OUR HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN A PART OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES FOR THEIR WHOLE LIVES AND MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT OF THEY MAY HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO SEPARATE YET SEPARATE BUT UNEQUAL EDUCATION.

THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SOMEONE WHO LEFT SCHOOL EARLY TO GO WORK AND DOCUMENTS RELATED TO LOANS, DOCUMENTS RELATED TO FORGIVABLE LOANS. UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS TO THEM COULD BE A POTENTIAL CHALLENGE THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO OVERCOME.

SO THAT IS.

ON THE FOREFRONT.

YES, DEFINITELY, AND I THINK WE GO INTO THIS RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS A BRAND NEW PROGRAM.

IT REQUIRES A LOT OF EDUCATION.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF HAND-HOLDING AND KIND OF HELPING PEOPLE THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND THAT WE ARE LEARNING AS WELL.

SO AS WITH A LOT OF THE HOUSING PROGRAMS, THEY ARE ALL KIND OF COMING UP FROM THE GROUND AND IT'S ALL A LEARNING PROCESS, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY AT THE FOREFRONT KIND OF REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE SO THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM, BUT ALSO WALKING THEM THROUGH THESE ISSUES THAT ARE ALSO TIED TO TRUST, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH.

JUST A QUICK COMMENT AND I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED TRUST IT WOULD BE WOULD IT BE HELPFUL IF WE HAD SOME FAMILIAR FACES SORT OF TALK ABOUT THAT PROCESS SO THAT IT'S A FACE AND A NAME OR A VOICE THAT THEY TRUST? I MEAN, I THINK AS WE LOOK AT OUR ELDERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACES THAT THEY KNOW AND TRUST.

AND THAT'S SORT OF PART OF THE PROCESS.

AND THOSE THOSE FACES AND THOSE NAMES AND THOSE VOICES ARE DISAPPEARING.

SO JUST AS WE GO FORWARD, THINKING ABOUT.

HATE TO SAY SPOKES PERSON, BUT SOMEONE THAT'S A REFERENCE THAT WE CAN ALL SAY.

THIS IS THE VOICE THAT YOU'VE KNOWN AND TRUSTED FOR YEARS.

SO DEFINITELY, YES.

IT'S ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE WERE INITIALLY LOOKING AT THIS, WE WERE LOOKING AT PERHAPS USING ARPA FUNDING.

BUT THIS RECOMMENDATION IS COMING FORWARD USING FUND BUDGET RIGHT, GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE RECOMMENDATION, AND ALSO WITH THE GENERAL FUND MONIES.

THEN THERE'S WE DON'T HAVE THE LIMITS ON THE INCOME.

SO THAT GIVES THE PROGRAM A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY THAN IT OTHERWISE MAY HAVE.

YES. AND ALSO THERE'S THE FUND BALANCE, THERE'S ADEQUATE FUND BALANCE.

I'M COMFORTABLE SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATION BASED OFF OF WHERE A FUND BALANCE IS TODAY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION? R-22-YY COMMITTING $300,000 TO THE DECATUR HOME REHAB PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS JUST TO SATISFY THE FUNDING COMMITMENT.

SO IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

[03:00:02]

SO OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE'LL LOOK AT SECURITY CAMERAS.

[IV.E. Security Camera Recommendation-Parks and Downtown Business District.]

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I'M SCOTT RICHARDS.

I'M THE CHIEF OF POLICE.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING WITH YOU ALL.

I ALSO HAVE CAPTAIN BILLY WOODRUFF FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH ME, GREG RYAN FROM PUBLIC WORKS THERE, AND AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, DAVID YOUNGER AS WELL.

ALL OF THEM ARE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN THESE TWO PROJECTS AND GETTING EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT HERE TOGETHER FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

SO I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF TWO CONTRACTS FOR SECURITY CAMERAS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

THE CURRENT BUDGET IDENTIFIED TWO PROJECTS AS IT PERTAINED TO SECURITY CAMERAS.

ONE WAS IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT AREA, THE OTHER IS IN THE CITY PARKS.

THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT AREA PROJECT WAS INSTITUTED WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE ONES FOR THE CITY PARKS.

HOWEVER, DUE TO CERTAIN FACTORS AND ONE OF THEM BEING THE PANDEMIC, IT'S RESULTED IN THE CONSOLIDATION OF THESE PROJECTS INTO THIS PROPOSAL.

TO YOU ALL THIS EVENING, THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION IS TO ESTABLISH A BUDGET PROJECT OF $60,000 AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO ISO NETWORK LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,068.72 FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF CAMERAS FOR CITY PARKS THAT HAVE BEEN PLAGUED BY VANDALISM AS WELL AS GRAFFITI.

THERE ARE THREE COMPANIES THAT SUBMITTED BIDS FOR THIS PROJECT.

THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU THIS EVENING IS TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET OF $51,000 AND AWARDED CONTRACT TO 46,500 ISO NETWORK LLC FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF CAMERAS FOR THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT.

THERE WERE THREE COMPANIES THAT SUBMITTED QUOTES TO THE STATE CONTRACT FOR THIS PROJECT.

PROVIDING CAMERAS IN CITY PARKS, AS WELL AS IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, WILL MAKE THE CITY OF DECATUR A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND ALSO VISITORS THAT COME INTO OUR CITY, AS WELL AS PROVIDE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AN INVESTIGATIVE TOOL WHENEVER CRIMES DO OCCUR IN THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS.

FOR US TO GO BACK AND BE ABLE TO REVIEW VIDEO FOOTAGE.

WE ANTICIPATE THIS PROJECT TAKING APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

THERE ARE CURRENT FUNDS FOR BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS.

IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 BUDGET, WE RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF 50,000, 50,000, $68.72 FOR SECURITY CAMERAS IN THE CITY PARKS.

AND WE ALSO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $51,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $46,500 FOR SECURITY CAMERAS IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK WE WILL TAKE THESE SEPARATELY.

I DID WANT TO, SINCE WE HAD A COMMENT ABOUT THE SECURITY CAMERAS AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT DURING AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. CAN YOU ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT? I BELIEVE THESE WILL BE FIXED CAMERAS FOR SPECIFIC USES.

AND IF YOU CAN ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OR WHAT MR. LEACH BROUGHT FORWARD ABOUT CAMERAS.

YES. SO AREAS BOTH FOR THE SQUARE AND FOR THE CITY PARKS, THEY WILL BE FIXED CAMERAS.

I'M NOT AWARE OF THESE COMPANIES BEING ABLE THIS COMPANY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A MOVABLE AND OR A PORTABLE CAMERA.

THERE MAY BE COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT DO PROVIDE THAT.

I KNOW. NOT EXACTLY.

EXACTLY SURE WHICH STREET HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THE GEORGIA DOT DOES HAVE CAMERAS ON THEIR STATE ROUTES AND INTERSECTIONS TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR TRAFFIC AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THOSE PARTICULAR INTERSECTIONS. OKAY.

THANK YOU, BRIAN. I THINK THESE TWO AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED AS SPECIFIC AREAS THAT NEEDED REGULAR CAMERAS SO THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE FOOTAGE AND SEE WHAT TOOK PLACE.

YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY? SO THESE ARE JUST RECORDING CAMERAS? YOU DON'T RECORD THEM LIVE OR YOU WATCH THEM LIVE OR YOU JUST RECORD IT? YOU CAN WATCH IT LIVE AND IT IS RECORDED.

HOW MANY CAMERAS ARE THERE IN EACH SITE? FOR THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT THERE WOULD BE SEVEN CAMERAS FOR THAT PROJECT.

[03:05:05]

AND WERE THERE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES THAT PROMPTED THIS OR SPECIFIC EXPERIENCES YOU WERE HAVING OR CONCERNS? I MEAN, WE DO HAVE CRIME THAT OCCURS ON THE SQUARE AND AS STATED, THE GRAFFITI AND THE VANDALISM AND CRIME DOES OCCUR IN THE PARKS AS WELL.

RIGHT. AND I BELIEVE IS THAT GREG WHITE IN THE BACK? I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND THANK HIM FOR BEING HERE, COMMISSIONER MAYER? SO I'VE GOT A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS, CHIEF.

OKAY. SO WHICH PARKS WILL THESE BE LOCATED? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

EVERY PART OF THE BUILDING [INAUDIBLE].

SO I CAN PULL UP A MAP TO.

THE OAK RIDGE.

GLEN LAKE. MCCOY.

EBSTER. SO THE EBSTER SORT OF AREA, I GUESS, IN THE MIDDLE.

SCOTT PARKS AT SYCAMORE REC IN THE BACK AND THEN LEGACY PARK.

OK. JUST MAKE IT SAY THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME.

SURE. SO DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW THE NUMBER OF HOW MANY CAMERAS ARE GOING TO DO PART? YES, THE MOST IS SIX AT EACH SPOT AND AS LITTLE AS TWO.

IT JUST DEPENDING ON THE NEED AND THE COVERAGE WE HAD AT EACH SPOT BASED ON WHERE THINGS WERE HAPPENING.

AND IT CAME AT THE REQUEST OF ACTIVE LIVING WHERE WHERE THE ACTIVITY WAS HAPPENING THAT THEY WANTED TO MONITOR.

OK. BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT BREAKDOWN HERE.

I DO. SO THE BIGGER PARKS, LIKE MCCOY AND GLEN LAKE, ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE SIX.

AND JUST BECAUSE IT'S A BIGGER AREA AND THEY WERE MORE SPREAD OUT FROM ONE LOCATION, YOU COULDN'T SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITY HAPPENING.

LEGACY HAS SIX.

SO SCOTT PARK HAS TO.

THE EBSTER RECREATION CENTER IS JUST TWO ADDITIONS BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE SOME CAMERAS THERE IN THE FRONT, BUT NOT IN THE BACK.

WHERE ARE THE CAMERAS CURRENTLY AT EBSTER? OH, SORRY. CURRENTLY THEY'RE MOSTLY INSIDE, BUT WE DO HAVE ONE FACING THE FRONT DOOR.

AND WHEN YOU SAY FRONT, YOU MEAN THE ENTRANCE TO THE GYM, OR IS THAT CONSIDERED THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING? YES. SORRY. THAT IS.

I FORGET WHAT STREET THAT IS.

OKAY. OK AND YOU SAID THESE ARE GOING TO BE CONSISTENTLY RECORDING? RIGHT. AND MONITORED? FOR THE PARKS, THEY'RE JUST BEING RECORDED.

NO ONE IS ACTIVELY WATCHING THEM.

PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO WATCH THEM.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE PURPOSE OF THE CAMERAS.

IT'S TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE FACT.

SO THE INTENT IS TO, IN THE EVENT THAT AN INCIDENT IS REPORTED CORRECT, USE THAT AS A PART AS AN INVESTIGATIVE TOOL. YES.

THIS GIVES ME GREAT PANIC.

I AM I AM DEEPLY DISTRESSED BECAUSE WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT IN THIS CITY, AND I ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE BEST INTENTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

PRACTICES LIKE THESE TEND TO BE PREDATORY.

AND SO I WANT TO I WANT TO FULLY UNDERSTAND.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT WITH THIS AND IF THE IMPLICATIONS RELATED TO EQUITY HAVE BEEN FULLY CONSIDERED PRIOR TO BRINGING FORWARD THIS PROPOSAL.

SOMETHING IN HERE AND FORGIVE ME IF I'M INCORRECT, I THOUGHT I READ SOMEWHERE THAT THIS HAD ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED.

THIS THIS PROJECT HAD ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED.

WHEN WHEN WAS IT DECIDED THAT THESE ARE WE WOULD TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE SQUARE, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU.

I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ALL OF IT.

MY ISSUE IS FAR AND WIDE.

I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE SQUARE BECAUSE, I MEAN, I GET WHY YOU WOULD WANT SOME ASSISTANCE IN THE SQUARE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SAFE.

BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF THOSE CAMERAS DO BECOME MONITORED IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO MONITOR THEM IN THE FUTURE, THE MONITORING WILL LIKELY BE ON VISITORS WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE THEY BELONG.

AND THAT'S JUST NOT THE TYPE OF CITY THAT WE NEED TO BE.

IT FEELS LIKE A STEP BACKWARD.

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PARKS BECAUSE IT IS VERY APPARENT TO ME THAT MOST OF THE CAMERAS ARE GOING ON PARKS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE TRACKS, AND THAT'S MY COMMUNITY, WHICH IS FINE AND GOOD, BUT THAT'S ALSO HISTORICALLY BLACK, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING CAMERAS THAT WILL BE MONITORED IN COMMUNITIES THAT WERE THAT ARE STILL PREDOMINANTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, LIKE EBSTER LIKE NEAR MCCOY, THAT WE'RE REALLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT THOSE FUTURE IMPLICATIONS COULD BE AND WHAT WE'RE REALLY SAYING

[03:10:02]

I UNDERSTAND. I HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

MY SON WAS ACTUALLY PLAYING BASKETBALL AT EBSTER AND WAS ROBBED.

AND. WHEN HE AND HIS FRIEND WHO WAS BLACK, CHASED THE PERSON SHORT OF A GUN, WALKED AWAY. AND THERE WAS A CAMERA OPERATING AND THEY ACTUALLY CAUGHT THE PERSON.

FOLKS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID THIS.

I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THAT COMMISSIONER MAYER IS EXPRESSING, BUT I DO THINK THAT CAMERAS CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE TOOL IN TERMS OF INCREASING SAFETY.

I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, THEM BEING ABUSED.

AND I THINK THAT. ALSO, MY EXPERIENCE HAVING WORKED IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA IS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, MOST PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MONITOR THE CAMERAS AT ALL, I MEAN, THEY SAY THEY CAN'T.

THERE MAY BE A WAY THAT WE CAN DO IT SO PEOPLE CAN'T LIVE MONITOR THE CAMERAS, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE IS VALUE AND THAT THEY DO HELP SOLVE CRIMES AND THEY DO HELP DETER CRIMES.

AND ADMITTEDLY, MY ANECDOTAL PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, BUT PERHAPS, CHIEF RICHARD, YOU COULD TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF CAMERAS IN TERMS OF TALK ABOUT THE CCTV CAMERA POLICY. YES.

SO AND AGAIN, FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT STANDPOINT, THEY WILL NOT BE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORED.

WE DO HAVE A POLICY THAT WE HAVE WRITTEN AND IT ADDRESSES WHO CAN VIEW IT, WHEN THEY CAN VIEW IT, AND WHAT'S NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO TO VIEW IT, AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DOCUMENT THE THE VIEWING OF THOSE.

AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT SECURITY CAMERAS, NOT ONLY ARE THEY A DETERRENT IF PEOPLE DO SEE THEM THERE, BUT ALSO FROM AN INVESTIGATIVE TOOL FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT DOESN'T TELL US WHO THE PERSON IS, BUT IT GIVES US AT LEAST A DESCRIPTION AND A VIDEO OF WHO THE PERSON IS.

AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO SUPPLY THAT TO THE TO THE COMMUNITY AND OR EVEN OUR POLICE OFFICERS THAT MAY BE ABLE TO KNOW WHO IT IS.

SO THERE ARE THERE ARE A LOT OF BENEFITS TO SECURITY CAMERAS.

YES, SIR. SO I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MR. DUSENBURY, FOR BRINGING UP YOUR CONCERNS.

ARE WE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO STATE THAT FOLKS ARE BEING RECORDED? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE AS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT THEY'RE BEING RECORDED? JUST A QUESTION, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

OKAY. SO THE SECOND QUESTION BECAUSE WE'VE ALL.

DO WE HAVE A LIST OF THINGS THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR AS POTENTIAL CRIMES AND WHAT LEVEL OF CRIME? AS WE YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL SEEN GRAFFITI IN THE PARKS, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME TEENAGERS THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING A SPACE TO CREATE GRAFFITI, BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY ALTOGETHER.

ARE WE LOOKING AT SPECIFIC CRIMES AND A SPECIFIC LEVEL OF CRIME IN WHICH TO INSTIGATE? THERE WOULD NOT BE A SPECIFIC LEVEL.

BUT ONCE WE GET A CRIME REPORTED TO US, I MEAN, IF IT WAS GRAFFITI, IT COULD BE A THEFT, IT COULD BE AN ARMED ROBBERY.

SO A MISDEMEANOR OR A FELONY.

BUT ONCE A REPORT IS GENERATED, THEN AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD GO BACK AND REVIEW ANY VIDEO THAT WE HAVE AT CERTAIN CERTAIN LOCATIONS.

AND WE HAVE SOME MOUS WITH SOME OTHER AGENCIES THAT ALLOW US JUST TO DO THAT.

WE CAN'T GO IN THERE AND MONITOR IT 8 HOURS A DAY OR ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

BUT THERE'S SPECIFIC REASONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE CAN GO IN THERE AND REVIEW THE VIDEO, BUT WE HAVE TO DOCUMENT WHY WE'RE GOING IN THERE TO BE ABLE TO TO VIEW IT.

AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT BEING VIEWED BY THE COMMUNICATION OFFICERS, NOT BEING VIEWED BY THE POLICE OFFICERS.

IT'S THE INVESTIGATORS THAT ARE GOING BACK AND VIEWING THE VIDEO EVIDENCE.

THANK YOU. AND IF I MAY? SO WHAT MITIGATIONS ARE IN PLACE TO PREVENT PROFILING? WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING WHEN YOUR STAFF IS LOOKING AND.

TO BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, I'M A BIG FAN OF YOURS.

YES, MA'AM. WHAT POLICY OR PROCEDURE IS OR WILL BE IN PLACE, THAT MAKES IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT YOU WILL NOT BE, THAT THE DEPARTMENT, THAT THE CITY WILL NOT BE UTILIZING FOOTAGE THAT ENDS UP BECOMING A SITUATION OF PROFILING.

ARE YOU LOOKING AT AN IMAGE AND LOOKING FOR THE ACTIVE INCIDENT? OR WOULD THERE BE A SITUATION WHERE PERHAPS THERE MAY BE THE IMAGE OF A PERSON OF INTEREST SHARED WHO IS IN THE GENERAL AREA AT THE TIME THAT A

[03:15:01]

MOST OF IT, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT BE IT MAY BE WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS.

IT COULD BE WITHIN WITHIN AN EIGHT HOUR PERIOD, WHATEVER THAT TIME FRAME MAY BE.

SO THE INVESTIGATOR WOULD GO BACK AND REVIEW THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION AND AGAIN, SEE WHETHER HOPEFULLY THERE IS A CAMERA THERE WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED THAT DOES RECORD.

AND THEY'D GO BACK AND LOOK AT LOOK AT THE THE RECORDING IS REFERENCED TO THE PERSON OF INTEREST.

WE WOULD NOT I MEAN, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A SERIOUS FELONY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PUT OUT A PERSON OF INTEREST.

IT WOULDN'T BE FOR THEFT OR A MISDEMEANOR CRIME NECESSARILY.

IT WOULD IT WOULD BE A SERIOUS FELONY OFFENSE THAT WE WOULD THAT WE WOULD USE VIDEO OBTAINED FROM ONE OF THOSE VIDEO CAMERAS.

SO THEORETICALLY, THERE IS MAYBE SOME VANDALISM AT A PARK.

WOULD THE CAMERA CATCH THE INCIDENT OF THE VANDALISM? AND THEN YOU ARE SEEKING TO LOOK FOR THE PERSON THAT WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA IN THIS ACT OF THE OFFENSE? THAT WOULD BE IDEAL, YES.

BUT NOT ALWAYS? CORRECT. I MEAN, YEAH, IT MAY NOT AGAIN, DEPENDING ON WHERE THE CAMERAS ARE ARE LOCATED AND WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE IN THE PARKS.

AND THE SAME THING WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ONES ON THE SQUARE.

IDEALLY, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE IT RECORDING THE ACTUAL CRIME OCCURRING.

YES. BUT YOU'D STILL POTENTIALLY USE FOOTAGE THAT YOU HAVE IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF A AN INCIDENT THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED OR IDENTIFIED BY ONE OF YOUR OFFICERS.

AND. YES, AND THAT'S MUCH THE SAME THING THAT WE DO NOW.

I MEAN, IF WE IF WE HAVE A BURGLARY THAT OCCURS ON THE STREET, THEN WE SEEK VIDEO FROM ANY HOMEOWNER THAT'S THERE AND GO BACK.

OR IF WE HAVE EVEN NOW SOMETHING THAT OCCURS ON THE SQUARE, ANY BUSINESSES THAT HAVE VIDEO CAMERAS, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE SEEK THAT INFORMATION AND THE INVESTIGATOR GOES BACK AND REVIEWS EVERY VIDEO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO OBTAIN.

OKAY. AND TO BE CLEAR, I AM NOT I DO NOT WANT TO IMPLY THAT ANYONE ON YOUR STAFF WOULD UNDERSTAND INTENTIONALLY ACTING IN A MANNER THAT WOULD BE LESS THAN HONORABLE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COVERING UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD OCCUR JUST BECAUSE OF INFORMALITY OF IT.

AND LIKE I SAID, WE DO HAVE A POLICY CREATED FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DAVID YOUNG AND I HAVE SPOKEN EARLIER TODAY ABOUT CREATING ONE FOR THE CITY AS WELL, BECAUSE, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THE CAMERAS IN THE PARKS ARE GOING TO BE UNDER GREG WHITE AND HIS EMPLOYEES.

AND WE ALSO ALREADY HAVE CAMERAS INSIDE THE BUILDING, BUT NOW THEY'LL BE ON THE EXTERIOR.

SO CREATING SOME TYPE OF CITY POLICY DEALING WITH THE CAMERAS THAT ARE INSTALLED.

MR. WHITE, CERTAINLY.

JUST A QUICK QUESTION, GREG WHITE.

WOULD YOU COME FORWARD? THANK YOU. SO GOOD EVENING.

SO I'VE SEEN THE SYSTEM AT EBSTER.

I'VE SEEN THE MONITOR.

RIGHT. SO HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT MONITORING ALL OF THOSE PARKS? WOULD YOU HAVE A SINGULAR SETUP SOMEWHERE CENTRALIZED? OR WOULD EACH RECREATION DEPARTMENT STAFF HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY? YEAH, I DON'T IF WE'VE BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE A MONITOR WHERE WE CAN MONITOR GLEN LAKE OR EBSTER DIRECTLY, LIKE FULL TIME.

LET ME JUST BE HONEST WITH OUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE PARKS AND CAMERAS IN THE PARKS WOULD BE JUST LIKE WE JUST HAD AN INCIDENT AT OAKHURST WHERE OVER THANKSGIVING SOMEONE JUST MAKES SOME WIND THAT CAN FEED IT EVERYTHING FOR ME.

WE'RE USING THIS TO BE ABLE TO SEE IF WE CAN CATCH IT LIVE, OR MAYBE WE CAN SEE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE ENTERED OR COME OUT OF THERE.

THAT WOULD BE A PIECE, BUT DEFINITELY NOT TRYING TO USE THE CAMERAS.

AND WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH CHIEF A LOT AS FAR AS HAVING CAMERAS JUST FOR SAFETY OUTSIDE, I TOLD SOMEBODY WE'VE HAD INCIDENTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE BEING OUTSIDE.

WE'VE HAD INCIDENTS OF JUST SOME TIME SOMEBODY'S PHONES COMING UP MISSING.

WE HAD JUST MY THING. IT'S JUST MORE OF ANYTHING IN OUR PARKS, JUST TRYING TO KEEP IT SAFE AND NOT TRYING TO USE THE CAMERAS FOR WE DON'T GET INTO SOMETHING.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO USE THEM FOR RACIAL PROFILING.

AND I DON'T KNOW FROM OUR STANDPOINT, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AS FAR AS SOME TYPE OF POLICY WORKING TOGETHER WITH THIS.

AND IT JUST TALKS ABOUT THE VANDALISM THAT WE SEE IN MCCOY PARK.

I TOLD SOMEBODY GOT PEOPLE DESTRUCTIVE OF ALL PETITIONS IN THE PARKS TELLS THEM SOMEBODY YOU'RE TRYING TO GO SKATEPARK VANDALISM AND YOU GET INTO PLAYGROUND VANDALISM YOU GET INTO. I GO HOME, JUST ALL THE VANDALISM THAT WE SEE AND I TELL SOMEBODY JUST HAVING SOME CAMERAS OR PEOPLE IN THE PARKS AT NIGHTTIME OR COMING OUT OF PARKS, I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO MONITOR.

AND WE JUST AREN'T BEING HONEST AND JUST HAVING THE CAPACITY OF PEOPLE TO JUST TRY TO MONITOR THAT, THAT IS HARD.

[03:20:05]

THERE'S A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN OUR PARKS COMMISSIONER THAT I JUST TOLD SOMEBODY.

I THINK THAT WE CAN SEE JUST PEOPLE KNOWING, HOPING THAT CAN BE A DETERRENT FOR PEOPLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR ME TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

ANY OTHER CITIES USE THIS? I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THEY THEY ARE A DETERRENT TO INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY BE TRYING TO COMMIT A CRIME, BUT THEY ALSO PROVIDE A SENSE OF SECURITY TO FOR RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND AND.

PEOPLE VISITING THE CITY, KNOWING THAT THERE ARE SECURITY CAMERAS WHENEVER THEY'RE FREQUENTING THE CITY PARKS AND ALSO THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT AS WELL.

SO THE CITY OF ATLANTA USES THEM EXTENSIVELY.

THEY HAVE A VIDEO INTEGRATION CENTER WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY GO AND ACTIVATE LIVE TO CAMERAS.

THEY ACTUALLY HAVE CAMERAS THAT CAN SENSE GUNSHOTS AND THEY AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATE LIVE.

THE CITY OF LONDON.

I JUST KNOW THIS BECAUSE WE HAD THEM IN THE PARK IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA.

SO THAT'S MY EXPERIENCE FROM IT TO THE CITY OF LONDON WAS THE ONE.

I MEAN, THEY'RE KIND OF PERVASIVE.

I THINK THERE IS A BIG BROTHER KIND OF ISSUE.

GENERALLY, THE COMPLAINT IS ACTUALLY THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING MONITORED BECAUSE THE CITIES DON'T HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO MONITOR ALL THE CAMERAS AT THE TIME.

AND SO THEY GENERALLY ARE TAKEN AFTER THE FACT INVESTIGATIVE TOOL.

I DOUBT THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS SOMEBODY THEY COULD SAY 24 HOURS YOU'RE WATCHING THE CAMERAS.

I'LL JUST REITERATE, WE WILL NOT BE, WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO BE MONITORING THESE CAMERAS.

I MEAN, IT'S ONE, YOU KNOW, THE DETERRENT EFFECT AND THEN TO THE INVESTIGATIVE TOOL.

AGAIN, UNLIKE I'M FAMILIAR SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR WITH ATLANTA, I THINK THERE'S A WHOLE VIDEO OPERATION CENTER AND PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THOSE, BUT THEY'RE NOT MONITORING ALL THE CAMERAS ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THEM.

AND WOULD YOU MIND TELLING US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU SAID WE HAVE AN MOU OR MOU ALREADY IN PLACE.

AND SO I KNOW PARTICULAR OR SPECIFICALLY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, I THINK THERE ARE DOZENS OF CAMERAS THAT WE WE ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO TODAY.

YES, MA'AM. SO THIS IS NOT NEW TO US IN TERMS OF ACCESSING CAMERA FOOTAGE FOR THE PURPOSES OF INVESTIGATING INCIDENTS. CORRECT.

AND YEARS AGO, WE HAD CAMERAS ON THE SQUARE UNDER UNDER A DIFFERENT COMPANY THAT WENT UNDER AND WE HAD ACCESS TO THOSE AND WE HAD POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE FOR THAT.

AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE AN MOU WITH DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO VIEW AND ACCESS ALL OF THEIR CAMERAS.

AND AGAIN, AFTER A CRIME OCCURS AND, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO THE MOU, WE WOULD HAVE TO CALL THEM, A CERTAIN PERSON WAIT ON THAT PERSON TO EITHER COME IN OR VIEW IT ON A MONDAY MORNING, WHICH TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE AND SOME OF THE INVESTIGATIONS.

SO WE CREATED THE MOU WITH THEM.

AND AGAIN, THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT CAN VIEW THOSE VIDEOS ARE OUR INVESTIGATORS, AND THEY HAVE TO FILL OUT A LOG INDICATING WHY THEY'RE DOING IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S FOR ASSOCIATED WITH A CASE NUMBER.

SO AND AGAIN, WITHOUT ONE, THERE'S NOBODY THAT'S JUST SITTING THERE MONITORING, .

IT'S NOT UNTIL IT'S MORE REACTIVE.

ONCE THE CRIME OCCURS, THEN WE GO BACK TO TRY TO SEE IF WE HAVE VIDEO OF THAT PARTICULAR THAT PARTICULAR CRIME.

ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS FOR.

SO WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN AND WON'T GET INTO IF I WANT TO THROW THE TABLE IS WE'RE SEEING THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE RUNNING RED LIGHTS AND JUST I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN ANY THOUGHT OF LOOKING INTO RED LIGHT CAMERAS.

WE DIDN'T GO DEEPLY HERE TODAY, BUT THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT.

FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, JUST A NUMBER OF PEOPLE JUST BLOWING THROUGH THE INTERSECTIONS.

THE CONCERN THAT I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF FOLKS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SURE.

AND IN THAT SAME VEIN, I GUESS I KNOW SEVERAL JURISDICTIONS ARE LOOKING AT.

I KNOW WE HAVE THE CAMERAS ON SCHOOL BUSSES NOW FOR.

YES, MA'AM. IF SOMEONE GOES AROUND A SCHOOL BUS WHEN THE ARM IS UP.

BUT LOOKING AT CAMERAS IN THIS ACTUALLY THE SCHOOL ZONES.

IF PEOPLE ARE SPEEDING THROUGH DURING THE TIMES THAT THE SCHOOL ZONE SPEEDS ARE IN FORCE.

AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE APPROACHED ME.

I'VE SENT THEM TO YOU.

AND I KNOW THAT'S SORT OF BEEN IN THE WORKS OR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

[03:25:05]

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT SEE IN ADDITION? YES, MA'AM. YES, YOU SHOULD SEE THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

ACTUALLY, CAPTAIN WOODROOF HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT.

WE DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR A SPECIFIC COMPANY.

WE HAVE SOME SOME THINGS WE NEED TO TO WORK OUT BEFORE THE RECOMMENDATION IS BROUGHT, BEFORE THE CITY MANAGER AND THEN BROUGHT BEFORE YOU ALL.

BUT THAT SHOULD BE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. JUST AN OBSERVATION.

AND THAT IS THAT.

IN APPROPRIATELY SO.

THERE PROBABLY IS A FUNDAMENTAL DISTRUST OF CAMERAS AND BIG BROTHER AND GOVERNMENT AND POLICE.

STUFF LIKE THAT. I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE AND I THINK WE HAVE DONE THIS IS JUST THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO TRUST US AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE USING THIS CAMERA FOR THEIR BENEFIT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE AMONG A LOT OF COMMUNITIES AND MARGINALIZED POPULATION, THERE'S LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

SO I APPRECIATE THE ISSUES THAT COMMISSIONER MAYER BROUGHT UP.

I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH YOUR RESPONSE TO IT.

I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE DILIGENT.

WHEN I DO SUPPORT THE USE OF THE CAMERAS, I UNDERSTAND WHY THESE CONCERNS EXIST.

AND PART OF ME, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THIS INNATE BIG BROTHER CONCERN, BUT I DO THINK THIS MAKES SENSE.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE CREATION OF, YOU KNOW, OF A POLICY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT STANDPOINT AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, FROM THE CITY AND THE AND THE OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES.

WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE TRUST OF OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THAT WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT.

AND WE DO TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE MAKE SURE THAT WE DO ABIDE BY OUR POLICIES AND AND PROCEDURES AND MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING BY THE BOOK TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR TO EVERYONE FOR ALL OF YOUR RESPONSES.

SO ARE THERE FURTHER QUESTIONS? AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE TWO MOTIONS.

THE FIRST THAT I'LL ENTERTAIN IS TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000 AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO ESO NETWORK LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,068.72 FOR CAMERAS IN CITY PARKS.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE.

AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $51,000 AND TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO ESO NETWORK LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $46,500 FOR CAMERAS IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION PASSES.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION.

SO NEXT, THE COMPUTER SERVER FOR THE SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM.

[IV.F. Computer Server for Security Camera System.]

I'M FROM PUBLIC WORKS, AND I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BUDGET OF $50,000, AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO JOHNSON CONTROLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,001.42. AND THIS WOULD BE THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW VIDEO CAMERA SERVER THAT WOULD HOUSE ALL THE VIDEO FEEDS FROM THE PARKS. AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS SERVER IS ALSO TO TAKE IN ALL THE FEEDS OF THE CURRENT CAMERAS THAT EXIST IN EACH CITY BUILDING.

SO WE HAVE ONE CENTRALIZED SERVER INSTEAD OF DIFFERENT SERVERS AROUND THE CITY THAT EACH RUN ON THEIR OWN SOFTWARE.

IT WOULD MAKE THINGS A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR IT SERVICES AND DEFINITELY FOR CITY STAFF TO MANAGE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT CAMERA FEEDS IN ONE PLACE.

THE THE REASON IT'S BIGGER IS JUST TO CONTAIN ALL THE CAMERAS WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

IT WILL ALLOW FOR FUTURE EXPANSION, BUT THAT IS NOT THE PURPOSE OF THIS SERVER.

IT'S JUST TO HAVE THE THE NEW CAMERAS THAT ARE IN THAT YOU JUST APPROVED AS WELL AS THE CURRENT EXISTING CAMERAS IN THE CITY BUILDINGS.

SO THIS WOULD WOULD PUT THEM ALL IN ONE CENTRAL.

YES. MORE SECURE LOCATION, TOO.

SO RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE EACH IN DIFFERENT CLOSETS.

AND TO ACCESS THEM, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO IN THE CLOSET OR LOG INTO A DIFFERENT SYSTEM.

AND NOW YOU JUST HAVE ONE SYSTEM TO LOG INTO TO SEE WHICHEVER YOU HAVE TO SEE.

THEN IT WOULD COMBINE EXISTING AND THE ONES THAT HAVE JUST RECENTLY BEEN APPROVED.

[03:30:01]

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? SO ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER MAYER, SORT OF, QUESTIONS EARLIER, I'M GUESSING THERE WILL BE STRICT ACCESS TO WHO CAN ACCESS THAT SERVER AND WHO WILL HAVE REMOTE ACCESS TO THOSE SERVERS.

AND THAT WOULDN'T CHANGE. AND THERE ARE ONLY FOUR ACCESS, I GUESS, CREDENTIALS, AND IT MONITORS WHO LOGS IN, HOW LONG THEY ARE IN THERE, WHAT THEY SEE.

AND SO YOU'D BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE.

WHERE THEY WERE IN THE CITY FROM THEIR LOGIN TO.

AND SO THAT WOULD GO ALONG WITH OUR.

VIDEO, I GUESS, ACCESS POLICY AS WELL.

I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION.

IF WE WERE NOT ADDING THESE NEW CAMERAS, WOULD WE BE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION FOR A SERVER EITHER NOW OR SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE? THIS IS SOMETHING I THOUGHT WE'D NEEDED FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THIS CITY'S FIBER RING.

BEFORE THAT, IT WASN'T POSSIBLE.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAD THEM IN DIFFERENT SPOTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 AND TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO JOHNSON CONTROLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,001.42 FOR THE COMPUTER SERVER FOR SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM.

WE HAVE A MOTION. SO IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? AND THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, SO THANK YOU.

[IV.G. Clairemont-Commerce-Church Street Pedestrian Safety and Cycle Track Improvements- Change Order.]

MR. SAXON? YES, MA'AM.

WE'RE RECOMMENDING AN INCREASE IN THE PROJECT BUDGET OF ABOUT 265,000 AND A CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $190,500 FOR ADDITIONAL WORK ON THE CLAREMONT COMMERCE CHURCH STREET CYCLE TRACK.

THIS WILL INCREASE THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM 3,000,040 ABOUT 3,040,000 TO A LITTLE OVER 3,230,000. THIS IS A 6% INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT CONTRACT AMOUNT.

THE TOTAL INCREASE PROJECT FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT NOW IS ABOUT 480,000, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF AROUND 15% OVER THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT THE BUDGET WILL INCREASE.

IF APPROVED, THE BUDGET WILL INCREASE FROM 3225000 TO 3490000, WHICH IS ACTUALLY AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 8% OVER THE ORIGINAL BUDGET AMOUNT.

THE WORK THAT WILL BE DONE IF THIS CHANGE ORDER IS APPROVED IS AN EXTENSION OF THE STREETSCAPE WORK ON CHURCH STREET, RIGHT AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE PROJECT, THERE WAS A.

UNDERGROUND FIBER, AN UNDERGROUND TELECOM UTILITY THAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD A CONFLICT WITH THAT WE'VE SINCE RESOLVED.

SO WE'RE JUST EXTENDING THE PROJECT ABOUT 300 FEET SOUTH FROM WHERE THE WHERE THE VETERINARIAN HOSPITAL IS ON CHURCH STREET, DOWN TO THE CORNER WHERE THE LOTUS OF LIFE CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC IS. AND THAT THAT PORTION OF IT IS 115,500.

WE ALSO WANT TO OR NEED TO REPLACE A RETAINING WALL AT 235 GENEVA STREET.

IT HAS NOTICED THIS BEFORE THE PROJECT STARTED HAD TWO SIGNIFICANT CRACKS IN THE WALL.

THEY'VE SINCE GOTTEN WORSE, THEY'VE DISPLACED AND THEY ARE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.

IT WAS A WALL BUILT BY GDOT 40 YEARS AGO AND WE WANT TO SINCE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AHEAD AND DO THIS WORK AND GET WELL, MOST OF IT WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE GRANT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM GDOT.

IT MAKES SENSE TO GO AHEAD AND DO IT.

SO THE, OUR CITY SHARE OF THE WORK WILL BE ABOUT 40,000 OUT OF THE ENTIRE AMOUNT, WHICH IS ABOUT 15%.

[03:35:07]

AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS.

BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YES, SIR. SO THAT WALL HAS SOME PUBLIC ART, BUT WE REPLACE IT WITH DIFFERENT WALL.

DIFFERENT WALL.

THIS IS THE WALL.

THIS IS THIS WALL IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION.

OKAY. CHECK IT OUT.

OH, YES, YES.

DIFFERENT WALL AND THE TOTAL PROJECT, THE FUNDING WILL COVER 85%.

IS THAT CORRECT? OF THE TOTAL COSTS? 85% OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE WHOLE PROJECT.

AND THEN THE FIRST CHANGE OVER WAS TO ADD TREES TO THE STREETSCAPE.

IS THAT CORRECT? IT'LL BE THE SECOND CHANGE ORDER TREES ARE SCHEDULED TO BE INSTALLED JUST AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

AND THIS ALLOWS FOR EXTENSION OF THE STREETSCAPES WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO.

YES, MA'AM. MOSTLY WE WERE GOING TO PAINT USE PAINT IN THE ROADWAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP THE EXISTING SIDEWALK.

THERE'S A NEW WIDER SIDEWALK AND MOVE THE CURB SOMEWHAT OUT INTO THE STREET.

AND REPAIR THE WALL OR REPLACE THE WALL.

OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER THREE, TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT WORK WITH LLEWELLYN IN THE AMOUNT OF $190,500 FROM 3,039, 965 TO 3,234,065 AND TO INCREASE THE PROJECT BUDGET BY 265,000 FROM 3,225,000 TO 3,490, 000 FOR COST INCREASES DUE TO THE ADDITIONAL WORK AND ANTICIPATED CONDITIONS.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT, WE'LL MOVE TO REQUESTS AND PETITIONS.

[V. Requests and Petitions.]

SO WE'LL OPEN IT UP.

NOW, FOR ANYONE WHO IS HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD ANY PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE CITY COMMISSION, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO UNDER REQUEST AND PETITION. SO I'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD.

HELLO AGAIN. JOHN LEAKE 245 WEST PARKWOOD ROAD.

I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO TELL ME WHO THE COMMISSION HAS NAMED CITY OF DECATUR GEORGE'S POET LAUREATE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.

WE WILL ADDRESS IT IN OUR COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

SO DO WE HAVE A POET LAUREATE? SO I AM NOT AWARE OF THAT.

SO I'M BRINGING YOU MONEY, NOT ASKING YOU FOR MONEY.

RIGHT NOW, STARTING THE DECEMBER THE 8TH UNTIL FEBRUARY 13TH, THE ACADEMY OF AMERICAN POETRY IN CONNECTION WITH MELLON FOUNDATION OFFERS $50,000 GRANT TO POET LAUREATE.

I SAW THE LIST FOR LAST YEAR'S.

NOTHING IN THE SOUTH AT ALL.

AND THE POET LAUREATE IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A PROJECT THAT USES SOME OF THAT MONEY FOR THE YEAR.

BUT I'M SURE THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR SCHOOLS HAVE GOT TO HAVE SOME POETS THAT HAVE PROBABLY PUBLISHED SOMETHING.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT THE CITY COMMISSION WILL NAME.

SO THAT THEY HAVE THE LEGITIMACY OF AN ORGANIZATION BEHIND THEM, WHOEVER THAT IS, AND IT WILL BRING THAT KIND OF MONEY.

THEY DO ABOUT 22 OF THEM.

SO THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE OF DECATUR GETTING ONE IF YOU CAN FIND A POET LAUREATE.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD.

ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? SO. AND IF YOU CAN RESTATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, THAT'D BE HELPFUL.

OH, MY ADDRESS. MM HMM.

MY NAME IS FRANK VONAGE.

I LIVE ON DREXEL AVENUE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE CITY'S PLANS TO ADD SECURITY CAMERAS IN

[03:40:03]

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT COMMISSIONER MAYER SAID.

I DO.

I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF HAVING, LIKE SECURITY CAMERAS THAT COULD BE MONITORED IN PUBLIC PLACES.

I'M WORRIED THAT THEY COULD BE USED TO LIKE PROFILE ALREADY MEMBERS OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES SUCH AS PEOPLE OF COLOR, AS WELL AS HOMELESS PEOPLE AND.

I JUST. IN MY OPINION, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF LIKE NOTICE IN THESE PUBLIC PLACES THAT PEOPLE COULD BE RECORDED.

AND I THINK THAT LIKE AT NO POINT SHOULD THEY BE LIKE, LIVE, ALWAYS SMART, ALWAYS MONITORED.

AND I THINK THEY SHOULDN'T BE VIEWED WITHOUT LIKE A WARRANT.

I JUST. I JUST FEEL LIKE.

SORT OF FEELING LIKE AT ANY MOMENT YOU COULD BE WATCHED WHILE YOU'RE OUT IN PUBLIC.

IT COULD BE LIKE CONCERNING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, WHO ARE OFTEN TARGETED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.

ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT ARE PRESENT IN OUR MEETING THIS EVENING? ALL RIGHT, THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING REMOTELY.

SO IF THERE'S ANYONE ONLINE THAT WOULD MIGHT LIKE TO BRING FORWARD SOMETHING TO THE CITY COMMISSION, NOW IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO DO SO.

SEEING NO HANDS RAISED.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR PART OF THE MEETING AND WE'LL MOVE TO REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESSES.

[VI. Reports and Other Business.]

ON DECEMBER THE 13TH, 2022, THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET IN THIS ROOM AT 7 P.M.

THEY HAVE ONE ITEM OF NEW BUSINESS MISSION BUILDERS LLC.

APPLICANT HAVE REQUESTED A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO REDUCE THE REQUIRED STREETSCAPE STANDARDS FOR LANDSCAPE ZONE AND SIDEWALK WIDTH, AS WELL AS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM FIRST FLOOR HEIGHT PERMITTED ABOVE GRADE LEVEL FOR A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT LOCATED AT 1529 OAK VIEW ROAD.

I ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THAT PROJECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING OR SEND COMMENTS TO ANGELA THREADGILL FOR FOR REVIEW AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

SO AGAIN, AND THEN WHATEVER THEIR RECOMMENDATION COMES FORWARD, IT WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COMMISSION AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

NEXT, THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AGENDA.

THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS WILL MEET MONDAY, DECEMBER THE 12TH, IN THIS ROOM AT 7:30 P.M.

THEY HAVE TWO ITEMS OF NEW BUSINESS.

RICHARD KOPELMAN, PROPERTY OWNER, HAS APPLIED FOR A VARIANCE FROM STREAM BUFFER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 407 OAKLAND STREET AND CATHERINE CROSS PROPERTY OWNER HAS APPLIED FOR A VARIANCE FROM STREAM BUFFER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 221 WEST PARKWOOD ROAD.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO HAS COMMENTS OR INPUT ON THOSE TWO ITEMS TO EITHER ATTEND THE THE MEETING IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY OR SUBMIT COMMENTS TO DAVID YOUNGER.

IS THAT? NO? OH TO AILEEN DE LA TORRE FOR PURPOSES OF CONSIDERATION AT THAT MEETING, THESE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AGENDA ITEMS DO NOT COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION AND SO THEY WILL BE DECIDED BY THE ZBA AND CAN ONLY BE CHALLENGED IN SUPERIOR COURT IF THERE IS A DISAGREEMENT WITH THE THE RULING.

AND THEN NEXT, WE HAVE DECATUR LEGACY BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

AND ARE YOU BRINGING THAT FORWARD? OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF LYNN MINNIE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DECATUR LEGACY BOARD, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE REAPPOINTMENT OF TWO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

[03:45:01]

BOTH MR. MAST AND MR. MITCHELL ARE NOW NOW ELIGIBLE TO BE REAPPOINTED TO FULL THREE YEAR TERMS AND THAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY BE REAPPOINTED TERMS RUNNING 2023 THROUGH 2025 AND THEY ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.

WERE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? BELIEVE THIS WAS SET UP IN THE BYLAWS, CORRECT, FOR [INAUDIBLE] TERMS, CORRECT.

CORRECT. AND THEY'RE BOTH GREAT BOARD MEMBERS.

ALAN BRINGS A SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE OF BOARD GOVERNANCE, AND PAUL MITCHELL HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL AS HE SERVED AS THE LIAISON FOR THE DECATUR MLK SERVICE PROJECT, AND BOTH HAVE BEEN VERY INVALUABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ON THE BOARD.

AND ABOUT PERFECT ATTENDANCE TOO.

SO THEY ARE PRESENT.

SO WOULD YOU LIKE A MOTION? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OR REAPPOINT BOARD MEMBERS ALAN MAST AND PAUL MITCHELL TO THE DECATUR LEGACY BOARD.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

OK COMMISSIONER MAYER GOT THAT ONE IN.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND DELIGHTED THEY ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.

NEXT, THE CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO BRING FORWARD THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2023.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

I PROVIDED A RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE FOR NEXT YEAR'S MEETING DATES AND MOST OF THE MEETINGS REFLECT THE REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE, THE FIRST AND THIRD MONDAYS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HOLIDAYS, WHEN THE MEETING IS THEN GOING TO BE SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY.

THERE IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO TO CANCEL THE JULY 3RD MEETING, AS WE HAVE DONE TRADITIONALLY TO ALLOW A LITTLE EXTRA TIME OFF IN THE SUMMER AND THEN ALSO RECOMMENDING TO MOVE THE MEETING FROM MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH TO AVOID A CONFLICT OR AVOID THE CONFLICT WITH FALL BREAK WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, MOVING THAT TO THE NEXT MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE ACTION THAT WE TOOK IN THE CURRENT YEAR.

AND SO WITH THAT, THAT IS THE INITIAL RECOMMENDATION AND I'M OPEN TO ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO TO STRAY FROM THIS.

I'M OPEN TO THAT AS WELL.

I GUESS I CAN'T HAVE THE MEETING OF MY BIRTHDAY MOVED.

WELL, I DID BRING FORWARD TO THE CITY MANAGER JUST FOR AND SAID I WAS GOING TO BRING IT UP FOR DISCUSSION SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO IN SEPTEMBER. THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING IS ALSO A BREAK FOR CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY VISIT FAMILY DURING THAT WEEK.

AND SHE DID SAY I'D BRING IT FORWARD.

AND IF THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER, THE PREFERENCE OF THE CITY MANAGER WOULD BE THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING IT LIKE THE SIXTH AND THE 13TH, THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE MEETINGS ON THE SIXTH AND THE 27TH SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE INSTEAD OF HAVING THE TWO BACK TO BACK IN NOVEMBER, WE'D HAVE ONE IN NOVEMBER AND THEN A WEEK LATER IN DECEMBER.

SO I JUST PUT IT OUT THERE THAT JUST FOR THE DISCUSSION TO SEE IF THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER SINCE WE ARE ACCOMMODATING A BREAK IN SEPTEMBER AND THIS WOULD ACCOMMODATE THAT AND IT WOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE PRESSURE ON THE STAFF TO DO THAT.

SO. I'D BE VERY AMENABLE TO THAT PROPOSAL.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE MONDAY, THE SIXTH AND THEN THE LAST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER, THE 27TH.

THE 27TH. SO.

OTHERS. THE THOUGHT CROSSED MY MIND, TOO.

SO I THINK THAT IS ALL RIGHT.

I'VE BEEN MAYOR PRO TEM BIRTHDAY.

WELL, THE SEPTEMBER ONE GOT MOVED OFF MY BIRTHDAY, SO I'M THINKING THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE REASON, THOUGH, BUT RIGHT AT HER DESK.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

SO IS THAT AGREEABLE? IT IS AGREEABLE.

WE CERTAINLY A STAFF CAN WORK WITH THIS.

[03:50:02]

AND IF I COULD JUST HAVE A MOTION FOR AN AMENDED SCHEDULE.

WE'VE GOT MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE.

AND I THINK THAT GETS US THROUGH THE AGENDA.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME MAYBE SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO BRING FORWARD.

AND I'M SURE WE HAVE COMMENTS AND WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO UPDATES FROM CITY STAFF.

SO LINDA HARRIS TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON OUR MUNICIPAL QUALITY INDEX.

I'M NOT QUITE THAT TALL.

SO I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TO SHARE TONIGHT.

ON NOVEMBER THE 30TH, THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN RELEASED ITS ANNUAL MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX, WHICH IS BETTER EASILY KNOWN AS THE MRI, WHICH RATED 506 CITIES ON 49 DIFFERENT CRITERIA FROM EVERY STATE IN THE NATION. SO THE MRI EXAMINES HOW INCLUSIVE MUNICIPAL LAWS, POLICIES AND SERVICES ARE OF ELDERLY LGBTQ+ PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE.

CITIES ARE RATED BASED ON NONDISCRIMINATION LAWS.

THE MUNICIPALITY AS AN EMPLOYER, MUNICIPAL SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP.

PUBLIC POSITION ON EQUALITY.

WHEN I STARTED WORKING ON THIS IN 2016, WE HAD A 21.

IN 2017, WE RAISED IT TO 51.

IN 2020, WE RAISED IT TO 86 AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO SAY THAT WE GOT 100 POINTS THIS YEAR, WHICH IS A PERFECT SCORE, AND THEY SENT US SOMETHING TO USE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S NOT IN COLOR, BUT IT IS AND IT'S I LOVE THIS.

100 PROUD TO HAVE EARNED A PERFECT SCORE ON THE MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX.

AND THAT'S THANKS TO YOU ALL'S PASSAGE OF THE NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

THE GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOMS IN OUR CITY, NEW CITY BUILDINGS, FACILITIES, YOUR PRIDE MONTH PROCLAMATION AND FLYING THE RAINBOW FLAG OVER CITY HALL.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED.

IT'S BEEN A FUN JOURNEY TO WORK ON.

AND IT WAS LIKE, OH, WE GOT 100.

I DID NOT EXPECT THAT.

SO I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT.

THANK YOU. WHEN I RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION, I SAID TO LINDA, I SAID, THIS HUNDRED IS A LITTLE HARDER TO GET THAN MAYBE THE 100 WHEN YOU TAKE DECATUR 101.

BUT IT HAS.

I REMEMBER THOSE EARLY MEETINGS AND REALLY APPRECIATE LINDA'S HARD WORK AND DILIGENCE IN MAKING WORKING WITH THE TO IMPROVE OUR MY AND WORKING WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN TO TO GET US CREDIT FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE DOING THAT MAYBE THEY DIDN'T DIDN'T RECOGNIZE.

SO THANK YOU AND I'M THRILLED THAT WE HAVE THAT 100 FROM A VERY LOW SCORE TO 100 IN A FAIRLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IS IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.

SO THANK YOU. AND THEN I JUST YEAH, I'LL JUST ADD, I THINK IT IS WORTHY OF CELEBRATION.

OF COURSE. I THINK WE CELEBRATE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN WE SAY, WELL, WE KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO SIT BACK AND JUST TAKE THIS AND SAY OUR WORK IS DONE.

BUT IT IS NICE TO BE VALIDATED FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IT JUST MAKES US THAT MUCH MORE EXCITED TO CONTINUE THIS WORK.

BUT THANK YOU, LINDA, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.

AND WE DO HAVE ANOTHER REPORT.

MORE GOOD NEWS BY WAY OF MEREDITH ROARK.

I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE RECEIVED GFA AS THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICER ASSOCIATION'S BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD FOR OUR 22-23 BUDGET BOOK.

I KNOW, I BELIEVE I SHOULD SAY I KNOW, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WE'VE RECEIVED IT EVERY YEAR SINCE THE 2007-2008 BOOK, AND THEN THERE WERE A FEW BEFORE THEN, BUT EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.

SO I'M PROUD OF THAT.

CONGRATULATIONS. AND SHE MAKES IT LOOK EASY.

AND THIS IS NOT AN EASY RECOGNITION TO COME BY.

SO THANK YOU.

AND DAVID IS NODDING.

OH, ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY? I AM TALKING ABOUT THE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.

I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THE NORTH DAKOTA ROAD TRAFFIC SITUATION IN CONJUNCTION

[03:55:03]

WE ARE HAVING A PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER THE SEVENTH, FROM 6 P.M.

TO 8 P.M.

AT THE NORTH DECATUR ROAD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, LOCATED AT 611 MEDLOCK ROAD.

WE WANT EVERYONE TO COME OUT WHERE IT IS A LISTENING SESSION.

WE'LL HAVE SOME BOARDS AND INFORMATION.

WE'LL HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING AND THEN WE'LL DISPERSE AND HAVE BOARDS AROUND THE ROOM WHERE THEY CAN MEET WITH STAFF AND OUR CONSULTANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES AND THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALONG THE CORRIDOR.

I'D LIKE TO JUST REMIND EVERYBODY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER SEVEN, 6 TO 8.

AND THIS IS A JOINT PROJECT WITH DEKALB COUNTY, AND THERE WILL BE REPRESENTATIVES FROM DEKALB COUNTY IN ATTENDANCE, AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, CITY STAFF.

BUT I WILL SAY I COMMEND CITY STAFF FOR FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS AND MAKING THIS PROJECT HAPPEN.

THANK YOU. WAIT, THERE'S NO.

THERE'S GOT TO BE.

DAVID BROUGHT UP THE NORTH DAKOTA ROAD TRAFFIC CALMING INITIATIVE.

WE'RE ALSO HAVING A WORKSHOP ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER THE 13TH AT THE FRINGE MEETING TO CONSIDER TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES ON A DARE STREET.

AND IT'S A SIMILAR WORKSHOP.

STAFF CONSULTANTS WELCOMING THE PUBLIC TO COME AND SHARE THEIR IDEAS ON TRAFFIC CALMING ON ADAIR STREET BE FROM 6 TO 8 P.M.

SAW THE SIGNS YESTERDAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. NO, IT.

SO I HAVE NOTHING? NO, NOTHING. COMMISSIONER MAYER? THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR.

WHAT I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO BE SUCH A.

INTERESTING ME.

AND I THINK THAT AS I THINK THROUGH ALL OF THE WORK SESSIONS AND EVERY ASPECT OF THE MEETING, IT HAD SUCH AN INTERESTING FLOW THAT KIND OF CONNECTS.

SO WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOUSING, DIVERSITY, PERHAPS REINTRODUCING DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES AND QUADS INTO OUR COMMUNITY, REINTRODUCING THOSE AND.

THAT LENDS ITSELF TO DIVERSITY.

THEN WE HAD A PRESENTATION FROM BETTER TOGETHER BOARD WHERE THEY ASKED, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP? AND SO IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO HAVE A DIALOG ABOUT CAMERAS BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GOING FORWARD.

WE HAVE WITH MEMBERS OF THE BETTER TOGETHER BOARD AND WITH BEACON HILL BLACK ALLIANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

THERE IS NEVER A SITUATION WHERE EVERY PERSON CAN CONSIDER EVERYTHING, EVERY FEASIBLE OUTCOME, EVERY POTENTIAL DANGER, EVERY POTENTIAL IMPLICATION.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT US WHEN WE MAKE THESE IMPORTANT DECISIONS.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL IMPACT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT SOME MAY FIND UNCOMFORTABLE, THAT WE MAKE AN EFFORT TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.

AWARENESS CAN SOMETIMES HELP PROVIDE SECURITY THAT A CAMERA CAN'T.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT BOTH CHIEF RICHARDS AND CAPTAIN WOODRUFF, I HATE THAT THEY'RE NOT STILL HERE.

KNOW HOW MUCH I RESPECT AND ADMIRE THEM AND THEIR WORK.

I KNOW THAT WHAT THEY DO IS NOT EASY.

AND I KNOW THAT UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY IS A GREAT WAY TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

BUT US BEING A COMMUNITY POLICING MODEL IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN ANYTHING.

IT IS WHAT MAKES ME FEEL SAFE IN DECATUR.

AND SO I HOPE AS WE CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IN OUR PARKS, WE ARE ALSO CONSIDERING DECATUR HISTORY AND WE ARE CONSIDERING THAT THERE ARE NEIGHBORS WHO STILL IN THIS COMMUNITY FEEL MARGINALIZED.

THAT BEING SAID, BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION LIKE THAT WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF AND A POLICE CAPTAIN IN THE ROOM AND ME FEELING FULLY COMFORTABLE SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT I BELIEVE IS A CONCERN AND ISSUE SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TRUST THAT I HAVE AND SECURITY

[04:00:07]

SO I WANTED TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND FRANK, WHO I WISH WAS HERE TO HEAR THIS.

IT IS NOT EASY TO GET UP IN FRONT OF A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE AND SPEAK ON SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

AND THE COURAGE THAT FRANK SHOWED TODAY WAS INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE.

I HOPE THAT YOU OR YOU WILL PASS THAT ALONG.

I'M ALSO SO GLAD THAT FRANK WAS ABLE TO SEE A COMMISSION MEETING WHERE THERE WERE DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW, BECAUSE DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

SO PLEASE, PLEASE SHARE THAT WITH FRANK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK SESSION.

I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM WHAT YOU'VE PREPARED, AND I KNOW THAT THAT TOOK A LOT.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YET ANOTHER STELLAR BUDGET.

I LIKE TO SAY WE'RE THE BEST AT BUDGET IS WE HAVE THE BEST BEAUTIFUL BUDGET.

I KNOW THAT THAT THAT IS.

AN INCREDIBLE EFFORT EVERY YEAR.

AND SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

YAY FOR MEI.

VERY COOL.

COACH WHITE, YOU KNOW, I'M PASSIONATE, SO THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.

AND GREG, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YOUR WORK IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND I APPRECIATE I THINK THIS WAS YOUR FIRST.

WAS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME? OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

I AM PASSIONATE, BUT.

BUT I APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S ALL FOR ME TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY? I WANT TO START I MEAN, I WAS GOING TO COMPLIMENT FRANK, TOO.

I MEAN, THAT TOOK SOME GUTS.

SO I WAS IMPRESSED BY THAT.

I WAS LIKE, WHAT? HIS NAME.

RIGHT. RIGHT. OKAY.

KUDOS TO HIM FOR THAT.

AND I'LL START. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH THE CAMERAS.

AND OBVIOUSLY, COMMISSIONER AND I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR.

I MEAN, THOSE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS YOU RAISED.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND DISAGREE.

AND I DO THINK THAT HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS ALSO.

HOPEFULLY CREATES AN AWARENESS THAT WE ARE PUTTING TRUST IN THE STAFF TO USE THAT IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY.

SO I DO VERY MUCH WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, SO I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT MEI, TOO.

I MEAN, TO ME THAT KIND OF ENCAPSULATES DECATUR, I MEAN, TOO OFTEN WHEN WE'RE JUST KIND OF THERE'S TOO MUCH KIND OF US THEM HATE, BUT JUST INCLUSIVE AND ACCEPTANCE AND JUST RECOGNIZING THAT WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT.

SO I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS.

TO ANYBODY ELSE TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

OF COURSE, THE BUDGET BOOK.

EXCITED ABOUT DECATUR ROAD AND ADAIR STREET.

I'M NOT GONNA STEAL YOUR THING, BUT I THOUGHT WE HAD A VERY GOOD MEETING LAST WEDNESDAY AND I LEAVE IT AT THAT AND WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

I DO WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PRESENTATION, MISS ALLEN.

THANK YOU. IT WAS A VERY THOROUGH, EXHAUSTING, EXHAUSTIVE, EXHAUSTIVE PRESENTATION.

EXCUSE ME. AND, YOU KNOW, AND I'M GLAD THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION.

WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF EMAILS ABOUT IT.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES COMING TO THE CITY THAT I MEAN, I THINK PEOPLE FEAR THE WORST WHEN THEY HEAR ANY KIND OF CHANGE.

AND I THINK THAT WE'RE BEING VERY THOROUGH IN TERMS OF OUR CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSING AND THINKING ABOUT IT.

I DO THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS AND AND LISTENING UNDERSTAND WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM.

AND I REALLY LIKE THE WAY THAT THE CONVERSATION HAS EVOLVED.

AND WE STARTED KIND OF ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS I DID WANT TO PICK UP.

I DO THINK ONE THING THE MAYOR MENTIONED IT.

I THINK THAT THE PARKING IS SOMETHING THERE'S LEGITIMATE CONCERNS.

I THINK WE CAN FIND SOME SOME COMPROMISE THERE AND WORKED WAY THROUGH.

I DO THINK IT JUST BEHOOVES US TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.

ALSO, THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SHORT TERM RENTALS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE ADDRESSED THAT.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT. BUT I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE MAY NEED TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER INTO AND FIGURE THAT OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS MISSING MIDDLE, MAYBE IT'S JUST BECAUSE I LIVED IN A CONDOMINIUM THAT WAS RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE.

AND I'M NOT SAYING I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO EXPLORE DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES AND QUADPLEXES.

BUT IN THE OVERALL CONVERSATION ABOUT HAVING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE INTO DECATUR HAVE HOME OWNERSHIP, THAT WE DO TAKE THAT HOLISTIC APPROACH TO IT AND THAT THAT I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE SUBJECT MATTER ON THE TABLE, BUT AS PART OF THE BROADER CONVERSATION, I THINK THAT SOME OF THAT DENSER DEVELOPMENT

[04:05:04]

AND THEN THE LAST THING YOU KNOW, IF WE LOOK AT ADDING 10,500 PEOPLE GOING FROM 25,000 PEOPLE TO OVER 35,000 PEOPLE, WE'RE PROBABLY SEEING SOMETHING SIMILAR IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF HOMES WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN ONE WAY, SHAPE OR THE OTHER.

INDICATOR, AS I OFTEN TALK ABOUT THAT, IS MAKING SURE WE HAVE A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND SO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN MASTERPLAN, THE PARKS AND GREENSPACE MASTERPLAN, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS NOW BECAUSE IF WE WAIT TEN YEARS TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, WE BUILT ANOTHER 3000 HOUSING UNITS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND WE HAVE ANOTHER 10,000, IT SHOULD BE THAT MUCH HARDER TO DO THAT.

SO FOR ME, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, KIND OF WHAT COMMISSIONER MAYER SAID COHESIVELY AND RECOGNIZING THAT I THINK THAT THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKING PLACE SIMULTANEOUSLY.

AND SO I'M GLAD THAT THEY ARE.

SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

I KNOW I TRY NOT TO TALK SO LONG, BUT THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. WE'VE HAD A RICH AND DEEP MEETING, SO I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE.

SO, COMMISSIONER MAYER? THANK YOU. AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE THE OTHER.

LET'S TALK.

ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW SISTERS.

THERE YOU GO. MR. SAXON, THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE TWO PUBLIC WORKS MEETINGS COMING UP ON THE SEVENTH AND THE 13TH.

AND I'VE PUT THOSE BOTH OUT ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH APPETITE.

THERE HAS BEEN, AT LEAST FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT THESE TWO ISSUES, THE NORTH DECATUR ROAD ON THE 7TH AND THEN ADAIR TRAFFIC CALMING ON THE 13TH.

SO I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE MAKE THAT CONNECTION AND KNOW THAT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE.

SO IF WE ALL HELP EACH OTHER GET THAT WORD OUT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

LAST WEDNESDAY OR WAS IT TWO? YES, LAST WEDNESDAY, THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN MEETING KICKED OFF FOR THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

ENGAGEMENT HAPPENED AT THE REC CENTER, I THINK NORTH OF 150 PEOPLE CAME AND JUST TREMENDOUS.

ATTENDANCE AND FEEDBACK, GREAT ENERGY.

I THINK WE HAVE REALLY SOLID CONSULTANTS OR CONSORTIUM OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SKILLS THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER FOR US.

SO I WAS REALLY PLEASED WITH WITH THE WAY IT LAID OUT.

BUT TO MENTION THAT I THINK THE FEEDBACK WE HEARD THAT NIGHT, BECAUSE IT CAN DO SOME KIND OF INSTANT POLLING AND CREATE A WORD CLOUD AND THAT WAS OF 150 PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. AND THEN WE'VE GOT COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING IN UP UNTIL NOW.

BUT. CLEAN SAFE AND WELCOMING SLASH DIVERSE WERE THE ATTRIBUTES FOLKS WERE REALLY TALKING ABOUT FOR DOWNTOWN AND THOSE THINGS GO HAND IN HAND. SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT JUMPING OFF POINT AND WE'LL GET MORE GRANULAR UNDERNEATH THAT.

AND THIS WAS REALLY AN ENVIRONMENT JUST FOR MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO GET A LEVEL SET WITH THE CONSULTANTS AND THEN GET A FEEL FOR THE PROCESS AND HAVE THIS FIRST CHANCE TO GIVE FEEDBACK.

BUT THERE'LL BE MORE ENGAGEMENT AT LEAST TWO MORE.

THIS THREAD GOES NOT IN THE ROOM, MAJOR SESSIONS COMING INTO THE NEW YEAR.

AND SO WITH THE DISCUSSION OF CAMERAS AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND AND HEAR THE PROBLEMATIC COMPONENTS OF THAT, WHAT I WOULD WISH FOR IN THE WORLD IN WHICH I HOPE WE LIVE IN WITH GOOD COMMUNITY POLICING AND.

AND PRUDENT AND THOUGHTFUL POLICIES AROUND THE USE OF THE CAMERAS THAT IN THE DOWNTOWN WHERE WE HAVE SUCH A STRONG VOICE FOR MORE SAFETY THAT THEY ARE A TOOL FOR IMPROVING THAT ENVIRONMENT.

SO HAVING SAID THAT, I GUESS WE'RE ALL ON THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER, AND I HOPE THAT WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE MASTER PLAN MARRIES UP WITH SOME OF THIS RESPONSIVENESS AND IT HELPS US HAVE A SAFER WE'RE MOVING TOWARD A CLEANER DOWNTOWN WITH THE CLEAN TEAM AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT, THAT WE'VE GOT SOME PUBLIC WORKS FOLKS WORKING OUTSIDE THEIR HOURS TO BE A CLEANUP CREW AND PLEASE GIVE THEM A HIGH FIVE AND SAY HELLO AND THANK THEM, BECAUSE I HOPE THIS REALLY WORKS GREAT FOR US AND WE CAN DO SOMETHING MORE LONG TERM WITH THAT. I WAS NOT HERE FOR THE MEETING OF THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING, SO I DIDN'T GET TO MAKE A THANKFUL SPEECH BECAUSE I'M REALLY DID WANT TO SAY I'M THANKFUL FOR MY COLLEAGUES.

I WAS THANKFUL TO GET AWAY WITH MY FAMILY AND I HADN'T MISSED A MEETING SINCE I TOOK OFFICE, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT BECAUSE I NEED IT GIVES YOU PERSPECTIVE, PARTICULARLY TO TRAVEL KIND OF FAR AWAY AND MAKE THOSE AMAZING COMPARISONS TO HOW FOLKS LIVE IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND OTHER CITIES AND THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO GREAT HERE TO THAT ARE AROUND OUR WALKABLE, WALKABLE STREETS, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT WITH COOL RETAIL AND SHOPPING DISTRICTS.

SO ANYWAY, IT WAS GREAT TO GET AWAY.

IT WAS GREAT TO GET HOME. BUT AGAIN, THANKFUL FOR THIS ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE ALSO HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS AND CONTINUE TO KIND OF KEEP MOVING THE.

[04:10:08]

IN BACK TO THE THE MEI.

I TOOK I WAS ELECTED IN 17 AND IT MAY HAVE EVEN BEFORE I TOOK MY FIRST OR GOT SWORN IN I TOOK A MEETING WHERE A CONCERNED RESIDENT WANTED TO TALK ABOUT OUR LOW SCORE AND I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WERE EVEN TALKING ABOUT.

BUT IT WAS NOT COINCIDENTALLY, AROUND THE TIME THAT BETTER TOGETHER WAS REALLY GETTING LIFT AS WELL.

AND SO I DON'T.

I CAN'T UNCOUPLE THAT.

THAT EMERGENCE OF THAT BOARD AND THAT WORK AND MR. HARRIS'S LEADERSHIP THERE, THAT THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN GROWING TOGETHER.

AND HERE WE ARE WITH A 100 POINT SCORE.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

AND AGAIN, WORK'S NOT OVER AND THERE'S MORE TO DO THERE.

AND I'LL JUST WRAP UP WITH [INAUDIBLE] WAS TREMENDOUS PRESENTATION.

I KEEP LEARNING MORE.

WE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS.

IT'S SUCH A DEEP, RICH TOPIC.

IT'S ACADEMIC, BUT THERE'S REALITY HERE.

AND I THINK HAVING DR.

EMER GLUCK AND MIKE ALEXANDER BRING A LOT OF REALITY TO WHAT SOUNDS ABSTRACT.

IT'S NOT JUST BOOKS AND REPORTS AND DATA MINING.

THIS IS THESE ARE REAL TRENDS IN OUR REGION OF WHICH OUR CITY IS A PART, AND THAT THERE ARE POLICY INITIATIVES THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE TO CHANGE OUR ENVIRONMENT, MITIGATE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FORCES THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED AND COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE A BETTER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY. SO I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS AND THINGS TO KEEP BRINGING BACK, PARTICULARLY AROUND SHORT TERM RENTALS AND HOW TO GRAPPLE WITH THAT PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING ASPECT. AND ALSO THE CONSIDERATION THAT WE ARE OUR OWN SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENT TO REGULATE AND THAT WE MAY FIND A MIX OF CUSTOM APPLICATION OF REGULATION THAT WORKS FOR US.

SO I DO STILL THINK IF WE CAN DRILL DOWN ON WHAT COMPONENTS OF THIS COULD STILL NEED MORE REGULATION, AND I SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLYING TO CERTAIN FORMS OF THIS.

I THINK THERE'S STILL OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WHAT THAT MEANS AND AND BE MORE THOROUGH IN RULING IT OUT IF WE DO.

BUT I WANTED TO GET A LITTLE GRANULAR BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF TIME EARLIER THAT WE TOOK AND I DIDN'T GET TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS.

SO I'LL WRAP UP WITH THAT.

AGAIN, THANKFUL FOR EVERYBODY.

A WEEK AFTER THANKSGIVING.

I APPRECIATE YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

ALL RIGHT. SO TALKING ABOUT THE YOUTH COUNCIL, THEIR FALL PROJECT IS A SHOWING OF.

ELF. IT WILL BE OUTSIDE THE CHAPEL ON SYCAMORE SATURDAY THE 17TH, 6:00.

BRING YOUR BLANKETS.

BRING YOUR REFRESHMENTS.

THERE MIGHT BE SOME THERE AS WELL, BUT IT'S THEIR ANNUAL ONE OF THEIR PROJECTS THAT THEY DO.

JUST GETTING TO WORK WITH THEM IS SUCH A PLEASURE BECAUSE THEY'RE FULL OF IDEAS AND FULL OF PASSION AND THEY'RE GOING TO SAVE US FROM OURSELVES.

SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE THEM ENOUGH RUNWAY TO KEEP SAVING THEM, SAVING US FROM OURSELVES.

AND THEY ARE GREAT, GREAT, GREAT ORGANIZATION.

AGAIN, I CAN'T [INAUDIBLE] THEM HIGH ENOUGH.

I MEAN, YOU SAW FRANK SPEAK HERE TODAY.

THEY ALL HAVE THAT SAME PASSION.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

MS. ALLEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR A VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE WORK SESSION.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST WORK SESSIONS WE HAVE EVER HAD.

AND IT COVERED ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE GAVE YOU.

IT GAVE US INFORMATION THAT WE COULD FEED BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHEN WE SAY IT, WE'RE JUST MAKING STUFF UP.

WHEN THE EXPERTS SAY IT, YOU KNOW, IT LEADS SOME CREDENCE TO.

RIGHT? I MEAN, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT WRITE BOOKS, THAT TEACH POLICY, THAT REALLY WALK THE WALK AND TALK THE TALK.

WE'RE JUST POLITICIANS.

WE DON'T KNOW THIS STUFF.

SO WE RELY ON THE EXPERTS A LITTLE BIT HERE TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.

BUT REALLY, IT IS IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S HEARD OUT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK WE DO HAVE A CHALLENGE THAT FACES US.

I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO SEE 10,000 MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY BY 2050.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE SOMEWHERE.

AND SO THAT PRESSURE, WHETHER IT'S NATURALLY OR NATURALLY OCCURRING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR EXISTING HOUSING OR SUPER DUPER GENTRIFIED AS WE GET TO 20 YEARS FROM NOW, I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS.

AND I THINK THERE GOING TO BE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, THERE ARE ALREADY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT ARE NOT REPRESENTED, AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, AND THERE ARE FACES THAT WE DON'T WANT MARGINALIZED ANYMORE THROUGH OUR POLICIES AND THROUGH OUR DECISIONS.

AND ON THAT NOTE, I WANT TO TALK TODAY ABOUT A COMMUNITY LOSS.

[04:15:04]

HE SERVED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.

I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIS DAUGHTER, JENNIFER.

I KNOW HIS WIFE, COLLEEN VERY WELL.

IN FACT, I FELL BACKWARDS DOWN STAIRS YEARS AGO AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, BUT [INAUDIBLE] FANTASTIC DECATUR MAN GREW UP IN THIS COMMUNITY, POURED HIS HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS COMMUNITY, SERVED IN THIS COMMUNITY IN JUST ABOUT EVERY CAPACITY YOU COULD SERVE.

HE WAS THE TRUE HEART AND SOUL OF WHAT THIS COMMUNITY EMBODIES.

HE WILL SURELY BE MISSED.

HE SERVED AS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE DECATUR EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND JUST A DARN GOOD MAN, AND I WILL ADMIT IT TO A FAULT.

HE WAS PROBABLY THE BEST YELLOWJACKET I KNOW AND HE WILL BE MISSED.

I WILL SEND COLLEEN AND JENNIFER NOTES AND HIS SON BEAU, BUT JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WE LOST A TRUE PILLAR THAT LIVED IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT LIVED HERE HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

AND I'M THANKFUL FOR, AGAIN, FOR MY COLLEAGUES HERE, I'M GREAT.

I'M GLAD THAT WE CAN GET INTO THESE DEEP CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TOPICS AND DON'T JUST PAY THEM LIP SERVICE THAT WE ACTUALLY SPEND THE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS THE SAME.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT LENS THAT WE ALL LOOK AT SOMETHING THROUGH AND WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO AGREE, BUT WE'RE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE STILL GOING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I'M THANKFUL THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCOURSE AND WE WILL WALK OUT THAT DOOR.

HOLD OUR HEADS HIGH. SIT BACK DOWN HERE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND KEEP FIGURING IT OUT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU.

I THINK WE SHOULD LET DAN KNOW THAT HE SHOULD CHANGE IT TO SUPER DUPER GENTRIFIED.

SO THAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT ACADEMIC TERM.

SO. BUT.

WELL, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR A GOOD MEETING.

WE STARTED OFF WITH SOME REALLY GOOD WORK SESSIONS AND HEARING FROM THE BETTER TOGETHER BOARD AND APPRECIATE ALL OF THE INFORMATION SHARED AND THE EXPERTS AND THE REAL DEDICATION THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD WITH THIS AND LISTENING AND MASSAGING AND HELPING US GET TO WHERE WE WANT TO GO AND WHAT'S GOING TO WORK WITH WITH OUR CITY FOR AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN ADD MORE DIVERSITY TO AND MORE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO THAT ARE NOT SUPER DUPER GENTRIFIED SO THAT WE THERE ARE OTHER WAYS FOR OTHER FOLKS TO BE BECOME A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER MAYER FOR HER COMMENTS, ESPECIALLY FOR MAKING SURE THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND BRINGING FORWARD YOUR COMMENTS, THAT YOU MADE SURE THAT THE STAFF HERE WAS LISTENING TO YOU SAY, I RESPECT YOU.

I AM THRILLED THAT YOU ARE OUR POLICE CHIEF, OUR CAPTAIN, THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND ALSO FROM ACTIVE LIVING.

THAT IT IS IT IS NOT BECAUSE YOU LACK CONFIDENCE IN THEM, BUT JUST THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS BEING VIEWED THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS.

AND I THINK THAT WILL HELP SHAPE THE POLICIES THAT COME FORWARD THAT ARE GOING TO BE A PART OF HOW THESE CAMERAS ARE UTILIZED.

I ALSO WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE DID UTILIZE THE WARMING CENTERS FOR THE FIRST TIME ON DECEMBER 1ST WHEN IT WAS 38 DEGREES.

AND I THINK WE HAD A REPORT FROM SHIRLEY BAYLISS AND FROM CHRISTINE THAT IT WAS A WELCOME PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND SPEND THE NIGHT WITH THE OFFER OF SERVICES WHILE WHILE THEY WERE THERE.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE CLEAN TEAM.

I NOTICED WHEN I WAS ON THE SQUARE THIS WEEKEND, ABOUT LIKE 6:00 IN THE EVENING, SOMETIMES THINGS HAVE GOTTEN ON A FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT OR TRASH CANS ARE OVERFLOWING.

I MEAN, IT WAS SPIC AND SPAN NEXT TO EDDIE'S ATTIC.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THEIR HARD WORK AND HELPING US TO KEEP THE SQUARE CLEAN AND AND WELCOMING.

SO THANKS TO THE TO THE CLEAN TEAM.

AND WE'VE SEEN THEM IN ACTION AND WE WILL EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION.

[04:20:05]

AND I SAID, WE DROVE AROUND ON SATURDAY AND I WAS LIKE, I CAN'T EVEN COUNT HOW MANY STREETLIGHTS ARE OUT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

SO CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT? I COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.

THAT WAS MY SAME EXPERIENCE.

I WISH I HAD MORE OF AN UPDATE THAT I CAN PROVIDE.

I DID REACH OUT TO MISS RHONDA THOMAS, THE GOVERNMENT LIAISON THAT WE HAVE WITH GEORGIA POWER.

I EXPRESSED TO HER THE IMPORTANCE AND URGENCY OF GETTING OUR DOWNTOWN LIGHTS REPAIRED.

SHE CHECKED ON IT.

IT'S MORE THAN WHAT WE WANTED TO TRY TO SUBMIT INDIVIDUALLY THROUGH THEIR PORTAL.

EVEN THOUGH MISS ROARK ASSISTED IN GETTING SOME INITIAL THINGS REPORTED ON TRINITY BECAUSE IT'S A SIMILAR MANY LIGHTS THAT WERE OUT AND I BELIEVE THEY HAD REPLIED TO HER THAT IT WAS RELATED TO A UNDERGROUND CABLE SITUATION ANYWAY.

MISS THOMAS DID GET BACK WITH ME AND PROVIDED A COPY OF THE WORK TICKET THAT.

BEEN PROVIDED BY THEIR LINE CREWS THAT THEY WOULD BE IN THE CITY MAKING REPAIRS.

AND THAT WAS LAST.

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, WHEN I, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWED UP WITH AN EMAIL WITH MISS THOMAS.

SO IT WOULD BE MY ANTICIPATION THAT THIS WEEK I WOULD FOLLOW UP CHECK ON THE STATUS OF THE LIGHTS IN DOWNTOWN, CHECK ON THE PROGRESS AND GET AN UPDATE FROM FROM GEORGIA POWER AND COMMERCE GOING AROUND BY THE BANK.

AND I WAS AT AN EVENT, THE HOLIDAY EVENT FOR THE EMORY SCHOOL OF NURSING.

AND I HAVE TO SAY EVERYONE THERE WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY LOVE BEING IN DECATUR AND HOW WONDERFUL THEIR STUDENTS ENJOY IT THERE, THE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE COMING IN FOR TRAINING.

THEY LOVE STAYING IN THE HOTELS AND GOING TO OUR RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS.

AND BUT THEY SAID IT'S KIND OF DARK DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW.

AND I SAID AND I HAD GOTTEN THE EMAIL FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND I SAID, WE ARE AWARE AND ARE WORKING ON IT, SO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE WHEN I GET MORE INFORMATION AS WELL.

THANK YOU. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.

SO AND I CAN'T CLOSE THE MEETING WITHOUT REMINDING EVERYONE THAT THE DECATUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MEETING IS TOMORROW EVENING. I THINK WE GATHER AT 530.

THE PROGRAM STARTS AT SIX.

WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING THIS YEAR'S HOMETOWN HEROES, AS WELL AS THOSE FROM 2020 AND 2021 AND THE WELCOMING BUSINESS AWARDS THAT BETTER TOGETHER WORTH TALKING ABOUT AND THAT THEY ARE AWARDING, I BELIEVE, FOR THE THIRD OR FOURTH YEAR.

SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OTHER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.