Jan 17, 2023 Work Session & City Commission

>> AUDIT REPORT. WE'LL CALL

[00:00:04]

[WORK SESSION – 5:45 P.M. ]

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING.

I'M RUSS MADISON, FINANCE DIRECTOR.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT AT LEAST PARTS OF THE RECENTLY COMPLETED AUDIT REPORT FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDED JUNE 30TH, 2022.

THE AUDIT REPORT IS ONLINE.

IT'S AT DECATURGA.COM/AUDIT.

I CAN SEE YOU HAVE COPIES OF THE AUDIT, BUT ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW IT OR ANYBODY IN THE WORLD WHO'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

IF THEY CAN GET ONLINE, THEY CAN SEE OUR AUDIT REPORT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE GOT ANOTHER CLEAN AUDIT, SO OUR AUDITORS, MAULDIN & JENKINS ISSUED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION, WHICH MEANS BASICALLY THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REPRESENT THE FINANCIAL REALITY IN MATERIAL RESPECTS.

BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO ADAM FRALEY FROM MAULDIN & JENKINS, I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS THAT I WANT TO MAKE IN SOME THINGS IN THE AUDIT REPORT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS THANKS TO DO A SHOUT OUT ACCOLADES TO JOANNE COHEN WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT SHE'S OVER OUR ACCOUNTING TEAM, INCLUDING PAMELA DOVE WHO DOES ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FOR US, AND HOLLY JACKSON WHO MOSTLY DOES ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.

THERE ARE TWO ACCOUNTING SPECIALISTS, AND JOANNE ALWAYS SAYS SHE WAS TRAINED VERY EARLY ON IN HER CAREER TO TREAT YOUR WORK LIKE YOU COULD BE AUDITED AT ANYTIME, AND I THINK THAT GROUP EXHIBITS THAT.

THEY ARE VERY DILIGENT AND ACCURATE AND TIMELY AND WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING ONTO THE GENERAL LEDGER.

ALSO, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT AS WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THE QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT, SO MANY OF THE REVENUES, YOUR 85 PERCENT ARE TAX REVENUES.

OUR PROPERTY TAX AND REVENUE GROUP, MICHELLE GARY AND HER REVENUE OFFICERS, ARE OWED A LOT OF CREDIT TOO FOR THE WORK THAT YOU END UP SEEING AS WELL AS OUR HR TEAM.

AS YOU THINK ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, WE GOT 60 PERCENT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXPENDITURES EITHER BEING PAYROLL AND BENEFITS.

A LOT OF WHAT WE END UP SEEING ON THESE SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS COME FROM THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO IN HR.

ALSO, THEY GOT TO GET A LOT OF OTHER REPORTS FOR THESE GUYS, SO I APPRECIATE THEM.

OF COURSE, MAULDIN & JENKINS THEMSELVES, THEY'RE GOOD EVERY YEAR.

THEY'RE ALWAYS THOROUGH. THEY'RE ALWAYS DILIGENTLY, THEY'VE BEEN PROFESSIONAL THIS YEAR AS WELL.

I LIKE TO THINK EACH YEAR GETS A LITTLE BIT BETTER, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF US UNDERSTANDING THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE AUDITORS AND KNOWING WHAT THEY EXPECT WHEN, AND I THINK WE DO A LITTLE BETTER EACH YEAR ON HOPEFULLY MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE AUDITOR'S EXPECTATIONS.

BUT THAT'S ALL INSIDE BASEBALL.

DON'T WANT TO GO ON ON THAT.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE AUDIT ITSELF, YOU HAVE THIS CITY MANAGERS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, THAT'S THE FIRST SECTION IS ALWAYS SAME.

MAIN SECTIONS YOU ALWAYS GET THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, THE MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, THE NOTES THE REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION AND THE STATISTICS IN THE END.

BUT IN THE CITY MANAGERS LETTER, I THINK YOU WILL SEE EVIDENCE OF ROBUST DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY AND A STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION EVEN COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, POSSIBLY EVEN STRONGER THAN PREVIOUSLY.

I DO ESPECIALLY RECOMMEND LOOKING OVER THAT, I MEAN, A WHOLE LOT IT'S FANTASTIC, BUT [LAUGHTER] I DO RECOMMEND THAT SECTION.

YOU WILL SEE ONE THING IN THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL THAT MAY POP OUT TO YOU IS THE RETIREMENT PLAN FUNDED RATIO WHICH HAS FALLEN YEAR OVER YEAR FROM 95.

IF YOU REMEMBER THIS TIME LAST YEAR I WAS HIGHLIGHTING LAST OR THIS IS IF YOU'RE LOOKING ON YOUR BOOK, I THINK IT'S PAGE XVII, WHERE ANDREA TALKS ABOUT THE FUNDED PLAN RATIO.

IT'S BASICALLY GONE BACK DOWN TO WHAT IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.

FISCAL YEAR '21, IT WAS GREAT MARKET PERFORMANCE, TOOK THAT FUNDED PLAN RATIO UP TO 95 PERCENT.

THE YEAR BEFORE IT WAS 79 AND NOW IT'S BACK DOWN TO 78.

THAT'S STILL A VERY HEALTHY RATE FOR THE PENSION PLAN AND IT SUCCEEDS WHAT I BELIEVE MOST ORGANIZATIONS HAVE, BUT I DO WANT TO AT LEAST EXPLAIN THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT NUMBER WILL LOOK SIGNIFICANT TO YOU, AND I ASKED OUR ACTUARY IF THEY HAD SEEN RESULTS LIKE THAT WITH THEIR OTHER CLIENTS, THEY SAY YES.

UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THAT POOR MARKET PERFORMANCE,

[00:05:02]

THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS FOLLOWED BY THAT MDNA, WHICH IS A OVERVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN NARRATIVE FORM.

THAT MDNA INCLUDES A DESCRIPTION OF WHERE WE ENDED UP WITH FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS REVENUE AND EXCESSIVE EXPENDITURES AS YOU KNOW.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF I GUESS ARABIC NUMERAL PAGE 12, THAT DESCRIBES THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND BALANCE OF 16.6 MILLION OF WHICH 12.6 MILLION IS UNASSIGNED.

DESCRIPTION OF THAT IS ON THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 12, AND THEN THERE'S A TABLE ON PAGE 13 OF THE AUDIT REPORT THAT GOES INTO ALL THE LINE ITEMS LEADING UP TO THAT.

THAT FUND BALANCE OF 12.6 MILLION IS 47 PERCENT OF OUR ANNUAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, SO THAT EXCEEDS THE 20-30 PERCENT CALLED FOR BY OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES.

AS YOU KNOW, FUND BALANCE WITH THE CITY DOESN'T BUDGET FOR CONTINGENCIES OR UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS, BUT THE FUND BALANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR SIGNIFICANT ONETIME EXPENDITURES WITH YOUR APPROVAL AS A COMMISSION.

THE CITY DID END UP ADDING SLIGHTLY TO FUND BALANCE YEAR OVER YEAR, JUST PARTLY DUE TO RISING PROPERTY VALUES AND OTHER FACTORS WHICH ARE MENTIONED ON PAGE 13 OF THE MDNA.

[NOISE] NORMALLY, I LIKE TO SPEND SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT THE NET POSITION OF THE CITY.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO DETAIL ON THAT TONIGHT, BUT YOU DO HAVE SEVERAL STATEMENTS OF NET POSITION THROUGHOUT THE AUDIT DOCUMENT, BUT PAGES 8 AND 9 OF THE MDNA WILL SHOW YOU THE, I BELIEVE IT'S THAT PAGE WILL SHOW YOU THE CHANGES YEAR-OVER-YEAR.

THAT'S THE PRESENTATION OF OUR ASSETS, LIABILITIES, DEFERRED OUTFLOWS, AND INFLOWS.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK, THE STATISTICAL SECTION, YOU CAN SEE CHANGES AT PAGE 113 WILL GIVE YOU THE - YOU DON'T HAVE TO FLIP THERE NOW, IT'S JUST A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT OR SOMETHING, [LAUGHTER] BUT IT WILL SHOW YOU THE 10 YEAR HISTORY OF FUND BALANCE.

I THINK THAT'S USEFUL TO SEE AS A TRENDING TOOL.

YOU COULD SEE, I THINK SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO, SOME OF THE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS CHANGED AND WE ENDED UP IN THIS HUGE DEFICIT WITH THE NET POSITION LARGELY BECAUSE OF BOND WE ISSUE ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT WE DON'T GET THE ASSET.

BUT THEN YOU CAN SEE FROM THEN OVER THE PAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS, BASICALLY ADDITIONS TO OUR NET POSITION, SO WE'RE STILL IN THE NEGATIVE, BUT WE DID ADD 14 MILLION TO NET POSITION THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR.

LASTLY, NOT LASTLY, DON'T GET EXCITED.

BUT GETTING THERE BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO ADAM.

IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THEMSELVES, I DO WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME ON THIS PAGE THAT I HAVE UP AT LEAST I CAN SEE IT ON MY SCREEN.

I'M LOOKING AT STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.

THIS IS PAGE 26 IF YOU'RE LOOKING IN THE HARD COPY OF THE AUDIT REPORT, AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE PDF, IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT PAGE NUMBER BUT IT IS PAGE 26.

THIS SHOULD RESEMBLE AND DOES I KNOW THAT IT DOES, BUT IT RESEMBLES THE FOURTH-QUARTER FINANCIAL REPORT THAT I'VE PRESENTED TO YOU ALL IN EARLY AUGUST OF 2022.

THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES BECAUSE LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, WITH THOSE QUARTERLY CHECK-INS, THE NUMBERS ARE SUBJECT TO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE ARE UNAUDITED, ETC.

ESPECIALLY AT YEAR-END WHEN WE'RE CONTINUING TO RECOGNIZE REVENUES FOR THINGS THAT REALLY BELONGED TO A PRIOR PERIOD.

MAYBE THEY WERE BILLED OR SOMEHOW DUE TO THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.

THEY DIDN'T COME IN UNTIL JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND THEN EXPENDITURES THAT THE CITY MADE, IT COULD BE FOR GOODS AND SERVICES THAT WERE RECEIVED PRIOR TO JUNE 30TH, BUT MAYBE WE WEREN'T INVOICED TILL JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER.

THE FIGURES THAT YOU HAVE IN THIS STATEMENT ARE THE FINAL ONES.

[00:10:05]

NOT A HUGE DIFFERENCE, BUT NOT INSIGNIFICANT EITHER.

EXPENDITURES WERE 330,000 MORE THAN WHAT I HAD REPORTED TO YOU.

THAT'S WHERE THEY ENDED UP.

BUT THE FUNDAMENTALS OF WHAT WE HAD DISCUSSED BACK THEN, IN TERMS OF ESSENTIALLY REVENUES COMING IN STRONGER THAN BUDGETED, THAT HELD OUT AND SO DID THE FACT THAT EXPENDITURES WERE COMING IN GENERALLY LESS THAN BUDGETED.

BOTH OF THOSE ENDED UP BEING THE CASE WITH THE ACTUALS.

THE REVISED BUDGET, YOU SEE YOU HAVE THE ORIGINAL BUDGET AND THE FINAL BUDGET NUMBERS HERE.

IT DID NARROW THE GAP OR IT DIDN'T NARROW THE VARIANCES.

BUT IT IS STILL THE CASE THAT REVENUES ENDED UP COMING IN SOMEWHAT HIGHER THAN EVEN THE REVISED BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES COMING IN SOMEWHAT LESS THAN THE REVISED BUDGET.

I THINK IN A NUTSHELL, WHAT THIS FINANCIAL STATEMENT IT'S UNDERSCORING WHAT THE CITY'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT APPROACH HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, WHICH IS GENERALLY CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING.

A LOT OF TIMES THE REVENUES DO COME IN BETTER THAN EXPECTED AND THE EXPENDITURES DO COME IN SOMEWHAT LESS.

BUT SOME OF THAT COULD ALSO BE DUE TO, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT CERTAIN FUNCTIONS AND DEPARTMENTS HERE ON THIS EXPENDITURE SCHEDULE, THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT APPEAR TO HAVE UNDER UNDERSPEND, SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH STAFFING CHALLENGES.

I THINK YOU'RE SEEING SOME OF THAT MANIFESTED IN THIS STATEMENT. YES, SIR.

>> IS IT APPROPRIATE TO ASK ABOUT THE BUDGET IN THE AUDIT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> IT'S ALL RIGHT.

>> MY QUESTION IS, HAVE WE DONE AN ANALYSIS OF HOW MUCH OUR EXPENDITURES WERE BELOW BUDGET BECAUSE OF UNFILLED STAFFING POSITIONS?

>> I MEAN, I WILL SAY JUST FROM, I MEAN I HAVE NOT DONE AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE REASONS FOR THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE BUDGET AND ACTUAL.

BUT I CAN SAY WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT MOST OF THE DIFFERENCE IS SALARY SAVINGS DUE TO VACANCIES, AND SO IT'S SALARY AND BENEFITS.

IN ADDITION TO ANY OF US, RECOGNIZING THE CITY'S HISTORY OF CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, I THINK YOU SEE THAT MAGNIFIED BY THE VACANCIES.

IN PARTICULAR, YOU SEE THE LARGEST VARIANCE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THAT WOULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE VACANCIES WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT.

>> SO WE BUDGET FOR 100 PERCENT OF THE BUDGET, THE POSITIONS BEING FILLED A 100 PERCENT OF THE TIME.

>> THE ORIGINAL BUDGET REFLECTS EVERY POSITION BEING FILLED EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.

THEN THE REVISED BUDGET DOES HAVE A BIT OF A TRUE UP TO REFLECT THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES UP UNTIL ESSENTIALLY THE DATE THAT THE BUDGET IS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

THEN THERE'S AN ESTIMATE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REST OF THE YEAR.

>> ONE THING THAT IS AFTER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE THE NOTES WHICH ARE IMPORTANT PART OF THE AUDIT DOCUMENT.

ONE NOTE THAT I JUST WANT TO MENTION AND MAYBE ADAM CAN TALK MORE ABOUT.

I THINK IT'S IN NOTE ONE, THERE'S THIS NEW SECTION J DEALING WITH LEASES AND I THINK THIS IS COMING FROM GASB 87 NEW AUDIT RULE.

IF THE LETTERING LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE YEAR BEFORE, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL SECTION ON LEASES.

IN THIS AUDIT, THERE WAS A FINDING PERTAINING TO AN ACCRUAL OF AN AMOUNT OWED BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THE JOINT CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIBER OPTIC CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

THIS WAS REALLY A BOOKKEEPING ERROR,

[00:15:03]

IT WAS AN EXCESSIVE ACCRUAL THAT WAS DETECTED BY THE CITY, SHARED WITH THE AUDITORS, BUT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ISSUE THE FINDING WHICH WE AGREE WITH.

WE'LL TAKE STEPS TO APPLY A CLOSER SCRUTINY WITH SUCH INTERGOVERNMENTAL FINANCING PROJECTS GOING FORWARD.

WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. FRALEY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CAN I JUST SHUT THIS LID?

>> YES.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING. I AM MADAM FREELY WITH MOLDEN JENKINS.

I UNDERSTAND YOU ALL HAVE YOUR PACKETS THERE OF THE HARD-COPY REPORTS THAT WERE ISSUED AS PART OF THE AUDIT? THE INTIMIDATING ONE BEING THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.

THEN OF COURSE YOU HAVE OUR SINGLE AUDIT REPORT WOULD CALL IT BECAUSE WE DO AN AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS AND UNIFORM GUIDANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SINGLE ORDER AND THEN ALSO THE AUDITORS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE COLORFUL DOCUMENT THAT THIS DOCUMENT HERE IS WHAT I'M GOING TO PRESENT FROM.

IT DOES A LITTLE BIT OF A SUMMARY OF THE AUDIT RESULTS.

I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NUMBERS.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO TOO IN DEPTH WITH THE NUMBERS AND I HOPEFULLY WON'T REPEAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT RUSS SAID.

BUT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, OF COURSE, THE CITY'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT, THEY KNOW THE NUMBERS WEREN'T MUCH BETTER THAN WE DO.

BUT I DO WANT TO REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT.

IF YOU'LL START LOOKING IN THE AUDIT DISCUSSION NOW, SO SOMEONE CALL IT THE DNA WITH ME. ON PAGE TWO.

JUST SOME INFORMATION ABOUT OUR FIRM.

WE ARE FULL-SERVICE CPA FIRM AS YOU WOULD EXPECT WITH ANY CPA, LOT OF CPA FIRMS. BUT WE'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THE WAY THAT WE HAVE A LARGE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL PRACTICE THAT SPECIALIZES IN A WHOLE TEAM OF US THAT SPECIALIZES YEAR-ROUND IN SERVICE, STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

IT'S WHAT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON KNOWING AND I GUESS GETS US EXCITED AND WHAT WE DO.

YOU'LL SEE THERE WE PROVIDE OVER 135,000 HOURS A YEAR TO OVER 650 GOVERNMENTS IN PROVIDING BOTH ASSURANCE WORK IN THE WAY OF AUDITS AND THEN ALSO JUST ADVISORY WORK IN CONSULTING.

I WASN'T ENGAGEMENT LEAD PARTNER ON THE AUDIT.

SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER TIM LINES FROM YESTERYEAR.

HE USED TO WORK ON THE AUDIT, BUT HE'S AN INDEPENDENT PARTY TO THE AUDIT NOW HE SERVES AS OUR QUALITY REVIEW PARTNER.

HE'S NOT INVOLVED IN THE FILE AND THE CONDUCT OF THE AUDIT, BUT HE DOES REVIEW THE FILE AND THE ULTIMATE REPORTS AT THE END, AGAIN, AS AN INDEPENDENT PARTY TO ENSURE QUALITY ASSURANCE, THEY'RE CALLED CONTROL THERE.

THEN RYAN JONES, HE WAS GOING TO GET ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR.

ANOTHER KEY INDIVIDUAL AND THE AUDIT TEAM.

ON PAGE 3, AS I MENTIONED WITH OUR FIRM, WE SOME OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT WE SERVE AND OTHER SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE JUST AS AN FYI.

THEN ON PAGE 4.

THE FINANCIAL REPORT, IT'S REQUIRED BY LAW OF THE CITY, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CITY IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, TO BE WITHIN SIX MONTHS A YEAR END TO PUT TOGETHER A SET OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE CITY'S FINANCES AND HAVE THAT AUDITED BY INDEPENDENT CPAS AND ISSUED TO THE STATE WITHIN SIX MONTHS, A YEAR END.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN ALL OF THIS TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT AND PERFORM OUR TEST WORK, AND RENDER AN OPINION BASED ON THE FAIR PRESENTATION OR NOT OF THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

WE DID, OF COURSE, CONDUCT OUR AUDIT AND WE ISSUED AN UNMODIFIED AUDIT REPORT AS RUSS HAD MENTIONED.

WE OFTENTIMES CALL THAT A CLEAN OPINION.

THE REASON WHY WE DO IS WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

AN UNMODIFIED REPORT MEANS THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE FAIRLY PRESENTED IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS FOR THE FINANCIAL POSITION AT YEAR-END AS WELL AS THE RESULTS OF THOSE OPERATIONS THROUGH THE YEAR.

YOU'LL SEE THERE UNDER EMPHASIS OF MATTER.

THIS IS TOUCHED ON IN THE FOOTNOTES, AS WELL AS JUST DIFFERENT ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING OF THE NUMBERS IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE CITY WAS REQUIRED THIS YEAR TO IMPLEMENT A NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD, GASB 87, YOU'LL SEE RIGHT THERE ON LEASES.

THE CITY HAS ENTERED INTO TRANSACTIONS THAT MEET THAT STANDARD.

WE DID IMPLEMENT, SO THAT PROBABLY IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE FROM AN ACCOUNTING STANDPOINT

[00:20:02]

THEY ARE NOW REPORTED.

INSTEAD OF MORE LIKE RENT MONTH TO MONTH, SO TO SPEAK, YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY BOOK A LONG-TERM LIABILITY FOR THAT ENTIRE LEASE TERM AND THE OFFSETTING ASSET, IT WHEN YOU'RE THE LESSEE SIDE, AND OBVIOUSLY THE OPPOSITE EFFECT WHEN YOU'RE ON THE LESSER SIDE.

THAT DID IMPACT THIS YEAR STATEMENTS AND IT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

WE WORKED WITH THE CITY AND WITH US THAT WAS ALL PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED THERE.

ON THE NEXT PAGE, I'LL JUST TOUCH ON THIS REAL QUICK.

THE CITY DOES GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT STATE LAW REQUIRES AND PREPARING AN ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.

AS RUSS MENTIONED, IT'S GOT THREE MAJOR SECTIONS.

THERE BEING THE INTRODUCTORY SECTION, THE FINANCIAL SECTION, AND THEN THE STATISTICAL SECTION.

THEN ON THE NEXT PAGE, IN DOING AN ACT FOR OUR ACRONYM FOR THAT.

THE CITY ALSO SUBMIT THAT ACT FOR EACH YEAR TO THE GF AWAY FOR CONSIDERATION IN THEIR EXCELLENCE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING PROGRAM.

YOU'LL SEE THERE LAST YEAR AN IMAGE OF LAST YEAR CERTIFICATE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S ACT FOR WHERE THE CITY RECEIVED THAT AND SUCCESSFULLY GOT THAT FOR LAST YEAR IN MANY OF THE PAST YEARS.

ALSO SUBMITTED FOR THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR AND WE EXPECT NO DIFFERENT.

ON THE NEXT PAGE 7.

THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THAT'S THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

OBVIOUSLY THE CITY HAS FUNDS, THE GENERAL FUND AND DIFFERENT ENTERPRISE AND GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS.

WHEN YOU PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS ALL THAT INFORMATION COMPILED TOGETHER ON A FULL CURLY BRACES WITH ALL THE CAPITAL ASSETS, ANY LONG-TERM DEBT, ETC.

YOU'LL SEE THERE THAT THE TOTAL ASSETS INTO THE YEAR OF ABOUT 200.7 MILLION AND OFFSET BY LIABILITIES ABOUT 249 MILLION.

THE RESULT OF THAT IS YOUR NET POSITION, THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF AN APPROXIMATE 48.5 NEGATIVE, WHICH RUSS DID MENTION SOME OF THE FINANCING WITH THE CITY SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS THINGS LIKE GASB, THE STANDARD SETTING BODY FOR ACCOUNTING MIX, MAKES US PUT ON THINGS LIKE NET OPEC LIABILITIES AND NET PENSION LIABILITIES AND THOSE LONG-TERM THINGS, EVEN THOUGH THE PRACTICE OF GOVERNMENTS IS TO PAY AS YOU GO.

BUT THOSE ARE ON THERE AS WELL.

THAT SHOWS UP IN THOSE LIABILITIES.

IF YOU'LL TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE, I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND, SO ON THE FUND LEVEL, AND OF COURSE, GENERAL FUND BEING THE MAIN OPERATING FUND ON THE CITY.

YOU CAN SEE THERE, AS RUSS MENTIONED, TAXES ABOUT 89 PERCENT OF ALL THE REVENUES OF THE GENERAL FUND.

THAT GRAPH IS SHOWING THAT INFORMATION THERE.

THEN ON PAGE 9, A SIMILAR PIE CHART FOR THE GENERAL FUNDS EXPENDITURES, AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT BREAKOUTS OF THE DIFFERENT EXPENDITURES THERE.

THEN AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THAT PAGE, A COMPARISON OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES AS COMPARED TO EACH OTHER.

THEN ULTIMATELY, ON THE NEXT PAGE EVERYONE LOOKS AT THEIR FUND BALANCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS THEIR RESERVES, IF YOU WILL, AND SO HOW DOES THAT FUND BALANCE COMPARED TO AN ANNUAL BUDGET? YOU'LL SEE THERE AS RUSS MENTIONED, THAT 47 PERCENT FOR THIS YEAR AND YOU'LL SEE THE TREND OF THAT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AS WELL.

THEN FLIPPING TO PAGE 11 AND IT GOES THROUGH PAGE 12, THIS IS A CLIFF NOTES VERSION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOOTNOTES.

YOU CAN SEE EACH ONE OF THOSE FOOTNOTES AND WHAT THEY'RE TELLING READERS IS THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

ON PAGE 12, NOTE 19, WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW STANDARDS, WE DID HAVE TO RESTATE CERTAIN OPENING BALANCES AND ACT AS THOUGH THAT NEW STANDARD HAS BEEN IN EFFECT FOREVER, AND SO THAT IS SHOWING THAT CHANGE FOR THE YEAR.

ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMENTS THEN I'LL TALK ABOUT IN THE FINDING AS FAR AS CORRECTING THOSE TIMING DIFFERENCES MENTIONED AS WELL.

THEN IF YOU'LL TURN TO PAGE 14, SO THIS STARTS THE REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE AS AUDITORS HAVE TO COMMUNICATE TO THE BOARDS AND TO MANAGEMENT, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO EACH ONE OF THESE, BUT I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF THEM.

RUSS MENTIONED HOW APPRECIATIVE HE WAS OF DIFFERENT FOLKS IN HIS DEPARTMENT OUTSIDE OF THE DEPARTMENT AND EVEN US AND I CAN'T WANT TO SAY THE SAME THING.

IT ASKS US TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTIES OR DISAGREEMENTS IN THE AUDIT,

[00:25:04]

WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.

IT'S CERTAINLY HELPFUL.

IT'S A BIG PROCESS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, TO NOT ONLY PUT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TOGETHER, BUT THEN ALSO CONDUCT THE AUDIT AND VERY HELPFUL THAT WE ALWAYS GET FROM THE CITY BOTH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND OUTSIDE THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

ON PAGE 16, WE DID HAVE SOME AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS, REST ASSURED THOSE HAVE BEEN GONE OVER WITH MANAGEMENT POSTED TO THE CITY'S GENERAL LEDGERS ACCOUNTING SYSTEM AND ALSO REFLECTED IN THE ACT FOR SO.

AGAIN, THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE FAIRLY PRESENTED.

THEN FINALLY AT THE BOTTOM THERE, INDEPENDENCE.

I ALWAYS WANT TO TOUCH ON THIS, IT'S THE CORNERSTONE OF WHAT WE DO.

WE HAVE TO BE INDEPENDENT CPAS AND THEN COME IN AND CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY BIASES THERE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN DOING OUR WORK AND OUR PROCEDURES TO GET TO THAT ULTIMATE GOAL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY'S FINANCES ARE REPORTED CORRECTLY.

THEN A COUPLE OF MORE PAGES.

IF YOU'LL TURN TO PAGE 18.

A LITTLE BIT, I'M REITERATING WHAT RUSS HAS SAID HERE, BUT I DID JUST WANT TO STATE THAT THESE ARE TIMING DIFFERENCES WITH YEAR-END AND RECEIVABLES AND PAYABLES THAT ARE TRULY OF AN ACCOUNTING NATURE.

IN OTHER WORDS, JUST LIKE RUSS MENTIONED, THERE'S NO AMOUNTS THAT DIDN'T GET PAID OR WHAT HAVE YOU, THEY'RE ALL OF THE COUNTING NATURE AND THEY WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE CITY AND PROVIDED TO US SO THEY WERE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE AUDIT PROCESS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE CITY HAS INTERNAL CONTROLS TO MITIGATE THE RISK OF ERRORS IN ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

THE CITY'S INTERNAL CONTROLS DID IDENTIFY THESE ERRORS AND THEY WERE PROVIDED TO US.

THE REASON WHY WE HAD TO MAKE THE FINDINGS BECAUSE IT WENT BACK A PRIOR PERIOD, AND SO THERE'S A TIMELINESS ASPECT TO IT AS WELL.

WE'RE JUST MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION OF, HEY AND BE A LITTLE MORE TIMELY WITH THE IDENTIFICATION OF THESE THINGS.

IT IS CORRECTED NOW AND AGAIN, THAT'S ALSO REFLECTED IN THE ACT FOR.

ON PAGE 19, THESE ITEMS AREN'T FINDINGS.

THESE ARE REALLY JUST RECOMMENDATIONS, WE CALL THEM MANAGEMENT POINTS THAT ARE A BYPRODUCT OF THE AUDIT THAT WE TYPICALLY WILL HAVE A COUPLE OF THESE.

THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, IT'S REPORTED AS A GOVERNMENTAL TYPE ENTITY WITHIN THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND SO JUST A MATTER OF STREAMLINING, I GUESS, THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT SHOWING THAT MORE LIKE A GOVERNMENTAL FUND, JUST LIKE THE CITY DOES ITS GENERAL FUND IN THE ACTUAL REPORTING OF THE AMOUNTS, AND THEN CAPITAL ASSETS AND LONG-TERM DEBT COMES ON AFTER THAT.

THEN THE SECOND ITEM THERE IS, NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THIS NEW STANDARD FOR LEASES, THE CITY JUST MAYBE ADDING TO ITS INTERNAL CONTROLS, ADDING TO ITS POLICIES A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE LEASES ISN'T A ONE AND DONE THING WHERE WE IMPLEMENT IT THIS YEAR AND WE'RE ALL GOOD NOW.

ANY NEW LEASES AND ALSO ACCOUNTING FOR THE EXISTING LEASES UNTIL THOSE RUN OUT, JUST RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CITY TO ADD SOME POLICIES PROCEDURES IN THERE TO DEAL WITH THIS NEW WAY OF HAVING TO REPORT THAT IN THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

SPEAKING OF STANDARDS, THE REST OF THIS DOCUMENT, GUESS IT'D BE AT THE BOTTOM PAGE 19 THERE, I MENTIONED THERE THE ACCOUNTING STANDARD SETTING BODY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

THE REST OF THE DOCUMENT IS THE NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS COMING OUT.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER EACH ONE OF THESE.

WE DO COMMUNICATE ALL OF THESE TO MANAGEMENT.

OFTENTIMES DURING THE YEAR WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ONES THAT ARE COMING OUT THAT HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE NEXT YEAR, ETC.

JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE ON THAT.

THE ONE I WILL MENTION, AND IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO LEASES AND IT'S ON PAGE 22, IT'S STATEMENT NUMBER 96, AND IT HAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED WITH THE CITY'S FY23 YEAR-END.

THIS NEXT AUDIT PERIOD WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.

IT'S THE SAME THING AS THE LEASES STANDARDS, BUT IT'S FOR SUBSCRIPTION-BASED IT ARRANGEMENTS.

IT'S LIKE LEASES, BUT IT'S FOR THE COLUMNS TO BEAT AS THE SUBSCRIPTION-BASED IT ITEMS. AGAIN, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT AS WELL, BUT BECAUSE OF THE LEGWORK INVOLVED, A LOT OF TIMES WITH THOSE TYPE OF STANDARDS IS JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO STAY ON TOP OF THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT OUR DUCKS IN A ROAD,

[00:30:01]

AGAIN, THE REST OF THE DOCUMENT TALKS ABOUT THESE NEW STANDARDS COMING OUT AND JUST SOME OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF OUR ADVISORY SERVICES.

BUT AT THIS POINT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE QUESTIONS? I HAD JUST A COUPLE AND THEN ANYONE ELSE CAN CERTAINLY JUMP IN.

YOU MENTIONED STATEMENT NUMBER 96.

IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ALSO TAKE EFFECT AT THE SAME TIME; IS THAT CORRECT? IT SAYS MEANS YEAR END OF JUNE 30, 2023 IN STATEMENT NUMBER 94.

IS THAT ALSO ON PAGE 21? I GUESS I'M READING THAT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT, YES.

I MENTIONED 96 BECAUSE OF, AGAIN, THE LEG WORK OFTENTIMES IN INVENTORY AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

BUT THERE ARE SOME OTHER STANDARDS AND I THINK GASB 101 IN HERE RELATED TO CAPSULATED ABSENCE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT WILL NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

>> IN TERMS OF THE LEASES ARE THERE EXAMPLES AND MAYBE THIS IS FOR RUSS AND HOW OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE HANDLING THIS OR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU MENTIONED IN TERMS OF HOW THE CITY MEETS THAT STANDARD GOING FORWARD?

>> WELL, IF YOU TURN TO WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IN OUR MANAGEMENT POINT, ANYTIME THERE'S A COST-BENEFIT HAVING TO DO WITH INTERNAL CONTROLS.

WE CAN WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING TO THE PENNY AND RESOURCE COSTS ARE JUST ASTRONOMICAL AND NOBODY HAS TIME TO DO THAT. THERE'S SOME REASONABLE.

YOU HAVE FOR EXAMPLE, CAPITAL ASSET THRESHOLDS.

YOU'RE GOING TO CAPITALIZE THINGS AS CAPITAL ASSETS ARE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS VERSUS MAYBE EXPENSING THEM OVER A CERTAIN THRESHOLD AMOUNT.

WELL, WITH THE LEASES, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS WE'RE RECOMMENDING MAYBE ESTABLISHING A POLICY SIMILAR TO THAT SO THAT YOU'RE NOT WORRYING ABOUT MAYBE THAT COPIER LEASE THAT IS INSIGNIFICANT.

IT'S NOT WORTH THE COST BENEFIT OF IMPLEMENTING INTERNAL PATROL FOR THAT.

BUT THAT YOU'RE CAPTURING AND YOU'RE MEETING THE STANDARDS FROM A MATERIALS STANDPOINT.

THEN ALSO REALLY JUST HAVING TO BE THERE IS JUST HAVING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE SO THAT YOU'RE CAPTURING THEM ALL BECAUSE THE RISK IS THERE OR NON-CASH THING.

IT'S VERY EASY FOR A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACCOUNT FOR THE FACT THAT YOU CUT A CHECK AND HOW TO DISBURSEMENT OUT THE DOOR OR HAD ACTUAL CASH COMING IN THE DOOR FOR REVENUE.

IT'S A LOT HARDER TO CAPTURE THESE THINGS ENTERING INTO LEASES BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THEY'RE NON-CASH AND SO TO HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE SO THAT YOU MAKE SURE YOU'RE CAPTURING THOSE AND THAT YOU'RE PUTTING A COMPLETE PICTURE IN THE ACTUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

>> I NOTICE AN AD IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION.

I MEAN, WE WOULD CONSULT WITH ADAM AND FOLKS AT MODERN AND JENKINS AS WE'RE DEVELOPING THE POLICY.

BUT ALSO WE WOULD LOOK TO GFOA AND ALSO THE GEORGIA CHAPTER OF GFOA FOR BEST PRACTICES AND FOR SAMPLE POLICIES THAT WOULD ADDRESS THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AS WE DEVELOP THAT POLICY, WE WOULD CONFIRM BEFORE FINALIZING IT WITH MODERN AND JENKINS.

BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY PLENTY OF RESOURCES OUT THERE FROM THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION AND I KNOW WE GET THIS FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET.

IS THERE A DIFFERENT WAY TO ACCOUNT FOR THE SHORTFALL BETWEEN THE INDEBTEDNESS FOR OUR JOINT PROJECTS WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM? I KNOW FROM TIME-TO-TIME, I HEAR, WELL, YOU'RE THIS MUCH IN DEBT, BUT IT DOESN'T SHOW THAT CORRESPONDING PAYMENT THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM MAY BE MAKING.

ARE THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HANDLE IT THIS WAY? IS THERE A DIFFERENT WAY THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY PRESENT THAT?

>> WELL, IN GEORGIA, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES HAVING SCHOOL SYSTEMS. A CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM IS DIFFERENT THAN ACCOUNTING SCHOOL SYSTEM.

A CITY SCHOOL SYSTEMS GOT SOME ADDITIONAL LIMITS ON WHAT THEY CAN DO.

WE DO SEE THIS WITH OTHER CITY SCHOOL SYSTEMS WHERE THE LONG TERM FINANCING OF THINGS HAS TO BE COORDINATED WITH THE CITIES.

[00:35:06]

YOU'RE GROWING, YOU GOT MORE SCHOOLS, AND IT'S JUST INHERENT TO IT ALL.

>> I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE IT SEEMS SO MANY TIMES SOMEONE WILL REFERENCE.

THEN WE'VE GOT TO GO EXPLAIN WHY THAT IS, WE KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT SOMETIMES BECAUSE THE ANSWER IS NOT RIGHT THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE, IT'S A PERIOD OF WELL, I DON'T REALLY BELIEVE YOU. [LAUGHTER]

>> A QUESTION, PLEASE.

[OVERLAPPING] THANKS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION REGARDING THE ACCOUNTING FOR LEASES.

IS THAT STRICTLY FOR CAPITAL ASSETS OR COULD IT COVER LAND? IF WE LEASE THE LAND.

>> IT CAN COVER A LAND.

WHAT IT IS, THE LEASES, HOW IT'S DEFINED IN THE STANDARD, IT'S AN ARRANGEMENT THAT YOU'VE ENTERED INTO FOR THE RIGHT TO USE A TANGIBLE ASSET.

THAT COULD BE LAND.

IN FACT DOES INCLUDE IT.

THEN THE IT STUFF IS WHAT'S BEEN CARVED OUT AND THEY'RE ALLOWING GOVERNMENTS TO INCORPORATE OR IMPLEMENT NEXT YEAR AND SPECIFICALLY THE SUBSCRIPTION-BASED IT STAFF.

>> IF WE WOULD EXPECT ENTITIES THAT WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IN THE FAMILY IN SOME WAYS, WHETHER IT'S OUR LEGACY PROJECT, THE LAND TRUST OR [NOISE] MAYBE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THEY WOULD ALL BE NEEDING TO CONFORM TO THIS SAME TYPE OF ACCOUNTING PROCESS WITH REGARD TO LAND TOO?

>> IF THEY FOLLOW GASB, SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF ENTITIES DON'T REPORT GASB.

FASB IS THE FOR-PROFIT WORLD ALSO THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT WORLD VERSUS THE TAX-EXEMPT, LIKE A GOVERNMENT.

THEIR STANDARD FOR LEASES MIGHT BE NEXT YEAR.

IT DOESN'T ALWAYS JOB I GUESS IS MY POINT.

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT STANDARDS THEY FALL ON.

>> WE TO WORRY ABOUT OURSELVES FIRST.

[LAUGHTER]

>> THAT'S HELPFUL. DOES YOUR WORK IN THE AUDITING OF THE CITY ALSO ENCOMPASS ANY OF THE WORK WITH OUR ENTITIES LIKE LEGACY PROJECT OR THE LAND TRUST ENCOMPASSED BY THAT? NO.

>> NO.

>> THE DDA IS THE COMPONENT UNIT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. IN FOOTNOTE, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO DISCLOSE COMPONENT UNITS OR WHAT ENDS UP BEING IN HERE AS UNDER THE REPORTING ENTITY OF THE CITY.

IN FOOTNOTE 1, IF YOU'LL LOOK ON PAGE 33 OF THE [INAUDIBLE] THIS LIST THE ENTITIES THAT ARE ACTUALLY UNDER THE REPORTING ENTITY.

IT'S THE DDA, THE TOURISM BOARD, THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AND THE PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY.

>> THAT LIST HASN'T CHANGED MAYBE SINCE WE HAD A PFA. WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN THE LAST?

>> PFA WOULD BE THE MOST RECENT ONE.

>> I LIKE ROMAN NUMERALS MY ERA NUMBERS.

MY ROMAN NUMERAL ANALYSIS TESTS.

[LAUGHTER]

>> SURE.

>> I'M PROBABLY ON THAT, SO DO WE REQUIRE AUDITS FOR OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS LIKE LEGACY OR THE LAND TRUSTS?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE REQUIRE THE AUDIT.

AGAIN, AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGACY BOARD, I KNOW THAT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE BOARDS.

I HAVEN'T AN ANNUAL AUDIT IN TERMS OF THE LAND TRUSTS, I'M NOT AS CERTAIN, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S A REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE PLACED ON THOSE OTHER ENTITIES.

>> BUT FOR 501C3 STATUS, YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR ANNUAL 990S, YOU HAVE TO.

>> I HAVE SOME FINANCIAL REPORTING BUT NOT NECESSARILY AN AUDIT.

>> BROADLY, I FEEL TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, OUR ROLE IS TO BE AWARE OF RISKS AND COGNIZANT RESPONSIVE TO THEM JUST AS [INAUDIBLE] .

YOU HAVE THE ITEMS NOTED, CITED IN CITIES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MATERIAL WEAKNESSES.

IF YOU'RE IN OUR SHOES AND WE DO A GREAT JOB, WE WON AWARDS, WE GET CLEAN REPORT.

I'VE ORDERED A VERY GOOD SPOT. BUT ARE THERE TWO OR THREE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD SAY YOU WOULD BE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU WOULD ADVISE US TO PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO?

>> WELL, NOT THAT YOU'RE NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT THE THREAT WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH THESE DAYS, IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT SAFE GARDEN CITIES ASSETS.

WERE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT.

IT'S A CYBER ATTACKS AND CYBER SECURITY.

[00:40:05]

WE KNOW OF INSTANCES AND SOME OF THEM ARE PUBLICIZED AND SOME OF THEM ARE NOT OF MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE GOTTEN HIT WITH THAT.

INSURANCE COMES IN PLACE, SOME OF THEM THEY LOSE OUT MONEY AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT.

WHETHER IT BE TRAINING THE EMPLOYEES OR WHETHER IT BE HAVE PROPER FRAMEWORK FOR CYBER SECURITY.

BUT THAT WOULD BE NUMBER ONE TO ME IN TODAY'S WORLD, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> THAT'S A COPY ON FINANCIAL ENTITY TYPE SUFFERS.

WOULD FINANCIAL AUDITING SOMEHOW CAPTURE THAT?

>> IT DOESN'T. WE HAVE A GROUP IN THE FIRM WORKERS [LAUGHTER] WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT I DO CYBERSECURITY RISK ASSESSMENTS AND PENETRATION TESTS AND ALL THAT STUFF.

BUT THAT'S NOT UNDER THE AUDIT.

THAT ISN'T WHAT OUR GOAL IS IN A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT.

>> I WILL ADD THAT, RUSS, WHERE'S ANOTHER HAT IN TERMS OF OVERSEEING OUR TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM? WE'D LOVE TO HAVE THEM COME BACK AND TALK MORE ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AS WELL AS JUST A REFRESHER ON ALL THAT WE HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF CYBERSECURITY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SURE.

>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU. WE HAVE SOME READING TO DO.

[LAUGHTER] I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU.

>> GET ON IT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

>> EXACTLY. [LAUGHTER]

>> I RECOMMEND THIS EVENING.

[LAUGHTER] THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANKS. I THINK IF IT'S ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO ON TO OUR NEXT WORK SESSION.

WE'RE THREE MINUTES EARLY. IS THAT RIGHT? THEN WE WILL TAKE A SHORT BREAK BEFORE WE START OUR CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE FOR OUR WORK SESSIONS, WE DO NOT TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION AT THE WORK SESSION.

IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORK SESSION, WE WOULD TAKE ANY COMMENTS AT THE END OF OUR CITY COMMISSION MEETING UNDER REQUEST AND PETITIONS.

WITH THAT, WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU KRISTIN ALLEN.

[WORK SESSION – 6:30 P.M. ]

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER, KRISTIN ALAN PLANNER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES DECATUR.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME DRAFT SHORT-TERM RENTAL POLICY PROPOSALS, AND THEY ROSE UP THROUGH COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND ALSO THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

I'LL BE GOING THROUGH THESE PROPOSALS TONIGHT.

FIRST OF ALL, THE DEFINITION OF A SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS AN ACCOMMODATION FOR TRANSIENT GUESTS WERE IN EXCHANGE FOR COMPENSATION OF ANY TYPE OR AMOUNT, A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNIT IS PROVIDED FOR LODGING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME NOT TO EXCEED 30 CONSECUTIVE DAYS.

THE CITY OF DECATUR GATHERED FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY THROUGH AN ARTICLE IN DECATUR FOCUS SOLICITING COMMUNITY INPUT.

I'VE SPOKEN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN SHORT-TERM RENTALS OR LIVE NEAR SHORT-TERM RENTALS, TRIED TO GET FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

WE ALSO RESEARCHED BEST PRACTICES.

THERE ARE QUITE A FEW CITIES IN OUR IMMEDIATE AREA AND SURROUNDING AREAS THAT HAVE SHORT-TERM RENTAL POLICIES IN PLACE THAT WERE ABLE TO TAKE SOME BEST PRACTICES FROM, INCLUDING NEARBY BROOKHAVEN, COBB COUNTY, MACON-BIBB.

ATLANTA HAS A POLICY THAT I BELIEVE THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON, IT HASN'T QUITE BEEN IMPLEMENTED YET.

THEN LASTLY, CITY STAFF SOUGHT LEGAL EXPERTISE IN FINALIZING THE PROPOSED POLICY FOR SPECIFIC SHORT-TERM RENTAL NEEDS FOR DECATUR.

FROM FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROS THAT WE GATHERED REGARDING THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS INCLUDE FLEXIBILITY FOR LIFE SITUATIONS.

SOME EXAMPLES THAT PEOPLE GAVE ME WERE USED BY A RESIDENT WHO MUST VACATE THEIR HOME FOR A BRIEF PERIOD.

IT COULD BE A VISITING NURSE, DOCTOR OR SCHOLAR.

I DID HEAR FROM SOMEONE IN THE MILITARY WHO'S USED SHORT-TERM RENTALS BECAUSE OF THEIR FLEXIBILITY QUITE A BIT.

SOMEONE MOVING TO THE AREA WHILE SEEKING LONGER TERM RESIDENTS, VISITING FAMILY OR AN OCCUPANT THAT HAS A PET THAT MIGHT NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO GO INTO A LOCAL HOTEL.

SOME OTHER POSITIVES CITED BY THE COMMUNITY ARE INCOME GENERATION FOR A PROPERTY OWNER THAT IS BOTH FLEXIBLE AND MANAGED BY A THIRD PARTY.

[00:45:02]

WE HAVE A PRETTY HIGH RATE OF OF TOURISM IN OUR HOTELS IN DECATUR'S, SO THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY HELP OFFSET THIS TOURISM SPIKES AS WELL.

SOME OF THE CONS OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS, THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS, CAN INCLUDE REMOVING POTENTIAL LONG-TERM RENTALS FROM THE MARKET.

A FEAR OF BAD ACTORS RENTING A HOME FOR PARTY HOUSES AND DISTURBANCES TO NEIGHBORS, SUCH AS TRASH AND DEBRIS NOT STORED PROPERLY, OVERFLOW PARKING, EXCESSIVE NOISE, OR AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF GUESTS.

WE SAT DOWN, A GROUP OF STAFF, TO TRY TO TAKE THIS INFORMATION AND DEVELOP THE GOALS FOR THE POLICY.

THE FIRST ITEM THAT CAME UP THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO STAFF IS TO REALLY KNOW WHAT WE HAVE.

TO USE A THIRD PARTY TO GATHER DATA ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

WE'VE INTERVIEWED TWO THIRD-PARTY COMPANIES AND THEY EITHER OF THOSE, DEPENDING ON WHO'S CHOSEN, WOULD HELP IDENTIFY HOW MANY SHORT-TERM RENTALS WE ACTUALLY HAVE IN DECATUR WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED, IF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS IN A ROOM OR A HOME OR AN ACCESSORY UNIT.

HOW OFTEN THEY ARE BOOKED.

WHAT TIME PERIODS MIGHT BE HIGHER TIME PERIODS TO BE BOOKED, THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF COMPLAINTS THAT MAY COME IN, AND THE SECOND PHASE AFTER GATHERING DATA ON WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT TYPE OF COMPLAINTS MIGHT COME IN WOULD BE HELPING WITH COMPLIANCE.

THE SECOND GOAL WAS TO DEVELOP A CERTIFICATE SYSTEM AS SHORT-TERM RENTALS CERTIFICATE SYSTEM FOR OVERSIGHT, SO THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY THE OWNER OR AGENT OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, SO WE KNOW WHO TO CONTACT.

WE WILL HAVE A LIST OF REQUIREMENTS FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS THAT I'LL GO THROUGH IN A MINUTE.

THERE WOULD BE AN INITIAL LIFE SAFETY INSPECTION BY THE DECATUR FIRE MARSHAL.

THEN AN ANNUAL SELF-INSPECTION THAT WOULD NEED TO BE UPLOADED ONTO THE WEBSITE.

THERE'D BE A NOTIFICATION OF THE NEIGHBOR WHICH IS STANDARD IN THIS SECTION OF THE UDO WHERE A SIGN IS SIMILAR TO A LODGING HOUSE WHERE ONCE THE PERMIT IS ISSUED, A SIGN IS PLACED IN THE YARD OF THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL FOR 15 DAYS TO NOTIFY NEIGHBORS OF ITS EXISTENCE.

WE ALSO WOULD HAVE A SYSTEM FOR VIOLATIONS AND WE'D BE ABLE TO MAIL LETTERS TO ALERT OF RENEWALS OR VIOLATIONS THAT MIGHT OCCUR.

WE HAVE THE DRAFT UDO TEXT AMENDMENTS WORKING RIGHT NOW.

THE UDO WOULD ALLOW THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS AS A LIMITED USE IN ALL OF THE ZONING DISTRICTS IN DECATUR EXCEPT FOR THE INSTITUTIONAL.

THAT'S BASICALLY BECAUSE INSTITUTIONAL COULD HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING IN IT, AND THAT TYPE WOULD BE CHANGED DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF HOUSING THEY MIGHT PUT IN THAT AREA.

BASICALLY IT ALLOWS IN ANY ANY DISTRICT IN DECATUR.

IT ALSO REQUIRES THAT A SHORT-TERM RENTAL CERTIFICATE BE POSTED ON THE SITE, AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL MONITOR COMPLIANCE BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE TO HAVE THEIR SHORT-TERM UNTIL CERTIFICATE NUMBER POSTED ON THE SITE AND IT WILL BE UPDATED EVERY YEAR.

ANYTHING WRITTEN INTO OUR UDO WOULD BE SUBORDINATE TO AN HOA OR COVENANTS.

IF A HOA DOESN'T ALLOW SHORT-TERM RENTALS OR HAS RESTRICTIONS ON THEM THAT WOULD SUPERSEDE WHAT'S IN THE UDO.

THE OCCUPANCY IS A MAXIMUM OF TWO ADULTS PER BEDROOM.

AS I MENTIONED, A LIFE SAFETY INSPECTION, AND THE OWNER MUST POST INFORMATION IN THE UNITS SUCH AS THE NOISE ORDINANCE HOURS, THE ADDRESS OF THE UNIT, THE OCCUPANCY, LOCATIONS OF PARKING, AN EMERGENCY CONTACT, A FLOOR PLAN SLASH FIRE ESCAPE PLAN, AND WHERE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ARE LOCATED, AND PROPER WASTE DISPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS.

THAT WAS ONE THING THAT ROSE OUT, WAS THAT A LOT OF TIMES SHORT-TERM RENTAL PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PAY AS YOU THROW BAGS, SO WE WANT THE SHORT TERM RENTAL OPERATORS TO MAKE SURE THEY MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THAT.

THEN ALSO A PROCESS TO REVOKE OR SUSPEND A SHORT-TERM RENTAL CERTIFICATE THAT GETS SUCCESSIVE VIOLATIONS.

WE ALSO HAVE A DRAFT APPLICATION THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

BASICALLY IT SAYS THAT THERE HAS TO BE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL CERTIFICATE IF SOMEONE'S OPERATING A SHORT-TERM RENTAL THAT IS NOT TRANSFERABLE.

THE WAY WE HAVE DESIGNED THE PROGRAM IS TO GO THROUGH THE PLANNING AND ZONING.

IT WOULD ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS AS OPPOSED TO SOME PEOPLE RUN IT THROUGH THE BUSINESS LICENSE PROGRAM.

SOME PEOPLE RUN IT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND SOME PEOPLE WILL RUN IT THROUGH PLANNING AND ZONING.

WE THOUGHT THE MOST STREAMLINED WAY FOR US IS TO RUN IT THROUGH ZONING AS A PERMIT EVERY YEAR, AN ANNUAL PERMIT.

FEES WOULD BE BASED ON THE ZONING COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE IN THE FEE SCHEDULE, THAT RIGHT NOW IS $100 AND THERE ARE PROBABLY WOULD BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE OF $30 ADDED TO THAT.

RIGHT NOW, IT'D BE $130 PER YEAR UNLESS THE COMMISSIONER LIKES TO CHANGE THAT FEE SCHEDULE.

PROOF OF INSURANCE THAT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS

[00:50:03]

MOST OF THE LARGER COMPANIES ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE PROVIDE THAT ALREADY, BUT THERE'S A CHECKBOX FOR PROOF OF INSURANCE.

AS I MENTIONED, AN AGENT WOULD NEED TO BE ASSIGNED OR A RESPONSIBLE PERSON WHICH COULD BE THE OWNER, SO THAT THE CITY KNOWS WHO TO REACH OUT TO IF THERE'S A VIOLATION, THEY WOULD NEED TO POST THAT REQUIRED INFORMATION IN THE UNIT AND THEY WOULD NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT ONLY THE FEES, BUT ALSO THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX?

>>MRS. ALAN.

>> YES.

>> WOULD THIS BE A ONETIME APPLY FOR CERTIFICATE OR WOULD IT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAPPEN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS?

>> THE APPLICATION WOULD JUST BE ONE TIME AND THE INITIAL INSPECTION, AND THEN IT'S JUST A RENEWAL EVERY YEAR.

>> OKAY.

>> THEY WOULD JUST NEED TO UPLOAD A SELF CHECKLIST SAYING THAT THEY HADN'T MADE SURE THAT THEIR SMOKE ALARMS WERE IN WORKING ORDER AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEY WOULD UPLOAD IT TO THE PERMIT SYSTEM AND THEY WOULD GET AN UPDATED PERMIT NUMBER FOR THAT YEAR AND POST IT ON THE WEBSITE SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE IN COMPLIANCE.

>> ANY OTHER JURISDICTIONS SAID, SO THERE'LL BE NO INSPECTION, IT'LL BE THE ONE TIME INSPECTION UPFRONT.

MAYBE EVERY THREE OR FIVE YEARS IT'D BE SOMETHING MORE IN DEPTH, WE'RE JUST CURIOUS.

>> THAT'S PART OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TONIGHT, AND IT REALLY RUNS THE GAMUT WITH DIFFERENT PLACES.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T DO ANY INSPECTION AT ALL, THEY JUST DO A REGISTRATION SYSTEM JUST SO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE.

SOME PEOPLE INSPECT EVERY YEAR, SOME PEOPLE DO THAT SELF CHECKLIST.

INSTEAD OF HAVING ANY INSPECTIONS, THEY JUST DO THE SELF CHECKLIST.

IT REALLY RUNS THE GAMUT, AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT STUFF, RESOURCES, SAFETY, AND WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE THE BEST PATH FORWARD FOR DECATUR.

THE PATH WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, DEPENDING ON FEEDBACK, IS THIS INITIAL INSPECTION, THEN THE ANNUAL SELF INSPECTION LIST THAT HAS TO BE FILLED OUT BY THE OWNER AND UPLOADED TO THE SITE.

PART OF THE REASON WE LOOKED AT THIS, AS WELL IS, WHAT AMOUNT OF REGULATION IS RIGHT FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL WHEN WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THOSE TYPE IN PLACE FOR LONG-TERM RENTALS? THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP TOO, IS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THE PROCESS IS NOT OVERLY WEIGHTED AGAINST SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS. YES.

>> JUST FOLLOWING UP TO THAT QUESTION.

COULD A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PROPERTY TRIGGER AN INSPECTION?

>> DEFINITELY, YEAH. IF THERE WAS A COMPLAINT, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS SOME HEALTH OR SAFETY CONCERN COMPLAINT, THAT WOULD TRIGGER IT.

IT COULD TRIGGER AN INSPECTION.

SPEAKING OF THE INSPECTION, SO THE DRAFT INSPECTION THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WOULD BE PERFORMED BY THE DECATUR FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A VISIBLE ADDRESS AND THERE'S ACCESS AND EGRESS TO AND FROM THE UNIT.

THEY WANT TO VERIFY THE OCCUPANCY PER UNIT.

MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN POSTED, A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON EVERY LEVEL AND WORKING SMOKE ALARMS. IF THERE IS A GARAGE OR GAS APPLIANCES ALSO A CO2 DETECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ELECTRICAL AND APPLIANCES ARE WORKING SAFELY AND THINGS LIKE THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS ARE LABELED.

THEN ALSO TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION POSTED IN THE UNIT THAT I MENTIONED, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE THE NOISE ORDINANCE HOURS, AND HOW WASTE IS PROPERLY DISPOSED FROM THE UNIT.

>> WHEN YOU SEE THE VISIBLE ADDRESS ACCESS AND EGRESS, I ASSUME IT DOESN'T REQUIRE TWO SEPARATE WAYS TO ENTER AND EXIT, BECAUSE I KNOW IN SOME CITIES THEY REQUIRE, IF YOU HAVE ANY RENTAL UNIT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT SECONDARY WAY?

>> THAT IS NOT REQUIRED IN EVERY ONE, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE AT LEAST A WINDOW, LIKE IN A BEDROOM THAT'S A CERTAIN SIZE TO BE ABLE TO EXIT FROM, SO THAT'S PART OF THE CODE REQUIREMENT.

BUT YEAH, THESE, AS YOU SEE, ARE ALL REALLY GEARED FOR THE MOST PART TOWARDS SAFETY.

THE NOISE OBVIOUSLY, IS MORE OF A DISTURBANCE, THE WASTE IS A DISTURBANCE.

BUT A LOT OF THESE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS ARE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE SAFE UNITS IF WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.

>> IT WOULD NOT MATTER IF THE UNIT WAS IN A HOME OR PART OF A CONDO, IF ALLOWED IN BY THE HOA OR PART OF AN APARTMENT, THEY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO ALL OF THIS WITH RESPECT TO THAT, SO IF THERE WERE NOISE COMPLAINTS THEN WE COULD ACT ON THAT REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE UNIT IS LOCATED?

>> YES. THAT WOULD BE REGARDLESS OF WHERE OR WHAT TYPE OF UNIT IT IS.

THE ANNUAL FEE AND INSPECTIONS, LIKE I MENTIONED, THERE'S A CHECKLIST FOR THE ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE FEES THAT COMPLY WITH THE ZONING COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE AND COMPLIANCE REQUIRED EACH CALENDAR YEAR.

THERE'LL BE A LETTER THAT GOES OUT TO ALL OF SDR OWNERS SAYING IT'S TIME TO UPLOAD

[00:55:04]

AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THIRD-PARTY COMPANIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO HELP WITH THIS.

WHAT THOSE THIRD-PARTIES CAN DO IS HELP WITH THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SHORT-TERM AND ON THE DATA THAT I MENTIONED.

THEY ALSO CAN GENERATE LETTERS TO SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS AND THE COMPANY THAT WE'RE LEANING TOWARD HAS MORE UNLIMITED TEMPLATES.

WE COULD HAVE ONE FOR NOISE, ONE FOR TRASH, ONE FOR PARKING, ANY TO CATER THOSE TO WHATEVER COMPLAINT MIGHT HAPPEN OR WE CAN GO IN AND MAKE OUR OWN AND ALSO JUST SENDING OUT LETTERS FOR THE RENEWAL IS A BIG PART OF IT.

SO YOU PUSH A BUTTON AND THEY BASICALLY PRINT OUT THE LETTERS, PUT THEM IN ENVELOPES AND MAIL THEM.

IT'S A REALLY BIG HELP, I THINK FROM STAFF RESOURCES. YES.

>> WITH THE FEE SCHEDULE, IS THIS EXPECTED TO BE REVENUE NEUTRAL THEN?

>> YES. PRETTY MUCH.

THE COMPANIES THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO FOR THESE THREE 24-HOUR CALL-IN LINE IS ANOTHER CATEGORY OF WHAT WE WOULD BE PAYING FOR IT.

WE'D BE PAYING FOR THE IDENTIFICATION, THE LETTER GENERATION, AND A 24-HOUR CALL IN HOTLINE, AND THAT IS ABOUT $10,000 A YEAR FOR EITHER A COMPANY THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT.

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF STRS THAT WE HAVE AT $130 A YEAR, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OVER THAT, BUT IT WOULD COVER THAT EXPENSE.

>> THE THREE DOLLARS IS ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.

>> YEAH. THE $100 WOULD PRETTY MUCH COVER THAT $10,000.

IT WOULD GO A LITTLE BIT OVER 10,000 A YEAR, WE BELIEVE.

IF EVERYONE SIGNS UP FOR IT, SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE THEIR UNIT LISTED RIGHT NOW ON AIRBNB.

BUT WHEN WE DO THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM, SAY IT'S NOT REALLY WORTH IT BECAUSE THEY ONLY RUN IT HERE AND THERE, SO THEY MIGHT REMOVE IT SO IT'LL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE FOR US TO UNDERSTAND QUITE HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE AND TO COLLECT THAT DATA AND KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY WOULD DO THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM VERSUS JUST DECIDING THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SHORT-TERM RENT ANYMORE.

BUT THE 24-HOUR COLUMN LINE, THE COMPANY THAT WE LIKE ALSO WILL REFER CALLS TO THE POLICE.

WE THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD FEATURE BECAUSE THEY DON'T JUST TAKE A CALL IN FOR A COMPLAINT AND PUT IT ASIDE.

IF IT REALLY IS A SERIOUS COMPLAINT, THEY WOULD DIRECT IT TO THE POLICE.

THE THIRD PARTY SYSTEM ACTUALLY CAN BEGIN AS SOON AS THE COMMISSION DECIDES THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE DISCUSSING INTERNALLY, BUT THAT COULD MOVE FORWARD BEFORE THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE GOES INTO PLACE AS WELL.

WE CAN START, WE CAN PUT THIS IN PLACE.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING IS PUTTING THE NUMBER 1 AND NUMBER 3 IN PLACE INITIALLY.

WE WOULD JUST START DOING THE STR IDENTIFICATION AND COLLECTING DATA.

WE WOULD HAVE THE 24-HOUR COLUMN LINES SO WE KNOW WHAT COMPLAINTS ARE OUT THERE.

WE CAN COLLECT THAT FIRST AND THEN START THE PROGRAM, ISSUE THE LETTERS, TAKE THAT MODULE ON, ISSUE THE LETTERS AND START THE COMPLIANCE PROCESS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> ADDITIONAL INSPECTION ARE REQUIRED BASED ON COMPLAINTS WOULD THE FEE ALSO, DO YOU THINK, COVER THAT IN TERMS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT GOING OUT?

>> THERE IS ROOM BASED ON THE ORDINANCE FOR ADDITIONAL FEES TO BE LEVIED ON THAT.

BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE STRUCTURED.

IF THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT HAPPENS AND SOMEONE GOES OUT, THIS IS THE RELATED FEE, IT'S MORE SUBJECTIVE TO THAT DEPARTMENT, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO LEVY A FEE AS NEEDED.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE THEY ALLOWED TODAY AND IS THERE ANY REGULATION ON THEM TODAY?

>> SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE ALLOWED EVERYWHERE INDICATOR TODAY AND THERE IS NO REGULATION ON THEM.

THIS WOULD STILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW SHORT-TERM RENTALS AS THEY ARE NOW, BUT IT WOULD JUST PUT IN PLACE THESE REGULATIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE POSTED ONLINE AND IN THE APARTMENT SOME OF THESE DETAILS THAT WE FEEL LIKE ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE RENTERS TO UNDERSTAND.

>> THIS IS NOT FOR ALL RENTALS, JUST THOSE THAT ARE 30 DAYS OR LESS?

>> RENTALS THAT ARE 30 DAYS OR LESS CONSIDERED SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

>> IF WE ENACTED THIS, COULD WE EXPECT ANY RAMIFICATIONS FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN TOSSING AROUND WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE STATE SHOULD WE DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD?

>> THIS POLICY IS TO PUT IN PLACE REGULATIONS, BUT THERE ARE WAYS IT COULD GO FURTHER THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD PUT THIS IN PLACE AND ALSO WATCH SOME LEGISLATION THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

ONE THING THAT WE STRONGLY CONSIDERED WAS

[01:00:03]

BUT ANY NEW SHORT-TERM RENTAL WE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING IN POLICY THAT SAY IF IT'S A MULTIUNIT, THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO OWNER-OCCUPY THAT UNIT FOR EIGHT MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.

THEY COULD LIVE IN IT AND SHORT-TERM RENT IT FOR FOUR MONTHS OR IF THEY HAD TWO UNITS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO OWN ONE OF THEM, WHICH IS ALREADY BUILT INTO OUR ADU POLICY.

BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT AIRBNB THIS IS GOING THROUGH THE COURTS RIGHT NOW.

IT'S IN THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT.

THERE'S A CASE PENDING RIGHT NOW ABOUT THAT OWNER OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ADDED LATER DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT COURT CASE.

BUT IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT STAFF FEELS COMFORTABLE PUTTING IN RIGHT NOW SINCE IT IS ONGOING LEGISLATION.

ANOTHER ITEM WE LOOKED AT PUTTING IN, BUT WE DID NOT END UP PUTTING IN JUST BASED ON FEEDBACK WAS LIMITING THE NUMBER OF PERMITS THAT SOMEONE CAN GET.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE HAS A HOME AND THEY WANT A SHORT-TERM RENT TWO OF THE BEDROOMS. WE WENT BACK AND FORTH ON THAT QUITE A BIT AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ADDED.

BUT WE HAD FEEDBACK SPECIFICALLY FROM SOMEONE THAT I SPOKE TO THAT WAS IN THE MILITARY THAT HAS UTILIZED THAT ALONG WITH SOMEONE MIGHT RENT ONE ROOM OUT THAT SHE AND HER DAUGHTER USED, AND THEN THEY WERE RENTING ANOTHER ROOM.

THIS WAS IN FLORIDA FOR A VACATION RENTAL.

THAT FLEXIBILITY WAS SOMETHING JUST WE THOUGHT, AT THIS POINT WE'LL GO IN WITH A POLICY THAT PUTS IN SOME REGULATIONS, REQUIRES A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM, REQUIRES A SAFETY INSPECTION, SETS UP A SYSTEM OF COMPLAINTS, ALSO SETS UP A SYSTEM WHERE THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL CERTIFICATE CAN BE REVOKED.

BUT THOSE FURTHER AREAS WE DIDN'T FEEL THAT WE SHOULD WEIGHT INTO RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE ALSO IS THAT ISSUE OF STATE LEGISLATION BASICALLY SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T REGULATE THOSE THINGS. YES.

>> CAN YOU GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT OUR EXPERIENCE TO DATE HAS BEEN WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS? WE'RE SEEING CONCERNS OR PROBLEMS? I'M JUST CURIOUS.

>> I HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE REACH OUT AND SAY THAT THEY HAD ONE PERSON SPECIFICALLY, LIKE I SAID, SAID THAT THERE WAS TRASH SOMETIMES LEFT OUT IN JUST REGULAR TRASH BAGS AND SO IT WOULDN'T GET PICKED UP.

THAT TO ME, I THINK THAT'S SOLVABLE.

I THINK WE CAN WORK ON THAT.

A COUPLE OF NOISE PEOPLE SAYING THAT PARTIES HAD BEEN NOISY.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE WAYS TO CRACK DOWN ON THAT, AND I KNOW FROM WHAT I HEAR, SOME OF THE PEOPLE LIKE AIRBNB AND DIFFERENT OWNERS ARE GETTING MORE SAVVY ABOUT NOT LETTING PEOPLE BOOK THE SAME DAY AND FEELING OUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO HAVE A PARTY.

THEY ALSO HAVE THAT RATING SYSTEM NOW FOR GUESTS.

NOT ONLY DO YOU RATE YOUR SHORT-TERM RENTAL, THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERSON RATES YOU.

A LOT OF THE OWNERS ACTUALLY LOOK AT THOSE RATINGS BEFORE THEY WILL COMMIT TO HAVING SOMEONE RENT THEIR SHORT-TERM RENTAL.

>> IS THERE ANY EXAMPLE? THE PARTY IS PROBABLY PEOPLE'S BIGGEST CONCERN.

IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE IN SOME AREAS OF ATLANTA TOO.

IS THERE A BEST PRACTICE OR SOME JURISDICTION THAT HAS SOLVED THAT PROBLEM, SO TO SPEAK?

>> SOME JURISDICTIONS REQUIRE PRETTY HEFTY FINES.

THAT IS NOT PART OF WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING RIGHT NOW.

IT COULD BE ADDED TO IT AS WELL.

BUT I'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF THE JURISDICTION OUT A FINE OF $500 PER VIOLATION.

THE REASON WE DID NOT RECOMMEND THAT IS BECAUSE IF A SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNER HAS ONE PARTY AND THEY GET CHARGED $500, THEY REALLY CAN'T PASS IT ON TO THEIR GUESTS.

I THINK FOR US IT WAS THINKING MORE OF, CAN WE WORK WITH THAT OWNER, GIVE THEM A CITATION, GIVE THEM A VIOLATION, LET THEM UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY RACK UP MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS, THEY MAY HAVE THEIR PERMIT REVOKED AND TRY TO RESOLVE IT THAT WAY.

BUT THAT IS IF MONETARY VIOLATIONS ARE TIED TO THIS, THAT'S A CHANGE THAT CAN BE MADE, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN THERE.

WE JUST HAVE A PROCESS TO SUSPEND OR REVOKE THE PERMIT.

>> THEN ONE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, COULD WE REQUIRE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TO HAVE THEIR FEES TIED IN SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO A PARTY.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE DO STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT JUST THAT WE COULD SOMEHOW BE ENFORCEABLE. HAS ANYBODY LOOKED AT THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN SIGN.

I KNOW THAT THE OCCUPANCY WOULD BE LISTED ON THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL SITE.

THE OCCUPANCIES TOO.

[01:05:03]

>> GOT IT.

>> THEN IF THE NEIGHBOR SEES 20 PEOPLE, THEN THAT WOULD BE A VIOLATION.

THERE'S A WHOLE PROCESS THAT SOMEONE WOULD GO THROUGH TO GET THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL CERTIFICATE REVOKED, INCLUDING A HEARING BEFORE THE COMMISSION.

>> THAT'S THE OCCUPANCY. WE WOULD CONSIDER IF THEY SAID WE'RE NOT SPENDING THE NIGHT, WE'RE JUST VISITING, THEY WOULD STILL BE VIOLATING THE OCCUPANCY?

>> IF THEY'RE VISITING, IF THEY'RE NOT STAYING OVERNIGHT, THEY WOULDN'T BE VIOLATING IT.

BUT IF THEY ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE STAYING OVERNIGHT IN THE UNIT, THAT IS A CLEAR VIOLATION OF THAT.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> I CAN GO AFTER YOU IF YOU'D LIKE.

>> OH, NO, GO AHEAD.

>> SPEAKING OF PARTIES, THINKING ABOUT THE COMPLAINT LINE.

WHICH I LIKE THE IDEA OF A LOT, HOWEVER, I WAS IMMEDIATELY CONFUSED.

I WAS THINKING IT WAS FOR AIRBNB OR SHORT-TERM RENTAL CUSTOMERS AND THEIR OWNERS MAYBE TO BE USING IT TO UNDERSTAND.

QUITE OFTEN THERE'S QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES WHEN FOLKS ARRIVE AT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL.

THEN THEY ACTUALLY HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES NOT EVEN IN A MAYBE A HABITABLE PLACE, HONESTLY.

SO THAT WAS MY FIRST THOUGHT, BUT THIS IS MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE A CALL.

>> I MEAN, IT'S A 24-HOUR HOTLINE SO THEY COULD CALL AND THE COMPANY WOULD TAKE DOWN ANY COMPLAINTS SO WE'D BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE.

SO IF IT WAS A COMPLAINT SAYING I JUST ARRIVED AT MY SHORT-TERM RENTAL AND IT'S NOT HABITABLE, THEN THAT WOULD BE LOGGED AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IT.

BUT IT'S MORE SO FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A 24-HOUR PLACE THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN CALL IN AND HAVE THEIR COMPLAINTS LOGGED.

SO IN THE RENTAL UNIT THERE WOULD BE A CONTACT FOR THE ACTUAL OWNER OR AGENT.

THEN THERE WOULD BE THE EMERGENCY CONTACT AND THE 24-HOUR HOTLINES.

SO IT'D BE A DIFFERENTIATION OF OBVIOUSLY IF THERE'S A CRIME, CALLING THE 24-HOUR HOTLINE COULD GO TO THE POLICE, BUT IT'S PROBABLY BETTER JUST TO CALL 911.

>> IN THE FIRST PASSAGE, I JUST FEEL LIKE THE EDUCATION TO REALLY GET FOLKS TO USE THAT LINE FIRST IT WAS HARD BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE AWESOME NON-EMERGENCY LINE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ARE USED.

SO I DO THINK WE'D INCREASE CALLS TO 911 AND IF THEY WERE TRAINED, THEY WOULD MAYBE BE ABLE TO SHUN IT OVER TO THE HOTLINE.

MAYBE THAT'S THE BEST WAY OR IT COULD HAPPEN THAT WAY, I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD.

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I THINK THAT WHAT WE FEEL LIKE IT'S DATA COLLECTION FOR US.

SO IF SOMETHING GOES TO 911, WOULD IT MAKE IT BACK TO THE PERSON WHO'S HANDLING THIS IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR THE ZONING DEPARTMENT? WHEREAS THE HOTLINE WE HAVE THAT DATA AND WE CAN GO THROUGH AND SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT POPS UP THAT WE FEEL LIKE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> I GUESS THAT'S WHERE MAYBE IT GETS PILOTED AND THEN WE FIGURE OUT, IT DOESN'T GET USED AND WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM IT.

I'M REALLY KEENLY INTERESTED IN THE SAFETY INSPECTIONS.

I THINK THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT.

YOU READ ALL THE TIME, PEOPLE WAKE UP DEAD IN A SHORT-TERM RENTAL BECAUSE OF CARBON MONOXIDE, THAT HAPPENS TOO FREQUENTLY, I THINK.

I THINK THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR MAYBE MORE SEMI-REGULAR INSPECTIONS AT OUR INITIATIVE, AND THAT WE COULD ALSO PASS ALONG THAT CAUSE.

BUT I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY IMPORTANT PART OF THE SAFETY.

IT MAY NOT JUST THE ONE-TIME INSPECTION, BUT A SEMI-REGULAR INSPECTION.

I LIKE THE SELF FOR MAYBE A YEAR OR TWO, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE GOING BACK AND CHECKING THESE PLACES OUT THOROUGHLY.

LASTLY, IS IT EVER CONVERSATION ABOUT RECOUPING HOTEL-MOTEL TAX ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS?

>> YEAH. I MEAN, THE CITY ALREADY RECOUPED HOTEL AND MOTEL TAXES FOR WE FEEL LIKE OUR PROBABLY THE MAJORITY OF THE RENTALS BECAUSE I THINK MOST PEOPLE DO GO THROUGH ONE OF THE BIGGER COMPANIES.

SO ANY OF THE BIGGER COMPANIES ARE ALREADY COLLECTING IT AND REMITTING IT TO THE CITY.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TRY TO TRACK DOWN.

THAT REALLY WASN'T OUR MOTIVATION.

I MEAN, ONE OF THE COMPANIES WAS MORE ABOUT THE DATA AND THE MONITORING AND THE COMPLIANCE, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS ABOUT GETTING THOSE TAXES IN.

I MEAN, SURE, WE NEED TO COLLECT TAXES.

WE DON'T WANT BAD ACTORS.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE THING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY A COUPLE OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS, IS THEY LIKED THIS PROGRAM, THEY LIKE OUR REGISTRATION PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT BAD ACTORS WHO WEREN'T PAYING THEIR HOTEL MOTEL FEES, THEREFORE CHARGING MAYBE A CHEAPER PRICE.

BUT WE DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S REALLY A HUGE GAP IN MISSING HOTEL-MOTEL TAXES, BUT WE MAY FIND A FEW DOLLARS FROM IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I'M INTERESTED IN THE HOTLINE AS WELL.

I'M ASSUMING THAT IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ANSWERED THE HOTLINE FEEL LIKE SHOULD BE REPORTED.

LIKE THEY WILL SAY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'LL TAKE DOWN YOUR COMPLAINT, BUT YOU NEED TO CONTACT THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WHEN YOU MENTIONED LIKE NOISE ORDINANCE COMPLAINTS AND THEY RECEIVE A CITATION OR I MEAN,

[01:10:06]

>> YEAH. WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN HERE YET THAT'S ABOVE WHAT WOULD BE IN THE UDO OR IN THE PROCEDURES FOR OUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

SO THEY COULD LEAVE YOU A FEE FOR THAT.

THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE MORE CONCRETE.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE BASICALLY LEAVE THAT UP TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IF THEY LEAVE YOU A CITATION IF THERE WILL BE A FEE THAT ACCOMPANIES THAT.

>> I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE PARTIES AS WELL AND MAKE NOISE, BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEIGHBOR TO CALL AND SAY IT'S GETTING A LITTLE LOUD AND IT'S LATER THAN 10 O'CLOCK OR WHATEVER, SO I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

YOU'VE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS, THEY COULD HAVE THAT PERMIT REVOKED.

I ASSUME THAT WILL BE IDENTIFIED AS TO WHAT MULTIPLE MATE IS THAT.

>> YES. THE LEGAL ADVICE THAT WE GOT ON THAT IS TO LEAVE IT UP TO WHERE THERE IS A GOOD CAUSE FOR BRINGING SOMETHING BEFORE THE COMMISSION FOR POSSIBLY REVOKING THAT PERMIT.

SO LIKE YOU SAID, WITH PEOPLE HAVING PARTIES SOMETIMES, IF THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND WERE TO GO OUT AND ACTUALLY WAS A REALLY BAD NOISE VIOLATION, THAT WOULD BE LOGGED INTO THIS HOUSE.

IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE NEXT MONTH AND AGAIN THE NEXT MONTH, I THINK YOU'RE BUILDING A CASE THAT THERE COULD BE A GOOD CAUSE TO LET THAT PERSON HAVE THEIR HEARING.

THERE'S A 10 DAYS NOTICE. THEY WOULD GO BEFORE THE COMMISSION, AND THE COMMISSION WOULD DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO EITHER SUSPEND OR REVOKE THAT PERMIT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION.

>> OH, SURE.

>> BACK TO THE OCCUPANCY.

>> YES.

>> TWO PEOPLE PER BEDROOM?

>> YES, TWO ADULTS.

>> TWO ADULTS, OKAY. I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT CHILDREN.

>> YEAH.

>> ARE CHILDREN ACCOUNTED FOR IN THAT ROOM?

>> CHILDREN CAN ALSO STAY IN THAT ROOM.

THAT'S A STANDARD THAT WE'VE FOUND PRETTY MUCH NATIONWIDE, IS THE TWO ADULTS PER BEDROOM.

>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

>> YES.

>> ONE IS, I WANTED TO REITERATE SOMETHING MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS SAID, WHICH IS THAT THE STATE ULTIMATELY CAN REGULATE THIS AND REGULATE WHAT WE CAN DO, AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK WE ARE CARRIES OF THAT, BUT JUST FOR RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT, WE ARE NOT THE ULTIMATE DECIDERS OF WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO.

SO WE WILL WORK WITHIN WHAT THE STATE ALLOWS US TO DO.

TWO, YOU SAID THAT YOU EXPECTED TO GENERATE $10,000, AT LEAST, AND SO I'M GUESSING $100 A POP.

THAT MEANS YOU COUNT AT LEAST 100 SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST WITHIN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

>> YES, WE BELIEVE THEY'RE NOT FULL-TIME.

BUT YES, AROUND BETWEEN 100 AND 150.

SO LIKE I SAID, SOME MAYBE RENTING OUT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS HERE AND THERE.

THEY MIGHT LIKE TO DO IT.

THEY MAY JUST PULL IT OFF OF THE SITE.

SO WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE HOW MANY ULTIMATELY WE'LL HAVE, BUT IF WE KEEP AROUND 100, THEN THAT WOULD COVER.

>> LET ME SAY 100, 150.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU'RE AWARE OF A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE WRONG CRASH AND THEN WE'VE HEARD SOME NOISE COMPLAINTS, BUT ARE WE GETTING A TON OF STUFF OR?

>> I DID NOT GET THAT IMPRESSION FROM THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN.

IT HAS NOT BEEN EXCESSIVE.

I MEAN, THERE WAS ONE OTHER PERSON WHO SAID THERE WERE PEOPLE PARKING A LOT OF CARS AROUND A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.

SO THERE IS SOMETHING IN HERE SAYING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO POST THE NUMBER OF CARS ALLOWED AND WHERE THE PARKING SPOTS ARE ON THE SITE AS WELL.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE US ALL GOING OUT IN REGULATING EVERY SHORT-TERM RENTAL.

BUT IF THERE ARE COMPLAINTS REGULATING THE STANDARDS WE WANT TO SEE, MAKING SURE THEY'RE SAFE, MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF WHAT OUR ORDINANCES ARE, AND THEN A PATH FOR VIOLATIONS AND POSSIBLY REVOKING A PERMIT IF IT COMES TO THAT.

>> WE CURRENTLY ALLOW BED AND BREAKFAST BY RIGHT IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, YES.

>> IT FEELS REALLY CRAPPY, AND MAYBE ANGELA MIGHT NEED TO COME UP AND HELP WITH THIS.

BUT I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SHORT-TERM RENTAL THEN AND A BED AND BREAKFAST IN TERMS OF REGULATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT AND MAYBE WE CAN DELVE THAT LATER ON, BUT I JUST WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND.

>> YEAH. I THINK BED AND BREAKFAST MUST BE IN A SEPARATE SECTION BECAUSE THE SECTION THAT THIS IS IN THE UDO HAS LODGING HOUSES AND WOULD HAVE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

THERE'D BE TWO TYPES.

SO THE REGULATIONS ARE VERY SIMILAR.

>> I DON'T THINK MS. THREADGILL HEARD THE QUESTION,

[01:15:01]

>> WE CURRENTLY ALLOW BED AND BREAKFAST.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS BY RIGHT IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL, MAYBE ALL RESIDENTIAL, JUST IF YOU COULD CONTRAST THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS VERSUS WHAT'S PERMISSIBLE CURRENTLY FOR BED AND BREAKFAST AND WHAT DISTINGUISHES THE TWO.

>> SURE. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DEFINITION FOR A BED AND BREAKFAST, THAT IS TYPICALLY OWNER OCCUPIED.

THERE'S AN OWNER OR A MANAGER WHO IS THERE OPERATING THE BED AND BREAKFAST.

>> THAT'S A REQUIREMENT OF THAT PERSON. [OVERLAPPING]

>> THAT IS A REQUIREMENT, WHEREAS THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL, YOU CAN RENT THAT UNIT AND THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANYONE ON SITE AS YOU'RE SPENDING THE NIGHT THERE.

THEN WITH SOMETHING THAT CHRISTINE BROUGHT UP AS PART OF WHAT WE WOULD BE BRINGING FORTH IN A POLICY, IS SIMILAR TO WHAT A BED AND BREAKFAST SO THAT THERE IS NOTIFICATION.

SO WHEN A PROPERTY OWNER WOULD LIKE TO OPERATE A BED AND BREAKFAST, THERE IS A PLACARD THAT IS PLACED IN THE YARD NOTIFYING THE NEIGHBORS THAT THIS IS A PROPOSED USE THAT IS COMING TO THIS PROPERTY.

IT'S POSTED FOR 15 DAYS, AND ANY COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, AND THOSE ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION UPON THE REVIEW OF THAT APPLICATION.

THAT IS WHAT WE WOULD BE PUTTING FORWARD UNLESS YOU ALL ARE THINKING DIFFERENTLY, BUT PUTTING YOUR PLACARD IN THE YARD FOR A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTY FOR 15 DAYS, COMMENTS WOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR AND THOSE WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BEFORE AN APPROVAL IS GRANTED FOR THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? I GUESS MINE JUST HAS TO DO WITH TIMING.

IN TERMS OF WHEN WE MIGHT SEE THIS COME TO US IN A MORE FINALIZED FORM OR A REVISED DRAFT FORM WITH THE SPECIFICS AS PART OF IT?

>> STAFF SHOULD BE READY IF IT FITS ON THE AGENDA TO HAVE IT AT ONE OF THE NEXT MEETINGS. WE'RE STILL TAKING FEEDBACK.

AFTER TONIGHT WILL BE TAKING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMISSION, FROM PEOPLE WHO WATCH THIS ONLINE OR ARE HERE TONIGHT.

THEN WE'LL FINALIZE THE POLICY AND WE'D BE READY TO BRING THAT FORWARD.

I THINK EVEN SOONER THAN THAT, WE COULD START THOSE TWO MODULES THAT I DISCUSSED FOR COLLECTING DATA AND OPENING UP A COMPLAINT LINE, IF THAT'S A DECISION THAT THE COMMISSION IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.

BUT I THINK THE ORDINANCE COULD REALLY GO INTO EFFECT FAIRLY QUICKLY ONCE THESE FINE TUNED QUESTIONS ARE WORKED OUT.

>> I THINK THAT AGAIN HAS HAS BEEN STATED, BUT IT'S WORTH STATING AGAIN IS RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NO REGULATION IN PLACE OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

>> JUST PLAYING A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT MAYBE I'LL SEND THIS TO YOU IN FEEDBACK.

ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK YOU MENTIONED AND IT JUST SOMETHING THAT TRICKLES THROUGH MY HEAD.

YOU MENTIONED HEALTH AND SAFETY WOULD LOVE ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR IT TO BE A MONITORED SMOKE AND FIRE ALARM.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S WRITTEN IN THERE, BUT I THINK IN MY MIND IS WE MAKE SURE THAT THESE THINGS ARE ALSO SAFE, THAT THEY'RE MONITORED SMOKE AND FIRE ALARMS.

>> THAT'S A GOOD SUGGESTION. I'LL JUST ADD IN TERMS OF WE COULD BRING THIS.

WE TALK ABOUT OUR WORK PLAN OFTEN IN QUARTERS.

I SEE THIS AS BEING EARLY IN QUARTER ONE THAT WE CAN BRING THIS BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION.

BUT IN TERMS OF IT GOING INTO EFFECT, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE WAIT.

ALSO MAYBE WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS LATER TONIGHT IN TERMS OF THE MISSING MIDDLE POLICY.

BUT IT MAY BE THAT WE CAN MARRY THOSE IN TERMS OF GOING INTO EFFECT AROUND THE SAME TIME, BUT ALSO JUST ADMINISTRATIVELY, THE WORK THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE IF AND WHEN THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL POLICY IS APPROVED.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THERE'LL BE PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR MONTHS MINIMUM UNTIL IT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT.

MOST LIKELY JUNE 30TH OR JULY 1.

>> I HEAR EARLY IN QUARTER ONE MAY I FEEL LIKE JANUARY'S EARLY IN QUARTER ONE.

[LAUGHTER]

>> FEBRUARY, MARCH.

>> YEAH. THAT'S THE THING. QUARTER ONE IS GOOD.

I DO WANT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HEARD ABOUT IT.

THERE MAY BE SOME INPUT AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I DON'T WANT TO FEEL A RUSH.

QUARTER ONE SOUNDS GOOD, BUT OKAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM POINTED OUT,

[01:20:02]

SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK BEFORE WE START OUR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AT 07:30.

[NOISE] I'D LIKE TO

[I. Call to Order by Mayor. ]

COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING AND EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES FROM JANUARY 3,

[II. Approval of the Minutes. ]

>> MOVE APPROVAL.

>> THE SOME MOTION MADE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. IS THERE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. [OVERLAPPING]

>> AYE.

>> OPPOSED. THE CHAIR VOTES AYE.

THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

NEXT, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING.

[III. Proclamation. ]

WHEREAS WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE MUST WORK TO ADDRESS HISTORIC AND PRESENT DAY HARMS OF RACISM, HEAL THE WOUNDS CREATED BY RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND RELIGIOUS BIAS AND BUILD COMMUNITIES WHERE ALL CHILDREN CAN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND THRIVE.

WHEREAS ALL CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND HUMANITY AND MUST BE PROVIDED EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GROW, LEARN, AND FLOURISH IN A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT.

WHEREAS EVERY INDIVIDUAL POSSESSES THE ABILITY TO LEARN, GROW, AND CHANGE, AND BUILT COMMUNITIES OF ACCOUNTABILITY, CARE, AND COLLECTIVE ACTION.

WHEREAS IF WE ALL DEDICATE OURSELVES TO A PROCESS THAT BRINGS INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO WHOLENESS, REPAIRS THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY RACISM AND TRANSFORMS SOCIETAL STRUCTURES INTO ONES THAT AFFIRM THE INHERENT VALUE OF ALL PEOPLE.

WE CAN BRING ABOUT THE NECESSARY CHANGES IN THINKING AND BEHAVIOR THAT WILL PROPEL THIS GREAT COUNTRY FORWARD AS A SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS.

WHEREAS RACIAL HEALING IS A VITAL AND CRUCIAL COMMITMENT TO THE EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, MENTAL, AND OVERALL WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE TUESDAY FOLLOWING MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY AS THE NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEARING, AND URGES ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PROMOTE RACIAL HEARING, HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY AS A MEANS OF WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERY CHILD.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PATTY GARRET DO PROCLAIM TUESDAY, JANUARY 17TH, AS THE NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEARING.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO [APPLAUSE] I THINK AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING AND DECISION TO MAKE THIS EVENING, BUT JUST PRIOR TO THAT, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AS A PART OF THAT.

BEFORE THAT, I WILL JUST STAY IN TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT TONIGHT, I AM A GEORGIA BULLDOG.

[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] THE MAYOR PRO TEM KINDLY GAVE ME THIS TOO, WEAR THIS EVENING.

THIS MAY BE A MOMENT OF LEVITY FOR THE EVENING.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO RECOGNIZE I THINK WE HAVE SOME YOUTH COUNSEL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE AND WE'LL ASK THEM TO COME FORWARD AND LET US RECOGNIZE THEM, SO PLEASE.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

ONE OF MY PLEASURES IS SERVING AS THE CITY COMMISSION LIAISON WITH OUR YOUTH COUNCIL.

YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE.

I THINK WE HAVE THE BRIGHTEST YOUNG MINDS IN OUR CITY THAT PARTICIPATE IN OUR YOUTH COUNCIL AND OUR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES.

WITH US TONIGHT, I HAVE LEE, RACHEL, KARLA MONGO, MILES MOREFIELD, HENRY CASE, AND BAHIA GRANT.

THEY ALL HAVE TO ATTEND AT LEAST ONE CITY COMMISSION MEETING PER SEMESTER AND THEY CHOSE THIS ONE [LAUGHTER] TO COME TO.

I'LL HAVE A LITTLE TALK WITH THEM NEXT MONTH ABOUT BEING BETTER PREPARED.

[01:25:01]

I COULDN'T BE MORE THRILLED TO WORK WITH THEM.

>> SAM PARKI.

>> SAM PARKI. I HAD ONE MORE LATECOMER.

IF Y'ALL WOULD JUST GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE THEY ARE WONDERFUL.

[APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU. WE WON'T TAKE NAMES IF YOU LEAVE EARLY. [LAUGHTER] JUST SAYING.

>> SOME OF THEM HAVE TO STAY A LITTLE LATE BECAUSE THEY MISSED A MEETING.

[LAUGHTER] WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

[LAUGHTER] I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A SCOUT TROOP VISITING THIS EVENING.

IF THERE IS SOMEONE WHO WILL COME FORWARD AND TELL US THE NAME OF YOUR SCOUT TROOP AND WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU COMING.

YOU MIGHT CHECK THE AGENDA NEXT TIME AS WELL.

[LAUGHTER]

>> [BACKGROUND].

>> WAIT, IF YOU CAN COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND FACE US SO THAT WE DO HAVE PEOPLE WATCHING.

>> WE ARE TROOP 134.

WE OPERATE AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT. [APPLAUSE] WELCOME EVERYONE.

NEXT WE WILL BRING FORWARD THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS AND JUST FOR PROCESS PURPOSES [LAUGHTER],

[IV.A. The City of Decatur Community and Economic DevelopmentDepartment has requested text amendments to Article 2, Article3, Article 6, Article 7 and Article 12 of the Unified DevelopmentOrdinance to allow duplex, triplex, and quadplex residential unitsin R-50, R-60, R-85, and RS-17 single-family residential zoningdistricts. The Planning Commission recommends denial. ]

MS. THREADGILL, THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR PRO TEM AND COMMISSIONERS.

I AM ANGELA THREADGILL PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

I AM BEFORE YOU TO PRESENT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.

ON OCTOBER 11TH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MATTER BEFORE YOU, WHICH IS THE REQUEST FOR TEXT AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 2, ARTICLE 3, ARTICLES 6, ARTICLE 7, AND ARTICLE 12 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ALLOW DUPLEX TRIPLEX AND QUAD FLEX RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND R50, R60, R85 AND RS17, SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.

ON THAT EVENING, THE PLANNING COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS BE DENIED IN THEIR CURRENT FORM WHEN THEY REVIEW THEM BACK IN OCTOBER.

IT WAS AT THAT TIME THAT THEY ALSO PUT FORWARD SOME ITEMS, SOME ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION ITEMS FOR THE STAFF.

THEY ARE IN YOUR MINUTES AS A PART OF YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE.

THERE WERE SEVEN ITEMS THAT THEY HAD ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION OF.

THE FIRST IS THAT ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS NOT BE ALLOWED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES AND QUADPLEXES.

THAT TRIPLEXES AND QUADPLEXES BE ALLOWED ONLY UPON ISSUANCE OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, THAT ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS BE CONSIDERED FOR ON STREET PARKING STANDARDS, THAT AN ADDITIONAL COMPANION POLICY BE CONSIDERED FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS, THAT THERE WILL BE MORE CONSIDERATION FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN CHARACTER, AND THAT THERE WILL BE MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO LIMIT DEMOLITIONS OF EXISTING NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK.

KRISTIN ALLEN, WHO IS CITY PLANNER.

SHE WILL COME UP HERE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES TO GO OVER ALL THAT WAS CONSIDERED, IN ADDITION TO CONSIDERATIONS THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE ASKED US TO TAKE A LOOK AT, AND ALSO SHARE THE CONSIDERATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAD HEARD AND WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, WHAT HAS CHANGED.

JUST AS A REMINDER, THE STATE OF GEORGIA, THE ZONING PROCEDURES LAW THAT WAS AMENDED BACK IN JULY OF 2022, WHEREBY AMENDMENTS TO SINGLE-FAMILY.

[BACKGROUND] I DO AGREE THAT AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM, IT IS A LITTLE HARD TO HEAR THE CONVERSATION.

I WILL TRY TO SPEAK MUCH LOUDER.

BUT AS I WAS SAYING, THE STATE OF GEORGIA, THE ZONING PROCEDURES LAW THAT WAS AMENDED IN 2022, WHEREBY IF THERE WERE AMENDMENTS TO SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING DISTRICTS, THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, WHICH WAS THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 11TH, AND THEN THE CITY COMMISSION FOLLOWED WITH THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON OCTOBER 17TH.

[01:30:07]

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR TONIGHT.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE ZONING PROCEDURES LAW IS STATING THAT WE DO.

WE ARE GOING TO BE HOLDING ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SECOND VOTE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT YOUR FEBRUARY 6TH MEETING.

YOU ALL HAVE TO TAKE TWO VOTES, ALMOST LIKE A CHARTER AMENDMENT.

AT THAT TIME WE'LL ALSO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THAT MEETING.

JUST WANTED TO SHARE THE PROCEDURES THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT WE'RE NEEDING TO FOLLOW, AND WHAT'S COMING UP.

WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO ASK MS. ALLEN TO COME UP AND TO GO OVER THE CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS BEFORE YOU IN OCTOBER AND WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED SINCE THEN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS TO REVIEW THE TWO-YEAR PROCESS THAT'S BROUGHT US TO TONIGHT'S PROPOSED TEXTS AMENDMENTS TO RE-ALLOW MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

TONIGHT I WILL LAY OUT THE PLANNING PROCESS, COMMUNITY INPUT, AND RESEARCH THAT HAS LED US HERE.

THE EXISTING FABRIC OF OUR CITY AND THE CHALLENGES OUTLINED BY OUR COMMUNITY ARE A GOOD PLACE TO START.

THE OLDER DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES, QUADPLEXES, AND SMALL APARTMENTS TO THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LANDSCAPE.

THE INCREDIBLE CONNECTIVITY OF OUR SMALL URBAN CITY, A RARE FIND NATIONWIDE WITH THREE TRANSIT STATIONS AND WHICH IS WALK-ABLE, BECOMING MORE BIKE-ABLE, AND HAS ACCESS TO A WEALTH OF AMENITIES IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

DECATUR IS AN ADJACENT CITY TO ATLANTA IN A GROWING METRO AREA.

THE SEAT OF DEKALB COUNTY, ONE OF THE LARGEST COUNTIES IN GEORGIA.

ATLANTA IS PROJECTED TO BE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE NATION BETWEEN NOW AND 2060.

THE PROJECTED GROWTH IN THE CITY OF DECATUR WILL ADD APPROXIMATELY 10,000 RESIDENTS BY 2040.

THE HOUSING CHALLENGE WILL BE WHO IS INCLUDED, WHERE DO WE ADD HOUSING, AND WHAT TYPES WILL BE ADDED.

COMMUNITY INPUT EXPRESSES A DESIRE TO ENSURE TEACHERS, CITY WORKERS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND OTHER POPULATIONS BE INCLUDED.

DECATUR'S CURRENT TRAJECTORY OF HOUSING PRICES THREATENS TO EXCLUDE ALL BUT THE WEALTHIEST OF BUYERS.

MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IS DEFINED AS HOUSING TYPES BETWEEN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME IN A LARGE APARTMENT BUILDING, DUPLEX, TRIPLEX, QUADPLEX, AND SMALL APARTMENT.

MISSING MIDDLE IS ALSO DEFINED AS HOUSING TARGETED TO MIDDLE-INCOME RESIDENTS WHO MAY NOT WANT OR BE ABLE TO AFFORD A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME, BUT WHO DESIRE TO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE'VE SEEN INNOVATIVE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING AND OTHER CITIES AND IN PARTS OF ATLANTA WHERE NEW WORKFORCE HOMES INCLUDE COTTAGE COURTS, SMALL HOME DEVELOPMENTS, AND MISSING MIDDLE, ADDING TO THE HOUSING SUPPLY AND ADDRESSING THIS NEED.

WHAT DOES PAST PLANNING SAY ABOUT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IN DECATUR? THE NEED FOR MISSING MIDDLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING HAS ARISEN IN COMMUNITY REPORTS STARTING IN 2008.

THE 2008 HOUSING REPORT ESTABLISHES, THE NEED FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING IN DIVERSITY OF PRICE POINTS FOR ALL STAGES OF LIFE.

THE 2010 STRATEGIC PLAN RECOMMENDS TO ADOPT ORDINANCE CHANGES THAT ALLOW FOR SMALLER HOMES AND SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.

IN 2014, A COMMUNITY FORMED ON MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING WAS HELD TO CONSIDER MORE DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES FOR DOWNSIZING SENIORS, SERVICE WORKERS, AND RISING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.

THE 2020 AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN RECOMMEND TO RE-INTRODUCE DUPLEX, TRIPLEX AND QUDPLEX INDICATORS NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL AS, AND I QUOTE, "NEAR UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT DURING THE PROCESS, THAT DECATUR IS EXPERIENCING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS." THE INCREASING HOME VALUES ARE AN INDICATOR OF DECATUR APPEAL, BUT HAVE ERODED DIVERSITY AND HAVE MADE HOME OWNERSHIP ATTAINABLE TO ONLY THE MOST WEALTHIEST FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.

THIS HOUSING CRISIS IS HAPPENING NATIONWIDE AS WELL AS IN OUR SMALL CITY OF DECATUR.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS IS TO CONSIDER POLICIES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR TIME AND SET DECATUR ON A PATH THAT OF RESPONSE.

WHAT DOES THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROCESS ENTAILED? TWO YEARS AGO, CITY STAFF WERE ASKED BY THE CITY COMMISSION TO BRING FORTH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MISSING MIDDLE ZONING REFORM.

DURING THIS PERIOD, THE OUTREACH CONSISTED OF TWO PHASES.

AT THE ONSET OF PHASE 1 IN EARLY 2021, A POSTCARD WAS SENT TO EACH HOME TO ALERT HOUSEHOLDS OF A NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING WEBSITE WITH A VIDEO STORY MAP, AN ONLINE SURVEY, A COLON HOT-LINE, AND TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY OF THREE PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE INITIAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE RESULT OF THE ONLINE SURVEY INDICATED THAT 81 PERCENT OF RESIDENTS SEE A STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOUSING CHOICES AVAILABLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

[01:35:03]

AT THE END OF PHASE 1, THE INITIAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS WERE DEVELOPED.

THERE WERE TWO AMENDMENTS, UDL AMENDMENT 1 THAT WAS PROPOSED AT THE END OF PHASE 1 WAS TO RE-ALLOW DUPLEX, TRIPLEX, AND QUADPLEX DEVELOPMENT AND HOME SUBDIVISION IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES SO LONG AS THEY CAN FORM WITH A REQUIRED HEIGHT, FLOOR AREA, RATIOS, SETBACK OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES FOR THE FIT AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT CODE REQUIREMENTS.

THE SECOND PART WAS PARKING.

PARKING REMAINED AT ONE REQUIRED SPACE PER DWELLING, CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.

HOWEVER, UP TO 50 PERCENT OF PARKING COULD BE UTILIZED ON STREET THROUGH A LIMITED REVIEW PROCESS.

ALTHOUGH BUILDERS ARE ALLOWED, AS WITH SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES TO INSTALL ADDITIONAL PARKING ON-SITE SHOULD THEY SEE FIT.

THE INITIAL RECOMMENDATION FOR THE LENGTH OF AN ON STREET PARKING SPACE WAS 15 FEET, THE SIZE OF A COMPACT CAR.

PHASE 2 BEGAN IN JANUARY OF 2022 AND SET OUT TOGETHER COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON THESE PROPOSALS TO UNDERSTAND AND EDUCATE AROUND COMMUNITY DESIRES AND CONCERNS IN ORDER TO FINALIZE THE POLICY.

THIS PHASE CONSISTED OF A SECOND POSTCARD MAILING TO EACH HOUSEHOLD, A SECOND ONLINE SURVEY, COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, PUBLIC EVENTS, A PUBLIC HOUSING FORUM, TWO WORK SESSIONS, TWO DECATUR FOCUS ARTICLES, AND TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THE SECOND ONLINE SURVEY RESPONSES RANGED FROM FULL SUPPORT WITH NO QUESTIONS TO THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE POLICY, BUT HAVE QUESTIONS TO THOSE WHO GENERALLY OPPOSED THE POLICY.

THE SURVEY IN THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS PROVIDED STAFF WITH SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO RESEARCH AND HELP INFORM THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

PRIOR TO TONIGHT'S VOTE AND NOTICE WAS POSTED IN THE DECEMBER DECATUR FOCUS AND A THIRD POSTCARD WAS SENT TO EACH HOME.

WHAT WAS THE RESEARCH PROCESS THE CITY STAFF TOOK IN PROPOSING THIS POLICY? AT THE DECEMBER 5TH COMMISSION WORK SESSIONS, CITY STAFF WAS JOINED BY REGIONAL EXPERTS TO DISCUSS THE QUESTIONS THAT HAD ARISEN THROUGH THE ONLINE SURVEY AND PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS.

THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION PRESENTED DATA REGARDING THE SHRINKING SIZE OF HOUSEHOLDS IN THE METRO AREA.

AS THE SIZE OF HOMES CONTINUE TO RISE, THERE'S A CLEAR MISMATCH BETWEEN HOUSING TYPES AND DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS.

WE LEARNED THAT OUR SMALL CITY, WHICH STRIVES TO BE INCLUSIVE, CAN BE REFERRED TO AS A SUPER GENTRIFICATION, BASED ON THE LOSS OF RACIAL DIVERSITY AND THE INFLUX OF A HIGH LEVEL OF WEALTHY COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNTER GENTRIFICATION AT THIS STAGE INCLUDE ADDING MORE INCLUSIVE HOUSING TYPES AT WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE LEVELS TO BRING PEOPLE IN, AND TO INCREASE EFFORTS TO PROTECT EXISTING LEGACY RESIDENCE.

STAFF STUDY THE INTERSECTION OF HOUSING AND CLIMATE AND LEARN THAT URBAN INFO HOUSING OF WHICH MISSING MIDDLE IS PART, IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST IMPACT-FULL STRATEGIES TO REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.

THAT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING POLICY IS RECOMMENDED NOT ONLY TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT HOUSING CRISIS BUT THE CLIMATE CRISIS AS WELL.

CITY STAFF ALSO STUDIED NATIONWIDE RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS TO ADOPT ORDINANCES THAT FACILITATE A RANGE OF HOUSING TYPES AND DENSITIES FOR DIVERSITY OF HOUSING NEEDS.

TO AMEND OR DISMANTLE EXCLUSIONARY ZONING RULES AND PRACTICES.

TO ALLOW MISSING MIDDLE EVERYWHERE AND TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE PARKING MINIMUMS, AND TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD BETWEEN MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING AND SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.

THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS FOR THE DECATUR AREA TO INCREASE HOUSING SUPPLY BY REDUCING DEVELOPMENT BARRIERS, INCLUDING MISSING MIDDLE BARRIERS.

THE AARP RECOMMENDS TO REMOVE ZONING OBSTACLES AND BARRIERS TO MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.

WHAT ARE BEST PRACTICES FROM OTHER CITIES, COUNTIES AND STATES? THE NUMBER OF CITIES, COUNTIES AND STATES WHICH ALLOW OR MANDATE THESE MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN RESPONSE TO THE HOUSING CRISIS WE'RE IN NATIONWIDE.

STAFF REACHED OUT TO OTHER CITIES WHICH HAVE APPROVED THESE POLICIES AND OBSERVED THAT IN EVERY CASE, THESE TRADITIONAL HOUSING TYPES ARE ADDED INCREMENTALLY, ADDING A GENTLE DENSITY TO THE LANDSCAPE.

USING DATA FROM THOSE WHO HAVE IMPLEMENTED MISSING MIDDLE ZONING FOR A YEAR OR MORE STEP ESTIMATES, APPROXIMATELY THREE TO 11 NEW UNITS PER YEAR WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED OR SUBDIVIDED IN DECATUR AS A RESULT OF THE RECOMMENDED POLICY.

STAFF RESEARCH POLICIES OF OTHER CITIES FOR COMPARISON, FINDING INNOVATIVE IDEAS IN RALEIGH AND DURHAM, WHICH HAVE ALLOWED LOTS TO BE SUBDIVIDED INTO FLAG LOTS IN ORDER TO ENABLE MORE FOUR-CELL DWELLINGS, AND HAVE ALLOWED TWO SETS OF DUPLEXES ON A LOT FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR PER LOT BY RIGHT.

PORTLAND HAS CREATED THE MOST MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING BY ALLOWING DENSITY BONUSES FOR AFFORDABLE UNITS AND MIXED INCOME SIX PLEXUS AND ALSO DOUBLE ADUS.

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA IS PILOTING A BUILD SOUTH BEND PROGRAM WITH A GOAL OF ENABLING OWNERS TO BE LANDLORDS AND SETS OF PRE-APPROVED DESIGNS FOR FASTER PERMITTING.

[01:40:02]

IN ALL OF THESE CITIES, DUPLEX, TRIPLEX AND QUADFLEX, WHEN ALLOWED, ARE ALLOWED BY RIGHT.

THESE CITIES HAVE ADOPTED INNOVATIVE PARKING POLICIES BY ELIMINATING PARKING REQUIREMENTS.

MOST OFTEN FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.

ATLANTA IS EMBARKING ON A REASONING PROCESS.

RECENTLY, WE'VE HEARD FROM NON-PROFIT ENTITIES IN ATLANTA ASKING FOR COURAGE FROM LEADERS IN FROM THE COMMUNITY TO ALLOW DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES AND FLEXIBILITY WITHOUT EXCESSIVE REQUIREMENTS SO THEY CAN DO THE WORK OF BUILDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHAT COMMUNITY CONCERNS WERE ADDRESSED IN THE RESEARCH.

THE ONLINE SURVEYS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS BROUGHT FORTH QUESTIONS AND COMMUNITY CONCERNS TO DRIVE FURTHER RESEARCH.

REGARDING SAFETY, THE MISSING MIDDLE HOMES MUST COMPLY WITH CURRENT BUILDING AND FIRE CODES.

THE CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR 3-4 DWELLINGS ARE MORE STRICT THAN FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND DUPLEXES.

WE RESEARCHED SCHOOL ENROLLMENT.

OUR CITY SCHOOLS DEPEND ON STEADY ENROLLMENT AND THERE HAS BEEN A GRADUAL DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN THE LOWER GRADES.

MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED.

BUT COULD THE CITY'S HOUSING SUPPLY FOR WHICH HOMES SALE PRICES HAVE INCREASED FROM 300,210 IN 2010 TO OVER 800,000 IN 2020 TO CORRELATE WITH THIS GRADUAL DECLINE AS NEW FAMILIES ARE DISCOURAGED FROM LOCATING INDICATOR.

A HOLISTIC HOUSING APPROACH IS RECOMMENDED AS MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING ATTRACTS A VARIETY OF PEOPLE AND IS LESS LIKELY TO LEAD TO DRAMATIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT INCREASES COMPARED TO A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENT.

PARKING WAS ANOTHER ISSUE.

THE 2018 DECATUR COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE SHOWS THAT ON STREET PARKING IS A TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURE, INCREASING SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS.

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS OCCUR ON THE ROADS WHERE TRAFFIC MOVES THROUGH THE MOST QUICKLY.

INVESTOR CONCERNS WHERE A LARGE PORTION OF THE QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S BEEN THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED.

THE CITY OF DECAYED OR HAS NOT SEEN ACTIVITY FROM INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS THAT HAS OCCURRED IN OTHER LOWER-COST AREAS OF THE ATLANTA METRO.

LARGE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS HAVE PURCHASED SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND THE 200-250,000 DOLLAR LEVEL IN AREAS THAT HAVE LOWER LAND COSTS AND HOUSEHOLD INCOMES BELOW THE MEDIAN ATLANTA LEVELS.

THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENT NOT SEEN INDICATOR.

FURTHERMORE, THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE CREATES ADDED SAFETY MEASURES AND RELATED COSTS FOR THREE TO FOUR UNIT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TYPES.

THEREFORE, THE ROI AND REQUIRED PROFIT LEVELS ARE NOT ATTRACTIVE TO LARGE SCALE INVESTORS.

OTHER CITIES HAVE DOCUMENTED INCREMENTAL DEVELOPMENT OF 2-4 UNIT DWELLINGS AND A LARGE PART BECAUSE THE CONSTRUCTION IS PREDOMINANTLY BY INDIVIDUAL OWNERS, SMALL-SCALE AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPERS.

REGARDING GENTRIFICATION INDICATOR, BECAUSE DICTATOR IS A CITY IN WHAT IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS LATE-STAGE GENTRIFICATION.

THE RECOMMENDED STRATEGY IS BOTH TO START PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE NEW EDUCATOR WHOM REHAB PROGRAM AND THE PROPERTY TAX PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS RECOMMENDED BY THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE TO ASSIST LEGACY RESIDENTS TO REMAIN INDICATOR AND TO PROVIDE MORE INCLUSIVE HOUSING TYPES SUCH AS MISSING MIDDLE TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THE CITY.

REGARDING TREES AND STORMWATER, ANY NEW DUPLEX OR WALK-UP, FLAT OR A HOME CONVERSIONS THAT ADDS OVER 500 FEET MUST COMPLY WITH THE TREE ORDINANCE AND STORMWATER ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DECAYED ARE SIMILAR TO A NEW SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.

ZONING AND AFFORDABILITY.

ZONING CHANGES BY THEMSELVES DO NOT CREATE AFFORDABILITY, BUT THEY ENABLE NON-PROFIT AND MISSION-DRIVEN DEVELOPERS THE FLEXIBILITY TO BUILD SMALLER UNITS, AS WELL AS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO MODIFY OR CREATE HOMES AT AN AFFORDABLE OR WORKFORCE LEVEL.

LASTLY, LAND VALUES AND PROPERTY VALUES.

DIVERSE TYPES OF HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAVE NOT BEEN SHOWN TO DECREASE PROPERTY VALUES.

SOME REPORTS SHOW THAT ZONING CHANGES FOR MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING MAY SLIGHTLY INCREASED LAND VALUES AT A SMALL PERCENTAGE IN THE FIRST YEAR.

ULTIMATELY, THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS MUST CONSIDER ALL INPUT AND BRING FORTH THE BEST RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE RESEARCH AND OUTREACH AND THE DESIRED OUTCOMES.

SOME SUMMARY, THE FIRST TWO AMENDMENTS LARGELY STAY INTACT BUT HAVE BEEN TWEAKED BASED ON FEEDBACK AND THE ADDITIONS TO THE RECOMMENDATION OR IN SUMMARY, TO ALLOW BUILDING TYPES THAT FORMERLY EXISTED TO BE CREATED AGAIN, NEW OR CONVERTED DUPLEX, WHICH ARE TWO UNITS AND WALK UP FLAT 3-4 UNIT DWELLINGS, ALLOWED BY LIMITED USE IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES, RAD51, R6, R50 AND R17.

THESE ARE REQUIRED TO CONFORM TO THE UDO SIZE, HEIGHT, FLOOR AREA RATIO AND LOCK COVERAGE OF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME TO ENSURE THAT THEY FIT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS MEANS THEY CAN'T BE ANY LARGER THAN A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.

FIFTY PERCENT OF PARKING REQUIREMENTS CAN BE SATISFIED ON STREET AS PART OF A LIMITED REVIEW PROCESS, STAFF HAS INCREASED THE LENGTH OF A PARKING SPACE REQUIREMENT FROM THE ORIGINALLY RECOMMENDED 15 FEET TO 20 FEET.

DATA ON THE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING PERMITS AND DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ADDED TO THE CITY'S ANNUAL METRICS SO THAT STAFF WILL REPORT ANNUALLY ON THE NUMBER OF PERMITS, THE NUMBER OF UNITS CREATED, THE PERCENT RENTAL SALE PRICES ON STREET PARKING UTILIZATION, THE PERCENT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN AND IMPACT ON THE SCHOOLS CREATED.

STAFF HAS ADDED AN AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT SO THAT THE CITY IS MANDATORY INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE WILL REQUIRE A QUADPLEX PLUS AN ADU,

[01:45:03]

STAFF IS ALSO DEVELOPING A SHORT-TERM RENTAL POLICY AND RESPONSE WHICH WE DISCUSSED AT THE WORK SESSION.

LASTLY, IN ORDER FOR THE CITY STAFF TO IMPLEMENT THE PERMIT PROCESS AND ASSESS IMPACT OF THESE NEW BUILDING TYPES.

THE NUMBER OF PERMITS ALLOWED FOR DUPLEX AND WALK UP FLATS WILL BE LIMITED FOR THE FIRST 18 MONTHS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF JUNE 30, 2023 TO THREE PERMITS PER K22 SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR A TOTAL OF 15 PERMITS CITYWIDE DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.

THIS WILL APPLY TO NEW CONSTRUCTION IN HOME SUBDIVISIONS.

THIS WILL GRADUALLY PHASE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THESE HOUSING TYPES OF THE CITY HAS TIME TO EVALUATE ACTUAL IMPACT ADDRESSED AS NEEDED AND TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH PERMITTING THESE NEW BUILDING TYPES.

THE MISSING MIDDLE ZONING POLICY PROPOSAL IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF YEARS OF COMMUNITY INPUT.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGY FOR EDUCATOR, PART OF A LARGER COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING PLAN.

THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT LAYS OUT THIS STRATEGY, INCLUDING THE WORK OF THE NEW DICTATOR LAND TRUST AND BOLSTERING THE EXISTING DECATUR HOUSING TRUST FUND.

THIS STRATEGY CAN BE COMPLEMENTED WITH INCREASED DENSITY AND OTHER AREAS SUCH AS AROUND MARTA STATIONS, BUT WE NEED A BOTH AND APPROACH.

IN SUMMARY, CITY STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF CERTAIN TEXTS, MINUTES TO ARTICLES 2, 3, 6, 7 AND 12 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE AND ADOPTION OF THE RELATED ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]

>> I'M GOING TO ASK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE RESPECT IN OUR COMMUNICATION AND I'M GOING TO ASK THAT CLAPPING NOT BE A PART OF THAT.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMISSION MEETINGS BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THIS IS A TOPIC THAT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS ON AND WE REALLY DO NOT WANT IT TO TURN INTO WHO CAN CLAP THE LOUDEST [LAUGHTER] OR STAND UP, AND WE WANT IT TO BE A FAIR HEARING AND A FAIR PROCESS.

I WILL ASK THAT YOU NOT CLAP AND WE REALLY PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING ABLE TO DISAGREE RESPECTFULLY AS A PART OF OUR CIVIL DISCOURSE IN OUR MEETINGS, AND AS A PART OF A HIGH FUNCTIONING GOVERNMENT ENTITY, SO THANK YOU.

I DON'T KNOW IF MS. THREADGILL OR IF NOW WE WOULD ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE TABLE THAT IS PROVIDED OR IF WE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AFTER WE RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> [BACKGROUND].

>> MAYBE WE'LL DO PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST AND THEN WE WILL LOOK AT THE TABLE THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED.

WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SO IF YOU'LL TAKE A SEAT, WE'LL START THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS.

WE DO HAVE SIGN-UP SHEETS AND WE WILL BE CALLING OUT NAMES.

WE WILL INSTITUTE A THREE-MINUTE COMMENT TIME AND WE WILL BE EXTREMELY FIRM IN STOPPING YOU AT THE END OF THREE MINUTES BECAUSE WE CURRENTLY HAVE OVER 60 PEOPLE SIGNED UP AND I DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE SHEETS FROM OUTSIDE, AND WE HAVE OVER 60 PEOPLE ONLINE.

AGAIN, WE RECOGNIZE THAT REASONABLE PEOPLE, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, AND NEIGHBORS CAN HAVE VERY DIFFERING OPINIONS AND KNOW THAT THINGS WILL BE PRESENTED TO US IN A CIVIL MANNER AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU ARE PASSIONATE REGARDLESS OF WHAT COMMENTS YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD, BUT I WOULD ASK YOU TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THE WHOLE THREE MINUTES.

[LAUGHTER] WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR AWHILE BUT IF YOU HAVE HEARD THIS SIMILAR COMMENT MADE BY SOMEONE ELSE, YOU CAN STATE THAT YOU AGREE OR YOU CAN JUST COME UP AND SAY, I THINK THAT POINT HAS BEEN MADE AND I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS COMMENT OR ANOTHER COMMENT.

I WILL ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.

WITH THAT, I WILL START AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, AND MY CITY MANAGER, I THINK IS GOING TO HELP ME WITH THE TIMING PART.

DAVID LEWICKI, IF YOU WILL COME FORWARD.

[01:50:05]

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS REVEREND DAVID LEWICKI.

I AM A RESIDENT OF 150 RIDLEY LANE IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM, KNOWN AS THE ROSWELL NEIGHBORHOOD.

[LAUGHTER] WE'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 2010.

I'VE SERVED ON THE BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD.

IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO DO THAT AND I'M ALSO A COMMISSIONER WITH THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY AND FEEL GRATEFUL TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN THAT WAY.

I'M HERE TONIGHT WITH A GROUP OF FOLKS, NEIGHBORS, AND FRIENDS FROM THE COALITION FOR A DIVERSE DECATUR AND DEKALB.

WE HAVE A LETTER FOR YOU TONIGHT OF OUR SUPPORT FOR THE ZONING CHANGES.

THERE'S 150 SIGNATURES ATTACHED TO THAT LETTER.

I'M A PASTOR AND I SERVE AT A CHURCH NEARBY NORTH DECATUR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

AS A PASTOR, I THINK A LOT ABOUT COMMUNITY AND SPECIFICALLY A COMMUNITY THAT JOSIAH ROYCE AND MARTIN LUTHER KING CALLED BELOVED COMMUNITY.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY HUMAN BEING IS WELCOME, WHERE THERE'S AN ATTENTIONAL PLACE MADE FOR EVERY PERSON.

I'VE COME TO BELIEVE OVER THE YEARS THAT ZONING IS THE MOST THEOLOGICAL ASPECT OF THE CITY.

THIS IS THE MOST THEOLOGICALLY RICH THING THAT YOU ALL DO.

WHY? BECAUSE WHEN YOU MAKE ZONING DECISIONS, YOU GET TO DECIDE WHICH PEOPLE GET TO LIVE IN A CERTAIN PART OF GOD'S CREATION AND WHICH PEOPLE DON'T.

THAT'S AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY AND I DON'T ENVY YOU IN THE DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE.

YOU ARE INDEED WALKING ON HOLY GROUND.

I WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL TONIGHT FOR ONE SIMPLE REASON.

IT INCREASES THE DIVERSITY AND TYPES OF FAMILIES WHO GET TO CALL OUR COMMUNITY HOME.

IT WILL INCLUDE, AS HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE, PEOPLE LIKE MY PARENTS WHO ARE RETIRED AND DOWNSIZING.

IT WILL INCLUDE CHILDLESS COUPLES, SINGLE INDIVIDUALS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SINGLE PARENTS WHO CAN'T AFFORD A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME IN DECATUR.

I WANT TO IN ADVANCE JUST TO THANK ALL OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT AND BEING PART OF THIS VITAL DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

IT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE'RE HERE, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR THE LOVE THAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR WORK AND INTO YOUR LISTENING AND TO THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE ON OUR BEHALF. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO READ OUT THE NEXT COUPLE OF NAMES SO WE'LL BE PREPARED.

NEXT IS PAULA COLLINS AND THEN LAWRENCE SIDDALL AND THEN WENDY CROMWELL.

I DON'T THINK I SEE ANYONE NOW, BUT IF YOU ARE SITTING ON THE FLOOR OR TEMPTED TO SIT ON THE FLOOR, WE DO ASK THAT YOU NOT DO THAT FOR LIFE SAFETY PURPOSES IN CASE WE HAD TO LEAVE THE ROOM FOR AN EMERGENCY, SO THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION IN THAT. MS. COLLINS.

>> GOOD EVENING. PAULA COLLINS, 201 WEST PONCE.

COMMISSIONERS, MS. ARNOLD, FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU GUYS DO A HUGE JOB AND WE PROBABLY DON'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH.

I'VE SERVED A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING I THINK WAS SERVING ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASKFORCE GROUP.

THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHT PUT INTO THOSE 22 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT.

I THINK THAT WHEN WE USE FACT AND NIGHT FEAR TO MAKE POLICY DECISIONS, THEN WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SO I ENCOURAGE THAT.

I'VE HAD SOME INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS JUST OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO EITHER UNDERSTAND MORE OR HAD CONCERNS AND WE HAD GOOD CONVERSATION AND MAYBE THEY LEARNED SOMETHING.

WE PROBABLY BOTH LEARNED SOMETHING FROM EACH OTHER.

I THANK YOU FOR THIS PUBLIC DIALOGUE BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I DO HOPE THAT WE CAN SEE THIS THROUGH AND HOPEFULLY BASICALLY RESTORE SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN AWAY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL BE OUTRIGHT, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY EXTRA BURDENS PUT ON THINGS UNNECESSARILY, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

I WANT TO ALSO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO DID ALL THE RESEARCH AND WORK BEHIND THIS.

IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

MY NAME IS LAUREN SUDIAL, AND I LIVE AT 49 MCEVOY LANE HERE IN DECATUR, I AM IN FAVOR OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES AS A FORMER CITY OF DECATUR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER, A PARENT AND SLT MEMBER,

[01:55:01]

I SERVED ON THE BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD FOR FIVE YEARS WHERE MUCH OF OUR WORK FOCUSED ON INCLUSIVITY, AND I FEEL THAT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY AFTER SOME OF THE STRUGGLES THAT WE HAD IN OUR WORK AS A CITY, REALLY LIVE UP TO OUR VALUES AND COMMITMENTS AND TRULY CREATE A COMMUNITY THAT CAN BE INCLUSIVE OF PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES.

I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES AT THE TABLE AND NOT JUST THOSE AT THE EXTREMES.

AS A PARENT AND SLT MEMBER, I ALSO FEEL STRONGLY IN TERMS OF HAVING TWO CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS, HAVING A DIVERSE COMMUNITY, AGAIN, NOT JUST AT THE EXTREMES AND VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS, OF TYPES OF FAMILIES AND ALSO INCOMES.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR CHILDREN TO SEE A COMMUNITY THAT'S REALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF A GREATER WHOLE AND NOT JUST THESE TWO EXTREMES WHICH WE'RE GRAVITATING TO NOW.

THEN LAST AS A TEACHER AND RESIDENT, I'M NOT A TEACHER HERE IN DECATUR, BUT I DO TEACH LAW STUDENTS AND OBVIOUSLY I LIVE HERE.

I'M ALSO THE CHILD OF TWO PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO AND GREW UP IN A COMMUNITY THAT I AND MANY OF MY FRIENDS COULD NOT AFFORD TO MOVE BACK TO BECAUSE IT HAD BECOME FAR TOO EXPENSIVE FOR MANY OF US TO LIVE IN SO I UNDERSTAND THE PAINS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.

I THINK THERE'S REAL VALUE IN HAVING THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR TEACHERS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND OTHERS BE REALLY INVESTED IN A COMMUNITY AND PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND TRULY DEEP WAY WHICH ISN'T POSSIBLE AND I ALSO QUESTION THE MESSAGE WE SEND, WE ESSENTIALLY CONVEY TO THOSE FOLKS THAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO WORK HERE, BUT THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY NOT WELCOMED TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE WE'VE NOT CREATED A SCENARIO THAT ENABLES THEM TO DO SO. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT WENDY CROMWELL, ANNIE GODFREY, AND BIADA CESS.

>> HELLO. I'M WENDY CROMWELL.

I LIVE AT 221 MOUNT VERNON DRIVE.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF DECATUR FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS.

MY HUSBAND AND I MADE THE DECISION TO MOVE TO DECATUR FOR ITS SCHOOLS AND ITS DIVERSITY.

WE HAD LIVED AND HAVEN'T DEALT WITH STATES PRIOR TO THIS.

FOR MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS WE HAVEN'T ENJOYED AND INCLUSIVE WHAT WE CALL VILLAGE OF FAMILIES ON OUR STREET.

ALL OF WHOM WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THAT WE NOW OWN AT TODAY'S PRICES.

DECATUR IS LOSING ITS DIVERSITY THAT IS INTEGRAL TO ITS IDENTITY.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE MOVED HERE.

DECATUR IS BECOMING ASPEN, BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO, AND ATLANTA'S MORNINGSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE FACT THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ARE DOMINATING THE MARKET AND PRICING OUT ALL OTHER HOUSING.

WE HAVE A LOW INVENTORY OF DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXUS AND QUADS AND OTHER MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR OUR TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, BARISTAS, RETIREES, POLICE OFFICERS, AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND THEY SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY WHERE THEY WORK.

ON THE DAY IN WHICH WE HONOR THE REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING WITH A PROCLAMATION FOR RACIAL HEALING IN OUR CITY, WE NEED TO MOVE PAST TALKING ABOUT INCLUSIVE HOUSING OPTION, AND WE NEED TO STOP TALKING ABOUT INCLUSIVE HOUSING OPTIONS AND START ACTING ON THEM.

MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING OPTIONS IS THE PROPOSAL THAT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED AND BEFORE THE SUSTAINED BODY PERFECT, NO, BUT IT IS A GOOD STARTING POINT.

WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR HOMEOWNERS AND DEVELOPERS TO BRING THESE TYPES OF HOUSING OPTIONS TO OUR CITY WITHOUT CONDITIONAL USE REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE WHO SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS. THANK YOU.

>> NEXT, ANNIE GODFREY, BIADA CESS, CAROL BURGESS.

>> HELLO, I'M ANNIE GODFREY.

I LIVE AT 128 GARDEN LANE.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE MISSING MIDDLE ORDINANCE.

I WOULD LIKE OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE CITY IN WHICH THEY SERVE.

FOR THE 36 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED ON GARDEN LANE, WE HAVE HAD MULTIFAMILY UNITS ON OUR STREET.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL STREET AND IT HAS FANTASTIC NEIGHBORS AND I WISH ALL IN DECATUR LOOKED LIKE GARDEN LANE. THANK YOU.

>> BIADA CESS, CAROL BURGESS, AND KAREN MOCK.

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M BIADA CESS AND I LIVE AT 209 MCCOY STREET.

I BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY IMPORTANT REASONS TO SUPPORT THE ZONING CHANGE THAT WILL ENABLE THE CREATION OF MORE WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

RESEARCH INDICATES THAT POLICIES THAT ALLOW THE CREATION OF A MODERATELY PRICED HOUSING IN DESIRABLE COMMUNITIES, INCREASED DIVERSITY.

DIVERSITY IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF US.

RESEARCH FINDS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE MORE DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS

[02:00:01]

LIKEWISE, STUDENTS WHO ATTEND INTEGRATED SCHOOLS ARE MORE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE, DEAL BETTER WITH DIVERSE WORK SITUATIONS AND ARE LESS LIKELY TO APPLY RACIAL STEREOTYPES.

THERE'S ALSO EVIDENCE THAT BY INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING, LOOSENING ZONING REGULATIONS EFFECTIVELY INCREASES THE NUMBER OF WORKERS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN DESIRABLE AREAS.

THE CITY OF DECATUR CURRENTLY HAS 28 JOB OPENINGS, MANY WHICH HAVE GONE UNFILLED FOR MONTHS.

WHILE NOT A PANACEA, EXPANDING THE SUPPLY OF WORKFORCE HOUSING COULD IMPROVE OUR CHANCES OF RECRUITING, RETAINING EMPLOYEES THAT ARE VITAL TO THE WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

PERSONALLY I FEEL INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES I HAVE HAD THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN MY FAMILY'S ABILITY TO PURCHASE A HOME IN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND SEND OUR CHILDREN TO THE CITY SCHOOLS.

I BELIEVE IT IS TIME TO PAY IT FORWARD, EVEN IF IT MEANS SHOULDERING SOME MINOR INCONVENIENCES, SUCH AS HAVING TO DRIVE AROUND A FEW CARS ON A NARROW STREET.

I'VE NEVER LIVED NEAR SO MANY CARING AND KIND NEIGHBORS NOR EXPERIENCE THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT EXISTS IN OUR FOUR SQUARE MILES.

I WANT OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT OTHERWISE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THIS TOO.

MANY HAVE COME BEFORE US TO SHAPE THE CHARACTER OF THIS COMMUNITY.

ONE THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING INCLUSIVE AND PROGRESSIVE.

TODAY, ALL OF YOU AND MANY OTHERS IN THIS ROOM WORK TIRELESSLY TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CITY.

AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES WHAT WE WANT TO BE.

DO WE WANT TO PAY IT FORWARD TO THE YOUNG COUPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD A HOUSE BUT DESIRES A GOOD SCHOOL FOR THEIR DAUGHTER? WHAT ABOUT THE TEACHER WHO COMMUTES AN HOUR EACH WAY AND WISHES SHE COULD SPEND MORE QUALITY TIME WITH THEIR OWN FAMILY.

CAN WE PAY IT FORWARD TO THE RECENT WIDOW WHO WANTS TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN OUR CITY BUT NEEDS TO DOWNSIZE IN ORDER TO STAY? WE NEED TO PAY IT FORWARD BECAUSE BY WELCOMING A MORE DIVERSE POPULATION INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND BY TAKING CARE OF OUR LONG-TERM RESIDENTS, WE ALL BENEFIT.

>> MS. BURGESS, KAREN MOCK, ELKA DAVIDSON.

>> HELLO. I'M CAROL BURGESS.

I LIVE AT 108 EMMONS DRIVE, AND I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE ZONING CHANGES.

I GREW UP IN DECATUR.

I WENT THROUGH DECATUR CITY SCHOOLS AND I REALLY APPRECIATED MY EDUCATION HERE.

IN THE LATE '70S AND EARLY '80S I RENTED A DUPLEX ON MONTGOMERY STREET BECAUSE I WANTED TO LIVE IN DECATUR AND BECAUSE I COULD ALMOST AFFORD IT.

THEN IN 1983, I BOUGHT A HOUSE IN OAKHURST, WHICH IS EVANS BECAUSE IT WAS A HOUSE I COULD ACTUALLY AFFORD AND I WANTED TO LIVE IN A DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I ENJOYED MY TIME LIVING THERE WITH DIVERSITY.

WE DON'T HAVE VERY MUCH DIVERSITY ANYMORE, AND I MISS IT.

I WANT PEOPLE WHO WORK IN DECATUR TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE, AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A CITY TO DECIDE WHO WE WANT TO BE. THANK YOU.

>> HEY, KAREN MOCK, ELCA DAVIDSON, AND MARK BRANBRAD.

>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM. MY NAME IS KAREN MOCK AND I LIVE AT 1046 SOUTH MCDONALD'S STREET.

PRIOR TO THAT, I LIVED IN A DUPLEX ON PONCE DE LEON COURT.

OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED OUR CITY AND I HAVE ALSO ENGAGED IN THE DISCUSSION ON DIVERSITY IN OUR CITY AND WE TALK ABOUT WANTING TO MAINTAIN IT, BUT WE NEED ACTION BECAUSE AS WE ALL HAVE SEEN, IT CONTINUES TO SLIP AWAY.

I THINK THIS PROPOSAL THAT I'M STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF IS ONE IMPORTANT PIECE OF THAT PUZZLE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE IT COMPLETELY, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF IT BY ALLOWING THE DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR EXISTING HOUSING STOCK AND TO MAKE IT EASIER AND NOT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO CREATE THIS HOUSING.

BASED ON THAT, I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF OUTRIGHT AS OPPOSED TO CONDITIONAL USE.

TO ME, THE CONDITIONAL USE AS A LAWYER, IT'S JUST AN INVITATION TO HAVE LAWYERS GET FEES WHO HAVE TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO THIS.

OVER MY TENURE ON SOUTH MCDONALD STREET,

[02:05:03]

I HAVE WATCHED THREE UNIT APARTMENT BUILDINGS BE REPLACED BY 18 UNIT TOWN HOMES THAT NOW SELL FOR EASILY UPWARDS OF $500,000.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MAKE THE EFFORT TO CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TO COME BACK.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS.

AS FAR AS THE DENSITY WE COVERED THE DENSITY WHEN WE WENT FROM A 14 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX TO 18 TOWN HOMES AND I DID NOT SEE THE DENSITY AND INCREASED TRAFFIC THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.

I ASKED YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF DECATUR. THANK YOU.

>> MS. DAVIDSON, MR. BROWN BRUIT, AND THEN MISHA BUTCHER GODFREY.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ELCA DAVIDSON AND I HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE.

I'M AN URBAN PLANNER BY TRAINING WITH A BACKGROUND IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE TASK FORCE REPORT HAD A COUPLE OF MAIN POINTS I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE.

THE NUMBER 1 POINT WAS THAT DECATUR CANNOT REACH IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS WITHOUT INCREASING DENSITY.

THIS HAS TO BE AN ALL HANDS ON DECK EFFORT.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE INCREASED DENSITY AT MARTA STATIONS AT DOWNTOWN, IN HIGHER TRAFFIC CORRIDORS, THEY'RE ALL NECESSARY.

BUT OVER 70 PERCENT OF OUR LAND IN DECATUR IS RESIDENTIAL.

OVER 91 PERCENT OF THAT LAND IS ZONED SINGLE-FAMILY SO WE HAVE TO INCLUDE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR EFFORTS TO INCREASE DENSITY.

I WANT TO GIVE SOME CREDIT TO THE CITY STAFF WHO I FEEL REALLY TOOK ON SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED IN THE PUBLIC MEETINGS IN THE LAST MEETING THAT WE HAD ABOUT THIS, PARTICULARLY, I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PROPOSAL TO HAVE AN 18-MONTH TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, THAT WILL ALLOW US TO ASSESS REALLY WHAT THE DEMAND IS FOR THIS HOUSING TO SEE IF WE MIGHT NEED TO MANAGE IT MOVING FORWARD AND TO ASSESS PROCESSES, USE AND MAKE MID-COURSE CORRECTIONS.

I WANT TO ALSO AGREE WITH CHRISTINE AND ALLAN THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO OPEN THE DOOR TO INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS IN DECATUR, WE ARE NOT THEIR BUSINESS MODEL.

IF OUR MEDIAN HOUSE PRICES ARE GETTING CLOSE TO $800,000, THEY CAN'T COME IN TO DECATUR AND MAKE MONEY, AND I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS IS A TRUE RISK.

I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT CHANGING THE UDO WON'T ENSURE THAT ALL UNITS DEVELOPED ARE AFFORDABLE, BUT WITHOUT THIS CHANGE, WE CAN BE SURE THAT DECATUR WON'T SEE AN IMPACTFUL INCREASE IN AFFORDABLE UNITS.

PRICE POINT IS SET BY WHO IS BUILDING.

WE NEED MISSION-DRIVEN AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPERS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD IN DECATUR IN ORDER TO HIT OUR AFFORDABILITY TARGETS.

THEY CAN ACCESS PUBLIC SUBSIDY AND THEY NEED AN INCREASED NUMBER OF UNITS PER PARCEL IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HIT AFFORDABLE RENTS AND PRICE POINTS.

IT IS NECESSARY BUT NOT SUFFICIENT TO MAKE THESE CHANGES AND WE NEED TO SCAFFOLD THAT THESE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE UDO WITH RESOURCES FOR THE DECATUR LAND TRUST, AND USING CITY DOLLARS TO LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS IN ORDER TO WRITE DOWN THE COST OF LAND AND CONSTRUCTION.

I WANT TO END BY SAYING THAT IN A LOT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS, WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE RISK IS OF GOING FORWARD.

THERE COULD BE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS, THE UNITS MIGHT NOT BE AFFORDABLE, WE MIGHT HAVE INCREASED TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION, BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE'S ALSO A RISK TO NOT DOING ANYTHING.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND WHEN WE DID THE TASK FORCE REPORT WAS ONLY FOUR PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY WORK IN DECATUR, LIVE IN DECATUR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IF WE DON'T ALLOW THEM TO AFFORD HOUSING, THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO GO DOWN AND CONGESTION IS GOING TO GO UP. THANK YOU.

>> HEY, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARK BRANBRAD.

I'M A RESIDENT OF OAKHURST AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL.

>> ADDRESS, MR. BRANBRAD?

>> 156 FELLED AVENUE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE, WHICH WAS COMPRISED OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF THE DECATUR RESIDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

WE CONVENED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

WE INTERVIEWED PUBLIC POLICY EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE HAD GUEST LECTURES BY COMMUNITY AND PLANNING DEVELOPMENT STAFFS, PROFESSIONALS, WE RESEARCHED, WE DEBATED, AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE PROPOSALS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE'S WORK.

THERE ARE NO SILVER BULLETS TO FIX THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.

THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX.

[02:10:02]

THIS RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF HOUSING INDICATORS BASED ON BEST PRACTICE AND PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

MINNEAPOLIS MADE THIS PROPOSAL BACK IN 2019.

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA DID IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THEN OREGON'S DONE AT BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, JUST RECENTLY ADOPTED THEIR UDL IN AUGUST AND THEY DID THIS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PROGRESSIVE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE IMPLEMENTING TO TRY TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES OF SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TIME TO GET INTO THAT TODAY.

BUT IF YOU'RE A STUDENT OF THIS ISSUE I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO GOOGLE THE HISTORY OF SINGLE FAMILY ZONING. IT'S NOT GREAT.

SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT OF THE CITY'S LANDMASS IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE TO MANY PEOPLE.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ALREADY SAID TODAY.

I'LL KEEP IT SHORT, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

>> NEXT TO MISHA BOUCHER GODFREY THEN MARCY MASCARO, AND THEN TIFFANY WILSON.

>> HI. I'M MISHA BOUCHER GODFREY.

I LIVE AT 217, WINONA DRIVE.

I MOVED TO DECATUR IN 2017 AND LOVE IT.

ONE THING THAT I KNOW IS THAT DECATUR, THIS WONDERFUL, MAGICAL LITTLE PLACE WHERE WE HAVE IS CONSTANTLY IN FLUX.

IT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

BUT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TONIGHT TO GET IN FRONT OF THAT CHANGE, AND DECIDE ON THE COMMUNITY WE WANT TO BE IN 5, 10, 20 YEARS.

I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

I LOVE THAT THIS ZONING ORDINANCE WOULD BE BY RIGHT BECAUSE THEN IT'S IN EVERYBODY'S BACKYARD.

WE ALL GET TO SHARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING NEARBY.

SELFISHLY AS A MOTHER WHO LIVES ON A STREET THAT PEOPLE THINK IS A CUT THROUGH, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE CARS PARKED ALONG WINONA DRIVE.

PLEASE COME PARK ALONG WINONA DRIVE SO NOBODY RUNS INTO MY CHILDREN.

THAT IS MY SELFISH PLEA.

BUT I REALLY THINK THAT THE MAGIC OF LIVING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ALL MY FRIENDS CALL STARS HOLLOW OR MAYBERRY SHOULDN'T JUST BE FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD A MORTGAGE OF $800,000 OR MORE.

I HAVE FANTASTIC FRIENDS IN ATLANTA WHO I'M DESPERATELY TRYING TO PULL TO ME.

BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

WE COULD ONLY AFFORD TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE FAMILY HELPED OUT IN A GIANT WAY.

I JUST WANT TO SPREAD THAT OPPORTUNITY OUT TO MORE PEOPLE.

SELFISHLY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE MY CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO LIVE NEAR ME WHEN THEY ARE OUT OF SCHOOL.

I DO NOT WANT THEM IN MY HEAD.

BUT I DO WANT THEM CLOSE BY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MARCY MASCARO, TIFFANY WILSON. SORRY.\

>> [BACKGROUND].

>> YOU GOT IT.

>> OKAY.

>> HI. MY NAME IS MARCY MASCARO.

I LIVE AT 201 WESTCHESTER DRIVE AND I PURCHASED MY HOME LAST FALL.

I HAD AN EXTREMELY UNAFFORDABLE PRICE AND I COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED TO PURCHASE THIS HOME WHEN I WAS IN MY EARLY YEARS RAISING MY CHILDREN WHO ARE NOW HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS.

I WANT TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY SHOWING MY FULL SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE.

I WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S ALREADY IN STARK CONTRAST FROM THE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE FALL THAT I ALSO SPOKE ON BEHALF OF.

I WILL SAY THAT I THINK BEFORE YOU TODAY YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THE COMMENTS AND COMMENTARY FROM THAT MEETING, WHICH WAS OVERWHELMINGLY NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSAL.

I BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF RESEARCH WAS DONE TO COUNTER THOSE POINTS WHICH WAS PRESENTED HERE TODAY, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS VALUABLE.

PERHAPS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INTERIM OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE MORE BACK-AND-FORTH ON IT AND HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION SO THAT WE COULD BETTER SHAPE THIS TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.

I WILL SAY AFTER HEARING THE LATEST PRESENTATION, I WOULD HAVE A COUPLE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS PROPOSAL.

IF YOU'RE LIMITING THE NUMBER OF DWELLINGS BEING BUILT INTRODUCED OVER TIME, THAT YOU GIVE PRECEDENCE TO EXISTING OWNERS SO THAT YOU HELP US HAVE AN ADVANTAGE OVER DEVELOPERS WHO MAY COME IN OR PEOPLE WHO ARE PROSPECTING FOR PROPERTY THAT THEY CAN COME IN AND JUMP THE LINE IN FRONT OF US AND THEY HAVE MORE RESOURCES PERHAPS.

I WANT TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION AS THIS HOMEOWNER THAT HAS RECENTLY PURCHASED A PROPERTY.

[02:15:01]

THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO AFFORD THAT IS TO DIVIDE MY PROPERTY INTO MULTI-UNIT DWELLINGS SO THAT I CAN RENT OUT A PORTION OF MY HOUSE AND TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN CITY OF DECATUR.

ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE OFFER PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL MORTGAGE LENDERS AND CONTRACTORS.

THERE ARE A FINITE AMOUNT OF CONTRACTORS ALREADY.

YOU GOT TO GET IN THE QUEUE TO HAVE ANY SORT OF RENOVATION WORK DONE IN CITY OF DECATUR.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP WITH THE CHALLENGE.

NOT ONLY WILL YOU HAVE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES BEING BUILT ON PROPERTIES WHERE THE KNOCKDOWN PRICE RIGHT NOW IS APPROACHING $600,000 ENTRY-LEVEL FOR A PRICE.

IF WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES, WE CAN SHOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOW THEY CAN AFFORD TO STAY WITHIN THEIR OWN HOME, REFINANCE THAT, AND BUILD ON IT WITH LOCAL RESOURCES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. TIFFANY WILSON AND I BELIEVE IT IS ANNIE BARDALASS, BARDALIST, I'M NOT SURE.

THEN MICHAEL HARVEY AND TIFFANY TESSA MICHAEL.

THANK YOU TO THE SCOUTS FOR BEING HERE.

[LAUGHTER] ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR EVENINGS.

IF THERE ARE THOSE WHO WERE IN THE HALL THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME INTO THE ROOM.

I SEE SOME OF OUR YOUTH COUNCIL FOLKS COMING IN FOR A BETTER VIEW.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME IN.

TIFFANY WILSON. LET'S SEE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO ONE IN THE HALL NAMED TIFFANY WILSON THAT HAS SIGNED UP? [BACKGROUND] NO.

SO WE'LL MOVE TO, I BELIEVE IT'S ANNIE BARTCLASS.

THE ADDRESS LOOKS TO BE PEACH CREST MAYBE ROAD.

YOU WERE THE NUMBER 14 WAS THE PERSON WHOSE NAME I'M HAVING A HARD TIME READING, BUT IF THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE, I BELIEVE WHOSE NAME IS ANNIE.

>> [BACKGROUND].

>> THANK YOU FOR PASSING ALONG THE MESSAGE.

MICHAEL HARVEY.

TIFFANY TESSA MICHAEL. ALL RIGHT, PLEASE.

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY IN THE BACK? I DON'T WANT ANYBODY YELL AT ME.

[LAUGHTER] HI.

I WROTE DOWN SOME THINGS I WAS GOING TO SAY BUT I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO CHANGE THE SCREENS.

>> CAN YOU GIVE US YOUR ADDRESS?

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH. THE ADDRESS IS FOR 428 SYCAMORE DRIVE.

I AM DR. TIFFANY TESSFER MICHAEL.

I AM A YELLOW JACKET.

I GO BY TESS.

[LAUGHTER] BUT IF YOU WENT TO UGA, YOU CAN CALL ME DOCTOR.

[LAUGHTER] IN ALL SERIOUSNESS [LAUGHTER] I'VE BEEN HERE FOR SOME YEARS.

I AM AN ARCHITECT BY TRAINING AND LICENSURE.

I AM A STRATEGIST BY OCCUPATION AND MY MOST DIVINE AND DEMANDING ASSIGNMENT IS THAT OF A MOTHER.

I AM A SINGLE BLACK MOTHER, AND I SCOUTED DECATUR VERY CAREFULLY.

MY PEOPLE TRAINED ME WELL.

WE BELIEVE IN WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, TRANSIT, TREES, DOGS, WIRE PEOPLE.

I CAME FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD, 30305 BUCKHEAD, THAT WAS NOT AFFORDABLE FOR A HOUSE WITH A YARD.

I BOUGHT MY HOME FROM A CANTANKEROUS, ELDERLY, WHITE WOMAN WHO BLOCKED THE CLOSING WHEN SHE MET US AND WAS WEIRDLY ADVERSARIAL TO MY BLACK HOME INSPECTOR.

THE FACT THAT I AM HERE AND WAS ABLE TO EVEN PURCHASE

[02:20:03]

THAT WOMAN PROBABLY BOUGHT IT VERY CHEAPLY AND I GOT IT AT A DEAL.

I HAD TO LIVE IN THE BASEMENT WITH MY DAUGHTER.

I LIVE IN THE HOME.

I AM AN AIR BNB, BED AND BREAKFAST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT.

THAT IS HOW I LIVE HERE.

I DO NOT HAVE A HUSBAND AND I COME FROM ANCESTORS AND PARENTS WHO DO NOT REQUIRE ME TO HAVE A MAN SO THAT I CAN LIVE IN A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY RAISED ME TO UNAPOLOGETICALLY THRIVE AND I'VE 28 SECOND LEFT AND I SUPPOSE LIKE TO ME THE THREAT AND I THINK I'M HEARING A LOT OF CONSENSUS WHICH IS COMFORTING BECAUSE I THOUGHT THESE WERE MY PEOPLE HERE AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE, BUT IT WAS VERY HARD TO STAY IN MY HOME AND PAY THOSE BILLS ON MY OWN.

I HAVE A LOT OF TWO-PARENT COUPLES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHO BUST DOWN THIRD PIGGY HOUSES FOR THE UJ FOLKS, THIRD PIGGY HOUSES ARE BETTER THAN THE SECOND PIGGY HOUSE BECAUSE THAT ONE GOT BLOWN DOWN EASILY, BUT I LIVE IN A NICE, STURDY HOME AND THEN THESE LAST 10 SECOND, I WANTED TO SAY THAT THE MISSING MIDDLE FOR ME, I'M NOT MISSING, I AM HERE AND I OCCUPY MY HOME AND WALK MY KID TO SCHOOL AND THRIVE BECAUSE THERE WAS SPACE FOR ME TO RENT MY HOME OUT SO THAT I COULD SUPPLEMENT MY INCOME, SO I CAN PAY THAT MORTGAGE AND ALL THESE EXPENSIVE TAXES.

PLEASE DO SUPPORT THIS AND KEEP COOL PEOPLE, YELLOW JACKETS LIKE ME [LAUGHTER] AROUND, IF YOU PLEASE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. LET'S SEE.

CAROLYN GRANT, TYLER BUNTING, AND JANE CLARK.

>> I APOLOGIZE IF IT'S CAROLINE.

>> IT IS SPELLED CAROLINE, PRONOUNCED CAROLYN.

>> GREAT.

>> THERE YOU GO. I'M CAROLINE GRANT, 113 EAST BENSON STREET AND I GET THE DISTINGUISHED PLEASURE OF LEADING OFF THE OPPOSITION TONIGHT.

I'M SORRY, FOLKS, BUT HERE IT GOES.

IF YOU WANT TO CUT ME OFF AT THE THREE-MINUTE MARK, PLEASE DO.

>> YOU GET YOUR THREE MINUTE, EVERYONE GETS THEIR THREE MINUTES.

>> UP-ZONING TO ME IS A NEBULOUS CONCEPT.

IS IT A REZONING? IS IT A REZONING ACTION? WHAT REALLY IS IT? I GUESS WHAT I'M WONDERING ABOUT TO START IS, WHO IS DRIVING THIS? WHO IS REALLY DRIVING, TAKING THESE SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS AND REALLY CONVERTING THEM INTO SOMETHING ELSE? TAKING THE MULTIFAMILY DWELLING CONCEPT AND COMBINING IT WITH THE SINGLE-FAMILY DISTRICTS AND MAKING IT SOMETHING NEW, WHO IS DRIVING THAT? IS IT REALLY ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY COMING TO YOU AND ASKING YOU TO DO THAT OR IS IT SOMETHING ELSE? I REALLY WONDER.

I AM AWARE THAT THERE'S A PETITION OUT THERE THAT IS REALLY A BUNCH OF FOLKS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO THIS AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENTED LATER THIS EVENING.

BUT I GUESS I WOULD JUST ASK THAT QUESTION AGAIN, IS WHAT IS REALLY DRIVING THIS? WHAT IS REALLY MAKING THIS BE THE PRIMARY AGENDA WITH THIS WHOLE SITUATION? THE OTHER THING THAT I'VE NOTICED IN A LOT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS GOING ON ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE, STARTING WITH THE CITY AND WITH OTHERS THAT ARE FOR IT, IS WHY IS TERMINOLOGY SLANTED AND DIVISIVE? WHEN DID A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT SUDDENLY BECOME EXCLUSIONARY ZONING? WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN? WHEN DID A COMMUNITY THAT IS ESSENTIALLY AGAINST EXCLUSIONARY ZONING BECOME AN OCCLUSIVE COMMUNITY? WHEN DID ALL THAT HAPPEN? IT'S TROUBLESOME TO ME.

I THINK IT'S TAKING US OFF INTO A DIFFERENT TRAJECTORY AND IN A DIFFERENT PLACE THAT IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE.

RATHER THAN HAVING A LOT OF GOOD DISCUSSION BETWEEN ALL OF US AND BETWEEN US AND YOU AS WELL.

THE OTHER THING THAT I NOTICED DURING THE WORK SESSION ON DECEMBER 5TH IS THAT MANY OF THE PRESENTERS TALKED ABOUT ALL THE BENEFITS AND WONDERFUL ASPECTS OF UP-ZONING.

BUT I WONDERED ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE I'M, WELL, MINNEAPOLIS AND PORTLAND, THESE BIG CITIES THAT ARE DOING IT, HAVE THEY BEEN DOING IT FOR VERY LONG TO REALLY KNOW ALL THE GOOD POSITIVE THINGS OR THE NOT SO GOOD THINGS ABOUT UP-ZONING? I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON T THINK THEY'VE BEEN IN PLACE LONG ENOUGH TO REALLY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE BENEFITS AND PROS AND CONS ARE.

THAT BROUGHT ME TO A CONCERN ABOUT THAT.

ALSO, THOSE CITIES ARE MUCH BIGGER THAN DECATUR.

DECATUR'S 26,000.

THOSE CITIES, AS FAR AS I LAST LOOKED, WHERE 666,000 AND 439,000.

[02:25:03]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. TALIA BUNTING, JANE CLARK, AND MELISSA HEFNER.

>> HI. GOOD EVENING, YOU ALL.

I JUST WANT TO ECHO MY SUPPORT ALONG.

>> STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

>> I'M SO SORRY. TALIA BUNTING.

I'VE BEEN UP HERE SO MANY TIMES.

[LAUGHTER] TALIA BUNTING, 813 WEST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE.

WANT TO ECHO THE SUPPORT FOR THE MIDDLE HOUSING ISSUE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, MOST OF WHICH HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, BUT I'LL QUICKLY TOUCH ON, IT'S AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MOVEMENT.

HAVING MORE DENSITY CLOSER TO WHERE PEOPLE WORK, WE'RE ABLE TO CUT DOWN ON CAR USAGE AND CREATE MORE WALKABILITY.

IF WE WANT TO BE A DIVERSE POPULACE, WE NEED TO CREATE SPACE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE DIFFERENTLY THAN US AND AS SOMEBODY MENTIONED EARLIER WITH 70 PERCENT OF DECATUR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SPACE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT THAN US.

NUMBER 3, I THOUGHT I HAD A VERY FUNNY JOKE, BUT SOMEBODY ALREADY SAID IT.

I DON'T WANT MY KIDS IN MY BASEMENT IN 15 YEARS.

IT'D BE GREAT IF THEY HAD SOMEWHERE ELSE TO LIVE, BUT ALSO NEXT DOOR TO ME.

THEN FOUR, THE NEXT PEOPLE WHO AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE IS US AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY HOME.

PRICES RISE AND TAXES RISE, AND THEN WE'RE NO LONGER ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU PASS THIS, I HOPE YOU VOTE FOR, ALSO I'M VERY PRO STR.

I THINK THAT THAT'LL BE A GREAT THING FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> JANE CLARK, MELISSA HEFNER, AND THEN KATHERINE CARTER.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JANE CLARK.

I LIVE AT 183 VIDAL BOULEVARD.

I JUST REMIND THE COMMISSIONERS PLEASE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M MOSTLY CONCERNED ABOUT IS NOT THAT WE HAVE MIDDLE HOUSING, I WANT US TO HAVE THAT.

I WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CAN TOLERATE THE TYPES OF BUILDINGS THAT I'VE SEEN IN SOME OF THE PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED.

AFTER THE DELUSION OF RAIN THAT WE HAVE HAD RECENTLY, I WISH I'D TAKEN MY CAMERA AND TAKEN PICTURES OF WHAT HAPPENS ON MY STREET IN THE RAIN BECAUSE WE GET STORM WATER RUNOFF FROM ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THERE WAS A LAKE THAT WAS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD THIS PAST WEEK.

THAT'S TRUE IN MY BACKYARD TOO.

I THINK IT'S GOOD, BUT I THINK THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS TO SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO ALSO.

AN INFRASTRUCTURE IS A LOT HARDER TO BUILD THAN A NEW HOUSE IN MOST CITIES.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MELISSA HAFNER, KATHERINE CARTER, AND CARRIE SODRIN.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

I'M MELISSA HAFNER. I LIVE AT 216 HURON STREET.

I'VE LIVED IN DECATUR FOR OVER 22 YEARS AND I'M THE PRESIDING CHAIR OF THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, A COMMISSION I WAS FIRST APPOINTED TO IN 2014.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WITH ENDORSEMENTS FROM THE CITY HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB PROVIDING SAFE, HIGH QUALITY, AESTHETICALLY PLEASING HOUSING TO OUR LOWER INCOME FAMILIES.

THESE FAMILIES MAKE UP ROUGHLY FIVE PERCENT OF ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.

AT THE OTHER END OF THE INCOME SPECTRUM, THE CURRENT HOME PRICE IN THE CITY AS OF 2021 WAS 700,000.

I HEARD SOMEWHERE TONIGHT 800,000.

WITH THE AVERAGE SALARY OF METRO ATLANTA RESIDENTS AT AN AVERAGE OF 70,000, THIS IS NOT AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP FOR THE MAJORITY.

MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING WOULD ALLOW OUR CITY TO GROW ITS ECONOMIC DIVERSITY AND WOULD PROVIDE HOUSING OPTIONS TO A WIDER RANGE OF RESIDENTS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OUR TEACHERS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR EMPTY NESTERS, OUR RETIREES LOOKING TO DOWNSIZE, SINGLES, COUPLES NEEDING A STARTER HOME, THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING TO DECREASE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND LIVE SMALLER, AND SENIORS WHO WANT TO LIVE NEAR THEIR FAMILY, BUT NOT WITH THEM.

THESE ARE THE WIDE ARRAY OF PEOPLE WHOSE HOUSING OPTIONS ARE SEVERELY LIMITED BY THE CURRENT HOUSING TRENDS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

I SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING SO THAT LIVING IN OUR CITY IS ACCESSIBLE TO A TRULY DIVERSE POPULATION. THANK YOU.

>> KATHERINE CARTER.

>> LEFT.

>> DR. CARTER LEFT. THANK YOU.

CARRIE CHAGRIN.

THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] CAROL MORGAN AND THEN ERIC SODRIN, AND THEN ALICE WEINBERG.

[02:30:02]

>> THE FIRST CHAGRIN IS UP. HELLO EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS CARRIE CHAGRIN AND I LIVE AT 217 MOUNTAIN VERNON DRIVE, AND I'M IN FAVOR OF THE MISSING MIDDLE PROPOSAL.

I MOVED TO DECATUR OVER 10 YEARS AGO BECAUSE EVERYONE RAVED ABOUT HOW DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE THE CITY WAS.

I WANTED MY FAMILY WHO HAPPENS TO BE DIVERSE TO BE IN A COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE OF VARIOUS SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, RACES, RELIGIONS, ETHNICITIES, PHYSICAL AND BOTH THESE PROFESSIONS LIVED TOGETHER.

A CITY WHERE FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS AND TEACHERS AND CITY WORKERS AND BARISTAS AND SERVERS COULD AFFORD TO LIVE.

A PLACE WHERE THE DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME POPULATION SLEEP THE SAME.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT THE DECATUR WE LIVE IN, AND I FEEL SAD FOR MY FAMILY, FOR MY TWO WHITE CHILDREN AND FOR MY TWO BIRACIAL CHILDREN.

HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT IT'S STILL WORTH STRIVING FOR. I'M SORRY.

THE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING PROPOSAL ISN'T THE PERFECT SOLUTION TO OUR CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION PROBLEM, IT'S ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL STRATEGIES THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO EMPLOY IN ORDER TO MAKE LIVING IN DECATUR MORE ATTAINABLE.

TALKING RIGHT NOW, ATTAINABLE FOR MIDDLE-INCOME AND WORK FOR US.

MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME EARNERS IS ALSO NEEDED, BUT THAT'S FOR ANOTHER DAY AND I'LL HAVE ENOUGH TEARS TO GO THROUGH THAT ONE.

THE BAN ON MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IN THE '80S MAY HAVE BEEN PRAGMATIC AT THE TIME, BUT IT WAS ALSO PRUDENT.

CLASSISM AND RACISM.

WE CANNOT UNDO THESE SINS OF THE PAST, BUT WE CAN PREVENT THE SINS OF THE FUTURE.

PLEASE DON'T LET A PERFECT POLICY BE THE ENEMY OF A GOOD ONE.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR AND VOTE YES TO REINSTATING, MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING WITH NO ADDITIONAL USE REQUIREMENTS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. CAROL MORGAN.

ERIC CHAGRIN, ALICE WEINBERG.

>> HELLO. I AM CAROL MORGAN.

I LIVE AT 124 HAROLD BYRD DRIVE, AND I HAVE LIVED IN DECATUR OVER 40 YEARS.

I BOUGHT MY HOUSE IN 1984 WHEN IT WAS STILL POSSIBLE TO BUY A HOUSE IN DECATUR FOR $87,000.

I WAS JUST STARTING MY CAREER THEN.

MY HUSBAND WAS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TRUST FUNDS BUT DECATUR WAS AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE LIKE US.

MY CHILDREN WENT THROUGH THE CITY SCHOOLS AND THRIVED IN SCHOOLS THAT WERE VERY RACIALLY DIVERSE AT THE TIME.

WE ARE AT A WATERSHED MOMENT HERE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, AN IDENTITY CRISIS OF WHO WE WANT TO BE GOING FORWARD.

I LOVE ABOUT DECATUR THAT WE HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN A VERY DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY.

BUT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE HIGH PAYING JOBS OR TRUST FUNDS, OR LOTS OF FAMILY SUPPORT IN ORDER TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, OUR INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY IS AT RISK.

IT'S ALSO AT RISK WHEN OUR CITY WORKERS CAN'T LIVE HERE, EVEN THOUGH THEY WORK HARD EVERYDAY TO PROVIDE VALUE AND CREATE A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE OF US WHO DO LIVE HERE, OR FOR ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PUBLIC SERVICE OR WORK FOR NON-PROFITS, OR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS AND RETIREES AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND OTHER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE STARTING OUT, THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE EITHER AND THAT AGAIN, MAKES OUR VERY DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY AT RISK.

I THINK THE MIDDLE OF THIS PROPOSAL ABOUT THE MISSING MIDDLE, DOES CONFRONT THIS ISSUE AND GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE RISKS THAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW.

I'VE HEARD FEARS ABOUT IT BUT I ALSO FROM LIVING HERE FOR 40 YEARS, KNOW THAT WE'RE A COMMUNITY THAT CAN WORK TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WAYS TO TURN OUR FEARS AND OUR CONCERNS INTO SOLUTIONS.

[02:35:01]

I'VE SEEN IT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

IT REALLY DOES WORK TO HAVE MULTI FAMILY HOUSING MIXED IN WITH SINGLE RESIDENCES.

IT MAKES FOR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DYNAMIC AND THRIVING.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS MISSING MIDDLE PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.

>> ERIC SHOGREN, ALICE WEINBERG, KIM SACHS.

>> HI. GOOD EVENING, ERIC SHOGREN.

I LIVE AT 217 MELBOURNE DRIVE.

IN ALL TRANSPARENCY, THAT WAS MY WIFE CARRIE THAT WAS UP HERE BEFORE.

ANYBODY WHO'S MARRIED OR HAS A SIGNIFICANT OTHER KNOWS THAT WHEN THAT SIGNIFICANT OTHER REALLY COMES OUT AND PUTS SOMETHING ON THE LINE LIKE THAT, SOMETIMES IT'S BEST JUST TO SHUT UP.

[LAUGHTER] LET THEM CARRY THE DAY.

I THINK CARRIE DID THAT VERY WELL.

BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THAT I DO ALSO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, MS. CAROL, THE WOMAN BEFORE ME WHO I THINK I JUST WANT TO ECHO THEIR COMMENTS ABOUT COLLABORATION AND FEAR.

WHAT I'VE SEEN JUST FROM ONLINE AND THE COMMUNITY MESSAGE BOARDS AND PEOPLE'S REACTIONS TO THIS PROPOSAL, THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF IT COME BACK WITH A LITANY OF NO'S.

BUT NOT NECESSARILY NO BECAUSE, OR NO, HOW ABOUT WE DO THIS INSTEAD? OR NO, WHAT ABOUT IF WE, OR WHAT NEEDS TO BE TRUE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN THE WAY THAT WE NEED IT TO? IT'S REALLY JUST NO.

TO ME WHAT THAT IS, I REFER TO IN BUSINESS AS MANUFACTURED INERTIA.

IT IS WANTING TO ANCHOR TO THE STATUS QUO SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF KEEPING SOMETHING FROM MOVING FORWARD.

I ASK ALL OF YOU TO NOT LET THAT DRIVE YOUR DECISION ON THIS. THANK YOU.

>> MS. WEINBERG, TIM SACHS, CHRIS ADAMS.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALICE WEINBERG.

I LIVE AT 2641 EAST COLLEGE AVENUE.

I AM IN FAVOR OF THE MISSING MIDDLE PROPOSAL.

AS A RETIRED SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, I AM TROUBLED BY THE FACT THAT TEACHERS WHO TEACH HERE CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

I AM SADDENED THAT THE ENROLLMENT IN THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR HAS DECLINED.

I WANT MY FRIENDS AND OUR COMMUNITY WORKERS WHO WORK HERE, WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY HERE, IN DECATUR, TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVES.

LASTLY, I WANT MY GRANDCHILDREN, MY TWO WHITE GRANDCHILDREN, MY TWO BIRACIAL GRANDCHILDREN, TO LIVE IN A DIVERSED, WELCOMING DECATUR.

I ASK YOU TO PASS THE MISSING MIDDLE PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.

>> TIM SACHS.

CHRIS ADAMS. LYNN RUSSELL.

AGAIN, I'LL REMIND EVERYONE TO PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MIC SO THAT EVERYONE IN THE HALL OR AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM CAN HEAR. WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TIM SACHS AND I LIVE AT 209 MCCOY STREET IN DECATUR.

I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF, BUT I PREPARED A LONGER STATEMENT THAT I HAVE SHARED WITH OUR CITY MANAGER, MS. ARNOLD, VIA EMAIL THAT PROVIDES MORE DETAIL AND REFERENCES.

TONIGHT, I ASKED YOU THAT YOU BASE YOUR DECISION ON THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE ON FACTS AND NOT FEAR, ON EVIDENCE AND NOT EMOTION.

THOSE OPPOSED TO THE ZONING CHANGES, HAVE CREATED A CHANGE.ORG PETITION.

ON THE PETITION WEBSITE, THEY LIST MULTIPLE CONCERNS, BUT PROVIDE NO EVIDENCE TO BACKUP THOSE ASSERTIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THEY SAY, "THIS REZONING ACTION WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN OUR ALREADY CONGESTED SCHOOLS.

K12 ENROLLMENT IN THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR IS CURRENTLY DOWN FOUR PERCENT FROM THE PEAK IN OCTOBER 2019.

KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT HAS FALLEN EVEN MORE BY 28 PERCENT FROM THE PEAK.

IF ANYTHING, THE CITY SCHOOLS HAVE EXCESS CAPACITY, WHICH WILL CONTINUE IN THE COMING YEARS." THE PETITION WEBSITE ALSO STATES THAT, "THE CITY HAS ACTED QUICKLY TO IMPLEMENT THIS REZONING ACTION AND HAS NOT FULLY CONTEMPLATED ITS IMPACT." AS WE HEARD EARLIER FROM MS. ELLEN, THE CITY HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OUTREACH, INCLUDING A MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING FORM, SUBSEQUENT COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS, AND MS. ELLEN HERSELF HAS MADE PRESENTATIONS TO NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.

[02:40:03]

THERE'S ALSO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, INCLUDING ANALYSES OF SIMILAR INITIATIVES IN OTHER CITIES, TO SAY THAT THE CITY HAS ACTED QUICKLY AND HAS NOT CONTEMPLATED POTENTIAL IMPACTS IS SIMPLY FALSE.

THE FEW PETITIONS SIGNATORIES WHO PROVIDE A RATIONALE FOR SIGNING MAKE UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE SIGNER SAYS, "THE PRESENTATION OF THE STUDY BY THE CITY IS BASED ON FLAWED AND NAIVE ASSUMPTIONS, AND STUDIES BY REPUTABLE ENTITIES SUCH AS MIT HAVE PROVEN THAT SUCH ZONING CHANGES DO NOT RESULT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING." WHILE NO REFERENCE IS GIVEN, THE MIT'S STUDY APPEARS TO BE A 2020 PUBLICATION BY YONAH FREEMARK THAT ANALYZES THE EFFECTS OF INCREASING ALLOWED FLOOR-AREA RATIOS FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED NEAR TRANSIT STOPS IN CHICAGO.

THIS IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE BEING CONSIDERED IN DECATUR.

INDEED, DR. FREEMARK PRAISED THE TYPE OF REZONING BEING CONSIDERED HERE IN A LATER REPORT SAYING, "CHANGES IN BASE ZONING, SUCH AS ALLOWING MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION THROUGHOUT COMMUNITIES, OR ELIMINATING PARKING MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OFFER PROMISING STEPS TOWARD INCREASE IN HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND EXPANDING RACIAL EQUITY." ONE OTHER EXAMPLE, A PETITIONER SAYS, "UP ZONING CONSOLIDATES PROPERTY OWNERSHIP AMONG CORPORATE INVESTORS AND ACCELERATES GENTRIFICATION ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE STUDIES BY THE LSE, HARVARD, AND FEDERAL RESERVE."

>> YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> MR. SACHS. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CHRIS ADAMS, LYNN RUSSELL, KATHY HODGES.

>> HI, I'M CHRIS ADAMS. I LIVE AT 130 MADISON AVENUE.

I'VE LIVED IN OAKHURST FOR 17 YEARS.

ON MY STREET THERE'S DUPLEXES THAT WERE GRANDFATHERED IN.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANY ISSUES WITH HAVING THESE DUPLEXES ON MY STREET.

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THESE DUPLEXES ARE PART OF MY WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD.

MY CONCERN LIES NOT WITH THE DUPLEX OR THE BUILDING OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WITH THE HUGE HOUSES THAT ARE BEING BUILT TO REPLACE THE QUAINT BUNGALOWS THAT WERE HERE WHEN I MOVED IN 17 YEARS AGO, FOREVER STOPPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

MS. RUSSELL, MS. HODGES, AND HOLLY GRIMES.

LYNN RUSSELL, THERE YOU ARE.

SORRY. [LAUGHTER] YOU'RE COMING FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LYNN RUSSELL AND I LIVE AT 215 WEST BENSON STREET IN OAKHURST.

AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS PARTICIPATED IN THIS YEAR'S LONG STUDIES AND INQUIRIES ABOUT THE MIDDLE HOUSING AND THE CITY COMMISSION.

I KNOW THIS IS A REALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR YOU TO BE TAKING ON.

HOWEVER, THIS IS THE GATOR.

I'VE LIVED HERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS AT 215 WESTS BENSON STREET.

I'VE BEEN ON THE ZONING BOARD, CHAIR THE ZONING BOARD, FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE SOLARIUM BOARD, AND THE WHOLE RENOVATION OF THE SCOTTISH RITE HOSPITAL, THE WILD CENTER, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ORGANICALLY POP UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS CAUSED MUCH CONSTERNATION AND TALK AND MEETINGS AND SO ON AND YOU CAN SEE THE FRUITS OF ALL THOSE TODAY.

HOPEFULLY THIS WILL END IN A VERY PRODUCTIVE AND POSITIVE WAY AS THOSE PROJECTS HAVE OVER THE YEARS.

I'M A LAWYER. MY FIRM HAS BEEN HERE IN DECATUR FOR 30 YEARS OR WELL, NOT QUITE THAT LONG AS WELL.

I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ALL THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE METAL HOUSING.

IN FACT, AS SUPPORT IT.

I'VE LIVED IN CITIES WHERE I LIVED IN ROW HOUSES AND DUPLEXES AND THAT TYPE OF THING AND IT'S A VERY NICE ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE IN.

BUT I WOULD WANT TO SUPPORT THE COMMENTS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON HOW TO, I'M NOT GOING TO CALL IT RESTRICT, BUT REFINE THE THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND I ESPECIALLY THINK AS TO THIS ONE PART OF THE WHOLE STRATEGY, THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A, LET'S HAVE A TEST PERIOD TO SEE HOW EVERYTHING PLAYS OUT.

AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TASK FORCE WAS TALKING ABOUT, IT'S, WE CAN SEE WHO'S GOING TO COME IN AND WHAT TYPE OF DWELLINGS THEY WANT TO BUILD OR IF ANYBODY COMES

[02:45:02]

TO THAT END BEING A LAWYER, I KNOW YOU HAVE SUGGESTED 18 MONTHS OF CONSIDERATION.

I WOULD SUGGEST YOU TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME BECAUSE IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO EVEN GET PERMITS TO BUILD AND GET PLANS AND MAKE THE THING HAPPEN.

YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER GIVING YOURSELF JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME ON THAT AS WELL.

THE OTHER THING I REALLY LIKED ABOUT THE SUGGESTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I THINK THE COMMISSION ITSELF IS CONSIDERED, IS THE IDEA OF PUTTING A LIMITATION ON THE VARIOUS AREAS, I THINK THAT IS ESTABLISHED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THAT WAY, LIKE ANOTHER PERSON SAID, IT WILL IMPACT ALL AREAS OF THE CITY AND NOT JUST ONE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LET'S SEE. KATHY HODGES, HOLLY GRIMES, RACHEL GIBSON.

>> HI, MY NAME IS KATHY HODGES.

I LIVE AT 234 WEST BENSON STREET.

NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WERE 30 NAMES ON THE LIST WHEN I GOT HERE AT 5:45, THERE WAS A CONCENTRATED EFFORT, BUT THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE COMMENTS OF ALL THE PEOPLE HERE THAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING.

I'M AWARE THAT THIS PROPOSAL CAME OUT OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT, BUT THE CITY IS NOT DOING ALL THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION STATED AND I QUOTE, "FURTHER ANALYSIS IS NEEDED TO IDENTIFY IF AND HOW TO SET LIMITS ON THIS INCREASED DENSITY ALLOWANCE, PERHAPS BASED ON LOT SIZE OR NEAR HIGH TRAFFIC QUARTERS.

WHY WE RE LIMITS NOT PLACED ON THIS? IT MAKES SENSE TO ME THAT HIGHER DENSITY BETTER FITS INTO AREAS CLOSE TO TRANSIT ARE ALREADY ZONED FOR THE MORE DENSITY.

DID THE CITY CONSIDER JUST REALIZING THIS TYPE OF HOUSING AND THE RS-17 MEDIUM DENSITY ZONES? THE RECOMMENDATION ALSO STATES, FURTHER STUDY IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE IF AND HOW TO ATTACH AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS OR INCENTIVES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF DUPLEX, TRIPLEX AND QUAD PLEXUS.

NOTHING THAT I SEE IN THIS PROPOSAL WOULD ENSURE THAT ANY OF THIS INCREASED DENSITY THAT WILL SURELY HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR COMMUNITY, WILL DO ANYTHING IN FURTHERANCE OF THE GOAL OF PROMOTING AFFORDABILITY OTHER THAN THROUGH THE LAND TRUST BUILDING." I'VE HEARD THAT MULTIPLE TIMES, THAT THAT'S A WAY THAT THIS MIGHT WORK.

THE LAND TRUST WILL STILL HAVE TO COMPETE WITH MARKET RATE BUYERS WHO WILL MAXIMIZE PROFIT AND DO TWO $750,000 DUPLEXES RATHER THAN ONE MILLION DOLLAR HOME, REALLY DO ANYTHING TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I DON'T THINK SO. THIS FEELS LIKE WE'RE GOING DOWN THE SAME PATH AS WHEN WE ALLOWED MANY MULTI-STORIED APARTMENT BUILDINGS TO BE BUILT PRIOR TO PUTTING IN PLACE ANY AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS.

AFTER MANY THOUSANDS HAD BEEN BUILT, WE FINALLY REALIZED WE SHOULD HAVE HAD ORDINANCES IN PLACE IN ADVANCE.

I THINK THE CART HAS GOTTEN AHEAD OF THE HORSE AGAIN AND THE CITY SHOULD ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BEFORE MAKING A ZONING CHANGE.

THAT WILL NOT ADDRESS THE GOAL, BUT MAY JUST SERVE TO INCREASE THE CONSTRUCTION OF SLIGHTLY LESS EXPENSIVE UNITS, STILL NOT AFFORDABLE TO MIDDLE-INCOME BUYERS.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS REVISED THE PROPOSAL SLIGHTLY TO INCLUDE AN 18-MONTH PHASE-IN PERIOD WHERE THEY LIMIT THE NUMBER OF THIS TYPE OF BUILDINGS.

I FEEL THAT THIS WAS DONE PRIMARILY TO PLACATE THE VERY LARGE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO THIS PROPOSAL AND REALLY HAVE VERY LITTLE VALUE.

BY THE TIME ANY OF THE UNITS ARE BUILT, 18 MONTHS WILL BE PASSED AND THE LIMITATION WILL BE GONE, ONCE AGAIN, THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.

THE ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN ADVANCE RATHER THAN AFTER THE HOUSING IS ALREADY BUILT.

I CHALLENGE THE COMMISSION TO VOTE NO AND TAKE THE TIME TO SEE THE IMPACT OF THE OTHER 18 RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TASK FORCE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED OR ARE IN PROCESS.

THE CITY HAS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED CHANGES AND SPENT MONEY AND CONTINUES TO SPEND MONEY TO TRY TO ADDRESS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.

BUT I BELIEVE THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT RIGHT FOR DECATUR. THANK YOU.

>> LET'S SEE.

HOLLY GRIMES, RACHEL GIBSON, AND BOB HOLMES, PERHAPS.

>> HI. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS PROPOSAL.

MY NAME IS HOLLY GRIMES AND I LIVE AT 323 GLEN CIRCLE IN GLENWOOD ESTATE.

GLENWOOD ESTATE HAS SOME, I GUESS, GRANDFATHERED IN APARTMENTS AND DUPLEXES AND THEY MERGE INTO THE COMMUNITY AND ARE NOT NOTICED.

AS YOU WELL KNOW, WE IN DECATUR, LIKE TO SAY WE PROMOTE DIVERSITY, BUT OUR ACTIONS BELIE THAT OFTEN.

WE DO THE OPPOSITE BECAUSE OUR ZONING PROMOTES VERY LARGE HOUSES, AND IN THAT CASE, IT MAKES THE VALUES GO UP.

THE NUMBERS I'M SEEING FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WHICH MIGHT BE REFLECTED IN MY TAX BILL NEXT YEAR IS JUST ASTONISHING.

[02:50:01]

WE NEED TO QUIT TALKING FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE TOO LATE, LIKE SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND ALL THE STUFF THAT TOOK PLACE WITHOUT SOMETHING WHAT THEY WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IN THE PAST, I WAS ON A LIFELONG LIVING COMMITTEE FOR AGING IN PLACE, AND CURRENTLY I PARTICIPATE, I'M NOT THE MOST ACTIVE IN THE COALITION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE NEED TO ACT.

WE CAN TWEAK IT LATER, BUT DELAYING IT JUST DELAYS IT EVEN FURTHER AND WE GET NOWHERE.

WE WERE TO THE POINT WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY WEALTHY.

I WAS A LAWYER, MY HUSBAND WAS A PROFESSIONAL, WE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUY HERE.

I MOVED HERE IN 1985, BUT LIVED IN THE AREA SINCE '74.

I'M LUCKY THAT I HAVE A HOUSE, LIKE SOMEONE MENTIONED, THAT I WAS ABLE TO BUY AT A DECENT PRICE.

WE SHOULD DO WHAT WE CAN TO INCREASE ECONOMIC DIVERSITY AND DIFFERENT HOUSING.

PLEASE VOTE TO APPROVE THIS PROPOSAL.

I DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN A BUCKHEAD COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYBODY HAS TO EARN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO LIVE HERE.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD HUGE HOUSES HAVE BEEN BUILT.

THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD THEM IS PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD A MILLION DOLLAR MORTGAGE.

I WOULD LIKE US TO AT LEAST DO ONE LITTLE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE TO TRY TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE AND DELAYING AND ACTING UNTIL YOU GET SOME PERFECT PROPOSAL IS NOT THE ANSWER.

I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND LET'S ACT AND NOT JUST TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY. THANK YOU.

>> RACHEL GIBSON, BOB HOLMES ON ANSLEY STREET.

I'M THINKING I'M NOT SURE. I'M GETTING THAT.

>> EXCUSE ME. WILL THE NAMES LISTED IN THE HALLWAY ALSO BE CONSIDERED FOR COMMENTS?

>> YES. WE JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN THROUGH THE FIRST THREE PAGES YET.

[LAUGHTER] BUT NEVER FEAR, WE'LL BRING THOSE IN.

RACHEL GIBSON, BOB HOLMES, DEBBIE AND DAVE PAYNE, MAYBE, DEBBIE AND BOB PAYNE. MICHELLE.

ON RIVERVIEW APPROACH, MICHELLE.

>> ON RIVERVIEW APPROACH.

>> LET'S SEE. RITA MCGRATH, THEN TOM PITTS, AND AARON STANFORD.

LET ME SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.

RITA MCGRATH, TOM PITTS, AARON STANFORD.

NEXT, KEVIN CARDINAL AND ZOE BARRACAN.

>> BARRACANO.

>> BARRACANO.

ZOE BARRACANO, KEVIN CARDINAL.

>> SHE LEFT, ZOE.

>> SHE LEFT. THANK YOU.

MARY GOULD, MICAH LEWIN, LAURA FAIRS.

>> MS. GOULD. SHE'S RIGHT THERE.

>> YES, MARY GOULD.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WEREN'T SOME OF THE NAMES THAT I'VE CALLED OUT.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE HALL, THERE ARE A FEW AVAILABLE SPACES TO SIT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME IN.

>> GOOD EVENING, [OVERLAPPING] CITY COMMISSION.

MY NAME IS MARY GOULD.

MY ADDRESS IS 1,800 CLAIRMONT LAKE, WHICH YOU WILL NOT RECOGNIZE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

BUT I HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR 42 YEARS.

A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, I MOVED UP THE STREET ON CLAIRMONT TO A RETIREMENT HOME.

BUT MY HEART WILL ALWAYS BE IN DECATUR AND MY CHURCH IS IN DECATUR AND I HOPE THAT ENTITLES ME TO SPEAK.

YESTERDAY WAS MLK DAY AND WE HEARD A LOT OF QUOTES.

I'D LIKE TO REPEAT ONE OF THEM FOR US.

THE ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS LONG,

[02:55:07]

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

THIS PROPOSED POLICY OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING IS DECATUR'S OPPORTUNITY TO BEND THE ARC TOWARD INCLUSIVENESS AND JUSTICE.

LET'S GO FOR IT.

[LAUGHTER]

>> MICAH LEWIN, LAURA FAIRS, AND TED SMITH.

IF WE CAN HAVE THE NEXT SHEETS BROUGHT IN, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. IS MR. YOUNGER BACK THERE? THANK YOU. MICAH LEWIN?

>> LAURA.

>> LAURA.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> I'M LAURA FAIRS.

I LIVE AT 8 ARBOR WAY DRIVE IN THE BROWNSTONES TOWNHOMES, BUT BEFORE THAT, I RENTED FOR ABOUT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF IN A TOWNHOME, A SMALL OLDER TOWNHOME IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR IN 11 PATE STREET.

BEFORE THAT, I LIVED ON LAMONT DRIVE FOR OVER 30 YEARS, BUT HERE WHEN IT WAS A MUCH DIFFERENT COMMUNITY.

I BOUGHT IT WHEN I WAS SINGLE THEN I GOT MARRIED, HAD KIDS.

MY KIDS WENT ALL THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE FIRST ONE WENT THROUGH WHEN ACTUALLY ENROLLMENT WAS DECLINING AND SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED.

SECOND ONE WENT THROUGH WHEN THE DEMOGRAPHIC CURVE HAD HIT THE INFLECTION POINT AND NOW ENROLLMENT WAS RISING.

I'VE HAD THE EXPERIENCE THAT ENROLLMENT GOES UP, ENROLLMENT GOES DOWN REGARDLESS OF YOUR ZONING.

I'M HERE BECAUSE I SUPPORT THE ZONING CHANGE FOR DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES, AND QUADRUPLEXES.

I'VE NEVER SPOKEN BEFORE THE COMMISSION BEFORE.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME.

BUT I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS.

MY GUT TELLS ME, MY MORAL COMPASS TELLS ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DO.

BUT NOW AFTER LISTENING TO EVERYBODY, I FEEL EVEN MORE STRONG.

I REALIZED HOW MUCH INFORMATION I DIDN'T HAVE.

LISTENING TO FOLKS TONIGHT, I'VE LEARNED A LOT AND I SUPPORT THIS EVEN MORE.

I WANT YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE.

TEACHERS, ALL THE FOLKS THAT WORK IN DECATUR, I WOULD LIKE THEM TO HAVE OPTIONS.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME REAL FEARS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, SOME CONCERNS AND I DO THINK THAT IF THERE'S GUARDRAILS THAT NEED TO BE PLACED ON THIS, PUT THEM THERE.

IF THERE'S WAYS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT INVESTORS AREN'T COMING IN AND EXPLOITING THIS, THEN DO THAT, PUT THOSE GUARDRAILS THERE.

I LOVE THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO EVALUATE THIS OVERTIME.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER 18 MONTHS OR FIVE YEARS IS THE RIGHT TIME, BUT YEAH, EVALUATE IT.

IF THERE'S NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES TO THIS, YOU REZONE.

I GUESS, I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM WITH THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A GREAT MEETING.

I SHOULD COME MORE OFTEN.

THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER]

>> TED SMITH AND TERESA MITCHELL.

THEN IF YOU'LL GIVE ME ONE MOMENT.

NEALE HIGHTOWER IS NEXT AFTER THESE THREE. GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TED SMITH AND I FIRST MOVED TO DECATUR IN 1999 AND I LIVED ON CANDLER DRIVE.

THEN AFTER A LITTLE SOJOURN IN NASHVILLE, I MOVED BACK HERE IN 2012 AND I NOW LIVE AT 245 3RD AVENUE IN THE OAKHURST NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WANT TO ASK YOU TO KEEP IN MIND TWO LITTLE PHRASES FOR THINKING ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, I SPEAK IN FAVOR OF IT.

THE FIRST PHRASE IS THAT THIS IS NOT SUFFICIENT, BUT IT IS NECESSARY.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT. IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO OTHER THINGS AS A PART OF A BIG PACKAGE TO ACHIEVE DIVERSITY AND AFFORDABILITY.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT.

MANY FOLKS HAVE SAID THAT.

BUT YOU CAN'T LET THAT STOP YOU FROM ACTING BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY PLAN.

I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY POSITIVE SUGGESTIONS THAT

[03:00:03]

IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT, BUT IT IS NECESSARY.

WE DON'T HAVE A SERIOUS OTHER PROPOSAL FOR THOSE VALUES THAT YOU'VE HEARD SO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS EXPRESS.

THE SECOND THING I'D ASKED YOU TO LOOK AT, THIS IS HARDER TO SAY, IT'S HARDER TO HEAR, IT'S MORE CONTENTIOUS.

BUT I'D ASKED YOU TO LOOK NOT JUST AT THE RATIONALE AND NOT AT THE INTENTIONS THAT ARE EXPRESSED.

BUT I'D ASKED YOU TO LOOK AT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS.

I'VE SAT IN THIS ROOM DOING RESEARCH IN THE CITY ARCHIVES, AND ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE CLEARANCE OF THE BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD OF BLACK OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS, AND IT WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF PREVENTING BLIGHT, AND IT WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF PUBLIC HYGIENE, IT WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF PROPERTY VALUES.

THESE DON'T SOUND EXCLUSIONARY.

THEY DON'T SOUND RACIST ON THE SURFACE, BUT THE EFFECT WAS TO DISPLAY, SO ALL THESE FOLKS DISPLAYS A BIG PART OF PROPERTY OWNING BLACK DECATUR.

THAT WAS THE EFFECT.

LOOK AT THIS.

THERE ARE GOOD REASONS AND I'M NOT FOR A SECOND CALLING THE INTENTIONS OF NEIGHBORS INTO QUESTION.

WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS TO SAY IT'S NOT ABOUT INTENTIONS, IT'S ABOUT THE EFFECTS.

WHEN WE LOOK BACK THE REMOVALS FOR BLIGHT, 50 YEARS LATER, IT'S CLEAR WHAT HAPPENED.

IT'S CLEAR WHAT THE EFFECTS WERE.

THINK ABOUT THIS.

IF YOU DON'T PASS THIS, HOW DOES IT LOOK IN 50 YEARS? WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS? I THINK THE REASONS THAT ARE GIVEN, THE MOTIVES, IT'S GOING TO BE A JUMBLE RIGHT NOW.

BUT THE LONG-TERM EFFECT IS REALLY PRETTY CLEAR.

DON'T LOOK AT THE EXPRESSED MOTIVES OR INTENTIONS, LOOK AT THOSE LONG-TERM EFFECTS AND THEY'LL TELL YOU THE STORY.

IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT, BUT IT'S NECESSARY AND I'D ASKED YOU TO LOOK AT THOSE LONG-TERM EFFECTS, MOST OF ALL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TERESA MITCHELL, NEALE HIGHTOWER, CATHERINE IVY.

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M TERESA MITCHELL, 206 RIDLEY LANE.

EVERYTHING SOUNDS GOOD, BUT WHAT I HAVE IS PLEASE ELIMINATE THE ON-STREET PARKING ALLOWANCE, THAT UDO NUMBER 2, AND MAKE ALL PARKING ON-SITE AND OFF STREET.

WE NEED OUR STREETS OPEN FOR TRANSPORTATION; CARS, BIKES, PEDESTRIANS, WHEN THE SIDEWALK IS BAD.

THE POSTAL SERVICE WHO TOLD THE NEIGHBOR THEY WOULD NOT DELIVER MAIL IF THE MAILBOX WAS BLOCKED BY A CAR; TRASH PICKUP, AMAZON, FIRE TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUSES, STREET CLEANERS.

THE ON-STREET PARKING SHOULD BE A LAST RESORT FOR THE CONTRACTORS WHO WORK IN AND ON OUR HOMES.

THEY NEED A PLACE ON THE STREET.

PAINTERS, PLUMBERS, ETC, FRIENDS, WE HAVE FRIENDS THAT COME SEE US.

STREETS LINED WITH PARKED CARS CAN BE FRIGHTENING AS THE CHILD RUNS OUT FROM BETWEEN TWO PARKED CARS, CHASING A BALL, CAN BECOME TARGETS FOR THIEVES AND VANDALS, SUCH AS THIS SUMMER IN MIDTOWN, IN ATLANTA, ALL THOSE CARS THAT GOT BROKEN INTO, BUSTED WINDOWS, CAN CAUSE A HOMEOWNER TO PARK IN FRONT OF THEIR OWN HOUSE TO KEEP STRANGERS FROM DOING SO.

THEN THEY LEAVE THEIR DRIVEWAYS VACANT.

PLEASE, AT LEAST ONE SPACE PER UNIT ALL OFF STREET AND JUST IMAGINE A FOURPLEX, RUN IT TO FOUR COUPLES AND EACH ONE HAS A CAR.

THAT PUTS SIX CARS ON THE STREET. THANK YOU.

I HAVE MORE THINGS WRITTEN, BUT I CAN GIVE YOU.

I MADE A FEW COPIES ON MY LETTER, IF I CAN DO THAT.

>> THANK YOU. [NOISE] NEALE HIGHTOWER, CATHERINE IVY, JAMES WILEY.

>> GOOD EVENING, I'M NEALE HIGHTOWER. I LIVE AT 135, LAMONT DRIVE.

HAVE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT 20 PLUS YEARS.

I'M OPPOSED TO THIS CHANGE.

MAIN REASON IS THAT WHILE THE GOALS ARE NOBLE, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS CHANGE WILL HELP THEM.

HERE'S THE PROBLEM, YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD IT FROM THE REGIONAL COMMISSION INFORMATION THAT YOU GOT EARLIER.

THE METRO IS EXPLODING, IT'S BEING FILLED UP WITH YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN AREAS LIKE MEDICINE,

[03:05:02]

THEY HAVE THE MONEY, THEY LOVE LIVING IN DECATUR SO DO I SO DO YOU, AND THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY A PREMIUM TO LIVE HERE.

HERE'S MY FIRST QUESTION FOR YOU, IF THEY WILL PAY A PREMIUM, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO BE THE PRICE OF THAT INFILL HOUSING THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? IS GOING TO BE JUST LIKE THESE APARTMENTS OUT HERE THAT ARE POPPING UP LIKE MUSHROOMS AFTER A RAINSTORM.

THE PRICE IS STILL GOING TO BE HIGH IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE YOU TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY.

YOU MAY GET SOME HELP ON THE MARGINS, BUT THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

SADLY AND LOOKING AT IT AND SAYING, AS SOMEONE SUGGESTED, HOW DO WE GET A POSITIVE RESULT LIKE WE WON'T.

I THINK WHAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE WERE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THESE CURRENT APARTMENTS AND CONDOS THAT ARE BEING BUILT TO PROVIDE SOME PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I BELIEVE YOU WILL HAVE TO COMPEL IT.

NOW, I DON'T FAVOR THAT, BUT I BELIEVE YOU WILL HAVE TO COMPEL IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN NATURALLY.

PEOPLE WILL DO EXACTLY WHAT I'LL DO IF THIS THING GOES THROUGH, I WOULD TEAR DOWN MY HOUSE AND BUILD A COUPLE OF MULTIMILLION DOLLAR CONDOS ON IT AND MOVE AWAY.

JUST UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET THE OUTCOME YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO JUST THINK ABOUT THIS IF SOMEBODY OFFERED YOU A CHANCE IN YOUR HOMES TO BUILD MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CONDOS, WOULD YOU DO THAT OR WOULD YOU PUT IN SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

THIS IS A DEVELOPERS DREAM AND IT'S A HOMEOWNER'S NIGHTMARE.

>> MS. IVY, MR. WILEY, AND THEN SHAWN MAX, CATHERINE IVY, JAMES WILEY, SHAWN MAX, DAVID SPENCER.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I WAS WAITING FOR JAMES

>> OKAY.

>> CAN YOU-ALL HEAR ME IN THE HALLWAY? COOL. MY NAME IS SHAWN MAX, I LIVE AT 350 HILLCREST AVENUE AND I AM HONORED TO HAVE THE TIME TO SPEAK TO YOU-ALL TODAY.

I LIVE IN A QUAD FLEX, I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT, I GO TO THE COLLEGE OF GEORGIA STATE.

I'M IN AN INCREDIBLY PRIVILEGED POSITION WHERE NOT ONLY DO I LIVE IN A QUAD FLEX, IT'S VERY RARE IN THE CITY, BUT I ALSO SPLIT IT THREE WAYS WITH MY BOYFRIEND AND MY UNCLE, SO NOT ONLY DO I GET TO LIVE HERE, I GET TO THRIVE HERE.

I FEEL LIKE DECATUR IS SPECIAL DECATUR IS UNIQUE.

SEVERAL URBANISTS, INCLUDING NOTABLE CITY PLATER, RAY DELAHANTY, AKA CITY NERD, HAVE IDENTIFIED DECATUR AS ONE OF THE LEAST CAR CENTRIC, MOST WALKABLE, MOST BIKEABLE SUBURBS IN THE ENTIRE AMERICAN SOUTH, AND I THINK WE SHOULD LEAN INTO THAT.

I'M IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING MULTI-UNIT HOUSING IN THE CITY.

BECAUSE IF WE DO, THEN NOT ONLY DO MORE PEOPLE GET TO LIVE HERE AND STAFF ARE BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO THEY GET THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY IN THIS METRO AREA TO LIVE A CAR-FREE LIFE.

WE HAVE THREE MULTI TRAIN STOPS, WE HAVE SEVERAL BUSES THAT RUN THROUGH THE CITY AND YOU CAN'T GET THAT ANYWHERE ELSE.

ONE THING I NOTICED ABOUT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME UP IN OPPOSITION, IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT OUTSIDERS COMING IN AND BUYING UP ALL THE PROPERTIES AND THEN BASICALLY JUST MOVING AWAY AND LETTING IT FESTER.

I FEEL LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT THAT IS MAYBE REQUIRE THEM TO BE OWNER-OCCUPIED.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN'T REALLY GIVE PREFERENCE TO CURRENT HOMEOWNERS LIKE THAT'S JUST NOT ABLE TO.

BUT MAYBE REQUIRING THESE SMALLER MULTI-UNIT HOUSING UNITS TO BE OWNER-OCCUPIED WOULD ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

BUT HONESTLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE BULLDOZING AN ENTIRE STREET TO PUT THESE IN.

ALL OF THESE PROJECTS AND PROPOSALS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH SEVERAL BOARD MEETINGS, SEVERAL CONDITIONS JUST TO GET A SHOVEL IN THE DIRT.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE PROLIFERATION OF DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES AND QUADPLEXES IN THE CITY BECAUSE I THINK IT GIVES

[03:10:02]

>> NEXT, DAVID SPENCER, AMANDA GILLESPIE, MELISSA COBBS YEAH, THAT'S A B.

>> SO I CAN ACTUALLY READ THIS.

MY NAME IS DAVID SPENCER.

I LIVE AT 627 SYCAMORE STREET, BEEN IN DECATUR FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS NOW.

I'LL TRY AND KEEP THIS BRIEF.

I KNOW THE MOST DIFFICULT THING SOMETIMES CAN BE DOING NOTHING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S AS MUCH INERTIA AS WE SEE IT BEHIND THE SO-CALLED MISSING MIDDLE.

BUT SO FAR WE'VE TRIED ATES, WHICH BASICALLY CREATED NANNY SUITES AND IN-LAWS SUITES, IT DIDN'T PRODUCE THE MISSING MIDDLE.

WE'VE HAD THOUSANDS OF APARTMENTS BUILT.

NOBODY WOULD ARGUE THAT THEY'RE AFFORDABLE.

IT DIDN'T WORK, IT DIDN'T PRODUCE THE MISSING MIDDLE, WE'VE DONE THE COTTAGE COURT CONCEPT.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR SEVEN YEARS OR SO, HAS PRODUCED NOTHING EXCEPT AN INVESTMENT BY THE CITY AND A VERY MISGUIDED PROJECT.

LET'S JUST REAL QUICK LOOK AT THE NUMBERS ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS AND TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO PRODUCE THE DESIRED EFFECT.

SOMEBODY BUYS A HOUSE FOR $400,000, WHICH IS ABOUT THE CHEAPEST HOUSE YOU'LL FIND IN DECATUR BY A LONG SHOT.

YOU DECIDE YOU'RE GOING TO TURN IT FROM A SINGLE-FAMILY TO ACQUIRE BLOCKS SO YOU'RE ADDING 2,000 SQUARE FEET.

THAT'S ABOUT YOU'RE ADDING 2,000 SQUARE FEET AND YOU'RE RENOVATING THE EXISTING SPACE, SO LET'S JUST SAY YOU'RE GOING TO INVEST $475,000 IN THAT HOUSE TO DO THAT.

JUST ADDING 2,000 SQUARE FEET IS 200 BUCKS SQUARE FOOT.

YOU'VE GOT $875,000 INVESTED IN THIS HOUSE, 20 PERCENT DOWN, THAT'S 700,000 FINANCED.

THAT MEANS YOUR PAYMENTS WILL BE 3,874 PER MONTH PLUS, LET'S JUST SAY 1,000,1,200,1,500 WHO KNOWS IN TAXES ON THAT HOUSE BECAUSE THE OWNER WON'T ENJOY, MOST LIKELY, THE BENEFITS OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, WHICH ACTUALLY ISN'T ALL THAT MUCH.

MANAGEMENT FEE, $387, MAINTENANCE ANOTHER $193, MONTHLY CASH-FLOW ON THAT PROPERTY ENDS UP BEING ABOUT JUST UNDER $1,300 OR ABOUT $15,500 PER YEAR.

THAT'S FOUR UNITS, THREE-ONE BEDROOMS AT 1,500 A MONTH AND A TWO BEDROOM AT 2,500 MONTHS WHICH EVERYBODY WILL AGREE, IS PRETTY REASONABLE FOR DECATUR THESE DAYS.

AN INVESTOR OR WHOEVER'S DOING THIS HAS SPENT 175,000 IN CASH, THEY'LL GET A MONTHLY CASH-FLOW OF ROUGHLY $1,300.

THAT'S AN 11 AND A QUARTER YEAR PAYBACK ON THAT PROPERTY.

THAT IS NOT FINANCIALLY VIABLE, THAT'S A TERRIBLE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT.

I SAY THAT AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS OWN MULTIPLE HOUSES IN DECATUR, I'VE BUILT HOUSES, I'VE RENOVATED HOUSES, I'M CURRENTLY A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENT.

>> SORRY, YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

>> FAIR ENOUGH. THANK YOU.

>> AMANDA GILLESPIE, MELISSA COBBS, AND KENNEDY MALONE.

>> HELLO, I'M AMANDA GILLESPIE.

I LIVE AT 323 GLENDALE AVENUE HERE DECATUR.

I'M A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST AT EMORY AND MY HUSBAND IS AN ANALYST AT THE CDC AND WE HAVE TWO KIDS IN CITY OF DECATUR SCHOOLS.

I'M ALSO THE CO-CHAIR OF THE GLENN WOOD ELEMENTARY DEI COMMITTEE, SO WE TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES A LOT.

WE ARE A MULTI-RACIAL FAMILY AND WE WANT TO LIVE IN A DIVERSE, WELCOMING, MULTI-RACIAL COMMUNITY.

WE MOVED HERE IN 2018 AND WE WERE THRILLED TO FIND A HOME IN DECATUR.

WE CAME FROM PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA AND EVERYONE WE TALKED TO SAID MOVED DECATUR, SO WE TRIED REALLY HARD AND WE DID.

IT'S ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT I DON'T THINK TODAY IF THIS ESTIMATE ON MY HOUSE IS CORRECT, THAT I WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO BUY MY HOUSE TODAY IN DECATUR.

BUT WHEN WE MOVED HERE ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO, WE WERE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR A DUPLEX OR A HOUSE WITH A COTTAGE ATTACHED TO IT BECAUSE WE WERE WANTING TO SHARE THIS WITH MY MOTHER, WAS A SINGLE MOM.

OUR HOPE WAS THAT THIS PLAN WOULD HELP US, FIRST OF ALL, OFFSET THE COST OF THE HOUSE IF WE WERE GOING INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP WITH HER, IT POSSIBLY WOULD PROVIDE SOME SHORT-TERM RENTAL INCOME FOR US AND THEN ALSO IN THE LONG TERM,

[03:15:02]

WHICH I CAN SAY DURING COVID AND HOMESCHOOLING WOULD HAVE BEEN AMAZING.

SO THAT WASN'T AVAILABLE.

[LAUGHTER] IN DECATUR.

IT REALLY WASN'T AVAILABLE ANYWHERE.

WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WHERE WE ARE, BUT THAT'S MY LITTLE PERSONAL STORY OF WHY I THINK HAVING MORE OF THESE DUPLEXES WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE NEAR PARENTS AND TO HELP OLDER PEOPLE AGE IN PLACE AND NEAR THEIR FAMILIES, SO FOR THESE REASONS AND MANY OTHERS, I SUPPORT THIS MISSING MIDDLE ORDINANCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> KENNEDY MALONE, SAMUEL VARKEY, JESSE, OH, SORRY.

MELISSA COBB'S, AND THEN KENNEDY MALLONE, THEN SAMUEL VARKEY AND JESSIE LUGUARD. [LAUGHTER]

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS KENNEDY MALONE AND I AM A RESIDENT AT 141 EAST COLLEGE AVENUE.

I JUST LIKE TO START OFF SAYING THAT I AM 19 YEARS OLD AND I AM AMBITIOUS.

I WANT A HOUSE IN DECATUR.

THE NOTIONS OF INCLUSIVITY AND OPPORTUNITY AND INGENUITY THAT I WAS PROMISED IS WHY I'M HERE, IT'S WHY I GO TO SCHOOL HERE, IT'S WHY I WORK HERE, AND IT'S WHY I WANT TO LIVE HERE.

LONG TERM, [LAUGHTER] I WANT A MASTER'S DEGREE AND MY PHD IN ANTHROPOLOGY AND I WANT THAT HERE.

BUT I CAN'T MAKE THAT A REALITY FOR MYSELF WITH A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, ASPIRING FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERS.

I WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE VIBRANCE OF DECATUR, THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THE CITY OFFERS.

BUT NOT ONLY DURING THE SEMESTER.

I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN THESE ASPIRATIONS OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, IN THESE ASPIRATIONS OF REALLY REALIZING A BELOVED COMMUNITY.

BUT WE HAVE TO REALIZE THESE ASPIRATIONS AND THIS KEY FEATURE OF A BELOVED COMMUNITY IS THROUGH AFFORDING STUDENTS LIKE ME THE CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LIFESTYLE OF DECATUR, THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE DECATUR, THE CULTURE OF THE DECATUR, AND THE ECONOMY OF DECATUR.

LET'S REALIZE THIS ASPIRATION BY ACCEPTING THESE TEXTS AMENDMENTS AND PASSING THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.

>> SAMUEL VARKEY AND JESSIE [LAUGHTER] AND CANDLER STREET AND THEN MILES MOREFIELD.

>> HELLO, MY NAME IS SAM VARKEY.

I'M ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT CODE PRESIDENT AT DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M FOR THIS CHANGE IN THE CITIES OF LAWS.

ORIGINALLY I WAS AGAINST IT AND I FRANKLY DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT ZONING.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COMES AS A SURPRISE, BUT I DO NOT OWN A HOUSE.

[LAUGHTER] BUT I LEARNED QUICKLY ABOUT THE ZONING LAWS THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE IN DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL, AND IN OUR MEETING IN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS WITH MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS, WE LEARNED ABOUT WHY THIS IS SO AND WHY HOUSING DIVERSITY MATTERS AND I BELIEVE IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN THESE COMMISSIONERS PRESENT THESE REPORTS AND THESE FACTS, IT'S NOT ONLY THAT WE HEAR, IS THAT WE ACTUALLY LISTEN, THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.

MY DAD IS A DOCTOR AT EMORY AND HE ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY LIVED IN A DUPLEX IN DURHAM, WHICH IS THIS SIMILAR TO OURS.

HE WAS DEEPLY IN STUDENT DEBT AS MANY ARE COMING OUT OF MED SCHOOL AND HE NEEDED A PLACE TO LIVE WHILE GETTING HIS RESIDENCY AND FELLOWSHIP AND THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD DO THAT WAS IN A DUPLEX BECAUSE THERE'S MORE AFFORDABLE TO HIM IN A MONTH, WE DEFINITELY WOULDN'T BE IN THE POSITION WE ARE TODAY WITHOUT THAT.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THESE THINGS IN DECATUR, ESPECIALLY WITH IT'S LIKE IT'S CLOSEST TO EMORY AND THESE OTHER AREAS OF HIGHER LEARNING.

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS IN OUR CONVERSATION, HAS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF COMING TO THE DECATUR AND HAVING TO LIVE IN THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AREAS AND I BELIEVE THAT HIS STORY AND THE STORY OF HIS MOM IS REALLY EMPOWERING, SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT STORY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. LET'S SEE.

JESSIE ON CANDLER STREET.

THANK YOU. YOU CAN TELL US YOUR LAST NAME.

THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER]

>> HI. MY NAME IS JESSIE LUGUARD.

I'M AT 411 SOUTH CANDLER.

I'VE BEEN LIVING IN DECATUR SINCE 2020.

[03:20:03]

I ALSO OPERATE A SMALL BUSINESS.

I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.

LIKE YOU SAID, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN FOR IT TO SET THAT IT IMPROVES DIVERSITY.

I THINK THAT AS FAR AS DIVERSITY IS CONCERNED, IT IS TO BRING PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS INTO THE COMMUNITY, SO I DO SUPPORT IT.

THE OTHER THING THAT I DO WANT TO ALSO WANT TO MENTION WHICH ORIGINALLY BROUGHT ME HERE IS IN REFERENCE TO THE STR GUIDELINES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT BEFORE IT NEEDS TO BE ENACTED, NOT JUST SIX MONTHS.

I OWN A QUADRUPED FLEX IN THE AREA.

PRIOR TO THIS DISCUSSION TODAY, I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF ANY PRIOR DISCUSSIONS THAT WERE BEING HEARD.

I WAS ONLY MADE AWARE BECAUSE AIRBNB CONTACTED ME AND SAID, HEY, THIS DISCUSSION WAS HAPPENING TODAY, WHICH IS WHAT LED ME TO COME HERE.

I WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY IN THE COMMUNITY LIKE ME, WHO OWN PROPERTY IN THE AREA BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY ENACT THINGS LIKE THIS IN DECATUR. THANK YOU.

>> LET'S SEE. MILES MOREFIELD, HUGH TROTTI, AND ANN RITTER.

>> HELLO, COMMISSIONERS.

I'M MILES MOREFIELD, CO-CHAIR OF THE DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL, SENIOR AT DECATUR HIGH-SCHOOL AND RESIDENT AT 205 GARLAND AVENUE.

I'M IN TOTAL, COMPLETE SUPPORT OF THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE LAWS BECAUSE GROWING UP IN DECATUR, I'VE SEEN A LACK OF DIVERSITY IN MY SCHOOLING.

I'VE SEEN A SCHOOL THAT HAS BECOME MONOCULTURE.

I'VE SEEN A SCHOOL WHERE THE SAME THOUGHTS, SAME IDEAS, OR CONSTANTLY EXPELLED.

WE GREW UP WITH A SENSE THAT WE ARE DIVERSE, YET I SEE A LACK OF THIS IN THE CLASSROOM.

I SEE A LACK OF IT AND THOUGHT, SEE A LACK OF IT IN RACIAL EQUITY TRAINING WITHIN THE TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND STAFF.

MORE THAN THAT THOUGH, I BELIEVE THAT ELDERS, ADULTS, YOUNG PEOPLE, STUDENTS, ANYBODY SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHTS TO MOVE INTO DECATUR AND I BELIEVE IT'S COMPLETELY AND COMPREHENSIBLE TO ME THAT YOU HAVE TO BE A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

MY FAMILY, WHEN THEY MOVED HERE, THEY WERE NOT ANY OF THAT.

WE GOT OUR HOUSE THROUGH A FAMILY FRIEND AND THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY WE COULD AFFORD TO MOVE HERE IN 2004.

NOW, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS OBSCENE THAT MY GRANDMOTHER AND MANY OTHER RESIDENTS LIKE HER, NOT RESIDENTS.

HOPEFUL RESIDENTS, I SHOULD SAY, CAN'T MOVE HERE BECAUSE SIMPLY PUT, THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

MY GRANDMOTHER'S STRUGGLING WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO MOVE HER INTO A HOUSE, AN APARTMENT IN DECATUR, WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE HER FARAWAY, MULTIPLE MILES AWAY WHERE WE CANNOT ACTIVELY COME IN AND CHECK ON HER DAILY.

COME SEE HOW SHE IS, AND THIS IS OBSCENE AND IT'S ABSURD TO ME THAT MY GRANDMOTHER CANNOT COME IN AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY WHILE SHE STILL CAN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I BELIEVE THAT IT'S NECESSARY TO PASS THESE ORDINANCE.

I ALSO BELIEVE WE DO NEED TO TAKE TIME TO LOOK AT THE DATA.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, DATA IS WHAT SHOULD DRIVE DECISIONS HERE, NOT EMOTIONS, NOT FEELINGS, BUT COLD DATA, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD EXTEND THE TIME THAT WE LOOK AT THESE ORDINANCE CHANGES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ENSURING AFFORDABILITY FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT WE DO WANT TO LIVE HERE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SIMPLY SAY WE WANT THINGS.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SIMPLY SAY WE ARE DIVERSE.

WE MUST EMBODY THOSE IDEALS EVERY DAY IN THE CLASSROOM, ON THE STREETS, AND IN OUR GOVERNMENT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. HUGH TROTTI, ANN RITTER, CHRIS GOODSON.

HUGH TROTTI? ANN RITTER? CHRIS GOODSON? THEN NEXT IS MICHAEL GUILFORD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS CHRIS GIBSON, CURRENTLY, LIVE AT 2630 TALLEY STREET AND RENTING A CONDO.

THIS THURSDAY WILL BE 42 YEARS IN DECATUR.

I GREW UP IN DECATUR, WENT TO THE CITY OF DECATUR SCHOOLS, AND CURRENTLY TRYING TO ACTUALLY PURCHASE AND RENOVATE THE HOME FOR MY PARENTS.

IT'S 605 ADAM STREET, PROBABLY THE LONGEST VACATED HOUSE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

[LAUGHTER] RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD TO DO SO.

WE'RE PAYING THE TAXES FOR MY PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO EVEN MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF THAT HOUSE AND LOOKING TO RENOVATE THAT HOUSE, HOPEFULLY.

I HOPE THAT THIS MEASURE WILL PASS SO THAT DECATUR BECOMES MORE AFFORDABLE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

[03:25:01]

I'M IN COLLEGES BY TRADE.

I WORK FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

MY WIFE IS A PSYCHOLOGIST BY TRADE, TEACHES AT EMORY.

WE LIKE MUSHROOMS AFTER RAINSTORMS. [LAUGHTER] SORRY.

BUT VERY MUCH I BELIEVE THAT DECATUR JUST IN THE TIME THAT I'VE LIVED HERE, AND I'VE LIVED HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE, HAS CHANGED A LOT.

THE DIVERSITY IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE WHEN I GREW UP.

IT SOUNDS LIKE PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE SCHOOLS NOW SEE THAT AND RECOGNIZE THAT.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN PASS THIS ORDINANCE, PROVIDE MORE DIVERSITY BACK INTO DECATUR, MAKE DECATUR WHAT IT USED TO BE, AND WHAT MAKES IT GREAT.

MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHO'S IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CAREER AND STILL CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN DECATUR EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A DECENT JOB WITH MY WIFE.

I HOPE THAT THAT'S POSSIBLE FOR ALL FOLKS AND THAT WE BRING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT JUST AT THE HIGHER EARNERS, BUT ALL PROFESSIONS AND ALL PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LIVE IN DECATUR.

VERY MUCH WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE CITY COMMISSION AND TO EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN A PART OF THIS PROPOSAL.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK, AND FOR EVERYBODY WHOSE GENDER SUPPORT OR DISSENT AGAINST THIS TODAY. THANK YOU.

>> MICHAEL GUILFORD.

THEN THE NEXT PERSON WILL BE TOM LORENT, AND THEN SHERONDA KESSLER.

>> HEY, GOOD EVENING.

FIRST, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS AND HAVING EVERYBODY SO WE CAN COME OUT AND TALK.

GREAT TO HEAR DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

I LOVE DECATUR. MY WIFE AND I, WE MOVED HERE IN 2016.

WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN. I THINK WE CAME HERE.

THE REASON A LOT OF PEOPLE COME HERE, THEY'RE MY AGE, YOU WANT YOUR KIDS IN A GREAT SCHOOL, AND THAT'S WHAT ATTRACTS YOU OVER HERE.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THE ZONING CHANGE.

THE REASON IS BECAUSE ONE, TRAFFIC.

ON OUR STREETS, I LIVE IN 136 BROWER STREET, THERE'RE CARS ALL OVER ON OUR SIDES BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO PARK ON THE STREETS.

WE DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE FLYING THROUGH OUR STREET, THERE'S A CUT-THROUGH STREET.

WE'VE HAD TO PUT BUMPERS THERE JUST TO SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC.

CROSSING FROM WHERE WE LIVE BACK INTO THE CITY, IT CAN TAKE 25 MINUTES DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF DAY, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE ALREADY.

AGAIN, I'M NOT AGAINST US TRYING TO FIND A WAY, BUT IT HAS TO MAKE SENSE AND THE DATA HAS TO BACK IT UP.

IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE MISSING MIDDLE, ONE, WE SHOULD HAVE FOCUSED ON THAT A LOT EARLIER TOO.

WE'VE BUILT APARTMENTS AT MCDONALD'S, WE BUILT APARTMENTS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE MCDONALD'S.

WHAT DO WE DO TO MAKE SURE WE CARVED OUT A SPACE FOR THAT MISSING MIDDLE? IT'S AMAZING.

WE WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT THAT THEN, BUT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT NOW.

IT'S NOT A GREAT IDEA JUST TO THROW SOMETHING OUT THERE TO SAY, "OH, LOOK, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IT." BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS EVEN WHATEVER YOU BUILD, I GUESS SOMEBODY HERE IS WILLING TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY FOR A MUCH LOWER DISCOUNT THAN WHAT THE MARKET VALUE IS ASKING FOR.

THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

A LOT OF LAND WHERE WE LIVE IS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR JUST A LOT OF LAND.

THIS IS A TEAR-DOWN. I KNOW MY HOME, I THINK OUR HOME IS ABOUT 4,500 SQUARE FEET.

IF WE SPLIT THAT IN HALF, I WOULD NOT SELL IT FOR A DISCOUNT BECAUSE OF JUST OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF MY HEART.

THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

IF MY WIFE IS WATCHING, WE'RE NOT SELLING OUR HOUSE JUST IN CASE.

[LAUGHTER] SHE THINKS THINGS ARE GETTING IN MY MIND.

BUT I LOVE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING.

I THINK THEY NEED TO BE HAD ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO.

I THINK THEY'RE NECESSARY.

TO BE HONEST, JUST HEARING HOW THE PEOPLE CAME OUT AND THEY ARE DISCUSSING THIS, THESE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A TALK ABOUT.

BUT WE DO NOT NEED TO JUST THROW SOMETHING UP AGAINST THE WALL AND HOPE IT STICKS, AND THEN COME BACK AND SAY, "OH, IT DIDN'T WORK." WHAT I'M ALSO WORRIED ABOUT IS PREDATORY PEOPLE TRYING TO BUY HOMES FROM THE ELDERLY AND FROM BLACK PEOPLE THAT DO STILL OWN A NEIGHBORHOOD.

MY MOM LIVES ABOUT THE BELT LINE.

SHE GETS A CALL ALMOST EVERY DAY FOR HER PROPERTY.

I WONDER IF WE DO OPEN THIS UP AND WE DO OPEN DOOR FOR THEM TO DO, WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO BUY THEIR PROPERTY?

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS.

>> TOM WALTON, SHERONDA KESSLER. JOHN RIDLEY.

[03:30:02]

>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS THOMAS WALTON.

I'M A TOWN RESIDENT.

I LIVE AT 328 OAKLAND STREET.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER COMMENTS TODAY.

WELCOME TO THE DIVIDED DECATUR 101.

I'M OPPOSED TO THE TEXT AMENDMENTS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE.

I WON'T ENUMERATE THEM, BUT THE APPLICATION IDENTIFIED AS COORDINATES 022 CBP.

I'LL POINT OUT TO THE COMMISSION ONCE AGAIN THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR PLANNING COMMISSION HAD ITS OCTOBER 11TH, REGULAR MEETING UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS BE DENIED IN THEIR CURRENT FORM.

I DON'T RECALL ANY PROVISIONS OR CONDITIONS BEING MADE TO THAT DENIAL BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

I'D LIKE TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMISSION AND OTHERS HERE A REPORT WE PREPARED IN NOVEMBER 22, 2022, BY THE GEORGIA HOUSE BUDGET AND RESEARCH OFFICE.

IT'S CALLED HOUSE RESOLUTION 1149 OR HR 1149.

THE TITLE IS THE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES STUDY COMMITTEE ON REGULATION, AFFORDABILITY, AND ACCESS TO HOUSING, THE FINAL REPORT.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM CITIES LIKE ALBANY, LAGRANGE, SAVANNAH, AND ATLANTA, BUILDERS, ARCHITECTS, PLANNERS, BANKERS, REAL ESTATE AGENTS, APARTMENT AND HOUSING MANAGERS, PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES OF REGULATION, AFFORDABILITY, AND ACCESS TO HOUSING.

IT'S AN INTERESTING READ.

THE FINAL REPORT ADDRESSES THE HOUSING SHORTAGE AND FAMILIAR TERMS, NAMELY HOW THE CITIES INCREASE HOUSING STOCK TO MEET ANTICIPATED GROWTH.

IT PRESENTS IN CLEAR LANGUAGE MANY REASONS WHY THIS HAS BEEN AND WILL BE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE.

THE REPORT OFFERS A FAIR PRESENTATION OF THE CHALLENGES THAT CITY'S PRIVATE OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS HAVE FACED IN PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THESE FINDINGS ARE IRRELEVANT TO DECATUR IN THIS DISCUSSION.

LIKE OURS, THERE'S NO SIMPLE ANSWER.

A LONG LIST OF DRAWBACKS TO THE PROPOSED 17 AMENDMENTS WERE PRESENTED TO YOU IN OCTOBER 17TH REGULAR MEETING.

I'LL LEAVE THE TELLERS TO SPEAK TO YOU, ARE THERE CONCERNS AND PERHAPS IDENTIFY OTHERS TONIGHT? I WOULD LIKE TO FURTHER THIS DISCUSSION WITH MORE SPECIFICS BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS REPORT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. SHERONDA KESSLER, JOHN RIDLEY, THOMAS REID.

THANK YOU. SHERONDA KESSLER? JOHN RIDLEY?

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOHN RIDLEY.

I LIVE AT 205, ADAM STREET.

I'VE BEEN THERE ABOUT 40 YEARS.

I'M HERE TO SUGGEST THAT YOU NOT CONTINUE TO ENTERTAIN THIS PROPOSAL.

I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY BAD PUBLIC POLICY.

QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK IT'S WELL-INTENTIONED AS I HEAR MANY OF THE PEOPLE ARE.

WHAT THEY'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IS TO TURN THE CITY OF THE CATERER INTO A PETRI DISH.

QUITE FRANKLY, I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE INFLAMMATORY BY IT.

I'M JUST A POLITICAL SCIENTIST AND ACADEMIC BY TRAINING.

BUT BASICALLY WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO IS TURN IT INTO A PETRI DISH AND THEN RUN OFF IN A MALOSTIC INSPIRED ATTACK ON THE VERY FOUNDATION OF WHAT THE CATERER IS.

OUR LOGO IS CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, AND HOMES.

IT IS THE RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY TAXPAYER WHO HAS BUILT THIS CITY, WHO HAS PAID THE BILLS.

IT IS CERTAINLY NOT BEEN PAID BY NON-PROFITS GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, COLLEGES, THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

IT'S BEEN PAID PRIMARILY BY THE SINGLE FAMILY TAXPAYER.

WHAT THESE FOLKS WANT YOU TO DO, AND I ADMIT IT'S MANY OF THE COMMENTS I HEAR, I HEAR THEM HEARTFULLY AS WELL-INTENTIONED.

[03:35:01]

YOU'RE TURNING YOUR BACK ON WHO CATERER IS AND WHO HAS PAID THE BILLS ALL ALONG.

YOU PUT ALL OF THAT AND MANY OF US MAJOR ASSET OF OUR LIVES AT RISK.

ARE YOU SURE YOU REALLY WANT TO DO THAT? ARE YOU SO CONFIDENT OF THE POLICY OUTCOMES THAT YOU THINK THIS MIGHT AFFECT ARE REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN? I GUESS YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF THAT QUESTION.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF YOU WANT DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE, SUPPORT REINSTATEMENT OF THE 2016 SENIOR TAX EXEMPTION.

YOU HAVEN'T DONE A VERY GREAT JOB WITH HANDLING THAT PUBLIC POLICY, LAND-USE PLANNING PROBLEM.

WE HAVE A WHACK-A-MOLE TAX EXEMPTION NOW.

ONE YEAR, I GET A TAX BILL FOR ZERO.

THE NEXT YEAR I GET A TAX BILL FOR $6,023.40.

NOW I'VE HAD A REASSESSMENT ON MY PROPERTY AND GOD KNOWS WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.

WE HAVE A WHACK-A-MOLE TAX EXEMPTION WITH A TWO-YEAR EXPIRATION DATE ON IT, WITH THE MEANS TESTS THAT NOBODY UNDERSTANDS.

ALL I'M BRINGING ALL THAT UP FOR YOU IS GO OUT, CHANGE THAT AWARD AND RESPECT DECATUR SENIORS.

DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE THAT YOU HAVE WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW TO DO.

INSTEAD OF TURNING UP OUR LIFE SAVINGS AND OUR COMMUNITY AND 200 YEARS WORTH OF HISTORY ON ITS EAR AND TURNING US INTO A PETRI DISH. THANK YOU.

>> LET'S SEE. THOMAS REID FODEON, PEG GIROLAMO, GAR MALHOTRA AND NATHAN SOLDAT.

>> HELLO, PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.

I'M A POOR PUBLIC SPEAKER.

THOMAS REID FODEON.

I GO BY REID.

123 VIDAL BOULEVARD DECATUR.

I'M A PEDIATRICIAN, I'M A CYCLIST, I'M AN ANTI-RACIST.

I'M NOT FOR MASSIVE HOUSES.

WE PAID DECATUR TAXES FOR 25 YEARS DESPITE HAVING NO CHILDREN.

WE'VE SUPPORTED THE CHILDREN OF DECATUR OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN FOR 25 YEARS, WHICH HAS BEEN A PLEASURE.

OCCASIONALLY, DIFFICULT WHEN WE SEE SOME FAMILIES MOVE IN, CUT DOWN A BUNCH OF TREES AND MOVE OUT A FEW YEARS LATER.

NONETHELESS, WE'RE STILL HERE.

FOR BETTER OR WORST, DECATUR HAS HAD A MASSIVE INCREASE IN POPULATION OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES.

DECATUR IS NOT LATE.

I'M AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL AS IT STANDS, ALTHOUGH IT HAS SOME MERITS.

DECATUR IS NOT LAID OUT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WE HAVE ONE STREET GOING THIS WAY, ONE STREET GOING THAT WAY.

NOT LIKE MANY TOWNS WHERE WE HAVE PARALLEL STREETS, PARALLEL SEWER SYSTEMS. IF YOU WANT TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B, YOU HAVE A LIMITED WAY TO GET THERE.

BIKE LANES ARE NOT FOR EVERYBODY EVEN THOUGH I'M A CYCLIST, YOU CAN'T RIDE YOUR BIKE EASILY AT 11:00 AT NIGHT.

YOU CAN'T TAKE GROCERIES HOME AT 11:00 AT NIGHT, YOU CAN'T TRANSPORT YOUR PITS ON A BIKE.

WHILE WE'VE SEEN A LARGE INCREASE IN POPULATION IN THE PAST, THE ANSWER WAS ADD TRAFFIC LANES.

WHAT'S THE ANSWER RECENTLY? BLOCK OFF STREETS, NARROW THE LANES NEAR CHURCH STREET YEARS AGO.

MASSIVE TRAFFIC THERE WAS TURNED INTO FOUR LANES.

I'M NOT SURE, I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT, BUT SUDDENLY THE TRAFFIC WENT WAY DOWN.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE MASSIVE TRAFFIC JAMS AGAIN, NEAR GLENLAKE TENNIS CENTER.

WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC, IT'S DANGEROUS.

IT'S DANGEROUS TO GET OUT OF MY STREET ON VIDAL BOULEVARD I WANT TO GO TO WORK IN THE MORNING.

IT'S DANGEROUS TO WALK ON THE STREET, CARS COME ZIPPING DOWN THERE.

IT'S DANGEROUS TO RIDE MY BIKE.

I GOT TO PULL OFF RIGHT WHEN THEY COME BY AND I'M GLAD WE HAVE BIKE LANES, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T REPLACE CAR LANE, THEY SHOULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THANK YOU FOR BIKE LANES BUT I THINK WE NEED TO RETHINK THAT.

LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE? CONSTRUCTION.

WHILE WE START CONSTRUCTION, DOES IT GO SMOOTHLY? NO, IT'S OFTEN A DISASTER.

ON OUR STREET A HOUSE WAS RENOVATED, IT WENT ON FOR THREE YEARS.

THE GRASS GOT UP TO HERE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, DUMPSTERS CAME AND WENT IT SAT FOR A WHILE AND NOTHING HAPPENED.

FREE GRINS GOT IN THE BACK OF THE HOUSE.

WE COMPLAINED TO THE GUY BUILDING IT. WHAT DO WE GET? A SMIRK ON HIS STINKING FACE.

DID THE SAME THING HAPPENED? YES, THE SAME THING HAPPENED NEXT DOOR A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER.

TAKE TWO YEARS TO FINISH THE HOUSE.

IF WE DO A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION IN THIS AREA, IT'S GOING TO BE A DISASTER.

>> THANKS YOU [OVERLAPPING]

>> HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE REVISED TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY. THANK YOU.

[03:40:03]

>> PEG GERONIMO, GAR MALHOTRA AND NATHAN SOLDAT.

>> HI, I'M PEG GERONIMO 230 HURON STREET.

I HAVE BEEN IN MY HOUSE FOR 32 YEARS.

I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAD JUST ENOUGH MONEY TO MOVE IN AT THAT TIME, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO DO IT NOW.

MY KIDS WENT TO THE CATER SCHOOLS.

WE HAD A YEAR ABROAD AND CAME BACK.

MY YOUNGER DAUGHTER HAD FORGOTTEN HER ENGLISH.

I MET WITH A TEACHER AND SHE JUST SAID, "WELL, LET'S JUST LET HER SPEAK WHAT SHE CAN RIGHT NOW AND SHE CAN WRITE IN THAT AND IT'LL BE OKAY.

NOT EVERYBODY HAS SCHOOLS LIKE THAT.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN WITH STAFF THAT ACCOMMODATE AND LOVE OUR KIDS.

I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THAT EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, AND ESPECIALLY INCLUDE DIVERSITY FOR OUR OWN CHILDREN.

I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS AND HOPE WE WILL MOVE AHEAD.

>> NEXT GAURAV AND THEN NATHAN AND I'M GOING TO CALL OUT TWO MORE NAMES.

LOVE IT, WILLIAMS AND LEE, RACHEL, CARLA MAGNO.

THEN JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK AFTER WE HEAR FROM THOSE AND THEN COME BACK AND RESUME HEARING FROM COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

>> HEY, GAURAV MALHOTRA [LAUGHTER] 470 CHEVELLE LANE DECATUR.

BEEN A RESIDENT IN DECATUR SINCE 2007.

I'M A SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR, STARTS CAPITALISTS.

I LOVE THIS CITY.

I LOVE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. I'M A MUSICIAN.

I'M NOW ON THE FOREFRONT OF BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, WHICH I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD END UP IN.

BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS ON CHEVELLE THE TOP OF THE STREET, THERE'S ABOUT FOUR HOUSES.

IT'S A LOOP ON FOREIGN SHOVEL.

IN THE TOP FOUR HOUSES ON THE STREET OR SET OF ATLANTA.

SINCE 2007, I'VE SEEN FAMILY AFTER FAMILY AFTER FAMILY MOVE INTO THOSE HOUSES WITH KIDS AND HAVE TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GO TO CITY OF DECATUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD CITY OF DECATUR EDUCATOR HOUSING.

BECAUSE THEY HOPE MAYBE THEY WOULD GET ANNEXED INTO THE CITY OF DECATUR.

BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, I HAD SO MANY PEOPLE WORKED FOR ME IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE FRIENDS OF MINE, THAT ARE MUSICIANS.

THEY CAN'T LIVE IN DECATUR, I DON'T GET TO HANG OUT WITH THEM IN DECATUR.

IT'S UNAPPROACHABLE FOR THEM AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE AND I KNOW IT'S A SMALL PLACE AND I KNOW CHANGE IS SCARY.

I REMEMBER BEING LAUGHED OUT OF THE ZONING OFFICE.

I WAS THE FIRST PERMANENT FOOD TRUCK INTO CAP COUNTY WHEN FOOD TRUCKS FIRST STARTED.

THE GUY SAT THERE AND IT WAS LIKE, OH, THE PEOPLE DO ON TV.

WELL, WE DON'T DO THAT HERE. I WAS ALL RIGHT.

BUT WE PERSEVERED.

NOW FOOD TRUCKS ARE A NORM IN THE CITY.

I'M PROUD TO BE ON THE BUILDING TEAM THAT BUILD COTTAGES ON VAUGHN AND CLARKSTON IS THE FIRST TINY HOUSE COMMUNITY IN THE METRO.

I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO ONLINE AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAN LOOK LIKE.

AFFORDABLE CAN BE SCARY BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK, OH, IS THIS PROJECTS? WHAT IS THIS? THINK OF IT AS WORKFORCE HOUSING, JUST HUMAN HOUSING.

THE PEOPLE NEED A PLACE TO LIVE.

PEOPLE NEED A PLACE TO THRIVE.

GENERATIONAL WEALTH DOESN'T JUST COME BY ACCIDENT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE ACHIEVED AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT TO YOUR FAMILY, TO YOUR CHILDREN, TO YOUR COMMUNITY.

THE TERM SUSTAINABLE GETS THROWN AROUND FOR EVERYTHING, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENT AND ELECTRIC CARS AND FOOD.

BUT COMMUNITY HAS TO BE SUSTAINABLE AND THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP COMMUNITIES SUSTAINABLE IS TO KEEP A DIVERSE.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROFESSORS IN COLLEGE, MY PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR WAS REALLY SMART.

SIMPLE THING HE SAID WAS WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING, IF YOU DON'T WANT GET A SPEEDING TICKET LOOK 10 CARS AHEAD OF YOU.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU,

[03:45:02]

YOU DON'T NEED A RADAR. YOU NEED TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S COMING DOWN.

WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT'S COMING DOWN AND WHAT'S COMING DOWN IS AN AGING POPULATION IN CITY OF DECATUR WHOSE KIDS ARE GOING TO GROW UP AND MOVE AWAY.

THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE? IT'LL BE FUN FOR SOMEBODY. THANK YOU.

>>THANK YOU. NATHAN'S SOLD, THAT LUBBOCK WILLIAMS IS NEXT AND THEN LEE RACHEL, CARLA MAGNO.

>>GOOD EVENING, NATHAN'S SAW THAT TO 218 FORKNER DRIVE.

THIS IS ALSO MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING TO THE CITY COMMISSIONS. THANK YOU.

I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE CHANGES.

I THINK IT WAS SAID EARLIER THAT IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT BUT NECESSARY.

I ECHO THAT SENTIMENT.

I ALSO ECHO A LOT OF WHAT THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE ME SAID.

I THINK I'LL ACTUALLY TAKE MY TIME TO TELL MY FAMILY'S PERSONAL STORIES.

IN 2008, I GRADUATED GRAD SCHOOL IN IOWA WHERE I'M FROM UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.

I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF IOWA PEOPLE IN HERE.

[LAUGHTER].

MY WIFE AND KIDS AND I, OF COURSE, WE WERE LOOKING AT METRO ATLANTA, SPECIFICALLY THE CITY OF ATLANTA AND WE STARTED TO REALLY FOCUS IN ON THE CITY OF THE DECATUR.

WE REALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH DECATUR'S DIVERSITY.

WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE IDEA OF BEING A WALKABLE CITY.

A CITY WAS PROGRESSIVE IN THE SOUTH, COMING FROM THE MIDWEST.

WE JUST PRETTY QUICKLY REALIZED THIS IS GOING TO BE A PLACE WE WANTED TO TARGET, IN PARTICULAR WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AT THE TIME MY KIDS WERE TWO AND FOUR.

MY WIFE HAS ORIGINALLY FROM KENYA.

OUR KIDS ARE BIRACIAL.

WE SAW OURSELVES FITTING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

[NOISE] AT THAT TIME, I ACTUALLY GOT A JOB WITH THE CITY OF THE DECATUR.

WE MOVE DOWN HERE AND THEN EVENTUALLY MY WIFE GOT A JOB WITH THE CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM AS A TEACHER WHERE SHE IS CURRENTLY IS.

ABOUT A YEAR INTO LIVING HERE WE RENTED AN APARTMENT OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

IN 2009, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH A GENEROUS DOWN PAYMENT MY DAD TO ACTUALLY AFFORD A CONDO HERE IN DECATUR, ACTUALLY A TOWN HOME.

IT WAS $160,000.

I MAKE MORE MONEY THAN I DID THEN, AND MY WIFE DOES AS WELL AND WE STILL CAN AFFORD TO MOVE BACK IN DECATUR, EVEN IF WE SOLD OUR TOWN HOME AT THE PROFIT THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE AT THIS TIME.

I'VE SEEN OF LOSS AND DIVERSITY.

I'VE SEEN PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT THEY WANTED INCLUSIVE CITY.

I THINK THAT THIS CHANGE IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE OR ORDINANCES IS A RIGHT STEP.

I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT ENOUGH, BUT I THINK YOU DON'T HAVE A SILVER BULLET FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TOOLKIT AND WE NEED TO HAVE AS MANY TOOLS IN OUR TOOLKIT AS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU AND I HOPE YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

>> LUBBOCK WILLIAMS.

>> YES, MA'AM, 220 GENEVA.

I WANT TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS.

SOME POINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE AND WILL TRY TO HIT MINE QUICKLY.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF RULES CONCERNING THE ARCHITECTURAL CONSTRUCTION OF THESE NEW HOMES.

IN YOUR LITTLE FOLDER THING YOU PUT OUT FRONT HERE IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.

THE CENTER PICTURE OF A CONVERSION OF AN HISTORIC SINGLE-FAMILY HOME IN DECATUR, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT WHATSOEVER.

ANYBODY COULD DO THAT IF THEY WANTED TO.

THESE OTHERS, THE HOUSES IN REYNOLDSTOWN, THAT JUST ISN'T GOING TO MATCH THE GREAT LAKES.

I DON'T WANT THAT NEXT TO MY HOUSE. I'M SORRY.

IT'S NOT ARCHITECTURALLY CONSISTENT.

THE CITY OF DECATUR BY AND ENLARGE WAS BUILT IN THE '20S.

I'M SORRY, I HAVE NO MEMORY AT ALL BUT OVER IN THE CITY WHERE WE HAVE THE 1920S STYLE MULTIFAMILY, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

IT BLENDS IN. IT LOOKS GOOD HERE.

COMING IN TO BUILD ANY HOUSING THAT IS POSSIBLY ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE, JUST IS NOT GOING TO MATCH THE CITY.

NOW IF YOU WANT TO TEAR DOWN THE CITY AND CHANGE IT INTO SOMETHING ELSE, I GUESS THAT'S YOUR DECISION.

THE OTHER THING IS POPULATION DENSITY AND I DID THIS QUICKLY WITH NUMBERS I GOT OFF THE INTERNET, THE ONES I COULD FIND.

AUSTIN WAS A CITY THAT WAS BATTERED AROUND IN THE LOCAL THING ABOUT SOMEONE WHO HAD CHANGED THEIR LAWS.

AUSTIN HAS 961,000 PEOPLE, 3,539 PER SQUARE MILE.

THE CITY OF ATLANTA, INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS HAS A POPULATION DENSITY OF 3,687 PEOPLE A SQUARE MILE.

THE METRO AREA OF ATLANTA HAS A POPULATION DENSITY OF 733 A SQUARE MILE.

COMPARE THAT TO DECATUR, WHERE WE HAVE 4.6 SQUARE MILES, A BIG CHUNK OF WHICH IS TAKEN UP BY THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

[03:50:02]

I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO.

ANOTHER THING IS EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE PREDICATING THEIR COMMENTS ON DECATUR BEING THE ONLY PLACE ANYBODY CAN LIVE.

WE'RE SURROUNDED BY THE CITY OF ATLANTA AND THE METRO AREA.

MANY AREAS AROUND HERE ARE ACTIVELY BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THEY HAVE OPEN LAND THAT CAN BE PURCHASED, OLD COW PASTURES, WHATEVER.

THEY CAN IN FACT, BUILD NICE HOMES FOR A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

THE CITY OF DECATUR JUST DOES NOT HAVE THAT.

WE'RE AN ESTABLISHED CITY THAT'S BEEN HERE.

WELL AGAIN, MOST OF THE CONSTRUCTION I THINK WAS IN THE '20S AND '30S WITH A CERTAIN ARCHITECTURAL LOOK.

THERE'S JUST NOT MUCH AVAILABLE LAND.

I THINK THE PROJECT, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT WHAT THE LAND LOOKED LIKE BEFORE THEY DID IT, BUT THIS OLD COTTAGE COURT PROJECT, TO ME LOOKS GREAT.

IT WAS AN AREA THAT WAS NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT LAKES OR SOME OTHER ONE OF OUR SUBDIVISIONS.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE VERY NICE HOUSING.

IT'S STILL GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S AFFORDABLE.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> WE'RE FINISHED.

>> THANK YOU. LEE RACHEL CARLOMAGNO.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS LEE RACHEL CARLOMAGNO.

I LIVE ON 140 GARDEN LANE.

I BELIEVE ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS EARLIER SPOKE VERY HIGHLY OF OUR STREET.

AS A SENIOR AT DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL, I'M ONLY MONTHS AWAY FOR MOVING ON TO THE NEXT STAGES OF MY LIFE, WHICH I PERSONALLY EXPECT TO TAKE ME FAR AWAY FROM DECATUR.

I'VE BEEN VERY PRIVILEGED TO HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY FOR 17 YEARS, THE MAJORITY OF MY CHILDHOOD, BUT AS I MOVE ON IN LIFE, THE PROSPECT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO COME BACK TO THE HOMETOWN THAT I WAS RAISED IN SHOULD MY FAMILY EVER SELL THEIR SINGLE-FAMILY HOME OR AS MANY PARENTS HAVE SAID, IF THEY DON'T WANT ME IN THEIR BASEMENT, [LAUGHTER] THAT HONESTLY SADDENS ME.

ADDITIONALLY, A PROBLEM IN DECATUR THAT I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE MENTION, AND WE'VE REALLY NOTICED THIS IN OUR HIGH-SCHOOL IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S TALKED ABOUT A LOT IS PERFORMATIVE ACTIVISM.

WE SEE BLACK LIVES MATTER PAINTED ON THE STREET RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR SCHOOL AND YET MANY OF THE SAME STUDENTS WHO PAINTED THOSE LETTERS OFTEN FAIL TO SUPPORT THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS WHEN THE TIME COMES.

AS A WHITE WOMAN MYSELF, I OBVIOUSLY CANNOT SPEAK FOR THE RACIALLY DIVERSE POPULATION OF THE CITY.

HOWEVER, I WOULD URGE THE WHITE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION TO THINK ON THEIR PRIVILEGE AND THE PRINCIPLES WITH WHICH YOU GOVERN THE CITY.

IF YOU GO HOME AND RETURN TO YOUR SINGLE-FAMILY HOME, SHOULD THAT APPLY TO YOU IN THE CITY DESCRIBED AS LATE-STAGE GENTRIFICATION, WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SAY YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING YOU CAN? I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES SO THAT YOU CAN.

IN A DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WITNESS ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE EXTENSIVE AMOUNTS OF BEHIND THE SCENES WORK THAT COME INTO PLAY TO MAKE THESE CHANGES POSSIBLE.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY STAFF, MS. MEREDITH, AND EVERYONE ON THE COMMISSION FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. THANK YOU.

[NOISE] NEXT, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER, PLEASE.

I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM FIRST BENJAMIN CANARD THEN ALLAN CLARK AND THEN GEORGE ROSS.

BENJAMIN CANARD. THANK YOU.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS BENJAMIN CANARD.

I LIVE AT 551 CLAREMONT CIRCLE, APARTMENT NUMBER 8.

DECATUR CITY COMMISSION, DECATUR RESIDENTS, GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE AGAIN.

I SPEAK TO YOU ALL TONIGHT AS ONE OF AMERICA'S YOUTH.

I'M 23 YEARS OLD.

I'M A GRADUATE STUDENT AT EMORY UNIVERSITY, SECOND YEAR.

I SPEAK AS A MEMBER OF THE POLITICAL SCIENCE COMMUNITY AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I'VE NEVER HEARD THE TERM PETRI DISH BEFORE IN ANY OF OUR CLASSES, BUT I HAVE HEARD NECESSARY BUT NOT SUFFICIENT MANY TIMES.

THAT'S FAMILIAR TO ME. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I SPEAK TO YOU ALL AS A RENTER AND AS A PROSPECTIVE HOMEOWNER IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

I'LL PUT IT BLUNTLY, HOUSING OPTIONS FOR THE YOUTH OF AMERICA ARE DRYING UP.

WHEN I SPEAK TO MY FRIENDS AND MY PEERS, THE COLLECTIVE CONSENSUS ON HOME OWNERSHIP IS THAT IT IS A PIPE DREAM, SOMETHING THAT WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE.

ANY HOUSING THESE DAYS THAT FITS WITHIN A NORMAL MIDDLE-CLASS BUDGET THESE DAYS, IS AN HOUR'S DRIVE FROM CITY CENTER OR IS IN AN AREA THAT SUFFERS FROM CRIME AND POVERTY.

IN SOME CITIES, EVEN THOSE PLACES ARE UNAFFORDABLE.

IN CONTRAST TO BUYING A HOME IN DECADES PAST, HOMES ARE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN EVER AND OUR WAGES ARE NOT INCREASING TO KEEP UP.

[03:55:04]

AMERICA HAS ADOPTED RESTRICTIVE ZONING LAWS, MORE RESTRICTED THAN JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WESTERN WORLD THAT ENSURE THAT THE HOUSING SUPPLY REMAINS ARTIFICIALLY RESTRICTED.

THESE LAWS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR INTENTIONS, I'M SURE SOME OF THE DRAFTERS OF THESE LAWS HAD GOOD INTENTIONS ON THEM, THEY HAVE THE EFFECT OF CONCENTRATING WEALTH IN THE HOME OWNING CLASS, PARTICULARLY HIGH INCOME HOMEOWNERS, WHILE LEAVING THE REST OF US WITH NOTHING BUT MORE EXPENSIVE RENT BILLS AND A HIGHER COST OF ENTRY INTO HOME OWNING.

UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING MARKET IS BAD FOR EVERYONE.

IT LEADS TO MASS POVERTY, CRIME, AND HOMELESSNESS.

JUST LOOK AT SAN FRANCISCO AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.

THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS SIMPLE, BUILD MORE HOMES.

WE NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSES TO INCREASE SUPPLY AND DRIVE DOWN PRICES.

EVERY OTHER COUNTRY HAS FIGURED OUT THAT THE BEST SOLUTION TO HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS TO BUILD HOUSES AND PUT PEOPLE IN THEM.

[LAUGHTER] IF WE DO NOT LOOSEN ZONING LAWS TO ALLOW FOR MORE HOUSES TO BE BUILT, ALL THE CURRENT HOMEOWNERS OF DECATUR WILL REAP THE BENEFITS OF BEING BORN EARLY ENOUGH TO BUY INTO THE CITY WHILE MY GENERATION WILL BE LEFT FIGHTING FOR THE SCRAPS.

THAT'S NOT VERY FAIR.

DECATUR CITY COMMISSIONERS, ZONING REFORM IS A MORAL IMPERATIVE. WE ARE DROWNING.

MY GENERATION NEEDS AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR HOUSING NOW.

FOR TOO LONG OUR PLEAS HAVE BEEN IGNORED AND SHOUTED DOWN BY THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY SECURED THEIR PLACE IN SOCIETY.

IF YOU BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THE SAME CHANCE TO BE A HOMEOWNER AS THE REST OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN THIS ROOM, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO SHARE IN THE PROSPERITY OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, PASS THIS AMENDMENT NOW AND CONTINUE THE FIGHT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BE COURAGEOUS AND DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU.

>> ALLAN CLARK, GEORGE ROSS, AND PHILIP HODGES.

>> I'M ALLAN CLARK, 726 SOUTH CANDLER.

THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COMMISSION AND HONORABLE MAYOR GARRETT.

I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS BRIEF AND TO THE POINT AS THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT THAT WANT TO TALK AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

ON DECEMBER 15TH 2022, A PETITION WAS STARTED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS OF DECATUR ON CHANGE.ORG CALLED, OPPOSE THE ZONING CHANGE OF ALL SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS IN DECATUR, GEORGIA.

THIS PETITION, OF COURSE, SPEAKS TO THE CURRENT DESIRE TO ALTER THE UDL TO ALLOW MULTI-FAMILY UNITS IN FOUR DIFFERENT SINGLE-FAMILY AREAS ZONED IN TOWN.

[OVERLAPPING]

>> CAN YOU REPEAT THAT PLEASE.

>> SURE. AS OF A FEW HOURS BEFORE THIS MEETING TONIGHT, THAT PETITION HAS 866 SIGNATURES.

OF THOSE SIGNATURES, 563 HAVE A REGISTERED ZIP CODE OF 30030, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS VALID POSTAL CODE FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR RESIDENTS.

IF WE TAKE A POPULATION OF 25,000 PEOPLE, THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 2.5 PERCENT.

ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PETITION WAS ONLY STARTED FOUR WEEKS AGO AND DURING THAT TIME WE HAD MAJOR HOLIDAYS AND VACATIONS.

I THINK IN A FEW MORE WEEKS OF EXPOSURE, THE PETITION COULD EASILY GET 2,000, MAYBE 3,000 MORE SIGNATURES.

THE PETITION'S AIM IS SIMPLE, IT IS TO ASK THE PEOPLE OF DECATUR IF WE AS A POPULATION, SHOULD SUPPORT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION FROM OCTOBER 2022 TO DENY THIS PROPOSAL AND LET YOU, OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS KNOW THAT THIS INITIATIVE IS NOT IN LINE WITH WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.

AS I SAID, 563 CITY OF DECATUR RESIDENTS HAVE SIGNED A PETITION IN AGREEMENT TO THAT STATEMENT.

MANY, MANY MORE WILL AFTER TONIGHT.

[NOISE] I HAVE COPIES OF THE TEXTS OF THE PETITION AND A RECENT DOWNLOAD OF THE SIGNATURES IF YOU NEED VERIFICATION OF THESE NUMBERS.

I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT TO YOU THAT IS OUR PERSONAL WISH, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO SIGNED THE PETITION TO UNDERSTAND, AFFIRM, AND UPHOLD THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDED DENIAL OF THIS.

THERE ARE MANY ISSUES LOADED INTO THIS PROPOSAL.

WE THINK WHAT YOU'RE TAKING ON AS AN HONORABLE TASK, [LAUGHTER] I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT ANSWER FOR IT HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT REALLY MY OPINION, AS OF NOW, 563 PEOPLE DECATUR THINK IT'S NOT THE RIGHT ANSWER TOO.

MOST OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO GET UP TONIGHT AND SPEAK DO NOT THINK IT'S THE RIGHT ANSWER ALSO.

FROM REDUCTION OF THE WIDTH OF ON STREET PARKING SPACES TO ADDED CONGESTION DEMANDS ON CITY SERVICES AND THE RUPTURE OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH LOADS OF NEW KIDS, THIS SEEMS LIKE A PURELY ACADEMIC ANSWER FOR PERCEIVED PROBLEM.

MY SON AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

[04:00:01]

I THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO ANSWER THIS PROBLEM WITH A BAD DECISION.

THE RESULT OF BAD DECISIONS IS THAT THEY HAVE RAMIFICATIONS FAR DOWN THE LINE.[OVERLAPPING].

>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.

I APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> GEORGE ROSS, PHILIP HODGES, PAM PRIVET.

GEORGE ROSS, MR. HODGES, PAM PRIVET, AND REVEREND JAMES WOODALL.

I THINK MR. HODGES IS FIRST. THANK YOU.

>> I'M HODGE.

>> HERE.

>> PHILIP HODGES, 234 WEST BENSON STREET.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE POINTS IN MY LETTER TO YOU, ALL EIGHT PAGES AND FIVE PAGES OF SUPPORTING REFERENCES.

SORRY ABOUT THAT, IT WAS LONG HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

[LAUGHTER] I OPPOSE THIS REZONING PROPOSAL FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS, AMONG OTHERS, ONE THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DENIAL.

A FEW, BUT CERTAINLY NOT ALL, OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S CONCERNS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED.

PLEASE RESPECT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S MOTION TO DENY.

PARKING. CONCRETE REASONS FOR CHANGING PARKING REQUIREMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED.

FURTHER, THE CITY'S ASSUMPTION THAT OCCUPANTS OF THESE MULTI-UNIT BUILDINGS WILL HAVE FEWER CARS IS NOT SOUND.

AS THE CITY OBSERVES, ''AUTOMOBILES WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE LOCAL MOBILITY FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND NEARLY EVERYONE IN DECATUR COMMUTES BY CAR''.

PLEASE ALSO CONSIDER THAT NOT ALL STREETS IN DECATUR HAVE SIDEWALKS MAKING ADDITIONAL STREET PARKING MORE DANGEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS.

PLEASE KEEP THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS THE SAME AS THEY ARE TODAY AT ONE OFF STREET SPACE PER UNIT, JUST ONE.

THAT WAY RESIDENTS WILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE SPACE TO CHARGE THEIR ELECTRIC CARS.

THE PARKING AND HOUSING DENSITY ON OUR STREET ARE JUST RIGHT FOR US THE WAY THEY ARE.

THREE, THE GOAL OF PROVIDING HOUSING THAT IS MORE AFFORDABLE WILL NOT BE MET BY THIS PROPOSAL, SIMILAR BROAD-BASED UP ZONE THINGS ARE CONSIDERED EXPERIMENTAL.

THERE'S LITTLE DATA ON THE IMPACTS, BUT INITIAL STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT SIMILAR UP ZONING RESULTED IN WEALTHIER, LESS EQUITABLE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES, WHICH IS COUNTER TO THE GOAL OF CREATING HOUSING THAT IS MORE AFFORDABLE.

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DECATUR LAND TRUST IF THE LAND TRUST NEEDS ARE DRIVING THIS PROPOSAL.

NUMBER 4, FLAWED PROCESS.

IN MY VIEW, THE CITY'S COMMUNICATIONS ON THIS PROPOSAL HAVE NOT BEEN WELL-BALANCED GOING AS FAR BACK AS FORMATION OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE, AND THE CITY COMMISSION, ''SELECTED AND APPOINTED 26 MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE TASK FORCE'', THROUGH THE LAST POSTCARD PROMOTING THIS PROPOSAL WHICH FAILED TO MENTION THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DENIAL.

THIS IS A PROPOSAL PUSHED BY A RELATIVELY SMALL GROUP OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES.

MOST SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS INDICATOR WHO ARE AWARE OF THIS PROPOSAL ARE OPPOSED TO IT, EVEN THOUGH MANY STILL DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

THE PROCESS LEADING UP TO THIS PROPOSAL IS FLAWED LEADING TO UNWANTED RECOMMENDATIONS.

IF PASSED, THIS POLICY WILL NOT SUNSET IN 18 MONTHS AND WILL CONTINUE AS CITY POLICY.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TODAY, SO PLEASE DON'T PASS THIS AND THEN FIGURE IT OUT LATER.

LATER WILL BE TOO LATE.

>> THANK YOU. MISS PRIVET AND THEN REVEREND WOODALL AND THEN BOB LEACH.

>> MY NAME IS PAM [NOISE] PRIVET AND I LIVE AT 111 MOCKINGBIRD LANE, DECATUR, GEORGIA.

I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 35 YEARS.

I JUST THINK THAT WE HAVE TO PASS THIS BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE THIS CHANCE AGAIN FOR YEARS.

IT'S NOT IDEAL, BUT IT'S THE BEGINNING AND WE'VE GOT TO WRITE WHAT WE DID AT 1988.

WE WENT TO SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS AND WE FORCED THE PEOPLE OUT OF BEACON HILL BECAUSE THE LAMB WAS EXPENSIVE.

I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT WE'VE GOT TO WRITE TO GET BACK ON THE RIGHT DIRECTORY WHERE WE GET MORE DIVERSITY.

THAT'S WHY I MOVED HERE BECAUSE I WANTED DIVERSITY.

EVERY TIME A PERSON OF COLOR MOVES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I AM JUST THRILLED BECAUSE WE NEED MORE DIVERSITY.

I DON'T HAVE CHILDREN IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS,

[04:05:02]

[LAUGHTER] BUT ANYWAY, SO I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL VOTE FOR IT AND I THINK THAT IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND IT WILL AT LEAST GET US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO CORRECT SOME ERRORS.

>> REVEREND JAMES WOODALL, BOB LEACH, NANCY LEACH.

AGAIN, REVEREND WOODALL, BOB LEACH, NANCY LEACH, JONATHAN BLOCK, CAROL MEYER, AND TOM HAMILTON.

JONATHAN BLOCK. THANK YOU.

THEN UP NEXT WOULD BE CAROL MEYER AND THEN TOM HAMILTON.

>> MAYOR THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS DISCUSSION TODAY.

COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO OUR LENGTHY COMMENTS.

I APPRECIATE IT, ESPECIALLY AT 10:30 AT NIGHT. NO SMALL THING.

I'M JONATHAN BLOCK.

I LIVE AT 500 GLENDALE.

I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE DEKALB LIBRARY FOUNDATION.

MY WIFE LIZ IS THE CO-CHAIR FOR COMMUNICATIONS BEACON HILL BLACK ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT OUR BEST COMMUNITY EFFORT IS ACHIEVED BY OUR FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON AND ONE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WHO GREET THE CITY OF SANITATION CREW EVERY MONDAY WITH ENTHUSIASTIC SMILES AND COLD GATORADES.

IF YOU LIVE ON GLENDALE, YOU PROBABLY KNOW THEM WELL.

MADAM MAYOR, I'D RESPECTFULLY OFFER THAT IN 1998 WHEN THE CITY MADE A DECISION TO BAN DUPLEXES, TRIPLEXES AND QUADIPLEXUS, IT MADE A DECISION TO EXCLUDE SOME FOLKS AND INCLUDE OTHERS.

NAMELY, IT EXCLUDED FOLKS WHO CAN'T AFFORD A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.

TODAY WE'VE ACHIEVED A COMMUNITY OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNERS WHO BUY HOMES AT A MEDIAN PRICE OF $800,000.

I THINK THE BILL IN FRONT OF YOU IS SIMPLY AN EFFORT TO UNDO AN ACT OF EXCLUSION SOME 30 PLUS YEARS AGO AND ALLOW FOLKS THE CHANCE TO THROW THEIR HAT IN THE RING FOR A HOME THAT FITS THEIR NEEDS BETTER AND POTENTIALLY FITS THEIR BUDGET A LITTLE BETTER.

MAYOR I'M ESPECIALLY REMINDED OF THE PROCLAMATION YOU READ AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF OUR DISCUSSION TODAY, NOTING TODAY AS A NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING INDICATOR.

IN YOUR PROCLAMATION, HE SAID, IF WE DEDICATE OURSELVES TO A PROCESS THAT BRINGS INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO WHOLENESS, REPAIRS DAMAGED CAUSED BY RACISM, AND TRANSFORMS SOCIAL STRUCTURES INTO ONES THAT AFFIRM AND THE INHERENT VALUE OF ALL PEOPLE, WE CAN BRING ABOUT THE NECESSARY CHANGES IN THINKING AND BEHAVIOR THAT PROPEL THIS GREAT COUNTRY FORWARD AS A SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS.

MERIT OFFER THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT TODAY.

IT'S UNDOING A SET OF LAWS THAT HAVE DONE SOME HARM AND MADE OUR COMMUNITIES LESS WHOLE.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN BELONG AND NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD $800,000 SINGLE FAMILY HOME. THANK YOU.

>> CAROL MEYER, TOM HAMILTON.

>> I'M TOM HAMILTON.

I LIVE AT 338 NELSON FERRY ROAD.

CAROL MEYER IS MY WIFE.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY THEY SAY PRETEND YOU GUYS ARE NAKED BECAUSE I'M TERRIFIED.

[LAUGHTER] FORGIVE ME.

I'M BURNING MY CLOCK HERE.

I WAS THE THIRD WHITE KID TO MOVE INTO EAST ATLANTA IN 1983.

I BOUGHT A HOUSE FOR $31,300.

FIVE AND A HALF YEARS LATER, I SOLD IT FOR $72,000.

WHILE I WAS WAITING TONIGHT, I WENT ON ZILLOW; THAT SAME HOUSE, THREE BEDROOM TWO BATH IS $589,000.

THIS IS NOT A DICTATOR PROBLEM, THIS ISN'T EVERYWHERE PROBLEM.

MY LITTLE HOUSE THAT I BOUGHT I USED TO CALL IT MY LITTLE GREEN MONOPOLY HOUSE.

ON NELSON FERRY I BOUGHT IT FOR 161 FROM A CROTCHETY OLD LITTLE LADY.

IT'S NOW WORTH $900,000.

I HAVE YOU TO THANK FOR IT BECAUSE YOU BUILT THE MOST INCREDIBLE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN STATE OF GEORGIA, IT'S NOT WHITE PEOPLE DOING ANYTHING.

IT'S PEOPLE WANTING TO LIVE WHERE THE BEST SCHOOLS ARE REGARDLESS OF THEIR SKIN COLOR.

I WANT THIS CITY TO BE AS COLORFUL QUILT AS WE CAN POSSIBLY MAKE IT, BUT DEVELOPERS SEE ONE COLOR AND THEY SEE GREEN.

I THINK YOU GUYS NEED TO REMEMBER A LINE.

IT'S A READY FIRE AIM.

I ASKED YOU TO SLOW THIS DOWN, LOOK A LITTLE HARDER AT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND THEN DO THE RIGHT THING.

THIS IS THE RIGHT THING.

I THINK YOU'RE PULLING THE TRIGGER TOO FAST BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY LITTLE THINGS THAT I'LL MAKE ONE POINT.

HOPEFULLY I'LL GET 30 SECONDS.

MY STREET IS ALL QUARTER ACRE LOTS, 50 BY 150.

WE HAVE ONE HOUSE ON OUR STREET THAT THE DEVELOPERS LOVE TO GET THEIR HANDS-ON.

[04:10:05]

WE CAN'T MAKE IT AN AFFORDABLE TRIPLEX.

OUR FEAR IS THAT YOU'LL WIND UP LETTING THEM PUT A QUAD ON A QUARTER ACRE LOT, AND THEY'LL ASK FOR THE VARIANCES THAT THEY NEED TO DO THAT AND SUDDENLY I'LL BE REACHING OUT THE WINDOW TO HAND MY NEIGHBORS SUGAR.

PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.

MAKE THEM PLAY BY THE SAME RULES I HAD TO PLAY BY TO GET MY HOUSE FROM A 2-1 GREEN MONOPOLY TO A 4-3 THAT I NOW PAY $13,000 A YEAR TAXES ON.

I STARTED PAYING $3,300 FOR THAT HOUSE.

YOU GUYS HELPED HIM TO GET THERE.

I NOW LIVE IN A $900,000 HOUSE AND I'M NO DIFFERENT THAN THESE PEOPLE.

I COULD NOT AFFORD THAT HOUSE TODAY.

ALL MY EQUITY IS IN THAT HOUSE.

THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR DOING.

I'M NOT KIDDING, BUT BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU DO IT.

PUT THE PARAMETERS THE SAME. WHAT WAS HIS NAME? I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME DOWN IN PLANNING, HE WOULDN'T LET ME GET AWAY WITH A THING.

DON'T LET THEM.

MAKE THEM PLAY BY THE SAME RULES I HAD TO PLAY BY ESPECIALLY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE MINE.

LAST COMMENT, YOU JUST PUT UP A TON OF APARTMENTS IN DOWNTOWN.

I WAS FLOORED WITH A MULTI-USE WHEN THOSE BUILDINGS ARE UNAFFORDABLE.

BY MANY STANDARDS, PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE THERE.

HOW IS THIS PROGRAM GOING TO BE ANY DIFFERENT? THANK YOU.

>> BRIAN MCGEE, ALAN MOY, AND THEN NATHANIEL PALMER.

BRIAN MCGEE IS NEXT.

ALAN MOY AND THEN WE'LL HAVE NATHANIEL PALMER.

>> MADAM MAYOR, MR. VICE MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION I'M ALAN MOY.

I LIVE AT 809 WEST PONCE DE AVENUE.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR NOW THIS MONTH 46 YEARS.

OUR DAUGHTER WAS RAISED IN DECATUR, SHE WENT THROUGH DECATUR SCHOOLS.

MY WIFE HAD A BUSINESS IN DECATUR AND I SERVED 19 YEARS ON THE DECATUR PLANNING COMMISSION.

LET ME START BY SAYING THIS.

ONE THING WE CAN TAKE AWAY FROM TONIGHT IS EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS IN FAVOR OF A DIVERSE DECATUR, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE THAT YOU-ALL WERE DEALING WITH.

EVERYBODY IN HERE IS IN FAVOR OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE ALL DEALING HERE WITH.

THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT Y'ALL ADOPTED SOME 30 MONTHS AGO.

THAT IS POLICY FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.

WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH IS AN ISSUE OF ZONING, VERY SIMPLE ISSUE OF ZONING.

THAT IS, DO WE DO IT AS THE STAFF HAS PROPOSED BY ALLOWING QUADS, DUPLEXES, AND TRIPLEXUS IN ALL THE SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES BY RIGHT OR AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION TALKED ABOUT.

THEIR VOTE DIDN'T DO IT, BUT THEY TALKED ABOUT IT.

THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INTERMEDIATE PROCESS AND THAT IS THE HEARING PROCESS THAT INVOLVES CONDITIONAL USE.

I'M NOT GOING TO STAND UP HERE AND OPPOSE THE PROPOSAL AS THE GENTLEMAN SAID AS A MATTER OF CREATING INERTIA.

I HAVE GIVEN EACH OF YOU A LETTER AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH AND LOOKED AT ALL THE COMMENTS, AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH AND READ THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

I LISTEN TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I THINK THERE'S A BETTER WAY.

I'VE LAID IT OUT.

THAT IS A PROPOSAL THAT YOU CREATE AN OVERLAY DISTRICT CALLED THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERLAY DISTRICT, AND THAT YOU THEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION YOU SET OUT ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THAT TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.

ONE THING THAT BY RIGHT HAS ALREADY DONE IS IT'S GIVEN AWAY THE POSSIBLE USE OF SECTION 8 VOUCHERS.

THE STATE LAW IF THEY'VE GOT A RIGHT TO THEIR PROPERTY, YOU MIGHT AS WELL FORGET IT.

[04:15:01]

>> TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

NATHANIEL PALMER.

CLAIRE SHEK SNYDER, VIRGINIA BUTEN.

[NOISE]

>> HI. NAME IS NATHANIEL PALMER, ADDRESS 333669, OFFICER COURTS, DECATUR.

I AM AN IMMIGRANT, ORIGINALLY FROM JAMAICA.

THAT'S WHY I TALK LIKE THIS.

I'M MARRIED TO A BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN THAT'S WHY I LOOK LIKE THIS.

I HAVE THIS RED HOPEFULLY POCKET PIECE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN GO BULLDOGS.

[LAUGHTER] I'M FOR THE RESOLUTION THAT IS PUT FORWARD BY THE COMMITTEE.

I MUST FIRST THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS VERY LATE.

MY WIFE SHE'S LOOKING KNOWING THAT I'M HERE, NOT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY SO WE COULD SPEAK ON IT.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS FORUM IS THAT IT ALLOWS EVERYONE TO HAVE DIALOGUE.

WHAT IT FOR, OR WHAT IT'S AGAINST IT.

SO WE COULD COME TO A MIDDLE ROAD.

A MIDDLE ROAD IS I'VE ALWAYS SAID BECAUSE MY BACKGROUND IS THAT I DO MULTI-FAMILY.

ALSO I DO SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND ALSO LECTURE.

HOUSES SINGLE FAMILY BANKS.

MULTI-FAMILY IS STILL BUILD GENERATION UNLOOKED.

IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, THE RESOLUTION IS HERE.

THIS IS WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

BECAUSE THE YOUNGER GENERATION THAT IS COMING UP, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WORKABILITY, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR EASY ACCESS TO THINGS AND WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING HERE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO ADVANCE THE CITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL, THIS IS WHAT IS FACING WITH YOU.

AS IT RELATES TO THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL, I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS DO RESEARCH BECAUSE I HEARD THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS ASKED WHILE THE PRESENTER WAS PRESENTING HERE, IT LOOKED LIKE YOU GUYS ARE IGNORANT AS IT RELATES TO WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL SPACE.

WHAT I'VE SEEN BEING PROPOSED IS MOSTLY AGAINST THE OPERATORS.

YOU HAVE TO BEAR IN MIND IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TRASH, NOISE AND ALL THOSE OTHER STUFF, KNOW THERE'S ALREADY POLICIES THAT IS ALREADY ON THE AIRBNB AND SHORT-TERM RENTAL PLATFORMS. ALL IT NEEDS TO IT HAS TO BE ENFORCED BY AIRBNB.

I THINK THE CITY GETS A LOT OF MONEY DOING FOR THE OTHER CITIES BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM PUT IN THESE ORDINANCE.

MAJORITY OF THEIR MONEY COMES FROM THE AIRBNB PLATFORM AND SHORT-TERM PLATFORM AND ONCE THE GOVERNMENT GOT INVOLVED, THAT MONEY THAT'S DOING GLAM WENT AWAY.

I'M JUST ASKING ALL OF US TO TAKE A CONSIDERATION. DO YOUR RESEARCH.

I'M GLAD THAT IT IS IN ITS INFANTRY STAGE, AS IN TALKING RIGHT NOW.

BUT DO YOUR RESEARCH AND JUST KNOW THAT LISTEN, WE'RE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE PARKING, WERE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE PARTYING, WE'RE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE LITTERING AND PUTTING TRASH ON THE ROAD.

IT'S THE GUESTS THAT ARE DOING THESE THINGS.

IF THERE'S AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM, IT'S ALREADY IN PLACE ALREADY FROM AIRBNB. I WOULD JUST NEED IT.

>> TIME IS UP.

>> THANK YOU. CLAIRE SHEK SNYDER, VIRGINIA BUTEN, STEVE MONROE AND MARY VISHER.

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M CLAIRE SHEK SNYDER.

I LIVE AT 116 DREXEL AVENUE.

I'VE LIVED IN DECATUR 20 PLUS YEARS.

THE HOME THAT I LIVE IN IS A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME.

IT WAS PREVIOUSLY A TRIPLEX AND NOW IT IS A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME, BUT I CAN'T CONVINCE AT&T THAT I AM NOT LIVING IN APARTMENT C. MY FAMILY, WE ARE EMPTY NESTERS NOW AND WE HAVE LOOKED AT POTENTIALLY SELLING OUR HOME AND IT WOULD GO FOR $800,000, WHICH I WAS TOLD BY THE REALTOR IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DECATUR.

WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF TURNING IT INTO A DUPLEX OR A TRIPLEX, BUT UNDER THE CURRENT LAW, I CANNOT DO THAT.

I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO IT SO THAT I COULD DO IT.

HEY, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN DECATUR NOW THAT I DON'T HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL KID.

OF THAT TOGETHER, I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN LENOX PLACE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS THE EMBODIMENT OF A COHESIVE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE ARE THE POSTER CHILDREN FOR DIVERSE HOUSING.

WE START IN THE VIDEO THAT YOU ALL DID.

WE HAVE EVERYTHING, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE AND IT'S

[04:20:02]

WE TOTALLY LIVE TOGETHER, HAVE BOUGHT GRAVEL FOR ALLEYS, PLANTS AND TREES TOGETHER, HAD CHICKEN COOPS TOGETHER.

WE EVEN DECORATE THE PLANTERS AT CHRISTMAS TIME TOGETHER AS A NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE SOLVE PROBLEMS TOGETHER AND BECAUSE OF A WIDE VARIETY OF HOUSING OPTIONS, WE HAVE A DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD.

PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, INCOMES AND RACES AND ETHNICITIES CALL LENOX PLACE HOME.

I WANTED TO TELL YOU ONE EXAMPLE OF, WE HAVE A QUADPLEX IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE HAD A HUSBAND AND WIFE WHO LIVED THERE FOR EIGHT YEARS AND GOT PREGNANT, HAD A BABY, AND MOVED OVER TO KIRKWOOD.

BUT THE WIFE'S SISTER AND HER HUSBAND MOVED IN.

WE SAID WE'D ALL KNOWN THEM ALL ALONG BECAUSE THEY CAME TO PARTIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE HAVE A REAL COMMUNITY, A REAL CONNECTION, AND ARE EXTREMELY DIVERSE AND WE NEED TO KEEP THAT AND HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.

I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS OBVIOUSLY.

I WANT THIS TO BE A BY RIGHT OPTION AND NOT A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING AND EVERY TIME SOMEBODY WANTED TO HAVE A DUPLEX, HOLY HELL, DO WE WANT TO DO THIS EVERY TIME? [LAUGHTER] SOMEBODY WANTS TO BUILD A DUPLEX OR A TRIPLEX? NO, WE DON'T.

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE 850 OR 500 SIGNATURES FOR THE OTHER PETITION.

IT WAS BASED ON DISINFORMATION.

THIS IS NOT BLANKET REASONING.

THIS IS ALLOWING FOR A BAN TO BE LIFTED SO THAT WE CAN HAVE DUPLEXES TRIPLEXES AND QUADPLEXES AND ADUS.

PLEASE, I'M GOING TO SUBMIT 70 SIGNATURES FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> THAT WE WANT TO LEAVE OUR VALUES.

[INAUDIBLE].

>> LET'S SEE. VIRGINIA BURTON.

MS. BURTON IS NOT HERE.

MARY FISHER. OH, SORRY.

STEVE MONROE. LET ME MAKE SURE.

YEAH. YOU WERE AFTER MS. BURTON, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S HERE, SO STEVE MONROE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. I'M STEVE MONROE.

I LIVE AT 152 POPLAR CIRCLE.

I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 35 YEARS.

LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE, I MOVED TO THE CATERER WHEN I WAS 32 YEARS OLD.

I HAD TWO SMALL PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND OTHER ONE IN THE OVEN.

I SUBMITTED MY COMMENTS IN WRITING, SO I FIGURED THE BEST GIFT I CAN GIVE YOU TONIGHT IS TO TRY TO BE SHORT.

BUT I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE RATHER THAN DATA, BECAUSE I THINK THE DATA ARE QUITE CLEAR. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN.

THEY WENT K THROUGH 12 INDICATORS SCHOOLS.

THEY'RE ALL NOW SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONALS, THEY'RE DEDICATED PARENTS, AND THEY'RE ENGAGED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY LIVE AND I BELIEVE FIRMLY THAT THAT'S BECAUSE THEY GREW UP AND WERE EDUCATED IN A DIVERSE CITY OF DECATUR AND THEY WANTED TO COME BACK.

I'LL SAY TO PEOPLE, I THINK THEY'RE ALL GONE NOW FEAR ABOUT HAVING KIDS IN THEIR BASEMENT.

WE DON'T HAVE A BASEMENT, BUT ALL THREE OF MY KIDS AT SOME POINT POST-COLLEGE CAME BACK AND LIVED WITH US FOR SHORT TERM AND THAT WAS FINE, BUT NOW THEY ALL LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY OF DECATUR BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO LIVE.

AND CHRIS GOODSON WHO WAS HERE EARLIER WAS A CLASSMATE OF MY KIDS, COULD NOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY THAT WAS THEIR HOMETOWN WHERE THEY GREW UP.

FORTUNATELY FOR US THEY'RE WITHIN FOUR MILES, SO WE GET TO SEE OUR FOUR GRANDKIDS.

BUT THEY CAN'T LIVE IN DECATUR BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO WHEN THEY WERE 32 YEARS OLD WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

I FULLY SUPPORT THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE UDL WITH THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE THE PLANNING COMMISSION SUBMITTED THEIR DENIAL.

MY ONE SUGGESTION IS AND MS. ALLEN TALKED ABOUT COLLECTING THE DATA OVER THE 18 MONTHS OR 24 MONTHS OR WHATEVER PERIOD YOU DECIDE TO USE.

BUT I SUGGEST THAT YOU, AS PART OF THIS DISCUSSION, COME UP WITH WHAT ARE THE TARGETS THAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE SO THAT WHEN YOU DO COLLECT THAT DATA, YOU KNOW WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES FAILURE LOOK LIKE AND HOW DO YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THINGS, IF AT ALL, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP BENDING THAT ARC TOWARDS A MORE DIVERSE AND AFFORDABLE DECATUR? THANK YOU.

[04:25:06]

>> NEXT IS MARY FISHER AND THEN CAROLYN QIO.

IS MRS. FISHER STILL, OH, THERE YOU ARE. SORRY.

>> JUST GOT KIND OF GOT CHILLY BACK THERE.

HELLO. MY NAME IS MARY FISHER.

I LIVE AT 317 OAKLAND STREET.

I HAVE LIVED IN DECATUR FOR 38 YEARS AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN MARRIED.

I WANT TO SHARE SOME OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE VOTE ON THIS ORDINATES.

I CAN APPRECIATE THE CITY'S DESIRE TO CREATE A VARIETY OF HOUSING STOCK.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.

I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP IT SIMPLE.

I HAVE TWO PRIMARY CONCERNS.

IF THE CITY COMMISSION ALLOWS MULTI-FAMILY HOUSES TO BE SOLD AS INDIVIDUAL CONDOMINIUMS, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR FOUR ABSENTEE LANDLORDS TO EXIST ON ONE RESIDENTIAL LOT, POTENTIALLY CREATING A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR NEIGHBORS AND TENANTS.

IN ADDITION, IF THE CITY COMMISSION ALLOWS SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN 2, 3, AND 4 UNIT HOUSES, COMBINED WITH A MULTIPLE ABSENTEE LANDLORD SITUATION, THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS FOR NEIGHBORS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

PLEASE CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE REGULATIONS REGARDING SHORT-TERM RENTALS, I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE RELEVANT AND REQUIRE ON-SITE OWNERSHIP AS A CRITERIA FOR OPERATING AN AIRBNB OR OTHER SIMILAR RENTALS.

THEN LASTLY, I JUST QUESTION THE OPINION REGARDING DEVELOPER AND INVESTOR INVOLVEMENT.

FINANCING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTIUNIT HOUSE WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR THE AVERAGE ASPIRING HOMEOWNER.

DEVELOPERS HAVING READY CASH WILL BE THE MOST LIKELY CREATORS OF MULTI-FAMILY HOUSES.

AS IS SO OFTEN THE CASE, DEVELOPERS SELL THEIR PRODUCTS TO CORPORATIONS WHICH INVEST IN SUCH PRODUCTS.

THE INVESTORS WILL COLLECT RENT, AND PLAY A WAITING GAME, SELLING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS PROPERTY VALUES RISE.

DURING THE OWNERSHIP PERIOD OF EACH INVESTOR, RENTS WILL GO UP EVERY YEAR.

IT'S NAIVE TO THINK THAT THESE LANDLORDS ARE INTERESTED IN RENTER AFFORDABILITY.

CORPORATE-OWNED INVESTMENT PROPERTY IS ALL ABOUT INCREASED APPRECIATION, CULMINATING IN A PROFITABLE SALE.

I THINK THAT'S DEMONSTRATED ON A WIDE SCALE WITH ALL THE APARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR WHICH ARE NOT AFFORDABLE.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE THE BURDEN OF DENSER DEVELOPMENT FALL ON EXISTING RESIDENTS.

I THINK THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD TAKE INCREMENTAL STEPS TOWARD THE GOAL OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE MISSING MIDDLE.

I'M NOT OPPOSED TO A MORE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING STOCK AT ALL.

I THINK THAT THE STATE MOTTO OF GEORGIA, WISDOM, JUSTICE, AND MODERATION COULD BE APPLIED. THANK YOU.

>> CAROLYN QIO.

>> HI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT.

>> RENTAL ADDRESS.

>> OH, I'M SO SORRY.

>> THAT'S OKAY.

>> 2630 TALLEY STREET.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YEP. I'LL BE AN ADVOCATE FOR EXPERIMENTING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY AND POTENTIALLY TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY SOMETHING OUT AND SEE IF IT WORKS WITH THE CAVEAT THAT YOU'RE TRYING THIS SLOWLY.

I APPRECIATED THAT THERE'S A PLAN TO ASSESS WHAT'S GOING ON AND TRUST THAT THE COMMISSION WILL CONTINUE TO COLLECT DATA AND CONTINUE TO HAVE INPUT.

OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR INPUT TO FIND OUT WHETHER THINGS ARE WORKING, WHETHER THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY IS ACTUALLY BEING ADDRESSED AND WHETHER THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF INCREASING DIVERSITY IS ACTUALLY BEING MET.

I'LL PHILOSOPHICALLY SAY THAT I'D BE SO EXCITED FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR TO TAKE A BIG STEP FORWARD IN SUPPORTING MULTIPLE OF ITS STATED GOALS.

NOT JUST THE STATED GOAL OF INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ALSO OF INCREASING AND RETAINING DIVERSITY AND ALSO ADDRESSING OR TAKING AN ACTION THAT HELPS ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE BY INCREASING THE POSSIBLE DENSITY OF HOUSING IN AN AREA THAT IS CURRENTLY LOW DENSITY, BUT EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

I SEE THIS POTENTIAL POLICY AS SYNERGISTICALLY ADDRESSING ALL OF THOSE FRONTS AND I HOPE THAT THE COMMISSION WILL ADOPT IT.

[04:30:01]

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF POTENTIALLY PURCHASING THE HOME THAT HIS PARENTS BOUGHT IN THE CITY OF DECATUR IN THE '70S THAT WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD IF THEY WEREN'T SELLING IT TO US FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR.

OUR DREAM IS TO TURN THAT INTO A PROPERTY THAT WE CAN JUSTIFY RENOVATING THIS 100-YEAR-OLD HOUSE INSTEAD OF TEARING IT DOWN BY BEING ABLE TO SPLIT THE COST OF LIVING THERE, BY HAVING SOMEBODY ELSE LIVE ON THE PROPERTY WITH US AND PAY RENT.

WE WOULD BE THE HYPOTHETICAL FOLKS WHO WANT TO RENOVATE THE HOUSE, TURN IT INTO A DUPLEX AND OR BUILD AN ADU WHERE A SINGLE-CAR FAMILY, I WISH WE COULD BE A ZERO-CAR FAMILY.

I GUESS A COUNTER TO THE POINT THAT THIS MIGHT ALL BE DEVELOPERS COMING INTO SNAP-UP PROPERTIES AND TURN THEM INTO SOMETHING.

WE'RE HOPING TO DO THAT OURSELVES.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE PROPOSAL.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THAT IS ALL OF THE COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP TO MAKE THEM IN PERSON.

WE WILL NOW BEGIN TAKING COMMENTS FROM THOSE WHO HAVE JOINED US ONLINE.

I BELIEVE THE FIRSTHAND THAT I SEE IS NICHOLAS KASK.

I'LL CALL ON MR. CASK TO PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

NICHOLAS CASK.

WE HAVE UNMUTED. IS THAT CORRECT? WE'RE WAITING TO SEE IF NICHOLAS CASK IS READY TO MAKE A COMMENT.

IF YOU CAN PLEASE UNMUTE AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT. WE'LL COME BACK.

I DO SEE ANOTHER HAND, ROCHELLE PATTON.

WE WILL CALL ON MS. PATTON TO MAKE HER COMMENT AND THE SAME GUIDELINES APPLY.

WE WILL ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PLEASE STICK TO OUR THREE MINUTES.

WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THAT'S UP. MS. PATTON.

>> YES. HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> YES.

>> OKAY. GREAT. HI, I'M ROCHELLE PATTON.

I LIVE AT 124 AVERY STREET.

I'VE LIVED HERE 11 YEARS.

I'VE ALSO WORKED AND WORSHIPED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR 21 YEARS AND I JUST WANTED TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED.

I WANT TO AGREE WITH MANY OTHERS WHO SAID THIS TONIGHT, THAT THIS IS NOT THE END-ALL BE-ALL IN TERMS OF REALLY PROMOTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT SCALE, IT CERTAINLY IS A SMALL DROP IN THE BUCKET OF WHAT'S NEEDED IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR TRULY THOSE WHO ARE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME.

HOWEVER, THOUGH I DO BELIEVE IT WILL HELP START THE VERY LONG PROCESS OF TRYING TO BRING MORE DIVERSITY TO OUR CITY.

I VERY MUCH WANT TO SEE DIVERSITY OF HOUSING TYPES.

FOR THOSE WHO APPRECIATE GOOD NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE BEAUTY AND CHARM OF VERY DIFFERENT HOUSING TYPOLOGIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'M ONE OF THOSE WHO DID LIVE IN A DUPLEX IN GRANT PARK RIGHT DURING GRADUATE SCHOOL AND MY EARLY YEARS OUT OF GRADUATE SCHOOL AND THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY THAT I COULD HAVE LIVED IN A COMMUNITY THAT WAS WALKABLE AND LIVING IN TOWN.

I WOULD LOVE FOR THAT TO BE THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS WHO ARE AT THAT STAGE OF LIFE OR OTHERS WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT ON A MODERATE INCOME.

THERE ARE SO FEW HOUSING OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE IN OUR CITY AND I BELIEVE THIS IS ONE WAY TO HELP PROMOTE AT LEAST THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS HAPPENING.

THANKS SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT THAT'S PUT INTO IT.

I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO KRISTEN, WHO I KNOW HAS PUT IN COUNTLESS HOURS ON COMMUNITY MEETINGS, CHURCH MEETINGS, WHEREVER ANYONE WILL LISTEN, INCLUDING AT OUR TALLEY STREET ELEMENTARY DEI COMMITTEE SPONSORED MEETING LAST NIGHT AT EIGHT O'CLOCK AT NIGHT ON A HOLIDAY.

SHE CAME OUT OVER ZOOM TO HELP PRESENT THE FACTS ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL VOTE IN FAVOR.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OTHER MEANS OF TRYING TO PROMOTE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARTICULARLY HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT A LOWER INCOME. THANK YOU.

[04:35:01]

>> THANK YOU. NEXT, I SEE JUDE HOLMES.

IF YOU WILL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT. THANK YOU.

>> HI, I'M JUDE HOLMES AT 202 KINGS HIGHWAY IN THE MAC NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WANT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THIS CHANGE, THIS ORDINANCE.

I'VE SPOKEN AT THE LAST TWO MEETINGS AS WELL.

I WAS HERE THE ENTIRE TIME.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC TO ME AND I THINK MOST OF MY CONCERNS HAVE BEEN SAID.

THE ONE THING I DO WANT TO SAY IS THAT I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW PEOPLE ARE VERY AFRAID OF DEVELOPERS COMING IN AND CHANGING DECATUR.

I KNOW WHY THEY ARE, BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT DEVELOPERS ARE ALREADY HERE.

THEY BUY THE VERY CHEAP PROPERTIES AND THEN BUILD THESE BIG, MASSIVE MCMANSION HOMES THAT ONLY THE FEW AND FORTUNATE CAN AFFORD.

I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE VOICING OPPOSITION TO THIS AREN'T REALIZING THAT DEVELOPERS ARE ONLY DOING THAT BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY THING THEY CAN DO.

THEIR BUSINESS MODELS MAKE THE MOST MONEY AND IF THEY CAN MAKE THE MOST MONEY BY DEVELOPING MULTIFAMILY, THEY CAN SELL IT AT A CHEAPER PRICE PER UNIT THAT SETTLES TWO ISSUES.

THE DEVELOPER MAKES A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY AND THEN PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD SOMETHING THAT'S NOT A MILLION TO OR A MILLION FOR AND THEN INSTEAD THEY CAN BUY SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT MORE AFFORDABLE, NOT ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE, ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE AREAS SURROUNDING DECATUR ARE GETTING DEVELOPED PRETTY HEAVILY.

YOU'VE GOT MEMORIAL, YOU'VE GOT PONDS, YOU'VE GOT NORTH DECATUR.

A LOT OF BIG APARTMENT BUILDINGS ARE GOING UP IN THESE AREAS AND THEY HAVE MASSIVE PARKING DECKS WITH TONS OF CARS AND IF WE DON'T DENSIFY, PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BUSINESSES WHERE THEY WORK AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIGGER PARKING AND DRIVING ISSUE THAN WE ALREADY HAVE.

DENSIFYING ALLOWS PEOPLE TO LIVE CLOSER TO WHERE THEY WORK, CLOSER TO WHERE THEY EAT AND ALLOWS PEOPLE TO WALK A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB AND JUST WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT, I'LL CALL ON DAN IMMERGLUCK AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO NICHOLAS CASK. DR. IMMERGLUCK.

>> HI. DAN IMMERGLUCK, 188 PINECREST AVENUE, DECATUR RESIDENT FOR ALMOST 18 YEARS.

I'VE TAUGHT URBAN PLANNING FOR ALSO 18 YEARS AND JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, I WANT TO ECHO THE THINGS THAT ROCHELLE AND JUDE JUST SAID.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO DELIVER AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME FOLKS BUT TO NOT DO IT IS REALLY A HUGE STEP BACKWARD AND SO I KNOW BECAUSE PARTICULARLY THE DISAPPOINTING ACTION OF A PLANNING COMMISSION, I FELT WAS FRANKLY JUST POOR PROCESS, VERY POOR PROCESS SO I'D LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER THAT AS POOR PROCESS BUT THE NOTION THAT SOME FOLKS HAVE ARGUED THAT THIS HAS BEEN RUSHED, I'VE OBSERVED THESE PROCESSES FOR 25 YEARS.

NOBODY DOES MORE PROCESS THAN THE CITY OF DECATUR THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.

THIS PROCESS, IN MY OPINION, HAS TAKEN TOO LONG.

SOME OF MY FORMER STUDENTS DID A STUDY THAT INFORMED THIS PROCESS 12 YEARS AGO.

I'VE WITNESSED IT MATURE BUT AGAIN, TO ECHO ROCHELLE'S COMMENTS, WE NEED TO DO OTHER THINGS.

I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER THINGS GOING ON THAT HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT WE ALSO NEED MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING.

EVERY CITY NEEDS MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING AND THE NOTION THAT WE CAN DEPEND AS ONE COMMENTER SAID ON OTHER PLACES TO DO IT.

IS THAT WHAT DECATUR WANTS TO BE, TO DEPEND ON OTHER PLACES TO PROVIDE INCOME DIVERSITY, TO PROVIDE GOOD HOUSING FOR FOLKS? I DON T THINK SO. ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANKS FOR ALL YOUR REALLY HARD WORK ON THIS.

>> THANK YOU. NICHOLAS CASK.

[04:40:03]

>> YES. THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE THERE.

I'M NICK CASK. I LIVE AT 340, ONE ON A DRIVE AND ONE ON A PARK.

I WANT TO JUST COME OUT AND SAY THAT WHILE I THINK THAT THE SPIRIT BEHIND THESE CHANGES ARE FANTASTIC, I THINK IT'S JUST BAD POLICY IN GENERAL.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT HERE THE DECATUR POPULATION WAS LESS THAN ABOUT 20,000, ABOUT A DECADE AGO, AND WHICH WAS ABOUT WHEN I MOVED HERE AND IT'S NOW OVER 25,000.

HOUSING STOCK HAS GONE UP WITH TIME AND HOUSING PRICES HAVE GONE UP TOO, SO HOUSING DOESN'T NECESSARILY LEAD TO LOWER PRICES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSING THAT WE DO HAVE, WITH THE CURRENT HOUSING THAT WE HAVE WITH ALL THE STOCK THAT'S BEING BUILT TODAY, MORE THAN HALF OF OUR HOUSING IS MULTI-TENANT DWELLINGS SO TO THINK THAT ADDING ANOTHER MULTI-TENANT DWELLING IS GOING TO REDUCE PRICES, I'D ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT ONE.

LOOKING AT THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF MINE HERE, I HAVE A MULTI-RACIAL YOUNG ADULT SON WHO WAS LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST HOME, SINGLE BEDROOM PLACE.

HE WAS NOT ABLE TO AFFORD A PLACE IN DECATUR.

I LOOK AT THE POLICIES THAT'S BEING PROPOSED TODAY AND ASK MYSELF, WHAT ABOUT THEM WOULD MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR HIM AND I CAN'T COME TO A CONCLUSION ON IT.

LOOKING AT WHAT'S OUT THERE, WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THE FIRST PLACE I LIVED IN IN OAKHURST WHEN I MOVED TO DECATUR, I CAN SAY THAT THERE WERE A FEW CORNERS CUT BY THE LANDLORD THERE.

WE LIVED IN ONE RESIDENCE AND ON THE SAME PROPERTY WAS AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT AND I CAME TO FIND OUT THAT I WAS PAYING FOR THEIR WATER WITH TIME.

I CAN SEE HOUSE YOU CAN HAVE SOME UNSCRUPULOUS LANDLORDS THAT MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE THINGS A LITTLE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS BUT I MUST ASK, WHAT ABOUT THIS MAKES IT MORE AFFORDABLE?THE OTHER THING I'LL ASK TOO IS JUST THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL FOR 15 FOOT OF PARKING SPACE ON THE STREET.

A HONDA CIVIC IS MORE THAN 15 FEET LONG.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD EVEN COME CLOSE TO PARKING A HONDA CIVIC ON THE STREET, WHICH IS A COMPACT CAR, WITH THAT PROPOSAL, I SEE, I'M ENCOURAGED THAT IT'S BEEN EXTENDED TO 20 FEET BUT WE ALL KNOW THE CHALLENGES WE FACED WITH THE MAILBOXES AND THE POST OFFICE HERE.

AGAIN, ENCOURAGED WITH THE SPIRIT OF IT HERE, DEFINITELY THINK IT'S SOMETHING WORTH PURSUING AS FAR AS LOOKING AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I DON'T THINK THIS IS SOLUTION AT ALL AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUSH BACK AND CHALLENGE THE ASSUMPTIONS BEHIND THIS HERE AND GET TO THE SOLUTIONS WE NEED BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME SOLUTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU.

>> IF THERE ARE ANY OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ONLINE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND AND SWORE.

I WILL LOOK FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T SEE SOME HANDS IN A FEW MINUTES, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM.

[BACKGROUND] SORRY.

YEAH. MS. PETOSA, WE WILL UNMUTE YOU AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

>> HI. THIS IS LESLIE DEAN PETOSA.

I LIVE AT 164 GARLAND AVENUE.

I'VE ALSO LIVED ON EASTLAKE AND FAYETTEVILLE ROAD AND JEFFERSON PLACE TWICE.

I'M ALSO A BUILDER, SO I AM NOT OPPOSED OR, HELLO BABY, IN DENIAL OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE HERE IN DECATUR, BUT I WANT TO BRING TO THE COMMISSION'S ATTENTION THAT THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PLACE TO BUILD.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GREEN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS THAT I WOULD ASSUME ALL THE NEW BUILDING WOULD REQUIRE.

WINDOWS, STRUCTURE, WATER QUALITY.

THIS ALL CAUSES A LOT OF UNAFFORDABLE PRICES FOR OUR "AFFORDABLE BUILDING".

I AM NOT OPPOSED TO NECESSARILY HAVING MULTIPLEX BUILDING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD,

[04:45:07]

IN THAT SENSE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT AWARE TO THE COMMISSION THAT, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE BILLING, WHAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS THAT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? IS IT 500,000, IS IT A QUARTER OF A MILLION? WHAT'S AFFORDABLE ANYMORE [LAUGHTER] IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD? BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS AS BUILDERS.

IF I DIDN'T MENTION, I'M A BUILDER.

[LAUGHTER] SORRY.

>> THANK YOU. WE ARE ONLY RECOGNIZING PEOPLE ONETIME.

WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS EVENING AND WE CAN'T GO BACK THROUGH AND START TAKING ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.

ALTHOUGH I APPRECIATE THOSE WHO MIGHT LIKE TO MAKE A SECOND COMMENT, WE ARE ONLY HEARING FROM EACH PERSON ONE TIME THIS EVENING.

IT IS 11:00 O'CLOCK AND WE NEED TO MAKE OUR OWN COMMENTS AND HAVE OUR OWN DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING THAT.

I DO SEE JOEL EASILY, [BACKGROUND] AT THE TOP, SORRY, BECAUSE I'M NOT OKAY.

I SEE YOU WAVING NOW. WE'LL WE'LL GO WITH DON COOPERMAN NEXT, AND THEN I BELIEVE I SAW ONE MORE, JOE EASTLEIGH.

IN THAT ORDER. MR. COOPERMAN.

>> MY TURN. THANK YOU. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO RAISE MY HAND. [LAUGHTER]

>> WELL, YOU DID JUST GREAT.

>> MY NAME IS DON COOPERMAN.

I LIVE AT 224 LAMONT DRIVE.

I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1988, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A LONG TIME UNTIL I HEARD SOME OTHER PEOPLE.

I GUESS, I'M STILL A NEWBIE.

MY WIFE AND I RAISED OUR KIDS AND THEY WENT THROUGH THE DECATUR SCHOOLS AND WE LOVED IT.

IT IS THE BEST THING WE COULD HAVE DONE, WAS HAVE OUR KIDS GO THROUGH SCHOOLS, WHICH APPARENTLY WAS AT A TIME WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS A GIBBON, GAVE THEM EXPOSURE AND DEALING WITH A BROAD RANGE OF ETHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY, WHICH I ALWAYS THOUGHT I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF IT.

I HAVE COME TO BE SURPRISED THAT DECATUR ISN'T INHERENTLY HAVING THAT DIVERSITY IN ITS SCHOOLS OR IN ITS GENERAL POPULATION.

THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS.

I ABSOLUTELY AM IN FAVOR OF EXTENDING AND EXPANDING DIVERSITY.

I AM ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF EXPANDING OR EXTENDING OR CREATING SOME LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY.

HOWEVER, I'VE LISTENED TO THIS FOR HOURS.

I TRIED TO LOOK THE EARLIER FLYERS AND HANDOUT MATERIALS.

NOTHING HAS SHOWN AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS PRESENTED TO THE GENERAL POPULATION THAT SHOWS, AS ONE PERSON SAID, WHAT IS AFFORDABLE? WHAT WOULD BE THE PRICE OF A HOUSE TO BUY OR TO RENT THAT A SCHOOL TEACHER BEING PAID, LET'S SAY A CITY DECATUR SCHOOLS SALARY COULD AFFORD TO LIVE HERE? YOU HAVE TO START WITH THAT, OR A FIREMAN OR A POLICEMAN.

IF YOU DON'T START WITH THAT, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT AFFORDABILITY IS.

YOU HAVE A VAGUE GOAL WITH NO MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES, SO YOU CAN HAVE NO MEANS OF HOW TO GET THERE.

I SHARE THE CONCERNS RAISED BY A FEW, I'LL SAY, BRAVE PEOPLE.

I'M NOT AFRAID, I'M NOT AGAINST, AND I'M NOT INERTIA.

THOSE WORDS MENUS.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY REASON THAT SOMEONE HAS CONCERNS, BE TASKED WITH THE FEELING OF BEING NOT OF THE PROPER DECATUR VIBE.

I LOVE THE DECATUR VIBE.

I LOVE THE GOALS AND I LOVE THE PROCESSES, BUT I THINK WE MISS THE BOAT HERE.

THE PROPOSAL IS A BROAD SWEEP.

MAYBE IT'S BEEN 12 YEARS, AS ONE GENTLEMAN MENTIONED.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOREVER AND NOW IT'S LIKE, WELL, LET'S JUST DO SOMETHING BECAUSE WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE WE MISSED THE BOAT SO MANY TIMES.

LET'S DO SOMETHING. BUT IT'S OVERBROAD, IS MY TIME ALMOST RUNNING OUT? I WANT TO BE CAREFUL HERE.

>> FIVE SECONDS.

>> HERE'S MY CHECK POINTS.

>> YOUR TIME IS UP MR. COOPERMAN.

>> NUMBER 1, TIE THE MULTI-STORY HOUSE.

>> YOUR TIME IS UP.

[04:50:01]

>> HEY, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?

>> HI. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> JOEL EASILY, 542 EASTLAKE DRIVE.

I'LL SET THROUGH AS MUCH OF THIS AS POSSIBLE WHILE RUNNING AROUND.

THANKFUL I AM ABLE TO BE MOBILE UNLIKE YOU GUYS, SO I DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING THERE AND HEARING THIS ALL.

I WAS NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT THEN MR. POWERS POPPED UP IN ANOTHER CARBONATED BEVERAGE I THOUGHT WE SHOULD GET ON THAT FIRST.

I DO WANT TO SAY I'M ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED A PETITION ON CHANGE.ORG.

ADMITTEDLY, I'M DOING SO WITHOUT SOME OF THE INFORMATION, AND SO I'M VERY GLAD THAT I SET THROUGH AND HEARD EVERYBODY'S SIDE.

MY CONCERNS ARE NOT ABOUT PROPERTY VALUE.

I AM A STRONG PROPONENT OF DIVERSITY.

WE MOVE DOWN HERE ORIGINALLY FROM BROOKLYN.

WE MOVE FROM HERE TO CALIFORNIA.

WE VERY PURPOSING MOVE BACK TO DECATUR BECAUSE WE LOVED IT SO MUCH.

WE'RE FANS OF THE CITY AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE MISSING MIDDLE, BUT THERE'S MORE THAN DIVERSITY OF SKIN COLOR OR ECONOMIC DIVERSITY.

IT'S A NICE LITTLE BUBBLE THAT WE'VE REALLY FOUND TO BE HOME.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS MY CONCERN IS MORE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.

I FEEL THAT WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THAT TO JUST ALLOW ALL THESE EXTRA PARKING LOT STREETS.

I LIVE ON EASTLAKE.

IF YOU LOOK AT PORCH FAST, I HEAR THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN EVERY YEAR BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH IT, OR WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, YOU CAN'T GET CARS UP DOWN EASTLAKE.

EASTLAKE CAN ONLY HANDLE PARKING ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET.

DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE GOING TO DEADLINE THE SIDES OF THE STREETS? IF WE DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ENFORCE SOME PARKING LIKE SOME STREET CLEANING OR SOMETHING JUST COMING FROM NEW YORK.

I KNOW PEOPLE WILL JUST PARK THEIR CARS AND LEAVE IT THERE, SO STUFF WILL FILL UP THE STREETS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE LIKED ABOUT COMING DOWN HERE WAS THERE WERE CARS LINING UP AND DOWN IN THE STREET.

OUR KIDS COULD RUN AROUND AND PLAY IN THE YARD OR WHATEVER FRIENDS.

I HAD MY OWN PERSONAL ISSUES WITH THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO CATER, BUT WHAT ARE WE COUNTING WITH SANITATION.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THAT GOING ON.

I JUST KNOW THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DOES IT HANDLE A LOT.

OUR ROADS, WE JUST GOING UP AND DOWN IN COLLEGE AND IN AND OUT OF THE CITY ON THE CAB.

IT'S A NIGHTMARE. WE MOVED AWAY AND IT WAS A SUICIDE LANE.

WE MOVE BACK IN SO SUICIDE LANE BEST ATLANTA, I KNOW BUT I'M JUST POINTING OUT LIKE AS WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE COME IN, IT JUST FEELS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO HANDLE IT.

I'M ALL FOR FINDING SOLUTIONS.

THIS JUST FEELS LIKE TO ME IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIGHT THROWING SOMETHING AT THE WALL, I KNOW A LOT OF RESEARCH HAS GONE INTO IT, BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY TO TWEAK THIS A LITTLE BIT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> THE TIME IS UP THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS THAT'S THE THREE MINUTES.

LET'S SEE, HEIDI COUCH.

MS. COUCH, I BELIEVE WE HAVE UNMUTED YOU AND WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR COMMENT.

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

>> YES.

>> OKAY. I'M HEIDI COUCH, I LIVE AT 539 EASTLAKE DRIVE.

I FIRST ARRIVED IN DECATUR IN 1955.

I APPRECIATE THE HEARTFELT AND AGREE WITH THE INTENTIONS OF THE NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO ENHANCE DIVERSITY, KEEP THE DIVERSITY WE DO HAVE NOW, HOWEVER, I WONDER IF ANYONE HAS CONSIDERED WHAT THE PRICE OF THESE NEW UNITS IS GOING TO BE.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, I KNOW JOEL EASILY IS MY NEIGHBOR AND HE REMEMBERS AN APPLICATION FROM PARKLAND DEVELOPMENT.

THEY WANTED TO BUILD 34 UNITS ON THREE OVERSIZE LOTS.

WELL, IF YOU DIVIDED IT UP AND SAID YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD IT ON SIX SLOTS, YOU'D NEED A MONTHLY REVENUE OF $119,000.

THE NUMBERS AREN'T GOING TO WORK.

YOU'VE GOT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS TO BE MET.

SOMEONE MENTIONED THOUGH THEY WERE IN AN UNDO AND THEY WERE

[04:55:03]

I'M IN AN UNDO.

WE CANNOT SEPARATE OUR UTILITIES.

THE CITY DID NOT ALLOW THAT.

IT'S ALL ONE BILL AND BECAUSE WE'RE A FAMILY, WE JUST DIVIDED IT UP THE WAY WE SEE FIT.

I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK FOR THAT REASON.

THE DEVELOPERS BECAUSE IT'S ONLY FOUR UNITS, THEY CAN GET A REGULAR HOMEOWNER ALONE FOR 30 YEARS.

THEY'RE GOING TO LOVE IT.

THEY'RE GOING TO SWARM IN HERE, AND THERE'LL BE PAYING FIVE, $600,000 FOR A LOT.

SOMEBODY WHO'S IN A LITTLE TINY HOUSE RIGHT NOW AND WANTS THE MONEY AND IT'S GOING TO GET SO CROWDED.

RIGHT NOW, EASTLAKE WE HAVE NO SPEED BUMPS BECAUSE WE'RE A PATH FOR THE AMBULANCE SO WE CAN HAVE SPEED BUMPS.

WE GOT PEOPLE ACTING LIKE IT'S THE BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS GOING UP AND DOWN THE STREET HERE.

YOU GOT CROWDING WHERE YOU CAN'T GET YOUR MAIL.

IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A BETTER WAY TO MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR TEACHERS, POLICEMEN, AND FIREMEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS SOME TYPE OF A GRANT FROM THE CITY FOR THE DOWN PAYMENT.

BUT THIS PROPOSAL WON'T ACHIEVE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

THAT I THINK IS WHY THE PLANNING COMMISSION DENIED IT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THERE'S A LOT OF REAL ESTATE KNOWLEDGE THERE, AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THEY DENIED IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

ROBIN ZURFLA.

THERE YOU GO. NOW WE CAN HEAR YOU.

>> GREAT. HI. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS ROBIN ZURFLA.

I'M AT 212 LOCKWOOD TERRACE AND I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 2005.

I AM JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THIS PROPOSAL GIVES US TO BECOME AN EVEN MORE DIVERSE AND EXCITING AND VIBRANT CITY.

I MOVED HERE AS A SINGLE MOM AND MOVED INTO A RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

NOW I'M PRETTY MUCH THE LAST TINY HOUSE ON MY STREET IN A BILLION-DOLLAR NEIGHBORHOOD AND I REALLY MISS ALL DIVERSITY THAT WERE ON MY STREET WHEN I GOT HERE.

I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RE-INCORPORATE THAT INTO WHO WE ARE AS A CITY, I THINK WE NEED MORE HOUSING.

WE NEED MORE HOUSING AND WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT TOOL ON THE PATH TO GET THERE AND I HOPE THAT THE COMMISSION WILL APPROVE IT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS A RAISED HAND THAT HAS NOT MADE A COMMENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE WILL MOVE TO DELIBERATION FROM THE CITY COMMISSION.

ONE THING THAT I HAD ASKED IF MISS ABIGAIL MAYBE WOULD COME FORWARD, AND I'D LIKE FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHART AND ACTUALLY LOOK AT WHAT IS SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED IN THE COORDINATES RECOMMENDATION.

I BELIEVE THAT INCLUDES HOW THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WOULD APPLY TO THE ZONING, WOULD APPLY TO ADDING THAT FIFTH UNIT BECAUSE IT DOES TRIGGER OUR INCLUSIONARY HOUSING.

TO JUST WALK THROUGH THAT TABLE THAT IS A APART AND WALK THROUGH THE ACTUAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> TO SPEAK TO THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING ORDINANCE.

IF YOU REMEMBER, IN JULY OF 2020, THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVED AN ORDINANCE THAT AMENDED OUR CHAPTER 6,

[05:00:02]

WHETHER IT'S FOR RENT, FOR SALE, DETACHED OR ATTACHED HOMES, APARTMENTS, CONDOS, AT LEAST 10 PERCENT.

IF THERE'S A FRACTION HERE THAT 0.5 OR MORE, THAT WOULD BE ROUNDED UP FOR ONE UNIT.

WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT IS BEFORE YOU.

PREVIOUSLY, IT DID NOT HAVE ANY PROVISIONS FOR THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING.

THE DRAFT THAT IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, DOES HAVE THAT PROVISION IN THERE.

IT PERTAINS TO THOSE QUADPLEXUS, WHEREBY IF THE PROPERTY OWNER WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HAVE AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT IN ADDITION TO THE QUADPLEX, THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE UNITS BE SET ASIDE AS AN INCLUSIONARY UNIT.

THAT IS WHERE WE'RE PROPOSING THE IZ KICK IN.

AS FAR AS THAT TABLE GOES TO ARTICLE 6, AND SPECIFICALLY SECTION 6.3 WHERE WE TALK ABOUT RESIDENTIAL USES AND THE HOUSEHOLD LIVING.

YOU'LL NOTICE THIS IS ON PAGE 7.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR DESK PACKET OR YOUR AGENDA PACKET, IT'S THIS STRIKETHROUGH VERSION WHERE YOU SEE TEXT IN RED WHERE ITEMS ARE BEING ADDED OR A STRIKETHROUGH, WHERE WE'RE PROPOSING TO TAKE THINGS AWAY.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT PAGE 7 SPECIFICALLY, YOU WILL SEE THAT UNDER SECTION 6.3, RESIDENTIAL USES, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE CALLING OUT THE SCENARIO THAT I JUST DESCRIBED THAT THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING ORDINANCE WOULD KICK IN, IT WOULD BE APPLICABLE.

>> IF WE COULD JUST START AT THE TOP OF THAT.

>> SURE. ON PAGE 1?

>> YEAH.

>> JUST BE CLEAR WHENEVER YOU ANNOUNCE.

THIS IS THE PROPOSED TEXTS AMENDMENTS TO UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE ON YOUR IPAD.

>> I THINK I'M FOLLOWING. IS IT THE SAME THING ON THE SCREEN?

>> YES. PART 4, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.

BECAUSE THIS TAKES IT FROM THE TOP IF THAT'S OKAY TO JUST WALK THROUGH THE ACTUAL PROPOSED TEXTS AMENDMENTS.

>> PAGE 1 IN THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT IN OUR PACKET.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, PAGE 1.

>> YES.

>> OF COURSE, THAT'S UP HERE ON THIS SCREEN AS WELL FOR OUR AUDIENCE.

STARTING AT THE TOP.

ARTICLE 2, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, WE HAVE A SEMI FOREIGN-BASED CODE.

WE TALK ABOUT BUILDING TYPES, AND IN ARTICLE 2 WE'RE DESCRIBING WHAT THE DIFFERENT BUILDING TYPES ARE.

WE HAVE A DUPLEX, A WALK-UP FLAT, AND A STACKED FLAT.

WITH THE DUPLEX, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO PRINCIPAL DWELLING UNITS THAT ARE VERTICALLY OR HORIZONTALLY INTEGRATED, THEY HAVE A SHARED WALL AND THEY'RE ON A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL LOT.

UNDER THE WALK-UP FLAT, WE ARE PROPOSING A CHANGE.