THANK YOU. I THINK COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY AND COMMISSIONER MAYER, I THINK FIRST.
[WORK SESSION I – 5:30 P.M.]
[00:00:05]
MINE IS REALLY QUICK. SO MY ONLY CONCERN WELL, I MEAN, I HAVE THOUGHTS, BUT MY CONCERN WOULD BE HAVING SHOT, PUT AND DISCUS MOVED TO THE FRONT YARD.AND I KNOW THAT WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO SOLUTION THIS STILL, I THINK THAT THERE IS A REAL APPETITE FOR ENSURING THAT THE SHARED SPACES REMAIN SHARED SPACE AND THAT THE ATHLETIC FACILITY DOESN'T ENCROACH INTO THE THE LAWN, WHICH WE AS A GROUP HAVE SAID WOULD STILL BE OPEN AND AVAILABLE FOR ALL TO USE.
AND SO WITH THOSE BEING PARTICULARLY NUANCED EVENTS, YEAH, I THINK THAT THE THOSE WHO DO WALK THEIR DOGS AND BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO PLAY OR DO WANT TO PLAY, YOU KNOW, A GAME OF HACKY SACK IN THE FRONT LAWN MAY FEEL LESS WELCOME TOO, IF THERE IS A AN EVENT, A FACILITY FOR THOSE EVENTS THERE THAT'S I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL THAT DOESN'T FEEL VERY INCLUSIVE TO TAKE TWO OF YOUR FIELD ELEMENTS AND PUT THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE ON THE LEGACY CAMPUS. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS AT PACE WHICH THIS FIELD AT THE ATHLETIC FACILITY IS THE SAME IAAF CONFIGURATION THAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR LEGACY.
THOSE DISCUS AND SHOT PUT ATHLETES ARE KIND OF PUSHED AWAY FROM THE MAIN FACILITY OFF TO THE SIDE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS FAIRLY OFTEN, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT IDEAL.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO STUDY FURTHER.
THANK YOU. IF THE IF THE STEEPLECHASE WAS TAKEN OUT OF DESIGN, WOULD THAT ALLOW FOR THE SHOTPUT AND THE OTHER SO THEY COULD BE PUT IN THAT AREA? THEY COULD NOT.
THEY COULD NOT, BECAUSE SHOT PUTT AND SYNTHETIC TURF ARE BORN ENEMIES.
NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO MAKE IT GO EXACTLY WHERE IT SHOULD GO.
SO YOU DON'T WANT TO THROW IT ON A TRACK SURFACE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO THROW IT ON SYNTHETIC TURF.
SO IT NEEDS TO BE OUTSIDE THAT SPACE AT SOME POINT.
YEAH. NOW THAT PRETTY AWESOME WATER PUTT.
I WAS CURIOUS. THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIGHTING.
SO WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT OF LIGHTING BE FROM THIS? GOT IT. SO WE WRITE IN OUR PREFERRED PLAN.
WE DON'T HAVE THE HEIGHTS. WE DON'T HAVE A DESIGNED YET.
BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE WILL BE USING FULL CUTOFFS ON ANY LIGHT, WHICH ESSENTIALLY IS A SHIELD AROUND THE BACK END OF THE LIGHT TO MINIMIZE LIGHT TRESPASS TO THE GREATEST DEGREE POSSIBLE.
LOOKING AT WHAT OUR LIGHTING REP PRELIMINARILY SENT US, THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT A 50 FOOT BLEED OFF.
EVEN WITH THAT CUT OFF BECAUSE THEY'RE SO HIGH, WHERE LIGHT IS GOING TO WORK ITS WAY DOWN.
FULL, FULL CUT OFFS ARE PRETTY STANDARD PRACTICE NOW.
THE OTHER THING TO NOTE IS THAT COMPETITIONS HERE AND NIGHT EVENTS ARE GOING TO BE FAIRLY MINIMAL.
IT'S NOT LIKE EVERY NIGHT THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIG LIT COMPETITION EVENT THAT'S HAPPENING OUT HERE.
TRACK IS LOOKING AT MAYBE FOUR COMPETITIONS A YEAR.
STILL NOT QUITE SURE HOW THE INFIELD WILL BE USED.
SO WE ARE TRENDING TOWARDS A LIGHT SYSTEM AROUND THE TRACK THAT WOULD BE PROGRAMABLE.
THAT IS MAYBE LIKE HALF A FOOT CANDLE, A LIGHT UNTIL DUSK OR WHENEVER THE PARK CLOSES, BUT WITH THE ABILITY TO TURN THAT ON BRIGHTER AT A HIGHER FOOT CANDLE LEVEL FOR THOSE TIMES WHEN THE FIELD OR THE TRACK ARE BEING USED AND IN COMPETITIVE NATURE.
CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THERE'S MUCH LIGHT TRESPASS THAT WILL OCCUR PAST THE PROPERTY LINE OF THE PARK.
SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE STUDYING AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO IS THERE A DIFFERENT NEED FOR PRACTICE THAN THERE IS FOR COMPETITION THAT WOULD MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT WOULD NEED TO BE USED? NOT USUALLY.
USUALLY IT'S THE SAME LIGHT LEVEL.
FACTOR THAT IN INTO OUR CONVERSATIONS.
HOW IS THIS LOOKING WITH THE BUDGET? GOOD QUESTION. SO WHAT'S A BUDGET? SO THIS IS A $6 MILLION PROJECT.
[00:05:02]
WE HAVE BEEN DOING OUR OWN IN-HOUSE COST ESTIMATING AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH DIFFERENT DESIGN ITERATIONS.WE PRICED INTERNALLY CONCEPT A AND CONCEPT B, WE HAVE A REVISED PRICE FOR THE PREFERRED CONCEPT.
NUMBERS RIGHT NOW ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD IT'S HARD TO NAIL DOWN MARKET RATES.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CONTINGENCY IN OUR NUMBERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF FLUFF IN OUR NUMBERS AS WELL.
JUST ASSUMING LIKE THE HIGHEST END TRACK SURFACE OR THE BEST, MOST DURABLE SYNTHETIC TURF.
AND THEN AGAIN, WE'RE CARRYING CONTINGENCY ON TOP OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S SO PRELIMINARY.
SO THERE'S NO CONCERN WITHIN THE GROUP THAT THIS CAN BE BUILT WITHIN BUDGET, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME ELEMENTS THAT GET EITHER SCALED BACK IN SCOPE OR DEFERRED TO A FUTURE PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE'S A 6 MILLION INCLUDE THE FIELDHOUSE AND THE OTHER ELEMENTS.
EVERYTHING YOU SEE WE'VE PRICED THUS FAR AND IT'S SLIGHTLY OVER 6 MILLION.
THAT'S BASED ON TODAY, RIGHT? IT'S BASED ON TODAY.
YEP. YEP. WHICH BEHOOVES US TO GET MOVING BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT JANUARY COULD LOOK LIKE.
THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. IT'S A GOOD IT'S A GOOD TIME CONSTRUCTION WISE FOR THIS PROJECT BECAUSE A LOT OF TRACK AND FIELD FOLKS ARE TIED TO SCHOOL CALENDARS AND THEY HAVE THEIR WORKFORCE DOING ALL THIS WORK IN THE SUMMER.
IF WE CAN BEAT THAT RUSH, HAVE A CONTRACTOR ON BOARD TO START PREPPING OUT.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANKS.
TWO MINUTE BREAK AND WE WILL START THE MEETING.
THIS IS YOUR FAVORITE PRESENTATION IN THE ENTIRE TIME.
[00:11:10]
DISREGARD ALL THOSE EMAILS THAT POP UP DURING THE DAY.OKAY, WE ARE ON NOW SO GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING FOR THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION FOR MONDAY, JUNE 5TH, 2023.
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 15TH, 2023.
ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS? MOVE APPROVAL. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND MOTION'S BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED.
THE CHAIR VOTES I AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
NEXT, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PROCLAMATIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS EVENING.
THE FIRST PROCLAMATION IS TO RECOGNIZE JUNETEENTH.
WHEREAS JUNE THE 19TH, 1865, MARKS THE DATE THAT MAJOR GENERAL GORDON GRANGER ARRIVED IN GALVESTON, TEXAS, AND ANNOUNCED THE END OF BOTH THE CIVIL WAR AND SLAVERY.
WHEREAS THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION HAD BEEN SIGNED BY PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, 1862, BUT THE SLAVES IN TEXAS WERE UNAWARE OF IT UNTIL BEING TOLD BY GENERAL GRANGER.
AND. WHEREAS, JUNETEENTH OFFICIALLY BECAME THE 11TH FEDERAL HOLIDAY ON JUNE 17TH, 2021, AND JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY IS THE FIRST HOLIDAY TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF FEDERAL HOLIDAYS SINCE THE RECOGNITION OF REVEREND DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR'S BIRTHDAY IN 1983.
AND. WHEREAS, JUNETEENTH IS A DAY OF PROFOUND WEIGHT AND POWER, A DAY IN WHICH WE REMEMBER THE MORAL STAIN AND TERRIBLE TOLL OF SLAVERY ON OUR COUNTRY AND A LONG LEGACY OF SYSTEMIC RACISM, INEQUALITY AND INHUMANITY.
AND. WHEREAS, JUNETEENTH IS A DAY THAT ALSO REMINDS US OF OUR CAPACITY TO HEAL HOPE AND EMERGE FROM OUR DARKEST MOMENTS WITH PURPOSE AND RESOLVE.
AND. WHEREAS, JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATES THE PAST AND CALLS US TO ACTION TODAY.
AND. WHEREAS, ON JUNETEENTH, WE RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO THE WORK OF EQUITY, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR HERE DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 19TH AS JUNETEENTH DAY OF OBSERVANCE AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO ACKNOWLEDGE GNAGE AND CELEBRATE THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR AND THE EMANCIPATION OF BLACK AMERICANS AND COMMIT TOGETHER TO ERADICATE SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT STILL UNDERMINES OUR FOUNDING IDEALS AND COLLECTIVE PROSPERITY.
SO I AM HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS.
WE DO HAVE A FLAG FLYING FROM CITY HALL IN RECOGNITION OF OF THIS HOLIDAY.
AND THE CITY, OF COURSE, WILL HAVE WILL RECOGNIZE THE HOLIDAY AS WELL.
AND THE SECOND ONE IS FOR JUNE IS ALSO PRIDE MONTH.
AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE THIS PROCLAMATION AS WELL.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR ANNUALLY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF JUNE AS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND QUEER PLUS LGBTQ PLUS PRIDE MONTH.
[00:15:02]
AND. WHEREAS, THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS BENEFITED FROM THE INCLUSION OF A DIVERSE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY PATTI INCLUDING PERSONS OF ALL AGES, ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS AND WALKS OF LIFE.AND. WHEREAS, THIS MONTH WE REMIND THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE LOVED, CHERISHED AND DESERVING OF DIGNITY, RESPECT AND SUPPORT. AND.
WHEREAS, DURING THE LGBTQ PLUS PRIDE MONTH, WE RECOGNIZE THE RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION OF THE MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FIGHTING TO LIVE FREELY AND AUTHENTICALLY, AND IN DOING SO, THEY ARE OPENING HEARTS AND MINDS AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE NATION AND COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS THIS PRIDE, BUT WE AFFIRM OUR OBLIGATION TO UPHOLD THE DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE AND DEDICATE OURSELVES TO PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US.
AND. WHEREAS, THANKS TO THE COURAGE OF MANY, GREAT STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE IN RECOGNIZING THAT LOVE IS LOVE AND THAT NO PERSON SHOULD BE JUDGED BY ANYTHING BUT THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.
AND. WHEREAS, DESPITE THE EXTRAORDINARY PROGRESS OF THE PAST FEW YEARS, LGBTQ PLUS AMERICANS STILL FACE DISCRIMINATION SIMPLY FOR BEING WHO THEY ARE. AND.
WHEREAS, IN COMMEMORATION OF PRIDE MONTH AND IN HONOR OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, ITS ADVOCATES AND ALLIES, THE RAINBOW FLAG WILL FLY ON THE FRONT OF CITY HALL DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 2023 AS LGBTQ PLUS PRIDE MONTH, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THIS COMMUNITY TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND TO WAVE THEIR FLAGS HIGH. SO IT'S INDEED MY HONOR TO PRESENT THESE PROCLAMATIONS TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US.
WE HAVE A LOT TO REMEMBER AND TO CELEBRATE DURING THIS MONTH OF JUNE.
NEXT, WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2022, 2023 REVISED BUDGET ESTIMATES AND THE 20 23-24 PROPOSED BUDGET ESTIMATES.
AND I HOPE THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE JOINED US IN PERSON WERE ABLE TO PICK UP AN INFORMATION SHEET AS YOU CAME IN REGARDING THE BUDGET. AND I'LL TURN IT OVER NOW TO MS..
ARNOLD. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, PRIOR TO OPENING THE HEARING UP FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK, I JUST HAVE A FEW POINTS I'D LIKE TO MAKE. TONIGHT IS THE FIRST OF TWO HEARINGS ON THE BUDGET.
THE NEXT HEARING ON THE BUDGET WILL BE ON JUNE 20TH AND THAT IS THE SAME EVENING THAT THE CITY COMMISSION WILL BE ASKED TO CONSIDER THE BUDGET FOR ADOPTION. WE WILL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE MILLAGE RATE, AND THE MILLAGE RATE IS INTEGRAL IN THE FUNDING OF THE BUDGET AND THOSE HEARINGS ON THE MILLAGE RATE ARE SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13TH AT 6 P.M.
AND THE LAST ONE IS DURING THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION AT 7:30.
ALSO THIS WEEK, WE WILL BE HAVING AN EXTENDED WORK SESSION ON THIS WEDNESDAY FROM FIVE UNTIL SEVEN, 7:30 JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.
AND OF COURSE, THE BUDGET IS AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
WE HAVE A HARD COPY HERE AT CITY HALL.
THERE'S ALSO A HARD COPY AT THE DECATUR LIBRARY.
SO DEFINITELY DO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY TO TAKE SOME TIME TO TO LOOK THROUGH IT.
JUST WANT TO SHOW IT THERE JUST FOR THE THE ILLUSTRATION ON THE FRONT.
AND THAT'S AN ARTWORK FROM A LOCAL ARTIST.
AND BUT WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING IS WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE OF THE BUDGET HERE.
I MENTIONED THE MILLAGE RATE AND HAVING HEARINGS ON THE MILLAGE RATE AT YOUR AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, YOU DID ADOPT A TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE AND AT THAT TIME THAT WAS BASED OFF OF AN ASSUMPTION OF A 5% INCREASE IN THE TAX DIGEST.
SO WE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE DIGEST FROM THE COUNTY AS OF YET, SINCE SINCE THAT TIME, SINCE THE TIME THAT THE CITY COMMISSION ADOPTED THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE, WE HAVE RECEIVED THE TAX DIGEST FROM THE COUNTY AND IT IS A 14% INCREASE IN THE DIGEST.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, I WILL BE RECOMMENDING A DECREASE IN THE MILLAGE RATE, A 7/10 OF A MILL DECREASE IN THE MILLAGE RATE AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT INTO IN MUCH MORE DETAIL ON WEDNESDAY EVENING.
[00:20:06]
BUT JUST ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS IS THAT WE YOU KNOW, WE ARE AWARE OF THE INCREASE IN THE PROPERTY VALUES AND WE WILL BE ROLLING THERE WILL BE A RECOMMENDATION TO ROLL BACK THE MILLAGE RATE ACCORDINGLY.AND ALSO IN ADDITION TO THE ROLLBACK OF THE TAX RATE, THIS BUDGET DOES ALSO ASSUME THE PASSAGE OF EXPANDED AND ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.
THOSE WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER AND THEY WOULD GO INTO EFFECT IN THE FIRST BILLING OF 2024.
ALSO EARLIER TONIGHT, WE HAD A WORK SESSION FROM THE CONSULTANT WHO PERFORMED A PAIN COMPRESSION STUDY FOR CITY SALARIES. AND BASED OFF OF THAT STUDY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS BUDGET RELATED TO INCREASES IN EMPLOYEES SALARIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
ALSO RECOMMENDATION TO FOR A LIVABLE WAGE AND THE MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENTS.
ALSO ADJUSTMENTS TO ALLEVIATE COMPRESSION AND A GENERAL ADJUSTMENT TO PAY RANGES FOR IN THAT CASE, FOR THE PURPOSES OF RECRUITMENT, THERE ARE SOME NEW POSITIONS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
A NUMBER OF THOSE ARE IN THE NEWLY FORMED PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND WE HAD A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK A WORK SESSION ABOUT THAT PARKS AND RECREATION PLAN THAT DID LAY OUT THE PLAN FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL NEW POSITIONS.
ALSO ADDITIONAL POSITIONS AROUND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGY, A POSITION IN THE COURT OPERATION POSITION AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND ALSO SOLID WASTE.
ALSO, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PLANNING THAT'S BEEN PERFORMED IN THE CITY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS FROM THE CLEAN ENERGY PLAN, THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN THAT'S WRAPPING UP THE PARKS AND REC MASTER PLAN.
I'M SURE I HAVE FORGOTTEN A PLAN, BUT THERE'S THIS BUDGET ALSO HAS INITIATIVES THAT REFLECT A NUMBER OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THOSE PLANS.
AND THEN THE BUDGET DOES HAVE A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN OUR CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM SIDEWALKS, BIKE LANES, THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY THAT WE JUST JUST HAD A WORK SESSION ON.
AND SO AGAIN, ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, WE'LL HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT AS WE GET INTO ALL OF THAT.
BUT JUST REALLY IN A NUTSHELL, A BUDGET THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED THAT REPRESENTS A REAL INVESTMENT, AN INVESTMENT IN OUR EMPLOYEES, AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY, AN INVESTMENT IN OUR CAPITAL ASSETS.
SO WITH THAT, I'M PREPARED TO OPEN IT UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THE WAY WE WILL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING, IF YOU ARE IN OUR AUDIENCE AND WOULD LIKE TO COME MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE BUDGET AND ESTIMATES AND PROPOSE BOTH THE REVISED AND PROPOSED, I'LL ASK YOU TO COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US ONLINE TO DO THE SAME.
AND IF YOU ARE HERE TO MAKE A COMMENT OTHER THAN AGENDA ACTION ITEMS OR THE REVISED BUDGET AND PROPOSED BUDGET ESTIMATES, I'LL ASK YOU TO WAIT TO DO THAT AT THE END OF THE MEETING UNDER REQUEST AND PETITIONS.
SO IF THERE'S ANYONE IN OUR AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THE REVISED BUDGET ESTIMATES AND PROPOSED BUDGET ESTIMATES, NOW'S THE TIME TO DO SO.
OKAY. SEEING NONE, I'LL OPEN IT UP NOW TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US ONLINE.
[00:25:01]
IF YOU WOULD RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND AND MISS ROARK CAN UNMUTE YOU AND I'LL ASK YOU TO DO THE SAME THING.STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
OKAY. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE REVISED BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR 2022-2023 AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR 2023-2024.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO LISTEN IN TO OUR WORK SESSION ON WEDNESDAY, TOO, AS WE DIG MORE DEEPLY INTO THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.
NEXT, WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
THE AN AMENDMENT TO PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS, AN AMENDMENT TO FINANCIAL POLICIES, THE CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES INITIATIVE, LOCAL ACTION PLAN, AND THEN FINALLY, A CHANGE ORDER FOR STREET REPAIR AND RESURFACING CONTRACTS.
SO IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD NOW, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND WE WILL TAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
WE'LL CHECK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT IS JOINING US ONLINE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS THAT I JUST MENTIONED, IF YOU WILL RAISE YOUR HAND SO WE CAN UNMUTE YOU AND YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
OKAY. SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS AND OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS CAN BE HEARD AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED LATER, UNDER REQUEST AND PETITIONS.
SO I WILL TURN IT OVER FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND I BELIEVE THAT IS MS. DE CASTRO. GOOD EVENING.
TERESA DE CASTRO, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OVER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND A REVISION TO THE CITY'S PERSONNEL POLICIES.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE BASED OFF OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CITY'S COMPENSATION STUDY.
EARLIER THIS EVENING YOU HEARD THE RESULTS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THAT STUDY.
AS PART OF THE COMPENSATION STUDY, THE CONSULTANT RECOMMENDED A REVISION TO THE CITY'S PERSONNEL POLICIES TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE IN TERMS OF COMPENSATION WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING, REWARDING AND PROMOTING OUR EMPLOYEES.
THE RECOMMENDATION REMOVES THE TWO STEP APPROVAL LIMIT OF THE CITY MANAGER IN A 52 WEEK PERIOD.
THE REVISED POLICY ALSO ALLOWS THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE SALARY INCREASES FOR PROMOTED EMPLOYEES THAT IS COMMENSURATE TO THE INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY RATHER THAN BEING LIMITED TO A ONE STEP INCREASE.
THE REVISED POLICY ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT STEP INCREASE INCREMENTS FOR AN ANNUAL EARNED SALARY INCREASE MAY CHANGE IN THE FUTURE THROUGH BUDGET PROCESSES, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVE THE REVISED POLICY.
ANY QUESTIONS? SO DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION ALSO? OKAY. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE JUST FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, BECAUSE UNDER THE IT SAYS THE RECOMMENDATION REMOVES THE TWO STEP PAY APPROVAL LIMIT OF THE CITY MANAGER AND A 52 WEEK PERIOD.
AND THEN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE REFERS TO BEING LIMITED TO A ONE STEP INCREASE.
SO CAN YOU JUST KIND OF EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE AS TO WHAT THOSE TWO SENTENCES ARE REFERRING TO? YES. SO THE ONE STEP PAY INCREASE HAD TO DO WITH PROMOTIONS.
SO WHEN SOMEONE IS PROMOTED INTO A POSITION, THEY WOULD JUST GET THE ONE STEP PAY INCREASE.
AND OVERALL, THE CITY MANAGER, WHETHER IT'S FOR REWARDING EMPLOYEES OR IF THERE'S ANY PAY EQUITY ISSUES THAT SHE SEES, SHE'S BEEN LIMITED TO ONLY TWO STEPS TO FIX ANY ISSUES, ANY COMPENSATION.
SO THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY REFER EVEN TO A PROMOTION, RIGHT? IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE.
IT WOULD BE MORE GETTING SOMETHING IN LINE.
OKAY. YES. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARITY, COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.
I JUST WONDERED THERE A COUPLE CHANGES THAT WEREN'T HIGHLIGHTED IN THE DESCRIPTION.
[00:30:04]
I MEAN, ONE IS THAT IF AN EMPLOYEE IS RECOMMENDED FOR MORE THAN A ONE STEP INCREASE IN ANY 52 WEEK PERIOD, SUCH INCREASE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE ONLY WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY MANAGER AND [INAUDIBLE] AND THE CITY COMMISSION.AND NOW THAT IS SOLELY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THE OTHER ONE HAVING TO DO WITH NONDISCRIMINATION.
LOOKING AT AN INDIVIDUAL, WE WENT FROM SEX, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, AGE OR HANDICAP STATUS TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, AGE, DISABILITY, MARITAL STATUS, FAMILY STATUS, AND VETERAN MILITARY STATUS.
YES, PARTICULARLY WITH THE PROCLAMATION.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ONE ALSO, JUST THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF OTHER CHANGES.
YES. SO SINCE WE WERE SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING A REVISION OF THE WHOLE PERSONNEL POLICY, BUT IT IS A LENGTHY PROCESS IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET EVERYTHING RIGHT.
AND SINCE WE WERE ALREADY IN HERE EDITING AND REVIEWING THIS SECTION, I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO REVISE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS IN LINE WITH OUR NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY THAT YOU ALL HAVE APPROVED.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT LANGUAGE WAS CONSISTENT.
AND I WILL SAY YOU MAY SEE OTHER AREAS THAT THEY WILL BE PART OF THE REVISION LATER ON.
SO WITH THE WE DID NOT DO THE THE GENDER NEUTRALIZATION.
AND THEN THERE ARE SOME POSITIONS YOU MAY SEE LISTED THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT OUT.
ALL RIGHT. OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY'S PERSONNEL POLICIES AS OUTLINED? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED.
THE CHAIR VOTES AYE. AND THEY ARE APPROVED.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MR. MADISON, I BELIEVE YOU ARE UP NEXT.
YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MAYOR, GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M RUSS MADISON, FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND I'M HERE TO PROPOSE THREE REVISIONS TO OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES, WHICH YOU'VE CONSIDERED IN PREVIOUS YEARS DURING EACH BUDGET SEASON, WHICH I'M ASKING YOU TO DO AGAIN AT THIS TIME.
THE FIRST REVISION WOULD DEAL WITH THE TIME PERIOD ALLOWED FOR EMPLOYEES TO SUBMIT RECEIPTS FOR TRAVEL OR EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS. RIGHT NOW, THE POLICY IS WRITTEN TO ALLOW 60 DAYS FROM PROPOSING THAT REDUCE BE REDUCED TO A TIME PERIOD OF 30 DAYS.
I THINK THIS WOULD HELP WITH SEVERAL THINGS.
ONE IS GETTING EMPLOYEES REIMBURSED FASTER IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE.
THIS WOULD ALSO PRESENT A TRUER PICTURE OF DEPARTMENTAL FINANCES.
IF THOSE EXPENSE RECORDS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED IN A TIMELY FASHION, ESPECIALLY, I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL DURING BUDGET SEASON AND THEN ALSO DURING AUDIT SEASON.
RIGHT NOW THE WEATHER'S GREAT.
PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING MAY, JUNE.
SO IF WE CAN GET THOSE IN JULY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
SO THAT'S THE REASONS BEHIND THAT RECOMMENDATION.
I DON'T I DO NOT RECALL ANY EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR SUCH ACTIVITY.
BUT I HAVE READ ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
MAYBE YOU HAVE TO WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ELSEWHERE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO INCLUDE THAT IN HERE.
AND THE THIRD AMENDMENT WOULD DEAL WITH THE RECOGNITION OF CAPITAL ASSETS WHEN THEY'RE PURCHASED IN BULK OR MULTIPLE ITEMS AT THE SAME MULTIPLE SAME ITEMS AT THE SAME TIME.
[00:35:07]
SO I THINK WE NEED TO UPDATE OUR POLICY AS WELL TO SAY THAT'S ACTUALLY A $6,000 ASSET TO RECORD.SO THOSE ARE THE THREE CHANGES THAT I'M RECOMMENDING.
[WORK SESSION II – 6:30 P.M.]
AND NONE OF THESE CAME FROM.THE AUDITORS DIDN'T TELL US TO DO THIS.
IT'S JUST BASED ON A REVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT WE DO EACH YEAR.
SO THESE CHANGES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR.
CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE QUESTIONS? SO JUST FOR HEADS UP.
EMPLOYEES WILL BE NOTIFIED THAT THEY NOW HAVE 30 DAYS IN ORDER TO TURN IN THEIR REIMBURSEMENT.
THEY'LL BE NOTIFIED, RIGHT? IF APPROVED, YES.
AND THIS WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL JULY 1ST.
OKAY. SO THEY'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF LEAD TIME.
BUT AFTER 30 DAYS, THERE'S NO REIMBURSEMENT.
NO, I THINK THE RATIONALE IS SOUND AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I THINK IT'S GOOD, GOOD FINANCIAL POLICY.
I JUST WANTED THAT CLARIFICATION FOR SOME.
BUT I THINK THE POLICY SAYS WE WOULD ADD IT TO YOUR W-2 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, BEFORE IT GETS TO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE HAD SOME TYPE OF EXCHANGE, I THINK.
THANK YOU. AND WHAT ABOUT MAYBE IT'S TOO TECHNICAL, BUT JUST DO YOU FACTOR IN DEPRECIATION WHEN YOU BUNDLE THESE ASSETS? DOES IT AFFECT HOW YOU DEPRECIATE THEM? I THINK WELL, DEPENDING ON THERE'S I THINK DIFFERENT DEPRECIATION SCHEDULES DEPENDING ON WHAT THE ASSET IS.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHEN THAT COMES INTO PLAY.
WE DO RUN DEPRECIATION ANNUALLY.
I GUESS I'M NOT SURE THAT WOULD REALLY.
MATTER AS MUCH AS THE TYPE OF ASSET.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THE QUANTITY.
I THINK IT'S THE CLASS OF THE ASSET.
WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR YOU? WHY? WHY ARE YOU ASKING FOR THAT POLICY? HOW DOES IT MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER OR THE ORGANIZATIONS? I BELIEVE WE'RE REQUIRED TO ANYWAY IN THE AUDITORS, EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN'T THE ONES THAT SAID IT.
I THINK THEIR EXPECTATION WHEN THE GASB UPDATED ONE OF ITS IT WASN'T A PRONOUNCEMENT.
IT WASN'T A FULL BLOWN GASB 87, GASB 88.
IT WAS AN IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINE THAT THEY HAVE THESE QUESTION AND ANSWER SCENARIOS AND ONE OF THEIR SCENARIOS SPECIFICALLY DEALT WITH THIS, THIS TYPE OF THING. AND SO I THINK IT'S IN.
IT CONFORMS BETTER TO WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND I THINK IN SOME WAYS IT'S TRUE.
I MEAN, IF WE IF WE BOUGHT 100 TRACTOR TIRES.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A VALUABLE ACQUISITION.
SO I THINK THE IDEA OF PRESENT A MORE REALISTIC PICTURE OF WHAT OUR ASSETS ARE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S AN IMPLIED BEST PRACTICE BY.
SO I BOUGHT 100 TIRES AND TEN COMPUTERS.
I WOULD NOT COMBINE THEM AND THEN DEPRECIATE THEM AS A GROUP.
I'D HAVE TO KEEP THEM SEPARATE.
YES, SIR. YEAH. AND I ASSUME THE VERY LAST CHANGE WAS TO THE FORM GOES TO THE FINANCE OFFICE RATHER THAN A PAYROLL COORDINATOR.
JUST TO MAKE THAT WAS A DATED REFERENCE.
I'M SURE SANTANA WOULD RATHER NOT RECEIVE FIXED ASSET FORMS. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POLICIES AS PRESENTED? OH, A FRIEND. WE HAVE A MOTION.
SO IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED.
NEXT, THE CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES INITIATIVE, LOCAL ACTION PLAN.
I'M CLAIRE MILLER. I AM THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CITY'S PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AND I HAVE TWO WONDERFUL HUMANS WITH ME HERE TONIGHT.
I HAVE GRACIE GOODMAN COHN AND ELI USAIN.
GRACIE IS GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH YOUTH VOICE.
[00:40:01]
ELI IS GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON NEXT STEPS OF OUR IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, AND THEN I WILL BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE OUR MEMORANDUM RECOMMENDING APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF OUR PLAN.HI, MY NAME IS GRACIE AND I'M A RISING SENIOR AT DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL.
IN OVER 40 COUNTRIES AND 3500 TOWNS AND CITIES.
TO BE SAFE. TO ENJOY FAMILY LIFE PLAY AND TO HAVE LEISURE.
AS A TEENAGER WHO WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN A PART OF MANY DIFFERENT ADVISORY GROUPS AND LEADERSHIP TEAMS FOR EACH.
MY INTENTIONS ARE GENERALLY THE SAME.
FIND A WAY TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE IN MY COMMUNITY AND BENEFIT THOSE WHO ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED.
I FIND THAT THEY ARE PERFORMATIVE.
FOR THE PAST TEN MONTHS NOW, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH 27 OTHER LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS FROM THE DECATUR COMMUNITY AS PART OF THE CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES INITIATIVE TEEN LEADERSHIP TEAM IN DECATUR, ONE OF THE UNITED STATES SIX CANDIDATE CITIES.
SPEAKING FOR EVERYONE ON THIS TEAM, WE HAVE NEVER FELT LIKE WE ARE NOT BEING HEARD.
WE HAVE NEVER FELT OVERLOOKED AND WE HAVE NEVER FELT LIKE THE WORK WE ARE DOING WAS PERFORMATIVE.
THE CFC LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS PROVIDED A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO TRULY KNOW THAT YOUTH VOICES ARE BEING REPRESENTED, BECAUSE IN JUST SHORT, IN JUST TEN SHORT MONTHS, WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN SO MUCH PROGRESS.
IF APPROVED, AN OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF A LOCAL ACTION PLAN IN SEPTEMBER WILL EARN THE CITY OF DECATUR, THE OFFICIAL TITLE OF CANDIDATE CITY WITH UNICEF USA.
A INCLUDING ACCESS TO A NEW UNICEF LOGO INCORPORATING CANDIDATE CITY LANGUAGE.
THE 2023 2014 LEADERSHIP TEAM WILL LOOK TO CONNECT WITH CITY STAFF, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO INFORM THE TEAM'S WORK ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LOCAL ACTION PLAN FOR YOUTH.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY COMMISSION AND COMMUNITY TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN OUR FIVE PRIORITY AREAS HERE AT NEXT YEAR'S GOALS FOR CFSCI FIVE PRIORITY GROUPS.
INCREASED TRUST WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AS RELATES TO TRAINING, ON WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.
BECOME A MORE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE CITY.
GOAL IS A BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR CAREER FAIR.
SPIRIT WEEK IN SCHOOL BOARDS AND PLANNING FOR INTERNATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
MENTAL HEALTH AND AWARENESS GOAL IS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.
BECOME A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS CITIES GOAL IS IMPLEMENTATION OF A CITY COMPOSTING PROGRAM.
WE APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD TO MAKE DECATUR A BETTER PLACE.
[00:45:06]
ALL RIGHT. SO IN YOUR MATERIALS THIS EVENING, YOU HAVE OUR FINAL DRAFT OF THE LOCAL ACTION PLAN FOR YOUTH.AND LINDA HARRIS TOLD ME TONIGHT THAT IT'S AWESOME.
SO I ASSUME THAT MEANS IT'S AWESOME.
AND MEREDITH TOLD ME THAT IT WAS CUTE, BUT SHE SAID SHE MEANT IT IN THE BEST WAY.
AND I SAID, WELL, THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE ONE OF THE GOALS IS FOR IT TO BE CHILD FRIENDLY SO THAT THE DOCUMENT ITSELF SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IF THEY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO IN OUR COMMUNITY TO AFFECT CHANGE.
AND WE DID MAKE A COUPLE OF CHANGES THAT WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
NOT NOT A LOT, JUST, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF WORD CHOICE SPOTS.
AND THE CITY MANAGER CAUGHT A MATH ERROR THAT WAS A CENSUS ISSUE.
I DON'T NOBODY HAS TO CHECK THE NUMBERS BECAUSE ANDREA ALREADY DID IT.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TRY TO TAKE THOSE.
BUT I AM RECOMMENDING APPROVAL.
WE HAVE MET THE UNICEF REQUIREMENTS.
THEY'RE ON BOARD WITH OUR PLAN AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING INTO NEXT STEPS WITH.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR SPEAKING THIS EVENING AND FOR THE GREAT PRESENTATION WE HAD AT A WORK SESSION RECENTLY.
SO I THINK WE ARE WE'RE REALLY FAMILIAR AND EXCITED ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE AND SAY APPRECIATION TO YOU AND THE REST OF THE YOUTH TEAM BUT ALSO THE STAFF THAT HAS THERE ARE A LOT OF PARTS TO THIS PUZZLE AND APPRECIATE THE WORK ON THAT IT IS NOT LIKE LET'S CHECK FIVE BOXES AND WE'RE IN KIND OF THING IT'S A IT'S A PROCESS AND APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT EVERYONE HAS PUT INTO THAT.
SO ARE THERE JUST TO, YOU KNOW, JUST A GENERAL COMMENT.
NO, THIS IS WORK THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING.
THIS IS WORK THAT OUR YOUTH ARE BRINGING TO US.
AND THIS IS NOT JUST SIMPLY TO CHECK ANOTHER BOX.
AND CHECKING A BOX DOES NOT DO RIGHT BY OUR CHILDREN.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THESE FORWARD WITH THE CORRECTIONS.
WITH THAT, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES INITIATIVE? LOCAL ACTION PLAN.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. OTHER QUESTIONS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE'LL LOOK AT STREET REPAIR AND RESURFACING.
YEAH, A LITTLE FOLLOW UP THERE IS EXCITING.
I UNDERSTAND. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, DAVID YOUNGER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
PURPOSE OF THE AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT IS TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO IN THE AMOUNT OF $132,900 TO OUR CITY STREET REPAIR AND RESURFACING CONTRACT CURRENTLY WITH MAGNUM PAVING LLC FOR UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE PAVING PROJECT, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL SIDEWALK REPAIRS IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR.
THE PRESENT CONTRACT IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,363,333.
THE PROPOSED CONTRACT AMOUNT IS $1,496,233, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 9.7%.
THE REPAIRS ARE NEEDED TO FIX NUMEROUS SIDEWALK PANELS DAMAGED OR DISLODGED BY TREE ROOTS ALONG WEST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE FROM CLERMONT TO PONCE DE LEON PLACE.
WE WOULD INTEND TO NOTIFY ALL THE BUSINESSES IN THE IMPACTED AREA DURING CONSTRUCTION.
[00:50:03]
IF APPROVED, THE CONTRACTOR IS PREPARED TO START THIS WORK IMMEDIATELY.OF THIS CHANGE ORDER REQUEST FOR THE SIDEWALK REPAIRS REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 70,650.
THIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST MADE TO THE CITY OF DECATUR BY AN AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE STAFF.
OTHER WORK THAT WAS INCLUDED DURING OUR MILLING OPERATIONS ON EAST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE.
BROKEN SUBSURFACE CONCRETE PREVENTED STANDARD BASE PATCHING.
AND SO IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE CONTRACTOR AND REVIEWED BY OUR ENGINEERING STAFF THAT IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THIS FUTURE POTENTIAL REFLECTIVE CRACKING FROM THE CONCRETE RECOMMENDED USING A PERMA FLEX BRIDGING MATERIAL WHICH IS JUST A STRENGTHENED ASPHALT MATERIAL, AND THAT WAS A FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO MAKING THE NECESSARY REPAIRS.
THOSE TWO ITEMS, THE DRIVEWAY APRON REPAIR AT AGNES SCOTT AND THE ASPHALT CHANGE REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY $62,250 OF THE CHANGE ORDER.
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. YOUNGER. I I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE WEST PONTE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS IN THERE.
SO COMMISSIONER WALSH AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH DOWNTOWN DECATUR NEIGHBORS TALK ABOUT DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN.
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF I'M [INAUDIBLE] NO, NO, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
A LOT OF SENIORS, A LOT OF EXPERIENCED PEOPLE LIVING DOWNTOWN.
AND SO JUST HAVING LESS TRIP HAZARDS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THEM.
SO JUST REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT HAPPENING.
AND ONE QUICK QUESTION. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY ALSO IN DOWNTOWN MASTERPLAN TALKED ABOUT EXPANDING THE TREE WELLS? IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD BE DOING AS PART OF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'D BE LOOKING AT AS PART OF THIS WORK? YEAH. MY QUESTION WAS, I MEAN, A LOT OF THOSE TREES HAVE ROOTS THAT HAVE SEVERELY IMPACTED THE SIDEWALKS.
TO ADDRESS SOME OF THIS IN THIS AREA, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT EXPANDING THE TREE.
WELL, FOOTPRINTS IN A MORE LINEAR, LINEAR FASHION ALONG THE BACK OF THE CURB.
BUT WE WOULD EXPAND IN A LINEAR FASHION TO ALLOW MORE INFILTRATION OF WATER AND RAIN.
WE ALSO YOU'LL HEAR A REPORT LATER TONIGHT ABOUT A PROJECT.
TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR TREE AND OUR TREE CANOPY IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR.
SO IT WASN'T LIKE A NORMAL WHERE THE TREES KIND OF DO THIS.
A LOT OF THIS WAS ACTUALLY A TRAUMATIC EVENT AS OPPOSED TO JUST SO IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
YEAH. SOMEBODY WHO WALKS OUT ALL THE TIME.
JUST IT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
I WAS GLAD THE SIDEWALK WAS THERE.
WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LOST SOME TREES.
SO. ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. YOUNG? SITE VISIT ON MY WAY HOME.
THANK YOU. BACK TO FULL REPORT.
RIGHT. YOU CAN DO IT EVERY DAY.
SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE A CHANGE? ORDER NUMBER TWO AND THE AMOUNT OF 132,900 AND AN INCREASE IN THE CONTRACT AMOUNT TO $1,496,233 TO MAGNUM PAVING FOR STREET REPAIR AND RESURFACING CONTRACT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND MOTION'S BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED.
CHAIR VOTES? AYE. AND THE MOTION PASSES.
SO NEXT WE WILL TURN TO THE REQUEST AND PETITIONS PORTION OF THE MEETING.
[00:55:03]
THIS IS THE LAST TIME DURING THIS MEETING THAT WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS.SO AGAIN, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE IN THE MEETING WITH US.
AND THEN AFTER THAT IS DONE, WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US ONLINE.
I'M KNOWN AS DIG AND I LIVE AT 230 WEST DAVIS STREET.
I GOT A NOTICE IN THE MAIL FRIDAY OR SATURDAY SAYING THAT I HAD NOT PAID A PARKING TICKET.
GUESS WHAT? I NEVER GOT A PARKING TICKET ON MY VEHICLE.
AND THE AND THE CITY HAS SAID YOU MUST PAY IT IMMEDIATELY OR WE'LL TAKE FURTHER ACTION AGAINST YOU.
SO I FELT LIKE THE CITY IS BULLYING ME.
OKAY. I DON'T THINK THIS IS PROPER.
THIS NOTICE WAS DATED MAY 14TH.
NOW, MY SUGGESTION IS TEACH THE CITY EMPLOYEES HOW TO MAIL SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW, TEACH THEM HOW TO GO TO THE MAILBOX AND PUT SOMETHING IN A PROPER MANNER.
YOU KNOW. TELL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NOT TO SEND OUT NOTICES LIKE THIS TO BULLY PEOPLE.
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THAT.
IT DID NOT GIVE ME ANYWHERE TO APPEAL THIS AT ALL.
RIGHTLY SO. I GOT THE PARKING TICKET, YOU KNOW.
I'LL SAY THAT. I'LL TAKE THAT ONE.
BUT TO HAVE TO PAY DOUBLE THE PRICE, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW.
TEACH HIM HOW TO ATTACH A TICKET TO A THING.
IF THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO RAISE A WINDSHIELD WIPER AND STICK THE TICKET UNDER THERE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THAT, YOU KNOW? I DON'T KNOW. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S MY THAT'S MY MY BEEF TODAY.
I WON'T TAKE ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? OKAY. WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US ONLINE.
AND IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, PLEASE DO SO AT THIS TIME.
BY RAISING YOUR HAND, I'LL CALL ON YOU AND MR. ROARK WILL UNMUTE YOU AND WE WILL LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTS.
OKAY. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC.
OKAY. IS THAT REMY? WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR COMMENT.
IF YOU WILL RESTATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
HI. YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? UM, WE CAN.
WE CAN. CAN WE TURN HER UP JUST A LITTLE? OKAY. YES.
YOU CAN HEAR ME NOW? YES, THAT'S MUCH BETTER.
THANK YOU. YEAH. MY NAME IS REMY RATIER.
MY ADDRESS IS 1933 CAMELLIA DRIVE.
AND MY COMMENT TO YOU GUYS TODAY WAS ACTUALLY IN RELATION TO THE PROPOSED 2023 TO 2024 BUDGET.
I COULDN'T GET THE HAND TO WORK EARLIER, BUT I SAW UPCOMING IN THE 2023-2024 BUDGET PROPOSAL IN RELATION TO THE SCHOOL ZONE CAMERA BUDGET, THE FUND THAT'S BEING ALLOCATED.
OH, I SAW THAT FUND IS BEING LISTED AS $500,000 IN ANTICIPATED REVENUE FROM THE SCHOOL ZONE CAMERAS.
AND MY COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL WERE WHETHER OR NOT THAT $500,000 WAS GOING TO BE FACTORED INTO ADJUSTING THE POLICE BUDGET FOR 2023 TO 2024.
BECAUSE AS IS LISTED CURRENTLY WITH THE SCHOOL ZONE FUND, IT SAID THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS POLICE DEPARTMENT PROMOTIONAL TESTING IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000.
POLICE PATROL VEHICLE EQUIPMENT AND THE AMOUNT OF $97,000.
POLICE OFFICER SAFETY GEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $52,000.
[01:00:04]
TASER TRADE IN AND UPGRADES IN THE AMOUNT OF $113,000.POLICE POLICY DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,000.
911 NET CLOCK IN THE AMOUNT OF $14,000.
AND SECURITY CAMERAS FOR BUSINESS DISTRICT USE IN THE AMOUNT OF $77,000.
AND. I WANT TO MAKE A CALL OUT TO THOSE PROPOSED REVENUES BECAUSE THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TO A LOT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGETED CATEGORIES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN OVERESTIMATED FOR IN PAST YEARS.
NOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE CURRENT AUDIT FOR THE 2022 TO 2023 YEAR YET.
BUT BASED ON THE AUDIT FROM THE 2021 TO 2022 YEAR.
SO DESPITE THERE BEING EVIDENCE OF THE UTILIZATION OF MANY OF THOSE CATEGORIES IN THE PRIOR YEARS OF THE POLICE BUDGET, WHEN YOU COMPARE THOSE NUMBERS.
SO SIMILARLY, IF WE LOOK AT THE AUDIT FROM THE 2021 TO 2022 YEAR.
AND HOW WE HAVE NOT ADJUSTED AND WE'VE ONLY INCREASED THE POLICE BUDGET IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S NOT EVIDENCE OF THE UTILIZATION OF THESE CATEGORIES. WE HAVE AN OVERAGE OF $64,000 IN AN OVERESTIMATED BUDGET FROM THE 2021, 2022 AUDIT TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET OF THE 2023, 2024 YEAR.
WE HAVE AN OVERAGE OF $100,000 IN REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLE EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, TIRES AND BATTERIES, SUPPLIES, VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT. IN ADDITIONAL OVERESTIMATION OF $21,000 IN POLICE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND AN ADDITIONAL $37,000 OVER ESTIMATES OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND COMPUTER EQUIPMENT.
SO TAKING THOSE NUMBERS INTO COMPARISON WITH THE ADDITIONAL $500,000 THAT ARE GOING TO BE ALLOCATED FOR INSTANCE, YOU SEE HOW.
THERE IS THE SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION OF $19,000 IN THE $500,000 ALLOCATION VERSUS ALREADY THERE BEING A PRIOR OVERESTIMATE OF $37,000 IN COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND EQUIPMENT.
SO THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION IF THAT $500,000 IS GOING TO BE.
I KNOW THAT HAS TO BE USED FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET, BUT HOW ARE WE ADJUSTING THE UPCOMING 2023, 2024 POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGETS TO REFLECT THOSE AREAS THAT ARE ALREADY OVER BUDGETED AND OVERESTIMATED FOR BASED ON THE UTILIZATION OF PRIOR YEARS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT AND I WILL ENCOURAGE YOU.
OH, SHE'S STILL ON. I'M SORRY.
OH, SORRY YOU TO LISTEN TO IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OUR WORK SESSION ON WEDNESDAY, WE WILL BE DIGGING DEEP INTO THE BUDGET. AND I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER WAS TAKING NOTES AND TO SEE IF WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD.
ARE THERE OTHERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? YOU WILL RAISE YOUR HAND.
I WILL ASK MISS ROARK TO UNMUTE YOU.
I BELIEVE MR. NIFONG HAS SOME THINGS TO BRING FORWARD.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS DAVID NIFONG, CITY'S ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO PROVIDE A FEW BRIEF UPDATES ON RECENT GRANT APPLICATIONS THAT WE'VE SUBMITTED.
THE FIRST IS KIND OF FORTUITOUS.
LAST WEEK WE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO THE USDA'S URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM TO RECEIVE $150,000 OF FUNDING TO COMPLETE A DOWNTOWN DECATUR CANOPY MANAGEMENT AND RESILIENCE PLAN.
[01:05:09]
AND WHEN WE REFER TO DOWNTOWN, WE'RE REFERRING TO THE SAME PROJECT AREA USED FOR THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, AS WELL AS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NECESSARY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES TO EXTEND THE LIFESPAN OF OUR TREES.DAVID WAS MENTIONING ONE KIND OF VERY COMMON CONFLICT OF URBAN TREES WITH SIDEWALK INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. OTHER ACTIVITIES WOULD INCLUDE A TREE PLANTING STRATEGY AND URBAN GREENING STRATEGY, AS WELL AS THE SUCCESSION PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN DECATUR TREE CANOPY.
WE SHOULD WE SHOULD HEAR BACK ON THAT APPLICATION SOMETIME THIS FALL.
THE SECOND WAS SUBMITTED THIS AFTERNOON TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
THERE ARE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT THERE WERE DIRECT ALLOCATIONS FROM THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT TO LARGER COMMUNITIES AT OUR SIZE. WE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A FORMULA ALLOCATION, SO WE HAD TO APPLY TO THE COMPETITIVE PROGRAM.
WE APPLIED FOR $600,000 OF FUNDING TO COMPLETE MUNICIPAL AND RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. THE FIRST WOULD BE THE MUNICIPAL PROGRAM PROJECTS WOULD BE AT THE EBSTER RECREATION CENTER, THE DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DECATUR PUBLIC WORKS. THE RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM WOULD BE PRIMARILY DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE PROPOSED COMMUNITY ENERGY FUND THAT YOU SEE IN THE FISCAL YEAR 23-24 BUDGET PROPOSAL.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE, BUT WE'RE JUST HAVE HAVE OUR FINGERS CROSSED AND HOPEFULLY WE GET ONE OR BOTH OF THOSE TO CONTINUE SOME OF THE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
SO IF WE DID GET THE ENERGY, ONE THAT WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO LIKE THE 130,000 AND CHANGE.
YEAH. DO WE KNOW WHEN THEY WILL LET US KNOW ANYTHING? SO WE SUBMITTED KIND OF A PHASE ONE APPLICATION.
THEY'LL REVIEW THOSE SUBMISSIONS AND THEN THEY'LL INVITE US TO APPLY TO THE FULL SUBMIT A FULL APPLICATION IN AUGUST IF THEY LIKE OUR PROJECT PROPOSAL.
AND THEN I WOULD EXPECT TO HEAR BACK BY THE END OF 2023 REGARDING THE ACTUAL FULL PROPOSAL WITH FUNDING RECEIVED IN 2024. ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. I THINK FROM A STAFF STANDPOINT, IT SHOULD BE SAID TO MY OBSERVATION, THIS IS WORK TO GET GRANTS THAT GOES OVER AND ABOVE AND BEYOND A REGULAR WORKDAY, A REGULAR WORKWEEK.
THEN THE PROJECTS THAT YOU DO AND NOT ONLY I JUST HEARD SOME GREAT NEWS ABOUT AN ACTIVE LIVING GRANT AND WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIALIZED PERSON IN EACH DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT. AND SO I JUST REALLY VALUE THAT.
IT'S REALLY MEANINGFUL WORK THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE OTHER STUFF.
SO IT'S MEANINGFUL, MEANINGFUL WORK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DUE DILIGENCE ON THAT.
AND I WILL JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT SPEAKING OF GRANTS, BECAUSE WE DID I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE, THE CITY OF DECATUR, WAS AWARDED A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION BY GOVERNOR KEMP TO MAKE MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO ESSER PARK.
THE DETAILS OF THE GRANT AWARD APPLICATION INCLUDE THE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE PLANNED TO ESSER PARK, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN DECATUR, DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY, ALAN WILSON TERRACE, AND WILL HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE INADEQUATE ACCESS TO THE PARK, A LACK OF APPROPRIATE LIGHTING AND SHADE, THE AVAILABILITY OF RESTROOMS AND PROVIDE OTHER AMENITIES DESIRED AND PROVIDE A SAFE COMMUNITY PARK FOR MEMBERS TO CONTINUE TO GATHER.
AND THE PROPOSED PROJECT, OF COURSE, INCLUDES INPUT FROM THE NEIGHBORS AND FROM THE COMMUNITY TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THERE.
[01:10:09]
NICE THERE.THE RENOVATION OF THE BASKETBALL COURT AND PAVILION, AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR A NEW AMENITIES SUCH AS A SKATE PARK OR AN ALL WHEELS FEATURE. SO THERE WERE 142 QUALIFIED PROJECTS THAT WERE RECEIVED STATEWIDE FUNDING, AND THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANTS WAS A LITTLE OVER $225 MILLION.
AND SO I THINK FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO GET 2 MILLION FOR THAT GRANT AND AGAIN, THANKS TO OUR OUR QUICK STAFF AND GETTING THOSE GRANTS IN AND RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT AND USE FUNDS WISELY AND IN AN AREA THAT CAN SERVE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE CLOSE TO THAT COMMUNITY, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MADE SURE IN OUR GRANT APPLICATION THAT WE SAID, HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WE'D LIKE TO WE THINK WE WILL PUT THERE, BUT WE WILL TAKE COMMUNITY INPUT TO MAKE THE FINAL PLAN BEFORE THOSE CHANGES HAPPEN.
SO THAT'S A PRETTY EXCITING GRANT NEWS FOR THE CITY AS WELL.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE ONE THAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO.
SO AND THEN DOES THE CITY DO YOU HAVE ANY THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE? NOT TONIGHT, MAYOR.
AND AND THAT WILL ALSO BE ON ZOOM.
YOUR REAL HAND IS WAVING FROM THE AUDIENCE.
KIND OF GOES ALONG WITH OUR BUDGET WORK SESSION AND OUR PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT THAT OUR PUBLIC CAN ALSO PARTICIPATE ON A POLL COLD QUESTION TO LET YOU KNOW IF THEY SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT'S OUT THERE.
IT'S BEEN POSTED ON ALL THE SOCIAL CHANNELS THROUGH NEXT DOOR.
THERE'S A LITTLE TINY LINK THAT SAYS VIEW POLL INFO, SO YOU'LL CLICK ON THAT.
IT WILL BRING UP A SYNOPSIS OF WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET, AS WELL AS LINKS TO THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS SO THAT YOU CAN HOPEFULLY YOU WILL READ IT BEFORE YOU RESPOND. AND THEN ALSO TELLING US IF YOU OPPOSE SUPPORT OR YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T KNOW THERE'S ROOM TO WRITE US YOUR REASONS WHY.
AND I THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, STAFF WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
BUT IF YOU JUST TELL US SUPPORT OR OPPOSE, THAT'S HELPFUL AS WELL.
SO AGAIN, DECATUR GA.COM BACKSLASH BUDGET AND THE POLL COLD QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SHARE THAT AND THANK YOU FOR UPDATING THAT.
SO I'M SORRY, I'LL BE HAPPY TO CHAT WITH YOU AFTER THE MEETING IF THAT'S OKAY.
SO I WILL MAKE A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE WE GO AROUND JUST TO AND OUR OUR CY, OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH CHILD-FRIENDLY CITIES GROUP HAS LEFT BUT DID WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE TAKING A GROUP TO DENVER.
THE END OF THIS WEEK TO COMPETE IN THE ALL-AMERICA CITIES COMPETITION.
AND WE WERE ONE OF 20 SELECTED.
AND THE THEME IS CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AND THE PRESENTATION IS BEING LED BY OUR YOUTH, BOTH OUR DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL AND THE LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF THE CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES INITIATIVE.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY AND REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE YOUTH TO SAY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD THEM SAY TO US IN A WORK SESSION, BUT TO LET OTHER COMMUNITIES KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING AS A PART OF THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS AND THE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO I WILL WE SHOULD KNOW ON SUNDAY IF WE'RE ONE OF THE TEN WINNERS.
COMMISSIONER MEYER. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WILL BE BRIEF AS WE WILL BE BACK TOGETHER IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS.
AND I'M SURE I'LL DO PLENTY OF TALKING THEN.
JUST LIKE TO THANK THE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAME AND EITHER SPOKE OR PRESENTED TODAY.
I THINK WE RECEIVED A WEALTH OF OF QUALITY INFORMATION IN OUR WORK SESSIONS.
[01:15:02]
AS ALWAYS, I LOVE TO SEE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE PRESENTING TO THE CITY COMMISSION AND SEE THEM ENGAGED IN OUR PUBLIC PROCESS.I THINK THAT CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED ARE VERY VALID ONES AND CERTAINLY DESERVE CONVERSATION.
AND MR. EVITT, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND EXPRESSING YOUR DISCOMFORT WITH A PARKING TICKET.
IF WE FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS BEING PROJECTED ONTO US OR WE ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO SOMETHING WHERE WE DON'T HAVE RECOURSE, THAT THAT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING.
BUT NONETHELESS, THAT FEELING OF SUBJUGATION IS ONE THAT WE AS A CITY DON'T WANT TO ADOPT.
SO I THINK THAT BY YOU COMING HERE TODAY AND EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERNS, THAT GIVES US IMPORTANT FEEDBACK THAT WE CAN USE TO GROW AND BE BETTER AND ULTIMATELY BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND MORE ACCESSIBLE AND MORE IN TOUCH AND HELPFUL TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY IN WAYS THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW ARE NEEDED.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
THANK YOU. MS.. RATHIER FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THE BUDGET AND YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TODAY'S MEETING.
WE WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A DEEP DIVE INTO THAT ON WEDNESDAY.
AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE TIME.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.
I'M ACTUALLY FORTUNATELY, I'M GOING TO BE AT WORK.
I'M GONNA BE IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.
IT'S THE GRAND OPENING OF THE MEDGAR EVERS HOME NATIONAL MONUMENT.
SO BUT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE HERE IN PERSON.
SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, AND THEN I JUST WANT TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON ACTUALLY I NORMALLY DON'T GO THROUGH PROCLAMATIONS, BUT IT JUST I'M SURE I'M NOT ALONE IN JUST BEING TROUBLED SOMETIMES IN THE POLARIZATION AND THE DEMONIZATION OF VARIOUS, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT, IF YOU WILL, DIFFERENCES WITHIN OUR SOCIETY.
AND AND AS SOMEBODY WHO PROBABLY IS BORN WITH EVERY SINGLE POSSIBLE ADVANTAGE THAT YOU COULD HAVE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND JUST TAKING THE TIME.
AND SOMETIMES A PROCLAMATION MAY NOT SEEM LIKE SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT.
WE'RE ALL PEOPLE. YOU ARE HEARD AND AND IT MAKES ME PROUD THAT DECATUR HAS NOT BEEN AND PROBABLY NEVER WILL BE ONE OF THOSE PLACES THAT SEEKS TO GAIN ADVANTAGE BY DEMONIZING OR POLARIZING A CERTAIN GROUP OF ITS CITIZENS.
IT WAS PART OF THE TEEN ACTIVATION OF EBSTER PARK.
NEVER THOUGHT WE'D GET IT DONE SO QUICKLY.
KUDOS TO THE STAFF FOR PUTTING THAT IN AND GETTING THE FUNDING RIGHT.
COMMISSIONER WALSH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GREAT MEETING AND YEAH, VERY THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE TWO GREAT THINGS TO TO CELEBRATE AND BE INTROSPECTIVE ABOUT AS WELL BETWEEN JUNETEENTH AND PRIDE MONTH HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.
ALWAYS A LOT OF WORK TO DO UNDER THOSE TOPICS AND THEN HOPEFULLY TIME TO TAKE TIME TO TAKE REFLECTION, DO THINGS WE DON'T NORMALLY DO, READ THINGS WE DON'T NORMALLY READ. JUST BE PART OF BOTH OF THOSE CELEBRATIONS.
YEAH. AND I GUESS I'M GOING TO GO TAKE A LONG NAP TO GET READY FOR OUR MEETING IN 48 HOURS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS MR. EVITT. EVITT, YES, ALONG THE SAME LINES OF WHAT WE'VE SAID.
AND AND WAS IT OUR LAST MEETING WHERE MR. MADISON WENT THROUGH PARKING AS A SECTION OF OUR BUDGET? HE WAS VERY ARTICULATE AND ELOQUENT ABOUT STATING EMPHATICALLY THAT IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE A PREDATORY SOURCE OF REVENUE THAT COMES FROM A PREDATORY BEHAVIOR.
AND I DON'T THINK THE PROCEDURES SHOULD FEEL PREDATORY EITHER.
SO I'M SORRY YOU FELT THAT WAY.
AND I'VE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE, AND I HOPE THAT IT WAS A GLITCH.
SO PARKING TICKETS AREN'T FUN AND I GET THEM AND I DON'T LIKE TO PAY THEM, BUT WE DO.
AND WE TRY TO FOLLOW THE RULES SUCH AS WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE.
BUT WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY, THAT'S NOT A GOOD FEELING.
[01:20:03]
AND SO WE DON'T LIKE TO INCREASE ANYONE'S STRESS ANY MORE THAN IT HAS TO BE.RIGHT. SO THANKS FOR SHARING THAT WITH US.
WE DON'T HEAR THAT A LOT, REALLY A GRANULAR INSTANCE OF A PAIN POINT.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD HEAR MORE.
BUT I THINK WHAT MR. MATTSON SAID REALLY ECHOED WITH ME.
HEARTENED THAT STAFF WHO MANAGES THAT PART OF OUR BUDGET TOO, WAS BEING VERY EXPLICIT THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE IN THEORY, IT SHOULD NOT BE A PREDATORY COMPONENT OR A PREDATORY PROCEDURE THAT WE HAVE RELATIVE TO PARKING.
IT'S A WAY TO CREATE STRUCTURE.
OBVIOUSLY PARKING RULES SO THAT WE HAVE A ROBUST DOWNTOWN AND PEOPLE CAN COME AND GO.
AND THERE'S YOU KNOW, THERE'S THEORY BEHIND SOME OF IT, TOO.
I'M GLAD WE BUTTONED THAT DOWN.
AND IT'S SUCH A NEAT SEND OFF TOO, FOR STAFF AND THE PARTICIPANTS AND EVERYONE GOING OUT TO DENVER AND JUST KNOWING IT'S NOT EVEN ABOUT THAT RESULT, BUT THE PRIDE THAT WE CAN TAKE IN WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE, THE REAL WORK THAT'S GETTING LAUNCHED AND ALL THE I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT, THE HUMAN CAPITAL OF 28 YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE FACT THAT FOR OUR WHOLE CITY AND COMMUNITY THAT THE PRESENTATION QUANTIFIES THAT YOUTH VOICE LIKE HOW MANY? THAT'S A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND WHERE ARE THEY AND WHAT SCHOOLS AND WHAT AGE DEMOGRAPHICS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO US ALL WORKING TOGETHER AND RESPONDING TO WHAT THEY SAY IS IMPORTANT.
AND NOTHING MAKES ME HAPPIER THAN A 5K AND A FESTIVAL AND A AND A RIBBON CUTTING ANY OF THE ABOVE.
SO WE HAD A COUPLE OF RIBBON CUTTINGS THIS LAST MONTH.
SO I HOPE WE KEEP HAVING MORE OF THOSE AND CAN SUPPORT THEM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
THANK YOU. JUST SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT.
JUNETEENTH AND PRIDE MONTH AND WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO PRACTICE.
YOU'RE NOT JUST HEARING THE WORDS FROM THE PROCLAMATION.
BUT DOING THE ACTS BECAUSE WE CAN READ PROCLAMATIONS.
BUT IF WE DON'T FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT ACTION, THEN THOSE ARE JUST EMPTY WORDS.
LET'S JUST MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO BACK THAT UP WITH OUR DECISIONS, OUR ACTIONS, OUR POLICIES.
WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT YOU HERE.
AND SO I THINK WE CAN GO A LONG WAY BY BACKING UP.
LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DO.
WHAT IT IS THAT WE WERE ELECTED TO DO.
AND WE GET THE SUPPORT FROM STAFF BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING TO FULFILL THAT MISSION.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POLICY AND COMPENSATION.
I THINK WE HAVE SOME OF THE FINEST PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.
I THINK THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ATTRACT MORE AND KEEP MORE.
SO I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT THAT PAYROLL STUDY AND THAT COMPENSATION STUDY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THE FOLKS HERE THAT ABSOLUTELY WE WANT TO KEEP HERE AND ATTRACT NEW PEOPLE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A MISSION AND A VISION.
COMMISSIONER MAYER, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING ON DECATUR BEST FUNK FESTIVAL EVER.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY FROM ALL THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO, BOTH DURING AND AFTER.
THANK YOU. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO FUNK FEST, TOO.
TAKING REQUESTS. TAKING REQUESTS.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS A GREAT MEETING.
IT'S BEEN GREAT, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR YOUTH, IT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING TO WATCH FROM OUR FIRST SORT OF PRACTICE TO WHERE WE ARE NOW AND SEE THE ENGAGEMENT.
AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO SORT OF WATCH THESE CONNECTIONS HAPPEN.
THEY DON'T JUST HAPPEN NATURALLY.
[01:25:01]
AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN TUNE IN AND WATCH THE PRESENTATION ON SATURDAY MORNING AT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS LOCAL TIME HERE WILL BE ABOUT 7 A.M..PLEASE DO. BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN HAVE PUT THEIR HEART INTO THIS.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE I THINK THE JUDGES ARE GOING TO LIKE IT.
I'M EXCITED THAT THE MAYOR AND I AS PARTS ARE VERY SMALL.
WE'LL BE LATER, RIGHT? YOU'LL BE TWO HOURS EARLIER.
YES. SO WHAT TIME? I THINK 10:00, 9:00, 9:00, 11, WHATEVER.
YEAH. TUNE IN WHEN YOU TUNE IN.
AND I THINK SHE IS GONE, BUT I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MADELINE HENNER, WHO IS THE NEWEST DIRECTOR OR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, I GUESS OUR FIRST DIRECTOR FOR LEGACY DECATUR.
SHE INTERVIEWED AND WE OFFERED HER THE POSITION OF FULL TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LAST WEEK, WHICH I THINK SHE ACCEPTED. SO SHE HADN'T SAID NO.
SO BUT I KNOW SHE WAS HERE EARLIER AND I JUST I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT SHE BRINGS.
BUT IT'S ALSO THAT HOMETOWN TALENT.
WELL, SPEAKING OF LEGACY PARK, ON SATURDAY, JUNE THE 10TH, FROM 1 TO 7, THERE'S A PRE JUNETEENTH EVENT WITH BLACK VENDORS MARKETPLACE, FOOD, MUSIC, ART.
I'M HOPING THAT FOOD TRUCK THAT WILL BE BACK THERE THAT WAS THERE ON SOME FRIDAY SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO COME OUT AND ENJOY A NICE DAY AT AT LEGACY ON ON JUNE THE 10TH AND ON JUNE THE 13TH I THINK AS WE HEARD IN OUR WORK SESSION, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER TRACK AND FIELD INPUT AND REVIEW SESSION FROM 6 TO 8, ALSO AT AT LEGACY PARK.
SO MAKE YOUR WAY OVER TO LEGACY PARK IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO TAKE PART IN A FUN EVENT AND ALSO IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH THE TRACK AND FIELD PROCESS.
SO THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR A GOOD MEETING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO PRACTICING TOMORROW NIGHT AND IT WAS FUN TO WATCH THE THE KIDS SORT OF LOOSEN UP A LITTLE BIT OVER TIME. AND WHEN YOU ASK TEENAGERS TO SKIP IN A CIRCLE, THEY THEN GET A LITTLE SILLY AND IT BREAKS THE ICE EVERY TIME.
SO IT'S GOING TO BUT THEY ARE DOING WILL DO A GREAT JOB.
SO AND I AGREE THAT THE PROCLAMATIONS THERE ARE SOME POWERFUL WORDS IN THE PROCLAMATION, BUT IF THEY'RE JUST WORDS, THEN THAT'S ALL THEY ARE.
SO I HOPE AS I READ THEM AND HOPEFULLY AS PEOPLE LISTEN TO THEM, THAT WE TAKE THEM TO HEART AND TO PRACTICE THE WHAT WE ARE ASKING OUR RESIDENTS TO DO AND THAT WE WE DO RECOGNIZE THE THAT HISTORY HAS NOT BEEN WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
AND BOTH OF THESE AREAS AND AS COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIVISIONS NOW IN THIS COUNTRY THAT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE ALL PART OF THIS TOGETHER AND VALUE PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE AND RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYONE DOESN'T START IN THE SAME PLACE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE BUDGET MEETING ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 8:55.
CALL IT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.