Nov 18, 2024 Work Session &amp; City Commission

>> I WILL SAY WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT OR EVEN ABOUT E5 MORE GENERALLY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT.

THIS IS GREAT. I LOVE STUFF LIKE THIS.

I LOVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SUGGESTIONS, I LOVE WAYS TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITHOUT FEAR OF RETRIBUTION, I LOVE BEING ABLE TO SHARE IDEAS WITHOUT BEING SUBJECTED TO GROUP THINK, WHICH SOMETIMES HAPPENS, SOMEONE ELSE'S OPINION, ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOMES EVERYBODY'S OPINION.

THIS IS VERY MUCH IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT I LIKE TO SEE IN SAFE HEALTHY WORK ENVIRONMENTS.

MY FIRST QUESTION FOR YOU IS, ONE, IS THIS SOLELY A TOOL FOR PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS AND BETTER WAYS TO DO THINGS OR NEW THINGS TO IMPLEMENT? OR IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TEAMMATES IN THE CITY TO EXPRESS CONCERNS?

>> BOTH.

>> BOTH. GOOD. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR.

[LAUGHTER] EXCELLENT. THAT WAS, I THOUGHT ABOUT THE SAME THING. [LAUGHTER] GO AHEAD.

>> SO YOU'RE THE SMALL BUT MIGHTY E5 CLASS.

MANY THOUGHTS ON GROWING IT, OR IS IT INTEREST OR IS SIX A GOOD NUMBER? WHAT ARE YOU GUYS THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> ALL THE FIRST CLASS CAME BACK.

>> WE MAY NEED YOU TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE BECAUSE WE ARE.

THANK YOU, DON'T BE SHY. [LAUGHTER]

>> WE'RE THE FIRST CLASS AFTER THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC.

PREVIOUS CLASSES HAD BEEN LARGER.

>> DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN OR?

>> WE EXPECT INTEREST IN CLASS SIZE TO GROW.

>> I BELIEVE THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF AM I CORRECT, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PROGRAM LEADERS IS TO DO THIS EVERY OTHER YEAR, AND THEN IN THE OFF YEAR, WE CAN BUILD ON FEEDBACK FROM THE PREVIOUS CLASS, MAKE IT BIGGER AND BETTER.

ALSO JUST CONSIDERING HOW MANY STAFF WE HAVE I ALSO SEE THE LOGIC OF DOING THIS EVERY OTHER YEAR.

>> I THOUGHT THAT THE PROGRAM SENSE I LIKE THAT.

>> IF ONE OF YOU ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO COME FORWARD.

WHAT SOMETHING THAT YOU LEARNED BY PARTICIPATING IN

[00:15:02]

THIS PROCESS? DON'T BE SHY. [LAUGHTER]

>> WITH ME WITH TWO OF THREE, ACTUALLY.

THEY ALL BROKEN A SHELL AS FAR AS BEING AFRAID TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF CROWDS AND WITH US BEING SMALL AND HELPING EACH OTHER, IT GREW AND WATCHED THEM GROW FROM IT.

THEY DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE PROJECT, BEING BEHIND EACH OTHER, HELPING EACH OTHER OUT.

>> FOR ME, THIS PROGRAM GIVES YOU A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO MEET PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW FACES IN THE CITY.

I'VE BEEN HERE 15 YEARS AND THERE'S STILL PEOPLE I HAVE NOT SEEN JUST WALKING IN THE HALLWAYS TODAY.

YOU GAIN NEW BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

[LAUGHTER] AS WELL AND JUST LEARN DIFFERENT THINGS AND LIKE YOU SAID, COME OUT OF DIFFERENT SHELLS ABOUT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE, AND I FOUND THAT PEOPLE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I'M SPEAKING FOR MY DEPARTMENT WHEN I SIGNED UP FOR IT, THEY WERE ASKING ME ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

AS FAR AS BEING SMALLER OR LARGER, I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF PEOPLE KNOWING ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND EDUCATING OUR DEPARTMENT AND OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT IT AND LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT IT IS. IT'S FUN.

>> ANYBODY ELSE? JUST TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, THEY'RE SUBMITTED ANONYMOUSLY AND THEY GO FIRST TO HUMAN RESOURCES, IS THAT CORRECT? THEN HUMAN RESOURCES DECIDES WHICH DESIGNATED PERSON IN THE DEPARTMENT WOULD ANSWER THOSE.

IS THAT THE PROCESS SO THEY WOULD GO TO TRACY FOR THAT.

I'M SURE IF THERE'S A QUESTION OF IS THIS FOR TWO DEPARTMENTS OR DOES THE CITY MANAGER NEED TO LOOK AT THIS? THERE'S THAT OPTION OF MAKING SURE IT GETS TO THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE BEST ANSWER.

>> YES.

>> ONE THING TO ADD. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN AT THE GRADUATION, AND YOU MADE THE PRESENTATION, THERE WAS ALSO SOME DISCUSSION OF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THIS LIKE AROUND A CERTAIN IDEA.

WE'RE TRYING TO AND AS ANGELA SAYS, HEY, I'VE GOT THIS PROBLEM.

ALMOST LIKE CROWDSOURCING SOLUTIONS.

I THOUGHT I THOUGHT I RECALL THAT BEING AN OPTION AS WELL.

IN ADDITION TO JUST I WAKE UP AND I HAVE AN IDEA OF SOMETHING TO CHANGE.

AND IF WE DO HAVE SOME SPECIFIC ISSUE, WE CAN JUST PUT OUT THERE TO THE WHOLE MEMBERSHIP AND REALLY PROUD SOURCE IT. CAN YOU TELL US MORE?

>> WELL, YEAH. THERE'S A POLLING FEATURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM, AND THEN ALSO YOU CAN HIGHLIGHT IDEAS AND HAVE PEOPLE WEIGH IN ON THEM ANONYMOUSLY OR NOT ANONYMOUSLY IF THEY WANT.

>> I'M CURIOUS SINCE THIS WAS STARTED IN PUBLIC WORKS, AND THERE WAS A TRADITIONAL SUGGESTION BOX IN PUBLIC WORKS.

HOW DID THE PARTICIPATION COMPARE TO WHAT WAS IN THE PHYSICAL BOX WHERE YOU COULD PUT NOTES IN?

>> WELL, HONESTLY, THIS TURNED OUT TO BE BETTER BECAUSE THE TRADITIONAL WAY FOLKS WITH THE WRITING AND EVERYTHING JUST DROPPING IN.

WHEN THEY WAS ABLE TO JUST WALK BY, JUST SCAN IT WITH THEIR PHONE, GO TO THE TRUCK OR ANYWHERE WALK OFF AND BE ABLE TO PUT IN WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO SAY.

LIKE I SAID, AFTER THE TWO WEEKS, WE STILL BEEN GETTING RESPONSE, IS IT COMING BACK? THEY ENJOYED BEING ANONYMOUS BEHIND EVERYTHING [LAUGHTER].

>> WE TALK SOMETIMES ABOUT, MAYBE FOLKS IN PUBLIC WORKS, NOT YOU, BUT EVERYBODY USES THEIR PHONE [OVERLAPPING].

THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF A QR CODE TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT.

YOU'RE NOT LEARNING A NEW TECHNOLOGY BY ANY MEANS [LAUGHTER].

>> NO, NOT ALL.

>> ALL RIGHT, OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

>> WHEN THE GAZELLE GOES OUT, THAT'S WHEN WE'LL LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT CERTAIN SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE MADE SO PEOPLE WON'T JUST BE OUT THERE AND NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE I SUGGESTED THIS.

THEY ALSO WILL GET A TICKET, BUT INDIVIDUALLY, THE ONES SUGGESTING THAT WE DID AGREE UPON, WE'LL PUT IT IN THE QUARTERLY GAZELLE SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT IT IS [OVERLAPPING].

>> WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN AND APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING THE INAUGURAL CLASS TO GET IT RESTARTED AND COMING UP WITH A GREAT PROJECT AND WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN TO BENEFIT YOUR FELLOW EMPLOYEES AND TO BENEFIT THE CITY AND HELP US TO BE A STRONGER,

[00:20:07]

BETTER TEAM WORKING TOGETHER.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT MAY COME BEFORE US AT SOME POINT.

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING HERE'S HOW IT COULD BE PAID FOR.

THE CITY MANAGER LIKES TO KNOW THINGS LIKE THAT [LAUGHTER].

>> SHE ALSO GAVE OUT NAME, SO.

>> AGAIN, WE'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE, AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE [APPLAUSE].

[WORK SESSION #2 – 6:00 P.M.]

>> NUMBER TWO. I'LI GET TERESA TO HELP ME GET THE AGENDA IN A MINUTE.

LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE SOME FOLKS HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN ON THE PRESENTATION.

I'M OKAY TILL WE GET TO THE MEETING.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

I AM ANGELA THREADGILL, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I AM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO PRESENT DECATUR'S RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM.

BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND NAHOM TAYE, WHO IS OUR CITY PLANNER, WHO DID A LOT OF THE RESEARCH THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TONIGHT, AND THEN ALSO POLICE CHIEF RICHARDS, WHO IS HERE TONIGHT, AND THEN ALSO OUR PARKING MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS AT SP PLUS.

THEY DID HELP IN PULLING INFORMATION TOGETHER AS WELL.

TONIGHT'S TOPICS, I'M GOING TO COVER AN OVERVIEW OF THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM, A REVIEW OF OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE, AND THEN CONSIDERATIONS FOR ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS, AND THEN NEXT STEPS FOR THE RPP PROGRAM, THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM.

FOR THE OVERVIEW, THE REASONS WHY AND WHEN AN RPP PROGRAM IS IMPLEMENTED, THE FIRST BULLET POINT IS REALLY THE DEFINITION OF AN RPP PROGRAM.

IT GIVES AREA RESIDENTS PRIORITY USE OF PARKING NEAR THEIR HOMES.

MAINLY THE REASON WHY IS THAT THERE'S TYPICALLY SPILLOVER FROM COMMERCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL USES.

THERE'S JUST A HIGHER DEMAND AND THEN THERE'S CONFLICTS BETWEEN THOSE DIFFERENT USER GROUPS IN FINDING PARKING SPACES.

THEN ALSO, THE RPP PROGRAM IS MEANT TO REDUCE PARKING DEMAND SO THAT THERE'S LOCATIONAL SHIFTS IN THAT DEMAND TO OTHER PARKING FACILITIES.

THERE'S EXPECTATIONS AND RESULTS FOR AN RPP PROGRAM.

THE MOST OBVIOUS ONE IS A REDUCTION IN NON-RESIDENTIAL VEHICLES, BUT THERE ARE SOME OTHER RESULTS THAT COME FROM THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. AIR POLLUTION.

IF THERE'S A REDUCTION IN VEHICLES TRAVELING DOWN A PARTICULAR STREET, THAT MIGHT END UP IN LESS AIR POLLUTION.

TOTAL VEHICLE MILES DRIVEN.

IF RESIDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR A SPACE AND THEY MIGHT HAVE TO CIRCLE THE BLOCK A FEW TIMES.

THERE'S ALSO A REDUCTION IN TRAFFIC CONGESTION, ILLEGAL PARKING, BUT THERE'S ALSO AN IMPROVEMENT IN PEDESTRIAN SAFETY THAT COMES FROM AN RPP PROGRAM.

THE KEY COMPONENTS OF AN RPP PROGRAM.

ONE IS THE AREA TO WHICH A PERMIT APPLIES, SO THAT COULD BE A BLOCK OR A ZONE.

THERE IS A BELIEF THAT EVERY RESIDENT INDICATOR SHOULD BE ISSUED A PERMIT AND THAT THEY BE ABLE TO PARK ON ANY CITY STREET; HOWEVER, THAT'S A CONFLICT TO THE PURPOSE OF GIVING PRIORITY TO THE RESIDENTS OF THAT PARTICULAR BLOCK OR STREET AS IT WOULDN'T REDUCE DEMAND.

IT MIGHT INCREASE DEMAND AND THEN IT

[00:25:01]

ALSO INCENTIVIZES DRIVING INSTEAD OF BIKING OR WALKING.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO REDUCE THE DEMAND AND GIVE PRIORITY TO THOSE PARTICULAR RESIDENTS ON THAT BLOCK.

THE NEXT IS THE NUMBER OF PERMITS THAT MAY BE ALLOCATED THAT CAN BE DONE IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.

THE FIRST IS ALLOWING THAT ALLOCATION TO BE MAYBE A MAXIMUM OF ONE TO TWO PERMITS PER HOUSEHOLD.

THE OTHER IS AN ALLOCATION THAT'S BASED ON THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE SPACES ON A STREET WITHIN THAT ZONE, AND SOMETIMES THAT CREATES A WAITLIST IF THERE'S MORE OF A DEMAND THAN THE AVAILABLE SPACES.

THE NEXT IS ABOUT FEES AND WHAT IS CHARGED FOR THOSE PERMIT FEES.

IN OUR RESEARCH, THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF FEES THAT ARE CHARGED BY DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS FOR THEIR RPP PROGRAM.

BUT ALL HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT THE FEE SHOULD COVER THE COST OF ADMINISTRATION OF THAT PROGRAM.

MOST FEES ARE ASSESSED ANNUALLY AT THE TIME OF RENEWAL.

FEES FOR RPPS WOULD BE MADE PART OF THE CITY'S FEE SCHEDULE AND UPDATED AS NECESSARY.

THE NEXT IS THAT MOST RPP PROGRAMS ARE BEING DEVELOPED WITH FLEXIBILITY.

WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WHETHER PERMITS ARE ASSIGNED TO A PARTICULAR VEHICLE OR IF THEY'RE TRANSFERABLE, MOST OF THE TIME WE SEE THAT PERMITS ARE BEING ASSIGNED TO A PARTICULAR VEHICLE OF A RESIDENT.

HOWEVER, WITH AN ONLINE PORTAL SYSTEM LIKE A PERMIT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, THAT RESIDENT MAY ALSO UPDATE OR TRANSFER TO A NEW LICENSE PLATE.

SAY THEY HAVE A RENTAL CAR OR THEY ACQUIRE A NEW VEHICLE, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO UPDATE THEIR PERMIT ON THE ONLINE PORTAL.

THE NEXT KEY COMPONENT IS THAT THERE BE CLEAR PARKING RESTRICTIONS, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF FINES THAT WOULD APPLY TO UNPERMITTED VEHICLES.

THEN I HAVE MORE DETAILS ON THAT IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES.

THEN THE LAST IS ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES.

IS THIS GOING TO BE REGULAR PATROLS, OR IS THIS GOING TO BE ENFORCEMENT ONLY IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS? LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE'S ONE PARAGRAPH.

THIS IS ALL THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WRITTEN IN OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE.

IT PROVIDES FOR THIS ONE PARAGRAPH.

AS YOU READ THIS PARAGRAPH, I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT HERE, BUT THIS WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 1967.

THERE'S BEEN SOME AMENDMENTS TO 2013, BUT YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE KEY COMPONENTS OF THE RPP PROGRAM THAT I JUST MENTIONED ARE LARGELY MISSING.

THE EXISTING ORDINANCE IS UNDERDEVELOPED AND INSUFFICIENT IN MEETING THE GROWING DEMAND OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS OF A MODERN RPP PROGRAM.

THE NEXT, I HAD TO CUT THE MAP OF THE CITY INTO HALF JUST TO SHOW AN OVERVIEW OF THE 37 STREETS THAT ARE CURRENTLY DESIGNATED UNDER THE RPP PROGRAM.

SOME WERE DESIGNATED IN 1967 WHEN THIS WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN, AND IT WAS AROUND THE TIME OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MARTA STATIONS.

THERE WAS SOME OVERFLOW INTO ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE AVONDALE AND THE EAST LAKE MARTA STATIONS.

THEN OTHERS WERE ADDED AS RECENT AS 2013 AS LAND USES HAVE CHANGED.

BACK THEN, STREETS WERE ONLY REQUIRED TO FILE A PETITION TO THE CITY COMMISSION TO BE ADDED TO THE RPP PROGRAM.

THERE IS NO EVALUATION CRITERIA.

ADDITIONALLY, THE CURRENT ENFORCEMENT IS PROBLEMATIC FOR TWO REASONS.

ONE, THE ORDINANCE IS UNENFORCEABLE AS IT DOESN'T PROVIDE THE MECHANISMS NECESSARY TO WRITE CITATIONS.

ENFORCEMENT IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT; HOWEVER, THEY DON'T HAVE THE MECHANISMS IN THIS ORDINANCE TO WRITE THOSE CITATIONS.

THEN ADDITIONALLY, THE 37 STREETS IS AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF STREETS TO PATROL BY POLICE DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE SHORT ON PATROL OFFICERS, AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO PRIORITIZE LIFE SAFETY CALLS OVER THE RPPS.

ULTIMATELY, WE NEED TO FIND A MORE FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY THAT MODERNIZES AND STREAMLINES THE PARKING PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, AND ALSO WHO IS ENFORCING THE PROGRAM.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS, THERE'S A FEW CONSIDERATIONS.

THE FIRST IS JUST PLANNING FOR THE RPP ZONES.

IN THE PAST, RESIDENT PETITIONS,

[00:30:02]

THAT'S ALL THAT IT WAS NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT RESIDENT PETITIONS GET THE PROCESS STARTED, BUT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THE STREET WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE ADDED.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE RESIDENT PETITION, THE MAJORITY OF HOUSEHOLDS WOULD NEED TO BE IN FAVOR OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE AN RPP ZONE.

THE NEXT IS THE EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR AN RPP ZONE.

I HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE THAT GOES MORE INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE EVALUATION CRITERIA.

THE NEXT IS SETTING THE HOME RULES OF THE PROGRAM.

THE ANNUAL RENEWAL, WHAT THE PERMIT FEE WOULD BE, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF REGISTERED VEHICLES PER HOUSEHOLD, THE NUMBER OF GUEST PASSES, AND THE LENGTH OF STAY.

THEN ALSO PARKING RESTRICTIONS.

IS THIS 24/7, 365 OR IS IT CERTAIN TIME? THEN THE NEXT IS THE PERMIT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE MANAGED? IS IT GOING TO BE PAPER FORMS THAT WE FILE HERE AT THE REVENUE OFFICE OR IS IT ONLINE? OF COURSE, I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING TOWARDS TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT AND HAVE A SELF-SERVICE PORTAL FOR RESIDENTS.

WITH THE EVALUATION CRITERIA, THIS IS MORE DATA BASED.

EACH STREET, THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A REVIEW OF AVAILABILITY OF OFF STREET PARKING.

NUMBER OF DRIVEWAYS, THE GARAGES, WHAT IS THE CURRENT AVAILABILITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SECURE AVAILABLE PARKING? OFTENTIMES, WE SEE IN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE STREETS, THE HOUSEHOLDS WERE NOT DESIGNED WITH OFF STREET PARKING.

THE HOUSES ARE VERY CLOSE.

THERE MIGHT BE LIMITED OPTIONS FOR THOSE RESIDENTS.

THEREFORE, THAT WOULD BE A STREET THAT MIGHT NEED A RESIDENTIAL PERMIT ONLY PARKING.

WE ALSO WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT THE CURB PARKING SPACE OCCUPANCY, WHEREBY IT WOULD EXCEED 75% AND THAT A THIRD OF THOSE VEHICLES ARE NON-RESIDENTIAL VEHICLES, PROVING THAT THERE IS A CONFLICT OF OVERFLOW OR SPILLOVER FROM ADJACENT INSTITUTIONAL OR COMMERCIAL USES. YES?

>> WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE NUMBERS FROM?

>> SURE. THIS EVALUATION CRITERIA, THERE'S DIFFERENT CITIES THAT ARE USING RPP PROGRAMS AND THEY HAVE EVALUATION CRITERIA.

THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS USED BY THE CITY OF ATLANTA.

ONE THING THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IS OUR EXISTING 37 RPP STREETS.

THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS, DO WE RETAIN THE EXISTING RPP STREETS AS A LEGACY CONDITION OR DO WE RE-EVALUATE THE EXISTING RPP STREETS PER THAT EVALUATION CRITERIA? IF THESE STREETS DO NOT WISH TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THE RPP PROGRAM, THAT THEY COULD PETITION FOR REMOVAL FROM THE ORDINANCE.

THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I STILL HAVE THAT I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO FOR A SPECIFIC AMENDMENT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO HELP DETERMINE THE BEST WAY FORWARD.

BUT ULTIMATELY, NO MATTER WHAT WOULD OCCUR WITH A STREET; ULTIMATELY, THE CITY COMMISSION WOULD REVIEW AND CONSIDER THE RPP PETITION ALONG WITH THE DATA ANALYSIS ABOUT THOSE PARTICULAR STREETS. YES?

>> COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT ARE NON-RESIDENTIAL VEHICLES?

>> THOSE NON-RESIDENTIAL VEHICLES WOULD BE THOSE VEHICLES THAT DO NOT HAVE OWNERS THAT RESIDE ON THAT PARTICULAR STREET OR PARK.

>> NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT REGULAR CARS, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE LIKE A SERVICE VEHICLE.

WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY BELONG TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR NOT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. THEY'RE THE SPILLOVER SOMETIMES.

>> THE SPILLOVER, YES.

>> ESPECIALLY AROUND OBVIOUSLY OUR DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL DISTRICT, WE SEE THAT OFTEN.

>> FOR ENFORCEMENT, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT A PROGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT POLICY.

OBVIOUSLY, WITH EDUCATION AND WARNINGS, MAYBE THE FIRST TIME FREE EXEMPTIONS AND THEN APPLYING FINES.

[00:35:04]

FINES WE HAVE SEEN ARE TYPICALLY TWO TIMES TO FIVE TIMES THE TYPICAL DAILY PARKING RATES.

THEN WE WOULD NEED TO DETERMINE UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES SERVICE VEHICLES OR DELIVERY VEHICLES COULD IGNORE THOSE PARKING REGULATIONS.

WE WOULD ULTIMATELY BE MONITORING THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS SUCH AS OUR PARKING MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT MANAGES OUR DOWNTOWN PARKING.

THEY USE AN LPR SYSTEM, SO THAT'S A LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEM AND SO ANY PATROL WOULD BE OUTFITTED WITH A LICENSE PLATE READER.

WE WOULD BE MONITORING WHETHER SOMEONE HAS THE APPROPRIATE PERMIT THROUGH A LICENSE PLATE NUMBER AND IF IT'S BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE RPP PROGRAM.

THE IDENTIFICATION.

IF A VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED THERE AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN ABANDONED, ULTIMATELY, THAT WOULD BE TURNED OVER TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ACTION OR REMOVAL.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD DO AND HOW WE WOULD ISSUE PERMITS TO ZONE RESIDENTS, ULTIMATELY, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT A DIGITAL PERMIT OPERATION.

THIS WOULD ALLOW RESIDENTS TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT.

THEY WOULD APPLY FOR THE PERMIT.

THEY WOULD UPLOAD DOCUMENTATION PROVING THAT THEY ARE RESIDENTS OF THAT PARTICULAR STREET OR ZONE.

THEY COULD RENEW THEIR PERMIT, UPDATE THE LICENSE PLATES, AND PAY FOR PERMITS ONLINE.

THERE IS THIS AUTOMATED FUNCTION WITH THE PORTAL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THAT THERE'S RENEWAL MESSAGES, THERE'S BACK END REPORTING THAT WE CAN PULL.

BUT THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER WAY THAT WE CAN MESSAGE THE PERMIT HOLDERS SO IF THERE'S A SPECIAL EVENT SUCH AS A FILM OR AN EVENT UP HERE ON THE SQUARE OR IN ONE OF OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS OR MAYBE THE PLACE OF WORSHIP MIGHT BE HAVING AN EVENT WE CAN EASILY MESSAGE THOSE PERMIT HOLDERS.

THE NEXT STEPS THAT I AM LOOKING AT, THERE ARE A FEW UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, AND WHAT I'M LOOKING TO DO IS HAVE AN ONLINE SURVEY WITH VERY KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK USING OUR OPEN CITY HALL PORTAL.

WE WOULD BE SENDING TARGETED POSTCARDS TO ADDRESSES OF ALL OF OUR CURRENT RPP STREETS.

OTHER RESIDENTS OF THE CITY COULD ALSO TAKE THE SURVEY.

BUT ULTIMATELY, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THOSE ALREADY RESIDING ON PERMIT ONLY STREETS.

FROM THERE, WE WOULD COLLECT THE INPUT AND THEN FIND SOME CONSENSUS AND THE ANSWERS.

THEN AFTER THAT, WE WOULD BE DRAFTING THE ORDINANCE.

WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT INCORPORATING THAT INPUT PROVIDED THAT IT SUPPORTS THE BEST PRACTICES.

WE WOULD POST PUBLICLY FOR FEEDBACK AND INCORPORATE THAT FEEDBACK INTO THE FINAL DRAFT.

ULTIMATELY, THIS DOES NEED TO BE REVIEWED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND THEN CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION BY YOU ALL.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE ROLLOUT, THE SCHOOL ZONE SPEED CAMERAS WAS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THIS PHASED ROLLOUTS.

YOU HAVE THE EDUCATION, YOU HAVE THE PSAS, SOCIAL MEDIA, SO JUST ROLLING OUT WITH EDUCATION BEFORE THERE ARE FINES OR CITATIONS ISSUED.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR ME.

>> I'LL OPEN IT UP. I HAVE A COUPLE, BUT I'LL SEE IF ANYONE.

>> I'M HAPPY TO START.

WOULD YOU MIND GOING BACK TO THE MAP OF THE OTHER OF THE 37? I HAVE SEVERAL ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, PLEASE.

I'M ASSUMING THAT THERE ARE SOME ON THE SOUTH SIDE, RIGHT?

>> THIS IS THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY, AND THEN THIS IS THE NORTH SIDE.

>> GOT YOU. ONE, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT IF THIS DOES GET ROLLED OUT, THAT RESIDENTS WHO ARE ELDERLY, NOT TECH SAVVY, HOMEBOUND, BUT HAVE A CARETAKER WHOSE VEHICLE THEY'D LIKE TO REGISTER, UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HAVING THEIR LICENSE PLATE IN THE SYSTEM I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOME WAY THAT THEY ARE ACCOUNTED FOR AS WELL.

[00:40:04]

I THINK IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT I GENERALLY HATE THINGS LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT GIVES NEIGHBORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEAPONIZE AN ORDINANCE AGAINST OTHER NEIGHBORS.

IF ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORS IS HAVING A CHRISTMAS PARTY AND YOU'D ALL LIKE IT, I'M GOING TO CALL THE POLICE AND SAY THAT YOU'RE VIOLATING THE PARKING ORDINANCE AND SO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ONE, HOW AN ORDINANCE WOULD NOT INORDINATELY IMPACT SOME RESIDENTS OVER OTHERS.

ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE PROTOCOL IS FOR LANDSCAPERS AND PEOPLE WHO COME INTO HOMES TO CLEAN AND NEED TO PARK ON THE STREET OR PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING MAINTENANCE WORK ON A HOUSE BECAUSE THAT COULD PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A VERY VULNERABLE SITUATION AND WE DON'T NEED TO HELP WITH THAT.

ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PREFERENCE TO THE STREETS THAT WHERE HOMES DON'T HAVE DRIVEWAYS BECAUSE THAT MAKES SENSE.

IF IT IS A STREET WHERE HOMES PREDOMINANTLY HAVE DRIVEWAYS, AND THE ISSUE IS JUST THAT A HOMEOWNER HAS FOUR CARS, I JUST I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S A COMPELLING ARGUMENT TO START POLICING THE STREET MORE.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST PLACE TO START WITH THIS AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT I'D BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE CHIEF BELIEVES CAPACITY FOR THE OFFICERS TO BE.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE ALREADY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS AS IT IS, AND THE ONES THAT WE HAVE ARE WORKING A LOT.

AND SO IF THIS ISN'T EVEN SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PULL OFF, THEN WE PROBABLY SHOULD BE HAVING DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.

NOT THAT I'M PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT I DO THINK BECAUSE IT IS WHAT WE DO, THAT THEY BE MADE AWARE OF THE CHANGES COMING SO THAT PERHAPS THEY CAN REDIRECT THEIR CUSTOMERS TO PERHAPS HAVE BETTER BEHAVIOR, AS OPPOSED TO THEM COMING TO ONE OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS, GETTING A TICKET AND GETTING A RAGE CALL AFTERWARD OR 50 BAD GOOGLE REVIEWS.

I THINK THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I WOULD ASK THAT IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS IMPLEMENTED, IT'S IMPLEMENTED VERY CAUTIOUSLY AND VERY RESPECTFULLY OF THE FACT THAT WHILE IT SEEMS INNOCENT AND INNOCUOUS, IN A WAY TO PROTECT HOMEOWNERS AND THEIR ABILITY TO PARK CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES, THIS CAN BE REALLY DANGEROUS FOR SOME PEOPLE, SO I'D LIKE FOR THAT TO BE KEPT IN MIND.

>> GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING ALL THOSE POINTS UP.

IF I MAY ADDRESS SOME OF THEM.

IN OUR RESEARCH, WE DID SEE SOME COMMUNITIES OFFER REDUCTION IN THE PERMIT FEES FOR THOSE 62 AND OLDER.

THAT'S AN EXAMPLE.

YOU HAD ALSO BROUGHT UP THE LICENSE PLATE BEING IN A SYSTEM.

IN LOOKING AT THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM, IT IS USED BY SP PLUS, WHO IS OUR DOWNTOWN PARKING MANAGEMENT OPERATOR.

IT DOES HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF SECURITY, IF NOT, THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SECURITY, AND THEY KEEP THAT UP TO DATE, SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE SECURITY ISSUES WITH HAVING INFORMATION UPLOADED TO THAT SYSTEM.

TO YOUR POINT ABOUT PRIORITIZING STREETS.

ULTIMATELY, WE ARE POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT THE 37 STREETS, BUT IF THERE ARE FUTURE STREETS THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF AN RPP PROGRAM, THEY WOULD HAVE TO START WITH THAT PETITION, AND THEN WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT EVALUATION CRITERIA BEFORE IT WOULD COME TO YOU ALL FOR FINAL ACTION AND DECISION MAKING.

>> WOULD THOSE 37 STREETS BE AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED IN A PILOT PROGRAM OR WOULD YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE NEED?

>> THAT'S ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW, WHETHER THEY MOVE FORWARD AS LEGACY STREETS AND THEN THIS NEWER RPP PROGRAM, OR WE TAKE THOSE 37 STREETS AND LOOK AT OUR EVALUATION CRITERIA AND IF THEY DON'T MEET THAT EVALUATION CRITERIA, THERE MAY BE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL TO REMOVE THOSE FROM THE ORDINANCE GOING FORWARD.

>> THEN THE OTHER THING THAT YOU BROUGHT UP IS THAT WHAT I'M RECOMMENDING IS THAT THE RPP PROGRAM, THE NEW PROGRAM, IT WOULD NOT BE ENFORCED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT WOULD BE ENFORCED BY OUR DOWNTOWN PARKING MANAGEMENT COMPANY SO THIS WOULD BE AN ADDENDUM TO OUR CURRENT CONTRACT FOR THEM TO.

[00:45:02]

>> THAT MAKES ME FEEL MUCH BETTER ON SEVERAL.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE WE ARE SHORT STAFFED IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THIS COULD BE VERY OVERWHELMING TO THEN START PATROLLING AND WHEN THERE'S A LIFE SAFETY CALL, THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE PRIORITY TO THAT.

>> IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO ADD STAFF OR ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> ALSO THE TECHNOLOGY.

>> THEN FOR TEMPORARY JUST PEOPLE WHO NEED TO PARK BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING AT SOMEONE'S HOUSE OR WORKING ON SOMEONE'S HOUSE FOR THE DAY.

WHAT WHAT WOULD THE PROTOCOL BE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> RIGHT. WE HAVE NOT COME UP WITH AN ANSWER FOR THAT, BUT WE DO HAVE TO HAVE A PROVISION FOR SERVICE TRUCKS AND DELIVERY TRUCKS.

THAT'S LIKE YOU POINTED OUT, THOSE LAWN CARE COMPANIES, THEY'RE GOING TO PARK ON THE STREET WHILE THEY'RE WORKING ON LANDSCAPING.

THOSE ARE ALL CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.

IT'S MENTIONED IN THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY DEFINE IT. YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER WALSH, GO AHEAD.

>> FIRST REACTION IS THAT 60 YEARS AGO, IS A LONG TIME.

I WOULD THINK TO REALLY PUT IN A TRANSPARENT, COMPREHENSIVE NEW PROGRAM, WE WOULD LOOK AT ALL OF THEM.

OUR LAND PATTERNS HAVE CHANGED OUR HABITS, OUR DRIVING HABITS, HOUSEHOLD SIDE, EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT, I WOULD THINK IN WAYS WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT.

THAT'S JUST MY FIRST REACTION.

THEN LET'S SAY WE HAVE THE NEW RPP.

IF YOU CAN MAP OVER LITERALLY, YOU MENTIONED, WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE THE MECHANISMS FOR ENFORCEMENT SO IN THIS NEW PARADIGM, TECHNICALLY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT ARE THE MECHANISMS FOR ENFORCEMENT?

>> LET ME GO HERE.

WE HAVE TO SET THOSE HOME RULES.

WE HAVE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF REGISTERED VEHICLES ARE.

THOSE GUEST PASSES THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, LIMITING THE NUMBER OF GUEST PASSES AS WELL AND THE LENGTH OF STAY AND THEN SOMEONE WHO DOES HAVE A GUEST PASS, WE WOULD NEED TO KNOW THEIR LICENSE PLATE SO THAT WHEN THE PATROL IS COMING THROUGH WITH THAT LICENSE PLATE READER THAT READER IS TALKING BACK WITH THE SYSTEM AND PICKING UP THOSE LICENSE PLATE AND LETTING THEM KNOW WHETHER THAT IS A REGISTERED VEHICLE OR A REGISTERED GUEST PASS.

THEN ALSO THE PARKING RESTRICTIONS, WHETHER IT'S 24/7, OR IF IT'S DURING CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY, I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S PRAGMATIC FOR US TO HAVE 24/7 ENFORCEMENT, ESPECIALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROGRAM.

I'M NOT SURE IF WE WOULD HAVE THE FULL BUDGET TO DO 24/7 ENFORCEMENT, WHERE IT'S THROUGHOUT THE NIGHTTIME.

BUT DURING THE HIGH OCCUPANCY TIMES, EVERYTHING WOULD BE SPILLED OUT IN THESE HOME RULES, SO TO SPEAK.

IF THERE'S A NON RESIDENTIAL VEHICLE THAT IS PARKED THERE, THEN THEY WOULD BE ISSUED A CITATION AND SO THERE WOULD BE THAT MECHANISM THAT'S WRITTEN INTO THE ORDINANCE, WHEREBY, RIGHT NOW, IT'S INSUFFICIENT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL AND MUCH CLEARER FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND.

I KNOW YOU DID A LOT OF HOMEWORK AND RESEARCH AND TO PREPARE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION.

WHAT WOULD BE OTHER CITIES THAT YOU'VE LOOKED TO AS BEST PRACTICE, BEST IN CLASS EXAMPLES, WE'D BENCHMARK AGAINST?

>> SURE. JUST WITHIN THE STATE, WE LOOKED AT SAVANNAH TYBEE ISLAND.

WE LOOKED AT ATLANTA, MACON.

WE'VE ALSO LOOKED AT COSTA MESA BECAUSE THEY RECENTLY WON AN ICMA AWARD FOR THEIR PARKING SURE.

ICMA IS THE INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, AND SO THEY HAVE AWARDED COSTA MESA WITH AN AWARD FOR THEIR RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM.

OF COURSE, I'M GOING TO LOOK AT AWARD WINNING PROGRAM.

THOSE ARE JUST A HANDFUL OF SOME THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT. YES.

>> MR.

>> IN GENERAL, PHILOSOPHICALLY, THE STREETS ARE PUBLIC GOODS AND WE OWN THEM AND THAT ANY DECATUR RESIDENT CAN USE IT.

NEIGHBORS THAT DON'T LIVE NEAR DOWNTOWN.

I NEAR DOWNTOWN.

WE DON'T GET MUCH SPILLOVER PARKING AND I THINK SOMETIMES THERE COULD BE A SUBURBAN MENTALITY, I OWN THE LAND THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND NOBODY ELSE CAN PARK THERE.

[00:50:03]

PEOPLE GET UPSET WHEN PEOPLE PARK IN FRONT OF HOUSES.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY HEALTHY ATTITUDE.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE AS TO BE RESTRICTIVE IN THE USING OF THE RESIDENTIAL RPP SENSE.

I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES, AND I THINK THAT THE HISTORIC, WE HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS HERE, EAST OF DOWNTOWN, WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH DRIVEWAY, YOU GET A LOT OF OVERFLOW FROM THE COMMERCIAL PARKING.

IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE AND YOU MAY SEE SOME OF THAT IN OTHER AREAS, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD APPLY THE RESTRICTIONS THAT YOU PUT IN MAYBE EVEN STRICTER.

ALSO WHAT TIME OF DAY, IF I DO NEAR ST. THOMAS MORE AT 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON, A WHOLE BUNCH OF STREETS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO QUALIFY.

BUT IF I DON'T DO IT, THEN BY AND LARGE, THERE'S REALLY NOT A PROBLEM THERE.

I WOULD BE INCLINED TO REVIEW ALL 37 AND APPLY THE CRITERIA AND MAYBE LOOK AT A STRICTER CRITERIA THAN 75 AND A THIRD.

BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE 75%, THAT STILL MEANS WHENEVER FOUR SPOTS IS STILL AVAILABLE SO THERE'S SOME CAPACITY THERE.

THEN I THINK THE OTHER IN TERMS OF THE ITINERANT USERS, FOLKS WHO WORK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMPANIES OFF DELIVERY AND STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU NEED TO ACCOUNT FOR THEM.

BECAUSE IN GENERAL, I WOULD BE CONSERVATIVE IN MY APPLICATION IN ALLOWING RPP ZONES TO COME FORWARD AND I WOULD REVIEW ALL THE EXISTING RPP ZONES TO MAKE SURE IF THEY MEET THOSE CRITERIA.

WHILE RECOGNIZING THERE IS LEGITIMACY, AND IT'S LARGELY GOING TO BE AROUND WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS FROM OUTSIDE DECATUR COME.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE DOWNTOWN CORE, MAYBE AROUND OAKHURST VILLAGE.

>> WELL, I APPRECIATE THIS FEEDBACK AND DIRECTION. YES, THANK YOU.

>> I AGREE, REALLY, WE SHOULD, I THINK, APPLY THE IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE AND WE'VE JUST ADDED THESE AREAS BASICALLY WHEN NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE REQUESTED IT AND TO GO BACK AND JUST AUTOMATICALLY GRANDFATHER.

I THINK NOT SURE THAT A LOT OF THESE GUIDELINES OR RESTRICTIONS WOULD EVEN APPLY BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF TIME, AND I DO FEEL LIKE WE ALSO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE REQUIRING LIKE IN OUR BUILDING PERMITS AND HOW MUCH SPACE FOR HOW MANY CARS.

IF WE'RE SAYING WITH NEW BILLS AND RESTRICTING THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT WITH SORT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE ALSO TRYING TO BE CONSISTENT IN TERMS OF, IF THEY'RE NO GARAGES OR PARKING OPTIONS.

I DO FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES THINGS THAT YOU MAY FEEL LIKE AS A RESIDENT MAY BE A GREAT THING, BUT YOU HAVE THE PARTY AT YOUR HOUSE.

ARE YOU ARE WE GOING TO ENFORCE THIS BY RESIDENT COMPLAINT, SOMEONE CALLS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE PARKED ON THE STREET AND THEY'RE NON-RESIDENTS, OR IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE WHAT WE HAVE NOW WITH A SYSTEM OF SOMEONE GOING AROUND AND CHECKING WHEN METERS EXPIRE? IN THAT CASE, YOU MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN TO TURN IN YOUR FRIEND THAT'S VISITING FROM MARIETTA AND THEIR LICENSE TAG, AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET A TICKET FOR PARKING IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE.

I THINK TO THINK THROUGH WHAT THE POTENTIAL LONG TERM RAMIFICATIONS ARE.

THE BENEFIT VERSUS THE DOWNSIDE OF THE RESIDENTIAL PERMITTED PARKING.

I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO THIS AND THE VARIOUS.

I LIKE IF WE'RE GOING TO GET INPUT FROM THOSE, MAYBE WE NEED IF CANNOT USE A QR CODE.

HERE'S A NUMBER THAT YOU CAN CALL OR TO HAVE THAT OPTION OF GIVING INPUT, EVEN IF AND I KNOW STAFF DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE PHONE CALLS FROM EVERY PERSON, BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE A WAY FOR SOMEBODY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GET INFORMATION AND GIVE INPUT IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE IF THEY DON'T USE QR CODES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.

I THINK HOPEFULLY, IT WOULD BE A SMALL NUMBER THAT WOULD FEEL LIKE THEY NEEDED TO USE AN ALTERNATIVE WAY OF PROVIDING THAT INPUT.

BUT I THINK I APPRECIATE ALL THE BACKGROUND WORK.

I KNOW WE'VE HAD RESIDENTS BEING ASKING FOR IT AND WHAT COULD BE A REASONABLE SOLUTION AND HOW

[00:55:02]

TO CODIFY THAT SO THAT IT IS IT IS NOT ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PLATE, BUT IT ALSO MAKES FOR A REASONABLE SOLUTION IN AREAS THAT WE SHARE THE PUBLIC SPACES AND SHARE PARKING, AND I DO FEEL LIKE THAT USING IT WITH TECHNOLOGY IS GREAT, BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT'S HARDER THAN HANGING A LITTLE STICKER ON YOUR CAR AND MOVING IT FROM CAR TO CAR.

BUT I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT IS TO USE A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION.

>> IT IS BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM HAVING A DECAL OR A HANG TAG IS THAT IT'S HARDER TO TRANSFER OR IT'S FORGETFUL, BUT IF THE LICENSE PLATE IS ALREADY WITHIN THESE THEN THE READER IS TALKING WITH THAT SYSTEM.

BUT LET ME JUST SAY THAT AN RPP PROGRAM IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE RESIDENTS.

MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE REGISTERING THEIR LICENSE PLATE OR THEIR GUEST PASSES.

IT'S REAL TIME, AS SOON AS THEY'RE UPDATING THE INFORMATION IN THE ACCOUNT, THEN THE LICENSE LATE READER WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECOGNIZE THAT AS A PERMITTED RESIDENTIAL VEHICLE, SO THAT'S THE KEY IS MAKING SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS REGISTER THOSE VEHICLES. YES.

>> I THINK THIS ALSO AIRS WITH OUR STUDY OF PARKING DOWNTOWN SIGN THERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT. YES.

>> TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE RESTRICTING WHERE PEOPLE CAN PARK, WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SPENT A LOT OF TIME DRIVING BY A PARKING DECK PARKING.

>> YES. I'M GLAD YOU BRING THAT UP BECAUSE DECEMBER 2ND, YOU ALL WILL HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN PARKING STUDY AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE COMING FROM THAT STUDY, SO THAT'S IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THANK YOU. COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

>> TO NEXT STEPS AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, AND I KNOW THERE ARE SOME INTERESTED FOLKS HERE THAT WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE OFFICIAL FEEDBACK.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

SO I THINK WE'RE STILL BEFORE THE AGENDA.

I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION.

>> LET'S TAKE A BREAK.

>> GOOD EVENING. MAYOR COMMISSIONERS.

[WORK SESSION #3 – 6:45 P.M.]

WELCOME TO WORK SESSION NUMBER THREE OF THE EVENING, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOUSE BILL 581.

BEFORE WE DO THAT, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR CHIEF OF STAFF AND CITY CLERK, MEREDITH ROK, WHO'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GATHERING INFORMATION AND IS ALREADY PROVIDED A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION TO THE COMMISSION BRIEFLY AT THE LAST CITY COMMISSION MEETING, AND ALSO TOM GAYLE, WHO HELPS US WITH SOME LOBBYING AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DOWN AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

THANK YOU, TOM FOR BEING HERE.

ALSO AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

BOTH OF THEM WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND JUMP RIGHT IN.

THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE AND SO YOU WILL SEE THAT I THERE MAY BE SECTIONS OF THE SLIDES THAT I SKIP OVER, FEEL FREE TO STOP ME AND ASK ME TO COME BACK.

LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A LOT THAT WE WANT TO GET THROUGH THIS EVENING.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHEN THEY WENT INTO THE 2024 SESSION, THEY JUST AS ACROSS THE BOARD, HAD CONCERNS ABOUT RISING PROPERTY VALUES OR VALUE THE ASSESSMENTS OF PROPERTY AND THAT IMPACT ON PROPERTY TAXES, SPECIFICALLY RESIDENTIAL TAXES, AND THE SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERS CAME TOGETHER TO CREATE ULTIMATELY HOUSE BILL 581.

IT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, CONTINGENT UPON PASSAGE OF A STATEWIDE REFERENDUM.

THERE ARE THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS TO THIS BILL TO THE LEGISLATION, THIS STATEWIDE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, A NEW LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX, AND SOME PROPERTY TAX PROCEDURE CHANGES.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FIRST TWO OF THOSE THREE.

WHEN DOES IT GO INTO EFFECT? SINCE THIS DID PASS THE REFERENDUM ON NOVEMBER 5TH,

[01:00:01]

IT GOES INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST OF 2025.

NOW WE START TALKING ABOUT A STATEWIDE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

THE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION APPLIES TO ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SO IT MAY APPLY TO COUNTIES, CITIES, AS WELL AS SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND A FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS A SPECIAL TYPE OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TO OFFSET OR REDUCE INCREASES IN THE TAXABLE VALUE TO PROPERTY.

AND YOU MAY SOMETIMES HEAR IT REFER TO AS BASE YEAR OR VALUE OFFSET EXEMPTIONS. HOW DOES IT WORK? I WOULD SAY THIS FIRST EXAMPLE IS JUST THE STANDARD NORMAL FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WHERE YOU ARE INCREASING THE VALUE OF THE EXEMPTION TO OFFSET ALL INFLATION.

FOR EXAMPLE, PROPERTY HAS A TAXABLE VALUE TODAY OF ONE OF 100,000, AND THEN THAT VALUE INCREASES THE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF MARKET CHANGES TO 110,000.

THEN THAT EXEMPTION WOULD FLOAT TO BE WORTH $10,000 OF TAXABLE VALUE.

YOU WOULD STILL BE PAYING TAXES ON $100,000.

BUT ESSENTIALLY, IF THE MARKET VALUE WENT UP TO IF IT WAS 120,000, THEN 20,000 WOULD BECOME THE AMOUNT OF THE EXEMPTION.

IN THAT SENSE THAT IT'S FLOATING, IT COULD BE DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY.

THE HOUSE BILL 581 FLOATING EXEMPTION IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE BASE YEAR IS ADJUSTED AND IT WILL INCREASE BY A RATE OF INFLATION THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED BY THE STATE REVENUE COMMISSIONER.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S EVEN BEEN DETERMINED YET, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S MOST LIKELY THEY'LL USE ACPI.

LET'S TAKE THE SAME PROPERTY.

A $100,000 TAXABLE VALUE IN THE BASE YEAR, CPI IS 2% AND SO THAT INCREASES THE BASE VALUE FROM 100,000-102,000 FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE CPI.

BUT THE OVERALL VALUE, SAY THE TAX COMMISSIONER SAYS THIS PROPERTY, IT IS STILL WORTH $110,000.

WELL, THE EXEMPTION FLOATS TO BE WORTH THAT $8,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE.

THE PROPERTY IS WORTH 110,000 CPI WOULD TAKE THAT PROPERTY VALUE TO 102,000, THAT DIFFERENCE IS 8,000, AND THEN THAT'S THAT'S TECHNICALLY THE FLOATING EXEMPTION.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE MOVE ON? IT DOES PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE VALUE, AGAIN, BASED OFF OF THE CPI, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE CPI IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO LINE UP WITH WHAT THE MARKET SAYS THAT PROPERTY SHOULD BE WORTH.

FOR HOMES THAT WOULD BE RECEIVING THIS EXEMPTION IN TAX YEAR 2025, THE BASE YEAR ASSESSED VALUE WILL BE THE CURRENT 2024 ASSESSED VALUE.

THEN IF A HOME IS RECEIVING THE EXEMPTION IN A LATER YEAR, IT WILL BE THE BASE YEAR ASSESS VALUE WILL BE THAT ASSESSED VALUE FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING YEAR.

YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN PROPERTY IS SOLD, YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT PREVIOUS YEAR.

A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THIS WORKS.

THE TAXABLE VALUE OF A HOME MAY ONLY INCREASE AT A RATE OF INFLATION FOR EACH YEAR.

AGAIN, THE CPI.

IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO REAPPLY AND THEN FINALLY AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT, NON-HOMESTEADED PROPERTY, FOR EXAMPLE, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WILL CONTINUE TO BE VALUED AT THE FAIR MARKET.

THERE'S THIS DOES NOT HAVE THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT APPLY TO PROPERTY THAT MAY NOT RECEIVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

>> TO CLARIFY, THAT BE LIKE RENTERS, THOSE APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT'S CONSIDERED COMMERCIAL AND THEY WOULD NOT GET THAT EXEMPTION.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> THE UNDERLYING PROPERTY OWNER TO SEE AND THEY WOULD PASS IT ON TO THE RENTERS. THAT'S NOT A QUESTION.

>> PRESUMABLY. FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN IF THERE'S A RENTER AND A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, THE OWNER OF THAT PROPERTY IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

[01:05:05]

THAT PROPERTY WOULD BE ASSESSED AND TAXED BASED OFF OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE.

>> FOR THE AB AND B TYPE STUFF.

>> YES. BECAUSE THE OWNER IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE EXEMPTION, YOU MUST OWN AND RESIDE IN YOUR HOME.

NOW, IF YOU OWN AND RESIDE THAT MAYBE YOUR RENT OUT OF A ROOM, I BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.

>> IN THIS ARNOLD, THERE'S NO ADJUSTMENT FOR VALUE IN AFTER A SALE TRANSACTION EITHER THEN.

IT CONTINUES TO STAY AT THE BASE RATE.

>> ONCE THE PROPERTY IS SOLD, THEN THAT RESETS THE VALUE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS.

>> A NEW APPRAISAL TO THE NEW MARK IF YOU WILL.

>> THE NEW MARKET VALUE.

IF THE VALUE HAD BEEN 100,000, AND THEN IT'S SOLD FOR 200,000 AND THAT WOULD AT AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THE PROPERTY WOULD BE REASSESSED.

A NEW BASE YEAR AMOUNT.

YES. A NEW BASE ACCESS VALUE WOULD COME INTO PLAY.

THIS EXEMPTION IS IN ADDITION TO ANY NON FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY HAS A NUMBER OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, THOSE WOULD STILL APPLY.

FOR EXAMPLE, OUR GENERAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT IS $40,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE, THAT WOULD BE ADDED AFTER THE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS CALCULATED.

>> DOES THAT RECALL WHEN WE INCREASED OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO INDEX IT.

WE'D HAVE TO GO AND VOTE ON EVERY TIME WE INCREASED IT.

>> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

>> BUT THE STATE INDEX IT IF THEY WANT TO.

WELL, THE STATES INDEX THEIRS.

>> RIGHT. BUT OURS I MEAN, I CAN AT LEAST SAY OURS IS NOT INDEXED.

IT DOES PUT THE BURDEN ON US TO REVIEW THE EXEMPTION AND UPDATE IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THAT'S I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT.

AS WE POINT OUT HERE ON THIS SLIDE, THE CITY DID USE A COMBINATION OF THE CPI, AS WELL AS THE GROWTH IN THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX DIGEST WHEN WE INCREASED THE GENERAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM $25,000-40,000.

AGAIN, FOR THE GENERAL HOMESTEAD EFFECTIVE IN 2024.

JUST AS A NOTE, THAT EXEMPTION EQUATES TO 2.5 MILLION DOLLAR IN TAX RELIEF TODAY.

THAT IS REALLY JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CITY, I BELIEVE, IS DOING THE RIGHT THING IN TERMS OF KEEPING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS UP TO DATE AND USING THE RIGHT DATA TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AS OPPOSED TO PERHAPS HAVING A EXEMPTION MANDATED UPON YOU.

THAT BRINGS US TO THIS PROVISION AN OPT OUT PROVISION OF THIS BILL.

ANY GOVERNING AUTHORITY CAN OPT OUT OF THE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION BY FOLLOWING A PROCEDURE, WHICH I'M GOING TO GO INTO DETAIL SHOWING WHAT THAT PROCEDURE COULD LOOK LIKE.

BUT THERE'S A VERY TIGHT WINDOW FOR THE OPT OUT PROCESS.

IF YOU DON'T MEET THOSE STEPS DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, YOUR OPT OUT IS NOT EFFECTIVE.

IT SAYS, ACCORDING TO THE LAW, THE PROCESS MAY NOT START UNTIL THE BILL GOES INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST OF 2025, AND THE PROCESS MUST BE COMPLETE BY MARCH 1ST OF 2025.

THEN AFTER THAT DATE, YOU DON'T GET THE OPTION TO OPT OUT.

OF COURSE, AT ANY TIME, IF THE DELEGATION WISHES TO THE OPT OUT, YOUR DELEGATION COULD ALWAYS CREATE A FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR ANY CITY WITHIN THE WITHIN THE DELEGATION AREA.

>> ACCORDING TO INFORMATION THAT'S PUT OUT ABOUT HOUSE DOOR 581, SORRY.

IT SAYS THE DECISION TO OPT OUT IS INDEPENDENT AMONG LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, MEANING, NO, WE CAN MAKE THE DECISION TO OPT OUT IN ANOTHER CITY THEY CAN OPT IN TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

BUT I PUT AN ASTERISK THERE AND I WILL EXPLAIN THAT LATER.

THE CITIES IN THE COUNTY, AND EVEN THE SCHOOL BOARD OR SCHOOL BOARDS,

[01:10:02]

THEY MAY EACH DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO OPT OUT.

IT SAYS IT WILL NOT IMPACT THE OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. THAT IS TRUE.

OF COURSE, THIS COULD RESULT OR THIS WILL ACTUALLY RESULT IN COMPARABLE HOMES HAVING DIFFERENT TAXABLE VALUES.

THE EXAMPLE YOU ASKED ABOUT THE VALUE WHEN THE PROPERTY SELLS.

YOU CAN HAVE TWO IDENTICAL HOMES, SOMEONE WHO'S LIVED IN THAT HOME FOR 40 YEARS, ANOTHER HOME THAT HAS JUST BEEN SOLD, AND THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE HOMES COULD HAVE SIMILAR ABILITIES TO PAY.

BUT THE PERSON WHO'S LIVED IN THAT HOME LONGER, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOWER TAXABLE VALUE, AND THEY WOULD PAY LESS IN TAXES, THEY'RE RECEIVING THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE.

>> SOME OF THE TAX EXEMPTIONS THAT WE PUT INTO PLACE TO HELP ADDRESS IF IT IS AN OLDER RESIDENT OR INCOME BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD FEEDBACK FROM.

WE'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.

OUR INCOME HASN'T GONE UP, OUR HOME VALUE HAS GONE UP, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUALLY WITH OUR OTHER HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.

>> WE HAVE EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE BASED ON AGE, THAT ARE BASED ON INCOME. YES.

>> I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE, AS COMMISSIONERS HAVE HEARD IS THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING NECESSARILY DIFFERENT, AND YET WE ARE GETTING PERHAPS A TAX RATE THAT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE.

BUT I THINK THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT HAS BEEN TO TRY TO ASSIST THOSE WHO NEED THE ACTUAL ASSISTANCE.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE VERY ACTIVE WITH OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.

NOW, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE ARE COMMUNITIES.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS OR THEY MAY HAVE A GENERAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, AND THEY MAY HAVE EXEMPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR 20 YEARS, BUT I WOULD SAY WE ACTIVELY MANAGE OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.

HERE, I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO SPEND SOME TIME HERE.

I JUST PROVIDED A SAMPLE OPT OUT SCHEDULE.

IF THE CITY WAS INCLINED TO OPT OUT OF 581 MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD WAIT UNTIL THE JANUARY 6TH MEETING FOR THERE TO BE ANY DIRECTION TO STAFF.

I SAY THAT BECAUSE THE WAY THAT I'VE READ THIS LEGISLATION WHERE IT SAY IT DOES NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY 1ST.

I HAVE THIS FEAR OF A MISS STEP IF WE TAKE SOME ACTION BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER 31ST.

MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THE FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR, JANUARY 6, THAT WOULD BE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY COMMISSION TO DIRECT STAFF TO INITIATE THE OPT OUT PROCESS.

THEN FROM THERE TRIGGERS THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

WE WOULD HAVE THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON JANUARY 21ST AT THE REGULAR MEETING.

YOU SEE THE DATE THAT WOULD NEED TO BE ADVERTISED BECAUSE THE LAW DOES SPECIFY HOW FAR IN ADVANCE THE MEETING OR THE HEARING MUST BE ADVERTISED.

THEN THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING WOULD BE ON FEBRUARY 3RD, COULD ALSO HAVE THAT AT THE REGULAR MEETING.

THEN THE PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 3, I SAID FEBRUARY 24TH, AND I JUST PUT AN ASTERISK, AND THAT'S DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT WE MOVE THE CITY COMMISSION BASED OFF OF SCHOOL BEING OUT THE WEEK BEFORE, THE WINTER BREAK THE WEEK BEFORE.

AGAIN, IF WE GO WITH FEBRUARY 24, EVERYONE'S BACK IN TOWN.

IT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HEARING.

ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS HAS TO START 6TH AND 7TH.

I'D RECOMMEND A 6:00 PM.

MEETING. THEN AT THAT SAME MEETING OR AT THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COMMISSION MEETING THAT THE CITY COMMISSION WOULD CONSIDER AND ADOPT THE OPT OUT RESOLUTION.

IN TERMS OF THAT RESOLUTION IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHILE THERE WAS NO FORMAT IN THE LEGISLATION, GMA AND ACCG ARE WORKING ON A SAMPLE OR A MODEL RESOLUTION THAT COULD BE USED.

THEN THE DEADLINE TO FILE THE RESOLUTION WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS MARCH 1ST, AND SO WE COULD HAVE IT IN A TIMELY MANNER.

THEN THERE ARE ALSO SOME OTHER REQUIREMENTS.

THERE'S A PRESS RELEASE AND THE INFORMATION HAS TO BE ON THE WEBSITE.

[01:15:04]

BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE EVERY I MUST BE DOTTED, EVERY T MUST BE CROSSED IN A FINITE AMOUNT OF TIME.

OTHERWISE, YOU'RE NOT OPTED OUT. YES, SIR.

>> IS THERE A REQUIREMENT THAT THERE BE TWO WEEKS BETWEEN PUBLIC HEARINGS?

>> NO, THERE IS NOT.

>> WE COULD ADOPT A SCHEDULE THAT WOULD DO PUBLIC HEARING ON JANUARY 21ST.

YOU ALIGN THESE WITH THE CITY COMMISSION [INAUDIBLE].

>> I ALIGN WITH CITY COMMISSION.

>> BUT PERHAPS HAVE ONE ON JANUARY 28.

>> WE COULD.

>> IF YOU WANTED, SO THAT'S ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT.

>> I THINK I'VE EVEN SEEN AND TOM MAY KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS.

SOME CITIES HAVING A MORNING AND AN EVENING ALMOST THE SAME DAY.

I THINK ONE HAS TO BE AT 6:00 PM.

>> IT'S VERY TIGHT.

>> IT IS REALLY TIGHT.

>> IT'S NICE TO MIND OUR SCHEDULES, BUT IF WE DO DECIDE TO DO THIS, IT'S GOOD TO UNDERSTAND OUR OPTIONS.

>> YOU'RE CORRECT. WE COULD CERTAINLY HAVE A HEARING IN A NON CITY COMMISSION MEETING WEEK AS WELL AS HAVE TWO IN ONE DAY.

AGAIN, AS LONG AS WE MEET THAT 6:00 - 7:00 PM.

REQUIREMENT. THIS IS A SAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN GET IT DONE AND IT'S SPACED DOWN.

SURE. IS THE DECISION PERMANENT? THE DECISION AND ANY NON DECISION ARE AS PERMANENT AS LEGISLATION IS.

IF YOU DON'T TAKE ANY ACTION, THEN YOU'RE OPTED IN AND THAT'S AUTOMATIC.

THEN IF YOU OPT OUT, WE'RE NOT AWARE OF ANY METHOD TO OPT BACK IN.

THEN THAT WAS THE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

HAND IN HAND IS THE CHANGES TO SALES TAX.

REALLY, THE SECOND BULLET POINT IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS THAT 581 CREATES A NEW LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX, BUT YOU MUST HAVE THE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE CALLING THE SALES TAX A FLOAST.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A DANCE.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SEE.

>> I'M GOING TO LEARN THE FLOAST.

>> IF YOU HAVE THE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, THEN YOU CAN HAVE THE FLOAST AND IT CAN BE IT 0.05 OR 0.5.

I'M NOT SURE. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE THE INCREMENT.

>> HALF A PERCENT.

>> I THINK IT IS A HALF PERCENT. I'M NOT SURE.

NOW THAT I SEE IT, BUT IT CAN GO AS HIGH AS 1%.

WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.

BUT THIS IS THE ASTERISK THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE, TO BE ABLE TO LEVY THE FLOAST BOTH THE COUNTY AND ALL OF THE CITIES.

EVERY CITY WITHIN THE COUNTY MUST HAVE A FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IN PLACE.

IF A CITY DECIDES TO OPT OUT, THEN THERE IS NO FLOAST FOR THE COUNTY OR FOR OTHER CITIES.

EVEN IF THEY OPTED IN OR STAYED IN, THEY WILL NOT HAVE THE OPTION FOR THE SALES TAX.

>> SAY THAT AGAIN? THAT WAS THE ASTERISK.

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IF FOR EXAMPLE, THE COUNTY ALREADY HAS SOMETHING THAT IS GREATER THAN WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED THEN THAT'S CONSIDERED.

>> THAT'S THE COUNTY COULD ALREADY HAVE THAT.

IF THEY HAVE A FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT IS COMPARABLE OR RICHER THAN THE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT'S PRESCRIBED HERE, THEN THEY WOULD BE CONSIDERED OPTED IN.

BUT AGAIN, IF A CITY OPTS OUT, THEN THE FLOAST IS NOT AN OPTION.

AN INTERESTING STRATEGY THERE.

EXCEPT WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE SCHOOL BOARD OPTS OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE INELIGIBLE TO SHARE IN THE PROCEEDS OF THE TAX, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

I BELIEVE THAT WE HAD HEARD OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

[01:20:03]

I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE'S BEEN A VOTE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THEY PUBLICLY HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTENT TO OPT OUT.

>> THERE IS ONE CITY IN DEKALB, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE HAD A VOTE EITHER, BUT THEY HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR INTENTION THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO USE THAT PROVISION BECAUSE THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE COMMERCIAL, 8020, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL.

BUT STONECREST HAS HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS AND HAD SAID THAT THEY THEY WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME WITH MEETING THEIR CITY OBLIGATIONS IF THEY DON'T OPT OUT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE PASSED.

>> BEYOND THE OVERALL POLICY OF LEGISLATION, BUT WE COULD ALWAYS INCREASE OUR MILLAGE RATE AND GET MORE REVENUE.

I'M NOT SAYING IT COULD DO IN A GOOD WAY OR DOES THIS PREVENT US ALSO FROM INCREASING OUR MILLAGE RATE.

>> IT DOESN'T BUT WE HAVE A LIMIT, WE'LL GET TO THAT.

>> GOOD.

>> YES. REAL QUICKLY, THE SALES TAX.

LET'S SAY YOU'VE GOT THE FLOATING HOMES THAT EXEMPTION, YOU WANT TO HAVE THE FLOAST, THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOCAL REFERENDUM, SO YOU COULD GO THROUGH THESE STEPS AND NOT GET THROUGH THE LOCAL REFERENDUM.

THE VOTERS HAVE TO APPROVE IT AND THEN YOU WOULD ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY AND OTHER CITIES, AND IT WOULD BE DISPERSED BY DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.

>> THAT SCENARIO IS YOU HAVE A FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE A FLOAST, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PASSED.

>> IF IT WAS NOT PASSED, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> IT IS COUNTY WIDE.

EVEN THOUGH OUR SALES TAX RATES ARE DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY.

>> ARE THEY?

>> BASED ON HOTEL, MOTEL TAX, I THINK.

SOME OF THE TOTAL SALES TAX RATE VARIES FROM CITY TO CITY IN DEKALB.

>> IF YOU EXCLUDE THE HOTEL, MOTEL TAX, AREN'T SALES TAX ALL THE SAME?

>> IT'S 8% ANY RETAIL ESTABLISHED.

>> I THINK THAT IS ADDITIVE.

>> THAT'S DIFFERENT. YES. THAT'S SEPARATE.

>> THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX IS SEPARATE.

BUT WELL, THE 8% I DON'T BELIEVE.

>> I THINK IT IS.

>> DO YOU KNOW TOM HAVE LOWER?

>> ANDREW IS RIGHT, THE SPECIAL DISTRICT IS CO TERMINUS WITH THE COUNTY, AND SO IT IS A 8% SALES TAX RATE FOR THE COUNTY.

MAYOR GARRETT IS CORRECT, THERE ARE DISPARITIES IN HOTEL MOTEL TAX RATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

>> EXCEPT FOR ATLANTA AND DEKALB.

>> ATLANTA IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT WITH THE MUNICIPAL OPTION SALES TAX AND SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION TAX, IT'S DIFFERENT.

>> MAYOR, SO CAN YOU FURTHER YOUR POINT? WHY DID YOU MENTION THAT TAX THE SALES TAX?

>> BECAUSE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THE OTHER MAYORS IN THE COUNTY, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE SALES TAX RATE WAS LOWER.

>> LOWER. GOT YOU.

>> BUT IT PROBABLY WAS THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX THAT IS LEVIED IN DECATUR VERSUS UNINCARCERATED IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

>> IN TERMS OF THE USE OF THE SALES TAX, FUNDS MUST BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

THAT'S WHERE YOU CALCULATE THE ROLLBACK RATE.

YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE ROLLBACK RATE.

THEN IN THIS CASE, THE ROLLBACK RATE WILL BE REDUCED ANNUALLY BY THE MILLAGE EQUIVALENT OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE NEW TAX.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE FLOATING HOMESTEAD WE WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE TAXES?

>> BY THE AMOUNT.

>> BY THE AMOUNT OF FLOAST.

>> WE RECEIVED THE FLOAST, AND SO WE WOULD BE MADE WHOLE, BUT THERE WOULD NOT BE NECESSARILY THE EXTRA BECAUSE YOU'RE ROLLING THE MILEAGE RATE BACK TO RETURN.

[01:25:04]

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>> THIS IS WHAT I REALLY WANT TO GET INTO.

IT'S A POLICY DECISION.

THIS IS POLICY THAT WAS CREATED AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THIS IS CITIES AND COUNTIES OF ALL DIFFERENT SIZES.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, DOES IT APPLY TO US? THINK ABOUT THIS EXEMPTION, WHO IT MAY REWARD.

IT REWARDS HOMEOWNERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THEIR OWN AND THEY RESIDE IN THEIR HOME AND THEY ARE THERE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THIS LEGISLATION TAKES EFFECT.

THERE COULD BE IMPACTS ON HOME SALES.

THIS MAY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT PUT THEIR HOME UP FOR SALE TO STAY PUT.

THIS COULD IMPACT OUR HOUSING INVENTORY, THAT WOULD BE SLOWER TO TURNOVER IF SUPPLY IS LIMITED, AND THE DEMAND STAYS STRONG, THIS COULD HAVE AN IMPACT TO DRIVE UP PRICES.

AGAIN, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE INEQUALITIES IN TERMS OF TAX AMOUNTS AMONG SIMILAR OR COMPARABLE HOMES.

DO TAXES DISAPPEAR? I'M PRETTY SURE THE CITY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIND THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT IT NEEDS TO OPERATE THIS CITY AND TO PROVIDE THE HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT'S EXPECTED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, TAXES MAY THEN SHIFT.

IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE SHIFTING TO THOSE NON HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES, COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

WE DON'T HAVE AGRICULTURAL, WE DON'T HAVE INDUSTRIAL, THE RESIDENTIAL THAT ARE NON HOMESTEADED AND THEN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.

>> YOU LOOK DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DOES SLOW THE GROWTH AND VALUE FOR THE RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES BECAUSE IT'S JUST AT THE CPI.

THAT WILL CREATE UPWARD PRESSURE ON THE MILEAGE RATE.

THERE'S A GOOD SLIDE THAT I'LL SHOW IN A MOMENT THAT SHOWS THE IMPACTS STARTING SMALL AND GETTING LARGER IN TERMS OF THAT IMPACT ON THE LOST TAX REVENUE.

THIS IS A QUOTE FROM GMA AND ACCG, SAYS, WELL, COUNTIES AND CITIES MAY MORE EASILY INCREASE THE MILEAGE RATE IF NEEDED.

MORE SO THAN SCHOOLS.

WELL, THE CITY OF DECATUR AS I HAVE IN BOLD, THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS AN 18 MILL CAP, AND CURRENTLY, WE'RE JUST SHY OF 13 MILLS.

CERTAINLY INCREASING THE MILLAGE RATE IS AN OPTION, BUT THERE WOULD BE A LIKELY SCENARIO WHERE THAT CAP WOULD BE HIT.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BY THE WAY, IS AT 25 MILLS, AND THAT'S IN OUR CHARTER TODAY.

WHILE THAT SINKS IN, JUST A REMINDER, ONCE AGAIN, EACH LOCAL GOVERNMENT INDEPENDENTLY MAY DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO OPT OUT, DOESN'T IMPACT THE OTHER HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, BUT REMEMBER, IT DOES IMPACT THE, THE OTHER CITIES AND THE COUNTY, THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR FROST FOR THE SALES TAX.

IN THE SECOND TO LAST BULLET, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT ON OUR BUSINESSES OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, COMBINED WITH AN ADDITIONAL SALES TAX.

SALES TAX IS REGRESSIVE.

ALSO, THE CURRENT SALES TAX RATE IS AT 8%.

DO WE WANT TO BE THAT COMMUNITY, THAT COUNTY, THAT WOULD BE THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE OR TO REQUIRE THAT RATE TO BE COLLECTED BY OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

THIS WAS A QUOTE FROM GMA AND ACCG, LOCAL GOVERNMENT MIGHT JUST OPT OUT BECAUSE IT'S CONFUSING.

I WOULD SAY WE WOULDN'T OPT OUT JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING'S HARD OR SOMETHING CONFUSING.

BUT THINK ABOUT THE FACT IF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DOES OPT OUT.

IF THE CITY DID NOT OPT OUT, THEN THE CITY WOULD BE SENDING OUT TAX BILLS WITH TWO DIFFERENT TAXABLE AMOUNTS.

SO IN THAT WAY, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WOULD HAVE THE TAXABLE VALUE, THAT WOULD BE THE ASSESSED VALUE AS DETERMINED BY THE TAX ASSESSOR,

[01:30:03]

AND THEN THE CITY PORTION OF THE BILL WOULD HAVE VALUES THAT WERE LIMITED TO THE CPI.

>> IF THAT COUNTY, AS I BELIEVE D CAB HAS, THEIR HOST, IS THAT RIGHT? IT GOES ALL FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

>> IT DOES.

>> IF THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL FROST, THEY WOULD BE TAKING IN MORE MONEY FOR HOMESTEAD RELIEF AND IT ALL HAS TO BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE THAT YOU WOULD BRING IT IN.

I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A COUNTY ALREADY HAS A MECHANISM IN PLACE FOR THAT LARGE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND THEN THERE WAS EFFORT TO PASS THE FLOST AND WHERE THEY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PUT IN TO ANY OPERATIONS, YOU CAN'T PUT IT IN ANYWHERE ELSE ONLY FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.

I DON'T HAVE SOMETHING TO.

>> AGAIN, I THINK SECOND TO LAST BULLET HERE, BE AWARE OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

WE'VE ALREADY TALKED THOUGH ABOUT THE IMPACT ON HOUSING SUPPLY, THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING, LIMITED SUPPLY, AND THE IMPACT ON HOUSING PRICES, THE IMPACT ON BUSINESSES, IF THERE IS A FLOST EVEN IF THERE ISN'T A FLOST, BUT THE TAX BURDEN WOULD BE COULD POTENTIALLY WOULD LIKELY SHIFT TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES TO BUSINESSES AND TO NON HOMESTEADED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.

ULTIMATELY JUST STEPPING BACK, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT'S TRYING TO BE THAT SOMEONE IS TRYING TO SOLVE.

I MEAN, FROM THE FIRST SLIDE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, IT WAS LEGISLATORS ACROSS THE STATE HAVING A GENUINE CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT OF RISING PROPERTY VALUES ON THE TAXPAYER.

CERTAINLY THERE ARE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE THAT HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION TO MITIGATE THAT IMPACT ON THEIR PROPERTY OWNERS AND ON THEIR TAXPAYERS.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS TAKEN SOME VERY SPECIFIC MEASURES.

AGAIN, THE 2024 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS THAT WENT INTO THAT WHERE THE ADJUSTMENTS 25000-40000 BASED OFF OF CPI BASED OFF OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUE INCREASES, ALSO MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO EXEMPTIONS BASED OFF OF AGE AND INCOME, REDUCING THE MILLAGE RATE WHEN IT'S POSSIBLE.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE YEARS WHEN THE MILEAGE RATE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED UPWARD.

BUT AGAIN, WE'RE THIS BODY HAS NOT BEEN PASSIVE.

WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING CHANGES TO THE MILITARY AND TO HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS IN AN EFFORT TO BENEFIT TAXPAYERS. YES, SIR.

>> I HAVE VERY STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THIS AND I DO THINK THAT THE WAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT IS VERY COMPLICATED.

IF I'M ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, IT MAY BE HARD TO UNDERSTAND IT.

JUST A COUPLE OF OBSERVATIONS.

ONE IS, I THINK THAT FROM THE LEGISLATOR'S PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT RISING PROPERTY TAXES.

PEOPLE NOT CAN'T AFFORD THEM SO THEY HAVE TO MOVE ON A VERY SIMPLISTIC LEVEL, I'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE.

I'VE HEARD THAT PARTICULARLY IN POORER COMMUNITIES.

I THINK THERE IS A SENSE THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS, THERE IS A SENSE THAT THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES, OTHERWISE, COULDN'T AND THERE ARE PROGRAMS. I KNOW FOR SOME REASON, I THOUGHT WE HAD ONE OR TALKED ABOUT AT LEAST.

BUT I KNOW THE CAY ATLANTA HAS ONE, WEST SIDE FUTURE FUND ONE FELTNE HAS ONE, THEY'VE DONE SOME STUFF.

IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO SHOW SOME REAL LIFE EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND THEM.

ALL THESE POINTS ARE REALLY GOOD, BUT LET'S SAY YOU UNMASK PICK THE RICHEST GUY IN THE WORLD.

[01:35:04]

BUYS A HOUSE, HE LIVES THERE FOR 10 YEARS, AND THE TEACHER COMES AND LIVES NEXT TO, AND THEN COMPARE THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT TWO OF THEM ARE PAYING.

I DO YOU THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SHOW THE VALUE OF THAT.

EVEN SAYING LIKE SALES TAX IS REGRESSIVE, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SAY, WELL, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT UNDERSTAND WHAT REGRESSIVE MEANS OR WHY THAT IS THAT, TALK ABOUT IF YOU'RE PAYING SALES TAX, IT'S A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF INCOME THAN IF YOU'RE PAYING THE TAX.

I THINK ALSO THE RENTAL PROPERTIES VERSUS THE HOMEOWNERS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF EXAMPLES.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO CONVEY AND IT'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT HOW THE TAX SYSTEM WORKS.

EVEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROVIDING A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR THE FIRST PART OF VALUE VERSUS THE LAST PART OF VALUE.

HOW THAT WHEN YOU BASICALLY SAY ANYTHING LIKE YOU HAD $100,000, ANYTHING ABOVE A $100,000 IS REGRESSIVE.

I MEAN, YOU DON'T PAY TAX OUT. THAT'S REGRESSIVE.

IF I HAVE $1,000,000 HOME, AND I'M CAPPING THE PROPERTY TAX 100,000, I'M GETTING $900,000 OF BENEFIT VERSUS GIVING EVERYBODY THE FIRST IF EVERY GETS A $40,000 INVESTMENT, THEN I'M HAVING TROUBLE EXPLAINING IT HERE. I'M SAYING.

>> IT'S COMPLICATED.

>> WE LIKE TO SHOW SOME NUMBERS AND DO THAT? AND WE MAY EVEN WANT TO CONSIDER HAVING SOMETHING IN THE FOCUS ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE COMPLAIN SO MUCH ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHY WE THINK PROPERTY TAXES MAKE MORE SENSE THAN SALES TAXES.

I THINK ONE THING THAT DOES GENERALLY IS WE PROVIDE GOOD VALUE FOR THE TAXES THAT WE DO CHARGE.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY, TOO.

BUT I THINK THIS IS A VERY EDUCATIONAL IN DEPTH PRESENTATION, I APPRECIATE IT.

I ALSO THINK THAT WE BENEFIT FROM BEING REALLY CLOSE TO IT AND KIND OF UNDERSTANDING IT.

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, WE NEED SOME CONCRETE EXAMPLES TO EXPLAIN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I WAS AT CLAREMONT ELEMENTARY THIS MORNING AND TALKED ABOUT THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS AND WHY THEY WERE THERE AND HOW WE WERE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

I SAID IF SOMEONE DRIVES TOO FAST THROUGH THERE, THEY GET A TICKET, AND ONE OF THE STUDENTS RAISED THEIR HAND AND SAID, WHAT'S A TICKET? WE'RE IN TOUCH. WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO WHAT'S THE TICKET.

THIS IS SUPER COMPLICATED, AND IT IS.

I MEAN, OUR HEADS ARE EXPLODING AND INTERESTING, HOW IT EVER GOT TO THIS KIND OF LANGUAGE.

BUT I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GREAT IDEA TO HAVE SOME.

I HAD A MAYOR FROM ANOTHER GOLDBERG IT IS.

WHO SAID THAT THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IN HER CITY, IT IS A COUNTY WIDE DISTRICT HAD PASSED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS LIMITING, AND SHE SAID, IT'S BEEN A DISASTER FOR BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE MONEY THEY NEED TO OPERATE THEIR SCHOOLS.

ONCE YOU PUT IT IN TO TRY TO GO BACK AND UNDO IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.

BUT I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, HAVING THOSE EXAMPLES OF WHY AND WHY IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO HAVE TARGETED EXEMPTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THEM INSTEAD OF BLANKET EXEMPTIONS BASED ON I'VE LIVED IN THIS HOUSE FOR 20 YEARS AND SOMEBODY ELSE COMES IN AND MY HOUSE IS WORTH $800,000 AND YOUR HOUSE IS WORTH $800,000 AND I'M PAYING TAXES ON $100,000.

BUT WHAT THAT BENEFIT IS INSTEAD OF ATTACHING IT TO THE NEED OF THE PERSON IN THAT HOUSE.

>> WHY THE CREATES A SYSTEM WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE TO BUY INTO ONLY WEALTHIER PEOPLE COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THE FULL FRIGHT OF THEIR TAXES WHILE THE OTHER PEOPLE AREN'T.

WE'RE GOING TO SELF SELECT FOR WEALTHIER PEOPLE TO COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF I WOULD SAY THE DAMPENING ON THE HOUSING SUPPLY.

THAT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST TELLS THERE.

I WAS PICKING UP THAT PERNICIOUS INTEREST RATES ARE ALREADY KEEPING PEOPLE FROM TRANSACTING, WHICH IS CONTINUING TO CONSTRAIN HOUSING INVENTORY AND PEOPLE DON'T CYCLE THROUGH HOUSING LIKE THEY WERE, WHICH LEAVES A HOUSE OPEN THAT COULD BE AFFORDABLE FOR THE NEXT PERSON.

THERE'S TWO SIDES TO THAT, OBVIOUSLY, GEORGE YOU MENTIONED THAT THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, PEOPLE SELLING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TAXES.

I SEE THAT TOO, BUT AGAIN, COMPLICATED AND A LOT OF DIMENSIONS.

THANKS FOR POINTING THAT OUT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK A LOT OF GOVERNMENTS MAY BE BRINGING THAT IN THIS DISCUSSION.

>> ONE OF THE PROPERTY TAX ALSO,

[01:40:01]

IT'S A VERY VISIBLE BIG NUMBER THAT YOU PAY AT ONE TIME OR TWICE.

YOU NOTICE IT AND YOU MAY NOT NOTICE WHAT YOU PAY IN SALES TAX.

THAT'S AN THE REASON WHY PEOPLE TEND TO HATE THE PROPERTY TAX.

>> I GUESS THE LAST.

>> I SAW THIS SLIDE FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

ACTUALLY, LET'S PUT IN OUR MILLAGE RATE.

THANKS KUDOS TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

BUT STARTING WITH THE IN 2023, OF AS THE OVERALL BASE VALUE OF PROPERTY.

THEN YOU SEE YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHAT THE VALUE WOULD BE.

IF IT'S LIMITED TO THE CPI, THE FIRST YEAR IS 604 MILLION VERSUS 615 MILLION.

YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE, EVEN ALMOST $8,000,000 DIFFERENCE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR CURRENT MILEAGE RATE? WELL, THAT'S JUST A REVENUE LOSS OF 152,000.

WE COULD HANDLE THAT.

THEN YOU MOVE INTO THE NEXT YEAR, WELL, ACTUALLY, THAT WAS A SLIDE I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER IS THE GROWING IMPACT.

BY 2029, WE WOULD HAVE A LOSS OF REVENUE OF OVER $1.1 MILLION WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE AT THE SAME LEVEL THAT WE'RE OPERATING TODAY.

IF WE HAD A REVENUE LOSS OF $1.1 MILLION.

THERE WOULD BE SOME REAL PAINFUL CUTS AND EXPENDITURES, MOST LIKELY, AS WELL AS A SEARCH FOR THAT REVENUE IN OTHER PLACES OUTSIDE OF THE RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD BECAUSE THIS IS JUST RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD PROPERTY.

AGAIN, YOU CAN JUST SEE HOW IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, THE FINANCIAL THE CITY'S FINANCIAL PICTURE COULD CHANGE VERY QUICKLY.

FOR THAT REASON I'LL JUST BE ASKING THIS BODY TO ONE TO BE THINKING ABOUT THIS INFORMATION THAT I HAVE PROVIDED TONIGHT AND TO VERY SERIOUSLY CONSIDER COME JANUARY, CONSIDER THE OPT OUT PROVISION FOR OUR CITY.

FOR THE REASONS THAT I DISCUSSED HERE TONIGHT.

>> I BELIEVE IT IS DO WE NEED TO TAKE A BREAK? IS EVERYBODY OKAY TO START OUR MEETING AND WE MAY TAKE A BREAK DURING THE MEETING? THAT SOUNDS OKAY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY HAVE JUST JOINED US, THAT WAS OUR THIRD WORK SESSION.

A REALLY GREAT INFORMATION.

MAYOR TIM POWERS IS OUT THIS EVENING.

HE MAY GET HE'S OUT OF TOWN, MAY GET BACK INTO TOWN BEFORE OUR MEETING IS OVER, BUT HE JUST TEXTED AND SAID HE'S STILL A LITTLE WAS OUT.

BUT WITH THAT, I WILL CALL TO ORDER

[I. Call to Order by Mayor]

THE MEETING FOR THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER THE 18TH.

AND COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE MINUTES FROM

[II. Approval of the Minutes.]

THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THE REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 4TH, 2024.

ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE BOTH SETS OF MINUTES?

>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>>AYE.

>> OPPOSED. THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE MINUTES ARE IMPROVED.

NEXT, I'D LIKE TO TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES IN RECOGNITION OF HOMELESS AWARENESS MONTH.

[III. Proclamations.]

MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE HAD A PRESENTATIONS AT THIS BODY.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET, A HOMELESS STRATEGY MANAGER, AND I WANT TO TAKE JUST A MINUTE TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT OF THOSE DEALING WITH BEING HOMELESS AND UNHOUSED, AND OUR WILLINGNESS AND OUR DEDICATION TO WORKING FOR BETTER SOLUTIONS.

THIS IS NATIONAL HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH.

WHEREAS HOMELESSNESS IS A CHALLENGE THAT HAS EXISTED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, DEKALB COUNTY, AND ACROSS THE STATE AND NATION FOR MANY DECADES, IMPACTING THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND WHEREAS THE COMBINATION OF A NATIONAL HOUSING CRISIS.

THE RISE OF MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS,

[01:45:02]

AND THE COVID PANDEMIC HAVE RESULTED IN GROWING HOMELESS POPULATIONS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTY, AND WHEREAS THERE ARE DOZENS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NON PROFITS, PLACES OF WORSHIP, AND OTHERS THAT WORK EACH DAY IN OUR COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS THAT EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING AND UNIQUE REASONS FOR HOMELESSNESS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL.

WHEREAS WE RECOGNIZE THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS IN OUR CITY HAVE EXPERIENCED UNIMAGINABLE HARDSHIP AND TRAUMA, AND IT TAKES THE STRENGTH AND COMMITMENT OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO HELP THEM REGAIN HOPE AND INDEPENDENCE.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS PURSUED A MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO THIS COMPLEX CHALLENGE, INCLUDING EMPLOYING A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, STARTING A DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, FUNDING A NEW HOMELESS STRATEGY MANAGER POSITION AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND WHEREAS IT IS NECESSARY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE MANY REASONS PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS, INCLUDING THE SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS WITH VERY LOW INCOMES AND TO ENCOURAGE SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS ASSISTANCE SERVICE PROVIDERS.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR RECOGNIZES THAT WE MUST JOIN WITH DEKALB COUNTY AND OTHER DEKALB CITIES TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE UNHOUSED, AND WE CANNOT STAND IDLY BY AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE LIVING ON OUR STREETS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PATTY GARRET, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 2024 AS HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH.

I THINK WE MAY HAVE SOME COMMENTS TOWARD THE END OF OUR MEETING ABOUT SOME OF THE MORE RECENT HOUSING SUMMITS AND STRATEGIES THAT SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ATTENDED.

WE ALSO HAVE THREE DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH US THIS EVENING AND MAYOR PRO TIM POWERS IS GOING TO BE SORRY HE IS NOT HERE TO WELCOME YOU, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TELL US YOUR NAME AND TELL US WHERE YOU GO TO SCHOOL AND WHAT GRADE YOU'RE IN, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> SORRY FOUR.

>> THERE'RE FOUR, FIVE.

[LAUGHTER] WERE THEY COMING FROM? IS WE'RE COUNTING AND.

[OVERLAPPING] HI.

>> HI. I'M RILEY MCMILLEN.

I GO TO DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M AN 11TH GRADER.

>> WELCOME.

>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.

I'M HENRY CASEY, AND I'M CURRENTLY A 12TH GRADER AT THE DECATUR SCHOOL.

>> HI. I'M ALLIE HOGAN AND I'M A SOPHOMORE AT DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL.

>> HI, I'M AUSTIN. I'M A SOPHOMORE AT DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL.

>> THAT SOMEBODY IN THE HALL.

YOU SEE THE ACCOUNTED IN THE HALL.

[LAUGHTER] YOU DON'T GET CREDIT IN THE HALLWAY.

WE HAVE TO COME ON IN JOIN OUR MEETING.

>> MR. FLOYD IS ANYBODY?

>> WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME.

AND AS YOU SEE, WE MAY HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION AT OUR MEETING THIS EVENING SO THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

[APPLAUSE] YES.

>> ONE MORE.

>> I'M MALTA AND I'M WITH YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU.

>> WELCOME. NEXT,

[IV. Presentations.]

WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL AS A RECAP OF THIS YEAR'S NEWLY RETURNED IN PERSON BOOK FESTIVAL SO WELCOME.

THANK YOU. THIS IS ALL SET SET.

PERFECT. THANK YOU.

>> I'M LESLIE WINGATE, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR GARRETT, ANGELA, THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME BACK.

THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE FESTIVAL AND NOW IT'S BEHIND US.

BUT IT HAPPENED, WE HAD A COMEBACK AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT HOW EVERYTHING WENT.

I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF THAT WITH YOU.

SELF ACCLIMATED HERE.

GOOD. EVERYONE CAN SEE THIS.

FESTIVAL ATTENDANCE.

I THINK WE CAN SAFELY SAY,

[01:50:02]

WE HAD 10,000 PLUS ATTENDEES.

WE KNOW FOR SURE, WE HAD 7,400 BECAUSE THOSE WE COULD COUNT.

THEY WERE THE PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED OUR PROGRAMS, AND WE HAD VOLUNTEERS WITH COUNTERS.

THE REST OF THE ATTENDEES, WE FIGURE NOT EVERYONE GOES TO THE INDOOR PROGRAMS. A LOT OF PEOPLE STAY OUTSIDE, THEY ENJOY THE EXHIBITORS, THE FOOD, THE ENTERTAINMENT.

I THINK WE'RE BEING VERY REASONABLE WHEN WE SAY 10,000 ATTENDEES, WHICH WE WERE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT.

NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT SPONSORS.

WE HAD 26 SPONSORS AND OVER 40 INDIVIDUAL DONORS, AND THOSE ARE STILL COMING IN.

I HAVE TO, OF COURSE, THANK THE CITY OF DECATUR.

THEY CAME THROUGH IN THE BIGGEST WAY, I THINK, EVER, PERHAPS IN THE HISTORY OF THE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR, NOT ONLY WITH A SIGNIFICANT CASH DONATION, BUT THE KIND CONTRIBUTIONS WERE UNBELIEVABLE.

I HEARD SHERRI JACKMAN WAS GOING TO BE HERE.

[LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] SHERRI AND HER TEAM FROM THE VISITORS TOURISM OFFICE, WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THE FESTIVAL WITHOUT THEM.

BETWEEN SHERRI AND KRISTEN AND JACKIE MOORE, THEY WERE JUST PHENOMENAL.

THE THING IS, IS THEY DO EVERYTHING WITH SUCH A SMILE ON THEIR FACES, VERY HAPPY AND MADE US FEEL SO VALUABLE AND ENGAGED.

CITY OF DECATUR. THANK YOU.

AMAZING. I ALSO WANT TO THANK ANGELA THREAD DID I SEE HER TOO? YES. ANGELA IS ON OUR BOARD AND OF COURSE, WAS VERY HELPFUL THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AS WELL.

GREAT SPONSORS.

THE BOOKSELLER PARTNERS.

WE HAD FOUR MAIN ONES, THE FOUR AT THE TOP, AND THEN TALL TALE BOOKS CAME THROUGH TO HELP WITH THE TASKFORCE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING AND BOOK SALES.

AGAIN, GREAT PARTNERS FOR US, VERY DEDICATED PROGRAMMING.

WE ENDED UP WITH 136 AUTHORS AND MODERATORS, 38 SESSIONS, AND ALL OF THIS TOOK PLACE IN FIVE VENUES WITH TEN STAGES.

HERE ARE THE VENUES, AND THEN I ADDED ONE AT THE BOTTOM, WHICH IS THE SQUARE.

WE CAN'T LEAVE THE SQUARE OUT EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T DO OFFICIAL PROGRAMMING THERE.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF DECATUR, TOP LEFT FANTASTIC, AGAIN, INCREDIBLE PEOPLE THERE.

THE MARRIOTT HOTEL WAS WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH.

THE TASK FORCE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH CAME THROUGH FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR.

THEY WERE CELEBRATING THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY.

THEY DID AN AMAZING GLOBAL HEALTH PROGRAM.

THEY HAD TO PULL CHAIRS IN BECAUSE THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE THAN THEY HAD EXPECTED.

THEY ENDED UP WITH AROUND 350 PEOPLE IN THEIR BUILDING THAT DAY.

THEY DID SCIENCE FAIR TYPE PROGRAMMING FOR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

IT WAS REALLY A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.

THEN THE DECATUR LIBRARY, OF COURSE, WE HAD THE POETRY STAGE THERE, VERY POPULAR.

THEN THE READING ROOM, THEY WERE WONDERFUL, THEY HOSTED OUR STUDENT EMERGING WRITERS PROGRAM.

I BELIEVE IT WAS FIVE UNIVERSITIES THAT PARTICIPATED AND BROUGHT STUDENTS IN WHO READ THEIR WORKS AND IT WAS FABULOUS.

THEN OF COURSE, THE SQUARE WAS VERY ACTIVE.

WE HAD CLOSE TO 90 EXHIBITORS ON THE SQUARE.

A VARIETY OF WRITERS, POETS, PUBLISHERS, VERY RELATED TO LITERATURE, AND JUST WONDERFUL.

YOU CAN SEE THE ACTIVITY FROM THE PICTURE, LOTS AND LOTS OF BUSINESSES.

THEY REALLY ACTIVATED THE SQUARE, IT WAS WONDERFUL.

WE HAD ENTERTAINMENT.

MOST OF THIS TOOK PLACE AT THE CHURCH.

ALL OF THIS TOOK PLACE AT THE CHURCH ON THEIR FRONT LAWN, AND YOU CAN SEE THE VARIETY OF GROUPS WE HAD FROM THE AGNESS SCOT COLLEGIATE CHORAL TO ATLANTA SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, DID A FAMILY FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE.

THEN WE HAD THE SWIMMING POOL CUES.

IF ANYONE'S AS OLD AS I AM, YOU MAY REMEMBER THEM.

THEY WERE PRETTY POPULAR BACK IN THE DAY.

VOLUNTEERS.

AGAIN, SHERRI'S TEAM, KRISTEN, RECRUITED, MOST OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, 208 OF THE 275 WERE RECRUITED BY THE CITY.

I'M TELLING YOU WE JUST HEARD NOTHING BUT COMPLIMENTS ABOUT OUR VOLUNTEERS.

THEY WERE SO WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH ALL OF THEM.

I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE WE HAVE THAT MANY, BUT WE NEEDED THEM.

THAT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME.

THEN THE LOWER RIGHT PICTURE IS STACY ABRAMS, AS SOON AS SHE ARRIVED FOR THE KID NOTE EVENT, SHE IMMEDIATELY SAID, LET'S GET A PICTURE WITH VOLUNTEERS, THAT WAS FUN.

[01:55:02]

MEDIA COVERAGE, I THINK WE DID PRETTY WELL.

I COUNTED AROUND 65 NEWS STORIES.

ALL OF THESE OUTLETS PARTICIPATED.

ROUGH DRAFT WAS A HUGE SPONSOR FOR US, AND THEY INCLUDED THE SPECIAL SECTION IN THE ATLANTA IN TOWN IN SEPTEMBER.

THEN A LOT OF WABE RADIUS SPOTS, I HOPE YOU ALL HEARD THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE 47 ALTOGETHER.

THEY WERE VERY GENEROUS AS WELL. SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE UP TO CLOSE TO 44,000 FOLLOWERS ON ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PLATFORMS. THE ONE THAT'S SHOWING HERE WAS THE ONE WHERE WE ANNOUNCED THAT THE FESTIVAL WAS COMING BACK AND WE HAD 764 LIGHTS, WHICH WAS MORE THAN WE'VE EVER HAD EVER FOR ANY POST.

PEOPLE WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE FESTIVAL COMING BACK.

CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES.

WE REALLY DID A LOT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THIS YEAR.

WE HAD STORYTELLING IN THE CHURCH LIBRARY, WHICH WAS GREAT BECAUSE YOU COULD ACCESS IT FROM THE FRONT LAWN OF THE CHURCH.

THAT WAS FOR TINY TOTS AND THEN WE DID THE STORY LIAND FUN ZONE.

WE DID THAT IN THE GYM OF THE CHURCH.

THEY HAD 800 PEOPLE COME THROUGH AND IT WAS EVERYTHING FROM BOUNCY HOUSES TO A LOT OF DECATUR ENTITIES, CIRCUS CAMP AND DECATUR ROBOTICS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, I BELIEVE, DECATUR MAKERS, THE FINE ARTS ACADEMY.

OF COURSE, YOUR FACE PAINTING AND BALLOON ARTISTS.

WE WERE THRILLED WITH HOW THAT TURNED OUT.

IT WAS REALLY FUN.

OUR KEYNOTE CONVERSATION HAPPENED ON FRIDAY EVENING BEFORE THE FESTIVAL, AND WE HAD OVER 800 PEOPLE THERE, JOYCE CAROL OATES, AND THEN OUR BIG SPONSOR, JOE BERRY CARROLL FROM H FOUNDATION WAS IN CONVERSATION WITH HER.

WE WERE REALLY PLEASED WITH OUR TURNOUT THERE AND WHAT AN ICONIC PERSON TO BRING TO THE FESTIVAL.

STACY ABRAMS WAS AMAZING, AND AGAIN, ATTRACTED OVER 800 PEOPLE.

IT WAS A REAL MIX OF ADULTS, BUT ALSO A LOT OF CHILDREN IN THE AUDIENCE.

SHE DID SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB OF CALLING OUT TO THE CHILDREN AND ENGAGING THEM.

SHE ALSO TALKED ABOUT SOME SERIOUS TOPICS SUCH AS BANNED BOOKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT SHE REALLY HAD SUCH A WAY AND SHE HAD HER PARENTS THERE WITH HER AND HER SISTER AND IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

WE HAD A CULINARY STAGE, WHICH WE DID FOR THE FIRST TIME INSIDE THE CHURCH, AND IT TURNED OUT WONDERFULLY.

WE HAD OVER 420 PEOPLE ATTEND TOTAL THOSE SESSIONS AND SOME REALLY WELL KNOWN NAMES LIKE ANN BYRNE, WHOSE PICTURE IS HERE, WHO WAS JUST FABULOUS.

THAT WAS REALLY FUN, SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY WANT TO KEEP DOING.

NOW WE ARE WORKING ON THE POST FESTIVAL ASSESSMENT, THE THANK YOUS, I SAY THE SURVEYS, IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE ALWAYS DO.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER SURVEYED AT THE DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL, I COULD BE WRONG, BUT NOT SURE WE HAVE.

WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF SERVING THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT ALSO AUTHORS AND MODERATORS, VOLUNTEERS, EVEN THE ENTERTAINMENT PEOPLE.

WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK.

WE CAN MAKE THE FESTIVAL EVEN BIGGER AND I DON'T WANT TO KEEP SAYING BIGGER, BUT BETTER NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE DOING DEBRIEF SESSIONS WITH ALL THE BOOKSELLERS AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND A WRAP UP REPORT, OF COURSE.

THEN WE MOVE INTO THE PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR.

I JUST LOVE THIS PICTURE OF THIS DOG, I JUST HAD TO INCLUDE IT.

WE WILL START WORKING ON THAT SOON, AND IT IS OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL AND PRESENTS ALL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CELEBRATION AND FUN.

WE WILL BE WORKING ON FESTIVAL BAPPING.

ANGELA WILL BE HELPING US A LOT WITH THAT JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE SQUARE WILL BE UNDERGOING RENOVATION.

WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT, WHAT WE CAN USE, WHAT WE CAN'T USE SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE ALL THAT OUT.

WE DO HOPE TO CLOSE PONS AND CLAREMONT THIS TIME.

WE DIDN'T THIS PAST FESTIVAL.

I THINK IT WILL REALLY HELP CONNECT THE FESTIVAL, THE CHURCH, TO THE SQUARE SO THERE'S CONTINUITY THERE.

IT FELT A LITTLE BIT SEPARATE. I THINK THAT'LL HELP.

THEN WE DO WANT TO INCREASE THE SCOPE OF PROGRAMMING WITH ADDITIONAL VENUE SPACE.

WE'VE ALREADY THE MARRIOTT, AND WE HAVE THEIR WHOLE SPACE IN THE CONFERENCE CENTER, WHICH WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS PAST TIME BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAD ANOTHER GROUP IN THERE TOO.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A MUCH BETTER SITUATION FOR THAT.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE,

[02:00:03]

CAN I ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE OR ANYONE I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ALLOWED TO GET QUESTIONS.

I'M NOT. NEVER MIND FROM YOU.

[LAUGHTER] ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS?

>> I HEARD ONLY REALLY GREAT THINGS EXCEPT MORE OF IT.

I THINK EVERYBODY WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE AUTHORS COME AND HAVE THE EVENTS AND ADDING SOME THINGS, AND I THINK THE ATTENDANCE IS A GREAT DAY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BRINGING THIS BACK.

>> I KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF WORK BY A LOT OF PEOPLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, SO THANK YOU.

>> I DIDN'T MENTION THIS EARLIER BUT AM I CORRECT IN UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU MAY, OR GARRETT, MAY HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY FROM, [LAUGHTER] YOU WERE SO KIND NOT TO MENTION THIS TONIGHT.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE.

YOU'RE RIGHT WE'VE GOT TO WORK ON THAT.

MICHAEL THURMOND WAS SPEAKING, AND THAT SPACE WAS TOO SMALL, AND SOMEONE TOLD ME LATER, HE SAID, "I THINK WE TURNED AWAY THE MAYOR OF DECATUR." [OVERLAPPING]

>> I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE TURNED AWAY. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I DON'T THINK YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE THOUGH. [OVERLAPPING]

>> THERE WERE PEOPLE AHEAD OF ME IN LINE TO GET IN. [OVERLAPPING]

>> HAD I KNOWN YOU WERE COMING, YOU KNOW I WOULD HAVE SAVED YOU A SEAT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THERE EARLIER. [OVERLAPPING]

>> YOU HANDLED IT KINDLY, SO THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING]

>> SOMEBODY SAID. "YOU'VE HEARD HIM SPEAK BEFORE." I KNOW. [LAUGHTER]

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> BUT I KNOW HE WAS A GREAT.

EVERYTHING I HEARD THAT HE DID A GREAT JOB. [OVERLAPPING]

>> YES.

>> I THINK THE WHOLE MORE OF THE MARRIOTT BEEN AVAILABLE, I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE OPTIONS.

I ALSO TOLD HIM I WENT TO BUY HIS BOOK AND IT WAS GONE TOO. [OVERLAPPING]

>> HIS BOOK SOLD OUT AS WELL. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I KNOW HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM FOR A BOOK. [OVERLAPPING]

>> THEY WERE OUR BIGGEST SPONSOR THIS YEAR TOO, DEKALB COUNTY, SO WE OWE HIM A LOT.

I'M GLAD IT WENT WELL FOR HIM. [OVERLAPPING]

>> YES. [OVERLAPPING]

>> YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BREATHING LIFE INTO WHAT'S BEEN TRADITIONALLY A FANTASTIC FESTIVAL THAT REALLY BUILDS COMMUNITY TOO.

I THINK ANY OF US WHO WERE BRINGING UP YOUNG ONES TOO IN THE EARLIER DAYS OF IT, IT WAS HONESTLY, THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SOMETHING YOU LOOK FORWARD TO TO TAKE YOUNG ONES TOO.

I THINK YOU BUILDING ON THAT ASPECT VERY MUCH, YOU SAW IT AS A FOUNDATION AND YOU BUILT ON THAT TOO. THAT WAS SMART, BY THE WAY. [OVERLAPPING]

>> BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE AND BETTER.

HOWEVER YOU MEASURE SUCCESS, IT SOUNDS LIKE ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT AND POSITIVE FEEDBACK.

BUT WE CAN HELP YOU DEFINE AS WELL WHAT THAT IS AND SUPPORT IT ALSO. [OVERLAPPING]

>> THANK YOU ALL.

YOUR SUPPORT REALLY DOES MEAN A LOT.

ANGELA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRONG SUPPORT.

IT REALLY IS APPRECIATED.

>> THANK YOU. I'LL JUST CLARIFY BECAUSE I KNOW, WE HAVE ANGELA AND ANDREA.

>> I JUST CALLED YOU ANGELA. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I DO IT ALL THE TIME.

[INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]

>> [INAUDIBLE] SOMETIMES. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]

>> I'VE DONE IT SO MANY TIMES, LESLIE.

I KNOW THEY'VE STOPPED COUNTING.

BUT THANK YOU, IT WAS A GREAT REPORT.

HOLIDAYS INDICATOR, I THINK WE JUST MOVE ON WITH SHERRI.

>> HELLO. GOOD EVENING.

I'M SHERRI JACKMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DECATUR TOURISM BUREAU.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO KICK OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON BY PRESENTING A LITTLE GIFT TO ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS AND CITY MANAGER.

THIS IS FROM THE DECATUR TOURISM BUREAU STAFF AT THE VISITOR CENTER AND THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE HELPED PULL ALL THIS TOGETHER.

I'M GOING TO PRESENT THESE AND IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THEIRS SO THEIR WONDERFUL PEOPLE SEE WHAT YOU'RE GETTING [OVERLAPPING]

>> I VOLUNTEER.

>> THEY CAN ALSO GET ONE TOO.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I HATE TO UNTIE THE BOW. IT'S PERFECT. [LAUGHTER]

>> I'LL MAKE SURE THAT [INAUDIBLE].

>> I'M GOING TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

WE'RE GOING TO LET COMMISSIONER MEYER DO THE HONORS.

>> JUST SINCE I'M CLOSEST, SO EVERYONE CAN SEE.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>> YES.

>> THIS IS THE 2024 HOLIDAY ORNAMENT CREATED BY NATE NARDI AT DECATUR GLASS BLOWING.

HE DID A FABULOUS JOB OF WORKING WITH US TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING.

THEY ARE FOR SALE IN ALL OF OUR RETAIL STORES AROUND DECATUR.

THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

[02:05:02]

WE WILL ACTUALLY SELL THEM AT THE VISITOR CENTER JUST AS A COURTESY.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH PEOPLE OUT TO THE BUSINESSES AND NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THAT.

ANYBODY THAT WANTS AN ORNAMENT, COME SEE US OR SEE THE SHOPS.

I DID BRIEFLY WANT TO JUST MENTION SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT ARE COMING UP.

THIS COMING THURSDAY, PART OF TERRIFIC THURSDAYS, WE HAVE SANTA PICTURES WITH PETS, SO IF YOU HAVE A PET IN YOUR FAMILY AND YOU'D LIKE TO COME GET A PHOTO TAKEN.

IT WAS A BIG SUCCESS LAST YEAR.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME NONPROFITS THAT WILL BE THERE THIS YEAR.

TAJ MAHAN WILL BE THERE SELLING GIFTS FOR YOUR PETS, SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN ALL OUT EVENT.

WE'LL HAVE A DJ THERE, SO IF YOU WANT TO DANCE WITH YOUR PET, YOU CAN, [LAUGHTER] SO IT SHOULD BE A VERY FUN EVENING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ANY PET?

>> ANY PET. LAST YEAR WE DID AN HOUR FOR DOGS, AN HOUR FOR CATS, AND THEN AN HOUR FOR EXOTICS.

[LAUGHTER] WE HAD A BUNNY.

IT'S A LITTLE TOO COOL FOR ANY REPTILES, BUT IF THEY SHOW UP, WE'LL DEFINITELY STILL HAVE A PHOTO WITH THEM.

THE NEXT EVENT IS THE SANTA ON THE SQUARE FOR SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.

THAT IS 30TH OF NOVEMBER, SO AFTER THANKSGIVING, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT GOING ON THAT DAY.

WE HAVE SANTA THERE FOR PHOTOS, WE HAVE HOT CHOCOLATE, FRESH-BAKED COOKIES, WE HAVE STILT WALKERS, WE HAVE A TRAIN THAT WILL BE GOING AROUND THE SQUARE AND THE BANDS STAND.

A LOT OF ACTIVITIES.

IT'S FROM 10:00-2:00, SO PLEASE BRING YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS TO COME OUT AND ENJOY.

WE'LL ALSO BE DOING THE SHOPPING PROMOTION, NOVEMBER GIFT CARDS, THAT WILL BE THE LAST DAY.

YOU SHOP AND SPEND $200 WITHIN THE CITY OF DECATUR RETAIL BUSINESSES, YOU TURN THOSE RECEIPTS IN AND YOU GET A $20 GIFT CARD TO A RESTAURANT, SO THAT WILL BE THE LAST DAY.

THEN JUST QUICKLY FOR DECEMBER 5TH, THE TREE LIGHTING, SO THAT'S THE OFFICIAL KICKOFF.

SANTA WILL BE THERE.

THERE'LL BE DIFFERENT CHORUS GROUPS FROM AROUND THE COMMUNITY THERE SINGING, SO THAT WILL BE A BIG EVENING.

I THINK MAYBE COOKIES AND HOT CHOCOLATE FOR THAT TOO.

THE 12TH WILL BE THE BONFIRE.

IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF MARSHMALLOWS, AND A LOT OF STICKS, AND A BIG FIRE.

COME ON OUT, THAT'S A BIG EVENT TOO.

THE 14TH IS SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT, IT'S SANTACON.

THAT'S FOR FOLKS, ADULTS CAN DRESS UP IN THEIR SANTA'S BEST CHARACTERS, WHATEVER AND COME OUT.

OUR PUBS AND RESTAURANTS WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT'S GOING ON, SO YOU CAN GO AROUND AND THEN WE'LL HAVE KARAOKE AT THE BANDSTAND.

THAT IS A LOT OF FUN ALSO, ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE EVENT.

THEN ON THE 19TH, WE HAVE SCREEN ON THE SQUARE AND THIS YEAR, THE GRINCH WILL BE SHOWN.

THAT'S ON THE THURSDAY ALONG A TERRIFIC THURSDAY, BUT IT'S A FAMILY EVENT WHERE KIDS CAN WATCH THE MOVIE AND THEN OTHERS CAN GO SHOPPING.

>> [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER]

>> THE GRINCH? [LAUGHTER].

>> THE GRINCH. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE OLD, IT'S PROBABLY THE NEWER ONE.

THEN OUR LAST HOLIDAY EVENT BUT AN AWESOME EVENT WILL BE SUNDAY THE 29TH, AND THAT'S THE MENORAH LIGHTING.

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, IT IS TRULY AN AWESOME EVENT, SO WE ENCOURAGE ANYONE AND EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND CELEBRATE.

WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I ALWAYS RESHARE YOUR VISIT DECATUR GA STORIES.

EVERY WEEK YOU SAY WHAT'S GOING ON IN DECATUR, IT'S SO EASY TO JUST POP IT OUT AND IT'S SO INFORMATIVE AND LOVELY.

IT'S ON BRAND, APPRECIATE IT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING]

>> YOU DOING GOOD. [OVERLAPPING]

>> THANK YOU. JUST FOR ANYONE LISTENING OR ANYONE HERE, IF YOU GO TO VISITDECATURGA AND CLICK ON EVENTS, THERE IS IN A CALENDAR THERE THAT YOU CAN GO THROUGH AND YOU CAN FILTER IT DOWN TO THE NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, WHATEVER, TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AT ANY TIME.

ANY QUESTIONS? I WOULD LIKE TO QUICKLY JUST SAY TO WESLEY WHAT A JOY IT WAS WORKING WITH HER TEAM AND BRINGING THE BOOK FESTIVAL BACK, AND HOPEFULLY, IT'S JUST GOING TO GET BETTER EVERY YEAR. THANK YOU.

I THINK WE HAVE A STAFF INTRODUCTION.

>> THAT IS THE 29TH.

THANK YOU. MS. DE CASTRO.

>> GOOD EVENING, TERESA DE CASTRO, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE THIS EVENING TO ANNOUNCE THE CITY'S NEW PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR, DR. REMY EPPS.

SHE HAS A WIDE VARIETY OF PARKS AND RECREATION EXPERIENCE.

[02:10:04]

MOST RECENTLY, SHE SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE AND BELONGING WITH THE CITY OR WITH ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY.

SHE HAS SOME HUGE SHOES TO FILL WITH GREG WHITE'S RETIREMENT, BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR HER STARTING.

THIS IS HER FIRST DAY, SO LONG DAY.

[LAUGHTER] I'LL LET REMY INTRODUCE HERSELF AS WELL.

>> GREETINGS, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER, CITY MANAGER.

MY NAME IS DR. REMY EPPS.

I AM GLAD TO BE HERE, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE AS THE NEW PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.

AGAIN, I'M COMING FROM ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, SO NOT TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD BUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER OF A DRIVE.

BUT I'M GLAD TO BE RELOCATED HERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL IN WHATEVER CAPACITY THAT MIGHT BE.

AGAIN, MY BACKGROUND SPANS ACROSS RECREATION AS WELL AS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, AND SO I BRING A WHOLE HOST OF DIFFERENT THINGS, TRICKS I CAN PULL OUT OF MY HAT AT ANY TIME.

ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME AND THAT GOES FOR ALL THE LISTENERS AS WELL.

I CAUTION GRACE WITH ME AS TODAY IS MY FIRST DAY.

IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG DAY, INFORMATION OVERLOAD, BUT HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING AND I WELCOME ANY AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES. THANK Y'ALL.

>> WELCOME.

>> GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[APPLAUSE] WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AROUND THE CITY. THANK YOU.

>> NEXT, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS.

[V. Public Comment on Agenda Action Items.]

THIS IS THE TIME DURING THE MEETING THAT THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO MAKE COMMENT ON ANY OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS THAT I WILL BE READING IN A MOMENT.

IF THERE IS ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT YOU WANT TO BRING BEFORE THE CITY, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WAIT UNTIL REQUEST AND PETITIONS TO BRING THAT FORWARD.

BUT THIS EVENING'S AGENDA ACTION ITEMS WILL INCLUDE A RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE ETHICS ORDINATES FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR AND ITS COMMISSIONERS, THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 AMENDED BUDGET, THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE MULTI-USE PATH, THE LOCAL MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT GRANT UPDATED RECOMMENDATIONS, AND A TASK ORDER FOR OAKHURST PARK, SUGAR CREEK GARDEN MASTER PLAN.

I KNOW WE HAVE SOME INTERESTED FOLKS HERE.

WE WILL TAKE COMMENTS FROM THOSE WHO ARE IN OUR MEETING NOW.

I'LL ASK YOU TO COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT, AND THEN WE WILL ALSO TAKE COMMENTS.

AFTER WE HAVE TAKEN COMMENTS FROM THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT IN THE MEETING, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE ONLINE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

WE'LL OPEN IT. I WILL ASK ANYONE WHO WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT TO PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND STATE YOUR COMMENTS.

NOW, IS THE TIME TO, WE DON'T HAVE A SIGN UP SHEET.

WE WILL JUST INVITE FOLKS TO COME AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

START US OFF. THANK YOU.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS CARE SHOGREN, AND I LIVE AT 217 MOUNT VERNON DRIVE IN DECATUR.

AS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE COALITION FOR DIVERSE DECATUR AND DEKALB AND A CITIZEN OF THE CITY, I WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED PATH AND LEGACY PARK.

THE PATH MEETS ALL THE PRE-ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN SOME.

I THINK ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.

OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED PATH APPEARS TO BE A THINLY VEILED ATTEMPT TO RESIST ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

CONTRARY TO WHAT THIS GROUP IS CONTESTING, THE CITY HAS DONE ITS DUE DILIGENCE REGARDING THE LEGACY PARK PLAN AND SHOULD STAY THE COURSE.

IT'S BEEN WELL THOUGHT OUT, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS IN THAT PLAN THAT ARE LONG OVERDUE IN OUR CITY, SO LET'S CONTINUE TO CREATE THE COMMUNITY THAT I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY OF DECATUR RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE A COMMENT?

>> HI. MY NAME IS WENDY CROMWELL.

I LIVE AT 221 MOUNT VERNON DRIVE,

[02:15:02]

AND I AM THE OTHER CO-CHAIR OF THE COALITION FOR DIVERSE DECATUR AND DEKALB COUNTY.

I AM ALSO URGING YOU TO APPROVE THE PEDESTRIAN PLAN AS DESIGNED.

IT WILL ALLOW FOR CONSTRUCTION TO MOVE FORWARD IN A TIMELY MANNER AND A COST-EFFECTIVE ONE.

THE CITY HAS A COMMITMENT TO HAVING A STRONG TREE CANOPY AS EVIDENCED BY ITS TREE ORDINANCE, AND PROVIDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS IS EVIDENCED BY IT'S STRATEGIC PLAN.

BOTH ARE ACHIEVED, BY THE WAY THE PEDESTRIAN PATH IS PLANNED CURRENTLY AT LEGACY PARK.

THE PLAN AS DESIGNED PROVIDES FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, MORE TREES, IN ADDITION TO ALLOWING THE EXTENSION OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.

AS WE'VE MENTIONED, IS HOMELESSNESS MONTH, AND WE'RE WORKING TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

THIS IS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR THAT.

THE PATH AS DESIGNED, WILL ADD MORE TREES THAN REQUIRED BY THE ORDINANCE.

A SECOND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME AND PRECIOUS PUBLIC RESOURCES.

LIKE CARRIE, I BELIEVE OPPOSITION TO THE PLAN APPEARS TO BE AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT LEGACY PARK WITH A TRUSTED PARTNER IN THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.

THE CITY HAS DONE ITS DUE DILIGENCE REGARDING THE PATH, WHICH IS NEEDED ALONG A BUSY ROAD AND SHOULD STAY THE COURSE.

LET'S CONTINUE TO CREATE THE COMMUNITY THAT I BELIEVE ALL DECATUR RESIDENTS WANT, ONE THAT IN WHICH ALL ARE WELCOME AND CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN. THANK YOU.

>> I'M NIB STROUP.

I LIVE AT 818 SOUTH CANDLER STREET, CAROLINE, AND OUR PASTORS AT OAKHURST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.

WE'VE BEEN HOMEOWNERS FOR ABOUT 35 YEARS IN DECATUR.

I'M ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE CURRENT PLAN FOR THE PATH IN THE LEGACY PARK.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DECATUR FOR MANY DECADES.

WE HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT IT.

WE'RE GLAD TO SEE ACTION AND HOPE YOU'LL STICK WITH THIS ACTION AND STICK WITH THE PLAN AS IT IS.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANOTHER STUDY. YOU'VE DONE THAT.

I THINK WE'RE READY TO GO AND WE NEED TO GO, SO I URGE YOU TO STICK WITH WHAT YOU'VE GOT AND PASS WHAT'S THERE. THANK YOU.

>> HI THERE. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS LEON RUBINSTEIN.

I LIVE AT 2985 LORANS DRIVE INDICATOR.

I WORK AT 500 SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE, WHICH IS LEGACY PARK.

I'M THE CO-DIRECTOR OF COMPASSION IN ATLANTA.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE LEGACY PARK COMMUNITY AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WATCHED ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT HAPPENED WHEN LEGACY PARK WAS ACTUALLY PURCHASED, HOW MUCH TIME HAS BEEN TAKEN I WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH WE ARE IN FAVOR OF THE CURRENT PLAN.

WE SAY A COMPASSIONATE CITY AND CITY OF DECATUR HAS SIGNED THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

A COMPASSIONATE CITY IS AN UNCOMFORTABLE CITY, AND YOU'RE UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE YOU SEE WHERE THERE IS NEED.

YOU READ THAT BEAUTIFUL STATEMENT ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY IS DOING ABOUT THAT AND YOUR NEW HIRE WITH PARKS AND REC.

THIS CITY IS ABOUT COMPASSION AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS VERY MUCH A PART OF THAT PLAN.

I WOULD ASK YOU TO STICK WITH THE PLAN WITH ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO IT AND CREATE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE PATH, THE WAY IT HAS BEEN PLANNED OUT FOR ALL OF US IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> ARE THERE OTHERS? MR. CUFFE.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS PHIL CUFFE.

I LIVE AT 408 ADAM STREET IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT NINE YEARS AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY FAMILY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITY, AND I REMEMBER FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASKFORCE, THAT ONE OF THE RESEARCH ITEMS THAT STUCK WITH ME WAS THE FACT THAT WE WERE AS A CITY SO FAR BEHIND IN OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORK THAT WE NEEDED TO CREATE ABOUT 160 UNITS A YEAR TO CATCH UP AND WE'RE AT THE CUSP, THE PRECIPICE OF TRYING TO MAKE A DENT IN THAT NUMBER WITH THE SOUTH VILLAGE PROJECT.

WE WANT TO OFFER SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF THE COALITION,

[02:20:03]

WHICH I'M A MEMBER AS WELL AS THE BEACON HILL ALLIANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT AND THE PATH THAT WE'RE ON IS A CRITICAL ONE, SO LET'S PROCEED. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M KATHERINE HILLIARD AND I LIVE AT 123 MELROSE AVENUE, DECATUR, AND I'VE BEEN IN THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR 38 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN IN DEKALB COUNTY LONGER THAN THAT, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COALITION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BOTH DECAB AND DECATUR PRETTY MUCH SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED.

AS FAR AS THE TREE ORDINANCE, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE PLANTING MORE NATIVE TREES BECAUSE LEGACY PARK IS IN THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATING A LOT OF INVASIVE EXOTIC TREES SO PLEASE SUPPORT THE PATH.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ELKA DAVIDSON.

I'M THE FORMER CHAIR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE, AND I'M HERE ALSO, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE PATH AS IT'S BEEN DESIGNED.

I WANT TO SAY, I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT I THINK THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, THIS PATH, RAISES A LARGER TENSION IN WHAT THE CITY DOES, AND THAT'S WHEN THERE'S COMPETING VALUES THAT NEED TO BE BALANCED IN ANY GIVEN DEVELOPMENT DECISION.

TONIGHT, WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO VERY RIGHTEOUS COMPETING VALUES.

ONE IS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ONE IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW DOES THE COMMISSION FIND THE SWEET SPOT AND THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN HONORING BOTH OF THOSE COMMITMENTS? I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE TREE ORDINANCE ITSELF CAN SERVE AS THAT MECHANISM.

THE TREE ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS PASSED IN 2022 WITH SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY INPUT AND IS ONE OF THE MOST STRICT IN THE REGION, IDENTIFIES BOTH IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF TREES THAT ARE ALLOWED TO BE TAKEN DOWN AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BE TAKEN DOWN, AND THE PROCESS AND REQUIREMENT BY WHICH THEY ARE ALLOWED THEY NEED TO BE REPLANTED.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE PATH AS IT'S DESIGNED IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE ORDINANCE, AND THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS COMMITTED TO PLANTING BACK EVEN MORE TREES THAN ARE REQUIRED BY THE ORDINANCE.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE BOTH IN THIS SPECIFIC INSTANCE AND AS A MATTER OF GENERAL PRINCIPLE, THAT THE COMMISSION LOOKED TO THE TREE ORDINANCE AS THE PRIMARY MECHANISM FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW TO BALANCE THESE TWO VALUES, BOTH OF WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

I ECHO MY COLLEAGUES.

I THINK A SECOND STUDY WOULD BE A WASTE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES AND TIME AND IT WOULD STOP THE PROJECT FROM MEETING IMPORTANT PROJECT MILESTONES AND FUNDING MILESTONES AND PUT OTHER FUNDING AT RISK SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SAY YES AND APPROVE THE PATH AS IT'S DESIGNED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> HELLO, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS MALEN HENNER, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LEGACY DECATUR.

I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE PATH AT LEGACY SINCE THE CITY BOUGHT IT AND SPENT OVER A YEAR WITH OVER 1,000 PEOPLE HAVING INPUT ON OUR MASTER PLAN.

WE ARE WELL PRACTICED IN THAT DISCOMFORT THAT LEAN DISCUSSED THAT WE DO HAVE THESE VALUES OF MAKING DECATUR MORE GREEN, MORE ATTAINABLE, AND MORE CONNECTED.

THERE ARE TIMES THAT THERE HAVE TO BE COMPROMISES TO MAKE THOSE GOALS HAPPEN AND WE ARE SO THRILLED TO HAVE THIS PATH BETTER CONNECT, NOT ONLY PHYSICALLY, MAKING IT SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BIKERS, OUR FRIENDS AT TALE, AND WITH THE CROSSWALKS, OUR SOUTH AND WESTERN NEIGHBORS, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS A COHESIVE PART OF THE CITY OF DECATUR WHILE WE ALSO ARE VERY MUCH WORKING ON OUR GREEN, WE JUST TOOK OUT OVER 4,000 POUNDS OF DEBRIS FROM OUR WOODLANDS.

WE'RE PLANTING ABOUT 500 WETLAND PLANTS RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE TREES ATLANTA WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.

WE ARE CERTAINLY ALWAYS WORKING TOGETHER TO STITCH TOGETHER ALL OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE PATH IS A BIG WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BETTER ACTIVATE THE PARK IN A SAFE WAY. THANK YOU.

[02:25:04]

>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. SO LOUD.

MY NAME IS MEGAN BERARDI, AND I LIVE AT 303 WILTON DRIVE.

I ALSO WORK AT 500 SOUTH COLUMBIA, WHICH IS LEGACY PARK, AND I ECHO LEAN'S EXCITEMENT ABOUT SHARING SPACE AND COMMUNITY WITH THE RESIDENTS OF THE NEW HOUSING VILLAGE.

I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN PATH ALONG COLUMBIA DRIVE.

SPECIFICALLY, I SUPPORT THE PATH BEING RAISED AS IT IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED.

IT IS THE SAFEST OPTION FOR PEDESTRIANS AND ESPECIALLY OUR KIDS.

I DO NOT SUPPORT A REPEAT ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY, WHICH WOULD NOT BE A WISE USE OF RESOURCES.

TO SUMMARIZE A POST FROM LEGACY PARK NEWS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THE LAND WE CALL LEGACY PARK PROVIDED SHELTER TO FAMILIES IN NEED FOR NEARLY 150 YEARS AS THE UNITED METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOME.

THE ADDITION OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY HONORS THAT LEGACY, AS WELL AS THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION THAT WE DEACTURITES CLAIM TO VALUE.

THANK YOU FOR COMMITTING TO INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY'S MASTER PLAN, AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT AND OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED PATH AND TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION TO MOVE FORWARD IN A TIMELY AND COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TOMMY BARROW.

I LIVE AT 928 EAST LAKE DRIVE.

I'M AT LEGACY PARK FREQUENTLY, EITHER AT THE FRANK HAMILTON SCHOOL OR TRELLIS HORTICULTURAL THERAPY OR RECENTLY WITH THE REFUGEE WOMEN'S NETWORK, AND I'VE TOURED IT RECENTLY WITH MADELINE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS.

IT'S A PHENOMENAL SUCCESS.

I WAS THRILLED TO SEE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOUTH HOUSING VILLAGE.

REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR PATH, IT'S A MUCH-NEEDED AMENITY.

I RIDE MY BIKE OVER TO LEGACY PARK FREQUENTLY, AND IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE.

ONCE YOU GET TO COLUMBIA YOU HAVE TO GET AROUND OVER THERE.

PERSONALLY, I THINK THE PROPOSED PATH THROUGH THE WOODS IS AN ADVANTAGE.

A WOODED PATH IS MORE PEACEFUL AND ENJOYABLE THAN RIDING ALONG A BUSY STREET SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED MULTI-USE PATH AS PRESENTED. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS LYNN GACA.

I LIVE AT 1003 KATIE KERR DRIVE IN DECATUR.

I'LL TALK TO TWO THINGS.

I'LL TALK FIRST TO THE SIDEWALK AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT ETHICS.

THE SIDEWALK IS A MULTI-USE PATH TO GET AROUND AND WE HAVE CHILDREN AT HARGROVE THAT NEED TO WALK TO SCHOOL, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE CHURCH, COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, WE'VE GOT WALDORF SMALL CHILDREN THERE.

I SEE PARENTS WHO'VE GOT STROLLERS WITH LITTLE KIDS GOING ACROSS THE STREET AND WALKING TO THE MARTA STATION AND YOUR PLAN DOESN'T SERVE THEM.

THIS IS A SIDEWALK. IT'S A WAY.

IF YOU WANT TO PUT A PATH TO GO UP TO THE HOUSING, DO IT, BUT BE HONEST ABOUT IT.

IT IS NOT SAFE FOR LITTLE KIDS TO GO UP 30 FEET IN THE AIR AND BACK 40 FEET.

YOU CAN'T SEE THEM, YOU CAN'T HEAR THEM AND I'M WORRIED VERY MUCH FOR THEIR SAFETY BUT THE PATH WHERE THE PEOPLE GOING AROUND CAN USE, AND IF YOU WANT TO PUT A SIDEWALK, PUT A SIDEWALK, I'M FINE WITH THAT.

YOU'RE ENDANGERING THE KIDS IN MY COMMUNITY, AND I'M NOT OKAY WITH THAT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SIDEWALK TO GET AROUND.

THE USE OF A COSTING RFP WAS UNIQUE.

THE PATH THAT IS LISTED THERE RUNS ALONG THE EDGE OF LEGACY PARK AND ROAMING IN AND OUT TO HIT ENOUGH TREES FOR YOUR COSTING.

BE HONEST.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO COME FORTH WITH A PATH THAT YOU'RE GOING TO USE, THAT'S GOING TO GO UP BEHIND THE APARTMENTS, PUBLISH THAT.

LET THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK BUT THE THING IS THAT LIKE WITH THIS BERM, YOU KNEW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND IT WAS HID FROM THE COMMUNITY AND

[02:30:04]

YOU WENT FORWARD WITH IT WITHOUT BRINGING IT FORTH TO THE COMMUNITY UNTIL WE SET TO GO, LOOK AT THE THINGS GET TOLERANT WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON AS OUR HOUSES RATTLE.

THAT IS MY BIGGEST ISSUE, ETHICS.

I SENT YOU A GIFT ALL TODAY.

YOU NO LONGER HAVE A CLEAN RECORD.

I HAVE FILED AN ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST YOU AND IT'S FOR APPROVING THIS BERM WITHOUT FOLLOWING THE ORDINANCE OF THE CITY.

YOU VIOLATED YOUR OATH OF OFFICE, INTEGRITY, AND IT MAKES ME SAD.

IT'S NOT WHAT I WANT. I WANT TO BE FINE WITH YOU GUYS.

I WANT YOU TO BE HONEST.

THIS DECEPTION HAS TO STOP.

IT BREAKS THE PUBLIC TRUST.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO EVEN COME HERE AND TALK TO YOU BECAUSE YOU DON'T LISTEN TO US UNLESS WE ARE COMING FOR MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR SOMETHING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU DON'T HEAR US.

IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS NOW.

BEHIND HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'RE SPENDING ON IT? WELL, THERE'S NO POINT IN COMING UP HERE AND TALKING ABOUT LINE ITEMS BECAUSE I COULD HAVE 10 PEOPLE, I COULD HAVE 100, I COULD HAVE 1,000.

YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT AND WE KNOW SO IF YOU WANT A SIDEWALK FOR THE COMMUNITY, PUT IN A SIDEWALK.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO CLEAR THE TREES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, SAY I'M CLEARING THE TREES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.

DON'T USE A MULTI-USE PATH TO HIDE YOUR INTENTIONS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ETHICS NEXT, AND YOU CAN SWEAR TO IT.

>> ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD?

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DOUG FAUST.

I'M THE CEO OF THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.

I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATIONS OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE PATH AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS PLANNED IN THE SOUTH HOUSING VILLAGE AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE SITE.

THAT CONCEPT PLAN WAS THEN APPROVED BY THE CITY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE THEN BEGAN THE PLANNING PROCESS.

AFTER WE HAD A MASTER PLAN, WE DID A PLANNING PROCESS WITH THE CITY STAFF, THE PLANNING DIRECTOR, THE CITY MANAGER, WE CREATED A MASTER PLAN THAT ACTUALLY WAS THE PHYSICAL BUILDINGS AND WHAT THEY WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WE THEN BROUGHT THAT TO THE CITY COMMISSION, CITY COMMISSION APPROVED THAT.

WE IMPLEMENTED THAT PLAN.

WE WENT BACK AND DID THE ARCHITECTURAL PLANS.

THOSE WERE THEN PREPARED.

THOSE PLANS WERE THEN BROUGHT TO THE CITY AND THE CITY THEN APPROVED THOSE MASTER PLANS AND THE INITIAL ARCHITECTURAL PLANS.

TO DO A DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SERIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES.

ONE OF THOSE IS WE HAD TO CONTACT THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER TO MAKE SURE WE WERE MITIGATING ANY ISSUES AS IT RELATED TO THE TREES, AS IT RELATED TO THE COMMUNITY AS IT RELATED TO THE VIEW SHEDS AND SO WE DID ALL THAT, AND THEN THAT WAS THEN APPROVED BY THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER, AND THEN ULTIMATELY BY HUD.

THE PLANS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED AS WE DESIGNED.

THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFLATING OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN MOVED, WHETHER WE'VE DONE OTHER KIND OF THINGS.

NONE OF THOSE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.

THE PLANS WERE AS THEY WERE WHEN THEY WERE PRESENTED TO THE BUILDING OFFICIALS.

THIS HOUSING IS NEEDED.

DECATUR WANTS DIVERSITY.

THAT IS ONE OF OUR GOALS, AND TO MEET THAT GOAL, WE NEED TO PRODUCE HOUSING.

AS PHIL SAID EARLIER, THE PRODUCTION MEASUREMENT WAS THAT WE SHOULD DO 160 UNITS A YEAR. THAT WOULD BE LOVELY.

NOT VERY PRACTICAL, BUT VERY LOVELY.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS PRODUCING 132 UNITS OF HOUSING.

WE'RE FOLLOWING THE PLANS, WE'RE FOLLOWING THE ORDINANCES, WE'RE MAKING SURE THE SUBMITTALS ALL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS.

I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE THAT CLARIFICATION OF THE PATH AS IT RELATED TO THE HOUSING. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS? SEEING NONE IN THE ROOM I WILL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING ONLINE AND IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT OUR AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, NOW IS THE TIME TO RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND.

WE WILL UNMUTE YOU AND ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND TO PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.

[02:35:06]

WE'LL GIVE JUST A MINUTE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE I SEE ANY HANDS RAISED, SO WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER

[VI.A. Resolution Reaffirming Ethics Ordinance.]

TO LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION THAT REAFFIRMS THE ETHICS ORDINANCE.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TONIGHT TO BRING FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THAT DOES REAFFIRM THE CITY COMMISSION'S COMMITMENT TO THE FIVE ETHICS PRINCIPLES THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION, AND THEY'RE ALSO EMBODIED IN A SEPARATE ORDINANCE, THE CITY'S ETHICS ORDINANCE.

ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO REMAIN CERTIFIED IN THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION'S CITY OF ETHICS PROGRAM, AND IT WOULD REAFFIRM THE COMMISSION'S DEDICATION TO OPEN, HONEST, AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT.

A COPY OF THE EXISTING ETHICS ORDINANCE IS ALSO ATTACHED IN ADDITION TO THE RESOLUTION.

A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE ETHICS ORDINANCE.

IT WAS INITIALLY ADOPTED IN JANUARY OF 2000, AMENDED IN OCTOBER OF 2016.

AS FAR AS I HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF, THERE HAD BEEN NO COMPLAINTS THAT MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION HAVE VIOLATED THE ORDINANCE DURING THAT TIME.

NO COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH THE ETHICS COMMITTEE.

THE ETHICS COMMITTEE WAS FIRST APPOINTED IN 2001, AND THERE ARE THREE MEMBERS TO THAT COMMISSION ON THE ETHICS COMMITTEE.

I DO WANT TO JUST READ THOSE FIVE ETHICS PRINCIPLES THAT ARE PART OF THE RESOLUTION, AS THE BODY RECOMMITS ITSELF TO THESE PRINCIPLES; SERVE OTHERS, NOT OURSELVES, USE RESOURCES WITH EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY, TREAT ALL PEOPLE FAIRLY, USE THE POWER OF OUR POSITION FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF HONESTY, OPENNESS, AND INTEGRITY.

I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT.

IN MY ROLE TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY COMMISSION FOR ITS CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO ETHICS AND TO THESE ETHICAL VALUES, ETHICS, THOSE ARE THE GRAY AREAS, AREN'T THEY? IT'S NOT THE BLACK AND WHITE.

IT'S NOT THE ORDINANCE OR THE LAW THAT'S RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU, IT'S THE GRAY AREA, AND IT CAN BE HARD TO MANEUVER IN THAT AREA.

I COMMEND THIS BODY FOR ASKING FOR HELP, FOR ASKING FOR ADVICE WHEN THERE ARE ETHICAL QUANDARIES.

I HAVE A GREAT AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR THE COMMISSION.

THIS IS A COMMISSION WHO OFTEN HEAR YOU SAY, AND YOU RECOGNIZE, EVEN WHEN THERE'S THE APPEARANCE OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS ACTUALLY A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF.

AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THIS BODY AND AGAIN, ENCOURAGE YOU TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO ONE OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNED PRINCIPLES, AND THAT IS THE PRINCIPLE OF CIVIC TRUST, WHICH AGAIN, THIS BODY HOLDS SO DEARLY.

WITH THAT, I DO RECOMMEND THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION R-24-AA, REAFFIRMING THE ETHICS ORDINANCE.

>> BEFORE I HEAR A MOTION ABOUT THE RESOLUTION, I ALSO WANT TO JUST ECHO HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES, AND I THINK THERE'S NO ONE UP HERE THAT DOESN'T TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY.

WE'VE ALL READ AND UNDERSTAND.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING AS PRO FORMA FOR US.

WE RECOGNIZE WITH THE POSITIONS THAT WE SERVE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IT IN ETHICAL MANNER.

I THINK I APPRECIATE THAT THE CITY MANAGER ALSO NOTES THAT, THAT WE ASK QUESTIONS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN OUR DECISION-MAKING,

[02:40:03]

WE ARE DELIBERATING IN A WAY THAT IS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT, AND THAT'S WHY WE ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT AT EVERY MEETING AND WE DON'T LIMIT THE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND WE ANSWER OUR EMAILS AND ARE HAPPY TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND LISTENING BEFORE DECISIONS ARE MADE.

COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.

>> CAN I HAVE A MOTION?

>> I'M SORRY.

>> CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND BEFORE DISCUSSION?

>> OKAY.

>> I CAN TALK UNTIL WE MOTION SECOND.

IS THERE SOME FORMALITY TO DO BEFORE I TALK?

>> A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE A DISCUSSION AND THEN WE TAKE A MOTION AND SO I THINK THAT'S.

>> IS ANDREW SAYING FIRST WE DO THE MOTION.

>> THAT'S FINE.

>> IT'S OBVIOUS, I THINK WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS ETHICS AND WE'RE JUST ACCUSED OF BEING UNETHICAL.

I'VE SEEN MY WIFE SHARED WITH ME A VIDEO, WE WERE CALLED CORRUPT.

IT'S INTERESTING.

I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC LIFE FOR A BIT AS A VOLUNTEER IN VARIOUS ROLES.

I WAS THINKING [INAUDIBLE] SOME TRAFFIC COMING.

I HAD A NEIGHBOR HAND WRITE A LETTER BACK AND FORTH, TALK ABOUT LIKE, WILL YOU TRUST THIS MAN? THEN MADE ABOUT 300, 400 COPIES AND HANDED THEM OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS.

I REMEMBER THAT WAS DONE AT A PUBLIC MEETING AND DOING SOMETHING SOMEBODY DISAGREED WITH AND WAS TOLD TO WIPE THAT GOD DAMN SMIRK OFF YOUR FACE.

I'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF TAKING BRIBES.

I'VE BEEN SUED OR THREATENED TO SUE.

I HAD SOMEBODY WRITE MY BOSS ASKING ME BE FIRED.

I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DISAGREE WITHOUT GOING TO MOTIVES AND WITHOUT QUESTIONING THE INTEGRITY OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING WHEN THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AND IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, NOT JUST TONIGHT.

WE'RE UP HERE, NOT FOR THE MONEY.

WE'RE UP HERE DOING OUR BEST TO REPRESENT THE CITY AND MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT WE THINK ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT.

I ALSO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF SO MANY THINGS.

SOMETIMES IT'S JUST PREPOSTEROUS.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT THE CORRUPTIONS OR THE ETHICS ARE IN THIS SITUATION.

I WAS DOING SOMETHING WITH THE MAYOR WHERE SHE GOT TONY TO DO SOMETHING AND THEN LISA GOT HER FRIEND TO DO THIS. I HEAR THESE THINGS.

I THINK I WISH WE WERE THAT ORGANIZED AND THAT'S MY RESPONSE TO THIS STUFF.

I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS.

I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THAT WITH THE TENSION AND WITH THE STRESS AND THE CHAOS THAT IS HAPPENING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND PERCOLATING DOWN OBVIOUSLY INTO THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, I WOULD LIKE US ALL TO PERHAPS TRY TO RISE ABOVE THAT, TO HAVE HONEST CONVERSATIONS AND OPEN CONVERSATIONS TO RECOGNIZING THAT SOMEONE IS NOT EVIL OR UNETHICAL OR CORRUPT FOR DISAGREEING WITH ME. THANK YOU FOR THAT MOMENT.

>> THANK YOU. ON THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION R-24-A A, REAFFIRMING THE CITY COMMISSION'S COMMITMENT TO GMA CITY OF ETHICS PRINCIPLES.

>> NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

>> OPPOSED. THE CHAIR VOTES AYE.

I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION AND APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS ABOUT HOW WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE DISAGREEMENTS AND THAT OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

NEXT, WE WILL LOOK AT THE BUDGET,

[VI.B. Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Amended Budget.]

THE AMENDED BUDGET FOR '23, '24 THAT'S MOVING THINGS TOWARDS THE END, SO THANK YOU MS. [INAUDIBLE].

>> GOOD EVENING.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD AMEND THE GENERAL FUND, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND,

[02:45:02]

THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX FUND, TREE BANK FUND, AND THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND BUDGETS FOR FISCAL YEAR '23, '24 TO REFLECT CHANGES IN EXPENDITURES SINCE THE REVISED BUDGET WAS ADOPTED ON JUNE 17TH.

THE CHANGES ARE BASED ON THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE DRAFT AUDIT REPORT, AND THE RESOLUTION R-24-XX INCORPORATES THESE CHANGES.

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

YOU'LL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FISCAL YEAR INFORMATION UPON COMPLETION OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU SOMETIME IN JANUARY OF 2025.

JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS HERE THAT IN THE GENERAL FUND, THERE'S A COUPLE DEPARTMENTS THAT MONIES WERE MOVED AROUND AND THE FUND BALANCE CHANGED, THAT'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, TO COVER SOME THINGS SUCH AS ELECTRICITY FOR STREET LIGHTS, WE MISSED THE MARK IN ESTIMATING HOW MUCH THAT WAS GOING TO BE SO WE MOVED THAT AROUND.

PLUS THERE'S SOME MONEY FOR OUR SAFE BUILT CONTRACT.

WE GOT THE REVENUES CORRECT BECAUSE WE HAD ONE LARGE PERMIT COME THROUGH, BUT THERE'S OFFSETTING EXPENDITURES THAT ARE THERE TOO THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COVERED SO THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE GENERAL FUND.

YOU MAY GO, I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD AN OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND.

WHEN WE PUT THE BUDGET TOGETHER AND ASKED YOU TO ADOPT IT, THERE WASN'T SUCH A FUND, BUT WE HAVE RECEIVED FUNDS FOR THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT THAT WERE GOING INTO JUST THE GENERAL FUNDS, GENERAL REVENUES AND THE CITY MANAGER MADE A DECISION AFTER THE BUDGETS WERE ADOPTED, THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY ACCOUNT FOR THOSE IN A SEPARATE FUND, AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SO, BUT WE NEEDED TO ACTUALLY CREATE THAT FUND, SO NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU GET YOUR BUDGET BOOKS, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE, BUT WE HAVE CREATED THAT WITH THIS RESOLUTION.

THEN THE OTHERS WERE JUST SOME SMALL THINGS IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND HOTEL MOTEL TAX FUND AND THE TREE BANK FUND.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CITY MANAGER AND I WILL DO OUR BEST TO ANSWER THEM OR WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU AT A LATER TIME.

>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS?

>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE SAME.

>> THE SAME.

>> THE SAME. THANK YOU, MS. [INAUDIBLE].

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION R-24-XX THAT AMENDS THE FISCAL YEAR 2023, 2024 BUDGET.

>> DO WE HAVE A SECOND?

FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

>> OPPOSED. THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

NOW FOR THE SOUTH COLUMBIA-MULTI USE PATH, PHASE 3.

[VI.C. South Columbia Drive Multi-Use Path – Phase 3.]

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> I'M JULIE DRESA, THE SENIOR ENGINEER FOR THE CITY.

I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO SOUL CONSTRUCTION, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,689,722 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE MULTI-USE PATH PHASE 3, AND FOR AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,000 FOR CONSTRUCTION AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES AND TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,100,000, WHICH INCLUDES CONTINGENCY OF 20%.

THE MULTI USE PATH WILL EXTEND ALONG SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE ACROSS THE ENTIRE FRONTAGE OF LEGACY PARK FROM THE NORTH DRIVEWAY TO KATIE KERR DRIVE.

THIS WILL CREATE A SAFE WALKING ROUTE TO LEGACY PARK AND ELIMINATE A SIDEWALK GAP.

ADDITIONAL CROSSINGS AT INMAN DRIVE AND MISSIONARY DRIVE WILL ENHANCE NEIGHBORHOOD PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY TO ANONA PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, TALLEY STREET UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE EAST DECATUR GREENWAY.

THIS WORK DOES NOT INCLUDE CHANGES TO THE ALIGNMENT OF KATIE KERR DRIVE.

WORK IS ONGOING TO OBTAIN EASEMENTS FROM THE DECATUR PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY AND THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.

THESE EASEMENTS ARE NECESSARY WHERE THE PATH EXTENDS OUTSIDE THE RIGHT OF WAY TO PROVIDE A BUFFER BETWEEN VEHICLES AND PATH USERS.

THIS PROJECT WAS PUBLICLY ADVERTISED AND BIDS WERE RECEIVED FROM SIX CONTRACTORS.

SOUL CONSTRUCTION LLC PROVIDED THE LOWEST PROPOSAL AND HAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED SIMILAR WORK FOR OTHER CITIES IN THE AREA.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> JUST SOME CLARIFICATION BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY APPROVED THIS, I BELIEVE, IN A SEPTEMBER MEETING, APPROVED THE PLAN, AND THIS IS TO APPROVE THE FUNDING FOR THE CONTRACTS, FOR THE VARIOUS PIECES OF THAT.

[02:50:01]

I REMEMBER AT THE TIME THAT WE HAD THE PLAN BROUGHT FORWARD.

I BELIEVE, MS. SCHERER TOLD US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THIS PARTICULAR SITE WAS CHOSEN AND IF YOU CAN JUST REMIND US OF THE PUBLIC INPUT AND HOW THIS WAS DECIDED IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT THE CONSULTANTS BROUGHT FORWARD.

>> SURE. A LOT OF THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT DESIRE WAS TO HAVE THE PATH BE AWAY FROM THE ROAD, FARTHER UP AND THE PATH LOCATION WAS DESIGNED FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, HAS MINIMAL TREE IMPACTS AS POSSIBLE AND GRADING AND SLOPE.

>> MINIMAL?

>> MINIMAL TREE IMPACTS.

SORRY. ALSO WITH LOOKING AT THE GRADING AND SLOPE CONSTRAINTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE PATH WAS ADA COMPLIANT.

THIS WAS THE OPTIMAL SCENARIO TO TRY TO BALANCE ALL OF THOSE CONSTRAINTS.

>> EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A SLOPE AND ALL OF OUR PATHS ARE MADE TO BE ADA COMPLIANT.

>> FOR ALL USERS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE.

I REMEMBER SEEING THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND THAT THIS WAS THE ONE THAT WAS FAVORED BY A LOT IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY INPUT IN DECIDING WHERE AND THOSE WERE THE REASONS THAT WERE GIVEN.

>> [INAUDIBLE] WOULD MOVE THE USERS AWAY FROM THE ROAD, PARTICULARLY IN THAT AREA AND IN THE CORNER AS IT COMES AROUND, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> CORRECT. THE AREA THAT HAD THE MOST CHALLENGES WAS THAT KATIE KERR CORNER, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU'LL SEE IT MEANDERS.

THERE WAS GRADING CONSTRAINTS IN THAT CORNER AND ALSO TREE IMPACTS.

IT MOVES UP THAT CORNER TO PROTECT SOME OF THE TREES AT THE BASE OF THAT INTERSECTION.

>> ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> I MAKE THIS BIG COMMENT THAT REGARDLESS OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH I DON'T THINK HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS, I THINK THIS PATH IS SOMETHING GOOD AND NECESSARY FOR THE PARK AND I WOULD SUPPORT IT ON IT'S OWN MERITS.

I ALSO AGREE THAT IT'S A FINE DESIGN.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT SOME TREES WILL BE CUT DOWN, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SHE'LL BE PLANTING MORE TREES THAN WILL BE DOWN. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT TO YOU.

>> GREAT.

>> QUESTION.

>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AECOM AND SOME OF THE OTHER WORK THEY'VE CONSULTED WITH US ON OTHER PATHS?

>> I HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY NEW BACK TO THE CITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'VE USED WITH THEM.

>> YEAH. GOOD EVENING. DAVID JUNGER.

DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, AECOM WAS THE DESIGNER OF PHASE 1, 02, ALONG SOUTH COLUMBIA, THEY ALSO PROVIDED CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR THAT CONSTRUCTION WORK AS WELL AS THE SIDEWALK ON SHATTERMORE.

>> THEY'VE CONSISTENTLY GIVEN US THE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE ON THE PATH ALL THE WAY FROM TALLEY INTO THIS.

>> THIS WHICH WILL BE THE CONCLUSION, IF YOU WILL.

>> RIGHT.

>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. IS THERE A LIGHTING ANYWHERE ON THERE. [OVERLAPPING] THERE IS. THE PATH IS LIGHTED.

YES. IN THAT AREA, WHERE THEY ARE THE TREE? [OVERLAPPING]

>> THE TREES. [OVERLAPPING]

>> YES. IT WILL BE A LIGHTED PATHWAY. [OVERLAPPING]

>> IT WILL NOT BE WILL NOT BE DARK AND DANGEROUS? [OVERLAPPING]

>> DURING THE DARK. NO.

>> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. IS THAT LIGHT DIRECTED DOWNWARD?

>> YES. IT WILL BE.

>> [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] IT WILL BE.

>> YES SIR.

>> WE ARE SELECTING A DARK SKY COMPLIANCE FIXTURE.

[LAUGHTER] IT'S GOING TO BE SIMILAR TO THE LIGHT FIXTURE THAT'S IN GLENLAKE PARK.

>> PLEASE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE ARPA FUNDS. IF I MAY.

YOU SEE HERE IN THE MEMO, IT SAYS FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN ARPA AND SPLOST AND THE INTENT WILL BE TO USE THE REMAINING BALANCE OF ARPA FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT.

IF WE END UP SPENDING $2.1 MILLION, THAT'S NOT WHAT'S BEING APPROVED TONIGHT, THAT'S JUST THE BUDGET THAT'S BEING APPROVED.

IT'S A WORST CASE SCENARIO, $2.1 MILLION, WE WOULD DEPLETE ARPA AND THAT WOULD LEAVE JUST UNDER $500,000 NEEDED FROM SPLOST 1.

[02:55:06]

WE ACTUALLY HAVE $800,000 BUDGETED IN SPLOST 1 AS PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION, BECAUSE WE DID BUDGET FOR CONSTRUCTION IN ARPA AND IN SPLOST 1.

BUT JUST WANTING TO MAKE IT CLEAR, SO ONE THE FUNDS FOR ARPA FUNDS MUST BE COMMITTED BY THE END OF THE YEAR, SO THIS APPROVAL OF THIS CONTRACT WILL COMMIT THE BALANCE OF ARPA FUNDS, AND THEN OF COURSE, THEN WE'LL HAVE THE SPLOST FUNDS FOR ANYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE REMAINING BALANCE, BUT IT SHOULD BE LESS THAN 500,000, SO MUCH LESS THAN WHAT'S BUDGETED.

I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY OR TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH ARPA.

HERE WE ARE MID-NOVEMBER, AND WE WILL BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE WILL HAVE MET THE COMMITMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL OF THE 9.5, 9.6 ROUGHLY MILLION DOLLARS IN ARPA FUNDS THAT WERE RECEIVED A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> THE REGULATIONS CALL FOR COMMITTING BY. [OVERLAPPING]

>> DECEMBER 31ST, YES. CORRECT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> SPENDING BY 2026. [OVERLAPPING]

>> INTO 2026. YES. [OVERLAPPING]

>> SO WE'RE IN A GREAT POSITION WITH THE FUNDS.

>> WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE, JUST RODE STRAIGHT BACK FROM NASHVILLE.

I WAS LISTENING TO THE MEETING AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

I WANT TO REAFFIRM MY COMMITMENT TO BEING AN ETHICAL CITY COMMISSIONER BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO EASY TO SAY IT'S LATE.

I'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD ALL DAY, AND I THINK IT'S TOO IMPORTANT NOT TO BE ON THE RECORD AND STATE FOR THE RECORD MY POSITIONS ABOUT HOW I FEEL AND WHAT I THINK AND WHY I DO THIS JOB.

SO COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY, I HAPPEN TO HEAR YOUR REMARKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THINK IT'S VERY POIGNANT WHERE WE ARE IN THIS TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE HAVE TO UPHOLD OUR END OF THE CIVIC TRUST, EVEN THOUGH NO ONE ELSE MAY NOT DO THAT AT A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL.

I FIND IT VERY STRIKING THAT IN 2020, WE WERE ALL ACCUSED OF BEING UNETHICAL AND TAKING THINGS UNDER THE TABLE BY PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE SCREEN, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THOSE SAME ETHICS VOWS THAT WE TOOK EACH AND EVERY TIME WE'VE TAKEN THEM WHEN WE RAISE OUR HAND AND SWEAR THAT WE WILL DO THE BEST FOR THE CITY THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.

I KNOW THAT THIS PROJECT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED, AND I HEARD DOUG FILE SAY THAT IT WAS DONE IN A MATTER IN WHICH IT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, AND I WISH SOMEONE HAD ADDED, AND WE TOOK PUBLIC COMMENT AND HAD PUBLIC INPUT SO THAT IT WAS A TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

THERE WAS NOTHING DONE BEHIND THE SCENES, BELOW BOARD, THAT WE COMMITTED TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED WITH OUR COMMUNITY FOR EVERY STEP OF EVERY PROCESS.

WE'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF NOT DOING THINGS OR SITTING ON OUR HANDS WHILE PEOPLE HAVE DEMANDED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CONNECTIVITY.

THIS IS WHAT THIS BOARD WILL DELIVER BECAUSE WE LISTEN.

WE CAN DIFFER AND WE CAN WALK AWAY AS FRIENDS, OR NEIGHBORS, OR COLLEAGUES, BUT HOW WE DO THAT MATTERS.

WHEN SOMEONE QUESTIONS ONE MEMBER'S INTEGRITY ON THIS PANEL, YOU QUESTION ALL OF OUR INTEGRITY BECAUSE WE OPERATE AS A UNIT.

PERIOD. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD THAT I DON'T APPRECIATE BEING TOLD THAT WE ARE CORRUPT BECAUSE WE DON'T AGREE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE TO MY COMMUNITY.

IF I COULD HAVE BEEN HERE ON TIME, I WOULD HAVE BEEN, BUT I GOT HERE AS FAST AS I COULD.

>> I WANTED YOU TO GET HERE SAFE AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE EFFORT TO COME IN.

NOW, WE GET TO VOTE ON THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE MULTI-USE PATH.

WE HAVE THREE VOTES IN FRONT OF US.

THE FIRST ONE, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO AWARD THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,689,722 TO SOUL CONSTRUCTION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE MULTI-USE PATH.

[03:00:01]

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO AWARD THE CONTRACT AS DESCRIBED?

>> IS THERE A SECOND? [OVERLAPPING]

>> SECONDED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION PASSES.

THE SECOND PART IS TO RECOMMEND THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,000 TO AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE MULTI-USE PATH.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR.

>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.

FINALLY, TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $2.1 MILLION FOR THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE MULTI-USE PATH.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE WORK DONE ON THAT PATH AS WE ARE CONTINUING TO WATCH THE HOUSING GO IN AND ALL THE OTHER GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT LEGACY.

NEXT, WE HAVE THE TASK ORDER FOR THE OAKHURST PARK, SUGAR CREEK GARDEN MASTER PLAN. [OVERLAPPING]

>> LMIG. [OVERLAPPING]

>> OH, LMIG. [OVERLAPPING]

>> DON'T FORGET THE MOST EXCITING PART. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]

>> THANK YOU. I JUST JUMPED ONE. THE LMIG.

[VI.D. Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) Updated Recommendations.]

>> HI, AGAIN.

>> HELLO.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF AN UPDATED ROADWAY LIST TO THE 2024 LOCAL STREETS RESURFACING PROJECT.

THIS PROJECT WILL BE PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S LOCAL MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT GRANT OR LMIG PROGRAM.

GDOT NOTIFIED THE CITY THAT IT WAS ACCEPTING REQUEST FOR FUNDING 2024 PROJECTS AND FOLLOWING LMIG PROCEDURE IN JANUARY OF 2024, THE CITY RECOMMENDED STREETS TO BE RESURFACED BASED ON THE LMIG GRANT FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY GDOT, ALONG WITH MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE CITY.

IN JANUARY, STAFF COMMUNICATED THAT THE STREET LIST MAY CHANGE BASED ON THE OCTOBER 2024 PAVEMENT AND SIDEWALK ASSESSMENT.

BASED ON THE ASSESSMENT AND ANTICIPATED CAPITAL PROJECTS, WE RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING STREETS FOR APPROVAL IN THE FISCAL YEAR '24 '25 LMIG PROGRAM.

WILLOW LANE FROM CHURCH STREET TO THE CITY LIMIT.

CHURCH STREET FROM EAST TRINITY PLACE TO EAST PONS DE LEON.

EMERSON AVENUE FROM ADAIR STREET TO DREXEL AVENUE.

FELD AVENUE FROM WEST COLLEGE AVENUE TO LEYDEN STREET.

EAST DAVIS STREET FROM SOUTH MCDONOUGH STREET TO SOUTH CANDLER STREET.

EAST LAKE DRIVE FROM FAYETTEVILLE ROAD TO THE CITY LIMITS.

BASED ON THE LMIG GRANT FORMULA USED BY GDOT, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE $222,216.44 IN FISCAL YEAR '24 '25.

THE CITY HAS ALSO BUDGETED LOCAL FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF TWO MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR '24 '25, WHICH EXCEEDS THE 30% LOCAL MATCH REQUIRED BY GDOT FOR THE USE OF STATE FUNDS.

THE COMBINED TOTAL AMOUNT OF $2,222,216.44 WILL BE USED FOR MILLING, PATCHING, REPAIRING, AND RESURFACING THE PROPOSED STREETS AS WELL AS SIDEWALK REPAIRS.

THE COST OF WORK ON THE STREETS LISTED ABOVE MAY EXCEED AVAILABLE FUNDS, BUT A LONGER LIST OF PROPOSED STREETS IS BEING RETAINED IN CASE BID PROPOSALS ARE FAVORABLE.

IN THE EVENT THAT A BID PROPOSAL EXCEEDS AVAILABLE FUNDS, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO DEFER SOME OF THESE STREETS TO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS?

>> AGAIN, I'LL VOICE MY HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO MAYBE GET MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK.

I ASK EVERY YEAR.

HOPEFULLY ONE OF THESE DAYS.

I SOUND LIKE COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN, [LAUGHTER] BUT OTHER THAN THAT, NO.

>> THANK YOU. THESE STREETS ARE EVALUATED.

ARE WE USING THE TECHNOLOGY METHOD OF EVALUATING THE STREETS?

>> YES. THE ASSESSMENT THAT WAS DONE THIS YEAR, THE METHODOLOGY, THEY COLLECT DATA IN ACCORDANCE TO THE ASTM STANDARDS.

IT'S BASICALLY THINK OF A TWO-PERSON CREW THEY'RE CALLED A ROAD SURFACE TESTING VEHICLES,

[03:05:03]

AND THEY USE LASER CRACK MEASUREMENTS, SYSTEMS WITH 3D CAMERAS UNDERNEATH AND ON THE SIDES, AND THEY DO THE SAME FOR THE SIDEWALKS.

THEN ALL THAT DATA GETS COLLECTED AND THEN UPLOADED INTO OUR GIS SYSTEM.

>> THANK YOU. OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE UPDATED STREET LIST TO BE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE 2024 LMIG PROGRAM AS DESCRIBED.

>> MOTION'S BEEN SECONDED.

OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION PASSES.

NOW, WE'LL GO TO THE OAKHURST PARK,

[VI.E. Task Order for Oakhurst Park/Sugar Creek Garden Master Plan.]

SUGAR CREEK GARDEN MASTER PLAN.

>> GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER.

I COME TO YOU AS PART OF A TEAM THAT IS ALSO CONSISTED OF ALLISON ERICSON AND STEVEN MAXWELL, AND WE ARE THE TEAM THAT ARE AFFECTING THE OAKHURST SUGAR CREEK MASTER PLAN.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR OUR TASK ORDER TO BE APPROVED FOR ATKINS IN THE AMOUNT OF $95,000.

WE HAVE A $5,000 CONTINGENCY FOR THIS PROJECT FOR A TOTAL OF $100,000.

THIS PROJECT IS ESSENTIALLY FOR THE OAKHURST PARK, SUGAR CREEK GARDEN, AND THE HAWK HOLLOW SPACES.

THIS PLAN IS SET TO EVALUATE ALL OF OUR SPACES WITHIN ALL OF THOSE AREAS, PROPOSING NOT ONLY RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, BUT ALSO STORM-WATER MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THESE SPACES AS WELL.

THIS PLAN IS SET TO HAVE A FAIRLY SHORT LIFE PLAN, NOT LIKE A MASTER PLAN MIGHT HAVE.

IT IS A 5.5 MONTH PLAN PROCESS.

WE ARE USING SOME INFORMATION THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED TO US, EITHER VIA INFORMATION THAT WAS GATHERED THROUGH THE MASTER PLAN, ORIGINALLY, THE DECATUR RECREATOR, AS WELL AS TWO-FOOT LIDAR DATA THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY DECATUR COUNTY AS WELL, SO REDUCING SOME OF OUR NEEDS FOR EXTENSIVE SURVEYING ON OUR PART.

OBVIOUSLY, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SURVEY IN DATA COLLECTION, THEY WILL PROVIDE US WITH TWO CONCEPT MASTER PLAN OPTIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT.

ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE ARE GOING TO THIS LENGTH IS SOME OF THE GRANTS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY APPLYING FOR IN THE FUTURE WITH THIS INFORMATION REQUIRE US TO HAVE HAD SOME CONCEPT ALTERNATIVES PRESENTED DURING THE MASTER PLANNING PROCESS.

THEN WE ARE LOOKING TO GO TO 30% CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS, BUT SPECIFICALLY ONLY FOR THE SUGAR CREEK GARDEN AND HAWK HOLLOW SPACES.

THAT AGAIN IS SPECIFICALLY FOR SOME GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO APPLY FOR, AND THEY REQUIRE US TO BE AT 30% DRAWINGS TO EVEN APPLY FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

THEN, OF COURSE, THEY'LL PRESENT US WITH A FINAL MASTER PLAN REPORT AND DEVELOPMENT OF A BUDGET RELATED TO THE PROPOSALS WITHIN THAT FINAL MASTER PLAN REPORT AS WELL.

WE DID GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF INTERVIEWING THREE OF OUR ON-CALL ENGINEERING SERVICES, AND ATKINS DID PROPOSE, NUMBER 1, TO MEET US AT OUR PRICE POINT, BUT THEN ALSO AS AN AGENCY THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH SEVERAL TIMES IN THE CITY AND HAVE PROVEN THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE GOOD WORK FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.

THE LAST PART OF THAT PAGE SHOWS YOU THE STUDY AREAS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

AREA 1 INCLUDES THE DOG PARK AND THE RECREATION CENTER, AND THEN THE MULTI-USE FIELD.

AREA 2 INCLUDES THE SOFTBALL FIELDS, BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL BASEBALL COMPLEX, THE TENNIS COURTS, BASKETBALL COURT AREA, CONCESSION STAND, AND THEN THE BOTTOM AREA 3 SPACE IS THE SUGAR CREEK GARDEN AND HAWK HOLLOW SPACES. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?

>> QUICK QUESTION ON NOMENCLATURE.

WHY IS THIS ONE CALLED A TASK ORDER?

>> BECAUSE INSTEAD OF GOING INTO THE TRADITIONAL RFP PROCESS WHERE WE COULD HAVE PUT IT OUT TO ALL OF ANYBODY WHO WANTED TO BID ON IT, WE CHOSE TO GO THROUGH OUR EXISTING ON-CALL ENGINEERING FIRMS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE, AND SO WITH THAT, IT'S A TASK ORDER VERSUS AN RFP WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN OPEN BID FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD.

>> THAT'S HELPFUL. THEN JUST TO SAY THAT THIS REALLY EXEMPLIFIES ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THRUST OF THE RECREATOR PLAN TO DO MORE AND BETTER WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY AND I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED THAT IT KNITS

[03:10:02]

TOGETHER THREE COOL SPACES TO DO SOMETHING LIFE CHANGING FOR ALL OF DECATUR, BUT DEFINITELY ON THE SOUTH SIDE. I'M EXCITED FOR IT.

>> MR. DUSENBURY.

>> I'M BUILDING ON WHAT COMMISSIONER WALSH SAID, JUST TO THE EXTENT IT'S POSSIBLE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE THINKING IF WE START ALL OVER AGAIN, WHAT WOULD THIS LOOK LIKE OR ARE WE LOOKING AT JUST NIBBLING AROUND THE EDGES AND CHANGING WHAT EXISTS THERE.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO PERHAPS MORE THE FIRST ONE AND JUST BE CREATIVE.

AS YOU'RE DOING THAT, I THINK THERE IS A CONVERSATION, AS WE LOOKED AT OUR RECREATION CENTER OR BUILDING.

BASICALLY, WE HAVE THE RECREATION CENTER, EBSTER, OAKHURST, AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, LEGACY PARK, AND JUST HOW I ALMOST PULL BACK IN WHAT ARE THE RECREATION CENTER NEEDS FOR THE CITY AND HOW ARE THEY BEST MET.

BUT JUST TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE CREATIVE.

>> NO, I DON'T THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT STARTING FROM SCRATCH ANYWHERE IN THE PLAN.

OBVIOUSLY, I THINK WE WANT TO BE REALISTIC TOO ABOUT THE FUNDS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE USED AFTERWARDS TO MAYBE DO SOME OTHER THINGS.

I THINK IT'S LOOKING AT HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE SPACES WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SUSTAINABLE FOR THE FUTURE TO COME.

BUT THEN THE HUGE PART ABOUT IT IS THE CONNECTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE PARK.

HOW DO WE CONNECT THOSE THREE SPACES? HOW DO WE MAKE IT MORE MOBILE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GET FROM HAWK HOLLOW ALL THE WAY UP TO THE REST OF OAKHURST PARK AND VICE VERSA, THE OTHER DIRECTION DOWN AS WELL.

>> ARE THERE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION TO AWARD A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $95,000 TO ATKINS AND APPROVE A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 FOR OAKHURST PARK, SUGAR CREEK GARDEN MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

>> I MOVED.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE MOTION PASSES.

I WILL COMMENT, WE HAD SOMEBODY WHO PROVIDED A STATEMENT OF INTEREST AND INTERVIEWED FOR A PHYSICIAN ON OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD THAT SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THIS AREA AS AN AREA OF OPPORTUNITY FOR DOING SOMETHING MORE CREATIVE FOR STORM WATER DETENTION AND USE.

I WAS HAPPY TO SEE IT WAS ON SOMEBODY'S RADAR. [LAUGHTER]

>> ELSE'S RADAR? YES.

>> THAT THAT IS A PLACE THAT WE CAN MAYBE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS GREATER THAN JUST A CONCRETE CULVERT. THANK YOU.

>> NOW, WE'LL MOVE TO REQUEST AND PETITIONS.

[VII. Requests and Petitions.]

NOW IS THE LAST TIME IN THIS MEETING THAT WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

I'LL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE IN THE ROOM FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE ONLINE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT.

NOW IS THE TIME TO COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

>> LYNN GATHERCOLE, 1003 KATIE KERR.

I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY'S COMMENT.

I DID NOT FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST YOU.

YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE. THE COMPLAINT THAT I FILED, WHICH I DIDN'T HAVE MY PHONE WITH ME, IS VILLAINOUS CODE OF ETHIC AND BREACH OF PUBLIC TRUST.

THE CITY COMMISSION ALLOWED DHA TO MAKE A MAJOR ALTERATION TO THE SOUTH HOUSING VILLAGE SITE PLAN AND CONSTRUCT A STORY-HIGH RAISED BERM WITHOUT REQUIRING DHA TO APPLY FOR THAT CHANGE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

THAT PERMIT IS ASSOCIATED HAS A PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AND BY DOING SO, YOU FAILED TO ENFORCE THE CITY ORDINANCES AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY.

THAT'S THE COMPLAINT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ON THE PLAN.

IT WAS NEVER BROUGHT FORTH FOR COMMUNITY REVIEW.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S NO TREES ALONG KATIE KERR.

THAT'S WHY OUR HOUSES RATTLE FOR WEEKS. THAT'S THE COMPLAINT.

NOT AGAINST YOU. YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE I DIDN'T FIND ANYBODY TRYING IT.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN YOU TRY TO GASLIGHT SOMEBODY OR MAKING INACCURATE STUFF.

>> IT WAS JUST THE BLACK PEOPLE.

[LAUGHTER]

[03:15:02]

>> OH REALLY?

>> YEAH, REALLY, LYNN.

>> [LAUGHTER] YOU MAKE A POINT.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH, REALLY.

THE SAME BLACK PERSON WHO YOU ACCUSED OF HIRING A PRIVATE DETECTIVE.

>> NO, I DIDN'T.

>> THAT SAME BLACK PERSON. YES.

>> WELL, I ACTUALLY HEARD IT FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS SOMEBODY ON THE BOARD.

>> SURE, HEARSAY.

>> A LITTLE BETTER THAN HEARSAY.

I WAS TOLD THAT YOUR POLITICAL PERSON WAS RESEARCHING ME, HIRED A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR.

IT WAS A WHACKED OUT TIME ANYWAY.

>> FOR YOU, IT WAS.

>> MS. GATHERCOLE WHAT?

>> BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT RACE. IT'S ABOUT HONESTY.

>> IT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, LYNN.

>> A STORY-HIGH RAISED BERM AND THE CLEAR-CUTTING OF ALL THE TREES ALONG KATIE KERR IS ABOUT RACE? [LAUGHTER]

>> AS MY AUTHORITY, AS A CITY COMMISSIONER, CAN MAKE THAT DECISION BY MYSELF, WITHOUT THE FIVE OF US HERE?

>> WELL, THERE'S TWO OF TWO SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT ABOUT RACE.

I'VE NEVER BEEN A RACIST, BUT YOU GO AHEAD AND USE THAT CARD IF YOU WANT.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS YOU'VE DAMAGED THE VALUES OF THE PROPERTIES ALONG KATIE KERR.

>> MS. GATHERCOLE, DID YOU SEE BY ANY CHANCE THE PROPERTY THAT YOU LIVE AT, WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE 10 YEARS AGO?

>> YEAH, IT WAS A FOREST.

>> YEAH, IT WAS. WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT FOREST, MS. GATHERCOLE? [OVERLAPPING] EVERY TREE WAS TAKEN DOWN.

>> IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

>> IT DOES HAVE EVERYTHING TO DO WITH IT, MS. GATHERCOLE.

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

IT HAS TO DO WITH THE BUILDING PERMIT AT THAT PROPERTY.

>> MS. GATHERCOLE, I THINK YOU'RE BEING SHORT-SIGHTED.

>> IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

>> I THINK YOU'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT YOU DON'T WANT ANYONE THAT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE YOU TO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO YOU.

>> THAT'S NOT ALL ABOUT IT.

>> YOU'VE MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR IN EVERY MEETING THAT WE'VE EVER HAD.

>> NO, IT'S NOT WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

>> YEAH, I THINK YOU HAVE, MS. GATHERCOLE.

>> [LAUGHTER] GO AHEAD.

[OVERLAPPING] I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO THROW MUD. I MEAN, COME ON.

>> REALLY? BECAUSE FRANKLY, MS. GATHERCOLE, PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME ARE TIRED OF PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE YOU DOING WHAT YOU DO TO PEOPLE LIKE US.

>> IS THAT YOUR RESPONSE FOR NOT ADHERING TO YOUR OATH OF OFFICE AND FORCING THE HOUSES? [OVERLAPPING]

>> I'VE NEVER NOT ADHERED TO MY OATH OF OFFICE, MS. GATHERCOLE.

EVER. AND I DON'T ALONE SET POLICY FOR THIS ENTIRE CITY.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT POLICY.

IT HAS TO DO WITH THE PERMIT THAT WAS ISSUED FOR THAT PROPERTY.

>> I SIGNED THE PERMIT BY MYSELF?

>> THIS BODY.

>> WILL YOU MAKE UP YOUR STORY AND GET IT STRAIGHT, PLEASE, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN HEAR?

>> I'M VERY CLEAR ABOUT MY STORY.

THE PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET HAS A BUILDING PERMIT.

IT HAS AN ORDINANCE.

IT HAS ATTACHED DOCUMENTS.

WHAT THEY DID, WHEN THEY CLEARED THE LAND AND THEY CLEARED THE TREES AND BUILT A STORY-HIGH RAISED BERM, PUT DOWN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY PUT DOWN THE DIRT, FOR WEEKS.

>> LET'S BE VERY CLEAR.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE AN ASSUMPTION AND FILE CHARGES, YOU DO SO ON BEHALF OF THIS ENTIRE BODY.

WE OPERATE AS THE CITY COMMISSION.

NOT THE COMMISSION OF TONY POWERS, LESA MEYER, GEORGE DUSENBURY, KELLY WALSH, OR PATTY GARRET.

PERIOD, AND THAT'S ALL I WILL SAY.

>> WELL, YOU CAN SAY THAT.

THAT'S FINE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT.

I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO THROW MUD.

THROW. I WISH YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE JUST BROUGHT IT FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S ALL.

>> IF THERE ARE OTHERS WHO WANT TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO.

>> I'M NIB STROOP AGAIN FROM SOUTH CANDLER STREET.

I'VE LIVED IN DECATUR ABOUT 40 YEARS.

I'VE WRESTLED WITH THE CITY COMMISSION A LOT ON MANY ISSUES.

I'VE NEVER THOUGHT YOU HAD NO INTEGRITY OR DID THINGS UNETHICALLY.

I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT.

I DO KNOW THAT RACE IS A VERY POWERFUL FACTOR STILL IN THE LIFE OF DECATUR.

I THINK THOSE WHO ARE CLASSIFIED AS WHITE LIKE ME OFTEN DENY IT AND SAY IT'S SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I WANT TO GO ON RECORD THAT IT'S STILL HERE, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND I DO NOT QUESTION YOUR INTEGRITY AT ALL, SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. I WILL SEE IF THERE ARE THOSE ONLINE IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO

[03:20:05]

WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT UNDER REQUEST AND PETITIONS.

IF SO, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

SEEING NONE, AND I DID NOT SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM THAT WANTED TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL CLOSE THE REQUEST AND PETITIONS PORTION OF THE MEETING, AND WE WILL LOOK AT REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS,

[VIII. Reports and Other Business.]

THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA, JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW.

THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET ON DECEMBER 10TH IN THIS ROOM AT 7:00 PM.

THEY WILL CONSIDER NEW BUSINESS.

THE OAKHURST CENTER FOR COMMUNITY IS REQUESTING A LAND-USE PLAN AMENDMENT FROM RL LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO THE RM MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL CATEGORY FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 232 EAST LAKE DRIVE.

THE OAKHURST CENTER FOR COMMUNITY IS REQUESTING A REZONING FROM R60 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO RM-22 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL FOR THE USE OF A ROOMING HOME WITH PROFESSIONAL ONSITE STAFFING AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR WOMEN AT 232 EAST LAKE DRIVE THAT WILL GO BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON DECEMBER THE 10TH, AND WILL COME TO THE CITY COMMISSION AT OUR NEXT MEETING AFTER DECEMBER 10TH.

IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANY INPUT ON THIS ITEM, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT EVENING OR SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO STAFF BEFORE THE MEETING SO THAT THEY CAN BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

THE INFORMATION WITH THE ACCOMPANYING MATERIALS WILL BE POSTED ONLINE AT LEAST A WEEK PRIOR TO THE MEETING.

I ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THAT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION FOR A FINAL DECISION IN DECEMBER.

THEN THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING, REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR DECEMBER, HAS BEEN CANCELED, AND THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH, 2025.

WE ALSO HAVE A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION OF NOVEMBER THE 4TH.

COMMISSIONERS, YOU SEE THE RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF YOU THAT IS A RESOLUTION STATING THAT THE CITY COMMISSION WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON NOVEMBER 4TH FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING LEGAL MATTERS.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION R-24-YY THAT CONFIRMS THE REASON WE WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?

>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE MOTION PASSES.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE.

NEXT, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT ESTABLISHING A DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING FOR CODE VIOLATIONS AT 335 GLENDALE AND 339 GLENDALE AVENUE.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

>> [OVERLAPPING] GOOD EVENING.

>> MY NAME IS CYNTHIA HARDNETT AND I'M THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE COMMISSIONERS AUTHORIZE CLEANUP AT PROPERTIES 335 AND 339 GLENDALE AVENUE.

THE PROPERTIES ARE VACANT.

THEY'VE BEEN VACANT FOR A NUMBER. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT.

>> ONE AT A TIME. [OVERLAPPING]

>> WE'RE NOT ASKING THEM TO AUTHORIZE THE CLEANUP YET, WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING TO BE SCHEDULED.

>> TO SET A DATE FOR A HEARING?

>> TO SET A DATE FOR THE HEARING.

>> IT'S MY FIRST TIME SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. [LAUGHTER] WAIT A MINUTE.

LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN. LET ME TRY IT AGAIN.

HOLD ON. [LAUGHTER]

>> YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

>> ONE AT A TIME. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA HARDNETT, AND I'M THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE CITY.

I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE SET A DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CLEANUP OF THE PROPERTY AT 335, GLENDALE AVENUE.

THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN VACANT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

[03:25:01]

THE PROPERTY OWNER IS DECEASED.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT ANY OF THE HEIRS TO COME OUT AND CLEAN THE PROPERTY AND SO IT'S INFLUENCED THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S DANGEROUS IN ITS UNSANITARY CONDITION.

TALL WEEDS AND GRASS, FALLEN TREE LIMBS, AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK THAT YOU GUYS RECOMMEND A DATE FOR IT.

>> DO WE NEED TO CONSIDER THESE SEPARATELY?

>> YES, PLEASE. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE NEXT PROPERTY, AND THEN IF YOU'LL JUST VOTE. TWO SEPARATE ACRES.

>> THE SECOND PIECE OF PROPERTY, IT'S ALSO OWNED BY THE SAME PROPERTY OWNER WHO THE SAME CONDITIONS EXIST.

THE PROPERTY IS 339 GLENDALE AVENUE.

AGAIN, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT ANY OF THE HEIRS TO COME OUT TO CLEAN UP THE PROPERTY.

WE WENT IN LAST YEAR, CLEAN THE PROPERTY UP AND PLACE A LINE ON THE PROPERTY FOR CLEANUP.

I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COMMISSIONER TO AUTHORIZE A DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO DO ANOTHER CLEANUP TO KEEP THE PROPERTY AND KEEP THE AREA CLEAN FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 16TH.

CORRECT. IS THAT CORRECT FOR BOTH.

>> ANY QUESTIONS?

>> IF WE CANNOT GO ON AND CLEAN THE PROPERTY UP CURRENTLY, BUT IF WE MOVE FORWARD AND THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO GO AND CLEAN THE PROPERTY UP, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> CORRECT. WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE HEARING, WE HAVE THE HEARING AND THEN BASED OFF OF THAT HEARING, THE COMMISSION MAY DECIDE TO RECOMMEND TO STAFF TO CLEAN UP THE PROPERTY AND PLACE A LIEN ON IT FOR THE COST OF THAT CLEANUP.

THAT COULD NOT HAPPEN UNTIL THAT WE HAVE THAT PUBLIC HEARING.

>> WE HAVE NOW IF THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE QUESTION, IF IT ISN'T, JUST TELL ME NOT.

DO WE UNDERSTAND WHEN MR. LAWRENCE PASSED AWAY, LIKE HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN IF THAT'S INAPPROPRIATE.

>> IT'S BEEN A NUMBER OF YEARS MORE THAN FIVE TO TEN YEARS.

HE'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

INITIALLY, THEY WERE COMING IN PERIODICALLY AND CLEANING THE PROPERTY.

BUT ACCORDING TO THE NEIGHBORS, THEY'VE MOVED FROM THE HOUSE AT 3:35 TO TO FLORIDA AND SO THEY'RE NO LONGER LOCAL.

THEY DON'T COME IN AND CLEAN THE PROPERTY AND IT JUST SITS VACANT AND OVERGROW.

>> THE REASON I ASK IS I BROUGHT THE UPS BEFORE.

IF WE CAN'T GET IN TOUCH WITH THE OWNER AND NOBODY'S MAINTAINING IT, I BELIEVE THAT THE GEORGIA AUTHORIZES CONDEMNATION, WHICH COULD OBVIOUSLY WOULD PAY THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY, BUT THEN PUT IT TO A POSITIVE USE.

AT THE EXTENT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE MORE HOUSING IN DECATUR, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE SHOULD LOOK INTO.

NO TO THROW CONDEMNATION OUT LEFT TO RIGHT, BUT I THINK THIS MIGHT BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO LOOK AT IT.

>> FOR CLARIFICATION, IS THIS NOT THE SECOND TIME WE'VE DONE THIS WOULD BE THE SEC 2022.

>> YEAH, 2022 IS THE LAST.

>> IT'S A PERSISTENT PROBLEM.

>>THANK YOU. OUR FIRST MOTION WOULD BE TO ESTABLISH THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CODE VIOLATIONS AT 3:35 GLENDALE AVENUE FOR DECEMBER 16TH, 2024.

>> IS THERE A SECOND? FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> MOTION MOVED.

>> OPPOSED, TWO VOTES AYE AND THE MOTION PASSES.

WE'D LIKE TO ESTABLISH A PUBLIC HEARING FOR CODE VIOLATIONS AT 339 GLENDALE AVENUE FOR DECEMBER 16TH, 2024.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ESTABLISH THAT DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL?

>> MOTION MOVED. SECOND.

>> A SECOND. OTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

>> OPPOSED THE CHAIR VOTES.

AYE, AND THE DATE IS ESTABLISHED.

NEXT, WE'LL LOOK AT APPOINTMENTS TO THE SUGAR OAKHURST PARK SUGAR CREEK MASTER PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING. STEVEN MAXWELL, CENTER OPERATIONS MANAGER AT PARKS AND REC.

PART OF THE MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE, WE'VE COMPRISED A LIST OF 25 STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THOSE WE FOUND THAT WERE KEY, PEOPLE THAT COULD ASSIST US WITH DEVELOPING THIS MASTER PLAN AND HELPING US WITH THE GROUP THAT YOU ALL APPROVED EARLIER THAT WILL HELP US FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OAKHURST.

THIS GROUP IS PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE FOUND THAT ARE DIFFERENT PARTS OF OAKHURST WITH THE TENNIS, THOSE WHO VISIT THE FACILITY AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE FROM AROUND THE AREA THAT HAVE

[03:30:01]

REALLY BEEN KEY TO ASSIST HOW THAT PLACE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

ONE OF THE ADDITIONS THAT WERE ON THERE, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS THE OAKHURST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, JUST TRYING TO FIND DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE AREA THAT COULD ASSIST US WITH CREATING THIS VISION MOVING FORWARD.

WE REQUEST THAT WE ASKED THAT YOU ALL WOULD APPROVE THIS RECOMMENDATION OF THIS LIST, THE 25 PEOPLE WE'VE HAD.

WE ALSO ADDED THE CITY COMMISSION LIAISON COMMISSIONER MINOR TO THE LIST AS WELL.

>> YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

>> THAT WAS ON ME.

I WAS REMISS IN PUTTING COMMISSIONER MEYER'S NAME ON THE LIST, SO THANK YOU FOR BAILING ME OUT THERE.

>> THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER MEYER FOR BEING WILLING TO SERVE AND LOOKS LIKE A WELL ROUNDED LIST OF PEOPLE TO SERVE AND BRING A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND HAVE STAFF KEY STAFF MEMBERS AS WELL AS RESIDENTS, TWO YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS, OF COURSE, AS WELL A CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES INITIATIVE, AND THEN VARIOUS OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE GOING TO PARTICIPATE? LOOK FORWARD TO ENERGETIC PROCESS.

APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THIS GROUP.

I WOULD JUST BRING IT FORWARD TO APPROVE THE LIST OF APPOINTMENTS TO THE OAKHURST PARK SUGAR CREEK MASTER PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE WITH THE ADDITION OF COMMISSIONER MEYER.

>> MOTION MOVED.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

>> OPPOSED. THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE APPOINTMENTS ARE NOW OFFICIAL, SO THANK YOU.

>> THEN NEXT, WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO THE DECAB LIBRARY BOARD, AND WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ALLISON WEISSINGER, DIRECTOR OF THE DEKALB COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.

AND WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT KATE PACK BE CONSIDERED AS THE CITY OF DECATUR APPOINTEE TO THE LIBRARY BOARD, CAROL MORGAN HAS SERVED 3, 4 YEAR TERMS. HER LAST TERM EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

COMMISSIONER WALSH AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND TALK WITH MISS PACK, AND SHE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT LIBRARIES, HAS A GREAT PERSONAL STORY ABOUT HOW MUCH LIBRARIES AS AN IMMIGRANT TO THE UNITED STATES, HOW MUCH IT MEANT FOR HER TO GO TO A LIBRARY AND TO READ AND LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE AND WOULD BE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC, I THINK ABOUT ACCEPTING THIS APPOINTMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD THIS RECOMMENDATION THAT WE APPOINT AS THE DEKALB COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE CITY OF DECATUR REPRESENTATIVE AS KATE PACK.

DO I HEAR A MOTION FOR THAT APPOINTMENT?

>> I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

>> ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> I OPPOSED. MOTION IS ADOPTED, AND WE WELCOME HER TO START IN JANUARY AS THE NEW APPOINTMENT TO THE DEKALB COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MISS ARNOLD TO SEE IF YOU ANY OF THE STAFF.

>> I'M LOOKING AT EVERY YOU'RE SHAKING THEIR HEADS. NOT TONIGHT MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER MEYER FOR CLOSING REMARKS.

I'VE BEEN CALLED A LOT OF THINGS SINCE I'VE BEEN SITTING IN THE SEAT, A LOT OF THINGS.

SOME ARE PRETTY NICE AND SOME ARE PRETTY AWFUL.

BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN CALLED A LIAR AND I'VE NEVER BEEN CALLED DISHONEST.

THAT'S BECAUSE I'M NOT.

I'M DIRECT, AND I DON'T TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNWILLING, UNABLE, OR AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES.

I'LL WEAR THAT AS A BADGE OF HONOR.

BEING FALSELY ACCUSED OF SOMETHING SO EGREGIOUS IS PARTICULARLY HUMILIATING IN FRONT OF A ROOMFUL OF PEOPLE, BUT ESPECIALLY IN FRONT OF TWO PEOPLE I DEEPLY ADMIRE, REVEREND ST I'M SO GLAD YOU STAYED.

U THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO IN OAKHURST DARKEST DAYS,

[03:35:05]

BROUGHT LIGHT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE EVER TRIED TO DO.

I'VE LOST A LOT SINCE BEING A CITY COMMISSIONER. I'VE LOST A LOT.

I'M OKAY WITH THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I HAVE STOOD FIRM AND DONE WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE RIGHT THING.

IT'S OKAY THAT NOT EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THAT.

I CAN SAY THAT THE BLOW IS SLIGHTLY SOFTENED BECAUSE SEVERAL OF THE ACCUSERS NEIGHBOR REACHED OUT TO ME BEFORE THE MEETING WITH WORDS OF SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

I KNOW THAT I'M NOT ALONE, AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT ALONE AT HARGROVE.

BEING FALSELY ACCUSED OF SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY AS A BLACK PERSON IN THE DEEP SOUTH IS TERRIFYING.

BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT BEING LISA NE.

IS THAT I HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF DEFENDING MYSELF AGAINST THOSE ACCUSATIONS.

IN DOING SO, I AM THRILLED TO OPEN UP MY DOCUMENTS, MY E MAILS, MY CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE.

IT'S HILARIOUS TO ME THAT I WAS ACCUSED OF BEING A PART OF SOMETHING THAT I JUST HEARD ABOUT TWO DAYS AGO ON A YOUTUBE VIDEO.

I HEARD ABOUT IT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT COOL.

IT JUST GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE AND DEMONSTRATE THAT IN A SCENARIO OF ACCUSER AN ACCUSED, ONE IS BEHAVING HONORABLY, AND THAT'S ME.

YEAH, SAD AND DISAPPOINTING BUT UNSURPRISING.

I THINK THAT AN INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONAL DISLIKE FOR ME AND INABILITY TO GET ME TO WAIVER ON A POSITION THAT I ACTUALLY CAMPAIGNED ON AND HAVE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HAS NOW COME TO AFFECT ALL OF YOU.

I DON'T THINK YOU'D WANT ME TO BE SORRY ABOUT THAT, THOUGH.

BECAUSE BEFORE I WAS EVEN ON THIS COMMISSION, THREE OF YOU VOTED TO ADOPT A MASTER PLAN THAT INCLUDED HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE IN THE AREA OF LEGACY PARK WHERE IT'S NOW BEING BUILT FIVE YEARS LATER.

I'M SURE THAT YOU ARE OF THAT, AND I'M GLAD THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT YOU WITH THAT VISION OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

NEVER ON BETTER PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.

TRULY. NEVER. I'M GLAD THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO SIT ON THE SEAT WITH YOU ALL THIS TIME, ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR GOING THROUGH THIS WITH ME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE WHEN CHALLENGING MOMENTS LIKE THIS.

I DON'T THINK I CAN SAY. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER BUBER.

>> TWO COMMENTS, MAYBE THREE.

FIRST, MY ACTIONS HAVE BEEN THE SAME EVERYBODY ELSE ON THIS COMMISSION.

PROBABLY SHOULD APPLY TO ME AS WELL AS EVERYBODY ELSE HERE.

SECOND, I DON'T AGREE WITH A LOT IN THAT MASTER PLAN FOR LEGACY PARK, AS YOU GUYS KNOW.

BUT I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE HOUSING AND THE SOUTH THE ENTIRE TIME WILL CONTINUE TO BE THIRD, I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAIT NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXCUSE ME.

HOMELESSNESS ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH FOR A WHILE HERE AND THE COUNTY SEEMS TO BE WAKING UP AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF LEADERSHIP WITH IT.

BUT GIVEN THE DISCOURSE I WANT TO SAY THAT THE NEXT MEETING, SO EXPECT ME TO GROW ON AT THE END OF THAT. COMMENTS. THANKS.