Dec 02, 2024 Work Session &amp; City Commission

OKAY. SO ANY UPDATE ON THE HOTEL? I KNOW IT'S NOT YOUR TOPIC.

WELL, SHERRY, DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION ABOUT THE HOTEL? I'M SORRY. THE HOTEL.

COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE NEW HOTEL AND THE STATUS.

WELL, I WAS AT A SOCCER MEETING AND PUT ONE OF OUR SALES TEAM MEMBERS FROM THE HAMPTON INN ON THE SPOT AND ASK ABOUT THE HOTEL, AND HER RESPONSE WAS, IT WILL BE OPEN FEBRUARY 2026. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S A QUICK TIMELINE, I'M HOPING, BECAUSE IT'D BE AWESOME TO HAVE THAT FOR THE WORLD CUP.

WE REALLY NEED IT.

WELL THAT WOULD BE EXCITING FOR SURE.

THAT WAS A GREAT SEGUE.

LISTENING ABOUT THE TOURISM BUREAU AND BRINGING VISITORS HERE, YOU KNOW, AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE, THE EXPERIENCE THAT FOLKS HAVE IN THE CITY, PARKING IS ONE OF THOSE COMPONENTS THAT REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE EXPERIENCE.

AND SO TONIGHT FOR YOUR SECOND WORK SESSION IS THE DOWNTOWN PARKING MANAGEMENT REPORT AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

[WORK SESSION #2 – 6:30 P.M.]

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

[00:30:03]

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

I AM JOINED BY ANDY MAY, WHO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AT SP+.

SP+ PROVIDES CONTRACTUAL SERVICES FOR ON STREET PARKING AND WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH THEM SINCE 2014 AND HE WILL INTRODUCE THE REST OF HIS TEAM SHORTLY.

AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE TAMMY WASHINGTON, OPERATIONS ANALYST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

SHE WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE SP PLUS TEAM.

SHE IS SHE IS WELL AWARE OF KIND OF THE ON THE GROUND OPERATIONS THAT OUR TEAM UNDERTAKES EACH DAY.

SO SHE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND PREPPING US FOR TONIGHT'S WORK SESSION.

SO TONIGHT'S TOPICS I'LL BE COVERING JUST A GENERAL OVERVIEW, A LITTLE BIT OF OUR BACKGROUND AND THE SCOPE OF OUR PARKING STUDY, WHAT WE'VE ASKED SP+ TO CONDUCT. AND THEN I WILL HAND IT OVER TO ANDY AND HIS TEAM TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE METHODOLOGY, THE DATA COLLECTION AND ITS FINDINGS, AND THEN THE RECOMMENDATIONS. AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE AFTER THAT ABOUT NEXT STEPS FOR THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT DOWNTOWN AND THE LAND USES THAT WE HAVE, PARKING IS ONE OF THE LARGEST SINGLE LAND USES IN DOWNTOWN.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF OUR ON STREET PARKING, THE GARAGES, THE SURFACE PARKING LOTS, IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST, IF NOT THE LARGEST SINGLE LAND USE IN OUR DOWNTOWN.

AND SO AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE MANAGE OTHER LAND USES THROUGH OUR ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT CODES, WE NEED TO BE MANAGING OUR PARKING AS WELL.

BECAUSE PARKING INFLUENCES CHARACTER THE FORM, THE FUNCTION, AND THE FLOW OF OUR DOWNTOWN.

BUT ONE THING I DEFINITELY WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT SINCE 2007, WITH OUR COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION PLAN, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, INVESTED IN THAT COMPLETE STREETS POLICY.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR RIGHT OF WAY AND HOW MUCH WE'RE GIVING WAY TO OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, WE HAVE TO THINK VERY CLOSELY ABOUT HOW WE'RE MANAGING THAT ON STREET PARKING.

AND THEN EVEN WITH THE SMART GROWTH PRINCIPLES THAT WE'VE INCORPORATED INTO OUR ZONING AND OUR DEVELOPMENT CODES, YOU KNOW, COMPACT MIXED USES, RIGHT? IN OUR CORE BUSINESS DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, LAND IS AT A PREMIUM.

AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE BEST PRACTICES FOR PARKING MANAGEMENT.

AND SO THE CITY HAS MANAGED ON STREET PARKING FOR 30 PLUS YEARS.

I COULDN'T TRACK DOWN THE DATE WHEN WE FIRST INSTALLED PARKING METERS OR ANY TYPE OF RESTRICTED PARKING, BUT WE'RE ESTIMATING 30 PLUS YEARS.

THE PALS PROGRAM, WHICH STANDS FOR PARKING ASSISTANCE LIAISON WITH MERCHANTS AND SAFETY PALS.

DON'T ASK WHERE THE M WENT.

IT'S JUST PALS.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT ACRONYM, BUT THEY'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS OR MORE.

AND THEN SP+ WAS BROUGHT ON FOR THE ON STREET PARKING MANAGEMENT IN 2014.

SO WE'VE HAD A CONTRACT WITH SP+ SINCE THEN.

AND JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW, THEY ALSO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO MANAGE THE CONFERENCE CENTER.

AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE 2011 UNDER A SEPARATE CONTRACT.

OKAY. SOME OF OUR PRIOR PARKING STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED 2007 WAS OUR COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT, THERE WAS A STUDENT THESIS PAPER.

THE STUDENT ATTENDED GEORGIA TECH, AND THEY PRODUCED A PAPER IN 2009 THAT BUILT OFF OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND REALLY INVESTED SOME GOOD THOUGHT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND THEN IN 2017, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH THAT OCCURRED IN DOWNTOWN, WE APPLIED FOR THROUGH THE COMMUNITY CHOICES PROGRAM, THROUGH THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION TO DO A PARKING INVENTORY UPDATE.

WE WERE HEARING A LOT AFTER OUR, I THINK IT WAS OUR 2016 COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION PLAN ABOUT DOWNTOWN PARKING, AND IT'S LIKE, WE REALLY NEED TO DO AN UPDATE TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW MANY PARKING SPACES WE HAVE IN OUR DOWNTOWN.

SO THIS HELPED US JUST, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST GET THE PARKING COUNTS.

BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO OCCUPANCY OR TOO MUCH OTHER DATA POINTS.

AND THEN 2023, OUR TOWN CENTER PLAN 2.0 DID SPEAK TO PARKING AND THE PARKING EXPERIENCE IN DOWNTOWN.

THE 2007, 2009 AND 2023 THOSE STUDIES INVOLVED SURVEYS AS WELL.

DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATED IN THOSE SURVEYS SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT ANECDOTAL DATA WAS HELPFUL AS WELL.

[00:35:06]

DO WE KNOW HOW THE PARKING CHANGED DOWNTOWN OVER THAT TIME FRAME FROM 2007 TO 23? I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE SOME.

OR DID I JUMP WAY TOO FAR AHEAD? YEP. GIVE US A COUPLE OF SLIDES AND WE WILL BE THERE.

YEAH. BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF OUR PLANS.

SO THE FIRST ONE, OUR TOWN CENTER PLAN 2.0, HAS THREE KEY ACTION ITEMS AROUND DOWNTOWN PARKING.

THE FIRST PROVIDING CLEAR AND CONCISE PARKING INFORMATION, THE RULES AND PRICING BOTH ON THE GROUND AND ONLINE.

SO WE'LL SPEAK TO THAT TONIGHT.

THE OTHER IS JUST IMPROVING DOWNTOWN PUBLIC PARKING GARAGES WITH CREATIVE LIGHTING AND PLACEMAKING THAT ENHANCES WAYFINDING AND VISIBILITY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE KEY TASKS THAT THE DDA IS UNDERTAKING.

WE WON'T BE SPEAKING TO THAT SPECIFICALLY TONIGHT, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAS ON THEIR WORK PLAN.

AND THEN THE LAST BULLET POINT HERE IS REPRICING ON STREET AND OFF STREET PARKING BASED ON ITS VALUE.

AND ESTABLISH A PARKING BENEFITS DISTRICT TO DIRECT REVENUE TOWARD LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS.

SO WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT REPRICING ON STREET AND OFF STREET PARKING TONIGHT.

WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THE PARKING BENEFITS DISTRICT KIND OF THE PROS AND CONS.

SO THAT WILL BE A FUTURE DISCUSSION.

BUT THAT'S DIRECTLY FROM OUR TOWN CENTER PLAN 2.0.

THE OTHER IS FROM OUR TEN YEAR CITY STRATEGIC PLAN.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF ACTION ITEMS HERE UNDER OUR MOBILITY THEME.

SO THE FIRST ONE, MANAGING THE SUPPLY OF PARKING AND CURB SPACE FOR EFFICIENCY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS.

AND THEN THE SECOND IS CONDUCTING A PARKING AND CURB SPACE UTILIZATION STUDY.

OUR STRATEGIC PLAN DEFINITELY RECOGNIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH PARKING, JUST BASED ON COMMUNITY FEEDBACK DURING OUR OUTREACH AND FEEDBACK AND OUR PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

BUT THE KEY THING HERE IS IDENTIFYING ALSO WHERE NEW PARKING METERS COULD ADDRESS PARKING DEMAND.

SO WHERE CAN WE EXPAND PARKING OPPORTUNITIES DOWNTOWN AS OUR DOWNTOWN CONTINUES TO GROW? WE HAVE NEW BUSINESSES OPENING EVEN ON THE FRINGES.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE STARTING TO NOTICE PLACES THAT NEED PARKING MANAGEMENT WHERE NO PARKING MANAGEMENT REALLY HAS BEEN CONDUCTED.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT LATER TONIGHT.

THE SCOPE OF STUDY, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE ASKED SP+ TO DO IS ONE VERIFY THE PARKING SPACE COUNTS AND AS WELL AS THE PARKING RATES FOR EACH FACILITY, BECAUSE WE WANT TO DO A COMPARISON. NOT ALL OF OUR DOWNTOWN FACILITIES ARE PUBLICLY OWNED.

THEY ARE PRIVATELY OWNED, BUT WE DO WANT TO TRACK THOSE PARKING RATES TO SEE WHAT THOSE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE CHARGING.

AS WE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ON STREET PARKING, BECAUSE WE DO MANAGE THE ON STREET RATES.

SO THEN ALSO WE'RE DETERMINING THE EXISTING UTILIZATION FOR BOTH ON STREET AND OFF STREET FACILITIES.

SO THAT'S THE OCCUPANCY RATE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA ON DEMAND FOR DELIVERY DRIVERS.

THE METERS.

WE ASKED THEM TO ASSESS THE PROJECTED SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR PARKING FACILITIES.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT OUR TOWN CENTER PLAN 2.0, WE HAD THOSE THREE OPPORTUNITY SITES, AND THEN WE KNOW OF 1 OR 2 ADDITIONAL SITES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE EXPECT MAJOR DEVELOPMENT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.

ONE MORE SO, YOU KNOW, THE OLD KROGER SITE.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE, WE'VE ASKED THEM TO DEVELOP SPECIFIC STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS. SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO ANDY TO INTRODUCE THE REST OF HIS TEAM.

AND THEN THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU ANDY. THANKS, ANGELA.

VERY NICE TO BE HERE TONIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS.

I'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM WITH ME.

YOU GUYS WANT TO STAND UP, AND I'LL INTRODUCE YOU.

ALEXIS SCHULER.

SHE'S A CIVIL ENGINEER AND A DIRECTOR OF OUR CONSULTING SERVICES.

I'VE GOT DAVE HORNE, WHO IS REGIONAL MANAGER OF THE ATLANTA MARKET, AND ANDY LEE, WHO IS THE OPERATIONS MANAGER, AND SPECIFICALLY OVER THIS GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE IS BOB CAMPER.

HE'S OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS FOR THE COUNTRY.

SO GOT A GOOD TEAM HERE TONIGHT.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY OF DECATUR AND OUR STUDY.

SO, ALEXIS.

BOB. HI. HI.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.

OKAY, SO ON THE SCREEN, I'M IN FRONT OF YOU.

THESE ARE THE THREE MAIN WAYS THAT WE DEVELOPED RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU'LL FIND INCLUDED IN THE REPORT.

SO FIRST WE COLLECTED UTILIZATION DATA, WHICH IS BASICALLY HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE PARKING DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE PARKING SPACES IN YOUR DOWNTOWN CORE.

SO WE'LL GO OVER THE METHODOLOGY FOR HOW WE COLLECTED ALL THE DATA.

[00:40:03]

THE TIME FRAME WE COLLECTED IT AND WHAT WE ENDED UP SEEING SUMMARIZED IN FACILITY TYPE.

AND THEN OVERALL FOR YOUR WHOLE SYSTEM.

WE ALSO ANALYZED THE IMPACT OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS, AS ANGELA ALLUDED TO, AND HOW THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT YOUR EXISTING SUPPLY AND WHAT THE NEEDS MAY BE IN THE FUTURE.

AND THEN THE THIRD IS JUST UTILIZING OUR MARKET KNOWLEDGE, OUR NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE, AND OUR LOCAL TEAM'S KNOWLEDGE TO KIND OF IDENTIFY WHAT THE BEST RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR YOUR UNIQUE MARKETPLACE ARE.

SO WE HAD NINE TEAM MEMBERS COLLECT DATA FROM 8 A.M.

TO 9 P.M.

ON A TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND A SATURDAY.

AND THE GOAL THERE WAS TO REALLY CAPTURE BOTH THE WORKDAY PEAK AS WELL AS THE EVENING KIND OF GOING OUT DINNER PEAK.

AND WE DID THIS THROUGH FOUR QUADRANTS.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE IMAGE, THOSE WERE BOUNDED BY MCDONOUGH AND LEON, PONCE DE LEON.

SORRY. SO WE HAD COLLECTED DATA OVER THE 10,000, ALMOST 500 SPACES.

AND THIS MATCHES THE NUMBER OF SPACES THAT WAS DONE IN THE 2017 STUDY.

AND WE'LL GO OVER ABOUT HOW THAT COMPARED TO THAT STUDY FINDINGS IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

BUT WE HAD THAT AS I SAID, ACROSS THE 17 GARAGES, 105 LOTS AND ALL OF THE ON STREET PARKING SPACES IN THAT SAME BOUNDARY AS THE 2017 STUDY.

SO THIS IS THE SUMMARY OF THE DATA COLLECTION THROUGH THE DIFFERENT FACILITY TYPES GARAGES, LOTS AND ON STREET.

AS A GENERAL NOTE, WE.

YES SORRY WITH THE GARAGES.

IS THAT LIKE THE ARTISAN? THEY HAVE LOTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ONLY FOR RESIDENTS AND LOTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

ARE THESE NUMBERS FOR EVERYTHING OR ARE THEY JUST WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC? FOR EVERYTHING? OKAY.

THANK YOU. CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? BECAUSE OUR STREAMING CAN'T HEAR UNLESS YOU'RE AT THE.

OH YEAH. SURE. SO THAT THAT INCLUDES ALL FACILITIES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, INCLUDING ONES THAT ARE RESIDENTIAL ONLY.

SO THIS IS THE OVERALL OCCUPANCY FOR EACH FACILITY TYPE.

AND THEN AGAIN, OVERALL FOR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, WE USE 90% AS, QUOTE, FULLY OCCUPIED, EVEN THOUGH TECHNICALLY THERE MAY BE OPEN SPACES, FOR EXAMPLE, ON STREET OR IN A GARAGE, YOU MAY BE CIRCLING LOOKING FOR THOSE FIVE, TEN, 15 OPEN SPACES.

SO WE GENERALLY CONSIDER ANYTHING OVER 90% FULLY OCCUPIED.

THE ON STREET DOES GET CLOSE TO FULLY OCCUPIED DURING THEIR PEAK INDIVIDUAL PEAK, AND THAT OCCURRED ON THE SATURDAY.

THE OTHER FACILITIES WERE CLOSER TO A 50% OCCUPIED OCCUPANCY, AND THEIR PEAK ACTUALLY OCCURRED ON TUESDAY OR THE TUESDAY OF THE DATA COLLECTION AROUND NOON. SO YOU'RE SEEING DIFFERENT UTILIZATION BASED ON THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PARKERS THAT ARE UTILIZING THOSE SPACES.

OVERALL, THOUGH, THE TOTAL OCCUPANCY PEAK OCCUPANCY FOR THE WHOLE SYSTEM WAS SHOWING AROUND 50%.

THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT HAD THE OVERALL HIGHEST PEAK, AND THAT WAS A 72% OCCUPANCY.

AND WHEN WE SEE A DIFFERENCE IN DEMAND LIKE THIS, THIS MEANS THAT THERE'S USUALLY A WAY THAT WE CAN UTILIZE PRICING AND OTHER DEMAND DRIVERS TO MOVE THE DEMAND TO OTHER PLACES WHERE THERE'S ADDITIONAL SUPPLY.

AND I WANT TO CALL OUT AGAIN THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT OFF STREET SUPPLY AVAILABLE IN THE DOWNTOWN MARKET.

AND AGAIN, THAT WAS THAT'S THE 50% THAT WE WERE SEEING ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE.

THIS IS THE COMPARISON TO THE PREVIOUS STUDIES.

SO ALTHOUGH THE 2009 DATA SET WAS MUCH SMALLER, IT ACTUALLY HAD A HIGHER DEMAND THAN WE'RE SHOWING NOW.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, AS ANGELA SAID, THE 2017 STUDY DID NOT REPORT ON OVERALL UTILIZATION EVEN THOUGH IT HAD THE SAME BOUNDARIES AS WHAT WE COLLECTED THIS STUDY. SO THE GRAPHICS ON THE NEXT TWO PAGES SHOW THE SUMMARY OF THE DATA COLLECTED JUST IN INFOGRAPHICS.

AND THIS IS ALSO ON PAGE 16 OF YOUR PRINTOUT IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT ON YOUR SCREEN.

AND THIS JUST IS COLOR CODED TO THE PERCENT OCCUPIED.

SO LOCATIONS AND FACILITIES THAT ARE MORE HIGHLY OCCUPIED ARE IN DARKER RED ORANGE.

AND THEN AS YOU GET LESS OCCUPIED, THEY'RE IN THE LIGHT GREEN COLORS.

AND THAT JUST SHOWS YOU THE OVERALL SUPPLY ACROSS THE DOWNTOWN MARKET.

AND THEN THIS JUST SHOWS IT GRAPHICALLY.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE RED LINE SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF PARKING SPACES YOU HAVE AVAILABLE DOWNTOWN.

AND THEN THE BAR GRAPH SHOWS THE TOTAL OCCUPIED SPACES ON EACH DATA COLLECTION DAY.

AT ITS PEAK. SO IT ACTUALLY IS LESS THAN THAT ACROSS THE DAY.

BUT THAT'S JUST AT ITS HIGHEST.

IT'S ABOUT 50% OCCUPIED.

AND LASTLY, AS ANGELA HAD ALSO SAID EARLIER, PER THE DECATUR TOWN CENTER PLAN, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS COMING ONLINE.

[00:45:06]

THEY ARE MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL AND RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS, ALL ANTICIPATED TO INCLUDE SOME FORM OF PARKING.

AT THIS POINT, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 50% PEAK OCCUPANCY IN THE DOWNTOWN MARKET, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE THERE ARE SUFFICIENT EXISTING CAPACITY TO ABSORB THE NEEDS OF THESE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS.

HOWEVER, WE DO RECOMMEND THAT AS EACH OF THE DEVELOPMENTS IS COMING ONLINE, THAT YOU DO AN INDIVIDUAL PARKING DEMAND ANALYSIS TO REALLY ANALYZE THE IMPACT OF EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENTS AS YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THEIR FUTURE PROGRAMING.

YEAH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. YEAH. OKAY. SO THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE OVERARCHING THEMES FOR THE NEXT UPCOMING SLIDE.

SO, YOU KNOW, ENSURING EQUITY MAKING SURE WE SHORE UP THE RATES SO WE CAN KIND OF CHANGE BEHAVIOR OF PARKERS WHERE WE WANT THEM TO GO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FREE SPACES, KIND OF GET THAT 89, 90% DOWN A LITTLE LOWER.

SO PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY HAVE MORE OF A COMFORT TO PARK ON STREET.

EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY.

I MEAN, YOU ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF THAT TO AN EXTENT ALREADY.

WE HAVE TEXT TO PAY. WE HAVE PEOPLE CAN PAY BY APP.

WE'VE SEEN A REDUCTION OF THE PAY STATIONS, WHICH HAS BEEN GREAT.

WE'RE SEEING THAT ACROSS A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

PEOPLE ARE LESS DEPENDENT ON THOSE, WHICH IS NICE IN A LOT OF WAYS.

IT HELPS COSTS.

SO AS YOU KIND OF LOOK TO GET THE BUSINESS DISTRICT TOGETHER, WE KIND OF LOWER OUR COSTS.

THAT MAKES THERE'S MORE MONEY TO THE BOTTOM LINE.

THEN WE'LL KIND OF GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE.

SO RATE RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE INDIVIDUALLY.

BUT THESE ARE HOW THEY COME UP.

WE HAVE RATE MODIFICATIONS.

WE HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT EXTENDING WHEN AND HOW WE ENFORCE AS WELL AS JUST RATES ACROSS OFF AND ON STREET AND HOW THEY CONNECT AND THE CITATION FEES THAT YOU ALL HAVE RIGHT NOW.

AND WE STILL ARE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SIGNAGE.

AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE ALL THE, ALL THE THINGS ABOUT LIKE ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND EVERYTHING, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS TO UPDATE THE PARKING WEBSITE, BECAUSE THAT WILL REALLY GO HAND IN HAND WITH ALL YOUR TOURISM AND EVERYTHING, AND EVEN JUST FOR LOCAL FOLKS.

AND JUST TO NOTE, ALL THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO TEACH BEHAVIOR AND TO ENCOURAGE THE BEHAVIOR YOU WANT.

SO YOU WANT SHORT TERM PARKING ON STREET LONG TERM PARKING OFF STREET.

SO ALL OF THESE ARE KIND OF CENTERED AROUND THAT OVERALL IDEA.

SO FOR RATE RECOMMENDATIONS.

EXACTLY. SO THIS IS WE WANT IT RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR OFF STREET RATES YOU'RE AT A $4 AN HOUR.

YOUR ON STREETS AT THREE.

AND THEN YOU, YOU KNOW RATCHET IT UP TO $16 PRETTY QUICKLY AT A $4 AN HOUR.

SO YOU LOOK TO TRY TO GET THAT BEHAVIOR TO CHANGE.

AND MORE PEOPLE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE 50% OCCUPANCY WE HAVE FOR OFF STREET.

YOU HAVE TO START TO MOVE THAT RATE DOWN SO YOUR MOST VALUABLE PARKING IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE.

AND WHERE YOU WANT YOUR LONGER TERM PARKERS TO BE IS, YOU KNOW, IS A LITTLE EASIER TO SWALLOW.

THEY CAN GO OVER THERE, THEY COULD STAY LONGER, SPEND LESS MONEY, AND THEN YOU START TO CHANGE THAT BEHAVIOR AND TURN IT AROUND.

SO THAT'S A LARGE PART OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF THOSE RATES.

AND YOU STILL YOU STILL GET TO THE $16 MAX.

YOU JUST GET THERE SLOWER AND YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME IN AND PARK SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT OTHER THAN ON THE STREET.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S HAPPENING IS AND IT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THIS EXTENDED ENFORCEMENT HOURS.

SO RIGHT NOW YOU END AT 6:00.

SO IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT WORK DOWNTOWN AROUND 4:00 OR SO, 5:00, THEY CAN GO PARK ON THE STREET.

AND THEN YOU BASICALLY HAVE A GARAGE ON YOUR STREET FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE, THEY'RE GOING TO STAY AT WORK, AND THEN EVENTUALLY THEY'LL VACATE WHEN THEY'RE DONE WITH WORK.

SO EXTENDING THE ENFORCEMENT HOURS WILL HELP ALLEVIATE A LOT OF THAT, BECAUSE NOW IT BECOMES A PAID PARKING SYSTEM FOR THOSE FOLKS, AND IT FREES IT UP FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME EAT, DO WHATEVER, GO SEE MUSIC, WHATEVER IT MAY BE DOWNTOWN.

THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS, THOUGH, YOU HAVE TO KIND OF CREATE SOMETHING TO HELP THE PEOPLE WHO WERE PARKING FOR FREE, RIGHT? FOR ALL THIS TIME.

SO PART OF THAT IS TO PROMOTE A DISCOUNTED OFF STREET PROGRAM FOR THEM SO THEY CAN HAVE A PLACE TO PARK THAT'S LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE RATES WE LOOKED AT EARLIER, BUT ALLOWS THEM TO BE ABLE TO COME TO WORK, PARK THEIR CAR IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, GO TO WORK, AND BASICALLY GET THEM OFF THE STREET FOR LACK OF BETTER TERMS. BUT IT HELPS.

IT'S GOING TO HELP THAT SHORT TERM TURNOVER.

AND WHEN PEOPLE EAT OR COME IN A LITTLE LATER, IF THEY WANT TO GO TO BARS AND STUFF, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE MORE TURN GOING ON.

AND IT OF COURSE, THERE IS A REVENUE GENERATION THAT TAKES PLACE WITH THAT AS WELL.

OKAY. JUST TO PULL BACK THERE.

DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT, OR IS IT JUST GOING TO BE A GENERIC WE SHOULD DO THIS.

YOU MEAN HOW TO ROLL IT OUT?

[00:50:02]

LIKE WHERE WOULD THAT BE? OH. I'M SORRY. YEAH. HOW MUCH WOULD YOU CHARGE? WELL, FOR THE FOR THE EMPLOYEE PART OF IT, I THINK, ANDY, I THINK WHAT WAS IT, $40 UTILIZING THIS RIGHT NOW.

WAIT. SORRY. CAN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE? THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME.

WE'RE CURRENTLY UTILIZING A PROGRAM SUCH AS THAT IN THE SP+ MANAGED GARAGE THAT WE CURRENTLY MANAGE.

HOWEVER, THAT'S NOT. WE DON'T MANAGE CURRENTLY, ALL OF THE PRIVATE GARAGES.

SO THIS PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE FOR RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES, BUT IT'S NOT WIDELY ROLLED OUT BECAUSE THEY CAN STILL PARK ON STREET ESSENTIALLY AFTER 4:00, AND IT'S NOT ENFORCED ANY LATER THAN 6:00.

SO IT'S NOT WIDELY USED.

BUT WE DO HAVE SOME RESTAURANTS WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CURRENTLY DOING THIS.

THE RATE VARIES BASED ON THE PROXIMITY OF THE PARKING GARAGES TO THE RESTAURANTS.

SO IT VARIES REALLY BETWEEN $40 TO $60 DEPENDING ON THE PROXIMITY OF THE PRIVATE GARAGE TO THE RESTAURANTS PER MONTH.

AND THAT GIVES THEM ACCESS TYPICALLY AFTER 4 P.M., AND THEY HAVE TO BE OUT BEFORE 6 A.M.

IN THE MORNING TO TURN THE GARAGE OVER FROM THOSE LATE NIGHT EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING SECOND SHIFTS TO REGULAR EMPLOYEES OF THOSE BUILDINGS.

SO WHAT'S THE INCENTIVE THOUGH? BECAUSE IF THEY CAN PARK ON THE STREET FREE, THERE'S NO INCENTIVE CURRENTLY.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT HABIT BY EXTENDING ENFORCEMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT WILL, I THINK IN MY MIND THERE IS SOME COMMUNICATION WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GET THEIR BUY IN AND I'M PROBABLY JUMPING SHIP HERE. SO. CORRECT. SO AND THAT IS THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A BUY IN.

LIKE I SAID, WE DO CURRENTLY ROLL OUT THAT PROGRAM WITH SP+ MANAGES IT MANAGED GARAGES NOW BECAUSE WE DID WANT TO CHANGE THAT HABIT OF GETTING THOSE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND GETTING THEM INTO GARAGES.

AND SO WE WORKED WITH OUR WITH OUR CURRENT CLIENTS, PRIVATE CLIENTS TO BE ABLE TO PUSH THAT PROGRAM, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

HOWEVER, IT'S AGAIN NOT WIDELY UTILIZED BECAUSE THERE IS NO CHANGE IN HABIT BECAUSE OF THE ENFORCEMENT HOURS.

AND THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A GREATER BUY IN WITH SOME OF THE OTHER PRIVATE GARAGE OWNERS AS WELL ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED THE HELP WITH THE CITY TO HELP PROMOTE THIS PROGRAM.

THANK YOU. I THINK ULTIMATELY WE'D HAVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS JUST AROUND EXTENDING ANY TYPE OF PAID PARKING.

AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE THIS PROGRAM AS WELL, AND WHERE EMPLOYEES CAN SIGN UP AND UTILIZE THE PROGRAM.

SO IS THE RECOMMENDATION ALSO TO JUST HAVE THOSE PROPOSED RATES AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO COMES IN PARKS TO TRY TO SHIFT SOME OF THE VISITORS WHO MAY BE HERE WANTING TO STAY, YOU KNOW, THREE HOURS AND OR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME AND NOT BE TAKING LIKE AN ON STREET PARKING FOR THAT LONG.

WELL, THE EXISTING THESE EXISTING RATES, WHICH WOULD BE THE RATES FOR TRANSIENT PARKERS, BUT WE'D OFFER THAT LOWER RATE, THAT MONTHLY RATE.

IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE EMPLOYEES IT'S A MONTHLY RATE.

SO IT'S LOWER FOR THEM TO PARK FOR THE MONTH, NOT YOUR NORMAL TRANSIENT PARKING WAS JUST COMING IN TO PARK TO GO EAT OR SPEND MORE TIME DOWNTOWN.

SO IT'S KIND OF TWO DIFFERENT PARKER GROUPS, IF YOU WILL.

YEAH. I THINK JUST TO CLARIFY, I THINK IT'S KIND OF ALMOST A FOUR PRONGED APPROACH.

SO THE FIRST PRONG IS THE MAKING THE RATES OFF STREET LESS THAN THE RATES ON STREET RIGHT.

SO YOU GET ANYONE WHO IS GOING TO PARK LONGER THAN TWO HOURS TO GET THEM OFF STREET.

THE SECOND PRONG IS EDUCATING THE LOCAL, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS OWNERS THAT THEY WANT THE HIGHEST VALUE PARKING, WHICH IS IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESSES, TO GO TO PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE IN AND OUT AND TURN OVER THAT SPACE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

SO THEN THE THIRD PIECE IS HAVING THE DISCOUNTED OFF STREET PARKING FOR THEIR STAFF, RIGHT.

AND THEN THE FOURTH PIECE IS THE ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR STAFF ACTUALLY PARK OFF STREET.

RIGHT. AND WE'LL GET TO ENFORCEMENT.

YES. SORRY. NO.

IT'S GOOD. SO IT'S REALLY ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

IT'S ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THAT'S WHAT I WAS CLARIFYING.

THANK YOU. AND PART OF THE I KNOW IN THE BEGINNING WE TALKED ABOUT EXPANDING ON STREET PARKING.

SO THERE'S A FEW AREAS WE HAVE HERE.

AND IT WOULD BE TO IMPLEMENT WHAT YOU HAVE NOW RIGHT.

IT'S A TWO HOUR TIME LIMITED AT $3 AN HOUR ON STREET PARKING.

AND THIS IS MAINLY DRIVEN THROUGH THE STUDY THAT WE DID AND THE OCCUPANCY AND THE FACT THAT REALLY YOU DON'T WANT TO CONVERT TO JUST A TWO HOUR TIME, BECAUSE THEN YOU GET PEOPLE SHUFFLING THEIR CARS AROUND AND WE STILL CREATE THAT VIRTUAL PARKING LOT, IF YOU WILL.

IT'S JUST DIFFERENT CARS IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

SO WE WANT TO LOOK AT HAVING PAID PARKING IN THOSE.

YEAH. SO JUST TO EXPAND ON THAT.

SO THERE'S CURRENTLY TWO HOUR MAX PARKING IN THAT AREA FROM ON CHURCH FROM HOWARD ETERNITY.

SO WE WANT TO CONVERT THAT TO PAID PARKING TO OUR PAID IN THE FUTURE AS THAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE RESIDENTIAL PARKING AND THERE MIGHT BE PERMITS IN THAT AREA.

WE WOULD RECOMMEND YOU CONSIDER EXTENDING THAT FROM HOWARD TO SYCAMORE.

AND THEN THE SECOND PART IS IN THAT AREA, IMPLEMENTING A NEW PAID PARKING AREA FROM HOWARD BETWEEN MCDONOUGH AND EAST TRINITY.

SO TWO, TWO NEW SECTIONS.

BASICALLY THERE IS A HIGH CURRENT DEMAND THERE.

[00:55:04]

SO AND THE DATA IS SHOWING US THAT THAT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO PARK.

SO WE MIGHT AS WELL, NOW ENCOURAGE THE USE OF PAID PARKING AND GET IT TURNED OVER.

AND THEN LIKEWISE ANOTHER AREA THAT WAS STUDIED.

WE HAD SEEN THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE PICKING UP FOR PICKING UP FOOD, WHATEVER IT MAY BE IN THESE AREAS, AND WE NEED SOME 15 MINUTE SPACES THERE SO WE CAN CREATE SOME SHORT TURNOVER FOR THEM TO COME IN, GRAB SOME FOOD, DO WHATEVER THEY NEED TO DO, EVEN JUST FOLKS PICKING UP THEIR FOOD AND THEN BE ABLE TO MOVE ON. ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE A TWO HOUR TIME IN THAT AREA, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

THEN THEY DOUBLE PARK, THEN IT BECOMES A TRAFFIC MITIGATION ISSUE AND A SAFETY ISSUE.

SO THAT WAS ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME FORWARD.

SO LOOKING AT THAT AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BOTHERED ME ABOUT PARKS IN GENERAL, IS WE HAVE THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC AT THAT INTERSECTION INCLUDING TWO TURNS.

SO IT'S A COMPLETE WASTE OF ASPHALT AND PUBLIC SPACE.

IS THE THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD PERHAPS TAKE AWAY A LANE, OR MAYBE EVEN TWO LANES.

AND IS IT SOMETHING YOU GUYS DO? IS THERE SOMETHING MORE WE DO IN TERMS OF REORIENTING THAT? OKAY. SO THIS PARTICULAR INTERSECTION, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN.

THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS INTERSECTION, BOTH FROM PEDESTRIAN SAFETY BUT ALSO JUST THE UTILIZATION OF THESE DIFFERENT LANES.

SO WE DO ANTICIPATE KEEPING OBVIOUSLY ONE LANE GOING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

AND THEN THAT CENTER TURN LANE, THAT LEFT TURN LANE GOING ON TO CHURCH.

BUT IF YOU'LL NOTICE ON THE FAR LEFT, THE I GUESS IT WOULD BE THE WESTBOUND TURN LANE ALONG PONCE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT CHANGING THAT TO STRIPED PARKING.

SO WE WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE ELIMINATE THE RIGHT TURN ONLY LANE, TIGHTEN UP THAT CORNER FOR PURPOSES OF PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND THEN HAVE THE ON STREET PARKING IN THAT AREA, WHETHER IT'S 15 MINUTE PARKING, YOU KNOW, FOR UBER EATS OR THOSE TYPES OF DRIVERS.

BUT WE DON'T NEED A RIGHT TURN LANE ONLY IN THAT AREA.

ALL UP AND DOWN PONCE.

THERE'S A LOT OF PONCE WHERE YOU COULD DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE'LL WE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK.

WITH OUR PARTNERS AND PUBLIC WORKS.

AND OUR, OUR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER WHO WILL BE GETTING WITH US SOON.

BUT, YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE EXPLORING.

YES. AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION NEXT ABOUT THE CHURCH STREET ROAD DIET.

YES. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, TOO, THAT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, THE SPACES CAN BE FLEXED IF, YOU KNOW, WE GET WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS AND DURING THE DAY, MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE TWO HOUR PARKING AND THEN FLEX THEM DOWN TO 15 LATER, AS WE KIND OF SAW AS IT GETS TO BE THE EVENING.

SO IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE THE 15 MINUTES.

YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE TIME.

THANK YOU. BEFORE WE ADVANCE, COULD I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT, I GUESS, INVENTORY AND CONTROL.

SO MOST OF THE INVENTORY IS OFF STREET.

AND THEN SOME OF IT'S PUBLIC AND SOME OF IT'S PRIVATE.

HOW MUCH IS PUBLIC? HOW MUCH IS PRIVATE? DO YOU KNOW THOSE PERCENTAGES OR THOSE SPACES? NOT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

SO FOR ME, THERE'S LIKE A BIG CONTROL FACTOR.

I MEAN, HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE, THE OPERATORS TO CHANGE PRICES IF THEY'RE A PRIVATE LOT? LIKE, WHAT'S OUR LEVERAGE AND HOW DO WE GET INVOLVED? SO I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT 90% OF THE INVENTORY IS PRIVATE CONTROLLED RIGHT OFF STREET.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO GET BUY IN ON A PRICING PROGRAM.

IS THAT THE GIST OF IT? LIKE, WE HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR PRIVATE LOT OPERATORS AND.

CORRECT. BUT YOU KNOW, WE YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE ARE YOU REFERENCING THE AFTER HOURS MONTHLY PROGRAM FOR THE SECOND SHIFT? YEAH. SO OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD LOOK TO, YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENT THAT DECATUR CONFERENCE CENTER, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ASSET.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY HAVE THAT PROGRAM IN PLACE AT THE PRIVATE PLACES THAT WE MANAGE.

OKAY. SO BUT COMMUNICATING THAT TO THE OTHER PRIVATE OPERATORS IS CERTAINLY PART OF THE PLAN.

BUT. RIGHT. YOU KNOW, IT'S YEAH I THINK GETTING ON BOARD ON THAT PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT A 50% OCCUPANCY RATE YOU PROBABLY SPEAK BETTER TO ME THAN WHEN I THINK MORE OF THE OCCUPANCY IS DURING THE DAY ANYWAY, EVEN AT THAT RATE.

YEAH. AND THE GOAL, IF YOU'RE TELLING THEM THEY'RE GOING TO DRIVE MORE PARKERS, THEY'RE GOING TO GET, YOU KNOW, GARNER MORE REVENUE.

THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR THEM TOO.

RIGHT. SO THERE'S A CONVERSATION TO BE HAD WITH THESE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC OR SORRY, PRIVATE ENTITIES I GUESS TO I'M THINKING I CAN'T READ MY MIND ALSO ABOUT PARKING AFFORDABILITY.

YOU KNOW, THE ATTRACTION OF THE APPROPRIATE PRICING FOR PEOPLE TO USE, OUR PARKING TO COME SHOP AND DINE AND STAY.

I THINK THERE'S A I DON'T KNOW IF YOU STUDIED THIS.

A PRETTY BIG GAP BETWEEN WHAT WE'D LIKE TO OFFER ANY LOT THAT WE CONTROL, FOR EXAMPLE, VERSUS PRIVATE.

[01:00:03]

SO IT'S LIKE THE COGNITIVE DISSONANCE BETWEEN PAYING $25 MAYBE FOR A PRIVATE LOT VERSUS WHAT WE SAY 4 OR 5.

YOU JUST GET THIS BIG GAP.

AND I THINK IT BECOMES A DISINCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO PARK IN ANY PRIVATE LOT POTENTIALLY.

SO, I'M JUST WONDERING HOW YOU SQUEEZE DOWN INTO A MIDDLE THAT'S MORE CONSISTENT ACROSS ALL OF OUR PARKING.

SURE. WE ACTUALLY DID A SURVEY ACROSS THE LOTS AND GARAGES IN THE AREA ON PAGE EIGHT.

IT'S A LITTLE SMALL, BUT WE CAN ALSO DO AN ELECTRONIC COPY TOO.

BUT ONE OF THE REASONS WE DIDN'T SUGGEST AN INCREASE IN ON STREET RATES, WHICH WAS ANOTHER WAY TO DRIVE PARKERS TO LONG TERM PARKING OFF STREET, IS THAT WE THOUGHT YOU WERE ALREADY KIND OF AT A HIGHER RATE ON STREET.

AND SO WE WANTED TO SUGGEST SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN JUST INCREASING RATES ON STREET RIGHT.

SO THAT WAS THAT WAS WHY OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SIMPLY CHANGING THE RATES OFF STREET RATHER THAN INCREASING ON STREET RATES, WHICH IS ANOTHER METHOD YOU CAN DO.

OKAY, IT'D BE GREAT TO GET THIS TABLE LIKE SO WE CAN READ IT.

GENERALLY WE SEND THESE ELECTRONICALLY, SO WHEN PRINTED IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO READ.

IT'S MOSTLY WHAT I HEAR THAT'S ANECDOTAL.

SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY LANDS IN A PRIVATE LOT AND THEY PAY.

WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE AN EGREGIOUS AMOUNT.

PROBABLY DOESN'T COMPARE TO MIDTOWN OR MAYBE PARTS OF BUCKHEAD, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY LIKE AN EMBARRASSING AMOUNT FOR DOWNTOWN DECATUR.

SOMETIMES A VOLUNTEER LANDS IN A SPOT AND PAYS $25 FOR AN AFTERNOON, AND THEY'VE JUST COME TO VOLUNTEER FOR AN EVENT.

AND ONCE THEY'RE IN, THEY'RE IN.

SO I FEEL LIKE THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS I THINK IT HAPPENS QUITE A BIT THAT IF WE COULD AVOID THAT TYPE OF EXPERIENCE.

AND SO MY FOLLOW UP WOULD BE TO I'D BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT'S THE HUMAN LENS, IF YOU PUT IT THROUGH WHERE YOU ACTUALLY TALK TO PEOPLE WHO COME AND PARK AND FIND OUT WHO'S HAD A GOOD EXPERIENCE AND WHY, WHO'S COME HERE AND SAID, OH, MOSTLY WE HEAR I'LL NEVER COME BACK AGAIN IF WE EVER HEAR IT, BECAUSE PARKING WAS TREACHEROUS. AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE DOWNSIDES.

SURE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A COUPLE MORE SLIDES IS HAVING A PARKING WEBSITE THAT EXPLICITLY HAS YOUR GUYS'S PARKING ASSETS AND HOW MUCH THE RATES ARE AND SHOWING PARKERS WHERE THEY CAN GO TO HAVE AFFORDABLE PARKING.

AND THAT EDUCATION WILL REALLY HELP SOME OF THAT CONSUMER EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

YEAH. I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING.

YOU DON'T. PEOPLE ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN TRICKED.

YOU KNOW, THEY COME IN AND LAND IN A SPOT AND OUT OF SHEER CONVENIENCE OR WHATEVER HAPPENS, THEY END UP THERE AND THEN THEY.

IT'S JUST A BAD FEELING.

SO TO HAVE A HEALTHIER MIDDLE OF CONSISTENT PRICING AND PEOPLE.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOUR LEVERAGE IS TO GET THESE PRIVATE OPERATORS ON BOARD TO LAND AND COMPRESS INTO A A MORE RATIONAL PRICING SCHEME. YEAH, IT'S PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT I KNOW IN ANNAPOLIS WE DO THIS A LOT TOO.

SO, YOU KNOW, TYING IN TO, LIKE, ALL THE STUFF WE SAW WITH TOURISM.

RIGHT. CONNECTING THAT WITH PARKING.

I CAN TELL YOU, LIKE IN ANNAPOLIS, ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS THEY HAD WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THEY HAD.

AND THAT WAS THEIR BOAT SHOW.

SO ANNAPOLIS DEAD ENDS INTO A BODY OF WATER.

SO WHERE DOES EVERYBODY GO? TO THE WATER. SO WE WORKED WITH THE TOURISM FOLKS, AND WE GOT EVERYBODY EDUCATED TO PARK BEFORE YOU GOT TO THE WATER AND WHERE TO PARK, AND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND CONNECTING WITH OTHER GROUPS WITHIN THE CITY.

IT BECAME A SUCCESS.

WE DIDN'T GRIDLOCK.

PEOPLE PARKED. THEY IT'S BEAUTIFUL THERE, RIGHT? THEY WALK JUST LIKE THEY WOULD WALK HERE AND ENJOY THE CITY.

SO I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT, THAT'S PART OF THE KEY IS GETTING ALL THAT, GETTING STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS TOGETHER.

BECAUSE I KNOW SOME SAY MOST PROBABLY A LOT OF THE IDEAS THAT I WOULD PUT FORTH IN MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS ARE FROM WHAT THE STAKEHOLDERS SAID.

I'M NOT GOING TO REALLY THINK OF EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED OR NONE OF US COLLECTIVELY COULD.

SO IT'S REALLY LISTENING TO WHAT THEY NEED.

AND THEN HOW DO WE TAKE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED IN OTHER PLACES AND DO THAT AS ANNAPOLIS? WE HAD A PLACE IN COLORADO, AND I WANT TO BOG YOU DOWN WITH THIS, BUT THEY DID IT.

I SAID, OH, YOU'RE THE SAME AS ANNAPOLIS.

AND THEY WERE LIKE, YEAH. I GO, WELL, YOU DEAD END INTO A MOUNTAIN.

SO HERE'S HOW WE FIXED ANNAPOLIS AND WE JUST APPLIED THE SAME METHODOLOGY.

THAT'S HELPFUL IS PART OF IT THOUGH.

THE EDUCATION COMPONENT BECAUSE I THINK ABOUT LIKE PARKING AT THE AIRPORT, OF COURSE, IT'S CHEAPEST TO PARK CLOSEST TO THE TERMINAL.

AND IF YOU WANT TO GET A BETTER RATE, YOU GOT TO GO A LITTLE BIT.

SO I THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE AN EDUCATION COMPONENT ABOUT THIS.

BUT THE OTHER PART, AND I THINK I KNOW WHERE YOU WERE STARTING AHEAD WITH THIS, WE GET A LOT OF PUSHBACK OR FEEDBACK FROM OUR SENIORS THAT THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THEM TO PARK, OR THERE'S NO CHEAP PARKING WHEN THEY WANT TO COME TO SOMETHING DOWNTOWN BECAUSE OF MOBILITY CHALLENGES OR WHATEVER.

SO PART OF THIS, LIKE, I THINK, WHERE WE WANT TO HEAD IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOME GUARDRAILS FOR THEM, SO TO SPEAK.

[01:05:01]

YEAH, WE HAVE THIS UNIQUE AND INTERESTING.

MAYBE IT'S NOT UNIQUE. IT MIGHT BE A WORLDWIDE ISSUE, BUT WE HAVE THIS DYNAMIC SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR RESIDENTS WHERE THEY HAVE A BELIEF THAT THERE IS NO PARKING DOWNTOWN OR NOT ENOUGH PARKING DOWNTOWN.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE FREE PARKING DOWNTOWN.

AND THAT'S THE MAIN COMPLAINT.

IT'S NOT LACK OF PARKING, IT'S LACK OF PLACES THAT YOU CAN PULL UP TO THE DOOR AND PARK FOR FREE.

YEAH, WE ARE AN URBAN SUBURB.

WE ARE NOT THE SUBURBS.

AND SO BUT PEOPLE DON'T LOOK AT DECATUR LIKE THEY LOOK AT SAVANNAH OR ATLANTA.

THEY LOOK AT DECATUR CLOSER TO LIKE, SAY, A CITY IN GWINNETT WHERE YOU CAN LITERALLY JUST PULL UP TO THE DOOR, YOU KNOW, IN A STRIP MALL AND PARK.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE OVERCOME A 70 YEAR COMPLAINT ABOUT LACK OF PARKING.

LITERALLY 70 YEARS OF COMPLAINING ABOUT PARKING TO HELP PEOPLE TO ONE, FEEL LIKE THEIR COMMUNITY WANTS THEM IN THEIR OWN DOWNTOWN.

RIGHT? THAT'S THE MAIN ISSUE FOR PEOPLE.

THE EQUITY ISSUE WHERE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT NECESSARILY PAY FOR PARKING, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING AT, YOU KNOW, A SHIFT AS A SERVER AND DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF PAYING $25 A DAY FOR THAT, OR EVEN MAYBE THE 40 OR $60 IS A STRETCH.

PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATE THE $60 DISCOUNT BUT DON'T WANT TO WALK A MILE FROM THEIR RESTAURANT TO WHERE YOU'VE GOT IT A MILE WALK IS LOVELY AT 3 P.M.

A MILE WALK IS TOUGH AT 2 A.M., YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE NUANCED ABOUT OUR CITY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE NECESSARILY SPECIAL.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A SMALL, YOU KNOW, VERY, VERY SMALL, YET VERY ENTICING CITY, BUT DEFINITELY THINGS THAT WE THINK ABOUT AND HEAR ABOUT ALL THE TIME.

IT ALL KIND OF PLAYS INTO THAT PRICING STRATEGY.

I MEAN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IF YOU MOVE FROM THAT 89, 90% TO.

I DON'T KNOW, 82, 85%, IT'S ACTUALLY A BIG DIFFERENCE, LIKE WHAT YOU SEE ON THE STREET AND WHAT YOU THINK PSYCHOLOGICALLY BECAUSE YOU CAN FIND A SPACE EASIER. I MEAN, THOSE PERCENTAGE POINTS ARE KIND OF THERE FOR A REASON.

LIKE IF YOU GET TO LIKE 82%, IT FEELS PRETTY COMFORTABLE.

LIKE YOU CAN FIND A PLACE TO PARK.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO A BLOCK TO FIND IT ON THE STREET.

BUT THE STREET REALLY KIND OF DRIVES THAT THOUGHT PROCESS, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND YOU SEE, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY SEE THE 50% OCCUPANCY SITTING IN THE GARAGE, BUT YOU DEFINITELY ARE LIKE, OH, I'M ON THE STREET, I'M DRIVING, I'M CIRCLING, OTHER PEOPLE ARE CIRCLING, I'M STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

I HAVE A RESERVATION.

SO IT'S KIND OF TRYING THE WHOLE POINT, TRYING TO FREE UP THAT ON STREET AND GET THAT TURNOVER.

AND IT REALLY I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THAT WHOLE 4:00 ON GARAGE THAT'S BEING CREATED ON STREET IS DRIVING A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE HEARING TO WHERE THE SPACES JUST DON'T TURN ANYMORE.

SO IF I COME DOWNTOWN, I'LL PROBABLY SEE THE SAME JEEP IN THE SAME SPOT AS WHEN I'M DONE WITH WALKING BACK TO THE GARAGE I PARKED AT FOR DINNER BECAUSE IT HAS NEVER MOVED, OR AN EMPLOYEE. I WORRY ABOUT HOW MANY OF THOSE FOLKS ARE ACTUAL RESIDENTS THOUGH, ESPECIALLY AS WE INCREASE OUR DENSITY DOWNTOWN.

THAT'S SOMETHING I REALLY DO WORRY ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, THERE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT STRIP UP AND DOWN BY KIMBALL HOUSE, WHAT IS THAT ROAD BY KIMBALL HOUSE? THE ONE. YEAH.

IS THAT TRUE? THANK YOU, EAST HOWARD.

LIKE, IF WE I THINK A LOT OF TIMES THE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THE ICE HOUSE LOFTS ARE PARKING IN THOSE SPOTS.

NOT NECESSARILY THE FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO KIMBALL HOUSE OR.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S THE SECTION WE ACTUALLY IN THE PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATION SUGGESTED MOVING TO PAID PARKING BECAUSE OF THAT REASON, THEY WILL RIOT.

WELL, AND THAT'S PART OF THE THAT'S PART OF THE NEXT STEPS.

AND I MEAN THAT IN A LOVE KIND OF WAY.

NOT A LITERAL RIOT, BUT THEY'LL BE MAD.

YEAH. I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF THE, I THINK, THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PIECE OF THIS, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, EDUCATING PEOPLE ON THE VALUE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE FRONT SPACE IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESS AND ENGAGING THE BUSINESS OWNERS, THE SERVICE STAFF, THE RESIDENTS, ALL OF THEM TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF EACH OF THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND WHAT THEY BRING TO THE CITY.

AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT WAS KIND OF LOOSELY TOUCHED ON THAT SOME OF THE SLIDE WAS BUT YEAH, SO KIND OF SOME OF THE FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE TABLED FOR NOW BECAUSE OF RESIDENTS.

SO IT'S KIND OF LOOKING AT SOME POINT TO AT A RESIDENTIAL PARKING PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP THEM HAVE A PLACE TO PARK WHERE THEY LIVE.

AND THEN IT'S ALL HOLISTIC TO HOW YOU KIND OF SOLVE THOSE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE OR THE TETRIS SOLUTION, AS YOU WOULD SAY.

A TETRIS AND FOUR SQUARE MILES.

THIS IS YOUR PERSON TO SOLVE IT.

OH. THIS ONE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON? OKAY. SO AGAIN, AS PART OF THE TOWN CENTER PLAN, CHURCH STREET IS GOING TO BE MOVING TO A COMPLETE STREET PROGRAM.

SO WE'RE GOING TO LOSE TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC.

SO AS PART OF THIS WE RECOMMEND THAT THERE'S A FURTHER ANALYSIS DONE IN AUTOCAD TO DETERMINE WHAT IS GOING TO MAXIMIZE THE PARKING SPACES, WHETHER THAT'S 45 DEGREE SPACES,

[01:10:06]

WHETHER THAT'S PARALLEL SPACES.

WE RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST UTILIZE THAT SPACE.

BUT WE DO RECOMMEND THAT WE THIS IS SIGNED AND ENFORCED AS PAID TO OUR PARKING.

BECAUSE THIS IS A HIGH DEMAND AREA AND PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO PARK HERE.

SO WE RECOMMEND MAKING SURE THAT THAT SPACE IS, YOU KNOW, A HIGH IT'S, YOU KNOW, HIGH WORTH AREA.

ALL RIGHT. ENFORCEMENT.

EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE TOPIC, I'M SURE.

WE LOOKED AT THE RATES ACROSS STRATIFICATION HERE, ACROSS YOUR SYSTEM AND THE EXPIRED METER.

WELL ALL OF THEM KIND OF HOLISTICALLY ACROSS THE BOARD ARE LOW AND THEY'RE LOW IN COMPARISON TO WHAT IT COSTS TO PARK.

THERE'S KIND OF A RISK REWARD THING THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR TICKETS ARE ONLY 15 BUCKS, THAT YOU'LL PAY THE TICKET OR ROLL THE DICE AND SEE IF I GET CAUGHT.

BUT NOT EVERYBODY YOU KNOW, THAT COULD PAY FOR AN HOUR.

AND THEN MAYBE I CAN EXTEND THAT TO 3 OR 4 BEFORE AND GET OUT.

SO DEFINITELY.

AND YOU COULD SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WE WRITE A LOT OF TICKETS FOR THAT.

PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO ROLL THE DICE ON THAT AN AWFUL LOT.

AGAIN, THAT STARTS TO FREE UP MORE ON STREET SPACES.

SO LIKE WE JUST KEEP PUTTING MORE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TOGETHER THAT WAY.

AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE THAT, THEN YOU HAVE SOME OTHER ONES THAT ARE A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, MORE, YOU KNOW, SAFETY ISSUE BOUND THAT YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GO AHEAD AND LOOK AT IN YOUR CODE TO INCREASE THOSE AS WELL.

JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE SAFETY ISSUES, WHETHER THAT BE THE NO PARKING AREAS THAT MAY STILL HAVE A TWO HOUR NOT TO EXCEED RESTRICTED PARKING, THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, HANDICAP PARKING WAS, YOU KNOW, IN LINE FIRE LANE.

BUT WE WOULD RECOMMEND LOOKING AT THOSE RATES.

WHERE DID THE TWO HOUR COME IN? AS KIND OF LIKE, THAT'S THE MAGIC NUMBER.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHEN IT CAME IN HERE, BUT A TWO HOUR TIME LIMIT IS IN GENERAL, YOU KNOW, IN MUNICIPAL ON STREET PROGRAMS. THOUGHT THE AMOUNT OF TIME PEOPLE CAN GO EAT OR DO SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO DO DOWNTOWN.

AND THEN IF YOU AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT DONE IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME, YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO PLACE THOSE FOLKS AT A LONGER TERM PARKING FACILITY.

I COULD TELL YOU THAT IN BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA, IT WAS ALWAYS THREE HOURS.

AND SO WE FORMED A PARKING COMMITTEE, AND EVERYBODY TOLD ME AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

I KNEW THAT THREE HOURS WAS THE RIGHT TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO WE DID SOME SURVEYS AND WE CAME OUT AND WE SHOWED SOME DATA TO ALL THOSE FOLKS, AND WE HAD OUR LITTLE PARKING COMMITTEE.

EVERYBODY HAD DIFFERENT THINGS THEY DID.

AND IT'S TWO HOURS FOR THEIR MAIN STREET RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THE THREE HOURS WAS GETTING ABUSED BY ALL THE FOLKS THAT WORK THERE.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THERE THAT OWNED A RESTAURANT THAT COMPLAINED ABOUT THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PARK, BUT HE WAS PARKING IN FRONT OF HIS BUSINESS.

AND WHEN I WORKED FOR THE CITY OF SARASOTA, I GAVE ALL THE MERCHANTS FREE PARKING IN THE PARKING LOTS, AND THEY ONE OF THEM WAS SMART ENOUGH TO SAY, YOU JUST GOT ALL OF OUR LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS, DIDN'T YOU? I SAID, I DID, AND IT WAS FREE.

AND GUESS WHERE THEY ALL STILL PARKED? IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESSES, EVEN THOUGH THEY COULD GO PARK SOMEWHERE ELSE AND OPEN IT UP FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS.

SO WE JUST KIND OF HAVE TO GET THAT DYNAMIC WHERE PEOPLE CAN COMFORTABLY COME DOWN AND VISIT.

WELL, PART OF THAT DYNAMIC ALSO HURTS THEIR BOTTOM LINE BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW NOW TACO MAC, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE YOU COULD NEVER PARK IN THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE THEIR EMPLOYEES ALWAYS PARKED THERE, RIGHT? I MEAN, THEY'RE GONE NOW.

BUT YEAH, YOU GOT TO LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR FIRST.

IF YOU'RE I HAVE A SIMPLE RULE, MY EMPLOYEES SHOULD ALWAYS WALK FARTHER THAN MY CUSTOMERS BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING FOR THAT PARKING SPACE AND NOT YOU.

ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S YOU'RE GOING TO GET PUSHBACK AT FIRST.

BUT I THINK THAT'S PART OF THAT EDUCATION PROCESS, RIGHT.

IF YOU'RE IF YOU ILLUMINATE THAT FOR THEM, THEY MAY GO, OH AND MAY CLICK.

YEAH. I ALSO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR VISITORS AND OTHERS WHO COME AND PARK DOWNTOWN, THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU CAN PARK, AS YOU SAID, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESS THAT YOU WANT TO WALK IN, IS NOT THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU'D BE IN AN URBAN AREA.

THERE WAS A RECENT COMPARISON.

I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS IN THE NEW YORK TIMES OR SOMEWHERE THAT ACTUALLY SHOWED, LIKE IF YOU PARK 2 TO 3 BLOCKS AWAY.

IT'S ABOUT THE EQUIVALENT OF PARKING AT A MALL AND WALKING.

BUT BECAUSE YOU'RE ONLY WALKING PAST CARS, NOT BUILDINGS, THE PERCEPTION IS YOU HAVEN'T WALKED THIS FAR SO PEOPLE DON'T COMPLAIN WHEN THEY GO TO A MALL.

THEY MAY COMPLAIN, BUT THEY DON'T SAY, OH, I HAD TO WALK SO FAR TO, YOU KNOW.

UNLIKE IF YOU HAVE TO PARK TWO BLOCKS FROM A RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR OR THREE BLOCKS, IT WAS LIKE I COULDN'T FIND A CLOSE PARKING PLACE.

[01:15:01]

WELL, YOU REALLY DID FIND A CLOSE PARKING PLACE.

IT'S THAT LINE OF SIGHT, RIGHT? IT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.

EXACTLY. WHEREAS IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AROUND THE BLOCK.

AND THAT'S IT. YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO A MALL, IT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.

BUT THAT RESTAURANT MAY NOT BE, BUT YOU'RE NOT WALKING ANY FARTHER.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS, AND I'M NOT A COMMERCIAL PARKING PERSON.

I JUST DEAL WITH MUNICIPAL PARKING AND ON STREET MAINLY.

BUT I DO GO SHOPPING SOMETIMES, SO THERE ARE SOME OF THE MALLS ARE CHARGING TO FOR THEIR CLOSER SPACES NOW.

PERIMETER IS NOW.

YEAH. SO THEY'RE LIKE HEY THESE ARE OUR MOST THESE ARE OUR ON STREET SPACES.

AND YOU CAN PAY FIVE BUCKS TO PARK HERE.

OR YOU CAN GO PARK FARTHER BACK IN THE PARKING LOT.

SO, IT'S COMING AROUND A BIT.

SO I KNOW WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT.

SO I WANT TO GET THROUGH THE LAST TWO RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO THIS ONE I THINK IS PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.

BUT REALLY AS PART OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAM, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH SIGNAGE ACROSS THE DOWNTOWN AREA SO THAT VISITORS CAN CLEARLY SEE A PHYSICAL DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE THAT SAYS, OKAY, THERE'S ADDITIONAL PARKING.

THIS WAY YOU MAY NOT SEE A PARKING SPACE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT YOU SEE A SIGN THAT SAYS THERE'S A LOT OR FACILITY, YOU KNOW, THIS WAY OR THAT WAY, WHATEVER WAY IT MAY BE.

WE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT FOR INTERSECTIONS ALONG PONCE THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE GOOD STARTING PLACES CLERMONT, MARSHALL CHURCH, AND CANDLER.

BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER LOCATIONS THAT COULD USE ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE, AND THIS CAN BE FIT INTO THE DOWNTOWN ESTHETIC.

YOU CAN HAVE YOU USE YOUR OWN DESIGN, BUT REALLY ANYTHING THAT CAN DRAW ATTENTION TO DIRECTIONAL WAYFINDING AND THIS CAN ALSO HELP PEDESTRIANS FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO THEIR VEHICLES, WILL ADD TO THE DOWNTOWN OVERALL WAYFINDING SYSTEM.

AND KIND OF WRAP THAT UP.

THIS GETTING A REALLY NICE COMPREHENSIVE PARKING WEBPAGE WEBSITE WOULD BE I THINK PHENOMENAL.

AND THEN CONNECTING THAT TO THE EVENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE ALL KIND OF ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WOULD JUST BE A HUGE AMENITY.

AND THEN YOU KIND OF TALK ABOUT HOW TO HOW DO PEOPLE FIND THE GARAGES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING.

WE CAN MAKE THOSE GARAGES AND PLACES PARTICIPATING PARTNERS.

WE CAN HAVE THEM ON THE SITE IF THEY WANT TO PROVIDE A LINK FOR PEOPLE TO GO AHEAD AND SIGN UP FOR THEIR PARKING FOR EMPLOYEES, WE CAN PUT THAT ON THERE.

IT COULD BE A ONE STOP SHOP.

IT COULD HAVE THEIR RATES ON THERE.

IF WE HAVE SOME PREFERRED PARTNERS THAT WANT TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY.

SO I THINK IT'S A, YOU KNOW, IT'S A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BRING THOSE FOLKS INTO THE FOLD AS WELL.

AND THEY GET A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR IT TOO, RIGHT? IT'S KIND OF HELPING THEM GET SOME DRIVE.

SO DO YOU SEE IT LIKE A FREE HOUR OF PARKING, SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU GO IN AND YOU KNOW, YOU GET A TOKEN OR SOMETHING OR SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE'LL PAY FOR YOUR FIRST HOUR. BUT, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO INCENTIVIZE SOME OF THAT FOR THE PRIVATE PARTNERS TO WORK WITH, YOU COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK WHAT BOB IS REFERRING TO IS ON YOUR WEBSITE HAVING THEIR NAME AND THEIR COMPANY NAME, ALMOST LIKE FREE ADVERTISING, RIGHT, TO INCENTIVIZE THEM TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT YEAH, WE CAN THERE'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN ENCOURAGE THEM TO WORK WITH YOU AND TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND INTO THEIR FACILITIES.

OKAY. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE.

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS CONCERNS? I THINK I ACTUALLY WANTED TO JUST DISCUSS NEXT STEPS.

I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO KIND OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

THANK YOU. SLIDE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND SO JUST THERE ARE SOME THAT WE WILL NOT BE PUTTING FORTH RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU ALL UNTIL WE'RE GETTING INTO OUR NEW FISCAL YEAR, 2526.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A SCHEDULE OF FEES.

SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT RATE MODIFICATIONS, THAT'S WHEN WE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD THAT NEW FEE SCHEDULE FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER.

THAT WILL INCLUDE THOSE NEW ON STREET RATES AND THEN THOSE FINES, THE CITATION FINES.

WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT JULY 1ST.

AND THEN I THINK THE REMAINDER OF THESE FOR IMMEDIATE ROLLOUT WOULD BE PROMOTING DISCOUNTED OFF STREET PARKING FOR SERVICE STAFF. SO STARTING TO WORK WITH OUR RESTAURANT AND RETAIL GROUP.

SO HAVING THIS AS A TOPIC FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF QUARTERLY MEETINGS AND START ROLLING THAT OUT.

THE THE OTHER IS THE SHORT TERM PARKING.

THAT RECOMMENDATION WE WOULD ROLL OUT IMMEDIATELY THE CHURCH STREET ROAD DIET.

WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT PUTTING FORTH A BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 25-26, AND THEN WORKING WITH ONE OF OUR ON CALL ENGINEERS TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO ASSIST US WITH THAT.

AND THEN WITH INCREASING SIGNAGE AND IMPROVING THAT PARKING WEBSITE, WE WOULD BE ROLLING OUT THAT FIRST HALF OF 2025.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS LIKE EXPANDING THE PAID ON STREET PARKING PROGRAM.

RECOMMENDATION NUMBER FOUR.

I THINK THERE WERE THREE, THREE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS.

[01:20:04]

SO IMPLEMENTING TWO HOUR PAID PARKING ON EAST HOWARD AVENUE.

LET ME GO DOWN THERE. BETWEEN MCDONOUGH STREET AND EAST TRINITY.

THAT WOULD BE IMMEDIATE, AND THEN ALSO CONVERTING THE TWO HOUR MAXIMUM TO TWO HOUR PAID PARKING ON CHURCH STREET.

THAT WOULD BE IMMEDIATE.

YOU KNOW, THE HOWARD TO TRINITY, BUT THE ONE THAT THE REASON WE'RE SAYING FUTURE FOR HOWARD TO SYCAMORE IS BECAUSE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE ARE PRESENTLY LOOKING AT THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT ORDINANCE AND REVISING THAT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT ORDINANCE IN PLACE BEFORE WE START IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THESE OTHER PAID PARKING RECOMMENDATIONS, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE THE UNDUE DEMAND ON SOME OF THOSE RESIDENTIAL STREETS THAT ARE NEARBY.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TIMING OF THAT RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT ORDINANCE AND THEN LOOK AT THE TIMING OF SOME OF THESE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR NEXT STEPS FOR THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

OTHER THAN THAT, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? I KNOW WE ARE LIKE, RIGHT AT TIME, TWO MINUTES TO SPARE.

I'LL SEND YOU AN EMAIL.

WE GET MANY EMAILS ABOUT PARKING DAILY.

WELL, HOW ABOUT WE PARK THE DISCUSSION THEN? ALL RIGHT. STARTING EARLY.

YEAH. OKAY.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PARKING DECKS AND LIGHTING AND CAMERAS AND SAFETY.

IS THAT GOING TO BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION OR IS THAT NOT PART OF THIS CONVERSATION? NO, NO. SO THAT IS WITHIN THE TOWN CENTER PLAN 2.0.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS WORKING ON.

AS YOU HEARD TONIGHT, THE MAJORITY OF OUR PARKING DECKS DOWNTOWN ARE PRIVATELY OWNED.

AND SO WE HAVE TO DEVELOP THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.

I MEAN, THANKFULLY, SP+ DOES MANAGE A GOOD NUMBER OF THOSE PARKING DECKS, SO WE WOULD WANT TO WORK WITH THEM TO, YOU KNOW, START ROLLING OUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE IDEAS.

THAT'S IN THE TOWN CENTER PLAN 2.0, AND THEN FINDING WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE THE OTHER PRIVATE OWNERS TO DO THE SAME IN THEIR PARKING DECKS.

AND I BELIEVE IMPROVED LIGHTING IS A PART OF THE COUNTY DECK.

REMODELING AND WHAT? CORRECT. YES. IS GOING ON THERE.

SO TO IMPROVE THAT BAD EXPERIENCES AND NOT THAT THERE CAN BE.

YES. RIGHT, RIGHT.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

APPRECIATE IT. AND WE WILL WE GET THIS ELECTRONICALLY.

SO WE YES YOU WILL. AND IT WILL BE POSTED TO THE WEBSITE TO THOSE TABLES OR MAGNIFYING GLASS.

YEAH EXACTLY.

WHICHEVER IS EASIER.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE TWO MINUTES TO OUR MEETING STARTS.

OKAY.

[I. Call to Order by Mayor]

GOOD EVENING.

I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 2ND.

COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE MINUTES FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THE REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 18TH.

[II. Approval of the Minutes.]

ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES. AYE.

AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

SO I THINK WE HAVE SOME RECOGNITIONS THIS EVENING FOR PARKS AND RECREATION.

[III. Presentations.]

NO. OH.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE SOME YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS.

OH, SORRY.

AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF MY YOUTH OF THE YOUTH COUNCIL TO COME UP AND JUST BRIEFLY STATE THEIR NAMES AND WHERE THEY ATTEND SCHOOL.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CADEN DAYS AND I GO TO DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M A SENIOR.

HELLO, MY NAME IS MCLEAN DRAKE.

I'M A SENIOR AT SAINT PIUS HIGH SCHOOL.

ALL RIGHT. WELCOME. WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

AND NOW, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

HELLO. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

AGAIN. MY NAME IS DOCTOR REMY EPPS.

I AM THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.

AND SO IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

AND I LOVE THE CROWD HERE.

SO TODAY, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS ANNOUNCE SOME OF THE AWARDS THAT PARKS AND RECREATION HAS WON FOR THESE DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS. IT'S WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT I SHARE THAT SOME REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS FROM THE DECATUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, THESE RECENT HONORS, AWARDED AT THE GEORGIA RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL AWARD CEREMONY, EXEMPLIFY OUR CORE GUIDING VALUES OF EQUITY.

[01:25:06]

INTEGRITY, COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION.

THESE HONORS CELEBRATE NOT JUST THE INDIVIDUALS, BUT THE COLLECTIVE STRENGTH OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE MIC OVER TO KRYSTAL DAWSON, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE GEORGIA RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION, TO GIVE OUT THESE AWARDS.

GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR.

AS YOU SAID, MY NAME IS KRYSTAL DAWSON, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR GEORGIA RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME A FEW MOMENTS TONIGHT TO PRESENT THE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD EVENT.

VOLUNTEERISM IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF RECREATION AND PARK SYSTEMS. IT IS THROUGH THE PASSION, DEDICATION AND SELFLESSNESS OF VOLUNTEERS THAT THEY CAN BRING PROGRAMS AND CREATE SPACES THAT ENRICH LIVES, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, AND FOSTER GROWTH. TODAY, WE HONOR TWO SUCH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXEMPLIFIED THE VERY BEST OF WHAT VOLUNTEERISM CAN ACHIEVE.

FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, COACH KYLE PENNINGTON AND COACH JARED BOND HAVE TRANSFORMED THE DECATUR YOUTH BULLDOGS INTO MORE THAN JUST A FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

THEY'VE BUILT A COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR LEADERSHIP.

THEY'VE INSPIRED YOUNG ATHLETES TO EMBODY THE VALUES LIKE DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK AND RESILIENCE, SHAPING THEM INTO LEADERS BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SETS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN WE INVEST IN OUR FUTURE.

IT'S MY DISTINCT HONOR TO PRESENT THE GEORGIA RECREATION, GEORGIA RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER AWARD TO COACHES KYLE PENNINGTON AND JARED BOND.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THEM ON THIS WELL DESERVED RECOGNITION.

[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS. SO, WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AS VOLUNTEERS.

THANK YOU.

DO THEY GET TO SAY SOMETHING? OKAY. AS YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY HEARD, EARLIER THIS YEAR AT OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE, ANOTHER VERY PRESTIGIOUS AWARD WAS HANDED OUT. GREG WHITE, A FORMER GRP PRESIDENT, THE DISTRICT SIX COMMISSIONER THAT BROUGHT BACK DISTRICT SIX FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION.

SPENT 30 YEARS IN DECATUR, IN WHICH HE BUILT A SKATE PARK, MERGED DEPARTMENTS, AND IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, IS ONE OF THOSE BIG THINGS THAT MAKES EVERYTHING GREATER IN DECATUR. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I DON'T KNOW GREG WHITE EXTRAORDINARILY WELL.

PEOPLE KNOW HIM BETTER IN THIS ROOM THAN I DO.

BUT HE'S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU HOPE COMES AND ENGAGES WITH YOU IN CONVERSATION.

HE'S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL SEEN THAT HE LISTENS AND DOESN'T JUST HEAR YOU.

ONE OF THE MOST SINCERE PEOPLE I'VE EVER HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING IN MY PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIFE.

SO PLEASE, ONCE AGAIN JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING GREG WHITE ON WINNING OR BEING INDUCTED.

HE DIDN'T WIN AND WAS INDUCTED INTO THE GRPA HALL OF FAME.

WOO WOO. WOO WOO.

SPEECH. SPEECH.

PHOTO.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, MR. WHITE. WELL, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

MAYOR, COMMISSIONER, CITY MANAGER, THOSE OUT THERE ON THE VIRTUAL WORLD, THOSE BEHIND ME.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SAY TO MY FAMILY WHO IS HERE? MY WIFE, JANICE, PLEASE STAND.

MY SON NOAH, STAND.

GORDON, THE SECOND CHILD, JEWEL.

AND WHEN I HAVE A HOST OF CLASSMATES HERE, WHERE'S MIKE HICKMAN AND MY TEAM? FRONT ROW. BUT I WANT THE RECREATION TEAM MEMBERS TO COME FORWARD.

BEFORE I SAY A FEW WORDS, Y'ALL COME FORWARD BECAUSE I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT THEM.

SO ANYBODY PARKS AND REC BOARD MEMBERS, COME ON UP, ADAM.

[01:30:01]

I SEE SOME GOOD FRIENDS IN THE BACK.

MARKIEFF AND LISA.

Y'ALL GOT TO COME ON.

LET'S BALANCE IT OUT.

WELL FIRST I WOULD JUST WANT TO SAY I'M STILL LOOKING TO TAKE THIS PICTURE OF SARAH HOLMES GETTING THE AWARD.

THAT'S HOW THEY PRESENTED THIS TO ME, THAT I WAS GOING TO COLUMBUS TO TAKE PICTURE OF SARAH.

SO I'M PREPARED TO TAKE A PICTURE, THE NEXT THING I KNOW IS LIKE HALL OF FAME AWARD.

I'M NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT A HALL OF FAME, JUST TRYING TO SHOW UP FOR DECATUR THE BEST WAY I CAN FOR 30 YEARS.

AND NEXT THING I KNOW, MY FAMILY SHOWS UP AND KIM PULL UP AND AH NANCY.

IT'S A WHOLE TEAM OF PEOPLE IN COLUMBUS.

I'M LIKE, HOW DID Y'ALL GET HERE? I GOT FRIENDS FROM OHIO, BUT I WAS JUST SAYING JUST AN HONOR, FOR ONE, I WANT TO SAY TO THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS AND ANDREW, ALLOW ME TO SERVE IN GRPA.

WE TOOK IT, ALL OF US TAKE IT SERIOUS.

YOU SEE PEOPLE THAT STANDING HERE, REMY NEW TO OUR STATE.

BUT I KNOW SHE TAKES IT SERIOUS, BUT SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

BUT I COULDN'T HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WITHOUT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE STANDING BEHIND ME AND BOARD MEMBERS NEW IDEAS.

AND I WAS LIKE, GREG, WHAT YOU GOT? SHE SAID, I KNOW YOU GOT SOMETHING THAT'S FAR OUT THERE AND CHALLENGE YOU HOW MUCH AND HOW MUCH IS GOING TO COST.

I SAID, I DON'T KNOW, BUT TO HAVE THAT RAPPORT, AND I THINK OVER THE YEARS THAT ALLOWED US TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND I ALWAYS SAY, YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH YOU TO THIS DECATUR COMMUNITY.

I JUST SAY, I KNOW JACK IS OUT THERE.

JACK AND I WERE BOTH WALKING IN POISON IVY YEARS AGO BEFORE LEGACY.

PAUL EVEN YOU SEE LEGACY NOW.

BUT IT WAS JACK, IT WAS MARY, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND JUST ALL OF US TRYING TO FIGURE THIS THING OUT.

BUT I SAY TO OUR CITY, WE GOOD AS A CITY.

BUT I TELL SOMEBODY, WE DO THINGS DIFFERENT.

WE DON'T TRY TO BE WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING.

I THINK IT'S OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT AND DO THINGS.

AND I ALWAYS SAY IT'S GOOD TO HAVE NOT BOX TYPE THINKING IN, TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX AND TO BE THE FIRST TO TRY SOMETHING.

AND WE TRIED A LOT OF FIRSTS IN THIS CITY.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE CITY IS NOW, YOU LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT'S REPRESENTED HERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE HAVE TRIED SOME THINGS.

I SEE DAVID HARBOR IN OUT THERE.

ONE OF MY KIDS. BUT TO SEE SOMEBODY WHO WAS A CHILD WHEN I FIRST CAME IN THE CITY, HE WAS TEN.

BUT NOW HE'S AN ATHLETIC ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT.

AND I WOULD JUST SAY TO OUR EBSTER COMMUNITY TO SEE WHAT I SAW WAS A GREAT HISTORY OF EBSTER TO SEE WHAT WE HAD HERE IN 94 AND TO SEE IT NOW.

IT JUST BLOWS MY MIND.

I'M JUST SO THANKFUL FOR THOSE PEOPLE LIKE DEACON EBSTER, THE PEOPLE WE STAND ON SHOULDERS LIKE THAT.

SO TO ALL OF YOU ALL, I WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME.

I KNOW YOU GOT BUSINESS, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT.

AND TO MY FRIENDS THAT HAVE SHOWED UP HERE, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO ME IS A FRIEND.

AND REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU LOOK, WHAT COLOR YOU ARE, YOU'RE ALL MY FRIENDS.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CATER FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS AND SOME KIND OF WAY.

I GOT TO THE HALL OF FAME, I WASN'T THINKING.

WELL DESERVED. I WANT A PICTURE WITH YOU.

OKAY? ME OR THE WHOLE TEAM, IF I COULD.

OKAY. YOU'RE HERE? IF YOU INSIST.

I WAS ABOUT TO PUT ON MY FUZZY SOCKS, BUT SOMETHING TOLD ME.

JUST WAIT A MINUTE. LET'S SEE.

LET'S BALANCE IT OUT.

ONE LAST OKAY HONOREE HERE OR AWARDEE HERE.

AND THAT IS TO KIM WATLEY, WHO RECEIVED THE DISTRICT SIX MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS NETWORK AWARD FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL WORK IN ENSURING OUR PARKS AND FACILITIES ARE SAFE, WELCOMING AND WELL-MAINTAINED.

HER DEDICATION STRENGTHENS OUR MISSION TO CREATE SPACES THAT CONNECT PEOPLE AND ENRICH LIVES.

SO THIS GOES TO KIM.

THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DESERVED AND THANKS TO ALL OF THE AWARD WINNERS.

WINNERS FOR WHAT YOU DO AND CONTINUE TO DO IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

SO NEXT WE WILL LOOK AT AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE.

SO WE'LL JUST MOVE RIGHT INTO IT.

SO THERE'S REALLY NO THERE'S NO GOOD WAY TO SEGWAY.

SEGWAY FOR THIS, RIGHT? SO MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU AN APPLICATION FOR AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR A NEW BUSINESS.

[IV. Alcoholic Beverage License.]

[01:35:07]

THE APPLICANT IS JUSTIN TRIPLETT.

AND THE NAME OF THE BUSINESS NBC TACO DECATUR DOING BUSINESS AS RUSTY TACO.

YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE LOCATION.

875 COMMERCE DRIVE, WHICH IS IN THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE MADEIRA DECATUR COMPLEX.

AND THE LICENSE THAT HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR IS BEER, WINE SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS CONSUMPTION ON PREMISES.

AND THE MEMO DOES REFERENCE OUTDOOR SEATING PLAN.

AND THE BY THE WAY, THE AGENDA HAS BEEN UPDATED TO SHOW THAT OUTDOOR SEATING PLAN.

IT WASN'T IN THE PACKAGE THAT YOU RECEIVED OVER THE WEEKEND, AND ALL THE BACKGROUND CHECK HAS BEEN PASSED.

FEES HAVE BEEN PAID, SO WE DO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS APPLICATION AND THE ISSUANCE OF THE ABL.

SO ON THE PLAN IT HAS SOME OF THE TABLES CROSSED OUT.

IS THAT RIGHT? THE THAT WAS AN EARLY PLAN.

AND THEN THERE'S JUST THE THREE TABLE TOPS FOR THEIR FOUR TOPS WITH THE TACOS ON THEM.

OKAY. THOSE ARE, THOSE WERE THE ONES.

AND I DON'T SEE OTHER TABLES OUTSIDE.

THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN XED OUT.

DON'T HAVE TACOS ON THEM.

SO THERE WILL BE NO PLACE, NO TACOS AT THOSE LOCATIONS? YEAH, JUST THE THREE FOUR TOPS.

THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT.

OKAY. FOR THE EXTERIOR OR OUTDOOR SEATING.

OUTDOOR SEATING. OKAY.

THANK YOU. ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MOVE. APPROVAL. BASED ON THE NEW INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED TODAY, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND MOTION'S BEEN MADE AND SECONDED FOR APPROVAL OF AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES.

IS THERE THERE'S A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES? AYE. AND THE LICENSE, AS WELL AS THE TABLE PLAN ARE APPROVED.

SO THANK YOU.

NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. WE HAVE SEVERAL AGENDA ACTION ITEMS THIS EVENING.

THE FIRST IS CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE DEKALB HISTORY CENTER.

THE WILDE CENTER, GLOBAL GROWERS AND THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE.

THE SECOND IS EASEMENTS FOR THE SOUTH HOUSING VILLAGE.

THE THIRD IS RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING CIVILITY PLEDGE.

THE FOURTH IS THE LEGACY PARK TRACK AND FIELD AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR, THE OR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, CITY OF DECATUR, AND THEN ALSO THE PFA.

AND THEN THE FINAL ONE IS THE DOWNTOWN DECATUR CANOPY MANAGEMENT AND RESILIENCE PLAN.

SO AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN THE MEETING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. WE'LL INVITE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE IN OUR MEETING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ANY OF THOSE ITEMS, PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR COMMENTS FROM THOSE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING ONLINE.

SO THERE'S ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ANY OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. PLEASE FEEL FREE.

COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

SEEING NONE IN THE ROOM, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US ONLINE.

IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT ANY AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND.

WE WILL RECOGNIZE YOU AND ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

WE'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO SEE IF WE SEE ANY HANDS RAISED.

I CAN'T SEE MISS ROARK, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY.

SO WE WILL TAKE COMMENT ON OTHER ITEMS DURING REQUEST AND PETITIONS.

SO WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR AGENDA ACTION ITEM A.

[A. Contracts for Services.]

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU HERE FOR CONTRACTS WITH SERVICES WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS.

AND THESE ARE CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES WITH EACH OF THESE NONPROFITS WHERE THEY ARE PROVIDING SERVICES AT THE REQUEST

[01:40:06]

OF THE CITY.

AND I RECOMMEND THAT WE JUST TAKE EACH ONE OF THESE ONE BY ONE AND ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THAT THERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM, I BELIEVE, 3 3 1234.

YEAH. 3 OR 4 RIGHT.

WHO AM I MISSING? OH WELL, SENATOR.

OKAY. JENNIFER.

OKAY. SO SORRY.

SO, WE'VE GOT THREE OF THE FOUR FOLKS HERE, SO I JUST WANT TO START WITH THE DEKALB HISTORY CENTER THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000, AND THAT'S FOR CAPITAL, EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE NEEDS FOR THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE ON THE SQUARE AND AS WELL AS THE HISTORIC COMPLEX OVER AT WEST TRINITY PLACE.

SOME PEOPLE MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THAT THE CITY OWNS THE HISTORIC COMPLEX ON WEST TRINITY PLACE, AND WE DO RELY ON THE HISTORY CENTER TO PERFORM ANNUAL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS ON THE PROPERTY.

AND THE COURTHOUSE ON THE SQUARE AND THE HISTORIC COMPLEX ARE USED, MAINTAINED, OPERATED BY THE DEKALB HISTORY CENTER FOR PURPOSES OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND THE PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES.

ALSO, THE CITY OCCASIONALLY USES THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS AT NO CHARGE TO THE CITY AND MELISSA CARLSON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HISTORY CENTER, IS HERE TONIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE HER COME FORWARD AND JUST SAY A FEW WORDS.

AND AS SHE'S COMING UP, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE AND VALUE OF JUST HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO MEET THE AMAZING DIRECTORS AND LEADERS OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

AND I THINK THEY JUST HAPPEN TO BE ALL WOMEN THAT ARE RUNNING THESE AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS.

BUT JUST REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THE ORGANIZATIONS AND TO SHOWCASE THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE.

AS I SAID, THEY'RE ALL PROVIDING VERY UNIQUE SERVICES TO OUR TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE, THAT WE OTHERWISE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING OURSELVES OR LOOKING TO SOMEONE ELSE TO PROVIDE.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MISS CARLSON.

GOOD EVENING.

SO NICE TO SEE YOU, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.

ANDREA, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

I'M COMING TO YOU AGAIN.

I ENJOY THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US AND TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW IT.

SOMETIMES IT GETS LOST IN THE SAUCE, BUT THE DEKALB HISTORY CENTER HAS BEEN IN DECATUR FOR 78 YEARS.

I'VE ONLY BEEN THERE FOR 17 OF THOSE.

SO DON'T.

NOT QUITE GREG WHITE AWARD WORTHY YET BUT MIGHT BE WORKING ON IT.

AND YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR WE START, WE HEAD UP THE TOP OF THE YEAR WITH A GREAT BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION.

WE ARE DOING THAT FOR THE 17TH TIME IN 2025.

THAT WILL BE LOVE LETTERS FROM THE CARIBBEAN.

SO TALKING ABOUT THAT DIASPORA IN DEKALB COUNTY LAST YEAR, WE HAD A REALLY WELL-INTENDED ONE FOR A TRIBUTE TO BLACK HISTORY IN DEKALB. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE ALWAYS ENJOY SEEING CITY STAFF AND SOMETIMES COMMISSIONERS.

WE STILL ARE LEADING WALKING TOURS, DOWNTOWN DECATUR ARCHITECTURE, WALKING TOURS, BRINGING HUNDREDS OF FOLKS THROUGH, LOOKING AT HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR IN THE SUMMERS.

SO THAT IS REALLY POPULAR.

AND ANDREA MENTIONED THE HISTORIC COMPLEX ON TRINITY.

WE DID A LOT OF WORK LAST YEAR.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT.

THIS YEAR WE HAD FIVE DAYS OF HISTORY QUEST AND HAD ALL 404TH GRADERS FROM DECATUR CITY SCHOOLS COME TO THAT.

AND THAT'S JUST A REALLY REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE WHERE THEY COME AND MEET ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT HISTORIC CHARACTERS WITH ACTORS PORTRAYING THOSE, SO IT'S A REALLY GOOD USE OF THAT FACILITY.

AND THEN I THINK I SAW A FEW OF YOU AT OUR MOST RECENT EXHIBIT OPENING.

EXHIBITS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE THEY GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE NEW INFORMATION AND BRING IN NEW VISITORS ALWAYS.

YOU KNOW, WE GET A LOT OF TOURISTS AND THEY'RE COMING TO US.

AND THEN ALSO SOMETHING THAT ROTATES FOR VISITORS TO SEE.

SO WE JUST OPENED LIPSTICK AND FIRE, WHICH PORTRAYS WOMEN FROM ALL AROUND DEKALB COUNTY, SEVERAL REALLY IMPORTANT AND OR

[01:45:04]

LESSER KNOWN DECATUR WOMEN.

BUT THAT OPENED TO GREAT ACCLAIM.

SO WE'RE WE LOVE BEING IN DOWNTOWN.

WE LOVE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE, HAVING THIS SMALL PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY JUST IN TERMS OF LIKE OFFERING STORAGE IN THE BASEMENT OR.

I MEAN, THAT'S SMALL, BUT IT'S STORAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY AND WORKING WITH YOU COOPERATIVELY ON FESTIVALS.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION.

I WON'T TAKE ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

THE HISTORY CENTER DOES A GREAT JOB WITH THEIR EXHIBITS AND THEIR PROGRAMS, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU ALL IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR.

SO AND I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME SEE THE EXHIBITS BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS YOU MAY REALLY WON'T SEE ANYWHERE ELSE.

AND SO AND I REALLY LOVED I THINK IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

THE HISTORY OF LIKE FOOD AND YEAH, RECOGNIZING SOME OF THE, THE, YOU KNOW, CHEFS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FOOD CULTURE AND THE CAB AND THE FOOD AND THE ENTERTAINMENT IS ALWAYS SO FUN AND AMAZING.

SO THANK YOU BUT THANK YOU.

IF I COULD QUICKLY MENTION I DID GET TO SEE LIPSTICK AND FIRE, WHICH WAS STUPENDOUS, AND I TOOK PICTURES OF THINGS THAT RESONATED WITH ME AND DREW MY ATTENTION.

AND THEN WITHIN, WITHIN A WEEK, I WAS AT AN EVENT WITH PRESIDENT LESA AT AGNES SCOTT AND WAS SHOWING HER ON MY PHONE AND SHE SAID, TEXT ME THOSE, BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE FEATURED, THE WOMEN FEATURED HAD GONE TO AGNES SCOTT.

YEAH. AND SO IT WAS FUN TO DRAW THAT CONNECTION RIGHT HERE WITHIN OUR CITY AND JUST FEEL EVEN MORE PROUD.

BUT IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXHIBIT.

GREAT. IT IS A WONDERFUL EXHIBIT.

THANK YOU. GREAT.

I HOPE THE REST OF YOU COME SEE IT.

AND YOU GUYS ALL COME SEE IT TOO.

THANK YOU.

OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE DEKALB HISTORY CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES. AYE.

AND THE MOTION IS APPROVED.

ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT RECOMMENDATION IS TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE WYLDE CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000.

AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JENNIFER GERHARDT, IS UNDER THE WEATHER, SO SHE'S NOT ABLE TO BE HERE.

BUT SHE DID SEND ME A STATEMENT TO READ, IF I MAY, ON HER BEHALF.

AND SO SHE WROTE DEAR CITY COMMISSIONERS, I'M SORRY NOT TO BE WITH YOU IN PERSON TO DELIVER THIS MESSAGE.

I HOPE THAT I CAN CONVEY MY ENTHUSIASM FOR WYLDE CENTER'S BRIGHT FUTURE THROUGH THIS MEANS.

2024 WAS DEFINITELY A TIME OF GREAT CHALLENGE AT WYLDE CENTER, BUT WE NEVER LOST TOUCH WITH OUR ROOTS AND DESIRE TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO NATURE THROUGH OUR GORGEOUS GREEN SPACES AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE SAW OUR LARGEST SPRING PLANT FESTIVAL TO DATE IN APRIL, SIGNIFICANT FOR US BECAUSE THE 80,000 PLANTS WE GROW ANNUALLY ARE EITHER SOLD TO FUNDRAISE FOR OUR FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN DECATUR AND ATLANTA, OR ARE GIVEN AND SOLD AT A DEEP DISCOUNT TO OTHER SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH US TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

ADDITIONALLY, SUGARCREEK GARDEN THAT WE MANAGE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY HAS SEEN A BEAUTIFUL MAKEOVER THIS YEAR.

INVASIVES HAVE BEEN REMOVED, TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED, AND A STAGE HAS BEEN BUILT.

THIS GARDEN IS REALLY TAKING SHAPE AND HAS BECOME A GREAT LOCATION FOR SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS AND OTHER WILD CENTER EVENTS.

MOREOVER, WYLDE CENTER HAS EXPANDED AND STRENGTHENED OUR REACH IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EVEN MORE PARTNERSHIPS THAT STAND TOGETHER WITH OUR MISSION AND FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY AND CONSERVATION.

THIS LIST IS A BIT LONG FOR TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION, HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO.

MENTION THAT AMONG ALL OF OUR WINS THIS YEAR, THE RELATIONSHIPS STEMMING FROM HOUSING OUR ADMIN TEAM AT LEGACY PARK HAVE BEEN VERY FRUITFUL.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2025, THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENT IS THE REOPENING OF OUR OAKHURST GARDEN AFTER NINE MONTHS OF RENOVATIONS.

THE BUILDING AND THE GARDEN LOOK AMAZING.

THIS IS SUCH A MOMENT FOR US AS AN ORGANIZATION.

WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER OR MORE PROUD OF THE COMMUNITY FOR BRINGING US THIS FAR.

WITH THE RENOVATIONS COMPLETE, WE CAN NOW IMPLEMENT MORE ROBUST PROGRAMING FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

[01:50:06]

FIELD TRIPS WILL NOT ONLY RESUME BUT INCREASE.

CAMPS WILL RETURN AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE INTRODUCED AFTER A SOFT RELAUNCH IN 2024, WE ARE BRINGING BACK GARDENING CLASSES FOR ADULTS IN A NEW GARDEN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM THAT FORTIFIES THAT COMMUNITY CONNECTION.

STAY TUNED.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS WILL BE FRESH PROGRAMING AT DHS IN THE SENIORS AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMING.

MORE FREE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH BIRDS GEORGIA AND TREES ATLANTA AND A CAREER WORKSHOP FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN GREEN INDUSTRY JOBS.

ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER OUR NATURE THEMED STORY TIME FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN AND EXPLORE INTENTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE OLDER STUDENTS.

WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT IN 2025, EVERYONE KNOWS THEY HAVE A PLACE AT WYLDE CENTER.

DECATUR'S LONG STANDING SUPPORT OF WYLDE CENTER IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

WE HOPE THAT THIS LEVEL OF SUPPORT CAN BE CONTINUED AS WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE IMPORTANT SERVICES TO DECATUR RESIDENTS AND BEYOND.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE A TOUR OF THE OAKHURST BUILDING.

THANK YOU. I DO THINK WE'LL NEED TO TAKE HER UP ON THE OFFER FOR THE TOUR.

MARK SESSION, OR WE'LL HAVE A WORK SESSION AT THE PROPERTY.

SO SHE COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER THAN ME.

BUT JUST ALSO WANT TO REITERATE THAT THE CITY.

THE CITY OWNS GREEN SPACES.

AT OAKHURST GARDEN AT THIRD AVENUE, SUGAR CREEK GARDEN.

MADISON AVENUE, HAWK HOLLOW, AND THOSE ARE ALL MANAGED AND MAINTAINED BY THE WYLDE CENTER AND THE WYLDE CENTER.

THE INVESTMENT FROM THEIR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN WAS $1.3 MILLION IN THE OAKHURST GARDEN, INCLUDING LARGER INDOOR CLASSROOM, ADDITIONAL RESTROOMS, TEACHING, CATERING KITCHEN.

YOU KNOW, AND NOW WITH ALL OF THOSE AMENITIES THAT THEY CAN HAVE, THE FIELD TRIPS AND THE LARGER, THE LARGER PROGRAMING THEY'VE DONE A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS WITH STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE USING GREEN, GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND WITH THAT, I JUST I HATE THAT MISS GERT COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT CERTAINLY WE'LL MAKE THE EFFORT TO GO TO HER AND GET THE TOUR OF THE FACILITY.

SO WITH THAT, I DO RECOMMEND THE CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE WYLDE CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF 20,000, I THINK, WHILE CENTER VOLUNTEERS ALSO HELP TAKE CARE OF THAT MISS JACKSON'S GARDEN, THE LITTLE LIKE MEDIAN GREEN SPACE AREA CLOSE TO FAYE.

SO I THINK THEIR VOLUNTEERS HAVE TAKEN OVER THAT AS WELL.

THAT WAS NAMED FOR MISS LOUISE JACKSON.

SO ARE THERE FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE WYLDE CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES. AYE.

SO NEXT, THE GLOBAL GROWERS NETWORK.

GROWERS. YES.

SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE GLOBAL GROWERS NETWORK IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000.

AND THAT IS FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS COSTS FOR THE DECATUR KITCHEN GARDEN AT LEGACY, AS WELL AS THE ORCHARD AT LEGACY.

AND JUST KIND OF AS A REMINDER TO FOLKS THAT GLOBAL GROWERS THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE FULFILLMENT OF THE VISION THAT THAT THE CITY COMMISSION BACK IN 2011 HAD FOR THIS PROPERTY TO HAVE AN URBAN GARDEN AT, AT LEGACY. AND THAT WAS EVEN BEFORE THE CITY OWNED THE PROPERTY.

AND THAT WAS WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOME.

AND SO THIS GARDEN DOES PROVIDE IT PROVIDES ACCESS TO, TO FRESH AND HEALTHY FOOD TO LOW INCOME REFUGEE FAMILIES. THE GARDEN IS ALSO USED BY CITY OF DECATUR RESIDENTS FOR GARDEN BASED EDUCATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PRACTICES, AND THEN THE RENOVATED COMMERCIAL KITCHEN ON THE PROPERTY AT LEGACY DOES ALLOW GLOBAL GROWERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THE DECATUR COMMUNITY COOKING AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMS. AND AS I SAID, THAT GLOBAL GROWERS ALSO MAINTAINS THE ORCHARD THAT WAS PLANTED BY MEMBERS OF THE YOUTH COUNCIL BACK IN 2019.

[01:55:08]

AND SUSAN PAVLIN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IS HERE AND I'LL ASK HER TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE HERSELF AND SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT GLOBAL GROWERS.

HELLO. GOOD EVENING.

MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS.

ANDREA. THANK YOU.

I'M THE CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE RETURNING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO GLOBAL GROWERS.

AND YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR WILL BE OUR 15TH YEAR OF OPERATION, WHICH IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE.

WHEN WE BROKE GROUND IN 2010, AT THAT TIME, IT WAS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT WAS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

BUT IT WAS REALLY MEANT TO BE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE GROWERS WHO HAD COME TO THE UNITED STATES AND TO DECATUR AND THE SURROUNDING AREA FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO START NEW LIVES HERE.

AND I AM I'M SO THRILLED THAT OUR HOME NOW IS AT LEGACY PARK IN DECATUR, BECAUSE WE'VE GROWN THAT NETWORK TO OVER 200 GROWERS FROM ALL THESE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD, AS WELL AS MANY AMERICAN FOLKS AS WELL, AND AMERICAN BORN AND RAISED FOLKS AS WELL.

AND THERE COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE A BETTER PLACE TO BE THAN HERE IN DECATUR.

THE EMPHASIS IN OUR COMMUNITY ON THE DIVERSITY AND THE CULTURES THAT COME TOGETHER AT LEGACY PARK, AT DECATUR'S KITCHEN GARDEN IS SO INCREDIBLE. SO IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SAVED IN FOOD EXPENSES AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT PRODUCE AND GOSH, THIS YEAR WE HAD OVER 600 VISITORS TO OUR COLLECTIVE GARDENS, MOST OF THEM AT THE CITY OF DECATUR, INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES.

THE FOLKS FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE CAME OUT AND SPENT A DAY AT LEGACY PARK.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY CONNECTION FOR US.

AND JUST ONE MORE THING.

I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE HISTORY CENTER, BECAUSE WE ALSO HAD A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS PART OF OUR LOCAL FOOD LOCAL FOOD LEADERSHIP APPRENTICE PROGRAM WHO WORKED ON A STORYTELLING PROJECT WHERE SHE RESEARCHED THE HISTORY OF LEGACY PARK AND THE LAND THAT AND THE OWNERSHIP AND THE EXPERIENCES THERE ON THE LAND THAT CAME BEFORE US, SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THAT UP AND HIGHLIGHT THAT, AND DID SOME GREAT RESEARCH AT THE HISTORY CENTER, AT THE HISTORY THE HISTORY CENTER.

AND WE HOPE TO BE WORKING WITH LEGACY PARK AND THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE THE RESULTS OF THAT AS WE GO INTO 2025.

SO I KNOW THERE'S MUCH MORE I COULD SAY, BUT I'LL STOP.

WE HAVE AN EVENT THAT YOU'RE PLANNING.

OH MY GOODNESS.

THANK YOU. LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR ALSO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN APRIL.

APRIL 19TH ACTUALLY OF 2025, WE WILL BE HOSTING ONCE AGAIN A MEANINGFUL FEAST WHICH PREVIOUSLY HAD TAKEN PLACE IN THE CEMETERY. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'RE NOW GOING TO BE HOSTING IT AT LEGACY PARK, WHERE EXPANDING THE EVENT A LITTLE BIT.

WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 15TH YEAR AND HONORING THE CO-FOUNDING FARMERS OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE HOSTING SEVERAL OF THE MOST WONDERFUL RESTAURATEURS AND CHEFS THAT ARE HERE IN THE DECATUR COMMUNITY, WITH TERRY KOVAL BEING THE EXECUTIVE CHEF OF THE EVENT AND ABOUT 20 OTHERS JOINING IN AS CHEFS AND MIXOLOGISTS.

SO WE HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL BE THERE.

AND WE KNOW WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE THE MAYOR, OF COURSE, AS OUR HONORARY CHAIR OF THE EVENT.

SO YES, WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, MISS EVELYN OR MISS ARNOLD.

APPRECIATE THE LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP.

AND I THINK AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT SPACE ACTIVATED, I THINK THEY'LL BRING EVEN MORE PEOPLE TO COME IN AND SEE THE GARDEN AND LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT CULTURES AND DIFFERENT FOODS AND INTEGRATE THAT PORTION EVEN MORE INTO THE LEGACY PARK FAMILY, SO TO SPEAK.

SO. ALL RIGHT.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH GLOBAL CLAW GLOBAL GROWERS NETWORK IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000? DOLLARS.

I MOVED TO SECOND AND SECONDED.

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

[02:00:02]

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

AND NOW, I BELIEVE THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE.

AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IS THE CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 FOR SUPPORTING SERVICES, INCLUDING THE WORK THAT THE ARTS ALLIANCE DOES WITH PUBLIC ART, COMMUNITY EVENTS, EXHIBITS AND JUST BEING OUR PARTNER AS WE IMPLEMENT ANY NUMBER OF PLANS, THE 2020 STRATEGIC PLAN, THE ARTS MASTER PLAN AND MOST RECENTLY, THE DECATUR TOWN CENTER 2.0 PLAN.

THERE WAS A THE LETTER FROM THE CHAIR OF THE ARTS ALLIANCE BOARD, ALAN DISHMAN, THAT ALSO WENT INTO SOME DETAIL BUT JUST HIGHLIGHTING, YOU KNOW, THE LARGE SCALE MURALS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY EVEN PUT UP IN THE PAST YEAR.

OF COURSE.

THE SUPPORT FROM THE ARTS ALLIANCE WITH THE JOHN LEWIS MEMORIAL, THE DECATUR ART WAY, OF COURSE.

OAKHURST PORCHFEST A CROWD FAVORITE.

THE CREATIVE VILLAGE AT LEGACY PARK.

AND AGAIN, THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PROJECTS.

THAT HAVE BEEN SPEARHEADED BY THE ARTS ALLIANCE.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE ARTS ALLIANCE IN JAMAICA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS ANGIE MAKIN.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARTS ALLIANCE.

AND THANK YOU THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED EVERYTHING I'M GOING TO COVER.

WE JUST CONTINUE TO TRY TO ENRICH DECATUR'S PUBLIC SPACES THROUGH OUR CREATIVE PLACEMAKING, PUBLIC ART AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROGRAMING.

AND BY FOSTERING PARTNERSHIPS WE RELY ON HEAVILY TO ENGAGE LOCAL ARTISTS.

WE TRY TO MAKE THE CITY MORE VIBRANT, WELCOMING AND ECONOMICALLY DYNAMIC.

AND JUST TO COVER SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU JUST SPOKE OF.

ONE THING THAT WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF AT THE COMPLETED IN 2024, WAS THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AT SAM'S CROSSING, WHERE WE INSTALLED WHERE THE DEVELOPMENT, THAT AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD, THAT THE ARTS ALLIANCE WAS THE ONE THAT MANAGED THE PROGRAM.

AND WE INSTALLED THREE LARGE SCALE SCULPTURES BY SUN JUN LIM, DOUG KORNFELD AND HARRY MCDANIEL AT THE SAM'S CROSSING SHOPPING CENTER.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO START HIGHLIGHTING PUBLIC ART ON THE EASTERN PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THE DECATUR ARTS FESTIVAL IS OUR 34TH YEAR.

IN 2024.

WE ANNUALLY BRING IN ABOUT 60,000 PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN DECATUR FOR THAT EVENT.

THIS YEAR, WE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A CHILDREN'S BOOK COMPONENT, MAKE WITH A PARTNERSHIP WITH LITTLE SHOP OF STORIES, BECAUSE WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT DECATUR IS DEDICATED TO ART AND READING AND MAINTAINING ITS LONGEST WE HAVE.

THAT'S THE LONGEST RUNNING FESTIVAL IN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND ONE OF THE LARGEST, LONGEST RUNNING ARTS FESTIVAL IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA AREA.

WE CONTINUE TO DO COMMUNITY EXHIBITIONS AT THE OUR HOME RIGHT NOW, THE DECATUR VISITOR CENTER.

THIS YEAR, PLACITA LATINA HOSTED 20 ARTISTS AND ATTRACTED OVER 300 ATTENDEES FROM METRO ATLANTA AND BEYOND.

AND THE VISITOR CENTER HAS REALLY EMERGED AS A PLACE FOR EMERGING ARTISTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR WORK.

WE WERE SO FORTUNATE TO BE A PART OF THE JOHN LEWIS COMMITTEE, AND IT WAS A HUGE IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR THE ARTS ALLIANCE, AND WE'RE SO GLAD THAT WE COULD LEND ANY KIND OF EXPERTISE THAT WE HAD IN THE SELECTION OF BASIL WATSON TO CREATE SUCH A LANDMARK PIECE OF WORK FOR THE CITY. WE CONTINUE TO RELY AGAIN ON PARTNERSHIPS.

WE PARTNER WITH THE GEORGIA CENTER FOR THE BOOK, DEKALB LIBRARY FOUNDATION, DEKALB PUBLIC LIBRARY, DECATUR BRANCH TO PRESENT THE BOOK AS ART.

THIS IS OUR FOURTH, OUR 10TH YEAR.

THE BOOK IS ART, AND IT IS A NATIONAL EXHIBITION THAT HAS GROWN THAT WE IS PART OF OUR COMPLEMENT TO THE DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL. SO IT OPENS IN EARLY SEPTEMBER AND GOES THROUGH OCTOBER.

AND WE AGAIN, WE'D LIKE TO SOLIDIFY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ART AND LITERATURE.

GOING BACK TO THE MURAL, I INVITE EVERYONE TO SEE THE MURAL THAT WAS COMPLETED ON THE MARTA PLAZA ON THE CHURCH STREET SIDE.

THE ARTIST WAS ANGIE JUAREZ, AND AGAIN THROUGH IT WAS THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH MARTA ARTBOUND, THE CITY OF DECATUR, DECATUR TOURISM BUREAU, THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE, AND PRIVATE DONORS THAT WE COULD GET THIS THING COMPLETED.

AND IT REALLY UNDERSCORES THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP THAT MAKES THIS CITY SO VIBRANT.

PORCHFEST. WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

WE CELEBRATED OUR 10TH YEAR AND IT IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST VOLUNTEER LED, COMMUNITY BASED MUSIC FESTIVAL.

WE PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE EVENT, ENSURING THAT THE FESTIVAL CAN STAY COMMUNITY

[02:05:06]

DRIVEN AND FREE OF CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP, BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW THE WHOLE EVENT FEELS IF IT IF WE DID HAVE TO RELY ON CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THAT SPECIAL DAY IN OAKHURST.

ALSO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE DECATUR ART WAY THROUGH THE LEASE FUNDING FOR THE THE ART THAT WE CONTINUALLY ARE ABLE TO INSTALL TEMPORARY WORKS AROUND THE CITY, MAKING IT TRANSFORMING OUR PUBLIC SPACES AND FOSTERING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THOSE IN THOSE SPACES.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT OUR OPENING AT THE CREATIVE VILLAGE AND LEGACY PARK.

THE HYATT COTTAGE HAS SEVEN ARTISTS STUDIOS, AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW SPACE THAT WE'VE CONVERTED SO WE CAN HAVE MORE GALLERY SPACES TO SHOWCASE LOCAL ARTISTS AND ALIGN WITH THE GOALS AT THE LEGACY PARK MASTER PLAN AND TOMORROW NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

THIS IS NOT IN THE INFORMATION THAT I GAVE YOU.

WE HAVE TWO SOLD OUT SHOWS AT THE CHAPEL ON SYCAMORE BY BREAD AND PUPPET, THE LARGEST POLITICAL PUPPET SHOW GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES. AND WE'RE SO EXCITED THAT WE SOLD OUT TWO SHOWS AT THE CHAPEL ON SYCAMORE.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THE ARTS ALLIANCE, YOUR SUPPORT AND HELPING US BE AND ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF THE DIFFERENT STRATEGIC PLANS THAT THE CITY HAS GOING ON.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'LL JUST ADD THAT GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE DOESN'T NORMALLY GIVE ME JOY, BUT WHEN I SEE THE CLOUD FIGURES, THOSE MAKE ME HAPPY.

AND ALL THE ART THERE.

BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY GETTING THE ART THERE.

ON THE EAST SIDE, IT'S BEEN TREMENDOUS.

YEAH. IT WAS. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN AND IT WAS A GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

AND I HOPE THAT IT PAVES THE WAY FOR MORE PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS AND PUBLIC ART IN THE FUTURE.

AND I HAVE TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT AND THANK YOU TO ANGIE FOR THE MANY HOURS THAT SHE SERVED ON THE JOHN LEWIS COMMITTEE.

WE HAD A LOT OF A LOT OF ZOOM MEETINGS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND HER EYE AND EXPERTISE AND CONTACTS WERE INVALUABLE.

SO. AND APPRECIATE HOW MUCH YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS.

IT WAS A PLEASURE. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000.

SO MOVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CHAIR. VOTES. AYE.

AND THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

NEXT WE WILL LOOK AT EASEMENTS FOR THE SOUTH HOUSING VILLAGE.

[B. Easements for South Housing Village.]

YES. TONIGHT I AM RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF TWO LONG TERM ACCESS EASEMENTS TO THE VILLAGE AT LEGACY ONE AND THE VILLAGE AT LEGACY TWO.

SO THESE ARE THE TWO PHASES OF THE SOUTH HOUSING VILLAGE, AND THAT THESE EASEMENTS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

AND THESE EASEMENTS.

ARE BASICALLY WHAT THEY DO IS THAT THEY ENSURE VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO AND FROM THE SOUTH HOUSING VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT OVER THE INTERIOR DRIVEWAY.

SO THIS IS PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR DRIVEWAY THAT'S OFF OF KATY KERR INTO THE LEGACY PARK PROPERTY.

THAT DRIVEWAY WILL BE OWNED BY THE CITY.

AND SO THE CITY DOES NEED TO GRANT AN EASEMENT SO THAT FOLKS KNOW THAT THEY CAN DRIVE THEIR CARS OR WALK OR RIDE THEIR BIKES OFF OF THE PROPERTY ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. AND IT ALSO ENSURES ACCESS FROM KATY KERR.

I DIDN'T SPECIFY THAT IN THE MEMO, BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT THE CITY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CLOSE OFF ACCESS EITHER FROM KATY KERR FOR THE INGRESS AND EGRESS THERE, AS WELL AS TO THE DEVELOPMENT.

SO I'M JUST RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THESE TWO LONG TERM ACCESS EASEMENTS.

YES, MA'AM. WILL THE CITY CAN CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THOSE ROADS? YES. WE WILL MAINTAIN THE DRIVEWAY.

SO EASEMENTS FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR OTHER PROJECTS.

NOT THAT I'M FAILED.

DO WE NEED AN EASEMENT FOR THE TRAIL? SORRY. OH, YOU MEAN THAT PROJECT? YES. SO THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE MULTI-USE PATH, THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHICH?

[02:10:03]

OR THE CONTRACTOR, WHICH WAS APPROVED AT THE LAST MEETING.

THE THAT DESIGN DOES ENTER THE AREA OF THE GROUND LEASE.

SO, I MEAN, SO THE CITY ACTUALLY OWNS THE PROPERTY.

HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS A GROUND LEASE.

YES. WE WILL BE GOING BACK TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND REQUESTING AN EASEMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PATH. THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER.

SO WE'VE NOT STARTED THAT CONVERSATION.

WE HAVE NOT. NO.

SO IT'S CERTAINLY THE EXPECTATION WOULD BE IF.

EASEMENT FOR AN EASEMENT.

YES. I DO NOT ANTICIPATE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM GETTING AN EASEMENT FROM OUR PARTNER, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THE APPROVAL OF TWO LONG TERM ACCESS EASEMENTS.

DO WE NEED. CAN WE TAKE THEM TOGETHER OR WE NEED TO TOGETHER.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

TO THE VILLAGE AT LEGACY ONE AND VILLAGES AT LEGACY TWO FOR VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN.

PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO AND FROM THE SOUTH.

HOUSING VILLAGE PROPERTY OVER THE INTERIOR DRIVEWAY THAT IS OWNED BY THE CITY.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO RECOMMEND THAT APPROVAL.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES. AYE.

AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS APPROVED.

NEXT, THE RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE CIVILITY PLEDGE.

[C. Resolution Reaffirming Civility Pledge.]

YES, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, THE RESOLUTION THAT IS BEFORE YOU REAFFIRMS THE CIVILITY PLEDGE THAT THIS BODY TOOK ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO AS PART OF THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION'S EMBRACE CIVILITY INITIATIVE.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO READ THE PLEDGE THAT'S SPELLED OUT HERE IN THE RESOLUTION.

SAYS SECTION ONE.

THE CITY OF DECATUR PLEDGES TO PRACTICE AND PROMOTE CIVILITY WITHIN THE GOVERNING BODY AS A MEANS OF CONDUCTING LEGISLATIVE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. THE ELECTED? ELECTED. THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE CITY COMMISSION ENACT THIS CIVILITY PLEDGE TO BUILD A STRONGER AND MORE PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY BY ADVOCATING FOR CIVIL ENGAGEMENT, RESPECTING OTHERS AND THEIR VIEWPOINTS, AND FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY OF DECATUR THREE.

THIS PLEDGE STRIVES TO ENSURE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION BE OPEN, HONEST AND TRANSPARENT, AS THIS IS VITAL FOR CULTIVATING TRUST AND RELATIONSHIPS, FOR THIS PLEDGE STRIVES TO SHOW COURTESY BY TREATING ALL COLLEAGUES, STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN A PROFESSIONAL AND RESPECTFUL MANNER, WHETHER IN PERSON, ONLINE OR IN WRITTEN COMMUNICATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DISAGREE. THIS PLEDGE STRIVES TO ENSURE MUTUAL RESPECT TO ACHIEVE MUNICIPAL GOALS.

RECOGNIZING THAT PATIENCE, TOLERANCE, AND CIVILITY ARE IMPERATIVE TO SUCCESS AND DEMONSTRATES THE CITY COMMISSION'S COMMITMENT TO RESPECT DIFFERENT OPINIONS BY INVITING AND CONSIDERING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, ALLOWING SPACE FOR IDEAS TO BE EXPRESSED, DEBATED, OPPOSED, AND CLARIFIED IN A CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER.

AND THIS PLEDGE DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT AGAINST VIOLENCE AND INCIVILITY IN ALL THEIR FORMS, WHENEVER AND WHEREVER THEY OCCUR IN ALL OUR MEETINGS AND INTERACTIONS.

AND SEVEN, THE CITY OF DECATUR EXPECTS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE CIVIL IN ITS DISCUSSION OF MATTERS UNDER CONSIDERATION BY AND BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, STAFF AND EACH OTHER.

SO I DO ENCOURAGE THIS BODY TO REAFFIRM THIS PLEDGE.

AGAIN, THAT WAS TAKEN ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO.

THIS REALLY IS A STATEWIDE EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.

I'M PROUD THAT THE CITY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO PASS THE RESOLUTION, AND I THINK IT IS WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE US EVERY TWO YEARS TO AS A REMINDER AND TO REAFFIRM PRACTICING AND PROMOTING CIVILITY.

SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

[02:15:04]

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION R? DASH TWO FOUR DASH AA.

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

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

AND THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

SELECTED LEGACY.

[D. Legacy Park Track and Field Agreements.]

DROPPING THE HAMMER.

JUST WANTED TO MAKE A POINT.

GOOD EVENING. MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS DAVID YOUNGER, THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE THIS EVENING.

THOSE OF WHICH WHO ARE EITHER HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE TEAM ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY AT LEGACY PARK, OR HAVE BEEN A PART OF WORKING ON DRAFTING THIS SHARED USE AGREEMENT.

THAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE REMI EPPS, KIM WATLEY, NANCY BRUNI, DAVID HARBIN, MARY SALTER, FELIX FLOYD, STEPHEN MAXWELL. EXCUSE ME, SERGIO PEREZ, RODNEY THOMAS, CARA SHEARER, ALLISON ERICKSON, AS WELL AS THE CITY ATTORNEY, BRIAN DOWNS, ALSO AN ATTORNEY.

IRENE VAN DER WELLS, AS WELL AS THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR ATTORNEY BOB WILSON, HAVE ALL BEEN PART OF PUTTING THIS RECOMMENDATION TOGETHER.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING IS TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AGREEMENTS NEEDED FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY AT DECATUR LEGACY PARK.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ON AUGUST 1ST, 2022, THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVED AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AS WELL AS THE DECATUR PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP A TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY AT DECATUR LEGACY PARK.

THE CITY AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZED THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER TO BRING THIS DESIRED FACILITY TO OUR COMMUNITY, AS ENVISIONED IN THE 2018 DECATUR LEGACY PARK MASTER PLAN.

A NUMBER OF MILESTONES HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE EXECUTION OF THAT IGA BACK IN 2022, INCLUDING TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY DESIGN.

THE CITY COMMITTED $3.5 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS.

THE DECATUR BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMITTED $3.5 MILLION TO CONSTRUCT TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY, AS WELL AS CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY BEGAN IN FEBRUARY OF 2024, AND WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE A COMPLETION.

DECEMBER. END OF DECEMBER 2024.

TWO ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS ARE NEEDED AS THE CONSTRUCTION WRAPS UP TOWARD THE END OF THIS YEAR.

ONE IS AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR SHARED USE OF THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY, AS WELL AS A GROUND LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY FOR THE USE OF THE PROPERTY FOR THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY.

THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD, COOPERATIVELY, COOPERATIVELY TO DEVELOP THE ATTACHED INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR THE SHARED USE OF THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY.

SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE ADDRESSED IN THE AGREEMENT INCLUDE THAT THE SHARED USE OF THIS FACILITY WILL BE MANAGED BY A JOINT USE COMMITTEE, CONSISTING OF UP TO TWO REPRESENTATIVES APPOINTED BY EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE PARTIES.

THE JOINT USE COMMITTEE WILL DEVELOP A MASTER SCHEDULE FOR THE ANNUAL USE OF THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITIES.

THAT THAT SCHEDULE HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED, BUT WE ARE WORKING TO HAVE THAT SCHEDULE COMPLETED NO LATER THAN DECEMBER THE 18TH, 2024 FOR THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR.

THE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHES THE PRIORITY OF CONSIDERATION FOR USE BY THE CITY OF DECATUR AND THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR.

THIS AGREEMENT ESTABLISHES THE USE STANDARDS FOR SUPERVISING THE USE AND MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THE FACILITY.

IT ALSO ESTABLISHES THE EXPECTATION FOR UP TO 20 PARKING SPACES FOR USE BY THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR DURING PRACTICES, AND OTHER CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR USAGE TIMES.

THIS AGREEMENT ALSO MAKES REFERENCE TO EXHIBIT B, WHICH IS A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE THAT'S CURRENTLY IN DRAFT FORM, AND IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT ONCE THE CITY SCHOOL STAFF RETURNS FROM THANKSGIVING BREAK, THAT WE WOULD COME BACK TOGETHER TO REVIEW A DRAFT THAT THEY PRESENTED.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT ON THE SCHEDULE FOR TOMORROW.

HOWEVER, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET RELATIVELY LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON HAVING THAT COMPLETED.

[02:20:11]

AS WELL AS THE JOINT AND SEPARATELY OWNED PERSONAL PROPERTY LIST REFERENCED IN EXHIBIT C WILL BE COMPLETED CLOSER TO THE END OF CONSTRUCTION, AS THERE ARE ITEMS TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CONTRACTOR FOR TURF MAINTENANCE INCLUDED IN THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, AS WELL AS THERE ARE POTENTIALLY OTHER ITEMS THAT WILL BE JOINTLY PURCHASED UTILIZING FUNDS THAT WERE COMMITTED AS PART OF THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

OBVIOUSLY, HAVING A FORMAL SHARED USE AGREEMENT WILL BENEFIT BOTH PARTIES AND WILL HOPEFULLY ELIMINATE UNCERTAINTY IN ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY WAS SPENT BY BOTH CITY STAFF AND CITY SCHOOL STAFF TO ARTICULATE CONCERNS.

BRAINSTORM SOLUTIONS AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEING BROUGHT BEFORE YOU TONIGHT FOR CONSIDERATION.

THE CITY IS ALSO RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF A GROUND LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY FOR USE OF APPROXIMATELY SIX AND A HALF ACRES OF PROPERTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF A TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY ON THE SITE.

DURING THE TERM, THE LEASES WILL USE THE PREMISES AS CONTEMPLATED IN THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2022 AND AMENDED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT DATED JANUARY 23RD, 2024.

THE SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF THE AMENDMENT WAS ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO THE TUNE OF $500,000 APIECE.

THAT WAS THE AMENDMENT. THE FOLLOWING APPROVALS ARE RECOMMENDED.

RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE SHARED USE OF TRACK AND FIELD AT LEGACY PARK.

ALSO RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE GROUND LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY FOR THE TRACK AND FIELD AT LEGACY PARK.

AND ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL BE NECESSARY, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO COVER OUR BASES.

RECOMMEND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO MAKE ANY, MAKE ANY, MAKE AND ACCEPT MINOR CHANGES TO THE FOREGOING DOCUMENTS AS THEY DEEM NECESSARY, SO LONG AS THE DOCUMENTS REMAIN IN SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM, AND TO INSERT AND MODIFY APPLICABLE LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS AS THEY DEEM NECESSARY. WE ANTICIPATE THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL CONSIDER THE IGA AT ITS MEETING ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH, AND THE PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY WILL CONSIDER THE GROUND LEASE AGREEMENT AT A MEETING THIS MONTH, ACTUALLY DECEMBER 11TH.

WE JUST SET THE MEETING.

SO WE'LL CONSIDER IT DECEMBER 11TH.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OTHERWISE, I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO SOME QUESTIONS THAT WERE RECEIVED EARLIER IF IT HELPS.

OKAY. WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT? AND THEN IF WE HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, THAT WILL BE GREAT.

THANK YOU. QUESTION WAS IN THE FALL THERE TYPICALLY MANY CITY SCHOOLS HAVE DECATUR FIELD SPORTS SOCCER, FRISBEE, FLAG FOOTBALL.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE SPORTS.

THAT'S PART OF WHY WE HAVE MR. HARBIN HERE AND MARY SEILER.

BUT WHILE THOSE FIELD SPORTS ARE TAKING PLACE ON THE FIELD, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THAT THE TRACK IS STILL OPEN FOR COMMUNITY USE.

AND I WOULD JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PLACES WITHIN THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT.

PAGE THREE.

YOU KNOW, IT BEGINS UNDER THE WHEREAS STATING THAT IN THE MASTER PLAN AND AS AGREED TO IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE, IGA LEGACY PARK IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A COMMUNITY SPACE, AND ALTHOUGH THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITIES WILL PROVIDE A MUCH NEEDED VENUE FOR CITY SCHOOLS RELATED ACTIVITIES INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE USE BY THE CITY SCHOOLS DURING CERTAIN TIMES, COMMUNITY USE OF THE FACILITIES FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES IS FOUNDATIONAL TO THE AGREEMENT AND ESSENTIAL TO ITS SUCCESS.

THAT WAS A MAJOR CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE CITY STAFF AND CITY SCHOOLS.

THE CITY SCHOOLS WERE VERY CONCERNED AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SAFETY OF THE PROGRAM AND THE PARTICIPANTS AT ANY TIME WAS TAKEN CARE OF.

AND SO WE HAD SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT WHEN, WHEN THE CITY SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE FACILITY AND THE WAY THE

[02:25:07]

WORDING IS IN IN THE AGREEMENT.

THE RULE IS THAT GENERALLY IT'S AN OPEN FACILITY.

AN EXCEPTION TO THAT RULE IS THAT THERE WOULD BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXCLUSIVE USE BY THE SCHOOLS OR THE CITY.

THE CITY HAS THE SAME RIGHT TO EXCLUSIVE USE IF NEEDED, BUT THAT GENERALLY WHEN FIELD ACTIVITIES WOULD BE TAKING PLACE, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THROUGH THE JOINT USE COMMITTEE FOR AN EXCLUSIVE USE, IT WOULD.

THE TRACK WOULD REMAIN OPEN BECAUSE THE PARK REMAINS OPEN.

AS WELL AS THE RESTROOMS THAT ARE PART OF THE NEW FIELDHOUSE BUILDING LOCATED ON THE SOUTH END NEAR THE PLAYGROUND, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE'S ANY OTHER FUNCTIONS GOING ON AT THE TRACK, ARE EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THE OVERALL PARK AS WELL AS THE PLAYGROUND.

IN THE SPRING.

THE ACTUAL SCHEDULE IS BEING DEVELOPED NOW THROUGH THE JOINT USE COMMITTEE.

AND AT THIS POINT, THE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT USE COMMITTEE WOULD BE REMY EPPS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, AND MADELINE HANNER, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LEGACY DECATUR.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM REPRESENTATIVES WOULD BE THE CEO, SERGIO PEREZ, OR DESIGNEE, THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, RODNEY THOMAS, OR DESIGNEE OR OTHER STAFF AS NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION OF ORGANIZING SCHEDULES AND OPERATION OF THE TRACK AND FIELD.

COMMENT WAS ALSO MADE ABOUT NEEDING TO PUBLISH, YOU KNOW, HOW THE FACILITY IS BEING SHARED THE SCHEDULE WHEN, WHEN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES ARE TAKING PLACE, HOW WE WOULD COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS AWARE WHEN THE TRACK AND FIELD IS AVAILABLE FOR GENERAL USE VERSUS WHEN THERE ARE PROGRAMS BEING PROGRAMED THERE.

AND THROUGH.

SO THE JOINT USE COMMITTEE WILL BE ESTABLISHING THAT MASTER SCHEDULE WITH INPUT FROM, FROM OTHERS.

AND THEN ULTIMATELY WE ENVISION SO LEGACY PARK WILL PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE HIRING A LEGACY PARK SUPERVISOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF OVERSEEING THAT FACILITY.

THE GYM, THE AMENITIES IN THE GYM, AS WELL AS THE TRACK AND FIELD COMPLEX.

AND THEY CURRENTLY UTILIZE COMMUNITY PASS.

COMMUNITY PASS. AND TEAM UP, I BELIEVE, WHICH IS MORE OF AN INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AMONGST STAFF.

SO STAFF CAN EASILY LOOK UP AND BE AWARE OF DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES AT THE VARIOUS FIELDS AND FACILITIES.

AND SO WE WOULD ENVISION ONCE WE ONCE THAT MASTER SCHEDULE WAS CREATED AND IS CONTINUALLY BEING, YOU KNOW, HAS OVERSIGHT BY THAT SHARED USE COMMITTEE THAT THAT INFORMATION THEN WOULD BE SHARED WITH THE LEGACY PARK SUPERVISOR WHO WOULD UPDATE THOSE SCHEDULES.

WE ALSO ANTICIPATE A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC EDUCATION PROCESS ON THE FRONT END OF OPENING THIS NEW FACILITY UP.

NOT ONLY FOR THE HOURS OF OPERATION, BUT ALSO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS AROUND HOW WE TAKE CARE OF A $7 MILLION FACILITY THAT WE WANT TO BE OPEN FOR GENERAL COMMUNITY USE.

BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR CARE OF THE FACILITY.

ALSO THE QUESTION WAS, COULD A THIRD PARTY LIKE THE ATLANTA TRACK CLUB HOST A COMMUNITY EVENT LIKE VARIOUS? THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF A PROGRAM WHICH I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH, BUT WHAT OTHER TYPES OF EVENTS COULD BE POSSIBLE AT THE SITE? SO KIND OF A GENERAL RESPONSE TO THAT.

ANY OUTSIDE REQUEST WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE JOINT USE COMMITTEE AS EARLY AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

THE JOINT USE COMMITTEE WOULD RESPOND TO THE REQUEST WITHIN ABOUT TEN MINIMUM OF TEN DAYS.

IF SOMETHING COMES UP WITH A SHORTER DEADLINE, SAY, WITHIN 72 HOURS.

THIS AGREEMENT DOES SAY THAT THE LEGACY PARK SUPERVISOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS BASED ON THE GUIDANCE AND PROVIDED BY THE JOINT USE COMMITTEE.

[02:30:03]

TO ADD IT TO THE SCHEDULE FOR USE.

SOMETHING TO THE ATLANTA TRACK CLUB.

THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A THIRD PARTY RENTAL, WHICH WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE RULES FOR RENTAL THROUGH THE CITY OF DECATUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

WHERE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS TEAM.

THERE WERE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ABOUT HOW LONG WE SHOULD WAIT BEFORE WE OPEN THE FACILITY UP FOR RENTALS.

RENTALS. CURRENTLY, IT'S WRITTEN THAT THAT WE WOULDN'T ESTABLISH THAT FEE AND CONSIDER RENTALS WITHIN RENTALS WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN OPEN THIS FACILITY.

WE CAN OPERATE THE FACILITY THAT WE, YOU KNOW, ASSESS OUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BE RESPONSIVE TO OUR CITY NEEDS AND SCHOOL NEEDS BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP.

BUT THAT WOULD BE WE WOULD BRING IF WE WANTED TO BRING A FEE SCHEDULE RECOMMENDATION TO YOU, IT WOULD BE DURING THE NORMAL FEE SCHEDULE UPDATE IN THE SPRING.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK THERE MAY STILL BE SOME QUESTIONS.

I HAVE SOME, BUT I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR ANYONE ELSE THAT I'LL FOLLOW UP.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS THAT YOU GAVE.

AND GOING BACK BEFORE THAT, ALL THE WORK BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE, WHICH I UNDERSTAND WAS LENGTHY, MAYBE SOMETIMES TEDIOUS, BUT IMPORTANT WORK SO THAT NOBODY MAKES ASSUMPTIONS, RIGHT? I MEAN, I THINK THAT COULD BE THE THE TOUGH PART IF WE WERE MAKING ANY ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT FACILITY TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AND OF COURSE, KIDS OF ALL THESE AGES, WHETHER THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN A PARKS AND REC PROGRAM OR A CSD SANCTIONED PROGRAM, THEY'RE ALL OUR ALL OUR CONSTITUENTS, ALL OUR ATHLETES, ALL OUR PEOPLE.

AND THEN OF ALL AGES, TOO.

WE AS GREG WHITE TEACHES US SO WELL ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE THIS RESPONSIBILITY ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF ALL THE USERS AS THEY COME FROM LITTLE MINIS, IF YOU WILL, ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH ANY SENIOR WHO WOULD WANT TO COME WALK ON THE TRACK, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO THAT GIVES ME A LOT OF FAITH THAT WE'VE REALLY TAKEN A HARD LOOK AT USAGE AS FAR AS WE KNOW, WITHOUT HAVING LIVED WITH IT YET.

SO WHAT I WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN AND CONCERNED IS A STRONG WORD.

BUT, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THERE'S CONCURRENT USE, WHICH I DID READ IN THE IGA, THAT I THINK A TYPICAL EXAMPLE, I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT DURING A SOCCER PRACTICE, FOR EXAMPLE SCHOOL SOCCER PRACTICE, THAT PARENTS OR OTHERS COULD WALK ON THE TRACK AND EXERCISE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TRACK FACILITY WHILE A FIELD EVENT FIELD PRACTICE WAS GOING ON, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS FOR ONE THING.

OR ALSO, I APPRECIATE THE COMPREHENSIVE OR DETAILED APPROACH OF THE IGA THAT WE DON'T SLIDE INTO A USAGE PATTERN WHERE THINGS TIP ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

BECAUSE WE'VE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, BOTH PARTNERS, TO ALLOW FOR AS MUCH USAGE, AS MUCH BENEFIT AND ENJOYMENT AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT THE FACILITY WITHIN REASON WOULD BEAR AND THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN.

SO THAT I ASKED A COUPLE OF THOSE QUESTIONS MAYBE OBVIOUS TO MOST BUT SO THAT'S THAT WAS MY FIRST THING I WANTED TO CLARIFY.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS, YES, PARENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD WALK OR RUN ON THE TRACK DURING A SCHOOL PRACTICE OF A FIELD SPORT.

I UNDERSTAND EXCLUSIVE USAGE WOULD BE DEFINITELY DURING TRACK PRACTICE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BLEND IN COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THE TRACK.

THAT WOULDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, BUT I THINK IT WAS MORE THE FIELD AND TRACK USAGE UNBUNDLING AS APPROPRIATE AND HAVING CONCURRENT USE IN TRUE SHARED USE. SO THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTOOD.

IT IS POSSIBLE AND THAT IS THE INTENT OF THE AGREEMENT.

AGAIN, LOTS OF CONVERSATION BY THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT CAME TOGETHER TO WORK ON THIS.

THE CONCERNS I THINK, EXPRESSED BY, BY THE SCHOOL ARE REALLY NOT THAT DIFFERENT THAN THE CONCERNS OF CITY STAFF.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE ALL HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE SAFETY OF ALL PROGRAMS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AT THE FACILITY, WHETHER IT'S THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR PROGRAM OR A PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAM.

SO WE JUST WANTED WE DID GAIN SYNERGY AROUND MAKING SURE THAT THE PARK IS SAFE.

[02:35:04]

WHAT ARE OUR ALTERNATIVES? IF THERE IS SOMETHING TAKING PLACE OUT THERE THAT MAYBE MAKES YOU RAISE YOUR EYEBROWS A LITTLE BIT? WHAT ARE THE APPROPRIATE WAYS OF RESPONDING TO THAT? ALL THE WAY UP TO, YOU KNOW, CALLING SUPERVISION OR ULTIMATELY, IF IT BECOMES A LAW ENFORCEMENT MATTER, WE CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN.

ALSO TALKED ABOUT IMPLEMENTING TECHNOLOGY, SUCH AS THE USE OF CAMERAS ON THE PROPERTY TO, TO KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE, LIKE WE DISCUSSED IT IN OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT THE RULE IS THAT IT'S A IT'S GENERALLY AN OPEN FACILITY TO BE TO USED BY THE COMMUNITY AND OTHERS CONCURRENTLY.

AND THE EXCEPTION IS LIKE WHEN THERE'S MEETS OR FORMAL EVENTS AND THOSE WOULD BE SIGNIFIED BY A SIGNAGE OR ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IS KIND OF LIKE, YOU GO TO A BEACH AND THEY'VE GOT A FLAG SYSTEM FOR, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CAN GO IN AND OUT OF THE WATER IS, YOU KNOW, INDICATIONS OF COMMUNITY, OF FACILITIES WIDE OPEN.

ENJOY YOURSELF TO IT'S A CLOSED EVENT, YOU KNOW, EITHER BE AN OBSERVER OR, YOU KNOW, JUST USE ONE OF OUR OTHER PARKS BECAUSE IT'S A VERY PRACTICAL EXAMPLE.

BUT IT'S I WANT TO LEAN INTO WHAT I'M SURE WILL BE A HEALTHY TENSION AROUND HOW IT'S USED.

AND I SAY HEALTHY AS THE OPERATIVE WORD BECAUSE EVERYONE SHOULD WANT TO USE IT.

AND WE CAN'T ALWAYS USE IT WHEN WE WANT.

BUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, YOU GO OUT TO THE SUBURBS AND CHASE YOUR KIDS PLAYING SOCCER AND DRIVE THEM UP THERE.

THERE QUITE OFTEN IS NOWHERE TO SAFELY WALK OR EXERCISE MAYBE EXCEPT THE PARKING LOT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, PARENTS SIT IN CARS AND LOOK AT THEIR PHONE AND IDLE.

IN FACT, TOO, THEY LEAVE THEIR CAR RUNNING AND I JUST THOUGHT, HOW SAD WOULD THAT BE IF WE, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST DIDN'T HAVE THIS ENVIRONMENT WHERE WHILE THE ATHLETES, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE DOING THEIR THING, YOU CAN USE THIS FLAT, SAFE, LIGHTED WALKING AREA TO ALSO DO YOUR EXERCISE, WHICH SEEMS LIKE A VERY TO ME, A RATIONAL, RATIONAL THING TO WANT TO HAVE THOSE TYPES OF CONCURRENT USE AND EXEMPLIFIES, I THINK, THE HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT THAT WE WANT TO TYPIFY HERE IN OUR CITY.

SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED IT, BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ALSO.

AND THEN JUST TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE THIRD PARTIES THAT AS VETTED BY THE JOINT USE AGREEMENT CREATE A REALLY IMPORTANT FABRIC FOR, FOR OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY THAT WE KNOW AND TRUST IN OTHER WAYS, WHICH WOULD BE MAYBE THE YMCA GIRLS ON THE RUN, ATLANTA TRACK CLUB, TO NAME A FEW THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH AND I WOULDN'T PAINT IT JUST FOR THEM, BUT THAT WE COULD FIND TRUSTED PARTNERS TO ALSO OPERATE OR RENT FROM US, BE VETTED.

BUT THAT COULD OFFER ANOTHER FLAVOR OR BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE THAT WE CAN'T AS SCHOOLS OR GOVERNMENT OR EVEN COMBINED.

SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THOSE WERE POSSIBLE USES OF THE OF THE FACILITY.

I THINK IF WE'RE TOO PRECIOUS ABOUT IT, WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL CATHEDRAL THAT NOT EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE THEY CAN COME COMMUNE IN.

AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO TIP ALL THAT WAY.

BUT I REALLY RESPECT WHAT IT IS FOR COACHES COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, CITY STAFF TO BLEND ALL THESE YOU KNOW, THE RANGE OF USES AND DESIRES THAT LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE DO ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? WE TRY AND MAKE THESE TRADE OFFS AND MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR THE MOST PEOPLE.

SO JUST TRYING TO GET A COMFORT LEVEL WITH THE PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT INTO THE.

WE AGREE, CLEARLY IT WAS CONTEMPLATED.

BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, IN THE AGREEMENT AGAIN, THE DECISION TO HOLD OFF MOVING FORWARD WITH THOSE.

BUT WE AGREE.

THE OTHER THING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS PARKS AND REC STAFF HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OVER THE YEARS MANAGING A LOT OF DIFFERENT BUILDINGS AND PARKS AND FIELDS WITHOUT AGREEMENTS.

AND SO I KNOW WE CAN DO THIS.

WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO FORGET THAT WE HAVE THESE OTHER GREAT FACILITIES THAT ARE AROUND THE CITY THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. SO THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PARK.

SO IF YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR PROGRAM, MAYBE IF IT DOESN'T FIT IN WELL AT LEGACY PARK TRACK AND FIELD, THAT MAYBE WE CAN FIT IT IN AT ONE OF OUR OTHER GREAT SPACES.

RECENTLY VISITED EBSTER FIELD AFTER THE NEW LIGHTS WENT UP.

AND THERE HAD TO HAVE BEEN 200 KIDS OUT THERE.

I SAY KIDS, EVERYBODY FROM HIGH SCHOOL ULTIMATE FRISBEE HAVING THEIR END OF YEAR CELEBRATION TO YOUNG PARKS AND PARKS AND REC LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

AND EVERYBODY WAS HAVING A GREAT TIME AT THE SAME TIME.

AND IT JUST SHOWED ME WHAT WAS, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLE AT A FACILITY LIKE THAT.

[02:40:06]

AND SO THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH LEGACY AS WELL, TAKING UP A LOT OF BANDWIDTH.

I WILL JUST SAY I REGRET THAT THIS FACILITY IS GOING IN WHEN I'M OF AN AGE WHERE I WILL NOT BE GETTING FASTER EVERY YEAR, I WILL ONLY BE GETTING SLOWER.

HOPEFULLY I CAN JUST USE IT TO STAY SUPER HEALTHY THOUGH.

THANKS. I HAD JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS I KNOW YOU, YOU KNOW, MENTIONED HAVING LIKE A FLAG SYSTEM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT I AND I KNOW HAVING SOMETHING ONLINE THAT PEOPLE CAN CHECK WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

BUT I THINK SIGNAGE OUT THERE AS WELL BECAUSE YOU TO JUST KNOW THAT ON THURSDAY FROM, YOU KNOW, THREE TO DARK OR 3 TO 8 OR WHATEVER, THE FACILITY IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC.

SO JUST TO HAVE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ALMOST WEEK BY WEEK OUT THERE SO THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE AND NOT JUST GO OVER THERE AND FIND THAT IT'S CLOSED, BUT THEY CAN LOOK ONLINE, OR AT LEAST KNOW FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME FOR WHICH IT MIGHT BE CLOSED. I DO THINK THAT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE SIGNAGE INDICATING ALL THE THINGS ON HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, NO GUM, NO DOGS, YOU KNOW, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE IMPORTANT. AND MAINTAINING THE FACILITY I THINK THERE WE KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME AFTER HOURS USE OF THE PARK SOMETIMES, AND HAVING SECURITY AND KEEPING THAT FACILITY SECURE, KEEPING FOLKS SAFE OUT THERE, I THINK IS WE WE MAY HAVE TO LOOK AT SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE I GUESS ORGANIZED THAN WHAT IS CURRENTLY OUT THERE NOW FOR USAGE OF THE PARK AFTER AFTER HOURS.

SO AND THEN I KNOW WE'VE SPELLED OUT THE CITY OR THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, LIKE, THE MAINTENANCE OF THE TRACK AND CLEANING UP TRASH AFTER PRACTICES AND THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT THERE IS THERE WILL BE AN OPEN BATHROOM.

AND I'M ASSUMING THAT WE FIGURED OUT WHO'S KIND OF IN CHARGE OF OPENING AND CLOSING THAT FACILITY AND, AND IS IT THE CITY THAT WILL KEEP THAT? CITY SCHOOLS? CITY SCHOOLS.

OKAY. SO SCHOOLS WILL BE OPENING, CLOSING, CLEANING UP.

AND I'M HAPPY TO BRING THAT TO YOU ALL AS THOSE BOTH THE MASTER SCHEDULE AND THE MAINTENANCE PLAN.

THE OTHER EXHIBITS THAT ARE REFERENCED IN HERE, I BRING THOSE BACK TO YOU.

SO THAT DOES MEAN SOMEBODY HAS TO BE OUT THERE AT DUSK EVERY TWICE A DAY AT A MINIMUM, I THINK, IS WHAT MR. PEREZ SAID. OKAY.

BUT UNTIL WE FINISH HASHING THAT OUT THERE ARE SOME MORE DETAILS I THINK THAT WILL NEED TO BE INCLUDED.

BUT THE DATE AND EACH GROUP WILL HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT IF IT'S A PARKS AND RECREATION ACTIVITY, THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT LEAVES IT IN A GOOD CONDITION.

SAME THING WITH THE CITY SCHOOLS.

WHEN THEY FINISH, IT WILL BE LEFT IN GOOD CONDITION.

BUT THE DAY TO DAY SERVICING THE RESTROOMS, OPENING AND CLOSING THE NEW FIELDHOUSE, RESTROOMS FOR ALL USERS WILL BE THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR. RESPONSIBILITY AND LEGACY HAS A BOARD RETREAT THIS WEEK I DO BELIEVE ON THURSDAY, SO I'M SURE THIS WILL BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION OF THE OF THAT BOARD, AS WELL AS TO HOW THE ORGANIZATIONS WILL WORK AS TOGETHER AS A PART OF THIS.

SO I CAN TELL YOU, TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

EVERY CONSTRUCTION OWNER CONTRACTOR, MEETING.

I'VE BEEN A HUGE PARTICIPANT IN DEVELOPING THIS AGREEMENT, SO WE APPRECIATE HER INVOLVEMENT.

I JUST GOT ONE QUESTION AND IT REALLY INVOLVES WHEN THERE THE PUBLIC IS PRESENT THE INDEMNITY.

SO SOMEBODY WALKING AROUND THE TRACK WE'RE HOLDING PRACTICE.

THEY GET HIT BY A STRAY SOCCER BALL KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS.

HOW IS THAT COVERED. WHO'S THE INDEMNIFYING SOURCE? WOULD THAT BE THE PFA SINCE THE PFA OWNS IT? SO WITHIN THERE'S A SEVERAL SECTIONS IN THE ORIGINAL IGA.

THERE'S AN INDEMNIFICATION SECTION WHERE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE PFA.

THE CITY SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE PFA THEIR SECTIONS REGARDING THE THAT THE CITY AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WOULD MAINTAIN

[02:45:04]

THE FOLLOWING INSURANCE COVERAGE.

THE ONES THAT WE BOTH WOULD CARRY ARE THINGS LIKE WORKER'S COMPENSATION, GENERAL COMPREHENSIVE GENERAL LIABILITY, AUTOMOTIVE LIABILITY IN TERMS OF THE PROPERTY INSURANCE THE CITY WOULD PROCURE AND MAINTAIN DURING THE LIFE OF THE AGREEMENT.

INSURANCE ON THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY.

THE BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ARE THERE, AND THEN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WOULD REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR 50% OF THE COST OF THAT PREMIUM ASSOCIATED WITH THE COVERAGE.

SO SOME OF THOSE ITEMS, GENERAL LIABILITY WOULD HAVE COVERAGE.

YEAH. BACK TO COMMISSIONER WALSH'S CONCERNS.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT THIS TO BE A SHARED AMENITY, BUT THERE ALSO HAS TO BE SOME COMMON SENSE INVOLVED.

I MEAN, I WOULDN'T WANT PEOPLE WALKING AROUND THE TRACK WHEN THERE'S ACTIVE PRACTICES IN SOME CASES, BECAUSE I JUST.

YOU, THERE'S A VETTING PROCESS FOR OUR ATHLETES.

THERE'S NO VETTING PROCESS FOR WHO'S ON THE TRACK.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO THINK REALISTICALLY ABOUT WHO'S ON THE TRACK WHEN OUR STUDENTS ARE OUT THERE.

I KNOW IF MY KIDS WOULD BE OUT THERE, I'D WANT AN EYE ON WHO'S ON THAT TRACK WITH THEM.

SO I JUST WANT US TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION WHENEVER WE CAN.

JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

BECAUSE IN NO ACTIVITY AT BASEBALL PRACTICE, YOU DON'T HAVE GUYS SHAGGING FLY BALLS.

FOOTBALL PRACTICE, THERE'S NOBODY.

SO I JUST WANT US TO BE AWARE THAT WHILE WE THINK EVERYONE HAS GOOD INTENTIONS, NOT EVERYONE HAS GOOD INTENTIONS.

SO I JUST WANT TO ELIMINATE ANY POSSIBILITY FOR, YOU KNOW, OR TO MINIMIZE THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEONE'S THERE WITH BAD INTENTIONS.

THAT'S ALL. I JUST WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

YEAH. AND I THINK THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS IT BEING IN A PUBLIC PARK, THOUGH, RIGHT? BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE KIND OF HAVE TO WALK INTO THIS WITH GOOD FAITH AND USING A LITTLE BIT OF COMMON SENSE WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING THE STUDENT ATHLETES.

BUT ULTIMATELY THAT'S THAT'S WHAT COMES WITH PUTTING, YOU KNOW, A FACILITY THAT STUDENTS WILL BE USING IN A PARK THAT IS FOR THE PUBLIC, JUST LIKE WITH THE BASEBALL FIELDS AND THE SOFTBALL FIELDS, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO.

I MEAN, I TOTALLY GET THE CONCERN AND IT IS DEFINITELY A RISK.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PROBABLY ONE THAT WAS CONSIDERED ON THE FRONT END WHEN WE DECIDED TO PLOP THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR FLAGSHIP PARK.

YEAH. WELL, LIKE I SAID, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I WANT US TO ALWAYS BE COGNIZANT OF BECAUSE WE DON'T EVER WANT TO GET TO THE POINT AND SAY, WELL, DID Y'ALL EVER THINK ABOUT THAT? THAT'S ALL.

I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S A PUBLIC AMENITY AND I WANT IT TO BE A PUBLIC AMENITY, PERIOD.

I'M NOT AGAINST IT BEING A PUBLIC AMENITY.

SO LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S NOT SO.

YEAH. WELL, I MEAN, WE HAD THIS EXACT CONVERSATION AND AGAIN, FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, KIND OF KNOWING WHO'S WHERE WAS THE CONVERSATION? AGAIN, I THINK WE HAVE THE SAME INTEREST IN MAKING SURE WHEN THE PARKS AND REC YOUTH ARE OUT THERE ON THE FIELD HAVING PROGRAMING, THAT THE SAME SECURITY AND THINGS ARE IN PLACE.

WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, STRAY BALLS.

YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY KICKS A SOCCER BALL AND WHATNOT.

AND I THINK HAVING SIGNS UP, WE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING SIGNS UP, YOU KNOW, ABOUT BEING AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS.

PAY ATTENTION. YOU KNOW, USE THE TRACK AT YOUR OWN RISK.

SOME KIND OF RISK MANAGEMENT TYPES OF THINGS THAT MAYBE MAKE PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION.

AGAIN, I THINK WE ALL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A RESPONSIBILITY, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND THANKS.

BUT YOU CAN ALSO BE STANDING ON THE SIDELINES OF EBSTER, WATCHING YOUR, YOU KNOW, WATCHING A SOCCER GAME THAT IS EITHER PARKS AND REC OR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL OR THE SAME.

EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT MOVING, A STRAY BALL CAN COME YOUR DIRECTION.

AND AS TO COMMISSIONER MEYER'S POINT, I DO FEEL LIKE AND THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER OPEN SPACES THAT PEOPLE ARE FREE TO GO AND USE THAT ARE AROUND THAT AREA, NOT JUST IN THE VICINITY OF THE TRACK, BUT I THINK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, FINDING THAT THAT SWEET SPOT WITHOUT SAYING NOBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY CAN BE THERE IF THERE'S ANY.

THEY CAN BE ALL AROUND THERE.

SO IT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE THAT IF THERE, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO USE THE TRACK AT THE SAME TIME IT'S HARD TO SAY WHO'S A PARENT WHO'S NOT AND WHO'S ABLE TO USE IT.

I THINK THE, THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK THERE JUST HAS TO BE A HIGH STANDARD TO BY THE WHOEVER'S OPERATING.

I'LL CALL OPERATORS. IT WILL BE COACHES, STAFF.

THERE'S KIND OF CLOSE TO A ZERO TOLERANCE FOR NOT TREATING THE FACILITY WITH RESPECT AND NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES AND NOT BEING A GOOD ACTOR.

[02:50:08]

I DON'T THINK WE WOULD GIVE PEOPLE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BREAK THE RULES.

SO THERE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF A COME AT YOUR OWN RISK, BUT ALSO YOU'RE NOT YOU'RE NOT HERE IF YOU ARE NOT DOING EVERYTHING WE'VE ASKED OF YOU ONCE YOU GOT HERE.

AS FAR AS FOLLOWING THE RULES SO I THINK IT IS ABOUT WHAT DID YOU SAY, COMMISSIONER MEYER? JUST MAKING JUST MAKING SMART CHOICES OR BEING LISTEN, I WON'T BE ONE OF THE PARENTS WALKING AROUND THE TRACTOR IN A SOCCER PRACTICE.

I'M NOT THAT AGILE, SO IT WOULD NOT BE ME.

IT'S KIND OF BAD BEHAVIOR, YOU KNOW? YOU WOULD SEE IT, AND IT GOES, AND I'VE ONLY SEEN THE HIGHEST STANDARDS THAT THAT AS MY KIDS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SPORTS, BOTH PARKS AND REC AND CSD.

BUT THE STANDARDS ARE HIGH.

THE CARE AND KEEPING IS HIGH.

SO I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE THERE.

THAT'S MY IMPRESSION.

THE AGREEMENT ALSO SPEAKS TO IF THINGS ARE NEEDING TO BE ADJUSTED OR AMENDED THAT THE JOINT USE COMMITTEE CAN MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ANY TIME.

SO THERE WILL BE LOTS OF EYES ON THE PROJECT AND TO MAKE SURE IT'S SUCCESSFUL ALL WE WANT.

OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. YOUNGER. THANKS FOR THE DISCUSSION AND THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND BRINGING FORWARD A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION ALONG WITH THE AGREEMENT.

SO I THINK THE FIRST THING THAT WE WILL CONSIDER IS THE APPROVAL OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT THAT IS BEFORE US BETWEEN THE CITY, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR FOR SHARED USE OF THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY AT LEGACY PARK.

DO I HEAR A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THAT AGREEMENT? MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

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

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CHAIR. VOTES. AYE.

AND THE AGREEMENT IS APPROVED.

NOW THE GROUND LEASE AGREEMENT.

THERE ARE FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GROUND LEASE AGREEMENT.

AND THIS WILL BE BETWEEN THE CITY, THE PFA AND THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR.

NO. CITY AND CITY? CITY. OKAY.

BOTH. RIGHT. YEAH.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT. THAT THERE.

AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION RIGHT THERE? BOTH SIGNATURES FROM THE PFA.

[INAUDIBLE] RIGHT.

EXCUSE ME. AND THE OTHER ONES ARE THE.

RIGHT. OKAY, SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE A GROUND LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY FOR THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY AT LEGACY PARK.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES AYE.

AND THE AGREEMENT IS APPROVED.

AND THEN FINALLY TO SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO MAKE AND ACCEPT MINOR CHANGES IN THE DOCUMENTS AS THEY DEEM NECESSARY.

NECESSARY AS LONG AS THE DOCUMENTS REMAIN SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR AND INSERT THE AND MODIFY THE APPLICABLE LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS AS THEY DEEM NECESSARY.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? SO, MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

OTHER. FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CHAIR. VOTES. AYE.

AND NOW, I BELIEVE THE DOWNTOWN DECATUR CANOPY MANAGEMENT AND RESILIENCE PLAN.

[E. Downtown Decatur Canopy Management and Resilience Plan.]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

DAVID NIFONG, ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER.

I AM HERE TONIGHT TO FIRST RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH HGOR FOR PLANNING AND RELATED SERVICES FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE DOWNTOWN DECATUR CANOPY MANAGEMENT AND RESILIENCE PLAN IN THE AMOUNT OF $90,200.

SECOND, I RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE, WHICH REDUCES THE CONTRACT AMOUNT WITH HGOR TO $80,000 AND ESTABLISHES A PROJECT BUDGET OF $85,000. AS YOU MAY RECALL, IN JUNE OF 2023, THE CITY APPLIED TO THE URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE

[02:55:01]

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE UNDER THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

THIS PROGRAM WAS FUNDED BY THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AND SUPPORTS LOCAL PLANNING, STEWARDSHIP, AND PLANTING ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE RESILIENT URBAN LANDSCAPES AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE CITIES APPLICATION PROPOSED THE CREATION OF A DOWNTOWN CANOPY MANAGEMENT AND RESILIENCE PLAN, WHICH BUILT UPON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 2021 TREE CANOPY STUDY THAT WAS COMPLETED BY TONY GIARRUSSO FROM GEORGIA TECH, AS WELL AS OUR IN-HOUSE GIS PROVIDER INTERDOVE. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, THE CITY WAS NOTIFIED OF ITS AWARD UNDER THE PROGRAM.

THE FOREST SERVICE DID, THOUGH, DECIDE TO DIRECT THE CITY'S AWARD THROUGH WHAT THEY'RE CALLING A NATIONAL PASS THROUGH PARTNER TO HELP THEM ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM, AND THAT DID REDUCE THE CITY'S AMOUNT, A GRANT AMOUNT FROM THE REQUESTED $150,000 TO THE AWARDED $100,000. IT DID ALSO, THOUGH, WAIVE THE REQUIRED PROJECT MATCH ON OUR PART.

CITY STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THAT NATIONAL PASS THROUGH PARTNER, WHICH IS ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION.

IN SPRING OF 2024.

I WILL SAY IT WAS A LENGTHY PROCESS AT TIMES, BUT WE GOT THROUGH IT.

AND WE WERE OFFICIALLY PROVIDED THE KIND OF NOTICE TO PROCEED IN JULY.

ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, THE CITY ISSUED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR SERVICES TO COMPLETE THE PLAN.

THIS INCLUDES A TREE INVENTORY AND HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR ALL PUBLICLY OWNED TREES IN THE PROJECT AREA.

THE CREATION OF A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR THOSE TREES.

THE CREATION OF A TREE PLANTING STRATEGY AND CANOPY SUCCESSION PLAN, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THE RFP CLOSED ON OCTOBER 4TH OF THIS YEAR.

HGOR WAS THE ONLY FIRM TO SUBMIT A FULLY RESPONSIVE PROPOSAL.

WE DID RECEIVE ONE OTHER PROPOSAL, BUT IT DID NOT FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE RFP, AND SO WE WERE NOT ABLE TO CONSIDER IT FOR AN AWARD.

HGOR'S PROPOSAL, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES BROOKWOOD TREE CONSULTANTS AS A SUBCONTRACTOR ON THE PROJECT TEAM, HIGHLIGHTED THEIR EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.

THIS INCLUDES WORK ON THE DOWNTOWN ATLANTA URBAN TREE PLANTING PLAN WITH THE CITY OF ATLANTA, AS WELL AS THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TREE CANOPY AT AGNES SCOTT.

THE PROPOSAL ALSO DEMONSTRATED A VERY SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY'S GOALS FOR THE PLAN.

THE REQUIRED TASKS SET FORTH IN THE RFP AND PROVIDES A FEASIBLE TIMELINE FOR PROJECT COMPLETION.

DUE TO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COST PROPOSAL AND THEN THE GRANT BUDGET THAT WE HAD SUBMITTED TO ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION IN THE FOREST SERVICE.

WE WILL NEED TO REQUEST A BUDGET CHANGE FROM ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION.

IT WILL BE MINOR, BUT IT DOES EXCEED THEIR ALLOWED VARIATION WITHOUT REQUESTING APPROVAL.

SO STAFF ASKED HGOR TO ADJUST THE NUMBER OF HOURS ON THE CONTRACT ALLOCATED TO EACH TASK.

THE REVISED COST PROPOSAL OF $80,000 BETTER MATCHES OUR ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BUDGET, BUT WILL STILL PROVIDE A VERY HIGH QUALITY PLAN THAT MEETS THE CITY'S NEEDS.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT IS AVAILABLE IN THE FY 2425 COMMUNITY GRANTS FUND AND THEN WILL BE REIMBURSED BY ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION PER OUR GRANT AGREEMENT.

AGAIN, I RECOMMEND FIRST APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH HGOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $90,200 AND THEN APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE, WHICH REVISES THE CONTRACT COST TO $80,000 AND ESTABLISHES A PROJECT BUDGET OF $85,000.

I AND CITY ARBORIST K.

IVANOVICH ARE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE DO ALSO HAVE STEVE SANCHEZ FROM HGOR IN ATTENDANCE AS WELL, AND HE CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS AS NECESSARY.

THANK YOU. ARE THERE QUESTIONS? SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE TREE PLANTING STRATEGY.

WE HAD A PRESENTATION HERE ABOUT THE ROAD DIET ON CHURCH STREET.

AND SO AS WE'RE LOOKING AT PARKING THROUGHOUT, NUMBER ONE, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PUT TREES IN TO HELP DEFINE THAT PARKING.

SO I HOPE THAT'S WITHIN THE SCOPE.

SECOND OF ALL, OUR WHEN WE WHEN WE ADOPTED OUR TREE, WELL, SPECS LIKE TEN YEARS AGO I SHARED IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA SPECS AND THE CITY SPECS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER SINCE THEN.

I DON'T KNOW, STEVE. DID YOU WORK ON THOSE OR NOT? BUT THEY'VE GOT SOME REALLY GOOD TREE.

WELL, SPECS. AND SO I'M HOPING THAT AS PART OF THIS WE CAN KIND OF LOOK AT THAT AND IMPROVE OUR TREE.

WELL SPECS OUR FREE WILLS.

YEAH, THAT'LL CERTAINLY BE ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL COME OUT OF THE PLAN THAT WILL INFORM FUTURE WORK.

I DO ALSO THINK THAT CITY STAFF ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON UPDATES TO THE STREETSCAPE STANDARDS FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT WILL ALSO ADDRESS THOSE PLANTING NEEDS, AND AS WELL

[03:00:06]

AS THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE TREE CANOPY CONSERVATION ORDINANCE.

GOOD, GOOD. AND THEN THE LAST THING, WHICH IS A ONE OFF WITH MY OTHER JOB, I SHARED AN ARTICLE WITH YOU ABOUT THIS USING INCREASED CANOPY TO REDUCE THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURES IN CITIES, WHICH ACTUALLY HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR ENERGY NEEDS.

ARE WE CONSIDERING THAT AT ALL WITH OUR ENERGY PLAN OR OUR LOWERING AMBIENT TEMPERATURES THROUGH INCREASED CANOPY PART OF THAT? SO IN REGARDS TO OUR CLEAN ENERGY PLAN, THOSE TYPES OF STRATEGIES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN KIND OF OUR FEASIBLE PATHWAYS TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.

BUT WE ARE DOING OTHER PROJECTS.

SO YOU'VE SEEN THE TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY MONITORS THAT ARE ACROSS THE CITY.

SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH AGNES SCOTT PROFESSORS ON ANALYZING THAT DATA.

AND I THINK THAT THAT CAN BE USED AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, BUT ALSO PART OF THE KIND OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN TO SEE WHAT MEASURABLE IMPACTS TREE PLANTINGS WILL HAVE, AND THEN THAT USING THAT INFORMATION TO INFORM FUTURE PROJECTS AS WELL.

YEAH. SO I REALIZE WE'RE VOTING ON SOMETHING AND THEN VOTING TO REDUCE IT.

AND SOMEWHERE IN THE MEMO IT ALSO STATES THAT THE GRANT REQUESTED WENT FROM WHAT WE GOT INSTEAD OF 150 WAS 100.

CAN YOU SORT OF EXPLAIN HOW WHY IT NEEDS TO GO TO 85 INSTEAD OF STAY AT 90 WITH THAT $100,000 GRANT? SO THE GRANT IS NOT ONLY COVERING THE CREATION OF THIS PLAN, BUT IT IS ALSO COVERING ACTUAL PREVENTATIVE TREE MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES FOR THE PROJECT AREA. SO UPON COMPLETION OF THIS WORK, THEN WE WILL EITHER ISSUE ANOTHER RFP OR ISSUE A TASK ORDER TO AN EXISTING KIND OF ON CALL TREE CARE PROVIDER TO THEN GO DO THAT WORK AS IS APPROPRIATE BASED ON THE SEASON.

SO THAT REMAINING $20,000, IF WE WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, STRICTLY STICK TO THE BUDGET WILL THEN BE USED FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.

SO OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. NIFONG. SO I BELIEVE FIRST WE NEED TO APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH HGOR FOR PLANNING AND RELATED SERVICES FOR THE DOWNTOWN DECATUR CANOPY MANAGEMENT AND RESILIENCE PLAN IN THE AMOUNT OF 90,200.

IS THAT CORRECT AND OKAY.

IS THERE A MOTION TO, APPROVE THAT CONTRACT AS DESCRIBED.

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

FURTHER QUESTIONS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CHAIR. VOTES. AYE.

AND NOW WE NEED TO APPROVE A CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF A -10,200, REDUCING THE CONTRACT WITH HGOR TO $80,000.

I THINK THIS MAY BE THE FIRST NEGATIVE CHANGE.

A CHANGE ORDER FOR A NEGATIVE.

A LOWER AMOUNT.

SO, MR. SAXON, I HOPE I'M TRYING.

THERE CAN BE CHANGE ORDERS TO REDUCE THE COST.

SO THEY SOUND GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE? CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE IN THE AMOUNT OF A -10,200 TO REDUCE THAT CONTRACT WITH HDR, HDR TO 80,000.

DEFINITELY MAKE THAT MOTION.

OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES? AYE.

AND NOW, TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $85,000.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES. AYE.

AND MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'LL MOVE TO REQUESTS AND PETITIONS, AND WE WILL OPEN THE MEETING UP.

[VII. Requests and Petitions.]

NOW, FOR ANYONE WHO IS IN OUR AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD WITH A REQUEST OR A PETITION, THIS IS THE LAST TIME WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT IN THIS PARTICULAR MEETING.

SO I'LL OPEN IT UP.

IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

SEEING NO ONE AND OUR CITY COMMISSION MEETING ROOM, WE WILL OPEN THIS UP FOR COMMENTS FROM THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US ONLINE. IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO'S JOINED US ONLINE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BRING SOMETHING FORWARD TO THE CITY COMMISSION THIS EVENING, NOW IS THE TIME TO

[03:05:04]

RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND AND WE WILL CALL ON YOU AND ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE REQUEST AND PETITIONS PART OF THE MEETING AND WE WILL LOOK AT REPORTS

[VIII. Reports and Other Business]

AND OTHER BUSINESS.

A COUPLE OF AGENDAS TO READ.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET IN THIS ROOM ON DECEMBER THE 10TH AT 7 P.M..

THE NEW BUSINESS THAT THEY WILL CONSIDER ARE THE OAKHURST CENTER FOR COMMUNITY IS REQUESTING A LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT FROM RL LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO RM MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL CATEGORY FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 232 EAST LAKE DRIVE AND THE COMMUNITY.

THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY IS REQUESTING A REZONING FROM R 60 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO RM 22 MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT FOR THE USE OF A ROOMING HOME WITH PROFESSIONAL ON SITE STAFFING AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR WOMEN AT 232 EAST LAKE DRIVE.

THESE. IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THESE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND THE MEETING OR SEND AN EMAIL.

AND IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS TO, PLEASE BRING THOSE FORWARD SO THAT THOSE CAN BE DISCUSSED AT THAT MEETING, AND THEN WE WILL CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

OUR LAST MEETING IN DECEMBER.

AND THEN I BELIEVE THE COMMUNITY, THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AGENDA, IS JUST AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY WILL NOT MEET IN DECEMBER AND WILL MEET AGAIN IN JANUARY FOR THEIR FIRST MEETING.

WE ALSO HAVE A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION OF NOVEMBER 18TH, 2024.

AND I BELIEVE THERE IS A CORRECTION THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD.

THERE IS. I WAS NOT PRESENT DURING THAT WORK SESSION OR EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO I ASK THAT THE RESOLUTION BE REWRITTEN TO EXCLUDE ME FROM MINUTES.

THANK YOU FOR NOTICING THAT.

AND WE WILL WE'LL EDIT IT.

AND THEN THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER A VERSION OF THIS RESOLUTION WITH YOUR NAME OMITTED.

THANK YOU. SO YOU CAN, YOU CAN APPROVE IT AS AMENDED TONIGHT.

GOT IT. SO IT WOULD REMOVE.

MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS AS ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS PRESENT, I BELIEVE IN ONE OF THE WHEREASES.

AND I BELIEVE IT'S IN A COUPLE OF PLACES, A COUPLE OF WHEREASES.

SO. SO IT WILL.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION R-24-XX, AS AMENDED.

MOVE TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES. AYE, AND I ABSTAIN.

AND WE HAVE ONE ABSTENTION.

ALL RIGHT. AND NEXT, THE 2025 CITY COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE.

MISS ARNOLD? YES.

DO YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING DATES FOR 2025.

AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE ARE IN CERTAIN CASES, THEY MOVED FROM A MONDAY TO A TUESDAY AND TWO PLACES WHERE THERE ARE HOLIDAYS. WE ALSO AM RECOMMENDING MOVING FROM THE WINTER BREAK FOR THE SCHOOLS WINTER BREAK IN FEBRUARY. HOWEVER, WE ARE REMAINING WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE STILL HAVE THE MEETING IN APRIL, WHICH IS SPRING BREAK.

AND I ALSO HAVE WE WILL COMMIT TO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO TRY TO KEEP THAT MEETING LIGHT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT A LOT OF FOLKS MAY BE OUT OF TOWN.

I KNOW WE JUST CAN'T NECESSARILY CHANGE OUR MEETINGS EVERY TIME THERE'S A CONFLICT.

SO CERTAINLY WE'RE MAKING AN ACCOMMODATION ONCE DURING THE, DURING THE YEAR, AND THEN ALSO A RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE JUST ONE MEETING IN JULY, AND THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE MEETING THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE SCHEDULED ON MONDAY, JULY 7TH.

AROUND THE 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY.

SO ALLOW FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK IN THE SUMMER WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IF WE NEED TO HAVE A MEETING DURING THAT TIME OR ANY ACTUALLY ANY TIME THAT'S NOT ON THE SCHEDULE THIS BODY CAN ALWAYS HAVE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.

[03:10:03]

BUT THESE ARE THE DATES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT FORWARD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR 2025.

OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2025 AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED.

SECOND. SECOND.

IT'S BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

OTHER DISCUSSION.

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

AND I DID ASK THE CITY MANAGER IF MAYBE WE COULD GET LIKE HOLES SENT US FOR OUR CALENDARS SO WE WOULD HAVE THEM AT LEAST. WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT TIME THE OTHER WORK SESSIONS AND DINNER MIGHT BEGIN, BUT WE WOULD HAVE ALL THE RIGHT DATES ON OUR CALENDARS FOR THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE AS REMINDERS AS WE MAKE PLANS.

SO MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO SAY IF WE COULD START THOSE HOLES AT 5:00 AND JUST BECAUSE I HAVE OTHER PEOPLE MANAGING OUR SCHEDULE AND TRY TO POP THINGS IN WHEN WE DON'T.

OKAY. SECOND.

OKAY. I HEAR YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE CAN THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOT SOMETHING PLANNED PLAN TO UP TO THAT MEETING TIME.

SO I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THE ACTUAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING STARTS AT 7:30, BUT HOLDING THE CALENDAR TILL OPEN IT STARTING AT FIVE IS HELPFUL FOR EVERYONE.

SO. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. I'LL ASK THE CITY MANAGER IF SHE HAS OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS.

WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DAVID NIFONG COME FORWARD.

THERE'S AN ESV PROGRAM THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO SHARE WITH THE GROUP.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT A NEW INITIATIVE THAT THE ESB IS PLANNING TO START IN SPRING OF NEXT YEAR.

AS YOU MAY RECALL FROM THEIR WORK SESSION EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE IDEA OF RECOGNIZING THE DECATUR HOMES AND PROPERTIES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, EXHIBIT SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING PRACTICES WOULD BE A, WELL, YOU KNOW, WORTHWHILE IDEA.

AND SO IN 2025, THEY ARE PLANNING TO ESTABLISH WHAT IS, I THINK, TENTATIVELY KNOWN RIGHT NOW AS THE DECATUR HOMETOWN HABITATS PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD BE A KIND OF QUARTERLY RECOGNITION IN THE DECATUR FOCUS AND THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS OF HOMEOWNERS EXHIBITING THOSE PRACTICES.

SO THE FIRST ONE IS PLANNED FOR MARCH OF 2025.

AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, WE DO ENVISION THERE TO BE SOME SORT OF NOMINATION PROCESS FOR THAT.

AND SO SEEING AS THAT IDEA AGAIN, ORIGINATED IN THIS ROOM, THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO COME BACK AND TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT THAT.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT IT'S ALSO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, GOING TO BE THAT TIME AGAIN FOR THE ESB TO COME BACK AND DO ANOTHER WORK SESSION.

AND SO I'M SURE WE CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION OF IT THERE.

BUT IF THERE'S ANY FEEDBACK OR COMMENTS THAT YOU ALL WANT ME TO PASS ALONG NOW, I'M HAPPY TO DO SO.

BUT YOU'LL BE SEEING MORE UPDATES AS THAT PROGRAM DEVELOPS.

THANK YOU. MY WIFE WILL BE VERY EXCITED.

YEAH. BUT WE ALSO MAY WANT TO LET TERESA [INAUDIBLE] AND OTHERS KNOW ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THEY PROBABLY WOULD BE EXCITED AND WANT TO PROMOTE IT.

YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

I DID SAY, AND I GET TO TALK TO A COUPLE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS HERE AND THERE, BUT PLEASE GIVE THEM OUR YOU KNOW, OUR KUDOS THAT THEY TOOK A LOT OF INITIATIVE TO TAKE AN IDEA THAT WAS KIND OF MENTIONED IN THE ROOM.

WOULDN'T THAT BE COOL? WE DO THAT A LOT, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE IDEATING THROUGH CONVERSATION.

BUT I THINK THEY'VE REALLY TAKEN IT ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH LINE IN A VERY COOL WAY.

AGAIN, WITH A LOT OF ORIGINALITY AND INITIATIVE AND JUST DESIRE TO SHOWCASE A DIFFERENT WAY OF HAVING A LANDSCAPE WHICH IS VERY DECATUR TO SO. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. EXCITED TO HEAR MORE.

AND OUR CITY ARBORIST, K IVANOVICH HAS SOMETHING TO SHARE.

I PROMISE. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU ALL AWARE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR TREES FOR TOYS EVENT ON SATURDAY FROM 5 TO 8 OR 4 TO 8, AND WE'LL BE GIVING AWAY SINCE WE'VE HAD REQUESTS FROM THE DOWNTOWN CONDO OWNERS FOR SMALLER TREES THAT THEY COULD MAYBE DO ON THEIR PATIOS.

SO THIS YEAR WE HAVE A SELECTION OF CHRISTMAS JEWEL HOLLIES, WHICH ARE SMALL AND VERY PRETTY TREES THAT YOU CAN POP AND ACTUALLY GROW ON YOUR PORCHES, PLUS 50 DOGWOODS, 50 BALD CYPRESS, AND ALL ANYBODY HAS TO DO IS BRING A TOY UNWRAPPED TOY TO THE BANDSTAND AREA ON THE DECATUR SQUARE RIGHT BEFORE THE TREE LIGHTING.

[03:15:02]

WE'LL BE THERE ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT.

DROP OFF A TOY AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A TREAT.

IS THAT ON THURSDAY OR SATURDAY? ON SATURDAY? SATURDAY.

BECAUSE OUR TREE LIGHTING IS THURSDAY NIGHT.

OH, IT IS THURSDAY. OOPS.

SORRY. WE CHANGED IT, SO MY APOLOGIES.

IT IS DURING THE TREE LIGHTING.

SO. OH, IT IS BEFORE THE TREE LIGHTING? YES. OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

NO, I'LL BE OUT THERE SATURDAY AS WELL.

BUT YEAH, WE'LL BE THERE ON THE TREE LIGHTING ALSO.

OKAY, GREAT.

THANKS FOR BEING SO RESPONSIVE TO THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORS FOR THAT.

SO. AND I THINK THAT'S IT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT. COMMISSIONER MEYER.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY COMMENTS TODAY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'M REALLY EXCITED TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT GIVES YOU A TREE FOR DONATING A TOY.

THAT'S REALLY AWESOME.

YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE THAT.

THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.

JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, KUDOS TO GREG WHITE, HALL OF FAMER.

COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.

GOOD TO HAVE HIM THERE. I REALLY LIKE THE PRESENTATION ON TOURISM.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT KIND OF TOURISM AND ART AND THESE NEW HOTELS, AND I'VE ADVOCATED FOR A FEW TIMES, BUT THE THOUGHT OF TAKING SOME OF OUR BED TAX AND INVESTING IT IN ART, LIKE IN A BIG WAY.

SOMETHING I JUST WANT TO KIND OF BRING TO THE FOREFRONT AGAIN AND THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE JUST SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE US TO LOOK AT THAT.

AND THEN I MENTIONED LAST TIME I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HOMELESS.

IT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR A BIT.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS. I WORKED ON HOUSING FOR CONGRESSMAN LEWIS STARTING IN THE 90S, AND I'VE WORKED IN PARKS, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF INTERACTION WITH THOSE WHO ARE UNHOUSED. I RAN A MEN'S SHELTER FOR A YEAR.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WITH DOWNTOWN DECATUR NEIGHBORS, WHEN YOU LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE UNHOUSED ARE IN DECATUR REALLY WAS KIND OF A BIGGER ISSUE FOR FOLKS HERE.

AND I'VE ALSO BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THE ATLANTA METRO CHAMBER.

ATLANTA PROGRESS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS DOWNTOWN REIMAGINED EFFORT.

TRYING TO REVITALIZE THEIR DOWNTOWN.

AND I BELIEVE YOU SAID IT.

LAST MEETING WAS IN A SEPARATE CONVERSATION THAT THEY HELD DECATUR UP AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A GOOD TOWN SHOULD BE.

SO WE SHOULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES WITH THAT.

BUT THEY ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE KIND OF THE, THE COMING OF THE WORLD CUP.

AND I REACHED OUT, I SPOKE TO THE MAYOR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, TO THE CHAMBER AND SAID, YOU KNOW, HEY, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR DOWNTOWN, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT SALT WORKING TO SOLVE YOUR UNHOUSED PROGRAM, DECATUR WANTS TO BE PART OF THAT.

AND SO JUST WANT TO SAY I REACHED OUT TO THAT.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR LEADERSHIP.

I'VE SEEN WE'VE SEEN REALLY STRONG LEADERSHIP FROM MAYOR DICKENS AND ACTUALLY FROM THE METRO CHAMBER.

AND SO I'M JUST HAPPY THAT WE WILL HAVE A MEETING AND BE WORKING WITH THEM TO TRY TO DO THAT.

AND THEN LASTLY, JUST, YOU KNOW, PHILOSOPHICALLY, FOR ME, I THINK THAT A LOT OF ENERGY, A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF MONEY GOES INTO MAKING, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS WHO WE'RE WORKING WITH, WHO ARE UNFORTUNATELY, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT A HOME.

AND I JUST AS WE INVEST THAT MONEY THAT TIME AND THAT EFFORT, I REALLY WANT TO SAY THAT MOVING FOLKS FROM BEING UNHOUSED TO BEING HOUSED, AS OPPOSED TO SOMEHOW MAKING IT EASIER TO BE UNHOUSED, IS WHERE I THINK WE SHOULD BE MAKING OUR INVESTMENTS.

AND IT'S HARDER TO DO THAT, AND IT'S SOMETIMES MORE PAINFUL AND MORE CHALLENGING EMOTIONALLY TO DO THAT.

BUT IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN MAKING INVESTMENTS OF UP TO $1 MILLION A YEAR IN WORKING WITH UNHOUSED.

HOPEFULLY WITH THE NEW LEADERSHIP AT DEKALB COUNTY, HOPEFULLY WORKING WITH METRO LAND CHAMBER IN ATLANTA, WE CAN DIG IN AND WE HAVE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS.

SO I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE STAFF AND MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE MADE THESE INVESTMENTS, BUT I'M VERY VESTED IN THIS.

I THINK THAT THE UNHOUSED PROBABLY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

WE'RE MAKING TREMENDOUS PROJECT PROGRESS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS AND TO HELP US CONTINUE TO GET TO A BETTER PLACE WITH THAT.

THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY FOR THOSE COMMENTS AND BROACHING THAT TOPIC TONIGHT.

AND I WANTED TO ALSO MENTION THAT I WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SPOT, AS WE ALL HAVE BEEN OFFERED THIS YEAR, TO WRITE IN THE FOCUS AND CONTRIBUTE INFORMATION, A VIEWPOINT.

MINE WAS REALLY TO ALLOW FOR A LEVEL SET TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE WORK THAT THE CITY HAS DONE RELATIVE TO OUR HOMELESS OR OTHERWISE CALLED UNSHELTERED POPULATION.

WE CAN SAY EITHER REALLY, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO AS LONG AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

SO I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE HAD, UP TO THIS POINT, SHARED FACTS, IDEAS OF WHAT THE HOLISTIC, CONCERTED EFFORT HAS BEEN TO THIS

[03:20:06]

POINT BY OUR CITY.

AND YET ALSO FROM MY STANDPOINT, GETTING TO SAY WE HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH.

IT'S A VERY CHALLENGING AND NUANCED PROBLEM, AND WE'RE ALL STILL DIGGING IN AND CARE ABOUT IT AND WORRY ABOUT IT AND WANT TO DO MORE. I REFER TO IT AS HUMANITARIAN RELIEF, BUT THERE IS ALSO THIS SHIFT TOWARD HELPING PEOPLE MOVE TOWARD A MORE RESILIENT OR SUSTAINABLE WAY OF LIVING THAT ISN'T OUTSIDE, AND THAT THAT WILL LOOK DIFFERENT FOR EACH PERSON.

I PERSONALLY HAVE A VERY DEAR LOVED ONE WHO WAS UNSHELTERED FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS OF HIS LIFE, AND OUR FAMILY HAD TO CONTINUALLY REEVALUATE WHAT MAYBE SUCCESS OR A DIFFERENT OUTCOME WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THAT WOULD BE, AND YET CONTINUE TO CARE FOR THAT PERSON, HAVE RESPECT FOR THEM, AND SEE ALL, ALL ASPECTS OF WHAT IT COULD BE TO BE IN THAT POSITION.

AND IT'S SOMETIMES SURPRISING WHO LANDS IN A, IN AN THE UNFORTUNATE POSITION OF LIVING OUTSIDE AND NOT HAVING EVEN TEMPORARY SHELTER. SO I'VE BEEN VERY KEENLY INTERESTED IN THIS ENDEAVOR AS WELL AS WE ALL HAVE, AND TRYING TO LEARN ON THE ON THE JOB. I KNOW YOU HAVE MORE FORMAL EXPERIENCE.

MINE HAS BEEN THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING ON THE COMMISSION AND THE INSIGHTS THAT WE COULD GET FROM BEING CLOSE TO STAFF LIKE GREG WHITE, WHO'S ALWAYS MADE IT SOMETHING NOT INTIMIDATING, BUT AN OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO JUST HELP PEOPLE AND HOW TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR NEIGHBORS IN THAT SENSE, AND WHO ALSO WANT TO DO BETTER AND FEEL BETTER.

SO THAT'S THE POSITION I'VE TAKEN, WHICH IS TO ALSO HELP TO INFORM.

AND THE MAYOR AND I WERE TALKING JUST I THINK EARLIER TODAY, I THINK AFTER THIS, THE THIS YEAR, THE, THE POSITIONS WE'VE TAKEN TO BE IN PLACES TO BE IN CONVERSATION AND TALK ABOUT DECATUR, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE AT LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP OF ELECTED IN PARTICULAR IN COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN THE COUNTY.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYONE WHO CAN SAY ON THE GOVERNMENT SIDE, MAYBE SCHOOLS ARE DIFFERENT, THAT THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE, THAT IT'S SHOULD BE FIRST AND FOREMOST IN OUR MINDS AS LEADERS.

AND THAT IN PARTICULAR, DECATUR CARRIES A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE, PARTICULARLY RELATIVE TO OUR DENSITY AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT AND THE WAY WE RUN OUR CITY, WHICH IS TO BE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE AND PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD.

SO I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN SAY THEY DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH THIS AND THAT WE NEED HELP.

WE NEED A BROADER SOLUTION TO PLUG INTO, AS YOU'VE SAID ELOQUENTLY AND HAVE SAID IN PUBLIC FORUMS TO LEADERSHIP AS WELL, THAT AND WE HAVE ECHOED THAT EVERY TIME WE GOT A CHANCE. SO I HOPE EVERYONE READS IT IN THE FOCUS.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THAT MUCH BANDWIDTH ON A PAGE.

AND I GOT SUPPORT FROM STAFF AS WELL.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

TO CIRCLE BACK QUICKLY TO THE TRACK AND FIELD.

THANK YOU TO DAVID HARBIN FOR BEING AT OUR MEETING TONIGHT REPRESENTING SCHOOLS.

THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, BUT I VERY MUCH VALUE THE PARTNERSHIP WE'VE HAD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS IN TALKING ABOUT THIS AND DREAMING ABOUT IT AND CONCEIVING OF WHAT THE PARTNERSHIP OR THE SHARED USE COULD LOOK LIKE.

AND SO I THINK IT'S MORE THAN JUST AN AGREEMENT THAT WE ADOPTED.

THAT'S WORDS ON PAPER, BUT IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED AND SHARE IN THE EXPERIENCE AND COME BACK TO THE TABLE AS IT NEEDS TO BE REEVALUATED.

AND I KNOW THAT YOUR INTENTION IS THE SAME AS OURS, THE VALUE EQUATION AND WHAT YOU WANT FOR ALL OF OUR ATHLETES AND STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS THE SAME.

SO THANKS FOR BEING HERE TOO.

WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY TONIGHT.