Jan 21, 2025 Work Session &amp; City Commission

>> LET'S SEE. BEAR WITH ME ONE SECOND.

I'M ON THE FIRST PAGE, PAGE 1.

THIS TALKS REALLY WHAT I JUST MENTIONED AS FAR AS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO COVER THIS EVENING.

REAL QUICK, I DID INTRODUCE MYSELF, AND I KNOW ANDREA AND RUSS BOTH MENTIONED RYAN JONES AS WELL.

RYAN JONES WAS THE ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR.

I THINK RUSS STATED IT PRETTY WELL THAT RYAN WAS MORE INVOLVED IN THE OPERATIONS OF DAY TO DAY DIRECTING THE AUDIT PROCESS.

TIM LYONS, WHO SOME OF Y'ALL MAY REMEMBER, HAS PLAYED DIFFERENT ROLES ON THE ENGAGEMENT.

NOWADAYS, HE DOESN'T PLAY MUCH OF A DIRECT ROLE, BUT HE IS OUR QUALITY CONTROL PARTNER.

FOR ALL OF OUR AUDITS OF THE CITY'S SIZE, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT PARTNER REVIEW CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE FILE AND ELEMENTS OF THE REPORT THAT WE ISSUE JUST TO ENSURE THAT IS PART OF OUR QUALITY CONTROL PROCESS THERE.

THE DASHBOARD THERE ON THE SCREEN AS WELL IS JUST SOME UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIRM, ABOUT OUR GOVERNMENTAL PRACTICE AND WITHIN THE FIRM AS WELL.

ON THE NEXT PAGE HERE, THIS IS SOME OF THE OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT WE SERVE, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

JUST SOME INFORMATION THERE IF YOU WANTED TO PERUSE.

THEN ON PAGE 4, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY.

RUSS MENTIONED THE TIMELINE THAT THE AUDIT TAKES PLACE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE CITY IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AUDITED BY EXTERNAL AUDITORS AND SUBMITTED TO THE STATE OF GEORGIA WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF ITS YEAR END.

I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE COMPLIED WITH THAT, AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONDUCT OUR AUDIT AND ISSUE OUR AUDIT REPORTS FOR THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THAT LAW.

WE ISSUED, AS IT STATES HERE, AND AS RUSS STATED, AN UNMODIFIED AUDIT REPORT.

WE OFTENTIMES REFER TO THAT AS A CLEAN OPINION.

JUST LIKE IT SAYS THERE, THAT MEANS THAT WE CONSIDERED THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO PRESENT FAIRLY IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS, THE FINANCIAL POSITION AND THE RESULTS OF THE OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR END OF JUNE 30, 2024.

AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT PAGE, WE DID ISSUE SOME OTHER REPORTS, A YELLOW BOOK REPORT, AND WE ALSO AS PART OF A SEPARATE DOCUMENT, ISSUE OUR SINGLE AUDIT REPORT.

THAT'S FOR ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS OVER 750,000 IN FEDERAL EXPENDITURES DURING THE YEAR, IS REQUIRED TO UNDERGO A SINGLE AUDIT, AND WE DID ISSUE OUR REPORTS ON THAT AS WELL.

I'LL COVER SOME OF THOSE RESULTS A LITTLE LATER THROUGH HERE.

THE CITY ALSO ISSUES AND PREPARES A ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.

WE CALL IT AN ACFR.

YOU'LL SEE THERE ON PAGE 5 THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE ACFR.

THE ADDED ELEMENTS ARE THE INTRODUCTORY SECTION AND THE STATISTICAL SECTION, AS WELL AS THERE ARE SOME TWEAKS THROUGHOUT THE FINANCIAL SECTION THAT IS REQUIRED FOR IT TO QUALIFY AS AN ACFR.

THE ACFR WAS PRESENTED TO THE GFOA.

AGAIN, WE WERE WITHIN THE DEADLINE FOR THEIR PROGRAM AS WELL, WHICH IS SIX MONTHS.

THE CITY DID RECEIVE THE AWARD FOR THE JUNE 30, 2023 ACFR THAT WAS PREPARED AND WE REPORTED ON LAST YEAR, AND THIS YEAR'S ACFR WAS ALSO SENT FOR CONSIDERATION IN THEIR PROGRAM, AND WE EXPECT THAT THE CITY WILL RECEIVE THAT AGAIN AS WELL.

ON PAGE 7, THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THE NUMBERS.

I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH IT FAIRLY QUICKLY, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW.

I KNOW RUSS COVERED A GOOD AMOUNT OF ALL OF THIS.

THE CITY AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO AT THE BOTTOM THERE THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE,

[00:25:02]

SO THIS IS ALL THE FUNDS OF THE CITY ALL PUT TOGETHER WITH ALL THE ASSETS, ALL THE LIABILITIES.

RUSS MENTIONED THE LIABILITIES LIKE THE PENSION AND THE DEBT, AND THE LONG-TERM LIABILITIES RELATED TO THE SCHOOLS.

ALL OF THAT IS WRAPPED UP IN THESE NUMBERS ON THIS PAGE.

THE CITY'S TOTAL ASSETS WERE APPROXIMATELY $207 MILLION AND OFFSET BY LIABILITIES OF ABOUT $232 MILLION AT JUNE 30, 2024, RESULTING IN A NEGATIVE NET POSITION OR EQUITY, IF YOU WILL, OF $25.4 MILLION.

AS RUSS STATED, AND I AGREE THAT IS MOSTLY DRIVEN BY THE LIABILITIES THAT GASB DOES REQUIRE TO BE REPORTED IN THOSE STATEMENTS THAT AREN'T REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED IN THE FUND LEVEL STATEMENTS, I'LL ADD, LIKE THE PENSION AND OPEB LIABILITIES AS WELL AS THE LONG-TERM LIABILITY RELATED TO THE CITY SCHOOLS DECATUR.

THE NET POSITION, IT'S COMPOSED OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS.

ONE IS THE NET INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL ASSETS, AND IT WAS APPROXIMATELY $52.8 MILLION.

THAT'S ALL THE CITY'S CAPITAL ASSETS MINUS THE LONG-TERM LIABILITIES USED TO IMPROVE OR PURCHASE OR CONSTRUCT THOSE ASSETS.

THERE WAS ALSO A RESTRICTED NET POSITION IN THE AMOUNT OF $15.2 MILLION.

THIS IS EITHER RESTRICTED BY OUTSIDE PARTIES OR ENABLING LEGISLATION, AND THEN LEAVING AN UNRESTRICTED NET POSITION OF $93 MILLION FOR THE SAME REASONS WE JUST DISCUSSED.

>> ADAM?

>> YES, SIR.

>> ARE WE INCLUDING THE VALUE OF OUR ROADS AND SIDEWALKS IN THOSE ASSETS?

>> YES, SIR.

>> ALL OF THAT, AND THAT'S TYPICALLY OBVIOUSLY WITH THE CITY GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE BRIDGES AND ROADS AND ARE THOSE MAKE UP A LARGE PORTION OF THOSE CAPITAL ASSETS.

AS WELL AS ALL OF THAT, OBVIOUSLY CITY HALL AND EVERYTHING CONTAINED.

>> THE CHANGE IN NET POSITION FOR THE YEAR WAS ABOUT $13.3 MILLION.

YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT PARAGRAPH.

THEN ON PAGE 8, I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY THE MAIN OPERATING FUND OF THE CITY.

RUSS TALKED ABOUT TOTAL REVENUES, TOTAL EXPENDITURES, THESE CHARTS, AND THIS FIRST ONE HERE SHOWS A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE REVENUES IN A PIE CHART FORMAT, SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE MAKEUP IS OF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND REVENUES.

THEN ON PAGE 9, YOU'LL SEE A SIMILAR CHART FOR THE GENERAL FUNDS EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR.

THEN AT THE BOTTOM A FIVE YEAR COMPARISON OF HOW THOSE BEHAVE.

ONE THING YOU'LL NOTE IN LOOKING AT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IS THAT BOTH REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES DID INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR, BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY'RE COMPARED TO EACH OTHER THERE FOR THE 2024 COLUMN.

RUSS TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FUND BALANCE AND ITS RELATIONS TO EXPENDITURES.

THAT'S A MEASURE THAT WE NORMALLY LOOK AT.

YOU'LL SEE A FIVE YEAR TREND ON THAT AS WELL THERE, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT FOR 2024, RUSS MENTIONED THAT 20-30 RANGE.

RIGHT THERE, IT SHOWS 31.6%.

THAT 31.6%, THAT IS THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.

IF YOU'LL REMEMBER THE TOTAL FUND BALANCE WAS ABOUT $15 MILLION, AND THE UNASSIGNED WAS $11 MILLION.

THAT $11 MILLION DIVIDED BY THE TOTAL ANNUAL EXPENDITURES OF THE GENERAL FUND IS THAT $31.6 MILLION.

THEN, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IT TALKS ON THE REST OF THE PAGE ABOUT [OVERLAPPING]. YEAH.

>> 31.6%.

>> YES. DID I SAY MILLION?

>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER]

>> SORRY. YES, THAT IS CORRECT. THANK YOU, RUSS.

THE REST OF THE PAGE TALKS ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, THE BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES, AND EVEN THE FIDUCIARY ACTIVITIES THAT THE CITY HAS AND IS REQUIRED TO REPORT UNDER GASB.

THEN ON PAGE 11, AND THIS GOES FOR A COUPLE OF PAGES HERE, RUSS MENTIONED THE FOOTNOTES.

CERTAINLY, READ THROUGH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ENJOY YOURSELF WITH THAT, OR YOU'VE GOT A CLIFF NOTES VERSION HERE OF WHAT EACH ONE OF THOSE FOOTNOTES TELLS YOU AS A READER, AND MAYBE YOU CAN TARGET YOUR REVIEWING FROM THERE ON WHAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU.

BUT THIS IS THAT CLIFF NOTES VERSION FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE FOOTNOTES AND WHAT THEY'RE COVERING.

AGAIN, THAT GOES THROUGH PAGE 12 AS WELL.

THEN THESE ARE THE OTHER TWO REPORTS THAT I MENTIONED THAT WE ISSUED.

THE YELLOW BOOK REPORT, WHICH IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS, AND THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORT FOR THE SINGLE AUDIT ACT FOR THE EXPENDITURES IN EXCESS OF $750,000 FOR FEDERAL EXPENDITURES.

[00:30:07]

WE ISSUED BOTH OF THOSE REPORTS AND THEY WERE BOTH UNMODIFIED REPORTS AS WELL.

THEN ON PAGE 14, SO THIS IS ARE REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS.

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

AS YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER, I DO LIKE TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO THE AUDIT PROCESS AND US JUST DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

DID WE ENCOUNTER ANY SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTIES IN THE AUDIT? I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE DID NOT.

THE AUDIT IS NOT A FUN PROCESS, I REALIZE ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON FOR THE CITY'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF REQUESTS, AND MANAGEMENT AND EVERYBODY WE DEALT WITH WAS VERY COOPERATIVE IN GETTING US THOSE ITEMS. IT WAS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, AND IT MADE THE AUDIT PROCESS GO SMOOTH.

DIDN'T HAVE ANY DISAGREEMENTS EITHER OVER ANY ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO BE ABLE TO REPORT IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

ON THE NEXT PAGE, AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS, WE DID HAVE SOME AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS.

THEY WERE PROPOSED TO MANAGEMENT, AGREED TO BY MANAGEMENT AND BEEN POSTED BOTH TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO AGAIN ENSURE THAT THEY'RE MATERIALLY CORRECT, AND ALSO TO THE CITY'S JOURNAL LEDGER SYSTEM, SO THAT THEY'RE IN LINE, OF COURSE.

WE DID NOT HAVE ANY UNCORRECTED MISSTATEMENTS, MEANING ALL THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE AUDIT THEY WERE POSTED.

THEN FINALLY, INDEPENDENCE IS THE CORNERSTONE OF WHAT WE DO.

YOU ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO HAVE AN EXTERNAL AUDIT BY CPAS THAT ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE CITY, AND WE ARE IN BOTH FACT AND APPEARANCE, INDEPENDENT OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.

>> I'M GOING TO FLIP FORWARD TO PAGE 18 NOW.

AS PART OF THE AUDIT, WE ARE REQUIRED BY THE STANDARDS, AND THERE'S SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS OF WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED AS A FINDING IN THE CITY'S AUDIT.

I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ANY FINDINGS THAT WE WERE REQUIRED TO REPORT. THAT'S GOOD.

THAT MEANS MANAGEMENT IS DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION IN HERE AND THERE'S A LOT OF INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT GO INTO MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS REPORTED CORRECTLY BEFORE THE AUDITORS COME IN, AND THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

GREAT JOB. WE DID HAVE WHAT WE CALL A MANAGEMENT POINT, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT REQUIRED TO BE A FINDING, BUT JUST SOMETHING ELSE WE NOTED AS A BYPRODUCT OF DOING THE AUDIT.

YOU'LL SEE THERE THAT ON OUR PURCHASING CARD APPROVAL TESTING, WE SELECTED 25 RANDOMLY, AND OF THOSE, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY APPROVAL BEING DOCUMENTED FOR FOUR OF THOSE TRANSACTIONS THAT TOTALED ABOUT $2,400.

SOMETHING JUST BE MINDFUL OF JUST A MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION THERE.

THEN THE REST OF THE DOCUMENT IS SOME OF THE NEW FUND GASB STANDARDS THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE THAT WE'RE OFTENTIMES COMMUNICATING AND TALKING WITH MANAGEMENT ABOUT AND STEVE GARBER AS AN ARM OF YOU-ALL'S MANAGEMENT, AS WELL, JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU-ALL ARE ABREAST OF WHAT'S COMING AND HOW THOSE WILL IMPACT THE CITY'S FINANCES.

THAT GOES ON FOR SEVERAL PAGES HERE THROUGH PAGE 23.

THEN THE LAST FEW PAGES OF OUR AUDIT DISCUSSION ANALYSIS HERE IS REALLY JUST A REMINDER.

WE DO STILL PERFORM FREE CONTINUING EDUCATION AND IT'S FREE TO OUR CLIENTS.

YOU'LL SEE BOTTOM OF PAGE 24 THERE AND THE TOP OF PAGE 25, A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT SUBJECTS WE'VE TAUGHT AND WE DO THOSE QUARTERLY SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT AND IF YOU WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY OF THOSE, PLEASE REACH OUT.

FLIPPING OVER TO PAGE 27.

YOU'LL SEE IN THE COLORED LITTLE QUADRANTS THERE, OFTENTIMES WE'RE CALLED ON FROM OUR GOVERNMENT ADVISORY PRACTICE TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS RELATED TO OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENTS OR JUST LOOKING INTO INTERN CONTROLS AND STREAMLINING THINGS AND MAKING THE GOVERNMENT MORE EFFECTIVE IN ITS PROCESSES.

WE DO HAVE A TEAM DEDICATED TO THAT SHOULD THE CITY EVER BE INTERESTED AND DAVID ROBERTS THERE IS THE PARTNER IN CHARGE OF THAT PRACTICE.

THEN ON PAGE 29, WE ALSO HAVE A DEDICATED GOVERNMENTAL IT AND CYBER TEAM, AND THEY PERFORM,

[00:35:02]

CYBERSECURITY ASSESSMENTS, LOOKING AT CYBER FRAMEWORK, CONTINUED MONITORING OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AS WELL AND SO IF YOU-ALL EVER HAVE A NEED FOR THAT, CERTAINLY LET US KNOW ON THAT AS WELL.

IN CLOSING, WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE COOPERATION THAT WE GET DURING THE AUDIT, AND IT'S A LOT OF WORK, AND IT'S VERY GOOD COOPERATION, SO WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT BUT THAT DOES IN MY PRESENTATION, IF YOU'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.

>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, AS WELL AS THE HARD WORK OF THE CITY STAFF EVERY YEAR.

I HAD JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS NOT NECESSARILY FOR YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CONTINUING EDUCATION, DO OUR EMPLOYEES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT MALDEN JENKINS OFFERS?

>> I KNOW THAT I'VE SEEN YOU-ALL THERE IN THE PAST.

YOU PROBABLY CAN SPEAK BETTER TO THAT RUSS.

>> YEAH, WE DO. MALDEN JENKINS JUST DID AN ALL-DAY WEBINAR, WHICH WAS APPRECIATED.

THAT WAS LONG, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE CONTENT THAT WAS DISSEMINATED DURING THAT.

I THINK JOANNE HAS SIGNED UP FOR THE OTHER ONE. THERE WAS TWO DATES.

WE DO, ESPECIALLY DEPENDING ON THE AGENDA AND HOW RELEVANT THE CONTENT IS GOING TO SEEM TO BE TO OUR WORK BUT M&J, THEY DO A GOOD JOB AT PROVIDING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES PERIODICALLY.

WE DO TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.

>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR ADAM OR RUSS? I DO JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER WITH RESPECT TO THE CREDIT CARD REPORTING.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO BE FOLLOWED UP WITH RESPECT TO I'M ASSUMING THAT THE CITY WAS MADE AWARE OF WHERE THOSE GAPS WERE AND WHAT'S NEEDED IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT'S MAYBE TAKEN CARE OF DIFFERENTLY.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. I'LL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH RUSS WITH OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR AND JUST TO FIND OUT REALLY WHETHER THERE'S SOMETHING SYSTEMIC THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE OR WHETHER IT WAS JUST A ONE-OFF ISOLATED INCIDENT BUT CERTAINLY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOT SOME SYSTEMIC ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON.

BUT I WILL STAY NOT HAVING FINDINGS FOR THE AUDIT REPORT I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND ALL STAFF, IN PARTICULAR, THE FINANCE STAFF FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A RARITY.

THE COMMISSION KNOWS THAT IT'S JUST SO RARE THAT THERE'S NOT SOME FINDING OR THE MATERIAL WEAKNESS.

WE HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WITH THERE BEING SO MANY STANDARDS, THE GASB STANDARDS AND PRINCIPLES AND AGAIN, THIS PILE ON FROM YEAR TO YEAR, THAT IT JUST GETS HARDER AND HARDER EVERY YEAR TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN ORDER.

YOU CAN TELL THAT I'M BEYOND ECSTATIC AND JUST REALLY PROUD OF OUR STAFF AND OUR ORGANIZATION THAT WE CAN SHARE THIS WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND SAY, YEAH, NOT ONLY IS THIS A CLEAN AUDIT, WHICH, OF COURSE, WE EXPECT THAT EVERY YEAR, BUT A CLEAN AUDIT WITHOUT THE FINDINGS.

IT REALLY IS NOTHING LESS THAN SPECTACULAR.

JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THAT.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WE CONTINUE TO WANT TO DO BETTER AND BE BETTER AND LEARN FROM ANY PAST MISTAKES.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS REFLECTS.

ALSO OVER THE YEARS, THE WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO THE ADVICE AND FEEDBACK RECEIVED FROM THE AUDITORS ALL THAT BEING REFLECTED IN THIS AUDIT DOCUMENT.

[00:40:02]

>> ABSOLUTELY. KUDOS. WE ALWAYS HAVE A CLEAN AUDIT.

YOU AS CITY MANAGER, HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES IN YOUR POSITION NOW AND AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND AS A FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND I THINK THE REQUIREMENTS GET MORE AND MORE.

I'M ALWAYS AMUSED AT, LIKE, HERE ARE THE NEW GASB STANDARDS, AND SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE IS SITTING AROUND MAKING UP NEW ONES, I THINK.

BUT, KUDOS TO OUR STAFF FOR THE FINE WORK THAT THEY DO AND CONTINUE TO DO.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER WALSH.

>> THANKS FOR THE WHOLE PRESENTATION, BUT JUST A LITTLE FEEDBACK ON THE 80% FUNDED RATIO ON THE RETIREMENT PLAN, AND THAT MAKES ME REALLY PROUD AND GRATEFUL FOR THE PART OF IT TOO THAT'S WITHIN OUR CONTROL THE DEGREE OF THE IMPROVED LIABILITY PIECE, BUT WE HOPE THE ASSET PERFORMANCE STAYS STRONG, BUT OBVIOUSLY IF WE CAN STAY IN THAT 80 RANGE, THAT'S GREAT AND I THINK HOPEFULLY THE EMPLOYEES ARE GRATEFUL AND I THINK THAT LEADS TO STABILITY AMONG OUR WORKFORCE AND OUR ORGANIZATION TOO, SO THANKS FOR REPORTING THAT TO US.

>> I JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE ARE A LITTLE IN THE WEEDS WITH THIS, BUT THIS IS BASICALLY THE CITY, AND ALL CITIES ARE REQUIRED TO DO THIS, BUT BASICALLY HIRING SOMEBODY OUTSIDE TO TAKE A LOOK AT US AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WELL WITH OUR FINANCES, WE'RE DOING WELL WITH OUR FINANCIAL PROCESSES, WE'RE DOING WELL, TRACK OUR NUMBERS AND YEAR AFTER YEAR, THEY COME BACK AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WERE CLOSER TO PERFECT THAN WE ARE NORMALLY, BUT WE DO PRETTY WELL WITH THIS.

IT'S JUST A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT WE GOT OUR EYES, AND WE CROSS OUR TS AND FOLLOW THE RULES AND DO A GOOD JOB WITH OUR FINANCIALS HERE INDICATOR.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TIP.

HOPEFULLY SIMPLIFY THAT MESSAGE IS THAT THE OUTSIDE ARE SAYING WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB SO THANKS.

>> MAYOR PRO TONY POWERS MAYBE.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO COME IN AND SAY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE KAFIR AND LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL POSITION, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE START TALKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS IN REGARDS TO OUR BUDGETING PROCESS AND HOW WE BUDGET THAT WE REALLY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE THE MONEY GOES WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO, AND WE ARE STREAMLINING OUR PROCESS SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS KNOW THAT WE DON'T JUST TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MONITORING OUR REPORTINGS KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AS WE TALK ABOUT MAYBE SHIFTS IN THE BUDGET OR THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE HAPPEN OR THINGS THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING IN THIS PROCESS AS WE MOVE THE DISCUSSION AROUND 581.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION LEADING INTO THAT CONVERSATION.

RUSS AND TEAM, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALWAYS DOING A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING THIS REPORT SOMETHING THAT IS VERY CONSISTENT, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A SURPRISE.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY BE ABLE TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING AT 7:30 IF THERE ARE NOT ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, AND THANKS AGAIN TO ADAM AND TO RUSS.

WE'LL SEE RUSS A LITTLE LATER, BUT THANK YOU ADAM FOR JOINING US AND FOR HELPING SHARE THE GOOD NEWS, AND FOR THE GREAT JOB THAT YOU AND YOUR FIRM DO FOR US EVERY YEAR. THANK YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH. YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>> THANKS [LAUGHTER] IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS TIME TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

[I. Call to Order by Mayor]

WELCOME EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON ZOOM.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE HAD TO DO THIS BUT GIVEN THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, I THINK EVERYONE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.

THIS EVENING IF WE LOOK AT OUR AGENDA WE FIRST HAVE THE MINUTES OF

[II. Approval of the Minutes.]

THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF JANUARY THE 6TH AND ALSO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION OF JANUARY THE 9TH.

[00:45:05]

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN FOR BOTH OF THOSE MEETINGS?

>> MOTION IS MADE. IS THERE A SECOND?

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

>> THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.

NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING.

[III. Proclamation.]

I'M SORRY THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THIS IN PERSON, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO READ AND SHARE THIS IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR AFFIRMS THAT ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND, RELIGIOUS GROUP IDENTIFICATION, SKIN COLOR, OR PHYSICAL TRAITS, DESERVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE WELL-BEING IN A JUST SOCIETY AND BE FULL PARTICIPANTS IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

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

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

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

WHEREAS IF WE ALL DEDICATE OURSELVES TO A PROCESS THAT BRINGS INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO WHOLENESS, REPAIRS THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY RACISM, AND TRANSFORMS SOCIETAL STRUCTURES INTO ONES THAT AFFIRM THE INHERENT VALUE OF ALL PEOPLE, WE CAN BRING ABOUT THE NECESSARY CHANGES IN THINKING AND BEHAVIOR THAT WILL PROPEL THIS GREAT COUNTRY FORWARD AS A SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS.

WHEREAS RACIAL HEALING IS A VITAL AND CRUCIAL COMMITMENT TO THE EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, MITAL, AND OVERALL WELL-BEING OF ALL OUR CHILDREN, WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR ACKNOWLEDGES THE TUESDAY FOLLOWING MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY AS THE NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING, AND URGES ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PROMOTE RACIAL HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY AS A MEANS OF WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERY CHILD.

NOW, THEREFORE, I PATTI GARRETT, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, THE CITY OF HOME, SCHOOLS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO PROCLAIM TUESDAY, JANUARY THE 21ST, AS THE NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING, AND URGE THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO JOIN ME IN THAT.

A VERY FITTING PROCLAMATION HERE THE DAY AFTER MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR WEEKEND AND YESTERDAY'S HOLIDAY.

NEXT, WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT HOUSE BILL 581.

THE HEARING IS FOR THE OPT-OUT PROVISION OF THE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

>> MAYOR, I'M SORRY. LET'S HAVE RUSS [INAUDIBLE]

>> AGAIN, I JUST LIKE TO SKIP A REPORT.

LET'S HEAR ABOUT THE QUARTERLY FINANCIAL [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THAT PUBLIC HEARING, THANK YOU.

>> I WILL TURN IT OVER THEN TO RUSS MADISON. THANK YOU.

[IV. Presentations.]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

I DO HAVE A REPORT ON OUR FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR UP THROUGH THE QUARTER THAT JUST ENDED DECEMBER 30 AT THE END OF DECEMBER.

THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF OUR FISCAL YEAR.

THESE NUMBERS ARE UNAUDITED AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE THE REVENUES I'M COMPARING YEAR-OVER-YEAR BY THE SAME TIME OF YEAR, AND REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, I'M ALSO COMPARING TO BUDGETED AMOUNTS THAT YOU'VE APPROVED.

LOOKING FIRST ON THIS FIRST PAGE, I WILL MENTION THIS PICTURE IS FROM A VERY CUT THROAT MATCH OF FAMILY FEUD AMONG SOME OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES EMPLOYEES AT A HOLIDAY PARTY.

I THINK TERESA AND HER TEAM LOST.

[LAUGHTER] I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I WAS ON LAURIE'S TEAM,

[00:50:03]

BUT LAURIE BELL THERE IN THE PICTURE.

GOING TO THE PERFORMANCE AT A GLANCE.

OVERALL, THIS IS A PRETTY STRONG REPORT, I WOULD SAY, REVENUES WE'VE COLLECTED 50% OF THE BUDGETED REVENUES FOR THE YEAR COMPARED TO ALMOST 52% STILL REMAINING AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

A LITTLE FASTER CLIP IN TERMS OF COLLECTING THE BUDGETED REVENUES.

EXPENDITURES IS PRETTY SIMILAR.

I'LL GET INTO THAT LATER.

PROPERTY TAXES DON'T LOOK LIKE THEY CAME IN AS STRONG, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THEY ARE.

YOU'LL SEE THE INCREASE YEAR-OVER-YEAR IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUES.

WHEN THIS IS MEASURED WAS THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER.

THAT'S AFTER OUR SECOND INSTALLMENT, PROPERTY TAX DUE DATE FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT BEFORE THE GRACE PERIOD EXPIRES.

THERE'S FREQUENTLY A LOT OF VOLATILITY IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH IS PAID BETWEEN DECEMBER 20TH AND AROUND JANUARY 5TH OR 6TH WHEN THE GRACE PERIOD ENDS.

I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THIS COLLECTION NUMBER BEING.

I'M HAPPY WITH ANYTHING AT THAT POINT ABOVE 95, AND THE ONE LAST YEAR WAS, FRANKLY, A BIT HIGHER THAN USUAL.

REVENUES EXCEEDED EXPENDITURES BY MORE THAN THEY USUALLY HAVE AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR.

REVENUES ARE ALSO 20% HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR, AND A BIG DRIVER THAT IS PROPERTY TAX, BUT ALSO PERMIT REVENUES MAYBE PART OF THAT AS WELL.

EXPENDITURES ARE 8% HIGHER THAN THEY WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

BUT AGAIN, NORMALLY, THESE NUMBERS ARE A LITTLE BIT REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ARE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER THIS TIME OF YEAR.

OFF TO A FAIRLY STRONG START.

I GO TO PAGE 2 AND THANK YOU, MEREDITH FOR NAVIGATING WHILE I'M TALKING WITH BUSINESS LICENSE ACTIVITY, SO WE DID LOSE NET NUMBER OF BUSINESS LICENSES.

AGAIN, THIS MAY NOT BE REAL TIME CLOSURES AND OPENINGS.

THIS IS WHEN LICENSES WERE ISSUED OR INACTIVATED.

WHAT HAPPENS A LOT OF TIMES AROUND THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR WHEN WE SEND OUT INVOICES FOR BUSINESSES TO RENEW THEIR LICENSES.

AT THAT POINT, A LOT OF TIMES WE GET CONTACTED BY BUSINESSES SAYING, WE'VE CLOSED, WE'VE MOVED, ETC.

I THINK THAT'S PARTLY WHAT'S DRIVING THE, APPARENT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF LICENSED BUSINESSES IS THOSE BUSINESSES REPORTING TO US THAT THEY HAD CLOSED AT SOME POINT DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR.

DESPITE THOSE AND I WILL SAY, THERE WERE INCREASES, TOO.

I OBSERVED THAT THE BUSINESSES THAT WE ISSUED LICENSES FOR, I DON'T ALWAYS TRY TO LOOK FOR TRENDS FOR YOU ALL.

SEVERAL OF THE NEW BUSINESSES WERE HEALTHCARE RELATED OR MENTAL HEALTH CARE RELATED.

THOSE WERE SOME OF OUR ADDITIONS.

IN TERMS OF BUSINESSES THAT CLOSED, I NOTICED THEY SEEMED TO BE MORE SO IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

SOMETIMES IT'S SPREAD OUT EAST DECATUR STATION, HOME BUSINESSES.

FOR THIS QUARTER, IT SEEMED TO BE A LITTLE MORE DOWNTOWN ORIENTED.

BUT I DIDN'T REALLY SEE ANYTHING ALARMING AS A LITTLE BIT MORE AS I ALLUDED TO, MAYBE SOME CLEAN UP OF BUSINESSES THAT HAD BEEN SHUTTERED FOR A WHILE.

BUT EVEN WITH THOSE LOSSES, OUR BUSINESS AND BUSINESS TAX AND FEE REVENUE YEAR-OVER-YEAR, TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE, YOU CAN SEE IT IS ACTUALLY UP SLIGHTLY.

THERE'S SEVERAL CATEGORIES THAT WERE DOWN, BUT BUSINESS AND OCCUPATION TAXES.

I THINK THERE'S PARTLY SOME COMPLIANCE IMPROVEMENTS THERE, SOME COLLECTIONS FROM PAST DUE BUSINESSES THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT YEAR-OVER-YEAR INCREASE.

GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, ONE THING I WILL SAY ABOUT THIS OTHER TAXES CATEGORY.

IT HAS DECREASED COMPARED TO RECENT YEARS.

[00:55:02]

ONE OR TWO OF THE THINGS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN OTHER TAXES WOULD BE PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX AND INTANGIBLES TAX.

YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE ACTUAL REVENUE STATEMENT TOWARD THE END OF THE REPORT.

THIS IS A TAX TYPE THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE COUNTY.

WE DON'T COLLECT IT OURSELVES.

WE GET A DISBURSEMENT FROM THE COUNTY, AND IT IS EXTREMELY LOW THIS YEAR IN REAL TERMS AND COMPARED TO BUDGETED AMOUNTS.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN REALLY PREDICT, BUT IT IS MUCH LOWER THAN USUAL.

SOMETHING I CERTAINLY NEED TO MONITOR AND, FRANKLY, TO QUESTION WITH DECATUR COUNTY.

WE'VE ASKED THEM ABOUT IT BEFORE, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE FACTORS THERE WITH THAT OTHER TAX CATEGORY SHRINKING SOMEWHAT.

THEN GOING ON TO THE NEXT PAGE 4.

>> CAN WE GO BACK TO, MR. MADISON?

>> I DON'T KNOW, I JUST GIVEN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HB581, AND LOOKING AT OUR REAL PROPERTY TAX NUMBERS, ARE YOU PLANNING TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THAT AND WALK THROUGH WHERE WE ARE AND WHY THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY ARE? IF NOT. [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE THE NEXT PAGE, IT'S 30% INCREASE ON REAL PROPERTY TAXES.

I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT NUMBER AND IF THERE'S AN ANOMALY BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN THE MILEAGE RATE AND CATCHING UP.

BUT IF YOU COULD WALK US THROUGH THAT I'D APPRECIATE THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY. I WOULD SAY THAT IS A BIG INCREASE YEAR-OVER-YEAR.

THERE'S REALLY THREE FACTORS GOING ON THERE.

ONE IS THE INCREASED DIGEST VALUES.

SEPARATE FROM THE MILEAGE RATE?

>> WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT'S DUE TO ASSESSMENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT WHAT DO WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF THAT OR YOU.

>> YEAH, SO THE DIGEST INCREASED THE INITIAL REPORTS FROM THE COUNTY, I WANT TO SAY WE'RE 6.75% DIGEST INCREASE FOR THE 2024 TAX YEAR COMPARED TO 2023.

NOW, WHEN WE GET WHEN I GET THE ACTUAL NUMBERS DETAIL BY PROPERTIES, SO NOT JUST SUMMARIES FROM DECATUR.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S CLOSER TO 7% GROWTH AT 2024 COMPARING THE DIGEST TO 2023.

SOME OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH APPEALS.

YOU MAYBE AT A TEMPORARY UNDER APPEALS ASSESSMENT.

THE APPEAL SETTLES.

IT COULD BE HIGHER THAN THE TEMPORARY VALUE.

BUT ANYWAY, CALL IT ABOUT 7% FOR THE DIGEST GROWTH.

ABOUT THE SAME PERCENTAGE WISE MILEAGE INCREASE, SO THAT'S THE OTHER FACTOR THERE.

YOU'RE SEEING, 29% REAL PROPERTY TAX PERCENTAGE CHANGE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.

BUT THAT'S WITH THAT MILLAGE RATE INCREASE, THE DIGEST VALUES.

THEN THERE'S A THIRD FACTOR, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT.

BUT ONCE YOU START MULTIPLYING THESE OUT, THE INCREASED VALUE TIMES THE MILLAGE RATE, IT'S NOT JUST ADDITION, OF COURSE, WE'RE MULTIPLYING ASSESS VALUES BY MILITARY.

BUT THE OTHER FACTOR IS, SOME OF IT IS ARTIFICIAL BECAUSE AROUND THIS TIME LAST YEAR, OR LET'S GO BACK TO 2023, THE STATE OF GEORGIA APPROVED ONE TIME HOMEOWNER TAX RELIEF GRANT.

THIS WAS A STATE FUNDED ONE TIME EXEMPTION.

THIS IS MONEY WE DID NOT BILL, ESSENTIALLY.

IT WORKS LIKE AN EXEMPTION. WE DIDN'T BILL IT.

WE DIDN'T COLLECT IT FROM THE TAXPAYERS.

WE WERE REIMBURSED BY THE STATE FOR IT.

AROUND THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE HAD ALREADY BILLED FOR 2023 SECOND INSTALLMENT.

WE'RE OUT THE MONEY, ESSENTIALLY OF THE GRANT.

WE GOT REIMBURSED AROUND JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.

AFTER THE SECOND QUARTER.

THE COLLECTION LAST YEAR WAS ARTIFICIALLY LOWERED BY TIMING OF THE STATE REIMBURSEMENT.

>> HOW MUCH MONEY WAS THAT?

[01:00:02]

>> IT WAS A COUPLE MILLION.

IT WAS SIGNIFICANT.

>> THAT 10.352 WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSER TO 12.352, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

>> WELL, SO IT APPLIED TO MORE THAN JUST GENERAL FUND.

I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE ACTUAL ALLOCATION OF GENERAL FUND BECAUSE IT REDUCED TAXPAYERS' TAX BILL FOR GENERAL FUND, CAPITAL, AND THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. [OVERLAPPING]

>> BUT THE INCLUDE THE SCHOOL.

>> AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> OH, IT DID INCLUDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> YEAH, AND WE REIMBURSED THEM FROM OUR REIMBURSEMENT.

>> I JUST A REMINDER THAT ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THAT IS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> YEAH. PROBABLY AROUND THAT MAYBE 60%.

>> BUT WE HEARD 65% OVER HERE TODAY, SORRY.

>> MAYBE IT'S THAT. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]

>> I'M SURE IT FLUCTUATES.

>> [OVERLAPPING] I WAS SOME PEOPLE WERE ALREADY TOTALLY EXEMPT FROM SCHOOL TAXES BASED ON AGE OR INCOME OR PROPERTY VALUE.

>> [OVERLAPPING] THEN ALSO THOUGH THIS YEAR, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE HOME EXEMPTION, AND THAT ALSO FACTORS INTO THIS?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS ALL DESPITE THE EXPANDED EXEMPTIONS GOING FROM THE 25 TO THE $40,000.

>> THANKS.

>> MR. MADISON, I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.

OF THAT REAL PROPERTY TAX, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT IS NEW I.E THE DEVELOPMENT THAT CAME ONLINE IF THAT'S COUNTED INTO THAT FIGURE, OR DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT IS NEW DIGEST OR NEW CONSTRUCTION?

>> I WANT TO SAY THAT SPLIT BETWEEN NEW VALUATION AND REVALUATION OF THAT 7% THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, I WANT TO SAY IT WAS 45, 55.

>> I HAVE THE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF THE NEW VALUE REVALUE FROM THE DIGEST THAT WAS RECEIVED FOR 2024, AND 31% WAS NEW VALUE.

AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT PLAYS OUT AS A APPEALS HAVE BEEN SETTLED AND THAT THING, BUT 31% AT THE OUTSET WAS NEW VALUE.

>> MRS. ARNOLD, WHAT WAS THE INCREASE IN THE TAX DIGEST BEFORE APPEALS?

>> 5.75%, AND WE HAD BUILT THE BUDGET ON A 6% AS ASSUMPTION.

>> THANK YOU. I'M CONFUSED.

WE HAD A 5.75 TAX DIGEST, AND NOW WE HAVE A 6.75% INCREASE TAX DIGEST.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT PLEASE?

>> WELL, THAT'S COMPARING WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS THE ACTUAL DIGEST FOR THE PROPERTIES THEMSELVES.

YEAR-OVER-YEAR AND AGAIN, IT CAN FLUCTUATE BASED ON APPEALS THAT WE'RE NOTIFIED OF IN THE DIGEST AND THEN APPEALS THAT ALSO MAY SETTLE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

BUT WHAT I'M LOOKING AT FOR THE PERCENTAGE FOR THIS BAR CHART.

IS JUST WHAT WE'D COLLECTED THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST OF LAST YEAR COMPARED TO THE YEAR BEFORE.

BUT AS PART OF THAT I LOOKED AT THE DETAILED DIGEST ITSELF.

IF I LOOK AT WHAT WAS BILLED DURING THE SECOND INSTALLMENT OF 2024, COMPARED TO THE SECOND INSTALLMENT OF 2023.

YES, IT'S ALMOST 7% HIGHER YEAR-OVER-YEAR AT THAT TIME.

WHAT DECATUR SAYS IN MAY IS A 6% INCREASE.

I'M NOT REALLY LOOKING AT THAT AS PART OF THIS ANALYSIS.

I'M LOOKING AT OUR OWN INTERNAL DATA.

AS WE KNOW FROM WHAT WE BUILD.

>> THAT'S PRETTY GOOD DATA. THANK YOU.

>> BUT TO MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS POINT ABOUT THE NEW DEVELOPMENT.

YOU ARE SEEING THAT BORNE OUT SOMEWHAT IN THE LICENSE AND PERMIT FEES, WHICH IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE YEAR-OVER-YEAR FOR THAT CATEGORY.

THAT YOU COULD SEE FOR THE OTHERS, IT'S FAIRLY STABLE OR FLATTER OR LESS SIGNIFICANT VARIANCE YEAR-OVER-YEAR.

[01:05:05]

>> I QUESTION ALSO ABOUT THE RECREATION SERVICE FEES FOR FY 24, DID THAT INCLUDE CHILDREN YOUTH SERVICES? DOES THAT OR WAS THAT SEPARATE AT THAT TIME?

>> IT INCLUDED IT.

>> THE FY 24 INCLUDES CHILDREN WE SERVICE.

THANK YOU. WHICH BECAME PARKS, CORRECT?

>> YEAH, BOTH YEARS INCLUDED.

>> I SEE THE FRANCHISE FEES DROPPED 16%? NORMALLY, THEY STAY PRETTY STEADY OR MAYBE HAVE A 1 OR 2% VARIATION.

I KNOW WHEN WE GET CHECKS FROM GEORGIA POWER, IT'S ALWAYS IT DEPENDS ON HOW HOT IT'S BEEN THAT THING.

IS THERE AN EXPLANATION MAYBE AS TO WHY THAT HAD A 16% DECREASE?

>> I THINK GEORGIA POWER WILL GET IN FEBRUARY FOR THE ELECTRIC FRANCHISE, AND THEN THOSE NUMBERS WILL REALLY CHANGE.

THIS EARLY IN THE FISCAL YEAR, OR THE FIRST HALF FOR FRANCHISE TAX, IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO READ TOO MUCH INTO, AND SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A TIMING ARTIFACT OF WHEN A COMPANY SENDS US THEIR FRANCHISE SOME DO SUMMER MONTHLY, SUMMER QUARTERLY, LIKE GEORGIA POWER'S AN ANNUAL.

FOR THOSE ONES THAT ARE DOING A MORE FREQUENT FRANCHISE CHECK, IT MAYBE THAT WE JUST HADN'T RECEIVED IT, BY THE END OF DECEMBER, BUT WE GOT IT IN JANUARY.

>> MR. MADISON?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT APPEALS BACK TO THE REAL PROPERTY TAX? THOSE ARE ONGOING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THERE COULD BE STILL A BACKLOG, PARTICULARLY IF THERE WERE MORE THAN USUAL OR A ROBUST NUMBER OF APPEALS, THAT THEY'RE STILL WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE PIPELINE, AND THOSE COULD DILUTE THAT NUMBER IN THE NEXT TWO QUARTERS STILL, IS THAT A DIRECTIONAL DEAL?

>> YES, THAT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE.

WE'VE GOTTEN I THINK I WANT TO SAY THERE'S 650 APPEALS THAT WE KNOW OF FOR 2024 THAT ARE STILL UNSETTLED.

>> HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO WHAT YOU SEE USUALLY?

>> IT'S HIGH. IT'S WITHIN A RANGE THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED BEFORE, BUT IT IS ON THE HIGH SIDE.

>> THANKS.

>> DO WE GET UPDATES FROM THE COUNTY AS TO HOW THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE? HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT IT CONTINUES TO DECREASE OR HAS IT PLATEAUED?

>> I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THE COUNTY'S IMPROVED, IN MY OPINION, IN TERMS OF SENDING US NEW VALUES.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS VERY SPORADIC.

JUST WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, THEY'VE GOTTEN MUCH MORE CONSISTENT AND HIGHER VOLUME OF SETTLED VALUES FOR US TO RECOMPUTE.

BUT THERE'S STILL A FAIR AMOUNT OUT THERE THAT WE'RE WAITING ON.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THEY ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> GOING ON TO THE EXPENDITURE SUMMARY ON PAGE 5.

THESE NUMBERS INCLUDE THAT DISBURSEMENT ACROSS DEPARTMENTS WHERE EMPLOYEES MAY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

AS I MENTIONED IN THE FIRST QUARTER REPORT, A ONE TIME PAY PERIOD ADJUSTMENT WAS DISBURSED DURING THAT QUARTER.

I THINK THE GOOD NEWS HERE IS THAT THE EXPENDITURE RESULTS THAT YOU'RE SEEING ALREADY INCLUDE THE COMPENSATION-RELATED OR PAYROLL-RELATED THINGS THAT IT'S NORMALLY SPREAD OUT TOTALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

[01:10:02]

BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT SOME THINGS ARE A ONE TIME DISBURSEMENT, THOSE HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

THEN ON THE NEXT PAGE 6, DEPARTMENTS HAVE SPENT 42% OF THEIR BUDGETS.

I'M STARTING TO THINK THAT WHATEVER YOU DO AS A COMMISSION, WHATEVER ANDREA AND MEREDITH COME UP WITH IN THE FINAL BUDGET, DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO SPEND 42% OF THAT BY THE END OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR BECAUSE THAT WHAT HAS BEEN THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS WITHIN A POINT OR TWO.

THAT IS VERY CONSISTENT, AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

SOME DEPARTMENTS LIKE PARKS AND REC BEING ON THE LOWER SIDE, THEIR REVENUES HAVEN'T REALLY COME IN THOUGH THEY'RE BETTER YEAR OVER YEAR.

THEY'RE STILL IN THAT 30, 40% RANGE OF WHAT WAS BUDGETED, BUT THE WARM MONTHS ARE COMING AND THEY'LL SPEND MORE THAN THEY HAD BEEN DURING THE COOLER MONTHS AS WELL.

IT DOESN'T REALLY ALARM ME TO SEE THEM ON THE LOWER END OF THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.

NO DEPARTMENT HAS SPENT MORE THAN HALF.

I WOULD SAY, OVERALL WE'RE STILL OFF TO A PRETTY GOOD START OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

THERE ARE SOME REVENUE CATEGORIES THAT DO NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED BY DEPARTMENT HEADS.

THERE ARE SOME UNKNOWNS AND RISKS OUT THERE, MAYOR, TO YOUR POINT, THE ELECTRIC FRANCHISE CHECK.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT WILL BE, AND THAT NORMALLY IS QUITE LARGE, SO IT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE OVERALL NUMBERS.

THEN THE APPEALS, AS YOU ALL HAVE MENTIONED, THAT IS AN AREA OF SOME RISK OR UNKNOWN AS WELL.

BUT OVERALL, I'M LIKING WHAT I'M SEEING.

I CAN ADDRESS ANY OF THE NUMBERS IN THE FINAL PAGES OF THE REPORT IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE REVENUE OR EXPENDITURE STATEMENT.

BUT THAT'S ALL MY PREPARED REMARKS, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR THIS THOROUGH PRESENTATION.

IT GIVES US SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE TO THE NEXT PART OF OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU. NOW, WE WILL MOVE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR HOUSE BILL 581,

[V. H.B. 581-Public Hearing for Opt Out Provision of Floating Homestead Exemption.]

THE HEARING FOR THE OPT OUT PROVISION OF THE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

I WILL ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS.

I WILL JUST GIVE A COUPLE OF CAVEATS.

THIS IS OUR SECOND HEARING.

WE HELD ONE AT NOON.

THERE WILL BE THREE ADDITIONAL HEARINGS.

THERE WILL BE ONE ON JANUARY THE 27TH, I BELIEVE, NEW, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> I'LL COVER THE HEARINGS.

>> COVER THOSE? OKAY. THEN TWO OTHERS THE FIRST MONDAY IN FEBRUARY.

BUT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER, AND THEN I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR TAKING INPUT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MISS ARNOLD, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

JUST BEFORE WE START TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON HOUSE 581, I DO WANT TO MAKE MENTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE.

WE'RE GOING TO END UP HOLDING FIVE PUBLIC HEARINGS AS THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ADVERTISING WITH THE LEGAL ORGAN, ALTHOUGH WE HAD COMMUNICATED PUBLICLY AND COMPLIED WITH THE LAW BY PUTTING THE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.

WE'RE GOING TO AIR ON THE SIDE OF HAVING ADDITIONAL HEARINGS.

AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE DID HAVE ONE HEARING EARLIER TODAY AT NOON.

WE'LL HAVE THIS HEARING COMING UP SHORTLY.

THEN ON MONDAY, JANUARY 27, THERE WILL BE A HEARING AT 7:00 PM.

[01:15:03]

WE ARE OFFERING THESE ASIDE FROM TONIGHT IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL OPTIONS.

THEN ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, THERE ARE TWO HEARINGS, ONE AT NOON AND THEN ONE AT 07:30 OR PART OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COMMISSION MEETING.

I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE AS IT WAS MADE CLEAR TO ME EARLIER TODAY AT THE NOON HEARING, SOME FOLKS ARE NOT AWARE THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BEING ITS OWN INDEPENDENT ENTITY, IS ALSO SUBJECT TO HOUSE BILL 581, AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS ALSO ELECTED TO GO THROUGH THE HEARING PROCESS, WHICH WILL THEN ALLOW THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO MAKE A DETERMINATION WHETHER TO OPT OUT.

THEY HAD A HEARING THIS EVENING.

THEN ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, THEY HAVE A HEARING SCHEDULED AT 10:00 AM AND 6:45.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE CITY WILL MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER.

JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOUSE BILL 581.

I THINK FOLKS KNOW THAT THIS WAS PASSED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN 2024.

IT'S A STATEWIDE REFERENDUM, APPROVED STATEWIDE, AND IT DOES INTRODUCE A STATEWIDE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF LIMITING THE ANNUAL INCREASES AND TAXABLE PROPERTY VALUES FOR HOMESTEADED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND LIMITING THOSE INCREASES IN PROPERTY VALUE TO THE RATE OF INFLATION TO BE DETERMINED BY THE STATE REVENUE COMMISSIONER.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HAS BEEN DETERMINED, BUT MOST LIKELY SOME SEMBLANCE OF THE CPI.

THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE MEASURE IS TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS, FOLKS THAT OWN AND RESIDE IN THEIR HOMES, AND THE WAY THEY GET TO THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF IS CAPPING THE GROWTH OF THE PROPERTY'S TAXABLE VALUE.

YOU HEAR IT REFERRED TO AS A FLOATING EXEMPTION, AND THAT THE EXEMPTION OR THE AMOUNT THAT FLOATS, THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACTUAL ASSESSED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY AS DETERMINED BY THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY WHEN IT'S LIMITED TO THE RATE OF INFLATION.

IF THE RATE OF INFLATION IS 3%, THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR SAYS IT LOOKS LIKE MARKET WOULD DRIVE IT UP 7%, THEN THAT 4% DIFFERENTIAL IS THE FLOATING EXEMPTION.

THE EXEMPTION APPLIES TO RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD PROPERTY ONLY.

AGAIN, YOU MUST OWN AND RESIDE IN THE HOME AND HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

IT DOES NOT APPLY TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, IT DOES NOT APPLY TO RENTAL PROPERTIES.

THE PROPERTY VALUE WILL BE RESET TO THE MARKET ASSESSED VALUE UPON ANY CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP.

ALSO, AS WAS POINTED OUT AT THE HEARING EARLIER TODAY, IF THERE IS A RENOVATION OR SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT MADE IN THE PROPERTY, ASSUMING THAT YOU PULL A PERMIT, AND THAT INFORMATION IS THEN COMMUNICATED FROM THE CITY TO THE COUNTY, THAT WOULD ALSO TRIGGER A CHANGE IN THE TAXABLE VALUE.

THIS LEGISLATION WAS DEVELOPED BY STATE LAW, AND THE STATE LAW IS PROVIDING FOR TWO MONTH, BUT I WOULD CONSIDER A VERY CONDENSED SCHEDULE, A TWO-MONTH SCHEDULE FOR ANY CITY, COUNTY, OR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OPT OUT.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE LEGISLATION IS THAT IT DOES PROVIDE THIS PROVISION FOR CITIES, COUNTIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OPT OUT.

IF A JURISDICTION DOES NOT TAKE ACTION TO OPT OUT, THEN YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY OPTED IN.

AS IT HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED TO US,

[01:20:03]

THAT IS A PERMANENT STATE.

THE FLOATING EXEMPTION APPLIES PERMANENTLY, THAT IS REGARDLESS OF ANY FINANCIAL CHALLENGES OR CHANGES TO FINANCIAL CONDITION, IT IS A PERMANENT EXHIBITION.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.

AT THIS POINT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE MAYOR TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND THEN TO OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> THANK YOU. AS MISS ARNOLD SAID, WE ARE HOLDING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

AS WE DO WITH ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS, IT IS NOT A BACK AND FORTH, WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO YOUR INPUT.

AT THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, AS WE DID AT THE NOON PUBLIC HEARING, YOU WILL HEAR FROM US AND WE WILL TALK SOME ABOUT THE HOUSE BILL 581 AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS.

WE HAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION AT NOON, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMMISSION HAVING A DISCUSSION THIS EVENING.

FOR THE PROCESS, WE WILL HEAR FROM YOU ON ZOOM.

WE WILL ASK THAT YOU RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND SO THAT MISS ROC CAN UNMUTE YOU.

I SEE WE HAVE A HAND ALREADY.

WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, IF YOU WILL REPEAT YOUR NAME AND GIVE US YOUR ADDRESS BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING,

[VI. Public Comment on Agenda Action Items.]

AND IT LOOKS LIKE MR. I BELIEVE IT'S DONOVAN, AND THE REST OF THE NAME IS GONE, MCMURRAY, PERHAPS.

I SEE IT, IT IS DONOVAN MCMURRAY.

I BELIEVE YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.

IF YOU WILL, PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT. THANK YOU.

>> HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> HI. MY NAME IS DONOVAN MCMURRAY.

YOU GOT IT RIGHT, AND I LIVE AT 2544 TALLEY STREET.

PRETTY PERTINENTLY, IT'S A NEW TOWN HOME COMPLEX, AND 2024 WAS MY FIRST YEAR AS A HOMEOWNER PERIOD AND A HOMEOWNER IN THE DECATUR AREA.

I JUST HAD MY VERY FIRST PROPERTY TAX BILL DUE BECAUSE THERE'S A SIX-MONTH GRACE PERIOD FOR FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERS.

I JUST PAID THAT IN DECEMBER, AND I'LL JUST GET TO THE POINT.

MY STANCE IS NOT TO OPT OUT.

>> THERE'S TOO MANY DOUBLE NEGATIVES, SO ACTUALLY I'M CONFUSING MYSELF.

MY STANCE IS I'M IN SUPPORT OF HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES, AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WHY.

WHEN WE MOVED TO DECATUR IN ABOUT 2.5 YEARS AGO, WE TOOK A LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT ATLANTA HAD TO OFFER, AND IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR TO US THAT DECATUR WAS THE BEST THING THAT THE ATLANTA AREA, AND IN MY OPINION, ALL OF GEORGIA, HAS TO OFFER.

I THINK A LOT OF IT CAME DOWN TO, THE COMMON SPACES THAT WE HAVE.

OF COURSE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA OR ON THE PLATE FOR THIS, BUT I WAS MOVED BY THE PROGRESS THAT DECATUR IS MAKING FOR ADDING BETTER SIDEWALKS AND ALTERNATE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT DREW ME TO DECATUR, AND I THINK THE TAX BASIS MUST PLAY A PART IN THAT.

AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS BLUNT TOOL OF A WIDE EXEMPTION OR SUPPRESSION OF PROPERTY VALUES FOR EVERYONE WOULD SUBSIDIZE THE WEALTHIEST MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT BASICALLY ALLOWS HOME VALUES TO GROW EXPONENTIALLY AS THEY TEND TO DO, WITHOUT THE PAYING IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THE TAXES ARE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LIQUIDITY QUESTION IN THAT, AND I KNOW THAT DECATUR ALREADY HAS ELDERLY EXEMPTIONS AND OTHER EXEMPTIONS.

I HOPE THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD EXPLORE MORE FINE GRAINED TOOLS THAN THIS BLUNT INSTRUMENT THAT WE ARE OFFERED WITH OPTING OUT. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT, I SEE MARY KARWOWSKI.

WE WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.

AGAIN, REPEAT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT. THANK YOU.

[01:25:04]

>> HI, I'M MARY KARWOWSKI.

I LIVE AT 119 BERRY STREET.

I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO WHAT MR. MCMURIA HAD TO SAY.

IN WHAT I'VE READ SO FAR ON DECATUR IS CITY STAFF SEEMS TO HAVE DISREGARDED THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND THE RESULTS OF THE REFERENDUM IN NOVEMBER.

THE RESULTS OF THE REFERENDUM ON THE AMENDMENT IN DECATUR WAS VOTERS APPROVED THE AMENDMENT 56% TO 44%, WHICH IS A CLEAR EXPRESSION OF HOW VOTERS FEEL.

WHY AS CITY COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU FEEL THAT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS DOESN'T SEEM TO REALLY MATTER IN THIS INSTANCE? THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE A DISCONNECT, AT LEAST TO ME, THAT CITY STAFF SOMEHOW VIEWS REVENUE NOT OWED AS A COST TO THE CITY, RATHER THAN ADJUSTING THE BUDGET TO A NEW AND DIFFERENT REALITY.

WHY CAN INCREASES IN THE CITY'S BUDGET BE TIED TO INFLATION TO PROVIDE A SUSTAINABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE? IN RECENT YEARS, MANY RESIDENTS HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO RAISE MUCH ABOVE INFLATION SO WHY CAN'T CITY STAFF WORK ON CONTROLLING SPENDING? BECAUSE SOMEDAY THE GRAVY TRAIN WILL END AND VALUATIONS WILL PLATEAU, AT LEAST FOR A TIME.

FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES AS A CITY, ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING PRIORITIES HAS BEEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHEN AFFORDABILITY IS A PRIORITY, PREDICTABLE EXPENSES ARE A MUST.

WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOME IN 1987, I BOUGHT A HOME THAT I COULD AFFORD, AND I WAS GOOD FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS.

THEN SUDDENLY MY PROPERTY VALUE DOUBLED, AND SO DID THE PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH IS ALL WELL AND GOOD IF YOU WANT TO SELL.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO REMAIN IN YOUR HOME AND YOUR SALARY DOESN'T KEEP UP WITH YOUR VALUATION, IT MAKES LIFE HARD.

I CAN TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE, AT THAT TIME THE CITY WAS NOT AT ALL SYMPATHETIC TO THE PLIGHT OF STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS.

IN MY OPINION, CITY STAFF AND THE CITY COMMISSION HAVE LONG DISMISSED THE CORRELATION BETWEEN HIGH PROPERTY TAXES AND AFFORDABILITY.

ARE YOU ACTUALLY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR ARE YOU ONLY ABOUT AFFORDABILITY FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO'VE QUALIFIED FOR ONE OF THE CITY'S SUBSIDIZED PROGRAMS OR UNITS, WHICH ARE ULTIMATELY PAID FOR BY THE TAXES OF OTHERS? LASTLY, TURNING BACK TO THE HOUSING BUST OF 2007 AND 2008, WHEN FOR A BRIEF TIME THE PROPERTY VALUES WERE FALLING, I REMEMBER SOMEONE BRINGING UP WHERE PROPERTY TAXES GOING TO FALL BASED ON THE LOWER VALUATIONS.

CITY STAFF RESPONSE WAS SOMETHING LIKE, PROBABLY NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS AND BILLS TO PAY.

THAT'S JUST LIKE REGULAR FOLKS.

THIS WEEK, WELL, WALL STREET JOURNAL PUBLISHED A STORY STATING THAT MOST PROPERTIES SEEM TO BE OVERVALUED BY 10-35%.

IF THAT'S ACCURATE, AND IF DECATUR PROPERTIES HAVE A DECLINE IN VALUE OF EVEN SAY 5%, DO YOU HAVE A CONTINGENCY ON HOW TO MAKE THAT WORK? OR IS THIS TYPE OF DECREASE IN VALUE NOT AFFECT THE CITY, BUT ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO PAY PROPERTY TAXES? I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS HERE AND SUPPORT HOW THE PEOPLE OF DECATUR VOTED IN THE REFERENDUM. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

I SEE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ONLINE, AND THOSE WERE THE ONLY TWO HANDS THAT I SAW RAISED.

IF THERE ARE OTHERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND, AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND ASK YOU TO MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

I KNOW ALSO AT OUR NOON MEETING, WE HAD PEOPLE WHO WERE ON ZOOM THAT WE'RE LISTENING IN, AND THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE AS WELL.

BUT WE WANT TO GIVE EVERYONE WHO IS JOINING US ON ZOOM, THE OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE DURING OUR PUBLIC HEARING.

I BELIEVE CHERIE LONG HAS HER HAND RAISED, AND I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU IF YOU'LL RESTATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. THANK YOU.

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> YES, WE CAN. THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS CHERIE LONG.

I LIVE AT 220 FAIRVIEW AVENUE.

I HAVE OWNED MY HOME FOR 25 YEARS, AND I DID A MAJOR RENOVATION OF IT IN 2005.

FIRST OF ALL, I MOVED HERE FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS.

I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR SEVEN YEARS AND BEEN A PROPERTY OWNER IN AUSTIN.

IN TEXAS, FOR MANY YEARS, FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, AT LEAST, THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS KEPT THE ABILITY TO INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES MORE THAN 10% A YEAR.

[01:30:03]

RESIDENTIAL PRIMARY PROPERTIES CAN ONLY INCREASE A MAXIMUM OF 10% IN VALUE A YEAR.

THIS HAS NOT HAD A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M USING TEXAS AS AN EXAMPLE HERE, BUT I AM.

I DID QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH, AND I USED TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND I TALKED TO CITY OFFICIALS THERE TO FIND OUT THE RESULT.

IT HAS NOT HAD A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT.

IT IS ALSO THE RESULT OF THIS 10% CAP, HAS ALLOWED RESIDENTS TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES IN AUSTIN DESPITE INCREASING PROPERTY VALUES.

IF YOU SELL YOUR HOME, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A BIG PROFIT.

BUT YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE UNDERVALUED IF YOU'VE OWNED IT FOR A LONG TIME ON THE TAX BOOKS, BECAUSE OF THE 10% CAP.

I'M REALLY BLOWN AWAY HERE BY HOW OFFICIALS WHO ARE NOT ELECTED AT THE CITY ARE DECIDING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO IGNORE THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS IN CITY OF DECATUR AND OPT OUT WHEN THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS VOTED FOR THIS EXEMPTION.

THAT WOULD BE LIKE SAYING, HEY, I'M REALLY UNHAPPY TRUMP GOT 2% MORE OF THE VOTE THAN HARRIS DID.

THEREFORE, I WANT HARRIS TO BE PRESIDENT, HARRIS WILL BE PRESIDENT.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT, WOULDN'T IT? BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT.

WHY IS CITY OF DECATUR BEING ALLOWED TO OPT OUT OF SOMETHING THE VOTERS HAVE ALREADY APPROVED? SECOND OF ALL, I KNOW IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH, AND THERE'S CITY SERVICES THAT HAVE TO BE PROVIDED.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT, JUST ACROSS THE BOARD, IN JANUARY THERE WAS A 3.5% INCREASE BY GEORGIA POWER.

THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE INCREASES.

THE WATER DEPARTMENT WITH DECATUR COUNTY IS TRYING TO IMPLEMENT A 10% ANNUAL INCREASE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WHICH MEANS IN 10 YEARS, OUR MONTHLY WATER BILL WILL HAVE INCREASED 100%.

WE HAVE ALL THE FOOD, FOOD IS DOUBLE, TRIPLED, QUADRUPLED IN PRICES.

HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE.

EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THAT'S BEEN GOING THROUGH THE ROOF, AND WE HAVE NO SAY IN IT.

AS DOES CAR INSURANCE. HOW MUCH ARE PEOPLE EXPECTED TO ABSORB? HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE PAYING? I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I'M REALLY AGAINST THE NON-ELECTED OFFICIALS BEING ABLE TO IGNORE THE VOTERS.

THAT SETS A VERY BAD PRECEDENT.

THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT. NOTHING ELSE.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

WE'LL SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS YOURS IN JUST A MINUTE.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE AFTER THEY MAKE A COMMENT ARE ABLE TO STAY AND LISTEN TO THE DISCUSSION, BUT I HOPE THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE MADE COMMENTS WILL DO THAT.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS JOINED US ONLINE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE ELECTED BODY ABOUT HOUSE BILL 581? NOW IS THE TIME. IF YOU'LL RAISE YOUR HAND, WE WILL RECOGNIZE YOU AND LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENT.

DO YOU SEE ANY MORE, MR. ORK? WITH THAT, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION AND I'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME MISINFORMATION.

THE ELECTED BODY IS WHO WILL MAKE THE DECISION FOR THE CITY TO OPT OUT.

IT IS NOT THE CITY MANAGER, IT IS NOT ANY OF THE CITY STAFF, IT IS THE FIVE ELECTED COMMISSIONERS THAT INCLUDE MYSELF, MAYOR PRO TEM TONY POWERS, COMMISSIONER GEORGE DUSENBURY, COMMISSIONER KELLY WALSH, AND COMMISSIONER LISA MEYER.

WE ARE THE ONES THAT WILL VOTE AND MAKE THE DECISION.

WE DO HAVE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD PUT TOGETHER FROM A NUMBER OF SOURCES.

I THINK, THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT NOW AS A BODY.

BUT THERE'S NOT A PERSON THAT WILL MAKE THIS DECISION IN THIS COMMUNITY OR OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE LOOKING AT OPTING OUT THAT ARE NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY THE VOTING BODY.

JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT POINT IS CLEAR.

[01:35:04]

I THINK A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE CONVERSATION, I BELIEVE IT RANGES ANYWHERE FROM 60-65% OF THE TAX BILL IS SCHOOL TAXES, AND THE REMAINING 35 OR 40%, DEPENDING ON THE YEAR IT'S ON THE TAX BILL IS THE CITY TAX PORTION.

THE OTHER, I GUESS, THING THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE'RE HAVING THESE HEARINGS AND THESE CONVERSATIONS IS THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS A MILLAGE CAP AND THE CITIES OF DECATUR ALSO HAS A MILLAGE CAP AND MANY OF THE OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES IN GEORGIA DO NOT HAVE A MILLAGE CAP.

WHAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN THIS BILL WAS BROUGHT FORWARD, IT WAS THAT THE CITIES WOULD STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO RAISE THE FUNDS NEEDED BY ADJUSTING THAT MILLAGE RATE TO WHATEVER THEY NEEDED IT TO BE.

WE HAVE A MILLAGE CAP THAT MOST OTHER CITIES, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE SMALLER CITIES, WE'RE AN OLDER CITY, IT'S UNUSUAL FOR MANY OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HAVE A MILLAGE CAP.

I WILL AT LEAST PUT THOSE CAVEATS OUT THERE AS WE START THE DISCUSSION.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT IN SOME OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT CITY STAFF.

IT IS NOT THE CITY STAFF'S DECISION.

IT IS THE ELECTED BODY FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR THAT WILL BE ULTIMATELY MAKING THIS DECISION.

I WILL OPEN IT UP TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.

PLEASE JUST FEEL FREE TO MAKE COMMENTS.

I CAN SEE ALL OF YOU.

COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.

>> SINCE EVERYBODY ELSE IS BEING SHY.

I WANT TO FIRST SAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD PROCESS, IT'S BEEN HELPFUL HEARING PEOPLE TALK.

WHAT I'M HEARING IS CONCERN ABOUT TRANSPARENCY IN TERMS OF HOW HOME IS APPRAISED, THE LACK OF CONTROL OVER THAT AND THE LACK OF ABILITY TO DO IT.

I'M ALSO HEARING CONCERNS ABOUT HIGH TAXES.

EITHER TAXES GOING UP TOO MUCH OR JUST THE OVERALL TAX BURDEN ON PEOPLE.

I WANT TO START BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY.

I JUST WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.

WITH THE TRANSPARENCY, AND MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS LONGER THAN I HAVE.

>> BUT THE APPRAISAL PROCESS IS PRETTY OPAQUE.

AS SOMEBODY, AND WE COMMISSIONERS DO THIS OURSELVES, WHO CHALLENGED HIS APPRAISAL LAST YEAR BECAUSE IT WENT UP BY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.

I WAS STUNNED WHEN I STARTED MY RESEARCH JUST LOOKING AT HOW THE VARIOUS HOMES WERE APPRAISED AROUND ME TRYING TO FIND COMPARABLES AND LOOKING AT THAT.

I ASSUME A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS INDICATE OR FEEL THAT WAY IN TERMS OF WHY ZERS GOES UP AND NEIGHBORS DON'T.

I DO THINK IN MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS OF THE FERDIM TALK MORE ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK THERE IS SOME VALUE IN TALKING ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE ALL THESE ALGORITHMS TO FIGURE THIS AND THAT OUT.

THERE HAS TO BE AN ALGORITHM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT AN AFA APPRAISAL IS.

I THINK THAT AFA APPRAISALS APPROPRIATELY ASSESSES THE VALUE OF PEOPLE'S HOMES AND SO THE TAX BURDEN WILL BE APPROPRIATELY DONE.

I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO THERE.

THEN REGARDS TO THE HIGHER TAXES, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT OUR SPENDING, AND WE LOOK AT THE OTHER REVENUE OUT THERE.

WHAT I WILL SAY THAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES IS THAT BASICALLY YOU'RE GETTING ONE OR TWO BIG BILLS A YEAR, YOU HAVE TO PAY AND SO YOU NOTICE IT.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NOTICE A SALES TAX AS MUCH, EVEN YOUR INCOME TAXES THEY DEDUCT IT FROM YOUR PAYCHECK AS YOU GO ALONG UNLESS YOU'RE SELF-EMPLOYED.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE PAYING THOSE CHUNKS OF TAXES FOR THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, THEY ARE MUCH MORE VISIBLE.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M NOT DENYING THAT THERE'S A TAX BURDEN HERE, BUT IT IS A VERY HIGH VISIBLE BURDEN BECAUSE YOU'RE PAYING IT TWICE A YEAR AS OPPOSED TO BEING SPREAD OUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE HB 581.

TO DO THIS, I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT, LET'S SAY WE HAVE A COUPLE OF $500,000 HOMES NEXT TO EACH OTHER, THE THREE TWOS.

[01:40:05]

OVER THE COURSE OF 10 YEARS, THE ACTUAL VALUE OF THOSE HOMES GOES UP TO $1 MILLION.

FOR OVER 10 YEARS, WE SEE IT INCREASE, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS UNREASONABLE FOR WE SEE IN HERE IN DECATUR.

THEN AT THE SAME TIME, LET'S ASSUME YOU HAVE A 3% RATE OF INFLATION, AND THAT'S WHAT THE STATE EXPECTS THAT'S GOING TO BE THE INCREASE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CAP THIS AT.

INSTEAD OF BEING VALUED AT $1 MILLION, THOSE HOMES WILL BE VALUED AT $672,000.

YOU CREATE A SITUATION WHERE, IF THE PERSON SELLS THEIR HOME AND SOMEBODY ELSE COMES IN, I BUY THAT NEW HOME.

WHILE I'M BEING TAXED AT $1 MILLION AND MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR WHO HAS EXACT SAME HOME I DO, SAME SIZE LOT, LET'S SAY SAME SQUARE FOOTAGE EVERYTHING ELSE, IS ACTUALLY PAYING $4,000.

THIS IS JUST TO THE CITY AND I'M USING DECATUR IS 1.2%.

KUDOS TO DECATURS FOR THAT, I THINK IT'S ABOUT 12 MILL, $4,000 LESS THAN CITY TAXES THAN I AM.

WE LIVE IN THE EXACT SAME HOME, WE LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER, AND WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE I AM PAYING BASICALLY 40% MORE THAN MY NEIGHBOR IS.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THAT'S NOT EQUITABLE.

IT'S A 32 NEXT TO IT'S A $350,000, 21.

AGAIN, BOTH HOMES DOUBLE.

I APOLOGIZE FORDING THE WEED IN THERE, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TALK THIS STUFF THROUGH.

THAT $500,000 HOME IS NOW $1 MILLION.

THAT $350,000 HOME, WHICH PROBABLY SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT AS WEALTHY LIVES IN IS NOW $700,000.

THE NET IMPACT OF HB 581 WOULD BE TO REDUCE BOTH PEOPLE'S TAXES, BUT THE PERSON LIVING IN THE BIGGER HOME WOULD ACTUALLY SEE A $1,200 MORE IN TAX RELIEF THAN THE PERSON LIVING IN THE SMALLER HOME.

I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO RUN THROUGH THESE NUMBERS.

I THOUGHT THAT MR. MCMURRAY SAID IT, IT'S A BLUNT INSTRUMENT.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT HIGHER TAXES.

PEOPLE THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNDERSTAND THAT, AND SO THEY'VE PASSED THIS BLUNT INSTRUMENT.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT LEADS A LOT OF INEQUITY.

YOU CAN PLAY OUT A LOT OF WHAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER AND PREVIOUSLY.

I TALKED ABOUT HOW IF MY HOME INCREASES FROM $500,000-$1,000,000, BUT I'M ONLY BEING TAXED AT $672,000.

LET'S I WANTED TO DOWNSIZE ACTUALLY FROM MY 32 TO THAT 21 I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

IF I WERE TO DO THAT UNDER HB 581 UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT, I WOULD ACTUALLY SEE MY TAXES INCREASE.

I WOULD BE PAYING MORE PROPERTY TAXES IN THE 21 THAN I CURRENTLY AM PAYING IN THE 32.

AGAIN, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND TALK THIS THROUGH FOLKS.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THIS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THIS BLUNT INSTRUMENT, WHERE BASICALLY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THEIR HOUSES FOR LONGER ARE BENEFITING AT PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE COMMUNITY MORE RECENTLY.

PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR HOMES ARE BENEFITING AT THE EXPENSE OF RENTERS.

THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THAT, HIGHER RENTS.

PEOPLE WHO DON'T OWN THEIR HOMES ARE PROBABLY GOING TO PAY HIGHER RENTS TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

YOU'RE ALSO SEEING A SHIFT FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL.

COMMERCIAL FOLKS ARE DOING MORE OF THE BURDEN.

WE'RE REALLY STRUGGLING TO ACTUALLY HAVE A VIBRANT RETAIL ENVIRONMENT HERE IN DECATUR.

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, ACTUALLY, WE'RE INCREASING COMMERCIAL RATES AND COMMERCIAL TAXES, AND SO IT'S HARDER TO ACTUALLY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN BUSINESSES IN DECATUR.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A CONCERN FOR ME.

THEN IF I MAY NOT WANT TO SELL MY HOUSE BECAUSE MY TAXES MAY INCREASE AS I ALREADY SAID.

I MAY NOT WANT TO DO A RENOVATION LIKE MY KITCHEN BECAUSE SUDDENLY MY TAXES INCREASE $4,000 BECAUSE I WANTED TO RENOVATE MY KITCHEN AFTER LIVING HERE FOR 10 YEARS.

I MENTIONED THE HIGHER RENTS, I MENTIONED DRIVING COMMERCIAL OUT.

LET ME SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

JUST GOING BACK TO WHAT MR. MCMURRAY SAID, IF THIS IS A BLUNT INSTRUMENT THAT I DON'T THINK IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO USE.

IT TAKES AWAY OUR FLEXIBILITY.

I THINK ULTIMATELY IT'S INEQUITABLE AND THAT'S GOING TO SHIFT THE BURDEN, AS HE SAID, ACTUALLY PROTECTING WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE LONGER.

I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US, ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO DO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE'RE SPENDING MONEY, TO DO LOOK AT WHAT OUR MILEAGE RATES ARE.

I WOULD FOLLOW MAYOR PRO TEM'S LEADERSHIP AND REALLY HAVING A GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT APPRAISAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE APPROPRIATELY AND EQUITABLY VALUING HOME SO THAT PEOPLE'S TAX BURDENS ARE APPROPRIATELY ALIGNED AS SUCH AS THAT.

THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO GO ON FOR A LONG TIME.

I CLOSE WAS SAYING THAT THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY PUT ON A ONE PARAGRAPH EXPLANATION OF WHAT THIS IS AT THE PALETTE AND ASKED PEOPLE TO VOTE TO IT.

[01:45:03]

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TAX LAW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS, YOU CAN EXPLAIN IT IN A PARAGRAPH.

THEN TO GIVE US AS THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES TWO MONTHS, BASICALLY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

WE'D LOVE TO HAVE A LONGER CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS, BUT WE ONLY HAVE TWO MONTHS TO FIGURE IT OUT.

WE HAVE TO CRAM ALL THIS INTO TWO MONTHS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PUT BEFORE US.

ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, AS THE MAYOR SAID, WHERE WE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE MAKING DECISIONS.

WE'RE DIGGING DEEP INTO THIS.

WE'RE SPENDING HOURS, IF NOT DAYS, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS IS AND HOW IT IMPACTS US, HOW IT IMPACTS OUR CONSTITUENTS, HOW IT IMPACTS OUR CITIES.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS WITH THIS TIME CONSTRAINTS AND THIS LIMITED INFORMATION THAT IT'S PUTTING OUT, MAKING IT MORE CHALLENGING FOR US TO DO THAT.

AGAIN, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE TRANSPARENCY.

I ACKNOWLEDGE WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE TAX BURDEN THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUR CITIZENS.

I THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR INPUT, AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR LISTENING TO ME RAMP A LOT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS HAS UNMUTED, SO PASSING THE MIC TO HIM.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.

I THINK, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THIS.

I THINK WE HAVE TO, AS CITIES IN DECATUR, HAVE TO UNITE AND COME UP WITH A BETTER WAY FOR LOOKING AT ASSESSMENTS.

I THINK THIS SHINES A LIGHT, A REALLY CLEAR LIGHT ON THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS.

IT IS NOT TRANSPARENT.

ANYBODY THAT HAS EVER TRIED TO NAVIGATE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE OLDER PARENTS THAT ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE PROCESS.

IT IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS TO NAVIGATE.

WHEN YOU HAVE TWO BOXES THAT ARE SIDE BY SIDE IN THIS CITY, YOU MAY HAVE ONE BOX THAT WAS BUILT IN 1924, AND YOU MAY HAVE ANOTHER BOX THAT WAS BUILT IN 2024, AND THEY'RE BEING ASSESSED AT THE SAME RATE.

CLEARLY, THAT'S A DICHOTOMY.

THE BOXES ARE NOT EQUAL.

I THINK THAT PART OF THIS CONVERSATION IS TO DIVE DEEPER AS WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND LOOK AT, WELL, WHY IS THIS SO? BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY.

AS COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY SAID, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS PROCESS AND MAKE THE TAX SITUATION MORE 21ST CENTURY INSTEAD OF MORE 19TH CENTURY THAN IT IS.

WE ARE FACED WITH A VERY BIG PROBLEM.

IT IS CORRECT. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SIGNIFICANT INCREASES.

HOWEVER, DECATUR BEING ONE OF THE OLDEST CITIES, EXCUSE ME ONE MOMENT. I'M SORRY.

FOR DECATUR, IT IS TOUGH BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THAT MILEAGE RATE CAP.

THE OTHER PART OF THAT CAVED IS, WE ALSO HAVE OUR OWN SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH ALSO TAXES CITIES IN THE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM COVERS ALL THE CITIES IN THE COUNTY.

DECATUR IS VERY UNIQUE.

THIS IS NOT A ONE SIZE FIT ALL PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

IN FACT, IT REALLY IS A BROAD STROKE ATTEMPT AT PASSING SOMETHING THAT WORKS EVERYWHERE, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.

IN THE EFFORT TO GIVE EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE COMMISSION.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT ROAD AHEAD, BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ENGAGEMENT AS WE HAVE THE REST OF THIS PROCESS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WALSH, I BELIEVE, HAD UNMUTED, AND THEN YOU COMMISSIONER MAYER. THANK YOU.

>> FEEL LIKE WE'RE HITTING THE BUTTON IN THE GAME SHOW THERE.

COMMISSIONER MAYER. I APPRECIATE IT.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GREAT COMMENTS, INSIGHTFUL AND THOUGHTFUL BEFORE ME NOW.

I WANT TO BE NOT REDUNDANT, BUT TO SAY THAT THE THREE THINGS I'M LOOKING FOR THAT I THINK WE OWE OURSELVES AND THE COMMUNITY OUR TAX POLICY, PROPERTY TAX POLICY THAT'S SUSTAINABLE, FLEXIBLE AND EQUITABLE.

COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY AND MAYOR PRO TEM BROUGHT OUT A FAIR NUMBER OF THE ISSUES PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE EQUITABLE SIDE OF THIS.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FLEXIBILITY, I HAVE CONCERNS THERE.

AGAIN, THINGS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE BROUGHT OUT IN THE PARAGRAPH THAT FOLKS VOTED FOR, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PERMANENT POLICY THAT THERE WAS NO, AGAIN A ONE SIZE FITS ALL THAT IS PERMANENT.

IT HAS NO OFF RAMP AND NO ABILITY FOR A CITY TO RECALIBRATE IF THIS PROPERTY TAX ENVIRONMENT BECOMES UNTENABLE FOR OUR CITY, WHICH COULD IT? POSSIBLY, WE DO HAVE A UNIQUE POSITION OF A PROPERTY TAX CAP.

[01:50:01]

FOR OTHER CITIES THAT DON'T HAVE A CAP, MAYBE THEY CAN, UNDERSTAND THE TIME FRAME OF FOREVER IS OKAY FOR THEM.

BUT WE DO HAVE THAT CAP THAT I THINK MAKES THIS LESS FLEXIBLE THAN I WOULD HAVE HOPED.

WE ALSO HAVE PRETTY LIMITED COMMERCIAL TAX BASE AT PRESENT COMPARED TO MANY OTHER CITIES WHO MAY NOT BE AS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, THEY MAY HAVE MORE LAND OR OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME EVEN DENSER OR HAVE A UTILITY WE HAVE LIMITED COMMERCIAL REVENUE.

WE'VE BEEN GROWING IT, BUT THAT'S A LONGER STRATEGY.

WHEN THAT SITS AT 20% OR LESS, IT GIVES ME PAUSE THAT WE COULD DRAW FROM ANOTHER ROBUST, DYNAMIC, HIGH GROWTH SEGMENT OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

A QUESTION WE TALKED ABOUT, I THINK THE FLIP SIDE OF THE COIN ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY OR COST, PRICES ARE REALLY DRIVEN BY RIGHT NOW, LOW INVENTORY AND PERNICIOUSLY HIGH INTEREST RATES.

THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE VERY PAINFUL TO AND GROWING, AND THEY'RE ADDING TO THAT OVERALL COST, BUT THE BIG CHUNKS OF THE UNAFFORDABILITY COME FROM LOW INVENTORY, CONSTRAINED INVENTORY AND HIGH INTEREST RATES.

IN FACT, THE IRONY HERE IS THAT WE COULD WITH AN OPT IN, CREATE A DISINCENTIVE IN AN ARTIFICIALLY LOW TAX ENVIRONMENT FOR MANY HOMEOWNERS, CREATE A DISINCENTIVE TO SELL, PEOPLE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE SELL.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT PUSHING ANYBODY OUT OR ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SELL WHO WOULDN'T, BUT FOLKS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE MAY HAVE A DISINCENTIVE, AND WE CONTINUE TO DAMPEN THE OVERALL INVENTORY.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK ABOUT.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT FLEXIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY, I HAVE SOME CHALLENGES THERE.

I'M DEFINITELY LEARNING FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE POINTS BROUGHT OUT TONIGHT.

MS. LONG SAID SOMETHING ABOUT AUSTIN AND THE 10% CAP.

THAT'S ACTUALLY REALLY INTERESTING.

IT'S A DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITY THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN TO WORK WITH.

THIS IS MUCH MORE AUSTERE THAN THAT.

THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT LIKE THAT, LIKE AUSTIN, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS HAS BEEN OFFERED TO US BY THE STATE POLICY.

ANOTHER QUICK COMMENT. I DID READ THAT WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE THAT HAD SOME COMPELLING INFORMATION, A GOOD HEADLINE ABOUT ON THAT HOMES EVERYONE WANTS TO BELIEVE THEIR HOMES OVERVALUED.

IT'S BASICALLY COMPARING INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS AND THEIR VALUATION TO WHAT THE BROADER HOME MARKET IS.

THAT'S JUST LIKE SAYING, A BUILDER AND END USER WILL NOT PAY THE SAME FOR A LOT.

THE BUILDER HAS TO BY NATURE OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING, PAY LESS FOR THAT PARCEL THAN THE END USER AND THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHERE THAT IS A COMPELLING HEADLINE, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU CAN FOLLOW ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH THAT ARTICLE.

IT WAS A BIT OF A DISTRACTION FOR ME, BUT I THINK TALKING ABOUT HOME PRICES ARE GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL AND AFFORDABILITY CUTS BOTH WAYS.

AGAIN, WE'RE LEARNING AS WE GO.

THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME, STILL WORKSHOPPING, WHAT I'M LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING ABOUT A COMPLICATED TOPIC, AND WE'LL KEEP ON TALKING. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER MAYER.

>> PROBABLY BEST FOR MY VERY REFINED AND DIGNIFIED COLLEAGUES TO SPEAK FIRST [LAUGHTER].

THEY PUT THE GOOD FOOT FORWARD, AND THEN I TEAR IT DOWN.

[LAUGHTER] FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE TODAY AND TO EVERYONE WHO'S MADE A COMMENT.

I AM NOT GOING TO DOUBLE BACK ON WHAT WAS SO ELOQUENTLY STATED BY THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.

THEY DO A FAR BETTER JOB THAN I EVER WOULD IN POLITELY STATING FACTS.

I STRUGGLE WITH A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK THAT I HAVE GOTTEN BECAUSE I'M AN EMOTIONAL PERSON, AND I'VE BEEN PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY THE LACK OF AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING INDICATOR.

I SEETHE TYPICALLY WHEN I'M HAVING TO HEAR FEEDBACK, KNOWING AS THOUGH WE WHO SIT ON THIS BOARD ARE NOT IMPACTED BY THE SAME THINGS THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE.

THAT JUST BURNS ME EVERY TIME.

MAYBE EVEN MORE SO THAN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS, COMMISSIONER WALSH, MENTIONED AUSTIN, TEXAS.

FANTASTIC CITY, AMAZING CITY.

I HAVE HEARD THE COMPARISON TO AUSTIN MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT,

[01:55:02]

AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT A LESS THAN FIVE SQUARE MILE CITY WITH 25,000 PEOPLE CAN BE COMPARED TO A 300 SQUARE MILE CITY WITH A MILLION PEOPLE.

IMPOSSIBLE. YOU CANNOT ONE TO ONE RATIO AUSTIN, TEXAS AND DECATUR GEORGIA.

ALL THAT IS DOING IS MUDDYING REALLY IMPORTANT FACTS, INFORMATION AND DATA THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE DECISION FOR OUR CITY.

YAY, FOR AUSTIN, BUT IT'S NOT DECATUR.

SECONDLY, I ALSO GET REALLY FIRED UP WHEN I HEAR THAT WE DON'T CARE ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.

I HAVE PERSONALLY MADE THAT MY LIFE'S WORK.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS BODY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES TO INCREASE AFFORDABILITY INDICATOR.

THAT INCLUDES INCREMENTAL EFFORTS TO HELP REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS.

IT IS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE GET A LOT OF HEAT FOR THAT BECAUSE YOU HATE THE APARTMENTS, [LAUGHTER] BUT ALSO, YOU DON'T WANT US TO BUILD APARTMENTS, AND YOU DON'T WANT US TO BUILD TO PUBLICS, BUT THERE'S NO OTHER WAY FOR US TO SHIFT TO A MORE COMMERCIAL TAX DIGEST THAN TO ACTUALLY BRING IN MORE COMMERCIAL REVENUE, WHICH COMES WITH MORE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES.

WHILE WE'RE DEALING WITH THOSE CHALLENGES, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO FEEDBACK AND INFORMATION TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION IS A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW ADOPTING THIS WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE EQUITY IMPACTS OF ADOPTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

WE ARE HEARING A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HOW EXPENSIVE THINGS ARE AND HOW RATES ARE BEING RAISED.

MISS LONG COMMENTED ABOUT THE WATER BILL AND THE ELECTRIC BILL, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT I PERSONALLY STRUGGLED WITH THIS YEAR HARD.

WE'RE SAYING ALL OF THIS FORGETTING THAT CITY OF DECATUR IS AN EMPLOYER.

EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WORKS FOR CITY OF DECATUR, WHETHER THEY ARE PICKING UP YOUR TRASH, WHETHER THEY ARE YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHETHER THEY ARE YOUR POLICE OFFICERS, ARE ALSO IMPACTED BY THOSE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT LONG TERM.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP UP A LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOR YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, FOR YOUR PUBLIC WORKS, AND IN THE EVENT THAT THE COST OF WHAT WE NEED, MATERIALS, GOODS, ANY HEALTHCARE THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN DECATUR HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO THAT, AND WE'RE CALCULATING LONG TERM, SO THAT MILITARY RATE WE HAVE IN CITY OF DECATUR IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER.

I GET IT.

I COULD NOT BE MORE ALIGNED WITH THE FACT THAT IT IS HARD TO OWN A HOME AND CONTINUE TO AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT IN DECATUR. I GET IT.

I WAS NOT SO SUCCESSFUL.

AFTER 18 YEARS, I FINALLY HAD TO BAIL OUT.

BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, I THINK THAT WHILE WE'RE EVALUATING THIS, WE CANNOT STOP ACTUALLY LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE REAL TAX RELIEF TO THE RESIDENTS OF DECATUR.

IF I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL PROVIDE ACTUAL TAX RELIEF TO MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS HERE IN DECATUR, THAT'S ONE THING.

HOWEVER, IF I DON'T, THAT'S NOT GOING TO STOP ME FROM LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE GET TAX RELIEF TO HOMEOWNERS INDICATOR.

>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO JUST BRING OUT A COUPLE OF MORE POINTS AND COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE AT OUR EARLIER SESSION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE AWARE OF IS THERE HAVE BEEN RECENT ARTICLES IN A PUBLICATION CALLED THE BOND BUYER THAT WARNS THAT THIS POLICY COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT BOND RATINGS FOR ANY CITIES THAT DON'T OPT OUT.

WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO HAVE A STELLAR BOND RATING.

IF WE HAVE TO GO TO THE BOND MARKET TO GET FUNDS, THAT COULD BE IMPACTED.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THE CITY CARRIES THE DEBT FOR BONDS FOR CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR.

[02:00:02]

IF THE SCHOOLS NEED TO GO OUT ON THE MARKET AND GET MONEY, THEN IF THE CITY'S RATING IS LESS, THEN IT'S GOING TO COST MORE FOR ANY BONDS.

AGAIN, SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE MIGHT HAPPEN BECAUSE THIS HAS NO WAY IF YOU HAVE TO OPT OUT, OR IF YOU DO NOTHING, YOU HAVE OPTED IN, AND THERE IS NOT A RAMP TO GO BACK AND SAY, WE REALLY FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT WORKING FOR US AT ALL.

HOW DO WE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT? THERE'S NOWHERE IN THE LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

I THINK WE'VE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS.

WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE BRINGING FORWARD YOUR COMMENTS.

THIS EVENING, WE WILL HAVE THREE OTHER HEARINGS WHERE WE WILL TAKE COMMENTS.

AS COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY SAID, WE HAVE SPENT OUR SPENDING AND CONTINUE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS, AND WHATEVER DECISION IS MADE, IT WON'T HAVE BEEN MADE IN ANY VACUUM OR WITHOUT A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND A LOT OF THOUGHT ON THE PART OF YOUR ELECTED BODY.

I THINK COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT.

>> I APOLOGIZE, BUT COMMISSION MAYER, IN YOUR COMMENTS, REMIND ME SOMETHING.

LAST YEAR ON THE BALLOT, WE HAD INCLUDING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, SEVEN MEASURES INVOLVING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

IS THAT RIGHT, MISS ARNOLD. HOW MANY WERE ON THE BALLOT? I'M NOT SURE WHEN THE LAST TIME THIS WAS, BUT WE PUT THEM ON THE BALLOT.

>> IT WAS IN 2023.

>> '23.

>> I CAN'T TELL YOU THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT THERE WERE NEW AND EXPANDED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.

>> EVERY ONE OF THOSE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS WAS TARGETED TO PEOPLE WITH LOWER INCOMES AND PEOPLE WITH SMALLER HOMES.

THIS PROPOSAL, THE BIGGER THE HOME, THE MORE VALUABLE THE HOME, THE BIGGER THE TAX RELIEF YOU GET.

I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS, AND PARTICULARLY, IN TERMS OF WHEN WE CAN GIVE PEOPLE INDICATOR.

THIS IS THE SUBTLE DISTINCTION.

THIS IS THE TAX POLICY THAT WE AS A COMMISSIONER ARE TRYING TO PURSUE TO HELP PEOPLE ON THE EDGES.

HB 581 IS THE PLANT INSTRUMENT THAT JUST DOES NOT DO THAT, AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I HAVE WITH IT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT THAT 2023 WENT INTO EFFECT LAST YEAR, BUT BASICALLY, WE IN THE CITY SCHOOLS INDICATOR ALL PASSED TAX EXEMPTIONS TARGETING FOLKS WITH SMALLER HOMES OR PEOPLE WHO ARE EARNING LESS MONEY.

THIS, AS I SAID, THE BIGGER HOME, THE MORE EXPENSIVE YOUR HOME, THE MORE TAX RELIEF YOU WOULD GET FROM THIS.

I JUST THINK IT'S MISDIRECTED IN THAT REGARD.

THANK YOU FOR THE ADDITIONAL TIME.

>> SURE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? I DON'T KNOW IF MISS ARNOLD HAS ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO MAKE ABOUT THIS.

>> NO.

>> GREAT. NOW WE'LL MOVE TO OUR AGENDA ACTION ITEMS.

[VII.A. Municipal Election Qualifying Fees.]

WE WILL INVITE THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, WE'LL ASK YOU TO WAIT UNTIL REQUEST AND PETITIONS.

THE FIRST AGENDA ACTION ITEM IS THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION QUALIFYING FEE SETTING THOSE FOR THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 ELECTION, LOOKING AT ASSET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, TRAFFIC SIGNAL MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT, THE CONTRACT REVISION FOR THE DECATUR SQUARE TRANSFORMATION PROJECT, DESIGN SERVICES, AND CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES.

IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO HAS JOINED US ONLINE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO.

WE'LL USE THE SAME PROCESS.

IF YOU'LL RAISE YOUR HAND, WE WILL UNMUTE YOU AND ASK YOU TO MAKE YOUR COMMENT, AND THEN WE WILL LOOK AT THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT I SEE ANY HANDS RAISED.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS AND MOVE

[02:05:01]

TO THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION QUALIFYING FEES.

IS THAT MISS ROCK?

>> IT IS. GOOD EVENING, CITY COMMISSIONERS?

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> AS THE MAYOR SAID, 2025 IS AN ELECTION YEAR, AND THE FIRST STEP IN OUR PROCESS IS TO SET THE QUALIFYING FEES FOR THE CITY COMMISSION SEATS, AS WELL AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SEATS.

THE FEES THAT I'M RECOMMENDING THAT YOU EXCEPT WERE DETERMINED BASED ON PROVISIONS OF OUR STATE OF GEORGIA ELECTION CODE.

THEY REPRESENT 3% OF THE GROSS SALARY OF THE PRECEDING CALENDAR YEAR FOR BOTH BODIES.

THE FEE FOR A CITY COMMISSION SEAT WOULD BE $360, AND THAT HAS BEEN THE FEE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL ELECTIONS, AND THE FEE FOR A BOARD OF EDUCATION SEAT WOULD BE $324.

THIS IS A CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.

BEFORE IT HAD BEEN $35 BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT RECEIVING AN ACTUAL SALARY, BUT NOW BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS RECEIVE A SALARY.

ALSO, WITH THAT IS THE ADOPTION OF THE ATTACHED NOTICE THAT WILL GO IN THE LEGAL ORGAN, AS WELL AS ON THE WEBSITE.

THIS IS BY FEBRUARY 1ST, WHICH IS PART OF THE STATUTE.

I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR MISS ROCK? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION QUALIFYING FEES FOR THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 ELECTION, AS DESCRIBED?

>> SO MOVE.

>> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

>> OPPOSED. CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, WE WILL LOOK AT ASSET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.

[VII.B. Asset Management Software.]

I BELIEVE THAT IS MR. LANGSTON LEAKE.

IS THAT WHO'S BRINGING IT FORWARD?

>> YES, MYSELF AND MISS KIM WHATLEY AS WELL.

GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.

I AM HERE TODAY TO RECOMMEND APPROVING, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH OPENGOV INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $90,916.50 FOR A PRO RATED SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE OPENGOV ASSET ENTERPRISE, ASSET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SOLUTION FOR FEBRUARY 1ST, 2025 TO JUNE 30TH, 2025, AND FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT BUILD-OUT, TRAINING, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOFTWARE.

APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL WILL ALLOW CITY STAFF TO BEGIN WORKING WITH OPENGOV ON SYSTEM BUILD-OUT AND STAFF TRAINING WITH THE GOAL OF LAUNCHING THAT SOFTWARE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025.

KIM, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE OVER FOR A SECOND.

>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, AND MAYOR.

WE ACTUALLY USED THE DECATUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS WHILE GOING THROUGH THIS ENTIRE RFP PROCESS, AND WE WANTED TO JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE DID.

WE STARTED WITH MEETING WITH EACH ONE OF TEAM MEMBER AND A SUPERVISOR FOR EVERY DIVISION OF PUBLIC WORKS.

WE MET WITH THEM AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT ASSET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE CAN DO AND WHAT THEY WOULD NEED IT TO DO FOR THEM SO THAT WE COULD EFFECTIVELY CREATE OUR RFP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR TEAM AS WE MOVED THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

WE ALSO CONSULTED WITH OUR S3 GIS SO THAT WE MADE SURE THAT THAT SOFTWARE WOULD COMMUNICATE AND USED EXAMPLES FROM OTHER CITIES WHO HAD WRITTEN RFPS USING THAT SOFTWARE AS WELL.

WE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE WITH THE TEAM MEMBERS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS, ATTENDING PUBLIC WORKS TEAM MEETINGS, UPDATING THEM ON OUR PROCESSES, AND CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

WE ALSO MET WITH THE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE AND DISCUSSED WHAT THIS SOFTWARE WOULD BE AND HOW IT WOULD OPERATE.

THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE ALSO GOT MORE FEEDBACK FROM FIRE AND POLICE IN THE POTENTIAL OF HOW THEY MAY ACTUALLY USE THIS SOFTWARE AS WELL.

WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF INPUT, NOT JUST FROM PUBLIC WORKS, BUT FROM MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY ORGANIZATION.

>> WE DID SUBMIT OUR POST TO THE RFP.

WE HAD SEVEN VENDORS RETURN PROPOSALS IN WRITTEN FORM.

THEN WE HAD A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO EVALUATE THOSE RFPS.

[02:10:07]

FROM THERE, A TOP FIVE WAS SELECTED TO COME BACK AND DO IN-PERSON PRESENTATIONS.

THOSE IN-PERSON PRESENTATIONS WERE NOT ONLY MADE TO THE RFP COMMITTEE, BUT THEY WERE ALSO MADE TO TEAM LEADS FROM FRONTLINE TEAM MEMBERS AND TO OUR CREW LEADERS.

I WILL LET LANGSTON TAKE BACK OVER TO FINISH UP THE PROCESS.

>> YES. OUT OF THE PROPOSALS THAT WE RECEIVED, WE RECEIVED PROPOSALS FOR A THREE YEAR CONTRACT IN IMPLEMENTATION.

THE PROPOSAL MADE BY OPENGOV WAS THE THIRD LOWEST OUT OF THE SEVEN PROPOSALS THAT WE RECEIVED.

TONIGHT, WHAT WE WILL BE REQUESTING, I'LL BREAK DOWN THE COST FOR YOU OUT OF THAT $90,916 AND 50 CENTS, $24,172 AND 50 CENTS OF THAT WILL BE THE PRO RATED SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE SOFTWARE FROM FEBRUARY 1ST, 2025 TO JUNE 30TH OF 2025.

THEN $66,744 WILL BE FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT WITH BUILDOUT AND TRAINING, AND AN ONSITE SERVICES FOR WHEN WE GO LIVE WITH THE SOFTWARE IN THE FALL.

THEN FROM THERE, THE SUBSCRIPTION COST WILL THEN BE BUILT INTO THE BUDGET.

WE'LL BE PUTTING THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF THE YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION AMOUNT INTO THE PROPOSAL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR '25-'26 BUDGET.

DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I SEE THE PRO-RATED SUBSCRIPTION COST FOR FEBRUARY TO JUNE, IS THAT CORRECT? IS $24,000? WHAT IS THE PROJECTED SUBSCRIPTION COST FOR WHEN WE GO LIVE AND HAVE A YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION?

>> THEY HAVE GIVEN US PROPOSED COSTS FROM JULY 1ST.

FROM JULY TO JUNE 2025 TO 2026, THAT WOULD BE $58,000, FROM 2026-2027, IT WOULD BE $60,000, AND FROM 2027-2028, IT WOULD BE $63,000.

ESSENTIALLY, IT WOULD START OUT AT AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION OF $58,000 AND INCREASE AT, I BELIEVE, THAT'S A 5% RATE.

>> COMMISSIONER WALSH.

>> THANKS. CAN YOU POSITION US IN SPACE AND TIME AS TO HOW THIS IS NECESSARY NOW? MAYBE ANOTHER QUESTION WOULD BE, HOW DOES IT ALIGN WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN OR WHERE DID THIS REQUEST COME FROM AND HOW IS IT GOING TO MAKE THE ORGANIZATION BETTER?

>> SURE. I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

MY NAME IS CARA SCHARER.

I SERVE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

THIS SOFTWARE IS GOING TO BE A TOOL UTILIZED BY THE TEAM ACROSS THE CITY TO ADDRESS DIFFERENT WORK ORDERS.

EACH WORK ORDER COMPLETED BY DIFFERENT CREW WILL TRACK BACK TO AN ASSET ACROSS THE CITY AND THEN THAT INFORMATION WILL HELP US PROJECT FURTHER OUT DIFFERENT CAPITAL PROJECT ITEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE STREETS CREW OR THE BUILDING FACILITIES MAINTENANCE TEAM MAKES A ROOF REPAIR.

REPEATEDLY OVER TIME, WE'LL BE ABLE TO REVIEW THAT INFORMATION AND BETTER PROJECT WHEN THE ROOF MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED.

>> THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF AUTOMATION THAT CREATES EFFICIENCY AND I GUESS YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE MAYBE MORE OF AN INTEGRATED DASHBOARD, AND YOU CAN SEE MORE OF THE ORGANIZATION AT A GLANCE AS FAR AS THE ASSET GOES AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WHERE.

>> CORRECT. WE CAN PROGRAM OVER TIME, RECURRING TASKS THAT WE ANTICIPATE FOR EACH CREW TO PROGRAM IN THEIR WORKFLOW, JUST AS MORE SUPPORT THAN PAPER ITEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, OCTOBER IS LEAF SEASON AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT TASKS ACROSS THE CITY THAT WE REPEATEDLY EVERY YEAR WORK TO ADDRESS AND SO NOW TODAY WE CAN PROGRAM FOR NEXT FALL, SO NOTHING GETS LOST OFF OUR RADAR.

THIS ASSET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE TOO WILL INTERFACE WITH

[02:15:03]

OUR CITIZEN MAINTENANCE REQUEST PLATFORM SO THAT A RESIDENT CAN SUBMIT A MAINTENANCE REQUEST AND IT WILL BE RECEIVED BY CITY STAFF AS A WORK ORDER THAT THEY COMPLETED.

ONCE THE WORK ORDER IS COMPLETED, IT GETS TIED BACK TO OUR GIS SYSTEM.

AGAIN, TO SUPPORT CAPITAL PLANNING AND DATA TO REVIEW EFFICIENCIES OVER TIME.

>> THANK YOU. THAT'S HELPFUL.

>> COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.

>> WELL, MS. SCHARER ANTICIPATED ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.

I'M GLAD THAT IT INTEGRATES WITH SEECLICKFIX.

THAT'S A GOOD THING TO HEAR.

I HAVE A QUESTION, THEN SOME COMMENTS.

WE DIDN'T HEAR WITH THE OTHER BIDS.

WHERE IN GENERAL, WHEN WE DO GO OUT AND GET BIDS, I REALLY LIKE SEEING ALL THE NUMBERS.

I TRUST YOU GUYS ON THIS, BUT I THINK FROM A TRANSPARENCY AND LETTING FOLKS KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IF WE COULD, I DON'T KNOW, IF YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN TERMS OF JUST THE RANGE, THANK YOU, MR. LEAKE, IF YOU JUST RANGE OF THE BIDS, IT WOULD BE GREAT.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE LANGSTON HAS THEM.

WE DID LIST THE COMPANIES AND LANGSTON, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU TOO WANT TO SPEAK TO THE AMOUNTS.

>> YES. I'M GOING TO GO BID BY BID AND GIVE YOU ALL THE AMOUNTS.

THESE ARE ALL FOR THE COST OF IMPLEMENTATION AND ALSO THREE YEAR CONTRACTS.

FOR RICEFW TECH, THAT WAS $539,460.

FOR ATKINSREALIS, THAT WAS $354,260.

FOR ASSETWORKS, THAT WAS $273,830.

FOR BRIGHTLY, IT WAS $159,316.

FOR OPENGOV, THE THE INITIAL PROPOSAL WAS $222,000 OR $222,449.

FOR NOVOTICS, THE PROPOSED AMOUNT WAS $195,000.

FOR CGI INCORPORATED, THE PROPOSED NUMBER WAS $1.56 MILLION.

>> THANK YOU, MR. LEAKE. PLEASE JUST INCLUDE THOSE WHENEVER YOU GO TO BID, THAT'D BE HELPFUL.

>> BIG PICTURE, GOVERNMENT, WE LOOK AT OUR EXPENDITURES AND WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM.

BASICALLY, ITS SALARIES AND IT'S MAINTAINING ASSETS.

I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO HAVE AND THE CITY HAS THOUSANDS OF ASSETS FROM TRASH CANS TO BENCHES, TO ROADS, TO EVERYTHING IN OUR PARKS, TO OUR BUILDINGS.

WHEN I WAS PARKS COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTA, I STOOD UP IN ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

GOODNESS GRACIOUS, IT PROVIDES SO MUCH FEASIBILITY AND CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING IN TERMS OF THE TRUE COST OF THOSE ASSETS.

I WOULD TAKE A STEP FURTHER EVEN FROM WHAT MS. SCHARER SAID IN TERMS OF DO WE NEED TO REPLACE THAT ROOF? ALSO, WE FIND OURSELVES SAYING, WELL, DO WE EVEN NEED THAT BUILDING THAT HAS A ROOF ON IT? I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT DATA POINT.

AS IN THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT HB 581, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WAYS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY REDUCE EXPENDITURES, I THINK A RELATIVELY SMALL INVESTMENT IN ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LIKE THIS CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN COST.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S GOING TO BE BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE PUBLIC SPACE.

I'M HAPPY WE'RE DOING THIS.

KUDOS. IT'S NOT FUN.

THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE REALLY DOING A LOT OF TRAINING AND BRINGING PEOPLE TO SPEED AND CHANGING HABITS AND CULTURE AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT I'M REALLY GLAD WE'RE DOING THIS. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY, IN CHANNELING YOUR QUESTION, I DID ASK CITY MANAGER TO BE SURE AND HAVE THAT THOSE NUMBERS AVAILABLE FOR US TONIGHT BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US.

TYPICALLY, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS WAS A VERY ROBUST PROCESS AND THAT THERE ARE REASONS FOR GOING WITH THE BEST BID, THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE LOWEST BID.

BUT FOR THE PURPOSES OF TRANSPARENCY, I THINK, FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT WAS A WIDE RANGE OF NUMBERS AND SO TO NARROW IT DOWN TO WHAT WILL BRING THE BEST RESULTS FOR THE MONEY FOR THE CITY.

I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED AND WILL HELP WITH EFFICIENCIES, AND I THINK THAT WAY, THINGS DON'T FALL OFF THE RADAR AS MS. SCHARER SAID.

[02:20:01]

>> I'M GLAD WE'RE NOT PAYING $1.5 MILLION.

>> [LAUGHTER] YEAH. ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH OPENGOV IN THE AMOUNT OF $90,916 AND 50 CENTS FOR THE OPENGOV ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SOLUTION AND THE RELATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AS DESCRIBED.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?

>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. [OVERLAPPING]

>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE AGREEMENT IS THE CONTRACT IS APPROVED.

THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT, MS. SCHARER.

[VII.C. Traffic Signal Maintenance Agreement.]

>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, I'M CARA SCHARER.

I SERVE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND RENEWAL OF AN ANNUAL AGREEMENT WITH KCI TECHNOLOGIES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $40,000 FOR MONTHLY TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSPECTIONS AND MONITORING AT 34 KEY INTERSECTIONS IN THE CITY.

THIS IS A SLIGHT INCREASE OF $1,800 OR $150 A MONTH COMPARED TO 2023 AND 2024 SERVICES.

THE MONTHLY INSPECTION INCLUDES VERIFYING THE OVERALL OPERATION OF THE SIGNAL EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING PEDESTRIAN DEVICES AND VEHICULAR DETECTION EQUIPMENT, SIGNAL ILLUMINATION, AND COORDINATION WITH DEKALB COUNTY TRAFFIC SIGNAL MAINTENANCE DIVISION.

KCI WILL ALSO PROVIDE SEPARATE INSPECTION SERVICES AS REQUESTED BY CITY STAFF FOR A FEE OF $210 PER INTERSECTION.

FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC WORK STREETS DIVISION BUDGET FOR THESE SERVICES. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. SCHARER? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RENEWAL OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH KCI TECHNOLOGIES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $48,000? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?

>> IT'S BEEN MADE. IS THERE A SECOND?

>> MOTION MADE AND SECONDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. [OVERLAPPING]

>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AND THE MOTION PASSES.

NEXT, THE CONTRACT FOR DECATUR SQUARE TRANSFORMATION PROJECT DESIGN SERVICES.

[VII.D. Contract Revision for Decatur Square Transformation Project Design Services.]

I BELIEVE, MR. JUNGER.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

IT'S DAVID JUNGER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT IS TO RECOMMEND THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVE A CONTRACT REVISION WITH JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP FOR AN ADDITIONAL $65,500.

THIS WILL INCREASE THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM $594,500 TO $660,000, WHICH WILL REMAIN WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED PROJECT BUDGET OF $660,000 FOR THE DESIGN OF THE DECATUR SQUARE TRANSFORMATION PROJECT.

THE SCOPE OF IMPROVEMENTS AND SERVICES ARE BASED ON THE TOWN CENTER 2.0 PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED IN JUNE OF 2023 AND THE DESIGN WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER THE 4TH, 2024.

IT WAS DURING THE DETAILED DESIGN PHASE AND DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR THE PROJECT THAT ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS WERE IDENTIFIED THAT REQUIRED MORE DESIGN TEAM HOURS, SPECIFICALLY LOCATION OF THE RESTROOMS. AS YOU ALL RECALL, WE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT ITERATIONS OF DETERMINING WHAT THE BEST LOCATION FOR THE NEW RESTROOM FACILITIES WOULD BE, AS WELL AS WHAT WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE RELOCATION OF THE CELEBRATION ART INSTALLATION.

THESE CHANGES INVOLVED MULTIPLE EVALUATIONS TO ASSESS THE VARIOUS UNDERGROUND UTILITIES AND POTENTIAL CONFLICTS WITH THOSE UTILITIES.

ADDITIONALLY, THE DESIGN PHASE INCLUDED FURTHER SURVEY WORK AT THE INTERSECTION WITH TRINITY PLACE TO FACILITATE THE RELOCATING THE EXISTING ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMER

[02:25:02]

FROM THE NORTH END OF THE TURNAROUND TO THAT ISLAND AT THE SOUTH END.

APPROVAL OF THIS CONTRACT REVISION IS RECOMMENDED.

FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SPLOST II FUND, AND THIS WILL BE CLOSING OUT THE DESIGN PHASE OF THE DECATUR SQUARE TRANSFORMATION PROJECT.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR MR. JUNGER?

>> MR. JUNGER, SO DOES THIS GET US EVERYTHING WE TALKED ABOUT IN THAT LAST DESIGN CHARRETTE?

>> I WOULD THINK POTENTIALLY ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED OR IS NOT PART OF THE DESIGN WAS DURING THE EVALUATION PERIOD FOR THE CELEBRATION STATUE, THE WATER MISTING FOGGING PORTION OF THAT FEATURE IS NOT INCLUDED INTO THE DESIGN JUST DUE TO THE CHALLENGES WITH KEEPING IT OPERATIONAL, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE DESIGN PACKAGE THAT WAS PRESENTED IS IN THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS.

>> DOES THAT INCLUDE RELOCATING THE STATUTE?

>> BUT JUST NOT THE PLUMBING AND ACTUAL OPERATION OF IT?

>> CORRECT.

>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS?

>> IS THAT A VALUE ENGINEERING DECISION; WHAT'S DRIVING THAT?

>> FUNCTIONALITY, MAKING IT WORK, KEEPING IT WORKING.

>> JUST IT'S A HARD DESIGN.

THIS IS ASSET MANAGEMENT.

WE REALIZE THAT WE HAD SPENT SO MUCH TIME FIXING IT THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> CORRECT.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT REVISION WITH JACOBS ENGINEERING IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,500 FOR THE DECATUR SQUARE TRANSFORMATION PROJECT DESIGN SERVICES? ANY MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?

>> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> SECOND. FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.

>> AYE

THEN CONTINUING WITH THE SQUARE,

[VII.E. Construction Administration Services.]

MR. JUNGER, THE CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS HAS BEEN A WHIRLWIND OF A PROJECT.

WE'VE HAD AN INCREDIBLE TEAM.

WORKING WITH MISS THREADGILL AND MISS SCHARER ON THE CITY STAFF SIDE, HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME.

ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY TOO THAT WORKING WITH JACOBS ENGINEERING ON THIS VERY ACCELERATED SCHEDULE HAS BEEN CHALLENGING.

A LOT OF TIME AND HOURS HAVE GONE INTO THIS WORK, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE BRINGING A RECOMMENDATION THIS EVENING, AWARDING A TASK ORDER TO JACOBS ENGINEERING FOR $449,120 AND ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BUDGET OF $500,000 TO COVER PERMITTING, BID SUPPORT, AND DESIGN ENGINEER SUPPORT SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR THE DECATUR SQUARE TRANSFORMATION PROJECT.

JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP IS RECOMMENDED TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION AS THEY ARE THE DESIGN ENGINEER FOR THIS PROJECT AND HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.

THE DECATUR SQUARE TRANSFORMATION PROJECT AIMS TO ENHANCE AND REVITALIZE THE EXISTING DECATUR SQUARE COMMUNITY SPACE.

IT IS, AS I SAID, IN THE PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATION BASED ON THE TOWN CENTER 2.0 PLAN.

KEY ELEMENTS OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE A NEW STAGE WITH A GREEN ROOM, NEW RESTROOM FACILITIES, A NEW PLAY AREA, AN EXPANSION ONTO NORTH MCDONOUGH STREET, FEATURING GREEN, STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND UPGRADES TO THE PLAZA, INCLUDING LANDSCAPING, HARDSCAPING, AND A VARIETY OF FURNISHINGS.

ADDITIONALLY, A PROJECT WILL INVOLVE DEMOLISHING THE CURRENT GAZEBO AND RELOCATING THE CELEBRATION ARTWORK TO NORTH MCDONOUGH.

I BELIEVE THE CITY MANAGER WANTED ME TO PUT DIFFERENT WORDING IN THIS RECOMMENDATION, BUT THE PROJECT IS SET TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE FIFA WORLD CUP IN JUNE OF 2026.

I THINK SHE SAID PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE FIFA WORLD CUP PROJECT.

I DID NOT DISAGREE.

THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WILL INCLUDE PROJECT MANAGEMENT DURING THE PERMITTING PHASE, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEGUN. BID SUPPORT.

JACOBS ENGINEERING WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO US

[02:30:04]

THROUGHOUT THE BIDDING PROCESS, ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT COME UP DURING THE BIDDING PROCESS, AS WELL AS THE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES PORTION.

IT'S ESTIMATED THE DURATION FOR THESE SERVICES WOULD LAST APPROXIMATELY 16 MONTHS WITH ACTIVITIES.

CAN YOU STILL HEAR ME? GREAT. I THINK MY BATTERY DIED.

THE ESTIMATED DURATION IS 16 MONTHS WITH ACTIVITIES INCLUDING DESIGN ENGINEER, SUPPORT SERVICES TO BE MORE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

THAT IS THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OF THE JACOBS ENGINEERING TEAM, PEOPLE FROM STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, CIVIL ENGINEERING, THE MECHANICAL ELECTRICAL PLUMBING ENGINEERS TO VISIT THE SITE DURING CONSTRUCTION FOR SPECIAL INSPECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS CONSTRUCTING THE FACILITIES CONSISTENT WITH THE PLANS AS WELL AS ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT THE CONTRACTOR MIGHT HAVE.

THEY WOULD ALSO REVIEW VARIOUS PROJECT SUBMITTALS FOR THE PROJECT.

ALSO CONDUCT BIWEEKLY MEETINGS WITH THE CITY AND THE CONTRACTOR, REVIEW PAY APPLICATIONS, AND THEN ALSO COORDINATE MONTHLY WITH MARTA.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT IS AVAILABLE IN THE SPLOST II FUND.

CITY STAFF WILL PRESENT A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE FINANCING OF THE PROJECT FOLLOWING THE RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS WHICH ARE DUE ON FEBRUARY 27, 2025.

ALSO JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL A LITTLE BIT OF ADVANCED HEADS UP THAT DUE TO THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE DEMOLITION AND CONSTRUCTION AND THE ACCELERATED TIMELINE, WE ANTICIPATE RECOMMENDING A PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR AN OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE TO PROVIDE STAFF AUGMENTATION AND ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE CONSTRUCTION BID AWARD.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS? I DO KNOW WE'RE ON AN AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE, AND THIS IS REALLY A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT IN THE SQUARE TRANSFORMATION.

I THINK NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE WORLD CUP THAT WE ARE WANTING TO BE A WATCH SITE FOR TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO OUR DOWNTOWN AREA, TO STAY IN OUR HOTELS, TO VISIT OUR BUSINESSES.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE WANT TO MINIMIZE THE TIME THAT IMPACTS OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESS AREA AND TO WORK WITH BOTH OF THOSE GOALS IN MIND TO DO ALL WE CAN TO TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IN A WAY THAT HELPS PROTECT OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES AND ALSO GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PREPARED FOR AN EXCITING WORLD CUP CELEBRATION OR A SOCCER FEST CELEBRATION.

WE CAN'T REALLY USE THE WORLD CUP AS, I GUESS, THE TERM, BUT THAT IS THE MONTH THAT WE ARE TARGETING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME CELEBRATIONS FOR A SOCCER FEST IN DECATUR THAT I THINK THE COMMUNITY WILL NOT ONLY ENJOY, BUT IT WILL BRING BUSINESS AND PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN DECATUR.

ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> THAT SHOULD BE THE GOAL.

[LAUGHTER]

>> GOAL. WE COULDN'T HAVE A MEETING WITHOUT A LITTLE FUN.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I'VE BEEN WAITING ALL NIGHT FOR THAT.

>> [LAUGHTER] IF NOT, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO AWARD A TASK ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $449,120 TO JACOBS ENGINEERING AND ESTABLISHED THE PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR THE DECATUR SQUARE TRANSFORMATION PROJECT.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?

>> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION PASSES.

FEBRUARY 27, WE'LL BE HERE SOON AND WE'LL BE READY FOR THE NEXT STEP.

WE'LL OPEN THE MEETING UP NOW FOR REQUEST AND PETITION.

[VIII. Requests and Petitions.]

IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO IS JOINING US ON ZOOM

[02:35:01]

THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS MEETING, NOW IS THE LAST CHANCE TO DO THAT.

WE WILL I GIVE YOU A FEW MINUTES.

I DO SEE ONE HAND, AND I WILL RECOGNIZE PETER LINDSAY AND WE'LL ASK MISS ROARK TO UNMUTE MR. LINDSAY.

IF YOU WILL, PLEASE RESTATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

LOOKS LIKE HE'S STILL MUTED.

MR. LINDSAY, DOES HE NEED TO MUTE FROM HIS END OR IS IT ON OUR END, MISS ROARK?

>> I'M PUSHING THE BUTTON. THERE WE GO.

>> MR. LINDSAY, CAN YOU TRY TO UNMUTE ON YOUR END? WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN WORK ON THAT.

WE WILL NOW SEE MR. MIKE BARCIK'S HAND RAISED.

WE WILL TRY WITH YOU AND SEE IF WE CAN GET OUR TECHNOLOGY TO WORK AND THEN MAYBE GO BACK TO MR. LINDSAY.

I THINK YOU ARE UNMUTED, IF YOU'LL RESTATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

>> YES, THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS MIKE BARCIK, AND I'M AT 223 DREXEL AVENUE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION THAT WAS GOING ON EARLIER.

I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THAT.

I'M SOMEWHAT STALLING BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE PETER TIME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO UNMUTE HIMSELF.

IN OUR MODERN DAY AND AGE, I'M GUILTY OF THIS AS WELL.

WHERE'S THE OFF BUTTON? BUT I'LL TRY TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF SETUP.

PETER AND I AND SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A NAME FOR OUR GROUP THE DECATUR NOISE WORKING GROUP THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SOMETHING.

I MET PETER OVER A YEAR AGO.

I SIT ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD, AND PETER CAME TO ONE OF OUR MEETINGS AND BROUGHT UP THIS ISSUE OF NOISE BEING A FACTOR THAT IS DETRIMENTAL TO QUALITY OF LIFE, AND IT RESONATED WITH ME.

I THINK I SUFFER FROM THE SAME FRUSTRATIONS.

I, FOR A LONG TIME, FELT LIKE MAYBE I WAS JUST A ODD MAN OUT, BUT I ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT AND I HAVE CERTAINLY MET QUITE A FEW OTHERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FRUSTRATION.

WE TRIED TO ACTUALLY MAKE THIS HAPPEN, NOT IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR.

IT GOT PUSHED TO MAY, IT GOT PUSHED TO JUNE.

I UNDERSTAND, THAT'S FINE, THINGS HAPPEN.

BUT WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL TOWN MEETINGS ABOUT NOISE ORDINANCE, AND WE'VE REACHED OUT TO COMMISSIONERS INDIVIDUALLY, AND THERE'S PETER, SO I'M GOING TO MAYBE DEFER.

BUT I'LL JUST WRAP UP BY SAYING, BACK UP, I THINK I'M GOING TO SAY, MY PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY IN LIFE IS VERY MUCH LET YOU LIVE AND LET LIVE.

WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR HOUSE, IT'S FINE.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO BREAK THE LAW, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT HURTING ANYBODY, I'M HAPPY, BUT WHEN YOU DO AN ACTIVITY THAT IMPACTS MY QUALITY OF LIFE, THEN IT'S A STRUGGLE FOR ME.

AS A PERSON THAT WORKS A HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT, I TRY TO WORK FROM HOME ABOUT HALF THE WEEK.

I FIND THAT NOISE IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR, AND IT REALLY DOES AFFECT MY QUALITY OF LIFE, MY DESIRE TO WANT TO LIVE IN THE HOUSE THAT I LOVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LOVE IN THE CITY THAT I LOVE.

I'M APPEALING TO COMMISSIONERS TO PLEASE NOT LET THIS DIE ON THE VINE.

I THINK WITH THAT, IF IT'S OKAY, I'D LIKE TO KICK IT OVER TO PETER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> SURE. THANK YOU. PETER, WE HAVE YOU, IF YOU WILL REPEAT YOUR NAME AND GIVE US YOUR ADDRESS. THAT'D BE GREAT.

>> SURE. MY NAME IS PETER LINDSAY, AND I LIVE IN THE PARKWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 25 YEARS.

[02:40:03]

I'M EMBARRASSED TO SAY I TEACH, BUT I DON'T TEACH ONLINE FOR PRECISELY THESE TECHNOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. BUT ANYWAY, I'M ON.

I'M JUST GOING TO REPEAT A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT MIKE SAID, BUT LET ME JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

IN DECEMBER OF 2023, I APPROACHED THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE WITH MY CONCERNS ABOUT DAYTIME NOISE AND SUGGESTED THAT A CHANGE IN THE NOISE ORDINANCE MIGHT BE A VALUABLE THING TO EXPLORE.

THEY GRACIOUSLY SET UP A WORKING GROUP THAT I WAS A PART OF.

WE MET ONCE WITH CITY STAFF TO TALK ABOUT IT, AND WE DRAFTED A CHANGE TO THE DAYTIME NOISE ORDINANCE THAT BASICALLY PUT IN SOME DECIBEL LEVELS WHERE THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED.

NOW, THE CITY STAFF TOOK THAT AND MADE SOME GOOD AND NECESSARY CHANGES, AND THEY MADE THEM ON THE BASIS OF A STUDY DONE BY GEORGIA STATE, AND ALSO THE 2022 SURVEY THAT SHOWED AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS AGREED THAT DAYTIME NOISE WAS A PROBLEM.

THE STAFF THEN PRESENTED THE IDEAS TO YOU IN SEPTEMBER.

ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING IN JULY, WHERE THERE WAS AN ONLINE SURVEY CONFIRMING THE 2022 SURVEY THAT NOISE WAS A PROBLEM THAT THE VAST MAJORITY RESPONDENTS SAID.

>> ALL THIS WAS REALLY A SECOND TRY-IT EFFORTS THAT WERE MADE BACK IN 2021 AND 2022, EFFORTS THAT ENDED WITH THE DEPARTURE OF THE CITY EMPLOYEE WHO WAS WORKING ON IT.

THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A STRONG CONCERN AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF DECATUR ABOUT DAYTIME NOISE, AND THERE'S PRETTY GOOD SCIENCE BACKING UP THOSE CONCERNS.

LET ME JUST SAY THAT LIKE MIKE, I CAN'T WORK AT HOME A LOT OF MORNINGS BECAUSE IT'S JUST TOO LOUD.

I CAN'T THINK, AND IN CASES WHERE I HAVE MEETINGS LIKE THIS, I CAN'T HEAR.

I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT I CAN GO TO AN OFFICE AT GEORGIA STATE IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY, AND I FIND IT IRONIC THAT THAT OFFICE IS FAR QUIETER THAN MY NEIGHBORHOOD HERE IN DECATUR IS.

I JUST HAVE A SIMPLE QUESTION, AND THAT IS GIVEN THIS HISTORY, WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE? IF THERE'S ANYTHING HOLDING THIS UP, HOW CAN PEOPLE, LIKE MYSELF, HELP YOU ALL TO HAVE A RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE? THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. I HOPE BOTH OF YOU WILL STAY ON.

WE HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE BUSINESS, AND THEN WE'LL RESPOND SOME TO YOUR COMMENTS.

WE WILL CONTINUE WITH REQUESTED PETITIONS TO SEE IF THERE ARE OTHERS WHO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO BRING FORWARD TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

THIS IS YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY AT THIS MEETING.

WE WILL MOVE TO REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS,

[IX. Reports and Other Business.]

WE HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WE DO HAVE A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ON JANUARY THE 6TH, RESOLUTION R-25-XX, CONFIRMING THAT THE CITY COMMISSION WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON JANUARY THE 9TH.

DISCUSSING LEGAL MATTERS, I BELIEVE, WAS THE PURPOSE.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION R-25-XX?

>> [OVERLAPPING] SO MOVED.