>> WE'RE GOING TO CALL THIS 6:00 WORK SESSION TO ORDER. [WORK SESSION #1 — 6:00 P.M. ] [00:00:07] WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM MS. ARNOLD, AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SAKA. >> YES, WE ARE. THANK YOU. HERE FOR TIM AND COMMISSIONERS. JUST WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TONIGHT TO CHECK BACK IN WITH THE COMMISSION SINCE IT WAS JULY OF 2024 WHEN THE CITY COMMISSION APPOINTED AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND CHARGED US WITH THE CREATION OF AN EVENT AROUND THE WORLD CUP. YOU CAN SEE HERE FROM THE FIRST SLIDE THERE IN FRONT OF YOU THAT WE ARE CALLING THIS EVENT THE DECATUR WATCH FEST 26. I'LL GET INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL. HERE, JUST REAL QUICKLY, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH, JUST THE GENERAL MISSION AND GOALS, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED TO DATE. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND THEN THE NEXT STEPS THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US AND REALLY SOME PRINCIPLES AND VISION THAT ARE GUIDING OUR WORK. IN A NUTSHELL, WHAT DO WE PLAN TO DO IN JUNE AND JULY OF 2026? WHAT WE ENVISION IS THE CREATION AND HOSTING OF A MULTI DAY SO YOU KNOW THAT THE WORLD CUP EVENTS THEY SPAN 40 DAYS, AND I BELIEVE WE ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR 35 DAYS OF MATCHES WITHIN THE SPAN OF 40 DAYS. OVER THAT 40 DAY PERIOD, A WATCH FESTIVAL THAT WILL BE GEARED TOWARDS OUR OWN RESIDENTS, ATLANTANS FROM THE GREATER ATLANTA AREA, AND ALSO WE ENVISION VISITORS FROM NEAR AND FAR JUST TO HANG OUT WITH US. WATCH THE MATCHES, LISTEN TO CONCERTS, AND JUST ENJOY EVERYTHING ABOUT THE FIFA WORLD CUP, 2026 WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. WE DO ENVISION THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE WHAT WILL THEN BE OUR NEWLY REVITALIZED CAPITAL INVESTMENT, THE DECATUR SQUARE TRANSFORMATION. THIS WILL BE AN INAUGURAL EVENT ON THE SQUARE AND WILL GIVE US A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE THIS NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, THE NEW FACILITY, AND ALSO AS A WAY OF SUPPORTING THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED OVER THE NEXT YEAR WHILE THE SQUARE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACHIEVE DURING THIS TIME? SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM LEADERSHIP FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE, ALSO FROM CITY STAFF. OUR GOAL IS TO HOST THREE EVENTS INCLUDING THE VIEWING PARTIES AND OTHER MILESTONE EVENTS, INCLUDING CONCERTS. WE WANT TO PROMOTE HIGH ATTENDANCE, ENVISION THE SQUARE BEING FULL OF NEIGHBORS AND GUESTS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WILL ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES ARE SAFE. THEY'RE FUN, THEY'RE WELCOMING TO EVERYBODY, REALLY, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY BUILDING, SOMETHING THAT THE CITY IS VERY GOOD AT, AND WE'RE PROUD OF AND SEE THIS AS YET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD COMMUNITY. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME PEOPLE TO BE INTRODUCED TO DECATURS IDENTITY AND BRAND, AS WELL AS TO STRENGTHEN OUR BRAND AND OUR IDENTITY. JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE EMPHASIS ON SAFETY IS ALSO BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. WE ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ESTIMATE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT, THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT WE CAN BE CLEAR ON WHAT WE EXPECT, HOW THIS WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT, ESPECIALLY THE BUSINESSES ON AND AROUND THE SQUARE. SPECIFICALLY, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR OWN TOURISM BUREAU AND THEY HAVE SOME GOALS THAT ARE EVEN MORE SPECIFIC AND THE GENERAL LEADERSHIP GOALS. THEY WANT TO MAX OUT THE HOTELS, ENSURE THAT THE HOTELS ARE FULL DURING THIS PERIOD AND THAT WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN HOTEL MOTEL TAX. WE SEE THAT THIS IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO ATTRACT VISITORS FROM OUTSIDE OF DECATUR. AROUND THE STATE CLEARLY, [00:05:02] BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ALSO INTERNATIONAL GUEST. THAT WE KNOW THAT THE MAYOR IS ALREADY RECRUITING FOLKS FROM JAPAN AS WE SPEAK, WELL SHE'S AT A PROGRAM THERE. WE WOULD ULTIMATELY SEEK TO GENERATE FOLLOW UP VISITS, PEOPLE COME. SOME WILL COME, THEY WILL STAY, OTHERS WILL COME AND THEY'LL LEAVE AND THEY'LL TELL OTHERS ABOUT US, AND THEN THEY'LL COME BACK, WHICH IS THAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF THIS COMMUNITY IN 1996 WITH THE OLYMPICS. THERE ARE STILL GREAT STORIES TO TELL ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THAT EVENT ON OUR CITY THAT WE STILL SEE TODAY. THEN, OF COURSE, HAVING INCREASED OR HEIGHTENED MEDIA COVERAGE ON AND AROUND DECATUR. THIS IS THE TEAM OF FOLKS THAT YOU ALL PUT TOGETHER. THESE ARE RESIDENTS, THEIR BUSINESS OWNERS, FOLKS THAT ARE LEADERS IN THEIR INDUSTRY. I WANT TO SAY THAT WE VERY MUCH HAVE THE RIGHT TEAM. EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS LIST HAS BEEN PRESENT, ACTIVE, ENGAGED, CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS TO THE TEAM. YOU'LL SEE HERE THAT IT'S NOT JUST RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO A NUMBER OF CITY STAFF WHO ARE WORKING SIDE BY SIDE. YOU SEE THE LAST NAME HERE ON THE LIST, JEN JOHNS. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE JEN JOHNS IS HERE IN THE ROOM. JEN IS WORKING WITH US AS A CONSULTANT. SHE IS THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN REALLY GETTING THE WORK OUT OF THESE TEAM MEMBERS. AGAIN, JEN BRINGS A WEALTH OF EXPERTISE FROM WORKING WITHIN THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. THANK YOU JEN FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR GETTING US TO THIS POINT TONIGHT. THE TEAM, AS I THINK WE ALL KNOW, LARGE GROUPS LIKE THIS ARE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE WHEN THEY WORK IN SMALLER GROUPS. WE DO HAVE THE SMALLER SUBCOMMITTEES, AND WE ARE FOCUSED ON MARKETING BUDGET. COMMUNICATIONS, THE RESTAURANT AND RETAIL GROUP, FUND RAISING, ENTERTAINMENT, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. AT THIS POINT, WE'RE SEEING THAT THESE ARE THE CORE FUNCTIONS, CORE OPERATIONS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED DURING THE PLANNING PROCESS TO PULL OFF AN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL EVENT. >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I GOT TO ASK IN THAT LIST OF SUBCOMMITTEES, WHERE DOES SAFETY FALL IN? >> THAT'S AT THIS POINT, IT'S PART OF THE BUDGET. WE HAVE MET WITH THE POLICE CHIEF, THE FIRE CHIEF, AND TO TALK ABOUT SOME PRELIMINARY SAFETY AND SECURITY PLANS IS SPECIFICALLY STAFFING AND THE BUDGET AROUND THAT. BUT CERTAINLY I THINK THERE AS WE GET FURTHER INTO THE PLANNING, I THINK THERE WILL LIKELY BE A WHOLE LOGISTICS BULLET THAT WOULD INCLUDE SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THERE. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED SO FAR? WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS IN THE FUNDRAISING ARENA, AND WE DID RECEIVE PROPOSALS FROM VENDORS, AND THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING FOR A PARTNER FOR THE FUND RAISING EFFORT. BECAUSE IF WE ARE GOING TO PUT ON THE EVENT THAT WE ENVISION, WE'RE GOING TO NEED FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES OUTSIDE OF TYPICAL CITY RESOURCES. MARKETING AND PR, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF WORK INVOLVED IN MARKETING THIS EVENT, AND AGAIN, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MARKETING AND IN THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. WE DO HAVE AN AGENCY THAT WE HAVE MET WITH. WE'VE BEEN AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT UNDER CONTRACT WITH THIS AGENCY. [00:10:02] BUT WE ARE DOING A LITTLE BIT OF WORK WITH THEM JUST ON AN HOURLY BASIS. BUT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE A DECISION VERY SOON ABOUT OUR PR PARTNER IN THIS. BRANDING, I THINK YOU CAN SEE THE WORK OF OUR BRANDING COMMITTEE JUST HERE WITH THE LOGO. I'LL GIVE CREDIT TO LENS, MARKETING A LOCAL DECATUR FIRM WHO PROVIDED THE WORK, ALONG WITH COMMITTEE MEMBER STAFF MEMBERS, PROVIDED THIS WORK, PRO BONO. THEY TREATED IT JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CORPORATE CLIENT OR PAYING CLIENT. I THINK THERE WERE WELL OVER 20 ITERATIONS OF THE LOGO AND THE SLOGAN, AND THIS IS WHERE WHERE WE LANDED. I'M REALLY PLEASED WITH THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE. AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT BRAND OR USE THE BRAND GUIDE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED SO THAT IT WILL BE USED APPROPRIATELY, ESPECIALLY AS WE ENTER INTO THE FUND RAISING AGREEMENTS AND WE'LL BE PASSING OVER, HANDING OVER THIS LOGO AND ESSENTIALLY THE EVENT BRAND. I'M SURE EVERYONE IS AWARE, BUT JUST TO POINT OUT THAT THESE ARE THE DECATUR LOGO COLORS BECAUSE YOU WONDER WHY THERE'S SO MANY COLORS THERE. BUT THAT'S THE NICE TIE IN WITH THE CITY. THE LOGO COLORS. COMMUNITY. PROBABLY LESS WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN THIS AREA, BUT WE'RE IDENTIFYING WHO ARE THOSE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE INTEND TO WORK WITH AND WE WANT TO USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE SAY SOCCER IN THE STREETS, DECATUR FC. DECATUR FC WILL BE PLAYING MATCHES DURING THE SAME TIME DURING THE WORLD CUP. I THINK THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR CROSS PROMOTION THERE. BUT I'M SURE THERE WILL BE OTHER PARTNERS THAT WE WILL BE ENGAGING WITH. MAYBE THE EVENTS ON THE SQUARE, EVEN OFF THE SQUARE WITH SOME OF THESE GROUPS, OBVIOUSLY THE SOCCER IN THE STREETS. WITH THE FIELD OVER THE EAST LAKE STATION, THERE COULD BE SOME ACTIVATION THERE. THE BUDGET TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO DEVELOPING THE BUDGET FOR THIS EVENT. WE'RE STILL DEVELOPING THE BUDGET FOR THIS EVENT. BUT WE SEE THAT WE HAVE THESE KEY CATEGORIES, WE DIVE INTO THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE. BUT IN ADDITION TO BUILDING A BUDGET AROUND THE GRAND VISION OF THE EVENT. WE'RE ALSO NOW WORKING ON A PLAN B BUDGET, SOMETHING THAT LIKE, WELL, IF X DOESN'T COME THROUGH OR AGAIN, THE FUND RAISING COMES UP SHORT. WITH THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE, THAT THERE'S A PLAN B WITH THE BUDGET. BUT AT THIS POINT, WE ARE BUDGETING EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVELY AND REALLY JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CAPTURING ALL THE COSTS. THERE AREN'T GOING TO BE SURPRISES, ESPECIALLY AS WE GO INTO THE FUND RAISING. THEN THE FUND STUFF, THE PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SWAG. WE GOT THREE QUOTES AND WE'RE ABOUT TO MAKE A VERY SMALL ORDER WITH THE NEW LOGO ON THERE. SORRY, WE DON'T HAVE THE SWAG IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT. A LITTLE BIT MORE JUST DIVING INTO THE BUDGET ITSELF ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, YOU'VE GOT THE SPECIFIC AREAS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS THE KEY EXPENDITURES, THE MARKETING, THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, PR, COMMUNICATION, THE PROMOTIONAL ADVERTISING. I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER THAT IN ADDITION TO WATCH PARTIES. WE ENVISION THAT THERE WILL BE CONCERTS. I THINK A GOOD EXAMPLE OF PLAN A OR PLAN B. PLAN A DOES ENVISION AT LEAST TWO LARGE CONCERTS AS BOOK END TYPE EVENTS AND THEN, [00:15:03] DURING THE COURSE OF THE OTHER NIGHTS OR DAYS AND NIGHTS, THEY WOULD BE ALMOST PORCH FEST LIKE. THESE ARE GOING TO BE LOCAL, LOW TO NO COST BANDS. THEN AGAIN, WE COULD DO 40 DAYS THAT WAY AS WELL. BUT AGAIN, THERE WILL BE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT COSTS IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE TWO BOOK END EVENTS. THEN EVENT OPERATIONS. THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD FIND THE SECURITY, POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS, THOSE GENERAL EXPENSES THAT WE INCUR WHEN WE HAVE ANY EVENT. THAT MOST OF OUR EVENTS ARE, ONE OR TWO DAYS OR THREE DAYS AT THE MOST AS OPPOSED TO 35 DAYS. VOLUNTEER EXPENSES. IMAGINE MATCHING T-SHIRTS OR WATER BOTTLES, HATS, AGAIN, NOT A HUGE EXPENSE, AND THEN THE FUND RAISING ACTIVATION THAT'S ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. THEN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THESE ARE OUR SOURCES OF REVENUE. I DO ANTICIPATE THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR, THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND THE TOURISM BUREAU WOULD ALL MAKE SOME CONTRIBUTION TO THE OVERALL EXPENSES. I WOULD SEE THAT CONTRIBUTION BEING PROBABLY A THIRD OF THE OVERALL EXPENSES TO THE EVENT. AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE A HARD AND FAST NUMBER AT THIS POINT. BUT ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS A ONE TIME EVENT. I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT ANY OF US WILL BE HERE WHEN A WORLD CUP EVENT WOULD BE COMING BACK. THAT MOST LIKELY WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT USING SOME AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE FROM EACH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, DECATUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, THAT WOULD BE MORE IN KIND SUPPORT. THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE OPERATION, AND THEN THE LION'S SHARE OF THE REVENUE WOULD COME THROUGH FUND RAISING. AGAIN, RETAIL SALES WOULD BE A VERY SMALL PIECE OF THE PIE. SELLING SWAG. YES, SIR. >> TO CLARIFY. YOU SAID A THIRD FROM DECATUR DDA, THIRD FROM THE TOURISM BUREAU. THEN YOU SAID [OVERLAPPING] >> I THINK A THIRD OF THE OVERALL BUDGET AT THIS POINT. >> THEN WE LAY A FUND RAISING ON TOP OF THAT. I'M CONFUSED. >> THOSE THREE TOGETHER OR ONE THIRD? YES. THAT'S [OVERLAPPING] >> COMBINED. >> TOGETHER. >> OH, YES, BECAUSE THEN [LAUGHTER] WE WOULD BE DONE. >> ESSENTIALLY, THE REVENUE PI, AND A THIRD OF IT WOULD BE THOSE THREE SOURCES. >> GOT IT. >> TOTAL. THEN REALLY THE LION'S SHARE OF IT IS GOING TO BE THROUGH FUNDRAISING. WHICH IS WHY WE WANT TO GET STARTED SOONER THAN LATER WITH THE FUNDRAISING. >> [INAUDIBLE] PRESENTS DAY 4. [LAUGHTER] >> IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE A PORCH FEST. [LAUGHTER] >> WHAT'S NEXT? TONIGHT IS VERY MUCH AND THIS IS A CHECK IN. THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE THE BIG LAUNCH, THE BIG SPLASH. WE REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE THE PR PARTNER AT THE TABLE BEFORE WE DO THAT. AGAIN, I WILL SAY JEN AND I HAD A WHOLE LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT REALLY THE CHICKEN AND THE EGG. BUT FINALLY DETERMINED, ONE, WE DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS BODY, TO THE COMMUNITY, TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED AND WE HAVE THE FUND RAISING AGREEMENT. THAT'S ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING, BUT I DO THINK THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S BIGGER AND ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY. AGAIN, I THINK OUR CREATIVE THOUGHTS COULD GO WILD IN TERMS OF A FUN TALKER EVENT TO ANNOUNCE THIS. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS. THAT WILL COME IN THE FUTURE. IN ADDITION TO A LARGER LAUNCH, WE ARE CONTINUING TO TALK TO THE LOCAL WORLD CUP HOST COMMITTEE. WE HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION, A VERY POSITIVE CONVERSATION WITH THE LOCAL HOST COMMITTEE. [NOISE] WE DO SEE THE VALUE OF STAYING ENGAGED WITH THE HOST COMMITTEE. AT THIS POINT, I THINK, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PATHS THAT MAY BE TAKEN UNTIL [00:20:04] THE HOST COMMITTEE HAS PUT THEIR PLAN IN PLACE. WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE AFFILIATED EVENTS OR IF EVENTS AROUND THE METRO AREA WILL BE INDEPENDENT OF THE WORLD CUP POST COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES. BUT AGAIN, WE HAD A REALLY STRONG POSITIVE CONVERSATION AND REALLY THE GIST OF IT FROM THEM WAS DECATUR, YOU'VE MADE A WHOLE LOT OF PROGRESS. AGAIN, PUTTING ON EVENTS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH, AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A MODEL FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE METRO AREA. BUT THERE'S STILL LOTS TO BE DONE. I THINK PRETTY SOON, WE NEED TO HAVE A MICROSITE SETUP THAT WILL FALL UNDER THE TOURISM UMBRELLA, SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE, AS WE MENTIONED, THE BRAND GUIDE. OUR GENERAL PR STRATEGY AND SMALL ORDER FOR THE SWAG, GETTING THAT OUT THERE. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING REGULAR UPDATES TO THE CITY COMMISSION, REGULARLY, AND AS YOU'LL REQUEST, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH OTHER PARTNERS. AS I SAID EARLIER, WE'RE STILL FINALIZING THE BUDGET. LOOKING ON ALTERNATIVE BUDGETS, THE FUND RAISING CONTRACT THAT WILL BE APPROVED TONIGHT, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET STARTED WITH THAT ACTIVITY, THE FUN PART, START CONTACTING MUSICIANS AND THEIR AGENTS AND STARTING TO LAND SOME BANDS. THEN THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR. THERE'S THE CLUB WORLD CUP. THIS WILL BE, I THINK AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO SHOW TO THE METRO AREA AND BEYOND, [NOISE] HOW WE'RE READY FOR 2026 TO HAVE SOME ACTIVATION AROUND CLUB WORLD CUP. AND AN IDEA THAT'S ALREADY BEING FLESHED OUT IS HAVING SOME PUB CRAWL AROUND CLUB WORLD CUP. I JUST A NICE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT WILL BE SHOWING THE CLUB WORLD CUP. I MENTIONED THE PR AND COMMUNICATIONS. WE'VE TALKED REALLY AT LENGTH ABOUT TAP INTO THE OTHER COUNTRIES. ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO REACH OUT TO THEIR EMBASSIES, AND THEN ALSO THEIR FAN GROUPS. THAT'S AT LEAST TWO AREAS TO BE TARGETING OUR MARKETING AND PR AND ADDITIONAL PARTNERS, REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH MARTA. OBVIOUSLY, THE EVENT WILL BE HELD RIGHT ON TOP OF THE MARTA STATION AND THEN THAT THE ATLANTA FAN FEST WILL JUST BE SIX MARTA STOPS DOWN THE ROAD. SO JUST A REAL GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MARTA AND THE PARTNERSHIP THERE. THEN OF COURSE, DEKALB COUNTY. I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN NOR SHOULD WE HAVE THIS EVENT WITHOUT OUR PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY. MAYBE THERE'S SOME FUNDING OPPORTUNITY THERE. THEN FINALLY, JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE GENERAL VISION AND PRINCIPLES THAT ARE GUIDING OUR CONVERSATIONS, GUIDING OUR DECISION MAKING, GUIDING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS. ONE IS JUST THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THE INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING ON THE SQUARE. WE ALSO SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT ENSURING THAT THE PLANNING PROCESS AND THE EVENT ITSELF, THAT WE'RE FLEXIBLE, WE'RE BEING SMART ABOUT THIS, WE'RE ADAPTABLE. IT'S NOT HERE, BUT REALLY BEING RESILIENT, THAT THE EVENT WILL BE SUSTAINABLE, AND ALSO TOP OF MIND IS THAT THIS EVENT IS EQUITABLE, EVEN IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT THE VENDORS AND OUR FUND RAISING PARTNERS. THEN JUST AS IMPORTANT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY FACTOR. [00:25:07] WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS IN ADVANCE WITH A COUPLE OF COMMISSIONERS THAT WE HAVE OFF RAMPS AT CERTAIN DECISION POINTS. PRIOR TO HAVING THE BIG FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT, OR IF THERE'S ATLANTA, THE HOST COMMITTEE COMES OUT WITH A DIFFERENT PROGRAM THAN WE WERE EXPECTING FOR VIEWING PARTIES OR WATCH PARTIES. DO WE NEED TO GET BACK TOGETHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENT DECISION? WE GO THROUGH THE FUND RAISING FOR SIX MONTHS AND THAT PROGRESS IS NOT MEETING OUR EXPECTATIONS. THEN THERE ARE MULTIPLE DECISION POINTS IN THIS PROCESS AND EVEN AFTER THE WORLD CUP DRAW, WE KNOW WHAT THE SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE? EVEN THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON DECISIONS ON HOW THE EVENT LOOKS. WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS AS A DRIVER FOR ECONOMIC IMPACT AND ECONOMIC INVESTMENT. BUT ALSO, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY, CONNECT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND REALLY INSTILL A SENSE OF PRIDE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN JUST ALWAYS EMPHASIZING THAT EVERYONE IS WELCOME. AGAIN, INSTILLING THAT INTO OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MAKE, THAT WE GO BEYOND JUST SAYING THAT THIS IS A WELCOMING EVENT. BUT TRULY LIVING UP TO THAT STANDARD AND THAT EXPECTATION. THIS IS AN EVENT WHERE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WILL FEEL WELCOME. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> OPEN THE FLOOR FOR QUESTIONS. >> QUICK QUESTION. RELATE TO THE OFFERS. WE HAVE BEFORE AN AGENDA ITEM TO HIRE A FUNDRAISING [INAUDIBLE]. >> TONIGHT. >> YES. WE DON'T HAVE PERMISSION TO GAMES. >> THAT IS CORRECT. NO ONE HAS PERMISSION TO BROADCAST THE GAMES AT THIS POINT. THAT DOES REQUIRE A LICENSE. >> I'M JUST CURIOUS FOR FUNDRAISING FOR SOMETHING THAT WE'VE [INAUDIBLE] >> THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD [NOISE] WITH THE HOST COMMITTEE IS THAT FIFA WANTS PEOPLE TO SHOW THE GAMES TO SHOW THE MATCHES. FIFA WANTS PEOPLE TO HAVE THESE LICENSES. OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE HOST COMMITTEE WILL THEY CAN'T SAY, YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE LICENSE. IT INDICATED THAT THERE IS AN APPLICATION PROCESS, AND THEY JUST LIKE US, WILL GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS. BUT I DO THINK THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE HOST COMMITTEE WITH THAT LICENSE APPLICATION. BUT YOU ARE CORRECT. WE DO NOT HAVE A LICENSE. WE DO NOT HAVE THE APPLICATION. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT PROCESS IS. WE DO KNOW THAT THERE IS A FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. BUT AGAIN, NONE OF THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED. AS WE AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY PLAN FOR THIS TYPE OF EVENT, WE DO NOT HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TODAY TO HAVE THE BROADCAST LICENSE. I PROBABLY COULD HAVE PUT IN HERE SOMEWHERE IDENTIFYING RISK AND VULNERABILITIES, AND THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THEM. I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE LATER IN THE THIRD QUARTER EVEN OF THIS YEAR BEFORE WE WOULD HAVE FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT WOULD BE THIRD QUARTER BEFORE THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE PUBLICIZED. >> CAN I ADD IF IT'S HELPFUL AND I HOPE I HAVE MY FACTS STRAIGHT THAT THE TEMPLATE THAT WE'RE SEEING FOR IS CLUB CUP, THIS DESIRE TO SCREEN MATCHES AND HAVE COMMUNITY HUBS AS OFFSHOOTS AND THERE'S A PROCESS FOR BECOMING ONE, THAT I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PICKING UP ON THAT THIS WOULD LIKELY HAVE THE SAME TEMPLATE OR FORMA ALLOWING FOR COMMUNITIES OR SUBURBS OR CITIES TO APPLY TO DO THIS TYPE OF HOSTING. >> ARE WE LOOKING TO DO THAT FOR CLUB CUP? >> NONE, BUT I'M SAYING THAT'S A FIRST EXPOSURE TO THAT COULD BE THE WAY THIS GOES AND WE'RE JUST WAITING TO HEAR. [00:30:03] THAT'S THAT'S ON WHAT ASSUMPTIONS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DERIVE OUR THESIS THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY DO THIS, AND THEY WOULD BE OPEN TO GIVING LICENSES. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> OKAY. >> BUT D ANSWER YOUR QUESTION FOR THE CLUB WORLD CUP, REGARDLESS OF THAT INFORMATION BEING AVAILABLE, OUR INTENT IS TO JUST FOR THE RESTAURANTS TO BE SHOWING THE MATCHES WITHIN THEIR VENUES, AND WE WOULD BE PUSHING PEOPLE INTO THOSE BARS AND RESTAURANTS THROUGH THE PUB CRAWL CONCEPT. BUT I THINK THERE'S INFORMATION THAT COULD COME OUT OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP THAT MAY INFORMS WHAT'S THE REAL WORLD CUP. >> I'D ADD, IF I MAY TO FOR THE SOCCER UNINITIATED, AND I'M SOMEWHERE ON THAT SPECTRUMS, BUT I'M DEEPER THAN SOME. THIS IS NOT JUST REALLY AN ESOTERIC PASSION PROJECT OF A SPORT THAT WE DON'T THINK WOULD BE VASTLY APPEALING TO OUR COMMUNITY, ALSO THE METRO AREA. YOU KNOW AS WELL AS ANY OF BEING A BIG SOCCER FAN, BUT I THINK THERE COULD BE SOME WHO DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT THIS RANKS AND JEN COULD VALIDATE ALL OF THIS, BUT THAT RANKS IN THE ECHELON ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SPORTING EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE WORLD. ALTHOUGH WE CALL THE SUPER BOWL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. WE KNOW IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, IT'S A BIG DEAL. I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS ESTIMATED ACROSS EIGHT MATCHES THAT WOULD BE GIVEN TO ATLANTA OF EIGHT SUPER BOWLS IN AS MANY WEEKS. THAT'S WHY ATLANTA IS EXCITED. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF NOT JUST THE HALL EFFECT, BUT REALLY STUCK IN AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT ORGANICALLY, AND I THINK STRATEGICALLY MAPS INTO COMING OUT OF THAT RENOVATION AND BEING JUST AN AMAZING GIVE BACK TO SOME OF THE DISRUPTION AND DIFFICULTY THAT COULD POSE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES. ANYWAY. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPERTISE ON THIS. I GUESS THE REAL QUESTION THAT WE'LL ALL HAVE IS, IF THIS DOESN'T WORK, WHAT'S OUR ULTIMATE INVESTMENT AT SOME POINT IF WE DO HAVE. I THINK THAT'S THE BURNING QUESTION. WHAT'S OUR INVESTMENT? >> WHAT'S THE RISK? >> YES. >> AND THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO MINIMIZE THAT RISK IN PARTICULAR, OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE THERE'S WORK THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. THERE WILL BE EXPENSES INCURRED OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. THE GOAL IS TO KEEP THAT RISK, THOUGH, I RECOGNIZE, YES, SOME OF THAT COULD BE AT RISK, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT TO GET US TO JUNE AND JULY OF 2026. >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE HELPFUL, BUT AT SOME POINT, MAYBE WE COULD ARCHIVE AND SEE WHAT WE INVESTED IN THE 1996 OLYMPICS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DID EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ON A MUCH SMALLER SCALE. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AND ADJUST FOR INFLATION. >> THAT'S 20 YEARS. [LAUGHTER] >> THANK YOU. GREAT QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. AND WE WILL CLOSE WORK SESSION NUMBER 1. IF OUR GUESTS ARE READY, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND START WORK SESSION NUMBER 2. [WORK SESSION #2 — 6:30 P.M. ] WORK SESSION NUMBER 2 IS WITH OUR DEKALB COUNTY TAX APPRAISERS. >> COME ON DOWN. >> COME ON UP. WE INVITE YOU UP. >> DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT WE NEED TO PLUG IN? >> PRESENTATION. I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT VIDEOS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE. >> IF YOU COULD, IT'S BEING LIVE STREAMED, SO STAY IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE. >> I KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BUT YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR GUEST. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CALVIN HICKS. I'M THE CHIEF APPRAISER WITH THE DEKALB COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISAL DEPARTMENT. WITH ME THIS EVENING IS BRIAN JENNINGS, WHO IS THE CHIEF RESIDENTIAL APPRAISER AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. ANDREA, YOU HAD INDICATED OR ASKED WHETHER OR NOT I HAD A PRESENTATION. I SAID, WELL, PERHAPS WHAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN IN TERMS OF APPRAISAL METHODOLOGY AND HOW THAT WORKS, IS CONTAINED IN THE VIDEO THAT WE HAVE ON OUR WEBSITE. I DID BRING A COPY OF THOSE THREE VIDEOS THAT YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR WEBSITE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT. WHAT I ALSO ASKED WAS SINCE THERE APPARENTLY WERE SOME QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANSWERED. LET ME FIRST RESPOND TO THOSE QUESTIONS AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT I CAN IMPART, I WILL. I KNOW 581 HAS BEEN DISCUSSED A NUMBER OF TIMES IN A NUMBER OF PLACES AND IT MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THAT'S A VERY COMPLEX PIECE OF LEGISLATION. >> CAN YOU STAY TILL OUR HEARING IS ENDED? [00:35:01] IF YOU WANT TO AN OUT FOR OUR HOUSE BILL 581 PUBLIC HEARING IF THAT'S OKAY. >> NO. I THINK YOU'VE HAD FIVE ALREADY. >> HAVE WE? >> I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN PERHAPS DEBATING THAT.581 TO YOU PROBABLY MEANS DO WE OPT IN OUT OF THE VALUE OFFSET EXEMPTION? IT MEANS A HECK OF A LOT MORE OF THAT TO US BECAUSE IT CALLS FOR AN AWFUL LOT MORE CHANGES IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DO. BUT FIRST, LET ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE. HOW MAY I HELP YOU? >> WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHT PROCESSES AND WE HAVEN'T HUDDLED TOGETHER WITH OUR INDIVIDUAL THOUGHTS SO MAYBE WE'LL JUST ALL TAKE TURNS AND SOME OF THE QUESTIONS MAY OVERLAP, SOME OF THEM MAY NOT. >> THAT'S FINE. >> THERE WILL BE NO SOFTBALL QUESTIONS. >> THAT'S FINE. >> WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST? >> I'M HAPPY TO. >> COMMISSIONER MAYER. >> HI, MR. HICKS, THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> I'M DOING WELL. >> I AM FIELDING A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS WHO EXPRESS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WITH ASSESSMENTS THAT FEEL AS THOUGH THEY INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY YEAR OVER YEAR. NOT BY A SMALL PERCENTAGE, BUT A CONSIDERABLE PERCENTAGE, WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF INVESTMENT IN THE HOME, WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF RENOVATION OR UPDATES TO THE HOME. COULD YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND WHAT DRIVES THAT? >> BOARD OF ASSESSORS IS CHARGED WITH VALUING PROPERTY FOR TAX PURPOSES, BOTH REAL AND PERSONAL, ANYTHING THAT'S TANGIBLE. WE DON'T VALUE INTANGIBLE PROPERTY. BASICALLY, THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS FUNCTIONS UNDER STATE STATUTES, NOT MUNICIPAL, NOT COUNTY, BASICALLY STATE LAW. 4852 OF THE OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA SAYS THAT HERE'S THE DEFINITION OF FAIR MARKET VALUE. IN ESSENCE, IT IS WHATEVER A WILLING BUYER AND A WILLING SELLER EACH ACTING ON THEIR OWN BEST INTERESTS WOULD ACCEPT. IT GOES ON TO SAY A FEW OTHER THINGS AS WELL. SOME OF THOSE 581 CHANGE, BY THE WAY. BUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT, IN ESSENCE, IT SAYS, WHATEVER ACTIONS ARE OCCURRING IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET PLACES, YOUR ASSESSMENTS SHOULD EMULATE THAT. VERY SIMPLE. NOW, I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS OVER 40 YEARS. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WELL, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TAXES, DOESN'T THAT MEAN YOU'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE 60 OR 70% OR WHATEVER THE MARKET VALUE OF THE PROPERTY IS? THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO. WHAT THE STATUTE SAYS IS, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AT MARKET VALUE. NOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN TERMS OF HOW WE AS MASS APPRAISERS APPROACH THE DEFINITION OF FAIR MARKET VALUE, AND HOW WE WOULD APPROACH IT AS AN INDEPENDENT FEE APP APPRAISER. >> SORRY, AS AN INDEPENDENT? >> INDEPENDENT FEE APPRAISER. >> SOMEONE YOU WOULD HIRE TO DO AN APPRAISAL ON YOUR HOME. I HOLD A CERTIFIED GENERAL APPRAISALS LICENSE. THAT'S THE HIGHEST LICENSE THAT YOU CAN GET IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA FOR INDEPENDENT WORK. I'M ALSO CERTIFIED AS AN APPRAISAL 4. ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES DEALS WITH DEFINITIONS OF FAIR MARKET VALUE. I INDICATED A MOMENT AGO, I GAVE YOU THE FIRST SENTENCE OF IT, BUT DIDN'T GIVE YOU ALL OF IT. FOR INSTANCE, IF I WAS DOING AN APPRAISAL, FOR A FEE, AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISAL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING AT PROBABLY IS, WHAT IS THE MARKET VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY FOR ITS HIGHEST AND BEST USE? IT MAY BE THAT THAT PROPERTY CURRENTLY IS OCCUPIED AS A RESIDENTIAL HOME, BUT THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE MAY BE TO CONVERT IT TO A COMMERCIAL USE. WELL, IF I'M APPRAISING THAT SAME PROPERTY FOR MASS APPRAISAL, I AM NOT DIRECTED TO DETERMINE WHAT IS ITS HIGHEST AND BEST USE. I AM DIRECTED TO CONSIDER ONLY ITS EXISTING USE. I HAVE TO VALUE IT AS A RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE EXAMPLE THAT I GAVE YOU, AS OPPOSED TO IF I WERE DOING IT FOR THE OWNER, I WOULD BE CONSIDERING THE HIGHEST BEST USE AND POSSIBLY THAT'S TO LOCATE A NEW WALMART. >> DO ZONING RESTRICTIONS, LAND USE RESTRICTIONS CONSTRAIN WHAT THAT HIGHEST AND BEST USE CAN BE TAKE THAT COUNT? [00:40:01] LIKE, YOU CAN'T DO A COMMERCIAL IF IT'S ZONED. NO RESIDENTIAL. DOES HIGHEST AND BEST USE ASSUME IT HAS TO BE RESIDENTIAL? >> FROM THE STANDPOINT OF HOW WE LOOK AT IT? >> NO. FROM THE VS. I WAS CURIOUS TO THE ASSESSOR. YOU SAID THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT. ONE IS HIGHEST AND BEST USE AND ONE IS CURRENT USE. >> EXISTING USE. THAT'S CORRECT. >> LOOKING AT HIGHEST AND BEST USE. IF YOU DON'T DO HIGHEST AND BEST USE. NOW I'M THINKING MAYBE I SHOULDN'T EVEN ASK THE QUESTION. >> EXISTING USE IS BASICALLY WHAT WE ARE DIRECTED TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY WITH ITS EXISTING USE. >> ASSUMES OR UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE ZONING IS AND KEEPS IT CONSTANT. >> WE STILL CONSIDER ZONING, THOUGH. BUT IN MANY INSTANCES, ZONING EVEN IN COMMERCIALLY ZONED AREAS, RESIDENTIAL USES ARE ALLOWED. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S AN ILLEGAL USE. BUT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT PROPERTY AND IT AND IT'S ZONED COMMERCIAL, BUT IT'S CURRENTLY BEING USED AS RESIDENTIAL, THAT CONTROLS. THERE WILL BE SOME VARIATIONS IN TERMS OF HOW WE LOOK AT PROPERTIES VERSUS HOW I WOULD LOOK AT IT AS AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISER. BUT REGARDING THE CONCERNS OF YOUR CITIZENS IN TERMS OF INCREASES IN VALUE, OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE VALUES STAY IN LINE WITH THE MARKET. THE MARKET HAS IN MANY INSTANCES, ACTED WITH SOME TREMENDOUS INCREASES IN VALUE. 2022, 2023 YOU SAW INCREASES IN THE LEVEL OF VALUE APPRECIATION THAT WAS UNHEARD OF. APPRECIATION. THESE ARE INFLATIONARY VALUES. I KNOW YOU INDICATED THAT SOME OF YOUR CITIZENS ARE SAYING, WELL, WE HAVEN'T MADE ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. WELL, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ISN'T NECESSARY FOR THE INFLATIONARY VALUE OF PROPERTY. IT IS PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE VALUE IS NOT THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF THE PROPERTY, IT'S THE VALUE IN THE MINDS OF MAN. WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'S WORTH BASED ON HOW YOU'RE GOING TO USE IT? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO USE IT FOR? >> LET ME ASK YOUR QUESTIONS BASED ON THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A GREAT POINT. THE CITY OF DECATUR IS NOT UNLIKE OTHER COMMUNITIES, BUT IT IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE A 1924 BUNGALOW NEXT TO A 2024 INFIELD YET THE VALUES OF BOTH ON A PER SQUARE FOOT BASIS ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME. >> NOT NECESSARILY. IF IN FACT, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTIES ARE SIMILAR? >> NO. THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTIES ARE NOT SIMILAR. >> IF ONE HAS BEEN IMPROVED AND ONE HAS NOT, THAT SHOULD BE A DIFFERENCE IN THE VALUE. >> YES. BUT THEY'RE VALUED AT ROUGHLY THE SAME COST PER SQUARE FOOT IN MANY CASES. >> COST IS NOT ALWAYS EQUAL VALUE. IN MANY INSTANCES, YOU CAN SPEND MORE MONEY TO RENOVATE A PROPERTY THAN IT'S WORTH. YOU TAKE A 24. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SELL A LUMBER OR NOT. I KNOW YOU'RE AT A. I HAVE IN MY PAST. TAKE TWO, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE $1 PER STUD. YOU DON'T CARE WHERE YOU PUT IT. CORRECT. BUT ONCE THAT STUD LEAVES, WHERE IT IS FINALLY INSTALLED, IT CAN HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON ITS VALUE. YOU CAN TAKE IT AND PUT IT IN AN AREA THAT'S RUNDOWN AND IT PROBABLY MAY NOT BE AS MUCH AS WHAT THEY PAID FOR IT, OR YOU CAN PUT IT IN AN AREA THAT'S VERY AFFLUENT, VERY DESIRABLE, AND THE VALUE IS HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY PAID FOR. COST DOESN'T NECESSARILY EQUATE. BUT CLEARLY, A CITY LIKE DECATUR HAS INSTANCES WHERE YOU CAN HAVE AN OLD HOUSING STOCK, AND IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHICH ONES HAVE BEEN RENOVATED AND WHICH ONES HAVE NOT. THE VALUE WILL BE DIFFERENT. THE REASON IS VERY SIMPLE FOR THAT. NO ONE IS GOING TO PAY YOU WHAT THE MAXIMUM VALUE WOULD BE FOR AN IMPROVED RENOVATED PROPERTY WOULD BE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE GOT TO GO IN AND SPEND THAT MONEY. IT'S BASICALLY PAYING FOR IT TWICE. THE MARKET IS GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT. YOU CAN HAVE HOUSES ON THE SAME STREET, SIMILAR SQUARE FOOTAGE, AND THERE'S A DRASTIC DIFFERENCE IN THE VALUE BASED ON THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY? HAVE THEY BEEN RENOVATED? HAVE THEY BEEN MODERNIZED? THAT'S NOT ALWAYS TO SAY, IF I'VE GOT 2,000 SQUARE FEET ON THE PARTICULAR STREET, THE VALUE SHOULD BE. IT DEPENDS ON A FEW OF THE VARIABLES. ARE THEY ACTUALLY A SIMPLE? WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A PROPERTY AND YOU'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE IT'S WORTH. WHAT WE AS APPRAISERS DO, YOU GO AND YOU IDENTIFY COMPARABLE PROPERTIES, AND THEN YOU MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THOSE COMPARABLES TO MAKE IT AS [00:45:05] CLOSE TO A MIRROR IMAGE AS YOU CAN TO YOUR SUBJECT PROPERTY. THAT'S THE BASIS FOR HOW YOU APPRAISE PROPERTIES. THE PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE IS BECAUSE APPRAISERS HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS. WE ALSO KNOW THE NUMBER OF ADJUSTMENTS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE CAN INFLUENCE HOW FAR YOU ARE FROM PERHAPS YOUR RANGE OF VALUE THAT MAY BE IN DISPUTE. YOU WANT TO FIND SOME COMPARABLES THAT ARE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE SO YOU HAVE THE FEWEST AMOUNT OF ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE. THAT'S WHAT WE DO. THAT'S WHY SALES ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. ONE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY TO YOU IN TERMS OF YOUR DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR CITIZENS, I UNDERSTAND THAT IN SOME INSTANCES, PERHAPS YOU SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE REALLY, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T HAVE A DIRECT INPUT OR PLAY INTO HOW DO YOU VALUE THESE PROPERTIES FOR TAX PURPOSES? >> YES, SIR, AND THEY JUST DON'T CARE. >> SOMETIMES THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EARFUL. >> NOT A DOUBT. >> THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EARFUL. BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT BOARD OF ASSESSORS PROPERTY APPRAISERS ARE NOT GUNSLINGERS WALKING AROUND SAYING WE'LL PUT WHATEVER WE WANT TO ON THAT PROPERTY, WHATEVER VALUE. >> CAN I ASK ONE THING? APPRAISERS GENERALLY HAVE A LICENSE AND A CODE OF ETHICS. WOULD THAT ALSO APPLY TO THE APPRAISERS WORKING FOR THE COUNTY? >> YES. >> I THINK IT'S GREAT TO TALK ABOUT IT'S A STATE LICENSE, WHATEVER. >> MANY OF OUR APPRAISERS ARE MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ASSESSING OFFICES AND THEY HAVE A CODE OF ETHICS. THEY'RE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF ASSESSING OFFICES, AND THEY HAVE A CODE OF ETHICS. >> I MENTIONED THAT I'M A RESIDENTIAL REALTOR, SO THERE'S A SIMILAR PATHWAY ALONG THAT AND NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THIS IS HOW YOU DO THAT JOB. >> THE CODE OF ETHICS IS THERE, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ALSO THAT'S THERE. VERY FEW PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THERE ARE VERY FEW ACTIONS THAT THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS CAN TAKE THAT CANNOT BE APPEALED BY SOMEBODY, AND THESE APPEALS CAN GO ALL THE WAY UP TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT. BOARD OF ASSESSORS IN THIS COUNTY AS WELL AS OTHERS, AS I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, ARE NOT GUNSLINGERS. THE WORK THAT WE DO IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY. BEFORE WE CAN SUBMIT A DIGEST, EVERY YEAR, THERE'S CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT DIGEST MUST MEET. OR THE COUNTY GETS CITED FOR WHATEVER INFRACTIONS IT INCURS. THAT'S WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE. THE DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS ALSO EACH YEAR, REVIEWS OUR SALES ACTIVITY AND DETERMINES WHAT IS OUR LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT BECAUSE THERE'S AN ACCEPTABLE RANGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE IN. EVEN IF WE WANTED TO SAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE VALUES LOW BY DOING THAT, WE WOULD PUT THE COUNTY IN JEOPARDY OF BEING CITED FOR HAVING AN IMPROPER WORK PRODUCT. THE LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT GETS CHECKED, THE UNIFORMITY OF ASSESSMENT GETS CHECKED, AND THEY ALSO CHECK FOR BIAS. ARE YOU SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT MISTREATING UNDERVALUED PROPERTIES OR LOWER VALUE PROPERTIES VERSUS THE HIGH VALUE PROPERTIES OR VICE VERSA? IS YOUR VALUES THAT YOU'RE COMING UP WITH NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY HOUSE HAS TO HAVE THE SAME VALUE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, THERE'S A CERTAIN RANGE OF VALUE THAT YOU SHOULD BE WITHIN. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AT VALUE PROPERTIES, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROPERTIES IN MASS. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET EVERY HOUSE 100% ON WHAT IT ACTUALLY SELLS FOR. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT YOU PROBABLY WANT IS I MENTIONED THAT AS AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISER, IF I GO TO SOMEONE'S HOUSE AND I WISH TO APPRAISE IT OR I'VE BEEN HIRED TO APPRAISE IT. THEY PROBABLY MEET ME AT THE FRONT DOOR, WELCOME ME IN, TELL ME EVERY POSITIVE THING THAT THEY'VE DONE ABOUT THAT PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE HIGHEST VALUE THAT YOU CAN GET. IF I SHOW UP THERE, RING THE DOORBELL AS A MASS APPRAISER, THEY TELL ME STOP, BY LAW, I CANNOT REQUIRE THAT I VIEW THE INTERIOR OF THAT PROPERTY. I CAN ASK, BUT IF THEY DECLINE, THE ONLY REQUIREMENT THAT THE LAW PUTS IN PLACE IS I HAVE [00:50:05] THE ABILITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE RIGHT TO VIEW THAT PROPERTY FROM THE EXTERIOR. YOU CANNOT STOP ME FROM COMING ONTO THE PROPERTY, BUT I CANNOT REQUIRE. NOW AN AWFUL LOT OF RENOVATIONS TAKE PLACE, CHANGES TAKE PLACE. WE HAVE WEEKEND WARRIORS THAT GO IN AND REPLACE APPLIANCES, WE WANT TO REPLACE FLOOR COVERING, THINGS OF THIS NATURE. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T GET A PERMIT. >> SO THERE ARE INSTANCES IN WHICH SOMETIMES ALL RECORDS DON'T ACTUALLY MATCH WHAT'S ACTUALLY THERE. BUT WE HAVE ALL RESOURCES. THE CONTRACT, A4, MLS DATA, COSAR, ALL OF THESE ZILLOW. ALL OF THESE PLACES WHERE WHEN THEY'RE GETTING READY TO SELL THE PROPERTIES, THEY WANT YOU TO KNOW EVERY POSITIVE THING ABOUT IT. WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT DATA AS WELL. IN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE THE DATA NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED, WE DO. BUT I'M STILL CERTAIN THAT THERE ARE SOME WE MISS. SO YOU MAY HAVE SOME VALUES THAT DON'T HIT UNTIL ACTUALLY IT'S BEEN EXPOSED TO THE MARKET AND WE FIND OUT THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURRED BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY WERE NOT GOING TO ALLOW US IN THERE TO SEE THAT THAT BASEMENT HAS BEEN RENOVATED. WE MAY STILL HAVE THE BASEMENT AS BEING UNFINISHED, AND YET IT'S BEEN RENOVATED AND IT LOOKS VERY NICE. SO THERE CAN BE DIFFERENCES BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT OUR WORK IT IS REVIEWED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND IT HAS TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA. FOR THE LEVEL OF VALUE, AGAIN, UNIFORMITY AND BIAS. THOSE ARE THE THREE CRITERIA THAT EVERY YEAR THEY'RE CHECKING. AND IF WE DO NOT MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA THE COUNTY GETS CITED. LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT HAS TO BE FOR MOST OF THE STATE COUNTIES 36 TO 42. I SAY MOST BECAUSE YOU'RE UNIQUE, YOUR LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT IS 50% BUT SOMEWHERE 36-42. WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, IS THERE A BIAS FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, THERE CAN BE COD OF NO MORE THAN 15. WHAT THAT MEANS IS?PARDON? >> WHAT DOES COD STAND FOR? >> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> YES. >> WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE RANGE OF VALUES, AND WE COME UP WITH IF I'VE GOT 100 SALES, TYPICALLY, YOU'RE GOING TO DETERMINE THE MEDIAN VALUE MIDPOINT. WELL, SIMPLY COMING UP WITH THE MIDPOINT ISN'T ALL THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DO. 95 OR SO PERCENT OF YOUR SALES HAVE TO FALL WITHIN A CERTAIN RANGE. AND FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, WHAT THE STATUTE SAYS IS YOU CAN'T BE 15% ABOVE THAT MIDPOINT OR 15% BELOW. IF YOU HAVE TOO MANY SALES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THAT RANGE. IT'S LIKE TAKING A SHOTGUN AND PUTTING A SHELL ON THAT WALL THEY SCATTER ALL OVER THE PLACE. SO YOU WOULD LIKE THE UNIFORMITY THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THE VALUES THAT ARE BEING UTILIZED FOR YOUR TAX DISTRIBUTION HAVE ANY UNIFORMITY AT ALL. SO YOU'RE TRYING TO ENSURE, AGAIN, THAT THOSE VALUES WILL WORK AND PROVIDE YOU WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF TAXES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. >> GOING BACK TO SOMETHING YOU SAID EARLIER, YOU SAID NOT ALL ASSESSORS USE THE SAME METRIC. HOW DOES THAT GET TRUED UP IN THE FINAL PRODUCT? >> WELL, GEORGIA LAW SAYS THAT THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS NOR THEIR STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO USE ANY SPECIFIC APPROACH TO VALUE. THERE ARE TYPICALLY THREE APPROACHES TO VALUE? COST, SALES COMPARISON, AND INCOME. THREE APPROACHES. THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT YOU MUST USE THE COST OR YOU MUST USE THE INCOME. NOW, I SAY THAT. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME CAVEATS. IF IT IS AN INCOME PRODUCING PROPERTY THE STATUTE SAYS WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE INCOME APPROACH BECAUSE, IN ESSENCE, THAT IS WHERE THE BUYERS AND SELLERS OF MOST INTERESTED. WHAT IS THE RATE OF RETURN? THE MONEY, THE VALUES BASED ON WHAT IS THAT INCOME STREAM THAT'S GOING TO BE DEVELOPED? AMENITY PROPERTIES, RESIDENTIAL. INDIVIDUALS ARE PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH THE AMENITIES THAT HAS IT OFFER. LOCATION, COULD BE SHOPPING DISTRICT, SCHOOL DISTRICT, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THE AMENITIES THAT IT OFFERS NOT NECESSARILY [00:55:01] WHAT IS THE RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT THAT IS GOING TO PROVIDE. SO THERE ISN'T ANY REQUIREMENT THAT WE USE ONLY THE COST, INCOME OR SALES COMPARATIVE. WHAT WE HOPE TO JUST LOOK AT, SOMETIMES WE'LL USE ALL THREE OF THEM. AND THEN YOU CORRELATE BETWEEN THEN AND SAID, NO, WHICH APPROACH DO I PLACE THE GREATEST CREDENCE ON WHICH IS IN ESSENCE, SAYING, WHICH ONE DO I HAVE THE MOST FAITH ON? THAT COULD BE, WHICH ONE DO I HAVE THE MOST DATA ON? WHICH AM I MOST COMFORTABLE WITH THE LEVEL OF DATA THAT I HAVE? IT'S DIFFICULT TO HAVE ANY GREAT DEGREE OF CREDENCE IN THE SALES COMPARATIVE APPROACH IF YOU HAVE NO SALES. BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOTHING TO MEASURE IT BY. AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO HAVE A LOT OF CREDENCE IN THE INCOME APPROACH, IF YOU HAVE NO RENTALS, IT'S NOT PRODUCING ANY INCOME. SO WHEN I SAY THAT WE ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE ALL THREE, YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE BUT THAT HAS TO BE TEMPERED BY, WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING AND LET THAT INFLUENCE WHICH ONE YOU HAVE THE MOST INFLUENCE ON NOW. IN DECATUR, WE HAVE AN ACTIVE SALES MARKET. SO GENERALLY, OUR CREDENCE IS GOING TO BE PLACED ON THE SALES COMPARATIVE APPROACH. I WILL TELL YOU IN A GREAT DEAL OF COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. A LOT OF THE ASSESSORS ARE GOING TO USE PRIMARILY THE COST APPROACH AND THAT'S IT. AND SOMETIMES THE COST APPROACH CAN LEAD YOU ASTRAY. IT IS A VERY GOOD APPROACH WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH RELATIVELY NEW IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THE OLDER THEY GET, THE MORE DEPRECIATION THAT IT ACCUMULATES WHILE YOU CAN DETERMINE AN ACCURATE VALUE USING THE COST APPROACH, MAKING THIS ADJUSTMENT FOR DEPRECIATION. TYPICALLY, YOU HAVE TO GO TO ONE OR THE OTHER APPROACHES TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF THAT DEPRECIATION. SO THAT SOMETIMES GETS TO BE A BIT DIFFICULT, BUT THE REASON THAT A LOT OF THE VARIOUS COUNTIES WILL USE IT IS BECAUSE SOMETIMES THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE. IF IT IS A TANGIBLE IMPROVEMENT THAT MEANS YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE IT, MEASURE IT, WALK AROUND, TAKE A PICTURE. SO YOU'RE ABLE TO GATHER THE BASIC INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE A VALUE ESTIMATE FROM THAT APPROACH. BUT HERE IN THE CAP, SINCE 2015, OUR PRIMARY VALUE FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES HAS BEEN THE SALES COMPARATIVE APPROACH. THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE VALUES GOING UP SHOULD FILE AN APPEAL OR JUST COME IN AND SAY, HOW IS IT DONE? WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM A COMP SHEET VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY RECEIVE WHEN YOU HAVE AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISAL, DEVELOP THAT APPRAISAL SAYS, HERE'S YOUR IMPROVEMENT. HERE ARE THE BEST THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX COMPARABLES THAT SUPPORT THIS VALUE THAT'S ON HERE. >> MR. HICKS, COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH THAT APPEALS PROCESS? THEY GET THEIR EVALUATION, THEIR ASSESSMENT IN THE MAIL, AND IT SAYS, YOU HAVE SO MANY DAYS TO APPEAL IT. AGAIN, IF YOU COULD JUST WALK US THROUGH THE STEPS THAT THE HOMEOWNER TAKES AND THEN ALSO THEN THE APPROACH THAT THE STAFF WILL TAKE. >> WE OF COURSE ARE NOW REQUIRED TO SEND AN ANNUAL ASSESSMENT NOTICE EVERY YEAR. TYPICALLY, THOSE NOTICES ARE GOING TO COME OUT IN LATE MAY. BUT THE DATE THAT THAT NOTICE COMES OUT IS WHAT DETERMINES EXACTLY WHEN THE APPEAL PERIOD WILL BE. IT WILL BE 45 DAYS, 45 DAYS FROM THE DATE ON THAT ANNUAL ASSESSMENT NOTICE IS THE APPEAL PERIOD. NOW, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO FILES AN APPEAL, THE STATUTE SAYS THAT ONCE THAT APPEAL IS FILED, THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS WILL REVIEW IT. IF THEY ELECT TO MAKE A CHANGE OR CORRECTION, THEY WILL SEND A SECOND NOTICE. IF THEY SEND A SECOND NOTICE, THAT'S NOTICE THEN HAS A 30 DAY APPEAL PERIOD TO BE EITHER ACCEPTED OR REJECTED. ONCE THE APPEAL HAS BEEN SET, THE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO REVIEW IT. IF THEY MAKE NO CHANGES THAT APPEAL IS THEN GOING TO MOVE TO THE NEXT TIER. WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENT NOTICE, IT OUTLINES HOW YOU MAY FILE AN APPEAL. YOU HAVE THE 45 DAYS TO FILE THE APPEAL. YOU WILL ELECT HOW YOU WANT [01:00:02] THE TAXES COLLECTED ON IT IN THE INTERIM AND YOU WILL ALSO DETERMINE HOW YOU WANT THE APPEAL RESOLVED, HOW YOU WANT TO ADJUDICATE IT IF IT MEETS CERTAIN CRITERIA. BOE, BOARD OF EQUALIZATION TEND TO BE THE PRIMARY SOURCE FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES BECAUSE A IT DOESN'T COST THE PROPERTY ON ANYTHING. AND THE PROCESS IS HANDLE ALL THEY DO IS SHOW UP WHEN HEARING SCHEDULED FOR THEM TO PRESENT WHATEVER EVIDENCE THAT THEY WANT TO PRESENT. NOW, THEY MAY VERY WELL, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE STAFF APPRAISER AS WELL AND COMMUNICATE, GET WHATEVER DATA THAT THEY'RE LOOKING. GEORGIA STATUTE SAYS THAT WE OUGHT TO PROVIDE THE DATA THAT WAS UTILIZED TO DETERMINE THAT VALUE. SO SOMEONE CALLS AND SAY, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE DATA THAT SUPPORTS OF THIS VALUE WAS DEVELOPED. WE SEND IT TO THEM. YES. >> IS EVERY PROPERTY ASSESSED EVERY YEAR? >> WELL, LET ME ANSWER IT LIKE THIS. YES. ALL RIGHT. NOW, THERE ARE INSTANCES IN WHICH THE VALUE MAY NOT CHANGE. WE GET ABOUT I SUPPOSE 20,000 APPEALS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. WE HAVE ROUGHLY 245,000 PARCELS AND WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE AROUND 20,000 APPEALS. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OVER THE LAST 10, 12, 13 YEARS. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES IN WHICH PEOPLE WILL FILE AN APPEAL BUT THEY REALLY DON'T DISAGREE WITH THE VALUE. AND YOU MAY ASK, WHY? THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED 299C WHICH 581 ADDRESSES, BY THE WAY, THEY'RE MAKING A CHANGE IN IT. BUT GOING BACK TO SAY, 2015. MANY OF THE PILLS THAT WE WILL RECEIVE ARE NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUAL DISAGREES WITH THE VALUE THAT WE HAVE ON IT BUT IT LOCKS THAT VALUE INTO PLACE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THE YEAR OF APPEAL PLUS TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS. AND PEOPLE GOT VERY SMART THEY REALIZED THAT THEY COULD COME BACK IN THAT SECOND YEAR OR THE THIRD YEAR, THAT PROPERTY HAS MAINTAINED THE SAME VALUE, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEND THEM AN ANNUAL ASSESSMENT NOTICE THAT SAYS, R299, SO YOUR VALUE IS THE SAME THING IT WAS THE YEAR BEFORE AND THE YEAR BEFORE. THEY CAN COME IN AND SAY, WELL, I WISH TO FILE AN APPEAL. AND YOU GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND THEY GO TO THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND THEY SAY, I'M ALL RIGHT WITH THE VALUE. I JUST WANT 299C, WHICH EXTENDS THAT SAME VALUE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. WE HAVE SOME VALUES THAT HAVE NOT CHANGED. THEY'VE BEEN REAPPRAISED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S AN OVERRIDE PUT IN THERE BECAUSE OF THE STATUTE THAT SAYS OF THE 299C REQUIREMENTS, 581 MAKES A CHANGE. AND SAYS, OKAY, LOOK. BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2025, IN ORDER FOR 299 C TO CONTINUE THAT HAS TO BE A VALUE REDUCTION. YOU CAN NO LONGER JUST FILE AN APPEAL, SAY I'M OKAY WITH THE VALUE, THE VALUE DOESN'T CHANGE. SORRY, 299C DROPS. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUPPORT, DEFEND WHY THE VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY SHOULD BE REDUCED. JUST COMING IN AND SAYING, I WANT TO CONTINUE THAT APPEAL DOESN'T JUST PUSH THAT VALUE INTO THE FUTURE. SO YES, WE SEND ANNUAL ASSESSMENT NOTICES EVERY YEAR IN MANY INSTANCES, THOUGH, BECAUSE OF THE OVERRIDES THAT WE WILL HAVE IN PLACE THAT VALUE MAY NOT CHANGE. AND YOU THINK, WELL, THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN THAT MUCH. IF YOU'RE GETTING 20,000 APPEALS A YEAR AND LET'S SAY 10,000 OF THEM GO TO THE BOE AND RESOLVED AND THEN IT'S A THREE YEAR CYCLE. SO YOU'VE GOT 30-40,000 APPEALS THAT THE VALUES ARE OVERRIDDEN, THAT WE CANNOT CHANGE. SO MANY TIMES WE WILL NOTICE THAT PEOPLE WILL COME IN AND THEY WILL SAY, "WELL, I OBJECT TO YOUR VALUE BECAUSE I'VE LOOKED AT THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY AND IT'S MUCH LOWER THAN MINE." THAT PROPERTY WAS APPEALED TWO YEARS AGO AND THERE'S A VALUE THAT'S BEING HELD ON UNDER 299C. I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, THAT'S WHAT THE STATE STATUTE SAYS. SOMETIMES THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR WHY THERE MAY APPEAR TO BE AN INEQUITY. PROBABLY THE NEXT REASON WE SEE QUITE OFTEN IS LEVEL OF EXEMPTIONS BECAUSE THE LEVEL OF EXEMPTIONS [01:05:04] BETWEEN PEOPLE CAN VARY GREATLY AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT. NEXT QUESTION. >> SO GOING FORWARD, DOES THAT MEAN THAT IF SOMEONE COMES AND APPEALS TO YOU AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO PROVE THAT THE APPRAISED VALUE OR THE ASSESSED VALUE DETERMINED BY THE ASSESSOR IS NOT LOWER OR IS LOWER, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THAT FREEZE IS GONE GOING FORWARD? >> NO, IF THEY PROVE THAT IT IS LOWER, THAT MEANS THE 299C SETS A LOWER VALUE FOR THE YEAR OF APPEAL PLUS A TWO ADDITIONAL YEAR. IT GIVES YOU ANOTHER THREE YEAR CYCLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IN ANY INSTANCE IN WHICH WE DETERMINED THAT THE VALUE IS INCORRECT. PERHAPS WE HAD THE WRONG CHARACTERISTICS OR THE SQUARE FOOTAGE WAS OFF, WHATEVER THE REASON. THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS DOESN'T MIND MAKING THE CHANGES. WE CANNOT CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS AT THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION. AND ANY TIMES PEOPLE DO NOT AGREE WITH WHAT THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION HAS DONE. AND THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION MEMBERS IS A THREE MEMBER PANEL OF LAY PEOPLE. THEY'RE NOT APPRAISERS. IT IS LIKE THE JURY SYSTEM WHERE THE PEOPLE ON A JURY ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL LAWYERS, OR LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY'LL JUST LAY PEOPLE THERE. THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR THE EVIDENCE AND THEN ON THE PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE, THEY'LL MAKE A DETERMINATION. BOARD OF EQUALIZATION IS VERY SIMILAR TO THAT. AND AS I SAID, THAT IS THE PRIMARY VEHICLE USED FOR RESOLVING APPEAL. IT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE. IF THE PROPERTY IS NONE HOMESTEADED AND THE VALUE IS 500,000 OR GREATER, THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS THE ABILITY TO SEND HIS APPEAL TO A HEARING OFFICER. THE HEARING OFFICER IS SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BE A CERTIFIED OR LICENSED APPRAISAL. SO, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER IS GOING TO HEAR THE CASE SHOULD HAVE A KNOWLEDGE OF THE APPRAISAL PROCESSES. SO ON A LOT OF YOUR HIGHER VALUE PROPERTIES, NONE HOMESTEADED, WE HAVE HEARING OFFICERS THAT ARE COMING IN TO HEAR THOSE. AND THE THIRD AVENUE WOULD BE ARBITRATION, WHERE AGAIN, YOU'VE GONE OUT, YOU HIRE AN APPRAISER, YOU GET AN APPRAISAL AND THAT'S GOING TO BE SUBMITTED TO A MEDIATOR AND A DETERMINATION OF THE VALUE WILL BE MADE. >> TO COMMISSIONER MAYER'S POINT, IF SOMEONE LOSES THEIR APPEAL, WHERE IT'S DETERMINED THAT THE VALUE IS CORRECT, IT DOESN'T GET REDUCED AS A RESULT OF THE APPEAL, THEN THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREEZE AT THAT POINT. IT'S ONLY IF THEY WIN AND IT GETS REDUCED. [OVERLAPPING] >> ONCE THAT APPEAL GOES TO THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, AND THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION MAY NOT MAKE A CHANGE, BUT THAT BECOMES THEIR DETERMINATION. IT HAS THE BENEFITS OF 299C. >> GOING FORWARD, IT DOES? >> GOING FORWARD, IT DOES. NOW, THAT CEASES WITH JANUARY 1 OF THIS YEAR BECAUSE UNDER 581, NOW THERE HAS TO BE A REDUCTION. BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING IN A DIFFERENT AVENUE, AND THAT IS, IF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS ELECTS NOT TO MAKE A CHANGE, IT GOES TO THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND THEY DON'T MAKE A CHANGE, THEY STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THAT APPEAL IN THE SUPERIOR COURT. FROM THERE, AS I SAID, THEY CAN CARRY ALL THE WAY TO STATE SUPREME COURT. THERE IS AN AVENUE THAT IF THEY DO DISAGREE WITH THE FINDINGS, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO STOP THERE. THEY CAN CONTINUE THAT APPEAL INTO SUPERIOR COURT AND MOVE ON UP. YES, SIR. >> I APPEALED OUR TAXES LAST YEAR. I GUESS THIS IS PROBABLY RIGHT, BUT THE APPRAISAL WENT UP FOR $160,000, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS EXCESSIVE. ORIGINALLY, IT WAS LOWERED BY 5,000 BY YOUR FOLKS, AND THEN I WENT TO THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND IT WAS LOWERED FURTHER. THROUGH THAT PROCESS, A FEW THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, YOUR DATA WAS REALLY GOOD. I WAS IMPRESSED. YOU HAD YOUR SQUARE FOOTAGE, YOU KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT MY HOME, YOU KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT MY NEIGHBORS HOMES, AND SO I DO THINK YOU GUYS KEEP A REALLY GOOD DATABASE. IT REALLY LOOKED UP TO DATE WITH ME. I WAS VERY MUCH IMPRESSED BY THAT. I SAW A NUMBER OF MY NEIGHBORS WHO EVERY THREE YEARS WERE APPEALING THEIR TAXES AND FREEZING IT. I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT HB 581 IS GETTING RID OF THAT PRACTICE BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE ABUSING IT. [01:10:02] WHEN I CHALLENGED MY APPRAISAL OF YOUR TEAM, YOUR THREE COMPS THEY USED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND YOU MENTIONED HOW THEY DID THE ADJUSTMENTS AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY HAVE A SPREADSHEET AND THEY LOOK AT THE COMPS, FIND THE COMPS, AND DO THE ADJUSTMENTS. WHAT STRIKES ME IS THERE'S A TON OF DATA OUT THERE. WE HAVE SO MUCH TECHNOLOGY NOW THAT JUST CRUNCHES IT. ALL THESE ALGORITHMS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. I'M WONDERING, IS THE APPRAISAL INDUSTRY EMBRACING THIS? BECAUSE INSTEAD OF THREE COMPARABLES, YOU CAN PLUG IT INTO ONE OF THESE CHATGPT. >> NEED A GEN Z. [LAUGHTER] >> IT WOULD LOOK LIKE 100 AND IT COULD MAKE THE VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS. I'M JUST CURIOUS, JUST FROM THE APPRAISAL INDUSTRY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU'RE DEALING WITH DATA. THERE'S A LOT OF DATA OUT HERE. YOU CAN LOOK AT EVEN LOCATIONS FROM BUSY STREET VERSUS NOT A BUSY STREET, THE SIDE OF THE YARD, THE AGE OF THE BUILDING, NUMBER OF BATHROOMS, SQUARE FOOTAGE. THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABLES IN THERE, BUT FOR CHATGPT, IT COULD DO IT LIKE THAT. IS INDUSTRY EMBRACING THAT AND LOOKING AT THAT? BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE MORE EQUITABLE ASSESSMENTS. [OVERLAPPING] >> REMEMBER, I INDICATED THAT THAT SINCE 2015, OUR RESIDENTIAL APPRAISALS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED USING THE SALES COMPARATIVE APPROACH. IT BASICALLY UTILIZES MULTIPLE REGRESSION. >> HOW ARE THEY DOING THAT? >> IT'S A FAIRLY COMPLEX PROCEDURE, BUT THEY ARE USING MULTIPLE REGRESSION RIGHT NOW TO DETERMINE THOSE VALUES. IT'S INTERESTING YOU MENTIONED ABOUT AI. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE AN AI APPLICATION AS WE SPEAK. THUS FAR, IT HASN'T BEEN FUNDED. AI IS GREAT. IT'S EXPENSIVE AS THE DEVIL, THOUGH. TO THINK THAT THERE ARE MANY COUNTIES OUT THAT WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT, I DON'T THINK SO. FOR A FIVE-YEAR APPLICATION, IT WILL COST US BETWEEN THREE AND $4 MILLION. THAT'S A PRETTY HEALTHY CHUNK FOR US TO PUT IN OUR BUDGET FOR IT. WE HAVE REQUESTED IT, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN APPROVED YET. WE'RE USING THE MARKET MODELS. WE HAVE A MODELER ON STAFF. THAT'S ALL HE DOES, IS DETERMINING OF ACQUIRING THE SALES AND MAKING SURE THAT EACH YEAR THOSE MODELS CALIBRATED. THE VALUES ARE BASED ON LOCATION. WE HAVE 24 MODELS AND EACH ONE OF THE MODELS DIFFERS BASED ON THE LOCATION, THE MARKET FOR THAT AREA. EACH YEAR, THOSE ADJUSTMENTS ARE CALIBRATED TO COME UP WITH THOSE VALUES. YES, WE REAPPRAISE EVERY YEAR. WE WOULD WANT TO GO TO AN AI APPLICATION BECAUSE IT IS FASTER AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GENERATE AND COMPLETE THE VALUE PROCESS QUICKER THAN WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO NOW. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. IT'S ACTUALLY IN MY 2025 BUDGET. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT APPROVED YET, BUT I'M AWARE THAT IT HAS BENEFITS THERE. >> I JUST WAS STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT THREE COMPS. >> WE ACTUALLY USED MORE THAN THREE COMPS. FIVE COMPS. [OVERLAPPING] >> POINT IS, IT WAS A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF COMPS. >> NOT THAT YOU WILL PAY ATTENTION TO IT, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMP SHEET, THAT COMP SHEET IS GOING TO HAVE THOSE COMPS AND THEY ARE ARRAYED. THE FIRST ONE IS ALWAYS THE ONE THAT IS YOUR BEST COMP BASED ON THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ADJUSTMENTS THAT WERE MADE. THEN AS YOU GO FURTHER ALONG, MORE ADJUSTMENTS WERE REQUIRED TO MAKE IT THAT MIRROR IMAGE OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY THAT YOU HAVE. >> I GET THAT. JUST ONE OTHER OBSERVATION AND I'LL BE QUIET. I LOOKED UP AND DOWN MY STREET AND ALL THE OTHER HOUSES. NOW, I PRAISE YOUR STAFF HAVING REALLY GOOD DATA AND KNOWING STUFF, BUT I PROBABLY KNOW THE HOUSES A LITTLE BIT BETTER. I JUST FELT THAT IT WAS SOMEWHAT INCONSISTENT. MY THOUGHT WAS CHATGPT COULD DO SOME BETTER. I'LL BE QUIET WITH THAT NOW, BUT I DO THINK THAT ME LOOKING THERE AND LOOKING AT FIVE COMPS, [01:15:01] MOST OF THEM WERE NOT THAT CLOSE TO MY HOUSE. THEN LOOKING AT HOW MY NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTIES WERE VALUED, IT DID NOT STRENGTHEN MY CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM. THAT'S JUST WHY I'M BRINGING THIS UP. >> WELL, THINK FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE. THIS LAST YEAR, RESIDENTIAL SALES WERE BETWEEN EIGHT AND 09,000 ONCE WE THREW OUT THE TRANSFERS THAT WERE NOT ARM'S LENGTH. THERE ARE MANY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WON'T HAVE ANY DIRECT SALES. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH GROUPING PROPERTIES IN NEIGHBORHOOD CLUSTERS SO THAT IF NEIGHBORHOOD A DOESN'T HAVE ANY SALES, WE GO TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH ARE CLOSEST TO IT BEING COMPARABLE TO IT AND WE USE DATA FROM THERE. OTHERWISE, YOU WOULD HAVE A SCENARIO WHERE, THIS OCCURS SOMETIMES IN THE COST APPROACH, YES, I CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THOSE PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE PROPERTY HAD SALES, BUT I DON'T GO OUTSIDE OF THAT. THAT CREATES A UNIFORMITY ISSUE BECAUSE IT JUST SAYS, NEIGHBORHOOD A MAY HAVE INCREASED IN VALUE, NEIGHBORHOOD B PROBABLY INCREASED IN VALUE AS WELL, BUT SOMETIMES THEY'LL REAPPRAISE A AND NOT B. WE TRY TO ELIMINATE THAT BY USING THE SALES COMPARATIVE APPROACH AND LOOKING AT JUST RECALIBRATING THEM ALL. AT SOME POINT IN TIME, THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO IDENTIFYING WHAT AREAS ARE WITHIN EACH ONE OF THOSE 24 MODELS. I CAN'T SAY WE'RE PERFECT, BUT WE TRY VERY HARD. YES. >> TO GO A LITTLE DEEPER ON THAT POINT, AT LEAST IN INDEPENDENT APPRAISALS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY WILL, FOR EXAMPLE, TRY TO STAY WITHIN A MILE AND SIX MONTHS. THERE'S ALWAYS A GEOGRAPHY CONFINE AND TIMING. DEPENDING ON IF YOU DON'T HAVE BOTH SWEET SPOTS, YOU MAKE A TRADE-OFF ON THE OTHER TO GET THE BEST COMP. I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS A LITTLE WHY AI FALLS SHORT IN THIS PROCESS TOO TO SOME DEGREE. MAYBE AI IS SUPPOSEDLY SMARTER THAN ALL OF US, BUT THERE ARE JUDGMENTS TO BE MADE, WHICH THEN ALLOWS FOR BIAS. WE ALL KNOW THAT. BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR GEOGRAPHY DESIRED WITHIN A MILE OR WITHIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DEFINITIONS, YOU DON'T GO BROADER. YOU GO FURTHER BACK, OR WHAT DO YOU DO? >> WELL, WE DO TWO THINGS. SOMETIMES IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SALES, WE HAVE TO TIME ADJUST THEN GO FURTHER BACK AND BRING THOSE SALES TIME ADJUSTED THEM FORWARD TO GET THE VOLUME OF SALES THAT WE NEED IN ORDER FOR THE APPLICATION TO WORK. AS I SAID, IN INSTANCES WHERE YOU MAY HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU HAD NO DIRECT SALES THERE, WE'RE GOING TO GO, WHAT'S IN THIS CLUSTER, WHAT ARE THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THIS CLUSTER, AND PULL SALES FROM THAT AREA. WE ATTEMPT TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH EQUITABLE VALUES FOR EVERYTHING. BUT YES, IT CALLS FOR SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND OPINIONS, AND SOMETIMES WE GET IT WRONG. BUT IF WE GET IT WRONG, WE'RE WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. YES. >> IN THE BIG PICTURE, YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB AND TRYING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS ACCORDING TO YOUR LICENSING AND YOUR ETHICS AND YOUR LEGAL REQUIREMENTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE. HOW OFTEN OR HOW MANY TIMES, DO YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU HAD TO, WE CALL IT GETTING A CLEAN AUDIT? HOW MANY TIMES IN THE RECENT PAST HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE THAT YOU MISSED THE MARK AND YOU GOT TO GO BACK AND REFINE? >> I'VE BEEN THE CHIEF APPRAISER WITH DEKALB 15 YEARS. I'VE NEVER GOTTEN A STATEMENT. NOW, THERE ARE INSTANCES, AND THE WORST REVIEW WE GOT WAS MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO, AND THIS WAS NOT BAD. I TOLD YOU EARLIER THAT THE LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT WAS TO BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 36 AND 42, AND OUR LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT DROPPED TO 37.21, SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S STILL JUST UNDER 95% OF VALUE. BUT IF OUR VALUES DROP BELOW 38%, WE LOSE SOME VALUE ON PUBLIC UTILITIES BECAUSE THERE'S A STATUTE THAT SAYS, YOUR PUBLIC UTILITY VALUE HAS TO BE VALUED BASED ON WHATEVER THE EQUALIZED ASSESSMENT IN THE COUNTY IS. PUBLIC UTILITY VALUES ARE ACTUALLY DETERMINED BY THE STATE OF GEORGIA. THE PREMISE IS THAT EVERYTHING THE STATE OF GEORGIA DOES IS CORRECT. IF YOU'RE IN A COUNTY THAT HAS A VALUE LEVEL THAT'S LESS THAN 38, [01:20:02] IT WOULD NOT BE UNIFORM TO CHARGE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES AT A HIGH LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT. YOU HAVE TO ROLL THOSE VALUES BACK DOWN TO WHATEVER THE LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT IS IN THE COUNTY. WE DROPPED BELOW 38 TO 37 AND A COUPLE OF POINTS. IT WAS NOT FAR BELOW 38. THAT'S ABOUT THE WORST. IN TERMS OF LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. THERE WAS A CHANGE MADE, 581, AGAIN, THAT ADDRESSES A CONCERN THAT SOME OF THE COUNTIES HAD. I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS DOES AN ANALYSIS AND THEY AUDIT US EVERY YEAR. WHEN THE DEFINITION OF VALUE WAS CHANGED TO SAY THAT A SALE PRICE DETERMINES THE MAX VALUE THAT CAN BE PLACED ON THAT PROPERTY IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR, THAT DESTROYS, IN ONE INSTANCE, YOUR LEVEL OF UNIFORMITY, FIRST OF ALL, IN MANY INSTANCES, SALE PRICES DON'T SELL WHAT THE APPRAISED VALUES ARE. BUT THIS STATUTE SAID, WHATEVER THEY SOLD FOR, THAT'S THE MAX. YOU CAN FORGET THIS MEDIAN AND SLIGHTLY OVER THAT. WELL, THAT HAS NOW BEEN REMOVED IN 581. STRIKE THAT. ONE OF THE REASONS IT WAS STRUCK WAS BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS PUT IN, IT FORCED THE DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS RATHER THAN LOOKING AT OUR WORK, SAY, TAKING ALL VALUES FOR JANUARY 1 OF A GIVEN YEAR AND LOOKING AT THE SALES OCCURRED IN THE PRIOR YEAR TO COME UP WITH THAT VALUE ESTIMATE, THE DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS WAS FORCED TO TAKE OUR VALUES ON JANUARY 1 AND THEY WILL COMPARE TO SALES THAT OCCURRED IN THE FUTURE. WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO SELL IN THE FUTURE. NOW, THEY DID A TIME ADJUSTMENT BACK TO JANUARY 1. BUT NEVERTHELESS, STILL, ONE OF THOSE STUDIES IS CALLED A LOOK FORWARD STUDY, WHERE I'M GOING INTO THE FUTURE AND USE SALES, AND OTHERS LOOK BACK, WHERE YOU'RE USING KNOWN SALES THAT OCCURRED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. SOME OF THE ASSESSORS FELT THAT THAT WAS NOT TRANSPARENT AND IT WAS UNFAIR BECAUSE A LOT OF THE ASSESSORS DIDN'T TIME ADJUST ALL OF THEIR SALES. EVEN THOUGH I SAY IT WAS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR IN A VERY ACTIVE MARKET, JANUARY 1 OF A YEAR, THAT CAN BE A CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCE IN VALUE APPRECIATION IN THAT ONE YEAR. IF YOU'RE STILL BACK NINE, 10, 11 MONTHS AGO, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SOMEWHAT LOW. THEY DID MAKE THAT CHANGE AND THEY SAID, SCRAP THAT. NOW EVERYONE GOES BACK TO A LOOK BACK STUDY. >> I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU RIGHT HERE. >> I HAVE TWO SETS OF QUESTIONS AND A COMMENT FIRST. THE FIRST COMMENT IS, YOU HAVE EDUCATED ME DEEPLY ON CHANGES THAT 581 BRINGS FORWARD THAT I HAD NO IDEA EXISTED WHEN I WENT TO THE BALLOT BOX. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. CLEARLY, YOU KNOW ALL OF THIS LIKE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND AND YOU'RE HAVING TO LEARN AS FAST AS YOU CAN. >> BEFORE YOU ASK YOUR QUESTION, ONE OTHER MAJOR CHANGE IN 581. IF YOU RECALL GETTING YOUR ANNUAL ASSESSMENT NOTICE IN PRIOR YEARS, IT HAD AN ESTIMATE OF YOUR TAX LIABILITY THAT WAS ON THERE. INDICATED THAT IT MAY NOT BE CORRECT BECAUSE ALL YOUR EXEMPTIONS DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THERE, BUT WHATEVER EXEMPTIONS THEY HAD WERE THERE AND IT CALCULATED, HERE'S WHAT THE TAXES WOULD BE. THAT TAX WAS ACTUALLY USING THE PRIOR YEAR MILL RATE. NOT THE CURRENT YEAR MILL RATE, PRIOR YEAR MILL RATE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR ANNUAL ASSESSMENT NOTICE THIS YEAR, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND A TAX ESTIMATE ON THERE BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN REMOVED. YOU WILL FIND WHAT IS THE PRELIMINARY ROLLBACK CALCULATION RATE BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE TO PUT THAT ON THAT NOTICE FOR EVERY MUNICIPALITY, FOR EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND FOR THE COUNTY. NOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE WILL HAVE TO BACKUP WHEN WE COMPLETE OR CUTOFF OUR APPRAISALS FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUM ALL THAT DATA, GET TO YOU, FOR INSTANCE, HERE IS OUR ESTIMATE OF WHAT THE VALUES ARE, HERE'S OUR ESTIMATE OF WHAT'S THE INFLATIONARY VALUE, WHAT'S THE NORMAL GROWTH, AND WHAT IS YOUR ESTIMATE OF THE ROLLBACK RATE SO THAT WE CAN PUT THAT ON A NOTICE. >> THE FIRST SET OF QUESTIONS IS ACTUALLY ABOUT STAFFING, IF YOU DON'T MIND. [01:25:02] I HOPE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS. MY FIRST QUESTION TO YOU IS, ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE COMING OUT TO ASSESS PROPERTIES, ARE THEY EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY OR ARE THEY 1099 CONTRACTORS? >> EVERYONE THAT WORKS IN MY OFFICE IS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE. >> ARE THEY SALARIED, HOURLY? >> IT DEPENDS ON THEIR CLASSIFICATION. YES, THEY HAVE COMPENSATION LEVELS ON ANNUAL BASIS. SO I'M GOING TO QUOTE PER HOUR AND HERE'S THE SALARY. IF IT IS AN APPRAISER 3 OR HIGHER, THAT'S AN EXEMPT EMPLOYEE SO THAT WOULD BE QUOTED AND HERE'S THE SALARY. IF IT'S BELOW THAT, IT WOULD BE AN HOURLY RATE THAT'S QUOTED BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO BE FOR 40 HOURS. >> OKAY. ARE THERE ANY INCENTIVES BASED ON QUANTIFIABLE METRICS THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS CAN EARN EACH YEAR OR IS IT JUST THEIR SALARY AND HOURLY PAY? >> IT IS NOT BASED ON ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION. IF YOU LOOK AT THE COUNTY'S HR, IT'LL TELL YOU THAT THEY BELIEVE IN COMPENSATING PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR MERIT. PROBABLY WITHIN THE LAST SIX TO EIGHT YEARS. THE ANNUAL MERIT INCREASE WAS DONE AWAY WITH. WE HAVE A RANGE OF VALUE NOW THAT'S ESTABLISHED AND THAT INDIVIDUAL IS GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE WITHIN THAT RANGE. WE CAN REQUEST THAT AS A PERSON ADVANCES THAT COMPENSATION CAN BE REVIEWED AND THAT IS ONE MEANS OF ADVANCING THE COMPENSATION IS IF THEY CHANGE THEIR CLASSIFICATION SINCE WE HAVE FOUR LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION. SO AS YOU MOVE FROM 1, 2, 3, 04, THERE'S A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF COMPENSATION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. >> AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AN INCENTIVE THAT WOULD BE A MERIT INCREASE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WHAT QUANTIFIABLE METRICS WOULD YOU AND YOUR OFFICE USE TO DEFINE SUCCESS? IS IT THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT THEY APPRAISE? IS IT THEIR TIMELINESS? DO THEY HAVE DEADLINES TO TURN THE REPORT IN? IS IT REVENUE THAT IS PRODUCED? WHAT'S THE METRIC THAT DEFINE SUCCESS? >> OF SUCCESS? >> YES, SIR. >> YES, CERTAINLY THEY HAVE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS. FIRST OF ALL, THAT TYPICALLY THE APPRAISERS,AND WE'RE SPEAKING ONLY OF APPRAISERS NOT THE SUPPORT STAFF. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> THAT'S FINE. THEY WILL HAVE A GEOGRAPHIC AREA. TYPICALLY, YOU HAVE THE CHIEF RESIDENTIAL APPRAISER, HE HAS FOUR SUPERVISORS. EACH ONE OF THOSE SUPERVISORS HAS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AND THEY HAVE ASSIGNED GEOGRAPHIC AREAS THAT THEY ARE TO MAINTAIN. NOW, THEY MAINTAIN THOSE WITH THE SUPERVISION OF THE SUPERVISORS AS WELL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT ABOUT MASS APPRAISAL AS OPPOSED TO IT APPRAISAL IS IF I'M DOING AN APPRAISAL I MAY DO THE ENTIRE APPRAISAL FROM START TO FINISH. SOMETIMES MASS APPRAISAL IS MORE OF A SHARED ASSIGNMENTS, IF YOU WILL. ONE PERSON MAY BE WORKING ON LAND VALUES AND THE OTHER PERSON MAY BE WORKING ON GATHERING THE DATA ON THE IMPROVEMENTS, AND ANOTHER PERSON MAY BE DOING SALES ANALYSIS. AND WE ALSO ARE GETTING SUPPORT FROM OUR GIS DEPARTMENT FOR MAPPING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THE WHOLE THING IS VIEWED BUT THE WORK PRODUCT MAY BE SHARED. >> OKAY. AND YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE ME. I AM PESKY, MY REPUTATION PRECEDES ME, AND I MEAN NO DISRESPECT. I AM TRULY JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF ANYONE IN YOUR OFFICE IS INCENTIVIZED FOR THE VALUES THAT ARE CALCULATED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR OR IF THEY ARE INCENTIVIZED BY AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES IN THEIR REGION? >> NO. >> OKAY. >> NO, THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE INCENTIVIZED BY THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT OVER HERE. >> WHO'S VIGOROUSLY SHAKING HIS HEAD. >> WHAT WE ARE MOTIVATED BY IS WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO 11 MUNICIPALITIES, PRE-SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTY TO DETERMINE VALUES AND GET THOSE VALUES COMPLETED AND THEN SUBMITTED IN A TIMELY FASHION. SO BECAUSE YOUR TAX REVENUES MAY BE IMPAIRED IF WE DON'T DO THE JOB ON TIME. SO I CANNOT TELL YOU THAT SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T FINISH ON TIME IS NOT GOING TO FEEL THE HEAT BECAUSE THEY WILL. >> SURE. RIGHT. >> BUT THERE IS NO POLICY, THERE'S NO INCENTIVE THAT SAYS IF YOU RAISE THE VALUES UP THIS MUCH IN DECATUR, YOU'RE GOING TO GET EXTRA COMPENSATION. NOW, LET ME TELL YOU WHY THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY WORK. [01:30:09] IF WE SIMPLY INCREASE VALUES TO BE INCREASE IN VALUES THAT RANGE OF VALUE THAT I TOLD YOU, WE ARE PENALIZE JUST AS MUCH FOR BEING TOO HIGH AS WE ARE FOR BEING TOO LOW. IT'S NOT THAT I OR WE CAN PUT WHATEVER VALUE WE WANT TO. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DOCUMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS SENDS APPRAISALS IN BEHIND US TO SAY, "OKAY, WHAT VALUES ARE YOU PUTTING ON THESE PROPERTIES AND THE LEVEL OF ASSESSMENTS THAT YOU HAVE?" EITHER WE FIND SUPPORT FOR THAT OR WE DON'T. >> AND THAT'S TRUE FOR APPRAISERS AND LEADERSHIP? >> YES. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> MR. HICKS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK Y'ALL BOTH FOR COMING TODAY. WE ARE UP AGAINST THE WALL. THANK YOU. WE ALL LEARNED A LOT. AND TRUST ME, THAT KNOWLEDGE IS GOING TO GO TO WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE WILL TAKE ABOUT A THREE MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'LL RESUME OUR CITY COMMISSION HEARING AT 7:34. [I. Call to Order by Mayor pro tem. ] GOOD EVENING. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD, REGULAR MEETING OF THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION TO ORDER. COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE MINUTES OF [II. Approval of the Minutes. ] THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING AND THE REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 21ST, 2025, AND A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF JANUARY 27TH, 2025. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS? CAN I GET APPROVAL? >> APPROVAL. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> AND THE VICE CHAIR VOTES AYE. AND IN CASE ANY OF YOU ARE WONDERING, MAYOR GARRETT IS ON SABBATICAL WORKING IN JAPAN WITH A MAYORS EXCHANGE PROGRAM. SHE'S GOING TO BRING BACK LOTS OF INTERESTING INFORMATION AND HOPEFULLY SOME INTEREST FOR SOMETHING THAT'S COMING UP LATER ON THE AGENDA TODAY. NEXT UP, WE WILL HAVE SOME PROCLAMATIONS. [III. Proclamations.] IN FACT, SHE IS ACTUALLY ONLINE WITH US FOR ANOTHER FEW MINUTES. NEXT UP, WE HAVE THREE PROCLAMATIONS. THERE WILL BE AN ARBOR DAY PROCLAMATION, A BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION, AND A GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATORS DAY PROCLAMATION. FIRST UP, ARBOR DAY. AND I THINK WE HAVE OUR CITY ARBORIST, KAY EVANOVICH HERE. >> A NEW ARBORIST. >> A NEW ARBORIST WHO YOU WILL MEET LATER IN THE AGENDA. >> WHEREAS THE FIRST ARBOR DAY WAS CELEBRATED IN 1872 IN NEBRASKA AS A SPECIAL DAY FOR PLANTING TREES AND HAS GROWN TO THOUSANDS OF CELEBRATIONS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR NATION EACH YEAR. AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY PARTNERS, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS WILL JOIN TOGETHER AT LOCAL ARBOR DAY CEREMONIES STATEWIDE TO RECOGNIZE THE BENEFITS OF TREES AND URBAN FORESTS, AND WHEREAS TREES IMPROVE AIR AND WATER QUALITY, REDUCE THE EROSION OF PRECIOUS TOPSOIL, INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES, AND ECONOMIC VITALITY IN BUSINESS AREAS, INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY THROUGH SHADE. HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND BEAUTY TO COMMUNITIES AND WHEREAS TREES PROMOTE HUMAN, PHYSICAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING, CREATE HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN TO LIVE, STUDY, PLAY, AND ENCOURAGE SOCIAL INTERACTION IN A PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A TREE CITY USA AND A TREE CITY OF THE WORLD BY THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION AND DESIRES TO CONTINUE ITS TREE PROTECTION AND PLANTING EFFORTS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I PATTI M. GARRETT, AND I'M NOT PATTI GARRETT. THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, THE CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO HEREBY DECLARE FEBRUARY 23RD, 2025 AS ARBOR DAY. AND I DO ENCOURAGE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY AND TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR TREES AND WOODLANDS AND TO PLANT TREES TO PROMOTE THE WELL BEING OF THIS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND MS, EVANOVICH, YOU CAN COME UP, I WILL GIVE YOU THIS PROCLAMATION. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> THANK YOU. >> AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THE NEW ARBORS? >> YES. >> NEXT UP, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY HAVE HEARD THIS PROCLAMATION BEFORE, I GUARANTEE YOU YOU HAVE NOT HEARD THIS ONE. WHEREAS EACH FEBRUARY, NATIONAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH SERVES AS A CELEBRATION AND AN URGENT REMINDER THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY. BLACK CULTURE IS AMERICAN CULTURE AND THE STORIES OF BLACK AMERICANS ARE INDISPENSABLE TO THE ONGOING STORY OF THIS NATION. STORIES OF RESILIENCE, BRILLIANCE, STRUGGLE, [01:35:03] AND TRIUMPH THAT MUST BE PRESERVED AGAINST ANY EFFORTS TO ERASE OR DIMINISH THEM. WHERE IT IS MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER TO STAND FIRM AND RECOGNIZING THAT BLACK HISTORY IS NOT OPTIONAL, BUT FOUNDATIONAL. TO THE UNDERSTANDING THE FULL SCOPE OF OUR SHARED HISTORY AS A NATION AND AS A CITY. AND WHEREAS, WE MUST CELEBRATE THE IMMEASURABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS. HONOR THE LEGACIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF GENERATIONS PAST, RECKON WITH THE CENTURIES OF OPPRESSION AND CONFRONT THOSE INJUSTICES THAT STILL FESTER TODAY. AND WHEREAS THE HARMFUL ACTIONS TAKEN AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO SILENCE, CENSOR, AND ERASE BLACK HISTORY FROM OUR SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS ONLY DEEPEN THE WOUNDS OF THE PAST AND LIMIT THE PROGRESS WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER. AND WHEREAS THE PAINFUL LEGACIES OF SLAVERY, JIM CROW, RED LINING AND THE BLIGHT OF SYSTEMIC RACISM CONTINUE TO UNDERMINE THE PROMISE OF EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. AND WHEREAS THE EARLY WORKFORCE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS WERE BORN OUT OF THE HARSH REALITIES OF SLAVERY, WITH MILLIONS OF AFRICAN PEOPLE FORCED INTO LABOR WITHOUT CONSENT, AND DESPITE THIS BRUTAL HISTORY, BLACK WORKERS HAVE SHOWN RESILIENCE, STRENGTH, AND DETERMINATION IN SHAPING THE NATION'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FABRIC. AND WHEREAS AFTER CENTURIES OF EXPLOITATION, BLACK WORKERS HAVE FOUGHT TIRELESSLY FOR FAIR TREATMENT, EQUALITY, AND ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT, ACHIEVING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE WORKPLACE. AND WHEREAS, DESPITE THESE HARD EARNED GAINS THE PROGRESS MADE BY BLACK WORKERS ARE NOW BEING THREATENED BY POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT SEEK TO UNDERMINE WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AND THE LEGACY OF THE LABOR THAT BLACK AMERICANS HAVE BUILT OVER GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS BY CONFRONTING THESE TRUTHS WITH HONESTY AND WORKING TOGETHER TO FULFILL AMERICA'S PROMISE OF LIBERTY, EQUITY, AND DIGNITY FOR ALL THAT WE BECOME STRONGER AND MORE UNITED, STANDING FIRM IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT BLACK LIVES, BLACK HISTORY, AND BLACK CONTRIBUTIONS MATTER. AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF DECATUR REMAINS COMMITTED TO ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY AND CONTINUES TO TAKE ACTIONS IN SUPPORT OF THIS COMMITMENT. AND WHEREAS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH, LET US CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY, AND DIGNITY FOR EVERY BLACK AMERICAN AND FOR ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR, ENSURING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NEVER SILENCED AND FORGOTTEN OR FORGOTTEN. NOW, THEREFORE, I TONY POWERS, MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, CITY OF HOME, SCHOOLS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 25TH INDICATE AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS, TO LEARN AND TO CELEBRATE THE LIVES HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK PEOPLE DURING THIS MONTH AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY APPROPRIATE GIVEN THE STATE OF ARGUMENT THAT THIS RINGS TRUE IN OUR COMMUNITY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, WON'T BE AS DRAMATIC BUT IT'LL STILL BE EQUALLY EFFECTIVE. WHEREAS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION PROFESSIONALS IS TO INFORM, EDUCATE, AND ENGAGE THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS AND GOVERNMENT CREATES TRUST AND INSPIRES RESIDENTS TO TAKE ACTION AND BE INVOLVED. AND WHEREAS GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AND CREATE CALLS TO ACTION, BUILD AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING THROUGH STORYTELLING. ENGAGE AND FOSTER ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT ON CIVIC ISSUES AND USE ALL THE CHANNELS TO INCLUDE PEOPLE IN CRITICAL DECISIONS. AND WHEREAS IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE STRONG COMMUNICATIONS AND GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT IS A FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENT OF LIVING IN A DEMOCRACY WHERE CITIZENS HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR IS PROUD AND HAS A DEEP GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION FOR GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATORS, PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION, HARD WORK, COMMITMENT, ENTHUSIASM, AND SACRIFICE. NOW, THEREFORE I, MAYOR PATTI GARRETT, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOME, SCHOOLS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 21ST, 2025 INDICATE IT AS GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATORS DAY. AND ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE DECATUR COMMUNITY TO THANK THE CITY'S COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR CAREERS TO ENSURE THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS EFFECTIVE, IMPACTFUL AND SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES AND WE ARE RELEVANT. [01:40:03] SO I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS FOLKS ARE HERE, BUT IF THEY ARE. >> THEY MIGHT BE WORKING IN THE COMMUNICATIONS. >> THEY'RE PROBABLY WORKING IN THE COMMUNICATIONS. SO THANK YOU ALL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. NEXT UP, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS, [IV. Presentations. ] CITIZEN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM GRADUATES AND A STAFF INTRODUCTION. CHIEF WASHINGTON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE SO SO HAPPY ABOUT OUR FIRST CITIZENS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM. IT IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM BUT THIS IS OUR FIRST DECATUR CHAPTER PROGRAM. WE STARTED OFF WITH NINE, IS IT NINE PEOPLE, AND ONE PERSON HAD TO DROP OUT AND WE HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES THAT WERE IN THIS CLASS. ONE WILL BE ONE OF OUR NEW TRAINERS. THE TRAINING WAS CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH DEMA, DEKALB EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. BUT IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL HOST OUR OWN CLASSES RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY. SO WE ARE REALLY, REALLY ECSTATIC ABOUT THAT. SO I HAVE SEVEN GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM. ONE EMPLOYEE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FIVE OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY. SO THEY ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN 24 HOURS OF TRAINING. THE TRAINING INCLUDED SOME OF THE AREAS SEARCH AND RESCUE, TRIAGE, BASIC LIFE SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS, FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT, INCIDENT COMMAND, DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. SO ONE OF THE INSTRUCTORS, ADAM, HE'S HERE WITH US FROM DEMA. HE SO GRACIOUSLY EDUCATED OUR PARTICIPANTS, SO WE ARE SO HAPPY AND HE WAS ABLE TO GIVE MINARD WHAT HE NEEDED SO CAPTAIN MINARD CAN ACTUALLY CONDUCT THE CLASSES IN THE FUTURE. SO IF YOU DON'T MIND I WOULD LOVE FOR MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS AND CITY MANAGER ANDREA ARNOLD, IF YOU WILL COME UP AND I WILL CALL OUT THEIR NAMES SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE SO FAR. AS I CALL YOUR NAME, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE COME UP TO THE FRONT. ANDREA WARTER HOUSE. >> BEN LORENZ. [APPLAUSE] HUNTER FRANKLIN. [APPLAUSE] B. JESSICA RISE. [APPLAUSE] DAVID BURBANK. [APPLAUSE] AND YES, THEY HAVE THEIR NATIONAL GEAR ON, BUT YOU ALL KNOW WE DO IT THE DECATUR WAY. SO THEIR SHIRTS ARE ON ORDER. THEY WILL HAVE DECATUR SHIRT. AND NANCY BRUN IS THE OTHER CITY EMPLOYEE THAT ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE TRAINING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> THE REASON WE LIVE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND THE REASON WE THINK IT'S VERY SPECIAL AND IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE AND EVENTS LIKE THIS AND THIS TYPE OF TRAINING REALLY REINFORCES THAT. NEXT UP, WE WILL HAVE PRESENTATIONS FOR TWO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSES. I'M SORRY. I FORGOT. STAFF INTRODUCTIONS. NEXT UP, WE WILL HAVE SOME NEW STAFF INTRODUCTIONS. [BACKGROUND]. [01:45:11] >> I KNOW THE FEELING. [LAUGHTER] >> HELLO, EVERYONE. MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS AND CITY COMMISSIONERS AND ANDREA. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO LOGAN HOUSE, OUR NEWEST CITY STAFF ARBORIST. LOGAN IS BASICALLY A BOARD CERTIFIED MASTER ARBORIST. HE PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR DOING SALES WITH DIFFERENT TREE COMPANIES. I'M ALSO HAPPY TO SAY THAT HE WORKED WITH THE GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION TO HELP DEVELOP TREE ORDINANCES AND TREE USA PROGRAMS. ALSO WITH THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITAT. LOGAN HAS A DUAL BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM UGA IN FORESTRY AND PARKS MANAGEMENT, AND HE HAS SERVED TWO TERMS, CURRENTLY IS THE GEORGIA ARBORIST ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT OUR NEWEST CITY ARBORIST. [APPLAUSE]. >> I JUST REALLY QUICKLY WANTED TO SAY, THIS PAST YEAR, GEORGIA HOSTED THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBORICULTURE INTERNATIONAL CLIMBING COMPETITION. SO WE HAD ARBORISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD HERE. BEFORE I EVEN WORKED FOR DECATUR, WE HELD THAT PROGRAM AND I HAD PEOPLE ASKING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ABOUT DECATUR'S TREE ORDINANCE AND THAT'S 100% TRUE. WHAT DECATUR IS DOING FOR ITS TREES AND FOR ITS CANOPY IS BEING RECOGNIZED IN THE ARBORIST COMMUNITY AND IT IS HAVING IMPACT IN COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I THINK THAT'S REALLY AWESOME AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF IT. THANK YOU. >> AND WE WOULD LIKE TO GET A PHOTO, IF WE MAY, WITH THE TWO OF YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM AND THE ARBOR DAY PROCLAMATION. I BELIEVE THAT ANGELA IS THERE WITH THE CAMERA. [BACKGROUND]. >> WHICH WAY AM I GOING? I CAN USUALLY HIDE BEHIND EVERYONE. [BACKGROUND]. >> NOW WE WILL HAVE TWO PROPOSALS FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSES. [V. Alcoholic Beverage Licenses.] >> MS. MOORE. >> MS. MOORE, ARE YOU HERE? >> HELLO. MY NAME IS JACKIE MOORE. I'M THE SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR. I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO REQUEST THREE TEMPORARY ALCOHOL AND BEVERAGE LICENSES FOR THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL EVENTS. THE FIRST ONE BEING THE OAKHURST WINE CRAWL, WHICH IS GOING TO BE SATURDAY, MARCH 8TH. THE SECOND ONE IS THE AMPLIFIED MUSIC FESTIVAL, WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE FRIDAY, APRIL 25TH, AND SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH ON THE SQUARE, AND THEN THE DECATUR ARTS FESTIVAL, WHICH IS GOING TO HAPPEN THE FIRST WEEKEND ON FRIDAY, MAY 2ND, SATURDAY, MAY 3RD, AND SUNDAY, MAY 4TH. >> NOW, NOTICE THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER EVENTS THAT AREN'T ON HERE OR ARE YOU GOING TO COME BACK AT A LATER DATE? >> DEFINITELY. YES. THESE ARE THE BEGINNING EVENTS BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION AND EVERYTHING BEGINS ON THE SQUARE. I'LL DEFINITELY BE BACK. >> WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THE SQUARE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THESE EVENTS TO TAKE PLACE. >> YES. >> OR SOME PART OF THE SQUARE WILL BE AVAILABLE. >> YES. SOME PART OF THE SQUARE WILL. >> ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? >> CAN I GET A MOTION, PLEASE? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> THE VICE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND YOUR LICENSES HAVE BEEN APPROVED. >> THANK YOU. >> HAPPY FESTIVAL. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT UP, WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A ABL FOR CONSUMPTION ON PREMISES OF BEER, WINE AND SPIRITUALS LIQUORS TO DAMIEN REJORI AND MIGUEL HERNANDEZ FOR LOREAL, OR RREAL TACOS, LLC AT 312 CHURCH STREET. DON'T WANT TO BUTCHER IT. [LAUGHTER]. >> THAT'S IT. COMMISSIONERS, AS MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, WE DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE APPLICATION FOR RREAL TACOS DECATUR, AND THEY ARE OPERATING OUT OF THE SPACE RIGHT HERE BEHIND CITY HALL AT 312 CHURCH STREET AND THIS BEER, WINE AND SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS CONSUMPTION ON PREMISES. AS YOU ALL KNOW, NEW BUSINESS REQUIRES BACKGROUND CHECKS, VARIOUS FEES, CITY COMMISSION REVIEW. THE FEES HAVE BEEN PAID, AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE BE APPROVED FOR RREAL TACOS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I'D MAKE A MOTION. >> SO MOVED. >> IS THERE A SECOND? [01:50:01] >> SECOND. >> MOTION'S BEEN MADE AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> VICE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND WELCOME TO DECATUR RREAL TACOS. CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE ONE. NEXT UP, WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON HOUSE BILL 581 FOR [VI. H.B. 581-Public Hearing for Opt Out Provision of Floating Homestead Exemption.] THE PURPOSES OF WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO OPT OUT OF THE PROVISION OF THE FLOATING HOMES STATE EXEMPTION. THIS IS THE FIFTH OF THE FIVE PUBLIC HEARINGS. BY LAW, WE WERE REQUIRED TO ADVERTISE FOR THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT DUE TO A MIX UP WITH THE NOTIFICATION GOING OUT, WE HELD TWO ADDITIONAL HEARINGS FOR A TOTAL OF FIVE OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION AND TRANSPARENCY. THE WAY THIS IS GOING TO WORK, THOSE THAT WISH TO SPEAK WILL COME UP, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. YOU'LL MAKE YOUR STATEMENT. THERE WON'T BE A BACK AND FORTH DISCUSSION, BUT WE WILL ENGAGE YOU OR HAVE OUR COMMENTS LATER AS WE TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA ACTION ITEM. THEN WE'LL GO TO THOSE THAT ARE ON ZOOM AND WE WILL DO THE SAME THERE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT TO THIS BODY, ONLY ABOUT HOUSE BILL 581, NOW IS YOUR TIME TO DO SO. ANY OTHER AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SECTION WHERE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. OR IF YOU HAVE OTHER BUSINESS, THERE IS A SECTION AT THE END FOR REQUESTS AND OTHER BUSINESS. ONLY HOUSE BILL 581 QUESTIONS FOR THE HEARING, WE WILL BEGIN THOSE COMMENTS RIGHT NOW. IF YOU WISH TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT. >> MY NAME IS HANZ WITZ. I LIVE AT 690 SYCAMORE STREET. AMONG SEVERAL OTHER HATS THAT I WEAR IN THE COMMUNITY, I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. WE ARE ALSO OPTING OUT OF HOUSE BILL 581. THIS IS BAD POLICY. IN EVERY COMMUNITY THAT IT HAS BEEN ENACTED IN, WITHIN 20-30 YEARS, IT'S BEEN RIPPED OUT DUE TO THE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS THAT IT HAS ON THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HEARD AS WE HAVE FROM MULTIPLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WOULD PREFER YOU'D ALLOW THIS TO GO FORWARD. I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AS LEADERS AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE DIFFICULT DECISION FOR WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY BY CHOOSING TO OPT OUT OF THIS TERRIBLE TAX POLICY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT AT THIS TIME ON HOUSE BILL 581? >> HI. MY NAME IS BRETT TESTA. I LIVE IN 230 EAST PONTS RENAISSANCE, UNIT 117. I'M WRITING A LITTLE PIECE FOR THE DCAP DEMOCRATS, AND I WOULD LOVE JUST TO HEAR AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS IN THE BILL. >> WE DON'T ENGAGE AT THIS POINT OF THE HEARING. YOU CAN ASK A QUESTION. >> YEAH. I'M ASKING. >> GOT YOU. IS THAT YOUR QUESTION? >> CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT IT IS? YES. SORRY. WHAT THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS? >> WE WILL, BUT THIS IS NOT THE CORRECT VENUE FOR IT. >> WELL, APOLOGIES, THEN. >> YES. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? >> HI. MY NAME IS GREG MERSA. I'M AT 209 EERIE AVENUE. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS. I KNOW THIS IS DIFFICULT AND EVERYBODY WANTS SOMETHING AND IT'S A HARD DECISION TO MAKE. AND I'VE LISTENED TO SOME OF THE DEBATES. I'VE BEEN TO A COUPLE OF THE MEETINGS. I'VE HEARD THE COMMISSIONERS TALK. I'VE HEARD THE PEOPLE TALK. HONESTLY, THE COMMISSIONERS, I THINK HAVE MADE A COUPLE REASONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHY WE PROBABLY SHOULD OPT OUT, ONE OF THEM BEING THAT ONCE YOU OPT IN, YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH STUCK. IF IT REALLY DOESN'T WORK, WE'RE IN A BAD SITUATION. I THINK AS COMMISSIONER BARRY MENTIONED, THAT THERE COULD BE SOME INEQUITIES. YOU COULD BE IN A REALLY BIG HOUSE AND DOWNSIZE TO A SMALLER HOUSE AND END UP PAYING MORE TAXES BECAUSE OF THE RATE ADJUSTMENTS. I GET IT AND MAYBE 581 IS NOT THE RIGHT BILL. BUT WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT IF IT'S NOT THE RIGHT BILL, THEN WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE. BECAUSE I THINK THE PEOPLE, IN THE VOTE, MADE IT KNOWN THAT THEY'RE FEELING THE BITE OF THE TAX BILL HERE IN DECATUR. IT'S HARD TO PINPOINT MILLAGE RATES FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, BUT I LOOKED AT THE STATE OF GEORGIA DIFFERENT MILLAGE RATES FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, AND IF WE'RE NOT THE HIGHEST, WE'RE ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE, AND THAT'S NOT EVEN COUNTING WHEN YOU ADJUST FOR THE FACT THAT WE'RE ONE OF [01:55:02] ONLY TWO CITIES THAT ASSESS AT 50% OF ASSESSED VALUE INSTEAD OF 40%, WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND. HONESTLY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY PROPERTY TAX HAS GONE UP 60% IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, BUT INFLATION HAS ONLY GONE UP 20%. THAT'S A 30% DIFFERENCE THAT THE CITY HAS TO MANAGE ITS FUNDS AND I DON'T GET WHY THEY NEED 30% MORE THAN INFLATION. IF WE'RE GOING TO OPT OUT OF 521 AND I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GO, I'M HOPING THAT YOU ALL LOOK AT SOME OTHER TYPE OF MEANINGFUL TAX RELIEF. IF THE CAP THAT'S IN H BILL 581 IS NOT THE RIGHT ONE, HAVING SOME TYPE OF CAP TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANOTHER 50% RAISE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BECAUSE AT A CERTAIN POINT, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT OR EVEN BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY IT EVEN IF I COULD COME UP WITH THE MONEY. THE WORST THING ABOUT WHEN THE VALUE GOES UP IS INFLATION'S GONE UP, BUT MY SALARY HASN'T GONE UP 50%, AND I CAN'T TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF MY HOUSE UNTIL I SELL IT. AS WE ALL KNOW, I HAVE TO COME UP WITH 57% MORE THAN I DID FIVE YEARS AGO AT THE SAME SALARY THAT I'VE BEEN MAKING. IT PUTS THE HOMEOWNER IN A REALLY BAD SPOT. WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS MAYBE THERE'S SOME OTHER ALTERNATIVE IF 581 IS NOT THE RIGHT THING. IF NOT A CAP, I KNOW IN 581, THERE'S SOMETHING THEY CALLED FLUST OR FLOSS. I KNOW WE CAN'T USE THAT IF WE DON'T USE 581, BUT WE COULD COME UP WITH OUR OWN VERSION OF A SALES TAX THAT'S HERE IN DECATUR. BECAUSE THE THING THAT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING IS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO LIVE JUST OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS, WHO COME HERE ALL THE TIME, GO TO THE CONCERTS, GO TO THE RESTAURANTS, BUT I'M FOOTING THE BILL FOR EVERYBODY ELSE WHO IS ENJOYING. WHAT A GREAT CITY DECATUR IS, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT IF I LIVED IN ATLANTA, I WANTED TO LIVE IN DECATUR, AND I STILL DO. I'M JUST HOPING I CAN AFFORD TO. I'M JUST ASKING THAT WE COME UP WITH SOMETHING MEANINGFUL. I'VE HEARD SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS TALK ABOUT THE VARIOUS EXEMPTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, AND HONESTLY, MY HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AT THE $40,000 IS $400. THAT'S NOT REALLY HITTING WHERE THE PROBLEM IS. I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT THAT DECAB TAX ASSESSOR WAS HERE BECAUSE I KNOW COMMISSIONER POWERS HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT THERE REALLY WASN'T VERY MUCH TRANSPARENCY. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT FIXES THE PROBLEM. IF THE VALUES KEEP GOING UP AT A RATE HIGHER THAN INFLATION, THE HOMEOWNERS ARE STILL STUCK WITH THE ISSUE. I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW BECAUSE YOU LIVE HERE AND ARE ALL PAYING THE SAME TAXES WE ARE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M JUST ASKING THAT IF WE OPT OUT OF 581, THAT WE TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME OTHER MEANINGFUL PLAN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. AMAROSO. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT AROUND HOUSE BILL 581? SEEING NONE, I WILL RAISE THE QUESTION TO OUR VIRTUAL AUDIENCE. IF YOU WOULD RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT HOUSE BILL 581 AT THIS TIME, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND. ANY OTHER COMMENTS CAN BE ADDRESSED DURING THE GENERAL AGENDA AND/OR REQUESTS IN OTHER BUSINESS. THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR HOUSE BILL 581. >> JUST ANOTHER MINUTE OR SO. SEEING NONE, NEXT WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, [VII. Public Comment on Agenda Action Items. ] AND WE HAVE A PRETTY MEDIA AGENDA TONIGHT, AND I WILL READ EACH OF THESE ITEMS UP ON THE AGENDA. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT ANY ONE OF THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, YOU MAY ALSO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. FIRST UP, THERE'S THE RESOLUTION TO OPT OUT OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO OCGA 48-5-44-2. THERE'S AN AGREEMENT FOR CONSULTING AND FUND RAISING SERVICES FOR THE 2026 SOCCER EVENT. [02:00:01] THERE'S THE DOWNTOWN TREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. ITEM D IS THE PURCHASE OF A REAR LOADER REFUSE TRUCK. ITEM E IS TRAFFIC CALMING AND BIOSOIL CONSTRUCTION. ITEM F IS A CHANGE ORDER FOR CROSSWALK AND ROADWAY RESTRIPING. ITEM G IS MS4 PROGRAM SUPPORT RECOMMENDATIONS, AND ITEM H IS MILLING AND REPAIR OF LOCAL STREETS, ALSO KNOWN AS [INAUDIBLE]. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY ONE OF THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, NOW IS YOUR TIME TO DO SO. ANY OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION CAN BE ADDRESSED IN REQUEST AND PETITIONS. I AM INVITING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO COME UP AND SPEAK ABOUT ANY OF THOSE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS THAT I JUST READ OUT. >> MY NAME IS GREG [INAUDIBLE] 209 AREA AVENUE. I SUPPOSE IT'S A QUESTION TO THE COMMISSIONERS, IS ON THE TRAFFIC CALMING AND BIOSOIL CONSTRUCTION AT THE CORNER OF [INAUDIBLE] AND [INAUDIBLE], AND I KNOW THAT AREA BECAUSE IT'S MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND OF COURSE, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS, AND I'M NO EXPERT IN TRAFFIC CONSTRUCTION. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE PUT IT OUT FOR BID. NOBODY BID ON IT, AND WE WENT TO ED CASTRO LANDSCAPING BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE OTHER WORK FOR US, AND THEY GAVE US A BID. MY QUESTION IS, DID WE GO TO ANYBODY ELSE? DID WE ASK JACOBS ENGINEERING IF THERE WAS SOME OTHER FIRM SO THAT WE COULD AT LEAST HAVE A COUPLE BIDS TO GO AGAINST EACH OTHER? BECAUSE OVER A HALF $1 MILLION FOR ONE INTERSECTION SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO ME. MAYBE IT'S NOT, BUT THAT'S REALLY MY QUESTION. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANKS. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ANY ONE OF THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS? SEEING NONE, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO OUR ZOOM AUDIENCE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT AROUND ANY ONE OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND SO THAT WE MAY UNMUTE YOU AND YOU MAY MAKE YOUR COMMENT. ANOTHER SECOND. SEEING NONE, WE WILL BEGIN WITH OUR AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. [VIII.A. Resolution to Opt Out of the Homestead Exemption Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 48-5-44.2. ] FIRST UP, ITEM A, THE RESOLUTION TO OPT OUT OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, ALSO KNOWN AS HOUSE BILL 581. >> THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM, COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A RESOLUTION R-25-XX, AND THE RECOMMENDATION THIS EVENING IS THAT THE CITY COMMISSION CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION. BY ADOPTING THIS RESOLUTION, YOU WILL BE OPTING OUT OF THE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO OCGA 48-5-44.2, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS HOUSE BILL 589, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, >> ONE. >> WAIT, WHAT DID I SAY? >> 589. >> CONFUSING MY STATE LAWS. HOUSE BILL 581. OF COURSE, WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING HOUSE BILL 581 FOR THE LAST MONTH, MONTH-AND-A-HALF. THIS WAS ENACTED IN 2024 BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE. THERE WAS A STATEWIDE REFERENDUM. IT WAS APPROVED STATEWIDE, AND IT APPROVED A STATEWIDE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF LIMITING THE ANNUAL INCREASES IN TAXABLE PROPERTY VALUES FOR RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES, LIMITING THAT INCREASE TO THE RATE OF INFLATION. TO THE QUESTION THAT WAS POSED EARLIER, THIS CONCEPT OF A FLOATING EXEMPTION. THE FLOATING EXEMPTION IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACTUAL ASSESSED VALUE AS SET BY THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR AND THE ASSESSED VALUE THAT IS ACHIEVED THROUGH WHAT WE PRESUME TO BE, AT THIS POINT, THE CPI THAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, OR THE REVENUE COMMISSIONER. BUT SOME FORM OF INFLATION. YEAH. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, SOME INDICATOR OF INFLATION. [02:05:03] THAT'S THAT REFERENCES FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, AND SO THAT AMOUNT COULD BE DIFFERENT FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD, DEPENDING ON WHERE THE TAX ASSESSOR SAYS YOUR HOUSE WILL BE VALUED, VERSUS ACCORDING TO THE RATE OF INFLATION. THIS WOULD APPLY FOR RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES ONLY, SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO OWN AND RESIDE IN THAT HOME AND HAVE APPLIED FOR A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DOES NOT APPLY TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES OR TO RENTAL PROPERTIES. THE STATEWIDE LEGISLATION DOES PROVIDE OR INCLUDE A PROVISION THAT ALLOWS CITIES, COUNTIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OPT OUT. A FAILURE TO OPT OUT WILL RESULT IN THAT HOMESTEAD PROVISION BEING IN PLACE PERMANENTLY. JUST AS A REMINDER, THE STATE HAS PROVIDED CITIES, COUNTIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TWO MONTHS TO MAKE A DECISION THAT IS PERMANENT. WE'VE HEARD VERY CLEARLY, OVER AT LEAST THE FIVE PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND ALSO I'M SURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED COMMENT, PHONE CALLS, E MAILS, ABOUT THE DESIRE FOR THERE TO BE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND FOLKS LOOKING TO 581 TO PROVIDE THAT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR HOMEOWNERS. I DO WANT TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED DURING THE SHORT PERIOD, SOME CHALLENGES WITH THE POLICY. FIRST, THE TAX BURDEN REDISTRIBUTION. THE TAX BURDEN WILL NOT GO AWAY. THE TAX BURDEN WILL NOT DISAPPEAR. IT WILL JUST BE REDISTRIBUTED TO COMMERCIAL AND RENTAL PROPERTIES. THOSE PROPERTIES WILL SHOULDER A LARGER SHARE OF THE TAX BURDEN AS THE TAXES SHIFT FROM RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. THAT'S WHAT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS DO. THEY SHIFT THE BURDEN TO OTHER PROPERTIES. THERE WILL BE TAX DISPARITIES BETWEEN SIMILAR PROPERTIES BECAUSE THE PROPERTY VALUE WILL RESET TO THE CURRENT ASSESSED VALUE WHEN THERE IS AN OWNERSHIP CHANGE. NEW HOMEOWNERS WILL PAY MORE IN TAXES FOR A SIMILAR HOME AS OPPOSED TO A HOME THAT'S OWNED BY A LONG TERM RESIDENT. THERE WILL BE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON HOUSING SUPPLY AND PRICES. IN OTHER STATES, THIS TYPE OF POLICY HAS SLOWED HOUSING TURNOVER, AND THE HOUSING TURNOVER IS ALREADY FEELING A CHILLING EFFECT WITH HIGH INTEREST RATES. THIS POLICY, ON TOP OF INTEREST RATES, WILL RESULT IN LESS TURNOVER, LOWER INVENTORY, AND AS A RESULT, HIGHER HOME PRICES. A CONCERN THAT I HAVE, IN PARTICULAR, IS THE FUTURE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. MANY CITIES DO NOT HAVE A MILLAGE RATE CAP. THE CITY HAS A MILLAGE RATE CAP OF 18 MILLS, BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD THEIR RESPONSE WHEN FOLKS HAVE RAISED CONCERN ABOUT OPTING IN TO THIS POLICY, IT'S THAT JUST BECAUSE THE ASSESSED VALUE IS GOING TO BE CONTROLLED BY THE RATE OF INFLATION, YOU CAN STILL RAISE YOUR MILLAGE RATE. OF COURSE, THAT WOULD REMAIN AN OPTION OF THIS BODY UP TO THAT MILLAGE RATE CAP OF 18 MILLS. ALSO, THE SCHOOL BOARD ALSO HAS A MILLAGE RATE CAP AND THEY'RE AT 25 MILLS. THE MILLAGE RATE CAP PLUS THIS FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION MAY NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE CITY'S BOND RATINGS BECAUSE OF THIS ADDITIONAL LIMIT ON THE CITY'S ABILITY TO COVER ITS DEBT SERVICE, AND THAT WOULD RESULT IN HIGHER BORROWING COSTS, AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN HELPFUL. THE CITY COMMISSION HAS SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT NOT ONLY DOES THE CITY ISSUE DEBT SERVICE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, WE ALSO ISSUE DEBT OR BORROW ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOLS AS WELL IF THEY HAVE A LARGE CAPITAL PROJECT. IT WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE CITY AND THE SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF THE ABILITY TO BORROW FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. [02:10:05] IN LIGHT OF THESE, AT THIS POINT, THE KNOWN NEGATIVE IMPACTS AND ALSO THE PERMANENT NATURE OF THIS EXEMPTION, I DO BELIEVE THAT OPTING OUT IS THE MOST PRUDENT MEASURE. ALSO IT WILL ALLOW TIME FOR STAFF AND THIS BODY TO CRAFT LOCAL POLICY THAT WOULD PROVIDE MEANINGFUL TAX REFORM WHILE NOT PUTTING OUR LONG TERM FINANCIAL CONDITION IN JEOPARDY. YES, SIR. >> A QUICK QUESTION IN RESPONSE TO SOMETHING MR. [INAUDIBLE] HAD SAID. COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED FLOST, BUT ALSO TALK ABOUT THE EXISTING HOST. >> FLOST. >> FLOST, F-L-O-S-T. >> SFLOST. >> THE HOST. SPECIFICALLY THE HOST. HOMESTEAD, OPTION SALES TAX. TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY. >> LET'S START WITH FLOST. THAT'S THE FLOATING OPTION SALES TAX THAT IS ALSO PART OF HOUSE BILL 581. IF ALL OF THE CITIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND COUNTY REMAINED IN WITH THE FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF ENACTING AN ADDITIONAL SALES TAX THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY CALLED FLOST, OR THE PROCEEDS FROM FLOST. ALL OF THE PROCEEDS MUST GO TOWARDS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. IT'S NOT AS IF WE WOULD HAVE A NEW SALES TAX WITH ADDITIONAL MONIES GENERATED TO PAY FOR OR OFFSET THE COST OF THESE EXPENDITURES, THAT MONEY WOULD ACTUALLY GO FOR ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. BUT I WILL ALSO SAY WE DO HAVE A SALES TAX FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, IS SFLOST 2, WE CALL IT. WE HAD SFLOST 1 FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS. SFLOST 2 JUST RECENTLY, LAST SPRING, WENT INTO EFFECT, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE FOR ANOTHER SIX YEARS. THE PROCEEDS FROM SFLOST MAY ONLY BE USED FOR CAPITAL OUTLAY. THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THERE IS THE COUNTY WIDE HOST. ACTUALLY, THE COUNTY HOST IS USED PURELY FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. THAT'S WHY I THINK MOST CITY OF DECATUR HOMEOWNERS SEE PROPERTY TAX BILLS THAT MAY BE IN THE HUNDREDS, MAYBE EVEN LESS BECAUSE THE HOMESTEAD OPTION SALES TAX, ACTUALLY IT FULLY ROLLS BACK OR COVERS ALL OF THE TAXES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE DUE FOR COUNTY GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS. I THINK WE PAY FOR THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, DON'T QUOTE ME, THERE ARE A FEW LINE ITEMS, BUT GENERAL M&O, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS FOR THE COUNTY IS COVERED BY THE HOMESTEAD OPTION SALES TAX. >> THAT DID ANSWER MY QUESTION. >> OKAY. >> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WE TALK A LOT ABOUT HOW THERE IS A CITY TAX, AND THERE'S SCHOOL BOARD TAX. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY TAX THAT MUCH. THE REASON WE DON'T IS BECAUSE THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH [OVERLAPPING]. >> THERE WAS A TIME WHERE THAT TAX BILL WOULD RUN IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BEFORE HOST. BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE THE HOST IN PLACE, ALL OF THE M&O, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS IS COVERED WITH THAT SALES TAX. WE HAVE THAT SALES TAX, AND THEN OF THE SFLOST THAT COMES STRAIGHT TO THE CITY, AND IT MAY ONLY BE USED FOR CAPITAL OUTLAY. WHEN OUR FRIENDS DO COME IN FROM OUT OF TOWN AND SPEND MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY, THEN THAT ACTUALLY DOES GO BACK INTO CAPITAL INVESTMENTS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. >> OTHER COMMENTS. >> I'LL START. I FEEL LIKE A BROKEN RECORD AT THIS POINT. SOME, IF NOT, MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN MANY OF MY RESPONSES TO SOME HIDEOUSLY UGLY COMMENTS ONLINE. [02:15:01] THANK YOU, COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT. GOOD, BAD OR UGLY. I'M TOUGH, BUT LET ME TELL YOU THIS WAS A HORRIFICALLY UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE FOR ME. I HAD TWO CHOICES, DISENGAGE OR FULLY ENGAGE. I ALWAYS LEAN IN AND I AM GLAD THAT THIS VOTE IS TODAY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE OF THE UGLINESS I CAN TAKE. THAT BEING SAID, MY MAIN PRIORITY IN CITY OF DECATUR, SINCE I HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO SIT IN THIS SEAT WAS TO INCREASE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THE MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHO HAS BEEN PRICED OUT AND HAD TO MAKE SOME REALLY TOUGH CHOICES. OUR TAX BURDEN IN CITY OF DECATUR MAKES IT PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE. PERIOD, FULL STOP. MOST OF OUR MOST DIVERSE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE MOVED ON OR FELT WORSE, PUSHED OUT BECAUSE OF IT. IT WAS VERY HUMBLING AND CHALLENGING TO HEAR OUR CHIEF TAX ASSESSOR SPEAK TODAY BECAUSE WHILE THIS WAS A VERY TIMELY DISCUSSION. WHAT I TOOK FROM IT WAS THAT WHAT YOU DO TO IMPROVE YOUR PROPERTY DOESN'T MATTER. WHAT YOU CHOOSE NOT TO DO TO IMPROVE YOUR PROPERTY DOESN'T REALLY MATTER THAT MUCH EITHER. BUT WHAT REALLY DOES MATTER IS THAT IF SOMEONE UP YOUR STREET OR AROUND THE CORNER FROM YOU BUILDS A HOUSE THAT SELLS FOR A HECK OF A LOT OF MONEY, THEY'RE GOING TO ASSUME THAT YOUR HOUSE WILL SELL FOR A HECK OF A LOT OF MONEY TOO, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE BASING YOUR ASSESSMENT ON. WHILE THAT IS LIKELY TRUE, THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY EASIER FOR US TO AFFORD. OUR REALITY IS THAT THIS BILL AS HANZ SO FRANKLY SAID IS A BAD POLICY. IT DOESN'T IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY AT ALL, AND THAT'S COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO IS KNOWN AS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PERSON. IT'S TERRIBLE. WHAT ANOTHER COMMUNITY MEMBER SO ELOQUENTLY SAID WAS THAT IT JUST SIMPLY SHIFTS THE OUTRAGE FROM THE COUNTY ASSESSOR TO LISA, WHICH IT HAS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOUR PROPERTY VALUE INCREASES 2 OR 3% BECAUSE THAT'S THE RATE OF INFLATION, WE STILL HAVE TO PAY BILLS. THE MAJORITY OF WHAT CITY OF DECATUR PAYS FOR IN THEIR BUDGET, AND WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BUDGET DOCUMENT. I RECOMMEND EVERYBODY TAKE A LOOK JUST BECAUSE IT'S GORGEOUS, AND IT'S DETAILED, AND IT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY IN THIS CITY AND WHAT WE COLLECT AND WHEN WE DIP INTO FUND BALANCE, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO JACK UP YOUR TAXES. IT'S ALL THERE IN BLACK, WHITE, PURPLE, GREEN, BLUE, ORANGE, AND ALL THE OTHER FABULOUS COLORS WITH ART. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF WHAT WE ARE PAYING IN OUR BUDGET IS FOR STAFF. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE STAFF OF CITY OF DECATUR, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THIS BUILDING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR POLICE OFFICERS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR PUBLIC WORKS FOLKS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR PARKS AND REC. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERYBODY FROM THE FOLKS WHO HELP YOU WITH YOUR PERMITTING PROCESSES. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PICKING UP YOUR TRASH. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKS AND REC FOLKS, THE FOLKS THAT TEACH YOUR KIDS TO SWIM OR WATCH YOUR KIDS AFTER SCHOOL. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PAY FOR THEM. UNFORTUNATELY, FOR US, THE COST OF MATERIALS THAT ARE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS TAKEN CARE OF AREN'T ALWAYS CAPPED AT THE RATE OF INFLATION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PAYING OUR PEOPLE FAIRLY, THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE CARE OF US EVERY DAY FAIRLY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM JOB CONTINUITY, AND LONGEVITY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE CAN THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HANDLE THE INCREASES IN THEIR COSTS OF INSURANCE AND IN THEIR COST OF LIVING INCREASES. WHAT WE'D END UP DOING IS IF THERE'S A FLATTENING OF THE ASSESSMENTS, WE'D HAVE TO RATCHET UP THE MILLAGE RATE. THERE IS NO SAVINGS TO ANYBODY. WHEN WE MEET THE CAP OF THE MILLAGE RATE, WE'LL THEN HAVE TO MAKE REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL BE A BODY HERE WHO HAS TO DECIDE WHAT WE CUT, WHICH POSITIONS WE CUT, WHICH ROADS WE WON'T PAVE THAT YEAR, [02:20:01] BECAUSE THE BUDGET HAS TO BE BALANCED, AND THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO WITH THE MILLAGE RATE CAP. WITHOUT THIS BILL, THERE'S FAR MORE EQUITY. WITHOUT THIS BILL, THERE IS FAR MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, WHICH IS LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS TO PROVIDE TAX RELIEF TO RESIDENTS WHO ARE FEELING IT BADLY. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS FOR US TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR COMMERCIAL TAX BASE, AND IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE AS A BODY TO MAKE SURE THAT DECATUR, INCLUDING YOUR PROPERTIES AND YOUR PROPERTY VALUES ARE OKAY. MY COMMITMENT TO INCREASING AFFORDABILITY INDICATOR IS STEADFAST, UNFLAPPABLE, UNWAIVABLE. IF I THOUGHT THIS WOULD DO IT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO OPT IN. IT DOES NOT, IT WILL NOT, AND I'M OKAY WITH OPTING OUT. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MAYER. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. >> THAT WAS REALLY GOOD. >> THANKS. >> INTERESTING THAT I WAS LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION I HAD ZOOM IN FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING OVER LUNCH AND TOWARDS THE END OF IT, AND JUST HEARING THE COMMENTS WE GOT AND HEARING THE COMMENTS FROM MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, IT'S A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION, BUT I WAS REALLY PLEASED WITH THE WAY IT'S TAKEN PLACE. I THINK THAT BY AND LARGE, I'M NOT AS ENGAGED IN SOCIAL MEDIA AS MAYER, I'VE SEEN ONE REALLY NASTY THING ON THE WEB, BUT IT'S BEEN A PRETTY CIVIL AND OPEN CONVERSATION. I THINK WE HAVE HEARD THAT WHEN WE KNEW GOING IN, WE KNOW THAT DECATUR HAS HIGH PROPERTY TAXES. WE ALSO KNOW DECATUR HAS VERY GOOD SERVICES. LIVING IN A SMALL CITY, OUR ECONOMIES OF SCALE ARE SUCH THAT IT'S JUST GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE FOR TO PROVIDE SERVICES. THAT'S ALSO WHY PEOPLE COME TO DECATUR BECAUSE WE HAVE GOOD SCHOOLS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, FOR THE REASONS THAT YOU'VE HEARD JUST BASICALLY FOR THE FIRST HEARING, OUR FIRST SPEAKER GOT UP AND TALKED ABOUT THIS BLUNT INSTRUMENT. THAT'S WHAT HB 581 IS. PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY. PEOPLE OF THE STATE ARE MICROMANAGING THE WAY WE DO OUR BUDGET AND WE DO OUR BUSINESSES AND THEY THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO DO IT. IT'S BAD POLICY. I APPROACHED THIS POLICY. I FORGET WHAT IT WAS CALLED BUT IT WAS VERY STRONG. >> TERRIBLE. >> TERRIBLE POLICY. [INAUDIBLE] BIGGER WORD THAN THAT. I DON'T TEND TO I INTEND TO SUPPORT OPTING OUT. BUT I ALSO INTEND TO KEEP PUSHING FOR US TO MAKE SMART FINANCIAL DECISIONS FOR US TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE REPORT SERVICES YOU GUYS EXPECT FROM US. AGAIN, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE LISTENING AND NOT YELLING AT EACH OTHER. >> THANKS, COMMISSIONER. MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS SEES THAT I HAVE SOME WRITTEN COMMENTS AND HE'S FREAKING OUT PROBABLY. LISTEN, I WROTE MY COMMENTS TONIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG DEAL. THIS IS IMPORTANT. IT'S BEEN A SUPER ACADEMIC AND INTELLECTUAL EXERCISE. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY UP HERE WOULD SAY THEY'RE A TAX EXPERT. I'VE LEARNED A LOT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND I'VE REALLY DONE A LOT OF HOMEWORK. WE ALL HAVE. THAT'S BEEN THE BENEFIT OF NOW HAVING FOUR AND FIVE HEARINGS, TOO. IT'S CATHARTIC, IT'S HARD, IT'S BEEN FRUSTRATING, AND I HOPE WE COME OUT OF IT WITH SOME NEW GOOD IDEAS, RENEWED SENSE OF WHAT WE CAN DO TO PROVIDE MORE TAX RELIEF FOR RESIDENTS. I'LL GLOSS OVER IT. BUT I OWE YOU AND I FEEL LIKE I OWE MYSELF TO BE ORGANIZED AND THOUGHT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S TALKED EVERY SINGLE HEARING FROM THE NOON HEARINGS WHERE WE SPEND AS MUCH TIME ON THIS TOPIC AS WE HAVE IN THE EVENING, AND FOR THE MOSTLY CIVIL EXCHANGE, AND I HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM MY NEIGHBORS. I WANT TO SAY ONE THING INDICATIVE TO IT. THIS EVERY MEETING GIVES ME A NEW IDEA. THE FLOSS I THINK WAS OFFERED TO CITIES, COUNTIES TO EVERYONE AS AN INCENTIVE OR A CARROT. SEEMINGLY THAT IF YOU DO THIS, WE WILL GIVE YOU THIS FLOSS. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A VERY WEAK INCENTIVE BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A STRONG OPT OUT PROCESS. WHAT IT DOES IS OFFERS YOU MORE TO DO MORE OF THE SAME, WHICH IS SUBSIDIZE THE HOUSING MARKET, IF YOU WILL, IN A WAY THAT COULD EVEN EXACERBATE THE LOCKOUT EFFECT THAT WE'VE LEARNED CAN BE, AND HANZ, I ACTUALLY HAVE THE WORD DELETERIOUS IN MY NOTES, BUT YOU SAID IT OUT LOUD FIRST. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT TOO MUCH MORE. [02:25:03] BUT I'D LIKE TO DISCLOSE THAT I HAVE LIVED HERE SINCE '05, BUT WE'VE OWNED OUR CURRENT HOME SINCE 2018, AND WE ARE IN THAT GRIND OF WHERE WE ARE NOW 12 YEARS FROM THE REALLY MEANINGFUL SCHOOL TAX EXEMPTION. KIDS LAUNCHING AND THEN JUST A COUPLE YEARS WON'T HAVE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT SOME OF THE BIGGER MEATY TAX RELIEF IS NOT COMING OUR WAY FOR A WHILE. WE'VE ALSO SEEN VALUES GROW AND ASSESSMENTS GO UP FOR OUR PROPERTY AND OUR NEIGHBORS AT A RELATIVELY RAPID RATE. I WANT TO LEVEL SET US AGAIN. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DECISION WE GET TO MAKE, IT'S ABOUT OUR BUDGET AND OUR REVENUE BASE, WHICH IS ABOUT $0.35 TO $0.40 ON THE DOLLAR OF THE TAXES YOU PAY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT. FOR THE MOMENT, WE LOVE TO BE CO-PARENTS AND CO-STEWARDS OF OUR WHOLE CITY. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT PORTION OF YOUR TAX BILL. IF YOU TAKE IT TIMES 0.4 AND SAY THAT'S THE TAX BILL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT WE HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER A CITY GOVERNMENT AND WITH OPTING IN OR OUT OF HB 581, IT'S A PORTION OF YOUR TAX BILL, AND IT'S LESS THAN HALF, AND WE BELIEVE IT'S GENERALLY BETWEEN 35 AND 40%. I THINK THAT CAN BE HELPFUL. NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT OR THINKS ABOUT IT. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONVERSATION, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. MR. AMAROSO BROUGHT UP A GREAT POINT AND I WOULDN'T MIND IF THE CITY MANAGER SPOKE TO IT ABOUT THIS GAP BETWEEN ASSESSMENTS CAN GO UP AS HIGH AS THEY GO UP, WHICH IS DEFINITELY GREATER THAN THE RATE OF INFLATION. OUR BUDGET ALSO GROWS AT THE RATE OF INFLATION, BUT WE DON'T TOOL A BUDGET TO THOSE ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. HE'S ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THESE ARE HIGH RATES OF GROWTH, BUT CAN YOU MARRY UP THAT DIFFERENCE AROUND AND THE CONNECTION TO BETWEEN OUR BUDGET, THE CPI AND THE RATE OF ASSESSMENT. >> I CAN SAY THAT THE CPI CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ONLY COUNTS GOODS AND SERVICES OR LOOKS AT THE CHANGE IN VALUE, THE INCREASE IN VALUE, NORMALLY OF GOODS AND SERVICES. IT DOESN'T INCLUDE SALARIES AND BENEFITS. SIXTY PERCENT OF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND BUDGET, IS MADE UP OF SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND PAYROLL TAXES. WHILE IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THERE ACTUALLY WERE NO PAY RAISES. WE DID NOT DO JUST OUT OF AUSTERITY, BUT WE DID SEE DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASES WITH OUR HEALTH INSURANCE, FOR EXAMPLE. THAT IS ONE THAT'S LARGELY OUT OF OUR CONTROL, WE CAN REALLY DIVE INTO THE HEALTH INSURANCE AND WE'RE SELF INSURED AND WE INCREASE OUR RETENTION EVEN TO HAVE BETTER RATES FOR THE REINSURANCE. BUT THAT IS AN AREA WHERE THAT ACTUALLY AFTER SALARIES IS THE SECOND LARGEST LINE ITEM IN OUR BUDGET. >> THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TO THAT. GO AHEAD. >> WE DID FOR THIS BUDGET TO INCLUDE A BONUS SALARY PAYMENT, WHICH WAS EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT 4%. >> A ONE TIME PAY ADJUSTMENT. WE DIP WE DID DIP INTO OUR FUND BALANCE, BUT WE DID NOT. YES, YOU ARE CORRECT. WHERE THERE'S IT WAS A TWO-WEEK OR ONE PAY PERIOD ADJUSTMENT. EMPLOYEES HAVE RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL PAYCHECK. HOWEVER, NO INCREASE TO THEIR BASE SALARY. WE HAVE NOT INCURRED THAT RECURRING COST. BUT AGAIN, AN APPROPRIATE USE OF FUND BALANCE BEING A ONE TIME NON RECURRING EXPENDITURE. >> WE HAVE WALKED THIS PATH ALONE SEEMINGLY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THE CONTEXT THAT OUR CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THANK YOU TO VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD BEING HERE TONIGHT, OUR COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM, NINE OF THE 13 CITIES IN DEKALB COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE ACROSS THE STATE. WE HAVE 536 CITIES IN THE STATE. YOU CAN IMAGINE JUST HOW UNIQUE EACH OF US ARE AND ARE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND MARRYING UP THE DEMANDS OF WHAT IT IS TO OUR UNIQUE POSITION. I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT ABOUT GWINNETT. FIFTEEN OF 17 CITIES IN GWINNETT COUNTY ARE IN THE OPT OUT PROCESS. I SAY THAT NOT TO SAY WE'RE DOING WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING, BUT IT'S CLEAR, CITIES ARE STRUGGLING WITH TAKING THIS ON, SUCH AS IT IS WRITTEN, I.E., IT'S NOT GREAT POLICY AND HAS SOME PRETTY DEEP FLAWS. I THINK THE CITY MANAGER HAS LAID THIS OUT VERY SUCCINCTLY MULTIPLE TIMES AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT SHE'S GONE TO TO ALSO HELP LEVEL SET US EACH TIME. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOUSING SCARCITY AND A LOCK IN EFFECT, WHICH COULD ONLY EXACERBATE THE INTEREST RATES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO COME DOWN ANYTIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE. [02:30:01] I'M A RESIDENTIAL REALTOR. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE BARRIER TO LOTS OF PEOPLE DOING WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE DONE TO SELL, MOVE, FILTER THROUGH THE HOUSING MARKET AND DOWNSIZE UPSIZE. THAT'S BEEN A MAJOR PAIN POINT ON TURNOVER OF HOUSING, WHICH LEADS TO LIMITED SUPPLY AND EVEN HIGHER PRICES. I WORRY ABOUT THAT. IT WAS SEEN IN CALIFORNIA AND WITH PROP 13, AND I DON'T WANT TO LIVE THAT REALITY. I'D LIKE TO DO SOMETHING SMARTER AND CUSTOMIZE TO WHAT THE CATER WANTS AND NEEDS. I WANT TO REITERATE THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL HOPEFULLY, COMMITTED TO EVEN MORE TAX RELIEF. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE STATE SUPPORT THAT WITH TAX REFORM. THIS DOESN'T REALLY OFFER REFORM. I DON'T KNOW WHERE REFORM SITS. I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE APPRAISAL PROCESS TODAY. I'D LIKE TO EVEN UNDERSTAND MORE IF THERE IS ROOM FOR REFORM OR RATIONALIZATION AT THE COUNTY, BUT SOME OF THAT MAY ALSO HAVE TO COME FROM THE STATE. >> WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? I LOVE THAT MR. MAROSO LEFT IT AS A WONDERFUL TOPIC THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT AND SAY, I MEAN, YOU MEANT IN A NICE WAY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR US? WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER TO PROVIDE THE DEEPEST TAX RELIEF FOR THE MOST PEOPLE? BUT IT DOES NEED TO BE TARGETED AND PROGRESSIVE. I THINK PROBLEM WITH PROPERTY TAXES IS THEY AREN'T TYPICALLY THE WAY THEY GO UP, AREN'T TIED TO ABILITY TO PAY, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT HARD, PARTICULARLY FOR MORE AS YOU GO UP THE INCOME AND WELL SCALE AND THE VALUE OF YOUR HOUSE, YOU TEND TO GET MORE OF THIS TAX BENEFIT RELATIVELY AND LESS AS YOU GO LOWER. WE WANT ALL PEOPLE, EVERYONE WHO CAN LIVE HERE AND WANTS TO OWN HERE, BUT WE ALSO ARE MAKING DECISION ABOUT PEOPLE WHO DON'T OWN HOMES, AND THOSE ARE RENTERS, AND THEY WOULD NOT REALLY SEE TREMENDOUS BENEFIT FROM THIS FLOATING HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. I TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OUR BUSINESS SECTOR, IF WE WOULD SHIFT A TAX BURDEN TO THEM. I DON'T THINK BROADLY SPEAKING, WE'RE HEAVILY RELIANT ON RESTAURANT AND RETAIL. THIS IS A DELICATE ECOSYSTEM WE RUN HERE WITH RESTAURANT AND RETAIL. I THINK WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BLOW OXYGEN INTO THAT SECTOR AND MAKE THEM STRONG VERSUS RIGHT AWAY GOING TO HOW CAN WE SHIFT MORE TAX BURDEN ON THEM AND MAYBE DISINCENTIVIZE THEIR GROWTH OR THEIR IMPLANTATION IN OUR CITY. ONE THING I LEARNED THROUGH READING, IT'S BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT. THERE'S A STUDY. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR STATE AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE OUR CITY CAN PLAY A ROLE. MAYBE IN OUR CHARTER REVIEW THAT WE WOULD DO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. THERE ARE POLICIES AROUND WHAT ARE CALLED CIRCUIT BREAKERS. I INVITE ANYONE TO RESEARCH WHAT IS A CIRCUIT BREAKER. SOME 18 STATES HAVE THEM, AND IT'S EXACTLY LIKE IT SOUNDS. IT PROTECTS TAXPAYERS FROM A PROPERTY TAX OVERLOAD. WHEN A PROPERTY TAX BILL EXCEEDS A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF A TAXPAYER'S INCOME, THE CIRCUIT BREAKER REDUCES PROPERTY TAXES IN EXCESS OF THIS OVERLOAD LEVEL. THESE 18 STATES HAVE THIS POLICY. THEY COULD BE AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR TARGETING PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WHO NEED IT THE MOST. I'M READING A SENTENCE HERE THAT I DIDN'T WRITE, WHO NEED IT MOST WITHOUT RESTRICTING OR LIMITING REVENUES THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NEED TO INVEST IN BROADLY SHARED ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. WE HAVE THREADS WE CAN PULL HERE. WE HAVE THINGS WE CAN LOBBY FOR, THINGS WE CAN TALK TO OUR PARTNER CITIES ABOUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE THERE. LASTLY, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE BOND QUESTION IS IN PLAY, AND I'D LIKE TO BE HEALTHY BORROWER WITH A AA, I GET COMPETITIVE ABOUT OUR AA+ READING. [LAUGHTER] LOSING THAT WOULD NOT BE GREAT FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE INTERSECTION OF WHAT SCHOOLS AND THE CITY DOES AS FAR AS BUILDING, WHAT WOULD I SAY, THE LIFE CHANGING, GENERATIONAL IMPACT TYPES OF FACILITIES AND THINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR WHOLE CITY. EARLY LEARNING CENTER WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE. COULD WE BOND OUT FOR OUR PARKS AND RECREATION PLAN SOMEDAY AND DO ALL THOSE DREAM THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO IMPROVE THAT? THOSE ARE JUST THINGS I'D LIKE TO BE NIMBLE, AGILE, AND WELL QUALIFIED FOR US TO BORROW TO BE ABLE TO DO AND TO LEAVE A FUTURE GOVERNMENT WELL PLACED TO DO THOSE ACTIVITIES. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. FOR THESE REASONS, I AM GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF OPTING OUT OF HP581. NOT AN EASY DECISION. I DON'T WANT TO LET ANYBODY DOWN. I HOPE PEOPLE KNOW THAT. IT FEELS NOT FUN, BUT I'D LIKE TO BE IN THE MIX WITH EVERYBODY AND FIGURE OUT SOME MORE AND BETTER WAYS TO DEEPEN TAX RELIEF FOR MY NEIGHBORS AND ME SOMEDAY TOO, BUT THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WALSH. >> REAL QUICK BEFORE YOU GO. WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT FUCK AND EFFECT AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOUSES NOT TURNING OVER. [02:35:02] WE HAVEN'T EXPLAINED HOW HP581 DOES THAT. JUST WHAT HP581 DOES, YOU SEE A LOT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE LIKE A 2% MORTGAGE RATES AND THEY DON'T WANT TO SELL THEIR HOUSE. THEY DON'T WANT TO GO GET A MORTGAGE AT 7%. WHAT HP581 DOES, IT'S SIMILAR THAT WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING, YOU BASICALLY HAVE A LOW PROPERTY TAX, AND IF YOU SOLD YOUR HOUSE, YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE A HIGHER PROPERTY TAX. SO IT'S AN ENCOURAGEMENT NOT TO HAVE THAT HIGHER PROPERTY TAX JUST LIKE YOU DON'T WANT THAT HIGHER MORTGAGE. THAT'S WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LOCK IN EFFECT OR THE REDUCTION IN HOME SALES, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. BEFORE I TALK ABOUT MY COMMENTS. AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR GARRETT IS AWAY AND SHE PREPARED A STATEMENT THAT I WILL NOW READ. AS MY FELLOW CITY COMMISSIONERS ARE AWARE, I'M CURRENTLY IN JAPAN, REPRESENTING THE CITY AS PART OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE. I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING BACK LESSONS LEARNED AND SHARING IDEAS WHEN I RETURN. THIS TRIP WAS PLANNED MONTHS AGO PRIOR TO SETTING THE DATES FOR THESE HEARINGS. PLEASE KNOW THAT I'VE READ ALL THE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS SENT ABOUT THIS DISCUSSION AND THE UPCOMING VOTE. TO BE HONEST, IT HAS BEEN DISHEARTENING TO READ SOME OF THE MESSAGES AND DISPARAGING TONE OF SOME OF THE DISCOURSE. I APPRECIATE THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS AS PART OF AN EXPECTED CIVIL DISCOURSE INDICATOR. NO ONE SERVES AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OF THIS BODY IS TAKING THIS DECISION LIGHTLY. IT IS OUR DUTY TO MAKE THE MOST RESPONSIBLE DECISION POSSIBLE, RECOGNIZING THAT RESIDENTIAL ASSESSMENTS INDICATOR HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND TAX BURDENS ARE REAL. TONIGHT'S WORK SESSION WITH DEKALB COUNTY CHIEF APPRAISER, CALVIN HICKS AFFORDED THE CITY COMMISSION THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND LET MR. HICKS KNOW THE IMPACTS OF EXTRAORDINARY INCREASES THAT HAVE HAD ON OUR RESIDENTS. THE SHEER NUMBER OF APPEALS IN 2024 UNDERSCORES THIS. AS CAREFULLY EXPLAINED BY MR. HICKS, ALL APPRAISALS ARE PERFORMED BY DEKALB COUNTY, AND I APPRECIATE MR. HICKS WILLINGNESS TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS WHO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS. ALTHOUGH I AM NOT PRESENT TO VOTE IN PERSON, PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT I SUPPORT THE OPT OUT RESOLUTION BASED ON NUMBER 1, POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON OUR COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES THAT WE ALL ENJOY AND WANT TO SEE SUCCEED. TWO, POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON THE CITY'S BOND RATINGS. NUMBER 3, THERE IS NO OFF RAMP FOR FUTURE COMMISSIONS AND THE CITY. UNLIKE MANY OTHER CITIES, WE HAVE A MILLAGE CAP. NUMBER 4, THE LEGISLATION PROVIDES A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION, REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THE CITY, THE TAX BASE, WHETHER IT'S COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, OR INDUSTRIAL, OR EXEMPTIONS IN PLACE AND OTHER STRATEGIES CITIES USE TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND MEETS THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING, MAYOR PATTI GARRETT. I THINK SHE IS STILL ON AND PROBABLY ABOUT TO BOARD A BULLET TRAIN FOR A RIGOROUS DAY OF LEARNING OVER IN JAPAN, WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY COMMENT. AS A PRODUCT OF THIS SYSTEM, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE LIFE CYCLE OF OUR CITY, OR A CITY WHERE ONLY YOUR GRANDPARENTS LIVE TO NOW A CITY, WHERE YOUR GRANDPARENTS CAN'T EVEN COME AFFORD TO VISIT YOU. IT IS TROUBLING TO THINK THAT, IF YOU LISTEN TO ANY OF OUR WORK SESSION WITH THE CHIEF APPRAISER, IT REALLY ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE, THE WAY THEY'RE DOING THESE APPRAISALS, AND TO ME, THIS IS PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE PROCESS. THE PROCESS HAS BEEN FLAWED FOR YEARS, AND WE'VE ALL KNOWN THAT. WE JUST DON'T HAVE A TOOL TO REALLY COMBAT THE WAY APPRAISALS ARE DONE. AND 581 ISN'T GOING TO ADDRESS THAT. WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS A CITY IN DECATUR AND PART OF DECATUR COUNTY, AND IT'S PART OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS A BETTER MECHANISM IN WHICH WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE APPRAISALS, AND SOME MUSIC TO GO ALONG WITH. [LAUGHTER] THAT'S OKAY. THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ARE KNOWN. WE STILL DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. THERE'S GOING TO BE NO TURNOVER BECAUSE PEOPLE SIMPLY WON'T SELL, OR IF YOU'RE AT A POINT WHERE I'M A 10 YEAR EMPTY NESTOR. UNDER THIS CURRENT REGULATION, IT DOESN'T INCENTIVIZE ME TO SELL MY HOME AND DOWNSIZE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO PAY MORE TO DOWNSIZE, AND MANY OF US ARE ALL IN THAT SAME PREDICAMENT. OUR SENIORS, WE NEED TO HELP YOU STAY IN YOUR HOMES. WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS WHERE WE'VE GIVEN SOME NEW TAX BREAKS AND SOME NEW INCENTIVES, BUT WE NEED MORE OF IT. [02:40:05] AS I SAID EARLIER. THERE WAS A FAMOUS POLITICIANS THAT SAY, THE TAX IS STUPID. I MEAN, WE HEAR YOU AND WE FEEL THAT AND WE FEEL THAT WITH YOU. WE'RE NOT EXEMPT TO THE PRESSURES THAT YOU ALL HAVE. WE HAVE THOSE SAME ECONOMIC PRESSURES. COMMISSIONER MAYER SHARED HER PERSONAL STORY THAT SHE COULD NO LONGER AFFORD TO OWN IN THE CITY THAT SHE REPRESENTS. NO, SHE IS A RENTER. THIS IS THE VERY THING THAT WE SEEK TO PREVENT. I THINK WITH ALL THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR GARRETT, I THINK IT'S WISE TO TAKE THAT STEP, OPT OUT, AND THEN REALLY HAVE. I THINK WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO THIS MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROVIDE RELIEF THAT FITS OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COMMUNITY ALONE, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IN CARTERSVILLE MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO WHAT HAPPENS IN DECATUR. PERIOD. WE HAVE A UNIQUE CITY. IN FACT, ONE OF THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES WAS HERE TODAY LOOKING AT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE THERE'S A BILL ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TO ELIMINATE SPEED ZONE CAMERAS. BECAUSE SOME CITIES MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DOING IT. WE DID IT AS A PRECAUTION TO SLOW PEOPLE DOWN AND AS A WARNING. BUT AGAIN, IT'S THE ONE SIZE FIT ALL APPROACH THAT HOME RULE NO LONGER MEANS ANYTHING. IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT PHRASE, IT MEANS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS GET TO DECIDE WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR COMMUNITY, AND HOME RULE IS BEING ATTACKED. TODAY, WE LOOK TO MAKE THE FIRST STEP TO HELP US RE ESTABLISH OUR OWN HOME RULE. DO WHAT'S BEST IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR COMING, LISTENING, COMMENTING, WRITING, WHATEVER IT WAS, AND KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING THIS DECISION LIGHTLY. WE'VE ALL SLEPT WITH IT, SLEPT ON IT, NOT SLEPT. IT IS A TOUGH DECISION, AND AGAIN, WE DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER, LET ME READ THE RESOLUTION ATTACHED WITH OUR VOTE. COMMISSIONERS, BEFORE YOU TODAY IS RESOLUTION R-25-XX, AND IT READS AS FOLLOWS. WHEREAS GEORGIA CODE OCGA 48-5-44-2 EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2025 CREATES A STATEWIDE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM AD VALOREM TAXES LEVIED BY, FOR, AND ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OR ANY COUNTY, CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT, MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE, AND WHEREAS MORE SPECIFICALLY, OCGA 48-5-44.2 AUTHORIZES THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF ANY COUNTY, CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT, MUNICIPALITY, OR SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OPT OUT OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, OTHERWISE GRANTED WITH RESPECT TO SUCH POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THROUGH CERTAIN PROCEDURES AND THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION BY MARCH 1, 2025. WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR DESIRES TO OPT OUT OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, OTHERWISE GRANTED, AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS COMPLIED WITH THE REQUIRED PROCEDURES PURSUANT TO OCGA 48-5-44.2, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HOLDING AT LEAST THREE PUBLIC MEETINGS ON THE INTENT TO OPT OUT AND PLACING THE REQUIRED ADVERTISEMENT IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION AND ON ITS WEBSITE AS REQUIRED. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DECATUR HEREBY OPTS OUT OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, OTHERWISE GRANTED BY OCGA 48-5-44.2. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS RESOLUTION SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON ITS APPROVAL BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DECATUR. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF DECATUR IS HEREBY DIRECTED TO PROVIDE A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE, NO LATER THAN MARCH 1, 2025. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED THIS THIRD DAY OF FEBRUARY 2025? >> IS IT 1:01:1 OR ALL? >> THIS IS A RESOLUTION, NOT AN ORDINANCE, SO IT WILL BE. >> MOVE APPROVAL. >> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> VICE CHAIR VOTES AYE, [02:45:02] AS WELL AS THE MAYOR BY HER PROXY AND HER STATEMENT, AND THE RESOLUTION IS PASSED. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS. OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS AN AGREEMENT FOR [VIII.B. Agreement for Consulting and Fundraising Services for 2026 Soccer Event. ] CONSULTING AND FUND RAISING SERVICES FOR THE 2026 SOCCER EVENT. PLEASE KNOW THAT AGAIN, THIS IS NOT LIP SERVICE. WE LIVE ON OUR WORD THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF HERE IN THIS CITY. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. COMMISSIONERS, SWITCHING GEARS A BIT. THIS IS ALSO CARRYING FORWARD EVEN FROM THE WORK SESSION THAT WE HAD EARLIER TONIGHT WITH THE UPDATE ON THE PLANNING FOR THE WORLD CUP SOCCER EVENT THAT WE ANTICIPATE TAKING PLACE IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR IN JUNE AND JULY 2026. THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH TRENCHES SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT REVENUE CONSULTING FOR CONSULTING AND FUND RAISING SALES SERVICES. JUST FOR THE LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. AS A REMINDER IN JULY OF 2024, THE CITY COMMISSION APPOINTED AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE SOCCER 2026 COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH CITY STAFF TO PLAN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES DURING THE WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT IN JUNE AND JULY OF 2026. AS FOLKS MAY KNOW, THE CITY OF ATLANTA IS ONE OF THE HOST CITIES FOR THOSE GAMES. THIS COMMITTEE HAS WORKED FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS TO PLAN LEASE DEVELOP PRELIMINARY PLANS FOR WATCH PARTIES, CONCERTS, OTHER FESTIVITIES ON AND AROUND THE SQUARE. WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT THE CITY AND OTHER PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND THE DECATUR TOURISM BUREAU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE EVENTS EXPENSES. ADDITIONAL FUND RAISING WILL BE NECESSARY TO CREATE THE WORLD CLASS EVENT THAT IS ENVISIONED BY THE COMMITTEE. FOR THAT REASON, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WE ENGAGE WITH TRENCHES. THIS IS A FIRM THAT HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH CONSULTING, FUND RAISING SALES, MARKETING WITH MAJOR EVENTS, ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, IN PARTICULAR, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES. TRENCHES WILL WORK WITH CITY STAFF TO DEVELOP MARKETING AND SALES STRATEGIES TO IDENTIFY FUND RAISING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S VALUES AND VISION FOR THIS EVENT. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, THE CITY WILL PAY TRENCHES $6,500 PER MONTH THROUGH THE EVENT IN ADDITION TO A STANDARD FUND RAISING COMMISSION. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVE THE AGREEMENT WITH TRENCHES FOR CONSULTING AND FUND RAISING, SALES, AND SERVICES, IN ADDITION, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT. OF COURSE, I SAY THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT, AND I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF EDITED PAGES FOR YOU. IF I MAY, HAND THESE OVER TO YOU. I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD EVEN CONSIDER THESE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES, BUT I JUST WANT TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF MAKING SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEING APPROVED HERE. YOU SEE ON THE TOP PAGE HERE, THERE WAS A TYPO, SHOULD BE IN RED AND CHANGING CITY TO PROPERTY, THE MORE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE 1, 02, 3, FOUR PAGES. THE SECTION S ON CONFIDENTIALITY. >> WE ACTUALLY HAD SAID THAT THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT ARE NOT CONFIDENTIAL. THEY BID OUT ON OUR WEBSITE AND FOR THE PUBLIC, AS THEY SHOULD BE, FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. WE MODIFIED THAT LANGUAGE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS AGREEMENT IS GOING TO BE CONTROLLED BY THE GEORGIA OPEN RECORDS ACT, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE TRENCHES THINKS THAT IT SHOULD BE CONFIDENTIAL OR NOT, IT'S REALLY WHAT THE STATE LAW SAYS. NOT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, BUT DID WANT TO MAKE YOU ALL AWARE OF THAT. IF THERE ARE ANY SCRIVENER'S ERRORS OR OTHER CHANGES, I AM ASKING FOR THAT PERMISSION TO WORK WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND HAVE THE AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT THOSE CHANGES. IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S SUBSTANTIVE, IT WILL COME BACK TO THIS BODY. [02:50:01] WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THIS RECOMMENDATION. >> COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. >> APPRECIATE IT. A QUICK STATEMENT. WE TALKED ABOUT, WHAT YOU CALL THE COMMISSION, FOR THOSE WATCHING, BETWEEN FIVE AND 15%. >> CORRECT. >> HOW DID WE CHOOSE TRENCHES? >> WE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF FIRMS. THE CITY PUTS ON THE NUMBER OF EVENTS EVERY YEAR, AND SO WE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH ON SOME OF THOSE EVENTS, AND THEN EVENTUALLY WE WERE LED TO A COMPANY THAT WORKS MORE WITH PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. BUT AGAIN, WE ENDED UP NARROWING IT DOWN, TALKING TO TWO VENDORS, AND ONE WAS A PERSON WHO WORKS INDEPENDENTLY OR ALONE, AND THE TRENCHES HAS MORE OF A BENCH, WHICH I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED. IT FELT MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE IN HAVING THIS ENTITY THAT HAS MULTIPLE STAFF AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE WHO WOULD WORK INDEPENDENTLY FOR, SAY EXAMPLE, A NEIGHBORHOOD FESTIVAL. BUT IT WAS VERY MUCH, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WORD OF MOUTH. WE DID NOT PUT OUT, NOR ARE WE REQUIRED TO, PUT OUT AN RFP FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. BUT WE FOUND A COMPANY THAT WE BELIEVE IS A LEADER IN THIS FIELD, VETTED, REFERENCES CHECKED. THAT IS HOW THEY WERE RECOMMENDED. >> ANY OTHER? >> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT LITTLE BITTY I MEANS? SECTION C NUMBER 1, BABY ONE. WHAT IS THAT CALLED? THE LITTLE I. FOR ANY CASH FUND RAISING AND ADVERTISING SALES, 15% OF THE GROSS FUND RAISING REVENUE TO CITY DURING THE ENTIRE. I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT I'M READING. >> IS THE COMMISSION. >> FIFTEEN PERCENT COMMISSION FOR THE FUND RAISING? >> FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF FUND RAISING. >> FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF FUND RAISING, SO 15% OF WHAT IS RAISED? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> FOR CASH FUNDRAISING. THEN IT GOES DOWN TO 5%. >> THEN FOR IN KIND. >> FOR IN KIND, AND [OVERLAPPING] >> WE PAY THAT 10%? >> FIVE PERCENT. >> THAT IS 5%. [OVERLAPPING]. >> LET ME LOOK AT THIS ONE. SORRY. YES. SORRY, I'M LOOKING AT MY SCREEN. I NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE PAPER. MY APOLOGIES. >> I'LL PULL IT UP FOR YOU. >> IF THIS AND THIS IS THE SAME, THAT'S FINE. I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE [INAUDIBLE]. >> IF SOMEBODY GAVE US A $20 CASE OF BEER, WE'D HAVE TO PAY $1 [OVERLAPPING]. >> IF IT WAS IN OUR BUDGET. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> WE WILL HAVE TO RECONCILE THAT WITH OUR BUDGET. WE IDENTIFIED THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD [OVERLAPPING]. >> TELL ME, PLEASE [LAUGHTER]. DON'T INTERRUPT MY KNOWLEDGE SEEKING. >> I MEAN, EVEN IF WE HAD BUDGETED $10,000 FOR MARKETING EXPENSES, AND THEN A MARKETING FIRM SAYS WE'LL GIVE THAT TO YOU FOR FREE AS PART OF YOUR FUND RAISING, AND WE WOULD ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT, THEN WE WOULD PAY TRENCHES 5% OF THE VALUE. THAT WE HAD WE WOULD HAVE TO SAY, YES, WE BUDGETED X AMOUNT FOR THAT MARKETING. THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE US THAT AMOUNT OF MARKETING. THAT WAS OUR BUDGET, BUT INSTEAD OF PAYING THE FULL FREIGHT, WE WOULD PAY THE 5% TO TRENCHES. >> IS THERE A NOT TO EXCEED? >> THERE'S SOMEWHERE IN HERE WHERE WE WILL HAVE WE WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THAT IN ADVANCE. THEY COULD NOT COME BACK AND SAY, LOOK, [02:55:03] WE LANDED $1 MILLION OF IN KIND SERVICES. THAT APPLIES TO THE IN KIND AS WELL AS JUST THE STRAIGHT CASH. WE HAVE THE FINAL SAY IN WHO WE'RE GOING TO PARTNER WITH. IT GOES TO THE MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S VALUES, THAT IT'S A COMPANY THAT WE WANT TO BE DOING BUSINESS WITH, THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY IDENTIFY THAT FUND RAISING PARTNER DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT. >> THAT'S FOR CASH AND IN KIND? >> FOR CASH AND IN KIND. THAT IS CORRECT. >> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT BECAUSE THOSE WORDS JUMPED OUT AT ME, AND I GUESS I NEED A FIFTH COFFEE TODAY. THE CONTEXT WASN'T QUITE THERE FOR ME, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. >> I ALSO HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE IN KIND AND MAKING SURE THAT IT TIES BACK TO A LINE ITEM IN OUR BUDGET. JUST BECAUSE OTHERWISE, I'M NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SPENDING 5% ON ANYTHING WITHOUT ENSURING THAT IT WAS AN EXPENSE THAT WE HAD ANTICIPATED. >> ANTICIPATED IN ALIGNS WITH [INAUDIBLE]. >> QUICK QUESTION. IN KIND. IS THERE ANY 501C3 LIMITATIONS THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE AS A CITY? SHOULD WE BE INVOLVING LEGACY, OR DO WE NOT WORRY ABOUT ANY REGULATIONS FROM THE FED AS IT PERTAINS TO THIS? >> RIGHT. THE ONLY THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE IF THERE'S AN ENTITY THAT IF THEY DESIRE TO BE MAKING THAT CONTRIBUTION TO A 501C3, THEN I THINK WE WOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PULL IN LEGACY TO BE THE RECIPIENT OF THOSE FUNDS. BUT ON THE THE FLIP SIDE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ANY LIMITATION IN TERMS OF OUR ABILITY TO ACCEPT THE FUND RAISING DONATIONS. BUT WE ARE WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THIS AS WELL. EVEN OUR ISSUES WITH OUR TRADEMARK, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE FIERCELY PROTECTIVE OF OUR TRADEMARK, EVEN THOUGH WHAT YOU SAW EARLIER TONIGHT, WE HAVE THE LOGO FOR THE WATCH FEST. BUT THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITIES TO BRAND WITH THE CITY'S LOGO AS WELL, AND IT WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR TRADEMARK ATTORNEY ON THE USE OF OUR LOGO. >> THANK YOU. >> IS ANY REPRESENTATIVE FROM TRENCHES HERE TODAY? OR ONLINE? >> JEN IS HERE. >> JEN IS NOT WITH TRENCHES [LAUGHTER]. JEN THE CONSULTANT, JOHN'S. THEY OFFERED TO BE HERE, AND I SAID THAT THEY DID NOT NEED TO BE HERE, NOT KNOWING THE LENGTH OF THE MEETING. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN HAPPY HERE BUT I DID NOT ASK THEM TO BE HERE. >> THANK YOU. >> I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THE COMPONENT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME UNDER 14 UNDER TERMINATION IN THE WORK SESSION. WE'VE TALKED A PRETTY GOOD LENGTH ABOUT OFF RAMPS AND KEEPING THIS ADJUSTABLE AND FLEXIBLE IN CASE WE NEEDED TO HIT IT, OVER USED WORD, BUT CHANGE DIRECTION, DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY. IN THE SECTION 14, THERE IS, I THINK, A PRETTY CLEAR TERMINATION CLAUSE THAT LINES OUT HOW WE COULD DO THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU WERE RESPONSIVE TO MY REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. >> WHAT'S THE ABILITY TO TERMINATE WITH AND WITHOUT CAUSE. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? YOU'VE READ THE AGREEMENT. IS THERE A MOTION? >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION. MOVE TO APPROVE. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> MAYOR PRO TEM VOTES GO. COME ON NOW. GOT TO KEEP Y'ALL AWAKE OUT THERE. NEXT UP, THERE'S THE DOWNTOWN STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. [VIII.C. Downtown Street Tree Maintenance Program. ] MS. EVANOVICH, IS THAT YOU? >> [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE]. HELLO, AGAIN. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT WITH ARBORGUARD TREE SPECIALISTS, WHICH IS THE QUALIFIED LOW BIDDER, [03:00:02] TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR STREET TREES PLANTED IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR. THE SERVICES INCLUDE, AS SPECIFIED IN THE BID CONTRACT, SELECTIVE PRUNING, FERTILIZATION, INSPECTIONS, AND PEST CONTROL FOR 420 TREES AT A COST OF $32,020. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE FY '24 OR '25 BUDGET FOR THIS WORK. WE DID RECEIVE QUOTES FROM TWO LOCAL FIRMS FOR THIS WORK, ONE BEING ARBORGUARD AND THE OTHER BEING SPEAKING FOR TREES. ARBORGUARD IS A LOCAL TREE SERVICE WHICH SPECIALIZES IN TREE MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION, AND IT HAS MAINTAINED OUR DOWNTOWN STREET TREES SINCE THE INITIAL STREET SCRAPE PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 1996 AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE AT A REASONABLE COST. >> THANK YOU, MS. EVANOVICH. COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> MAYOR, WILL YOU HUMOR ME AND LET ME TELL A FUNNY STORY? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU AND LOGAN ARE PROBABLY GOING TO LEAVE AFTER THIS. AS YOU KNOW, THE OAKHURSTIANS ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR TREES. ONE DAY, ON THE OAKHURST NEIGHBORHOOD PAGE, SOMEONE WAS FRANTIC AND POSTED THAT SOMEONE WAS TAGGING A TREE, AND A MATURE OAK, A BEAUTIFUL, MATURE OAK, AND THAT THEY WERE WORRIED THAT IT WAS BEING TAGGED FOR REMOVAL. THE PERSON SAID THAT THE PERSON TAGGING THE TREE HAD THE MOST, AND I QUOTE, BEAUTIFUL RED HAIR I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. EXACTLY. END QUOTE. THEN SOMEONE COMMENTED, I THINK THAT'S LOGAN, DECATUR'S NEW ARBORIST. ME BEING THE ELDERLY MILLENNIAL THAT I AM, I WENT STRAIGHT TO LINKEDIN, AND I TYPED IN LOGAN ARBORIST. THERE YOU WERE. I WAS ABLE TO CALM EVERYBODY DOWN BEFORE ANYONE TIED THEMSELVES TO THE TREE SO THAT IT WOULDN'T BE REMOVED. WELCOME, LOGAN. IT'S NICE TO FINALLY MEET YOU. WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]. >> NEITHER COULD I, FRIEND. NEITHER COULD I [LAUGHTER]. >> I LOVE IT. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DOWNTOWN TREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM? >> SO MOVED. >> IS THERE A SECOND. >> SECOND. >> MOTION'S BEEN MADE AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> AYE. >> VICE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND KEEP OUR TREES ALIVE. >> THANK YOU. WILL DO. >> THANK YOU, MS. EVANOVICH. THANK YOU, LOGAN. IT'S VERY NICE MEETING YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU TAG SOME MORE TREES FOR BEAUTIFICATION. NEXT UP, WE HAVE A PURCHASE OF A REAR LOADER REFUSE TRUCK. [VIII.D. Purchase of Rear Loader Refuse Truck. ] MR. THIRTY FIVE YEAR EMPLOYEE. [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS, SIR. WE MISSED YOU AT THE STATE OF THE CITY, BUT CONGRATULATIONS ON A REMARKABLE JOURNEY WITH THE CITY. >> THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM, CITY COMMISSION, CITY MANAGER. I AM COMING TO YOU THIS EVENING TO RECOMMEND THE PURCHASE OF A 2023 [INAUDIBLE] NRR, CHASSIS MOUNTED WITH A EIGHT YARD PACK MAC PACKER BODY FROM RDK TRUCK SALES OF TAMPA, FLORIDA IN THE AMOUNT OF $124,900. THE FISCAL YEAR '24 '25 SOLID WASTE FUND BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF A REAR LOADER, REFUSE TRUCK. THIS VEHICLE IS BEING PURCHASED AS PART OF THE CITY'S RECYCLING AND WASTE DIVERSION, RWD GRANT FROM THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. THIS GRANT WAS AWARDED TO SUPPORT THE PILOT CURBSIDE COMPOSTING PROGRAM IN THE CITY. AS RECOMMENDED BY THE 2020 STRATEGIC PLAN, THE GOAL OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM IS TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL COST AND FEASIBILITY OF A CITYWIDE SERVICE. THE SOLID WASTE FUND WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR THE FUNDS USED TO PURCHASE ALL RESOURCES NEEDED TO START THIS PILOT PROGRAM. THE VEHICLE WILL BE USED TO COLLECT AND TRANSPORT ORGANIC MATERIALS TO THE PROPER PROCESSING FACILITY. ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING ACCEPTED MATERIALS AND OTHER PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES WILL BE FINALIZED BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 2025, BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, WITH COLLECTIONS BEING BEGINNING THIS SPRING. APPROVAL OF THE PURCHASE OF THIS TRUCK, LIKE I SAID, IS $124,900. THIS IS A GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR. THE GRANT WAS FOR $170,000 TO COVER THE PURCHASE OF THE REAR LOADER TRUCK, AND THE COLLECTION BINS, AND IT ALSO IS A $30,000 IN KIND MATCH, INCLUDES STAFF TIME AND PROCESSING FEES. [03:05:02] >> THANK YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU SAID THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> PILOT CURBSIDE. HAVE WE IDENTIFIED WHO'S GOING TO BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM? >> YES, SIR. THEY'VE DONE A SURVEY TO IDENTIFY PARTICIPANTS. IT WAS CONDUCTED SUMMER 2024 BASED ON THE NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS PER COLLECTION DAY. THE MONDAY NORTHEAST COLLECTION SIDE OF THE CITY HAD THE BIGGEST RESPONSE. WE WAS TRYING TO GET 250 PARTICIPANTS, BUT I THINK WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OVER 200 PARTICIPANTS. THAT WILL PROBABLY BE THE AREA THAT WE WILL START THE PILOT PROGRAM. WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT COLLECTION ON WEDNESDAY OFF DAY, WHERE IT JUST BE THE COMPOST MATERIALS AND ALSO ORGANIC MATERIALS, PLUS WE'LL ACCEPT SMALL AMOUNTS OF YARD WASTE WITH THAT MATERIAL. >> WILL THERE BE AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE? >> YES, SIR. WE'VE HIRED A CITY SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR, SHE STARTED TODAY. SHE WILL START WORKING ON THAT EDUCATION PIECE. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S EXCITING. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> APPROVAL. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> SECOND. >> MOTION'S AND MADE AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> VICE CHAIR VOTES AYE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> YOU HAVE A HOST AND RECYCLE? >> YES, SIR. >> YES, SIR. GO CHIEFS. >> GO CHIEFS. >> NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE TRAFFIC CALMING AND BIOSWALE CONSTRUCTION. [VIII.E. Traffic Calming and Bioswale Construction.] >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CARA SCHARER. I SERVE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF PUBLIC WORKS. I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND AWARD OF A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $465,473 TO ED CASTRO LANDSCAPING FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. AN AWARD OF A TASK ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,940 TO JACOBS ENGINEERING FOR CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES, AND ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $620,000, WHICH INCLUDES A 20% CONTINGENCY. CONSTRUCTION AT THE INTERSECTION OF HURON AND CHAMPLAIN STREETS WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PLAN TO REDUCE A LARGE RADIUS ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER, DISCOURAGE HIGH SPEED TURNS AND INCREASE VISIBILITY OF PEDESTRIANS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE 2018 COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION PLAN. UTILIZATION OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURES ENABLED THE USE OF A GRANT FROM GEORGIA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION IN THE AMOUNT OF $350,000, SO EPD WILL BE FUNDING 60% OF THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, AND THERE WILL BE A 40% LOCAL MATCH. THE WORK IS CONSISTENT ALSO WITH THE 2020 STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE 2020 STORMWATER MASTER PLAN. THE PROJECT WAS PUBLICLY BID, BUT NO PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED. GENERALLY, THE FEEDBACK WAS BECAUSE OF THE SCALE. IT'S A VERY SMALL PROJECT FOR CONTRACTORS AS WELL AS THE SCHEDULE AS GUIDED BY THE GRANT AGREEMENT WITH GEORGIA EPD. PROPOSALS WERE DIRECTLY REQUESTED FROM SEVERAL FIRMS, ONE OF WHICH PROVIDED ONE. EPD HAS WORKED WITH ED CASTRO ON OTHER PROJECTS, WHICH IS HEARTENING. JACOBS ENGINEERING IS THE ENGINEER OF RECORD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND WILL PROVIDE ON SITE CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROJECT IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS, IT'S RECOMMENDED THE CITY COMMISSION AWARD A CONTRACT TO ED CASTRO AND A TASK ORDER TO JACOBS. ANY QUESTIONS? >> COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. >> FOLLOWED BY MR. AMAROSO', DID JACOB'S PRICE AT ED CASTRO CHARGE RAISE ANY RED FLAGS? >> NO. I WAS VERY HEARTENED THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS WELL UNDER OUR GRANT AGREEMENT OF $585,000, SO THE AMOUNT DID NOT RAISE ANY FLAGS AND DIFFERENT FIRMS WERE PROVIDED BY JACOBS TO INQUIRE WITH AND ONE PROPOSAL WAS RECEIVED. [03:10:03] >> I WOULD SAY, IN MY OTHER JOB WE WORKED WITH ED CASTRO BEFORE, THEY DO A COST EFFECTIVE WORK. >> GREAT. >> HOW MUCH DOES THE GRANT COVER? >> SIXTY PERCENT. >> OKAY. >> DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE? >> YES. THE GRANT AGREEMENT, I BELIEVE, WE HAVE TO BE COMPLETE NOW BY AUGUST 1ST. THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WAS THROUGH APRIL 1ST, WHICH WAS MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN WE COULD MEET. UPON EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT, CAN ANTICIPATE NOTICE TO PROCEED IN 30-60 DAYS AND GETTING ON IT TO GET HER DONE, AND ALSO ALIGN WITH IDEAL PLANTING TIME. >> HOW DISRUPTIVE WILL THAT BE FOR THAT INTERSECTION? >> WELL, IT'S A VERY WIDE AREA, SO I DON'T ANTICIPATE ROADS NEEDING TO BE CLOSED, BUT THERE WILL BE TRAFFIC CONTROL NECESSARY. >> WELCOME TO LET ANY OF US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP NEIGHBORS INFORMED. >> GREAT. >> THEY ARE JUST GOING TO THROW ROCKS AT MY HOUSE. >> I'M SORRY. >> YEAH. THANK YOU, MS. SCHARER. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TRAFFIC CALMING AND BIOSWALE CONSTRUCTION. >> TO MOVE. >> SECOND. >> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> THE VICE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE BIOSWALE HAS BEEN APPROVED. GOOD LUCK. HOPEFULLY, IT DOESN'T RAIN FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. >> THEN WE HOPE IT DOES RAIN. >> WE HOPE IT DOES. ARE YOU UP FOR THE CROSSWALK AND ROADWAY RE-STRIPING AS WELL? [VIII.F. Change Order for Crosswalk and Roadway Re-striping. ] >> I AM. I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,215.13, APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $59,970.13 WITH HIGHWAY SERVICES AND APPROVAL OF A REVISED PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000 TO PAY FOR THE ADDED SCOPE TO THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WORK. THIS WORK WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED A BUDGET OF $48,000 FOR A CONTRACT WITH HIGHWAY SERVICES IN SEPTEMBER. THE WORK CONSISTED OF FULL RE-STRIPING OF PEDESTRIAN MARKINGS ALONG WEST PONDS FROM WEST TRINITY TO CLAREMONT, INCLUSIVE OF FIVE ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS AT NELSON FERRY AND COVENTRY, WEST TRINITY PLACE, CROSSWALKS AT WATER STREET, CHURCH STREET, SYCAMORE STREET, SECOND AVENUE, AND EAST LAKE DRIVE. THEN THERE WAS ADDITIONAL SCOPE IDENTIFIED DURING IMPLEMENTATION, INCLUDING AREAS NEAR DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY ON ELECTRIC AVENUE AND THEN GLENDALE AVENUE AT EAST PONCE DE LEON. THE WORK INCLUDED TRAFFIC CONTROL AND PLACEMENT OF THERMOPLASTIC STRIPING AND MARKINGS. IT STARTED THE END OF OCTOBER AND WAS COMPLETED MID JANUARY. I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE CHANGE ORDER, APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT AMOUNT WITH HIGHWAY SERVICES AND APPROVAL OF THE REVISED BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000. ANY QUESTIONS? >> COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY? >> FORMAL COMMENT. THE ELECTRIC AVENUE CAME UP A LOT IN OUR SAFE SPEEDS FOR ALL CONVERSATIONS AND AT THE LAST PUBLIC MEETING, THE COMMUNITY [INAUDIBLE]. >> THANKS SO MUCH. IT WAS THE ABILITY TO BE DYNAMIC THROUGH THIS CONTRACT. >> YEAH, I WAS GOING TO COMMENT THE SAME THING. I THINK I GOT PIGEONHOLED DURING THAT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THANK YOU FOR GETTING THAT DONE. THAT DOES A LOT TO ENSURE PUBLIC TRUST THAT WE ACTED ON SOMETHING THAT WE HEARD AND WE WERE MOBILE ENOUGH TO GET THAT DONE WITHIN THIS CURRENT CYCLE, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. WHAT'S THAT? >> DID NOT MEAN TO STEAL YOUR THUNDER. >> THAT'S OKAY. IT'S SHARED THUNDER. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHANGE ORDER FOR THE CROSSWALK ROADWAY AND RE-STRIPPING? >> TO MOVE. >> A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> THE VICE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE CHANGE ORDER IS APPROVED. NEXT UP, MS4 PROGRAM SUPPORT RECOMMENDATION. [VIII.G. MS4 Program Support Recommendation. ] MS. SCHARER, YOU'RE ON A ROLL. >> YES. HERE REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR MS4 PROGRAM SUPPORT FROM [03:15:02] JACOBS ENGINEERING FROM THE '24-25 GEORGIA EPD REPORTING PERIOD. WE'RE REQUESTING A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,000 FOR THE PROPOSED CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $56,000. THE CITY OPERATES UNDER A PHASE 1 LARGE MS4 PERMIT, WHICH REQUIRES IMPLEMENTATION OF A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. GEORGIA EPD REPORTING PERIOD IS MAY 1ST THROUGH APRIL 30TH EACH YEAR, AND THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORTS. WE REPORT ON ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MAPPING, INSPECTION, MONITORING, MAINTENANCE OF STORMWATER STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT EVENTS. THIS SCOPE OF WORK WILL INCLUDE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, WATER QUALITY SAMPLING, OUTFALL INSPECTIONS, A RETROFIT ANALYSIS OF OUR BEST MAINTENANCE PRACTICES, AND FINAL SUBMITTAL OF OUR '24-25 ANNUAL REPORT, SHOULD WE RECEIVE COMMENTS. THIS WORK WILL COVER THE REMAINDER OF THIS CURRENT REPORTING PERIOD, WHICH RUNS THROUGH JUNE 30TH. AFTER THAT TIME WE FORESEE THE NEED TO CONTINUE MS4 SUPPORT ANNUALLY. THIS WORK IS FUNDED THROUGH OUR STORM WATER UTILITY FUND BUDGET. WE RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,000 AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $56,000. ANY QUESTIONS? >> YES? >> TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MS4, SIDE LEVEL WHAT THAT IS. >> YES. IT'S OUR MUNICIPAL/SEPARATED STORM SEWER SYSTEM. THAT'S OUR MS4 PERMIT EVERY STORM WATER UTILITY, NOT EVERY MUNICIPALITY IS UNDER A DIFFERENT PERMIT. WE'RE A LARGE PHASE 1 MS4, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE DIFFERENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. THE PERMIT IS FOR EVERY FIVE YEARS. WE ARE JUST STARTING OUR FIRST OF FIVE YEARS UNDER OUR PHASE 1 PERMIT. >> THAT'S HELPFUL. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY YOU HAD A QUESTION? >> I DON'T RECALL US HIRING ANYBODY TO DO THIS BEFOREHAND. WAS THERE SOME CHANGE IN THE LAW REGARDING DAYS [INAUDIBLE] THIS REPORT? >> NO, WE HAVE HIRED SUPPORT, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR ANNUAL REPORT EACH YEAR IN DEVELOPMENT OF THAT. WE DO HAVE A DRAINAGE TEAM THAT DOES THE MAINTENANCE WORK EVERY DAY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. >> HOW DID WE CHOOSE JACOBS FOR THIS WORK? CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW WE HAVE PEOPLE ON RETAINER AND THEN HOW THAT WORKS? >> SURE. WE DID MAYBE 6-9 MONTHS AGO REBID OUR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES. THAT WAS A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS, EXTENSIVE INTERVIEWS WHERE A DIVERSE TEAM SCORED AND SIX FIRMS WERE SELECTED. THEY ARE JACOBS ENGINEERING, ATKINSREALIS, AECOM, TOOLE DESIGN GROUP, AND THEN TWO MORE. I KNOW THEM. I'M SORRY. WHILE WE HAVE THAT COMPETITIVE PROCESS, THEN WE CAN SOLICIT TASK ORDERS FROM THEM. HDR, AND THEN DBE. >> OTHER QUESTIONS? GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SUPPORT PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION FOR THE AMOUNT OF $61,000 IN A CONTRACT, AND THE AMOUNT OF $56,000 TO JACOBS ENGINEERING. >> SECOND. >> THE MOTION IS MADE AND SECONDED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> THE VICE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION IS APPROVED. NEXT UP, TIME FOR L MILL, [VIII.H. Milling and Repair of Local Streets. ] MILLING AND REPAIR OF LOCAL STREETS. >> I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BUDGET OF $2,350,000 AN AWARD OF A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,140,625 TO THE LOW BUILD BIDDER, MAGNUM PAVING OF VILLA RICA FOR MILLING AND REPAIRING LOCAL STREETS. THE PROJECT BUDGET INCLUDES A 10% CONTINGENCY. THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS PROVIDED FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $222,216 AS PART OF ITS LOCAL MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM. [03:20:04] THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM LOCAL MATCH OF 30%. WORK WILL INCLUDE COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE IN THE SELECTED CORRIDOR SEGMENTS FOR ALL FACETS OF OUR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, AND MOTORISTS, SUCH AS SIDEWALKS, ADA RAMPS, SIGNS, THERMOPLASTIC STRIPING, AND MILLING, WHICH IS A DIFFERENTIATOR TO MILL THE ROAD, TO MAINTAIN CURB HEIGHT AND POSITIVE DRAINAGE. THE WORK IS IN ADDITION TO ROAD BASED PATCHING AND FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE ASPHALT SURFACE PROVIDING FOR A LONG LASTING ROAD. CORRIDORS OF THIS YEAR'S REPAIR AND REPAVING PROGRAM ARE SECTIONS OF WILLOW LANE, CHURCH STREET, EMERSON AVENUE, FELD AVENUE, EAST DAVIS STREET, AND EAST LAKE DRIVE. NINE CONTRACTORS RESPONDED TO THE REQUEST FOR BIDS. IN EARLY JANUARY, THE LOW BIDDER WAS MAGNUM PAVING WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED SIMILAR WORK FOR THE CITY. FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE AMOUNT OF 2 MILLION IN THE CITY'S FY '24/25 BUDGET AND 235,000 IN THE CITY'S FY '25/26 BUDGET. WE RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF 2.35 MILLION AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT. >> QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? >> STATEMENT, IF I MAY. TWO STATEMENTS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT ALL OF THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN ON THE AGENDA TODAY JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST ME TELLING NEIGHBORS THAT A LOT OF OUR EXPENSES ARE PAID THROUGH GRANTS. >> HERE'S THE EVIDENTIARY PROOF THAT GRANTS ACTUALLY DO COVER A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS AND IN SOME CASES, THE BULK OF THE EXPENSE OF SOME OF THESE PROJECTS. SO FELD, IF I'M THINKING RIGHT IS THIS THE PART OF FELD WHERE OAKHURST ELEMENTARY'S DROP-OFF IS OR IS THIS BEYOND THAT? >> FELD AVENUE FROM WEST COLLEGE TO WE LADEN. >> LET ME ASK MY HOMETOWN CONTACT. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO TRY TO MITIGATE THE CONCERN THAT WILL COME FROM PICK UP AND DROP OFF? >> DURING CONSTRUCTION. >> YEAH. >> PERHAPS WE CAN WORK TO TIME IT IN THE SUMMER. OR IN THE PAST, WHEN WE PAVED OUTSIDE OF COLLEGE HEIGHTS, WE DID IT DURING WINTER BREAK WHICH IMPACTED THEM LESS. I THINK THEY'RE STILL IN SESSION, BUT OVERALL STILL WAS A BENEFIT. >> BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY A BEAR. ON THOSE MORNING HOURS FOR THE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO AND FOR THE PARENTS WHO ARE DOING THE DROP OFF. ALSO EAST LAKE FROM FAYETTEVILLE TO THE CITY LIMIT WON'T BE AS IMPACTFUL FOR PEOPLE BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN INTO SCHOOL, BUT HEADING UP ONCE YOU PASS FAYETTEVILLE, THERE TENDS TO BE SOME CONGESTION GOING INTO THE VILLAGE ON SCHOOL HOURS, SO IF YOU KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WELL. >> WE CAN INCLUDE IT IN OUR PRE BID MEETING SIMILARLY CHURCH STREET RIGHT IN FRONT OF MARTA. SYCAMORE IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING DURING FESTIVAL SEASON WITH BUSINESSES. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> YES. >> IF THE COMMISSIONERS DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS. I DO WANT TO JUST POINT A COUPLE OF THINGS OUT. ONE, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND STAFF AND THIS IS A GREAT NUMBER OF BIDS. I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THIS PROJECT. BUT ALSO JUST WANT TO GIVE SOME PERSPECTIVE. THIS IS 1.68 MILES. THAT'S ALL WE'RE ABLE TO DO WITH OVER $2.3 MILLION. WE HAVE OVER 60 MILES OF STREETS IN THE CITY TO THINK HOW LONG IT COULD TAKE US TO ACTUALLY PAVE AND REPAIR ALL OF OUR ROADS AND WE GET $222,000 FROM THE STATE. THEN THE REQUIREMENT IS, WHAT'S THE MATCH REQUIREMENT, DID YOU SAY? >> THIRTY PERCENT. >> THIRTY PERCENT. I MEAN, THE FACT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE $2.3 MILLION OUT OF OUR CAPITAL FUND IS TREMENDOUS. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS SUSTAINABLE. I THINK WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AS WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET. AGAIN, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE SPENDING $2.3 MILLION EVERY YEAR? ON TOP OF THAT, AS MAYOR PRO TEM SAID EARLIER TODAY, A BILL HAS BEEN DROPPED TODAY BY A STATE LEGISLATOR TO REPEAL THE SCHOOL ZONE TRAFFIC CAMERAS, [03:25:04] THE AUTOMATED CAMERAS WHERE THE REVENUE THAT IS GENERATED BY THOSE CAMERAS CAN BE USED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENSES. I WOULD ARGUE THAT IN THIS PROJECT AND SIMILAR PROJECTS, SAY SIDEWALKS, CROSSWALKS, THOSE ARE PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. THE REVENUE FROM THE FINES THAT ARE GENERATED BY THE SCHOOL ZONE CAMERAS, THAT REVENUE COULD GO TOWARDS THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS. HOWEVER, AT THIS POINT, THAT PROGRAM IS THE POSSIBILITY IS THAT IT WILL NO LONGER EXIST. THERE'S REVENUE THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AVAIL OURSELVES OF. THE STATE IS PROVIDING $220,000. IT'S BEEN THAT LEVEL FOR TWO DECADES THAT I'VE BEEN HERE SO JUST WANT TO COMMEND STAFF FOR GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND AGAIN DOING THE BEST WE CAN AND PAVING AND REPAIRING AS MUCH AS WE'RE ABLE TO, BUT REALLY THIS IS NOT ENOUGH. WE SHOULD BE DOING TWICE THIS AMOUNT OR MORE IN TERMS OF REPAIRS. WE DO WHAT WE CAN, I WISH WE COULD DO MORE AND I WISH THERE WERE MORE RESOURCES THAT WE COULD TAP INTO SO WE COULD ACTUALLY ACHIEVE MORE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. >> THANK YOU, MISS HARM. >> THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JUST FOR THE RECORD, THESE STREETS WERE APPROVED LAST YEAR AND THEN THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE REPAIR COMES UP THE FOLLOWING YEAR. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WONDERING, THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED. IT'S USUALLY THE YEAR AFTER THE STREETS ARE APPROVED THAT THE WORK BEGAN. >> YES. >> I WANT TO MISQUOTE IT. THEY WANT TO SOUND LIKE COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY [LAUGHTER]. ALL RIGHT COMMISSIONER, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF BLM PROJECT FOR 2025. >> MOVED. >> IS THERE A SECOND? RUNNING LOW ON CAFFEINE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> VICE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND EMI IS PASSED. NEXT UP, WE COME TO THE SECTION OF THE MEETING WHERE WE TAKE REQUESTS AND PETITIONS. [IX. Requests and Petitions. ] IF YOU HAVE A REQUEST OR A PETITION OF THIS CITY COMMISSION, NOW IS YOUR FINAL TIME TO DO SO. WE ASK THAT YOU MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND ADDRESS THE COMMISSION. WITH ALL OTHER COMMENTS, WE WILL ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS. WE WON'T HAVE A BACK AND FORTH, BUT WE WILL MOST LIKELY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OR MAKE COMMENTS AT THE END OF OUR MEETING AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE STAY AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T. WE ASK THAT YOU SIMPLY STAY SO YOU CAN HEAR WHAT WE MIGHT SAY. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS HANZ OZ. I LIVE AT 690 SYCAMORE STREET AND AMONG OTHER ROLES, I'M THE NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE NEWLY FORMED EAST DECATUR NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION. I DO WANT TO THANK A NUMBER OF MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE STUCK IT OUT. I LOVE SAUSAGE, BUT WATCHING IT GET MADE IS [LAUGHTER] NOT ALWAYS JOYFUL, SO WE APPRECIATE ALL FORBEARANCE AND BEING HERE TODAY. I DID WANT TO JUST SAY IN LIGHT OF IT BEING DECLARED ARBOR DAY AND THE SPIRIT OF YOUR DECLARATION IS THAT THIS IS A CITY OF TREES AND FOR ALL THE BENEFITS THAT THEY OFFER. I AND MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS ARE HERE TODAY TO PETITION THE CITY IN REGARDS TO THE ANNOUNCED GEORGIA POWER PLANS TO CLEAR CUT OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, REMOVING UPWARDS OF 100 TREES AND RUNNING 115 KILOVOLTS OF POWER ALONG THIS QUIET RESIDENTIAL STREET. FOR VERY OBVIOUS REASONS, THIS WILL IRREVOCABLY AND FOREVER CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE INTEND TO FIGHT IT. WE SEEK THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSION AND WE'LL SEEK THE SUPPORT OF THE BROADER COMMUNITY IN THIS EFFORT. I KNOW EVERYBODY IS MORE OR LESS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, BUT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD, I WANT TO SUMMARIZE THAT GEORGIA POWER HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO RELOCATE HIGH VOLTAGE LINES. THESE ARE NOT YOUR SMALL LINES ON TOP OF WOOD POLES, THESE ARE THE LINES THAT ACTUALLY BUZZ FROM THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY GOING THROUGH THEM. THEY ARE RELOCATING THESE HIGH VOLTAGE LINES FROM [03:30:01] THEIR CURRENT INDUSTRIAL ZONED ROUTE TO INSTEAD CUT THROUGH A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR HISTORIC TREE LINED RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, SENDING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VOLTS OVER THE HEADS OF OUR CHILDREN AS THEY WALK TO SCHOOL. THIS IS ALL DESPITE THE FACT THAT NUMEROUS VIABLE ALTERNATE ROUTES EXIST. WE HAVE ORGANIZED AS A COMMUNITY. WE HAVE HIRED COUNSEL. WE ARE LAUNCHING A FUND RAISING AND PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN IN THE NEXT WEEK. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS MET WITH GEORGIA POWER WITH THE INTENT TO CONVINCE THEM TO PICK AN ALTERNATE ROUTE. I THINK TODAY I AND THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE CITY TO PROVIDE A SUMMARY OR UPDATE TO ALL OF US AROUND THE STATUS OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INVITE ANY OF MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS TO COME UP AND MAKE COMMENTS THEMSELVES SO THAT THEY CAN SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES WITH YOU ABOUT HOW CATASTROPHICALLY WE VIEW THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT AND DESPERATELY WANT TO HEAR THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY IN RESPONSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE HOPE YOU CAN AID US IN PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. >> ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? >> THERE I'M VON MORRISON AT 912 EAST PONS, PART OF THE EAST DECATUR NEIGHBORS CREW AS WELL. I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE EVERYTHING HANZ SAID AND THEN ALSO MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY THAT I DO THINK IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE IN ADDITION TO US, TO HAVE THE CITY AT LEAST ENGAGING WITH A LOT OF SPECIFICITY WITH GEORGIA POWER ABOUT WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE AND WHAT ALTERNATIVES THEY HAVE LOOKED AT. WE HAVE OUR COUNSEL HELPING US THROUGH THINGS, BUT I THINK THERE IS A DEGREE TO WHICH THE PREMATURE OF THE CITY AND THE GREATER AUTHORITY OF THE CITY COULD BE BROUGHT TO BEAR TO HELP EVERYONE BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THEY'RE PROPOSING AND WHAT THE ALTERNATIVES ARE. >> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S IT. >> HI COUNSEL. I'M MCMILLEN. I WORK AT OR I LIVE AT 1002 EAST PONS. MY HOUSE, ALONG WITH TWO OF MY OTHER NEIGHBORS ARE THE HOUSES BEING AFFECTED WITH EASEMENTS FROM GEORGIA POWER. THEY INITIALLY ADDRESS ME AND I SENT THE PLANS TO ANDY RUTLEDGE WHO GOT THEM TO DAVID. THEY'RE RUNNING THE LINES RIGHT DOWN IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. THEY'RE GOING TO REMOVE ALL I'VE GOT TWO HUGE TREES AND THEY OUR BARRIER BETWEEN THE RESIDENTIAL AND MARTA. IT'S JUST A HUGE DETRIMENT TO US AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN GENERAL. BUT I APPRECIATE YOU ALL LISTENING AND LOOK TO YOUR SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS ANDY RUTLEDGE, I LIVE IN 924 SYCAMORE STREET. LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT ALL MY OTHER FELLOW NEIGHBORS HAVE STATED AS WELL, BUT ALSO TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT ONLY PART OF THE WELCOMING EAST SIDE OF DECATUR, IT'S THE FIRST AREA YOU COME THROUGH, BUT IT'S ALSO A LOCALLY AND FEDERALLY DESIGNATED HISTORIC DISTRICT. I SERVED ON THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AS CHAIR FOR ALMOST 12 YEARS, EXCUSE ME, FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT WE DID TO DESIGNATE THIS DISTRICT GO TO POT JUST BECAUSE GEORGIA POWER COMES IN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> HELLO, I'M SHANE CAPE. I LIVE AT 815 EAST PONS AVENUE. MY PROPERTY WILL BE ALONG THE BACK. I LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO ANDY. OUR PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE RIGHT ALONG THE PATH OF THE LINES COMING THROUGH. I'M CONCERNED AT HOW GEORGIA POWER HAS CONDUCTED THEMSELVES IN THIS PROCESS. THEY SAID THAT THEY'VE BEEN PLANNING THIS SINCE 2018. THAT IS A TIME WHEN DEVELOPMENT WAS IN PLAN. ACROSS THE STREET, YOU HAD THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY DEVELOPMENT GOING UP, BUILDING RIGHT UP NEXT TO THE POWER LINES. NOTHING WAS SAID. YOU HAVE NEW DEVELOPMENTS BEING PUT THERE, NOTHING SAID. AVONDALE IS THE SAME THING. THEY'RE REMOVING THE LINES FROM AVONDALE AND FROM WHAT USED TO BE INDUSTRIAL AREAS NOW THEY'RE MULTIFAMILY AREAS AND THEY'RE TAKING IT NEXT TO OUR PROPERTIES. THEY ARE GOING TO BE 20 PROPERTIES THAT ARE WITHIN THAT CRITICAL AREA OF 150 YARDS TO 200 YARDS OF THE POWER LINES. [03:35:04] IT'S SAFE TO ASSESS THAT IT WOULD BE CONSERVATIVE TO SAY THAT I SHOULD SAY THAT 10% LOSS AND HOME VALUE IS EXPECTED, MAYBE MORE. BECAUSE THESE ARE FOUR FOOT WIDE DIAMETER POLES. GEORGIA POWER, WHEN YOU DESCRIBE THEM LIKE THAT, THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT QUITE FOUR FOOT DIAMETER, THEY'RE LIKE 3.8. BUT WHEN YOU TELL THEM THERE'S 90 FOOT POLES, THEY'RE WELL, NO, IT'S ACTUALLY 105. THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO TOWER OVER THE TREES THAT USED TO BE THERE. THERE'S NO LONGER GOING TO BE ANY TREES ALONG MARTA. WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE JUST STARING AT A PARKING LOT WITH THOSE BRIGHT LIGHTS OVER AT MARTA. WITH THOSE 20 HOUSES, THE AVERAGE HOME VALUE IS $700,000 EACH. TO MAKE THEIR PROJECT CHEAPER, THEY'RE WILLING TO REMOVE AT LEAST $1.4 MILLION FROM THE VALUE OF THE HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO FUND THEIR PROJECT. WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT IN COMBATING THIS BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY WANT TO PROVIDE SAFE POWER. THAT'S THEIR CATCH PHRASE. THEY WANT TO PROVIDE SAFE AND DEPENDABLE POWER. I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO TAKE SOME OF THE MONEY THAT THEY EXPECT TO MAKE THIS SAFE AND DEPENDABLE POWER THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE TO ALL THE NEW CLIENTS DOWN THE ROAD TO MAYBE PUT IT UNDERGROUND OR TO USE SOME OTHER ALTERNATIVE, GET SOME EASEMENT THE RAILROAD COMPANY. BUT THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS OR ANY OTHER REQUEST? SEEING NONE, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO OUR PARTICIPANTS ON ZOOM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A REQUEST OR PETITION OF THE CITY. NOW IS YOUR FINAL TIME TO DO SO. PLEASE RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND AND YOU WILL BE RECOGNIZED AND UNMUTED. THIS A SECOND OR SO? >> SEEING NONE. WE WILL CLOSE REQUESTS AND PETITIONS, AND I THINK MISS. SHERYL. >> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAG TEAM. SHE DOESN'T KNOW THAT. >> SO WE HAVE SPLIT PRESENTATIONS. [X. Reports and Other Business. ] MR. [INAUDIBLE], WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN? >> MISS. SHERYL AND I, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE AS IT RELATES TO THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS ABOUT THE GEORGIA POWER TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT. I'LL TEE IT UP AND THEN MISS. SHERYL MAY HAVE SOME MORE DETAILED INFORMATION. BUT JUST WANTED TO LET THE COMMISSION AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS KNOW THAT THE CITY HOSTED A MEETING HERE ON DECEMBER 11. WE HAD SENIOR STAFF ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR CITY ENGINEERS, AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF OUR PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE PROJECT FOLKS WITH GDOT AND THE PARTNERS ON THE GDOT COLLEGE AVENUE PROJECT, I BELIEVE, AECOM. AGAIN, ALL IN THE ROOM, MEETING WITH GEORGIA POWER. LITERALLY LOOKING AT THE MAP. I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN THE MAP WITH THEIR COLOR CODED ROUTES WITH WHERE THE LINE IS NOW AND THEN ROUTES THAT THEY HAVE OR EXPLORING. DURING THIS MEETING, THE CITY STAFF AND NO UNCERTAIN TERMS STRESS THAT THE ROUTE ALONG SYCAMORE STREET OFF OF EAST PONCE DE LEON IS A NONSTARTER. I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE WORD THAT WAS USED. FROM THE CITY PERSPECTIVE FOR THE REASONS THAT YOU'VE PRESENTED HERE TONIGHT, AGAIN, A NONSTARTER AND THEY NEED TO TURN THEIR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE RESIDENTIAL AREA TO THE MORE COMMERCIAL AREA ALONG THE CURRENT ROUTE ALONG COLLEGE AVENUE. WE DID ENCOURAGE GEORGIA POWER TO COORDINATE WITH GDOT, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT MISS. SHERYL CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THE GDOT PROJECT. WE DO BELIEVE, AND AGAIN, WE SAID THIS DURING THE MEETING, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN THIS MEETING THAT GEORGIA POWER NEEDS TO BE LOOKING AT TAKING SOME PORTION OF THIS PROJECT UNDERGROUND. [03:40:08] SPECIFICALLY, IT COULD BE DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY COME ONTO COLLEGE, SAY IF IT'S OFF OF THE SAMS CROSSING BRIDGE, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THAT POINT, THAT WOULD BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO UNDERGROUND. WE DO BELIEVE THAT WITH THIS GDOT PROJECT, THERE ARE ACTUALLY AT LEAST TWO OPTIONS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE. ONE WOULD BE THE USE OF THE CENTER LANE. AGAIN, WHEN THE ROAD IS TORN UP FOR THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS THE NORTH SIDE OF COLLEGE AVENUE. CLOSER TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS WHERE I BELIEVE A LANE IS GOING TO BE REMOVED FOR THE PURPOSE OF A BIKE LANE. AGAIN, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY WHERE THE LINES COULD BE BURIED. WHEN THEY TALKED IN MID DECEMBER, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH CSX AND WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND I THINK THEY WERE SURVEYING OR TRYING TO GET A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION BECAUSE THERE WAS JUST A CRUNCH POINT THERE. BUT AGAIN, I FELT THERE WAS SOME PROMISE THAT THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THAT SITE. THE TAKEAWAY WAS, YOU NEED TO WORK WITH GDOT ON THE EAST COLLEGE AVENUE PROJECT, CONSIDER UNDERGROUND. THERE ARE AGAIN, TWO OPTIONS FOR THE UNDERGROUND. THEY NEED TO BE TALKING TO CSX ABOUT ACCESS TO RIGHT OF WAY. I THINK THEY SAID TECHNICALLY THAT CSX DOES NOT GRANT RIGHT OF WAY AGREEMENTS. I THINK THERE MIGHT BE LONG TERM EASEMENTS. DEFINITELY THEY HAVE SOME RESERVATION OR HESITATION ABOUT ENGAGING WITH CSX. BUT NONETHELESS, IT APPEARS TO BE, I THINK IT WOULD BE A VIABLE OPTION, OR AT LEAST CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED. THAT IS WHERE WE LEFT IT. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MISS. SHERYL, IS THERE ANY FOLLOW UP SINCE THAT MEETING? ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY ENGAGEMENT SPECIFICALLY WITH THE GDOT STAFF OR THE AECOM STAFF? >> NO, I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB SUMMARIZING. THANKS TO THE RESIDENTS HERE FOR ALERTING US TO THE PROJECT. I THINK OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAWARE OF THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OPEN HOUSE. POST THE DECEMBER 11 MEETING, WE DID REACH OUT TO GEORGIA POWERS COMMUNICATIONS TEAM ON JANUARY 17, WHERE THEY COMMUNICATED, THEY WERE WORKING TO MEET WITH CSX AND MARTA BY THE END OF JANUARY AND THEN CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY IN EARLY FEBRUARY. THEN WHEN FOLLOWING UP TO INQUIRE IF THEY'D CONNECTED SPECIFICALLY WITH GDOT AND THE GDOT PROJECT TEAM FOR PI 0018335, WHICH IS IN DESIGN NOW. THERE'S A PROJECT WEBSITE ONLINE. THEY COMMUNICATED THAT THEIR DESIGN TEAM HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH DOT REGARDING THE PROJECTS THEY HAVE GOING ON. JUST PRETTY STANDARD AND MAYBE NOT SPECIFIC AS WE HOPED. THAT IS ALL THE COMMUNICATION WE'VE RECEIVED TO DATE. >> FOR THAT UPDATE. NEXT UP, THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AGENDA, MEETING CANCELLATION NOTICE. THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING IS CANCELED. THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2025. THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA, THE PLANNING COMMISSION DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA. THAT MEETING IS ALSO CANCELED. THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HERE IN THIS ROOM ON MARCH 11, 2025. MS. ARNOLD. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER OR ANY OF YOUR STAFF HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FOR US TONIGHT? >> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. NOTHING FOR ME TONIGHT, THANK YOU, SIR. >> GEORGIA POWER. SEE, I KNOW WHY I WASN'T INVITED TO THAT DECEMBER 10TH MEETING. [LAUGHTER] IT'S BECAUSE I CUSS WAY TOO MUCH. YOU PROBABLY DID HECK A LOT. [LAUGHTER] NOT HAVING ME ANYWHERE NEAR THAT ROOM. TODAY'S MEETING, I THINK I'M ALL TALKED OUT, BUT I NEED TO SAY THIS ONE THING. THERE WAS GREAT COURAGE DEMONSTRATED HERE TODAY. [03:45:06] I DO NOT KNOW, NOR DO I WANT TO KNOW WHO DRAFTED THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION. BUT I AM IMMENSELY GRATEFUL FOR IT AND VERY PROUD OF MY CITY. IF THERE IS ANY POLITICAL PUNISHMENT OR RETRIBUTION FOR THAT FROM THE STATE OR ANYBODY ELSE, THAT CAN COME TO ME. THANK YOU TO WHOEVER IT IS, IF THEY'RE NOT LISTENING, IF THEY'RE NOT ON THE ZOOM, IF THEY'RE NOT IN THIS ROOM, PLEASE RELAY THE MESSAGE THAT I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THEIR COURAGE, AND I CANNOT BEGIN TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO YOU FOR THE COURAGE TO READ IT ALOUD, AND ON THE RECORD. THAT'S ALL FOR ME TODAY, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. >> WELL SAID AGAIN. SIR, WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO DO SOMETHING, LIKE AS A COMMISSION ON THE RECORD TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THAT GEORGIA POWER PROJECT AND OUR DESIRE FOR TO FIND A RESOLUTION. DO THAT KIND OF STUFF? TIME THAT YOU'VE DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING US TO TAKE A PUBLIC STANCE FOR IT. I THINK WE ALL FEEL THAT WAY. THE STAFF IS ALIGNED. WOULD THAT MAKE SENSE TO TAKE THAT UP AT THE NEXT MEETING? >> IF THAT'S THE DESIRE OF THE COMMISSION. I WOULD CERTAINLY SUPPORT IT, AND I WON'T EVEN CUSS. [LAUGHTER] >> IF THERE'S THE DESIRE FOR A STATEMENT FROM THIS BODY. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT. I THINK RESOLUTIONS WORK FOR THAT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT WOULD BE, BUT I THINK SOMETHING ON THE RECORD FROM US SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY. >> WE DEFINITELY MADE A COMMENT OFF THE RECORD. IT WON'T HURT TO MAKE ONE ON THE RECORD. [LAUGHTER] THERE WAS NO CUSSING INVOLVED. [LAUGHTER] >> IT'S A CLASSIC CITY. [LAUGHTER] >> I COULD SEE WHEN MAYOR GARRETT GETS BACK, WE COULD HAVE A STATEMENT THAT GIVES CREDIBILITY TO WHAT VALUES WE HOLD NEAR AND DEAR HERE IN THE CITY. THEY'VE HEARD THAT LOUD AND CLEAR. I KNOW THAT THEY DID PUT A PAUSE ON THAT PROJECT FOR NOW, BUT WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR AND SO STAY TUNED. >> IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE SOMETHING RIGHT IN THE ABSENCE. I WANTED TO THANK, I THINK THE CITY MANAGER RESPONSIBLE FOR CALVIN HICKS COMING IN TALKING TO US ABOUT THE APPRAISAL PROCESS. APPRECIATE HIS TIME. I'M SURE MAYOR PRO TEM TALKED ABOUT THIS, TOO. HE WAS INFORMATIVE. I DON'T THINK HE GOT AT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE [INAUDIBLE] APPRAISAL PROCESS. I WILL NOTE THOUGH THAT EVEN THE APPRAISAL CONVERSATION IS A CONVERSATION ABOUT REDISTRIBUTING THE TAX BURDEN, ULTIMATELY, IN A FAIR OR MORE EQUITABLE WAY, MORE TRANSPARENT WAY. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE GRATITUDE TO PEOPLE WHO THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, HAVE TO COMMUNICATE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE TAX BURDEN IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND ASKING US TO BE AWARE OF, BE RESPONSIVE TO IT. WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TODAY, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO [INAUDIBLE]. THE FINAL COMMENT. YES, I JUST NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE I WAS NOT AWARE OF ALL THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN FLYING OUT ABOUT THIS. BUT FOR MY EXPERIENCE, IT HAS BEEN A RELATIVELY CIVILIZED CONVERSATION, AND THAT WAS TUG AND CHEEK. I DO NOT INTEND TO SPEND MORE TIME. [LAUGHTER] >> I'M GOING TO FRIEND YOU IN THIS. [LAUGHTER] >> [INAUDIBLE] . >> [INAUDIBLE] STOP THAT. >> THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FORGIVE ME. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY. COMMISSIONER WALSH? >> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE TO FRIEND THIS GUYS. [LAUGHTER] NO, WE'RE GOOD NEIGHBORS. THAT'S ENOUGH. IF I MAY, CAN I RECOGNIZE A FORMER CITY COMMISSIONER IN OUR ROOM? I KNEW BRIAN SMITH. [INAUDIBLE] MISS YOU RIGHT THERE. THANKS FOR AN EXCELLENT MEETING, AND YOU JUST SPEAKS AGAIN. WE ALWAYS GO BACK TO THE POWER OF THE PUBLIC MEETING AND ALL THE GOOD WORK WE CAN DO TOGETHER. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE ROOM. SEVERAL OF US GOT TO MEET REPRESENTATIVE WASHBURN FROM MACON-BIBB COUNTY, WHO IS IN OUR CITY TODAY, AND JUST TO INSIGHT INTO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE TRY TO INFLUENCE OR WORK ON OR HELP WITH BECAUSE HE'S PROPOSING A BILL TO I GUESS BAN OUTLAW, RESTRICT THE USE OF SPEED CAMERAS THAT WE WOULD USE IN OUR SCHOOL ZONES AND HAVE BEEN PILOTING. THAT REMINDS US HOW EVERY CITY IS DIFFERENT, EVERY COUNTY IS DIFFERENT AND WE'RE NAVIGATING DIFFERENT CHALLENGES. [03:50:01] WE'RE ABLE TO SHOW HIM HOW OUR KIDS WALK TO SCHOOL, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF KIDS ARE WALKING EVERY DAY, AND I GOT A CHANCE TO SAY, NOT EVERY CITY LIVES LIKE THIS, BUT WE MODEL WHAT I THINK A LOT OF COMMUNITIES WOULD LIKE TO DO. CAN WE PLAN FOR THAT AND AND HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WON THE DAY WITH HIM. A LOT OF PEOPLE I THINK FELT EMPOWERED. WE EVEN HAD A YOUNG GIRL COME UP AND MEET HIM AND TELL HIM ABOUT HOW SHE JUST WAS WALKING AND GOT CURIOUS AND WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO SAY HI TO OUR GROUP AND INSERT HERSELF, JUST A LITTLE SIXTH GRADER NAMED CORA. THAT REALLY CHANGED MY WHOLE DAY AND THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW WE DO THIS WORK, CAN BE HARD. WE'RE ALWAYS LEARNING SOMETHING. REP WASHBURN MIGHT NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, BUT MAYBE HIS HEART HAS CHANGED AND HE COULD REDIRECT ON ANOTHER TOPIC. WE DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE INVOLVED, COME SPEAK. THANKS FOR STAYING FOR THE WHOLE MEETING. IT'S A PRETTY LONG NIGHT. BUT TO CONTINUE A COUPLE THOUGHTS, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE COMPOSTING PROJECTS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND I REALLY THINK THANK THIS CATALYST TO GET IT GOING. KEEP THINKING A COMPOSTING PUN WILL COME TO ME, BUT IT HAS NOT YET. I JUST NEED TO DIG DEEPER. >> THE [INAUDIBLE] PROCESS. [LAUGHTER] >> I ACTUALLY CALL THAT ONE. [LAUGHTER] >> JUST CAME OUT AND I KNEW IF I GAVE IT A SECOND. IF I MAY, SEAN WOODSON WOULD BE THE EPITOME OF WHAT A CIVIL SERVANT DOES AND TO SPEAK TO WHAT'S HAPPENING AT HIGHER, BROADER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. SEAN MAY HATE COMPOSTING. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T THINK HE DOES. [LAUGHTER] SEAN HAS WORKED FOR US. >> HE'S RIGHT THERE. >> HEY SEAN. SEAN HAS WORKED FOR US. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON YOUR SERVICE FOR MANY ELECTED BODIES AND AT LEAST TWO CITY MANAGERS THEN, I GUESS. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> HE GETS WITH THE PROGRAM. HE DOES HIS JOB WITH PRIDE. HE MAKES US PROUD OF OUR CITY. HE'S IN COMMUNITY WITH RESIDENTS AND WITH HIS CO WORKERS AND STANDS FOR SO MUCH MORE THAN EVEN WHAT HE DOES EVERY DAY, BUT THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT AND UPLIFT AND TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR CIVIL SERVANTS DO EVERY DAY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WHERE WE LIVE, AND HAS THE MOST IMMEDIATE IMPACT, IN MY VIEW ON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND OUR SAFETY AND THANK, SEAN. IT'S JUST APPRECIATE YOU EXECUTING ON THAT AND SHOWING US WHAT YOUR WORK DOES FOR US. THAT'S TO ME WHAT BEING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES AND PROTECTING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE HOME RULE WHERE WE CAN MAKE GREAT DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY AND TRY TO DROWN OUT SOME OTHER NOISE AND KEEP ON FORGING FORWARD. THANKS FOR A GREAT MEETING AND APPRECIATE, EVERYBODY. APPRECIATE YOU PINCHING. >> THANK YOU. TO ALL OF YOU THAT STAY, I HOPE YOU HEAR THE SINCERITY IN OUR VOICE WHEN WE PLEDGE TO YOU THAT WE OFFER TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS SOLUTIONS. THIS IS NOT JUST POLITICAL SPEAK TO EARN POINTS OR TO RAISE MONEY. WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE LIVE HERE AND WE ARE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. WHAT MATTERS TO YOU MATTERS TO US. PERIOD. NOTHING ELSE NEEDS TO BE SAID. IT WAS A GREAT MEETING. WE TALKED A LOT. I THINK THIS MEETING WITH THE TAX APPRAISER, LET'S DO SOME MORE OF THESE BECAUSE HE GAVE US A LOT, BUT DIDN'T GIVE US WHAT WE WANTED. I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE REALLY CAN DO AS CITIES IN DECATUR TO CHANGE THE OUTPUT BECAUSE I DON'T AGREE THAT IT'S WHAT THE MARKET WILL BE, THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY WILL APPRAISE IT AT. THAT'S A FLAWED LOGIC TO ME. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY, IF YOU GET YOUR CHATGPT, [LAUGHTER] TAKE OVER SOME AI. MAYBE WE GET SOME DIFFERENT OUTCOMES, BUT KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. IN ADDITION TO THAT, MAKING SURE THAT WE SUPPORT YOUR VOICES AS IT COMES TO DEALING WITH GEORGIA POWER, BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS THAT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S A GREAT GATEWAY. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S AN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS WHAT WE THINK ABOUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE CITY OF DECATUR. WE'RE NOT CHANGING THAT. WE DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THAT. WE HAVE NO PLANS OF CHANGING THAT. THERE WAS A REASON WE TOOK HEAT FOR A PRETTY RESTRICTIVE TREE ORDINANCE, NOT TO LET IT BE PULL DOZED BY SOMEONE WHO HAS THAT AUTHORITY. KNOW THAT WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO LEND A VOICE TO AMPLIFY YOUR VOICE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. THANK YOU ALL FOR STAYING. IT WAS A REALLY GREAT MEETING. IT WAS COMMISSIONER WALSH WOULD SAY, IT'S A PRETTY MEDIA AGENDA TONIGHT AND WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE SALAD WITH IT. ON THAT NOTE AT 9:59 UNLESS THERE'S NO OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THIS COMMISSION, [03:55:01] WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.