>> ARE WE READY, MR.? WELCOME. WE WILL GIVE MR.
[WORK SESSION – 6:30 P.M.]
[00:00:06]
DUSENBURY A FEW SECONDS TO GET IN HIS NEW LOCATION.>> ALWAYS WANTED TO BE ON THIS SIDE. [LAUGHTER].
>> YOU SEE EVERYTHING. [LAUGHTER] WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. MAYOR, COMMISSIONER ANDREA FOR HAVING LEGACY DECATUR HERE TODAY.
IT IS 2025, BUT THIS IS OUR REVIEW OF 2024 COMMISSION SESSION.
I'VE BROUGHT WITH ME OUR PROGRAMS MANAGER DIAMOND FOGG AS WELL AS MANY OF OUR PARTNER TENANTS AT LEGACY PARK. DOWN ARROW.
THANK YOU. 500 SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, FROM 1873 UNTIL 2017 WAS UNITED METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOME, WHICH WELCOMED GEORGIA'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN TO A SPACE WHERE THEY HAD SAFE HOUSING.
THEY HAD NATURE TO FIND QUIET.
THEY HAD RECREATION, PLAY, TO HEAL, AND THEY HAD ADULTS IN A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTED THEM AND TO GROW WITH THEM AS THEY BECAME ADULTS.
IN 2017, THE CHILDREN'S HOME DECIDED THAT SUPPORTING A 77-ACRE PROPERTY AND MANY BUILDINGS WAS NO LONGER FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GIVEN THAT IT DETRACTED FROM THEIR MISSION OF REALLY SUPPORTING THE KIDS.
BUT WITH THAT WAS THIS HUGE QUESTION OF WHAT TO DO WITH THIS PROPERTY THAT MEANT SO MUCH.
RATHER THAN SELL IT TO A DEVELOPER, TO JUST CLEAR CUT, THAT THEY MADE A DEAL WITH YOU, MANY OF YOU WERE HERE SITTING IN THE SPOT TO MAKE THAT BOLD DECISION TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY, MAKE IT PART OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND TO PROMISE TO CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WITH THAT PROPERTY.
I HAVE BEFORE YOU THE LEGACY DECATUR MISSION, WHICH IS TO GROW PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND RESOURCES THAT CREATE AND SUPPORT A POSITIVE LEGACY FOR DECATUR WITH A FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, COMMUNITY BUILDING, INCLUSIVE HOUSING, AND SUPPORTING GRASSROOTS EFFORTS THAT ALIGN WITH OUR OWN.
BACK IN 2014, 2015, LEGACY DECATUR STARTED AS A FISCAL AGENT FOR GRASSROOTS FUNDS LIKE FRIENDS OF DECATUR CEMETERY, SEASON OF GIVING, THE BICENTENNIAL, DECATUR UNITED, THE JOHN LEWIS TRIBUTE FUND, AND MANY OTHERS.
AFTER THE 2018 YEAR THAT THE CITY SPENT IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, THAT YOU ALL PASSED A BIG MASTER PLAN.
AS THE STEWARD OF THIS PROPERTY, AS WE'VE BEEN SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2020, THAT WE HAVE FORWARDED THE MASTER PLAN ALONGSIDE THE CITY TO STEWARD THE 77-ACRE PROPERTY WITH MANY OF THE SAME MISSION AREAS THAT LEGACY DECATUR HAS ALWAYS HAD.
2024 WAS A BIG YEAR THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE MASTER PLAN IN ACTION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT WE ARE SEEING A HUGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OF THE 132 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT I THINK THAT IF YOU'D ASKED ME THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE IMAGINED IT TAKING A LOT LONGER.
[LAUGHTER] IT IS SUCH A DELIGHT TO SEE THAT PROJECT MOVING FORWARD AND TO BE SO CLOSE TO WELCOMING 132 NEW FAMILIES TO LEGACY THROUGH THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY, BUT CERTAINLY WITHIN OUR LEGACY PARK COMMUNITY.
THE CREATIVE VILLAGE HAS ALSO BEEN MOVING FORWARD, ALTHOUGH THAT ONE AS SLOW AS MAYBE I PREDICTED, BUT DEKALB COUNTY IS OUR RESPONSIBLE ENTITY.
WE ARE WITHIN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AND WE HAVE SENT IN OUR ZONING APPLICATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE ARE EXCITED THAT THAT IS CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD AS. THE TRACK AND FIELD.
THAT RECREATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIG PART OF LEGACY THAT REVEREND JACK AMICK
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AND THE RUNNERS AND WALKERS HAVE BEEN MAKING GOOD USE OF THE ALL NATURAL SURFACE 5-K COURSE.NOW WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL TRACK AND FIELD THAT WE ARE THRILLED IS ALMOST AT COMPLETION WITH A RIBBON CUTTING ON MARCH 29TH.
I DO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO DAVID YOUNGER AND HUGH SAXON, TO BREEDLOVE LAND PLANNING, TO GREGORY WHITE, REMY EPPS, NANCY BRONE, KIM WALEY, SPORTS TURF, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, SERGIO PEREZ, RONNIE THOMAS, DAVID HARVIN, AND ALL OF THESE OTHER FOLKS THAT WORKED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, AS WELL AS OUR NONPROFITS WITH SO MUCH PATIENTS AS THIS CONSTRUCTION IS DISRUPTIVE.
I THINK THE TENANTS, WE WORKED HARD TO COMMUNICATE WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, WHEN IT NEEDED TO HAPPEN, WHAT ACCESS WAS NEEDED.
THEN OUR CONSTRUCTION TEAM WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO PROTECT THAT ACCESS AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT LIKE ANY CONSTRUCTION SITE WHERE YOU CAN JUST WALL OFF THE WHOLE PARK AND JUST HAVE AT IT, THAT WE HAVE SO MANY BALANCING NEEDS.
I APPRECIATE BOTH THE NONPROFITS AND THE CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY FOR ALLOWING THOSE TO CONTINUE.
PUBLIC RESTROOMS. THIS IS VERY EXCITING THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY THINK OF ALL OF THE MECHANICS OF WHAT GOES BEHIND RECREATION, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR OUR LITTLE ONES PLAYING ON THE PLAYGROUND, AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AGING IN PLACE AND OTHER FOLKS WHERE RESTROOM ACCESS IS CERTAINLY AN ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE AND HAVING PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESTROOMS DURING ALL OPEN PARK HOURS WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO FEEL WELCOME AND COMFORTABLE COMING AND USING THE PARK AND THE TRACK AND FIELD, AND WE ARE SO THRILLED TO HAVE THAT.
[LAUGHTER] THE ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION EDUCATION HAS MADE INCREDIBLE STRIDES IN 2024.
TREES ATLANTA, THEY ARE A NONSTOP GROUP.
THEY HAVE WORKED SO INCREDIBLY HARD.
IN 2024, THEY HAD APPROXIMATELY 1,700 VOLUNTEER HOURS JUST AT LEGACY.
THE AFTER PICTURE RIGHT NOW LOOKS A LITTLE BARE BECAUSE IT WAS TAKEN IN WINTER.
BUT AS THOSE INVASIVES ARE REMOVED, THOSE TREES ARE SO MUCH HEALTHIER.
WE'VE UNFORTUNATELY LOST A NUMBER OF TREES AT LEGACY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, AGING OUT, BUT ALSO THEY'VE BEEN STRANGLED OUT BY IV.
HAVING THIS WORK DONE NOW MEANS THAT THOSE TREES ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO AGE IN A HEALTHY MANNER.
IT ALSO ALLOWS THAT SEE BANK OF NATIVE SEEDS THAT HAD BEEN KEPT UNDER WITH IV TO REPOPULATE.
WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, A RETURN TO GREEN AND MUCH HEALTHIER AND MORE BIODIVERSE WAYS.
>> SO THE AGING IN PLACE ARE TRUE? [LAUGHTER]
>> ALSO, IN ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION THAT WITH THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE GRANT, THE FIVE-STAR AND URBAN WATERS, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CONTRACT THE OSPREY INITIATIVE, AND THEY REMOVED OVER 4,000 POUNDS OF GARBAGE FROM OUR WETLANDS.
WE STILL HAVE MORE AS THOSE INVASIVES ARE BEING PULLED OUT AND RAIN WASHES ON EARTH.
IT'LL BE A CONTINUOUS PROCESS, BUT IN ADDITION TO REMOVING, THEY DIVERTED OF THIS WASTE AWAY FROM LANDFILLS.
THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE ALL OF THE RESTED METAL AND OTHER THINGS TO SCRAP METAL, RECYCLING AND TURNING GLASS INTO BUILDING MATERIALS AND ALL OF REALLY CREATIVE WAYS TO DIVERT FROM LANDFILLS, AS WELL AS THE DATA COLLECTION OF IT ALL.
THEY WERE ABLE TO DECIPHER FROM THE NINE UNITED STATES, 1976 BICENTENNIAL GLASSES, AS WELL AS THE POP TOP CANS THAT WERE DISCONTINUED ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO, [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN ONGOING LITTER PROBLEM.
[00:10:10]
WE AREN'T CONCERNED ABOUT FIGURING OUT NEW SOLUTIONS FOR LITTER REDUCTION.WE JUST NEED TO CLEAN UP THE LITTER THAT IS THERE.
IN ADDITION, THE FIVE STAR AND URBAN WATERS GRANT PAID FOR US TO PLANT 300 FLORA IN THE WETLANDS TO STABILIZE THAT AREA NOW THAT THE IV HAS BEEN PULLED OUT.
WE HAD ABOUT 400 VOLUNTEER HOURS WITH THE WETLAND STABILIZATION PROJECT IN ADDITION TO THE 1,700 OF TREES, ATLANTA, AS WELL AS A BOY SCOUT PROJECT THAT BUILT A LITTLE INTERPRETIVE WALK THAT WILL HAVE INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE THAT ALLOWS FOR SAFE ACCESS TO VIEWING OF A BEAVER DAM WITHOUT DIVERTING IT FROM WHERE THAT PATH WAS, WHICH WAS SO CLOSE TO THE STREAM BANK THAT WE WEREN'T SURE IF THAT WAS GOING TO HOLD EVERYONE THAT WALKED PAST.
ALISON ERICSON, THE CITY'S URBAN NATURALIST, AS WELL AS PARKS AND REC AND SOME INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS HAVE WORKED TO INCREASE THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AT LEGACY.
THERE'S A COYOTES WALK FEBRUARY 27TH, THERE'S A MARCH MADNESS ALL ABOUT ANIMALS IN SPRING AND LOOKING FOR FOOD OR TRACKS, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
THERE'S BEAVER COMPLEX TOURS, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO GROW THAT PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARKS AND REC AND ALLISON, OF COURSE.
THE TRELLIS ABILITY GARDEN THAT FREQUENTLY WE SEE ACCESSIBILITY PUT ALMOST IN CONTRAST TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.
I THINK THAT THE TRELLIS ABILITY GARDEN HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE WAY TO SHOW THAT THOSE TWO CAN GO HAND IN HAND WHEN DONE THOUGHTFULLY.
THE CITY WORKED HARD TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING APPROPRIATE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, BUT ALSO ALLOWING THIS WHEELCHAIR AND WALKER-ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY GARDEN FOR BOTH COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOTS AND ALSO PROGRAMMING FOR FOLKS OF ALL DIFFERENT ABILITIES, TURNING WHAT WAS A RELATIVELY MONOCULTURE GRASS UNDERUSED SPACE INTO A REALLY BEAUTIFUL ASSET FOR LEGACY.
HERE YOU SEE THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE UMCH CAFETERIA KITCHEN WITH REFUGEE WOMEN'S NETWORK INTO A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.
BACK IN THE 50S, THIS KITCHEN WAS USED TO SERVE THE 150 KIDS THAT LIVED AT THE CHILDREN'S HOME BEFORE THEY STARTED EATING MEALS WITH THEIR HOUSES.
IT CLEARLY HAD BEEN ABOUT THAT LONG [LAUGHTER].
THE REFUGEE WOMEN'S NETWORK HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF BOTH TIME AND EFFORT AND MONEY INTO REVAMPING THIS SPACE.
LARRY HOLLAND, THE CITY'S ELECTRICIAN SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS WEEKEND WORKING THROUGH SOME CHOICES OF WIRING THAT THE CHILDREN'S HOME HAD MADE BACK IN THE DAY AND MAKING SURE THAT THE SPACE WILL BE SAFE AND USABLE FOR YEARS TO COME.
WE'RE EXCITED. THEY HAVE ONE FINAL INSPECTION FOR THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT, AND THEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO USE THIS COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS ALSO IMPORTANT NOT JUST FOR REUSING SPACES, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT MADE THEM SO SPECIAL.
THIS PAST ALUMNI DAY FOR THE CHILDREN'S HOME.
MS. ROSALEE WONG MARRIED ROSA JOE, BROUGHT HER THREE CHILDREN. SHE'S 93.
SHE LIVED IN ATLANTA IN THAT TO RIGHT BEDROOM,
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AND SHE AND HER TWO SIBLINGS MOVED TO THE CHILDREN'S HOME IN 1945.IT WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE TO WALK WITH HER AND HER FAMILY AND FOR HER TO REMEMBER HER TIME THERE, THAT HER MORNING TOUR WAS TO MAKE TOAST FOR EVERYONE, SO GOING BACK INTO THAT COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND MAKING SURE THAT TOAST WAS READY.
THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER, MS. ELENOIR SAID, LAIRD'S DAUGHTER REACHED OUT THAT SHE'S 92 AND SHE HAD GOTTEN HER DATES MIXED STEP AND MISSED THE REUNION.
BUT SHE BROUGHT HER FAMILY AND WE COULD WALK AROUND.
THEN THROUGH THAT, WE RECONNECTED MS. JOE AND MS. LAIRD, WHO WOULD LIVE TOGETHER IN ATLANTA BACK IN THE 40S AND 50S.
A BIG SHOUT OUT TO DORSEY NOBLES, OF COURSE, IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND A CONSTANT SUPPORTER OF MAKING SURE THAT THESE CONNECTIONS ARE ABLE TO BE MAINTAINED IN A SPACE THAT IS SPECIAL.
IT TRULY WAS AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO GO AND SPEAK AND MINGLE WITH THESE FOLKS AND HAVE THEM EXCITED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT LEGACY NOW.
SOME INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY BUILDING.
WE HAVE BEEN BUSY THAT WE HAD NEARLY 100,000 VISITS TO LEGACY PARK IN 2024 WITH ABOUT 32,000 UNIQUE VISITORS AND THOSE ARE ONLY INCLUDING PEOPLE CARRYING PHONES, NOT INCLUDING LITTLE ONES OR I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE LEAVES THEIR PHONE AT HOME ANYMORE, BUT [LAUGHTER] IT MIGHT UNDERCOUNT.
APPROXIMATELY 400 MEETINGS AND EVENTS THAT DIAMOND HAS WORKED HARD TO BE ABLE TO BOOST THOSE, MAKE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, TELL THEIR FRIENDS, TELL THEM ABOUT WHAT A SMOOTH PROCESS IT WAS, AND THAT'S BOTH IMPORTANT FOR CITY PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OTHER NONPROFIT MEETINGS AND EVENTS, BUT ALSO HAVING A SPACE WHERE IT IS AFFORDABLE TO GATHER YOUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS A REVENUE GENERATOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUSTAIN THE PARK.
WE HAD 182 LEGACY DECATUR VOLUNTEERS AND OUR 17 NONPROFITS THAT NOW CALL LEGACY HOME.
AS WE WELCOME SO MANY FOLKS AND HAVE SO MANY ACTIVITIES AND THINGS THAT IT WAS TIME TO INSTALL THAT WAY FINDING IMPROVEMENT.
WE NOW HAVE SIGNS AROUND LEGACY THAT BOTH OF BLEND INTO THE PARK AESTHETIC WHILE ALSO ALERTING PEOPLE, MAKING THEM FEEL A LITTLE LESS NERVOUS OF WHICH BRICK BUILDING AM I STANDING IN FRONT OF SO THAT FOLKS CAN FIND THEIR WAY AROUND AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEREVER THEY'RE TRYING TO GET TO, THEY CAN FIND THEIR WAY, AS WELL AS THAT THE CITY AND LEGACY WORKED ON A TRAFFIC AND CIRCULATION PLAN.
THAT'LL BE A LONGER TERM IMPLEMENTATION OF FIGURING OUT WITHOUT INSTALLING A TON OF NEW ASPHALT AND BUILDING A GIANT PARKING GARAGE IN A PLACE THAT IS NATURAL AND GRASSY.
HOW CAN WE USE THE SPACE THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW AS MUCH ACCESS AS POSSIBLE? HOW DO WE IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE ACCESS? HOW DO WE WORK WITH OTHER PARKING ENTITIES TO CONNECT BETTER INTO DECATUR? WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'D LOVE TO GO AHEAD AND JUST BRING UP SOME OF OUR NONPROFITS TO JUST GIVE QUICKLY WHAT THEY DO AND WHY BEING AT LEGACY ALLOWS THEM TO DO THAT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ANGIE MACON.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE, AND WE ARE SO PLEASED AND EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING OUT IN THE HIGH BUILDING RIGHT NOW AS THE BUILDING THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON FOR THE ARTS AT LEGACY PARK.
WE HAVE SEVEN STUDIO SPACES THAT ARE BEING CURRENTLY RENTED BY SEVEN ARTISTS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE CURRENTLY HOSTING A ART EXHIBIT BY LAURIE LAJIM CALLED RISING, AND WE ARE MOST LIKELY COMPLETELY BOOKED ALREADY FOR
[00:20:02]
2025 WITH ARTISTS WHO HAVE COME TO US REQUESTING SPACE, OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A OPEN STUDIO ARTIST EXHIBIT FOR THE ARTISTS WHO ARE THERE NOW BEFORE THEIR LEASE ENDS AND BEFORE WE DO A RENEWAL IN SEPTEMBER.WE'VE BEEN REALLY FORTUNATE TO DO SOME UPGRADING AND WE HAVE A LITTLE GALLERY NOW, AND WE'VE UPGRADED THE INTERNET.
WE ARE WORKING WITH PAINT LOVE AS THEY ARE MOVING ON UP AND WE WILL BE USING THEIR SPACE AFTER THEY GET INTO A DIFFERENT BUILDING LATER ON THIS YEAR, HOPEFULLY [LAUGHTER] SO WE CAN EXPAND OUR PROGRAMMING.
WE ARE ALSO OFFERING INTER-GENERATIONAL ART CLASSES.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE PRINTMAKING AND WATERCOLOR THAT HAVE MADE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.
WE'RE GOING TO START A NEW GROUP, PROBABLY LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER AND ADDING COLLAGE AND HOPEFULLY, WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE ADD SOME PAPER-MAKING.
WE'VE BEEN REALLY FORTUNATE WITH THE WEALTH OF TALENT THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WANT TO STEP UP AND TEACH CLASSES THAT ARE NOT LIMITED TO K THROUGH 12 OR OVER 50 OR WHATEVER.
WE REALLY WANT TO TRY TO GET THE COMMUNITY AND BUILD MORE COMMUNITY BY HAVING DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT IS JUST GREAT WORKING WITH MAURA. THANK YOU.
I'M WITH FRANK HAMILTON SCHOOL, AND WE TEACH FOLK MUSIC FROM EVERYTHING FROM GUITAR TO SWING GUITAR TO BANJO, FIDDLE.
I'M A FIDDLER. THAT'S MY THING.
BUT WE'VE HAD BEING IN THE PARK HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO US BECAUSE WE WERE RENTING SPACE IN A CHURCH, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL, BUT IT WASN'T OUR SPACE.
OUR SPACE NOW HAS WHEN WE MOVED IN, WE HAD AN AVERAGE OF 85 STUDENTS FOR EIGHT WEEK PERIOD, AND WE JUST HAD 200 IN THIS CURRENT TERM.
WE'VE WORKED IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PLAY FOR TUCK ON TUESDAY, WE'VE PLAYED FOR WILDNESS, WE MADE UKELES WITH THE KIDS AT PAIN.
WE HAD SOME STUDENTS PLAY FOR TRELLIS, ARCH.
IT'S REALLY COOL TO BUILD THIS REALLY BIG COMMUNITY OF MUSICIANS.
WE HAD SOMEBODY COME BACK TODAY BECAUSE THE WEATHER'S NICE, EVERYBODY'S OUT WALKING.
I COULD SEE HIM OUT IN FRONT OF OUR BUILDING AND WHEN I SAID, YOU NEED A RESTROOM, DON'T YOU? [LAUGHTER] HOW DID YOU KNOW? WE ENDED UP TALKING ABOUT THE SCHOOL, OF COURSE.
HAVING THAT, THEY TOOK CARDS AND HOPEFULLY LET'S SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, WE START NEXT WEEK. WE'RE A NEW TERM.
WE REALLY LOOKING FOR, WE'RE WORKING WITH MADELEINE NOW TRYING TO GET A LARGE SPACE, NOT A DIFFERENT SPACE, BUT MORE SPACE.
BECAUSE ONE THING WE'RE LACKING IS A LARGE SPACE TO GET A BIG GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER TO PLAY.
WE'RE MAYBE WE CAN GET SHEDDING GOING AND WE'RE WORKING ON TRYING TO GET THAT REHABBED AND INTO A COME WE WANT TO CALL IT THE FRANK HAMILTON COMMUNITY ROOM.
BECAUSE FRANK IS 90-YEARS-OLD AND HE'S STILL TEACHING WITH US AND IT WOULD JUST BE A GREAT THING TO HONOR HIM.
WE'RE JUST EXCITED ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY.
WE'RE JUST REALLY ENJOYING THE PARK.
EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THERE IS JUST BRINGING PEOPLE IN AND PLAYING WITH EVERYBODY AND JUST HAVING FUN.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THERE FOR. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
MADELEINE, TOO. THANKS, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> MY NAME IS MIKE FLUECKIGER.
I'M HERE WITH RODGER BURGESS, AND LONG WITH A THIRD MAN HUNTER RAMSEUR, WE FORMED GLOBAL SPOKES ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
WE ARE ALL AVID BICYCLISTS AND HUNTER WAS DOING SOME DONATIONS TO THE GLOBAL VILLAGE PROJECT IN DECATUR AND I WAS FIXING BIKES IN MY BASEMENT FOR NEIGHBORS AND SO ON.
WE FOUND OUT ABOUT EACH OTHER AND GOT TOGETHER AND FORM GLOBAL SPOKES, 501C3 ORGANIZATIONS.
WE COLLECT BIKES FROM NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, EVEN PLACES LIKE REI, WHEN PEOPLE COME IN, WANT TO BUY A NEW BIKE OR FIX THEIR BIKE AND FIND OUT HOW MUCH IS GOING TO COST AND THEY AND THEY GIVE US BIKES.
WE REFURBISH THEM AND WE DONATE THEM ALMOST ENTIRELY TO THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY IN CARSON.
WE WILL GIVE A BIKE TO ANYBODY THAT NEEDS A BIKE, BUT 95% OF OUR BIKES GO TO THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY IN CARSON.
WE'VE PROBABLY GIVEN OVER 300.
WE HAVEN'T KEPT TRACK OF HOW MANY BIKES WE'VE GIVEN OVER FIVE YEARS.
BUT WE WORK THROUGH ORGANIZATIONS PRIMARILY,
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AFGHAN AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF GEORGIA, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, CARSON AL TERA.THEN WE WILL GIVE TO INDIVIDUALS AS WELL WHO CONTACT US.
THERE ARE SOME NATIONALITIES WHO ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY AN ORGANIZATION.
IF THEY FIND OUT ABOUT US AND CALL US, WE'LL DEFINITELY GIVE BIKES TO THEM AS WELL.
WE HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF REQUESTS FOR BIKES AND NO SHORTAGE OF GOOD BIKES BEING DONATED TO US.
TWO OF US ARE BIKE MECHANICS, I FIX BIKES IN MY BASEMENT, WE'VE BEEN AT LEGACY PARK FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS NOW, I THINK.
WE START BIKES THERE, BUT WE HAVE A WORKSPACE THERE AND MIKE GOODMAN, WHO USED TO OWN IN TOWN BIKES HERE IN ATLANTA, HE SOLD THE SHOP.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, RETIRED, AND HE CALLED AND SAID, HEY, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? HE FIXES BIKES FOR US? IT'S A WIN WIN FOR HIM AND US.
HE LOVES DOING IT, GOES OVER THERE HIS OWN TIME.
WE REALLY HAVE ENJOYED BEING AT LEGACY PARK AND JUST THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE DONE BIKE DONATIONS TO REFUGEE WOMEN'S NETWORK AND DONE BIKE FARES AND RODEOS WITH THEM TOO.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AT LEGACY.
>> HI, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS CHLOE YOUNG AND I'M THE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS MANAGER FOR PAINT LOVE, AND WE HAVE A MISSION OF GOING OUT AND DOING EXTRAORDINARY ARTS PROGRAMMING TO EMPOWER YOU AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.
I'M JUST SO EXCITED TO BE HERE.
PAINT LOVE HAS BEEN IN A TREMENDOUS GROWTH PHASE.
WITH OUR MOVE AND OUR HOME INDICATOR, WE GO OUT TO DIFFERENT SPACES, BUT WE'RE REALLY EMBEDDED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AS SOMEONE WHO IS FROM THIS AREA AND HAS GROWN UP INDICATOR.
I'M JUST SO THAT PAINT LOVE HAS BEEN ABLE TO GROW ROOTS HERE.
WE PARTNER WITH OF DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE IN THEIR SPACE.
THEN WE ARE AT REFUGEE WOMEN'S NETWORK IN TRELLIS AND WILDNESS, AND PARTNERING WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO REALLY BRING ART AND MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE TO KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WE ALSO PARTNER WITH DECATUR EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AND THEY'VE BEEN MOVING IN ALL SCHOOLS ALL OVER DECATUR AND BRINGING EXTRAORDINARY MEDIUMS TO TALLY STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DOING THEIR FIBER ARTS AND WEAVING RESIDENCY THERE.
THEY WILL ALSO BE AT FAV IN THE SPRING DOING FIBER ARTS AND WEAVING THERE AND BRINGING ALL THEIR PIECES AND DISPLAYING THEM INTO CARE LIBRARY.
THAT'S AN OPEN COMMUNITY PROGRAM.
WE'RE ALSO AT BEACON HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE WE'VE DONE SLAM POETRY AND HOW POETRY CAN BE A GREAT WAY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF AND GET OUT BIG FEELINGS AND BIG THOUGHTS.
ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE WE'RE SEEING FAMILIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AGAIN, I'M THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS MANAGER SO HAVING SPACES THAT ARE OPEN FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TO ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE DO THAT IS THROUGH OUR SUMMER CAMP AND ALSO INTER-GENERATIONAL FAMILY PROGRAMS. THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE'RE REALLY TIED AND REALLY TO BE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TO DO MORE.
>> RACHEL COCHRAN, I'M ONE OF THE CO FOUNDERS OF TRELLIS.
TRELLIS' MISSION IS USING THE POWER OF GARDENING IN NATURE TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.
WE HAVE THE DREAM JOBS FOR SURE.
BUT TRELLIS IN THAT GROWTH PERIOD OF A NONPROFIT OR 8-YEARS-OLD, AND WE'VE BEEN OPERATING OVER AT CARSON WILLIFORD CENTER SINCE 2019.
WE ARE PROBABLY CONSIDERED NOW ONE OF THE ONLY ORGANIZATIONS AS A NONPROFIT THAT IS DEDICATED TO SERVING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE GARDEN SPACE.
WITH THAT, WE HAVE GROWN A LOT, AND CALEN WALD HAS BEEN AN OKAY PARTNER, BUT NOT A GREAT PARTNER.
[LAUGHTER] WE REALLY HAD TO HIT DID OUR BRAINSTORMING AND PINS OUT AND HIRE A CONSULTANT AND WENT THROUGH A THREE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE ANSWER WAS VERY CLEAR THAT WE NEEDED TO FIND A PERMANENT HOME AND A SUPPORTIVE HOME, ONE THAT WANTED US TO BE THERE.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF MIND TO BUILD OUR NONPROFIT IN DECATUR.
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I KNEW ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S HOME AND WALK MY DOG THERE WHEN IT OPERATIONAL AND THEN ABANDONED.[LAUGHTER] WISH I HAD TAKEN MORE PICTURES BACK THEN.
BUT WE FOUND LEGACY PARK, AND IT HAS BEEN A DREAM.
WE ARE WANTED AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO THERE IS JUST BRING PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT IN NATURE AND GET THEIR HANDS IN THE DIRT AND BE A PART OF A GARDENING COMMUNITY.
BUT WITH LEGACY PARK, IT'S A BIGGER COMMUNITY.
I WAS THERE THE OTHER DAY AND IT SOUNDS REALLY SILLY, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THAT MOVIE, PLEASANTVILLE.
BUT WHEN I'M OUT THERE, IT'S WAVE, RACHEL.
[LAUGHTER] I WAS LIKE, AM I IN A MOVIE? [LAUGHTER] I MEAN, IT IS ALMOST PERFECT.
IT IS JUST A UNIQUE PLACE THAT MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY.
PEOPLE WANT TO BE THERE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING OUR CLIENTS.
WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH SHEPHERD CENTER, VETERANS.
IN 2024, WE SERVED 165 PEOPLE, WHICH IS VERY MUCH AN INCREASE FROM WHAT WE DID THE YEAR BEFORE.
WE HAD 900 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK LAST YEAR, AND I'M SURE A LOT OF IT WAS BUILDING THE GARDEN.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE DIDN'T HIRE ANYBODY TO REALLY BUILD THAT GARDEN, THAT WAS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.
WE ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE A CONTRACTOR COME IN REMOVE SOME GRASS, UNBEARABLE.
WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT OURSELVES.
BUT I WANT TO THANK MADELEINE AND DIAMOND AND JUST TO CLOSE, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.
WE ALSO OPERATE THE LEGACY PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN, AND ONE OF OUR GARDEN APPLICANTS HAPPENED TO BE ONE OF THE NICKERSON FAMILY, WHICH IS THE NICKERSON COTTAGE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE ONE WE ARE LEASING.
WE THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST REALLY A COINCIDENCE.
>> I HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING, SO I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME ALL RIGHT.
MY NAME IS LEN RUBENSTEIN WITH COMPASSIONATE ATLANTA.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE A COMPASSIONATE CITY AND SIGNED THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION MANY YEARS AGO.
WE'RE HAVING OUR 10TH BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR.
AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES JUST OUTSIDE OF CITY OF DECATUR BUT WORKS AND PLAYS HERE A LOT, I REMEMBER GOING TO THE MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT THIS LEGACY PARK AND WHAT IT WAS GOING TO BE, AND PEOPLE WANTED AN AMPHITHEATER AND THEY WANTED HOUSING AND THEY WANTED ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
IT'S REALLY AMAZING SO MANY YEARS LATER TO ACTUALLY BE A PART OF THIS.
WHAT WE DO AT COMPASSION IN ATLANTA AND I WROTE THIS DOWN ALTHOUGH I KNOW IT.
BUT OUR GOAL IS TO BUILD HEALTHIER, MORE CONNECTED, ABUNDANT, AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES.
WHAT I REALIZED IS OUR GOAL AND THE MASTER PLAN, AND CITY OF DECATUR, ACTUALLY, WE ARE THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE THAT BRINGS FOLKS TOGETHER.
I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU ALL AND MADELEINE AND DIAMOND AND ALL THE NONPROFITS BECAUSE IT IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE THAT.
AS YOU WERE SAYING, IT'S LIKE EVERYBODY'S LIKE, HEY, HOW ARE YOU? ARE YOU DOING OKAY TODAY? HOW'S YOUR DAY? WE DO INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY BUILDING.
WE HAVE A YOGA CLASS EVERY WEDNESDAY FOR ALL THE NONPROFITS.
ANYBODY THAT WORKS AT LEGACY PARK CAN COME TO YOGA.
WE DO A YOGA NIDRA ONCE A MONTH, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY GIVE BACK.
I'M TRULY AMAZED, WE TOUCH ABOUT 7,000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR AND BEING ABLE TO BRING THEM TO LEGACY PARK, WE HAVE COMPASSION CON, WHICH WAS SUPPORTED BY THE CITY LAST YEAR.
WE'RE HAVING IT AGAIN, THIS YEAR IN OCTOBER, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT, 1,400 PEOPLE CAME.
WE DO IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.
BUT REALLY, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH.
ALL OF MY NOTES BECAUSE I COULD GO ON FOR SO LONG, BUT I JUST THINK IT ALIGNED SO WELL, AND THERE'S SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING.
FOR ME, JUST HAVING AN OFFICE THERE, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AN OFFICE, DO WE NEED AN OFFICE? LIKE TWO OF US? WE CAN WORK FROM HOME.
[00:35:01]
IT HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S.JUST REALLY KUDOS TO YOU BECAUSE I THINK THE MASTER PLAN IS COMING TOGETHER SO WELL AND BUILDING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL EXISTENCE, I WOULD SAY, ECOSYSTEM INDICATOR. THANK YOU.
>> HI, EVERYONE. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
I'M WITH THE DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL.
I THINK THIS IS MY THIRD TIME VISITING YOU ALL.
I'M SO EXCITED. THE FESTIVAL'S COMING BACK.
WE HAD OUR GREAT 2024 FESTIVAL AFTER A YEAR HIATUS IN 2023.
WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE FESTIVAL, HOW TO BRING IT BACK.
THEN WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE AND THEN WE GOT TWO, AS YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER, TWO VERY LARGE DONORS, ONE BEING TO KAPP COUNTY AND THE OTHER BEING THE JBC JOE BERRY CARROLL FAMILY FOUNDATION.
THAT THEY WERE GENEROUS. I WAS HIRED.
I HAD JUST RETIRED FROM EMORY, AND WE WERE ABLE TO PUT ON THIS 2024 FESTIVAL.
I WOULD SAY IT WAS A SUCCESS. WE LEARNED A LOT.
THERE IS A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT THAT WE CAN DO AND WE WILL.
BUT WE HAD 10,000 PEOPLE THERE.
WE DID REDUCE THE SIZE DOWN TO ONE DAY INSTEAD OF TWO.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
THE DATE OF THE FESTIVAL IS OCTOBER 3TH AND 4TH.
THE CITY HAS KINDLY GIVEN US THAT FIRST WEEKEND IN OCTOBER THAT WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE, AND I'M HOPING THEY WILL COME BACK AS THEY WERE A MAJOR SPONSOR LAST YEAR.
EXCITED TO WORK WITH THEM AGAIN.
DID I MENTION IT'S OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY? IT'S OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY.
YEAH, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE WORKS, A LOT OF PLANS.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WORKING ON THE THE FOUNDATION, THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'RE DOING REBRANDING, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A WHOLE NEW LOOK AND FEEL FOR THE FESTIVAL.
I THINK IT'S TIME TO CHANGE THINGS UP.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW WEBSITE THAT'S HAPPENING.
THEN I'M SPENDING A LOT OF TIME RIGHT NOW DOING THE FUND RAISING TO REALLY GET THE FUNDS IN, SO WE CAN DO THIS FESTIVAL.
I THINK THOSE WERE THE MAIN POINTS I WANTED TO TOUCH ON.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GREAT AUTHORS.
WE'RE GETTING A REAL HEAD START OVER LAST YEAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T START WORKING UNTIL MARCH LAST YEAR.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE JANUARY FULL FORCE, SO VERY EXCITED.
LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU THERE, AND I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE LEGACY FOLKS.
MADELINE AND DIAMOND ARE JUST THE NICEST, WARMEST, MOST WELCOMING, KIND PEOPLE.
I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE IF I NEED ANYTHING THERE TO HELP.
I SHOULD SAY DORSEY IS THE SAME WAY.
FANTASTIC. WE FEEL VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A HOME THERE.
I DO WORK FROM HOME A LOT, BUT I ALWAYS KNOW I CAN WORK IN THE OFFICE, AND WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING THERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
THANK YOU ALL AND I'M GOING BIRD WATCHING AT LEGACY PARK SUNDAY MORNING AT EIGHT O'CLOCK.
>> HI. MY NAME IS HEIDI. THIS IS NEIL.
WE REPRESENT TAI CHI FOR LIFE COOP.
WE'VE BEEN PRACTICING IN THE PARK.
I THINK SINCE COVID, WE REALLY STARTED GOING THERE ON THE WEEKENDS.
EVERY SATURDAY, WE WERE FINDING THAT IT WAS A GOOD GET TOGETHER DURING COVID.
WE MADE THE PLAN TO GET THE OFFICE SPACE.
WE'VE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE'VE REALLY GOT INTO OUR LITTLE SPACE AND BROUGHT IN OUR STUFF.
THEN THE OTHER THING WE DO IS WE HAVE OUR WORLD EVENT AT THE LAST SATURDAY OF APRIL EVERY YEAR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST COME TO THAT EVENT EVERY YEAR.
IT'S A GOOD GET TOGETHER FOR ALL OF, I GUESS, LOCAL DECATUR AND DEB COUNTY TEACHERS WHO STILL DO TAI CHI BUT DON'T NECESSARILY CELEBRATE THAT EVENT.
WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT THINGS GO ON IN SOME OF THE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS.
WE HAD SOME WORKSHOPS LAST YEAR AND A LITTLE GATHERING WITH FOOD AND DISCUSSIONS.
[00:40:08]
>> WE ARE A COOP, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
WE ARE A COOP OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.
HEIDI IS A TEACHER, I'M A TEACHER, BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 300 PEOPLE THAT WE REACH OUT TO AND THERE'S ABOUT 30 MEMBERS OF OUR COOP.
IT'S BEEN DIFFERENT RUNNING A COP.
I WENT TO A SMALL LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE AND OUR MOTTO WAS PROVIDE FOR TURI PROVIDE FOR THE FUTURE.
THIS BOARD REALLY HAS LEGACY PARK AND ALL THE PEOPLE, AND OF COURSE, MADELIENE DIAMOND, AND THESE NONPROFITS, THE SYNERGY THERE IS AMAZING.
WE'VE DONE TAI CHI TO THE FIDDLE WITH [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] SERIOUS. YEAH, IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT.
>> WE WERE PART OF COMPASSION FEST.
>> COMPASSION FEST, THE REFUGEE WOMEN'S NETWORK, HOSTED AT THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE WOOD SNAKE.
IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT. ALSO IF I COULD, I WORK WITH GEORGIA ARBORST ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS ANOTHER MEMBER OF LEGACY PARK, AND THEY JOINED TWO YEARS AGO, AND LEGACY PARK HAS HOSTED THE GEORGIA TREE CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIPS TWO YEARS IN A ROW.
THAT ORGANIZATION CREATES SAFETY FOR ARBORISTS, MOSTLY ARBORISTS, AND JUST A COMMUNITY AND TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN ALL GO HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE.
IT'S BEEN NICE FOR THE CITY TO CATER TOO, BECAUSE YOU HAVE ARBORIST ALL THE TIME.
>> WE DO OUR PRACTICE WITH THE TREES.
TRADITIONALLY, TAI CHI IS PRACTICED IN NATURE.
IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TO LEGACY PARK, IT'S LIKE DOING TWO THINGS AT THE SAME TIME.
THEY GET TO EXPERIENCE THE PARK AND TAKE A TAI CHI CLASS, WHICH IS HOW I'M ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT LEGACY PARK, JUST COME.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, IT'S EXTRAORDINARY.
THE OTHER THING, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS IS VERY INTO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE LAND.
HE'S VERY SENSITIVE TO THE GRID LINES IN THE EARTH.
HE'S HAD A LOT OF HISTORY TO TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE TREES AND SOME OF THE AREAS AND SOME OF THE HISTORY OF JUST WHAT'S HAPPENED ON THE LAND THERE.
>> YEAH. MOSTLY MUSCOVY PRESENCE AND SUCH, WHICH WE'RE LOOKING TO RESEARCH MORE, SHARE WITH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S BEEN SO MANY THINGS THAT I FEEL LIKE I COULD PIGGYBACK OFF OF I'M REPRESENTING GLOBAL GROWERS NETWORK, AND I'LL SAY THAT I LIVE ON A RIGHT OFF OF KATIE CUR DRIVE, AND I'M FRESH TO DECATUR.
I MOVED HERE FOR THE JOB AT GLOBAL GROWERS, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT AS A PERSPECTIVE RESIDENT, LEGACY PARK WAS A HUGE BONUS AS A NEWCOMER TO THIS CITY.
THEN ALSO JUST BEING ABLE TO SEE PEOPLE SCALE UP AND DOWN.
OUR SHIRT IS PURPLE AND GREEN, AND THAT DAY, THE TREE CLIMBERS WERE ALSO WEARING PURPLE.
I WAS AFRAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO STRAP ME AND HAVE ME CLIMB UP THE TREE, WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN.
AWAY, GLOBAL GROWERS NETWORK IS CELEBRATING OUR 15TH YEAR THIS YEAR AS WELL, AND WE OPERATE A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY GARDENS ON THE EAST SIDE OF ATLANTA, ONE OF OUR LARGEST GARDENS SAY, IS AT LEGACY PARK.
WE ALSO HAVE A ORGANIC CO FARM OUT IN ROCKDALE COUNTY IN CONYERS, AND THE DECATUR KITCHEN GARDEN REPRESENTS OVER 30 FAMILIES OF PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
WE WORK GENERALLY WITH IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES AND PEOPLE WHO NEED A PLACE TO GROW FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILIES, FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS, FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.
[00:45:02]
IF YOU HAVEN'T YET BEEN TO THE DECATOR KITCHEN GARDEN, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND, AS YOU'RE, BIRD WATCHING AND VISITING THE TRACK COURSE, TO PLEASE STOP BY THE DECATOR KITCHEN GARDEN.I'M ASSURING YOU IT'LL BE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND DIVERSE PLACES THAT YOU CAN SEE IN TERMS OF THE CROPS GROWING THERE BECAUSE IT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO GROW FOOD THERE FROM AFGHANISTAN, NEPAL, BURMA.
YOU'LL SEE LOTS OF MUSTARD GREENS AND HIBISCUS AND LOTS OF HOT PEPPERS AND FUN THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT SEE ANYWAY THAT I WAS FAMILIAR GROWING UP WITH.
WE JUST YESTERDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, PARTICIPATED IN THE WILD CENTERS SEED AND SION EVENT, WE LEAD PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO GO SEE THE GARDEN SITES.
WE RECENTLY JUST HOSTED A TOUR.
WE HOST TOURS ALL THE TIME FOR DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES WHO ARE CURIOUS IN WANTING TO LEARN ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD JUSTICE, WE ALWAYS WELCOME PEOPLE TO VISIT THE GARDENS AND WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD CAN GROW FOOD THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO THEM. THANK YOU.
>> CAN YOU TELL US YOUR LAST NAME?
>> YES. KATE WESCHLER. YEAH. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OUR NONPROFITS HERE TODAY, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK TO THOSE THAT COULD NOT MAKE IT HERE TODAY.
>> JIVAN, CAN YOU JUST FOR THE RECORD STATE YOUR NAME.
>> MY NAME JIVAN FOGG, PROGRAMS MANAGER WITH LEGACY DECATUR.
>> I WANTED TO SPEAK TO A FEW OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS, THEIR MISSION AND JUST HOW THEY TIED INTO OUR MASTER PLAN WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO THE COMMUNITY.
DECATUR EDUCATION FOUNDATION MAKES SURE THAT EVERY KID IN DECATUR HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE, BUT ALSO PROVIDING STUDENTS, FACULTY, EDUCATORS, AND THE COMMUNITY THAT'S STRENGTHENING BOND.
THEY HAVE THEIR BATTLE, THE BANDS AT LEGACY PARK LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS GETTING READY AND GEARING UP FOR DECATUR'S LARGEST 5K, TOUR DECATUR, AND ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY THAT WAY.
WE HAVE DECATUR LAND TRUST, WHICH WORKS TO ACQUIRE AND CREATE HOMES, LAND, AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES FOR THE COMMUNITY AND DOING THEIR WORK WITH THE COTTAGE HOMES AND THEN THE PARK 108 RESIDENCES, AND ALSO HAVING AN OFFICE AT LEGACY, THAT'S A NEW PIECE FOR US.
WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO WELCOME THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THEN WE HAVE LARSH ATLANTA, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO A HOUSE BASED COMMUNITY, AND THEY HAVE HOUSES OFF OF CLAREMONT, BUT ALSO MEAD ROAD, AND THEY WORK WITH ALL PEOPLE WITH ALL INTELLECTUAL AND ABILITIES, AND THEY WANT TO CELEBRATE THAT.
THEY HAVE THEIR VALENTINE'S DANCE THAT THEY JUST DID THIS MONTH, THAT'S WELCOMING TO ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE A MYRIAD OF OTHER EVENTS LIKE THEIR ZOOM TRIVIA THAT I WILL BE JOINING NEXT MONTH BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED TO JOIN THEM.
THEY'RE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEN WE HAVE THE GRIEF HOUSE, WHICH IS VERY NEW TO US.
IT'S ALSO A SUBLEASE THROUGH TRELLIS, WHICH IS NEW FOR OUR ORGANIZATION.
BUT THEIR WORK SUPPORTS COMMUNITY LED OFFERING THAT FOSTER THE METABOLISM OF GRIEF AND GOING THROUGH IT THROUGH DIFFERENT MEDIUMS. THEY HAVE TRELLIS THAT THEY'RE COLLABORATING, THE GARDENING ASPECT, THAT ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT, BUT ALSO THE ART PROGRAMMING AND WEAVING LOSS THROUGH THAT AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.
THEY REALLY MADE NICKERSON A HOME.
THEY CELEBRATED THEIR GRAND OPENING LAST MONTH THAT I WAS ABLE TO GO TO AND JUST HAVING THE PRESENCE OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS USING NICKERSON THAT JUST USED TO BE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, BUT NOW A HOME FOR TWO ORGANIZATIONS, IS VERY EXCITING.
THEN OUR LAST TWO, WILD NEST BIRD REHAB IS DEDICATED TO REHABILITATING GEORGIA'S ORPHANED AND INJURED BIRDS AND RELEASING THEM BACK TO THE WILD.
THEY HAVE HAD OVER 20,000 HOURS DONATED AND TREATED OVER 5,600 BIRDS AND RELEASED THEM.
THEY SAID THAT IS THE FIRST MILESTONE THAT THEY'VE EVER HIT IN FOUR YEARS.
THEY'VE ALSO BEEN A GREAT PARTNER OF UTILIZING A BUILDING ON OUR CAMPUS, SO THAT HISTORIC PRESERVATION TIE TO OUR MASTER PLAN.
BUT ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSET TO THE BIRD POPULATION,
[00:50:02]
NOT ONLY IN DECATUR, BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, THEY MIGRATE BEYOND.THEN WILD CENTER IS A GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNER AS WELL.
THEIR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT RESILIENT COMMUNITIES BY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND PUBLIC GREEN SPACE.
THEY JUST COMPLETED THEIR ORCUST GARDEN, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING FOR THEM AND HAD A GRAND OPENING RECENTLY, AND THEY REALLY ARE A GREAT PARTNER WITH TYING IN THAT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASPECT WITH LEGACY IN DECATUR.
>> 2024 WAS A BIG YEAR, 2025 WILL BE ANOTHER.
WE'LL BE ACTIVATING THE TRACK AND FIELD AND GYM, SO FOR MYSELF AS WELL AS THE PARKS & REC DIRECTOR, REMY EPPS, AND TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SCHOOL, RODNEY THOMAS AND DAVID HARBIN WILL BE ON THE SHARED USE COMMITTEE AS WE CONTINUE TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW THAT SPACE BLENDS IN WITH THE REST OF LEGACY AND ACTIVATES THE COMMUNITY.
OF COURSE, WELCOMING THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY COMMUNITY AS THEY MOVE IN, OPENING THE CREATIVE VILLAGE.
WE'RE FIGURING OUT WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND A GROUP OF GEORGIA TECH STUDENTS HOW WE SHOULD CARE FOR OUR POSTAL POND, CONTINUING TO REPURPOSE BUILDINGS, EXPANDING PROGRAMMING AND THEN, OF COURSE, JUNE OF 2025 WILL BE THE END OF LEGACY DECATUR'S OPERATION MANAGEMENT FEE FROM THE CITY.
THIS WILL BE A BIG YEAR IN BOOSTING OUR OWN REVENUE, BOTH EARNED REVENUE, BUT ALSO FUNDRAISING GRANTS AND OTHER WAYS.
LEGACY DECATUR IS A STAFF OF TWO AND OUR INCREDIBLE BOARD.
[LAUGHTER] THREE OF WHICH ARE BEFORE ME.
BUT WE REALLY COULDN'T DO THE MASTER PLAN THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR AND ITS COMMUNITY DREAMED UP WITHOUT OUR INCREDIBLE, I REALIZE I MISS 18 NONPROFITS.
I MISSED THE GEORGIA ARBORIST ASSOCIATION.
THEY ALL BRING A VERY UNIQUE PART OF THAT RECREATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY BUILDING, ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION, AND THE ARTS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I KNOW WE'RE TIED ON TIME. ANY QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, A COMMENT. THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE.
FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OUT AT LEGACY, WHAT A GREAT VIEW INTO ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON? IS NOT JUST HOUSING OR THE TRACK.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS GOING ON IN SUCH A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE REPRESENTED THAT I THINK IT IS STARTING TO LIVE UP TO WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO 2025 BECAUSE NEXT YEAR'S REPORT IS GOING TO BE EVEN BIGGER.
>> IT'S TWO REALLY BIG PROJECTS.
>> ARE THERE COMMENTS? THANKS TO ALL OF THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE HERE, AND I WALK THERE A LOT AND SO SINCE I LIVE REALLY CLOSE AND IT'S BEEN REALLY HEARTWARMING TO SEE EVERYTHING ACTIVATED AND JUST TO SEE THE SPACE USED ON THE WEEKENDS WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE COMING IN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
>> THE SIT AND STAND ARE BACK?
>> THAT WAS IT. I WAS LIKE, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE OVER THERE, [LAUGHTER] SO THAT WAS IT.
I THINK THE TRACK AND FIELD WILL ADD ANOTHER DIMENSION AND HAVE PEOPLE COME AND HOPEFULLY SEE THE NONPROFIT PRESENCE THERE AS WELL AS ENJOY THE FACILITY AND TO HAVE PEOPLE LIVING CLOSE BY AS WELL, SO THANKS AGAIN.
>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR.
WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND WE WILL START OUR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AT 7:30, SO THANK YOU.
[LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] [NOISE]
[I. Call to Order by Mayor.]
>> GOOD EVENING. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH.
[II. Approval of the Minutes.]
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING AND THE REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 3RD.ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS?
>> MOVE APPROVAL IF YOU WANT THEM IN THE SAME MOTION OR SEPARATE MOTION.
>> I THINK WE CAN HAVE THE SAME MOTION, SO ANY DISCUSSION?
[00:55:01]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] I HAVE A SECOND.
I WAS NOT AT THE MEETING BUT THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
NEXT, WE ARE GOING TO MEET SOME NEW STAFF.
[III. Presentation.]
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO STAFF [LAUGHTER] TO INTRODUCE.>> GOOD EVENING. I'M RENAE JACKSON, EQUITY & ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR, AND I'M SUPER EXCITED TO INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO ASHLEY POWELL, WHO IS OUR NEWEST COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR.
ONE OF ASHLEY'S MAIN FOCUS, NO PUN INTENDED, IS BE THE EDITOR [LAUGHTER] OF THE DECATUR FOCUS ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO ON THE COMMUNICATION SIDE OF THINGS.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME WORKING ON THE FOCUS.
WE'RE ALREADY ONE ISSUE, AND I'M EXCITED TO START WITH THE NEXT ONE.
>> CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I'VE BEEN WORKING IN COMMUNICATIONS FOR FOURISH YEARS.
I STARTED OFF IN JOURNALISM, AND THEN I DECIDED THAT I LIKED STORYTELLING THAT I FELT WAS LESS SAD.
[LAUGHTER] TELLING THE STORY OF CITIES AND STORIES THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITIES TO KNOW AND INFORMATION THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITIES.
I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.
MY BEST FRIEND WENT TO DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL AND MY LITTLE SISTER GRADUATED FROM AGNES SCOTT, SO I'M ALWAYS IN THE CITY.
I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN DECATUR WAS GREATER, SO [LAUGHTER] I'M EXCITED TO BE WORKING FOR A CITY THAT I'VE KNOWN A LOT ABOUT MOST OF MY LIFE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
DAVID NIFONG, ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER.
I AM LIKEWISE SO EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THE NEWEST MEMBER OF MY TEAM, REBECCA BRYANT, OUR NEW SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR.
>> I'M JUST REALLY HONORED TO HAVE THIS JOB.
I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT ALL THE SUSTAINABILITY WORK, AND I'M SO HAPPY TO SUPPORT DAVID AND ALL THE PROJECTS WE'RE WORKING ON.
EXCITED TO WORK WITH LEGACY PARK ON OUR EARTH DAY EVENT COMING UP AND ALL THE OTHER GREAT THINGS WE HAVE AHEAD.
IT'S JUST AN HONOR. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK WE HAVE A SCOUT HERE THIS EVENING.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
[LAUGHTER] I'M SURE YOU'D LOVE TO.
[LAUGHTER] IF YOU WILL COME FORWARD, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US WHY YOU'RE HERE AND TELL US ABOUT THE TROOP YOU'RE IN.
MY NAME IS LIAM VICKERY, 15, AND I GO TO DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M LOOKING TO COMPLETE MY EAGLE BADGE.
THERE'S THIS REQUIREMENT IN COMMUNICATIONS, WHICH IS SOMETHING ABOUT ATTENDING COURTROOM DISCUSSION LIKE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING AT THE SCHOOL.
I WAS JUST LOOKING INTO THIS AND IT'S TOMORROW NIGHT OR TONIGHT, BUT WE WERE LOOKING AT IT YESTERDAY, AND I WAS JUST LIKE, WHY NOT GO? ME AND MY MOM SIGNED UP.
AS YOU KNOW MS. ARNOLD, SHE'S MY NEIGHBOR AND [LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE]
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT WILL BE?
>> NO. I HAVEN'T STARTED ON THAT YET. HOPEFULLY SOON THOUGH.
>> THANK YOU, LIAM. [LAUGHTER]
>> MS. ARNOLD MAY HAVE TOLD ME THAT YOU WERE HERE.
>> YOU'RE HIDING. [BACKGROUND] NEXT,
[IV. Alcoholic Beverage Licenses. ]
WE WILL LOOK AT ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSES, AND FOR THIS FIRST ONE, I BELIEVE IS FOR LEGACY PARK.>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
MY NAME IS DYMOND FOGG, PROGRAMS MANAGER WITH LEGACY DECATUR, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO REQUEST A LOCAL LICENSE FOR BEER AND WINE ALCOHOL SEALS AT LEGACY PARK FOR THE FOLLOWING EVENTS THIS YEAR.
ON APRIL 26TH, 2025, LEGACY DECATUR HOSTS ITS SECOND ANNUAL LEGACY COMMUNITY DAY, CELEBRATING ALL OF THE NONPROFITS IN OUR GROWING COMMUNITY AT LEGACY PARK.
IT WILL BE A DAY FULL OF FUN, FOOD, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND A PLANT SALE.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE EXCITED TO INCLUDE THE CITY OF DECATUR'S ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD, WHO WILL ALSO BE CO-HOSTING AN EARTH DAY FESTIVAL WITH US.
[01:00:03]
WE'LL ALSO HAVE TRELLIS WITH THEIR SIGNATURE PLANT SALE.RATHER THAN SELLING THE ALCOHOL, LEGACY DECATUR WILL CONTRACT TOP JOBS BEVERAGE & EVENTS, A FOR-PROFIT COMPANY WITH EXPERIENCE SELLING ACROSS METRO ATLANTA CITY EVENTS, AND THEY WOULD BE THE ALCOHOL VENDOR FOR THE BEER AND WINE.
TOP JOBS BEVERAGE & EVENT HAS A RESIDENT CATERING LICENSE AND A LICENSE TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
TOP JOBS BEVERAGE & EVENT WILL ALSO ENSURE ALL OF THE COMPLIANCE TO THE GEORGIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE ALCOHOL AND PERMITTING PROCESS.
LEGACY DECATUR REQUESTS PERMISSION FOR NON-LIQUOR ALCOHOL SALES FROM 10:00 AM-2:00 PM FOR OUR LEGACY COMMUNITY DAY ON APRIL 26.
OUR NEXT EVENT SERIES IS OUR TRUCKIN' EVENT SERIES.
TRUCKIN' TUESDAY WILL REMAIN A LEGACY-SPONSORED EVENT, AND IT WILL OCCUR ON TUESDAYS EVERY MAY AND SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: MAY 6TH, 13TH, 20TH, AND 27TH, AS WELL AS SEPTEMBER 2ND, 9TH, 16TH, 23RD, AND 30TH.
LEGACY DECATUR REQUESTS A LOCAL LICENSE FOR BEER AND WINE ALCOHOL SALES FOR TRUCKIN' TUESDAYS.
AGAIN, RATHER THAN SELLING THE ALCOHOL OURSELVES, WE WILL BE CONTRACTING TOP JOBS BEVERAGE & EVENTS, AND THEY WILL BE THE ALCOHOL VENDOR FOR BEER AND WINE.
THEY HAVE A CATERING LICENSE AND A LICENSE TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND WILL ENSURE THE COMPLIANCE WITH THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.
LEGACY DECATUR REQUESTS PERMISSION FOR NON-LIQUOR ALCOHOL SALES FROM 5:00-8:00 PM DURING THE REQUESTED MAY AND SEPTEMBER TRUCKIN' TUESDAY DATES.
ON OCTOBER 19TH, THE LANDLOCKED OYSTER FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE AGAIN AT LEGACY PARK.
OYSTER SOUTH IS THE MAIN ORGANIZER OF THE EVENT AND IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES RESOURCES TO SUPPORT OYSTER FARMERS AND PROMOTE HEALTHY WATERS.
LANDLOCKED OYSTER FESTIVAL HAS A SUCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD OF HOSTING EVENTS AT LEGACY PARK SINCE 2022.
LEGACY DECATUR IS REQUESTING A BEER AND WINE LOCAL LICENSE FOR THIS SPECIAL EVENT THAT LISTS OYSTER SOUTH AS THE LICENSEE.
OYSTER SOUTH WILL THEN USE THIS LOCAL LICENSE TO APPLY FOR A SPECIAL EVENT ALCOHOL LICENSE FROM THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO ALCOHOL SALES AT THE LANDLOCKED OYSTER FESTIVAL, A STATE-LOCAL LICENSE IS STILL REQUIRED FOR THE BEER DISTRIBUTORS.
OUR LAST EVENT IS COMPASSIONCON.
ON OCTOBER 26TH, COMPASSIONATE ATLANTA WILL HOST OUR ANNUAL COMPASSIONCON FESTIVAL AT LEGACY PARK.
COMPASSIONCON AIMS TO BUILD OUR INTERCONNECTEDNESS AS A CITY AND TO AMPLIFY THE VOICE OF COMPASSION THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IT WILL BE A DAY FULL OF FUN, VENDORS' FOOD, AND MORE, AND COMPASSIONATE ATLANTA WILL BE THE MAIN ORGANIZER OF THE EVENT.
WHILE THEY HAVE NOT YET FINALIZED IF THEY ARE INCLUDING ALCOHOL IN THE FESTIVAL, THEY HAVE REQUESTED LEGACY DECATUR PRESENT ON THEIR BEHALF TO ENSURE THAT THEY DO HAVE THE OPTION.
RATHER THAN SELLING ALCOHOL THEMSELVES, COMPASSIONATE ATLANTA WILL CONTRACT TOP JOBS BEVERAGE & EVENT TO BE THE MAIN VENDOR FOR THE BEER AND WINE.
AGAIN, TOP JOBS DOES HAVE A CATERING LICENSE AND A LICENSE TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND WILL ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.
LEGACY DECATUR IS REQUESTING A BEER AND LOCAL ALCOHOL LICENSE FOR THIS SPECIAL EVENT THAT LISTS COMPASSIONATE ATLANTA AS THE LICENSEE, AND THEY WILL CONTRACT TOP JOBS BEVERAGE & EVENT TO SERVE AS A VENDOR FOR COMPASSIONCON.
AS A REMINDER WITH ALL EVENTS AT LEGACY PARK, A SECURITY OFFICER IS REQUIRED AND IS PRESENT, AS WELL AS CARDING INDIVIDUALS AND ENSURING THAT THEY ARE OVER 21 OR AT THAT MINIMUM AGE FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OF OUR PATRONS.
WE'D LOVE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO ALL OF THE EVENTS I LISTED TODAY AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ONE SENTENCE, AND I THINK I MIGHT KNOW THE ANSWER WHY IT WAS STATED THAT WAY, BUT IT SAYS, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO ALCOHOL SALES AT THE LANDLOCKED OYSTER FESTIVAL.
>> IT'S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE AS OPPOSED TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> GOT IT. VERY SUBTLE DIFFERENCE.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE
[01:05:01]
THE TEMPORARY SPECIAL EVENT BEER AND WINE LICENSES FOR THE ANNUAL EVENTS SPONSORED BY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, DECATUR LEGACY PARK AS PRESENTED?>> MOTION'S BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED? MAJORITY VOTES AYE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE EVENTS.
NEXT, AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR CONSUMPTION FOR BEER, WINE, AND SPIRITUOUS LIQUOR.
I'LL TURN THIS OVER TO MS. ARNOLD.
>> YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
I AM RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE APPLICATION FOR A NEW BUSINESS, FAN WINE, AND A MORROW BAR.
THE OWNERS TERRY AND JENNIFER COVAL, THEY'RE HERE THIS EVENING.
YOU MAY ALSO KNOW THEM AS THE PROPRIETORS AT DEER AND DOVE, AS WELL AS MY COFFEE SHOP.
>> THE NEW BUSINESS IS LOCATED AT 119 EAST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE.
THEY'RE VERY CLOSE TO BEING READY TO OPEN, AND SO THEY ARE READY TO ACQUIRE THEIR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR BEER, WINE, AND SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS, CONSUMPTION ON PREMISES.
AGAIN, AS A REMINDER, THIS IS THE POKE & JUICE BAR THAT WAS THERE ON EAST PONCE.
IT'S BEEN TOTALLY RENOVATED, AND WE'RE ALL VERY EAGER TO GO INSIDE AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
AGAIN, APPROVAL OF THE LICENSE IS RECOMMENDED.
>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS? A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR CONSUMPTION ON PREMISES FOR BEER, WINE, AND SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS TO TERRY AND JENNIFER KOVAL FOR FAWN, WINE AND AMARO BAR.
DID I GET THAT RIGHT? [BACKGROUND] THANK YOU.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION IS APPROVED.
NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS.
[V. Public Comment on Agenda Action Items.]
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF AGENDA ACTION ITEMS THIS EVENING.THE FIRST IS THE TRACK AND FIELD FURNISHINGS AT DECATUR LEGACY PARK.
THE SECOND IS APPROVAL OF TASK ORDERS FOR STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN SERVICES.
THE THIRD IS THE RENOVATIONS AT SAM BELL COTTAGE.
THE FOURTH IS ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS.
ITEM E, THE FIFTH IS THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT OF THE DECATUR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY'S DECISION TO APPROVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
THEN THE LAST IS TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM OR TAP GRANT APPLICATION.
IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO IS HERE THIS EVENING IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OF THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, PLEASE COME BEFORE US AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
WE WILL TAKE OTHER COMMENTS LATER IN THE MEETING.
WE'RE ASKING JUST FOR COMMENTS THAT ARE PERTAINING TO AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. WE'LL TAKE COMMENTS FROM THOSE IN THE ROOM FIRST, AND THEN WE WILL TAKE COMMENTS FROM THOSE ONLINE.
COME FORWARD. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. GREAT.
>> NEIL NORTON, 135 MOUNT VERNON DRIVE.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER AMAZING ITEM YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON AND THE STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, IN PARTICULAR, I'M SPEAKING UP FOR FAIRVIEW STREET.
YOU MIGHT KNOW THE NATURE PRESERVES AT THE OTHER END OF THAT.
IT'S INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT FLOWS OFF THAT STREET AND INTO THE NATURE PRESERVE AND THE AMOUNT OF EROSION THAT IT CREATES.
LITERALLY SQUARE FEET OF PROPERTY ARE JUST WASHED DOWN THE RIVER.
I DO LIKE TO ALWAYS REMIND THE COMMISSION, WE ARE AT OUR OWN HEADWATERS AND WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHATEVER WE DO.
WE CAN'T BLAME ANYBODY UPSTREAM BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE UPSTREAM.
WE ARE ON THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.
THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT.
I JUST WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ON FAIRVIEW STREET. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS? BEING NONE IN THE ROOM,
[01:10:01]
WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS ONLINE AND WE WILL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS NOW.IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, IF YOU WILL PLEASE RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND AND MS. ROARK WILL UNMUTE YOU AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTS.
WE'LL GIVE EVERYONE A FEW MINUTES.
SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING FOR AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. I WILL TURN THE FIRST ONE OVER,
[VI.A. Track and Field Furnishings at Decatur Legacy Park.]
I BELIEVE TO MR. JUNGER.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, DAVID JUNGER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT IS TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,000 AND AWARD OF A CONTRACT FOR $118,710 TO SHUMA SPORTS OF LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA FOR A VARIETY OF TRACK AND FIELD EQUIPMENT AT LEGACY PARK TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON CONSTRUCTING THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY.
WE STARTED THE WHOLE PROCESS WITH AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR.
THAT WAS TO SECURE THE FUNDING AND ORGANIZE THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT.
WITHIN THAT ORIGINAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT, IT SPOKE OF A SHARED USE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY, THE SCHOOLS, THE PFA, THE LEGACY DECATUR.
WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON ALL FRONTS TO INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRACK AND FIELD, AS WELL AS THE OTHER COMPONENTS THAT WERE REQUIRED AS PART OF THE PROJECT, INCLUDED MASTER SCHEDULE DEVELOPMENT FOR CITY USE AND CITY SCHOOLS USE.
WE WERE HOPING TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF DECEMBER.
THE SCHEDULE DID START IN PROBABLY LATE JANUARY.
THAT SCHEDULE WILL BE UPDATED AS WE GET THE PROJECT COMPLETED, BUT THE SCHOOLS AND THE CITY HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A MASTER SCHEDULE FOR USE OF THE FACILITY.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, ANOTHER COMPONENT WAS AN AGREED UPON MAINTENANCE PLAN BETWEEN BOTH THE SCHOOLS AND THE CITY AND THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
THE LAST ITEM THAT WAS REQUIRED WAS DEFINING SHARED EQUIPMENT TO BE USED AND SHARED FOR THE OPERATION OF THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY.
TONIGHT, WE ARE HERE RECOMMENDING THIS CONTRACT TO SHUMA SPORTS.
THE EQUIPMENT LIST WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED AND PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT ON WHAT ITEMS WOULD BE SHARED AND WHAT ITEMS WOULD NOT BE SHARED.
THE QUOTE, THE PROPOSAL THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT REPRESENTS THE SIGNIFICANT HURDLES, THE HIGH JUMP, THE POLE VAULT, GOALS FOR BOTH LACROSSE AND SOCCER AND ALL THE STARTING BLOCKS AND ALL THE, I AM SO SORRY, STEEPLECHASE.
[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] NOT THAT I WILL EVER DO THAT.
IT WOULD BE FUN TO SEE ON MARCH 29TH, WHO'S BOLD ENOUGH AT THE RIVER CUTTING TO TAKE A CHANCE.
>> WE DID RECEIVE THREE COMPETITIVE QUOTES FOR THE EQUIPMENT THAT BOTH THE SCHOOLS AND THE CITY RECOMMENDED.
THE RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. THE REQUESTED EQUIPMENT SUPPORTS THE ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE THE HIGH JUMP, POLE VAULT, SOCCER, LACROSSE, AND OTHER TRACK ATHLETIC PROGRAMMING.
THE PROJECT WILL BE FUNDED USING FUNDS APPROVED FOR THE TRACK AND FIELD PROJECT.
OUT OF THE SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS THAT WAS APPROVED FOR THE PROJECT, WE HELD ASIDE A PORTION OF THE FUNDING FOR UNFORESEEN OR EQUIPMENT PURCHASES AT NEAR THE END OF THE PROJECT, AND THOSE ARE THE FUNDS BEING UTILIZED.
THE CITY WOULD PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT UP FRONT, AND THEN WE WOULD HANDLE THAT INVOICE JUST LIKE WE'VE BEEN HANDLING THE CONSTRUCTION INVOICES.
WE WOULD BUILD THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR FOR THEIR PORTION.
WE DID RECEIVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE THREE OTHER QUOTES.
AGAIN, WE TOOK A LIST PROVIDED BY THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR, SEPARATED OUT, WHAT WAS GOING TO BE SHARED, WHAT WOULD NOT BE SHARED.
ULTIMATELY, THOSE ITEMS WERE PROVIDED TO
[01:15:01]
THREE VENDORS AND THOSE VENDORS PROPOSED ON THOSE ITEMS. SHUMA SPORTS WAS THE LOW PROPOSER AT $126,392.BSN SPORTS PROVIDED A PROPOSAL FOR $139,003, AND GILL EQUIPMENT PROVIDED A QUOTE OF $158,341.
YOU CAN SEE, AND OBVIOUSLY, THE PROPOSAL THAT WE BROUGHT TO YOU TONIGHT IS LESS THAN THAT ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO GET FIRM QUANTITIES AND OTHER DETAILS, SIZE OF SOCCER GOALS, AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, INCLUDING SHIPPING.
THE PRICE ENDED UP COMING IN AT SLIGHTLY CHEAPER AT $118,710.
$125,000 PROJECT BUDGET IN CASE THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN IN THE PROCESS TO INCLUDE THAT.
THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU.
>> QUICK QUESTION, PLEASE. HOW ABOUT STORAGE? DOES IT ALL FIT IN THE SMALL HOUSE HOUSE, THE NEW HOUSE?
>> NO. ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE GYM BUILDING, THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE STORAGE ROOMS, ONE FOR THE CITY, ONE FOR THE SCHOOLS, AND THEN A FAIRLY LARGE SHARED STORAGE ROOM.
THEN OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A CENTRALLY LOCATED STORAGE PART OF THE NEW REST ROOM CONCESSION STAND BUILDING.
>> SOUNDS A LITTLE NIT PICKY, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP LEARNING BY DOING AS WELL.
BUT IN THE SHARED USE AND THE OPERATING PLAN, DOES IT TALK ABOUT STORAGE? WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR STORAGE? THE ACTUAL EXECUTION OF GETTING STUFF PUT AWAY?
>> AT THIS POINT, WE'RE OPERATING ON THE PREMISE THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND THAT LARGER LEVEL OPERATION OF THE FACILITY.
OBVIOUSLY, IF THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHES A PROGRAM TO USE IT, THEY ARE THEN RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THINGS GET PUT BACK IN THEIR PLACES.
>> I THINK PART OF THE SHARED USE COMMITTEE THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH MS. HENNER, RODNEY, THOMAS, DAVID HARBIN, AND KIM WHATLEY, THEY WILL HELP MAKE SURE THAT THEY POLICE EACH OTHER.
>> I KNOW PART OF THE THING THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS SAFETY AND SPECIFIC TO STRAY OBJECTS LIKE BALLS.
IS THAT ANY SAFETY NETTING? IS ANY OF THAT INCLUDED IN THIS PARTICULAR?
>> THERE'S SAFETY NETTING AS IT RELATES TO DEFINITELY THE DISCUS HAS ACTUALLY A CAGE THAT WILL GO BEHIND IT.
BUT IN TERMS OF THE FIELD, WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT SOME OF THAT INFORMED THE MIXED USES OF PROGRAMMING THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE AT ANY ONE TIME.
THINGS THAT HAD LOW RISK OF THAT TYPE OF PROJECTILE WOULD BASICALLY RESTRICT USE OF THE TRACK AT THE SAME TIME.
THERE'S GOING TO BE TIMES WHEN THE TRACK IS AVAILABLE AT THE SAME TIME, MAYBE THERE'S FIELD ACTIVITIES, BUT IT MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IF THERE'S LACROSSE, FOR EXAMPLE.
THAT WAS BUILT INTO THE MASTER SCHEDULE IS HOW DO THOSE PROGRAM NEEDS OVERLAP ONE ANOTHER.
>> YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION. THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS? I THINK WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE AND THERE ARE PEOPLE KICKING SOCCER BALLS AND PEOPLE WALKING AROUND THE TRACK.
BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN THE LACROSSE OR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HARDER THROWN THAT COULD PERHAPS HARM.
>> A QUICK OBSERVATION AS YOU MENTIONED PEOPLE USING IT.
WE PROBABLY DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
>> THERE WILL BE SIGNAGE THAT'S PUT UP INSTRUCTING PEOPLE ABOUT PETS AND OTHER THINGS, CANDY AND GUM AND ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, FIREWORKS.
WE'LL DO THAT, COMMUNITY EDUCATION.
>> A DOG WITH UPSET STOMACH CAN CAUSE SOME PROBLEMS.
>> BICYCLES, RIDING ACROSS THE FIELD.
>> LIKE TODAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ACTUALLY STARTED THE TRACK INSTALLATION TODAY.
IT'S A MULTI LAYERED APPLICATION.
IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A WHOLE LOT TODAY, BUT THE INFORMATION WILL BE GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TOMORROW INFORMING PEOPLE THAT NOT THAT IT WAS EVER OPEN, BUT THAT IT IS CLOSED BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY DON'T
[01:20:03]
WANT ANYONE TO GO OUT THERE DURING THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING THE TRACK.>> I DO JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE POINT.
WHILE WE MAY NOT BE ON TIME, WE ARE ON BUDGET.
[LAUGHTER] THE FACT THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT, AS DAVID SAID, WE WERE WAITING UNTIL THE END TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUDGET WOULD ALLOW FOR IT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY KUDOS TO THE WHOLE TEAM.
THE FOLKS AT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE CITY FOR KEEPING ITS OWN BUDGET.
WE'RE JUST EXCITED FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING WHEN THAT COMES, BUT THE FACT THAT THE PROJECT HAS GONE RELATIVELY SMOOTHLY, AND IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN THAT WE GET TO SAY THAT WE'RE UNDER BUDGET. GOOD JOB THERE.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,000 AND AWARD OF A CONTRACT AND THE AMOUNT OF $118,710 TO SHUMA SPORTS FOR TRACK AND FIELD EQUIPMENT AT LEGACY PARK? IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION PASSES.
[VI.B. Task Orders for Storm Water Infrastructure Design Services.]
SOME STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN SERVICES, NOT IMPLEMENTATION.>> I JULIE GYURICZA, SENIOR ENGINEER, CITY OF DECATUR.
I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVED DESIGN BUDGETS AND TASK ORDERS FOR ON CALL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE NEXT TWO PRIORITY STORM DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
THESE TWO PROJECTS ARE THE FIFTH AND SIXTH PROJECTS IDENTIFIED IN THE 2020 STORMWATER MASTER PLAN.
BOTH PROJECTS ARE WITHIN THE SOUTH FORK PEACHTREE CREEK WATERSHED.
THE FIRST IS SF101 AT CHAMPLAIN STREET, SENECA STREET, GENEVA STREET, AND THE SECOND IS SF111 AT SYCAMORE DRIVE AND FAIRVIEW STREET.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS PLANNED FOR EACH PROJECT AS PART OF THE DESIGN PROCESS TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK SPECIFIC TO EACH NEIGHBORHOOD.
MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES ARE EXPECTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT, AND WHEN THE FINAL PLANS ARE PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL BY THE CITY COMMISSION, PROJECTS WILL INCLUDE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PRACTICES TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY BY INFILTRATION WHERE POSSIBLE, AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF LARGER STORMS. PROPOSALS FOR TASK ORDERS WERE OBTAINED FROM HDR ENGINEERING, WHO IS UNDER CONTRACT AS ONE OF OUR ON CALL CONSULTANTS FOR THE CITY.
A PROPOSED DESIGN BUDGET OF 350,000 IS RECOMMENDED FOR EACH PROJECT LOCATION.
THE TASK ORDER PROPOSED FOR SF101 AT CHAMPLAIN STREET, SENECA STREET, AND GENEVA STREET IS $294,050, AND THE TASK ORDER FOR SF 111 AT SYCAMORE DRIVE AND FAIRVIEW STREET IS $275,440.
IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE KEPT IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY WHERE FEASIBLE.
ONCE AN INITIAL LAYOUT IS SELECTED, WE WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE NEEDS FOR ADDITIONAL FEES, EASEMENTS, AND THE NECESSITY FOR PERMITS FROM OTHER AGENCIES SUCH AS GDI, GEORGE EPD, US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, IF NEEDED, AND FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FROM STORMER UTILITY FUNDS.
>> QUESTION ABOUT THE PROCESS.
I KNOW WE BASICALLY DID RFQ OR RFP, WE HAVE SOME FIRMS THAT WE CAN THEN BRING IN FOR TASK ORDERS.
WE HAVE FEES THAT WE'VE NEGOTIATED TERMS OF HOW MUCH POWER WE PAY FOR, I ASSUME, LIKE A CERTAIN TYPE OF PERSON OR SERVICE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO WHEN WE HAVE A PROJECT, THERE DOES SEEM TO BE VARIABLE LIKE FOR HOW MUCH TIME OR HOW MUCH EFFORT WE WOULD PUT IN, AND WE DON'T GO TO I ASSUME THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE FIRMS THAT WE HAVE UNDER CONTRACT THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY DO THIS WORK.
ADR DOES GOOD WORK. I'M NOT QUESTIONING THE CHOICE OF ADR.
WHY DON'T WE GET THREE SAY GO TO THREE PEOPLE AND SAY, "HEY, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST YOU TO DO THIS?"
>> WELL, I THINK WE HANDLE THE PURPOSE OF ON CALL ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS IS HANDLE THAT UPFRONT.
IT'S A COMPETITIVE RFP PROCESS IN THE BEGINNING.
WE LOOK AT DETERMINE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND THEIR RATES, ALL OF THAT IS ESTABLISHED UPFRONT.
IT MAKES FOR MORE OF A SEAMLESS PROCESS WHILE WE GO THROUGH THESE PROJECTS TO SAY, WE'VE ALREADY VETTED AND WE HAVE THESE FIVE FIRMS AS ON CALL CONSULTANTS.
IT'S COMPETITIVE IN THE BEGINNING AND THEN WE USE WHO THE STAFF WILL THEN SELECT THE FIRMS
[01:25:01]
BASED ON PROJECT AVAILABILITY AND THEIR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT THAT WE HAVE.>> THEN DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN SENSE IN TERMS, LIKE HOW MANY HOURS OR LIKE, JUST I MEAN, HOW DO WE DO A REASONABLENESS TEST ON THAT IF THAT MAKES SENSE?
>> NO, I MEAN, YOU WANT TO SPEAK?
>> IF THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK.
THIS IS A LEARNING PROCESS FOR. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> IN TERMS OF OUR ON CALL ENGINEERING FIRMS AND FIRMS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF DOING THIS WORK, IT WOULD LOOK LIKE HDR, JACOBS ENGINEERING OR ATKINS REALIS WE LOOK AT BANDWIDTH.
JACOBS ENGINEERING IS CURRENTLY DESIGNING OUR DECATUR SQUARE, AND ATKINS REALIS IS CURRENTLY DESIGNING NOT ONLY THE OCRS MASTER PLAN, BUT ALSO TWO OTHER STORMWATER PROJECTS.
A LOT OF IT LOOKS LIKE CAPACITY RELATIVE TO THE FIRMS IN ADDITION TO THE VARIOUS SKILL SET.
ANOTHER ON CALL FIRM IS TOOLE DESIGN GROUP, BUT THEIR EXPERTISE IS REALLY CENTERED AROUND TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.
RELATIVE TO HOW WE REVIEW HOURS, DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE DIFFERENT TASKS, I WOULD SAY IT'S JUST BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE AND THE PROJECT SPECIFICS RELATIVE TO THE SCOPE.
IT IS A NEGOTIATION OR A CONVERSATION WITH OUR ON CALL ENGINEERING FIRM TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE RIGHT SCOPE.
WE'RE MAKING THE CORRECT ASSUMPTIONS RELATIVE TO LEVEL OF EFFORT FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE DIFFERENT INDICATOR THAT WE DO SO MANY.
OR WE DO MORE THAN NONE AT THE 90%.
>> ALSO, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS FOR DESIGN SERVICES.
WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK, THEN THESE WILL BE BID AND WE'LL RECEIVE QUOTES.
BUT FOR THE DESIGN SERVICES, WE CERTAINLY HAVE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF DISCRETION AND JUDGMENT THAT CAN BE USED.
>> AS PART OF THESE SPECIFIC DESIGN SERVICES, THIS INCLUDES SOME OF THEIR CONSULTING WORK FOR THE BID SERVICES AS WELL. THAT'S PART OF THIS.
>> IS THERE A TIMELINE IN TERMS OF LIKE, HOW LONG THIS WOULD TAKE AND THEN HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET FROM THIS TO ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO IMPLEMENT?
I MEAN, THIS WILL ABABLY BE I WOULD ESTIMATE ABOUT A NINE 10 MONTH DESIGN PROCESS.
>> THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE BID.
>> AS SOON AS WE GAVE THE NOTICE TO PROCEED.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY TWO YEARS, IS THAT?
>> THAT'S IDEAL. WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN OUR PREVIOUS ROUND OF STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IS THE IMPACT TO THE RIGHT OF WAY AND OUR PROXIMITY TO THE RIGHT OF WAY LINE AND ACQUIRING TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS.
THIS MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS THE OTHERS.
IF WE CAN AVOID CONSTRUCTING WITHIN THREE FEET OF THE RIGHT OF WAY LINE.
PARK PLACE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE RIGHT OF WAY LINE IS THE CURB, SO THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.
SO WE'LL SEE WHAT THE DESIGN PROCESS, HOW IT UNFOLDS.
>> QUICK. COULD YOU REMIND ME AND I KNOW IT'S IDENTIFIED AS THE FIFTH AND SIXTH PROJECTS IN THE PRIORITY, BUT ARE THEY STILL IN TIER 1?
>> HOW DEEP DOES IT GO IN TIER 1?
>> THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I GUESS WE CAN CONSIDER THIS TOGETHER, IS THAT CORRECT? HERE A RECOMMENDATION FOR ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BUDGET OF $350,000 PER PROJECT, AND APPROVAL OF THE TASK ORDERS WITH HDR ENGINEERING AND THE AMOUNTS OF $294,050 FOR CHAMPLAIN STREET, SENECA, AND GENEVA, AND FOR $275,440 FOR SYCAMORE DRIVE AND FAIRVIEW STREET FOR STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN SERVICES.
IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF?
[VI.C. Renovations at Sam Bell Cottage.]
[01:30:04]
AT SAM BELL TO KNOW IF IT'S SAM BELL OR SAM BELL OR THE NAME.>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M FELIX FLOYD, THE ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT FOR CGS LLC FOR THE CREATION OF THE ADA RENOVATION FOR LEGACY PARK, SAM BELL COTTAGE, AND THE AMOUNT OF $44,329.41 TO ESTABLISH A BUDGET OF $50,000.
THIS RENOVATION INCLUDES THE CREATION OF A 88 REST ROOM, WHICH IS NOT THERE NOW, THE WIDEN THE DOOR.
CREATE ADA STALLS, AS WELL AS REPLACE 25 TON HVAC UNITS.
WE HAD WE RECEIVED BIDS LAST TUESDAY.
WE ONLY RECEIVED ONE BID AND THAT WAS CGS LLC.
CGS HAS DONE SEVERAL JOBS FOR US, SEVERAL OVER AT LEGACY PARK, SEVERAL THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THIS PROJECT SHOULD ONLY TAKE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AT THE MOST.
SO AS SOON AS IF YOU APPROVE IT, WE'LL SEND OVER THE AGREEMENT TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THEY'LL START IMMEDIATELY.
FUNDS ARE BUDGETED FOR THIS RENOVATION IN THE FISCAL YEAR 24/25 PFA FUND.
I RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS CONTRACT FOR CGS FOR $44,329.41 AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BUDGET OF $50,000.
>> SO WITH THE TWO DIFFERENT FIVE TON HVAC SYSTEM, IS IT BY ZONE SO THAT.
>> PERHAPS OCCUPY THE FRONT PART OF THE BUILDING, BUT THERE'S NOT ANOTHER TENANT.
>> YES, THAT BUILDING IS SO BIG THAT IT NEEDS TWO UNITS, AND THEN TWO UNITS WILL TAKE CARE OF THE WHOLE BUILDING.
IT WILL PROBABLY BE LIKE THE FRONT HALF IN THE BACK HALF.
>> OKAY. BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL WHEN YOU JUST ONE TENANT IN THERE HAVE TO RUN.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE CASE. THANK YOU.
>> ARE YOU ZONING THE BUILDING ACCORDING TO TENANTS?
>> THE AREAS WILL HAVE THERMOSTATS IN THERE.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I THINK WHAT THE MAYOR WAS ASKING IS YOU DIVIDE THE BUILDING IN HALF.
>> THE SAM BELL COTTAGE IS ACTUALLY ZONED THEIR HVAC SYSTEM IS LEFT AND RIGHT, AND THAT IS NOT HOW THE TENANTS WILL BE SEPARATED, BUT THERE ARE THERMOSTATS AND WITH MORE THOUGHTFUL, THAT THE PREVIOUS HVAC SYSTEM IS SO WASTEFUL THAT WE WILL BE MORE THOUGHTFUL IN HOW WE ARRANGE THINGS.
>> TENANTS ARE NOT CHARGED FOR UTILITIES, SO THAT DOES NOT IMPACT THAT PART.
WILL PAINT PAVED ELECTRIC BILL?
>> THE CITY PAYS FOR ALL UTILITIES AND THAT'S INCLUDED IN THOSE.
>> I DO RECALL FROM A CONVERSATION THIS MORNING THAT THERE IS SHARED SPACE THAT IS A PART OF THAT THAT WOULD INCLUDE A KITCHEN THAT'S IN THE BACK, AND SO IT WOULD NEED TO HAVE.
BUT FOR ROOMS THAT AREN'T BEING USED TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR THE THERMOSTAT WITH A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM. OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> HOW WAS IS THE SYSTEM THAT'S BEING REPLACED NOW?
>> WE SHOULD GET SOME OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY.
>> ONCE THESE SYSTEMS ARE REPLACED [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET OF $50,000 AND AWARD THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $44,329.41 TO CGS FOR RENOVATION WORK, AS DESCRIBED IN OUR MEMO AT SAM BELL COTTAGE.
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN SOON.
SO THANK YOU. ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS, MR. NIFONG.
[VI.D. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.]
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, AGAIN, DAVID NIFONG ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH ENVIROSPARK ENERGY SOLUTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $38,044 IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,000 FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THREE DUAL PORT ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AT THE LOET LEVERETT PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING AT 26 35 TALLY STREET.
[01:35:03]
AS YOU KNOW, THIS COMMISSION ADOPTED THE CITY'S CLEAN ENERGY PLAN IN 2022, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE GOAL OF FULLY ELECTRIFYING THE CITY'S FLEET BY THE YEAR 2035 TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, THE NECESSARY ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING.INFRASTRUCTURE IS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF ELECTRIFIED FLEET TO REDUCE THE COSTS OF THIS PROJECT, THE CITY ALSO APPLIED TO GEORGIA POWER COMPANY'S MAKE-READY PROGRAM.
THROUGH THAT PROGRAM, GEORGIA POWER COVERS THE NECESSARY ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE UTILITY POLE UP TO THE CHARGER, GREATLY REDUCING THE COST OF THE PROJECT.
AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALSO DOING A SEPARATE PROJECT AT THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, THE INSTALLATION OF A ROOFTOP SOLAR ARRAY, AND BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM.
THOSE TWO PROJECTS BECAME LINKED BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO UPGRADE A TRANSFORMER TO ACCOMMODATE POTENTIAL BACKFLOW FROM THAT SYSTEM ONTO GEORGE POWERS GRID.
ESSENTIALLY, WE WERE ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT THAT TRANSFORMER UPGRADE WOULD BE PAID FOR THROUGH THE MAKE-READY PROGRAM, BUT THAT DID DELAY THE INSTALLATION OF CHARGERS AT PUBLIC WORKS.
IN EARLY JANUARY 2025, GEORGIA POWER INDICATED TO THE CITY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EV CHARGING PROJECT, WHICH THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE THE SELECTION OF A CHARGING VENDOR, STAFF REQUESTED QUOTES FROM THREE VENDORS, ALL OF WHICH CURRENTLY HAVE PRICING AGREEMENTS THROUGH COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PLATFORMS. BLINK CHARGING AND SIEMENS WERE BOTH ON SOURCE WELL, AND THEN ENVIROSPARK ENERGY SOLUTIONS WAS ON A GSA CONTRACT THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
VENDORS WERE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE THE TOTAL INSTALLED COST OF THREE DUAL PORT PEDESTAL MOUNTED CHARGING STATIONS.
WE RECEIVED A QUOTE FROM ENVIROSPARK IN THE AMOUNT OF $38,044 BLANK IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,003 AND SIEMENS IN THE AMOUNT OF $62,072.
>> BECAUSE THEY'RE ON A COOPERATIVE PURCHASE, WE POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE JUST GONE WITH ONE QUOTE, BUT I THINK THE ADDED STEP OF SECURING THREE QUOTES DID PROVIDE SOME COST SAVINGS.
ENVIROSPARK AS AN INDUSTRY LEADER IN THE DESIGN INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF EV CHARGING SOLUTIONS SINCE 2014.
THEY'VE INSTALLED AROUND 9,200 CHARGING PORTS AND OUR LICENSED ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE TRAINING PROGRAM APPROVED CONTRACTOR, WHICH IS A CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ELECTRICIANS TO ENSURE THAT EV CHARGING EQUIPMENT IS INSTALLED USING INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR SAFETY, QUALITY, AND SPECIFICATIONS.
THEY'VE ALSO INSTALLED SIMILAR CHARGING STATIONS FOR CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR, AND CITY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY.
THEY ALSO HAVE A MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH GEORGIA POWER, AND THEIR PREFERRED CONTRACTOR FOR GEORGIA POWERS MAKE READY PROGRAM.
THEY PROVIDE TURN-KEY SERVICES WITH ALL IN-HOUSE RESOURCES.
ADDITIONALLY, TO STREAMLINE THE INSTALLATION OF STATIONS AT ADDITIONAL CITY FACILITIES AND TO PROVIDE UNIFORMITY ACROSS FACILITIES ON THE TYPES OF CHARGERS, EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS, AND THE SOFTWARE USED BY EACH CHARGER.
IF APPROVED FOR THIS PROJECT, WE WILL PURSUE QUOTES FOR ADDITIONAL INSTALLATIONS FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THEN WE'LL REVIEW THOSE QUOTES AND IF THEY MEET OUR EXPECTATIONS, THEN WE WILL CONSIDER BRINGING THEM BACK TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.
I RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH ENVIROSPARK ENERGY SOLUTIONS AND THE AMOUNT OF $38,044 AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROJECT BUDGET AND THE AMOUNT OF $45,000 FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THREE DUAL PORT EV CHARGING STATIONS AT THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING AT 2635 TALLY STREET.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE FISCAL YEAR 24/25 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND BUDGET.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> JUST ONE. ARE THEY LEVEL 2 OR LEVEL 3?
WHAT'S THE LIFE CYCLE FOR THE CHARGER WHEN IT MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I WOULD ESTIMATE NO LESS THAN 10 YEARS.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS CONSTANTLY BEING IMPROVED.
AS WE ADD ADDITIONAL CHARGERS, STAFF WILL ALSO CONSIDER ESTABLISHING A CITYWIDE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF CHARGERS AND THEN POTENTIALLY PLAN FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF CHARGERS AS NECESSARY.
[01:40:05]
THE QUOTE THAT WAS PROVIDED DOES INCLUDE ONE YEAR OF THE SOFTWARE FEES AND THEN ONE-YEAR MAINTENANCE.AGAIN, AS WE DO OTHER PROJECTS, I THINK IT'LL MAKE SENSE FOR ALL OF THAT TO BE HANDLED TOGETHER, ALTHOUGH IF THEY ARE ALL ENVIROSPARK CHARGERS, THAT BECOMES MUCH EASIER AND MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD.
>> WOULDN'T SOME OF OUR OLDEST ONES NOW BE ABOUT EVEN SEVEN YEARS OLD?
>> SOME OF THE CHARGE POINT STATIONS, I WOULD SAY ARE EVEN OLDER THAN THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, THE ONES HERE AT NORTH MCDONOUGH ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THE SQUARE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT, AND SO A SOLUTION TO THAT WILL BE NEEDED.
THEN WE CAN LOOK AT THE CURSED ONES TO SEE HOW CLOSE THEY ARE.
>> IF I UNDERSTOOD, YOU'RE SAYING LOOKS LIKE GOOD VENDOR, GOOD PRICING, AND WE COULD START TO USE THEM MORE POSSIBLE TO GET UNIFORMITY ACROSS ALL THE INSTALLATION.
>> YES. THAT WOULD BE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> THESE ARE LEVEL 2 THEIR OUTWARD FACING.
>> BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE TRANSFORMER THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SOLAR AND BATTERY, THESE WERE GOING TO BE PUBLIC-FACING.
IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, HERE'S THE BUILDING AND THERE'S A SIDE PARKING LOT ON THIS SIDE, AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE SIX SPACES THERE.
GIVEN THAT LOCATION THAT IT'S NOT BEHIND A FENCE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE PUBLIC FACING.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SOLIDIFY SOME SIGNAGE LANGUAGE THAT INDICATES THAT THE PRIORITY IS FOR STAFF CHARGING OUR FLEET VEHICLES, BUT AT CERTAIN TIMES THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
IF APPROVED AND WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL WORK WITH ENVIROSPARK TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RIGHT RATE SCHEDULE FOR THOSE CHARGERS NEEDS TO BE.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEPARATELY METERED, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THEM ON THE PUBLIC WORKS.
UTILITY BILL, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THEM ON THEIR OWN BILL ON THEIR OWN ACCOUNT.
ESSENTIALLY, FOR THE FLEET, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE RFID CARDS OR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO ALLOW STAFF TO USE THEM AS NECESSARY.
FOR THE PUBLIC, WE ARE PLANNING TO CHARGE SOME FEE, BUT THAT'S GOING TO COVER THE COST OF THE ELECTRICITY PROVIDED.
THEN ONCE THE EV CHARGING BILL THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR IN 2023 ACTUALLY COMES INTO EFFECT, WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO RECOVER THE EV CHARGING TAX THAT IS BEING CREATED.
THAT BILL WAS SCHEDULED TO GO INTO EFFECT, JANUARY 1 OF THIS YEAR, THAT WAS EXTENDED LAST YEAR SESSION TO JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY BE PUSHED DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN.
>> THEN YOU TALKED ABOUT BUILDING OUT A NETWORK OF EV CHARGERS INDICATOR.
WHAT'S THE DEMAND FOR THAT? ARE WE TRACKING THAT AND UNDERSTAND THE USE?
>> THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRACK MOVING FORWARD.
I AM INTERESTED TO SEE MYSELF WHAT THE USAGE OF THAT OF THOSE CHARGERS ARE AT THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING.
I THINK MOVING FORWARD, IT'S GOING TO BE A MIX OF BACK-OF-HOUSE CHARGING FOR FLEET.
A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE BEHIND A GATE.
ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR WOULD BE STATIONS AT LEGACY PARK.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A MIX BACK IN FRONT OF HOUSE CHARGING.
BUT YES, ULTIMATELY, WE WANT TO MEET THE COMMUNITY DEMAND.
ALSO KNOWING THAT PRIVATE ENTITIES ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE NECESSARY CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
I KNOW THAT THE TESLA CHARGING FACILITY OR AT A NEARBY PARKING GARAGE IS ALWAYS BEING USED, AND SO IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE THE CITY THAT HAS TO ESTABLISH THE PUBLIC-FACING CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, OTHER ENTITIES ARE AT PLAY AS WELL.
>> ARE THESE THE FIRST OUTWARD-FACING CHARGING STATIONS THAT THE CITY OWNS?
>> THAT THE CITY OWNS. YES. IT WOULD BE.
THE EXISTING CHARGE POINT IS THROUGH AN ONGOING SERVICE.
>> I HAVE ANY DATA ON THE EXISTING CAN WE GET THAT FROM CHARGEPOINT?
>> WE CAN GET THAT FROM CHARGEPOINT.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME EXISTING ISSUES THAT WE'RE AWARE OF WITH THOSE STATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT THE USAGE DATA, BUT WE'D BE HAPPY TO COME BACK TO ALL WITH THAT.
>> I THINK THE OLDEST ONES ARE IN OCRS.
THEY WERE AS A PILOT PROGRAM YEARS AGO,
[01:45:04]
I THINK, AND THEY ARE PRETTY HEAVILY USED, BUT ONE MAYBE OUT FOR AND THEY AREN'T ALWAYS AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF OUTAGES.>> YOU HAVE THE TIER 2 VERSUS TIER 3 IS ALSO I'D BE CURIOUS ABOUT.
>> NO. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE ARE NO TIER 3 OR LEVEL 3 CHARGERS ANYWHERE IN THE CITY.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING PROPOSITION, BUT THOSE ARE ALSO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE AND REQUIRE MUCH MORE A LOT MORE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORK TO ACCOMMODATE THEM.
>> I'D ASKED THE QUESTION AND MAYBE YOU CAN REMIND EVERYONE ABOUT HOW MANY ELECTRIC VEHICLES WE HAVE CURRENTLY.
>> SO CURRENTLY AT PUBLIC WORKS, WE HAVE THREE FORD LIGHTNING, F1 MAKI.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS AN MAKI AND HAS BUDGETED FOR THE PURCHASE OF ANOTHER ELECTRIC VEHICLE THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY HAS ONE FORD MAKI THAT GOES TO FIRE STATION 1 AND THEN A CHEVY BLAZER EV A FIRE STATION 2.
BUT TO MEET OUR 2035 GOAL, THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO EXPONENTIALLY INCREASE OR INCREASE AS WE ARE DUE TO REPLACE OUR EXISTING VEHICLES, WHERE APPROPRIATE, AGAIN, THERE MAY BE SOME HEAVIER DUTY VEHICLES THAT WERE ANOTHER REPLACEMENT CYCLE AWAY FROM HAVING A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE ELECTRIC OPTION, BUT MOVING FORWARD ALL LIGHT AND WHERE POSSIBLE MEDIUM DUTY VEHICLES WOULD BE ELECTRIC.
>> THE EXPECTATION IS THAT AT PRESENT UNTIL WE GET OTHERS IN THE POLICE STATION, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE STATION, PUBLIC THEY WOULD ALL BE ABLE TO USE PUBLIC MEANS.
>> THEY POTENTIALLY COULD USE, BUT THAT IS ALSO WHY WE WANT TO GET THIS PROJECT UNDERWAY AND THEN VERY QUICKLY TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THOSE OTHER ONES BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE NEEDED TO BE COBBLED TOGETHER IN THIS INTERIM PERIOD BEFORE WE REALLY BUILD THIS UP.
>> ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. [INAUDIBLE].
I BELIEVE WE ARE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET AND THE AMOUNT OF $45,000 AND AN AWARD OF CONTRACT AND THE AMOUNT OF $38,044 TO ENVIROSPARK ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AT THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING.
AND THESE ARE YOU SAID THREE, BUT THOSE ARE ACTUALLY SIX CHARGERS.
>> SIX BASES, THREE DUAL PORTS.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSE. THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE MOTION IS ADOPTED, SO THANK YOU.
[VI.E. Resolution of Support.]
MISS THREADGILL. WELCOME.>> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU MAYOR. WELL, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.
MAYOR PRO TEM AND COMMISSIONERS.
I AM ANGELA THREADGILL, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I AM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IN MY CAPACITY AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.
I AM HERE TO REQUEST THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT OF THE DECATUR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY'S DECISION TO APPROVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR A REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AT 720 AND 750 COMMERCE DRIVE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DEVELOPER, PPF AMLI 750 COMMERCE DRIVE, LLC.
TONIGHT, I AM JOINED BY CONNOR MCNALLY, CHAIR OF THE DDA, AS WELL AS THE VICE CHAIR, NOAH PETERS.
THEN ALSO WITH US, I'M JUST GOING TO CALL THEM AMLI RESIDENTIAL BECAUSE THAT WAS A REALLY LONG LLC NAME.
BUT ANNIE HURST IS JOINING US VIRTUALLY, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE DARREN HOWARD IN THE ROOM AS WELL.
THEY ARE REPRESENTING AMLI RESIDENTIAL TONIGHT.
WE DO HAVE A SLIDE DECK AND MR. MCNALLY IS GOING TO GO INTO A BIT MORE ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF THE DEAL.
THIS IS A TAX INCENTIVE APPLICATION THAT THE DDA HAS RECEIVED
[01:50:07]
AND THE DDA DID INITIALLY REVIEW THE SITE LAYOUT AND THE DESIGN OF THIS PROJECT IN OCTOBER OF 2024, ULTIMATELY PASSING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT DESIGN.THEN SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, AMLI RESIDENTIAL PUT FORWARD A PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVE APPLICATION FOR THE DDA TO ASSIST IN THE FINANCING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROJECT.
HERE ON THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE IS A PROJECT SUMMARY.
WE ARE LOOKING AT A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT OF UP TO 361 RESIDENTIAL UNITS.
THAT IS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS ON THE PROPERTY AND THAT IS WITH THE DENSITY BONUS BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING AT SETTING ASIDE 36 UNITS AS PART OF THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE.
THAT, OF COURSE, BEING THAT THIS IS AN APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT, THOSE UNITS WOULD BE SET ASIDE FOR THOSE HOUSEHOLDS MAKING NO MORE THAN 80% AREA MEDIAN INCOME TO COMPLY WITH OUR LOCAL ORDINANCE.
THERE IS GOING TO BE AROUND ROUGHLY 20,000 SQUARE FEET OF GROUND FLOOR RETAIL, OF WHICH 13,000 WOULD BE SET ASIDE FOR A NEW DOWNTOWN GROCERY.
THEN WE'LL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT NATIONAL GROCER WILL LOOK LIKE.
THEN THERE IS A PARKING DECK WITH OVER 600 PARKING SPACES OF WHICH 134 WOULD BE SET ASIDE FOR PUBLIC PARKING.
THAT WOULD ALSO BE FOR THE GROCER AND THE OTHER RETAIL.
THERE'S ALSO A PASEO AND A RETAIL COURTYARD THAT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE AMLI RESIDENTIAL PROJECT JUST ACROSS THE STREET, THEY ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC PLAZA.
IT'S PRIVATELY OWNED BUT STILL PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.
THEN, OF COURSE, THERE'S GOING TO BE VARIOUS SITE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER AMONG THOSE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BUILD OUT OF A MULTI USE PATH ALONG COMMERCE DRIVE, THAT IS ACTUALLY PART OF OUR DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN.
THERE IS ALSO CEMETERY CONNECTIONS AND PATHWAYS.
AMLI RESIDENTIAL AND THE CITY AND ENDS OF THE CEMETERY, ALONG WITH STAFF OF THE CEMETERY DID MEET A WHILE BACK TO DISCUSS WHAT THOSE CONNECTIONS WOULD LOOK LIKE AND THE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THOSE PROPERTY BOUNDARIES WITH THE CEMETERY.
THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE UTILITY UPGRADES AS PART OF THE PROJECT, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE INTERSECTION WITH NORTH [INAUDIBLE] AND COMMERCE DRIVE.
THAT'S JUST SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY.
AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. MCNALLY TO TALK ABOUT THE STRUCTURE AND WHAT THE ECONOMICS OF THE DEAL LOOK LIKE.
>> HI, EVERYONE. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. THANK YOU, ANGELA.
>> GET THIS SET UP. ANGELA GAVE YOU SOME OF THE BACKGROUND.
WE AT THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAVE NOT DONE A TAX ABATEMENT OR TAX INCENTIVE STRUCTURE TO DATE.
THE MOST RECENT NEW MARKET RATE MULTIFAMILY PROJECT GETTING CONSTRUCTED IN THE CITY DOES HAVE A TAX ABATEMENT.
THAT'S THE NORTHWOOD RAVIN HALO PROJECT ON COLLEGE.
BUT THAT WAS PART OF A TAD IN THE EAST DECATUR STATION.
WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A REQUEST OR A DESIRE TO HAVE A TAX INCENTIVE RELATED TO THIS PROJECT AND RELATED TO BRINGING A GROCERY STORE BACK TO DOWNTOWN, AT THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, WE WORKED OVER THE FALL TO ESTABLISH A SET OF PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES AND AN ENTIRE PROCESS FOR MAKING AN APPLICATION FOR TAX INCENTIVES.
WE HAD BOND COUNCIL COME IN AND ADVISE US AND EFFECTIVELY ADOPTED AN APPLICATION PROCESS PROCEDURE AND EVALUATION METHODOLOGY, AND THEN IN NOVEMBER, AMY MADE APPLICATION TO US.
IN CONVERSATIONS, BOTH WITH BOND COUNCIL AND WITH THE DEVELOPER, WE MADE A DECISION TO GO WITH WHAT'S CALLED A USUFRUCT STRUCTURE.
THAT'S A WORD WE'VE ALL BEEN TRYING TO GET OUR HEADS AROUND AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND.
IT'S APPARENTLY AN ARCHAIC LEGAL TERM, BUT IT EFFECTIVELY DESCRIBES A TYPE OF OWNERSHIP.
IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, MOST TAX ABATEMENTS THAT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES DO ARE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS BONDS FOR TITLE TAX ABATEMENTS.
THE GENERAL STRUCTURE IS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WILL TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE DIRT, AND THE DEVELOPER WILL HAVE OWNERSHIP OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ABOVE THE DIRT, AND VALUES ARE APPORTIONED BETWEEN THE TWO THAT CORRESPOND TO
[01:55:03]
THE ABATEMENT BECAUSE THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BEING A TAX EXEMPT ENTITY DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY TAX ON WHAT IT OWNS, BUT THE DEVELOPMENT ENTITY DOES.USUALLY, GIVE OR TAKE ABOUT A 50% ABATEMENT, THERE'S VARIOUS SCHEDULES THAT ARE USED.
IN THE USUFRUCT STRUCTURE, IT'S GENERALLY VERY SIMILAR.
THE USUFRUCT REALLY GIVES THE DEVELOPER THE RIGHT TO OPERATE THE BUILDING, BUT THE KEY DIFFERENCE IN THIS STRUCTURE IS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WILL ACTUALLY OWN NOT JUST THE DIRT, BUT THE ENTIRE IMPROVEMENT AS WELL.
PART AND PARCEL OF THAT IS THAT THERE'S A HIGHER LEVEL OF CONTROL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
YOU ENTER INTO A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT ENTITY.
THERE ARE NO ACTUAL TAXES BEING PAID BECAUSE THE ENTIRE REAL ESTATE IS BEING OWNED BY THE TAX EXEMPT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND YOU ENTER INTO A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT FOR PILOT PAYMENTS, PILOT MEANING PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.
THIS GIVES YOU JUST A GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO PUT A DEAL TOGETHER, TO PUT A STRUCTURE TOGETHER, AND HAVE MORE CONTROL FROM THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SIDE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS SOMETHING WE WERE INTERESTED IN.
PRIOR TO AMLI SUBMITTING THIS APPLICATION, WE WERE WORKING WITH THEM FROM PROBABLY OCTOBER, GETTING INTO UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE PROJECT WAS ABOUT, WHAT THEIR FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS LOOKED LIKE.
WE ENTERED INTO A PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WELL, WHAT WAS IT THAT THEY WERE REALLY REQUESTING, AND FOR US TO EVALUATE, WHY ARE THEY REQUESTING THAT AMOUNT, WHAT'S APPROPRIATE, WHAT'S NEEDED.
I WOULD SAY THAT IN ORDER OF HIERARCHY OR PRIORITY FOR US AT THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, PRIORITY NUMBER ONE WAS TO GET A GROCERY STORE BACK IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
THAT WAS VERY CLEARLY CALLED OUT.
I THINK THIS BODY HAS DISCUSSED THAT AT TIMES.
IT WAS CALLED OUT IN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN IN VARIOUS OF THE PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS THAT, IN FACT, WAS ITEM NUMBER ONE WAS TRYING TO GET THAT BACK.
THAT WAS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY.
WE WERE FACING A SITUATION WITH THE KROGER HAVING GONE OUT OF BUSINESS, AND FRANKLY, A PLETHORA OF VERY GOOD GROCERY STORES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT SITE TO GET A GROCER INTO.
THE COMPETITION IS SIGNIFICANT WITH ALL OF THE GROCERY STORES, INCLUDING THE NEWER ONES OF THE SPRITES, AND THE WHOLE FOODS, AND THE PUBLIX, AND THE DEKALB FARMERS MARKET.
IT WAS FRANKLY A TALL TASK TO TRY TO GET TO A POINT WHERE A GROCERY STORE COULD COME BACK.
THE OTHER PRIORITY FOR US WAS TO GET A HIGH QUALITY MIXED-USE PROJECT AGAIN IN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE CATALYST SITES THAT WAS CALLED OUT FOR SOMEWHERE THAT DENSITY WOULD MAKE SENSE.
THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE IS IN PLACE, BUT IF WE DON'T BUILD PROJECTS, WE DON'T GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THAT WAS ANOTHER PRIORITY FOR US.
BUT ULTIMATELY, I THINK THE PRECURSOR WAS TRYING TO GET A GROCERY STORE.
WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS WITH THE DEVELOPER TO COME UP WITH A SCHEDULE OF THESE PILOT PAYMENTS.
THERE'S REQUESTS MADE BY THEM.
EFFECTIVELY, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A TIE BETWEEN THE ASK FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE TAX ABATEMENT OVER THE 10 YEARS AND THE PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT WERE BEING DELIVERED.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE WITH THE NORTHWOOD RAVIN PROJECT OVER AT EAST DECATUR STATION WHERE THERE WAS AN ASK, WHICH FRANKLY ISN'T TYPICAL IN BONDS FOR TITLE TAX ABATEMENT STRUCTURES TO HAVE A DIRECT LINKAGE BETWEEN THE DOLLARS OF THE PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT ARE BEING DELIVERED AND THE ASK IN TERMS OF THE TAX INCENTIVE.
WE DID THAT AND I HAVE A TABLE IN THIS PRESENTATION TO SHOW YOU A JUSTIFICATION OF EVERY PENNY OF THE TAX ABATEMENT BEEN.
BUT ULTIMATELY, IT ALSO COMES DOWN TO WHAT WE WOULD CALL THE BUT-FOR TEST.
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TAX ABATEMENT WAS JUST ENOUGH THAT WAS NEEDED FOR THIS PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD, AND BUT FOR THE TAX ABATEMENT, THE PROJECT WOULD NOT BE FINANCEABLE.
I CAN TELL YOU AFTER ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS, AND WE HAD A VERY OPEN FRANK SET OF DISCUSSIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH AMLI, THEY WERE TENSE AT TIMES AND THAT WAS PUSHING ON BOTH SIDES TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DEAL WAS APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLE.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE REST OF THE BOARD, WE REALLY DO FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE LEVEL OF INCENTIVE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED HERE IS WHAT'S NEEDED IN ORDER TO FINANCE THIS PROJECT AND WITHOUT IT, THIS PROJECT WOULD NOT BE MOVING FORWARD NOW OR ANY TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT AROUND THAT, A LITTLE BIT OF MARKET DATA.
AMLI'S TOTAL COST OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THIS PROJECT COMES IN AT ABOUT $416,000 PER UNIT.
NOW, THAT INCLUDES THE COST OF THE GROCERY STORE.
THAT'S JUST START TO BLEND IT IN.
BUT BEAR THAT NUMBER IN MIND, $416,000 PER UNIT.
THE CORTLAND EAST DECATUR APARTMENT PROJECT, THAT WAS ANOTHER DDA TOD PROJECT THAT WAS BUILT BACK IN 2020, CURRENTLY HAS JUST HIT THE MARKET FOR SALE.
[02:00:02]
THE LIST PRICE OR THE WHISPER PRICE FROM THE BROKERS THAT ARE LISTING THAT IS ABOUT $240,000 A UNIT.IT'S EXPECTED TO TRADE FOR SOMEWHERE IN THE $240,000-$250,000 A UNIT.
BEAR THAT IN MIND FOR A SECOND.
WE'VE GOT A DEVELOPER HERE WHO'S PROPOSING TO COME IN AND SPEND $416,000 A UNIT TO BUILD THIS PROJECT WHEN THE MARKET IS BASICALLY TELLING US ALL THAT THE VALUE OF EFFECTIVELY AN IDENTICAL PROJECT, ALBEIT NOT IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR, IS $250,000.
BEING IN THE BUSINESS MYSELF, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE'S VERY, VERY FEW DEVELOPERS WHO WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO FINANCE A PROJECT LIKE THIS AND GET IT OFF THE GROUND AND CERTAINLY NOT WITHOUT A TAX ABATEMENT.
THAT'S EFFECTIVELY THE STRUCTURE THAT WE'VE BEEN USING.
WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MET AND VOTED ON ON FEBRUARY 7TH WAS A DRAFT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH REALLY CALLED OUT ALL OF THE KEY ECONOMICS AND TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION.
THE ECONOMICS ARE REFLECTED IN THE PILOT PAYMENTS.
THERE'S A SCHEDULE OVER THE FULL 10 YEARS OF WHAT THE PILOT PAYMENTS WILL BE.
THERE ARE A SERIES OF PENALTIES AS WELL.
THERE ARE CLAWBACKS AND PROVISIONS THAT I'LL DETAIL IN A MINUTE THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.
IF THOSE DON'T HAPPEN, THEN THE DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE TO PAY PENALTIES ON TOP OF THE BASE PILOT PAYMENTS.
THEN I'LL GO THROUGH SOME OF THE KEY TERMS HERE MOMENTARILY.
ALL OF THESE TERMS ARE ULTIMATELY CODIFIED IN A SERIES OF BOND DOCUMENTS, THE MAIN ONE BEING A RENTAL AGREEMENT.
THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WILL OWN THE LAND AND THE IMPROVEMENTS AND IT WILL BE RENTED UNDER THIS USUFRUCT STRUCTURE BACK TO THE DEVELOPER SO THEY CAN EFFECTIVELY OPERATE IT OVER THE 10-YEAR PERIOD.
THE WAY OUR STRUCTURE IS SET UP, AND ANGELA WILL TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS IN A MINUTE.
WE VOTED TO APPROVE THE DRAFT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
OUR COUNCIL IS CURRENTLY DRAFTING ALL OF THE BOND DOCUMENTATION THAT FLOW FROM THAT.
WE WANTED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE THIS BODY AND DISCUSS THIS AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WE'RE PLANNING TO DO THE SAME WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD ON THE 11TH OF MARCH, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE OUR FOLLOW UP MEETING AT THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ON THE 14TH OF MARCH WHERE WE WOULD, ASSUMING EVERYTHING IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND THERE AREN'T ANY OBJECTIONS, WE WOULD GO FORWARD AND MAKE FINAL APPROVAL OF ALL THE BOND DOCUMENTATION.
AT THAT POINT, THE DEVELOPER WILL ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO TO DEKALB SUPERIOR COURT AND GET THOSE BOND DOCUMENTS VALIDATED BEFORE THE BONDS COULD ACTUALLY BE ISSUED.
IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMICS, TRYING TO GIVE YOU A QUICK SUMMARY.
THIS CHART LAYS OUT, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT YEARS 1 THROUGH 10.
THE TERM OF THE TAX INCENTIVE PERIOD OR THE RENTAL AGREEMENT IS 10 YEARS.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT YEARS 1 THROUGH 10 AND YEARS 11 THROUGH 20.
STARTING ON THE LEFT OF THIS CHART, WE LOOKED AT WHAT WOULD THE TAX REVENUE, THE COMBINED REVENUE FOR DEKALB COUNTY AND THE CITY OF DECATUR BE IF NOTHING HAPPENED ON THIS SITE, AND THAT'S BASED ON THE CURRENT VALUATION OF BOTH KROGER PARCEL AND THE NEIGHBORING PARCEL, WHICH IS THE DEKALB HOUSING AUTHORITY IN DEKALB COUNTY BUILDING.
BEAR IN MIND THAT THIS VALUATION IS THE SAME VALUATION THAT THE DEKALB COUNTY ASSESSOR HAD IN 2022 WHEN BOTH BUILDINGS WERE OCCUPIED.
THIS ESTIMATE OF $3.4 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE FOR THE 10 YEARS IS NOT BASED ON AN EMPTY AND DERELICT KROGER BUILDING AND AN EMPTY OFFICE BUILDING.
THIS IS BASED ON WHAT THE ASSESSOR THOUGHT THE VALUE OF THESE PARCELS WERE WHILE THEY WERE BOTH FULLY OCCUPIED.
EVEN IF A REPLACEMENT GROCER WAS TO GO BACK INTO THAT SAME BOX, THIS IS THE TAX REVENUE THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE EXPECTING WOULD HAPPEN.
>> WOULD THAT TRIGGER WHEN COMPLETION IS DONE? COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION, THE YEAR 1.
>> YES. WE SET YEAR 1 IN THIS AGREEMENT AGAIN, BUT THE USUFRUCT STRUCTURE ALLOWED US TO BASICALLY SET OUR OWN SET OF RULES.
>> TYPICALLY IN THESE AGREEMENTS, ITS FINAL CO OF THE IMPROVEMENTS IS WHEN THE START OF THE TAX ABATEMENT PERIOD HAPPENS.
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE WANT THE TAX ABATEMENT PERIOD TO BEGIN QUICKLY AND END QUICKLY SO WE CAN GET BACK TO FULL TAXES.
WE SET THIS ON WHAT WE ARE CALLING AN IN-SERVICE DATE, MEANING THE VERY FIRST TIME AN APARTMENT RESIDENT MOVES INTO THAT PROJECT, THAT STARTS THE 10-YEAR CLOCK.
THAT'S GOING TO BE PROBABLY SIX MONTHS BEFORE FINAL COMPLETION BECAUSE THESE BUILDINGS USUALLY DELIVER IN PHASES.
>> WILL YOU OWN THE BUILDING BEFORE THEN TOO OR DO YOU ONLY START TO OWN IT?
>> NO. TECHNICALLY, THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WILL OWN IT AS SOON AS THE BONDS ARE CLOSED, WHICH WILL HAPPEN PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION STARTING.
WE WILL OWN THE DIRT AND AS THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE BUILT, THE OWNERSHIP OF ALL OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AND EVERYTHING ON THE SITE WILL BE BASED OFF OF THAT.
>> HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE TAXES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD?
[02:05:03]
>> DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, AGAIN, AS IS TYPICAL IN A BONDS FOR TITLE SITUATION, IT WILL BE A CONTINUATION OF THE CURRENT ASSESSMENT.
THE TAX REVENUE ON BOTH PARCELS TODAY IS ABOUT $250,000 A YEAR.
THAT WILL STAY IN PLACE AND GROW AT, I THINK, 3.5% PER YEAR DURING CONSTRUCTION, AND AS SOON AS CONSTRUCTION IS FINISHED, THEY GO ON TO THE SCHEDULE OF PILOT PAYMENTS THAT'S IN THE AGREEMENT.
>> GOT IT. BUT THERE ARE NO TAXES.
IT'S STILL A PILOT PAYMENT DURING THE CONSTRUCTION.
>> EXACTLY. AS SOON AS THE BONDS CLOSE, IT'S OFF THE TAX RECORDS OF DEKALB COUNTY.
>> IT JUST SWITCHED RIGHT INTO PILOT. THANKS.
>> ON THE LEFT IS THE DON'T DO ANYTHING AND LEAVE THE SITE AS IS OR HAVE AN OPERATING GROCER IN A PUBLICLY-OWNED OFFICE BUILDING.
THE BLUE BAR SHOWS WHAT THE TAXES WOULD BE IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY TAX INCENTIVES.
SO 28.5 MILLION IN TOTAL, AND THE TOTAL ABATEMENT IS 13.99 MILLION.
THE THIRD BAR IS THE ACTUAL AMOUNT THAT WILL BE PAID VIA THE PILOT PAYMENTS OVER THE 10-YEAR PERIOD.
THE INCREMENTAL IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NOT DOING ANYTHING AND NOT BUILDING A PROJECT AND WHAT REVENUES WOULD BE GARNERED IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT UNDER THIS STRUCTURE.
THE ONE THING I WILL NOTE TO YOU, THE MATH AROUND THESE THINGS OFTEN GETS CONVOLUTED AND THE NUMBER THAT EVERYBODY FOCUSES ON IS THE DISCOUNT.
BUT I WOULD BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT I CAN QUITE CERTAINLY TELL YOU THIS PROJECT DOES NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT THIS INCENTIVE.
THE $28.5 MILLION TAX REVENUE NUMBER IS AT BEST HYPOTHETICAL AND IN REALITY IS A FICTITIOUS NUMBER.
THAT YOU CAN ONLY GET THAT IF SOMEBODY WOULD BUILD THIS PROJECT WITHOUT AN INCENTIVE, AND THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS ON IS, A, DURING THE 10-YEAR PERIOD, WHAT IS THE INCREMENTAL AMOUNT OF TAXES, AND HOW DOES THAT STACK UP AND FEEL? BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY DOING AS A CITY BECAUSE WE DON'T TAKE A 10-YEAR VIEW, WE TAKE A 20, 30, 40, 50-YEAR REVIEW, IS TRYING TO CREATE A SITUATION WHERE THE UNABATED TAXES THAT WILL START HAPPENING IN YEAR 11 ARE SIGNIFICANT.
IN FACT, TO ILLUSTRATE THAT POINT, WE PUT TOGETHER A SCHEDULE FOR THE SECOND 10 YEARS, SO STARTING IN YEAR 11.
THE CURRENT SITUATION WOULD BE IF YOU DID NOTHING AND THE TAX REVENUE IS GROWING AT 3% A YEAR, THE NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL BRING IN $39 MILLION WITH NO ABATEMENT, AND SO THE INCREMENTAL HERE IS AT $34 MILLION IN TOTAL.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUMMARY OVER JUST 20 YEARS, THE CURRENT SITUATION WOULD BE $8.8 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE, AND NEW DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT ANY ABATEMENT WOULD BE 67.5, BUT THE ACTUAL PAID UNDER THE STRUCTURE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS 53.5.
WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREMENTAL TAXES OF 45 MILLION.
BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE OTHER TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT?
>> SIR, QUICK QUESTION. IS THAT 416,000 PER UNIT SPREAD ACROSS ALL UNITS?
THAT'S ALSO TAKING THE COST OF ALL OF THE RETAIL AND THE PARKING.
IT'S JUST THE TOTAL COST OF THE DEVELOPMENT DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF UNITS.
>> I USE THAT NUMBER IN COMPARISON TO THE CORTLAND EAST DECATUR DEAL BECAUSE IT ALSO HAS 20,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL AND A LARGE PARKING DECK.
I THINK STRUCTURALLY THEY'RE REALLY VERY EQUIVALENT PROPERTIES.
IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMICS, AS PART OF OUR PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, WE ALSO GET AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY COMMISSIONED, AND KB ADVISORY GROUP CAME TO OUR FEBRUARY 7TH MEETING AND PRESENTED THIS.
IT WAS A FAIRLY DETAILED REPORT.
I WON'T GO INTO A LOT OF THAT DETAIL TODAY, BUT JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK HIGHLIGHTS.
THERE'S $108 MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION SPENDING HERE.
I REALIZE THIS IS ON A SLIDE SAYING THIS IS ONE OF THEIR KEY FINDINGS.
THAT WAS A NUMBER WE GAVE THEM, SO IT WASN'T REALLY A KEY FINDING.
BUT JUST TO SHOW YOU THE IMPACT.
THEY HAD ESTIMATED, I THINK, ABOUT 60% OF THAT WOULD BE REGIONALLY SPENT.
REGIONALLY REALLY WOULD MEAN DEKALB COUNTY AND SOME OTHER PARTS OF METRO ATLANTA.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THAT THAT'S GOING TO GO TO DECATUR REVENUES, BUT IT DOES CREATE 287 CONSTRUCTION JOBS, AND THOSE PEOPLE WILL BE SPENDING A COUPLE OF YEARS HERE IN DECATUR WORKING, AND THERE HOPEFULLY WILL BE SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL EMPLOYMENT.
BUT THEN I THINK REALLY THE BIGGEST PART IS THE RECURRING ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT.
KB HAD ESTIMATED $17 MILLION A YEAR IN NEW RETAIL SPENDING BETWEEN THE GROCERY AND THE OTHER SHOPS.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT BASED ON THE LEVEL OF GROCER THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE
[02:10:02]
A NATIONAL GROCER IN A SMALL FORMAT STORE, THE ESTIMATE THAT KB USED WAS A FAIRLY AVERAGE, I THINK IT WAS $650 PER SQUARE FOOT OF SPENDING, WHICH IS WHAT YOU TYPICALLY EXPECT IN A TYPICAL GROCERY STORE.THESE SMALL FORMAT HIGHER DENSITY IN-FILL GROCERY STORES TEND TO GROSS MUCH MORE THAN THAT, SOMETIMES AS MUCH AS $2,000 PER SQUARE FOOT.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THE 17 MILLION IS ON THE LOW END OF THE ESTIMATE OF WHAT THE RETAIL SPENDING WILL BE.
THEY ALSO ESTIMATED 88 NEW FULL TIME JOBS BETWEEN THE ONGOING OPERATION OF THE APARTMENT BUILDING AND ALL OF THE RETAILERS, AND THEN 325 HOUSEHOLDS THAT WILL HAVE ECONOMIC LOCAL HOUSEHOLD SPENDING OF $18.8 MILLION.
>> TO RUN THROUGH SOME OF THE KEY TERMS, IN THE DOCUMENTS, WE'VE DEFINED SOMETHING CALLED A QUALIFIED GROCERY STORE.
THERE IS A GROCERY STORE THAT THE DEVELOPER IS WORKING WITH IN A VERY ADVANCED STATE OF NEGOTIATION WITH.
UNTIL THAT LEASE IS FINALIZED, IT CANNOT BE DISCUSSED OR RELEASED.
BUT IN THE AGREEMENT, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS VERY DEFINITIVE EXPECTATIONS CREATED ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF GROCERY STORE WE WANT.
IF FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT GROCERY STORE THAT GOES IN ORIGINALLY SHOULD FAIL OR SHOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS OR DECIDE NOT TO BE IN BUSINESS LIKE KROGER DID, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A STANDARD FOR WHO WOULD REPLACE IT BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING A TAX INCENTIVE, WE WANT TO TIE IT TO SOME STANDARD.
THE DEFINITION OF A QUALIFIED GROCERY STORE INCLUDED IT BEING A FIRST-CLASS GROCERY STORE, THEY HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST 200 STORES ACROSS THE US.
THE STORE ITSELF HAS TO BE AT LEAST 10,000 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE, AND WE IN FACT, PUT EXAMPLES IN, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THE STANDARD OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
THE TRANSACTION ITSELF WON'T HAPPEN.
ONE OF THE VERY FIRST CONDITIONS TO ACTUALLY EXECUTING THE BOND DOCUMENTS IS THAT THERE IS A LEASE WITH A GROCERY STORE.
IF A LEASE THEY'RE IN VERY ADVANCED STAGES, BUT IF FOR SOME REASON, THAT LEASE DOESN'T HAPPEN, THEN THE INCENTIVE DOES NOT HAPPEN.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE GROCERY STORE LEASE HAS TO BE IN AND SIGNED, AND IT HAS TO HAVE A TERM THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE TERM OF THE PILOT PAYMENTS.
>> DOES THAT AGREEMENT WITH THE GROCER COME BEFORE DDA?
>> NO. GIVEN THAT THAT'S A CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS CONTRACT BETWEEN THOSE TWO PARTIES, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE PARTY TO THAT AGREEMENT.
>> BUT EMILY IS HAVING TO REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE US THE DETAILS.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE US THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE STORE, THE NAME OF THE GROCER, SOME OF THE KEY FACTS ABOUT THAT LEASE, AND ATTEST THAT THERE IS IN FACT A LEASE IN PLACE FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.
>> WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT THAT THE DEVELOPER NEEDS TO COME BACK BEFORE THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
THIS WAS PART OF OUR TYPICAL OUR APPROVEMENT OF THE PROJECT ITSELF, AS DISTINCT FROM THE TAX INCENTIVE.
EARLY ON IN PROJECTS LIKE THIS, THE ARCHITECTURE IS NOT FULLY DEFINED.
YOU SAW THE RENDERINGS THAT ANGELA HAD EARLIER.
THEY'RE VERY BLOCKY DIAGRAMS. A LOT OF THE ARCHITECTURE IS NOT DONE.
THEY NEED TO COME BACK TO US PRIOR TO FINAL BUILDING PERMIT WITH THEIR FINAL PLAN SO THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THOSE.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THE OTHER SPECIFIC ELEMENTS THAT WERE CALLED OUT IN THE CITY BENEFITS, THE CONNECTION TO THE CEMETERY, THE GROCERY STORE LAYOUT, WHAT THE GROCERY STORE ENTRANCE LOOKS LIKE FROM COMMERCE DRIVE, THE FACADE OF THE APARTMENT BUILDING ALONG COMMERCE.
DURING THE TERM, THE DDA IS GOING TO RECEIVE ANNUAL REPORTS.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET REPORTS ON AN ONGOING BASIS AS TO HOW THINGS ARE GOING.
ALSO, THE DEVELOPER IS NOT ABLE TO ASSIGN OR SELL THEIR INTEREST IN THIS PROJECT WITHOUT EXPLICIT APPROVAL FROM THE DDA.
IF FOR WHATEVER REASON THEIR BUSINESS PLAN CHANGED AND THEY WANTED TO SELL, WE WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THAT TRANSACTION, APPROVE WHO IT'S BEING SOLD TO.
IF FOR WHATEVER REASON WE WERE NOT COMFORTABLE, THERE COULD BE A DECISION MADE TO TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT, AND TERMINATING THE AGREEMENT JUST MEANS THE INCENTIVE GOES AWAY.
THIS IS A BY-RIGHT DEVELOPMENT.
THEY'RE CONFORMING TO ALL OF THE CODES.
THERE ARE NO VARIANCES BEING REQUIRED, SO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BUILD A PROJECT.
IT'S THE INCENTIVE THAT'S BEING PROVIDED THAT'S PART OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND ANY TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT WOULD JUST REMOVE THE INCENTIVE.
>> COULD YOU CHARACTERIZE EMILY IN JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS IF I READ? I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THEM THAT HAVE MADE THEM A STRONG PARTNER, EQUITY-BASED.
EMILY IS A VERY HIGH-CALIBER HIGH QUALITY NATIONAL DEVELOPER.
[02:15:05]
IT'S A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR FIRM.IT'S PRIVATELY OWNED BY A DIVISION OF MORGAN STANLEY.
WE HAVE GREAT EXPERIENCE HERE IN DECATUR WITH EMILY, EMILY DECATUR, AS WE ALL KNOW, WITH THE MOST RECENT PROJECT.
I WOULD TELL YOU FROM THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES' PERSPECTIVE, THEY WERE A GREAT PARTNER IN THAT, DID SEVERAL THINGS THAT WERE NOT REQUIRED OF THEM JUST TO BE A GOOD PARTNER.
THEY ARE CAPITALIZING THIS DEAL IN WHAT'S DESCRIBED IN INDUSTRY VERNACULAR AS A BUILD-TO-CORE.
THE MAJORITY OF DEVELOPERS THAT BUILD PROJECTS LIKE THIS, BUILD THEM TO STABILIZE AND SELL.
THE BUSINESS MODEL IS TO RAISE CAPITAL, BUILD A PROJECT, LEASE THE PROJECT UP, AND THEN SELL IT ON TO A LONG TERM OWNER, A READ OR A PENSION FUND OR SOMEBODY WHO WANTS LONG-TERM REAL ESTATE.
EMILY IS A LONG-TERM OWNER OF REAL ESTATE AND THEY BUILD FOR THEIR OWN BOOK SO THAT THEY'RE IN THE EXCEPTION RATHER THAN THE NORM FOR THAT.
THAT IS ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE A VERY LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE.
THE FACT THAT THEY'RE SPENDING AS MUCH AS THEY ARE ON THIS WHEN THE CURRENT MARKET VALUE OF THESE COMPLEX IS ACTUALLY LOWER THAN THEIR COST TO BUILD IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE TAKING A 10 AND 15-YEAR VIEW, AND THEY INTEND TO OWN IT FOR 10 OR 15 YEARS.
I THINK THAT MAKES THEM A GREAT PARTNER IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.
ONE, THEY'RE WILLING TO STEP UP AND ACTUALLY DO THIS WHEN MOST OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE NUMBER OF STARTS OF PROJECTS LIKE THIS IS EXCEPTIONALLY SMALL ALL ACROSS THE US BECAUSE DEALS LIKE THIS, YOU CAN'T JUSTIFY A DEAL LIKE THIS ON ITS COST BASIS TODAY TO SAY YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD IT AND SELL IT IN FOUR YEARS TIME BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO EXPECT IN FOUR YEARS TIME, IT'LL BE WORTH MORE.
YOU CAN ONLY DO IT IF YOU'RE TAKING A LONG-TERM VIEW.
I THINK HAVING SOMEBODY STEP UP AND REDEVELOP THIS SITE NOW, EMILY IS ONE OF THE ONLY GROUPS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
WE'VE HAD A VERY OPEN AND FRANK DIALOGUE WITH THEM, WHERE AGAIN, ONE OF THE NATURES OF STRUCTURES LIKE THIS IS THERE HAS TO BE SOME TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED IS WHAT'S NEEDED.
FOR THAT, YOU NEED TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS, AND HONESTY AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT AGAIN, THERE WERE SOME TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AT TIME DURING THIS NEGOTIATION AND DURING THIS DISCUSSION.
BUT I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN TO A POINT THAT'S FRANK AND OPEN, AND I THINK WE HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF TRUST THAT THIS IS WHAT'S REQUIRED TO MAKE THIS DEAL HAPPEN.
QUICK SUMMARY OF THE PILOT PAYMENTS THEMSELVES.
COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY, THIS WAS TO YOUR QUESTION, DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE PROPERTY'S CURRENT TAX PAYMENT SCHEDULE INCREASING AT 3.5% A YEAR.
THEN THERE'S A SCHEDULE OF PILOT PAYMENTS.
BEGINNING ON THAT IN-SERVICE DATE, THAT STARTS THE FIRST CALENDAR YEAR FOLLOWING THE IN-SERVICE DATE, OR REALLY IT'S THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT THE IN-SERVICE DATE HAPPENS IN.
IF IT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, THEN THAT'S THE FIRST YEAR OF THE TERM.
IF IT HAPPENS IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR, IT'LL BE THE FOLLOWING JANUARY 1ST.
IT'S SET UP THAT WAY BECAUSE ONCE THIS TAX STRUCTURE ENDS, IT HAS TO GO ONTO THE TAX ROLLS AT THE DEKALB COUNTY AND THAT HAS TO BE ON THE CALENDAR YEAR.
THE PILOT PAYMENTS WHEN RECEIVED WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY THAT TAX REVENUE IS DISTRIBUTED TODAY.
PART OF THE CALCULATION WILL BE IF THEY'RE PAYING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN TAXES IN A YEAR, IF WE HAD RECEIVED HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN TOTAL TAXES, IT WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO DEKALB COUNTY, CITY OF DECATUR, AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND EXACTLY THE PRO RATA SHARE.
THEN AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE REQUIRED THAT THE DEVELOPER JUSTIFY THE ASK WITH A LIST OF CITY BENEFITS THAT TOTAL EXACTLY WHAT THE ABATEMENT IS.
IN THE COLUMN OVER TO THE SECOND FROM THE RIGHT THERE, YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL OF $13.9 MILLION AND ALL OF THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS, SOME DIRECT PHYSICAL UPGRADES LIKE THE COMMERCE DRIVE MULTI-USE PATH, AND THEN OTHER ELEMENTS LIKE THE DELTA BETWEEN THE COST OF BUILDING THIS GROCERY STORE, WHICH IS EXCEPTIONALLY EXPENSIVE TO BUILD A SMALL GROCERY STORE UNDERNEATH A 360 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX AND TO HAVE TRUCK DOCKS AND LOADING THAT GO IN BEHIND IT.
FRANKLY, THE GROCER IN THIS SITUATION DOESN'T PAY A LOT OF RENT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY'RE IN DEMAND, AND THEIR BUSINESS MODEL IS THAT THEY'RE TYPICALLY AN ANCHOR FOR OTHER RETAIL AND FOR APARTMENTS, AND SO THEY DON'T PAY A LOT OF RENT.
THE COST TO BUILD A STORE IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN THE VALUE OF THE STORE ITSELF.
THE VALUE OF THE STORE ITSELF IS JUST BASED ON THE RENT THAT THEY PAY.
THE SAME THING WITH THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING UNITS.
[02:20:01]
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VALUE OF THOSE UNITS AND THE VALUE OF ALL THE OTHER UNITS BECAUSE THE RENT AND THE INCOME IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT.THAT'S LISTED ON HERE, BUT ONLY A PORTION OF THAT ECONOMIC DRAG IS BEING COUNTED AS PART OF THE TAX INCENTIVE BECAUSE IT IS PART OF OUR CODE IN THE CITY AND IT IS REQUIRED.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE ON A PROJECT OF THIS SIZE THAT, AND I HAVE PERSONALLY VETTED THESE NUMBERS MYSELF AS WELL, ABOUT $6 MILLION IS THE ECONOMIC VALUE DIFFERENCE FROM HAVING 36 INCLUSIONARY HOUSING UNITS.
IF YOU HAVE TO PUT THOSE IN AT THOSE RENTS, THE RENT DISCOUNT AND THEREFORE, THE INCOME DISCOUNT THAT CORRESPONDS TO A VALUE DISCOUNT TOTALS ABOUT $6 MILLION.
>> CAN'T FIGURE OUT THAT, IT'S 36 UNITS, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT'S LIKE $170, $180 A UNIT, IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENCE THERE OUT OF THAT 440.
>> THAT IS PURELY BASED ON THE DIFFERENCE IN RENT.
THE VALUE OF AN INCOME-PRODUCING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ASSET LIKE THIS IS A MULTIPLE OF THE INCOME.
>> DO YOU PROJECT IT BY INCOME, NOT BY COST FOR CONSTRUCTION?
>> YOU STATE BEFORE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO JUSTIFY THE BENEFITS IN TERMS OF THE TAX ABATEMENT BECAUSE LIKE A TAD, YOU HAVE TO ATTACH IT TO SOMETHING TANGIBLE.
JUST SEEING THE LINE ITEM FOR THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ZONING, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE REQUIRE.
I JUST I DON'T WANT DEVELOPERS TO SAY, SOMEBODY GOT A TAX INCENTIVE AND PART OF THE JUSTIFICATION WAS MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS FOR INCLUSIONARY ZONING.
I JUST WANT TO STATE THIS. THIS ISN'T FOR YOU I THINK, BUT FOR THE GROCERY STORE, WE'RE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE WORK YOU DO YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GREAT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I DON'T WANT DEVELOPERS JUST IN GENERAL COMING HERE AND SAYING, I'M MEETING YOUR INCLUSIONARY ZONING, YOU NEED TO GIVE ME A TAX ABATEMENT.
JUST A STATEMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CONOR.
>> I PIGGYBACK ON THAT BECAUSE THEY COULD KICK ROCKS.
[LAUGHTER] YOU AIN'T GOT A GROCERY STORE.
DO YOU WANT A TAX ABATEMENT TO FOLLOW OUR RULES? PLEASE.
>> UNDERSTOOD. AGAIN, THAT WAS NOT THE PURPOSE.
>> BUT I WILL SAY AND I'VE SAID THIS AT OUR MEETINGS AT THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AS WELL.
IT IS GREAT THAT WE HAVE THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING CODE, BUT 10% OF ZERO IS ZERO.
IN THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S TWO PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT FOLLOWING THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING CODE.
WELL, ONE THAT'S BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW, AND ANOTHER THAT'S BEING PROPOSED AND BOTH HAVE NEEDED A TAX ABATEMENT OF SOME SORT TO GET THEM GOING.
THIS IS TOTALLY DEPENDENT PROJECT BY PROJECT.
AGAIN, WE HAVE A LIST OF CRITERIA THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED AT THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO EVALUATE, AND MEETING OUR CODE IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
I DO ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT'S NOT THE MESSAGE THAT'S BEEN.
>> I INTENTIONALLY AVOIDED THE KICK ROCKS LANGUAGE. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT IS VERY MUCH A LESA THING TO SAY, NOT A GEORGE THING TO SAY, YOU'RE POLITE. I AM NOT.
>> IN TERMS OF JUST SOME OTHER CONTROLS AND CLAWBACKS THAT WE HAVE, I KNOW THIS HAS A LOT OF DETAIL, BUT AGAIN, WITH THE USE OF FACT STRUCTURE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CONTROL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING WHAT WE'VE BARGAINED FOR HERE.
THE QUALIFIED GROCERY STORE, THE LEASE HAS TO BE IN PLACE WHERE WE DON'T BEGIN.
IT'S GOT TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE IN-SERVICE DATE.
IF THAT ALLOWS TIME FOR THE STORE TO BE BUILT OUT, IN FACT, THE DEVELOPER WAS ASKING FOR A YEAR FOR THAT BECAUSE IT CAN ACTUALLY TAKE THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.
WE DREW A LINE IN THE SAND AND SAID NO, PENALTY PAYMENTS OF $56,000 A MONTH WILL APPLY IF THE STORE IS NOT OPEN IN SIX MONTHS.
ON TOP OF THE PILOT PAYMENTS, AND ON TOP OF NOT GETTING THE RENT FROM THEIR GROCER, AND ON TOP OF UPSETTING ALL THE APARTMENT RESIDENTS WHO DON'T HAVE A GROCERY STORE, THEY WILL ALSO HAVE TO PAY 56 GRAND A MONTH.
AFTER OPENING, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE DURING THE 10 YEAR PERIOD THAT THE GROCERY STORE CAN'T JUST GO COLD AND DARK.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH KROGER.
THAT WAS NO FAULT OF THE OWNER OR DEVELOPER, THAT WAS KROGER MAKING A DECISION TO CONTINUE PAYING RENT BUT CLOSE THEIR STORE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY MONEY.
BUT WE PUT A PROVISION IN HERE TO SAY, LOOK, IT'S OKAY.
THERE'S AN AMOUNT OF 12 MONTHS THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE STORE CLOSED FOR ANY REASON REGARDLESS OF WHOSE FAULT IT IS.
BUT AFTER 12 MONTHS, IF THAT IF THERE IS NOT A FULLY OPERATIONAL, QUALIFIED GROCERY STORE, THEN THE DEVELOPER HAS TO PAY A PENALTY OF $56,000 A MONTH UNTIL THERE IS A STORE OPEN.
IT'S JUST AN EXTRA ECONOMIC PUSH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN OPEN AND OPERATING GROCERY STORE.
[02:25:01]
THE CITY BENEFITS THAT LIST OF THINGS THAT WE CALLED OUT NEEDS TO ALL BE IN PLACE 45 MONTHS AFTER BOND CLOSING, AND IF THEY'RE NOT, THERE'S PENALTIES OF UP TO 26 GRAND A MONTH.THE DEVELOPER HAS TO EVIDENCE THAT THEY'VE INVESTED THE FULL 108 MILLION IN HARD CONSTRUCTION COSTS THAT WE'VE BARGAINED FOR.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS BUILT TO THE QUALITY STANDARDS AND WE'LL HAVE THE TAX VALUE WHEN IT'S FINISHED WHEN THE PILOT PERIOD IS OVER.
THERE ARE PENALTIES IF THEY DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THEY'VE INVESTED THAT AMOUNT.
THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY CAN TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT FOR VARIOUS THINGS.
THERE'S AN OUTSIDE DATE OF THE END OF 2026.
ALL GOING SMOOTHLY AFTER THE MARCH MEETING, WE'LL HAVE APPROVED THE BOND DOCUMENTS.
THEY'LL GO FOR VALIDATION, BUT THEN THE DEVELOPER WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH ALL THEIR PLANS, AND WHEN THEY'RE READY TO PULL THEIR PERMIT AND START, THAT'S WHEN THE BONDS WOULD CLOSE.
BUT WE'VE SET AN OUTSIDE DATE OF THE END OF 2026 THAT WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO WAIT FOREVER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
WE CAN TERMINATE IF THEY FAIL TO MAKE A PILOT PAYMENT IF CONSTRUCTION ITSELF IS NOT COMPLETE WITHIN 60 MONTHS AND ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET AN AGREEMENT FROM THE DEVELOPER ON AS IT RELATES TO THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING UNITS IS A PREFERRED EMPLOYER PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR AND THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR.
THAT'S ACTUALLY, I THINK, SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT VALUE FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS.
THOSE 36 UNITS WILL BE MARKETED EXCLUSIVELY TO EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF DECATUR AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR LEASE BEFORE THEY ARE MARKETED TO THE OPEN MARKET.
I CAN TELL YOU IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, THESE ARE VERY HIGH-QUALITY UNITS WITH A VERY AFFORDABLE RENTAL PRICE.
THERE'S USUALLY LARGE WAITING LISTS FOR THESE.
THAT'S A GREAT BENEFIT, I THINK FOR BOTH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE CITY TO HAVE THAT EXCLUSIVE SIX-MONTH PERIOD.
>> THEN FINALLY, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT SIMILAR TO A TYPICAL TAX STRUCTURE, THERE'S SOME ASSURANCE THAT THE PILOT PAYMENTS ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE PAID.
EITHER THE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY'S PARENT, NOT THE ENTITY THAT'S GOING TO BE DEVELOPING THIS, WHICH IS A SINGLE PURPOSE ENTITY, BUT THE PARENT COMPANY, HAS TO GUARANTEE THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER TO MAKE THESE PAYMENTS.
OR IF THEY DON'T DO THAT, THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY PLACE A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY IN FAVOR OF THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO GET PAID.
THAT'S IT IN TERMS OF THE TERMS. I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO ANGELA TO TALK ABOUT PROCESS AND NEXT STEPS.
BUT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I DO THAT?
>> WITH THE PUBLIC SPACE, THE COURTYARD, IS THERE AN EASEMENT FOR THAT, OR HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THAT WILL BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE?
>> THERE IS NO EASEMENT FOR IT.
I THINK IT'S CALLED OUT IN THE DESIGN.
IN THE CITY BENEFITS, IT'S CALLED A PUBLIC PASEO AND AN OPEN COURTYARD.
I THINK WE WOULD TAKE THE POSITION AS A DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OVER THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT IF THEY WERE TO SOMEHOW CLOSE OFF ACCESS TO THAT, THAT THAT WOULD NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH OUR AGREEMENT.
BUT THERE ISN'T A LEGAL BLANKET EASEMENT.
THE SAME CONSTRUCT APPLIES AT AMLI DECATUR WHERE THAT'S OPEN, BUT, JUST FROM A PROPERTY PERSPECTIVE, THAT NEEDS TO BE A PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR THE DEVELOPER, AND THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO CARRY INSURANCE FOR IT.
>> COULD THAT BE THAT THE DEVELOPER WITH DDA MET WITH THE PRINCE OF DECATUR CEMETERY?
>> YES. I WAS NOT AT THAT MEETING, ANGELA WAS, BUT THERE'S BEEN A GOOD AMOUNT OF DIALOGUE.
>> THAT'S A REALLY CRITICAL STAKEHOLDER BEHIND FROM A NATURAL GREEN SPACE, BEAUTIFUL AMENITY FOR THE WHOLE CITY.
I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED AND HAPPY TO SEE THAT THAT CONNECTION WAS MADE.
THE GROUP WHO TENDS TO IT AS WELL ARE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT GETS DONE THERE.
I WANT THAT TO BE A REALLY POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP MOVING FORWARD, THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE MORE USERS, MORE PEOPLE BENEFITING AND ENJOYING, BUT ALSO, MAYBE, IT NEEDS MORE UPKEEP AND, YOU NEVER KNOW, MAYBE WE'LL GET MORE VOLUNTEERS FROM THAT BUILDING.
THANKS TO WHOEVER COORDINATED THAT CONNECTION GETTING MADE.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> LANGSTON IS SHAKING HIS HAND [LAUGHTER]
>> WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THIS AS WELL [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] TO YOUR NOTES.
>> HAPPY TO HELP YOU OUT. THE LAST SLIDE IN THE DECK HERE IS OUR REMAINING PROCESS AND TIMELINE.
[02:30:05]
DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME TODAY, WE WILL PROCEED TO THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR.THEIR BOARD MEETING WOULD BE ON MARCH 11TH, AND PENDING THAT SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION FROM THEM, THE APPLICATION AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WOULD RETURN TO THE DDA FOR THEIR MARCH 14TH MEETING WHERE WE WOULD FORMALLY APPROVE THE TRANSACTION AND THOSE FINAL BOND DOCUMENTATION.
RIGHT NOW, OUR BOND COUNCIL IS PREPARING THAT BOND DOCUMENTATION.
BUT AGAIN, WE WON'T MOVE FORWARD UNLESS WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF BOTH THE CITY COMMISSION, AS WELL AS THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE ECONOMICS OF THIS PROPERTY, AND OF COURSE, JUST WORKING TOGETHER AS THESE THREE DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
FOLLOWING THE MARCH 14TH DDA MEETING, ASSUMING THAT WE ALL MOVE FORWARD, IS THAT THIS BOND DOCUMENTATION WILL GO TO THE DECATUR SUPERIOR COURT FOR VALIDATION.
BUT, OF COURSE, AS MR. MCNALLY POINTED OUT, THERE'S A FEW STEPS BETWEEN THEN AND THE FINAL BOND VALIDATION.
BUT, OF COURSE, THE CLOSING, THAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN WE HAVE A LEASE FOR A QUALIFIED GROCERY STORE, AND THE DEVELOPER IS READY TO CLOSE ON THAT LAND PURCHASE.
ONE PARTNER WE DIDN'T QUITE MENTION TONIGHT IS THAT POPE AND LAND WOULD BE THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY INITIALLY.
THEY CURRENTLY OWN THE OFFICE BUILDING WHERE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WAS LOCATED, AND THEN THEY'RE UNDER CONTRACT TO PURCHASE THE KROGER SITE.
DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF ALL OF THIS, THEY WOULD CLOSE ON THAT KROGER SITE AND THEN SELL OR TRANSFER THE OWNERSHIP TO AMLI FOR THE REST OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF THE TIMELINE.
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
I KNOW WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM AMLI IF YOU HAD QUESTIONS FOR THEM, AND, OF COURSE, OUR DDA REPRESENTATIVES.
BUT WITH THAT, WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT AND REDEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR MR. [INAUDIBLE] FOR MR. MCNALLY.
>> I HAVE A COMMENT. I STARTED ATTENDING AND WATCHING THE DDA MEETINGS IN OCTOBER.
I WAS JUST SO IMPRESSED WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF CONNOR AND WITH NOAH, AND THE QUESTIONS, AND THE THOROUGHNESS, AND JUST EVERYTHING [OVERLAPPING].
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE THIS AND I'M THINKING THOSE GUYS GOT TO STAY ON THE DDA BOARD THE ENTIRE TIME.
[LAUGHTER] THAT WAS MY ONLY COMMENT.
[LAUGHTER] ESPECIALLY WITH ALL OF, I'M GOING TO CALL THAT MY CAVEAT LIST, THAT WAS IN SIX POINT FONT TO FIT IT ALL IN.
THIS IS A REALLY WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN WITH A LOT OF GOOD BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY, TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE LIVING IN THAT LOCATION, AND BRINGING A GROCERY STORE BACK TO DOWNTOWN IS A BIG THING.
I APPRECIATE THAT THE PRESENTATION DIDN'T FOCUS ON WHAT I LIKE TO CALL MONOPOLY MONEY.
MONEY YOU WOULDN'T GET ANYWAY, JUST PLAY MONEY, AND ACTUALLY FOCUSED ON REAL BENEFITS, REAL DOLLARS THAT COULD COME INTO OUR CITY, AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF A GOAL THAT'S NOT EASY TO DO, WHICH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE, NOT JUST A GROCERY STORE DOWNTOWN, BUT ONE THAT STAYS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THIS AND I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF WHATEVER NEGOTIATIONS OCCURRED TO MAKE SUCH A GOOD PLAN, AND I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER WHO IS WILLING TO ACCOMMODATE ALL OF THESE THINGS TO MAKE SUCH AN IMPORTANT GOAL FOR US HAPPEN. IT'S A GOOD PLAN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE REALLY GREAT BOARD LEADERSHIP, AND THEN, OF COURSE, A PARTNER WITH AMLI DECATUR, AMLI RESIDENTIAL.
>> I WILL NOT TELL THEM TO KICK ROCKS, YET.
WAS THERE ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT ACQUIRING THE PARCELS TO BUILD OUT TO CHURCH STREET? HAS THERE BEEN ANY COMMUNICATION,
[02:35:02]
BECAUSE THEN WE CREATE THIS LITTLE WEIRD ISLAND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THERE.WAS THERE ANY CONVERSATION WITH AMLI OR POPE AND LAND ABOUT ACQUIRING OUT TO CHURCH STREET SO WE CAN GET A TRUE CORNER BUILDOUT?
>> YES. WHEN I SAY WE, IT'S ROYAL WE.
I DID SPEAK WITH POPE AND LAND AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR PURCHASING THOSE ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES ALL THE WAY TOWARDS FRONTING ON CHURCH STREET.
I BELIEVE THEY ENTERTAINED SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DIFFERENT OWNERS, BUT IT DID NOT COME TO FRUITION.
BUT IT WAS PART OF OUR DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE HAPPENING AROUND THEN, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
>> I JUST DON'T WANT TO CREATE SOMETHING WHERE WE'VE GOT A GREAT MASSING AND THEN A MINI STARBUCKS, OR SOMETHING, ON THE CORNER.
>> IT WON'T HAVE A DRIVE THROUGH.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S RIGHT, MAYOR.
>> YOU MEAN LIKE HAVING THE BANK OF AMERICA WITH A DRIVE THROUGH.
>> THANK YOU. THIS WAS ALL WELL THOUGHT OUT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT RE-ENVISIONS THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH DOWNTOWN MASTER PLANS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
IT REALLY PULLS IT ALL TOGETHER.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE BROUGHT A GROCER BACK, AND I THINK IT'S NOT LOST IN THE DETAIL THAT IN ORDER TO BUILD THE APARTMENTS YOU GOT TO HAVE THE GROCER AS AN ANCHOR, BUT UNDERSTANDING THE NUTS AND BOLTS BEHIND HOW YOU GET A GROCER TO COME IN, AND WHAT THE CAVEATS AND CONDITIONS THAT HAVE TO GO FORWARD.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE THOROUGH EXPLANATION SO THAT THERE WILL BE NO DOUBT HOPEFULLY IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHY THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN, AND HOW THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
>> I ALSO APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK AND THE THOUGHTFULNESS BEHIND ALL THE GUARD RAILS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF SAFEGUARDS FOR THIS FOR US NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK TO HAVE THAT VISION THAT IN FIVE YEARS, IF DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE UP HERE, DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE ON THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT DOCUMENT IS STILL THE LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT PROTECTS THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
I REALLY LIKE THE PREFERRED EMPLOYEE LEASE PART.
THAT IS, I THINK, SIGNIFICANT FOR OUR FOLKS THAT WORK HERE, THAT WORK FOR THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR, AND TO HAVE THAT AMENITY, AND TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THOSE FIRST, I THINK IS A HUGE WIN.
WHOEVER SAID, LET'S PUT THAT IN THE MIX, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> IF I COULD PILE ON [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I WASN'T IN THE ROOM LIKE COMMISSION [INAUDIBLE] FOLLOWING AFTER THE FACT, BUT VERY ARTFUL, DELIBERATE, AND SMART WORK BY THE DDA, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
I RECENTLY TOOK THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ALL DAY TRAINING ON DDAS.
I GOT A FLAVOR OF WHAT THEY DO ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL, AND I THINK THERE'S VARYING LEVELS, I COULD SAY, OF SOPHISTICATION IN DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES.
SEEING WHAT I'VE SEEN NOW THROUGH THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE, IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A BEST IN CLASS DDA.
WE ARE REALLY FORTUNATE, AS A COMMUNITY, THAT WE CAN FILL OUT IN DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS WITH TRUSTING THAT WE'RE ADDING A LOT OF VALUE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, CREATING A LEGACY AS WELL, LONG TERM LEGACY WITH GOOD PARTNERS.
IT'S HARD TO SAY IF YOU HAVE A GOOD CORPORATE OR COMPANY PARTNER.
WE'VE GOT THE BEST WE CAN IDENTIFY AND ARE GOING TO LINK UP WITH THEM, SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT THEY'RE EVEN IN OUR WORLD, WHICH ALSO COMES FROM A PREVIOUS HEALTHY DEAL.
WE'RE BUILDING ON A LOT OF HEALTHY WORK THAT EXISTED, BUT THIS IS REALLY TOP NOTCH, SO I'M EXCITED.
THEN I'M EXCITED FOR THE RIPPLE EFFECT AND THE HALOS OF ACTIVITY THAT IT'LL PROVIDE, WHETHER IT'S A BETTER PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THAT ZONE.
IT ENLIVENS WHAT WE LEARNED THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN.
IT ENLIVENS THAT WHOLE GEOGRAPHY ON THAT CORNER OF DOWNTOWN.
IT PULLS PEOPLE OVER THERE AND MAKES THE WHOLE DOWNTOWN EVEN STICKIER.
THERE'S JUST SO MANY THINGS AND UPSIDES WE CAN SEE FROM THIS, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT AND REALLY VALUE THE WORK THAT OUR RESIDENTS COULD ADD TO GOVERNMENT CAPABILITIES. THANK YOU.
>> THAT HALO MAY REACH ALL THE WAY TO THE CORNER BEFORE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT THAT HALO EFFECT BECAUSE IN
[02:40:02]
OUR DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN WE CALLED THIS OUT AS AN OPPORTUNITY SITE, A CATALYST THAT WILL HELP INVESTMENTS BE HAD AT ADJACENT PROPERTIES.>> I THINK WE ARE PROBABLY READY TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION R-25-XX IN SUPPORT OF THE DECATUR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY'S DECISION TO APPROVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AT 720-750 COMMERCE DRIVE.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION?
>> IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND YOU HAVE AN ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION.
[VI.F. Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant Application.]
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. I'M JULIE HARLAN, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR, CITY OF DECATUR.
I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF TWO APPLICATIONS THAT WE'RE SUBMITTING TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THEIR TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM GRANTS.
I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THEM SEPARATELY.
ONE IS FOR THE SOUTH MCDONOUGH AND OAKVIEW PATH, AND THE OTHER IS FOR EAST PONCE STONE MOUNTAIN TRAIL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
THE SOUTH MCDONOUGH AND OAKVIEW PATH WILL REQUIRE A LOCAL MATCH OF $573,000 AND THE EAST PONCE STONE MOUNTAIN TRAIL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WILL REQUIRE A LOCAL MATCH OF $265,000.
THOUGH THAT WILL LIKELY BE COVERED BY THE HIGHWAY OF SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING WITH GDOT TO IMPLEMENT THIS GRANT.
TO START, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE SOUTH MCDONOUGH AND OAKVIEW PATH.
THIS IS AN ALMOST TWO MILE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE FACILITY.
IT SUPPORTS THREE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS.
IT WILL INCREASE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND OVERALL SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSIT AS WELL.
BASICALLY, THIS ROUTE PICKS UP WHERE NORTH MCDONOUGH CYCLE TRACK LEAVES OFF, CONTINUES DOWN SOUTH MCDONOUGH AND TURNS ONTO OAKVIEW WHERE IT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH DOWNTOWN OAKHURST, ALL THE WAY OUT UNTIL IT MEETS UP AT THE CITY OF ATLANTA LINE, WHERE IT WILL CONNECT WITH THE TROLLEY TRAIL AND ULTIMATELY THE BELT LINE.
WE'RE TALKING REAL REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY, QUICK, EFFICIENT MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
THERE ARE PARTS OF IT THAT WILL BE MEDIAN SEPARATED, PARTS OF IT WILL BE DEDICATED PATH, AND PARTS OF IT WILL BE GREENWAY.
>> PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE AND THE VERY HYPER-LOCAL TRAFFIC MIXING IN THE SAME SPACE.
A VERY EXCITING PLAN THAT IS UNFOLDING.
THIS SECTION OF THE PATH ALREADY HAS 1.67 MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDING FROM THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION FOR FY24.
THIS WILL GET US THROUGH CONCEPT.
WE'RE LOOKING TO PICK UP WHERE THAT LEAVES OFF AND UTILIZE AN ADDITIONAL 2.87 MILLION IN THIS TAP FUNDING TO GET US THROUGH FULL DESIGN.
THE FUNDS WILL BE PROGRAMMED IN THE FY25/26 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE LOCAL MATCH FOR THE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
THE SECOND ONE I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT IS THE EAST POINT STONE MOUNTAIN TRAIL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
THIS ENHANCES THE EXISTING STONE MOUNTAIN TRAIL BY WIDENING THE EXISTING SHARED-USE PATH WEST OF THE MARTA-AVONDALE STATION, AND IT EXPANDS A SIX-FOOT SIDEWALK TO A FULL EIGHT-FOOT PATH AND WOULD ADD A CROSSING THERE AND A ROAD DIET.
OVERALL, IMPROVING THAT SEGMENT OF THE PATH AND FACILITATING SAFER MOVEMENTS FOR PEDESTRIANS WHILE RIGHT-SIZING THE ROAD FOR THE VOLUME OF CARS THAT ACTUALLY USE IT.
THIS PROJECT WAS IDENTIFIED FOR US BY THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROGRAM, THEY REQUESTED THAT WE SUBMIT THIS FUNDING REQUEST ON THEIR BEHALF.
[02:45:03]
THIS IS A $1.33 MILLION TAP FUND REQUEST THAT WOULD ADVANCE THE PLANS THROUGH FULL CONSTRUCTION.GDOT HAS DONE THE INITIAL PHASE OF THE CONCEPT.
WHILE GDOT HAS STATED THAT THEY WOULD WORK TO COVER THE LOCAL MATCH, IF THOSE FUNDS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE, WE WOULD SEEK THE LOCAL MATCH THROUGH PROGRAMMING IN THE FY25/26 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS DUE QUICKLY.
>> THAT'S WHY IT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD THIS EVENING.
>> I BIKE OUT TO STONE MOUNTAIN QUITE A BIT, AND THIS IS THE WORST SECTION BETWEEN HERE AND STONE MOUNTAIN.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS, SO THANK YOU.
>> I WAS SHOCKED WHEN GDOT PUT IT OVER TO US, AND IT SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER.
>> I CAN'T BELIEVE I HADN'T SENT AN E-MAIL TO KARA SAYING, HEY, THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
[LAUGHTER] EXCITED TO SEE [INAUDIBLE]
>> I THINK THE OAKHURST PIECE IS REALLY HUGE AS WELL, I THINK, AND A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO USE SOME OF OUR MONEY AND GET A LOT OF MONEY FROM OTHER SOURCES TO MAKE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN MUCH QUICKER THAN WE COULD DO ON OUR OWN.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE PROJECT AND IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF FUNDING SOURCES, SO YEAH, WE'RE TRYING TO LEVERAGE EVERY DOLLAR WE CAN FIND.
>> ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE ARE LOOKING TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR TWO TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM PLANNING GRANTS FOR SOUTH MCDONOUGH AND OAKVIEW, AND THE EAST POINT STONE MOUNTAIN TRAIL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT APPLICATION?
>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE.
THESE ARE REALLY EXCITING, SO THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO REQUEST AND PETITIONS.
THIS IS THE LAST TIME IN THIS MEETING THAT WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT IS IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD FIRST LIKE TO BRING FORTH ANY COMMENT TO THE CITY COMMISSION AND WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SEEING NONE, WE WILL OPEN IT UP.
WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE JOINED US ONLINE, AND IF THERE'S ANYONE ONLINE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO.
IF YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND, WE WILL UNMUTE YOU AND ASK YOU TO PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR REQUEST AND PETITIONS AND MOVE TO REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS.
[VIII. Reports and Other Business.]
THE FIRST OTHER BUSINESS IS THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.WE'LL MEET ON MONDAY, MARCH THE 10TH.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CITY COMMISSION MEETING PRIOR TO THAT, BUT THAT WILL BE ON MONDAY, MARCH THE 10TH AT 7:30 IN THIS ROOM.
THEY WILL APPROVE MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND THEN HAVE TWO ITEMS OF NEW BUSINESS.
ERIC SULLIVAN, CONTRACTOR, HAS APPLIED FOR A VARIANCE FROM THE DECATUR TREE ORDINANCE TO REMOVE A TREE AND CONSTRUCT AN EXTERIOR GARAGE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 152 MICHIGAN AVENUE.
SECOND, THE CITY OF DECATUR AND QUADIR SADIK HAVE APPLIED FOR A VARIANCE TO EXCEED THE MAXIMUM ACCESSORY STRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS TO CONSTRUCT AN ADU AT THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 206 FAYETTEVILLE ROAD, AND UNDER REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS, THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION OF NEW OFFICERS FOR THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.
IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO HAS ANY INTEREST IN ANY OF THESE ITEMS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO EITHER ATTEND THE MEETING OR SEND YOUR COMMENTS BEFORE THE MEETING SO THAT THEY CAN BE MADE A PART OF THAT MEETING BECAUSE THESE DO NOT COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION.
[02:50:06]
THEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA IS A CANCELLATION NOTICE.THEY WILL NOT MEET THIS MONTH, AND WILL NOT MEET AGAIN UNTIL, I DON'T HAVE IT COMING UP.
>> THANK YOU. MINE DIDN'T COME UP, SO WE WILL NOT SEE ANYTHING FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION UNTIL AFTER THAT TIME.
THE NEXT THING WE HAVE IS GEORGIA POWER IRP UPDATE, AND I BELIEVE MR. NIFONG IS STILL HERE AND IS GOING TO GIVE US THAT UPDATE.
>> YES. I AM BEFORE YOU AGAIN TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ABOUT PLANS TO INTERVENE IN THE 2025 GEORGIA POWER INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN PROCEEDING BEFORE THE GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
ON JANUARY 31ST, 2025, GEORGIA POWER COMPANY FILED ITS INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN WITH THE GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
PRESENTED TYPICALLY EVERY THREE YEARS, THE IRP, AS IT'S KNOWN, OUTLINES THE COMPANY'S SUPPLY AND DEMAND SIDE STRATEGIES TO DELIVER ELECTRICITY TO ITS SERVICE TERRITORY OVER THE NEXT 20-YEAR TIME HORIZON.
THE 2025 FILING, AS YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN THE NEWS, INDICATES CONTINUED LOAD GROWTH ON THEIR SYSTEM OVER THE UPCOMING DECADES, WITH A PROJECTED 72% INCREASE IN THEIR WINTER PEAK DEMAND BY 2044.
THE MAJORITY OF THIS PROJECTED LOAD GROWTH IS DRIVEN BY THE ADDITION OF LARGE LOAD CUSTOMERS, PRIMARILY DATA CENTERS AS WELL AS SOME MANUFACTURING FACILITIES.
AS YOU RECALL, I WAS HERE BEFORE YOU, NOT THAT LONG AGO TO DISCUSS GEORGE POWERS.
IT WAS CALLED THE 2023 IRP UPDATE.
IT WAS FILED IN LATE 2023, BUT THE CASE PRIMARILY OCCURRED IN EARLY 2024.
THAT FILING, WHICH HAPPENED OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL THREE-YEAR CYCLE THAT WE'VE COME TO EXPECT WAS DUE TO UNFORESEEN LOAD GROWTH THAT HAD OCCURRED ON THE SYSTEM SINCE THEY HAD DONE THEIR 2022 IRP AND THEIR STATED NEED FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION TO MEET APPROACHING CAPACITY DEFICITS.
IN THAT PROCEEDING, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT OF THE REQUESTS THAT THE COMPANY IS INCLUDING IN THIS YEAR'S FILING, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION APPROVED A NUMBER OF COMPANY ACTIONS, INCLUDING THE EXECUTION OF POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS WITH MISSISSIPPI POWER TO ESSENTIALLY TO DELAY THE RETIREMENT OF ONE OF THEIR COAL FIRED ASSETS AND PURCHASE THAT ELECTRICITY FOR GEORGIA POWER SERVICE TERRITORY, EXECUTING A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR ENERGY AND CAPACITY FROM NATURAL GAS-FIRED UNIT IN FLORIDA, THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF 1,400 MEGAWATTS OF NATURAL GAS COMBUSTION TURBINES AT PLANT YATES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF UP TO 1,000 MEGAWATTS OF BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS DEVELOPED AND OWNED BY THE COMPANY.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT RATHER THAN FILE A RATE CASE FOLLOWING THAT PROCEEDING AS IS NORMAL PRACTICE IN THREE-YEAR CYCLE, THE COMPANY ELECTED TO INCLUDE THOSE COSTS IN THEIR 2025 RATE CASE PROCEEDING, WHICH IS GOING TO BE FILED IN JULY.
WITH THAT CONTEXT, IN THIS YEAR'S FILING, THE COMPANY HAS REQUESTED APPROVAL FOR A NUMBER OF SUPPLY SIDE, DEMAND SIDE, AND POLICY ACTIONS.
I WILL LIST A SELECTION OF THOSE.
FIRST, DELAYING THE RETIREMENT OF FOUR COAL-FIRED UNITS AT PLANT BOWEN FROM 2028 TO 2038, DELAYING THE RETIREMENT OF A COAL-FIRED UNIT AT PLANT SHARE 2028-2038, DELAYING THE RETIREMENT OF, I THINK, FIVE COAL AND NATURAL GAS-FIRED UNITS AT PLANT GASTON FROM 2028 TO 2034, UPGRADING A NUMBER OF EXISTING GAS, NUCLEAR, AND HYDROELECTRIC ASSETS TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY PROVIDED BY EACH PROCURING UP TO 4,000 MEGAWATTS OF UTILITY SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY THROUGH POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS, PROCURING 100 MEGAWATTS OF DISTRIBUTED RENEWABLE ENERGY THROUGH POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS, ESTABLISHING A RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL COMMERCIAL SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE PILOT TO PROVIDE THE UTILITY ACCESS TO UP TO 50 MEGAWATTS OF DISPATCHABLE DISTRIBUTED BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE,
[02:55:01]
RE-CERTIFYING EIGHT EXISTING DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, FIVE RESIDENTIAL, THREE COMMERCIAL, AND CERTIFYING ONE NEW RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM TO ACHIEVE ENERGY SAVINGS OF 0.75% OF ANNUAL RETAIL SALES AND RAISING THEIR SUMMER CAPACITY RESERVE MARGIN FROM THE CURRENT 16.5% TO 20%.ACCORDING TO THE PROCEDURAL AND SCHEDULING ORDER THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, HEARINGS ON THE COMPANY'S REQUESTS WILL INITIALLY BEGIN MARCH 25TH-28TH.
STAFF AND INTERVENER TESTIMONY IS GOING TO BE DUE ON MAY 2ND WITH HEARINGS HELD MAY 27TH-30TH.
THEN THE COMPANY IS PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILE REBUTTAL TESTIMONY, WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED IN HEARINGS FROM JUNE 23RD-25TH.
THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IS EXPECTED TO ISSUE A DECISION ON JULY 15TH, 2025.
THE ESTIMATED DEADLINE OR THIS IS NOW CONFIRMED, BUT THE DEADLINE TO FILE LEAVE TO INTERVENE IN THE CASE IS MARCH 14TH.
AS WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, AND AS YOU ARE FAMILIAR, STAFF FROM THE CITIES OF ATLANTA, DECATUR, AND SAVANNAH, AS WELL AS ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, DEKALB COUNTY, AND GWINNETT COUNTY, BEGAN DISCUSSING A POTENTIAL JOINT INTERVENTION IN THE PROCEEDING AS THE GEORGIA COALITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GWINNETT, THE COALITION HAS JOINTLY INTERVENED IN THREE PROCEEDINGS, THE 2022 IRP AND RATE CASE, AS WELL AS THE 2023 IRP UPDATE, THE FEASIBILITY OF THE CLEAN ENERGY GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THIS BODY AND OF OUR ABILITY TO REDUCE OPERATIONAL COSTS FROM ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION ARE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THE DECISIONS MADE IN THIS PROCEEDING AND EVERY DECISION MADE BY THE GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
THE COALITION'S PRIORITIES IN THIS CASE WOULD INCLUDE APPROVAL OF THE REQUESTED SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE PILOT WITH CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS TO IMPROVE ITS FUNCTIONALITY, APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT CASE AT THE INCLUDED SAVINGS TARGET, APPROVAL OF THE DISTRIBUTED GENERATION AND UTILITY SCALE RENEWABLE PROCUREMENTS WITH CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS, AND MODIFICATION OF THE COMPANY'S UNIT RETIREMENT DELAYS WITH EXPANDED PROCUREMENT OF PAIRED SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE, AND OTHER RENEWABLE CAPACITY INVESTMENTS.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE COALITION INTENDS TO HIRE LEGAL COUNSEL TO REPRESENT THE COALITION IN THE PROCEEDING.
IN PREVIOUS PROCEEDINGS, THAT HAS BEEN HANDLED EXCLUSIVELY BY STAFF FROM EACH OF THE GOVERNMENTS.
COUNSEL WOULD CONDUCT ALL CROSS EXAMINATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION STAFF AND INTERVENER WITNESSES, ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ALL COMMISSION RULES, FILING DEADLINES, AND SERVE AS THE MAIN POINT OF CONTACT FOR STIPULATION NEGOTIATIONS AMONG OTHER PRETTY KEY SERVICES.
>> WE ARE PLANNING TO MEET WITH TWO POTENTIAL INDIVIDUALS THAT COULD SERVE AS COUNCIL TOMORROW, AND HOPE TO HAVE A DECISION MADE BY THE END OF THIS WEEK IN AN EXECUTED REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT.
TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CLEAN ENERGY GOALS ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMISSION, I RECOMMENDED TO THE CITY MANAGER THAT WE BE APPROVED TO INTERVENE AS A MEMBER OF THE GEORGIA COALITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> WHAT I UNDERSTOOD GEORGIA POWER WAS GOING TO DO WAS HAVE SOME OF THESE AS A BACKUP.
THEY WOULD ONLY DRAW POWER FROM SOME OF THOSE AT PEAK DEMAND, IS THAT CORRECT? OR IS IT JUST TO HAVE IT AS PART OF THE NORMAL MIX EVERY DAY ELECTRICITIES?
>> YEAH. IF THE PLAN RETIREMENT WAS TO OCCUR IN 2028, I BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THAT DATE, THEY WOULD NOT BE UTILIZED AS OFTEN AS THEY HAD BEEN IN THE PAST, AND THEN THEY WOULD BE FULLY RETIRED, SHUTTERED, COMPLY WITH ALL THE NECESSARY ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE CLOSED AND IN GOOD STANDING WITH ALL GROUNDWATER RULES, ET CETERA.
IN 2022, THEY PROPOSED TO CLOSE THESE UNITS.
THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE INTERVENER REQUESTED AND WAS INCLUDED IN THE STIPULATION.
THEY REQUESTED TO CLOSE THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE NO LONGER ECONOMIC FOR THE SYSTEM.
THEY ARE NOW SAYING THAT THEY ARE NECESSARY TO MEET THIS PROJECTED DEMAND,
[03:00:06]
THAT IT WON'T BE POSSIBLE TO BUILD, PROCURE OR OTHERWISE MEET THEIR CAPACITY DEMANDS WITHOUT THESE UNITS.I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE SOME MIDDLE GROUND THAT CAN BE FOUND THERE.
>> I KNOW THIS WAS A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION AT THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION ENERGY AND RESILIENCE COUNCIL, AND ABOUT THE REALLY HUGE DEMAND BY THE DATA CENTERS AND THE WATER AND ELECTRICITY DEMANDS, AND THERE ARE THREE ALREADY IN THE SOUTH METRO AREA, ONE IS BEING BUILT AND ONE HAS BEEN APPROVED.
BECAUSE GEORGIA ELECTRICITY RATES ARE SO LOW AND BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF LAND THERE, THIS IS A PRIME LOCATION.
VIRGINIA, I THINK, HAS HAD THE MOST, AND WE'RE COMING IN SECOND AND PROBABLY GOING TO PASS THEM.
THE ELECTRICITY DEMANDS AND THE WATER IT TAKES IN ONE OF THE AGREEMENTS, THEY SAID THE WATER USAGE BY DATA CENTER WAS 26 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER A DAY, AND THEY WERE HAVING TO BUILD A RESERVOIR.
SOME OF IT CAN BE RECOUPED, BUT IT IS TREATED AND IF YOU DON'T USE THE WATER COOLING, IT DOESN'T USE AS MUCH WATER RESOURCES, BUT IT USES MUCH MORE ELECTRICITY.
IT IS A VERY HOT TOPIC IN WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I KNOW CITY OF ATLANTA HAS LOOKED AT BANNING THEM IN CERTAIN AREAS.
BECAUSE GEORGIA POWER IS BASICALLY SAYING, WE'LL GET YOU THE POWER SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER.
THERE'S THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE NOW THAT IS LOOKING AT WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THAT.
I JOKED WITH ONE OF THE MAYORS WHO IS GETTING ONE IN HIS CITY AND SAID, "I DON'T WANT MY BASE RATE TO PAY FOR YOUR DATA CENTER." HE SAID, "I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD EITHER." BUT THEY'RE DANGLING SOME VERY BIG CARROTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO LET THEM COME IN.
THERE ARE NOT GOING TO BE A LOT OF JOBS, BUT THEY'RE PAYING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MONEY TO BE ABLE TO LOCATE IN THEIR JURISDICTION.
THEY ALSO HAVE TO BUILD THE TRANSMISSION LINES TO GET THERE, AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE FOR SOME OF THE CITIES THAT, I DIDN'T REALIZE THESE GIGANTIC TRANSMISSION LINES WERE GOING TO COME STRAIGHT THROUGH EVERY LOCATION IN OUR CITY, BASICALLY.
BUT I DO FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO TRY TO WORK TO GET GEORGIA POWER TO THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT HOW TO MEET SOME OF THESE DEMANDS, AND ALSO TO THINK, PARTICULARLY REGIONALLY, WHAT THE OVERALL COST IS TO THE REGION WITH RESPECT TO THE IMPACT OF HAVING GEORGIA POWER HAVE TO GO TO LESS CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES.
AS MAYOR DICKENS COMMENTED AT A MEETING, IS THAT GEORGIA POWER CAN GET THE ENERGY THERE.
THE WATER IS VERY MUCH A REGIONAL RESOURCE AND THAT IF THERE ARE PARTS OF THE REGION THAT ARE USING MORE THAN THEIR FAIR SHARE, IT IMPACTS THE WHOLE REGION.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE INTERVENING.
I THINK THE DATA DATA CENTERS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY TURNED EXPECTATIONS UPSIDE DOWN AND IT'S MADE IT MUCH HARDER TO PREDICT, AND THE MODELING THAT'S BEING DONE AT GEORGIA TECH AND OTHER PLACES, THEY'RE GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT, THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING TO INDICATE THAT THIS NEED FOR ELECTRICITY WOULD BE OCCURRING.
>> WE'RE NOT ADVOCATING FOR UPGRADING THE NUCLEAR AND HYDRO ELECTRIC?
>> I DON'T THINK WE, AT THIS POINT, WOULD OPPOSE UPGRADES TO EXISTING UNITS.
THAT'S NOT ONE OF THE PRIORITIES THAT I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR EITHER WAY.
>> PEAK ENERGY USE, IS THAT SUMMER OR WINTER?
>> TRADITIONALLY, WE HAVE BEEN A SUMMER PEAKING SYSTEM, BUT NOW WE'RE APPROACHING A DUAL PEAKING SYSTEM WHERE
[03:05:01]
EARLY EVENINGS IN THE SUMMER AS WELL AS MORNINGS IN THE WINTER ARE WHERE WE EXPERIENCE THE PEAK.>> BEING DRIVEN BY ELECTRIFICATION OF HEATING?
>> CERTAINLY, YEAH. THAT'S CERTAINLY ONE AREA.
>> THEN HIRING COUNCIL, SO IS THERE A COST PROBABLY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS? WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
>> THE FULL COST OF THE COUNCIL FOR BOTH THE IRP AND RATE CASE WILL BE FULLY COVERED BY A PHILANTHROPIC FUNDER.
>> THAT WAS SOME OF THE DATA THAT WAS SHARED, IS THAT THE SUMMER USAGE IS HIGHER OVER THE LENGTH OF TIME, BUT THE PEAK DEMANDS THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE BEEN IN THE WINTER.
>> I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE WINTER CITED. THAT'S WHY I ASKED.
>> I MENTIONED THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE SUMMER RESERVE MARGIN FROM 16.5-20%.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT CURRENTLY WE HAVE A WINTER RESERVE MARGIN OF 26.5%.
ESSENTIALLY TAKE THE TOTAL GIGAWATTS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED BY THE SYSTEM AND THEN ADD THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO HAVE ANOTHER 26% ON TOP OF THAT AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH.
>> WE WOULD LIKE YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO INTERVENE IN THE 2025 IRP.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?
ONE, OBVIOUSLY, AS THIS PROCEEDING PROCEEDS, I WILL BE BACK BEFORE THIS COMMISSION TO WRITE UPDATES AS APPLICABLE.
I THINK THE OTHER THING IS THAT OUR COALITION IS PLANNING TO RELEASE SURVEYS OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN ALL THE COALITION JURISDICTIONS TO INFORM OUR TESTIMONY IN THE CASE.
AS THAT COMES TOGETHER, AND AS WE HAVE PLANS TO DISTRIBUTE THAT, I WILL BE SURE TO LET YOU KNOW.
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ASKED AT THE PSC MEETINGS IS, WHAT DOES YOUR COMMUNITY THINK? WE CAN SAY WE HAVE A CLEAN ENERGY PLAN, BUT I THINK JUST TO HAVE THAT DATA TO SAY HERE IS WHAT OUR COMMUNITY THINKS.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> I AM AWARE WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE MORE STAFF UPDATE.
KIM WALEY IS GOING TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON BEHALF OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M HERE TO UPDATE YOU ABOUT OUR EBSTER OUTDOOR TEEN OUT RECREATION AREA.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY COMPLETED OUR 100% CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS AND WE WILL BE SUBMITTING FOR PERMITTING.
WE JUST WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS OF THE PROCESS LOOK LIKE AND GET AHEAD OF A FEW THINGS.
WE WILL GO OUT TO BID BEGINNING IN APRIL.
SELECTION OF A CONTRACTOR SHOULD HAPPEN AROUND MID MAY, WHICH, OF COURSE, WILL COME BACK TO YOU FOR APPROVAL OF THAT WORK.
OUR GOAL IS TO BEGIN ONSITE CONSTRUCTION BY THE END OF JULY.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE FOCUSING ON THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE PLAYGROUND AND SOME OF THE FEATURES AROUND THAT WILL BECOME A LITTLE MORE DANGEROUS THAN OTHERS.
OUR HOPE IS THAT IS GOING TO REDUCE THE IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN BY LOSING THEIR PLAYGROUND AND THEN ALSO JUST THE FLOW THROUGH THE PARK.
THEN, OF COURSE, WE'RE STILL SET TO COMPLETE BY THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2026.
WE'RE JUST EXCITED TO BE MOVING FURTHER AND FURTHER ALONG ON THIS PROJECT.
WE'LL GO ON TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE UPDATED ABOUT IT AS WELL. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> LANGSTON LEAKE HAS AN UPDATE AS WELL.
>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
WE ARE AT THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE ARE DOING OUR REGULAR RESIDENT BUDGET ENGAGEMENT.
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAVE USED A BUDGET TRELLIS WITH A GARDENING THEME.
THIS YEAR, WE WILL BE GOING FROM THE DIRT UP TO THE HEAVENS AND GOING WITH A BUDGET GALAXY THEME.
INSTEAD OF USING FORM FLOWERS FOR FEEDBACK, WE WILL BE USING FORM STARS AND [INAUDIBLE].
THEY SHOULD BE OUT ON WEDNESDAY, SO FEBRUARY 26TH, AND WILL BE AVAILABLE MARCH 14TH.
>> CAN YOU REMIND US WHERE THEY WILL BE?
>> RIGHT. THERE WILL BE THREE LOCATIONS.
ONE AT THE SQUARE, ONE AT GLENLAKE PARK, AND ONE AT HARMONY PARK, WHICH ARE SAME LOCATIONS PREVIOUSLY USED. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
[03:10:02]
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE NO UPDATES TONIGHT, MAYOR.
>> THERE'S ONE MORE. SHE WAS JUMPING UP [LAUGHTER].
>> CARA SHERA, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M ANNOUNCING A COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING REGARDING A GDOT PROJECT ON SOUTH CANDLER.
IT WILL BE MARCH 4TH, 06:00 TO 7:30 PM AT THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, 2635 TALLY STREET.
THIS IS THE CITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GDOT.
GDOT, PROPOSED THE DESIGN AND THE CITY IS FACILITATING COMMUNITY INPUT.
IT'S FOR TWO SMALL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON SOUTH CANDLER BETWEEN PARK DRIVE AND CANDLER DRIVE, AND THEN CANDLER DRIVE AND EAST FAR ROAD.
>> THANK YOU. THIS WAS A REALLY GOOD MEETING WITH LOTS OF CONTENT, BUT LOTS OF GOOD PROGRESS.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR GALAXY BUDGET ENGAGEMENT.
THAT'S BECAUSE EVERYBODY WHO HAD SOMETHING TO SAY TO ME ABOUT HB 581 NEEDS TO FILL OUT A STAR, AND I MEAN THAT WITH MY WHOLE HEART.
IF YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH HOW WE'RE SPENDING MONEY, SHOW UP OR BE QUIET [LAUGHTER].
THAT'S HOW I FEEL. I'M ALSO REALLY EXCITED THAT THERE WILL BE A GDOT COMMUNITY MEETING FOR MY NEIGHBORS ON CANDLER.
I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY ENGAGED AND I DON'T DOUBT FOR ONE SECOND THAT THEY WILL STOP BEING ENGAGED.
THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THOSE OF US WHO LIVE ON THAT CORRIDOR.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT JUST THE BEGINNING PHASES OF SEEING COMMERCE TURN INTO A PLACE THAT HAS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A GROCERY STORE.
THAT'S REALLY EXCITING TO ME, ESPECIALLY HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT YOU LITERALLY JUST HAVE TO TAKE AN ELEVATOR DOWN TO GET FOOD AND TO GET YOUR GROCERIES.
I MEAN, THAT'S LIFE CHANGING FOR SOME FOLKS.
THE IDEA OF THAT EVEN JUST MAKES ME REALLY EXCITED.
ALSO, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP FOR THE WORK SESSION.
LEGACY PARK IS REALLY SPECIAL TO A LOT OF US, AND EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON THERE, WHAT WORK THE NONPROFITS ARE DOING, HOW THAT SPACE IS BEING UTILIZED, IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I LOVE SEEING THAT THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PLAN, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, I BELIEVE PLANS SHOULD BE CHANGED, BUT THIS PLAN IS MATERIALIZING BEAUTIFULLY AS A NICE COMBINATION OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT DECATUR REALLY NEEDED AT THE TIME THAT THE PLAN WAS MADE.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT, AND I'M PROUD OF THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT PLANNING PROCESS.
[INAUDIBLE]? STILL HERE [LAUGHTER].
I'M SURE SOMEONE WILL MAKE A MORE FORMAL COMMENT THAN I, BUT I'M SURE EVERYONE NOTICED THAT WE ARE ALL WEARING PINK AND NO ONE WONDERED WHY WE WERE WEARING PINK.
WE ARE ALL WEARING PINK TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE MEMORY OF OUR FRIEND LEISA POWERS, AND TO SUPPORT MAYOR PRO TEM TONY POWERS, AS HE TRANSITIONED INTO THIS VERY DIFFICULT BUT NEW PHASE OF LIFE.
SOMEHOW MY PHONE KNEW THAT I WANTED TO SEE PICTURES OF LEISA.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENS, BUT I GUESS WITH APPLE MAGIC, MY MEMORIES STARTED POPPING UP OF HER, WHICH IS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE I HAD LIKE 10,000 PHOTOS ON MY PHONE.
IF Y'ALL HUMOR ME FOR A MINUTE, I WANT TO TELL TWO REALLY FUNNY STORIES ABOUT LEISA.
THE FIRST ONE IS, MOST PEOPLE WHO KNEW HER KNEW THAT SHE WAS PROBABLY THE MOST PUT TOGETHER PERSON THAT YOU COULD EVER MEET.
THE REASON I MET HER WAS BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WALKED UP TO HER AND COMPLIMENTED HER ON AN OUTFIT SHE WAS WEARING, AND SHE SAID, "I'M LEISA POWERS, TONY POWERS' WIFE. " OF COURSE YOU ARE.
I MEAN, LITERALLY, PERFECTION, HEAD TO TOE.
SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THIS.
FOR MY 40TH BIRTHDAY, WE JUST GOT TOGETHER CASUALLY ON THE STEINBECK'S PARKING LOT.
IT WAS STILL POST COVID, SO THERE WAS STILL DISTANCING GOING ON,
[03:15:01]
AND TONY AND LEISA PULL UP.I SAID, VERY LOUDLY AS IS MY WAY, "LEISA POWERS, DON'T YOU DARE PULL UP HERE TO MY BIRTHDAY PARTY LOOKING FINER THAN ME." TO WHICH SHE REPLIED, "THIS WHOLE THING?" I SAID, "GO HOME RIGHT NOW AND PUT ON SOMETHING FRUMPY." SHE GAVE ME A LOOK THAT TOLD ME, I DON'T OWN ANYTHING FRUMPY.
WE JUST LAUGHED ABOUT IT AND TOASTED TO MY BIRTHDAY, AND SHE CAME AND SAT DOWN AND WAS FABULOUS.
THE SECOND THING THAT IS JUST HILARIOUS TO ME THAT I DID NOT KNOW.
WE ALL KNEW SHE WAS FUNNY, AND SHE HAS SHE HAD A VERY BITING SENSE OF HUMOR, SHE WAS TO THE POINT.
MY EX HUSBAND, MR. RUDY, TOLD ME ABOUT A TIME, I THINK IT WAS 4TH OF JULY OR SOMETHING, WHERE HE AND LEISA WERE SITTING.
THEY WERE SITTING AND TALKING, AND SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'LL JUST SIT RIGHT OVER HERE IN THIS SHADE, AND WE'LL LET THEM RUN AROUND AND PRETEND THAT THEY'RE IMPORTANT." TALKING ABOUT TONY [LAUGHTER].
>> WHICH HE THOUGHT WAS THE FUNNIEST THING [LAUGHTER].
I WILL MISS THAT SENSE OF HUMOR SO MUCH.
I WILL MISS HAVING TO TRY TO CONVINCE HER TO RIDE IN THE CAR WITH US FOR 4TH OF JULY PARADES.
HER MEMORY IS GOING TO BE SUCH A WARM HUG IN OUR LIFE.
I'M SO GLAD THAT I GOT TO KNOW HER.
AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE DEEPLY SADDENED BY YOUR LOSS.
BUT AS MANY PEOPLE SAY, HER MEMORY IS A BLESSING, AND I KNOW HER MEMORY WILL CONTINUE TO BE A BLESSING FOR YOU AND YOUR TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS.
THAT'S ALL FOR ME TODAY, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
>> THERE ARE TIMES WHEN FOLLOWING COMMISSIONER MAYER IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT, AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.
SOMETIMES I JUST SAID, BUT THAT ISN'T DO APPROPRIATELY, BUT HARD TO WITH YOU, OUR FRIEND.
DECATUR LOST A WONDERFUL WOMAN AND WE ARE A LITTLE SAD AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET BEAT WITH THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANT TO ECHO SOMETHING ACTUALLY, COMMISSIONER MAYER SAID, WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT HB 581 THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR GOING BACK IN THE LAST YEAR.
I THINK PUT UP AND SHUT UP IS WHAT YOU SAID, AND THAT THIS IS MORE SO THAN MINE.
BUT AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO CONTENT US ABOUT HB 581 TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
GENERALLY DURING THE BUDGET, WE HEAR ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WANT.
DURING THE STRATEGY PLANNING, WE HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE WANT.
TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE IS THIS STRONG COMMUNITY SENTIMENT CONCERN ABOUT THE TAX, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THAT TO COME UP BE HEARD AS SOMETHING THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT, LOOKING AT THE AGENDA, JUST WE'RE APPROVING A LOT OF EXPENDITURES AND THINKING TO MYSELF, WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT.
I DO WANT TO BE MORE INTELLIGENT AND MORE INFORMED ABOUT THAT MOVING FORWARD THE NEXT BUDGET.
I DO THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE HIGH TAXES INDICATOR, AND WE SHOULD BE COGNIZANT OF IT.
BUT THEN WE ALSO DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK AND WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT EXECUTES WELL.
I THINK THAT'S WHY DESPITE DECATUR HAVING HIGH TAXES, YOU STILL SEE A LOT OF HIGH TRUST, A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S A REFLECTION ON THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
THEN LAST THING, ACTUALLY TWO THINGS.
I WANTED TO COMPLIMENT THE MAYOR FOR TESTIFYING AND THEN YOU MAY TALK ABOUT THIS MORE YOURSELF, BUT I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT IN FAVOR OF SCHOOL ZONE CAMERAS.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT UNDER THE GOLD DOME.
THEN I'VE EXPRESSED MY SKEPTICISM ABOUT THE LEGACY MASTER PLAN.
I JUST HEARING THE PRESENTATION AND LISTENING AND HEARING ALL THAT'S HAPPENING AT LEGACY PARK AND THINKING ABOUT IT, I'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF IT AND THE INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING THERE.
I WOULDN'T SAY I'M STILL 100% SO, BUT IT IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE AND JUST SEEING THE COMMUNITY AND SEEING THIS ECLECTIC GROUP OF I WAS LIKE THIS RIGHT TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THIS STUFF.
IT WAS VERY INSPIRING, SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>> THAT'S A FIRE MOMENT RIGHT THERE [LAUGHTER].
THAT'S WHY I CAME OVER HERE TO SAY NEXT YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. GREAT MEETING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK WE GOT DONE TONIGHT, AND THANKFUL FOR YOU BRINGING UP OUR DEAR LEISA AND THAT WE COULD SAY IN THIS ROOM THAT WE LOVE YOU, TONY, WE CARE ABOUT YOU.
WE'RE ON YOUR TEAM. WE'RE COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS AND STRANGELY MAYBE BONUS FAMILY MEMBERS, AND YOU COULD SEE THAT WAY.
[03:20:02]
ONE THING, I THINK WHEN A COMMUNITY SUFFERS A LOSS LIKE THAT AND A PERSONAL ONE FOR ALL OF US, TOO, BUT TO KNOW, I HAD AN OUTLET, WHICH WAS HELPFUL TO ME.FINDING OUT ABOUT THE DECATUR EDUCATION FOUNDATION, LEISA POWERS MEMORIAL FUND.
I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO HONOR HER, WHO WAS A CENTRAL ROLE IN YOUR FAMILY, AND THEREFORE, A REFLECTION ON THE WHOLE FAMILY AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, HOW YOU'VE SUPPORTED YOUNG PEOPLE, EVERYONE IN YOUR FAMILY, SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH COACHING, MENTORING, DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL, BEING PRODUCTS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND MODELING WHAT IT IS TO BE A HEALTHY, CONSTRUCTIVE MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND A PRODUCT OF AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
YOU'VE SHOWN HOW THAT WHOLE ECOSYSTEM CAN SERVE EVERYONE AND SERVE US WELL AND WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF IT.
AGAIN, I THINK THAT MEMORIAL FUND IS IMPORTANT AND I HOPE MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT AND CONTINUE TO GIVE TO IT AND IT'S A LEGACY FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
I'M GRATEFUL WE HAVE NEW STAFF.
WELCOME, AND I HOPE TO GET TO KNOW YOU OVER TIME.
COME EAT WITH US. COME HAVE DINNER WITH US.
DO WE GET TOGETHER IN ONE WEEK? IS THAT THE DEAL?
>> NEXT MONDAY. ALREADY ONE WEEK, WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING.
WE'RE ON THE BELL LAP OF THE TRACK AND FIELD.
I KNOW WHAT THE BELL LAP IS. IT'S EXCITING AND REALLY JUST SUCH A GREAT CRUCIBLE FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
CONOR NALLEY HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THAT.
I'M GLAD HE'S HERE TO SEE SOME OF THESE CAPSTONE MOMENTS OF BUYING EQUIPMENT, UNBELIEVABLE.
WE'RE DAYDREAMING, WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE RIBBON CUTTING.
ANYWAY, I CAN HELP OR WE CAN ALL GET THE COMMUNITY OUT TO ENJOY THIS.
IT'S A CATALYST FOR THAT CAMPUS, FOR THAT PARK.
IT WILL BRING SPEAKING OF THE AMLI DEVELOPMENT.
IT WILL BRING MORE PEOPLE THERE WHO WILL THEN ENJOY OTHER PARTS OF THE PARK THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED.
THAT'S A GOOD SEGUE THAT I REALLY LOVED ALL THE PRESENTATIONS BY THE NON PROFITS, AND IT MADE ME THINK OF THAT PHRASE THAT THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF THE PARTS.
I MEAN WHAT A UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM WE SET UP THERE WITH A NONPROFIT HUB, WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS AND THEY'RE ALL GETTING BENEFIT FROM EACH OTHER.
I JUST LOVED HEARING THEIR STORIES AND SEEING THAT.
I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE COULD DO THAT.
I THINK IT'S PRETTY UNIQUE AND I HOPE THERE'S A STORY THAT WE CAN TELL WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE FOCUS OR WHEN STAFF ARE ABLE TO GO TO GMA EVENTS.
I THINK IT'S A REALLY SPECIAL STORY THAT IS POWERFUL AND MAY BE WE COULD TELL IT IN SOME OF THESE VENUES WHEN WE'RE TRAINING AND HELPING OTHER CITIES LEARN THINGS ABOUT TO BE A SUCCESSFUL CITY AND A HEALTHY CITY.
IT'S PROBABLY MORE TO GO OVER.
IT'S A LATE NIGHT, BUT I APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK WE'VE GOT DONE TONIGHT AND THAT WE'RE ALL DOING IT TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> LET'S SEE IF I CAN GET THROUGH THIS.
WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR LIFE PARTNER, AND SOMEONE THAT YOU'VE BEEN WITH FOR THREE QUARTERS OF YOUR LIFE, NOT JUST YOUR ADULT LIFE, BUT THREE QUARTERS OF YOUR LIFE.
LEISA WAS A VERY PRIVATE PERSON, BUT SHE DID A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, AND A LOT OF THINGS SHE DID WAS MENTORING, NOT ONLY YOUNG GIRLS, BUT ME.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT MY ROLE HERE AND MY WORK IN THE CITY AND MUCH OF THAT COULDN'T BE DONE WITHOUT HER SUPPORT BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER UNDERTAKE ANY OF THIS WITHOUT GETTING HER APPROVAL FIRST.
BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE OR THE THINGS THAT SHE ALWAYS CHAMPIONED.
IT WAS ABOUT THE EQUITY WORK AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WHAT THAT MEANT TO PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SHE WAS ALWAYS A CHAMPION OF THE UNDERDOG, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE UNDER REPRESENTED, BECAUSE HER STORY WAS NOT THE TYPICAL STORY.
SHE WORKED HER WAY THROUGH COLLEGE.
SHE WORKED HER WAY THROUGH CORPORATE AMERICA, AND AS A BLACK FEMALE IN CORPORATE AMERICA, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELD OF BENEFITS, COMPENSATION, AND IT.
IT WAS A HELL OF A HILL TO CLIMB AND SHE GOT TO DO IT ON HER OWN TIMELINE, BUT ALSO GOT TO LEAVE WHEN SHE WANTED TO LEAVE, SO THAT SHE COULD FOCUS TIME ON DOING THE THINGS THAT SHE ENJOYED DOING AND THAT SHE HAD MISSED AND NEGLECTED.
I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY, THESE TIMES THAT I HAVE HERE, THAT I SPEND HERE,
[03:25:02]
SHE KNEW THAT THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM HER TIME, BUT SHE KNEW THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME AND IF IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HER.I THINK WE'RE ALL LUCKY HERE THAT OUR SPOUSES AND OUR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICES THAT WE ALL MAKE FOR A JOB THAT DOESN'T PAY US ANYTHING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S ALL WE WANT TO DO IS JUST MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A LITTLE BETTER.
I'VE SAID THIS ABOUT 50 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK.
MY HEART IS EMPTY AND FULL AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S EMPTY BECAUSE SHE'S GONE, BUT IT'S FULL BECAUSE OF THE GRACE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THE SUPPORT AND THE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND THE TRIBUTES AND JUST HOW WE RALLY AROUND PEOPLE AND HOW WE RALLY AROUND EACH OTHER.
WHAT THIS NATION NEEDS IS MORE OF THAT AND LESS OF WHAT WE'RE GETTING.
WE REALLY NEED TO RALLY AROUND EACH OTHER.
BECAUSE WITHOUT EACH OTHER, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
SHE'D SAY IN HER OWN LITTLE WAY, "YOU NEED TO WRAP IT UP BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING TOO LONG BECAUSE DINNER IS ON THE TABLE, AND I GOT TO GO TO BED IN THE MORNING." BUT I WILL MISS THE DEBRIEFS WHEN I GET HOME BECAUSE SHE WATCHED EVERY MEETING, AND I WOULD ALWAYS GET CRITIQUED ON MY PERFORMANCE, ESPECIALLY, BUT OURS AS A GROUP.
SHE WOULD ALWAYS SAY, YOU GUYS REALLY DO A GREAT JOB AND YOU-ALL WORK WELL TOGETHER.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAVE REALLY STRONG PARTNERS IN CRIME AS YOU TRY TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF THE NONSENSE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU GUYS DO IT AND SIT THERE WITH A STRAIGHT FACE WHEN I LITERALLY WOULD NOT BE.
THE WORK GOES ON AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BRING NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR BUSINESS DISTRICT AND OUR DOWNTOWN AND OUR PARKS AND WRECK AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND SAY BICYCLE LANES, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST WHAT WE DO HERE.
SHE WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
>> IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH WHAT I WANT TO SAY, I'M GOING TO SAVE SOME OF MY I WANT TO COMMENTS FOR THE MAYOR PRO TEM IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
BUT I DO WANT TO JUST REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND THERE WILL BE A DBA CELEBRATION AT EBSTER REC TOMORROW STARTING AT 5:15.
I THINK THE PROGRAM STARTS AT 6 O'CLOCK.
THIS IS THE 20TH YEAR OF THE MEAD ROAD MARDI GRAS PARADE THAT IS COMING UP ON SATURDAY.
I WILL BE GOING BACK TO THE CAPITOL TOMORROW MORNING FOR THE 7:00 AM SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING FROM THE SENATE SIDE WITH CHIEF RICHARDS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT A DIFFERENT BILL THAT IS LOOKING AT SOME PARAMETERS BUT NOT TAKING AWAY THE SCHOOL ZONE.
CAMERAS, I HAD A QUESTION FROM SOMEONE.
I'VE HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS THAT WE'VE ANSWERED, AND WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY COMING OUT, A REPORTER COMING OUT TOMORROW AT 2:00 TO OBSERVE THE SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN WE SEE THEM JUST IN MASS AND TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND WHY WE NEED SCHOOL ZONE CAMERAS TO HELP KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE AS PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS.
I'M HAPPY TO GO AND MAKE THAT CASE, AND I THINK CHIEF TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE DATA THAT WE HAVE VERY CLEAR FACTS THAT WE'VE SEEN A 92% REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF SPEEDERS COMPARED TO WHAT WE SAW ON WHEN WE WERE DOING THE SPEED STUDY AND THEN HOW IT IS CONTINUED TO REDUCE AND THE POINT OF THE CAMERAS IS FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR IS NOT TO MAKE MONEY, IT IS TO KEEP OUR KIDS AND PEOPLE SAFE ON OUR STREETS AND THAT IT IS EFFECTIVE AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE PERSON POWER TO HAVE SOMEONE AT ALL OF OUR SCHOOL ZONES AND THAT WE'RE USING IT IN A WAY THAT WE THINK COULD BE A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE STATE.
[03:30:04]
I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR DELIVERING A DYNAMIC STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS WHILE I WAS GONE FOR GETTING TO CHAIR THE READING ABOUT [LAUGHTER] OPTING OUT.I DID WATCH IT WHEN I WAS ON THE BULLET TRAIN IN JAPAN, AND I HAD AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE WITH THE COUNCIL OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
THAT'S THE FULL NAME THAT WHEN I HAVE A MINUTE TO TAKE A BREATH AND PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER, I WANT TO BRING SOME OR REMARKS AND PERHAPS EVEN SOME SMALL PRESENTATION TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND TAKE A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE AND LESSONS LEARNED.
BUT I ALSO FELT LIKE THAT I WAS GONE AT A TIME WHEN THERE WAS A LOT HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE, AND I CANNOT REALLY FULLY EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO DO AND MANAGE WITH THE MEETINGS AND WITH THE STATE OF THE CITY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, AND I THINK WE ALL ARE WEARING OUR PINK TONIGHT BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU AND SUPPORT YOU AND ARE HERE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, AND WE VALUE YOU AS A SUCH AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OF THIS TEAM AND RECOGNIZE WHAT SACRIFICES YOU MAKE AND THAT LEISA CERTAINLY MADE FOR YOU TO OCCUPY THIS SEAT AND JUST WE TRAVELED TOGETHER ON THE ALL AMERICA CITIES TRIP AND LEISA, SHE WAS SO SUPPORTIVE AND SO EXCITED FOR US TO WIN AND JUST A TON OF FUN TO BE AROUND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE WITH HER AND THE SUPPORT AND THE LOVE THAT SHE HAS FOR YOU AND YOUR GIRLS, BUT ALSO FOR THIS CITY AND THIS COMMUNITY, AND THAT LIVES ON IN HER MEMORY, AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR A GREAT MEETING AND WITH THAT AT 10:10, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.