[WORK SESSION #1 – 5:30 P.M.]
[00:00:06]
>> [BACKGROUND] HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE OTHER DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR COMPLETING THIS YEAR.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT YEAR AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK.
THEN ESPECIALLY A LOT OF THANKS TO MS. MEREDITH ROARK FOR BEING THE HIDDEN FIGURE BEHIND ALL THE ACTION WE DO.
[LAUGHTER] SHE'S REALLY BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL TO ALL OF THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD.
>> IT'S BEEN A VERY PRODUCTIVE YEAR, AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN GOING THROUGH EACH YEAR, AND THIS YEAR HAS PROBABLY BEEN MY FAVORITE OUT OF ALL OF THEM.
ALL OF US, WE'VE COME TOGETHER AND WE'VE CREATED A PRESENTATION WHERE EACH OF OUR MEMBERS WILL TALK ABOUT THEIR FAVORITE MEETINGS FROM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE CAN START.
>> IF YOU ALL COULD SINCE WE ARE STREAMING THIS AND WE ARE TAPING IT, BE SURE AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AS YOU GO THROUGH.
IF YOU ALL WILL INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND THEN EVERYONE ELSE AS THEY COME FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. I'M CO-CHAIR OF THE DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL, HENRY CAYCE.
>> I'M ALSO CO-CHAIR, ROBERT NOBLES.
>> FOR THE FIRST EARLY MEETINGS THAT WE HAD, SEPTEMBER 4TH, ALL THE MEMBERS WERE SWORN INTO OFFICE.
WE GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER THROUGH A FUN BINGO ACTIVITY.
THEN DAVID JUNGER AND ANDREA ARNOLD EXPLAINED THE STRUCTURE OF CITY ORGANIZATION IN DECATUR, AND WE DISCUSSED SOME OF THE TOPICS OF INTEREST FOR THE YEAR AHEAD, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A FINAL PROJECT OR A SEMESTER PROJECT THAT WE'D WANT TO DO.
THEN ON THE SEPTEMBER 11TH MEETING, RIGHT AFTER THAT, WE DID A FEW SPEECHES TO DETERMINE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, AND QADEN DAISE WAS SELECTED AS THE SECRETARY, AND ELIA MATHEW-LEWIS WAS ELECTED AS THE FAIR ON THE SQUARE PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR.
AT THIS POINT WE HAD DETERMINED THAT THE FAIR ON THE SQUARE WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
THEN WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ANDREA ARNOLD AND DR.
GYIMAH WHITAKER ABOUT HOW THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR AND THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF DECATUR WORK TOGETHER.
THAT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING. WE GOT TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE CITY MANAGER, WHICH WAS GREAT.
THEN LASTLY, FOR THE OCTOBER 2ND MEETING, THE MEMBERS SPLIT INTO GROUPS TO WORK ON THE CITY COMMISSIONER INFORMATION BOARDS, WHICH WAS ONE OF OUR FALL SEMESTER PROJECTS.
MOST OF YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER BEING QUESTIONED BY A FEW OF THE MEMBERS, BUT THAT WAS A GOOD PROJECT TO TRY TO SPREAD SOME MORE PERSONAL DETAILS ABOUT THE LIVES OF OUR COMMISSIONERS WHO DO SO MUCH FOR THE CITY.
THEN WE ALSO HAD AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISCUSSION WITH ANGELA THREADGILL AND RUSS MADISON.
>> OUR NEXT MEETING WAS ON NOVEMBER 6TH FOR EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT.
RILEY MCMILLAN FROM DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL WILL SPEAK.
>> HI. I'M RILEY MCMILLAN, AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE EQUITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING THAT WE HAD ON NOVEMBER 6TH.
FIRST, WE MET WITH MS. JACKSON WHO INTRODUCED DECATUR'S NORTH STAR OF EQUITY AND GAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE CITY'S INITIATIVES AND THE DECATUR DECISION-MAKING FRAMEWORK.
WE ALSO MET WITH DR. LEE, WHO DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVE LISTENING AND SHARED TIPS ON HOW TO BECOME A LOUD LISTENER.
AS A GROUP, WE PRACTICED PUBLIC SPEAKING TECHNIQUES.
THIS INCLUDED EYE CONTACT AND BODY LANGUAGE FACING DURING A CONVERSATION.
DYC MEMBERS WERE ASKED TO COMPLETE TWO DIFFERENT WORKSHEETS.
THE FIRST ONE WAS THE NORTH STAR, WHERE WE PICKED OUR TOP FIVE PERSONAL VALUES, AND ANOTHER ONE WAS THAT I AM FROM POEM TO REFLECT ON OUR IDENTITY AND HOW OUR PAST EXPERIENCES HAVE SHAPED US.
I VALUED THIS MEETING A LOT BECAUSE I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND A GOOD SKILL SET TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE PROPERLY IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.
FOR ME, I WORK AT A RESTAURANT.
I INTERACT WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE THROUGH THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO HANDLE.
AS A HOSTESS, YOU ARE FORCED TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF WHEN THEY FIRST STEP THROUGH THE DOOR AND ASK THEM HOW THEIR DAY IS.
IT'S LIKE YOU ARE THE FIRST THING THAT THEY SEE WHEN THEY ENTER THE RESTAURANT AND YOU ARE WHAT IS GOING TO SET THE TONE FOR THEIR NIGHT THAT EVENING.
THE NEXT SLIDE. ARE YOU GOING TO?
>> YES. FOR DECEMBER 4TH MEETING, WE WENT AND TOURED AND VISITED PUBLIC WORKS WHERE WE MET WITH AND LEARNED ABOUT THE CITY SAFETY ACTION PLAN FROM TOOLE DESIGN CONSULTANT,
[00:05:05]
BYRON RUSHING, TO FOCUS ON UNSAFE ROADWAYS AND THE NEW PLANS GOING FORWARD FOR THE CITY.THIS MEETING, PARTICULARLY, HAS BEEN INTERESTING FOR ME AND HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART, BECAUSE THIS YEAR, I HAD AN INTERNSHIP AT THE CITY OF DECATUR PUBLIC WORKS.
IT WAS COOL SHARING THE IDEAS AND WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON AT PUBLIC WORKS WITH ALL OF THE FELLOW MEMBERS.
ALSO, DURING OUR MEETING THERE, WE DISCUSSED SUSTAINABILITY WITH ENERGY WITH DAVID NIFONG.
WE TALKED ABOUT FOCUSING ON DECATUR'S CLEAN ENERGY PLAN AS WELL.
FOR OUR NEXT MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT THE CITY OF DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TOUR.
>> THIS MEETING, THE DECATUR POLICE CHIEF, SCOTT RICHARD, GAVE US A TOUR OF THE POLICE STATION.
>> WE GOT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS FIRSTHAND IN THE INTERROGATION PROCESS.
>> WE TOURED THE TRAINING CENTER AND THE LIVING AREAS.
>> THIS PHOTO IS OF THE 911 OPERATING CENTER, AND WE GOT TO TAKE A TOUR OF THIS, AND WHILE WE WERE THERE, THEY ACTUALLY GOT A 911 CALL, AND IT WAS REALLY COOL TO JUST SEE HOW IT ALL WORKS AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN ACTION WHEN IT'S REALLY ALL GOING.
>> WE ALSO SPENT TIME WITH IVAN FIGUEREO FROM CLARATEL TO LEARN ABOUT THE CORRESPONDENCE PROGRAM.
>> OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE THE FIRE STATION.
>> IF YOU GUYS CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELVES BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN, THAT'D BE GREAT.
>> MY NAME IS MALACHI BATAILLE.
>> HI. I'M ADDY DUITSMAN, AND OUR MARCH 5TH MEETING WAS AT THE FIRE STATION.
AT THIS MEETING WE HAD A TOUR AND DISCUSSION AT FIRE STATION NUMBER 1.
THOUGH THIS MEETING WE ALSO MET WITH THE CHIEF TONI WASHINGTON AND CAPTAIN GARY MENARD, AND INSPECTOR JASMINE ROLAND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR ROLES WITHIN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> I'M RUE COOPER, AND WE ALSO GOT TO SEE THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY USED, AND THEY EXPLAINED DIFFERENT PROCEDURES.
>> WE ALSO GOT TO EXPERIENCE A VIRTUAL REALITY SIMULATION OF REAL-TIME FIRE SCENARIOS JUST TO GET US BETTER PREPARED FOR THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.
>> OUR NEXT ONE WILL BE THE DECATUR LEGACY PARK.
>> WE WENT TO DECATUR LEGACY PARK, AND I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID WAS WE MET WITH A COMMITTEE ABOUT THE NEW OAKHURST PARKS.
WE LOOKED THROUGH THE DESIGNS OF THAT AND WE VOTED ON SOME DESIGNS THAT WE LIKED.
THEN AFTER WE TOOK A TOUR OF THE FACILITY, AND WE LEARNED ABOUT HOW THE PAST AND THEN THE NEW USES OF THE BUILDINGS.
>> THEN WE GOT TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES ON THE NEW TRACK AND FIELD, AND WE ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE SOME DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS USING THAT FOR THEIR TRACK PRACTICE, WHICH WAS COOL.
IN OUR NEXT, FAIR ON THE SQUARE.
>> THIS YEAR OUR SPRING EVENT WAS FAIR ON THE SQUARE.
IT'S THE SECOND YEAR WE'VE HAD IT, AND IT WAS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 22ND FROM 12:00-5:00.
THIS YEAR WE DECIDED TO SPLIT THE COUNCIL INTO COMMITTEES TO HELP US BE MORE EFFICIENT IN THE MONTHS THAT WE WERE PLANNING IT.
SOME OF OUR COMMITTEES WERE VOLUNTEERING TO REACH OUT TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS TO HELP US, AS WELL AS BOOTHS TO BRAINSTORM WHAT ATTRACTIONS FAMILIES WOULD LIKE.
AT LEAST ONE MEMBER FROM EACH COMMITTEE MET WITH THE SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR, JACKIE MOORE, AND I WAS THERE AS WELL FOR US TO DISCUSS PROTOCOL WITH HOW TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE PURCHASING TICKETS AS WELL AS JUST PLAN OVERALL IDEAS.
WE ALSO COLLABORATED WITH CFCI THIS YEAR.
THE ACTUAL EVENT WAS A VERY BIG SUCCESS.
I THINK OUR MOST POPULAR ATTRACTIONS WERE THE INFLATABLE BASKETBALL, THE AX THROWING, AND THEN LOCAL VENDORS LIKE ICING ON THE CAKE.
>> WE ALSO HAD VOLUNTEERS FROM LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, WHICH WE HAD LAST YEAR, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS TO MANAGE THE EVENT, WHICH WAS NICE.
WE ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH CFCI THROUGHOUT OUR WHOLE PLANNING PROCESS, WE HAD LOTS OF PLANNING MEETINGS WITH THEM, AND WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO HAVE ONE MEETING ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE ACTUAL EVENT TO MAKE SIGNS FOR ALL THE BOOTHS,
[00:10:01]
WHICH WAS A NICE PERSONAL TOUCH.>> THESE ARE SOME PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT.
NOW, IZAYN WILL PRESENT THE ANALYTICS AND HOW MUCH MONEY WE RAISED THIS YEAR.
>> I'M IZAYN UMLANI, AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT ABOUT THE ANALYTICS OF THE FAIR ON THE SQUARE.
THIS IS OUR SECOND YEAR HOSTING THE EVENT OF THE FAIR ON THE SQUARE.
WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE $750 AND DONATED IT TO DEAM, WHICH STANDS FOR THE DECATUR-AREA EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE MINISTRY.
THEY HELP OUT WITH PROVIDING MEDICAL SUPPLIES, FOOD, TOILETRIES, YOU NAME IT.
THEY ARE THERE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS AMOUNT OF $750 IS DOWN COMPARED TO OUR AMOUNT THAT WE DONATED LAST YEAR TO THE DECATUR FAMILY YMCA.
ALTHOUGH THAT'S A NEGATIVE ASPECT, WE VIEW THIS OPPORTUNITY AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH AS FAR AS EXPERIMENTING WITH MAYBE THE DAY WE PLAN THE FAIR, THE SPECIFIC OFFERINGS WE HAVE THERE, AS WELL AS JUST MAYBE THE FOOD THERE.
OVERALL, THIS IS USED AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH, AND WE'RE USING ALMOST THE DATA WE COLLECTED THIS YEAR TO TRY TO IMPROVE OUR NEXT EXPERIENCE FOR OUR FAIR NEXT YEAR.
>> HI, MY NAME IS QADEN DAISE, AND I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT OUR PSA PROJECT THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR OUR PSA WAS FOCUSED ON THE WALKABILITY OF DECATUR, ONE OF OUR FAVORITE ASPECTS OF LIVING HERE.
ALONG WITH MAKING A WEBSITE THIS YEAR, WE DECIDED TO MAKE A FLYER TO FURTHER COMMUNICATE WITH THE RESIDENTS ABOUT THE RESEARCH AND THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
ALONG WITH THE CITY'S GOALS WITH IMPROVED SAFETY, WE WANTED TO MAKE PEOPLE INFORMED AND HAVE ACCESS TO THESE RESOURCES, AND ESPECIALLY BECAUSE COMMUNICATION IS A KEY PART OF EDUCATION AND INFORMING PEOPLE, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE COVERED THE BASIS FOR ALL THE WAYS WE CAN DO THAT.
I THINK THAT IS THE END OF OUR SLIDESHOW.
>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL SO MUCH.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE FOUR YEARS, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME CREATE A COMMUNITY AROUND MYSELF FROM MOVING HERE BACK IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND BEFORE COVID, AND THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE CITY IN WHICH I LIVE, AND ALSO CREATE FRIENDS AND ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, ALL.
>> SIMILARLY, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM FOR ME AND HAS HAD A DRASTIC IMPACT ON MY LIFE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES DECATUR SO SPECIAL IS HOW WE STICK TOGETHER, AND EVERYBODY'S THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND IT'S JUST A GREAT LITTLE COMMUNITY TO HAVE AND IT TAUGHT ME THE TRUE MEANING OF COMMUNITY, AND I HOPE TO BRING THAT TO THE FUTURE PLACES THAT I GO, AND EVEN COME BACK TO DECATUR SOMEDAY.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] WE'LL OPEN IT UP, AND I'M GUESSING MAYOR PRO TEM [OVERLAPPING] MIGHT WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> I'LL SAY A FEW WORDS AND I GUESS WE'LL BE SET TO BEGIN.
WELL, AS I TOLD Y'ALL AT Y'ALL'S LAST MEETING, THIS HAS BEEN PROBABLY MY MOST FUN CLASS.
MANY OF YOU WE'VE HAD FOR FOUR YEARS AND IT'S REALLY AMAZING TO SEE NOT JUST THE GROWTH OF THE ORGANIZATION, BUT YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH.
THAT'S THE ONE THING I THINK THAT'S THE MOST EXCITING TO ME IS TO WATCH YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH, BECAUSE MANY OF YOU WHEN YOU STARTED YOU WERE VERY SHY AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOUR PLACE, AND NOW YOU'RE LEADERS AND YOU CHAIR COMMITTEES, AND YOU JUST REALLY REFLECT ALL THE THINGS THAT YOUR PARENTS BROUGHT YOU AND WE JUST FINE-TUNED.
I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT ALSO TO YOUR PARENTS BECAUSE THEY MADE YOU WHAT YOU ARE.
WE JUST FINE-TUNED THE EDGES. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO LEARN A LOT FROM YOU, AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL TOOK THE TIME TO APPLY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> I'M CURIOUS HOW MANY ARE SENIORS.
>> I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, COMING UP AND TELLING US WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE FOR NEXT YEAR.
>> I'M HENRY, AND I'M GOING TO HARVARD UNIVERSITY.
>> THAT'S HARD TO FOLLOW UP. I'M ROBERT, AND I'M GOING TO FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY.
>> HI, I'M QADEN. I'LL BE GOING TO CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY.
>> I THINK YOU'VE ALL DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
>> I'D LOVE TO ALSO SAY THANK YOU.
YOU ENRICH OUR MEETINGS AND OUR WHOLE CALENDAR YEAR,
[00:15:04]
AND ALL THE WORK THAT WE TRY TO DO, IT'S ONLY COMPLIMENTARY.THANK YOU FOR EXPANDING THE BANDWIDTH OF WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO BUILD COMMUNITY, AND TO BE WILLING TO TAKE YOUR PERSONAL TIME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE CITY WORKS, BECAUSE IT IS A LITTLE CRYPTIC.
I FELT LIKE WITH EACH OF THE MEETINGS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU ALL WERE SAYING, WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
THAT'S HOW I WENT THROUGH DECATUR 101, AND THAT'S STILL HOW I AM AT A LOT OF OUR MEETINGS.
UNLESS YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL CITY MANAGER, YOU MIGHT NEVER KNOW HOW ALL THE THINGS WORK.
THANK YOU FOR DEDICATING YOUR TIME.
I ALSO LOVE TO SEE THAT SIBLINGS DO THIS.
THAT MEANS, TO ME, THAT YOU REALLY ENJOY IT.
YOU TELL YOUR FAMILY ABOUT IT AND IT STAYS IN THE FAMILY. THAT'S VERY COOL.
I HOPE YOU'RE ALSO TELLING YOUR COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS AT SCHOOL THAT IT WAS THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAD IF YOU THINK THEY SHOULD ALSO DO IT, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE WONDERFUL CLASSES COME THROUGH LIKE THIS.
I WANT TO MENTION ON ANALYTICS.
DON'T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELVES.
YOU SHOULD BE YOUR HONEST CRITICS MAYBE, BUT IT'S A VOLATILE ECONOMIC YEAR.
WE HEAR THAT NON-PROFITS ARE STRUGGLING, AND SOME OF THE ADVERSITY OUT IN THE WORLD IS KEEPING PEOPLE FROM MAYBE SPENDING AS MUCH OR BEING AS GENEROUS WITH DONATIONS RIGHT NOW.
YOU PROBABLY DID THE BEST YOU COULD IN A OTHERWISE CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT, AND JUST KNOW THAT THE PART THAT DOESN'T HAVE A NUMBER ATTACHED THAT YOU SAW IS THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SAW AND THE KIDS THAT YOU TOUCHED AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HAVING A GREAT TIME, AND THAT HAS ITS OWN VALUE.
ANYWAY, CONGRATS TO THE SENIORS AND TO STICKING IT OUT THROUGH THE YEAR, AND THANKS FOR BEING ON THE DYC.
THIS PERSON IS PRETTY AWESOME.
GLAD FOR THAT RELATIONSHIP THEN FOR MS. ROARK TO ALSO KEEP KEEP IT IN LINE.
>> I'LL JUST SAY IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.
[INAUDIBLE]. I DID NOT DO VERY WELL IN SCHOOL.
THEN ACTUALLY MY BROTHER GRADUATED IN CMU ALSO, SO WE'RE FIGHTING [INAUDIBLE].
>> I THINK YOU HAVE SOME MORE.
>> I HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION FROM THE CITY COMMISSION.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME UP, WILL YOU PLEASE COME PICK YOUR CERTIFICATE, PLEASE? RUE COOPER. [APPLAUSE] ROBERT NOBLES. [APPLAUSE]
>> RILEY MCMILLAN. [APPLAUSE] QADEN DAISE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] MCLAINE DRAKE.
[LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE]. [APPLAUSE] MALACHI BATAILLE. [APPLAUSE] LIZA TELL.
[APPLAUSE] LIORA YUSTEIN, PLEASE.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. IZAYN UMLANI.
ELIA MATHEW-LEWIS. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. CLAIRE DUVALL. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. ANJU PARK.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. ADDY DUITSMAN. [APPLAUSE]
>> I GUESS NOW Y'ALL ARE OFFICIALLY DONE FOR THE SUMMER, AND ESPECIALLY THE SENIORS THAT HAVE ALREADY GRADUATED.
DYC, WHAT ARE YOUR SUMMER PLANS? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COOL THINGS Y'ALL ARE DOING? COME TO THE MICROPHONE. COME ON.
I WANT EACH ONE OF YOU TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
>> I'LL START IT OFF WITH SOMETHING INTERESTING.
I'M GOING TO ALASKA FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER TO WORK AS A DECKHAND.
>> DOING THE DIRTY WORK, CLEANING BATHROOMS OF A LODGE.
>> I'M GOING TO GO TO MEXICO CITY FOR MY SENIOR TRIP.
THAT'LL BE FUN, I GET TO PRACTICE MY SPANISH A LITTLE BIT.
>> I DON'T HAVE SOLID PLANS, BUT I WILL BE SPENDING TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT YEARS.
>> EVERYBODY ELSE, COME ON. WHAT ARE YOUR SUMMER PLANS? COME ON.
[00:20:01]
YOU GOT SEVEN MINUTES.>> I'LL BE WORKING AT THE HIGH MUSEUM THIS SUMMER AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEARS.
>> I'LL BE COACHING SUMMER SWIM TEAM FOR MOST OF THE SUMMER.
>> I'M VOLUNTEERING AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
>> MY SOCCER TEAM'S GOING TO NATIONALS.
>> I'M ON A SOCCER TEAM. WE ARE ALSO GOING TO NATIONALS.
>> I'M GOING TO SUMMER CAMP FOR A MONTH.
>> I'M TEACHING SWIM LESSONS AT THE YMCA.
>> I HAVE AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE CDC AS WELL AS AN INTERNSHIP WITH DEKALB.
>> I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH ATLANTA FOOD BANK OVER THE SUMMER.
>> I HAVE AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE CONNECTIONS SCHOOL, AND MY BROTHER IS MOVING TO PORTUGAL, SO I'M HELPING HIM MOVE TO PORTUGAL.
>> I'M GOING TO BE IN CHARLESTON FOR A FEW TIMES OVER THE SUMMER TO VISIT FAMILY.
>> I'M DOING RESEARCH AT GEORGIA TECH OVER THE SUMMER.
>> THAT SOUNDS AWESOME. I SAY THAT BECAUSE I WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT I ALREADY KNOW.
YOU'RE AN AMAZING GROUP OF KIDS WHO ARE REALLY HEAVILY VESTED IN YOURSELVES AND IN YOUR COMMUNITY, AND SO YOUR SUMMER PLANS MIRROR WHAT I ALREADY KNOW.
THANK YOU, ALL. IT WAS A FANTASTIC YEAR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL MY UNDERCLASSMEN RETURNING NEXT YEAR, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A FUN AND EXCITING YEAR, AND I GUESS BEFORE I STOP TALKING, WE'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU. CERTAINLY THANK YOU TO MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS AND MEREDITH ROARK FOR THEIR WORK WITH THE DYC.
I THINK WE CAN ALL SEE THAT YOU ENJOYED YOURSELVES, YOU ENJOY EACH OTHER, AND THAT'S EVIDENT ANYTIME ANY OF YOU'VE EVER COME TO ANY OF OUR MEETINGS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS IN BRINGING IDEAS FORWARD AND THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE CITY, BUT THE CITY'S ALSO BEEN ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT YOU AND FIND OUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR YOUTH.
I KNOW YOU ALL PROVIDED INPUT ON VARIOUS PLANS AND ON VARIOUS IDEAS, AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TO US, AND WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GRADUATING, I KNOW WHEN YOU'RE HERE YOU WANT TO COME BACK TO A CITY COMMISSION MEETING, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY KEEP IN TOUCH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE WORK OF THOSE OF YOU WHO WILL BE COMING BACK NEXT YEAR, AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
YOU'VE STARTED OFF OUR MEETING IN A GREAT WAY.
WE'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER BIG ROUND.
[APPLAUSE] WE HAVE THREE MINUTES UNTIL OUR NEXT WORK SESSION.
YOU ALL FEEL FREE TO STAY OR LEAVE.
[WORK SESSION #2 – 6:00 P.M.]
WORK SESSION.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
DAVID NIFONG, ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER.
WE HAVE A FULL HOUR-AND-A-HALF OF SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE INFORMATION FOR Y'ALL.
FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH AN UPDATE ON OUR CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN WITH AGNES SCOTT.
I'M JOINED THIS EVENING BY KIMBERLY REEVES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR SUSTAINABILITY, AGNES SCOTT AS WELL.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THESE YEARLY UPDATES FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, I THINK, SINCE YOU FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE PLAN IN 2021.
JUST AS A REFRESHER, THE WAY THAT WE THINK OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE FOR OUR TASK FORCE AND IMPLEMENTATION GROUP IS THE ABILITY OF A SYSTEM OR COMMUNITY TO BOTH SURVIVE DISRUPTIONS AND TO ANTICIPATE, ADAPT, AND FLOURISH IN THE FACE OF CHANGE.
THAT FLOURISH WORD, YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT'S ALSO IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
I THINK OUR CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN IS VERY CLOSE IN STRUCTURE AND IN TENSION TO THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PLAN.
OUR OVERALL IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK FIRST FOCUSES ON ADAPTING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES TO RESPOND TO INTENSIFYING CLIMATE THREATS, AND THEN DEVELOPING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, AND ENABLE OUR COMMUNITY TO BUILD RESILIENCE TO THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES FOR DECATUR.
[00:25:02]
WHILE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CLIMATE THREATS OUT THERE, THE ONES THAT ARE MOST RELEVANT TO OUR COMMUNITY ARE EXTREME HEAT AND FLOODING, FLOODING BOTH FROM TROPICAL STORM EVENTS AND THEN NON-TROPICAL FLOODING JUST FROM HEAVY RAINFALL.AS OF THIS PRESENTATION, WE ARE NOW UP TO 17 ACTION ITEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS AND 10 ACTION ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
THAT'S ABOUT 75% OF THE NEW INITIATIVES IDENTIFIED IN THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN.
THAT'S UP FROM THE 12 THAT WERE IN PROGRESS AND SIX THAT WERE COMPLETED AS OF THIS TIME.
JUST A REMINDER TO THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN, BOTH IDENTIFIED THE THINGS THAT THE CITY AND COLLEGE WERE ALREADY DOING AS FAR AS THEIR OWN CLIMATE ACTION AND SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE WORK, AND THEN IT ALSO IDENTIFIED NEW ACTIONS THAT THE CITY AND COLLEGE AGREED TO TAKE TOGETHER TO USE THAT PARTNERSHIP, LEVERAGE THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT BOTH PARTIES HAVE TO IMPROVE OUR OVERALL COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
THIS ONE TOO. IF YOU RECALL OUR CONVERSATION LAST YEAR, I THINK SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY HEARD FROM THIS COMMISSION, AND A KEY TAKE-AWAY THAT WE STARTED PUTTING INTO PRACTICE AFTER THIS MEETING, WAS FOCUSING ON RESIDENT-LEVEL RESOURCES TO WANT HELP THEM BE INFORMED AS TO WHAT THE CLIMATE THREATS FACING DECATUR ARE AND THEN WHAT ARE ACTIONS THAT THEY CAN ALL TAKE TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN RESILIENCE, AND THEN THE COMMUNITY'S RESILIENCE.
WE ALSO ADDED SIX NEW DECATUR RESIDENTS TO THE CRP TASK FORCE AND OUR VARIOUS SUBCOMMITTEES.
WE INCREASED OUR COLLABORATION WITH CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR, AND THEN REALLY STARTED TRYING TO BETTER TELL THE STORY OF THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN AND CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY WITH ACTIONAL RESOURCES.
I BELIEVE THE CURRENT FOCUS EDITION FOR MAY, YOU'LL SEE THE FIRST ARTICLE ABOUT THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN IN THERE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DECIDED TO DO ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS JUST TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY UPDATED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE AGAIN.
ANOTHER THING THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED IN TERMS OF RESIDENT RESOURCES ARE DIFFERENT GUIDES.
POST-INCIDENT GUIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS ONE, THE COMPLETION IS ESTIMATED FOR THE SUMMER OR FALL OF THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH OUR SUBCOMMITTEES TO IDENTIFY WHAT VERY MUCH PLACE-BASED RESOURCES LOOK LIKE AND KEY FRAMEWORKS FOR COMMUNICATION AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL, AND WHAT THAT MIGHT EVEN LOOK LIKE WITHIN THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
HOPEFULLY, BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE TO SHARE WITH YOU IN A MORE FULL MANNER.
THE NEXT ONE THAT IS COMPLETE IS THE HOME WEATHERIZATION GUIDE.
THIS ONE WAS COMPLETED IN OCTOBER AND STARTING TO ROLL OUT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT.
WE KNOW THAT THAT HAS HAD SOME PAUSES, AND SO AS SOON AS THAT GETS BACK UP AND RUNNING, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, THIS GUIDE WILL HOPEFULLY ALSO BE ANOTHER RESOURCE FOR DECATUR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO, AGAIN, FIND THINGS THAT ARE VERY LOCAL, ENCOURAGED BY THEIR NEIGHBORS.
WE HAVE SOME NEIGHBOR QUOTES THAT ARE IN THERE OF WHAT IS AN ENERGY AUDIT? WHY DID I DECIDE TO DO A HEAT PUMP VERSUS REPLACE WITH THE SAME OLD? AGAIN, TRYING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT OUT AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.
TO REALLY WRAP IT UP WITH THE GUIDES, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO DO A MORE RESILIENT LANDSCAPE GUIDE, SO WORKING WITH OUR URBAN NATURALIST AND ARBORIST TO THEN IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THOSE HIGH-PRIORITY PRACTICES THAT ALSO CAN CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH RESOURCES, NOT ONLY IN INVASIVE POLES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT, BUT TREE CARES BEFORE A POTENTIAL STORM EVENT.
POST-INCIDENT GUIDE WILL ALSO BE FALL 2025.
HOPEFULLY, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OAKHURST MASTER PLAN WILL ROLL OUT SO THAT THAT CAN BE IN TANDEM.
ANOTHER PART OF WHAT WE HEARD FROM YOU ALL LAST TIME OF ENGAGING RESIDENTS IS OUTREACH.
WE JOKE THAT PROBABLY THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS OF IMPLEMENTATION,
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WE REALLY HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITHIN OUR OWN TASK FORCE, WITHIN OUR OWN SUBCOMMITTEES AND OUR WORKING GROUPS, AND SO REALLY TRIED TO PRIORITIZE THIS YEAR OF WHAT OUTREACH LOOKED LIKE TO, AS DAVID MENTIONED, SHARE THAT STORY.DECATUR FOCUS, HOPEFULLY, HAVING A COUPLE OF MONTHLY UPDATES WITHIN THAT.
DIFFERENT AGNES SCOTT STUDENTS HAVE BEEN WRITING THOSE ARTICLES AND THEN ALSO REACHING OUT TO RESIDENTS TO HAVE THIS PEER-TO-PEER DIALOGUE OF WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM, AND HOPEFULLY, ENGAGING PEOPLE IN THAT WAY.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN DOING A COUPLE OF OUR TASK FORCE MEETINGS, WHICH HAPPEN EVERY OTHER MONTH AS A SITE VISIT OR A TOUR OF SOME PLACE, AND SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING SO MUCH ABOUT SUGAR CREEK, BEING ABLE TO TAKE THE WHOLE GROUP THERE TO SAY, HERE'S THE PROJECT SCOPE, HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, HERE'S THE WHY BEHIND WATER QUANTITY MONITORING, AND HERE'S WHAT THE OAKHURST MASTER PLANNING PROCESS IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO ENGAGE, IT JUST GROUNDS US IN THE WHY.
I THINK WE'RE ABLE TO SPEAK TO IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER, SO WE'VE BEEN INTENTIONAL ABOUT REALLY GOING TO THE PLACES AROUND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
>> COULD YOU ELABORATE ON LOW MOBILITY, AND MAYBE IT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE, AND HOW THAT TARGET AUDIENCE BENEFITS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THINKING ABOUT FLOODING OR EXTREME HEAT, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A VEHICLE, OR IF YOU DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING OR IF YOU'RE ABOUT TO BE IMPACTED BY A FLOOD, THEN WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CREATE A NETWORK OR A SUPPORT SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST RESIDENTS, TO BE ABLE TO MOVE TO OTHER PLACES?
>> I LIKE THAT CATEGORIZATION AND ALSO THAT IT DOES NEED TO SET APART BECAUSE IT COULD CROSS ACROSS MULTIPLE TYPES OF, IF YOU WILL, DEMOGRAPHICS.
IT COULD BE AN OLDER PERSON WHO'S LOWER MOBILITY BECAUSE THEY DON'T DRIVE ANYMORE, OR THEN IT COULD BE A COUPLE AND THEY OPT OUT OF CARS AND LIVE IN A MULTIFAMILY BUILDING NEAR TRANSIT.
>> FLOODING HAS COME UP A FEW TIMES.
FLOODING [INAUDIBLE], AND MAYBE WE HAD THIS WRONG, BUT I BELIEVE HOWARD IS PRETTY MUCH A SUBCONTINENTAL DIVIDE.
IS THAT CORRECT? THE USE OF FLOODING MAY BE WRONG, BUT HOW FROM A SEVERE FLOODING? IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE CAN'T HAVE THAT MUCH WATER BECAUSE WE'RE THE TOP OF THE WATERSHEDS.
>> KAYLA HERE. I CERTAINLY THINK THAT THERE ARE PLACES IN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY AS YOU GET TOWARDS THE CORNERS OF THE CITY THAT DO EXPERIENCE SOME PRETTY SEVERE FLOODING IMPACTS WITH SEVERE STORMS.
>> AGAIN, IT'S ALSO PART OF THE REASON THAT WE'RE DOING PLACE BASED DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS TO REALLY INFORM WHERE IT'S AN ISSUE AND WHERE WE NEED TO REALLY PRIORITIZE OUR OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ON THOSE THINGS.
>> I THINK I HEARD SEVERE FLOODING DETECT, BUT WE WILL HAVE ISOLATED FLOODING THAT WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT RESIDENCES.
AGAIN, WE'RE FOCUSING BOTH ON THE ACUTE EVENTS THAT ARE PRECIPITATED BY A TROPICAL STORM, AS WELL AS THE RECURRING EVENTS THAT ARE MORE INFRASTRUCTURE-BASED.
OBVIOUSLY, OUR PUBLIC WORK STAFF ARE TAKING GREAT STRIDES IN ADDRESSING THAT THROUGH THE STORM WATER MASTER PLAN AND THOSE PROJECTS.
BUT COMMUNICATING TO RESIDENTS, WHAT CAN THEY DO BEFOREHAND TO MAKE THEIR PROPERTY MORE RESILIENT AND THEN ESPECIALLY, WHAT DO THEY DO AFTER? I FEEL LIKE THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REALLY KNOW IS THIS EVENT HAPPENS.
WHO DO I CALL FIRST AFTER THIS TO RESTORE X Y Z SERVICE, TO START MY INSURANCE CLAIM PROCESS? ALL THOSE THINGS ARE PART OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER TO THEN HOPEFULLY GET INTO THE HANDS OF RESIDENTS.
ONE THING THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, NOT TO SAY THAT ALL OF THIS ISN'T REALLY EXCITING, BUT THE COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM OR CERT TRAINING IS COMING BACK.
FIRE CAPTAIN GARY MENARD, WHO'S VERY INVOLVED IN THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN TASK FORCE, AND SEVEN DECATUR RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED IN DEMA, THE DECATUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY'S CERT TRAINING IN JANUARY OF 2025.
THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THE PANDEMIC.
THEN CAPTAIN MENARD ALSO COMPLETED HIS OWN CERTIFICATION TO TEACH CERT TO DECATUR RESIDENTS.
I BELIEVE THE PLAN IS SOMETIME AROUND
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THE FALL AS TO WHEN THAT WOULD BE OFFERED, AND ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL IS BI-ANNUAL ENGAGEMENT WITH ALL CERT PARTICIPANTS TO DEVELOP A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS DURING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.THIS IS ALSO I THINK GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT CAN BE TAPPED INTO ON SUNNY DAY.
EVERYTHING IS GOOD AND WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS AND THEN SHOULD AN EVENT HAPPEN, HAVING PEOPLE ON THE GROUND THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCEDURES OF THE COUNTY'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, GOING DOOR TO DOOR TO CHECK ON FOLKS THAT MAY NOT HAVE GREAT ACCESS TO THE CITY, ALL THOSE THINGS.
HOPEFULLY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO OFFER YEAR OVER YEAR AND THEN GREATLY ENHANCE THE CITY'S RESILIENCE MOVING FORWARD.
>> ONE OTHER THING TO MENTION ON THIS SLIDE, HOSTING ONE CERT TRAINING FOR ADULTS AND THEN ONE TEEN CERT.
GARY MENARD REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLLOWING ON THE HEELS OF THE UNSF CHILD FRIENDLY CERTIFICATION, THAT THERE WAS ALSO THIS COMPONENT ADDED TO IT.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM, THERE MAY BE ANOTHER THING FOR THE DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
>> [LAUGHTER] THE SECOND KEY FOCUS OF THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN TASK FORCE IS ON RESEARCH.
THAT'S PART OF THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS BEING A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COLLEGE IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TAP INTO THEIR PROFESSORS, STUDENTS, AND ALL THOSE OTHER RESOURCES TO AGAIN, COLLECT THE INFORMATION IN THE HYPER LOCAL DATA THAT WE NEED TO INFORM OUR STRATEGIES MOVING FORWARD SO THAT WE MAKE THE BEST INVESTMENTS WHERE THEY'RE MOST NECESSARY, AND THEN WE CAN TRACK WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE OVER THAT BASELINE THAT WE STARTED AT TO THEN FURTHER INFORM THE NEXT SET OF IMPLEMENTATION ACTIONS.
ONE THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT FOR A WHILE, EXTREME HEAT, BEGINNING IN I THINK AUGUST OF 2022, I STARTED PUTTING OUT A SERIES OF TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY SENSORS AROUND THE CITY.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DOCTOR JEN KOVAC AT AGNES SCOTT, WHO HAS INSTALLED MORE SENSORS AROUND THE CITY, WORKING SOMETIME ON HER OWN, SOMETIME WITH HER KIDS, SOMETIME WITH HER STUDENTS TO REALLY EXPAND THAT NETWORK ACROSS THE CITY.
WE ARE ALSO ON THE VERGE OF COLLABORATING WITH THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A TWIN CITY MODEL TO ANALYZE HEAT RISK IN DECATUR.
MATT REEVES FROM ARC IS ACTUALLY HERE TONIGHT.
THEIR GOAL IS EVENTUALLY HAVING A ARC REGION-WIDE LEVEL TO BE ABLE TO TEST WHAT THE IMPACTS OF CERTAIN MITIGATION STRATEGIES ARE.
BUT TO START, THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF DECATUR TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT WORKS, HOW IT CAN BE SCALED UP, AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP.
>> THAT WAS ANNOUNCED AT THE ARC BOARD MEETING THAT DECATUR WAS SELECTED FOR ONE.
>> SOMEWHAT IT'S GOING TO OVERLAP.
YES. WE HAD BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH HIM FOR A WHILE.
THEN RECENTLY WERE AWARDED THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSIONS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THIS UPCOMING PROGRAM YEAR.
THIS IS A CDAP, AS IT'S KNOWN, IS A PROGRAM THAT THE CITY'S ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN A FEW TIMES MOST RECENTLY ON HOUSING PRESERVATION STRATEGY, BUT THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THEM TO USE THIS DATA TO ALSO DEVELOP HYPER LOCAL HEAT MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR THE CITY.
>> GEORGIA STATE WILL BE A PARTNER.
>> GEORGIA STATE IS OUR PARTNER THERE.
THE FOCUS THERE IS REALLY ON WHAT THE CITY CAN DO ON OUR OWN INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTIES AND THEN WHAT OTHER INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTY OWNERS LIKE THE HOUSES OF WORSHIP CAN DO, KNOWING THAT COLLECTIVELY THAT REPRESENTS A LARGE PORTION OF THE CITY'S LAND AREA.
>> GO BACK, DAVID TO THAT DIGITAL TWINS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AGAIN?
>> [LAUGHTER] MATT, FORGIVE ME. IF YOU RECALL FROM THE CLEAN ENERGY PLAN, WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH A FIRM CALLED GREEN LINK ANALYTICS.
WHAT THEY DID WAS DEVELOP A DIGITAL TWIN OF OUR ENERGY SYSTEM.
IT'S BASICALLY TAKING PHYSICAL ASSETS AND MAKING THEM INTO GEOSPATIAL DIGITAL ASSETS THAT WORK AS A SYSTEM SO THAT YOU CAN USE DIFFERENT INPUTS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE OUTPUTS ARE GOING TO BE BASED ON A SET OF ASSUMPTIONS.
IT'S SIMILAR, BUT FOR OUR BUILT PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE HERE IN THE CITY.
THEN I'LL LET KIMBERLY TALK ABOUT THIS LAST ONE.
[00:40:04]
>> TO BUILD UPON CITY OF DECATUR'S EXTREME HEAT RESPONSE PLAN THAT DAVID SHARED WITH YOU ALL LAST YEAR.
WE HAD AN AGNES SCOTT INTERN TAKE THAT AND THEN CREATE A PROGRAM FOR OUR OFFICE OF FACILITIES IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION.
SO VERY MUCH IN TERMS OF PLANNING, YOU HAVE THESE BIG PICTURE GOALS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS THE ACTIONABLE, HOW DOES THIS WORK WITHIN MY OWN OPERATIONS? THIS SUMMER, OFFICE OF FACILITIES IS GOING TO PILOT THAT WITH A LOT OF FEEDBACK.
THERE'S ASSESSMENT AS PART OF IT THAT WILL THEN HELP INFORM OTHERS.
THEN DECATUR FIRE HAS ALREADY ASKED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE THE NEXT GROUP TO TAKE THE WORK THAT OUR INTERN CREATED, AND THEN TRANSLATE IT INTO THEIR OWN OPERATIONS.
WE SEE THIS AS A MODEL THAT CAN THEN BE TRANSLATED ACROSS OTHER DEPARTMENTS, NOT ONLY AT THE COLLEGE, BUT ALSO AT THE CITY AND BEYOND IF PEOPLE WANT TO USE IT.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL KEEP COMING UP WITH A FEW OF THESE SCALABLE AND REPLICABLE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS FOR OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE ALL COORDINATING AND WORKING ON.
>> AS I MENTIONED, THESE SENSORS HAVE BEEN UP FOR A WHILE.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF THE DATA WITH YOU ALL.
NOT ALL OF THESE MAPS AND GRAPHS ARE GOING TO BE SUPER EASILY READABLE, BUT HOPEFULLY I CAN WALK YOU THROUGH THEM.
THE FIRST IS OUR MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTED BY THE SENSORS FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, AND YOU SEE HOW CERTAIN MONTHS CAN VARY IN THE TEMPERATURES THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING ACROSS THE CITY.
SECOND IS THE HEAT INDICES THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
YOU SEE THAT GENERALLY, THEY'RE PRETTY SIMILAR, BUT THERE ARE A FEW PLACES THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE HOW DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THAT SITE, SHADING, ORIENTATION, ETC CAN IMPACT THE HEAT THAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING AT THAT PROPERTY.
THE TOP RIGHT ONE IS TAKEN AT THE OBSERVATORY AT AGNES SCOTT, AND THEN THE ONE BELOW THAT IS THE CORTLAND DEVELOPMENT OVER IN EAST DECATUR STATION.
YOU SEE THAT THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT HEAT REGIMES, SO THAT REALLY HELPS US KNOW IF WE HAVE CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT CAN ONLY BE SPENT AND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PLACES, WHERE SHOULD WE PRIORITIZE THOSE INVESTMENTS FIRST?
>> ARE YOU TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE HIGHER PLACES ARE?
>> YES, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT RELATIVELY IN THE CITY WHERE WE'RE EXPERIENCING MORE EXTREME HEAT AND WHERE THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT IS MOST PRONOUNCED.
AGAIN, THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY THAT'S EXPERIENCED IN URBAN AREAS RELATIVE TO REFERENCE IN THE COUNTRY.
>> IN DATA, IT SEEMS YOU DON'T HAVE CONSISTENT DATA OVER ALL SITES OF THE SAME TIME.
>> THE GOAL IS TO HAVE CONSISTENT DATA FOR ALL OF THE SAME TIME PERIODS.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME THAT WERE PUT OUT MORE RECENTLY, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.
SOMETIMES, THESE ARE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT CAN FAIL, BATTERIES CAN PREMATURELY RUN OUT.
BUT ULTIMATELY THE GOAL IS TO AT SOME POINT, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, WE'LL HAVE AT LEAST TWO YEARS WORTH OF DATA FROM ALL THE SENSORS THAT WE'VE PUT OUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME AND THEN BE ABLE TO COMPARE THEM TO EACH OTHER.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN HEAT INDICES BETWEEN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S ONE ON AGNES SCOTT CAMPUS, THE DANA FINE ART CENTER THAT I THINK AS OF THAT DATE, THE HIGHEST HEAT INDEX THAT IT HAD EXPERIENCED WAS 114 DEGREES, WHICH IS WELL ABOVE 105 DEGREE THRESHOLD WHERE IT DOES START TO BE VERY SERIOUS AND HAVE HEALTH IMPACTS ON THE CITY.
THEN THE SENSOR THAT'S OVER AT EPSTER, THE HIGHEST THAT IT HAD EXPERIENCED WAS 99 DEGREES HEAT INDEX.
THIS DATA IS ALSO HELPING US FIGURE OUT WHAT THE COMBINATION OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND
[00:45:03]
LOCAL CLIMATE CHANGE IS LOOKING LIKE IN THE CITY.WE SEE THAT IN 2023, FOR THE SENSORS THAT WE HAD OUT, THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT WE HAD HEAT INDEX ABOVE 90 WAS 84 DAYS.
AS OF THIS POINT IN TIME, WE'VE ONLY HAD THREE DAYS IN 2025, BUT BASED ON HOW WARM IT WAS TODAY, I THINK THAT NUMBER THAT'S GOING TO GO UP.
WE ALSO ARE SEEING MAYBE IT'S NOT STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT YET, BUT BASED ON THE DATA THAT WE HAVE AT THIS POINT, THAT THE NUMBER OF DAYS IN A ROW WITH A HEAT INDEX ABOVE 90 IS ACTUALLY GETTING LONGER.
WE'RE EXPERIENCING HEAT MORE FREQUENTLY AND THOSE HEAT WAVES ARE LASTING LONGER AND THAT HAS SOME PRETTY BIG IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESPONSE AND JUST HOW WE KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
>> DAVID, AT SOME POINT, WILL WE BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT DATA AND MAYBE LINK IT TO AN EXTREME EVENT, SAY A THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO?
>> I'M GLAD THAT YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.
THIS IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.
ALWAYS TRYING SOMETHING NEW IS YOU NEED TO WORK OUT THE KINKS.
BUT I THINK IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO NOW THAT CAPTAIN MENARD ACTUALLY WORKED WITH HIS STAFF AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ADD QUESTIONS TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE THAT THEY FILL OUT WHEN THEY GET A CALL, JUST TO SEE IF IT WAS A WEATHER RELATED INCIDENT.
WE'RE USING THAT INFORMATION COMBINED WITH THIS INFORMATION, OTHER WAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO COLLECTING THAT DATA, AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE CAN PUT ALL THOSE PIECES TOGETHER AND REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND TELL THAT STORY.
>> I NOTICED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, I THINK THERE WAS A HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
THERE ARE SOME PUBLIC AS WELL AS LIKE PRIVATE LOCATIONS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN USE FOR OUTREACH TO THOSE AREAS THAT YOU'RE AT THE TOP OF OUR CHART.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS MOVING FORWARD IS THAT, WORKING WITH ARC AND OTHERS AS WE EXPAND OUR SENSOR NETWORK IS FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN GET IT INTO THE HANDS OF MORE PEOPLE AND HAVE MORE LIKE ADAPTER SENSOR TYPE PROGRAMS, WHERE THEY'RE ENGAGED WITH THE DATA COLLECTION THAT WE'RE DOING, AND THEY SEE THEMSELVES IN IT AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE BACK TO THEM, WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE AND WHAT ARE THE ACTIONS THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE.
>> SPECIFICALLY AT DANA, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT GOING ON THERE IN TERMS OF WERE YOU PUTTING IN SOME MORE LIKE NATURAL AND I KNOW ALLISON HAS BEEN A PART OF THAT AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THAT IS I KNOW IT'S SOME FOR COLLECTING STORM WATER AND ALSO JUST MAKING IT A MORE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
DOES ANY OF THAT HAVE SOME HEAT MITIGATION LIKE I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S UNDER-STORY OVER-STORY.
I WASN'T SURE EXACTLY WHAT WAS PLANNED FOR DANA BECAUSE THAT'S PRETTY HIGH UP THERE.
>> AGAIN, WE'RE COLLECTING DATA THAT GENERALLY, I THINK IS GOING TO SUPPORT THE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE HAVE.
I CAN'T SAY THOSE PROJECTS AT DANA WERE STARTED EXPLICITLY BECAUSE WE HAD THIS DATA AND WE COMMUNICATED TO THEM.
BUT THE PRACTICES THAT THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING ARE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT HEAT MITIGATION IMPACT.
>> TO CONTINUE WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN TERMS OF RESEARCH, ALSO WORKING WITH DR. JEN KOVACS TO INSTALL WATER QUANTITY MONITORS.
DIFFERENT THAN WATER QUALITY, RATHER WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW MUCH WATER IS PASSING THROUGH A CERTAIN POINT AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
REALLY, THIS IS LOOKING AT SUGAR CREEK, BEFORE IT IS CONCRETED INTO THE CALVERT AND THEN AFTER WHEN IT HITS HAWK HOLLOW AND THEN IS BACK INTO A NATURALIZED STREAM, TO THEN HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO SHOW THROUGH DATA THAT IF WE'RE ABLE TO RE-NATURALIZE THE CULVERTED STREAM, THAT WE COULD ALSO REDUCE ANY FLOODING ISSUES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE IN THAT SPECIFIC AREA BECAUSE IT WOULD SLOW THE WATER DOWN AND BRING IT BACK TO MORE NATURAL PROCESSES.
AGAIN, REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT WORKING WITH STUDENTS, WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIELD WORK, DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND THEN VISUALIZATION.
ALL OF THAT IS VERY INTENTIONAL IN ANY OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
>> [LAUGHTER] I WILL SAY YOU SEE THAT NOTE THERE AT THE BOTTOM.
WHEN WE HAD FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND THESE MONITORS, THE ULTIMATE GOAL WAS TO USE THAT INFORMATION TO SUPPORT AN APPLICATION TO FEMA'S BRIC PROGRAM, BUILDING RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES TO HELP
[00:50:01]
SUPPORT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING IDENTIFIED IN THE OAKHURST MASTER PLAN.UNFORTUNATELY, AT LEAST FOR THIS YEAR, THAT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN PULLED, BUT WE'LL ALWAYS USE THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AND LOOK FOR OTHER POTENTIAL SOURCES OF FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT THESE PROJECTS.
>> I THINK ANOTHER ASPECT OF RESEARCH THAT IS STILL VERY MUCH IN THE WORK, YOU'LL HAVE TO BEAR WITH US, IS VISUALIZATION.
IN WORKING WITH THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SUBCOMMITTEE, ESPECIALLY AFTER HURRICANE HELENE, WE STARTED HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHERE IN THE CITY DID LIVED EXPERIENCES, EITHER FLOODING OR ELECTRICITY OUTAGE OR ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT PEOPLE WERE SEEING, WHERE WAS IT HAPPENING THE MOST? WHAT WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF DECATUR? THAT REALLY LED US TO CREATE THIS HURRICANE HELENE INCIDENT MAP.
INTERN OF MINE PUT THIS TOGETHER FROM THE EMERGENCY CALLS THAT CAME THROUGH, AND THEN SHE TAGGED THEM SO THAT WE COULD UNDERSTAND WAS IT A HEALTH ISSUE THAT JUST HAPPENED DURING THE STORM? WAS IT HAZARDS? WAS IT SOMETHING IN THE HOME? WAS IT OUTSIDE THAT WAS IMPEDING TRAFFIC FLOW? WAS IT FLOODING? IF WE CAN START TO DO THESE VISUAL MAPS AFTER EVERY INCIDENT, THEN AGAIN WE CAN START TO LAYER WHERE POTENTIAL PROJECTS COULD BE PRIORITIZED BASED OFF OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF OUR RESIDENTS.
IF WE WERE ABLE TO CLICK ON IT, YOU WOULD SEE THAT EACH OF THEM ALSO HAVE METADATA AND ARE TAGGED WITH DIFFERENT INFORMATION, SO WE COULD ALWAYS GO IN LOOK A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.
BUT DEMA WAS INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS MAPPING PROJECT AND HADN'T REALLY WORKED WITH A COMMUNITY BEFORE THAT HAD DONE THIS ON THEIR OWN.
THEY WERE ALSO EXCITED TO TAKE THIS AS A MODEL AND HOPEFULLY USE IT IN OTHER PLACES AS WELL.
>> AGAIN, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE USING THAT DATA THAT WE'RE COLLECTING THROUGH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I BELIEVE THE PLAN IS TO ALSO ADD NON-EMERGENCY CALLS LIKE THE SEECLICKFIX TICKETS, ETC THAT PUBLIC WORKS GETS, AS WELL AS OTHER INFORMATION TO MAKE THIS AS COMPREHENSIVE AS WE CAN.
>> I'M REALLY GETTING A LOT FROM THIS PRESENTATION.
I WANTED TO SAY ANOTHER USE A RESILIENCY OUTCOME AND UNDERSTANDING THE EXTREME TEMPERATURE, MAYBE IT'S NOT FORECASTING, BUT ANTICIPATING PROBABLY DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF HOW WE HELP THE UNSHELTERED WHO ARE LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY, AND RECOGNIZING THAT THOSE DAYS, AND ALSO OBVIOUSLY WORKERS, WHICH IS A SEPARATE CONVERSATION.
BUT ALSO THE EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY HASN'T JUST BEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF EXTREME WEATHER, BUT IN WATER MAIN BREAK.
I THINK THE LAST ONE WHERE I FELT LIKE WE GOT CAUGHT IN THE LONGEST LIMBO THAT I CAN REMEMBER WAS BECAUSE OF A WATER MAIN BREAK.
NOW WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A CLEAR READ FROM THE COUNTY, AND I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE COULD EXPRESS AS WELL TO RESIDENTS WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO AND HOW THEY COULD GET WATER.
I VALUE THIS THAT I COULD HELP IN THOSE AREAS TOO.
>> THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT COMMUNICATING TO RESIDENTS, WHAT THEY CAN DO WORKING WITH CITY STAFF TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN PREPOSITION CONTRACTS AND OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD AN EVENT HAPPEN, WE'RE ABLE TO RESPOND THE BEST THAT WE CAN, IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK, AS FAR AS I CAN RECALL, WHEN WE'VE HAD THOSE WATER MAIN BREAKS, IT HASN'T BEEN WHEN IT'S 95 OR 100 DEGREES OUT.
BUT IT KEEPS US UP AT NIGHT, BUT ALSO CONSIDERING THOSE COMBINED EVENTS WHERE YOU'RE EXPERIENCING EXTREME HEAT AND A POWER OUTAGE, EXTREME HEAT AND A WATER MAIN BREAK, OR POTENTIALLY ALL THREE, KNOCK ON WOOD.
>> [LAUGHTER] THEN HOW DO WE RESPOND THERE?
>> I THINK THIS ALSO POINTS TO WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS A COMMISSION IN TERMS OF TEXT MESSAGE UPDATES.
HOW EFFECTIVE THAT WOULD BE INSTEAD OF SENDING SOMEBODY TO A WEBSITE OR TRYING TO REAL-TIME INFORMATION, AND I THINK EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COULD BE ONE OF THE TOP AND BEST USES THAT WE COULD HAVE FOR GETTING THAT IMPLEMENTED.
>> THE THIRD STRATEGY THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO TOUCH ON,
[00:55:01]
OBVIOUSLY, KIMBERLY AND I ARE UP HERE DOING THIS PRESENTATION, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS WORK, BOTH AS STUDENTS AND INTERNS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THIS LIST AND JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM ON.
WE'VE HAD A FEW COHORTS OF EMERY STUDENTS THROUGH THE CBSE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
IN SUMMER 2023, THEY HELPED DO SOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WEATHERIZATION NEEDS ASSESSMENTS.
THAT WORK THAT THEY DID DIRECTLY INFORMED OUR APPLICATION FOR THE EECBG GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED.
ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE COMMENTERS FROM DOE AT THE TIME NOTED THAT WORK AS ONE OF THE KEY REASONS THAT THEY RECOMMENDED US FOR AWARD.
LAST SUMMER, WE WORKED WITH SOME STUDENTS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT A YOUTH ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR CLEAN ENERGY AND CLIMATE ACTION EFFORTS LOOKS LIKE, AND STILL SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IMPLEMENTING, BUT IN CONNECTION WITH DYC, CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES AND THE TEEN LEADERSHIP TEAM, FIGURING OUT HOW WE GET YOUNG PEOPLE YOU KNOW, A SEAT AT THE TABLE AS WE'RE MAKING THESE REALLY IMPORTANT INVESTMENT DECISIONS AND THESE THINGS.
THEN THIS SUMMER, JULIE SMITH IS HOSTING A TEAM OF STUDENTS, AND THAT FOCUS IS ON HEIRS' PROPERTIES AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR SENIORS INDICATOR HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF THOSE PROPERTIES TO THEIR FAMILIES.
I EXPECT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT PROJECT FROM HER.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN AMERICORPS VISTA THAT HAS BEEN SUPPORTING THE MLK SERVICE PROJECT.
MOVING INTO SOME WEATHERIZATION SERVICE LEARNING, DO YOU SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?
>> SURE. YOU HEARD FROM NOEMI A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AT ANOTHER WORK SESSION TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE 4.5 TONS THAT WERE DIVERTED FROM THE LANDFILL, ALL OF THAT IN TERMS OF CAPACITY BUILDING.
NEXT YEAR'S FOCUS, SHE'S LOOKING AT CREATING CURRICULUM AROUND A SERVICE LEARNING COURSE WHERE STUDENTS COULD ALSO HELP CONTINUE TO HOLD THAT CAPACITY THAT SHE'S BEEN GROWING AND HOLDING.
THEN ALSO LOOKING AT A UTILITY LITERACY PROGRAM AS WELL.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO ENGAGE OUR OLDER RESIDENTS, OUR LEGACY RESIDENTS, AND TRY TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO REDUCE UTILITY BILLS AS ANOTHER WAY TO ENSURE AGING IN PLACE SAFELY, COMFORTABLY, AND AFFORDABLY?
>> WE HOSTED A TEAM OF FELLOWS FROM THE PARTNERSHIP FOR INCLUSIVE INNOVATION FOCUSED ON WHAT A DATA HUB WOULD LOOK LIKE.
SHARING THIS GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION WITH THE STORIES THEY WERE COLLECTING, ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE, AND PROVIDING THAT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN DIGEST AND UNDERSTAND AND INTERACT WITH.
THIS IS ALSO SOMEWHERE WHERE REAL-TIME INFORMATION ABOUT WEATHER AND SEVERE EVENTS COULD POSSIBLY LIVE IN THE FUTURE.
WE, AS YOU KNOW, HOSTING A FELLOW FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, COMMUNITY ENERGY PROGRAM, AND THROUGH THAT, DEEPENING OUR CONNECTION WITH STAFF AT DEKALB COUNTY.
SO FAR, I THINK I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS OR TO DATE, BUT ABOUT 37 AGNES SCOTT UNDERGRADUATES HAVE BEEN INVOLVED HANDS-ON IN CRP INITIATIVES, AND THEN ONE PART-TIME INTERN THAT KIMBERLY MENTIONED.
WHILE WE CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO IMPROVE DECATUR'S RESILIENCE, WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS ARE GOING TO GO OFF TO WHEREVER THEY ARE GOING TO GO, AND EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS TO HELP SUPPORT THE RESILIENCE OF THAT COMMUNITY THAT THEY CHOOSE IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT.
THEN WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO THANK ELIZABETH ROE, WHO IS OUR CRP IMPLEMENTATION MANAGER AND FACILITATOR, THAT REALLY HELPS KEEP MOVING THIS WORK FORWARD.
I MENTIONED THE CDAP PROGRAM THAT WE RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT.
THAT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGIA INTERFAITH POWER & LIGHT OR GIPL, ON THAT CITYWIDE HEAT MITIGATION STRATEGY, AGAIN, WITH A FOCUS ON CITY-OWNED AND CONGREGATIONAL PROPERTIES INDICATOR.
THEN GIPL SUBMITTED WITH THE CITY AS A PARTNER IN APPLICATION TO THE CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE, AND THAT'S ABOUT BETTER ENGAGING OUR FAITH COMMUNITIES IN DECATUR'S CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY PLANS AND PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN, AND THEN THE CLIMATE ACTION AND SUSTAINABILITY PLAN THAT'S DUE NEXT YEAR AS PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE.
THANK YOU. THEN AGNES SCOTT JUST SUBMITTED WITH SUPPORT FROM
[01:00:06]
THE CITY APPLICATION TO THE PARTNERSHIP FOR INCLUSIVE INNOVATION'S COMMUNITY RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM, AND THE FOCUS THERE IS STUDENT-LED COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION.AGAIN, HOW WE COMMUNICATE THE DATA THAT WE'RE COLLECTING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE ULTIMATELY TRYING TO SUPPORT.
>> CONTINUING THAT FRAMEWORK OF CREATING THINGS THAT CAN BE REPLICATED AND SCALED, WE ALSO TRY TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH OTHERS.
WE'VE BEEN PART OF A VARIETY OF PRESENTATIONS, GEORGIA TECH SUSTAINABILITY SHOWCASE, CAMPUS COMPACT, WHICH IS A NATIONWIDE SERVICE LEARNING NONPROFIT THAT REALLY FOCUSES HIGHER EDUCATION.
NOEMI, AMERICORPS VISTA, PRESENTED A POSTER ON THE SUCCESS OF HER CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE MLK SERVICE WEEKEND.
JULIE SMITH AND I PRESENTED AT SUPER SOUTH CONFERENCE WHICH WAS A MERGING OF HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS AND CORPORATIONS, AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S ANY MESHING BETWEEN THE TWO, SO VERY SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL CONFERENCE THERE.
THEN DAVID WAS A PANEL PARTICIPANT AT COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY EVENT ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND JUSTICE, WHICH WAS MODERATED BY WABE'S ROSE SCOTT, WHICH WAS VERY EXCITING. IF I MAY SAY SO.
>> THINK THIS OUR LAST SLIDE BEFORE WE CAN GET INTO QUESTIONS FOR A FEW MINUTES.
ONE THING THAT LOOKING AHEAD, WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY IS JUST ABOUT THE IMPACTS TO HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE THAT DECATUR RESIDENTS ARE FACING AND RESIDENTS ACROSS THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE IMPACTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING MORE FREQUENTLY IS INSURANCE PROVIDERS CALLING HOMEOWNERS TO TELL THEM TO ENTIRELY REMOVE OR SIGNIFICANTLY DELIMIT THE TREES THAT ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THEIR HOUSE OR RISK LOSING THEIR INSURANCE COVERAGE.
WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE FOR CANOPY CONSERVATION ORDINANCE, OUR CITY-WIDE CANOPY GOALS, AND OUR CLIMATE RESILIENCE IF HOMEOWNERS ARE FACED WITH THAT IMPOSSIBLE DECISION AND TREES START GETTING REMOVED? WHAT CAN WE DO THERE? WHAT IS A POLICY RESPONSE TO THAT LOOK LIKE? HOW CAN WE INFORM RESIDENTS OF THEIR OPTIONS IN A WAY THAT IS STILL RESPECTFUL OF THE CITY'S POLICIES? WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT.
SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAS BEEN IN CONVERSATION LATELY.
THERE IS A HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE AT THE GEORGIA LEGISLATURE THAT RECOMMENDED THE CREATION OF A STATE-WIDE RESILIENCE OFFICE AND APPOINTMENT OF A STATE-WIDE RESILIENCE OFFICER, CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER, CRO, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER SOUTHEASTERN STATES LIKE SOUTH CAROLINA.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR GEORGIA? HOW DOES THAT OFFICE NEED TO BE STRUCTURED? WHERE DOES IT NEED TO BE HOUSED, AND WHAT THEN, ONCE IT'S IN PLACE WHAT DOES THAT OFFICE FOCUS ON AND HOW DOES IT ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE? THEN IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT WE'RE ALSO NOW IN THE FIFTH YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION, OR CLOSE TO THE FIFTH YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION.
THE CRP WAS FINALIZED IN 2021.
IT WAS A GREAT SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE WERE AT THAT TIME, BUT GIVEN THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE, AND THEN OTHER CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE SEEING, WHEN DO WE START LOOKING AT UPDATING THE CRP, EITHER ON ITS OWN OR IN COORDINATION WITH OTHER CITY PLANNING EFFORTS THAT ARE COMING UP? I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
HAPPY TO ALWAYS RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE OVER EMAIL OR OTHERWISE, BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE A FEW MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS NOW.
>> I'LL OPEN IT UP. I DO KNOW THAT DAVID AND KIMBERLY ARE IN HOT DEMAND TO SERVE ON PANELS AND SPEAK AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, AND I APPRECIATE THEM BEING ABLE TO GO OUT AND TELL PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I KNOW I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM JOHN PHILLIPS FROM ARC COPIED ME ON IT.
HE'S TRYING TO GET DAVID ON A PANEL, I THINK THIS SUMMER.
I DO FEEL LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE WATCHING US AND REALLY WANTING TO TAKE SOME LEADS FROM WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND JUST TO SAY, THIS IS VERY THOROUGH, AND I APPRECIATE THE ACTION THAT IS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF.
IT IS STILL, I THINK, STRIKING TO BOTH OF US, HOW OFTEN WHEN WE PRESENTED THESE CONFERENCES,
[01:05:02]
THAT PEOPLE DO APPROACH US AND SAY, THIS IS SUCH A NOVEL APPROACH.I FEEL LIKE JUST THE WAY THAT DECATUR OPERATES, WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD DO AND SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL PARTIES, AND SO HOPING TO SEE MORE OF THESE COLLABORATIONS ACROSS OTHER CITIES, AND THEN I KNOW OTHER UNIVERSITIES ARE CALLING KIMBERLY ALL THE TIME, ATTENDING MEETINGS, ETC, TO TRY TO LEARN FROM US.
>> THE QUESTION. KIMBERLY, OVER ON THE AGNES SCOTT SIDE.
IS THERE A LINE OF STUDY OR DOES THIS DEVELOP INTO A CONVERSATION AMONG THE STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THE ONES WHO YOU WORK WITH AROUND ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE? IT WAS SOMETHING I WAS READING ABOUT.
IT WAS MORE IN LIKE THE MAINSTREAM PRESS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND THEN YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT EXPLICITLY ANYMORE AS A LINE OF WORK OR A JOB TO HAVE OR A WHOLE DEPARTMENT.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THAT FEEDS INTO THAT.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE TERM ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE HAS NECESSARILY COME UP.
MAYBE I'M JUST NOT IN THE RIGHT CLASSROOMS OR SPACES.
>> OH, SURE. THINKING OF MAYBE I TRANSLATED INTO BECAUSE WE'RE A LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTION.
I FEEL LIKE OUR STUDENTS, WHETHER THEY'RE A STEM MAJOR, HUMANITIES OR SOCIAL SCIENCES, THAT THEY'RE ASKED TO EXPLORE THESE CONCEPTS WITH A VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF THEIR FOUNDATION.
THEY EACH HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE CLASSROOM SETTING AND CO CURRICULAR SO OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM SETTING.
I DO THINK THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE REALLY ENGAGING IN THIS AND SEEING WHERE THEY FIT INTO SOLUTIONS OR FIT INTO DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS, WHICH IS PRETTY EXCITING.
>> BECAUSE WE CAN DO OUR PART AND WE WILL, AND IT'S NOW FOR OUR CITY OR OUR REGION, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT HOPEFULLY AND SAVE THE WORLD AND BE COMPANY BY COMPANY, INSTITUTION BY INSTITUTION WITH THIS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.
>> FOR SURE. AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S WHY I SAID THAT THIS CRP REALLY CLOSELY MIRRORS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND THEY BOTH RECOGNIZE IT TAKES ALL OF US TO CO-CREATE A RESILIENT FUTURE.
NO MATTER WHAT YOUR JOB TITLE IS OR WHAT YOU STUDY, WHAT YOU GOT DEGREE IN, THERE IS SOME ROLE THAT YOU CAN PLAY IN MAKING A MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
>> THERE, I'M GOING TO ASK THE OBVIOUS QUESTION.
WHERE DOES THE STATE STAND IN TERMS OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ALL THE INITIATIVES THAT A LOT OF THE MUNICIPALITIES AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING ARE REALLY EMBEDDED IN? ARE WE SEEING THIS PUSH BACK FROM THE TABLE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND IF SO, WHAT'S NEXT?
I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE A GREAT ANSWER.
I AM CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT A STATE WIDE RESILIENCE OFFICE WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THEY WOULD ENGAGE IN IF ONE WERE TO BE CREATED.
I WOULDN'T SAY THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY FACING PUSHBACK FROM THE STATE LEVEL.
THEY ARE STILL INVESTING IN GRANT PROGRAMS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ULTIMATELY SUPPORT CLIMATE SOLUTIONS.
THEN KIMBERLY AND I WERE JUST AT A WORKSHOP FOR DRAWDOWN GEORGIA, WHICH IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CLIMATE SOLUTIONS LOOK LIKE FOR OUR STATE, HOW THEY'RE IMPLEMENTED AND REALLY TRACKING THAT DATA.
THEY'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION VERY SIMILAR, WITH WHERE WE'RE AT, HOW DO WE LEAN INTO THE WORK AND CONTINUE TO HAVE AN IMPACT? KNOWING THAT CERTAIN WORDS OR CERTAIN THINGS MAY MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
>> I ALSO WONDER WITH THE ENERGY STAR CERTIFICATION.
THAT'S BEEN PART OF WHAT WE ARE WANTING TO DO AND HELPING PEOPLE MOVE TOWARDS AWAY FROM GAS AND MORE ENERGY SAVING AND ELECTRIFICATION.
DO WE KNOW WHEN THAT IF IT'S FOR SURE GOING TO GO AWAY OR WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE?
>> THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION, SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN CERTAINLY THINKING ABOUT A LOT.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE BUDGET THAT'S BEFORE A FEW HOUSE COMMITTEES AT THE MOMENT, BASICALLY JUST ELIMINATES THE OFFICE THAT HOUSED ENERGY STAR, AND SO THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY PERSONNEL IN THE FUTURE TO UPDATE THAT.
I THINK JUST WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION, WE CAN SPEND A LOT OF TIME WORRYING ABOUT THINGS, BUT UNTIL IT'S SET IN STONE, HAVEN'T REALLY FELT THAT TO BE PRODUCTIVE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE BECAUSE IT'S CERTAINLY SEND US BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD,
[01:10:01]
WOULD SEND JEFA BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.THERE WOULD BE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, BUT IF WE HAVE TO CROSS THAT BRIDGE, WE WILL DO SO WHEN THE TIME COMES.
>> THIS THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY WE HAVE TO USE?
>> CAN I ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTION?
>> [INAUDIBLE] YOU SAID YOU HAD 10 COMPLETE ITEMS. WHAT ARE THE 10 COMPLETE ITEMS?
>> THOSE ARE EASY TO CHECK OFF THINGS LIKE HAVING STANDING MEETINGS BETWEEN THE CITY'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL AND DEMA AND OTHER PARTIES, GETTING THESE PROJECTS INTO PLACE, [OVERLAPPING] WHICH IS HONESTLY HARDER THAN IT MAYBE YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE, I THINK IT'S STARTING THESE RESEARCH PROJECTS.
SOME OF THEM ARE SIMILAR TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, I WOULD SAY, WHERE YOU NEVER ARE REALLY DONE, BUT YOU'VE TAKEN THE HARDER STEPS OF GETTING THINGS ROLLING AND STARTED.
>> PLEASE, WE DO HAVE A TRACKER, IF YOU WOULD HAPPY TO SHARE.
>> I WOULD HELP YOU UNDERSTAND IT BETTER.
>> THE FOCAL POINT OF THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN TO BE REACTING ALMOST TO THE OFFENSE AS OPPOSED TO INVESTMENTS IN PREVENTION.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE RESIDENT RESOURCES THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER MAY BE ON THE MORE REACTIVE SIDE.
BUT THEN THE DATA THAT WE'RE COLLECTING, I THINK THE CITY IS GOING TO ACTIVELY USE IN THE FUTURE FOR FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REQUESTS AND OTHER THINGS.
IN THAT WAY, IT IS, I THINK PREVENTATIVE AND TRYING TO MITIGATING THE DEBT.
>> I'M SORRY. LOOKING AT THAT IN TERMS OF STIRRING WHERE WE MAKE INVESTMENTS.
WE HAVE A STORM WATER MASTER PLAN, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF THE INVESTMENT [INAUDIBLE].
>> CERTAINLY WE HAVE THOSE EXISTING MASTER PLANS, A LOT OF CAPITAL PROJECTS IDENTIFIED.
BUT THEN WHEN THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS GET TO THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, THERE ARE STILL DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
ONE THING THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ALREADY TALKING ABOUT DOING FOR THE SUMMER IS WORKING WITH KARA AND OTHER ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORK STAFF ON DOING ANOTHER HEAT MITIGATION WORKSHOP.
WHAT ARE THOSE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES, DIFFERENT PRACTICES THAT YOU CAN PUT INTO PLACE WHEN YOU'RE IMPLEMENTING A PROJECT THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK AND HAVE THE MOST IMPACT.
BUT AGAIN, THEN WE'RE ALSO DEVELOPING THESE PARTNERSHIPS WITH GIPL AND CONGREGATIONS AND GETTING INFORMATION IN THEIR HANDS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALSO MAKING INVESTMENTS AND DOING CAPITAL PLANNING.
I THINK ULTIMATELY THE GOAL IS TO GET AS MUCH GOOD RELEVANT INFORMATION INTO THE HANDS AS AS MANY PEOPLE SO THEY CAN MAKE THE BEST INFORMED DECISIONS POSSIBLE.
>> I JUST HAD MORE OF A STATEMENT.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF SENSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT HEAT MONITORS.
WE KNOW ASPHALT, ROCK SURFACE, LACK OF TREES.
WE ALSO COULD PROBABLY GET A SENSE JUST LOOKING AT LAND USE, USING THAT AT ALL, IS THAT STIRRING SOME OF YOUR WORK?
>> YES, CERTAINLY IT'S GOING TO BE A COMBINATION OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF INFORMATION WE HAVE.
THE HEAT MONITORS OVERLAYING WITH OUR ZONING AND LAND USE MAPS TO THEN HOPEFULLY INFORM POTENTIAL CHANGES, AGAIN, I THINK ANECDOTALLY JUST BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE CITY.
WE ALL KNOW WHERE IT'S HOTTER AND WHERE IT'S COOLER.
BUT THE GOAL OF GETTING THE DATA IS TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT THE IMPACT THAT WE'RE HAVING IS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL, ALWAYS HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH ANYTHING.
NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ALEX FOR THE ESB PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR TIME.
BUT I NEED A BATHROOM BREAK BEFORE WE GO TO KELVIN SITTING.
>> LET'S SEE. IT'S OURS IN HERE.
OH, AM I NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THIS?
>> THANK YOU. I'VE MET EVERYBODY BEFORE, BUT JUST FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, I'M ALEX STEWART,
[01:15:01]
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD, AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS HERE AS WELL, AS WELL AS A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE INVOLVED.THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
MOST OF OUR BOARD IS RETURNING THIS YEAR, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE THAT MEANS WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE HAD ONE PERSON LEAVE THEIR SEAT AND ONE OF OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE.
WE HAD ROOM FOR TWO NEW MEMBERS THIS YEAR, YOU'LL SEE THEM AT THE BOTTOM.
STEVE AND KINNEY. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM, AND THEN THE REST OF THE BOARD, LIKE I SAID, IS RETURNING, SO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE ON THE BOARD THIS YEAR.
I'LL ALSO NOTE, WE'VE GOT MORE STAFF INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOARD THIS YEAR THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.
OBVIOUSLY, DAVID IS ALWAYS AT THE MEETINGS AND SUPPORTING US.
BUT ALLISON HAS STARTED, SHE WAS ATTENDING ANYWAY, BUT NOW SHE'S ATTENDING AS A STAFF MEMBER, AND NOT JUST A BOARD MEMBER.
HER SUPPORT HAS BEEN GREAT AND THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE IN THE CITY HAS BEEN AMAZING AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR THAT POSITION, AND SHE'S ALREADY MADE SUCH AN ENORMOUS CHANGE IN THE CITY.
THE ADDITION OF SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL FOR US.
DAVID HAS ALWAYS GOT SO MUCH GOING ON, SO IT'S REALLY GOOD TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN HELP PUSH SOME OF OUR INITIATIVES WHEN HE'S DOING ALL THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT HE'S DOING.
THEN AS ALWAYS KAY HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS RESOURCE FOR US, AND ALSO GAYLE FROM PARKS AND REC HAS ATTENDED OUR MEETINGS MORE OFTEN AND SHE'S JUST SUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR US AND SHE'S SUPER INVOLVED AND IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HAVE HER AROUND AS WELL.
I'M SURE THERE'S SOME OTHERS THAT I'M MISSING, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE TOP OF MIND THAT HAD BEEN REALLY HELPFUL ON OUR GROUP.
SOME OF THIS IS JUST A REMINDER, BUT FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN AND ASK IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
BUT WE BASE ALL OF OUR WORK ON THE 2020 MASTER PLAN, WHICH IS THE DECATUR 2030 CLIMATE ACTION INITIATIVES.
BASICALLY FOUR CATEGORIES OF GOALS, CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES, MAINLY AROUND ENERGY, ESTABLISHING A CULTURE OF SOLIDARITY, GETTING EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE AND BUYING INTO OUR MISSION, USING EXISTING RESOURCES, INCLUDING REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT WE USE IN GENERAL, AND THEN GROWING GREEN.
HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO GROW AS A CITY WITHOUT HARMING THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE? REALLY, ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT UNDERTAKINGS OF THAT WHOLE PLAN WAS STRATEGIC INITIATIVE, NUMBER 1, THAT CLEAN ENERGY PLAN.
THIS IS ONE THAT BASICALLY, DAVID IS ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT AND DRIVING TOWARDS, ESPECIALLY WITH HIS WORK WITH THE IRP AND GEORGIA POWER.
JUST TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE NOW JUST 4-5 YEARS AWAY OF OUR FIRST GOAL OF HAVING ALL OF OUR MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS ON 100% CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY.
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD THAT WE'RE STRIVING TOWARDS.
DAVID'S DID A GREAT JOB OF GETTING US THIS FAR AS HE HAS.
THEN THEY DON'T STOP AFTER THAT 2035 MUNICIPAL VEHICLES, BUT ALSO COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AS WELL.
DEFINITELY SOME SIGNIFICANT GOALS PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING HERE.
TO TOUCH ON SOME OF THE RECENT PROJECTS, I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE AND CERTAINLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN.
BUT I'LL HIGHLIGHT A FEW THAT ARE PARTICULARLY NEW THIS YEAR.
THE NOISE ORDINANCE UPDATES, MIKE ON OUR COMMITTEE HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THAT IN RESEARCHING AND TALKING TO PEOPLE AND IMPLEMENTING WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE A FAIR SET OF GUIDELINES FOR NOISE POLLUTION AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THE REST OF OUR POLLUTION AS WELL.
NOW WE'RE WORKING ON HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT EDUCATION FOR THOSE UPDATES.
[01:20:03]
ONE THAT I'M PROBABLY MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS THE HOMETOWN HABITAT AWARDS.THIS IS AN IDEA THAT I THINK COMMISSIONER WALSH FLOATED LAST YEAR AT THIS VERY MEETING.
IS DEFINITELY IN THIS GROUP, I THINK IS COMMISSIONER WALSH.
JUST SO MUCH CREDIT TO CHRISTIE AND ANNIE ON OUR BOARD FOR REALLY TAKING WHAT WAS JUST KIND OF A BRAINSTORM AND EXECUTING IT ALL THE WAY TO WHERE IT IS NOW, WHICH IS WE HAVE GIVEN OUT OUR FIRST AWARD.
THERE'S A WRITE UP IN THE DECATUR FOCUS, AND I THINK IT REALLY GOES BACK TO THIS CREATING THIS CULTURE OF SOLIDARITY AROUND.
IF WE KNOW THAT A LAWN IS NOT THE BEST USE OF RESOURCES AND DOESN'T SUPPORT OUR POLLINATORS, THEN HOW CAN WE CREATE THESE EXAMPLES IN OUR COMMUNITY OF WHAT A ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MON LOOKS LIKE.
IF YOU ALL HAVEN'T SEEN WHAT THIS AWARD LOOKS LIKE YET, THERE'S A PHOTO OF IT.
SEE IF I CAN WORK THROUGH THIS THING IN MY THROAT.
MAYBE ONE YOU'LL WANT TO SPEAK ON WHO MADE THE AWARD?
>> COLLABORATION WITH [INAUDIBLE].
>> I THINK PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST FUN THINGS ABOUT DOING THIS WAS CREATING THIS ART PIECE, I THINK AWARD FOR FOLKS WHO GET THIS RECOGNITION.
WE REALLY USED A LOT OF DECATUR RESIDENTS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
MARK COLLINS FROM APPLESEED TREE.
HE GAVE US ALL OF THESE TREE COOKIES AND THEY'RE ALL FROM DECATUR TREES.
WE HAD A DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO DESIGNED THE ACTUAL AWARD, THE GRAPHIC DESIGN, AND THEN WE BURNED IT ONTO THE WOOD AT DECATUR MAKERS.
THEN A LOCAL ARTIST NAMED SIMON WILSON DID THE STAND FOR IT OUT OF SOME MEDAL.
IT WAS THIS REALLY COOL COLLABORATION.
I KNOW THE ROBERTSON, THEY REALLY LOVED IT, AND THEY'RE HAPPY TO HAVE IT IN THEIR YARD.
>> CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF BECAUSE WE'RE RECORDING?
>> I'M SORRY. I'M CHRISTIE BIBLE.
>> HOW FREQUENTLY WILL THAT AWARD BE GIVEN OUT? THIS YEAR, WE'RE DOING IT QUARTERLY.
ACTUALLY, WE JUST TALKED TO THE RECIPIENT OF THE SECOND AWARD.
THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE AUGUST FOCUS.
THEN WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER IN OCTOBER AND OUR LAST ONE WILL BE IN DECEMBER FOR THIS YEAR.
WE STARTED OUT QUARTERLY FOR THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT'S NEW AND WE WERE GETTING OUR FEET WET WITH IT, BUT WE ALL HAVE SOME REALLY EXCITING IDEAS ABOUT HOW THIS COULD BECOME SOMETHING EVEN BIGGER.
IT'S BEEN A REALLY FUN EFFORT.
>> I REALLY LIKE THE REGULARITY OF IT TOO AS PART OF THIS BUILDING SOLIDARITY, SO IT DOESN'T JUST DROP ONCE A YEAR.
I KNOW IT MAKES FOR MORE WORK, BUT THIS STORY OR THIS NARRATIVE THAT'S BUILDING BECAUSE I REALLY THINK WE GET A LOT OUT OF THE, FOR EXAMPLE, [INAUDIBLE] THE WOK AND ROLL SUPERSTARS.
YOU'RE JUST CONSTANTLY SEEING A FRESH FACE OF SOMEONE WHO'S ALSO DOING THE WORK, WHO ARE ALSO MAKING A DIFFERENCE OR PARTICIPATING IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
APPRECIATE [INAUDIBLE] THAT REGULARLY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WINNER. HOW DO THEY [OVERLAPPING]?
>> WE DO HAVE A NOMINATION FORM, AND AT THE EARTH DAY FESTIVAL, WE HAD A QR CODE FOR IT.
THE FOCUS ARTICLE THAT JUST CAME OUT, THE MAY FOCUS, THERE'S A QR CODE THERE FOR IT.
WE ACTUALLY ARE JUST REALLY TALKING ABOUT OTHER WAYS TO GET THE WORD OUT.
WE'RE HOPING TO PUT IT INTO SOME NEIGHBORHOOD, ASSOCIATION, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND MAYBE LOCAL PLACES WHERE FOLKS CAN SEE IT IN THE QR CODE AND FILL THAT OUT.
WE'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY HAD SOME NOMINEES BY JUST COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY NICE TOO.
>> AS FUN AS YOU WALK AROUND, ONCE I SAW THIS, TO WALK AROUND AND JUST TAKE NOTE OF YARDS THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE, AND HOPEFULLY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SPREAD IT AROUND THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME IN EVERY QUADRANT OF THE CITY SO THAT PEOPLE,
[01:25:01]
NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE, WILL SEE SOMETHING.THE AWARD IS, I SAW IT IN PERSON [LAUGHTER] AT THE LEGACY COMMUNITY DAY AND DID SUCH A NICE JOB, AND SO I THINK PEOPLE WILL REALLY BE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DISPLAY THAT.
>> THANK YOU, CHRISTI. I THINK FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, WHEN WE MOVED IN, OUR ENTIRE YARD WAS ALL WISTERIA, SO WE JUST HACKED IT ALL AWAY.
IT WAS COVERED, SO WE'RE LIKE, WHAT DO WE FILL IT BACK IN WITH NOW? WE'LL WALK BY OTHER PEOPLE'S PLACES AND TAKE PICTURES, AND THEN WE DO RESEARCH. IS IT LOCAL? [INAUDIBLE] BE INVASIVE? FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, I LOVE THIS AWARD BECAUSE I CAN GO SEE WHO HAS IT, AND GO WITH MY WIFE, TAKE NOTES OF WHAT WE CAN GO PLANT IN OUR YARD AS WELL.
MAYBE A TOUR OF THESE GARDENS ONE DAY WOULD BE A COOL IDEA.
COOL. I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF OUR RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THEN THIS IS A MIX OF THINGS THAT WE'VE RECENTLY ACCOMPLISHED, BUT ARE STILL WORKING ON, BUT ALSO THINGS THAT WE HAVE PLANNED AND HAVE STARTED OR HAVE AT LEAST DISCUSSED.
WE'VE CONTINUED A REGULAR PACE OF PUBLISHING ARTICLES IN THE DECATUR FOCUS, AND ANNIE HEADS THAT UP FOR US.
THE SUMMER ISSUE OF THE FOCUS, WE WILL HAVE AN INSERT IN THAT DOUBLE ISSUE OF WASTE REDUCTION TACTICS, THAT WAS THE TOPIC THAT WE CHOSE THIS YEAR.
EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD WROTE ONE ARTICLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ALL MADE IT.
BUT EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD WROTE ONE ARTICLE, SO WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD SUPPLY OF ARTICLES THERE I'M EXCITED ABOUT.
THEN WE'RE CONTINUING TO BRAINSTORM OTHER THINGS THAT COULD BE IN THE FOCUS.
ONE THING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY IS HIGHLIGHTING RESTAURANTS THAT TAKE THAT EXTRA STEP TO DO SOMETHING MORE SUSTAINABLE LIKE COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING OR SOMETHING.
THAT'S IN THE HOPPER. [NOISE] CURBSIDE COMPOSTING.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE CHALLENGES THAT ARISE THERE AND GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON HOW THAT PROCESS IS WORKING, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DAVID IN HIS PROGRAM TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT THAT.
ONE TOPIC THAT'S COME UP FROM STUDENTS, BUT YOUTH COUNCIL AS WELL AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS.
>> TRIED TO TURN IT OFF. APPARENTLY, THAT DIDN'T WORK. [LAUGHTER]
>> IS REALLY THE AMOUNT OF WASTE THAT'S PRODUCED FROM SCHOOL LUNCHES, AT ALL OF THE SCHOOLS, NOT JUST FROM THE FOOD, BUT FROM THE PACKAGING AS WELL.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE UP AGAINST WITH FUNDING.
IT'S A TIGHT BUDGET, AND I THINK, UNFORTUNATELY, LANDFILLS ARE CHEAP, PLASTIC IS CHEAP, SO RIGHT NOW IT'S A VERY ECONOMICAL OPTION.
ME AND A COUPLE OF OTHER STARTED WORKING WITH THE COO AT THE TIME, SERGIO, ON SOME DIFFERENT PROPOSALS FOR WHAT WE COULD DO HERE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE NEW COO TO PILOT SOME PROGRAMS FOR WHAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE WASTE IN SCHOOL LUNCHES.
GRANT VETTING AND APPLICATIONS.
NOT A TON TO HIGHLIGHT THERE, THAN WHEN CITY STAFF COME TO US, ESPECIALLY KARA AND SOME OTHERS IN THAT DEPARTMENT, WITH GRANT PROPOSALS, WE'LL WORK WITH THEM TO WRITE AND SIGN LETTERS TO WIN WHATEVER GRANT MONEY IS STILL AVAILABLE.
ONE NEW INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE STARTED RECENTLY IS RESTAURANT BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY.
HUNTER AND CYNTHIA STARTED WORKING WITH DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND SOME OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, THE FIRST STEPS WILL BE GET FEEDBACK ON TO WHAT CHALLENGES YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A MORE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS, AND THEN CREATE A SET OF GUIDELINES, AND LIKE WE MENTIONED, HIGHLIGHT SOME GREAT AND EASY SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES THEY COULD IMPLEMENT.
THAT PROCESS IS JUST BEGINNING, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.
THIS YEAR WE MOVED IT TO LEGACY PARK BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE GOING ON THE SQUARE EXACTLY.
[LAUGHTER] THAT WAS SAFE MOVE.
[01:30:03]
JUST PERSONALLY, I LOVED HAVING IT AT THE PARK.FEELS LIKE AN EARTH DAY CELEBRATION SHOULD BE AT A PARK.
ANNIE HAS TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW GREAT THE FOLKS FROM COMMUNITY DAY AND FROM THE PARK HAVE BEEN TO WORK WITH.
WE REALLY ENJOYED THAT COLLABORATION.
I THINK IN FUTURE YEARS, WE'LL FIGURE OUT, OBVIOUSLY, BEING IN THE SQUARE.
YOU GET A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND IMPROVE THAT EARTH DAY CELEBRATION AND FIGURING OUT MORE WAYS TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY WITH THAT.
THIS IS WORK THAT ALLISON DOES A LOT OF, OBVIOUSLY, AND THAT WE GET INVOLVED ON A VOLUNTEER LEVEL OR OUR OWN HANDS IN THE DIRT, OR SUPPORT WHEREVER WE CAN, AND FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD PERSPECTIVE AS WELL, WITH COMMUNITY EDUCATION.
DAVID MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT IN THE LAST ONE, COMMUNITY ENERGY FUND EDUCATION.
AS A PART OF NOISE ORDINANCE, OR MAYBE NOT, SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING EDUCATION ON DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION WITH YOUR LANDSCAPING AND ALSO YOUR WATER CONSUMPTION, SUPPORT POLLINATORS, AND THAT KIND OF THING.
THEN ONE THING THAT WE HAVE COMING UP THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS REVISING OUR HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS, THE UDO TO CONTINUE TO PUSH PROGRESS FORWARD WITH MAKING OUR BUILDINGS MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.
I'LL PAUSE THERE BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE TO SEE IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
JUST TO TIE SOME OF THOSE THINGS INTO THE BUDGET THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU ALL, MOST OF THESE THINGS WE'LL WORK ON INDEPENDENTLY AND CONSULT ON WITHOUT REALLY ANY MUCH BUDGET.
BUT THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT I THINK ARE IN THE BUDGET THAT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AS WE FEEL ARE IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE CITY TOWARDS ITS GOALS.
THIS IDEA OF A CLEAN ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION, I THINK AT SOME POINT MAYBE AS A STAFF MEMBER OR A CONSULTANT OR SOME PROJECTS, WHATEVER IS IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT STUFF FORWARD BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT WE CAN DO AS A BOARD AT SOME POINT.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN WHAT WE CAN DO FROM A CITY LEVEL TO CONTINUE TO REDUCE OUR GREENHOUSE GAS CONSUMPTION.
EV CHARGING STATIONS IS IN THE BUDGET EACH YEAR, AND WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND PUSH FOR MORE OF THOSE AROUND THE CITY.
I MENTIONED THE LAST SIDE, THE UDO HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDING STANDARDS UPDATE, AND SOME OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH GETTING CONSULTANTS TO UPDATE THAT.
THEN EACH YEAR WE ASKED FOR A LITTLE BIT OF FUNDS TO HELP US WITH EARTH DAY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR INITIATIVES LIKE HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S RECYCLABLE AND WHAT'S NOT, OR CHANGES TO NOISE ORDINANCE, AND THAT KIND OF THING WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT IT IN THE LAST MEETING.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT. THEN THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO DO IS LEAVE SOME TIME TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL ON EITHER WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON OR MAYBE WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER GOLDEN NUGGET THAT WE CAN GO RUN WITH AND IMPLEMENT OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
BUT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU GUYS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] I DO HAVE A QUESTION, AND THIS MAY BE A DAVID QUESTION.
I NOTICED THAT THE EV CHARGING STATIONS ON NORTH MCDONOUGH, I GUESS, HAVE BEEN REMOVED BECAUSE OF THE SQUARE RENOVATION.
I THINK THOSE ARE USED FAIRLY OFTEN.
WILL THEY BE COMING BACK ON THE PART OF NORTH MCDONOUGH THAT WILL REMAIN?
>> YES. THERE WILL BE MORE PLANNED TO BE INSTALLED THERE.
I THINK WE'RE STILL FIRMING UP THE EXACT NUMBER OF SPACES.
BUT DAVID AND ANGELA ARE ALREADY IN CONVERSATION WITH GEORGIA POWER ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE TO SUPPORT THE SQUARE PROJECT CAN ALSO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE THERE AT THE NORTH MCDONOUGH TURNAROUND.
>> THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. I WALK BY, AND I'M ALWAYS LIKE, WHERE DID THEY GO? [LAUGHTER]
[01:35:02]
>> [INAUDIBLE] GROUNDBREAKING. [LAUGHTER]
>> OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR ALEX.
>> LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME.
COULD YOU HELP ME KNOW WHAT A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDING REVISIONS MIGHT BE?
>> MIKE OR DAVID PROBABLY WOULD BE BETTER TO ANSWER THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT WE ARE 10 YEARS INTO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CURRENT HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDING STANDARD.
STAFF FEEL AND THE BOARD FEEL AT THIS TIME THAT IT'S NECESSARY JUST TO CHECK TO SEE HOW THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING, WHAT PROGRESS WE'VE BEEN MADE.
ONE OF THE KEY AREAS THAT I THINK WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY UPDATING IS JUST THE CERTIFICATIONS THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
THE NUMBER OF THOSE CERTIFICATIONS HAS CERTAINLY INCREASED IN THE PAST DECADE.
AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE BOTH PROVIDING OPTIONS TO BE FLEXIBLE AND NOT HAVE AS TOO PRESCRIPTIVE OF A PATHWAY TO COMPLIANCE, BUT ALSO CONTINUING TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION HERE IN THE CITY? I'M THANKFUL THAT MIKE AND THE SOUTH FACE TEAM ACTUALLY CAME OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS A FEW WEEKS AGO TO DO ANOTHER TRAINING WITH OUR STAFF AND THE FOLKS FROM SAFE BUILD ON THE ORDINANCE, AND THEN, AGAIN, SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE, LOOKING AT MAKING SOME UPDATES TO IT.
>> IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THAT, TOO?
>> I THINK CERTAINLY AT THIS TIME, WE'RE OPEN TO ANY AND ALL IDEAS AS TO HOW THAT PROCESS NEEDS TO LOOK.
>> [INAUDIBLE] IT BECOMES AN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS AS WELL AND IT GETS PEOPLE BACK ON BOARD BUILDING SOLIDARITY [OVERLAPPING] TOO, BUT I ALWAYS SEE IT AS A GREAT VEHICLE FOR THAT.
>> ANYTIME THAT WE CAN TELL THE STORY AS TO WHY WE'RE DOING SOMETHING, THE CITY IS NOT JUST PASSING ORDINANCES AND PUTTING THINGS INTO PLACE JUST TO MAKE THINGS HARDER ON PEOPLE.
THERE ARE REASONS THAT WE'RE TAKING THESE STEPS, AND SO DOING THOSE COMMUNITY SESSIONS IS ALWAYS A GREAT WAY TO GET PEOPLE ON BOARD WITH THAT.
>> ALEX, THIS QUESTION IS REALLY FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT GOT ME THINKING AGAIN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT, AND I THINK YOU GUYS ARE AS WELL IS SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.
IT'S SUCH A BROAD ISSUE, BUT HOW DO WE, IN OUR FOUR-SQUARE, REALLY START TO COMBAT THAT? IS THERE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE THINKING THAT WE AS A CIVIC LEADERS, BUSINESS LEADERS, WHAT CAN WE DO ON OUR END TO SORT OF MOVE THAT NEEDLE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGER PIECES, JUST THAT PART?
>> I'M REALLY GLAD YOU ASKED THAT BECAUSE MY BOARD ASKED ME TO BRING THIS UP AND I FORGOT [LAUGHTER].
>> IT'S SOMETHING, ACTUALLY, THAT MAYOR GARRETT MENTIONED AT HER EARTH DAY SPEECH LAST YEAR.
IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US, ALLISON WORKED WITH A GROUP OF EMORY STUDENTS, ACTUALLY, IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY TANGIBLE THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN GO TACKLE RIGHT NOW, TO EXAMINE HOW WE CAN REDUCE OUR SINGLE-USE PLASTICS SPECIFICALLY AT DECATUR EVENTS.
SHE AND A GROUP OF OTHERS HAVE LED A REALLY EXCITING CHARGE STARTING LAST YEAR TO REDUCE SINGLE-USE PLASTICS AT THE DECATUR FC GAMES, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES LIKE BIKE VALETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, REALLY THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT HOW WE RUN OUR EVENTS SO THAT WE CAN OBVIOUSLY REDUCE OUR IMPACT, BUT BE A CITY FIRST SO THAT WE CREATE THIS SOLIDARITY MINDSET.
>> THAT'S ONE WAY THAT ALLISON IS ALWAYS TAKING THE CHARGE, AND THE TANGIBLE PIECE OF THAT IS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT TO-GO BEVERAGE CUP PROGRAM THAT DECATUR ALREADY HAS IN PLACE.
REPLACING THOSE, ALLISON JUST HOLD US WITH SOME ALUMINUM CUPS, AND INFINITELY RECYCLABLE ALUMINUM CUPS SO PEOPLE CAN TAKE THEM HOME, THROW THEM IN THEIR REGULAR DECATUR RECYCLING, AND THEN THEY CAN BE USED PRETTY MUCH FOREVER, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO PLASTICS.
I THINK ONE PLACE THAT WE'VE REALLY FELT THE IMPACTS AS A BOARD IS OUR RESTAURANTS, AND ESPECIALLY THE TAKEOUT THAT WE ALL GET FROM THE RESTAURANTS AND THE AMOUNT OF STYROFOAM AND THINGS THAT ARE USED WITH THOSE, WHICH IS WHAT HAS LED US TO START WORKING ON A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES INITIATIVE.
[01:40:03]
THEN AGAIN, WITH THE CSD LUNCHES PROGRAM AS WELL, TECHNICALLY, I THINK, NOT OUTSIDE OF OUR PURVIEW AS A BOARD, BUT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN JUST COLLABORATE WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ON TO COME UP WITH SOME OTHER SOLUTIONS.I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TACKLE THIS NOW.
ONE OTHER THING THAT I THINK COULD STILL USE.
WE'VE WORKED ON THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE PAST BEFORE I WAS ON THE BOARD AND DURING MY TENURE, IS CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON WHAT ACTUALLY IS RECYCLABLE, IT'S ALMOST CLICHE THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT IT OVER AND OVER.
BUT IT DRIVES ME CRAZY BECAUSE I'LL JUST WALK AROUND MY MORNING WALKS.
IF I DO IT ON RECYCLING DAY, I KNOW I'M GOING TO SEE CLAM SHELLS AND ALL STUFF IN THERE THAT I KNOW NONE OF IT IS RECYCLABLE.
A LOT OF THAT STUFF, WHEN IT GETS CONTAMINATED, JUST ALL OF IT GETS THROWN OUT.
TECHNICALLY, I KNOW ONES AND TWOS WITH THE NECK ARE RECYCLABLE, BUT I THINK AVOIDING AS MUCH PLASTIC AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS DON'T EVEN GET RECYCLED THAT WAY.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION IS ANOTHER PIECE THAT I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THERE AS WELL. YEAH, PLEASE.
>> ALLISON ERICSON, URBAN NATURALIST. NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY.
ALSO, WHAT WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON IS, WITH THE WORLD CUP EVENTS COMING UP AND OUR VIEWING PARTIES ON THE SQUARE, HOW DO WE ALSO BRING THAT INTO ELIMINATING THE SINGLE-USE PLASTIC? THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING THAT THE EMORY STUDENTS HAVE ALSO RESEARCHED, AND SO WE HOPE TO BE PRESENTING SOME THINGS TO THE CITY ABOUT ALTERNATIVES TOO.
WHEN WE HOST THE WATCH PARTIES OR WHEN THE PARTICIPANTS ARE GOING TO BE GOING INTO THE RESTAURANTS TO GET THINGS TO HAVE THE VIEWING PARTIES ON THE SQUARE, WHAT DO THOSE CONTAINERS LOOK LIKE? HOW ARE WE ABLE TO RECYCLE THEM OR COMPOST THEM? THAT'S ANOTHER ON THE HORIZON, REALLY LOOKING AT THAT EVENT IN PARTICULAR AS WELL.
>> QUICK QUESTION [INAUDIBLE] BUILDING ON THAT, FOR YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THE STATE OF GEORGIA PROHIBITS US FROM BANNING SINGLE-USE PLASTICS TO SAVE DECATUR.
THAT'S WHY WE CAN'T. [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] BUT I DID LIKE THE IDEA SIMILAR TO MAYOR GARRETT'S QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD EVEN HAVE PLASTIC FREE BUSINESSES OR STUFF LIKE THAT.
THE SUSTAINABILITY, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO DO THAT, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE JUST TO SAY, NO SINGLE USE PLASTICS HERE, SO PROPERTIES KNOW THAT.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT CAME UP I THINK ABOUT THIS.
ONE IS, WE HAD THE TALK ABOUT OUR CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.
DID WE TALK ABOUT CISTERNS AND EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT PUTTING CISTERNS AND PUTTING THEIR RAINWATER AND USING IT FOR WATER IN THE GARDENS AND BEING THAT PART OF THE [INAUDIBLE]
>> I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE PRESENTATION [LAUGHTER] MAYBE YOU'RE DOING TOO MUCH, YOU CAN'T PUT IT ALL IN THE PRESENTATION.
>> HUNTER UNRUE. IT WASN'T IN THE PRESENTATION.
IT WAS ACTUALLY IN THE COMMENTS AROUND THE FOCUS INSERT.
WE EACH WROTE AN ARTICLE, AND I ACTUALLY WROTE ABOUT RAIN BARRELS.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF IT MADE THE CUT OR NOT.
[LAUGHTER] BUT THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT IS A FOCUS OF THE BOARD IN TERMS OF HOW WE EACH IN OUR OWN SMALL SPACE CAN DO MORE SUSTAINABLE WORK IN OUR YARDS.
ALEX MENTIONED A FEW, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT MENTIONED, BUT YEAH, WATER USE CAN HELP NOT ONLY NOT USE IT FROM THE LOCAL WATER SYSTEM, BUT HELP KEEP WATER FROM RUNNING OFF, ETC.
I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRY TO MAKE A FOCUS ON OUR END.
>> I THINK REMINDING PEOPLE ABOUT THE WATER RATE INCREASES.
THAT IS ONE STEP TO GET PEOPLE TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO NOT JUST WALKING OUT AND WATERING ANY TIME OF DAY AND WE SEEM TO BE ABLE TO WASTE WATER FAIRLY EASILY.
[01:45:04]
MAYBE A SILVER LINING TO THAT.>> I LOVE THAT. MIKE BARCIK, I HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION FOR YOU, AND THEN I WANT TO TAKE THE TEMPERATURE A LITTLE BIT OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BAN SINGLE USE PLASTICS.
>> WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING THAT DISINCENTIVE.
>> THERE IS NO CURRENT LEGISLATION, BUT WHEN IT HAS EVER BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD, THE STATE HAS SAID THAT IF SOMETHING PASSES LIKE THAT, THEY WILL PREEMPTIVELY COME BACK AND IF THEY SEE A JURISDICTION THAT IS DOING SOMETHING.
>> CAN WE SUBSIDIZE THE GOOD? I'M TRYING TO FIND A CREATIVE SOLUTION AROUND THIS.
>> DURING COVID, WE PURCHASED CUPS FOR TAKEOUT.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING MAYBE, I GUESS TO THINK ABOUT WITH THE WORLD CUP.
IS THERE A WAY THAT THE TAKEOUT CONTAINERS? I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE WHO COME DOWN IN PRICE FOR THE THE ALUMINUM ONES VERSUS PLASTIC.
WE WERE REMINDED THAT WE ARE THE SAUDI ARABIA OF CELLULOSE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
PAPER IS ALWAYS A REALLY GOOD OPTION IN THAT REGARD.
BUT IF DECATUR IS WILLING TO TRY SOMETHING CREATIVE, I THINK THAT WE COULD CERTAINLY DRAFT SOMETHING, BUT IT WOULD BE ON THE ORDER OF WE CAN'T PENALIZE PLASTIC, BUT WE CAN SUBSIDIZE THE ALTERNATIVE.
I LEAVE IT TO YOU OR I ASK YOU THAT QUESTION, IS THAT LEGAL AND ARE WE WILLING TO CONSIDER THAT?
>> I THINK WE DID HELP PROVIDE BAGS FOR AND ENCOURAGE.
>> PLASTIC BAGS WERE A BIG ISSUE AS WELL.
THE GROCERY STORES, THE DRUG STORES, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT TEND TO HAVE THE LARGEST USE AND ALSO THE ONES THAT ARE, OUR SMALLER BUSINESSES ARE A LOT OF TIME, THEY USE MORE PAPER THAN THE LARGER COMMERCIAL ENTITIES, BUT I THINK THERE ARE WAYS TO THINK.
>> MAYBE WE HAVE A PLASTIC FREE GROCERY STORE.
>> COME UP WITH SOMETHING. WE'RE HAPPY TO HEAR IT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WELL, THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING.
THERE ARE WAYS TO BE CREATIVE AND INCENT WHAT YOU WANT AND DISINCENT WHAT YOU DON'T.
>> AS LONG AS IT'S NOT ILLEGAL.
>> OPTION THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT THE EMORY STUDENTS ALSO WERE RESEARCHING IS IF WE GO THE ALUMINUM CUP ROUTE TO HAVE LOGOS ON THEM AND SPONSORS BASICALLY.
>> YEAH, THEN THERE'S A GREAT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY THERE.
>> WE MADE SURE THAT EVEN WITH THE LOGOS PRINTED ON IT OR THE SPONSORSHIP, THAT IT CAN STILL BE RECYCLED.
>> ONE OTHER THING. WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO WORK AT PUBLIC WORSHIP WITH THE CITY OVER THE SUMMER.
ONE THING THAT I WOULD, THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING IS YOU TALKED ABOUT IN THE BASIS SPECIES REMOVAL AND NOT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST FURTHER INTO THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SPECIES SPECIFIC AND WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE AN URBAN NATURALISTS WHO CAN HELP GUIDE AND WORK WITH STUDENTS AND ESB TO DO THAT.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US ALIGN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WITH A CONCERTED EFFORT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES AND PROTECT THE NATURAL SPECIES.
THEY'RE HIDING UNDER IN OUR HEARTS.
I KNOW [INAUDIBLE] OF THE BUDGET.
BUT MAYBE ADDING THREE OR FOUR INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES OR MAYBE SUMMER JOB [INAUDIBLE] SPECIFICALLY [INAUDIBLE]
>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT. I KNOW THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL HAS A CLUB CALLED, I THINK IT'S THE IVY LEAGUE THAT IS JUST FOCUSED ON REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES.
THERE'S PROBABLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HOURS AND THEY CAN SPEND A LOT OF HOURS PULLING INVASIVE SPECIES.
WE'LL HAVE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH ALLISON AND THE FOLKS WHO HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO HOW YOU REMOVE SPECIFIC SPECIES AND HOW YOU DO IT SAFELY AND THAT THING.
BUT I AGREE, THERE'S DEFINITELY AN OPPORTUNITY THERE AND I'M SURE ALLISON WOULD APPRECIATE THE HELP.
>> I THINK WE DO HAVE CERTAIN, WE HIRED, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S [INAUDIBLE]
[01:50:06]
THE ESB YEARS AGO DEVELOPED A GREEN EVENTS BROCHURE THAT WAS A PART OF EVERY APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT IT OR NOT, BUT I KNOW OVER THE YEARS, I'VE SENT IT OUT.
IT WAS ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU APPLY FOR THE EVENT, HERE'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AND BEING A GREEN PARTNER WAS A PART OF THAT AGREEMENT FOR GETTING A PERMIT FOR AN EVENT.
I THINK MY EMAIL GOES BACK THAT FAR [LAUGHTER]
>> THE PDF IS HIDING IN CENTRAL PARK [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT DID NOT GET IMPLEMENTED INTO THE EVENT APPLICATION PROCESS?
>> EXACTLY. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STOP.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ABOUT A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
[I. Call to Order by Mayor.]
COMMISSIONERS, I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION FOR MONDAY, MAY 19TH THIS EVENING.YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 5TH, 2025.
[II. Approval of the Minutes.]
ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS?>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
NEXT, WE HAVE SOME PRESENT PROCLAMATIONS THAT I
[III. Proclamations.]
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME FOLKS COME FORWARD AFTER I READ THE PROCLAMATION.THE FIRST PROCLAMATION IS IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK.
WE HAVE SOME GREAT REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND WE WILL HAVE THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES IN JUST A MOMENT.
BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVERY YEAR, TO BE ABLE TO SAY, THANK YOU TO AN AMAZING PUBLIC WORKS TEAM AND TO HAVE YOU FORMALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND TO RECOGNIZE YOUR IMPORTANCE TO CERTAINLY ALL OF US UP HERE AS WELL AS TO OUR CITY RESIDENTS.
WHEREAS, PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS FOCUS ON FACILITIES, SERVICES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ARE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELL BEING OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.
WHEREAS, THESE FACILITIES, SERVICES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE COULD NOT BE PROVIDED WITHOUT THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING ENGINEERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REBUILDING, IMPROVING, AND PROTECTING OUR NATION'S TRANSPORTATION, WATER SUPPLY, WATER TREATMENT, AND SOLID WASTE SYSTEMS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES ESSENTIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST OF RESIDENTS, CIVIC LEADERS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE CITY OF DECATUR TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF AND MAINTAIN AN ONGOING INTEREST AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS THE YEAR 2025 MARKS THE 65TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, CANADIAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION.
THEREFORE, NOW, I, PATTY GARRETT, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, CITY OF HOME SCHOOLS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF MAY 18TH THROUGH 24TH 2025 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK.
I HEREBY URGE ALL RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THIS CITY TO JOIN WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES IN ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, AND CEREMONIES DESIGNED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS, ENGINEERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES AND TO RECOGNIZE THE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE IN PROTECTING OUR NATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AND ADVANCING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL.
[01:55:07]
PLEASE HELP ME IN RECOGNIZING [APPLAUSE]>> THE ONLY COLOR MISSING IN THE CITY LOGO IS RED UP HERE [LAUGHTER] I GOT ALL THE COLORS REPRESENTED TOO. IT'S CLEVER.
>> WE DON'T LIKE RED THAT MUCH [LAUGHTER]
>> WE'D LOVE TO GET A PHOTO, BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
PLEASE STEP TO THE MICROPHONE, SO THAT EVERYBODY, OUR BROAD AUDIENCE THAT WILL BE STREAMING CAN KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
>> YES, MA'AM. I AM SEAN WOODSON, PUBLIC WORKS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING SERVICES.
I'M THE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SUPERINTENDENT.
>> ALLISON ERICSON, URBAN NATURALIST.
>> JULIE HARLAN, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR.
I'M THE ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
ALSO THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE GEORGIA CHAPTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OUR THEME THIS YEAR IS PEOPLE, PRESIDENTS PURPOSE, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL TYPE OF PERSON TO WORK IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC WORKS, THAT SOMETIMES IT'S A THANKLESS JOB, BUT PEOPLE DON'T NOTICE US UNTIL SOMETHING IS WRONG, AND WE ALWAYS TAKE THE BACK SEAT WITH NO PROBLEM, AND WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING US.
FELIX, I'M CARA SCHARER I SERVE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, PUBLIC WORKS [APPLAUSE]
>> [BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION FOR FIFA WORLD FOOTBALL WEEK.
AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT INTRODUCING ACTIVITIES FOR THE WORLD CUP COMING NEXT YEAR, BUT WE ALSO ARE PROUD TO BE A PART OF SEVERAL THINGS HAPPENING NOW, AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE FIFA WORLD FOOTBALL WEEK.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR RECOGNIZES THE GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SOCCER AS A UNIFYING FORCE THAT TRANSCENDS BORDERS AND BRINGS COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH SPORTS AND RECREATION.
WHEREAS, THE CITY OF DECATUR IS PROUD TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE METRO ATLANTA AREA, WHICH WILL HOST THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025.
THE FIRST-EVER FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP MATCHES IN THE UNITED STATES FROM JUNE 14TH TO JULY 13TH, 2025.
WHEREAS, THE CITY OF DECATUR IS PLANNING A SERIES OF FREE EVENTS AROUND THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP FROM JUNE 11TH TO JULY 19TH, 2026, WITH DECATUR WATCH FEST 26 TO CELEBRATE THE GLOBAL SPORT OF SOCCER AND BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
WHEREAS FIFA HAS LAUNCHED WORLD FOOTBALL WEEK, AN INAUGURAL WEEK OF FESTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE SOCCER'S UNIQUE ABILITY TO CONNECT PEOPLE ACROSS PLACES, CULTURES, AND LANGUAGES.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PATTY GARRETT, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, THE CITY OF HOME SCHOOLS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF MAY 21ST, THROUGH 25TH AS FIFA WORLD FOOTBALL WEEK IN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND URGE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CELEBRATE THE BEAUTIFUL GAME OF SOCCER AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND SHOWCASE OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE JEN JOHNES, WHO IS OUR CONSULTANT WORKING WITH US ON OUR SOCCER WATCH FEST 2026, AND STAY TUNED.
WE WILL HAVE MANY MORE THINGS TO CELEBRATE AND LOOK FORWARD TO OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
[02:00:03]
IT'S EXCITING TO CELEBRATE THIS WEEK.[APPLAUSE] WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW, I WAS GOING TO MENTION THIS IN MY REMARKS AT THE END, BUT THE DECATUR FC TEAM, THE WOMEN'S TEAM, HAS THEIR FIRST GAME THIS FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 PM AT CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR STADIUM.
THERE WILL BE A MARCHING GROUP GOING DOWN, A BIG CELEBRATION.
I HOPE PEOPLE WILL COME AND ENJOY SEEING SOME AMAZING SOCCER AND TO SUPPORT THE DECATUR FC WOMEN SEMI-PROFESSIONAL TEAM.
[IV. Presentations.]
WE WILL MOVE TO SOME STAFF INTRODUCTION.>> GOOD EVENING, TERESA DE CASTRO, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OVER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AND I AM DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MARK FRENCH BARRETT.
HE IS OUR NEW STRATEGIC ADVISOR FOR IT SERVICES.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE USE VC3 AS OUR MANAGED SERVICE PROVIDER FOR IT SERVICES.
WHILE HE'S A VC3 EMPLOYEE, HE WILL WORK WITH STAFF CLOSELY TO ADVISE US ON TECH MATTERS.
I WILL LET INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND.
>> THANK YOU, TERESA. I COME FROM WORKING 17.5 YEARS IN TENNESSEE FOR TENNESSEE CITIES AS A STAFFER FOR THE TENNESSEE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, GMA FOR TENNESSEE.
I'M ACTUALLY A LICENSED ATTORNEY WHO'S DONE A LOT OF PUBLIC POLICY WORK, AND I COME FROM THIS WITH A CITY PERSPECTIVE.
I'M HERE TO SERVE YOU GUYS AND HELP YOUR PARTNER TO ALL THE DIFFERENT FACETS OF WHAT THE CITY DOES TO DELIVER FOR ITS CITIZENS.
I'M HAVING A BEAUTIFUL TIME HERE.
I'VE HAD MEETINGS ALL DAY WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
I MET WITH PD AND PUBLIC WORKS TODAY.
I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME MORE MEETINGS TOMORROW.
I CAME IN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
I'M HAVING A GREAT TIME MEETING AT YOUR RESTAURANTS AND SEEING THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.
REALLY, I'M HONORED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR ALL OF YOU AND HOPE YOU DELIVER FOR YOUR CITIZENS.
>> WELCOME. WE'RE GLAD TO MEET YOU AND HAVE YOU HERE. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THEN I BELIEVE WE HAVE A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENT.
HARLAN IS BRINGING THAT FORWARD FOR US THIS EVENING.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING AGAIN, JULIE HARLAN, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, DIRECTOR.
I'M HERE TO TEE UP SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING.
THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS BEEN BUILDING ON THIS FOR DECADES ON THE BACKS OF OUR KIDS WHO STRAP THEIR SHOES ON EVERY DAY AND WALK TO SCHOOL, PARENT CHAMPIONS, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND, OF COURSE, G DOT TO BUILD A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO CALL UP MARY ELENA WITH SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOLS TO JUST SAY IN A WORD.
MY NAME IS MARY ELENA GUTIERREZ, AND I'M THE SENIOR OUTREACH COORDINATOR FOR SAFE ROUTES SCHOOL IN THE METRO ATLANTA AREA, AND WITH ME TONIGHT IS RON.
>> HI GUYS, I'M RON KASICH WITH GEORGIA DOT, STATE SAFETY ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR.
>> EACH YEAR, WE RECOGNIZE SCHOOL CHAMPION, SCHOOL PARTNER AND ALSO A FRIEND ORGANIZATION, BUT THIS YEAR, WE MADE AN EXCEPTION BECAUSE WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF DECATUR BECAUSE OF ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU WERE DOING RELATED TO SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL SO WE WANTED TO GIVE THIS AWARD TO THE WHOLE CITY, THAT INCLUDES THE PARENTS, THE STUDENTS, AND THE CHAMPIONS.
THIS IS THE COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, 2024/2025.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE, THAT INCLUDES ALSO THE CROSSING GUARDS.
>> NICE TO SEE ALL THE BRIGHT ORANGE SHIRTS IN OUR MEETING TODAY.
>> YEAH, PEOPLE THINK THEY DON'T SEE IT.
[02:05:20]
[BACKGROUND] WHY NOT? OKAY.>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS ME.
I'M JENNIFER ROSS. I'M THE SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD MANAGER FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO GEORGIA SAFE ROUTES FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM FOR ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT PARTICIPATE, THE PARENT CHAMPIONS, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT.
I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH IT TAKES TO GET ALL OF THESE KIDS TO SCHOOL AND HOME EVERY AFTERNOON IN THIS CITY, BUT WE LOVE OUR JOBS.
MOST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE CROSSING GUARDS, THE 48 CROSSING GUARDS THAT COME IN EVERY MORNING, EVERY AFTERNOON, RAIN, HEAT, EVERYTHING, CONSTRUCTION, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
THESE LADIES AND NONE OF THE GENTLEMEN ARE HERE RIGHT NOW ARE THE ONES THAT DO THIS DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND I'M HONORED TO SERVE THEM. THANK YOU.
>> I GUESS SPEAKING OF OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS, I BELIEVE OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS GOING TO BE FROM CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR, SO WELCOME.
TAKES A VILLAGE AS WE SEE TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
>> YES, IT DOES AND CONGRATULATIONS.
GOOD EVENING. I'M DR. JIMA WHITAKER.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO SERVE AS A SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR AND GOOD EVENING TO MARY GARRETT, PRO TEM POWERS, AS WELL AS CITY COMMISSIONERS, AND, OF COURSE, MISS ANDREA ARNO, WHO SERVES AS CITY MANAGER.
WE ARE EXCITED TONIGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT IS OUR NOW APPROVED FY26 BUDGET FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE ADOPTION.
WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE STEPS TO ENGAGE IN OVER THE NEXT MONTH BASICALLY IN JUNE BEFORE THAT WOULD BE FINALIZED.
BUT TO PROVIDE THAT OFFICIAL PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE DR. LONIA BROOM, WHO IS OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR GARRETT, COMMISSIONERS AND COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU TO CITY MANAGER ANDREA ARNO, FOR THE INVITE.
PER GEORGIA CODE TITLE 20, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO ADOPT AN ANNUAL BUDGET AND MILLAGE RATE BEFORE JULY 1ST.
THE DISTRICT'S STRATEGIC PLAN IS GUIDED BY FOUR STRATEGIC ACCELERATORS.
ALTHOUGH THE BUDGET IS ALIGNED DIRECTLY WITH ALL FOUR OF THE STRATEGIC ACCELERATORS, THE BUDGET FALLS UNDER STRATEGIC ACCELERATOR FOR ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, AND EXCELLENCE THROUGH FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY.
THE BUDGET PROCESS IS ONGOING.
HOWEVER, THE OFFICIAL FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET ADOPTION PROCESS BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER WITH A REVIEW OF THE BUDGET TIMELINE.
SINCE THAT TIME, BUDGET DISCUSSIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE EACH MONTH.
THE BUDGET TIMELINE WAS ADOPTED IN OCTOBER, ALONG WITH A REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF FISCAL YEAR 25 SCHOOL ALLOTMENT GUIDELINES.
IN NOVEMBER BUDGET PARAMETERS AND PRIORITIES, WHICH SERVE AS A GUIDE TO BUILDING THE BUDGET WERE DISCUSSED IN ADDITION TO A REVIEW OF THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET AND ACTUAL EXPENDITURES.
IN DECEMBER, THE BOARD APPROVED THE MID YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND ADOPTED THE SCHOOL ALLOTMENT GUIDELINES AND BUDGET PARAMETERS AND PRIORITIES.
THE EXTERNAL AUDITORS PRESENTED A CLEAN FISCAL YEAR 24 AUDIT TO THE BOARD IN JANUARY.
EACH MONTH THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WITH VARIOUS FINANCIAL REPORTS ON ALL FUNDS.
[02:10:01]
ADDITIONALLY, PRESENTATIONS BY THE TAX COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AND DECATUR'S CITY MANAGER WERE PRESENTED IN FEBRUARY.A FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL REVIEW IN THE FISCAL YEAR 26, PRELIMINARY DRAFT NUMBER 1 WAS ALSO PRESENTED IN FEBRUARY.
IN MARCH, THE BOARD WAS PRESENTED WITH A SUMMARY OF HOW FEDERAL, STATE AND SUPPLIES FUNDS WERE USED IN THE PRELIMINARY BUDGETS FOR FEDERAL STATE AND SUPPLIES FUNDS.
GENERAL FUND PRELIMINARY BUDGET DRAFT NUMBER 2 WAS ALSO PRESENTED IN MARCH.
A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH AN OPEN DIALOGUE FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WAS HELD IN MARCH.
LAST MONTH, THE BOARD TENTATIVELY ADOPTED THE TENTATIVE BUDGET FOLLOWED BY A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH OPEN DIALOGUE.
ON MAY 8TH, TWO PUBLIC VIRTUAL BUDGET HEARINGS WERE HELD.
LAST WEEK, ON MAY 13TH, THE BOARD TENTATIVELY APPROVED A 20.30 MILLAGE RATE AND ADOPTED THE FINAL BUDGET.
THE BOARD APPROVES FOUR BUDGETS.
SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS IS THE FIRST OF THE FOUR BUDGETS.
THE SPECIAL REVENUE BUDGET CONSISTS OF GRANT FUNDS.
GRANT FUNDS ARE RECEIVED PRIMARILY FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS.
THE DISTRICT IS ANTICIPATING A MINIMUM OF APPROXIMATELY $2.8 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS.
THE DISTRICT RECEIVES STATE FUNDS FROM THE LOTTERY FOR PRE K AND FEDERAL FUNDS FOR A VARIETY OF GRANTS, INCLUDING THE TITLE, IDEA, JROTC, AND PERKINS.
GRANT FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE THEY WERE AWARDED IN OUR BUDGET NEUTRAL IN THE EXPENDITURES EQUAL REVENUE.
WHEN EXPENDITURES EXCEED REVENUE, THE GENERAL FUND SUPPLEMENTS THE DIFFERENCE AS SHOWN BY THE $216,010 LISTED UNDER TRANSFER N IN THE PRE K PROGRAM.
THE SCHOOL NUTRITION BUDGET IS THE SECOND OF THE FOUR BUDGETS.
FISCAL YEAR 26 EXPENDITURES ARE APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS.
THE PROJECTED REVENUE IS APPROXIMATELY $3.4 MILLION, WHICH MEANS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, THE GENERAL FUND WILL SUPPLEMENT THE SCHOOL NUTRITION BUDGET BY $728,503.
THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A FUND BALANCE EQUIVALENT TO A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS OF OPERATING EXPENDITURES.
THE SCHOOL NUTRITION BUDGET WILL BE UTILIZED TO FUND PERSONNEL SALARIES, AND BENEFITS AND OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM.
CAPITAL FUNDS IN SUPPLIES IS THE THIRD OF THE FOUR BUDGETS THE BOARD APPROVES.
CAPITAL FUNDS CONSIST OF SUPPLIES FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE $0.01 SALES TAX FOR LOCAL PURCHASES IN DECATUR COUNTY.
TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 FOR SUPPLIES ARE APPROXIMATELY NINE MILLION DOLLARS.
TOTAL REVENUE IS ANTICIPATED AT $11.5 MILLION, WHICH CONSISTS OF SEVEN MILLION FROM SUPPLIES SIX PROCEEDS, $120 FROM INTEREST, AND APPROXIMATELY $4.4 MILLION FROM FISCAL YEAR 25 PROJECTED ENDING FUND BALANCE.
FISCAL YEAR 26 ENDING FUND BALANCE FROM SUPPLIES PROCEEDS IS PROJECTED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $2.4 MILLION.
SUPPLIES FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, TEXTBOOKS, AND BAN INSTRUMENTS.
SUPPLIES FUNDS CANNOT BE USED FOR PERSONNEL SALARY AND BENEFIT EXPENSES.
>> BASED ON THE REFERENDUM, WE'RE USING IT FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, TEXTBOOKS, TECHNOLOGY, WHAT DID I LEAVE OUT, BAND INSTRUMENTS.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. THE FOURTH AND FINAL BUDGET IS THE GENERAL FUND. LET'S SEE WAIT A MINUTE.
THE GENERAL FUND IS THE LARGEST AND PRIMARY OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE DISTRICT.
THE BUDGET CONSISTS OF BOTH SALARY BENEFITS AND OPERATIONAL COSTS.
THE BUDGET IS PRESENTED BY FUNCTION, WHICH IS THE FORMAT REQUIRED FOR STATE SUBMISSION.
A DESCRIPTION OF EACH FUNCTION CODE IS ATTACHED TO THE PRESENTATION AND THE APPENDIX.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE FIVE YEAR HISTORY OF TAX LEVY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, AT THE END OF THE TABLE, THERE ARE TWO COLUMNS, ONE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW, AND THE LAST COLUMN IS HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN.
THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED COLUMN REPRESENTS THE PRELIMINARY TAX DIGEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TENTATIVELY VOTED FOR A MILLAGE RATE OF 20.30, WHICH IS SHOWN HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW UNDER THE ROLE M&O MILLAGE.
THE GREEN HIGHLIGHTED COLUMN REPRESENTS THE PERCENT CHANGE 2024-2025.
>> OVERALL, THERE'S A TAX DIGEST GROWTH OF 7.77% PRIOR TO EXEMPTIONS.
EXEMPTIONS HAVE DECREASED SLIGHTLY BY 1.10%.
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE IS THE NET M&O TAXES LEVY,
[02:15:03]
WHICH SHOWS AN AMOUNT OF $65,591,777, WHICH IS THE ESTIMATED REVENUE GENERATED FROM A 20.30 MILLAGE RATE.AT THE BOTTOM HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN IS THE NET TAX PERCENT INCREASE OF 8.79%.
THIS IS THE PERCENT INCREASE FROM 2024-2025.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE HISTORICAL TREND OF THE MILLAGE RATE FROM 2016 TO PRESENT.
IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE MILLAGE RATE WAS 18.66 AT THE LOWEST FROM 2016-2019 AND '21 AT THE HIGHEST IN 2022 AND 2023.
FISCAL YEAR '26, TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE IS 20.30.
THE MILLAGE RATE FLUCTUATES ANNUALLY BASED ON THE ECONOMY AND NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT.
A MILLAGE RATE OF 20.30 WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASE OF $481 ANNUALLY FOR A PROPERTY VALUE AT $600,000 OR $80 ANNUALLY PER $100,000 OF PROPERTY VALUE.
ALTHOUGH THE DISTRICT IS NOT INCREASE IN TAXES, THE TAX DIGEST GROWTH IN REAL PROPERTY OF 7.89% BEFORE EXEMPTIONS RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX.
THE MILLAGE RATE IS A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR PROPERTY VALUE.
THEREFORE, IF THE MILLAGE RATE REMAINS THE SAME AND PROPERTY VALUE INCREASES, THIS WILL YIELD INCREASED TAXES AND ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR THE DISTRICT.
THIS IS THE FINAL BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED FISCAL YEAR '26 BUDGET.
TOTAL REVENUE CONSISTS OF LOCAL PROPERTY TAX PROCEEDS AS DISCUSSED PER THE TAX DIGEST.
OTHER LOCAL, WHICH CONSISTS OF LOCAL GENERATED REVENUE, SUCH AS TUITION FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER, SURPLUS SALES, ALCOHOL TAXES, FACILITY RENTALS, AND TUITION FOR NON-RESIDENT STUDENTS IN GRADES K-5.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 50 APPLICATIONS UNDER REVIEW.
STATE QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION, ALSO REFERRED TO AS QBE, IS GEORGIA'S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA.
A SCHOOL DISTRICT EARNS FUNDING BASED ON THE NUMBER OF FULL TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENTS, THE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE OF CERTIFIED STAFF, AND THE HEALTH INSURANCE ELIGIBILITY OF CERTIFIED STAFF.
TOTAL REVENUE IS ESTIMATED AT $108,708,107.
TOTAL EXPENDITURES INCLUDE BOTH PERSONNEL SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND OPERATIONAL EXPENSES, AND ARE ESTIMATED AT $111,858,374.
THE PROJECTED BEGINNING FUND BALANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 IS $20,833,784 HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW ON THE TOP RIGHT TABLE.
THIS AMOUNT IS BASED ON WHERE WE PROJECT TO END THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET BASED ON THE RECEIPT OF REVENUE, SPECIFICALLY AN ADJUSTMENT FROM AN ERROR IN OCTOBER 2023, WHERE DECATUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT APPLIED AN INCORRECT MILLAGE RATE FOR TRANSFER AND INTANGIBLE TAXES FOR DECATUR'S DISTRIBUTION SHARE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DISTRICT RECEIVING $3.9 MILLION IN LOCAL TAXES IN THE MONTH OF APRIL.
THIS IS A 388% INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS YEARS.
A SURPLUS OF APPROXIMATELY $2.5 MILLION IS PROJECTED FOR EXPENDITURES.
HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE ON THE BOTTOM TABLE TO THE RIGHT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOTAL EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES.
EXPENDITURES ARE APPROXIMATELY $3.2 MILLION MORE THAN REVENUE, WHICH MEANS THIS AMOUNT WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE FUND BALANCE.
THIS WILL LEAVE A PROJECTED ENDING BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY $17.7 MILLION AS SHOWN HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW, OR A FUND BALANCE PERCENTAGE OF 15%, WHICH IS WITHIN THE BOARD POLICY REQUIREMENT OF 4-15%.
THIS SLIDE LISTS THE FOUR BUDGETS THE BOARD APPROVED AT THE MAY'S MEETING.
THE TOTAL OF ALL FOUR BUDGET IS $127,859,888.
SOME OF THE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 INCLUDE UNFUNDED MANDATES, SUCH AS HEALTH INSURANCE AND TRS INCREASES.
HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT INCREASED BY 99.47% IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
SALARY INCREASES, INVESTMENT IN SAFETY AND SECURITY, INCREASED REVENUE FROM TUITION FOR NON-RESIDENT STUDENTS IN GRADES K-5, A FUND BALANCE BETWEEN FOUR AND 15%.
LIFE INSURANCE FOR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, STIPENDS AND SIGNING BONUSES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS, SIX SCHOOL-BASED POSITIONS, INCLUDING THREE STUDENT SAFETY ASSOCIATES FOR SCHOOLS AND THREE SCHOOL-BASED STUDENT OUTCOME SUPPORT POSITIONS.
[02:20:03]
A REDUCTION OF ONE CENTRAL OFFICE POSITION AND THE ADDITION OF ONE YEAR TERM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION FOR SUCCESSION PLANNING AND THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE.CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE THREE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, INSTRUCTIONAL RESERVE FOR PRE K-12TH GRADE.
THE FISCAL YEAR '26 BUDGET IS DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH THE STRATEGIC ACCELERATORS AND THE BOARD BUDGET PRIORITIES.
NEXT STEPS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR '26 BUDGET, THREE PUBLIC VIRTUAL MILLAGE RATE HEARINGS WITH THE FIRST ONE SCHEDULED FOR 9:00 AM AND 6:15 PM ON JUNE 12TH, AND THE THIRD MEETING ON JUNE 20TH AT 6:00 PM, FOLLOWED BY THE FINAL ADOPTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE RATE AT A CALL VIRTUAL BOARD MEETING AT 6:30 PM.
THE BUDGET BOOK, WHICH RECEIVED TWO AWARDS FOR FISCAL YEAR '25 WILL BE PRINTED AND AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW BY AUGUST 20TH, 2025.
THE BUDGET FEEDBACK LINK IS THE TWO STAKEHOLDERS USED TO PROVIDE WRITTEN FEEDBACK TO THE DISTRICT.
ALL FEEDBACK RECEIVES AN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE AND IS SHARED WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD OF EDUCATION.
AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE RECEIVED OVER 100 COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK.
THE LINK CAN BE SCANNED USING THIS BARCODE AND IS LOCATED ON THE DISTRICT'S MAIN AND FINANCE WEBSITE.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO RESPOND TO ANY BUDGET QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE WERE DOWN AT THE CAPITOL AND THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP AND I MAY BE GETTING THIS WRONG, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WERE ADMIN POSITIONS THAT WERE STILL BEING FUNDED AT RATES FROM LIKE THE '70S OR '80S.
>> HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION WITH OUR DELEGATION AND WITH THE STATE ABOUT MOVING THAT NEEDLE FORWARD? BECAUSE, NOT ONLY ARE WE KNOW PAYING FOR UNFUNDED MANDATES, BUT WE'RE ALSO PAYING PEOPLE BASED ON A RATE THAT'S 40 AND 50-YEARS-OLD NOW?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S A DISCUSSION EVERY YEAR.
THE QBE FORMULA WAS CREATED BACK IN 1985 AND HAS NOT HAD ANY MAJOR REVISION SINCE THAT TIME.
>> WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US? OR AS IN US AS IN ALL THE CITIES.
>> ALSO, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
YES, WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DELEGATION.
I WILL BE HONEST, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE QBE, IF YOU PULL JUST ONE STRAND, THEY'RE WORRIED THAT IT WOULD FULLY UNRAVEL BECAUSE IT'S VERY COMPLICATED.
WHAT I WILL SAY IS NOT THIS FISCAL YEAR, BUT LAST FISCAL YEAR FOR FY25, THE GOVERNOR PUT IN AN ADDITIONAL 2,500 AND THAT WAS FOR LAST YEAR, NOT FOR THIS YEAR.
IT'S ONLY ON THE STATE SALARIES.
OUR DELEGATION IS AWARE THAT AND IT'S BEEN A PRIORITY OF OURS LEGISLATIVELY THAT YOU WOULD MODERNIZE QBE, BUT NOT JUST YET.
>> IF I RECALL AT THE LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON UPDATE, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT INCREASE FROM THE STATE, IS THAT CORRECT? NO.
>> NO. THAT WAS AN ERROR. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE ONES THAT WAS STILL OUT THERE, BUT THAT COULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
BUT I REMEMBER IT DIDN'T ADDRESS ANY STAFF POSITIONS, IS THAT RIGHT? IT WAS TEACHERS AND MAYBE ADMINISTRATORS.
>> THERE WAS LEAVE LEGISLATION DRAFTED, BUT IT DID NOT PASS, SO IT'S STILL ALIVE FOR ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
BUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING DID NOT COME IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET FOR SALARIES.
>> WHAT ACTUALLY MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR US, I NEVER NOTICED THIS BEFORE.
YOU HAVE THE TAX DIGEST INCREASE AND THE GROSS INCREASE AND THE NET INCREASE, THERE WAS AN O&M THAT APPLIED FOR OUR TAX DIGEST TOO IN PAGE 10 HERE.
I WAS CURIOUS WHAT THAT ADJUSTMENT WAS AND HOW THAT WORKED.
SLIDE 4, YOU SEE THAT? [OVERLAPPING] GROSS O&M ABNORMALITIES, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO, TAKE 11 OR TEN EXEMPTIONS.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT IS.
>> YEAH. WHAT ARE THE LESS M&O EXEMPTIONS?
>> THERE'S A HOME EXEMPTIONS. IF YOU GO TO PAGE 12,
[02:25:01]
BY ANOTHER QUESTION I TRY TO UNDERSTAND.HERE, THIS DOES NOT TAKE ACCOUNT OF NEW PROPERTIES COMING IN THE ASSUMING A 0.7?
>> YES. BASED OFF THAT TEST, THAT JUST.
>> BUT IT DOESN'T DIVIDE BETWEEN NEW PROPERTIES.
>> YOU GET A SMALLER NUMBER FOR IMPACTING PEOPLE'S HOMES IF YOU JUST DID INCREASE?
>> YOU'RE FINE. I BELIEVE THERE IS EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER, WILL THAT BE PART OF A SEPARATE CAPITAL BUDGET THAT WILL I GUESS COME FORWARD, IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S NOT IN THIS.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S REALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS A PRINCIPAL FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF NEXT YEAR.
BUT AS FAR AS THE ENTIRE FUNDING PRESENTATION THAT WILL BE MADE ON JUNE 10TH TO THE BOARD.
>> QUESTION MAYBE MORE GRANULAR.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AS WE SHARE IN THE COSTS OF MAINTAINING LEGACY PARK, THAT THERE ARE POSITIONS ALLOCATED ON THE SCHOOL SIDE.
>> IT'S GETTING USED TO GREAT ADVANTAGE, LOTS OF USERS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOL.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE WONDERFUL FOR US TO HAVE ONLINE AND VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT SUPPORT TOO.
>> JUST LAST WEEK, I WAS THERE FOR THE SIGNING DAY FOR THREE OF OUR TRACK STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING OFF TO COLLEGE AND THEY'RE GOING ON TRACK SCHOLARSHIP. YES.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON A SUCCESSFUL GRADUATION, 425 STUDENTS.
>> FOUR HUNDRED-AND-FIFTY-SEVEN.
>> FOUR HUNDRED-AND-FIFTY-SEVEN. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT WAS A PHENOMENAL GRADUATION CEREMONY. IT WAS AWESOME.
>> IS DEXTER'S CLASS OF SIMILAR SIZE.
>> IT'S A LITTLE SMALLER, I BELIEVE. BUT JUST A TAG.
IT WAS AWESOME TO SEE SO MANY STUDENTS JUST ACHIEVE THAT MILESTONE IN LIFE.
>> I GUESS THE CITY MANAGER HAS SPEAKING OF BUDGETS.
WE MAY HAVE INFORMATION OF OUR OWN.
>> I'M GOING TO NEED ANOTHER BOOKCASE.
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF BOOKCASE.
>> TONIGHT, IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT TO THE CITY COMMISSION THE PROPOSED BUDGET ACTUALLY FOR THE REVISED '24 '25 YEAR AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR '25 '26.
AS THE NORM, WE WILL NOW HAVE ABOUT A MONTH TO DIVE IN, [NOISE] TO STUDY, TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
THEN YOU WILL BE ASKED TO CONSIDER THIS FOR ADOPTION AT YOUR JUNE 16TH MEETING.
JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE STAFF, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS FOR A MONTH TO TALK ABOUT.
CITY STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THEIR BUDGET REQUEST AND REFINING THOSE REQUESTS FOR AT LEAST THE LAST SIX MONTHS, IF NOT MORE.
OF COURSE, EVERY THING THAT YOU SEE IN THIS BUDGET DOCUMENT IS ULTIMATELY GUIDED BY THE DESIRES OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE 2020 STRATEGIC PLAN, AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITY PLANS THAT REALLY FALL UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
BUT I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THOUGH THAT THIS IS VERY MUCH A DRAFT.
[02:30:02]
THERE'LL BE DATA AND INFORMATION THAT'S GOING TO BE UPDATED UNTIL WE GET TO THAT JUNE 16TH DATE.THIS BUDGET WILL BE AVAILABLE BY WEDNESDAY OF THIS WEEK FOR THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW.
WE WILL HAVE COPIES HARD COPIES OF THIS BUDGET DOCUMENT AT CITY HALL AS WELL AS THE DECATUR LIBRARY ACROSS THE STREET.
THERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT DATES TO KEEP IN MIND.
WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE BUDGET ON JUNE 2ND AND JUNE 16TH.
THE BUDGET PROCESS ALSO GOES VERY MUCH HAND IN HAND WITH THE SETTING OF THE MILLAGE RATE, AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE HEARINGS ON JUNE 2ND AND JUNE 16TH.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING ON JUNE 16TH.
IN ADDITION TO THE HEARING AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING, THERE WILL BE A HEARING AT 11:30 AM ON JUNE 16TH.
ON JUNE 4TH, WE WILL HAVE WHAT WE REFER TO AS AN EXTENDED WORK SESSION.
WE GET STARTED AROUND FIVE O'CLOCK, AND THEN WE NORMALLY SPEND TWO, TWO-AND-A-HALF HOURS REALLY TAKING A DEEP DIVE INTO THE BUDGET.
IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC AREAS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE COVERED OR HIGHLIGHTED.
AT THAT WORK SESSION, I DO ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE ME WITH THAT REQUEST THAT INFORMATION WELL IN ADVANCE SO STAFF CAN BE PREPARED TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
JUST REAL QUICKLY, THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT IS IN THIS BUDGET DOCUMENT.
YOU'LL SEE THIS WITH THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS THAT WITH THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE, THERE'S NO RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE THE OVERALL MILLAGE RATE.
THIS BUDGET DOES ASSUME ROUGHLY 7.9% IN THE TAX DIGEST BASED OFF OF THE RECENT INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM DECATUR COUNTY.
IT DOES INCLUDE A 2.5% MERIT INCREASE FOR FULL TIME SALARIES.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT THE CURRENT YEAR JUST HAS A ONE PAY PERIOD ADJUSTMENT, SO NO INCREASE TO EMPLOYEE BASED SALARIES.
THERE ARE NO NEW FULL TIME POSITIONS IN THIS BUDGET.
>> BUT THIS BUDGET DOES CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS AND MOVE FORWARD ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MANY OF OUR MASTER PLANS.
THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, OF COURSE, PARKS AND REC MASTER PLAN, OUR EQUITY ACTION PLAN, STORMWATER MASTER PLAN, AND SOME OF THOSE IN THE FORM OF SIDEWALKS, MULTI USE PATHS.
OF COURSE, THE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE DECATUR SQUARE, THE WEST HOWARD AVENUE TRAFFIC CALMING.
WE THINK THAT WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT EV CHARGING STATIONS, SEEING THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET AND MORE.
AS ALWAYS, IN ADDITION TO SPENDING THE EVENING WITH YOU ALL ON JUNE 4TH, [LAUGHTER] I'M ALSO AVAILABLE NOT ONLY TO MEET WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY, BUT ALSO I'M AVAILABLE TO ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE PUBLIC THAT MAY HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
I REALLY JUST HAVE A DESIRE TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET.
I DO WANT TO ADD MEREDITH IS HIDING BACK THERE BEHIND THE CURTAIN QUITE LITERALLY.
[LAUGHTER] IN ADDITION TO HER WORK ON JUST MAKING THIS BUDGET DOCUMENT APPEAR IN FRONT OF US TONIGHT, SHE WAS ALSO REAL INTEGRAL IN GETTING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE BUDGET PROCESS ON THE FRONT END.
MANY COMMUNITIES BY THE TIME THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC, IT'S THE FORMAL, LEGALLY REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS, WHICH, OF COURSE, WE HOLD THOSE, BUT WE REALLY REALLY TRY TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED AND ENGAGED EARLY IN THE PROCESS.
A HANDFUL OF WAYS THAT WE DID THAT, OF COURSE, THROUGH THE WILDLY POPULAR TOUCH OF TRACK BUDGET EXPO.
WE HAD YOUR PLACES JUST THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WHERE YOU COULD LITERALLY WRITE YOUR COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK THAT WAS COLLECTED BY STAFF AND YOU'LL SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE BUDGET AND BEVERAGE BOOK CLUB THIS YEAR, SO WE HELD A COUPLE OF BOOK CLUBS THIS YEAR.
[02:35:01]
IT WAS REALLY JUST A NICE AND INFORMATIVE WAY TO SIT DOWN WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE BUDGET AND ABOUT THEIR GOVERNMENT.THEN FINALLY, THERE WILL BE A QUESTION THROUGH OPEN CITY HALL AND PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO CHIME IN AND GIVE US FEEDBACK THROUGH OPEN CITY HALL IN ADDITION, OF COURSE TO THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING.
WHILE I KNOW THAT YOU ARE SO INTERESTED ON WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE, BUT I REALLY ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE AND THE FRONT OF THIS BUDGET.
THIS IS THE FIFTH ANNUAL BUDGET AS ART DESIGN AND BY OUR LOCAL ARTIST WHO'S COMING DOWN, PATRICE LEWIS, AND IT'S CALLED SAFEGUARDING AND SERVING.
WE HAD THE ORIGINAL WORK OF ART, AND I WILL INVITE FORWARD, PATRICE, IF YOU WILL, JUST TO SAY A FEW WORDS AT THE MICROPHONE PLEASE.
>> YOU CAN STEP TO THE MICROPHONE.
>> ABOUT THE SKEW FOR WORK OF ART.
>> INITIALLY, WHEN I WAS APPROACHED BY YOU GUYS TO DO MORE WORK FOR YOU, I WAS HONORED AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS REACHING OUT TO ME AND TRUSTING ME WITH THIS DESIGN.
THE GOAL OF THIS WAS TO CREATE A VISUAL VERSION OF TRUST FROM THE COMMUNITY.
BASICALLY ALLOWING THE CITY OF DECATUR'S DEPARTMENT WHO WORKS WITH, ORGANIZES, AND MANAGES THE BUDGET.
I WANTED THEM TO HAVE A VISUAL REPRESENTATION HERE, AND THE DIFFERENT HANDS ARE PART OF THE MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF THE PROCESS.
I WANTED TO COMMUNICATE JUST A PURITY ARM OF IT AS THE HANDS ARE NOT DIRTY.
THEY'RE SAFEGUARDING; ONE, THE DUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE PLANT LIFE, WHICH IS THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE CITY AS WELL AS THE CITIZENSHIP.
THERE ARE VARIOUS SIZES, SEEDS TO COMMUNICATE THAT EVERYONE FROM THE CITY COMES FROM A DIFFERENT BEGINNING.
HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT MATTER AT THE BEGINNING.
IF YOU'RE HERE IN DECATUR, WE WILL SAFEGUARD YOU AND WE WILL SERVE YOU.
THERE'S GROWTH, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU START, IF YOU CAN ONLY CONTRIBUTE A LITTLE OR YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE A LOT, ALL OF IT IS PROTECTED BY THE CITY OF DECATUR.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO COMMUNICATE IN THIS PARTICULAR DESIGN.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A HAND. VERY CLEVER.
I WANTED TO LOOK LIKE ART, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO LOOK LIKE A REPRESENTATION OF HANDS.
I DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE TOO LITERAL, MORE FIGURATIVE.
>> THAT'D BE THE BEST ONE YET.
>> THE MEDIUM. [APPLAUSE] I AM AN ARTIST, A PAINTER BY TRADE, BUT I HAVE DELVED INTO MIXED MEDIA.
I DID NOT WANT THIS TO BE A BORING FLAT PAINTING.
I INITIALLY TRIED TO MAKE IT A BORING FLAT PAINTING AND I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH IT.
I CONTACTED MIRALLAS LIKE, I CANNOT GIVE YOU THIS.
AS I WAS WORKING ON IT, I REALIZED THAT I WANTED THE PLANT LIFE TO BE MORE REAL AND ALIVE AND VIBRANT AND TEXTILE. YOU CAN JUST TOUCH.
I WANT IT TO BE REACHABLE, AND I WANT IT TO ALSO BE JUST A REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY.
AGAIN, WE'RE ALIVE, WE'RE REAL, WE'RE RELEVANT.
WE'RE HERE, WE'RE PRESENT, WE'RE NOT FLAT, WE'RE NOT ONE DIMENSIONAL, WE ARE DIMENSIONAL.
THAT'S THE REASON I REDID IT AND ADDED THE DIFFERENT TEXTURES TO IT.
>> I THINK SOME OF US HAVE SEEN YOUR WORK IN THE CITY AT THE CONFERENCE CENTER, OUR MURAL.
>> YES. AGAIN, I HAVE YOU GUYS TO THANK FOR JUST ALLOWING ME TO BE ME, AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS APPRECIATING ME AND MY CRAFT. THANK YOU.
[Additional Item]
>> BEFORE WE LOOK AT ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSES, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SENATOR ELENA PARENT, WHO IS OUR STATE SENATOR AND HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AS A GUEST, AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT YOU ARE BRINGING SOMETHING FORWARD THAT WILL BE VERY MEANINGFUL TO US, BUT ESPECIALLY TO MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR GARRETT.
IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU.
[02:40:01]
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.YES, AS YOU ALLUDED TO, MAYOR GARRETT, I AM VERY HONORED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO BRING CONDOLENCES TO OUR MAYOR PRO TEM TONY POWERS, AND TO HONOR THE LIFE OF YOUR WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL LATE WIFE, LISA, ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
I KNOW HOW MUCH LISA MEANT TO THE CITY OF DECATUR AND SHE LEAVES A TREMENDOUS LEGACY.
OF COURSE, NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE FAMILY LIFE THAT YOU LED WITH HER AND YOUR TWO WONDERFUL CHILDREN, BUT LEADERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIKE LISA DON'T COME ALONG EVERY DAY, AND IT IS VERY FITTING THAT WE RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE WORK THAT SHE DID IN OUR STATE AND FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS RECOGNIZED FROM THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL.
I'M GOING TO READ OUR RESOLUTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS.
GEORGIA SENATE, A RESOLUTION, HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF LISA POWERS.
WHEREAS THE STATE OF GEORGIA MOURNS THE LOSS OF ONE OF ITS MOST DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS WITH THE PASSING OF LISA POWERS, AND WHEREAS LISA POWERS WAS A DEDICATED COMMUNITY LEADER WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT THOSE AROUND HER, LEAVING A LASTING IMPACT ON THE CITY OF DECATUR AND PLAYING AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE DECATUR EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AND WHEREAS SINCE THE FOUNDATION'S INCEPTION, SHE WORKED ALONGSIDE HER HUSBAND, TONY, A FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER TO ENSURE ITS SUCCESS AND GROWTH, HELPING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN INDICATOR TO THRIVE, AND WHEREAS IN ADDITION TO HER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, SHE ENJOYED A DISTINGUISHED PROFESSIONAL CAREER AT COX ENTERPRISES AS A SENIOR MANAGER IN HR AND BENEFIT SYSTEMS, WHERE SHE WAS KNOWN FOR HER KNOWLEDGE, LEADERSHIP, AND ABILITY TO CREATE A SUPPORTIVE WORKPLACE, WHERE EMPLOYEES COULD THRIVE, AND WHEREAS A PROUD AND LOYAL RESIDENT OF GEORGIA, SHE WAS A LOVING WIFE TO HER HUSBAND, MAYOR PRO TEM TONY POWERS, AND A DEVOTED MOTHER TO THEIR TWO WONDERFUL CHILDREN, RAISING HER FAMILY INDICATOR AND REMAINING DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE WELL BEING OF HER COMMUNITY.
THROUGH THIS, SHE GAVE INSPIRATION TO MANY THROUGH HER HIGH IDEALS, MORALS, AND DEEP CONCERN FOR HER FELLOW CITIZENS, AND THE DEVOTION, PATIENCE, AND UNDERSTANDING SHE DEMONSTRATED TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WERE ADMIRED BY MANY OTHERS.
SHE WAS A PERSON OF MAGNANIMOUS STRENGTHS WITH AN UNIMPEACHABLE REPUTATION FOR INTEGRITY, INTELLIGENCE, FAIRNESS, AND KINDNESS, AND BY THE EXAMPLE SHE MADE OF HER LIFE, SHE MADE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE, AND WHEREAS, A COMPASSIONATE AND GENEROUS WOMAN, LISA POWERS WILL LONG BE REMEMBERED FOR HER LOVE OF FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP, AND COMMUNITY AND WILL BE MISSED BY ALL WHO HAD THE GREAT FORTUNE OF KNOWING HER.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, THAT THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY JOIN IN HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF LISA POWERS AND EXPRESS THEIR DEEPEST AND MOST SINCERE REGRET AT HER PASSING, BUT WE KNOW, AGAIN, WHAT A TREMENDOUS LEGACY THAT SHE LEAVES BEHIND.
YOU TWO WE TRULY PARTNERS, AND THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN VERY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU, OF COURSE, MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS, AS WELL AS LISA.
I KNOW THAT SHE WON'T BE FORGOTTEN BY THIS COMMUNITY ANYTIME SOON.
I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT AS MUCH AS I KNOW THAT YOUR COMMUNITY HERE IN DECATUR HAS UPLIFTED YOU THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT YOU AND HAVE YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND FRIENDS IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS DURING A DIFFICULT TIME AS YOU'RE MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIFE. LOTS OF LOVE.
>> LET ME TRY THIS. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.
>> LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU, TONY. THIS IS FOR YOU, OF COURSE.
>> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON BEHALF OF OUR STATE, OUR COUNTY, AND ESPECIALLY OUR CITY.
>> I'D JUST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE LISA WITH A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[02:45:01]
[APPLAUSE]>> SHE WOULD SAY WE'RE MAKING TOO BIG A DEAL.
[LAUGHTER] SHE ALWAYS LIKE TO WORK IN THE BACKGROUND.
>> WELL, SHE DID A MAGNIFICENT JOB OF DOING THAT, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSES.
>> THAT MAY BE MY QUEUE. [LAUGHTER] CITY, THANKS FOR HAVING ME [INAUDIBLE]
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M JACKIE MOORE,
[V. Alcoholic Beverage Licenses.]
SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO REQUEST TEMPORARY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR THE REMAINING 2025 SPECIAL EVENTS HAPPENING HERE IN DECATUR.
NEXT UP IS OUR DECATUR BEACH PARTY, WHICH WE'RE BRINGING BACK FRIDAY, JUNE 13TH.
THEN THE POLLINATOR FESTIVAL, IT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, JUNE 21ST.
PAN AFRICAN FESTIVAL, IT'S GOING TO BE SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH.
PLACITA LATINA, IT'S ALSO ON THE SQUARE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH.
THE DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4TH.
THE DECATUR BARBECUE AND BANDS FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18TH, AND THE DECATUR WINE FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> OPPOSED. VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION PASSES.
>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO A LOT OF THE EVENTS. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, AND THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS OTHER THAN REQUEST AND PETITIONS AND REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS.
WE WILL BE SEEKING INPUT ON THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ITEMS. AGENDA ACTION ITEM A IS THE ADOPTION OF TENTATIVE 2025 MILLAGE RATES THAT INCLUDES AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE GENERAL FUND TAX RATE, THE BOND FUND TAX RATE, AND THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FUND TAX RATE.
ON ITEM C IS THE CHANGE ORDER FOR CSX PERMIT AND PLAN REVIEW, THE ATLANTA AVENUE RAILROAD CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS.
ITEM C IS THE ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY AGREEMENT, AND ITEM D IS THE CITY HALL CARPET REPLACEMENT BUDGET ITEM.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO IS HERE THIS EVENING THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, NOW IS THE TIME TO PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER COMMENTS TO BRING FORWARD THAT ARE NOT PERTAINING TO AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, THOSE WOULD COME LATER IN THE MEETING UNDER REQUEST AND PETITION.
WE'LL OPEN UP FIRST FOR THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT IN THE ROOM WITH US.
IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
SEEING NONE, WE WILL OPEN THIS UP TO THOSE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING ONLINE.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND, AND MRS. SORT, WE'LL UNMUTE YOU, AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR COMMENT AT THIS TIME ON ANY AGENDA ACTION ITEM.
>> SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS AND MOVE TO AGENDA ACTION ITEM A,
[VII.A. Adoption of Tentative 2025 Millage Rates.]
THE ADOPTION OF TENTATIVE 2025 MILLAGE RATES. MS. ARNOLD.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
YES, TONIGHT, YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO ADOPT THE TENTATIVE 2025 MILLAGE RATES.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE RATES AND JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE 2025 DIGEST.
JUST AS A REMINDER THAT THE TAX DIGEST AND THE NEEDS OF THE BUDGET, THOSE IMPACT THE RECOMMENDED MILLAGE RATES, THEY GO HAND-IN-HAND.
[02:50:07]
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, WE DID RECEIVE THE PRELIMINARY REAL PROPERTY TAX DIGEST FROM DECATUR COUNTY FROM THE BOARD OF TAX ASSESSORS.YOU MAY RECALL IN PAST YEARS WHEN WE WERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, WE HAD NOT RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION.
HOWEVER, FROM THIS POINT MOVING FORWARD AND FUTURE YEARS, WE DO EXPECT TO GET THIS INFORMATION IN THIS TIMELY MANNER.
WHILE THIS DIGEST IS STILL VERY MUCH SUBJECT TO CHANGE, THE 2025 DIGEST INCREASES JUST ABOUT 7.9% OVER THE 2024 DIGEST.
WHEN WE HAVE OUR WORK SESSION, WE'LL REALLY SLICE AND CUT INTO THE DIGEST, SO WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S BEHIND THAT NUMBER.
BUT AGAIN, AS A REMINDER, THE DIGEST REFLECTS THE VALUE OF ALL OF THE PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CITY OF DECATUR AS OF JANUARY 1ST OF EACH YEAR.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THE BUDGET THAT YOU JUST RECEIVED THIS EVENING DOES REFLECT THE PRELIMINARY DIGEST NUMBERS, SO THAT THOSE NUMBERS WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
ALSO, THE BUDGET DOES ASSUME A CONSERVATIVE TAX COLLECTION RATE, AND IT DOES ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE PROPERTY VALUE APPEALS BY PROPERTY OWNERS, SO WE DON'T EXPECT THAT FULL 7.9% IN DIGEST VALUE TO NECESSARILY RESULT IN THE EQUIVALENT AMOUNT OF REVENUE.
AGAIN, A CONSERVATIVE COLLECTION RATE AND ALSO ANTICIPATING APPEALS.
AS I STATED EARLIER, THE PROPOSED BUDGET ASSUMES THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A CHANGE IN THE OVERALL CITY MILLAGE RATE AND THE ADOPTION OF THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, THAT IS THE FIRST STEP THAT'S REQUIRED BY GEORGIA LAW UNDER THE TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FINAL ADOPTION.
THAT WOULD BE IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, THE FINAL ADOPTION OF THE MILLAGE RATES.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO KEEP THE COMBINED MILLAGE RATE AT 12.97 MILLS.
YOU'LL SEE WHILE THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE SAME BETWEEN THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE AND THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE THAT WE JUST MOVE SOME OF THE NUMBERS AROUND, WE'RE ABLE TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE FOR OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND BECAUSE THE AMOUNT THAT'S NEEDED, THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT'S NEEDED FOR DEBT SERVICE REMAINS FLAT.
WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE SOME OF THAT MILLAGE RATE INTO THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING MILLAGE RATE WHERE THERE IS A NEED FOR THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE BUDGET.
BACK IN 1999, THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTED WHAT WE CALL THE TRUTH AND TAX LEGISLATION, ALSO THE TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS.
THE PURPOSE OF THAT LEGISLATION IS TO REQUIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO EITHER ROLL BACK THE MILLAGE RATE EQUAL TO THE TOTAL VALUE OF REASSESSMENTS ON REAL PROPERTY OR TO PROVIDE ADVERTISEMENTS, NOTICES, PUBLIC HEARINGS, IF WE INTEND TO ADOPT A MILLAGE RATE THAT'S IN EXCESS OF THE MILLAGE RATE.
THE STATE LAW REFERENCES REASSESSMENTS, THAT'S ALSO WHAT WE REFER TO AS REVALUATION.
OF THAT OVERALL INCREASE IN THE TAX DIGEST, 76% OF THAT INCREASE IS REVALUATION.
THAT ALSO EXPLAINS WHY I ASSUME THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE APPEALS AND THAT WE MAY LOSE SOME OF THAT INCREASE IN THE DIGEST.
24% OF THE DIGEST IS NEW VALUE, SO NEW STUFF.
I HAVE COMPUTED WHAT THAT MILLAGE ROLLBACK RATE WOULD BE, SO YOU ROLL BACK THE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE EQUIVALENT OF THE VALUE OF THE REASSESSMENTS.
THAT ROLLBACK RATE WOULD BE 10.466 MILLS.
OF COURSE, AS YOU SAW ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE MEMO, WE ARE RECOMMENDING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS MILLAGE RATE OF 11.15.
[02:55:02]
THAT IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER, 0.684 MILL HIGHER THAN THE CALCULATED ROLLBACK RATE, THAT WILL REQUIRE US TO ADVERTISE ABOUT A 6.5% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.LIKE I SAID, THE NUMBERS MIGHT CHANGE AS THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO SEND US UPDATED FIGURES.
BUT AT THIS POINT THAT 6.5 OR 6.54 IS WHAT WE WILL BE SUBMITTING AND ADVERTISING TO THE PUBLIC.
ALSO, I JUST ADD THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING A LEGALLY PRESCRIBED CALCULATION AND IT'S JUST FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.
IT DOESN'T CONSIDER THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALSO DECREASING THE BOND FUND MILLAGE.
THAT'S AGAIN, I THINK IT MAKES THE AMOUNT OF THE TAX INCREASE SLIGHTLY INFLATED.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE MILLAGE RATE, IT DOES EXCEED THE ROLLBACK RATE.
WE ARE GOING TO HOLD THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND THOSE ARE ON JUNE 2ND AT 7:30, AND THEN JUNE 16TH AT 11:30, AND THEN AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING AT 7:30.
WE WILL ALSO PRINT AS PART OF THE TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS, THERE'S A FIVE-YEAR HISTORY AD.
WE'RE STILL WE'RE FINALIZING THAT.
WE'LL TRY TO GET A COPY OF THAT FOR YOU SO YOU CAN ALSO JUST SEE SIMILAR TO WHAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM PRESENTED EARLIER THIS EVENING SO YOU CAN SEE THE FIVE-YEAR HISTORY OF THE DIGEST AND THE TAX LEVY.
WITH THAT, YOU ARE JUST BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER THE THREE ORDINANCES THERE BEFORE YOU.
AGAIN, THAT WILL BE ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE.
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE ADOPTION OF THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE IN THE MIDDLE OF JUNE.
THERE BEING ANY CHANGES BETWEEN THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE AND THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE, THESE ARE THE MILLAGE RATES THAT ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO FUND THE BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU ALL THIS EVENING.
I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> SAME FOR THE WORK SESSION [LAUGHTER] IT'S HEADING FOR THE WORK SESSION.
>> THESE ARE ORDINANCE VOTES. NO, PLEASE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. HAVE ANY MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS COME ONLINE BETWEEN.
>> I DON'T KNOW AND I HAVE NOT SEEN THE FULL DIGEST RIGHT NOW.
I'VE ONLY SEEN THE SUMMARY DIGEST.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE COMMERCIAL DIGEST INCREASED 15%.
SOMETHING IN THERE THAT PUSHED UP THE COMMERCIAL VALUES.
I THINK LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST FULL YEAR [INAUDIBLE]
>> I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE [INAUDIBLE]
>> [INAUDIBLE] RAVING DEVELOPMENT WITH THAT KIND OF IMPACT THAT IT'S OFFERING [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT IS CORRECT AT THIS POINT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] COMPLETED JANUARY 1 [INAUDIBLE]
>> RIGHT, IT'S IN THE TAB [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S IN THE TAB, YOU'RE RIGHT [OVERLAPPING]
>> OTHER QUESTIONS? THE FIRST VOTE IS FOR ORDINANCE 0-25-AA THAT ESTABLISHES THE AD VALOREM TAX AT 10.80 FOR THE TAX KNOWN AS ORDINARY CURRENT EXPENSES.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT ORDINANCE?
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.
>> CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND ORDINANCE 0-25-AA IS ADOPTED.
THE NEXT IS ORDINANCE 0-25-BB THAT ESTABLISHES THE BOND FUND RATE AT 1.82.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 0-25-BB?
[03:00:01]
>> DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.
>> CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND ORDINANCE 0-25-BB IS ADOPTED.
THEN TO TENTATIVELY ESTABLISH ORDINANCE OR TENTATIVELY ESTABLISH THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FUND RATE, AND THIS IS ORDINANCE 0-25-CC, AND THAT WOULD ADOPT THAT AT 0.35.
IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> ANY DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY?
>> CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THAT ORDINANCE IS ALSO ADOPTED.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO DIVING IN TO THE BUDGET AND HAVING FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND THE MILLAGE RATES, AND HOW THAT ALL FITS TOGETHER.
>> [LAUGHTER] SURE, YOU DO [LAUGHTER]
>> IT WILL BE SO LOVELY TO OPEN THOUGH.
>> IT WILL BE A BUDGET HOLIDAY [LAUGHTER]
[VII.B. Change Order for CSX Permit and Plan Review-Atlanta Avenue Railroad Crossing Improvements.]
>> NEXT, WE'LL LOOK AT THE CHANGE ORDER FOR THE CSX PERMIT AND PLAN REVIEW FOR THE ATLANTA AVENUE RAIL ROAD CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, DAVID JUNGER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
I'M SURE YOU ALL WERE WONDERING WHAT THE STATUS OF THE ATLANTA AVENUE CROSSING PROJECT WAS.
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU IT CONTINUES.
[LAUGHTER] IT IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW AND A PERMIT APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
WE'VE BEEN RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
LIKEWISE, CSX TRANSPORTATION CONTINUES TO WORK THROUGH NOT ONLY OUR DESIGN PLANS, BUT ALSO THE PORTION OF WORK THAT THEY WILL BE PERFORMING ON THIS PROJECT INCLUDES SIGNAL AND COMMUNICATION WORK RELATED TO THE RELOCATION OF THE INTERSECTION.
THIS CHANGE ORDER IS BEING RECOMMENDED IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,900 WITH CSX TRANSPORTATION FOR THEIR PERMIT AND PLAN REVIEW COORDINATION FOR THE ATLANTA AVENUE RAILROAD CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS.
THE REQUEST TO APPROVE THE CHANGE ORDER WITH CSX AND THIS AMOUNT FOR THAT SUPPORT, IT'S BEING MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING AGREEMENT WHICH WAS APPROVED ON JULY 19TH OF 2019 BETWEEN CSX AND THE CITY OF DECATUR.
AT THAT TIME, THE AGREEMENT PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE OF TOTAL REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,700.
THEY SUBSEQUENTLY CAME BACK TO THE CITY FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL CHANGE IN THE AGREEMENT.
THAT WAS DATED SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2023, THAT INCREASED THE AMOUNT TO 56,375.
THEY HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY COME BACK TO THE CITY OF DECATUR REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL INCREASE FOR THE ONGOING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SUPPORT TO THE AMOUNT OF $77,275.
ADDITIONAL COSTS HAVE BEEN INCURRED JUST DUE TO THE PROLONGED LENGTH OF THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND COORDINATION WITH ALL PARTIES.
RECOMMENDED CHANGE ORDER WILL INCREASE THE CONTRACT FROM $56,375 TO $77,275.
RECOMMEND THAT CITY MANAGER BE AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY AGREEMENT FOR THE PROJECT.
FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX SPLOST 1 FUND.
>> THE QUESTIONS. GO AHEAD. NO, PLEASE. GO AHEAD.
>> BEST CASE SCENARIO, WHEN DOES IT START?
>> GOSH. THAT'S A $50 MILLION QUESTION BY ITSELF.
[LAUGHTER] ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE DESIGN ELEMENT, IT WOULD UNFORTUNATELY MOVE INTO THE REAL ESTATE PORTION OF CREATING THE EASEMENTS AND LEGAL DOCUMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY AND CSX.
ONCE THOSE ARE NEGOTIATED, THE PROJECT WOULD BE PREPARED AND READY FOR BIDDING OUT.
PROBABLY ANOTHER YEAR AT LEAST.
>> THIS EASEMENTS WOULD BE EASILY?
>> [INAUDIBLE] EXPECTATIONS FOR BUSINESSES.
>> IN ADDITION TO GDOT AND CSX, OBVIOUSLY, TONS OF COORDINATION WITH GEORGIA POWER ON THIS PROJECT.
THEIR PROJECT SCOPE WAS VERY SIZABLE WHEN WE MET WITH THEM.
THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, AND PIECES, AND COORDINATION WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES THAT WILL COME TOGETHER.
[03:05:03]
>> A YEAR OR A YEAR AND [INAUDIBLE]
>> I DON'T HAVE A GOOD WAY OF ESTIMATING THAT.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE PROBABLY ANOTHER TWO YEARS [INAUDIBLE]
>> IT COULD EASILY BE, ESPECIALLY BIDDING PROCESS.
WE ARE REGULARLY HAVING CALLS WITH OUR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, LANDIS EVANS.
AGAIN, RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM BOTH PARTIES, BOTH GDOT AND CSX.
HOPEFULLY WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF THE DESIGN COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO ADD TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS THE UNCOUPLED PROJECT.
THE ATLANTA AVENUE, THAT STREETSCAPE IS STILL ONGOING.
THIS IS THE UNCOUPLING OF THE CROSSING, WHICH WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE OTHER WORK HAS BEGUN.
>> WE HAVE ACCEPTED BIDS FOR HOWARD AVENUE, AND THAT LIKELY WILL COME BEFORE Y'ALL AT YOUR NEXT MEETING.
>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING, THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION, SO PEOPLE ARE CLEAR THAT THIS DOESN'T MEAN TWO YEARS BEFORE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH, THE PLANAR PROJECT. COMMISSIONER?
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS INFORMATION TO US AS WELL.
THE WAY I'D LIKE TO INTERPRET, FIRST OF ALL, MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE'VE SAID IT BEFORE.
THIS IS POTENTIALLY ONE OF THE MOST COMPLICATED INTERSECTIONS IN THE STATE, AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CHALLENGING THE BEST.
I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF OF THAT.
THIS CHANGE ORDER INDICATES TO ME, AS YOU SAID, WORK IS ONGOING.
IT TAKES THE TIME IT TAKES AND THAT INCREASES COST.
COULD YOU SEE AN APPROPRIATE MOMENT BASED ON YOUR JUDGMENT BECAUSE THIS IS A BIT OF A BLACK BOX PROCESS THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
MAYBE WE DON'T WANT TO BE, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE INSIGHT MOVING FORWARD, PARTICULARLY I WOULD HOPE THIS WOULD BE POTENTIALLY THE LAST CHANGE ORDER, FOR EXAMPLE.
COULD YOU SEE A JUNCTURE WHERE OUR PARTNERS IN THIS WOULD COME BEFORE US AND SHARE INSIGHTS OR PRESENT TO US ABOUT WHAT THE DESIGN IS OR WHAT THE CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN OR THE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD? DO THEY DO THAT?
>> I CAN ASK. THE DESIGN IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT Y'ALL HAVE SEEN PRESENTED SO FAR.
>> WE CAN DEFINITELY BRING THAT BACK.
>> THEN WE CAN DEFINITELY EXTEND AN INVITATION TO THOSE OUTSIDE ENTITIES TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS, WHAT ALL IS INVOLVED.
SURE. I'LL INCLUDE THAT IN MY RESPONSE TO IT.
>> IT COULD BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO TO MORE TRANSPARENCY IN THE SENSE THAT I THINK THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS PROJECT AND IF THE DELAYS HAVE BEEN LONG AND IT'S NOT A BLAME GAME, AND WE ARE ALSO PAYING FOR SOME AMOUNT OF THE DELAY.
I THINK LOGICALLY, THAT'S HOW I'M ALSO INTERPRETING THIS, BUT MAYBE WE COULD BRING SOME THINGS TO A FINER POINT, MEET THE PARTNERS AND THAT WOULD ALSO KEEP THINGS [LAUGHTER]
>> I WANT TO SAY, IF YOU APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, THAT INCREASES THE BUDGET, WE WOULD SUBMIT AN INVOICE TO ACCOUNTING TO PAY THAT TO CSX.
THEN THAT MONEY SITS IN THEIR ACCOUNT AND THEY DRAW DOWN ON THAT EACH MONTH.
EVERY MONTH, WE GET A REPORT INTO ALL THE HOURS THAT WERE SPENT IN WHAT AREAS ON THE DESIGN.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION ON HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT TOWARDS THE PROJECT.
I ACTUALLY HAVE A BUNCH OF THEM WITH ME TONIGHT.
THERE IS AN ACCOUNTING AND IT DOES SHOW HOUR BY HOUR, WHAT THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO ON THEIR SIDE.
>> YOUR MANAGEMENT OF IT AND IT'S AFTER?
>> I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW, TOO, BECAUSE IF THE DELAY HASN'T REALLY BEEN ON US, AND SO JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT WHAT THEY'RE DRAWING DOWN ON THAT IS NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE DELAY, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED EXPENSES AND THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ACTUAL PROJECT ITSELF.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS JUST A COMPLEX PROJECT,
[03:10:03]
AND THE FURTHER WE GET ALONG, THE MORE WE REALIZE THAT THERE'S MORE STUFF.WE'RE SAYING IT'S WEIGHING DOWN ON US, OUR PARTNERS ARE STILL COOPERATIVE AND WORKING WITH THIS, IT'S JUST TOO COMPLICATED IN A WAY.
>> NO. AT THIS POINT IT'S NOT.
IN TERMS OF DELAY, ACTUALLY, I THINK THE WORD THAT'S IN THEIR MEMO IS JUST PROLONGED LENGTH OF DESIGN DEVELOP IN COORDINATION.
PROBABLY A BETTER WORD IS NOT TO USE DELAY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND PIECES AND YOU'VE GOT A STATE ROAD ON ONE SIDE, YOU'VE GOT A LOCAL ROAD ON ANOTHER ONE.
YOU'RE MAKING A CONNECTION WITH SOME ELEVATION GRAY CHANGES.
IT'S BEEN A FAIRLY COMPLEX PROJECT.
ANYTIME YOU'RE CROSSING THE TRACKS, IT'S COMPLICATED.
>> DON'T WE ADD IN THE GEORGIA HIGH POWER TRANSMISSION?
>> EXACTLY. UTILITY COORDINATION. ABSOLUTELY.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WOULD BE ANY BETTER.
>> CAN WE JUST GET CLARIFICATION ON WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE APPROVE THE CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,900 WITH CSX TRANSPORTATION.
WE ALSO APPROVE INCREASING THE BUDGET AUTHORIZATION TO 77,275, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION CARRIES.
THERE WAS SOME PART, I THINK WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED IT WAS LIKE, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACTS, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE WERE ACTUALLY DOING WAS APPROVING THIS AMOUNT OF CHANGE ORDER AND THE NEW BUDGET.
THEN WITHIN THAT THEN AUTHORIZES HER TO SIGN THOSE CONTRACTS.
THANK YOU. I THINK YOU MAY BE NEXT.
[VII.C. Atlanta Gas Light Company Agreement.]
>> ALL UTILITY KINDS OF THINGS COMING FORWARD.
>> ABSOLUTELY. PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM IS FOR RECOMMENDING AN APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT WITH ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY IN AN AMOUNT TO NOT EXCEED $41,270.90 AND ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET OF $50,000 TO ABANDON AND RELOCATE A PORTION OF THE NATURAL GAS MAIN WHICH CONFLICTS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN NORTH MCDONOUGH STREET AND RECONNECT NATURAL GAS SERVICE TO EXISTING CUSTOMERS.
ATLANTA GAS LIGHT HAS PROVIDED A QUOTE, WHICH WAS DATED ON MAY 13TH, 2025, INVOICE NUMBER 5132025 FOR THE PROJECT.
ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY WILL COORDINATE THE WORK WITH JHC CORPORATION, THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR, FOR THE DECATUR SQUARE TRANSFORMATION PROJECT.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE DECATUR SQUARE TRANSFORMATION SPLOST 2 FUND FOR THIS WORK.
WE RECOMMEND THAT CITY MANAGER BE AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENTS NECESSARY FOR THIS PROJECT AS WELL.
>> I'M LOOKING AT THE MAP. THERE'S YELLOW LINES, THERE'S BLUE LINES, THERE'S GREEN LINES, AND THERE'S NO MARGINS. I'M JUST CURIOUS.
>> IF YOU LOOK ON, I GUESS IT'S THE THIRD PAGE OF THE PDF, IT LOOKS A ZOOMED IN SHOT HERE.
THIS YELLOW LINE IS THE NORTH AND SOUTH LINE UP NORTH MCDONOUGH.
>> I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE YELLOW LINE, THE BLUE LINE, AND GREEN LINE?
IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL COLORED MAP PROVIDED BY AGL.
>> I KNOW YOU DO THIS, I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT'S THE YELLOW LINE.
>> I WONDER IF IT'S THE SIZE OF THE LINE.
>> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, MR.
[03:15:01]
YOUNGER. AT WHAT POINT IN THE PROJECT PROCESS WILL THIS TAKE PLACE?I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT IS ON THE SCHEDULE, BUT IT WOULD BE IN THE FIRST MONTH OR SO OF THE PROJECT.
>> THEY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO DO IN THE FIRST MONTH BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER EXCAVATION WORK COULDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL THAT WAS DONE.
>> IF I AM UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY, THAT MEANS THAT, ISN'T HERE THAT WILL BE A PART OF THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE BY TAKING THAT OUT.
DOES THAT MEAN EVERYTHING THAT WILL BE ON THE SQUARE TRANSFORMATION IT WILL NOT RELY ON NATURAL GAS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THERE'S NOTHING ON OUR SQUARE PROJECT INVOLVING NATURAL GAS.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING THERE NOW THAT THOSE CONNECT TO?
>> REALLY, LIKE I WAS GOING TO SAY, THE LINE COMES UP MCDONOUGH, TURNS AND GOES EAST ON SYCAMORE STREET. IT'S A LOOP.
THEY'RE BASICALLY A CUT AND CAP, BOTH ENDS OF THAT AND TAKE OUT A SECTION IN THE MIDDLE, WHICH IS IN CONFLICT WITH OUR PROJECT, WHERE THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE WILL GO.
THE GAS WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE BUSINESS ON SYCAMORE STREET, FROM CHURCH STREET, AND ANY INFRASTRUCTURE ON NORTH, MCDONOUGH WILL BE FED FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH ALONG THAT LINE.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY PUT INFRASTRUCTURE IN, IN CASE SOMETHING FAILS, I'M GUESSING, AND THEN THE BACKUP IF PIPE COLLAPSE, WHATEVER.
>> IT'S A LOOP, IT CONNECTED THOSE, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE RESTAURANTS [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT WAS ON THE END OF THAT LOOP.
>> ENDS ON GAS, AND WHO HAVE NOT MADE ANY CONVERSION YET.
>> AS FAR AS SUSTAINABILITY PLAN IS THERE. [LAUGHTER]
>> EXACTLY. WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU TRANSFER TO A DIFFERENT FORM OF ENERGY QUICKER, THAT IS MY THOUGHT.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS? THEY ARE HERE, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT WITH ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $41,270.90 AND TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET OF $50,000 TO ABANDON AND RELOCATE THE PORTION OF NATURAL GAS MAIN FOR THE SQUARE TRANSFORMATION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT STEPS ON THE SQUARE.
[VII.D. City Hall Carpet Replacement.]
MY NAME IS FELIX FLOYD AND I'M THE ASSIST PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
I AM HERE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH MOHAWK DISTRIBUTION INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $36,362.76 IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,000 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF CARPET IN CITY HALL.
THAT INCLUDES THIS FLOOR AND UPSTAIRS.
THE FLOORING SELECTION AND DESIGN WERE DEVELOPED BY JOE REBA DESIGN ASSOCIATES IN COORDINATION WITH CITY STAFF.
THE PROJECT SCOPE INCLUDES REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF CARPET IN THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING ROOM AND CONFERENCE ROOMS, REVENUE OFFICES, HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICES, AND EQUITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICES.
MOHAWK DISTRIBUTION IS AN IMPROVED VENDOR UNDER THE SOURCEWELL, GEORGIA STATE CONTRACT.
THE COMPANY HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED SIMILAR FLOORING PROJECTS FOR DECATUR COUNTY SCHOOLS, GRADY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND WITHIN THE CITY OF DECATUR, INCLUDING THE SECOND FLOOR OF CITY HALL.
FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE '24, '25 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
I RECOMMEND THE WARD OF A CONTRACT WITH MOHAWK DISTRIBUTION INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $36,362.76 FOR THE CITY HALL CARPET REPLACEMENT AND APPROVAL OF A PROJECT BUDGET OF $45,000.
I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> REMIND US HOW OLD THIS CARPET IS?
IT HAS HELD UP WELL SINCE 2006, BUT IT'S TIME.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, HAVE WE CONSIDERED HARDWOOD? JUST THINKING ABOUT IT BEING HYPOALLERGENIC AS OPPOSED TO CARPET.
>> MAYBE THE NEXT TIME WE REPLACE IT, WE CAN CONSIDER SUCH THING. I HEAR YOU.
>> TALKING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY THERE'S A LOT OF
[03:20:05]
RECLAIMED WOOD OPTIONS NOW THAT ARE ENGINEERED TO LAST 30 AND 40 YEARS.>> WE HAVE OTHER PUBLIC FACILITIES.
AGAIN, I CERTAINLY THINK ALL OF THE FACILITIES WERE RENOVATED AROUND THE SAME TIME, AND THERE MAY BE FACILITIES THAT MIGHT BE MORE SUITED TO A HARD SURFACE.
>> WELL, MOST OF THEM HAVE HARD SURFACES, POLISH CONCRETE, WHICH IS LITERALLY ALMOST NO MAINTENANCE AND LASTS FOREVER.
>> THAT'S THE QUESTION. THANK YOU.
>> QUESTIONS? HERE, A MOTION TO APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH MOHAWK DISTRIBUTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $36,362.76 AND TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,000 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF CARPET AT CITY HALL.
>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES AYE. WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN?
>> THE CARPET IS ACTUALLY IN THE WAREHOUSE NOW, AND I'LL MAKE A CALL AS SOON AS CITY MANAGER SIGNS THE AGREEMENT.
I'LL CALL THE INSTALLERS, AND I'LL HAVE A DATE FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I MADE A COMMENT AT OUR LAST MEETING THAT THE CARPET WAS LOOKING A LITTLE WORN [LAUGHTER] JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE TO REQUEST AND PETITIONS.
NOW IS THE LAST TIME AT THIS MEETING THAT WE WILL BE TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST FROM THOSE WHO ARE IN THE ROOM WITH US, AND THEN WE WILL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US ONLINE.
IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, THIS IS YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY AT THIS MEETING.
IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT? WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD ANY COMMENT TO THIS BODY THIS EVENING.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, IF YOU WOULD RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND, WE'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE, AND THEN WE WILL UNMUTE YOU AND ASK YOU TO PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
>> SEEING NONE. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION FOR REQUEST AND PETITIONS,
[IX. Reports and Other Business.]
AND WE WILL MOVE TO REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS.THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, THEIR MEETING FOR THIS MONTH IS CANCELED AND IT WILL MEET ON MONDAY, JUNE 9TH AT 7:30 PM.
PLANNING COMMISSION IS ALSO CANCELED FOR THIS MONTH, AND THEIR NEXT MEETING WILL BE JUNE 10TH AT SEVEN O'CLOCK RIGHT HERE IN THIS MEETING.
WE DO HAVE SOME APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING.
I DIDN'T WARN THE MAYOR PRO TEM, BUT I WILL ASK HIM IF HE WOULD BRING FORWARD THESE IN THE FORM OF A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> WELL, COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR, THE CITY MANAGER, FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE, AFTER A LENGTHY INTERVIEW PROCESS THAT LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IT FELT LIKE.
THANK YOU, LANGSTON FOR COORDINATING ALL THAT.
I HAVE A SLATE OF CANDIDATES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER UP AS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING BOARDS, PLEASE.
FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, SUSAN SAY, FOR THE LIFELONG COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD, JUDY AKANA, JAMES JOHNSON, AND JOHN THOMAS, AND FOR LEGACY DECATUR, ROBIN SHANNON, GRANT SCHRANZ, CHRIS BROWN, TONY ABEL, AND BOBBY K. ONE OF THE PROCESSES THAT WE ALSO USE IS WE DEVELOP A BENCH SO THAT WHEN THERE ARE VACANCIES ANYTIME DURING THE YEAR FOR THE FOLLOWING BOARDS,
[03:25:01]
WE CAN GO TO OUR BENCH AND NOT HAVE TO REPEAT THE LENGTHY PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN.BUT IT WAS A GREAT GROUP OF CANDIDATES, AND WHEN I TELL YOU THAT I AM HUMBLED BY THE PEOPLE THAT VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME ENERGY AND EFFORT.
I THINK A FEW OF THEM ARE IN THE ROOM TONIGHT.
THE PASSIONS THAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE AND THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE IS UNMATCHED IN ANY CITY, AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE LIVE IN SUCH A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN HELP.
THAT IS OUR SLATE OF OFFICERS OR PERSONS THAT I ASK YOU TO APPROVE. THAT WAS MY MOTION.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND.
>> IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THESE APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SAY AYE.
>> OPPOSED. THE CHEER VOTES AYE, AND WE WELCOME NEW APPOINTEES TO OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
WE SAW TONIGHT ONE OF THE BOARDS COME, AND I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR FROM OUR APPOINTED BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND TO SEE JUST HOW HARD THEY WORK FOR THE CITY.
WE WELCOME NEW PEOPLE TO THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND LEGACY DECATUR ACTUALLY EXPANDED THE SIZE OF ITS BOARD THIS YEAR, AND SO WE HAVE APPOINTED FIVE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.
[NOISE] I THINK WENT WENT TO 17 AS A MAXIMUM FOR THE LEGACY PARK BOARD AND BECAUSE WE WERE APPOINTING SO MANY AT ONCE, WE DID STAGGER THESE TERMS AND YOU'LL SEE THAT REFLECTED IN THE MEMO AS WELL.
BUT WELCOME TO OUR NEW BOARDS AND COMMISSION MEMBERS.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, I BELIEVE IS THE GEORGIA POWER IRP UPDATE.
>> HELLO, AGAIN, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
DAVID NIFONG, ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER.
I AM HERE TONIGHT TO PROVIDE YOU ALL AN UPDATE REGARDING THE 2025 INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN PROCEEDING BEFORE THE GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
AS YOU RECALL, IT'S YOUR FEBRUARY 24TH, 2025 MEETING, THIS COMMISSION APPROVED THE CITY'S JOINT INTERVENTION IN THE IRP AS A MEMBER OF THE GEORGIA COALITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WHICH AT THIS TIME, INCLUDES CITY OF ATLANTA, ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, DEKALB COUNTY, AND GWINNETT COUNTY.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE.
WE SECURED LEGAL REPRESENTATION FROM THE FERN FOX ROTHSCHILD, SUCCESSFULLY SUBMITTED OUR APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO INTERVENE AND THEN BEGAN IDENTIFYING OUR KEY PRIORITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE COMMISSION.
FROM MARCH 25-28TH, GEORGIA POWER WITNESSES PROVIDED TESTIMONY SUPPORTING THEIR REQUESTS IN THE PROCEEDING.
I PROVIDED A LONG LIST A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT A FEW OF THE NOTABLE REQUESTS THAT THE COMPANY IS MAKING IN THIS CASE IS OPERATING COAL-FIRED ASSETS AT PLANT BOWEN THROUGH 2038, DELAYING THE RETIREMENT OF PREVIOUSLY PLANNED DELAYING THE PREVIOUSLY PLANNED RETIREMENTS OF COAL-FIRED ASSETS AT PLANT SHARE FROM 2028-2038, DELAYING SOME COAL AND NATURAL GAS-FIRED GENERATION RETIREMENTS AT PLANT GASTON FROM 2028-2034, ESTABLISHING A RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL COMMERCIAL SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE PILOT FOR 50 MEGAWATTS OF DISPATCHABLE DISTRIBUTED BATTERY STORAGE RESOURCES AND RECERTIFYING EIGHT EXISTING DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND CERTIFYING ONE NEW RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM TO ACHIEVE ENERGY SAVINGS OF 0.75% OF ANNUAL RETAIL SALES.
DURING THE HEARINGS, OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATION CONDUCTED CROSS-EXAMINATION OF MULTIPLE GEORGE POWER WITNESS PANELS, PRIMARILY REGARDING, ONE, OVERALL SYSTEM RESILIENCE IN THE COMPANY'S RESPONSE TO HURRICANE HELENE.
TWO, THE PROPOSED SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE PILOT PROGRAM, AND FINALLY, THE PROPOSED RENEWABLE SUBSCRIPTION PROGRAMS. WITH THIS INFORMATION, AS WELL AS OTHER INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GAINED THROUGH COMPANY RESPONSES TO DATA REQUESTS FROM THE COMMISSION, WE HAVE FINALIZED OUR RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PROCEEDING.
ON MAY 2ND, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE COALITION FILED TWO SETS OF EXPERT WITNESS TESTIMONY INTO THE DOCKET.
FIRST, WAS SUBMITTED BY MYSELF, REGARDING SYSTEM RESILIENCE, CUSTOMER RENEWABLE PROGRAMS,
[03:30:01]
AND DEMAND SIGN MANAGEMENT.THE SECOND WAS FILED BY BLAKE RICHETTA, WHO'S THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF SONNE INC AMERICAS, A BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM MANUFACTURER AND VIRTUAL POWER PLANT PROVIDER, WHICH IS HEADQUARTERED IN STONE MOUNTAIN.
MR. RICHETTA'S TESTIMONY FOCUSES ON THE COMPANY'S PROPOSED SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE PILOT PROGRAM.
WHILE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE IN THOSE PIECES OF THE TESTIMONY, OUR KEY RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE: FIRST, REQUIRING GEORGE POWER TO FILE A REPORT, ASSESSING SYSTEM VULNERABILITIES TO EXTREME WEATHER AND STRATEGIES TO BUILD RESILIENCE PRIOR TO THE 2028 IRP.
SECOND, REDUCING THE ONE MEGAWATT MINIMUM AGGREGATE DEMAND THRESHOLD FOR MUSH CUSTOMERS OR MUNICIPALITIES, UNIVERSITY, SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPANY'S CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SUBSCRIPTION PROGRAM, ELIMINATING OR RAISING THE MAXIMUM SIZE OF PAIRED SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS IN THAT PILOT PROGRAM, REQUIRING GEORGIA POWER AND COLLABORATION WITH STAFF AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES TO DEVELOP A FULL SCALE INTEGRATED VIRTUAL POWER PLANT PLATFORM FOR COMMISSION APPROVAL IN OR PRIOR TO THE 2028 IRP, AND FINALLY, APPROVING WITH SOME MINOR MODIFICATIONS, THE COMPANY'S PROPOSED DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO.
OUR TESTIMONY WILL BE PRESENTED AS A PANEL DURING THE HEARING SCHEDULED FROM MAY 27-30TH, SO NEXT WEEK, AT WHICH TIME WE'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR CROSS EXAMINATION BY GEORGIA POWER'S LAWYERS, AS WELL AS LAWYERS REPRESENTING PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION STAFF AND OTHER INTERVENERS, AS WELL AS QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION.
WE WILL CONTINUE ENGAGING IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMPANY AND STAFF REGARDING A POTENTIAL STIPULATION TO ADDRESS THE COALITIONS PRIORITIES.
AFTER THAT, THE COMPANY IS GOING TO SUBMIT A FINAL SET OF REBUTTAL TESTIMONY.
WILL BE HEARD AT THE END OF JUNE, AND THEN THE COMMISSION IS SCHEDULED TO ISSUE A DECISION ON THE FILING AT ITS MEETING ON JULY 15TH OF THIS YEAR.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
I RELATED NEWS THAT I DID WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN THE NEWS TODAY.
EARLY THIS MORNING, GEORGIA POWER AND PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY STAFF OR PIA STAFF, SUBMITTED A JOINT PETITION FOR EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT ALTERNATE RATE PLAN.
AS YOU RECALL, TYPICALLY, EVERY THREE YEARS, THE COMPANY FILES AN INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN.
ESSENTIALLY, THE SUPPLY SIDE AND DEMAND SIDE, INVESTMENTS THAT THEY'RE MAKING TO PROVIDE US ELECTRICITY, AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT, THEY SUBMIT A RATE CASE.
ESSENTIALLY THAT'S FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, HOW DO THEY PAY FOR THE INVESTMENTS THAT THEY MADE, AS WELL AS THE COMPANY'S GUARANTEED RETURN ON EQUITY.
THIS YEAR, THEY ARE PROPOSING TO ESSENTIALLY EXTEND THE CURRENT RATE STRUCTURE THAT WE'VE BEEN USING FOR THE PAST THREE YEAR CYCLE AND FOREGO A FULL RATE CASE FILING WITH THE CAVEAT THAT COSTS RELATED TO THEIR RECOVERY FROM HURRICANE HELENE ARE GOING TO BE FILED WITH THE COMMISSION SOMETIME BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND JULY OF NEXT YEAR, AND AT WHICH TIME THE COMMISSION WILL DEEM WHICH OF THOSE COSTS THAT THEY INCURRED WERE PRUDENT, THAT THEY THEN GET TO RECOVER THROUGH RATES.
NOT SOMETHING THAT I EXPECTED TO SEE WHEN I CAME INTO WORK THIS MORNING.
WE'RE STILL CERTAINLY DIGESTING WHAT IT MEANS, WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE FOR THIS PROCEEDING AND GENERALLY WHAT THE RESPONSE WILL BE, BUT I DID WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT IS STARTING TO GET SOME PRESS COVERAGE.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE.
>> THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OF THE STATE LEGISLATION THAT IS LOOKING AT THE ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF DATA CENTERS BEING PAID FOR BY THE DATA CENTERS THEMSELVES BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THAT SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN DEMAND IS BEING PAID FOR BY ALL OF THE RATE PAYERS?
>> MAYBE NOT RECENTLY, NOW, BUT THE COMMISSION DID APPROVE SOME CHANGES TO SOME OF THE PROCEDURES THAT THEY FOLLOW REGARDING NEW LARGE LOAD CUSTOMERS, WHICH ESSENTIALLY ALLOWS GEORGIA POWER TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE RECOVERING THE FULL AMOUNT OF COSTS INCURRED TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO THOSE DATA CENTERS,
[03:35:03]
BUT THAT IS FOCUSED ON HOW MANY TRANSFORMERS AND THINGS THEY NEED ON SITE TO PROVIDE THAT ELECTRICITY.IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY RECOVER THE FULL UPSTREAM COSTS THAT ARE RELATED TO NEW GENERATION ASSETS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO POWER THAT LOAD.
THERE ARE STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO PROTECT RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER CUSTOMERS FROM THE COSTS OF DATA CENTERS, BUT IT'S STILL, I THINK TO BE DETERMINED EXACTLY HOW THOSE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE ALLOCATED AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE SITE.
>> DOES TRANSMISSION LINES COST BE PASSED ONWARDS?
>> TRANSMISSION LINES, GENERALLY, I THINK WOULD BE BAKED INTO THE FULL RATE BASE.
IT IS ALSO INTERESTING BECAUSE THE COMMISSION HAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED GEORGIA POWER'S GRID INVESTMENT PLAN OR A PORTION OF THE REQUESTS THEY MAKE RELATED TO THE GRID INVESTMENT PLAN AS PART OF THE RATE CASE.
THIS JOINT PETITION DOES REFER TO THAT GRID INVESTMENT PLAN A LITTLE BIT, BUT I TRULY A RATE CASE IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT ALL OF THESE COSTS TOGETHER INTO ONE DOCUMENT AND COMPARE THEM TO EACH OTHER AND REALLY LITIGATE THE PRUDENCE OF THOSE.
>> THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION AT THE ARC BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK ABOUT DATA CENTERS AND ONE COUNTY HAS APPROVED A DATA CENTER THAT THE BUILDING WILL HAVE A MILLION SQUARE FEET, AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT JUST MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF ENERGY AND IN SOME CASES, WATER USE, AND DMA IS ACTUALLY SPONSORING THE METRO ATLANTA MAYORS ASSOCIATION MEETING THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT DATA CENTERS AND MAYOR PRO TEM, AND CITY MANAGER ARE ATTENDING THAT ON THURSDAY, SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO HEAR WHAT.
>> I WILL CERTAINLY BE INTERESTED TO HEAR THAT AS WELL.
AS YOU RECALL, THREE YEARS AGO, THE COMPANY WAS PROJECTING AROUND 400 ISH MEGAWATTS OF DEMAND GROWTH THROUGH 2035, ESSENTIALLY.
IN THIS PROCEEDING, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THAT'S NOW ABOUT 08,200 MEGAWATTS OF DEMAND GROWTH.
THAT 8,200 IS UP FROM WHAT THEY FILED IN THE IRP UPDATE, WHICH THEY DID OUT OF THE BLUE BECAUSE OF THAT DEMAND GROWTH. IT IS SIGNIFICANT.
THE RESOURCES IN THIS PROCEEDING ACTUALLY DON'T GET ANYWHERE NEAR FULLY PROVIDING THAT REQUIRED CAPACITY TO MEET THAT DEMAND, WHICH IS ALSO AN INTERESTING FACET OF THIS IRP.
THE CAPACITY DEFICIT IS LIKELY TO BE ADDRESSED FROM THE RESULTS OF THE CURRENT ALL SOURCE RFP, THE RESULTS OF WHICH ARE GOING TO BE RELEASED SOMETIME THIS SUMMER.
>> I PIGGYBACK ON THAT, JUST TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THERE ARE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ELECTIONS THIS YEAR, AND THEY VOTE ON THEM STATEWIDE DESPITE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ELECTED OUT OF A CERTAIN DISTRICT, BUT THEY ALL ARE ON THE BALLOTS FOR STATEWIDE ELECTIONS, AND I JOTTED DOWN THE EARLY VOTING STARTS MAY 27TH, VERY SOON.
THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS TUESDAY, JUNE 17TH.
I DON'T HAVE THE RUNOFF DATE, BUT THERE ARE TWO ELECTIONS THIS YEAR, AND THE STATEWIDE ELECTION FOR ONCE THE PRIMARIES ARE HELD, WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, THE SAME TIME AS MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, AND SO HOPEFULLY PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION, AND THAT WAS PART.
I THINK THE COURT CASE WAS THEY WANTED THE DISTRICTS TO THEY'RE REPRESENTING A CERTAIN AREA, THEN THOSE WOULD BE THE VOTERS IN THAT AREA, BUT THAT DID NOT CHANGE.
>> I HEARD TODAY THAT THE LAST TIME THAT THERE IS A RATE CASE AND A PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ELECTION IN THE SAME YEAR WAS 2010.
IT APPARENTLY MAY NOT HAPPEN THIS YEAR, EITHER.
MAYBE A WHILE BEFORE THAT OCCURS AGAIN.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
[03:40:01]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND I HAPPENED TO WATCH PART OF THE HEARING AND REALLY WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE PERSON THAT THE GROUP HIRED TO REPRESENT.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MS. ARNOLD.
>> I BELIEVE MEREDITH HAS AN UPDATE FOR US AS IT RELATES TO OUR CHARTER REVIEW.
>> I DO. I THINK COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY WILL BE EXCITED AGAIN TO SEE UNDER YOUR PRIORITIES WE ARE DOING A CHARTER REVIEW, SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A POSTCARD IN YOUR MAILBOX IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO THAT'S ANNOUNCING THAT THE CHARTER REVIEW IS STARTING.
IT WILL HAVE A LINK AND A QR CODE TO A SURVEY THAT OUR NATIONAL CIVIC LEAGUE FRIENDS ARE GOING TO USE TO PREPARE OUR REPORT ABOUT DEMOCRACY.
THEN AT THE END OF THAT, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, NOT THE CITY COMMISSION, [LAUGHTER] BUT THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, YOU CAN GIVE US YOUR INFORMATION AND THAT WILL GO INTO THE CIVIC LOTTERY.
THE DUE DATE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CIVIC LOTTERY IS JUNE 27TH.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE AND THEN ALSO BE LOOKING TO YOU ALL TO GIVE US SOME NAMES OR SOME OTHERS TO FILL OUT THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION BODY.
>> HOW MANY MEMBERS DO WE EXPECT TO HAVE ON THE CHARTER REVIEW?
>> IS THERE A LOTTERY OR SOMETHING?
>> CIVIC LOTTERY. PROBABLY 8-10 MEMBERS WILL COME FROM THE CIVIC LOTTERY PROCESS AND THEN THE OTHER [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT WILL BE ON POSTCARD THAT PEOPLE CAN [OVERLAPPING]
>> PEOPLE HAVE TO REGISTER TO BE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY HAVE TO SIGN UP TO SAY, I WANT TO BE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO JUST GET RANDOMLY SELECTED [OVERLAPPING].
YOU HAVE TO LET US KNOW [OVERLAPPING].
>> I CAN'T IMAGINE YOU NOT WANTING TO DO THIS.
>> FOLKS ARE SHAKING THEIR HEADS.
REALLY, THE INTERESTS OF IT BEING PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS AND REMIND FOLKS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP DAYS ARE CONTINUING.
I REALLY JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN DOING.
I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN EVERY SATURDAY SINCE THE 1ST OF MARCH.
THEY'RE SHOWING UP IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AT 7:30 IN THE MORNING AND COLLECTING ALL THE STUFF AT THE CURB.
WE DO HAVE JUST A FEW MORE THROUGH THE END OF MAY.
WE'VE GOT, LET'S SEE, ACTUALLY, NOT A FEW MORE BECAUSE TODAY IS THE 18TH?
>> 19TH. WE'VE GOT THE LAST ONE IS AT LENOX PLACE ON MAY 31ST.
THAT WILL BE FINALLY A WRAP UP AGAIN SINCE MARCH.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
PEOPLE LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP DAY AS IS EVIDENCED WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN THE STREET, SAY, THE NIGHT BEFORE.
PEOPLE CLEAN OUT THEIR ATTICS AND THEIR BASEMENTS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COLLECT SO MUCH FROM ONE YEAR TO THE OTHER.
BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE IT AWAY.
SO THANKS TO PUBLIC WORKS FOR THAT.
I'LL HAND IT BACK OVER TO THE MAYOR.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.
>> WELL, FIRST OFF, I'M SAYING THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DAY.
NOT THAT EVERY YEAR, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO KNOW THERE'S TO USE THAT.
MY WIFE ACTUALLY LIKES DRIVING AROUND SEEING IF THERE'S OTHER STUFF [LAUGHTER]. SERVE TWO PURPOSES.
I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE FIFA WORLD FOOTBALL WEEK.
I WAS THINKING, MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED DECATUR FC.
I HAVE NOT SEEN A WINNING SOCCER GAME IN A LONG TIME.
>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT DECATUR FC.
I WILL NOTE THAT ATLANTA WILL PLAY ON THE LAST DAY OF THE FIFA WORLD FOOTBALL WEEK. I'M EXCITED ON THAT.
>> I HAD A QUESTION. WHEN WE HAVE OUR AGENDAS, WE HAVE AT THE BOTTOM, WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ZONING FOLKS ARE DOING BUT WE DON'T DO DEA.
[03:45:02]
IS THERE A REASON WHY WE DON'T DO THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY?>> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY REASON THAT WE DON'T INCLUDE THE DDA.
I'LL BE GLAD TO ASK TO ASK AND SEE IF THERE IS A REASON.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SEEING.
>> I TRY TO KEEP UP. UNFORTUNATELY, MY TRAVEL KEEPS ME FROM GOING TO THE BEACH ALL THE TIME.
BUT I WAS THINKING THAT THESE ARE ALL STATE BOARDS OR WHATEVER.
>> PRESERVATION TOO. WELL, WE SHOULD PROBABLY INCLUDE THAT.
SO I WON'T BE HORRIBLY DISAPPOINTED IF WE DON'T DO THAT.
BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME BECAUSE IT'S A REMINDER NOT TO FLAG SOMETHING.
I REALLY ENJOYED THE PRESENTATION BY MR. NIFONG AND THE SB FOLKS: AGNES, SCOTT.
YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST WITH FOLKS ON THE COMMISSION HERE.
I REALLY AGREE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS.
I WISH WE COULD GET THROUGH THIS. MAYBE WE SHOULD PASS LAW TAXING THEM AND MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS.
>> I WON'T POKE THE BEAR [LAUGHTER].
>> THEN OTHER THAN, I ENJOYED THE PRESENTATION WITH THE DETAINED YOUTH COUNCIL.
I THINK ALL OF THE COMMISSIONER ARE A LITTLE ENVIOUS OF MAYOR PRO TEM TO BE ABLE TO SPEND TIME WITH THE CENTRALIZED YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE CITY OF DECATUR.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING THE NEW CLASS NEXT YEAR.
>> YES, I ECHO THOSE COMMENTS AND THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT MEETING.
I'M ALWAYS SURPRISED AT THE WAY THINGS KNIT TOGETHER ON A GIVEN NIGHT.
SO AGAIN, I THINK WE SAW A LOT OF THAT, AND THE DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL IS UNBELIEVABLE.
I ALWAYS THINK IF I COULD BE AROUND YOUNG PEOPLE MORE, IT COULD RUB OFF ON YOU [LAUGHTER].
>> LUCKY YOU FOR BEING WITH THEM AND THANKS FOR YOU STEWARDSHIP.
>> YOU ARE AROUND YOUNG PEOPLE [LAUGHTER].
>> THAT'S A GOOD ONE [LAUGHTER].
>> I HAVE TWO MORE UNDER THE ROOF THIS SUMMER, WHICH IS AWESOME.
I THOUGHT THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY WORK SESSION WAS THAT WE HAD, THE TWO PIECES OF WERE VERY COMPLIMENTARY.
I APPRECIATED THAT EVEN THOUGH IT TOOK A GOOD CHUNK OF TIME, IT WAS GREAT INFORMATION.
I CAN SEE HOW WELL THEY WORK TOGETHER AND ARE ALIGNING TOWARDS REALLY SIMILAR GOALS.
I FELT LIKE THEY WERE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THEY WERE DOING.
IT'S NOT EASY TO VOLUNTEER AND TO SPEND YOUR EXTRA PERSONAL TIME WORKING ON CITY BUSINESS, BUT I THINK ONCE PEOPLE GET CLOSER TO IT, THEY CAN GET REALLY EXCITED AND SEE THE DIFFERENCE THEY MAKE.
I HEARD IT IN THE YOUTH COUNCIL VOICES TOO.
THAT WAS REALLY GENUINE EXCITEMENT AND HOW THEIR YEAR WENT AND WHAT THEY LEARNED AND ACCOMPLISHED.
THANK YOU TO OUR ARTISTS FOR BEING WITH US.
WE KNOW THAT ANDREA SOMETIMES CRIES OVER THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR, BUT THOUGH, TRULY, IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE, SOMETIMES FRUSTRATION.
BUT TO ADD THIS PIECE AND THE WAY YOU MADE IT SO PERSONAL TONIGHT AND EXPLAINING BACK TO US WHAT THIS MEANT, THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME, AND I VERY MUCH WAS MOVED.
THAT'S WHAT ART IS. IT PROVOKES OUR OWN RESPONSE.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT NAVIGATION BECAUSE NOW THE COMMUNITY KNOWS TOO AND CAN TAKE THAT IN AS THEY ALSO RECOGNIZE THE HOLISTIC WORK THAT THIS IS AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS.
IT'S MORE THAN REAMS OF NUMBERS.
IT REALLY INDICATES OUR PATH AND OUR DIRECTION AND US TRYING TO GET A GOAL TOGETHER.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT COMMUNITY AWARD FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.
I'VE BEEN AT GLENWOOD ESTATES, LIKE WHEN THE SCHOOL RECEIVED IT, FOR EXAMPLE.
BUT TO FEEL LIKE THE WHOLE CITY IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT IT DOES AS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE SCHOOL INSTITUTION AND THE CITY GOVERNMENT, THAT'S A REALLY POWERFUL THING TO BE ABLE TO SAY BACK ALSO TO ANY EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE I THINK WE MODEL SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF CITIES WILL WANT TO DO MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.
I WISH MORE CITIES WERE DOING IT NOW AND WERE THIS WALKABLE.
BUT IT ALSO REALLY SUPPORTS WHEN WE GO TO THE CAPITOL AND MEET WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT WHY WE NEED THE SAFEST STREETS POSSIBLE, PARTICULARLY FOR PEDESTRIANS, BUT FOR ALL USERS.
MAYBE THIS IS JUST ONE MORE PIECE OF OUR NARRATIVE THAT REALLY HELPS US TELL WHY WE NEED THE SAFEST STREETS POSSIBLE FOR ALL USERS AND PARTICULARLY PEDESTRIANS.
I'LL GET TO SHARE WITH OUR NEIGHBOR, FRED BOYKIN, WHO IS AN ARCHITECT AND A REAL PROGENITOR OF THIS ENTIRE PROGRAM AND WHY WE CAN DO.
[03:50:05]
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO COUNT, BUT A COUPLE OF GENERATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ONLY KNOW BEING ABLE TO WALK TO SCHOOL NOW.DAVID NIFONG REALLY HAD A BIG ROLE IN OUR MEETING TODAY, REALLY VALUE HIS INPUT AS WELL. DID HE GO?
HE CARRIED A LOT OF OUR MEETING TONIGHT.
>> THERE'S JUST ONE THING. WE'RE ALMOST THROUGH THE MONTH.
I KNOW THAT THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORS WILL BE MEETING LATER THIS MONTH ON WEDNESDAY THE 28TH.
I HOPE TO MAKE THAT MEETING, AND I ALWAYS VALUE THE TIME I HAVE WITH THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORS.
SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, FIRST, I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING OUR NEWEST FOLKS ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
NOT ONLY ARE YOU APPOINTED, BUT YOU ALSO STAY THROUGH A WHOLE MEETING SO KUDOS TO YOU.
IT VALIDATES US CHOOSING YOU, THANK YOU.
TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE WATCHING AND TOOK PART OF THE PROCESS, THANK YOU AS WELL.
I WANT TO CALL OUT FOUR OF THE YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE SENIORS THIS YEAR, WHO PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN FAIR ON THE SQUARE, BUT ALSO JUST STITCHING TOGETHER THE YOUTH COUNCIL FROM POST PANDEMIC TO NOW, AND THAT'S ROBERT NOBLES, HENRY CASEY, KAYDEN DAYS, AND MCLEAN DRAKE.
I'VE GOTTEN TO REALLY KNOW THEM REALLY WELL, AND IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THEIR PERSONAL GROWTH FROM COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND REALLY COMING INTO THEIR OWN OVER THESE LAST FEW YEARS.
IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE THAT CITY STAFF REALLY TREATS THEM LIKE TRUE ADULTS AND THEY REALLY LEARN A LOT AND THEY REALLY RESPECT YOU GUYS.
IT'S REALLY A HIGH WATER MARK WHEN THEY GET OUT OF HERE AND GO TO PUBLIC WORKS, AND GO TO FIRE DEPARTMENT, GO TO POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY TALK ABOUT IT AND THEY TELL THEIR FRIENDS, AND SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE LOOKING TO BE A PART OF THE DYC.
STAYING ON THE DECATUR HIGH, THE MOCK TRIAL TEAM PLACED FOURTH OUT OF 48 TEAMS AT NATIONALS LAST WEEK.
ANOTHER BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THEM.
LASTLY, ENDING ON THE DECATUR NOTE, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE OUR VERY OWN ALEX POWERS.
SHE WAS NAMED THE 5A GIRLS LACROSSE COACH OF THE YEAR [APPLAUSE].
I'M REALLY PROUD OF HER AND ALL THAT SHE ACCOMPLISHED, AND I KNOW HER MOTHER WOULD BE PROUD BECAUSE I AM. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THANKS AGAIN FOR A GREAT MEETING.
I THINK WE DID GET SOME REALLY IMPORTANT UPDATES FROM THE YOUTH COUNCIL, AND IT IS SO NICE TO SEE THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR THEM TO BRING FORWARD WHAT THEY LEARNED AND WHAT THEY APPRECIATED ABOUT BEING A PART OF THE PROCESS AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND MEREDITH FOR THEIR WORK WITH THE YOUTH COUNCIL.
WE GOT REALLY IMPORTANT UPDATES ALSO FROM ESB AND OUR CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN.
I THINK NOW IT'S HELPFUL TO HEAR THOSE SO WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES AND TO ALSO SEE THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND TO JUST BE ABLE TO LOOK FORWARD TO THINGS THAT NOT ONLY HAVE HAPPENED, BUT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN TO HELP US BEAT OUR COMMUNITY GOALS.
I ALSO WANTED TO JUST MENTION THE PROCLAMATIONS FOR PUBLIC WORKS APPRECIATION WEEK.
AS I SAID EARLIER, IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO EVEN IF WE ONLY DO THIS ONCE A YEAR, TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM.
AS FELIX SAID, SOMETIMES, THEY HEAR FROM FOLKS WHO MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HAPPY, BUT YOU ALWAYS ARE RESPONSIVE AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION THAT YOU ALL PAY TO SERVING OUR RESIDENTS.
IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST BRING THAT FORWARD ONCE A YEAR TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE TEAM AT PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE THEY DO A LOT AND WE ALL DEPEND ON THEM.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP DAYS ARE A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT PUBLIC WORKS DOES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO, THE WORLD FOOTBALL WEEK, THE FIFA WORLD FOOTBALL WEEK, THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER DONE THAT AND I AGREE, COME SEE THE DECATUR FC.
WE HOPEFULLY START THE YEAR OFF WITH A BANG WITH A WIN.
[03:55:01]
I WANT TO SAY KUDOS TO THE TEAM THAT HAS PUT ALL THE EVENTS AND THINGS TOGETHER SO FAR FOR DECATUR WATCH FEST 26.THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MEDIA INTEREST AND I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR PRO TEM GOING FOR THE DATA CENTER DATE.
I SCHEDULED A MEDIA EVENT DURING THAT TIME [LAUGHTER].
I MAY HAVE MORE FUN THAN YOU AND THE CITY MANAGER HAVE DOING WATCH FEST INTERVIEWS, BUT LEARNING ABOUT DATA CENTERS AND WHAT THE ENERGY COST IS AND REALLY HOW DO WE PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE AND LOOK AT THAT AS A REGION IS IMPORTANT.
I THINK WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THAT INFORMATION BACK.
WE HAVE A HOLIDAY NEXT MONDAY.
IT WILL BE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S THE END OF MAY, BUT HOPEFULLY FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE SOME TIME OFF AND ENJOY THAT HOLIDAY.
THERE'S NO FURTHER INFORMATION.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR A GREAT MEETING AND THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 9:40. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.