[WORK SESSION #1 – 5:30 P.M.]
[00:00:11]
>> EVERYONE EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT SOME STREETSCAPES TONIGHT?
WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE STREETSCAPES.
OF COURSE, EVERYONE SEES THEM, THEY WALK IN THEM, THEY DRIVE BY THEM.
>> KC, DO YOU MIND INTRODUCING YOURSELF?
>> SINCE WE'RE BEING RECORDED.
>> I AM KC KRZIC, WITH YOUR PLANNING AND ZONING STAFF.
WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE STREETSCAPE SITE.
THERE ARE TWO DOCUMENTS THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT.
THE ONE IS THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE SECTION 8.2.3, WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE STREETSCAPE SPECIFICALLY.
AS YOU THINK OF THIS, THIS IS OUR ACTUAL CITY CODE.
THIS IS THE LAW WHEN IT SAYS HOW WIDE THESE AREAS ARE, WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THE SECOND COMPONENT IS OUR STREETSCAPE DESIGN GUIDELINES.
THE SIMPLEST WAY TO THINK OF THIS IS A HANDBOOK AS TO HOW IT GETS DESIGNED.
WHEN THEY COME IN THROUGH STAFF, OF COURSE, WE HAVE PAGES AND PAGES TO REVIEW.
ENGINEERING REVIEWS THEM, ZONING REVIEWS THEM, BUILDING, AND THE ARBORIST.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE HERE TONIGHT IS BECAUSE SOME OF THESE ITEMS WERE ACTUALLY BROUGHT FORTH WITHIN YOUR TOWN CENTER 2.0 PLAN, SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE LIGHTING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE LATER.
ANOTHER THING IS THAT THESE REALLY HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED IN OVER A DECADE.
THE LAST TIME THEY WERE UPDATED WAS IN 2014, IT'S TIME TO REVIEW ALL OF THEM, DUST THEM OFF, AND BRING THEM UP TO SOME NEW STANDARDS.
WHAT IS THE STREETSCAPE? WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE PHOTO UP HERE.
IT IS LITERALLY WHERE YOU WALK, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
YOU HAVE THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING FACADE, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO THE BACK OF CURB, WHICH IS REALLY LIKE YOUR DRIVING LANE.
THAT IS EVERYTHING IN THE CENTER, WHERE DINING CHAIRS ARE, POSSIBLY, WHERE YOUR SIDEWALK IS, WHERE YOUR LANDSCAPE STRIPS ARE.
WHY ARE STREETSCAPE SO IMPORTANT? FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE EASE OF ACCESSIBILITY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHERE TO WALK, THAT YOU CAN ACCESS ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL RESTAURANTS, SHOPPING AREAS, THE SQUARE, EVEN THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR SAFETY AND SEPARATION BETWEEN THE VEHICLES AND THE PEDESTRIANS.
THAT LITTLE BIT OF LANDSCAPE BUFFER MAKES YOU FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE.
THEN A SPACE FOR LOUNGING OR REST.
MAYBE YOU'RE WAITING FOR YOUR FRIENDS TO SHOW UP.
MAYBE YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND DIRECTIONS TO YOUR NEXT LOCATION, OR MAYBE IT'S JUST HOT, YOU NEED A BREAK.
[LAUGHTER] THE OTHER THING IS, WE'RE REALLY CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE.
WHEN YOU'VE ARRIVED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, IT HAS THE SAME LOOK THROUGHOUT.
AT THE SAME TIME, IT HAS THAT DISTINCT DESIGN, WHICH CAN ALSO FLUCTUATE BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT AREAS, THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE SOME DIFFERENT STANDARDS WHEN IT COMES TO LIGHTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEN IT, OF COURSE, DRIVES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE KNOW WHERE EVERYTHING IS HERE, BUT YOU GO TO A NEW CITY AND LITERALLY, YOU JUST KEEP FOLLOWING THE SIDEWALK.
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST AS SIMPLE OF THAT.
IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING ELSE IS COMING, SO YOU WANT TO SEE IT.
YOU WANT TO WALK TO IT. YOU WANT TO EAT IT, YOU WANT TO SHOP.
WE WENT AND LOOKED AT THE CURRENT UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS.
MOST OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE CODE IS REALLY JUST A LOT OF HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS. JUST MAKING SURE THE DEFINITIONS ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD AND UNDERSTANDABLE, MAKING SURE THE TERMS MATCH THE TERMS THAT WE TALK ABOUT TODAY, AND MAKING SURE THERE'S A CONSISTENCY WITHIN THE ZONE REQUIREMENTS.
I DO WANT TO WALK THROUGH IT, BECAUSE DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF THE STREET, IT IS DEPENDENT UPON WHAT THAT STREETSCAPE LOOKS LIKE AS TO WIDTH.
IF YOU THINK OF JUST OUR LOCAL RESIDENTIAL AREAS, THERE IS A TWO-FEET WIDE LANDSCAPE ZONE AND A FIVE-FEET WIDE SIDEWALK CLEAR ZONE, ESSENTIALLY, THAT JUST MEANS YOUR SIDEWALK.
ON YOUR COLLECTOR AND URBAN THOROUGHFARES, THESE ARE PRIMARILY YOUR COMMERCIAL AREAS,
[00:05:04]
NOT NECESSARILY IN THE DOWNTOWN, THE ONES THAT ARE THROUGHOUT, AND A LOT OF THE MULTIFAMILY ZONING DISTRICTS.THIS WILL HAVE A SIX-FEET WIDE LANDSCAPE ZONE AND AN EIGHT-FEET WIDE SIDEWALK CLEAR ZONE.
THEN YOUR ARTERIAL AND SUBURBAN AREAS.
THESE ARE REALLY YOUR DOWNTOWN DECATUR SPECIAL PEDESTRIAN DISTRICT.
THAT IS GOING TO BE A SIX-FOOT-WIDE LANDSCAPE ZONE AND A 10-FEET-WIDE SIDEWALK ZONE.
JUST SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY LINE UP HERE.
THIS REALLY SHOWS YOU THE DIFFERENCE IN THE ZONES.
THE SIDEWALK CLEAR ZONE IS THAT WIDER AREA CLOSER TO THE BUILDING.
IN THE CODE, WE DO ALLOW TABLES, CHAIRS, AND UMBRELLAS ASSOCIATED WITH OUTSIDE DINING.
WE STILL MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AT LEAST FIVE FEET IN WIDTH FOR ACCESSIBILITY.
THEN IN THAT LANDSCAPE ZONE, THAT'S WHERE YOU WILL SEE YOUR STREET TREES, YOUR STREET LIGHTING, YOUR TRASH RECEPTACLES, BENCHES, AND BIKE RACKS.
KEEP THOSE AS TWO DIFFERENT ONES.
THEN TURN IT OVER TO ENGINEERING, BUT WHEN WE THINK OF THE ACTUAL STREETSCAPE GUIDELINES.
THAT IS THE HANDBOOK, MULTIPLE PAGES LONG, SO ENGINEERS AND DESIGN PROFESSIONALS CAN USE IT.
IT'S REALLY BROKEN OUT INTO SIX SECTIONS.
THOSE TYPICAL LAYOUTS, HOW DOES THAT STREETSCAPE LOOK? THE ACCESSIBILITY.
THE PAVING STANDARDS, THE SITE FURNISHING.
THAT'S YOUR STREET FURNITURE, YOUR PLANTINGS, AND YOUR DRAINAGE.
AS WE GO THROUGH THE NEXT ONES, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE COMPARTMENTALIZED THAT WAY.
>> QUESTION. WHO OWNS A STREETSCAPE? IS IT PART OF THE RIGHT OF WAY, OR IS IT PRIVATE PROPERTY, OR A MIX?
>> IT'S A MIX. SOMETIMES IT DEPENDS WHEN NEW DEVELOPMENT COMES IN.
IT'S TYPICALLY WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY, BUT MANY TIMES THEY DO HAVE TO DEDICATE SOME, OR SOMETIMES IT'S REALLY MORE OF A SHARED AGREEMENT FOR THEM TO GET THE 10 FEET SOMETIMES.
JUST DEPENDS ON THE DIFFERENT RIGHT OF WAY, WHAT THE WIDTHS ARE SPECIFICALLY.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MS. JULIE TO WALK THROUGH YOUR ENGINEERING UPDATES.
>> A QUICK QUESTION IF YOU CAN ANSWER.
>> TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, DO YOU THINK OUR BUSINESSES, RETAIL, AND RESTAURANT DOWNTOWN, DO YOU THINK THEY UNDERSTAND OUR STREETSCAPE, AND IS IT HELPFUL TO THEM TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT?
>> WELL, I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND IT.
I DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTAND IT IF THEY HAVE OUTDOOR DINING, BECAUSE, OF COURSE, WE'LL HAVE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, AND SOMETIMES THEY APPROACH INTO THAT ACCESSIBILITY.
BUT I ABSOLUTELY THINK MORE KNOWLEDGE IS BETTER.
>> I GUESS I WAS GOING TO SAY FROM OWNERSHIP, BUT THEN ALSO RESPONSIBILITY, LIKE, DO THEY HAVE LATITUDE TO CLEAN IF THEY WANT OR NEED VERSUS WHEN SHOULD THEY EXPECT THE CITY TO COME, OR THEY CAN JUST TIDY UP A ZONE IN FRONT OF THEIR PLACE? FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS WONDERING HOW YOU THINK THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE SET AROUND THAT.
>> I'M ASSUMING PUBLIC WORKS DOES THE MAJORITY, BUT YET, OF COURSE, WHEN THEY HAVE OUTDOOR DINING AND JUST WALKING, THEY'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN THEIR AREA OUT FRONT, JUST NO DIFFERENT THAN YOU WOULD MAINTAIN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE.
>> BECAUSE I SEE HUGE DIFFERENCES IN CONDITION, IN DIFFERENT STRETCHES OF OUR DOWNTOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE PLACES WHERE LEAVES WILL BE FOR WEEKS.
WHERE THEN, IN ANOTHER STRETCH, MAYBE THAT GROUP OF RESTAURANTS AND OWNERS UNDERSTAND DIFFERENTLY, AND THEN THEY DO MORE OF THEIR OWN.
I THINK IT'S ASYMMETRICAL AROUND DOWNTOWN.
>> JUST ADD THAT SPECIFICALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, THE AMBASSADORS WILL HAVE TAKEN THAT OWNERSHIP OF CLEANING MORE THOROUGHLY, SUCH AS PRESSURE WASHING.
IF THERE'S TRASH, THEY'LL COME AND PICK THAT UP AS WELL.
BUT A LOT OF TIMES, THE BUSINESS OWNERS ALSO CARE ABOUT THEIR APPEARANCES AND THE VISITORS AND CUSTOMERS THAT THEY RECEIVE, THOSE AESTHETICS MEAN A LOT TO THEM.
SOME BUSINESS OWNERS TAKE BETTER CARE THAN SAY OTHERS WHERE OTHERS MIGHT NOT HAVE THE STAFF OR THE RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF THAT, SO THEY'LL CALL UPON THE AMBASSADORS TO HELP OUT.
>> THAT'S HELPFUL. IT COULD MAKE SENSE TO HELP THEM WITH SOME TYPE OF OVERVIEW AT SOME POINT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE STREETSCAPE.
>> EVENING. JULIE GYURICZA, SENIOR ENGINEER FOR PUBLIC WORKS.
FOR THE ENGINEERING TAKE ON THIS, THE OVERALL CHANGES MAINLY INVOLVED THE TYPICAL STREETSCAPE LAYOUTS AND INCORPORATING STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
[00:10:01]
AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THESE TYPICAL LAYOUTS.CURRENTLY, WE ONLY HAVE, IN THE GUIDELINES AS THEY STAND NOW, ONE TYPICAL STREETSCAPE LAYOUT.
SHOWN HERE ARE SOME MINOR UPDATES TO THAT EXISTING LAYOUT.
THERE'S REALLY NO GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THERE ARE TREE WELLS EXISTING.
SOME OF THE CHANGES WAS THE TREE WELLS HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN LENGTH TO 16 FEET TO THIS LAYOUT AND REMOVED FROM, THEY'RE ONLY MAINTAINED IN THE LANDSCAPE ZONE.
LET ME FAST-FORWARD TO SHOW YOU. SHOWN HERE IS THE CURRENT ONE IN OUR GUIDELINES.
YOU SEE HOW THE TREE WELLS ARE ON BOTH SIDES, UP AGAINST THE BUILDING AND THE STREETS.
THEY'RE OUT OF THE CLEAR ZONE, BUT THEY'RE UP AGAINST THE BUILDING AND THEY'RE IN THE LANDSCAPE ZONE.
THE CHANGES WE MADE REMOVED THEM FROM THE BUILDING BECAUSE ANY WATER INFILTRATION, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE DON'T WANT NEAR THE BUILDINGS.
WE DON'T WANT WATER DIRECTING WATER TO BUILDING FOUNDATIONS.
>> THOSE MARKED SQUARES ARE BUILDINGS.
>> NO, THAT IS SIDEWALK, CONCRETE SIDEWALK.
YOU'LL SEE THE ADA RAMPS AND THE TREE WELLS, CONCRETE SIDEWALK IN THE SPACING.
THAT IS THE CURRENT UPDATED EXISTING TYPICAL STREETSCAPE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO DO WAS INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL ALTERNATE TYPICAL STREETSCAPE LAYOUTS.
ONE OF THE FIRST PAGES IN THE GUIDELINE ARE TYPICAL LAYOUT NODES.
THE LAST LINE ITEM ON THOSE NODES IS LINE-ITEM M. IT CURRENTLY READS: STORMWATER DRAINAGE SHALL MEET GDOT STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND DETAILS, AND THAT IS IT.
THAT'S ALL IT HAS. WE WANTED TO INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL TEXT TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE THE USE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN LAYOUTS.
THOSE THREE TEXTS RIGHT THERE ARE PROMOTING BIOSWALES, PERMEABLE PAVERS, MODULAR SUSPENDED SYSTEMS, THE SILVER CELLS THAT ARE UNDERNEATH SIDEWALKS AND PLANTINGS, BASICALLY TRYING TO REDUCE URBAN RUNOFF.
THIS WAS THE CURRENT ONE THAT WE'VE CHANGED THAT WE WENT THROUGH, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE THREE NEW TYPICAL STREETSCAPE LAYOUTS: A MODULAR SUSPENDED PAVEMENT SYSTEM LAYOUT, A PERMEABLE PAVEMENT SYSTEM LAYOUT, AND A BIOSWALE LAYOUT.
THE FIRST OF THESE ARE THE MODULAR SUSPENDED PAVEMENT SYSTEM LAYOUT.
THIS GRAPHIC I CHOSE JUST SO YOU COULD GET A VISUAL OF WHAT THAT SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE UNDERNEATH THE SIDEWALK CLEAR AREA.
ALL OF THESE LAYOUTS, ALL OF THESE MEASURES WILL BE MAINTAINED ONLY IN THE LANDSCAPE ZONE.
YOU HAVE A BASICALLY AN ENGINEERED STRUCTURE CELLS.
THE MOST COMMON ONE IS CALLED SILVA CELLS, AND THEY WILL BE AROUND THE TREE WELLS IN THAT LANDSCAPE ZONE.
THEY ARE OPEN AIR WITH UNCOMPACTED SOILS TO PROMOTE ROOT GROWTH AND ALLOWING WATER TO FLOW UNDERNEATH.
>> THAT MEANS THAT HERE FLOWS THROUGH THE SURFACE AND JUST GOES BACK AND FORTH.
>> THROUGH THAT TREE WELL, WATER WILL INFILTRATE THROUGH, THOSE ROOTS CAN HAVE MORE ROOM TO EXPAND, AND THE WATER HAS ROOM TO INFILTRATE AND PERMEATE BACK INTO THE SOILS.
>> SOIL ITSELF IS LIKE A FRAME.
>> IT'S LIKE A FRAME. IT CAN BE PLASTIC OR CONCRETE, BUT YES, IT'S JUST A FRAME.
YOU'LL SEE IT'S IN A LIGHTER COLOR.
IT'S A SHOW THAT IT'S UNDERGROUND AND THERE'S AN X, AND IT'S JUST LIKE CUBES.
ON THE LEFT IS THE NEW TYPICAL LAYOUT AS AN OPTION TO SHOW THAT THE SQUARES THAT GRID CAN BE A CONCRETE PAVEMENT, IT CAN BE PERMEABLE PAVEMENT, BUT ONLY PERMEABLE IF IT'S IN THE LANDSCAPE ZONE.
THEN THE LARGER TREE WELLS AGAIN, THE 16-FOOT LENGTH, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THE PERFORATED UNDER-DRAIN SYSTEM TO CATCH ANY EXCESS WATER THAT SEEPS THROUGH THAT WILL BE CONNECTED BACK TO THE CITY STORMWATER SYSTEM.
THEN TO SHOW THE UPDATED TREE WELL, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT 16-FOOT LENGTH.
YOU CAN SEE ON EITHER SIDE ARE THOSE SILVA CELLS FOR THE MODULAR SUSPENDED PAVEMENT.
>> SIXTEEN FEET FOR THE PROPOSED OR NEW TREE WELLS. WHAT ARE THEY CURRENTLY?
[00:15:02]
>> THE NEXT TYPICAL STREETSCAPE LAYOUT IS TRYING TO INCORPORATE PERMEABLE PAVEMENT.
THIS GRAPHIC SHOWS A CROSS-SECTIONAL DETAIL SO YOU CAN ENVISION WHAT THE UNDERLAYER SYSTEMS BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK OF PERMEABLE PAVERS, ALL YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ON THE TOP ARE PAVERS.
UNDERNEATH ARE THE DIFFERENT LAYERS THAT THERE'S A BEDDING LAYER, A BASE LAYER, A SUB-BASE LAYER, WHICH IS THE MAIN WATER RESERVOIR TO HOLD, THEN IT'LL BE FINISHED OFF WITH THE UNCOMPACTED SUBGRADE, WHICH IS THE EXISTING SOILS.
HERE ARE THE NEW TYPICAL LAYOUT, AND ALSO THE DETAIL ON THE LEFT, IS WE'VE BEEN USING IN THE CITY FOR A WHILE, MAINLY WITH RESIDENTIAL PERMITS AND DEVELOPMENTS.
A LOT OF RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY USING PERMEABLE PAVERS IN THEIR DRIVEWAYS OR PATIOS, AND AS PART OF THAT REVIEW PROCESS, THEY, TOO, HAVE TO HAVE THIS DETAIL ON THEIR PLANS.
WHEN THESE THINGS ARE BEING INSTALLED, WE GO OUT AND INSPECT THEM DURING INSTALLATION.
WE REQUIRE THIS DETAIL ON THEIR PLANS AND WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT IN THE STREETSCAPES THAT WE COME OUT, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING INSTALLED CORRECTLY DURING CONSTRUCTION, BECAUSE ONCE IT'S FINISHED, WE HAVE NO WAY ELSE OF KNOWING THAT IT WAS INSTALLED WITH THE CORRECT LAYERS.
AGAIN, JUST LIKE THE MODULAR SUSPENDED PAVEMENT, THERE'LL BE A PERFORATED UNDERDRAIN TO COLLECT ANY EXCESS WATER AND BE PUT BACK INTO THE CITY STORMWATER SYSTEM.
>> BOTH OF THESE ALSO HAVE MAX AND MINIMUM SLOPES.
AGAIN, WE'RE ENCOURAGING THESE.
IT MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE FEASIBLE, BUT WHEN FEASIBLE, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LIKING TO SEE.
THEN LASTLY, THE BIOSWALE LAYOUT.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A BIOSWALE DETAIL, BUT IT'S A BIOSWALE PLANTER IN THE GUIDELINES, WHICH DOESN'T HOLD AS MUCH.
THE VOLUME CAPACITY IS LESS, BUT IT STILL CAN BE USED JUST LIKE THIS PROPOSED LAYOUT.
IT'S JUST FOR MORE URBANIZED AREAS IF WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME ROOM.
BUT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO PROMOTE IS A SHALLOW LANDSCAPED CHANNEL DESIGNED TO CAPTURE STORMWATER RUNOFF AND FILTER IT NATURALLY.
IT WOULD BE IN SERIES AND THEY WOULD HAVE A SERIES OF CHECK DAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SLOW THE WATER DOWN, PROMOTE THE INFILTRATION, STOP ANY EROSION.
HERE IS THE NEW TYPICAL LAYOUT, AND THEN THE CROSS-SECTIONAL DETAIL OF IT AS WELL AS THE PROFILE VIEW.
AGAIN, ONLY IN THE FRONT LANDSCAPE ZONE, AND THIS WOULD WORK IN SERIES IF WE HAD THE ROOM AND CAPACITY.
IF WE DON'T, WE STILL HAVE THE EXISTING DETAIL OF THE BIOSWALE PLANTER THAT WE HAVE BEEN USING, AND YOU'RE PROBABLY SEEING IN AREAS IN THE CITY.
>> IF WE GO PROBABLY DRIVE TOWARD LEGACY PARK, IS THAT A PLANTER OR MORE A BIOSWALE?
>> THOSE ARE MORE OF A PLANTERS, BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE INDIVIDUALIZED.
THERE'S CURB CUTS, SO WATER IS GETTING IN SECTIONS, BUT IT'S NOT MOVING IN A CHANNEL.
>> THAT MEANS IT'S ALSO [INAUDIBLE]
>> CORRECT. I MEAN, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE IN THE GUIDELINES AND THEY ALL WORK THE SAME.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF VOLUME, SLOPES.
I MEAN, WE WOULDN'T WANT TO USE A CHANNEL ON A HIGH SLOPE, SO IT WILL BE SITE-SPECIFIC ON WHICH WE WOULD PREFER.
THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I DON'T HAVE HERE BUT KAY WILL GET INTO IS OUR TYPICAL PLANTINGS LIST.
SHE HAS SOME UPDATES FOR HERS, BUT THERE IS NO TYPICAL PLANTING LIST CURRENTLY IN OUR GUIDELINES FOR BIOSWALES.
THEY HAVE IT FOR TREES, UNDERSTORY TREES, SHRUBS, AND GROUND COVER.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING SURE WE HAVE, IN THESE NEW GUIDELINES, AN UPDATED PLANTING LIST FOR THESE BIOSWALES, SO THEY HAVE MORE GUIDELINES TO USE AND MAKE THEM MOST EFFECTIVE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR ENGINEERING.
DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE I HAND IT OFF TO KAY?
>> THESE WILL BE OPTIONS, CORRECT?
>> THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE NECESSARILY A STANDARD, I GUESS, LAND STREETSCAPE THAT WOULD BE UP TO MAYBE INDIVIDUAL AS NEW BUILDINGS ARE BUILT OR THINGS? I'M JUST TRYING TO VISUALIZE IF ONE DEVELOPER DECIDES TO DO A BIOSWALE, AND THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR DECIDES TO DO PERMEABLE PAVERS.
WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE CONSISTENCY, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT?
>> I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.
I THINK AS KESSIE WAS TALKING ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING, WE HAVE THE ORDINANCES AND WE HAVE THE GUIDELINES.
WE AS CITY EMPLOYEES WHEN WE'RE REVIEWING THESE PLANS, WE'LL WORK WITH THOSE DEVELOPERS BASED ON HOW MUCH LIGHT THIS AREA GETS,
[00:20:01]
WHAT THE SLOPE IS, HOW DENSE IT IS.LOOKING AT THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES, I THINK IT WOULD BE SITE-SPECIFIC, AND IN THE REVIEW PROCESS MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, AND UNIFORMITY WOULD DEFINITELY BE ONE OF OUR THINGS THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT.
>> I ASSUME NONE OF THIS IS FOR THE TWO [INAUDIBLE]
>> NO. THIS IS SIX FOOT. THANK YOU.
>> KAY EVANOVICH, ONE OF YOUR CITY ARBORIST.
[LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME ARBORICULTURAL UPDATES ON THE STREETSCAPE, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD ON THIS TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING RIGHT.
LIKE THEY TALKED ABOUT, WE HAVE THIS EXISTING PROFILE THAT SHOWED THE TREES UP AGAINST BUILDINGS.
OF COURSE, WE ARE TAKING THAT OUT.
ALSO ON THE NEW STREETSCAPE LAYOUT ARE MULTIPLE LAYOUTS, EACH IS BASED ON DIFFERENT SIDEWALK WIDTHS, REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ZONES THEY'RE IN, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE USING PERMEABLE PAVERS, AND THOSE THINGS.
WE DON'T WANT THE TREES PLANTED UP AGAINST BUILDINGS.
LIKE SHE SAID, THAT CREATES A LOT OF PROBLEMS. WE'VE ALSO TAKEN THE TREES OUT OF THOSE CURB ENDS BECAUSE PEOPLE BACK INTO THEM AND THEN THE TREES GET DAMAGED.
IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE CONSTANTLY.
LOOKING AT THE DIMENSIONS LIKE SHE TALKED ABOUT, OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE AND THE GUIDELINES SAY NINE FEET BY SIX FEET FOR THE TREE WELL DIMENSIONS.
ON THE NEW PROPOSED, WE HAVE 16 FEET BY SIX FEET.
WE'RE LIMITED IN THE WIDTH, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE SILVA CELLS AND STRUCTURAL SOILS COME IN UNDERNEATH THAT PAVEMENT TO GIVE THE TREES GOOD VOLUME SPACE FOR ROOTING.
YOU CAN SEE THE GREEN HASHED AREAS POINTS OUT WHERE YOUR SILVA CELLS OR STRUCTURAL CELLS WOULD START.
THEN THE YELLOW, YOU'LL NOTICE THERE'S NOW AN INLET NOTCH IN THAT CEMENT TO ALLOW WATER FLOW IN OR OUT.
IF IT GETS TOO MUCH WATER, IT'S NOT GOING TO FLOOD THE TREES OUT.
THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA WITH THIS, PLUS YOU'VE GOT THE UNDER DRAIN SYSTEM THAT WILL ALSO CARRY AWAY EXCESS WATER.
>> WILL THIS NEW DIMENSION CHANGE THE TYPE OR SIZE OF TREES THAT CAN BE PLANTED?
>> SOMEWHAT, YOU STILL ARE GOING TO HAVE THE 2.5 INCH CALIBER MINIMUM.
IF THEY WANTED TO GO TO A LARGER TREE SIZE, THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE THE ROOT BALL WIDTH.
THAT'S TRICKY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH ROOT BALL IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN THE LARGER TREE.
WITH THAT MINIMUM ON THE SIX FEET WIDE, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE COULD GET A LARGER BALL.
I KNOW WE CAN GET PROBABLY UP TO A THREE INCH CALIBER, MAYBE A 3.5.
IT DEPENDS ON THE VARIETY OF TREE AND ALL THAT.
BUT TYPICALLY, THIS IS GOING TO FIT A 2.5-3 INCH FAIRLY WELL.
THE ROOT SYSTEM IS THERE FOR IT TO GROW OUT INTO THAT STRUCTURAL SOIL, WHICH IS UNDERNEATH, SO WE'RE NOT GETTING NOW WHERE EVERYTHING COMES ABOVE THE GROUND BECAUSE IT HAS NO MORE SPACE.
>> A HEALTHIER TREE, I'M ASSUMING?
>> YES. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING.
THIS IS WHAT THE STRUCTURAL SOIL CELLS LOOK LIKE JUST SO THAT YOU CAN GET A SIDE VIEW OF IT.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE TREE ROOT BALL IS THERE.
THEN ON THE SIDE, YOU SEE THE STRUCTURAL COMPONENT TO IT, AND EACH ONE IS CAPPED AND IT'S FILLED WITH GOOD HEALTHY SOILS.
THEN AT THE VERY BASE, IT HAS A DRAINAGE SYSTEM OFF TO THE SIDE.
WHATEVER PERKS IN, WHAT THE TREE DOESN'T UTILIZE, THEN THAT RUNS OFF, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
YOU DON'T WANT THEM SITTING IN WATER.
THEY ARE SITE-SPECIFIC DESIGNS TO INCORPORATE WATERING FROM DOWNSPOUTS AND/OR OVERLAND FLOW USING THOSE SILVA CELL OR STRUCTURAL SOIL CELLS.
THIS IS HOW THEY LOOK. BUT EACH ONE HAS TO BE SPECIFICALLY REDESIGNED JUST LIKE WE DID FOR THE ONE IN FRONT OF THE HAMPTON INN PROJECT.
THOSE ARE SILVA CELLS ALL UNDERNEATH THOSE TREES AS WELL, AND THEY'RE DOING PRETTY WELL.
I'M HAPPY WITH THAT. BUT IT'S A SITE-SPECIFIC DESIGN.
THIS GIVES YOU THAT OVERVIEW OF WHERE THE CELLS WILL ACTUALLY BE IN THE THING.
IN SOME SITUATIONS, LIKE WHERE IT SAYS LOCATION OF STRUCTURAL SOIL CELLS, AND YOU SEE THAT GRID PATTERN THAT COMES IN, GOES OUT, COMES IN, GOES OUT.
WE DON'T WANT IT RIGHT UP AGAINST THE BUILDING, BUT IT CAN FLANK OUT TO THE SIDE UNDERNEATH THAT WALKWAY AREA BECAUSE YOU'RE GIVING THE TREES ROOM TO EXPAND INTO THOSE CELLS.
IT WOULD BE A CONNECTED ROOT ZONE.
EACH TREE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GROW TO ITS PARTNER, AND IT REALLY MAKES A MUCH MORE HEALTHY TREE, GIVES IT A MUCH MORE STURDY BASE, AND YOU'RE DESIGNING IT FOR WATER FLOW INTO THE SYSTEM, TRAPPING STORMWATER, AND AT THE SAME TIME HELPING TO KEEP THE TREES ALIVE FOR LONGER.
[00:25:01]
YOU SEE THE LOCATION OF THE PERMEABLE PAVEMENT DIRECTLY IN THAT LANDSCAPE STRIP.THAT'S WHERE THEY'LL BE, AND IT CAN BE THAT THE STRUCTURAL CELLS ARE A LITTLE BIT OFF TO THE SIDE BUT NOT UP TO THE BUILDING.
AGAIN, THIS IS A NEW STRUCTURAL CELL DETAIL FOR STREET TREES, ALLOWING MORE ROOT AREA AND LONGER LIVE TREES.
IT ALSO MATCHES OUR AMOUNT OF SOIL REQUIRED FOR HEALTHY TREE DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S BEEN PUT IN.
AS WE TALK ABOUT THE WATER INFILTRATION, HOW DO OUR SYSTEMS GET AFFECTED WHEN THERE IS LIKE LEAF DEBRIS AND THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T BE IN THE SYSTEM? WILL THESE SYSTEMS FILTER THAT OUT? WILL IT GET IN THE SYSTEMS AND CLOG IT?
>> YOU HAVE A LAYER OF MULCH OVER THE OPEN WELLS.
THAT SHOULD FILTER, AND ACTUALLY WOULD BE A GOOD THING IF WE CAN MIX THE LEAF DEBRIS INTO THE MULCH.
THERE'S EVEN INTERLOCKING MULCH THAT WE CAN USE THAT KEEPS IT FROM RUNNING OFF.
THE CURBS ALSO HELP THAT FROM SHIFTING OUT TO AND FLOATING.
YOU WILL GET A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.
BUT YOU ACTUALLY WANT THE LEAF DEBRIS IN THERE BECAUSE IT BREAKS DOWN AND MAKES NITROGEN AND ADDS TO THE NUTRIENT CAPABILITY OF THE LEAVES, BECAUSE THEY BREAK DOWN TO MAKE NUTRIENTS FOR THE TREE.
IDEALLY, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, IS THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH PORES AND TO BE ABLE TO AMEND THAT SOIL PERIODICALLY, MIX THE LEAVES INTO THE MULCH, AND MAYBE JUST LAND A NEW LAYER ON TOP TO MAKE IT LOOK NICE AND UNIFORM.
ON THE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE, AND I'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND, BUT YOU GO AHEAD AND CHANGE SLIDES.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS ONE? NO.
>> THIS IS YOUR EXISTING PLANTING DETAIL.
YOU NOTICE IT'S NINE FEET BY SIX FEET, VERY SMALL.
THIS IS WHY THE TREES ARE NOW COMING UP AND ALL THE ROOTS ARE ON THE SURFACE.
IN THIS NEW DESIGN, YOU'RE GETTING 16 FEET OF SURFACE AREA FOR THEM TO GO INTO UNDERGROUND, PLUS THE ADDED SOIL AND STRUCTURAL CELLS.
FOR SMALL TREES, THIS MIGHT ACTUALLY BE A VIABLE SPACE TO NOT EVEN HAVE TO USE A STRUCTURAL CELL.
HOWEVER, THE LARGE STREET TREES ARE GOING TO NEED THAT ADDITIONAL SPACE WITH THE STRUCTURAL CELLS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S BASICALLY ON-SITE DESIGN.
OF COURSE, ON THE NEW DETAIL, WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THEY CUT AND REMOVE ALL OF THE WIRE STRAPS, TWINE, BURLAP, ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BALL.
BECAUSE IF NOT, IT ACTS LIKE A WICK AND DRIES THE TREE OUT.
[NOISE] I DID FIND SOME OF THOSE WHEN I STARTED BACK IN 2016.
WE GOT MOST OF THOSE REMOVED, BUT THEY'RE CROWDED OUT RIGHT NOW BY OUR EXISTING STREET TREES, BUT I THINK THIS IS A MUCH BETTER DESIGN.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DO AWAY WITH THE STRAPPING AND GUYING.
RIGHT NOW, OUR EXISTING STAKING DETAIL IS YOU PUT THE STAKES IN, YOU TIE THE TREE UP, AND YOU'RE NOT ALLOWING IT TO MOVE.
IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE IN THE WIND WITH THE TRUNK BECAUSE THAT DEVELOPS RESPONSE WOOD FOR WHICHEVER WAY THE WIND IS GOING TO TREAT THIS TREE.
IN THAT DOWNTOWN SCAPE, WE END UP GETTING A WIND FUNNEL, SO WE WANT THEM TO DEVELOP THAT TAPER IN GOOD RESPONSE.
INSTEAD, WE'RE SWITCHING IT TO A ROOT BALL STAKING DETAIL.
THESE HAVE WORKED EXTREMELY WELL.
THERE'S NO STRAPS TO REMOVE AT THE END PHASE, YOU'RE STAKING THE BALL IN PLACE, AND THE TREE ITSELF IS ALLOWED TO MOVE AND RESPOND TO THE WIND, BUT IT DOESN'T FALL OVER.
IT'S A WIN-WIN ALL THE WAY AROUND.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE, INCLUDING JUST WOOD STAKES AND METAL STAKES, BUT THERE'S ALSO TREE STAPLES THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT'S A PRE-DONE ISSUE.
WHICHEVER THEY PREFER TO PURCHASE, AND WE'LL DO ALL THAT IN REVIEW.
>> THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE USE LIKE AT LEGACY THAT WHEN WE'RE PLANTING TREES INSTEAD OF THIS BECAUSE I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE STRAPPING.
>> YES, YOU WON'T SEE THOSE ANYMORE.
>> I TRY NOT TO HAVE THOSE PUT ON IF I CAN HELP IT.
[LAUGHTER] IT JUST MAKES A TRIP HAZARD AMONGST OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TREE AS THEY AGE IF THEY'RE NOT TAKEN OFF PROPERLY.
THEN WE GET INTO THE LIST OF PLANTINGS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD OPINIONS ON WHAT TYPE OF PLANT WE SHOULD USE.
WE TRIED TO INCORPORATE EVERYTHING THAT WE GOT FROM EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE ADDED IN THE CHERRYBARK OAK, WHICH YOU CAN SEE UP AT THE LEFT TOP CORNER.
WE KEPT THE WILLOW OAK BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A GOOD STREET TREE, BUT WE NEED SOME DIVERSITY.
RIGHT NOW, IF WE GET A BLIGHT OR A PEST IN THAT AFFECTS THEM, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE ENTIRE STREET TREE CANOPY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO AVOID.
WE'RE GOING TO BE MIXING IN THINGS LIKE SOUTHERN SUGAR MAPLE, WHICH DOES FAIRLY WELL AS A STREET TREE.
I KNOW YOU THINK, HEY, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SMALL, BUT THEY ACTUALLY DO EXTREMELY WELL IN PARKING LOT AREAS.
IT'S A REALLY GOOD STREET TREE.
AMERICAN HORNBEAM IS ANOTHER ONE, AND THAT IS A MEDIUM CANOPY TREE, BECAUSE NOT EVERYWHERE IS GOING TO SUPPORT A LARGE CANOPY TREE.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE UNDERSTORY OR SMALLER TREES.
[00:30:02]
AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT RED BUCKEYE, WHICH IS JUST GORGEOUS WHEN IT GETS UP.GIVE US A LITTLE RED COLOR CANOPY THERE.
THEN WE HAVE THE DOGWOODS AND FRINGE TREE, WHICH DOES EXTREMELY WELL HERE.
WE'VE PLANTED SEVERAL OF THEM AS STREET TREES AND A LOT OF THE ONES ON OAK VIEW, ACTUALLY, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THEM THERE TOO, AND THEY'RE DOING QUITE WELL.
EASTER REDBUD IS STILL IN THERE.
IT'S A GOOD HEALTHY NATIVE TREE, AS WELL AS SERVICEBERRY AND PURPLE SMOKE OR AMERICAN SMOKETREE.
AGAIN, ALL THOSE WILL BE LOOKED AT IN REVIEW.
IF YOU NOTICE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE NEW SHRUBS THAT WE'RE SUGGESTING, WHICH IS THE DWARF VIBURNUM, AND PINK MUHLY GRASS IS STILL IN THERE.
IT'S A DIFFERENT HEIGHT TO ANOTHER ONE WE'LL LOOK AT IN JUST A SECOND, BUT REALLY BEAUTIFUL COLOR POP IN THAT AS WELL.
THEN WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER NATIVES THAT WE ADDED TO THE LIST AS WELL.
THIS IS RIGHT NOW THE COMPLETE LIST EXCEPT FOR THE BIOSWALES.
>> AMERICAN ELMS PLANTED [INAUDIBLE]
>> THE AMERICAN ELMS, THEY'VE BEEN DONE A LOT.
WE ALSO HAVE A PEST THAT IS IN OUR AREA NOW THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE, THE EMERALD ASH BORER, AND A COUPLE OF OTHER ELM PESTS.
AT THIS POINT, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I'M GOING TO LOOK AT FOR A STREET TREE. IT WOULD BE ON [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT IS PLANTED IN FRONT OF THE ARTISAN TREES.
>> YES. I THINK THAT WAS BACK BEFORE WE HAD THAT ISSUE.
IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THEM, THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO HAVE THAT SPLIT AS WELL AS THEY GO UP AND BRANCH VERY TIGHTLY.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING I'M REALLY RECOMMENDING ANYMORE, BUT IT'S ON THE LIST.
>> NO PROBLEM. THEN WE HAVE THE SMALLER PLANTINGS, GROUND COVERS.
DWARF TICKSEED, BEAUTIFUL, YELLOW FLOWER.
WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER CREEPING FLOCKS AND PURPLE LOVE GRASS, WHICH IS A SMALLER VERSION OF THAT LARGER PURPLE GRASS THAT YOU SAW.
CHEROKEE SEDGE, WHICH IS A NATIVE, AS WELL AS BLUE-EYED GRASS, AND CATNIP, WHICH HAS DONE EXTREMELY WELL IN OUR POLLINATOR GARDENS.
SOME REALLY NICE PLANT MIXES THAT YOU CAN SEE.
I TRIED TO GIVE YOU AN IMAGE IN THE CENTER OF AN EXISTING LANDSCAPE THAT USES THOSE PLANTS, AND THEY'RE DROUGHT-TOLERANT, WHICH IS REALLY NICE AS WELL BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO WATER ALL THESE PLANTS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. HARDY, DROUGHT-TOLERANT, XERISCAPE PLANTS THAT CAN ACTUALLY COME IN AND HOLD UP.
>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
[LAUGHTER] I'M GUESSING THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GET DONE TO HELP WITH AS WELL AS COMMINUTORS AND OUR LANDSCAPE GOODS.
>> IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE INVESTORS.
THEN WE ALSO CONTRACT WITH A COMPANY CALLED OPEN AIR, WHO ALSO TAKES CARE OF SOME OF THE PLANTERS AS WELL.
BUT THAT'S OUR TWO PRIMARY GROUPS THAT HELP WITH MEETING.
>> ULTIMATELY, IT IS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY REGARDLESS.
[OVERLAPPING] IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
>> THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TRAINING INVOLVED WITH THIS AS TO WHAT STAYS, WHAT GOES, WHAT DO WE, WHAT'S NOT.
BUT I THINK OVERALL, IT WOULD GIVE US A REALLY GOOD COLOR POP AND PALETTE THAT WE DON'T HAVE NOW WITH THE USE AND OVERUSE OF MONDO GRASS [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT FOR ME. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE STREET FURNITURE.
THE ONE ITEM THAT WE KNOW WE WILL BE UPDATING IS THE PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING.
SPECIFICALLY, IT'S THE LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
THE POLE WILL ACTUALLY REMAIN THE SAME.
THIS NEW FIXTURE IS DARK SKY-COMPLIANT AND LED.
IF YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO SEE ONE, IT'S OUT IN THE FRONT OF CITY HALL.
TAKE A LITTLE LOOKY LOO BETWEEN THE FRONT AND THEN TO THE BACK PARKING LOT AND YOU'LL SEE HOW THE ACTUAL DARK SKY LIGHTING ACTUALLY CHANGES, HOW IT LIGHTS UP AND CLEAR AND ALL OF THAT.
THE EAST DECATUR DISTRICT WILL STAY THE SAME, SO WILL THE OAKHURST VILLAGE AREA.
[00:35:02]
WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT KEEPING THE CURRENT ONE IN PLACE, BUT WE ARE CONSIDERING OTHER OPTIONS.SPECIFICALLY, LOOKING FOR BENCHES FOR [NOISE] COMFORT.
THOSE ARE ONES THAT HAVE THE BACK LIKE YOU SEE, BUT ALSO HAVING FLAT BENCHES WHICH DO ALLOW SOME FLEXIBILITY.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE OR SIT DIFFERENT WAYS, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SIT BOTH SIDES.
>> THERE YOU GO. [LAUGHTER] CENTER ARM RESTS ARE BEING LOOKED AT TO DISCOURAGE CERTAIN PEOPLE FROM SITTING THERE FOR LONGER AREA TIMES.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MATERIALS, WE'RE CONSIDERING THE DURABILITY, THE HEAVY USE THAT THEY RECEIVE, WEATHER, AND OF COURSE, THE EASE OF MAINTENANCE.
ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE GRAFFITI RESISTANT, AND THAT THE DESIGN DOES NOT REALLY DISTRACT FROM THE EXISTING BUILT ENVIRONMENTS AND WHAT THOSE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES ARE AROUND THERE.
WE'VE ALSO LOOKED AT SOME DIFFERENT MODULAR DESIGNS WHERE THEY COULD ACTUALLY BE FORMED IN DIFFERENT SPACES.
IF YOU HAVE SOME MORE AREA, THEN YOU COULD ACTUALLY FORM THEM DIFFERENTLY.
THESE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY.
OBVIOUSLY, EVERYONE KNOWS THOSE.
SAME THING, LOOKING AT THAT SAME DURABILITY.
WE ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SMART CITY FEATURES TO HELP MONITOR WHEN THEY'RE FILLING UP AND WHEN PUBLIC WORKS WOULD NEED TO GO OUT.
OF COURSE, STILL LOOKING AT KEEPING THE LIDS OR THE BONNET COVERS TO PREVENT WATER DURING THE RAIN.
ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PUBLIC WORKS POINTED OUT IS THAT THE RECYCLING RECEPTACLES ARE REALLY GETTING CROSS-CONTAMINATED SO THEN THEY'RE REALLY JUST THROWING BOTH OF THEM AWAY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
I HAVE TO GO WITH THE BIG BATTERIES.
THERE ARE OTHER FEW RETROFIT TRASH CANS WITH [INAUDIBLE].
>> I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM BEING RETRO BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE ALL NEW UNITS AND THEN THEY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE SENSORS THAT WOULD GO WITH A SOFTWARE SYSTEM.
PUBLIC WORKS WOULD BE ABLE TO LOG IN.
ABOUT THE ONE I'M LOOKING, BUT BASICALLY IT'S DESIGNED TO STREAMLINE THE PUBLIC WORKS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN ALSO DURING MOMENTS OF PRICES, THEY WOULD BE AWARE THAT THE LED.
>> CORRECT. THEN OUR BICYCLE RACKS, THOSE ARE REALLY SET TO STAY THE SAME THERE.
GALVANIZED OR STAINLESS STEEL, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE MINIMUM TWO POINTS OF SUPPORT FOR THE BIKES AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE STIRRED IN IN THE GROUND MOUNTED.
THAT IS IT FOR THE STREETSCAPES.
>> WILL THE BIKE RACKS BE, WE FIND THEM SO MANY FEET?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. YES. IT DEPENDS ON HOW LONG OF A DISTANCE.
EACH DEVELOPMENT IS NOT ALWAYS JUST A SMALL WIDTH.
WHEN WE LOOK THROUGH THOSE STREETSCAPES DEVELOPMENTS, WE GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY, BUT THE DESIGN IS DESIGNED.
AS YOU KEEP GOING TO THE BUSINESSES, YOU HAVE SEE TRASH RECEPTACLES IN BIKE.
>> I WAS REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THIS.
I'M PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL FOR THE STREET CA LIGHTING AND PRE WELL ASPECT OF IT PARTICULAR.
MY WIFE IS ON THE FIRST GEORGIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
SHE ACTUALLY RELAYS SOME OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE [INAUDIBLE] WHERE WE HAVE A CHANGE ORDER TO DO THAT.
HOPEFULLY [INAUDIBLE] GEORGIA WILL SAY NICE THINGS OUT OF THIS.
>> [BACKGROUND] ASK QUESTIONS, EVEN OTHER WORK POSITION.
>> WAIT A FEW MINUTES FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY BE WANTING TO.
>> WE'LL TAKE A BREAK UNTIL SIX.
[00:40:05]
>> I CAN'T GET ON THE INTERNET EITHER.
>> I'M JULIE SMITH, THE LIFELONG COMMUNITY MANAGER.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRE PRESENTATIONS EVENING
[WORK SESSION #2 – 6:45 P.M.]
ON PRESERVING NATIONALLY A FAIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU BEFORE I INTRODUCE THE GEORGIA CONSERVANCY THAT THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
KRISTIN ALLEN HAS BEEN OUR CONTACT THERE AND THEN WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE GEORGIA CONSERVANCY SINCE ABOUT LAST AUGUST WITH A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS AND STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND FROM MAYOR BARRETT WHICH I APPRECIATE SERVING ON STAKEHOLDER GROUP.
I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR YOU TO HEAR THE FINDINGS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE GEORGIA CONSERVANCY.
>> HI. I'M WITH THE GEORGIA CONSERVANCY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
I ALSO AM JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE, MICHAELA MASTERS HERE IN THE FRONT ROW.
WE HAVE ANOTHER PERSON WORKING WITH US IN THE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH PROGRAM SKY AND OUR DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS HERE.
WE HAVE QUITE A FEW GEORGIA CONSERVANCY REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE JUST INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HEARING US OUT.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'LL GET STARTED.
LIKE JULIE SAID, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT TO IDENTIFY ACTION STRATEGIES, POLICIES THAT DECATUR COULD TAKE TO PRESERVE THEIR NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
THE REASON THAT WE'RE DOING THIS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE IS YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION IS IN HOUSING, BUT WE STARTED DOING PLANNING WORK AROUND THE '90S AND WE SEE PROMOTING INFILL DEVELOPMENT, REDEVELOPMENT, AND PRESERVATION OF OUR ALREADY DEVELOPED AREAS AS A SMART WAY TO USE OUR LAND SO THAT WE CAN CONSERVE LAND ELSEWHERE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN URBAN ISSUES.
OUR GOALS WITH THIS PROJECT ARE THREEFOLD REALLY TO REASSESS WHAT THE CURRENT STATUS OF NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DECATUR IS.
WHERE AND APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY NOAH UNITS ARE STILL IN THE CITY? WHAT OPPORTUNITIES EXIST FOR A DECATUR TO TAKE ACTION TO PRESERVE THEM AND WHAT OTHER PLACES ARE DOING BOTH WITHIN THE STATE AND OUTSIDE THE STATE TO PRESERVE THEIR NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS A PART OF A CDAP PROJECT, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION.
IT'S TO NOTE ONE AND A LONG LINE OF PRO OR HOUSING SUPPORTIVE ACTIONS THAT THE CITY HAS TAKEN IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
JUST TO COMMEND YOU-ALL, WE KNOW WE'VE BECOME AWARE THROUGH THIS PROJECT HOW MUCH DECATUR HAS ALREADY DONE TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PUT MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS.
THERE WAS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT IN 2020.
THERE WAS A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT REPORT THAT YOU HAVE ACTED ON, INCLUDING FOUNDING A LAND TRUST, ENACTING AN INCLUSIONARY HOUSING POLICY AROUND THE CITY AND OTHER THINGS, MISSING METAL HOUSING ORDINANCE THAT FOLLOWED IN 2023 AND SO ON.
YOU GUYS HAVE CONTINUED TO RESEARCH THESE HOUSING ISSUES AND GO INTO SPECIFIC SUBTOPICS AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE LANDING TODAY WITH NOAH.
NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS PART OF THE HOUSING LANDSCAPE.
SOME PEOPLE IN THE FIELD WILL SEPARATE THIS INTO A AND A AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT'S TO SAY THERE'S THE A AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS SUBSIDIZED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEN THERE'S A LOWERCASE A AFFORDABLE, WHICH IS NOAH, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
THOSE UNSUBSIDIZED HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE STILL MORE AFFORDABLE THAN THE BULK OF THE HOUSING STOCK THAT YOU HAVE.
THIS IS THE LARGEST SOURCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE NATION WITH UNITS VASTLY SURPASSING THE AMOUNT OF SUBSIDIZED AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THERE IS.
IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE MOST QUICKLY DISAPPEARING.
IT'S NOT ONLY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, BUT IT'S THOSE MISSING METAL HOUSING PROPERTIES WITH 2-10 UNITS OR JUST A FEW UNITS ALL THE WAY UP TO LARGER MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES THAT MAY HAVE CONDOMINIUMS THAT ARE SELLING AT
[00:45:02]
A LOWER PRICE OR RENTAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE RENTING AT A MORE AFFORDABLE PRICE.THE REASON IT NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED IS LIKE I SAID, IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT COMMUNITIES STILL DEPEND ON AND IT'S ALSO THE MOST QUICKLY DISAPPEARING.
BASICALLY, MARKET PRESSURE PLUS A LACK OF PROTECTIONS WILL EQUAL TO EITHER NOAH UNITS BEING DEMOLISHED OR MAYBE THEY'RE STARTING TO CHARGE RENTAL RATES THAT ARE FALLING OUTSIDE OF THAT AFFORDABLE RANGE.
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF NOAH AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT YOU HAVE IN DECATUR.
AGAIN, IT'S EVERYTHING UP FROM RENTAL APARTMENTS, TO CONDOMINIUM, TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND MISSING METAL.
WHAT'S MISSING FROM THESE PICTURES ARE THE MISSING METAL PROPERTIES, BUT YOU HAVE A HEALTHY SUPPLY OF THOSE IN THE CITY AS WELL BUT A LOT OF THESE ARE IN ENDANGER.
WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR PLAN IS BASICALLY FOUR FOLD AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN A REPORT THAT WE'RE STILL FORMATTING FOR YOU AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BE BROKEN UP IS IN THE FOLLOWING.
THERE'S GOING TO BE THE NOAH INVENTORY, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT TODAY.
THEN FUNDING MECHANISMS, SO POOLS OF MONEY THAT YOU CAN USE TO FUND PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS THAT SUPPORT HOUSING.
BUT IT'S THE POOL OF MONEY ITSELF WHICH CAN BE USED FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES.
THEN WE'RE DIVING INTO PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND STRATEGIES THEMSELVES THAT YOU CAN TAKE.
PROGRAMS BEING SOMETHING LIKE A LOAN PROGRAM FOR REHABILITATING NOAH PROPERTIES THAT REQUIRES MONEY, SO PROGRAMS REQUIRE FUNDING.
POLICIES, RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT YOU CAN ENACT TO PROTECT NOAH PROPERTIES, AND THEN STRATEGIES, WHICH COULD BE ACTIONS, ONE OFF ACTIONS THAT REQUIRE FUNDING, COULD JUST BE GENERAL BEST PRACTICES THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO BASICALLY INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF THINGS THAT YOU'RE ALREADY DOING THAT MAY HELP PRESERVE NOAH.
THERE'S ALSO A STRATEGY IN THE BROADER SENSE OF WEAVING ALL OF THIS TOGETHER.
WHAT FUNDING CAN YOU GATHER TO THEN ENACT PROGRAMS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY POLICIES THAT ALL FOLD INTO A STRATEGY THAT HELPS YOU PRESERVE YOUR NOAH UNITS? ITEM NUMBER 4 THAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE REPORT AS CASE STUDY EXAMPLES, LIKE I SAID, FROM OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITHIN THE STATE AND OUTSIDE THAT ARE DOING GOOD WORK IN THIS AREA.
WITH THE NOAH INVENTORY, YOU'VE HAD INVENTORIES DONE BEFORE ON YOUR NATURAL OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE'RE UPDATING CONFIRMING IF THOSE PROPERTIES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BEFORE ARE STILL AFFORDABLE AND THEN ADDING NEW PROPERTIES IF WE FIND ANY.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT RESOURCE TO HAVE AND TO KEEP UP TO DATE JUST FOR KNOWING WHERE YOUR NOAH PROPERTIES ARE, BUT ALSO JUST KEEPING STOCK OF THE RATE AT WHICH IS DISAPPEARING, AND ALSO CONTACTING INDIVIDUAL LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY OWNERS IF YOU HAVE PROGRAMS THAT COULD SUPPORT THEM.
HOW DO YOU FIND THEM? THAT'S WHERE YOU TURN TO THE NOAH INVENTORY AND LOOK AT THAT.
WHEN WE DEFINED AFFORDABILITY, WE USED THE DEFINITION THAT WAS, I BELIEVE IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASKFORCE FROM 2020.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT RENTAL UNITS, WE'RE IDENTIFYING THOSE UNITS THAT ARE RENTING AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE FOR HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE MAKING 80% OF THE AREA MIDDLE-INCOME OR LESS.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR SALE PROPERTIES, THAT ARE PART OF THE NOAH, WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE THAT ARE SELLING TO HOUSEHOLDS THAT CAN AFFORD OR 120% AMI OR LESS.
THIS IS A LARGE RANGE AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE LOWEST MOST TO NEED HOUSEHOLDS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT, BUT IT'S TARGETING THESE MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN THE CITY.
WITH THE AFFORDABLE ONES, WE CAN ALSO BREAK THEM DOWN AND LOOK AT WHATEVER SLICE WE WANT TO.
IF WE WANT TO IDENTIFY THOSE PROPERTIES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO 120% AMI, WE CAN DO THAT AS WE'VE DONE.
WE CAN ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE SUBSET THAT'S AFFORDABLE TO 100% AMI, 80% AMI, 60% AMI, ETC.
BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS IT'S THAT IT'S PANNED OUT AND SHOOK OUT IN THESE WAYS WHERE THERE'S THESE CONCENTRATIONS OF NOAH PROPERTIES IN YOUR CITY.
THESE ARE REALLY SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREAS WITHIN DECATUR WHERE YOU'RE FINDING CONCENTRATIONS OF THESE PROPERTIES.
IF YOU'RE ENACTING ANY GEOGRAPHICALLY FOCUSED POLICY LIKE A ZONING OVERLAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ONLY THAT APPLIES TO A SPECIFIC REGION.
THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN START TO LOOK AT THESE CLUSTERS AND IDENTIFY WHICH AREAS YOU WANT TO APPLY THAT STRATEGY TO.
SOME OF THEM ARE SCOTT BOULEVARD CORRIDOR, CHURCH STREET CORRIDOR, THE LENOX PLACE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE OLYMPIC PLACE AREA WHICH IS PART OF THE OAKHURST NEIGHBORHOOD.
[00:50:04]
ON HILLCREST AVENUE, THERE'S A LOT OF RENTAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE MORE AFFORDABLE.ALSO YOU CAN MAKE A CASE FOR EAST OF DOWNTOWN DECATUR.
IT'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PROPERTIES THERE.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU FIND IN THESE PLACES.
ON SCOTT BOULEVARD, IT'S A PRETTY BIG THOROUGHFARE, BUT YOU DO FIND A LOT OF CONDOMINIUM AND LARGER RENTAL PROPERTIES THERE THAT ARE SELLING MORE AFFORDABLY, INCLUDING SCOTT COURT CONDOMINIUMS, PINES ON SCOTT RENTAL PROPERTY, EMORY CHASE CONDOMINIUMS. JUST TO NOTE, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE CONDOMINIUMS, THERE ARE SOME UNITS IN THERE THAT ARE ALSO RENTING, THE OWNER OF THE CONDO IS RENTING OUT THEIR PROPERTY AND IT'S AT A MORE AFFORDABLE RATE.
AS YOU MOVE THROUGH THIS LIST, YOU MIGHT FIND DIFFERENT TYPOLOGIES.
THESE AREAS MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS OR MIGHT HAVE SIMILAR CHARACTERS, BUT THERE'S A VARIETY OF UNITS THAT YOU FIND IN THESE CLUSTERS.
>> AS I'VE BEEN SAYING, THESE PROPERTIES ARE HIGHLY THREATENED.
WE ALSO TOOK A LOOK AT DEMOLITIONS.
WE LOOKED AT THE PAST FIVE YEARS OF DEMOLITION PERMITS THANKS TO DATA THAT JULIE HAD HELPED US PROCURE FROM THE CITY.
MOST OF THESE PROPERTIES THAT WERE DEMOLISHED, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
THERE WERE 99 UNIQUE PROPERTIES THAT RECEIVED DEMOLITION PERMITS.
IT'S ALSO NOT FAIR TO SAY THAT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED.
SOME OF THEM MIGHT HAVE HAD PERMITS ISSUED, BUT THEY WERE NOT DEMOLISHED OR THEY COULD HAVE BEEN FOR PARTIAL DEMOLITIONS.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE CERTAINLY A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK THAT WERE DEMOLISHED.
THERE WERE SOME THAT ARE ON PREVIOUS NO-INVENTORY LISTS THAT HAVE DISAPPEARED.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME PROPERTIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE MLK DAY OF SERVICE THAT WERE THEN DEMOLISHED.
THESE ARE PROPERTIES THAT RECEIVED VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE FOR REHABILITATION, BUT THEN ENDED UP BEING DEMOLISHED. YES.
>> IN THIS CHART, THE 99 PROPERTIES, WERE THESE ALL NOAH OR THESE ARE JUST THE ONES THAT WERE DEMOLISHED AND THE SUBSET OF THEM ARE NOAH PROPERTIES?
>> THE SUBSET THEN WOULD BE ALWAYS/CONVERTED TO NEUROWEAPONS.
>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT. HERE'S SOME PICTURES OF THE RECENTLY DEMOLISHED HOMES.
THE TWO ON THE RIGHT ARE RECENTLY DEMOLISHED.
THE ONE ON THE LEFT, I RECENTLY DROVE BY IT, IS NOT DEMOLISHED.
IT HAS A NOTICE ON THE DOOR, THOUGH, SO IT MIGHT SOON BE DEMOLISHED OR IT MIGHT BE CONDEMNED IN SOME WAY.
THAT'S ON OLYMPIC PLACE. THAT'S IT FOR THE INVENTORY.
THEN WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE SECOND BUCKET OF WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FUNDING MECHANISMS, WHAT FUNDING POOLS ARE AVAILABLE TO DECATUR TO HELP PRESERVE NOAH.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ONE IS THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
YOU ALREADY HAVE A HOUSING TRUST FUND. IT'S ONE OF FOUR IN GEORGIA.
ATLANTA HAS ONE. SAVANNAH HAS ONE. MAC AND BIB HAS ONE.
DECATUR'S HOUSING TRUST FUND IS THE OLDEST, BUT IT IS ALSO THE SMALLEST.
[NOISE] YOU'VE FUNDED THE HOUSING TRUST FUND THROUGH GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS CONTINUALLY, AT LEAST FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WHICH IS GREAT.
ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND POSSIBLY TO UP THE CONTRIBUTION THAT YOU'RE MAKING TO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
THE UNFORTUNATE SIDE OF THIS IS THAT IN GEORGIA, THERE'S NO DEDICATED FUNDING THAT YOU COULD SET ASIDE LEGALLY FOR HOUSING TRUST FUNDS.
I'LL GET INTO WHAT THAT MEANS A LITTLE BIT LATER ON.
BUT IF YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WANT TO LOOK MORE INTO THAT, THERE'S A GOOD PAPER THAT WAS PUBLISHED BY ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN DECEMBER THAT GOES INTO SOME OF THE LEGALITY AND SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN STATE HOUSING TRUST FUNDS AND MULTIPLE HOUSING TRUST FUNDS AND HOW YOU CAN FUND THEM.
>> IS THAT WITHOUT US CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY OR IS THAT WITHOUT GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AUTHORITY?
>> GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY. WHAT THE HOUSING TRUST FUND IS THIS FUNDING POOL THAT CAN BE USED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.
THIS IS THE ENGINE THAT POWERS THE VARIETY OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO.
GENERALLY, THERE'S THREE WAYS THAT THE MONEY GETS DISPERSED.
YOU CAN OFFER GRANTS MONEY THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE REPAID.
YOU COULD OFFER LOANS. THE ADVANTAGE OF OFFERING LOANS FROM A CITY FUND IS THAT YOU COULD OFFER AT A MORE COMPETITIVE RATES.
YOU CAN OFFER BETTER TERMS FOR LOAN REPAYMENT OR LOWER INTEREST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY TRYING TO RECOUP YOUR INVESTMENT.
THERE'S A SOCIAL BENEFIT THERE THAT YOU'RE AIMING AT INSTEAD.
BUT IF YOU DID WANT TO RECOUP MORE OF YOUR INVESTMENT, YOU COULD LOOK INTO DOING A REVOLVING LOAN FUND, WHICH IS A LOAN FUND THAT IS SELF-REPLENISHING.
BUT THE CLOSER YOU GET TO THAT, SO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE REVENUE ON THE FUND,
[00:55:04]
THEN YOU ARE LOSING OUT ON SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES THAT YOU COULD HAVE BY OFFERING LOWER INTEREST RATES OR BETTER TERMS. THESE ARE THE THREE WAYS THAT MONEY MAY COME OUT OF THE HOUSING TRUST FUND IN GENERAL.THE THINGS THAT IT SUPPORTS ARE A MYRIAD OF THINGS. I MEAN, IT'S DEPENDING ON THE HOUSING TRUST FUND'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT YOU ALL HAVE SET OUT.
DECATURS ARE GENEROUS AS ARE A LOT OF OTHER ONES. I WOULDN'T SAY ANYTHING, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE BOUND IN ANY WAY, BUT IT'S VERY BROAD WHAT YOU CAN USE THIS MONEY FOR AS LONG AS IT'S SUPPORTING HOUSING INITIATIVES.
TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT OTHER PLACES ARE USING THEIR HOUSING TRUST FUNDS FOR IS THIS FULL LIST.
DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, ANY REHABILITATION FUNDING, SMALL LANDLORD FUNDS, RENTAL GAPS, COMMUNITY LAND TRUST SUPPORT, YOU NAME IT. ANYTHING THAT'S HOUSING-RELATED, THE HOUSING TRUST FUND FINANCING POOL COULD GO TOWARDS.
THE WAY THAT THE MONEY GOES TOWARDS THESE FOCUS AREAS CAN ALSO HAPPEN DIFFERENTLY.
YOU COULD SET UP A PROGRAM SO YOU COULD HAVE A RENTAL PROPERTY REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
THAT DOESN'T CHANGE ITS PRIORITY FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
THIS PROGRAM CONTINUALLY FOCUSES ON RENTAL HOUSING REHABILITATION.
IT IS FUNDED BY THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE A PROGRAM YOU MIGHT ISSUE ANNUAL OR BI-ANNUAL NOTICES OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAT YOU CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
EVERY TIME YOU ISSUE YOUR NOFO, IT'S A DIFFERENT HOUSING PRIORITY.
OR YOU COULD NOT HAVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS AT ALL AND JUST ASSESS ON A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION BASIS, WHETHER THE APPLICANT MEETS THE CRITERIA SET OUT BY THE HOUSING TRUST FUND'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE AWARDED FUNDING FROM THE FUND. THERE'S A VARIETY OF WAYS, PROGRAM OR WITHOUT PROGRAM, THAT MONEY CAN COME OUT. HOW TO FUND THE HOUSING TRUST FUND? LIKE I MENTIONED, IT IS FUNDED RIGHT NOW BY THE GENERAL FUND. THERE'S ALSO A PROVISION IN YOUR INCLUSIONARY ZONING POLICY WHERE YOU CAN PAY WITH THIS FUND IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO PROVIDE THE UNITS THAT YOU'RE MANDATED TO PROVIDE.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN ONE OFF, I THINK, DEALS EARLY ON IN THE HOUSING TRUST FUND THAT HAVE PROVIDED SOME MONEY TO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU COULD DEDICATE FUNDING.
THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN DEDICATED FUNDING AND DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, YOU COULD DO YEAR TO YEAR.
YOU ALLOT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE TO ALLOT THAT MONEY, YOU COULD DO SO UNTIL YOU CHOOSE NOT TO.
BUT WITH DEDICATED FUNDING, IT'S LEGALLY OBLIGATED FUNDS THAT WOULD GO INTO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND. THIS IS WHERE THE RUB IS, AND THAT WOULD NEED GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVAL.
IF I'M MISSPEAKING, THE PAPER FROM ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS ALSO EXPLAINS IT REALLY WELL, BUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO APPROVE CERTAIN CHANNELS OF REVENUE THAT YOU CAN DESIGNATE FOR FUNDING.
THAT'S MANDATORILY OBLIGATED TO CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND WITHOUT THEM DOING SO, YOU CANNOT.
HOWEVER, YOU COULD AUGMENT YOUR GENERAL FUND AND THEN CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND FROM A LARGER GENERAL FUND.
THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. EVEN IF YOUR GENERAL FUND DIDN'T GROW, YOU COULD JUST CHOOSE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
>> JUST A GOOD, QUICK QUESTION.
>> DOES THAT LAW APPLY TO COUNTIES, ALL MUNICIPALITIES?
>> I HAD HEARD THAT DECATUR WAS LOOKING AT DOING SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED LIKE DEDICATED FUNDING.
>> DEDICATING FOR A PERCENTAGE IN THEIR BUDGET, THAT'S WHAT THE CITY MEANT BY ONE OVER THREE YEARS. NOT DEDICATING AN ONGOING TAX.
>> YOU ARE BEHEADING THE MICROPHONES.
>> THE CITY OF ATLANTA IS LOOKING INTO DONATING A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR BUDGET.
>> THEY ARE DEDICATING A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR BUDGET.
THEY'RE NOT DEDICATING A PERCENTAGE OF AN ONGOING TAX. THANK YOU. YEAH.
THE CITY OF ATLANTA IS ALSO SELLING HOUSING BONDS, I BELIEVE, TO AUGMENT THE FUND.
THERE'S A NOTE THAT I READ SOMEWHERE.
[01:00:02]
THEY'RE LOOKING INTO WAYS TO GET DESIGNATED FUNDING, BUT THERE'S NO WORD ON IT.THAT'S REALLY THE MAIN FUNDING BUCKET.
WHAT I SHOULD MENTION IS SOME OF THESE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, THE WAY THEY USE THEIR HOUSING TRUST FUNDS IS TO DRAW DOWN MATCH.
IF THERE ARE OTHER FEDERAL OR STATE PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE MATCH, THAT MATCH COULD COME FROM THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
THERE'S ALSO HOUSING TRUST FUNDS THAT REQUIRE MATCH.
IF A LOAN OR GRANT IS DISPERSED TO, LET'S SAY, A PROPERTY OWNER, THEN THAT PROPERTY OWNER NEEDS TO MATCH CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO CARRY OUT WHATEVER REHABILITATION OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY'RE USING THE HOUSING TRUST FUND FOR.
THAT'S A WAY TO STRETCH THE HOUSING TRUST FUND AND COULD BE SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO.
WHAT I SHOULD ALSO SAY ABOUT THE HOUSING TRUST FUNDS IN GEORGIA VERSUS THE DECATUR HOUSING TRUST FUND IS THAT SOME OF THE OTHER ONES ARE LARGER BECAUSE THEY'VE USED LARGE AMOUNTS OF SEED MONEY TO REALLY GET THE FUNDS STARTED.
MAKING BID IS THE EXAMPLE THAT COMES TO MIND.
THEY'RE USING A LOT OF THEIR ARPA MONEY, SEVERAL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, TO FUND THE HOUSING TRUST FUND. IF YOU CAN GET ENOUGH SEED MONEY, GRANT MONEY CAN GO INTO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS, YOU MIGHT FIND A SOCIAL IMPACT FUND THAT DONATES A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COULD GO INTO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND THAT WILL SEED THE HOUSING TRUST FUND AND IT WILL HELP IT PERPETUATE ITSELF LONGER.
IF YOU'RE OFFERING LOANS, SOME OF THAT MONEY WILL BE REPAID AND THEN YOU CAN CONTINUE TO FUNCTION WITH THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
BUT THAT'S A REALLY GOOD TOP FINANCING POOL THAT YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO USING FOR NOAH PRESERVATION AS WELL AS OTHER HOUSING CHALLENGES THAT YOU WANT TO TACKLE IN YOUR CITY, AS I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THAT. OTHER THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO AND SOME OF THESE YOU HAVE LOOKED AT BEFORE LIKE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASKFORCE, HAS LOOKED AT TAX ABATEMENTS AS A WAY TO OFFER INCENTIVES.
WE BROUGHT THIS UP AGAIN BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES PROGRAMS, AS WE UNDERSTAND IT IN GEORGIA, BUT THERE ARE OTHER STATES FACING SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS LIKE TENNESSEE, FOR EXAMPLE.
BUT THEY HAVE FOUND WORKAROUNDS FOR PILOT PROGRAMS. ONE OF THESE WORKAROUNDS IS TO HAVE THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OR DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HOLD TITLE TO THE PROPERTY, AND THEN THE LANDLORD OR THE PROPERTY OWNER MAKES PAYMENTS AT A REDUCED COST TO THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ITSELF. IT'S LIKE A DISCOUNT, BUT YOU'RE NOT GETTING A DIRECT TAX ABATEMENT.
YOU'RE MAKING A LOWER PAYMENT TO A TAX-EXEMPT OR TAX-FAVORED ENTITY.
THAT'S THE WAY CHATTANOOGA GETS AROUND THIS, AND IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO DO IN DECATUR AS WELL.
THE DIFFICULTY THAT YOU RUN INTO WITH THIS IS THAT THE BOND FOR TITLE TRANSFER PROCESS HAS A FEE OR COST ASSOCIATED WITH ITSELF.
IT MIGHT BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE TO BUNDLE PROPERTIES IF YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING LIKE A PILOT PROGRAM OR TO FOCUS ON LARGER MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES.
YOU COULD GET MORE BANK FOR YOUR BUCK OR YOU CAN MAKE MORE OF AN IMPACT AT ONCE.
I'D SAY THAT. PREFERENTIAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS, ANOTHER MAYBE INCENTIVE, THAT WILL REQUIRE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION AS WELL.
THERE ARE SEVERAL PREFERENTIAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS IN GEORGIA, FOR BROWNFIELDS, FOR CONSERVATION USE, FOR AGRICULTURE.
THERE'S NOT ONE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT POTENTIALLY THAT COULD BE SOMETHING TO ADVOCATE FOR.
THEN YOU COULD PAIR IT WITH OTHER INCENTIVES.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY A PROGRAM THAT OFFERS HOME RETROFITS TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO OFFER SOLAR PANELS, MAYBE THAT COMES WITH A STIPULATION LIKE YOU GET RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL SO THAT THE COMMITTEE LAND TRUST GETS TO LOOK AT THAT PROPERTY.
LATER ON, THERE COULD BE SOME STRING TIED TO THOSE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS THAT GIVE YOU A BETTER SHOT AT THEN PRESERVING THE NOAH PROPERTY IN THE FUTURE.
>> YEAH. YOU COULD BE GOOD FOR ANY REHABILITATION.
MLK DAY OF SERVICE COULD COME WITH A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.
>> THIS IS RELATIVELY MAPPED OUT IN THE REHAB PROGRAM ALREADY.
[01:05:04]
>> THE DECATUR REHAB PROGRAM THROUGH THE DECATUR LAND TRUST DOES REQUIRE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL WHEN THE PARTICIPANT SIGNS THE AGREEMENTS.
>> THE DECATUR REHAB DOES THIS. MLK DAY OF SERVICE DOES NOT.
>> I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO THE PREFERENTIAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.
ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE TAX ASSESSMENT?
>> YES. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M REFERRING TO.
YEAH, ASSESSING THE PROPERTY AT A LOWER VALUE.
>> YEAH. MLK DAY OF SERVICE DOES NOT OFFER RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL, I BELIEVE, WHICH IS WHY SOME OF THOSE MLK PROPERTIES HAVE ACTUALLY DISAPPEARED.
THAT COULD BE A STIPULATION IN THAT PROGRAM AS WELL SO THAT THERE'S A LOOK TO PURCHASE THOSE PROPERTIES BEFORE THEY GET DEMOLISHED.
>> WE GO THROUGH DEKALB COUNTY.
>> WE CAN'T APPLY DIRECTLY FOR THOSE FUNDS.
WE HAVE TO APPLY THROUGH DECATUR COUNTY.
>> WE DID ACTUALLY, JULIE, APPLIED FOR A GRANT THROUGH THE CDGB INNOVATIVE GRANT PROGRAM, AND ASKED FOR $3 MILLION IN FUNDING BECAUSE THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN INTEGRATIVE PROGRAM AND THAT IT WAS INTEGRATIVE AND INNOVATIVE.
THEY SAID WE WERE NOT ELIGIBLE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH DEKALB COUNTY.
THIS WAS FOR ONLY JURISDICTIONS THAT HAD NO OTHER ACCESS TO CDGB FUNDING.
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE COUNTY FOR WHAT WE GET.
>> UNFORTUNATELY. BUT MOVING ON, ONE OF THE MOST SECURE WAYS THAT YOU COULD PRESERVE NOAH IS TO JUST COME INTO ACQUIRING THOSE PROPERTIES OR HAVING A HOUSING ALIGNED AGENCY COME INTO ACQUIRING AND MANAGING THOSE PROPERTIES.
NOW WITH THE DECATUR LAND TRUST, YOU HAVE AN ENTITY THAT COULD POTENTIALLY OWN AND MANAGE PROPERTIES, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT.
YOU HAD ONE BEFORE ALSO WITH THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.
ANY COOPERATION WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, IF YOU COULD HELP THEM ACQUIRE A MANAGED PROPERTY, THAT WOULD HELP GET NOAH SAFELY IN THE HANDS THAT WILL PRESERVE IT.
THE DECATUR LAND TRUST IS NEW, ALSO A GREAT AVENUE.
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AGAIN, CAN HOLD TITLE, POTENTIALLY OFFER INCENTIVES TO NOAH OWNERS, AND THEN THE LAND BANK WHICH CURRENTLY CANNOT OPERATE IN DECATUR.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE DEKALB LAND BANK.
COULD GO INTO ANOTHER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH DECATUR SO THAT IT CAN FUNCTION WITHIN THE CITY, HOLD PROPERTY, HELP CLEAR TITLE, DONATE OR OFFER PROPERTY AT A REDUCED COST TO THE DECATUR LAND TRUST IF THEY CHOOSE TO PURCHASE THAT.
YOU'RE GETTING THOSE PROPERTIES IN SAFE HANDS.
HIGHEST LEVEL OF CONTROL AND SECURITY FOR LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY, POTENTIALLY.
THEN THERE'S THIS BUCKET OF THE SUPPORTING BEST PRACTICES, WHICH ARE JUST, LIKE I SAID, THOSE WAYS THAT YOU CAN INCREASE EFFICIENCY OF THE THINGS YOU'RE ALREADY DOING.
A LOT OF CONDOMINIUM PROPERTIES ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW AND HAVE REQUESTED FUNDING.
SOME OF THESE OLDER NOAH CONDOMINIUMS. TRAINING FOR RESERVE FUND MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATIONS COULD BE HELPFUL TO THEM TO HELP THEM MANAGE THEIR FUNDS SO THEY DON'T FALL INTO TROUBLE OR HARD TIMES LATER ON.
BUILDING STAFF CAPACITY IN THE CITY.
MAINTAINING PREFERRED OR RECOMMENDED CONTRACTORS LIST FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES, OR HELPING CONNECT OWNERS TO TRUSTED CONTRACTORS.
THEN CONTINUING TO KEEP THIS UP-TO-DATE INVENTORY OF POTENTIAL NOAH PROPERTIES, THEY ARE HARD TO IDENTIFY.
BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, I THINK YOU GET A LOT OF VALUE OUT OF AN UPDATED INVENTORY.
KEEPING THAT UP-TO-DATE WOULD BE USEFUL.
>> FOR RENTAL, 80-120 FOR FUNCTION. WHAT IS THAT?
I WILL BE QUICKER TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU LATER.
>> CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC. THANK YOU.
>> HI EVERYBODY, MICHAELA MASTER FROM GEORGIA CONSERVANCY.
THE 80%-120% AMI THAT'S FOR TWO PERSON HOUSEHOLD,
[01:10:01]
THAT'S $68,800-$103,200.>> [INAUDIBLE] HOW MUCH THE PROPERTY YOU CAN GET FOR THAT OR NOT?
>> I REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD FOR A FOUR BEDROOM HOME.
THE AFFORDABLE RATE AT 120 AMI WAS 448,000.
>> IS THIS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OUR TAX RATE?
>> SO THAT WOULD NOT BE ACCURATE. NOT HERE.
>> THEN IN TERMS OF WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, WOULD YOU BE LOOKING AT APPRAISED VALUE OR ASSESSED VALUE? SORRY TO ASK QUESTION.
>> NO. THESE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS.
WE WERE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS INVENTORY IN THE FIRST PLACE.
FOR OWNERSHIP PROPERTIES, WE ACTUALLY GOT LOCAL SALES DATA OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
WE WERE LOOKING AT THE PRICE THOSE HOMES ACTUALLY SOLD FOR, NOT THE FAIR MARKET VALUE, BUT WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SOLD FOR.
I DO HAVE, THANKS TO JULIE, THE ACTUAL RANGE.
FOR AN EFFICIENCY HOME FOR SALE, AFFORDABLE AT 120% AMI, IT'S 271,000 AND 80,000.
THAT'S THE MINIMUM. THEN, LIKE I SAID, THE MAXIMUM, 448,000.
>> I COULD HAVE A COMMENT AND A QUESTION.
THE COMMENT IS, I'M A RESIDENTIAL REALTOR, AND THERE'S BEEN A DRAMATIC SHIFT SINCE '22 AND THEN '23 IN INVENTORY AND INTEREST RATES, AND THEY'RE RELATED.
BUT MOST RECENTLY, I GUESS WE HAVE 4.5 MONTHS SUPPLY OF INVENTORY, WHICH IS THE MOST WE'VE HAD FOR 15 YEARS, I THINK.
THAT'S LED TO SOFTER PRICING AND MORE DAYS ON MARKET.
MY POINT THERE IS, I THINK THROUGH FILTERING, SOME HOUSES ARE PROBABLY DRIFTING INTO THE NATURALLY OCCURRING SEGMENT THAT HAVE NOT BEEN THERE UP UNTIL '22, '23, AND DEFINITELY NOW.
IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE RE-EVALUATING THAT CATEGORY BECAUSE IT'S FLUID.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME MOVEMENT, IT'S POROUS, BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY VERY DIFFERENT THAN IF IT WAS PRE '23, IT'S GOING TO BE I THINK SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT AND MAYBE IN A GOOD WAY, AND WE'LL CONTINUE IN THAT DIRECTION FOR A SHORT TIME.
IF I KNEW, THEN I WOULD KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CRYSTAL BALL.
QUESTION. YOU MADE A GREAT POINT ABOUT THE CONDO MULTIFAMILY NEEDING MORE SUPPORT.
A LOT OF BUILDINGS ARE BECOMING NON-WARRANTABLE FROM AN INSURANCE STANDPOINT, AND THEIR INSURANCE IS GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER.
ARE THERE PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT A MULTIFAMILY COMPLEX WITH THEIR MASTER POLICY OR A GAP POLICY IF THEY'RE COMING UP SHORT BETWEEN WHAT THEY NEED? BECAUSE THAT'S ACTUALLY MAKING UNITS NOT SELLABLE TOO.
>> I KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE, AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE CONDOMINIUM PROPERTIES SEEKING ASSISTANCE ARE EVENTUALLY IN THE FLOODPLAIN, BUT CERTAINLY BY THEIR CREEK SIDE PROPERTIES.
YOU COULD SEE IT CLEARLY ON THE MAP OF WHERE THE NO INVENTORY IS, AND THAT'S LED TO HIGHER FLOOD INSURANCE RATES FOR THEM THAT'S BECOMING UNTENABLE.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT SPECIFICALLY THAT.
>> BECAUSE I'M ALSO SEEING THE NON-WARRANTABLE ISSUE COMING FROM EXTREME WEATHER THAT'S IMPACTING EVERYONE NOW ALL THE WAY IN LAND LIKE HERE, AND ALSO THE WATER SEWER ISSUES IF THEY HAVE IMPACTED BUILDINGS MULTIPLE TIMES, WHICH IS INFRASTRUCTURE, A PROBLEM, BUT THAT'S SOMETIMES IMPACTING MULTIFAMILY TOO.
>> TO YOUR POINT ABOUT FUNDING FOR THAT, I REACHED OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY FUNDING SPECIFICALLY FOR HOAS.
THEY HAVE A MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE FUND THAT IS RELATED TO COVID, IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS BEHIND ON THEIR MORTGAGE AND THERE IS A COVID RELATED REASON, THEY CAN GET FUNDS AND THAT INCLUDES HOA DUES, BUT THERE'S NOTHING AT THE STATE LEVEL TO HELP WITH THE HOA ASSOCIATION.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE SOME ADVOCACY THAT'S REALLY NEEDED MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE THIS REASON FOR COMING UP SHORT ON INSURANCE AND HAVING A BIGGER GAP AND/OR BEING NOT WARRANTABLE, I THINK IT'S HERE, THE CRISIS IS HERE.
>> IS THAT SPECIFICALLY CONDOS, NOT TOWN HOMES?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I WOULD SAY IT'S WORSE WITH A MULTIFAMILY CONDO BUILDING, YES.
[01:15:02]
OR MORE EXPENSIVE, AND THEY'LL GO INTO GAP PERIODS.THERE'LL BE A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL THEY CAN REGROUP, GET THEIR MONIES TOGETHER BY THE MORE EXPENSIVE POLICY WHERE YOU CAN ONLY DO DEALS WITH CASH. I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN TOO.
>> THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH A MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS SCALE PROJECT TO ACTUALLY REDUCE THE FLOOD IMPACT ON SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES, BUT THAT IS EXPENSIVE IN ITSELF.
THAT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION.
BUT IF YOU TAKE AWAY A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM THIS PRESENTATION ON WHAT YOU CAN DO, AND YOU'LL FIND THIS IN THE REPORT THAT WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER, BUT BEFORE I MISS THE CHANCE, I WILL SAY THESE TOP THINGS.
CONTINUE TO FUND THE DECATUR HOUSING TRUST FUNDS, AND IF YOU CAN, AT A HIGHER LEVEL.
UTILIZE YOUR INTERAGENCY PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE CITY, THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO STRUCTURE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AND ALSO CREATE A PIPELINE FOR ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT OF NOAH PROPERTY.
THAT'S TWO AND THREE. NUMBER 4, KEEP AN ONGOING NOAH INVENTORY.
FIVE, IS, I THINK, AS YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ACUTELY AWARE OF, SOME OF THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE ADVOCACY AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LEVEL.
ENTER INTO COALITIONS THROUGH GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FOLLOWING THINGS.
ALLOW LOCAL RENTAL REGISTRIES THAT CAME UP THIS YEAR, IT GOT SHUT DOWN.
THAT WILL HELP TRACK THESE UNITS AND RENTAL PROPERTIES OF ALL SORTS.
POSSIBILITIES FOR DEDICATED REVENUE FOR LOCAL HOUSING TRUST FUNDS, THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WILL REQUIRE ADVOCACY.
AGAIN, THE ADVOCACY TO OFFER DIRECT TAX ABATEMENTS OR FOR MORE PREFERENTIAL ASSESSMENTS, THAT WOULD BE THE LAST TWO THAT YOU CAN DO ON A STATE LEVEL.
THEN MAYBE TO SUMMARIZE EVEN FURTHER, YOU HAVE THIS HOUSING TRUST FUND THAT HAS A POOL OF MONEY IN IT RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU FIND A SOURCE OF SEED FUNDING FOR A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY OR IF YOU CONTINUE TO FUND IT YEAR BY YEAR, WHEN YOU FEEL THAT IT IS SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH, IF NOT NOW, BEGIN TO OFFER LOANS AND GRANTS FROM THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
THIS COULD BE THROUGH A PROGRAM OR IT COULD BE THROUGH THE NOFOS OR IT COULD BE JUST ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, AS I'VE MENTIONED.
ARE YOU GOING TO OFFER LOANS OR GRANTS? WHAT ARE THE REPAYMENT TERMS GOING TO BE IF YOU OFFER LOANS? ARE YOU GOING TO REQUIRE A MATCH OR ARE YOU NOT GOING TO REQUIRE A MATCH? IS THERE ANY SEED MONEY NEEDED, OR CAN YOU BEGIN TO UTILIZE YOUR HOUSING TRUST FUND NOW? YOU HAVE THAT ALREADY THERE.
YOU HAVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE. IT COULD BE USED.
CREATE A FOCUS FOR YOUR MULTIFAMILY NOAH PROPERTIES.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS, AS A CITY, PUT IN FOCUS ON KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOME, ESPECIALLY SENIORS AND VETERANS.
BUT THAT HASN'T NECESSARILY RESULTED IN KEEPING THE PROPERTIES.
THEY COULD STILL BE DEMOLISHED AND A LOT OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE GEARED TOWARDS SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS.
THERE COULD BE MORE FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES AND FOR THOSE MULTIFAMILY CONDOMINIUMS. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TRIGGERS FOR PRESERVING PROPERTIES.
THIS COULD BE THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL OR IF YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD NOAH INVENTORY AND YOU'RE ISSUING A DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR AN ADDRESS THAT'S ON THE NOAH INVENTORY, YOU COULD SET UP A FLAG THAT POPS UP, SAYING THIS PROPERTY IS ABOUT TO BE DEMOLISHED.
OR IF YOU HAVE A GOOD INVENTORY, YOU COULD MAYBE APPLY A HIGHER DEMOLITION FEE TO THESE EXISTING NOAH PROPERTIES.
KEEP TRACK OF THE PROPERTIES AND KEEP UPDATED RECORDS, AND I THINK YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER GRASP OF PRESERVING NOAH MOVING ON.
>> NOAH PROPERTY IS BEING DEMOLISHED [INAUDIBLE] POSSIBLE?
>> YES. BUT YOU WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO PARTNER WITH THE REALTOR IN SOME WAY.
THEY COULD HAVE THE DATABASE OF YOUR NOAH PROPERTIES, AND IF A LISTING COMES UP FOR THAT PROPERTY OR ONE OF THE PROPERTIES ON THE LIST, THEY COULD ISSUE A NOTICE TO YOU.
>> BECAUSE DEMOS WILL BE PRESENTED TOO LATE.
>> DEMOS ARE TOO LATE. THAT'S TRUE.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL, THEN YOU'LL GET NOTIFIED.
>> THAT'S THE KEY BECAUSE A LOT OF THE NOAH PROPERTIES THAT ARE BEING DEMOLISHED AREN'T NECESSARILY BEING LISTED BY A REALTOR.
THERE'S A VERY DIFFERENT STRATEGY THAT SOME ARE TAKING TO BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE THOSE PROPERTIES, AND THAT'S AN OBSTACLE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
[01:20:03]
>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS? GREAT PRESENTATION.
[LAUGHTER] I CAN LISTEN TO THIS ALL DAY.
>> WHEN YOU WERE TALKING EARLY ON, YOU SAID THAT A LOT OF THE PROPERTIES ARE IN DANGER.
AS I UNDERSTAND, IF YOU SAW THE 99, THERE'S A SMALL SUBSET THAT [INAUDIBLE] WHY ARE THEY IN DANGER? I THINK IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE.
I DIDN'T SEE DEMOLITION IS THAT BIG OF AN ISSUE [INAUDIBLE] MAYBE ONE YEAR.
WHAT ARE THE THREATS TO NOAH BESIDES DEMOLITION?
>> JUST TO SAY ABOUT DEMOLITION, I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN THREAT TO THE SINGLE-FAMILY PROPERTIES, SPECIFICALLY.
THE LARGER MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES LIKE CONDOMINIUMS, THEY'RE THREATENED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AS WELL RESOURCED WITH LOANS THAT THEY CAN PROCURE.
TRADITIONAL LENDERS ARE LESS LIKELY TO LOAN TO THEM, OR THEY MAY BE IN THE FLOODPLAIN OR OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE PUSHING UP THEIR INSURANCE RATES.
MEANWHILE, THEY CAN'T GET FUNDS TO REHABILITATE THEIR PROPERTY, AND IT MAY EVENTUALLY GET TO THE POINT WHERE THAT PROPERTY IS IN SUCH DECLINE THAT IT'S NOT SUITABLE OR INHABITABLE. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> ELKE DAVIDSON. I WAS WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE, AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE SUBMITTED THE REPORT TO YOU FIVE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS ALMOST 980 NOA UNITS INDICATOR, AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO 770.
I THINK SOME COMBINATION OF DEMOLITION, BUT I THINK A BIG THREAT ALSO IS PEOPLE ARE JUST RAISING THE PRICES BECAUSE THE RENTAL PRICES ARE JUST GOING UP SIGNIFICANTLY, AND THERE'S DEMAND FOR THEM.
IF WE WAIT ANOTHER FIVE YEARS TO DO SOMETHING, IT COULD BE DOWN TO 500 PLUS.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
>> WE DON'T TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT DURING OUR WORK SESSION.
DAVIDSON WAS A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE AND PART OF THE NOA GROUP.
I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN WHY THAT HAPPENED.
>> ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? THANK YOU. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DELIVERING OUR FINAL PRODUCT.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST THOUGHT OF ONE.
WITH RESPECT TO THE RENTAL PROPERTY, [LAUGHTER] I KNOW THAT A LOT OF OUR REALLY OLDER RENTAL PROPERTIES THAT RECEIVE SOME FEDERAL TAX BENEFITS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND I THINK THOSE HAVE AGED OUT BY NOW, I GUESS.
DO YOU SEE THAT AS A REASON THAT SOME OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD BE WANTING TO NO LONGER OWN THAT PROPERTY, MAYBE SELL IT AT MARKET VALUE? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS BEING OBSERVED AS WELL?
>> I WOULD WAGER THAT THAT WOULD BE A CAUSE FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO CHARGE HIGHER RENTS THAT MAY GET THOSE UNITS TO FALL OUT IN AFFORDABLE RANGE.
THEY COULD SELL THE WHOLE PROPERTY ENTIRELY.
IT'S THEIR DISCRETION, BUT IT COMES WITH A LOT OF DISPLACEMENT AND MIGHT BE A MORE DIFFICULT PILL TO SWALLOW THEN.
>> I GUESS SOMETIMES IF THEY'RE IN NEED OF A LOT OF REPAIR THAT MAKES IT.
IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU IN PERSON, THE TWO OF YOU THAT I'VE SEEN ON ZOOM SCREEN SEVERAL TIMES. [LAUGHTER]
>> YES. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES, AND WE WILL THEN START OUR CITY COMMISSION MEETING AT 7:30.
[I. Call to Order by Mayor.]
>> NOW WE'RE GOOD. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING FOR DECATUR CITY COMMISSION FOR MONDAY, JUNE 2ND.
[II. Approval of the Minutes.]
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 19TH, 2025? ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS?[01:25:01]
>> WE HAVE ONE ABSTINENT FROM COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO READ.
[III. Proclamations.]
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO READ A PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF PRIDE MONTH, THE MONTH OF JUNE.YOU WILL JOIN ME AND LISTEN TO THIS PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, THE CITY OF DECATUR ANNUALLY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS THIS MONTH OF JUNE, THE MONTH OF JUNE AS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND Q, QUEER PLUS PRIDE MONTH.
WHEREAS, THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS BENEFITED FROM THE INCLUSION OF A DIVERSE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, INCLUDING PERSONS OF ALL AGES, ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS, AND WALKS OF LIFE.
WHEREAS THIS MONTH, WE REMIND LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT THEY ARE LOVED, CHERISHED, AND DESERVING OF DIGNITY, RESPECT, AND SUPPORT.
WHEREAS, DURING LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH, WE RECOGNIZE THE RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION OF THE MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FIGHTING TO LIVE FREELY AND AUTHENTICALLY.
IN DOING SO, THEY ARE OPENING HEARTS AND MINDS AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE NATION AND COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS, THIS PRIDE MONTH, WE AFFIRM OUR OBLIGATION TO UPHOLD THE DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE AND DEDICATE OURSELVES TO PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US.
WHEREAS, THANKS TO THE COURAGE OF MANY, GREAT STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE IN RECOGNIZING THAT LOVE IS LOVE AND THAT NO PERSON SHOULD BE JUDGED BY ANYTHING BUT THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.
WHEREAS, DESPITE THE EXTRAORDINARY PROGRESS OF THE LAST FEW YEARS, LGBTQ+ AMERICANS STILL FACE DISCRIMINATION, SIMPLY FOR BEING WHO THEY ARE.
WHEREAS, IN COMMEMORATION OF PRIDE MONTH, AND IN HONOR OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, ITS ADVOCATES AND ALLIES, THE RAINBOW FLAG WILL FLY ON THE FRONT OF CITY HALL DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I PATTI GARRETT, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, THE CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 2025 AS LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH, AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THIS COMMUNITY TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY AND TO WAVE THEIR FLAGS HIGH.
I NOTED MAYOR PRO TEM'S SHIRT IN HONOR OF THIS MONTH.
STARTING TOMORROW, THE FLAG WILL BE FLYING AT CITY HALL. THANK YOU.
NEXT, WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2025 REVISED BUDGET ESTIMATES,
[IV. Public Hearing.]
THE 2025-26 PROPOSED BUDGET ESTIMATES, AND THE 2025 MILEAGE RATES.I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE SOME BRIEF COMMENTS, AND THEN WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE BUDGET WAS PRESENTED OR PROVIDED TO THE CITY COMMISSION AT THE LAST MEETING.
SINCE THAT POINT, AND HERE'S THE HER COPY OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENT, HAS BEEN AVAILABLE ONLINE AS WELL AS AT CITY HALL IN THE DECATUR LIBRARY.
I'M HOPING THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO START TAKING A LOOK AT IT, AND ALSO, IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUDGET, WE ARE HAVING AN EXTENDED WORK SESSION THIS WEDNESDAY JUNE 4TH, FROM 5:00-7:30.
PEOPLE ARE WELCOME TO LIVESTREAM OR ATTEND AT PERSON.
AGAIN, JUST TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S IN A FAIRLY COMPLEX DOCUMENT.
BUT JUST TO BOIL IT DOWN, AND AGAIN, WE ARE TALKING TONIGHT ABOUT THE BUDGET ITSELF, AS WELL AS THE MILEAGE RATE.
THE NEEDS THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET VERY MUCH DICTATE WHERE THE MILEAGE RATE IS SET.
AT THIS POINT, THE TENTATIVE MILEAGE RATE, WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY THIS BODY, AND THE ANTICIPATED FINAL MILEAGE RATE AT THE NEXT MEETING DOES NOT CHANGE FOR 2025 FROM 2024.
IT DOES REMAIN AT THE SAME OVERALL MILEAGE RATE.
THE BUDGET ITSELF, AND REALLY THE LARGEST LINE ITEM IS THE SALARIES FOR
[01:30:09]
FULL-TIME PHYSICIANS AND INCLUDED IN THAT LINE ITEM IS A 2.5% MERIT-BASED INCREASE FOR ALL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.JUST AS A REMINDER THAT EMPLOYEES IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN INCREASE TO THEIR BASE PAY, RATHER THERE WAS A ONE PAY PERIOD ADJUSTMENT FOR EACH FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ITEMS. IN THE BUDGET, THERE ARE NO NEW FULL-TIME POSITIONS BEING RECOMMENDED, AND I WOULD SAY THAT THIS BUDGET VERY MUCH CONTINUES MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS THE GOALS AND ULTIMATE VISION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, AND WITH THE REAL EMPHASIS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE THAT WE SERVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THAT REALLY IS THE BUDGET IN A NUTSHELL.
AGAIN, I'M STILL VERY FOCUSED ON OUR CORE VALUES, OUR CORE PRINCIPLES, UNWAVERING.
FROM WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY, STAYING TRUE TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND AGAIN, REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE THE TIME TO DIVE INTO A BUDGET THAT I DO BELIEVE IS ACTUALLY VERY APPROACHABLE, VERY READABLE.
STAFF SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND REAL EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT JUST A FINANCIAL TOOL, BUT TRULY A COMMUNICATIONS DOCUMENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THROUGH THE BUDGET.
THAT I'LL TURN OVER FOR THE HEARING.
>> I WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW WE WILL HAVE THREE HEARINGS.
THE FIRST ONE IS THIS EVENING AND THEN ON THE 16TH.
WE WILL HAVE TWO MORE BUDGET HEARINGS, ONE AT 11:30 AM, AND THEN ONE AS PART OF OUR REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT NOW JUST ON OUR REVISED BUDGET ESTIMATES, THE PROPOSED BUDGET ESTIMATES, AND THE 2025 MILEAGE RATES.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, WE'LL HAVE TIMES AT OTHER PARTS OF THE MEETING.
IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE REVISED BUDGET, PROPOSED BUDGET, AND MILEAGE RATES, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO.
WE'D ASK YOU THAT YOU COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
SEEING NONE. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS ANYONE WHO HAS JOINED US ONLINE OTHER THAN CITY STAFF, SO WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION BEFORE WE DO.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL ASK MS. THREADGILL TO COME FORWARD.
>> SLIGHT MODIFICATION TO THE AGENDA.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M ANGELA THREADGILL, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I'M BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO ONE OF OUR NEWEST STAFF MEMBERS AS PART OF OUR PERMITTING OFFICE AND INSPECTIONS DIVISION.
HE SERVES AS OUR NEW ENGINEERING INSPECTOR.
HE HAS OVER 17 YEARS IN STORM WATER MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION.
PREVIOUSLY, HE WAS WITH ROCKDALE COUNTY GOVERNMENT SINCE 2004.
I THINK HE'S IN HIS FIFTH WEEK NOW.
BUT ORLANDO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND SAY HELLO.
>> I BET HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT IS PART OF [INAUDIBLE]
>> GLAD TO BE HERE. GLAD TO BE A PART OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.
LIVED IN DECATUR YEARS AND YEARS AGO, BUT BOY, IT'S CHANGED NOW.
THEY WELCOME ME IN HERE, AND IT'S BEEN GREAT.
THIS IS ONE MONTH SINCE I THINK APRIL 14TH.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO JUST WORKING WITH COMMUNICATING AND JUST WORKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE, MY OTHER CO-WORKERS AND EVERYTHING.
IT'S BEEN GREAT. PLANNING AND ZONING HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
[01:35:01]
THE ENGINEER, MR. JENNINGS HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH ME AND EVERYTHING AND GET ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SO IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.I RETIRED FROM ROCKDALE, BUT LIFE GOES ON. THERE YOU GO.
>> YOU HAVE YOUR EXPERTISE THAT YOU BRING TO THE PHYSICIANS.
>> NOW, WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS,
[V. Public Comment on Agenda Action Items.]
AND THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO COMMENT ON ANY OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS SHOULD COME LATER IN THE MEETING UNDER REQUEST AND PETITIONS.THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THIS EVENING.
ITEM A IS AN EASEMENT TO GEORGIA POWER AT THE HOUSING VILLAGE.
THE SECOND IS A CHANGE ORDER FOR CANDLER DRIVE GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES.
THE THIRD IS THE SANITARY SEWER LINE REPAIR FOR MCKOY PARK POOL.
THEN ITEM D IS THE WEST HOWARD AVENUE CYCLE TRACK AND TRAFFIC CALMING IMPROVEMENTS.
THEN ITEM E IS THE DECATUR SAFETY ACTION PLAN RESOLUTION.
IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THOSE ITEMS, NOW IS THE TIME TO COME FORWARD AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
>> HI. MY NAME IS KYLE KIRKSEY.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY RECOMMENDATION AND SUPPORT FOR BOTH THE MCKOY PARK POOL REPAIRS.
WE'VE REALLY MISSED THAT POOL OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO HAVE THAT BACK.
I'VE GOT YOUNG KIDS AND THAT POOL IS REALLY A GOOD FIT FOR OUR FAMILY.
SOME OF THE OTHER ONES ARE A LITTLE FURTHER AWAY AND LARGER, AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE IT BACK.
I'D APPRECIATE THE QUICK REPAIRS ON THAT.
THEN I'M ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WEST HOWARD AVENUE CYCLE TRACK.
I BIKE A LOT, I'LL TAKE THAT ROUTE OFTEN TO GO GET MY HAIR CUT AND GO OUT TO EAT AND STUFF.
AS MUCH AS I LOVE THE CURRENT PATH TRAIL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HAZARDS, PARTICULARLY GETTING AROUND THE INTERSECTIONS WITH CSX, AND THERE'S A FEW POINTS WHERE POWER LINES AND STUFF CROSS OVER THE TRAIL AND IT'S A LITTLE DICY.
HAVING A DEDICATED CYCLE TRACK CLOSER TO THE ROAD AND THEN HAVING DEDICATED SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS, I THINK WOULD BE A BIG IMPROVEMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND WORTH THE LARGE INVESTMENT HERE. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANDRES WELLS, AND I LIVE AT 105 PATTILLO WAY, WHICH IS A HOUSE ON THE CORNER OF WEST HOWARD IN PATTILLO WAY, RIGHT BY THE HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NEXT TO THE CONDOMINIUM.
THERE'S A SMALL CASTLE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE.
I'VE HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
I'VE LIVED IN THE HOUSE FOR 10 YEARS NOW TO A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A RESULT OF JUST DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.
TO BRING SOME OF THINGS TO YOUR ATTENTION WHILE YOU'RE CONSIDERING THE CYCLE TRACK AND PARKING IMPROVEMENTS ON WEST TOWER.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PLANERS, BUT WATCHING PEOPLE HITTING THE PLANTERS ACTUALLY MAKES ME FEEL GOOD BECAUSE [LAUGHTER] THE ROAD HAS BEEN WAY TOO CRAZY.
THERE'S A LOT OF REAL BIG HAZARDS JUST IN TERMS OF HOW THE ROAD IS CONSTRUCTED ORIGINALLY.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WALK ON THE PATH INSTEAD OF USING IT FOR BICYCLES BECAUSE IT'S SO DANGEROUS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
IF YOU WALK DOWN THAT STREET, THERE'S THE SIDEWALK AND THE CARS ARE RIGHT THERE, PEOPLE ARE SPEEDING.
THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE IT SAFER AND MORE USABLE.
ANOTHER THING THAT I THINK SHOULD FACTOR INTO THE DECISION ON WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING HERE IS SOME OF THE CHANGES THE HIGH SCHOOL OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS.
DURING THE LAST MAJOR RENOVATION AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY TORE DOWN THE COMMUNITY GARDEN AND PUT IN A LARGE PARKING LOT.
THAT, I THINK CREATED AMONG PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND EXPECTATION THAT THEIR KIDS COULD DRIVE A CAR TO SCHOOL, AND THAT'S CREATED A COMPLEXITY BECAUSE MORE KIDS HAVE CARS THAN THERE ARE PARKING SPOTS.
ALSO, THEY HAVE TO RESERVE PARKING SPOTS FOR KIDS THAT ARE COMMUTING TO LOCAL UNIVERSITY TO TAKE CLASSES.
IT'S A VERY COMPLEX PROBLEM, IT'S HARD TO SOLVE.
PEOPLE SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS IN THEIR OWN WAYS.
WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THE GREENWOOD CIRCLE, PATTILLO WAY, HIBERNIA NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BECOME THE OVERFLOW PARKING LOT FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, IT BECAME DANGEROUS.
WE COULDN'T GET EMERGENCY VEHICLES DOWN THE STREET.
WE COULDN'T GET SCHOOL BUSES DOWN THE STREET.
THE CITY ACTUALLY HAD TO MAKE HALF THE STREET NOT PARKING,
[01:40:02]
BASICALLY RESTRICT PARKING ENTIRELY ON PATTILLO WAY AND GREENWOOD CIRCLE BECAUSE OF THIS CHANGE AND DEMAND FOR PARKING, WHERE IT WAS ALWAYS A PROBLEM IF PEOPLE PARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, BUT PEOPLE DIDN'T DO THAT.THE PROBLEM IS RESTRICTING IT HAS ALLEVIATED THE SAFETY ISSUE AND CERTAINLY THE SCHOOL BUS CAN NOW DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND PICK MY DAUGHTER UP IN THE MORNING AND DROP HER OFF IN THE AFTERNOON.
BUT IT'S JUST PUSHING THOSE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS FURTHER INTO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS TO PARK.
I WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THERE'S PARKING ON WEST HOWARD AVENUE AS PART OF THE PLAN.
BUT IT'S VERY HARD TO TELL FROM THE DRAWINGS JUST HOW MUCH THERE'S GOING TO BE.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ADVANTAGES TO THE PARKING.
A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES ON WEST HOWARD, CERTAINLY BY THINKING MAN, GOING OVER TO SWITCH YARDS ARE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PARKING FOR THOSE BUSINESSES.
ACTUALLY MORE PARKING COULD SUPPORT THEM.
IT'S NOT LIKE THIS WOULD JUST BE USED BY THE HIGH SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
I THINK IN THE EVENING PEOPLE WOULD USE THAT PARKING TOO.
I THINK IT WOULD MAKE IT MUCH MORE LIVABLE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
NOT ALL THE HOUSES HAVE THEIR OWN DRIVEWAYS.
I KNOW I HAVE A DUPLEX, ONE OF THOSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE THE MEETING, AND I DON'T HAVE A PLACE FOR MY TENANTS TO PARK.
NOW IF THEY LEAVE DURING THE MORNING, THEY'VE LITERALLY KNOW WHERE TO PARK.
THAT'S HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE UP AND DOWN THE STREET THAT HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, AND IT'S AN IMPACT TO PEOPLE.
LIVING IN THE CITY, IT'S THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED CITY IN GEORGIA.
IT'S NOT A SHOCK THAT WE HAVE BIG CITY PROBLEMS IN INDICATOR, BUT GIVEN THAT, RIGHT NOW, ALL THESE PLANTERS THAT ARE GOING TO GO AWAY, I THINK IT WOULD REALLY MAKE SENSE TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT PARKING IS MAXIMIZED BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A USE OF SPACE.
IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY IS NEEDED DESPERATELY.
I ALSO THINK IT IMPROVES SAFETY HAVING THE PARKING.
IN A LOT OF CITIES, IF YOU GO TO THE SUBURBS OR CHICAGO, PLACES LIKE THAT, YOU SEE YOU HAVE YOUR SIDEWALK, YOU HAVE SOME RIGHT AWAY WITH GREEN SPACE, MAYBE SOME TREES, THEN YOU HAVE PARKING, AND THAT REALLY MAKES IT SO THAT YOU HAVE TO HIT A CAR, THEN YOU HAVE TO A CURVE, HIT A TREE, AND THEN HIT SOMEBODY.
I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS A BIG MISSED OPPORTUNITY WITH THE CHURCH STREET ACTIVITY THAT WAS DONE.
WE PUT THE BIKE PATHS ON BOTH SIDES AND THERE'S NO PARKING, AND SO SOMEONE COULD STILL JUMP A CURB AND HIT SOMEBODY.
I THINK THERE WAS SPACE TO DO THAT.
THIS DESIGN LOOKS TO ME A LOT BETTER.
I GETS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT I JUST WOULD ASK THAT AS YOU GUYS ARE LOOK AT ME, ONCE AGAIN, I CAN'T SEE THE FULL PLAN.
WHEN I WAS ASKING ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR, THEY SAID, WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THAT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE A FINAL PLAN THAT WE'RE APPROVING.
I WISH I'D OPPORTUNITY TO TALK SOONER OR EARLIER ABOUT IT.
BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY A PRIORITY IN THE DESIGN, IT'S HARD TO TELL FROM THE DRAWINGS.
CERTAIN SECTIONS I CAN TELL THERE'S PARKING.
OF COURSE, CYCLING, HAVING ACCESS IS IMPORTANT.
BUT I DO WONDER, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT, IF THERE'S SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE MADE TO THE PATH AS WELL.
I SEE A LOT OF CYCLERS BEING STRESSED OUT BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE WALKING ON THE PATH ALL THE TIME, BUT I KNOW LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WORKING ON THAT BECAUSE THE CROSSING FURTHER DOWN, WALKING DOWN THE PATH AND THEN CROSSING BACK OVER BECAUSE IT'S DANGEROUS ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD SIDE OF WEST HOWARD.
LIKE I SAID, REGARDLESS, EVEN IF YOU JUST DID THE PLAN AS WRITTEN, I THINK IT'S A HUGE IMPROVEMENT.
I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU'LL THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THAT PARKING IS BEING CREATED AND WHERE IT'S BEING CREATED FOR SAFETY AND ALSO JUST TO IMPROVE LIVABILITY AND THE ADJOINING NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY WILD.
IF YOU COME LOOK LIKE THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST, IN THE MORNING, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ALL THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, IT'S CRAZY.
IT'S DEFINITELY BETTER NOW WITH THAT THE STREETS BEING RESTRICTED.
IT'S NOT DANGEROUS IF THERE'S A FIRE, FIRE TRUCK CAN GET THERE, BUT I THINK WE CAN STILL MAKE IT BETTER AND VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU GUYS ARE PLANNING TO DO.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY LONG WINDED SPEECH, AND I APPRECIATE IT.
>> ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS? ANYONE WHO HAS JOINED US ONLINE, SO WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA ACTION ITEMS AND MOVE TO ACTION ITEM A,
[VI.A. Easement to Georgia Power Company.]
WHICH IS THE EASEMENT TO THE GEORGIA POWER COMPANY. [INAUDIBLE]>> YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
TONIGHT, I'M RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF AN EASEMENT TO THE GEORGIA POWER COMPANY TO INSTALL UNDERGROUND DISTRIBUTION LINES TO SERVICE PHASE 2 OF THE SOUTH HOUSING VILLAGE AT 700 SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE, AT LEGACY PARK.
[01:45:03]
WE HAVE THE ATTACHED FILE OR FILES THAT SHOWS THE EASEMENT AREA FOR THE UNDERGROUND DISTRIBUTION LINES AND TRANSFORMERS.THE EASEMENT IS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE POWER SERVICE TO PHASE 2 OF THE SOUTH HOUSING VILLAGE.
THE CITY COMMISSION DID APPROVE A VERY VERY SIMILAR EASEMENT FOR PHASE 1 BACK IN NOVEMBER.
WE'RE REALLY JUST RECOMMENDING, AGAIN, A VERY SIMILAR EASEMENT AND ACTUALLY, EVEN A VERY SIMILAR AREA AS IS IN PHASE 1 AND JUST DOING THAT FOR PHASE 2.
YOU ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL AND NOTING WE'RE ASKING FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE AND ACCEPT ANY MINOR CHANGES TO THE EASEMENT DOCUMENTS AS WE DEEM NECESSARY AS LONG AS THE DOCUMENTS REMAIN IN SUBSTANTIAL.
WITH THAT I RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE EASEMENT [INAUDIBLE]
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MOTION TO APPROVE THE EASEMENT AS DESCRIBED.
>> SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
[VI.B.Change Order for Candler Drive Geotechnical Services.]
CANDLER DRIVE GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I SERVE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,950 FOR GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN PROJECT AT PARK DRIVE AND CANDLER DRIVE.
THE TASK ORDER FOR DRAINAGE DESIGNS ON PARK AND CANDLER WAS AWARDED TO ATKINS IN THE AMOUNT OF $231,200 AND A BUDGET ESTABLISHED IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000.
THIS CHANGE ORDER WILL INCREASE THE AWARD TO $261,150, WHICH IS WITHIN THE EXISTING BUDGET.
DESIGNS FOR THE PROJECT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
OBTAINING EASEMENTS FROM PROPERTY OWNERS IS IN PROGRESS, AND RESIDENTS AT CANDLER POINT WAY RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT IMPACT TO THEIR EXISTING PRIVATE RETAINING WALL AND PRIVATE ROAD.
BEFORE AGREEING TO AN EASEMENT, THEY STIPULATED THAT THE CITY CONFIRM THE INTEGRITY OF THE RETAINING WALL WOULD NOT BE COMPROMISED BY ANY OF THE WORK, AND IF IT WAS, IT WOULD BE RESTORED TO SIMILAR OR LIKE KIND.
IMPACTS ARE NOT EXPECTED AND WE NEED TO DOCUMENT BASELINE CONDITIONS BY UTILIZING A GEOTECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE WALL IN SURROUNDING AREAS.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE STORM WATER UTILITY FUND, AND IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT THIS CHANGE ORDER BE APPROVED.
>> THANKS FOR BEING PROACTIVE.
>> IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THESE STORM WATER PROJECTS. MOVING FORWARD.
>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. IS THERE ESSENTIALLY A LINKAGE WHERE IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT UPON THE COMPLETION OF THIS ASSESSMENT, WE'LL MOVE INTO THE EASEMENT PROCESS.
BUT THAT'S THE ONLY CRITICAL DEPENDENCY AND THEN THEY WILL OFFER THE EASEMENT?
>> EXACTLY. WE'LL COMPLETE THE ASSESSMENT AND DOCUMENT THE EXISTING CONDITION AS PART OF THE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT, SO THAT CAN BE EXECUTED.
ONCE WE HAVE ALL THE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS, WE CAN BID IT FOR CONSTRUCTION.
>> MAKE SURE DIDN'T I UNDERSTOOD CLEARLY, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'LL DO THIS WORK AND THEN IT'S ALL NORMAL, WE HAVE A BASELINE AND THEN THEY'D SAY, WE STILL DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO OFFER THE EASEMENT.
>> BUT IT'S WRITTEN INTO THE PROCESS. THAT'S HOW IT WILL GO.
>> IT'S WRITTEN INTO THE PROCESS THAT WE WILL DO THE ASSESSMENT.
ULTIMATELY, I THINK THEY'RE ON THEIR FRUITION TO EXECUTE THE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT.
IF WE ENTER INTO THIS WORK, I DON'T THINK IT'S REQUIRED THAT THEY ENTER INTO THE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT, BUT I CAN CONFIRM.
>> DO YOU THINK THEY WANT THIS WORK TO HAPPEN STORM WATER? I BELIEVE THAT IS CORRECT.
>> GOT IT. THAT'S NOT ANTAGONISTIC, IF YOU WILL, IN THAT SENSE.
>> OF THE INFORMATION BEFORE [OVERLAPPING] RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING IT BEFORE, WOULD WE PROBABLY COME BACK AND DO AN ASSESSMENT AFTER OR?
[01:50:04]
>> IF THERE'S ANY CONCERN, YES.
>> A MOTION TO APPROVE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 1 IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,950 TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT TO 261,150 WITH ATKINS FOR THE GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES AS DESCRIBED.
IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? THERE A SECOND?
>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED AND THE CHAIR VOTES, AYE.
[VI.C.Sanitary Sewer Line Repair-McKoy Park Pool.]
NEXT, THE SANITARY SEWER LINE REPAIR AT MCCOY PARK.>> I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO TNJ INDUSTRIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $66,536.67 AND ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET OF 75,000 FOR EMERGENCY REPAIR OF THE MCCOY PARK POOL AND RESTROOM FACILITY SANITARY SEWER LINE.
OPERATION IS CRITICAL IN ORDER FOR THE POOL TO OPEN.
ON MAY 21, 2025, THE CITY WAS NOTIFIED OF A SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW IN THE REAR OF 216 STERLING STREET.
THIS SEWER LINE SERVES THE MCCOY POOL RESTROOM AND POOL FACILITY AND CROSSES PRIVATE PROPERTY BEFORE JOINING THE DEKALB COUNTY SEWER LINE, MAIN IN STIRLING STREET RIGHTEOY.
AN EMERGENCY ASSESSMENT WAS COMPLETED USING VIDEO INSPECTION, WHICH REVEALED A BLOCKAGE.
CREWS ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE BLOCKAGE, BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
THE SEWER LINE IS AGED CONCRETE PIPE, WHICH IS PARTIALLY REPAIRED DUE TO DAMAGE TWO YEARS AGO.
STAFF SOLICITED PROPOSALS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET OF SANITARY SEWER LINE AND THE INSTALLATION OF AN ACCESS STRUCTURE IN STERLING STREET FOR MAINTENANCE.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO REPLACE THE FAILING SEWER LINE USING A TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY TO REPLACE THE EXISTING SIX INCH CONCRETE PIPE WITH AN EIGHT INCH HDPE PLASTIC PIPE WITH INCREASED CAPACITY.
TNJ INDUSTRIES HAS PERFORMED SIMILAR WORK FOR DEKALB COUNTY AND THE CITY OF DECATUR.
ADDITIONAL QUOTES WERE REQUESTED AND NO OTHER PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED.
THE WORK COULD START THIS WEEK WEATHER PERMITTING.
I RECOMMEND AWARD OF A CONTRACT WITH TNJ INDUSTRIES FOR THE MCCOY PARK POOL SANITARY SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> QUICKLY, CAN WE GET THE POOL REOPENED?
>> YES. WE DID RECEIVE TWO TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS WHICH WERE ESSENTIAL FOR PERFORMING THIS WORK.
WEATHER PERMITTING. WE HOPE THE CONTRACTOR COULD MOBILIZE AS SOON AS TOMORROW AND COMPLETE THE WORK TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY.
ONCE THE WORK IS FINALIZED, THEN WE COULD COMPLETE THE FINAL PREP TO OPEN THE POOL AND OPEN IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WE TOO ARE EAGER TO OPEN THE MCCOY PARK POOL.
>> THE 200 FEET, IS THAT THE LINK OF THE PIPE THAT GOES FROM MCCOY ALL THE WAY TO WHERE IT CONNECTS WITH THE DEKALB SEWER SYSTEM, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S AN ESTIMATED LINEAR FOOTAGE FROM THE MANHOLE STRUCTURE THAT'S BEHIND MCCOY PARK, ACROSS THE PRIVATE PROPERTIES TO THE CENTER OF STERLING STREET, WHERE THE SANITARY SEWER LINE EXISTS, WHERE IT TIES INTO.
>> A LARGER PIPE, IT WILL BE CONNECTING TO SOMETHING THAT IS LARGER AS WELL.
>> CORRECT. THE SANITARY SEWER MAIN, WE HAVE GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE IT'S LARGER THAN EIGHT INCHES.
BUT AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, WE WILL BE INSTALLING A NEW SANITARY SEWER MANHOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF STERLING STREET TO BOTH FACILITATE THAT CONNECTION EASILY AND ALSO FOR FUTURE MAINTENANCE, MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE.
>> TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASE OR TEMPORARY ACCESS EASEMENTS MOVING FORWARD, IF WE HAD.
>> THAT'S THE GOAL OF HAVING THE ACCESS FROM STERLING STREET?
>> I KNOW A LOT OF THE USERS WITH THE YOUNG CHILDREN ARE ANXIOUS.
I APPRECIATE THE RUSH ORDER ON THIS.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET AND THE AMOUNT OF $75,000 AN AWARD, A CONTRACT TO T&J INDUSTRIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $66,536.67 FOR THE EMERGENCY REPAIR
[01:55:07]
OF THE MCCOY PARKS POOL SANITARY SEWER LINE? MOTION TO THAT EFFECT, GOT TO MOVE. IS THERE A SECOND?>> FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
AYE, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO GET THAT WORK HAPPENING.
[VI.D. West Howard Avenue Cycle Track and Traffic Calming Improvements.]
>> MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I'M DAVID YOUNGER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT IS TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING A CONSTRUCTION BUDGET OF $2.5 MILLION AND AWARD OF A CONTRACT FOR THE WEST HOWARD AVENUE, CYCLE TRACK AND TRAFFIC CALMING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LOW BIDDER BLOUNT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OF MARIETTA, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,869,098.96.
WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF AGREEMENTS WITH ATKINS REALIS FOR CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $169,030.24, AS WELL AS A CONTRACT WITH S&ME FOR GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDES THE OVERSIGHT OF THE FULL DEPTH RECLAMATION PAVEMENT AND ASPHALT WORK, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $23,695.
S&ME PROVIDED THE GEOTECHNICAL SURVEY AND REPORTS DURING THE DESIGN PHASE AND THEIR FINDINGS WERE PROVIDED IN THE BID PACKAGE TO THE PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS.
THE SERVICES BY S&ME WOULD BE CRUCIAL TO THE OVERSIGHT OF THE FDR FULL DEPTH RECLAMATION PAVEMENT WORK BEING PERFORMED BY THE CONTRACTOR.
SOMEWHAT OF A SPECIALIZED PROCESS FOR RECLAIMING AND REUSING THE EXISTING ASPHALT AND SUB BASE MATERIAL THERE.
THE SCOPE OF THE FULL DEPTH IS NOT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF WEST HOWARD AVENUE.
THERE'S ONLY PORTIONS OF THE PROJECT THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING TO BE IMPROVED. THEY WILL GO IN THERE.
GRIND IT ALL UP, PUT IT BACK, ADD CEMENT, AND LET IT CURE, AND WHAT'S GOING TO CREATE A MUCH MORE REINFORCED BASE MATERIAL TO KEEP WHATEVER FAILURES WE'RE EXPERIENCING FROM COMING BACK.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING TO HAVE THEM BROUGHT ON AS A GEOTECH CONTRACTOR.
BLOUNT CONSTRUCTION WAS THE LOW BIDDER DURING THE PROCESS.
AS I OUTLINED BEFORE, WHAT THE BID PROPOSAL WAS, A TABULATION OF THE BIDS RECEIVED ON MAY 13TH IS ATTACHED, A VERY COMPETITIVE BID RESPONSE FROM THREE DIFFERENT BIDDERS.
THE WEST HOWARD AVENUE TRAFFIC CALMING IMPROVEMENTS WILL BUILD ON THE EXISTING REIMAGINED WEST HOWARD AVENUE EFFORT COMPLETED IN 2017.
THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO PERMANENTLY CONVERT WEST HOWARD AVENUE FROM A FOUR LANE THOROUGHFARE TO A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET AND TO IMPLEMENT A COMPLETE STREET PLAN TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND COMFORT FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS WHILE REDUCING VEHICLE SPEEDS BETWEEN COMMERCE DRIVE AND THE WESTERN CITY LIMITS.
WEST HOWARD AVENUE, ALSO WILL BE REPAIRED, REPAVED, AND THE STREET WILL BE NARROWED FROM THE FOUR LANES TO TWO LANES WITH LANDSCAPED ISLANDS AND A TWO WAY CYCLE TRACK ALONG THE CSX RIGHT OF WAY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS AND THE CITY ARBORIST TO IDENTIFY NATIVE POLLINATOR PLANTS AND INTEND TO ENGAGE WITH TREES ATLANTA TO PROVIDE NATIVE PLANTINGS WITH SMALL AND MEDIUM NATIVE CANOPY TREES IN THE ISLANDS WITH ADDITIONAL SHADE TREES NEAR THE EXISTING PATH TRAIL.
I THOUGHT IT WAS FAIRLY TIMELY THAT TONIGHT, YOU ALL HAD THE PRESENTATION ON THE THE RIGHT OF WAY IN THE STREET TREES FROM HER K. I THOUGHT THAT WAS INFORMATIVE AND DEFINITELY WILL BE HELPFUL TO THIS PROJECT.
WEST HOWARD AVENUE, IMPROVEMENTS WILL EXTEND FROM PAYDEN CIRCLE NEAR THE EAST LAKE MARINA STATION TO COMMERCE DRIVE, INCLUDING THE IMPROVEMENTS AT COMMERCE DRIVE.
WEST HOWARD AVENUE WORK WILL NOT INCLUDE THE AREA BETWEEN ADAIR AND THE VALERO GAS STATION.
THAT EXISTING RAIL CROSSING WILL REMAIN IN SERVICE DURING THIS PHASE.
THERE ARE SOME CONNECTIONS AT THOSE POINTS THAT WILL EITHER TRANSITION CYCLISTS FROM THE DEDICATED CYCLE TRACK BACK UP ONTO THE PATH THROUGH THE INTERSECTION.
THEN WE ARE MAKING SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ALIGNMENT FOR THE NEW CYCLE TRACK AND THE MULTI USE TRAIL ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE VALERO, BUT THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE INTERSECTION WILL BE UNTOUCHED DURING THIS PHASE.
[02:00:05]
BUT AS WE HEARD LAST COMMISSION MEETING, WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH BOTH CSX, THE UTILITIES, AND G DOT ON MOVING THE ATLANTA AVENUE INTERSECTION PROJECT FOR.BLOUNT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IS A HIGHLY SKILLED CONTRACTOR WITH A STRONG TRACK RECORD WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN ASPHALT PAVING.
AROUND ATLANTA, BLOUNT HAS PERFORMED SIMILAR SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR IN THE PAST, AS WELL AS THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
ADDITIONALLY, BLOUNT IS ONE OF THE FIRST COMPANIES TO UTILIZE THIS FULL DEPTH RECLAMATION FOR REPAVING STREETS IN THE SOUTHEAST.
AGAIN, AS I WAS SAYING EARLIER, THIS PROCESS UTILIZES 100% OF THE ROAD ROADWAY MATERIAL, WHICH IS THEN RECYCLED BACK INTO THE RECONSTRUCTED ROADWAY.
THIS PROCESS PROVIDES AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY REHABILITATION METHOD TO RECONSTRUCTING THE STREET.
WE ANTICIPATE CONSTRUCTION SHOULD START IN ABOUT SIX WEEKS AND TAKE ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS TO COMPLETE WEATHER PERMITTING.
DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROJECT AND THE CONSTRUCTION DETAILS FOR BUILDING THE CYCLE TRACK AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS.
WE RECOMMEND EMPLOYING ATKINS REALIS FOR CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES.
ATKINS REALIS HAS BEEN THE SUB CONTRACT ENGINEERING FIRM, WORKING WITH THE ENGINEERS OF RECORD FROM LANDIS EVANS PARTNERS FOR BOTH THE ATLANTA AVENUE RAILROAD CROSSING, AS WELL AS THE WEST HOWARD AVENUE DESIGN PHASE.
FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX BLOST 1, AND I'VE PROVIDED A BUDGET BREAKDOWN AT THE END OF MY RECOMMENDATION. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE PARKING.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SPACES BECAUSE IT'S NOT MARKED THAT WAY.
IF YOU ARE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON HOWARD FROM COMMERCE DRIVE, WHEN YOU PASS PATELLLA WAY, A GOOD PORTION OF THE NORTH EDGE OF THE ROAD WILL BE PARKING.
IT WILL BE DONE SIMILARLY TO WHAT WAS DONE ON ADAIR STREET.
THERE WOULD BE AN EDGE LINE, BUT THERE WILL NOT BE LIKE A T MARK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S JUST GOT A WHITE EDGE LINE AND THEN YOU CAN PARK ANYWHERE IN THAT.
IT STOPS BEFORE YOU GET TO GREENWOOD AVENUE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE WANT AREAS TO TAPER TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT GOOD SITE VISIBILITY SITE TRIANGLE AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS TO WHERE CARS COMING OFF THE SIDE STREETS DON'T HAVE AN OBSTRUCTED VIEW BY A PARKED CAR, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR DEDICATED TURN LANES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
THAT AT THOSE POINTS, WE'RE UTILIZING THREE LANES OF THE FOUR LANE ROAD FOR CAR MOVEMENTS.
THAT'S WHY IT DOES TAPER BACK DOWN CLOSER TO THE CURB WHEN YOU GET TO GREENWOOD.
THEN IT ALSO PICKS BACK UP AGAIN JUST PAST ADAIR STREET, AND THERE WILL BE MORE PARKING AVAILABLE IN FRONT OF ATLANTA FRIENDS MEETING BEFORE YOU GET TO LANDON? NO. LANSDOWNE? SORRY. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, ONCE YOU PASS LANSDOWNE, YOU GET INTO A DOWNHILL CURVE AND BLIND INTERSECTION M ROS, IT WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE ON STREET PARKING IN THAT AREA.
>> CURRENTLY SOME PARKING ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
THAT'S IN THE AREA THAT'S NOT BEING REDONE NOW?
>> IT SHOULD STAY BECAUSE WE ARE TRANSITIONING PEOPLE BACK ONTO THE TRAIL THROUGH THE INTERSECTION FOR SAFETY PURPOSES.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXTENDED COMMENTS, ANDERS.
>> THANK YOU. ONE THING TO NOTE, I THIS DOESN'T TO SOUND LAME, BUT WE HAVE JUST GRADUATED LIKE THE LAST TWO BIGGEST HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES WE'VE EVER HAD.
WE HAVE ONE MORE BIG CLASS TO COME.
WE'RE COMING OFF OF THIS POPULATION WILL START TO DECLINE.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE SOME EDGE OFF THE NUMBERS ARE DECLINING.
JUST TO NOTE, SOME OF THE SURGE YOU'VE SEEN DOES COME FROM JUST BIG HUGE CLASSES THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN THESE NUMBERS BEFORE WELL INTO THE 400.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE ALSO MEANINGFUL TO BE MORE ENGAGED.
HOWEVER, WE CAN MAYBE IT'S A SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL EFFORT, BUT TO PROMOTE THAT CULTURE OF WALKING AND BIKING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
THEN I DO THINK THEY'VE BEEN VERY COLLABORATIVE WITH US WHEN WE'VE HAD REALLY HARD PAIN POINTS AROUND ILLEGAL PARKING CLOSE TO THE SYCAMORE THE COMMERCE.
ARE THEY GOING TO SYCAMORE COUNTY? THE TOWN HOMES RIGHT AT THAT TURN.
[02:05:01]
YOU BRINGING THIS MORE TO OUR ATTENTION ALSO IS HELPFUL, BUT I JUST THINK THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP THERE ON PARKING HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD AND THEY LISTEN WHEN WE'VE SAID, WE HAVE SOME HARD PAIN POINTS WITH RESIDENTS WHO CAN'T PARK IN THEIR SPOTS OR IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE.I'D BE OPEN TO CONTINUING TO HEAR THAT FEEDBACK FOR ME, BUT JUST KNOW THESE CLASSES WILL GET A LITTLE SMALLER IF THAT'S HELPFUL TOO.
>> I HAVE A REQUEST, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT THE COMPOSITION OF THIS PROJECT.
I WOULD LIKE US TO AS WE COMPLETE THIS PROJECT, AS WE THINK ABOUT PUBLIC ART, SPECIFICALLY, BEACON HILL.
I WOULD LIKE US TO SERIOUSLY ENTERTAIN VISUAL MARKERS TO DESCRIBE LIFE LIKE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN BEACON HILL, WHERE I'VE SEEN IN OTHER CITIES WHERE THEY HAVE VISUAL MARKERS ALONG PORTIONS OF THE TRAIL ON THE ROAD THAT WE OR PURPOSEFUL ABOUT TELLING THAT STORY ON THAT CORRIDOR.
I THINK IT'S A GATEWAY INTO THE CITY AND IT'S A GATEWAY INTO THE LOST DECATUR, ESPECIALLY AS WE START TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL THAT STORY IN THIS CORRIDOR.
I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE MONEY LEFT OVER IN THIS BUDGET THAT WE CAN GET THIS DONE AT THE END OF THIS PROJECT.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
IT'S OVERDUE, AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AS SOON AS THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE.
>> I THINK WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'LL BE FUNDS AVAILABLE BECAUSE THIS IS WELL WITHIN OUR BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT. WE'LL MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THE PLANT PLANTINGS THAT GO IN THE ISLANDS IS NOT PART OF THIS CONTRACT.
THAT WOULD HAPPEN SEPARATELY WITH THE CONTINUED WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORS, K, AND TREES, ATLANTA.
THAT YOU WOULD SEE THAT COME IN A TIME APPROPRIATE FOR PLANTING.
>> I WAS GOING TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT LISTENING TO SPEED, JUST THINKING ALL THE PEOPLE HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THEY BRING TO THE STATE [INAUDIBLE].
ONE THING I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO DO THE TREES.
I WOULD NOTE THAT WITH OUR SPECS, THE TWO WALLS ARE SIX FEET WIDE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE FOOT WIDE.
SPACE FOUR FEET INCLUDING THE CURVES.
AS WE LOOK AT THESE SPACES, WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS SAID IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE THAT RIGHT OF WAY, IT HELPS TO DEFINE AS A PUBLIC SPACE.
I NECESSARILY SEE IT WITH A TENDENCY BECAUSE IT'S A ROAD I THINK IT RIGHT AWAY.
I THINK A TRANSFORMATION CARD OR AS [INAUDIBLE] OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IN THE DESIGN ITSELF, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN AS ACTUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THAT WELL.
THE PRE WALL A LITTLE WIDER THAN THREE FEET, SO WE GET SOME BIGGER CREES IN I RIDE BE ON THERE A COUPLE OF DATES BY WEEK TWO.
HAVING SOME SHADE IN JULY AND AUGUST, IS ESPECIALLY COMING HOME AROUND 5:00 SIX CLOCK.
I JUST WOULD IT IS TOO LATE FOR THIS, DAVID, AND WE CAN'T LET IT PERFECTLY THE GOOD.
BUT IN THE FUTURE I WOULD ENCOURAGE LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES, NIFY THE VARIOUS USES WE CAN DO WITH KIND OF MAXIMIZE THAT.
I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN WHERE POSSIBLE THAT PLAN WIDE NET BIGGER I EVERYBODY ELSE.
[INAUDIBLE] BUT REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND I'VE HEARD BRO TOWN POWERS SPEAK TO THIS IDEA A NUMBER OF TIMES B AND I ONE QUESTION AT WITH 2.5 MILLION DOLLAR OVERALL PROJECT.
THIS ALL COMES TO ABOUT 2 MILLION CHANGE.
>> CORRECT. THAT THE ESTIMATES FOR ATKINS REALIS AND S&ME ARE NOT TO EXCEED BUDGET NUMBER BASED ON A SEVEN MONTH CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
THOSE WILL BE BUILT ACTUAL, TIME.
THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL SAVINGS DEPENDING ON HOW THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD.
>> IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO BE A CORRIDOR THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACTIVATE AND FOR PEOPLE USING OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, SO THAT THE MARKERS WOULD BE THERE FOR PEOPLE TO STOP AND READ, AND APPRECIATE.
[02:10:09]
I KNOW YOU HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT IT, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE THIS INTO THE PROJECT.THANK YOU. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE READY FOR THIS TO GET MOVING.
>> SOME PLANNERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE DISGUSTED.
>> I GOT TO EAT THOUGH FROM THE RESUME TODAY ACTUALLY, WHEN'S THAT STARTING FOR ME TONIGHT? [LAUGHTER]
>> HE'S AWAITING FOR THAT QUESTION.
>> THERE WILL BE A DISPOSAL PROCESS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE EXISTING PLANTERS TAKING ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN.
I'M SURE THERE WILL BE MEMORIALIZED IN PLACES.
>> WE WILL HAVE THE DETAILS ABOUT PLANTERS AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
IT IS LIKE WE'RE HOLDING THAT FOR THE NEXT MEETING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHEN DO WE EXPECT THE INSTRUCTION TO BE HERE?
>> IT TAKES TIME TO OBVIOUSLY GET THE CONTRACTS TOO, AND I THINK 4-6 WEEKS, POTENTIALLY IT WOULD TAKE TO GET MOBILIZED AND THINGS IN PLACE.
>> THAT ONE IS TO MEAN AUGUST.
>> ARE WE AIMING TO BE DONE BY WATCH FEST?
>> WELL, I'M JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE.
>> WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS THAT HAVE A BIG DEADLINE.
>> I HAVE TO TAP THE SECTION OF WEST TOWER FOR SEVEN MINUTES, [LAUGHTER] SO THAT THEY CAN WORK.
>> DO YOU WANT SEPARATE MOTIONS FOR EACH ONE?
>> WE DO WANT SEPARATE MOTIONS.
FIRST, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT AN AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO BLUNT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,869,098.96 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE WEST HOWARD CYCLE TRACK AND TRAFFIC CALMING IMPROVEMENTS.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
[LAUGHTER] ALL OPPOSED? THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE MOTION PASSES.
SECOND IS TO RECOMMEND AN AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO ATKINS REALIS IN THE AMOUNT OF $169,030.24 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION ADMIN SERVICES.
IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> IS THERE A SECOND? MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED AND THE CHAIR VOTES AYE.
THE THIRD MOTION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS IS AWARD A CONTRACT TO S&ME IN THE AMOUNT OF $23,695 FOR GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES.
THEY'RE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT.
>> THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED. THE CHAIR AYE, AND THE MOTION PASSES.
FINALLY, THE CONSTRUCTION BUDGET.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION BUDGET AND THE AMOUNT OF 02,500,000 FOR THE WEST HOWARD CYCLE TRACK AND TRAFFIC CALMING IMPROVEMENTS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> SECOND. [LAUGHTER] OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> AYE. OPPOSED. THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION PASSES.
>> THANK YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE PLANTER PLAN.
[VI.E.Decatur Safety Action Plan Resolution.]
WE HAVE THE DECATUR SAFETY ACTION PLAN.>> GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
>> JULIE HARLAN, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR.
I AM THRILLED TO BE HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN IS FINALIZED.
AND I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND THE FINAL ADOPTION OF THE DECATUR SAFE STREET SAFETY ACTION PLAN, ALONG WITH THE ASSOCIATED VISION ZERO AND COMPLETE STREET POLICIES.
THESE ACTIONS ARE CRITICAL STEPS IN ADVANCING DECATUR'S COMMITMENT TO CREATING A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK FOR ALL USERS, WHETHER WALKING, BIKING, ROLLING, DRIVING, OR USING TRANSIT.
THE PLAN REPRESENTS A COMPREHENSIVE DATA INFORMED FRAMEWORK FOR ELIMINATING FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURY CRASHES ON DECATUR STREETS, WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON EQUITY, RISK FACTORS, AND VULNERABLE ROAD USERS.
THE PLAN'S CREATION WAS GUIDED BY
[02:15:02]
EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY INPUT GATHERED THROUGH PUBLIC WORKSHOPS, POP-UP EVENTS, ONLINE ENGAGEMENT, AND DIRECT OUTREACH TO HISTORICALLY UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES.KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN INCLUDE A BOLD VISION FOR ZERO TRAFFIC DEATHS OR SERIOUS INJURIES, A ROBUST ANALYSIS OF FIVE YEARS OF TRAFFIC DATA AND IDENTIFICATION OF A HIGH INJURY NETWORK.
PRIORITIZATION OF SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN AREAS WITH THE HIGHEST NEED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SAFER STREET DESIGN, POLICY CHANGES, AND PROGRAMMING.
ADOPTING THE PLAN CODIFIES THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPLETE STREETS AND VISION ZERO.
COMPLETE STREETS ENSURES ALL MODES AND USERS ARE CONSIDERED IN EVERY TRANSPORTATION PROJECT, WHILE VISION ZERO RECOGNIZES THAT TRAFFIC FATALITIES ARE PREVENTABLE AND REQUIRE PROACTIVE DATA-DRIVEN ACTION TO ELIMINATE THEM.
THIS RESOLUTION SUPPORTS AND ADVANCES PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED CITY POLICIES, INCLUDING THE 2018 COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN, BOTH OF WHICH CALL FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE AND MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.
>> BRENT COMMENT THAT, HE'S MUCH GRATEFUL TO SERVE.
AS YOU'RE COMMITTING [INAUDIBLE].
>> I THINK I DID IT ALONG THOSE LINES.
IT'S GOOD TO FINALLY PUT POLICY WORK BEHIND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR.
IF ANY CITY IN THIS REGION CAN DO THIS, IT'S US.
>> PROUD TO BE HERE AND EXCITED TO CARRY IT OUT NOW.
>> I DO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE TO READ THE PLAN AND TO SEE THE MEASURABLE GOALS IN ALL THE DATA THAT WENT TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO BACK THIS PLAN AND GIVES US WHAT WE NEED FOR MOVING FORWARD AND ADDRESSING THE AREAS THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED, BUT WITH A PLAN TO ADDRESS AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
I KNOW TOOL WAS A GREAT PARTNER AND REALLY, IT IS VERY WELL DONE AND APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK IT'S A PLAN THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF AND TAKE FORWARD FOR HOPEFULLY GETTING SOME MONEY AND GRANT MONEY TO HELP US ACHIEVE OUR GOAL.
>> I'D SAY, THIS MIGHT SOUND STRANGE, THE ABSENCE OF A LARGE BLOCK OF PEOPLE HERE FROM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT POPULATION THAT WE HAD, TELLS ME THEY'VE DONE IT ALL THIS WHOLE TIME.
IT WAS A REALLY DIVERSE, ROBUST, ACTIVE GROUP.
THE CONSULTANTS WERE RESPONSIVE DURING THE WHOLE PROCESS WHERE WE'D MAKE STEPS FORWARD, COME BACK A LITTLE, CIRCLE BACK.
I JUST FELT LIKE WE WERE LOOPING AND LOOPING, AND THAT'S WHY THIS LOOKS PRETTY EASY.
[LAUGHTER] IT WAS NOT EASY AT FIRST, SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ON STEP 2, AND OUR CONSULTANT WHO WORKED SO HARD WITH US.
>> ASSUMING THAT THIS PLAN GETS ADOPTED TONIGHT, WHAT'S THE FIRST NEXT STEP?
>> WELL, WE WILL BE APPLYING FOR AN IMPLEMENTATION GRANT THROUGH THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL CYCLE COMING UP HERE.
THEN WE MOVE STRAIGHT INTO IDENTIFYING OUR PRIORITY STREETS FOR TRAFFIC CALMING, TRYING TO LEVERAGE OUR EXISTING PROGRAMS TO GET THAT STUFF IN, AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THOSE PRIORITIES LISTED IN THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN.
>> YOUR ROLE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED DURING THE PLANNING PROCESS, WOULD YOU SEE A ROLE FOR THEM AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTATION?
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING A MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH AT CALMING TRAFFIC ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, AND I THINK BEING CLEAR IN THAT WE'VE VETTED THIS LIST OF STREETS THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN A MORE PROACTIVE WAY AND HAVING THAT FEEDBACK LOOP AND SUPPORT IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL.
>> I BELIEVE THIS IS A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AND ADOPTING THE DECATUR SAFE STREETS SAFETY ACTION PLAN THAT
[02:20:04]
INCLUDES THE COMPLETE STREETS POLICY AND A VISION ZERO POLICY.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED?
>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> NOT ROLL CALLED, DID YOU SAY?
>> NO. IT'S NOT AN ORDINANCE. [LAUGHTER]
>> THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT STEPS.
>> NEXT, WE WILL OPEN THE MEETING UP FOR REQUEST AND PETITION.
[VII. Requests and Petitions.]
IF THERE IS ANYONE IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD A REQUEST OR PETITION TO THIS BODY NOW IS THE TIME TO COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE ONLINE PARTICIPATING.
WE'LL CLOSE REQUEST AND PETITIONS, AND WE'LL GO TO REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS.
[VIII. Reports and Other Business.]
THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS WILL ALSO NOT MEET IN JUNE.THEIR JUNE 9TH MEETING IS CANCELED AND THEY DON'T MEET IN JULY, SO THEIR NEXT MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, AUGUST THE 11TH.
THERE IS A PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
THEIR PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING; THEY WILL HAVE SOME MINUTES APPROVED FROM TWO PREVIOUS MEETINGS, THEY HAVE SOME UNFINISHED BUSINESS, AND THEN THE NEW BUSINESS THAT THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT IS, FLOCK ALARM WITH GOODWYN MILLS AND CAWOOD ON BEHALF OF THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR IS REQUESTING THE APPROVAL OF A COMPREHENSIVE SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DAYCARE AND LEARNING CENTER FOR CHILDREN AGES 0-4 WITH A SUPPLEMENTAL ADMINISTRATION OFFICE AT 346 TRINITY PLACE.
THIS WILL COME BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON JUNE THE 10TH AT THEIR REGULAR MEETING AT 7:00 P.M.
THIS MEETING DOES COME, OR THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THIS MEETING DOES COME FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO THE CITY COMMISSION AT OUR NEXT MEETING ON JUNE THE 16TH.
IF THERE ARE COMMENTS THAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGENDA ITEM ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND IN PERSON OR TO CONTACT CASEY KRZIC, I BELIEVE IS THE STAFF MEMBER THAT WILL BE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THE INFORMATION THAT IS ONLINE.
THEN IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO STAFF OR ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, AND THEN WE WILL TAKE THAT, WHATEVER RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND LOOK AT THAT AT OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING.
I BELIEVE THE NEXT ITEM IS THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE MULTI-USE PATH UPDATE, I BELIEVE MS. SCHARER.
>> MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, CARA SCHARER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M HERE TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC UPDATE ABOUT UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE MIXED-USE PATH.
ON MAY 6, WHILE PERFORMING GRADING ACTIVITIES NEAR THE NORTHERN DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE TO LEGACY PARK, A BRICK VAULT WAS UNCOVERED.
DIMENSIONS ARE APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET WIDE, FOUR FEET LONG AND TWO FEET DEEP WITH ONE FOOT OF COVER FOR A TOTAL DEPTHS OF THREE FEET BELOW GRADE.
ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE TO THE TOP RESULTED IN PARTIAL OPENING OF THE VAULT, WHICH APPEARED LARGELY EMPTY, EXCEPT FOR LOOSE GLASS AND METAL PIECES.
DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING AN UNMARKED GRAVE, WORK IN THE VICINITY OF THE VAULT WAS STOPPED AND THE CITY OF DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED.
THE SITE WAS INSPECTED THE SAME DAY BY DECATUR CID, WHO FOUND NO VISIBLE REMAINS.
AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE DEKALB COUNTY MEDICAL INVESTIGATOR, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT NO ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION WAS WARRANTED,
[02:25:03]
AND THE VAULT TOP WAS RESET.ON MAY 7TH, THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE OR SHPO WAS CONTACTED AND A STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPRESENTATIVE PERFORMED A SITE VISIT ON MAY 8TH.
THE ARCHAEOLOGIST ATTRIBUTED THE VAULT AS HAVING A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF BEING A BURIAL.
BASED ON THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES RECOMMENDATION, WORK IN VICINITY OF THE VAULT REMAINED STOPPED, AND A GROUND PENETRATING RADAR STUDY OF THE AREA WAS PERFORMED ON MAY 21ST.
FINAL DOCUMENTED RESULTS OF THE STUDY ARE STILL OUTSTANDING, BUT AN INITIAL VERBAL ASSESSMENT INDICATED THE PRESENCE OF FEATURES THAT COULD BE ADDITIONAL BURIALS.
AT THIS TIME, THE CONTRACTOR IS WORKING ON OTHER PORTIONS OF THE SITE SOUTH OF THE CENTRAL DRIVEWAY.
ONCE THE GPR OR GROUND PENETRATING RADAR RESULTS ARE RECEIVED, OUR CURRENT INTENT IS TO EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE PATH ALIGNMENTS.
ADDITIONAL COORDINATION WITH SHPO AND FUTURE PUBLIC UPDATES ARE EXPECTED AS INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. THANK YOU.
>> I DO, YEAH. I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE DILIGENCE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS.
I DO KNOW THAT ARPA FUNDS WERE INVOLVED WITH THIS.
>> I COULD GO FAST EVEN SAYING THIS BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT HAS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
>> THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE MULTI-USE PATH IS FUNDED BY ARPA FUNDS, AND THOSE FUNDS MUST BE EXPENDED BY THE END OF 2026.
>> THEY WERE COMMITTED BY THE END OF LAST YEAR [OVERLAPPING].
I THINK IT'S A PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE CONCERN.
AT THIS POINT, I DO NOT HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE FUNDS BEING EXPENDED BY THAT DEADLINE.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY UPDATES TONIGHT.
>> NO COMMENTS FOR ME TODAY, MAYOR. THANK YOU.
>> JUTS MAKING AN OBSERVATION.
FIRST OF ALL, I VERY MUCH ENJOYED IT.
ALL OF THE CAPITAL WORK THAT IS GOING ON. I'M WRAPPING UP.
I'M READING TRANSFERS THE SURFACE TONIGHT, SO JUST PRESS THE STAFF IS STAYING ON TOP OF THAT.
ONE THING THAT I'VE APPRECIATED IS A SENSE THAT AS I HAVE COMMUNICATED CONCERNS FROM FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY OR AS I'VE CONCERNS I'VE SEEN REFLECTED IN THE ACTIONS OF THE OF THE STAFF.
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I FEEL THAT WHEN I RAISE ISSUES, WHEN I PASS ALONG CONCERNS I'M HEARING FROM FOLKS I FEEL BETTER.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WALSH.
>> THANK YOU. WHAT A GREAT MEETING.
I LIKE WE'RE MAKING SOME GREAT PROGRESS ON LONG-STANDING CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WILL BE FUN AND EXCITING AND REWARDING TO SEE COME TO FRUITION.
I DIDN'T REALLY PLAN NECESSARILY ABOUT CAPITAL PROJECTS, BUT I'VE HAD THE PLANNING TOPIC ON MY MIND.
IT'S COMING ON JUNE 10TH TO PLANNING, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED ECLC.
JUST HAD QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED TO GET OUT FOR THE FORUM.
THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT VENUES NECESSARILY FOR A CROSS-SECTION OF PEOPLE TO ENGAGE AND THIS HAS BEEN MORE ON THE SCHOOL SIDE, AND I THINK IT DEFINITELY HAS INTERSECTIONS AND INTERACTIONS WITH CITY GOVERNMENT AND ALL RESIDENTS.
IF FOLKS COULD BEAR WITH ME, I HAD SOME MOSTLY QUESTIONS THAT I'M HOPING OTHER FOLKS WILL MAYBE WANT TO CONSIDER FOR THEMSELVES, TAKE TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, TO A SCHOOL MEETING OR MAYBE THEY'LL STAY IN THIS ROOM AS FAR AS WHAT'S CONCERNED.
BUT IT'S REALLY TOO ABOUT REPRESENTING OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR CONSTITUENTS AND SAYING WHAT MIGHT THEY WANT TO KNOW? WHAT HAVE I HEARD PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO KNOW OR WHAT HAVE I OBSERVED THEY DON'T KNOW NOW.
THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TONIGHT CAN ANSWER, BUT I THINK MORE INFORMATION AND TRANSPARENCY IS ALWAYS BETTER.
JUST TO PREFACE TOO THAT HOPEFULLY PEOPLE DON'T THINK BY ASKING THE QUESTIONS ASKING ABOUT THE HOW IS DIFFERENT THAN QUESTIONING THE WHY.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE RATIONALE, AND THE NEED FOR AN EARLY LEARNING CENTER, BUT WANTED TO INTERROGATE THE JUSTIFICATION A LITTLE
[02:30:02]
BIT SO WE CAN BE REALLY CONSTRUCTIVE ABOUT THE OUTCOMES.OUR ENVIRONMENT IS THAT PROBABLY LESS THAN HALF, MAYBE LIKE 40% OF OUR HOUSEHOLDS ACTUALLY HAVE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL.
THERE'S ANOTHER GOOD CHUNK OF OUR POPULATION THAT REALLY MIGHT NOT BE UP TO SPEED OF THE PROJECT.
I WANTED TO MENTION THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ALL IN OUR OWN PATH, WHICH IF WE HAVE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL, WE THINK ABOUT THAT A LOT AND IF WE DON'T, WE PROBABLY DON'T NEARLY AS MUCH.
ALSO TO SITUATE US IN THE IDEA THAT DOWNTOWN IS A LARGE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE KNOW IT'S A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT BUT IT HAS, CORRECT ME, IS AT LEAST 3,000 RESIDENTS. MAYBE MORE.
WHICH ACTUALLY IS ABOUT A QUARTER OF OUR CITY'S HOUSEHOLDS.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE TOO THAT WE HAVE THIS LARGE CAPITAL PROJECT PROPOSED FOR OUR DOWNTOWN THAT WE'LL LIVE WITH AROUND THROUGH AND THAT COULD BE HOPEFULLY BENEFICIAL TO OUR CITY, WHICH IS THE COUNTY SEAT AND HAS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH.
THIS WILL ALSO BE POSITIVE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR BUSINESSES, AND LIKE I SAID, THESE PEOPLE WHO WORK AND VISIT DOWNTOWN.
I ALSO WANT TO MENTION, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO OUR COLLEAGUE COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY WHO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND SOME OF THE EARLY PLANNING SESSIONS OFFERED BY CSD, AND I KNOW HE GAVE THOUGHTFUL INPUT AND HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS WHEN HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'M URGING THE COMMUNITY TO ALSO ASK QUESTIONS AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY WANT UPFRONT AND TO THEIR SATISFACTION.
BECAUSE AS WE STAND IN THE ROOM TONIGHT, THIS IS CIVIC DISCOURSE, AND I THINK IT'S DONE REALLY WELL HERE AND I'M ALWAYS PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE ON THE CITY COMMISSION SIDE TOO.
I JUST REALLY HAVE QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED TO LAUNCH.
FIRST WOULD BE ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT WITH DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS, ABOUT THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN, AND IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY OR MORE DISCUSSION OF SHARED USE OF THE BUILDINGS OR GREEN SPACE.
I THINK MOST OF US COULD AGREE WE NEED AMPLE GREEN SPACE DOWNTOWN TO KEEP IT COOLER AND MITIGATE THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT AND TO HAVE MORE TREES THAT WILL REALLY BE THE LUNGS OF OUR DOWNTOWN.
MUCH OF THIS LANGUAGE I CAN SAY AND KNOW AND FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT BECAUSE OF OUR COLLEAGUE WHO IS SUCH A GREAT CHAMPION OF THAT FOR OUR DOWNTOWN.
THIS IS SOMETHING I SEE AND EXPERIENCE AS FAR AS WANTING A GOOD AMOUNT OF SHADE.
BUT WE KNOW THAT OUR DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT A MATERIAL PORTION OF THE AREA REMAIN GREEN AND AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY USE.
I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT CAN BE SHARED AND ACCESSED BY THE PUBLIC.
WHEN I READ THAT THE FINAL APPROACH IS STILL UNDER REVIEW AS TO WHETHER OR NOT PUBLIC LIKE ACCESS WILL BE GRANTED, MY QUESTION IS, WILL PUBLIC ACCESS BE GRANTED TO THE GREEN SPACE? SECONDLY, ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF CSD STRATEGIC PLAN THAT INFORMS THIS WHOLE PROJECT IS TO BUILD A NET ZERO EARLY LEARNING CHILDHOOD CENTER.
I'M WONDERING IF THE GOAL IS STILL THERE.
IS IT PART OF THE PLAN? WHY OR WHY NOT? COULD IT BE ACTUALIZED IN FULL OR IN PART AS PART OF THIS PROPOSAL.
NEXT, I THINK IT'S BEEN A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE THAT THE ECLC HAS TO BE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THAT'S AN IMPERATIVE SO THAT ANY CHILD GROWING UP THERE, PARTICULARLY THE ZERO TO FOUR AGE GROUP CAN EASILY ACCESS EARLY LEARNING AND THAT TRANSPORTATION IS A MAJOR BARRIER SO THAT'S WHY BEING NEXT DOOR IS SO IMPORTANT.
MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DOES DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY WANT OR NEED FROM THIS FACILITY? I DON'T KNOW THAT.
I'VE HEARD THAT EXPRESSED AND HOW IT'S PART OF THE OVERALL PROJECT OR NOT.
AS NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS, AND I THINK REALLY CRITICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE PROJECT, I WOULD THINK THEY'D BE KEY COLLABORATORS.
I WANT TO ASK, HOW CAN WE INCLUDE THEIR VOICE AND HOW THIS PROJECT IS BEING DEVELOPED? NEXT, AS A FOLLOW UP TO THIS IMPERATIVE OF LOCATION BEING NEXT TO DHA, WHAT WILL BE THE EARLY LEARNING SOLUTION FOR FAMILIES WILL SOON BE LIVING IN 134?
>> HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO UNITS AT LEGACY PARK, WHICH WILL BE HAVING A RIBBON CUTTING FOR ON JUNE 18.
I WAS DOING A LITTLE MATH ARITHMETIC.
EVEN IF WE ESTIMATED THAT ONE CHILD PER HOUSEHOLD LIVE THERE, WE COULD HAVE 60 TO 100 SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN MANY OF WHOM WOULD ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE ECLC.
BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND HOW THIS FACILITY WOULD SERVE THEM GIVEN THIS TRANSPORTATION COMPONENT THAT WE UNDERSTAND IS SO CRITICAL.
MY QUESTION IS, WAS THAT CONSIDERED, WHAT IS THE RESPONSE AND THE PLAN FOR THOSE EARLY LEARNING STUDENTS? THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUR NEIGHBORS REALLY SOON, WHICH IS EXCITING.
CAN WE MAKE THEIR SOLUTION PART OF THIS SOLUTION?
[02:35:01]
ANOTHER QUESTION AND MORE THAN MIDWAY THROUGH, MANY OF THE ELDER GENERATION OF BLACK RESIDENTS WHO WERE HERE LONG BEFORE ANY OF US IN THE ROOM, CONSIDER THIS AREA TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR HISTORY AND LEGACY AND A PLACE TO FIND CONNECTION AND MEET FOR IMPORTANT ANNUAL REUNIONS.WILL THEIR NEEDS AND INTERESTS BE CONSIDERED IN THIS PLANNING IN THE FUTURE? CAN THEY STILL UTILIZE ANY PART OF THE LAND FOR THEIR USE AND BENEFIT? I KNOW THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE UNDER APPRECIATED UNTIL THE LAST FEW YEARS JUST HOW IMPORTANT THIS PIECE OF LAND IS TO THAT COMMUNITY, AND I'M ASKING IF THEY WERE INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS, AND WILL THEY STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THE GREEN SPACE OR ANY OTHER FACILITY THAT COULD HAVE A SHARED USE ON THE PROPERTY.
SPEAKING OF SHARED USE, GENERALLY, IS ANY PART OF THE FACILITY GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR SHARED USE WITH ANY OTHER GROUPS? I THINK THE MOST AMAZING INTERSECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY HAPPENS IN PLACES WHERE WE SHARE SPACE.
I LOVE THAT CONVERSATION EARLIER, TOO.
THE SHARED SPACES ARE USUALLY FOR RECREATION, SPORT, AND THE ARTS.
IDEALLY, SOME PART OF THE FACILITY WOULD BE SHARABLE, I WOULD SAY, FOR ONE OR ALL OF THOSE USES.
THEN TOUGH QUESTION, BUT THAT'S USUALLY THE FIRST ONE PEOPLE ASK IS REGARDING THE OVERALL STRATEGY FOR FACILITY USAGE ACROSS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THERE'S HOW DO WE ALLOCATE AND USE ALL THE BUILDINGS? THAT'S VERY MUCH A SCHOOL QUESTION AND THEIR STRATEGY AND THEIR PLANNING AS WE WOULD HAVE OURS AND THEY WOULD RESPECT OURS AND I WOULD RESPECT THEIRS.
BUT JUST THE BASELINE OF HOW DO WE PAY FOR THIS.
I THINK THAT WILL BE THE NEXT QUESTION, PARTICULARLY AFTER THE PLANNING MEETING AND COMING THROUGH OUR PLANNING PROCESS.
BUT WHAT WILL TAXPAYERS BE RESPONSIBLE FOR NOW OR IN THE FUTURE? IF THIS PROJECT WOULD PROMPT THE CLOSURE OF OTHER BUILDINGS, WHICH COULD BE SCHOOLS, WHICH SCHOOLS AND WOULD CLOSE AND WHEN AND I HOPE THAT THAT INFORMATION GETS OUT VERY SOON TO THE COMMUNITY.
THOSE ARE QUESTIONS I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT.
I THOUGHT IF I AM NOT VERY CLEAR, A LOT OF MY NEIGHBORS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AREN'T CLEAR.
IF WE HAVEN'T BEEN ASKING, WE SHOULD BE ASKING AND PARTNER UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GET MORE INFORMATION.
I KNOW IT TOOK A LONG TIME, I APPRECIATE THE AUDIENCE ON THAT.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I JUST ADD ONE INFORMATION.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL BE HAVING A WORK SESSION ON JUNE 10TH, SO THE SAME DAY THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION ITEM IS BEING DISCUSSED THAT EVENING.
AT SOME POINT ON JUNE 10TH, THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS.
I REACHED OUT TO HER LATE LAST WEEK TO FIND OUT WHAT TIME BECAUSE I THINK ON THEIR WEBSITE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A RANGE OF TIME.
I WANT TO SAY, LIKE NOON TO SIX OR NOON TO SEVEN.
THE EXACT TIME HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.
AS I KNOW WHAT THAT IS, I'LL CERTAINLY LET THIS BODY KNOW.
I THINK THAT MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS TO BE ADDRESSED DURING A WORK SESSION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SCHOOL.
>> MR. WALSH REFERENCED MY MY WORK IN PARTICIPATING IN SOME OF THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
THAT'S WHAT I REITERATED AND WE SAID THIS TO THE COMMISSION BEFORE THAT I CONSISTENTLY TALKED OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PUBLIC SPACE, THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDIES OF HAPPENING IN SPACE, AND THAT THE COMMISSION FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT.
I COMMUNICATE THAT TO BOTH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SCHOOL STAFF.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT WHAT COMES FORWARD REFLECTS BEFORE WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WHATEVER IS WRITTEN.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS TO STAFF FOR REALLY TIME BOWS ON PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO FINALLY GET MOVING.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG ARDUOUS TASK AND PROCESS, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT ALL HAVE PUT IN, AND I WANT TO JUST THANK EACH ONE OF YOU FOR I KNOW IT'S BEEN A OF EFFORT TO GO IN A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH BECAUSE REALLY IT'S THE POLICY DIRECTION THAT WE GIVE YOU THAT ULTIMATELY WE GET THESE PROJECTS BACK.
THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT.
>> THANKS, EVERYONE FOR A GREAT MEETING.
IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE THESE THINGS MOVING FORWARD.
I'VE BEEN PLANNING FOR A WHILE AND WE KNOW THAT IT TAKES TIME TO GET EVERYTHING DONE, AND I LOVE THE NEW SAFE STREETS FOR ALL PLAN BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER BLUEPRINT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD ON SOME THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY, SOME LOW-HANGING FRUIT AS WELL AS SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE MORE TIME AND MORE MONEY TO GET THEM DONE, BUT WE HAVE THE PLAN TO GET STARTED.
I ALSO WANT TO JUST REMIND EVERYONE THE NEW FOCUS IS OUT AND SHOULD BE COMING YOUR WAY SOON,
[02:40:06]
AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, I BELIEVE, ON THE FRONT PAGE TO SCAN THE QR CODE TO BE CONSIDERED IN A LOTTERY FOR PARTICIPATING IN CHARTER REVIEW.COMMISSIONER WALSH IS SHOWING THE FRONT PAGE.
I KNOW POSTCARDS WERE SENT OUT, AND SO HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A REALLY ROBUST RESPONSE FOR A CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS THAT WILL BE STARTING SOON.
THAT'S ANOTHER I THINK THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON GETTING ON THE BOOKS FOR A WHILE AND APPRECIATE THE STAFF'S ATTENTION AND ALSO BRINGING IN NATIONAL CIVIC LEAGUE AS OUR PARTNER IN DOING THAT.
THEN JUST FUN THINGS TO REMEMBER THAT DECATUR FC PLAYS AGAIN HERE ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY UNDEFEATED.
THERE ARE LOTS OF FUN TO WATCH.
YOU CAN WATCH SOCCER AND YOU CAN ALSO PARTICIPATE IN OPENING DAY FOR BASEBALL.
THE PARADE IS THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 7, AT 10:00 A.M. STARTS AT COLLEGE HEIGHTS AND GOES TO OAKHURST PARK.
WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT.
IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO SEE THE TEAMS AND HOW THEY'VE DECORATED CARS AND ARE A PART OF THE PARADE.
IT'S ALWAYS A FUN EVENT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT'S REALLY SORT OF KICKING OFF THE SUMMER FOR EVERYONE.
GETTING A POOL REPAIRED IS PART OF THAT AS WELL.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 8:50 [NOISE].
>> THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.