[00:00:03]
[WORK SESSION– 6:30 P.M.]
EVERYONE. HOPE YOU ALL GOOD.>> I HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL.
FOR THE PUBLIC WATCHING, MY NAME IS DR. REMY EPPS, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.
TODAY, WHAT I WILL BE DOING IS GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF STATUS UPDATES ABOUT THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD.
WHAT THEIR CHARTER IS, THEIR PURPOSE, WHAT THEY'VE BEEN UP TO, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL COULD LOOK FORWARD TO.
YOU'LL HEAR FROM SOME OF THE MEMBERS THAT ARE WITH US TODAY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE CAN CERTAINLY ANSWER THOSE ALL.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD CONSISTS OF 11 MEMBERS.
OUR CHAIR IS JACK KITTLE, AND OUR VICE CHAIR IS ABBEY GRIFFITH.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE VACANCY SO IF YOU'RE COUNTING ON THERE AND YOU ONLY COUNT 10, WE DO HAVE A VACANCY.
WE HAVE STARTED THE PROCESS AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, AFTER THIS PRESENTATION, OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED, WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE A VACANCY, AND WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE VACANCIES COMING UP WITH THEIR TERMS. THESE ARE TWO-YEAR TERMS. WE DO HAVE ONE OR TWO MEMBERS GETTING READY TO ROLL OFF AT THE END OF THIS YEAR IN DECEMBER.
THIS YEAR, WE ACTUALLY HAD THE HONOR OF GETTING TWO YOUTH MEMBERS.
TWO YOUTH MEMBERS HAVE JOINED US, HARPER AND LIORA.
THEIR INSIGHTS HAVE BEEN PIVOTAL TO THE WORK THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD IS DOING.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE ADVISORY BOARD DOES.
THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO THE CITY'S PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, DESIRED OUTCOMES INITIATIVES, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR PARKS AND REC MASTER PLAN.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY PROVIDE TO THE DEPARTMENT COME FROM THE COMMUNITY ITSELF; IS CENTERED AROUND THE PROTECTION, ENHANCEMENT, AND USE OF PUBLIC PLACES AND LANDSCAPE FEATURES, HAVING A SPECIAL CULTURAL AND AESTHETIC INTEREST OR VALUE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING INTO PROJECT WISE IS, HOW DO WE GET MORE PEOPLE TO OUR PARKS AND WHEN THEY'RE IN OUR PARKS, HOW ARE THEY RECREATING? WHAT ARE THE TRENDS? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO? THEY ADVOCATE FOR OUR PARKS AND RECREATION INITIATIVE GRANTS AND PROGRAMS. RIGHT NOW, THE CITY IS GOING THROUGH TO TRY TO REVIEW.
OUR CHAIR JACK KITTLE ACTUALLY SITS ON THAT COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW.
HE IS ADVOCATING FOR WHAT PARKS AND RECREATION SHOULD LOOK LIKE WHEN IT'S READ IN THE CHARTER AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING AND WHAT THIS ADVISORY BOARD REALLY WANTS TO SEE IN THE CHARTER.
THE WORK: HOW THEY GET THOSE WORKS DONE? THEY HAVE FOUR COMMITTEES THAT SERVE UP UNDER THIS MAIN BODY.
CURRENTLY, THEY HAVE THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
YOU'LL SEE THIS IS A DIFFERENT NAME AND USED TO BE THE MICRO MOBILITY COMMITTEE.
BUT THE ADVISORY BOARD REALIZED THAT THIS MIGHT NOT BE INCLUSIVE TO WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THAT SUBCOMMITTEE WAS.
THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ADVISES ON WAYS TO MAKE WALKING, BIKING AND ROLLING SAFER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE AND ULTIMATELY MORE ENJOYABLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO HAVE THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL COMMITTEE, WHICH SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS TO MAKE SAFER AND EASIER ACCESS FOR STUDENTS TO WALK, BIKE OR ROLL TO SCHOOL.
NEWLY DEVELOPED ARE THE LAST TWO, WHICH IS THE YOUTH ATHLETICS ADVISORY GROUP.
THIS IS A GROUP OF PARENT VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK WITH COACHES AND STAFF TO HELP SUPPORT YOUTH ATHLETICS.
THEN YOU HAVE THE KEY DECATUR BEAUTIFUL COMMITTEE, WHICH I THINK THERE WAS A WORK SESSION PREVIOUSLY ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH IS GOING TO INCREASE THE BEAUTIFICATION OF PUBLIC SPACES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WITH A FOCUS ON RECYCLING EFFORTS AND REDUCING LITTER.
>> THESE ARE THE SUBCOMMITTEES.
ARE THERE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE NOT ON THE ADVISORY BOARD THAT ARE PART OF THESE SUBCOMMITTEES?
>> YES. THEY ARE MADE UP OF DIFFERENT MEMBERS THAT MIGHT SIT ON OTHER COMMITTEES BUT THEY ARE WELCOME TO HAVE A LARGER BODY WITHIN THESE SUBCOMMITTEES AS WELL.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AND WANT TO BE A PART OF ONE OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES, PLEASE REACH OUT TO OUR CHAIR, JACK KITTLE, OR YOU CAN REACH OUT TO MYSELF VIA EMAIL IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BEING A PART.
>> A QUICK QUESTION ON THE SLIDE TOO.
WHEN WAS THE YOUTH ATHLETIC ADVISORY GROUP FORMED, IS THAT RECENT OR IT'S BEEN AROUND?
>> YES. IT IS RECENT AND WE'RE GOING TO GET TO MORE DETAIL ABOUT HOW THAT CAME INTO FRUITION, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE OF OUR ADVISORY MEMBERS WHO IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT'S THERE.
BUT AGAIN, THESE COMMITTEES HELP SUPPORT THE WORK THIS BOARD DOES.
WHILE WE NEED SO MANY SUBGROUPS TO HELP IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY FOCUS AREAS.
[00:05:07]
THERE'S EIGHT FOCUS AREAS WITHIN THE CHARTER.BUT THE THREE MAIN FOCUS IS ON TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS INITIATIVES THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT: PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
TO ALSO ADVOCATE FOR WHAT'S IN OUR MASTER PLAN, THE PROJECT TYPES.
LOOKING AT OUR EXISTING FACILITIES, NEW FACILITIES, TRAILS, OR BIKE PATHWAYS, AS WELL AS HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT LAND, IS THERE A NEW LAND THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE AND HOW WE'RE USING THAT? IN THE THIRD ONE, OUR FOCUS AREA THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD IS LOOKING AT IS THAT HOW DO WE DEVELOP FRIENDS OF PARKS GROUP? LOOKING AT HOW DO WE BETTER SUPPORT OUR DEPARTMENT THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS OR PARTNERSHIPS. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? THESE ARE THE THREE MAIN PRIORITY AREAS THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD IS LOOKING INTO.
WHILE OTHER PROJECTS MIGHT FALL INTO THE OTHER FIVE CATEGORIES, THESE ARE THE MAIN THREE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING INTO.
COMING INTO THE ADVISORY BOARD.
THERE'S TWO AREAS IN WHICH PARKS AND REC ADVISORY BOARD WANTED TO FOCUS ON THIS YEAR.
THE FIRST WAS TO ENGAGE WITH THE SPECIFIC USER GROUPS TO ENCOURAGE ACTIVE LIFESTYLES, WHICH YOU ALL SAW ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE AS ONE OF THEIR AREAS.
THEN TWO, RESEARCHING AND PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS INTO PROGRAMMING TRENDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT CAN USE.
THE FIRST ONE OF HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ENGAGE WITH THE SPECIFIC USER GROUPS WAS TO ESTABLISH THAT YOUTH ATHLETICS ADVISORY GROUP.
THEY WANTED TO HELP SHAPE THE STRUCTURE THE RULES AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR YOUTH AS WELL AS THEY WANTED TO GET OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S ONE THING WHEN THE DEPARTMENT GETS OUT OF THE COMMUNITY AND TELLS THE COMMUNITY, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON, COME TO OUR PROGRAMS BUT WHEN YOU HAVE PARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS COMING OUT AND ADVOCATING FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING, I THINK THAT HELPS SHAPE THE LENGTHS OF THE COMMUNICATION THAT'S COMING OUT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD IS LOOKING INTO IS ESTABLISHING THOSE QUARTERLY COMMUNITY MEETINGS WHERE PERSONS CAN COME AND VOICE WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS OR WHAT THEY WOULD WANT TO THE ADVISORY BOARD AND THEY CAN BE THAT BRIDGE TO THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
>> THOSE MEETINGS, DURING THE REGULAR PARKS AND RECS MEETINGS OR THEY'RE HELD SEPARATE FROM THEM?
>> NO. THIS WOULD BE SEPARATE.
THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON WHAT THAT STRUCTURE WILL LOOK LIKE BUT IT WILL BE OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS IN WHICH THE ADVISORY BOARD WOULD BE HAVING.
THIS WOULD BE THE SEASONS WHEN OUR PLAYBOOK COMES OUT FOR THE WINTERTIME, HAVE A FORUM THERE OR COME OUT TO THESE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS TALK ABOUT OTHER PROGRAMMING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO LOOK FORWARD TO TOWARDS THE SPRING.
IT GIVES US ENOUGH TIME TO HEAR THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THAT WAY.
GETTING INTO UPDATES ON WHAT ACTUALLY HAS BEEN DONE.
ONE OF THE AREAS THAT THE GROUP WANTED TO FOCUS ON WAS COMMUNITY WELLNESS.
ONE OF THE INITIATIVES HAS BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRE AND EMS, AS WELL AS MARY GARRETT.
THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH METRO ATLANTA CITIES WELLBEING INITIATIVE AND GMA, GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION AND HAVE SECURED VARIOUS GRANTS TO HELP ADVANCE HEALTH EDUCATION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
THIS HAS BEEN A PRIMARY FOCUS ON SENIORS.
THE ACTUAL TANGIBLE OUTCOME OF THIS IS RECENTLY THEY HAVE LAUNCHED A GRANT FUNDED ACTIVE LIVING EVERY DAY PROGRAM.
THIS PROVIDES SENIOR FOCUS FITNESS, BELONGING, AND SOCIAL CONNECTION, LED BY CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS.
THERE'S TWO MORE CLASSES THAT ARE COMING UP.
FORGIVE ME, I HAVE FORGET THE DAY OF THE WEEK BUT THEY ARE ONCE A WEEK AND THEY ARE FREE.
THIS IS BASICALLY HOW SENIORS CAN BE MORE ACTIVE, TOOLS, RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN USE.
THIS IS NOT A FITNESS CLASS BUT IT'S MORE OF EDUCATION.
IT IS CURRENTLY RUN BY OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AT FIRE STATION 1 FROM 6-7 PM.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE INFORMATION, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO US DIRECTLY AND WE CAN GET YOU THE ACTUAL DAY OF THE WEEK IT IS. BUT IT IS FREE.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR MORE WAYS THAT WE CAN GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING INTO EXPANDING OUR INITIATIVE EFFORTS THROUGH POP-UP FITNESS AND MOBILE CLASSES.
BRINGING THE ACTIVITIES TO THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE NOT JUST HAVING TO COME TO US.
THIS IS INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY FOR RESIDENTS WHO MIGHT BE FACING COST TRANSPORTATION OR SCHEDULING BARRIERS.
THIS HAS BEEN AN AREA OF FOCUS THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD HAS FOCUSED ON.
CURRENTLY, THE VICE CHAIR IS SITTING ON THAT.
THAT IS ONE OF THE TANGIBLE OUTCOMES THAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
THE NEXT IS OUR YOUTH ATHLETICS ADVISORY GROUP, AND AT THIS TIME, WHAT I WILL DO IS I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ONE OF
[00:10:04]
OUR MEMBERS WHO WILL SPEAK MORE ABOUT THIS ADVISORY GROUP, WHICH WAS FORMED OUT OF THE OUTCRY FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW WE COULD IMPROVE.ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS WANTING TO ENHANCE IS HOW WE REALLY TAKE THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, HEAR IT AND LISTEN AND ACTUALLY MAKE GOOD ON WHAT WE'RE SAYING.
WE HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON HOW BASKETBALL WENT THIS PREVIOUS YEAR AND WITH A LOT OF TRANSITION HAPPENING, WE WANTED TO MAKE GOOD THAT WE HEAR THE COMMUNITY, WE WANT TO BE BETTER, AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE BETTER.
THIS IS A FOCUS ON HOW TO PROVIDE THOUGHTFUL INPUT IN REAL TIME FEEDBACK FROM PARENTS. I WILL TURN IT OVER.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS DEANNA JUE SUTANDI, I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THE PARKS AND RECS BOARD.
JUST TO UNDERSCORE WHAT DR. EPPS WAS SAYING BECAUSE I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING.
I REALLY LOVE SEEING HOW THIS ACTUALLY CAME TO FRUITION, TRULY SEEING OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD.
THE STORY TELLING PART OF THIS, THERE WAS A CHALLENGING BASKETBALL SEASON.
THEY BROUGHT THOSE CONCERNS TO THE COMMISSION AS WELL AS TO DR. EPPS.
THEY HAD A MEETING, DR. EPPS BROUGHT THAT TO THE PARKS AND REC ADVISORY BOARD AND WE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AS THEY SAY, THE REST IS HISTORY AND HERE WE ARE.
BUT I TRULY LOVE SEEING THAT FEEDBACK LOOP OF HOW WE'RE ABLE TO HELP RESIDENTS FEEL CONNECTED, HEARD AND REALLY GET INVOLVED WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TELL ABOUT THE NAME, THIS IS FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON BASKETBALL RIGHT NOW.
BUT THIS IS OUR PILOT PROGRAM FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CALL SIDELINE VOICES YOUTH ATHLETICS ADVISORY GROUP, BECAUSE DON'T WE NEED A FANCY NAME? [LAUGHTER] I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A FANCY NAME.
HOW THIS CAME ABOUT IS PARKS AND REC ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER AND MYSELF MET AND TALKED TO EPPS AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE PARKS AND REC TEAM AND WE TALKED THROUGH HOW WE WANTED THIS TO LOOK.
SOME IDEAS OF HOW WE WANTED THIS TO UNFOLD AND WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE TEAM AT PARKS AND REC.
SECONDLY, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE INTENTIONALLY PULLED IN DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE MANY OF THE 5-6 YEAR-OLD AGED GROUP, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OLDER CHILDREN AS WELL SO WE MAKE SURE TO REALLY GET A WIDE RANGE OF PARTICIPANTS AND A WIDE RANGE OF TYPES OF THINGS ALL THE DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS WOULD NEED.
THIRD, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SOMETHING EASY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN.
THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO SIGN UP FOR, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ZOOM CALL WEEKLY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO WAS TO BREAK THIS INTO FOUR DIFFERENT SESSIONS.
THE FIRST SESSION WAS BASED ON GETTING FEEDBACK FROM DR. EPPS AND THE REST OF THE AMAZING PARKS AND REC TEAM, AND THEY ALREADY HAD SOME AMAZING IDEAS OF HOW THEY WERE GOING TO CHANGE THE PROGRAM.
THEY WERE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH OUR HOOP HELPER VOLUNTEER GROUP AND OUR HOOP HELPERS IN REAL TIME WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME DIRECT FEEDBACK TO SOME OF THOSE CHANGES IMPLEMENTED AS WELL AS, SHARE SOME UPS AND DOWNS OF OUR SLIGHTLY CHALLENGING SEASON.
LET'S WORK THROUGH THAT. OUR SECOND SESSION IS GOING TO FOCUS ON OUR RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE HELD TOMORROW.
ONCE AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENT HAS SOME GREAT CHANGES TO THE RULES AND SOME OF OUR HOOP HELPERS HAVE ALREADY BEGAN WORKING ON IDEAS THAT THEY HAVE AND SEE FIT.
WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS IT IN MORE DEPTH TOMORROW NIGHT.
THE THIRD SESSION IS THE ONE THAT I'M PERSONALLY THE MOST EXCITED ABOUT.
THIS IS WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME ON THE GROUND FEEDBACK FROM OUR BASKETBALL FAMILY.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE OUR HOOP HELPER VOLUNTEERS.
WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT TO THE CITY ON ONE OF THE DAYS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF BASKETBALL GAMES AND WE'RE GOING TO GET TO GATHER DATA AS FAR AS ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PARENTS IN REAL TIME, AS WELL AS HAVE AN ACTUAL SURVEY FOR SOME MORE SPECIFIC DATA POINTS AS WELL.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BRINGING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE RESIDENTS WHERE THEY ARE TO GET THAT FEEDBACK.
OUR LAST SESSION IS GOING TO BE A REFLECTION AND RECAP ABOUT HOW THE FEEDBACK WENT AND HOW THE EVENT WENT AND THEN ALSO SPECIFICALLY HOW WE ROLLED OUT THIS PILOT PROGRAM.
WE ALSO WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PARTICIPANTS IF THEY THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT WAY TO GET THE FEEDBACK AND IF IT WAS VALUABLE FOR THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING?
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT SINCE I WAS A VOLUNTEER AND KNOWING THAT WAS MY STOMPING GROUND.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND TO TAKE LEADERSHIP ROLE IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IT'S EVEN EXTRA, YOU ARE OVER AND ABOVE YOUR REGULAR SERVICE, WHICH IS A LOT BUT THIS TYPE OF WORK MOVES THE NEED AND THE COMMUNITY GETS IT AND THEY FEEL IT AND I THINK IT'S TRANSFORMATIVE SO THANK YOU.
>> AGAIN, THE PARKS AND REC ADVISORY BOARD IS NOT JUST A BOARD THAT WANTS TO JUST SIT THERE AND KIND OF HEAR UPDATES ON WHAT'S GOING ON ON PARKS AND RECREATION BUT THEY WANT TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
[00:15:02]
REAL TIME FEEDBACK TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THAT'S WHAT THIS DEPARTMENT IS HERE TO DO, AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.THE HOOP HELPERS IS THE PILOT SPORT.
WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER PLACES AND SPORTS THAT WE NEED TO TURN TO WHICH WE DO HAVE A PLAN BUT WE WANTED TO START WITH BASKETBALL BECAUSE BASKETBALL IS COMING UP.
YOU'LL START TO SEE PROMOTIONS ABOUT VOLUNTEER COACHES.
WE NEED SOME COACHES, WE PLUGGED THAT IN RIGHT THERE.
BUT THIS IS THE FIRST SPORT THAT WE ARE WORKING IN AND THEN WE WILL TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE NEXT SPORTS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AHEAD AND NOT BEHIND SO WE'RE FOLLOWING THE SEASON SCHEDULE.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT AND HAVE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR IT.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THERE'S A PLATFORM NOW OR A TEMPLATE THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO OTHER SPORTS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER ON SWIMMING AND I'VE INVITED A COUPLE OF SWIMMING STAKEHOLDERS.
I CAN'T FEEL IF THEY'RE ON THE CALL BUT I THINK THEY'RE THRILLED TO KNOW THAT THERE'S AN AVENUE FOR THEM TO LINK UP WITH THE CITY, GET CLOSER TO YOU AND STAFF AND TO OTHER PARENTS AND JUST FEEL EMPOWERED TO HELP TRANSFORM THEIR SPORT FOR THE BETTER.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE PATHWAY.
WE DIDN'T JUST WANT TO JUMP OUT THERE AND IT'S JUST A FREE FOR ALL AND THEN IT GETS CONFUSING AND OUR VOICES MIGHT NOT FULLY BE HEARD.
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE PLATFORM AND WE SEE HOW THIS WORKS WITH BASKETBALL, WE COLLECT THAT DATA, WE CAN THEN MOVE TO THE NEXT SPORT, WHICH MIGHT BE UNIQUE IN THEIR OWN WAY.
WE WILL GO THROUGH THAT SAME PROCESS.
HOW WE GOT OUR VOLUNTEERS IS THROUGH COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, THEY SIGNED UP.
WE PUT OUT PUBLICATION, WE ASKED FOR VOLUNTEERS AND THEY SIGNED UP TO VOLUNTEER SO WE WILL FOLLOW THAT SAME PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
>> I'M GOING TO GRAB YOU FOR SWIMMING TO THE NEXT ONE. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M GOING TO THROW A ACROSS BALL AT YOU [LAUGHTER]
>> THERE ARE DEFINITELY A LOT OF SPORTS COMING IN AND AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL HELP AND AS A DEPARTMENT, WE ARE NOT SHY TO COME TO THE TABLE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOICES ARE BEING HEARD IN A STRATEGIC AND ORGANIZED WAY.
>> YOU MENTIONED COMMUNITY COACHES.
HOW WOULD COMMUNITY COACHES GET ENGAGED?
>> THAT IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH WITH THIS ADVISORY GROUP.
ONE, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE COACHES ARE.
A LOT OF EDUCATION AROUND WHAT IS EXPECTED WHEN WE ARE DOING THESE PROGRAMS, OUR VOLUNTEER STRATEGY.
BASKETBALL IS OUR HEAVY SPORT.
WE HAVE CLOSE TO 800 KIDS IN BASKETBALL, AND SO WE NEED A TON OF COACHES, BUT AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT EDUCATING.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING OUT THERE AND TELLING OUR STORY AND HOW WE WANT COACHES TO BE WITHIN OUR PROGRAMS AND WHAT THE FUNDAMENTALS OF TEACHING BASKETBALL IS BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE IS WANTING TO GO PRO OR AT THE PRO LEVEL, BUT THIS IS WHAT THIS ADVISORY GROUP IS, GETTING THAT VOLUNTEER STRATEGY, AND THIS IS WHERE THE PARENTS WILL HELP BRING US TO THE RESIDENTS AND THE RESIDENTS CAN COME TO US AS WELL.
THIS IS WHAT THIS GROUP IS HERE TO HELP US WITH.
>> IS YOUR TRAINING FOR THE VOLUNTEER COACHES?
>> YES. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PARENT GROUP IS GETTING TOGETHER WHO HELPERS, IS THAT TRAINING.
IT IS THAT SPORTSMANSHIP TRAINING.
IT IS HOW TO COACH, GETTING SOME TOOLS AND RESOURCES OF, WE KNOW THAT PARENTS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE MOST SKILLED IN THE SPORT, AND THE KIDS ARE THE ONES THAT WENT, HEY, COME OUT AND COACH MY TEAM AND YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THOSE FUNDAMENTALS THERE, BUT PROVIDING APPS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO DOING WHERE YOU CAN JUST PICK UP YOUR PHONE AND WE'VE ALREADY PRELOADED AN APP WITH DRILLS FOR YOU, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WING IT AND BE OUT THERE ON THE FLY.
WE'LL GIVE YOU THOSE TOOLS, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PARENT GROUP IS WORKING TOWARDS PROVIDING TO THAT.
THEN NEXT, THIS GROUP HAS FOCUSED THROUGH OUR SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
YOU SEE THE WALK ENROLL DAYS, WHICH ARE MONTHLY EVENTS, ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO BIKE OR WALK TO SCHOOL.
WE WILL START PUTTING OUT THOSE EVENT DATES SO WHEN YOU CAN SEE OUR NEXT DATES COMING.
WE'VE STARTED OUR BIKE BUS PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE GROUP RIDES TO SCHOOL, AND SUPERVISION FOR WHICH ARE GREAT FOR BUILDING COMMUNITY AND SAFE ROUTES.
WE ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY LED MOBILITY WALKS, WHICH WE'RE DOING, WHICH HIGHLIGHT ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY DONE IS WE HAVE CERTIFIED SEVERAL NEW LEAGUE CYCLING INSTRUCTORS.
THESE ARE INSTRUCTORS THAT ARE EXCLUSIVELY GOING TO BE HELPING US HOST BIKE SAFETY CLASSES FOR ADULTS AND YOU.
YOU SEE AND THE PICTURE TO THE LEFT ARE OUR NEW CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS.
[00:20:04]
YOU SEE THERE'S QUITE A BIT ON THERE.IF YOU CAN THERE ARE OVER TWO, THREE CLASSES.
THERE ARE QUITE A BIT ON THEIR, WHICH THEY'RE GOING TO HELP EXPAND OUR BICYCLING PROGRAMS, REALLY THAT WALK AND ROLL DAYS BIKE BUS PROGRAM.
IF YOU WANT TO BIKE TO SCHOOL, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD GROUP TO MEET UP WITH, THEY'LL BE OUT THERE HELPING MAKE IT EASIER AND PARENTS CAN FEEL FREE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ADULT SUPERVISION OUT THERE, AND THEN OTHER PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS FOR SAFETY.
WHAT IS IN THE WORKS? WE TALK A LOT ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, BUT THERE'S SEVERAL PROJECTS IN WHICH WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS GOING THROUGH, WHICH WE WILL NEED THE HELP OF THE ADVISORY BOARD IS ACHIEVING THE PARKS AND RECREATION ACCREDITATION.
THIS IS A NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
IT'S ABOUT A YEAR TO TWO YEAR PROCESS.
WE ARE INITIATING THAT PROCESS IN A MONTH OR TWO, WHICH IS BASICALLY OUR STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, AND SO WE'LL NEED THE HELP OF OUR ADVISORY BOARD TO JUST HELP US SUPPORT US IN THE PROCESS.
THERE'S LESS THAN 200 AND SO OR LESS THAN 300 IN THE COUNTRY OF ACCREDITED DEPARTMENT, SO THIS IS A BIG TASK FOR THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.
>> WE'VE BEEN ACCREDITED BEFORE, IS THIS A RE ACCREDITATION OR IS THE FIRST TIME.
>> WE ARE ACCREDITED FOR OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, BUT OUR DEPARTMENT IS NOT ACCREDITED.
ACCREDITATION IS THROUGH OUR NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS THE UMBRELLA FOR PARKS AND RECREATION IN GENERAL.
IT'S NOT NEW, IT'S BEEN AROUND, BUT OUR CITY AND DEPARTMENT HAS NOT BEEN ACCREDITED THROUGH THEM.
>> THE 300 CITIES IN THE COUNTRY?
>> WHERE ELSE IN GEORGIA, DO YOU KNOW?
>> DOUGLASVILLE IS ACCREDITED.
>> I CAN FIND YOU. I WILL SUPPLY YOU A LIST OF ALL OF THEM.
>> I REALLY THINK IT CAN COMPETITIVE.
>> IT IS. IT HELPS TO SECURE FURTHER FUNDING AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES WHEN YOU ARE ACCREDITED? IT GIVES YOU NATIONAL RECOGNITION THAT YOU ARE UP TO PAR WITH STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THIS IS A VERY TEDIOUS PROCESS IN WHICH YOU DO GET THE NATIONAL RECOGNITION WHERE YOU DO HAVE THE ACCREDITATION, YOU DO GET TO GO ON A NATIONAL STAGE IN FRONT OF YOUR PEERS AND RECEIVE THAT BIG PLAQUE FOR IT.
>> ARE THERE WEAKNESSES WE WANT TO SHOW AS PART OF APPLYING OR THAT WE COULD DO.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS BEING A IMPEDIMENT?
>> YEAH. WE ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW.
IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, WE WILL HAVE A SWOT ANALYSIS OF WHERE WE CURRENTLY STAND AND WHERE SOME AREAS WE'LL NEED TO SHOW UP ON, BUT A LOT HAS TO DO WITH OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND HAVING THEM ALL DOCUMENTED.
WE'LL HAVE PROBABLY ABOUT 30 BINDERS OR SO IN OUR OFFICES REALLY HEAD DOWN.
AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY TEDIOUS PROCESS IN WHICH WE WOULD NEED THE SUPPORT OF YOU ALL TO HELP US THROUGH.
I'M JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE WORKING ACROSS THE CITY IN GENERAL, AND TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS WHAT THEY NEED BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKS AND RECREATION, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF COLLABORATION, AND THOSE STANDARDS ARE SHOWN IN EVIDENCE AND WHAT WE NEED TO SUPPLY.
>> I'VE GONE THROUGH THIS, AND IT IS VERY TEDIOUS AND IT'S NOT JUST PARKS AND REC, BECAUSE YOU NEED OTHER PEOPLE'S POLICIES TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR CASE.
>> WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IT'S A CHALLENGE.
>> I ASKED GEORGE A GEORGE QUESTION.
>> I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR HELPING LIKE AND WENT THROUGH IT BECAUSE IT HAS SUFFERED THROUGH A LACK OF STRUCTURE, AND SO GOING THROUGH IT FORCES YOU TO GO AND IMPOSE STRUCTURE, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, DALLY LAW LIGHTS IT BECAUSE IT REDUCES RISK, BUT IT'S REALLY INTENSE.
IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF ENERGY, AND THERE'S PROBABLY 30% OF IT REALLY IS JUST TAKES TIME TO DO IT, THAT DOESN'T HAVE A MUCH OF IMPACT.
>> I THINK IN TERMS OF IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF A DEPARTMENT,
[00:25:01]
DID IT MAKE SENSE TO GO THROUGH IT?>> WE DEFINITELY WILL BE PROVIDING SOME UPDATES FOR YOU ALL AND KEEPING YOU UPDATED ON WHAT OUR PROGRESS IS ON THAT.
JUST SOME OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING ON, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF ME PROBABLY IN THE NEXT A FEW MONTHS, WEEKS OR SO.
THE OAKHURST MASTER PLAN IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING THROUGH THE ESTER TEEN AREA MURAL PROJECT.
SO CONSTRUCTION ON THE ESTER AREA IS COMING SOON.
THIS BOARD WILL BE WORKING THROUGH WHAT A MURAL PROJECT WILL LOOK LIKE WITH OTHER ADVISORY BOARDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY GROUPS TO HONOR THE LEGACIES HERE INDICATOR.
THEY'RE ALSO WORKING THROUGH THE CITY ORDINANCES, LOOK THROUGH PARKS AND RECREATION SO WE'LL BE BRINGING FORTH SOME ORDINANCES AS WELL THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE UPDATED CURRENTLY OR ADDED TO, SO THAT WILL BE A RECOMMENDATION COMING FROM THE BOARD AS WELL AS DEPARTMENT, SO A JOINT RECOMMENDATION THERE LOOKING THROUGH. YES.
>> THE ORDINANCE REVIEW, DOES THAT TIE IN WITH THE ACCREDITATION TO SOME EXTENT, OR IS SEPARATE.
>> THEY ARE A LITTLE SEPARATE.
THERE MIGHT BE BITS AND PIECES OF SUPPORTING IN THERE.
>> BUT IT'S NOT BEING DRIVEN BY THE ACCREDITATION?
>> NO. IT'S NOT BEING DRIVEN BY THE ACCREDITATION.
IT'S JUST BEING DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY DEMANDS AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITHIN OUR FACILITIES AND HOW WE CAN HELP ENSURE SOME STRUCTURE AND SOME ORGANIZATION WHEN IT COMES TO RULES AND REGULATIONS WITHIN OUR FACILITIES, BUT THEY'RE NOT TIED TOGETHER.
THEN I SPOKE ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF PARKS GUIDELINES AS WELL AS TO KEEP DECATUR BEAUTIFUL.
WE WILL BE LOOKING AT OUR FEE SCHEDULE.
WE DID NOT DO ANY INCREASES THIS FISCAL YEAR TO ANY OF OUR PROGRAM FEES, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT.
THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE BRINGING TO THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR REVIEW AS TO PROGRAM FEES.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS IN DISCUSSION AS FAR AS HOW MUCH OUR PROGRAMS AND FEES WILL BE IF THERE WILL BE ANY CHANGES.
>> I HAVE A COMMENT BECAUSE I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE LAST SLIDE.
I THINK YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY INCORPORATE THAT FEE REVIEW WITH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FORUMS?
>> YES. ABSOLUTELY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY IS GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T JUST WANT TO CHANGE FEES WITHOUT HAVING ANY COMMUNITY INPUT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THAT WILL PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE MAIN TOPICS OF THE COMMUNITY FORUMS COMING UP.
AS SOON AS WE GET THOSE SCHEDULES FINALIZED, WE WILL DEFINITELY SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL AS WELL AS THE TOPICS GOING FORWARD FOR REVIEW, AND THAT WILL BE AHEAD OF BUDGET SEASON.
>> BEHIND THAT FEE SCHEDULE REVIEW, AND I THINK MR. POTE POINT ABOUT ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY IS SO CRITICAL, BUT IN A CONTEXT THAT WAS SO HELPFUL TO ME AND I THINK ALL OF US, THAT IS, HOWEVER, YOU COULD DO IT A LITTLE LIKE A TOUCH OF BUDGET ALMOST WHERE THE RESIDENTS CAN SEE ON THE DOLLAR, WHERE THE PENNIES GO, BUT THAT COST RECOVERY, REALLY SIMPLE LEVEL SET OF WHAT IT'S TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND HOW YOU MOVE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF USERS, AND JUST THAT'S JUST REALLY I THINK THE ONLY WAY TO HELP FOLKS UNDERSTAND AND BECOME GOOD STAKEHOLDERS OF FEES THAT HAVE ADJUSTED, MOSTLY INCREASED AND HERE'S WHY DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU SIT AND IDENTIFY ON THAT USER SPECTRUM, IT'S MUCH EASIER TO UNDERSTAND AND BUY IN.
I JUST THINK IT'S HARD TO CRACK THAT OTHERWISE, BUT IF YOU CAN INCORPORATE THE MOST BASIC FORMAT OF THAT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE DISAGREES.
I JUST DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK OF THEIR INTERACTION WITH THEIR PARKS AND REC THAT WAY PER SE.
>> A LOT OF EDUCATION, THAT WILL BE COMING OUT OF THESE COMMUNITY FORUMS. WE DEFINITELY WILL.
>> WE'RE ON A PART THAT YOU PAY TO GO INTO IT.
CLEARLY, IT'S ONE END OF THE SPECTRUM.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL DEFINITELY WILL PROVIDE YOU SOME UPDATES WHEN THAT COMES ABOUT WHAT THOSE FORUMS LOOK LIKE.
LAST THING, BEFORE WE LEAVE, WE HAVE RENEWED OR WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF RENEWING OUR BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY STATUS.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE A SILVER STATUS.
WE ARE LOOKING TO GO FOR GOLD.
WE ARE URGING THE PUBLIC AND EVERYONE TO TAKE THE SURVEY.
IT IS ASKING ABOUT HOW FRIENDLY IS OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU CAN SEE I HAVE PROVIDED THE SURVEY LINK HERE.
WE ALSO ARE POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS AS WELL.
WE ARE ASKING EVERYONE TO TAKE THE SURVEY, HAVE YOUR FRIENDS TAKE THE SURVEY AND HELP US REACH THE NEXT LEVEL.
IT REALLY SHOWS HOW MUCH WE ARE DOING TO BE BICYCLE FRIENDLY AND ACCESSIBLE HERE.
THEN FINALLY, MAKE SURE YOU COME OUT AND JOIN US ON THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 6:00 PM AT THE DECATUR RECREATION CENTER.
[00:30:04]
WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.WE DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME AND DO PUBLIC COMMENT, IF YOU HAVE A IDEA, YOU HAVE A QUESTION, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, COME AND SHARE.
AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO MYSELF.
AGAIN, I'M DR. REMY EPPS, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, THE STAFF LIAISON TO THE ADVISORY BOARD.
SO IF EVER YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO MYSELF OR ANYONE WHO IS LISTED ON OUR STAFF PAGE OR REACH OUT TO THE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, MR. KEITH STRONG OR NANCY BRUNE, WITH QUESTIONS AND BRING FORTH AND THEN WE'LL SEE YOU ON EVERY SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
I TELL YOU, IT'S NICE TO SEE REALLY THE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.
THAT'S THE PIECE THAT AS WE HAVE BECOME A CHILD FRIENDLY CITY, THIS IS WHERE YOU EXPECT STUFF LIKE THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE NOT REALLY PARTICIPATING IN A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS AND THEY ARE, AND SO THEY PROVIDE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THEY HAVE SOME GREAT IDEAS, AND I THINK SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT ARE COMING OUT SOON THAT ARE SPEARHEADED BY THEM, I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITED FOR.
>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY BOARD, PERSON REC ADVISORY BOARD, SHE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP, THAT'S FINE, BUT WE'D LIKE TO MRS. SANDY AND CLEARLY THIS WASN'T PLANNED,[LAUGHTER] BUT IF YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF STEP TO IT?
I'M A TENTH GRADER AT DECATUR, AND I JOINED THE BOARD TO REPRESENT STUDENTS WHO USE THE FIELDS, SO I ACROSS.
SO WE ALL ALWAYS USE THE FIELDS.
WE TALKED ABOUT ACTUALLY AT THE LAST MEETING DOING A DRIVE FOR BEER SWAPS, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE TONS OF EXTRA STUFF THAT WE DON'T WANT LIKE TRASH BECAUSE YOU GO THROUGH APPARENTLY TO GROW OUT OF THEM REALLY QUICK.
WE TALKED ABOUT SWITCHING THEM OUT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY KITS.
>> THANK YOU FOR SERVING ON THE BOARD.
>> CLUB FOR THE PARKS AND REC.
>> I JUST MENTIONED IF WE WERE HERE TO SHARE WHAT OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN ON THE PARKS AND REC BOARD.
I TRULY LOVE BEING A PART OF THAT, I THINK IT WAS DECEMBER 2022, ALMOST THREE YEARS, BUT I REALLY LOVE SEEING THE INTERSECTION OF HOW ALL THE DIFFERENT RESIDENTS FROM ALL DIFFERENT CORNERS OF EVERY SINGLE WALK OF LIFE REALLY COME TOGETHER UNDER PARKS AND REC AND THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AND SO MANY THINGS TO BE DONE, BUT IT'S AN AMAZING DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE DEPTH OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE THINGS THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOES.
IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO SEE THAT ALSO CONNECT WITH OTHER RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS AVAILABLE FOR US.
>> I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THE VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE YOUR WORK CUT OUT BEFORE YOU DOING.
JUST REITERATE THAT PARKS AND RECREATION LARGELY RUNS THE VOLUNTEERS, AND SO I COACHED BASKETBALL, I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DO IT NOW.
I ALSO STOP THE TURN 8-YEARS-OLD AND 9-YEARS-OLD TO MY KNOWLEDGE, BUT JUST GOOD LUCK FOR THAT, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING NEED TO HELP RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS, WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN BASKETBALL TEAM IS A TEN PEOPLE PER TEAM?
>> ONE OR TWO COACHES FOR PER TEAM.
>> THAT'S 160 VOLUNTEERS JUST FOR BASKET BALL?
>> YES. THEN YOU MULTIPLY THAT TIMES ALL OF OUR OTHER SPORTS.
WE GET A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE RUN IT.
SOMETIMES STAFF HAVE TO STEP IN AND HELP OUT, BUT WE ARE TRYING THIS YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS.
I'M URGING EVERYONE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, PLEASE REACH OUT.
AGAIN, THE PARENT ADVISORY GROUP WILL WILL BE GOING THROUGH THAT VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT STRATEGY.
YOU MIGHT SEE SOME PUBLICATIONS START COMING OUT TOWARDS THE END OF THIS MONTH EARLY NEXT MONTH AT RECRUITING SOME VOLUNTEERS.
>> I APPRECIATE THE TRAINING BEING OFFERED.
>> I THINK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE PROGRAM, I THINK.
>> ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE WE KNOW EVERYONE IS NOT JUST THE SKILLED, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING YOU THE ACCESS AND TOOLS AND RESOURCES.
>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES NEXT.
THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR BEING HERE.
[00:35:04]
WE WILL TAKE A 24 MINUTE BREAK AND START CITY COMMISSION MEETING.>> GOOD EVENING. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER
[I. Call to Order by Mayor.]
THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2025.BEFORE WE MOVE INTO TONIGHT'S MEETING, I WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THE TRAUMA EXPERIENCED BY ALL AT THE RECENT SHOOTING IN DEKALB COUNTY AT THE CDC COMPLEX.
CDC EMPLOYEES, ITS MISSION, AND EVEN ITS COMMITMENT TO SCIENCE, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC IS NOT ONLY BEING QUESTIONED AT THIS TIME, BUT NOW ALSO IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE.
I WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO WORK AT THE CDC AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BETTERMENT OF OUR LIVES THROUGH ITS WORK ON HEALTH AND WELL BEING FOR ALL.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE DEKALB COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS, FIRE, AND POLICE, WHO RESPONDED WITHOUT HESITATION, AND TO THE CITY OF DECATUR POLICE WHO PROVIDED BACKUP.
FINALLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE BRAVERY OF ALL OF THOSE WHO RESPONDED TO THE TRAGEDY AND TO ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE DEKALB COUNTY OFFICER DAVID ROSE, WHO WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
HE WAS CHOSEN AS CLASS LEADER OF THE GRADUATING CLASS OF THE 138TH POLICE ACADEMY.
AS A PART OF HIS REMARKS THAT WERE SHARED AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY, OFFICER ROSE STATED THE FOLLOWING, "WE ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON HERE.
WE WANT TO SERVE. WE WANT TO BE PART OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN OURSELVES.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE, STAND FOR JUSTICE, AND RUN TOWARDS DANGER WHEN OTHERS RUN AWAY." PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND REMEMBRANCE OF OFFICER ROSE.
NOW, WE'LL MOVE TO THE MINUTES.
[II. Approval of the Minutes.]
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE MINUTES FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THE REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 4, 2025.ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THE MINUTES?
AYE AND THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
NEXT IS MY HONOR TO READ THE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH PROCLAMATION.
[III. Proclamation.]
WHEREAS, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, KNOWN AS MES NACIONAL DE LA HERENCIA HISPANA, IS CELEBRATED NATIONWIDE FROM SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 15, EACH YEAR.WHEREAS SEPTEMBER 15 IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE FOR LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES, COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS AND NICARAGUA.
IN ADDITION, MEXICO AND CHILE CELEBRATE THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAYS ON SEPTEMBER 16, AND 18TH, RESPECTIVELY.
WHEREAS LATINOS ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DESCENDANTS FROM LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES AND MAY SPEAK A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
HISPANICS ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT SPEAK SPANISH AND ARE DESCENDANTS FROM SPANISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING SPAIN.
LATINX IS A GENDER NEUTRAL OR NON-BINARY TERM FOR PEOPLE OF LATIN AMERICAN DESCENT, AND WE RECOGNIZE THE LATINX IDENTITY ALSO ENCOMPASSES PEOPLE IN BLACK AFRICAN, ASIAN, INDIGENOUS AND QUEER COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF HOW MUCH STRENGTH WE DRAW AS A NATION FROM OUR IMMIGRANT ROOTS AND OUR VALUES AS A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS.
WE AS THE CITY OF DECATUR IS COMMITTED TO RECOGNIZING HISPANIC, LATINO, AND LATINX CULTURE AND HERITAGE AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CITY AND ITS STRONG, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE I, MAYOR PATTI GARRETT, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, THE CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 15, 2025 IN DECATUR AS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, AND CALL ITS OBSERVANCE TO ALL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND ENCOURAGE ALL TO CELEBRATE ACCORDINGLY.
[00:40:01]
I HOPE YOU'LL COME AND JOIN ME AT PLACITA LATINA ON SEPTEMBER THE 20TH ON PASTA LEON.SINCE THE SQUARE IS UNDERGOING RENOVATION.
AND IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS TO MARIA ALREZ, WHO HAS ORGANIZED PLACITA LATINA FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND IS ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN THE HISPANIC AND LATINO, LATINX COMMUNITY.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU.
PLEASE GIVE MISS ALREZ A HAND. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, FROM THE ENTIRE TEAM AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE TEAM IS, THREE PEOPLE.
SUSAN, JOHN, AND MYSELF, WE WANT TO REALLY THANK YOU, EVERY SINGLE PERSON, AND ALSO THE RESIDENTS OF DECATUR THAT SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
THIS IS OUR FIFTH YEAR, AND THANKFULLY TO ALL OF SPONSORS, WHICH THEY ARE THE CITY OF DECATUR, OBVIOUSLY, VISIT DECATUR, THE DBA, THE DDA, [INAUDIBLE], DE CARLOS MUSEUM AND MARIE, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BRING THIS EVENT HERE, OUR FIFTH YEAR, AND IT'S A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT'S FUN.
I WANT TO REMIND ALSO EVERYBODY THAT THE LATIN COMMUNITY, ALL THE IMMIGRANTS ARE REALLY, WE'RE UNDER A MICROSCOPE, INCLUDING MYSELF.
I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, SORRY, [NOISE] IT HAPPENS TO MY VOICE.
I USUALLY GO AND TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.
BUT I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE AFRAID TO LEAVE IN THE COUNTRY, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.
I REALLY WANT TO BRING EVERYBODY TO COME AND CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY THAT YOU ALL GIVE US TO HELP US OUT TO DO THIS.
ONE THING THAT I WANT TO ALSO SHARE IS THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS AT THE VERY FIRST ONE, WAS VERY SMALL.
IT WAS RAINING AND WE HAD A TENT.
BUT PEOPLE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THUNDERING, WERE LIKE, "MAYBE WE NEED TO GO HOME." BECAUSE IT WAS DANGEROUS AT THAT POINT.
PEOPLE WERE STILL DANCING AND WE HAD A SMALLER GROUP.
THAT IN FIVE YEAR HAS TRANSFORMED INTO ABOUT 4,000 PEOPLE THAT COME IN.
LAST YEAR, EMERY AND PLACITA LATINA ORGANIZED A SURVEY FOR THE FOLKS TO FIGURE OUT, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I LIKE TO PRESENT BEING THAT I'M A NUMBERS PERSON.
THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE PERSON THAT COMES TO VISIT DECATUR IS 35.
THE AVERAGE PERSON SPENDS $40, AND IF YOU CALCULATE THAT WE HAVE $40, WE HAVE ABOUT 4,000, THAT'S $160,000 THAT PEOPLE COME AND SPEND INTO OUR LITTLE CITY.
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE MONEY THAT THEY SPEND AT THE DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
THIS YEAR, AS USUAL, THE FIESTA STARTS UP FOUR, AND IT GOES UNTIL 10.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE THAN 12 NATIONALITIES REPRESENTED, COUNTRIES REPRESENTED, FOOD FROM ALL OVER, MORE THAN 30 VENDORS, GIVE OR TAKE.
AT THE VISITOR CENTER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE WONDERFUL ART EXPOSITION THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR.
SPECIAL GUEST, THAT'S GOING TO BE MISS PATTI, WHO WE ALWAYS CELEBRATE HER BIRTHDAY ON THE SQUARE NIGHT.
WE ALSO ARE GOING TO HAVE THE DOMINICAN VICE CONSUL.
COME AND ENJOY THE LATIN VIBE.
WHOEVER YOU ARE, WE ARE VERY INCLUSIVE.
>> NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS,
[Items IV.A. & IV.B.]
AND I BELIEVE MISS KURZ IS GOING TO COME FORWARD AND SHE WILL WALK US THROUGH THIS, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.>> ABSOLUTELY. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I'M CASEY KURZ WITH PLANNING AND ZONING.
YOU HAVE THE TWO ITEMS IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT, WHICH ACTUALLY ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE ANNEXATION.
THE FIRST, THOSE ARE FOR 146 SCOTT BOULEVARD.
THE FIRST IS A REQUEST TO DESIGNATE IT WITH A LAND USE OF LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
[00:45:07]
THE SECOND IS TO DESIGNATE A ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF R60, WHICH IS OUR SINGLE FAMILY ZONING DISTRICT.THIS IS A PARCEL THAT IS ACTUALLY BEHIND, AS WE KNOW IT IN OUR JURISDICTION, 150 SCOTT BOULEVARD, WHICH IS THE VENETIAN POOL ASSOCIATION.
ESSENTIALLY, THIS IS A LANDMARK PARTIAL BEHIND IT.
THE REQUEST COMING IN IS TO KEEP THE SAME ZONING AS NOT ONLY THE MAIN PARCEL, BUT THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT IS THE SAME FOR THE LAND USE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF BOTH ACTIONS, AND THEIR VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, YOU CAN LET ME KNOW.
>> [INAUDIBLE] UNANIMOUS ON THE SECOND? THAT'S THE SECOND.
>> THAT'S THE SECOND. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE THIRD. SORRY. THESE ARE ACTUALLY YOUR FIRST TWO ITEMS. IT'S JUST EASIER TO EXPLAIN THEM TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCURRENT. NO PROBLEM.
>> WE WANT TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING SEPARATE.
WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ANYONE WHO HAS ANY COMMENTS TO BRING FORWARD OR THE PETITIONER WANTS TO COME FORWARD.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM LINDA DUNLY, THE ATTORNEY FOR VENETIAN POOLS ASSOCIATION, AND WITH ME IS ANDREW O'CONNELL, WHO IS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION.
I THINK THIS IS A RELATIVELY SIMPLE MATTER, BUT NEVER TRUST A LAWYER WHEN THEY SAY THAT.
[LAUGHTER] DO WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TONIGHT FOR THE POWERPOINT? IS THAT SHOWING UP ON YOUR MONITORS OR NOT?
>> THERE WE GO. THE TWO MATTERS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AT LEAST ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA, DEAL WITH 146 SCOTT BOULEVARD.
ONE FORTY-SIX SCOTT BOULEVARD, AS CASEY OUTLINED FOR YOU IN HER INTRODUCTION, IS ADJACENT TO A LOT THAT IS ALREADY IN THE CITY.
>> CAN'T THE CONTROL IT WITH THAT KEYBOARD.
HITTING ENTER OR THE ARROW BUTTONS.
>> THE ARROW THING. NO. DIDN'T LIKE THAT. THERE WE GO.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN FRONT OF YOU IS WHAT I THINK MOST OF US THINK OF AS THE VENETIAN POOLS LOT.
THIS IS THE LOT WHERE THE POOL IS, WHERE THE MEMBERS RECREATE AND GATHER IT FRONTS ON SCOTT BOULEVARD.
IT IS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THIS LOT HERE, WHICH IS TO THE WEST.
THIS LOT IS THE 146 SCOTT BOULEVARD LOT.
IT IS IN UNINCORPORATED DEKALB.
IT'S LIKE 0.66 ACRES, AND IT IS USED BY THE ASSOCIATION AS A PASSIVE RECREATION SPACE.
CURRENT STATUS, AS I'VE OUTLINED FOR YOU IS THAT IT IS AN UNINCORPORATED TO KALB.
IT ZONED R-85, WHICH IS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION INTO KALB COUNTY.
IT IS ADJACENT TO AN R-60 LOT, WHICH IS THE 150 SCOTT BOULEVARD LOT, WHICH IS ZONED R-60 IN THE CITY.
YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE AN R-85 ZONING CLASSIFICATION IN THE CITY.
R-60 IS ABOUT AS CLOSE AS WE CAN GET.
OUR REQUEST IS THAT THIS PARTICULAR LOT BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY AND ZONED R-60, WHICH IS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL CLASSIFICATION AND IT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE POOL LOT.
AS I STATED, THE LOT IS VACANT.
IT'S WOODED. THERE ARE SOME WALKING TRAILS IN IT.
THERE'S A PAVILION FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN OUT TO VENETIAN, YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
IT REALLY IS JUST USED AS A PASSIVE RECREATION SPACE LARGELY BECAUSE THERE'S STREAM BUFFERS, THERE'S A STREAM THAT RUNS THROUGH THAT AREA, AND THERE'S FLOODPLAIN.
THERE'S NOT MUCH DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL FOR 146 SCOTT BOULEVARD.
THERE'S NO IMMEDIATE PLANS TO CHANGE THE STATUS OF THIS LAW IF IT WERE ZONED INTO THE CITY OF DECATUR.
VENETIAN WANTS TO UPGRADE THE WALKING TRAILS, WANTS TO UPGRADE THE FOOTBRIDGE, AND GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT OF TLC.
BUT THEY BELIEVE THAT PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS IF IT WERE UNDER THE SAME REGULATIONS AS THE POOL LOT IS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE ARE DIFFERENT REGULATIONS, DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS.
[00:50:02]
CURRENTLY, 47% OF WHAT I CALL THE POOL LOT, WHICH FRONTS ON SCOTT BOULEVARD IS IMPERVIOUS SURFACES OR LOT COVERAGE.IT EXCEEDS THE 40% ALLOWED UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING CLASSIFICATION IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
ONE ADVANTAGE, IN ADDITION TO HAVING UNIFORM REGULATIONS FOR BOTH OF THESE LOTS WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY BRING THE POOL LOT INTO CONFORMITY WITH THE CITY OF DECATUR REGULATIONS BECAUSE IT WOULD BRING IT UNDERNEATH THE 40% LOT COVERAGE CAP.
IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 38% LOT COVERAGE WHEN YOU COMBINE BOTH OF THESE LOTS.
THE POOL LOT ITSELF IS ABOUT 2.6 ACRES, AND AS I SAID BEFORE, THE LOT BEHIND IT IS ABOUT 0.6 ACRES.
IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW VENETIAN A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY.
AS YOU KNOW, VENETIAN HAS BEEN HERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, NEEDS SOME UPDATING, IT NEEDS SOME ACCESSIBILITY THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO MEET ADA REQUIREMENTS, AND IT NEEDS SOME MODERNIZATION.
IF THESE LOTS WERE COMBINED, THEN THERE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 2,500-2,600 SQUARE FEET OF REMAINING LOT COVERAGE THAT VENETIAN COULD USE TO PURSUE ITS MASTER PLAN.
THE MASTER PLAN PROVIDES, AS I'VE SAID, FOR REPAIRING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE GREEN SPACE, ENHANCING THE PLANTINGS IN THE GREEN SPACE, IMPROVING THE TRAILS, BUT ALSO PROVIDING ON THE POOL LOT AN EXPANDED SUN DECK, A NEW SUN DECK, NEW BRIDGE AND STEPS, A SAND VOLLEY BALL COURT, PICKLE BALL, AND HALF COURT BASKETBALL, AND NEW PATHWAY BETWEEN THE PLAYGROUND AND EXCUSE ME, AND THE COURTS THAT DOESN'T EXIST RIGHT NOW, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, PROVIDING HANDICAP ACCESS FROM THE PARKING, WHICH TAKES UP A LOT OF THIS LOT COVERAGE AND TO PROVIDE A NEW PLAYGROUND.
THIS FLEXIBILITY WOULD ALLOW VENETIAN TO EFFECTUATE THEIR MASTER PLAN.
IT MEETS THE STANDARDS IN MY HUMBLE LEGAL OPINION.
WHO DID YOUR CALCULATION ON THE PERVEAS COVERAGE, THE STATUS QUO AND THE NEW?
>> THAT WAS DONE BY THE SURVEYOR WHO DID THE SURVEY OR WHO CONSOLIDATED?
WE JUST NOTICED THAT WHEN WE WERE IN FRONT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I SAID, OH BOY, WHERE'S THE LOT COVERAGE CALCULATION? WE HAD TO PROVIDE THOSE VERBALLY.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, IS THERE A LOGIC CHECK ON THAT BY THE CITY, OR JUST A MAP CHECK? HOW IS THAT?
>> WELL, IF WE WERE TO GO IN, LET'S SAY, THE VENETIAN WENT IN AND SAID, WE WANT TO PROVIDE A HANDICAPPED RAMP FROM THE PARKING LOT DOWN TO THE POOL AREA, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE IMPERVIOUS SURFACE.
WE WOULD HAVE TO SHOW THOSE LOT COVERAGE CALCULATIONS BEFORE WE COULD EVEN GET A PERMIT.
WE WOULDN'T GET ANY FURTHER, SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO VALIDATE THAT AND VERIFY THAT WE WERE STICKING UNDERNEATH THE LOT COVERAGE REQUIREMENT.
>> I CAN'T DO IT IN MY HEAD. I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET A HALF AN ACRE DOWN TO 7% DOWN TO 38.
I WOULD JUST HAVE BEEN COMFORTABLE IF THERE HAD BEEN ONE MORE VALIDATION OF THE PARTY'S COVERAGE.
>> WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
WE'RE THE ONES WHO WERE GOING TO BE AFFECTED.
QUITE OBVIOUSLY, THE MASTER PLAN IS NOT GOING TO MOVE FORWARD IF OUR SURVEYOR'S CALCULATIONS ARE INCORRECT.
BUT YES, WE DO KNOW THAT IT IS NON-CONFORMING AT THIS POINT, THE POOL LOT, WHICH IS THE FRONT LOT, SO WE'RE STUCK.
IN TIME, WE CAN'T ADD ANY ADDITIONAL COVERAGE.
CERTAINLY, WE COULD REMOVE COVERAGE AND ADD AND SUBSTITUTE IT FOR NEW COVERAGE BECAUSE I THINK WE WOULD BE CONSIDERED GRANDFATHERED.
BUT THERE WOULD NOT BE THE FLEXIBILITY THAT WE WOULD GET IF WE CONSOLIDATED THESE TWO LOTS, AND WE'D HAVE TO DIFFERENT REGULATIONS.
>> YOU GET A NOMINAL AMOUNT BACK ACCORDING TO THESE CALCULATIONS.
>> IF I HEARD THE NARRATIVE IN THE PLANNING MINUTES, BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING DRAMATIC.
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING DRAMATIC.
A LOT OF THE MASTER PLAN WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE REMOVAL OF EXISTING IMPERVIOUS COVER AND SUBSTITUTE IT WITH NEW COVER BECAUSE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, AND TO MODERNIZE.
I BELIEVE, MAYBE ANDREW CAN SPEAK TO THIS MORE COMFORTABLY THAN I CAN.
BUT THEY STILL BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED THAT ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY THAT COMBINING THE LOTS AND [OVERLAPPING]
>> ANYTHING ELSE? I DON'T WANT TO BEAT THIS TOO MUCH, OTHER THAN IT'S DIRECTIONALLY HELPFUL, I THINK, TO US TO KNOW IF OUR DECISION GAVE JUST A NOMINAL AMOUNT OR A LOT.
>> IT'S GOING TO GIVE A NOMINAL AMOUNT.
[00:55:01]
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 2,500 TO MAYBE 3,000 SQUARE FEET OF ADDITIONAL COVER TOTAL ON OVER THREE ACRES.>> JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON MISS [INAUDIBLE] QUESTION FOR STAFF.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, I ASSUME THAT IMPERVIOUS SURFACE DOES NOT IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO APPROVE THE ANNEXATION AND THE CONSOLIDATION ZONING OF THE LOTS.
RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET TO 40% FOR US TO APPROVE THIS?
>> NO. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THE LOT THAT IS NON-CONFORMING IS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
THERE'S NEXT TO NO IMPERVIOUS SURFACE ON THE LOT THAT WE'RE SEEKING TO ANNEX.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THAT YOU GET UNDER 40%.
>> THEY HAVE AN IMPERVIOUS SURFACE ON EITHER PARCEL, WHICH IS NOT A CONSIDERATION FOR ANNEXATION.
THAT WAS MUCH BETTER STATED THAN I DID.
>> I WON'T BELABOR THIS MUCH LONGER, EXCEPT TO SAY THAT WE MEET THE STANDARDS FOR THE LAND USE DESIGNATION.
WE ARE SEEKING AN LDR, LOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL LAND USE DESIGNATION.
ONE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS QUESTIONED ME ON THAT ALSO AND SAID, "WELL, WHAT THE HECK, RESIDENTIAL, YOU'RE INSTITUTIONAL?" I SAID, "WELL, BECAUSE THE VENETIAN POOLS LOT IS LOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ALREADY AS A LAND USE CLASSIFICATION, AND EVERYTHING AROUND IT, EXCEPT THE MRA CHASE CONDOMINIUMS, IS AN LDR DESIGNATION.
IT WOULD PROVIDE FOR CONSISTENT POLICIES AND REGULATIONS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF OTHER PROPERTIES THAT SURROUND IT.
WE'RE ASKING FOR AN LDR LAND USE DESIGNATION, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR AN R60 ZONING, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ANNEXATION IS LATER IN YOUR AGENDA ON THE ACTION ITEM.
WITH THAT, WE WOULD ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT WE DID MEET.
WE DID HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING ON APRIL 9TH.
WE SENT OUT A LOT OF LETTERS, WE GOT PRETTY LOW ATTENDANCE, BUT NOBODY WAS IN OPPOSITION, AND WE DID NOT HAVE ANY OPPOSITION AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THANK YOU.
>> NOW WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THE ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON JUST THESE TWO ITEMS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE CHANGE TO AMEND THE LAND USE PLAN WITH THE DESIGNATION OF LOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND TO MATCH IT WITH OUR FLOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, AND ALSO THE DESIGNATION OF OUR 60 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
THE LAND USE AND THE ZONING MAP TO BE CONSISTENT WITH OUR ZONING AND LAND USE.
THE ACTUAL ANNEXATION IS GOING TO BE LATER IN THE MEETING.
WE'RE JUST CONSIDERING THOSE TWO ITEMS, AND IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE WHO WANTS TO COMMENT ON JUST THOSE TWO ITEMS, NOW, IT'S THE TIME TO COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
SEEING NONE, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US ONLINE.
IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THESE TWO ITEMS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND WE WILL LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENT.
SEEING NONE, WE WANT TO TAKE ACTION ON THESE TWO ITEMS, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN.
WHY DON'T WE LOOK AT THESE CHANGES AND SEE? BY THE WAY, BEAR IN MIND, I'LL SAY THAT COMMENT FOR WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ANNEXATION, ABOUT WHAT THE PROCESS INVOLVES WITH THE COUNTY.
WE'LL LOOK AT FIRST THE ORDINANCE 25-Z-AA, WHICH IS THE LAND USE DESIGNATION AMENDMENT.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?
>> NO QUESTIONS. I WANTED TO DISCLOSE FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC THAT I'M A MEMBER OF VENETIAN, A REGULAR MEMBER OF VENETIAN IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE, AND NOT IN THE LAST. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS A CONFLICT WITH YOU VOTING ON THESE.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE O-25-Z-AA, THE LAND USE DESIGNATION AMENDMENT?
[01:00:03]
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> THE CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED.
THE SECOND ONE IS ORDINANCE 0-25-Z-BB, THE ZONING AMENDMENT.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT ORDINANCE?
>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
>> CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED.
I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT WE HAVE TO DO THIS BEFORE WE DO THE ANNEXATION, BUT THAT IS THE LAW REQUIRED.
>> WE'RE GOING TO SAY IT IS NOT [LAUGHTER].
>> THE LAST TIME WE HAD ONE OF THESE, WE WERE ABLE TO SPLIT JUST OVER THE PROCESS, AND THAT SEEMS JUST ODD.
THAT COMES LAST. BUT THEN THE END, IT'S A STATE LAW, SO THERE YOU GO. I WANT TO STATE.
>> IF IT DOESN'T GET ANNEXED, THEN WHAT JUST HAPPENED WOULD BE BINDING.
>> JUST DO ABOUT NOTHING. [LAUGHTER].
>> ONE MORE FOR YOU ALL TONIGHT.
[IV.C. Michelle Battle, Battle Law, P.C., is requesting a Special Exception to the MU-Mixed Use district to increase parking and to reduce the building height to allow the construction of a restaurant at 541 East College Avenue and 170 Commerce Drive. The Planning Commission recommends approval with condition.]
THE NEXT ITEM IS 541 EAST COLLEGE AVENUE.THIS IS TWO PARCELS, SO THAT IS THE ADDRESS OF THE PARCEL CLOSER TO THE INTERSECTION, AND 170 COMMERCE DRIVE IS THE ADJOINING PROPERTY THAT THIS IS IN CONSIDERATION OF.
TOGETHER, THAT'S A LITTLE SHY OF THREE-QUARTERS OF AN ACRE.
THE REQUEST HERE TONIGHT IS TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM PARKING SPACES FROM 19 TO 30 SPACES AND TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT FROM 24 FEET TO 17 FEET.
THERE WILL BE THE LOWEST PORTION BEING 15 FEET.
THESE ARE BOTH SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE MIXED-USE DISTRICT.
THIS IS THE AVONDALE MARTA STATION DISTRICT.
THIS IS THE TRANSIT-ORIENTED PORTION.
WE DO HAVE THE TWO SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS.
I KNOW WE'LL EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE LATER, BUT THE FIRST IS FOR PARKING, AND THEN THE BUILDING HEIGHT, JUST TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE IT'S HAD A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION. IT'S ODD.
BUT THE BUILDING IS CLOSEST TO THE INTERSECTION.
BOTH EAST COLLEGE, IT'LL BE A FRONT ENTRANCE ON THERE.
THE HEIGHT IS MEASURED AT THAT LEVEL.
IN YOUR FESTTAGE, YOU'LL SEE IT STARTS AT 17 FEET, AND HAS A SLIGHT SLANT TO THE ROOF, AND IT'LL GO DOWN TO 15 FEET.
IT'LL RISE AGAIN TO 20 FEET ON THE REMAINDER OF THE BUILDING, JUST SO YOU'RE CLEAR ON HOW THAT'S DESIGNED.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE TWO SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS.
THEY DID HAVE ONE CONDITION ATTACHED, WHICH IS THAT THE PRIMARY RESTROOM FACILITIES MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE INTERIOR RESTAURANT AND DINING AREA ONLY.
THIS WAS A SPLIT VOTE, SO THERE WERE FOUR IN FAVOR, TWO IN OPPOSITION, AND ONE ABSTENTION.
>> FOR MY BENEFIT, I TOGGLED UP A LITTLE BIT HIGH ON THE ZONING.
JUST TO REMIND ME, MAYBE IT'S HELPFUL TO OTHERS.
THIS IS IN THE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT ZONE.
>> IS THIS IN THE VILLAGE AREA SUB-AREA?
>> THIS IS IN THE TRANSIT STATION.
>> YES, IT IS. THAT WHOLE DISTRICT IS, AND THIS PARCEL IS PART OF THAT.
>> GOOD. THAT'S HELPFUL. THANK YOU.
>> PERFECT. YOUR BUILDING REQUIREMENT HAS JUST BEEN CLARIFIED AS 24 FEET'S IT.
>> THE PETITIONERS WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD, AND IF YOU WILL PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> ABSOLUTELY. MICHELE BATTLE WITH BATTLE LAW, 3562 HABERSHAM AT NORTHLAKE, TUCKER, GEORGIA, 30084. THERE WE GO.
VERY WONDERFUL. I THINK CASEY HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.
CAFE RACER IS A RESTAURANT IN ATHENS.
THEY STARTED JUST DOING, I GUESS, COFFEE AND DONUTS, BUT HAVE EXPANDED THEIR MENU TO INCLUDE AFTER-HOURS TYPE OF FOOD, AFTER BREAKFAST HOURS TYPE FOOD, INCLUDING CHICKEN, BURGERS, TACOS, BURRITOS, AND THAT THING THAT THEY HAVE IN THE EVENING HOURS.
[01:05:04]
THEY HAVE LOOKED AT THIS PARTICULAR SITE; IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.>> ARE YOU GOING TO USE THE ARROWS ON THE KEYBOARD?
>> THE ARROWS ON THE KEYBOARD. THERE YOU GO.
>> NOTHING IS HAPPENING. NOW WE'VE GOT IT.
ON THE SITE PLAN, YOU CAN SEE THAT, AS CASEY INDICATED, THE BUILDING HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD TOWARDS THE STREET.
THE EXISTING STRUCTURE WILL BE REMOVED.
BEHIND US IS THE GLASS-BLOWING FACILITY, AND WE HAVE A PRETTY SMALL SITE, AS CASEY HAD ALREADY INDICATED.
AS A RESULT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE ON BOTH COLLEGE AND COMMERCE DRIVE, THERE IS NO PARKING ON EITHER OF THOSE TWO STREETS, AND WE ACTUALLY DON'T EVEN HAVE PARKING IMMEDIATELY BEHIND US BECAUSE WE'VE GOT ANOTHER BUILDING BEHIND US NEXT TO US.
THE CLOSEST AREA TO ACHIEVE OTHER PARKING WOULD BE ON WEEK STREET.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF ABOUT 10-12 EMPLOYEES WHO WILL ACTUALLY BE ON SITE THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY.
THE WAY THAT THE OPERATIONS WORK, THEY COME IN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AROUND 4:00 AM BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE DONUTS.
THEY ARE A FULL-SERVICE OPERATION.
THEY WILL NOT HAVE ANY TYPE OF DRIVE-THROUGH FACILITY.
ANY PARKING WOULD BE ON SITE AND THEY FEEL FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN COME IN AND EXIT AT, IN MOST INSTANCES, AROUND 4:00 AM, COMING IN AND LEAVING OUT AFTER 11:00 OR 12:00.
THEY FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT THEY NEED THE EXTRA PARKING SPACES ON THERE TO NOT ONLY TAKE CARE OF THEIR PATRONS, BUT ALSO OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT WILL BE WORKING THERE.
WE DID LOOK ALONG WEEK STREET, BECAUSE THAT WAS A SUGGESTION INITIALLY BY SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WHILE YOU DO HAVE THE OLD ACE HARDWARE PROPERTY, THEY DO HAVE NO TRESPASSING SIGNS THERE.
I ASSUME THAT AT SOME POINT, THAT'S GOING TO GET DEVELOPED, AND SO THAT PARKING WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE ANYWAY.
YOU'VE GOT THE CAMP THAT'S AT THE FAR END OF WEEK STREET, THAT OPERATES YEAR-ROUND.
THEY HAVE AFTER AFTER-SCHOOL IS AN AFTER-SCHOOL CAMP, AND THEY HAVE THEIR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING ALL YEAR ROUND.
WHEN YOU APPROACH WHERE THOSE BUILDINGS AND HOMES ARE, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF HOMES DOWN THERE.
THEY DO HAVE A RESIDENTS-ONLY PARKING AREA.
THE GLASS POINT SHOP ON FREEMAN DOES HAVE AT LEAST ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
THERE'S A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING BECAUSE IT'S NARROW STREETS.
I THINK THE PAVEMENT WITH RIGHT NOW ON WEEK STREET RIGHT NOW IS ONLY ABOUT 15, 16 FEET IN PAVEMENT.
YOU DO HAVE MORE RIGHT OF WAY, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN EXPANDED IN TERMS OF THE RIGHT OF WAY.
PARKING ALONG WEEK STREET REALLY JUST IS NOT A GREAT OPTION.
I JUST DROVE OVER THERE AGAIN TODAY.
I WAS OVER THERE THE OTHER NIGHT AND CAME BACK JUST TO TRY AND CHECK THAT.
FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE OF HAVING EMPLOYEES COMING ON SITE AT 4:00 AM, WE JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S MUCH SAFER FOR THEM TO BE ON SITE DURING WORKING HOURS AND TO SHARE THAT PARKING WITH PATRONS.
WE DID GET THE MESSAGE THAT EMPLOYEES AREN'T GUARANTEED PARKING SPACES, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE EMPLOYEES THERE AND THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITHIN THE SPACE.
WE ARE ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM THE MARTA STATION.
THIS IS A PART OF THE TRANSIT-ORIENTED AREA THAT HAS NOT DEVELOPED AS QUICKLY.
YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE DEVELOPMENT COME THIS DIRECTION, BUT IT'S NOT THERE YET.
WE FEEL LIKE, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO ADJACENT ONE STREET PARKING, THAT THIS REQUEST IS A REASONABLE ONE.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT, WE DID HEAR FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THERE WAS CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE OUTDOOR BATHROOMS. IT'S A HOLDOVER FROM WHAT CAFE RACER DOES IN THE ATHENS AREA.
THEY DO HAVE ON THE BACK SIDE, WHERE IS GRADE OUT IS THE AREA WHERE THEY HAVE A LOT OF THEIR OUTDOOR SEATING AREA, AND THEY'RE VERY COMMITTED TO THAT OUTDOOR SEATING AREATHOSE BATHROOMS WERE OUT THERE TO SERVICE THEM, BUT WE ALSO AGREED TO HAVE AN INTERIOR PRIMARY BATHROOM THAT WOULD BE FOR THE PATRONS WHO ARE INSIDE.
THE WAY THAT THE RESTAURANT IS SET UP, AND WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
>> THESE ARE THE ELEVATIONS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING,
[01:10:03]
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S A PATIO COMPONENT OF IT.IT ALMOST MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE OUTSIDE, BUT YOU'RE NOT REALLY OUTSIDE.
IT IS ENCLOSED HEATED FLOOR AREA, BUT IT'S VERY OPEN WITH ALL THE WINDOWS, AND GIVES A VERY NICE EFFECT BY HAVING THAT OPENNESS OF THE SPACE.
AGAIN, WE WOULD HAVE A PRIMARY BATHROOM ON THE INSIDE.
BUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BUILDING STRUCTURE ITSELF, AS CASEY INDICATED, WE ARE GOING FROM A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT HEIGHT LEVELS.
NUMBER 1, IN THAT ZONING, IT DOES REQUIRE A 24 FOOT HEIGHT MINIMUM, AND WHICH WAS, I THINK, REALLY INTENDED SO THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A MIXED USE BUILDING OF MORE THAN ONE USE ON THE BUILDING.
THIS WILL BE A SINGLE USE BUILDING ON A VERY SMALL PARCEL.
WE DON'T EVEN THINK THAT IF YOU HAD AND WE DID LOOK AT HAVING SOMETHING ABOVE, BUT IT REALLY DID NOT BEAR OUT TO HAVE THAT WITH THE RESTAURANT, AND THEN HAVE SOMETHING ON TOP OF THAT FROM THERE BECAUSE THE SITE IS JUST SO COMPACT AND SMALL.
OUR MAIN BUILDING, WHAT I WOULD CALL THE MAIN BUILDING, IS UP TO 20 FEET IN HEIGHT AND THEN THE PARAPET ABOVE IT, WOULD TECHNICALLY GET YOU TO 24, BUT THAT DOES NOT COUNT IN THE CALCULATION.
THEN WE HAVE THE CANTERED ROOF OVER THE PATIO, AND IT DOES DROP 17-15 FEET, AND IT HAS THAT LITTLE SLANT.
WE THINK THAT THAT IS AESTHETICALLY, MUCH MORE PLEASING, THEN WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
I THINK IT IS. THEN THIS. NO. ONE MORE.
THEN THAT. WE LOOK AT THAT AND IT JUST LOOKS VERY BOXY.
IT FEELS VERY BOXY, DOESN'T HAVE THE AESTHETIC FEEL THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AND INVITING.
IT HAS THAT 24 FOOT HIGH CEILING, WHICH QUITE HONESTLY, IF YOU'RE PROBABLY SITTING INSIDE AND LOOKING UP, YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IS THE CEILING SO HIGH.
[LAUGHTER] BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THE FIRST DRAWINGS ARE MUCH MORE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, AND THANKFULLY, BOTH THE DDA AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BOTH AGREED WITH US WITH REGARDS TO THAT.
THE REAL ISSUE WAS MORE AROUND THE PARKING AND WHETHER OR NOT IT MADE SENSE TO HAVE THE INCREASE IN PARKING THAT WE ARE PROPOSING, AND AGAIN, FOR THE REASONS I'VE ALREADY SET FORTH, WE BELIEVE THAT THE PARKING INCREASE IS VERY NECESSARY, PARTICULARLY AGAIN FOR THE REASONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED.
I DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE WITH ME FROM CAFE RACER.
I'M SURE HE IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET UP IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BRAD GALLAND.
I LIVE AT 530 WEST MAIN STREET IN CARTERSVILLE, GEORGIA.
MICHELLE TOUCHED ON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WAS OVERLY RELEVANT HERE.
I'LL ADD TO PROBABLY PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT CAFE RACER, WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE CAME FROM.
CAFE RACER HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS, STARTED BY A GENTLEMAN NAMED CHRIS HART, WHO IS STILL A YOUNGER GUY, AT LEAST I CAN CALL HIM THAT.
IN CHRIS'S WORDS, HE HAD BEEN WORKING RESTAURANTS, BARS IN THE EVENINGS IN ATHENS, AND DECIDED TO TAKE THAT AND TRADE THAT FOR EARLY MORNINGS AND SERVING COFFEE BISCUITS AND DOUGHNUTS.
CHRIS LITERALLY LEASED A PIECE OF PROPERTY 20 MINUTES EAST OF ATHENS, AND FOR THOSE THAT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ATHENS, THERE'S LITERALLY NOTHING, 20 MINUTES EAST OF ATHENS.
HE PUT A SINGLE WIDE TRAILER DOWN, EFFECTIVELY OPERATING AS A FOOD TRUCK AND SOLD BISCUITS, DOUGHNUTS, AND COFFEE UNTIL THEY HAD NO BISCUITS, DOUGHNUTS, AND COFFEE TO SELL.
DID THAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND REALLY JUST BUILT A VERY LOYAL FOLLOWING FROM THE PATRONS IN ATHENS.
THAT LED TO THE OPENING OF THE FIRST GROUND UP LOCATION, WHICH IS ATHENS, IT'S OVER THE ALP SHOPPING CENTER, ALPS AND BROAD STREET AREA.
THAT LOCATION HAS BEEN OPEN FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW, AND WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE.
I USE THAT VERY LOOSELY BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE OPEN AND OPERATING.
THE SECOND ONE, WE OUGHT TO BE GETTING A CO ON ANY WEEK NOW, SO WE'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE, BUT IT'S JUST ON THE EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN ATHENS.
NUMBER 3, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, IS GOING TO BE DOWN IN ALBERT, ALABAMA, AND WE FULLY INTEND THAT IF THINGS GO, HOW WE HOPE THEY GO, THIS WILL BE NUMBER 4.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO HOME FOR US, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BEING PART OF DECATUR AND HONESTLY JUST GROWING OUR PRESENCE IN METRO ATLANTA.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CAFE RACER, MICHELLE TOUCHED ON.
[01:15:01]
WE STARTED OUT AS BREAKFAST DOUGHNUTS, BISCUITS.OUR MENU AT OUR SECOND LOCATION AND EVERYTHING SUBSEQUENTLY AFTER THAT WILL BE A FULL BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER MENU.
WE INTEND TO HAVE BAR SERVICE, SO BEER WINE AND SPIRITS.
MICHELLE MENTIONED THAT WE OPEN OR AT LEAST WE HAVE STAFF ON SITE AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING.
WE HAVE STAFF ON SITE AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING BECAUSE THEY ARE MAKING FOOD.
THEY ARE MAKING BISCUITS, DOUGHNUTS, PREPARING FOR THE DAY.
CAFE RACER, IF NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE GET ANY THOUGHTS OF MCDONALD'S, BURGER KING, CHICK-FIL-A OUT OF YOUR BRAIN.
WE ARE A FOODIES PARADISE, AS MY WAISTBAND CAN ATTEST.
[LAUGHTER] IT IS INDULGENT FOOD.
IT'S VERY GOOD FOOD, AND IT IS A FOOD LOVERS PARADISE.
THAT'S WHAT CHRIS, OUR FOUNDER AND HIS TEAM WANT TO DO IS MAKE GOOD FOOD AND OFFER IT UP TO THE MASSES.
IMPORTANTLY, FOR ME PERSONALLY, WE AGAIN, AS MICHELLE MENTIONED, WE HAVE 10-12 EMPLOYEES ON SITE AT ALL TIME, SO WE'LL HIRE PROBABLY CLOSE TO 40 OR 50 PEOPLE FOR THIS LOCATION.
WHAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IS WE OFFER A VERY LIVABLE WAGE.
AT AN ABSOLUTE BARE MINIMUM OUR EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO MAKE $18-20 AN HOUR AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR INSURANCE.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET THE RIGHT EMPLOYEES THERE, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE PASSION TO MAKE THE FOOD AND NOT JUST "STEREOTYPICAL FAST FOOD WORKERS" SO I THINK THAT REALLY TOUCHES ON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.
>> YES. THANK YOU. PLANNING COMMISSION BROUGHT UP ENSURING THAT WE HAD ENOUGH PARKING.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DECATUR WE WOULD LOVE PEOPLE TO SHOW UP BY WAY OF FOOT, WHEELS, HOWEVER THEY WANT TO GET HERE, WE'D LOVE FOR THEM TO BE HERE.
PLANNING COMMISSION INDICATED, WELL, I THINK WE'RE SHOWING TWO PARKING SPACES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WAS REQUIRED BY GOD.
WE FULLY INTEND TO HAVE AS MANY PARKING SPACES FOR BIKES, EXCUSE ME, AS REALLY AS THE PUBLIC DEMAND.
IF WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FOLKS THAT ARE RIDING THEIR BIKES FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR RIDING UP FROM OUR SCOTER OUT OF DOWNTOWN DECATUR, WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO CATER TO THAT.
AS MICHELLE MENTIONED, THE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT, AND BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHO WE ARE.
THERE'S A REASON THAT OUR ENCLOSED PATIO, IF YOU WILL, LOOKS LIKE IT LOOKS.
WE TRULY WANT TO BRING THE OUTSIDE IN AND JUST HAVE THAT OVERALL FEELING.
OUR SECOND LOCATION, WHICH WE'RE CLOSE TO CO-ING ON IN ATHENS IS ALONG THE FIREFLY TRAIL.
THAT IS THE ATHENS EQUIVALENT OF THE BELT LINE.
WE BUILT THERE, WE BOUGHT THAT PROPERTY THERE BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BE PART OF THAT TRAIL.
YES, WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH REGARDS TO BICYCLE PARKING AND OTHERWISE.
>> QUESTIONS. WE MAY ASK COME UP LATER.
WE WILL OPEN IT UP NOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM ANGELA THREADGILL.
I SERVE AS THE CITY'S ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I ALSO PLAY THE ROLE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND REPRESENT THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.
THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY EXISTS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY'S COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS BY SUPPORTING PROJECTS THAT SEEK TO PROMOTE TRADE, COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, AND EMPLOYMENT.
THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WAS BEFORE THE DDA ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 8TH, AND THIS GROUP PRESENTED THE PLANS OF CAFE RACER, AND THE DDA DID PASS A RESOLUTION OF CONDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS THE REQUESTED SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS.
THE TWO CONDITIONS THAT THEY HAD ASKED FOR INCLUSION INTO ANY ORDINANCES, WAS THAT ANY APPROVALS FOR THE PROJECT SHALL BE BASED ON PLANS SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THOSE PRESENTED PER THE APPLICATION, THE ONES THAT ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
IF THE DECISION OF THIS BODY IS TO APPROVE THOSE SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS, AND THE APPLICANT PROCEEDS THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THESE PLANS BE USED AND MAKE SURE THAT IT MOVES FORWARD AS WE SEE IT TONIGHT.
THEY NOTED THAT THE PLACEMENT AND ORIENTATION OF THE BUILDING,
[01:20:01]
FRONTING ON THE CORNER OF EAST COLLEGE AND COMMERCE TRULY ACTIVATES EAST COLLEGE.THAT CORNER REALLY ANCHORS IT.
THEY DISCUSSED THE ARCHITECTURE.
AS YOU SAW EARLIER, MS. BATTLE HAD SHOWN YOU THE ALTERNATIVE.
THEY DID MENTION HOW BOXY THAT LOOKS AND THAT HAVING A CANTED ROOF ADDED SOME ARCHITECTURAL FLAVOR AND AGAIN, ANCHORED THAT CORNER.
THEY ALSO NOTED THAT THE PARKING IS PLACED BEHIND THE BUILDING.
AGAIN, AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SITE PLANNING, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO CONTINUE SEEING IN THE FINAL APPROVED PLANS.
THAT THEY ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE ARE TWO CURB CUTS FOR THE CORNER LOT TO SUPPORT CIRCULATION OF THE VEHICLES FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS.
THEY DID NOTICE THAT IT'S A RIGHT IN RIGHT OUT TURN PATTERN ALONG EAST COLLEGE.
AGAIN, JUST AVOIDING THOSE LEFT TURNS, AND THAT CERTAINLY SUPPORTS SOME OF THE CONCEPTUAL PLANS THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM GDOT THAT IS ENHANCING SOME OF THE ROADWAY THERE, ESSENTIALLY A ROAD DIET FOR THAT PARTICULAR SECTION OF EAST COLLEGE.
THEN THE SECOND THING THAT THE DDA HAD ASKED WAS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION CONSIDER A CONDITION TO REQUIRE THAT THE BATHROOMS BE ACCESSIBLE FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE RESTAURANT RATHER THAN THE EXTERIOR.
THEY NOTED THAT THERE IS NO ZONING OR BUILDING CODES THAT WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO HAVE INTERIOR ACCESSIBLE BATHROOMS. HOWEVER, THEY CITED SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF USE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
BUT THOSE ARE THEIR DISCUSSIONS PRIMARILY ON AUGUST 8TH.
I APPRECIATE AND IF I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW FROM THE DDA MEETING. THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS FOR ITERATION? BEING NONE, WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC THAT IS JOINING US ONLINE AS WE LOOK AT THIS RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THIS ONE ITEM, IF YOU WILL RAISE YOUR HAND, YOUR VIRTUAL HAND, WE WILL BE HAPPY TO UNMUTE YOU AND LET YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
SEE NONE, WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION, AND WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION AMONGST THE COMMISSIONERS.
>> MY FIRST THOUGHT WENT BACK TO THE INITIAL, WHICH WAS A BIG BOXY BUILDING, AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU PUT SOME ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES IN, AND MS. THREADGILL COMMENTS THAT IT WILL ACTIVATE THAT CORNER.
I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF, I GUESS, THE BIGGER VISION OF THAT CORNER ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THERE.
WE KNOW THAT DEVELOPMENT WAS COMING IN EAST DECATUR STATION.
WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IT FOR 15 YEARS AND HAVE THINGS IN MOTION.
I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE NOW TAKEN ANOTHER CAR LOT AND MADE IT SOMETHING THAT WE ALL WILL HOPEFULLY ENJOY.
I HEAR YOU WITH THE BATHROOMS, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU REALIZED THAT WE REALLY NEED ACCESS FROM THE INSIDE.
I MEAN, KNOWING THAT CORRIDOR AND KNOWING THE PEOPLE THAT FREQUENT THAT CORRIDOR, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE SURPRISED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THAT REST ROOM OUTSIDE.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING ONE BATHROOM STILL OUTSIDE, BUT IT WOULD HAVE A LOCK AND BECAUSE WE DO HAVE STAFF THERE BETWEEN 4:00 AM AND 12:00 ROUGHLY, THERE'S ONLY A FEW HOURS THAT WOULDN'T AND IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE LOCKED AND MAINTAINED, BUT THE PRIMARY, THEY ASKED IF THE PRIMARY BATHROOM WOULD BE FROM THE INTERIOR AND WE SAID THAT WAS NOT A PROBLEM.
THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THE INTERIOR LAYOUT TO ACHIEVE THAT.
>> WHAT I APPRECIATE IS Y'ALL'S ATTENTION TO HEAR WHAT YOU WERE ASKED AND TO REALLY MODIFY BASED ON THAT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS DOESN'T HAPPEN.
PEOPLE GET SET WITH WHAT THEY WANT AND NOT WHAT THE COMMUNITIES TELL THEM.
>> BRAD'S BEEN VERY FLEXIBLE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL OF THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS LIKE THE STREETSCAPES, THE WIDTH OF THE SIDEWALK AND ALL OF THAT WILL HAVE TO CONFORM TO OUR STANDARDS THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO GET THERE ON FOOT.
AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND DESPERATELY WOULD LIKE A COFFEE SHOP PUT BY.
[01:25:01]
[LAUGHTER]>> WHAT ABOUT BISCUITS AND ANOTHER STUFF TOO.
>> EXACTLY. I DO LIKE THE ARCHITECTURE.
THAT IT HAS SOME VARIATION AND THAT IT WOULD THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR IS ALSO LIKE A SINGLE USE BUILDING.
IT IS A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WOULD BE HARD TO PUT A MULTI-STOREY STRUCTURE THERE.
AGAIN, ALSO APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS TO GO BACK AND TAKE THE FEEDBACK.
WE HAD SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE PARKING.
I DO UNDERSTAND MOST OF OUR AREAS THAT HAVE OTHER ACCESS TO DIFFERENT WAYS TO PARK AND CERTAINLY COLLEGE AVENUE AND COMMERCE DON'T ALLOW FOR.
SOMEBODY MENTIONED THAT PARKING ACROSS THE STREET.
>> YEAH, THEY SAY PARK AT THE TEXACO.
>> YEAH, AND SOME OTHER PLACES. PROBABLY NOT A GOOD ACCESS.
>> SAFE WAY TO GET ACROSS COLLEGE AVENUE.
ARE THERE OTHER INPUT, COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.
>> I GUESS I'M STRUGGLING WITH THIS FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
PART OF IT IS, WE FIRST OF ALL, SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL BUSINESS.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.
I APPRECIATE YOU, HEY FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.
BUT TO ME, WE WENT AND WE RESERVED EAST DECATUR STATION WITH A VISION IN WHAT IT SHOULD BE.
WHAT WE'RE APPROVING HERE IS EXCEPTION TO OUR REQUIREMENTS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF EAST DECATUR STATION, AND WE'RE ALLOWING THE EXTRA PARKING, WE'RE ALLOWING THE BUILDING.
THOSE BEST RIGHT PERPETUITY, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS AND THIS WOULD BE VERY EXCEPT FROM NO FLECTION YOUR BUSINESS, BUT WE'RE SAYING, OKAY, ON THIS CORNER, WHICH IS DEVELOPED IN A PROMINENT CORNER, I DO THINK IS GREAT IF THE BUILDING IS ON THE STREET WHERE IT SHOULD BE THAT WE'RE LARGELY ADOPTING A SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT.
PART OF IT IS DRIVEN AND I WAS AT THE DJ BING PRESENTATION THERE.
WHAT ARE THE PARKING ALTERNATIVES FOR THIS? ONE THING THAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH US AS A CITY AND PUTTING THIS DEVELOPMENT HERE, I KNOW WE DON'T OWN THE LAND, ANY LAND TO DO THIS, BUT IT SEEMS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT A SPECIFIC TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT TO TAKE PLACE WITH THE SKATER STATION, AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF SOME SINGLE RELATIVELY ISOLATED LOTS LIKE THIS ONE.
WHAT IS THAT FINAL PARKING? WHAT'S THE PARKING SOLUTION? SHOULD WE BE MAKING THAT INVESTMENT OURSELVES AND LIKE THE STORM WATER ALL UNDERNEATH ESTER, SELLING, IF YOU WILL, PARKING SPACES TO DEVELOPERS WHO NEED THE PARKING SPACES.
THAT'S A SEPARATE THING THAT'S NOT BEFORE TODAY, BUT I DID WANT TO GET THAT OUT OF MY HEAD OUT THERE IS THAT THERE STILL IS A LOT OF ENVELOPED SPACE IN THE SKATER STATION.
THERE STILL ARE INDIVIDUAL BLOCKS LIKE THIS.
WE ARE WE GOING TO SEE THAT STRESS.
MUCH LIKE YOU AND WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PARKING DOWNTOWN AND PARKING HERE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE US.
I DO THINK THAT EDA ACTUALLY WOULD BE A GOOD VENUE FOR DOING SO FOR BEING CREATED WITH SOME OF OUR PARKING SOLUTIONS.
I DO HAVE TROUBLE BECAUSE THIS IN GENERAL IS SO INCONSISTENT AND THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION ON THE STORES, NOT A REFLECTION ON THE OWNER.
THAT'S A REFLECTION OF WHAT THE DIVISION WAS FOR 1E SKATER STATION.
I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT OUT THERE.
I'M GOING TO LET YOU SAY TO HELP ME FOR ALL THAT.
>> I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, THE PROPERTY ITSELF, AGAIN, IS AN ODDLY SHAPED SMALL PARCEL THAT WAS USED, AS YOU KNOW, FOR AUTO SALES, VERY AUTOCENTRIC, IN THE SENSE OF ALL THE IMPERVIOUS SURFACE THAT'S THERE.
NOW WE WILL BE REDUCING SOME OF THAT.
I THINK HAVING THE BUILDING, AS HAS ALREADY BEEN INDICATED AT THE CORNER THEREBY ACTIVATING THAT CORNER.
WE'RE NOT I THINK FROM A HEIGHT PERSPECTIVE.
WE ARE STILL STAYING IN ALIGNMENT.
[01:30:03]
THE CANTERED ROOF AND THE OTHER THINGS, AGAIN, ARE SOMETHING TO BREAK UP THE MASSING OF THAT BUILDING AS OPPOSED TO JUST HAVING THIS BIG BLOB SITTING AT THE CORNER OF THE SITE.BUT EVERY PARCEL DOESN'T LEND ITSELF TO A MIXED USE CONCEPT.
I THINK WE CAN ALL SAY THAT THERE'S SOME PARCELS THAT ARE JUST TOO SMALL FOR THAT MOMENT, AND WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE AT THAT CORNER ON THAT SMALL PARCEL WHEN YOU ARE BUTTED BY OTHER SMALLER BUILDINGS, THE GLASS BALLING SHOP RIGHT BEHIND THEM.
I WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL DOWN FREEMAN YESTERDAY.
THEY NESTLED RIGHT BEHIND THERE.
THEY'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL PARKING OPTIONS FOR THEMSELVES, AND FREEMAN STREET REALLY BECOMES ANOTHER SPACE WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR PATRONS PARK AND THEN THEY'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE SPACE AROUND THE CORNER.
WHEN I WENT AROUND ON WEEK STREET, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES OVER THERE IS THAT YOU DO HAVE A NUMBER OF CURVE CUTS COMING OFF ONTO WEEK STREET, WHICH ALSO CUTS UP HOW MUCH PARKING CAN EVEN OCCUR DOWN THERE, AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THAT STREET.
TO SAY, HEY, I'M GOING TO PUT ALL THE PARKING FROM HIS ESTABLISHMENT, ANY OVERFLOW BECAUSE THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, IT'S LIKE, I HAVE MY NEPHEW LIVES RIGHT UP THE STREET FROM HERE, AND WHEN I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROJECT, THEY WERE LIKE, OH, I'M SO EXCITED.
WE DON'T HAVE A COFFEE SHOP RIGHT IN THIS IMMEDIATE AREA.
THEY WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS LIKE, ARE YOU GOING TO WALK DOWN OR LIKE, THEY'RE GOING TO WALK, IT'S TOO FAR.
THEY LIVE IN THE TOWN HOMES RIGHT UP ACROSS FROM THE CHURCH UP THERE.
THEY'RE LIKE, THAT'S A BIT FAR FROM THE WALK, AND ONE OF GIRLFRIEND'S POSITION WAS, WELL, I'LL BE GOING THERE ON MY WAY TO WORK.
WELL, THEY DON'T HAVE A DRIVE THROUGH.
IF THEY HAD A DRIVE THROUGH, MAYBE THIS WOULD BE A DIFFERENT SCENARIO, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A DRIVE THROUGH.
THAT'S WHAT THEY TYPICALLY HAVE DONE.
BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO COME IN, GRAB THEIR COFFEE, AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO PARK? THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TIME IN THE MORNING TO BE SEARCHING AROUND FOR A PARKING SPACE.
THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO COME IN, PARK, GO IN, GRAB THEIR COFFEE AND THEIR DONUT AND THEIR BISCUIT AND COME ON BACK OUT AND GET IN THE CAR AND KEEP IT MOVING.
WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE OR TWO HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES AND THEN HAVE ADDITIONAL PARKING.
IF WE TOOK AWAY THAT PARKING THAT WE ARE PROPOSING, THE 12 EMPLOYEES WOULD BE TAKING UP MORE THAN HALF OF THE PARKING, IT'S 19 PARKING SPACES.
WE WOULD BE LEFT WITH, SEVEN PARKING SPACES.
THAT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A REASONABLE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES WHEN YOU'VE GOT WHAT WE BELIEVE IS GOING TO BE A HEAVY FLOW OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THIS SPACE THAT WANT TO HAVE THEIR COFFEE, AND THEIR HOPE IS TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A VERY COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL IN FLAVOR FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING, ESTABLISHING THIS CORNER.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO JUST CONSIDER THE FACT THAT IF YOU WERE GOING TO LOOK AT SOMETHING ON THIS CORNER, IF IT'S NOT THIS, THEN WHAT WOULD FIT ON THIS SMALLER PARCEL? HOW WOULD EVEN THOSE PEOPLE, IF YOU PUT IT LIKE A TWO STORY BUILDING WITH SOME RETAIL OR RESIDENTIAL ABOVE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE EVEN MORE PARKING CHALLENGES ON THAT SITE IF PEOPLE HAVE COMPANY.
I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ALL, ON THE TOWN HOMES, YOU HAVE NO PARKING IN THEIR REAR ENTRY.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN HAVING TO CROSS OVER COLUMBIA TO GO TO THE CHURCH ON THE OTHER SIDE TO GET TO PARKING.
MY NEPHEW HAVE TO COME AND GET ME FROM THE PARKING LOT.
I THINK OF OTHERS, NOT JUST YOUNG FOLKS WHO WANT TO COME INTO THE SPACE, BUT OLDER FOLKS WHO MAY WANT TO COME INTO THE SPACE, AND WANT TO HAVE A PLACE TO PARK AND NOT PARK UP AND NOT BE AFRAID TO PARK UP AROUND THE CORNER ON WEEK STREET AND MAKE THAT TRUCK.
I ASK YOU TO GIVE A LITTLE BALANCE TO THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE THERE.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO WALK.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BIKE.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO NEED TO PARK, INCLUDING BOTH THE EMPLOYEES AND THE PEOPLE WHO THE RESTAURANT IS BEING DESIGNED FOR.
THAT'S MY PLEA. IT MIGHT NOT CHANGE YOUR MIND, BUT THAT'S A LEAD.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. I HAVE A QUESTION.
I THINK FOR STAFF. WE ACTUALLY HAD A CONVERSATION LAST WEEK ABOUT ANTICIPATING CHANGES THAT ARE COMING.
HAVE YOU HEARD THAT ACTUALLY PART OF YOUR REFERENCE IN TERMS OF COLLEGE AVENUE? THERE'S A CHANCE ALSO THAT COMMERCE DRIVE, DID WE LOOK AT TAKING AND LOOKING OUT OF COMMERCE DRIVE AND PUTTING ON STREET PARKING? DID WE EVEN CONSIDER THAT AS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION?
>> I THINK IF WE DID THAT, WE WOULD LOSE FRONTAGE BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO.
>> TAKE A LANE? THAT'S BEYOND MY ABILITY RIGHT THERE.
I CAN'T TAKE A LANE OUT OF ANYTHING.
>> IT'S FOR STAFF IT'S NOT FOR YOU.
[01:35:05]
>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT SECTION IS STILL G-DOT FOR THE SECTION THAT IS COMMERCE DRIVE.
>> G-DOT OWNS COMMERCE JUST DOWN WHERE IT MEETS COLUMBIA?
>> TO WHERE IT MEETS SOUTH COLUMBIA. YES. WE CAN VERIFY THAT, BUT THAT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING.
WHEN WE WERE DEVELOPING THE OVERALL MASTER PLAN FOR THIS PARTICULAR MIXED USE DISTRICT WE FOCUSED MORE ON WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH EAST COLLEGE AND NOT SO MUCH WITH COMMERCE.
>> I KNOW WE ALSO STATE STREETS, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT COMMERCE WHERE IT IS A STATE STREET.
IF WE COULD CONFIRM THAT, I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW BECAUSE I JUST MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE STATE TO CONTINUES FOR 100 YARDS OR SO SOUTH OF COMMERCE [INAUDIBLE]
>> COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY, I WANTED TO JUST COMMENT ON YOUR EARLIER QUESTION ABOUT I ALMOST SEE THIS, I UNDERSTAND THE SUBURBAN DESIGN, BUT WE ALSO HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD NODES THAT HAVE ONE STORY BUILDINGS AND THAT HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL, AND I'M WONDERING AS WE COME DOWN COLLEGE TOWARDS THIS CORNER FROM THE MIXED USE, MAYBE THERE'S A PLACE FOR EVEN STEPPING DOWN TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NODE WITH SMALLER BUILDINGS, AND MAYBE WE DIDN'T REALLY NECESSARILY THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN WE WERE DOING THE TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT EXCUSE DISTRICT, BUT THAT IT IS IN KEEPING WITH SOME OF THE OTHER LONG BUSINESSES THAT ARE RIGHT IN THAT AREA.
THAT'S HOW I'M THINKING ABOUT IT IS THAT IS THERE A PLACE FOR SMALLEST NEIGHBORHOOD NODES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE FOR WALKING, BIKING, DRIVING, IF YOU NEED TO, BUT TO BE CONSIDERED AS A PART OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
THAT WAS JUST MY THOUGHT AND THINKING ABOUT BECAUSE WE HAVE BUSINESS DISTRICTS WHERE THAT IS THE TYPICAL STRUCTURE. COULD YOU PLEASE.
>> SURE, IF I CAN FORM THAT I FEEL LIKE YOU SAID SO I WAS TRYING TO GET TO THAT IT'S A PLUG IN OF A LARGER ECOSYSTEM.
WHAT I SEE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A SOFTER CORNER THERE THAT MATCHES UP WITH THE SURROUNDINGS.
BUT I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, A QUICK COMMENT AND A CORRECTION MAYBE TO THE PLANNING MINUTES, BUT I SAW A REFERENCE IN THE PLANNING DISCUSSION ABOUT THANKS FOR PULLING THIS TO THE CORNER.
WAS IT CITED QUITE DIFFERENTLY AND THEN THERE WAS A CHANGE?
>> NO. IT WAS ALWAYS AT THE CORNER.
>> ALL RIGHT. LET ME PROBABLY SPEAK TO THAT.
WE WORKED WITH PLANNING AND HAD MORE THAN A FEW VARIATIONS.
HONESTLY FOR THE LIFE OF MAN, I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE WE STARTED, BUT WORKED WITH PLANNING.
I SAID, HEY, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU GUYS COULD PULL THIS A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE CORNER.
WE HAD IT ROTATED ONE DIRECTION THAT WAS A LITTLE MORE IN KEEPING WITH MAXIMIZING THE OUTDOOR SEATING AREA. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US.
WE ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO TURN IT WITH THE SLOPED PATIO OR A C PATIO, OF THE LOCATIONS PATIO.
THE SLOPED ROOF FACING THE INTERSECTION, QUITE HONESTLY BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S A SOMEWHAT STRIKING BUILDING, BUT ALSO JUST A LITTLE MORE WELCOMING THAN LOOKING AT THE BACK OF THE BOX THAT IS NOT AS WELCOMING.
>> THAT'S HELPFUL. HAD A FEW ITERATIONS.
>> THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. REGARDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL, I SAY ENVIRONMENTAL, IT WAS AN AUTO-REGULATION VERY EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND COULD THAT BE [OVERLAPPING] YOU ACTUALLY DID WHICH YOU WANT TO DO, IS THAT?
>> YES, MA'AM. AGAIN, ALL TRANSPARENCY, WE ARE UNDER CONTRACT.
WE'VE DONE QUITE A BIT OF ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING SO FAR.
BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW AND I'VE GOT TO TREAD LIGHTLY HERE, SO I DON'T GET MYSELF IN TROUBLE OR ANYBODY ELSE.
WE DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S INSURMOUNTABLE THAT WE CANNOT DEVELOP IT.
QUITE FRANKLY, THE FACT THAT IT WAS A OLD SERVICE STATION BEFORE, IT WAS A CAR LOT.
MY HISTORY IS FAIRLY LONG WITH WORKING IN CONVENIENCE STORES.
THAT SCARED THE JESUS OUT OF ME QUITE FRANKLY,
[01:40:03]
ESPECIALLY A SURFACE STATION FROM 1940, 1950.YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND.
[LAUGHTER] BUT WE FEEL MORE THAN VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO ALTHOUGH IT'S GOING TO INVOLVE REMOVING SOME DIRT.
>> I WANT TO GET FILLED BY COFFEE AND GO ON.
[LAUGHTER] I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.
A COMMENT, THIS IS A BIKE CORRIDOR.
AS A CYCLIST, I'M OVER THERE A LOT.
THEY GO BACK AND FORTH ALL DAY TO STONE MOUNTAIN.
I'M GUESSING NO LESS. I'M THINKING OF MAYBE UP TO 1,000 CYCLISTS GO UP AND DOWN A WEEK.
THE MORE YOU CONSIDER HOW THIS SERVES AN AVID CYCLING COMMUNITY, THAT THIS IS A MAIN ARTERY FOR THEM FOR GROUP RIDES AND GOING OUT AND BACK TO STONE MOUNTAIN.
CAN'T OVER EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT BEING BIKE FRIENDLY WILL BE AND WALK FRIENDLY BECAUSE THAT IS A GROWING MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE WANT PEOPLE TO WALK THAT.
THERE'S A MULTI USE PATH THAT WILL BE EVEN BETTER FOR KIDS AND ADULTS GOING DOWN TO THE SCHOOL RIGHT THERE.
DON'T UNDER ESTIMATE JUST HOW BIKE AND WALKER FRIENDLY THAT COULD BE.
>> IF I'VE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING AND PLANNING COMMISSION AND OBVIOUSLY, NOW, IT'S DECATUR IS A VERY VIABLE COMMUNITY, SO WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE YOU SET UP ADEQUATELY.
>> THANKS FOR ASSURING ME ON THAT. JUST A NOTE.
I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE MINUTES OF THE PLANNING.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE MOMENT, BUT IN THE MINUTES ON PAGE 9, THERE'S A REFERENCE TO A MOTION BY MR. BRANDER, AND IT ENDS WITH, "AND TO REDUCE THE BUILDING HEIGHT, A MOTION TO REDUCE THE BUILDING HEIGHT WAS MADE." I THINK IT SHOULD BE TO REDUCE THE BUILDING HEIGHT MINIMUM.
I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED THERE, AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A NOTABLE TYPO THAT WE COULD.
>> GREAT THEN. ON PAGE 9 IN ITALICS ON A MOTION BY MR. BRANDER, AND I THINK IT SHOULD SAY, AND TO REDUCE THE BUILDING HEIGHT MINIMUM WAS MADE.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO BRING SOMETHING BACK.
I THINK THE MAYOR TOUCHED ON IT.
THE UNFORTUNATE THING ABOUT EAST DECATUR STATION IS THERE'S A BUNCH OF PARCELS THAT ARE ALL INDIVIDUALLY OWNED AND ARE ALL SMALL, WEIRD PARCELS.
WE WERE NEVER GOING TO GET THE SCALE AND THE STEP DOWN THAT I THINK WE ALL THOUGHT.
THERE'S A BRILLIANT WAY TO EASE US INTO WHAT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF MASS DEVELOPMENT.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE BECAUSE I KNOW THE GOOD NEIGHBORS BEHIND THEM ARE THINKING, MAN, WE DON'T WANT SOMETHING THAT'S SO BIG THAT WE GET LOST BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A COOL SPACE AND SUCH A COOL THING FOR DECATUR TO HAVE.
AGAIN, BACK TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD NODE, WHAT BETTER WAY TO TRANSITION AS WE GO UP COLLEGE WHERE THE BUILDINGS GET INFINITELY TALLER AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S SUCH AN ODD PARCEL WITH ALL THE STREETS BISECTING IT.
I THINK IT WAS THE SITE WAS LIMITED TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE, WHAT ANYBODY WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP.
>> HOW IS THE, AND THIS IS THE VERY FIRST PATH, THE MAXIMUM PARKING DETERMINED THROUGH THE PARCEL?
>> THE MAXIMUM PARKING, IT'S BY USE.
FOR THE RESTAURANT USE, IT IS ONE SPACE FOR EVERY 2,000 SQUARE FEET.
THAT GETS YOU TO YOUR MAXIMUM CALCULATION.
>> GOING BACK TO MY EARLIER COMMENT, THEN WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE SMALL PARCELS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE DEVELOPED WHAT WE'RE PLANNING FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD NODE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADOPT THAT TERMINOLOGY.
IT SEEMS THAT EACH ONE OF THESE IS GOING TO BE HAVING A SIMILAR PARKING.
IT'S EITHER PUTTING OURSELVES IN A PIECEMEAL SITUATION WHERE OKAY, WE APPROVE THIS ONE, NEXT PERSON WANTS IT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO APPROVE IT? AGAIN, IT GOES TO MY OTHER COMMENT ABOUT HAVING A COMMUNAL PARKING SOLUTION TO THE STATION IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING.
[01:45:08]
>> I KNOW THAT TAKES SOME EFFORT AND I HOPE THAT IT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE EXISTING STREET GRID.
AGAIN, WHENEVER I SEE AN EXTRA WAY I SEE SOME OTHER USE FOR IT.
BUT THAT'S PART OF THE INTERNAL STAFF.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE HAPPENING. MAYBE NOT.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN [INAUDIBLE] OR ARE GRABBING THEM, AND I KNOW THAT THEY ALSO USE MULTIPLE NAMES FOR THEIR COMPANIES.
BUT THAT'S MY CONCERN, IS THAT, WE PROVE IT HERE, WE PROVE THAT THEY RECRUITED THERE.
WHAT'S THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE? DO WE NEED SOME A UNIVERSAL RESULT FOR THIS? IF NOT THAT BIT SPACE AND THE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED.
>> ARE THERE SIDE STREETS THAT ARE MORE POSSIBLE TO USE FOR ON STREET PARKING THAT DON'T EXIST? IN THIS PARTICULAR [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE ARE JUST LOOKING AT THE WORLD.
>> I THINK IT ALSO CHANGES AS YOU GO UP EAST DECATUR STATION TOO BECAUSE THE PARCELS ARE MORE RECTANGULAR, THEY'RE BIGGER.
A LOT OF THEM ALREADY HAD THEIR OWN INTERNAL PARKING.
ANYTIME YOU GET A SEMICIRCULAR FACING LOT THAT ABUTS TWO STREETS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL IT.
WHILE IT'S PART OF EAST DECATUR STATION, IT REALLY IS A UNIQUE ONE OFF.
I THINK WE CAN MAKE AN EXCEPTION WHERE AN EXCEPTION IS NEEDED AND SAY NO THE NEXT TIME BECAUSE EACH SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH SAYING THIS WAS A UNIQUE SITUATION AND THIS IS WHY WE CHOSE TO GO THIS ROUTE BECAUSE IT'S NOT EXPECTED THAT THE NEXT PERSON IS GOING TO HAVE A UNIQUE SITUATION.
MAYBE THEY DO, BUT STILL WE STILL HAVE THE POWER TO SAY NO.
>> YOU HAVE TO BE NO RETAILER.
>> I DO NO RETAIL [LAUGHTER] AND THEY'RE ALL UNIQUE SITUATIONS.
>> LOOK AT HER MAP. I'M NOT GETTING ANY MOUSE TO FILL IT BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, IT MAY BE ONE OF THOSE THAT WE JUST AS THIS DEVELOPS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AS WE CONTINUE DOWN HER, IN THIS CASE, MAYBE FILL IN TOWARDS THE MIDDLE, I'M NOT SURE.
>> I'LL JUST ADD. THE CHALLENGE IS BETWEEN COMMERCE AND UNIQUE STREET.
WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT A SIMILAR MAP, YOU CAN SEE IT LIKE THESE LITTLE PUZZLE PIECES.
THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE UNIQUE AND UNLESS SOMEONE COMES IN.
AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ONE OWNER FOR MULTIPLE OF THOSE PROPERTIES.
IN SOME CASES THERE ARE WHERE THERE ARE NOT.
WE MAY HAVE A SIMILAR QUANDARY BUT ONCE YOU MOVE EAST BEYOND BEAK STREET, THE LOTS CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY.
BUT AGAIN, DEPENDING ON OWNERSHIP OF THOSE PUZZLE PIECES BETWEEN COMMERCE AND WEEK STREET, THEN WE MAY BE FACED WITH.
BUT AGAIN, ALSO LOOKING AT THIS IS THE EDGE OF THAT ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S WHAT I HEAR, SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZING, I THINK WE CALLED IT THE SOFT CORNER.
AGAIN, IT'S A TRANSITION INTO A DEVELOPED OR DENSE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE SEATER STATION.
>> IT DOES LOOK LIKE PROCTOR OR ALL OF THOSE LOTS.
>> THAT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITY.
>> THE QUESTION FOR MS. REDGLL.
YOU MENTIONED THAT PDA ALSO ADDED THAT THE PLAN SHOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR.
I DON'T SEE THAT IN THE ORDINANCE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IS THAT CORRECT? IT WAS IN THE PART OR NOT?.
>> I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT'S IN THERE.
BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER ADDING.
>> OFF TO ADDING THAT TO THE ORDINANCE THAT WE WOULD ADOPT OR WOULD IT NEED TO BE IN THERE? IS THAT JUST THE ASSUMPTION THAT WHAT'S BROUGHT FORWARD AND WE'RE APPROVING WOULD BE WHAT WE SEE?
[01:50:07]
>> IN MY RULE BOOK, NEVER ASSUME.
[LAUGHTER] WE KNOW THAT THE APPLICANT IS REVISING SOME OF THEIR FLOOR PLAN AS IT RELATES TO THAT PRIMARY RESTROOM BEING INTERIOR ACCESSIBLE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO CONSIDER WHAT THE DDA HAS PUT FORWARD AS A POTENTIAL CONDITION THAT, AGAIN, READ IT AGAIN, BUT THAT APPROVED PLANS THAT ARE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY SIMILAR TO WHAT IS PRESENTED TO YOU TONIGHT OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
>> WOULD BE PRUDENT TO DO THAT? THE SECOND CONDITION.
>> YOU COULD READ THAT BECAUSE I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE THAT.
THE AGENDA BUT EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] RESOLUTION SUPPORT? DEFINITELY. HERE YOU START.
I THINK THE DEVELOPMENT SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR WAS PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION WOULD BE SUFFICIENT LANGUAGE TO DO THIS.
MS. REDGLL PROBABLY [OVERLAPPING]
PLANS APPROVED BY THE CITY SHALL BE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THOSE PRESENTED IN YOUR EXHIBITS, EXHIBIT A THROUGH C OR WHATEVER THE EXHIBITS ARE.
>> ONE QUICK QUESTION. WE TALKED ABOUT BATHROOMS AND EVERYBODY SAID YOU'RE AFRAID TO BE OUTDOOR OFFICE BATHROOMS. I DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, YOUR BATHROOM YOU'RE GOING TO OWN THEM, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT WHAT YOU'RE FEELING ABOUT BATHROOM.
>> SURE. THE WEST BROAD LOCATION THAT IS OPEN AND OPERATING FOR TWO YEARS NOW IN ATHENS AS I'LL CALL THEM OUTDOOR RESTROOMS, NOT QUITE TO THE DEGREE THAT THESE ARE THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY ON THE BACK.
THEY'RE MORE ON A VERY UNIQUE PIECE OF PROPERTY, GOING BACK TO THE COMPLEXITIES OF RETAIL REAL ESTATE.
THE LOCATION ON THE FIREFLY TRAIL.
THE RESTROOMS ARE VERY MUCH ON THE BACK OF THE BUILDING.
PART OF THAT IS THEY ARE A LITTLE MORE ADJACENT TO THIS I'LL CALL IT PATIO SEATING, BUT IT'S ALSO CONSIDERABLY MORE ADJACENT TO THE FIREFLY TRAIL.
SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO COME IN, USE A RESTROOM, BE ON THEIR WAY.
>> WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT. WE WE BUILT AT THAT LOCATION SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BE PART OF THAT FIREFLY TRAIL COMMUNITY.
>> IF WE GET 5% OF THEM THAT COME BY AND HAVE A HAMBURGER WITH US, FANTASTIC.
IF THEY WANT TO STOP BY, WASH THEIR HANDS, USE THE RESTROOM IN THEIR PARTICULAR ORDER, THEY'RE WELCOME TO DO THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN THE REST ROOMS EVER NIGHT AND WE'RE GOING TO LOCK THE DOORS.
>> [LAUGHTER] TO BE OUT THERE.
>> IF I I COULD SPEAK TO THE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR PLANS.
AS MS. BATTLE MENTIONED, WE ARE VERY MUCH STILL IN THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE INTERIOR LAYOUT IS GOING TO BE, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE INTERIOR LAYOUT WITHIN THESE PLANS.
I'D ASK THAT NOT NECESSARILY BE PART OF THIS BECAUSE THE BACK OF HOUSE KITCHEN, IT IS GOING TO CHANGE.
IT'S GOING TO CHANGE WITH THE RESTROOMS. THE SEATING, THE PAT AGAIN, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY PATIO, BUT THE CUSTOMER SEATING ON THE CORNER IS GOING TO REMAIN THE CUSTOMER SEATING ON THE CORNER.
WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE BUILDING COST, AND WE HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF GLASS ON THAT FACADE.
WE ARE GOING TO EVALUATE THAT.
IF YOU GUYS PASSED A RESOLUTION BASED ON ELEVATIONS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR, INCLUSIVE OF ALL THE GLASS.
I MAY HAVE TO COME BACK AND REVISIT YOU.
UNTIL WE GET INTO IT, I'M OKAY WITH THAT LANGUAGE.
AS WE MOVE ALONG INTO DESIGN, WE HAVE TO EVALUATE THE COST AND GOING BACK TO IT, WE ARE PAYING A MARKET COST FOR THE PROPERTY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CLEAN IT UP.
ALL THE THINGS. I WOULD NOT BE ADVOCATING
[01:55:04]
FOR EXTERIOR [OVERLAPPING] AND THE PLACEMENT. NOT YOUR INTERIOR.>> THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY, IF THE PROPOSED CONDITION SIMPLY INDICATED THAT THE FACADE DESIGN AND THE SITE PLAN WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR, THEN THAT GIVES THEM FLEXIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE INTERIOR.
CASEY HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
WE'VE GOT OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WHICH WE PLAN ON DOING.
>> ASK QUESTION, COLLEAGUES. DO WE WANT TO TELL THEM THEY HAVE BATHROOMS WASTING THEIR TIME?
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO.
>> ONE ON THE OUTSIDE [OVERLAPPING] BUT THE PRIMARY ONE WILL BE IN THE INTERIOR FOR.
>> BUT THAT WAS NOT WHAT YOU REALLY WANTED TO DO.
>> I ALSO THINK THE CUSTOMERS PROBABLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT AS WELL.
>> THEIR CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCE IS THE BATHROOM IS CLEAN.
WE WALKED OUT OF PLANNING COMMISSION WITH THE UNDERSTANDING.
AT LEAST MY UNDERSTANDING WAS PRIMARY REST ROOM ON THE INSIDE AND EXTERIOR ONE WAS OKAY.
THAT WAS NOT AN ISSUE WITH US.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> BASED ON LANGUAGE WITH SIMILAR AS REFERENCED BY THE DDA.
>> YOU'RE AMENDING THE ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF YOU TO ADD A SECOND CONDITION?
>> THE APPROVED DESIGN EXTERIOR [OVERLAPPING]
>> SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR [OVERLAPPING] TO WHAT'S PRESENTED.
>> I GOT THAT. THAT IS THE MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 0-25-Z-CC WITH THE SAME LANGUAGE WITH THE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT.
>> AS AMENDED. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT?
>> IS THERE OTHER DISCUSSION? THE ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONER GUENBY, VOTE.
>> THAT QUESTION ABOUT PARKING OPENED UP A LONGER TERM COMPOSITIONS.
>> I APOLOGIZE. [LAUGHTER] IT'S OKAY.
IT WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION. THANK YOU ALL.
>> WE WILL BE MEETING UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. GET IN THE MAYOR PATTI'S WAY.
[LAUGHTER] YOU CAN SEE IS HAVING TO LEAVE IN A HURRY.
WE HAVE ONE AGENDA ACTION ITEM,
[VI.A. Annexation Ordinance. Ordinance O-25-XX annexes the property at 146 Scott Boulevard.]
THE ANNEXATION ORDINANCE 0-25XX ANNEXES THE PROPERTY AT 146 SCOTT BOULEVARD.WE WILL OPEN THIS UP FOR ANY DISCUSSION IN THE ROOM, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO MAKE THE COMMENT ON THIS ONE AGENDA ACTION ITEM.
NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE THE COMMENTS.
SEEING NONE. WE WILL OPEN IT UP.
I BELIEVE WE ONLY HAVE STAFF THAT IS ONLINE RIGHT NOW, SO WE WILL NOT TAKE ANY ONLINE COMMENTS.
I WILL OPEN THIS UP FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE BODY, AND I DID WANT TO JUST MENTION ABOUT THE 100% ANNEXATION RULE.
WE DID FOLLOW THE LAW TO SEND NOTIFICATION TO THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY THEN, I BELIEVE HAS FIVE DAYS TO RESPOND OR 30 DAYS TOTAL, TWO DEADLINES.
WE DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM THE COUNTY AND WE GOT INFORMATION ABOUT THE FACILITIES ON THE PROPERTY.
>> AT A JUNE 16TH MEETING, THE CITY COMMISSION DID ACCEPT THIS APPLICATION FOR ANNEXATION.
THE ANNEXATION OF 146 SCOTT BOULEVARD.
THAT ESSENTIALLY TRIGGER ROUGHLY A 60 DAY LEGAL PROCESS.
AS THE MAYOR SAYS, THIS IS A 100% ANNEXATION PROCEDURE, WHICH MEANS ALL ONE OWNER SUPPORTS THE ANNEXATION IN THIS CASE.
THE APPLICATION DOES MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF THE STATE LAW REQUIRING THAT
[02:00:02]
ONE EIGHTH OF THE AGGREGATE EXTERNAL BOUNDARY BE CONTIGUOUS TO THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND AS THE MAYOR ALSO MENTIONED, THAT THERE'S REALLY A NOTIFICATION PROCESS THAT WAS TRIGGERED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE ANNEXATION APPLICATION, AND THAT INCLUDED NOTIFYING DECATUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THE DECATUR COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND AS WELL AS NOTIFY THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR.THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES WITH THE STATE ALL IN THE MOST WELL, TWO YEARS AGO, IN TERMS OF THE RESPONSE TIME.
WITHIN FIVE DAYS, THE COUNTY HAD TO GET BACK TO US ABOUT THE NUMBER ABOUT ANY FACILITIES.
STORM WATER AND WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES ON THE PROPERTY, GIS DEPARTMENT IS ALWAYS SUPER RESPONSIVE AT THE COUNTY, THEY IMMEDIATELY GOT BACK TO US THEN AND NOW THE COUNTY HAD 45 DAYS TO REGISTER IN OBJECTION AND WE'VE HEARD NOTHING FROM DECATUR COUNTY.
COULDN'T BE A SURPRISE CONSIDERING THE NATURE OF THE PROPERTY THAT OTHERWISE IS THIS LAND LOCKED VACANT LOT AND ATTACHED TO THE VENETIAN FOR PROPERTY.
THE COUNTY WAS AWARE NOTIFIED OF THE HEARING AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE DESIRE TO CHANGE THE ZONING AND THE LAND USE.
YOU HEARD THE PRESENTATION FROM THE PARTY'S REPRESENTATIVE EARLIER THIS EVENING.
AGAIN, FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD REQUEST IN TERMS OF THE ONE PROPERTY IS ALREADY IN THE CITY LIMITS, AND THE OTHER PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO THE THE DECATUR COUNTY.
ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO PROJECT ANNEXATION LAWS.
I DO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL AND THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE 0-25-XX THAT WOULD ANNEX PARCEL ID 152-440-4001, OTHERWISE NAME AS 146 SCOTT BOULEVARD.
HAVE YOU ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS?
>> COMMENT, I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THIS FACILITY HAS BEEN IN USE SINCE BEFORE WE HAD ZONING, LIKE THE 30S.
>> I WILL JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ABOUT, WE DO HAVE QUORUM, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE VOTES, AND WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE MAYOR PRO TEAM AS WE WERE LOOKING AT THE ZONING AND LAND USE CHANGES.
I WILL NOW CALL FOR THE QUESTION.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE O-25-XX THAT ANNEXES THE PROPERTY AT 146 SCOTT BOULEVARD?
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY?
>> CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED.
>> WE'LL MOVE NEXT TO REQUEST AND PETITIONS.
[VII. Requests and Petitions.]
WE WILL TAKE NOW OF TIME IN THE MEETING THAT WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.ANYTHING THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD? I SEE YOU COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
BEING DONE. WE WILL CLOSE REQUESTS AND PETITIONS AND MOVE TO REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS.
[VIII. Reports and Other Business.]
COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION OF AUGUST 4TH, 2025, AND WE APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THAT EARLIER.IS THERE A MOTION TO CONFIRM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION OF AUGUST THE 4TH, 2025.
>> SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IT WAS FOR THE PURPOSES OF LEGAL MATTERS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSE? CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE RESOLUTION THAT IS ADOPTED.
NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO RE APPOINTMENTS TO THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD.
[02:05:03]
>> THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THAT'S LARRY PADILLA, RECOMMENDATION TO REAPPOINT TWO CURRENT COMMISSIONERS TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD.
THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION TO REAPPOINT MISS BELINDA SEATS.
SHE'S THE RESIDENT COMMISSIONER FOR THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.
SHE IS A RESIDENT ON ONE OF THE PROPERTIES, AND THE TERM IS A YEAR TERM FOR THE RESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT, OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, AND THEN THE RECOMMENDATION.
ALSO, FOR A BOARD MEMBER TO REAPPOINT A BOARD MEMBER, MISS TENNIELLE BAILEY, AND HER TERM WOULD RUN FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2030.
MR. PADILLA HAS CONFIRMED THAT BOTH MISS SEATS AND MISS BAILEY ARE WILLING TO SERVE THESE ADDITIONAL TERMS.
>> I THINK THE WAY THE LEGISLATION IS WRITTEN, I THINK BY THE STATE THESE ARE CONSIDERED MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS.
THAT HAS NOT EVER BEEN WHAT WE HAVE DONE.
WE BROUGHT THEM FORWARD FOR THE CITY COMMISSION TO CONSIDER.
WE DID CONFIRM, I BELIEVE THAT THE LAST MEETING THAT THE TERM IS ALSO ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE, SO OF FIVE YEARS, I BELIEVE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> AS YOU JUST CUSSED BEFORE, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU AS A MAYOR TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF MAKING THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND JUST THAT.
YOU AND I OTHERS HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS.
I KNOW WE'RE REAPPOINTING A COUPLE OF MEMBERS, BUT I DO THINK THAT THE DECISIONS WISE YOU'RE TO DECIDE.
>> THANKS YOU. I DO THINK WE WILL HAVE SOME FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THINK WE HAVE A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THERE AND REVISIT THIS.
I FELT LIKE IT WAS THESE APPOINTMENTS RUN OUT AND THERE IS TERMS ARE IS IT OCTOBER?
>> OCTOBER 1ST, BUT WE WILL HAVE OF HOW THE FOLLOW UP CONVERSATION AND AS TO THE FUTURE APPOINTMENTS AND HOW THAT PROCESS MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT TO BE MORE IN LINE REALLY WITH WHAT IS REQUIRED BY THE STATE.
>> I THINK THAT'S A BRIEF COMMENT JUST SHOW WHICH YOUR REFERENCE OF US MAY CAN.
>> IF I'M SEEING THEM CORRECTLY, I'M NOTICING THEY'RE CALLING THEMSELVES DECATUR HOUSING, ACTUALLY, WHICH I'VE NOT SEEN BEFORE.
>> HOUSING AUTHORITY IS THE SAME THING.
>> EVERYTHING IN THE LETTER REFERS TO TH.
>> SEE THAT NOW ON THE ATTACHED.
>> I'LL TRY TO BE MORE CONSCIENTIOUS BY THIS.
>> I ASSUME THAT, AND I HAVE NO JUST SAY TO THE DIRECTOR.
>> DO YOU KNOW THIS IS HOUSING BOARD.
>> HOUSING BOARD. I RECOGNIZE NOW THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS.
IS THE HOUSING BOARD RATHER THAN HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH MY SUPPORT OF THESE TWO NAMES TO REAPPOINT MISS SEATS AND MISS BAILEY TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
>> THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE NAMES ARE REAPPOINTED. THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE?
>> WHAT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT YOU LIKE TO SHARE?
>> ALTHOUGH, GOOD EVENING AGAIN.
I'M ANGELA THREADGILL ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I AM EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT FELICIA MOORE HAS STARTED TODAY AS THE HOMELESS STRATEGY MANAGER WITH THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND SHE IS IN THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
SHE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING STRATEGIES AND WORK PLANS RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS, AND WILL BE RECOMMENDING LOCAL POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT REDUCE AND OR PREVENT HOMELESSNESS.
[02:10:01]
THIS IS A BIG JOB.FELICIA HAS OVER 15 YEARS OF NON-PROFIT AND PUBLIC SECTOR EXPERIENCE WITHIN METRO ATLANTA.
SHE COMES FROM AREAS OF EXPERIENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS, VICTIM ASSISTANCE, CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY, A NUMBER OF SPECIALTY AREAS.
SHE ALSO BRINGS EXPERTISE IN PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, POLICIES AND PROCEDURE IMPLEMENTATION, AND BUDGET AND GRANT MANAGEMENT.
SHE EARNED A MASTER OF EDUCATION IN COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGY FROM TROY UNIVERSITY, AND SHE HAS A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY FROM GEORGIA, SOUTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY.
SHE'LL BE MEETING OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM ON WEDNESDAY.
SHE HAS A FEW LUNCHES LINED UP AS WELL, SO SHE'S GOING TO BE INTRODUCED TO MANY OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS ALREADY WORKING WITHIN THE SPACE OF HOMELESSNESS AND WORKING WITH OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION.
I'M SORRY SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
SHE ALREADY HAD A FAMILY GATHERING TONIGHT ALREADY PLANNED, BUT WE WILL HAVE HER BEFORE YOU AND DO A MORE FORMAL INTRODUCTION AT ONE OF YOUR SEPTEMBER MEETINGS.
HOPEFULLY, YOU ALL WILL BE ABLE TO MEET HER IN THE MEANTIME, MAYBE INDIVIDUALLY, BUT WE WELCOME HER. THANK YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M EXCITED TO HAVE MISS MORE JOINING US.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TYING FOR A WHILE, AND I THINK THAT SHE WILL FIND SUPPORT FROM THIS COMMISSION FROM THE COMMUNITY WHEN SHE'S AT.
I THINK WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY.
MY ONLY COMMENT REALLY IS ABOUT HOW THE MAYOR KEEPS OFF WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE, RECOGNIZING THE LOSS OF PUBLIC SERVANT, DEFENDING PEOPLE, THE CETERIS AND PARLEY.
IT STRIKES ME THAT WE HAVE A PRESIDENT AND SOMEBODY BASICALLY TOOK AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON AND SHOT AT HUNDREDS OF HIS EMPLOYEES, HUNDREDS OF ROUNDS.
WHILE OUR MAYOR CAN TAKE THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ATROCITY, OUR PRESIDENT CAN'T.
I NORMALLY DON'T LIKE GOING INTO NATIONAL POLITICS.
BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT HE CANNOT SEE CC EMPLOYEES AS PART OF HIS TEAM AND HIS GROUP AND PEOPLE THAT HE SHOULD FEEL SOME KINSHIP WITH IS BAD.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR STEPPING UP AND DOING SOMETHING THAT OUR PRESIDENT SEEMS INCAPABLE OF, WHICH IS SHOWING EMPATHY FOR PEOPLE WITH WHOM HE MAY NOT SHOW AN AFFINITY.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR FOR TAKING THE TIME AND DOING THAT.
I GENERALLY NOT SO CRITICAL, BUT IT'S EMBARRASSING.
HAVE SOMEBODY ESSENTIALLY THE LEADER OF OUR COUNTRY WHO DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMEBODY TRYING TO KILL HIS EMPLOYEES.
I DIDN'T PREPARE IMAGINE THAT.
BUT IF I COULD PULL A BIT WHAT COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY STARTED TO SAY.
IT'S ADJACENT AND MAYOR AND I WERE ABLE TO ATTEND AN INTERESTING CONFERENCE CALLED THE INTERSECTION HOSTED BY THE COUNCIL FOR QUALITY GROWTH.
WE SPENT A HALF DAY LISTENING TO SPEAKERS, AND IT WAS FILLED WITH ALL KINDS OF FOLKS FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, SOME PRIVATE CONSULTING FIRMS, THE TYPES OF FIRMS THAT OFFER SERVICES TO MUNICIPALITIES, ET CETERA, AND ALSO ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE ENDURED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS NEW REALITY OF NO FEDERAL DOLLARS TO DO A LOT OF ANY GREAT INFRASTRUCTURE WORK WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS THE REASONS WHY THAT IS NOW THE CASE.
IT WAS NECESSARY TO GO IN A LOT OF WAYS BECAUSE WE ARE WHERE WE ARE, BUT IT'S ALSO FRUSTRATING AND DISAPPOINTING TO ALSO BE TRYING TO DO OUR JOBS AND IMPROVE OUR STREETS AND OUR ROADS, AND OUR PARKS, AND RECREATION ENVIRONMENTS, AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT MAKE PEOPLE HEALTHY AND KEEP THEM SAFE AND BE TRYING TO I'LL TRY TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GAME THIS SYSTEM SO THAT YOU CAN GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT THAT WORKS FOR YOUR CITY.
I UNDERSTAND THIS ANOTHER ANGLE OF THIS TO AND WHY IT'S DISAPPOINTING AND FRUSTRATING AND DEMORALIZING IN FACT.
[02:15:05]
BUT TRYING TO FIND THE BRIGHT SPOTS, WHICH IS WHAT WE ALWAYS DO AND FIND A WAY TO MAKE A DECISION TOGETHER EVEN WHEN THERE COULD BE FRICTION.I ALSO KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUE MADE A TOUGH CHOICE TO NOT VOTE FOR SOMETHING THAT HE ALSO I KNOW SEES MERIT TO AND UNDERSTANDS GREAT THINGS ABOUT IT, BUT WE ALL FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE THAT DIALOGUE AND RESPECT DIFFERENT DECISIONS.
WE DO IT TWICE A MONTH, 12 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR AND SOMETIMES FOR MANY YEARS. THANKS FOR THAT.
I REALLY GOT JAZZED UP ABOUT THE PARKS AND REC WORK SESSION.
THAT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE I HAVE A MAKE UP COPY TO DOCTORS DID A WONDERFUL JOB AND I APPRECIATE WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO SPEND A TIME OF SCARCITY, BUT FIGURE OUT WAYS TO ACTIVATE THE COMMUNITY, WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE, MAKE PEOPLE BETTER ABLE TO ENJOY WHAT WE DO OFFER, WHICH IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE PROGRAMMING AND NAVIGATE THAT SPACE IN A CHALLENGING TIME.
THANKS FOR GREAT MEETING AND ALSO THE LAND USE QUESTION. IT'S NEVER EASY.
IT'S THE TRICKIEST HARDEST DIFFICULT THING THAT WE NAVIGATE, BUT I APPRECIATE SUPPORT BY STAFF AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A PRETTY POTENTIALLY VERY COOL CONCEPT ON THAT CORNER FOR THE BICYCLIST.
>> I ALSO APPRECIATE THE MEETING AND THE DISCOURSE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE CIVIL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT WE EACH FEEL LIKE WE VOTE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
WHAT WE THINK IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT WITH THIS COMMISSION AND APPRECIATE THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEAM STAYED LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE COMMENTS, AND WE DID HAVE A FLIGHT OUT THIS EVENING THAT WE'RE ALL HOPING OR WE'LL MAKE.
I ALSO THANK THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT FOR A REALLY GREAT PRESENTATION AND I'VE NOT BEEN THROUGH PARKS AND REC ACCREDITATION.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF OTHER ACCREDITATION PROCESSES, AND THEY ARE TAXING.
THEY TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT.
BUT THE END RESULT IS, YOU HOPE, WHAT IT DOES IS HELP YOU FIND AREAS THAT MAY NEED IMPROVEMENT, BUT ALSO HELP YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT PROGRESS THAT YOU'RE MAKING AND I HELP YOU HELP DEPARTMENTS TO MEET THEIR GOALS.
I THINK IT DOES HELP WITH ORGANIZING AND LOOKING FORWARD AS TO HOW THOSE THINGS CAN BE MET.
I ALSO WANT TO JUST REMIND FOLKS THAT OUR NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, THE DAY AFTER LABOR DAY.
AUGUST IS GOING BY IN A BIG HURRY.
COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY AND I WILL BE ATTENDING THE LINK ARC TRIP AT THE END OF THIS WEEK FOR SOME TIME TO SPEND WITH OTHER LEADERS, BOTH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE LEADERS IN THE ATLANTA METRO AREA AND GOING TO VISIT TRANSIT, GOING TO VISIT SOME DATA CENTERS, HAVE A HOUSING PANEL.
IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK IDEAS AND TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW WE FIND HE SUPPORTIVE OF DECATUR AND EXCHANGE IDEAS WITH.
>> SORRY, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT ONE OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY BEFORE WE COMPETE, SO I JUST WANTED TO WISH HER HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> COMMISSIONER WALSH HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
A FELLOW VIRGO IS STARTING AROUND HERE. [BACKGROUND].
>> WE WAIT NEXT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY.
>> COME TO LATINOS SHE CAN CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY.
IT CHANGES EVERY YEAR, BUT SOMEHOW IT'S ALWAYS ON MY BIRTHDAY.
WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 9:42.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.