[WORK SESSION– 6:30 P.M.]
[00:00:17]
>> YES, PLEASE. DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE COMMISSIONERS SO THEN WE WILL GET STARTED IN SESSION?
>> SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR.
THESE ARE JUST GENERAL SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATORS. [BACKGROUND]
WHATEVER YOU DID DO THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> FIRST, I'M JUST GOING TO START OUT WITH A GENERAL SUMMARY OF OUR INTERVENTION WITH THE GEORGIA POWER INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN, AND OUR INTERVENTION WITH THE COALITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
THAT COMPOSES ATLANTA, DECATUR, ATHENS, GWINNETT, AND DECATUR.
THIS IS A PLAN THAT GEORGIA POWER DOES EVERY THREE YEARS FOR HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GENERATE ALL OF THEIR ENERGY FOR THE 20-YEAR PERIOD AND IT HAPPENS EVERY THREE YEARS.
IT ALSO HAS BREAKS IN BETWEEN THE THREE YEARS WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT MORE EXPECTED GROWTH AS THE DATA CENTER HERE.
IT INCLUDES SENIOR POWER PLANTS, RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. IT'S FROM JANUARY TO MAY.
>> THEY ADOPT THAT PLAN FOR GEORGIA POWER ADOPTED THAT PLAN.
>> THEY PASSED THE STIPULATION AND I'M GOING INTO MORE DETAIL.
>> TO CLARIFY. IS IT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OR GEORGIA POWER THAT ADOPTS IT.
>> IS GEORGIA POWERS PLAN, IT GETS APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
>> THE COALITION'S KEY REQUEST INCLUDED.
FIRST OF ALL, WE WANTED TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR PREPARING FOR EXTREME WEATHER RESILIENCY ISSUES.
WE'VE HAD ISSUES IN THE PAST WITH GETTING OUTAGE DATA AND GETTING THE HISTORICAL OUTAGE DATA SO THAT WAY YOU CAN BETTER PREPARE AND EVEN KNOW WHAT LOCKS OR WHAT NEIGHBORHOODS ARE FIRST TO GET POWER BACK, AND IF WE HAD SOMEONE WHO RELIED ON ELECTRICAL SUPPORT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, KNOWING JUST HOW TO REACH OUT TO THEM.
IN GENERAL, WE FELT LIKE THERE WAS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND GEORGIA POWER, AND THIS IS SHARED AMONG MANY CITIES.
IN GENERAL, WE'RE TRYING TO BRIDGE THAT GAP THERE JUST SO THAT WAY YOU FEEL LIKE WE PREPARED.
FOR EXAMPLE, I WORK WITH THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN.
IN GENERAL, WE ALSO WANTED THEM TO COLLABORATE WITH US AS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE PLANNING TO PLAN FOR RESILIENCY MICRO-GRIDS BECAUSE THAT INFORMATION ISN'T NECESSARILY SHARED, AND SOMETIMES CITIES FINDING OUT ABOUT IT WHEN SOMEONE JUST BUILDS A NEW TRANSFORMER OF NEW LINES AND WE WANT TO OPEN IT AND MAKE IT MORE COLLABORATIVE SO THAT WAY WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
THERE'S EVEN BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS OF OTHER CITIES OFFERING TO USE THE PUBLIC LAND OR HAVE AN EASEMENT JUST SO THEY CAN IMPROVE THE HYPER GRIDS THEMSELVES.
WE ALSO WANTED TO HAVE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CRS PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS A CITY.
IF THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE RENEWABLE ENERGY THEMSELVES, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SUBSCRIBE TO GEORGIA POWER'S RENEWABLE ENERGY AND RECEIVE REX ON THAT.
BUT WITH THAT PROGRAM, THERE IS HIGH ENTRY FEES OR YOU HAVE TO HAVE A NOTICE OF INTENT, WHICH IS A LARGE FEE ITSELF JUST TO APPLY.
THERE'S MULTIPLE FEES THAT WOULD DETER A CITY FROM ENTERING IT.
SINCE YOU DON'T HAVE A CERTAINTY THAT APPLY, YOU ACTUALLY GET REWARDED THE PROGRAM.
ALSO, WE WANTED TO HAVE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DISTRIBUTE GENERATION WHICH WOULD ALLOW IF WE WERE TO HAVE SOLAR FOR GEORGIA POWER TO PAY US BACK FOR THAT SOLAR.
SO GENERALLY WANT TO INCREASE INCENTIVES, THAT WOULD MAKE IT FINANCIALLY POSSIBLE FOR THE CITY TO ENTER INTO THESE PROGRAMS. WE ALSO WANTED TO INCREASE INCENTIVES FOR CUSTOMER SIDED SOLAR AND STORAGE.
THIS COULD LOOK LIKE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SOLAR ON THEIR HOUSEHOLDS AND WANT TO FEED TO THE GRID AND HAVE THE GENERATOR ON THEIR HOUSEHOLD AS WELL.
BUT IT ALSO CAN INCLUDE ONE OF OUR OWN FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE A GENERATED BATTERY POWER FOR, AND IT WOULD ALLOW US GEORGIA POWER TO USE OUR BATTERY TO POWER ENERGY WHEN THERE IS HIGH DEMAND AND THEY'RE HAVING ISSUES IN REACHING THAT DEMAND, BUT ALSO ALLOWS FOR US TO MEET OUR CLEAN ENERGY GOALS.
[00:05:04]
WE ALSO WANTED THEM TO INCREASE DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN GENERAL.THIS IS MORE HELPING PROPERTY OWNERS UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY CAN DO TO DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY THEY'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING OUT AND TO LESSEN THE IMPACT ON THE GRID, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HEIGHTENED DEMAND ON THE GRID FROM ALL OF THE DATA CENTERS.
>> WITH THE DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT.
THAT ALSO THAT LOOKING FOR PEAK DEMAND IS MY UNDERSTANDING FOR THAT.
SO PART OF THAT EFFORT IS TO CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT, BUT BASICALLY GET PEOPLE TO USE ENERGY DURING PEAK DEMAND POWERS WHICH GENERALLY DOES IN THE SUMMER IN THE WAY AFTERNOON.
>> IT CAN LOOK LIKE DIFFERENT WAYS FOR DIFFERENT TIMES IN DIFFERENT SEASONS, BUT IN GENERAL, WAYS THAT YOU CAN TRY AND TO USE ONE OF THE GEORGIA POWER SMART THERMOSTATS FOR EXAMPLE, HOW TO OFFSET THAT ENERGY AND AT THE SAME TIME.
THERE'S MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT FALL INTO IT.
THERE'S ALSO THE AUTOMATED BENCHMARK TOOL THAT APPLIES MORE TO THE CITY, WHICH LETS US GET REPORTS ON ENERGY FROM ALL OTHER FACILITIES AND HELPS US UNDERSTAND HOW WE HAVE FACILITY ABILITY THAT HAS A HIGHER ENERGY OUTFIT AND WHAT WE COULD DO.
IF WE WANTED TO LOOK AT MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO FIX THAT.
ALSO IT HELPS US ENTER IN THAT DATA TO AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE PLATFORM LIKE ENERGY STORE, WHICH IN GENERAL, ENERGY STORE HAS ISSUES, BECAUSE OF THE APA AND BECAUSE OF ADMINISTRATION MONEY, BUT THERE'S ALSO OTHER ENERGY PLATFORMS THAT WE COULD USE AS WELL THAT ARE MORE PRIVATE.
THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY OF WHAT ACTUALLY CAME OUT RP.
IN GENERAL, IT DEFINITELY WASN'T WHAT WE WERE HOPING FOR.
IT SAW A DEEP REDUCTION IN DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT BUDGET, AND INITIATIVES THAT CAN SUPPORT REDUCING ENERGY OUTPUT FROM RESIDENTS AND FROM CITIES.
IT LED TO AN INCREASE IN COAL AND GAS PROCUREMENT FOR FEEDING THE GRID, AND IT ALSO LED TO AN INCREASE IN UNDISCLOSED, WHICH JUST GET TO BE DETERMINED HOW THEY WILL ACTUALLY FEED THAT 8,500 MEGAWATTS OF NEW CAPACITY, BUT MOST LIKELY IT WON'T BE CLEAN ENERGY, AND THERE'S NO PROTECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT IT IS CLEAN ENERGY.
SO OVERALL, WE'RE SEEING THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ENERGY COMING OUT OF THIS, WHICH MAKES SIGNIFICANTLY HARDER IF WE'RE PULLING FROM A GRID THAT ISN'T CLEAN ENERGY.
THERE WAS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE RESERVE MARGIN.
IN GENERAL, WE ARE EXPECTING THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO REDUCTION IN CLEAN ENERGY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OUTPUT AND AN INCREASE IN ENERGY AND AFFORDABILITY.
>> COUPLE QUESTIONS. COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT A RESERVE MARGIN IS?
>> THAT IS HOW MUCH POWER THE ONE SET ASIDE.
RIGHT NOW WE EXPECT THE GRID IS USING A CERTAIN AMOUNT, BUT YOU WANT TO HAVE IT SO THAT WAY IF WE WERE USING 20% MORE THAN WHAT WE ARE USING RIGHT NOW, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S POSSIBLE.
SO THAT COULD LOOK FOR EXTREMELY HOT DAYS OR A NATURAL DISASTER THAT REALLY MEETS THAT EXTRA USE OF ENERGY, ESPECIALLY WITH DATA CENTERS IN THEIR DEMANDS.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ENERGY IS AVAILABLE AT THAT RATE.
IT HAS BEEN DEBATED THAT IF THAT IS NECESSARILY, WE NEED TO HAVE A 20% RESERVE MARGIN.
IT IS ARGUED THAT WE DON'T GET ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THAT MARGIN AND WE DON'T USE IT AND IT JUST LEADS TO INCREASED COSTS AND ENERGY FOR RESIDENTS.
>> THE REASON IT LEADS TO INCREASED COST IS BECAUSE THEY BUILD FACILITIES THAT AREN'T NEEDED?
>> YES, THEY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY, THEIR PURCHASING RESOURCES TO FEED THIS RESERVE MARGIN, WHICH WILL FALL BACK ON REPAIRS.
>> IS A FLOAT THAT WE'LL GET TO SEE.
>> THERE WAS ONE POSITIVE OUTCOME, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS WE WERE ADVOCATING FOR, BUT IT WAS GREAT TO SEE BECAUSE I THINK IT SPOKE DIRECTLY TO HOW OUR INTERVENTION AT THE IRP LED TO THIS PROGRAM BEING PASSING AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE DIDN'T INTERVENE.
BUT IT'S THE SOLAR PLUS STORAGE PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH IS RELATES TO THE CUSTOMER SITE PROGRAM I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.
BUT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A BUILDING LIKE PUBLIC PORTS THAT HAD SOLAR PANELS AND BATTERY.
YOU COULD CHOOSE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PROGRAM AND EITHER GEORGIA POWER HAVE FULL CONTROL OF THAT AND THEY WOULD PAY BACK MONEY FOR THAT, OR THEY WOULD ALLOW YOU TO USE IT, BUT IN CERTAIN TIMES DURING INCREASED DEMAND, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PULL FROM THAT.
THAT WAY WE WOULD KNOW THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THE GRID DURING TIMES DIFFICULTY WITH GETTING ENERGY, WHICH ALSO HELPS OFFSET THE NEED FOR HAVING SUCH A HIGH RESERVE MARGIN IF
[00:10:03]
YOU'RE ABLE TO HAVE THIS DISTRIBUTED GENERATION FROM OTHER RESOURCES THAT ADD INTO THE GRID.HISTORICALLY, GEORGIA POWER ISN'T VERY OPEN OR VERY HESITANT TO LETTING IN OTHER ENERGY RESOURCES THAT ARE NOT IN THEIR OWN GRID.
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE'VE ADVOCATED FOR AND ALSO WITH POWER PLANTS, THE SAME IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO POOL FROM BATTERIES, FROM SOLAR GENERATORS, FROM ALL THESE DIFFERENT RESIDENTS, COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
THAT WAY WE'RE NOT JUST RELYING ON OUR PLANTS AND OUR MAIN SOURCE OF ENERGY.
SO WE HAVE A BACKUP SYSTEM IN PLACE.
>> IS THAT A PROGRAM THAT THE CITY COULD POTENTIALLY PARTICIPATE IN?
>> YEAH. IF WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE OUR GENERATOR ON THE PUBLIC WORKS APPROVED BY GEORGIA POWER, WHICH WE ARE IN THE PROCESS AND DISCUSSION OF RIGHT NOW, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE SOMETHING WE APPLY TO AND WE WOULD BE GET CANDIDATES FOR.
THAT'S ALSO ANOTHER THING THAT WE WANT TO TALK TO GEORGIA POWER WITH, IS HOW TO HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY WITH MUNICIPALITIES FOR HOW THEY CAN GET THEIR BATTERY SYSTEMS APPROVED BECAUSE IT'S BEEN HEARD ACROSS MULTIPLE CITIES THAT THEY'VE CREATED THESE BATTERIES SYSTEMS AND THEN AFTERWARDS AFTER CREATING THEM HAVEN'T RECEIVED SOME PUSH BACK FROM GEORGIA POWER ON APPROVING THEM.
IT'S JUST IN GENERAL MORE DIFFICULTY FOR CITIES PURSUING THESE PROGRAMS AND CLEAN ENERGY OVERALL, AND IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A BACKUP GENERATOR AND OUR FACILITIES.
FOLLOWING THE INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN, THERE'S THE RATE CASE.
THIS YEAR, THEY CHOSE TO DO A RATE FREEZE WHERE THEY SKIPPED THE RATE CASE AND SAID IT WAS PRESENTED AS A WAY TO KEEP RATES STEADY WITHOUT HAVING THEM INCREASE ANYMORE BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT THAT ENERGY RATES ARE GETTING REALLY HIGH.
BUT THE TERM IS MISLEADING BECAUSE THE RATES WON'T FREEZE, THEY WILL INCREASE, AND IT'S KNOWN, THEY WILL INCREASE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR SIGNIFICANTLY.
THEY'RE ANTICIPATING ABOUT EIGHT MILLION IN DAMAGES FROM HURRICANE HELENE, AND THAT HASN'T BEEN FUNDED YET, BUT IT WILL COME DIRECTLY FROM RATE PAYERS AND BY IGNORING THE RATE CASE, IT DIDN'T ALLOW INTERESTED PARTIES ANY CHANCE TO INTERVENE AND ARGUE FOR DIFFERENT WAYS FOR THAT MONEY TO BE DISTRIBUTED.
IT ALSO DIDN'T ALLOW FOR RATE PAYERS TO MAKE THE CASE THAT LARGE LOAD PAYERS, LIKE DATA CENTERS SHOULD PAY MORE OR HAVE THEIR OWN FORM OF SOLAR TO OFFSET THE DEMAND THEY HAVE.
IN GENERAL, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO NOT HAVE A RATE CASE, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT UPCOMING RATE CASE IN 2028.
>> DOES THIS RATE FREEZE APPLY ACROSS THE BOARD TO COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AS WELL AS RESIDENTIAL? IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. ONE OF OUR ARGUMENTS IS THAT ESPECIALLY WITH CITIES, WE HAVE AN ANNUAL BUDGET, BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ENERGY COSTS ARE TO LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR.
WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE HIGHER, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW HIGH THEY CAN BE, AND WE DON'T KNOW IF ANOTHER NATURAL DISASTER HAPPENS OR IF THE LOAD GROWTH FROM DATA CENTERS IS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT.
THERE'S NO WAY TO REALLY KNOW HOW THE RATES WILL LOOK, BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SAME PROCEDURE CALCULATIONS.
SO THEY WILL FALL BACK ON RATE PAYERS INSTEAD OF THE COMPANY OR INSTEAD OF OTHER WAYS OF TRYING TO PROTECT RATE PAYERS FROM THAT INCREASE.
>> WILL THOSE HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION?
>> THEY DO HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IN GENERAL.
BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A WHOLE. IT'S A CASE.
IT'S JUST WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AS PART OF OUR PROCEDURE THAT FOLLOWS HOW THEY FOLLOW THE REGULAR PROCEDURE AND CALCULATION, THEN IT WILL GET APPROVED.
>> I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE DATA CENTERS AND THEIR ELECTRICITY AND WATER DEMANDS, AND COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY AND I WERE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, AND DC, THE ARLINGTON NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA WAS SAYING THAT THEY EXPECT JUST THE DATA CENTERS IN THAT AREA TO ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 40% OF THE DEMAND WITHIN FIVE YEARS, JUST IN VIRGINIA, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING TO I GUESS AT LEAST PUT SOME DEMANDS BACK ON THE DATA CENTERS IN TERMS OF ELECTRICITY USE AND WATER USE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THOSE THINGS.
I ASKED A QUESTION RECENTLY AT THE ARC ENERGY AND RESILIENCE COUNCIL ABOUT THE RATE THAT THE DATA CENTERS PAY PER KILOWATT HOUR.
[00:15:02]
I THINK THE RESIDENTIAL RATE IS ABOUT 15 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR.I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT INDUSTRIAL SLIGHTLY LOWER.
FOR THE DATA CENTERS IS THREE CENTS KILOWATT HOUR.
>> HERE. THEN I UNDERSTAND ALSO IS THERE'S LEGISLATION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THAT WOULD SAY BECAUSE WHEN THE ABILITY DATA CENTERS, THEY HAVE TO BUILD ALL THE TRANSMISSION WIRES AND CONNECT THEM TO THE GRID.
THERE'S LEGISLATION TO SAY, WELL, AT LEAST YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU'RE REQUIRED TO BE BUILT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS THE MAJORITY DO NOT SUPPORT ACTUALLY HAVING THE DATA CENTERS PAY FOR THAT COST.
YOUR BILL, OR BILL, MY BILL, ARE ALL PAYING THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THESE DATA CENTERS TO PAY 20% THE RATE THAT WE ARE FOR ENERGY.
>> ANYONE CAN SAY YOU TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
>> IT'S THERE WAS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR BY A NUMBER OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE ON THE TRIP JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T REALLY BRING JOBS IN, BUT THEY BRING MONEY INTO COMMUNITIES.
BUT THERE'S I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MAYBE SURPRISES AS TO WHAT THAT COST WILL BE TRANSMISSION LINES, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO AND THE IMPACTS ON ON JUST THE LAND MASS AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT GUARANTEES THAT THEY'LL STAY THERE FOREVER, AND WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED ACRES OF DATA CENTER WAREHOUSE SPACE, BASICALLY.
WE ALL USE A LOT OF DATA, IT'S JUST FINDING OUT WHAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO MOVE FORWARD AND I THINK IN THIS CASE, THE FAIR WAY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT REAPING THE DIRECT BENEFITS OF WHERE THOSE ARE LOCATED.
IT IS INTERESTING THAT IT IS BEING CALLED A RATE FREEZE YET.
IT DOESN'T MEAN AT ALL THAT YOU THE RATE THAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR ELECTRICITY IS NOT GOING UP FOR THREE YEARS.
>> THIS QUESTION IS ALSO PLANT VOGL OVERRUN COST $5 BILLION.
THAT'S BEING ADDED TO OUR UTILITY BILLS.
WE SAID EVEN EVEN HAVE ANSWERED THIS, AND I DON'T KNOW YOU TO ANSWER TO THAT.
BUT DOES IT $0.03 PER KILOWATT HOUR INCLUDE THE OVERRUN BY GETTING THE COVERING THE OVERRUN COSTS THE GEORGIA POWER ACCRUED BUILDING?
>> NO. I DON'T KNOW. THAT WAS JUST THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> FIGURES IT TRICKY IS THERE'S YOUR BASELINE RATE AND THERE'S, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR PLANT VOGL WHICH WENT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER BUDGET.
>> WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S ADDED TO THAT BASELINE RATE.
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE A SHOT AT PSC HERE TOO.
WHEN PLANT VOGL WENT OVER BUDGET AND THIS IS, WAS WAY PAST TO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
GEORGIA POWER GUARANTEED 10 OR 11% RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THEIR INVESTMENTS.
GEORGIA POWER IS MANAGING A PROJECT THAT'S YEARS OVERDUE, THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER BUDGET.
THEN THEY GET TO COLLECT TEN TO 11% OF THAT OVER BUDGET.
FOR EVERY BILLION DOLLAR WENT OVER GEORGIA POWER GOT $100,000,000.
THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, TWO OF WHO WILL BE ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL, VOTED TO APPROVE THAT.
THEY SAID GEORGIA POWER HAD A PROJECT.
THEY WENT WAY OVER TIMELINE, AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR DOING THAT, AND THE PEOPLE OF GEORGE WILL PAY IT.
THOSE ARE PEOPLE YOU ELECT WHO MADE THAT DECISION, AND THEY WERE ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> IT SHOULDN'T BE ON THE PSC NEXT FALL. I ALMOST CLAPPED.
THAT BEARS A GREAT DISCUSSION, TOO, BECAUSE, AS WE THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT, ALL THE REGULATIONS ARE STARTING TO ROLL BACK AND ALL THE PROTECTIONS THAT WE HAD, YET, ALL THE UTILITY COMPANIES ARE STARTING TO REALLY STICK IT TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
IT'S DISTURBING TO HEAR ALL THIS STUFF IN REAL TIME.
WHO WOULDN'T LOVE TO BE PAYING THE RATE THAT THE DATA CENTER.
HOW ARE WE NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEY ARE?
[00:20:03]
WE'RE THEIR BACKBONE. WE'RE THE EVERY DAY.WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE HERE.
YET THEY GET THE SHINY NEW TOYS AND WE GIVE THEM THE BEST RATE.
THEN WE PAY FOR IT. SORRY. WE HIJACKED HE.
>> ALL OF THAT IS REITERATING THAT.
JUST THE IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON REPAIRS, AND WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY AS WE START TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO ASSIST.
THESE RESIDENTS WHO ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE HIGHER ENERGY COSTS, LOOKING AT, ESPECIALLY VERT GROUP PEOPLE WHO RELY ON WHO LIVE IN OLDER HOUSES, SO THEIR ENERGY IS ALREADY MORE EXPENSIVE AND THEY DON'T HAVE MAYBE THE MONEY TO WEATHERIZE WEATHER PROVE THEIR HOUSE, TO HELP RELIEVE SOME OF THAT COSTS AND ALSO MAYBE RELY ON MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THAT NEEDS THAT ENERGY.
THESE ARE ALL GOING TO BECOME IMPORTANT ISSUES THEY ALREADY ARE, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BECOME MORE RAISED.
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE ISSUES AFFORDING THEIR POWER.
AS THE COALITION, WE CREATED A JOINT STATEMENT, AND THE JOINT STATEMENT ITSELF IS NOT DECLAMATORY.
IT IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE ARE HAPPY WITH THE ONE WHEN WE GOT FROM THE SOLAR PLUS STORAGE SYSTEM, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THAT IS AT SOMETHING WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE FROM OUR INTERVENTION AND WANTING TO KEEP THAT RELATIONSHIP OPEN FOR INTERVENTION.
THAT WAY, AS WE CONTINUE TO KEEP DOING EVERY RATE CASE AND EVERY IRP, WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE THAT INFLUENCE AND HAVE MORE IMPACT AND MAYBE MORE REACH FOR THE COMMISSIONERS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT DOES SAY THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR MORE CLEAN ENERGY AND THAT WE WISH TO HAVE MORE CLEAN ENERGY, AND THAT IT DID NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF WHAT WE WANTED.
THAT STATEMENT IS PUBLISHED IN THE FOCUS AND ALSO ON OUR SUSTAINABILITY WEB PAGE.
BECAUSE IN GENERAL, WE DO HAVE TO ALSO WALK THE LINE OF WORKING WITH OUR ONLY ENERGY PROVIDER IN THE CITY AND HONORING THAT RELATIONSHIP, BUT ALSO LETTING OUR RESIDENTS KNOW THAT WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR CLEAN ENERGY POOL.
ANOTHER POSITIVE, THAT CAME OUT OF THE INVENTION, THAT WASN'T OFFICIALLY IN THE LEGAL STIPULATION IS THAT AFTERWARDS, GEORGIA POWER HAD REACHED OUT TO THE COALITION MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED AND AS SCHEDULING A MEETING WITH US, AND IS, HOPEFULLY, GOING TO BE A REOCCURRING MEETING FOR OUR ISSUES WITH THE WEATHER PLANNING, RESILIENCY PLANNING, AND OUTAGE DATA.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE OF REACHING OUT TO US MULTIPLE TIMES.
WE'RE HAVING OUR FIRST INITIAL MEETING FRIDAY, BUT WE'RE HOPING TO MAKE SOME IMPACT AND HAVING MORE DIRECT CONTACTS FOR EMERGENCIES AND FOR ENERGY ISSUES, AND ALSO HAVING ACCESS TO THAT DATA FOR OUR PLANNING.
ANOTHER UP DATE IS THAT THE SAW PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT COULD HAVE REALLY GREATLY BENEFITED THE CITY, IT HAD LAUNCHED FOR THREE DAYS SADLY BEFORE GETTING CANCELED, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING.
SPEAK FOR US. IT'S DEFINITELY A SAD LOSS.
IT'S A LARGE NATIONAL GRANT, BUT IT'S ALSO SPECIFICALLY IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA CAPITAL GOD FUND IS THE NONPROFIT THAT WAS DISTRIBUTING THE FUNDS.
WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM, THE CITY OF DECATUR WAS SET TO HAVE 30 HOMES THAT ARE WITHIN THE 80% OF THE AVERAGE MEDIUM INCOME RECEIVED SOLAR AT NO COST.
THEN IN FUTURE ROUNDS, WE WERE SET TO HAVE DISCOUNT AND SOLAR FOR RESIDENTS AND ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCOUNT AND SOLAR FOR OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP AND FOR MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS.
I KNOW THAT THE NONPROFIT IS GOING TO PURSUE LEGAL ACTION.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE WITH THAT, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A LOSS FOR CITY.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS RELATING TO THOSE GRANTS OR THE IRP BEFORE I?
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION OF FACILITY FOR ALL.
WAS THERE AN ESTIMATED DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE WOULD BE THAT WE'VE LOST OUT ON?
>> I COULD TRY TO GET BACK TO YOU THAT AN ESTIMATE.
WE WEREN'T NECESSARILY SURE IN THE LATER ROUNDS, WHAT BUILDINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROVED OR NOT.
>> WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT STATEWIDE OR THAT THE NONPROFIT THEY WERE AWARDED HOW MUCH? I REMEMBER, T WAS A REALLY LARGE AMOUNT.
>> IT WAS LARGE AND I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAME AS UNDER.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THEY'RE LOOKING PURSUING SOME LEGAL CHALLENGE GEORGIA POWER TO GIVE IT TO US.
THEY GOT $100 MILLION FOR AN OVERRIDE.
>> THEN MOVING ON TO THE [INAUDIBLE] AGREEMENT WITH COMPS NOW IS SIGNED AND WE ARE SET TO START MOVING FORWARD.
THE COLLECTION, WE ARE AIMING FOR THE DATE OF SEPTEMBER 15.
[00:25:02]
RIGHT NOW, I SENT OUT A SURVEY TO ALL THE ORIGINAL PARTICIPANTS, JUST CHECKING IN WITH THEM AND TO ALSO GIVE THEM THE NEW GUIDELINES, THE NEW GUIDELINES BEING THAT WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING YARD WEIGHTS.THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE THE FOOD ORGANIC WEIGHTS, THE COMPOSTABLE MATERIALS, THE PAPER FOR NOW.
WE UNDERSTOOD THAT YARD WASTE CAN COME WITH PESTICIDES, AND IT NEEDS TO BE FULLY SEPARATED FOR THE ORGANIC WASTE FOR THE DECOMPOSITION PROCESS TO FULLY HAPPENED CORRECTLY.
SINCE OUR GRANT JUST FUNDED ONE COLLECTION TRUCK, RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT FEASIBLE FOR US TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TRUCKS DRIVE DOWN TO THE MARIA MOTHER SITE.
THIS PROB WILL BE US HAVING THOSE 100 RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE LOOKING INTO EXPANDING IN THE FUTURE.
IF WE FEEL WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO DO THAT WHERE THERE'S SANITATION COLLECTION STAFF.
WE HAVE THE ONE TRACK WE HAVE FUNDED THROUGH THE GRID, AND EVENTS, WE HAVE FUNDED THROUGH THE GRID AND WE GO TO THE HOUSES AND COLLECT ON JUST THE MONDAY ROUTE, AND LATER THAT WEEK WE DRIVE DOWN TO MERIWETHER, GEORGIA AND DROP IT OFF AT THE COMPASS NOW PROCESSING CENTER.
>> WE'RE NOT [INAUDIBLE] AT ALL.
>> OH, YOU'D HAVE SOME REALLY UPSET FAVORS.
>> THE OTHER PART, THAT CAME OUT OF THE AGREEMENT, IS THE CONTAMINATION FEES, AND YOU CAN SEE THEY ARE VERY ONCE YOU GET TO 5%, IT BECOMES EXTREMELY HIGH AND YOU'RE SENT TO THE LANDFILL.
I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE STARTING WITH SUCH A SMALL PILOT PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CONTAMINATION RATES WE CAN EXPECT OUT OF RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE MADE SIGN SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS TO HAVE OUTREACH.
I'VE HAD DONE SOME ON-BOARDING SESSIONS, WHERE I SHARED MATERIALS AND SPOKE TO PEOPLE ABOUT HOW COMPOSING WORKS IN GENERAL FOR EDUCATION, BUT ALSO TO LET THEM KNOW WHEN MATERIALS ARE ACCEPTED AND NOT.
WE ALSO WORK WITH COMPS NOW TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GIVING THEM THE RIGHT INFORMATION, AND WE HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING AND MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WE SEND OUT IS ALSO ON THE SAME PAGE WITH COMPS NOW.
IF IT DOES REACH THE CASE THAT WE DO GET REJECTED, THAT WILL CAUSE THE PROGRAM TO PAUSE AND GIVE US A SECOND TO RE EVALUATE, AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE CAN DO TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, SO WE'RE NOT HAVING THESE HIGH FEES.
BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP IT BENEATH 5%, IT IS VERY CHEAP TO DUMP AT THIS SITE, AND THAT COULD DEFINITELY BE FOR FUTURE ARGUMENTS AS WE LOOK AT THIS, WE LOOK AT CONTAMINATION RATES, WHAT WE COULD ARGUE FOR THE FUTURE IF WE WANTED TO HAVE MORE OF THE CITYWIDE PROGRAM.
EVERY TIME WE COLLECT FROM THE RESIDENTS, WE'LL MAKE SURE THEY STOP THE TRUCK OUT OF WEIGHT FACILITY SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WEIGHT COMPS WE'RE COLLECTING EACH WEEK 2, WHICH CAN BE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR LATER RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> QUESTION. HOW MUCH FROM OUR TRIAL? WHAT HAS OUR CONTAMINATION RATE BEEN? ANY IDEA?
>> WE HAVEN'T STARTED YET WITH THE ACTUAL BRINGING IT DOWN TO THE.
RIGHT NOW, I SENT OUT THE SURVEY LETTING PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THE NEW GUIDELINES AND WE'RE GIVING THEM UNTIL SEPTEMBER 8 TO RESPOND.
WE NEED EVERYONE WHO IS PARTICIPATING TO SAY THEY RESPONDED TO SAY THAT THEY ACTUALLY READ THE NEW RULES BEFORE WE COLLECT FROM THEM.
BUT I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THAT BY SEPTEMBER 15, AND THEN THE FIRST MONTH AND TWO, THAT WILL DEFINITELY BE A LEARNING CURVE.
BUT I WILL SAY IN GENERAL, THE PEOPLE WHO AGREE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPS PILOT ARE VERY MUCH CARE ABOUT, COMPS AND HAVE VERY PASSIONATE, AND I'VE ACTUALLY EDUCATED THE SOME.
I AM FEELING CONFIDENT ABOUT OUR PILOT PROGRAM.
I DO THINK IF WE EXPAND IT WILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERATION THAT IF YOU MAKE IT A CITY WIDE PROGRAM, THOSE OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AS INVESTED IN COMPS OR UNDERSTAND IT AS MUCH, AND IT WILL DEFINITELY REQUIRE MORE EDUCATION NOW.
>> YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE WE MONITORING.
WHEN THEY PICK IT UP, THEY'LL JUST CHECK THE BIN; IS THAT CORRECT? THEN?
>> WILL THEY TAKE THE WHOLE BIN.
THEY WILL PUT IT INTO THE COMPS COLLECTION TRUCK, I GUESS.
THAT WILL BE TAKEN ONCE A WEEK TO THE FACILITY.
I REMEMBER TWO SLIDES BACK MAYBE, IT SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE ONE WORD THE FIVE TON MINIMUM CHARGE PER LOAD TIP.
[00:30:03]
DO WE HAVE FIVE TONS?>> I DON'T ANTICIPATE WE DO, BUT SO WE'LL JUST BE HAVING THAT BASE FEE.
I BELIEVE, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT TWO TONS. I HAD TO GET.
>> BUT WE HAVE TO PAY THE 245, CORRECT? THAT WAS WHAT.
I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CLOSE WE MIGHT BE TO THAT, BECAUSE IF WE'RE TAKING HALF A TON THERE.
>> THE VEHICLES WERE USING TO CARRY FIVE TONS OF COMPS?
>> THAT SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE TO LEARN ONCE WE START COLLECTING?
>> THEY'RE BIG ENOUGH FOR FIVE.
>> I KNOW THAT ONCE WE HAVE IT RUN SUCCESSFULLY, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK INTO HOW IF WE WOULD ADD IT TO MAYBE MORE RESIDENTS ON THE MONDAY ROUTE OR WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO ADD MORE PEOPLE, BUT WE WANT TO HAVE INITIAL SUCCESS WITH OUR SMALL PILE GROUP, AND LOOK AT THOSE CONTAMINATION RATES BEFORE WE START TO OPEN IT UP.
HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE? I ANTICIPATED BEING ABOUT MAYBE WE WANT TWO MONTHS JUST TO SEE HOW IT IS.
MAYBE IF IT'S A 1% CONTAMINATION RIGHT A MONTH, THEN WE CAN BE HOW STAYING GREAT AND THEN LOOK AT HOW WE COULD START DOING THAT EARLIER.
>> HOW MANY RESIDENTS WAS THIS INITIALLY TARGETING THAT SIGNED UP IN THE 25% OF OUR RESIDENTS, IS IT 10%, OR WHAT SIR?
>> RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST ABOUT 100.
THE WAY WE DID IT IS, WE HAD THE INITIAL COMPS INTEREST SURVEY THAT WAS SENT OUT, I BELIEVE, TWO YEARS AGO OR BEFORE MY TIME.
WE HAD THOSE RESPONSES, AND WE CHOSE THE DAY TO THE MOST RESPONSES FROM THAT BECAUSE WE TALKED TO THE COLLECTION TEAM AND REALIZED IT WAS REALLY ONLY FEASIBLE FOR THEM TO DO IT JUST ON ONE DAY COLLECTION NOT.
THEN WE REACHED BACK OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE AND THOSE ONES WHO RESPONDED TO US ARE NOW OUR PILOT PARTICIPANTS.
>> COMPOSTNOW, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, HAS HAD A FEE-FOR-SERVICE PROGRAM WHERE THEY WILL PAY COMPOST FOR PEOPLE.
HOW IS THIS PROGRAM INTERACTING WITH THE COMPOST NOW BUSINESS MODEL IN TERMS OF THE ASO MAKING PRODUCT BEFOREHAND?
>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME COMPOSTNOW HAS DONE A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, AND THAT IS WHY IT'S BEEN TAKING A LONG TIME TO REACH THAT AGREEMENT AND REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE.
JOURNALIST MADE FOR THEM, AND IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH OF US.
I THINK AFTERWARDS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL THE DATA AND THE EXPERIENCE, AND WE CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS IF THE WAY WE DO IT WITH OUR OWN COLLECTION IS THE BEST WAY, OR IF WE WOULD MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAYBE CONSIDERING HAVING COMPOSTNOW HANDLE THE COLLECTION THEMSELVES.
>> I WAS JUST TRYING TO DISCERN WHAT YOUR QUESTION WAS.
THEY HAD CUSTOMERS OF THOSE 100 IN THE PILOT PROGRAM, SAY 50 OF THOSE CUSTOMERS ARE CURRENTLY BEING [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WAS A LITTLE CURIOUS ABOUT THAT.
THEN, YOUR POINT, THE DIFFERENCE, IS IT JUST THE TRUCKS? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STAFF COMPANY COMPOSTNOW FOR PROFIT AND OUR COMPOST PROGRAM?
>>I DO BELIEVE THEY HAVE LOST A FEW PARTICIPANTS IN OUR PILOT PROGRAM WHO WERE ORIGINALLY SUBSCRIBED TO THE COMPOSTNOW, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THEY HAD TO CONSIDER WHEN THEY DECIDED TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH US.
BUT I THINK TO THEM IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE INVOLVED, AND THEY WANT TO INCREASE THEIR REACH WITH CITIES, AND THEY THINK IT'S A GOOD PILOT, AND THEY WANT TO SEE WHAT DATA CAN COME OUT OF IT, AND THEY WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH.
BUT I WILL SAY IT IS FINANCIALLY BENEFICIAL TO THEM, BUT IT IS NOT HUGELY FINANCIALLY BENEFICIAL TO THEM.
THIS IS ALSO SEEN AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.
>> DO WE KNOW WHO AVONDALE USES, BECAUSE ARE THEY USING COMPOSTNOW? WE'RE NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT IS.
>> THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE OTHER MODEL WHERE COMPOSTNOW IS HANDLING ALL THE COLLECTION AND PROCESSING.
THE COMPOSTNOW HAS AN ATLANTA PROCESSING CENTER, BUT THAT IS ONLY FOR THEIR OWN INTERNAL PURPOSES.
THEY WILL TAKE THE COMPOST FROM THOSE HOUSEHOLDS AND SORT IT INTERNALLY IN ATLANTA, AND THEN DRIVE IT DOWN THEIR TRUCKS COMBINED WITH ALL THE OTHER CITIES AND ALL THEIR OTHER HOUSES THEY'RE COLLECTING FROM AND DRIVE IT DOWN MERRY WEATHER.
SINCE WE ARE DOING IT EXTERNALLY AND DOING OUR OWN COLLECTION, WE DON'T GET TO ACCESS BETTER LAND THE PROCESSING CENTER.
WE'RE JUST BRINGING IT DOWN TO THE ACTUAL FACILITY AT THE END.
THAT'S WHY OUR CONTAMINATION RATES ARE SO HIGH BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT IN AGO BECAUSE THEY'RE SORTING IT THEMSELVES.
THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT US, SEE HOW WE CAN HANDLE SORTING IT AND PREVENTING THAT CONTAMINATION IF A CITY HANDLES IT THEMSELVES.
[00:35:09]
ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE ALSO CONSIDERING IS RIGHT NOW DID GET LARGE-INS WITH THE INTENTION THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE YARD WASTE.WE ARE GOING TO EVALUATE IF WE HAVE THE FUNDS, IF IT'S WORTH IT TO TRY TO GET SMALLER-INS THAT SOMEONE CAN MORE CONVENIENTLY KEEP IN THE KITCHEN.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE SOME SURVEYS TO ASK THE PARTICIPANTS AND JUST SEE IF IT REALLY TO THEM MAKES COMPOST MORE EASIER IF YOU CAN MAKE IT CONVENIENT, OR IF THEY'RE WILLING TO STILL JUST GO OUTSIDE AND PUT IN A LARGE-IN.
THAT ALSO MIGHT REFLECT ON HOW EASY IT IS FOR OUR SANITATION TEAM TO COLLECT WASTE FROM A LARGE IN VERSUS A SMALL IN, TOO.
>> WHEN WE DID THE ANALYSIS OF COMPOST, I THINK A LOT OF IS DRIVEN BY CLIMATE TO REDUCE OUR CLIMATE IMPACT.
WHEN WE DID THE ANALYSIS OF THE COMPOST PROGRAM, DID WE LOOK JUST AT FOOD WASTE, OR DID WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE WAYS WE INCLUDING YARD CLIPPING OR RE DOING THAT ANALYSIS?
>> WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL OF IT AND THAT'S WHY WE DID ORIGINAL WANT TO INCLUDE YARD WASTE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO INCLUDE, AND IF WE SEE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH DEMAND FOR IT, THERE COULD BE CONSIDERATION FOR FUNDING ANOTHER TRACK AND FUNDING AND MAKING THAT ARGUMENT AS WELL BECAUSE WE THINK THAT AS COMBINED [INAUDIBLE].
>> WHERE ARE THE TWO YARD WASTE CURRENTLY.
>> IT DOES GO TO SEPARATE SECTION LANDFILL.
SOMETIMES THEY ALSO USE SOME OF THE YARD WASTE TO COVER THE ACTUAL FILL DUMP SO THAT WAY THE ACTUAL CARBON WHICH IS DIRECTLY COMING OUT CAN BE REDUCED AS WELL.
>> THEY DON'T RECYCLE AS COMPOSE.
THERE'S NO END PRODUCT THAT COMES BACK INTO IT.
>> I THEY HAVE SOIL THAT COMES OUT TO THE [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER]
>> ACTUALLY, CAB COUNTY DOES, THEY HAVE A MULCH PROCESS THAT THEY DO, YARD TRIM MEANS LIMBS, TREE TREES.
THEY HAVE A GRANDER AND THEY MULCH IT UP.
WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THAT ONCE THEY DO THAT? CAB COUNTY, ANY RESIDENT IN THE CAB COUNTY COME DOWN TO THE TRANSFER STATION ON MEMORIAL DRIVE OR WHAT'S THAT CLEAN OVER THERE OFF THE ROAD, AND THEY CAN GET THE MULCH.
IF I'M LOOKING FOR MULCH, I CAN GET IT FOR FREE THERE.
>> IT MAY HAVE SOME PESTICIDES, I UNDERSTAND.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK MOUND WITH PESTICIDES.
>> WE DO HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH COMPASS NOW AND HAVE THAT PARTNERSHIP HAVE THAT COLLABORATION.
WE BOTH USE IT AS RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL.
WE DO WANT TO FREQUENTLY COLLABORATE WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS TO PARTICIPANTS TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK, TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT EASIER, WHAT ISSUES THEY'RE SEEING, TO SEE WHAT ITEMS ARE COMMONLY CONTAMINATED.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE COMPOST?
>> A QUICK COMMENT. MAYBE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE COULD COLLECT THE YARD WASTE, I WONDER IF WE COULD EDUCATE RESIDENTS ON HOW THEY CAN DO MORE OF THEIR OWN COMPOSTING BECAUSE I DON'T THINK OF ALL THE PARTS OF THE COMPOSTING.
MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT'S EASIER TO DO ON YOUR OWN.
MAYBE MY ASSESSMENT IS WRONG, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> I DEFINITELY THINK THERE'S VALUE IN THAT.
WE'VE HAD OUR ESB HAVE THEIR FOCUS INSERT ARTICLES, AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE THAT TALKED ABOUT COMPOSING AT HOME AND THE BENEFITS YOU EVEN IF YOU HAVE GRASSES TOSSING IT INTO YOUR BACKYARD AND LETTING IT NATURALLY DECOMPOSE.
WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO WAYS ALSO FOR REACHING OUT TO THAT PILOT GROUP, BUT ALSO BEYOND, AND LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THREE GUARD BASE IN THE MEANTIME AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THAT'S ALSO A VALUABLE RESOURCE.
>> MEAN, THAT'S THE EASIEST THING TO DO THAT WE DO BECAUSE WE'RE LAZY THROAT.
BUT P GROUND AND GREEN AND FOOD AND THAT CAN BE VERY COMPLICATED AND LABOR-INTENSIVE, BUT JUST THAT ONE PART.
THANKS FOR REMINDING ME THAT THAT WAS A NEW FOCUS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BE ONE SQUARE.
>> THEN JUST A GENERAL UPDATE ON THE EV CHARGERS, WE ARE GETTING THREE DUAL PORTS, SO THAT WILL BE SIX OVERALL CHARGES AT THE PUBLIC WORKS OVER TALLY.
WE ARE ENTERED A CONTRACT WITH VIPARKS TO MANAGE THAT AND HAVE THAT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, AND WE'RE HOPING TO SEE IF WE CAN PARTNER WITH THEM IN FUTURE INSTALLATIONS JUST SO THAT WE HAVE ONE SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE OWNER AND THEY'RE ALL ON THE SAME SYSTEM AS WE LOOK FOR CHARGERS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO AT THE SQUARE.
[00:40:04]
>> THE ONES THAT TALLY ARE THEY ARE.
BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR DC FAST.
WE HAVE CONSIDERED DC FAST CHARGES, POLICE DEPAETMENT.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE MADE A DEFINITIVE DECISION YET IF WE WERE TO USE THAT TYPE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE US TALKING TO ARADY AND GEORGIA POWER TO SEE.
>> ALL THESE LEVEL TWO CHARGES?
>> IS IT PRIMARILY A COST ISSUE WITH THE DC FAST CHARGERS, AREN'T THEY?
>> SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EXPENSIVE.
>> GEORGIA POWER, WE RELY ON THEM TO PROVIDE THE MAKE-READY WORK.
IS THERE A CHARGE FOR THAT? DAVID SHAKING HIS HEAD.
>>I MEAN, SO WE MADE APPLICATIONS TO THE [INAUDIBLE] READY.
WE'VE BEEN APPROVED FOR PUBLIC WORKS.
THAT PROJECT SHOULD GET STARTED ANY TIME NOW.
WE'VE GOT TENTATIVE APPLICATIONS IN.
WE'VE DONE SITE VISITS WITH BOTH BOWERS PARK AND GEORGIA POWER FOR OTHER FACILITIES AS WELL.
SO IT WOULD BE OUR INTENT TO FORMALIZE THOSE APPLICATIONS AND PROCEED.
>> TECHNICALLY, THEY HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR THAT [INAUDIBLE] READY.
>> THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S BEING UTILIZED? TO ITS FLEST EXTENT.
>> WE'LL BE HAVING TO TAP TO IT.
>> TO BE SOME PUBLIC FORWARD-FACING, IS THAT CORRECT TO BE ABLE.
>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
I GUESS DEPENDS ON HOW YOU WANT TO INTERPRET THE RULES.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IF THEY'RE FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE, A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT THAT THEY DON'T INHERENTLY HAVE TO BE AT PUBLIC WORKS, WE INTENTIONALLY DID SELECT A LOCATION THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND THAT SERVED TWO PURPOSES, BOTH THE INTERPRETATION AND MAKE READY AT THAT POINT IN TIME, AS WELL AS THE TRANSFORMER REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR SOLAR BATTERY AT PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH ELIMINATED ABOUT $25,000 TRANSFORMER UPGRADING COST.
>> IT'S A TRUCK IN THE PARKING LOT.
>> IT'S A TRUCK IN THE PARKING LOT.
>> THEN I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE COLLABORATION WITH THE REMENT CHARM AND HOW WE WANT TO KEEP DOING THAT.
THEY ARE A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR HOW WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER MATERIALS, YOU KNOW WITH PRATT AND WHAT WE CAN RECYCLE NOW; THAT IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF MATERIALS YOU CAN RECYCLE.
LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER TYPES OF MATERIALS CHARM CAN TAKE AND LETTING THE RESIDENTS KNOW ABOUT WHAT MATERIALS CHARM CAN TAKE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR DECREASING OUR WASTE OUT OVERALL.
WE WORK WITH CHARM TO HAVE THEM SEND OUT A SURVEY TO THEIR VISITORS WHO ARE IN THE SIP CODE, JUST TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT EXACTLY MATERIALS PEOPLE ARE BRINGING IN AND HOW FREQUENTLY THEY'RE DOING THAT.
THAT WAY, WE WERE TO MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING OR FOR HOW TO COLLABORATE WITH, OR WHAT MATERIALS ARE BEST TO FOCUS ON FOR TRYING TO INCREASE THAT RECYCLING.
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET INFORMED FROM THAT DATA FROM THAT SURVEY.
WE ALSO TALK WITH THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT NEXT YEAR, OUR EARTH DAY AND THEIR KIDS DAYS ARE IN SEPARATE DAYS, THAT WAY WE CAN COLLABORATE FOR GROWTH OR EVENTS, AND LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE THEM AND POTENTIALLY HOSTING EVENTS ON THEIR SITE FOR FUTURE.
CAN YOU REMIND US WHERE THEIR NEWEST FACILITY IS? YES. IT IS I'M HORRIBLE WITH DIRECTIONS, BUT IT'S THE DECA FACILITIES.
I WANT TO BELIEVE NEAR THE BORDER OF AVONDALE.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT PAST LEGACY.
>> THERE'S A SO [OVERLAPPING] I'M GOING TO MISS THAT GOING STRAIGHT DOWN SOUTH COLOMBIA.
>>I JUST DON'T LIKE THE CATER. [LAUGHTER]
>> THEN IN GENERAL TWO, WE ARE LOOKING AT PLANNING TO MAKE OUR EVENTS IN THE CITY MORE GREEN.
WE APPLY TO SOME GRANTS BUT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES ARE VERY MINIMAL AND THEY ARE MORE COMPETITIVE, SO WE HAVEN'T HAD SUCCESS YET, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN GET FUNDING EVEN FOR MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE USING REUSABLE OR RECYCLABLE MATERIALS INSTEAD OF PLASTIC, BUT ALSO LARGER EVENTS.
WITH EARTH DAY INDICATOR FC, THOSE ARE ZERO WASTE ARE CLOSE TO ZERO-WASTE EVENTS.
WE DO HAVE WASTE BINS AND RECYCLING BINS AND COMPOST BINS, AND THOSE COMPOST BINS ARE PROVIDED BY COMPOST NAS PICKUP SERVICE, AND WE HAVE A DEDICATED GREEN TEAM THAT MONITORS THOSE BINS DURING THE CITY EVENTS BECAUSE WE REALIZE IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE PHYSICALLY MONITORING THEM,
[00:45:01]
YOU WILL GET A CONTAMINATION RATE THAT IS TOO HIGH FOR THE COLLECTED.IT IS VERY EXTENSIVE WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT COMPOSTING AT BIGGER EVENTS FOR HOW TO MANAGE THAT, AND IT DOES REQUIRE A LOT OF VOLUNTEER OR STAFF SUPPORT.
BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH EVENTS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE LOOK AT HOW WE CAN INCLUDE THAT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE FOR LARGE EVENTS LIKE WE WATCH ST, HOW WE CAN TRY TO INCORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY INTO THE EVENTS.
BUT ALSO, IN A WAY THAT'S FEASIBLE.
I'LL JUST GET A QUICK UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT PROGRAM.
ELECTRIFIED DECATOR IS A NEED TO BRING ELECTRIFICATION MORE TO THE CITY AND TO THE RESIDENT HOMES AND DECATOR.
ELECTRIFICATION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU CAN UPGRADE THESE SYSTEMS THAT CAN REDUCE YOUR UTILITY BILLS AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY YOU'RE DEMANDING FROM THE GRID, WHICH CAN HELP WITH THAT DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT.
IT CAN ALSO INCREASE THE RESILIENCY AND COMFORT OF HOMES, AND ALSO HELP IF YOU HAVE A GENERATOR, IF YOU HAVE A BACKUP SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, JUST MAKING SURE THOSE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ARE STILL SAFE.
IT CAN IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY, AND ALSO LONG TERM, YOU CAN START TO SEE THE BENEFITS OF SWITCHING FROM UPGRADED APPLIANCES AND HOW THAT INITIAL COST AFFORDING PAYING FOR THOSE APPLIANCES AND FOR THOSE UPGRADES CAN BE OFFSET BY THE REDUCED COST FOR ENERGY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE INCREASING ENERGY COSTS WE'RE SEEING IN HOUSEHOLDS.
THIS WILL DIRECTLY HELP WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, OVERSEEING THE ENERGY BARRIER.
WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT RESIDENTS WHO WILL BE FACING INCREASED ENERGY COSTS.
THIS CAN BE SEEN IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS.
THIS CAN BE HAVING AN ENERGY AUDIT.
OF YOUR HOUSE TO SEE WHERE MOST F, WHERE ARE YOUR LEAKAGE IS, WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST BENEFICIAL INVESTMENT FOR YOU TO PUT INTO YOUR HOUSEHOLD TO ELECTRIFY IT, TO HELP REDUCE YOUR ENERGY DEMAND.
BUT IT CAN INCLUDE HEAT PUMPS, THAT CAN INCLUDE SOLAR, THAT CAN INCLUDE GENERATORS, THAT CAN INCLUDE NEW APPLIANCES LIKE OVENS.
IT'S WORKING WITH LOOKING AT THE CHEAPER REBATES AND WHAT ARE AVAILABLE AND UNDERSTANDING THE CHANGING CLIMATE AND FUNDS, AND WHAT IS STILL AVAILABLE, WHAT CAN BE STACKED, AND WHAT CAN'T BE STACKED, AND HELPING MAKING THE BEST RECOMMENDATION FOR EACH RESIDENT.
FOR WHAT WILL SAVE THEM THE MOST MONEY? WE'LL USE A ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE CALCULATOR THAT CAN LOOK AT TEN TO 15 YEARS DOWN THE LINE OF WHAT SAVINGS YOU CAN EXPECT FOR CERTAIN INVESTMENTS AND HELP YOU GUIDE MAKING THOSE INVESTMENT DECISIONS.
THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS? YOU CAN THOSE [INAUDIBLE].
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE ELECTRIFY.
I THINK ARE WE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF DOING ENERGY AUDITS FOR THE CITY BUILDINGS, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
>> WE HAVE TWO KB AS PART OF OUR DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY GRANT FUNDED.
THEY HAVE JUST STARTED TO LOOK AT OUR FACILITIES AND MAKE THOSE ENERGY AUDITS AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW WE CAN DECREASE OUR OWN ENERGY EXPENDITURE.
>> IS THAT THIS THING, BECAUSE I KNOW OUR CLEAN ENERGY PLAN CALLS FOR, LIKE, AN ENERGY USE DASHBOARD.
IS THAT WHAT WOULD GO ON, I MEAN, WHAT WOULD THAT WHAT WOULD GO ON THE DASHBOARD, OR IS IT LIKE CITY USAGE, OR I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE PLANS ON THE ON THE OUR CLEAN ENERGY PLAN AND WHAT THE STATUS IS AND WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS AROUND THAT ARE.
>> I THINK AS WE WILL TALK WITH TWO KB AND SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT PLATFORMS TO USE, WE ARE ALSO.
AS A GENERAL UPDATE, MANY CITIES USE THE ENERGY STAR PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT, AND THAT HAS SEEN ISSUES WITH EPA FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION.
THERE IS CITIES HAVE HAD ISSUES ACCESSING THAT DATA MANAGEMENT AND HAVE REPORTED THOSE ISSUES.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SOFTWARES BESIDES THAT, AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO NEXT YEAR, LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT PLATFORMS YOU COULD USE AND RECOMMENDING WHAT COULD BE BEST, WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE.
THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO.
THIS MAY BE FOR MR. YOUNGER, HAS A LITTLE BIT TO DO WITH RECYCLING.
I'VE NOTICED THAT WITH THE SQUARE UNDER RENOVATION, MUCH OF THE PLAY AREA IS CONCENTRATED IN ONE AREA NEXT TO THE OLD COURTHOUSE AND THERE'S APPARENTLY WAY TOO FAR TO WALK TO GET TO RECYCLING OR TRASH CAN.
[LAUGHTER] IF THERE COULD BE SOME TRASH AND RECYCLING UNITS PUT THERE WHILE THE SQUARE IS UNDER RENOVATION,
[00:50:03]
AT LEAST THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, SO THAT WHEN I ASKED PEOPLE ON FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN THEY'RE CARRYING THEIR CUPS TO PLEASE FIND A TRASH CAN AFTERWARDS THAT [LAUGHTER] I CAN SAY, HERE IT IS.IT CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE, BUT I THINK WE CAN AT LEAST MAKE IT EASIER.
I DID NOTICE THAT THERE'S NOT SOMETHING IN THAT AREA AND THAT'S WHERE LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE. THANK YOU.
I OFTENTIMES GET CRASH AND LOOK FOR THE TRASH THROUGH THERE, BUT MORE TRASH AS TO BE THERE.
>> AND RECYCLE. THAT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
[I. Call to Order by Mayor.]
WILL TAKE ABOUT 10 MINUTES.[BACKGROUND] NOW, WE CAN CALL MEETING TO ORDER.
I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING FOR TUESDAY,
[II. Approval of the Minutes.]
SEPTEMBER 2ND, OR THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION.WE'RE HAPPY TO HEAR HOW YOU HERE AND WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING MANY OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES SHORTLY.
BUT FIRST, WE WILL LOOK AT APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 18, 2025.
I BELIEVE SOME UPDATES WERE MADE PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THE UPDATED MINUTES WE RECEIVED? [OVERLAPPING] TO APPROVE? IS THERE A SECOND?
[III. Proclamations.]
>> UPON ATTENTION, MANY VOTES AYE AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
NEXT, WE HAVE SOME EXCITING PROCLAMATIONS TO SHARE.
THE FIRST ONE THAT I'M GOING TO SHARE IS THE PAYROLL.
[LAUGHTER] REPRESENTING OUR PAYROLL PROFESSIONAL.
AS I OPENED THE RIGHT PROCLAMATION.
[LAUGHTER] WELL, THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING THE PAYROLL GROUP IN PROFESSION HERE AT THE CITY OF DECATUR.
WHEREAS PAYROLLORG AND IT'S MORE THAN 20,000 MEMBERS HAVE LAUNCHED A NATIONWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN HONORING THE MORE THAN 150 MILLION PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE US AND THE PAYROLL PROFESSIONALS WHO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN SYSTEM BY PAYING WAGES, REPORTING WORKER EARNINGS, AND WITHHOLDING FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT TAXES, AND WHEREAS PAYROLL PROFESSIONALS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, GEORGIA PLAY A KEY ROLE IN MANAGING AND MONITORING THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF AN ORGANIZATION'S PAYROLL SYSTEM BY PROCESSING PAYROLL IN A TIMELY AND ACCURATE FASHION.
WHEREAS PAYROLL PROFESSIONALS ENHANCE THEIR KNOWLEDGE BY PURSUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TO STRENGTHEN COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND TO PROMOTE COST-EFFECTIVE PRACTICES FOR BOTH GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS, AND WHEREAS PAYROLL PROFESSIONALS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY PROACTIVE EDUCATING THEIR ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE ABOUT THE PAYROLL TAX WITHHOLDING SYSTEMS, AND WHEREAS THE DEDICATION OF PAYROLL PROFESSIONALS, AND ESPECIALLY THE PAYROLL STAFF OF THE CITY OF DECATUR IN GEORGIA IS APPRECIATED AND COMMENDED.
NOW, THEREFORE, I PATTI GARRETT, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, THE CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO HEREBY DECLARE THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 5, AS NATIONAL PAYROLL WEEK, AND URGE OUR COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATIONS TO JOIN ME IN EXTENDING APPROPRIATE HONORS AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR IS WALKING WITH DANA.
RECOGNIZE SANTANA DAWSON, A MEMBER OF OUR HR TEAM.
WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE WHO THAT'S ALL THEY DO WITH PAYROLL.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY HEADS THAT SANTANA WEARS AND OTHER FOLKS IN OUR HR DEPARTMENT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND RECOGNIZE THAT.
IT IS ONE OF MANY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU HAVE.
[00:55:02]
BUT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PLACE. [LAUGHTER]>> IT'S A SAME SONG, SO WE CAN BLOCK YOU OUT.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE ANOTHER GROUP THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS.
THIS IS THEIR RECOGNITION WEEK.
WE HAVE SOME REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM L'ARCHE.
YOU ALL WANT TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM? THAT'D BE GREAT. TIM, I'LL LET YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND OUR GUEST THIS EVENING.
>> MY NAME IS TIM MOORE. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF L'ARCHE, ATLANTA.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, AND DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO.
FOLKS LIKE AMBER ARE OUR CORE MEMBERS AND RECEIVE CARE FROM DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS.
THEY'RE, OF COURSE, SUPPORTING OUR CORE MEMBERS, SO THEY CAN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, TO, BUT WE WILL CONVEY YOUR MESSAGE TO THEM.
>> THANK YOU. WHEREAS, DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, DSPS ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF A COMPREHENSIVE AND HIGH QUALITY SYSTEM OF LONG TERM CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE THAT ENABLES PEOPLE TO LIVE, WORK, AND THRIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS THESE COMPASSIONATE AND DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WORK TIRELESSLY EVERY DAY TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES LIVE FULL AND MEANINGFUL LIVES.
PROVIDING SUPPORT WITH DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES, PERSONAL CARE, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, COMMUNITY INTEGRATION, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, AND EMPLOYMENT, AND WHEREAS DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS SERVE AS ESSENTIAL PARTNERS TO FAMILIES EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE GREATER INDEPENDENCE, MAKE PERSONAL CHOICES, AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
WHEREAS PROFESSIONALISM, EXPERTISE, AND COMMITMENT OF DSPS ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY, ENSURING THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN COMMUNITY LIFE, AND WHEREAS, DESPITE THE VITAL AND HIGHLY SKILLED NATURE OF THEIR WORK, DSP PROFESSIONALS OFTEN FACE CHALLENGES, AND IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THEIR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE.
WHEREAS L'ARCHE, ATLANTA IS A DECATUR NONPROFIT HOUSE BASED COMMUNITY THAT CELEBRATES THE GIFTS OF PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND EMPLOYS 20 DSPS WHO PROVIDE FRIENDSHIP, COMMUNITY, AND SUPPORT TO EIGHT CORE MEMBERS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I PATTI GARRETT, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, THE CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7 THROUGH 13TH, 2025 AS DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS RECOGNITION WEEK, AND CALL UPON THE PEOPLE AT DECATUR TO JOIN ME IN HONORING THESE EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS IN EXPRESSING OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR THEIR UNSELFISH DEDICATION TO EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
[APPLAUSE] YOU MAY NOT KNOW, THERE ARE TWO L'ARCHE HOUSES IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
I KNOW SOME OF THE DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, AND WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE THIS COMMUNITY IN CITY OF DECATUR AND APPRECIATE THAT SOMEONE REACHED OUT TO ME, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE.
WE THANK YOU AND ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
[APPLAUSE] I THINK SEPTEMBER STARTED OFF WITH A THING.
DECATUR IS A WELCOMING CITY, AND I WANT TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF WELCOMING WEEK.
WHEREAS THIS SEPTEMBER, THE DECATUR COMMUNITY WILL CELEBRATE WELCOMING WEEK AS A WAY OF CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD,
[01:00:01]
BECAUSE WELCOMING WEEK IS ABOUT BRINGING NEIGHBORS TOGETHER ACROSS DIFFERENCES TO BUILD RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND WORK TOGETHER ON SHARED GOALS.WHEREAS WE STRIVE TO FIND COMMON GROUND WITH EACH OTHER, SEEK SIMILARITIES WITH OUR OWN DIFFERENT CULTURES AND PERSPECTIVES AND DEEPEN OUR COMMITMENTS TO BUILDING A STRONGER AND MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY, AND WHEREAS DECATUR IS HOME TO PEOPLE OF MANY BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO WERE NOT BORN HERE, BUT NOW CALL DECATUR HOME.
WHEREAS DECATUR'S VISION IS TO BE EQUITABLE AND THRIVING, DEPENDS ON ENSURING THAT ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS FEEL WELCOME REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY WERE BORN OR HOW THEY IDENTIFY.
WHEREAS BY FOSTERING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS, RACE, ETHNICITY, PLACE OF ORIGIN, ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND PROFICIENCY, RELIGION, INCOME, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DIFFERING ABILITIES, AGE, AND OTHER FACTORS, EVERYONE MAY ENHANCE DECATUR CIVIC HEALTH, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND WELL BEING FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WHEREAS WHILE WELCOMING WEEK PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAUSE, REFLECT AND PLAN FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF WELCOMING WORK INDICATOR, OUR COMMUNITY PRIORITIZES A SPIRIT OF WELCOMING YEAR ROUND.
WELCOMING IS A CORE PART OF WHO WE ARE, AND DECATUR WILL CONTINUE TO CHOOSE CONNECTION, COURAGE, AND LOVE OVER DIVISION, FEAR, AND HATE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I PATTI GARRETT, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, CITY OF HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 12 THROUGH 21ST AS WELCOMING WEEK, AND CALL UPON THE PEOPLE OF DECATUR TO JOIN TOGETHER TO
[IV. Presentations.]
FORM A STRONGER AND MORE WELCOMING COMMUNITY.THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT, I WILL TURN THE PRESENTATIONS OVER TO MAYOR PRO TEM TONY POWERS TO WELCOME OUR YOUTH COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS AND GIVE THE OATH OF OFFICE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND THANK YOU, PARENTS.
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY, YOU SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED.
YOU HAVE RAISED INCREDIBLY TALENTED CHILDREN THAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING YOUNG PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET.
IN FACT, THIS DAY WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.
I CUT MY VACATION SHORT SO I COULD COME BACK PERSONALLY TO ADMINISTER THEIR OATH OF OFFICE BECAUSE THEIR INTERVIEWS AND THE WAY THEY HANDLED THEMSELVES IS EXTRAORDINARY.
YOU HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB, AND I AM IN FIRM BELIEF THAT THESE ARE OUR NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS, AND THEY WILL GET IT RIGHT.
THANK YOU PARENTS FOR GIVING US GREAT STOCK TO WORK WITH.
I'M HAPPY TO GET STARTED ON ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER CHALLENGE.
SOME OF YOU, THIS IS YOUR FIRST YEAR.
SOME OF YOU, THIS IS YOUR FOURTH YEAR, THIRD YEAR, SECOND YEAR.
AND AS I CALL YOUR NAME, I GUESS MAYBE COME UP TO THE PODIUM, AND THEN WE'LL ALL READ THE OATHS OF OFFICE TOGETHER.
ADDY DUITSMAN, ALLIE HOGAN, ANJU PARK, AUSTIN NOBLES, CLAIRE DUVALL, ELIA MATTHEW-LEWIS, IZAYN UMLANI.
CARSON BAKER, LIORA YUSTEIN, LIZA TELL, MALACHI BATAILLE, MASON NOBLES, RILEY PARK, RUE COOPER, SONOMA OSTER, AND TATUM HERMAN.
YOU SHOULD ALL HAVE A COPY OF YOUR YOUTH COUNCIL OATH OF OFFICE.
I WILL ASK YOU TO READ AFTER ME, PLEASE.
>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL.
>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL.
>> FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES AS A MEMBER OF THE YOUTH COUNCIL.
>> FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES AS A MEMBER OF THE YOUTH COUNCIL.
>> AND ACT IN A WAY MOST CONDUCIVE.
>> AND ACT IN A WAY MOST CONDUCIVE.
>> TO THE WELFARE AND BEST INTEREST.
>> TO THE WELFARE AND BEST INTERESTS.
>> OF DECATUR DURING MY CONTINUANCE THEREIN.
>> OF DECATUR DURING MY CONTINUANCE THEREIN.
>> SO HELP ME GUYS. SO HELP YOU GUYS.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, YOU ARE NOW INITIALLY PERFORMED.
>> I CAN MISS VACATION, AND COME BACK.
YOU CAN'T MISS MEETINGS LIKE THIS,
[01:05:01]
AND EVERY MEETING JUST LIKE THIS.THANK YOU ALL. PARENTS, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
YOUR KIDS ARE SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT NONE OF US WERE ABLE TO DO THIS WHEN WE WERE THERE AT THAT AGE.
THESE ARE THIS IS A SPECIAL GROUP.
THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST, FIRST OF YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS WE'VE EVER HAD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE. THANK YOU.
>> YEAH, WE PROBABLY NEED TO GET A PICTURE.
>> IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THE PICTURES.
I AM ANGELA THREADGILL, SERVICE THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE A NEW EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY, WHO HAS FILLED THE POSITION OF HOMELESS STRATEGY MANAGER.
BEFORE I NAME HER AND BRING HER UP FOR A FEW WORDS, I DO WANT TO SHARE SOME OF HER BACKGROUND AND WHY SHE WAS CHOSEN FOR THIS POSITION.
THIS PERSON HAS OVER 15 YEARS OF NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC SECTOR EXPERIENCE WITHIN METRO ATLANTA; IN THE AREAS OF MENTAL HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS, VICTIM ASSISTANCE, CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY AMONG OTHER SPECIALTY AREAS.
SHE BRINGS EXPERTISE IN PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, POLICIES AND PROCEDURE IMPLEMENTATION, AND BUDGET AND GRANT MANAGEMENT.
SHE HAS EARNED A MASTER OF EDUCATION, DEGREE IN COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGY FROM TROY UNIVERSITY AND HAS A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY FROM GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY.
HER POSITION, SHE WILL BE RECOMMENDING LOCAL POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT REDUCE AND OR PREVENT HOMELESSNESS.
ONE OF THE VISIONS THAT SHE HAS SHARED RECENTLY WITH A FEW OF US IS "A DECATUR WHERE HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF, AND NON RECURRING." I HOPE THAT EVERYONE CAN SHARE IN THAT VISION.
I WILL INTRODUCE NOW FELICIA MOORE, AND PLEASE COME ON UP, FELICIA.
[APPLAUSE] SHE'S ONLY BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS NOW, AND SHE'S ALREADY PRODUCING SOME GREAT WORK, SO APPRECIATE HER.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I AM SO EXCITED AND HONORED TO BE THE FIRST HOMELESS STRATEGY MANAGER HERE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT I'M FOCUSING ON.
STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS, COORDINATING RESOURCES AND CREATING IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM STRATEGIES TO END HOMELESSNESS.
NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT LONG TERM SOLUTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN VULNERABLE POSITIONS.
CURRENTLY, I'M WORKING ON AN ASSESSMENT MAP OF RESOURCES.
WHAT THAT IS, IT'S ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE DECATUR AND DCAP AREA, AND THEN USING THAT AS A WAY TO SEE WHERE WE NEED SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, WHERE THERE ARE GAPS IN THOSE SERVICES AND MAKING SURE THOSE SERVICES ARE CONNECTED TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VULNERABLE AND NEED THOSE SERVICES.
I'M WORKING ON THAT, AND I'VE DEVELOPED A PRELIMINARY STRATEGIC PLAN, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.
THE VISION FOR THAT PLAN IS RARE, BRIEF NON RECURRING HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF DECATUR. THAT'S OUR GOAL.
I'VE ALSO COORDINATED A SMALL ROUND TABLE MEETING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND THAT'S HAPPENING LATER THIS MONTH.
LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT MY PASSION FOR THIS WORK IS DEEPLY PERSONAL.
AS A CHILD, I EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
THAT LED ME TO BE COMPASSIONATE AND ALSO VERY ASSERTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE FIND RESOURCES.
I DON'T WANT OTHERS TO BE LIKE ME AND MY SIBLINGS WERE AND NOT BE ABLE TO FIND SUPPORT WHEN WE NEEDED IT.
[01:10:01]
THAT'S WHAT DRIVES ME AND FULFILLS ME, AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE IN THIS ROLE, AND I WILL BE KEEPING YOU ALL UPDATED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> I BELIEVE SHE'S ALREADY CALLED HER FIRST MEETING. [LAUGHTER]
>> THEN, I THINK WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO FIRE AND RESCUE CHIEF OF WASHINGTON FOR A STAFF INTRODUCTION.
I THINK WE HAVE MORE FROM THE STAFF OF FIRE.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR NEW DEPUTY CHIEF, CHIEF DOMINIQUE ORLANDO.
HE STARTED TODAY, SO TODAY IS HIS FIRST DAY.
[LAUGHTER] CHIEF ORLANDO HAS 32 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE FIRE SERVICE.
HAVE MOSTLY SERVED WITH THE SPRING HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT IN TENNESSEE AS THE ASSISTANT CHIEF.
PRIOR TO THAT, HE DEDICATED MUCH OF HIS CAREER TO RALEIGH FIRE DEPARTMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE HE SERVED IN A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES.
HE HOLDS A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND A BACHELOR'S IN FIRE PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY, WITH A MINOR IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE.
CHIEF ORLANDO HAS ACHIEVED MULTIPLE PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS AND CERTIFICATES AND PARTICIPATED IN A MULTITUDE OF TRAININGS.
IS WAY TOO LONG FOR ME TO GIVE YOU YOUR LIST.
[LAUGHTER] PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING DEPUTY CHIEF, DOMINIC ORLANDO TO THE CITY OF DECATUR FAMILY.
[APPLAUSE] I'M GOING TO PUT HIM ON THE SPOT SINCE IT'S HIS FIRST DAY.
[V. Special Recognitions.]
[LAUGHTER] WELCOME, CHIEF. HAPPY TO HAVE.>> GLAD TO BE HERE. THANK YOU.
>> WE CONTINUE OUR LOOK AT SOME SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS IN THE CERT GRADUATES.
>> SURE. YES. I'M GARY MINARD.
I'M A CAPTAIN WITH CITY OF DECATUR FIRE RESCUE.
WE'VE GOT SOME EXCITING NEWS TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HAD DONE A CERT CLASS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DEKALB EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THIS WAS THE FIRST CLASS THAT WE'VE DONE COMPLETELY ON OUR OWN OUT OF STATION 1, AND WE HAD SEVEN AMAZING PEOPLE THAT SPENT 24 HOURS WITH US LEARNING ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT CULMINATED IN A DISASTER DRILL THAT YOU WILL SEE A SHORT VIDEO OF VERY QUICKLY.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MENTION THIS COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE HAD IN OUR DRILL.
IF THEY'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND UP.
SHE DOES AN AMAZINGLY DRAMATIC CARDIAC ARREST.
[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE DAVID AND ALEX BARBE.
DAVID IS ACTUALLY A CERT MEMBER FROM THE ONE WE DID IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DEKALB EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
HIS SON IS DEFINITELY A PERSON IN TRAINING.
[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE HERE.
WE HAD ALEX SMITH AND IAN AMAN.
THEY WERE ALSO SOME MOCK VICTIMS. WE DO HAVE BRITTANY GODFREY, WHO IS FROM THE DEKALB COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE, WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN DOING OUR SPECIAL EFFECTS.
SHE'S ALSO BEEN A GREAT PARTNER WITH US IN THE PAST ON OPIOID OVERDOSE AWARENESS AND MANY THINGS.
WE JUST WANT TO GIVE HER THIS CHALLENGE POINT TO RECOGNIZE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, CERT WAS MADE FROM A HORRIBLE DISASTER WHERE THERE WAS AN EARTHQUAKE IN MEXICO IN 1985.
THERE WERE ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES.
VOLUNTEERS SAVED 700 LIVES, BUT 100 OF THOSE UNTRAINED VOLUNTEERS LOST THEIR LIVES.
WE HAVE DISASTERS THAT CAN HAPPEN THAT CAN OVERWHELM FIRST RESPONDERS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE UNTRAINED PEOPLE TRYING TO HELP THAT AREN'T PUTTING THEIR OWN SAFETY FIRST.
THAT IS THE POINT OF THIS WHOLE CLASS.
THEY LEARN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS,
[01:15:01]
CERT ORGANIZATION, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY, FIRE SAFETY AND UTILITY CONTROLS, LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE, TERRORISM AND CERT, AND WE EVEN THREW IT IN TRIAGE.IF WE HAVE IT READY, WE'VE GOT A SMALL VIDEO THAT SHOWS THE CULMINATION OF ALL THEIR EFFORTS.
MOST OF IT WAS SITTING IN CHAIRS FOR A LONG TIME.
[LAUGHTER] BUT THIS WAS THE FINAL RESULT.
WE ALSO, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEERED FOR OUR DRILL, WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY NICE RED DECATUR FIRE SHIRTS. THEY'RE NOT READY TONIGHT.
WE COULDN'T BRING THEM WITH US, BUT WE WILL HAVE THEM FOR YOU. [LAUGHTER]
>> COULD YOU PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS VIDEO? [LAUGHTER]
[LAUGHTER] ALL OF THE THINGS I JUST DESCRIBED ARE HAPPENING IN THIS VIDEO.
>> [LAUGHTER] WELL, IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PLAY IT, I WILL POST IT ONLINE, SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT.
YOU WILL SEE ALL OF THE EFFORT THAT ALL OF THESE MEMBERS PUT INTO THIS.
IT WAS JUST SO MUCH THAT THEY HAD TO LEARN OVER THREE WEEKS WORTH OF TIME.
THEY WERE TREMENDOUSLY JUST ATTENTIVE, AND SO MUCH EFFORT WAS PUT INTO THIS.
WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME THEM UP NOW AND GIVE THEM THEIR CERTIFICATES.
>> OUR FIRST CLASS PARTICIPANT WAS GEORGE E. CORLEY.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAD LAURA SCOTT. [APPLAUSE]
>> CONGRATULATIONS. [BACKGROUND]
[APPLAUSE] WEARING ONE OF OUR CERT T-SHIRTS.
>> WE HAVE JOHN WATERHOUSE, WHO IS HERE WITH HIS WIFE, WHO IS ACTUALLY A CERT GRADUATE FROM THE LAST ENDEAVOR WE HAD.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE'VE GOT JEVON HARRIS, WHO IS ACTUALLY A CITY EMPLOYEE, WHO WORKS IN OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
[APPLAUSE] THEN WE'VE GOT JOSE VARGAS, WHO IS ALSO A CITY EMPLOYEE WHO I WAS TOLD MIGHT HAVE TO WORK TONIGHT AT THE COURT, BUT MADE IT.
[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] LASTLY, ONE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS TOOK THE CLASS SO THAT SHE CAN BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR AND ACTUALLY ASSIST ME THE NEXT TIME WE RUN THIS.
JASMINE RON, [APPLAUSE] EVERYBODY WHO HELPED WITH THE DRILL, WE'LL GET THOSE SHIRTS TO YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
EVERYBODY ELSE, PLEASE WATCH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THAT'S.
[OVERLAPPING] WE MAY HAVE A VIDEO FOR YOU.
[01:20:14]
>> YOU CAN SEE WE HAD SOME AMAZING ACTORS FROM THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> BY STANDARD, INITIATED CPR IS A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF SOMEONE SURVIVING A CARDIAC ARREST.
WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT IN THE PAST YEAR ALONE, WE HAVE TAUGHT CPR TO OVER 300 TEACHERS, SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, CITY STAFF, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ORGANIZE AND CREATE CLASSES FOR THEIR STREETS, AND THE LATEST CRAZE IS AN ENORMOUS INTEREST IN TEENS WANTING CPR AND FIRST AID, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM OUR CLASS.
[LAUGHTER] TODAY, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A BYSTANDER, FIREFIGHTERS, AND EMS STAFF FOR HEROIC EFFORTS ON TWO MEDICAL CALLS.
IF I CAN GET THESE PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE.
WE HAVE BYSTANDER EDDIE BOWMAN, CAPTAIN JAMES HUDLEY, FI INSPECTOR JASMINE RON, FAO ORIOL THOMAS, FAO ABRAHAM DURAN IS ON VACATION, SO HE'S NOT WITH US.
FIREFIGHTER GARY ANDERSON, AND WE HAD A PART-TIME FIREFIGHTER, CARSTEN GREEN.
ON JULY 21, A MAN WENT INTO CARDIAC ARREST ON A SIDEWALK OF CHURCH STREET.
A BYSTANDER, EDDIE BOWMAN, WHO IS HERE WITH US TODAY, AND AN UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN WHO WE WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE, BEGIN COMPRESSIONS IN THE HEAVY RAIN WHEN THEY SAW A MAN COLLAPSE.
ENGINE ONE AND QUIN ONE RESPONDED AND CONTINUED COMPRESSIONS.
THE IMMEDIATE COMPRESSIONS BY THE BYSTANDER, COMBINED WITH THE RAPID RESPONSE OF DECATUR FIREFIGHTERS, THE PATIENT SURVIVED AND WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL ON AUGUST 6.
THEY'RE HERE. PLEASE RECOGNIZE AND GIVE APPLAUSE TO THESE HEROIC. [APPLAUSE] THIS IS
[01:25:18]
A TRADITION IN THE FIRE SERVICE, AND WE'LL HAVE ANDREA AND TERESA COME DOWN TO THE FIRE STATION, BUT SHE'LL GIVE THEM SOME CARDIAC RIBBONS.IF YOU SEE SOME OF THEM, MAYBE NOT APPEAR, BUT SOME OF THEM HAVE RIBBONS, AND THAT SIGNIFIES THEIR SAVES, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT RIBBONS.
THEY'LL GET THEIR RIBBONS LATER.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT EDDIE BOWMAN WITH THIS CERTIFICATE AND A CHALLENGE COIN FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
THANK YOU FOR ASSISTING US IN SAVING OUR RESIDENT.
ANYTIME. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THE NEXT INCIDENT, IT WAS THE SAME SITUATION AS THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT, A BYSTANDER INITIATED CPR.
SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY BECAUSE SHE'S IN SPAIN.
BUT ENGINE II AND RESCUE ONE RESPONDED WITH AMR TRANSPORT UNIT ARRIVING QUICKLY AFTERWARDS.
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF EVERYONE, ONCE AGAIN, THE PATIENT SURVIVED THE CARDIAC ARREST EVENT.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AS I CALL YOUR NAME.
FIRE INSPECTOR ABBASI, FIREFIGHTER TURNER, FAO MANNING, FIREFIGHTER JACKMAN, AMR STAFF, PARAMEDIC JEFFREY MULLINS, AEMT, ESTEFANI MONDRAGON RODRIGUEZ, AND AEMT CAMDEN THOMPSON.
PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THIS AWESOME. [APPLAUSE] ALL SORRY.
AGAIN, WE WILL GET THEIR RIBBONS TO US, AND WE JUST APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK OF AMR, ESPECIALLY ON THIS INCIDENT, RESPONDING QUICKLY AND GETTING THE PATIENT TO THE HOSPITAL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
[VI.A. Recommend approval of an alcoholic beverage license for consumption on premises of beer, wine, and spirituous liquors to William Freeman for Roaring Social Decatur LLC dba Roaring Social, 101 West Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 110-BX.]
THANK YOU. WHAT A GREAT START FOR ME.HAPPY SO MANY OF YOU WERE HERE, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO CELEBRATE THIS EVENING.
NEXT, WE WILL MOVE ON OUR AGENDA TO APPROVAL OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S REALLY TO FOLLOW WHAT WE DO US FOR THE LAST 30 MINUTES, TONIGHT, I AM RECOMMENDING AND THE APPROVAL OR ISSUANCE OF AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE TO THE APPLICANT, WILLIAM FREEDMAN FOR THE BUSINESS ROARING SOCIAL DECAY, DOING BUSINESS AS ROARING SOCIAL.
THIS IS THE LOCATION AT 1:01 WEST PONTON AVENUE, S 110.
YOU'LL KNOW THIS AS THE BUILDING THERE AT THE CORNER OF CLAREMONT AND WEST PONS LION.
THE BUSINESS WILL BE USING A LOWER LEVEL OF A BANK BUILDING FOR THEIR BUSINESS AND RECOMMENDING THE ISSUANCE OF AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR BEER, WINE, AND BEARS WITH LIQUORS, FOR CONSUMPTION ON PREMISES.
THE QUESTIONS. I WAS WORKING WITH [INAUDIBLE] I'M ASSUMING THAT. [OVERLAPPING].
THAT IS MY PARTNER. MY NAME IS BRIAN HART BROW I'M THE MANAGING PARTNER, THE SERVICE OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE HEAT OF SOCIAL VENTURES, THE PARENT COMPANY, SEPTEMBER 18, APPROVING THAT EVERYTHING GOES WELL TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
THE BRONZE STATUE IS OUT FRONT.
THAT IS A STAPLE OF OUR DANCING IN THE STREETS HERE IN DECATUR.
REPLICA OF WHAT WE DID IN ALPHARETTA.
WE COULD BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT BEING A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD TO PROCEED TONIGHT, SHARES THAT EXCITEMENT. THANK YOU.
GOT HERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR CONSUMPTION OF PREMISES OF BEER, WINE, AND [INAUDIBLE] LIQUORS TO WILLIAM FREEDMAN, FOR ROARING SOCIAL DICATOR, LLC.
[01:30:02]
ROARINGLY.I'LL GIVE YOU A SOCIAL SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
[VII. Public Comment on Agenda Action Items.]
AYE [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT.ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS OTHER THAN QUESTION OF BUSINESS AND REPORTS ANOTHER BUSINESS.
WE'LL HAVE TIME LATER IN THE MEETING TO TAKE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT WE'LL BE TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT NOW ON JUST THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. SO IF YOU WANT TO TAKE ONE MOMENT BECAUSE THAT'S FINE, AND THEN I'LL HAVE YOU COME UP.
LET ME JUST BRIEFLY READ THROUGH THESE.
FIRST, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SPEED LIMITS ON THE LIST OF ROADWAYS.
I THINK PEOPLE MAY BE EXCITED ABOUT AS WELL.
PURCHASE OF CABOTA RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE COLLECTION VEHICLES, THE SUPPLEMENTAL LEASE FINANCING FOR THESE CABOTA RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE COLLECTION VEHICLES, REPLACEMENT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HANDGUNS, AND ALSO THE OAKHURST POOL HEATER REPLACEMENT.
SO WE'LL ASK THOSE WHO ARE WITH US IN THE MEETING IF THERE IS SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ANY OF THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. WE'LL ASK YOU TO COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
THEN WE'LL SEE IF THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE ONLINE AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE COMMENTS.
NOW WE'LL OPEN IT UP AND YOU ARE PLEASE WELCOME TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
IF YOU WILL BE SURE AND COME TO THE PODIUM AND SPEAK IN THE MICROPHONE.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LINDA NAPIER, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DECATUR.
I HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT I'D LIKE TO PASS ON REGARDING YOUR ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY REPORT, AND HOW THIS CAN HELP.
I DIDN'T HEAR THAT BEING MENTIONED.
IT WOULD COME UP A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE EVENING.
THESE ARE OUR AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, SO JUST THOSE THAT I READ.
IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO IS IN THE MEETING THIS EVENING THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THESE, PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. SEEING NONE. WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS TO THOSE WHO HAVE JOINED US ONLINE.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE IF YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND.
WE'LL CALL ON YOU TO MAKE A COMMENT AND THIS WORK WILL UNMUTE YOU.
[VIII.A. Ordinance Amending Speed Limits on List of Roadways.]
SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, AND WE WILL TURN THE FIRST ONE OVER TO THE SCHERER.GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I SERVE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 0.25-X-X, WHICH AMENDS CHAPTER 98 TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES OF THE CITY CODE BY REPLACING EXISTING SECTIONS AS SHOWN ON THE LIST OF ROADWAYS FOR CITY OF DECATUR, PROVIDED BY THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OR G DOT.
GDOTS OFFICE OF TRAFFIC OPERATIONS AND GDOT DISTRICT SEVEN CONDUCTED A PEDESTRIAN SAFETY STUDY AND PRESENTED FINDINGS AT A CITY COMMISSION WORK SESSION JULY 15, 2024.
ORDINANCE O-25-X-X REFLECTS THE CHANGES GDOT PROPOSED TO STATE ROUTE SPEED LIMITS, AND CITY OF DECATUR CITY COMMISSION SUPPORTED IN OCTOBER OF 2024.
CHANGES INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDED ORDINANCE WILL REDUCE THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT ON STATE OUT 10, COLLEGE AVENUE FROM 35-30 MILES PER HOUR.
STATE ROUTE 155, CLAREMONT AVENUE, COMMERCE DRIVE, COLLEGE AVENUE, AND SOUTH KENLER STREET FROM 35-30 MILES PER HOUR, AND STATE ROUTE EIGHT, SCOTT BOULEVARD FROM 40-35 MILES PER HOUR.
REDUCING SPEED LIMITS ON STATE ROADS WITHIN THE CITY OF DECATUR DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE DECATUR SAFE STREET SAFETY ACTION PLAN BY ADDRESSING ONE OF THE LEADING CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO SEVERE AND FATAL CRASHES, EXCESSIVE VEHICLE SPEED.
[01:35:06]
THE SAFETY ACTION PLAN, DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH, IDENTIFIED HIGH-RISK CORRIDORS, MANY OF WHICH INCLUDE OR INTERSECT WITH SAFE ROUTES WHERE THE SEVERITY OF CRASHES IS STRONGLY CORRELATED WITH HIGHER OPERATING SPEEDS.LOWERING SPEED LIMITS ON THESE ROADWAYS ENHANCES SAFETY FOR ALL USERS, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WALKING OR BIKING, BY REDUCING STOPPING DISTANCES, IMPROVING DRIVER REACTION TIMES, AND INCREASING THE SURVIVABILITY OF CRASHES. ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T THINK SO.
I DID NOTICE WITH THE ORDINANCE.
IT HAS AN ATTACHMENT A WITH THESE LIST OF ROADWAYS, AND I DON'T SEE THE ATTACHMENT WITH THE ORDINANCE.
I'M ASSUMING IT IS WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY JUST READ TO US, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. IT'S ATTACHMENT A LIST NUMBER 08-2025-01 FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, LISTING THE MODIFIED SPEED LIMITS FOR ON-SYSTEM ROADWAYS AND OFF-SYSTEM ROADWAYS.
I HAD A QUICK QUESTION. LAST SESSION, WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT COMMERCE DRIVE SOUTHWOOD COLLEGE AND OUR ABILITY TO REGULATE THAT AS A CITY STREET.
THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THAT.
I WANTED TO KNOW DO YOU HAVE JURISDICTION THERE OR NOT.
[INAUDIBLE] ABOUT THIS? YES. NO, I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH G DOT TO CLARIFY.
I DON'T BELIEVE THEY DO, BUT I DID NOTICE THAT THEY IDENTIFY THAT SECTION ON THEIR PROJECT.
SORRY. THEY IDENTIFY IT IN THE PLAN SET AS BEING A STATE ROUTE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S ACCURATE, AND SO I NEED TO FOLLOW UP.
IT HAS, BUT THE DSA IS THE ATTACHMENT.
HANDING THAT TO US, JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PETITIONER ACTUALLY SEE THE DOCUMENT THAT'S BEING REFERENCED AS THAT IS PART OF IT IS PART OF THE ORDINANCE.
IT'S JUST NOT IT'S NOT ATTACHED HERE AS DESCRIBED BY THE ORDINANCE.
[INAUDIBLE] THAT WILL BE PART OF ANY [INAUDIBLE] SUBMITTED TO.
LET ME SHARE MY FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
SHOULD WE APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE? I KNOW THE GDOT WILL CHANGE THE POSTED SPEED SIGNS? WILL THERE BE ANY ELECTRONIC BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO SIGNS TOO OFTEN, WHICH IS WHY THEY SPEED.
BUT HOW WILL WE LET THE GREATER PUBLIC KNOW? BECAUSE, WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE TWO HEAVILY TRAFFICKED AREAS OF THE CITY? HOW WILL WE LET THE BROADER PUBLIC KNOW THAT THIS IS NOW A NEW CHANGE? SHOULD THE ORDINANCE BE APPROVED, WE WILL WORK WITH G DOT TO REVISE THEIR G PASS SYSTEM TO GET ALL OF THIS INFORMATION UPDATED.
ONCE THAT IS COMPLETE, THEN THE SIGNAGE WILL BE CHANGED, AND WE CAN, AS A CITY, WORK TO COMMUNICATE MORE BROADLY THAT THE SPEED LIMIT IS BEING REDUCED.
I WONDER IF WE CAN ASK TO USE THOSE.
[OVERLAPPING] BILLBOARD THINGS THAT THE PD HAS TO HELP.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEIR PERMISSION.
THE CITY OF DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I MEAN, THAT WAS THE QUESTION.
I MEAN, WE HAVE THAT LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF, CLARE [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE THE DISCRETION TO PLACE THOSE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND MESSAGE WHATEVER MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE ON THE BOARDS, AND WE CAN DO THAT AND WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR THE STATE ROUTES.
HOW ABOUT ENFORCEMENT? DO WE HAVE AN ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY IN PLACE BECAUSE? WELL, I THINK LOGISTICALLY, WE DO HAVE TIME BEFORE THESE SIGNS WILL COME TO FRUITION.
FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AMPLE TIME FOR THE ENFORCEMENT PLAN BECAUSE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL STEPS THAT ARE GOING TO INVOLVE G DOT AND SOME ARE TECHNICAL AND THE PHYSICAL SIGNAGE.
BUT GO HESITATE TO SAY HOW MUCH LONGER IT COULD BE ONCE THIS DECISION IS MADE,
[01:40:04]
THEN TAKING THIS BACK TO G DOT.AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE AMPLE TIME TO HAVE A STRONG SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN, ENFORCEMENT PLAN, PUBLIC EDUCATION PLAN.
THE GOAL IS THAT IT NOT BE A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY AT THESE SPEED LIMITS HAVE DROPPED 5 MILES.
>> THE ATTACHMENT A INCLUDES THESE NEW UPDATED ONES ON THE ROADWAY, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES THE OTHER ROADS THAT ARE [OVERLAPPING] OFF SYSTEM, AND WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE ON SYSTEM, IS THAT?
>> YES. THERE ARE EIGHT CHANGES SPECIFICALLY, AND WE COULD GO THROUGH THE DETAILS, BUT THEY'RE AS SPECIFIC AS SCOTT BOULEVARD, STATE ROUTE 8 FROM 250 FEET WEST OF PINE TREE DRIVE TO CLAREMONT AVENUE 4.085 MILES ETC. [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU. NOW THE ATTACHMENT, SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
>> ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MICHELLE?
>> THANK YOU MAYOR. SEEING THIS THROUGH AND LETTING ALL THOSE NUMBERS TAKE SPACE IN YOUR HEAD FOR SO LONG THE GO DOT CODES AND STATE ROUTE NUMBERS, I DON'T KNOW ALL ANY EXCEPT CLAREMONT.
BUT THIS, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE IS NOT SOMETHING WE DECIDED TO DO THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE OR ANYONE WHO'S WATCHED THE LONG DOCUMENTARY REALLY THE COMMUNITY CAME BEHIND THIS EFFORT IN 2018 WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
IT SPEAKS TO HOW HARD IT IS TO DO THIS WORK.
IT STARTED WITH SOMEONE BEFORE YOU WERE EVEN HERE, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR SOME OF US ON THIS CISION.
I'M THANKFUL FOR IT AND IT REALLY IS HARD WORK, AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT THE STAFF TO PUSH THIS TO SEE IT AND EXPERIENCE THE SAFETY THAT IT BRINGS TO.
THERE COULD BE CRITICS OR PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND DON'T LIKE IT, BUT I HOPE WE CAN ALL EXPLAIN BACK TO THEM THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE RIGHT THING TO DO IT JUST TOOK A WHILE TO DO IT.
>> I'VE BEEN THINKING OF THE PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE DEATHS WE'VE HAD HERE IN THE DATA.
I THINK ALL OF THE POT ROUTES.
YOU SAID SPEED AS CONTRIBUTOR TO THOSE TYPES OF STEP?
>> YES. SPEED SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD AND SEVERITY OF TRAFFIC CRASHES.
>> MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 2-25-XX THAT AMENDS THE SPEED LIMITS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE LIST OF ROADWAYS.
>> OBJECTION TO ALL SHAKING OUR HEAD.
THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE. [INAUDIBLE]
[VIII.B. Purchase of Kubota Residential Solid Waste Collection Vehicles.]
CHAIR OF VOTES, AND THANK YOU.
NEXT, WE'LL LOOK AT THE APPROVAL OF SOME PURCHASE OF THE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION VEHICLES.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING GOOD EVENING, COMMISSION.
I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR CITY DECATUR.
I AM COMING BY THIS EVENING TO RECOMMEND AND HOPEFULLY GET APPROVAL TO PURCHASE FOR CABOTA ROUGH TERRAIN VEHICLES FROM MASON TRACTOR COMPANY OF MCDONALD, GEORGIA IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $170,000.
THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION USE AND THESE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT ARE REQUIRED FOR A DELIVERY OF SERVICES FOR RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE AND YARD TRIMS COLLECTION SERVICES INDICATOR.
THE CABOTAS ARE GOING TO BE EQUIPPED WITH 1.5 CUBIC YARD DUMP BODY BEDS ON THE BACK OF THOSE VEHICLES OR WE CAN LOAD THEM UP WITH SOLID WASTE OR YARD WASTE AND TAKE THEM BACK TO THE LARGER VEHICLES, LARGER TRUCKS TO LOAD THEM UP.
THESE VEHICLES WILL NOT BE WERE NOT BED OUT BECAUSE MASON TRACTOR IS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT CAN ASSIST US IN BUILDING THESE VEHICLES OUT FOR US.
UNDER STATE CONTRACT, THEY WILL PURCHASE THE CABOTA STUDENTS, AND THEN THEY HAVE A COMPANY COME IN AN THE DUCK BODY PORTION OF THAT VEHICLE.
[01:45:02]
THE RETROFIT OF THAT VEHICLE.WE NEED THOSE VEHICLES TO SERVICE IN THIS URBAN ENVIRONMENT, AND WE NEED THEM TO CONTINUE TO SERVICE THE EQUIPMENT SERVICE THE EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED.
THESE VEHICLES WERE REPLACED FOUR CABOTAS AS REPURCHASED IN 2020.
BECAUSE THE MAINTENANCE COSTS ON THOSE CURRENT VEHICLES ARE EXCESSIVE AND CREATING A UNSUSTAINABLE EXPENSE ON THE SOLID WASTE FUND.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING TO REPLACE THEM.
DURING DURING THE BUDGET PREPARATION BACK IN FEBRUARY, WE HAD GOT A QUOTE FOR THESE VEHICLES FOR $160,000.
WE'RE LOOKING TO PURCHASE THEM NOW, AND WITH FINANCIAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, THOSE DID WE'RE GOING TO COST US 170,000-$10,000 INCREASE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT COVERING THE $10,000 DIFFERENCE.
WE HAVE OTHER ITEMS TO PURCHASE IN THIS FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, AND THE SAVINGS FROM THOSE PURCHASES WILL BE ABLE TO COVER THAT $10,000.
WE ARE RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY UTILIZE THE GMA DIRECT INSTALLMENT LEASE PURCHASE PROGRAM FOR FINANCING.
WHICH WILL OBLIGATE THE CITY TO MAKE FOUR ANNUAL PAYMENTS OF APPROXIMATELY $47,800 FOR FOUR YEARS BEGINNING IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
PURCHASE OF CABOTA ROUGH TERRAIN VEHICLES FROM MASON TRACTOR OF MCDONALD, GEORGIA, ONCE AGAIN, IN THE MOOT NOT TO EXCEED $170,000.
>> THE TYPICAL LIFESPAN FOR THOSE.
>> YES, MA'AM. THOSE BOTS [INAUDIBLE] FACTORS.
>> NOT JUST FOR COLLECTION, BUT WE USE THEM FOR ALSO IN THE WINTER MONTHS, WE HAVE PLOWS THAT GO IN FRONT OF THEM.
WE USE THEM TO PUT OUT SAND OR SALT ON THE STREETS, ICE STORMS. THEY USED A LIVE.
THEY'RE NOT JUST USED ON THE COLLECTION ROUTES THEY USED.
>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT APPROVING IS THE PURCHASE, AND THEN WE'LL NEXT BE LOOKING AT, LIKE, HOW THE PURCHASE.
>> APPROVING THE FINANCING THE FAN.
[OVERLAPPING] I PURCHASE IS APPROVED [OVERLAPPING].
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF FOR BODA SOLID WASTE COLLECTION VEHICLES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $170,000 FOR MASON TRACTOR. SECOND?
>> HAS BEEN MADE IN A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
[VIII.C. Supplemental Lease Financing of Kubota Residential Solid Waste Collection Vehicles.]
AND THE PURCHASE IS APPROVED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I LIKE BEING MARRIED. [LAUGHTER]
>> NEGOTIATE THE PURCHASE AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE PAY FOR IT.
[LAUGHTER] THERESA D CASHIER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OVER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AND I AM HERE TO RECOMMEND THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION R-25-XX, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL LEASE FOR THE FINANCING OF FOUR CABOTA THINK I FINALLY GOT THAT PRONUNCIATION, RTVS FOR SANITATION COLLECTION THROUGH GMA DIRECT LEASE FINANCING PROGRAM.
ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE WE ARE USING THE GMA LEASE PURCHASE PROGRAM RATHER THAN THE GMA LEASE POOL PROGRAM.
THE GMA LEASE POOL PROGRAM IS SCHEDULED TO TERMINATE IN JUNE OF 2028, WHICH LIMITS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE AMORTIZATION SCHEDULED TO THREE YEARS.
SO YOU MAY BE SEEING ME MORE OFTEN COMING UP AND DOING THESE PRESENTATIONS.
THE TOTAL COST OF THE EQUIPMENT IS 170,000.
THE CITY WILL BE OBLIGATED TO PAY FOUR ANNUAL PAYMENTS OF 47,800.
THE CAPITAL PURCHASE IS BUDGETED AND APPROVED IN FY 25, 26, SOLID WASTE ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGET.
ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION IS RECOMMENDED. FOR MR. CASPER.
[01:50:02]
>> RIGHT HERE. RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION R-25-XX THAT AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SUPPLEMENTAL LEASE FOR THE FINANCING OF THE FOUR BOTA SOLID ASE VEHICLES THROUGH THE GMA DIRECT LEASE FINANCING PROGRAM TO PAY APPROXIMATELY FOUR ANNUAL PAYMENTS OF $47800 STARTING NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
[VIII.D. Replacement of Police Department Handguns.]
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WILL, I BELIEVE HEAR FROM CHIEF RICHARDS.
ABOUT REPLACING HANDGUNS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I'M SCOTT RICHARDS. I'M THE POLICE CHIEF.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU. THIS EVENING.
I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO REQUEST THE APPROVAL TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT DEPARTMENTAL HANDGUNS FROM GT DISTRIBUTORS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $55,600.
IN 2015, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PURCHASED OUR CURRENT HANDGUNS, THE GLOCK GENERATION FOUR MODEL 179 MILLIMETER.
IT'S THE DEPARTMENT'S PRACTICE TO REPLACE OUR HANDGUNS EVERY 10 YEARS.
THE CURRENT HANDGUNS THAT WE HAVE, AS I SAID, WERE PURCHASED IN 2015 AND HAVE REACHED THEIR 10 YEAR LIFE CYCLE.
THOUGH THEY ARE STILL RELIABLE AND FUNCTIONING, THEY ARE VERY USED IN WARRANT.
THE CURRENT MANUFACTURER, AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE RECOMMENDS REPLACING HANDGUNS AT 10 YEARS OF SERVICE DUE TO LIABILITY AND RELIABILITY ISSUES THAT OCCUR WITH USED EQUIPMENT.
AFTER RESEARCHING, TESTING, AND EVALUATING THE LARGE SELECTION OF HANDGUN OPTIONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUE WITH A BRAND THAT HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST AND LONGEST EARNED REPUTATIONS AVAILABLE, AND THAT'S THE GLOCK MANUFACTURED HANDGUN.
RECOMMENDING THIS EVENING THAT THE DEPARTMENT PURCHASE 57 GLOCK GENERATION FIVE MODEL 47 MOS, WHICH STANDS FOR MODULAR OPTIC SYSTEM, NINE MILLIMETER HANDGUNS.
THE MODEL MOS IS AN IMPROVED VERSION OF THE CURRENT MODEL 17 THAT WE HAVE WITH VERIFIED IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FUNCTIONAL RECOIL SPRINGS AND THE INTERNAL PARTS.
THE GLOCK 47 MOS HAS A FACTORY MOUNTED OPTIC AFFIXED TO THE REAR SITES.
THE OPTICS ARE CURRENTLY AN UPGRADE TO THE WEAPON, WHICH IMPROVES TARGET IDENTIFICATION FOR QUICKER TARGET ACQUISITION, ACCURACY IMPROVEMENTS, AND REDUCTION IN LIABILITY DURING THE USE OF FORCE ENCOUNTERS.
THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR A GENERATION FIVE MODEL 47 GLOCK NINE MILLIMETER HANDGUN EQUIPPED WITH A STREAM LIGHT, WEAPON MINDED LIGHT AND A SAFARI LANE HOLSTER IS $1,071 EACH.
THE PURCHASE OF THE 57 GENERATION FIVE MODEL 47 GLOCK NINE MILLIMETER HANDGUNS IS $61,050.
THE CURRENT GLOCK 17 HAVE A TRADE IN VALUE OF $255 EACH.
THE TRADE IN VALUE FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT HANDGUNS, WHICH IS AT 54 IS I'M SORRY, $13,800.
THEREFORE, THE PRICE TO REPLACE THE HANDGUNS WITH NEW ONES IS $47,300.
WITH ANY NEW EQUIPMENT, AN OFFICER MUST RECEIVE TRAINING, UTILIZING THAT EQUIPMENT.
FOR A NEW HANDGUN, IN PARTICULAR, AN OFFICER MUST TRAIN WITH A NEW NORMANCLATURE OF THE FIREARM TO BECOME FAMILIAR AND PROFICIENT WITH IT AS WELL AS TO QUALIFY WITH IT BEFORE ALLOWING TO CARRY IT WHILE ON DUTY.
THE RECOMMENDED HANDGUN HAS OPTICS, BUT THE CURRENT ONE WE HAVE DOES NOT.
FIRING A HANDGUN WITH OPTICS DOES INCREASE THE OFFICER'S ACCURACY AND SPEED FOR TARGET ACQUISITION.
HOWEVER, THE TECHNIQUE IS DIFFERENT THAN TRADITIONAL IRON SIGHTS.
TO ACHIEVE CONFIDENCE AND LEARN THE PROPER USE, EACH OFFICER WILL TRAIN WITH A MINIMUM OF 500 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION IN A CONTROLLED SETTING AT THE FIRING RANGE.
THE COST OF AMMUNITION TO TRAIN EACH OFFICER WITH 500 ROUNDS IS $8,300.
FUNDING FOR THIS REQUEST IS AVAILABLE IN FY 25, 26 SCHOOL ZONE SAFETY CAMERA FUND.
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE CITY COMMISSION TO AUTHORIZE A CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE THE REPLACEMENT HANDGUNS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $55,600. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> SO WHO PROVIDES THE TRAINING?
>> OUR FARMS INSTRUCTORS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
CAPTAIN CLARKS, WHO IS WITH ME NOW AND LIEUTENANT BENDER, HAVE BEEN THROUGH A INSTRUCTOR'S COURSE THROUGH GLOCK WITH THE NEW OPTICS THAT IT WOULD HAVE,
[01:55:04]
SO THEY WILL BE THE ONES THAT ARE TEACHING THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT AND TRANSITION THEM FROM THE ONES THAT WE HAVE TO THE NEW ONES.>> I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL FEE FOR TRAINING BESIDES THE AMMUNITION.
>> I MEAN, THERE WAS A FEE TO SEND THEM TO THE TRAINING, BUT THERE WON'T BE A FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REQUEST.
>> DO THEY USE THE SAME AMMUNITION AS THE CURRENT MODELS?
>> SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET RID OF THAT IN BINDING?
>> I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PASE OF 57 REPLACEMENT HANDGUNS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT FROM GT DISTRIBUTORS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $55,600.
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
I FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND FORWARD TO HAVING OUR OFFICERS EQUIPPED WITH WEAPONS THAT ARE ASSIST THEM AND ALSO ASSIST THOSE WHO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AS SAFE AS WE CAN BE.
[VIII.E. Oakhurst Pool Heater Replacement.]
AS THE WEAPON HAS TO BE USED. THANK YOU.>> NOW WE'LL MOVE TO REQUEST AND POOL.
SORRY, THE POOL. I GRANT REFRESH MY AGENDA.
THANK YOU MY LAST QUESTION TODAY. HERE IT IS.
YES. PLAN TO WEAR POOL POOL BLUE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M KIM WALEY, I'M THE FACILITY OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR DECATUR PARKS AND RECREATION.
I'M COMING TO YOU THIS EVENING FOR EMERGENCY APPROVAL FOR UNITED POOLS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE OAKHURST POOL HEATER.
THIS PAST SATURDAY, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY STAFF THAT THE POOL WAS NO LONGER HEATING.
WE DID ENGAGE WITH UNITED POOLS AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK INTO WHETHER THE HEATER WOULD BE REPAIRABLE OR NOT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DEEMED THE HEATER NON FUNCTIONAL AND NOT REPAIRABLE.
AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE CURRENT POOL TEMPERATURE IS HOLDING AT 76 DEGREES, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY DOES NOT WORK FOR THE DIVERSE USER GROUPS THAT USE OUR FACILITIES AT OAKHURST INDOOR POOL.
WE HAVE A THERAPY GROUP THAT USES OUR POOL FOR SESSIONS.
WE HAVE SWIM LESSONS THAT ARE RUN BY TWO GROUPS.
WE ALSO HAVE A SWIM TEAM, KIDS YOUTH SWIM TEAM AS WELL AS MASTERS SWIM TEAM.
SO UNFORTUNATELY ONCE THE POOL REACHES ABOUT 80 DEGREES, IT REALLY BECOMES UNUSABLE FOR THE THERAPY AND THE SWIM LESSON GROUPS, WHICH, OF COURSE, IS AFFECTING OUR SENIOR POPULATION AS WELL AS OUR YOUTH POPULATION'S ABILITY TO USE THE FACILITY.
>> WE HAVE A REPLACEMENT QUOTE IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,302, AND THIS IS IN LINE WITH OUR MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD DONE WITH THE RFP FOR THE POOLS, AND THAT THEIR LABOR COSTS MATCH THOSE LABOR COSTS, AND THEIR PERCENTAGE OF MARKUP ON THE EQUIPMENT IS ALSO MATCHED BY THAT SAME RFP AGREEMENT.
THE PROJECT WAS IDENTIFIED IN OUR CAPITAL PROJECT BUDGET ALREADY FOR FY '25 '26, FEELING THAT WE WERE NEARING OUR LIFE END WITH THIS HEATER.
THOSE FUNDS ARE ALREADY IN OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS BUDGET, AND WE DO HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO COVER THIS EXPENSE. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A SPLIT PROCESS.
THE WAY WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO THIS IS THAT CURRENTLY THERE IS A SINGLE UNIT HEATER FOR THAT POOL, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY UNDERSIZED.
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS WE ARE GOING TO RETURN ONE HEATER IN TOMORROW.
THEY'RE GOING TO SWAP ONE OUT, WHICH WILL IMMEDIATELY START BRINGING US TO THE ABILITY TO START HEATING THE POOL.
THE SECOND PIECE IS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO THROUGH PERMITTING WITH THE DEKALB COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO DO THE DUAL HEATER SYSTEM, WHICH WE ARE DOING BECAUSE IT WILL CHANGE THE PLUMBING PIPING JUST A SLIGHT BIT.
WE'VE ALREADY BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, THAT THIS WAS A CHANGE WE WERE LOOKING TO MAKE.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET ANY RESISTANCE ON THE END FROM THEM ON THAT PIECE.
BUT THAT ESSENTIALLY, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO START MEETING AS EARLY AS TOMORROW AFTERNOON AS WHAT I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY UNITED THEY STAND BY FOR MY PHONE CALL THIS EVENING TO PLACE THE ORDER FOR THE HEATER TONIGHT.
>> I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT QUESTION.
DUAL HEATER HEATER, IF ONE GOES DOWN, THE OTHER ONE CAN STILL HEAT THE POOL [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT WOULD STILL HEAT IT TEMPORARILY.
>> REALLY THE REASON FOR PUTTING THE TWO HEATER SYSTEM IS THAT IT WOULD THEN KEEP THE ACTUAL NORMAL LIFESPAN OF THAT HEATER.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING ON A SHORTENED LIFESPAN BECAUSE
[02:00:02]
THE HEATER CURRENTLY IS UNDERSIZED FOR THE AMOUNT OF WATER.THAT HEATER IS JUST NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP OVER A TIME PERIOD, SO IT SHORTENS THE LIFESPAN OF THAT HEATER.
BY ADDING TWO, WE WOULD HAVE ESSENTIALLY A BACKUP IN THE SYSTEM THAT KEEP US WAS RUNNING, BUT THEN ALSO HOPEFULLY THAT WE'LL SHARE THE LOAD AND CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE LIFE OF THOSE HEATERS.
>> HERE MOTION TO APPROVE AN EMERGENCY REPAIR BY UNITED POOLS FOR THE POOL HEATER AT OAKHURST POOL IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,302.
[IX. Requests and Petitions.]
>> SECONDED. THE OTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> OPPOSED. CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND HAPPY TO HAVE IT.
NOW WE CAN MOVE TO REQUEST AND PETITION.
IF ANYONE HAS SOMETHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
WE'LL START WITH THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO RING WITH US THIS EVENING, AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE ONLINE.
NOW, PLEASE WELCOME. YOU'LL PLEASE RESTATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. THAT'D BE GREAT.
>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
MY ADDRESS IS 1662 IV GLEN DRIVE, AND THAT IS HERE IN DECATUR, NOT THE CITY OF DECATUR.
THE INFORMATION IS DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE THAT I WAS LISTENING TO ABOUT 6:30 TODAY, AND IT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ELECTRICITY, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH HOUSING.
I THOUGHT, WELL, I'LL BRING THIS AND HOPEFULLY SHARE IT WITH WHOEVER IS THE ONE TO HANDLE IT.
THIS IS COMING FROM LIVABLE COMMUNITIES THROUGH AARP AND ITS STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS THAT MAKE COMMUNITIES GREAT FOR ALL AGES.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT HOW TO ENGAGE WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE ALSO STRUCTURING THEIR CITIES NOW TO REORGANIZE AND REHOUSE POPULATIONS THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO EXIST IN THE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC ISSUES.
WHO DO I BRING THIS INFORMATION TO?
>> BRING IT FORWARD. FRIENDLY CITY.
>> YEAH. IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW TO MAKE A FRIENDLY COMMUNITY FOR ALL AGES.
THEY CALL IT ALSO MISSING OUT ON MIDDLE HOUSING.
THERE'S A BIG GAP HERE IN THE CITY THAT I'M RECOGNIZING.
HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL BE THE ANSWER TO IT.
ONE, TWO, SIX ARTICLES OR DOCUMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT THEM. THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING ANY THINGS FORWARD TO THIS COMMISSION? THIS IS THE LAST TIME WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THIS MEETING.
SEEING NONE IN THE ROOM WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ONLINE.
IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND, AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE YOU AND ASK YOU
[X. Reports and Other Business. ]
TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE REQUEST AND PETITIONS, AND WE WILL MOVE TO REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS.
HAVE A COUPLE OF MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS WILL BE SEPTEMBER 8TH AT 7:30 PM.
HAVE AN AGENDA [NOISE]. THANK YOU.
THE MEETING WILL BE ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, AT 7:30 IN THIS ROOM.
THE OLD BUSINESS THAT WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD IS AT ERIC GABY OWNER IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO INCREASE THE LOT COVERAGE FROM 47% TO 53% FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 121 MADISON AVENUE,
[02:05:07]
NEW BUSINESS, RIGHT GARDNER ARCHITECT, LLC IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO REDUCE THE SIDE AND REAR YARD SETBACK OF 10 FEET TO THREE FEET FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TWO STORY CARPORT WITH AN OFFICE FOR THE PROPERTY AT 523 CLAREMONT AVENUE.AMY KRUGER OWNER IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO REDUCE THE REAR YARD SETBACK OF 30 FEET TO 24 FEET FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A COVERED PORCH FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 10:33 EASTLAKE DRIVE, AND KASHKA SCOTT, WITH MISSION BUILDERS HAS FILED AN APPEAL OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR'S DECISION FOR THE ALLOWABLE PERCENTAGE OF WINDOW SIGN AREA FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1529 OAK VIEW ROAD.
IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO HAS ANY INTERESTS IN THOSE, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTACT OUR STAFF MEMBER, CASAY KURZ OR ATTEND THE MEETING OR SEND AN E-MAIL WITH ANY OF YOUR COMMENTS.
THESE DO NOT COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION.
THEY ARE DECIDED BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND CAN ONLY BE APPEALED AT THE AT SUPERIOR COURT.
NEXT, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE A MEETING CANCELLATION.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL NOT MEET ON SEPTEMBER THE 9TH.
THEN THERE IS A MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE DECATUR DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES.
WE ARE BEING ASKED TO LOOK AT THE PRESERVATION STRATEGIES FOR NOA, AND I BELIEVE IS THERE.
MS. SMITH IS BRINGING IT FORWARD.
I'M THE LIFELONG COMMUNITY MANAGER HERE AT THE CITY, AND I NEED TO RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENT QUICKLY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A LIFELONG COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MADE UP OF RESIDENTS.
I'D BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THOSE MATERIALS AND A COMMITMENT TO MAKING THE CITY A PLACE TO LIVE FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE.
FOR THE NOA REPORT, YOU MAY REMEMBER ON JUNE THE 2ND IN A WORK SESSION, THE GEORGIA CONSERVANCY AND I PRESENTED ON THE FINDINGS FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANT FROM THE ARC ON ACTUALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE REASON I'M HERE TONIGHT IS JUST TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY COMMISSION CONSIDER ACCEPTING THE FINAL PRESERVATION STRATEGIES FOR NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING REPORT THAT WE DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARC AND THE GLOBAL CONSERVANCY.
THE REPORT OUTLINES OUR NOA INVENTORY.
WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING AND SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW POLICIES AND ACTIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE'D RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COMMISSION FORMALLY ACCEPT THE PRESERVATION STRATEGIES REPORT AND REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN PRIORITIZING NEAR-TERM ACTIONS FOR THE LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
I HAVE HARD COPIES OF THE REPORT HERE?
>> IS THERE ELECTRONIC VERSION THAT EVERYONE SHOULD OVERSEE? [OVERLAPPING]
>> LIFELONG COMMUNITY WEBSITE.
>> I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HIT SOME OF THE HIGH POINTS.
>> YEAH. HAPPY TO HIT SOME OF THE HIGH POINTS.
>> NONE SURE. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE COMPILED A CURRENT INVENTORY OF FOR SALE AND RENTAL NOA UNITS.
WE DOCUMENTED GEOGRAPHIC CLUSTERS AND QUARTERS OF NOA PROPERTIES TO HELP TARGET PRESERVATION EFFORTS.
WE REVIEWED FUNDING AND POLICY TOOLS USED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, WE DEVELOPED A SET OF RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES.
SOME OF THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE LEVERAGING AND EXPANDING THE CITY'S HOUSING TRUST FUND TO PROVIDE LOANS GRANTS REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAMS FOR NOA PRESERVATION TO PURSUE ACQUISITION OF AT-RISK NOA PROPERTIES THROUGH THE CITY, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OR THE LAND TRUST.
EXPLORING TARGETED TAX TOOLS AND PROGRAMS, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR EXPANDED LOCAL AUTHORITY ON TAX ABASEMENT, TO ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC, PRIVATE PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD DIVERSE FINANCING SOURCES AND TO PRIORITIZE GEOGRAPHICALLY TARGETED INTERVENTIONS IN AREAS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF NOA PROPERTIES,
[02:10:01]
WHICH ARE OUTLINED IN THE REPORT.>> WE HAVE THE OPTION WE CAN I'M MOVING US TO ACCEPT THE REPORT.
SINCE WE WERE JUST RECEIVING THE FULL REPORT THIS EVENING, IF WE COULD WAIT TWO WEEKS TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT AND TO SEE IT.
I RECEIVED IT. I KNOW I RECEIVED SEVERAL OF THE DRAFTS BECAUSE I WAS THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THAT, BUT IT IS REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE TABLES AND THE CHARTS AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS COMPILED.
THAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION COMMISSIONER.
>> IS IT A CLARIFYING QUESTION? I FEEL LIKE THERE'S ACCEPTING THE REPORT AND THERE'S ADOPTING THE REPORT THAT WE'RE BEING.
>> WE'RE REALLY ASKED JUST TO ACCEPT IT.
BUT IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, WE COULD STILL IF WE DECIDED TO ACCEPT IT, BUT IF WE WANTED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO LOOK AT IT, AND THEN YOU COME BACK AND ANSWER QUESTION OR RESPONSES.
BUT IT'S DIFFERENT ADOPTING VERSUS ACCEPTING.
>> TO THAT POINT, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
DO WE HAVE ANY GRANT THAT'S PENDING THAT, THE LACK OF ACCEPTANCE OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO STATE, I'M THINKING ABOUT A REPORT THAT WE GOT WHEN WE GOT THE BETTER TOGETHER REPORT, AND IT WAS BEFORE MY TIME ON THE CITY COMMISSION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED FROM THAT EXPERIENCE, WE ACCEPTED THE REPORT, BUT THE COMMISSION AT THAT TIME DIDN'T ADOPT IT AS AN ACTION PLAN.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT IS OUR INTENTION, HOPEFULLY, THAT WE WILL HAVE SOME ACTION PLAN AROUND THIS, NOT THAT WE'RE JUST ACCEPTING THIS AND FILING IN A WAY THAT WE MEAN BUSINESS WHEN WE GET THIS REPORT.
I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR AGAIN, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP.
>> THAT WOULD BE A FORMER HOUSING [INAUDIBLE]
>> I ASSUME THAT WE ACCEPT IT IN THE CONVERSATION, LET ME FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANT TO.
>> YES. NOT THAT IT'S JUST SOME REPORT THAT'S, GREAT, IT'S GLOSSY.
WE'RE GOING TO FILE IT AWAY AND GOING TO DO NOTHING WITH IT.
>> THAT CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAPPEN TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT REPORT?
>> OR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE?
>> YOU SAY IT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND WHERE.
>> IT SHOULD BE ONLINE AT THE LIFELONG COMMUNITY ADVISOR WEBSITE.
DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, BUT I NEED TO GET AN OLD HOUSING FINISH.
>> THAT'D BE REALLY GREAT, SO WE CAN FIND IT A COUPLE OF PLACES.
>> THANK YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO DIGGING INTO THE DETAILS.
>> ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE SHERIFF.
>> SHERIFF ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF PUBLIC WORKS.
I'D JUST LIKE TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO THE OAKHURST MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT MEETING HELD TOMORROW AT OAKHURST RECREATION CENTER FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 PM.
>> I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE THE INFORMATION BROUGHT FORWARD FROM THE PREVIOUS SESSIONS, IS THAT RIGHT?
NEXT STEPS INCLUDE THE MEETING TOMORROW TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THE PLAN AS IT IS TO DATE, AND WITH A WORK SESSION IDENTIFIED SEPTEMBER 15TH WITH YOU TO GO FURTHER IN DEPTH.
>> I SEE MR. GREG WHITE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, AND MR. WHITE WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO COME FORWARD AND SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS ON THE DECATUR DAY? I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT.
WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT I WAS OUT OF TOWN, BUT I'VE HEARD REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY FIRST HAND WHO WAS THERE AND I KNOW YOU WERE THERE.
>> I WAS THERE. WELL, GOOD EVENING. I'M GREG WHITE.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I'M NOT RETIRED.
BUT I WOULD SAY, FIRST OF ALL, TO THE CITY, THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL.
I SAID GREAT FOOD, FUN AND FELLOWSHIP.
I WILL TELL YOU IT WAS PLENTY OF SPLIT SANDWICHES AT EVERY TENT.
[02:15:02]
I SPLIT IS HISTORIC IT'S A HOT LINK SANDWICH.IT'S CHILI ONION. IT'S JUST EVER ALL THROUGHOUT THE DECATUR DAY.
I ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE DISTRICT MAY BE IN 300-400 PEOPLE ON THE SCHOOL'S PROPERTY.
CHIEF RICHARDS ARRIVED AT 5:05 A.M.
WHEN I GOT THERE, ALL THE BARRICADES ARE ALREADY OUT AND WE WERE READY TO GO.
I WOULD SAY THE BEAUTY OF IT ALL WAS THE DEKALB HISTORY CENTER, I DONATED SOME OF MY DECATUR DAY PICTURES TO THE MUSEUM JUST TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ARCHIVE AND DEKALB HISTORY CENTER CAME OUT AND ACTUALLY WENT 10-10.
THEN IT DID SOME INTERVIEWS AND IT MADE SOME CONTACTS AND BE DOING SOME FURTHER INTERVIEWS TO MAKE SURE WE CAPTURED THE HISTORY.
COMMISSIONER MAYER WAS IN ATTENDANCE.
WE HAD FUN AND DANCING AND FELLOWSHIP WITH EVERYONE.
I KNOW I WAS SOME COMMISSIONER CANDIDATES. I KNOW DIANNA.
I KNOW SHERYL CARMA WAS ALSO IN ATTENDANCE.
I'M LOOKING TO SEE ARTICLE ON DECATUR PROBABLY TONIGHT OR TOMORROW.
BUT MY BIG SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE CITY, FROM ALL THE MAYOR TO THE COMMISSION, THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT FOR DECATUR DAY.
I WANT TO SAY ANDREW ARNOLD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.
JUST WANT TO SAY THE CHIEF RICHARDS AND HIS STAFF WERE OUTSTANDING THE CROSSING GUARDS TO SOMEONE JUST HAVING A CROSSING GUARDS TO HELP PEOPLE DIRECTION.
HAVING PEOPLE UNLOAD THE ITEMS, IS JUST BEAUTIFUL AND THE CROSSING GUARD, THE ATTITUDE OF IT JUST WONDERFUL.
JUST HAVING THEM THERE IS BEAUTIFUL.
I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO FIRE OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
I MEAN, THROUGHOUT THE DAY, TRASH CANS END OF THE EVENT, TRASH EMPTY THROUGHOUT THE EVENT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL THAT TRASH, A WHOLE LOT OF TRASH TO ME BECAUSE I SEEN WORSE, BUT ALL OF THAT TRASH IS GONE AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE THAT STUFF NEED TO GO TELL THEM ALL, THANK YOU.
TRUISM WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU INTO THE EBSTER RECREATION CENTER.
WE HAD PORTABLE RESTROOMS ON SITE.
BUT THE SAME TIME, WE HAD RESTROOMS DOWNSTAIRS AND ONE HOT DAY.
IT'S BEEN SOME HOT DAYS, BUT WE COULD ALSO GO INSIDE AND PEOPLE WERE FELLOWSHIPPING RIGHT THERE ON THE FRONT PORCH OF EPSON.
AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY SPECIAL THANKS TO THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR, WANTED TO USE THE PROPERTY, ALSO FOR THEM CUTTING THE GRASS.
FOR ME, I SAY, I WAS THE LAST PERSON STANDING SO I LEFT ABOUT 08:30 THAT NIGHT AND WE ENDED RIGHT AT SEVEN. THAT WAS TIMELY.
I WAS AT HOME WATCHING FOOTBALL AT 8:30.
[LAUGHTER] AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE CITY, ONE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ME TO PLAY A CERTAIN ROLE IN SUCH A HISTORICAL PIECE.
ONE OF THE SIGN SAID THIS PLACE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.
THAT'S ONE FOR YOU ALL TO SAY THANK YOU AND HONORING THIS HISTORICAL HISTORY.
I WANT TO SAY TO ALL YOU ALL AND ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE CATO AROUND EVENT.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? [APPLAUSE] COMMISSIONER MEYER. THAT'S A PERFECT INTRO BECAUSE I WILL PIGGYBACK ON THAT.
I LOVE DECATUR DAY, AND I TRY TO ALWAYS MAKE IT TO DECATUR DAY.
I DESCRIBE IT TO PEOPLE AT WORK, LIKE A GIANT FAMILY REUNION WHERE I CAN LET MY KID RUN AROUND BECAUSE THERE ARE 500 GRANDPARENTS, AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY [LAUGHTER] ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE'S GOING TO BE SAFE, AND IT'S ALSO A TIME WHEN I CAN WALK TEN STEPS AND SOMEONE HANDS ME A PLATE, AND THEN I WALK TEN MORE STEPS.
[LAUGHTER] SOON AS ME ANOTHER PLATE, AND SO I'M STILL FULL FROM DECATUR DAY.
ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PARTS OF DECATUR DAY THIS YEAR, THOUGH, WAS I WAS PULLED ASIDE QUITE FREQUENTLY AND ASKED WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE LAST DECATUR DAY.
THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS FROM THE ELDERS THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO HOST DECATUR DAY, AND I PERSONALLY GAVE THEM OUR COMMITMENT THAT DECATUR DAY WILL CONTINUE, THAT THAT WAS NOT THE END.
I'M EVEN STARTING TO SEE SOME YOUNGER CLASSES.
WASN'T CLASS OF 85 OUT THERE COACH.
CLASSES 65 TO CLASS OF 85 WERE IN ATTENDANCE.
TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 65 ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO DHS 85. WHO KNOWS? MAYBE THE YOUNGER CLASSES WILL START JOINING DECATUR DAY AND MAKING IT ONE OF THOSE COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS THAT OUR GRANDCHILDREN WILL ATTEND.
THANK YOU, COACHES ALWAYS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
I KNOW THAT THE ORGANIZATION OF DECATUR DAY IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
[02:20:01]
PASSED DOWN TO A NEW GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS YEAR, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY EXCITING.DORIS SIMS JOHNSON HANDLED DECATUR DAY FOR DECADES. SHE'S HAD ENOUGH.
[LAUGHTER] SHE IS PASSING IT DOWN TO HER SISTER, WANDA AND A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO WILL BE TAKING OVER THE PLANNING FROM HERE.
BUT AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU TO THOSE KUBOTAS THAT WE'RE DRIVING AROUND PICKING UP TRASH.
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU TO PUBLIC WORKS.
THANK YOU TO COACH WHITE, CHIEF RICHARDS, AND HIS TEAM WHO WERE NOT JUST THERE MAKING SURE EVERYONE WAS SAFE, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE OUR ELDERS WERE ABLE TO GET TO THEIR CAR SAFELY IF THEY HAD MOBILITY ISSUES.
IT'S AN EVENT FILLED WITH LOVE, JOY, FOOD, DANCING, AND A LOT OF KINDNESS.
I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO DECATUR DAY 2026.
WAS NOT EXPECTING SUCH A LIVELY PRESENTATION ABOUT THE CERT TRAINING.
[LAUGHTER] I WANT TO VOLUNTEER TO BE ONE OF THE CERT ACTRESSES, BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO GET SERIF.
BUT WHAT REALLY SURPRISED ME AND I KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS ABOUT THIS MEETING THAT WERE SO SPECIAL THAT I'M SURE WE'LL TALK ABOUT.
BUT THE THE LIFESAVERS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY, ONE OF WHOM IS A FRIEND OF MINE SINGER HUGHES.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR HER NAME ANNOUNCED AS A LIFESAVER.
I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT SHE HELPED TO SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
I ALWAYS GET VERY MISTY WHEN I SEE CAPTAIN SARDINE COME IN THIS BUILDING BECAUSE HE WAS THE PERSON WHO DEMONSTRATED LIFESAVING EFFORTS FOR MY CHILD WHEN HE WAS IN DISTRESS.
I AM ALWAYS REMINDED THAT THERE ARE LIVES BEING SAVED IN DECATUR EVERY DAY.
EMTS, DECATUR FIRE ARE INCREDIBLY COURAGEOUS, AND OUR NEIGHBORS ARE INCREDIBLY COURAGEOUS AND BRAVE.
TO ALL OF OUR LIFE SAVERS, THANK YOU, NOT JUST FOR ME PERSONALLY, BUT FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT YOU HAVE MANAGED TO KEEP TOGETHER WITH YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR SKILL.
THAT'S ALL FOR ME TODAY, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
GREG, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE DECATUR DAY.
YEAH. JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE SPEED LIMITS BEING LOWERED AND ACTUALLY, GOT WORKING WITH US AND MISS SHARE AND HER TEAM AND THE PATIENCE TO US WHERE WE ARE TODAY, SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT AND POWERS, I THINK IT WAS YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE SIGNS.
THERE WAS SOME ELSE'S COMMENTS ON THE SIGNS.
BUT I DO THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO NOT CATCH PEOPLE UNAWARES THAT THE SPEEDS GONE DOWN BY THE HEAD THAT'S HAPPENING.
THEN I'M ALSO REALLY EXCITED TO SEE LUCIA MOORE COMING ON AS OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY MANAGER.
I LIKE THE RARE BRIEF AND NON RECURRING THEME FOR HER VISION THERE.
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO WORK CUT OUT FOR HER, BUT WE ARE STANDING BEHIND HER AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER TO HELP THOSE WHO UN-HOUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT REMINDS ME ALSO OF OUR TRIP.
MAYOR AND I JOINED THE REGIONAL COMMISSION LAKE TRIP UP TO MARYLAND DC IN VIRGINIA.
ACTUALLY, HOMELESSNESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS A BIG ISSUE THERE IS A LOT OF PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY EDUCATIONAL.
I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE THAT OUR MAYOR RECEIVED A LITTLE BIT OF AWARD HERE.
SHE WAS HONORED BY HER PEERS WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD FOR THE 2025 ARC TRIP FOR MANY YEARS.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. IT WAS A WONDERFUL TRIP.
I COME BACK. I'M LIKE, THANK GOONS I'VE BEEN CATERED FOR.
I'LL ADD MY COMMENTS FOR. THANK YOU.
IT'S HARD TO KNOW CAN'T HIGHLIGHT EVERYTHING, BUT BETWEEN ALL OF US, WE CAN COVER IT.
I TOO AM REALLY EXCITED THRILLED ABOUT THE SPEED REDUCTION.
IT WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
IT'S A GREAT FIRST STEP, MORE WORK TO DO TO HAVE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL, BUT THAT IS JUST A BIG WIN AND SO THANKS FOR THE FOLLOW THROUGH AND GETTING US TO THAT A FINISH LINE WITH ANOTHER RACE HERE.
THANK YOU, MISS SHARE FOR COMING.
IT'S NOT YOUR CITY, BUT YOU'RE NEAR US, AND THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION THAT WE CAN USE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ALSO A VENUE FOR IT WITH THE COUNTY.
THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF YOU PASS IT ON.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO US AND STAYING WITH US ALL NIGHT MAKES US FEEL GOOD TO HAVE YOU PART OF THE WHOLE PROCESS.
APPRECIATE IT. I THOUGHT REBECCA DID A GREAT JOB.
I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN HER PRESENT TO US, SO TO COME IN AND DO AN HOUR AND TAKE A LOT OF
[02:25:03]
QUESTIONS AND WOULD POISE AND HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ALL OF THEM.I KNOW THERE'D BE SEVERAL THAT ANY PERSON MIGHT SAY, I'LL GET BACK TO YOU AND THAT WOULD BE FINE, BUT SHE COOKED REALLY WELL AND I WAS GLAD TO LEARN FROM HER CONTENT.
IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALSO, IS IT LIEUTENANT FITCH? I CALLED FITCH SARDINE? [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] I GOT MY CPR TRAINING FROM HIM ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, THE ACTIVE LIVING BORN WENT TOGETHER.
MAYBE IT WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT, WHICH IS A GREAT GROUP ACTIVITY, BY THE WAY, TO GET AT OUR FIRE STATION, AND IT USED TO BE FREE AND YOU JUST GET SIGNED UP AND BUT IT'S TIME TO UPDATE THAT AND THAT CERTAIN WAS REMINDING ME I HAVEN'T USED IT YET.
I WOULD HOPE THAT I COULD BE AS COURAGEOUS AS OUR NEIGHBORS.
I THINK SOME PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES FROZEN IN THE MOMENT.
IT'S GOOD FOR ANY OF US IF WE CAN TO TRY AND BE EXPOSED TO THOSE ACTORS SO THAT WE COULD AT LEAST PRACTICE WHAT THAT MOMENT MIGHT BE LIKE.
I MET SOMEONE VERY RECENTLY WHO SHARED WITH ME THAT HE SAVED SOMEONE'S LIFE ON A SOCCER FIELD USING HIS SKILLS, AND IT WAS TERRIFYING AND HE WENT HOME? CORRECT. IT WAS A HARD DAY, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS VERY HAPPY, HE HAD SAVED SOMEONE.
IT JUST POINTED OUT TO ME JUST HOW MUCH BRAVERY IT TOOK FOR HIM TO BE IN THAT MOMENT, STAY IN THAT MOMENT AND USE HIS SKILLS.
I THINK THE MORE TRAINING, THE BETTER, I WANT TO GO BACK AND REFRESH MIND.
ANOTHER FACE IN THE CROWD TODAY, TIM MOORE OF L'ARCHE, I DON'T SEE HIM NEARLY AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE.
HE'S A GREAT NEIGHBOR AND A GREAT PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF OUR TWO POLES, TWO AXES OF THIS WONDERFUL OUTREACH, AND HE IS A GREAT TOUR GUY.
HE HAS AN OPEN DOOR POLICY AND LOVES TO HAVE GUESTS AND NEIGHBORS COME AND MEET ALL OUR NEIGHBORS WITHIN THE LARGE FACILITIES AND JUST GET TO KNOW HIM.
I INVITE ANYONE TO TAKE HIM UP ON THAT OR KNOCK ON HIS DOOR AND GO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AT LARGE.
THAT'S ALL FOR ME. GREAT. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
[LAUGHTER] SOME OF YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
WHAT A GREAT MEETING TO COME BACK TO.
LITERALLY, WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY NOT BE HERE, HAD IT HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR RESIDENTS AND A WELL TRAINED EMS AND FIRST RESPONDER TEAM.
THAT'S JUST HEART WARMING TO HEAR.
IT ALMOST BRINGS TEARS TO YOUR EYES TO HEAR THOSE STORIES.
I WANT TO COMMEND THOSE GUYS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND THE VOLUNTEERS THAT STEPPED IN. I MEAN, WHAT A GREAT MEETING.
WE HAD OUR YOUTH COUNCIL SWORN IN AND LET ME TELL YOU, THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, WE HAD 19 PEOPLE APPLY FOR FOUR POSITIONS.
THE WORD IS STARTING TO GET OUT THAT THE DYC IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY.
IT'S SO AMAZING TO HEAR THE POISE THAT THESE KIDS HAVE COMING INTO THESE INTERVIEWS WHERE YOU ONLY GET 10 MINUTES.
IT IS TRULY AMAZING AND I MEANT WHAT I SAID, THEIR PARENTS HAVE DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB OF GETTING THEM READY FOR THIS MOMENT, AND THEN THEY'VE STEPPED INTO THOSE ROLES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE STILL HERE, BUT YOU DO HAVE YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU.
WE HOPE THAT WE CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE WE CAN.
GREG, SORRY, I WASN'T HERE FOR DECATUR DAY, BUT I WAS WITH YOU IN SPIRIT, MY BROTHER.
I APPRECIATE YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO WHILE BEING RETIRED.
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
WHAT A GREAT MEETING TO COME BACK TO.
THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THE SEAT WARM.
[OVERLAPPING] I THINK THIS IS THE KIND OF MEETING THAT WE ALL TREASURE IN OUR SERVICE IN PUBLIC LIFE, THAT WE RECOGNIZE PEOPLE FOR MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS IN OUR CITY, WE RECOGNIZE YOUTH LEADERS COMING UP, WE GET TO APPROVE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME THAT WILL INCREASE THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THESE ARE THE KINDS THAT WE FIND THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS IN OUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND APPRECIATE THE THOSE WHO WERE SITTING OUT THERE VERY MUCH AND APPRECIATE HEARING ABOUT DECATUR DAY.
I WAS OUT OF TOWN, DIDN'T MAKE IT THIS YEAR, BUT I'VE BEEN TO MANY OF THEM AND THEY ARE FUN THERE.
THE WEATHER COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER.
I DID CHECK IN TO SEE WHAT THE WEATHER WAS GOING TO BE LIKE, AND I KNOW IT'S SO MEANINGFUL FOR THE GENERATIONS OF FOLKS THAT COME AND BRING THEIR FAMILIES BACK AND ENJOY
[02:30:04]
BEING BACK IN DECATUR AND RECOGNIZING THE LOSS AS WELL OF THINGS THAT THEY EXPERIENCED WHEN THEY WERE FORCED TO MOVE OUT OF THE LOCATION, THE BOTTOM IN IN CITY OF DECATUR.BUT TO COME BACK AND JUST CELEBRATE EACH OTHER AND COMMUNITY IS ALWAYS HEARTWARMING.
BUT WE KNOW IT TAKES WORK, AND WE KNOW IT TAKES PLANNING AND AN EFFORT ON A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND SO ALWAYS GRATEFUL TO THOSE THAT ACTUALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO KIMBALL HOUSE.
THEY RECEIVED A $50,000 GRANT FROM THE AMERICAN EXPRESS NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION THAT IS BEING GIVEN TO HISTORIC SMALL RESTAURANTS PROGRAMS. I THINK THAT'S A REAL COUP FOR THEM AND SPEAKS WELL OF THEM FOR BEING ABLE TO GET A GRANT AND BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE SPACE THAT THEY HAVE PRESERVED, AND WHAT THEY MEAN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
JUST REMINDING FOLKS THAT THINGS START HAPPENING IN SEPTEMBER THAT DON'T HAPPEN YEAR AROUND.
TRUCK AND TUESDAYS HAVE STARTED BACK AT LEGACY PARK.
JAZZ NIGHTS IS IN OAKHURST ON THURSDAY NIGHTS IN FRONT OF THE SOLARIUM.
HOPEFULLY THE NICE WEATHER WILL CONTINUE, AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY SOME OF THOSE OUTDOOR EVENTS.
THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR A GREAT MEETING, AND I WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:11 THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.