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>> [BACKGROUND] GOOD EVENING. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
[WORK SESSION #1 – 5:30 P.M.]
DAVID FONG, I BELIEVE MY TITLE IS NOW ENERGY PROGRAM COORDINATOR.AND I AM VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE OR NOT INTRODUCE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ELECTRIFIED DECATUR PROGRAM.
I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE HEARD PIECES OF THIS INFORMATION OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST TWO YEARS.
SO THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IS BEING SUPPORTED BY A GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT COMPETITIVE PROGRAM.
BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE WORKS, BUT I CAN CONFIRM THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING AND THAT WE HAVE DRAWN DOWN A PORTION OF THOSE FUNDS TO HELP PAY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.
SO THE BULK OF THIS PRESENTATION, I'M GOING TO TURN OVER TO DON MORELAND, WHO IS THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF LET'S GOO ELECTRIC, WHO IS THE CAMPAIGN ADMINISTRATOR THAT WE'RE USING FOR ELECTRIFIED DECOR DON HELLO.
>> IT'S PLEASURE TO BE HERE. YOU GUYS MIGHT REMEMBER ME FROM OUR PREVIOUS SOLARIZE CAMPAIGNS AND DECATUR.
WE DID NOT ONE BUT TWO SOLARIZE CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE STILL MAINTAINED THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BY NUMBERS, SOLARIZE CAMPAIGN IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR IS DEMONSTRATING ITS LEADERSHIP IN THE STATE OF BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO GO TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU.
I'M SURE YOU MIGHT BE QUESTIONS AS WE GET TO THE END.
I'M JUST GOING TO QUICKLY TAKE YOU THROUGH, WHAT IT IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO COVER AND HOW WE'RE GOING ABOUT IT,
>> A SAID WHERE THE FIRST ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM IN THE STATE.
WERE THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT RECEIVED THIS GRANT FUNDING THAT WOULD ALSO POSSIBLY BE DOING A SIMILAR PROGRAM?
>> TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE IS ONE OTHER WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED BY MUNICIPALITY IN THE STATE THAT WAS CITY OF ATLANTA'S WEATHER RISE PROGRAM THAT WAS FUNDED, I BELIEVE PRIMARILY THROUGH THEIR ARPA ALLOCATION.
BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS THE ONLY ELECTRIFICATION FOCUSED PROGRAM THAT A CITY HAS IMPLEMENTED IN THE CIT OF GEORGIA.
SO FAR, DON WILL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE WORKING ON A SIMILAR PROGRAM, IN THE CITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
BUT AGAIN, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
SO WHILE WE CAN LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS, WE ARE ALSO LEARNING OURSELVES, AND THEN THE WAY THAT WE INITIALLY PHRASED AND KIND OF WHEN AFTER THE GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM WAS THAT ONE, WE WANT TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT HERE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
BUT ALSO WE WANT TO DEMONSTRATE SCALABLE SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER CITIES AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA IN THE SOUTHEAST.
HOPEFULLY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO THAT WE CAN SHOW BOTH GREAT SUCCESS AND A GREAT NUMBER OF PROJECTS HAPPENING HERE IN DECATUR, BUT ALSO A WAY THAT WE CAN REPLICATE THIS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT.
>> ELECTRIC, IT'S A COMMUNITY ELECTRIFICATION CAMPAIGN, AND THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO HELP INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND REPLACE OLD OUTDATED MACHINERY AND APPLIANCES WITH NEW EFFICIENT AND LOW CARBON ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEM.
THIS IS PART OF THE GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DECATUR CLEAN ENERGY PLAN.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE, WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT IS A BIG DEAL RIGHT NOW. WE NEED MORE OF IT.
THIS IS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF AFFORDABLE LIVING.
SO WHAT WE CAN DO IS SWAP OUT SOME APPLIANCES WITH ENERGY EFFICIENT ONES, INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAVE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY AND THEN ALSO HEALTHIER LIVING.
SO AFFORDABLE LIVING AND HEALTHIER LIVING.
AND JUST MORE EFFICIENT FOR THE GRID, DISTRIBUTION GRID, USING LESS ELECTRICITY AND, USING THAT MORE YOURSELF AND BECOMING MORE RESILIENT AND COMFORTABLE.
SO PART OF WHAT WE DO IS WE VET CONTRACTORS AND
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THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS BEING OFFERED THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND MAKE SURE IT IS AS STATE OF THE ART AS POSSIBLE.THESE UTILITIES ARE ALWAYS COMING UP WITH NEW DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAMS AND INCREASINGLY DERS, WHICH IS OUR DEMAND ENERGY RESPONSE.
AND SO WE WANT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE OFFERING THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME UTILITY PROGRAMS THAT MIGHT BE ANTICIPATED LATER.
DAVID MENTIONED THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, BUT WE HAVE ALSO SIGNED AN MOU WITH SOUTH FACE INSTITUTE AND GIBB, WHO WILL BE OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS CAMPAIGN, BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT WILL PARTICIPATE.
BUT THESE ARE TWO OF OUR PAID STAKEHOLDERS THAT WILL BE PART OF THE CAMPAIGN THROUGHOUT THE NEXT 18 TO 24 MONTHS.
ELECTRIFICATION. IT'S BASICALLY TWO THINGS.
YOU WANT TO FIRST TRY TO ELECTRIFY THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IS SWITCHING EVERYTHING FROM FOSSIL FUEL SYSTEMS TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE DECARBONIZING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND DOING WHAT WE CAN ON THIS SIDE.
THEN THE OTHER SIDE IS CLEANING UP THE GRID AND ELECTRIFYING THE GRID AND TAKING THE CARBON SYSTEMS OUT OF THE GRID.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON NUMBER 1.
DAVID AND I ARE DOWN THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ALL THE TIME TRYING TO FIGHT NUMBER 2.
BUT SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO FOCUS. AND HERE'S AN EXAMPLE.
WE ACTUALLY COMMISSIONED A STUDY WITH GREEN LINK INSTITUTE.
WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU WERE TO REPLACE YOUR CURRENT SYSTEMS WITH A HEAT PUMP FOR AIR AND COOLING FOR HEATING AND COOLING, A HEAT PUMP FOR WATER, A HEAT PUMP, I'M SORRY, AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND SOLAR.
THE RESULT WAS PRETTY AMAZING.
THIS JUST GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT A HEAT PUMP.
WHERE YOU CAN SAVE UP TO 75% OF ELECTRICITY YOU MIGHT BE CURRENTLY USING AND OFFSET A WHOLE BUNCH OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND SAVE MONEY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH HEAT PUMPS.
I'M SURE SOME OF YOU ARE, BUT FOR EVERY UNIT OF ENERGY THAT GOES INTO IT, IT WILL RETURN THREE TO FOUR UNITS OF ENERGY OUT.
IT'S JUST REALLY QUITE AMAZING.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HEAT PUMPS, AND IT MAY BE A QUESTION FOR OFF GRID.
PART OF IT IS THE EDUCATION BEHIND HOW DO YOU USE A HEAT PUMP BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAVE MANY PEOPLE IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY THAT ARE UNFAMILIAR.
THE WAY A HEAT PUMP WORKS IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN A CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM.
I HOPE THAT DURING THESE COURSES, THERE'S SOME SOME SCIENCE BEHIND HOW IT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE SOME GETTING USED TO.
>> I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT WE HAVE A FREE CONSULTATION PROGRAM THAT'S PART OF THIS.
IT'S CALLED OUR NAVIGATOR PROGRAM.
BUT PART OF THAT IS LOOKING AT FOLKS UTILITY BILLS AND SEEING WHERE IT IS THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE HAD HEAT PUMPS, YOU CAN SEE IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY OF LAST YEAR, THEIR ENERGY USAGE WENT WAY UP BECAUSE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 32 OUTSIDE HEAT STRIP.
YES. THEY ARE. THAT'S EXACTLY, I THINK, PART OF AND WITH THE NEW HEAT PUMPS, YOU CAN SET THE SETTING.
A SET OF BEING 32 DEGREES, YOU CAN ADJUST THAT.
SAY THE EMERGENCY HEAT STRIP WON'T COME ON UNTIL IT'S MAYBE TEN DEGREES OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT EVEN THEN, WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE AWAY FROM HYBRID SYSTEMS WHERE WE DON'T NEED A BACKUP HEAT STRIP OR A BACK, GAS BURNER IN CASE OF COLD WEATHER BECAUSE THESE SYSTEMS NOW, THEY'RE CALLED COLD WEATHER HEAT PUMPS, AND THEY'RE GOOD ENOUGH TO GO TO IT -13 DEGREES.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF VETTING WE DO ON THE SYSTEMS AND WHAT WE'RE BRINGING TO THE PROGRAM.
>> I'LL JUST ADD, THAT'S A TREMENDOUS POINT, MAYOR PRO TEM, WHERE I THINK WE CAN EXPLAIN HOW THESE TECHNOLOGIES WORK THROUGH THESE CAMPAIGNS AND THROUGH THOSE NAVIGATOR SESSIONS, BUT ALSO WE REALLY DO WANT THIS TO BE A KIND POSITIVE CONTAGION EFFECT, WHERE AS THAT NEW EDUCATION, NEW INFORMATION IS GETTING PROVIDED TO HOMEOWNERS, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DISSEMINATE AND THAT WE REALLY MAKE THIS A TRUE COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO IT WAS THAT
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DECIDED TO GO WITH THE NAME HEAT PUMP WHEN THEY INVENTED THESE TECHNOLOGIES.THEY MAY HAVE MADE A SLIGHT MISTAKE IN THE MARKETABILITY OF THAT.
BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN WORK AGAINST THESE MISCONCEPTIONS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF HOW THESE SYSTEMS WORK, I THINK IT'LL GO A REALLY LONG WAY.
>> I'M NOT FALLING THREE TO FOUR TIMES.
ENERGY ISN'T MAGICALLY P FOUR QUARTS.
I CAN YOU WALK THROUGH WHAT YOU WERE SAYING THERE, SO I CAN UNDERSTAND IT.
>> I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND IT MYSELF.
BUT HERE'S WHAT HE HEAT PUMP IS BASICALLY YOUR AIR CONDITIONED.
I MEAN, I LIKE YOUR REFRIGERATOR.
IT USES A COOLANT, AND WHAT IT DOES IS EXTRACT HEAT OUT OF THE AIR.
>> I UNDERSTAND I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT?
>> WELL, I UNDERSTAND THREE TO FOUR TIMES THEY USE.
SO WHAT IT IS, IT'S IT'LL TAKE IN A KILOWATT HOUR, BUT IT'LL OUTPUT OF BTU, IF YOU OR LIKE A UNIT OF HEAT.
>> THAT IS WHAT IT EXCHANGES, IT TAKES ONE ENERGY, WHEN IT EXCHANGES, AND THEN WHEN IT BRINGS BACK IN IT COMES OUT, IT TAKES ONE UNIT OF HEAT FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT COMES INSIDE AND IT SPELLS THREE TO FOUR UNITS OF HEAT.
>> I THINK IT'S MORE THAT IT'LL TAKE A KILOWATT HOUR.
I'LL GET BACK TO YOU. THEY REALLY ARE KIND OF MAGICAL. THAT'S CORRECT.
>> YOU SAID THAT POTENTIALLY SAID 75% THE ELECTRICITY CORRUPT.
IS THAT BECAUSE WHAT YOU SAID THAT YOU WANT OVERALL ENERGY, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YEAH. THAT'S IF YOU WERE TO ELECTRIFY AND DO ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE WHOLE HOME.
THE HEAT PUMP IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.
SO THOSE THREE DATA POINTS ON THE LEFT ARE FOR ELECTRIFYING YOUR WHOLE HOME, AND THEN THE HEAT PUMP IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.
WHEN YOU THINK OF ELECTRIFICATION, IT'S A WHOLE ECOSYSTEM OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND THINGS, BUT IT ALL BEGINS WITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
SO PART OF THIS PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE ENERGY AUDITS AND CONTRACTORS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR INSULATION, AIR CEILING, DUCT CEILING, AND ALL THE OTHER TYPES OF WEATHER STRIPPING AND WEATHERIZATION TYPE SERVICES THAT FOLKS MIGHT NOT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED.
SO AND THEN AS FAR AS THE TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS, THE HEAT PUMP FOR AIR SOURCE, HEAT PUMP FOR HOT WATER, SOLAR, ENERGY, BATTERY STORAGE, EV CHARGING STATIONS, INDUCTION COOKING.
AND THEN ELECTRICAL UPGRADES COME WITH ALL THIS.
SO WE WILL HAVE MORE THAN A COUPLE OF ELECTRICIANS ON BOARD WHO CAN PROVIDE ALL THE ELECTRICAL UPGRADE SERVICES, AND THEN CLOTHED DRIERS OF ALL THINGS.
I DID I DIDN'T REALIZE BUT THE HEAT PUMP FOR CLOTHES DRIERS THAT DON'T REQUIRE.
THAT'S GOOD FOR MULTIFAMILY PURPOSES.
WELL. AN EXAMPLE OF THE VERY FIRST ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM IN NORTH CAROLINA, THE CITY OF ASHVILLE AND BUNCO COUNTY GAVE US A GRANT TO ESSENTIALLY BUILD THIS WHOLE THING OUT.
I THINK OF THEM AS YOUR SISTER COMMUNITY IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHO IS VERY ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF SUSTAINABILITY AS WELL.
WE HAVE SOME STATS THERE AS FAR AS WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, OBVIOUSLY ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A TERRIBLE STORM HIT UP THERE, AND SO IT WAS QUITE A SETBACK FOR US IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE'RE ABLE TO PERSEVERE AND THINGS ARE BACK ON TRACK IN NORTH CAROLINA.
WE ALL THIS IS TO SAY THAT YOU'RE NOT THE GUINEA PIG.
ASH BUNCOMBE OR THE GUINEA PIG.
WE'VE LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS, AND WE'RE BRINGING THOSE LESSONS HERE TO DECAY.
THERE'S FEATURES OF WELL, LET ME JUST BACK UP FOR A SECOND. I DON'T KNOW.
FOR THOSE WHO WERE FAMILIAR WITH OUR SOLARIS PROGRAMS, THOSE PROGRAMS WILL RUN THROUGH A PLATFORM CALLED SOLAR CLOUD SOURCE.
FOR ELECTRIFICATION, WE LAUNCHED AN ENTIRELY NEW PLATFORM.
SO THIS IS NOT UNDER THAT A CONSTRUCT.
THIS NEW PLATFORM IS CALLED LET'S GO ELECTRIC.
IT'S GOT LOTS OF DIFFERENT FEATURES THAT WOULD NOT COME WITH A SOLAR RAYS PROGRAM.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT BRIEFLY.
THEN AGAIN, WE'LL ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WE GO THROUGH IT.
THE VERY FIRST IS AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE.
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IF YOU WERE TO THINK OF SAY ANGIE'S LIST OR HOME ADVISOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEN REALLY HYPER FOCUS THAT TO A LOCAL COMMUNITY FROM USING LOCAL CONTRACTORS WITH A CURATED LIST OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.THAT'S WHAT THE MARKETPLACE IS ALL ABOUT.
AT ANY TIME, CUSTOMERS CAN GO ON TO THE WEBSITE, THEY CAN CONNECT WITH CONTRACTORS AND BEGIN PROJECTS RIGHT AWAY. WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT.
>> WE'LL BE LOOKING AT NEW CONTRACTORS AND ON-BOARDING NEW CONTRACTORS THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM.
ANOTHER FEATURE IS WHERE FOLKS CAN GO ONLINE TO THE PLATFORM.
THEY CAN ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE CAN AUTOMATICALLY, AND FOR FREE, GENERATE AN ENERGY PROFILE AND THEN ASSIGN THEM AN ENERGY SCORE, AND THEN OFFER THEM INSTANT RECOMMENDATIONS ON THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO NEXT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS, PEOPLE ARE IN DIFFERENT PLACES IN THEIR ELECTRIFICATION JOURNEY.
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT ALREADY HAVE SOLAR, THEY MIGHT ALREADY HAVE A HEAT PUMP, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A HEAT PUMP FOR HOT WATER, OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
WE TAKE STOCK OF WHERE FOLKS ARE, AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE THE NEXT BEST RECOMMENDATION IN TERMS OF WHAT IS THE NEXT MOST COST-EFFECTIVE ELECTRIFICATION PRODUCT OR SERVICE THEY CAN TAKE TO CONTINUE THEIR ELECTRIFICATION JOURNEY.
THEN ONCE THEY HAVE ELECTRIFIED UP, THEY GET A 100% SCORE, AND WE GET TO CELEBRATE AT THAT POINT.
ALL CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN DASHBOARD.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TRACK THEIR PROJECTS FROM THERE.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT PREVIOUS PROJECTS THEY'VE DONE.
THEY WILL ALSO, WELL, LET ME GET TO THE NEXT SECTION, WHICH IS THAT FREE NAVIGATOR SERVICE.
A LOT OF FOLKS JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.
I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, AND IT'S SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, AND SO WE CREATED A HOME ENERGY NAVIGATOR PROGRAM WHERE FOLKS CAN SIGN UP FOR A 30-MINUTE OR 45-MINUTE FREE CONSULTATION, TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WE CAN DO SOME RESEARCH FOR THEM AND GO AHEAD AND GENERATE A REPORT.
WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE.
I GUESS THEY'RE CALLED RMI NOW.
THEY HAVE SOMETHING CALLED A GREEN UPGRADE CALCULATOR THAT WE HAVE INTEGRATED VIA AN API INTO OUR PLATFORM.
THIS WILL BE IN THE CUSTOMER'S DASHBOARD, WHERE THE CUSTOMER WILL BE ABLE TO RUN THEIR OWN REPORT IF THEY WANT.
OR WE WILL RUN A REPORT FOR THEM.
WHAT THE WHOLE IDEA THERE IS, IS THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.
LET'S TAKE A HEAT PUMP HOT WATER HEATER, FOR EXAMPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW, BUT GEORGIA POWERS OFFERS A REBATE FOR THOSE, 50%, UP TO $1,000.
THE CITY OF DECATUR WILL BE OFFERING A GRANT FOR THAT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM, 50% UP TO $500.
THEN THERE'S THE STATE REBATE PROGRAM.
IT'S AN INCOME-QUALIFIED PROGRAM, BUT YOU CAN GET REBATES THERE DEPENDING ON YOUR INCOME LEVEL, AND THEN THERE ARE TAX CREDITS INVOLVED.
LET ALONE WHAT IS THE ENERGY SAVINGS OVER A TEN TO 15-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME? THAT'S WHAT THIS NAVIGATOR SESSION IS ALL ABOUT.
IT'S ABOUT BRINGING ALL THAT TOGETHER SO PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT THE APPLES-TO-APPLES COMPARISON IS.
BECAUSE OFTENTIMES, IF YOU'RE REPLACING A GAS HOT WATER HEATER, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRADITIONAL REPLACEMENT OF THAT IS GOING TO BE CHEAPER THAN GETTING A HEAT PUMP HOT WATER HEATER.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW ALL THESE INCENTIVES WORK TOGETHER.
WHAT APPLIES TO THEM, AND WHAT DOESN'T APPLY TO THEM.
CALCULATE THE ENERGY SAVINGS OVER A 15-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME AND GIVE THEM A TRUE IDEA OF WHAT THE FINAL AMOUNT OF THIS UPGRADE WILL BE.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT REGARDLESS IF A HOUSEHOLD PARTICIPATES IN THIS PROGRAM RIGHT AWAY.
GETTING INFORMATION THROUGH THIS SERVICE WILL BE INVALUABLE OVER TIME BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THREE-QUARTERS OF ALL APPLIANCE REPLACEMENTS IN HOMES HAPPEN WHEN THEY JUST DON'T WORK ANYMORE, WHEN THEY BREAK.
TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN GET PEOPLE THINKING OF A PROACTIVE PLAN FOR WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEIR HVAC JUST STOPS WORKING AND THEY'RE SWEATING DURING THE SUMMER, TRYING TO WORK FROM HOME, WHAT HAVE YOU.
IT'LL GO ALONG WITH IT BECAUSE TYPICALLY, IN THOSE SITUATIONS, I WOULD SAY, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THE LOWEST PER-MONTH COST, AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING THAT CAN BE INSTALLED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE,
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AND THAT MAY LOCK THEM INTO ANOTHER GAS SERVICE APPLIANCE FOR ANOTHER 15 TO 20 YEARS.AGAIN, WHILE WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION NOW WHEN THEY NEED TO.
DOING THAT PROACTIVE PLANNING IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS TOOL FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT. WHEN PEOPLE REPLACE THEIR APPLIANCES, GENERALLY, IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING IT FOR FUNZIES.
IT'S PART OF THIS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE A CHOICE BEFORE THEIR GAS STOVE, JUST TANKS, AND ACTUALLY MAYBE MAKE A REPLACEMENT FOR THE SAKE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY, OR ARE WE JUST TRYING TO PREP THEM FOR THE INEVITABLE, WHICH COULD HAPPEN IN FIVE TO TEN YEARS? OR ARE WE TRYING TO GET IN SOME OF THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE BUILDING NEW, OR ALL OF THE ABOVE?
>> OBVIOUSLY, THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS ELECTRIFICATION AND CLEAN ENERGY GOALS, BUT THAT SAID, WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO REPLACE APPLIANCES THAT THEY INSTALLED LAST YEAR.
WE DO WANT THERE TO BE REAL ENERGY SAVINGS, COST SAVINGS, AND COMFORT IMPROVEMENTS FOR HOUSEHOLDS.
BUT FOR HOMEOWNERS THAT ARE MAYBE APPROACHING A FIVE-YEAR END-OF-LIFE TERM FOR SOME OF THEIR GAS SYSTEMS BASED ON ALL THE REBATES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, THE ENERGY COST SAVINGS, AND EVERYTHING.
IT MAY BE ECONOMICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS AND ENVIRONMENTALLY ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THEM TO GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THOSE SYSTEMS IF THEY EITHER HAVE THE UPFRONT CAPITAL THAT'S NEEDED OR, AGAIN, HAVE ACCESS TO THE FINANCING TOOLS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
AGAIN, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE THAT INSTALLED A NEW GAS RANGE LAST YEAR TO THINK THAT WE'RE COMING OUT AND TRYING TO GET THEM TO REPLACE THAT NOW.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM, IF THERE ARE UPGRADES AND REPLACEMENTS THAT REALLY MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LIFE OF THOSE SYSTEMS, WE WANT THEM TO LOOK AT MAKING THOSE CHANGES NOW.
I THINK OVERALL, JUST GETTING HOMES TO DO AN ENERGY AUDIT AND DEVELOP A PROACTIVE PLAN FOR THEIR SYSTEMS MOVING FORWARD IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY.
>> ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION, AND I REALLY LIKE THIS CHOICE OF MODEL.
SOMETHING ABOUT HER REALLY SPEAKS TO ME.
[LAUGHTER] THE LAND TRUST, COULD THE LAND TRUST UTILIZE THIS, TOO?
>> WE ARE ACTIVELY PLANNING A STAKEHOLDER MEETING, BUT I'VE BEEN IN CONSTANT CONVERSATION WITH JULIE SMITH, OUR LIFELONG COMMUNITY DIRECTOR MANAGER, AND KEEN MITCHELL ABOUT HOW THESE PROGRAMS CAN REALLY INTEGRATE.
I'LL JUST SAY, BASED ON MY CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
THERE'S NOTHING PRECLUDING SOMEBODY FROM GOING THROUGH THE HOME REHAB PROGRAM.
ALSO, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR PROGRAM, THE GFAS PROGRAM, AND THE GEORGIA POWERS PROGRAM.
I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE LITTLE PIECES THAT COME UP AS SNAGS, BUT I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, WE ARE DESIGNING THESE PROGRAMS AND THINGS TO BE COMPLEMENTARY AND NOT RESTRICTIVE FROM ONE ANOTHER.
>> BUILDING UPON THAT. I MEAN, YOU HAVEN'T MENTIONED FOR PROGRAMS. IS THIS PROGRAM GOING TO BE A PLAN WE GO THROUGH [INAUDIBLE], MATRIX ALL COORDINATED? QUESTION TWO WAS, A BIG PART OF INSULATING YOUR HOME AND WEATHERPROOFING IS THAT IT'S RELATIVELY CHEAP HIGH RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
HOW DOES THAT SEPARATE FROM THIS CONVERSATION, OR IS THAT PART OF YOUR COVER FOR YOUR AUDIT? I MEAN, EVERYBODY HAS A TWO-YEAR TURNAROUND ON ANY INVESTMENT IN THAT.
>> I'LL DEFINITELY LET DON SPEAK TO THIS AS WELL, BUT THE WAY THAT THE PLATFORM IS SET UP, IT REALLY DOES PRIORITIZE THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE THE QUICKEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
LIKE YOU SAID, AND THE CHEAPEST INVESTMENTS, CORRECT? AND SO REALLY, WE THINK OF WEATHERIZATION AND ELECTRIFICATION AS A CONTINUUM WHERE YOU KNOW STARTING WITH HOME INSULATION AND WEATHERIZATION, MOVING TO ELECTRIFICATION, AND THEN MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, ONCE YOU HAVE ELECTRIC SYSTEMS, POWERING THOSE ELECTRIC SYSTEMS WITH THE ROOFTOP SOLAR BATTERY.
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THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT JUST DOING A SOLARIZE CAMPAIGN.WE KNOW THAT, LACK OF A BETTER WORD, SOLAR IS SEXY AND PEOPLE LOOK TO IT, BUT THERE ARE SOME MORE EFFECTIVE THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN DO FIRST THAT REALLY SET THEM UP ON A PATHWAY TO TAKE THE MOST ADVANTAGE OF SOLAR IN THE FUTURE.
>> THE LAST THING YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS I READ YOU SAID HEALTH BENEFITS IN TERMS OF AIR QUALITY, AND NOBODY EVER GOT CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING FROM IT. I THINK THAT'S [INAUDIBLE]
>> I'LL SAY THAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE MOTIVATED BY DIFFERENT THINGS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
US JUST REALLY EMPHASIZING THE MYRIAD WAYS THAT FOLKS AT THE HOUSEHOLD LEVEL AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, AT THE STATE LEVEL, AT THE NATIONAL AND GLOBAL LEVELS, BENEFIT FROM ELECTRIFICATION AND POWERING THOSE ELECTRIC MACHINES WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY, AND SO SOME PEOPLE MAY BE MOTIVATED BY COMFORT, SOME MAY BE MOTIVATED BY INDOOR AIR QUALITY, SOME BY UTILITY COST SAVINGS.
REALLY, JUST TRYING TO HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE EVERYBODY HAS A WAY IN IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU. A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS, AND WE'LL TURN INTO QUESTIONS.
I'M A RESIDENTIAL REALTOR, AND I REALLY THINK THAT REALTORS CAN BE HUGE ALLIES IN THIS WORK.
BUT WE'RE LARGELY UNDER-INFORMED, NOT UNINFORMED, BUT I KNOW A FAIR AMOUNT.
I'VE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT TO PUT TOGETHER A WHOLE NARRATIVE ABOUT THIS TO A CLIENT WOULDN'T BE MY WHEELHOUSE PER SE, BUT I THINK WE COULD LEARN A LOT MORE AND IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO ACTIVATE THAT GROUP BECAUSE WE ARE ASKED THAT'S ESSENTIALLY AN OUT OF TRANSACTION THING WE DO ALL THE TIME AND JUST TO BE WHO DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR THIS THE OTHER, SO YOU MAKE THOSE CONTRACTOR RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT FOLLOWING THAT, CONTRACTORS ARE THE TREES, HOW YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
THE INSTALLERS ARE NOT REALLY ON BOARD; THAT'S LIKE A THIRD THING THEY SUGGEST, AND I'VE BEEN TALKED OUT OF ELECTRIC MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT.
FASCINATING BECAUSE THEY HAVE IT AT HAND, BUT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO MAKE THAT FEEL EASY OR COST-EFFECTIVE IN THAT CONVERSATION.
I FIND THAT CURIOUS, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO PUSH AGAINST THE REALTORS CAN DO IT, AND OBVIOUSLY, THIS EDUCATION PIECE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, OF JUST RESIDENTS.
A COUPLE OF TECHNICAL THINGS FOR ME.
I FIND THAT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK A LOT OF HOUSES DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ABRIDGE OR ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WATTAGE.
WHAT IS THE WORD 220,221 FOR ME TO ADD AN ELECTRIC OVEN? I WOULD HAVE TO REDO MY WHOLE PANEL.
IT IS A BIG DEAL TO GET THAT EXTRA JUICE TO POWER THE OVEN.
IS THAT A BARRIER THAT YOU FIND THAT HOUSES DON'T HAVE THE BASELINE POWER TO ADD A LOT OF ELECTRICAL STUFF?
IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS WE'LL ASK, AND IF THEY DON'T KNOW, THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, BUT YOU CAN GO DOWN TO YOUR PANEL AND TAKE A PICTURE, AND THE AMOUNT OF AMPERAGE IS RIGHT THERE.
WE ALSO LIKE TO KNOW. [LAUGHTER].
>> WE ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL CIRCUITS AVAILABLE.
ON THE MAIN DISTRIBUTION BOARD.
YES, THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHERE YOU'LL HAVE TO UPGRADE YOUR SERVICE FROM SAY, 100 TO 150 OR 100 TO 200 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT'S EXPENSIVE.
THE STATE REBATE PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY FOR INCOME-QUALIFIED FOLKS, THAT DOES OFFERS UP TO $4,000 TO HELP WITH THAT.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME REALLY COOL NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT HAVE COME OUT.
ONE'S CALLED A SPAN, ANOTHER ONE IS LIKE LUMEN SMART.
THESE ARE JUST SMART CIRCUITS WHERE YOU CAN MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR MAIN DISTRIBUTION PANEL, AND TALK ABOUT MAGIC OVER HERE.
IT'S ABLE TO INTERNALLY DEDICATE CERTAIN LOADS IN YOUR HOME AT CERTAIN TIMES, THAT ENABLES THAT NEW INDUCTION STOVE TOP THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TO BE ABLE TO EXIST ON THE SAME PANEL WITH THE SAME HAND.
>> THIS IS SOME OF THAT BREAKTHROUGH, DEMYSTIFYING, AND FINDING SOME CREATIVE AVENUES FOR WHEN YOU HIT THOSE BARRIERS.
THE LAST THING THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS COULD WORK, BUT THERE'S NOT AN APPLIANCE IN YOUR HOME NOW THAT THEY DO NOT QUALIFY FOR A PERMIT, OTHER THAN MAYBE A DISHWASHER IN OUR CITY FOR REPLACING IF IT'S $100.
IT'S 100 BUCKS FOR A WATER HEATER, HVAC, AND PROBABLY A GAS RANGE, PROBABLY.
IF THAT'S A TOUCH POINT AND PEOPLE DID KNOW, THOUGHT ABOUT GETTING PERMITS, AND ENGAGED WITH US, IT'S A GREAT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY.
[00:30:03]
BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT NECESSARILY GETTING THAT PERMIT.>> THE PERMITTING PART HAS COME UP IN CONVERSATIONS, AND WE ARE POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT USING THE COMMUNITY ENERGY FUND OR JUST EITHER TO RECOUP SOME OF THOSE FUNDS OR HOPEFULLY GETTING CD TO WAIVE CERTAIN PERMIT FEES FOR PEOPLE TO [OVERLAPPING] THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
I THINK THAT'S JUST ALL TO SAY, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT TOUCH POINTS WHERE PEOPLE GO INTO THIS SPHERE, OUR JOB AS CAMPAIGN ADMINISTRATORS AND CITY STAFF, AND STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND I WILL EVEN ASK YOU HALL AS THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, IF THERE ARE THOSE TOUCH POINTS WHERE YOU THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON INFORMATION SHARING OR EDUCATION, WHAT HAVE YOU.
WE CAN ADDRESS THE AREAS THAT WE KNOW ABOUT THAT THERE ARE SOME THAT COME TO MY MIND, AND THEN THERE ARE GOING TO BE OTHERS THAT COME TO OTHERS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS BEFORE AS A DECATUR HOMEOWNER.
AGAIN, THESE ARE OUR PLANS AS WE STAND HERE TODAY.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE ROOM FOR SUGGESTIONS AND FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY, ONCE THEY'RE PARTICIPATING.
>> I'M HAPPY TO HEAR A LOT OF THIS CONVERSATION, AND I THINK SOMETHING TO COMMISSIONER WALSH'S POINT, IF THERE ARE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE LISTED SOMEWHERE, THAT ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU, INSTEAD OF WHEN YOU CALL THEM, THEY'RE LIKE, YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO TRY TO DO THAT, OR WHAT THE COST WOULD BE.
I ALSO LIKE THAT THINKING ABOUT IT LIKE WHEN YOU ARE REPLACING APPLIANCES, I DO FEEL LIKE THERE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE COMPONENT IF WE ARE, SAY, TAKE OUT SOMETHING YOU JUST INSTALLED TWO YEARS AGO AND REPLACE IT, AND WHERE DOES IT GO TO A LANDFILL OR I DON'T KNOW.
IS THERE A RECYCLING WAY FORWARD?
ONE, DON CAN SPEAK TO THE ENGAGEMENT THAT THEY'VE ALREADY DONE WITH CONTRACTORS AND HOW THAT'S GONE SO FAR.
THE SECOND, AND WE NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS CONVERSATION, BUT THERE HAS BEEN INITIAL WORK THAT WE'VE DONE WITH CHARM.
>> TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT WHEN THEY'RE REPLACING AN APPLIANCE THAT THEY CAN TAKE THOSE APPLIANCES THERE.
I DON'T KNOW OF ONE THAT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE ACCEPTED AT CHARM.
THEN TWO, SOME OF THOSE APPLIANCES DO HAVE A NOMINAL PROCESS LIKE FEE THAT CHARGES TO COVER THE COST OF GETTING THAT TO A RECYCLING PARTNER.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT POTENTIALLY PAYING FOR THOSE FEES AS WELL.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS A WHOLE LIFE CYCLE CRADLE TO CRADLE APPROACH THAT NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THIS PROGRAM AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND WE'LL BE WORKING ON.
>> MAYOR, THE RECYCLING IS A REALLY GOOD POINT.
WHEN WE'RE VETTING CONTRACTORS, WE'RE VETTING CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT INTO THIS WHOLE THING.
THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT ELECTRIFICATION MEANS, WHAT HEAT PUMPS CAN DO.
WHEN YOU GET YOUR GOOD BETTER BEST PROPOSAL FROM THE CONTRACTOR, IT'LL BE ALL HEAT PUMPS AND THEY ARE NOT SOME OF YOUR ALTERNATIVES.
WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO PERPETUATE THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
THAT HAPPENS UPFRONT WHEN WE VET THE CONTRACTORS.
PART OF THAT, SHOULD BE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THESE OLD APPLIANCES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OUT OF SOMEBODY'S HOME? ARE YOU RECYCLING THEM? THAT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER DATA POINT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
FOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT THINK THAT'S A LANDFILL ITEM, THEN WE CAN STEER THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THAT. I THINK THAT'S OKAY.
>> REALLY A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.
AS WE START THIS CAMPAIGN, DO YOU GUYS HAVE A TARGET AUDIENCE IN MIND YET? BECAUSE HERE'S WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS.
YOU ALMOST NEED AN AMBASSADOR THAT PEOPLE TRUST THAT HAS GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND THERE'S SOME DATA AND THEY CAN REALLY SPEAK TO THIS WORKS, BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE LISTEN TO THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR FRIENDS AND YOU KNOW WHERE I'M HEADED WITH.
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO KNOCK ON THE AVERAGE PERSON'S DOOR AND SAY, HEY, TRY THIS.
[00:35:02]
THEY'RE JUST GOING TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND SAY, NO, THANK YOU.>> YEAH. I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE CREATED AN EXPLICITLY NAMED AMBASSADOR PROGRAM YET, BUT THERE ARE ALREADY FOLKS ON THE ESP AND OTHER ENGAGED INDIVIDUALS THAT I KNOW HAVE DONE THIS IN THEIR HOMES.
ONE OF THEM IS ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS FROM SOUTH FACE THAT IS GOING TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS PROGRAM.
REALLY, I THINK THE GOAL IS TO APPEAL TO THE CIVIC MINDED NATURE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO HELP THEM SHARE THEIR STORIES ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
SO FAR, WE'RE ENVISIONING YARD SIGNS AND OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT NEIGHBORS WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
BUT THAT YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
WE WANT TO GET THE DETAILS AS CORRECT AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AT THE START SO THAT THE FIRST WAVE OF PEOPLE THAT GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE, AND THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO TELL THEIR NEIGHBOR, I WENT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND I HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO.
WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THAT.
AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE OTHER IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW WE BETTER DO THAT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
AS FAR AS THE TARGET AUDIENCE GOES, I THINK THIS HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT BASED ON THE EXPIRATION OF THE TAX CREDITS FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS FOR HIGHER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE TO GUESS DIFFERENTIATE AS MUCH.
WE COULD GO INTO THE COMMUNITY AND HOUSEHOLDS BELOW 150% AMI WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME FORM OF REBATE THROUGH GFA'S PROGRAM, EVERY HOUSEHOLD ABOVE THAT INCOME LEVEL WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX CREDIT, AS WELL AS THE CITY'S PROGRAMS AND SOME GEORGIA POWER PROGRAMS. JUST THE MAKEUP OF THE INCENTIVE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.
BUT REALLY, I THINK OUR GOAL IS TO GET THIS ASSISTANCE TO THE HOUSEHOLDS THAT NEED IT MOST THAT ARE MOST ENERGY BURDEN, THAT ARE FACING THE HIGHEST UTILITY BILLS.
VENN DIAGRAMS, DON'T ALWAYS MATCH UP EXACTLY, BUT NUMBER OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS ARE IN OUR OLDER HOUSING STOCK WITH OLDER MORE INEFFICIENT APPLIANCES, AND SO THEY ARE REALLY RIPE FOR THESE INVESTMENTS.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE OUR TARGET IS FIRST.
WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH A NUMBER OF ENGAGEMENT MECHANISMS OVER THE PAST.
SOMETIMES THOSE FOLKS CAN BE A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO REACH.
AGAIN, THAT'S WHY WE WANT THIS TO BE A COMMUNITY CENTERED CAMPAIGN WHERE AS MANY VOICES FROM AS MANY DIFFERENT PLACES, HELPING FOLKS KNOW THAT THIS IS AVAILABLE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK BACK WHEN I CAME TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ENERGY FUND INDICATORS REBATE PROGRAM, BASED ON 2023 DATA, APPROXIMATELY 20% OR SO OF THE OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSEHOLDS INDICATOR WOULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR THE FULL REBATE PROGRAM, WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS OR HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UNDER 80% OF AREA OF MEDIAN INCOME.
THEN APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER QUARTER WOULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR SOME OF THE GFAS REBATE PROGRAM, WHICH IS HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 150%.
WE KNOW THAT ABOUT UNDER LITTLE UNDER HALF OF DECATUR OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSEHOLDS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE THROUGH GFAS PROGRAM.
ALL DECATUR HOUSEHOLDS ARE ELIGIBLE THROUGH THE CITY'S COMMUNITY ENERGY FUND REBATE PROGRAM.
I WOULD SAY, ALL ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME GEORGIA POWER REBATE PROGRAM.
AGAIN, THE MIX, THE STACK IS GOING TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT NOW.
BUT THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION IN AN UNDERSTANDABLE WAY TO THOSE FOLKS RATHER THAN THAT WINDING EXPLANATION THAT I JUST GAVE YOU.
>> LET'S SEE PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO DO THIS.
DO YOU JUST FINANCE DID YOU PAY BACK FOR THE UTILITY BILL OR TO DO THIS?
>> THESE ARE THE GFA PROGRAM, OUR PROGRAM, GEORGIA POWER, THEY ARE ALL GEARED AS REBATE PROGRAMS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT IS ONE OF THE, IF NOT, THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO PEOPLE PARTICIPATING.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO FIND SOME FINANCING PARTNERS THAT WE CAN PUT HOUSEHOLDS IN TOUCH WITH.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THEY AREN'T ABLE TO GO OUTSIDE AND FIND THEIR OWN FINANCING PARTNER,
[00:40:01]
IF THEY HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR BANK OR CREDIT UNION THAT THEY ALREADY GET SERVICES THROUGH.BUT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AGAIN, WE RECOGNIZE THAT'S THE BIGGEST BARRIER AND ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO ADDRESS THAT.
>> NOW IN OUR ASHVILLE CAMPAIGN, WE PARTNERED WITH SELF HEALTH CREDIT UNION.
THEY JUST OPENED A BRANCH HERE IN GEORGIA.
THEY HAVE AN ENERGY SAVER LOAN PROGRAM THAT'S DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE FINANCING THEY NEED FOR THE UPFRONT COSTS FOR THESE EXPENDITURES.
THEN WE ACTUALLY FOUND A HEAT PUMP LEASE WHICH IS A LITTLE ODD.
WHO WOULD WANT TO LEASE A HEAT PUMP? BUT IT'S A WAY WHERE YOU CAN UPGRADE YOUR HEAT PUMP FOR NO OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE.
THAT COMPANY IS CALLED PALMETTO, THAT THEY WILL WE HAVEN'T ENTERED INTO ANY KIND OF THING WITH THEM OR ANYTHING, BUT IT'S JUST.
>> BUT IT'S INTERESTING I MEAN, WE LEASE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, YOU CAN LEASE SOLAR PANELS WHY NOT LEASE A HEAT PUMP, I GUESS.
IT'S A LITTLE WE HAVE TO DO MORE DUE DILIGENCE ON THAT BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DON'T MAKE THE PAYMENT? THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN THERE AND RIP OUT THE HEAT PUMP, THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
>> THEY HAD TO GET PUMPED UP ABOUT THAT.
>> THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE ACTION STEPS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL.
BUT TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, WE WANT TO BE THE ONE THAT PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER AND THEN SHOW THE PUZZLE TO THE HOMEOWNER ON THE OTHER END.
WE'RE TRYING TO SEEK OUT THOSE PUZZLE PIECES.
>> ALSO, GROUP PURCHASING IS INNER DNA WITH SOLAR LIGHTS CAMPAIGN, SO WE'RE BRINGING THAT HERE TO THE ELECTRIFICATION CAMPAIGN TOO.
OUR GOAL IS TO TRY TO DO ONE GROUP PURCHASE CAMPAIGN THAT IS ON TOP OF WHAT ALL IS GOING ON IN THE MARKETPLACE.
PEOPLE ARE STILL CONNECTING WITH CONTRACTORS AND GETTING THINGS DONE.
BUT A GROUP PURCHASE CAMPAIGN WHERE WE CAN GET THE COST DOWN UPFRONT FOR CERTAIN PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IS A WAY FOR FOLKS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PROACTIVE AND SAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY ON THE COST OF THESE THINGS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR CONTRACTORS WITH THE GOAL OF ROLLING OUT ONE GROUP PURCHASE PER QUARTER, AND SO WE COULD DO HEAT PUMP HOT WATER HEATERS FOR ONE GROUP PURCHASE, AND THEN NEXT ONE, WE CAN DO ANOTHER PRODUCT OR SERVICE AS WE GO ALONG.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO APPROACH THIS. WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN.
OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY IS A THREE LEGGED STOOL, A CONTRACTOR ENGAGEMENT, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I'M GOING TO JUST WALK THROUGH THESE EACH REAL QUICK.
WE'VE ALREADY ISSUED A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OUT THERE.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IT WHERE ACTUALLY WE WERE IN TOUCH WITH GFA WITH THEIR REBATE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A LIST OF ALL THE CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THAT.
TO THEM, SOUTH FACE IS SENDING IT OUT THROUGH THEIR CONTRACTOR NETWORK.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THE RFI OUT TO AS MANY CONTRACTORS AS WE CAN.
WE'VE HAD ABOUT A DOZEN RESPONSES.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT A DOZEN CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST, AND THEN, WE'RE ONBOARDING THEM AS WE SPEAK THIS MONTH ONTO THE PLATFORM AND TO HAVE IT READY BY THE TIME WE LAUNCH OUR BIG LAUNCH EVENT LATER ON THIS MONTH, WHICH I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE IN A SECOND.
>> THIS CONTRACTOR RFI IS ON THE ELECTRIFY DECATUR WEBSITE RIGHT NOW.
IF THERE HAS BEEN A FIRM THAT YOU ALL HAVE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST OR ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WORKED WITH IN THE PAST AND THINK MIGHT BE GAME FOR A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, I WOULD ASK ANYBODY TO SEND IT TO THOSE FOLKS AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL LOOK AT IT AND RESPOND.
>> ALSO AS WE LOOK AT THE CONTRACTORS, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE ARE THEY AN APPROVED CONTRACTOR WITH GEORGIA POWER, SO WE CAN GET THAT REBATE.
ARE THEY AN APPROVED CONTRACTOR WITH THE STATE REBATE PROGRAM?
[00:45:02]
THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF OUR BETTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING CONTRACTORS THAT CAN GET FOLKS THE MOST INCENTIVES AND REBATES OUT THERE.DAVID HAD MENTIONED THAT WE'RE HAVING A MEETING ON THE 16TH WITH AT LEAST OVER A DOZEN STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED.
THIS IS SOUTH FACE GILE, BUT ALSO OTHER FOLKS THAT YOU KNOW OF, SOME OF THE LOCAL AREA BOARDS, AGENA SCOTT, BEACON HILL, MLK DAY SERVICE PROJECT, ALL THOSE KINDS OF FOLKS.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT ON A LITTLE SHOW FOR THEM ON THE 16TH AT THE REC CENTER AND GET THEM ON BOARDED TOO.
COMMISSIONER POWERS, TO YOUR POINT WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR OTHERS FRONTLINE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP US GET THE WORD OUT, AS A TRUSTED SOURCE FOR SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED HELP.
THEN OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STARTS TOMORROW.
WELL, IT'S ALREADY STARTED, BUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT WE'RE INTENTIONALLY WE'LL BE PUTTING OUT LITTLE BITS OF INFORMATION OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AS FAR AS WHAT IS ELECTRIFICATION? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHAT IS ELECTRIFY DECATUR? WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE PROGRAM? WHAT DOES IT HEAT UP? WHY IS IT SO MAGICAL? REALLY JUST PRIME OF THE PUMP OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO GET PEOPLE ENGAGED AND INTERESTED IN ELECTRIFICATION.
WORK FOLKS OUT FOR A BIG LAUNCH EVENT COMING UP ON THE 26TH IS WHEN THAT IS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. CONFERENCE CENTER.
SORRY. WE MENTIONED ALL THESE REBATES BEFORE, SO I WON'T GO THROUGH THESE, BUT IT INCLUDES, THE STATE LEVEL REBATE PROGRAM, YOUR VERY OWN COMMUNITY ENERGY REBATE PROGRAM, THE UTILITY INCENTIVES, AND THE TAX CREDITS.
OUR JOB IS TO PUT ALL THESE TOGETHER FOR FOLKS AND GET THEM THE BEST DEAL POSSIBLE.
HERE'S OUR LAUNCH BIT FLIER IN THE LITTLE PACKAGE THAT YOU HAVE THERE.
THIS FLYER IS INCLUDED IN THAT.
ALSO, THERE'S A TALKING POINTS MEMO TOWARD THE BACK.
THAT HALF PAGE IS JUST AN EVERGREEN FLYER, WE'RE JUST GIVING YOU EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT WE WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION TOO.
OCTOBER 26TH, WE'RE PUTTING ON A BIG EVENT TWO TO 6:00 P.M. WE'RE INVITING ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, INVITING ALL THE CONTRACTORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR A FREE LAUNCH EVENT.
I THINK IT SO IT'LL BE A GREAT THING TO HAVE OUT.
>> THAT'S IT FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION COMING OUT, BUT GIPPLE IS A PARTNER.
I'M ASSUMING THAT IS IN A ROLE WITH FACE BASED COMMUNITY.
>> I KNOW THERE MAY BE A LOT OF LIKE FAITH INSTITUTIONS THAT MIGHT HAVE EQUIPMENT IF THEY COULD FOR WOULD BE REPLACING OR IS THAT THE ROLE OF GIPPLE IN THIS?
>> WE ARE WORKING WITH GIPPLE IN THE HOPES TO SOCIALIZE THE CAMPAIGN THROUGH LOCAL CONGREGATIONS HERE IN DECATUR.
REALLY, THE FOCUS IS ON HOMEOWNERS THAT GO TO THESE FAITH BASED INSTITUTIONS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SENDING OUT INFORMATION THROUGH THEIR NETWORK AND THEN WORKING WITH GIPPLE TO HOST EVENTS AT THESE GREAT INSTITUTIONS HERE IN DECATUR TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
>> THE AREA BASED INSTITUTIONS HAVE GREEN TEAMS CREATION CARE TEAM.
>> WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE BOTH OF THE PARTNERS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH ON THIS, ONE GIPPLE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE BASED HERE IN DECATUR OVER AT COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, AND THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF ACTIVE GREEN TEAMS HERE IN THE CITY AND THEN SOUTH FACE ALWAYS A GREAT PARTNER.
YOU'D BE SURPRISED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CURRENT AND FORMER SOUTH FAS THAT ARE DECATO RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE A FEW MORE MINUTES FOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
OTHERWISE, DON AND I ARE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH ANY OF YOU TO ANSWER ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.
I WILL BE SENDING OUT A FORMAL INVITATION TO OUR LAUNCH EVENT AND REALLY JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME FOR YOUR ATTENTION NOT ONLY TODAY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE NUMEROUS WORK SESSIONS THAT
[00:50:01]
WE'VE ALREADY DONE ON THIS TOPIC IN THE PAST, AND SO THANK YOU ALL. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.>> ARE YOU READY FOR WORK SESSION NUMBER 2,
[WORK SESSION #2 – 6:30 P.M.]
AND I WILL HAND IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER WALSH TO GET US STARTED.>> THANKS, EVERYBODY. I'M REALLY PLEASED AND HONORED THAT COLLEAGUES I GOT TO JOIN ON AT LEAST PART OF THE DELEGATION TO HOUSTON ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT.
THAT ENDEAVOR. THAT MISSION, NOT IMPOSSIBLE, WAS SUPRIHENDED BY COMMISSIONER LON SPEARS.
THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION ARE HERE AND I THOUGHT WE COULD START BY HAVING FOLKS COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
LET US KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND YOUR ORGANIZATION.
AND THEN WE JUMP INTO THE PROGRAM OF THE ACTUAL PRESENTATION THAT COMMISSIONER SPEARS AND SHE KICK OFF WITH THE FIRST FEW SLIDES AS WELL.
WE'RE TO HAVE YOU OUR MEETING AS WELL AS DELEGATION AND AS WELL AS FOR THE TRIP THAT YOU SPONSORED AND BROUGHT MANY LESSONS THAT WE CAN APPLY IN GEORGIA AND OUR COUNTY.
NOW WE'LL HEAR ALL YOU WANT TO IN TEAM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
>> OF COURSE. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR INVITING US TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL THIS EVENING BIG SHOUT OUT TO COMMISSIONER WALSH FOR ENSURING THAT WE WERE ALL PREPARED AND WE HAD AS MANY VOICES IN THE ROOM.
IS THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE FROM OUR DELEGATION.
I WILL QUICKLY INTRODUCE MYSELF, THEN TURN IT OVER TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
I AM MICHELLE LONG SPEARS, THE PRESIDING OFFICER AND DISTRICT 2 COMMISSIONER HERE IN DECATUR COUNTY.
I AM COMMISSIONER SPEARS POLICY AND PLANNING DIRECTOR.
>> HI, EVERYONE. I AM JOY MONROE, AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF SPARK, WHICH IS THE SINGLE PARENT ALLIANCE AND RESOURCE CENTER. IT'S A NON-PROFIT.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS FOR WELL ROOT FAMILY SERVICES, WHICH ALSO IS RIGHT HERE IN DECATUR.
I VOLUNTEER WITH COMMISSIONER TE TERRY SUPER DISTRICT 6.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INTRODUCING YOURSELF.
SO I GET TO KICK OFF THIS PRESENTATION, AND IT REALLY TRULY BRINGS ME SUCH JOY AND PRIDE TO HAVE LED THIS GROUP OF 21 INDIVIDUALS TO TEXAS.
AM I JUST HITTING THE BUTTON OVER HERE?
>> COMMISSIONER SPEARS, IF I CAN ADD COMMISSION TERRY, SAID HE'D LOOK TO BE HERE ON MONDAY NIGHT.
HE TAKES A CLASS AT GEORGIA STATE.
ALOUD THAT EFFORT AND ALSO GREG WHITE, HOME FOR EVERYONE.
AND INSIDER WITH A LOT OF THIS WORK IS HAS ISSUES.
YOU COULDN'T COME TONIGHT. WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE FOR JUMPING IN ON EXTRA SLIDE, BUT I KNOW WE GET THE JOB DONE.
THE NEXT SLIDE ACTUALLY LIST ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE PART OF THE DELEGATION.
BUT TO KICK US OFF, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF WHY IT BECAME SO IMPORTANT TO ME TO DO THIS TRIP.
ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I MET WITH FABIO, WHO RUNS RCSB CLATEL.
TELLING HIM THAT, WOW, AND I'VE SPOKEN ACTUALLY TO I THINK MOST OF YOU ALL ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
THIS IS JUST SUCH A COMPLEX CHALLENGE.
THESE MEMBERS, THESE FOLKS, THEY'RE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY CALL DECATUR HOME, AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE FOR EVERYONE WHO DOES WANT TO CALL DECATUR COUNTY HOME, FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO CALL DECATUR HOME, LITHONIA HOME, SHAMBY HOME, ETC.
FABIO AND I COOKED UP THIS IDEA TO GET TOGETHER WITH A GROUP OF LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS, IDENTIFY A LOCATION AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT WAS DOING IT WELL, AND TO THEN HOST AND BRING AND SHEPHERD A GROUP TO THAT LOCATION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BEST PRACTICES.
WHAT HAS WORKED? WHAT DOES THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT LOOK LIKE? WHAT ARE POLICIES THAT YOU'VE BEEN EXPLORING.
WE'VE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH TEXAS BECAUSE TEXAS HAS SEVERAL CITIES THAT ARE ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND ADDRESSING IT EFFECTIVELY.
HOUSTON IS ONE OF THOSE CITIES.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE PRIMARILY TONIGHT, BUT AUSTIN, DALLAS, AGAIN,
[00:55:01]
THEY HAVE HAD SOME POSITIVE OUTCOMES RELATED TO ADDRESSING THE UNHOUSED SITUATION AND HOMELESSNESS CRISIS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.BEFORE WE LEFT FOR THE TRIP, WE WERE GUIDED BY ANDREA, WHO WAS WITH CLARE TEL.
FANTASTIC, AND I DO WANT TO GIVE HER A SHOUT OUT BECAUSE SHE DID DO MOST OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR OUR DELEGATION TRIP.
ULTIMATELY, WE WANTED TO LEARN FROM THE OTHER DELEGATION MEMBERS, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO LEARN? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE EDUCATED ON? THERE WERE A MILLION OF RESPONSES.
SOME FOLKS WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. OTHER FOLKS WERE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT POLICIES.
OTHERS LIKE MYSELF, WERE VERY INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT THEIR CONTINUUM OF CARE.
THERE WAS ALSO INTEREST EXPRESSED IN HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO FORM THESE HEALTHY TRUSTED STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AS WELL.
THAT WAS REALLY WHAT GUIDED OUR TRIP AS WE INITIALLY STARTED DESIGNING IT.
FROM ME PERSONALLY, THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL SITUATION TO ME.
I WAS HOMELESS BRIEFLY AS A CHILD.
WE USED TO CALL THE COCA COLA CAR.
THEN WE SURFED ON COUCHES FOR A WHILE, BUT IT WAS VERY BRIEF, BUT I DID GET A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT THIS IS LIKE.
HONESTLY, MY FAMILY, WHERE WE CAME FROM, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.
BEFORE I EVEN CAME OUT PUBLICLY ABOUT THIS, I DID HAVE TO CALL MY LITTLE SISTER AND ASK HER, ARE YOU OKAY WITH ME TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A VERY DIFFICULT PART OF OUR UPBRINGING.
BUT HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE HAS REALLY GUIDED MY EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT I HAVE PROPOSED TO THIS DELEGATION WAS LED WITH LOVE, GROUNDED AND INTEGRITY AND ENSURING THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR MORAL ETHICAL COMPASS.
THAT'S A LITTLE SIDE NOTE FROM MICHELLE.
OUR TRIP. AGAIN, IT WAS SPECTACULAR.
IT WAS 21, A VERY WELL INTENDED PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT EXPERTISE, BUT DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT CITIES REPRESENTED, AND GO A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THAT IN A MINUTE.
BUT THE OBJECTIVES OF OUR TRIP, I THOUGHT WERE SIMPLE.
I OUTLINED A VERY HIGH LEVEL TO YOU EARLIER, BUT IT WAS STUDYING BEST PRACTICES.
WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T WORK WHEN YOU THREW SOMETHING AGAINST THE WALL, MAYBE IT STUCK FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
WHY DID IT ULTIMATELY FALL DOWN? OR WHY DID IT STAY STUCK ON THE WALL? SECOND WAS BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS.
TONIGHT, I IMAGINE MY COLLEAGUES, MY PARTNERS IN GOOD ON OUR DELEGATION, WILL TALK TO YOU THAT ONE OF THE UNDERLYING THEMES THAT UNDERGIRDED ALL OF OUR MEETINGS WAS PARTNERSHIP.
I CANNOT EMPHASIZE TO YOU ENOUGH HOW THAT THEY BELIEVED THEIR PARTNERSHIPS WERE.
TRUSTED PARTNERSHIPS, REAL PARTNERSHIPS, PARTNERSHIPS WHERE YOU CAN HAVE HONEST DIALOGUE, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS SPECIAL.
THIRDLY, IS IDENTIFY STRATEGIES FOR DECAB COUNTY'S UNHUSE PLAN.
I'M VERY PROUD TO REPORT TO THE DECATUR COMMISSION THAT DECAB DID KICK OFF AN UNHOUSED PLANNING PROCESS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
WE WILL BE HOSTING TOMORROW NIGHT AT OUR COMMITTEE OF THE HALL MEETING.
IT'S A NIGHT COMMITTEE OF THE HALL MEETING AT THE NEW BROOKHAVEN CITY CENTER.
WE HAVEN'T GONE DOWN TO SEE IT.
YOU CERTAINLY SHOULD, IT'S PRETTY SPECTACULAR, BUT WE'RE DOING OUR COMMITTEE OF THE HOLE DOWN THERE AT 5:30 P.M. PUBLIC COMMENT IS FROM 5: 30 UNTIL 6:00 P.M.
WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE ARTS AND THEN A PRESENTATION ON THE STATUS OF THE UNHOUSED PLANNING PROCESS WILL OCCUR THAT EVENING AS WELL.
THAT PRESENTATION WILL BE LED BY THE CONSULTANT THAT WAS HIRED TO MANAGE THE WORK.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WHILE I HAVE NOT BEEN PRIVY TO WHAT'S GOING ON, I DON'T ATTEND THEIR MEETINGS.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S GOING VERY WELL.
ULTIMATELY, OUR GOAL WITH OUR N HOUSE PLAN IS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT WHAT WE FEEL AFTER MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, DOING A DEEP DIVE INTO THE EXISTING PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND RESOURCES OUT THERE, LOOKING AT FUNDING AND SO MANY OTHER ELEMENTS OF THIS PLAN.
IS THAT WE CAN FEEL CONFIDENT IN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION THAT WE THINK WILL MOVE THE NEEDLE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN DECAB COUNTY.
LASTLY. IS THAT GOING TO BE ON DECATUR [INAUDIBLE]?
>> ABSOLUTELY. YES. I'LL TELL YOU THAT TRYING TO GET TO BROOKHAVEN FROM DECATUR AT 5:30 WILL TAKE YOU ABOUT AN HOUR.
[01:00:01]
I DO IT I KNOW THIS FROM EXPERIENCE.OUR LAST OBJECTIVE FOR THE TRIP WAS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE CONTINUUMS OF CARE IN BOTH BEAR COUNTY, WHICH IS THE MAIN CITY THERE IS SAN ANTONIO, AS WELL AS HARRIS COUNTY, THE MAIN CITY THERE IS HOUSTON, TEXAS.
ALSO, I WANTED TO JUST UNDERSTAND THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND STRUCTURE OF THE ACTUAL CONTINUUM OF CARE, HOW THE PARTNERS WORK TOGETHER.
THEN LASTLY, WHERE I WAS ALWAYS VERY INTERESTED WAS ASKING ABOUT THEIR HOUSING POLICIES.
WHAT HAS WORKED, WHAT HASN'T WORKED.
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES WAS REALLY JUST KNOWLEDGE.
IT WAS A DELEGATION TRIP, A LEARNING JOURNEY INTO WHAT IS WORKING FOR THESE TWO MAJOR COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS.
SECOND IS AROUND STRATEGIC PLANNING.
WHEN THEY SHIFTED FROM A GOVERNMENT RUN CONTINUUM OF CARE, HOW DID THEY PLAN? FOR IT TO BE RUN BY A SEPARATE 501C3 CONTINUUM OF CARE.
I TWO METROPOLITAN AREAS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN OUR METROPOLITAN AREA.
BOTH HARRIS COUNTY AND BEAR COUNTY HAVE, I BELIEVE AROUND A DOZEN OR I THINK 19 DON'T QUOTE ME ON THIS.
I THINK THAT SAN ANTONIO AREA, BEAR COUNTY HAS 19 CITIES, AND I WANT TO SAY HOUSTON HOUSE AROUND LIKE 25 OR SO.
>> HARRIS COUNTY IS SOMETHING.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN OUR AREA HERE, AT LEAST IN DECAB COUNTY AND EVEN OUR LARGER, GREATER METROPOLITAN AREA.
NEXT IS THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSTON NETWORKING.
IT WAS REALLY JUST AWESOME TO SPEND AFTERNOONS, BREAKFAST, BREAKING BREAD TOGETHER, BREAKS, JUST TALKING TO THEIR LEADERS.
THESE WERE THOSE IN ELECTED OFFICE, THOSE THAT WERE LEADERS WITH THEIR BEHAVIOR HEALTH.
THEIR MENTAL HEALTH WITH THEIR CONTINUUM OF CARE, YOUTH LEADERS, REALLY AND TRULY, JUST THOSE THAT ARE WORKING ON THE GROUND AND THOSE THAT ARE WORKING ON POLICY TO JUST TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
THEN LASTLY, POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEY WERE BOTH OF THOSE JURISDICTIONS THAT WE VISITED.
ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SITE VISITS AND GROUPS THAT WE MET WITH WERE ALL VERY FORTHCOMING WITH POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, REALLY IT FELT LIKE ANYTHING THEY COULD DO TO ADVISE US.
THIS IS WHERE THE MAGIC ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
I HAVE TO SAY, I TRULY BELIEVE WE COULD NOT HAVE CONVENED A BETTER GROUP OF LEADERS THAN THE ONE THAT ATTENDED THAT TRIP WITH US.
WE HAD REPRESENTATION FROM FIVE CITIES WE HAVE 13 CITIES, INCLUDING ATLANTA. IN DECAB COUNTY.
WE DID HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE ON BEHALF OF MAYOR DICKENS PRESENT ON OUR TRIP.
WE HAD TWO COMMISSIONERS, MYSELF, AND COMMISSIONER TED TERRY THAT AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TRIP.
WE ALSO HAD THE FOLKS THAT CAME UP AND INTRODUCED THEMSELVES EARLIER.
WE HAD THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR LEADERSHIP DECAB WAS PRESENT.
WE HAD A REPRESENTATIVE ON BEHALF OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY ALSO PRESENT.
HER NAME WAS RACHEL. FANTASTIC HAVING HER THERE AS WELL.
SEVERAL OTHER FOLKS THAT REALLY AND TRULY JUST CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRIP.
AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE EVER EVERYBODY BROUGHT THEIR FULL SELVES TO THE DELEGATION TRIP.
I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE TOOK OFF THEIR HATS, TOOK OFF THEIR TITLES, AND WERE THERE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO LEARN.
THEY WANTED TO UNDERSTAND AND THEY WANTED IMPORTANTLY TO BRING BACK THIS KNOWLEDGE TO THIS COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN ULTIMATELY MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING COMMISSIONER WALSH'S ATTENDANCE ON THE TRIP WITH US.
AGAIN, IT REALLY WAS SPECTACULAR, AND I BELIEVE THIS CONCLUDES MY SLIDES.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR NEXT PRESENTER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SPEARS.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SOME OF OUR EXPERIENCES.
THE FIRST PLACE THAT WE VISITED WAS SAN ANTONIO.
AS THE SLIDE DESCRIBES, THE POPULATION IS ABOUT TWO MILLION WITH 14.7% EXPERIENCING POVERTY AND THE TOTAL COUNT IS ABOUT 3,625 EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND AS YOU CAN SEE 50% OF THEM HAVE REPORTED MENTAL ILLNESS.
[01:05:04]
>> I'M GOING TO DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUES TO ASK A QUESTION.
I'M NOT SURE, SO I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT WE'D BE HAPPY TO FIND OUT.
AS COMMISSIONER SPEARS MENTIONED, CLOSE TO HOME IS A COC, IT'S THE LEAD COC FOR SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY, AND IT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A NON-PROFIT.
THE MAIN GOAL BEHIND IT, AS WE LEARNED FROM THAT IS TO BE ABLE TO USE PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS.
THEY SECURED OVER $18 MILLION AND $22 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING, AND THEY FORM THE CENTRAL RESOURCE FOR GAPPING THESE FUNDS AND DISTRIBUTING IT TO THE SERVICE PROVIDERS.
AGAIN, THIS GIVES A BREAKDOWN OF THE DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT THE COC PROVIDES.
IT'S AGAIN, PARTNERSHIP AS COMMISSIONER SPEARS MENTIONED, IT'S A COALITION OF 60 PLUS ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEY HAVE A NEW PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN DEVELOPMENT, AND WHICH OFFERS 200 UNITS SET TO OPEN IN 2027.
THIS GIVES A BREAKDOWN OF THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION.
I'M A DOCTORAL STUDENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH, SO THIS IS WHERE MY PASSION LIES.
HAVEN FOR HOPE IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ADDRESSES HOMELESSNESS THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSFORMATIONAL CAMPUS-BASED APPROACH.
THEY'VE SERVED OVER 40,000 INDIVIDUALS.
THEY OPERATE ON A 22 ACRE CAMPUS, AND THEY HAVE A NORTH CAMPUS AND SOUTH CAMPUS, AND THEY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 150 ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING WITHIN THIS ENTITY, SERVING THE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THEY SERVE CHILDREN, AND THEY PROVIDE A RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING HOUSING ASSISTANCE, ID DOCUMENTATION, JAIL SUPPORT PROGRAMS, JAIL TRANSITION PROGRAMS, CHILDCARE.
THEY HAVE AN ON CAMPUS YMCA THAT OFFERS CHILDCARE AND SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AS WELL.
AS I MENTIONED THE NORTH CAMPUS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL CAMPUS.
THE INDIVIDUALS RESIDE IN THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS AS THEY WORK TOWARDS ADDRESSING THE CRISIS THAT LED TO THEM EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THE SOUTH CAMPUS IS A LOW-BARRIER CENTER WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN.
THEY HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP.
THEY GET THREE HOT MEALS, THEY HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN STORE THEIR BELONGINGS.
THE NEAT THING ABOUT THIS, WHICH IS A BIG FAVORITE THING FOR COMMISSIONER SPEARS IS THAT WE NOTICE THAT THEY HAVE A KENNEL AND COMPANY [LAUGHTER].
IT WAS AMAZING. THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS WHERE THE HIGHLIGHT IS.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THEY INVESTED, THEY GOT BACK A RETURN OF ABOUT $29.
AGAIN, THE REDUCED CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT WAS AROUND $140 MILLION AND THEY SERVE ABOUT 9,000 CLIENTS ON AVERAGE BETWEEN THESE CAMPUSES.
THE TWO CAMPUSES ARE A MIRROR IMAGE ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE WHATEVER SERVICES THAT THEY HAVE FOR THE NORTH CAMPUS IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE SOUTH CAMPUS.
THEY WANT TO MEET INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY ARE, AND THEY WANT TO OFFER A TAILOR MADE PROGRAM.
THEY BEAUTIFULLY DESCRIBE IN THEIR WEBSITE THAT THOUGH IT'S A ONE STOP SOLUTION, THERE'S A MODEL THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S A PLACE OF HOPE, LOVE, AND NEW BEGINNINGS.
[NOISE] THIS IS THE MAP OF THE THING.
APPARENTLY, IT WAS A BARE HOUSE SPACE WHEN THEY STARTED BACK IN 2010, WHEN THEY STARTED BUILDING THIS THING, AND THEY HAVE A STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY AROUND THEM AS WELL.
>> COULD WE SKIP BACK TO SLIDE 8 AND THEN YOU MENTIONED THE VISIT TO CITY HALL AND SOME OF THE FOLKS ARE ABLE TO MEET THAT DAY AT CITY HALL IN SAN ANTONIO AND NETWORK WITH THEM.
[01:10:02]
I THINK THE TWO CITY HALL VISITS WERE UNIQUE AS WELL.THEY WERE DIFFERENT FROM THE SITE VISITS, AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAD A DEEP DIVE INTO POLICY AND NETWORKING AND LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.
DO YOU HAVE IN MIND MENTIONING SAN ANTONIO CITY HALL?
>> EVERYBODY SO I HAVE MY GLASSES ON.
YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH COMMISSIONER WALSH, FOR ELEVATING OUR NEED TO DISCUSS THAT.
WE DID INDEED GO TO CITY HALL IN SAN ANTONIO.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
THE VERY FIRST THING I NOTED, OF COURSE, IS THEY HAVE GREAT SECURITY AT THAT CITY HALL, SO EVERYBODY FELT SAFE THERE.
SECOND IS WE DID HEAR FROM THE MAYOR, AND I DON'T RECALL HER LAST NAME.
>> YES. BUT WE DID ACTUALLY HAVE A NICE EXPERIENCE MEETING WITH SOME OF THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, COMMISSIONER WALSH WAS NOT PRESENT FOR THE SAN ANTONIO PORTION OF THE TRIP.
WE MET WITH, AGAIN, ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL AS THOSE THAT WERE PRACTITIONERS.
BOTH OF THE CITY HALL MEETINGS, AND I WON'T SPEAK TO HOUSTON YET BECAUSE THAT'S THE NEXT PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION, WERE VERY GROUNDED IN POLICY.
SPECIFICALLY, TALKING ABOUT THEIR CONTINUUM OF CARE AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WORKING WITH BEXAR COUNTY ON TRANSITIONING FROM A GOVERNMENT RUN A CONTINUUM OF CARE TO A NONPROFIT-BASED CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AGAIN, I JUST FELT VERY GOOD AND VERY MUCH EMBRACED BY THEIR TRANSPARENCY AND WILLINGNESS TO SHARE WITH US.
AGAIN BEST PRACTICES WERE WORTH [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK THAT'S WHERE I SIGNED HOUSTON AT CITY HALL, THIS UNITED FRONT, AND THE INTERSECTION OF POLITICIANS ELECTED, IF YOU WILL, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS FROM GOVERNMENT AND CITY, AND THEN THE NON-PROFITS, EVERYONE IN THE ROOM AND WANTED TO DISCUSS, SHARE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TOWARD IT.
>> THEY REALLY DID. AGAIN, ONE OF THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FOR ME WAS JUST HOW WELL THE PARTNERS WORKED TOGETHER.
AS SIMPLE AS THIS MIGHT SOUND.
THEY TOLD US, BOTH CITIES, BOTH COUNTIES ARTICULATED THAT THE REASON THEY FEEL IT WORKED SO WELL IS THAT THEY BUILT THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AROUND TRUST.
>> I GOT A QUESTION BECAUSE COMMISSIONER DUSBERY, WILL PROBABLY ECHO THIS.
GMA THIS PAST YEAR, WE WENT TO A HOMELESS WORKSHOP THERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IN OUR COUNTY TO CHALLENGE IS POINT IN TIME COUNTS.
NONE OF THE CITIES ARE COORDINATING THESE EFFORTS.
WE'RE WORKING IN A SILO, BROOK HAVENS WORKING IN A SILO.
WE'RE ALL WORKING IN THE SILOS, AND SO WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
I THINK AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS TRUST AND HOW DO WE GET TO THIS POINT, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO WORK TOWARDS, AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HEAVILY LEAN INTO THE COUNTY TO HELP US GUIDE THIS BECAUSE WE'RE ALL WORKING IN SILOS.
>> I AGREE. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE.
THE CITY OF SHELBY WAS REPRESENTED ON THE TRIP, AND MAYOR MOCK WAS JUST SHARING SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE IN SHELBY, AND NONE OF US EVEN KNEW.
THEY ALLOCATED X NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SPECIFIC TO THIS.
AGAIN, THAT WAS NEWS TO ALL OF US.
I BELIEVE THAT BOTH BEXAR COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY REALLY BUSTED THOSE SILOS UP WHEN THEY TRANSITIONED OVER TO THIS PRIVATE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
ONE THING TO NOTE THOUGH, IS THAT IT IS NOT APPLES TO APPLES.
IT IS REALLY APPLES TO ORANGES.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS A GINORMOUS CITY.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS A HUGE CITY, AND THEY REALLY DO TAKE UP SO MUCH OF THE COUNTY.
BEXAR COUNTY IN SAN ANTONIO OR SAN ANTONIO IN BEXAR COUNTY IN TEXAS, IT'S ONE COUNTY.
THEN HERE IN OUR METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY, WE HAVE MULTIPLE COUNTIES THAT COMPRISE THE GREATER METROPOLITAN REGION.
YOU GO TO HARRIS COUNTY IN HOUSTON.
A LARGE PORTION OF THAT IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AGAIN, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM,
[01:15:01]
MAYBE 5% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE ARE RESIDENTS KNOW WHERE THE COUNTY AND CITY LINES ARE.PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT. THE UNHOUSED SITUATION, THIS HOMELESSNESS CRISIS DOESN'T KNOW BOUNDARIES. IT'S EVERYWHERE.
I REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT ONE WAY APPROACH TO MAKE US WORK BETTER IS ADVOCATING FOR A REGIONAL CONTINUUM OF CARE.
ONE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR THE ENTIRE REGION.
IT WOULD COMMISSIONER POWERS OR MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS, FORGIVE ME. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY.
>> NICE GUY. ANYWAYS, I REALLY THINK THAT THAT WILL HELP US BUST UP THOSE SILOS IF IT'S ONE CONTINUUM OF CARE WHERE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS MANAGING THAT POINT IN TIME COUNT AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR CITIES AND OUR COUNTIES ARE ALL IN COLLABORATION AND ON THE SAME PAGE WITH EACH OTHER.
>> I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT COMPLICATES THAT IS BECAUSE WE NOW THAT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS PART OF THE ARC AND MAYOR DICKENS BRINGING ELECTIVES TOGETHER IN THE METRO REGION.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE TOPICS BUT SAN ANTONIO AND HOUSTON, TO SOME EXTENT, HAVE THE URBAN AND THEN EXURBAN AND SUBURBAN.
BUT I THINK AT NOW IT HAS A LOT MORE LAYERS OF WHAT I'VE OBSERVED IS THAT THE URBAN AREAS HAVE A DIFFERENT SENSE MAYBE OF URGENCY THAN SOME OF THE OUTER LYING COUNTIES IN DEALING WITH THAT, AND THAT ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF HOW DO WE BEST ADDRESS THIS AS A REGION.
THERE IS MOMENTUM BEHIND THAT CERTAINLY WITH THE WORLD CUP COMING AND STRATEGIES THAT ATLANTA IS DOING.
I VISITED MELODY WITH YOU AS WELL AS ADDING LOTS AND LOTS MORE HOUSING.
HOW DO WE AS A CITY AND A COUNTY AT LEAST CAN FOLD INTO WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE GETTING TO THAT PLACE, ONE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR A LARGER AREA WILL TAKE TIME.
>> WHAT ARE SOME INTERIM STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
>> I AGREE WITH YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY, MAYOR DICKENS, THE CHAIR OF THE ARC.
HIM AND I DID HAVE A MEETING EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF HIS TOP PRIORITIES.
I ALSO WAS INVITED BY MAYOR DICKENS TO TAMPA TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR DELEGATION TRIP THERE.
WHILE WE WERE IN TAMPA, WE VISITED TWO DIFFERENT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITIES.
THE OTHER WAS IN THE CITY OF TAMPA.
I HAVE TO SAY, I'M JUST REALLY SO IMPRESSED WITH MAYOR DICKENS, VISION FOR THIS AND HOW AGGRESSIVE HE IS AT GETTING TO HIS GOALS.
AGAIN, I THINK ATLANTA HAS DONE A GOOD JOB.
I LIFT ATLANTA UP, THE CITY OF ATLANTA UP AS OFTEN AS I CAN WITH HOW THEY'RE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME VALUE IN EXPLORING A REGIONAL CONTINUUM OF CARE.
BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NO BOUNDARIES.
IS A PROBLEM THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO SOLVE IT IF WE WORK TOGETHER, BUSTING UP THOSE SILOS, STEP 1 IN MY OPINION.
LET ME TURN THIS BACK OVER TO OUR PRESENTER.
>> I WAS HALFWAY THROUGH. I SUGGEST, MAYOR COULD YOU PLEASE GO TO THE PARTS OF SLIDE NUMBER 13, AND THEN YOU'LL TRANSITION US TO A KEY THING AND WE'RE THROUGH.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. YOU ALL KNOW I LOVE TO TALK ABOUT FURY FRIENDS AND PETS, AND DOGS, AND CATS, AND RABBITS, MY PET GIRDLE.
OF COURSE, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE SAME.
>> THERE WE GO. IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A FULFILLED DELEGATION TRIP FOR ME IF I DIDN'T VISIT AN ANIMAL SHELTER.
IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, I HAVE ACTUALLY VISITED THE SAN ANTONIO ANIMAL SHELTER ALREADY.
I PARTICIPATED WITH A CONFERENCE FOR THE HUMANE SOCIETY,
[01:20:02]
WHICH IS NOW CALLED HUMANE WORLD, AND IT WAS IN SAN ANTONIO A COUPLE YEARS AGO.WOW. THAT SHELTER REALLY BLEW MY MIND.
IT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN OUR ANIMAL SHELTER.
ACTUALLY HAD A RAILROAD RUNNING THROUGH IT.
GUESS WHAT? THEY FIGURED OUT STILL I KNOW.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT WAS BESIDE IT. I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER.
I WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE OTHER ONE BUT BESIDE, YES.
BUT IT REALLY WAS JUST AMAZING.
I REALLY CONSIDER SADLY THAT WHEN ANIMAL HAS TO GO TO OUR SHELTERS, THEY GO TO JAIL AND OFTEN THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
I BELIEVE THAT IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US AS LEADERS TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF LIFE WHILE THEY'RE IN HOPEFULLY TEMPORARY CARE WITHIN A SHELTER.
LITTLE FUN SIDE NOTE, WE ACTUALLY MET SOMEONE THERE FROM DECATUR.
SHE WORKS THERE. THAT MADE IT A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL LATE.
THIS PROGRAM, SAN ANTONIO PETS ALIVE IS A 501(C)3.
THEY WORK AT THE SHELTER AND SO THEY BRING THEIR PROGRAMMING TO THE SHELTER.
THEY HAVE HAD REALLY AMAZING OUTCOMES WITH PETS IN THAT COMMUNITY.
THEY SAVED OVER 5,000 AT RISK CATS AND DOGS FROM EUTHANASIA ANNUALLY.
THEY HAVE SAID THAT THOSE NUMBERS JUST CONTINUE TO GO UP.
OF COURSE, I'M SHARING THEM ON.
THEY SAVED MORE THAN 70,000 LIVES SINCE THEIR INCEPTION IN 2001.
THEY WORKED WITH OVER 1,400 FOSTERS CARING FOR MORE THAN 3,500 OF OUR ANIMALS.
I AM A FOSTER MYSELF RIGHT NOW.
MY LITTLE FOSTER DOG IS NAMED JOEY.
I'VE HAD HIM FOR ABOUT 15 MONTHS, AND I WILL TELL YOU, IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE TAKEN IN A FOSTER DOG.
IN THIS GROUP, SAN ANTONIO PETS ALIVE, THEY PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND THE TRAINING THAT YOU NEED TO BE A GOOD FOSTER.
THEY'RE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH A FULL OUTREACH TEAM HITTING THE PAVEMENT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, TRYING TO GET THESE DOGS ADOPTED, BRINGING AWARENESS TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY EXPERIENCE IN SAN SAN ANTONIO WITH THEIR FURRY FRIENDS.
ALSO REALLY JUST SPREADING THIS MESSAGE THAT WE'RE A COMMUNITY THAT VALUES OUR ANIMALS, AND WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ENSURING THAT OUR ANIMALS WITHIN THE SHELTER, THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE WALLS OF THE SHELTER DO HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE, AND THEY HAVE THE PROGRAMMING, THE RESOURCES, THE TRAINING THAT IS NEEDED TO ONE, TRY TO DIVERT THEM FROM A SHELTER IF A FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT SITUATION.
ALSO, WHEN THE ANIMAL LEAVES THE SHELTER TO ALSO HELP THAT FAMILIES ARE TRANSITIONING BEING A NEW ADOPTIVE FAMILY OR FOSTER FAMILY AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONER, AND EVERYBODY ELSE FOR EMBRACING MY DESIRE TO TANK AIM.
I THINK EVERYBODY LEFT KNOWING REALLY ONE IMPORTANT THING IF YOU DIDN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE THAT DAY, IS THAT WE CAN DO IT BETTER AND DEKALB COUNTY THAN HOW WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO LEN, I BELIEVE, TO TALK ABOUT HOUSTON. THANK YOU.
>> TOWN TWIN IS A $40 MILLION DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS DEVELOPED WITH CITY BONDS, NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS, ART FUNDS, AND PHILANTHROPY.
IT'S AIMED AT ITS 124 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS FOR 55 AND OLDER RESIDENTS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, DISABLED, AND YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE IS THE POPULATION SERVED AND THEIR PRIORITY IS BASED ON NEED.
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING HOUSING HAS BEEN BUILT FOR THE POPULATION.
THEY TRIED TRAILERS, THEY HAVE 24 TRAILERS, AND THEN THEY HAVE 100 HOUSING UNITS THAT THEY PURCHASED. NEXT SLIDE.
>> YOU'RE DRIVING YOUR OWN SLIDE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THAT A LOT WITH US WITH A CATHOLIC CHARITY THAT COMES IN AND DOES FOOD THREE MEALS A DAY.
THERE'S COFFEE MUGS WITH ALL THEIR NAMES AND THEY HAVE THAT IN THE MORNING, AND THAT IS ALSO OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE PARTNERS THAT CAME IN TO REALLY BOND WITH THE COMMUNITY, SO THE COMMUNITY DIDN'T REJECT THIS DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR BACKYARD,
[01:25:03]
OPENED UP THEIR SERVICES TO THE NEIGHBORS.THEY HAVE A MEDICAL CLINIC, A DENTAL CLINIC, AND JUST FULL CASE MANAGEMENT, AND IT'S A 1-16 RATIO FOR CASE MANAGEMENT.
THE RESIDENTS, THE CLIENTS THAT ARE THERE CAN COME WITH ADDICTION, THEY CAN BE USING, JUST NOT SELLING, AND THEY HAVE REALLY ONLY HAD A COUPLE OF EVICTIONS IN THEIR WHOLE HISTORY.
IT'S A VERY STABLE AND BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT THEY SERVE.
THERE'S ALL THE PARTNERS, A TOWN TWIN.
HERE'S ALL OF US LOOKING AT LOOK AT THAT APARTMENT BUILDING, I MEAN, A HOUSE.
THEY'RE HOMES THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. YOU WANT TO STAY.
>> THIS IS INCREDIBLE. INCREDIBLE.
>> ARE YOU? I THINK I TAKEN OFF HOUSTON.
A COUPLE OF QUICK NOTES, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS AND THE OTHER LOW BARRIERS, AND THAT WAS NEW TO ME.
THERE'S A HUGE FOCUS ON THE ENTRY POINT BEING VERY LOW BARRIER FOR THE PERSON, THE INDIVIDUAL, NO MATTER WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH SHORT OF THE SELLING PIECE THAT WAS VERY EXPLICIT, CLEAR WAY TO SAY IT, BUT FOLKS CAN COME IN AND THAT IS NOT A BARRIER.
>> THING IS THE IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW THEY'RE PAID FOR.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW THEY'RE PAID FOR.
BESIDES THE $40 MILLION THAT WAS RAISED FOR THE BUILD, THE CLIENTS ARE ON SOCIAL SECURITY, DISABILITY, SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW HOW THAT MOTTO GOES.
YOU'LL HERE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE VERY HEAVILY RELIANT ON PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING VOUCHERS, AND THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
>> I PARACHUTED INTO HOUSTON AND STARTED MY PART OF THE VISIT.
IT'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION, A TREMENDOUS POVERTY RATE, AND I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT'S RISING.
THEIR TOTAL POINT IN TIME COUNT, WHICH THEY HAVE FOR 2025, AND I'LL NOTE THAT DEKALB COUNTY, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT FOR 2025 YET.
WELL, I BELIEVE IT WAS CONDUCTED EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT THEIR TOTAL 3,300 PEOPLE WITH 35% REPORTED EXPERIENCING MENTAL ILLNESS.
I KNOW THAT ATLANTA'S POINT IN TIME COUNT FOR THIS YEAR WAS 28 67, SO NOT THAT FAR BEHIND HOUSTON FOR A REFERENCE POINT.
>> IT WAS TO BE ATLANTA ITSELF.
>> YES. WHEN YOU LOOK AT ATLANTA, YES.
>> YOU DID 5 MILLION WITH 3,300 AND C 600,000.
>> I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND IF YOU GOOGLE ATLANTA POINT IN TIME COUNT ON AND IF SOMEONE GOOGLE KNOWS HOW THAT'S CONDUCTED AND WHO'S INVOLVED.
I'M GUESSING YOUR POINT IS BROADER THAN JUST THE CITY.
WE BECAME FAMILIAR WITH THEIR CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AGAIN, A 502(C)3 SITS OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT, THEY CALL IT THE WAY HOME.
THEY HAVE NO LESS THAN 100 PARTNERS WELCOMED AT THE TABLE.
THIS HUGE PLATFORM OF SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT COME TOGETHER AND PARTNER AND HAVE VISIBILITY.
I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING HOW THEY HAVE VISIBILITY, WHICH IS BY LEVERAGING DATA AND LEVERAGING THEIR HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM IN A WAY THAT I THINK IS OPTIMIZED MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN WE HAVE ONE HERE, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING THE WAY THEY UTILIZE THEIR HMIS IS MUCH MORE POWERFUL.
THAT WAS ANOTHER TAKEAWAY I HAD FROM.
I'M ASSUMING THAT APPLIES TO SAN ANTONIO, BUT IT DEFINITELY APPLIED TO HOUSTON.
THEY CALL IT THE COALITION, IS THIS COLLECTIVE EFFORT OF ALL THESE PARTNERS. THOSE ARE TWO WORDS.
THEY JUST SAID ACROSS EVERY PERSON FROM GOVERNMENT TO ELECTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY TALKED ABOUT THE SYSTEM AND THE COALITION, AND THEY'RE VERY DISCIPLINED WITH THEIR LANGUAGE, AND YOU CAN TELL THEY ALL SPEND A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER WORKING AND LEARNING THE SAME LANGUAGE.
WHO BROUGHT THIS COALITION TOGETHER FOR HOUSTON.
IT HAPPENED ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS QUITE A LONG TIME, AND IT WAS THE TIME AT WHICH THEY HAD THEIR PIVOT POINT, THEIR REACTION, THEY BUILT THIS ARCHITECTURE AND THEY WERE PROBABLY OFFERING THEY HAD LIKE WE DO, AND A UNIVERSE OF SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK IN SILOS.
BUT THAT MOMENT AT COALESCENCE, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS AT LEAST 15 YEARS AGO.
COALITION MAINTAINS THAT HMIS THAT I MENTIONED, PERMANENT HOUSING COMBINED WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IS THEIR KEY TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS.
THE BOTH CITIES HAVE PIVOTED AWAY.
>> THEY'RE NOT NUMBERED, COMMISSIONER, YOU HAVE TO TELL ME WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE?
[01:30:03]
>> PERMIT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDED COMBINED WITH A SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
THEY BOTH PIVOTED AWAY FROM TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, THIS SHELTER ENVIRONMENT.
OTHER THAN YOU SAW EVEN FOR HOPE HOUSTON IT AS AN ENTRY POINT, A LOW BARRIER ENTRY POINT, BUT IT'S DESIGNED TO BE TEMPORARY AND YOU'RE MOVING ON TO SOMETHING INTEGRATED AND NEXT TO IT FOR A TRANSFORMATION.
AGAIN, MULTIPLE TYPES OF SERVICES ALL PROVIDED AT THE VARIOUS ACCESS POINTS.
ONE THING I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING, THEY WERE UNITED IN A GOAL EARLY ON WHEN THAT COALESCENCE HAPPENED, AND THEY WERE ALL TRYING TO.
DO YOU FIND A REASON IN A PLATFORM TO COME TOGETHER, WORK HARD AND MEET AN INITIAL GOAL AND JUMP START WAS THEY SAID WE'D LIKE TO HOUSE 100 VETERANS IN 100 DAYS.
THEY SAID BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS, BUT THEY DID IT.
THAT WAS THAT BONDING AND THAT INITIAL SHARED GOAL.
THEY GOT THEM OUT OF THE GATE AND RUNNING FAST.
WE SPENT A MORNING AT CITY HALL, AS THEY DID IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH WAS AGAIN, MORE OF THAT INTELLECTUAL BRAIN DOOM.
YOU CAN GET A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE EXPERIENTIALLY MOVING THROUGH THESE CAMPUSES, AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO MEET PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND SPEND THREE OR FOUR HOURS AND GET TO KNOW THEM PERSONALLY.
WE HAD TWO CONSTABLES WITH US THAT DAY WHO ARE I HAD TO LOOK UP WHAT THEY ARE, BUT THEY'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT, OF COURSE, LAW ENFORCEMENT DEAL MORE WITH CIVIL ISSUES.
BUT IT WAS TWO REALLY POWERFUL TESTIMONIES BY THEIR LIFE'S WORK, I SAY, THEIR CAREERS WORK IN THIS SPACE, THEIR DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY POLICING TO DEALING WITH EACH PERSON WITH THAT WAS OF DIGNITY AND CARE.
HE WAS SO ATTACHED TO SOME OF THESE EXPERIENCES HE HAD THAT MADE HIM FEEL ALIGNED IN HIS LIFE WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS HE'D BEEN GETTING TO KNOW OUT ON THE STREET OVER THESE YEARS AND YEARS OF DOING THE WORK, THAT HE WAS MOVED TO THAT TYPE OF EMOTION IN THE ROOM, WHICH I FOUND VERY POWERFUL.
IT'S A DAY TO DAY JOB THAT'S HARD.
BUT I ALSO FELT LIKE THEY'VE HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS.
THEY WERE REALLY BUOYED BY IT.
IT WAS IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THEIR POSITIVITY IN THE ROOM.
YOU CAN SEE UP AT THE TOP RIGHT, THAT'S COMMISSIONER SPEARS, COUNCILMAN GERALD EVANS FROM DORAVILLE.
HE'S TALKING TO THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WAY HOME WHO'S ON HIS WAY OUT, AND HE ACTUALLY SERVED IN THE GEORGIA ASSEMBLY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE 80S.
THE MESSAGES WHERE HOUSTON LIKE SAN ANTONIO AIMS TO MAKE HOMELESS THIS RARE BRIEF AND NON RECURRING, MAKE IT FUNCTIONAL ZERO, OFFER A WIDE SPECTRUM OF HOUSING WITH BARRIERS.
THEY HAVE A DISCIPLINED APPROACH TO WORKING THE HARDEST CASES FIRST.
I THINK THAT'S HOW THEY GET THE MOST ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THE MOST OUT OF THEIR SYSTEM.
THIS HMIS, I'M JUST DUMPING MY BIG TAKEAWAYS ON YOU.
THIS HMIS WAS THEIR POWERFUL MACHINE FOR CONNECTIVITY ACROSS THIS PLATFORM OF PROVIDERS.
IF YOU PLAY BY THE RULES, THOSE ARE MY WORDS, BUT IF YOU ARE IN THE SOCIAL CONTRACT AND WHAT YOU DO THERE, THE FUNDS ARE THERE AND EVERYONE SHARES.
YOU GET THIS ECONOMY OF SCALE FROM ALL THESE SERVICE PROVIDERS SHARING IN THE PHILANTHROPY AND THE DOLLARS THAT THE COC IS ABLE TO BRING TOGETHER.
>> COMMISSIONER MARSH, YOU'RE GATHERING YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THE NEXT THING, AND MAYBE THIS IS FOR COMMISSIONER SPEARS AS WELL.
WHAT WAS THE CATALYST BEHIND ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS DECIDING TO GO TO A SINGLE CONTINUUM OF CARE? WHAT WAS THAT SPARK THAT SAID, WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE? HOW DO WE GET TO HERE? BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT GETTING US THERE.
I THINK WE'RE IN THAT SAME INFLECTION POINT.
WE ARE ALL AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE WORKING IN THE SILOS, AND CLEARLY, THERE'S A CATALYST THAT'S DRIVING US ALL TOWARDS THIS DECISION, AND SHORT OF A BETTER WORD, HOW QUICKLY CAN WE GET THERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT WORKING?
>> BUT YOU BY I DON'T CARE WHO ANSWERS THE QUESTION.
>> I JUMPED IN TO SAY, I THINK YOU KNOW WHEN YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SERVICE PROVIDER.
WE HAVE FOLKS COMING AROUND THE TABLE MONTHLY NOW WHO ARE REACHING A BREAKING POINT, SAYING, I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN AND I'M NOT MAKING THIS BETTER, AND I'M NOT REALLY HELPING PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY ALSO WITH THE WAY YOU'RE SPENDING DOLLARS, AND YOU WANT YOUR INVESTMENT TO GO AS FAR AS I CAN AND TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR RESPONDING TO THE QUESTION AND TO JUST PIGGYBACK ON WHAT SHE SAID.
WHEN I WAS IN HOUSTON WHEN WE MET AT THEIR ELECTED, THE MEETING THAT COMMISSIONER WALSH JUST DESCRIBED TO YOU GUYS.
I DID ASK ONE OF THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM.
[01:35:03]
WHY DID YOU TRANSITION IN THE FIRST PLACE? THEY RESPONDED, I THOUGHT, INTERESTING, AND IT WAS PRIOR TO THIS PERSON HAVING SERVED IN ELECTED OFFICE. THEY JUST SAID IT.''IT WAS JUST SO SCREWED UP.'' THAT IS EXACTLY HOW THEY RESPONDED TO ME.
I BELIEVE THAT THEY DECIDED THAT ONCE THEIR NUMBERS CONTINUED TO SPIKE AND THEY WERE EXPERIENCING THAT, THEY FELT, I THINK, LIKE A LOT OF OUR CITIES ARE FEELING NOW IS FEELING OVERWHELMED AND UNDER-RESOURCED, AND THEY REALIZED THAT IF THEY COLLABORATIVE COLLABORATED TOGETHER, THAT THERE REALLY IS POWER IN PARTNERSHIP, AND THEY WORKED THROUGH A MULTI-YEAR PROCESS, AGAIN, ESTABLISHING TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS TO TRANSITION OVER TO THIS CONTINUUM OF CARE, A PRIVATE 501(C)3 CONTINUUM OF CARE.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SIR?
>> THANK YOU. GREAT. YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> HARMONY HOUSE NAVIGATION CENTER IS A 501C3.
THEY'RE THEIR OWN HUD GRANTEE, SO THEY DON'T JUST GET ALL THEIR FUNDS THROUGH THE COC, BUT THEY GET THEIR DIRECTION FROM THE COC.
THEY HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC ROLE, AND THAT IS THEY'RE NOT A SHELTER.
THEY HELP WHEN ENCAMPMENTS, THEY CALL IT DECOMMISSIONED.
WHICH IS SUCH A COMPASSIONATE WAY TO SAY IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF STREET OUTREACH.
THERE'S A LOT OF RECRUITMENT TO PULL PEOPLE THAT EARLY ADOPTERS THAT ARE WILLING TO GO STRAIGHT INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
THEN THOSE THAT AREN'T WILLING RIGHT OFF THE BAT TO GO TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT STAY A LITTLE LONGER, AND MAYBE THERE ISN'T A BED, THEY GO TO THE HARMONY HOUSE.
IT'S A SHORT TERM HOUSING SITUATION THAT GETS THEM OFF THE STREETS INTO A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT WITH ABSOLUTELY LOW BARRIERS.
THEY HAVE PLACES FOR THEIR THINGS, THEY HAVE LAUNDRY FACILITIES.
THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED ALL THE WRAP SUPPORTS, AND THEY CAN EVEN BRING THEIR PETS WITH THEM.
SOMETIMES THE PETS ARE SNAKES AND RODENTS [LAUGHTER].
>> YOU CAN'T WALK IN OFF THE STREET TO THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
IT'S YOU'RE COMING WITH THAT STREET OUTREACH TEAM TO THE NAVIGATION CENTER.
YOU CAN SEE SOME PICTURES OF HOW CLEAN IT IS AND LOVELY.
THE OTHER ROUTE IS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
HOUSTON HAS AN AMAZING MACHINE TO PUT TO HOUSE PEOPLE PERMANENTLY.
THEY LEARNED EARLY ON THAT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OFTEN FAILS, THOSE THAT ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.
THEY HAVE DONE A LOT TO LEVERAGE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING [INAUDIBLE] AND USED INNOVATIVE FUNDING MECHANISMS TO BUILD THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
THIS NEW HOPE HOUSING ORGANIZATION REALLY STEPPED INTO THE ROLE OF BUILDING THE HOUSING.
THEY'RE A NONPROFIT THAT STARTED OUT OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AND THEY NOW HAVE 13 PROPERTIES, THEY BUILD AND OPERATE.
THEIR SPECIALTY IS TO BUILD TRAUMA INFORMED CARE FACILITIES, NOT TO DO THE SOCIAL SERVICES SIDE.
THEY HAVE ROBUST PARTNERSHIPS THAT DO THE CASE MANAGEMENT, ADDICTION COUNSELING WORKFORCE BECAUSE SOME OF THE FOLKS DO WORK.
THE ONE THAT WE TOURED WAS REALLY AMAZING BECAUSE IT LEVERAGED SOME OFFICE SPACE AT THE BOTTOM, I WAS WAS MIXED USE.
IT HAD 165 FULLY FURNISHED, YOU CAN STEP RIGHT OFF THE STREET INTO A BEAUTIFUL EFFICIENCY APARTMENT, AND 163 OF THOSE WERE PAID FOR WITH VOUCHERS.
ACROSS THEIR PORTFOLIO OF 1,600 APARTMENT UNITS, THEY'RE LEVERAGING 700 VOUCHERS.
THE EFFICIENCIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CLIENT TO COOK.
THERE'S A NEARBY WALMART, AND THERE'S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
THEY PAY ATTENTION TO THE LOCATION AND THEY MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE ACCESS FOR SOME INDEPENDENTS.
WE THEN VISIT THIS JAIL DIVERSION PROGRAM.
IT'S A COLLABORATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THIS JUDGE HEAD MENTAL HEALTH CENTER.
WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ENCOUNTERS SOMEONE EXPERIENCING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS, THEY CONTACT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY HAVE TO BE AND THEY DESCRIBE THE SITUATION AND THEN THEY ARE DIVERTED TO THIS DIVERSION CENTER WHERE IT'S AN ALTERNATE TO JAIL.
[01:40:03]
THEY ARE NOT THEY ARE NOT ARRESTED.THEY ARE GIVEN THE ENTIRE SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
IT IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM AND PEOPLE STAY AT [INAUDIBLE].
IT'S BEEN OPERATING SINCE 2018, AND THEY'VE DIVERTED ABOUT 9,000 INDIVIDUALS SINCE THE PROGRAM STARTED.
THE THING IS THAT AGAIN, PARTNERSHIPS.
AGAIN, THEY USE A GRADE FUNDING MECHANISM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO BRING IN COUNTY RESOURCES, PHILANTHROPIC RESOURCES, STATE GRANTS AND EVERYTHING.
AGAIN, A GOOD POPULATION CLOSE TO 20% ENDED UP TRANSITIONING INTO HOUSING.
THEN THE DIVERSION CENTERS SAVED APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION IN HOUSE COST SAVINGS TO THIS PROGRAM.
THE OVERALL THING WAS THAT, TO ME, WAS THAT THEY SAID ELECTED OFFICIALS, COLLABORATION BETWEEN ELECTED OFFICIALS GETTING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY INVOLVED AT AN EARLY STAGE.
THEN THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN SO MUCH, AND THE COLLABORATION IS THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS GAINED THE CONFIDENCE TO RECOMMEND TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY THAT THE PEOPLE MAY NOT BE CHARGED AND VICE VERSA.
THEN LIKEWISE, THEY ALSO HAVE THE OPTION OF TAKING THE INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY TO THE DETENTION CENTER.
WHAT DREW OUR DELEGATIONS ATTENTION WAS WHEN WE WALKED IN, THERE WAS THIS POPCORNS SMELL BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO IN, YOU'RE NOT, WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL GETS IN THERE, THEY'RE ENCOUNTERED BY A PURE SUPPORTER WITH A LIVED EXPERIENCE.
THEY MAY EITHER HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AS THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BEING DROPPED OFF THERE OR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT.
THEN IT'S AFTER THAT, THAT THEY GET THE SUPPORT SERVICES.
HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE THING AND THEY ARE BUILDING A 26 UNIT, AM I RIGHT? 26 UNIT CAMPUS IN THE THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M MISSING THING FOR THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANKS BRIANA. I WANT TO ADD ONE OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS.
WE NEED TO KNOW OUR NUMBERS HERE, BUT ESSENTIALLY DOES BE ABLE TO SAY THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU'RE INVESTING IN PREVENTING SOMEONE FROM GOING THROUGH EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE SERVICES OR JAIL.
THE DIVERSION SAVES FOR $1 FOR IT'S $40,000 THERE TO HAVE SOMEONE IN JAIL FOR A YEAR, OR IT SAVES 20 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLAR TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
WHEN YOU BREAK IT DOWN, I MEAN, IT IS THE BEST USE OF YOUR INVESTMENT AS WELL.
FOR THEM TO HAVE A MENU OF PLACES TO OFFER TO A PERSON WHO'S UNSHELTERED WHEN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERACTS WITH THAT PERSON, IT'S NOT A BINARY.
YOU EITHER GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR JAIL OR YOU GO TO THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS AND RESPITE CARE WAS ONE WE DIDN'T MENTION AS WELL FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME OUT OF HOSPITAL STAY.
IT MIGHT NOT BE HEALTHY. THEY CAN GO TO A DIFFERENT TYPE OF RESPITE DIVERSION TOO.
WE HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES. I KNOW WE TAKE UP A LOT OF TIME.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR INVITING US TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF OUR DELEGATION.
THESE WONDERFUL FOLKS OVER HERE.
IT WAS REALLY AND TRULY A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO YOUR COMMISSION FOR ALLOWING US TO COME AND SHARE OUR LEARNINGS.
I DO WANT TO ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER WALSH SAID EARLIER.
I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S GOAL, THEIR MISSION FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS TO BE RARE, BRIEF AND NON RECURRING.
THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY RIGHT ON POINT.
BEFORE I GO INTO THE SUMMARY AND I WILL SPEED THROUGH IT CONSIDERING I HAVE 4 MINUTES.
I DO THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THOUGH, ALSO TO JUST REMIND ALL OF US ABOUT HOUSING FIRST.
BOTH BEXAR COUNTY SAN ANTONIO, HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON, BOTH DEEPLY EMBRACED THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL.
DEKALB COUNTY EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE PASSED A RESOLUTION GROUNDING DEKALB AS A HOUSING FIRST COMMUNITY AS WELL.
FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, I'M GOING TO READ TO YOU JUST A BRIEF PARAGRAPH ABOUT WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS.
HOUSING FIRST IS AN APPROACH TO ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS THAT PRIORITIZES PROVIDING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH PERMANENT STABLE HOUSING IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT REQUIRING THEM TO FIRST MEET CONDITIONS SUCH AS SOBRIETY, EMPLOYMENT OR PARTICIPATION IN TREATMENT PROGRAMS. ONCE HOUSED, INDIVIDUALS ARE OFFERED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH CARE,
[01:45:04]
SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, AND JOB TRAINING BASED ON THEIR NEEDS AND PREFERENCES.IN SUMMARY, HOUSING FIRST MEANS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THEM AS THEY ARE.
STABILIZE THAT HOUSING AND THEN WRAP THEM AROUND WITH THE SUPPORTS THAT ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
OUR SUMMARY HERE, THE FIRST SECTION IS AROUND THE VALUE OF A COLLABORATIVE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
I BELIEVE WE'VE SPOKEN QUITE A BIT THIS EVENING ABOUT MY DESIRE TO ADVOCATE FOR A REGIONAL CONTINUUM OF CARE BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO SEE IT LIVE IN AN ACTION WHY IT WORKED SO WELL.
IT WAS VERY ORGANIZED, THEY WERE COORDINATED, THEY WERE COLLABORATED, AND THEY WERE BUILT ON TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS.
AGAIN, IT'S A SEPARATE 501(C)3 WITH A SEPARATE BOARD, WITH MOUS, ETC.
THE NEXT SEGMENT IS AROUND STRONG COUNTY AND CITY PARTNERSHIP TO SUSTAIN THOSE EFFORTS.
THIS IS A SUMMARY, BUT IT'S ALSO WOVEN IN RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE STRONG COUNTY AND CITY PARTNERSHIPS PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AGAIN, THESE DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES WORK TOGETHER.
SECOND IS, IS THEY'RE ABLE TO POOL THESE RESOURCES AND THEN ALLOCATE THE RESOURCES TO WHERE IT'S NEEDED MOST.
YOU'RE NOT EXPERIENCE THAT COMPETITIVE NATURE THAT WE DO EXPERIENCE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES, WHETHER THEY'RE FINANCIAL RESOURCES OR OTHER RESOURCES.
THIRD IS AROUND POLICY ALIGNMENT.
I FOUND THAT TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY MUCH OF INTEREST TO ME WHEN I WAS IN BOTH BEXAR COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY.
IS JUST HOW THEY ALIGN THEIR POLICIES TO WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ON THE GROUND.
THE POLICIES THEN TRIGGERED PROGRAMMING, AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S MONITORING AND EVALUATION, BUT IT LED BY POLICY.
NEXT IS ENSURES THE REGIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND TO COMMISSIONER POWERS POINT EARLIER, IT IS NOT SILOED BY JURISDICTION OR WORKING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL TO ENSURE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE IN A SAFE STABLE ENVIRONMENT.
THE THIRD SEGMENTS AROUND PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS REALLY WERE INCREDIBLY DYNAMIC.
THERE WAS PHILANTHROPY, THERE WERE CORPORATE INSTITUTIONS.
HOME DEPOT MAYBE IT WAS IN TAMPA THAT HOME DEPOT HAD SOMETHING.
I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS IN TAMPA OUT THERE, BUT ANYWAYS, HOME DEPOT, ONE OF MY RECENT DELEGATION TRIPS, ACTUALLY SUPPORTED ONE OF THE PROJECTS IN A WHOLE ANOTHER STATE.
I'M LIKE, THEY NEED TO LOOK AT METRO ATLANTA AND SUPPORT US IN COUNTY.
BUT AGAIN, ALLOWING THESE DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO PLAY A ROLE.
I BELIEVE REALLY CREATED THAT ENVIRONMENT THAT TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS, AND TOGETHER WE CAN SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
LASTLY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SITE SELECTION, RESIDENTS, RESIDENTS REALLY CAME AT LEAST AS THEY DESCRIBED IT TO US, THE RESIDENTS DIDN'T PRACTICE, I GUESS, THE NIMBYISM, THAT I THINK THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED HERE, IS THAT RESIDENTS RECOGNIZED THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITIES AND ALL OF THESE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WERE WORKING TOGETHER.
ONE THING I THOUGHT WAS VERY CREATIVE AND CLEVER IS THAT IF THEY HAD A FACILITY, WHERE THERE WAS A GYM, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WOULD OPEN IT UP FOR THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS, THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES TO USE IT FREE OF CHARGE.
WHAT A GREAT IDEA, RIGHT? THEY ALSO, REALLY, THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS, I BELIEVE, JUST REALLY BUILT THAT PUBLIC TRUST THAT WAS NEEDED IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS.
IF YOUR RESIDENTS DON'T TRUST YOU, IF PARTNERS NOT WORKING TOGETHER ON A SOLID TRUSTED FOUNDATION, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THAT.
NEXT SECTION HERE AND I'M AT 7:32, I REALIZE, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO WRAP UP COMMISSIONER,.
.>> WELL, I COMMIT TO DOING THAT COLLEAGUES HAVE ACCESS TO THIS PRESENTATION.
OUR HOME STRATEGY MANAGER WILL HAVE ACCESS [OVERLAPPING].
>> IF WE WANTED TO DO MORE BRIEFING WITH HER, BUT I'M SURE THIS WILL BE A BLUEPRINT DOCUMENT AND MORE LEARNING TO BE TAKEN FROM IT AND MOVING FORWARD TO.
>> WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S REALLY GOOD.
[01:50:16]
[BACKGROUND][I. Call to Order by Mayor.]
I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING FOR THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 6.
[II. Approval of the Minutes.]
COMMISSIONER, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2025.ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR CONDITION?
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL SE IN FAVOR?
>> CHAIR VOTES, HI, AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
NEXT, WE HAVE SOME PROCLAMATIONS,
[III. Proclamation.]
SEVERAL IMPORTANT THINGS TO BRING FORWARD FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.THE FIRST ONE IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.
WHERE, AS WHILE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS IS MADE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER, EVERY YEAR, BREAST CANCER ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 30% OF ALL NEW CANCER CASES IN US WOMEN.
WHEREAS IN 2025, APPROXIMATELY 316,650 WOMEN AND 28 MEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH INVASIVE BREAST CANCER WORLDWIDE.
WHEREAS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AIMS TO PROMOTE SCREENING AND PREVENTION OF DISEASE, WHICH AFFECTS 2.3 MILLION WOMEN WORLDWIDE.
WHEREAS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH CAN MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
IT GOES FAR BEYOND WEARING PINK RIBBONS.
IT'S A CHANCE TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT TO THOSE WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN FOREVER CHANGED BY THIS DISEASE.
WHEREAS CURRENTLY THERE ARE MORE THAN 4 MILLION BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS IN THE UNITED STATES.
THIS INCLUDES WOMEN STILL BEING TREATED AND THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED TREATMENT.
WHEREAS, DURING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, WE STAND WITH OUR MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, SISTERS AND FRIENDS, AND WE RECOGNIZE ALL WHO HAVE JOINED THEIR LOVED ONES IN FIGHTING THEIR BATTLE AS WELL.
NOW, THEREFORE, I PATTI GARRETT, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, CITY OF HOME SCHOOLS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2025 AS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, AND URGE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO JOIN IN A AND RAISING AWARENESS.
I THINK ALL OF HERE KNOW THAT WE WERE ALL IMPACTED OVER THE PAST YEAR AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE LIFT UP BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU. THE SECOND PROCLAMATION IS THE NATIONAL WALK TO PARK DAY.
WHEREAS, THE CITY OF DECATUR BELIEVES THAT EVERY ONE DESERVES EQUITABLE ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES AND SEEKS TO ENSURE ALL RESIDENTS HAVE SAFE AND NEARBY ACCESS TO PARKS, AND WHEREAS HIGH QUALITY AND ACCESSIBLE PARKS ARE ANCHORS OF EQUITABLE, ECONOMICALLY THRIVING, SAFE AND VIBRANT AMERICAN CITIES AND HAVE THE POWER TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT THAT WORKS TO PROTECT LAND AND CREATE PARKS FOR PEOPLE AND TO WORK WITH CITIES AND COMMUNITIES TO ACCELERATE ACTION, TO ADDRESS THE PARK EQUITY DIVIDE,
[01:55:02]
AND WHEREAS THE 10 MINUTE WALK PROGRAM IS A NATIONAL EFFORT BY THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND THAT SUPPORTS CITIES IN THEIR WORK TO REDUCE THE PARK EQUITY DIVIDE, AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL IN THE US CITIES TO ACCESS PARK, ACCESS QUALITY PARKS AND GREEN SPACES WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK OF THEIR HOME.WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND, RESEARCH, PARKS SERVING A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF COLOR ON AVERAGE, HALF AS LARGE AND SERVE NEARLY FIVE TIMES MORE PEOPLE AS PARKS THAT SERVE A MAJORITY WHITE POPULATION, AND PARKS SERVING PRIMARILY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ARE ON AVERAGE, FOUR TIMES SMALLER THAN PARKS THAT SERVE A MAJORITY OF HIGH INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
WHEREAS, THIS PARK EQUITY DIVIDE IS IN PART THE RESULT OF DECADES OF INEQUITABLE PLANNING, PRACTICE, AND POLICY DECISIONS, AND WHERE COMPLEX SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXTS ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO MANY ASPECTS OF THIS PARK EQUITY DIVIDE.
CITY OF DECATUR SEEKS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO PARKS TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL RESIDENTS TO CREATE, PLAY, EDUCATE AND ENJOY THEMSELVES THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I MAYOR PATTI GARRETT, MAYOR, CITY OF DECATUR, CITY OF HOME SCHOOLS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 10TH AS NATIONAL WALK TO A PARK DAY, AND URGE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THIS CITY TO ENDORSE THE GOALS OF THE 10 MINUTE WALK PROGRAM.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL ALL TAKE AT LEAST A 10 MINUTE WALK [LAUGHTER].
TEN. THEN THE LAST PROCLAMATION, WHICH FITS VERY WELL IN WITH OUR WORK SESSION, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE HERE FOR OUR SECOND WORK SESSION.
WE'RE PROCLAIMING OCTOBER 6TH AS WORLD HOMELESS DAY.
WHEREAS WORLD HOMELESS DAY HAS BEEN OBSERVED EACH YEAR ON OCTOBER 10TH, SINCE 2010 TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AROUND THE GLOBE AND WHEREAS HOMELESSNESS CONTINUES TO GROW IN COMPLEXITY AND URGENCY WITH MORE THAN 771,000 INDIVIDUALS IN THE US COUNTED AS UNHOUSED ON A SINGLE NIGHT IN 2024, THE HIGHEST LEVEL ON RECORD.
WHEREAS THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FACE DAILY BARRIERS TO FOOD, SHELTER, HEALTH CARE AND STABILITY, WHILE LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS WORK TIRELESSLY UNDER INCREASING STRAIN TO MEET THESE NEEDS, AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DECATUR RECOGNIZES THAT HOMELESSNESS IS NOT ONLY A HOUSING CHALLENGE, BUT A COMMUNITY CHALLENGE THAT REQUIRES COMPASSION, AWARENESS, COLLABORATION AND COMMITMENT TO LONG TERM SOLUTIONS.
WHEREAS THE CITY COMMISSION AFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND ENSURING THAT EVERY RESIDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND SECURITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I PATTI GARRETT, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SCHOOLS, HOMES, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 10TH AS WORLD HOMELESS DAY.
CALL ON ALL OF US TO JOIN IN SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO BRING HOPE STABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BRING THESE FORWARD.
I WAS TALKING EARLIER TO THE CITY MANAGER TODAY ABOUT BRINGING FORWARD THESE TYPES OF PROCLAMATIONS AND I FIND IT IMPORTANT TO READ THEM AND TO LET OUR AUDIENCE WHO IS HERE OR MAYBE WATCHING ONLINE TO HEAR THEM.
WE FEEL LIKE THEY EXPRESS A MESSAGE THAT WE ALL NEED TO HEAR IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SETTINGS AND A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO SOME PRESENTATIONS. FOR PORCH-FEST.
[IV. Presentations.]
>> HOT A CROWD IN THE HALLWAY.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ANGIE MACON, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT PORCH-FEST, OURS PORCH-FEST.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A QUICK UPDATE ABOUT THIS SATURDAY'S OAKHURST PORCH-FEST, NOW IN OUR 10TH YEAR.
[02:00:01]
A NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERIMENT HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF DECATUR DEFINING COMMUNITY TRADITIONS, AN EVENT THAT EMBODIES CONNECTION, CREATIVITY, AND COLLECTIVE EFFORT.OAKHURST PORCH-FEST TURNS THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTO A GRASSROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL WITH PORCHES AS STAGES AND NEIGHBORS AS HOST.
THIS EVENT WILL RUN FROM NOON TO 7:00 PM, FEATURING ROUGHLY 200 PERFORMANCES ACROSS THE OAKHURST NEIGHBORHOOD.
ATTENDEES WILL SPEND THE DAY WALKING, BIKING AND CONNECTING A CITYWIDE CELEBRATION AT A NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE BIKING AND WALKING TO THIS EVENT [LAUGHTER].
PORCH-FEST IS MORE THAN JUST A FUN DAY.
IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF DECATUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY, NOT WHAT WE TALK ABOUT, BUT WHAT WE TRY TO PRACTICE.
EVERYBODY CONTRIBUTES AND EVERYBODY BENEFITS.
I GET THIS FROM SCOTT, AND OF COURSE, HE WROTE MOST OF THIS.
HE ALWAYS SAYS THIS AND I TRY TO LIVE IT IN AN AGE WHERE CONNECTION FEELS TRANSACTIONAL.
PORCH-FEST IS A CELEBRATION OF GENEROSITY AND NEIGHBORLINESS.
WE TRY NOT TO JUST LEVERAGE COMMUNITY, WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN IT.
PORCH-FEST EXISTS ENTIRELY THROUGH VOLUNTEER ENERGY AND THE SUPPORT OF THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE.
THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE FUND RAISING COVERS THE COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH EVEN FREE EVENTS HAVE TO HAVE.
I CALL THEM THE THREE PS, PORTALTS, POLICE, AND PUBLIC WORKS.
THAT'S WHAT THE ARTS ALLIANCE COVERS FOR THIS EVENT.
OVER THE LAST DECADE, OAKHURST PORCH-FEST HAS INSPIRED NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS, GRANT PARK, BROOKHAVEN, ATHENS, SAVANNAH, NOONAN, BRUNSWICK, ALL WHO HAVE LAUNCHED THEIR OWN VERSIONS, ALL TRACING BACK TO OAKHURST.
WE DRAW THOUSANDS OF VISITORS AND WE GENERATE GOODWILL AND WE STRENGTHEN THE CITY AS A BRAND WHERE COMMUNITY ISN'T JUST COMMUNITY, IT'S A LIVED EXPERIENCE.
WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF THIS LIVING EXAMPLE OF CREATIVE PLACEMAKING.
WE'RE PROUD OF THE PORCH-FEST AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE DECATUR'S HONEST AND AUTHENTIC EXPRESSION OF COMMUNITY AND ACTION.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF THIS EVENT.
WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND TELL YOU THE VALUE IN THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE CITY OF DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS WHO HELP US NAVIGATE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH AN EVENT THIS SIZE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WE'LL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY. THANK YOU.
>> LOOK FORWARD TO [LAUGHTER].
>> ANOTHER FUN EVENT DECATUR BARBECUE FESTIVAL.
BE SURE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF. THAT'S HELPFUL.
I AM THE EVENT CHAIR FOR THE SOLARIUM.
WITH OUR CO-SPONSOR, FORDS BARBECUE, WE PUT THIS EVENT TOGETHER AND THIS IS OUR FOURTH YEAR OF DOING IT.
THIS IS OCTOBER 18TH, THAT'S FROM 12-6 IN HARMONY PARK IN OAKHURST.
LAST YEAR, WE ADDED WRESTLING BY DEEP SOUTH WRESTLING, AND IT WAS SUPER SUPER FUN FOR THE KIDS AND THE ADULTS, AND THEY'LL BE COMING BACK.
WE'VE GOT GREAT BARBECUE BY FORDS, SWEET AUBURN, MISS PEARLS, AND LOS NINOS.
THEY'LL BE DOING SOME BARBECUE TACOS.
WE ALSO HAVE A WING EATING CONTEST, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE SPACE, IF ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO BE IN THE WING EATING CONTEST.
[OVERLAPPING] IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SPICE TO DO IT?
>> GREAT. WE'VE GOT A WONDERFUL KIDS AREA.
THE CHENEY SISTERS WILL BE FACE PAINTING.
WE HAVE SPUNKY LITTLE ARTS DOING SOME ACTIVITIES WITH THE KIDS, AND GREEN OFFICE GOLF IS GOING TO BE DOING SOME GOLF LESSONS FOR THE KIDS AS WELL.
WE ALSO ARE HAVING AN AMAZING RAFFLE THIS YEAR, AND WE HAVE THINGS LIKE RESTAURANT GROUP GIFT CERTIFICATES.
WE HAVE AN OAKHURST RESTAURANT GROUP, A GREATER DECATUR RESTAURANT GROUP, EAST LAKE KIRKWOOD RESTAURANT GROUP, AND A LOCAL BREWERY, GROUP, AND THAT'S GIFT CARDS, AND MOST OF THEM ARE ABOUT $50.
SEVERAL OF THEM ARE PROBABLY AROUND 4 OR $500 WORTH OF GIFT CARDS.
WE HAVE A YETI COOLER, THANKS TO TOWN ACE AND TONY POWERS, FILLED WITH BUCKHEAD BEEF.
WE HAVE FOUR UNITED FC SOCCER TICKETS.
[02:05:01]
WE HAVE DECATUR FC PRIZE PACK, WHICH IS SEASON TICKETS AND SOME SWAG.WE HAVE A SOLARIUM RENTAL, THE DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE, IS DONATING SOME WINE FESTIVAL TICKETS AND A WINE BASKET.
WE HAVE TWO RACKS OF FIREWOOD.
SEVERAL DIFFERENT SPAS HAVE GIVEN GIFT CARDS, TRILETH EXPERIENCE WITH A TOUR AND SOME TRILETH SWAG.
MINT MOBILE CAR DETAILING HAS DONE A GIFT CARD.
GREEN OFFICE HAS ALSO DONE A RENTAL.
WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING SPONSORS, RAFFLE ITEMS, AND I BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE SOME VENDOR SPOTS OPEN.
SO YOU CAN CONTACT THE SOLARIUM AND IT WILL GET BACK TO ME AND I WILL TAKE IT FOR IT.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER IT, BUT IT'S A SUPER FUN DAY AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR IT.
>> WE HAVE LOTS OF FUN THINGS HAPPENING.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE SOME STAFF INTRODUCTIONS.
>> HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL THIS EVENING AS A JAM PACKED ROOM TONIGHT.
I WANT TO BRING UP SOME PEOPLE OF MINE.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS DIRECTOR RAMIS.
I AM THE DIRECTOR HERE FOR PARSON RECREATION.
IF YOU DID NOT KNOW, TODAY IS NATIONAL COACHES DAY, IS UP THERE.
BUT WE ARE PROUDLY CELEBRATE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE US AS MENTORS, MOTIVATORS AND ROLE MODELS IN OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. COACHES ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR YOUTH SPORTS EXPERIENCE, AND THEIR DEDICATION HELPS SHAPE NOT ONLY ATHLETES BUT FUTURE LEADERS.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP MY ATHLETIC DIVISION.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE NEWLY DEVELOPED AND FULLY STAFFED.
>> THEY'RE A LITTLE SHY OUT HERE.
[LAUGHTER] IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE NEWLY DEVELOPED AND FULLY STAFFED CITY OF DECATUR PARKS AND RECREATION ATHLETICS DIVISION.
THIS IS A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS WHOSE PARKS AND RECREATION EXPERIENCE, ATHLETIC LEADERSHIP, AND COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ARE DRIVING MEANINGFUL IMPACT ACROSS OUR CITY.
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OUR NEWLY FORMED ATHLETIC MANAGER, DEANDRE BROWN, WHO STARTED ACTUALLY LAST MONDAY.
A GEORGIA STATE ALUM WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN COACHING, FACILITY MANAGEMENT, AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, THE DIVISION CONTINUES TO GROW IN BOTH REACH AND QUALITY.
SUPPORTING HER IS ATHLETIC SUPERVISOR RAY ROLLINS, WHO BRINGS 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FROM HITSVILLE, AND TUCKER AND A STRONG BACKGROUND IN COACHING BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, AND SOFTBALL.
OUR TEAM OF ATHLETIC COORDINATORS INCLUDES RUSSELL TREY NICHOLS, MALKA MAHAPY, AND BRANDON SHANNON, EACH BRINGING IN UNIQUE STRENGTHS IN COACHING, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THEIR COMBINED EXPERIENCE SPANS YOUTH SPORTS, STEM PROGRAMMING, AND RECREATION LEADERSHIP.
TOGETHER, THIS TEAM HAS MADE AN IMMEDIATE AND MEASURABLE IMPACT.
OVER 1,000 PARTICIPANTS HAVE ENGAGED IN OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS THIS YEAR, INCLUDING YOUTH IN ADULT LEAGUES AND BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, AND FLAG FOOTBALL.
THEY'VE ESTABLISHED A HOOP HELPERS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PILOT PROGRAM ROOTED IN COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOAL OF COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
MORE THAN 90 VOLUNTEER COACHES HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED OUR NEW BACKGROUND SCREENING PROCESS, ENSURING A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS.
THEY'VE SECURED A $1,300 ATLANTA UNITED GRANT THROUGH GRPA TO ENHANCE OUR PROGRAMS WITH NEW UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT, AND TRAINING RESOURCES.
THEY WILL HOST OUR FIRST COACHES CLINIC AT THE AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE GYM, LED BY THEIR HEAD BASKETBALL COACH.
THIS CLINIC SETS THE STANDARD FOR SERVICE EXCELLENCE IN OUR YOUTH BASKETBALL PROGRAM, EQUIPPING COACHES WITH LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND SPORTS-SPECIFIC FUNDAMENTALS TO ELEVATE THE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERY CHILD.
AS WE HONOR NATIONAL COACHES DAY, WE ALSO CELEBRATE THE TEAM SPIRIT OF TEAMWORK, MENTORSHIP, AND COMMUNITY THAT DEFINES OUR ATHLETICS DIVISION.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THE ENERGY, EXPERTISE, AND DEDICATION OF THIS OUTSTANDING TEAM AND THE COACHES.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, I WALKED BY LEGACY YESTERDAY, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS THE 3-5 YEAR-OLD FLAG FOOTBALL.
[LAUGHTER] YOU'VE NOT SEEN ANYTHING IF YOU'VE NOT SEEN [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER].
>> IT'S A SIGHT TO SEE. YES. IT'S A SIGHT TO SEE.
>> THAT'S CHAOS, ORGANIZED CHAOS.
[V.A. Recommend approval of an alcoholic beverage license for consumption on premises of beer, wine, and spirituous liquors to Danielle Washienko for Gli Pie 2 LLC dba Glide Pizza, 254 West Ponce de Leon Avenue.]
>> NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR CONSIDERATION, AS ALWAYS.
>> THANK YOU. TAKING THE FIRST ONE HERE.
TONIGHT, I AM RECOMMENDING THE APPROVAL OF
[02:10:04]
AN ALCOHOLIC BEVARAGE LICENSE FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES OF BEER, WINE, SPIRIT PLUS LIQUORS TO DANIA WAHNCO, AS ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER, ROB BIRD BIRDSONG.THIS IS FOR THE BUSINESS PI TWO D BUSINESS AS GLIDE PIZZA.
PEOPLE MAY RECALL GLIDE PIZZA AS THE PIZZA ESTABLISHMENT INSIDE IN HER VOICE.
THEY HAVE EXPANDED AND NOW I HAVE MOVED INTO THE SPACE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY OCCUPIED BY CANDOS TACOS.
ONE WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THAT SPACE OCCUPIED AND REALLY EXCITED.
I THINK IT'S ALWAYS SO POSITIVE WHEN YOU SEE A BUSINESS ONE REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY AND EXPAND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY COULD HAVE GONE PLACES, THEY CHOSE TO CATER.
THEIR APPLICATION HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
THEY PAID ALL THEIR REQUIRED FEES.
WITH THAT SAID, I RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABL.
>> MOTION SECOND TO CALL BEVERAGES LICENSE FOR CONSUMPTION ON PREMISES OF ER WINE AND SPIRITUAL LIQUORS TO DANIELLE [INAUDIBLE], FOR GLIDE PI2. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> OPPOSED. TWO VOTES AYE AND MOTION PASSES. NEXT.
>> OTHER ALCOHOL RELATED ITEM.
[V.B. Recommend approval of the conditional issuance of an annual license to the Decatur Tourism Bureau for the retail sale of beer, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages for WatchFest ’26.]
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR PROTEM AND COMMISSIONERS.
I AM ANGELA THREADGILL, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
TONIGHT, I AM BEFORE YOU TO REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE CONDITIONAL ISSUANCE OF AN ANNUAL LICENSE TO THE DECATUR TOURISM BUREAU.
THIS IS FOR THE RETAIL SALE OF BEER, WINE, AND READY TO DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES DURING THE DECATUR WATCH FEST SPECIAL EVENT, AND THAT THE FEE FOR SUCH ANNUAL LICENSE BE $50.
BEFORE YOU TAKE ANY ACTION, I FEEL THE NEED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME CONTEXT.
THE CITY'S ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ORDINANCE ALLOWS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS TO BE ISSUED TEMPORARY LICENSE, PROVIDED THOSE LICENSES ARE ISSUED TO CIVIC CHARITABLE AND NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
I PROVIDE THIS CONTEXT BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY, A LICENSE WAS ISSUED TO A FOR PROFIT ENTITY FOR THE UPCOMING DECATUR WATCH FEST, IN WHICH TONIGHT I'M REQUESTING THAT WE RECTIFY THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LICENSES ISSUED TO A NONPROFIT.
I'M RECOMMENDING THAT THE LICENSE BE ISSUED TO THE DECATUR TOURISM BUREAU BECAUSE THEY ARE A C CHARITABLE NON PROFIT ENTITY.
THAT'S SOME OF THE CONTEXT THERE.
THE NEXT THING I WANTED TO SHARE IS THAT WHEN THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MULTIPLE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OR HAVE LENGTH YEAR EVENTS, AN ANNUAL LICENSE MAY BE ISSUED, AGAIN, TO THAT CIVIC OR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
AS WE ARE AWARE, WATCH FEST IS A SPECIAL EVENT AND IT HAS PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR 34 DAYS.
AS I MENTIONED IN MY MEMO, THE TEMPORARY LICENSES TYPICALLY ISSUED TO NONPROFIT CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS CAN BE GRANTED FOR A PERIOD NO LONGER THAN THREE DAYS.
THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATE REQUIREMENTS, THEY WILL ALLOW FOR A NONPROFIT UP TO SIX TEMPORARY LICENSES OR 18 TOTAL DAYS.
THAT DOESN'T QUITE GET US TO THE 34 DAYS.
AS AN ALTERNATIVE, THE NONPROFIT CIVIC ORGANIZATION MAY APPLY FOR AN ANNUAL LICENSE THEREBY PROVIDING THOSE ADDITIONAL DAYS.
THEN WHEN THE ANNUAL LICENSE IS CONSIDERED, THE CITY COMMISSION MAY ALSO IMPOSE CONDITIONS ON THAT LICENSE, AS WELL AS ESTABLISH THE FEE FOR THE ANNUAL LICENSE.
JUST TO REMIND YOU ALL FEES FOR TEMPORARY LICENSES THAT WE HAVE ISSUED IN THE PAST ARE $50 PER THE ORDINANCE, BUT YOU CAN IMPOSE, YOU KNOW, GREATER OR LESS THAN THAT WHEN IT'S AN ANNUAL LICENSE.
THE CONDITIONS THAT I HAVE LISTED IN MY MEMO AND WHICH IS PART OF YOUR PACKET TONIGHT, I'M RECOMMENDING THAT THE FIRST CONDITION BE THAT THE LICENSES ISSUED ARE LIMITED TO THE 34 DAYS AS LISTED IN THAT MEMO.
THE SECOND IS THAT THE RETAIL SALES OF BEER, WINE, AND READY TO DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE SOLD WITHIN THE DEFINED BOUNDARIES OF THAT SPECIAL EVENT.
THIRD, THAT THE FEE FOR SUCH ANNUAL LICENSE BE $50.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?
>> DOES THIS NOW RESEND THE PREVIOUS AUTHORIZATION THAT
[02:15:03]
WE GRANTED A FEW MONTHS AGO TO THE PREVIOUS THREE ORGANIZATIONS?>> CORRECT. IN SPEAKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, SHE HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE CITY COMMISSION AVOID THAT LICENSE AND THEN REISSUE THE LICENSE TO THE DECATUR TOURISM BUREAU.
>> DO WE NEED TO AVOID THAT LICENSE BEFORE RE ISSUE THIS LICENSE?
>> I WOULD SAY YES. BASED ON MY CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. YES.
>> YOU NEED TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS TONIGHT.
>> I'LL PROPOSE THE FIRST MOTION THAT WE VOID THE FIRST THREE LICENSES TO THE THREE PREVIOUS LICENSE.
>> OPPOSE. PREVIOUS LICENSES WILL BE VOIDS MY QUESTION AS WELL.
NOW WE MOVE TO THE CONDITIONAL ISSUANCE OF THE ANNUAL LICENSE TO THE DECATUR TOURISM BUREAU AS OUTLINED IN THE PRESENTATION BY MISS [INAUDIBLE].
>> MOVE APPROVAL, BUT FOR THE RECORD, COULD WE SPECIFY WHERE THOSE DESIGNATED AREAS ARE? IF WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
>> I MEAN, ROUGHLY, I MEAN, THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE IS ON TOP OF THE SQUARE, AND THEN IT WILL BE EAST COURT SQUARE, WEST COURT SQUARE.
I MEAN, THE, AGAIN, THE GENERAL VICINITY, BUT I DO NOT HAVE A FINAL MAP.
>> I WOULD. AT SOME POINT FOR THE RECORD LIKE THAT TO BE ENTERED.
>> THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO THIS AS WE GO GET FURTHER ALONG WITH THE PLANNING FOR WATCH THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU AS WELL.
I WILL PROVIDE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> BUT FOR THE PURPOSES, CAN WE SAY BETWEEN CHURCH, PONS, TRINITY, AND COMMERCE?
>> PROBABLY TOO BROAD. HOW YOU DO YOU DELINEATE?
>> I THINK, BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR WATCH BEST COMMITTEE, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DECATUR SQUARE AND PLAZA EAST COURT SQUARE, AS WELL AS THAT PORTION OF NORTH MCDONOUGH STREET THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THAT IS THE EXPANDED PORTION OF THE SQUARE, ESPECIALLY AND ALSO ALONG SYCAMORE STREET, BUT THE PEDESTRIAN AREA OF SYCAMORE STREET.
JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW, THE DECATUR TOURISM BUREAU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR ANY LICENSES THROUGH THE STATE UNTIL THE EARLIEST SIX MONTHS FROM THE FIRST DATE OF YOU'LL SEE THIS AGAIN IN THE FINAL MAP.
>> AS LONG AS THERE'S A GUARD RAIL.
>> THAT MAP WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW.
YES. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SESSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> OPPOSED. AYE AND THE MOTION PASSES.
NEXT, WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC INPUT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS.
[VI. Public Comment on Agenda Action Items.]
I'LL GIVE JUST A FEW INSTRUCTIONS ON THAT BEFORE WE OPEN THIS UP TO THE PUBLIC.WE HAVE A NUMBER OF AGENDA ACTION ITEMS THIS EVENING.
THE WE'RE LOOKING AT FIRING SOLID WASTE FRONT LOADER, AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL LEASE FINANCING OF THAT SOLID WASTE FRONT LOADER, THE SUGAR CREEK CACOLO MASTER PLAN, GEORGIA OUTDOOR STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION, THE OKERST PARK RECREATION CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN, THE MCCOY POOL RESURFACING.
FIRST, WE WILL TAKE INPUT FROM ANYONE WHO IS IN THE ROOM, AND THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING ONLINE.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
WE DON'T RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENTS.
WE WILL JUST BE TAKING PUBLIC INPUT AT THIS TIME, AND IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BRING BEFORE THIS BODY.
IF YOU'LL WAIT UNTIL REQUEST AND PETITIONS, BECAUSE NOW WE ARE JUST LOOKING AT ITEMS A THROUGH F ON OUR AGENDA ACTION LIST.
IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTS.
[02:20:04]
THANK YOU ALL, FIRST OF ALL, FOR JUST BEING HERE.
HONESTLY FOR YOUR SERVICE AND JUST BEING REALLY RESPONSIVE TO ALL OF US.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTARY ABOUT THE OCRS PARK PLAN IN PARTICULAR, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO BE ADDRESSING HERE TONIGHT.
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK LISA MAYER.
YOU'VE BEEN AMAZING IN ALL THE COMMUNITY FORUMS AND RESPONDING TO EVERYBODY.
I ALSO WANT TO NOT THAT I ALREADY SUBMITTED A LETTER TO I BELIEVE ALL OF YOU MAYBE NOT SURE IF GEORGE JUBURY WAS ON IT, WHICH WAS TAKEN AT 9:45 P.M AT NIGHT DOCUMENTING THE LIGHTING IMPACT ON NEARBY HOMES THAT WAS TAKEN FROM MY OWN.
I USED TO LIVE AT 161 HOOD CIRCLE.
MY CURRENT HOME BACKS UP DIRECTLY TO THE PARK TO THE SOFTBALL FIELD.
MY PREVIOUS HOME BACKED UP TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING OUR PARKS, BUT I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL.
FIRST OF ALL, I'LL TO TALK ABOUT LIGHTING.
THE STADIUM LIGHTS ARE OFTEN LEFT ON UNTIL 10:00 P. M FLOODING NEARBY HOMES AND DISRUPTING WILDLIFE.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR THE MULTI USE FIELD OR FOR IF WE DO MORE TENNIS COURTS, BUT IT IS GOING TO IMPACT US.
IT IS IT'S LITERALLY LIKE SPOT LIGHTS COMING INTO OUR HOMES.
ADDITIONALLY, IT HAS DISRUPTED WILDLIFE IN THE AREA.
WE ARE LOOKING TO MAYBE ADOPT BIRD AND RESIDENT FRIENDLY LIGHTING STANDARDS BEFORE ANY EXPANSION.
THE TURF STUDIES, INCLUDING RECENT COVERAGE IN MAJOR OUTLETS.
I DID GIFT YOU ALL THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE.
SHOW TURF REMAINS RETAINS EXTREME HEAT AND RAISES INJURY AND CHEMICAL RUNOFF CONCERNS.
HAS THERE BEEN A LOCAL ASSESSMENT OF THESE IMPACTS ON PLAYERS, NEIGHBORS AND THE PARKS MICRO CLIMATE? SCALE AND CIRCULATION.
THE FOOTPRINT HERE IS VERY SMALL WITH HOMES DIRECTLY AGAINST THE PARK AND NO REAL BUFFER.
CLOSING THIRD AVENUE WOULD DRAIN ACCESS TO OAKHURST ELEMENTARY AND NEARBY HOMES AND WOULD PLACE ONE NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY EFFECTIVELY INTO A PARKING LOT, MISS ANDY JONES, WHICH IS AN UNREASONABLE BURDEN.
RIGHT SIZED IMPROVEMENTS, WE CAN SERVE MORE USERS WITHOUT OVERBUILDING.
REPURPOSE THE UNDER USED GAG COURT BY THE PAVILION INTO A VOLLEYBALL COURT, ADD ONE MORE TENNIS COURT, EXPAND THE PLAYGROUND, ADD A SPLASH PAD.
THIS IS ONE OF THE SHADIEST MOST FAMILY FRIENDLY PLAY AREAS, AND THIS DOESN'T EVEN IMPACT ME I HAVE A 16 AND 19-YEAR-OLD.
UPGRADE SHADE STRUCTURES, STANDS, RESTROOMS, PAVILION, SIDEWALK, SIGNAGE, LANDSCAPING, AND DRAINAGE.
THESE INVESTMENTS REFLECT HOW THE PARK IS ACTUALLY USED, TENNIS, KIDS PLAYING, SOFTBALL, BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL, WITHOUT TURNING IT INTO A SPORTS COMPLEX.
AS A NEIGHBOR WHO WALKS THE PARK THREE TIMES A DAY, I SEE HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO LOCAL FAMILIES AND KIDS.
PLEASE PRIORITIZE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ENHANCE COMMUNITY USE AND PRESERVE LIVABILITY FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE DIRECTLY ON THE PARK AND NEARBY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR THE COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE REPLIED TO EMAILS AND ENGAGED WITH NEIGHBORS.
AGAIN, SPECIAL THANKS TO COMMISSIONER ALISA MARE.
I OWN A BUSINESS INDICATOR, I AM A DECATUR COMMUNITY PLAYER, AND I ALSO AM A RESIDENT OF OAKHURST.
I LIVE AT 2267 CAMBRIDGE AVENUE.
SORRY. I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M SUDDENLY SHOT.
NEVER HAPPENS TO ME [LAUGHTER].
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ADDING A BIGGER PLAYGROUND AND MAKING THE PAVILION PRETTIER.
IN 2023, I WAS THE HONOR OF BEING A HOMELAND SORRY A HOMEGROWN HERO FOR DECATUR FOR OUR DOG PARK.
I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR DOG PARK RIGHT NOW.
I AM HERE TO DISAGREE WITH TAKING AWAY THE OPEN, FREE RUNNING FIELD FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DOGS.
A BEACON IN THE WORLD OF PAY DOG PARKS, OAKHURST HAS THE LARGEST OPEN FIELD THAT IS IN A FENCED AREA FOR OUR DOGS, AND IT'S FREE, AND IT'S ALSO USED ON ALL THE REAL ESTATE CHECKING.
THAT DOG PARK IS ALWAYS LISTED.
IN 2023, THE CITY STARTED THE SECOND ENTRANCE TO THE PARK BY BUILDING A GATE, BUT HAVE YET TO FINISH THAT, NOT AS TWO YEARS AGO.
WE DON'T HAVE THE COMPRESSION FENCE AROUND IT, SO WE STILL HAVE THAT FENCE THAT'S NOT DONE YET.
YES, WE NEED CHANGES IN OUR PARK.
BUT MORE LIKE CHANGING THE LIGHT BULBS FOR THE BIRD SAFETY, AND MORE LIKE PAINTING THE WALLS, THIS IS TOO MUCH.
RIPPING UP TREES, ADDING CONCRETE OR ASTER TURF, IT'S TOO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO STOP THINKING YOU'RE THE BEST AND START DOING YOUR BEST.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT AS A TEACHER, I REALLY THINK YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB [LAUGHTER].
I DID THIS SPEECH FOR MY KIDS TODAY TO THE PATH, AND THEY APPROVED THE ENDINGS.
THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS IN THERE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU, BUT I SPEAK FOR THE DOGS WHO CAN'T SPEAK FOR US.
[02:25:03]
>> HI, I'M LEE BRENNA MARTIN, AND I LIVE AT 16 FAIR PARK LANE.
AND I AM VERY PROUD TO CALL OAKHURST PARK MY FRONT LAWN.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS WHY WE MOVED HERE 13 YEARS AGO WAS THAT PARK.
AND SO I'VE RAISED THREE DOGS AND TWO CHILDREN, ENJOYING THAT PARK.
AND WHAT WE NEED IS MORE GREEN FIELDS, NOT COMPETITIVE ASTROTURF FIELDS.
ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND, THE PLAY SCAPE IS OVERFLOWING WITH NOT ONLY RESIDENTS WHO BRING THEIR CHILDREN, BUT I SUSPECT PEOPLE FROM OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE COMING IN AND USING THAT PART TOO, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A GREAT SHADY PLACE TO BRING KIDS AND JUST MAKE SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE.
AND I WILL SECOND THE IDEAS ABOUT THE DOGS.
WE HAVE LOVED THAT DOG PARK SO MUCH BECAUSE DOGS CAN RUN FREE, AND THERE'S A WOODED AREA, TOO.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THE BEST DOG PARKS I'VE EVER SEEN.
SO MUCH SO THAT MY YOUNGER KID WANTED TO GO THERE EVEN WITHOUT OUR DOGS. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS BILL FORMAN.
I LIVE AT 260 CAMBRIDGE AVENUE.
I LIVED IN DECATUR FOR OVER 33 YEARS.
THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE BEFORE THE COUNCIL WAS WHEN THE REZONING FOR THE DOG PARK WAS IN QUESTION, AND WE BROUGHT UP THE TOPIC I'M GOING TO BRING UP, DRAINAGE.
THE PLAN IS TO COVER OAKHURST PARK WITH THE ASPHALT, MORE SIDEWALKS, MORE TENNIS COURTS, AND PICKLEBALL COURTS.
AND I DIDN'T SEE MUCH MENTION OF HOW ALL THAT EXTRA WATER IS GOING TO BE HANDLED.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE SIZE OF THE DOG PARK IS GOING TO BE REDUCED ALMOST IN HALF, WHICH CUTS BACK ON LAND TO SOAK UP THE WATER.
AND I WAS JUST WONDERING, HAS ANYBODY DONE A STUDY TO SEE AND ESPECIALLY, THE EFFECT THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE DOWNSTREAM ON THE HOCK HOLLOW, SUGAR CREEK, BECAUSE THAT WATER IS GOING TO FLOW RIGHT INTO THE CREEK.
AND I REALLY WOULD HATE TO SEE US LOSE THE DOG PARK.
THAT HAS BEEN A BEACON FOR PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
PEOPLE COME FROM OUTSIDE OF DECATUR.
PEOPLE DRIVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF DECATUR TO COME TO OUR DOG PARK BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE A LARGE AREA TO RUN.
AND IT IS IN THE NEED OF SOME REPAIR.
I MEAN, THE WOOD CHIPS HAVE PILED UP, THE FOUR-FOOT FENCE IN PLACES IS NOW TWO FEET.
SHELL HAS MENTIONED, THE GATE THAT IS NOW HAS BEEN LOCKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
IT MAKES ME QUESTION THIS DEVELOPMENT IF WE CAN'T HANDLE WHAT WE'VE GOT; HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE MORE? BUT I'VE SEEN THE DRAINAGE AND WATER PROBLEMS INCREASE OVER THE YEARS.
MY BACKYARD NOW IS A WIDE RIVER WHEN WE HAVE HEAVY RAIN DUE TO ALL THE MCMANSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT AND THE LACK OF GREEN SPACE TO SOAK THE WATER UP.
AND IF THAT HAPPENS TO THE PARK WITH THAT MUCH LAND, WHAT'S IT GOING TO DO? I READ THROUGH ALL 250 PAGES, AND I SAW DRAINAGE MENTIONED MAYBE A DOZEN AND A HALF TIMES, BUT NO SPECIFICS.
>> WE DON'T REALLY ENGAGE BACK AND FORTH DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTARY? WE'LL HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS.
>> I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, I'D LIKE THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO PUT OUT WHAT THE PLAN IS ON THE DRAINAGE.
MY SUGGESTION. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, AND I KNOW IT'S A HARD JOB.
MY NAME IS JEFF GEPHART. I'M BIASED.
MY GIRLS, NOW, 11 AND 13, HAVE GROWN UP ACROSS EASTLAKE FROM THE PARK.
THE PARK CAN DEFINITELY BE IMPROVED, BUT DO PARK CAN BE IMPROVED, BUT I WOULD RATHER DO NOTHING THAN DESTROY THE ESSENTIAL OPEN GREEN FREE NATURE OF THE PARK.
MY KIDS PLAY TENNIS OCCASIONALLY THERE, BUT MOSTLY GROUP WALKING AND RUNNING AND CHASING, PLAYING TAG AND HIDE AND SEEK, HAVING DARF BATTLES, SLEDGING IN THE SNOW, SPOTTING HAWKS AND OWLS AND RABBITS AND SQUIRRELS, AND LEARNING TO BIKE AND LEARNING TO ROLLER BLADE IN THE PARK INSTEAD OF IN THE STREET.
JUST LAST WEEK, I WAS AT A DOG PARK AND THREE MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS CAME UP,
[02:30:01]
NOT WITH A DOG, JUST TO GO MESS AROUND IN THE WOODS FOR THREE MINUTES.IF YOU DO THIS, THIS WILL SLIGHTLY MODIFY THE SPORTS PARENTS BECAUSE THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH FACILITIES WHEN TIMES ARE BUSY, BUT YOU WILL MAKE A LARGE, USUALLY QUIET SET OF RESIDENTS VERY UNHAPPY.
PLEASE DON'T DO NOT APPROVE THE PERS PARK AND CONCEPTUAL PLAN.
PLEASE KEEP THE PARK OPEN AND FREE SO THE KIDS CAN BE KIDS WITH OR WITHOUT SPORTS.
WE DON'T HAVE MANY OF THESE GREEN SPACES LEFT.
THERE ARE A FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESERVE WHAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> JEFF, DID YOU SAY YOUR ADDRESS?
>> 543 EAST LICK DRIVE. I DID NOT.
I SAID IT WAS ACROSS EAST LICK FROM THE PARK, BUT I DID NOT, YEAH, I'M SORRY.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS HEIDI COUCH.
I FIRST ARRIVED IN DECATUR IN 1956.
AND I LIVED NORTH OF THE TRACKS AT THAT TIME, AND NOW I'M IN OAKHURST, WHERE MY LATE HUSBAND GREW UP, SO I SEE A FEW PLACES IN DECATUR.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE WHO CAME UP WITH THESE PLANS.
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED, WE'RE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THINGS IMPROVED.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT LISA HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND QUICKLY RESPONSIVE TO ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.
BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS PARK WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE A SPORTS COMPLEX.
THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO QUIET ENJOYMENT.
THOSE HOMEOWNERS SHOULD BE FIRST TO BE HONORED WITH THEIR REQUEST.
WE KNOW THE NOISE IMPACT STUDIES THAT TUCKER DID TELL US THAT PICKLEBALL IS BEST PLAYED INDOORS.
I CAN'T PLAY IT, BUT I STILL WANT EVERYBODY ELSE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY IT.
OUR GOAL IS DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS OR COURTS INSIDE THE OAKHURST RECREATION CENTER, WHICH THAT MIGHT MEAN THAT THE CENTER WOULD HAVE TO BE INCREASED IN SIZE.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE THE BUDGET FOR THAT.
THE QUALITY OF LIFE MUST BE PARAMOUNT.
OUR LITTLE SMALL TOWN FIELD IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO MAINTAIN.
ALSO, ALTA THINKS THAT IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE TOURNAMENTS THERE.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TRAFFIC, THE PARKING.
SO WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE DRAINAGE FOR THE BALLPARK.
IT'S VERY HOT, AND THAT MEANS IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE HOUSES THAT ADJOIN THE PARK.
WE WANT BIRD-FRIENDLY LIGHTS, COVERED SPECTATOR VIEWING.
IN OTHER WORDS, LIKE BEEF EVERYTHING UP, MAKE IT NICE OR WHAT WE'VE GOT.
WE WANTED TO REVIEW THE STAFFING.
WE SEE WE HAVE A BUNCH OF COACHES COMING ON BOARD, AND THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO KNOW.
WE APPRECIATE COACHES. AND ALSO, WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT THE POOL IS FULLY STAFFED FOR SAFETY REASONS.
AND WE'D LIKE A DEDICATED PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR THE REC CENTER TO ALLOW CLASSES LIKE DRAMA; WE ALREADY HAVE SOMEONE WHO SPECIALIZES IN DRAMA RIGHT HERE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND OUR CLASSES, WATER AEROBIC SWIM LESSONS, THE PRACTICE FOR THE KIDS TO SWIM, THAT THING.
THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE AFTER IS TO KEEP WHAT WE HAVE, HONOR THE TREE CANOPY THAT WE HAVE AND ADD A FEW THINGS LIKE A SPLASH PAD, POSSIBLY.
>> COUCH, WHAT'S YOUR ADDRESS? MISS COUCH, YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE?
>> HELLO, FRIENDS. I'M PAM DITMER.
MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED TO OAKHURST IN 1997.
WE HAVE ENJOYED THE PARK SINCE WE GOT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO NOW I ENJOY THE PARK EVERY MORNING WITH MY DAUGHTER.
WE WANT TO KEEP THE GREEN SPACE.
WE'RE NOT EXCITED ABOUT THE TURF.
I AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TREE CANOPY.
I'M ON THE BOARD AT TREES ATLANTA.
I HAVE PLANTED TREES IN THAT PARK.
WE HAVE A REALLY AMAZING ARRAY OF OLD-GROWTH TREES THAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE DAMAGED OR IMPACTED BY A LOT OF THE PLANS.
I LIKE THAT MY OTHER NEIGHBORS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS BECOMING LIKE
[02:35:01]
AN INDUSTRIAL SPORTS COMPLEX IN OUR TINY LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD.MY IMPRESSION OF THE PLANS THAT WE LOOKED AT, THEY WERE REALLY MAGNIFICENT, BUT IT FELT LIKE A $50 MILLION SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.
I DON'T SEE THAT WE HAVE THAT PROBLEM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S A TINY LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
WE WANT THE KIDS TO BE ABLE TO RIDE THEIR BIKES AND WALK, AND TAKE THEIR DOGS THROUGH AND NOT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE COMPETING FOR SIDEWALK SPACE OR JUST GREEN SPACE WITH ANYBODY WHO IS THERE FOR ALL OF THE SPORTING EVENTS.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THE KIDS TO BE ABLE TO JUST HANG OUT, I MEAN, I SEE KIDS ALL THE TIME THAT RIDE THEIR BIKES TO THE PARKS, AND HANG OUT IN THE PAVILION, HANG OUT ON THE GRASS.
I'VE SEEN A GROUP OF GUINEA PIG ENTHUSIASTS THAT HANG OUT IN THE GRASS ON SOME AFTERNOONS.
MY DAUGHTER WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
SO THERE'S AMAZING THINGS HAPPENING IN THE PARK.
I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE PROPOSED IN THIS WHILE THEY'RE REALLY AMAZING.
THEY JUST DON'T REALLY BELONG IN THIS TINY NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN SEE SOME USAGE STUDIES, PARKING STUDIES, AND THEN SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES AS WE DIG INTO THIS FURTHER.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT IT.
>> HI. MY NAME IS KATHY HODGES.
I LIVE AT 234 WEST BENSON STREET.
I DON'T HAVE A REALLY BURNING.
YES, I LOVE THIS. NO, I DON'T LOVE THIS.
I'M REALLY MORE HERE FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY SIDE OF THIS.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE JANUARY.
I THINK THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT I WENT TO A COMMUNITY MEETING.
WHEN YOU HAVE THESE FOCUS GROUPS AND YOU SAY, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE, EVERYBODY CAN SAY, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS, AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT JUST GROWS.
IN MORPHS INTO, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU WANT TENNIS COURTS, YOU WANT PICKLEBALL, IT SEEMS LIKE IT REALLY GREW.
BUT I'M REALLY HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR A FEW THINGS.
ONE WAS FEELS LIKE YOU HAD YOUR WORK SESSION TWO WEEKS AGO.
THIS PLAN THAT CAME IN ON FRIDAY LOOKS REALLY DIFFERENT.
FOR PEOPLE WHO WENT TO ALL THOSE MEETINGS AND SAID THEIR NUMBER 1 THING WAS TENNIS COURTS FOR THEM TO DISAPPEAR.
SO I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT, BUT THAT'S ONE THING I FEEL LIKE YOU CAN'T JUST GO IN THERE AND MAKE REALLY DRASTIC CHANGES AND THEN VOTE ON IT THREE DAYS LATER.
IN YOUR MINUTES THAT YOU APPROVED THIS MORNING, I THINK YOU SAID THAT UNLESS YOU WERE GOING TO DO A TRAFFIC STUDY ON THIRD AVENUE, WHICH MAYBE YOU'VE DONE THIS.
IF YOU HAVE, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT BEFORE, YOU WOULD VOTE ON ANY PLAN TO CLOSE THIRD AVENUE.
I'M JUST GOING TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE YOU VOTE ON SOMETHING TONIGHT.
AND THEN GEORGE MENTIONED, EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY MENTIONED IN THE WORK SESSION ABOUT, HAVE WE LOOKED AT THIS HOLISTICALLY WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ALL OF OUR PARKS AS OPPOSED TO THIS ONE PARK, AND ARE THERE OTHER PLACES? THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS IS THAT ARE WE RAMRODING THIS IN BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR NINE MONTHS, AND WE REALLY WANT SOMETHING ON PAPER? I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S THE TACH, ESPECIALLY LISTENING TO ALL THE COMMENTS THAT I'M HEARING HERE TONIGHT, JUST MY TWO THINGS.
I LIVE AT 3:16 SPRING STREET, AND I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH THE LADY WHO JUST SPOKE HERE THAT THERE WAS PRETTY DRASTIC CHANGES BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS DESIGN AND THE CURRENT PROPOSED DESIGN THAT YOU ALL ARE SUPPOSED TO VOTE ON TONIGHT.
FOR YEARS, WE HAVE NOT HAD THE FACILITIES TO PLAY AND THE COURTS ARE OFTEN IN DISREPAIR.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE TENNIS COURTS THERE, BUT I WANT TO PROTECT THE TREE CANOPY.
I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT QUITE WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED, BUT NOT BUT NOT DOING ANYTHING BECAUSE WE'RE A GROWING TOWN.
AS A COACH MYSELF AND ALSO A PARENT AND BEING VERY VESTED INTEREST IN THE SPORTS PROGRAM AT CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE FACILITIES IN THIS TOWN.
I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE PARTNERSHIPS SO THAT WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF CSD BECAUSE THERE ARE KIDS THAT MAYBE CAN'T EVEN PLAY FOR THEIR SPORTS TEAMS, AND I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO GO AND BE ABLE TO PLAY IN THE PARKS.
[02:40:03]
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE PLAN REMOVE SOME OF THAT PARKING BECAUSE IF IT'S A PARK.I DON'T I CAN'T TELL FROM THE DESIGN, BUT I WOULD GUESS THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 60 SPOTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PUT ON THERE.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE LESS PARKING.
I'D LIKE TO SEE AT LEAST TWO MORE TENNIS COURTS.
I'D LOVE TO KEEP THE BEACH VOLLEYBALL COURTS.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY DOWN AT GEORGIA STATE.
WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF KIDS TRYING OUT FOR THE VOLLEYBALL TEAMS EACH YEAR AT BEACON HILL AND AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOYS TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL.
HAVING AN OPEN FACILITY, OUTDOORS WHERE IT'S NOT BEHIND A DOOR, KIDS CAN COME AND PLAY PICKUP AND NOT HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO PLAY CLUB. THAT'S ALL.
I'M GOING TO CROSS THE STREET, AND I HOPE I'VE HEARD I THINK TONIGHT IS A GOOD NIGHT TO TALK ABOUT CROSS IN THE STREET OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLAN, AND THAT IS THE GREEN SPACE PORTION THAT CONNECTS THE HAWK HOLLOW GARDEN TO SUGAR CREEK.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE WILD CENTER, AND WE HAVE BEEN MANAGING THOSE GARDENS.
WE'VE BEEN MANAGING SUGAR CREEK SINCE 2010, AND WE HAVE OWNED THE ATLANTA SIDE OF HAWK HOLLOW SINCE 2012.
MANY YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN INVESTING INTO THOSE SPACES, AND WE, FOR A LONG TIME, HAVE DREAMT HARDCORE, THAT THERE WOULD BE A PATH THAT CONNECTED ALONG THE CREEK THAT CONNECTED BOTH GARDENS, AND THE OTHER PART OF OUR DREAM HAS BEEN THAT THE CONCRETE COMES OUT.
WE LOVE THAT THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
ON HAWK HOLLOW, THE CONCRETE IS NOT THERE.
IT'S ACCESSIBLE, BUT THE PART THAT'S CONCRETED IN IS NOT ACCESSIBLE.
YOU JUST LOOK DOWN AT IT AND HOPE THAT NOTHING PRECIOUS OF YOURS FALLS INTO THAT CREEK BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE HARD GETTING IT OUT.
I'VE SEEN THE IMAGES, I'VE SEEN THE PLAN.
THE CONCRETE RIGHT NOW AT SUGAR CREEK, WHAT IT DOES IS IT HOLDS WATER BACK INTO THE SUGAR CREEK GARDEN WHERE A PORTION OF IT IS JUST INACCESSIBLE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE BOOTS ON, IT'S VERY MUCKY AND SOGGY.
I LOVE SEEING THE BOARDWALK AND I AM ALSO A BIG FAN OF BRIDGES.
ANYTIME THERE'S A BRIDGE, I WANT TO WALK OVER IT, AND SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE A BRIDGE AT LEAST ONE OR TWO BRIDGES IN YOUR PLAN.
BUT BEYOND DECATUR, JUST AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS ENJOYED GREEN SPACES AROUND THE COUNTRY OR JUST IN OTHER PLACES, HERE IN ATLANTA AND EVEN VISITING FAMILY IN OTHER PLACES WHERE THEY LIVE, I LOVE COMING UPON A GREENWAY.
A WELL DONE GREENWAY, IF IT'S A REALLY PUBLIC ONE, IS IT A SECRETED AWAY ONE? IT JUST CHANGES THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE OF A CITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU'RE IN.
IT SHOWS THAT A CITY CARES ABOUT ACCESS AND CREATING QUALITY ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS.
I THINK THAT ADDING THAT CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THOSE TWO GARDENS, JUST TAKES ADVANTAGE OF AN AREA THAT'S NOT BEING USED.
WE ALL HAVE OUR EYE ON THAT BIG FIELD THAT'S BEEN ENGINEERED AND FOR CUT AND FILL AND TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THAT AND MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE.
IT JUST INCREASES OPPORTUNITIES TO GET OUTSIDE.
YOU JUST SEE THE CITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE.
ANYTIME I'VE COME ACROSS SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT JUST DEEPENS MY EXPERIENCE, LEAVES A LASTING IMPRESSION.
I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU ALL HAVE THAT IN YOUR PLAN.
I AM 100% BEHIND IT, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO BE A PART OF THAT DEVELOPMENT.
>> GOOD EVENING. HOW YOU DOING? I'M BRIAN SHELBY.
I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING EVERYONE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE OAKHURST PARK PROPOSAL.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING AT THIS ADDRESS SINCE 2018.
WE'RE ACTUALLY ADJACENT TO THE TENNIS AND BASKETBALL COURT.
BUT I'LL START OFF BY SAYING THAT I THINK THE UPDATES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED SO FAR REALLY WILL HELP RETAIN SOME OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FIELD.
WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE USING AND ENJOYING THIS PARK.
[02:45:05]
IT'S VERY POPULAR.IT'S A TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY ASSET, EXCUSE ME.
HOWEVER, WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT NOISE, LIGHT TRAFFIC AND PARKING ISSUES ALREADY EXISTING WITH THE PARK, I DO ENCOURAGE STUDIES TO DETERMINE THE IMPACTS OF THIS PROPOSAL.
LIKE KIMBERLY, I HAVE SUBMITTED PHOTOS OF THE LIGHT IMPACTS ON MY HOUSE TO SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE.
I WILL SAY THAT THE ADDITIONAL BLEACHERS AND BEACH VOLLEYBALL COURTS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED WILL ADD SIGNIFICANT NOISE TO THAT EDGE OF THE PARK THAT'S ALREADY THERE.
I WILL COMMENT THAT WE QUITE OFTEN WITNESS SOME PRETTY BAD BEHAVIOR BY PEOPLE THAT USE THESE COURTS AND ALL THIS IS DONE WITHIN A PLAYGROUND AND A PICNIC PAVILION, 100 FEET AWAY.
I DO HAVE CONCERNS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
INCREASED PARK USERS WILL FURTHER CONGEST OUR NARROW ROADS IN LIMITED STREET PARKING.
THE INCREASED SPORTS FOCUS WILL LIMIT THE ABILITY OF VISITORS COMING TO ENJOY NON SPORTS ASPECTS OF THE PARK LIKE THE PAVILION AND THE PLAYGROUND.
FOR EVERYONE LIVING NEAR THE PARK, [INAUDIBLE] OUR DRIVEWAYS ON BUSY PARK DAYS, SOMETIMES BECOMES DANGEROUS AS ONCOMING CARS CAN'T SEE US PULLING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY DUE TO ALL THE CARS THAT ARE LYING THE STREETS.
I FEEL THAT THE CLOSURE OF THIRD AVENUE IN THIS PLAN MAY ACTUALLY EXACERBATE THIS FURTHER.
WE'RE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS OF OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY VALUES.
BUT LIKE OTHERS HAVE SAID, WE ENCOURAGE TAPPING INTO THE POTENTIAL OF THE REC CENTER.
WE ENCOURAGE USING BIRD FRIENDLY LIGHTS FOR THE TENNIS COURTS.
BUT ALL OF US LIVING NEAR THE PARK, REALLY ENJOY LIVING THERE.
WE'RE ALL WILLING TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE DEVELOPING THESE PLANS TO DEVELOP A PLAN THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE INPUT FEEDBACK.
I WANTED TO FIRST OF ALL, ECHO THE COMMENTS BY STEPHANIE ABOUT HOW EXCITING IT IS TO SEE THE PLAN TO INCREASE CONNECTIVITY AND SPECIFICALLY TO INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY FOR US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE HEADWATERS OF THE STREAMS THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE IN SO THAT WE CAN BE GOOD UPSTREAM NEIGHBORS IN THE SOUTH RIVER WATERSHED.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE COMMISSION WILL VOTE YES ON THE SUGAR CREEK AND HAWK PLANS AS PROPOSED.
I ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE OAKHURST RECK MASTER PLAN.
I'M HOPING THAT THE COMMISSION WILL VOTE NO ON THE FORD CURRENT CONCEPT OF THE PLAN, AND I SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO BRING UP, I THINK OTHER FOLKS HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT LOSS OF TREE CANOPY ENTAILS FOR US.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF CITY OF DECATUR FOR HAVING A STRONG TREE ORDINANCE AND FOR WORKING HARD TO MAINTAIN THIS CRITICAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
THE CURRENT PROPOSED PLAN DOESN'T SEEM TO TAKE THE TREE CANOPY ORDINANCE VERY MUCH INTO ACCOUNT, SO I'M CURIOUS OR HOPING THAT THE COMMISSION CAN LOOK AT THAT CRITICALLY BEFORE THEY TAKE ANY PLANS FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE MATURE TREES.
I'M ALSO HOPING THAT THE COMMISSION CAN REALLY CAREFULLY ASK FOR DETAILS ABOUT ANY PLANS THAT INVOLVE THE INCORPORATION OF ADDITIONAL SYNTHETIC TURF OR ARTIFICIAL TURF.
FOLKS HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE HEAT CONCERNS WITH THIS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT DEPENDS A LOT ON THE TYPES OF MATERIALS THAT ARE USED.
MY PERSPECTIVE TO BRING THE TABLE IS THAT I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT LESS KNOWN ABOUT THE CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS THAT ARE PART OF ARTIFICIAL TURF MATERIALS, AND I'LL QUOTE TO YOU, IF YOU'LL LET ME AS A SCIENTIST FROM THIS 2020 FEET TURNING THROUGH YOUR REVIEW ARTICLE FROM THE JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION.
IT'S A RELATIVELY RECENT ARTICLE, AND IT SAYS RECENT CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF C ROM RUBER AND OTHER ARTIFICIAL TURF COMPONENTS HAVE IDENTIFIED HUNDREDS OF CHEMICALS, INCLUDING KNOWN CARCINOGENS, NEUROTOXICANTS, AND ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS.
NOTABLY, RECENT STUDIES OF WHOLE ARTIFICIAL AND NON RUM RUBBER COMPONENTS HAVE IDENTIFIED PFAS AS AN EMERGING CLASS OF CONTAMINANTS TO BE CONSIDERED ALONGSIDE KNOWN RUBBER CHEMICALS, EMPHASIZING THAT ALTHOUGH ROM RUBBER IS NOTORIOUSLY HAZARDOUS, OTHER COMPONENTS OF TURF SHOULD BE STUDIED AS WELL.
JUST PUTTING THAT BEFORE YOU AND HOPING THAT IF THERE'S ANY PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL SYNTHETIC TURF WITHIN THE CITY OF DECATUR, THAT YOU WILL REALLY DIG INTO THE DETAILS OF EXACTLY WHAT MATERIALS ARE BEING PROPOSED.
SORRY, CAROLYN KIO 605 ADAM STREET.
[02:50:05]
I LIVE AT 126 SECOND AVENUE IN OAKHURST.
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO PUT MY AUTHORITY SUPPORT BY THE T CREEK AND HAW HOLLOW CONNECTION PLAN.
I ALSO WORK AT THE WILD CENTER.
I'M A GREENSPACE DIRECTOR THERE, AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AS A VOLUNTEER AT SUGAR CREEK SINCE IT STARTED IN 2010.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD HERE TONIGHT IS PEOPLE REALLY WANT GREEN SPACE, AND THIS IS GOING TO REALLY ENHANCE OUR GREEN SPACE 0PPORTUNITIES.
KEEP LOOKING AT THE MAP OVER HERE BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, DECATUR IS BISECTED BY THE CONTINENT DIVIDE, AND SO WE ARE AT THE VERY TOP OF WATERSHEDS THAT LEAD TO NICOSIA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO PROTECT THESE WATERSHEDS AT THE VERY BEGINNING, WHERE THEY START IN OUR TOWN, I THINK IS A CITY AND FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
JUST ONE COMMENT ABOUT THE OAKHURST MASTER PLAN AND THE DOG PARK.
IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE, IT IS PARKING FOR THE DOG PARK THAT IS NOT ACROSS THE STREET, ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE STREET AT OAKHURST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, THE CHURCH.
GENEROUSLY, [INAUDIBLE] PARKING THERE, BUT IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD AND SAFETY.
IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO ADD PARKING AND ACCESS TO THE DOLL PARK, THAT DOESN'T MAKE PEOPLE CROSS THE STREET. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO.
>> MY NAME IS CHRIS GOODSON, 605 ADAM STREET.
WHATEVER SHE SAID IS RIGHT HERE [LAUGHTER].
BUT I AM BORN AND RAISED AT THAT SAME TRUST AND NOW LIVING BACK THERE AGAIN, HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF DECATUR FOR THE PAST 44 YEARS.
PLAYED A LOT OF SPORTS GROWING UP, PLAYED AT DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL, A LOT OF SPORTS ON THE IS GRASS FIELDS THERE.
I'M SAD THAT IT'S NOW TURF FIELD BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY PHENOMENAL, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY ON GRASS FIELDS AND TO HAVE GRASS FIELDS AS PART OF OUR PARKS, EVEN IF THEY CAN'T BE AND IT'S MAYBE NOT PRACTICAL TO BE PART OF THE SPORTS, I GUESS NOW FOR FOLKS COMING UP.
BUT I THINK AND OBVIOUSLY ADDRESSING THE FIRST MASTER PLAN.
I'M A TRANSPORTATION ECOLOGIST BY TRADE.
I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE DPA PROCESS AND FEEL LIKE IT COULD THERE HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC AND GETTING MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THAT PUBLIC PROCESS.
IT FELT LIKE THE VARIOUS ITERATIONS OF THE DESIGN WERE JUST REACTIVE TO WHATEVER THE LATEST OUTCRY WAS ABOUT PICKLEBALL COURTS OR DOG PARK OR NOT TENNIS COURTS OR CAT POOPING IN THE SAND.
I REALLY FEEL LIKE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, HAVE WORK SESSIONS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY INVESTED IN WHAT HAPPENS THERE.
CERTAINLY, NOBODY WILL BE HAPPY WITH THE END RESULT, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF DESIGNING THAT HOLISTICALLY, AND WE'LL ALSO REITERATE THAT I THINK WHEN I TALKED TO SOME OF THE CONSULTANTS ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
THE PLANNING CAME UP THAT THEY CAME UP WITH, DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY OF THE MATURE DOES THAT ARE ALL AROUND THE PARK, THEY REALLY GIVE IT THE CHARACTER AND GIVE IT A LOT OF SHAPE.
IF YOU GO OVER THE LEGACY PARK, THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE AND THEY ARE LIKE, DYING BECAUSE IT'S SO HOT.
I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT IT AND SHAPE WOULD BE PART OF THOSE CONSIDERATIONS.
I DO WANT TO PUT MY SUPPORT TOWARDS THE PCOLO PLAN. I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF TRAIL PROJECTS IN MY LIFE, AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A VERY GOOD ONE, SO I WOULD BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL APPROVE THAT AND GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ON THE MASTER PLAN. THANK YOU.
>> ARE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY OF THE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS?
>> ROOM. WE WILL OPEN IT UP AND I ALREADY SEE SOME HANDS RAISED.
THE FIRST PERSON IS ANDY JONES,
[02:55:04]
YOU WILL RESTATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.>> WONDERFUL. MY NAME IS ANDY JONES AT 5:06 EAST LAKE DRIVE.
IN THE LATEST CONCEPT, MY DRIVEWAY IS THE ONE THAT'S LOCATED WITHIN THE PARKING LOT OF THE REC CENTER.
A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO CALL OUT AND ASK THE COMMISSIONERS TO LOOK INTO A LITTLE FURTHER.
ONE BEING THE TREE CANOPY STUDY, I SAW THERE WERE SOME SLIDES IN THE DECK HERE, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.
A TRAFFIC STUDY TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF CLOSING 3RD AVENUE, NOT JUST TRAFFIC THAT WOULD GO THROUGH THE VILLAGE, BUT ALSO THE OTHER HOOD CIRCLE AND TOWARDS THE OTHER SIDE OF EAST LAKE, BUT ALSO ON THE STREET PARKING AND TRAFFIC AROUND THE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS.
AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE STORMWATER STUDY LIVING ON THE DOWNHILL SIDE OF THE PARK AND RIGHT NEXT TO THE DRAIN COVERT.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND HOPE THAT THAT'S CONSIDERED FULLY.
DEFINITELY THINK THAT PARKING NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.
I KNOW THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE UPGRADES TO THE PARK, BUT WITH INCREASED DEMAND ON THE FACILITIES AND EXPANSION OF FACILITIES AND THE DESIRE TO HOST TOURNAMENTS, CONCERNED ABOUT THE PARKING.
ALSO ON THE IMPACT TO NEIGHBORS OF CLOSING 3RD AVENUE FROM A STREET PARKING STANDPOINT THAT BRIAN MENTIONED EARLIER, IT'S ALREADY DIFFICULT TO PULL IN AND OUT OF DRIVEWAYS SAFELY AND FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES TO TRAVERSE THE SMALL STREETS.
I'D ALSO LIKE YOU TO RE EVALUATE AND REVISIT THE PARKING LOT DESIGN.
I WOULD HOPE THAT AN ENGINEER COULD EVALUATE AND SUGGEST OTHER PARKING LOT CONFIGURATIONS.
TO CLARIFY, TO GET TO MY HOUSE, I HAVE TO TURN PAST THIS UPGRADED PARK SIGNAGE, THE RAISED CROSSWALK, AND ENTER THE PARKING LOT BEFORE I CAN TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY ALL DAY LONG.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE CITY DESIGN.
TO QUOTE COMMISSIONER DUSENBERY FROM THE SEPTEMBER 15 MEETING, HE DESCRIBED OKERS PARK AS A FLAWED PARK BECAUSE THE PROXIMITY TO AND ADJACENCY TO ALL THE SURROUNDING HOMES.
THIS CURRENT PARKING LOT DESIGN WITH OUR HOUSE IS THE CLEREST EXAMPLE OF A FLAWED PARK IN MY MIND.
I SHARED IMAGES OVER THE WEEKEND WITH THE COMMISSIONER SHOWING ONE A COACH BUS, THAT WAS FOR THE AGNES SCOTT SOFTBALL TEAM.
THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, BLOCKING MY MAILBOX AND ENTRANCES TO MY HOUSE.
ALSO PHOTOS OF 3RD AVENUE WHEN IT WAS PEOPLE HAD PARKED ON BOTH SIDES IN A PEAK DAY.
BUT WE HAD TO HAVE CALLED THE NON EMERGENCY LINE, AND POLICE COME OUT TO CONTROL TRAFFIC AND IN ORDERS THAT FOLKS COULD GO UP AND DOWN 3RD AVENUE OR INTO AND OUT OF PARTS OF THE PARK.
CONCERNED THAT THAT INHIBITS ACCESS TO OUR HOME, BUT ALSO AGAIN, EMERGENCY SERVICES.
I'M CONCERNED THAT SUCH ISSUES WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND HAPPEN DURING PEAK PARK USAGE.
I THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO FEEL THE BRUNT OF THAT BY THE CITY PUTTING OUR DRIVEWAY WITHIN THIS PARKING LOT.
SOME ALTERNATIVES THAT I'D LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED ARE KEEPING THE ONLY DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE ON EAST LAKE WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW AND NOT CONNECTING THIRD AVENUE TO THE PARKING LOT, MAKING IT A DEAD END, SIMILAR TO WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE NORTH END OF THE PARK, OR USING BOTH EAST LAKE DRIVE AND 3RD AVENUE ENTRANCES WITH A ONE WAY LOOP TO TRY AND MINIMIZE THAT IMPACT TO OUR HOUSE.
I MENTIONED BEFORE THE COACH BUSES THAT PARK IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE OCCASIONALLY.
I REALLY DON'T THINK AND AFTER CONSULTING A TRAFFIC ENGINEER, DIDN'T THINK THAT THIS PARKING LOT IS DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS BUS PARKING AND DROP OFF.
THAT'S NOT A LARGE ENOUGH AREA FOR A COACH BUS, AND ALSO THE TURNING RADIUSES DON'T APPEAR LARGE ENOUGH.
THEN THE BUS PARKING AND DROP OFF WOULD BE LOCATED AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO A NEIGHBOR, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM OUR HOUSE.
THE NOISE FROM IDLING DIESEL ENGINES AS WELL AS DIESEL FUMES IS OVERPOWERING WHEN THEY'RE THAT CLOSE.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A NICE VISUAL BUFFER OF MATURE GREEN TREES TO HELP WITH THAT FLAWED PARK AND HELP GIVE A BUFFER.
I'M AS THAT SHOWN HERE IS GOING TO BE A CROSSWALK AND A WIDE OPEN DRIVE INTO A PARKING LOT AND REMOVING THAT BUFFER.
IN CONCLUSION, WE LOVE BEING A PARK NEIGHBOR, AND I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW HARD PARKING CAN BE AS A CHALLENGE.
BUT THIS DESIGN PUTS ALL OF THE BURDEN OF THE INCREASED PARKING ON MY HOME.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CITY TO DO, AND I HOPE THAT THERE ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES TO BE
[03:00:01]
CONSIDERED OR SOME COMPROMISES THAT THE CITY MAY NEED TO MAKE.IT MAY MEAN LESS PARKING SPACES TO INSTEAD OF MAXIMIZING FOR PARKING, I HOPE THEY'LL CONSIDER PARK NEIGHBORS LIKE MYSELF AND FIND A PARKING LOT DESIGN THAT'S MORE AGREEABLE. THANK YOU.
>> HEY, EVERYONE. HI. I'M LEA SAMAJA.
I LIVE AT 538 EAST LAKE DRIVE, AND I'VE BEEN A PROUD OAKHURST NEIGHBORHOOD MEMBER AND LOVED USING THE OAKHURST PARK.
I'M HERE TO VOICE MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING AS MUCH GREEN SPACE AS POSSIBLE IN THE PARK PLAN.
I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THE UPDATED REVISIONS AND HOW THEY MAINTAIN MORE GREEN SPACE AND THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO CONSIDER EVEN MORE GREEN SPACE THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
I AM A MOM OF TWO YOUNG KIDS AND I HAVE BEEN IN THE EDUCATION FIELD FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
WE HAVE SEEN THE RESEARCH COMING OUT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE PLAY FOR KIDS.
JONATHAN HIGHT HAS PUT OUT A NEW BOOK AND TONS OF RESEARCH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE PLAY AND OPEN NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS AND HOW THAT'S CRITICAL FOR OUR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND RESILIENCE.
THESE UNSTRUCTURED SPACE WITH GRASS AND TREES AND DIRT ALLOWS THEM TO PLAY TAG AND TO RIDE THEIR BIKES TO NEGOTIATE RISK AND SOLVE PROBLEMS AND BUILD INDEPENDENCE.
THE INCREASED FIELDS AND STRUCTURED FACILITIES ARE THE EXACT REASONS WHY THERE IS LESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE PLAY, AND WE'RE SEEING THE IMPACTS OF THAT ON KIDS MENTAL HEALTH.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M REALLY ENCOURAGING IS TO EXPAND THE PLAYGROUND FOOTPRINT.
BASED ON ALL THE PLANS, WE'VE NOT SEEN THAT THE PLAYGROUND IS INCREASED IN SIZE, YET IS ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY USED PARTS OF THE PLAYGROUND HEAVILY USED PARTS OF THE PARK.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS EXCITED ABOUT WAS THE MOVING OF THE SOFTBALL FIELD AND THE OPENING OF A MULTI USE FIELD.
I COULD SEE THAT WITH KIDS RUNNING BACK AND FORTH, PLAYING ON THE PLAYGROUND, GOING AND PLAYING TAG, PLAYING FREE PLAY SOCCER.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF THAT OPEN FREE PLAY AND OPEN FIELD.
BUT I DO STRONGLY OPPOSE THE USE OF TURF.
ANOTHER COMMUNITY MEMBER CITED A RESEARCH STUDY, MOUNT SINAI HAS RECENTLY PUT OUT A PAPER THROUGH THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CENTER RELEASING A POSITION IN WHICH THEY SAY THERE IS NO SAFE AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE TO TURF FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE IT CONTAINS HARMFUL CHEMICALS THAT LEACH INTS AND WATER AND EXPOSE CHILDREN TO UNNECESSARY HEALTH RISKS.
NATURAL GLASSES NOT ONLY HELPS PROTECT OUR KIDS' HEALTH, BUT IT COOLS THE PARK AND IT'S GOING TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY PARTS OF THESE PLANS AND FEEL THAT THERE ARE REALLY SOME STRONG OPPORTUNITIES TO MAINTAIN THAT GREEN SPACE, PART OF WHAT IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT MAKES DECATUR. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, I BELIEVE ANDREW SPAR.
REPEAT YOUR NAME YOUR ADDRESS.
>> MY NAME IS ANDREW JAMES SPAR [INAUDIBLE].
WE DO FOR A LOT OF AGENCIES LIKE TEMP HIRE.
THEY COME IN AND A BY WEIGHT AND ASSAULTING AND INTERVIEWING.
RIGHT NOW, I'M DOING LIKE TRANSPORTATION WAREHOUSE SAVES BENCH WHERE THEY CAN CHARGE THE [INAUDIBLE] CHARGED FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES THAT MIGHT HAVE PURCHASE EPIDEMIC OR YOU HAD ORDERED IT AND NEVER.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO BE DOING LOVE WITH CONSTRUCTION ON THE PR AND SIGN BRRC.
WE DO NEW CONSTRUCTION AND FOUNDATIONS.
>> CAN YOU HEAR US, SIR? WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON OUR AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND YOUR COMMENTS.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE BETTER SERVED IF YOU SUBMITTED SOMETHING IN WRITING.
>> THAT'D BE GREAT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT WE ARE JUST TAKING COMMENTS ON OUR AGENDA ACTION ITEM.
YOU CAN SUBMIT SOMETHING TO THE CITY COMMISSION IN WRITING, THAT'D BE GREAT.
NEXT, WE WILL ASK RILEY BALLING TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT AND TELL US YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE.
[03:05:03]
RILEY BALLING.I LIVE AT 5:38 EAST LAKE DRIVE.
I JUST WANTED TO FIRST SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE HARD WORK I KNOW THAT THIS REQUIRES TO WEIGH AS MUCH INPUT AS THERE HAS BEEN ON THIS.
SPECIFICALLY, COMMISSIONER DUSENBERY, COMMISSIONER MEYER, I'VE BEEN JUST REALLY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVELY AS THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN GOING ON.
I WANT TO SAY JUST A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE PARK REDESIGN.
WHEN WE CHOSE TO MOVE TO OAKHURST IN PARTICULAR, WE CHOSE TO MOVE TO EAST LAKE DRIVE BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO THIS PARK SPECIFICALLY.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS WHO COME TO VISIT US COME HERE WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO HANG OUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THAT PARK CURRENTLY OFFERS.
MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS THAT THE CURRENT REDESIGN ACTUALLY DRAMATICALLY SHIFTS WHAT THAT PARK WILL BE USED FOR FROM WHAT I BELIEVE ITS INTENDED USE WAS FOR IN THE BEGINNING OF ITS DESIGN.
SPECIFICALLY, THERE'S A FEW THINGS IN THE REDESIGN THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.
ONE IS THE ADDITION OF PICKLEBALL COURTS, WHICH MANY OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE SPOKEN ELOQUENTLY ABOUT ADDING NOISE POLLUTION TO BOTH SIDES OF THE PARK OF WHICH WE HAVE RESIDENTS ON BOTH SIDES.
TWO IS THE ADDITION OF ASTROTURF, WHICH NOT ONLY AM I WORRIED ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE HEAT, INCREASE IT WOULD CAUSE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE I THINK THE RESEARCH IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY CLEAR, THE NUMBER OF CHEMICALS THAT THAT ADDS BOTH TO THE AIR AND POTENTIALLY TO SKIN CONTACT FROM OUR SMALL CHILDREN WHO WILL BE RUNNING AROUND ON IT AND USING IT FREQUENTLY.
THIRD IS, I HAVE A HUGE DESIRE TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT GREEN SPACE, IF NOT, EXPAND IT AND PRESERVE THE TREE CANOPY.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL REASONS WHY THAT PARK IS SO HEAVILY USED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THE SHADE IS A WONDERFUL THING TO HAVE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN, ONE WHO IS ABOUT TO TURN FOUR AND ONE WHO IS ABOUT TO BE SEVEN MONTHS OLD.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE IN THAT PARK WITHOUT THAT TREE CANOPY.
THEN FINALLY, AND I THINK THE THING I FEEL THE MOST STRONGLY ABOUT IS THE ADDITION OF STRUCTURED FACILITIES THAT WILL INCREASE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND NOISE POLLUTION FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO THE PARK AND ANYONE WHO IS ADJACENT TO IT.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANY RESIDENTS CHOSE TO MOVE HERE, AND HOPEFULLY THE PUBLIC COMMENT HAS MADE THIS VERY CLEAR.
CHOOSE TO BE NEXT TO THIS PARK FOR WHAT IT WOULD BE REDESIGNED TO BE INSTEAD OF WHAT IT ORIGINALLY IS, WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND THAT WE ALL LOVE HAVING ACCESS TO AND DON'T MIND PEOPLE FROM OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS COMING TO VISIT, PROVIDED IT DOESN'T OVERCROWD THE FACILITIES AND CREATE NOISE POLLUTION, LIGHT POLLUTION AND SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC THAT WOULD LEAVE ME HEAVILY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN.
WHO WE ALLOW TO WALK FREELY BACK THERE AND AROUND OUR HOUSES AND WOULD HAVE TO JUST WATCH, I THINK EVEN MORE CAREFULLY.
OUT OF THE HUGE CONCERN I WOULD HAVE FOR THE INCREASED BOTH CAR TRAFFIC AND FOOT TRAFFIC THIS WOULD CAUSE.
I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU STRONGLY RECONSIDER THE CURRENT DESIGN AND HOW MUCH IT SHIFTS, WHAT THAT PARK WAS DESIGNED FOR AND WHAT MAKES IT TRULY A SPECIAL PLACE TO BEGIN.
WITH, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE TIME AND ATTENTION YOU'VE TAKEN TODAY FROM ALL OF US, BUT ALSO IN WEIGHING IS OBVIOUSLY A CHALLENGING DECISION, BUT HOPE THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE WE AS THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE CLOSEST TO IT, ARE COMING FROM AND HOW STRONGLY WE FEEL ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE ANOTHER HAND RAISE 30.
>> I LIVE AT 518 EAST LAKE DRIVE, SO MY BACK GARDEN BACKS ONTO THE PARK.
RIGHT NOW, I GET TO SEE A BEAUTIFUL TREE CANOPY, THOSE ARE GREEN OPEN SPACE.
I'M A BIT CONCERNED REALLY IF THAT GOES AWAY, I REALLY ENJOY THAT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY WE MOVED IN HERE.
WE MOVED HERE ONCE WE FOUND OUT THAT MY WIFE WAS PREGNANT.
WE HAVE A 3-YEAR-OLD AND A 1-YEAR-OLD AND MUCH LIKE WILEY, WE MOVED HERE BECAUSE OF THE PARK.
WE MOVED HERE BECAUSE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK WE WERE HONEST ABOUT IT AND WE THINK ABOUT WHO USES THIS PARK THE MOST,
[03:10:05]
I REALLY DO THINK IT IS THE UNDER FIVES, REALLY, THEY'RE IN THE MOST, THEY'RE IN THE PLAYGROUND THE MOST.THAT PLAYGROUND IS CONSTANTLY BEING USED.
THE OPEN SPACE, THE GREENERY, THE TREES.
THAT'S MAINLY WHAT'S BEING USED REALLY IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT BESIDES THE TENNIS, THE TENNIS COURT IS PRE PRETTY POPULAR AS WELL.
I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
IT'S MAINLY ABOUT THE PICKLE BALL AND THE OPEN GREEN SPACES, AS MUCH AS WHAT WE CAN KEEP LIKE WHAT KEEPS PART.
THE OPEN SPACES, ALMOST THE UNSTRUCTURED PLAY.
I THINK THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.
IF WE CAN KEEP THAT, I'D BE SUPER GREAT.
>> ARE THERE OTHERS ONLINE? SEEING NONE.
>> WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING, AND WE WILL LEAD TO AGENDA ACTION ITEMS.
[VII.A. Solid Waste Front Loader.]
THE FIRST IS THE EXCITING SOLID RENT LOADER ABOUT THE FINANCE.>> GOOD EVENING. [LAUGHTER] MAYOR.
MEMBER TAM COMMISSIONER SHAN WOODSON, PUBLIC WORKS. HERE AGAIN.
THIS EVENING I'M HERE TO GET A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF A NEW WAY FRONT LOADER.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEMO THAT YOU HAVE WITH YOU IS TO RECOMMEND THE PURCHASE OF A 2025 NEW WAY FRONT LOADER MOUNTED ON A 2025 PETERBILT 520 CAP OVER CHASSIS FOR THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $362,000.
THIS VEHICLE WILL BE OPERATED BY THE COMMERCIAL DIVISION OF SANITATION DEPARTMENT.
IT IS BEING PURCHASED FROM SAMSON EQUIPMENT COMPANY OF STONE CREST, GEORGIA.
THIS FRONT LOADER WILL REPLACE OUR 2010 40 CUBIC YARD PETERBILT FRONT LOADER.
WE'RE REPLACING THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE INCREASING UNRELIABILITY, AND EXPENSE THAT THIS VEHICLE, THE ONE WE'RE REPLACING, HAS CAUSES.
THIS VEHICLE IS NINE YEARS PASS A REPLACEMENT OF USEFUL LIFE.
NORMALLY, WE WOULD ON A FRONT LOADER, YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE IT ABOUT FIVE YEARS ON A FRONT LOADER TRUCK, AND REAR LOADER IS SEVEN YEARS, THIS BID FOR 2010 THAT'S 15-YEARS-OLD.
ONLY ONE FIRM RESPONDED TO OUR ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS, PLACED A LEGAL SESSION OF THE CHAMPION NEWSPAPER ON AUGUST 15TH.
WE RAN IT FOR ABOUT 15, 16 DAYS, AS THE PERSON POLICY STATES OR STATES.
THE LOW BID FOR THE WAS A 2025 PETERBILT CHASSIS WITH A NEW WEIGHT FRONT LOADER CUB 40 CUBIC YARD FRONT LOADER PACKER BODY.
MOUNTED AND PAYMENT AND BE DELIVERED TO 2635 TAL STREET.
THIS EQUIPMENT IS OFFERED IN THE LOW BID.
IN THE LOW BID MEETS OUR FOUR EXCEEDS MEETS AND CES OUR SIGNIFICANT SPECIFICATIONS.
SAMSUNG'S PRICING IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SOURCE WE CORPORATE PURCHASING AGREEMENT.
THE FIRST BID IS FOR THE ONE WE'RE REQUESTING IN THE PURCHASE.
THAT ONE THERE IS UNDER THE SOURCE CORPORATE PURCHASING AGREEMENT, AND THE SECOND ONE IS NOT.
THE 25/26 BUDGET AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF THE NEW FRONT-LOAD TRUCK AND INCLUDES THE FIRST OF FIVE LEASE PAYMENTS OF $83,000 WITH FINANCING THROUGH THE GEORGE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION DIRECT INSTALLMENT LEASE PURCHASE PROGRAM.
IF THIS PURCHASE IS APPROVED, WE ANTICIPATED THE VEHICLE WILL BE DELIVERED AND PLACED IN SERVICE WITHIN 90 DAYS.
PLEASE, YOU STARTED TO ADDRESS THIS, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE FACT THAT WE ONLY GOT ONE RESPONSE TO THE BID, AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT PROCESS.
BUT YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SOURCE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT? SIR, WHY CO LOOKS YOU TELL US WHAT THE SOURCE OF COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT?
>> YES, SIR. IT'S COMPETITIVELY SOLICITED AGREEMENT BETWEEN SOURCE WELL,
[03:15:06]
GOVERNMENT AGENCY, SUCH AS OURSELVES, AND THE SUPPLIERS.THE SAMSUNG, THE COMPANY THAT IS GOING TO PUT THE TRUCK TOGETHER FOR US.
>> BASICALLY, SOURCE F GOES OUT AND DOES OUR COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR A BET BID, AND THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
YES. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GETTING READY TO ASK YOU.
WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE ALL OF OUR CITY VEHICLES TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
>> YES, SIR. I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION. ONCE AGAIN, SIR.
[LAUGHTER] I DID LOOK AT FINDING A FRONT LOADER.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE POWER IS NOT THERE FOR WHAT WE NEEDED FOR.
ALSO, THAT TRUCK THAT I LOOK THAT WE LOOKED AT WAS LIKE $850,000.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT JUST A FEW DOLLARS MORE THAN THIS ONE LOAD CHARGE.
WELL, AT LEAST THAT CONTINUE TO LOOK THE ELECTRIC BILLERS, I GUESS.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. NO, I HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION.
>> ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HEAR YOU SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST? THE FIRST THING IS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT APPROVING PURCHASE OF THE 2025 NEW WAY FRONT LOADER AND THE AMOUNT OF $362,000 FROM SAMSUNG EQUIPMENT COMPANY.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> MOTION MADE SECOND, OTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSE. THE PURCHASE IS APPROVED. THANK YOU.
[VII.B. Supplemental Lease Financing of Solid Waste Front Loader.]
>> HOW WE'RE GOING TO FINANCE?
>> HI, T RISA D CASTRO ASSIST THE CITY MANAGER OVER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AND I AM HERE TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION R-25-XX, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL LEASE FOR THE 2025 NEW WAY FRONT LOADER THAT YOU JUST APPROVED.
THE PURCHASE OF ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE PROJECT IS BEING FINANCED THROUGH THE G&A DIRECT INSTALLMENT LEASE PURCHASE PROGRAM.
THE TOTAL COST OF THE EQUIPMENT IS 362,000, WHICH IS WHAT SHAN JUST SAID, MR. WOODSON.
THE CITY WILL BE OBLIGATED TO PAY FIVE ANNUAL PAYMENTS, APPROXIMATELY $83,000, AND THAT'LL START NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
THE CAPITAL PURCHASE IS BUDGETED AND APPROVED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25/26 SOLID WASTE ENTERPRISE FUND.
ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION IS RECOMMENDED.
>> I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE.
YOU ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT SOURCE WELL.
IN A SIMILAR ANALOGY IS WITH GMA AND THIS CORRECT LEASE PROGRAM.
WE WORK WITH GMA, AND THEN THEY WILL ENSURE THAT WE DID THE BEST FINANCING.
WE NORMALLY DIRECTLY WITH A BANKING INSTITUTION.
THEY DO THAT LEGWORK AS OPPOSED TO US INDIVIDUALLY CONTACTING THE BANK AND ASKING FOR A LOAN.
GMA. THEY'VE GOT THE EXPERTISE AND THE CONTACTS.
AGAIN, THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BEST INTEREST RATE.
A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION R- 25-XX THAT AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SUPPLEMENTAL LEASE FINANCING FOR THE SLID WASTE FRONT LOADER THROUGH GMA DIRECT LEASE FINANCING PROGRAM. THE SECOND?
>> FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> OPPOSED VOTES, AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.
NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO THE SUGAR CREEK COLO MASTER PLAN.
[VII.C. Sugar Creek/Hawk Hollow Master Plan.]
>> YES. WELL, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE AGAIN.
MY NAME IS DR. REMI. I AM THE DIRECTOR HERE OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
BEFORE I MOVE FORWARD WITH MY ACTUAL RECOMMENDATION, WE DO HAVE OUR CONSULTANTS HERE FROM AKINS REALISTS WHO ARE GOING TO DO A QUICK MINI PRESENTATION OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH SUGAR CREEK, HOLLOW.
IT'S JUST GOING TO BE REVIEWING OF WHAT WE WENT OVER FOR FROM THE WORK SESSION AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, AND THEN I CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATION IF THAT IS ALL RIGHT WITH THE COMMISSIONER.
[03:20:06]
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. MY NAME IS JOHN BURA.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AGAIN WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE SUGAR CREEK GREENWAY AND TRAIL PROJECT.
THE TRAIL IS APPROXIMATELY 2000 FEET LONG, AS YOU KNOW, IT CONNECTS FROM ALL THE WAY FROM EAST LAKE SOUTH.
THE PROPOSED PLAN INCLUDES A SERIES OF BOARDWALKS, AS WELL AS STREAM RESTORATION.
ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF THE PROJECT IS TO RESTORE THE STREAM TO REMOVE THE CONCRETE CHANNEL, AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE FLOOD MITIGATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THE AREA.
WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO PROPOSED TO BE MADE.
THE TRAIL HAS SEVERAL CONNECTION POINTS THAT WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND THROUGH COMMUNITY INPUT.
THE FIRST ACCESS TO THE TRAIL IS OFF OF EAST LAKE, WHICH WILL CONNECT THROUGH THE CHURCH PROPERTY.
THE PROPOSAL WAS TO WORK WITH THE CHURCH ON RECONFIGURING THEIR PARKING LOT AND PROVIDING A TRAIL ALONG THE CONNECTION.
THERE WOULD BE AN EASEMENT THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CONSTRUCT THE TRAIL IN THAT LOCATION.
THEN ALSO JUST OFF OF THIRD THIRD AVENUE.
THERE IS ALSO A PROPOSED ALLEYWAY THAT WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING A CONNECTION POINT ON THE NORTH END OF THE TRAIL AND THEN ON THE SOUTH END OF THE TRAIL.
AGAIN, THE PURPOSE OF THE GREENWAY IS TO PROVIDE ALSO IN ADDITION TO THE FLOOD MITIGATION, WATER QUALITY TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS, ALSO TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WILDLIFE PLANTING AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
GENERALLY, WHAT'S BIGGER THAN GENERALLY? OVERWHELMINGLY, THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE ABOUT THIS PLAN.
THERE IS A QUESTION FROM SOME RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON SECOND, WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A PARKING LOT.
THEIR CONCERNS SPECIFICALLY WERE, ONE, THIS QUESTION IS NOT FOR YOU, BUT ONE WAS ABOUT SAFETY OF MAINTAINING THAT PARKING LOT.
THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT ACTIVITY THAT MAY NOT BE THERE NOW, THAT COULD BE THERE IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE IT'S A PAVED SPACE.
THE SECOND IS FOR YOU, AND IT'S RELATED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS PARKING LOT WOULD BE GOING IN A SPACE THAT THEY KNOW IS SWAMPY.
WHAT KIND OF ASSURANCES THEY WOULD HAVE THAT THERE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE DRAINAGE FOR THAT TO BE A FUNCTIONAL PARKING LOT? I GUESS NEITHER ARE FOR YOU. [LAUGHTER] BUT YOU'RE KILLING IT.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CARA SHER.
I SERVE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF PUBLIC WORKS.
IN ORDER TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER MAYOR, RELATIVE TO THE LOCATION OF THE PARKING, IT IS TO PROVIDE ADA ACCESSIBILITY TO THE TRAIL PROPOSED FOR SUGAR CREEK.
ADDITIONALLY, RELATIVE TO DRAINAGE.
THAT WOULD BE MORE OF A DETAILED DESIGN REVIEW, BUT THERE ARE THINGS SUCH AS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE OR GRASS-PAVED TYPES OF MATERIALS THAT CAN BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
RELATIVE TO YOUR QUESTION REGARDING MAINTENANCE, THIS SITE WOULD BE MAINTAINED BY CITY OF DECATUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AS ARE OTHER SITES ACROSS THE CITY. THANKS.
>> CAN I ADD ONE MORE COMMENT? ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, AND THIS IS JUST FOR THE DISCUSSION OF THE GROUP, WAS THAT THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PATH, WHICH EXISTS NOW, BEING BEHIND FOLKS' HOMES.
I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT THERE ARE WALKING PATHS IN DECATUR THAT ARE ADJACENT TO HOMES, AND SOME IN OAKHURST, IN GREEN STREET, WHICH ARE NOT DRIVABLE BUT ARE USED FOR PEOPLE WHO WALK AND BIKE GREEN STREET SPECIFICALLY FOR BIKING.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THAT IS CONSIDERED AN ASSET IN THE COMMUNITY.
I DID WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I DID RECEIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY ON PATHS SUCH AS THIS, AND JUST REFER TO THE EXISTING PATHS WE HAVE THAT ARE SIMILAR IN NATURE.
>> I CAN PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT BASED ON LIVING THERE IN THE 70S AND 80S WHEN THOSE PASSES WEREN'T MAINTAINED.
[03:25:04]
EVER SINCE THE CITY REALLY GOT ACTIVE AND CLEANED THAT UP, THAT CONCERN.MY MOM STILL LIVES IN THE SAME BULL HOUSE THAT SHE BOUGHT IN 1978, AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM 2078 2081, THERE WERE MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES WHERE PEOPLE BROKE IN, AND NOT ONE SINCE THE CITY DECIDED TO CLEAN THAT HAWK HOLLOW CORRIDOR UP.
I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S FAR SAFER NOW THAN IT WAS BACK IN THE 70S AND 80S.
>> I SAY HIDDEN COVE PARK IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME SOUTHPORT CONSERVANCY.
I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS. PEOPLE ALWAYS CONCERN.
>> WHICH SOME OF THAT CONCERN GOES TOWARDS THAT CONVERSATION WE HAD A WORK SESSION EARLIER TODAY ABOUT BEYOND HOUSED AND PROVIDING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER AS A REGION, NOT IN SILOS, BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC IS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT TO BE OUTSIDE, AND CONNECTIVITY IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL CHERISH WHEN WE DON'T HAVE IT.
>> I DO WANT TO CLARIFY, ALSO, I THINK HERE, THE CROSSWALK IS A PART OF THAT THIS PLAN, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK COMMISSIONER TUBER DIDN'T ASKED ABOUT.
WHEN WE GET TO THE REALLY BIG SHOW.
BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THAT TENSION BETWEEN PARKING AND HOW DO YOU PROVIDE IT, AND WHO'S GOING TO USE IT, AND HOW THAT IMPACTS THE USE OF SPACES.
BUT I THINK WE DO NEED THAT PROTECTED CROSS WALKING TO SOMEBODY.
I THINK COMMENT ABOUT THE CHURCH PARKING LOT AND ACCESS TO THE DOG PARK, AND THAT WE REALLY WE NEED TO PROVIDE SOME OTHER PLACES FOR PEOPLE THAT YOU USE VEHICLES TO GET TO THIS PARTICULAR TRAIL OR PATH, AS WELL AS OUR RECREATIONAL PARK FACILITY.
>> BEFORE WE GO A LITTLE FURTHER, I DID HAVE A CLARIFICATION QUESTION ABOUT PROCESS THAT INVOLVES THE DOG PARK.
THE RESTORATION OF THAT STREAM AT THE DOG PARK, WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED A PART OF THE HUNK HOLLOW PLAN, OR IS THAT CONSIDERED A PART OF THE OKURST MASTER PLAN?
>> IT WOULD BE PART OF THE OAKHURST MASTER.
>> WITH THAT, IF THERE AREN'T ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION AND MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THE SUGAR CREEK COCK HOLLOW MASTER PLAN AS PRESENTED.
AGAIN, THE SUGAR CREEK COCK HOLLOW MASTER PLAN PROVIDES A LONG-TERM VISION FOR THE AREA'S NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL ASSETS.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PLAN WOULD BE PHASED.
AS YOU WILL SEE IN THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, FUNDING IS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE STORMWATER UTILITY FUND AND COMBINATION OF GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, FOR THE GEORGIA OUTDOOR STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM GRANT.
AGAIN, WE ARE SEEKING THE APPROVAL OF THE SUGAR CREEK COLO MASTER PLAN.
IT IS RECOMMENDED AS THE GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR FUTURE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND PROGRAMMING DECISIONS WITHIN THIS SITE.
>> ONE MORE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME ATTENTION TO THE OKURST PLAN BEING A CONCEPT.
IS THIS ALSO A CONCEPT MASTER PLAN?
>> IT IS A CONCEPT, BUT IT IS MORE SO NEEDED FOR GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO GO THROUGH.
>> THIS IS A CONCEPT THAT WOULD GUIDE DETAILED DESIGN, WHICH INCLUDES MORE DETAILED INFORMATION SUCH AS SURVEY AND THE ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS, WHICH IS A 30%, A 60%, AND 90%, AND 100%, WHICH ALSO HAS ITS ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
>> TO TAKE YOU BACK ON THAT. THE CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN IS 5% AGE.
IT DEPENDS ON AS YOU START DATING INTO THE SPECIFICS OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND HYDROLOGY, AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
IT MAY BE AMENDED TO RESPOND TO THE CONSTRAINTS.
>> I'M JUST HERE FOR THE TOPOGRAPHY AND THE HYDROLOGY.
>> I GUESS THE LAST THING THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO STATE PUBLICLY IS THAT THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE ARE SEEKING FUNDING FOR THAT THERE ISN'T CURRENTLY FUNDING AVAILABLE, AND SO ANYTHING THAT WOULD PROCEED WOULD BE BASED
[03:30:03]
ON THIS GEORGIA OUTDOOR STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.WOULD THAT BE A CORRECT ASSUMPTION?
>> THAT WOULD BE CORRECT. THAT IS PART OF THE FUNDING THAT WE ARE SEEKING AS THE PHASE PROCESS.
OF COURSE, THE GRANT WOULD NOT FUND THE ENTIRE PROJECT, BUT IT WILL AT LEAST FUND PORTION OF IT.
>> WELL, AT THIS POINT, THERE IS NO FUNDING FOR EITHER OF THE PLANS.
I THINK THAT'S BEEN MADE CLEAR.
HOWEVER, WE'LL GET INTO THAT WITH THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IN TERMS OF THE GRANT.
WE DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ADEQUATE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF ROUGHLY $1 MILLION IN THE STORMWATER UTILITY FUND.
THAT WOULD BE A MATCH IN THE CASE OF A GRANT.
BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY IN THE ABSENCE OF THE GRANT, THEN WE WOULD STILL HAVE ABOUT $1 MILLION IN THE STORMWATER UTILITY FUND THAT COULD GO SOME DISTANCE.
AGAIN, AS LONG AS IT'S RELATED TO THE STORMWATER OR THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
ALSO, TO REITERATE WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT A BIT AT OUR WORK SESSION IS, IN THE ABSENCE OF A NEW REVENUE SOURCE, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT MOST LIKELY 2030, THAT WOULD BE SLS 3.
IF THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT WOULD BE DECATUR COUNTY AS A WHOLE, APPROVED THE SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX, THEN I GUESS THAT WOULD BE NOVEMBER 2029, AND THAT COULD GO INTO EFFECT IN APRIL OF 2030.
I BELIEVE THAT'S THE ONLY REVENUE SOURCE THAT I HAVE IDENTIFIED IN THE NEAR FUTURE, OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT UTILIZING PROPERTY TAX OR USING SOME OF OUR FUND BALANCE.
AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE ESTIMATES, AND THESE ARE FAIRLY WELL ITEMIZED.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME PIECES OF THE PLAN THAT COULD BE COULD BE EXECUTED WITH OUR GENERAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, IN PARTICULAR, IN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
BUT IN TERMS OF THERE BEING A SIGNIFICANT REVENUE SOURCE AGAINST WHICH WE COULD MAYBE ISSUE BONDS OR FINANCE.
AGAIN, SO THAT'S EASILY FIVE YEARS IN THE FUTURE.
>> ALSO, THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION OF WHAT I WAS REALLY TRYING TO DRIVE HOME IS THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO RAISE THE MILEAGE RATE TO FUND THIS PROJECT.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WAS HOPING TO EXTRAPOLATE FROM THAT COMMENTARY.
>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS ON THE TABLE AT THIS POINT.
I'M NOT READY TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE LOOK AT PROPERTY TAX, AND THERE'S SOME COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE VOTED FOR PARK BONDS, AND I BELIEVE IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TIMING.
I WOULD BE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT ADDING TO THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON OUR PROPERTY OWNERS AT THIS POINT.
I THINK WE NEED TO FIND OTHER WAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHETHER IT'S GRANTS, SALES TAX REVENUE.
IT PAYS YOU GO USING FUND BALANCE, AND THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. SORRY, I TAKE UP SO MUCH TIME.
>> NO. I THINK PAYING FOR IT IS IMPORTANT.
>> I THINK EVERYBODY OUT THERE WILL AGREE.
BECAUSE I DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GRANT PROGRAM, BUT OUR APPLICATION.
WE WILL CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TO APPROVE SARCOL MASTER PLAN.
IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> THOSE. THAT PART IS APPROVED.
[03:35:04]
THANK YOU. NOW, THE GRANT APPLICATION.[VII.D. Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP) Grant Application.]
>> I'M HERE TONIGHT TO RECOMMEND THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION R-25-YY AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF THE GOSP GRANT APPLICATION AND THE AMOUNT OF $3 MILLION FOR SUGAR CREEK HOCK HOLLOW IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS GRANT IS PART OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES UNDER THE GEORGIA OUTDOOR STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE 25/26 GRANT CYCLE.
THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL IMPLEMENT THE APPROVED SUGAR CREEK HIGH COLO MASTER PLAN AS JUST PRESENTED AND APPROVED.
THE CITY WILL SEEK THE FULL $4 MILLION AMOUNT, WHICH REQUIRES 25% LOCAL MATCH OF ONE MILLION.
MATCHING FUNDS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND SECURED THROUGH THE STORMWATER UTILITY FUND.
THEN THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION WOULD ALLOW STAFF TO SUBMIT THE GOSP GRANT APPLICATION AND TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD IF FUNDING IS APPROVED.
>> THIS GRANT IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS AVAILABLE EVERY YEAR? IF WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET A GRANT THIS YEAR, WOULD WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY NEXT YEAR?
>> ESSENTIALLY, IF THE RESOURCES ARE STILL AVAILABLE, BUT YES, IT IS A YEAR-ROUND GRANT.
GEORGE JONES WOULD HAVE TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> THERE ARE A FEW MORE. YES. THERE ARE A FEW MORE LIKELY WILL BE REVIEWED.
>> OF COURSE, WE WANT IT THE FIRST.
[LAUGHTER] WE'LL BE SURE TO SAY THAT.
BUT I GUESS THAT IS, I THINK BASICALLY BY APPROVING THAT WE WOULD AUTHORIZE THIS SUBMISSION THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MATCH AVAILABLE.
>> WE HAVE THE MATCH AVAILABLE IN THE SALTWATER.
>> WHAT IS THE COMPLIANCE PIECE LOOK LIKE THE CLIENT?
>> I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK WE HAVE ALL THE PIECES THERE JUST YET FOR THE COMPLIANCE PIECE.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE PRE-APPLICATION WINDOW THAT IS DUE BY THE 17TH OF THIS MONTH.
ONCE WE SUBMITTED, AND THEN WE FIND OUT ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT COMPLIANCE WILL COME IN, BUT IT PROBABLY IS AROUND THE SAME AMOUNT OF CRITERIA THAT IS WITH ANY OTHER GRANT OF QUARTERLY SUBMISSIONS ON WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW FUNDING IS BEING UTILIZED.
>> AS TO MY EXPERIENCE OF A SIZABLE GRANT FOR OUR CITY RELATIVE TO OTHERS WE MAY HAVE HAD, I'M WONDERING IF WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER $4 MILLION GRANT OF INABILITY OR SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT? CERTAINLY, THROUGH GRANTS, NOT RECEIVE NORMALLY THERE'S A GRANT AGREEMENT THAT LAYS OUT THE TERMS THAT'S LEGAL COMMISSIONER B.
>> PUBLIC LANDS GOT A COPS AND IT'S NOT AS BURDENSOME AS A FEDERAL GRANTS.
WE CONTINUE TO SEE. PLUS WE'LL BE SUBMITTING OUR OWN GSP GRANT OURSELVES.
>> YEAH, IT'S GREAT TO WIN THE MONEY BUT YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE STEWARD OF IT.
REMAIN COMPLIANT. NOT SO ALL OF THOSE GOOD THINGS.
>> IT'S A REIMBURSABLE GRANT FOR YOU TO GET THE MONEY TO DO THE WORK.
DOC THE WORK, AND THEN THEY WILL REIMBURSE YOU FOR THE MONEY THAT YOU SPEND. WE CAN'T GET ADS.
>> I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. JUST IN TERMS OF THE APPLICATION, IT'S A GRANT NEED TO BE A PROJECT OF REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
WHO WRITING THE GRANTS? HOW ARE YOU RATINGS A PROJECT REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE?
>> REGIONAL LOCAL NEEDS TO BE A PROJECT OF REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
THE CONNECTIVITY ASPECT OF IT.
>> WELL, IT DOES CONNECT TO PATH TRAIL.
>> AS YOU'RE WRITING A GRAND A, I'M TRYING TO GIVE ADVICE, NOT TO CRITICIZE.
LOOK AT THE RESULTS YOU TALKING ABOUT THE CONNECTIVITY WITH IT.
THE SECOND THING THEY WEIGH REALLY HEAVILY IS THE WATER QUALITY ASPECTS OF IT.
[03:40:02]
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO TAKE SOME ACTION ON THIS SO THAT THE GRANT APPLICATION COULD BE SUBMITTED IN THIS YEAR'S PROCESS.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION R-25-YY, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF THE GOSP GRANT APPLICATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $3 MILLION FOR THEIR SUGAR CREEK COLO IMPROVEMENTS AS PRESENTED, A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? IS THERE A SECOND JUST ASK? I KEEP SEEING THE LANGUAGE, IT'S A $4 MILLION GRANT AMOUNT WITH ONE MATCHING.
>> WE'RE FLYING FOR 3 MILLION.
>> THE ONE SENTENCE SAYS THE CITY WILL SEEK THE FULL $4 MILLION GRANT AMOUNT.
>> I THOUGHT I SAW SOMEWHERE ELSE. THAT'S WHY I JUST WANTED TO.
>> IN TOTAL, ESSENTIALLY, IT IS 4 MILLION WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FULL 3 MILLION PLUS THE ONE, IT IS A $4 MILLION, BUT THE MAX AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN GET FROM THE GRANT IS 3 MILLION.
>> BUT I THINK I WOULD HAVE PHRASED THAT DIFFERENTLY.
THE PROJECT AMOUNT WOULD BE $4 MILLION, BUT THE GRANT FROM THE STATE WOULD JUST BE THREE.
>> I'LL STICK WITH THE LANGUAGE IN THE RESOLUTION.
>> THE RESOLUTION WHERE WE WOULD APPROVE THE RESOLUTION THAT DOES STATE THE PROJECT BUDGET AT 4 MILLION, WITH THE CITY REQUESTING 3 MILLION AND A $1 MILLION, WE WOULD PROVIDE THAT MATCH FUND WITH THAT LANGUAGE.
>> WHICH WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
>> A SECOND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION.
FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ABOUT A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK.
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU FOR THAT SHORT BREAK.
[VII.E. Oakhurst Park Recreation Area Master Plan.]
THE OAKHURST PARK RECREATION MASTER PLAN.LIKE I DID WITH SUGAR CREEK [INAUDIBLE], I'M DR. REMY EPPS.
I AM THE DIRECTOR HERE WITH DECATUR PARKS AND RECREATION.
LIKE WE DID WITH SUGAR CREEK [INAUDIBLE] MASTER PLAN, I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR CONSULTANTS TO COME UP AND DO A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
WE BROUGHT THIS FORTH DURING THE WORK SESSION.
THE COMMISSION HAD SOME ITEMS THAT WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT.
WE'RE COMING BACK WITH OUR CONCEPTS.
I'M GOING TO BRING THEM UP TO TALK THROUGH THOSE THINGS AND THEN MYSELF AND MY PARTY WILL BE UP HERE TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN. MY NAME IS JOB UTRO, I WORK WITH [INAUDIBLE] I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE AGAIN TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE OAKHURST RECREATION CENTER AND PARK.
THE PLAN THAT YOU CAN SEE UP ON THE SCREEN HERE IS THE LAST VERSION OF THE PARK THAT WE HAVE TO PRESENT.
FROM OUR WORK SESSION, WE HEARD SEVERAL CONCERNS THAT THE COMMISSIONER HAD.
WE TRIED TO INCORPORATE THOSE COMMENTS INTO THE REVISED PLAN.
BUT BEFORE I START, JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WHERE WE STARTED BACK IN JANUARY WAS BASED ON THE RECREATOR MASTER PLAN THAT WAS DONE FOR THE CITY.
THERE WAS OVER 800 PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT PLAN DEVELOPMENT.
THE COMMUNITY HAD A CHANCE TO COMMENT AND BIDE THEIR INPUT.
WE TOOK THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED IN THE RECREATOR MASTER PLAN, TRIED TO BRING THOSE TO LIGHT IN THIS PLAN.
WE HAD A STEERING COMMITTEE THAT PROVIDED INPUT.
WE WORKED WITH THE CITY GROUPS, THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO GET THEIR INPUT, AND WE CAME AND PRESENTED THE PLAN TO YOU ALL JUST RECENTLY.
THROUGH OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS, WE HAD ALMOST 800 AGAIN RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED.
WE SUMMARIZED THOSE QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND PRIORITIES THAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY.
THEY WERE BOTH ONLINE RESPONSES AND THEN IN-PERSON RESPONSES.
[03:45:06]
THE RESPONSES WERE TAKEN DIRECTLY AND THEN SUMMARIZED AND THEN PROVIDED THAT INPUT FOR YOU.THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAD BOTH IN THE WORKSHOP AND THEN WHAT WE SUBMITTED TO YOU JUST IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD IN OUR LAST WORKSHOP SESSION WAS, PICKLEBALL NOISE WAS SOMETHING THAT I THINK OVERALL CONSENSUS WAS THAT IT WASN'T MAYBE APPROPRIATE AT THIS FACILITY.
I THINK THERE WAS CONCERN FOR THE NOISE, THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT BACKED UP TO THE PARK BECAUSE OF THE SHEER SIZE OF THE PARK, HOW CONDENSED IT IS.
WE UNDERSTOOD THE CITY'S POSITION WAS THAT POSSIBLY THE CITY NEED TO LOOK BROADER AT ALL OTHER FACILITIES AND POSSIBLY THINK ABOUT RACKET BALL AND ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS.
WE WENT BACK AND WE ELIMINATED THE PROPOSED PICKLEBALL.
WE ALSO HEARD THAT FOR THE TENNIS COURT.
THE ADDITIONAL TWO TENNIS COURT FACILITIES THAT WE HAD PROPOSED.
WE HEARD THAT IT WAS MORE SUITABLE TO HAVE SEEING VOLLEYBALL, INSTEAD OF THE ADDITIONAL TENNIS COURTS.
WE ARE STILL PROPOSING THAT THE EXISTING TENNIS COURTS WILL BE REFURBISHED IN THE MASTER PLAN, BUT WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING THAT IN EXCHANGE FOR WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL DOUBLE SET OF TENNIS COURTS AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THAT WILL BE SEEING VOLLEYBALL.
ONE OF THE OTHER CONCERNS THAT WE HEARD WAS THE POST GREENWAY AREA, THE AREA THAT'S USED FOR PASSIVE RECREATION, NOT ACTIVE RECREATION.
PREVIOUSLY, WE HAD RELOCATED THE BASKETBALL COURTS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PARK.
WE HAD LOCATED THEM TO THE SOUTH PORTION OF THE PARK ADJACENT TO THE MULTI-PURPOSE FIELD.
WE SINCE HAVE GONE BACK AND RELOCATED THE BASKETBALL COURT IN PROPOSING TO REFURBISH IT, BUT KEEP IT IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION, WHERE IT CURRENTLY EXISTS IN THE PARK.
THEN BY DOING THAT, IT'S ALLOWED US TO MAINTAIN THAT GREEN PASSIVE OPEN SPACE, NOT TO DISTURB IT AT ALL.
AGAIN, TRYING TO PRESERVE AS MUCH OF THE GREEN SPACE OF THE PARK AS POSSIBLE.
IN THE AREA FROM WHERE THIRD AVENUE TO THE MULTIPURPOSE FIELD CURRENTLY EXISTS, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL TREES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED TO BE DISTURBED IN THAT AREA.
IN FACT, IN ONE OF THE SHEETS WE SHOW THE AMOUNT OF TREES THAT ARE BEING DISTURBED.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T EVEN AFFORD.
ONE OF THE OTHER CHANGES THAT WE'VE HEARD OR SUGGESTIONS, WAS THAT THE MULTI-PURPOSE FIELD, THAT IT WAS LOOKED AS THOUGH IT WAS BASICALLY FOR HIGH SCHOOL FACILITIES.
WHAT WE'VE SUGGESTED IS REMOVING THE FOOTBALL STRIPING.
STILL, IT'S PROPOSED TO BE A SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD, MUCH AS IT WAS PROPOSED IN THE RECREATOR MASTER PLAN.
SOME OF THE OTHER MINOR CHANGES INCLUDE RELOCATING THE BATTING CAGE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY JUST OFF OF EAST LAKE, AND WE'VE MOVED IT BACK INTO THE SITE ADJACENT TO THE OAKHURST RECREATION BUILDING.
AGAIN, WE CAN PRESERVE SOME OF THE TREES THAT ARE ALONG EAST LAKE.
I BELIEVE THOSE WERE THE MAJOR CHANGES THAT WERE DISCUSSED.
THERE WAS SOME CONCERN AGAIN ABOUT HOW MUCH TREES WE WERE IMPACTING ON THE SITE.
THE TWO SITES ARE ROUGHLY 12.4 ACRES.
CURRENTLY, EIGHT ACRES OF THE SITE IS DEVELOPED.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE EXISTING SITE, ROUGHLY EIGHT ACRES OF THE SITE IS DEVELOPED.
THEN 4.4 ACRES IS UNDEVELOPED.
NOW, THE CONCEPT THAT WE JUST COMPLETED ROUGHLY AGAIN OBVIOUSLY THE SITE REMAINS THE SAME AT 12.4, AND THE DEVELOPED ACREAGE IS JUST OVER 8.1 ACRES.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S ON SLIDE 23 AND 24? IS THAT RIGHT?
>> IF YOU GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, THIS SLIDE HERE.
>> I'M SORRY. I'M TRYING TO FOLLOW A LAW.
[LAUGHTER] NO, IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION. I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE.
[03:50:01]
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRACKING. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, THE SLIDE SHOWS THE EXISTING SITE, 12.4 ACRES.
THE DEVELOPED AREA OF THE PARK IS ROUGHLY EIGHT ACRES, AND THAT INCLUDES THE DEVELOPED AREA OF THE STORE DETENTION AREA, WHERE THE PROPOSED SOFTBALL FIELD IS BEING RELOCATED.
WE'RE IMPACTING ROUGHLY AGAIN ABOUT A 10TH OF AN ACRE MORE ON THE OVERALL SITE THAN WHAT CURRENTLY EXISTS.
NOW, WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE TREE SURVEY, THE TREE CANOPY AREA.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SPITE AVAILABLE, BUT THE AREAS REALLY THAT WE'RE IMPACTING THE TREES ARE BETWEEN THE EXISTING MULTI-PURPOSE FIELD THAT IS ON THE SIDE OF THE RECREATION CENTER DOWN TO THE STREET.
WE HAVEN'T DONE A COMPLETE SURVEY WHERE WE GO OUT AND HAVE A SURVEY COMPANY LOCATE ALL THE TREES.
WE'VE BEEN OUT TO THE SITE, LOOKING AT AT THE TREES, AND ROUGHLY THE IMPACT OF THAT AREA IS LESS THAN 4/10 OF AN ACRE IN SIZE.
IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE TREE CANOPY AREA FOR THE PARK COMBINED, YOU HAVE ROUGHLY 6.5 ACRES OF TREE CANOPY OVER THE ENTIRE PART CURRENTLY.
IF YOU'RE IMPACTING ABOUT 4/10 OF AN ACRE, YOU'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE 6.1 ACRES OF TREE CANOPY THAT REMAINS.
AGAIN, THAT'S BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY THAT SHOWS THE TREE COVERAGE CANOPY FOR THE PARK.
WE HAVEN'T GONE OUT AND DONE A DETAILED TREE SURVEY OF THE PARK.
BUT WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT WITH THE PROPOSED MASTER PLAN, WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING TO PLANT TREES.
WE HAVE OVER 50 TREES THAT WERE PROPOSED ON THE SITE THAT WOULD OFFSET THE IMPACTS OF THE TREES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO BUILD THE SOFTBALL FIELD, EXCUSE ME.
>> DO YOU WANT QUESTIONS AS WE GO OR DO YOU WANT ME TO PAUSE? BECAUSE I KNOW I LET YOU HAVE IT THE WHOLE SESSION, AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I HAVE A BAZILLION QUESTIONS.
>> ACTUALLY, I MAY PAUSE BECAUSE THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE ABOUT YOUR TREE CANOPY SLIDES ARE PROBABLY BEST ANSWERED BY OUR ARBORIST.
I WILL SILENCE, MAKE MY NOTES, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE WITH ME BECAUSE I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
>> THERE IS ALSO SOME TREES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO BE REMOVED IN FRONT OF THE RECREATION CENTER.
IF YOU GO OUT THERE NOW, MOST OF THOSE TREES ARE SMALLER UNDERSTORY.
THEY'RE NOT HARDWOOD TREES, THEY'RE CRAP BURGLES, AND SMALLER TREES ARE [INAUDIBLE] AGAIN, THE PARKING LOTS PROPOSED TO BE PLANTED WITH TREES AND SHRUBS AND OTHER LANDSCAPE PLANT MATERIAL AS WELL.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONCERN RAISED ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS STORMWATER.
THE PROPOSED INTENT OF THE MASTER PLAN, WHETHER THE FIELD IS SYNTHETIC OR IT'S NATURAL TURF IS TO PROVIDE STORES, DETENTION UNDER THOSE FACILITIES.
TO UTILIZE WHAT IS NOW A DETENTION POND, WHICH IS ALSO BEING USED AS A VERY ACTIVE DOG PARK.
WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THAT AND THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF THAT.
WE'RE PROPOSED TO MOVE THAT UP THE HILL.
YOU WILL LOSE THE OPEN SPACE WHERE IT PROVIDES THE ABILITY FOR THE DOGS TO RUN AROUND.
CURRENTLY NOW, THERE IS AN OPENING IN THE DETENTION POND AREA WITH STORES WATER THAT WILL BE LOST IF YOU CONSTRUCT A SOFTBALL FIELD.
>> QUESTION. WOULD IT BE ACCURATE TO SAY THAT THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT WOULD BE IMPROVED UNDER THIS PLAN??
>> IT WOULD BE IMPROVED UNDER THIS PLAN.
CURRENTLY, AGAIN, YOU HAVE A DETENTION FACILITY THAT PROBABLY IS UNDER SIZE FOR THE EXISTING RECREATION CENTER AND THE PARK.
THE DETENTION WOULD BROUGHT UP THE CURRENT STANDARDS.
IT ALSO RUNS THROUGH THAT DETENTION POND WHERE OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THE HIKES AND OTHER USES THAT ARE OCCURRING THERE.
IT'S NOT REALLY MAINTAINED AS A DETENTION FACILITY.
WE'VE TRIED TO BALANCE ALL THE NEEDS OF THE CITY AND TRYING TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A MEASURED APPROACH,
[03:55:03]
I GUESS, AND UTILIZE AS MUCH OF THE SPACE AS POSSIBLE FOR RECREATION, WHETHER IT'S ASTRAL TURF OR SYNTHETIC TURF OR NATURAL TURF, I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY A DECISION FOR YOU IN THE FACILITY ITSELF.BUT I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT WITH A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, ONCE FACILITIES ARE CONSTRUCTED, OFTEN MAINTENANCE IS AN ISSUE, AND SYNTHETIC FIELDS ARE MORE EASILY MAINTAINED IN A NATURAL TURF.
THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT IS REQUIRED TO KEEP THE TURF AND THE CHEMICALS TO KEEP GOOD GRASS STANDS, GOOD TURF IS ALSO TO BE CONSIDERED.
>> THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
DO WE HAVE ANY DATA ON A FIELD OF THAT SIZE, WHAT THE POTENTIAL WATER COSTS OVER THE COURSE OF YEAR, PLUS THE CHEMICALS AND THE RUNOFF, DO WE HAVE THAT DATA? AS WE LOOK FORWARD AND MAKE THIS DECISION ABOUT TURF OR NATURAL GRASS OR WHATEVER, WE HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION OR AT LEAST AS MUCH OF THAT AS WE CAN?
>> OBVIOUSLY WE CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
>> JUST AS AN ASIDE, THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE DID UP HERE IN THE SQUARE.
IT WAS THE COST OF EVERY YEAR REPLANTING GRASS AND THINKING ABOUT THE ONE NATURAL RESOURCE THAT WE CAN'T MAKE MORE OF, WHICH IS WATER.
>> THAT'S THE COMPROMISE BETWEEN SYNTHETIC.
>> ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE ARTIFICIAL VERSUS NATURAL GRASS CONVERSATION NOW? [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU GOT SOMETHING. [LAUGHTER]
>> PLEASE CONTINUE. [LAUGHTER]
JUST LOOKING AT THE REVISIONS THAT WERE MADE, THE INPUT FROM THIS BODY AT THE LAST WORK SESSION.
FOR THOSE FEW WHO THOUGHT THAT WAS STILL A PART OF THIS PLAN, AND IT IS NOT WHAT I THINK WOULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD THIS EVENING.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THIRD AVENUE, THAT THERE WOULD BE MUCH MORE WORK TO BE A TRAFFIC STUDY, MORE INPUT, AND THOSE THINGS TO GET THAT A LITTLE BIT OFF THE TABLE.
BUT WHAT WE ASKED FOR THE CONSULTANTS TO DO WAS TO COME BACK AND LOOK AT THE INTENSITY OF USES.
WHAT WAS ON THE PLAN THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD LAST TIME THAT FELT IT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH FOR THE SITE AND THAT THERE WAS INTEREST IN HAVING MORE OPEN GREEN SPACE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT'S WHAT HAS DRIVEN THIS CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD.
IT WAS THE DIRECT ASK REALLY OF THIS BODY AND BALANCING THAT WITH WHAT WE HEARD FROM OUR PARKS.
IT'S TUCKED INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT ALSO IS A RECREATION FACILITY.
WE DO HAVE A REC CENTER THERE, AND WE HAVE CURRENT USES OF A SOFTBALL FIELD.
AND TO A FIELD THAT IS AN UNDER-SIZE BASEBALL FIELD THAT IS AND THERE WAS A DESIRE CERTAINLY IN LOOKING AT THE OVERALL RE-CREATOR MASTER PLAN OF HAVING MORE FLEXIBLE LARGER FIELD SPACE AREAS BUT THE CHANGES THAT I'M SEEING TO ME ARE REFLECTING WHAT INPUT YOU HEARD FROM US ABOUT INTENSITY OF USES, BUT STILL BALANCING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK FIELD WITH RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THE KIDS THAT ARE PLAYING ON THESE FIELDS ARE THE KIDS THAT ARE IN OUR RECREATIONAL SPORTS PROGRAMS AS WELL AS MAYBE NOT A LOT.
THE SOFTBALL WOULD BE USED BY THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DICTATOR, AS WELL AS BY AGNES SCOTT.
IT WAS AN UNDERSIZED NOT REGULATION FOR THE SOFTBALL FIELD.
>> JUST TO SET THAT GROUND AS WE CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH.
>> THAT'S WHY I HEAR THE MAYOR. [LAUGHTER]
[04:00:03]
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE DIDN'T THINK THAT THESE WERE JUST, LIKE, CAME OUT OF NOWHERE.
SO THERE WAS A LOT IN THE WORK SESSION AND WELL, IN THE PRESENTATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT OUR LAST WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO US TWO WEEKS AGO.
THREE WEEKS AGO WHEN THAT WAS.
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. REVEALING THAT.
>> I THINK THAT'S THE CONCLUSION.
I THINK THE LAST THING I REMEMBER WAS A CONCERN WAS THE TRAFFIC ON EASTLAKE.
WHAT WE'VE PROPOSED IN THE MASTER PLAN MUCH LIKE FURTHER REST ON EASTLAKE WHERE THERE WAS ON STREET PARKING, POSSIBLY WE WIDEN THE CURVE BRING THE CURVE OUT, SO WE CAN CREATE MORE A WIDER SECTION, ROADWAY SO THAT CARS CAN PARK AND THEN EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND NORMAL PASSENGER VEHICLES CAN STILL GET BY.
SO THAT WAS A CONSIDERATION THAT WE HAD IN THE MASTER PLAN.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I EXPLAINED THAT A THOROUGHLY AS I SHOULD.
I THINK CONCLUSION, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I HAVE.
>> WHAT ARE THE DIMENSIONS OF THE MULTI PURPOSE FIELD IS A REGULATION FOR SOCCER OR LACROSSE FOOTBALL?
>> GETTING AGE ON WHAT THAT CON TRAILS.
YEAH. IT IS A REGULATION SOCCER FIELD, HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER FIELD.
SO THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS FOR A SOCCER FIELD FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S THE ONE THAT'S MORE LIKE A FOOTBALL FIELD IN SIZE.
THAT'S ALL WE HAD A FOOTBALL FIELD STRIKE ON IT AS WELL.
BUT YOU CAN PLAY REGULATION SOCCER.
>> I THINK IT'S IT'S 100 YARDS BY 80 YARDS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] FEET. WE'LL CLARIFY.
>> AND THEN YOU AND THEN HOW IS THE RUNOFF AND DO YOU GET THERE?
>> MY QUESTION IS, LIKE, ARE WE OVER SERVING THAT AREA WITH THAT AMOUNT, TOO? IT'S A PRETTY I'M JUST GOING TO WALK INTO SOMETHING, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT IT'S A PRETTY FACILITY.
I GET THAT IT'S GREAT IN SOME WAYS, BUT IS THERE A WAY TO TRIM THAT AND STILL GET A LOT OUT OF IT? IS A FIRST QUESTION.
>> ARE YOU ASKING TO MAKE THE MULTIPURPOSE FIELD SMALLER, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE DIMENSIONS WAS. NOW I'M ASKING.
>> WE MADE IT SIZE FOR A SOCCER PLAYER.
I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC DIMENSIONS WE CAN CLARIFY FOR YOU.
>> BUT LIKE OVER AT LEGACY, I THINK WE'VE GOT LIKE A 6 FOOT RUNOFF.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO LIVE WITH, FOR EXAMPLE.
I THINK. BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE EXTENDED THE FIELD ANY CLOSER TO THE PROPERTY LINE THAN THE CURRENT BASEBALL.
>> IT SITS IN THAT. AND THEN WHAT ARE THE, THE EDGES OF IT? IS IT ALL SOT YOU JUST GO UP INTO OPEN SPACE. THERE'S NO WALLS?
>> WE HAD PROPOSED ON THE PLAN A WALKWAY AROUND THE MULTIPURPOSE FIELD.
SO WE HEARD THROUGH THE COMMUNITY INPUT THAT IT WAS DESIRABLE TO WALK.
AND SO WE HAD LOOKED AT ADDING A WALK AROUND THE PURPOSE.
>> NO WALLS, INTO, LIKE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THERE'S THERE'S AN EXISTING WALL THAT'S IN THE PARK ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FIELD.
AND THAT WOULD BE REMOVED AND RECONSTRUCTED AGAIN.
>> THAT'S T INITIAL QUESTIONS FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THE SIZE OF THAT FIELD. THANK YOU.
>> LET ME SEE IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD BEFORE.
.>> NO WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS DOCTOR RAMI DIRECTOR HERE, AND I HAVE UP HERE, KIM WALEY, FACILITY OPERATIONS MANAGER.
THAT CAN ANSWER, DETAILED QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY SITE SPECIFIC THINGS HERE AS WELL.
JUST SO I'D LIKE TO SAY TWO THINGS BEFORE I START ASKING MY QUESTIONS.
THE FIRST THING IS THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL PARK TO ME.
THIS IS WHERE I TOOK MY KIDS TO RUN AND PLAY, THAT IN MCCOY,
[04:05:01]
AND SO I FEEL REALLY INVESTED IN WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS SPACE.I DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT OCRS PARK NEEDS AND DESERVES A FACE LIFT.
IT NEEDS AND DESERVES SOME ENHANCEMENTS AND IT DEFINITELY COULD USE A LITTLE LOVE.
I THINK IT'S NO SECRET THAT I AM NOT A FAN OF THIS PLAN.
I THINK THAT IT IS JUST TOO MUCH.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK TO KEEP IT FROM BEING A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. IT IS WHAT IT IS.
IT'S A PARK SURROUNDED BY HOUSES IN THE MIDDLE, IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH ACCESSING THAT BECAUSE OF IT.
I INTEND TO MOVE TO TABLE THIS VOTE, BUT I THINK THAT THIS DISCUSSION IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS AND HAVE THE DIALOGUE BEFORE I SUBMIT THAT MOTION.
ONLY BECAUSE THE ONLY REASON I THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE TABLED IS BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT HOW EVEN AS A CONCEPT, THESE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WILL IMPACT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WHOLE FROM THE CLOSING OF THIRD TO THE INCREASING OF FACILITY SPACES TO THE ABILITY TO RUN MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AT THE SAME TIME.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TRUE TREE CANOPY IMPACTS ARE GOING TO BE.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE CRITICAL COMPONENTS THAT AFFECT, AS ONE NEIGHBOR SAID THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS, AND WE JUST CAN'T IN MY OPINION, ADOPT A CONCEPT WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING THE IMPACTS OF WHAT WE'RE ADOPTING.
THE FIRST QUESTION I ACTUALLY HAVE IS RELATED TO THE TREE CANOPY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TREE CANOPY SLIDES IN HERE ON SLIDES 23 AND 24 OF OF THE DOCUMENT, SPECIFICALLY SLIDE 24 HIGH.
>> I'M PREEMPT. HI. HI [INAUDIBLE] SOMEONE OF THE CITY ARTISTS.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT? I HATE? I HATE SEEING PICTURES OF TREES IN THE WINTERTIME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG THEY ARE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH SHADE THEY PROVIDE, AND I'M LOOKING AT A BUNCH OF PICTURES OF TREES.
ONE OF THEM LOOKS LUSH AND GORGEOUS, AND IT'S EVEN GOT A LITTLE CAR PARKED NEXT TO IT.
SO I KNOW THAT'S A GORGEOUS TREE AND PROBABLY ONE WE'D WANT TO KEEP.
THAT WOULD BE MARKED TO BE IMPACTED.
BUT THE OTHERS THEY LOOK TALL, THEY LOOK IMPACTFUL, BUT I CAN'T TELL BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE LITTLE STICKS.
SO CAN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND GIVE AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE, THE TREES THAT ARE ON SLIDE 24 STATING THAT THEY'D BE IMPACTED.
>> SURE. SO THE TREES THAT ARE SHOWN IMPACTED ALONG THIS STREAM IN THE EXISTING DOG PARK AREA ARE A MIX OF DIFFERENT SPECIES.
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF UNDER-STORY AND SMALL TO MID CANOPY SPECIES, MULBERRIES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I HAVE NOT DONE A FULL TREE INVENTORY IN THAT AREA, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT SPECIES BREAKDOWN IS.
MY SENSE IS THAT THERE'S LIKELY SOME INVASIVE SPECIES IN THERE, WHICH, OF COURSE, WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN OUR CANOPY TOTALS.
IT'S HARD TO SEE THAT FROM AERIAL IMAGERY.
WE JUST HAVEN'T DONE THOSE STUDIES TO YOUR EARLIER POINT ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND DON'T KNOW FROM WHAT HAS UP TO THIS POINT BEEN DEVELOPED.
THE REASON THAT THIS IS A WINTER IMAGE IS BECAUSE THIS IS THE GIS INFORMATION THAT WE GET FROM THE DEKALB COUNTY GIS SYSTEM THAT WE USE.
WE DON'T HAVE BETTER AERIAL IMAGERY THAT SHOWS US THAT DREAM.
IT IS HELPFUL FOR US IN DOING THIS GEO MAPPING TO SEE IT IN THE WINTER BECAUSE WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE EDGE OF THE CANOPY A LITTLE BIT BETTER OR IF THERE'S A GAP IN THAT WINTER IMAGERY.
YEAH. THAT ANSWERS THAT PART OF YOUR QUESTION.
>> SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SMALL TO MID CANOPY NOW, I'M NOT AN EXPERT AT THIS STUFF LIKE COMMISSIONER DUCEY.
THESE ARE OR ARE THEY SHADE TREES AND DO THEY IMPACT RUNOFF THE WAY THAT A LARGE OAK WOULD?
>> CERTAINLY, ALL TREES IMPACT RUNOFF AND WATER QUALITY.
AGAIN, DEPENDING ON THE SPECIES MAKE UP, OF COURSE, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES IN WHAT THAT IMPACT ON WATER QUALITY IS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SMALL OR MEDIUM OR MID STORY CANOPY TREES, THOSE ARE STILL TREES THAT YOU WOULD STAND UNDER.
SO IN OUR ORDINANCE AND OUR DECATOR SPECIES LIST, A MAPLE TREE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS CONSIDERED A MID STORY OR A MEDIUM SIZED TREE, SAME THING WITH A BLACK UM.
THAT'S STILL A SIGNIFICANT SIZE TREE THAT COULD PROVIDE SHADE, LOTS OF ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS, INCLUDING WATER QUALITY, HABITAT FOR BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE.
[04:10:03]
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS A SMALL OR A MID STORY CANOPY TREE DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT IS LESS VALUABLE THAN AN OVERSTORY TREE.IN FACT, THEY ARE MORE VALUABLE FOR CERTAIN SPECIES IN CERTAIN USES AND FOR CERTAIN ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, THAN WHAT WE USUALLY PUT ALL OUR WEIGHT TOWARDS, WHICH IS OUR BIG BEAUTIFUL OAK TREES, WHICH OF COURSE HAVE LOTS OF VALUE, BUT SOMETIMES WE NEGLECT TO CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF THE SMALLER TREES.
>> SURE WE AREN'T CALLED OAKHURST FOR NOTHING.
SO THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IS RELATED TO THE CHANGES.
THERE WERE SOME REALLY STRONG CONCERNS ABOUT THE REMOVAL OF THE TWO ADDITIONAL TENNIS COURTS FROM NEIGHBORS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ASKED FOR A LOT.
WE ASKED FOR A RECONFIGURATION, AND YOU DID THE BEST YOU COULD WITH WHAT YOU HAD TO WORK WITH.
BUT THE TWO TENNIS COURT THE FOUR TENNIS COURTS, I BELIEVE, WERE EXPECTED.
AND SO I JUST I'M NOT LOOKING FOR YOU TO SOLUTION THAT.
I KNOW YOU CAN'T SOLUTION THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE FEEDBACK THAT I GOT WAS CONFUSION AS TO WHY WE WOULD ELIMINATE THE TWO ADDITIONAL TENNIS COURTS INSTEAD OF MAKING A DIFFERENT CHOICE.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHT BEHIND THAT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE.
>> I THINK TO WHAT JOHN ONE OF OUR CONSULTANTS SAID, WAS AROUND THE NOISE IN THE TRAFFIC WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE INCREASE IN ACTIVITY.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF IS WITH THE TENNIS COURTS, YOU DO HAVE ALTA GAMES, MATCHES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WITH PICKLE BALL, WITH THE TWO ADDITIONAL TENNIS COURTS IN THERE.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DID TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
IF WE WERE TO ADD THAT BACK IN THERE, THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY BRING AN INCREASE IN PERSONS COMING TO THAT PARK FOR TENNIS ITSELF AND POTENTIAL MATCHES TO BE SEE.
>> SO IT WAS ALSO A WAY TO LIMIT THE TRAFFIC AND IMPACT OF.
>> PROBLEM WHAT WE HEARD WAS A THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT THE INTENSITY OF USE AND THIS WAS THIS WAS AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE SAME AMOUNT OF USE.
TENNIS TO TENNIS, NO CHANGE THERE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IF IT DOUBLED, THEN THAT WOULD COMPLETELY CHANGE THE WAY THOSE COURTS WERE PROGRAMMED.
AGAIN, I NO LONGER JUST BEING A NEIGHBORHOOD TENNIS COURTS, BUT BEING PUT INTO MORE COMPETITIVE PLAY.
>> I THINK THE CONVERSATION IS AND TRADE-OFFS.
>> ABSOLUTELY, THEN I GUESS, THERE ARE LOTS OF QUESTIONS THAT I JUST KNOW WE CAN'T ANSWER TODAY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STORMWATER IMPLICATIONS WILL BE AND WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE, OR HOW WE CAN IMPROVE.
I KNOW WE NEED SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT PARK WHEN IT COMES TO RUNOFF AND DRAINAGE, OBVIOUSLY.
I ALSO KNOW THAT A LOT OF NEIGHBORS HAVE A DEEP AFFECTION FOR THE OAKHURST DOG PARK, BUT I THINK THAT IT COULD REALLY USE SOME IMPROVEMENTS, TOO.
I ALSO RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE PICKLEBALL CONTINGENT [LAUGHTER].
I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
THERE WERE ACTUALLY A FEW PEOPLE WHO EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT PICKLEBALL WAS BEING REMOVED FROM THE PLAN, AND I KNOW WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT PICKLEBALL TODAY.
BUT ONE AVID PICKLE BALLER DID ASK IF AS A COMPROMISE, PARKS AND REC WOULD BE WILLING TO CHANGE OUT THE THE POLES THAT ARE USED TO HOLD THE NET SO THAT THEY COULD BE USED FOR SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE THE RIGHT SIZE TENNIS NET, HELP ME GORGE, WHEN TENNIS PLAYERS ARE PLAYING AND THEN YOU COULD ALTERNATE AND CHANGE IT TO A PICKLEBALL NET LATER.
>> YOU PICK A BALL THAT'S LOWER THAN A TENNIS.
>> THE PICKLE BAR WILL DAMAGE THE TENNIS NET.
>> MAYBE THEY HAVE SOME TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS YOU.
>> THE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE WOULD HAVE WITH THAT, THOUGH, IS THAT WE COULDN'T PUT PICKLEBALL LINES ON THE TENNIS COURTS THAT EXIST, BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PLAY US.
>> I THINK I'VE ADDRESSED THE WORK SESSION AND HAVE EXPRESSED ALL OF THE CONCERNS THAT THE NEIGHBORS HAVE HAD,
[04:15:03]
AND MANY OF THEM, I'M HAPPY TO SEE A LOT OF MY NEIGHBORS HERE TODAY, HAVE SHARED THEIR CONCERNS.I DO WANT TO SAY I RECOGNIZE HOW HARD YOU ALL HAVE WORKED ON THIS PLAN.
IT REALLY IS A BEAUTIFUL PLAN.
EVEN IF I DON'T PERSONALLY THINK IT'S IN THE RIGHT SPACE, IT WOULD BE A GORGEOUS FACILITY SOMEWHERE ON A MAIN STREET FOR OUR CONSULTANTS WHO WERE ASKED TO MAKE MAGIC IN 10 DAYS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CREATIVITY AND YOUR HARD WORK TO GET ALL OF THESE REVISIONS MADE BASED ON THE WORK SESSION.
I DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
>> I DO THINK MAYBE COMMISSIONER DUSENBERY HAD SOME INSIGHTS. YES OKAY.
>> SO FIRST I WANTED TO, SO I WAS QUOTED AS SAYING FLAWED PARKS.
>> I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE CURRENT PARK.
JUST TO DO THAT, IT'S REALLY JUST THE NATURE OF A PARK THAT FACT INDIVIDUALS' YARDS ARE JUST BAD PARK DESIGN.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WHEN I'M CRITICIZING, THAT WAS NOT A CRITICISM OF THE MASTER PLAN CRITICISM THAT WAS MADE 80 YEARS AGO; IT DOES EXACERBATE THE ACTIVE RECREATION IMPACTS ON THE PEOPLE NEARBY.
I WANT TO TALK TO I GUESS I'LL DO THE ARTIFICIAL TURF AGAIN, LIST OF STUFF DOWN HERE.
FOR ME, ARTIFICIAL TURF IS A TOUGH ONE.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS, AND YOU'VE SEEN SOME EVOLUTION IN THE INDUSTRY IN TERMS OF THE HEALTH IMPACT.
PEOPLE DON'T USE THE CRUM RIVER ANYMORE.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT HERE IN CATUR, WE'D BE USING SAND, AND WE'D BE USING IS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THEY ALSO WHEN YOU HAVE TURF, YOU DON'T USE FERTILIZER, YOU DON'T USE PESTICIDES.
I WANT YOU GUYS TO GO BACK TO PEOPLE'S YARD, AND LIKE, DON'T COME TO MY YARD, PRAY STUFF, OR KILL YOUR DOG ON IT.
THEY'RE THEIR HEALTH IS NOT AN EASY THING.
I ALSO THINK GENERALLY, WITH THE ARTIFICIAL TURF, IT IS EASIER TO DEAL WITH THE DRAINAGE WITH WATER.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING STORAGE UNDERNEATH THE DIRT, WHICH YOU CAN DO.
YOU BUILD A SYSTEM UNDERNEATH IT, BUT GENERALLY, ARTIFICIAL TURF IS BUILT IN TO CAPTURE THE STORMWATER THERE.
THEN, GENERALLY, WITH THE ARTIFICIAL TURF, YOU CAN USE IT MORE OFTEN.
ACTUALLY, YOU NEED FEWER FIELDS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOWN.
I AM TPL, I WORKED WITH TRUST, AND I ACTUALLY DID A STUDY LOOKING AT TURF USES IN.
I'M COMFORTABLE USING ARTIFICIAL TURF.
SITUATIONS, IF YOU WANT, I DON'T NEED TO CONVERSE.
[LAUGHTER] THEN JUST THE DRAINAGE.
I THINK IT'S INTERESTING, ACTUALLY, THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF POLLUTION IN CHACHI IS ACTUALLY DOG WASTE BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T CONTROL THEIR DOGS.
I WAS JUST INTERESTED WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
MS. MOST SEES PROBABLY TWO, AND WE HAVE A STREAM OF THE DOG PARK.
WE AGAIN BROUGHT THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELD, WHICH POSSIBLY HAS CHEMICALS REACHING THE ARTIFICIAL TURF, BUT ANYHOW.
THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM IS IF WE DON'T HAVE A PARK LANE INDICATOR, AND THE PARK LANE WE DO HAVE, LIKE COMMISSIONER MEYER WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE DON'T HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
CAN YOU NAME ME A NON-PARK INDICATOR OTHER THAN LEGACY PARK? IT MAY BE STRUCTURED BECAUSE IT'S ADJACENT TO A HERE.
>> THERE ARE HOUSING THAT BACKS UP TO GLEN LAKE.
THEIR HOUSING BACKS UP TO LEGACY.
THERE WILL BE HOUSING AND LEGACY.
>> YEAH. WE ONLY HAVE, EXCEPT FOR LEGACY, I WOULD ARGUE LEGACY PARK IS NOT A PARK, BUT WE CAN HAVE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.
77 ACRES IS PRETTY BIG A HUGE FRONTAGE ON THE COLUMBIA.
>> IT'S THE CHILDREN'S HOME FIRST.
>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] I SAID WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RECREATOR, THEY ACTUALLY DID AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT FACILITIES AND STUFF WE WOULD NEED.
IT'S LIKE WE NEED SEVEN OR EIGHT RECREATIONAL FIELDS FOR SOCCER, YOUTH SOCCER FIELDS.
WE NEED TWO REGULAR SOCCER FIELDS.
WE NEED FOUR DIAMOND FIELDS FOR YOUTH SOFTBALL.
WE NEED FIVE DIAMOND FIELDS, JUST BASEBALL FOR YOU.
I MEAN, JUST THERE'S THIS INCREDIBLE DEARTH OF FIELDS IN DECADA, WHICH MAKES IT REALLY HARD.
IF WE ONLY HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND WE DON'T HAVE THESE FIELDS AND THE LEGACY OF THE CHILDREN'S HOME,
[04:20:03]
AND WE KEEP ALL THOSE BUILDINGS, AND JUST KEEP SITTING IN THE CHILDREN'S HOME.BUT WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
I THINK THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT.
NOW, FOR MY BROTHERS, I WOULD BUILD A SPORTS COMPLEX WITH FOUR FIELDS AND LEGACY PARK.
I THINK WE DID THAT WOULD MAKE IT MUCH EASIER TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE OTHER PARTS.
BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT GLEN LAKE AND MCCOY AND LEGACY AND OAKHURST AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN CHIP AWAY AT THESE BEFORE MAKING DECISIONS.
I THINK I HAVE IDEAS. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE IDEAS.
I FEEL SORRY FOR OUR CONSULTANTS, CERTAIN THAT YOU WERE DOING A VERY DIFFICULT ASSIGNMENT.
YEAH. I THINK YOU DID VERY WELL WITH IT.
THAT'S THE BIG CONTEXT, WE DON'T HAVE A PARTICLE INDICATOR.
WE DID LOOK AT IT, AND WE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING TENNIS COURTS ON TOP OF PARKING GARAGES.
YOU TALK ABOUT PUTTING BIG BALL COURTS ON TOP OF PARKING GARAGES? I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO THAT.
THAT WOULD RECLAIM A LOT OF SPACE FOR OTHER THINGS TO RE THAT.
YOU WOULD EVEN PUT A TOP ON TOP OF THE TENNIS COURTS, AND TENNIS PEOPLE WOULD LOVE THAT.
I DON'T KNOW. JUST BIG PICTURES.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PARK VICTOR.
WE NEED TO BE CREATIVE IF WE CAN FIND WAYS TO ACCOMMODATE FOOTBALL, ACCOMMODATE TENNIS, THEN THAT WOULD FREE UP MORE SPACE FOR OTHER THINGS.
I DO THINK SPECIFICALLY THIS PARK AND ITS INKER'S MASTER PLAN, I DO SUPPORT TURFING THOSE TWO SOFTBALL FIELDS AND MAKING A MULTI-USE FIELD OVER THERE.
THE BIRD-FRIENDLY LIGHTING CAME UP.
I DID KNOW ABOUT TALKING ABOUT THAT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BIRD-FRIENDLY LIGHTING.
>> WELL, YEAH, WE ESPECIALLY AT EPSTER AND LEGACY, WHEN WE HAVE PUT IN THE LIGHTING, HAVE USED THE MUSCO NIGHT SKY-FRIENDLY LIGHTING.
YEAH. ALL OF THAT LIGHTING IS VERY SPECIFIC TO KEEPING A NIGHT SKY VIEW.
WE ACTUALLY DID HAVE A LIGHT STUDY DONE ON BOTH OF THOSE FIELDS AFTER THE ACTUAL LIGHTING WAS INSTALLED, AND THERE IS NO SPILLOVER LIGHTING FROM THE FIELD TO, EVEN, THE SIDEWALK; THE LEVEL OF LIGHT FROM THE SIDEWALK LIGHT IS THE SAME AS IT WAS BEFORE THOSE LIGHTS WERE INSTALLED.
THOSE LIGHTS ARE NOT WHAT WE HAVE MUSCO LIGHTS CURRENTLY ON SOFTBALL FIELDS, BUT THEY ARE NOT SKY NIGHT SKY RATED.
THEY WERE INSTALLED WHEN THE FIELD WAS UPGRADED IN ABOUT 2008, 2009.
>> I SAW SOME OF THE PHOTOS THERE ARE ALSO THE TENNIS LINES.
I JUST I ACTUALLY LIVE SO YOU HAVE THE BAPTIST CHURCH SOFTBALL FIELD, AND THEN YOU HAVE BOY SCOUTS.
I MEAN, LIGHTING IS SOMETHING, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK THROUGH, BUT NOBODY TALKED ABOUT IT.
THAT'S IMPORTANT, THERE'S A TALK ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO REPRODUCE THESE LIGHTS.
THAT IS A PROBLEM THAT CAN BE SOLVED.
>> YEAH, I WANT TO SAY THAT, LIKE, WE CAN SOLVE THAT PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU LOOK AT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT $3,040 MILLION, YOU GET A FIX FOR THE LIGHT, AND IT'S REALLY INVASIVE TO DO THAT.
THAT FAIR? YEAH. I DON'T WANT TO DUMB EVERYTHING.
OUR BASEST PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE [INAUDIBLE].
>> I'M JUST GOING TO PUT SOMETHING OUT INTO THE ORBIT BECAUSE WE ADULTS HAVE DONE A LOT OF TALKING TODAY.
ON MARCH 10, 2025, WE BECAME A CHILD-FRIENDLY CITY.
I WILL CHALLENGE PARENTS TO ASK THEIR KIDS WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE.
BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU, YOU MIGHT GET SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU THINK.
AS WE SIT HERE, I CHAIR I SERVE AS THE COMMISSION'S LIAISON TO OUR YOUTH COUNCIL OUR KIDS ARE VERY THEY HAVE THEIR OWN OPINIONS, AND THEY ARE VERY MUCH A PRODUCT OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
THEY DON'T RATIONALIZE LIKE WE DO, BUT THEY MAKE SENSE BETTER THAN WE DO.
SOMETIMES, WE DON'T LISTEN ENOUGH TO THE VOICES THAT AREN'T IN THE ROOM.
I CHALLENGE EVERYBODY IN HERE TONIGHT TO GO ASK YOUR KIDS, WHAT DO YOU THINK? BECAUSE I THINK WE MIGHT BE JUST MISSING A BIG POINT OF VIEW I SAY THAT TO SAY, I GREW UP GOING TO THIS PARK AS A KID.
WITHOUT THIS PARK, I WOULD HAVE HAD NOWHERE TO GO.
THAT PARK IS REALLY SPECIAL TO ME AS WELL,
[04:25:01]
IT'S BEEN SPECIAL FOR A LONG TIME, IT'S DUE FOR SOME.BUT SO IS EVERY OTHER PARK IN THIS CITY IF WE SIT HERE AND THINK THAT, WISHING THIS AWAY OR KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, IT'S GOING TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS. IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEM.
IT'S GOING TO INTENSIFY THEM BECAUSE OUR KIDS NEED THESE FACILITIES.
IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE ADULTS; IT'S REALLY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
WE GOT TO LEAVE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
I CHALLENGE EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT, AND GO HOME, ASK YOUR KIDS SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
DON'T LEAD THEM, ASK THEM WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT PARKS AND PROGRAMMING, AND HOW TO USE RECREATION.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK WE'RE LOSING SIGHT OF THAT.
WHILE YES, WE ARE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM, WE'RE LEAVING THIS FOR THEM.
I'M NOT SAYING THERE IS A TERRIBLE PLAN OR THAT'S A BETTER PLAN, BUT I JUST WANT TO BRING THE FOCUS BACK TO OUR CHILDREN AND OUR YOUTH.
>> TO JUST CHIME IN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVE YOUNG KIDS THAT LIKE GOING TO THAT PARK AND LIVE AROUND THAT PARK.
I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT, THERE'D BE NO FUNDING FOR THIS FOR 6 YEARS.
WHAT WOULD YOUR KIDS WANT TO BE DOING IN 6 YEARS? IS IT GOING TO BE WANTING TO PLAY ON THOSE RECREATIONAL FIELDS MORE, HAVING MORE ACTIVITIES, WHEREAS NOW THEY'RE ON THE LITTLE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT? I THINK THAT'S THE TENSION THAT WE ARE FEELING AS WE LOOK AT THIS.
BECAUSE I WROTE DOWN ALL OF THESE COMMENTS, AND IT WAS LIKE, THERE'S TOO MUCH PARKING ON THIS.
WELL, THERE'S TOO MUCH SPILLOVER OF CARS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE BLOCKING OUR STREETS AND OUR DRIVEWAYS.
WELL, HOW DO YOU ELIMINATE SOME OF THAT EXCEPT BY ADDING A LITTLE BIT MORE PARKING? THERE'S INTENSE USES ARE TOO GREAT WITH THE TENNIS COURT.
IF WE TAKE AWAY THE TENNIS COURTS, THEN WE HAVE, WHY ARE THE TWO TENNIS COURTS NOW MISSING? THERE'S THIS TENSION OF AND AS, EVERYONE HAS STATED, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACES.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PLAY SPACES, AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RECREATION SPACES, ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATION SPACES.
I THINK WHAT WE ASKED IN FORMULATING THIS WAS, HOW DO WE REACH SOME BALANCE? SOMEBODY SAID THEY HOPED THAT WE WOULD GET TO A PLAN THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
>> [LAUGHTER] I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IF WE SAY LET'S DELAY THIS.
I THINK WE NEED SOME CLEAR DIRECTION AS TO WHAT ARE WE ASKING THE STAFF AND THE CONSULTANTS TO GO BACK AND DO.
ARE WE JUST ASKING THEM TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE'S TOO MUCH TENSION IN THIS PLAN OR ARE WE SAYING I MEAN, BECAUSE THINGS LIKE STORMWATER STUDIES, TOPOGRAPHY, ALL OF THAT WOULD COME LATER, IT'S NOT PART OF A CONCEPT PLAN.
ALL OF THAT WOULD THERE HAVE TO BE SOME I THINK BASIC PARTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND WORKING FROM BEFORE WE START LOOKING AT STORMWATER IMPACTS OR I THINK WE HAVE SOME IDEA OF TREE CANOPY, BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE DOG PARK IS THAT I WOULDN'T GO JUST PLAYING BACK THERE.
I'M JUST SAYING OR WANT MY KIDS IN THAT WOODED AREA.
AND WHEN IT IS MUDDY, IT IS MUDDY.
IT'S NOT REALLY SERVING THE NECESSARILY THAT.
I GUESS IT IS SERVING THAT PURPOSE, BUT IT IS ALSO MAYBE POLLUTION.
I THINK THERE ARE JUST NOT GOING TO BE CLEAR CUT ANSWERS TO A LOT OF THESE, AND I THINK WE IF WE GO TO TABLE THIS, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME IDEAS AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING TO DO.
IF WE JUST SAY WE'RE TABLEING IT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR THIS FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS.
WE'RE GOING TO JUST PUT NEW LIGHTS IN ON
[04:30:03]
THE COURTS AND WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE THINGS AS IS.WE NEED TO HAVE SOME DIRECTION, SO.[OVERLAPPING]
>> BEFORE COMMISSIONER WALSH SPEAKS, I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THAT, SINCE I'M THE ONE BRINGING FORTH THE MOTION.
I WOULD ABSOLUTELY ASK FOR DEFINITIVE REQUESTS AS A PART OF THE DELAY.
IT WOULDN'T JUST BE A THROW IT UP IN THE AIR AND JUST SEE WHERE IT STICKS.
>> I MIGHT TAKE BACK A STEP, HOPEFULLY IT'S ONE STEP BACK TO GO FORWARD.
THANKS FOR ANY OF THIS. IT'S JUST FOR MY BENEFIT.
BUT FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE BOTH THE CONSULTANT AND COMMISSION VERY GROUNDING US IN THE FACT THAT A RECREATOR MASTER PLAN.
THIS OSTENSIBLY LADDERS UP TO THAT.
SOME OF THESE NEEDS WERE TRYING TO BE MET.
I'M ASSUMING SOME OF THE SET UP IN THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT SOMEONE WE ALL APPOINTED SOMEONE AND THEN THEY WERE DRAWN FROM THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
THERE WAS A VOICE IN THE ROOM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO COMPRISE MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE, DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS.
I HOPE THAT WAS FELT IN THE ROOM.
HAVING SAID ALL THAT, THAT THIS IS THE PLAN THAT WAS BIRTHED FROM THAT ENVIRONMENT.
I APPRECIATE MS. HODGES SAYING TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT AND ANY MORE TRANSPARENCY WE CAN LEND TO IT IF IT DOES BECOME TABLEING IT, I'M ALL FOR.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THERE WAS A A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY IN DOING THIS THAT WAS INTENDED.
WE'RE GETTING A WHOLE LOT MORE OUT OF OUR DEMOCRACY WITH THE WORK SESSION AND TONIGHT, AND I THINK A LOT OF VIEWPOINTS HAVE BEEN HEARD, WHICH IS GREAT.
WHAT I'VE BEEN RELATIVELY SURPRISED AT IS THE ABILITY OF THIS PLAN THUS FAR BY THE CONSULTANT TO IF I UNDERSTAND THE INTENSITY OF USE, TO ACTUALLY ONLY HAVE INCREASED BY 10%? I HELP ME OUT THERE.
>> 1/10 OF AN ACRE OF AN ACRE.
>> 1/10 OF AN ACRE OF AN ACRE.
>> TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT INTENSITY OF USE.
THE REASON I KEYED IN ON THAT IS BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S ONE GREAT WAY FROM A BIG STRATEGIC, MAYBE CHUNKY STANDPOINT AT FIRST TO COMPARE WHAT WE DO NOW, HOW WE COME THROUGH THESE PLANS, BUT LIKE IN REAL ESTATE, IT'S SO HARD TO COMPARE HOUSES, ONE GREAT WAY AT A CERTAIN POINT WHEN YOU'VE GOT DOWN TO YOUR SMALL UNIVERSE OF WHAT YOU HERE.
IT'S GETTING THE APPLES TO APPLES FOR A MINUTE AND THEN YOU DO STEP BACK AND SAY, NO, WHAT ARE THE OTHER DIFFERENCES? THOSE WOULD BE THE TRADE OFFS.
THAT'S WHERE I'M ALSO INTERESTED.
IF YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND THIS INTENSITY OF USE SHIFT, HOW MUCH OR LITTLE, AND IT'S BY ACRE AND CAN YOU ALSO LET ME KNOW IF WE WERE TO MOVE SOMETHING, FOR EXAMPLE, IF I SAID, HOW CAN WE BRING THAT BASKETBALL COURT BACK DOWN? PUT, FOR EXAMPLE, SAND BACK UP.
IF YOU GET THE TENNIS COURTS BACK, AND WE JUST INCREASE USAGE AGAIN OR INTENSITY OF USE AND IS IT BY GEOGRAPHY OR BY ANOTHER MEASUREMENT?
>> I THINK YOU WOULD INTENSIFY.
I THINK FROM THE NOISE PERSPECTIVE, FROM THE DISTURBANCE TO THE SITE, THERE IS NO REAL SIGNIFICANT TREES IN THAT AREA THAT WE'RE IMPACTING, BUT I THINK FROM AN OVERALL STANDPOINT OF THE SIZE OF THE ENVELOPE WHEN YOU TREE.
>> THE ACREAGE STAYS ABOUT THE SAME?
>> WELL, AGAIN, YES, IT WOULD BECAUSE WE HAVE THE VOLLEYBALL.
ACTUALLY, THE ACREAGE DISTURBED THE ACREAGE WOULD BE ABOUT THE SAME.
BUT I THINK HAVING SAND VOLLEYBALL VERSUS A CHAIN LINK TENNIS COURT FACILITY FROM A PERCEPTION STANDPOINT, THERE'S A DIFFERENT INTENSITY THERE.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THAT BECAUSE IT'S PREDICATED MORE ON THE ACTUAL LAND COVERED, NOT BY WHAT'S BEING DONE ON THAT PIECE.[OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE'S NO MORE DISTURBED TREES.
>> WHETHER IT'S PERVIOUS OR IMPERVIOUS, UNFORTUNATELY.
>> IN THE LAST YEAR, I THINK WHEN WE FIRST GOT STARTED, THE LARGEST SPECIMEN TREES ON THE SITE WAS FELL OVER, WAS HIT BY LIGHTNING OR WAS TAKEN DOWN FOR SOME REASON.
BUT IN THAT CORNER OF THE PROPERTY, THERE'S ONE TREE THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AND WE MOVED THE TENNIS COURTS OR NOW THE SAND POLY BALL OFF OF THAT THAT ONE PARTICULAR TREE TO SAVE IT.
>> THAT METRIC IS ABOUT HOW MUCH MORE WE'RE COVERING WITH FACILITY THAN BEFORE, RIGHT? THE 1/10?
>> YEAH. AGAIN, THE CURRENT PLAN THAT WE'RE SHOWING, IF YOU FROM WHAT'S EXISTING OUT THERE NOW TO WHAT WE'VE PROPOSED, IN THE BIGGEST AREA, THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS WHERE THE PROPOSED SOFTBALL FIELD REALLY IS, ROUGHLY 1/10 OF AN ACRE DIFFERENCE.
WE CATEGORIZE THE DETENTION POND AS A DISTURBED AREA.
THERE'S IN THAT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S TREES ON THE EDGES, BUT THAT WE MEASURED THE ACTUAL DETENTION POND AREA AND CLASSIFIED THAT AS A DISTURBED AREA, WHICH IT IS.
TO BUILD A SOFTBALL FIELD IN THAT AREA IN SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO SAVE.
[04:35:07]
IT ALMOST IS REALLY A BALANCE.>> WOULD HELP ME, I THINK AT SOME POINT TO IF YOU LOOK AT A PIE CHART NOW IT'S ABOUT ACTIVITY.
HOW IS THE ACTIVITY USED TO CHANGE TO THE[OVERLAPPING].
>> WELL, THE ACTIVITIES IF YOU LOOK AT THEM FROM A COMPREHENSIVE STANDPOINT, THEY ARE THE SAME.
THERE'S A SOFTBALL FIELD FACILITY THAT'S USED BY AGA SCOTT.
THAT ACTIVITY IS GOING ON HERE.
NOW WE'RE PROPOSING TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY WHERE THE DETENTION FUND IS.
THE TWO EXISTING SOFTBALL FIELDS CAN BE CONSTRUCTED AND THE STUDENT SOFTBALL ACTIVITY CAN STILL OCCUR WHILE THE OTHER PART IS CONSTRUCTED.
BUT THOSE ACTIVITIES ARE TAKING PLACE.
I ADDED ANY NEW ACTIVITY TO THE PARK OTHER THAN A PARKING LOT THAT REALLY BRO OUT THE PARKING LOT AND MADE THE PARKING LOT NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THAT'S VERY HELPFUL TO ME TO UNDERSTAND THIS TRANSLATION AND NOW THE PERCEPTION OF IT.
I THINK THEN WHAT WE'RE TO ME REALLY HAGGLING OVER, I MEAN THAT IN A GOOD WAY DISCUSSING AND SHARING IS THE TRADE OFFS OF THE SPECIFIC USES, WHO GETS WHAT? THAT'S ALWAYS HARD.
LIKE YOU SEE IT'S GOING TO BE HARD WITH EVERY PARK WE HAVE.
I WANT TO HAVE FULL RESPECT FOR HOW MUCH MORE CONVERSATION THIS MIGHT NEED.
IS IT BREAKING INTO THE VOICE, IS A LITTLE MORE TIME? I'M NOT CONVINCED.
TONIGHT, I THINK I CAN MAKE A DECISION ON THESE BIG PLACEMENTS ARE WHERE THEY ARE AND WE'RE AT JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN A NEUTRAL CHANGE FROM A COVERAGE STANDPOINT.
IF IT WAS TO BE A GUIDING DOCUMENT AND THERE STILL COULD BE SOME TRADE OFFS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE IN THE PLAN SAYS BECOME A GUIDING DOCUMENT, HOW MUCH FLEXIBILITY DO WE AGREE IS IN THAT? I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION, BUT I'D BE INTERESTED TO YOU GET FROM THE BODY MORE, THERE IS AN APPETITE TO TIP THE TABLE.
>> I WOULD DISAGREE WITH YOU. THE CLASS WE'RE BASICALLY ADDING A FULL SIZE SO.
>> SO THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT WAS THE QUESTION AS I UNDERSTOOD, WHAT ACTIVITY.
ACTIVITY IS THERE. THE FACILITY.
>> BESIDES THAT WE'RE ADDING A FULL SIZE SOFTBALL THAT COURT.
THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL USE OF ARTIFICIAL TURKEY.
THE INTENSIVE USE IS GOING TO INCREASE.
I'M JUST TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE.
WE TALK ABOUT THOSE MASS WE TALK THE OTHER MASS AN ENTIRE HERE.
WE TALK ABOUT THE RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS.
WE HAVE A FINANCIAL RESOURCE CONSTRAINT, BUT THE BIGGEST RESOURCE CONSTRAINT INDICATOR IS IT'S NOT SIMPLE.
WE MADE A DECISION IN 2018, THAT WE WERE GOING TO PRIORITIZE THEM.
I'M SORRY. HER POWERS, BUILDINGS, WHO WERE MEETING OUR RECREATIONAL AND ATHLETIC NEEDS.
THAT IS REFLECTED. YOU SAID AS MUCH IN YOUR PRESENTATION THREE WEEKS AGO, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH LAND WAS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE, AND YOU EXPLICITLY EXCLUDED LARGE CHUNKS OF LEGACY HEART BECAUSE A DECISION WAS MADE IN 2018 DECISION I DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT WE WOULD HAVE BUILDINGS INSTEAD OF ATHLETIC AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
THIS CONVERSATION AND FUTURE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MEETING OUR ATHLETIC AND RECREATIONAL NEEDS ARE ALL WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THAT DECISION.
I JUST WANTED TO BE EXPLICIT ABOUT THAT.
THE SECOND THING, WITH THIS MASTER PLAN, LIKE EAST OF THIRD AVENUE, I THINK IT'S A GOOD MASTER PLAN.
WEST OF THIRD AVENUE.I'M NOT SO SURE.
>> IT'S BASICALLY THE SOFTBALL FACILITY.
THAT I THINK IT'S MAYBE TOO INTENSIVE USE.
ALSO AS THE MAYOR SAID, I THINK ADDITIONAL PARKING I HATE PARKING, BUT PEOPLE DRIVE CARS.
WE'VE HEARD THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT IF THE NEIGHBORS FINE WITH PEOPLE PARK IN FOR YOUR HOUSE, ON THE STREETS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THEN WE DON'T NEED PARKING.
IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT, WE PROBABLY NEED SOME PARKING.
WE CAN MAKE ONE HECK OF A PARKING LINE.
WE CAN USE PERVIOUS PAPERS, AND WE CAN PUT IN LOTS OF TREES FOR SHADE, BUT WE PROBABLY DO NEED TO PUT SOME PARKING.
I WOULD PUSH BACK ON YOU. FEEL FREE. GO AHEAD.
>> ON THE FACT THAT AGAIN, WE'VE HEARD.
>> NO, PARKING I TOTALLY AGREE WITH IT, BUT WE CAME AND WE SHOWED YOU HOW LITTLE GREEN SPACE RECREATION SPACE.
[04:40:06]
>> I NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE AND I'M JUST NOT AT THIS POINT IN TIME WAY YOU MADE THAT.
>> WELL, THAT'S CERTAINLY FALSE DECISION.
THAT'S WHY WE THREW IT OUT HERE. THIS IS YOUR HOME.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF SPACE, WHETHER IT'S A SOFTBALL FIELD, ANOTHER MULTIPURPOSE FIELD, A DOCK PARK.
THAT'S IT'S DETENTION STILL ON THE GROUND AND IT'S A DOCK PARK.
IF THAT'S THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE.
THE SPACE, AGAIN, YOU STARTED OFF SAYING THE LAND IS THE MOST VALUABLE THING.
MY DAUGHTER'S LOOKING AT BUYING A HOUSE IN CHARLESTON, LIKE INDICATOR HOUSE PRICES ARE ASTRONOMICAL NOW TO BUY A HOUSE, AND WOULD EVEN HAVE THOUGHT TEN YEARS AGO, YOU NEVER PAID.
BUT YOUR VALUE IS IN YOUR LAND.
>> YOU REMINDED EVERYONE WHY THE LIKE THE MULTI USE FIELD AND SOFTBALL FIELD FLIP FLOP FROM WHERE THEY ARE NOW BECAUSE I THINK NOT EVERYONE HEARD THAT.
>> AGAIN, THE MULTI PURPOSE FIELD THAT'S EXISTING ADJACENT TO THE RECREATION FIELDS IS VERY UNDERSIZED.
IT'S NOT SIZE FOR SOCCER, EVEN.
THE OTHER ASPECT WAS THAT IN OUR EARLY DISCUSSIONS, ONE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS WERE AGNES SCOTT.
THEY CAME TO THE TABLE THERE AT OUR MEETINGS AND CITY HAS A 50 YEAR LEASE, I BELIEVE, WITH AGNES SCOTT FOR PROVIDING SOFTBALL FACILITY AT OAKHURST.
THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO PLACE BALL AT OAKHURST FOR THAT EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
THEY HAVE TO CONTINUE TOWARDS THE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE FACILITY.
IF YOU WERE TO RECONSTRUCT THE PARK, THAT THAT SOFTBALL FIELD WOULD BE DOWN FOR A CERTAIN LENGTH OF TIME.
IT COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE WITHIN A YEAR TIME WE JUST CURRENTLY BUILT A NEW BASEBALL FIELD WITHIN ABOUT SIX, SEVEN MONTHS.
IT COULD BE RECONSTRUCTED IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THE IDEA WAS THAT IT WOULD ALLOW YOU ENOUGH TIME IF YOU BUILT A NEW ON SOFTBALL FIELD ON ADJACENT TO THE RECREATION CENTER WOULD GIVE YOU MORE TIME TO RECONSTRUCT THE ENTIRE EAST SIDE OF THE PARK.
IT WOULD BE MORE THAN JUST CARRY UP AND BUILD A BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL FIELD, WOULD GIVE YOU TIME TO REALLY PARK THE WHOLE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PARK AT ONE TIME, WHICH WOULD BE MORE AFFORDABLE, MORE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE THAN JUST TRYING TO COME IN AND BUILD ONE PARK AND ADDRESS THE STORM DRANCHS FOR THAT ONE FACILITY.
>> I BELIEVE THAT THE WORK SESSION, YOU SAID THAT THE SOFTBALL FIELD IS REALLY AS SMALL OR AS[OVERLAPPING].
IT DOESN'T MEET COLLEGIATE SIZE. THE CURRENT SIDE.
>> EVEN THE PROPOSED WAS LIKE YOU SAID IT IS AS TIGHT OR AS SMALL AS YOU COULD GET IT.
>> IT MEETS REGULATION, BUT IT IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN IDEAL.
IT'S 220 WOULD BE IDEAL, AND WE CONSTRUCTED 200 FEET, WHICH, AGAIN, IS SUITABLE FOR COLIT PLAY.
THE REASON FOR THE COMPROMISE WAS IF YOU GO BACK, WE WERE LOOKING WHAT TO DO WITH THE HEADWATERS OF THE CREEK AS IT STARTS ON THE NORTH END OF THE DETENTION FACILITY.
WE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL SCENARIOS, ONE IS, PUT IT IN A PIPE, WHICH WAS NOT DESIRABLE.
WE LOOKED AT RELOCATING THE STREAM, WHICH WE'RE DOING ALL DOWN ON SUGAR CREEK.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSED.
IT'S NO DIFFERENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THIRD AVENUE.
WE'RE GOING TO REBUILD THE ENTIRE STREAM.
WE PROPOSED ON THE NORTH SIDE AGAINST THE RECREATION FACILITY TO REBUILD THE STREAM.
AGAIN, THE STREAM WOULD PASS THROUGH THE SITE UNDISTURBED.
THE DETENTION IS A SEPARATE ISSUE, AND THE DETENTION CAN BE ADDRESSED ON THE SITE.
THAT'S A NON ISSUE. THE POST DEVELOPMENT WILL BE PRE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
THE DETENTION IS NOT A NON ISSUE FOR EQUIPMENTS FOR HOOKS.
I WOULD TRY TO EASE YOUR MIND ON THAT PERSPECTIVE.
>> THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH SAID TONIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO OFFER ONE COUNTERPOINT THAT I DON'T THINK, IN THAT 2018 PLAN, WE WERE TRYING TO PRIORITIZE RECREATION SPACE OVER HOUSING.
I THINK THAT THEY BOTH CAN EXIST.
>> I HAVE NOT PICKED OUT HOUSING.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER USES.
>> WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INTENTIONAL WITH OUR WORDS.
[04:45:01]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M 100% IN FAVOR OF THE HOUSING.
>> COMMISSIONER WALSH WAS TALKING ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE SOFTBALL FIELD AND A LOT OF HOME RUNS, A LOT OF HOME RUNS STRAIGHT INTO THE CREEK OR THE DOG PARK, [LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO, SO LOOK OUT KIDS.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON IS WHAT COMMISSIONER DUSENBERRY MENTIONED ABOUT THE RECREATOR.
I THINK I'D LIKE SOME CLARIFICATION IN THE RECREATOR.
WE TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF ATHLETIC FACILITIES.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOSE, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR ATHLETIC FACILITIES FOR I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT'S INCREDIBLY UNPOPULAR, BUT EVERYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I DO NOT CARE.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE NEEDS FOR PARKS AND RECREATIONAL SPORTS? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE NEEDS FOR PARKS AND REC AND CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR? I SAY THAT BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT LACK OF RESOURCES, ACCESS TO FIELDS AND FACILITIES IS BASED ON A NEED FOR CSD SPORTS ACTIVITIES.
THE PARENTS THAT I'VE GOTTEN COMPLAINTS FROM ABOUT FACILITIES ARE BECAUSE THEIR KIDS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PRACTICE TIME.
THERE AREN'T ENOUGH FIELDS FOR ALL OF THE SPORTS TEAMS IN CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR TO PLAY.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY FOR ALL OF THE SPORTS TEAM THAT DHS AND BEACON HILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY.
THE CHALLENGE THAT I HAVE WITH THAT, I WANT ALL THE KIDS IN THE CITY TO HAVE ALL THE THINGS, AND I GENUINELY MEAN THAT.
HOWEVER, I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY UNREASONABLE FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS IN CSD TO EXPECT THE CITY TO SOLVE ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WHEN CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR IS ACTIVELY MAKING THE DECISION NOT TO INVEST IN THESE SPORTS FACILITIES.
CSD HAS LAND, CSD HAS RESOURCES JUST LIKE WE DO, AND THEY ARE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHERE THEY PUT THEIR BUDGET DOLLARS.
I AND THE PEOPLE SITTING UP HERE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING UP FOR THE CHOICES THAT THEY ARE MAKING THAT PARENTS DISAGREE WITH.
I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT WITH THREE KIDS, ONE OUT OF THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM AND TWO STILL IN.
I FEEL INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATED BY THE FACT THAT THE ONUS TENDS TO FALL ON DECATUR PARKS AND REC TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH RECREATION AND SCHOOL PROGRAMMING NEEDS ARE MET 100% OF THE TIME.
I JUST WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT PLAIN AND I'M SURE I'M GOING TO GET 1,000 EMAILS ABOUT IT.
IN REALITY, I THINK THAT THESE CONVERSATIONS NEED TO BE HAD AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, A HECK OF A LOT MORE THAN THEY'RE BEING HAD AT CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS.
YOU ALL WEREN'T HERE WHEN RECREATOR WAS MADE? DO YOU KNOW? [LAUGHTER].
>> I'M GOING TO SAY I DID SPENT SOME TIME WITH MISS HOLMES BEFORE SHE LEFT AND WHILE SHE WAS WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, WE WERE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS BEFORE I CAME TO WORK HERE FOR CATER.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A COLLECTIVE THAT'S TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE RECREATOR.
I WILL SAY THERE ARE SOME VERY SPECIFICS THAT ARE CALLED OUT IN THE RECREATOR, LIKE VERY SPECIFICALLY, OAKHURST FIELD IS SUPPOSED TO BE ARTIFICIALLY TURFED.
IT IS CALLED OUT THAT SPECIFIC.
I THINK JUST LIKE CALLING OUT THE OAKHURST MASTER PLAN BEING DONE WAS A VERY SPECIFIC ACT INSIDE OF THOSE THINGS.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE LABELED IN THE RECREATOR VERY SPECIFICALLY, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU BECAUSE THERE'S NO LITERAL BREAKDOWN OF WHO SUGGESTED WHAT WITH THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
WE CAN JUST TELL YOU YOU KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM AND HOW WE GOT IT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WHAT THE INTENTIONS ARE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS, NOT 100% ALWAYS SURE.
BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT OBVIOUSLY VERY SPECIFICALLY, THE COMMUNITY FELT STRONGLY ENOUGH THAT THOSE WERE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND CALLED OUT SPECIFICALLY AS WELL.
>> COMMISSIONER MAYER FRONK, SO THE DATA I'M DOING IS NRPA, LEVEL OF SERVICE, SO IT SPECIFIC IT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE AND REGULATION FOR THE RECREATOR, DO WE HAVE FACILITIES TO MEET WITH NRPA LEVEL OF SERVICE THEY LOOK AT WAS A POPULATION 17 AND A HALF TO 49,000.
LOOK AT THAT WAS A NORMAL LEVEL OF SERVICE.
WE DID NOT DO THAT WELL, BUT ALL THOSE NUMBERS COME FROM THE PARKS AND REC.
>> WE'RE ON THE LOW END OF THAT RANGE, THE VERY LOW END OF THAT RANGE, [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] 17-49.
[04:50:03]
>> WE'RE ALMOST 30,000 PEOPLE.
[LAUGHTER] YEAH, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EITHER ASSUMPTION OR IMPRESSION THAT IF THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE IN PROGRAMS WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH ACCESS TIME TO PRACTICE, ENOUGH FIELDS FOR PRACTICE, THAT IS SOLELY A CITY FIX.
THAT NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION THAT IS HAD WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT HAS THE SPORTS TEAMS AND IT SHOULD NOT JUST BE US FIXING WHATEVER THEY DECIDE TO DO OR NOT TO DO.
YOU READY TO WRAP THIS UP? I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO MOVE TO EITHER POSTPONE, DELAY, WHATEVER TERMINOLOGY IS APPROPRIATE HERE.
TABLE THIS VOTE BASED ON THREE CRITERIA.
ONE IS THAT WE DO NOT KNOW THE IMPACTS OF THE CLOSURE OF THIRD AVENUE AND NOT SO LONG AGO, WE MADE CHANGES TO NORTH MCDONOUGH AND I BELIEVE GARLAND AND PUT UP TEMPORARY GUARDS AND BALLARDS.
THANK YOU AND THOSE LITTLE ANNOYING BALLY THINGS THAT WENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, THEY WERE HORRIBLE SO THAT WE COULD TEST THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS.
I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT A PLAN, EVEN IF IT IS A CONCEPTUAL PLAN, I THINK THAT THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT'S WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH.
THINK WE USED THE TERM MASTER PLAN SO INTERCHANGEABLY.
THE WORDS ON THIS SLIDE ON ALL OF THESE SLIDES HAVE SAID MASTER PLAN, THAT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN THE LEGACY PARK MASTER PLAN, WHICH WAS A FULL BLOWN GUIDANCE PLAN.
I THINK THAT THAT IS THAT US ADOPTING SOMETHING THAT HAS EVEN BEEN IMPLIED TO BE A MASTER PLAN IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BELIEVE WE'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND I'D LIKE TO CREDIT MY GOOD FRIEND LAURICE BRIGGS FOR PUTTING THIS IDEA IN MY HEAD, SO TEMPORARY TEST, IF YOU WILL.
TO SEE WHAT A CLOSURE OF THIRD WOULD DO TO THE REST OF OAKHURST.
I DON'T THINK YOU NEED A 42 MONTH LONG TRAFFIC STUDY, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE A PRETTY DARN CLEAR INDICATION OF WHAT CLOSING THIRD WOULD LOOK LIKE AFTER A WEEK OR TWO, WHILE SCHOOL IS IN SESSION AND WHILE RECREATION ACTIVITIES ARE GOING ON AT THE PARK TO KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, AND IT SHOULD INCLUDE AN AGNES SCOTT GAME BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF AFTER TWO WEEKS, WE'RE ALL, SCREAMING AND PULLING OUR HAIR OUT, WE'LL KNOW THAT MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE BEST CHOICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT THE FIRST ONE WAS CONCEPT PLAN VERSUS MASTER PLAN.
I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE REAL CLARITY IN THE WAY THAT WE PRESENT INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY.
IF WE'RE PRESENTING A CONCEPT PLAN, WE NEED TO MAKE THAT PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING AND NOT CALL THINGS A MASTER PLAN, IF THEY'RE NOT.
THEN THE THIRD IS THAT, WHILE I THINK THESE CHANGES TO ME WERE NOT NECESSARILY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE PLAN FROM WHAT WE SAW AT THE WORK SESSION TO NOW, I THINK THERE WAS ENOUGH CHANGE TO WHERE THERE NEEDED TO BE MORE TIME FOR THAT TO BE SOCIALIZED WITH THE COMMUNITY.
EVEN IF THIS IS THE PLAN YOU BRING BACK, I THINK THAT IT NEEDS MORE THAN TWO WEEKEND DAYS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED AND INVESTED FOR TEN MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE PLAN AND PROVIDE US WITH FEEDBACK, NOT JUST THROUGH QUICK SOCIAL MEDIA MEANS OR E MAILS TO THEIR COMMISSIONERS, BUT THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO DON'T USE THOSE MEDIUM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH PARKS AND REC AND WITH THE COMMISSIONERS.
MAYOR, THAT IS MY EXTREMELY VERBOSE AND WORDY MOTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO TABLE THIS VOTE UNTIL THOSE THREE ITEMS CAN BE ADDRESSED.
>> I WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE FIRST PART OF THAT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE EASY ENOUGH TO ADOPT A PLAN WHICH SAID THAT WE WOULD STUDY WHETHER THIRD AVENUE SHOULD BE CLOSED OR NOT.
I THINK THAT'S EASILY ENOUGH ADDRESSED WITHOUT TABLING IT.
THAT'S ONE COMMENT I WOULD DO IN RESPONSE TO THAT.
I WOULD NOT TABLE IT FOR THAT REASON.
I THINK LET'S JUST TAKE A SHARP BEAT.
[04:55:05]
[OVERLAPPING].>> WITH THAT DECISION IT WILL BE NOTICED.
AFTER A TRAFFIC STUDY AND THOROUGH [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU SEE, POTENTIALLY CLOSED THIRD AVENUE DEPENDING ON RESULTS.
>> IF I THOUGHT PEOPLE WOULD ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT WE WERE GOING TO FOLLOW THAT, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
I THINK THAT I THINK THAT BY NO FAULT OF OUR OWN, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY SOME OF THE MOST FORTHCOMING AND TRANSPARENT ME TO A FAULT PEOPLE YOU CAN KNOW.
BUT I THINK THAT WHEN A RESIDENT SEES A DOCUMENT AND IT SHOWS THE CLOSURE OF A STREET, THEY'RE GOING TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS OUR INTENT TO CLOSE THAT STREET, WHETHER YOU MARK THROUGH IT WITH A SHARP EAR [LAUGHTER].
>> TO BE HONEST, I DID ASK FOR A TRAFFIC SURVEY.
>> I THINK THAT WE WOULD HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE I MEAN, THAT'S A BIG THAT'S A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE AND I JUST COULDN'T SEE THIS BODY OR ANY OTHER BODY MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT THAT I DIGRESS.
>> I'M FINE WITH THAT. I'M FINE WITH THE TRAFFIC STUDY.
I JUST AS LONG AS THERE IS SOME INDICATION THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT THERE IS NO COMMITMENT OR INTENT TO CLOSE THIRD WITH THIS WITH UNTIL IT'S UNTIL IT HAS BEEN THE IMPACTS HAVE BEEN STUDIED AND THEN BASED ON THOSE BASED ON THOSE IMPACTS, THAT COULD MEAN THAT A NEW PLAN WOULD HAVE TO COME FORWARD WITH THAT IS RECONFIGURED BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SPACE THAT WAS USED WAS BASED ON THE CLOSURE OF THIRD.
>> I JUST HAD THREE WORDS TO ASSUADE PEOPLE THAT THINGS DON'T NECESSARILY HAPPEN FIVE YEARS LATER.
I BET NO ONE IN THIS CITY WAS HERE WHEN THAT PLAN WAS APPROVED, BUT HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] YES.
ANYWAY, I SAY THAT TO SAY, WE DO A LOT OF PLANNING AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO BRING THESE PLANS TO FRUITION AND THE ENVIRONMENT CHANGES PRETTY DRAMATICALLY FROM THE TIME WE APPROVE SOMETHING, CONCEPT, WHATEVER MASTER PLAN, TO THE TIME IT'S ACTUALLY BUILT AND DESIGNED.
>> I THINK THERE IS SOME LEVEL OF COMFORT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR TIME TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT, EVEN ONCE WE DO DECIDE, IT'S GOING TO GO FORWARD.
WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO SAY, YEAH, LET'S DO THAT.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT EAST DECATUR STATION, BUT I HAVE THREE MORE WORDS TO REBUT THAT.
I NEVER THOUGHT WE'D SEE HOUSING AT LEGACY WHILE I WAS STILL SITTING IN THE SEAT, AND SOMETHING UNFORTUNATE HAPPENED IN THE WORLD THAT ENDED UP ALLOWING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT FAR FASTER THAN WE EVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO BEFORE.
YES TO ONE, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW TO THE OTHER.
>> BUT I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD A SECOND.
>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE STILL DISCUSSING.
>> I WOULD NOT DO THAT AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION SHE WOULD BRING FORWARD, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT MIGHT BE AMENDED SLIGHTLY, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY OTHER.
I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN THAT MOTION.
I THINK WHEN WE DO TABLE SOMETHING, WE HAVE AT LEAST A TIME FRAME IN MIND.
I ALSO KNOW THAT AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, ONCE THIS IS SOCIALIZED AND PEOPLE HAVE MORE TIME, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE TENNIS PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO EMAIL WHEN YOU WANTING THOSE MORE TENNIS COURTS, THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T I THINK IT IS IT WILL GIVE PEOPLE MORE OPPORTUNITY.
MAYBE AFTER HEARING SOME OF THE DISCUSSION THIS EVENING AND SOME OF THE THOUGHTS THAT WERE THAT HAVE GONE INTO HOW THIS PLAN EVOLVED OVER TIME AND THE REASONING BEHIND THERE IS A CALL FOR A SYNTHETIC SURFACE FIELD.
WE DO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH AGNES SCOTT TO PROVIDE A SOFTBALL FIELD, AND SO AT OAKHURST PARK, AND THAT'S SO IS THAT, YOU KNOW, SO BUT I DO THINK IT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE MORE TIME THAN SOMETHING THAT WAS PRESENTED ON A FRIDAY AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT TODAY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WITH AGNES SCOTT.
[05:00:01]
>> NOT HERE. [LAUGHTER] COMMISSIONER MYER, DO YOU HAVE A TIME IN MIND IN WHICH THIS WOULD COME?
>> HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WOULD TAKE TO PULL THESE THREE THINGS TOGETHER? I'D LIKE TO ASK THE PROFESSIONALS.
>> WHAT WAS THE CONCEPT PLAN VERSUS THE ACTUAL PLAN?
>> THIRD AVENUE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SOCIALIZED APPROPRIATELY WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS A CONCEPT PLAN.
AN ADJUSTMENT NEEDS TO BE MADE TO ALL THE DOCUMENTATION TO REMOVE THE TERM MASTER PLAN IF IT'S NOT A MASTER PLAN.
TRUST ME ON THIS, GEORGE, I FIELDED 500 EMAILS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE MASTER PLAN AT A CONCEPTUAL LEVEL, AND AGAIN, THERE ARE DETAILS THAT WILL COME.
ONCE WE SAY, ALL RIGHT, NOW IT'S TIME TO BUILD THE FIELD, AT THAT POINT WE HAVE THE STUDIES.
>> WE GOT TO TALK LIKE NEIGHBORS AND NOT LIKE COMMISSIONER SOMETIMES. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
>> [OVERLAPPING] BUILD THE FIELD. AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT THEY BUILD, HYDROLOGICAL OR TOPOGRAPHICAL STUFF.
THAT IF WE WOULD BE SAYING WE WANT TO BUILD THE SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD [INAUDIBLE] YOU WANT TO REDO THE FIELD, OR DO THE PARK.
ALL THAT WOULD BE IN THERE. IT WOULD BE SAYING THAT.
>> IF OUR PARKS AND REC TEAM WANTS TO BRING BACK AN ACTUAL MASTER PLAN THAT HAS SOFTBALL WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO AND THE TURF AND THE SOFTBALL FIELD AND THE THIS AND THE THAT AND THE CLOSURE OF THIRD WITH A TRAFFIC STUDY AND A TREE CANOPY, ALL THE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY HAS SAID THAT THEY'VE WANTED, THEN FINE.
THAT'S THE MASTER PLAN, AND THAT'S WE VOTE UP OR DOWN, BUT HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO GET ALL OF THAT SO THAT WE'RE VOTING ON SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW THE IMPACTS OF AS OPPOSED TO A CONCEPTUAL PLAN THAT COULD BE CHANGED.
>> I'M HEARING ONE THING. YOU DO A MASTER PLAN WHICH SAYS CLOSING STUDY THIRD AVENUE AND MOVE FORWARD AS APPROPRIATE, THAT CAN BE IN THE MASTER PLAN WITHOUT COMMITTING YOURSELF TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT EVERYTHING ELSE HERE, I'M NOT SAYING HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE HERE IS SAYING THIS IS A MASTER PLAN.
>> WHETHER THE FIELD IS LARGE WOOD INFILL [OVERLAPPING] OR CORN COB, THAT WILL HAPPEN IN FIVE YEARS.
ALSO, MY CONCERN ABOUT THE STUDY, DOING A STUDY TODAY VERSUS FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, THAT'S WHEN [OVERLAPPING] I LIKE THE LANGUAGE THAT IF THIS PLAN IS GOING TO BE ADOPTED, THE EXPECTATION IS WHEN WE'RE READY TO EXECUTE IT AT THAT TIME, A TRAFFIC STUDY WILL BE PREPARED AND THEN A DECISION ABOUT THE CLOSURE WOULD HAPPEN AT THAT TIME.
>> WE COULD EVEN REQUIRE A VOTE TO EITHER CLOSE IT OR [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S FINE IF CLOSING THIRD DOESN'T IMPACT THE ATHLETIC FACILITIES THAT ARE STIPULATED IN THE PLAN.
WHERE ARE YOU PUTTING SANTA VOLLEYBALL? [LAUGHTER]
>> I THINK WE STILL GET THE SAME THING BECAUSE EVEN IF ONCE WE GO TO PERMITTING, THAT'S WHEN ALL THIS OTHER STUFF KICKS IN BECAUSE WE'RE HELD TO OUR OWN SAME STANDARDS.
WE HAVE TO DO A TREE IMPACT STUDY, WE WILL HAVE TO RETAIN OUR WATER.
WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE OURSELVES TO DO THE SAME THING WE WOULD REQUIRE ANY DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY TO DO.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
>> IT'S GETTING LATE [LAUGHTER]
>> CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN FOR IT TO BE SOCIALIZED BROADER AND TO CONTINUE TO TAKE INPUT BEFORE IT IS BROUGHT.
>> NOT EVEN NECESSARILY INPUT AND RECONFIGURATION, BUT SOCIALIZE THIS MORE SIGNIFICANTLY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, MAKE THE INTENT OF THE PLAN CRYSTAL CLEAR TO THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED AND I WOULD LIKE A STUDY DONE BEFORE WE ADOPT OR A TEST OF TRAFFIC PATTERNS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE ADOPT A MASTER PLAN THAT CLOSES THIRD.
THAT IS A CONDITION OF THE MOTION.
>> I'D SUPPORT IT WITHOUT THAT CONDITION.
>> I JUST THINK IT'S THE TIMELINE IS SO TRUNCATED THAT I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN GET AN ACTUAL VALID SURVEY DONE.
>> I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION.
>> WE HAVE [OVERLAPPING] THE AUTHOR WOULD NEED TO BE.
[05:05:04]
>> YOU HAVE THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS?
>> YOU [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT? I WOULD HAVE OFFERED AMEND.
>> I WOULD HAVE OFFERED A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO SAY THAT ANY CLOSING OF THIRD AVENUE WOULD BE CONTINGENT UPON A TRAFFIC PLAN DONE CONCURRENT WITH ANY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I DO NOT ACCEPT THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
I APPRECIATE IT THOUGH, AND I UNDERSTAND IT, AND I DO NOT ACCEPT IT.
I THINK THAT FOR THOSE IMPACTED IN THE COMMUNITY BY THE CLOSURE OF THIRD, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT A LITTLE BIT MORE SKIN IN THE GAME THAN US MAKING A PROMISE THAT WHEN WE DO START DOING WORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO STUDY IT THEN.
I'D MUCH RATHER STUDY NOW, KNOW WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING A PLAN THAT MAKES SENSE BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW AND NOT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHILE WE'RE DIGGING DIRT.
>> WHAT HAPPENS IN SIX YEARS IF THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS CHANGED? [OVERLAPPING] THAT PLAN'S INVALID.
>> I THINK THAT IF WE'RE WAITING SIX YEARS [LAUGHTER] TO DO A SURVEY, THAT'S A RISK.
I DON'T SEE WHY WE HAVE TO WAIT SIX YEARS TO STUDY AN IMPACT ON A ROAD THAT MANY PEOPLE USE AS A THOROUGHFARE TO GET FROM THE NORTH PART OF OAKHURST TO THE SOUTH.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE THAT INCLUDED THE STUDYING OF THE IMPACT OF CLOSURE OF THIRD AVENUE.
>> THERE SECOND TO THAT MOTION.
THE NONE. IS THERE A DIFFERENT MOTION THAT WE WANT TO CONSIDER REGARDING THE OAKHURST PARK RECREATION CONCEPT MASTER PLAN.
>> I WOULD OFFER THE SAME CONDITIONS THAT COMMISSIONER MEYER FRONK DID WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT I JUST THINK IT IS.
>> WITH THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
I JUST WITH THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BACK FOR TWO WEEKS.
>> IS ALSO WHEN ARE WE COMING BACK IN TWO WEEKS.
>> WELL, COMMISSIONER MAYOR FRONK NEVER STATED A TIME.
>> WOOD HOPED THAT IT WOULD COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS.
>> ARE THERE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT HER STUDY? ARE YOU SAYING THROWING THIS OUT GET?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT SHE PUT ON THE TABLE THAT.
>> JUST SOCIALIZING SOCIALIZING.
>> NO DIRECTION TO THE CONSULTANT, IS THERE?.
>> I THINK THEY'VE GIVEN US BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GIVEN THEM, I THINK THEY GAVE US WHAT WE ASKED FOR.
>> IF WE HAVE IT COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS THAT CITY MANAGER WILL, I THINK IT'S MISS THAT MEETING OR WE CAN HAVE IT COME BACK IN NOVEMBER.
>> NOVEMBER FINE. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO TABLE THIS FOR I GUESS, A RELOOK AND SOCIALIZATION OF THE PLAN FOR ADDITIONAL INPUT WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THERE WOULD BE A TRAFFIC STUDY DONE REGARDING CLOSING THIRD AVENUE BEFORE ANY IMPLEMENTATION STEPS WERE TAKEN.
>> A MOTION WOULD BE TO DIRECTLY CONSULTANTS TO AMEND THE MASTER PLAN SO THAT IT INSTEAD OF RECOMMENDING THE CLOSURE OF THIRD AVENUE, IT RECOMMENDS A STUDY CONCURRENT WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN WHETHER THIRD AVENUE.
>> IT ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN.
>> WE BASICALLY FASHION FOUR WEEKS. SHARPE WOULD HAVE BEEN.
BUT, SO WE WOULD HAVE SAID THAT WE SETTLED THAT ISSUE, SIDE.
>> I THOUGHT I HEARD THAT IT IS JUST TO SOCIALIZE THE PLAN TO GIVE PEOPLE TIME TO LOOK AT IT, AND THEN THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO BE MORE EDUCATED TO COME BACK AT THE MEETING AT WHICH IT'S ON THE AGENDA AND SPEAK TO THIS BODY, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR THAT WE'RE GETTING MORE PUBLIC INPUT.
[05:10:01]
>> SOCIAL, YEAH. BUT I WOULD SAY THAT WE SAY THAT THE THIRD AVENUE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO.
>> THAT WOULD BE CLEAR ON WHATEVER PLAN IS WRONG.
>> [OVERLAPPING] CLARIFICATION, AND IS THIS ALL PREDICATED ON THE VERSION WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EVENING WITH ONLY TWO COURTS AND WE WON'T LOOK AT ANOTHER VERSION, NOTHING ELSE IS IN PLAY?
>> CORRECT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING. YOU CAN ALWAYS TALK.
>> YEAH. I THINK THERE'S ONE MORE VERSION THAT'S NOT RESOLVING A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT REGARDING THE TWO TENNIS COURTS.
>> THIS WOULD GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE US AND SAY THAT THEY HATE THE PLAN WITHOUT THE TWO TENNIS COURTS, BUT I'D THINK THAT TWO OR THREE DAYS WASN'T ENOUGH TIME FOR EVERYBODY WHO IS IMPACTED BY THIS TO KNOW AND BE AVAILABLE TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS.
THING I'D LIKE TO SEE WE ALL HAVE OUR CHRISTMAS LIST.
A GREAT WAY TO COMMUNICATE THIS IN MY VIEW VIA THE CONSULTANT AND WE WERE EDGING INTO IT IS THE SHIFT OF INTENSITY OF VIEWS, THE METRIC THAT MAKES SENSE.
WE WENT FROM HERE TO HERE, SO YOU CAN INTER-EYE DOCTOR, THIS OR THIS, I THINK THE 1/10 OF THE ACRE COVERS IS HELPFUL, BUT I THINK A PIE CHART OR AN INTENSITY OF USE BY ACTIVE PASSIVE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
HOW DO WE TRANSLATE EACH SHIFT OF THE USE OF THE TYPES OF THINGS ON THERE? I JUST THINK IT'S BRINGING THE TWO COURSE BACK AND COMPARING.
>> SUGGESTING THAT THE BASKETBALL COURT AND SO THAT WOULD BE AN OPTION WRONG.
>> I THINK COMMISSIONER WALSH WAS ALSO SAYING THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE LAND DISTURBANCE WOULD NOT NECESSARILY CHANGE BECAUSE SHE'S DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN A PASSIVE RECREATIONAL USE AND ACTIVE RECREATIONAL USE.
SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DATA IN TERMS OF WHAT IS THE CHANGE IN THE ACTIVE WHERE IS THE INCREASE IN ACTIVE RECREATIONAL USE WITHIN THE PARK?
>> CAN WE ASK THE CONSULTANTS? IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN GET BACK BY? YES.
>> IT'S PRETTY MUCH AS SIMPLE AS THAT SOFTBALL FIELD IN THE SANTA VOLLEYBALLS.
>> THANK YOU. THEY'RE ALL A LITTLE LAZY.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE BY THE MORO TOWN, DO WE THAT HAS I THINK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THAT? TABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER 3RD?
>> AMENDING THE MASTER PLAN TO RECOMMEND A TRAFFIC STUDY CONCURRENT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN?
>> YES, IT DIFFERENTLY. TO AMEND THE PLAN, SO THAT IT CALLS FOR A TRAFFIC STUDY AND I GUESS, IS IT A TRAFFIC STUDY OF THE CLOSING OF THIRD AVENUE, CONCURRENT WITH ANY IMPLICATION [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE ALSO DRAWN.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, MYER. I THINK WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THE OPTION WOULD LOOK LIKE IF THIRD STAYED OPEN.
IT BECAUSE THINGS WOULD BE MOVED.
>> I GUESS PART OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
MAYBE COME BACK AND COMPARE THOSE INTENSITIES.
I DON'T THINK THAT HAS TO BE IN THAT PART OF THE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN THE MOTION, IT CAN BE PART OF THE DIRECTION BACK AND DIRECT DIRECTIONS BACK?
>> I DO HAVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION HERE.
WE DID JUST CHECK OUR CALENDARS.
THE PARSON RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE AT OUR STATE CONFERENCE AT GRPA THAT WEEK.
YES. THAT IS THE WEEK OF GRPA.
I CAN SHIFT AROUND THINGS WHERE SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO GO IN MY ABSENCE TO PRESENT TO THE STATE, AND THEN WE WILL JUST WE CAN FLY OUT OR DRIVE DOWN THE NEXT DAY TO MAKE IT THERE, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO CHANGE SOME THINGS AROUND IF THAT DATE IS SET AND SOON.
>> CITY MANAGER? I DON'T BELIEVE IN WASTING RESOURCES.
>> I SAY MY TRAVEL RANGERS ARE NOT BOOKED YET, BUT MY STAFFS ARE.
>> I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE EXPERTS HERE AS WELL.
>> I WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO BE HERE.
>> MAY I ASK A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
>> LET ME GET A SECOND ON THIS A SECOND.
[05:15:01]
>> I THINK THAT GIVEN THAT MY BIG CONCERN WAS ABOUT THE THE DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT THIRD WOULD LOOK LIKE, NOT CLOSED.
SUCH A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE WAY THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS WOULD RUN IN PURSE.
WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WAS PRESENTED IN THE WORK SESSION THAT INCLUDES TWO TENNIS COURTS AND SANTA VOLLEYBALL AND BASKETBALL AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY.
DOES IT NOT MAKE SENSE FOR US TO BRING THOSE TWO PLAN, CAN WE BRING TWO PLANS FORWARD FOR A VOTE AS OPPOSED TO MAKING THEM REINVENT THE WHEEL?
>> THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING A PLAN TO THIS BODY TO CONSIDER ONE PLAN FOR CONSIDERATION.
>> I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT COMMISSIONER WALSH SAID THAT SHE WANTED TO SEE A VERSION WITH TWO.
>> STAFF, WE WILL BE MY INTENT IS THAT PLAN THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING.
>> BECAUSE NOTHING THE COVERAGE STAYS THE SAME.
IT'S JUST THE DIFFERENT FACILITIES.
>> THE COVERAGE STAY THE SAME.
>> BUT NOTHING'S NEW. WE'D LOOSE THE ACTIVE GREEN SPACE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. WE'D LOSE THE ACTIVE GREEN SPACE.
NOW, THE BASKETBALL COURT MOVES TO WHERE THE GREEN SPACE IS.
SANTA VOLLEYBALL MOVES TO WHERE THE BASKETBALL CURRENTLY IS.
THE CONCERN WAS THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE MORE PASSIVE GREEN SPACE.
>> WITH THE EXPLANATION BEHIND IT THAT SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY.
YOU ALREADY HAVE THE RENDERING NOT STRIKE WITH SCRATCHES.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE AND A SECOND.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
I'LL CALL FOR ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF TING UNTIL NOVEMBER 3RD WITH THE DIRECTIONS THAT WE HAVE GIVEN TO STAFF AND THE CONSULTANTS TO BRING BACK.
WE WON'T BE THIS LONG NEXT TIME, I PROMISE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
OPPOSE VOTES AND FOR BE DISCUSSION ONE MORE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] STILL WE GOT DONE.
>> SO, IS THE PARTY WITH US TONIGHT?
>> WE NEED A WATER WITH A POOL PARTY.
>> AGAIN, PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW ME,
[VII.F. McKoy Pool Resurfacing.]
BUT MY NAME IS DOCTOR DAMS HERE AT PARKS AND RECREATION.I AM HERE TONIGHT TO RECOMMEND THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT WITH UNITED POOL CONSTRUCTION, LLC AND THE AMOUNT OF $74,202.07 AND APPROVAL OF A PROJECT BUDGET OF $80,000 FOR THE RESURFACING OF MCCOY POOL.
>> AND I BELIEVE WE APPROVED UNITED OR WHEN WE HAD TWO CONTRACTS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THIS PROJECT WAS PART OF THE BID FOR OUR AQUATICS MAINTENANCE CONTRACT.
IN THERE THERE WERE SEVERAL PROJECTS LISTED, AND SO THIS PROJECT WAS LISTED ON THAT SHEET.
>> THAT WAS A COMPETITIVE BID?
ANY QUESTIONS? TO HEAR MOTION SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND TO AWARD THE CONTRACT WITH UNITED POOL CONSTRUCTION.
SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE, AND IT IS APPROVED.
SO NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO REQUEST AND PETITIONS NOW IS
[VIII. Requests and Petitions.]
THE LAST TIME IN THIS MEETING THAT WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC INPUT.SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE CITY COMMISSION AND AS THE TIME TO PLEASE COME, MAKE YOUR COMMENTS. SO.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.
>> MY NAME IS PETER ZIA LIVE AT 1:15 PARK WOOD LANE.
[05:20:04]
AND I WAS INVOLVED WITH A GROUP THAT HELPED YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT A NOISE ORDINANCE, AND YOU GUYS WERE WONDERFUL AND PASSED IT, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT.AS WE ALL KNEW, THOUGH, ENFORCEMENT WAS GOING TO BE A MAJOR PART OF THE PROBLEM.
AND WE DID NOT THINK THAT LIFE WOULD CHANGE OVERNIGHT, SO WE'RE NOT SURPRISED THAT IT HASN'T.
BUT I COME BEFORE YOU TO JUST SAY THAT IN OUR MEETINGS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS, AND THE NEXT STEPS SEEMED TO BE DEALING WITH NEIGHBORHOODS TRYING TO GET NEIGHBORHOODS, ON BOARD WITH INDIVIDUALS CONTACTING THEIR LANDSCAPING COMPANIES, AND GETTING LANDSCAPING COMPANIES TO CONSIDER CHANGING THEIR EQUIPMENT.
BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO HELP US IN THAT EFFORT IN ANY WAY YOU CAN THINK OF.
NOW, THERE WAS A POSTCARD SENT THAT WAS SOMEWHAT PROBLEMATIC AND THAT IT WAS AMBIGUOUS ABOUT WHETHER LEAF FLOWERS COULD BE USED DURING THE DAY OR NOT.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS.
AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THROW THEM OUT SO THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE THINK IS A DONE DEAL BECAUSE THE ENFORCEMENT OF SEEMS TO BE A TRICKY ISSUE.
SO A COUPLE OF QUICK SUGGESTIONS IF YOU ALL COULD BE IN TOUCH WITH LANDSCAPERS IN ANY WAY, POSTCARDS, MAYBE TWO LANDSCAPERS.
THERE COULD BE INCENTIVE PACKAGES.
AND WE HAVE INFORMATION ON VARIOUS INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY THEY USED IN TERMS OF VOUCHERS FOR SWITCHING TO ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT.
COMMISSIONER POWERS HAS REMINDED PEOPLE HERE THAT THE CITY IS MOVING TOWARD ELECTRIC.
SO IF THE CITY WAS ACTUALLY STARTING TO USE ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWERS, INSTEAD OF THE ONES THAT ARE IN VIOLATION OF OUR OWN NOISE ORDINANCE, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS, WHEN THEY CAN POINT OUT THAT THE CITY IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE EITHER.
BUT WE CAN SEND SUGGESTIONS TO YOU.
I'VE JUST COME BEFORE YOU TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS STILL AN ISSUE AND THAT WE NEEDED YOUR HELP IN THE ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU.
>> MR. LINDY, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM AMY LANDESBERG, IS YOUR COMMENT.
>> MY COMMENT IS CORRECT WITH THAT.
I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE THOSE POINTS THAT SHE GAVE YOU, THOSE ARE A GREAT PLACE TO START.
>> I WAS GOING TO READ IT. I WAS GOING TO.
>> REQUEST. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT YOU SAID WAS IN LIEU OF OR IN ADDITION TO PLAT.
>> SHE SHE SENT YOU THAT EMAIL THIS AFTERNOON.
>> AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER YOU HAD ALL GOTTEN IT, BUT I'M JUST HERE TO ADD TO THAT, AND THERE WERE SOME OTHER PEOPLE HERE THAT THEY LEFT BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A LIMITING CONVERSATION BEFORE.
SO WHAT ARE YOU ASKING ME WHETHER I AGREE WITH THAT OR WHETHER I KNOW.
>> I JUST DID NOT KNOW IF THERE WAS, I'M GOING TO READ HER EMAIL.
I JUST WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS DUPLICATING OR WHAT YOU WERE SAYING WAS IN WAS.
>> I'M LARGELY DUPLICATING HER.
>> THAT'S FINE. ON THE SIDE READING? SHE DID ASK FOR IT TO BE READ.
BUT THAT'S ALL THAT YOU WERE ON HERE TOO.
>> ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD ANY REQUESTS OR PETITIONS AT THIS MEETING? YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> YES, MA'AM. MY NAME IS WANDA BANKSTON AND I LIVE A 700 AVENUE.
I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LOVELY GREEN SPACE AND THE LOVELY HOMES AND ALL OF THAT THAT'S WONDERFUL.
I'M HAPPY FOR THEM. I'M HERE BASICALLY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE SENIORS THAT'S HERE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME INCIDENTS THAT WAS REQUESTED THROUGH THE CITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND YOU, MADAM MAYOR THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED OR DID NOT GET ADDRESSED PROPERLY.
WHILE I DO UNDERSTAND, MADAM MAYOR, THAT YOU ARE NOT SEEKING ANOTHER TERM.
[05:25:02]
HOWEVER, THIS IS HAPPENING AND HAS HAPPENED ON YOUR WATCH.WHILE I DO WHILE I DO KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO IMPOSE FINES DIRECTLY, YOU COULD HAVE INITIATED THE PROCESS ALONG WITH THE COMMISSIONERS TO PASS AND AMEND ORDINANCES AND THEN DIRECT THE REVERENCE TO THE DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS CODE ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND TO ENFORCE THEM.
I DO UNDERSTAND ILLEGAL DRUGS LIKE CRACK AND MYTH ARE REGULATED BY FEDERAL AND STATE LAW, WHICH SUPERSEDES ANY LOCAL ORDINANCES.
THE CITY COULD HAVE RELIED ON THESE EXISTING LAWS TO PROP TO PURSUE ACTION AGAINST THE LANDLORDS WHO ARE ALLOWING ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.
EVEN THOUGH SOME STATES HAVE LEGALIZED MARIJUANA, FEDERAL LAW STATE CLASSIFIES IT AS IT AS AN ILLEGAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.
PROPERTY OWNERS, EVEN IN STATES WHERE LEGAL MARIJUANA CAN STILL LEGALLY BE BANNED.
IT'S USED ON THEIR PROPERTY AND TO PURSUE EVICTION AGAINST THE TENANTS WHO VIOLATES A POLICY.
BUT YOU MADAM MAYOR AND THESE COMMISSIONERS HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT OR ADMIT THE EXISTENCE OF THIS TRUTH OF THE DRUGS INFESTED SENIOR BUILDINGS IN THIS COMMUNITY, RAN BY SLUM LANDLORDS.
ACCORDING TO PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, 24 CF 965.653 SMOKE FREE PUBLIC HOUSING.
THERE'S A LOT THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COULD DO TO ENFORCE SLUM LANDLORDS TO CLEAN UP THE APARTMENTS.
GIVEN ALL THE EVIDENCE AND PROOF THAT'S BEEN AFFORDED TO YOU.
INSTEAD, YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER, MAKING EVERYONE AWARE I AM THE COMPLAINANT, NOT MAKING SURE THE BREAKING AND ENTERING AND PLUNDERING, THIEVING, SMASHING AND GRABBING AND BURGLARIZING OF MY APARTMENT HAS CEASED, WHICH IS NOT ONLY A VIOLATION WITHIN ITSELF, BUT ALLOWING BOUNDARY VIOLATIONS, PERSONS HAVING ACCESS TO TAMPER WITH AND TAKE MY FOOD AND DRINK AS CRUEL.
AND NOW TO SIT BACK AND DO AND SAY NOTHING IS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT.
I AM DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE ACTION OF THIS COMMISSION.
IS DECATUR REALLY GREATER? I HATE TO BRING IT TO YOU, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S NOT ANY BETTER THAN ATLANTA.
AND IT CERTAINLY IS NOT GREATER IN DECATUR.
GIVEN EVERYTHING STARTS AT THE HEAD, THE HONOR IS GIVEN BY THE GREAT LEADERSHIP, MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGER, DEPUTY MANAGER, DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING THE CITY OF DECATUR TO THE TOS DOE.
NOW. GIVEN THAT FACT? I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT TONIGHT THE CONTAMINANTS AND I WANT TO SAY DRUGS, BUT NOT DRUGS, BUT PESTICIDES AND ALL OF THAT.
GIVEN THAT THIS, MISSION FUNK, I KNOW YOU SAY YOU KNOW THE SMELL, YOU KNOW SENSITIVE.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO BE THE ONE SMELLING.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF YOU CAN GET YOUR POLICE OFFICERS DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT ANALYZED, I GUARANTEE YOU YOU WOULD SEE WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON IN THE CITY OF DECATUR IN THE SENIOR BUILDINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED, MADAM.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK THIS REST OF YOUR NIGHT.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHERS THAT WANT TO BRING FORWARD ANY COMMENTS.
ALL RIGHT. MR. ARNOLD IS GOING TO BE MISS LANDESBERG ASKED THAT THIS BE READ INTO THE RECORD THIS EVENING.
>> YES. MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, I HAVE AN EMAIL FROM AMY LANDESBERG AND SHE'S REQUESTED THAT THIS BE READ DURING THE MEETING.
[05:30:04]
SAYS TO THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, THAT THE CITY HAS PUBLISHED THE RULES OF OUR NOISE ORDINANCE? VERY LITTLE HAS CHANGED IN NOISE LEVELS, OR IN THE DURATION OF NOISE DISTURBANCES.POLICE ENFORCEMENT REQUIRES FOLKS TO CALL THE POLICE AND MANY ARE LOAD TO DO THAT, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE MANY OF THE LIKELY UNDERPAID LABORERS GENERATING THE NOISE MIGHT BEAR THE BRUNT OF THIS ACTION, NOT THEIR EMPLOYERS.
THE CITY COULD BE MORE PROACTIVE IN STIMULATING CHANGE.
ONE, SEND POSTCARDS, SLASH EMAILS TO ALL THE LANDSCAPERS THAT THEY KNOW ARE OPERATING IN THE CITY WITH THE ORDINANCE RULES AND HELPFUL RECOMMENDATIONS SUCH AS TO USE THE LOWEST SETTING ON THE GAS LEAF BLOWER TO MEET THE DECIMAL LIMIT, DECIMAL LIMIT.
NUMBER 2, HOLD ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT DEVICES WITH LANDSCAPERS THAT HAVE MADE THE SWITCH INVITE OTHER LANDSCAPERS, OR HOST BINAR IF THEY CAN'T ORGANIZE AN IN PERSON DEMO.
NUMBER 3, LEAD BY EXAMPLE, EXPEDITE AND PUBLICIZE THE CITY'S PLANS FOR ITS TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT.
ROLL THIS OUT WITH SOMETHING THERE.
NUMBER 4, INITIATE SOME FORM OF INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO HELP SMALL LANDSCAPE BUSINESSES MAKE THE TRANSITION.
FIVE INVITE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS TO A WEBINAR ON THE NEW ORDINANCE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT ONLY AWARE OF IT, BUT TO URGE THEM TO SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP.
WE ALL KNOW THAT CHANGE TAKES TIME, BUT WE HAVE TO GET CHANGE STARTED OR TO KEEP MOVING.
THANK YOU. AMY LANDESBERG. THANK YOU.
I KNOW LANGSTON HAS BEEN SORT OF THE POINT PERSON.
AND IF WE NICELY PREPARED SOME RESPONSES.
AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THEM? LIKE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN NOW OR DO YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL.
>> WE'LL WAIT UNTIL OTHER IF THAT'S OKAY.
>> SO I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY WE WOULD HAND IT OFF TO YOU TO YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'RE ALREADY PREPARE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS,
[IX. Reports and Other Business.]
THE DECATUR DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES WILL MEET AT 8:00 ON OCTOBER 10.WE HAVE A CANCELED MEETING FOR THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET ON OCTOBER 14.
THE NEW BUSINESS THAT THEY WILL CONSIDER IS MICHAEL CLIFFORD ON BEHALF OF GREEN CAPITAL, IS REQUESTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FROM THE DOWNTOWN KATER PARKING DISTRICT TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM REQUIRED PARKING SPACES TO BE OFFSITE FROM 80% TO 93% FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOTEL AT A PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7:01 AND 705 CHURCH STREET, AND THE PROPERTY IS ZOOMED, ZOOMED AND ZOOMED.
>> THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED AT THAT MEETING IN OCTOBER AND WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO US WITH A RECOMMENDATION AT OUR NOVEMBER MEETING.
THEN I THINK WE HAVE A WATER FIRST PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT.
>> MAYOR AND CHAIR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THE CITY OF DECATUR IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL BE SUBMITTING OUR APPLICATION TO THE GEORGIA ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE AUTHORITY OR GEFA TO BE CONSIDERED FOR DESIGNATION AS A WATER FIRST COMMUNITY.
THIS DESIGNATION RECOGNIZES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT DEMONSTRATE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE WATER STEWARDSHIP THROUGH THE PROTECTION OF WATER RESOURCES, LONG TERM PLANNING, AND SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE PRACTICES.
ACHIEVING WATER FIRST STATUS WOULD AFFIRM OUR DEDICATION TO PRESERVING WATER QUALITY, PROMOTING CONSERVATION, AND ENSURING RESILIENT WATER MANAGEMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS WHILE ALSO PROVIDING FINANCIAL BENEFITS RELATED TO GRANTS AND LOANS.
WATER FIRST BENEFITS INCLUDE STATEWIDE RECOGNITION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, 1% INTEREST RATE REDUCTION ON GEFA LOANS.
THEN THE ANNUAL ELIGIBILITY FOR WATER RELATED PROJECT APPLICATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM AND PRIORITY STATUS FOR THE 319(H) GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY, EPD.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSEVERANCE WITH ME BECAUSE [LAUGHTER] IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT WILL BENEFIT US.
BUT I KNOW IT'S TAKEN A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT ON YOUR PART.
[05:35:02]
COUNTIES ALSO APPLY FOR WATER FIRST, WHICH WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR US AS WELL.I THINK THEY HAD TO DO IT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO IT AND THEY HAVE DONE THAT, SO THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
>> GOOD EVENING OR ALMOST GOOD MORNING.
[LAUGHTER] GOOD EVENING, CITY COMMISSIONER, MYCE LIKE, OPERATIONS ANALYST FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
JUST A COUPLE OF UPDATES ON WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND WHAT WE WILL BE DOING OVER THE NEXT MONTHS TO IMPLEMENT THE NOISE ORDINANCE REGARDING THE REQUEST A PETITION THAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH.
CITY STAFF ARE CURRENTLY PREPARING CARDS FOR THE DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, THAT CONTAIN DETAILS ABOUT THE NOISE ORDINANCE THAT CAN BE SHARED WITH LANDSCAPE AND CREWS TO INFORM THEM OF UPDATES TO THE NOISE ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS WITH A COUPLE OF LANDSCAPING CREWS AND THE GEORGIA URBAN AG COUNCIL THAT REPRESENTS LANDSCAPERS THAT WORK WITHIN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
WE PLAN TO USE LEVERAGE SOME OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO POTENTIALLY HAVE SOME GREEN LANDSCAPING SHOWCASE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE FUTURE, POTENTIALLY EVEN AT AT THE TUTA TRUCK EVENTS, USUALLY WE HAVE SOME TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE.
PUBLIC WORK STAFF, I KNOW, ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TO IDENTIFY SUITABLE ELECTRIC LANDSCAPING EQUIPMENT WITH THE INTENT TO ACQUIRE THAT EQUIPMENT IN THE FUTURE.
CITY STAFF ARE PLANNING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DECATUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT THE UPDATES TO THE NOISE ORDINANCE AND TO GATHER INFORMATION ON LANDSCAPERS CONTRACTED BY LOCAL COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
I KNOW THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE IN THE DEDICATOR FOCUS ENCOURAGING THE ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC LANDSCAPING EQUIPMENT, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S SET TO RUN IN THE NOVEMBER ISSUE OF THE DECATUR FOCUS.
AS ALWAYS, A LIST OF RETAIL AVAILABLE LANDSCAPE EQUIPMENT WITH A SOUND RATING BELOW 65 DECIBELS IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON THE CITY WEBSITE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE UPDATED SEMI REGULARLY IN ADDITION TO THAT ENTIRE PAGE ON THE WEBSITE THAT DETAILS THE UPDATES TO THE NOISE ORDINANCE AND ANSWERS SOME COMMON QUESTIONS.
WE KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A MARATHON RATHER THAN A SPRINT.
CHANGING AN ORDINANCE IS EASY.
CHANGING BEHAVIOR IS MUCH MORE CHALLENGING, BUT WE ARE TAKING STEADY ACTIONS TO CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE NOISE ORDINANCE AND RECOGNIZING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WILL COME WITH THE ADOPTION OF NASCENT TECHNOLOGIES, SUCH AS ELECTRIC LANDSCAPING EQUIPMENT.
>> THANK YOU. ALL MAYBE FOR US IN WRITING AND RESPOND TO THIS LETTER AND THIS GROUP THAT INCLUDED MR. LINDSEY.
>> YOU MEAN LIKE A HALF MARATHON OR 10K [LAUGHTER].
>> WE'LL SAY A DISTANCE RACE OF SOME KIND.
>> BUT YES, WE CAN HAVE A MEMO AND EVERYTHING TYPED UP.
>> [INAUDIBLE] BETTER JUDGMENT. I DO HAVE ONE THING I WANT TO SHARE.
I HATE THAT LOGAN LEFT OR, I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANY.
I WAS HOPING SOMEHOW YOU STICK AROUND, BUT JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE OUR ARBORIST LOGAN HOUSE.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A GRANT OF ALMOST $7,000 FROM THE GEORGIA TREE COUNCIL.
THIS IS FOR THE GEORGIA RELIEF PROGRAM.
THE GRANT WAS FOR THE CITY TO REPLANT, 42 TREES OVER AT THE REVEREND ROY MOSS MEMORIAL GARDEN AND 29 TREES WERE PLANTED BY TREES ATLANTA OVER THE WEEKEND, AND THERE ARE 13 MORE TO GO.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO COMMEND LOGAN AND REALLY APPLAUDE HIM FOR THAT.
>> ALSO BECAUSE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, WE ARE DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO BABY SHARK TIME.
GOING TO MAKE THIS VERY SNAPPY.
JUST WANT TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE AWARE THAT THIS UPCOMING MONDAY, 13TH OF OCTOBER, CITY HALL IS GOING TO HAVE A DELAYED OPENING.
WE WON'T OPEN UNTIL 10:00 SO WE CAN DO SOME STAFF MEETING AND STAFF TRAINING WITH ALL OF THE FOLKS IN THIS BUILDING AT ONE TIME.
[05:40:04]
THE SECOND THING IS, MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER 22ND AT 7:00 P.M.THE CHARTER VIEW COMMISSION, WHO IS WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY TO COME UP WITH THINGS FOR AN UPDATE TO OUR CHARTER.
WE'LL BE HOSTING A VIRTUAL INPUT SESSION THAT EVENING.
THE LINK AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, BUT I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT OUT THERE, SO THAT'S THE 22ND AT 7:00 P.M ON ZOOM.
>> WHAT WAS THE DATE THAT CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED? I THINK I'VE WENT DOWN [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU.
>> I MIGHT HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP FOR TWO SECONDS. I'M SORRY. [LAUGHTER]
>> OPEN UNTIL 10:00 AM RATHER THAN 8:00 AM.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OUTSTANDING DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD.
THANK YOU FOR HUMORING ME WITH ALL OF MY QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS.
BECAUSE I'M SO EXHAUSTED, I JUST WANT TO SAY OCR SPORTS FEST SATURDAY.
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE ORGANIZED IT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY REPARATIONS TASK FORCE HAD THEIR FIRST MEETING LAST WEEK.
THANK YOU TO THEM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEGUN AND THEIR HARD WORK.
[LAUGHTER] I CAN'T EVEN SAY IT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION AND APPRECIATE ALL OF FOLKS COMING IN TO SHARE THEIR OPINIONS FOR THIS.
I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER WALSH AND COMMISSIONER SPEARS AND ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE ON HOUSE.
IT IS A VERY PROMISING REPORT, AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU PUT INTO IT.
I WAS PARTICULARLY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT DECATUR COUNTY IS ACTUALLY DEVELOPING AN UNHOUSED PLAN. THANK YOU.
I THOUGHT THAT ID REGIONAL COC WAS INTERESTING MAYOR HAD SOME CONVERSATION MARY DICKENS ABOUT OPERATIONS UNHOUSED PLAN SO THAT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.
I SAID THE OVERALL A LONG BUT VERY GOOD MEETING, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT HAS BEEN PUT IN AS WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP THOSE WHO FIND.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S LATE, BUT IT'S NOT MISSING MIDDLE LATE.
>> THANKS FOR EVERYONE JUMPING ON BOARD WITH THE WORK SESSION AND IT WENT PRETTY LONG.
IT'S A LOT OF CONTENT THAT IT CAN BE TRANSLATED TO [INAUDIBLE].
I WAS THANKFUL THAT OUR VERY OWN DISTRICT 2 COMMISSIONER MICHELLE LONG SPEARS HAD SPENT TIME WITH US AND CHAMPIONING THIS WITH SUCH PASSION, AND IT REALLY GOES BACK TO WALKING TOUR WERE PART OF MAYBE ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, BUT IT SPEAKS TO JUST REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE, CONNECTING WITH THEM, BUILDING TRUST, TELLING STORIES, BRINGING THEM INTO YOUR OWN WORLD AND JUST BEING ALSO VERY PATIENT.
I THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN TAKING THE LONG VIEW, BUT WORKING THIS ISSUE AND THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
IT'S ONE MORE THING ON THAT THIS SATURDAY.
WE ATTEND THIS HOMELESS DAY AS WE DID THE PROCLAMATION.
THEN THERE'S A PATHWAY FORWARD TO DECATUR COUNTY COMMUNITY TOWN HALL AND HOMELESSNESS.
THAT'S INDICATOR AT 178 SAM STREET.
I'LL GET INFORMATION OUT ABOUT THIS BUT THIS WOULD BE EVERYONE WHO'S WELCOMED TO COME AND WE'LL DO THAT PRESENTATION THERE.
THAT PRESENTATION KEEPS GETTING REDONE IN DIFFERENT VENUES.
THERE'S SOME POWER IN HAVING GONE TO THAT AND BEING ABLE TO REPURPOSE THAT REPORT AND THAT INFORMATION MULTIPLE TIMES.
GIVE A CHANCE TO LET THE MOON BEFORE [LAUGHTER] WE THANK YOU FOR A GREAT MEETING AND AS ALWAYS COLLABORATING, TALKING, RESOLVING, AND BEING IN THE MOMENT WITH EACH OTHER. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR, BEFORE YOU MOVE ON TO MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS, I BELIEVE WE MISSED ONE PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU'LL HUMOR US, [LAUGHTER] AND GO BACK TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
>> I WAS GOING TO RECOGNIZE A GUEST IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL DO THAT BEFORE MAYOR PRO TEM AND I WRAP IT UP. YES, PLEASE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS DOCTOR LATANA JENNINGS, AND I'M NOT EVEN TO BOTHER TO TELL YOU WHERE I'M FROM BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER AT THIS POINT.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I AM HERE TONIGHT TO MAKE A VERY SPECIAL ALBEIT UNUSUAL REQUEST OF THIS COMMISSION.
NOW, I FULL DISCLOSURE OF THIS EVENT OCCURRED IN THE RECENT PAST.
[05:45:01]
IT WAS ACTUALLY ON OCTOBER 2ND, BUT RUMOR HAS IT THAT THIS PERSON PLANS TO CELEBRATE THE ENTIRE MONTH OF OCTOBER.THIS BEING THE FIRST REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER, IT SEEMS ONLY FITTING TO MAKE THIS REQUEST AT THIS TIME.
THEREFORE, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU WILL JOIN ME IN WISHING DECATUR RESIDENT, BUSINESS OWNER, AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE MAYOR PRO TEM, TONY POWERS, A VERY HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR, MAYOR PRO TEM TONY POWERS.
[LAUGHTER] HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> HERE TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE FESTIVE FOR YOU YOU PROBABLY NEED THE SUGAR ON HERE RIGHT NOW TO THERE ARE CUPCAKES FOR EACH OF YOU FROM PIECE OF CAKE.
>> THANK YOU ALL. WHAT A GREAT MEETING.
WHAT A WAY TO DO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
I JUST FINISHED WRITING ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND HERE WE JUST LIVED IN IT.
I THINK IT REINFORCES ALL THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE IT REALLY IS ABOUT US LISTENING TO WHAT WE HEAR AND TURNING IT BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY AND KNOWING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING OR WE'RE GOING TO TRY NOT TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT DOTTING EVERY EYE, CROSSING EVERY TEA AND EXPLORING EVERY AVENUE.
SOMETIMES IT'S NOISY, MESSY, AND INCONVENIENT, BUT IT'S STILL THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I THINK TONIGHT WAS THAT EXERCISE THAT THIS IS WHAT GOOD GOVERNANCE LOOKS LIKE.
THANK YOU ALL, THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT STAYED, JUST ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE NOT GETTING THE BABY SHARK TIME, SO I'M GOING TO WRAP MY COMMENTS UP THERE AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WALSH, FOR GOING TO DALLAS, HOUSTON, WHERE IS HOUSTON.
>> HOUSTON IN SAN ANTONIO. [LAUGHTER]
>> MOVING BACK STUFF THAT NO EARS HAS [INAUDIBLE] INFORMATION, SO I'M GOING TO EAT MY CUPCAKE AND CALL IT A DAY. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WOULDN'T HAVE EATEN THAT GIANT COOKIE IT'S GREAT BUT YOU DON'T KNOW TO GET A CUPCAKE.
[BACKGROUND] THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO IS STILL HERE TO FOR STAFF AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND BRINGING THINGS FORWARD TO US FOR THE ELECTRIFIED PRESENTATION THAT WAS TODAY AND ALSO FOR THE HOMELESS PRESENTATIONS, VERY MUCH, APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER WALSH'S LEADERSHIP AND WORK ON THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO GOOD THINGS COMING OUT OF THAT COLLABORATION AND CERTAINLY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU DEMOCRACY IS PRETTY MESSY AT SOME POINT, AND WE SOMETIMES HAVE TO THIS IS OUR VENUE TO DO IT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT, AND I THINK THE GOAL OF THIS COMMISSION IS ALWAYS TO GET TO A BETTER PLACE, AND TO SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS.
>> LETTER MEET CAKE. [LAUGHTER]
>> THE MEETING IS OVER AT 11:27.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.