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[WORK SESSION – 6:30 P.M.]
MAYOR, FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.I'M RENAE JACKSON, EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.
I'M ALSO THE LIAISON TO THE BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD.
YOU WILL HEAR FROM OUR CO-CHAIR TODAY.
I'M ALSO SUPPORTED BY OUR NEW EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST, MJ BROWN, WHOM YOU'LL MEET A LITTLE LATER.
I WILL CALL UP OUR CO-CHAIRS, KATHRYN BEANE AND CLAIRE ANDERSON.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THANKS FOR HAVING US.
I'M CLAIRE ANDERSON, CO-CHAIR OF THE BOARD.
KATHRYN AND I BOTH CAME ON IN 2023.
THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR AS CO-CHAIR, KATHRYN'S FIRST, SO GLAD TO BE HERE WITH YOU AGAIN.
I HAVE LIVED IN DECATUR SINCE DECEMBER 2020, MOVED HERE FROM OUT OF STATE.
I LIVE ON DERRYDOWN WAY, JUST NORTH OF LEGACY PARK.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THE CITY HAS DONE FOR LEGACY PARK, THE NEW TRACK AND FIELD.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST JOYFUL PLACES WHEN IT COMES TO ITS RELATION TO BTAB IN OUR CHARGE.
IT'S DIVERSE, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ETHNICITIES, INCLUSIVE.
>> HELLO. I LIVE IN THE GREAT LAKES NEIGHBORHOOD, AND LIKE CLAIRE SAID, SECOND YEAR, OUR FIRST YEAR AS COACH HERE, EXCUSE ME.
FIRST YEAR AS A COACH HERE, THIRD YEAR AS A BOARD MEMBER.
>> OUR STRUCTURE FOR TONIGHT FOLLOWING A SIMILAR FLOW TO OUR SESSION LAST YEAR.
WE JUST WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE YOU ON WHAT BTAB HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THIS YEAR, WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TO THE EXTENT WE HAVE THINGS ALREADY ON THE DOCKET FOR 2026.
WE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF THAT.
THEN, AFTER THAT, UNLIKE LAST YEAR, IF YOU RECALL, WE CAME TO YOU WITH A PARTICULAR CHALLENGE, WHICH WAS BOARD RECRUITMENT, AS WE WERE LOSING SEVERAL MEMBERS AND ALREADY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SEATS FILLED BASED ON WHAT IS OUTLINED IN OUR ENABLING LEGISLATION.
THAT IS A BIT OF A CHALLENGE AGAIN THIS YEAR.
WE'RE A LITTLE LESS CONCERNED, WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON THAT, BUT RATHER WE JUST HAVE SOME OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS, REALLY.
WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO ASK YOU.
NOW, AS A WAY TO JUST HEAR YOUR PERSPECTIVE, PERHAPS GET SOME GUIDANCE INPUT, AS WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO 2026 AND START PUTTING TOGETHER VISION PRIORITIES, WHICH WILL REALLY KICK OFF AT A FULL-DAY RETREAT WE HAVE PLANNED IN DECEMBER.
WITH THAT, WE'LL JUST START WITH SOME UPDATES.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BREAK OUR UPDATES DOWN BY WORK GROUPS.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE ORGANIZED, THAT'S HOW WE GET WORK DONE.
STARTING OFF WITH THE SPEAKER SERIES WORK GROUP, A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT TACK HERE.
THE TEAM WORK GROUP GOT VERY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE CREATIVE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAD FROM WHAT WE HAD BEEN DOING.
TO THAT END, THEY'RE WORKING TOWARDS SOLIDIFYING A PARTNERSHIP WITH OUT OF HAND THEATER FOR A DECATUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATION EVENT AT LEGACY PARK.
THIS WOULD HAPPEN AROUND JULY 4TH, 2026, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ON THE FOURTH, BUT JUST AROUND THAT DATE.
PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE OUT OF HAND THEATER HAS A THEME FOR AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY, AND IT IS IMAGINING AN AMERICA FOR ALL.
THE EVENT IS MODELED ON OUT OF HANDS EQUITABLE DINNERS FORMAT, WHERE A SHORT THOUGHT-PROVOKING THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE IS FOLLOWED BY SMALL GROUP DIALOGUES OVER A SHARED MEAL WITH THE GOAL OF FOSTERING CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY DISCUSSION.
WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND HAD BEEN WORKING WITH OUT OF HANDS TO PUT A PROPOSAL TOGETHER.
ALONG SIMILAR LINES, THE SPEAKER SERIES WORK GROUP ALSO MET WITH RENAE AND ANGIE MACON FROM DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE ABOUT ISSUING AN ARTIST BRIEF FOR A UNIFYING SYMBOL.
WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT REGISTERS US VISUALLY AS A COMMUNITY THAT WELCOMES PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH THE DETAILS WITH DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE AROUND HOW SUCH AN UNDERTAKING MIGHT GET ROLLED OUT, INCLUDING FUNDING AND HOW A SYMBOL LIKE THIS MIGHT BE USED.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT T-SHIRTS? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC ART? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT YARD SIGNS? FOR BOTH OF THOSE, THE IDEA WAS TO PACKAGE THEM TOGETHER.
WE HAVE COST AND A PROPOSAL TOGETHER FOR THE OUT OF HAND EVENT.
WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT WITH THE UNIFYING SYMBOL AND THE FUNDING AROUND,
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IN OUR ARTIST BRIEF, AND HOW THE APPLICATION ITSELF MIGHT GET FUNDED.WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT LAST PIECE, BASICALLY TO PACKAGE BOTH OF THOSE THINGS UP AND SUBMIT THEM TO THE CITY MANAGER, BUT RENAE HAS THE BUDGET FOR THE EVENT.
>> WE FORGOT TO MENTION. IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DON'T HESITATE TO INTERRUPT US.
WE WOULD ACTUALLY PREFER THAT RATHER THAN JUST TALKING AT YOU.
>> COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORK GROUP, THIS WORK GROUP BASICALLY HAS TWO TASKS RIGHT NOW.
ONE IS THE COMMUNITY ASSET MAP.
THIS WAS A CARRYOVER FROM THE INITIAL THE FOUNDING OF BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD.
ARE YOU GUYS FAMILIAR WITH THE COMMUNITY ASSET MAP? IT'S BASICALLY A LIST OF A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THE IDEAS THAT WE CAN MOBILIZE ACCORDING TO THIS LIST.
IT WOULD HELP US DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION, TRY TO BRING MORE EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION TO TAKE PART IN DIFFERENT CITY INITIATIVES AND CONVERSATIONS.
ESSENTIALLY, THIS YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON CLEANING UP THAT ASSET MAP, SO THE WORK GROUP HAS BEEN BASICALLY COMING THROUGH THAT LIST, UPDATING CONTACT INFORMATION BASED ON ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE ONLINE.
THERE ARE ALSO GROUPS WHOSE CONTACT INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE THAT WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO WHEN RENAE IS GOING TO E-MAIL OUT TO THIS LIST, CONTACT THEM, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE REPRESENTED, HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE USAGE OF THIS LIST.
THE LIST IS INTENDED TO BE USED INTERNALLY ONLY.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD PUBLICLY POST SOMEWHERE, WHICH WE FELT WAS AN IMPORTANT QUALIFICATION, IN TODAY'S CLIMATE.
THE WORK GROUP ALSO SUGGESTED TO ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEY FELT WE'RE MISSING FROM THE CURRENT LIST AND COULD BE VALUABLE ADDITIONS.
IN GENERAL, WE HAVE TALKED AS A BOARD ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE THE UTILITY OF THIS LIST MOVING FORWARD SO THAT IT CAN BE A BETTER TOOL FOR DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION AND HOPEFULLY HELPING PROMOTE AND DRIVE THE EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION THAT WE'RE AFTER.
SOME OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE FINDING A DIGITAL PLATFORM.
RIGHT NOW, IT LIVES IN AN EXCEL GOOGLE SHEET.
FINDING A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS ORGANIZATIONS TO SELF-UPDATE THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION AND OPT IN OR OPT OUT OF PARTICIPATING.
ALSO, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT INVITING LIST MEMBERS TO CONVENE PHYSICALLY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, AND THE BOARD HAS REALLY HAD A GOOD, HEALTHY DISCUSSION AROUND, AT THE VERY MINIMUM, BASICALLY AROUND THE SPECTRUM OF OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WANT TO TAKE ON AS A BOARD IN REGARDS TO THIS LIST.
AT THE VERY LEAST, WE WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING AND MANAGING THIS LIST AND CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE THE DATA INTEGRITY OF THE LIST, IF YOU WILL, BUT THAT COULD ALSO RANGE FROM USING THE LIST TO, FOR EXAMPLE, CONVENE PEOPLE ANNUALLY.
WE WANT TO GET THESE GROUPS TOGETHER ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, BETTER TOGETHER, HELPING CREATE THAT FORUM IN THAT OCCASION IN ORDER TO EXCHANGE BEST PRACTICES OR DISCUSS THINGS THAT ARE RELEVANT TOPICS THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE CONSIDERING.
WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY LOOK TO PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE FORM AROUND THAT TYPE OF ENGAGEMENT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, BUT THAT IS IN THE SPECTRUM OF THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THE OTHER ELEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORK GROUP IS AN EDITORIAL CALENDAR. THIS IS A NEW EDITION.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE FELT LIKE THERE WAS AN OUTBOUND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS GAP FROM THE BETTER TOGETHER BOARD, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN THE VALUES OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION ARE UNDER FIRE NATIONALLY, AND DECIDED THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO HEAR FROM BTAB MORE REGULARLY.
TO THAT END, WE'VE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING AN EDITORIAL CALENDAR AND ARE CONSIDERING A TIMELINE THAT WOULD INCLUDE PUBLISHING AN ARTICLE IN EACH FOCUS ISSUE.
THE PERSON OVERSEEING THE CALENDAR HAS ALIGNED WITH RENAE AND HER TEAM.
VOCATION PROFESSION INVOLVES THIS, SO SHE'S BRINGING A LOT OF EXPERTISE TO THE TABLE IN TERMS OF PR AND COMMUNICATIONS.
BERNADETTE HAS MET WITH RENAE AND HER TEAM ON THE TOPICS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THIS ON AN ONGOING BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING LOCKED INTO SOME RIGID PUBLISHING SCHEDULE.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS THING, BUT IT CAN BE MORE OF A LIVING, BREATHING.
WE UPDATE IT TO REFLECT THE WAYS THAT WE CAN BEST SERVE. OVER TO YOU, CLAIRE.
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>> ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT EITHER OF THOSE? [OVERLAPPING]
>> SORRY TO INTERRUPT. I MEAN, AFTER YOU'RE FINISHED, INTRODUCE THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD WHO ARE HERE, SO THANKS.
>> OF COURSE. ONE OF OUR ONGOING WORK STREAMS IS ADVISING AND LIAISING WITH THE CITY STAFF.
THIS YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN A SMALL HANDFUL OF REQUESTS THAT CAME INTO RENAE'S OFFICE TO WHICH WE'VE RESPONDED.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CONFIRMING AN OCCASION TO HONOR MARY FRANCES EARLY AT A SPRING CONCERT AT AGNES SCOTT.
CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH DATES THAT WORKS FOR HER FAMILY AND HERSELF.
THEN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING INTO A MORE PERMANENT WAY OF HONORING HER THROUGH SOMETHING IN THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, WHETHER THAT'S A PLAQUE, A BENCH, SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
THAT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WILL CONTINUE WORKING THROUGH IN THE COMING MONTHS.
AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL RETREAT THAT WE'RE HOLDING IN DECEMBER.
WE'RE GOING TO BE REEVALUATING WHICH PARTNERS INSIDE THE CITY MAKES SENSE FOR US TO MEET WITH ON A RECURRING BASIS.
AT THIS TIME, WE DO KNOW THE BOARD IS STILL COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH CHIEF RICHARDS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND SO THAT'LL BE SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS IN THE YEAR AHEAD.
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ADVISORY, TRULY, THE ADVISORY ROLE, WE HAVE BTAB MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE BOARD ON THE REPARATIONS TASK FORCE, THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
TWO OF OUR MEMBERS ALSO ATTENDED AT A LATE-STAGE PLANNING MEETING FOR THE OKRS FOR EVERYONE COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION PLAN.
WE WEREN'T INCLUDED FORMALLY IN THE EARLIER DISCUSSIONS, NOR IN THE PLANNING AROUND THE TOWN CENTER PLAN 2.0.
JUST PUTTING OUT THERE, WE DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO FUTURE PROJECTS, BRINGING THAT SPECIFICALLY, THE LENS OF EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT TO THOSE.
THEN IN GENERAL, WE DIDN'T RECEIVE AS MANY ADVISORY REQUESTS COMING FROM THE CITY AS WE HAVE IN YEARS PAST, WHICH MIGHT BE JUST A REFLECTION OF TRUE LACK OF NEED THIS YEAR, HAPPENSTANCE, WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT WE JUST WANTED TO MENTION IT IN CASE IT IS INDICATIVE OF PERHAPS WEANING AWARENESS OF THE BOARD'S PURPOSE AND THAT WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT.
I THINK IT'S LESS LIKELY THAT IT'S INDICATIVE OF WEANING INTEREST IN OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY ENGAGEMENT, BUT JUST THOUGHT THAT THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO MENTION HERE.
WELCOMING BUSINESS AWARD, ONE OF OUR RECURRING PROJECTS EVERY YEAR.
RENAE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY IN YEARS WE'VE WON MORE NOMINATIONS THIS YEAR THAN EVER BEFORE, OVER 30, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
TO PROMOTE THE AWARD, WE CONTINUED WHAT WE IMPLEMENTED LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS A SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN.
I WORKED WITH GRANT, THANK YOU TO HIM AND HIS TEAM ON CREATING VIDEOS WITH THE PAST YEAR'S WINNERS, WHICH WENT OUT ON ALL OF THE CITY SOCIALS.
IT'S A WAY TO PROMOTE THE AWARD, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE ACKNOWLEDGING THOSE BUSINESSES, GIVE THEM SOME PRESS FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK THEY'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE CONTINUED WHAT I CALL OUR HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT APPROACH, WHICH IS SHOWING UP AT COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE OAKHURST JAZZ NIGHTS, TRUCK AND TOSS DAY, THE LEGACY, PASSING OUT FLYERS, AND SIMPLY TALKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EDUCATING THEM ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THE AWARD, WHY IT EXISTS, WHY WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM THEM.
LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR, WE JUST BECAME AWARE THAT THE DBA IS ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING ITS OWN AWARDS PROCESS.
DEPENDING ON WHAT EXACTLY THAT LOOKS LIKE, WE MIGHT SEEK TO PARTNER WITH THEM MOVING FORWARD ON AN AWARD, AND/OR IT MIGHT BE TIME TO REEVALUATE IF THERE IS A BETTER OR JUST ANOTHER WAY TO ENGAGE WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THAT'LL BE SOMETHING WE LOOK TO EXPLORE IN 2026.
>> MOVING ON TO THE WELCOMING PUBLIC SPACES WORK GROUP.
IT STEMS FROM THE AFFIRMATION, THE IMPORTANCE OF WELCOMING PUBLIC SPACES, BOTH IN THE ORIGINAL BETTER TOGETHER COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN AS WELL AS THE 2030 STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE CITY.
THIS GROUP WAS FORMED THIS YEAR, AND ONE OF THE FIRST INITIATIVES THAT WE DECIDED TO TAKE ON GREW OUT OF OUR INTEREST IN HELPING PUT MORE OF A DEFINITION FOR
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US AROUND WHAT EVEN CONSTITUTES A WELCOMING SPACE.TO THAT END, WE STARTED DEVELOPING AND OR WE DEVELOPED AND STARTED TESTING RATHER A SET OF CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING HOW WELCOMING DECATUR'S PUBLIC SPACES ARE.
THE IDEA IS THAT THIS CRITERION WOULD BECOME A HELPFUL TOOL IN HOLDING THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE FOR CREATING WELCOMING SPACES, WHICH WAS IDENTIFIED, LIKE I SAID, AS A PRIORITY IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN.
JUST TRYING TO DEFINE WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEANS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOKS LIKE, PUT SOME OBJECTIVE CRITERIA AROUND IT.
>> HAVE YOU DONE THAT, OR IS THAT STILL IN THE PROCESS?
>> WE HAVE CREATED A WORKING DRAFT OF THE CRITERIA, AND WE'VE STARTED TESTING IT AGAINST DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF SPACES, BASICALLY, STARTING INITIALLY WITH SOME PARKS, AND WE'RE FOCUSING ON OUTDOOR SPACES RATHER THAN INDOOR.
>> COMING UP IN 2026, WE ARE PLANNING A MEETING WITH AN IMMIGRANT RIGHTS COMMUNITY PARTNER TO LEARN ABOUT RESOURCES AND HOW WE CAN BETTER SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ONE NECESSARILY BELONGED IN THE WELCOMING PUBLIC SPACES.
MAYBE I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER IF THERE WAS A SPECIFIC TYPE OF SPACES THERE.
THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE GENERAL.
I THINK THE LENS WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE GENERAL THAN JUST SPACES ON THAT QUESTION.
BUT GREW OUT OF THE BOARD'S INTEREST IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PRESENT MOMENT AND THIS IS A QUESTION WE'LL HAVE FOR YOU ALL LATER, BUT HOW CAN WE RISE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MOMENT? WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT RENEE AND THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEMORATE THE BEACON COMMUNITY WITH SOME TYPE OF PUBLIC INSTALLATION ALONG WEST HOWARD, USING FUNDS FROM THE PLANTER AUCTION AND THAT YOU'D LIKE SIMILARLY TO ACTIVATE THE WALL NEAR THE [INAUDIBLE] AREA.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT SUPPORTING THESE INITIATIVES, AND TO THAT END, THIS WELCOMING SPACES WORK GROUP HAS BEEN ASKED TO CREATE AN RFP.
THE FIRST STEP OF THAT RFP PROCESS IS TO CONDUCT A DISCOVERY SESSION WITH THE CITY SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR VISION FOR THESE INSTALLATIONS AND CAPTURE ANY REQUIREMENTS THAT WE CAN PUT INTO THE RFP.
FINALLY, WE JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS BOARD GOVERNANCE.
CATHERINE AND I NOT HAVING BEEN ON THE BOARD ALL THAT LONG, SOMEWHAT NEW TO BEING CO CHAIRS.
WE'VE REALLY FELT LIKE WE'VE BEEN LEARNING EXPERIENTIALLY AS WE GO THIS YEAR AND HAVE A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED AND A LOT OF IDEAS FOR JUST PROCESSES THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE, THE BORING STUFF, DOCUMENTATION, HOW THINGS ARE DONE.
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND WHEN DONE RIGHT, LEADS TO MORE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS AND EVERYTHING THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS DO OR OTHER PROJECTS.
WE JUST HAVE A GOAL OF, BY THE TIME WE LEAVE THE BOARD, WE WANT TO LEAVE IT BETTER THAN WE FOUND IT.
WE WANT TO CREATE REPEATABLE PROCESSES THAT ARE REALLY EASY FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS, NEW CHAIRS TO JUST PICK UP, EXECUTE AND NOT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE REINVENTING THE WHEEL EVERY YEAR.
WE'LL BE REALLY FOCUSED ON GOVERNANCE IN THE YEAR AHEAD IS OUR OWN WORK STREAM.
A COUPLE OF JUST KEY POINTS TO MENTION THAT FALL UNDER THAT.
WE'LL HAVE A CONTINUED FOCUS ON RECRUITING MORE MEMBERS.
THE UPDATES MADE TO BETTER TOGETHER AS ENABLING LEGISLATION, WHICH I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THAT WAS AT THE END OF 2023 OR EARLY 2024, WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SEATS AVAILABLE ON THE BOARD.
THAT NOW READS THE BOARD SHALL CONSIST OF 10-15 MEMBERS, PREFERABLY WITH AT LEAST ONE YOUTH MEMBER.
WE HAVE TWO BOARD MEMBERS DUE TO COMPLETE THEIR TERMS AND ROLL OFF THE BOARD AT THE END OF DECEMBER, HAVE ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER CHOOSE TO EXIT THE BOARD BASED ON A TIME CONSTRAINTS, FAMILY CONSTRAINTS.
SO BEGINNING IN JANUARY, NOT ACCOUNTING FOR ANY NEW MEMBERS WE MIGHT AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BRING ON.
WE'LL HAVE JUST EIGHT BOARD MEMBERS REMAINING AND NONE OF WHICH ARE OUR YOUTH MEMBERS.
WE DO HAVE THE NUMBERS CHALLENGE AGAIN, WHICH I THINK WE DO HAVE A LOT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH, AND SO HAVING MORE BRAINS AND MORE HANDS WILL BE VERY CONDUCIVE TO BEING ABLE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THOSE.
RELATEDLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUS ON MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE ON-BOARDING AND ACTIVATING OF NEW MEMBERS.
WE TEND TO HOST OUR ANNUAL RETREAT IN DECEMBER, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT WHERE IT'S LED IS THAT MEANS WHEN THE NEW MEMBERS JOIN IN JANUARY, WE'VE ALL HAD THIS, BIG EXPERIENCE TOGETHER WHERE WE'VE OUTLINED PRIORITIES, AND IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT FOR NEW MEMBERS TO REALLY FIND THEIR PLACE.
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THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON.OPTIMIZING PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH WORK GROUPS.
WE REALLY STARTED TESTING THIS THIS YEAR, WHERE I THINK HISTORICALLY, MOST OF THE BOARD'S WORK REALLY DID OCCUR SIMPLY DURING THE MONTHLY MEETING.
THIS YEAR, WE ESTABLISHED THE EXPECTATION THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE WORK GROUPS WOULD ALSO MEET IN BETWEEN BOARD MEETINGS JUST TO DO THE DOING.
CONTINUING TO PUT THAT STRUCTURE IN PLACE AND OVERSEE IT.
THEN SOME REALLY BORING THINGS LIKE MEETING HYGIENE AND COMMUNICATION.
BUT LIKE I SAID, SOMETIMES THE BORING STUFF IS IMPORTANT TO GET IT DOWN ON PAPER.
THEN SPEAKING OF OUR ANNUAL RETREAT UPCOMING IN DECEMBER.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST 10 YEARS SINCE THE BOARD'S CREATION.
AS PART OF THIS, WE'RE REALLY GOING TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND RE EVALUATE OUR WORK GROUPS, OUR SLATE OF ACTIVITIES, TO ENSURE WE'RE ORIENTING OURSELVES, PUTTING ENERGY INTO THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST.
BOTH WHO ARE BOARD MEMBERS, PLAYING TO THEIR PASSIONS, THEIR STRENGTHS AND SKILLS, AND ALSO THEN TYING THOSE, WHAT DOES OUR COMMUNITY NEED? WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT TIME.
THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR OUR UPDATES.
SARA. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE START GIVING YOU GUYS WITH QUESTIONS?
>> I DO. AS YOU TALK ABOUT BOARD RECRUITMENT.
I'VE BEEN ON A NUMBER OF BOARDS AT THE TABLE HERE.
DO YOU HAVE A CURRENT GAP ANALYSIS ABOUT WHAT IDEALLY YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE IN LIKE GAPS ON THE BOARD? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN SEND US.
>> WE DON'T RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT IS PART OF ONE OF THE EXERCISES WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH DURING THE RETREAT.
BUT LET US TAKE THAT BACK BECAUSE CAN YOU GUYS REMIND ME WHEN DOES THE INTERVIEW.
>> WELL. I MEAN, A THOUGHTFUL GAP ANALYSIS WE WILL NOT HAVE UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER.
>> I GUESS THE EXTENT YOU ALL IN YOUR INTERVIEW PROCESS ARE ABLE TO, GET A SENSE FOR THE APPLICANT'S TIME AVAILABILITY.
I THINK BECAUSE OF WHAT I MENTIONED ABOUT, CLEARLY, THIS IS A VOLUNTEER BOARD.
MOST FOLKS ARE WORKING AND HAVE CONFLICTS AND CAN'T JUST WORK FULL TIME FOR THE BOARD.
BUT WE HAVE FOUND THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE THE AMOUNT OF PROGRESS, WE WANT TO THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT, THE ABILITY TO A SPEND A FEW HOURS IN BETWEEN MONTHLY BOARD MEETINGS, WORKING IN OUR SUBGROUPS IS REALLY KEY.
JUST MAKING SURE APPLICANTS UNDERSTAND THAT WILL BE AN EXPECTATION, AND OF COURSE, WE'RE FLEXIBLE.
BUT IT WILL CERTAINLY, OUR ASK IS THAT IT'LL BE MORE THAN JUST THAT 1.5 HOUR MONTHLY MEETING COMMITMENT, IF THAT'S HELPFUL.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION, AS YOU LOOK FOR A YOUTH MEMBER, WOULD YOU PREFER SOMEONE THAT CAN GO MULTIPLE YEARS, NOT JUST A SENIOR LOOKING FOR CREDITS.
WOULD YOU PREFER A SOPHOMORE OR A FRESHMAN BECAUSE, CLEARLY WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS BILL SO THAT THEY'RE JUST NOT LOOKING FOR COLLEGE CREDIT, AND THEY'RE ONLY THERE FOR THAT LITTLE PIECE OF TIME.
BUT JUST TAKE THAT TO THE BOARD.
>> I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.
I'M NOT SURE TO NECESSARILY HAVE A PERSPECTIVE, BUT WHAT YOU'VE JUST SHARED MAKES ME THINK THAT IS PERHAPS A GOOD IDEA TO RECRUIT A LITTLE YOUNGER.
>> I DON'T FEEL LIKE THE PAST YOUTH MEMBERS WE'VE HAD MANY TENURE.
THEY REALLY HAVEN'T STAYED EVEN THE YEAR.
I FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD BE A WIN JUST GETTING THEM TO STAY THE YEAR, EVEN IF THEY ARE LOOKING FOR COLLEGE CREDIT.
BUT IT'S A GOOD POINT THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT UP.
>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT. BEFORE WE CONTINUE WITH OUR QUESTIONS, I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD REPARATIONS TASK FORCE MEMBER.
THAT'S BERNADETTE DAVIS WHO IS HERE TODAY.
BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHO ELSE IS WITH YOU TODAY AS THE MAYOR ASKED EARLIER.
PLEASE INTRODUCE THE OTHER MEMBERS WHO HAVE JOINED YOU.
I'M A MEMBER OF BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD.
>> I'M BERNADETTE DAVIS, AS YOU'VE HEARD TWICE.
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>> THANKS TO YOU ALL AS WELL FOR BEING HERE.
>> ACTUALLY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO AHEAD BECAUSE YOU KNOW I HAVE A LIST OF STAFF, EVERY YEAR FOR THE TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARDS [LAUGHTER] SO PLEASE, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
ONE COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE THAT SOMETHING THAT REALLY RESONATES WITH ME AND EPITOMIZES ALSO THE BOARD WORK YOU'RE DOING AS CO CAPTAINS.
I'VE HAD THE MOST PLEASURABLE SERVICE EVER IN LIFE WHEN I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SHARE LEADERSHIP WITH SOMEONE, AND I THINK IT MAKES FOR BETTER OUTCOMES, TOO.
THANKS FOR DOING IT THIS WAY AND MAKING THE PERSONALITY FOR YOUR TIME.
I LOVE THE WORK GROUPS THAT YOU CREATED, AND I'M SURE IT'S A WAY TO GET MORE OUT OF THE BOARD TO BE MORE FOCUSED AND WORK SMARTER ON [INAUDIBLE]. I LOVE THAT.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE ASSET MAPPING AND SOMETHING I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST, A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU STILL KEEP TRACK OF OR IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AND NOT A ROSTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
IS THAT STILL OUT THERE OR IS IT ANYBODY REP THAT?
>> IT'S REALLY, YES. ALSO THE ELECTION SEASON ALSO BRINGS THIS UP THAT THESE ARE JUST SUCH GREAT COMMUNITY FORCES FOR GETTING INFORMATION OUT SO OTHER PEOPLE CAN ENGAGE AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO SHOULD HAVE TO BE JUST EVERY TWO YEARS.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT LIST, AND IT'S ALSO GOOD TO BE TOUCHING BASE.
THEN IF THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD WHO LOST THEIR COMMUNITY STEWARD.
THEY CAN WORK TO IDENTIFY SOMEONE TO REPLACE THEM.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOT OF POWER IN HAVING THAT LIST UPDATED.
AS FAR AS ASSET MAPPING, I REALLY THINK THAT THERE IS A LIST OF ASSETS THAT ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMMUNITY STEWARDS, AND YOU CAN START WITH THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, BUT THEY MIGHT TELL YOU TWO OR THREE OTHER NAMES, AND IF THOSE PEOPLE WERE OKAY TO OPT IN.
I JUST THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL LIST TO HAVE FOR ALL REASONS, AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS FARM TEAM AND I GUESS WHAT THEY BECOMES IMPORT POTENTIAL CANDIDATES.
BUT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE WILLING TO I KNOW IT SOUNDS MINOR, BUT PIPE UP ON THE LIST SERVE, AND REALLY BRING A VOICE TO THE TABLE THAT SAYS, HEY, IT'S ACTUALLY LIKE THIS, AND I INDICATOR ONE-ON-ONE AND I KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THIS WORKS OR OFFERING GREAT RESOURCES TO THEIR NEIGHBORS IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO KNOW AND KEEP CLOSE.
HAVING SAID THAT, I WAS WONDERING ONE TIME, I WAS AMAZING ABOUT HOW WE HAVE THE HOMETOWN HERO, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE SUCH A HUGE THING TO ASPIRE TO, AND IT'S SUCH AN HONOR AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S POTENTIALLY A LIFETIME OF THINGS PEOPLE DO, IF YOU WILL, CAN YOU RECOGNIZE.
I THINK THERE'S SO MANY MORE DAY TO DAY CRITIQUING SPECIAL THINGS PEOPLE DO FOR EACH OTHER AND DON'T USE MY WORDS PER SE, BUT I JUST WAS THINKING MORE LIKE HOMETOWN HELPERS.
WHO WOULD BE FEATURE IN THE FOCUS WHO'S DOING SOMETHING THAT MOVED THE NEEDLE FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
THEN I'M STILL ASSOCIATING A LITTLE BIT.
DID WE HAVE SOME EXCHANGE ABOUT THE HUMANS OF NEW YORK? THESE SPECIAL STORIES, WHAT MAKES THAT CITY UNIQUE IS SOME THINGS THAT HAPPEN THERE, AND MAYBE YOU COULD CALL MORE STORIES LIKE THAT, AND ALSO BE CONTENT BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE A UNIQUE COMMUNITY, REALLY COOL STUFF GOING ON, AND GREAT WAYS THAT NEIGHBORS TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER OR THAT NEIGHBORS AND THE CITY ALSO INTERACT THAT WAY.
>> THANKS. THAT WAS IT ON ASSET MAPPING.
THEN THIS IS MORE SO MORE SERIOUS, MORE FOCUSED, BUT WE DO STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO COORDINATE OUR COMMUNITIES LIKE CULTURE AND UNDERSTANDING IDEAS ABOUT THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND WHAT IS THE UNSHELTERED COMMUNITIES CHALLENGES AND HOW WE'RE LIVING TOGETHER.
I'VE BEEN ASKED, I THINK, QUESTION'S PART OF THIS CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO DOWNTOWN, ABOUT A HOMELESS TOWN HALL, A WAY OF BRINGING NEIGHBORS FROM THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE.
I THINK FACILITATED IS BETTER THAN NOT MAYBE BECAUSE YOU COULD LEVEL SET THE ROOM WITH WHAT IS A REALLY CHALLENGING AND COMPLEX TOPIC.
WE HAVE A NEW HOMELESS STRATEGY MANAGER, AND I JUST THINK YOU'RE EPITOMIZES ALL OF ALL THE BOARDS.
YOU ARE GREAT AT CONVENING AND COMMUNICATING AND HOW COULD YOU PLAY A ROLE THERE? THEN LAST THING, HERE'S BEEN A LONG TIME, BUT THE PECHAKUCHA, I WAS PART OF THAT A LONG TIME AGO WITH ACTIVE LIVING.
I THOUGHT THAT MINI CRASH SESSION ELICITED REALLY GREAT IDEAS THAT WERE INTERSECTIONAL WORK ACROSS ALL THE BOARDS.
YOU SAY, WHAT'S THAT ONE THING? THAT REALLY WAS WORK ALL TIME.
FOLKS GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND TOUCH BASE ON THEIR PROJECTS AND THEN THINK ABOUT WHERE THEY OVERLAP AND YOU COME OUT WITH A GRANULARLY SMALL TIGHT LIST OF COOL WORK TO DO.
>> COMMISSIONER WALSH, COULD YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT WAS.
[00:30:06]
[OVERLAPPING]>> THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINS OF THE TERM, BUT IT'S A RALLY A HUDDLE UP MULTIPLE INTEREST GROUPS THAT CAME TOGETHER FOR THE DAY.
>> IT WAS BRINGING TOGETHER THE BOARDS.
THEN EACH BOARD HAD FIVE MINUTES TO SHARE ABOUT WHAT THEY WORKED ON. UP UNTIL THAT POINT.
ONE OF THE GOALS OF B TAB PREVIOUSLY, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BRING THIS BACK IS TO CONVENE THE BOARDS AGAIN.
WE'RE WANTING TO BE THE CONVENERS, CONVENING ALL OF THE BOARDS AND FIGURE OUT WHERE ARE THE OVERLAPS, HOW CAN WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND JUST UNDERSTAND WHAT EVERYONE IS WORKING ON.
THESE TWO REALLY HAVE A GREAT CONNECTION.
AWESOME. THANKS FOR LISTENING.
>> WHEN YOU SAID THAT, I WAS LIKE, THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING FROM NEW ORLEANS.
>> HELLO. I TYPICALLY MAKE THE SAME REQUESTS EVERY YEAR, BUT I'M STARTING TO SEE INCREMENTAL PROGRESS ON THEM, SO I HAVE LESS THIS YEAR.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE ASKED FOR EACH YEAR IS FOR THE BOARD'S ENGAGEMENT AND HELPING TO IMPROVE UPON SOME OF OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SPECIFICALLY POLICIES THAT ARE RELATED TO THE WAY THAT WE DO OUR SOURCING, AND THE WAY THAT WE DO OUR CONTRACTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE EQUITABLE PROCESSES, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE VERY FUNCTIONAL, THE LOWEST BID, MOST QUALIFIED.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME NUANCE THERE THAT WE TEND TO MISS WHEN WE DO IT THAT WAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US IMPLEMENT A METHOD FOR ENGAGING WITH NEW SUPPLIERS THAT ALLOWS US TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT BEFALL ALL KINDS OF BUSINESSES, MINORITY BUSINESS, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS, BUSINESSES OF YOUNG PEOPLE, BUSINESSES OF SENIORS AND VETERANS, ALL KINDS OF BUSINESSES THAT WE AREN'T NECESSARILY ABLE TO DO WITH THE LOWEST BID MOST QUALIFIED OFFER.
A LOT OF THOSE COMPANIES GENERALLY HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF LEGO.
THEY'RE IN THAT POSITION TO BE ABLE TO GIVE TO PROVIDE THE LOWEST BID BECAUSE THEY HAVE THOSE ADVANTAGES.
>> IS THAT THE STANDARD EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR EACH RFP PROCESS IN THE CITY OR IS THERE ANY.
>> DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PROJECT IS, THERE MIGHT BE A LIST OF CRITERIA THAT ARE ESTABLISHED ON THE FRONT END OF WHAT IS BEING SOUGHT.
YOU ARE CORRECT, WE DON'T CALL THE HOUSE FOR ANY MINORITY BUSINESS INTERPS NOW DEPENDING ON HOW THE PROJECT IS FEDERALLY FUNDED, THERE MAY BE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC MILESTONES TO BE MET ON THAT, BUT GENERALLY IN OUR PREDETERMINED POLICY, WE DON'T CALL THAT.
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO GET INGRAINED IN THAT PROCESS THIS YEAR?
>> THERE ARE SOME RESOURCES PROBABLY THROUGH GO WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT THE MBE PROCESS AND PROCUREMENT EVALUATION.
>> BUT FROM A CITY POINT OF CONTACT.
>> THAT WORK IS HAPPENING, SO WE HAVE STARTED THAT PROCESS, SO WE CAN I'LL BRING YOU ON.
>> EXCELLENT. MY NEXT REQUEST IS SIMILAR, BUT IT'S RELATED TO THE WATCH FEST.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BETTER TOGETHER IS FINDING A WAY TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT, I KNOW WE EXPECT THIS TO BE AN INCREDIBLY INCLUSIVE EVENT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VENDORS THAT WE HAVE, I HAVE A LIST ARE INCLUSIVE, THAT THE SUPPLIERS THAT WE USE ARE INCLUSIVE.
I THINK WE'RE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON THE ENTERTAINMENT WHEN IT COMES TO BEING INCLUSIVE.
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL THAT THE BOARD COULD CERTAINLY HELP TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH A SMALL AND MIGHTY PLANNING TEAM.
THEN ANOTHER THING THAT I'VE BEEN TOSSING AROUND IN MY HEAD IS WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT ARE ALWAYS GOING ON IN THE CITY, BUT THERE IS SOME REAL TENSION AMONGST NEIGHBORS, THAT SERIOUS TENSION AMONGST NEIGHBORS OVER THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE POINTS OF GREAT CONTENTION, BUT BECAUSE OF ALL THE EXTERNAL STRESSORS GOING ON IN PEOPLE'S LIVES, I THINK THAT MIGHT JUST BE A REACTION TO THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING.
I'D LIKE TO START THINKING ABOUT WAYS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FACILITATION OF CONVERSATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE UTILIZING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LIST,
[00:35:03]
HYPER LOCAL GATHERINGS THAT COULD MAYBE BE HOSTED BY THE ADVISORY BOARD, WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND WHETHER IT'S, HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SOMETHING, JUST SIT AND HAVE COFFEE AND TEA AND TALK WITH NEIGHBORS.ANYTHING THAT WOULD HELP TO BRING TOGETHERNESS IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, I THINK WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO NEIGHBORS WHO MIGHT NOT TYPICALLY GATHER OR CONVENE OR HANG OUT.
I THINK WE MIGHT START SEEING THINGS SEEING MORE EYE TO EYE OR SEEING THAT WE HAVE MORE THINGS IN COMMON IF WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT?
>> I LOVE THE IDEA OF GETTING A HYPER LOCAL BECAUSE WE TEND TO THINK I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO OUR EVENT PLANNING, EVERYONE'S INVITING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WHO SHOWS UP, BUT DOING SOME OF THAT MORE TARGETED WORK SEEMS TO MAKE LOT OF SENSE.
WE'LL DEFINITELY TAKE THAT BACK TO THE BOARD.
>> THANK YOU. MY LIST IS MUCH SHORTER THAN PREVIOUS YEARS.
THOSE ARE MY ONLY THREE REQUESTS.
[LAUGHTER] NOT EASY ONES, BUT STILL IT'S JUST THREE.
>> [LAUGHTER] THESE TWO THINGS.
ONE IS COMMISSIONER MYER, I WOULD GET TO HYPER LOCAL.
I HAVE SENSE THE BLOCK AT LEAST.
I FEEL LIKE I KNOW MY NEIGHBORS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> YES, IT IS. [LAUGHTER] IT'S HIGHLY UNUSUAL, AND WHAT DROVE THAT THOUGHT WAS THE IS THE OAKHURST PARK PLANNING PROCESS? THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE THESE NEIGHBORS ARE MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY'RE FIGHTING.
>> MAYBE BLOCK BY BLOCKED BY BLOCK.
>> NOT EVEN BLOCK BY BLOCK, BUT SURE, MAYBE IT CAN BE AN OAKHURST AND A WINNONA PARK THING AND EAST DECATUR OR NORTH OAKHURST AND I'M NOT MARRIED TO WHAT HYPER LOCAL LOOKS LIKE, BUT I CERTAINLY THINK IT NEEDS TO BE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSING EACH OTHER WALKING THEIR DOGS ON THE STREET EVERY DAY WHO DON'T TALK.
>> GREAT EXAMPLE. WE JUST HAD NOT COURSE HERE, BUT WE HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY, AND SO BEING A PART OF THAT PROCESS WHERE IF YOU KNOW THAT A NEIGHBORHOOD HAS LOCK PARTY GOING OR FIGURE OUT A WAY TO AT LEAST SHOW UP AND BE A PART OF THAT.
THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY OCCURRING, BUT WE CAN GET SOME MORE SYNERGY AROUND THINGS THAT ALREADY OCCUR.
>> THE OTHER PART THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE NOT INVOLVED WITH THE CURATE.
>> LATE STAGE, SO NOT THROUGH THE BEGINNING.
>> DO WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING LIKE WHEN WE'RE DOING PLANNING, WHERE WE PULL IN BETTER TOGETHER OTHER BOARDS AND OESP ALSO WEIGHED IN.
>> WE'RE NOT [INAUDIBLE] TOGETHER PROBABLY THE MOST POPULAR.
>> WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE A PROCESS TYPICALLY, WHEN SOME OF THESE THINGS COME UP, I WILL ASK, HOW CAN BETTER TOGETHER FOLD IN, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A SET PROCESS, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE.
FRONT END WOULD BE BETTER THAN BACK END.
>> PART OF OUR PLANNING SHOULD BE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT ADVISORY BOARDS SHOULD BE INCLUDED THE PROCESS.
>> I AGREE. WERE PART OF THE FIRST PLAN WE BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD, PARKS AND REC AND ESP ALL I GUESS WE WERE CONSULTED.
I MAYBE IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE A PART OF THE REVIEW PROCESS, IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THAT PART OF THAT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
THAT IDEAS CAN BE FORMULATED, SHARED AND THERE'S AN AWARENESS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AS IT'S HAPPENING.
>> SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE POTENTIAL.
WHEN WE START PLANNING PROCESS.
>> I THINK THAT MAY BE THE OVERALL THING THAT WE CAN PASS HOW DO WE DO THAT.
>> THIS IS HELPFUL TOO. I'D LIKE TO PUT THIS INTO CONTEXT OF OTHER THINGS THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND TRYING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON, I LOOK SOME OF THE CONVERSATION AT OUR RETREAT IN JANUARY, ANTICIPATING A HARD YEAR, SOME SOME DIFFICULTIES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD BE RELATED TO NOT ONLY LOCAL POLITICS,
[00:40:02]
BUT CERTAINLY NATIONAL, WE'RE SEEING THAT I'LL COME HOME TO ROOT, BUT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO CREATE ALL THESE THINGS, MAYBE AS A COMETER TO COMMUNICATE, YOU CAN BE PUSHING THAT OUT TO, WHICH IS THESE WONDERFUL BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS THAT THE CITY IS SUPPORTING.WE'D LOVE TO HAVE MORE NEIGHBORHOODS DO THEM AND THEY CAN DO THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SO THAT HOWEVER OTHER WAYS WE LET THEM KNOW THAT THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER, MAKE A CHANGE RIGHT ON THAT BLOCK AND MAKE SOMETHING PRETTIER TOGETHER AND I'VE DONE ONE DAVIS.
THEN BACK TO THE BLOCK PARTY, MADE THE SUGGESTION BEFORE, BUT AT SOME POINT WE PUT A FEE ON IT TO RENT THE BARRIERS, AND I ALSO DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY KNOW HOW TO PUT ON.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THAT SEEMS LIKE A PERFECT THING FOR WEEKEND A MONTH WHERE BARRIERS ARE FREE.
>> THE MOST POWERFUL, WONDERFUL, COOL DAYS I'VE EVER HAD IN A TALK TO POINT TO YOUR POINT, PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT TALK ALL YEAR, THEY LEAVE A BLOCK PARTY AND GO, I CAN'T WAIT TILL WE DO THIS AGAIN.
>> I ALSO THINK I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE OUT OF HAND THEATER PARTNERSHIP.
I THINK THAT OFFERS A OPPORTUNITY FOR ON A LITTLE DIFFERENT SCALE THAN WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT FOR GROUPS TO COME TOGETHER, A LARGE GROUP TO HAVE CONVERSATION OF SMALLER GROUPS LOOKING AT THIS IMAGINING AMERICA FOR ALL, WHAT DOES IT MEAN, LIKE WHEN WE SAY WE THE PEOPLE, WHO IS THAT? I THINK THEY DO SUCH A GREAT JOB WITH THEIR THEATER AND CONVERSATION AFTERWARDS.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU MAY NOT ALL AGREE ON, BUT HOW DO WE HAVE THOSE RESPECTFUL THINGS.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND I THINK THE TIMING FOR IS WONDERFUL FOR US TO BE CELEBRATING THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS, AND I THINK THE GOVERNANCE IS TIME CONSUMING AS THAT IS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH PROCESS.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND BY HAVING THAT IDENTIFIED AND THANKS TO YOU AND THE CURRENT BOARD FOR WANTING TO BRING SOME THINGS TOGETHER TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE FUTURE LEADERS, AND THEN I DON'T KNOW IF RENEE HAS THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.
DO WE KNOW HOW MANY STATEMENTS OF INTEREST WE'VE RECEIVED FOR POSITIONS, AND I LOOKING TO SEE LANGSTON
>> ANY YOUTH THAT YOU ARE NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, BUT LANGSTON WILL NO BETTER.
>> WHEN WOULD THOSE STATEMENTS OF INTEREST NEED TO BE FOR YOUTH MEMBERS? CAN THAT BE AN ON GOING?
>> WE'RE OPEN TO PEOPLE JOINING WHENEVER [LAUGHTER] LANGSTON AND THE CITY MANAGER, IF THEY ARE OKAY WITH THAT, WE ARE TOTALLY FINE, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE ON THE BOARD WHO ARE DEDICATED, COMMITTED AND WANTING TO HELP US MOVE SOME OF THESE THINGS FORWARD.
>> THE REASON I ASKED, WE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS FOR THE YOUTH COUNCIL, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE COULDN'T TAKE THEM ALL.
AS WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, TYPICALLY WHAT WE STARTED DOING WITH ALL OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE BUILDING A BENCH SO THAT IF OPENING POPS UP OR HEY, YOU MAY NOT BE GREAT FOR THIS BOARD, BUT YOU MIGHT BE GREAT FOR THAT ONE.
WE GET TREATED THE SAME WAY WITH YOUTH COUNCIL APPLICANTS.
>> THANKS. [LAUGHTER] GOOD TO KNOW BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE YOUTH VOICE AS WELL AS THE OTHER MEMBERS AND LED TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE APPLICATIONS AND SORRY THAT YOU'RE LOSING I DO THEIR TERMS HAVE ENDED, BUT THEN ANOTHER, SO TRY TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE ROBUST GROUP, AND I THINK IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR AND THERE'S STILL MORE PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD DO
[00:45:03]
A SECOND CALL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.>> THAT WOULD BE SUPER SUPER HELPFUL, AND I THINK AND THE REASON WHY I SAID I WASN'T QUITE AS CONCERNED ABOUT BOARD RECRUITMENT ON BOARDING AS I WAS LAST YEAR.
BECAUSE I THINK IF WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH A LOT OF THESE 2026 PRIORITIES, LIKE THE EDITORIAL CALENDAR AND GETTING TAB AND DI RELATED CONTENT AND THE FOCUS, THAT'LL BE THAT SELF PROMOTION.
JUST AGAIN, BRINGING AWARENESS TO THE BOARD.
BUT DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT ONGOING RECRUITMENT IF NEEDED FOR THE SAKE OF ANSWERING THE QUESTION.
>> IT'S VERY MUCH UNDERAPPRECIATED, BUT VERY MUCH NEEDED RIGHT NOW AMONGST THE BIGGER COMMUNITY, BUT WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO AND SEE REALLY NOW MORE AND THERE THE VALUE OF THIS TYPE OF ENGAGEMENT.
BECAUSE WE CAN'T FAIL IT HERE.
WE'RE THE BEACON. WE GOT TO CONTINUE TO BE THE BEACON UNINTENDED.
>> [LAUGHTER] WE APPRECIATE YOUR [INAUDIBLE].
>> LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE [BACKGROUND] GOOD EVENING. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF
[I. Call to Order by Mayor.]
THE DECATUR CITY COMMISSION FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 20TH.BEFORE WE APPROVE THE MINUTES THIS EVENING, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND HONOR AND REMEMBER REMEMBRANCE OF CAPTAIN GARY MENARD, YOUR BELOVED MEMBER OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY WHO PASSED AWAY UNEXPECTEDLY RECENTLY.
SO JUST TAKE ONE MINUTE TO REMEMBER CAPTAIN MENARD.
THANK YOU. NEXT, COMMISSIONERS,
[II. Approval of the Minutes.]
WE DO HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THE REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 6TH, 2025.ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS?
>> WOULD YOU LIKE THEM IN SEPARATE MOTIONS OR?
>> ANY DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I OPPOSE CHAIR VOTES, AYE AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE A STAFF INTRODUCTION THIS EVENING.
[III. Presentations.]
>> HELLO AGAIN, RENNIE JACKSON, EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING MJ BROWN, THE CITY'S NEW EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST.
IN THIS ROLE, MJ WILL SUPPORT THE BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD, WILL ASSIST WITH DECATUR 101 AND ALL OF THE EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR OFFICE.
I AM GOING TO BE QUIET AND LET YOU HEAR FROM MJ.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.
I AM JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.
I'M A RECENT EMORY GRADUATE, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE MY FIFTH YEAR WORKING IN EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO APPLY WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN MY PREVIOUS ROLES AT EMORY UNIVERSITY TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES. THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE WE GO TO FAR, CAN I RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF OUR YOUTH MEMBERS AND HAVE THEM COME UP TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE?
>> LADIES, COME ON UP. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
>> YES. MY NAME IS ANGIE PARK, AND I'M A SENIOR AT DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL.
>> MY NAME IS LIZA TELL, AND I'M ALSO A SENIOR AT DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL.
>> THANK YOU, LADIES. PART OF THEIR ONGOING YOUTH COUNCIL RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO ATTEND CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS AND REPORT BACK TO THEIR PEERS WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED OR ALSO TO THEIR PARENTS.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
[IV.A. Michael Clifford, on behalf of Dream Capital, is requesting a special exception from the Downtown Decatur Parking District to increase the maximum required parking spaces to be off site from 80% to 93% for the construction of a hotel at property located at 701/ 705 Church Street. The property is zoned C-2. The Planning Commission recommends approval with conditions.]
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.PERFECT. I BELIEVE IT'S COMING.
[00:50:01]
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M CASEY KAZIK WITH PLANNING AND ZONING.
TONIGHT, WE HAVE ONE ITEM IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT.
THIS IS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FROM THE DOWNTOWN DECATUR PARKING DISTRICT TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM REQUIRED PARKING SPACES TO BE OFFSITE FROM 80%-93%.
THIS EQUATES TO APPROXIMATELY 12 SPACES IN DIFFERENCE.
THIS IS FOR A PROPOSED HOTEL THAT WILL BE LOCATED AT 705 CHURCH STREET.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID HEAR THIS ITEM, AND THEY ACTUALLY VOTED IN FAVOR 5-1, RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
THE FIRST IS THAT WE AS THE CITY, RECEIVE A RECORDED DOCUMENT OF THE EASEMENTS, WHATEVER PARKING AGREEMENTS THEY PUT IN PLACE WITH OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS, AND THAT THOSE PARKING AGREEMENTS STAY IN EFFECT ON OUR CONDITION TO THE SITE, NO MATTER WHO MAY OWN THE HOTEL IN THE FUTURE, OR IF THEY DECIDE TO DO OTHER PARKING ARRANGEMENTS AS NEW ONES MAYBE COME ONLINE OR MORE BECOME AVAILABLE.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM CAPITOL DISTRICT? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE FROM THE GROUP THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS?
>> CLIPPER, THE APPLICANT IS HERE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MIKE CLIPPER WITH PCA STUDIO AS ARCHITECTS.
WE'RE THE ARCHITECT FOR THE PROJECT.
I'M REPRESENTING DREAM CAPITAL.
AS CASEY WENT DOWN, THE ZONING FOR THE PROJECT, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, JUST TO NOTE THAT CC GENERAL COMMERCIAL ALLOWS FOR BUILDINGS AS TALL AS 80'', WHICH IS ROUGHLY SEVEN STORIES.
THEN WE ARE ASKING FOR THE EXCEPTION TO MOVE 12 OF OUR ON SITE SPACES OFF SITE, INCREASE OF 80-93% OFFSITE PARKING.
JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE PROJECT.
IT IS A SIX-STORY AC HOTEL, AC IS ONE OF THE MARRIOTT FLAGS OF THEIR LIFESTYLE BRAND, WE 144 GUEST ROOMS. THIS PROJECT IS SET UP ACTUALLY HAVE THE LOBBY, AND IN THE RESTAURANT AND BAR ON THE TOP LEVEL.
YOU COME IN AT THE GROUND LEVEL, TAKE AN ELEVATOR UP TO THE TOP TO CHECK IN, MULES AND EVERYTHING ELSE AT THE TOP GUEST ROOM DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE REST, BACK HOUSE, BASICALLY THE GROUND LEVEL, BUT THE LAUNDRY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHEN YOU ENTER THE SITE IF YOU GUYS HAVE THE PLANS AVAILABLE, LOOK AT IT IT IS A ONE WAY ENTRY, SO THEY WILL EXIT THROUGH THE REAR.
WE CALL IT 100% VALET, BUT GUESTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO USE THE VALET.
THEY CAN FIND THEIR OWN PARKING AND COME, BUT WE HAVE TRADITIONAL SPACES ON SITE.
THERE'S 10 TOTAL SPACES, ONE OF THOSE BEING AN ADA SPACE AND FOUR OF THOSE BEING CHARGING STATIONS, BUT THEY HAVE SPACES FOR GUESTS TO COME IN, PARK TEMPORARILY WE WHETHER THEY CHECK IN, OR THEY CAN DROP THEIR CAR WITH THE VALET.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT STACKING INTO THE STREET, BUT WE DO HAVE A COMPLETE LANE ALONG THE SIDE OF THE HOTEL THAT ACTUALLY STACKS 16 CARS, WHICH IS QUITE A FEW CONSIDERING MOST VALET OPERATIONS.
THIS WILL INCREASE TRAFFIC TO THE SITE, BUT I THINK THE ONE WAY ENTRANCE, CARS IN TO THE REAR.
IT WILL ACTUALLY BE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY WITH ONLY COMING IN ONE WAY AND CARS IN AND OUT OF THE SITE, TWICE A DAY, THE TYPICAL THINGS.
THAT'S OUR PROJECT.WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR.
AGAIN, THIS ZONING IS PART OF THE HIGH DENSITY COMMERCIAL USE CATEGORY C THAT WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF.
>> THANK YOU. WE MAY HAVE QUESTIONS AND HAVE YOU COME BACK, BUT WE'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC.
WE WILL EITHER OF YOU ALL TO COME BACK.
WE WILL OPEN IT UP NOW FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ORDINANCE GRANTING THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AT 701-705 CHURCH STREET.
IF THERE ARE ANY PEOPLE HERE WHO WOULD WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS PROJECT, THIS IS THE ONLY THING WE'RE CONSIDERING AT THIS POINT.
THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING, IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
>> CAMERON HARDY WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN 1976.
DAD AND MARTA BUSH? NO. HE'S JUST BRINGING MORE TRAFFIC TO OUR TOWN.
[00:55:02]
WE SHOULD BE HELPING THE KIDS.WHICH YOU'RE NOT DOING, THEY'RE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS, AND YOU WANT THIS GUY TO MAKE SOME MORE MONEY? NO. HELP THE KIDS.
YOU HAVE PROBLEMS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT NOW THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT.
ARE YOU GOING TO HELP THIS GUY, MAKE OUR TRAFFIC PROBLEM WORSE? I WOULD SAY, NO. I BORN RACE HERE.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT.
MY NAME IS CHARLESTON ALLEN. I'M AN ATTORNEY.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF CHURCH STREET STATION, LLC.
THE PRINCIPAL IS ALSO HERE, JEFF GLADSTEIN, GLADSTEIN, AND HE WILL BE PROBABLY COMING FORWARD TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL.
HE OWNS THE ABUTIC PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH A 609 AND 613 CHURCH STREET, AS WELL AS THE PORTION OF THE BACK END CALLED HUNTER'S ALLEY OF THAT PROPERTY.
THE PROPERTY IS SITUATED, AS I SAID, DIRECTLY BESIDE THE SUBJECT PROPERTY FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AS WE BEGIN, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A FEW PICTURES THAT I'VE MADE FOR EVERYONE OF THE GENERAL AREA NOT MANY.
SEVERAL ISSUES COME TO MIND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, WITH RESPECT TO THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT, I KNOW, THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION, YOU'RE NOT SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT THE PROJECT.
BUT PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT I THINK WE HAVE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS ALL THEY DID WAS LOOK AT THE 12 SPACES.
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE LOOKED AT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
EVEN WITHIN YOUR OWN ORDINANCE, 11.42, I BELIEVE IS THE NUMBER, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT SPECIFIC CRITERIA IN ORDER TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT A SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS WARRANTED.
TWO OF THEM AT LEAST DIRECTLY RELATE TO THE IMPACT TO THE ABUTTING PROPERTIES, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING A GREAT DEAL OF TODAY.
NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS, THE FIRST ONE IS THE DRIVEWAY THAT'S BETWEEN THE TWO PROPERTIES, THAT IS THE ONLY MANNER TO GET INTO MY CLIENT'S PROPERTY.
A PORTION OF THAT IS ACTUALLY A PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH FOR TWO LANE TRAFFIC AT THAT POINT.
BUT THEY HAVE USED THAT TO BOTH COME IN AND GO OUT NOT AS A TWO WAY.
BUT BECAUSE THERE'S NO BACK ALLEY WAY TO GET ONTO HUNTER'S ALLEY FROM THE BACK OF MY CLIENT'S PARKING LOT.
IT'S NOT WIDE ENOUGH TO BE A FULL TWO WAY DRIVEWAY, BUT IT HAS BEEN USED IN THAT FASHION IN THE PAST.
IF YOU'LL LOOK DOWN TO THE SECOND PICTURE, IT GIVES YOU ANOTHER VIEW AS YOU'RE GOING DOWN TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE PROPERTIES.
THE LAST PICTURE IS A VIEW GOING TO HUNTER'S ALLEY, WHICH IS NOT ACCESSIBLE, IT'S SOMEWHAT LOCKED OFF THE BACK PART OF THE DISCUSSION, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD BEEN USING THAT AS THE POTENTIAL EGRESS FOR MY CLASS.
THEN THE OTHER PICTURE GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE AROUND IT.
MOST OF THE ONE AND TWO STORY BUILDINGS AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING A DEVELOPMENT, WHICH BY RIGHT UNDER C2 CAN BE UP TO 80'' ALL.
DO YOU MEAN IT HAS TO BE UP TO 80'' ALL? BUT WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT A PROJECT OF THIS NATURE, YOU DO HAVE TO LOOK AT WHETHER IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES, THE SURROUNDING BUSINESSES, AND THE SURROUNDING USES.
WHEN WE'VE DONE SOME OF THESE THINGS WITH SPOT ZONING IN COURT, THAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE.
DOES IT DETRACT FROM THE ACTUAL VIABILITY OF THE OTHER BUSINESSES BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S SITUATED, BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN? THE THING WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT IS IF THE BUILDING WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY, THEN THEY WOULDN'T BE NEEDING EXTRA OFFSITE PARKING SPACES.
ANOTHER THING THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IN THE OFFSITE PARKING ISSUE IS WHETHER THERE IS ADEQUATE OFFSITE PARKING AROUND THERE.
NOW, I KNOW, ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED IS TO GET THE WRITTEN AGREEMENTS FOR THE SHARED PARKING SPACES.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE PROPOSED CONDITIONS FOR
[01:00:03]
ADDRESSING THE EASEMENT ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO MY CLIENT'S PROPERTY.THAT EASEMENT IS OVERRUN OR USED OR SHUT DOWN FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME, THAT MAKES MY CLIENT'S PROPERTY, ESSENTIALLY, USELESS TO HIM AS A MONEY MAKING VENTURE.
THAT DAMAGES THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
IF WE ARE LOOKING AT PUTTING OFFSITE PARKING, HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT HIM? HE MIGHT HAVE TO TRY TO CLOSE DOWN OR PUT GATE UP IN FRONT OF HIS PROPERTY SO THAT HE DOESN'T BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY SPACES IN THE BACK FOR THE USE OF THAT BUILDING EITHER.
FROM ONE PERSPECTIVE, WE CAN LOOK AT IT THAT THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, IF IT WERE REDUCED TO THE NUMBERS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PARKING ALGORITHM FOR, I BELIEVE, IT'S 0.75 PARKING SPACES PER UNIT ON A HOTEL.
BY REDUCING THE HEIGHT, THEN THEY COULD GET WHAT THEY WANT, BUT THEY'RE WANTING TO DO SIX STORIES.
I KNOW THEY COULD POTENTIALLY DO SEVEN STORIES.
BUT AGAIN, SIMPLY BECAUSE SOMETHING CAN BE PUT THERE, DOESN'T MEAN IT'S APPROPRIATE TO BE PUT THERE OR SHOULD BE PUT THERE FOR THE EFFICACY OF THE BUSINESS OF THE SURROUNDING BUSINESSES.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR OWN ORDINANCES, AND I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT A BIT.
THE CRITERIA THAT YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION, THE SUITABILITY OF THE PROPOSED EXCEPTION AND A VIEW OF THE USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ADJACENT AND NEARBY PROPERTIES, AND THE IMPACT THAT THE PROPOSED EXCEPTION WILL HAVE ON THE EXISTING USE OR USABILITY OF THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES.
NOW, AGAIN, IF YOU ONLY LOOK AT IT FROM THE ANALYTICAL STANDPOINT OF 12 SPACES, THEN YOU CAN EASILY COME OUT WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION CAME OUT, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS CRITERIA CALLS YOU TO DO.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK THE STEP BEYOND EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE REAL WORLD IMPACT ON THE BUSINESSES AND ON THE PROPERTY.
A LOSS OF HIS INGRESS TO HIS BUSINESS, OBVIOUSLY, MAKES HIS PROPERTY POTENTIALLY WORTHLESS.
IF HE TRIED TO SELL IT AT THAT POINT, THEN HE WOULD HAVE TO SELL IT ONLY TO A DEVELOPER WHO WAS INTERESTED IN A SMALL LOT THAT THEY MIGHT COULD PUT AN ASSEMBLAGE AND REDEVELOP, WHICH COULD NUMBER 1, NOT ONLY INCREASE THE TIME THAT'S ON THE MARKET TO SELL, BUT NUMBER 2, REDUCE WHAT VALUE IT IS FROM NOW TO THE SALE POINT THAT HE CAN GET.
UNDER CURRENT GEORGIA FORMULATION, I GUESS, BUT IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY LAW, BUT THE SUPERIOR PORTS GENERALLY LOOK AT WHETHER SOMETHING IS AN INVERSE CONDEMNATION OR A KING WHEN YOU CAN SHOW THAT THERE IS A 25% OR MORE DROP IN THE VALUE OF A PRIME.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO IS THAT ON BOTH THE CRITERIA HERE, AND THEN YOU GO TO THE PARKING SECTION, WHICH I BELIEVE IS 7.1.5 E. THAT SECTION SAYS NOTHING ABOUT A DEPARTURE FROM THE 80% OFFSITE PARKING FOR NON RESIDENTIAL USES WITHIN THIS DISTRICT.
DOESN'T SAY YOU CAN'T DO IT, BUT DOESN'T SAY YOU CAN DO IT.
A LONGSTANDING LAW, AND THIS IS THE ONLY CASE LAW I'M GOING TO REFER YOU TO BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS NOT A COURT BODY, BUT THERE'S OTHER CASE LAW THAT CONTROLS SOME OF THESE PRINCIPLES THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
BUT A SIMILAR CASE COMING OUT OF 1980, WHICH IS FULTON COUNTY, CITY OF ATLANTA VERSUS WESLEY MOVING.
IT'S 245 GEORGIA SUPREME COURT CASE 794.
THE MAIN POINT OF THE HOLDING WHERE THEY STRUCK DOWN THE ATLANTA ORDINANCE AS BEING UNCONSTITUTIONAL WAS THAT THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT SPECIFY THE CONDITIONS WHICH NEED TO BE MET IN ORDER TO GET THE SPECIAL PERMIT.
HERE, UNDER THE PARKING PERMIT, THERE'S NO CRITERIA AS TO WHAT YOU NEED TO SHOW TO GET A SPECIAL PERMIT TO GO BEYOND THE 80%.
IF YOU LOOK BACK SOLELY AT YOUR 112.4 E REALLY DON'T GIVE YOU ANY ELEMENTS EITHER.
BE IF I'M ADVISING A CLIENT ON HOW TO DESIGN SOMETHING, I'M GOING TO LOOK AT THE LAW AND LOOK AT THE ELEMENTS AND TICK OFF LITTLE CHECK BOXES AS TO WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO MEET THE CRITERIA THAT YOU FOLKS WOULD NEED TO APPROVE THE PROJECT, WHEN I'M DOING A ZONING APPLICATION OR WHEN I'M DOING A SPECIAL LAND USE PERMIT OR A VARIANCE, IF IT'S A VARIANCE, WE'VE GOT TO MEET HARDSHIP.
WELL, THAT'S ALSO PART OF THE CRITERIA ON THE STATE LEVEL OF SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS AS WELL. THERE'S GOT TO BE A NEED.
THE NEED HERE IS AN EXTRA STORY OR TWO EXTRA STORIES.
[01:05:04]
UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING FOR THAT PROPERTY COULD BE EASILY, VIABLY, ECONOMICALLY DEVELOPED WITHOUT OVERBUILDING THE CAPACITY FOR THE PARKING AS REQUIRED WITHIN YOUR HOME ORDINANCES.BUT THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN THAT. THEY'VE GIVEN YOU A REQUEST ONLY TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO GO BEYOND THE NORMAL BOUNDARIES OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT DISTRICT IN ORDER TO BUILD.
NOW, A SMALL REQUEST, BUT IF THE PROPERTY CAN BE DEVELOPED VIABLY, ECONOMICALLY, WITHIN YOUR OWN REQUIREMENTS IN THE ZONING, THE SPECIAL PERMITS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE.
SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS, SPECIAL VARIANCES ARE NOT APPROPRIATE.
ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE VALUE AND THE BUSINESS VIABILITY OF THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.
NOW, ALSO, THINKING THAT YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN CHURCH STREET COMING INTO THE DECATUR AREA.
YOU'LL BE DRIVING PAST [INAUDIBLE], VIABLE, ONE AND TWO STORY BUSINESSES.
SUDDENLY, YOU HAVE THIS HOTEL, AND THEN YOU GO BACK TO THE LOWER-LEVEL BUSINESSES, AND THEN YOU COME TO COMMERCE.
THAT IS NOT A SELLING POINT FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BRING IN BUSINESSES WHO MAYBE LIKE A ROBY POLY OR I DON'T KNOW IF ROBY POLY IS IN BUSINESS ANYMORE, BUT THERE USED TO BE ONE ON THAT STRIP.
BUT ANY SMALL BUSINESS LIKE THAT THAT CAN GENERATE INCOME FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS, I'M GOING TO WANT TO SIT THERE NEXT TO A GIANT HOTEL WHERE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE SEEN.
YOU THEN CREATE AND THIS IS NOT A ZONING ISSUE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT. THERE'S A THEORY IN ZONING CALLED THE SPOT ZONING.
THAT MEANS BASICALLY YOU'RE PUTTING AN INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING THAT IS TOTALLY INCONSISTENT WITH IT AND INFLUENCES NEGATIVELY THE SURROUNDING AREA.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A SPOT ZONING CASE HERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT A ZONING SITUATION.
BUT THE THEORY STILL HOLDS WHEN IT IS GOING TO DAMAGE THE VIABILITY OF THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE.
WE ARE ASKING THAT AT THIS POINT, THAT YOU DENY THE SPECIAL PERMIT OR AT THE VERY LEAST DEFER IT AND SEE IF THE PROPERTY OWNERS CAN COME TO SOME KIND OF A NEGOTIATION WHERE MY CLIENT WON'T BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED AND THEY CAN REACH THE GOAL THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO REACH.
THERE'S A POSSIBILITY. BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU.
WHAT'S THE NATURE OF YOUR CLIENT'S BUSINESS?
HE HAS A TENANT IN THE PROPERTY, AND I'LL LET HIM EXPLAIN WHAT THE TENANT DOES, BUT IT'S A PROPERTY THAT THEY HAVE FOR THE PURPOSE OF LEASING TO OTHER BUSINESS.
>> OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M JEFF LASTING.
I'M MANAGING PRINCIPAL CHURCH STREET STATION, LLC, THE OWNER OF THE ADJACENT PROPERTY.
TO ADDRESS MISS WALSH'S QUESTION, WE HAVE LEASED BUILDING OUT TO VARIOUS TENANTS, PHYSICAL THERAPY GROUPS, ARCHITECTURE GROUPS, AND OTHERS OVER TIME.
THE PHOTOGRAPH YOU SAW FOR THE BLACK CAR AND WAS PAINTED AS A ONE LANE ENTRY EGRESS.
ALSO GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO HUNTERS ALLEY USING A PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT, WHICH IS ALSO ONE WAY.
IT'S NOT WIDE ENOUGH FOR TWO LANES.
THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR SITE PLAN IS THEY SHOW PUTTING UP A CURB ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY DOWN WHERE THE EGRESS IS NOW.
THERE'S NO PROVISION WHATSOEVER TO ALLOW TO CONTINUE AS THEY HAVE FOR DECADES EXITING THE PROPERTY ON THE HUNDREDS AVENUE FOR THERE.
THERE'S NO PROVISION WHATSOEVER.
IT THE GENTLEMAN SITTING OVER THERE WHO SIGNED OFF ON THIS THERE'S NO ADVERSE EFFECT OF THE PROPERTY.
NOW, KEEP IN MIND HE'S BEING PAID BY THE DEVELOPER, THERE'S BEEN NO DISCUSSION AND THERE'S NOTHING IN HIS WRITE UP ABOUT HOW THAT COULD BE TRUE, AND I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU, IT'S FALSE.
HE FALSIFIED THE DOCUMENT TO GET THIS DONE.
OUR PROPERTY IS NOT VIABLE IF WE CAN'T DRIVE OUT AS WELL AS DRIVE INTO THE PROPERTY.
NOW, THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.
SECONDARILY, THEY HAVE PROPOSED ANOTHER CURB CUT APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET TO THE NORTH ON CHURCH STREET OR WHERE THE EXISTING SHARED DRIVEWAY IS.
NOW, WHEN I'VE TALKED TO ENGINEERS FROM THE CITY OF DECATUR, THEY SAID, YOU CAN'T GET ANOTHER CURB CUT.
[01:10:02]
YEAH. THEY'RE PROPOSING ONE.THERE'S NOTHING IN THEIR SUBMISSION THAT ADDRESSES TRAFFIC COUNTS, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET A CURB CUT.
THE PROXIMITY TO THE ALREADY BUSY INTERSECTION OF COMMERCE IN CHURCH STREET.
THERE'S NO SUBSTANCE IN THEIR SUBMISSION AT ALL ABOUT ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
THERE'S NO HYDROLOGY STUDIES, WHICH WERE PRETTY ROBUST INDICATOR.
THERE'S NO EMERGENCY VEHICLE STUDIES. THERE'S NOTHING.
BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS IF THEY'RE ALLOWED TO GET THIS SPECIAL EXCEPTION AND DO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, WE WILL BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.
FIRST OF ALL, WE WON'T HAVE EPRS, THE WAY THEY'VE DRAWN IT UP ON SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN A PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT FOR DECADES.
NOW, THE GENTLEMAN WHO CHAIRS YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION SIDESTEPPED THE RULES THAT BIND HIM.
HE SAID, WELL, YOU CAN'T EXPECT THAT THERE'S NEVER GOING TO BE CHANGE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE LAW SAYS, IT'S NOT WHAT YOUR ORDINANCE SAYS.
IT SAYS, THERE CAN BE NO ADVERSE EFFECT TO NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.
CHANGE IS NOT WRITTEN IN THE CASE LAW ANYWHERE.
IT'S NOT WRITTEN IN YOUR ORDINANCE OR ANY OTHER RULE.
THAT WAS AN INAPPROPRIATE ABANDONDMENT OF THE DUTIES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT'S ABOUT ADVERSE EFFECT TO US, THE VETERINARY CLINIC AND THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO CHOKE ONE OF THE BUSIEST INTERSECTIONS IN DECATUR.
ONCE YOU'RE ON THE PROPERTY, HUNTERS ALLEY, AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW, YOU GO OUT THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY AND TURN LEFT, IT TURNS INTO A ONE LANE WITH A SHARP 90 DEGREE THAT'S NOT MARKETABLE, WHICH MEANS ALL TRAFFIC HAS TO GO TO THE RIGHT TO COMMERCE.
COMMERCE HAS ALREADY BACKED UP AND WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING ACROSS THE PROPERTY TODAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE SITTING AT THE INTERSECTION THERE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TRAFFIC BACKING UP ON HUNTERS ALLEY, WHICH IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH TO SERVE THE CITY OF DECATURS TOLD US, THERE'S NOTHING IN THEIR SUBMISSION THAT DEALS WITH WIDENING THAT OR HOW THEY PROPOSE TO DO THAT.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THEIR SUBMISSION THAT CALCULATES THE NUMBER OF PARKING PLACES AVAILABLE IN NEIGHBORING PARKING DECKS.
THOSE PARKING DECKS ALREADY HAVE TO SERVE THE BUILDINGS THAT THEY SERVE.
THEY'RE SAYING, WELL, WE'LL GET AN AGREEMENT WITH THOSE BUSINESSES.
WELL, AT SOME POINT, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO DO THE CALCULATION.
THERE'S X NUMBER OF PARKING PLACES IN THE DECKS.
YOU CAN'T PRETEND THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TENANTS ALREADY IN THOSE BUILDINGS.
NOW, THERE'S ALREADY TWO HOTELS IN EXISTENCE IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR THAT HAVE PARKING DECKS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THEM.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE IN THE DRAWING BOARD.
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.
I HEARD THEM IN THEIR PREVIOUS PRESENTATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION SAYING, WELL, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO TO MARTA AND WALK DOWN HERE.
I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT FIRST OF ALL, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED NEW HOTEL, THERE'S THREE HOTELS THAT ARE MUCH CLOSER TO THE MARTA STATION.
ACCORDING TO MARTA, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY COME TO DECATUR USING MARTA, WHICH REQUIRES A CHANGE TO THE EAST LINE AT FIVE POINTS IS MINISCULE DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN.
ANYBODY'S NOTION THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME TO HOTELS IN DECATUR, USING MARTA IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE DATA THAT EXISTS.
BUT IF THAT TURNS OUT TO BE TRUE, THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO THE THREE HOTELS THAT ARE CLOSER TO THE MARTA STATION THAN THIS ONE.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THEIR SUBMISSION THAT TALKS ABOUT THE DANGER TO SCHOOL KIDS USING CHURCH STREET, WHICH, BY THE WAY, A LOT OF MONEY WAS JUST SPENT TO RECONDITION AND DO A LANDSCAPE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE CHANGED BY THEIR PROPOSAL.
MR. ALLEN JUST TOLD YOU, ACCORDING TO LAW, IF A SITE CAN BE REDEVELOPED ECONOMICALLY VIABLY WITHOUT A SPECIAL EXCEPTION, IT'S TO BE DENIED.
YOU DON'T HAND THESE OUT LIKE CANDY.
JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A PRECEDENT FOR DOING IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, DOESN'T MEAN IT'S APPROPRIATE IN EVERY CASE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAND OUT THIS TYPE OF EXCEPTION EVERYWHERE, YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE A BIGGER MONSTER THAN IS ALREADY OCCURRING IN DECATUR.
AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW, CHURCH STREET IS HEAVILY TRAVELED AND PEOPLE USE COMMERCE TO GO SOUTHWARD TOWARDS OTHER PLACES.
IT'S ONE OF THE BUSIEST INTERSECTIONS.
WE CHECKED WITH THE DOT AND OTHER SOURCES.
IT MAY NOT BE THE BUSIEST, BUT IT'S AT LEAST THE SECOND BUSIEST INTERSECTION IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
BY ADDING ANOTHER CURB CUT, AND HAVING CARS WAITING TO GET INTO THE HOTEL.
I KNOW DECATUR ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO WALK TO PLACE AS WELL, A HOTEL, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WALK.
THEY'RE COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN OR THEY'RE COMING FROM THE AIRPORT AND LIKE I SAID, ACCORDING TO MARTA, THERE'S NO DATA THAT SUGGESTS PEOPLE ARE TAKING THE TRAIN TO DOWNTOWN DECATUR OR THAT THEY WILL IN THE FUTURE.
HOPEFULLY, MAYBE THAT WILL CHANGE.
BUT FOR TODAY'S PURPOSES, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
THESE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE DRIVING TO THE SITE, TRYING TO GET INTO THAT SITE.
THE GENTLEMAN OVER HERE TALKED ABOUT, WELL, WE CAN STACK 15 CARS.
[01:15:01]
THEY'VE GOT 144 ROOMS. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I'M THE NEXT DOOR PROPERTY OWNER WHEN I HAVE A LOT OF SURFACE PARKING, IT HAPPENED WHEN THE STRENGTH PLACE WAS THERE.
THEY JUST WALK OVER AND PARK ON OUR PROPERTY.
THIS PUTS ME IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO POLICE MY PROPERTY FROM THEIR GUESTS WHO DON'T HAVE ROOM TO PARK.
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE TO BUILD A HOTEL ON THAT SITE.
CAPACITY IN THEIR PARKING LOT? THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CAPACITY ON CHURCH STREET.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ON COMMERCE.
THIS IS AN ATROCIOUS IDEA THAT DOWNGRADES DECATUR.
NOW, AS FAR AS AN ADVERSE EFFECT TO US, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE COMING OVER PARKING ON OUR LOT.
BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM.
THEY HAVE ACCORDING TO THEIR SITE PLAN, ARE VIRTUALLY NO PARKING, 144 ROOMS, ALMOST NO ON SITE PARKING.
THEY WANT TO INCREASE OFFSITE PARKING.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA.
THAT IS AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON US.
LIKE I SAID, THERE'S BEEN NO CITATION IN THEIR PRESENTATION OF WHAT THE TRAFFIC COUNT IS.
I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY COME TO YOU ASKING AND SAYING THAT WE CAN HANDLE EVERYTHING WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A SINGLE TRAFFIC COUNT.
THEY HAVEN'T TALKED AT ALL ABOUT THE LAW ON CURB CUTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE'S ONE IN EXISTENCE, 12 FEET AWAY.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE ABOUT THAT.
THEY DON'T ADDRESS EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS.
I THINK I MENTIONED HYDROLOGY BEFORE.
THERE'S NO COUNT ON PARKING PLACES IN THE ADJOINING DECKS.
POPAND IS PROPOSING SOMETHING BEHIND US.
THERE'S NO MENTION OF THAT CORRECT.
THERE'S NO ENGINEERING STUDIES OF ANY KIND THAT SUPPORT WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.
THIS IS THE FIELD OF HOTEL BUILD IT, AND THEY WILL COME. GIVE US AN APPROVAL.
I'LL JUST MAGICALLY MAKE EVERYTHING WORK OUT JUST FINE.
WE'RE GOING TO MEET EVERY ENGINEERING REQUIREMENT, EVERY HYDROLOGY REQUIREMENT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BOTHER OUR NEIGHBORS EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE TRYING TO SHUT DOWN THE EGRESS LEAVING MY PROPERTY.
NOT SURE HOW YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO EXIT IF YOU DON'T HAVE EGRESS.
THAT'S NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AT ALL.
THERE'S BEEN VIRTUALLY NO SUPPORTING DATA PRESENTED OTHER THAN JUST ONE WHERE THERE WON'T BE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON NEIGHBORHOOD PROPERTIES AS WELL.
I DON'T SEE HOW THEY CAN SAY THAT.
THEY HAVEN'T ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION OTHER THAN THEIR BROKER CALLED ME SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND SAID, WELL, IF WE GO TO OUR PLAN APPROVED, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO REDEVELOP YOUR PROPERTY AND WE WANT TO BUY A CHEAP, IS BASICALLY WHAT HE SAID.
AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ONE OF THE PRINCIPALS THERE HE SAID THAT HE DISPATCHES BROKER TO MAKE US AN OFFER.
THAT WAS NOT TRUE. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THINGS THAT JUST AREN'T TRUE.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.
YOU'VE GOT TWO EXISTING HOTELS, ANOTHER ONE THAT'S ABOUT TO BREAK GROUND.
NONE OF THEM ARE SIX STORIES FROM MINOR.
CERTAINLY THE EXISTING ONES ARE AND THEY'VE GOT PARKING BEHIND THEM.
I WOULD RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT TO THIS COMMISSION BECAUSE YOU NEED TO USE SOME COMMON SENSE.
TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN HERE, IF THIS IS ALLOWED TO GO FORWARD, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYBODY CONCERNED AT ALL.
WE HOPE NOT TO HAVE TO FILE AN INJUNCTION, BUT IF IT'S APPROVED HERE, WE WILL.
I APPRECIATE YOUR LISTENING TO ME, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER ALL OF THE FACTORS AND THE FACT THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION REALLY DID NOT FOLLOW ITS OWN RULES.
AT ALL. THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE.
THEY ONLY PUT UP THE INFORMATION A WEEK BEFORE LAST WEEK'S PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
IT HARDLY GIVES ANYBODY A CHANCE TO DO THEIR OWN STUDIES, TO FORMULATE A REBUTTAL.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY.
AGAIN, IT'S JUST NOT A TRANSPARENT TRANSACTION.
AND SO I WOULD REQUEST THAT IT'S DENIED AT WORST TABLED UNTIL THIS GROUP CAN ACTUALLY PROVE THAT THEY CAN PERFORM WITHOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO NEARBY PROPERTIES, WITHOUT CAUSING ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC BACKUP, WITHOUT ADDRESSING HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET PEOPLE OUT HUNTERS ALLEY, WHICH IS BARELY TWO LANES NOW, AND YOU CAN'T USE IT GOING LEFT.
IT'S KIND OF MIND BLOWING THAT THEY'VE DONE ZERO WORK AND SUBMITTED ZERO INFORMATION TO SUPPORT WHAT THEY'VE ASKED FOR.
>> ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO?
>> WE'LL ASK THAT WE MAINTAIN A CIVIL LEVEL OF DISCOURSE WITHOUT CLAPPING OR AS PEOPLE COME FORWARD, OR THAT'S JUST CLAP.
[01:20:01]
I LIVE AT 1017 CLAREMONT AVENUE.I HAVE TWO QUICK CONCERNS ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT.
AS SOMEONE WHO SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN THE PEDESTRIAN LANE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL, COMPLETE CHURCH STREET, I DO WONDER HOW A BIG NEW NEIGHBOR THAT HAS ITS FRONT DOOR AND ITS WELCOME MAT 6 STORIES UP FEELS TO THE PEDESTRIANS ON CHURCH STREET.
SECOND CONCERN AS SOMEONE WHO SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT THE DECATUR CEMETERY AS A VOLUNTEER FOR FRIENDS OF DECATUR CEMETERY.
I WORRY ABOUT EVEN SOME OF THOSE 98 VEHICLES PARKING AT THE CEMETERY.
THE DECATUR CEMETERY IS THE MOST VISITED PARK OR RECREATION FACILITY IN THE CITY.
IT IS AN ACTIVE CEMETERY WITH NEW BURIALS AND THOUSANDS OF VISITS FROM FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES, BOTH NEAR AND FAR.
WE ALREADY HAVE SOME HELPFUL FOLKS ON THE NEXT-DOOR APP, ADVISING PARKING IN THE CEMETERY FOR IF AND WHEN THE POPULAR GROCERY STORE COMES TO THE BABY PROGER LOCATION. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TALK.
>> YOU LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT?
>> YES. THAT'S ALL WE'RE TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON. I'M SORRY.
WE ONLY TAKE IT ONE TIME FROM THOSE WHO HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS, AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ON WITH THIS DISCUSSION.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT [INAUDIBLE].
>> AS YOU WANT ME TO WAIT TO SEE IF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HER.
>> THOSE HAVE TO DO WITH THE [INAUDIBLE]? ARE THERE OTHERS? WE'LL OPEN UP IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE HERE WHO IS ONLINE.
WE WILL OPEN IT UP IF THERE IS A COMMENT PART OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING, LOOKING AT THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO INCREASING THE MAXIMUM PARKING SPACES TO BE OFF-SITE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON AS PART OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
IF THERE'S SOMEONE ONLINE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, NOW'S THE TIME TO DO SO.
SEEING NONE. WE WILL OPEN THE MEETING UP FOR DISCUSSION AMONGST THE COMMISSIONERS, AND I HAVE A FEELING WE MAY BE ASKING MS. KURZ, MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD EVEN BEFORE WE HAVE OUR DISCUSSION TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE THINGS.
>> SURE, I CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS BROUGHT UP.
THIS PROPERTY IS ZONED C2, SO WE ARE NOT HERE FOR A REZONING TONIGHT.
THE HOTEL IS ALSO A PERMITTED USE UNDER THE C2.
ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A CONDITIONAL USE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THE HEIGHT IS 80 FEET IN THIS DISTRICT, SO THEY ARE NOT EXCEEDING THE HEIGHT. THEY'RE NOT CORRECT.
THIS IS NOT AN ENGINEERED SITE AT ALL TO DATE.
THAT PROCESS IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY STAFF WOULD REVIEW.
THEIR REASON HERE TONIGHT IS FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR THE PARKING, BECAUSE THAT MAY CHANGE THEIR OVERALL PROPOSAL.
THE FULL REVIEW, WHICH DOES REQUIRE A FULL MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY, COMES IN THROUGH STAFF, SO DOES THE HYDROLOGY REPORT? WE HAVE REVIEWERS FROM ZONING, FROM THE ARBORIST, FROM ENGINEERING, FROM STORMWATER, AND FROM BUILDING, WHO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE SITE.
WHEN ALL OF THOSE DETAILS COME IN, IF ANYTHING DOES NEED A MODIFICATION, THEY WILL HANDLE THAT.
THEY DO HAVE ANOTHER CURB CUT ON THIS SITE RIGHT NOW.
ONE MAY BE GOING AWAY, AND ONE MAY BE COMING BACK IN.
ENGINEERING WILL ACTUALLY REVIEW THAT LOCATION WHEN ALL OF THE PLANS COME IN.
THAT IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT THEY CANNOT MEET IN THE C2 DISTRICT OR ANYTHING, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY COME BACK IN FRONT OF YOU IF THEY WANT TO CARRY THAT ON.
THE ITEM HERE TONIGHT IS JUST THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR THE PARKING.
SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS ARE ISSUED FOR ANYTHING IN THE C2 DISTRICT, ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO THE PARKING REGULATIONS AS WELL.
WE ALSO HAVE SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS IN THE PEDESTRIAN OVERLAY DISTRICT, AND WE SEE IT LIKE THAT.
THIS IS THE PROPER PROCESS FOR THAT.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE EASEMENT, I THINK MR. CLIFFORD MIGHT BE BETTER OFF ADDRESSING THAT.
I HAVE NOT SEEN THE EASEMENT DOCUMENT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT IS ACTUALLY SHOWN ON THE PLAN AS A HATCHED AREA, AND THEY APPEAR TO BE LEAVING IT ON THE PLAN.
ONCE AGAIN, WHEN ALL OF THOSE PLANS COME THROUGH, STAFF DO NOT ALLOW ANY ENCROACHMENTS, EITHER BUILDING OR BLOCKAGE OF ANY EASEMENTS,
[01:25:05]
UNLESS BOTH THE GRANTOR AND THE GRANTEE ACTUALLY PROVIDE US WITH WRITTEN APPROVAL FOR THAT.THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO WORK OUT.
LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE IS ON MY LIST.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE PARKING, I KNOW I DID MAKE MR. CLIFFORD START DOING SOME OF THE DUE DILIGENCE TO FIND PARKING DECKS AND AVAILABLE PARKING, SO YOU WILL SEE SOME LETTERS IN THERE FROM ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE AMY DEVELOPMENT, THE MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON COMMERCE AND HUNTERS ALLEY, IS ACTUALLY IN FOR PERMITTING.
ONCE AGAIN, THEY ARE BUILDING UNDER THE C2 DISTRICT.
THEY DO NOT NEED ANY SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS, AND THAT'S UNDER REVIEW RIGHT NOW.
THAT WILL AND MAY BECOME THE CLOSEST DEEP? THEY MIGHT HAVE AN OPTION TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.
ANOTHER PORTION IN RELATION TO THAT IS THAT HUNTERS ALLEY WILL ACTUALLY BE MORE FORMALLY DEVELOPED AND ORGANIZED AS A TRUE THROUGH FAIR.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY COMING IN THROUGH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
LET'S SEE. WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I MISSED ON THE LIST?
>> LET ME JUST ASK A QUESTION ABOUT PARKING, THE CONCERN ABOUT PARKING IN THE CEMETERY.
IF THERE IS ENCROACHMENT OR PARKING BY HOTEL GUESTS ON THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES OR IN THE CEMETERY, ARE THERE OR HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THAT?
>> WE CAN ACTUALLY ADDRESS THAT AS STAFF.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS THAT THE WAY THE CODE IS WRITTEN IS THAT YOU HAVE TO SECURE SO MANY OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WOULD COME INTO PLAY.
I VERY WELL COULD, IF WE OR ANYONE FINDS OUT, WE HAVE WAYS TO REMEDY THAT BY TALKING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, WITH THE HOTEL, WITH THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WE HAVE HAD PARKING ISSUES BEFORE, WHERE SOME THINGS MAY BE QUEUING ON A STREET, OR CAUSING SOME ISSUES.
WE HAVE IMMEDIATELY WORKED WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
I KNOW THEY ARE USING, AND YOU'LL TALK TO THIS AS WELL, THE PROPER VALET COMPANY.
THEY ARE SKILLED AT THEIR JOB, WHICH IS SOMETHING I AM NOT WHEN IT COMES TO VALET, BUT I THINK WE'VE ALL STAYED IN A HOTEL AND KNOW HOW THEY MOVE THE VEHICLES AROUND.
THEY DON'T ACTUALLY QUEUE UP ON THE STREET, AND THERE'S LOADING AND UNLOADING.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY 12 SPACES, 10 ON THE PROPERTY.
THEY CAN USE THOSE FOR QUEUING.
THEY CANNOT USE THE 88 SPACES.
THOSE ARE REQUIRED. BECAUSE THERE'S A CHARGER, THEY COULD USE THOSE FOR QUEUING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEN ONCE AGAIN, ALL OF THE DISTANCES, AREAS WHERE VEHICLES CAN QUEUE WILL ALL BE REVIEWED BY ENGINEERING AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE FIRE MARSHAL.
IF ANYTHING IS NOT ABLE TO BE USED, THAT WILL BE MARKED APPROPRIATELY.
ONCE AGAIN, THAT IS ALL REVIEWED THROUGH STAFF, THROUGH THE ACTUAL LAND DISTURBANCE, AND THE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS.
>> PLEASE ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
THE CEMETERY HAS A DATE SET TO BE SHUT IN THERE SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REGULATE OVERNIGHT ACCESS TO OVERNIGHT PARKING, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO GET TO.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS TOO.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU ADDRESS THIS A BIT, BUT THE SPOT ZONING ARGUMENT IS NOT APPLICABLE HERE.
THIS HAS BEEN ZONED COMMERCIAL FOR HOW LONG, AND THE FIRST BUSINESS THAT GOES IN IS GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO YOUR SPOT ZONING ARGUMENT AS SOON AS IT CHANGES THE CHARACTER BETWEEN YOU.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS RELEVANT HERE.
I AM REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT THE EASEMENT.
I DO THINK THAT SEEMS TO BE THE HEART OF THE MATTER.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT.
THE ARGUMENT IS THAT SOMEHOW THE BUILDING WILL CONSTRAIN THE EASEMENT.
THE BUILDING CAN'T MOVE FORWARD.
BUT MY LEGAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE EASEMENT IS THAT IF THE PROPERTY OWNER WANTED TO, THEY COULD PUT LIKE A 6-FOOT FENCE AROUND THEIR BORDER OF THE EASEMENT IF THEY WANTED TO.
I DIDN'T SAY IT WOULD WITHOUT INFRINGING ON THE EASEMENT.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT THEY COULD NOT BUILD THE FENCE NEXT TO THE EASEMENT AT THE END OF THE EASEMENT IF THEY CHOSE?
>> ARE YOU PLAYING WITH THE PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT?
>> WE COME TO THE MICROPHONE OR [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU.
>> THERE'S A SHARED AGREEMENT THAT'S BEEN RECORDED FOR DECADES.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S A PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT, MEANING THE PUBLIC AND USERS OF BOTH BUILDINGS FOR DECADES HAVE USED THE DRIVEWAY TO COME IN OFF CHURCH STREET, GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO HUNTERS ALLEY.
[01:30:02]
>> YOU'RE SAYING THE PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT EXTENDS BEYOND THE HASH LINES OR IS DEMONSTRATED ON THIS MAP?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE STAFF IS INCORRECT; THAT PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT HAS NOT BEEN HASHED.
WHAT'S SHOWN ON THEIR SITE PLAN IS A CONCRETE BARRIER THAT PRECLUDES ITS USE, WHICH IS PART OF OUR PROBLEM.
THEY ADMITTED IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING THAT THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE THAT, BUT THEY STILL HAVE NOT DONE SO. YOU CANNOT.
>> LEGALLY, IF YOU HAVE THAT PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT, THEY CANNOT TAKE IT AWAY.
>> BUT THEIR PLANS DON'T KNOW THEM DOING JUST THAT.
BUT MY POINT IS, WE'RE NOT SAYING YOU'RE TAKING THE EASEMENT AWAY FROM YOUR EASEMENT IS STILL THERE, AND YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND THAT EASEMENT, YOU SEE FIT?
>> WHAT I'M SAYING WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR THIS COMMISSION TO APPROVE A PROJECT WHERE THEY'RE SHOWING, TAKING AWAY THE PRESCRIPTIVE EASE.
>> MS. [INAUDIBLE] SAID WE'RE NOT THE PROJECT; WE'RE APPROVING A SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION.
WHAT I WOULD RESPECTFULLY SAY TO YOU IS THAT THEY HAVE SUBMITTED CERTAIN DRAWINGS IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
THOSE DRAWINGS SHOW THEM TAKING AWAY THE PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT.
FOR THAT REASON ALONE, IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR THIS COMMISSION TO CONDONE ANYTHING THAT SOUNDS IN THAT AREA IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. DUISBURG.
>> IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH PLANNING, DO YOU HAVE TO PROVE YOU OWN THE PROPERTY, REBUILD SOMETHING ON IT?
>> IF THERE WAS A PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT ON THAT PROPERTY, YOU COULD NOT BUILD ON IT?
>> THEN WE HAVE TO SEE THE DOCUMENT. THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU. COULD I ADDRESS THAT REAL QUICKLY? A PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT UNDER GEORGIA LAW, MOST STATES OFTENTIMES TO A LAW SCHOOL EXISTS WHEN THERE'S NOT A RECORDED EASEMENT.
IT'S HOW THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN USED OVER TIME WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THERE'S A SHARED DRIVEWAY EASEMENT THAT GOES BACK, SAY, TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY FROM CHURCH STREET TO HUNTERS ALLEY.
THERE'S A PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT THAT PICKS UP AT THE END OF THE RECORDED SHARED DRIVEWAY AGREEMENT THAT GOES TO HUNTERS ALLEY.
I BELIEVE WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE TITLE, THERE WERE HOMES AND OTHER PROPERTIES AT ONE TIME, THERE WAS HUNTERS ALLEY, AND THAT WHEN THE RECORDED EASEMENT FOR THE SHARED DRIVEWAY WAS PUT INTO PLACE, THE PROPERTIES ON HUNTERS ALLEY WERE NOT USED IN THAT WAY, BUT EVER SINCE, THEY'VE BEEN USED PRESCRIPTIVELY.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE TO ARGUMENT WITH STAFF, BUT THERE'S SHE'S NOT GOING TO FIND A RECORDED EASEMENT.
THAT'S WHAT A PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT IS WHEN SOMETHING'S BEEN USED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, IT'S IN PLACE OF A RECORDED EASEMENT.
>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THE PROPERTY OWNER THERE?
>> HOW DO YOU ESTABLISH THAT A PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT EXISTS?
>> YOU ESTABLISH IT BY THE WAY THE PROPERTY HAS OPERATED OVER TIME.
>> BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO MAKE THAT JUDGMENT THAT EXISTS.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS COMMISSION WOULD CONSIDER THAT AND REALIZE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A STUMBLING BLOCK AND NOBODY WANTS TO INVITE LITIGATION.
IT'S NEVER A GOOD USE OF MONEY, BUT I CAN'T ALLOW THEM TO PUT UP A CONCRETE BARRIER AND HAVE NO WAY TO GET OUT OF THE BUILDING.
IT'S ALSO A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED, AND THERE MAY BE A MISUNDERSTANDING ON THE PART OF THE STAFF.
I DO BELIEVE I HATE TO SAY THAT THE GENTLEMAN WHO'S BEING PAID BY THE DEVELOPER HAS GLOSSED OVER SEVERAL THINGS AND NOT ADDRESSED THEM.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I BELIEVE AT MINIMUM, YOU ALL SHOULD DEFER APPROVAL, BUT PROBABLY DENY IT AS IT RELATES TO TAKING AWAY THAT PRESCRIPTIVE EASEMENT.
>> COMMISSIONER DUISBURG, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE EASEMENT. THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
IT WAS A COURTESY TO LET YOU COME BACK UP AND EXPLAIN YOUR STATEMENT, BUT AT THIS POINT, WE'RE REALLY TALKING AMONGST THE COMMISSIONER, SO I WASN'T DIRECTLY ADDRESSING YOU.
I WAS DIRECTING MY COMMENTS TO COMMISSIONER DUISBURG, SO THANK YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, THOUGH.
BUT, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, ALL WE'RE DOING IS TALKING ABOUT THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
I THINK PART OF WHAT THE PROCESS IS, IT'S NOT GOING TO GO ANY FURTHER IF THEY CAN'T COME TO TERMS. STAFF NOT GOING TO APPROVE SOMETHING WHERE, THE EASEMENTS IN QUESTION OR IT'S GOING TO BE BUILT ON THE EASEMENT, I DID SERVE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS CHAIR, AND I DO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EASEMENTS, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T HAVE A LAW DEGREE, I HAVE SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY, AND WE HAVE NEVER ALLOWED SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN IN THIS CITY.
[01:35:05]
I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT SO THAT WE CAN GET OFF THE EASEMENT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT IS IN QUESTION.>> IS THERE ANY DESIRE TO HAVE MR. CLIFFORD COME BACK AND ADDRESS JUST SOME OF THE COMMENTS?
>> WOULD BE HAPPY TO IS THE WAY SEEMS LIKE.
AS A OWNER COMES TO US WITH A SITE WITH A DESIRE, THEY HAVE A PERFORMER THAT TELLS THEM HOW MANY GUESTROOMS THEY NEED AND THEY BUILD THIS PROJECT TO FINANCE IT TO.
WE DEVELOPED THIS SITE WITH THAT NUMBER IN MIND.
OUR GOAL IS ALWAYS TO DO A LEAST NUMBER OF STORIES BECAUSE EVERY STORY IS EXTRA MONEY, IT IS NOT AS EFFICIENT.
WE LOOK TO ADDRESS EACH SITE AS EFFICIENTLY AS WE CAN.
NOW, WE WORKED ANOTHER PS INDICATOR.
WE MET WITH STAFF EARLY TALKED ABOUT OUR IRK CUTS BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS A BIG ISSUE AS WHERE AS YOUR KIRK CUT.
THE PROPERTY FOR THIS PROJECT HAS A CURVE CUT ON THE OPPOSITE ON THE NORTH END RIGHT ON THE PROPERTY LINE, WHICH IS A BAD PLACE FOR KIRK CUT.
WE'RE TRYING TO LOCATED AS CENTER AS WE CAN, IT'S GOT TO BE TOWARDS ONE SIDE.
WE ACTUALLY ARE DRIVING UNDERNEATH THE BUILDING TO GET ONTO THE SITE.
WE HAVE OUR RANGES OUR ABILITY TO BE AT THE HEIGHT REQUIRED FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES TO ENTER THE SITE UNDER THE BUILDING.
I'LL TAKE A QUICK SHOT AT THE EASEMENT. WE'RE NOT TOUCHING IT.
THE CURRENT BUILDING ON OUR SITE, ONE OF ITS EXTERIOR WALLS IS A RETAINING WALL THAT ENDS UP THAT EASEMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO REBUILD THAT WALL, MAKE IT ACTUALLY BETTER, ACTUALLY PUT CARD GRILL ON TOP TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE WERE WALKING ALONG THAT BASEMENT.
>> IS THE RETAINING WALL? WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> EVER RETAINING WALL IS ALSO PART OF THAT THE EXISTING GIN BUILDING ALL THE WAY OUT.
ZONING KINDS THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THIS PROJECT FOR THE AREA.
THEN WE COULD TRY TO PARK MORE CARS ON SITE, BUT WE WOULD BE TALLER.
>> CAN I ASK YOU CLARIFY BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE ONE FLOOR DEDICATED TO PARKING UNDERNEATH THE HOTEL, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WOULD DID THAT HAVE TO DO SOME TYPE OF STRUCTURE PARKING TO MAKE THE SITE WORK IN ORDER NOT TO MEETS SPACES IS WHY WE'RE HERE FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
I SPECIALIZE IN TIGHT SITES LIKE THIS.
GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND I HAVE TO COME HERE AND DO OUR PROJECT.
CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF NUMBERS OF THESE.
I'VE STAYED IN HOTELS WE DO PARKING MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT JUST EXAMPLE, A LOT RECENTLY.
ARE YOU DOING THIS ALL THE TIME NOW? IN URBAN AREAS, WE ALMOST DO THIS ALL THE TIME.
IF YOU GO DOWN TO SEE ATLANTA, THEY REQUIRE ZERO PARKING THROUGH OUR PROJECTS BECAUSE THERE'S PARKING ALL AROUND.
IT'S USUALLY IT'S OWNER PROBATIVE, THAT YOU WANT TO PATROL THEIR PARKING OR NOT.
SOMETIMES WE BUILD DECKS UNDER BUILDINGS AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T.
>> BUT YOUR TALLER COMMENT, IF I UNDERSTOOD WAS IT?
>> WE WOULD NEED TO PARK UNDER THE BUILDING.
THE REQUIRED A NUMBER OF SPACE.
ASSOCIATE. DO NOT REQUIRE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION, WHICH MEANS WE PROBABLY WE WOULD LOSE GUEST ROOMS, WHICH MEANS WE WOULD HAVE TO RECOUP THOSE AT A HIGHER LEVEL.
>> WELL, I GUESS, AND THAT'S THE CORE OF MY QUESTIONS.
MY QUESTIONS WERE JUST ROOTED AROUND THE 12, AND MAYBE MISS KARASEK SORRY.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T APPROVE AN EXCEPTION AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE 12 ADDITIONAL SPACES.
I MEAN, THERE ARE SEVERAL CONCERNS THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE ABOUT A PROJECT LIKE THIS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE 12 PARKING SPACES.
>> SURE. THEY ARE ALLOWED PER THE UPO TO HAVE 80% OF THE SPACES OFF SITE.
ESSENTIALLY TONIGHT, IT DOES BOIL DOWN TO THESE 12 SPACES.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT OPTIONS THEY WOULD LIKE.
THESE ARE JUST OPTIONS OUT THERE FOR WHOEVER IS OUT THERE.
THE SPACES ARE CALCULATED BY THE ROOM NUMBERS.
THAT IS HOW THE CALCULATION WORKS.
EITHER LOSING SOME ROOMS OR ACTUALLY FINDING A PLACE TO PUT THOSE PARKING SPACES ON?
>> WHICH THEY'RE PERMITTED TO DO WITHOUT COMING BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE CITY COMMISSION.
>> THEY AUTOMATICALLY HAVE 80% OFF SITE.
THIS NUMBER JUST COMES DOWN TO 12 IN THAT CALCULATION.
THERE ARE 10 SPACES ON SITE ALREADY.
>> WHILE WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING IS A BENEFIT IS OFTEN DISCRETIONARY.
IT COULD BE A BENEFIT THAT THERE ARE NOT
[01:40:01]
MORE CARS PULLING IN AND OUT OF A SITE ON CHURCH STREET, ESPECIALLY DURING MORNING HOURS WHEN CHILDREN ARE TRYING TO GET TO SCHOOL, AND PERHAPS THOSE CARS ARE.WHERE IS THE OFFSITE PARKING? HAS THAT BEEN DETERMINED OR IS THAT TBD? I MEAN.
>> I KNOW THEY'VE SPOKEN WITH SOME NEARBY PROPERTY OWNERS.
BUT ESSENTIALLY, THE WAY IT WORKS IS THEY WILL LOOK FOR THOSE SPACES RIGHT BEFORE THE BUILDING SUPPOSED TO BE RELEASED.
WE ACTUALLY GET A COPY DURING THE LAND DISTURBANCE PERMIT.
IN THEIR CASE, SEEING HOW THE AMY SITE IS CURRENTLY IN PERMITTING, I WOULDN'T BE SHOCKED IF THEY MOVE TO A NEW DECK.
BUT THAT'S THE OPTION THEY HAVE.
WE DON'T ACTUALLY MAKE THEM FORMALIZE THOSE AGREEMENTS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE NUMBERS COULD CHANGE.
BUT THEY DO HAVE TO BE RECORDED.
THEY ARE TYPICALLY 20 YEARS WITH EXTENSIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IF BY EVERY CHANCE, MAYBE EVEN A NEW DEBT COMES ONLINE IN FOUR YEARS, WE WOULD ALWAYS RECEIVE A NEW BASEMENT AGREEMENT AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT THAT TOTAL NUMBER IS ACCOUNTED FOR.
>> I JUST WANT TO BRING UP A TERM AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE, BUT THOSE ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, OR MAY NOT UNDERSTAND, THESE ARE CALLED BY WRITE DEVELOPMENTS.
THESE ACT MEANS THEY CAN DO IT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT IT'S THEIR RIGHT ACCORDING TO THE UDO AND THE CORRESPONDING ORDINANCES THAT THEY CAN DO THIS.
REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS, AGAIN, THOSE 12 SPACES AND WHETHER OR NOT THE BUILDING 70 FEET TALL OR IT'S 80 FEET TALL.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. AS I ASKED MISS KARASEK EARLIER ABOUT THE AMBY PROPERTY HOW DOES THAT LOOK? BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY GOING TO SEE A TRANSFORMATION IN THIS CORNER.
WE'VE GOT AMBLEY PROJECT COMING WITH A PARKING GARAGE, AN ASSOCIATED BUILDING, WHICH COULD BE THE GARAGE COULD BE 80 FEET TALL, THE BUILDING COULD BE 80 FEET TALL, BUT I REMEMBER THAT WE'RE GOING TO STEP THAT BUILDING IS GOING TO STEP BACK.
WE DON'T GET THAT MASSING ACROSS COMERS.
THIS CORNER, I I LOOKED AT SOMETHING AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO SAID IT, BUT, IT SOUNDED LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A COMMENT THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE UNIQUE IN THAT CORRIDOR.
WELL, IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT. NO. BUT ALSO FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
WHEN DO WE POST SIGNS FOR PLANNING COMMISSION HEARINGS, HOW SOON ARE THOSE SIGNS POSTED AND HOW LONG IS THAT TYPICALLY UP?
>> SURE. THE STATE REQUIREMENT IS A MINIMUM OF 15-45 DAYS.
WE ACTUALLY POST ABOUT 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE.
WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT A FOUR TO FIVE WEEK WINDOW BY WHICH WE ALSO ADVERTISE IT INTO THE NEWSPAPER.
THIS HAS BEEN UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS.
>> THEN TO MISS WILDMAN'S COMMENT, CAN WE ADDRESS OR I'M NOT SURE WHO MADE THE COMMENT, THE STREETSCAPING? WOULD THIS DEVELOPMENT BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE EXISTING STREET SCAPES THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY ESTABLISHED ON CHURCH STREET?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO MEET ALL OF THE UDO REQUIREMENTS OF THE STREETSCAPE DESIGN ORDINANCE.
THAT INCLUDES YOUR 10 FEET WIDE PEDESTRIAN PATH, YOUR SIX FOOT WIDE LANDSCAPE STRIP, YOUR SEATING, TRASH RECEPTACLES, BIKE RACKS, ALL OF THAT.
THIS WILL ALL BE PART OF WHAT WE AS STAFF REVIEW INTERNALLY.
>> THEY HAVE SUGGESTED TO ME THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE EXPLANATIONS.
WHAT WE HAVE UNDER CONSIDERATION IS ORDINATES [INAUDIBLE] THAT DOES GRANT THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION, AND IT HAD TWO CONDITIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THE COPY OF A WRITTEN LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR THE SHARED USE OF PARKING THAT GUARANTEES ACCESS TO USE OF AND MANAGEMENT OF SHARED PARKING SPACES THAT HAS TO BE FILED WITH THE UDO ADMINISTRATOR PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF A LAND DISTURBANCE PERMIT.
THEN SHARED PARKING PRIVILEGES ARE CONDITIONED UPON AND SHALL CONTINUE IN EFFECT ONLY AS LONG AS THE USE FOR WHICH THE SHARED PARKING IS UTILIZED, IT HAS LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE ACCESS TO THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF SHARED PARKING.
I HEAR A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE [INAUDIBLE]
>> IN GENERAL, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF DOWNTOWN.
I'M GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF CREATIVE USAGE OF PARKING.
[01:45:03]
WE'VE DONE THIS [INAUDIBLE] BEFORE.>> I THINK THAT THIS WILL HELP US IN TERMS OF INCREASING MONEY FOR OUR TOURS AND BOARD, WHICH WE HAVE A HOTEL HERE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HELPS SUPPORT IN AROUND.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD PROPOSAL AND I HOPE THAT THEY FIND A WAY FOR.
>> [INAUDIBLE] ANYONE CIRCLE BACK.
JUST THE DIFFICULTY OF UNBUND ACTUAL BIG PROJECT THAT CAN BE DONE BY RIGHT CAN BE DONE EVEN MORE INTENSIVELY BY RIGHT IF WE WERE TO NOT PASS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION, BUT I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY AND FOLKS IN THE ROOM AND JUST REMINDER THAT THIS CORNER HAS BEEN A CATALYST SITE TOO THIS WHOLE SUPER BLOCK IDENTIFIED IN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
IT DIDN'T PARACHUTE OUT AND MATERIALIZE AS AN IDEA WITH NO RELEVANCE OR CONTEXT THAT FITS INTO WHAT COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS SAID COULD BE A MORE DYNAMIC ENERGIZED SITE WITH MORE PEOPLE MORE ACTIVITY.
THAT'S THE BIGGER IDEAS THAT WE'VE ALREADY DIGESTED THAT OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW.
THAT'S WHY IT'S BEEN SO HARD FOR US TO MOVE THAT OVER AND JUST LOOK AT THIS NARROW PIECE.
I APPRECIATED THE COMMENTS AND THE VERY CONSTRUCTIVE INSIGHTS ABOUT POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO THE CEMETERY, BUT WE ALL CARE ABOUT THAT TOO, AND I WANT TO BE VERY CONSCIENTIOUS AS IT GOES THROUGH THE REST OF THE PROCESS, AS WELL AS THE EASEMENT, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE RESPECTFUL OF.
I DON'T KNOW IF OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS REVIEWED IT AND HOW THAT WOULD GO FORWARD AS IT WOULD APPROACH DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK MISS KARASEK GAVE US A GOOD OVERVIEW OF ALL THE THRESHOLDS AND THE OBSTACLES THAT STILL HAS TO THE MUSTER HAS TO PASS BEFORE IT WOULD BE ERECTED.
I HAD A REALLY TOUGH DISCIPLINE AND THANK YOU MARY POTE FOR ALSO BRINGING US BACK TO THIS SMALL COMPONENT OF THE DECISION TONIGHT THAT WE HAVE TO SET ASIDE AND LOOK AT THAT.
I'M INTERESTED IN THE REST, BUT WE'RE NOT PLANNING TONIGHT.
>> WE'LL MENTIONED THAT WE DID GET ONE LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM A NEIGHBOR IN THE AREA SAYING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PART OF THE CHURCH OR ACTIVATED AND HAVE AN AMENITY BEGINNING, LIKE CERTAINLY YOU HAVE MENTIONED AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE AMILY DEVELOPMENT AND HAVING THAT FULFILLMENT AS THINGS HAPPEN AS PART OF THAT CATALYST.
>> NO. DO I EVER HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE [INAUDIBLE]
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> THE CHAIR VOTES I AND THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED FOR THE PARKING EXCEPTION.
NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS,
[V. Public Comment on Agenda Action Items.]
AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. THE FIRST IS THE CITY HALL CAMERA UPGRADE.THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE IMD, THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES AND CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS.
WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE AGENDA ACTION ITEMS AND THEN ANYTHING PERTAINING TO ANYTHING ELSE COMES NEXT UNDER REQUEST AND PETITION.
IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT OUR CITY HALL CAMERA UPGRADE, CONTRACT OR THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES.
SOME OF THOSE GRANTS NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO GO FORWARD? YES.
THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME WANTING A WORK.
THERE'S KIDS ON THE STREET, AND YOU TALKING ABOUT UPGRADING YOUR CAMERAS? GIVEN THIS GUY, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT HOTEL IS GOING TO CAUSE MORE TRAFFIC.
THE THING THAT I CARE ABOUT MOST TRYING TO GET HOME FROM WORK IS WHAT? TRAFFIC, STAYING ALIVE.
I CAN'T MOVE THROUGH THIS CITY.
YOU CAN'T MOVE AND YOU KEEP PUTTING UP HOTELS THAT JUST CAUSE MORE TRAFFIC.
THE ROADS, AS YOU SHOULD KNOW, ARE NOT GOOD.
>> COMMENTS. IS ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT
[01:50:05]
THE CITY HALL CAMERA UPGRADES OR THE APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS AS OUTLINED.NONE IN THE AUDIENCE. WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY ONE WHO WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE TWO AGENDA ACTION ITEMS, THE CITY HALL CAMERA UPGRADES AND THE AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS.
SEE NONE. WE WILL MOVE TO THE CITY HALL CAMERA GRADE.
[VI.A. City Hall Camera Upgrade.]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS FELIX FLOYD, I'M THE ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF JOHNSON CONTROLS' PROPOSAL FOR INSTALLING EIGHT NEW CAMERAS AND UPGRADING THE EXISTING EIGHT CAMERA SYSTEMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $39,838.06 AND ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,000.
RECOMMENDED QUOTE WAS GENERATED THROUGH A SOURCEWELL COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT, AND JOHNSON CONTROLS' OUR PRIMARY SECURITY CAMERA VENDOR.
THE CITY'S OLD CAMERA SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED ABOUT 19 YEARS AGO, AND NOW IT'S OUTDATED AND LIMITED IN COVERAGE.
THE ADDITION OF EIGHT NEW CAMERAS AND UPGRADES TO THE EIGHT OLDER CAMERAS IS INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDED SCOPE FOR THE EXISTING CAMERA UPGRADES BE MEANT TO MEET MODERN SPECIFICATIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE NEW CAMERAS WILL COVER THE AREAS THAT NEED VIDEO RECORDING THAT WERE NOT COVERED BY THE ORIGINAL SYSTEM.
ALL CAMERA FEES WILL BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH FIBER RING TO THE CITY VIDEO SERVER AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHILE THE SYSTEM WILL ACTIVELY BE MONITORED, IT WILL ALLOW FOR FURTHER SURVEILLANCE OF THE BUILDING AND PARKING LOT AREAS TO PROVIDE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC.
WE ANTICIPATE THE INSTALLATION WORK WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR USE BETWEEN 60 AND 90 DAYS AFTER THE APPROVAL.
FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT ARE INCLUDED IN THE FY '25-'26 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
I DO RECOMMEND APPROVAL, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I'M THE COMMISSIONER WHO HATES CAMERAS. HI, FELIX.
JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR, OR BOTH?
>> THEY ARE TO COVER THE PARKING LOT AREAS.
>> BECAUSE I KNOW WE DO HAVE EXISTING CAMERAS IN HERE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE EXISTING CAMERAS OUTSIDE.
THAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL CAMERAS OUTSIDE SO THAT AFTER TENSE MEETINGS, I CAN STOP ASKING MR. JUNGER TO WALK ME TO MY CAR.
I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY THEY'RE NOT MONITORED.
>> RIGHT. NOBODY WILL BE SITTING THERE WATCHING.
>> IF SOMETHING HAPPENED, WE CAN GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE FOOTAGE.
>> THE USE OF THIS FOOTAGE WILL BE MANAGED BY THE PDS POLICY AND PROCEDURE THAT THEY PROMISED ME THEY WOULD IMPLEMENT THAT WOULD PROHIBIT THEM FROM PROFILING, CORRECT?
>> THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. THANK YOU.
>> OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> I'M SURPRISED THE CAMERAS THAT ARE 19-YEARS-OLD.
>> THEY STILL WORK. [LAUGHTER]
>> TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, SO YOU CAN THROW ALL THAT, PUT IT ON TIVO.
>> I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH JOHNSON CONTROLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $39,838.06, AND APPROVE THE PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,000 TO UPGRADE THE SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM AT CITY HALL AS DESCRIBED.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION PASSES.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I SERVE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN APPLICATION TO GDOT FOR THE TA AND CMAQ GRANTS FOR THE BROWER AND MCCLEAN STREET STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT AND COMPLETE STREET PROJECT, WHICH WILL REQUIRE A LOCAL MATCH OF $140.
THE BROWER AND MCCLEAN STREET STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT AND COMPLETE STREET PROJECT REQUIRES INCREASING THE DIAMETER OF THE EXISTING STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE ON STATE ROUTE 155 SOUTH CANDLER STREET.
INCREASING THE PIPE DIAMETER ON STATE ROUTE 155 WILL ALLOW
[01:55:03]
THE CITY OF DECATUR STORMWATER PROJECT AT BROWER AND MCCLEAN TO ADVANCE THROUGH THE GDOT PLAN REVIEW PROCESS.THE CITY OF DECATUR FURTHER SEEKS TO LEVERAGE THAT ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION TO IMPLEMENT A COMPLETE STREET CONDITION IN THIS SECTION OF STATE ROUTE 155.
SOUTH CANDLER WAS IDENTIFIED AS HIGH-INJURY CORRIDOR IN THE DECATUR SAFE STREETS SAFETY ACTION PLAN.
A COMPLETE STREET CONDITION WOULD ENHANCE THE SAFETY FOR ALL USERS ALONG STATE ROUTE 155.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION R-25-XX, WHICH WILL ALLOW STAFF TO SUBMIT THE GDOT TA GRANT APPLICATION AND TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD IF FUNDING IS APPROVED, IS RECOMMENDED.
FUNDS WOULD BE PROGRAMMED IN THE FY '25-'26 STORMWATER UTILITY FUND TO COVER THE COST OF THE LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, WHAT DOES IT TAKE BEFORE WE HEAR BACK ABOUT IT?
>> WE DON'T HAVE A TIMELINE COMMUNICATED.
>> CONCEPTUALLY, FROM AN OUTCOME STANDPOINT, THIS IS A MULTIPLE WHOLE PROJECT.
WE JUST CUT THE RIBBON ON WHERE WE TAKE CARE OF A PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC-CALMING SITUATION WHILE WE DO STORMWATER AND GET THE MOST BENEFIT OUT OF THE WORK AND THE TIME AND INVESTMENT.
SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS ONE IS THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS A STORMWATER PROJECT ONGOING AT BROWER AND MCCLEAN.
THE CITY SOUGHT A SPECIAL ENCROACHMENT PERMIT WITH GDOT TO ALLOW THE STORMWATER TO DISCHARGE INTO THE EXISTING SYSTEM.
THE EXISTING STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE ON STATE ROUTE 155 IS UNDERSIZED AND CANNOT HANDLE ITS CURRENT CAPACITY.
NONETHELESS, ANY CHANGES, SO GDOT WOULD NOT APPROVE THE SPECIAL ENCROACHMENT PERMIT, THEREFORE PAUSING THE CITY'S PROJECT.
OPTIONS PROPOSED ARE FOR THE CITY TO PAY FOR THE STATE ROUTE 155 STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE OR CREATE A SEPARATE CONNECTION TO THE DISCHARGE POINT, WHICH IS SHOAL CREEK DOWN STATE ROUTE 155 AT THE CULVERT.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GDOT, WE ARE WORKING TO FIND SEPARATE OPTIONS TO FUND SUCH AN EFFORT.
>> AT THIS POINT, THE PROJECT IS STALLED UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED, AND THIS IS ONE PATHWAY TO TRYING TO OBTAIN FUNDING FOR THAT SECTION.
>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU CAN START ABOUT LEVERAGING FOR COMPLETE STREETS? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE, GEOGRAPHICALLY AND PHYSICALLY ON THE STREET SIDE?
>> WELL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT STATE ROUTE 55 SOUTH CANDLER, IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHERE TO STOP, WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW YOU WANT TO IMPROVE THE STATE ROUTE THAT TRAVELS THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS.
AS PART OF THIS GRANT, WHICH WOULD INVOLVE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING, IT WOULD HELP DEFINE THE EXTENTS, PERHAPS MIDWAY TO THE CITY LIMITS.
>> IT'S NOT CONSTRAINED WHERE THE SEWER PIPE IS? THAT'S MY QUESTION.
>> THE STORMWATER PIPE FROM BROWER TO THE CULVERT IS ABOUT 475 FEET.
I ANTICIPATE THAT IF THE STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS UNDERSIZED TO THERE, WE WOULD WANT TO EXTEND THAT FURTHER ANYWAY.
THE LONGER WE GO, THE MORE EXPENSIVE THAT WILL BE.
PART OF THIS GRANT IS BETTER UNDERSTANDING THAT COST AND THAT COMMITMENT.
>> ONE LAST PIECE, IF IT'S TOO SPECULATIVE TO SAY, IS THOSE HOMES, THEY HAVE A HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A HISTORIC DISTRICT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, BUT AT LEAST SOME STRETCH MAY HAVE HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
DOES THAT GET IN THE WAY OF ANY EASEMENTS?
>> IF IT'S A NATIONAL REGISTRY.
>> IT JUST ALLOWS THEM A LITTLE MORE LATITUDE TO NOT HAVE ENCROACHMENT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
>> WELL, WHAT I KNOW IS THE GDOT PDP, OR PLAN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, IS THOROUGH AND IS PART OF JUST GETTING A PROJECT OFF THE GROUND,
[02:00:02]
THERE'S A HISTORICAL AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.>> WE WERE JUST SAYING, WE DON'T THINK THE HISTORIC DISTRICT GOES THAT FAR [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I LIVE, AND I ASSURE YOU IT'S NOT HISTORIC.
IT'S AN OLD HOUSE, BUT IT'S NOT HISTORIC.
>> JUST BRIEFLY. I'M AILEEN DE LA TORRE, PLANNER WITH THE CITY OF DECATUR, AND I ALSO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION NEEDS.
IN A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT, WHEN THERE IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECT, THEY DO REQUIRE WHAT'S CALLED SECTION 106 REVIEW, AND IT FALLS UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND THE HISTORIC REVIEW.
BASICALLY, WHAT IT DOES IS THEY MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO PROPERTIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.
IF THEY ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTED, IT REQUIRES MITIGATION.
>> DO YOU KNOW IF THIS STRETCH IS IN THAT TERRITORY?
>> THIS AREA IS ACTUALLY NOT IN EITHER A LOCALLY DESIGNATED OR A NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION R-25-XX THAT APPROVES THE APPLICATION TO GDOT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM AND CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS BRANDS FOR THE STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT AT BROWER AND MCCLEAN AND THE COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT? MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
[VI.B. Transportation Alternatives and Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement Grant Applications.]
JULIE HARLAN, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR.
I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF AN APPLICATION TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES AND CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE SOUTH MCDONOUGH STREET AND OAKVIEW ROAD PATH.
TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY, THIS IS THE PORTION OF THE PATH THAT WILL PICK UP FROM THE NORTH MCDONOUGH CYCLE TRACK.
IT WILL HEAD DOWN SOUTH MCDONOUGH ALONG OAKVIEW, ALL THE WAY TO MEET UP WITH THE TROLLEY TRAIL IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA.
IT WOULD BE A GREAT PATH CONNECTION FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR AND CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE SOUTH.
THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS ALREADY BEEN GRANTED A $1.6 MILLION GRANT FROM GDOT FROM ARC FOR FY '24.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THAT PHASE OFF THE GROUND.
THE ADDITIONAL 2.87 MILLION WOULD ADVANCE THE PROJECT THROUGH FULL DESIGN.
THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION R-25-YY, WHICH WILL ALLOW STAFF TO SUBMIT THE GDOT TA AND CMAQ GRANT APPLICATION AND TO ACCEPT THE AWARD IF FUNDING IS APPROVED, IS RECOMMENDED.
FUNDS WOULD BE PROGRAMMED IN THE FY '25-'26 PLUS TWO FUND TO COVER THE COST OF THE LOCAL MATCH IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT.
>> TO GET IT TO THE STAGE THAT THEN WE COULD APPLY FOR IMPLEMENTATION MONEY, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT WOULD GET US RIGHT UP TO RIGHT OF WAY, SO THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO START NEGOTIATING WITH PROPERTY OWNERS.
>> THE GRANT TO IMPROVE THAT [INAUDIBLE]
>> [OVERLAPPING] KIDS RIDE THAT WAY ANYWAY. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE'RE GETTING STARTED WITH THE TIP VERY SOON.
>> IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION R-25-YY TO MOVE THE APPLICATION TO GDOT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES AND CONGESTION MITIGATION OF AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANT FOR THE SOUTH MCDONOUGH STREET AND OAKVIEW ROAD PATH PROJECT?
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED? CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE MOTION PASSES.
NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO REQUEST AND PETITIONS.
[VII. Requests and Petitions.]
THIS IS THE LAST TIME THAT WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THOSE WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE.[02:05:08]
WE JUST ON TO THAT PLACE AND THEN GET THROUGH THE INSTRUCTIONS.WE WILL ASK YOU TO COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND PLEASE BRING FORWARD YOUR REQUEST.
IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE THIS BEFORE, THIS IS NOT A BACK-AND-FORTH TYPE.
WE DON'T RESPOND AT THE TIME THAT YOU BRING THINGS FORWARD.
THE COMMISSIONERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS ANYTHING THAT COMES FORWARD AT THE END OF THE MEETING AS WE HAVE OUR FINAL COMMENTS.
WE WILL DO ASK FIRST FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE MEETING TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE YOUR COMMENTS, AND THEN WE WILL ASK FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE JOINING US ONLINE.
NOW, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD.
>> THANKS. IF YOU INDULGE ME, I HAVE SOME VISUAL AIDES.
HI. JEFF KEPHART, 543 EASTLAND DRIVE.
I'M HERE ABOUT THE DOG PARK AND THE OAKHURST PARK MASTER PLAN.
I DON'T THINK I'LL NEED THE SECOND ONE.
I THINK I'M ONE SHORT. THAT IS THE COUNTY PLAT.
>> I'LL PASS IT DOWN YOU CAN START.
>> TAKE FURTHER WE'LL TAKE TAKING TO ANSWER SOME OF MY DETAIL QUESTIONS.
THEY SENT ME A LONG LIST OF STEPS AND PLACEMENTS, IN THE RESERVE SECTION OF TREE AND I'M GOING TO AGREE ON ALL THE IMPACTS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO [INAUDIBLE].
SINCE CLARIFY SOME DETAIL LET'S DESCRIBE THE CURRENT AREA AND PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE OFF-LEACH AREA OF THE CURRENT OFF-LEACH AREA, THAT WESTERN BOUNDARY.
THE COUNTY PLAT IS VERY CLEAR; IT'S 96 FEET NORTH AND SOUTH.
I'M APPROXIMATING, BUT I'M A AMATEUR.
ALTHOUGH YOUR FRIEND, JOEL, HELPED PRE TONY, SO I APPRECIATE THIS HELP, AND YOU SHOULD BE GETTING A CALL LATER [LAUGHTER].
THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE PART APPEARS TO BE ABOUT 240 FEET NORTH-SOUTH.
THEY DON'T LIST A BOUNDARY OF THE COUNTY PLAT, BUT IT MEASURES AROUND 276 FEET AND THEN THE CHURCH JUST FOR REFERENCE IS 400 FEET.
THE OPRES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ON EAST LAKE DRIVE SOUTH OF THE DOG PARK IS 400 FEET ON A COUNTY FLAT.
>> BUT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOG PARK, I ASKED, 225 FEET.
THAT'S 48,000 SQUARE FEET APPROXIMATELY.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY.
THE PROPOSED SIZE OF THESE [INAUDIBLE].
THE CONSULTANTS CLARIFIED AFTER THE LAST MEETING ON THE CURRENT PROPOSED PLAN, THEY HAVE THAT ONE TENTH UNMELTED THAT WOULD BE CHANGED.
THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE HALF OF THE DOG PARK THAT'S THE FLAT OF THE FIELD THAT THEY [INAUDIBLE] AS DRAINAGE.
THEY CLARIFIED THAT FOR AFTER THE MEETING.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO SMALL THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE.
THE AREA REMAINING TO BE OFF AS USERS WOULD BE SPLIT INTO FOR LARGE DOGS AND SMALL DOGS.
FRANKLY, I'VE BEEN SOCIALIZING THAT IDEA OF A SMALL DOG AREA WITH THE REGULAR USERS AND VISITORS TO THE DOG PARK OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO.
ONCE I EXPLAINED IT, IT'S MOST PEOPLE AGREE WITH IT, AND IT WOULD BE VERY COST EFFECTIVE TO BRING OUT THE CURRENT GATE AND FENCE OFF THE CORNER OF THE EXISTING PARK.
IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO IMPLEMENT A CHANGE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, IT WOULD BE WORTH DOING.
WHAT THE PROPOSAL SAYS IS OVER ON THE HILL ON THE WEST SIDE, THEY WOULD MOVE THE STREAM AND WHAT WOULD BE LEFT WOULD BE TO THE WEST OF THE STREAM, AND WOULD BE FENCED OFF AND INSIDE THE PROPOSED WALKING PATH AND PAVILION.
SO ONCE YOU SPLIT THAT IN TWO, THOSE ARE APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER CIRCLE WITH A RADIUS ABOUT 65 FEET.
FOR REFERENCE, THIS ROOM IS 30 FEET ACROSS.
IF YOU HAVE A QUARTER CIRCLE THAT'S 65 FEET, THAT'S NOT A LOT OF ROOM FOR DOGS TO RUN AND THROW A CATCH AND ALL THAT, ESPECIALLY AS IT'S IN THE WOODS.
I WAS KIDDING WITH MY NEIGHBOR.
HEY, THE NEW PENS WOULD BE SMALLER THAN MY YARD.
[02:10:02]
AND I WAS ACTUALLY SHOCKED TO SEE THAT IT WAS NOT MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS FRONT YARD.IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE CURRENT USES THAT THE OWNERS AND DOGS PUT THE PART TO.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAPPEN, THE ACTION THAT WE WOULD LIKE TAKEN AT THIS POINT, WOULD BE THE PLAN WAS TABLED AT THE LAST MEETING TO SOCIALIZE THE PLAN MORE.
I'VE TALKED TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AT THIS POINT, BOTH AT PORCH FEST AND THE BAR BLUES, AND OUT AND ABOUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE VAST MAJORITY HAVE NO IDEA STILL THAT THIS PLAN IS TAKING PLACE.
THE ONES THAT DO KNOW THE PLAN IS TAKING PLACE DON'T ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE VARIOUS IMPACTS.
THEY HAVE, OH, ARE THEY THEY'RE ADDING TO THE DOG PARK? THEY'RE MAKING IT NICER.
NO, THEY'RE SHRINKING THE DOG PARK.
VERY FEW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT UNTIL THEY SEE IT VISUALLY.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD ASK TO HAVE IS ONE, SOCIALIZE THE PLAN MORE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT THE LAST MEETING, AND IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE BEEN DONE.
SECONDLY, I WOULD THE CONSULTANTS WHEN I TALKED TO THEM AFTERWARDS, THEY SAID, WELL, THE COMMISSIONERS GIVE US OUR MARCHING ORDERS.
IF THE COMMISSIONERS SAY, DON'T TAKE AWAY THE FLAT AREA OF THE FLAT OPEN AREA, THEN THAT'S WHAT THEY'LL DO.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A REASONABLE COMPROMISE TO SAVE MORE OF THE OFF-LEASH AREA FOR DOGS.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE LESS OF THE FLAT AREA.
THERE'S LOTS OF ROOM AROUND THAT SOFTBALL FIELD.
THEY COULD MOVE IT CLOSER INTO THE WRECK CENTER, PUT UP HIGHER FLY BALL NETS, WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO DO TO KEEP MORE OPEN AREA FOR THE DOGS TO THROW AND RUN IN CATCH.
THAT'S FAIRLY UNIQUE AROUND HERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF USERS THAT COME TO US THAT PREFER ORES OVER ADAIR AND OVERGLEN FOR THAT VERY REASON.
I WOULD ALSO, SINCE WE'RE KEEPING THE AREA SOUTH OF THE TENNIS COURTS NOW.
THAT AREA THAT WAS A CHANGE TO THE PROPOSAL, AND NOW THAT THE PAVILION AND THAT GREEN SPACE WITH THE WALKING PATH IS THERE.
I DON'T THINK I'VE GOTTEN AN ANSWER YET AS TO WHAT IS THE IMPETUS FOR THAT WALKING PATH BESIDES REPLACING THE ONE THAT'S IN OPRES PARK.
I WOULD LIKE TO EITHER REMOVE THAT AND EXPAND AND KEEP MORE FOR THE OFF OF THE SAID AREA OR MOVE IT TO THE OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF TAKING A CIRCLE CUTTING RIGHT THROUGH IT.
SO THESE ARE CHANGES I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CONSULTANTS MAKE GIVEN FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED QUITE FRANKLY.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS, IN ESSENCE, INSTEAD OF REMOVING TWO-THIRDS OF THE DOG PARK, KEEP MOST OF THE DOG PARK.
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP TO ME.
WELL, WHAT ABOUT LEGACY PARK? WHY DON'T WE PUT THE FIELD THEIR? COMMISSIONER USENBY SAID LAST TIME, LEGACY PARK IS PRETTY FULL.
BUT THAT DOES RAISE AN INTERESTING POINT.
QUITE FRANKLY, IF WE TRIED TO DO THIS TO THE RUNNERS AND SAID, HEY, WHY DON'T WE TAKE, WE'RE GOING TO PUT A NEW BOTCHI BALL COURTS.
BUT HERE'S 265 FOOT PENS FOR YOU GUYS TO RUN AROUND IN.
I DON'T RUN FAST ENOUGH TO GET PUT ME FROM THE RUNNERS.
IF WE TRIED TO DO THAT TO THEM.
JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN'T TALK TO US, DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY WOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT IT.
THE DOG PARK PROVIDES A LOT OF BENEFITS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S AN AMENITY. IT'S ATTRACTIVE.
IT'S IN A LOT OF REAL ESTATE LISTINGS, PROXIMITY TO THE DOG PARK.
THAT WAS A CORE FACTOR IN THERE MOVING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS BEING CLOSE TO THAT DOG PARK.
>> CAN YOU SAY AT THE MICROPHONE? WE ARE READING.
>> IS THAT BETTER? APOLOGIES. MORE THAN OTHER FACILITIES, THE DOG PARK GREATLY IMPROVES THE NATURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I SPOKE TO ONE GENTLEMAN WHO DOESN'T WANT ME TO ATTRIBUTE IT TO HIS NAME.
WHEN OTHER NEIGHBORS HEARD THAT I HAD SPOKEN TO HIM, THEY SAID, YOU TALKED TO HIM.
BUT HE EXPLAINED TO ME AND MY 14-YEAR-OLD THAT WHEN THE DOG PARK WAS PUT IN, THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVED BECAUSE
[02:15:02]
SUDDENLY PEOPLE WERE OUT AND WALKING AROUND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.CRIME WENT DOWN AND HE DIDN'T KNOW WHO JANE JACOBS WAS, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY HER THESIS.
SHE'S A FAMOUS URBANIST FOR THE LIFE AND DEATH OF GREAT AMERICAN CITIES.
IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT A LOT, ESPECIALLY SINCE 2020.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE OPRES DOG PARK.
IF YOU MAKE THE OPRES DOG PARK NOT VIABLE FOR THE CURRENT USES THAT IT'S GOING TO DIMINISH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S LONGSTANDING AND ESTABLISHED USE.
THIS WAS A LARGE COMMUNITY-ORIENTED PROJECT TO TAKE THIS PLOT OF LAND AND HAVE THE CITY PURCHASE IT AND THEN TURN IT INTO THE DOG PARK AND APPLY FOR SANCTUARY STATUS AND THEN UPGRADE THAT TO AUDUBON SANCTUARY STATUS.
THERE'S PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT WHO WORK ON THAT PROJECT.
THEY REMOVED ALL THE INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES, THEY PLANTED NATURAL TREES, NATIVE TREES.
IT WAS A LARGE EFFORT, AND IF WE TAKE AWAY THE INTENDED USE OF THAT EFFORT, IT DISINCENTIVISES COMMUNITY PROJECTS LIKE THAT IN THE FUTURE.
THE NEXT TIME SOMEBODY HAS A COOL PROJECT, THEY'RE GOING TO COME UP AND SAY, THE CITY'S GOING TO JUST TAKE IT AWAY LATER.
BENEFITS TO THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE DOGS OWNERS, I'M SURE YOU'LL HEAR PLENTY ABOUT THAT NEXT MEETING.
I'LL SKIP THAT FOR TONIGHT, BUT WE ALL CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
OKERS DESERVES AN OFF-LEASH AREA COMPARABLE TO THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE IN ADAIR, WHICH IS NICE, BUT CUT IN HALF BY THE DRAINAGE COVER AND THE FENCING.
GLEN LAKE IS FAIRLY SMALL, BUT IT'S BIGGER THAN WHAT WOULD BE PROPOSED.
AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE FOR A LOT OF THE DOG PARK USERS BEING LATE TO THIS PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, THE CONSULTANTS ASKED ME AFTER THE MEETING, WHERE WERE YOU WITH THE INPUT MEETINGS? I SAID, WELL, I WAS WORKING.
[LAUGHTER] I WAS WORKING ALL THE TIME.
BUT I WILL SAY, I HAVE TALKED TO SO MANY PEOPLE THAT JUST DID NOT UNDERSTAND OR KNOW OF THE PROCESS.
IT JUST DOES NOT NEXT TIME, I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER.
YOU KNOW, A WISE PUNDIT ONCE SAID, LIBERALS CARE ABOUT PROCESS AND FAIRNESS AND CONSERVATIVES CARE ABOUT VALUES.
WELL, SAVING THE DOG PARK, QUOTE AND QUOTE, REALLY HITS BOTH AND NOW THAT THE DOG PARK USERS UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO ONLY PICK UP STEAM, AND I WOULD RATHER GO BACK AND CHANGE THE PLAN EVEN THOUGH WE'RE LATE THAN HAVE THINGS ESCALATE AND HAVE A BIG COMMUNITY MOVEMENT KICK OFF.
YOU KNOW, DOG OWNERS WHO NOT KNOWN FOR BEING LOYAL AND HOLDING A GRUDGE AND DECATUR IS NOT KNOWN TO PROTEST.
I AM KIDDING, OF COURSE, WE ARE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK A PRACTICAL SOLUTION AND SAVING MORE OF THE INTENDED USE OF THE PARK WILL MAKE EVERYBODY COME OUT BETTER IN THE END THAN THE ONLY WINNERS TO A PROTRACTED FIGHT WOULD BE THE DOGS BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY TENGENIC, DOGS AND PUPPIES WOULD WIN.
AND THE OWNERS WOULD LOOK BAD, THE CITY WOULD LOOK BAD, THE COLLEGE WOULD LOOK BAD.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THE PROPOSAL.
THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK. THANKS, GUYS.
[LAUGHTER] I'VE BEEN UP SINCE 5 AM.
>> CAN YOU START WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE?
2052 CHERRY BROOK DRIVE, DECATUR GEORGIA, 30032.
I HAVE A VIDEO HERE OF A SCHOOL DECAB COUNTY SCHOOL TRUCK ALMOST HIT ME COMING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.
HE WAS DOING 80. I CAUGHT UP TO HIM ON AUSTIN DRIVE, RIGHT? THEN I CALLED HIM ON THE INTERSTATE RIGHT HERE AT 285, JUST ON HIS PHONE DOING 90 MILES AN HOUR.
I JUST GOT BACK FROM MICHIGAN.
I WORK A LOT ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.
Y'ALL GOT A TICKET IN THE MAIL, RIGHT? I WAS GOING TO HELP MY PARAPLEGIC FRIEND WHO FELL OUT OF BED AND HIS NURSE WASN'T THERE TO HELP HIM GET IN HIS CHAIR.
[02:20:02]
THESE PEOPLE THERE WAS NO THERE WERE NO SCHOOL LIGHTS GOING OFF, RIGHT? BUT IT'S FUNNY, TOO. CHECK IT OUT.IT COMES FROM WHERE CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE. I WAS OVER HERE.
I ALSO HAVE A VIDEO TALKING WITH A POLICE WOMAN OVER HERE WHO SAYS, WE GET THOSE TICKETS ALL THE TIME.
TELL ME. CAN YOU TELL ME WHO PAYS FOR THE POLICE TICKETS? IS IT US? DO WE AS DECATUR TAXPAYERS AND RESIDENTS PAY FOR THE BECAUSE SHE'S STRAIGHT UP.
SHE SAID SHE THEY GET THEM ALL THE TIME.
I BET THEY DO BECAUSE THEY DROP TERRIBLE.
I SEE THEM. I GOT THEM ON VIDEO.
THE GUY THAT IS PARAPLEGIC WAS RUN OVER BY EAST POINT POLICE AND LEFT FOR DEAD IN THE STREET.
SO YOU THINK I ACTUALLY AND THE IQ LEVEL OVER NOT BUILDINGS.
IF THEY PAY IF ALL PAY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, VIDEO TICKETS FROM A COMPANY HERE, HERE, HERE.
A COMPANY FROM CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.
>> BUT I WANT YOU TO KEEP THIS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU HAVING AN ISSUE WITH YOUR REGISTRATION.
I'VE GOTTEN ONE TO. I PAID MINE.
BUT KEEP IT. WELL, THAT'S UP TO YOU.
I DON'T THINK THEY'D HELP YOU THERE.
>> THAT'S OUR ROLE. I'M YOUNG BLOOD STYLE 20 SIDE OF THINGS.
KNOW WHAT'S YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU'LL NOBODY ON GLENWOOD, GLENWOOD IS GOING DOWNHILL.
YOU'LL HELP NONE OF THE KIDS I'M SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT SOME BAND PUTTING ANOTHER HOTEL UP THAT'S JUST GOING TO FURTHER MESS UP TRAFFIC. LOOK, MA'AM.
WHATEVER I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE ME.
DO YOU PAY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TICKET?
>> WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ASK STAFF TO COMMENT AFTER WE'VE HEARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] GO AHEAD. I'VE JUST BEEN UP SINCE FIVE MORNING.
I AIN'T GOT NO DINNER, AND I'M ABOUT TO BE FIVE AM AGAIN.
>> I'M ABOUT TO BE OUT OF ORDER. MY APOLOGIES
>> I THINK THEIR OTHER WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE DOG PARK.
>> HEY, GUYS. YOU GUYS HAVE A TOUGH JOB.
>> [LAUGHTER] IT'S OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> I ADMIRE YOUR PATIENCE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN.
>> IT COMES WITH THE TURF, I'M SURE.
I UNDERSTAND. I'M FROM COLUMBUS.
MY DAUGHTER MOVED INTO OAKHURST ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, AND MY WIFE AND I, LOGAN, WE ALSO CAME.
WE ALSO HAVE A PLACE HERE NOW, 308 PARK PLACE SO WE CAN BE NEAR MY DAUGHTER.
KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR US.
BUT WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS DOG PARK ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, I WAS AMAZED.
I THINK SOMETIMES THAT IT'S SOMEONE LIKE ME MAYBE THAT COMES IN FROM ANOTHER CITY AND SEES IT, CAN MAYBE BRING A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE TO IT.
BECAUSE IF YOU SAW OUR DOG, I LOVE COLUMBUS, SO DON'T THINK I'M BEING TOO CRITICAL OF COLUMBUS BECAUSE IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE, BEEN MY HOME MY WHOLE LIFE.
BUT OUR DOG PARK LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED.
IT'S ONE OF THE MORE TYPICAL DOG PARKS WHERE IT'S TUCKED AWAY IN A FAR CORNER OF THE COUNTY, TWO OR THREE TREES, THOSE ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE.
THE WATER WORKS SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T.
VERY LITTLE VISITOR NUMBERS BECAUSE IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO GET TO.
THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT, TWO BEAGLES AND THEY LOVED IT, AND I SAW ALMOST A COMMUNITY LOVE IT.
THE REASON IT'S AMAZING IS BECAUSE IT'S AN AMAZING SPACE.
IT'S GOT THIS GRASS, I'M SURE IT WAS KNOWN AS A MEADOW.
NOW IT'S GOT MULCH, BUT THE MULCH IS GREAT FOR THE DOGS.
BUT THERE'S THIS LONG, TREMENDOUS PATHWAY OF A MEADOW, THIS FLAT WHERE THE DOGS CAN RUN AND THEN YET IT'S GOT A HILL.
[02:25:02]
YOU'VE BEEN THERE, I'M SURE ALL OF YOU.THEN IT'S GOT THIS HILL, THESE ANCIENT TREES THAT PROVIDE SHADE IN THE SUMMER AND AN INTERESTING TOPOGRAPHY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT COME THERE.
THE DOGS CAN RAMBLE, THEY CAN RUN, AND THE PEOPLE CAN MIX AND THEY CAN SOCIALIZE.
I'VE MET SO MANY PEOPLE SINCE I STARTED GOING THERE FOUR YEARS AGO.
THERE'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD I WOULD HAVE MET OTHERWISE. NO WAY.
THIS PLACE IS A SPECIAL PLACE AND IF IT'S DIMINISHED BY WHAT I UNDERSTAND BY 2/3, IF IT'S DIMINISHED BY 2/3, IT'LL BE A SHELL OF ITS FORMER SELF.
WHAT MADE IT EXTRA ORDINARY WILL NO LONGER EXIST.
WE DON'T KNOW MANY TIMES WHAT WE HAVE UNTIL IT'S GONE.
IT WILL BE GONE IF THIS PLAN GOES THROUGH, BECAUSE IT WILL BE REDUCED TO SUCH A TINY AREA THAT THE ABILITY OF THE PEOPLE TO BE THERE IN THAT SPECIAL SITUATION WHERE THEIR DOGS WILL BE GONE.
I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL SEEN VIDEOS OF DOGS RUNNING IN SLOW MOTION. WHY DO WE DO THAT? WHY DO WE SEE THAT ON TIKTOK AND YOUTUBE? IT'S BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE THEM RUNNING IN SLOW MOTION, THAT JOY IS JUST SO VISUALLY STUNNING.
THAT'S WHAT BRINGS THE PEOPLE TO THE PARK, THE JOY. JOY IS PALPABLE.
IT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHED, IF THIS IS DONE.
WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, I THINK, HOW CAN WE THERE COMPETING INTEREST HERE AND I UNDERSTAND.
YOU'VE GOT THE COMPETING INTEREST.
YOU NEED THE SOFTBALL FIELD. I UNDERSTAND THAT.
HOW DO WE ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF THE SOFTBALL COMMUNITY WITHOUT UNREASONABLY DIMINISHING SPACE THAT PROVIDES THE COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE THAT OWN DOGS AND COME TO THE PARK AND THEY USED TO COME INTO THIS PARK FOR YEARS.
I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IT COULD BE DONE.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY TO NOT HAVE THIS PARK THAT IS SO BELOVED BE VIRTUALLY I'M NOT GOING TO SAY DESTROYED, BUT SO DIMINISHED, SO CHANGED, THAT IT'S A SHADOW, A SHADOW OF IT'S FORMER SELF.
THERE'S GOT TO BE AWAY. I WISH I HAD GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS SOONER, BUT I'M DUE TO THE COMMUNITY.
BUT I'M GLAD THAT I'M ABLE TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU ALL, AND I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY BECAUSE IF IT GOES THIS WAY, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED FOR, THE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION THAT USED TO BE INTACT BEFORE THE GENTLEMAN I UNDERSTAND MOVED TO CALIFORNIA.
ALL OF THAT WILL BE LOST, ALL THAT THEY WORKED FOR.
IT'S UNUSUAL TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE A PARK THAT THE PEOPLE LOVE IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.
BUT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
A PARK, A PUBLIC SPACE IS ABOUT TO DISAPPEAR.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY TO SAY AND STILL MEET THE NEEDS OF THE OTHER COMPETING INTERESTS BECAUSE THIS IS A LEGITIMATE COMPETING INTEREST.
YOUNG LADIES PLAYING SOFTBALL.
WHO WANTS TO ARGUE WITH THAT? THAT'S A GREAT THING WE NEED IT. AGNES SCOTT NEEDS IT.
BUT I WOULD ASK THAT WE PAUSE, PLEASE, AND LET'S TAKE ANOTHER LONG LOOK AND SEE HOW WE COULD ACCOMMODATE BOTH OF THOSE COMPETING INTERESTS TO WHERE WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, WE HAVE SOMETHING AKIN TO WHAT WE HAVE NOW,
[02:30:05]
BECAUSE IF IT'S GONE, IT'S GONE.>> THE OTHER SUPERVISOR PLEASE.
>> HI, I APOLOGIZE FOR MY VOICE, I HAD A COLD A WEEK AGO, SO I'M STILL RECOVERING FROM IT.
MY NAME IS CANDACE BROWER, AND I LIVE AT 541 QUILLIAN AVENUE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE EAST LAKE GOLF COURSE.
I ADOPTED MY DOG TATER TOT IN 2019.
I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE SHRINKAGE OF THE DOG PARK.
I ADOPTED HIM IN 2019 FROM AN ABUSIVE SITUATION.
EXCUSE ME IF I GET EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I LOVE THIS PARK.
HE WAS LIKE A SHELL OF A DOG, AND I FOUND OAKHURST, AND I TOOK HIM THERE.
MY OTHER DOG LOVES TO RUN SO HE LOVES THE FLAT PART.
BUT TATER, HE FELT MORE COMFORTABLE UP IN THE WOODS.
IT'S JUST SUCH A SPECIAL PARK TO ME AND SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE.
GOING WITH WHAT THIS GENTLEMAN SAID, I JUST HEARD ABOUT THIS LITERALLY TWO DAYS AGO.
I'VE EMAILED ALL OF YOU AND MS. MAYOR, YOU WERE KIND ENOUGH TO EMAIL ME BACK.
BUT THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY.
I'VE TAKEN HIM TO OTHER PARKS, TAKEN HIM TO FETCH.
I'VE TAKEN HIM TO DEER, I'VE TAKEN HIM TO SO MANY OTHER PLACES.
THIS IS THE MOST SPECIAL PARK I'VE EVER BEEN TO.
I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF TALL PARKS IN THIS COUNTRY AND I JUST NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE FLAT PART, THE WOODS IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY GREEN SPACE.
MS. MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE PET WASTE IS A CONCERN, WHICH I UNDERSTAND.
BUT EVERYWHERE, EVERY TIME I GO, THE OWNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE, THEY PICK THE PET DROPPINGS.
IF THEY SEE OTHER PETS DROPPINGS, THEY PICK THEM UP.
I PERSONALLY SPREAD THE MOST AROUND THE PARK TO KEEP THE BOTTLES AWAY.
I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SAVE THIS PARK.
I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WALKING BY MYSELF WITH MY DOGS ON THE STREET MOST OF THE TIME, AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT EITHER.
I FEEL SAFE IN THAT PARK AS A WOMAN ALONE.
I FEEL LIKE THE COMMUNITY REALLY NEEDS THAT PARK, AND I WOULD JUST REALLY, REALLY HATE TO SEE IT BE DIMINISHED.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH OTHER TO SAY THAN THAT, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR HEARING ME OUT.
>> CANDICE, WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING YOUR ADDRESS FOR ME?
>> 541 QUILLIAN AVENUE, Q-U-I-L-L-I-A-N.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE LOVE OUR FENCE. IT'S VERY NICE.
OUR DOG LOVES BACK YARD OR ANYTHING? NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE DOG PARK.
SHE WILL ROCK IT AROUND LIKE CRAZY AT THE DOG PARK.
IT'S JUST THAT AREA OF SO MUCH SPACE IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY RARE IN THE CITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU'RE REALLY LIMITED NOW TO CERTAIN AREAS LIKE FETCH, PARKS WE HAVE TO PAY TO COME, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S INVALUABLE AS RESIDENTS HERE.
ALSO, I HAD ON HERE, OAKHURST PARK IS THE BEST PARK OF DOG PARK IN THE CITY.
IT'S A LOT MORE THAN JUST DOG PARK TOO.
I THINK YOU REALLY HIT HOME ON THAT.
IT'S A HUGE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER.
I THINK A TERM FOR THAT NOW IS LIKE A THIRD SPACE OR WHERE IT'S LIKE, PEOPLE GATHER FOR LIKE A BAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GATHER AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A DRINK.
YOU CAN JUST HANG OUT AND JUST HANG OUT OUTSIDE AND JUST WATCH A BUNCH OF DOGS RUN AROUND.
I'VE SEEN PEOPLE THERE THAT JUST DON'T EVEN HAVE DOGS THAT JUST GO AND THEY JUST HANG OUT AT THE DOG PARK.
I'VE SEEN PEOPLE BRING THEIR FAMILIES AND BRING THEIR KIDS.
I HAVE A PICKLE, WHICH HAS A NATURAL CONNOTATION TO IT, BUT SHE IS LIKE THE SWEETEST LITTLE THING EVER.
IT'S REALLY SPECIAL FOR ME TO SEE A FAMILY WITH THEIR KIDS GET AN EXPERIENCE WITH A FEROCIOUS DOG THAT'S LICKING THEIR FACE AND IT'S NOT SCARY LIKE THAT.
I THINK IT'S JUST AN UNHERALDED SILVER LINING OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF A HIDDEN GEM, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE AREA SHOULDN'T BE REVITALIZED.
THE WHOLE FENCE ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS COMPLETELY DILAPIDATED AND THE DRAINAGE TOO DEFINITELY BE WORKED ON.
[02:35:03]
BUT THE CURRENT PROPOSED PLAN, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT WAS 2/3.IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S DESIGNED BY SOMEBODY WHO'S NEVER HAD A DOG IN THEIR LIFE.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT DOWN 2/3 LIKE THAT, SHRINK THAT DOWN EVEN FURTHER, DIVIDE IT DOWN INTO A SMALL DOG IN LARGE DOG PARK, THERE'S NO POINT OF EVEN HAVING IT.
YOU CAN'T EVEN THROW A BALL AT THAT POINT, I MIGHT AS WELL STAY IN MY BACKYARD, WHICH, BY THE WAY, WE LOVE.
I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE SOFTBALL FIELD.
I UNDERSTAND THE SCHEDULING. I GET IT.
I LIVE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BASEBALL FIELDS. I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.
COMING FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE HERE.
I THINK IT'S A LITTLE WILD TO ADD ANOTHER BASEBALL FIELD THERE.
YOU'RE GETTING RID OF A SOCCER FIELD THERE, THAT'S THE ONLY PUBLIC SOCCER FIELD IN THE CITY RADIUS AT ALL.
IF YOU ADD ANOTHER SOFTBALL FIELD THERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FIVE BASEBALL FIELDS WITHIN A TWO-MILE RADIUS.
I LOVE BASEBALL JUST AS MUCH AS ANYBODY, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE COULD BE DOING BETTER IN TERMS OF SPORTS DIVERSITY AND GETTING OUR KIDS INTO MORE PROGRAMS. YOU'RE ALREADY DOING GREAT THERE.
WE HAVE THE REC CENTER RIGHT THERE, YOU GOT SWIMMING.
I JUST THINK THAT IT'S ANOTHER ANGLE OF THIS THAT'S NOT REALLY BEING CONSIDERED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE COMING LATE TO THE PARTY HERE.
I WILL SAY THAT I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS AT ALL UNTIL PORCHFEST, WHEN I STARTED SEEING A WHOLE BUNCH OF SIGNS POP OUT AND YOU ACTUALLY SAID SOMETHING TO ME IN THE PARK.
I WOULD INITIALLY JUST PROPOSE THAT WE JUST SHELF THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS MET AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH AND YOU'VE AGREED TO BASICALLY WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER 3RD, I THINK IT IS.
I'M JUST PROPOSING JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.
ONCE THE BALL GETS ROLLING, THE DEVELOPERS ARE GOING, THE CONSTRUCTION IS GOING.
THEY COME IN, THEY JUST DEMOLISH EVERYTHING, AND THEN THAT'S JUST IT.
YOU'RE IN THE BALL, YOU'RE IN SOME COST NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY WANT NOW.
I WOULD JUST SAY IF WE CAN JUST PUT A PAUSE ON THIS FOR A SECOND AND JUST KEEP ON SOCIALIZING THIS MORE OF THE COMMUNITY.
BUT ALSO, IF IT'S JUST GOING FORWARD, I WOULD COMPLETELY SECOND, THE WALKING PATH OF CUTTING THROUGH ALL OF THAT OPEN AREA, IT'S AN ASININE WASTE OF SPACE TO BE FRANK.
BECAUSE THAT ENTIRE UPPER AREA IN THAT NORTHEAST AREA.
IT MAY LOOK LIKE DEAD SPACE, AND IT'S MAYBE NOT AS SIGHTLY, IT'S JUST LEAVES AND TREES FOR NOW, BUT THAT DEAD SPACE FOR DOGS IS HUGE.
IT'S MORE AREA FOR THEM TO EXPLORE.
IT'S MORE AREA FOR THEM TO SOCIALIZE, TO PLAY.
IT'S NOT JUST AN AREA THAT WE COME TO LET OUR DOGS OUT AND EVERYTHING, IT'S PART OF THE LIFE HERE, I GUESS, SO I DON'T KNOW.
>> ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WANT TO BRING A COMMENT FORWARD?
>> WELL, WE'LL SEE ANYBODY ONLINE MAKE A COMMENT.
SO IF THERE'S ANYONE ONLINE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING ANYTHING OR A COMMENT AT THIS COMMISSION MEETING UNDER REQUEST AND PETITIONS.
IF YOU WILL RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND, WE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE YOU, ASK YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
SEEING NONE, I WILL ASK MR. YOUNGER TO READ AN EMAIL THAT WE RECEIVED AND THE COMMISSIONERS ALL HAVE A COPY OF IT AS WELL AS AN ATTACHED PETITION.OW
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. OCTOBER 17TH, FRIDAY ABOUT 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM AN ANDEE, ANDEE.
DEAR, MISS YOUNGER, I HOPE YOU'RE WELL.
I'M WRITING TO EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE CURRENT OAKHURST PARK MASTER PLAN, PARTICULARLY THE SIGNIFICANT DOWNSIZING PROPOSED FOR THE OAKHURST DOG PARK.
THIS SPACE IS MORE THAN JUST A DOG PARK, IN ADDITION TO BEING A CHERISHED AND HEAVILY USED RESOURCE FOR LOCAL PIT OWNERS.
THE OAKHURST DOG PARK ALSO SERVES AS A RECOGNIZED WILDLIFE SANCTUARY BY THE ATLANTA ABA SOCIETY.
THE AREA INCLUDES MULTIPLE BIRD HOUSES, BAT HOUSES, AND A 1,300 SQUARE FOOT POLLINATOR GARDEN.
MAKING IT A UNIQUE, VALUABLE HABITAT FOR LOCAL WILDLIFE.
ITS PRESERVATION IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO FOR URBAN BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.
IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY CONCERN, I CREATED A PETITION TO PRESERVE THE DOG PARK IN ITS CURRENT FORM.
[02:40:03]
I'M PROUD TO SHARE THAT IT HAS RECEIVED OVER 540 SIGNATURES FROM RESIDENTS WHO VALUE THIS SPACE AS BOTH A COMMUNITY HUB AND SANCTUARY FOR WILDLIFE.I'VE INCLUDED THE PETITION HERE FOR YOUR REVIEW AND RESPECTFUL RESPECTFULLY REQUEST TO BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF YOUR CLAIM PROCESS.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL I WILL BE OUT OF TOWN FOR WORK, UNABLE TO ATTEND MEETING ON OCTOBER THE 20TH.
THAT SAID, I SINCERELY HOPE YOU AND THE CITY WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE STRONG COMMUNITY RESPONSE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SPACE AS YOU LOOK FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS.
[VIII. Reports and Other Business.]
OUR LAST ITEM IS THE RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION OF OCTOBER 6TH, CONFIRMING THAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF LEGAL MATTERS.I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.
>> OBJECTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED. CHAIR VOTES AYE, AND THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME STAFF; IS THAT CORRECT? MR. YOUNGER THAT WANT TO BRING SOME THINGS FORWARD.
I SERVE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF PUBLIC WORKS.
JUST TO ADD TO ANSWER A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE.
FIRST ABOUT THE OAKHURST PARK.
I WANT TO THANK RESIDENTS JEFF AND DAVID AND TATER TOTS [LAUGHTER].
AS WELL AS OUR OTHER RESIDENTS WHO MADE COMMENTS, I JUST MISSED YOUR NAME.
I JUST WANT TO ECHO THAT THE OAKHURST DOG PARK IS A GEM, AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS SPACE IS MORE THAN JUST A DOG PARK.
IT ORIGINALLY SERVES AS A DETENTION POND FOR STORM WATER.
BUT WHEN DOGS UTILIZE IT, OBVIOUSLY, THE GRASS ISN'T THERE ANYMORE, SO MULCH HAS BEEN PLACED BECAUSE IT SERVES AS A DETENTION POND.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE WHAT LOW LYING AREAS, AS WELL AS THE MULCH CONTINUOUSLY ERODING TOWARDS THE FENCE, THE FENCE IS ABOUT A SIX FOOT FENCE, BUT NO LONGER BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE HOW THE MULCH HAS ACCUMULATED ADJACENT TO THE CREEK.
THAT CREEK DOES WARRANT A 25 FOOT STREAM BUFFER.
REGARDLESS OF THE OAKHURST MASTER PLAN, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SHRINK THE DOG PARK.
THAT IS THE CASE OUTSIDE OF THIS PLAN, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE EVERYBODY AWARE OF THAT.
ADDITIONALLY COMMENTS RELATIVE TO THE WALKING PATHS, ET CETERA.
THIS IS A MASTER PLAN WHERE WE DO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT USES OF THE PARK, BUT IT IS NOT DETAILED DESIGN.
WE DID RECEIVE A LOT OF GREAT FEEDBACK TONIGHT RELATIVE TO THE FENCE LOCATIONS AND THE PATHS, AND THERE WOULD BE GREATER COMMUNITY INPUT SHOULD THAT OR WHEN THE PLAN ULTIMATELY IS IMPLEMENTED.
IT'S NOT CURRENTLY FUNDED, SO WE WON'T ANTICIPATE CONSTRUCTION TAKING PLACE SOON, BUT THE BENEFIT OF A MASTER PLAN IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES IN ORDER TO FUND THE VISION FOR THE PARK.
ALSO, IT HELPS INFORM WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS RELATIVE TO MAINTENANCE AND EXPENSIVE CAPITAL COSTS, LIKE A BUILDING ROOF OR HVAC, IT HELPS INFORM WHEN THOSE INVESTMENTS MAKE SENSE, ET CETERA.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN CASE THAT'S HELPFUL.
>> ADDITIONALLY, I WANTED TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY.
THE GREAT LAKES COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR TO A STORMWATER DESIGN PROJECT.
THERE'S A STORMWATER PROJECT UNDER DESIGN IN THE GREAT LAKES COMMUNITY.
THE 30% DESIGN STORMWATER MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 11,
[02:45:06]
SIX TO 7:00 P.M. AT 265 TALLY STREET IN THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMUNITY ROOM.>> AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE AS WELL.
>> GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE AND I ALSO INVITE THEM TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION'S VIRTUAL INPUT SESSION THAT WILL HAPPEN THIS WEDNESDAY EVENING FROM SEVEN TO PROBABLY EIGHT.
THERE IS A REGISTRATION LINK AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.
THAT'S BEEN POSTED ON A LOT OF THE SOCIAL PLATFORM, BUT I'D SAY, GO TO THE WEBSITE TO FIND THE LINKS.
THAT'S WEDNESDAY AT 7:00 P.M ON ZOOM.
WE HAVE TWO DECATUR YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE THIS EVENING, AND THEY ARE WORKING ON A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT AS ONE OF THEIR PROJECTS, AND THERE IS A GROUP THAT HAS CREATED A VOTER EDUCATION PAGE FOR THE UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTION HAPPENING ON NOVEMBER 4.
THAT WEB PAGE WILL GO LIVE TOMORROW, AND I'LL MAKE SURE TO SEND THAT TO YOU ALL WELLS BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT IT'S LOOKING REALLY NICE.
I HOPE. EVEN IF WE KNOW ALL ABOUT ALL THE CANDIDATES THAT [LAUGHTER] PAGE AND JUST SHOW THEM SOME LOVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FIRST, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE DOG PARK.
JEFF HERE WAS THE SECOND HARDEST PERSON WORKING AT PORCH FEST.
I WILL TAKE THE TOP SPOT MYSELF.
FOR TRAFFIC CALMING ON EAST LAKE DURING A VERY POPULAR BAND.
BUT JEFF WAS ACTUALLY DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE ASK COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DO, WHICH IS TO GET INVOLVED AND GET ENGAGED.
HE SPENT THE ENTIRE WEEKEND JUST WALKING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH HIS ADORABLE PUP.
CHATTING WITH PEOPLE AND ASKING THEM IF THEY KNEW ABOUT THE DOG PARK AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS, AND THAT IS THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO MORE OF.
SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT, JEFF.
MR. DAVID AND MISS ROBIN, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE COOLEST POP POP AND MY MOM, BECAUSE IF YOU ARE WATCHING SLOW MOTION PUPPY VIDEOS ON TIKTOK, YOU'RE DOING BETTER YOU'RE DOING BETTER THAN MOST.
THAT GRAND BABY IS GOING TO BE A HAPPY KID.
WE'LL WORK ON THOSE NAMES, YOUR CHOICE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE MAMA OR ANYTHING [LAUGHTER].
THIS MEETING FELT LIKE A MOVIE.
IT REALLY DID. I PROMISE YOU, I I LITERALLY FELT LIKE AN EPISODE OF MATLOCK OR SOMETHING.
I'M ALMOST CERTAIN THAT EVERY SINGLE PUBLIC COMMENTER WAS AN ATTORNEY [LAUGHTER].
I HAVE NEVER HEARD MORE ELOQUENT AND WELL-CONSTRUCTED STATEMENTS OF OPPOSITION IN MY LIFE.
IT FELT VERY ALMOST DREAM LIKE.
I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT CAMERON HARDING, WHO SPOKE MULTIPLE TIMES TODAY.
IF IT WEREN'T FOR ALL THE DOG ONE FOOLISHNESS, YOU COULD ACTUALLY HEAR THAT HE MADE A VALID POINT.
THE POINT WAS NOT YOU LOOK REALLY RICH.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU [LAUGHTER].
WHICH WRITE THAT DOWN AND MAKE SURE YOU TELL YOUR GRAND KIDS AND SOMEONE SAID THAT TO YOU THAT YOU LOOK REALLY RICH SO THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU.
BUT HE MADE A POINT AND I WANT TO SHARE THAT POINT WITH MISS SHER THAT IT IS MY ABSOLUTE HOPE THAT THERE IS NOBODY ON THE STAFF OF CITY OF DECATUR WHO IS PLOWING THROUGH OUR SCHOOL ZONE CAMERAS AND WE'RE COVERING FOR THEM.
I CANNOT IMAGINE A SINGLE PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE, A SINGLE PD EMPLOYEE, OR A SINGLE FIREFIGHTER WHO WOULD DO THAT, BUT I DO HOPE THAT WE'RE CHECKING ON THAT BECAUSE IN ALL OF THAT, WHATEVER THAT WAS, THAT WAS ACTUALLY A GOOD POINT THAT WAS MADE.
THEN THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY TODAY IS ACTUALLY VERY SERIOUS.
WE HAVE SUFFERED A GREAT LOSS.
I PERSONALLY HAVE SUFFERED A LOT OF LOSS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
I LOST TWO BEAUTIFUL COUSINS, TRACY BELL AND JENNIFER HERKIMER.
TRACY PASSED AWAY TWO WEEKS AGO SATURDAY, JENNIFER DIED SATURDAY, THIS PAST SATURDAY.
BOTH YOUNG WOMEN WHO SHOULD STILL BE HERE WITH US, AND THE LOSS IS DEVASTATING TO ME PERSONALLY AND TO OUR FAMILY.
[02:50:04]
THEY WERE MOTHERS AND CHERISHED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND I WILL MISS THEM, AND WE WILL MISS THEM DEARLY.THEN WE HAVE HAD A COMMUNITY LOSS OF SOMEONE THAT I REALLY CAN'T IMAGINE DECATUR WITHOUT, WHO WAS VERY BELOVED.
WHILE WE WILL CONTINUE TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF CAPTAIN GARY MINARD, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE THING THAT CAPTAIN MINARD ALSO HAD A FAMILY WHO IS MOURNING HIS LOSS.
I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW HARD IT IS TO TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF AND MOURN AND HANDLE THE BUSINESS OF SUCH A SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN YOUR FAMILY WHEN A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE ARE PUBLICLY MOURNING HIS LOSS TOO.
I ASK THAT WHILE WE ARE IN OUR GRIEVING PROCESS FOR SOMEONE WE BELOVED THAT WE SO BELOVED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THAT WE LOVED SO DEEPLY AND CHERISHED SO MUCH, LET'S PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT OUR GRIEF IS CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY GRIEF, AND WE MUST BE RESPECTFUL OF HIS FAMILY AS THEY PROCESS IT DURING THIS TIME.
IT'S ALL FOR ME TODAY, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
>> I'M NOT SURE IF TO SAY ANYTHING I THINK YOU ALL AND HE WAS A GREAT ASSET FOR THE COMMIT AND WHAT WE MISSED IN OUR FIRST LEVEL.
I'M SORRY, [INAUDIBLE]. HARD PIVOT.
THANKS FOR COMING TO TALK ABOUT THE DOG PARK.
I THINK THAT ACTUALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HOTEL, AND WE TALK ABOUT THE DOG PARK A LOT CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING, OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED TO BE ELEVATING AND TALKING ABOUT, IS IT, WE'RE A SMALL LANDLOCKED CITY THAT IS GROWING.
WE'RE ATTRACTING PEOPLE, WE'RE CRACKING BUSINESSES AND WE'RE CRACKING HOTELS.
WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH LAND TO WORK WITH.
IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT AS WE'RE MAKING THESE DECISIONS, THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
WHEN YOU START PULLING CONCRETE, YOU'RE MAKING FIFE YOUR DECISIONS, AND YOU REALLY NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THAT.
ALL THESE PEOPLE COMING INTO CITIES AND IRAN FEELING STRONGLY ABOUT THIS.
WE NEED OUR PARKS, WE NEED GREEN SPACE.
GUYS, YOU'RE GOING TO SAY THAT WE NEED OUR PARKS, AND WE NEED OUR PUBLIC SPACES, AND WE NEED REALLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THESE DECISIONS AND HOW WE DO IT.
I THINK WE'RE HAVING A VERY HEALTHY CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR CURSE PARK RIGHT NOW.
I'M HAPPY THAT WE TOOK ANOTHER MONTH.
THERE ARE NO EASY DECISIONS. WE NEED TO BE CREATIVE.
I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY ON THIS COMMISSION COMES WITH THAT GOOD SENSE THAT GOOD SPIRIT AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
I APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY ENGAGING WITH THIS.
WE'RE WORKING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT WE DO TAKE THE TIME, WE DO HIRE THE PROFESSIONALS TO WALK US THROUGH THIS, WE DO A VERY CONFIDENT STAFF WORKING THROUGH IT.
ULTIMATELY, I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL REACH A GOOD DECISION ON THESE MATTERS.
BUT THERE'S NO EASY ANSWER. THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS.
>> THANK YOU. I FIRST LIKE TO THANK THE FOLKS WHO CAME TO STAY TILL THE END TO ALSO TESTIFY TO YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DOG PARK, WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU.
I DON'T I THINK SHE'S 12 YEARS, BUT SHE CAN'T TELL ME, HER 12-YEAR-OLD SWEET NAMED GINGER.
I HAVE DRIVEN ACROSS TOWN OF OVER HERE DOWNTOWN.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 100 TIMES, BUT MANY TO TAKE HER THERE BECAUSE I APPRECIATE ITS UNIQUENESS, WHAT I HAD TO OFFER TO ME WITH MY PARTICULAR DOG AND HER PERSONALITY TYPE, AND MY PERSONALITY TYPE, AND WHAT I HOPED TO BENEFIT FROM THAT DAY.
IT WAS USUALLY TO HAVE A REALLY PEACEFUL HOUR WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER, NOT JUST DECATUR, BUT QUITE OFTEN OUTSIDE OF DECATUR, WELL-BEHAVED OWNERS AND PETS, AND A REALLY SCENIC, PEACEFUL, NICE PLACE TO BE THAT WAS LARGER THAN OVER HERE IN SOME WAYS, SOMETIMES DRIER, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS MAKING TRADE-OFFS.
I MADE A DIFFERENT DECISION ON A GIVEN DAY AS TO WHERE IT WOULD GO.
BUT I ABSOLUTELY HEARD EVERYTHING YOU SAY, I AGREE WITH YOU, AND IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE AND IT'S UNIQUE.
I FEEL LIKE BY BEING WITH US ALL NIGHT, TOO, YOU'VE GOT A GOOD SENSE OF A LOT OF WHAT WE GRAPPLE WITH FROM A PERSONAL AND PUBLIC STANDPOINT, AND THE WAY WE TRY TO NAVIGATE THAT, ASK YOU QUESTIONS.
[02:55:05]
BE OPEN AND UNDERSTANDING, AND THEN AT TIMES, LIKE YOU DO IN YOUR LIFE FOR YOUR JOB OR, YOU NAME IT, YOU'RE MAKING A HARD DECISION THAT HAS SOME TRADE-OFF.WE'RE CONTINUING TO LEARN AND WE DECIDED TO TAKE EXTRA TIME AT LEAST TILL NOVEMBER 3RD.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE, INTERROGATE, LEARN FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
I HOPE THAT YOU CAN STAY IN THIS CONVERSATION, YOU HAVE FAITH THAT WE WILL DO OUR VERY BEST TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION THAT WE CAN AND AND WE'LL WORK IT OUT, AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST.
ANYWAY, GINGER IS SHE'S NOT TATTERED, BUT IT WOULD BE A DAY SHE GOES OVER THE RAINBOW, AND LEARN WHAT'S LIKE TO LOSE THAT SPECIAL PET.
SHE'S MY ONLY ADULT PET, AND SHE'S BEEN AT CITY HALL, AND SHE'S BEEN ALL AROUND DECATUR.
FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY HOW MUCH I WILL MISS CAPTAIN GARY MINARD, WHO WAS ONE OF THE NEATEST MOST ATE PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET.
HE INSPIRED ME TO TRY TO BE A BETTER SERVANT, TRY TO DO MY JOB MORE AND MORE OFTEN AND BETTER BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HE DID, AND HE WAS VERY COMMITTED TO HIS WORK.
HE WAS COMMITTED TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I DID NOT KNOW HIM AS MUCH OUTSIDE IN HIS WORLD, AND I APPRECIATE THERE'S ANOTHER FULL COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE AND FAMILY WHO HAVE OTHER STORIES AND OTHER WAYS OF REMEMBERING HIM OUTSIDE OF BEING A FIREFIGHTER AND A HERO IN THAT WAY.
BUT HE DID REALLY NEAT THINGS FOR US AND WITH US THAT I'LL TREASURE AND REMEMBER, AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TYPICALLY OF HIM WITH KIDS, LITERALLY MAKING THEIR DAY, HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND IS YOU DON'T NEED TO BE AFRAID OF THIS PERSON IN A UNIFORM, THEY'RE YOUR HELPER.
YOU DON'T RUN FROM THEM, YOU RUN TO THEM.
HE GOT TO DO THAT FOR MY KIDS.
HE'S TAUGHT HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CPR WHO MAY GO ON AND SAVE LIVES THEMSELVES TO STOP THE BLEED AND THEY'LL BE MANY MORE TIMES TO TALK ABOUT HIM AND I DIDN'T WANT TO DISRESPECT THE FACT THAT THERE'S THIS OTHER COMMUNITY WHO WILL HAVE THEIR CONVERSATIONS TOO, AND I HOPE THE TWO COMMUNITIES ALSO NEED A SHARE BECAUSE WE'LL BOTH BENEFIT FROM THAT.
BUT LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE CALLED US INDIVIDUALLY, THEY NEED A PLACE TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS.
I'LL TALK TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT GARY MINARD, BUT I FINALLY WORK IN THE HOMELESS SPACE TO GO OVER AND ABOVE WHAT HE HAD BEEN DOING TO COLLECT EXTRA DATA.
THAT WE COULD UNDERSTAND HOW MANY CALLS WE WERE MAKING TO UNSHELTERED PEOPLE BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT THAT CAN BE HELPFUL IN US DOING MORE TO GET MORE RESOURCES AND GET MORE HELP TO HELP THEM EVEN MORE.
THAT'S JUST THE KIND OF PERSON HE WAS TO SAY, I'M GOING TO DO ONE EXTRA THING TODAY AND WORK A LITTLE HARDER AND A LITTLE LONGER TO DO THAT THING THAT WILL BE HELPFUL AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
THIS AND VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I THINK WE ALL LOVE DOGS, SO IT'S NOT A MATTER OF AGAIN, IT'S TRYING TO FIND THAT BALANCE.
THE ONE THING THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO STRESS FOR THOSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN LATE TO THE PART, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
WE BELIEVE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE, AND THIS IS WHY WE TAKE THESE STEPS.
BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE WAY WE DO THINGS HERE IN DECATUR.
WE ARE NOT GUIDED BY, THIS IS OUR PLAN OF THE WEEK.
WE'RE GUIDED BY OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, OUR COMMUNITY PLAN, OUR TRANSPORTATION PLANS.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ENGAGING OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ALL TO US.
THAT GIVES US THAT ROADMAP, SO WE CAN DIRECT STAFF TOWARDS POLICY.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU SEE A MEETING, IT IS NOT JUST A MEETING BECAUSE WE WANT TO JUST HAVE A MEETING.
IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT MEETING.
WHEN YOU SEE THOSE SIGNS OR WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT, DON'T JUST COME BY YOURSELF, BRING A FRIEND, BRING A NEIGHBOR, BRING EVERYBODY BECAUSE HONESTLY, WE NEED TO HEAR THIS FEEDBACK AND WE WANT TO HEAR IT ON THE FRONT END.
NOT THAT WE DON'T LISTEN ON THE BACK END, BUT SOMETIMES, AS WE DEVELOP PLANS, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW FROM THE COMMUNITY IN THE FRONT END.
WHEN WE BUILD THESE PLANS, THEY'RE ALWAYS BASED ON THAT DATA THAT WE GET AT THAT TIME.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T CHANGE OR WE CAN'T SHIFT, OR WE CAN'T ADAPT.
BUT IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
I USE OUR BUDGET HEARINGS AS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE.
WE BEG PEOPLE TO COME AND TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND NO ONE EVER COMES.
WE NEED THAT ENGAGEMENT, AND WE NEED IT ALL THE TIME.
[03:00:01]
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT BECAUSE WE TAKE OUR JOB VERY SERIOUSLY, AND TRUST ME.THERE'S NOT A DOG OWNER AMONGST US THAT DOESN'T WANT THAT SPACE FOR OUR DOGS.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS INTO EFFECT.
AS WE SIT HERE AND DELIBERATE ON SORT OF HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER, WE TRY TO CHALLENGE STAFF AND THE CONSULTANTS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
WHAT CHANGES CAN WE MAKE IN ORDER TO MEET OUR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS AND OUR CLIMATE OBLIGATIONS, BUT ALSO THE OBLIGATIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE AT THE DOG PARK.
NOTED, NOTHING'S A DONE DEAL, AND EVEN WHEN WE SAY WE HAVE A PLAN, IT'S AN UNFUNDED PLAN AT THAT POINT.
IT MAY BE FIVE OR SIX YEARS BEFORE THAT PLAN GETS BUILT.
IF WE ADOPT THAT PLAN ON NOVEMBER 3RD OR DECEMBER 3RD, IT DOESN'T MEAN THE BULLDOZER STARTS THE NEXT DAY.
WE STILL HAVE TO PERMUTE, FUND IT, FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE ALSO TRIED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME TO THE COMMUNITY AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO RAISE YOUR TAXES SO WE CAN BUILD THIS.
WE WANT TO DO IT THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN AND DO IT THROUGH SPAS WHICH IS SALES TAX.
KNOW THAT WE HEAR YOU AND KNOW THAT WE STRUGGLE WITH THE SAME DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS.
NOW I WANT TO SWITCH AND TALK ABOUT CAPTAIN MINARD, BECAUSE, A LOT OF THINGS HE DID WERE IN THE PUBLIC SPACE, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT GARY MINARD DID BEHIND THE SCENES.
ONE OF THE THINGS REALLY GREAT STORY THAT I HAVE WITH GARY AND MANY OF US DID.
EVERY YEAR, THE CITY WOULD ENGAGE IN THIS CORPORATE STEP CHALLENGE.
IT WAS A WAY THAT WE ALL WOULD BECOME HEALTHIER.
WHEN I TELL YOU THAT THERE WAS NO ONE BETTER THAN GARY MINARD AT PUSHING EACH ONE OF US TO BE BETTER.
JUST A QUICK STORY, EVERY NIGHT, YOU'D SEE THIS LITTLE TICKER AND WHAT PLACE YOU'RE IN WITH ALL YOUR PEERS.
I'D GO OUT AND I'D GO WALK 5 MILES AND I KNEW GARY WAS ON SHIFT.
BUT SOMEHOW HE'D GO OUT AND WALK 10 MILES.
BUT IT JUST ALWAYS PUSHED US TO BE HEALTHIER AND BE BETTER.
THAT WAS JUST A SMALL PIECE OF GARY, A SMALL PIECE OF WHAT HE DID.
BESIDES ALL THE OTHER GREAT THINGS THAT HE DID, TEACHING CPR, HAVING KIDS SMILE BECAUSE HE WAS THERE IN THOSE CLASSROOMS. THAT'S A VOID THAT WE ALL MOURN, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOURN.
I KNOW EVERYONE HAS A GREAT GARY STORY, AND I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED, IF YOU'VE GOT ANY GREAT PICTURES, PLEASE SHARE THEM WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE SO THAT HIS LEGACY WILL ENDURE FOREVER.
HE'S A GREAT FRIEND AND A GREAT VALUE COMMUNITY MEMBER.
NO REPLACE HIM. I'LL END ON A HIGH NOTE.
ON THURSDAY, THE CITY OF DECATUR BECAME THE FIRST BIRD CITY [APPLAUSE].
I'M GOING TO CEREMONY AT LEGACY, AND I THINK THE VIDEO HAS BEEN ARCHIVED SOMEWHERE.
I WANT TO PRESENT THIS TO MR. YOUNGER. I THINK THERE ARE OTHER SIGNS OVER AT LEGACY THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO POST.
BUT THERE WERE GREAT STORIES, EVERYBODY WAS TELLING STORIES ABOUT HOW BIRDS IMPACTED THEM, AND I THINK EACH TIME SOMEONE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A BIRD, THAT BIRD WAS THERE.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THEY WERE THERE [LAUGHTER] IT WAS A GREAT DAY AT LEGACY, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, I THINK THERE'S OVER 170 DIFFERENT BIRD SPECIES AT LEGACY PARK.
TAKE YOUR BINOCULARS, TAKE YOUR BEACH CHAIR, AND GO SIT AND WATCH BIRDS, AND JUST THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED. HERE, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO.
>> PLEASE KEEP YOUR DOGS AWAY [LAUGHTER] AND DO NOT PUT THEM ON THE TRACK AND FEEL.
BUT THANKS EVERYONE FOR A GREAT MEETING WITH A LOT OF FEEDBACK AND APPRECIATE YOU ALL STAYING AND ALSO OBSERVING THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT EASY DECISIONS, AND THAT, AS SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE SAID, THERE'S THIS TENSION BETWEEN WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOW WE DO IT IN A SMALL CITY THAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LIVE HERE.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ANGELA THREADGILL AND I WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION JUST LAST WEEK,
[03:05:02]
AND SHE SAID ONE OF HUGH SAXSON'S FAVORITE QUOTES, I GUESS, IS IF YOU DON'T HAVE TRAFFIC, YOU'RE GOING TO A CITY WHERE NOBODY WANTS TO BE.WE ARE UNDER THAT, TENSION BETWEEN CARS AND PEDESTRIANS AND BIKES, AND PEOPLE BE NEEDING A HOTEL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND REALLY AN AMENITY AND TRYING TO REDUCE THE NUMBERS OF CARS THAT IMPACT THAT PARTICULAR SITE AND THAT PARTICULAR SURROUNDING AREA, AND GETTING PEOPLE TO USE SOME OF THE EXISTING PARKING OR PARKING THAT WILL BE BUILT.
I ENCOURAGE YOU AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
AS MS.RK MITION, THE CHARTER REVIEW INPUT SESSION.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY.
I HOPE YOU WILL LISTEN IN AND PARTICIPATE ON OCTOBER 22ND, ON WEDNESDAY.
THERE'S ALSO OENONA PARK IS SPONSORING A CANDIDATES' FORUM TOMORROW EVENING.
I DON'T THINK IT'S BEING LIVE-STREAMED THAT I KNOW OF.
THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND HEAR FIRST FAN FROM THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR DISTRICT 1 AND DISTRICT 2, ON THE CITY COMMISSION, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE VOTER EDUCATION PAGE.
I'M ALWAYS ENCOURAGED WHEN PEOPLE COME OUT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THEM, BUT PLEASE NOTE WANT YOU ENGAGED IN THINGS THAT REALLY IMPACT US NOW AND IN THE FUTURE IN A BROAD SENSE AS WELL.
A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LISTEN TO YOUR FEEDBACK AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO GIVE FEEDBACK TO US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND TO OUR COMMUNITY AS THESE THINGS BECOME AVAILABLE.
THE MADISON AVENUE SOAPBOX DERBY IS ON SATURDAY, FROM 10:00-3:00, IF YOU WANT TO SEE A FUN EVENT WITH SOME PRETTY CREATIVE CARS.
ELECTRIFY THE DECATUR IS FROM 2:00-5:00 P.M.
THIS SUNDAY AT THE DECATUR CONFERENCE CENTER.
I BELIEVE WE, YOUNGER HAS INFORMATION SHEET ABOUT IT.
WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
BUT IT IS THE LAUNCH EVENT TO FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN DO TO MOVE MORE TOWARDS ELECTRIFICATION.
YOU CAN FIND OUT ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
THERE WILL BE SOME TOOLS THERE THAT ONLINE TOOLS THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN PLUG INTO TO FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR PARTICULAR HOME AND YOUR HOME USAGE AND OTHER WAYS TO PROMOTE ENERGY SAVINGS, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LAUNCHING.
WE ARE PARTNERING GIPL, GEORGIA INTERFAITH POWER AND LIGHT, SOUTHFACE, AND LET'S GO ELECTRIC.
YOU CAN'T COME TO THAT EVENT TO AT LEAST LOOK FOR THE QR CODE THAT IS AVAILABLE ON, I THINK THROUGH THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND IS GOING OUT ON AN EMAIL TOMORROW AS WELL.
THANKS TO THE BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD.
IT'S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE SINCE WE'RE HERE FOR OUR WORK SESSION, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY DO FOR ALL OF US AS A COMMUNITY.
I WILL LAST ECHO THE WARM COMMENTS ABOUT CAPTAIN MINARD.
HE WAS THERE WAS NEVER A STEP CHALLENGE THAT HE WAS GOING TO LET ANYONE ELSE WIN.
IT WOULD GET REALLY DISCOURAGING.
I HAD TO SET MY SIGHTS A LITTLE LOWER, NEVER GETS TO CAPTAIN MINARD.
HE ALSO WOULD CHALLENGE ANYONE TO A PUSH-UP CONTEST.
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE EVER BEAT HIM.
TO THE ANIMAL LOVERS, HE WAS REALLY ACTIVE IN PET RESCUE, AND IT HAS BEEN TOLD TO ME THAT IF THERE WAS A CAT IN A TREE AND HE WAS AVAILABLE.
HE WOULD TRY EVERYTHING TO GET A CAT OUT OF A TREE, AND I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY KITTENS HE TOOK HOME WITH HIM, BUT HAD VERY MUCH A SOFT SPOT FOR ANIMALS, PEOPLE, KIDS, AND WE WILL MISS HIM, BUT WE ALSO DO WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL TO HIS FAMILY AS THEY GREATLY MOURN HIS LOSS.
WE'LL HEAR MORE FROM THE CITY ABOUT WHAT WE ARE PLANNING IN THE WEEKS AHEAD THAT WE ARE
[03:10:04]
WANTING TO BE RESPECTFUL OF HIS FAMILY AS THEY NAVIGATE THE LOSS OF A DEAR FAMILY MEMBER.I THINK KNOWING HOW MUCH HE MEANT TO ALL OF US, GIVE US A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT HIS FAMILY FELT AND KNEW EVEN MORE SO THAN WE DID.
THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYONE COMING OUT AND STAYING FOR THE MEETING, AND THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS.
THIS MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 9:53. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.